Level -1 would simple limit HP and Skills, and lessen the options available. I feel it would not be too powerful at party level.
@point buy or Elite array: I feel a 20 points buy turned into 14,14,14,14,10,10 would be decent.
Could translate to something like 10 Strenght, 16 Dex, 12 Con, 16 Int, 10 Wis, 14 Cha, meaning 7 skill points and decent casting, and decent ranged attackery and AC(with a chain shirt and buckler), while somewhat avoiding elven squishyness.
*shrug*
Details, obviously, up to you...but I feel trying to work with this buy would make certain there's no glaring weaknesses, and she would always be a bit "inferior" to us despite being at party level(due to our higher skill mods).
But as said, Hecate's input is still open :) Not my decision alone, just sharing my thoughts.
That's pretty much what I'd planned unless the chosen class/build was SAD. 14s down the board is a good way to make me competent but not incredible at a lot of things.
Looks good, you've obviously thought about it a lot! Thanks for doing it so I don't have to :-)
Nothing to add. Sorry.
Last question before I get started: do you want me to work toward a PrC? Thuvian Alchemist looks interesting, for example.
Personally, I'm content to leave that to your judgement. I think we already pretty closely specified several aspects of the character. Since it is a GM-PC, not a Cohort, I feel you should get some say in it as well :)
Am I acceptable? My backstory's a direct port from an old character, but I like the write-up too much to change it. For this campaign, instead of being captured, I had a "comic book death," and a corpse wrapped in my iconic cloak was later found.
Looks good - which is to say, evil!
I like the different 'flavours' we have - Hecate as methodical, doing what it takes to survive, Robin as freewheeling and impulsive, and The Cloaked One as creepy evil.
Aye. Plus the creepy evil is a mixture of our approaches, with a impulsive methodology :)
Very acceptable, only one pet peeve...the picture.
It reminds me of a "local" rapper I don't like very much.
I know you linked her proper pic in the statline, but do you think you could pick a more "elven"/"half-elven" profile pic? Not a biggie, but hey, as long as you're asking ;)
No problem. I'll get that taken care of after work. In the meantime, go ahead and post in Gameplay. Unless you really want to kill Kargeld yourselves, I'll introduce the new character and get you to Balentyne simultaneously.
I'm all in favour of handwaving the small stuff, although it might be fun to take him down and burn his boat :)
I second Hecate's notion.
It's my believe that things will slow down a bit in Balentyne, as we are gauging options and trying to get an understanding of how things work, and where to start. That kind of thing is harder to do in PbP.
As such:
I suggest we try and raid patrols they send out first(to cull their numbers a bit).
Then eliminate their means of communication with possible reinforcements(palantirs, ravens, stables).
Then leadership(commander, captains...) and supplies(weaponry, food...).
Finally, we burn down anybody and anything that makes sense before taking cover and sending up the signal rocket and opting to get the doors open while they are busy dealing with the fire...
But no idea, really, we need to take a look at the place -_-
What I meant to say is: The captain would be a small part where we know exactly what to do and how to proceed, and gladly a chance for the new character to get introduced and prove her worth.
If you want to play it out, we can. Otherwise, you can let the bugbears take care of it. In that case, I have an alternate way to get you where you need to be. ;-)
Edit: let me know your preference. In the one case, she'll help you in combat with the sailors. In the other, she'll have some preliminary info about the town. Up to you which is more valuable. :-)
*points at Hecate* 'Her call'
Just checking in to see where everyone's at. :-)
Well, heads up: I'll be travelling tonight to both my own and my SO's family in turn, over the weekend, inmediately followed by a work trip until next tuesday evening.
I should be able to post, but irregulary. I appreciate if you feel you can wait for me, but if I seem to delay a scene, do feel free to bot me.
Sorry, this week is pretty crazy for me, let's handwave as much as possible in order to keep moving.
No problem. In that case, we'll leave Kargeld to the bugbears. I'll put up another Gameplay post after work.
All set.
By the way, it's weird that Alchemists can learn spells from Wizards but not vice-versa. Hecate can copy formulae with a Spellcraft DC 15+spell level. Take10 is fine. That's why I added the "get a bunch of necromancy spells" archetype. :-)
Agreed, and thanks!
I think Sculpt Corpse could be very useful over the next bit of the adventure...
#GoodGuyGM ;-)
Just checking in to see how the two of you are doing.
Had a rather busy time last week, but doing fine.
Kind of was waiting on Hecate's RL to become more relaxed again, maybe let her add thoughts on how we should proceed, or rejoin the conversation.
