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Since the beginning of history, humanity has measured time in Ages. Ages of Glory, of Dreams and even of Great Sorrows mark the human tally of years, giving a sense of order to the events of past centuries. But one age has yet to occur--an age of darkness, of decay, and of writhing doom. Witty bards and wrathful preachers know it as the Age of Worms, weaving it into the peripheries of their passion plays as a mythic era of destruction that could begin at any time. Astrologers, diviners, and the servants of Fate know more. The canniest among them fear that the Age of Worms has already begun...
Hey all, this is an open recruitment for a story set in the original D&D world of Greyhawk. While it would be possible to convert it to Golarion, the dark theme fits too comfortably into the unforgiving world of Greyhawk for me to want to change it.
I'll be looking for 4-5 players to join me in a tale I've told numerous times. The story takes characters from level 1 all the way to level 21. It's a little bit dungeon crawl, a little bit hack and slash, but it's mostly a story of exploration and discovery. There are mysteries to be solved and truths to be uncovered, not many of them particularly happy ones. A majority of the roleplay and character devolopment should happen between player characters, but this is important as the plot leaves you uncertain of who might be your enemies, so you need to be sure of your friends. The party will quite often feel like it is alone against the world.
This is my first real foray into PbP gaming so I'm very open to suggestions and criticism as things move forward. I'll also be nailing down the details of how I plan to run this game as part of the discussion following recruitment, which I'll leave open for 2 weeks.
Post Rate: I'm expecting a post rate of once per day at minimum. I'd be open to allowing a slower post rate on weekends if everyone wanted. I can personally post every evening after work, multiple times per evening most nights.
Communication: I have set up a Discord server as a way to communicate real-time for anyone who needs to delay posting for personal reasons or for anyone who just has a quick question here and there. I am requiring that players use this with me as a way to keep us all accountable. You don't need to put the app on your phone if you don't want (that's how I'm using it), but I won't be accepting applicants who refuse to use Discord at all.
Etiquette: There are some good posts on PbP etiquette here and here. I intend to use these as strong guidelines for my game, but I also have a few other things to add. First of all, and most importantly, the party needs to work together. This campaign is challenging enough without the party opposing each other. It's OK for there to be character conflict and arguments, but when it comes down to taking action, I need you to find a way for your characters to be on the same page. This means no evil alignments at all (in over a decade of GMing, I think I've had one evil character played in such a way that didn't create problems within the party). Also, in a similar vein, please do not include allies in the area of your detrimental spells without discussing it OOC first (via discord or the discussion board). I don't know why, but it seems like in half of the groups I get together, the sorcerer wants to Sirocco the barbarian because he can 'hit two more enemies that way'. This is not fun for the barbarian or the cleric to deal with.
Backdrop: The campaign will start in the lively mining town of Diamond Lake, a muddy smudge on the map of the hills east of the fabulous Free City of Greyhawk. Diamond Lake's inhabitants are predominately miners and laborers, serious folk who spend most of their lives toiling below ground. When not working, the miners celebrate along the Vein, a seedy road lined with alehouses and brothels. Overall, the village is a sooty, sullen place prone to unpleasant bursts of violence and passion. Nobody likes it here. Not really.
As characters, you're stuck here for some reason. Either you grew up in Diamond Lake and know no different, or you got caught here coming through and now you can't afford to leave. You're broke, bored and tired of the daily toil that is Diamond Lake. Right now, you'd probably jump at even a remote chance at something interesting happening.
So when a trio of richly dressed adventurers come into town, bragging about their plans to explore the long-abandoned Stirgenest Cairn (which is notoriously bereft of anything interesting or valuable at all) and after you or a friend come across an outdated map with some markings that aren't on modern maps, you decide to check one of them out. You don't have anything better to do on your day off. Besides, it gets you out of town at least. And with a name like The Whispering Cairn, it's probably more interesting than staying home.
I will provide a lot more detail on Diamond Lake and it's inhabitants on the campaign page throughout the recruitment period. I also have a bit more detail on the exact starting scenario depending on the specific characters that end up participating. Typically, I start this campaign in town but given the scope of the campaign and how slow PbP is, we'll start the actual game at the entrance to The Whispering Cairn. We'll need to connect the characters in some way to give them a reason to be exploring the Cairn together, but we can figure that out later.
