Some crunch to get your eyes looking at the recruitment thread:
25th level epic game.
Just entering mythic.
No third party material.
What we are looking for, to narrow the interested players:
This is a game that has been around for a while (June of 2013). And we are looking for a few good players. This is not your standard game invitation. Please do NOT start posting character ideas or builds. Building an appropriate epic level character for this game is more than just building the most badass uber slayer possible.
We will expect that you have considered how and why your character managed to survive and become one of the most powerful heroes of Golarion. Your back story and inclusion into the backgrounds of the current players will carry more weight than how effectively you can optimize a 25th level character.
That's right, 25th level. I'm not getting into the rules for character generation yet. Like I said before, this game requires more than just making an awesome character. It also needs a player that understands cooperative play between players and the GM's. Yes, GM's. It takes a lot of work to make an epic character. It takes many times as much effort to make an encounter that can challenge epic level players.
Your eventual character will be good. That is not negotiable, don't ask (asking about something that has not been clarified is more than welcome. Asking for an exception to something clearly stated, not so much).
Please don't dot for interest. Feel free to take the time in framing your post for interest. Several of us that have been involved with this game through several iterations since August of 2012 will be reviewing your interest.
We will be looking at your posting history on this forum, including:
How many games you have posted in, the level of those games, the types of posts you have submitted for those games, and the tone of your conversations with other players and GM's in the game, discussion, and recruitment threads.
If you have never played a game higher than 15th level, this is probably not for you. If you have only ever played hack'n'slash, this is definitely not for you. If you haven't played play-by-post/email, this is not the type of game to learn it.
If you are a seasoned player that has been looking for a high-end game to test your world changing ideas, we'd like to talk to you. IF you have been itching for a game where the players are as much involved in driving the story as the GM, we'd like to talk to you.
For your first post we would like to see your viewpoint on how a character would successfully exist in Golarion at 15th level. With this kind of power a character is probably one of less than half a dozen in an entire country. We are not looking for how the specific character you may eventually build would have lived, but how 'a' character would fit into the world.
We would also like your post to provide some of your history with RPGs in general. Which ones are your favorites? what is the longest table top you have played in? Your longest pbp/pbem? From the viewpoint of a townsfolk, describe one of your favorite characters.
Some significant changes to Golarion.
A month ago one of Rovagug's spawn decimated a large tract of Taldor, A couple of week's later a large portion of Rahadoum has become nearly inaccessible. You were called before a Convocation of herald's. Dozen's of heralds were present representing their gods, and yours. Your many years of caring for the world were noted and rewarded with an expectation of further service. Upon accepting and receiving a token of your god's favor, you were imbued with just a tiny drop of godly power and sent out to protect Golarion.
As a child your parents told stories of Rovagug and his world destroying minions. It kept you eating your vegetables and brushing your teeth before bed.
Over the years you grew, matured, studied. And then, you realized that you no longer feared such creatures from your childhood nightmares. Now you feared for what they could do for the people. Your family, your village, your kingdom, the world. And you could do something about it.
Sometime ago (at least a decade) you were approached by a being that offered you membership in a inter-planar group of protectors, known as the Custodians of the Membrane. Yes, it's a cheesy name, but it was there before your ancestors learned to use a wheel.
An elite force of powerful entities from the various planes who have dedicated themselves to ensuring the planes of the world remain in a state of dynamic equilibrium. Without their careful maintenance the Planes and their inhabitants would be overwhelmed and unbalance each other, merging and falling back into the chaotic nothingness from whence all of Creation sprang.
The Custodians cite their origins as shortly after the Great Beyond arose, when the (then) young gods of the cosmos discovered that there were Beings in the spaces between the planes, powerful and incomprehensible enough to drive even them mad and destroy them. In fear the gods agreed to work together, to create a singular membrane that would keep the Maelstrom at bay. At first, there was no need for custodians, but neglect and inattention took their toll, as the gods turned their minds to conflicts over what the interior of the single realm they had protected should be like. Eventually a breach occurred, and a god traveled outside it. What he encountered there would shake his very nature.
When he returned, he fashioned the Worldweavers of the titans to keep the horrors he had experienced at bay. It was they who died in droves seeking to recover the portions of the realm that had been lost, and discovering that to be futile, it was they who conceived a bold and audacious plan by which the rest of the realm might be saved.
