Also, this is the new out-of-character chat thread.

Is that Sasserine gazetteer thread new to us? Seems like it wasn't there before. Was it accidentally in the wrong group and only recently moved, or am I just blind?

Stan has nothing to add in character at the moment.

I opened the Sasserine thread up to you after Stan was struck in the head during dinner, effectively remembering basic stuff he had learned in the past six months living here.

Thanks. And sorry I keep forgetting about gear.

@Stan you're missing one cantrip on the spell tracker

@Brogan please post and manage your prepared spells and action points in the tracker tread

I've got 4 listed. Where's the fifth coming from?

It's coming from the fact that I can't count to four. =P

Never mind

I will NOT post my prepared spells.  I don't WANNA!

Gone without Internet until Sunday night. Stan will go to the tavern or wherever other reasonable place Brogan goes.

It's about Update:30PM CST, Mr Narrator.

I'm going to be out of the country for the next week.  Do with Brogan as you will.

Going to watch USA take the gold in skeet shooting across the pond? Lol

I miss Ilsa

In reply to Cpt. Sawyer Sinclaire (msg # 14):

I don't.

Waiting for an in-game response from Stan

In reply to Narrator (msg # 15):

I guess I should redefine my statement..... I miss Ilsa due to the fact that Hennessy would've cut the chic in half. He was litteraly built to destroy her!!!!

In reply to Narrator (msg # 15):

Done. Didn't know you were waiting on me, thought the scene was going to switch.

Would failure of the SC mean we get spotted or that it will start combat?

That depends on a few things, like where/when the failure occurs--if you guys fail at all.

Once Stan and Brogan roll their initiatives, go ahead and post skill checks in the initiative order.  As an NPC Reynald won't be participating in this one, although he is there with you guys.

And remember, do not use the same skill as anyone else in the same round, and you cannot use the same skill twice in a row.  BE DESCRIPTIVE!!!

Yes, Brogan and Stan are still in their boat. Vark is speaking to you two from the Blue Nixie

@Sawyer are you saying that you jump out and attack him?

I'd say its more like slipping out and assassinating him style rather then jumping out and shanking....but

Like Altiar getting a templar from the shadows!!!

Achievement unlocked.

The Game Map has been updated.  If viewing it, you do not see Sasserine, refresh your browser.

@Stan I've updated your sheet with Ignis.  Despite the attack bonus you'll see there, you suffered -4 penalty for ranged attack into combat (Brogan being grappled).  I rolled for you this round, and you hit with a natural 19!

I have a request. When you post updates, can you include a little [location, date, time, and year] action?

I'll try.  Not with every update, but if the scene changes.

Yeah thats what i meant

Hey all, how's it going?

Good stuff, guys, keep it up!  What are you guys planning to do in order to find Vanthus?

Stan isn't really interested enough to come up with his own ideas, beyond perhaps magical scrying (which feels unethical and would require an expensive, error-prone scroll.) Lavinia seems to not want her brother hunted down right away. Perhaps the characters will have an in character discussion about it?

Anyone interested in bringing it up in-character?

Sorry, I've been waiting on a pm. I'm

Brogan was just going to ask other priests, those he feels he can trust, to keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary.

Brogan & Stan, did you two want to have the conversation in-game?

I'd rather not.  I update infrequently enough as it is.

RIP p2........?

In reply to Cpt. Sawyer Sinclaire (msg # 38):

literally lol'd.

Expect an update Monday

Okay, shitty update time!

I was working on something earlier, but lost it.  To represent the next 3-4 days in-game, let's run a Skill Challenge.  Everybody roll initiative (except Rey), high initiative goes first.  You need 8 to succeed, and as always, 3 to fail.

Begin.

What exactly are we challenging?

Sorry!

You objective is to uncover the whereabouts of Venthus

Merry Christmas, Happy New Years everyone.

And I hope Mr. DM returns. He hasn't logged on in 12 days. Not so unusual for him, though.

I'm here. Holiday traveling got me. I'll update in a day or two

Updated Stan's spells prepared, since it's a new day.

@Stan initiative isn't necessary right now. Please roll attack and damage.

Not sure what goes into the attack roll. Is it ranged touch?

12:26, Today: Stan Fetchin rolled 8 using 1d20. Uncertain attack.
12:25, Today: Stan Fetchin rolled 6 using 2d6. Damage.

Using Ignis' fire bolt is a ranged touch attack.

Your character's Base Atk + Dex mod + range increment bonus/penalty vs. target's touch AC*

Vanthus is 30-ft above you, and not suspecting the attack.  He is also flat-footed.

You rolled a base 8, and with your bonuses and whatnot, you hit!  Good shot.
In-game update pending...




*this is a magic attack and bypasses DR/magic or less

...Also, I've updated the Game Map.  Please refresh your browsers and check it out for a look at the map of the area.  If you are having trouble, you can toggle the view at the bottom of the Game Map page.  The update is for Group 1.

The party's current location is outlined in red.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Oh cool, clairvoyance. I can already see the whole dungeon.

That's intentional

Not sure if this deserves an XP reward or an XP penalty.

All i know, is a shark ate my best friend and im going to find it, and kill it



-dictated but not read,
Sawyer
This message was last edited by the player at 19:29, Sat 09 Feb 2013.

Bonus points for sure!!

Do the interns get glocks?

Swear to god, the next person who continues these movie reference shenanigans, I'm gonna have to pistol whip.

Ay Sawyer! What's the name of that restaurant you like? You know, the one with all that shit on the walls...

Oh shenanigans!?!?!?

Oooooooooooh!

Reminder, you do not need to wait for your initiative order to post your rounds actions.  They will be applied in order.

Not that it matters, as im pretty sure i just made crab cake out of him anyway, but i was supposed to roll 2d6 sneak instead of 1

Ugh, crab battle.

Luckily Stan remembers his CQB training.

I'll be offline this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

For reference:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mHKHKR8x6A

This message was deleted by the player at 20:15, Sun 17 Feb 2013.

I got Stan's post.  Anyone else?

Oollliiolliollliooo

Forgot you have to confirm crits in this system. Hang on a sec.

So... who wants to go east?

To double check, are we in the room with the two pillars, north of p1?

Yes

A good month for Moria references, eh Mr. Narrator?

I understand the urgency and... suddenness of Sawyer's last in-game post, however, I do want to wait for Brogan to post once more before advancing the scene.  Looks like we're about to do combat, eh?  I'll allow Sawyer to keep his Initiative roll.

Here's mine:

15:04, Today: Stan Fetchin rolled 10 using 1d20+5.

Oh no worries, i understand. I was just getting the ball rolling on some sweet action.  :)

Reminder, you do not have to post in initiative order

I figured I should wait, as the monsters go before me.

I am fairly certain that anyone can identify any type of spell using spellcraft. A stable boy with 5 ranks would still have about a 50% chance of identifying a magic missile spell or cure light wounds.

That said, unless you rule otherwise I automatically fail, as the rules are quite explicit that "you must be able to clearly see the spell as it is being cast."

See this thread in which people no smarter than we verify my vague suspicions:

http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2j...s-to-identify-divine

So did either of mine or Brogan's spell actually get cast?

They were both cast.  Brogan just doesn't need comprehend languages anymore to know the creature is hostile.

Thanks.

I just discovered that Stan gets a free daily use of comprehend languages. Shall have to remember this for next time.

i didnt know we were going to pick.the lock? sawyer had agreed with Stan that it would.flood.the caves if i failed.

I guess I didn't gather that; I thought you said you were confident you could beat the lock without causing more damage.  Since you are trained in disabling devices, I agree it would be reasonable that you might be able to.  Raising the DC slightly to account for that, you still failed, but not by much.  With a little help from the others you may try again.

Opening the chest where it is might require a fair amount of finesse, however.

fair enough. and it was stans breathing underwater comments that was what made Sawyer descide against failing and flooding the cave. but if your game so am i. ill get it!

Reminder: please use and update the tracker thread to reflect your daily prepared spells, abilities, and action points.

Thanks

In fact, 3.5 had a prestige class (Thaumaturgist) just for summoning outsiders. It does not exist in Pathfinder. Stan isn't aware of such metagame concepts, but he does feel an acute sense of loss when he thinks on his plans for the future and feels them somehow... changed.

will the real Temp Player 19 please stand up?

@Brogan, you can only spontaneously cast curative spells by sacrificing other prepared spells in a given slot.  Unless you prepared the spell beforehand, you cannot substitute for it now.

...unless....
Unless you are wanting to use that hour you mentioned in-post to 'refresh' your daily spells?  Is that your intent?
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:18, Thu 23 May 2013.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 91):

Yeah, that's what I meant by taking an hour.

