DMRaven's The Long Vigil (Inactive)

Game Master DMRaven

The warriors of Vigil have been a beacon for good since the Shining Crusade. Standing against the orc hordes of Belkzen, undead swarms from Gallowspire and the demonic armies of the Worldwound, they are never short of threats to face and always in need of bodies for the fray. The elite Knights of Ozem look for only the most promising of Lastwall's recruits to take into their halls. Do you have what it takes?


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Male Human Warlord 1 | Init: +3 (+1*) | HP 12/12 | AC 15 (17*); T 13 (15*); FF 14 | CMB +1; CMD 16 | Saves Fort: +3; Ref +3; Wil +0 (+2*) | Perc: +4 | Hero Points: 1

I had to go out of town suddenly, and have no reliable access to the internet. I'll post if I can, but I'll be back on Friday.


That's fine. I'll bot you for Round 2 and leave round 3 open for a day.


Female Human Swashbuckler 5 | AC: 20 [T: 16 FF: 15] | HP: 60/60 | F+3, R+8, W+1 | Init: +9 | Perc: +7 | Panache: 5/5)

Yikes! This is going south quickly!


NG Female Human Inquisitor 5 | HP 45/45 | AC 18, T 14, FF 14 | F 6, R 6, W 7 | Init +6 | Per +10

Yeah word. Medic down!


Low level combat can turn deadly for either side so quickly..but you can prevail!


Female Human Swashbuckler 5 | AC: 20 [T: 16 FF: 15] | HP: 60/60 | F+3, R+8, W+1 | Init: +9 | Perc: +7 | Panache: 5/5)

Yup, a lot depends on the next rolls by Grimold and the Sczarni!!! Things could easily go either way.


Daen is only disabled, so he has one standard action before he falls unconscious and starts dying.


You are gradually approaching your first waypoint and level at the end of the Pcs first Trial. I had planned for weeks to speed up after the first month, breaking it down into 2-3 days at the same time with breaks for Challenges, Specials and other battles.

Hopefully by then or around then you will have hunted down Josica and/or investigated the deaths of Grimolds friends.

The end of a month in game also signifies a completion stage for class work and extracurricular activities
It is then you will see benefits from being gregarious, joining extra classes, working for your professors and taking the normal classes each week.


Female Human Swashbuckler 5 | AC: 20 [T: 16 FF: 15] | HP: 60/60 | F+3, R+8, W+1 | Init: +9 | Perc: +7 | Panache: 5/5)

.... Awesome!


Male Human Warlord 1 | Init: +3 (+1*) | HP 12/12 | AC 15 (17*); T 13 (15*); FF 14 | CMB +1; CMD 16 | Saves Fort: +3; Ref +3; Wil +0 (+2*) | Perc: +4 | Hero Points: 1

This was really not the best time to suddenly go absent. But I'm back now.

EDIT: I have mixed feelings about continuing to ride the angst train. It doesn't really do a whole lot for character development, and it feels like a regression in terms of the group dynamic. I added a second version working off the premise that divine magic might have some minor side effects in accordance with the nature of the god it comes from. Normally I'd have just replaced Version 1, but it's late and I think I'll sleep on it.


Since we've gotten a new player, I'll post another quick plot recap so far.

Murders in the Jail
Kassara has been hunting for who killed Grimold's friends in the cell. She discovered guards were called away from position by an urchin named Josica to handle a fire. The fire was small, but could have spread so was dealt with. No one has seen Josica since or knows where he can be found. No one other than Sato entered the jail cells that day and she was there only to take Grimold away. The cell was locked at the time of the murder, and afterward. A pile of ash from something was found and bottled in a corner and given to Kassara.

Kassie has spoken to the guards and the head of the Gilded Dragon, a tavern that had the fire against its back wall. They do not know who could have set the fire. Daen, Elyssa, Kassara, Grimold and Allie discovered that Josica spends a lot of time in the marketplace near the Tower of Scholae. Further searching for Josica can be done via diplomacy checks using the "gather information" capability of that skill within the city.
----Sczarni The Sczarni, Jorge's friends, seem irate about the deaths and blame the Bonewatch. At least a few of them seem intent on causing trouble for the Knights of Ozem. However, Grimold suspects the higher ups do not have anything to do with this.

Rats
The cohort has found that there are unusually large amounts of rats in the Bonewatch. Some have ruined books, with weird coincidences in which books having to do with the Shining Crusade--although some choices were simply random. Some rats seem supernaturally hardy. Marcus was hunting them, but no one is sure why. Kassie spoke to Padraic and another boy from cohort two about it. Padraic said Flint was working for, or with, Magister Dazen and it may have been him who assigned the task.