And so the three eldest of them, the last to survive walking into the Maelstrom and whatever they encountered there, journeyed to the Membrane the gods had made, where it still remained, and pulled it inwards, twisting and pinching it until they had formed an arrangement where the incursion was contained. It was a change too drastic for the gods to ignore, as new boundaries sprung up, and powers were constricted. When at last the gods came upon the Worldweavers, they were told that if the changes were undone, so they and all they valued would also be. "Look upon the cocoon we weave." said the eldest of the Worldweavers "And know it for what it is... our tomb, woven of our own flesh and souls, to keep you safe. For it, we extract a price... that your realms will be divided, your powers forever more constrained and your influences limited. This is how it must be, if it is to be."
The gods, it is said, did not see the wisdom of this, but did see that the changes were beyond them to undo less they worked as a whole again... and each of them had made enemies they would not trust enough to work with again. The Worldweavers went into their tomb, set at the center of the newly arranged planes, and were forgotten to time with their passing. The gods decided to set up a watch upon the membranes of the planes, so that each might know of any other's attempt to unbalance and pierce them. And so the Custodians were created.
Astrarium, the city of the Custodians, carved into the dead husks of the Worldweavers that surrounds Groteus and keeps the entity therein at bay, for Groteus is said to be what was created when the Maelstrom's intrusion was cut off and isolated. This was to be your home as a Custodian. Unfortunately, Astrarium was cutoff from all. It has been several years since you have had any contact with a Custodian other than a few scattered about Golarin.
A month ago one of Rovagug's spawn decimated a large tract of Taldor, A couple of week's later a large portion of Rahadoum has become nearly inaccessible. You were called before a Convocation of herald's. Dozen's of heralds were present representing their gods, and yours. Your many years of caring for the world were noted and rewarded with an expectation of further service. Upon accepting and receiving a token of your god's favor, you were imbued with just a tiny drop of godly power and sent out to protect Golarion.
If you're still reading, then know that this is a game that has been around for a few years, through several iterations. And we are looking for a few good players. This is not your standard game invitation. Please do NOT start posting character ideas or builds. Building an appropriate epic level character for this game is more than just building the most badass uber slayer possible.
We will expect that you have considered how and why your character managed to survive and become one of the most powerful heroes of Golarion. Your back story and inclusion into the backgrounds of the current players will carry more weight than how effectively you can optimize a 25th level character.
That's right, 25th level. I'm not getting into the rules for character generation yet. Like I said before, this game requires more than just making an awesome character. It also needs a player that understands cooperative play between players and the GM's. Yes, GM's. It takes a lot of work to make an epic character. It takes many times as much effort to make an encounter that can challenge epic level players.
Your eventual character will be good. That is not negotiable, don't ask (asking about something that has not been clarified is more than welcome. Asking for an exception to something clearly stated, not so much).
Please don't dot for interest. Feel free to take the time in framing your post for interest. Several of us that have been involved with this game through several iterations since August of 2012 will be reviewing your interest.
We will be looking at your posting history on this forum, including:
How many games you have posted in, the level of those games, the types of posts you have submitted for those games, and the tone of your conversations with other players and GM's in the game, discussion, and recruitment threads.
If you have never played a game higher than 15th level, this is probably not for you. If you have only ever played hack'n'slash, this is definitely not for you. If you haven't played play-by-post/email, this is not the type of game to learn it.
For your first post we would like to see your viewpoint on how a character would successfully exist in Golarion at 15th level. With this kind of power a character is probably one of less than half a dozen in an entire country. We are not looking for how the specific character you may eventually build would have lived, but how 'a' character would fit into the world.
We would also like your post to provide some of your history with RPGs in general. Which ones are your favorites? what is the longest table top you have played in? Your longest pbp/pbem? From the viewpoint of a townsfolk, describe one of your favorite characters.
You've been a gamer for years. Maybe you started in high school, or college. Not as much when you were younger, what with the career, the family, grand kids?
Your partner may not like it, they may be gaming with you, they know this is your opportunity to unwind every week. Last month you finished up a long campaign that you've been playing for the last few years.
Tomorrow starts a new campaign. The interesting part was that your friend Jordan wanted everyone to set aside the holiday weekend. He had been working with a local special effects company and he was going to kick this game off with an immersion experience. You are supposed to pack for a two night, three day mini-vacation. The company is providing the food and beverages. Your group is providing a live test of the holographic projectors. And you get to start off your next game in style. He told everyone to stat up tenth level characters for the new game, this one would be a homebrew that would borrow elements from your favorite settings such as Dragonlance, Faerun, Eberron and Golarion.
