At the Adventurers' Table

[Sherwood]

As are we looking forward to getting to know her and Powerpaw. We will just have to be careful with our next battles.


 
Is Luna's Mage Armor still up? That particular casting had a duration of 6 hours.

 

[Purr]

I agree with that. This team is still new to each other (and some to the game entirely). I think the Wanderers have what it takes to get to know one another and make one hell of a team. The primary ingredient for that sort of thing is care - and that's something neither player nor character are lacking. =)


When it comes to opponents, some of the baddies (like the gnolls) barely have their act together while others (like the Bloodland Minotaurs) are tight. On the flip side, some of the best adventuring teams I've ever had the pleasure of GMing were terrific because they were well-coordinated too (kind like a military squad or a football team, really). The ones that fail badly are the ones that just don't give a damn about teamwork (this includes some of my bad guys - look at the gnolls; they don't give a damn about each other).


Sherwood, when you and Killfire were my players, you two really kicked tail because of your solid teamwork.


Re: Mage armor. It sure is. It still has just over 3 hours left on it.


Anyways, my hyperactivity has kept me up way past my bedtime (but I have today off, so woop-woop!). =)

 

[Sherwood]

Well, it takes time for a good team to form up. I just hope we have that time to iron out the bugs. In all honesty, Luna had a good dressing down from Powerpaw, and doesn't plan on making the same mistakes twice. Her role in a fight is support, not as a front line combatant.

 

[Wolf Rawrrr]

Luna can chill in the back with Wolf who intends to spend the next battle raining down those extra arrows he found on his enemies, Legolas-style *rawrrr*

 

[Sherwood]

Just wait until I have a chance to memorize a Flame Arrow spell along with Haste. That adds a extra 1d6 flame damage to projectiles and a extra attack per round with an AC bonus, to boot.

 

[Wolf Rawrrr]

That actually sounds pretty formidable even to an amateur like me *woof*


Oh no, I think I'm starting to get the hang of this Pathfinder thing ( )


@Dannigan the minotaurs were frakkin' badass. I'm still recollecting things...

 

[Purr]

Why, thank you, Wolf! =) I love your jokes.

Why did I almost say knee?

Ha ha! Skyrim! =)


Re: Challenges and Bloodland Minotaurs. At the time, I wanted to "up the ante" in terms of challenge. I certainly didn't want you guys thinking that gnolls, Bilal, and his hydra were it as far as challenges were concerned. It has been well over 10 years since I created Sharseya (and I'm still creating there!); there is a lot to see, explore, learn, and have fun with. In many cases, the challenges that have the higher risk come with the higher reward (just ask Koshianth, the silver dragon you met). Now, I'm hoping to continue that level of challenge with this next adventure.


@Sherwood On a related note, I think time is one thing the Wanderers have on their side. None of the characters are likely to get called away from adventuring (well, besides Kitrin. Somewhere in Hobbitcrest, Highwind, there is a pie being baked and as a good hobbit, she must investigate!). Now, it's a matter of how this "old" team (Wolf, Otiorin, Luna) get along with their new members (Powerpaw, Bren, Bria). So far, so good! =)


As for the dressing down by Powerpaw, thanks for not minding that as a player. Some players (the immature or childish personalities usually) try to make drama out of something like that when all I am doing is role-playing the character. There are no hidden messages from the storyteller - that's all Powerpaw. That's why I'm glad our particular gathering of players - I felt each of you would trust me to run this game (and its characters) in a way I enjoy. Role-playing my characters accurately is of great importance (and joy) to me. =)

 

[Sherwood]

What time of day/night is it in the game?

 

[Purr]

By now, it's afternoon. About 2:30 p.m.

 

[Sherwood]

So there is no need for torches or Light spells. Good deal.

 

[Purr]

Not unless you go underground, no. There is thick canopy above you, but nothing that yet needs a Light spell to see through.

 

[Sherwood]

Ever do this to your players?

