Dracius Ludio |
Yes, I think that's accurate -- I'd say we're looking at needing a skill-monkey and an arcanist in terms of roles. I don't much care what classes they are, specifically, as long as the characters are interesting and, more importantly, a good fit with the rest of us. (Although I would prefer the group holding on to one "full" arcane caster if possible). When putting up the recruitment post, it's probably worth stating that preference (eg - "we're trying to fill these roles, we're open to interesting characters and RP that will do so, some preference will be given to a full-arcane caster since the group lacks one...")
Just my 2 cents, though, others may have different opinions.
Also -- I'm wondering if it might be worth PM-ing Circe to see if she's still interested in playing? (She may have given up on this campaign and may not be aware it's being resurrected... assuming she's still around).
Illithia Daramui |
Not sure if Circe will be back either, as she's gone missing in a different game I was playing with her.
As far as I can see, we need a real skill monkey (rogue, bard, etc) and a dedicated arcane caster, we've got all the other bases pretty well covered.
Bishop Jerro |
As long as they're interesting, I'm okay with most classes joining our group. We can find a way around not having a certain role if it means more interesting dynamics. However, there are a few classes I don't want playing with me, but that's mainly because of the types of players associated with them. But otherwise I'm good. So are we gonna finish the sewer scene before we start recruitment or are we going to wait until we have found replacements?
DM Flykiller |
Yes, there begins to form a nice diversity. Please let me know if there's anyone you'd particularly love to join you. So far I am somewhat baffled by lack of characters with trapfinding (I think only one of the rogues, Brennan has it). Other than that, my favorites so far are Ferrucio and Vale Shadowblade. But most others are also quite nice. Still looking forward to the promised Chelish Diva bard.
Bishop Jerro |
I also like Ferrucio. Especially his take on how he would fit in the with the rest of the party. Though he has it wrong when it comes to Bishop. Yea, I find a lot of rogues favor giving up trapfinding for other stuff. And I wish all the bard recruits didn't give up inspire courage. I would like a support bard as opposed to the battle bards that want in. We have more than enough people that can fight.
Dracius Ludio |
From an RP perspective, I would say that with 2 Children of Infamy already in the party, a third might just be a bit much.
Since many of the rogues seem to have taken archetypes that lose trapfinding, I'm kind of partial to the idea of maybe taking one of the bards who picks up a similar ability -- it would increase the party's magical abilities as well.
So, I'm sort of leaning toward Dario Westone as a skill monkey, I must admit (but then, I tend to think a spontaneous spellcaster would be useful than a backstabber).
In terms of the full arcanists, I'm a little surprised by the fact there aren't more submissions -- and I must also admit that I'm liking Feruccio myself - his preliminary figuring out how he would fit in to the party goes a long way, even if he's not 100% on people's attitudes -- however, I do wonder about the idea of an LN character working to overthrow the existing government -- you'd expect he's be more likely to support the status quo and the Hellknights and their push toward order.
Ferrucio de Angelis |
Hey folks.
Great news to hear I was selected--thanks for the opportunity.
I live in Melbourne in Australia, and as it's 2am on Sunday morning here, I should probably get some sleep and introduce myself more properly on Monday.
Hope you're all enjoying your weekends. : )
--Mike / cynarion / Ferrucio de Angelis
Dario Westone |
Thanks for picking me!
I will try to keep the Indiana Jones references to a minimum, though I'm sure some will slip in. I'm in EST, and I have a fairly flexible schedule during the daytime, so it shouldn't be a problem for me to post.
I plan to play Dario (or 'Professor Westone', 'Dr. Westone', 'Westie', any of these will work) as an intellectual at heart, but pushed into joining the idea of rebellion by the ideas in his research as well as the government's action against him when he published his research.
Ferrucio de Angelis |
So, a brief introduction.
My name's Mike, I'm an Aussie, live in Melbourne with my wife and two little kids (2½ and 6 months), and I'm a relatively recent convert to gaming, having started with 3rd edition D&D.
By day I help to run a small consulting firm. In the limited spare time my children leave me, other than gaming I like to spend time in many of the classic geeky pursuits, as well as gardening and landscape design.
I am most active on weekdays between 6am and 8am Melbourne time (currently 3-5pm EST, or 12-2pm PST). Daylight savings ends for us next weekend, so my active period will shift to 4-6pm Eastern or 1-3pm Pacific (I think).
I am unlikely to post much on weekends, which includes most of the US Friday. But I will be posting on the US Sunday--like now.
Look forward to actually getting to meet the rest of you in the game. Right now, Ferrucio will just kick back at the hideout and wait for you to arrive. He's probably got his nose in a book. And knowing him it's probably some Goetian text about summoning rituals. ; )
DM Flykiller |
In the true Murphy's law spirit, my HDD died on me over the weekend. Which means I can't access the AP PDF. I will try to reanimate it, but chances of success are slim. I'd estimate that I'll be PC-less at least until Friday.
I will try to find some workaround which lets me continue running the game, perhaps relying on my memory and on the other CoT threads for details.
Illithia Daramui |
Also, I didn't mean to be rude to our new recruits, sometimes I have little time to post, and I will just post my actions.
A little summary of me: I'm Canadian, 24 year old student, I live in the MDT time zone. As of posting this it is about 7pm here. I've been gaming (D&D specifically) since I was 6 and my family would simply play with no rules (my father was a 1st edition player, and would "DM" games for us), using our imaginations.
Ferrucio de Angelis |
I think Illithia's right -- unless this is a wee beastie, we'll probably need at least a day or two to finish it off. Worst case, you could always adlib for the 2 newbies their "rush to freedom".