-Materials We'll use Core, Advanced and Ultimate books(minus Intrigue) as a starting point. With the exception of race-specific or setting-specific options, everything in those books should be OK. I'll allow further content on a case by case basis(just ask!). I know from experience with this campaign how quickly things can get out of hand at higher levels if I allow all paizo material. The first time I had to figure out what happens when multiple Spellbane auras cross paths with Anti-magic field(with one of them naming AMF), I realized my folly. So I'm going to be slow and careful about content that I allow so that the game does not fall apart at high level.
Absolutely no 3rd party content at all.
-Ability Scores: 25 Point Buy, don't reduce any score below its starting value and no score above 18 after racial modifiers. I strongly encourage you to build a balanced character. I have no qualms about augmenting enemy defenses to make up for aggressively built characters, but I will rarely increase enemy offense; meaning your defensive stats will likely serve you well. Also, I'm hoping to find solidly built characters without too much powergaming. To put it another way, I'm more concerned with your character's story than with your build, as long as it's a build that can survive (no 8 con wizards please).
-Races: Core races only. I'm open to other options but you'll have to ask first. Keep in mind that the Greyhawk setting is a bit different with how it deals with many races.
-Classes: All Paizo classes except Vigilante, Gunslinger and Paladin. Unchained variants must be used for any classes that have them. This isn't the type of story for an intrigue-based character (we won't be using any intrigue rules at all), Greyhawk doesn't really do the whole gunpowder thing, and while the paladin class works in the story, it's somewhat limiting for the party as a whole. If you really want to play a holy warrior-type, the inquisitor is a much better option for this campaign in my opinion.
-Skills We'll be using the Background Skills rules, so each character will get 2 extra skill points per level for background skills.
-Feats Though I've never used them before, let's use the feat tax rules.
-Traits Choose one trait plus a campaign trait from those listed here. No drawbacks.
I modified a list posted by a member of this forum a few years ago.
Arcane Upbringing
You were raised by those well versed in the ways of arcane magic . Your interest and exposure has granted you more knowledge and ability than others.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on two of the following skills: Bluff, Intimidate, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (history), Spellcraft, Use Magic Device.
Secret: You are descended from the Green Lady.
Cairn Seeker
You come from a long line of treasure seekers and cairn hunters.
Benefit: Your familiarity with tombs gives you a +1 to perception to notice traps as well as a +1 dodge bonus to AC and a +1 bonus to reflex saves against traps.
Secret: Your ancestor discovered and died in the Whispering Cairn.
Child of the Marsh
You grew up in the Mistmarsh among the marshmen.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all swim and survival checks.
Secret: Your marshmen tribe was killed by Twisted Branch tribe.
Creature of Darkness
Your time spent working in the mines of Diamond Lake has accustomed your eyes to the darkness.
Benefit: You gain low-light vision. If you already have low-light vision, you instead gain darkvision 60 ft. If you already have darkvision, the range of your darkvision increases by 30 ft.
Secret: You work in Dourstone mine.
Dragon Slayer
Your father was a renowned dragon slayer. Two years ago he set out eastwards after a black dragon which was sighted near the Mistmarsh. A few weeks later his body, stripped of valuables and covered with acid, was found by a patrol from Blackwall Keep.
Benefit: You receive a +2 morale bonus to all attacks and damage rolls against dragons.
Secret: Your father was killed by Ilthane.
Noble Blood
You were born into a line of noble blood. Over the years, your family lost all of its wealth and power, until destitution forced it to relocate to Diamond Lake. However, you have never forgotten your noble heritage and tend to look down on the common folk.
Benefit: You start play with a masterwork melee weapon of your choice and you also gain a +2 bonus to charisma checks made to influence nobles.
Secret: Balabar Smenk is responsible for your family's recent financial problems.
Planetouched
You are descended from a lawful outsider.
Benefit: Regardless of your actual alignment, spells and spell-like abilities with the law descriptor treat you as if your alignment were lawful. Magic items are similarly fooled.
Secret: You are an ancestor of the Vaati.
Refugee
Your family came to Diamond Lake during a recent political upheval to escape the horrors of war and pestilence. The hardships you have suffered have strengthened your resolve, but have also made you resent those responsible.
Benefit: You gain a +1 bonus on will saves.
Secret: Your family comes from Alhaster.
