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Ooo, I also like the Acquisitions Directorate idea, and I think my character (who shall be made soon, I swear!) would fit right in.
I have two questions:
1) Can I take Mithral Body as my background feat? Or are you looking for something else as a background feat?
2) My craft reserve: I was wondering if you though it was fair for me to use half of my craft reserve for levels 1-4 to make a few extra magic items at the normal half-price. I would imagine my character would use up his craft reserve every level, and that he would probably use a good amount of what he craft, which is why I was thinking only using half for character creation. If you would prefer that I only use one quarter of my craft reserve, I'd understand too.
Sorry everyone for not having a character completed yet, the idea is my mind, but some rather dramatic stuff has been going on lately, and I haven't had a chance to put him on paper. I'll have it done for sure by Sunday.
Thanks for being patient!
Well here is my character, still a few things to work out but its pretty much as is now. Working on the write up too and will update it later. I also bought a Bag of holding at 2500g, as you had said it would be ok to by full-plate+1 this falls in that range, hope its not a problem.
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Since we have a high amount of characters that either are Dragonmarked, or have ties to Dragonmark Houses...
How about we tie the characters together through a shared background in the Acquisition's Directorate of the Twelve? (Explorer's Handbook)
Basically the Acquisitions Directorate are adventurers (usually dragonmarked or with close ties) sent out to loot, pillage and "acquire" (legally or illegally) artifacts and knowledge for the Twelve (The Dragonmarked Houses' joint Magical Research organization).
* I wasn't planning on tying my character background that closely to House Orien, in fact my hat of disguise is because some of my activities wouldn't reflect well on the neutrality of House Orien... but I think this would work well for a shared background for the party.
Any opinions? DM Comments?
Yay! I was thinking of giving my character some strong ties with the Twelve already, so I think this s a great idea. Character to be posted shortly.
Hathir d'Thuranni, a somewhat dark figure and elf wizard extrodinare is nearly complete. Still working out feats and equipment, but I'm pretty close to being done.
As far as a general background, I have a couple of things that I'd like to try. Hathir is old enough to have seen the split between Phiarlan and Thuranni (he would have been around 60 I figure). Probably not quite old enough or experienced enough to have participated directly, but he probably knows several who did.
Secondly I'm thinking that he is an adherent to the Dragon's Path, a group of Thuranni dedicated to the idea that the dragonmarked houses in general (and Thuranni specifically) have a destiny to rule Khorvaire. They study the Dragon Prophecy and use their findings to that end. It's an idea that I think also ties in nicely with The Twelve.
Oh, I'd like to use the Illusionist Variant (as presented in Unearthed Arcana and the SRD) for Chains of Disbeliefe to replace my familiar. I'm also considering the Shadow Shaper variant to replace the wizard's bonus feats, but haven't decieded on that one yet. Please let me know if these are ok. If so I may change my skills a bit to take advantage of Hide as a class skill.
Ok, so to recap...
Shinus Gnome Druid 5. Follows the Gatekeeper Tradition. Uses the alternate Shapeshifting from PHB.
Hathir d'Thuranni Elven Wizard 5. Illusion Specialist. Dragonmarked.
Kaezen d'Orien Human Monk 4/Dragonmark Heir 1. Taking Blade of Orien PRC next level. Skirmishing-type monk who darts around the battlefield to hit soft targets or set up flanking positions.
Aldren d'Deneith Human Knight 5.
scott spicer Khorvaire Elf Rogue?
Nameless Warforged Artificer?
Did I miss anything?
It looks like we have everything pretty well covered. A Divine Caster, Arcane Caster and a Rogue, with an Artificer to back up all three positions. Aldren is a tank, and Kaezen is a skirmisher who should be able to go right after the most important or soft targets on the battlefield. Plus I might be able to take Scott Spicer's Rogue with me when I Dimension Door into a nice flanking positition behind enemy lines.
Ok, so to recap...
