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Hey there! Discussion Thread time!
I'm going to repost everything I mentioned earlier regarding character creation here in one place:
Early Part
Riddleport is a den of sin, don't kid yourselves. There are plenty of bad men and naughty women to go around. Life in the town is tough; you need to be strong, quick, or smart enough to survive the streets. You've got a little power, a little respect, and a few enemies.
So break it down for me;
Who are you then? A drifter? A famous prostitute? A contract cut-throat or desperate cut-purse? A Cypher-Mage working her way to the top?
Why are you respected (or feared)? Do you have a terrible temper after a few drinks in the tavern? Do you have a list of contacts that make you the preferred go-to guy? Do you shoot burning fire out of your hands at anyone that pisses you off? Are you a lucky gambler?
Who hates you? Surely enough you've spent enough time in town to garner the distrust of at least one person or group. Why? What did you do?
There's plenty to do and see in Riddleport, so let's make it come alive. Get dirty.
--
In regards to mechanics and flavour, I'd like to run the Pathfinder BETA rules. If you want to play anything from another book or source, run it by me. (I have a secret love for the 'factotum' class from Dungeonscape. Monstrous races are acceptable. No drow, however.
Character Generation stuff
HP: Standard. (Max at Level 1, +1 for favoured class.) Use Invisible Castle for all rolls after that.
All characters receive Weapon Finesse for free.
Traits are as per usual for the Second Darkness campaign (one standard, one campaign). If something gives a bonus to an old skill, have it apply to the new skill (ex. +1 to Gather Info gives +1 to Diplomacy).
Take the 'average starting gold' for your class, sort out your equipment out of that.
*Skillful - All characters get 2 extra skill points per level. These points may be spent on Craft, Knowledge, Profession or Perform skills only.
Skill points; Don't forget that when you take a level in your favoured class, you also get +1 skill point! That's a little obscure piece of info that I found the other day!
Abilities are to be purchased using 'High Fantasy' as per the Beta rules (so 20 points, PFRPG style).
Anyone wanting to play a race not covered in the PFRPG, run it by me. I may add or remove something. Especially considering classes with LA, and such.
Additionally, I use Action Points in my games. A quick breakdown can be found in this, my DM profile.
Religious Notes
There are a number of Tieflings already in town, some with a deal of power. One of the town's Overlords is one, Shorafa Pamodae. She's also a High Priestess of Calistria.
This would be a good time to talk about religion. In Riddleport, there are a few temples. The two most prominent are The Publican House, which is a brewery/alehouse/temple of Cayden Cailean. The second is Caliistria's temple which doubles as The House of the Silken Veil, center of the 'hospitality' industry.
Besmara has a temple at the Fish bowl, but people tithe there more out of fear than worship.
Gozreh certainly has a presence, and would-be druids would feel her power in the waters whether they want to or not.
General Note
A general note, as well. Don't feel pressured into creating the most vile characters you can imagine. Riddleport is full of charismatic and unscrupulous ne'er-do-wells, sure, but they're not necessarily monsters.
While I'm not allowing 'Good' characters from the start, I'm more than willing (and excited) for characters to become good over the course of the game. It's possible, but again, no pressure.
Let's gamble!
If you want to forge any relationships or prior connections to other characters, now would be the time to do it. Talk amongst yourselves.
Roll Call
N Cleric of Nethys; Cyphermage - yoda8myhead
NE Necromancer - Otto Ringus
NE Half-Orc Druid 'Gierixa' - Jal Dorak
CN human Rogue 'Dirty' - TerraNova
Tiefling Monk - Rob Mccreary
cleric or druid - Set
??? - Scranford
A couple questions:
What is a cyphermage? What is Second Darkness (Paizo adventure path rigfht?) What is a 'campaign trait'?
I think I am going to go vanilla wizard with a necromancy specialization, but those special skills of sorcerors in the PFRPG beta are sure awesome, wish wizards had some cool flair like that...
Will post a bio sometime today, and do the crunch tonite.
A couple questions:
What is a cyphermage? What is Second Darkness (Paizo adventure path right?) What is a 'campaign trait'?
The city/town of Riddleport has a stone arch out in the harbor, about 700 ft. across (sort of like the arch in St. Louis, or an enormous Stargate) that anyone entering the harbor has to pass under. It's covered with indecipherable glyphs, and the Cyphermage order has formed from arcanists who are trying to discover the purpose and nature of this ancient artifact. They've been trying for a long time, and not published much in the way of findings, so who knows how successful they have or have not been, but they are an oblique sort, speaking and writing in codes and ciphers and communicating amongst themselves and fellow scholars with message spells and the like. Very mysterious, and really, the last sorts of people you'd expect to see in a town this rough, but the local crime-lords probably learned their lesson about bugging an order of powerful spellcasters obsessed with secrecy...
Second Darkness is indeed an adventure path.