Jordan said core races and core classes only. A little unusual for him to provide restrictions, but you were up for it.
So you packed a bag or two with some clothes and creature comforts for a few days camping.
*******
This game will allow for some metagaming by its nature. Being able to metagame modern knowledge and blend it into the fantasy character may be beyond the challenge of some. Please consider carefully how you would roleplay situations where the fantasy character knew more than they should, or doesn't know something they should know.
To represent the character playing the fantasy character, we will be using the modern rules located here.
Selected players should put together a background of their modern character. We will not be using the full level characteristics from this site as it will only be representing your metagaming abilities. As such, players should use the guidelines for the modern hero class at 10th level, with one archetype. This will provide 5 feats from the modern list, 5 talents, and 5 training. Players may select up to difficulties, each providing an extra training. Select your class skills and distribute your skill points. Please note that many of the knowledges will have multiple specialties. If you want to know a lot about game world histories, then select know: history (fantasy rpgs), if you want modern history then it would be know: history (modern). Hero points will be in use with some of the modern adjustments.
What I would like to see up front is a background that describes who your modern character is as far as personality and gaming style, what their archetype is and the specific profession they are in, and what their modern family is like. Two to three paragraphs will suffice.
Dotting for interest will place said player on a back-up list and they will not be considered during the first round.
I would like to have five to six players.
Once I have selected the players, they may work on their modern character and their fantasy character. The modern character should be built on a 25 point buy. Since there is an expectation that the modern characters are on the smarter than average side, Int may not be a dump stat. It is not necessary to note the modern character's BaB, saves, or AC bonus as we are only using some of the information from the modern character on the fantasy character's sheet. A list of equipment and gear brought to the game will also need to be noted. I will ask for clarification or revision if value's are out of line with background/archetype.
The fantasy character will be built on 25 points. Core races core classes only. Archetypes may be considered. Two traits, any traits from a campaign will require background information. Max hit points, fantasy wealth of $62,000 gold, no more than 1/3 on any one item. Crafting doesn't change the retail value of what you can have, but does allow you to have customized gear, including partially charged wands.
Recruitment will be open until I have a selection of players that have provided the requested information and have flavorful concepts.
Dinner over, you find yourself relaxing as the dishes are cleared from the table, when a golden and translucent letter appears above the table before you.
It looked to be a sheet of gold leaf, shining as only gold can in the candles of your dining hall. You are the only person that can perceive the letter, and your mightiest divination's can't discern it's presence. With a touch of your finger, the golden sheet unfolds, revealing the runes written above a large red wax circle, nearly three inches across, and appearing to be raised half an inch above the surface of the letter.
"Thy adventure's and exploits have garnered Our attention. Your realm will soon be in grave danger. Three days hence Our warning shall be evident upon the celestial alignments. Once warned, ye must declare thy readiness by placing thine palm upon this seal, lest thine world come to naught. The end cometh."
Further attempts to touch the paper are fruitless as your finger pierces the translucent image. When you rise from your seat, the letter folds itself and turns sideways to your vision, disappearing from view.
I am willing to give this a go, if the players are willing to work within these constraints. Please read the entire post before responding.
The setting will begin in Golarion. Where-ever you were, a golden and translucent letter appeared on the table before you at dinner. It looked to be a sheet of gold leaf, shining as only gold can in the candles of your dining hall. You are the only person that can perceive the letter, and your mightiest divination's can't discern it's presence. With a touch of your finger, the golden sheet unfolds, revealing the runes written above a large red wax circle, nearly three inches across, and appearing to be raised half an inch above the surface of the letter.
Thy adventure's and exploits have garnered Our attention. Your realm will soon be in grave danger. Three days hence Our warning shall be evident upon the celestial alignments. Once warned, ye must declare thy readiness by placing thine palm upon this seal, lest thine world come to naught. The end cometh.
As this is expected to be a campaign, I am requesting and expecting a bit more work from accepted players before the game will begin in full.
I am asking that prospective players understand that if I feel your concept is unrealistic that I may ask for adjustments or decline your request. I like players that are willing to follow the ideal that the game should be fun for all involved. I will occasionally adjust my own rulings if a request for reconsideration makes sense. I like to enjoy my game, and I like my players to enjoy their game.
Spoiler's are your friend, please use them frequently in your profile. If you are not on the list of first pics, please submit your character idea and concept before doing all the work for the crunch and background information needed. I know that is a lot of work and would prefer that only those selected to play will need to put that time in. Having said that, if you do make a full blown profile, I will likely steal it for my npc's.
