The Gossip Board

[Carthrat]

By the way, those anklets of translocation are actually really useful! Both myself and Mari can get use out of them, since they can shift you ten feet to FA- or you can FA, then shift away so they can't FA you back! I suppose speedboots are also tempting for the foot slot, but yeah, I really want to pick some of them up at the moment.

[Zephyrus]

Attention:

I have the next 2 Tuesdays off due to various whims of fate. I have the potential of being able to start earlier if you guys like this weekend, either aiming to end earlier in turn or run longer altogether. Do either of these interest you?

It wouldn't be permanent, but just for the next two sessions.

Hmm. Running late this coming session is fine with me. I work from 2-9, otherwise I'd suggest that we start earlier. Perhaps next tuesday we can start earlier?

[VySaika]

Attention:

I have the next 2 Tuesdays off due to various whims of fate. I have the potential of being able to start earlier if you guys like this weekend, either aiming to end earlier in turn or run longer altogether. Do either of these interest you?

It wouldn't be permanent, but just for the next two sessions.

Hmm. Running late this coming session is fine with me. I work from 2-9, otherwise I'd suggest that we start earlier. Perhaps next tuesday we can start earlier?

Running late is usually a no-go for me. I start to drop off around 11ish my time on weekdays. Starting an hour earlier I could do, but I'd definately want to stop at 11 at the latest then.

[Sierra]

Who mentioned running later than usual? That'd be insane. I already go to bed three hours before I have to get up for work.

I could swing starting an hour earlier, sure. Will endeavor to be around and conscious in the vicinity of 9PM just in case Drac manages to get home ahead of his usual time.

EDIT: Ah, I see Zeph mentions not being able to show up earlier this week? Sadness.

[Dracos]

By the way, those anklets of translocation are actually really useful! Both myself and Mari can get use out of them, since they can shift you ten feet to FA- or you can FA, then shift away so they can't FA you back! I suppose speedboots are also tempting for the foot slot, but yeah, I really want to pick some of them up at the moment.

Important: Bracelets of Translocation are CHEAP. 

1,400 gp

x2 for taking no space as an auxilary enchantment on another item.

2800.

add on top of boots of striding and springing

7200 gp.

Hardly impossible going by RAW.

Getting someone to make something like that though on the road might be harder, but at the same time, its the planes.  Exotic magical combinations that don't show up regularly are more likely here.

[Carthrat]

I'm up for whenever on the day, an hour later or earlier makes no real difference to me. Just let me know.

Additionally, due to perils of temping + doing some freelance coding, my schedule may soon become dramatically more flexible. Watch this space?

[Sierra]

1. How much do you enjoy combat in Planar? Why?

I added the missing question mark because that's just my style. Anyway, combat is generally fun by virtue of the situations and enemies we encounter, which are nicely varied. I'm not sure I find combat in traditional gaming intrinsically fun; it's really dependent on what we're up against, and you're good at mixing that up.

2. How effective are your allies in combat? Why?

Everyone has their niche. Knight needs a new mount, though. Robot unicorn, Rat, do it! Live the dream!

3. How well does the group work as a team?

I think we coordinate well enough. Not all our skillsets are actually team-oriented, though. Actually, most of them aren't! We don't have a lot in the way of support abilities. Adail and Haste, really. This means teamwork is somewhat limited to deciding which enemy to focus on and giving each other flanking bonuses and the like.

4. What are your strong points in battle? Weak points?

Strong: damage. Weak: everything else! Damage is reliant on being in close proximity to an enemy and having some way to get sneak attacks (which generally means having an ally helping me out). Being in close proximity long enough to get in a full attack is rough since Mari is both squishy and not very evasive. She's pretty scary when everything works out, but it's both dangerous for her to do so and rather situational when it does. I guess the former's not wholly a bad thing as far as generating tension goes, of course. It wouldn't be much fun if everything was safe.

5. What are the team's strong points in battle? Weak points?

Strong: damage! We're pretty good at killing things. In certain situations. Anything that can fly or safely pick us apart at range is likely to be a problem.

6. What are your next 2-3 class levels going to be? Have they changed at all lately and have you been tempted to change your build path at all? Why or why not?

Going to jump into the PrC at some point, at least for style points. Probably level 12. Will have to drop next level on the air bloodline to continue receiving benefits from that (and one of those is more Con. Mari always wants more HP!) Since the PrC requires two new feats, I figure I can retrain something for that at level 12 and put the new level 12 feat into the other. Minimizes the impact on my offense, since I'm not sure how far into the PrC I'll accrue the most notable combat benefits and I don't really have any feats to retrain outside of those that are vital to my attack rolls (it will pretty much have to be one of the TWF feats that goes. Unless I can trade out that silly axe proficiency feat that got written into my brain).

