Nymian Harthing's page

This one's been bothering me--so I bought the Pathfinder Chronicles: Guide to Korvosa.

Guide to Korvosa states: "Only the king, his immediate family, the seneschal of the castle, and his family may live in Castle Korvosa. Either man can invite long-term guests (such as the king’s small harem), but the other can evict these guests at any time (except during times of war)."

Curious. I may have missed that in rereading the older books for the AP. I'm fairly sure that verbiage must have been in something other than just the Guide to Korvosa.

Canonically it appears that there are no servants' quarters because no one else can live in the castle. Unless they're considered guests of either the king or the seneschal...so that's a possibility but not currently supported as an option in the layout of the rooms. (After all, they had to convert areas for the Gray Maidens to utilize as makeshift barracks.)

Talynonyx: sorry dude. Looks like the servants live outside the castle, man. You could restructure the castle like you're suggesting. Or maybe Duamatef's suggestion of commuting servants plus on-call staff that may bunk out in the outbuildings could be put to use.

Wow. That's a great idea, Duamatef. :) Round the clock shifts. Might make sense for some support staff...maybe people not quite as important as the seneschal and some of those bigger roles?

Best RotR NPC romance story in our group so far: the party's rogue referred to the quasit as his girlfriend. The party was able to capture her but not kill her. The party's wizard stuffed her into a jar to deal with later, and Tiberius tried really, really hard to steal her "back" from him.

Others:
The party's psychic (Rickety), a gnome, was involved with Shayliss for a long while, but she left him for a Scarnetti boy.

The party's cleric (Kivvit) has hooked up with the party's wizard (Davor). But she did almost let something happen with Kaven after he flirted with her over rapier practice. She wasn't into Aldern Foxglove even though she seemed to be the object of his obsession--but she was nice to him, which may have encouraged him on some level.

(We played through a very "cinematic" Jade Regent where Shalelu got involved with a character. It seemed no one wanted to potentially court Shalelu in RotR because she was supposed to marry Darius in Jade Regent! Similar situation with Ameiko I think--she was going to allow Seamus into her heart later on. Man that was a great campaign for our group.)

Actually, we failed utterly to kill Kazavon in our run of CotCT with my first Pathfinder group. My buddy Tal was playing a fighter, and I guess we were supposed to use the magic sword to slash at the not-yet-fully-formed bad guy. Oops. Literally our bad. We didn't know.

So did we die? No.
Did we kill him? No.

Once we learned we were supposed to kill him, we asked the GM nicely if we could have a high level campaign where we tracked him down and finished the job.

Then, um, the group fell apart. That was probably for the best, but having the story unfinished meant we didn't finish that story. Tal and I essentially figured out together how it would run--and we talked through it so I wouldn't be stuck on this story mentally.

Happy to share the story if you'd like.

Commuting in for work? Sounds like a slight nightmare for your Seneschal, not to mention the hours spent in daily vetting by palace guards.

I can't imagine the Queen wanting to wait until the cooks commute in at (whatever time in the morning) if she's been hard at working doing...whatever it is she does...and wants a meal or a snack at the hour of "are you kidding me?" either.

The castle's design *is* a touch weird.

If your still looking for players I would be interested in joining.

So far no one else has expressed interest. It's difficult to have a "group" of two. I'll let you know if I get more responses...

Grievance:
When the "go along to get along" mentality reduces everyone's fun but the group won't address the root of the issue. MAN that bothers me.

Looking to start a Saturday or Sunday group playing Pathfinder.

What we have:
* an experienced non-killer GM available
* a space to play

We're looking for:
* emotionally mature gamers, as we're over 30 and would like to play, not deal with drama
* inexperienced players are fine--we're asking for simple common courtesies. (One example: calling or texting if you can't show up due to illness, work, or other issues.)

Playstyle of our group:
* tends toward semi-immersive role play and we're "rules, medium-style".
The rules shouldn't get in the way of the fun, but they should help define the world fairly.
We like backstory and sincerity.
Above all, we like to work together to have fun.

If this sounds like you and you're in the area--or willing to commute a bit--feel free to respond here or PM me.

My experience:
Show up to class at tech college, hear three guys babbling about World of Warcraft all day long. Since I dislike WoW I get annoyed. I do my normal gripe and grumble thing because that's who I am/was.