Campaign Traits are 'half feats,' of which everybody gets two. (So, free bonus feat for everyone! Yay!) One will always involve the adventure itself, and the other can be chosen from various other categories. A Trait might provide +1 to a particular skill (and make it always a Class skill), +1 to a particular saving throw, +1 to confirm criticals, +1 to make an attack of opportunity with certain weapons, extra starting gold (born rich!), +1 caster level to a single spell, -1 metamagic cost to a single spell, etc. Each such 'trait bonus' is non-stackable, so that you can't double up on Traits that add to a single skill or saving throw, and you can only take one Trait from each 'category' (one racial, one social, one arcane, one faith, etc.) so that you can't get both the +1 caster level to a single spell *and* the -1 metamagic cost to a single spell, since both are 'arcane' Traits. So put away that thought of making a Magic Missile specialist with both. :) Each Trait derives from a built in backstory, and most were themed to seem appropriate to the gritty Riddleport backstory. So you might have a +2 to Initiative checks because you always had to be on your toes growing up on the mean streets or in the orphanage, never sure when someone was going to attack you, or a +1 saves vs. Divine spells because you are a faithless soul who doesn't believe it gets any better than this world of hurt.
I don't have the Second Darkness Companion handy, but there were six campaign specific Traits, one of which granted +1 to hit evil outsiders, another of which gave the ability to use Spellcraft to identify magic items other than potions (yes, please!), another gave +1 to Aid Another benefits and +1 saves vs. charm when allies are near, one that gave a +1 bonus to a specific skill from a list that included stuff like Bluff, Craft, Perform and Profession, etc. There were two others, but I forgetted them.
Scranford,
I'm liking Ozbadin right now. Is there a particular mark or job that he's on assignment for right now? Or is he between jobs?
Also, you are correct about the +1HP or +1 skill point; I'm just generous. There's plenty of skills to go around, folks. Don't bunch up!
Otto,
Set summed it up nicely! In addition, the choice of the campaign trait directly flavours your character's reason for being in the game (both in Riddleport, and in the Golden Goblin.) Though we won't be starting, per se, in the Golden Goblin, it's an important choice to make.
I've included the bulk of it here, under the cut.
Campaign Traits are tailored to a specific Adventure Path
and give your character a builtin reason to begin the first
adventure in the new campaign.
Some Campaign Traits also grant teamwork benefits if you choose
to begin a campaign with your character having a preexisting
relationship with another PC.
You’ll notice right away that Campaign Traits assume
a lot more about your character’s back story than Basic
Traits do, and that those assumptions are mostly about
very recent events in your history rather than formative
childhood events. You have a certain amount of leeway in
adjusting or changing a Campaign Trait’s expected back
story once you’ve selected which Trait is right for you, but
make sure to get your GM’s approval before you run with
a modified back story.
All of the following traits revolve around one of two
current events in the city of Riddleport. The first is the
manifestation of the Blot, a strange and ominous shadow
in the sky that looks like nothing so much as a cloud of
darkness. The Blot captured the interest of Riddleport’s
citizens when it first manifested, but that was months
ago—now, after the strange cloud hasn’t done anything
particularly dramatic for so long, most folk have grown
accustomed to it. Most—but not all; some, such as the
Order of Cyphers, remain concerned by the strange
cloud, and worry that it may be the harbinger of
something worse.
The other event is a gambling tournament
called “Cheat the Devil and Take His Gold.”
Held at the recently reopened Gold Goblin
Gambling Hall, talk of the tourney has spread
throughout the town of Riddleport and has
even reached some taverns in cities as far
as Magnimar or even Korvosa. Excitement
for the tournament has been building for
a month, and now that the day is finally here,
people from all over are flocking to take part. The
somewhat restrictive entrance fee ironically makes
it not possible for many of Riddleport’s own citizens to
attend, but in the case of each PC who takes a Second
Darkness Campaign Trait, that 1 gp entrance fee has been
paid, either by an interested party or by yourself (this
expense does not come from your starting cash).
1) Fools for Friends: You don’t think of yourself as a gambler.
In fact, you rather detest the whole thing. Unfortunately,
one or more of your friends (pick one or more of the other
players’ characters) doesn’t think so, and you’ve recently
learned that friend—or friends—have decided to go to
the Gold Goblin’s “Cheat the Devil and Take his Gold”
tournament. Which pretty much means you have to go as
well, since if no one’s there to watch out for them, they’ll
lose all their money and respect. Again. Sometimes it’s
hard being the responsible one. Your devotion to your
friendships (even when said friends seem, at times, to
be trying to test that devotion) is a point of pride to you.
Whenever you take the Aid Another action to help an ally,
or whenever an ally aids you in this manner, a successful
check grants an additional +1 trait bonus to the check for
which aid was being rendered. Additionally, as long as one
of your friends is within 30 feet, you gain a +1 trait bonus
on all saving throws against charm and compulsion
effects.
2) Into Enemy Territory: The shadow in the sky is visible
from all around Riddleport, not just in town. It’s certainly
come to the attention of several druids, rangers, and other
rural folk who dwell in the nearby mountains, forests,
and swamps—among them, yourself. You’ve consulted
with several seers and Harrowers, and may even have
performed some simple auguries yourself, and all the
signs point the same way—something or someone in
Riddleport is connected to the blot, and it means bad
news for the region. You’ve avoided the sleazy, dirty town
for most of your life, traveling there only when absolutely
necessary, and although you don’t relish the prospect of
going there now, you see little other choice (especially if
one of your superiors is ordering you to go investigate).
Fortunately, an eccentric friend of yours (pick another PC)
is in town, and you’ve heard this friend will be taking part
in some gambling thing at a place called the Gold Goblin.
