This was brought up in one of those Monk threads, and I want to see this bear fruit.
The Premise:
Hidden away in a far off kingdom is a tower said to stretch from the deepest crevice of the Negative Energy Plane to the highest of the heavens (which afterlife changes with each telling). What is known is that twenty stories exist in the material world, at least partially.
Each floor consists of roughly five rooms connected by hallways--even a cursory awareness of one's surroundings makes it obvious that each floor is an extra-dimensional space. As one moves through the threshold from one floor to the next they are revitalized (full 8hr rest instantly), empowered (+1 Level), and rewarded for their efforts (access to WBL-appropriate equipment). Once a year this faraway kingdom brings in bands of four people (Traditionally each team is an Arcanist, a Divine Caster, a Thief, and a Soldier) to try their hand at making it to the top of the tower and defeating the Pit Fiend rumored to reside there. The fact that every inch of the tower is covered in Arcane Eyes and that the entire show is broadcasted to crowds of enduring fans via illusions is not lost on the King's coffers, nor the local merchants--or betting pools. The chance for Godlike powered rumored to be possessed by those that make it to the top of the tower is not lost on the contestents; but nor is the threat of their souls rotting eternally in its foundation. Will you brave the Playtest Tower, and will you survive?
Lets design this tower. The twenty floors correspond to the twenty normal character levels. Each floor represents a singular adventuring day with each of the five "rooms" representing one encounter. The total CR of all the rooms should roughly equal (CR)*5+2. Because the magic tower is magic, a "room" may be an entire plane of existance, if necessary (although I recommend the stranger stuff by in the higher levels, as a matter of thematic consistency). Likewise, unique / interesting encounters and situations should be encouraged.
Now, while originally designed to send Fan-Material through, this idea has a lot of potential even when considering Paizo products. The design of such a tower could help people playtest a wide variety of classes and changes. Note that, and I can not stress this enough: the tower would never be a substitute for actual play. It is simply meant to get the basics out of the way and add to the amount of data we can collect. Once complete, it'll also be a venue for people who play in groups opposed to playtesting, or who are having trouble finding a game.
The Goal
- Create a module that rapidly runs levels 1-20.
- Each floor should take no more than one session to play--ideally less.
- Each floor must contain challenges representative of that level, and maybe a few odd-balls to keep things fun.
- No single encounter should take over an hour.
- The playtest tower should be fun! White-room battles are okay, and should be there. But so should interesting situations and environments. Throw in an underwater battle or a ship conflict or something.
*Once closer to completion, we'll discuss ways to speed up the process so you can get through a bunch of the floors even more rapidly.
The Plan
The Tower will be designed individually and then compiled into Google Docs. Each "Room" should be roughly one page worth of material, two if you count NPC statblocks. When the Playtest Tower is complete to the point that its passingly useful a separate thread will be made to present the finished project.
I will ultimately create a Google Docs folder to compile everything, but until then those working on the project should create and link to their own Google Docs.
Getting the first five and the first ten levels complete are the primary benchmarks. I'd like people to sign up to do a level and then design that floor (5 encounters). NPCs, Terrain, and Basic tactics should be included with links to their relevant stat-blocks on the PFSRD. Please no custom monsters and please keep the amount of cross-referencing to a minimum.
What We Need
- Input, input, input! This is a community project for a reason. Are the designed encounters too hard? Too soft? Do you have an amazing idea we hadn't considered? Post here, and let us know. How can we best meet and exceed your expectations for the ultimate playtest experience.
- People to design floors. If you're interested, select a level, and start designing. Please announce your decision so we can keep track and minimize overlap. When you've got your rough draft, post your work here, where it'll be reviewed by the community.
- People to design "Stock Characters." I'd like to get a type of signature character for each Base Class, designed 1-20, including equipment at each level. These characters should be representative of their class. If there is enough of a divergence or an interest in one class, more than one stock character may be considered. Stock Characters should be made using PFS rules.
- Mapping software. I'd like this project to actually have maps like those found in Adventure Paths. I don't know what software is good for this. What's available?