Through conversation find out one of the guys GMs on Saturday nights. The other two guys sitting near me like video games, but they express an interest in playing something D&D like. We decide to give a quick campaign a shot.

First day, I *show* them how I play: I launch right into character, an angry young human rogue who happens to think these two other adventurers are right idiots. The chip on her shoulder is about 10 tons and made of pure granite. She gives the two nicknames. "I'll call you...Brick, since you're thick like one. And I'll call you...Mr. Splashy!"

AND THEY LOVED IT. They loved the process of reacting in character, they loved the way the guy GMing described Brick almost being killed by a rat--we were rolling super lousy and we were first level!--and they loved that they were engaged and having fun. The rules were being explained as we played, which helped, since we started playing this beta version of a game called Pathfinder which was "kind of like 3.5E". I'd been playing versions from the red box and 1st Ed onward, so it helped me too.

TL;DR, man, where's the advice??:
Engage them in the story. Help them understand the rules by explaining them briefly but well. React to their ideas with thoughtfulness, understanding that they will try surprising or "dumb" things because they're new at this. And if you can, throw in a good veteran role player to help them get a feel for all the magic and color and glory of the game.

From the perspective of someone playing in the campaign and having only gotten halfway through the accursed Iris Hill: when the entire original party dies, there might not be any super-compelling reason for the non-amnesiac portion of the party to keep on with the quest.

"Okay, those things just killed Ragnar and Elsa, Flynn died yesterday, and we lost Mikhaila and Zigi-wi the day before that. Also it's creepy here. Let's beat it, guys. We're not strong enough to take on this Count or these weird monsters we've never heard of before!"

The original PCs do appear to have two compelling reasons to continue their quests if the party doesn't wipe out early:
1. Regaining their lost memories
2. Revenge against Lowls--not only for themselves, but maybe on behalf of those who were hurt by the Count in pursuit of his goals. If the party is good this works. But a neutral/lightly evil party?

Without at least one original PC, why *would* other PCs stay? Sure, maybe they'd save Thrushmoor just because they're "heroes" but after that?

A group I used to play in used Hero Lab. That seemed to help the rules issues some--and the math issues. Less page flipping, fewer electronic devices, and character sheets always visible on one large screen.

That helped a lot with the "I don't remember what X does".

Most of the groups I've played with have been heavy into looking rules up in the books. This does slow things down. But sometimes we need things to slow down a bit in our current game. We're just flying through the first book of Iron Gods.

Truly I wouldn't mind seeing more of the quality APs. Paizo's pre-written campaigns are strong, and they can be easily modified to include more personal touches. There was a time that I was anti-module, but the Adventure Paths have caused that opinion to change.

Yes. Often can and do.

Kyle, I've got much the same problem--schedule-wise. I also work in Bellevue.

Huu-Yuu: Thanks. Is this a "drop in" PFS style group or more of a regular crowd? I'm kinda looking for a classic group...though I won't argue with the idea of something new.

A friend who GMs just says they went to use the restroom and got locked in. For days. Works for his group, but their style is more Chaotic Silly than others'.

Hell yeah, DragoDorn. \m/

Listening to Manowar's "Gods of War" album right now while chattering on IRC with some snobby metal folk. I'll hit the Skelator/Last Bastion/Iron Kingdom show next month though.

A quick question to you all are your characters heros in the game in the true sense of the word fighting evil because its the right thing to do risking life and limb to help the common folk

Or are they just a bunch of gold hunters who dont care about anything except profit

Yeah, generally my characters are heroes, whether reluctant or not. It's no different than I feel IRL. Do the right thing, etc.--even if it means you risk something for what is good and right. Neither I nor my characters is perfect, though. Most have motivations that start out a bit less than noble.

Kivvit kept reminding the others in the party during the Runelords AP that no, we're not heroes. If we're heroes then we have the expectation by the populace to always save them from everything, including themselves, she told them. But she always tried to do the right thing even if there was no profit to be had. So really? Hero.

Gotta agree with DMW: "Don't try and diminish the villainy of the PCs adversaries".

Unfortunately, for some of us with on-call hours and other people who might need to rely on us (include: $FAMILY), turning off our cell phones for a few hours--or sticking it in a basket--is impossible.

When you play with mature, responsible individuals it's so much easier.

Hmm.

