Fortuitous Findings in Foraging: A Study, Part II

[TheOasysMaster]

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If you wanted, Marros could give it a shot. Would you want him as is, or should I level him to 20 first?

Make it fast.

[TheOasysMaster]

[A_S]

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I'm mostly gonna be active in the wee hours of the morning my time (CST), after I can't legitimately be expected to be doing work but before I'm too exhausted to keep functioning :P . If it's gonna need to be an extended chunk of time, probably this Thursday evening would be reasonable (like in two days); if it's just gonna be a couple PMs, I can probably pull it off tonight while procrastinating getting ready for a presentation tomorrow (woooo!).

Sorry 'bout your data disaster :( . Glad lots of the important stuff survived.

[Todash]

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Woot! Thank you for the map. Not bad after recreating from scratch!

What are the green/yellow circles, and is Kurjan really there/visible?

I assume we can't see the "charred horror" to the south yet.

[TheOasysMaster]

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Thursday will be good!

What are the green/yellow circles, and is Kurjan really there/visible?

Ignore the indications beneath the map.
Orange are orcs, green are rangers.
They look terrible by the way.

I assume we can't see the "charred horror" to the south yet.

I...
...miscalculated his climbing ability.

[Todash]

Standing rock still, the monk seems barely to breath, calmess belying the carnage around him. Without taking his eyes from the Orcs, he speaks, Sorcerer, is the archer a friend of yours?

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I...
...miscalculated his climbing ability.

LOL....
And now there's coffee all over my desk.

[A_S]

"Yes." Therandil glances at the assembled army surrounding them and takes a single breath.

"Let's do it."

He immediately takes off at a sprint toward the south, aiming for the gap in the wall of smoking horrors, hoping to escape before it closes.

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Move: 30 feet toward (and through, if possible) the gap in the circle of horrors, charging toward the pack of orcs beyond.

If this move causes Therandil to leave the AMF (his images and other buffs would spring back into existence, so he'd know), then he casts (defensively, auto succeed) Wings of Flurry for (14d6)[50] damage (reflex, yadda yadda). Otherwise, as a second move action, he turns and runs toward the Southwestern building until he leaves the AMF, then flies up as far as he can before his move runs out.

[TheOasysMaster]

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He immediately takes off at a sprint toward the south, aiming for the gap in the wall of smoking horrors, hoping to escape before it closes.

Nono!
=P
The orange circles ARE the orcs...
I just overlayed the image atop the last map.
Ignore the images beneath it!

[Todash]

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Meep! We should rejoin Alex! The fiery thing is to the south! Oasys, how far from Marros to the bear?

[TheOasysMaster]

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105 feet, due west, to the black dot.

[Todash]

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Damn, I knew I should have picked up acrobatic charge!

Seeing the strange rogue facing the undead thing on his own, Marros leaps into the crowd of Orcs to the west, bringing them down in a blur of sudden cracks and snaps of bone and armor snapping like wood, making a gap for the rangers and the powerful sorcerer.

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Charge into the pile of Orcs to the west, making contact with as many of them as possible.

Attack:(1d20+33)[43]
Damage: (4d6+27)[41] + (1d6)[4] fire + (1d4)[2] force
Attack:(1d20+33)[53]
Damage: (4d6+27)[46] + (1d6)[3] fire + (1d4)[2] force
Attack:(1d20+33)[51]
Damage: (4d6+27)[39] + (1d6)[2] fire + (1d4)[2] force
Attack:(1d20+33)[36]
Damage: (4d6+27)[43] + (1d6)[6] fire + (1d4)[1] force
Attack:(1d20+33)[46]
Damage: (4d6+27)[41] + (1d6)[6] fire + (1d4)[4] force
Attack:(1d20+33)[39]
Damage: (4d6+27)[44] + (1d6)[3] fire + (1d4)[2] force

All damage is doubled, if it matters.

[Todash]

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Critical confirm:
Attack:(1d20+33)[45]
Damage: (4d6+27)[42] + (1d6)[4](1d10)[4] fire + (1d4)[1] force

[TheOasysMaster]

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Charge into the pile of Orcs to the west, making contact with as many of them as possible.

Now, THAT, is a PC.
=D

[Valwyn]

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I...
...miscalculated his climbing ability.

And thank Acererak for that.

Seeing the strange rogue facing the undead thing on his own

Hey!


Where are Harley and Holly? Still invisible? Alex can see them and Kurjan, if he's still ethereal. By the way are the ghosts unalive?