Sources allowed: Core, APG, UC, UM. No 3rd-party, no 3.5.
Races: Any core, featured, uncommon races as listed at d20pfsrd. If you want to play a custom race from ARG, then I expect to see some work on an extensive racial background and origin. Other races may be requested but are less likely to be selected.
Classes:No Gunslingers as guns don't exist in my Golarion. Anti-paladins being chaotic evil just don't play well with others. Players will be expected to take their base/core class to 20. A dip to meet a requirement of a prestige class is fine (arcane archer and mystic theurge come to mind). Once selected, a prestige class must be taken to completion. Then the original class to 20. Classes don't go beyond 20, select another class, or if you had to dip for a prestige, select that class. Prestige classes that advance class abilities above level 20 will be progressed as explained under character advancement beyond 20th level at d20pfsrd, including spell levels. Please include the word 'presence' in your first response for interest.
Please answer these questions in your first response.
DM Questions:
What is the highest level Pathfinder game you have played in?
What did you like about that game?
What did you not like about it?
Does your character have immediate family?
Is your character a noble?
What are you able to bring to the game?
How old is your character? If very young or old, why did you select that age?
What do you think is the most unbalancing aspect of your character concept for group play?
Where do you see your character going in 10 levels (I'm looking for more than just a statement of what classes you are going to pick)
Have you read the entire post?
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Level: 20, HP max for first, average +1 thereafter.
Attributes: Epic Fantasy, of course, 25 point buy.
Alignment: I would prefer that characters are lawful or good. Evil characters may find it hard to play within the setting. I don't condone PVP.
Traits: Two following the usual rules.
Feats: Appropriate feats may be taken multiple times to stack their abilities, like Intensified Spell. Feats that give skill bonuses will increase progressively, (those giving an additional +2 at 10 ranks will give another +2 at 21 ranks and every 5 thereafter). Skip the last DM question. Newly stackable feats may be selected beginning at 21st level. I haven't gone through the epic level handbook yet, but some of those will be converted and available for use once I go through the book.
Equipment: $880,000. No single item may exceed $200,000 in cost. Players are encouraged to stack benefits on their magic items (Ring of Feather Fall and Sustenance) Please note that there is a 1.5 multiplier for the secondary effects, so start with the most expensive component first. And for the character generation I would like to see the math.
Description:Yes, I'd like to see one. And, since we are talking epic play here, give me a couple of highlights of what you think would be known about you from a typical knowledge check at DC's 5, 10, 15, and 20. Please specify your favorite color in your first response of interest.
Background: Players have two options here. If they have played through or are otherwise well versed, in an existing Adventure Path, then provide a brief summary of your character's exploits for each of the six books. Then add what your character has been doing for the last several years that took the character from the recommended ending level of the AP to level 20.
A fine powdering of snow covers the ground, results of a late spring cold snap. Several clusters of people have braved the chill to stand around small braziers. Low conversations emenate from each group, unexpectedly subdued in their tones, no doubt to the two slowly thawing bodies hanging from crow's cages. Placards labeled them as brigands apprehended for pillaging and rape, and murder.
Snippets of conversation can be heard throughout the green.
"I heard those two work for that self styled Stag Lord someplace off to the east."
"'tis true! I heard it from Mishka, she heard it from a friend of her brother's best friend! The Lebeda's lost an entire caravan and they were the ones that pushed the King to allow this fiasco."
"This is just another trick of those thrice damned Surtova's. They need something to keep the people pacified!" SHH! Keep your voice down, that talk'll get you hanging up next to them!"
In the center of the green before Restov's town hall a large tent has been erected. A table sits at one end with a scribe furiously scribbling notes into a register. Before the table stands Captain Nikolaos GRevaldo, head of the Restov guard. He is flanked by two Aldori Swordsmen. Further in the tent, half hidden in the flickering shadows of more braziers, sits Lord Mayor Ioseph Sellemius. A table at his side holds several rolled parchments.
One by one, several people approach the table, parchments clutched in their hands. For most they receive a shake of the head and a wave off as their documents are rejected. A few receive scrolls from the dwindling pile next to Lord Mayor Sellemius.
Tap, tap, tap the hammering sounds the posting of a notice on the job board of the tavern. Before long the contents of the notice is the only topic of import throughout Restov.