For those that want to Skim
I won't be able to edit this post much longer. To help people jump in to the project while it is running and focus their attention where it is most needed, I will occassionally make a post titled, "UPDATE POST: THE PROJECT TO THIS POINT AND FORWARD." In that post I will note the cumulative efforts to that point and note where our attention is most needed. For the curious, our first order of business is getting volunteers for floors and the characters.
The 21st floor has a gate that leads into the chamber holding the Starstone.
As a more serious input, what kind of "Stock" characters are you looking for people to create? Classes like the Fighter can be made in a number of ways; are you looking for something super completely typical and min-maxed?
I could try my hand at some Fighter characters, since that's a class I think I'm really good with.
Whoops, good catch. Stock Characters should be made using PFS rules (20-pt buy, no custom races, etc) and without Archetypes. Characters should be fairly a-typical. Pretend you're making an Iconic Character.
In terms of optimization, it should be apparent that you know what you are doing, but it shouldn't be twinked to hell in back. Among other things, it legitimately has to survive all levels 1-20.
In short, think of it this way: You go to a PFS event. You sit down across from someone that has been described as knowing what they are doing. They tell you they are making an X (Fighter, Rogue, Two-Handed Fighter if you want to be more specific, whatever). What do you expect them to have made?
As your check, ask yourself whether you'd invite that character back to your table again in the future. This should weed out both extremes.
Non-Archetype, no Multiclass. Alternate Class is fine.
The SCs are to be used as a comparative baseline.
Party Dynamic that can be assumed is, in general, One Arcanist, one Divine Caster, One Warrior, One Rogue. The person running the trial can feel free to tweak this, but that's on them. Other than those four roles existing and the SC filling one of them, assume they are going to a table with people they don't know.
The Citedel looks promising for the type of thing we want to do. Can markers and/or furniture be added?
Just to call it out: I'm busy with a barbarian SC. It's pretty time-consuming to build all the details for all levels - so expect it during the coming week (today I'm off to play Shattered Star IRL).
As promised, here's my submission for SC:barbarian.
Yander Skarrjaw
Male human barbarian
CN Medium humanoid (Shoanti)
Favored class: barbarian
Favored class bonus: +1/3 superstition
Yander grew up a promising warrior among the Shoanti in the plains of Varisia - this changed one day when he was the only survivor of an orc raid. Left for dead he woke the next morning, a near-death experience that he only overcame through his exceptional constitution. The event changed him somewhat, where previously he shared in the philosophy of Shoanti to thrive through might, he came to rely heavily on his ability to outlast foes - rather than to slay them with sheer brutal power. This change in perspective made a remarkable difference to the choices he made while developing as a warrior: he took solace in unpredictable techniques of defence - and it granted him a tenacity of will and enduring physique able to overcome hardships of nearly any nature.
Special notes: Values shown in square brackets [] apply while raging. In the case of saves (as they are affected by the superstition rage power) two values may be shown in the square brackets, the second value indicating the value when superstition applies Once Yander acquires guarded stance at level 8, his raging AC reflects guarded stance