Rules-as-Written, I don't think you can do that since you prepared all your spell slots today. You could, if you had left one slot unprepared of the appropriate level.  However...

I really don't much care, as you are sacrificing an hour.  Given that, I don't see how allowing this could 'break' the game.  Does anyone else?
That being said, I am inclined to let you do it, under one condition: we agree that Stan, and the other spellcaster classes, is allowed to do the same thing.  A spellcaster may adjust prepared spells so long as they have not expended the spell slot, and doing so requires one hour of study/meditation/prayer/ect.

Does everyone agree, even non-casters; and if so, thoughts?

This is going to make spellcasters a lot more versatile. Maybe to the point of bad game design. I would certainly resent this if I were a martial character.

Under RAW you have to balance the versatility of open spell slots against the preparedness of filling them ahead of time. With this proposed house rule, you can have the best of both worlds: prepare spells for use now but change them later if your needs change.

If we adopt this house rule, it would be in our best interest for everyone to prepare the best offensive spells they have each morning. If later we need a floating disc or a remove disease we can just swap it out after an hour. Things like moving treasure and healing usually take place outside of combat so, from a player's perspective, this time is no cost at all. It's not problem to say "We sit around for an hour preparing the exact spell we need." I think the game could get less challenging and more tedious.

This might be even more game-changing for clerics than wizards, since clerics now have 1-hour access to every restorative spell they could possibly cast. What if we get poisoned or level drained? One hour and Brogan can prepare all the right spells. Sure, clerics can always spontaneously cast cure spells but there's a reason the game makes you choose between offensive spells, utility spells, and restorative spells.

If we always had restorative spells at hand, there wouldn't be much risk from monsters that use status-based attacks, because we'll heal any condition (disease, silence, petrification, etc) an hour after combat.

So, I mean, as a caster and a potential target of monster effects, I obviously love the proposed rule. But as someone who wants to have fun and be challenged, I don't know. I think a better solution is to encourage casters to leave one or two slots open and use the 15-minute midday prep under RAW. (It only takes 15 minutes per 1/4 of your spell slots, so usually with one or two open you are spending a quarter of an hour, not a full hour). That way if we anticipate unknown challenges we have to choose between combat readiness and future versatility, instead of getting both at once.

[Like]<------this is me hitting the like button!

Which post are you liking?

Wow, I completely misread the rule on preparing spells, thinking it meant spend an hour to readjust.  A little annoyed at my sudden inability to read.

That said, no, I don't really want to make that house rule.  I, personally, have no intention of breaking the game, but that doesn't mean I won't do it from another sudden onset of illiteracy.

Dungeon Master,

 Have we explored everything there is as far as we can tell?

In reply to Stan Fetchin (msg # 98):

Yes sir

In reply to Stan Fetchin (msg # 96):

yours

Hi all,
I'm going to rule against my proposed house-rule, and hold that Brogan isn't able to swap those spells at this time.

what was in that other chest

In reply to Cpt. Sawyer Sinclaire (msg # 102):

The loot thread has been updated

can we assume we already divided it up equally, as far as gems and coins go? Sawyer has no interest in the potionsand would be willing to let rey have the Kicks if he wanted them. .......Sawyer has what he needs


also, he is More then willin to trade his coinage for gems with anyone. he......he like gems. like alot. they feel more like true pirate treasure to him over coins.
#gemsaholics anonymous
This message was last edited by the player at 16:47, Wed 05 June 2013.

As I failed to mention it in an earlier post, Stan and Clementine arrive after Brogan.  You can all post as if you are in the Shivering Cat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pabst_Blue_Ribbon

i stopped postin as i assume a 10 fails?

you got this stan

Brogan's next check is the one that counts.  Remember, you all have 1 Action Point you may use to re-roll a failed check (at the time of the failure).

doesnt Stan go first? oh my, this could get Bad. we might as well just Beat It. Brogan's skill challenges are defiantly a Thriller. And for the record he isalso a Pretty Young Thing.......lol!

Don't look at me, I rolled a 9.  But I could get us in. I am a Smooth Criminal.

thats what im talkin bout. I wouldnt even care if you were Black or White!!!!

Oh snap! I'm sorry, Stan does go first.  It's all up to Stan for this leg of the challenge.

The Girl is Mine!!!

Man, you guys aren't making this easy for me... ;)
You all passed your checks, and may continue.

I failed this one just to make it easier for you.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:11, Thu 11 July 2013.

Haha! Touché.

Quick question, are you, as a group, doing this extended skills challenge as if you were all together?  I mean, are all of you with the old guy burning papers?  Or did you split up?

Pretty sure we split up.

I'm chilling with my new BFFs.

Okay then.

Having finished a delicious meal at 5 successes, Brogan continued his search.

Where every course is a success.

you know what would be awesome- if Brogan helped create 2 sucesses with one roll with Aid Another!


stupid dc, stupid dice roller
This message was last edited by the player at 12:32, Thu 25 July 2013.

Caaaaaaarl, what's wrong with you?

Well, I kill people and eat their hands, that's two things.

What's up, fellow players? Just waiting in the water, I see.

Commoners...

just waiting for ranger jim, whos taking his sweetass time on vacay. #sharknado vs. bearcano

dont be afraid to lie to her and take her offer!!!!

That doesn't seem to be in Stan's character.

Additionally, please refresh yourselves in the elements of underwater combat.


http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamema...OC-Underwater-Combat

DM is right. I must escape according to my own particular idiom.

I'll be around, kind of.  Internet's super spotty, though.

let me know if you are ok with what Sawyer said to you. if not ill recant. I thought with our age(i believe..) and backgrounds the same(Child/teen) it would be neet. Let me know.

@Stan, attacking Gut Tugger with Ignis requires a ranged touch attack (the creature is adjacent to you now, and threatening). The attack is ranged and therefore would provoke an AoO. Do you still want to?
Further, you are currently flanked by the thug and Gut Tugger.

@Brogan, don't forget to control the eel you summoned.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:26, Tue 13 Aug 2013.

#5FS, #sharkweek=sharkweak, #FinishHim

Yup, just remembered.  I edited my earlier post.

Okay, I'll edit my post.

@Stan, since we have not yet resolved your round II action, I would be open to rewriting/retcon'ing your actions for that round. You initially said you were going to continue attacking Gut Tugger unless she [Rowyn] ended hostiles, which she hasn't exactly. Using Ignis within 5 ft of an enemy provokes an AoO. Further, so does retrieving items (potion of Invisibility), as well as drinking it.
Also, this might not come add a surprise--which is why I'm telling you--but Gut Tugger has scent, so his attack would stand. The only thing I would need to redo if you decide to draw and drink your potion is the two thugs who shot at you with the poison bolts.
Please let me know what you want to do.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Also, perhaps it would be wise to at least consider the possibility that some, if not all, of these rogues might have the Combat Reflexes feat. Just sayin'.

---

Stan has no idea what combat reflexes are. He spent his youth reading and farming. That said, 5+ attacks of opportunity sound painful.

Sorry to be a rules lawyer but is there any way I could 5-foot-step out of danger before quaffing the potion? Even if I could just avoid being threatened by the thug (thereby avoiding approx. 4 AOOs), I'd be happy.



In the interest of not holding up the game, I will post what I want to do. If it's doable, good. If not, just assume Stan used the withdraw action rather than drinking any potions. In that case, he would just try to get as far away from the enemies and/or as close to Clementine as possible.


5-foot step away from the thug (even if it means still being threatened by Gut Tugger)
Move action: retrieve potion (provoking AOO based on new position)
Standard: quaff potion of invisibility (provoking AOO based on new position)

#5FS

In reply to Stan Fetchin (msg # 137):

You absolutely can take a 5 ft step before you retrieve and drink your potion. That's precisely what I was wanting you to say.

#tactics

Working on an update

stone cold et wants ta get me some whitecastle cheese burgers. with a little onion, with a little meat can ya give me a hell yeah. stone cold et wants a full belly before whippin some ass, and thats the bottom line. #texasrattlesnake

Stan, can I get an official third round post?

Geez! I just remembered that Gut Tugger had Combat Reflexes...

As far as Stan knows, what happens when Clementine's body comes in contact with fire?

I guess that depends on how much the two of you have experimented before this point...  Jokes and rubbish aside, you would know that demons are not immune to flame (balors use their whips on their own soldiers as much as their enemies), but many do resist it.
That being said, I should bring to mention that since Clementine's escape, many of her powers and abilities have been a little screwy.