Bloodstones of Arazni
A treatise on this mysterious item went missing from Professor Comell's room. Daen, after researching the item, has found that Arazni was a former herald of Aroden. Oddly, despite knowing Iomedae became Aroden's herald at some point, Priestess Astrata makes no mention of Arazni in her lessons. Several workers claimed they saw Theodric skulking around the Crusader War College around that time. Further information is best gained by spending more time with Knowledge (History or Religion) in the library.


Sorry for the wall of text post, I didn't have much time today. I'll update the game for Grimold and Allie tomorrow.


Male Human Warlord 1 | Init: +3 (+1*) | HP 12/12 | AC 15 (17*); T 13 (15*); FF 14 | CMB +1; CMD 16 | Saves Fort: +3; Ref +3; Wil +0 (+2*) | Perc: +4 | Hero Points: 1

Zohruk, I had similar issues at first. If you'd like to coordinate something, I'd be happy to join you. Otherwise, I suggest finding ways to 'accidentally' stumble across something you're interested in.


Random suggestions:
Pick an NPC or player and follow them around to get to know them.

Track down your Trainer for an introduction.

Track down Durante and seek more info on why you were chosen or selected or why the heck the Knights even took in a Random half-orc from Belkzen (there is always a reason).

What would Zohrul like to learn more about? Father information via diplomacycam lead to finding more extracurricular classes.the list in the npccodex attitude table is not complete by far. There are another dozen or so I have planned out. Grooming horses, leading, fighting with specific weapons, forging your own weapons, singing, calligraphy,noble etiquette, meditation, how to fight various monsters, demolitions, etc.

Since I haven't mentioned this before, but, some of the extra classes are ways to llearned class abilities from other classes, prestige classes and even a few third party books. For example, Satos calligraphy class eventually unlocks Sutra magic abilities from Rite Publishing.


Posting from my phone leads to lots of mistakes :(


Male Half-orc Fighter/Rogue 4 | HP 40/40 (0 NL) |Init +4 | AC 19 (T 15, FF 15) CMD 20+ | F +10 R +10 W +4 | Darkvision, Per +4 | Combat Stamina: 7/7 | Active Conditions: None

Cool, I'll chew and on it and expand on the previous post at first opportunity.


This chase is not treating Kassie and Daen well.
As a note, next week starts another round of job training. These week long trainings suck.. I had internet last time, but again, I may miss a day or two. Unfortunately, rather than going away for a week..I have training until June 26. That's four weeks of training. I do not foresee many difficulties in continuing to post daily on week days, however, I may not post as frequently on weekends since I will be spending more time with my pregnant wife and friends to make up for being away for weeks on end.


M Half Elf
Stats:
Magus (Kensai) 3 Init +4, perception +8 4/5/4, +7vs ench., 19/17/12, 7/15

Yes, please do that. Pregnant wives need lots of attention. My wife's been pregnant for three years out of the eight we've been married, make sure you give her lots of love and support. It really will benefit you in the long run.

We can wait. Of course, my pregnant wife slept quite a bit more when she was growing baby, so you might have a little time for us when she sleeps.


Yes, she loves the naps. We also tend to hang out with our laptops a lot, so there's plenty of time here and there. I'm fortunate enough to have a super techy wife who plays video games with me..now if only I could get her into D&D.


Female Human Swashbuckler 5 | AC: 20 [T: 16 FF: 15] | HP: 60/60 | F+3, R+8, W+1 | Init: +9 | Perc: +7 | Panache: 5/5)

Job training almost always sucks, especially when it takes you away from family! Make sure you look after your wife and give her all the attention she needs.


NG Female Human Inquisitor 5 | HP 45/45 | AC 18, T 14, FF 14 | F 6, R 6, W 7 | Init +6 | Per +10

So, I'm around, I've just worked myself into a kind of dead-end.


I PM'ed Zohruk a couple of days ago, he responded and says he's been sick but should have a post up sometime soon. In the meantime, I'll get Eilidh going again.

Glad to be home again..will make sure I store my DM notes digitally for the coming weeks. I couldn't recall where exactly Josica is supposed to be...


NG Female Human Inquisitor 5 | HP 45/45 | AC 18, T 14, FF 14 | F 6, R 6, W 7 | Init +6 | Per +10

Alright. No pressure, I understand being sick.


NG Female Human Inquisitor 5 | HP 45/45 | AC 18, T 14, FF 14 | F 6, R 6, W 7 | Init +6 | Per +10

I, uh, hope you don't take that post personally. Eilidh's been struggling with her paradigm of reality, what with a sudden understanding of how the poor live and her near-death experience, not to mention exposure to close-range violence and exposure to a lot of people with no real relief. The hordes of Belkzen being the enemy is something she grew up with, and she's clinging to that for now.