 
Found another level 1 spell on the Pathfinder website that I would like to slide past you.


Burning Disarm


School transmutation [fire]; Level cleric/oracle 1, druid 1,sorcerer/wizard 1


CASTING


Casting Time 1 standard action


Components V, S


EFFECT


Range Short (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)


Target Held metal item of one creature or 15 lbs. of unattended metal


Duration Instantaneous


Saving Throw Reflex negates (object, see text); Spell ResistanceYes (object)


DESCRIPTION


This spell causes a metal object to instantly become red hot. A creature holding the item may attempt a Reflex save to drop it and take no damage (even if it is not their turn), otherwise the hot metal deals 1d4 points of fire damage per caster level (maximum 5d4). Circumstances that prevent the creature from dropping the item (such as a locked gauntlet) mean the creature gets no saving throw. The heat does not harm the item, and it does not get hot enough or last long enough to ignite flammable objects. The item cools to its previous temperature almost instantly. If cast underwater, burning disarm deals half damage and boils the surrounding water.

 

[Purr]

Re: Burning Disarm. No, sorry. Thanks for bringing it up, though. That's a good example of a spell I don't want in the game. That spell pretty much says, "Drop the item or burn (or be screwed in the case of the locked gauntlet)." There is no keeping the item without taking damage. For a 1st-level spell, this one's too much for me. Even a Magic Missile spell has a 1st-level counter (Shield). Many fighter-types (yours included) will hate it if they start getting a spell like that cast on them (hey, Otiorin! Bren! Powerpaw! Drop your favorite melee item like that Moonlit Edge or burn!). That would be a hard pill to swallow if you're already in melee (as picking up that item provokes attacks of opportunity from the bad guys). Plus, a sorcerer can spam it.


It brings to mind another spell in Rifts Palladium. They've got a spell I can't stand: Carpet of Adhesion. Fail your save and you're stuck to the floor. That's fine. Make your save and you're still stuck to the damn floor (just for less duration). It's heads, I win; tails, you lose on a low-level spell...


 
Sherwood sez,

Ever do this to your players?

Ha ha! No, never. =)


I read many years ago in a Dragon magazine that a good Game-master never kills players - A good GM lets players kill themselves (or each other) or fairly lets the dice kill them (bad luck happens to everyone).


I try my best to follow that guideline. I can't stand PKers (Player Killers). Here's an example. Uncle Dave shared a memorable experience he had with us at a convention. There he was, gaming at the table with a young fellow who was excited to be the GM. The party is walking through a dungeon, down a hallway. They enter a room - and splat! Dave's character is suddenly crushed and killed by a falling ceiling of stone. No save. No way out. Just this GM jumping up and down proudly and excitedly shouting, "I killed Dave Arneson! I killed Dave Arneson!"


Now does that sound like a fun time to you? When I heard this, I wanted to slap the hell out of that guy (not that I would have - I'm not the type - but that didn't stop the desire from bubbling up in me). A good role-playing experience involves everyone having fun. That means no one having fun at someone else's expense (good-natured teasing aside).


I don't like it at all when a bad die roll screws a perfectly good role-playing experience (Wolf's horse getting killed by the gnolls comes to mind), yet it can happen. I can keep such occurrences from happening as best I can (and keep spells like Geas/Quest out), but to bring all hell on the players for my own pleasure? Not this storyteller. =)

 

[Kaerri]

A reminder that Bren won't bring up, not having been in the party at the time: there are three Mimics in our wagon, which (now that wagon and all belong to the party) more or less belong to us. I'm sure Stewart could arrange an introduction so that they know who their new masters are, and then we can keep stuff in them.


Of course, a vault that doesn't have teeth might be nice too. ( ) And there's certainly plenty of room for one.

 

[Purr]

Does anyone have anything else they would like to do prior to the next adventure? If not, we go! =)


 
@All. What would you like done with this stuff? Someone carry it in case you need it? Leave it in the Adventurers' Wagon? Divide it among party members?