Yeah, I figured as much. Thanks.

After seeing my wife for the first time I must say... yowzas.

I don't play with portraits on but this one was worth the series of clicks.

If it wasn't what you expected, you may send me a PM with a description and I'll find a more appropriate avatar.

Description: She can look like whatever she wants whenever she wants. :P

i think her avatar doesnt match what i pictured her looking like, but she aint my wife.

I thought Full Defense was my round 4 action?

Re: Portraits: After thoroughly combing through the pictures of (often insufficiently clothed) women, I think I've settled on one I like. Could you use fh19058?  (That's in the category female 19th century, but it's tagged as a screencap from the Tudors). I love that it's tagged as both "Medieval" and "Old West".

Since you're the DM here's a list of other ones I liked. You can use one of these or pick your own based on the general trend:

fh19058

fh19035
fh19066  

ffw021

ffr024
ffr010

seems Stanzi likes blondes!!! nice.  these ones aint bad too Stan:

ffd182
ffd240
ffd353


& ffd428


and for das shytes uhnd googles mmr073. that one is from Brogan
This message was last edited by the player at 13:21, Fri 30 Aug 2013.

damn it, i accidently changed mine to this crap....

In reply to Stan Fetchin (msg # 152):

You're right, but I thought with Gut Tugger dead on your Initiative, there is nothing threatening you. Nothing to defend against during your turn.
Gut Tugger will stand up after your turn though, that much is obvious--and if you stay adjacent to it, you can AoO against it.

In reply to Cpt. Sawyer Sinclaire (msg # 153):

I wasn't even considering demi-humans for some reason. ffd331 is probably how she looks in her "natural" state.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 155):

How to be a wizard: Ponder counterspells. Look it up. Find out you have to ready action. Decide that's rather metagamey. Try to dispel an undead creature. Find out instantaneous effects can't be dispelled. Consider dispelling the wand. Initiative order is wrong.

Abandon urge to be creative in magical problem solving.

Fireball.

http://danielauhlig.deviantart...s-mein-Pony-90541892

In reply to Stan Fetchin (msg # 156):

That's one way to about wrap up a combat encounter...  ;p

Uhhhh... follow the trail of bodies?

I haven't given the characters any reason to believe that she might be here, but I guess your character's really don't know. All Reynold said was that she is in danger.

A wench... handle?

In reply to Stan Fetchin (msg # 161):

Sorry, I meant winch.

Less exciting.

theyre taking the hobbits to Isengard
This message was last edited by the player at 10:17, Fri 18 Oct 2013.

to Isengard to Isengard.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Stan's Midterms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?f...ed&v=GKm7NloL8bA

Brogan's player: how old is Brogan? What's he look like? I get the sense that he's young and grew up on the streets but I'd like to know more.

Brogan is in his early twenties.  He has dirty blonde hair, and dark green eyes.  His eyes sparkle with childlike joy.  However, there's an inner sadness.  He has several noticeable scars on his face, but nothing overly terrifying.

is the straight from his "yé-Harmony " add?
#lol,oldtimeyfun!

I assume I have the ring since I'm the one who searched Penkus' body?

I'm using my free daily identify. I'd roleplay it in the IC thread but I want to give the others a chance to post.
22:19, Today: Stan Fetchin rolled 27 using 1d20+23. Spellcraft to identify Penkus' ring.

Hey Mr. GM,

 From now on when you post loot could you also post a link to the post where we gain said loot, if not too much trouble? I have all this stuff and I don't remember where it came from or what its exact properties are.

 Thank you, almighty giver of loot!

Working on an update...

Should have reliable net access tonight but maybe not until tomorrow.

Posting this afternoon. Thanks for your patience. Hope everyone had a happy holiday.

i should have a post up later today

Have I ever mentioned that Brogan is an amateur rapper?  Yeah, true story.

raper? #didyousay....wood!?!?!?

I am going to be out of town from Jan 8 until Jan 19. I should be able to check in from my phone but I might have better things to do.

#MissyoumostofallSawyer
#HaLookEveryoneElseJustKidding
#SeriouslyThoughSawyer, WinkWink

#akwardmomements
#carelesswispers

If Brogan doesn't post his arrival at Stan's by tonight, I'll forward the scene.

So are you guys all tabletop gaming buddies in the real world?

I just realized I completely forgot to warn her that she's in danger.

yes

In reply to Stan Fetchin (msg # 182):

Yeah. I've been playing with Sawyer since 2003, and Brogan since 2008.

Hope everything's alright.

Slow posting on my phone. Expect an update(s) today.

Can't see any side quest thread.

Just posted it. Sorry, thought I had more time.

Shh, they'll take away my Lawful Neutral card.

Edit: If I had to guess your alignments, I'd say Sawyer CG leaning towards CN, Brogan NG leaning towards CG.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:47, Thu 24 Apr 2014.

cn

Anyone here?

I know right!!!!

Mr. Gm,

 For story reasons I'm pretty sure we are not just going to teleport to Kraken's cove. That said, what excuse is there to stop us? My family seems to be capable of hopping from dimension to dimension with the blink of an eye; can they not use this power to go to Kraken's cove?

Again, I fully expect a harrowing adventure and I'm sure that, like Tolkien's eagles, there is some good reason why these guys won't be our magical taxi cabs.

 So basically, tell me why I can't do this awesome thing or else Stan is going to adopt the simple, obvious, non-adventurous solution.

This is a great conversation to have in-game, amongst the party members and Stan's family. I can, of course, lay out a few reasons here and ruin potentially great roleplaying scenes.
Think of it this way: teleport might be the first thing Stan thinks of -- and that's fine.  It fits his character, fits the setting, and fits the situation.  Maybe there's more here, maybe there's not. Perhaps teleport is the "right" solution to a grander problem. Maybe not.
I isn't an accident that the last adventure may have seemed too easy. Right now you three are big fish in a relatively small pond. That could set you up for things further on. Or perhaps not.

Outside of the potential roleplaying scene, allow me to tell you what Stan knows even before you might have him bring it up:
Teleport is a spell from the fifth circle (5th level), which he would know is beyond him at this point. He could certainly find the means to  the spell cast for him, however it will be costly and time consuming. The price for a spell like that would easily become even more inflated as he is not a member of the Witchwardens.
And we are talking low level teleport too. Without ever having been there, the chance for the spell to go wild is very good.

But I also know you are referencing the fantastic ways Clementine and Demios have hopped hither and thither in the past. To that, and for the sake of roleplaying, I say, have Stan ask them.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
#evillaugh

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 19:31, Mon 19 May 2014.

RPoL called to say:

It's been one week since you looked at me,
hit "reply" and narrated D&D.
five days since you Pirates II'd,
so hit "update thread" and let's RPG, dude.

I will execute a halfling every half hour until the gm posts.

Hey, where'd all our halflings go?

Sorry, my wife had a baby. I'm working on a post now.

Does your wife know that you're sorry she had a baby? :P

Congratulations!

Thank you. And I'm sure she's aware.
How are you guys?

Uh, we're fine.  Everything's fine.  How are you?

Who is this? What's your operating number?

Edit: currently reading Splinter of the Mind's Eye as my bathroom book. I'm only on the first 6 pages and about 4 of those are Luke pining after Leia.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:46, Thu 12 June 2014.

[Porn was here, accidentally.]

#WhyInternetWhy
This message was last edited by the player at 16:41, Sun 06 July 2014.

This concludes my boring day.

[Porn was here?! #WTFinternet]
This message was last edited by the player at 16:40, Sun 06 July 2014.

Wtf Stan. BBW desires?!?!?!? #goodgame

Breaking news just in to our desk folks. After an 11 year hiatus, the CEO of Evil Alien Records has just announced he is reopening the doors to the record company.  Fans might remember some of their 2003 hits such as Work It and PartyBoy2003 among others. No word on any artists already lined up to work with them but as soon as the news spreads, it'll only be days before we find out who the next artist to sign with the label will be. Very 3xciting news indeed!

In reply to Cpt. Sawyer Sinclaire (msg # 205):

Does she look big in the picture? It's the actress who was originally slated to play Daenerys (sp.?) in Game of Thrones and I thought she was rather skinny.

Anytime I click the link I get redirected to random porn sites........

Oh man, that sucks. Guess I should have gone with a more reliable image host. Sorry all. Going to edit now.

I use photobucket.

Anyway, I'm working on an update.

No doubt converting us to 5e D&D now that the starter set has dropped.