Base Attributes
Str 14
Dex 16
Con 16 = 14 + 2 racial
Int 10
Wis 10
Cha 10
Wealth: 9530gp
+1 furious battle axe (8310gp), masterwork cold-iron heavy pick (316gp), masterwork silver warhammer (312gp), +5 mithril breastplate (29200gp), masterwork breastplate (350gp), +5 heavy wooden shield (25157gp), ioun torch (75gp), sleeves of many garments (200gp), ring of protection +2 (8000gp), amulet of natural armor +2 (8000gp), eyes of the eagle (2500gp), boots of springing and striding (5500gp), belt of perfection +2 (16000gp), dusty rose prism ioun stone (5000gp), headband of havoc (8000gp), ring of foe focus (10000gp), 4x potion of cure light wounds (50gp), 2x potion of invisibility (300gp), 1 potion of fly (750gp)
sundry equipment (bedroll, rations, cold-weather gear, etc)
Level 14
Str 19[25] Dex 18 Con 18[26] Int 10 Wis 10 Cha 10
Init +4; Senses Perception +22
AC 39[39], touch 18[28], flat 39[39], CMD 36[39] (+11 armor, +4 Dex, +8 shield, +1 dodge, +2 deflect, +2 natural, +1 insight, [+3 guarded stance, -2 rage])
hp 159[215] (14d12+56)
Fort 13[17/26], Ref 7[7/16], Will 3[6/13]
Defensive abilities improved uncanny dodge, trap sense +4, DR 3/-, lesser chaos totem, chaos totem, greater chaos totem (DR 9/lawful headband of havoc), immune to sicken, immune to nausea, immune to shaken, immune to frighten, foe focus (+2 to AC and saves vs 1 foe), resist fire 7, indomitable will (+4 to will saves vs enchantments while raging), defending weapon (can grant +4 AC bonus if desired while raging)
Speed 50
Melee battleaxe +20/+15/+10 (1d8+6/x3)
Melee raging battleaxe +25/+20/+15 (1d8+11/x3)
Offensive abilities power attack, greater rage 36/day, strength surge, raging brutality
Wealth: 9520gp
+2 furious defending adamantine battle axe (35010gp), +1 furious battle axe (8310gp), masterwork cold-iron heavy pick (316gp), masterwork silver warhammer (312gp), +5 mithril breastplate (29200gp), masterwork breastplate (350gp), +5 heavy wooden shield (25157gp), ioun torch (75gp), sleeves of many garments (200gp), ring of protection +2 (8000gp), amulet of natural armor +2 (8000gp), eyes of the eagle (2500gp), boots of springing and striding (5500gp), belt of perfection +2 (16000gp), dusty rose prism ioun stone (5000gp), headband of havoc (8000gp), ring of foe focus (10000gp), 2x immovable rod (5000gp), 4x potion of cure light wounds (50gp), 2x potion of invisibility (300gp), 1 potion of fly (750gp)
sundry equipment (bedroll, rations, cold-weather gear, etc)
Level 15
Str 21[27] Dex 20 Con 20[28] Int 10 Wis 10 Cha 10
Init +5; Senses Perception +23
AC 40[40], touch 19[30], flat 40[40], CMD 39[42] (+11 armor, +5 Dex, +8 shield, +1 dodge, +2 deflect, +2 natural, +1 insight, [+3 guarded stance, -2 rage])
hp 185[245] (15d12+75)
Fort 14[18/28], Ref 9[9/19], Will 4[7/15]
Defensive abilities improved uncanny dodge, trap sense +5, DR 3/-, lesser chaos totem, chaos totem, greater chaos totem (DR 9/lawful headband of havoc), immune to sicken, immune to nausea, immune to shaken, immune to frighten, foe focus (+2 to AC and saves vs 1 foe), resist fire/cold 7, indomitable will (+4 to will saves vs enchantments while raging), defending weapon (can grant +4 AC bonus if desired while raging), mind protection like protection from evil
Speed 50
Melee battleaxe +22/+17/+12 (1d8+7/x3)
Melee raging battleaxe +27/+22/+17 (1d8+12/x3)
Offensive abilities power attack, greater rage 38/day, strength surge, raging brutality
Wealth: 12020gp
