GM-Sarc's Untitled Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master GM-Sarc


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Welcome to Recruitment for A Shrouded World

A week ago your regiment of an invincible army was soundly crushed by an upstart rebel and his half trained militia.

Five days ago the handful of you who had survived the harried run across the mountains made your way back to the coast and the fleet that was waiting to return you home in victory

Two days ago the fleet was swallowed by a deep, swirling mist and wracked by a sudden typhoon. All but three ships were lost. Your ship, one of the three, limped out of the storm days off course, sails shredded, and almost certainly under pursuit.

This morning the mist returned.

This is the recruitment thread for a new pathfinder Pbp game to be held here on the Paizo boards. The campaign is a homebrew one that has been played all the way through once before in a face to face setting. After years of playing Adventure Paths and other fairly linear gaming experiences I wanted to try my hand at something with a bit more sandbox but no less story to be discovered. This is what I came up with.

The Game will start at second level with the players as members of a military unit that recently experienced an unprecedented and devastating set back. Players can be soldiers, scouts, specialists or support personnel, junior officers, crown liaisons or pretty much anything else that you can think of and make fit.

The majority of the campaign will take place in a sparsely inhabited peninsula blanketed in deep, pristine temperate rain forest dotted only lightly by a handful of settlements and cultures. Think British Columbia prior to settlement. Threats will be omnipresent, initially resources are scarce and players will have to rely on their ingenuity and a few critical contacts and connections if they are going to survive. Will your characters strive every day to return to the land they know or will they carve a new home out of this daunting land with untold promise.

Campaign Themes: The campaign will be heavily wilderness based with the potential for semi-frequent sojourns into ancient ruins and the occasional sprawling lair. There will be very, very little in the way of “Urban” adventure as there are no traditional cities to speak of. That does not mean there aren’t civilizations to engage with. There will be a number of well-developed villages, tribes, and other groups that will be critical to any ongoing success and survival. Deep roleplaying and social connection with each other and NPCs will be not only encouraged, it will really be required.

What I am looking for: I am looking for 4 or perhaps 5 players for the campaign. I am looking for players who are comfortable with a semi sandbox experience and who are willing and able to post at a pretty good clip. I will shoot for at least two (frequently more) posts a day (less on weekends potentially) and would hope for players that can manage the same. I don’t mind players who are new to pbp but I would hope you would read a few game threads and familiarize yourself with the format and techniques. At this time I am not really looking for people who aren’t fairly well versed in pathfinder rules.

Character Creation:
As mentioned characters will start at second level.

Abilities will be determined by standard 20 point buy. No abilities under 8 or over 18 AFTER racial adjustments. I do place non-mechanical importance on ability scores to some extent. You don’t have to play the village idiot if you drop your intelligence to 9 but if you are going to play your character as a cunning mastermind or debonair charmer you should probably allocate your abilities in a way that reflects that.

Hit points are max at first level and average +1 at subsequent levels.

Alignments are not limited but you have to be able to function as a cohesive group. If you want to play evil keep that in mind and explain to me how you will keep it from being a detriment. On the other side if you want to play a paladin or virtuous cleric keep in mind that your character is a human and not a code of conduct. If your character is so rigidly bound to their code that they can’t function with the group that’s going to be a problem also.

Classes are anything from a Paizo source. I will CONSIDER third party material but I am not likely to put in an entire new rules system from third party systems.

Races I will allow any core race. Other races are not ruled out but you will need to get it approved.

Each players starts with two traits and no drawbacks. Traits can be from any paizo source but if it’s a campaign trait be prepared to alter it to make it fit.

Standard wealth for level (1000 gp) at this point but I will be using automatic bonus progression as laid out here (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/other-rules/automatic-bonus-progress ion) going forward. So keep that in mind if it impacts your character

Skills: We will use the background skills alternate rule as laid out here http://www.d20pfsrd.com/skills/background-skills. All the skills you would expect for a wilderness campaign will be important including survival, knowledge (nature), handle animal etc. As in all campaigns Perception will be extremely useful but so will Sense Motive and Diplomacy. I also strongly encourage a craft skill or two. There will be times you will be hard pressed to find equipment for sale and being able to make your own will give you a leg up.

Backgrounds and character are important. Tell me who your character is, what are they like, what drives them and how did they come to this point. I don’t need pages and pages of material but make sure what you provide brings your character to life. I have intentionally left details of the world and army pretty sparse up to this point so that you can create what you want for your character. If things need to be adjusted for consistency we will do so before we start but I am not terribly worried about that at this point.

