Aubrey's Rise of the Runelords campaign (Inactive)

Game Master Aubrey the Malformed

Vattnisse wrote:

As for the "who plays what" part, I was thinking of taking a level of barbarian at level 2, before going back to being a priest full-time again. If just feels right... and fits the character concept as well.

So, though we are very high on firepower, especially in melee, we'll probably be somewhat light on healing for a while.

I was also thinking Barbarian for a level or 2 just to give some flavor. Also, correct me if I am wrong, but can't a ranger use wands of healing and divine scrolls of healing? If so we slap a wand in each divine caster's hand and BAM! plenty of healing.

FH

Answered my own question, my Ranger can use wands of spells on his list even if he can't cast them yet. The scrolls I would have a chance of a mishap. I think I will stick to wands;P

Answered my own question, my Ranger can use wands of spells on his list even if he can't cast them yet. The scrolls I would have a chance of a mishap. I think I will stick to wands;P

Really? I'm surprised, I thought you had to wait until you could cast spells before using items that require you to have a spell list (lvl 4 in the case of the ranger). That is what I thought I read, but can't remember at all where - could you let me know your source?

Nice! Do we need some tribal coordination or such, in order to avoid too much in-party bickering? If you look at my character, perhaps we can come up with some collaborative background?

Based on your background, even if you are from the same tribe he is likely to hate you. So don't worry.

So, though we are very high on firepower, especially in melee, we'll probably be somewhat light on healing for a while.

Certainly in "standard" - i.e. non-magical - combat this group will be lethal. I don't think healing will be a big worry, actually - Ithuriel is going bard or druid at the moment, so I reckon that there will be plenty of healing about. In fact, I suspect your character might not end up as main healer. What might be a bit lacking is some of the more subtle aspects of magic, as Fatey is going for the uber-blaster mage. It depends slightly on what Mothman's character ends up like, and Ithuriel's too. Oh, and at the moment you only have one rogue - better hope that he doesn't buy it in the middle of the trap-filled Pyramid of Doom. But overall, I don't see any glaring omissions - I'd be surprised, frankly, with a party this big.

Vattnisse wrote:

Nice! Do we need some tribal coordination or such, in order to avoid too much in-party bickering? If you look at my character, perhaps we can come up with some collaborative background?

Based on your background, even if you are from the same tribe he is likely to hate you. So don't worry.

Ah, yes, there's that... I guess I won't worry, then. :D

Here is Dravite Schorl, Dwarven Ranger.
More to follow.
Do we get a bonus feat from the Pathfinder Players Guide, Aubrey?

The ogre hook is a seriously scary weapon. To my mind, it looks a bit weird as a 2-handed weapon, but couple it with a shield or off-hand blade... Man, I would run. Especially if the wielder was a giant.

Yeah - I was quite surprised to see it as a 2H-weapon, it felt kinda 1H. I'm happy for people to use the next size down as a 1H version.

Do we get a bonus feat from the Pathfinder Players Guide, Aubrey?

I think most people have taken them as standard feats rather than a random bonus feat for playing in a specific campaign. The nearest equivalent would be the regional feats from FR, which are not "bonus" but taken as normal feats at lvl 1. I'd prefer that approach - with a relatively restricted number of the feats in the Plyers' Guide, everyone might come out looking a bit similar, at least to start. This way, you have to decide if you want one or not - more variety. I'd encourage you to decide if you want one, but don't feel obligated. They do look quite nice and powerful.

I'll have a quick look at the PHB variant you mentioned - I'm staying with my parents so don't have access to it until tomorrow - but I'd probably agree to anything to avoid having the animal companion added to the mix (and a fairly light-weight one too, compared with a druid's).

I'm going for that one in the Eberron campaign as well - essentially, it works like this: Anyone hit by you is considered flat-footed for the next attack against them, or until they act, whatever comes first. Rather handy if we have a rogue or scout around.

Based on that description, that should be fine for both your character and Fakey's.

Aubrey the Malformed wrote:

Vattnisse wrote:

Nice! Do we need some tribal coordination or such, in order to avoid too much in-party bickering? If you look at my character, perhaps we can come up with some collaborative background?

Based on your background, even if you are from the same tribe he is likely to hate you. So don't worry.

Ah, yes, there's that... I guess I won't worry, then. :D

I'm thinking about it;...maybe the first wife your dad threw out was my mother, and she was pregnant wit' yours truly; that's what I've got so far.