Shinus Gnome Druid 5. Follows the Gatekeeper Tradition. Uses the alternate Shapeshifting from PHB.
Hathir d'Thuranni Elven Wizard 5. Illusion Specialist. Dragonmarked.
Kaezen d'Orien Human Monk 4/Dragonmark Heir 1. Taking Blade of Orien PRC next level. Skirmishing-type monk who darts around the battlefield to hit soft targets or set up flanking positions.
Aldren d'Deneith Human Knight 5.
scott spicer Khorvaire Elf Rogue?
Nameless Warforged Artificer?
Did I miss anything?
It looks like we have everything pretty well covered. A Divine Caster, Arcane Caster and a Rogue, with an Artificer to back up all three positions. Aldren is a tank, and Kaezen is a skirmisher who should be able to go right after the most important or soft targets on the battlefield. Plus I might be able to take Scott Spicer's Rogue with me when I Dimension Door into a nice flanking positition behind enemy lines.
Sure call him Shiny if u want, You'll just wake up to 1 leg pissed on and one leg gettin humped while he's a dog :) He He jj
Sure call him Shiny if u want, You'll just wake up to 1 leg pissed on and one leg gettin humped while he's a dog :) He He jjOk, so to recap...
Shinus Gnome Druid 5. Follows the Gatekeeper Tradition. Uses the alternate Shapeshifting from PHB.
Hathir d'Thuranni Elven Wizard 5. Illusion Specialist. Dragonmarked.
Kaezen d'Orien Human Monk 4/Dragonmark Heir 1. Taking Blade of Orien PRC next level. Skirmishing-type monk who darts around the battlefield to hit soft targets or set up flanking positions.
Aldren d'Deneith Human Knight 5.
scott spicer Khorvaire Elf Rogue?
Nameless Warforged Artificer?
Did I miss anything?
It looks like we have everything pretty well covered. A Divine Caster, Arcane Caster and a Rogue, with an Artificer to back up all three positions. Aldren is a tank, and Kaezen is a skirmisher who should be able to go right after the most important or soft targets on the battlefield. Plus I might be able to take Scott Spicer's Rogue with me when I Dimension Door into a nice flanking positition behind enemy lines.
Hehe :)
Well everything's looking pretty good so far!
Okay, if I can take the Dragonmark as my 'background' feat, I'll do that. The character isn't going to be much for damage output, but he'll be mobile and able to defend the people who are dishing out lots of damage. I chose a heavy pick as my main weapon because, one-handed weapons don't do much damage anyway but, when I crit, a x4 weapon will certainly make people notice. :)
Also, a request: The Knight class gives me Mounted Combat at 2nd level, but this character possesses no ranks in Ride nor do I have any intention of being much of a mounted warrior. I see this character as more of a stalwart defender instead of a champion-of-the-tournament-style "knight." Any chance I can swap that feat out for some other basic feat like Combat Reflexes or Improved Initiative?
Also, a request: The Knight class gives me Mounted Combat at 2nd level, but this character possesses no ranks in Ride nor do I have any intention of being much of a mounted warrior. I see this character as more of a stalwart defender instead of a champion-of-the-tournament-style "knight." Any chance I can swap that feat out for some other basic feat like Combat Reflexes or Improved Initiative?
Sure, I would allow that :)
Oh, I'd like to use the Illusionist Variant (as presented in Unearthed Arcana and the SRD) for Chains of Disbeliefe to replace my familiar. I'm also considering the Shadow Shaper variant to replace the wizard's bonus feats, but haven't decieded on that one yet. Please let me know if these are ok. If so I may change my skills a bit to take advantage of Hide as a class skill.
Forgot to respond to this. Yep, I will allow that.
Also, a request: The Knight class gives me Mounted Combat at 2nd level, but this character possesses no ranks in Ride nor do I have any intention of being much of a mounted warrior. I see this character as more of a stalwart defender instead of a champion-of-the-tournament-style "knight." Any chance I can swap that feat out for some other basic feat like Combat Reflexes or Improved Initiative?Sure, I would allow that :)
Sweet! Combat Reflexes it is!