(Just kidding)

I signed up for the beta test, and wasn't terribly impressed. I also grabbed the free pdf from the Wotc website. I haven't yet read completely through it yet. I still think Paizo does it better.
I do have some ideas for a one shot adventure I want to put together and run using Next characters. If/when I do, I'll let you all know. =)
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:53, Wed 09 July 2014.

Sorry kids, I got horribly distracted by a mobile phone game. But I've beaten it so I'm good for now.
Working on updates...

Nice

Ive been gone for too long. Im back

Awesome! What do you need from me in order to get back into the swing of things?

Ask him for booze!

Booze. I choose booze

#booze

I for one have nothing to add until we get the Rusty Bucket.

Edit: Pirate, bucket,whatever.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:51, Wed 24 Sept 2014.

I updated!

Okay, so I'm feeling slightly mischievous.  But it counts!

Sawyer, you are going to be late to your own backstory!

You guys should use your thanksgiving to get away from your annoying in laws and go on rpol instead.

Welcome back Brogan! You can stabilize/heal Adoward if you like. You have a round or two to do stuff if you'd like, to catch back up. You also would have heard Clementine's warning to Stan. Perhaps keeping Sawyer safe might prove more useful.

Gotta save Cobb. If you die down here, you get stuck in limbo forever.

I suppose we're not actually in the past and I'm not actually leaving someone to die.

Dear almighty DM,

 In the future, please house-rule grapple to be easier to understand.

I don't think it's that hard. It just doesn't seem to come up a lot. You'll get used to it. ;)

I found a good article at dorkistan.com that explained it quite comprehensively. It took awhile to understand, though.

Aside from, the grappler makes a CMB check against the grapplee's CMD? Or do you mean, what the grappling condition entails, mechanically?

It was mostly the question of who makes checks when. Because one person does it every round, the other only to switch positions or try to escape. This article used the terms "Primary grappler" and "Secondary grappler and it really clarified it for me."

That, and the question of what exactly a grappled person can and can't do. (Apparently, for example, one-handed spells are okay?)

What is this part saying?

Should have read:

What was wild before now seems tame as chaos envelops the room.

Expect a new post today.

Can you remind me who this Adoward guy is? It's been awhile. And also, is he disguised as a child, or is he just short, or what? I think I'm missing the point a bit.

(Sorry)

It's cool. It has been awhile, and I think Stan maybe never caught his name. Adoward Alliertese was Hector Sinclaire's handler with the Azure Guard. He was the officer you were helping before he got shot in the face as the Old Clipper Hotel was taking off. It probably wasn't addressed at length earlier, but he is a gnome.

Brogan and Sawyer, jump in here whenever. Let me know when you get back on.

That was a cool scene with Ge but I didn't really have anything to say about it in character. It was appreciated, though.

I'm sorry man! I didn't mean to railroad you or the story. It's true I am trying to kind of quickly tie up loose ends from my notes to get into the actual adventure; but if you feel I am moving too fast or diminishing your creative control, I can pump the breaks a bit.
Do you mean how he opened the letter? Or what he looks like? I took his description from a post you made at the end of the last adventure, There Is No Honor.

If you'd like, we can go back a post or two and fix something?

No, I wasn't complaining! I was just saying that the narration you gave of Ge opening the letter was really cool.

I felt bad because I didn't really have any way to convey that in character, so I thought I'd mention it in OOC. Otherwise you might think your creative energy was going to waste, which it isn't.

Oh, I see. Thank you!

Is there any reason I wouldn't just take as many NPCs as I think I can trust? I mean, there are downsides to a bigger party, but surely they are outweighed by the advantages of more sword-arms in a fight?

I probably wouldn't trust Demios (he has been shifty and emo so far), but the other two I would probably take barring some pressing reason not to.

These are great questions! And to be honest, I really wish I had previously begun thinking about a way to work it out. As I see thinks right now:
I think it is cheap to set a limit as to how many allies you can have with you. However, as this is a tabletop game with real consequences for the poor DM, I'm sureyou uunderstand that I don't want to run every character on the proverbial board.
I also don't want to grant you Leadership as a bonus feat and push it all off onto you (also feels like limiting).

How about this... you could potentially take along everyone, but some NPCs won't go along if you have others that the distrust or regularly quarrel with. For example, it's no secret that Reynold doesn't like Clementine, and he won't go along if she does.
And,aas I write this, I am thinking it could be fun to require you to pick up on your allies' stance with each other as the story progresses.
Further, I think I will have Brogan and Sawyer pop in and out as your decisions align (or not) with their character goals.
Lastly, consider other options, like splitting the party. Perhaps it might make sense for you to ask Sawyer and Demios to go off for something while you and Reynold do something else.

What are your thoughts?

I like it. And it makes sense (in story) to split the party, so that's a good in-game reason for something that will save us both a lot of bookkeeping on the meta level.

Do you need anything else from me?

Sorry, I forgot it was my turn. I will post tonight.

I'm sure I've gotten you so used to waiting on me, when there is a lull, it stands to season it is probably my fault. ;-)

No need to feel guilty! You are by far the most reliable RPoLer I know.

I'm not really sure how to prepare or what to do. I appreciate the chance to get ready before the adventure, and I am not bored by the preparation per se (I actually like some of this around-the-house roleplaying and character development), it's just that I have no clue what I should be doing at this point.

One thing I might try is turning Ge into a parrot, since we are doing a pirate adventure.

Really, it is up to you. Reynald will contact you again in two hours as to if he could convince the Hinterlight to take you to Kraken's Cove or not. Brogan will be getting things from his temple that might be helpful (potions, scrolls, etc). But he is currently only thinking about curative needs your party might need during your adventure.
You posted that you wanted to get mundane disguises for you and whomever is going with you. That shouldn't be too difficult, or expensive. You might even have gaudy "pirate" clothes in your house.

I wasn't sure if you wanted to use this time to work on your relations with the Witchwardens, seekout Adoward, or do something else. You can also pen scrolls, or try to change Gé again.
If it were me, I would be shopping for items and spells I thought might be helpful in a short sea-voyage along the coast, a trek through the jungle, and dealing with pirates and Venthas.

---

RE Gé: I know what the rules are for dismissing and re-summoning familiars, but I am running Gé a little differently. Because of your story bond with him, I will allow you to rush the process a little bit. For example, rules-as-written, you can only re-summon a slain or dismissed familiar after a week since losing it, and at a material cost of 200 gp/Wizard level. And the ritual lasts 8 hours.
I am going to honor those rules, but as the safe and ideal way of summoning one's familiar. However, because of your background, you can attempt to re-summon Gé immediately after he is slain/dismissed, and the ritual can last as long as it takes with regards to the narrative,but the material cost remains the same. Further, rush-summoning in this way is risky and will carry with it potential dangers; such as mistakenly summoning  Gé's spirit to an incorrect host, or attracting unwanted attention.
You currently re-summoned him less than 24 hours ago.

Okay, I'll keep it in mind. I don't really need to change him for tactical or roleplaying reasons, I just thought it would be cool to have a parrot around when we are doing pirate stuff. Maybe I will have Stan just pick up a mundane parrot while he's out running errands.

Will post sometime tomorrow most likely.

You could get a hat of disguise for him.

Also, don't forget that you have 3,000 gp in addition to your loot and equipment to purchase additional equipment and supplies.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:24, Thu 12 Nov 2015.

Couldn't wait to Spelljam, huh?

Ha! I've been Jamming since the jump. It's part of Sawyer's background. Remember, this is Pirates II, after all. As I'm sure you know now, I tend to play with time and dimensions rather haphazardly.

Oh, also - it stands to reason that Stan would know the other "PCs" (Brogan, Reynold, and Sawyer) have money too and shouldn't always be stuck with the bill. You can have them chip in too.

Yeah. Those bums!

Welcome back Sawyer! Hopefully you are here to stay?

I always knew Sawyer was a bums man.

Found some really hi-res Greyhawk maps today. Number 5 covers the Azure Sea area and, consequently, Sasserine.

http://ghmaps.net/greyhawk-maps/flaness-map-download/

Also found some one-page Spelljammer rules.

http://blogofholding.com/wp-co...2015/06/laststep.png

I should have all my spells back, right?

Yes sir.

Who or what is Ogden? (Or does Stan not know?)

Ogden was the proprietor/barkeep in Oubliette.

Okay, I just went back an reread that part of the old thread. Good times.

But I'm still not sure what Brogan means. As far as I know there was no connection between Ogden and Brogan. Is this the first that Stan is hearing about it?

I know that I just had him walk out of the scene, but maybe you should ask him. I mean, on the surface, there isn't an obvious connection. And looking back at my writing, I don't think the clue I dropped was very good.

