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So I'm quickly learning the ropes of how these boards work and would like to expand my learning to the GM side of the screen. In order to accomplish this, I'm interested in preparing Council of Thieves, the first AP I ran at my in-person table. I'm an experienced GM (over 20 years on both sides of the screen) and a half-decent writer.
For those unfamiliar, it takes place almost entirely within the Cheliaxian city of Westcrown and involves heroic PCs operating under the radar to throw off a darkness threatening to overtake the city. I would be applying the downtime rules and would encourage characters who have a stake in protecting and improving the city.
I would ultimately be interested in no fewer than four and no more than six characters, and would prefer to stick with Paizo material, as I have limited access to 3PP books. If folks think I should proceed, I would also want to utilize some mapping system, possibly Roll20.net or Google Drive, to ensure combat moves smoothly. If enough folks respond I will update this initial post to be a "recruitment thread" and include the character creation details, so double-check it if I run with it.
So...anyone in?
Hi Dickie,
You look like a reasonable guy, so... If the rules are not megalomaniac and the players (races, classes, etc.) are kept to a "normal" side (without munchkins, crazy power gaming optimization, broken/barely tested stuff like the psionics, etc.), then I'm totally in! I miss a more "without everybody trying to measure their parts" type of game. :) nothing against the people playing this kind of stuff, though, I totally get the number crushing thing.
Thanks a lot and I hope your idea works with enough interested and we get to recruiting :)
Vigilante is actually a perfect class for this path. Having a secret identity can keep the Hellknights off your back. It's a popular class right now with the playtest going, so if I turn this into a recruitment thread, anyone wishing to play one should jump on it quickly with an interesting character. ;)
I do tend to prefer a fairly high-level of stats simply because I enjoy heroic characters who are a cut above the average Joe, but I would likely use either a 20 or 25 point build instead of what I term, "Superhero Array", so not outrageous and enough points to hopefully keep min/maxing to a minimum.
Westcrown, and Cheliax as a whole, is a place where exotic races (except Tieflings) will be noticed so they're not what I would recommend by any stretch.
Perfect timing. This is the exact campaign that I want to play. I'd love to join your group. I'm interested in playing a human Investigator with the Empiricist archetype or an unchained Rogue. Count me in! When do you plan on playing?
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I might be interested. Your 3pp problems was mostly lack of access yes? I have multiple expansions not on PFSRD but the Tinker class is here Would you accept it? I so want to get my mad scientist on. It doesn't have everything I have as far as I can tell, but it does seem to have everything from the first book,
I'll dot my interest, as I've kind of wanted to try out this campaign. I'm not the most experienced player, but I've done quite a few other campaigns before. I'd like to be a Wayang Shadow Puppeteer bard, built for stealthy buffing and illusory disruption, as well as using shadow puppets to try and make enemies think they're suddenly being attacked by a bear.
I have also never done a PBP game before but I would be interested in getting into one. So I am in..
council of thieves and roll 20 or google docs for maps, I"m in.
I might be interested. Your 3pp problems was mostly lack of access yes? I have multiple expansions not on PFSRD but the Tinker class is here Would you accept it? I so want to get my mad scientist on. It doesn't have everything I have as far as I can tell, but it does seem to have everything from the first book,
That is my main problem, but not the only one. I will give a deeper look at the class, but I will say that a mad scientist type is not likely to make friends with the citizens and is likely to catch the attention of the Hellknights. CoT relies heavily on the opposite of both.
On that note, Hellknight PCs are playable. Evil alignments are not preferred by me, but a heavy focus on the Lawful aspect as well as wanting to keep the city safe and prevent anarchy makes them work, and the class doesn't require evil alignment. I won't tolerate PvP, however. A little betrayal is one thing, disagreements happen, sometimes escalating, but this isn't fight club.