Your friend’s always had better luck interacting with the
cityfolk, so you’ve decided to accompany your friend to
this gambling tournament and plan on letting him find a
safe place for you to stay while you’re in town. Your long
life of self-sustenance has toughened you and made you
more resistant to hardship, in any event—pick one of the
three categories of saving throw. You gain a +1 trait bonus
on all saving throws of that type.
3) Looking for Work: Although out of work, you aren’t
particularly keen on the prospect of gambling away your
last remaining coins simply for a chance at riches. That
said, if the Gold Goblin’s fortunes reverse after this big
gambling tournament, you’re relatively certain its owner,
Saul Vancaskerkin, will be needing to hire on some new
staff members. You’ve secured payment for the tournament,
and intend on attending mostly to check the place out, to
decide if it’s a place you’d want to work at (as a bouncer,
bartender, croupier, server, entertainer, spotter, or cook),
and hopefully get a chance to catch Saul’s eye and make an
impression. You’ve long worked at honing your skills, and
are quite accomplished and certain that you have something
to offer. Pick one of the following skills: Bluff, Craft (any),
Diplomacy, Intimidate, Perform (any), Profession (gambler),
or Spot. You gain a +1 trait bonus in that skill, and that skill
is always considered a class skill for you.
4) Optimistic Gambler: You’ve always seemed to have trouble
keeping money. Worse, you always seem to have debts
looming over your head. When you heard about the “Cheat
the Devil and Take His Gold” gambling tournament,
you felt in your gut that your luck was about to change.
You’ve always been optimistic, in fact, and even though
right now is one of those rare times where you don’t
owe anyone any money (you just paid off a recent loan
from local moneylender Lymas Smeed), you know that’ll
change soon enough. Better to start amassing money now
when you’re at one of those rare windfall times! You’ve set
aside a gold coin for the entrance fee, and look forward to
making it big—you can feel it in your bones! This time’s
gonna be the big one! Your boundless optimism, even in
the face of crushing situations, has always bolstered your
spirit. Effects that grant you morale bonuses persist 1d4
rounds longer than they normally would as a result.
5) Researching the Blot: You may or may not be seeking
membership into Riddleport’s most prestigious magical
guild, the Order of Cyphers, but you certainly have heard
their call for aid in determining the nature of the strange
shadow in the sky above Riddleport. You arrived in town
several days ago and had some issues with security and
safety at several inns before you finally settled on the Gold
Goblin; you’ve been staying there as a guest for several
days now, and the owner, Saul Vancaskerkin, seems like a
nice guy. He’s even given you a pass to attend the gambling
tournament he’s about to throw—you’re not sure how into
gambling you’ll be, but perhaps there’ll be some visitors
from out of town you can talk to about the strange shadow
in the sky. At the very least, you’re hoping someone at the
tourney will be into magic—there’s not really enough
folk in this town who seem all that interested in magic,
you’ve found. Your interest in magic dates back quite far,
and as a result, you’ve developed a knack for identifying
common magical items at a glance. You can use Spellcraft
to identify magic items in the same way you can use
Spellcraft to identify a potion. The DC to identify a magic
item is equal to 20 + the item’s caster level.
6 )Scouting for Fiends: You belong to an organization
(most likely a religion) that has definite views on the
menace posed by the lower planes. The willfulness with
which the city of Korvosa (they even allow a temple
of Asmodeus to operate in broad daylight!) tolerates
infernal influences is, to you and your organization,
the greatest symbol of what’s wrong with civilization
today. And now, in Riddleport, there’s news that a
gambling tournament is using devils and Hell as an idle
decoration. It’s likely that this is just an example of poor
taste, but there’s a chance that something sinister may
be lurking beneath the goings-on at the Gold Goblin.
You have been contacted by your organization (or may
have decided on your own) to travel to Riddleport (if
you don’t already live there) and attend this tournament
under the guise of a patron. Keep an eye on things there,
even after the tournament is over; if you can, get a job
working for the owner. Demons and devils can be subtle,
and it could take weeks or even months to find proof
of their involvement. Your near-obsessive hatred of all
things fiendish grants you a +1 trait bonus on all attack
rolls made against foes you know to be evil outsiders.
Bah. I was deciding between N and NE, and finally settled on N but forgot to change my statblock.
Gierixa is Neutral. She has a cruel streak, but isn't really selfish and active enough to be evil. She could slip either way, though. She tries to maintain balance for the plant world, which leads her to conflict with humanoids on occasion.
Is it acceptable to tweak a Trait to better fit a background?
I'd like to tweak the '+1 caster level to a single spell' Trait to give Mordecai +1 caster level with Summon Monster spells, but only if he summons bats, rats or wolves, as a result of his connection to vampirism. Call it 'Master's Voice' or something. Summon Monster I would thus last 1 extra round, so long as he Summoned a Fiendish Dire Rat, Summon Monster II would last an extra round, so long as he Summoned a Fiendish Wolf (or multiple rats) and Summon Monster III would last an extra round so long as he summoned a Fiendish Dire Bat (or multiple wolves or rats).
