Teamwork feat-wise I'm leaning towards "Paired Opportunists"... if we drop folks (and this crew will) and they get up then (if they're stupid) then AoO will shred em...
Flynn has opted for Lookout which is another tempting option...
The guys that can take Precise Strike should do so: Hangman and Krathok [Hangman's already nailed that down]
Hakon, Bear and Declan should go with either Paired Opp if they are in-close fighters or Lookout for ranged?
My 2 gibblets worth
Also, Final Squad list:
Ábítan – Poisoner Rogue
Talbot - Sniper Rogue
Hangman - Skirmisher Ranger
Krathok – RangerBear – Bear Shaman
Hakon – Hexcrafter Magus
Declan – Counterspell WizardLooks like we have to hit fast and hard in the beginning, with only cleanup to follow, is my guess. Considering that there are three of us that can't really sneak all too well, what Teamwork Feat will we get, since two have to have it, and Outflank is a while yet?
Umm, sneaky people:
Abitan
Hakon
Talbot
Rampaging elephants:
Bear
Declan
Hangman
Krathok
Has Lookout:
Talbot
Have Paired Opportunist:
Abitan
Hakon
Has Precise Strike:
Hangman
Should consider Lookout:
Bear
Declan
Should consider Paired Opportunist or Shielded Caster:
Bear
Declan
Should consider Precise Strike:
Krathok
Should really consider Precise Strike as a Rogue Talent at level 2:
Abitan
Talbot
should really consider Precise Strike as a feat at level 3:
Bear
Hakon
Should really, really consider Outflank as a feat at level 5:
Everyone
Remember, anyone with Precise Strike that crits while employing the feat causes their target to provoke an attack of opportunity from your allies. If your allies with Paired Opportunist get an attack of Opportunity, so do you, thus every time you crit, you and all of your friends with Paired Opportunists threatening that target get a free AoO.
Teamwork feat-wise I'm leaning towards "Paired Opportunists"... if we drop folks (and this crew will) and they get up then (if they're stupid) then AoO will shred em...
Hakon, Bear and Declan should go with either Paired Opp if they are in-close fighters or Lookout for ranged?
My 2 gibblets worth
I took Paired Opportunists as my level 1 feat already. Aside from the staff archetype, the magus has to keep one hand free for spellcasting and spellstrike (which is used up close) so melee is pretty much it.
Hakon, Bear and Declan should go with either Paired Opp if they are in-close fighters or Lookout for ranged?
That's the thing. Declan has a disruption, which will require him to touch the spellcaster/creature, but that also requires him going into melee.. So I've got to figure how to make a wizard that can get through and engage an enemy wizard.
Actually, I've edited Declan in order to be able to do so(Switched Skill Focus and Toughness for Dodge and Mobility-- Mobility being key). The teamwork feat though... I'll wait to hear Bear's thoughts before I decide.
Precise strike looks pretty interesting. I can't take it until 3rd sine you have to have a +1bab. Next level I will have 3 attacks per round or 1 huge one if I stick with the club...the 3 attacks with +1d6 damage at 3rd would be pretty awesome...
But what will you take as your bonus teamwork feat?
Precise strike looks pretty interesting. I can't take it until 3rd sine you have to have a +1bab. Next level I will have 3 attacks per round or 1 huge one if I stick with the club...the 3 attacks with +1d6 damage at 3rd would be pretty awesome...
@Bear - Yep, that's why I suggested it as a level 3 feat.
@Bear & Declan - Really look at Shielded Caster. Bear, you use a shield. You both want to be in close, you can both benefit from this feat.
@ Talbot & Declan - I think Lookout is a great feat for you both as you will both want to be able to get the drop on our enemies. Talbot, you with the higher initiative bonus will likely get to act in the surprise round anyway, so you are more likely to be helping others to also act in the surprise round. Declan, you would be the primary beneficiary of such a feat as you want to have first go to be readied to counterspell an enemy caster.
That said Paired Opportunist is a great feat if you are going to be in melee. Talbot, you said you were focusing on ranged, so this would likely have less use to you except when ranged is not viable or preferred.