I'll dot my interest, as I've kind of wanted to try out this campaign. I'm not the most experienced player, but I've done quite a few other campaigns before. I'd like to be a Wayang Shadow Puppeteer bard, built for stealthy buffing and illusory disruption, as well as using shadow puppets to try and make enemies think they're suddenly being attacked by a bear.
Non-humans are rare in Westcrown, though this race's shadow affinity may mean that such a character could operate effectively. If selected, play at your own risk (of having Hellknights kick down your door and drag you off for "questioning"). Also, not a lot of bears running around in the city, so...yeah.
When do you plan on playing?
Well, I think there are already enough people chiming in that I'm going to have to make a decision about character creation rules. I would say that I would be ready to open up Discussion and Gameplay threads this weekend at this rate.
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There's nothing especially disturbing about the class itself unless I used one of the prestige classes, one includes grafting inventions into myself and allies, the other, well... let's just say it's a mix of necromancer and construct maker and leave it at that. While you may decide it's not a good fit, I don't think there's anything that would particularly catch the Hell Knight's attention.
interested!
I will await chasracter creation rules...
It might work out, I was more concerned with the "mad scientist" comment/concept ;) I tend to think of peasants with torches and pitchforks led by the town constable when I hear the phrase. Nothing wrong with giving it a shot if you're interested. The class itself doesn't seem too OPed from what I saw on a quick glance. I just need to check it out further before I give an actual thumbs up or down, especially the automatons themselves.
Non-humans are rare in Westcrown, though this race's shadow affinity may mean that such a character could operate effectively. If selected, play at your own risk (of having Hellknights kick down your door and drag you off for "questioning"). Also, not a lot of bears running around in the city, so...yeah.
Actually sounds like a lot of fun; playing out a questioning could be entertaining, assuming the Wayang doesn't manage to offend any of the Hellknights in the process. Probably would help that he'd be a bard, but still, not really going to go out of my way to cause trouble. Quite the opposite, really.
Here are the character creation rules and a little additional information you will need to apply. Please don't hesitate to ask questions.
This AP uses the Medium advancement track.
As I said before, I will be using either Google Drive or Roll20 to present maps. Google has the advantage of not requiring an account to access a shared file, but Roll20 provides a little more control and flexibility. If you have a preferance, please note it in your application post as it may influence my final decision.
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Here is what I was thinking about with my Vigilante idea. I read through the Council of Thieves players guide and decided on a Gnome.
If you would rather, I would be fine with a human or another race if Gnomes aren't allowed. I am just awaiting Character creation rules to flesh out the numbers.
Ht: 3' 0"
Wt: 40 lbs
Age: 52
Hair: Green
Eyes: Purple
Skin: Grey
Flin Fizzelflob
Gnome
Bard cover / Warlock Vigilante
Flin Fizzelflob is a short man, with green hair and always looking for his next big score. Living a double life, he pretends to be a well traveled Bard in order to infiltrate the wealthier members of society. Attending parties, telling stories and jokes, all the while learning what he can about his next mark. Flin always seems to find a way in as these parties always seem to want entertainment.
When the party is over and he has gathered enough information, Flin puts on a disguise and comes back to rob the nobel human families of their unneeded valuables. Wearing an all black outfit complete with mask he sneaks around and uses his magic tricks to remain unseen.
Flin will be played similar to an arcane trickster. A Rogue with magic tricks is basically how I invision him.
Oh, man, I've actually been waiting for someone to run Council of Thieves, specifically so I could play a vigilante. Looks like I have competition, though, so I'd better come up with something great.
Oh, man, I've actually been waiting for someone to run Council of Thieves, specifically so I could play a vigilante. Looks like I have competition, though, so I'd better come up with something great.
There is the advantage of the alternate specializations...
I hate that we have a limited time to edit posts, so I may create a fresh "Official Recruitment" thread if the character creation post gets lost in the jumble or folks ask for it for clarity, bleh.
Definitely dotting here. I've been wanting to be a part of this AP for a long long time.