+2 furious defending adamantine battle axe (35010gp), +1 furious battle axe (8310gp), masterwork cold-iron heavy pick (316gp), masterwork silver warhammer (312gp), +5 mithril breastplate (29200gp), masterwork breastplate (350gp), +5 heavy wooden shield (25157gp), ioun torch (75gp), sleeves of many garments (200gp), ring of protection +2 (8000gp), amulet of natural armor +2 (8000gp), eyes of the eagle (2500gp), boots of springing and striding (5500gp), belt of perfection +4 (64000gp), dusty rose prism ioun stone (5000gp), headband of havoc (8000gp), ring of foe focus (10000gp), 2x immovable rod (5000gp), wayfinder (500gp), clear spindle ioun stone resonating (4000gp), 4x potion of cure light wounds (50gp), 2x potion of invisibility (300gp), 1 potion of fly (750gp)
sundry equipment (bedroll, rations, cold-weather gear, etc)
Level 16
Str 22[28] Dex 20 Con 20[28] Int 12 Wis 10 Cha 10
Init +5; Senses Perception +24
AC 42[42], touch 20[32], flat 42[42], CMD 42[45] (+11 armor, +5 Dex, +8 shield, +1 dodge, +3 deflect, +3 natural, +1 insight, [+3 guarded stance, -2 rage])
hp 197[261] (16d12+80)
Fort 15[19/30], Ref 9[9/20], Will 4[7/16]
Defensive abilities improved uncanny dodge, trap sense +5, DR 4/-, lesser chaos totem, chaos totem, greater chaos totem (DR 10/lawful headband of havoc), immune to sicken, immune to nausea, immune to shaken, immune to frighten, foe focus (+2 to AC and saves vs 1 foe), resist fire/cold/acid 8, indomitable will (+4 to will saves vs enchantments while raging), defending weapon (can grant +5 AC bonus if desired while raging), unfettered shirt (freedom of movement for 10 minutes), mind protection like protection from evil
Speed 50
Melee battleaxe +25/+20/+15/+10 (1d8+9/x3)
Melee raging battleaxe +30/+25/+20/+15 (1d8+14/x3)
Offensive abilities power attack, greater rage 40/day, strength surge, raging brutality
Wealth: 620gp
+3 furious defending adamantine battle axe (53010gp), +1 furious battle axe (8310gp), masterwork cold-iron heavy pick (316gp), masterwork silver warhammer (312gp), +5 mithril breastplate (29200gp), masterwork breastplate (350gp), +5 heavy wooden shield (25157gp), ioun torch (75gp), sleeves of many garments (200gp), ring of protection +3 (18000gp), amulet of natural armor +3 (18000gp), eyes of the eagle (2500gp), boots of springing and striding (5500gp), belt of perfection +4 (64000gp), dusty rose prism ioun stone (5000gp), headband of havoc (8000gp), ring of foe focus (10000gp), 2x immovable rod (5000gp), wayfinder (500gp), clear spindle ioun stone resonating (4000gp), robe of blending (8400gp), unfettered shirt (10000gp), glove of storing (10000gp), wings of flying (54000gp), headband of intelligence +2 (keyed on Fly) (4000gp), 4x potion of cure light wounds (50gp), 2x potion of invisibility (300gp), 1 potion of fly (750gp)
sundry equipment (bedroll, rations, cold-weather gear, etc)
Level 17
Str 22[28] Dex 20 Con 20[28] Int 12 Wis 10 Cha 10
Init +5; Senses Perception +25
AC 44[45], touch 21[33], flat 44[45], CMD 44[47] (+11 armor, +5 Dex, +8 shield, +1 dodge, +4 deflect, +4 natural, +1 insight, [+3 guarded stance, -2 rage])
hp 209[277] (17d12+85)
Fort 15[19/30], Ref 9[9/20], Will 4[7/16]
Defensive abilities improved uncanny dodge, trap sense +5, DR 4/-, lesser chaos totem, chaos totem, greater chaos totem (DR 10/lawful headband of havoc), immune to sicken, immune to nausea, immune to shaken, immune to frighten, foe focus (+2 to AC and saves vs 1 foe), resist fire/cold/acid/electricity 8, indomitable will (+4 to will saves vs enchantments while raging), defending weapon (can grant +7 AC bonus if desired while raging), mind protection like protection from evil, unfettered shirt (freedom of movement for 10 minutes)
Speed 50
Melee battleaxe +28/+23/+18/+13 (1d8+11/x3)
Melee raging battleaxe +33/+28/+23/+18 (1d8+16/x3)
