Odds and ends

[Merc]

Comments regarding the Unseen Striker PrC:
-It doesn't advance Sneak Attack? The flavor text implies that it should, cause otherwise it's kind of weak for a skirmisher type? It's not like he's got Pounce/TWF, nor does the PrC seem aimed for such builds, so it seems a bit weak for the lack of it.
-Getting hit with a penalty special ability at level 1 (Cowardly) with nothing to gain is pretty harsh entry.
-Overwhelming Strike feels odd at level 3. Since it's a per level ability, it gives an immediate +3 bonus. Why not just have it at level 1 for +1 there, and have it increase normally from there? It's not like it's a great dip since it depends on level, and it -is- countered by the Cowardly ability.
-The bonus feats (Bounding Assault/Rapid Blitz) should have additional text similar to other classes bonus feats, an entry that says "You gain these feats even if you normally do not meet the prerequesites, but only so long as you wear light or no armor." Note that otherwise, Noel would not qualify for the BAB requirement of those feats.

[Anastasia]

Sneak Attack isn't directly progressed, but Overwhelming Assault is in the same vein as it. I'd count it as giving roughly equivalent to 3d6 sneak attack by level 10. You gain offense and offense that can be multiplied(Unlike sneak attack dice), but it's a little specific to set up. As for the placement, that's where it fit well in the progression. I could tweak it to level 1 easily enough.

I do agree it's a strange beast for a skirmishing class, but it ultimately focuses on defense more than offense.

Yeah, gaining those as bonus feats is on purpose. What you said is assumed but should be added; the  requirements for those feats make them difficult for anyone but pure fighters to get. I'll add that clarifying text.

[Merc]

From a pure mathy perspective, Overwhelming Assault is weaker to Sneak Attack actually.

SA increases by 1d6 every two levels. So every two levels, on average, you gain +3.5damage. OA gives you +2 damage every two levels in the PrC.

I can understand that the focus is defensive, but it still feels like the class needs to be boosted a little bit. I wouldn't recommend giving it an equal SA progression necessarily, maybe evey 3 levels instead of every 2, or something more to give it that defensive feel, but I do feel it needs a bit more. SA just happened to be what popped to my mind first.

I also still think it's inherently wrong to work to get into a PrC, and the first level you gain...a penalty. That's just really, really lame.

I would probably also suggest that it gives the Darkstalker feat from Lords of Madness somewhere in there.

DARKSTALKER
You have learned how to stalk and surprise creatures whose senses are very different from those of a humanoid.
Benefit: When you hide, creatures with blindsense, blindsight, scent, or tremorsense must make a Listen check or
a Spot check (whichever DC is higher) to notice you, just as sighted creatures would make Spot checks to detect you.
You cannot hide in plain sight unless you have that ability as a class feature. In addition, you can flank creatures
that have the all-around vision special quality.
Normal: Creatures with these senses do not need to make Spot or Listen checks to notice other creatures within
range. Creatures with all-around vision can't be flanked.

Given that the only defense focus right now -is- hiding, it'd be pretty lame if it can so easily be beaten by a good number of magical/high-level creatures.

[Anastasia]

I actually figure anyone who devote this much effort to Hide will already have Darkstalker. I don't think I'll add it to the class, though anyone who took it would be strongly recommended to. The same way a cleric might be strongly recommended to take Divine Metamagic in a game that allows it, y'know?

Tweaked the class and added some minor sneak attack, going to tidy up the epic progression.

[Corwin]

So since we're going to Hell and all, this is my prep:

1) Halfway to Croger, I'll realize that I don't really know Josa's plan for getting to Avernus. Therefore, I'll turn around and go ask him about just what he intends to do, what sort of spells and information he might need there, and is there a part of it the Temple of Ilmater could help with, perhaps?

2) Right after, I'll go and see Croger, this time for real. Assuming he is around, I would like to ask for his opinion on our options, both before going and for while there. If he doesn't volunteer it on his own, I would like to ask him if he could reserve a Sending and/or Scrying to try first thing tomorrow morning on our behalf. If Josa hopes to score transportation this way as well, I'll ask Croger about this, too.

3) I would like to learn from Sylvie about the sort of things we might see in Avernus, be it locals or local conditions. I probably wouldn't remember very much, so the very basics would help. It would be nice to know if they have normal weather and gravity, not to drink the local water, whether disease and poison are a serious concern, if the enemies would have any basic immunities (DR, SR, energy resistance). Just enough to be able to form a strategy (grapple yes, unarmed punch with fire no). Ideally, I'd have Andrea and Simmer sit in on this so that we're all in sync about the best options, but if they have their own sources of information that's fine too.

