Kalisuel |
Hello! I'm Adam, and I'm happy to be gaming with all of you!
So, it seems that we've got an eclectic mix of personalities and characters. I hope we don't wind up killing each other before we start to gel. ;D
DM Default |
Just a few things I want to go with all players. Some are house rules, while others are up for debate with you all. We won't get started right away since I'd rather we have a solid base to build this game off.
A few house rules:
1. The tagline must include hp, init, Perc, AC (all iterations), saves, and speed. Add anything else you think would be useful to be easily referenced.
2. Each character must have an alias.
3. I will usually roll init and certain saves purely to speed up gameplay as PbP in its nature is kinda slow.
4. There should be no in character fighting unless previously agreed on by both players as it has a tendency to sour things very quickly.
5. At times I will move on with the game to keep progress moving, giving players extra actions (during combat) to make up for it.
Things I want you to reference:
1. Please read over Pained Hero's Guide to PbP games. It is a great reference on how to make these kinds of games interactive and fun. I will also be going over his GM version as well, matching effort on your part with mine.
Things that need to be decided:
1. We can either start off this adventure with Murderer's Mark, or an adventure from series called "Tales of the Old Margreve."
Any questions or comments?
Kalisuel |
None from me. I'll just say that I've not played either of those, nor do I have them, but I think I'll vote for Murderer's Mark.
Laetitia Corvus |
Is she? That's good, I guess. I picked the class mainly for style, but having a bit of substance is nice, too.
I thought the same thing, Adam. But mostly in regards to the other characters killing Tish. I have to warn you all, your characters probably won't like her very much, but I hope you all find her entertaining nonetheless.
I would like to cast my vote for Murder's Mark. One of my other characters has just started a campaign based on The Tales of Old Margrave.
Kalisuel |
Heh, so long as we all know it's not personal, I think we're good. :)
Even if they don't like her in the beginning, that can change. That's the beauty of stories, and honestly, I think that the interactions between Kalisuel and Tish are going to be entertaining if nothing else. I think their opinions about Tish may be the only thing that Owl and Kalisuel agree on, at first anyway.
Oh, and before I forget.
Hi Ann! It's nice to meet ya!
Annubis |
I'll go ahead and add the tagline later tonight. As far as campaign settings sound, I vote for Murderer's Mark. Cause it sounds interesting. I don't expect a lot of fighting from this group to be honest. Not having a paladin helps with that.
I do have some issues regarding the rules I would like to discuss with you though, Default. About stealth and the such. Like wI'll you allow for stealth on the move? (Travenging from destination to destination using stealth) And if so when would stealth checks be made?
DM Default |
@ Annubis
You mean you want your character to try and stealth as a default?
I'd say I'd like you to actually declare that sort of thing. It shouldn't be an issue if you'd like to do it often, but its up to you to remember and roll for it. Also, you'll have to consider the extra time it takes to do that and potentially slowing the party down during times of duress.
Laetitia Corvus |
That reminds me of a few questions I had pending selection...
When I was writing up the character, I had an idea that she would be something of a subtle spellcaster. If the situation arises, how would you rule NPCs noticing a psychic spell that has no showy physical manifestation? For this example, the NPCs are just bystanders, not being targeted by the spell.
Also, a big part of the umbral mesmerist is summoning illusory monsters; is it fair to say she has mental control over these illusions, or would she still need to be able to communicate with them (via a common language or handle animal) in order to direct them?
DM Default |
@ Annubis
Switching out before play is perfectly fine.
@ Laetitia
Hmm...as I see it, the rules clearly indicate that psychic spells may be augmented with metamagic, so casting components stand. I'd rule it that it may go unnoticed as normal arcane and divine magics do, but may also be discovered as well. For example, Your Murderous Command must be spoken, and when you do everyone within earshot will know your voice is filled with some kind of power.
As for the summoning of illusory creatures, the text of the archetype suggests that these are still creatures of some kind from the Shadow plane that have changed shape to resemble monsters you recognize. As such, they aren't technically part of your psyche, and will still need verbal commands.
looks like we're going with Muder's Mark. I'll start posting after my prep is complete and everyone checks in to the discussion thread.
Kalisuel |
Woohoo! Can't wait. :D
Seriously, this looks like this is going to be a fun party to play in.
"Owl" |
Greetings and salutations.
I thought the same thing, Adam. But mostly in regards to the other characters killing Tish. I have to warn you all, your characters probably won't like her very much, but I hope you all find her entertaining nonetheless.
Don't know why you are concerned. I think Owl and "Tish" are going to make a lovely pair when it comes to Diplomacy and deceit. Which is good because I don't think we have anyone capable of healing in or out of combat so I swapped out one of my spells for Cure Light so I can use the wand later. We are pretty heavily built for offense and getting out of fights through clever wordplay.
