I wanted to add that I have greatly enjoyed the trials of Channa Ti, Pathfinder. Reading these Pathfinder Journals makes me hope that you are planning on a Channa Ti book at some point. She's a very interesting character, especially her personality and outlook on life and her circumstances.
[impatience] Oh! Butterfrog! When are we going to get to see that Channa Ti pic!? [/impatience]
Okay...I'm moving this weekend, so I've been crazy busy since just before the PFRPG launch, thus I've had little chance to comment on topics like this. In addition, this thread seems to have meandered a bit...but oh well, here I go!
On Clerics without Heavy Armor Prof: I'm glad to see that there seems to be a lot of people happy with this change, especially considering that I like it as well! As an old fan of 2nd edition Specialty Priests (many of whom couldn't wear heavier armors, especially when you used something like Faiths and Avatars for FR), I like seeing Heavy Armor as an option (via feat) than as a standard feature of the class.
I've never really liked the idea of Clerics as tanks or as stand-in front-line warriors. This change, to me, helps to reinforce their Basic Role as a support/buff spellcaster and healer. They are a unique resource with a fantastic spell list, a decent BAB and HD already, having HA Feat as a standard feature just seemed to encourage the tank idea too much.
I think that Heavy Armor, as a class feature should be reserved for the classes that are meant most for it (i.e. Fighters and Paladins). Hopefully this change will make people look at clerics in a new and creative light. Don't forget though, for 1 feat you can still take HA Feat to have that Full Plate, and its still a feat that you wouldn't have in 3.5. A good move, in my opinion.
Karelzarath informs me he is beginning work on his character!
I am beginning work on some preliminary posts for the PbP...some local news, recent events, etc. When I have those up I will post a link to the PbP thread in this one.
Seeker: Oliver should have 8 Health levels (Stamina 3 + 5 [size])
Kiioro: We are handling Aaron.
Justin: Bill is looking good...just hoping for that history/background stuff.
Here is the plan...
Karelzarath and JonShade are still working/prepping to get their characters together. Karel is trying to get out and grab the books he wants to buy and JonShade has been crazy-busy. So!
Here shortly, I'll being setting the story and main PbP thread up. It will all be prelude stuff until I have some completed characters. Bill's prelude will mostly likely start things off since he is nearly done.
Hopefully I'll be starting this weekend on it, possibly today.
-Even if you choose to not do a detailed background for the extra Exp at character creation, there are some details I definitely need.
1) Family: Do they live locally, who's alive, deceased, etc. What they do would be a good thing too, along with names. If this info is not provided, I'll do so myself...so if you have something specific in mind, provide it for me.
2) What sort of work/lifestyle does you character have? It should match your resources.
3) Place of residence. I'm making a googlemap that will show important and interesting locales, including where people live. It'll make things easier at a glance to have such a map. I'll be happy to help people figure it out based on their resources and profession. Remember though, San Francisco is expensive to live in, so don't expect an awesome house unless you are Resources 4 or 5.
4) Goals and motivations for you characters. This can only help both the story and development.
I'll add more to this list as I think of stuff. Thanks folks.
Welcome then, those I've invited. This should get interesting...
Timeline: Modern Day (July 2009)
Setting: San Francisco, CA
Books allowed: WoD Core, Armory, Second Sight (with approval), others with approval as well.
Character Creation: Base Character Creation +30 Experience spent.
NOTE: I will give bonus Exps for character creation if there is an extensive background, personality traits and such.
Characters should have a reasons to be staying in SF at least for a time or be residents of the city or nearby.
At this point I am simply going to agree with a whole with what Pres Man said. WotC, thanks for the OGL and thusly, everything that can be published beneath is aegis.
I don't necessarily blame WotC for the way things turned out...but I certainly think that they (or Hasbronian Overlords) made some really funky and poor decisions with how to handle the marketing of 4E to the community.