Male Half-orc Fighter/Rogue 4 | HP 40/40 (0 NL) |Init +4 | AC 19 (T 15, FF 15) CMD 20+ | F +10 R +10 W +4 | Darkvision, Per +4 | Combat Stamina: 7/7 | Active Conditions: None

Gods no, I thought it was great. Much more realistic than her going all buddy buddy right off the bat. I look forward to seeing how this goes. :)


Don't worry about rewinding anything, Zohruk. We tend to play with a large dose of "flex-time." Characters move from day to day separate from one another all the time and are often in more than one scene at a time.

The full class-list (or currently known one) is on the Attributes link here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KzDtsiFRrRaFezErA1IR8KRqv4G7qpYGKDt 2jigFp8I/edit#gid=0

Its assumed if one PC learns of a class, all PC's know of it. So the entire list can be deemed in-game knowledge. Its steadily starting to fill up. Although no one's yet found out about the meditation classes, music magic, ritual magic, arcane studies, and a handful of different martial art traditions.


Male Half-orc Fighter/Rogue 4 | HP 40/40 (0 NL) |Init +4 | AC 19 (T 15, FF 15) CMD 20+ | F +10 R +10 W +4 | Darkvision, Per +4 | Combat Stamina: 7/7 | Active Conditions: None

I wasn't able to get to the spreadsheet you linked to; rights issue, maybe?


NG Female Human Inquisitor 5 | HP 45/45 | AC 18, T 14, FF 14 | F 6, R 6, W 7 | Init +6 | Per +10

I'm assuming THIS is the spreadsheet he's talking about, since it has a class list and stuff. It's also available in the campaign tab, under NPC Codex > Attitudes.


Male Half-orc Fighter/Rogue 4 | HP 40/40 (0 NL) |Init +4 | AC 19 (T 15, FF 15) CMD 20+ | F +10 R +10 W +4 | Darkvision, Per +4 | Combat Stamina: 7/7 | Active Conditions: None

Yup, I managed to get it after I remembered that if you put a URL into this field, the forum breaks it up with spaces as an anti spam measure.

I'll chew on that, and another post between Zohruk and Creepy Elf Lady will probably come tonight.


NG Female Human Inquisitor 5 | HP 45/45 | AC 18, T 14, FF 14 | F 6, R 6, W 7 | Init +6 | Per +10

Hey! Sato's cool!


Male Half-orc Fighter/Rogue 4 | HP 40/40 (0 NL) |Init +4 | AC 19 (T 15, FF 15) CMD 20+ | F +10 R +10 W +4 | Darkvision, Per +4 | Combat Stamina: 7/7 | Active Conditions: None

I have no doubt, but right now Sato's giving Zohruk a vibe like the next step in their relationship will involve her eggs hatching inside him. :)


NG Female Human Inquisitor 5 | HP 45/45 | AC 18, T 14, FF 14 | F 6, R 6, W 7 | Init +6 | Per +10

Huh. I always wondered how elves reproduced.


She's intended to be a bit creepy. I like my elves a little quirky and foreign!


NG Female Human Inquisitor 5 | HP 45/45 | AC 18, T 14, FF 14 | F 6, R 6, W 7 | Init +6 | Per +10

Y'know, I never got the creepy vibe. It was more like, mystic or something.


Male Half-orc Fighter/Rogue 4 | HP 40/40 (0 NL) |Init +4 | AC 19 (T 15, FF 15) CMD 20+ | F +10 R +10 W +4 | Darkvision, Per +4 | Combat Stamina: 7/7 | Active Conditions: None

FWIW, I repeatedly messed up the word I was trying to use for 'Axe' in my last few posts. :( I'd been meaning to use kolun, but instead used polun (see my post with Sato when I reference a vukolun, a dual axe). Which would make the other words kolunkraahl (for swordfighting/dueling) and Kolunzatokh (for the Sharpened Axe Academy).

Man, who knew made-up languages could be so hard? :D

Kassie, bang-up job with that stuff.


Mystic, creepy...I suppose it depends on who she's speaking to! Wait until Zohruk meets Partington...

Kolunzatokh teaches...Primal Fury? :P


NG Female Human Inquisitor 5 | HP 45/45 | AC 18, T 14, FF 14 | F 6, R 6, W 7 | Init +6 | Per +10

I read that as "incestuous goblin musical band" of musicians. Disturbing mental images followed shortly.


