tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457309627892248510.post3826349020477644611..comments2024-03-28T13:56:03.512-04:00Comments on Zenith Games: Jacob's Tower, Level 8: PlanarZenithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05084567670274788805noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457309627892248510.post-10719229118211211902017-05-27T20:19:42.213-04:002017-05-27T20:19:42.213-04:00Woah, some very swingy stuff back and forth there....Woah, some very swingy stuff back and forth there. Crazy that the boogeyman fight lasted so long - I would have loved to be a fly on the wall for that fight.<br />Hope the next level is more fun!Zenithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05084567670274788805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457309627892248510.post-4046409263620545472017-05-27T15:01:18.670-04:002017-05-27T15:01:18.670-04:00Session 1:
The group finally learned to put some r...Session 1:<br />The group finally learned to put some ranks into "useless" skills, so they managed to find all the treasure in room 1. After that they spent a good amount of time climbing through the room examining the holes for the crystals. <br />The big plan was sending the Synthesist-Summoner alone into the negative room, waiting two rounds for him to come back and report what he found.<br />Two rounds alone with 3(because 6 players) wraiths, AC ~35 but Touch AC of 15, casting invisibility for no effect ended with eidolons CON -1 an synthesist CON 12 (of 14). ( I must admit that I forgot to give him his FORT-Saves, so he was allowed to reroll them at the beginning of Session 2).<br />Then the rest of the party entered and the cleric cast sunlight and the fight was over.<br /><br />They headed into Earth and I was disappointed to only roll 2's and 4's, so the group was only splitted into 2.<br />The following fight lasted 2 hours before we had to stop and the Boogeyman was still at full HP.<br /><br />Session 2<br />The group played cat and mouse with the boogeyman, half of them panicked. It was a veeeeeeery long fight. Another 2 hours this evening, even though the Alchemist insisted in leaving the room several times.<br />The boogeyman took a chance to coup-de-grace the Animal Companion much to the Rangers frustration.<br />Greatest moment was the boogeymann trying to bullrush the fighter into the Chaosroom, failing his CMB by only 2.<br /><br />They entered the positive room without killing the Angels for loot.<br /><br />Next room was fire.<br />Everybody had at least fire resistance 10, so I just skipped the encounter.<br /><br />The waspswarm did wreak havoc on the group and forced the alchemist to drink his potion of breath of life (this one won't come back) and scared them a lot.<br /><br />Water was an easy one, after the aboleth fight they prepared for underwaterfights. The Ranger was happy to use handle animal again.<br /><br />Session 3:<br />I changed the spelllists in the chaosroom because I didn't think they fit the topic chaos much.<br />That was when I realised that Black Tentacles and Stinking cloud are a very nasty combination...<br />I also combined mirror image and blur to give the sorcerers at least a little endurance.<br />Also since one of my players bought monster codex and asked me for a steamhog as an animal companion I found it funny to let the sorcerers summon one at the beginning of the fight.<br /><br />The Lawful Room recieved a total revision.<br />5 gearwheels on the ground, moving every turn and crushing characters who fell between them.<br />Then there were 4 laser shooting CR 1/3 robotspiders at the ceiling. And last but not least there was a robotic arm, trying random combat maneuvers each round.<br />The group lost a bunch of hitpoint from the traps, the gear-wheels and the clockworkguy.<br /><br />The final fight was pretty boring.<br />An invisible, flying alchemist, a nearly unhittable fighter and synthesist and a rocket-turret ranger were all it needed. The rogue was pretty useless since he never managed to get into position for sneak attacks. The Cleric did cleric things I don't remember now ;-)<br /><br />It was a nice level, but my players didn't like the boogeyman and the bossfight.<br />Not my favorit JT-Level, but still fun to play!<br /><br />Thanks<br />PascalKetanestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457309627892248510.post-30366352072353510562017-05-27T14:01:21.487-04:002017-05-27T14:01:21.487-04:00It's been a while and we're in the middle ...It's been a while and we're in the middle of Resurrection, so I have some more to report.<br />About your speed-up-tips:<br />I already do nearly everything besides dividing GM dutys, which I wouldn't like.<br />I think the biggest problem is having 6 players, plus 3 of my players are PnP newbies.<br />We will see if we manage to become a little faster.Ketanestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457309627892248510.post-6157692994361789532017-04-24T00:20:31.552-04:002017-04-24T00:20:31.552-04:00My goodness! You have the most exciting time runni...My goodness! You have the most exciting time running these. I'm glad you've avoided a TPK so far, and am very eager to hear about what happened.<br /><br />14.5 hours for this is CRAZY! Do you have slower players, or do things feel like they are moving along at a decent clip? Maybe this would help: http://zenithgames.blogspot.com/2014/02/10-ways-to-speed-up-gameplay.html ?Zenithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05084567670274788805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457309627892248510.post-40026945548998539312017-04-23T17:29:39.620-04:002017-04-23T17:29:39.620-04:00Wow.