If that's acceptable, here's my character choice;
Mordecai, 1st Human Cleric of Urgathoa
Human male Cleric (of Urgathoa) 1, NE
Str 13 (+1), Dex 12 (+1), Con 14 (+2), Int 10 (+0), Wis 16 (+3), Cha 10 (+0)
(3 + 2 + 5 + 0 + 10 + 0 = 20)
HP: 14, AC: 19 (+4 armor, +2 shield, +1 Dex), Spd 20 ft., Init +1, Saves: Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +5, BAB +0, Grapple +0, Atk: +1 Morningstar (1d8+1 B/P), +1 Dagger (1d4+1 P, 19-20/x2 crit, 10 ft. range), +3 Hand of the Acolyte (Morning Star, 1d8+3 B/P, 30 ft. range)
Class Abilities: Channel negative energy 3/day, Domains (Death (1d6 bleed by touch), Magic (concentration to make a weapon attack a foe within 30 ft. using Wis mod for +atk / +dmg)
Feats: Weapon Finesse (free), Skillfull (free), Blind-Fight, Toughness (+3 hp + 1 hp / HD)
Traits: Looking for Work (+1 to Perception checks, always a class skill) or Researching the Blot (You can use Spellcraft to identify magic items in the same way you can use Spellcraft to identify a potion. The DC to identify a magic item is equal to 20 + the item’s caster level.)
Master’s Voice (+1 caster level when casting Summon Monster spells to summon bats, rats or wolves)
Languages: Osirioni
Skills (2 (class), +1 (human), +1 (favored class), +2 (skillful; craft, knowledge, perform or profession only): Concentration (Con) 0 (+2), Craft (alchemy) 1 (Int, +4), Diplomacy 1 (Cha, +4), Heal (Wis) 1 (+7), Knowledge (arcane) 0 (Int, -), Knowledge (history) 0 (Int, -), Knowledge (religion) 1 (Int, +4), Knowledge (the planes) 0 (Int, -), Perception 0 (Wis, +4), Profession (Wis, embalmer/mortician) 1 (+7), Spellcraft (Int) 1 (+4)
Linguistics (Int, +1, Common (Taldane))
Spells:
0 (3) – Guidance, Light, Mending, Purify Food & Drink
1st (2) – Cause Fear, Cure Light Wounds
Morning Star (8 gp, 6 lbs), 2 Daggers (4 gp, 2 lbs), Chain Shirt (+4 armor, 100 gp, 25 lbs, +4 MDB, -2 ACP, 20% ASF), heavy wooden shield (7 gp, +2 shield bonus, -2 ACP, 10 lbs), Backpack (2 gp, 2 lbs), Bedroll (1 sp, 5 lbs), Rations x5 (2.5 gp, 5 lbs), Waterskin (1 gp, 4 lbs), Flint & Steel (1 gp, -), Signal Whistle (8 sp, -), Belt Pouch (1 gp, ½ lb), wooden holy symbol (1 gp, -)
Encumbrance (Lt 50 lbs, Med 51-100 lbs, Hvy 101-150 lbs): 59.5 lbs carried
Cash Spent: 128.4 gp, Cash Remaining: 11 gp, 6 sp, 'Day Job check': Profession (embalmer/mortician) +7
Favored Class: Cleric
Mordecai was once an attractive young man, but is now pale and scarred at wrist and elbow and throat, from years of serving as a Chalice (sacred feeding vessel) to a vampiress Aristocrat in Geb. After his health failed from the endless bloodletting, he was abandoned for a newer, healthier Chalice, and found his way ever northwards, having adopted the faith of his mistress, of Urgathoa, believing that she is the only goddess who does not sell a falsehood, promising only a life of hunger, decay, then death. He enjoys the finest foods and drink, enjoying the pleasures of the flesh, for he intends to survive long past the flesh as one of the undead aristocrats of his youth, ageless, but still hungering. He has been drawn to Riddleport by the mystery of the blot, which he suspects is an attempt to shroud the land in eternal night, and hopes to find a vampire at the center of the effect, one whom he can somehow coerce or manipulate into bringing him into the ranks of the aristocracy.
His talents at operating in lightless places represent the years he spent navigating the shadowy depths of the Obsidian Palace and the seemingly unnatural toughness of his slender frame comes from constant physical abuse he suffered, serving as a walking buffet for his mistress and her guests. He grew skilled at pleasing his mistress with flattering words, and crafting unguents to preserve the flawless beauty of her cold flesh, which, in any other land, would make him quite adept at the arts of embalming and the preparation of the dead, as well as giving him some small skill at medicine and surgery, but in his own previous life, was practiced upon the hungry dead as a form of beauty treatment.
No worries, Jal. Nothing's in stone.
I like Gierixa, really.
Do you intend to take the 'Green Faith Acolyte' feat? (in the PFCS, page 218) I realize it's not a powerhouse of a feat, but the flavor fits!
Didn't intend to because I hadn't gottent that far in my CS, but now that I have read it, emphatic yes. Also, swapped out Toughness for Veiled Vileness, because it is perfect.
Veiled Vileness works well with your concept too. I love the avatar! So much sass!
Set, I really like the flavour of the Summon Monster tweak! Go for it.
EDIT:
Well now that you mention it...Oz could have his sights on a particularly fiesty tiefling monk...A mark of that skill will require some serious and intimate study. Time, too...
Glad you like her!
I also wanted to ask: how are you handling basic languages?
Being a dimwit, Gierixa does not know any but Common, Druidic, and Orc. I am assuming Common for her is Varisian, but I was wondering if Common just means Taldane, and therefore she would either have Varisian as a bonus language, or would she need to spend skill ranks?
Also, I've noted the action points. I use them for some of my action adventures, they work out well in deflecting some of the "unintended death" of PCs.