So these tattooed guys--they're hunter gatherer types like the Native Americans I gather? They evoke that more than Celts or Norsemen to me anyways. I keep seeing threads about "don't think of such-and-such as this campaign's (earth equivalent here) that's crappy thinking," but that's how my brain works, so there.

Fake Healer wrote:

Answered my own question, my Ranger can use wands of spells on his list even if he can't cast them yet. The scrolls I would have a chance of a mishap. I think I will stick to wands;P

Really? I'm surprised, I thought you had to wait until you could cast spells before using items that require you to have a spell list (lvl 4 in the case of the ranger). That is what I thought I read, but can't remember at all where - could you let me know your source?

DMG is the source. States on page 213 under spell trigger activations. Uses a paladin as an example stating "even for a character that can't actually cast spells, such as a 3rd level paladin"

FH

Do they have a variant "chairborne ranger," with a mini fridge next to his laz-i-boy instead of an animal companion? ;)

I'm thinking about it;...maybe the first wife your dad threw out was my mother, and she was pregnant wit' yours truly; that's what I've got so far.

Or we could just make really sure we are not from the same tribe. Alwyn doesn't really have any problems with other tribesmen (beyond, of course, the indisputable facts that their totem spirits are pitifully weak and that, bue to the inadequacies of their menfolk, their women regularly consort with goblins). Anyway - if we've made it all the way to Sandpoint, we probably aren't all that hung up on tribal doctrine.

Concept-wise, I get the Celt ambience, or maybe Norsemen (though I guess the Linnorm Kings are supposed to be the Viking equivalent), but that might just be because the Shoanti are supposed to be so physically big.

Aubrey the Malformed wrote:

I'll have a quick look at the PHB variant you mentioned - I'm staying with my parents so don't have access to it until tomorrow - but I'd probably agree to anything to avoid having the animal companion added to the mix (and a fairly light-weight one too, compared with a druid's).

I'm going for that one in the Eberron campaign as well - essentially, it works like this: Anyone hit by you is considered flat-footed for the next attack against them, or until they act, whatever comes first. Rather handy if we have a rogue or scout around.

Correction - the target isn't considered to be flat-footed, but rather to be flanked by me. Often, this makes no difference, but right is right...

Vethran Tallomane wrote:

Evidently, the Focused Specialist gives you two more spells of your focused school per day (in addition to the one granted by being a 'normal' specialist) instead of just one. I have adjusted the sheet accordingly.

BOOOOOOOOM!!!!!

Is that also from PHB2?

It is in Complete mage, on page 34 - he loses 1 "general" slot and gains two "specialist" slots instead. Thus, Fate's memorised spells should look like this:

Level 1: 0 + (3 evocation) + (bonus spells from stats, in his case 1)
= 4 level 1 spells, three of whom must be Evocation

Thus, as he forgot to remove one "general" spell slot, he needs to de-memorise a spell.

It is in Complete mage, on page 34 - he loses 1 "general" slot and gains two "specialist" slots instead. Thus, Fate's memorised spells should look like this:

Level 1: 0 + (3 evocation) + (bonus spells from stats, in his case 1)
= 4 level 1 spells, three of whom must be Evocation

Thus, as he forgot to remove one "general" spell slot, he needs to de-memorise a spell.

Ah, I missed the part about losing a general slot. Ah, well. I have made the correction.

Ah, I missed the part about losing a general slot. Ah, well. I have made the correction.

No biggie - after all, you don't lose any blasting spells, only those dweeby "utility" formulas. And who needs those anyway?

So, I'm really considering the Energy Affinity option to replace the familiar that Dragonmann listed earlier. I'm curious to see

• a) if Aubrey will allow it and;
• b) which energy type I should choose.

Thoughts?

Vattnisse wrote:

Aubrey the Malformed wrote:

I'll have a quick look at the PHB variant you mentioned - I'm staying with my parents so don't have access to it until tomorrow - but I'd probably agree to anything to avoid having the animal companion added to the mix (and a fairly light-weight one too, compared with a druid's).

I'm going for that one in the Eberron campaign as well - essentially, it works like this: Anyone hit by you is considered flat-footed for the next attack against them, or until they act, whatever comes first. Rather handy if we have a rogue or scout around.

Correction - the target isn't considered to be flat-footed, but rather to be flanked by me. Often, this makes no difference, but right is right...

It also ends when one of your allies hits them, or just before you get to hit them...

So, I'm really considering the Energy Affinity option to replace the familiar that Dragonmann listed earlier. I'm curious to see

• a) if Aubrey will allow it and;
• b) which energy type I should choose.

