Hey Gang, as you guys probably know I'm planning on putting this glorious charisma to work with Flagbearer feat. My question is... What's on the flag?
I'd love your suggestions for a culturally or organizationally appropriate flag to symbolize our little team. I mean, Nefertiti could put an Eye of Horus on it, but would that mean anything to anybody else?
I think I like the idea of the brawler better, too, but I'd prefer you play whatever you want.
For an evangelist cleric of Horus, I can think of nothing better suited than the Eye of Horus. I'm sure you'd have plenty of opportunity to inform us what it means, and why it has such power...
What if Horus is not all that different from Eagle or "father sky" or is perhaps Pele's long lost love.
Horus isn't chained to a pyramid, right.
Either your brawler or your barbarian / mercenary could be made to work. Which one sounds more fun to you?
Personally, I am interested in the brawler. Would I have hired you as my local guide, or did you get assigned to be my "escort" / chaperone / spy when I got permission to preach amongst the Tulita?
Or... Are you possibly my one convert amongst the Tulita?
Hmm
Ok, let us focus on the brawler idea :D
There are still some things that bother me about him, mainly the lack of a decent amount of skills (I'm a sucker for skills, maybe too much so), and consequently something that is hard for me to envision which is the lack of Knowledge (Local) :/
So, that makes me a poor guide of sorts - I may trade in the Focused Disciple trait for something that gives me Knowledge (Local) as a class skill, but really, I can only stretch my skills so far. Usually my characters tend to be all over the place, and in the end there is always someone better at most skills than myself :D
Still, for the time being I like the escort idea - that one might work quite well Nefertiti.
I love the Flagbearer, both for the mechanical effects, and the amazing flavor - in fact, deciding exactly what is portrayed in the flag has always been an issue that raises some debate among my groups - it would probably not make much sense if we simply rallied to the symbol of Horus just because, so perhaps we really should assume we have been together for some time now in the Razor, and find a symbol that would work for us - perhaps we have been together before as crew for a trading ship that was sunk? We survived, and since the captain made an impression on us (for one reason or another - to each his/her own ;), and is dead or disappeared on the high seas, we decided to take the ship's flag in his homage? What do you think? Too much of a stretch?
On a more prosaic tone - are we building the characters as 20pt buy or...?
It is 20 pt buy, two traits, standard wealth per level.
I've been thinking that if we can pull our backgrounds together a little better, we can come up with things.
As for skills, I know exactly what you mean! Clerics only get 2 points/level. As far as the group is concerned, I'm covering two skills:
1) Diplomacy
2) Knowledge Religion
I may have scattered points in other things, but those are the only things the group cares about that I am maxing.
I don't think it matters that you have a ton of Knowledge Local as my guide. Anyone can roll untrained on Common Knowledge -- it's a DC 10. So long as you are sharing with me the obvious stuff that I wouldn't know, you'd be fine as my guide!
Hmm
PS Regarding the flag, I'm okay with Eye of Horus or with a symbol of one of the local organizations if we all get involved with it. I do like the idea that Horus gets associated with Eagle.
One of Horus's names is "Nekheny," or Bird of Prey.
PPS I've decided on my animal companion -- I am going to befriend a local bird, the Haast's Eagle. I'm going to name him the "Wedjat" the Egyptian word for the Eye of Horus symbol. Mainly because I like the sound of it: Wedjat, Wedjat, Wedjat... It just sounds cute!
That's very much how I understand it. Party members have certain core competencies to uphold.
Maybe your brawler is more of a wilderness guide like Rata
I am focusing for the moment on bluff, perception, disable device, sense motive and acrobatics. Obviously, there are more skill points in my pool. Know(local) is one of them.
There should be a trait somewhere that would allow you know(local) roll bonus and class skill in it. However, you can also hedge it in fluff.
In Port Shaw we see new faces every day. Fresh blood for the gutters, most of them. She knows there's little point latching onto the small facts. Nothing here is permanent.
Or, perhaps this is part of your relationship with Aikane. Perhaps you asked my PC to help you guide your new friend.
PPS I've decided on my animal companion -- I am going to befriend a local bird, the Haast's Eagle. I'm going to name him the "Wedjat" the Egyptian word for the Eye of Horus symbol. Mainly because I like the sound of it: Wedjat, Wedjat, Wedjat... It just sounds cute!
"Screeeeeee!" Wedjat nips Nefertiti's hand and looks offended. Cute?!