I will probably take Paired Opportunist since I will be a more up-front combat type. Shielded caster is nice, but I won't be casting that many spells in combat, hopfully most will be pre-combat.
Then I will do the same, since I'll be following you into the fight to get to the caster.
I've updated my profile to include Precise Strike as my Anti-Hero feat.
As for flushing out the casters, hopefully having two beefy rangers and two psychotic half-men stabbing their backsides to bits will force em out to you a bit quicker :)
I realize that I did not announce my spell selections.
1st level
Chill Touch
0 level
Acid Splash, Ghost Sound, Mage Hand
Guys with regards the dynamics in the group I'm thinking of retconning Abitan as a Swashbuckler rather than a Poisoner...???
Just think the insane little butcher angle, gets a tad messy with the Poisoner angle? [Little fecker is complex enough methinks!] Plus is a build that fits Abi's more martial rogue skills and would still be an asset to the squad. He'd be no Errol Flynn [we already got a Flynn lol] more a methodical... well butcher... think Bill Cutting meets Nikolai Luzhin...
(would actually allow me to incorporate an element I had to drop from Abitan's original concept... his warhammer named "Tender" ;)
I'd need Pentor's okay - but also want input from the group itself...
@Abitan - I say go for it if you want to. You can still be the psychotic little half-man we know and love without poison...
@Abitan - Whatever works for you, buddy, works for me. I am leaving work now and will post IC when I get up this evening.
Cool. Am at work... so re-tooling Abi ahead of the gobs is a must. Might have to wait until when I get home...
Will rejig and see how it fits...
First idea is to get a couple of Co-DMs, one for each game.
Third ideas is to have a member or members from another squad run the bad guys during combat, freeing me up to concentrate on the storyline and hopefully provide some memorable combat encounters!
Normally, I am somewhat against co-DMing.. But in this case, it would plausibly be a good choice. Provided the co-DMs have limited involvement-- something like the fight, the setup, and the clues to leave behind (if any), would work for a bit. Especially for the newer DMs who want practice but not a whole campaign.
Having another squad run the bad guys also works, since we already have a rather competitive spirit, and with the same setup that the co-DMs would have, it could work rather well, I'd think.
First idea is to get a couple of Co-DMs, one for each game.
Third ideas is to have a member or members from another squad run the bad guys during combat, freeing me up to concentrate on the storyline and hopefully provide some memorable combat encounters!
Normally, I am somewhat against co-DMing.. But in this case, it would plausibly be a good choice. Provided the co-DMs have limited involvement-- something like the fight, the setup, and the clues to leave behind (if any), would work for a bit. Especially for the newer DMs who want practice but not a whole campaign.
Having another squad run the bad guys also works, since we already have a rather competitive spirit, and with the same setup that the co-DMs would have, it could work rather well, I'd think.
I believe the discussion in the main OOC thread was for co-DM to be put to work in a different squad so as not to conflict with their PC duties in their own squad.
Okay, I have looked at UM and I am adding on the Bladebound and Hexcrafter archetypes.
Bladebound - gain a sentient black blade. Thamir Gixx's (Hakon's deity) holy symbol: a black blade. Coincidence? I think not.
Hexcrafter - gain witch hexes and add all 6th level and lower spells with the curse descriptor. Cauldron? The Brew Potion feat and +4 to Craft (alchemy) checks. I do already own a cauldron... Evil Eye? Great companion to my Jinx ability.
Sounds like it was made for you.
New post is up!
Plus I'm looking for a co-GM for this game, so keep an eye out for somebody.
Do you guys have suggestions about where to take this game next after fighting the bandits? Can I have 1 suggestion from everybody that we can build into the next adventure.
I've got this vague idea about having a three way battle between you guys, the Hellknights and the Eagle Knights but I'm not sure how that would come about.
Gee, let's see. We're a ragtag squad of mercs who maliciously murder everyone who comes across our path, have at least four psychopaths among their number and while they're almost certainly against slavery they would most likely just set free the souls of any slaves they encounter (barring halfling slaves as halflings do roguish things in benefit of the halfling community) as it is "easier" that way. Nope, the Hellknights and Eagle Knights got no beef with us.
New post is up!
Plus I'm looking for a co-GM for this game, so keep an eye out for somebody.