Male Half-orc Fighter/Rogue 4 | HP 40/40 (0 NL) |Init +4 | AC 19 (T 15, FF 15) CMD 20+ | F +10 R +10 W +4 | Darkvision, Per +4 | Combat Stamina: 7/7 | Active Conditions: None

Lots of Primal Fury, sure, and I'll bet some "Advanced Placement" courses in Black Seraph, and anything else that's taught is looked at as remedial classes. :)


I see Black Seraph as having a connection to Hamatulatsu. Learning how to use dark powers and pain in combat. The orcs who participate in and learn those talents have some knowledge of the Abyss as well, in order to better emulate the demons their strikes and maneuvers are based off of.

Primal Fury is based off of sheer rage and seeks to emulate the strongest animals in nature. It has a stronger nature tie, and yet, is incredibly brutal and bloody. It cares not for elegance or protection or tactics, simply violence.

These techniques are usually taught to orc berserkers who are famed for inflicting maximum pain on their targets. Through primal fury, they seek to bring down an enemy quickly and with black seraph, they seek to destroy the visages of their foes. Those who survive a fight with a berserker often have gruesome wounds and scars.


Male Half-orc Fighter/Rogue 4 | HP 40/40 (0 NL) |Init +4 | AC 19 (T 15, FF 15) CMD 20+ | F +10 R +10 W +4 | Darkvision, Per +4 | Combat Stamina: 7/7 | Active Conditions: None

Durnuk: Orcish, something like jerk or idiot.


I struggled for awhile with whether Aldori swordlords would use Scarlet Throne maneuvers and stances. However, I think I'm going to distinguish that group as something else or a branch school. The Aldori school has several feats in pathfinder as well as a PrC and an archetype. This, as well as Crane Style, are more indicative of the sword art than scarlet throne.

However, Einhander and the like do have a place in dueling. The Mivonese Swordlords abandoned Rostland years ago and have a distinct style now. They use several aspects of scarlet throne, usually focusing on disarms, trips and offensive tactics. Other sources that utilize the Scarlet Throne discipline are traditional Taldan dueling schools.


Female Human Swashbuckler 5 | AC: 20 [T: 16 FF: 15] | HP: 60/60 | F+3, R+8, W+1 | Init: +9 | Perc: +7 | Panache: 5/5)

I gotta read a bit more of Inner Sea Combat!... get up to date on those techniques.


All the maneuvers and disciplines are from Dreamscarred Press's path of war. The mechanics are on the d20 srd, although not much of the flavor. I've been trying to envisage how they fit into Golarion's world, replacing concepts or fighting styles that aren't always codified or have practically no options in the core system.

They provide the ability for more "martial schools" than simply: unarmed strike styles, two-weapon fighting, archery, etc. It allows for more variety mechanically for different combat styles to feel different. Which is one of the things I love about it. Pathfinder has some of that via feat chains, prestige classes and archetypes, but those aren't codified in a way that is easy to get. Hamatulasu, Aldori swordlords, Thunder & Fang and style feats are awesome and flavorful but I can't think of many other fighting schools or styles in PF that have a wealth of options to distinguish them in combat.

Fortunately, there is a wealth of third party support. So we can have path of war disciplines, Dragon Tiger Ox martial art styles, and core pathfinder styles all in their own place. Not to mention the magic: words of magic, psychic magic, psionics, music magic, sutra magic, arcane magic, divine magic and spheres of power all in the same setting with a little configuration to fit them all into unique niches.


Urgh! internet here keeps timing out. Will put up another post for Zohruk and Daen later, after dinner.

Can't wait to go home for the weekend! Only one more week of training, although its at a different hotel/city so I have no idea how connection will be.


I wanted to apologize for the glacial pace of our game. I realize we've been playing since December/November and still have yet to level up. Hopefully the incremental free advances have helped with that.

This is the first time I'm running a PbP game and first time running a homebrew game that's lasted this long. There have been some bumps, but so far it seems things have been going well.

I've been incredibly impressed with the sheer quality of posts from each of you. Everyone's character is more than just a sheet with living, breathing difficulties. Daen and his struggle with socializing as well as old family ties. Zohruk adjusting to a new culture. Grimold, also adjusting to a new culture as well as trying to change his way of thinking. Kassie and her investigative, flirtatious mind. Allie with her stutter, distrustful streak and devotion to Sarenrae.

Its been a blast to run so far! That said, there are a few changes I would like to implement that I feel havent' worked as intended.