Another possibility for Albion is to go with one of the melee types that gives adequate skill points, like Ranger or Inquisitor. At least brawlers get four points a level... That can become five if you are human, six if you take skill points as the favored class bonus. That can let you cover a few decent skills.
Or, perhaps this is part of your relationship with Aikane. Perhaps you asked my PC to help you guide your new friend.
I like this idea!
Hmm
With Brawlers getting four or five skill points a level, I consider them one of the best meleers as far as skills go. I'd think you could fit two or three at least into Knowledge Local.
Like I said I will help with most of the Knowledges and Spellcraft. I've got at least a +8 in most of the Knowledges.
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Being a foreigner to the Razor, I think it makes more sense for Rata to have ranks in Knowledge Geography than Local so I made that change.
I have begun modifiying his background, here is what I have so far. Obviously, much will be added when we iron out the details surrounding his discovery on the shore.
So it was that both children were raised by their father, a bonuwat merchant vessel captain, with only rare visits with their mother in her small wooden shack. Usha and Rata grew up manning their father’s ship, the Concord--Usha acting as lookout while Rata served as deckhand and guard for their long voyages west to the Razor Coast. A pirate crew (hired by Aspis Consortium as a covert attack against the Society, although Rata has no knowledge of this) attacked the Concord and in the ensuing struggle, Usha was killed. With no regard for his personal safety, Rata dove into the water, climbing up the ships exterior and into a gun port. Catching the cannoneer completely by surprise, he slashed the man’s throat open with his kukris. Rata was fully intent on killing every last man on the Wailing Gypsy; hellbent on avenging sister. Unfortunately, as he stormed his way through the waves of pirates and up to the main deck, he was ultimately surrounded and one pirate managed to land a hard blow, cutting him deeply across the chest. In the struggle he was overrun, causing him to stumble backwards, falling overboard and plunging into the frothy depths.
. . .
He awoke to the sound of breaking waves, crying gulls, and as he came to he realized he was being shaken awake. As he began to stir he realized that he lay on a beach of weathered rocks and sand. A salty mist sprayed his chest, causing his fresh wound to sting, as a warm breeze blew his hair across his face. Momentarily blinded by the dazzling white sun, as his vision returned he found himself staring into the bright eyes of a halfling draped in unfamiliar tribal garb…
His first order of business was to send a letter to his mother back in Bloodcove, informing her of the attack and of Usha’s tragic fate. As he awaited a response, he pitched in with his newfound allies, acting as a guard as the others served as guides for foreigners to this strange new land. Eventually, he finally received a response from his mother, informing him that the wreckage of the Concord was indeed found, but most of the crew was slain and that the whereabouts of his father were still unknown. He didn’t dare return to Bloodcove, for fear of being discovered by whoever had orchestrated the attack.
That's it so far. I have a bit more I'd like to add, but again, I will wait until things about the other members and the game itself are ironed out a bit before finishing it up.
I am having some trouble spending all of this gold. I always struggle with outfitting characters in the intermediate and above levels. I just don't have an encyclopedic knowledge of the PF loots. Any help would be appreciated! As of right now I have mwk weapons/armor and a girdle of giant strength +2 and a cloak of resistance +1.
Perhaps some AC boosting items, Rata? Rings of Protection, Amulets of Natural Armor, etc. AC 18 is kinda squishy at 5th level for someone who will be in melee quite a bit, so I might address that if I were you.
PS Regarding the flag, I'm okay with Eye of Horus or with a symbol of one of the local organizations if we all get involved with it. I do like the idea that Horus gets associated with Eagle.
One of Horus's names is "Nekheny," or Bird of Prey.
I like this idea - it would most likely work for my character. Not sure how it would pan out for the others who are not local.
My core skill set is Perception, Sense Motive, Acrobatics, Stealth and Survival - I think it just wouldn't make sense not to capitalize on what he can do well. I've shuffled a few things around and managed to get a +8 on Knowledge (Local) - it makes me feel more comfortable both as being a local character, but also having an option when it comes to gathering intel. Though I am assuming Rata and Aikane will be taking care of most of that ;)
Or, perhaps this is part of your relationship with Aikane. Perhaps you asked my PC to help you guide your new friend.I like this idea!
Hmm
I also think this is something that can work, regardless of the character skill spread :D
Here's how the character looks so far - am looking for an adequate alias.