Given it's some planar beastie, I'm wondering whether you're meant to fight or run away!
Wish I could offer tactical advice from the sidelines...but for now I'll stick to my book on summoning rituals and await your arrival. : )
Dario Westone |
I'm just waiting for Illithia to connect with that glaive. I think that will be a bad day for the monster.
But likewise, Dario is taking notes on an interesting Aroden relic.
DM Flykiller |
I hate to be "that DM", but I would ask you to stick to the recommended opposition schools for the infernal binder: divination, illusion, or transmutation - for three reasons:
First, I simply don't know the system well enough to predict the long-term synergies and unbalances of this decision.
Second, I realize that would make your character more effective, but I would prefer there to be a tradeoff between the special powers you gain as an infernal binder and your general flexibility. Remember you have your teammates to rely on and don't have to be self-sufficient :)
Third, I think this doesn't stand well from the RP point of view - as a devil binder, you have to place especially careful emphasis on controlling the powerful entities you summon, lest you become their pawn. So it makes little sense to be opposed to enchantment, which gives you control over creatures.
I would not object if you also changed your school to a generic conjuration, but I think it's exactly those unique strengths and weaknesses you have as a devil binder that make your character especially intriguing.
Oh, and I would also ask you to put your character sheet in your profile before we start :)
Illithia Daramui |
I'm not entirely sure which direction the story is heading or what challenged may still lay ahead of us, but if we are close to the exit, and we begin to have trouble with this beastie, the two new folks could come to our rescue, having been sent to look for us or some such.
But, like I said, I don't know what we've still to face.
Dracius Ludio |
Well, technically, we've also got two other party members, unless they fell in and drowned in an earlier tunnel. They could make excellent meat-shields for us now, and death does make for the easiest "write out" of a campaign.
DM Flykiller |
Well, the sewers as written has lots of small encounters, but I decided it would be more fun to give you a boss monster instead :) With Janiven at your side, you shouldn't be in grave danger. Two extra NPCs would be a chore for me and would make this a cakewalk. Also I'd have to play both for and against my own character :S Let's say you got split up, and maybe you'll have a chance to learn the fate of Roman and Circe in the future.
Ferrucio de Angelis |
I hate to be "that DM", but I would ask you to stick to the recommended opposition schools for the infernal binder: divination, illusion, or transmutation - for three reasons:
First, I simply don't know the system well enough to predict the long-term synergies and unbalances of this decision.
Second, I realize that would make your character more effective, but I would prefer there to be a tradeoff between the special powers you gain as an infernal binder and your general flexibility. Remember you have your teammates to rely on and don't have to be self-sufficient :)
Third, I think this doesn't stand well from the RP point of view - as a devil binder, you have to place especially careful emphasis on controlling the powerful entities you summon, lest you become their pawn. So it makes little sense to be opposed to enchantment, which gives you control over creatures.
I would not object if you also changed your school to a generic conjuration, but I think it's exactly those unique strengths and weaknesses you have as a devil binder that make your character especially intriguing.Oh, and I would also ask you to put your character sheet in your profile before we start :)
No need to be sorry! Your game, your rules. : )
I will swap to Divination as an opposition school as you suggest and rely on research or down-time to use my divination spells to learn true names that will assist with bindings. That way the two slot penalty won't seem so bad. : )
The reason I asked in the first place is because I think Transmutation magic is likely to be much more valuable as I will have access to the eagle's splendor series of spells--if I want to have a decent chance of binding even a barbazu (which I can't do until 9th level when lesser planar binding becomes available) I will want to ensure I boost my Charisma as high as possible. Using Enchantment magic (e.g. charm monster) to gain the service of a bound devil is probably a bad idea--I would expect the devil to want to come and find me later and teach me the error of my ways. Probably the only way I would feel secure using Enchantment magic on devils is when I have access to dominate monster, and I don't believe this campaign goes to Level 17!
Illusion is an easy choice, as few GMs allow Illusion spells to be effective, giving everyone who even glances at an illusion a chance to disbelieve it. Choosing between Transmutation and Divination is really hard!
As for relying on my fellow party members, something tells me that Dracius is unlikely to consent communing with Shelyn to help me learn the true name of an osyluth so I can bind it more effectively. ; )
Looking forward to the game! Go whack that weird beastie. : )
###
Also, my character sheet is already on my profile--I have moved it to the top to make it easier to access, if that's proving the trouble.
Illithia Daramui |
Do not presume what Shelyn will and will not allow. She is not Iomedae, and sees the need that evil be interacted with.
Illithia will not be happy about the whole devil-binding thing though. It will be difficult for her to see the distinction between what Ferrucio does and what House Thrune does.
Ferrucio de Angelis |
Do not presume what Shelyn will and will not allow. She is not Iomedae, and sees the need that evil be interacted with.
Illithia will not be happy about the whole devil-binding thing though. It will be difficult for her to see the distinction between what Ferrucio does and what House Thrune does.
Sounds like an awesome philosophical discussion to be had. : D
DM Flykiller |
Now that the sewers are over, it's time to discuss the advancement.
First of all, I prefer the system where the DM keeps track of the advancement and players are levelled up as a group, without going into the minutiae of "X has 1980 XP and Y has 2025 XP". I hope this is fine with you guys.
Second, DM Patcher originally was going for the Step Advancement System, which allows to advance the characters more often. Would you like me to stick to it? Each of you should now have roughly 600 XP (for Ferrucio and Dario their first adventure happened off-screen, this can be a topic for your RP), so it's time for the first advancement if so.