Light of Amber - Series One

[Snowfire]

Originally Posted by Serafina

Wow...
yes, that was definitely worth the wait! And so far you got my character precisely right.

Heh. I was almost certain you'd enjoy yours.

Anyway, I seem to be getting the beginnings of a way to work in an intro PM for you Orthwo. Not sure exactly where it's going yet, but it's a start.

When I get home from work I'll see if I can't get it down.

[userpay]

Yep pretty damn good. Only thing I might note is that the cat will be turning tiger sized though if you're intending for it to beable to switch between those sizes I'm all for it.

Oh and also since I don't think I've even mentioned this yet when the Device is no in use/the armor isn't summoned they'll appear as several bangles on each wrist.

[Snowfire]

Originally Posted by userpay

Yep pretty damn good. Only thing I might note is that the cat will be turning tiger sized though if you're intending for it to beable to switch between those sizes I'm all for it.

Amber's basically giving Chisaki an upgrade and - as part of that - a way to blend in where you're going. I have to admit, I did enjoy writing the start of your piece a lot. Cats are adorable to write. Magical mecha ones that have intelligence approaching that of a human are even more fun

Originally Posted by userpay

Oh and also since I don't think I've even mentioned this yet when the Device is no in use/the armor isn't summoned they'll appear as several bangles on each wrist.

Noted.

And thank you for your kind words.

[Snowfire]

Ok. Orthwo, I think I know where I'm going with yours. It is, most likely, going to overlap and expand a bit on the intro you have already written. I hope that's all right.

Unfortunately, I know it won't be done tonight. So I am going to ask for you all to hold off for now. I have yet to receive confirmation on certain things from Selinia (yes, I know she's on vacation, hence why I'm giving her this time). As such, I will continue working on this piece and get it to you when I can.

IC thread will go up after it is finished and when Selinia responds from a wi-fi zone or we reach Wednesday - whichever comes first.

Sorry to hold you all up this long. Hope it's all right.

[Serafina]

I don't mind. I'll just add snippets of past events to my backstory until we get started, and just did so in fact.

[Owrtho]

Originally Posted by Snowfire

Ok. Orthwo, I think I know where I'm going with yours. It is, most likely, going to overlap and expand a bit on the intro you have already written. I hope that's all right.

Unfortunately, I know it won't be done tonight. So I am going to ask for you all to hold off for now. I have yet to receive confirmation on certain things from Selinia (yes, I know she's on vacation, hence why I'm giving her this time). As such, I will continue working on this piece and get it to you when I can.

IC thread will go up after it is finished and when Selinia responds from a wi-fi zone or we reach Wednesday - whichever comes first.

Sorry to hold you all up this long. Hope it's all right.

That's fine, and don't worry about the delay. If anything it gives me some time to focus on the game I'm running. I look forward to your pm whenever you manage to finish it.

Owrtho

[Snowfire]

Originally Posted by Serafina

I don't mind. I'll just add snippets of past events to my backstory until we get started, and just did so in fact.

Spoiler

*Falls over laughing*

"Why do you need to know about four-dimensional circles? Because they're very special and important. And if that isn't enough, not passing will mean Nanoha won't be going flying with you tomorrow evening."

I can't help it....

And I'm glad you're ok with the delay. I really meant to get this started sooner but the universe decided to make things complicated. Admittedly fun, but still. I don't like complicated!

Ok, that's a total lie...

I don't like complicated when it gets in the way of a game start up?

Yeah, that's more like it

[TraceHyde]

Sorry for falling silent. I've been a bit irritable - you'd be surprised how much simple dental discomfort can make you generally unpleasant to be around, and I didn't want to get everyone down by posting much until I was feeling better. They've died down a bit now. So, any news on when we're starting?

A thought just occurred to me that Enlightened Philosopher Oracle might be a good gestalt, but going full caster seems a bit inappropriate in gestalt game

[Serafina]

You could always limit the amount of caster-levels to turn yourself into a 2/3-caster (with 6th-level spells over 20 levels) instead of a full caster (with 9th-level spells).
Unless you really want the capstone (Charisma to saves, some immunities, free reincarnation) of course, but i'm pretty sure the game will go Gestalt long before it goes to Level 20.