Great! I think I'm done. I'll finalize my prepared spells once we get some background information on the campaign. I may also spruce up Hathir's character background as well.
Hathir crinkled his nose as someone rushed past him. The man had close cropped gray hair, and flairing golden robes... and he smelt unmistakably of sulphur. Fadden d'Denieth. Hathir stifled a chuckle. How unsubtle the man was. Still he had ambition, and Hathir was determined not to underestimate the man. Hathir slowly shifted his gaze back to the tome he had been studying. A Treatise on Battlefield Strategies, by Galifar I. Ugh. An utterly pedantic book written by a pompous upjumped mule. Still Hathir was sure there were some interesting tidbits about the Twelve and its early history hidden away amongst the dross.
Then something caught Hathir's eye, something fluttering amid the shadows between the shelves of books that paralleled the walls in the study hall. Yes, that was him. Allious Shol d'Phiarlin. Hathir was sure to turn his head down and bury it deep within the folds of his book before permitting himself to smile. Hathir knew Allious was researching the effects of various alchemical stimulants to the dwarven nervous system. He also knew that there was a particularly informative book on dwarven anatomy in the exact location where Allious was searching the shelves. What Allious did not know however, was that the book he was searching for was sitting right underneath the Treatise on Battlefield Strategies, by Galifar I.
"Hathir?" someone whispered in his ear, which shot him up nearly to the roof. "Sorry, I didn't think you could be startled."
Hathir shot him a cold gaze. He shouldn't have been startled. He should have kept his wits about him instead of focusing on the damn Phiarlan. Jasser d'Orien merely raised a single eyebrow. "Ahh... I see now," he continued to whisper. "Playing another prank, are we? Let's hope Allious takes this one better than the last." The man was insufferable. He probably teleported himself right next to Hathir simply to get a rise out of him.
Hathir smoothed the folds in his tunic before turning back to study his book. "Was there something you wanted?"
"Sevvin wants to see you," was the red haired man's only reply.
--
Hathir sized up to door to the little gnome's study. Such a large door for such a small creature. But then, this had not always been Sevvin's office. It had been passed down from one headmaster to the next throughout the ages, and was doubtless designed for someone... taller.
Tugging on his tunic, Hathir reached out to knock on the door before entering. The scholarly folds around him shimmered and then seemed almost to melt, leaving behind a black and green glammerweave ensemble. Only the brooch at his neck remained the same, though it shifted its location slightly as well.
Like the door that led to it, the office was large. A fire was lit in the hearth, the drapes were pulled allowing dappled spots of sunlight to dance across the oak desk before him. The gnome sat in a plush, red, leather chair on the other side. "Hathir," he said, "... I have a task for you..."
1) Can I take Mithral Body as my background feat? Or are you looking for something else as a background feat?2) My craft reserve: I was wondering if you though it was fair for me to use half of my craft reserve for levels 1-4 to make a few extra magic items at the normal half-price. I would imagine my character would use up his craft reserve every level, and that he would probably use a good amount of what he craft, which is why I was thinking only using half for character creation. If you would prefer that I only use one quarter of my craft reserve, I'd understand too.
Sorry everyone for not having a character completed yet, the idea is my mind, but some rather dramatic stuff has been going on lately, and I haven't had a chance to put him on paper. I'll have it done for sure by Sunday.
Thanks for being patient!
Woops, forgot to reply to this one. Very sorry.
1: Yes, you may.
2: Yeah, i would say that for levels 1-4, you can use half the normal craft reserve per level based on the fact that much of the stuff made at those early levels has been used up, keeping in mind that the reserves don't carry over to the next level.
And Chimpman, very nice little vignette :)
Just about finished, all I need now is to buy my random assortment of equipment and I'm good to go! Should be done soon.