Scholarly Upbringing
You have grown up well read with an appreciation for legends and lore of the past.
Benefit: You can make knowledge checks untrained.
Secret: You are descended from the Order of the Storm.
Touched by Zagyg
Some people think you’re eccentric. Others think you’re a little crazy.
Benefit: Your mind is disorganized and chaotic. You gain a +2 bonus on all saving throws against mind-affecting effects, save for those effects that cause confusion or insanity.
Secret: You've been having strange dreams that make little sense, but you feel like they're important.
-Alignment: Any non-evil alignment. Characters who have good intentions but are willing to bend the rules when necessary will have a lot more options in this story.
-Deities Greyhawk deities. If you're playing a cleric or inquisitor, you can use your best judgment when assigning domains or if you're unsure, you can ask me and I'll list them for that particular deity.
-Starting Gold: You start with average gold for your class, but you don't keep any excess gold you don't spend. Also, the equipment you purchase with starting gold is in rough shape. You couldn't pay anyone to take it from you (with the exception of the item given by the campaign trait). Also, if you take a trait that increases your starting gold, don't buy any magic items or other things that hold value and you'll still lose any that you don't spend. It's important that you start the campaign broke.
Is it a problem if we are unfamiliar with the Greyhawk setting?
I've always wanted to play this, but I dislike 3.5, and this is pathfinder, so dot. Will have to read up on background skills again, never heard of feat tax rules, but will read up on them.
Is it a problem if we are unfamiliar with the Greyhawk setting?
Not at all. I'll fill you in on anything you need to know! I didn't want to dump anymore information on you guys so we'll take it slow for now.
Organized Play Line Developer
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I would LOVE to submit something for this, as I've been interested in Age of Worms for a long time, but I don't know anything about the Greyhawk setting. Is this going to be a problem?
EDIT: Oh, you answered that already. Wonderful!
I pretty sure I'm going to take the touched by Zagyg trait and make an oracle who has always been a little odd and eccentric. A few years ago she began to have strange dreams and became erratic and obsessive. She became an embarrassment to her well-to-do family who were hoping to climb the social ladder in the Free City of Greyhawk. To get her out of sight (and hopefully out of mind) she was shipped off to Diamond Lake. Cut off from her family's funds (which never seem to arrive...) she was forced to take whatever work she could get, which currently is at a brothel on the Vein. She would have kind of an eccentric, frazzled, washed-up kind of air about her.
I'll give it some though and have a completed submission ready in a few days, but before I work on it I was curious if there was anything I should know about 'Zagyg' before selecting a mystery. Not necessarily character knowledge, but as a player, thematically.
Thanks!
Just got done listening to the song you asked, and I have a hard time understanding it. The music is like 3x louder than his voice. The the lyrics "one day this will be over." Hearing that a lot makes me want to end it as fast as possible, ie. really powerful offensive build character concept, but you told us not to do that. I'm really confused by the song.
I know you like it, but I would need the song explained to me.
Just got done listening to the song you asked, and I have a hard time understanding it. The music is like 3x louder than his voice. The the lyrics "one day this will be over." Hearing that a lot makes me want to end it as fast as possible, ie. really powerful offensive build character concept, but you told us not to do that. I'm really confused by the song.
I know you like it, but I would need the song explained to me.
The song is about evil going unchecked and the people becoming complacent about it; the leaders going along with it. In the context of the game (and some of this will make more sense when I finish the campaign page), it's about both the mine managers being allowed to continually exploit the workers with the corrupt mayor in their pocket and it's about the unending toil of the workers themselves. It's the workers (and your characters, probably) asking the question, "one day will this be over?"
I'll give it some though and have a completed submission ready in a few days, but before I work on it I was curious if there was anything I should know about 'Zagyg' before selecting a mystery. Not necessarily character knowledge, but as a player, thematically.
For player knowledge, you can read anything on this page. The description and clergy sections are most relevant, though his history with the nearby city of Greyhawk could be interesting to know. For character knowledge, he's a minor deity of magic, humor and insanity. Beyond that, you'd need a knowledge check. :)
I've always loved the look of this AP, a real classic. I'll put something together. Now I just need to figure out what.
On another note, what is Discord?
On another note, what is Discord?
It's a chat app similar to Skype, but much better in many ways. You can run it in a browser window if you don't want to download it. You can get it here.