I am mostly taking classes for my Gestalt-levels that enhance my melee Magical Girl capabilities - Paladin for Smite Evil, Heavy Armor and some healing; Fighter for Bonus Feats, Psychic Warrior for more (and more flexible) Bonus Feats and off course Prism Knight and Costumed Crusader.

[TraceHyde]

Well among other things, I'd be a good healer

[Serafina]

Originally Posted by TraceHyde

Well among other things, I'd be a good healer

Hmm, too bad the Vitalist is keyed of Wisdom, because that's the only class where i would bother with in-combat healing. And for everything else we have wands and scrolls.

[userpay]

While I'd still focus on ranged when we hit gestalt I'll probably take the weapon morphing feat and take Power Fist from Magitech Templar for melee goodness. That said even with ranged she's still going to be practically in melee range to make the most out of her revolvers

[Snowfire]

Originally Posted by TraceHyde

Well among other things, I'd be a good healer

Or you could gestalt with this Healer fix. Which is based of Charisma and rocks.

And gestalting with a full caster is fully within the spirit of gestalt. Remember, you may have the ability to throw a fireball or put a fist through someone, but you can't do both. Gestalt gives you more power and more options, but it can also make deciding what to do more difficult.

[Serafina]

I just added a whole bunch of minor equipment to my character sheet.
Notably, i added a Mapmaking-function to my Device. In game terms, it consists of:
- a Map Makers Kit (10 GP, +2 on Survival Checks for Navigation)
- Star Charts (200 GP, +2 to Survival Checks for Navigation)
- an Astrolabe (100 GP, use Int instead of Wis and gain +2 for Surival Checks for Navigation)
- a Sextant (500 GP, +4 on Survival Checks for Navigation)

Likewise, i added a zoom-function to my Device, which works like a Spyglass (less penalties for spot-checks) and for which i paid 1000 GP.

I also added Masterwork-tools for Device-Crafting, a bag of Coffee, a cooking Kit, a magical Flashlight (Bullseye lantern with Eternal Flame) and various canned Foods.

[Owrtho]

Originally Posted by Snowfire

Or you could gestalt with this Healer fix. Which is based of Charisma and rocks.

Or you could gestalt with this Charisma based psudohealer (damage redistributor) provided it was approved, which to be quite honest blends terribly with a magical girl despite the shared ability scores (main damaging/healing ability doesn't work with normal attacks and it uses all your swift actions for the other abilities). Though it would let you make use of your freestyling talents.

Originally Posted by Serafina

I just added a whole bunch of minor equipment to my character sheet.
...

I also added Masterwork-tools for Device-Crafting, a bag of Coffee, a cooking Kit, a magical Flashlight (Bullseye lantern with Eternal Flame) and various canned Foods.

Good thinking, you'll be able to tell us where we are. That sounds likely to be handy. Also you look like you'll have all those nice vision aiding things that I couldn't find room for in Daina's equipment list due to her lack of ability to benefit from them.

Owrtho

[Snowfire]

And IC is a go.

Orthwo, I will get that PM to you tomorrow come hell or high water - considering where I am, probably the former. It looks like it's mainly going to be an expansion on the opening you've given, with a few extras thrown in. Hope you don't mind.

And those creatures that landed between you and the Pentacle look sorta like this:

Spoiler

Except all black and abberationary.

You are face down on the ground, in normal clothing. Devices are active, costume is not. The things in front of you aren't paying you much attention, seemingly too focused on the Silver's that have been holding them up.

Good luck.

[Serafina]

Yay!
Will be replying tomorrow morning (about 8 hours from now) though, given that i am quite tired.


Also, my Costume not being active doesn't make much sense, storywise. I guess i'll just spend a full-round action figuring out my situation and my new device, given that we're supposed to spend one.

[Owrtho]

Originally Posted by Snowfire

And IC is a go.

Yay, though I think I may hold off posting till I see my pm.