Just about finished, all I need now is to buy my random assortment of equipment and I'm good to go! Should be done soon.
Cool! Just waiting on Scott Spicer now.
I updated my profile to include my background, and played around a bit with the skill ranks and bought the rest of my equipment, etc Everything should be final now.
If any of the Dragonmarked members of the party care to read this, Kaezen would have most likely shared his philosophy and history if we had worked together before.
Kaezen d’Orien’s Backstory
Kaezen is a rising star in House Orien. However, he has radical political views, therefore his superiors are content to have him continue to work with the Acquisition’s Directorate, rather than let Kaezen potentially build a powerbase among the two mainstream Orien guilds.
Kaezen was raised in the Orien enclave in Sharn. Due to the transient nature of House Orien, Kaezen didn’t have many friends among the other Orien children, but rather made friends with many Brelish children his own age. This exposure to Brelish culture led Kaezen to feel just as much a normal (if upper class) citizen of Breland as much as a member of House Orien.
Kaezen was picked at an early age as a potential member of the Acquisitions Directorate. His mentor in martial arts was Gavrin d’Orien, an innovative master who incorporated both the Passive Way and Sun School fighting styles with his Blade of Orien abilities into a devastating new discipline, Orien Fist. Gavrin disappeared on the Day of Mourning.
POLITICAL BELIEFS & PHILOSOPHY
Aside from Orien Fist techniques, Gavrin taught Kaezen a martial code (essentially Lawful Good), which included the core tenet: “With power comes responsibility. Siberys and Eberron have granted us great powers, and therefore we have a great responsibility to use them for the greater good.” This core tenet runs counter to the usual neutrality espoused by the Dragonmarked Houses, and helps fuel Kaezen’s more radical political beliefs.
Kaezen believes that the Dragonmarked Houses were given their powers by Siberys and Eberron for a reason, and that they have a responsibility to use their power wisely. Therefore, he believes that the Dragonmarked Houses should have intervened in the Last War in favor of one of the Galifar nations, thereby negating generations of war and the Mourning.
Naturally, Kaezen believes that the Dragonmarked Houses should have backed Breland. The fortunes of Cannith & Orien are fundamentally tied to Breland’s industrial model of society, and would increase if Breland had influence over the rest of Khorvaire. Medani is already based in Breland and the Medani Patriarch is friendly with the Brelish crown. Zilargo has already tied their fortunes to Breland, so Sivis gnomes would naturally be inclined to back Breland as well.
It is Kaezen’s outspoken belief that even these 4 Houses, led by Orien, had backed Breland at the outset of the Last War, Breland’s industrial might would have ended the war without the need for millions of deaths. Without Cannith arms, Sivis communications, Medani counter-intelligence and Orien mass transportation, the other nations would have been severely handicapped, if not crippled. At the very least, they could have backed Borannel at the Thronehold meetings, and that might have been enough to actually force the reunification of Galifar under Brelish rule, a far better result than the tenuous ceasefire that exists today.
Kaezen isn’t shy about speaking about his beliefs, but he has the commonsense not to mention it in front of non-Orien members… at least not often.
He has been repeatedly censured by the Orien leadership, and threatened with excoriate status. However, Kaezen is hardly alone in the general belief that the Dragonmark Houses neutrality is an obsolete concept in the modern world. And he is, or was, considered a rising star due to his dragonmarked abilities.
So the Orien leadership are content to leave Kaezen in his assignment with the Acquisitions Directorate, where he is unable to build a political powerbase within the mainstream Orien members. And if he was excoriate, they know he would naturally gravitate to working for Breland, which wouldn’t look good on House Orien if it became public.
The Terminus Incident & Past Adventures
Gavrin used to send Kaezen out into Sharn on patrols. This was a test of Kaezen’s observational skills & focus, as well as an opportunity to out his skills to practical use by following the tenets of his martial code. Kaezen still follows this practice today when he is in Sharn.
