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“ What keeps us from the riches of the southern lands? Our need for strength, our pride, our personal glory. These help us survive the cold winters, by blade and by song, but they keep us from testing our destiny against the southlands. We’ll see a High King soon enough—a warlord strong enough to tie our lands together, proud enough that his vision will bring the enemies of the Linnorm Kings to their knees, and visionary enough to tie all our personal glory into a saga that will deafen the world’s ears. I am king enough to know I am not that man, yet I vow this—I will find this King before I die.”
—Sveinn Blood-Eagle, ruler of Kalsgard
“I tell you this, adventurer—forge your own destiny or you will live in another’s shadow for all time. High cunning or low, imagination and desire must be your destiny’s guides. I braved the icy wilds of these lands to gain the favor its people. I chose not to slay but to conquer Boiltongue. I played a game of wits with my life at stake and gained myself a linnorm as a pet. I have proven mighty, and so countless others, now dead, have tried to follow in my footsteps... but they forget that the mind i s a weapon more powerful than any you might carry in your hand.”
—White Estrid, ruler of Halgrim
This is a recruitment thread for a solo campaign. I'm looking to run a game with one PC, and their NPC cohort and allies. The player would need to be a daily poster and a quality writer. This will be as much an exercise in story telling as it will be a traditional PF game, though it will still be expressed through normal PBP game play.
The premise:
Legend holds that there will indeed, some day, be a Linnorm King powerful enough to unite the kingdoms under one banner—but for such a king to rise to power, the old tales require such a ruler to first slay the greatest linnorm in the land: Fafnheir. Many have attempted to slay this legendary beast, beginning with the first of the land’s Linnorm Kings—King Saebjorn Arm-Fang. Yet even he failed to achieve this glory.
Your character will be the mythic hero who will fulfill the prophecy and slay the linnorm Fafnheir, though not before a long and arduous quest. If you succeed, the skalds will sing your sagas for all time. I will start out by running you through the Paizo module Curse of the Riven Sky, and continue from there. The general plot arc would be as follows:
Character Crunch
House Rules
Character Fluff
Obviously as a twelfth level mythic character you're going to have a lot of background, and as a solo player you'll be doing the job of a whole party and a lot of writing. If you don't like writing story, then this game isn't for you.
The recruitment for this game will be done in several week long stages. During the first week I am only looking for character crunch. In subsequent weeks, those characters I'm interested in continuing with will write a series of vignettes detailing their adventures and mythic trials to date. The source of their mythic power will be a mysterious tome called the The Book of the Titan. Beyond that loose framework the background aspect of our story will be largely up to the player.
What you Need to Apply
Please use this format for your stat block. You can add sections for spells/hexes/animal companion/formulae/whatever, just stick to the:
--------------------
ABILTY TYPE
--------------------
format. The only place I want to see spoilers is for your background, and any special abilities you copy+paste into that section that are particularly long. Here are some examples; Devan, Sampson, Ruarc.
Once you've finished your PC's alias to the above specifications, make a single post with it that has your cohort's stat block inside a spoiler. If you are selected eventually I'll put the cohort's stats in their own profile that I can use to NPC them. The post from your character's avatar with the cohort's stats will be the signal that you are ready for review.
If you have any questions let me know, I'll be monitoring the thread closely. If I already answered the question I may ignore you. So make sure to read all my posts. Thanks! (^_^)
Reference Info:
Ulfen
Lands of the Linnorm Kings Book
Real life pseudo references:
Viking Stuffs
I'm pretty highly interested in this.
What level should the Cohort be? And I assume that being level 12th, we should be on the older side and having experienced quite a few things before the events of the game?
Indeed, while I am not the strongest writer, this seems like it would be a great way to indulge myself into a new world and work on my writing skills at the same time.
I would assume the cohort is to be level 10 or lower depending on one's Leadership score.
Thrilled to see the recruitment is up! Just dotting this while I work on building the character!
Awesome to see recruitment open, dotting in while I finalize concept and crunch.
Nazard, here, dotting. Sir Volundr in progress.
I would like to ask if a monstrous cohort is possible.
I am thinking about a druid, and I would like either a genie or an awakened animal as a cohort.
In case the answer is yes, how would you calculate the level of the cohort for the purpose of adding class levels? cohort level=monster CR-1?
Starting cruch, doting
DM Jelani, I have a couple of questions as I'm looking over information and deciding on a final take...