Zemwaar
Human fighter (brawler) 3/monk (master of many styles) 2 (Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Combat 44, 59)
LG Medium humanoid (human)
Init +4; Senses Perception +8
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Defense
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AC 22, touch 15, flat-footed 17 (+5 armor, +4 Dex, +1 dodge, +2 shield)
hp 42 (5 HD; 2d8+3d10+10)
Fort +9, Ref +9, Will +6 (+1 vs. fear)
Defensive Abilities evasion
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee unarmed strike +12 (1d6+10)
Special Attacks close combatant, stunning fist (2/day, DC 13)
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Statistics
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Str 13, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 8
Base Atk +4; CMB +5 (+6 bull rush, +6 drag, +7 grapple, +6 reposition); CMD 20 (21 vs. bull rush, 21 vs. drag, 21 vs. reposition)
Feats Combat Reflexes, Crane Style[UC], Dodge, Improved Unarmed Strike, Snake Fang[UC], Snake Style[UC], Stunning Fist, Two-weapon Fighting, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (unarmed strike)
Traits civilized, quain martial artist
Skills Acrobatics +11, Climb +7, Knowledge (local) +8, Perception +8, Profession (sailor) +5, Sense Motive +11, Stealth +11, Survival +7, Swim +6
Languages Common, Sahuagin, Tulita
SQ fuse style
Other Gear +1 brawling chain shirt, heavy steel shield, agile amulet of mighty fists, cloak of resistance +1, masterwork backpack, silk rope (50 ft.), waterskin, 69 gp
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Special Abilities
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Close Combatant +1/+3 (Ex) +1 to hit and +3 damage with close weapons.
Combat Reflexes (5 AoO/round) Can make extra attacks of opportunity/rd, and even when flat-footed.
Crane Style Penalty when fighting defensively reduced to -2 and dodge bonus increases by 1.
Evasion (Ex) If you succeed at a Reflex save for half damage, you take none instead.
Fuse Style (2 styles) (Ex) At 1st level, a master of many styles can fuse two of the styles he knows into a more perfect style. The master of many styles can have two style feat stances active at once. Starting a stance provided by a style feat is still a swift action
Improved Unarmed Strike Unarmed strikes don't cause attacks of opportunity, and can be lethal.
Snake Fang If opponent misses you, make an attack of opportunity as an immediate action
Snake Style Gain +2 on Sense Motive checks, and deal piercing damage with unarmed attacks
Stunning Fist (2/day, DC 13) You can stun an opponent with an unarmed attack.
How about this one avatar?
I've decided to modify my build to add in some rogue levels.
@Zemwaar: I like it :)
@Nohwear: Is the presence of the Aspis Consortium in Rata's background a problem? It could be easily written out. Also, technically speaking due to Rata coming from Bloodcove, common for him would be Polyglot. Will that be a problem? In my games I just tend to treat common as a language that everyone can speak to avoid unnecessary complications, but I figured I would bring it to your attention.
Thanks Rata - I cannot see your character details, where are they? :D
Thanks Rata - I cannot see your character details, where are they? :D
"Screeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
Wedjat points a wing towards Rata's background. Silly humans.
Nef gives Zemwaar the thumbs up. Very nice!
I've got to (now that I've gone shopping) update my sheet and header. I need more practical information in there than "Ankh if you love Horus!"
Hmm
Nefertitit, I was looking for the crunchy bits on Rata's character :D
Crunchy bits?! Where? Gimme!
Wedjat pokes his head into Rata's bag for the crunchy bits on his character.
I am still figuring out some ways to spend my gold. The crunchy bits will be up by tomorrow I reckon. With a +14 to intimidate, you might want to stay on Rata's good side. :)
Crunchy bits?! Where? Gimme!
Wedjat pokes his head into Rata's bag for the crunchy bits on his character.
I'd rather have met the hatchling outside of Shaw on our way in with Albion's PC.
I want to take the survivalist rogue talent to give aikane some survivor and heal skill opportunities. Right now he is working as a healer by day and fiddler by night.
Albion, if you want to go heavy into know local, go for it.
I'll shift some of my points there into other foci. Aikane is from a homesy isolated village. He can craft interesting items out of metal and stone, and he is a fiddler/healer at large.
Rata's profile has been updated and should be complete aside from the additional background information.
Just let me know if you want further breakdown of my skill ranks, I know some GMs require it for easier reading.