Today my group finished Planar after 3 sessio...Wow.<br />Today my group finished Planar after 3 sessions of 4, 6 an 4.5 hours. One dead animal companion and a few PCs close to -CON.<br />I'm just to tired right now but a more complete log will follow!Ketanestnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457309627892248510.post-81939897200631713572016-08-08T20:11:26.192-04:002016-08-08T20:11:26.192-04:00I love the wild magic room. That table is just so ...I love the wild magic room. That table is just so much fun the play around with. Also glad that they got scared of the bogeyman room - it worked!<br /><br />Anti-magic room is definitely difficult, especially with two party members not participating (they could have flanked at least?). Yeah, I think the negative room is easier than people might imagine. Glad that they had fun with the water room!<br /><br />Sorry that the boss fight was a slog, that was bound to happen sooner or later. Also sorry that you guys lost a member! It'll be interesting to see the new party dynamics with a different makeup.Zenithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05084567670274788805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457309627892248510.post-35297637523189890662016-08-06T18:17:07.796-04:002016-08-06T18:17:07.796-04:00Finally remembered to update my log here. So, this...Finally remembered to update my log here. So, this one was quite an interesting challenge for the gang.<br /><br />After gaining all the treasure in the material plane room, they naturally decided to explore the positive energy plane (though with the fear that it might explode them). Had to work out how the eidolon would work when going from room to room (I ruled both the summoner and eidolon would need to go at the same time, which worked out fine). They managed to calm down the Deva, then the Arcanist attempted to get it come and help clear the floor. Didn't work out, but for good roleplaying and attempting to get plot, I left them the greatsword and a couple of scrolls (restoration and remove disease I believe?). Nothing too broken.<br /><br />Communal Fire Resistance took care of the Plane of fire easily enough, and then there was some fun in the Chaos/Wild Magic room. The rogue and inquisitor stepped in and immediately got blinded by a hail of rotten fruit. Then sorcerer/dragon disciple got confused upon walking in, and ended up critting the rogue in the back. No one died, but it was quite amusing for the rest of the party when they walked in and saw two half-orcs rolling around laughing and crying.<br /><br />They got super scared of the earth room, as they had no idea what was in there. The poor oracle entered and appeared right next to the Bogeyman and practically had a heart-attack. Needless to say, they ditched as soon as someone shouted about having the orb.<br /><br />The Anti-Magic room proved quite the challenge. The Oracle and Arcanist just sat outside upon realizing what the room was like, leaving the rest of the party to desperately poke at the clockwork soldier. The summoner nearly died to a trap, but they managed it well due to the eidolon (I don't think they could have cleared it without the thing).<br /><br />The room of air was solved with just taking the hits and running out with the body. The negative energy room was super scary; they buffed themselves quite a bit. Actually, they buffed themselves enough that the poor wraiths couldn't even touch them. And the water room was adorable; the summoner popped in a couple of sharks, and much fun was had.<br /><br />The boss fight was a bit of a slog. Honestly, I don't think they enjoyed it that much, though they did find the lightning elemental flying about and tripping people amusing. But it was mostly a slog-fest through and through.<br /><br />The rest of the floor was enjoyable however, so good job there. Unfortunately, one player had to drop, so the group lost both the inquisitor and the sorcerer. Painful, but they believe they can manage. I've thrown them a funky half-orc fighter with a flair for fire. So, hopefully all will go well on their camping trip.darrel378https://www.blogger.com/profile/04418105384885472440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457309627892248510.post-87245917227780420852014-03-14T12:48:06.573-04:002014-03-14T12:48:06.573-04:00I think the fast healing is fine for the deva/boss...I think the fast healing is fine for the deva/boss fight. It bothers me a little as a pokecenter effect between combats. I don't expect the PCs to need a rest at all on this level, since the rooms don't strike me as especially damaging anyway.<br /><br />Noted about the Earth Room. It's semi-magical darkness because it messes with light sources, but not full on supernatural. I'm expecting this fight to be the toughest. Observation: This feels more like a Shadow Plane tribute, than Elemental Earth.<br /><br />Petty Alchemynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457309627892248510.post-27645922401092945722014-03-14T10:01:32.286-04:002014-03-14T10:01:32.286-04:00Yup, that's a feature, no a bug. Out-of-comba...Yup, that's a feature, no a bug. Out-of-combat healing shouldn't be an issue by this level, and, even if it is, the positive room offers a respite from the other areas. It is intentional that the PCs can just keep going back to the top before tackling each room. They can even hang out there during the boss fight. I don't see this as being hugely unbalanced, but if I get enough concerns I'll consider it.<br /><br />I assume somebody in your party has immunity or resistance to fire? Yeah, the room is intended to be easy if the heroes can deal with the circumstances. Rewarding what they are good at and all.<br /><br />Darkvision characters can see just fine, I'll add a note. Darkvision hasn't been too useful in the tower so far since level 3, so I want to make it relevant again.Zenithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05084567670274788805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457309627892248510.post-9828176456491991872014-03-14T01:55:18.228-04:002014-03-14T01:55:18.228-04:00Cool to see the next level. I can see that my par...Cool to see the next level. I can see that my party will breeze through the fire room, but that's fine. <br /><br />My main concern here is the free healing in the Positive Energy room. I feel like this should shut down once the orb is taken from the Deva, or PCs can just keep coming back to top themselves off before tackling each room.<br /><br />Also, is the darkness in the Earth room supernatural, or are Darkvision characters fine?Petty Alchemynoreply@blogger.com