My initial thoughts for a character are the following:
- Human, Half Orc, Halfling
- Barbarian, Rogue, Fighter, Brawler, Sorcerer, or Swashbuckler
- Probably CG or CN
I prefer Google, but I don't mind Roll20 at all
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I'm thinking a (slightly) mad halfling with a penchant for insects. He makes constructs insectoid, he uses scrolls of summon monsters to bring forth bug swarms, he occasionally makes poison. he keeps a bug collection! In other words, one obsessed little bugger, (sorry, couldn't resist.)
Warren "Bugby" Wickswift male halfling Tinker CN, Shadow Child.
Warren built his first little clockwork at nine years old while staring at a spider in it's web. He began looking at the clock he was supposed to be studying and scavenged it for pieces. He began to build. His father found him using the precious pieces for this little monstrosity and tanned his hide, but even as his buttocks stang the spider walking across the table stiffly set his imagination on fire. He kept stealing bits and bobs from his father's workshop, watching him work, putting new deisngs together and taking them apart just as quickly so his father didn't find out. He would sneak out at night hunting for insects and his room quickly had dozens of them in jars. His designs grew more complicated as he aged and studied engineering deeper than the now seemingly simplistic mechanics Lavin the Clockmaker used.
Please let me know when you have a decision on the tinker class because I'd really rather not take the time to build Bugby if he's not gonna be allowed.
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CoT Character Application
Here is Flin Fizzelflob
Conspiracy HunterI can post multiple times a day so a slower rate then that would be fine too.
I would prefer google drive, but could go either way on the maps.
Flin Fizzelflob
Male Gnome Vigilante 1
LN Social Identity / N Secret Identity
Low Light Vision
Init + 5; Perception +7
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DEFENSE
--------------------
AC 16, touch 14, flat-footed 13 (+3 dex, +1 size, +2 armor)
HP 8
Fort +0, Ref +5, Will +2
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OFFENSE
--------------------
Speed 20 ft.
Melee
dagger -1 1d4
Ranged
Longbow +3 1d6
Space 5 ft., Reach 5 ft.
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SPECIAL ABILITIES
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Gnome Magic
Dual Identity
Social Grace - Bluff
Vigilante Speciliazation - Warlock
Talents:
Arcane Training 1
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STATISTICS
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Str 8, Dex 16, Con 10, Int 16, Wis 10, Cha 14
Base Atk +0; CMB -2 (misc mods); CMD +11
Traits:
Reactionary = +2 initiative
Conspiracy Hunter = +1 Perception
Feats:
Escew Materials
Skills (X Points - 1 class, 1 race, etc):
Bluff +6 (1 rank, 2 CHA, 3 Class) +4 in Social Identity
Diplomacy +6 (1 rank, 2 CHA, 3 Class)
Disguise +6 (1 rank, 2 CHA, 3 Class) +20 for Social Disguise
Escape Artist +7 (1 rank, 3 dex, 3 class)
Knowledge Arcana +7 (1 rank, 3 int, 3 class)
Knowledge Local +7 (1 rank, 3 int, 3 class)
Preception +7 (1 rank, 0 wis, 3 class, 1 Trait, 2 racial)
Spellcraft +7 (1 rank, 3 int, 3 class)
Stealth +11 (1 rank, 3 dex, 3 Class, 4 size)
Languages:
Common
Sylvan
Gnome
Dwarven
Elven
Draconic
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GEAR/POSSESSIONS
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Money: 300 Gold
spellbook
Bedroll
Silk Rope
grappling hook
dagger
Longbow
20 Arrows
Leather Armor
All Zero Level
1-Level
Magic Missile
Burning Hands
Expeditious Retreat
feather fall
Obscuring Mist
Vanish
0-Level DC = 13
Detect Magic
Read magic
Acid Splash
Disrupt Undead
1-Level 3/day DC =14
Magic Missile
Burning Hands
Ht: 3' 0"
Wt: 40 lbs
Age: 52
Hair: Green
Eyes: Purple
Skin: Grey
Flin Fizzelflob
Gnome
Bard cover / Warlock Vigilante
Flin Fizzelflob is a short man, with green hair and always looking for his next big score. Living a double life, he
pretends to be a well traveled Bard in order to infiltrate the wealthier members of society. Attending parties, telling
stories and jokes, all the while learning what he can about his next mark. Flin always seems to find a way in as these
parties always seem to want entertainment.