It was easy enough to find Dungeon Magazine #124 online. Once I read the treatise on Diamond Lake, I should have a good character concept to submit. Dot.
It was easy enough to find Dungeon Magazine #124 online. Once I read the treatise on Diamond Lake, I should have a good character concept to submit. Dot.
Be careful in Dungeon Magazine in general. Very high potential for spoilers. I plan on going through that specific article and removing spoilers for when I build the campaign page.
Edit: Yeah, looking at it really quick, there are half a dozen spoilers in the first couple pages. Definitely avoid!
I filled out a bunch of information on the Campaign Page. I tried to bold all the NPCs once each under the location they're most prominent. Reading through this stuff is completely optional. It's mostly there if you need further context to draw from for your character concept. It'll also be handy to have as a reference as events unfold in Diamond Lake.
Lazyclownfish, I plan on submitting a human wizard. What are some good familiar options for Diamond lake?
Lazyclownfish, I plan on submitting a human wizard. What are some good familiar options for Diamond Lake?
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-Starting Gold: You start with average gold for your class, but you don't keep any excess gold you don't spend. Also, the equipment you purchase with starting gold is in rough shape. You couldn't pay anyone to take it from you (with the exception of the item given by the campaign trait). Also, if you take a trait that increases your starting gold, don't buy any magic items or other things that hold value and you'll still lose any that you don't spend. It's important that you start the campaign broke.
This seems to suggest that the characters should be from Diamond Lake? I'm thinking of reasons that a sorcerer or arcanist might be from, or come to Diamond Lake. Perhaps to study with Allustan?
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-Starting Gold: You start with average gold for your class, but you don't keep any excess gold you don't spend. Also, the equipment you purchase with starting gold is in rough shape. You couldn't pay anyone to take it from you (with the exception of the item given by the campaign trait). Also, if you take a trait that increases your starting gold, don't buy any magic items or other things that hold value and you'll still lose any that you don't spend. It's important that you start the campaign broke.
This seems to suggest that the characters should be from Diamond Lake? I'm thinking of why a sorcerer or arcanist would be from, or come to this town. Perhaps to study with Allustan?
Would you allow the Psychic? In particular I'd be looking at the Psychic Marauder archetype, found here.
The basic idea is that the character will also take the Touched by Zagyg trait and has somehow proven strangely susceptible to Zagyg's influence. The idea is to use the class and archetype to take the trait into overdrive.
The note about gold in character creation seems to suggest that all of the characters should be from Diamond Lake. I'm thinking of why a sorcerer or arcanist would be in this town. Perhaps to study under Allustan?
Perhaps you were shipped off to Diamond Lake due to some crime or mishap related to your power and now you have to report to Sheriff Cubbin every day to serve out your parole.
Or perhaps you're just coming into your power, still unsure of its reliability or real value.
Studying under Allustan is a fine idea as well and probably has a reasonable benefit to the party as mysteries begin to reveal themselves. He is the smartest man in town, after all.
And to elaborate on Allustan a bit, he is fairly approachable and much less overtly corrupt than his brother. His main crime is turning a blind eye to the politics in town, letting his brother run rampant with his corruption ring with the mine managers. He would definitely be open to having an apprentice to pass on his knowledge to. Also, while he charges 20g for a question, he provides very thorough answers, even if it means gathering research materials from the Free City.
It's actually not terribly clear whether or not he's just naive to the corruption in town. He doesn't seem to concern himself with the governance of the town or the operation of the mines. And he's rather easy to talk to, if you don't mind being talked down to somewhat. To some, he actually seems rather nice.
Would you allow the Psychic? In particular I'd be looking at the Psychic Marauder archetype, found here.
The basic idea is that the character will also take the Touched by Zagyg trait and has somehow proven strangely susceptible to Zagyg's influence. The idea is to use the class and archetype to take the trait into overdrive.
Psychic would be fine and that archetype looks interesting to me. I like that it lets you omit your allies from the aura. That's really important. I may have to look at any psychic spells from any newer sources. The last time I had a player run one, the class was only a few months old.
Also, the campaign has a fair amount of undead, so plan for that. Psychics have a pretty good option for that, though.
But yes, I'll approve both class and archetype.
Age of Worms....oh yeah!!!
Ideas, ideas....perhaps a monk from the nearby monestary, or a travelling sell-sword, or a....hmm, gotta think.