Alex circles the druid, staying out of reach as he keeps his bowstring taut. As soon as it tried anything, he'd be ready.

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Move: move in a semicircle around the druid at a distance in which it can't reach me (he could still charge, though), and hopefully staying away from the orcs' threatened area.
Standard: ready an attack in case it casts or charges or takes any hostile actions.

Bow Attack 1: (1d20+21)[24]
Bow Damage 1: (1d6+5)[10]

Not sure if necesary, but Spellcraft: (1d20+9)[18]

PS: I predict either a 1 or a miss.

[Todash]

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Hey!

Purely complimentary! I see a rogue skillfully dancing about a giant undead bear, seems kinda strange.

Now, THAT, is a PC.

Hey when I'm punching a hole through encircling Orcs, I like to make sure there is room to stretch my legs.


I sure hope A_S retcons...I'm worried about that flaming horro....*hears a loud crash outside the fort followed by mutter cursing*...oh....never mind.

[TheOasysMaster]

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I sure hope A_S retcons...I'm worried about that flaming horro....*hears a loud crash outside the fort followed by mutter cursing*...oh....never mind.

Me too.

A_S, lemme know when I can expect you tomorrow.

[A_S]

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Derp, re: orc positioning, sorry. So the green ones are the rangers, yeah? Okay, things make more sense now.

Honestly, though, it's not gonna make a lot of difference to actions. Therandil needs to get out of AMF, badly. He's gonna run South for one move action. If he hits the edge of the AMF within that single move action, he'll Wings of Flurry the orcs in the circle as soon as he leaves it (rather than the non-existent ones on the map :P ). If he's still in AMF at the end of his move, he'll keep going, flying if possible. So, same actions as before, I just messed up where the orcs are.

I'll probably be available for PMs around 10:00 PM CST tonight, but not positive on exact time (got a meeting I'm supposed to go to at 8:00, not sure on run time). I'll hit you with a message when I get on, and I'll be able to stick around for a while.

[TheOasysMaster]

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Derp, re: orc positioning, sorry. So the green ones are the rangers, yeah? Okay, things make more sense now.

Yup.

I'll probably be available for PMs around 10:00 PM CST tonight, but not positive on exact time (got a meeting I'm supposed to go to at 8:00, not sure on run time). I'll hit you with a message when I get on, and I'll be able to stick around for a while.

Ummmm, noooo, not PMs, here. My inbox is full.
You want to do PMs on Mythweavers?

Initiative Order
Therandil
Alex

Ghost Prisoner 1(Troll)
Druid
Kurjan
Marros
Harley
Holly
Reg, Quan, Lakkam, Hammer!
Charred Horror
Rangers, Orcs
Ghost Prisoner 2(Troll)

Snarling in protest, the orcs readily bolt as Therandil emerges from the anti-magic field, the wings of force whirling around him in a death-dealing frenzy. Fleeing before him, and Marros, they refuses to engage, fleeing to the towers as the sorceror and monk, aided by the rangers chase at them.
One of them wipes blood from his mouth, "Well, that's stran-"
He looks around, and realizes he's alone.
"Where's, by Corellon!"
The trolls, glowing with a sickly, flaming light, float about the ground, holding the remains of the rangers in they're not-at-all dead hands.

The Bear snarls as Alex continues to stand in defiance of it! He lunges forward to attack, a whirlwind of frosted teeth and claws laden with negative energy.

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(1d20+36)[45], if this hits, Alex is Grappled
(2d6+21)[27]+(1d6)[5] + 2 negative levels
(1d20+31)[51], if this hits, Alex is Grappled
(2d6+21)[30]+(1d6)[1] + 2 negative levels
(1d20+31)[37]
(4d6+14)[26]+(1d6)[2] + 2 negative levels

"I brought help!, " Alex and Therandil here Holly shout.
A door in space slides open, and dwarves beging funneling through, carrying spears, shields and aiming crossbows at the fleeing orcs.

And then they see it.
A flaming tree, quite literally clambers over the walls, crashing to the stone courtyard in an blood-curdling roar.

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Kinda a chaotic round....
Orcs had readied actions to BREAK if Therandil or Marros attacked them...
...Ghosts possessed the trolls, and sneakily attacked the remaining rangers.
Therandil and Marros are free of the AMF.
Holly has brought in Hammer, from the far-west wall.
Bear attacks, no sign of Harley or Kurjan.
The Charrer Horror makes its entrance.