I will play a character based on a concept, but the character's initial concept of themselves changes over time and adventure. Perhaps Brutey the Bruiser decides he wants to study a bit more to impress that hawt NPC he's lusting after, since the NPC likes the party wizard. Maybe they feel so ineffectual they change classes completely.

If you play a person who grows out of a concept, it's hard to get bored with the character.

Most of the folks I play with or know tend to switch out characters when they're bored with the mechanics of the class or class combination they chose. It seems I like to play people, and they like to play numbers. Just a difference in style.

We play that you don't lose "what you know" based on "what you've become".

You may gain or lose physical stats, but it's not like you wake up as a Dwarf suddenly speaking Dwarvish if you were formerly a Half Orc who didn't know the language before you died. If you lose INT or WIS you should play that, but in all honesty you shouldn't forget how to generally do something *just* because you died once. Perhaps you gain a new appreciation for something non-native to your previous experiences because of it: an example would be Dwarvish craftsmanship.

Still maybe looking for group. My other group is currently a drop-in due to the distance and schedule issues we face as a group of adults scattered about the Sound.

I live near AFK South in Renton--hmm. Perhaps I will just show up on June 8th around 3pm wearing my +20 Shirt of Smiting and see who shows.

Which Des Moines? Iowa? Washington? Canada?

Personally? I will swallow anything resembling dignity or pride and just say whatever it is my character would say, right there at the table.

Anything said with sincerity often sounds just fine to most people.

(Plus, don't stifle your paladin, man. He sounds pretty cool.)

don't have any problem with everyone referring to our fighter as a "tank."

We had a fighter the rogue ended up calling "Brick" which I suppose could have been taken as a variation of "tank". Part of it was a bit of an OOC jab in good humour at the player's choice of hobbies before moving into tabletops.

In the drop-in group, the term 'toon is accepted. I cringe at it. But the guy who uses the term most often came to gaming through World of Warcraft and some mutual friends, I believe. So the fact that he plays PF and uses MMORPG terms is understandable. However, the dude has moved from wanting to play a basic "tank" with little discernible personality to playing pun-themed characters with some fairly impressive role-playing and good stats. I'm actually impressed.

There were some folks in another group I played in who didn't know the term "PC" except as "personal computer". So it's all kind of relative. I kind of wonder what PF terms WoW players find offensive.

Is it too early to start drinking and singing "would you like to melt a snowman?"

Looking for decent group with some flexibility in schedule.
I offer an immersive spirit as an experienced player. Also I often bring snacks.

Hey there.
My roommate's group might have an opening. PM me.

In many years of play, I have played with friends, strangers, romantic partners, and frenemies. Sometimes all at the same table.

Best tables I sat at were made of friends. Second best, interviewees. No probation periods.

Currently trying to get a friend to run a game via Skype but we are in different time zones. Another friend will be moving to a Scandinavian country in a year or two, and we will need to figure out games then...it's been a hell of a life lately.

But friends are in my experience best for my own games.

Eh. Guess I am sorta outing myself here in a way...

I am a hetero female. And let's face it, I am fairly attractive (and currently single).
Nymian Harthing the character started out as an average hetero human female rogue. Through a series of events, she became a semi-attractive half orc male and rolled with it. She fell in love with an NPC female from Crimson Throne.

My idea of sexuality and attraction are a semifluid state (straight != narrow), which means although my personal partners are overwhelmingly male, my characters have no limitation on their ideas of sexuality.

I am also posting from a gamer tavern. I see the relative inclusiveness of my fellow gamers and am quite pleased by it.

Feather Fall and Floating Disk are also fun.
Now, for 2nd level, I'd take WEB!!!

Burning things in the fireplace, listening to my roommate run his Pathfinder game, while I play Legend of Zelda on my emulator.

We've already cleaned up from the group supper/dessert, and I've got nothing better to do at the moment.

I can't stand the level of stats optimization (min-maxing) most folks feel is necessary in a game like Pathfinder.

But then I feel everyone should try a non-optimized character, basing their skills/feats on character life decisions, at least once.

Protection from Chaos.
(As a parent and an employee in a large company, it just seems appropriate!)