Your current undivided loot includes the following...


Bria's furry Cloak of Resistance +1 (provides +1 resistance bonus to all saving throws).


Divine scroll in a white bone scroll case with the following spells: Prayer (x2), Speak with Animals (each Prayer spell will sell for 375 gold pieces).


Two potions of Bull's Strength in glass vials stoppered with red corks (adds +4 bonus to Strength for 10 minutes).

 

[Wolf Rawrrr]

If it's ok Wolf will take 1 strength potion, it could come in handy if he has to show off in front of Luna somewhere ( ) *rawrrr*


About the cloak... I dunno. Furry? How's it look? Can't have it clashing with my gear, doh. Could grab it if no one else wants it. No use it collecting dust. I can wear it on top of my other stuff *woof*

 

[Sherwood]

I would suggest that we have our melee specialists split the potions; one for Powerpaw and one probably for Otiorin or Wolf. If no one else wants the scrolls or the Cloak, we can sell them.

 

[Kaerri]

I concur with the melee peeps getting the Strength potions; they're the ones that can make the best use of them. Sounds like Wolf can use the cloak. That just leaves the spells, and selling it will probably be the best use. Unless they're on separate scrolls? I sort of had the impression they were all on one, but if they can be separated, maybe Bria would like to keep the Speak with Animals spell, if it's on her list?

 

[Sherwood]

So, the major question is, do we give the potion of Bulls Strength to Powerpaw, or to Bren? What is Bren's favored attack weapon?

 

[Kaerri]

Bren prefers axes; currently he's using a battleaxe. The potion ought to go to Powerpaw, though, as Bren hasn't really done anything with the party yet.

 

[Purr]

Wolf sez,

If it's ok Wolf will take 1 strength potion, it could come in handy if he has to show off in front of Luna somewhere ( )*rawrrr*

Flex, Wolf, flex! YEAAAAAAHHH!! =)


Re: Potions of Bull's Strength. So Wolf is taking one while the other is up for grabs. O.K.. A reminder for those of you with the Belts of Ogre Power (STR +2). Bull's Strength does not stack with this belt, but instead overlaps. In other words, Powerpaw would get a +2 to Strength (not +4, unless he took the belt off). I've "asked" Powerpaw and he thinks it should go to whomever doesn't have a belt (even Otiorin for "Moar Backstabby Damages! MOOOOOAAAR!"). =)


Re: Divine scroll. Kaerri is correct - All three spells are on one scroll. So... just have Bria cast it and ask Pecker all kinds of blackmail-heavy questions about Wolf's past so Luna and Bria can point and giggle at him while leaving him in the dark perhaps you want to hang on to the scroll or sell it. It's your property, so it's your choice. =)


Re: Cloak of Resistance +1. The cloak is Wolf's now. =) The cloak is fuzzy and looks good on a man or woman. Otherwise, I'm not too concerned about its fashion value to go into detail - I'm happy to say it looks good on anyone who wears it (only on rare occasions have there been butt-ugly-but-useful items in this game).

 

[Sherwood]

Another question. I've been looking over my PDF copy of the rules, and I'm trying to find out just how many Ioun Stones a person can have at one time, but I don't see anything listed in the description that gives an answer. Is there a limit to the number besides the cost?

 

[Purr]

I don't believe there is a limit, but given how rare and expensive they can get, it is the rarest of people who have the chance of finding out. =)


 
Bronze had a question for Luna, but I'd like to get the adventure going (later today). @killfire Would you mind Bronze asking his question while we go about this? Sherwood could reply with an "Earlier.." style statement to Bronze (and perhaps continue any conversation they are to have in such a way). That all right with everyone?

 

[Sherwood]

No objections here.

 

[killfire]

Just reminding Luna McFluffy that there are no fluffy pillows out there. And be careful. Don't make me take the field with my Sub-Orbital Ranged Gauss Rifle. Wait... Wrong game...