Kalisuel |
I'm thinking about giving Kali some levels in a healy class, just not sure which one. I don't think going Paladin like I had planned is going to be a good, but I don't want do a cleric of Iomedae. I wouldn't mind something coming along to shake her faith up enough that she just gives up on on that and starts shifting to Neutral Good or even True Neutral if it was bad enough. She's on the edge of that right now, so it probably would not take much to make those cracks get just a little wider.
Also, Owl, you can delete your dot post and still have it show up in your campaign tab. Helps keep the thread clean. :)
Laetitia Corvus |
@ DM Default
Casting components still stand of course, but I was under the impression that psychic spells exchange verbal components for thought components and somatic components for emotional components as per the entry on Psychic Magic. So wouldn't the murderous command spell only require thought and concentration, rather than a spoken command?
@ "Owl"
Thanks for taking one for the team! I myself plan on picking up the psychosomatic surge trick at level two to help with a little healing. It's only temporary HP, but it's something.
DM Default |
@ Laetitia
So, I looked over the rules page and other forums and discussions. In conclusion, I'd have to say your first interpretation was correct. A psychic has other issues to contend with and can cast psychic spells without verbal and somatic components by replacing them with thought and emotion components.
My mistake.
Jix Rissi |
Alright I updated my character sheet and tagline so I think I should be ready to go.
@Laetitia Yeah one of the biggest barriers to strong compulsion sorcerers is that everyone can see or hear them casting so finding a way around that was a stroke of brilliance on your part so well done. :3
And Jix isn't really the cold-blooded murder type. She's just a bully. X3
As for healing I could have Jix try to make us some healing potions down the line, though I originally took craft (alchemy) just for poison, that could be another useful thing to do.
My idea for health is to never get found. First several levels are based almost entirely on that.
@Owl Good to see you hear buddy just make sure you offload some of that heavy gear before the fighting starts :P
Jix Rissi |
@zerceses: Welcome to the thread zerceses!
Also, I just finished reading Painlord's Advanced PbP and it has some really good advice in there! I'm ready to get started with one of the bits of advice now if no one objects so my Skype is Annubis Sandrent if anyone feels like adding me or if there were another platform you'd like to add me on I'm open to suggestions. =3
Otho Caecus |
I think I got it right this time. Testing...
OK then, it worked. Hi, I'm Josh. Nice to properly meet all of you. My vote goes to Murder's Mark. It's just more cohesive.
Jix Rissi |
@Otho: Nice to meet ya Josh! Can't wait to get started with ya. Very interesting backstory ya got with Otho and his path to redemption =3 could lead to some exciting role-play possibilities.
@Me'mori: Ah good we're all here then! Welcome Lia! =3
Kalisuel |
Hello Josh! How's it going?
Also nice t get to meet you Me'mori!
Can't wait to get playing with your guys. Sorry if I seem impatient. I am, but I hate seeming that way. :P
So that's
-Jix
-Owl
-Lati--, Latesh--, Tish
-Lia
-Otho
and
-Kali
By my math that's all of us :D
(Edit: of course Jix had already pointed that out. What I get for not reading as carefully as I should.)
===
So, switching gears here, how are we coming into the town that Murderer's Mark takes place in? I was planning on coming in with the caravan that brought the carnival. are some of you already there? Are you with the carnies? How many of us know each other?
I hope I'm not boring all of you to death with the questions, or making you want to kill me with the enthusiasm. :)
Jix Rissi |
@Kali: I was planning on having Jix come into town via another caravan that came here for the business boon of the big carnival. I don't want to come in with the carnival's caravan because, from what I gather reading the intro, they are supposed to be mysterious and coming into town with them would kinda kill some of the mystery. As far as knowing each other goes. . . I usually prefer to start out as perfect strangers but that's just a personal preference.
@DM Default: Are we playing on a map like in Painlords example or just via imagination? It's important for noting how stealth will work out.
DM Default |
@Kali
I have a surprise for that, I hope you all will enjoy. Its taking some time to get ready so please be patient for a day or two more.
@ Jix
I use a mix of combat maps and imagination, depending on how complex the scenario is. Do you have a preference?
Kalisuel |
@Jix: I was going to have Kali keep to herself for most of the trip. She's a guard, and an outcast among outcasts from her background, so it shouldn't be that hard for Default to keep things a mystery. :)
@DM Default: I can be patient that long. I was partly joking anyway, because I've been wanting to GM another game, so I've been a little antsy checking the boards for new posts.