I am disappointed that I must take medium armor and the reduced movement. I fear that may significantly reduce my ability to flank. Otherwise, I am very much looking forward to demoralizing all the things, hehe. And hopefully upon (inevitably) encountering foes immune to such conditions I can still pull my weight as a vanilla slayer.
Rata, All looks well to me. Also, beware zombie cannibal pygmies.
Nefertiti and Wedjat should both look much crunchier -- I'm still working on the background, but this look good so far, GM?
Aikane, I'm not sure how much more I can focus on Knowledge (Local) for the time being, but I'll give another look at my skill distribution ;)
Rata, that Intimidation is definitely off the charts - I guess we're going to be seeing some serious debuffing. I actually once built a character based around the Thug archetype, and a single big hit with an Earthbreaker - he was sweet to see in action.
Neferiti, Looks good to me.
Nohwear, have you made a decision on the cost of cure light wands? I will always have a cure moderate spell on my character, but that one spell will not go far in a party this size.
Also, have we lost Camris?
Nohwear, have you made a decision on the cost of cure light wands? I will always have a cure moderate spell on my character, but that one spell will not go far in a party this size.
After looking over the rules in the Core book, the cost for a wand of first level spells is 750 times caster level of the wand.
I was wondering if they would be book price or not. Would the party want to share cost on some CLW wands, or will everyone be buying their own?
I'm fine on kicking in for a wand or two. Can't put a price tag on consistent healing.
My crunch party is in, just in time for the new year
I have 22 gp left which I'd happily contribute, haha.
I'm torn, because I couldn't save up enough to qualify for the Mummer's Ruff I wanted so badly. However, I have a chest of savings left. I'll contribute 200gp if that helps.
Also, have we lost Camris?
No, still here! Just distracted.
As for wands, see if you can buy a partially charged wand. Should be less costly...
If I have done my math right, it comes to 3gp per charge for a CL one first level spell.
Also, have we lost Camris?No, still here! Just distracted.
As for wands, see if you can buy a partially charged wand. Should be less costly...
What are you planning to bring to the party pot luck, esse?
Most of the things that I want on my shopping list are way out of the price range of what I can afford, so I could pay out-of-pocket for most of the very first CLW wand. But I think that if we establish a precedent of pitching in together (even if its a small amount) for group healing, I think we'll all be much happier.
I'm willing to keep a spoiler on my sheet tracking who kicked in for the current wand, and then the next time, others can pay as we get loot and cash to keep it fair. We've currently got 7 bodies in the group (including Wedjat). That means that a party member's share in a CLW wand costs approximately 107 (108 if you're a big spender) a piece.
Given that I'm two characters, I should be paying a double share for my portion of the wand. As backup, we should also probably consider buying a couple of cure moderate potions. These should be saved for emergency use only -- like if I get knocked out.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I may be the only person in the party who can trigger a CLW wand. So if I get knocked out, you all are relying on UMD to do healing. Hence, back up potions.
Camris may surprise us, though, by coming in with an alchemist or a ranger or some other class that can trigger divine wands. Heck, he may even come in with something that is a better healer than I am. I'm set up for battlefield control rather than being party medic.
Another option that I thought of... We all chip in to get a tattoo of infernal healing on Oren. With his hit points, he may be standing long after the rest of us are down!
___________________
Aikane offered 200 towards the wand.
Rata is stripped, cash wise.
Oren, Zemwaar, Camris can you contribute anything this time around?
I'll cover the remainder for the first wand.
____________________
By the way -- Happy New Year everyone! The party has died down at my place, but I'm still wide awake... hence this note.
Hmm
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(whispers) Happy National Hangover Day.
Guilty to the hangover. Ow, my head.
I think you're overanalyzing the wand bit. Inevitably there will be a general party loot pool. Excess loot gets sold which provides gold for a CLW wand (or any other party resources for that matter). Simple as that.
Happy new year guys!
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Rata --
Guilty as charged. I'm a librarian in my day job. Overanalysis is my specialty!
How about this, then? Those who pitch in for the first party wand get reimbursed for what they spent from the first couple batches of party treasure?
Sounds good to me. I'm pretty easygoing where loots concerned. As long as the party benefits from it as a whole, I'm happy.
Question for the GM on Powerful Charge.
Wedjat gets at 4th level the monster ability, "Powerful Charge."
When a creature with this special attack makes a charge, its attack deals extra damage in addition to the normal benefits and hazards of a charge. The attack and amount of damage from the attack is given in the creature’s description.Format: powerful charge (gore, 4d8+24); Location: Special Attacks.