I will be using roll 20 for handouts, maps, images etc. Familiarity with that program is a plus but not required.

Recruitment will remain open until the 14th of October. At that point I will close down recruitment and start choosing characters. It may take me a day or two from that point to make selections but I will shoot for starting play early the week of the 19th.

I am happy to answer any questions and provide guidance throughout the recruitment process!


Dotting with much interest. I am new to PbP, but have been lurking on these boards for a few years. In my local group I have only been able to be GM for PF games, hoping to be able to play. Been GMing a homebrew game for a few years. Haven't been a player since before PF came out. Last game I played in for any length was Age of Worms.

Grand Lodge

Dotting for interest. I am planning on using a tiefling barbarian 1/monk 1. The character starts as a fighter that is unable to control his rage but then joins a monastery of Iori to learn how to control it. After some time in the monastery he begins to travel to learn more about the world and himself.

Silver Crusade

Some questions:

1) Standard Golarion pantheon?
2) Can you please tell us something about the country that we originally worked for. I don't want to create a character that would fit into a Roman Legion and find that we were in a barbarian horde.
3) Are Golarian ethnic groups present? Eg, Varisians, Shoanti, etc
4) What is the language(s) in the pennisular? And is it reasonable that our characters know it.

Definitely sounds potentially interesting.


Interested in this.


pauljathome wrote:

Some questions:

1) Standard Golarion pantheon?

Yup standard Golarion pantheon

2) Can you please tell us something about the country that we originally worked for. I don't want to create a character that would fit into a Roman Legion and find that we were in a barbarian horde.

The land you would be from is an advanced military dictatorship. I think the closest Golarion analog that I can think of would be Taldor near the height of, or immediately on the down swing of, its peak of empire. A highly nationalistic, militarized society. Advanced (relatively speaking) in academics and sciences, oppressive to its subjugated nations (of which there are many and which would have analogs in most the Golarion cultural groups)

3) Are Golarian ethnic groups present? Eg, Varisians, Shoanti, etc

pretty much all the Golarian ethnic groups are present. They had different names in my home campaign but I think for ease of common understanding we can just call them by their golarian names and assume similar cultural traits. Depending on what you choose I might discuss slight tweaks and differences with you.

4) What is the language(s) in the pennisular? And is it reasonable that our characters know it.

This you wouldnt really have any knowledge of. At the start all the characters are nearly completely without knowledge of the peninsula or its peoples

Definitely sounds potentially interesting.

Dark Archive

Awesome idea!

Since skills will be of major importance, will you allow for the picked characters to change some of their skills before the game (so the party has the most number of skills possible)?

Or will you be picking characters that compliment each other?


Sir Longears wrote:

Awesome idea!

Since skills will be of major importance, will you allow for the picked characters to change some of their skills before the game (so the party has the most number of skills possible)?

Or will you be picking characters that compliment each other?

I am willing to let people adjust skills after selection before we get started within reason.


count me interested

Silver Crusade

How long do you expect this to go? I'd hate to build a character that only really comes together at level 9 or 10 if there isn't at least the hope of getting there.

Would a catfolk be an acceptable race? I mostly play PFS so never get the chance to play one :-)


I dont have any problem with CatFolk. Just explain how a catfolk made their way into a military organization (or at least onto a ship with military people)


I had a couple people inquire about Gunslingers as a class. I am not opposed to allowing a gunslinger but they will have limited access to equipment other than the weapons they bring with them or are able to craft themselves.


I'd like to officially apply please.

Caruth is a young catfolk male from a primitive tribe that lives in a far distant land. His superb skills in the wild were recognized by the army and, despite his youth two years ago he was allowed to join the army as a scout.

Since then he has seen something of the world, has met many new people and made a great many friends. He views the army that he is a part of as essentially his tribe.

The details are all in his profile


I'm working on a Dwarven Warpriest (forgepriest). I have some basic crunch done. Still working on fine tuning and gear. Basic background is blacksmith attached as support also providing some healing. Will update with more.