Or you can read this spoiler:

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
In message #91 in the Bullywug Gambit thread, there is another voice in the cabin.

---

Yup, I got that. It was a fine clue as far as clues go, maybe just a bit too subtle.

Brogan's little dropped line is believable as a realistic conversation. As far as narrative dialogue conventions go, I was expecting a little less credit to my intelligence. :)

Yesterday got away from me. Thanks for your patience!

Oh my God, an entire day without posting on RPoL, what is wrong with you you sick sick man?

Just a quick reminder, the Lotus Dragons thieves guild was owned by Rowyn Kellani (whom the party defeated in the guild hall below Dead Dog Alley in Sasserine). Upon further investigation of the guild hall, the party was unable to locate Vanthus, but uncovered a plot of his to rob another band of pirates operating out of Kraken's Cove (see message #629 in thread There is No Honor).
Although Vanthus is in a serious relationship with Rowyn, he is also involved with another young woman named Brissa, who supposedly has ties to the Crimson Fleet (another, larger criminal organization). He and Brissa left Sasserine under the guise of joining the pirates in Kraken's Cove, but really seeking to rob them in order to further line the Lotus Dragons coffers.

Extra credit opportunity:  I am working on putting together a d20 Modern campaign set in a XCrawl League-esque setting (dungeon crawling as an extreme sport in a dystopian future). The actual dungeon crawling itself will be the backdrop, an afterthought element of the game. The real meat is what happens between the crawls.
I need ideas about what the real meat is. That is to say, what is really going on.
The crawls are lethal, so the league killing players isn't a good hook. I also feel like ratings isn't really something I can press as the sport dominates the media.

What nefarious things can the Big Bad be up to?

I'll think about it. Is it like Arnold Schwarzenegger's Running Man?

Yeah, Running Man plus Rollerball.

So one idea I've had is that the extreme dungeons are not actually controlled by the league, but are in fact something else. Maybe an alien spaceship, or a Skaven warren, or demons welling up, or whatever.

In the public's eye, the league makes the dungeon and controls every aspect of it.

In reality, the dungeon comes from some outside force and this dungeon is malevolent towards our species. The league and the government keep this a secret, and use contestants as pawns to reconnoitre the dungeon and defeat the dungeon's true masters.

Contestants and the public think league crawls are an extreme sport, when in fact they are our species' struggle for survival , broadcast on TV. Another reason they are broadcast is so that the public at large knows how to defeat different parts of the dungeon, in case the menace ever ceases to be contained.

Every good little boy who watches the league crawls knows how to defeat a psychic fungus (or whatever threat), so if the fungus ever spreads beyond the dungeon the government has already prepared its citizens.

The league would be immoral and very dirty, but would at least be practical and serious about keeping the real menace at bay.

As far as adventures to discover what's really going on, it could involve off-air investigation in the world at large, or the dungeon crawlers could discover a new part of the dungeon that makes it clear something is amiss, or maybe the containment starts to break down and the PCs have to restore the magic/psychic/force barriers keeping it contained.

And Aboleths are probably involved.

I had also been thinking about aliens or demons too, but am hesitant as they seem to be the go-to bad guys these days. My initial ideas were: aliens are controlling the government and the Earth and XCrawl is a reality TV show other aliens watch; or the government is run by a shadow cabal of demon worshipers who ate seeking to summon/appease a powerful demon with the bloodsport.
But don't these plots seem kind of played out? Pre-chewed, tasteless?
What if it is more character driven? Smaller stories that involve the characters expressly?

Man, I don't know... I feel lost.

I don't want you to think that I am shooting down your ideas. I like them and I value your opinion. Otherwise I wouldn't have asked you.
After sleeping on it, I feel that your mentioning aliens/demons is a good thing, as I was thinking along similar lines. To me, it's confirmation I'm on the right track.

No worries.

I think a backdrop of gonzo, dystopian futuresports makes it kind of hard to tell a character-driven story. That's not to say you can't tell that kind of story in a dystopia. I actually think it's the gameshow part that makes it hard to do a character-driven story.

Imagine if your game was about an ordinary gameshow. What kind of stories could you tell and what kinds couldn't you? The contestants would probably rotate regularly, many might lose early on, and it would be hard to focus on their personal dramas when everyone was more interested in their performance on the gameshow.

Now, if your game were about the hosts of the show and what they got up to after work, that might be interesting. Your PCs could be Evil Pat Sajack and Chaotic Neutral Alex Trebek^TM

Also, it's not your job to be original, it's your job to make sure your PCs have fun.

Have you ever seen, or are you familiar with, Speed Racer? I'm referring to the original run, from the 60s.

A long time ago.

It's how I imagine the format to be. Even though Speed was a racecar driver, and raced in many races (sometimes even in multiple races in a single episode), the show was never really about the races. It was about Speed's relationships, with Trixie, Spridle, and his father. It was about the mysterious Racer X, and the plots of the various bad guys involved in the races. Further, it was about Spridle's antics with Chim-Chim, Trixie's drama with her family, whether or not Racer X was Speed's lost brother, and about Speed's father never being able to create anything better than the Mach 5. There were robberies, fights, kidnappings, switcheroos, even an erupting volcano! It was more spy thriller than NASCAR.

And that's what I want to invoke. I want a hot shot extreme dungeon crawler with something to prove. I want tinker to help him/her. I want a hacker stealing digital lot and casting matrix spells. I want to create the space for the players to tell THEIR stories.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:47, Thu 03 Mar 2016.

You want the story to be heavily character-driven and even character-dependent. Therefore, don't try to figure out "what's really going on" in the sense of plot. If characters' stories, connections, and motivations will be driving the story, then you need to know the characters' stories, connections, and motivations before you even think about prepping story elements. Get input from the players about who the PCs are and what makes them tick. Only then will you have the materials you need to solve the problem you're trying to solve.

Read this recent blog post:

http://www.ruleofthedice.com/2...-old-is-exactly.html

and see if you can play "secret lab" with your players.

My two oldest sons (9 & 5) play Dungeon World! I have even ran a quick pick up game of White Plumb Mountain using Dungeon World rules. Before I saw this, I was going to ask you if you ever played Fate? It's similar to Dungeon World in a lot of respects, but still has more limits when it comes to powers, abilities, and storytelling options. If I had to compare the two systems, Dungeon World would be more kid friendly (not saying it's expressly for children), and Fate would be more geared toward adults.
Anyway, in Fate, the first game session is reserved for a collective world-building exercise by the GM and all the players. The first session is a turn based discussion, moderated by the GM, allowing the players to agree upon elements such as setting, scope, history, notable NPCs, villains, factions/power groups, and character building/backgrounds. Perhaps I would be best served doing that...
Because you are right, I just want to create the setting for them. The rest at least in the beginning) is up to them.

I played a Spirit of the Century one shot. That is one of the oldest Fate games. Instead of shared worldbuilding, the players have to create plot summaries for the pulp novels that their heroes star in.

I think Dresden Files is Fate based. It has elaborate systems for jointly creating cities, factions, and plot hooks.

Oh, I forgot! You earned an additional Action Point for today after the last encounter.

I added Gé's stat block to the bottom of your character sheet. He's a bit more capable than he let's on. He should be more helpful to you now that you know his abilities.
Despite his shitty initiative, he can always act on your initiative. Unless he's being particularly lazy, then he is content to just hide.

'Outta sight outta mind, right, Boss?' -Gé

Thanks, Ge is always a lot of fun.

Is this next area on the way to where we're going, or is it something we can just bypass?

It is the next area if you keep advancing through the complex. There was a branch back in the initial tunnel (before the mess hall), and the rickety bridge out on the beach.

***Spoilers***

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Behind the GM's curtain: I am trying to streamline this maze of a dungeon crawl. Although even I won't speak of possible secret passages here, all obvious roads will lead you to the silk curtain room.

---

Okay, thanks. I do appreciate your penchant for streamlining dungeons, I think it improves the play-by-post experience.

Unrelated note, I just looked at Demios' inventory for the first time and everything in there reads like something out of a metal album.

I agree. I've run and played in games here that burn out in the minutia of prolonged dungeon crawling. I love crawling as much as the next guy, but they are difficult in the Play-by-Post medium. Don't get me wrong, I have allowed for player choices; but in this particular scenario, the silk curtain room is, if this were a Zelda game, the mini boss.
I've basically put together a flow chart of the dungeon's essential encounters, and the silk curtain room is a choke-point on the chart.

And, yes! Of course Demios is metal. :D

I don't know why but twice now I've accidentally started a new PM thread when trying to reply. I apologize because those things are breeding like drunken tribbles.