Here ye, here ye! Be it known throughout Brevoy, north and south. That our Lord of Issia and Prince of Rostland, Suzerin of New Steven, Overlord of Restov, Defender of the Lake of Mists and Veils, in the name of Choral, King Noleski Surtova has decreed those lands to the south of Brevoy be surveyed and explored with the expectation of settlement.
As such, any able bodied beings in good standing with the Sword Lords of Restov, may apply for writs of exploration and travel. All such interested personages should appear at Townhall no later than high noon on Oathday, Calistril 30th, 4710 AR. Interested personages should provides letters of patronage at this time. So sayeth Lord Mayor Ioseph Sellemius, on behalf of and for the Sword Lord, King Surtova.
It is a brisk and cold day that you hear of this opportunity before you. Collecting your coat and gloves, you feel a pull to see for yourself what this event portends for you.
Declaring Interest:
I am looking for players with a yearning to play kingmaker for the opportunity to discuss and play out the building and expansion of a kingdom. While there is combat throughout the game, socio-political intrigue will also play it's part as the game progresses. If you are interested in making a combat monster that dumped all social graces, please consider another game.
Please don't worry about fleshing out a character, I want to see race, class, alignment, your campaign trait, and a brief background and description of your character.
Players are expected to be able to post at least once per day during the week. Missing more than a week of posting without advance notice may place your character on a standby list and open the game to others.
I will be selecting a party of 4-6 characters.
Character Creation:
I will not be allowing any 3rd party material for character creation.
Please note that I understand that players will want to optimize their characters. I also wish my players to understand that I may alter or remove something from the game if I feel it is becoming overpowered and/or abusive.
Sources allowed:
Races: Pathfinder SRD, please note that if you are not a core race, your background must provide a reason for your presence in Brevoy as well as at least one plot hook that I get to take advantage of. Keep in mind that exotic races may have additional challenges to ruling a kingdom.
Classes: Core and APG only please. Please note that abusive or overpowering optimization may result in the over-god reigning holy terror down upon you.
Ultimate Combat and Ultimate Magic: Please note that items in these books may be available after character creation. They are not likely to be found at the general store. Feats and class options will generally require a side quest to find someone to teach them. If players let me know they want something, I will do my best to work opportunities into the game. This goes for spells as well. Spells in these, and other books are not general knowledge and may not be automatically learned at level up. They also must be discovered, learned, or stolen.
Other Paizo Sources Will be reviewed case by case.
Attributes: Roll one set of 4d6, drop the lowest. You may replace two rolls, one with a roll of 1d3+15, the other with a roll of 1d10+6. Replacing a pair of rolls requires a plot hook in your back ground. Replacing two pairs requires an additional two plot hooks.
Alignment:Please note that the players will be running a kingdom, overly chaotic or evil characters will have problems as co-rulers.
Traits:Two plus one campaign trait, for a total of three.
Hit Points:Max first, roll or average thereafter, choose at character creation.
Wealth: Max for class. Please note that as this is a rural and exploratory game, players will need to track consumables like ammunition and food/water. At higher levels tracking mundane consumables may be bought with routine gold expenditures (i.e. every time you are in town, you spend a few gold and are assumed to have restocked to the amounts listed on your character sheet.
House Rules:
To reiterate, class abilities, spells, feats, and equipment outside of core and APG are not immediately available. Most of these items will not be off-the-shelf and will require the character to search for a source. You may ask. At this time guns do not exist in Golarion.
Weather will play a part in this game. This will have a bigger impact at lower levels. The Stolen Lands are a northern land with incremental weather and a short summer.
While I will be tracking group loot and a map of the explored areas, at least one player should volunteer to do so for the group, lest the group get lost in the wild lands. Character's without the means to make a map may find their route rather circular.
Please note that I will be changing some creatures, locations, and other characteristics of the adventures as a deterrent to metagaming.
When we get to building the kingdom, I will be using Book of the River Nations. Please note that cities, and/or city districts that I feel have become unbalanced will have negative effects. I.e. a large city with no inn or tavern will start generating unrest. Cities without garrisons or walls may riot or revolt. Plan your cities with a mind to what a population would realistically expect and not to what gets the most BP and you will be fine.
I have not worked out all of the details yet, but I am looking to A) have the hexes 1/7th their current size during kingdom building; B) allow more than one open space development in a hex. I welcome player input.
Players will be rewarded for coming up with generalized (or detailed) laws for their kingdom, as well as handling the development of a nobility system as the kingdom grows.