Ovarik Glandaur:

Male dwarf warpriest (forgepriest) of Torag 2 (Pathfinder RPG Advanced Class Guide 60, 130)
LG Medium humanoid (dwarf)
Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +4
Defense
AC 18, touch 10, flat-footed 18 (+8 armor)
hp 15 (2d8+2)
Fort +4, Ref +0, Will +6; +2 vs. poison, spells, and spell-like abilities
Defensive Abilities defensive training
Offense
Speed 20 ft.
Melee dwarven dorn-dergar +5 (1d10+4) or
warhammer +4 (1d8+3/×3)
Ranged light crossbow +1 (1d8/19-20)
Special Attacks blessings 4/day, fervor 4/day (1d6), hatred, sacred weapon (1d6, 0)
Warpriest (Forgepriest) Spells Prepared (CL 2nd; concentration +5)
1st—bless, divine favor, shield
0 (at will)—detect magic, guidance, sparkAPG (DC 13), stabilize
Statistics
Str 16, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 8
Base Atk +1; CMB +4; CMD 14 (18 vs. bull rush, 18 vs. trip)
Feats Combat Casting, Weapon Focus (dwarven dorn-dergar)
Traits eldritch smith, tactician
Skills Acrobatics -7 (-11 to jump), Craft (armor) +7 (+9 on checks related to metal or stone, +8 when creating armor, weapons, or metal items), Craft (blacksmith) +8 (+10 on checks related to metal or stone, +9 when creating armor, weapons, or metal items), Craft (weapons) +7 (+9 on checks related to metal or stone, +8 when creating armor, weapons, or metal items), Knowledge (engineering) +7, Knowledge (religion) +7, Perception +4 (+6 to notice unusual stonework), Spellcraft +7, Survival +8 (+9 to start or maintain fires when using this); Racial Modifiers craftsman, +2 Perception to notice unusual stonework
Languages Celestial, Common, Dwarven, Goblin
SQ blessing (protection: aura of protection, increased defense), forge mastery


Dotting! I like the premise and would enjoy a homebrew that lasted more than a couple of months! Think I'll go old-school human fighter! Looking at archetypes...more later!


GM_Sarc, what's your GM experience like? What's your pbp experience like?


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Andostre wrote:
GM_Sarc, what's your GM experience like? What's your pbp experience like?

Been gm'ing since AD&D 2nd edition. Couple dozen campaigns including 3 online campaigns (2 of which are going on 2+ years), 1 pbp campaign that ran about 18 months. Played In three pbp campaigns one of which has been running almost 4 years.


How do you feel about an Antipaladin being Lawful Evil? It's not a requirement for my character, but it feels like it might be the best fit.

Liberty's Edge

I introduce thee to Sahisysha, race is built for someone else's setting to be published. She's a third party class whose special rules are fairly simplistic, at the beginning of the day I roll to find what plants I can find then cross reference what they can do.


The Pale King wrote:
How do you feel about an Antipaladin being Lawful Evil? It's not a requirement for my character, but it feels like it might be the best fit.

I am not necessarily opposed to lawful evil. Just make sure you give me some sense of what that means to you in your character / background


Sahisysha Tree-Singer wrote:
I introduce thee to Sahisysha, race is built for someone else's setting to be published. She's a third party class whose special rules are fairly simplistic, at the beginning of the day I roll to find what plants I can find then cross reference what they can do.

Custom race and custom class is probably more custom material than I want to deal with. Third party race I could be ok with if you would send me a copy of it. I think you would have to choose a paizo class though.


Well not custom, third party, but that's fine nvm. I just have her sitting here after her game died. I'm not sure I could get you her race information anymore since a purge of my PMs which had the link to it.


Korak The Boisterous wrote:
Well not custom, third party, but that's fine nvm. I just have her sitting here after her game died. I'm not sure I could get you her race information anymore since a purge of my PMs which had the link to it.

Yah I would at least have to see the race. Far as I can tell her stats are about a 35 point buy so there must be some significant ability bonuses in addition to natural attacks, venom, and dark vision


dot


She's not been updated, I was checking viability, the game gave a free 18, a mandatory 8 and fifteen point buy among the other four. So yeah, you're not far off about what her point buy would be.


Dotting, i'm thinking an older gnome battlefield commander (master summoner).

you stated standard WBL and automatic pogression, but that system halves WBL; so we start with the 'ABP WBL' of 500 or the 'regular' 1000?

also, are the limits on ability scores including age modifiers (if any)?


Itsme wrote:

Dotting, i'm thinking an older gnome battlefield commander (master summoner).

you stated standard WBL and automatic pogression, but that system halves WBL; so we start with the 'ABP WBL' of 500 or the 'regular' 1000?

also, are the limits on ability scores including age modifiers (if any)?