I'm leaning towards fire, personally, but electricity might also be cool. Fire seems to fit the character concept better, though, and I won't be unable to use other energy types (in case we fight fire immune things), I just won't be quite as devastating.

Thoughts?

Fire is overdone, but there are lots of things with a weakness for it.... Though probably more things with resistance to it.

Sonic might be interesting, or electricity...

What would an angst filled often mocked nuke tosser choose?

Vethran Tallomane wrote:

So, I'm really considering the Energy Affinity option to replace the familiar that Dragonmann listed earlier. I'm curious to see

• a) if Aubrey will allow it and;
• b) which energy type I should choose.

I'm leaning towards fire, personally, but electricity might also be cool. Fire seems to fit the character concept better, though, and I won't be unable to use other energy types (in case we fight fire immune things), I just won't be quite as devastating.

Thoughts?

Fire is overdone, but there are lots of things with a weakness for it.... Though probably more things with resistance to it.

Sonic might be interesting, or electricity...

What would an angst filled often mocked nuke tosser choose?

Acid has always struck me as a very angry element. I hear stories of women getting that tossed on them for adultery in some parts of the world because it is so disfiguring and immediately noticed. Seems like a pretty vile act.

FH

Done and ready for combat!

Acid has always struck me as a very angry element. I hear stories of women getting that tossed on them for adultery in some parts of the world because it is so disfiguring and immediately noticed. Seems like a pretty vile act.

Fire may burn people but acid melts them.

True, but most Acid spells tend to be Conjurations instead of Evocations.

Fake Healer wrote:

Acid has always struck me as a very angry element. I hear stories of women getting that tossed on them for adultery in some parts of the world because it is so disfiguring and immediately noticed. Seems like a pretty vile act.

Fire may burn people but acid melts them.

True, but most Acid spells tend to be Conjurations instead of Evocations.

Ah yes, that would be a problem. Then my vote is sonic, not much has resistance to it.

Ah yes, that would be a problem. Then my vote is sonic, not much has resistance to it.

Sonic is a strong choice, but the number of available sonic spells are pretty slim. I could take Energy Substitution as a feat and simply convert my spells into sonic damage... but I'm not sure sonic is one of the options (I think it has to be cold, fire, acid, or electric).

If you can show me an impressive array of sonic spells, I will strongly consider it. Currently, however, I'm still leaning towards fire because it seems natural for the character to pursue. Bear in mind that I'll still be able to use sonic spells and whatnot when we run into a situation where we'll need them, but my affinity spells will be at +1 CL. This means my fireball would be doing 7d6 damage at level 5 when it first becomes available to me (since Varisian Tattoo also increases my Evoker CL by 1).

So your Burning hands would do 3d4 damage at level 1? That's pretty impressive, too.

So these tattooed guys--they're hunter gatherer types like the Native Americans I gather? They evoke that more than Celts or Norsemen to me anyways. I keep seeing threads about "don't think of such-and-such as this campaign's (earth equivalent here) that's crappy thinking," but that's how my brain works, so there.

Or maybe they are analogous to the Maoris? They, too, were extensively tattooed badasses who warred incessantly against each other.

So your Burning hands would do 3d4 damage at level 1? That's pretty impressive, too.

Kelgore's Fire bolt would do 3d6 at 1st level, too. Only one opponent though but an average damage of 10.5 is pretty nice for 1st level.

Vattnisse wrote:

So your Burning hands would do 3d4 damage at level 1? That's pretty impressive, too.

Kelgore's Fire bolt would do 3d6 at 1st level, too. Only one opponent though but an average damage of 10.5 is pretty nice for 1st level.

Oooh. I forgot about that spell. I think I'll take it instead of magic missile.

DMG is the source. States on page 213 under spell trigger activations. Uses a paladin as an example stating "even for a character that can't actually cast spells, such as a 3rd level paladin"

FH

OK - if the DMG done said it, it must be true. I'm sure the Sage or someone else said something different. Still, it might take a while to get the wand anyway - they ain't cheap.

Based on your background, even if you are from the same tribe he is likely to hate you. So don't worry.

Ah, yes, there's that... I guess I won't worry, then. :D

I'm thinking about it;...maybe the first wife your dad threw out was my mother, and she was pregnant wit' yours truly; that's what I've got so far.

Hey, how about this - and he has come to Sandpoint to find his half-brother and kill him for the disgrace he has brought to the family, but get's caught up in the adventure, saving the world blah blah blah, and can't carry though immediately. Then they kind of get to like eachother, but honour demands.... Conflicted stuff - it's deep, like The Thornbirds. Well, maybe not that deep....