Massive Weapons (Ex): At 3rd level, a titan mauler becomes skilled in the use of massive weapons looted from her titanic foes. At 3rd level, she can wield melee or thrown weapons sized for creatures one size category larger than her own size, with a -2 penalty on attack rolls. Such weapons are always considered two-handed weapons.
For every 3 levels beyond 3rd, a titan mauler may choose to increase the size of weapons she can effectively wield by one additional size category, with an additional -2 cumulative penalty to attack rolls. Alternatively, she may choose to reduce her attack roll penalty when using oversized weapons by 1. This choice must be made every 3 levels when the ability is gained and cannot be changed. This ability replaces trap sense.
Or, a little more powerful in my opinion...
Massive Weapons (Ex): At 3rd level, a titan mauler becomes skilled in the use of massive weapons looted from her titanic foes. This allows her to use weapons designed for creatures larger than her size, always treating them as two-handed weapons and applying a cumulative -2 penalty on attack rolls per size category of difference. The total attack roll penalty is reduced by 1, and this reduction increases by 1 for every three levels beyond 3rd (to a minimum of 0). This ability replaces trap sense.
Either of these would be great, since it would just make it more viable for the character to use a giant sword, which makes the powerful single strike build I'm working toward work better.
Would it be possible for me to play Saebjorn Arm-Fang, the first Linnorm King, himself? The idea would be that he made it at least some of the way through his mythic journey 5,000 years ago, when he rose to prominence as the first Linnorm King, but failed to defeat Fafnheir because he "jumped the gun," so to speak, and took on the Father of All Linnorms before he was ready. Defeated but not dead, Saebjorn disappeared because he was unwilling to show his face to his people. Since then he's lost and gained levels and such, and has been slowly working his way back to power and gaining mythic tiers by completing the tasks set to him by the Book of the Titan. He hopes to fulfill, after five millennia, his destiny of uniting the disparate Lands of the Linnorm Kings into one Kingdom.
If this is a bit much, too difficult to work into the story, clashes with anything you had planned, or you just don't like the concept, please let me know now so I focus work on a different backstory rather than this one. It's mostly an idea that got to me, since the book doesn't actually say Saebjorn died, but one that can be abandoned if it's too much.
dotting
@Loup Blanc
That's a cool character concept. And I agree that the Titan Mauler archetype was miswritten. As things stood with the initial publication, you could only weild 1 handed weapons of a single size larger, with slightly less penalties. Those proposed fixes do a good job (I think) of allowing you to actually use "massive" weapons as described by the ability.
I will see about having an entry sometime this week.
Dot
I'm pretty highly interested in this.
What level should the Cohort be? And I assume that being level 12th, we should be on the older side and having experienced quite a few things before the events of the game?
Your cohort's level depends on your leadership score, but the maximum is two levels lower than you (so 10 in this case). You should be experienced yes, but we'll get to that in later weeks. Right now just focus on your stats.
I would like to ask if a monstrous cohort is possible.
I am thinking about a druid, and I would like either a genie or an awakened animal as a cohort.
In case the answer is yes, how would you calculate the level of the cohort for the purpose of adding class levels? cohort level=monster CR-1?
I'm going to say no to this, as there is no official way I know of to calculate a monster's level. CR-1 or using HD or something would open up creatures of widely varying power level, many of whom would probably be more powerful than a level 10 normal NPC.
Therefore as I said in the original post, cohorts are limited to core or featured races. I would be fine with you casting awaken on an animal companion though.
DM Jelani, I have a couple of questions as I'm looking over information and deciding on a final take...
** spoiler omitted **...
Re:Titan Mauler - Ehh...I'd prefer to keep it as written. That would still let you wield a large bastard sword with no penalties by the level we're starting at. Someone who is six-seven feet tall wielding anything longer than a ten foot blade is just too anime ridiculous for me. If you had a huge or gargantuan weapon you wouldn't even be able to walk without slamming into everything. Even if you were strong enough to swing it, the momentum and mass would pick you up and fling you after the blade unless you threw it every time you swung it.
Re:Saebjorn - Also no, I'm not down with people playing canon NPCs as PCs. However, you could be Saebjorn's cohort or battle companion or something who took up his mantle after he fell. The robin to his batman as it were.
Time to see what I can do with the concept of a Viking Lunar Oracle.
What would you like us to do about health after first?
Half hit dice+1+con.
Any alignment restrictions? Because I've got a particular character in mind, but his definition of "Uniting the Linnorm Kingdoms" is equivalent to "Swear fealty, or your undead corpses will."