7. How well do you feel you perform in battle? Why?

How does Mari perform? Brother, lemme tell you! She's--oh, in battle. Well, that depends. If I can get the full slice 'n' dice off, probably something dies horribly, but even that has trouble dealing with decent AC. My attack rolls are just okay, and more than once I've had a complete full attack whiff. On the whole I'd say fairly average. Which doesn't really bother me--I didn't set out to make a twinktastic combat monster and wouldn't have the knowledge to do so anyway. (Also, I fixed the typo again because I can't not do that when I see one.)

8. What magical items interest you in the future? Why?

I don't really have enough knowledge of these to have an answer. Anything that makes it easier for Mari to safely get in/out of melee range is nice, I guess.

Bonus question: Do you feel the few NPCs you've fought with are helpful and worth the time, as well as taking a bit of the spotlight away from you guys?

I don't really feel like they've ever hogged the spotlight. They're a means of interacting with the game world and maintaining a connection to it. Five PCs is a lot to keep track of as is, so there probably shouldn't be more than a couple NPCs around, just to minimize slowdown in a fight, but I don't mind having an ally or two. Rogue was a decent extra hand for the couple fights he was around for. Yulia's mostly comedy value, honestly. This isn't a bad thing.

[Anastasia]

It was asked when I was going to reply to these. The answer was : When they're all in. Since the last one got in just before game time, I'll do this tomorrow.

[Anastasia]

Starting feedback. I'm skipping Drac's for the moment due to obvious reasons. If I don't give you much it doesn't mean I'm ungrateful, but I don't have anything relevant to say. Some things stand on their own, y'know?

Gate:

Weak: Honestly, anyone who can keep us at range. Knight's got her bow and Adail can MM spam but mostly we've got to rely on Nik for a range game. He's hardly bad at it, but he's still just one dude. Also, distinct lack of healing.

You guys do have both of these as serious weak points, yes. I do think addressing these is a concern, though Nikkolai's new focus will help a lot. As fliers become more common, you're going to have more headaches on this front.

Also, I will note something I don't think I've brought up before. I have a great fondness for things like Set Items(from the MIC) or Legacy Items(ala Weapons of Legacy), so anything like that showing up would likely make me ^_^. And anything homebrew and unique is usually >>> anything from a book, even if it's less useful overall. Plays to my inner GM, I suppose.

I've never used those much, but this motivated me to take a look. I got some ideas, thanks. <_<

Ratticus:

It must be said that the main challenge in this game is consistently combat, and it's usually party vs. encounter combat. There's very little in the way of espionage or a need to engage in various tricks or cunning plans. It's telling that we're talking about combat and not the game in general, really.

I don't agree totally with you, but you're not entirely wrong. There is a fair bit of combat, but on the other hand, I don't design situations that scream: 'You have to out-think this!'. Instead, I prefer giving you situations and seeing how you guys choose to resolve them. Some have obvious answers, some don't. As for espionage, dunno about that, we'll see how that one works out in the future.

The NPCs I like the most are those with, well, clear reasons to act the way they do. I'll admit I like dealing with people who have concerns rooted in reality (as opposed to fiends/angels) but it's not like I'm actually AGAINST infernal villains, they can be pretty fun to fight! I think the best villains are those we can emphasize with on some level- the kind who, if were in their shoes, we can see why they did what they did- and the best friends are those whom we can disagree with somewhat. Might be good to keep it in mind for NPC design.

The catch here is the setting, really. So many beings have concerns that are alien to a normal mindset, such as pure alignment, an element or what have you. For example, the Solamith could have used an SLA to escape instead of staying, but it's desire to hurt, kill and torment made it stay to try and do just that. Being relatively normal may make -you- guys the odd ones out on the Planes, y'know?

That said? Yeah, sometimes NPCs do things for stupid reasons or out of fear, panic or stupidity. Nothing wrong with this, it's often the most human thing about them. <_< Kikula operated mostly off of viciousness and fear, trying to torment Kamvakua and make him submit to Ogremoch. Why? Because he was terrified of the punishment he would receive if he didn't.

Zeph:

To be honest, my enjoyment is all over the place and is based on an encounter to encounter basis. I am becoming painfully aware that unless you have more knowledge of rules hax (as Rat put it), it's hard to be an effective battle caster, at least as far as direct damage goes. Obviously, I enjoy combat where I actually contribute and kill things. It's been kind of lame to only be able to contribute as a buffer.

You're learning, which is part of the game. Fire Bloodline did you a lot of favors, since it gives you direct, useful damage at any time. Past that..eeeh. The buffing situation is mostly because of the party makeup, it's a tough problem. You want to be a star, but being support with Haste is so sickeningly good that it's hard to ignore. Tough situation, that.

I have been sorely, sorely tempted to just go straight Sorc. I appreciate Merc's help and all when I was first starting out, but i feel that it's brought me more headache than aid. A caster class is hard enough to play for a first character. Adding all of this extra stuff like metamagic and Paragon just....blah.

Fair enough. There is one PrC that would fit you really well(Elemental Savant from the Complete Arcane), but straight sorcerer is fine too. Just focus on the magic. As a followup, what spells are you looking at to learn next level?