I wanted to point out, the "2d6 at 8th level" and so forth don't add together, you merely take the best result of the dice.
Ok I am almost there. Couple things:
First, do I need to buy this Second Darkness thing? I feel like I am a couple steps behind on knowing about these traits, etc. However, I like the trait that allows the magic item detection, since my mage will apparently be coming to town to either join the cyphers, or to study the black hole.
Secondly, since we are going bad, how about pulling out all the stops, I have Book of Vile Darkness and ALWAYS wanted to use some stuff from there, like drug addiction possibly. My mage has a need for some of these chemicals to help him cast his magic. There are some other Vile things I am tempted by, but I wanted to see what DM thinks of this book before investing time?
First, do I need to buy this Second Darkness thing? I feel like I am a couple steps behind on knowing about these traits, etc. However, I like the trait that allows the magic item detection, since my mage will apparently be coming to town to either join the cyphers, or to study the black hole.
I don't think you'd need to get the Companion, although you might want it.
That item-identifying Trait, 'Researching the Blot,' happens to be quoted under my Cleric write-up (five or six posts up, under Mordecai) as he was thinking of taking that one.
The other Traits are pretty generic, and you can pretty much assume that there's one for +1 to any one save save, +1 to any skill (and that skill as a craft skill) or a +1 bonus to a very specific sort of attack roll (confirming a crit thanks to studies of anatomy, AoOs with fencing weapons, etc.) or various other 'half-feat' bonuses (such as +2 to initiative or +2 caster levels to one class, but not to exceed your total HD, as a sort of 'half' version of Practiced Spellcaster for multi-classers).
I believe the Companion for the second AP also has some Traits in it, but they are more along the line of +2 to one particular skill (which does *not* automatically become a class skill), and, given that class skills get an automatic +3 once you spend a rank in them, I'd be more likely to take the newer +1/auto-class-skill version.
The only one, other than the +1 caster level to one spell and -1 metamagic costs to one spell, and the item-identifying one, that really made my eyes bug out for a caster was the 'Born Rich' social Trait, which allowed you to have 900 gp for starting wealth. Playing a Wizard, that's a whole passel of Scrolls you can have at hand!
It might be interesting to toy around with other 'half-feat' ideas. What would a half-strength version of Improved Familiar be likely to get you, a Fiendish version of a bat, rat or raven? A half-strength version of Combat Expertise that allows you to get an additional bonus whenever you are Fighting Defensively or taking the Total Defense option (Fighting Defensively being a great choice for a spellcaster who doesn't use spells that roll to hit, such as Magic Missile, Burning Hands, Sleep or Color Spray)? A half-strength version of Toughness that only gives you +1 hit point / HD, but not the +3 base hit points, or vice-versa? A half-strength version of Endurance that only applies to desert conditions, and not, say, swimming, or long hikes through the jungle? A half-strength 'metamagic' that allows you to take a full-round action to cast any evocation spell that normally is a standard action, and causes it to have +1 DC to resist, or do +1 damage / die (up to your Int modifier, max) or allows you to reroll a single '1' that appears on any of that spells rolled damage dice? You can find ways to tweak almost every feat to be a Trait, or, in many cases, to inspire several different Traits.
The Trait mechanic is *hugely* flexible, and also deliberately crafted to be colorful and character-building.
Pretty succinct description, Set.
I was wondering, could I make use of the following self-created trait?
Hardship and Toil
You are used to a life of labour and hard days outdoors. This has toughened you, and a few experiences with unsavoury elements have left you scarred and hardier.
Benefit: You gain +3 hit points.
I would much rather have this than Reactionary. My thinking is that Gierixa is both a laborer and a wanderer, and would probably be toughened by those experiences. The benefit is part of the PRPG Toughness (the other, bigger part is +1 hp per HD).
I'm a bit confused by the character creation guidelines, the Favored Class bonus is one or the other each level, or are we doing it that you get both?
Here is some flava. I will hammer down stats at home tonight. WOuld anyone be interested in teaming up, maybe a little Caramon/Raistlin type action?
This guy is definitely hard to love. Hopefully he will be fun to play, I've never had an evil PC before (except running evil NPCs as the DM but thats pretty different...)
I like the idea of a fiendish familiar!
Pretty succinct description, Set.
Succint? Wow, that's something I don't hear often. :)
I'm a bit confused by the character creation guidelines, the Favored Class bonus is one or the other each level, or are we doing it that you get both?
It's supposed to be one or the other (and you can switch from level to level, if you feel that you need another skill point here, or another hit point there). I think that's how he's doing it...
Here is some flava. I will hammer down stats at home tonight. Would anyone be interested in teaming up, maybe a little Caramon/Raistlin type action?
Dayum. That's some serious flavor! Nice!
Stats done for me as well. Personality & background (the flava bits!) will be up tomorrow.
I like the backgrounds and descriptions I've seen so far, though it looks like a people were beat up when they were younger (Reactionary, I'm looking at you! Actually, I originally took it too, before changing to Killer.). We're going to be quite a group... ;)
Otto, if you send an email to xdahnx at gmail dot com I can send you more details regarding the second darkness player's guide. While it's not necessary to have it, I think it would greatly help you situate yourself in the setting. It's a very well done piece.