When the party is over and he has gathered enough information, Flin puts on a disguise and comes back to rob the nobel
human families of their unneeded valuables. Wearing an all black outfit complete with mask he sneaks around and uses his
magic tricks to remain unseen.
Flin will be played similar to an arcane trickster. A Rogue with magic tricks is basically how I invision him.
I'm interested. I'm hoping to play a half elf magus. According to James Jacobs, the two npcs you can start a relationship with are either the bard or wizard if you play a magus. I'll be doing the relations with wizard. We can play a magus right?
If the next appicant is also small I'm suggesting this be a little people campaign
I've decided on a CG halfling swashbuckler (mouser), so I'm totally cool with a little people campaign ^^
I'm interested. I'm hoping to play a half elf magus. According to James Jacobs, the two npcs you can start a relationship with are either the bard or wizard if you play a magus. I'll be doing the relations with wizard. We can play a magus right?
Magus is an official Paizo class so it is just fine.
Haven't had a chance to review Tinker in-depth yet, probably will read up on it later this evening and have a solid yeah or nope no later than tomorrow morning (EDT for me).
Also, I am holding a slot for someone who hasn't had a chance to check in yet. Hopefully he'll be by after he updates his other games.
I'm thinking of a Chaotic Neutral poor human immigrant from Tian Xia, who is secretly a Chaotic Good Kitsune Vigilante with the Stalker specialization.
Edit: Social mode might be Neutral Good instead of Chaotic Neutral. Either works, really.
CoT Character Application, Mimazaran
Alright, doing the quick rundown of Mimazaran, the adopted child of famous actor Victor Statham (or some other known human NPC that can be inserted here), known for acting with shadow puppets that some consider to be the real thing, wanting to change something for the better in Cheliax to make a better name for himself. I may have messed up here or there with some of it, but I'm sure that anything I did mess up on can be easily fixed.
Male Wayang Shadow Puppeteer Bard 1
CN
Darkvision 60 ft.
Small Size
20ft Movement
Initiative +2
HP: 8
AC: 17
Touch: 12
Flat: 15
Fort: +0
Reflex: +4
Will: +1
Dagger: -1 (1d3-2)
Light Crossbow: +3 (1d6) 10 bolts
Special Abilities
Shadow Resistance (Wayang): +2 to saves against spells with the Shadow subschool
Lurker (Wayang): +2 to Perception and Stealth checks
Shadow Magic (Wayang): +1 DC to any spell cast with Shadow subschool. Also, 1/day, can cast Ghost Sound, Pass Without Trace, and Ventriloquism as spell-like ability, with DC 10 + spell level + Charisma modifier
Light and Dark (Wayang): 1/day immediate action to treat positive and negative energy effects as if undead, healed from negative and harmed from positive. Lasts 1 minute.
Shadow Servant (Shadow Puppeteer bardic performance): As Unseen Servant, caster level = bard level. Visual components.