Start with 1000 at 2nd level but be aware that it will generally be half from that point going forward.

I hadnt considered age modifiers to ability scores. With age modifiers I would let you go as low as 7 and as high as 19 after age and race modifiers.


May I introduce Ovarik Glandaur, dwarven warpriest (forgepriest) of Torag, for your consideration.

Thank you for this opportunity.

Sczarni

If it is alright, I present Jing the Hunter. (I'll be recycling this alias for use if that's alright)

Background:

The ravages of war, it claims land, animals, and people without prejudice. Thus was how young Jing came to be in the camp of the army. He was adopted so to speak by the company at a very young age when he was found alive and orphaned in the middle of a skirmish zone. The battle was over and the army had won but poor young Jing was just another casualty of war.
He was treated as a mascot in a manner for the unit, taken in by perhaps the largest family anyone would ever have. He grew up in the life of a soldier, once he was old enough to make himself useful he ferreted about bring food, arrows, and basically anything asked to the soldiers when they needed it. They figured out at an early age that the boy had a good nose for trouble and perhaps just a plain good nose. He was an excellent tracker and hunter, bringing home game every night they were in foreign territory when he was supposed to stay in the camp.
When he came of age he joined the army proper with ease given his background and his family's recommendations. He quickly became a member of the scouting party, his nose being extremely useful for finding the enemy no matter how well they hid. But as the years went on, the ravages of war came to take their toll once again on poor Jing. His family killed once again by war which led to his social skills being a bit lacking. He was slightly recessed when it came to his emotions but it didn't extinguish his fierce want to protect his pack to the best of his ability and so he doubled his effort in his scouting to keep the unit alert to the dangers of the world, any enemy getting by his nose was a failure in his eyes...and he did not like failure.

Crunch:

Jing
Male Hunter (Feral Hunter)
N Medium humanoid (Catfolk)
Init +3; Senses Scent
--------------------
Defense
--------------------
AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+4 armor, +3 Dex)
hp 17 (2d8+4)
Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +2
--------------------
Offense
--------------------
Speed 30 ft.
Ranged Darkwood Mwk Composite Longbow (+5 1d8+1)
Melee Unarmed Strike (+2 1d3+1)
--------------------
Statistics
--------------------
Str 12, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 9
Base Atk +1; CMB +2; CMD 15/12Fl
Feats Outflank, Point-Blank Shot
Traits Soaring Sprinter Suspicious
Skills Acrobatics +7, Climb +12, Handle Animal +4, Know (Geography) +7, Know (Nature) +7, Perception +9, Profession (Soldier) +7, Sense Motive +8, Stealth +9, Survival +9, Swim +4
Languages Catfolk, Common, Elven, Sylvan
Combat Gear Darkwood Mwk Composite Longbow, Mwk Chain Shirt
Other Gear Backpack (Mwk), Bedroll, Caltrops x5, Flint and Steel, Grappling Hook, Mirror, Silk Rope, Waterskin x2
--------------------
Special Abilities
--------------------
Animal Focus (2 min/day)
Cat's Luck (1/day)
Climbing 20ft
Feral Focus
Outflank
Point-Blank Shot
Scent
Soaring Sprinter
Track +1
Wild Empathy +1
---------------------------
Spells/Spell Like Abilities
---------------------------
Lvl 0: Create Water, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Purify Food and Drink, Spark
Lvl 1 3/day: Animal Messenger, Aspect of the Falcon, Deadeye's Arrow, Summon Nature's Ally 1


I have created Amboy Yacolt for this campaign.

I got the idea of making him a sailor on the ship rather then one of the soldiers. It seemed to make a more logical place to introduce a rogue to the game.

Let me know if this background works for you.


Stats done (except for skills...will tackle that later!) Also have to flesh out background - here are key points:
- Comes from a family of soldiers - it's the only life he's ever known
- Rose through the ranks to be an officer, instead of being born into it like many others
- Primary motivation is service to others (vice selfish ambitions)
- Specialty is archery - carries a family heirloom (masterwork composite longbow)
- Very popular with his troops, even earning the nickname "Quickdraw"


Dot. I will work on a character this weekend.

Silver Crusade

Two catfolk is pretty obviously going to be at least one too many :-(.


pauljathome wrote:
Two catfolk is pretty obviously going to be at least one too many :-(.