Originally Posted by Snowfire

Orthwo, I will get that PM to you tomorrow come hell or high water - considering where I am, probably the former. It looks like it's mainly going to be an expansion on the opening you've given, with a few extras thrown in. Hope you don't mind.

I look forward to it.

Originally Posted by Snowfire

And those creatures that landed between you and the Pentacle look sorta like this:

Except all black and abberationary.

You are face down on the ground, in normal clothing. Devices are active, costume is not. The things in front of you aren't paying you much attention, seemingly too focused on the Silver's that have been holding them up.

Good luck.

About how far away is the creature? By which I mean is it in range of Daina's blindsense, or is a listen check needed to locate it. About how big is the neverwere as well? From the post I got the impression that it is quite large, but I'm not certain if that is the case.

Also, since you say we are face down, would that mean we're prone, and need to spend a move action to stand up?

Owrtho

[Snowfire]

Sorry, should have specified. Going to have to get used to the blindsight only vision.

The pieces of Neverwere are about 20' from you, in a ragged circle. They're moving out towards where you know the Silver's should have ended up after the massive wind-noise that blew them away.

The Neverwere around you are basically all pieces of the same creature, just acting as separate bodies. The one in the sky has mostly broken up and fallen into the city. It can take its time now, what with the last of those who could fight against it subdued (or so it thinks).

And again I am reminded of the difficulty with writing a lot of these posts in advance. Sorry. Costume is active if it was active at the end of your backstory PM.

So I think that means everyone except Diana and Makoto are currently in full MG drag.

Thank you for pointing out the logic error though.

And yes, prone. Although you're not in combat yet. The things are ignoring you, initiative has yet to be rolled, and they're moving slowly. Give them maybe twenty to thirty seconds until they're ready to coup de grace the unconscious Pentacle.

[Snowfire]

And, in classic anime style, Umiko goes for the instinctive saving-people-attack.

You have a surprise round.

[TraceHyde]

Posted IC. Rolled pretty well except for the all important attack roll.

Little conflicted about the Kenpachi angle in my PM by the way. I didn't think there'd be anything special about the family beyond political power - the seal was just to be used a plot device if she ever went travelling, as a means of finding supplies to get by ('hey you better help me, my dad's a Kenpachi') - an idea I got from a random Avatar episode where Toph clamps her family seal on the counter of an immigration officer to more effect than Aang's title as Avatar. Your call, I know, but it just seems weird unless you're playing the 'power was in you the whole time' angle, which doesn't make much sense sine 'Kenpachi' is kind of a name bearing great shame to Umiko, one she only bears as a label of the weakness she must overcome. Also teh bookishness was played up a bit much in the intro PM (wow I'm critical, but bear with me) - while her mind DOES have a thirst for knowledge, it's not one she'll admit to herself very often, rather she just sits and watches things very closely. There's a reason why she has a maxed out Sense Motive and no Knowledge skills, after all.

Although, that intrigue is something I had planned on playing up later. In fact, I was strongly considering the Scholar class as my gestalt, if only I had a higher intelligence score. Could I maybe make a feat that allows me to use my Charisma instead of Intelligence for most of the abilities?

[TraceHyde]

Originally Posted by Snowfire

And, in classic anime style, Umiko goes for the instinctive saving-people-attack.

You have a surprise round.

Sweet. Wait, does that mean my costume is up? I forget if that was in the PM. If so, add +2 to the attack and damage since my costume includes augments for my 'device' (unarmed attacks)

[Snowfire]

I do apologise for the Kenpachi bit if it went a bit wrong. It just...kinda happened. I'm sorry if it annoyed you, but there are some parts of what happened there that were deliberate. It won't come up any more, but I'm seeing it as something that did have sentimental value to Umiko. Not the name, the seal itself. It's the only physical link she really has left to her past, and it was being destroyed. That's where that whole bit came from. It was the initial connection. That's all.

Apologies about getting that stuff wrong - again, it just sort of happened and I am sorry.

