Gaming W/Jemal: Planar Quest! (Closed)

[kinem]

Honestly, there's been a major failure of suspension of disbelief throughout this whole scene. If the 3.5 rules say he can still hide, then the rules need to be replaced. It's giving me some ideas on how to fix the hide skill.

 

[Shayuri]

He has a Shadowdancer level, so as long as there's shadows, he can hide.

But talking should give us Listen checks to locate him.

More to the point, his motivation in hiding seems odd, unless he's just messing around. But then, none of the rest of us are really big on senses of humor.

 

[Binder Fred]

I could be wrong, but think there's an invisibility effect at play and the Stealth is for us not to hear/sense him moving about. Anyways, as jemal hasn't spoken up I figure he's alright with it, so let's just assume that it makes sense mechanically and roleplay what we see -- which is nothing!

 

[kinem]

It's rules-legal due to the Shadowdancer (su) ability. It's just not making much sense.

He's not invisible; if he were I'd see him as I have see invisibility always active. He's just hiding in shadows even if they don't actually conceal him. I also have darkvision, so it's not as if the shadows actually impede my sight.

To be fair, the ranger (ex) ability makes even less sense. The ranger's favored class categories also make no sense. The 3.x ranger needs a major overhaul.

 

[Shayuri]

Since it's kind of fallen back a few pages, Jemal, any word on the ideas I floated at the end of page 28?

 

[Jemal]

Shay - I have my threads set to display 20 posts per page, so page numbers are different. I'm guessing you're talking about post # 280?

I'd like Pmorph Any Object, but there's some contention...so here's my proposal.

How about we make a customized version of Polymorph Any Object, that has some code changes to make it specific to your campaign's rules? We'll remove it's ability to affect creatures and remove the spells that can target creatures from its list of spells it can emulate.

We can then, to keep it 8th level, perhaps consider some increased ability when affecting objects. For example, perhaps we allow some utility to transmute objects into valuable materials, with limits? Here are some possibilities:

Transmutation Without A Circle: Using Pmorph Any Object to change objects into valuable materials invokes a law of equivalent exchange; gold piece value cannot be spontaneously created, but it can be altered. To change a sword into adamantine, one would have to use a normal sword AND other materials that equal the value of an adamantine sword. This would make the spell the equivalent of a 'portable shop' for any object that doesn't involve magic and enchantment...which at these levels is most of them, really. Cold Iron would still be off limits, since it's not the material that makes that unique, but rather the manner by which it is harvested and processed.

No Cheating! Well, maybe a little: Transmuting an object into a substantially more valuable object reduces the duration factor, and prohibits permanence. I'd suggest using the rules for Major Creation as a good guideline. A spellcraft check of fairly easy DC allow someone to spot 'faked' valuables, meaning that it can't be used to defraud a canny merchant. Further, using the spell to attempt fraud would be a criminal and unlawful act.

Simplify, simplify, simplify: No new special rules. Rather, we simply add a few spells to the list of spells that can be emulated to replace the ones lost. Major Creation, Fabricate, and perhaps something like Wall of Stone or similar "change stuff into other configuration" type spells would be under consideration.

And if none of these ideas appeal, I'll just take Horrid Wilting. Maybe reskin it as something less gruesome though.

I like something akin to the last option.. hows this:
As Polymorph any Object, with the following exceptions:
Target: Can only affect objects or self.
In addition to the normal allotment, Can also duplicate Wall of Stone, Wall of Iron, Wall of Ice, or Fabricate.

Also, May duplicate Major Creation with the following changes:
Duration/Effect:
Vegetable matter, Stone, base metals; 1 hr./levels; 50 cubic ft/lvl
Precious metals, Crystal, Gems; 10 min./level; 10 cubic ft/lvl *
Rare metal; 1 round/level; 1 cubic ft/lvl
*Craft check to make materials look 'real/permanent', opposed by Perception or Appraise check(May make both checks, if either succeeds they realize it's fake)*
In addition to the standard inability to use as spell components, Any attempt to use any object created by this effect as the target of further transmutation causes the second spell to be wasted and the first to expire immediately.



As far as the hide in plain sight ability - it's never really made sense, but it's a supernatural ability in a magical world, so I just accept it, kinda like the ability to levitate or fling fireballs. The problem isn't hide in plain sight though, it's Damien's overly high check. *waggles finger at D'raven*

I've also always thought that True Seeing should help spot hidden characters (In the computer game 'Neverwinter Nights' for example, it gave a bonus to spot checks).
I'm considering adding a similar component to it, but it's already a fairly strong spell, and hide characters are kinda reliant on not being seen.

And for the 'hearing him', listen/spot and hide/move silent are now just under 'perception' and 'stealth', and he has been moving before/after speaking..
I also believe I had discussed with him throwing his voice with bluff, which is why he posted a bluff check during his first speech, and sblocks within it. I probably should've said something earlier about the ventriloquism bluff, maybe have it opposed by perception instead of sense motive, but I didn't think it would become a big deal, this was only supposed to be a roleplaying/meet&greet/have fun thread.

 

[Shayuri]

Spellnstuff sounds good. Thanks.

As for hiding, I'm fine with it. No big deal for me ooc. It has created a bit if a trust issue, ic, but nothing that can't be surmounted.

 

[D'Raven]

My character does have reasons he's doing what hes doing. He's D'Raven the craven. He's actually a bit cowardly. Also paranoid. He hides a lot as a way to deal with it. He can act haughty or confident if no one knows were he is. The reason he's not giving out info is the paranoia. If you look throu the raven loft heading of the character he's got two rooms that are immune to scrying. Ones on the othere side of the door. But he doesn't like to talk about them unless he's in them. Fair warning in a couple posts he may start to pick pockets. He'll give the items right back or as a last ditch if people start to leave. In character he doesn't need the party just the fragments of power they've gathered. Once he gets people throu the door he'll do a full disclosure. He'd rather have the party help him if he can but the whole mess has him scared witless. He's sure he's gonna die trying to save the muliverse but unable to stop himself. Also I messed up the domain spell. I have un detectable alignment. I was reading nondetection little different. Detect alignment spells don't work but other detection spells do gonna change post.

 

[D'Raven]

I'm gonna edit my toons back story a bit he'll be the 21st raven the son of Damian, Darrian. I'm dropping assassin from the build and back story. I'm going more unseen seer. It has a better feel to the character.

 

[kinem]

Fair warning in a couple posts he may start to pick pockets.

D'Raven, I strongly advise against that unless you want to turn this into a combat scene. I basically understand what you're trying to do and it's a cool enough idea in principle, but this sort of thing is very hard to pull off without antagonizing other PCs.

I was once in a face to face D&D game where one character was a halfling rogue who did nothing but hide from the other PCs. Of course he had a very high hide modifier so none of us could spot him. I don't remember if he also picked pockets, but he didn't help explore the dungeon; all he did was annoy us. It was a distraction from the game and not fun, and needless to say the hard feelings were not just in-character.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!