Whirtlestaff's Wizards' Academy Revisited, OOC01

[renau1g]

Only downside with the night attack is that we lack darkvision...and they have it (I think, but not sure if my PC would know that). I'm thinking a few protection from arrows spells would be great as well? Grease and Glitterdust (I don't have it though) are also effective AoE spells. Also, Xavier's familiar is a Raven so it can help as well, and speak as well.

I think it sounds like a good plan

 

[Scotley]

At least Tylara has low light vision, so she's not afraid of the dark. Her familiar would make an excellent scout for this. We do need some area of effect spells. Ice knife has some area effect, but not much.

 

[renau1g]

Xavier has web and grease, but no damaging spells. He has a scroll of Hail of Stone that we could scribe, but I think the damage is pretty low...

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

Manny also has low light vision, and can make 'Continual Light' lanterns for all if we wait a few days (or could make just a couple - 1/day). Don't know why I didn't specify he was doing that prior to now, as I recall someone suggesting that very thing early on in the game.

While he doesn't have the class levels everyone else does, he could also serve very well as a scout (Rogue class and Tiny size = +13 to Hide skill) either prior to moving on the keep or during our advance room to room.

Leif, I'll be making a slight change to his memorized spells - taking 'Expeditious Retreat' in place of 'Rouse.' I'll make the change on the character sheet as well, but in case I don't get to it prior to engagement (or forget to do so) this is my intent.

 

[Leif]

So noted for Manny.

 

[KerlanRayne]

I didn't think about Darkvision. Well Xavier and Tylara can scout with their familiars. Go ahead and start that. Manny might even be able to ride on Tylara's eagle, the sizes are right. We need to look for total numbers, number of guards, anything similar to a shaman, and the general layout of the area.

If we buff up Max he could be doing 3d6+4 damage minimum after Enlarge Person and Shillelagh, he can even flurry with it. Someone would have to scribe Enlarge Person into their spellbook, which Manny has a scroll of. Whoever scribes it can create a new scroll to replace it. If we can get Alter Self (maybe from Crus) then we can change into something with up to +6 Natural Armor. That plus Mage Armor and Shield would give Max an AC of 10 +6 NA +4 Armor +4 Shield +2 Monk = 26 AC. We could all do it together in one round and he would kick butt. It would only work if there is a courtyard to fight in though.

Inside we could use Web to good effect. We use Caltrops to slow them down and get them to bunch up for the Web. A torch would do 2d4 points of damage to those inside. Sleep would help as well. I can memorize Web three times.

The problem with spells like Grease, Color Spray, and Glitterdust is that with the numbers we will be dealing with, we can't take out the disabled foes fast enough before more are on the way.

Maybe Max can scribe Enlarge Person and I can scribe Alter Self. We have the money available and anyone who wants to memorize it can borrow our spellbooks for free.

The low level characters can cast spells like Mage Armor and Sleep which don't require a high caster level.

Any other ideas? I know I'm repeating some of this, but I want to keep it all together.

@Manny: If you don't plan on getting a familiar, you may want to try using the Immediate Magic Alternative Class Feature from the Player's Handbook 2. For Transmutation specialists it gives you a Fly, Swim, or Climb speed equal to your land speed for one round, INT Bonus times per day. Since we've just now started in the heart of the game Leif might still let you change it. Also, go ahead and make some Continual Torches. We need to scout out some and we should probably wait until Crus arrives before setting off.

 

[Leif]

Wow, you guys are some DEVIOUS wizards! You're just going to spoil ALL my fun, aren't you?

Don't forget that the ph lists a Spellcraft DC specifically for memorizing a known spell from a "borrowed spellbook," so doing that is not a guaranteed success.

I'll have to take a look at the Immediate Magic alternative class feature before I decide, but you've kinda waited AWHILE before asking. And Mowgli still hasn't asked directly. It's not like you've only had these characters for a week or anything...... (Still, I'm not slamming the door on the idea just yet.)

 

[renau1g]

Well... we wouldn't survive at Whirtlestaff's if we weren't devious no would we?

 

[KerlanRayne]

Wow, you guys are some DEVIOUS wizards! You're just going to spoil ALL my fun, aren't you?

Don't forget that the ph lists a Spellcraft DC specifically for memorizing a known spell from a "borrowed spellbook," so doing that is not a guaranteed success.

I'll have to take a look at the Immediate Magic alternative class feature before I decide, but you've kinda waited AWHILE before asking. And Mowgli still hasn't asked directly. It's not like you've only had these characters for a week or anything...... (Still, I'm not slamming the door on the idea just yet.)

The spellcraft DC to memorize from a borrowed spellbook is 15 + Spell Level. That means that after taking 10 we only need a +7 max to succeed with a second level spell.

As to the Immediate Magic idea, well it was just a suggestion. I said that you might let him but I know it's not a sure thing. It's the same alternative that I used, except that it's for a different specialization.

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

Disadvantage to not playing Wizards often (or only twice in a lifetime) - little awareness of options available.

Leif, if you would be so kind as to look at the Alternative package and let me know if it's available at this stage, I'm interested but not committed, as my original plan was to try and figure out a way to get a flying familiar large enough for Manny to ride. You ruled that out early on for Manny as a first level wizard, but if you know of a way to do it somewhat later I'd still like to consider that option as well.

Manny will start cranking out Continual Lights (one/day) on whatever items party members wish them put on (just post a note here).