But hey, I'm with Paizo and Pathfinder for the long haul. I've tried some rather extensive 4E tests and found that its not to my liking, nor is it fixed in any meaningful way over 3.5. Just like always when a new edition comes out, there is errata (come on, no one should be surprised by this!) and bugs. What I am getting at is this, 4E is different from previous editions. IMO, 4E was a recreation of D&D for a broader audience. While I personally think this was a bad idea, that doesn't mean it was a bad idea for Hasbro/WotC. Then again, I really don't have sales numbers and any statements about reprintings and such are just heresay anyhow, at least without knowing the size of the printings by volume in the first place.
Note that is not an attack against anyone wanting to defend 4E, nor am I attacking that edition...its just that none of us, unless we work in Sales and Marketing for WotC/Hasbro will have all the facts and sales figures.
Otherwise though, I am happy with what I have, happy with Paizo and best of luck to WotC/Hasbro.
The foul Libellus Facie has been a blight upon the face of Golarion and the Great Beyond ever since its creation. Unlike many great evils, it has no history, having only revealed its foul presence in the past few years. That presence, however, has been great and terrible. Its ravenings appear to know no end.
This...Book...if you will, appears innocuous at first, seeming to be a useful aid for a magical form of communication and 'networking'. As time progresses eventually the tome will devour the user's face, adding it to the already enormous collection of flayed faces within.
Each time the user open the Libellus Facie, there is a 1% cumulative chance of it devouring their face, adding it to the collected innumerable pages within. The user invariably dies without their face, though a carefully worded Wish or Miracle might save them if the cast succeeds at a caster level check against the book's enchantment.
Suggested means of destruction No one must ever even think about reading or using the Libellus Facie again.
May I suggest taking a look at the CR values assigned to the RPG Superstar Round 3 submissions?
That is the most up to date information on assigning CR to NPCs that we've seen and appears to tackle both NPCs with NPC classes and only PC classes.
Check it out.
If memory serves me correctly, the CR of a character with all PC levels should be Total Level -2 + any template or other adjustments.
Thus for Drizzt, his CR should be
17 - 2 +1 Drow = CR 16.
On the drow CR, Kae Yoss is right, its only CR+1.
The rule mentioning that Pathfinder characters are more powerful and can handle an encounter 1 level higher only a guideline for GMs to use when trying to determine what encounters are appropriate to use against a party of PF Beta characters using the 3.5 Monster Manuals.
That is not a specific instruction for figuring the CR of NPCs. Remember, PCs (with full wealth by level) are tougher and have a higher CR that NPCs, anyhow.
FYI. This whole storyline began in the 2nd Edition FR supplement Cloak and Dagger and was the "Manshoon Wars". Apparently no one still knows why but all of Manshoon's Stasis Clones woke up at once and didn't go insane. They all went to ground and began waging a covert magical war across Faerun to seize spells and items.
The whole Stasis Clone being bitten and turned into a vampire also originated in this same book (unless there is an earlier source I know nothing about), and the story does specifically say Orlak, Night King of Westgate, turned the Manshoon clone while it was still in stasis.
Its been a long time since I've looked at the old writeup for the 9th level Stasis Clone spell, but it should be noted that this wasn't a Clone spell surrounded in Temporal Stasis with a Contingency set up to drop the Stasis when Manshoon dies.
Stasis Clone states this:
"Unlike duplicates created by the 8th-level wizard spell clone, the copy of the being is never aware of the existence of the original. It remains in magical stasis and
is mentally unreachable (with a sole exception noted hereafter). It does not age, decay, or need air, water, food, or other essentials that other living things require. A stasis clone can be stored in a coffin or other confined space, and it is not awakened by handling. It can be
damaged or even destroyed by weapons, fire, crushing blows, and other forces that would harm its living counterpart."
So, while the Clone doesn't age or need anything, it can be touched (or bitten) without breaking the Stasis, since that only breaks on the death of the caster of the spell. And (normally) only then on the most recent Clone. So...while the story is kinda plausible...its still a bit funky in my estimation.
I'll need to research that a bit and I'll note it on the character sheet once I've figured it out. Time today is limited, but I should be able to check the books out in some detail tomorrow.