Alright, I believe I got Brogan, Demios, and Gé up to speed. Let me know if you see anything strange or blatantly wrong.

#gameon

Stan should have 3 slots for 3rd level spells.

Yep. After he rests.

Yeah, I thought of that after posting. As a follow up (Yay pathfinder rules) would his Ioun stone's enhancement to intelligence affect his spells per day? Some items indicate that their stat boosts are temporary for the first 24 hours and permanent after that, but Ioun stones don't seem to say either way.

Yes, it will increase your spells per day, and their DCs, etc.

I imagine it's easier to remember these kinds of things when one loads a character sheet into "ram" for 4 hours per session rather than trying to remember everything for PbP. Thanks for putting up with my inability to remember basic Pathfinder rules.

When I was running Ashlyn and Urik I had to look up channel energy EVERY SINGLE time I used it because I could not remember how many dice it used or how many times per day it was available.

I should also have 8 bonus languages... I'm sure that's made a huge difference so far.

Oops! Go ahead and let me know which to add to your sheet. You cannot choose secret languages (such as Druidic), or Dwarven.

Also, I've opened up a new closed thread where I will be showcasing some new items and spells I've been playing around with. If you are interested, please let me know what you think of them.

I'll check it out.

I have no interest in choosing Dwarven, but can I ask why it's forbidden? Is it a cool world-building detail?

Please add Abyssal, Terran (Ge's language at the moment, I presume), Halfling, and Gnome. Now try to work each one into the game somehow.  :P

I like both those items. I believe our party found some Kicks awhile back.

Sky King's decoder ring is by far my favorite of the two. It has a lot more flavor to it. I think Kicks would appeal to someone who is more interested in the mechanical/gamist side of the game, and it's cool that you can design to both crowds (What MTG commentators would call "vorthos" and "melvin" gamers.)

I don't know if it is "cool," but in my games dwarves are usually more secretive than they are traditionally presented these days. They are, as I see it, more removed from the surface world than most of the other core races. I tend to play them as an old race (as old as the elves), but relative newcomers to the surface. Those eager to fit in are more willing to learn the surface languages of the communities they've immigrated to, than teach others theirs.

I'll add those languages to your sheet.

Gé actually has been speaking Abyssal, which is how Demios and Clementine can understand him. You can also understand him because of his Speak with Master ability he enjoys since you were 5th level when he hit the scene. But since you also, technically, spoke Abyssal since then too, it's moot I suppose.

Another quirk in my games, Halfling is used as a universal trade-language. Most pseudo-human civilizations use it as such. But why, you ask? Isn't that exactly what Common really is? A common trade language every creature with a prime Int score knows for exactly that purpose?
Yes. You're right. Common is the trade language humans use in human communities. It has always set badly with me, imagining families sitting around the hearth saying shit like, 'Mum, I love your grams,' or, 'Thanks son! Now eat your tonnes before they get cold.'
So should I go full Greenwood and have every country in my game world have there own language? Maybe. But if I did, I'd feel obligated to likewise have additional, ethnic languages for the elves and gnomes and orcs too. And maybe I will some day. Once I get paid to do this shit.

---

Thanks for the feedback about the items. I hope to get more up as I get time to post them. Expect to see some in-game. :)

Regarding solo skill challenges, only PCs can take part in them. In this case, only Brogan and Stan. Friendly NPCs can help, but only to potentially grand bonuses. In lieu of your turn you can have an NPC take an action vs DC 10 to gain a floating +2 circumstance bonus to your next roll. Skill restrictions still apply. An NPC's failure will never result in a penalty, nor count as a failure on the Successes Tracker. Only one NPC can attempt to give a bonus per round.

Also, don't be afraid to take over the narrative during your turn in skill challenges. During the players' turns, I am handling over the storytelling reigns. It's a creative, co-operative storytelling trust exercise.

Happy St Patrick's day!
I've opened up the Factory thread so that you can post there too. Feel free to post any new items (magical or mundane) or spells you've created.
Sorry I didn't open it initially. It just dawned on me this morning that you might want to contribute too.

Don't really have any to be honest.

Would it be appropriate to have Stan direct Ge, and then roll Ge's skill, or can I only rely on Stan's abilities?

Since Stan and Gé are bonded, you may use Gé in place of Stan.

How are you doing? Need some help?

I'm fine. Just busy keeping strippers out of jail. (True story.)

Sha-whaaat? That's awesome! Anything you can talk about?

Not really, it's mostly privileged. That's the tough part about my job, I'm not really allowed to share the dramatic moments - good or bad.

I understand completely. I work in Reinsurance, which is insurance for Insurance companies. I work with a lot of Privileged information.
No worries. :-)

How are you liking the game this far? Are things progressing too fast? Do you feel you have enough freedom?

I think I will sound ungrateful no matter what I say, and it's kind of in my nature to complain about my lot even if I am getting exactly what I asked for.

For example, when we were in Sasserine doing talking and intriguing and setting up, I felt like there was not enough guidance and not enough combat. And now that we're on the mission, it feels like a series of railroaded combat encounters. I asked for the opposite of Sasserine and I got it, and now I kind of miss the Sasserine style of roleplaying.

I think you strike a good balance overall, but it might be good to switch more frequently between heavy roleplaying and combat. This lair has been several fights in a row. Maybe that's how Paizo wrote it, but I'd like some meaningful out of combat choices to spice things up.

Part of the problem is definitely my character build, too. A scholar going up against a bunch of crazed cultists and monsters? Sometimes I feel like Deckard Cain trying to take on Diablo single-handedly. I know the NPCs are here, and they're a huge help, but it doesn't always feels heroic to let them handle every fight.

If I didn't have to worry about blowing my load of spells each day, I would be more open to an epic/heroic mode of combat. I'm not sure if you'd be open to some kind of recharge magic variant or something else that takes some of the worry out of spell use. As it is, I try to stay out of the way, hide, and only use spells if I can justify the expenditure.

You don't sound ungrateful at all. And I appreciate the feedback. When I ask for it, I'm not looking for any confirmation that you love what I'm doing, but real, honest criticism. I can definitely use what you've given me here.
It is true that this section of the adventure is a bit of a railroad, as I have had to streamline the dungeon crawl a bit, and it's very combat heavy. Even as the Savage Tide adventure path is written, there will be heavy combat sections and heavy roleplay sections. However I don't want Paizo to be the final word on the campaign. It's very easy for GMs to say, the adventure is just written that way, there's nothing I can do. But I say, bullshit.
The adventure path is only a guideline, and I can (and will) make changes to anything I feel necessary to keep my players engaged.
Honestly, I didn't know you wanted more combat while in Sasserine, and the events in this adventure thus far probably would have happened as they did anyway for reasons that will be revealed to the characters shortly. However, you've given me some advice that I think I can use to make this better. I'm going to try something else for the next dungeon crawl and see where it goes.

In the meantime, don't worry too much about your character build. I want you to play the character you want to play, and am willing to allow changes as issues come up. If you want to make a change, just let me know. In my opinion, you shouldn't need to though.
I have been thinking about incorporating some kind of way for spellcasters to regain spells throughout the day without undermining existing items and class abilities, and without overpowering casters.

I'll kick around my ideas a little more. Thanks again for the feedback!

If I were to put up a quest-tracker or a points-of-interest thread, do you think that might help combat the sense of guidelessness that sometimes occurs in the game? Or might that fell too video gamey?

I think that would be a big help.

I put up a preliminary Points of Interest thread that we can use to track plot points and other stiff. Let me know what you think, if I missed anything, or anything else.

It looks really good, and it has already improved my handle on what's going on. Also glad to see you are embracing table code.

Is it possible to make things worse by trying to aid? If not, I see no reason not to try.

Thanks! I used to try to make shit look pretty years ago, but since I post 99% off the time from my phone, coding becomes that much more difficult. But, for you, Stan, I'll do what it takes to host the best possible game.

That being said, I really like the tracker too. In putting it together, I was forced to get my notes together and I realized that I had been neglecting to reveal some of your earned boons and other rewards (like Clementine's profane gift, which she would have given Stan everyday, whether he asked for it or not). I still have some work to do in there, but I think it's a great start.

If you try to aid, the absolute worst you can do is +0 to Brogan's check.

You may notice some changes/updates to some things. As the game progresses, things will obviously need updated; and I've also implemented a new Reputation system, which you will see added to your character sheet (just under your Languages).
This number should never be displayed on the Tracker thread as it pertains only to the characters (a lot like one's skills). It will also fluctuate as the game progresses, largely in line with the choices you make. Rarely you will be asked to roll a Reputation check, as most of the time I will roll them in secret to determine how those around you perceive your characters. However you should be aware of your character's score, as it represents their fame/infamy.
A positive score indicates a level of fame, whereas a negative score illustrates infamy. A score of 0 represents zero notoriety.