No alignment restrictions. If the story would be good I’m down to run whatever.
Is crafting allowed?
Can we use the alternate Aasimar and Tiefling abilities from the Blood of Angles/Blood of Fiends player companions.
Alright, thanks for letting me know. I'll work on a full concept with mechanics first, then.
DM Jelani - How do you feel about Campaign specific traits, such as those from the Reign of Winter AP?
I'm looking at the Blood of Giants Campaign Trait:
You're a big person, and people have always said you've got some giant blood in you. Even as a child, you towered over your friends, and as you grew older, you grew even taller and stronger. Maybe your hair has a tint of blue as well, or your skin is as pale as snow. Perhaps someday you'll get the opportunity to travel to the North and meet some real giants, and see whether the rumors about you are true. You gain a +1 trait bonus on combat maneuver checks to sunder, and a +1 trait bonus to your CMD against bull rush and overrun combat maneuvers.
Also, how do you feel about multiple archetypes (as long as they don't overlap)? I'm considering Invulnerable Rager archetype, and Urban Barbarian archetype. But if you prefer to keep it to just one, then I would modify it.
Is crafting allowed?
Usually my answer is no...However, I think in this case I will say that if you take a crafting feat, you only get 81,000 GP to start with.
With that caveat, craft away. No custom items though, you have to be able to link to the item on d20pfsrd.com.
Can we use the alternate Aasimar and Tiefling abilities from the Blood of Angles/Blood of Fiends player companions.
Yes. But not the Tiefling alternate ability percentile table thingy unless you take the feat, and then you have to roll.
DM Jelani - How do you feel about Campaign specific traits, such as those from the Reign of Winter AP?
I'm looking at the Blood of Giants Campaign Trait:
You're a big person, and people have always said you've got some giant blood in you. Even as a child, you towered over your friends, and as you grew older, you grew even taller and stronger. Maybe your hair has a tint of blue as well, or your skin is as pale as snow. Perhaps someday you'll get the opportunity to travel to the North and meet some real giants, and see whether the rumors about you are true. You gain a +1 trait bonus on combat maneuver checks to sunder, and a +1 trait bonus to your CMD against bull rush and overrun combat maneuvers.Also, how do you feel about multiple archetypes (as long as they don't overlap)? I'm considering Invulnerable Rager archetype, and Urban Barbarian archetype. But if you prefer to keep it to just one, then I would modify it.
Campaign traits are fine as long as the flavor isn't specific to that AP. I would suggest Bred for War as a possible alternative to Blood of Giants. I'm fine with you taking either though.
What about spending some of my cash on pre-animated minions? Since it would be likely that I had done so over the course of 12 levels as a necromancer...
What about spending some of my cash on pre-animated minions? Since it would be likely that I had done so over the course of 12 levels as a necromancer...
I don't know what exactly you mean, how can you buy undead? Do you mean buying material components and assuming that you've already animated things in the past? If so, that's fine, you can have up to your normal HD limit of undead already animated.
For those of you with a lot of minions, be prepared to play them all and provide their stat block(s) with each combat post or in your profile so I can easily reference them.
Only planning on one...one very big one....hehehe
Also, could I spend some of the wealth on a base of sorts, like a keep or something, per the rules in Ultimate Campaign?
If you want to.
What's the political situation over in Irrisen?
What's the political situation over in Irrisen?
** spoiler omitted **
Reign of winter definitely didn't happen. Probably set it in 4714 AR with Elvanna having stepped down or something. I need to think about that some more and decide for sure.
Cool, and if I don't craft, I know I want to a legendary sword either way so does this trait change starting gold at all.
Upgradable: This ability grants the bonded creature the ability to more easily increase the non-mythic magical power of the legendary item. If the base magic item has a version with a higher bonus or greater version (such as a +1 longsword, a +2 light steel shield, a cloak of protection +3, an amulet of might fists +4, or a minor ring of inner fortitude), the bonded creature can improve it by performing a special ritual. She must spend a number of gold pieces equal to half the difference between the cost of the legendary item's current, non-mythic base item and the greater version she wishes to upgrade the item into. For example, she would pay 3,000 gp to upgrade a +1 longsword into a +2 longsword.
This ritual takes 8 hours. When it's completed, the bonded creature transmutes the item's base version into the desired version. When upgraded in this fashion, the legendary item retains all legendary item abilities it had before the transmutation.
