I notice a lot of people taking Expert in your field. Will you be taking people who take the same trait and the same focus for that trait. (i.e. two experts for planes?)
Yeah, that won't affect my decisions at all. Maybe Gideon needs lots of experts!
Okay then!
Ok, want to run an idea by you before I finish him up. An Idyllkin Aasimar; Ranger Shapeshifter Falconer. My plan is to go with natural weapons. If you are willing to accept the variant ability: You possess taloned fingers that act as natural weapons and deal 1d4 points of damage. It would replace my summon natures ally 2 spell-like ability. Also, he is going to be born to orcs, so I want to take the Adopted racial trait, and choose Tusked: Huge, sharp tusks bulge from your mouth, and you receive a bite attack (1d4 damage for Medium characters). If used as part of a full attack action, the bite attack is made at your full base attack bonus –5. This would give him claw claw bite. Eventually I want to pick up the wings (level 10), with metallic wings, so I get 2 wing attacks, and grab the multiattack feat.
The general background is that the Orc chieftain prayed for a son, and got this aasimar instead. The chief disowned him, and he was raised with the common rabble of orcs. His features seem hawk-like, and he gains a close bond with a hawk. Eventually he takes on more abilities and such that make him more like a hawk. (I would try and figure out a different description for the tusks).
If you want to see the build, I have a mostly complete one in my aliases, its the Aasimar Ranger.
Another question! And apologies for asking so many. Will we be with the expedition for long? If you need to be really vague or can't answer at all I understand.
@Wofguy: I'd rather not go too far off the reservation with house-ruled variants. I like the idea of an aasimar born to an orc tribe, but swapping out the Summon Nature's Ally ability from Idylwild for claws is a little further than I'd like to go.
Additionally, I don't think you can actually take tusked with the adopted trait. Since it doesn't appear on the list of racial traits (I checked d20pfsrd.com). I think you might be thinking of two different things. One; the toothy half-orc variant racial ability (which adopted doesn't give access to) or the Razortusk feat (and adopted doesn't give access to race-specific feats).
I'm not sure how far past your initial concept you'd want to go, but if you wanted to keep (thematically) the same concept a tengu would give you the beaky bite attack, and they have a variant racial ability that gives them claw attacks. You'd be short up on the wings, however.
@Marko: Gideon estimates that the expedition would take roughly a month's time. Accounting for travel time, and then the actual research/exploration once the team arrives at the 'site.' If it goes any longer, he'll renegotiate everyone's contracts.
@Wolfguy: Just a suggestion. If you want to keep the Aasimar and general wild like nature, I might also suggest going barbarian with all of their rage natural attacks. Not as skilled and lacking the animal companion I know, but still a somewhat woodsy, wild feel.
@Lucent: A very good way of answering it! Sorry it's taken so long to get the revised background up. My plans for moving are distracting as heck. It'll be done this week though and will be a noticeable improvement to the very clunky one I've submitted.
It's not house ruled. Aasimars from d20pfsrd.com, after the Aasimar Heritages.
Variant Abilities and Physical Features
GMs may customize their aasimar NPCs using the following chart, or allow their players to do so by rolling a d%. Players with a particular character concept in mind may consult their GM if they want to select a specific variant ability.
Table: Variant Aasimar Abilities
The abilities presented here replace an aasimar's spell-like ability racial trait. Any abilities that grant spells or spell-like abilities are treated as having a caster level equal to the aasimar's character level.
The tusks is a Race Trait specifically from the Orcs of Golarian book. It's never made it onto the d20pfsrd website (normally I use the website for all my information, but in my looking around about natural attacks people kept referencing that trait so I looked it up.)
The reason I'm going ranger is for the extra feats to specialize into natural attacks. I thought about taking the archtype that gives me the rage ability to pick those powers up, but they are only while in rage, and it has downsides I don't like.
I may also switch my racial heritage to Garuda-Blooded (Plumekith), since they are more bird like, which is what I'm going for.
Though the whole idea was cool, dealing with flying and everything else would just be a chore. I'm going to scrap the idea and work on a monk, either taking Maneuver Mastery to disarm and trip, or go Tetori and focus on grappling.