Cid:

Going to jump into the PrC at some point, at least for style points. Probably level 12. Will have to drop next level on the air bloodline to continue receiving benefits from that (and one of those is more Con. Mari always wants more HP!) Since the PrC requires two new feats, I figure I can retrain something for that at level 12 and put the new level 12 feat into the other. Minimizes the impact on my offense, since I'm not sure how far into the PrC I'll accrue the most notable combat benefits and I don't really have any feats to retrain outside of those that are vital to my attack rolls (it will pretty much have to be one of the TWF feats that goes. Unless I can trade out that silly axe proficiency feat that got written into my brain).

The axe feat is a bonus feat so it can't be retrained.

As for the PrC, I'll cut down the entry feat requirements since those are a bit too steep for what's intended here. Do bear that in mind when you level up.

How does Mari perform? Brother, lemme tell you! She's--oh, in battle. Well, that depends. If I can get the full slice 'n' dice off, probably something dies horribly, but even that has trouble dealing with decent AC. My attack rolls are just okay, and more than once I've had a complete full attack whiff. On the whole I'd say fairly average. Which doesn't really bother me--I didn't set out to make a twinktastic combat monster and wouldn't have the knowledge to do so anyway. (Also, I fixed the typo again because I can't not do that when I see one.)

Oh yeah, I figure Mari's the sort to hop on and ride it like the win-oh wait, sorry. Battle, right. Ironically if you can full SA+haste you have highest damage output of the group. In theory. Emphasis on theory.

[Anastasia]

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Your night's rest passes without incident. Restore HP via resting, restore resources, update party status topic. Any healing should be done by Adail in #elysium(Ask me or Rat for ops if you need them), posted here and then the topic in #elysium shall be updated.

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Knight, you got lucky and nothing of note happens to you.

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Mari, on checking over your things in the morning, you find a rolled up sheet of parchment in your pocket that you're absolutely certain wasn't there before.

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Nikkolai, roll a will save and post the results here.

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Adail, you seem to be getting the sniffles over night. Sneezy, sniffly and generally feeling like a cold's settling in.

[Sierra]

Mystery scroll? How can I not open that up and read it? Let's go!

[Anastasia]

The parchment is written in carefully inked notes, but as if it was written with a shaking hand, ruining the effort.

...to summon the wailing sisters, soil from the 1st and 36th layer of the Abyss is essential. The symbology of the soil allows the ghosts to sojourn back to the material world, at least so far as your command circle... two must be coerced or forced into service. Due to their combined will coercion is far more difficult than...burnt offerings of musteval Guardinals are preferred, though defaced idols of the eladrin rulers of the Court of the Stars may find some favor, as well as any demon's fles....assassination, while Ami prefers...

- A series of excerpts from chapter XXXVI of the Hragd Sayls.

As scouts continues to explore the under-hollows, reports of various landmarks filtered back. Of interest, one appeared to be a memorial tombstone. Interestingly, a magical item was found on it. It appears to be a tarot card of some manner, the witches are working to try and decipher it. Curiously, it seems nigh indestructible, but the art on it appears maddeningly depressed. As if the lady on it as as tormented as a petitioner here.

- An excerpt from the recovered travel logs of Warren the Twicebold, King of Fools.

Name: Adail Levif
Former race: Musteval
Current disposition: Reanimated undeath.
Training: Hand to hand combat, mobile combat, fire, dark rites.
Threat level: Moderate.

- From the notes of the Celestial Scribes of the Holy Mountain, writing in the Book of the Fallen.

Today's studies: Mr Doe continues to show little interest in the outside world. Only his fantasies carry any weight with him, no matter the stimulus provided. I will recommend that he be committed indefinitely, as I foresee no progress. As both magic and alchemical means have failed to restore his mind, it is the only mercy we can provide. Not that he minds: he learned a new spell today, or so he claims. The demons in his mind will surely fall to this new cone of fire.

- Log 4950.39, Sanary Institute for the Shattered Mind.

[Sierra]

<Cidward> roll 1d20+13 K:P, can Mari makes heads or tails of anything here?
* Nyarlahatbot --> "Cidward rolls 1d20+13 K:P, can Mari makes heads or tails of anything here? and gets 31."12 [1d20=18]
<Cidward> Most likely!
<Cidward> I shoulda nicked first, but eh.

[Anastasia]

The Hragd Sayls is a legendary book of the Ice Giants, said to have been complied by an Ice Giant sorcerer. It lists every demon in the Abyss, or so it claims.

The Celestial Scribes of the Holy Mountain are an order of monkly archons, recording information from all across the planes. In particular, the Book of the Fallen is a notation of each and every fallen Celestial.

The Sanary Institute is a mental hospital within Arcadia. It is said that most illnesses can be cured there between magic and alchemical cures.

[Carthrat]

I am curious

Do we have a prime material plane, or many prime material planes?