Offensive abilities power attack, greater rage 42/day, strength surge, raging brutality
Wealth: 19620gp
+5 furious defending adamantine battle axe (101010gp), +1 furious battle axe (8310gp), masterwork cold-iron heavy pick (316gp), masterwork silver warhammer (312gp), +5 mithril breastplate (29200gp), masterwork breastplate (350gp), +5 heavy wooden shield (25157gp), ioun torch (75gp), sleeves of many garments (200gp), ring of protection +4 (32000gp), amulet of natural armor +4 (32000gp), eyes of the eagle (2500gp), boots of springing and striding (5500gp), belt of perfection +4 (64000gp), dusty rose prism ioun stone (5000gp), headband of havoc (8000gp), ring of foe focus (10000gp), 2x immovable rod (5000gp), wayfinder (500gp), clear spindle ioun stone resonating (4000gp), robe of blending (8400gp), unfettered shirt (10000gp), glove of storing (10000gp), wings of flying (54000gp), headband of intelligence +2 (keyed on Fly) (4000gp), 4x potion of cure light wounds (50gp), 2x potion of invisibility (300gp), 1 potion of fly (750gp)
sundry equipment (bedroll, rations, cold-weather gear, etc)
Level 18
Str 27[33] Dex 20 Con 20[28] Int 12 Wis 10 Cha 10
Init +5; Senses Perception +26
AC 44[46], touch 21[35], flat 44[46], CMD 47[51] (+11 armor, +5 Dex, +8 shield, +1 dodge, +4 deflect, +4 natural, +1 insight, [+4 guarded stance, -2 rage])
hp 221[293] (18d12+90)
Fort 16[20/32], Ref 10[10/22], Will 5[8/18]
Defensive abilities improved uncanny dodge, trap sense +6, DR 4/-, lesser chaos totem, chaos totem, greater chaos totem (DR 11/lawful headband of havoc), immune to sicken, immune to nausea, immune to shaken, immune to frighten, foe focus (+2 to AC and saves vs 1 foe), resist fire/cold/acid/electricity 9, indomitable will (+4 to will saves vs enchantments while raging), defending weapon (can grant +7 AC bonus if desired while raging), mind protection like protection from evil, unfettered shirt (freedom of movement for 10 minutes), eater of magic
Speed 50
Melee battleaxe +31/+26/+21/+16 (1d8+13/x3)
Melee raging battleaxe +36/+31/+26/+21 (1d8+18/x3)
Offensive abilities power attack, greater rage 44/day, strength surge, raging brutality, tireless rage
Wealth: 2120gp
+5 furious defending adamantine battle axe (101010gp), +1 furious battle axe (8310gp), masterwork cold-iron heavy pick (316gp), masterwork silver warhammer (312gp), +5 mithril breastplate (29200gp), masterwork breastplate (350gp), +5 heavy wooden shield (25157gp), ioun torch (75gp), sleeves of many garments (200gp), ring of protection +4 (32000gp), amulet of natural armor +4 (32000gp), eyes of the eagle (2500gp), boots of springing and striding (5500gp), belt of perfection +4 (64000gp), dusty rose prism ioun stone (5000gp), headband of havoc (8000gp), ring of foe focus (10000gp), 2x immovable rod (5000gp), wayfinder (500gp), clear spindle ioun stone resonating (4000gp), robe of blending (8400gp), unfettered shirt (10000gp), glove of storing (10000gp), wings of flying (54000gp), headband of intelligence +2 (keyed on Fly) (4000gp), manual of gainful exercise +5 (137500), 4x potion of cure light wounds (50gp), 2x potion of invisibility (300gp), 1 potion of fly (750gp)
sundry equipment (bedroll, rations, cold-weather gear, etc)
Level 19
Str 27[33] Dex 20 Con 24[32] Int 12 Wis 10 Cha 10
Init +5; Senses Perception +27
AC 46[48], touch 22[36], flat 46[48], CMD 49[53] (+11 armor, +5 Dex, +8 shield, +1 dodge, +5 deflect, +5 natural, +1 insight, [+4 guarded stance, -2 rage])
hp 271[347] (19d12+95)
Fort 18[22/34], Ref 10[10/22], Will 5[8/18]