Definitely not Vampire Radar though. Spirits definitely...as to what kind...we'll see.
I suppose Pathfinder #25 would have information on Westcrown, right?
A huge and damn awesome Westcrown article by Steven Schend, yup. And it goes to the printer this Monday, come Hell or highwater... so that's what my day looks like.
By Steven Schend!!!!!!??????? Awesome! I was just looking over just how many awesome 2nd edition Forgotten Realms products that he was chief author of and had been wondering what he was up to.
I had no idea that languages were handled so differently in nWoD. Not sure why I imagined that I would get a language for free. D'oh! I'll drop one spot from a mental skill to adjust it.
Reasons for traveling to Miami: Anu is relatively rootless, so far as he is concerned. New place, new life. Basically he is going to be exploring the night-club scene and other such, trying to nail down a gig doing magic. Easiest and safest way for him to earn money. While searching, he will be performing on street corners, near beaches/boardwalks, etc.
Uzzy: Ah...a cop...lovely. [sarcasm] Our characters are going to get along great![/sarcasm] Should make for some fun roleplay...
Yeah, Resolve is one of the Attributes I am considering altering a bit...argH! Too few points!
^_^
Yeah, obviously I am not quite done...this is a first draft, I somewhat ran out of time over the weekend. Over the week I'll be adding finishing touches, retooling a few points here and there, adding Vice and Virtue, etc.
Glad you like the idea! Being open to a lot of things was a bit of my goal. Besides, starting with a very disillusioned character with suspect motivations for doing anything is a fun idea, IMO.
1.) Are you more interested in a character-driven or plot-driven stories? Bear in mind that character-driven stories tend to proceed much slower in PbP format as they are more proactive than reactive.
Some of both for me, though I would lean more towards plot-driven. Character-driven storylines are perfectly good though and I like them for ways to make the characters more invested in the overarching plotlines.
Fatespinner wrote:
2.) Within the World of Darkness milieu, please list your character preferences in order from most to least desirable. (By this, I mean to arrange the following in order: Core WoD human, Vampire, Mage, Werewolf. My knowledge of the other systems like Changeling and Hunter are a bit too fresh for me to effectively run them, sorry.)
For this question...my order would be based on a few assumptions. If sources like Changing Breeds and Second Sight are open for use, then this order: Werewolf/Changing Breeds, Base Human (Second Sight stuff likely), Mage, Vampire. I'm still not as up to speed with the new Vampire stuff.
If those other books are not allowed, then: Human, Mage, Werewolf, Vampire.
Fatespinner wrote:
3.) My games tend to run more towards the "action" side of the scale, so expect that combat will be necessary, often more frequently than your characters would like. To this end, does that fact make you more or less interested in the game? I can certainly dial the "action factor" back, but to make it virtually non-existant is simply not in my capacity. (Besides, "intrigue-style" games run very slowly in PbP due to the amount of social interaction necessary.)
Intrigue is good for plot development and such, but so is combat. So long as the amount of combat is appropriate to the story, it makes little difference to me. Basically, I like the game world I play in to make sense, random attacks for no reasons other than to just fight tend not to fit my view of WoD. So long as combat falls within the storyline, any amount is fine.
Fatespinner wrote:
4.) I do not like giving players control over their dice rolls. The largest reason for this is not because I think players cheat, but because I do not want the player to know if their rolls have succeeded or failed (or botched). Botching a critical knowledge check might lead off on a tangent that serves a...
^_^ This is not a problem for me at all. In a lot of capacities, I agree with handling it that way. Go for it.
Fatespinner wrote:
5.) With regards to the setting, the game can be varied. I would have no problem running WoD in the medieval era or the Rennaissance, but would generally prefer to run it in the modern era (and in the U.S.A. if possible) simply because my knowledge of such culture is most broad. Please state your desired time era and location here, with a few alternatives for flexibility's sake.