For anyone have difficulty with the song ( it's very good by the way ),here's the lyrics : link
Age of Worms....oh yeah!!!
Ideas, ideas....perhaps a monk from the nearby monestary, or a travelling sell-sword, or a....hmm, gotta think.
For anyone have difficulty with the song ( it's very good by the way ),here's the lyrics : link
The link in your post is missing the 'l' on html and didn't work for me. I fixed it in the quoted text so the link in this post should work.
Oops! Thanks.
Curious, how are you dealing with maps? Theater of the mind?
Thanks
Dot
Oops! Thanks.
Curious, how are you dealing with maps? Theater of the mind?
Thanks
I have all the maps ready on roll20 from previous games. I'm open to using other formats instead if people prefer(I'm pretty savvy with this stuff so it wouldn't take long to move to Google Drive or whatever). There is a lot of exploration in this story so the maps will be a big help with keeping your bearings.
I am new to this forum so I still need to figure out if I can post images directly or if I need to host them somewhere else etc. I'm very open to suggestions with how to go about the technical aspects of running this game.
You can't post images directly.
Most campaigns I've been in use google docs to share and manipulate maps and icons.
A couple used Roll20. So I'm easy either way.
Some people can't use Roll20 from their work computers.
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Organized Play Line Developer
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Thanks for the information. It helped a lot. I'm going to make her an oracle of time, and had a question for you about curses. I would like to give her the 'Powerless Prophecy' curse, as I feel it's very thematic, which us from the inner sea monster codex, and can be found on the archives of nethys, here. Please let me know if that's alright. Otherwise I will take the tongues curse. Thank you!
Thanks for the information. It helped a lot. I'm going to make her an oracle of time, and had a question for you about curses. I would like to give her the 'Powerless Prophecy' curse, as I feel it's very thematic, which us from the inner sea monster codex, and can be found on the archives of nethys, here. Please let me know if that's alright. Otherwise I will take the tongues curse. Thank you!
I love that curse. Definitely approved.
The campaign will deal with prophecy some, both for the past and the future. A character who struggles with her inability to act on foresight could have a very rewarding connection to the story.
Discord. Hmmm . . .. Other options could include Messenger? GroupMe? I can't have people expecting interaction while I am at work or if I am at our isolated BSA campground which is nestled down inside hills that block all signal.
A divine agent of Istus is in my head at the moment. I need to consider what type. I'm old fashioned enough I started with the default Cleric, but I should look at the options. The Colorless and All-Colored, our Mistress of Fate is one of my favorite Greyhawk deities.
I'm open to both those chat options. And I'm not expecting a lot of interaction. It's mostly a means for us to reach out if we don't hear from you in awhile and as a place for me to field questions. Once the players are set, we'll discuss and settle on an option that works for everyone.
As for the character concept, Istus could be interesting. And core cleric is totally fine. Maybe even best. Also, you may want to channel positive energy.
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The note about gold in character creation seems to suggest that all of the characters should be from Diamond Lake. I'm thinking of why a sorcerer or arcanist would be in this town. Perhaps to study under Allustan?Perhaps you were shipped off to Diamond Lake due to some crime or mishap related to your power and now you have to report to Sheriff Cubbin every day to serve out your parole.
Or perhaps you're just coming into your power, still unsure of its reliability or real value.
Studying under Allustan is a fine idea as well and probably has a reasonable benefit to the party as mysteries begin to reveal themselves. He is the smartest man in town, after all.
And to elaborate on Allustan a bit, he is fairly approachable and much less overtly corrupt than his brother. His main crime is turning a blind eye to the politics in town, letting his brother run rampant with his corruption ring with the mine managers. He would definitely be open to having an apprentice to pass on his knowledge to. Also, while he charges 20g for a question, he provides very thorough answers, even if it means gathering research materials from the Free City.
It's actually not terribly clear whether or not he's just naive to the corruption in town. He doesn't seem to concern himself with the governance of the town or the operation of the mines. And he's rather easy to talk to, if you don't mind being talked down to somewhat. To some, he actually seems rather nice.
That is helpful, thanks! Then how about for his situation he came out to Diamond Lake in search of Allustan as he’s been looking for somebody who can help him with his particular bloodline. He’s heard that based on his long adventuring career and arcane background he may be able to help. Obviously Allustan isn’t going to pay him for being his student or mentee, so he also works in town. I’m not sure what specifically yet.