Defensive abilities improved uncanny dodge, trap sense +6, DR 5/-, lesser chaos totem, chaos totem, greater chaos totem (DR 11/lawful headband of havoc), immune to sicken, immune to nausea, immune to shaken, immune to frighten, foe focus (+2 to AC and saves vs 1 foe), resist fire/cold/acid/electricity 9, indomitable will (+4 to will saves vs enchantments while raging), defending weapon (can grant +7 AC bonus if desired while raging), mind protection like protection from evil, unfettered shirt (freedom of movement for 10 minutes), eater of magic
Speed 50
Melee battleaxe +32/+27/+22/+17 (1d8+13/x3)
Melee raging battleaxe +37/+32/+27/+22 (1d8+18/x3)
Offensive abilities power attack, greater rage 48/day, strength surge, raging brutality, tireless rage, witch hunter
Wealth: 11120gp
+5 furious defending adamantine battle axe (101010gp), +1 furious battle axe (8310gp), masterwork cold-iron heavy pick (316gp), masterwork silver warhammer (312gp), +5 mithril breastplate (29200gp), masterwork breastplate (350gp), +5 heavy wooden shield (25157gp), ioun torch (75gp), sleeves of many garments (200gp), ring of protection +5 (50000gp), amulet of natural armor +5 (50000gp), eyes of the eagle (2500gp), boots of springing and striding (5500gp), belt of perfection +4 (64000gp), dusty rose prism ioun stone (5000gp), headband of havoc (8000gp), ring of foe focus (10000gp), 2x immovable rod (5000gp), wayfinder (500gp), clear spindle ioun stone resonating (4000gp), robe of blending (8400gp), unfettered shirt (10000gp), glove of storing (10000gp), wings of flying (54000gp), headband of intelligence +2 (keyed on Fly) (4000gp), manual of gainful exercise +5 (137500), manual of bodily health +4 (110000gp), 4x potion of cure light wounds (50gp), 2x potion of invisibility (300gp), 1 potion of fly (750gp)
sundry equipment (bedroll, rations, cold-weather gear, etc)
Level 20
Str 30[38] Dex 22 Con 26[36] Int 12 Wis 10 Cha 10
Init +6; Senses Perception +28
AC 46[48], touch 22[37], flat 46[48], CMD 52[56] (+11 armor, +5 Dex, +8 shield, +1 dodge, +5 deflect, +5 natural, +1 insight, [+4 guarded stance, -2 rage])
hp 305[405] (20d12+120)
Fort 20[25/38], Ref 11[11/24], Will 5[10/21]
Defensive abilities improved uncanny dodge, trap sense +6, DR 5/-, lesser chaos totem, chaos totem, greater chaos totem (DR 12/lawful headband of havoc), immune to sicken, immune to nausea, immune to shaken, immune to frighten, foe focus (+2 to AC and saves vs 1 foe), resist fire/cold/acid/electricity 10, indomitable will (+4 to will saves vs enchantments while raging), defending weapon (can grant +7 AC bonus if desired while raging), mind protection like protection from evil, unfettered shirt (freedom of movement for 10 minutes), eater of magic, scent
Speed 50
Melee battleaxe +35/+30/+25/+20 (1d8+15/x3)
Melee raging battleaxe +41/+36/+31/+26 (1d8+21/x3)
Offensive abilities power attack, greater rage 51/day, strength surge, raging brutality, tireless rage, witch hunter
@SoulGambit0: I'm reasonably sure about the numbers. That is to say, almost certainly there is some number somewhere slightly wrong - but not by much; and the nature of how I build the character levels means that any wrong numbers are probably a little too low rather than a little too high. There is a fair amount of smarter items that can be bought; but I'm happy enough with the build for a Stock Character. I like that I decided not to take a cloak of resistance. :)
Just wanted to give a heads up. Due to lack of interest, I don't foresee this project coming to fruition. No one seems available to design floors, which is probably the key part of this project. If I get the manpower I need (especially for floors), I'm definitely still interested in finishing this. I'll even probably design some floors myself regardless, but that'll be constrained by time.