I have a mechanical question! The Heavenborn trait reads
Born in the celestial realms, aasimars with this racial trait gain a +2 bonus on Knowledge (planes) checks and they cast spells with the good or light descriptor at +1 caster level. This racial trait replaces the skilled and spell-like ability racial traits.
In your opinion, would the bold section affect Gabriel's summoning spell like ability when it's used to summon celestial creatures or outsides (which gives the spells the good descriptor)?
XD I realized I don't have many spells as a summoner with either of those descriptors so I'm trying to see if I'll actually get some use out of it.
Yeah, it should affect it. So if you summon celestial creatures (like lantern archons) you would get it an extra minute.
@Wofguy: I checked my copy of Orcs of Golarion and wouldn't you know it, there it is! I missed the aasimar trait on my glance-through of Blood of Angels. If you decide to go back to your Hawk-orc (heh heh) those would both be fine since you've given me the sources for them.
@Marko: What Wof' said. It would affect the summoning provided you are summoning good-aligned creatures, as they change the descriptor to [good].
@Wolfguy and Lucent: Cool, thanks! I know it's been ruled that way, but I also know that Dm's have different opinions on things. (I've had a few DM's who were very strict on certain things. XD) I like to ask about things that might be iffy and then go with the DM's opinion.
@Lucent: I was curious about a few setting and game details. Apologies again for all the questions. I can definitely stop asking so many if it gets annoying so just let me know. XD
1.) For magic items, do you go with the what the books offer solely, or do you have your own magic items made up every once in a while?
2.) We're going with the Golarion setting, which I have read up on a great deal more now, but the details that I have are vague on a few things. The other planes exist, but it doesn't really say how common or rare planar travel is exactly. I would guess that it's at least very rare given how hard it is too do with spells, but are there documented accounts of it or is it more of a myth for people traveling in such a way?
3.) A question pertaining to Gabriel. How common or rare would you say his ritual for calling upon his celestial heritage is? I have him finding a tome about it in his background so it's been done, but I was curious to know if Gabriel might have heard of anyone else doing it recently, or if it was something that was more speculation and theory to any who had ever really considered it?
@Wolfguy and Lucent: Cool, thanks! I know it's been ruled that way, but I also know that Dm's have different opinions on things. (I've had a few DM's who were very strict on certain things. XD) I like to ask about things that might be iffy and then go with the DM's opinion.
@Lucent: I was curious about a few setting and game details. Apologies again for all the questions. I can definitely stop asking so many if it gets annoying so just let me know. XD
1.) For magic items, do you go with the what the books offer solely, or do you have your own magic items made up every once in a while?
2.) We're going with the Golarion setting, which I have read up on a great deal more now, but the details that I have are vague on a few things. The other planes exist, but it doesn't really say how common or rare planar travel is exactly. I would guess that it's at least very rare given how hard it is too do with spells, but are there documented accounts of it or is it more of a myth for people traveling in such a way?
3.) A question pertaining to Gabriel. How common or rare would you say his ritual for calling upon his celestial heritage is? I have him finding a tome about it in his background so it's been done, but I was curious to know if Gabriel might have heard of anyone else doing it recently, or if it was something that was more speculation and theory to any who had ever really considered it?
1) There will be a handful of unique magic items that you will encounter along the way, peppered in to the campaign itself as rewards and thematically appropriate for where they are discovered. More often than not, however, it isn't very necessary to reinvent the wheel; there's a lot of magic items out there already, and odds are more often than not one that meets my needs is already made.
2) Ordinary people are aware that other realms exist, from both religious lore and fairy tales. Hard knowledge on them is limited to people who are knowledgeable about planes (represented by he skill) and the skill's availability. Planar travel itself isn't wildly common, so there is an exotic flair to it, but if you visit a large city toa metropolis, there's probably people living in it who have traveled to another plane (or know someone who has). Not to mention an apprentice wizard can summon a monster from another plane, too.
One of the myths that Gabriel would know, growing up in Kyonin, is that when the Earthfall happened and cast the world into millennia of darkness, the elves retreated to a distant realm known as Sovaryn. Some say it is another plane, other scholars (rightly so) posit that it is another world entirely.
3) Unique. He may have heard of summoners doing something similar, but the text he has appears to be a one-of-a-kind as far as he is aware.
Oh the constant reworking as you research more.