Glancing through the rules, I think the best Paizo Domains are Luck (Fate) and Void. Depending on your familiarity with Istus, Void might seem a stretch, but the Domain powers and spells seem to relate very well to the traditional descriptions of what happens to people who are not careful in Istus' Web. I seem to remember back in 2nd there was an Istus specific spell about the Web which fell along these lines, too, though I may be mis-remembering the specifics. Been a while since I looked at the specific 2nd Ed stuff.
Cleric or Warpriest. Basically, more and better spells versus more and better combat abilities. The "right" call would depend upon the party make-up, I'm thinking.
She should definitely have the Luck (Fate) domain as well as Knowledge and both Law and Chaos, I think. She's kind of both and neither. I guess she's Neutral? I am not sure on the Void domain. Let me think on it some. It's been a long time since I've come across this deity lol.
As for class choice, in a shorter game, Warpriest is a contender here. But I promise you'll be glad to have 9th level spells with what you'll be up against. Cleric, hands down in my opinion.
That said, I wouldn't turn down a Warpriest necessarily. It'd be more effective at certain points.
That is helpful, thanks! Then how about for his situation he came out to Diamond Lake in search of Allustan as he’s been looking for somebody who can help him with his particular bloodline. He’s heard that based on his long adventuring career and arcane background he may be able to help. Obviously Allustan isn’t going to pay him for being his student or mentee, so he also works in town. I’m not sure what specifically yet.
Oh, you're probably too busy with your studies and the mountain of busy work Allustan has you doing to have any kind of day job, certainly! Don't worry, he's not completely without sympathy for your predicament though. He can provide you a small room in his house and you can share meals with him. The food is actually pretty good, when you have time to eat! Meal time also feels a lot like a pop quiz every day, but what can you do?
Well, in different rule sets, she also had prophecy, but that's not a Paizo option. The PFSRD20 tells me it is a 3rd party option, but I have no idea what that version of it looks like, and am not requesting it.
Edit: And Knowledge makes sense, too, I just don't find it as appealing. <grin> I've seen her get the Law/Chaos combination before, which always strikes me as "Well, we're not sure what else to offer, but these will increase the player options, so . . .."
Yeah, I'll spend a little time on it tonight after work and decide on a set group of domains for her.
I’m going to get an UnRogue ready to submit. Age of Worms has always looked interesting to me.
No shortage of dusty trap-filled tombs and dungeons to explore in this story, so a rogue would be very handy. Just be mindful of your defenses. A fragile rogue could be a short lived one!
Would it be ok to make a character related to the mine bosses?
My idea is for Smenk's cousin, the only son of Smenk's baby sister. Smenk would dote on her but she'd be disgusted by him, though doing so on the quiet. My character would be a bit stuck with his uncle who feels the need to groom him for the business (and because blood can be trusted) whereas my character shares his mother's disgust for the man.
My character would actually have been accentuating his own craziness and eccentricity in order to get Smenk off his back.
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Oh, you're probably too busy with your studies and the mountain of busy work Allustan has you doing to have any kind of day job, certainly! Don't worry, he's not completely without sympathy for your predicament though. He can provide you a small room in his house and you can share meals with him. The food is actually pretty good, when you have time to eat! Meal time also feels a lot like a pop quiz every day, but what can you do?
Ah! Then my caster isn't entirely fending for himself :) Some details I have ideas on or need to give further thought to:
* Ferdrin grew up in the city and was identified early on with arcane talent. He wasn't entirely excited about a fully immersive scholarly life so he did take in the city life and dabble in crafts that would give him the necessary brief escapes. Specifically he likes working with his hands and took up carving miniatures, staves, and other artistic or useful objects that highlight the cities local wood varieties. His results are usually marked by a particular artistic and ornate styling that others can identify as his. E.g., even something utilitarian as a staff would have an intricate pattern at or near it's handle at the top. This would likely be the assignment of his background skills.
* Despite his privileged upbringing he's not particularly arrogant or prideful. He's more the passive variety that has comfortably learned to ignore the plights present in the city as it suits his comfort. Likewise he hasn't really learned to give too much of himself and while he's reasonably sociable he doesn't really have deep friendships. His friends find him "fun" or endearing, and also reliable and trustworthy, but also a bit cool, and distant for breaching the social precedent into deeper and more personal topics.