In the beginning, these patrols used to be about looking for pickpockets, purse-snatchers and muggers. Now Kaezen also hunts down criminal and terrorist threats like Daask, the Emerald Claw or Cults of the Dragon Below. Threats that the Sharn Watch either aren’t equipped or aren’t willing to handle. If Kaezen comes across something that he can’t handle himself, he passes the information along to the King’s Citadel to deal with.
On one of his early patrols, Kaezen intervened in what he thought was a mugging, and inadvertently stopped the assassination of a Citadel agent. This led to Kaezen being embroiled in whirlwind intrigue, and ended with an attempt by the Emerald Claw to disrupt the Lightning Rail station in the Terminus district by deliberately hijacking and crashing several trains into the station. This would cripple Sharn, as the rails are needed to bring in food on a daily basis. And it would have severely hampered Breland’s military, as Sharn’s factories are critical to the war effort.
Kaezen managed to help foil the plot, but suffered severe scars to his face as an Emerald Claw agent triggered a premature blast disc explosion as Kaezen and the Citadel agent battled an Emerald Claw suicide squad for control of a Lightning Rail car. Kaezen managed to dimesion leap to safety, and the Lightning Rail train crashed short of the Terminus station.
Foiling the Terminus Incident, which was never reported on accurately by the press, helped cement Kaezen as a rising star in House Orien. Additionally, while the Citadel agent died in the explosion, Kaezen has some contacts with the King’s Citadel in Sharn from the debriefing afterwards. At least enough that when he passes on information on threats, he is sure that he is taken seriously.
Kaezen has also undertaken some tasks, mainly counter-terrorism and information gathering, for the King’s Citadel, although this in unknown to his elders in House Orien. Kaezen purchased a Hat of Disguise, ostensibly to conceal his facial scars in social situations, but in reality, he uses it to conceal his identity and dragonmarks when he is out on patrol or working for the Citadel.
howdy,
not sure if you have all the players you are looking for but I'd be interested. If you would like a character, I can drop one down tonight. Just let me know if there are still openings and if you're going with the D-marked idea.
Chris
howdy,
not sure if you have all the players you are looking for but I'd be interested. If you would like a character, I can drop one down tonight. Just let me know if there are still openings and if you're going with the D-marked idea.
Chris
Well, if Scott Spicer doesn't post by Friday, then your in.
So are we looking to maybe starting this weekend then?
So are we looking to maybe starting this weekend then?
I'm hoping that we can. Got the adventure in the mail yesterday, and I've decided that, as suggested by it, it will start in medias res, so don't be alarmed at the beginning of the adventure. Everything will be explained in due time. Just make sure to tie your character's background with the Acquisitions Directorate of the Twelve in some way or another, or tie your character to one of the other characters.
So are we looking to maybe starting this weekend then?I'm hoping that we can. Got the adventure in the mail yesterday, and I've decided that, as suggested by it, it will start in medias res, so don't be alarmed at the beginning of the adventure. Everything will be explained in due time. Just make sure to tie your character's background with the Acquisitions Directorate of the Twelve in some way or another, or tie your character to one of the other characters.
in medias res! Yay!
Nothing like starting off in the middle of a death defying stunt or cool fight to kick off an adventure!
*Plus I'm really wanting to see how this character concept of Orien Dragonmarks+Monk+Sun School+Blade of Orien works out in a fight... I came up with the concept ~18 months ago, and haven't had a chance to play it yet.
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Shinus/Eadaro: Check your email ;-) ... its too bad we don't have a PM function on these boards...
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So are we looking to maybe starting this weekend then?I'm hoping that we can. Got the adventure in the mail yesterday, and I've decided that, as suggested by it, it will start in medias res, so don't be alarmed at the beginning of the adventure. Everything will be explained in due time. Just make sure to tie your character's background with the Acquisitions Directorate of the Twelve in some way or another, or tie your character to one of the other characters.