So I've decided to stick with the aasimar ranger. However a slight change. I'm dropping the archetypes shapeshifter and Falconer and taking beastmaster instead. The concept I'm going for now is that my guy is the embodiment of animals, with claws, bite, wings (eventually), picking up the Helm of the Mammoth Lord (Gives gore attack. Only read about, haven't seen the actual info on it). His goal is to protect all animals. I'm still going with being born to orcs, I just won't be a hawk orc. Not sure if I'll get the background up today, depends on how much time I have (though there is no rush, 15 days to complete)
Wow, a Changeling Sohei/Sorcerer. I like that, very interesting blend of archetypes and classes with a background that leaves room for additional surprises.
On your sheet your attack bonuses look incorrect, however. Your claws should be at +3 and your unarmed strikes at +2, I believe. When used in conjunction, you could also do a +2 unarmed strike followed by -2/-2 claw attacks. Unfortunately you can't mix-up flurry of blows with natural weapon attacks too.
@vthings
Look at taking feral combat training, and how that will benefit your monk with natural weapons
Character Name: Biatz
Class: Ranger (Beastmaster)
Campaign Trait: Trailblazer
Availability: Anytime but Sundays. This may change as I am moving this weekend, I'll keep you aware.
I may have gone a little overboard with the appearance, just threw on everything animal looking, but I think it will work.
Let me know what you think, or if there is anything I should change.
@Wofguy: Wow. I really, really like this design of Biatz. His description is so damn otherworldly and weird, and his pariah-y social status is just perfect. This is a great concept thematically and mechanically.
ASCENSION: PROLOGUE
Haven't been posting since my character is already finished. But I really like the prologue. Some great writing. Now I really hope that I get in.
Looks like I'm going to have to up my writing style if I have to compete against that prologue.
@DM
Thank you. Is there any suggestions you have?
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Before I finish my background, I want to clarify that you said as long and as detailed as you like, right? So what happens when I post is not my fault.
@Wof: Nope, that looks like a great build and the background is exactly the kind of thing I was looking for :)
@Gaius: :D
This week's new prologue chapter, Contracts, is up.
Well darn. I was all proud of what I sent you so far. XD That's brilliant!
I may have sent that message to you as Arthur Grayson. Apologies. For some reason that was my default Alias for a while.
You did ;)
Finally had time to read through the new prologue. Quite tantalizing. Shame we have to wait so long to see if we get to play.
Just a couple more weeks now! :)
I just hope I'm interesting enough to get picked, and that my work schedule complies with whatever time slot ends up being selected.
You've nothing to fear on the interesting part, that's for sure. Deciding who is going to be in the game is going to be a super hard decision, because I love so many of the characters created for it.
Is that a subtle hint to start assassinating contenders? It is, isn't it?
That would be one way of getting things done!
Always with the assassinations. These games are really cut throat.
Oh, Lucent, you have a chance yet to look at Part 1 of Gabriels' background?
@Marko: I haven't had a chance to read it thoroughly yet, I plan to over the next couple of days now that I have vacation time coming up. I didn't want to rush through it.
@Everyone:
I've dug up an old log from a D&D 3.5 Eberron campaign I GMed a few years back. If anyone is curious this will give a good example of how my style of campaigns tend to go, how PC interaction is, etc. This game was run/hosted on mIRC, so you'll see people's stuff prefixed by their user handle, as these were all extracted from chat logs. The introduction (before the 'free to act' designation' was a recap from a previous session, which is why it looks like I'm writing as everyone).
The tone/theme of this particular campaign was a lot different than Ascension will be, it was tailored to feel like an episodic anime series and had similar tropes/themes to play to the audience of players I had.
All game mechanics/rolls were kept in another chat room to avoid clutter and help immersion:
Sounds good!
Just a reminder: Recruitment for Ascension ends 11:59pm this Friday the 30th! I'll have a roster of present submissions up sometime tonight.
In that case, should I get started on the other half of my background for Gabriel?
Definitely. I finally had some time to read it all today and it looks good, though I'm waiting to give any real commentary on it until after I see the second half. Don't think of it as a necessity to have it done by the end of recruitment, though. Your basic background more than covers that, this is something more tertiary and would do well in the prologues section if Gabriel is chosen.
The below list are of completed submissions across bot this thread and the thread at GiantITP. This only includes characters that have full stat blocks, backgrounds, and submitted the recruitment blurb at the bottom of the thread's first post for their character.