* He did attend the University of Magical Arts for some of his time in the city but ultimately decided he needed a different teacher to focus on some specific issues. Between this and his training it would suggest the Planetouched, and either the Arcane or Scholarly Upbringing traits.
* Something about this characters background would have convinced Allustan to pick this particular student. Is it a bloodline that he cannot make a complete connection too (while otherwise proceeding just fine with his arcane mastery)? Is it that he's planetouched and that's manifesting in some mysterious way? There are some interesting possibilities here, but I'm still taking stock of the options and haven't fully settled (ideas are welcome). Currently, given the level of study in the story I'm leaning towards Arcanist over Sorcerer (in which case bloodline would likely be less a factor).
* With his urban upbringing, he wasn't excited to come out of the way to a place like Diamond Lake. He'd like to explore the town a little more, particularly any things that aren't connected to the pervasive mining industry, but his studies keep him pretty thoroughly hunkered down. Still, every once in a while Allustan needs an errand related to arcane arts (a component or scroll here and there) and so he volunteers readily for such tasks and even takes his time with them as he can get away with it. Perhaps he did meet some interesting folks on his stolen excursions out into town. Perhaps he's itching to see how well his woodcarving trade would do in another local.
That's what I have so far. Feedback welcome.
Would it be ok to make a character related to the mine bosses?
My idea is for Smenk's cousin, the only son of Smenk's baby sister. Smenk would dote on her but she'd be disgusted by him, though doing so on the quiet. My character would be a bit stuck with his uncle who feels the need to groom him for the business (and because blood can be trusted) whereas my character shares his mother's disgust for the man.
My character would actually have been accentuating his own craziness and eccentricity in order to get Smenk off his back.
I think that could work well with Chaum or Luzane. They're not doing particularly well these days. Or maybe even Gelch. The others are too well-off to leave a family member broke, no matter how annoying they might be.
Dotting. Grew up playing Greyhawk and it would be amazing to return to it. Will have to stew on a character concept, but I'll be back with one soon enough!
A half-elven archaeologist (bard) or gnome/halfling warrior of sorts (against all odds!) are both tempting options =)
Stuff...
I'll give you some more detailed feedback later if you want. But I wanted to mention really quick, Allustan would treat a sorcerer and an arcanist the same here. The arcanist just gets more value out of it. You could take a knowledge or lore skill to reflect the study if you want.
And the planetouched trait could definitely be a way in as his student. Your personal bloodline could be a very interesting topic of study indeed.
I've always liked the Investigator class. Perhaps someone who's job is down in the mines fixing things like elevators and carts. I'm thinking maybe an elf or half-elf with the Creature of Darkness trait. Probably a worshipper of Blerred.
I've always liked the Investigator class. Perhaps someone who's job is down in the mines fixing things like elevators and carts. I'm thinking maybe an elf or half-elf with the Creature of Darkness trait. Probably a worshipper of Blerred.
I don't know much about investigators so it could definitely be interesting to see one. The mining tie of that deity could be short lived as the campaign will eventually move elsewhere, but it's not really an issue.
The mining managers don't pay even engineers all that well so that concept works, and you could have some interesting inside information because of it.
Interested....
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Stuff...I'll give you some more detailed feedback later if you want. But I wanted to mention really quick, Allustan would treat a sorcerer and an arcanist the same here. The arcanist just gets more value out of it. You could take a knowledge or lore skill to reflect the study if you want.
And the planetouched trait could definitely be a way in as his student. Your personal bloodline could be a very interesting topic of study indeed.
Sounds good. The specific feedback that would be helpful from you as GM is simply whether any of the options I'm considering work better or worse for the story. Otherwise, for you or any of the other applicants, feedback is simply whether or not this character is interesting to have in your game, roleplay alongside, etc.
For the character's arcane training and Allustan's interest in it, I've narrowed it down to the following options:
* Sorcerer with planetouched trait and the Celestial bloodline
* Sorcerer with the protean bloodline.
* Arcanist with a rudimentary trace of either of the above bloodlines (no actual mechanics other than preferential spell selection). This option retains the roleplaying for the above but also has the "study" tie-in for being Allustan's student more-so than the sorcerer talent options above.