I won't absolutely rule out two odd races. That said all things equal a standard race is probably more likely to be selected than a second uncommon race.


Dotting for interest.... Am considering a Ranger (Guide, Trapper) / Gunslinger (Musket Master) along the lines of an American frontiersman or Mountain Man.... Would that fit?


Arknight wrote:
Dotting for interest.... Am considering a Ranger (Guide, Trapper) / Gunslinger (Musket Master) along the lines of an American frontiersman or Mountain Man.... Would that fit?

It could definitely work but be prepared to craft your own guns and hunt down the ingredients you need.

Could fit well though

Silver Crusade

Are we allowed to submit more than one character? Probably not but I thought that I'd check :-)


GM_Sarc, in your homebrew world, does the army draft soldiers, or is it a voluntary army? I'm working on an arcane spellcaster concept.


pauljathome wrote:
Are we allowed to submit more than one character? Probably not but I thought that I'd check :-)

If you have a second character that you just love I am okay with that. lets not go too crazy though.


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Andostre wrote:
GM_Sarc, in your homebrew world, does the army draft soldiers, or is it a voluntary army? I'm working on an arcane spellcaster concept.

It can really be either. Aristocracy and Citizens often send one or more of their children to exclusive academies at a young age where they are trained to be officers. Some young craftsmen choose to enlist as support with the army to get a start on their profession and build their skills. The lower classes and those from outlying areas are frequently pressed into service when major mobilizations occur.


I am definitely going to dot for interest. This homebrew setting seems really cool and I will put together a character over the next day or so.


pauljathome wrote:

How long do you expect this to go? I'd hate to build a character that only really comes together at level 9 or 10 if there isn't at least the hope of getting there.

Realized I didnt address this before. The previous time I played through this campaign it went until level 17. I dont expect the two campaigns to line up exactly and I realize that level 17 is eons in pbp time but thats about the best guideline I can provide.


I am thinking about a war priest or inquisitor. Are you using Golarian deities in your world?


I'm thinking the non-military tutor of a potential wizard whose pop is a general.

Silver Crusade

Eminem80 wrote:
I am thinking about a war priest or inquisitor. Are you using Golarian deities in your world?

Yes (GM Sarc answered that upstream)


Interested, this sounds cool. I'd probably want to build some kind of scout character, but whether that means Ranger, Slayer, Alchemist, Inquisitor, etc. is up in the air.

To get requests for 3PP material out of the way, how do you feel about Dreamscarred Press' Psionics and Path of War material?

Specifically, I would consider playing either a Psychic Warrior or a Stalker were those things available.


Rynjin wrote:

Interested, this sounds cool. I'd probably want to build some kind of scout character, but whether that means Ranger, Slayer, Alchemist, Inquisitor, etc. is up in the air.

To get requests for 3PP material out of the way, how do you feel about Dreamscarred Press' Psionics and Path of War material?

Specifically, I would consider playing either a Psychic Warrior or a Stalker were those things available.

I am afraid I dont have either of those 3pp sources so I dont have a way to review them

Silver Crusade

GM_Sarc wrote:
Rynjin wrote:

Interested, this sounds cool. I'd probably want to build some kind of scout character, but whether that means Ranger, Slayer, Alchemist, Inquisitor, etc. is up in the air.

To get requests for 3PP material out of the way, how do you feel about Dreamscarred Press' Psionics and Path of War material?

Specifically, I would consider playing either a Psychic Warrior or a Stalker were those things available.

I am afraid I dont have either of those 3pp sources so I dont have a way to review them

Not a problem, the SRD has them right there in the hyperlinks, they go straight to the material its free.


Endoralis wrote:
GM_Sarc wrote:
Rynjin wrote:

Interested, this sounds cool. I'd probably want to build some kind of scout character, but whether that means Ranger, Slayer, Alchemist, Inquisitor, etc. is up in the air.

To get requests for 3PP material out of the way, how do you feel about Dreamscarred Press' Psionics and Path of War material?

Specifically, I would consider playing either a Psychic Warrior or a Stalker were those things available.

I am afraid I dont have either of those 3pp sources so I dont have a way to review them
Not a problem, the SRD has them right there in the hyperlinks, they go straight to the material its free.

Ah, totally missed the hyper links. I will look them over and get back to you in the next day or so.


Working on an oracle.

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