Other than that, was taking it a bit easy myself(due to the busy week), but intended to post on the weekend no matter what :)
No worries. This was the last week before Christmas break at the High School where I work, so it's been crazy for me as well. There's no rush; I've just found that game longevity is connected to frequent GM check-ins. :-)
Sorry, busy here too. I'll have something up today.
And your proactivity is much appreciated, YBD!
BTW, YBD - did we pick up the gold from Kargeld, as Thorn ordered? How much was there?
To get Kargeld's gold, you'd have to fight him, but I've added an equivalent amount of money later on. Shameen has a "miscellaneous expenses" stockpile back at the inn that she's been told to share with you. :-)
Kind of what I imagined regarding the handling.
It was Kargelds "payment" we were to retrieve. Not likely he would hand it over. And we departed before Saranda, Sakkharot and Grumble had their fun with him and his crew.
Due to GM mentioning that the skipped ice mephit was a treasureless encounter, I had kind of expected that any "skipped" treasures from encounters would get re-introduced at a later time.
It's still good Hecate asked, and good that you confirmed it to be so.
Precisely. Part of my job is to make sure you stay within expected WBL (barring certain player decisions), sothe only time you won't get treasure from a "skipped" encounter is if you deliberately avoid it in-game. Handwaved combats will always give you loot; in-character deciding to ignore the random cave will mean you won't get anything that was inside. :-)
Oh - I'd have opted to fight him if I'd known :(
never mind -good to know for next time.
No, Hecate, this time it was a handwaived encounter, I believe. YBD suggested it before, when we made some plans to lure the captain away and then murder the others.
We are not losing out, there, but it was one "reason" for Saranda to stay behind with her Gnoll Loverboy :)
OK, so level 4:
+1 Stat increase (Intelligence, naturally)
+6 hp
+1 BAB
+1 Will save
+1 lvl 1 spell/day
+1 lvl 2 spell/day
2 new spells (Create Pit, Web)
Favoured class bonus: +1 lvl 1 spell (Detect Secret Doors)
7 skill points
Bluff +1
Craft (alchemy) +1
Knowledge (arcana) +1
Knowledge (local) +1
Knowledge (planes) +1
Linguistics (Goblin) +1
Spellcraft +1
OK, I've updated!
Quite a lot of stress at work. Since I am, without going in-depth, working in logistics/IT: the time before christmas is hell.
I can't promise I'll get to update today or even tomorrow...since we intend to first gather information, I don't think we'll need to wait on my level-up before progressing, if thats ok?
I'll try my best to get it done as soon as possible!
+1 Stat Increase(Cha, of course)
+1 BaB
+1 Will
Skills: (4+2+1+/2)
+1 Bluff
+1 Disguise
+1 Intimidate
+1 Sense Motive
+1 Use Magic Device
+1 Stealth
+1 Heal
+2 Knowledge(Religion)
I'm almost done leveling and wanted to get your input on a couple things.
Discovery
There are a few ways I can go here. I can go the Preserve Organ route to become tankier, I can go the Spontaneous Healing route to become more of a pseudo-cleric (starting at Level 6), I can take another Bomb modification discovery, or I can do something else entirely. What are your thoughts?
Extract
I get my first 2nd-level extract this level. Again, there are a few options. I can take alchemical allocation, culture monster II, cure moderate wounds, something from my vast collection of 3pp (probably necromancy or fear-based), or something else entirely. What are your thoughts?
If Hecate has an opinion on either of those, I'll be fine with it.
I am rather present on the boards, but have a ton of work to do simultaneously, both privately and the kind that pays the rent.
So I can get posts in, but not take an hour off to take a look at different options and form a proper opinion.
I will try and get things done in the next few days, but yeah, wanted to let you know I can't really make an informed statement right now.
Not a problem. I'm the same way, to be honest. I can browse the messageboards at work, but the firewall blocks d20PFSRD and Archives of Nethys, so I can't do any research. Take all the time you need.
Here's a quick summary of the listed options:
Discoveries
- Preserve Organs lets me sometimes ignore crits (like the fortification armor ability). It also unlocks access to the Mummification discovery that gives me a bunch of Undead immunities. This would eventually make me incredibly tanky.
- Spontaneous Healing gives me limited fast healing. More importantly, it unlocks access to another discovery that lets me share the healing with the party. Combine this with Healing Bombs (which I'll take in a few levels), I can be a pretty decent Cleric replacement.
- Bomb Modification discoveries would entail stuff like elemental damage, tanglefoot effects, confusion, etc. Pretty self-explanatory. ;-)
Extracts
- alchemical allocation is basically a pearl of power for extracts, potions, and alchemical items. It's really useful, but it might be better to wait another level or so
- the culture monster extracts let me turn defeated creatures into potions that grant racial abilities. For example, if I harvest a halfling's dying breath, I can give someone the "halfling luck" racial ability for a period of time. I'll eventually take all of these extracts, as each level unlocks more creatures. culture monster II lets me harvest Elementals, Frogs, Oozes, and Lycanthropes.