No, that's not crafting. I'm totally fine with Upgradable, and it doesn't change your starting gold.
Thank you.
I just wanted to pop in and say I'm still very much interested in the game. Unfortunately I've been rather busy and have started to come down with something, but the creative juices are still flowing none the less.
At this point in time, I'm still looking at some kind of Bloodrager (Most likely with the Destined Bloodline). Human (Ulfen) seems to be the best choice in terms of race as well.
Loup Blanc, your eternal warrior is a really interesting concept and has reminded me of something I thought up awhile back. However, I don't want to step on your toes by giving my guy the same ability.
Been looking over my options for my...minion...and came across a question...
Can Create Undead be used on Non-humanoids? Say, to make a Ghoul/Ghast version of something?
Been looking over my options for my...minion...and came across a question...
Can Create Undead be used on Non-humanoids? Say, to make a Ghoul/Ghast version of something?
Don't have time to fully research this right now, but my initial looking into it says no. My reasoning is because I can't find an actual ghoul template, just their bestiary entry. Therefore I think the spell just creates a standard CR 1 ghoul. If you can find any counter arguments I'd be happy to look at them. I'll do some more poking around when I have time later.
I had at first resigned to the same thought. Then saw this on d20pfsrd...
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/undead/ghoul
At bottom has ghoul wolves and bats. Kinda confused me.
Well, if you want create a ghoul wolf or bat that's fine. Some of the other undead might be actual templates that you could apply to a wider variety of creatures.
Was thinkin ghoulish dragon actually...mwahahahahaha.
But ya if u don't allow that I totally understand.
Yeah...no. I'd be okay with another type of undead dragon if it's an official Paizo template that can legally apply to the dragon type, and if you have the juice to pull it off. Not at my computer right now but I'm pretty sure zombie or skeleton would work.
Ya fast zombie is my fall back. Just was curious what else was possible since mythic totally changes necromancy potential.
How about Juju Zombie?
....that'd probably be too powerful, right?
May have to settle for fast zombie...
I don't give two s*@+s about too powerful, I just like to follow the rules.
Skeletal Champion or Juju Zombie would both work according to Create Undead and their respective templates (which require only a corporeal corpse). I don't see fast zombie on the list for create undead, so you'd need a different spell for that.
Alright, just updating right before sleep: I've settled on my Barbarian build, because it feels more flavorful and I've done some neat things with it. Ended up going Invulnerable Rager for the DR that can't be beat, and I'll let you know I'm not going the Pounce route so many barbarians take. I am using a large bastard sword and eating the -2, but I think I make up for it with everything else.
Planning for the cohort to be a Skald. Because it's awesome.
Also, I am doing the eternal warrior deal--he'll have been a young man who refused to turn back from Saebjorn's side when the Linnorm King rode into Grungir Forest to slay Fafnheir. He escaped through fortune and luck and Fafnheir not caring enough to kill him then, and found the Book of the Titan while he tried to make his way back to civilization. He's spent the past 5,000+ years (5,322 to be exact) slowly--so slowly--building himself up to the point to claim a throne and fulfill Saebjorn's destiny.
Of course, this is a rough draft of the backstory; it'll be worked out more during the coming weeks. For now, I'll finish putting the info into your statblock and craft my Skald.
EDIT: Question on Leadership--are we allowed to meet any of the specific bonuses the feat offers? Things like "Special Power" seem intuitive for Mythic characters, and backstory could easily offer up Great Renown and/or Fairness and Generosity.
Maybe on the leadership, we'll see about that later on in the process.
Alright, sounds fine. As an update, I've finished (I think) the crunch for my main character: Agmundr Brandrson awaits your perusal. I altered your statblock a little, and made the call to put the special abilities in a spoiler since there are a lot of them. Also, on the name--it's spelled archaically due to the fact that he's over five thousand years old. If you prefer, I can simplify it.
Now to get started on his erstwhile sidekick buff slave... er... valued cohort. Speaking of, should the cohort be built using the same rules as the PC (22 point-buy, half+1 health, etc.)? I know it's NPC Wealth by Level for their gear, but I don't believe you posted what rules they use other than that.
EDIT: I also know that you want us to post in from the alias with the cohort's stat block, but I figured I'd drop the link here for now while I get started and such. Also, probably a dumb question, but worth making sure: the cohort isn't mythic, right?
Cohort is a 15 point buy schmuck, with the same HP rules as you. Definitely not mythic. Wealth as you said. All other rules should be the same as for PCs.