Jeremy Mac Donald, that works really well if none of your players do shift work. In my group, two of us are subject to the whims of our employer's schedules. Often the same weeks the two of us who are on shifts can't make it to game. For our group, this means that there are some weeks we don't have game. Some weeks we have game Sunday and Wednesday, and others where we have game "next Friday after".

Planning a rigid set-in-stone game day for us just does not work. But you're right that getting any set of adults plus significant others is a difficult issue at best.

Sometimes a total break from RPGs for a few weeks is needed.

Current group will sometimes go camping or just play some board games and/or card games--popular with us are Zombicide and Munchkin (any version).

Also I'm of the philosophy that sometimes a movie with the group is a better break than board gaming. You go see a sci fi flick and gripe about work over wings after. Good times.

THEN you pick up again on the game.

Why I love my life?
My job is great, my kid is a geek, and I'm getting a roommate in a few months when I move into a new place.

The roommate thing is good because I like interacting with adult humans on a regular basis. LOL Gaming twice a month isn't quite enough intellectual stimulation.

My best friend in the whole world is moving in with me temporarily to save up money to move to Norway to be with his girlfriend.

NORWAY.

Dude.
I suspect that even in this golden age of text messages and email, I will not hear from him again after week one of expatriation.

Also online dating. That sucks too.

Nope, Icyshadow. I had a fighter once who tried to be a convincing male because she faced certain death otherwise. Long story; it was a Jade Regent AP PC.

Hmm. I've had the issue where I had a character that started as one gender and ended up another through the course of play.

So how did I play that character?

Angry, at first. But not due to the gender swap. That was just the way Nym was back then. Then slightly stereotypical for the opposite gender. Then as a fully developed (half-orc) being, with many of the same goals and dreams--plus a few new ones that happened to be based partially on gender.

Are we as a group? Maybe.
Are we as individuals? Yeah, some are and some aren't.

Me? I fall into awkward often enough but can fake that I know what I am doing and it's okay.

Nothing wrong with being mortal or human, heh.

I learned that my friends sometimes like interacting with me better when I pretend to be a happy teenaged cleric girl. The game lesson: don't be dark.

(Not that I am ever serious or sarcastic or brooding, heh.)

166. Playing with dolls, Spaceballs style.

No thank you.
Can we have something more original?

No one expects me to demonstrate wall climbing, deadlifts, or juggling in real life. Why do my softer skill checks require me as a player to demonstrate IRL skills I might not have?

Rynjin and I don't always agree, but when we do, it's about skill checks!
Stay gamers, my friends.

Gloryhammer.

Bribe a GM?
Are you nuts?
You want them to think they're a god or something? ;)

Seriously, no way, never, nuh-uh. Not happening in any of my groups.

TLDR, so apologies if I'm repeating someone else's point, but badly.

Let's take a look at half-orcs for a second. I do hereby quote the Core Rulebook, page 25, "Half-orcs are monstrosities, their tragic births the result of perversion and violence--or at least that's how other races see them." Racism is built into the setting. Not sure I can help ya there.

Misogyny is more vague in the Core rules. I'd say non-existent but I'm sure someone would find a passage to contradict that, heh.

I'm playing a character in Cinco group that's got absolutely NO issues with orcs or half-orcs. When she was little, her parents went off adventuring, died, and came back as a full orc (dad) and half-orc (mom). While growing up, she didn't see any reason to treat orc-blooded individuals any differently. This made her unique in her views in a little town. Her romantic interest is the party's half-orc/half native Varisian wizard who grew up in the same town; he's able to talk to her for hours about Thassilonian ruins, her "first true love".

So the lack of racism and misogyny can be a defining characteristic, too.

I really, really want to play a paladin of Shelyn for my next character. But I don't want to give up my cleric of Cayden Cailean just yet. She's actually quite a bit of fun.

I know, it's not quite the same as the OP's observation, but I do enjoy the divinely inspired.

Kirth Gersen: I agree about the wallclimbing versus riddle example! Thank you for your succinct example!

Another metagaming-for-the-common-good example is:
You're playing in an AP that requires characters to have specific interests or skills.
Your fellow players are new to roleplaying in general and haven't any idea about much of what's different between Golarion and your standard Forgotten Realms setting.
You create a character and help foster immersion, and sort of guide the party to where they probably want to end up anyway.

(Like...taking Knowledge Nobility in CotCT, perhaps? Having your character be a former city guard? Stuff like that.)