3a) I wouldn't actually buy anything based on the above, because I'm me, but if Andrea worries about any local hazards or Simmer wants something to actually harm the enemies, they could use the chance to get something useful? Andrea might borrow that silver longsword again, whichever.

[Anastasia]

Josa's plan is fairly simple: 1. Get two scrolls of planeshift and a couple of sendings. 2. Coordinate with the others and find a meet-up spot. 3. Get the fuck out of there. More elaborate means of work aren't viable - Josa doesn't have the income to buy more than a few 1000 mark+ scrolls. He expects some traveling will be unavoidable, thus stocking the bag of holding with food and supplies. He suggests you bring lots of water as well, and if you can get scrolls of create water that would be grand. More than food, water is likely the going concern. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Croger's opinion is that you have a great trial and greater suffering ahead. He recommends that you prepare as best you can, and accept that personal sacrifice may be the only way to victory. Spend the time you can in communion with Ilmater, and be prepared to take on the mantle of sacrifice should it be required. He'll be willing to cast a scrying or a sending on your behalf.

> roll 1d20+7 Sylvie
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Sylvie and gets 20." [1d20=13]

Sylvie provides the following information about Avernus:

It's normal gravity with a strong alignment towards law and evil. Drinking the water is bad - most of it is Styx water, and that functions as a memory eraser. Bad idea. Bad. Bad. Bad.  Poison and disease are a serious concern; Avernus is an eternal warground for the Blood War. You can run into anything, but most of what you'll fight will be devils. Avoid fire, they're immune. They're resistant to most elements except electricity.  Silver is useful, as is anything Good or Chaotic. One of the big priorities will be to find cover - the sky of Avernus belches forth lethal fireballs down, with a vicious desire to immolate living beings.

[Corwin]

Would Sylvie know what other ways exist for leaving Avernus, short of Plane Shift? And if she mentions portals, does she know of any ways to locate them, magically or otherwise?

[Anastasia]

She'd know Avernus has a lot of portals, but not concrete locations. That's the other main way of travel to and from.

[Merc]

Any chance of recruiting Olan or Brent for this? Never hurts to have more paladins when storming hell, and Olan might have a soft spot for Branna since he's spent some time as one of his students?

[Anastasia]

You could try. Admittedly you'd need to do some fast talking to get someone to come with you to Hell, friend or no.

[Anastasia]

Turning. Sorry for taking so long, I got sidetracked and it slipped between the wickets.  I'm going to scale it back to d6/2 levels for healing and see how that works.  I'm also going to use Merc's suggestion about Quicken Turning.

[Anastasia]

Levelling up options ahead for NPCs. Feedback welcome.

Josa: Candymancer 1 and Elf Paragon 3. Those are slam dunks. I'm not sure on his feat quite yet, I need to review. For later levels he needs something to fill the other side of his gestalt and I have no fucking idea on which to choose. A selection follows, let me know what you think!

Swashbuckler

Pros: Josa would be hliarious as a swashbuckler and he already has a rapier!

Cons: It's horrible for him in all aspects.

Hexblade

Pros: It's something different, gives him a bit of versatility. Arcane Resistance isn't a bad pickup.

Cons: It doesn't stand out and it's not that useful. Class is weak on it's own merits.

Marshal

Pros: Auras would help him support the others. Josa's speeches having a concrete effect would be giggleworthy.

Cons: Josa's speeches having a concrete effect would be groanworthy.

Ranger

Pros: Elfy. Gives his saves and HP a boost.

Cons: Weapon style is wasted on him.

Fighter

Pros: Good synergistic filler.

Cons: Bland.

Sylvie: Factotum 4 and Monk 3. She puts her stat point in intelligence and carries on.

Simmer: Outsider 2 and Sorcerer 3. She picks up Practiced Spellcaster to make her spells suck less. If she seriously starts using bows/rays she may dip into fighter to get precise shot and that ilk.

Neveril: Sirine 5//Bard 5. She may go into the siren PrC form Savage Species at some point or start that paragon class. I need to sit down and get her shit together tonight.

Balyss: Continues taking her classes. She's a dual caster so it's all good.

[Corwin]

Josa the Barbarian! One day he could take that magical raging prc, too!

[Ebiris]

Marshal sounds fair for Josa. Sylvie should be a barbarian or a ninja or something cool instead of a monk because there's far too many of them.

[Anastasia]

Barbarian Josa...hahhahhahahahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahahahhaha!

Tempting but I think I'll pass on that one. <_< Marshal could work.

I'd prefer not to do ninja since I hate sudden strike with a virulent passion. Barbarian could be amusing but it doesn't fit her either. Maybe Swashbuckler for the level 3 int to damage and free weapon finesse, but it is a bit cheesy.