Ahhh... then I think I have a question about initial spell selection. Originally I was thinking that I would choose my prepared spells after the intro post... kind of get some forwarning about what kind of situation I was walking into. It sounds like I might not have that kind of luxury (which is totally fine).
Without giving too much away, could you maybe set the tone enough for me to make a good guess at spell selection?
Hey Nameless/Mender,
I just saw that you had to drop out of the Pathfinder PbP campaign.
Are you still good to go with this one?
Ahhh... then I think I have a question about initial spell selection. Originally I was thinking that I would choose my prepared spells after the intro post... kind of get some forwarning about what kind of situation I was walking into. It sounds like I might not have that kind of luxury (which is totally fine).
Without giving too much away, could you maybe set the tone enough for me to make a good guess at spell selection?
Sure. The scene opens with you all walking through a jungle. You have been traveling on foot through said jungle for about 200 miles.
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Hey everyone!
Yes, I should be good with this adventure since it's a one-of, not an ongoing campaign (and if it becomes one, I could just have my character leave to return to a Cannith enclave or something). The main reason I left Sect's RotRL campaign is that he was planning on going from 1st to 15th level, and that's a pretty big commitment.
I'm sorry I've been posting haphazardly lately, I'm on vacation and computer use is scarce. But once all the company leaves, I should be able to post frequently (probably starting this Sunday).
EDIT: I'll try to actually finalize my character by tomorrow night so that we can start the game this weekend.
Hey everyone!
Yes, I should be good with this adventure since it's a one-of, not an ongoing campaign (and if it becomes one, I could just have my character leave to return to a Cannith enclave or something). The main reason I left Sect's RotRL campaign is that he was planning on going from 1st to 15th level, and that's a pretty big commitment.
I'm sorry I've been posting haphazardly lately, I'm on vacation and computer use is scarce. But once all the company leaves, I should be able to post frequently (probably starting this Sunday).
Yeah, this adventure only spans 5 levels, from 5th to about 10th level. However, there's always room for further adventures after the module itself is finished. Though, truthfully, at 10th level you'll already be some of the most powerful people in Eberron, so...
Hey, as I'm going to be filling out the last few magic item purchases (mainly scrolls and the like, possibly a wand of cure light wounds), does anyone have any suggestions on magic items that they would find particularly useful in this party?
I'm not going to complain if anyone wants to load up on healing items ;-)
I'm pretty loaded up on healing items right now, so I got that covered, plus most of my spells will be healing as well, so we should be good.
Hey guys! I was planning on posting the beginning of the adventure today, but I found myself pretty busy with work and all. So, tomorrow check for the opening of the adventure!
Mender is complete, and ready to go. I have his backstory in mind, but have yet to write it down. However, I am finally, after all this time, 100% ready to play. Also, from now on, I should have no difficulty posting regularly!
One last question for DM Evil Genius: Can I already use the infusions from Magic of Eberron, or do I only know the ones from the Eberron Campaign Setting?
Thanks!
One last question for DM Evil Genius: Can I already use the infusions from Magic of Eberron, or do I only know the ones from the Eberron Campaign Setting?Thanks!
Yes, artificers know all the infusions that exist. :)
Okay, I've made the first post of the play thread in the Play-By-Post forum. Go and check it out :)
Game Thread is here in case anyone has problems finding it ;-)
Sorry to hear that, Scott. You have my best wishes.
Chimpman: I think we'll just use the honor system for rolls, or we could use Invisible Castle to track rolls if everyone wants to do that. I personally don't mind either way.
Sorry to hear that, Scott. You have my best wishes.
Chimpman: I think we'll just use the honor system for rolls, or we could use Invisible Castle to track rolls if everyone wants to do that. I personally don't mind either way.
I'd rather go with the honor system, b/c I'm pretty sure Invisible Castle doesn't work properly on my work computer.
Is it too late for me to join?
Is it too late for me to join?
Ah. Obviously it is. Oh well.