With regard to the book of vile darkness, go for it. Many of those ingredients, drugs, etc are quite costly. It makes a lot of sense why you would need a steady income to support your habit.
Jal, if you'd like to take that as one of your traits, that's fine with me. She punches and she gets punched back. I can see it.
Rob, Just a little flavour nitpicking thing. I'm pretty sure Hamatulatsu is only taught to females. You could work your exception into your backstory if you'd like.
DM I have a few questions, are there any campaign-specific rules about starting spells? Also, depending on my spellbook, I would like to start the game with some pre-made scrolls, or at least with the provisions ready to produce them. (I am hoping for 'wealth' trait)
In fact there are some other items I would like help purchasing including illicit substances (Vile Deeds) and the familiar discussion earlier (From Unearthed Arcana) Other than those to variations I am hoping to play a pretty plain Pathfinder Necromancer. I look forward to a great game!
So... No one wants to be my good for nothing big hearted oafish brother? Aww man.... ((pouts))
Hey, I posted in the Gamer connection thread too, but I thought I'd check in here also.
I noticed you were going with seven peeps, and that you lost one. If you want to run with six, it's cool by me, but I'd like to be #1 on the waiting list.
If you keep the idea of seven, I'd love to take part!
Cheers.
Fully updated, though I perhaps went a bit overboard with my personality and background, but once I started writing, I had trouble stopping! :)
Rob, Just a little flavour nitpicking thing. I'm pretty sure Hamatulatsu is only taught to females. You could work your exception into your backstory if you'd like.
xdahnx, regarding Hamatulatsu: Although the feat states female as a prerequisite, I chose to be male for 3 reasons:
1. Chelish legionnaires (both male and female) are found in J1 Entombed with the Pharaohs, and are said to be trained in Hamatulatsu.2. According to the feat, Hamatulatsu may be taken as a monk bonus feat even without meeting the prerequisites, and the flavor text about Isgeri orphans on the same page says rescued "youths" are taught Hamatulatsu, with females joining the Sisterhood while males join the Hellknights or clergy of Asmodeus. Makes me wonder if the female prerequisite is a leftover from an earlier version that was missed in editing.
3. And finally, I was originally going to make a female, but decided there were too many other female tieflings running around Riddleport already (Lavender Lil, Shorafa Pamodae).
Regardless, I can't actually take the feat until 2nd level. If my long-winded defense above doesn't convince you, I can easily change my background, change to female, or just not take the feat at 2nd level, leaving Hamatulatsu as flavor only.
Let me know what you'll think. I'll post a question about the feat's prerequisites too, and see if the Paizo guys come back with an answer.
Just a quick list for my own sanity;
scranford - Ozbadin (Human Factotum)
Otto R. Ringus - Yelex Blacktongue (Human Necromancer)
TerraNova - 'Dirty' Dergo (Human Rogue)
Set - Mordecai (Human Cleric of Urgathoa)
Rob McCreary - Bexilarius (Tiefling Monk)
Jal Dorak - Gierixa (Half-Orc Druid)
Looks like I'm going to be the fighter. Ack.
Perhaps the seven runes of sin may make an appearance, anyway...
Ok, Your characters are all pretty sorted. What I'm going to ask for now is a little different, but it's something I put all my groups through. If I could ask you to write a short piece, it doesn't have to be anything spectacular, as a kind of 'day in the life of'.
What would your character do, on a given day? If they have a job in town, who are some of their colleagues, contacts or bosses. Is there a particular tavern they like to frequent? A group of friends they regularly meet with?
No way am I asking you to write anything fantastic, long, or deep. I just need a little something to work with, and I find that it certainly helps you, the writer, to really get under the skin of your character.
Of course, you don't have to if you don't want to.
Though the AP starts you all in the Golden Goblin at night, I am going to start the game in the morning. Individually. We'll do a little intro thread until I get you all in the same room, and go from there.
That will give me a great idea of your play styles, and I'll be able to run a better game from there.
I know it's a little weird, but so am I.
--
PsionicFox, if you can handle my crazy DM stylings, you're in. While a fighter type is not necessarily...necessary...you can see the fairly squishy quality of the roster so far. But there are plenty of ways to get around that. Druids with animal companions and summoned critters, or Conjurers likewise with the summoning. Enchanter wizards are pretty good at convincing others to do dirty work for them. There's a world of possibility, but really play what you want to play. I'll sort out any discrepancies in the party myself with what I throw at you, and how fast I throw it.
Yelex, I sent you an email regarding those things. All seem fine to me.
Mordecai, liking the new avatar muchly.
Bex, In no way do I want you to change anything of your character for that flavour. I thought the part about the orphans was ambiguous too; even being a tiefling may have been enough to waive that clause for the devil-nuns to take you in and teach you. Stick with what you want! I'm easy, really.
PsionicFox, if you can handle my crazy DM stylings, you're in. While a fighter type is not necessarily...necessary...you can see the fairly squishy quality of the roster so far. But there are plenty of ways to get around that. Druids with animal companions and summoned critters, or Conjurers likewise with the summoning. Enchanter wizards are pretty good at convincing others to do dirty work for them. There's a world of possibility, but really play what you want to play. I'll sort out any discrepancies in the party myself with what I throw at you, and how fast I throw it.