My most Iconic character was/is: Calistan "Greycloak" Orythian. He was my third character ever in AD&D and the longest played character I've ever had. I began with him in the Unearthed Arcana days of 1st edition, which pretty soon (after about 1 year of play) transitioned over into Forgotten Realms.
Originally he was: Grey Elf Male N[evil tendencies] Magic User of 9th level by time of the transition.
Once the FR transition happened and the campaign continued for another 5 years, he finally ended up as the only survivor of the original party. His survival was partially due to his complete willingness to sacrifice other party members for his own survival. He was the first Mage I had ever played and my first semi-evil (later, quite a bit more self-centered) character and the first I ever really developed a personality and goals for. He was a battle-mage by trade and spells and focused chiefly on Lightning, Acidic and Prismatic spells. He was also the first character I ever drafted custom spells for (meticulously balanced and discussed with my DM).
By the end of things he finally ended out as
Gold Elf Male NE Mage [High Mage Kit] 26.
(according to my old DM he also achieved two steps of godhood, but by that time we were all ready to try some new characters for a while... 6 years.. x_x ).
Once converted to 3.5 FR he was reestablished as...
Male Elf NE Wizard 12/Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil 7/Archmage 5/Elven High Mage 3.
Obviously, long after he had been retired from play, he has always been around doing things whenever I DM a game, whether doing things totally off-screen or directly involved in a campaign or plots.
He's also never died (though he has been at negatives) and never had to be resurrected.
With the stovepipe hat involved, I am now envisioning the new Asmodean Recruiting Campaign...
"You can trust Honest Asmodeus...see...he has a hat! A hat you can trust....if you sign a contact...see fine print."
Fine Print
Spoiler:
"Note: When signing an Asmodean contract, said contract must be signed in either one's own blood or the blood of one's firstborn child. The contract will henceforth speak of the blood donor as the Signatory and the he/she who shall receive benefits of said contract as the Beneficiary. If the Signatory and Beneficiary are one in the same person, they shall henceforth will be referred to as the Signaficiary. etc etc etc.
Contents include:
Gold Box Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (2nd edition, mint condition)
The Will and the Way, Dark Sun Psionics accessory (awesome!)
1st Edition PHB (wizard cover, great condition)
All of this stuff is in great shape and I was surprised it came so fast!
Fray is awesome!
Extras!
Hordes of Dragonspear (Forgotten Realms adventure)
Deck of Many Things (an actual printed deck of many things! O.O)
Splitting Images Comic
Listens intently to the distant conversation...then begins constructing an elaborate microcosm of a theater.
A pale shimmering mist slowly rises from the still waters...crawling slowly across the ground, thickening into an impenetrable cloud. The mist swirls, seeming almost to suggest the palest of colors and eddies within its depths. Slowly a shape begins to manifest within, that of a baroque theater house.
Such simplicity to adjust to these conditions.
Manifests Adapt Body and Metamorphosis adopting the innocuous shape of a theatrical Impresario and walks into the theater.
Tbug, you simply have to be the most convention-shredding DM I've ever seen. All those games that so many other DMs won't run for so many 'reasons'...you just kick in the teeth and do it!
My slimehat is off to you sir, you have a style and class all you own and you've not forgotten one of the most important rules...have fun!
Personally I haven't run an all undead campaign since the days of the 'Requiem' boxed set from Ravenloft. Awesome stuff.
OoooooOOoooooH! High Ninshabur! I've been hoping to see some Golarion take on any remnants of Ninshabur. In far to many settings the Pseudo-sumerian cultures get no love (if they are even included at all..)
Slimingly starts tracing a few Elder Glyphs around as traps for the unwary.
Spoiler:
Glyphs of the Slime Curse
Twitching its tentacles in anticipation
Mentally to KaeYoss Ahh....so not all creatures hereabouts are mind-blind. Perhaps you could be so kind as to tell me where any choice morsels might lie? My most recent servant could not stand the rigors of service and drank a mighty draught of acid rather than continue as my favored.
Such ungratefulness.
Ah well...perhaps my widening of the fleshlings horizons to include the cold and deep were too much for her...