[Todash]

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Orcs had readied actions to BREAK if Therandil or Marros attacked them...

Just an aside, with his speed, he totally would have broken some skulls, even as they ran like little baby chicks.

Seeing the Druid grip the rogue, Marros increased his speed, fists flaring up with bright flame. Sorcerer! Beware the ghosts!As he reached the mighty beast, he channeled all of his furious blows into the bear's spine. Pummeling the same spot over, and over again.

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Charge, flurry.

All damage is doubled.
Attack:(1d20+33)[44]
Damage: (4d6+27)[41] + (1d6)[6] fire + (1d4)[2] force
Attack:(1d20+33)[41]
Damage: (4d6+27)[38] + (1d6)[3] fire + (1d4)[1] force
Attack:(1d20+33)[41]
Damage: (4d6+27)[43] + (1d6)[5] fire + (1d4)[1] force
Attack:(1d20+33)[34]
Damage: (4d6+27)[38] + (1d6)[4] fire + (1d4)[3] force
Attack:(1d20+33)[42]
Damage: (4d6+27)[38] + (1d6)[5] fire + (1d4)[2] force
Attack:(1d20+33)[47]
Damage: (4d6+27)[43] + (1d6)[5] fire + (1d4)[3] force

[TheOasysMaster]

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All damage is doubled.

From Flying Kick, right? From Complete Warrior?
That's supposed to deal +1d12 damage after a charge?

[Todash]

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Yes Flying Kick, but I pulled it from Jiriku's page.

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150122

Under feats for Monk

Benefit: Your unarmed strikes deal double damage on a charge.

Seemed pretty useful, but I can swap it if you think it's to cheesy. I'm certainly not planning on yo-yoing. (10 foot step! charge! 10 foot step! charge!)

[TheOasysMaster]

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Seemed pretty useful, but I can swap it if you think it's to cheesy.

Yeah, no offense to Mister Jiriku, but that's insane.
I'm gonna give his other feats a look.

Don't change it yet, since I don't know if Marros is even going to touch the bear, but swap it out for something before Return starts.

[Todash]

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I would recommend reading this first.

Note: the feats revised below represent a significant change in power, scale and design from the source material, and directly attack the stereotype that "melee can't have nice things". While the names may be familiar, each feat has been radically modified to make it more effective or to exploit new game mechanics. Many feats scale in power as you advance in level and/or accumulate additional resources.

While I don't expect them to be overpowered in campaigns that see heavy use of strong feats like Leap Attack, Shock Trooper, Robilar's Gambit, Arcane Thesis, or Practical Metamagic, DMs who are accustomed to low-power, low-optimization campaigns where Weapon Specialization and Spring Attack are considered the height of power may wish to think carefully before allowing these feat revisions. If you're permitting the revised monk, you probably aren't going to be concerned about these feats, but as with all things found on the internet, caveat emptor.

[Todash]

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Also for your consideration, I present the wise words of our friendly neighborhood barbarian;

Dude being A Druid is too much fun im already Mounting a Dire Bear and in just two levels ill have a spell that makes me Immune to ranged attacks gives me perfect Flying and lets me Throw Lightning out of my eyes for 10d6 damage. Its like te people at wizard just said. You know what f*** it we already made it cheesy might as well go all the way!

[TheOasysMaster]

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I would recommend reading this first.

Go to the OoC thread, how many of Jiriku's feats did you use?

[Valwyn]

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(1d20+36)[45], if this hits, Alex is Grappled
(2d6+21)[27]+(1d6)[5] + 2 negative levels
(1d20+31)[51], if this hits, Alex is Grappled
(2d6+21)[30]+(1d6)[1] + 2 negative levels
(1d20+31)[37]
(4d6+14)[26]+(1d6)[2] + 2 negative levels

I leave for a couple of hours and this happens. *Sigh* Let's see what we can salvage, shall we?

The second attack was a critical. (No, I don't know why the heck I am pointing this out)
How much damage did he take? 91? Or are the d6s extra negative levels?
How many negative levels did he get? 6?

Also, I guess my arrow missed?

By the way, have you decided on rules for called shots, if any?

[TheOasysMaster]

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The second attack was a critical. (No, I don't know why the heck I am pointing this out)

Oh! Thanks!
I'll keep that in mind the next time I see a PC about to do something stupid, and contemplate whether I should give a warning, or let comedy have its moment.


Seriously though, apparently, in the Khan battle, there were many attacks that should have missed, should have hit, should have criticalled, shouldn't have threatened, and Veris was keeping notes rather than telling me!