Shadow Puppets (Shadow Puppeteer bardic performance): As Shadow Conjuration, using Summon Monster 1 selection. Goes up to the next level of Summon Monster every 4 levels. DC is 10 + 1/2 bard level + Charisma modifier [+1 Spell Focus(Illusion)] [+1 Shadow Stencils] [+1 Shadow Magic] (DC 18)
Countersong
Distract
Fascinate
STR: 7
DEX: 14
CON: 10
INT: 16
WIS: 8
CHA: 18
Traits: Child of Infamy (+1 Perform(Act), 300 extra starting gold to spend any way), Desperate Focus (+2 Concentration checks)
Feats: Spell Focus(Illusion)
Acrobatics: +6 (1 rank, 3 class, 2 DEX)
Diplomacy: +8 (1 rank, 3 class, 4 CHA)
Escape Artist: +6 (1 rank, 3 class, 2 DEX)
Knowledge(Arcana): +7 (1 rank, 3 class, 3 INT)
Knowledge(Planes): +7
Perform(Act): +9 (1 rank, 3 class, 4 CHA, 1 Child of Infamy trait)
Spellcraft: +7 (1 rank, 3 class, 3 INT)
Stealth: +12 (1 rank, 3 class, 2 DEX, 4 size, 2 Lurker)
UMD: +8 (1 rank, 3 class, 4 CHA)
Languages: Common, Wayang, Abyssal, Aklo, Infernal
Gear:
Dagger
Light Crossbow (10 bolts)
Hide Shirt
Shadow Stencils
Entertainer's Outfit (free outfit)
Spell Component Pouch
Waterskin
Common backpack
Bottle
3 Potions of Cure Light Wounds
672 gold
1st Level: Vanish, Disguise Self
Ultimately, when Mimazaran came to 18 years of age, he was discovered, and Victor's fears of the stigma came to realization. While no one outright shunned him, he found himself requested less and less for performances. At first, he seemed to handle it well, taking the work that he could over the next several years, still providing for his adopted son. However, with the occasional letter of disapproval, to the Hellknights constantly pestering him, week after week, month after month, Victor could take his life no more. He wrote a last will and testament, leaving what little fortune he could keep to Mimazaran, who he truly did care deeply for, then, in true melodramatic fashion, stepped off the roof of his house, landing on the hard concrete below, ending his own life.
Mimazaran certainly felt responsible for his adoptive father's suicide, knowing that it was his existence that caused him so much turmoil in the later years of his life. Rather than mope, sobbing in the corner of his late father's house until death came for him next, he knew that he had to do something. Rather than accept his fate as a second-class citizen of Cheliax, he would prove to the society that his kind had something to provide, as well, and could easily be recognized as such. He wasn't much to look at, being short with grey skin, thin arms and legs, with long nails and nose, yellowish teeth, and dark beady eyes, but he knew that he could do it. All he needed to know was where to start; he figured that his shadow puppets and his father's teachings would be a good place to start.
I'm having trouble understanding the background skills rules. I don't have hero lab but I do have pcgen (need to get the one with the new advanced class guide rules in it). If picked I'll need some help formating the background rules in. I hope that's okay.
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Oh it's pretty simple, background skills are skills that are just part of who you are. things that often might get left by the wayside because they're not as useful for adventuring.
Appraise
Artistry
Craft
Handle Animal
Knowledge (engineering)
Knowledge (geography)
Knowledge (history)
Knowledge (nobility)
Linguistics
Lore
Perform
Profession
Sleight of Hand
Lore is a specialized area of knowledge like elven nobility of a nation or the history of dwarven brewing.
Artistry is a mess I'm not getting into.
You get 2 extra skill points just to go into this list of skills the skill points you normally gain in character creation can be used on these, but the 2 skill points for these can't
I guess I forgot about those for Mimazaran. I guess his 2 would go into Sleight of Hand and Appraise. I'll have to remember that if I get to make the alias proper.
Okay. I'll try and get something written up although my work schedule is keeping me pretty busy but I'll do what I can.
So is this a Play by post game or an online live game using Roll20? I'd much rather play a live game on Roll20 or something similar.
I'll post a stat block and character synopsis once I know what type of game it will be. Thanks!
CoT Character Application - Abbo
Abbo Lyrio is a Half-Orc who had been marginalized his entire life and now fights against injustice. He a Witch, a Scarred Witch Doctor, trained by an Orc Shaman in the woods, and worships Milani. His campaign trait is, obviously, Westcrown Firebrand. Abbo isn't intelligent; in fact, he's much more in the war prism, and understands that his way to defend his friends and family is to actively fight back. He's definitely not afraid of doing so.