Awesome! I think I can yes. :)
I had an idea for a kind of 'dirty fighter' anyway. Most likely a Fighter/Swashbuckler, as that would make a rather nasty combo. However, I have noticed an issue - you have given all characters the Weapon Finesse feat for free (which the Swashbuckler gets at 1st level). My first level will be in swashbuckler, so I was wondering, can I score a different feat as my 'your character gets this for free' feat? I'm thinking something along the lines of Improved Feint, as that would suit my character down to the ground.
He won't be a heavy front-liner (no heavy armor), but I do plan on him having an excellent Dex score, and probably the Dodge feat, so he'll be harder to hit.
How does that sound?
Fantastic, Jal! When do you think you would be ready to start your intro thread?
PsionicFox, if you're willing to give up 'Heavy Armour Proficiency', you can take improved feint as the weapon finesse replacement. However, I'd still like you to meet the prerequisites, as normal.
Should be ready about 3 hours from now. Going offline for a bit.
So... No one wants to be my good for nothing big hearted oafish brother? Aww man.... ((pouts))I think looking for "big hearted" in this group is a lost cause... ;)
I have a big heart! It's here somewhere... <rummages around backpack>
Mordecai, liking the new avatar muchly.
Yeah, describing him as 'pale' and then using such a dark avatar didn't work for me visually. Plus this one *screams* 'I vant to suck your blood!'
Mordecai, a day in the life.
Mordecai had quickly come to the realization that this town would suck him dry long before he found the source of the Blot, and so he traveled to the Boneyard every morning, and ministered and advised those who had brought their dead for burial, taking whatever small coin the grateful poor could spare.
“I don’t have much coin, I’m afraid, but I know that Jaylin would want to be given the rites.” the worn-out looking woman pressed. “Can you commend his soul to Pharasma?” she asked.
With a tight smile, Mordecai agreed, scrambling to remember the empty platitudes and drawn-out tone of speaking preferred during funerary services to Pharasma. “Of course, and do not worry about the coin, I’m sure that your son would prefer you spend your coin on the living.”
“Oh.” The woman said, with a wounded look, “Jaylin wasn’t my son, he was my husband.”
Looking at the young man, who couldn’t have been much more than halfway through his second decade of life, and the woman, who had to be in the midst of her fourth, he bit his tongue, as he was no stranger to the touch of an older woman. A much older woman…
“My apologies, I thought I saw some resemblance,” he backpedaled, and was relieved to see the woman’s anger dissipate as he compared her weathered features to the smooth skin of her young lover.
Turning to the deceased, he arranged his limbs, palms facing upwards, and then corrected himself, and then folded them palms downwards, in the traditions of the faith of Pharasma, and began intoning the solemn words, his nose crinkling as her remembered the heady incenses that would traditionally be burnt during such rites.
Assuming that such rites weren’t being performed for a whore and her teenaged lover in the midst of a swamp, by a priest of another faith entirely, that is…
“Grey Lady, accept into your strong halls this young soul. Across the dark waters, carry him safely to his fated destiny and guide our prayers to his ears. Take away the fear and uncertainty from those he has left behind, as we await our chance to be reunited under your benevolent protection. Let us find solace in the shadow of his passing, knowing that he has a greater destiny to serve in your manse than in this place of tears.”
He sprinkled droplets of clean water, which he had never claimed specifically to be blessed, over the body of the young man and then moved closer to the woman, who was now openly sobbing.
“It is time. I have aromatic oils, which are said by the Osirioni to produce a scent pleasing to the gods, so that their attention be drawn to this moment, and ensure that his soul travels quickly and safely to its destination. It would only be a few coins more.”
The widow, for such she was, even if Mordecai was certain that she had never been married to her young ‘husband,’ pressed a few silver coins into his hand, and murmered, “I have no more, we will have to bury him here.”
Fortunately her eyes were still upon her lovers’ corpse, as a look of distaste crossed Mordecai’s face. Surely, the state of the other graves would be enough for anyone to realize that scavengers would be at the body? Perhaps even ghouls… Still, it was her decision, and a few silvers would not cover the cost of the oils, so he laid his hand on her shoulder, hoping to quickly make his exit before the obvious question followed. “Go in peace, lady. I am certain that Jaylin has.”
As he turned and hastily attempted to retreat, her voice rose uncertainly, cracking in her grief. “Could you? Would you help me to bury him?” She pulled her hair back from her face and arranged herself, as if unconsciously, and for a moment his gorge rose as he thought she meant to entice him to help her with the promise of her favors.
Tempted to hurl her silver back in her face, Mordecai struggled to maintain his composure before turning and saying in a strained tone. “Of course. It would be an honor to see this duty to its completion.”
And so it was in an ugly mood that Mordecai went back to his room at the Golden Goblin for mid-day, hands blistered from unaccustomed work and back sore from leaning, attempting to dredge enough muck from the moist soil to create a hole large enough for a body. How these people could bury their dead in a swamp, instead of wrapping them them in linens and bathing them in oils, was beyond him, but the silver would be enough to pay for a few more meals, and he spared no expense on rewarding himself for his day’s work, having the finest meal this wretched place could supply, and eating it in the gambling hall, which was still a tolerable dining place, as it had not yet begun to fill up with smoke and noise, as it would this evening.
Too many silver spent on these so-called ‘fine meals,’ and he knew that he should head back to the Boneyard, to see if he could make some more coin today, perhaps enough to have something special for dinner…
Almost done with the mechanics for Andrei (I used an old profile because I liked the name, and just changed everything over), but I wanted to ask another question:
How do you feel about the potion belt from the Forgotten Realms CS?