Sonic is a strong choice, but the number of available sonic spells are pretty slim. I could take Energy Substitution as a feat and simply convert my spells into sonic damage... but I'm not sure sonic is one of the options (I think it has to be cold, fire, acid, or electric).

You are correct. They specifically removed it from the energy substitution entry in 3.5. Since Sonic pretty much bypasses everything they seem to be trying to keep it rare and the damage from sonic spells is pretty much always lower than other energy types.

On a side note...
Complete Arcane has a series of feats that let you split the damage from a spell of the matching energy type with an energy type that bypasses most resistances. For example- Lord of the Uttercold turns cold spells into 1/2 cold damage and half Negative Energy damage. I was interested in the sonic equivalent Born of the Three Thunders for Ezreal. Electricity spells do half sonic damage. But that one, and only that one, says that you are automatically dazed the next turn. Is a Sonic Lightning Bolt really so scary that you should lose your next action? And who as a wizard would pick a feat that makes you lose an action after using it?

Well, I thnk we have agreed that sonic is powerful stuff. It does seem a little OTT to be stunned, though. I'd simply increase the spell level requirement. I'll look at it and maybe we can jury-rig it.

So your Burning hands would do 3d4 damage at level 1? That's pretty impressive, too.

Kelgore's Fire bolt would do 3d6 at 1st level, too. Only one opponent though but an average damage of 10.5 is pretty nice for 1st level.

Oooh. I forgot about that spell. I think I'll take it instead of magic missile.

Kelgore's Fire Bolt? Vaguely rings a bell but sounds FR'ish.

Gents (assuming you are all gents - I haven't met you all, so I shall not be judgemental about any ladies or intersex individuals who may be playing - but I digress):

- when you are using a variant rule, feat, spell and so on (i.e. non-core 3 books) could you add a reference in your character sheets as to where it comes from. This will help me keep tabs. You lot seem quite keen on these, whereas I am more of a vanilla sort of chap (and basically can't remember them after I have read them) so it would helpme tremendously if you could do that. Many thanks.

No worries. That was in the early phases of scanning feats. There are just too many to choose from and others I'd like more than that one.

Btw- I'm going in as a bard. I'd like to potentially link up with Vethran, but as a high Cha Varisian I'm probably everything he hated about home. So I'll have to be his obnoxious older cousin who never lets him get as far away from his past as he would like. Something like that anyway.

Any particular reason you want to have a name a bit like the ex-dicator of Romania? ;-P

Cool - a bard: so at least someone in the party can cast arcane spells that don't necessarily hurt. And I like the idea of annoying Fatey's character. With Vatters and Heathy potentially at eachother's throats too, this could be a real family affair.

Lol! I had no idea. Since Varisians have the Romani/Gypsy feel I just typed "hungarian names" into google, then I tried "Romanian surnames." Just picked 2 that had a decent sound and some alliteration going on. Maybe I should try again. I hadn't considered the possibility that I might end up with a political figures name.

Edit: Well it turns out -nescu is THE most common surname ending in romania. There are tons of variations on it so that is probably why I ended up sounding like their (executed I've just learned) dictator.

I'm cool with it - I'll remember your character's name, no problem. :-))

Vattnisse wrote:

So your Burning hands would do 3d4 damage at level 1? That's pretty impressive, too.

Fake Healer wrote:

Kelgore's Fire bolt would do 3d6 at 1st level, too. Only one opponent though but an average damage of 10.5 is pretty nice for 1st level.

Fatespinner wrote:

Oooh. I forgot about that spell. I think I'll take it instead of magic missile.

Kelgore's Fire Bolt? Vaguely rings a bell but sounds FR'ish.

Gents (assuming you are all gents - I haven't met you all, so I shall not be judgemental about any ladies or intersex individuals who may be playing - but I digress):

- when you are using a variant rule, feat, spell and so on (i.e. non-core 3 books) could you add a reference in your character sheets as to where it comes from. This will help me keep tabs. You lot seem quite keen on these, whereas I am more of a vanilla sort of chap (and basically can't remember them after I have read them) so it would helpme tremendously if you could do that. Many thanks.

Kelgore's Fire Bolt is a spell from PHB2.