So is this a Play by post game or an online live game using Roll20? I'd much rather play a live game on Roll20 or something similar.
I'd just be using Roll20 as a tool for combat management/maps/handouts, or possibly Google Docs. I really think CoT is a great choice for PbP.
That said, if you're interested in a Dark Conspiracy 3rd Edition game on Roll20, I'm trying to build up a playtest group for a product I'm working on for 3Hombres, but I keep having to bump it back due to RL concerns that get in my way. That's one reason I'm doing PbP right now - don't have to juggle schedules. Pretty far from fantasy, but if you're interested PM me.
I'm really interested in a live game played on Roll20. Play by post is something I might try as a distraction sometime, but I would much prefer a live game.
Name: Garidan
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Campaign Trait: Conspiracy Hunter
Class: Wizard
Alignment: Lawful NeutralGaridan idolized his father who was a Hell Knight and aims to follow in his father's foot steps.
I might be interested. Although, I much Google Docs to roll20, for what its worth. While I can't access either at work, I can at least see Google Maps on my phone. I usually avoid roll20 games, because I don't want to be a nuisance by not being able to look at the map half the time.
In general, though, you don't need to worry too much about interest. Usually any recruitment thread for an AP, that doesn't have awful rules attached to it, is going to get at least 2-3 pages worth of replies.
I would like to enter Tanrov Shadow Graxt in for consideration.
No pref on mapping tools, used both.
Dotting an interest. I'll submit something either tonight or tomorrow.
Lots of reading to do this morning, and probably more later tonight. Since I'd like to open the game sometime this weekend, I will announce a cut-off period for submissions later today, that is, the deadline will be stated later today. Full characters won't need to be done before cut-off as much as the salient details I ask for in under "To Apply".
Must get coffee. Some great stuff folks, I want to give your submissions my full attention. :)
Anyone else interested in playing as a set of friends/relatives with PC's designed to work together with maybe some teamwork feats in the build plans?
I've started putting together an outlaw cleric from a suppressed faith, Rurik Voralius.
@ElterAgo: I'm always up for some common connections!
Caster cleric or melee cleric?
I could do a lore warden or inquisitor of the same faith to guard/assist your cleric.
We could consider teamwork feats if you are interested. Lookout, escape route, and a few others are not bad.
I've started putting together an outlaw cleric from a suppressed faith, Rurik Voralius.
@ElterAgo: I'm always up for some common connections!
Caster cleric or melee cleric?
I could do a lore warden or inquisitor of the same faith to guard/assist your cleric.
We could consider teamwork feats if you are interested. Lookout, escape route, and a few others are not bad.I'm fiddling around with making it a Dex-based Dervish Dance cleric, so more speed and mobility with a lot of healing power. Support role.
This does mean that I'm feat-set until level 5, unless I rebuild the character. As a cleric of Sarenrae the character is essentially a worshipper of a small, forbidden faith, who does his best to help the poor and downtrodden, maybe even involved in some kind of healing for people who get rousted by the guard or smuggling folks out of the city when the powers that be are looking to black bag them.
Hmm... Ok, doesn't sound like you should really need a dedicated body guard, so not lore warden. How about an inquisitor to provide some skills. We should both probably have ranks in bluff, disguise, and sense motive if we are trying to lead a forbidden religion.
Don't worry about the teamwork feats yet. Inquisitor gets a few free. Just let me know which ones you might be interested in and I will be sure to include them.
How secretive do you want to be. I could build for THW like a glaive or longbow archery, but those aren't exactly hidden weapons. If you really want to be covert, your scimitar is almost too big. But you should be able to conceal it if no one searches you. But I could build for non-weapons like staff, dagger, etc... to seem even less threatening. But then I would be less help in a serious fight.