On scholar...I'll read it over after sleep. And your costume is...actually I don't think it is up. You, Diana and Makoto just have your devices (or fists in your case) until you summon your costumes - which you may or may not know about. Makoto does and I think Diana might by the end of the PM. Umiko...I'm not sure. Then again considering her universe she can probably guess.

So the device enhancements are all active. I'll factor the +2 damage in - those things are flat-footed against you right now, so no real need for the bonus to attack.

[TraceHyde]

Hey man, don't worry. I know the power of spontaneous ideas. Some of my best ideas have forced themselves out on a spur of a moment (and my worst ideas, but that's beside the point). It's cool, I appreciate you roling with it. Though you don't always have to be so detailed - pbp often has to be kind of succint and to the point. Speaking of, could I squeeze you for a post describing what happened with the one I attacked? We'll just say for the sake of convenience that I'm not wearing my costume right now. It seems I still need to learn more of the class' mechanics.

[Snowfire]

Second time ever running a play by post. I will try to hold the detail back a bit, but it just seems to be a big part of how I write. I will, however, do my best to avoid things that go over a page in length. Except for really major things.

And you have your response. Now comes the hard part with pbp. Waiting for everyone else...

[TraceHyde]

Cool, cool, I'm all for length posts too, lord knows I make them, but as you said it's best to resere them for important moments.

Hey, since I had a surprise round, does that mean I can go again or what? I do intend to be the party tank, it would be appropriate if I took out a fair chunk of enemy forces before they even have the time to draw near my allies.

[TraceHyde]

Hm, I think i may know a good way to fell these things, but I'm not sure if it's yet appropriate to use too many of Magica Girl abilities. Well, I guess I could just work on instinct to use illuminations - Mystbreakers use Blasts with their unarmed strikes, so there's that...

Let's see, my defensive stats SHOULD be
AC 13
HP 61 (+6 temporary HP)

[Selinia]

Don't have a ton of time (and probably won't be able to access a computer again until tomorrow evening), but I managed to squeak in an IC post. Feels a little sparse for a first post, but time is time and all.

By my understanding, we all get a surprise round, right? These things are totally ignoring us until they get directly hit in the face, which is about as 'flat-footed' as you can get.

In other news, I need to figure out some better language to describe Makoto's lance. It's a rather intricate piece of equipment, and I'm not remotely doing it justice in text.

[Owrtho]

Originally Posted by Snowfire

Sorry, should have specified. Going to have to get used to the blindsight only vision.

That's fine. It is entirely understandable given the rarity with which such a situation comes up.

Originally Posted by Snowfire

The pieces of Neverwere are about 20' from you, in a ragged circle. They're moving out towards where you know the Silver's should have ended up after the massive wind-noise that blew them away.

The Neverwere around you are basically all pieces of the same creature, just acting as separate bodies. The one in the sky has mostly broken up and fallen into the city. It can take its time now, what with the last of those who could fight against it subdued (or so it thinks).

I see. Might I request something of a makeshift placement map? One way I've seen it done in play by post games is just using a publicly viewable google docs spreadsheet as a grid and labelling the squares with players or monsters.

Originally Posted by Snowfire

Diana

Just a minor note. Her name is Daina, not Diana. The former is a name meaning song in Lithuanian and Latvian, while the latter has Indo-European roots meaning heavenly or divine, and is the name of a Roman goddess.

Originally Posted by Snowfire

And yes, prone. Although you're not in combat yet. The things are ignoring you, initiative has yet to be rolled, and they're moving slowly. Give them maybe twenty to thirty seconds until they're ready to coup de grace the unconscious Pentacle.

So, if we aren't yet in combat, do we not need to spend our move action to stand?

Edit: Minor note, realized I'd had standard D&D languages on the sheet, given the human dominant nature of the setting, etc. I changed Daina's languages to real ones (I realize morse code and brail technically aren't languages, but they fit for something a blind mute might learn). In any event the others are more the equivalent to the real world languages from her world than actually the real world languages.

Owrtho

[Owrtho]

Serafina, I noticed you seem to be having trouble with the dice rolls. Not sure if this is causing the problem, but if you preview the post the die roller won't work. You also can't edit them into a post.

Owrtho