I like being told I made a mistake at the moment, so I can fix it, rather than having them thrown at me all at once when the party is two rooms away.


(1d20+31)[35]
(2d6+21)[33]

Also, I guess my arrow missed?

PS: I predict either a 1 or a miss.

Have you got a crystal ball as one of your dice?

How much damage did he take? 91? Or are the d6s extra negative levels?

The d6s are cold damage.
Dark Tide, all undead now do energy drain, and deal cold damage.

Six negative levels.

By the way, have you decided on rules for called shots, if any?

No called shots. Making called shots are easy. You just treat it like Sunder, giving the body part in question a higher AC for its size...
...it's what comes after that gets tricky.
How well can you fight with one hand? Is it lopped of at the wrist, mid-arm, elbow, upper-arm.

How hard do you bleed?
Finding the middle-ground between overly-powerful and worthlessly useless isn't worth the pages of rules and contingencies it would require.
Pathfinder had beautifully written rules, but they're too complicated to make it worth it.
My stance on called-shots shall be called the Lucas Principle.
Only when thematically relevant, or in an utterly one-sided conflict.

If you ever see me describing someone losing a hand, like Jake to the Victory, it's because they're close to death anyways, they're not long for the fight to worry about whether or not losing a hand halves their attacks-per-round.

[Valwyn]

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Oh! Thanks!

You're welcome.
...still can't believe I pointed that out...

and Veris was keeping notes rather than telling me!

Why? I thought he liked things being exact. Then again, he also seemed to like to see how things turned out.

Have you got a crystal ball as one of your dice?

I have something better: the power of pessimism! If there is a chance of something going wrong, it will. Horribly, maiming-ly wrong.
Plus, both the forum's roller and drama hate me, so it was pretty much a forgone conclusion. *shrug*

Six negative levels.

Alex lives! For the moment, anyway. Let's see:
Normal HP: 116/116 HP
6 negative levels = 40 (2d8 +4d6) +12 (2 Con x6) HP lost
Damage Taken = 124 HP
HP Remaining: -60/64 HP

Huh. Well, that was quick. That will teach him not to face an undead druid by himself.

No called shots.

Maybe it's best that way. I was asking in case Alex could draw his dagger and cut the druid vocal cords (basically throat) to stop him from casting, but I guess that: a) undead don't need no silly vocal cords, and b) Alex is too busy being dead to care about that right now. Does he come back as a morgh or something?

[TheOasysMaster]

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Plus, both the forum's roller and drama hate me, so it was pretty much a forgone conclusion. *shrug*

I think the god of the Myth-weaver's Die Roller is more benevolent.

Huh. Well, that was quick. That will teach him not to face an undead druid by himself.

Was not really expecting that either.
Do a death scene! Teeth, ice and negative energy!

You guys shouldn't worry about dying either...
...ToH isn't just a thinking man's game, but is team-work too, and you guys are technically functioning without significant help, like the clerics that just appeared!

Does he come back as a morgh or something?

Quan is here!

[Valwyn]

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I think the god of the Myth-weaver's Die Roller is more benevolent.

We shall see about that.

Do a death scene! Teeth, ice and negative energy!

I'll try. You have more practice with those, so feel free to edit it.

Quan is here!

Aww, I wanted the cool tongue! Fine, I'll just get resurrected.

Alex kept his eyes trained on the bear as he circled it, the bowstring taut as they studied each other.

"Where's, by Corellon!"

Alex turned his eyes for a second, just in time to see the ranger being killed. That was all the druid needed. As the undead creature charged, the rogue let the arrow fly and watched in horror as it flew right above it's head. As his fingers brushed the fletching of the next arrow, the first claw struck. An intense cold seeped into him, colder that the night when he had frozen into a literal block of ice. It reached deep, past his flesh, past his bones, right into his very being.

Then the second claw reached him. The same cold invaded him again, quenching his soul and leaving patches of frozen blood on his skin and chainshirt. He needed to get away. Now, while he still had some warmth left.

"I brought help!"

Yes, he could still make it. Escaping was his specialty, all he needed to do was to roll with the next blow and-
but it would never be, for a great maw, smelling of frost and decay, snapped shut around his throat, pouring blood into his lungs, snapping bone, and shredding flesh until all that was left behind was a lifeless husk in an evergrowing red pool.

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Yes, I'm totally blaming it on the ranger.

Sorry for the wall of text, edit it in any way you see fit.

EDIT: added a few more details.