Jal, that's cool, I was going to make a thread, but yours is fine. I'll start writing there soon.
As a general note, I'm going to do separate intro threads that culminate in a main one once you are all in the same room.
Check the First Page of Strange Loops for the links to the previous game's intro threads and to see how I brought them together.
We'll start soon! You guys are going above and beyond!
Jal, that's cool, I was going to make a thread, but yours is fine. I'll start writing there soon.
As a general note, I'm going to do separate intro threads that culminate in a main one once you are all in the same room.
Check the First Page of Strange Loops for the links to the previous game's intro threads and to see how I brought them together.
We'll start soon! You guys are going above and beyond!
Sorry. I tend to be proactive with posting to keep things moving.
No day thus far in Yelex' life has been typical, and this particular day has been less so than most. It began with the fencing of a stolen gem for a hefty sum () The eventual discovery by the members of the cabal the preceding night was sure to happen, so Yelex made his long-overdue departure from Korvosa.... But that was days ago...
... days later, he awakes in the early morning light after another restless night. His eyes blur from the bright morning light shining through open windows. The sun sparkles off the calmin dwn waves of the wharf. He cringes, and looks to the corner where he know his most faithful servant wait.
Indeed, there he stands, sentinal in black gauzy shrouds. His shapeless mass utterly still. In his hands is a scythe, dazzling in the morning rays. "Lock, my my flask..." he hisses, casting out a hand towards his minion, Lock-jaw. The being reacts quickly, and a shroud-wrapped hand holds out a small gilt flask. Quickly Yelex removes the stopper and brings the thick blue fluid to his lips. He closes his eyes, and his lips turn to first a smile, then a sneer. His eye-brows arch and the knuckles f his bony hands whiten like bone with his grip on the flask. When his eyes open there is a fire burning in them.
He soon makes his way into the common room and the ever-indomitable Saul Vancaskerkin, waves. Yelex sneers and ignores the fool as he makes his way outside. Today he will seek out a scribener's shoppe, where he will finally prepare the sheaf of scrolls he has long meant to compose. He turns to Lock at his heels, as usual. Yelex, at 6 ft tall towers over the rather dimutive 5' Lock, and seems to reach through the gauzey robes into Lock's chest. There is a clatter, as of bones, and a swift pull and Yelex holds his black-skinned spellbook in his hands. He forgets himself momentarily as he runs his hand across the soft leather. Returning it to its place, yelex turns and marches off towards the River District. 2 hours later, he is back in his room, bent over a table preparing scrolls. For six hours of concentration, he sits there painstakingly writing out twenty scrolls. These he carefully, and categorically, slides into his raven-feather'd sash. He snaps his fingers ion irritation and with a clattering, his minion holds his flask before him.
Refreshed, he is back on the street, this time to the seedier side of town. He is a necromancer first, but finds that alchemy is a fine mix with his arcane powers. Today he seeks out the poison brokers, and looks for ingredients for such things. In addition, the particular blue lip-staining ichor he imbibes requires very rare ingredients thqat he must purchase.
A questionable thug approached him from the shadows of an alley the River Runner Inn. The thug speaks. "Listen pigeon I can see you are looking for something down here, right? A soggy plum maybe?" He looks to hold up his hand in greeting, but Yelex spies the knife in his other hand. "Desist that prattle!" Yelex turns to him, his grating voice like a rockslide. () The easy lad shrinks in fear before shaking his head and trying to regain composure. "That's all right lumber, no snikersnak here. Please, go on with ya." He backs away.
Finally it is late when he returns to his lodging. As he passes through the door, the black velvet bag covering Lock's scythe hangs in the sky and the moon's light shines through the bag, illuminating the crescent blade around the crescent moon. Yelex pauses in tableau, the room quietens for a second, smoke drifts, then billows as if a chill breeze passes through.
Then Saul rushes up. "You will attend my little event, no? You promise! I give you especial ticket, no?!" Again Yelex Blacktongue waves him away, but his rattling voice "I'll be there..." first makes Saul smile, but then he shivers...
DM:
As discussed, I am running with the Unearthed Arcana Necromancer option for Skeleton Familiar (how awesome is hat?!?) Really, I love the Pathfinder rules so much, I hate to use anything els, but I really loved the skeleton idea. I thought about using a skull as a "Arcan Bond" and mayber putting it on a skeleton under my control, but ehh.. I like this better.
Also, non-specifically I am injecting some drug use (and hints of dark arts) from Book of Vile Deeds. There were some interesting intoxicants mentioned, such as Mushroom powder, Terran brandy, and Luhix. I am not counting myself as actually taking a 'dose' of the mushroom powder, but more like a diluted taste, mixed with regular mead.
I hope it is ok that I use some of my starting funds to craft scrolls (25 gp apiece?) If niot, I will at least attempt to purchase the required components.
Also, I am interested in entering the alchemy trade of the city, by either crafting, buying, or selling poisons, drugs, and other potions and concoctions. This is at least a pretext for my real reason for being here: to rise to supreme power and take over the world. In other words, Yelex seeks to become a practicing alchemist but will work under no man.
He seeks an opportunity to set up a small room - a garret or tower, to act as his study and laboratory.