Gabriel Ethelstan (Aasimar, Summoner [Synthesist]: Expert in your Field)
Gaius Vekkhar (Hobgoblin, Fighter: Shield of Renown)
Edward the Dual-Tongued (Human, Bard [Sound-Striker, Dirge Bard]: Construct Specialist)
William Poole (Human, Rogue: Construct Specialist)
Kasimira Welter (Half-Elf, Witch [Dimensional Occultist, Bonded Witch]: Expert in your Field)
Karn Stonefang (Gnoll, Ranger [Shapeshifter]: Trailblazer)
Desril Tuathal (Tiefling, Magus [Bladebound, FiendFlayer]: Expert in your Field)
Corin Fain (Half-Elf, Fighter [Rondelero Duelist]: Shield of Renown)
Felisa (Changeling, Monk [Sohei]: Shield of Renown)
Biatz (Aasimar, Ranger [Beastmaster]: Trailblazer)
Anyone who doesn't see their name on this list needs to make sure they've met all of the recruitment criteria: Full 1st level stat block/character sheet, Background, Recruitment Post with availability
If I missed anyone who has all of the criteria, let me know so I can fix the roster.
hmmm, sci fi campaign. would you allow the android from the inner sea beastiary?
Ab-so-lutely.
It would require some background tinkering, since not much is written of them in terms of their culture. I'd check out the "Ask James Jacobs" thread in Off-Topic discussion, he has some good notes about Androids recently posted.
I'd say that some good background points would include very hazy early memories, becoming gradually more and more coherent as time goes on. No recollection of "creation" and realizing that all things the character can do are "pre-programmed" from their "birth" in whatever forges still hum with power inside the shattered fragments of the Silver Mountain.
I'd particularly like to see an Android gunslinger or Magus, but that's more my own internal tastes for stuff like Westworld, Trigun or the Doctor Who episode "Mercy."
As an addendum:
I am going to select 4 people the week after recruitment ends as previously stated, see how things go, and fill in supplementary positions if people find that the campaign is not to their tastes/schedules change/etc.
After a few sessions, depending on how the party works and how the pacing of the campaign goes, I may add additional slots, which I will choose from the final roster. You'll be notified here (and in PM) if I opt to request you join the campaign later on down the line (and if the group has leveled up by that point, you will be able to adjust your character/gear appropriately.)
Ideally I'd like to have a quick-paced group who can write fast on their feet and don't slow things down too much, so that I can have 6 players. But we'll see how that goes!
Also, next prologue should be up tomorrow or Thursday and will introduce another NPC that will appear in the campaign.
Prologue III - Bait is up.
Ooh, I'm so glad I saw this thread (barely) before the deadline. I spent the day toying with some ideas before deciding to present this one.
Thank you for considering...
i'Drith D'Har
Drow
Sorceress-Deep Earth
Expert in Your Field- Knowledge Engineering
Her Background and Crunch are on the Profile
Availability:
EST. The suggested 6:30-10:30 is good.
Monday and Wednesday are Great
Tuesday is Out
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are usually good, except for the one weekend a month that I teach.
I hope you enjoy.
@i'Drith: Thanks for the submission! Didn't notice this until just now :)
@Everyone: You have until midnight tonight (11:59pm Eastern Time) to finalize any changes you may need to make in your submissions (or to make a last minute submission!) I will be saving copies of character sheets and copying down recruitment info to review over the next week. My personal deadline for a decision is one week from today, but if I manage to make up my mind sooner you'll hear it here.
After I make my decision, you'll have the next few weeks to make any desired revisions to your character (ie: a new feat came to light that you just *must* have at first level), go over finer details with me, work on integrating backstory (if you want) and also you'll be invited to check out roll20.net in campaign profile and familiarize yourself with the setup/how play works.
You'll also have this time to write prologues for your characters and post them in the prologues thread if you would like to.
If you have any questions for me regarding this, post in the thread and I'll check back periodically tonight. If for whatever reason I don't get back to you with a question you ask tonight and it would impact your submission, I'll go over it with you at my earliest opportunity to work things out.
Good luck to everyone (and good luck to my sanity to choose 4 out of this amazing batch!) :)
Need any additional info from me?