I implemented the cohort point system and daily skill check/rolls to add an extra element into the game that I don't think it really needs. Unless there are any objections, I'm going to remove that segment. Keeping track of who succeeded and failed as well as rolling for each cohort is..a lot of seemingly wasted time. At the conclusion of the training period, after each cohort is cut down to 6-10 members, one cohort was going to be given a prize of a trophy + a ton of money.


M Half Elf
Stats:
Magus (Kensai) 3 Init +4, perception +8 4/5/4, +7vs ench., 19/17/12, 7/15

Let me be the first to say, perceived flaws aside, the greatest test of a PBP is whether or not everyone is into it. That we are, and not by any small amount. The quality and quantity of our posts lets you know that. It's not simply the quantity of posts that's most important, we're building a story, and the story is paramount. The incremental bonuses have indeed been nice to have because it's shown us a bit of reward for our hard efforts, but as we explore our options and possibilities within the game it has truly remained remarkable for the duration. Your attention to detail and care of the incredible amount of NPC's has made this role playing experience unique and challenging.

Just the implementation of the downtime rules had me spending hours going over them and seeing what I could do, but with everything else that's going on, (as well as a practically miraculous win over Jalen) I never even got to that side of things. Who knows, maybe someday. But I'm not missing it.

As for the skill checks, I liked them well enough. The problem is that there were so many interesting things to do that helping each other study for classes has taken a bit of a back burner. We simply haven't used it. If it takes a long time to calculate, perhaps just running the point system until the first inter cohort trial would be useful, and have it leave the system organically, like they only planned for those points to go that long. Afterwards, you can simplify the points or get rid of them altogether.

We also understand that certain things are beyond your control, such as training in different places than you normally hail from. Don't worry about these things, as long as you continue delivering more than you are able to promise, we'll be glad. You earned major points in my book by promising to be back in a month and actually delivering. That is actually, woefully, rare. I have two AP's going with characters I really enjoy where I'm lucky if the GM posts once a week. It's a bit frustrating, but it's things like this that keep me coming back to the forums.

Thank you.


NG Female Human Inquisitor 5 | HP 45/45 | AC 18, T 14, FF 14 | F 6, R 6, W 7 | Init +6 | Per +10

I'm fine with removing the point system for cohorts. The Hogwarts version worked well because it was always there and the characters seemed to care about winning the House Cup (or whatever it was). Here, it seems like the Cohort Cup is pretty much tertiary to getting through classes and being in the top part of the cohort.

I'm not as certain about eliminating the skill checks in classes, but without the Cohort Cup, I don't see any way of easily making them relevant. Plus, Daen's right about there being too much to do. Perhaps the Cohort Cup, as Daen said, only lasts for a little while.

I agree. Just the fact that this game is still running is a huge deal. Of the games I was in when we started, I think one of them is still alive and kicking.

Overall, don't stress about it. We're all enjoying this game, so there's no need for much apology.


Male Half-orc Fighter/Rogue 4 | HP 40/40 (0 NL) |Init +4 | AC 19 (T 15, FF 15) CMD 20+ | F +10 R +10 W +4 | Darkvision, Per +4 | Combat Stamina: 7/7 | Active Conditions: None

I had next to no exposure to the 'house point' system, so I'll abstain from comment there.

The skill checks, I'm not sure about. My only concern would be, and again, lack of experience means I may not know what I'm talking about, a character being repeatedly asked to roll in a blind spot.

I appreciate the opportunity to get my feet under me as I explore Zohruk's effort to get his feet under him. :) If I'm doing well, it's because I've had great opportunities served up to me by you guys.

Thanks, and I look forward to the road ahead.


Glad to hear you're all enjoying! I think I will have the point system end at the end of this month's trial. The next month brings enough added things in the form of "specials" without needing the skill checks.


Male Human Warlord 1 | Init: +3 (+1*) | HP 12/12 | AC 15 (17*); T 13 (15*); FF 14 | CMB +1; CMD 16 | Saves Fort: +3; Ref +3; Wil +0 (+2*) | Perc: +4 | Hero Points: 1

I don't have a whole lot to add that hasn't already been said.

As far as the glacial pace, I'm not put off by it. I like being able to take time and roleplay a bit. It gives me a chance to stretch my creative writing muscles. If you haven't played it, you'd likely enjoy Skull & Shackles. You've done a great job of keeping track of things.

The incremental bonuses are just fine. I'm not feeling any pains of not having leveled up, since the character progressions are way more interesting than mechanical benefits. This game is the most fun I've had at level one! I think rolling in class is still useful; if nothing else, it's another factor that drives the RP. As far as the cohort point system goes, I was hoping we'd sabotage another cohort at some point. But if it goes away, I won't be upset. I'm looking forward to the Trial of the Rose.

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