Do you guys have suggestions about where to take this game next after fighting the bandits? Can I have 1 suggestion from everybody that we can build into the next adventure.
I've got this vague idea about having a three way battle between you guys, the Hellknights and the Eagle Knights but I'm not sure how that would come about.
What does he do next? Well he uses one of his agents to hire the mercenary band to get rid of some monsters in the area, but he is really sending them to their doom...or so he believes. If the band survives, this further complicates his plans, and he tries to set us up with the Hellknights so we will get into conflict with them.
Moves on from there...
Do you guys have suggestions about where to take this game next after fighting the bandits? Can I have 1 suggestion from everybody that we can build into the next adventure.
I've got this vague idea about having a three way battle between you guys, the Hellknights and the Eagle Knights but I'm not sure how that would come about.
Honestly though, I would look to another squad for providing our ideas and vice versa. Having us suggest the adventure (at least OOCly) ruins the fun a little for me.
I've got this vague idea about having a three way battle between you guys, the Hellknights and the Eagle Knights but I'm not sure how that would come about.
My strong view is that we need to wage war against the 'good' guys. I think we have the kind of crew that wouldn't mind being hired by some shady characters to fight against good guys.
Raze a village, murder a prominent Eagle Knight, all sound good - as long as we are against those that hold themselves to be holy.
I'd argue that we don't mind the character of the person hiring, as long as their payment is good. I don't think Bear is "rotten".. Us Neutrals are just in the minority, I guess.
I think your Ranger is defective - not much of a fighter with two fumbles in a row.
@ Me'mori - I agree, pay is pay; I've just got a hankering to go after the good guys next.
I think I may just amend Declan's alignment to LN.. His allegiance is to the job.
Bear isn't rotten, he is just simple and will do most things for money. He wouldn't kill women or children for no good reason for example.
Or kill a Knight for no reason, of course all you would have to tell him is that the knight was bad and he would go along, even if he was a Paladin of Iomedae...he believes and trusts you guys almost exclusively, even if you led him into evil acts as long as he didn't know it...
Hangman's outlook is:
Anyone on a military objective is fair game if called for by his orders.
He will follow the orders of those above him.....mostly.
On his own:
Armed adults can be killed, women included.
Unarmed men should have armed themselves.
Children will not be harmed, armed or unarmed.
Monsters...all are fair game.
I like how this squad doesn't even pretend to be morally conflicted!:)
Looks like you folks are in for some interesting times, as the Chinese proverb says!
As long as nobody tries to enslave anyone, Talbot will get along fine with others in his squad. He really enjoys the military lifestyle because of the bond of brotherhood it creates. Although this is a "MERCENARY" campaign, I already feel like my squadmates would have my back even if there was no monetary gain to be earned for the it.
I missed an action? *goes to check*
Krathok's outlook is a little more complicated in a simple way.
He sees the squad as akin to a wolfpack. Red River is the alpha and has asserted dominance over Krathok, therefore he will follow whatever Red River says without question.
Bear and Hangman are fellow pack members, and are seen as relative equals. The 'children' are thought to be beneath his concern. He has an issue with Declan, as he doesn't see his worth - but Red River has ordered him to play nice, so he does.
Other than that, Krathok is an orc at heart. Men / women / paladins / depraved necromancers are all seen the same in his eyes, fair game. Would have no compulsions in killing children or enemies that surrender / are unarmed.
The interesting part would come if Red River were to die. Krathok would challenge for leadership of the pack, and would either win or need to be cowed into submission again.
I know I'm stealthy, but I don't think I can roll good enough to not appear on the map :( Maybe I'm just not seeing myself.
No problem, thank you boss :)
Pentor, check out HERE They have generally enough tools to manage a map that you can, if you just make the map, save and edit in another program to movie pieces around.
You can recreate the mockup of the map in about 5mins, no kidding.
Hakon reaches into his pocket, coming out with a small wooden disc. A slender needle, also of wood, is riveted to the center of the disc. His eyes bright and a childish sense of wonder on his face, he spins the dial. 'Wheee!' He exclaims before traipsing off in the direction the needle points. 'C'mon, guys! This is a good way!'