I own the core 3, DMG2, PHB2, ToB, and MIC. Those coupled with the SRD is all I ever use. I do have The Players Guide to Faerun and The Silver Marches but I dislike the books and refuse to use them. Don't even know what's in them.
Mostly anything I use though for character gen and spells is Core 3, PHB2 and maybe some ToB for feats(not usually, except the shield feats). Magic Item Compendium is my go-to for magic items, also.
Is the MIC allowed in this game?
FH

The reason that I asked about the feats in the player's guide was because James Jacobs had said "The feats are standard feats, but they are very much localized and tie in to Varisia. Granting one of the feats from the Player's Guide to a PC as a bonus feat is my suggestion; it's what we did for the four iconics we're printing as pre-gen characters in Pathfinder." and in the guide it restates that with the caveat of "subject to DM approval you may choose any of the following feats as a bonus feat during character creation.".

I wasn't just asking to throw in a bonus feat for no reason, it looked like it was suggested in the guide and by the main paizo dude so I threw it out there.

Just wanted to let you know I wasn't trying to powergame or anything.

FH

Is the MIC allowed in this game?

Yeah - they tried to make sure they balanced (according to the WotC website) and I haven't seen anything that bothers me too much in it.

The Spell Compendium is quite good too - you might want to splash out o that. I have a slight problem with the proliferation of divine spells (why did no one prepare them before - some arcane spells I can see as being obscure, but divine?) but not enough to worry. And some spells, especially the orb spells, are edging towards core usage.

The reason that I asked about the feats in the player's guide was because James Jacobs had said "The feats are standard feats, but they are very much localized and tie in to Varisia. Granting one of the feats from the Player's Guide to a PC as a bonus feat is my suggestion; it's what we did for the four iconics we're printing as pre-gen characters in Pathfinder." and in the guide it restates that with the caveat of "subject to DM approval you may choose any of the following feats as a bonus feat during character creation.".

I wasn't just asking to throw in a bonus feat for no reason, it looked like it was suggested in the guide and by the main paizo dude so I threw it out there.

Just wanted to let you know I wasn't trying to powergame or anything.

FH

No, I wasn't accusing you of being a crypto-power gamer. As a guy with strong power gaming tendencies, it wouldn't bother me much anyway.

I saw what the Players' Guide said but felt a little unconfortable with the suggestion, especially as I don't have the actual scenario in front of me. Do all the locals in Varisia have a bonus feat just for, you know, being there? No idea, as I don't have any NPC stats. If so, that didn't really strike me as feeling quite right, as there aren't too many to choose from - are all Varisians the same? If not, why are the PCs so special that they get bonus feats, and is that fair and balanced? That sort of funniness bothered me from a "neatness" point of view - I couldn't really reconcile it to any particular in-game rationale. Hence my decision that they are bog-standard feats, rather than bonuses.

The ogre hook is a seriously scary weapon. To my mind, it looks a bit weird as a 2-handed weapon, but couple it with a shield or off-hand blade... Man, I would run. Especially if the wielder was a giant.

You know, I reckon the illustration is wrong. It should probably be a polearm with a big hook.

EDIT: look at the cover of the Hook Mountain Massacre - lots of ogres with hooks - and they do look like polearms a bit.

So, I'm really considering the Energy Affinity option to replace the familiar that Dragonmann listed earlier. I'm curious to see

• a) if Aubrey will allow it and;
• b) which energy type I should choose.

I'm leaning towards fire, personally, but electricity might also be cool. Fire seems to fit the character concept better, though, and I won't be unable to use other energy types (in case we fight fire immune things), I just won't be quite as devastating.

Thoughts?

Just to clarify, I'm happy with that. You get serious mileage from it at 1st level (with your build, effectively tripling the damage for your chosen energy type). Of course, it makes you the damage magnet once the opposition work it out....

Any particular reason you want to have a name a bit like the ex-dicator of Romania? ;-P

Cool - a bard: so at least someone in the party can cast arcane spells that don't necessarily hurt. And I like the idea of annoying Fatey's character. With Vatters and Heathy potentially at eachother's throats too, this could be a real family affair.

Howbout CHOWCHESKU the fighter?!? ;) Ceaucescu? sp? meh...

Hey, Heathy - need to get weaving that fighter PC. We might be starting in less than a week or so.

Right on. I'll slap him together by tonight. I've got my skills/feats earmarked, which is the b!~@+ for me; I don't have his backstory 100% nailed down yet but I'll have some numbers to game with pretty quick.

Oh, and query--I didn't see it in the first post with the generation guidelines, but do we get an extra bonus feat or anything out of the Player's Guide? If not, that's cool; just figured it couldn't hurt to ask.

Visualizing my character's tat's right now.