Further, you will see Relationship has been added to the Points of Interest thread, denoting the current relationship held with the NPC. These relationship labels reflect the best possible level with a given member of the party. For example, Clementine is Devoted to Stan but not Brogan or Sawyer, however because of her relationship with Stan, she can grant her Profane Gift to any member of the party--or even an NPC.
These Relationship statutes can--and will--change as the game progresses, largely driven by the choices the PCs make, but may also change due to outside forces or events. Pay close attention to these relationships, as they can provide the party a needed edge as you progress through the story.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or comments concerning these updates, or updates you'd like to see.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:34, Wed 30 Mar 2016.

This new twist is fun. I have always wondered if you would find a way to use Clementine as a challenge.

It seemed to me like she was too devoted to ever present much of a plot hurdle. It was nice to have an NPC who was just always there, but it also made me curious if the status quo would change someday. My worry was that it would seem forced.

By taking away her memories and devotion, you've found a way to stay true to her character but still leave room for personal conflict.

Bravo, sir, bravo.

Thank you. I had actually planned this from the beginning, at your first character pitch. Initially, I was going to have you adventure more before having Demios seek you out, and then the actual rescue in the Abyss was supposed to be much, much longer. And then, after all the trouble, I had planned on having her suffer from amnesia after you removed her dampening collar; but what with the way players were dropping out and with the our decision to pick up Pathfinder, it seemed artifical and more than a little punitive to hit Stan with it at that time.
Correct me if I have it wrong, but Stan's chief motivation is his wife. Your interest in my game would dry up fast if I kept withholding progress from him, especially if for no other reason than to do it. You're a really smart guy, and I know you'd see through that shit.
When we transitioned to Pathfinder and Savage Tide, I knew there would be a need for NPC companions. Plus, you have no knowledge of what my original Pirates campaign was about, unlike Brogan and Sawyer's players. So it seemed like the right thing to do when bringing you into the Pirates sequel, allowing you to bring in some demonic heat, so to speak.
However, what story gets better when the two lovers are allowed to be together during the other events driving the plot? None. Hell, even Gomez Addams had to fight to keep his family together.

I what to continue developing her as a character, and I thought this was a neat way to do it from the jump. Albeit, a bit clique (Overboard, anyone?). I'm glad we've made it this far. It's been a long time coming. Just you wait to see what I got cooking up for later...

Lol, I've never actually heard of that before. If anything, this twist made me think of a Magic: The Gathering article from awhile back. (Maybe because we're on ships, and this MTG story also took place on a ship, with a blonde hottie):



http://magic.wizards.com/en/ar...ht-report-2007-12-03
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 22:32, Thu 31 Mar 2016.

That's awesome! So you read the MtG books? I'd like to get into them, but don't know where to start.

Overboard is a 1980s movie with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. Goldie is a rich brat and gets amnesia after falling off her husband's yacht. Kurt (a single father of four) tricks her into thinking that they were married to each other.
It's a chick-flick.

Yeah, I looked it up on Wikipedia.

Since we're talking old movies and geek stuff, I should point out that there's an episode of Xena: Warrior Princess where Gabrielle wakes up underwater with no memories, and this nerdy guy from the show convinces her that they're married. For some reason this whole episode takes place in a weird mermaid world where everyone lives inside seashells and can breathe underwater. I dare you to use that for inspiration!

http://hercules-xena.wikia.com...ried_with_Fishsticks


That MTG stuff wasn't from the books, it's just from the backstory to the cardgame. Back in the day Wizards of the Coast was a lot more specific about the storyline shown on the cards (Specifically during the Tempest and Weatherlight sets.) It seems like they are going that way again now, actually. But anyway, Tempest was the most extreme in its use of game-as-story. Every card was basically a panel in a storyboard, so if you collected them all and put them in the right order (The order was not indicated on the cards), you would basically have a comic made up of Magic cards.

I hear the MTG books are crap though, so I'd stay away. I also hate other acclaimed Wizards' productions, like Ed Greenwood's books, so your mileage may vary.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 01:15, Fri 01 Apr 2016.

I just read the link I posted in the last post, and it says that episode of Xena was actually based on overboard. It's a powerful testament to the movie's plot that I recognized it from your brief description without ever having seen or heard of the film before.

I've long ago given up writing Xena/Gabby slash fiction. If the AoL moderators ever find me, I'll be in a world of trouble.
But rest assured, there will be a lot more seafaring adventures in Stan's future.

I guess I never realized how influential Overboard was on so many seemingly unconnected things. Perhaps I shouldn't judge my mother too harshly about making me watch it anymore.

I've also heard mixed things about the MtG books. That's why I don't know e where to start. I tried reading an Ed Greenwood book once, and couldn't get into it. I do like his short stories in the Realms of series of anthologies.
I've played MtG for years, and played the digital games in 2015 and 2016, and I like what they are doing with the new iconic characters.

---

Edit: Also, congratulations are in order. Fetchin Estate has made it onto the Sasserine and Surrounding Environs thread! I meant to do this after Adoward presented Stan with the deed to the property, but I suppose it got away from me. Let me be the first to officially welcome the Fetchins to the noble elite.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:25, Fri 01 Apr 2016.

So I've been re-reading the Savage Tide adventure path, and updating my notes as to better prepare for what's ahead, and I'm super excited about this game! I really appreciate the work we've put into it. Yes, it is a pre-written adventure path, but I have implemented my own works and flavors, and so have you.
No mistake, we still have a lot of adventure ahead. The Bullywug Gambit is only the 2nd of 12, and each module will become more and more involved.

I remember I accidentally read a showdown with Malcanthet and/or Tasha from one of the last episodes.

I should do an IC update tonight.

Meh, don't think of it as a spoiler. I'm making changes to the Adventure Path as we go with consideration to your PCs' back stories, their in-game choices, unresolved plots in the original Pirates campaign, and other things that I simply think are cool.

Slight digression, I listen to a lot of podcasts while at work and one of my absolute favorite casts is a D&D real-play podcast. I really like the show because it began as a one-off episode once one of the hosts admitted he hadn't played before, so the initial premise was to teach others how to play. The show caught on and is now several seasons into a dynamic story with vibrant characters and interesting sub-plots.
As it is a weekly cast, in between seasons, the main characters take breaks; and it was during one break that one of the usual players was asked to run a popular 5e module. Up to this point everything they've done has been completely homebrew, and the majority of the personalities hold passionately unfavorable views toward "pre-packaged boxed adventures."
It was clear the DM ran the game without a working knowledge of the adventure, and was unwilling to do anything not published in it--even when the players would do something the publisher hadn't accounted for. I get that they preferred to run their own games and were trying to show the limitations of modules have as they are written, but I remember nearly screaming into my phone that they could still deviate from the module. WotC wasn't sitting at the table with them, threatening to hurt them if they didn't follow the module script.
In my opinion, modules and adventure paths are guidelines and adventure inspiration material. Sure they can be played as they are written, but I don't believe they have to be. That's basically against the whole spirit of the game we play.

So in short, nothing is really spoiled. Will Malcanthet and/or Tasha/Iggwiliv make an appearance in the game? Maybe. But by the time they show up, you'll be asking a dozen other questions, it doesn't matter.

As overrated as Chris Perkins can be in the blogosphere, I do appreciate how he handles the podcast-ed games he runs for Penny Arcade and crew. You can really tell that he's taking canon published adventures and tailoring them for Penny Arcade's particular play style and PC roster. He also remembers what the players enjoyed from previous sessions, and weaves it into the story going forward.

I think you do a great job of that, too.

Not to butter you up too much, but I'm also really enjoying the quiet, one-on-one drama and subtle conflict of the current scene.

I'm glad you're enjoying it. I'm always worried when I roleplay a female, especially one that is interested in one of the player characters. I try not to make the female NPC too flat or play to closely to (God, I can't believe I'm saying this) "traditional" character tropes.
I mean, to me, Clementine was never just a sexy decoration for Stan; nor did I ever think you wanted that. But she IS a succubus, and that means sexuality and temptation are her essence--it's why she exists. I have to walk that line while also not presenting her as sex-crazed maniac, even if her natural instincts are to establish and maintain control of others through her body and implied pleasures.
But I don't want to come off as creepy either.

Relevant:

https://youtu.be/Yb-sCNfE0bM?t=81

Exactly.