We're low on ranged attacks (I don't get evocation spells) so anything that boosts your bombs would be good. Smoke bomb, tangle bomb, grease bomb, poison bomb, stink bomb, they're all good. Or there's unholy bomb.
As for extracts... I don't get illusion spells so invisibility would be nice to have.
From that, I would tend towards Spontaneous Healing - the line down the way seems most helpful, as we would still prefer summons to tank for us, I think.
I know and love alchemical allocation, but I don't think we have a good assortment of useful elixirs and potions yet to make it really count?
Either way: I think when it comes to spells, it's best if you and Hecate coordinate to cover as much ground as possible.
That's my initial gut feeling. :) Thanks for understanding.
Bomb options: glassfoot (makes caltrops), smoke (fog cloud), or tanglefoot (self-explanatory). I feel like utility is more useful than one of the elemental damage options, and I don't want to step on Robin's toes by taking one of the "change explosion shape" discoveries. I won't get access to the more powerful options until Level 6-8.
Invisibility is a really good extract option. I think that's what I'll do. Plus, the fact that there's an Alchemist shop in town means I can stock up on useful items, and if we feel like it, I may be able to learn a few formulae from the proprietor.
Or, we make the alchemist an offer he can't refuse and take over his shop!
Give me the time to Take 20 and I'll forge a bill of sale that nobody can disprove, and the alchemist himself will have "retired" home in the south, without leaving a forwarding address. ^_^
Heh. That's certainly an option. ;-)
Just to finish up my sheet, which option should I take?
- Glassfoot Bomb (caltrops for 2d6rds)
- Smoke Bomb (fog cloud; later discovery improves to stinking cloud)
- Tangle Bomb (tanglefoot bag)
- Spontaneous Healing (next discovery lets me heal 5hp with a touch quite a few times per day)
Hecate's set, so we're just waiting for a final decision on Sameen's discovery and for Robin to get her stuff finished. There's no hurry, though, because...
*reposted to all my games*
FYI, I'll be traveling for the holidays. Leaving tomorrow and won't be back for about a week. I'll have internet access for most of that time, but because my library stays at home, there won't be any significant Gameplay updates until I return.
Not 100% certain, but I think I may simply regain my range upgrade(which I was allowed to replace with gather energy when the destruction handbook came out).
Hecate repeatedly pointed out that we lack ranged options.
Upgrading from close to medium range would do some good, I would assume. Heck, if I spend 1 more talent on increasing range, pick up Orb Expert as Feat, and get me a fly-extract/spell, I could (theoretically) simply hover way up there and bombard the area until everythings burning and/or dead.
That may not be a good way to break the current quest, but it MAY offer an interesting way of dealing with later problems :)
*reposting to all my games*
I think I'll go with Tangle Bomb for my discovery. That way, it'll make kiting our enemies easier if we run into trouble. Smoke Bombs are nice but would kill our vision.
@Robin: long-range bombards are fun until they bring out archers. ;-) I'm not anticipating long-range combat in this particular mission, but you may well surprise me. ;-)
Long Range just so happens to be 400 feet + 40 feet per Caster Level, or, next Level, about 600 Feet.
Heavy Crossbow has 120 ft range increment, and ranged weapons can only effectively shoot for 5 increments. So if I get to fly at 605 feet and let the orb blast do the work, I would be save ^_^.
(Just kidding, plus flight arrows for normal bows...)
Still, without specialization(Far Shot etc.), most archers should not be capable of responding to long-range bombardement in a few levels.
That said, close range CAN be quite limiting, also in terms of mid-range counter-artillery necessities, so yep, medium range is a must. Now, or later.
As such, I'm picking it up now to be ready. Still need to record the changes on my profile, but I think that's all.
Spent my holiday in South Carolina and NE Florida, actually. Hoping to visit Central Europe one day, though.
Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
Very intrigued to see how they handle martials with the system.
Waiting for Hecate to come back. She posted with 2 alias on Friday and today.
Before we arrive, we'll need to aquire a wagon. And I would prefer to make that decision together...we could, of course, always murder some peasants and take possession of their wagon. But if somebody recognizes "Betsy the Donkey" because it belonged to their aunt, and then they find out the farmstead was burned down and no one survived, people may inquire how we aquired the wagon.
Of course, we could probably simply buy the stuff. But...yeah...I'm not really certain Robin would see the possible outcomes, simply assuming that everybody will die in the next month, anyway...so why waste the money.