@Everyone: And speaking of me GMing, I've just posted a recruitment for Jade Regent if y'all are interested. Can be found here: DM Salsa Presents: The Jade Regent
Jix Rissi |
@DM Default: Hmm... Well it would be super easy for me to just say imagination and not have to worry about positioning my characer in cover and with a good eye on the target. . . Buuuut . . . I like realism and difficulty in these situations so I'd have to say I prefer combat maps. So long as they are detailed enough to include cover/possible ledges and the such. ^^
Oh? A secret? My my this is getting interesting already :P I have no problems with waiting, though I am eager to begin for sure :3
@Kali: Well seems as though our loving DM has already got a plan in motion so I guess we don't have to worry about how we met then. X3
I think I'm good as far as campaigns go for now xP besides I've had a bad experience with Jade Regeant before but good luck to ya!
Kalisuel |
@ Jix: Really? Was it the AP itself or just who was running it?
Jix Rissi |
@Kali: Well first my character died in the first round of combat of the game due to a lucky crit. Then the DM quit just after I made my next character. But Jade Reagent itself seemed fine.
Kalisuel |
I tend to let the dice fall where they may, but man, I'd be twisting rules into pretzels to keep that from happening. I'll try not to let this one die. I have a Rise of the Runelords game that I brought back after eight months of being gone before, and I'm trying to pace myself. It may be slow, but the game will keep going as long as I can find the time and players keep posting. :)
Jix Rissi |
@Kali: The DM said as much about trying to save my character but in the end he just decided that rules were rules. And ya know what? I'm okay with that. It sucked but it was fair and I like the risk of my character dying to be real. DMs who save all the characters take all the excitement of fear of death in combat out of the game and I love that. xP
Also hmm . . .does firing from cover (like behind a small stone wall) grant your enemy an AC bonus as well cause technically the object is between both of you? Just a random rules question. :P
Kalisuel |
@Jix: I wasn't saying I wouldn't let your character die, I would just give the party a chance to save you first, but I wouldn't just let you die like that on round 1 of the very first encounter. To me, that's no fun. Now, leave you bleeding out and with just one round to stabilize, I would do that.
And I'm not the GM, but I would think that since the cover is significantly closer to you, that your target would not benefit from it, but that's just me.
Jix Rissi |
@Kali: An interesting choice, I can see how that would be exciting, but I say I would still let the instant death stand because it was exciting :3 It sucked having a character I put a lot of time and love into die so soon but that's life. :P
I would think that's how cover would work but I'D like DM Default's ruling to be sure :P Being a sniper I have so much to conside at all times, lighting, ledges, concealment, cover, distance, where my allies are, not to mentire the abysmal -8 I get for firing through my allies in melee combat (which is where positioning myself would come into play so I can shoot around my ally and just take a -4 for firing into melee without my ally providing light-cover to the enemy.)
Kalisuel |
@Jix: Glad you think so. Most of my players tend to think I'm a little evil as a GM. I have no idea why. (Actually I do. It has to do with a goblin stripper and a series of increasingly horrific nightmares.)
And that's the reason I give any archer I make Precise Shot, even switch hitters, because it will be just my luck to be in a position where one of my allies ins in melee, and I have no way to getting into melee myself.
Jix Rissi |
@Kali: Oh gods please I HAVE to hear this story xD
And I intend to give Jix Precise Shot. . . at level 15 >.>' Don't judge me. . .
It pays more to not die by never being seen than to hit all the time xP
Kalisuel |
@Jix: which one? The one about the nightmares or the one about the goblin strippers? (Sorry, I forgot there were three. :D The game's here on the boards if you want to read through it. I don't have time to get the links at the moment unfortunately.)
Jix Rissi |
@Kali: I was referring to the goblin stripper xP Sounds like a time and a half!
@Me'Mori: It's fine! DM Default said he needed a few days to work on our surprise beginning anyways. Glad to have ya here!
Otho Caecus |
All of Otho's pertinent info should be in his character page now. I hope he can get along fine with Owl and Kali. Had he known them in the past, he probably would have been one of those that tormented them.
Jix Rissi |
@Otho: SWEET! A cart, an ox, and handle animal! I hope you are okay with everyone piling their stuff on that. >.>'
Kalisuel |
If not, I guess we could always buy our own. :P
Since we have a brewer, do we have a cook? We could slowly turn Otho's wagon into a mobile still and brewery and call ourselves Liquor and Licks: We belt the monsters while you belt the shots! ;D
I've been thinking about Kali's background and the direction I want to go. I was thinking about having her slowly shift to Chaotic Good and convert to Cayden's following. Of course, someone is going to have to introduce her to booze first.
DM Default |
Alright, everything goes according to plan, by the latest, I'll have posts up by Friday. Tomorrow if I feel like procrastinating work.
Kalisuel |
School or paying? :P