One thing I think we need to quickly touch on is how drunkenness works in Pathfinder. Every character has a drink tolerance as opposed to making individual Fort checks per drink. Stan's tolerance is 5 drinks. Exceeding this amount will result in drunkenness, and by extension, temporary ability damage.

Maybe this is a thing, maybe not... it's there a class you kind of have trouble with? Or maybe a race/class combo you'd be interested in?

I'm not sure what you mean.

I realized as I was driving home from Taco Bell that I screwed up and had Stan say three truths. I always was terrible at that game.

Off to edit my post to fix it.

In reply to Stan Fetchin (msg # 341):

Ha! I just thought you were cheating.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:28, Fri 08 Apr 2016.

In reply to Stan Fetchin (msg # 340):

I may or may not be working on something secret that I really can't talk too much about, but do need a little input from you. I've only GM'd for you as Stan and thus think of you as only playing wizards--which I know can't be true. Is there a class and/or race that you do not have a lot of experience with, or perhaps an interesting combo?
I'm not looking for a character per se, but more a build. Something like, "I've never played a druid," or, "I've also been interested in dwarves."

So far I have mostly played wizards. I wouldn't mind a chance to join the other side and play a full BAB class like fighter or paladin.

I like the idea of gnomes.

The problem is that d20 system games penalize small races in martial combat. Although the -2 Str and the +1 attack balance out to hit, there is a huge penalty to damage. First the STR penalty, and then small weapons do less damage. The game encourages small races to be rogues or casters because no way will they inflict a useful amount of base weapon damage.

There was an RPoL 4e D&D game where I was going to play a dwarf wizard, which seemed really cool to me, but since you weren't DMing it petered out after a week or so.

I like the idea of playing against cliche, but still being an optimized character build. Gnome fighter. Dwarf wizard. Drow ranger dual-wielding scimitars (just kidding on that last one.)

You can roll all my dice as far as I'm concerned.

Edit: I am unclear about something. Did Stan sleep on the boat, and now the scene is that we're on the docks arriving? Or did we go home and sleep after that scene, and now it's the next morning?

Also, I assume with the -3 INT my slots are indeed reduced?
This message was last edited by the player at 02:30, Tue 12 Apr 2016.

Yeah, you guys slept on the boat and are now coming into Sasserine harbor. I wasn't sure if adding more posts about sleeping arrangements would be exciting.
And yes, while suffering -3 Int, I believe you lose one bonus spell slot per level.

Hey Stan!
I won't be able to post on Thursday (tomorrow) as I'll be at my grandma's funeral. I should be back Friday though.

Hey that sucks. I'm sure she was a great lady.

Thanks

Stan Fetchin's player does not endorse accusations that historical personas are Gnomes. Any resemblance between the fictional Gnome herein named, and actual historical figures hastily researched on Wikipedia, is strictly coincidental.

I appreciate that. My first thought was, we're getting sued...

Also, I added another feature to the Points of Interest thread. I'll be coloring new entries aqua so that you can easily see what's been updated.

Thanks. I wanted to ask you to do something like that, but didn't know how without coming off as passive aggressive.

In order to help me keep some behind the scenes things straight, I've added a section on Factions in the Points of Interest thread.

Also, I have finally removed Brogan and Sawyer's players (added them as lurkers), and have taken full control of the characters. Right now it's just you and me.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:51, Wed 20 Apr 2016.

I am interested (out of character) in Wee Jas.

I noticed in reading the Sasserine thread that her church has been persecuted. Would it be possible to get a short blurb on why that is? Stan would probably be tangentially involved in her worship as Goddess of Magic, so he might catch some flak from that direction. It would be a good source of conflict (not that Stan needs any more of that in his life.)

Yes, I can definitely do that! Are you looking for a write up on how Wee Jas is in my game, the history of the church in Sasserine, or both? Maybe something else?

Both of those.

...Aaannd we find ourselves back at another e3.5 dungeon crawl. This Adventure Path is packed with them. Up to this point I have tried to streamline them, making them a chain of "encounters" that showcase my interpretation of what the designers had intended the crawl to showcase; while trying to give you options as to the order/difficulty of the encounters. However, as we learned with Kraken's Cove, they are little more than one combat after another. And to be fair, the writers were trying to impress upon the players the effects of the magic Vanthus unleashed in the cove.
I hold no illusions that you are not able to piece together what this crawl will be about too, given the title of the adventure and the events leading up to this point. The bigger mystery is probably, why are there Bullywugs here and not pirates. That, I feel comfortable enough to tell you, is a mystery that is never revealed to the PCs, as the crawl plays out in the module. Which tells me that the writers were simply looking for a creature to fill the CR requirement. Poor campaign planning, if you ask me.
I'm going to be running this crawl differently than it is written, and hopefully you'll have a good time.

I was wondering when the Bullywugs would show up. Thanks for the (?)warning(?) about what to expect. I have faith in you, oh mighty GM.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:17, Mon 25 Apr 2016.

I just learned that technically I can't 5-foot step in difficult terrain. So, do what you must. Attacks of opportunity or whatnot.

Yeah. I've just been counting it is a full move action. And I haven't been diligent with my AoOs lately. I've been considering switching the mechanic to 5e's Advantage/Disadvantage system.

Ello All! Thank you for accepting my invite!

I feel like I could never trust someone with "honest" in their name.

Haha, I guess we will see. Character description is up. Please let me know whatchu all think. I apologize in advance for run on sentences and bad grammar.

In honor of Honest Jon's brilliant origin novel, I have updated Stan's description as well. He's cultivating a beard now.

@Stan you might see a mistake I made in the Dice Roller regarding your AC for the second round of combat. I entered 13, forgetting to apply the +4 for shield that you cast in the round beforehand. Although it doesn't show it in the dice log, I did apply it to the results. However, Drevoraz's attacks were still higher than your AC 17.
Luckily, your DR and Brogan's shield other spell are sharply mitigating the damages.

Good show!

I really like the new Achievements system. (Or maybe it's not new and I'm just terrible at achieving.)

Thank you! Achievements has been something I've been toying with since about the same time I created the Factory Thread. I wasn't sure if it's implementation would make the game too video game-y or what. I held off talking about it, figuring you'd hit on it sooner or later. The triggers are not story specific, so there is a very good chance that neither you or Honest Jon will ever discover some of them.
I may also add or modify them as the game progresses.

I was considering grappling Bua Gorg (Pelor help us all...) and instead reminded myself how terrible that would be by googling the flowchart for Pathfinder grappling. Along the way, I found this list of D&D achievements:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pini...5dbc4e49b52832c7.jpg

Bahaha, that's great!

I resisted as long as I could.

Hello! I just realized that I never actually communicated a change to the rules I implemented a little while ago. Looking over the dice log, however, you will be able to see that it's been enforce for a while, only if you understand what you're looking for. The rule pertains to Attacks of Opportunity (AoO).
When you have your character do something that would normally provoke an attack of opportunity, instead of the cheap free hit, the character preforms the action at a Disadvantage.
What does that mean? It means that you will roll 2d20 (plus applicable modifications) and keep the lowest result. So, for Stan's grapple (CMB) check, he rolled 2d20+3, which resulted in 19 and 13. 13 does not beat Bua Gorg's CMD, therefore Stan does not grapple him. Getting smacked in the head for trying to fight creatively never made much sense to me, but I always understood AoOs as a way to keep the special attacks challenging.

So, if provoking an AoO creates Disadvantage, is there such a thing as Advantage?
Yes. This is a little bit more loose. It is the same mechanic, only backwards; however the triggers are a little more difficult to explain. The easiest way to explain it is with Sawyer's Sneak Attack class feature. So, we all know that when Sawyer catches his target unaware he can deal extra damage. Using this new rule, whenever Sawyer catches his vict-, I mean, target unaware, he gains combat Advantage. Meaning, he rolls 2d20 (plus any/all applicable modifications), and keeps the higher result. If he hits, he deals Sneak Attack as per his character level.
Another, perhaps more relevant example would be Flanking. If you are flanking with an ally, you and your ally gain combat Advantage. Further, the poor sap in the middle has combat Disadvantage. We no longer have to track situational lowered AC, especially since AC is so low anyway, given the DR rules we've been playing with.

Rolling Advantage and Disadvantage is also easy using the Dice Roller. All you have to do is setup 2d20 +/- x in the roller, then select either "keep lowest" or "keep highest" from the General section, then type "1" in the field next to it. Once you roll the dice, it will record the appropriate result.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, and as always, thanks for playing!!

Makes sense. Seems like a neat blend of third through fifth editions.