So is the powerful charge damage that Wedjat gets the same as that listed in the creature description for the normal (non-animal companion) version of the Haast's Eagle in the Razor Coast Freebooter's Guide?
Special Attacks pounce, powerful charge (claws, 4d6+20)
I wanted to run this past you because this seemed kind of powerful. Also because I don't like springing surprises on GMs.
Also because I don't like springing surprises on GMs.
"Screeeee!" I do!
Yep, you are right about the UMD challenge. It would benefit Aikane to spec into Primal Hunter, or Ranger, or any number of classes which would allow him to backup heal.
However, until we get the show rolling, it is hard to determine which would be most useful.
Option 2 from where I sit: If I max out my UMD at next level of rogue, we come to +11 UMD.
I don't want to do anything that will mess up your progression to Shaw Sheriff. This is for completely selfish reasons: I can't wait to see a little menehune standing in the middle of Fort Shaw and declaring himself sheriff.
For now, let's go with backup potions.
Hmm
I'm dropping the sheriff gig for now. It's feat intensive, story heavy, and it can wait a few levels.
I've got a little over 1000 gold unspent. I'm happy to kick in as much as needed for at least one wand.
Okay, a bunch of miscellaneous stuff:
WAND PURCHASE
Aikane, I looked at the state of your cash. I think you should preserve your remaining 200g for emergency purchases or supplies along the way. Oren, I'm taking you up on your offer. We'll split the cost -- 375 each. That sound good to you?
TULITA
As Tulita appears to be a lingua franca amongst everyone who is here, and as my bird is local, I gave Wedjat a skill point in linguistics so that it could understand -- though not vocalize -- Tulita.
This also justifies me including Wedjat's interior monologues after the "Screeee!" in his posts.
He does not understand common, since I am assuming that we all speak Tulita most of the time amongst ourselves, except when dealing with folks from the Fort and such.
BACKGROUNDS, CHRONOLOGY AND ALL THAT
Here are some ideas for how I connect to some of you. Maybe they're completely not what you guys have in mind. If so, I'll toss them all out and start over.
She's fascinated by everything Tulita -- the language, the culture, the lush and dangerous Razor Coast. Oren has resigned himself to working with the colonists because he sees his people's time as passing. They've already been conquered -- why not make money working for the winning side?
What ties these two very different people together? Here's what I see:
- Distaste for the injustices and corruptions in Fort Shaw;
- A desire for something better -- though this may be very under the surface for Oren;
- Shared curiosity -- Oren is a very active learner, and Nef had to be one as well;
- Some shared events in our history that we haven't clarified yet.
Does any of this fit your concept of your character, Oren?
However, I'm looking for a deeper connection here. Oren, how did we meet? Given that you have a business in Fort Shaw, you may have been one of the very first Tulitas that I met. Did I pay you for my initial lessons in Tulita or something? Did you have anything to do with me meeting Zemwaar?
While Oren may have been my first Tulita contact, Zemwaar may have been my most important. Albion, I sent you a private message so that we can collaborate on this, because what happened between us seems to significant.
Perhaps Horus sent me a sign that you two were important to me... Or perhaps the one with the vision was Zemwaar!
I know that Zemwaar introduced me to Aikane, and both have served ever since as guides and tutors, though Aikane may be traveling with me more as a favor to his friend than for my sake.
Additionally, I could see Rata and Nef both sharing the bond of both being foreigners residing among the Tulita. We're not native, and we haven't thrown our lot in with the other resident foreigners. We are both fish out of water, constantly making the sort of mistakes that foreigners do... Yes, I hail from Qadira and Rata from the Mwangi expanse -- what matters more is that we're both from somewhere else.
I liked the shared moment that we had in gameplay. It gave me a better sense of you!
So, how did we meet / find either the egg or the orphaned chick?
Really torn between these two:
Drunken Swashbuckler, waking up from a 'lost' year in this far land. Last he knew he was in Taldor. Has awful feeling he did something horrible, so drinks to forget.
Or...
Strange tian Alchemist (Chiurgeon), very proud of heritage, makes fun of foreign speakers (all y'all). Has no problem experimenting with noxious fluids/bizarre acupuncture to see what will happen to party members. Effectively a wage slave, here to pay off massive clan debt to a rich local bank/merchant.
What do you all think? Anyone have a preference?