New GM trying to decide what campaign to run!


Recruitment

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I'm not planning, just opened the book and saw them. Thri-kreens, muls, half-giants. Speaking of which, half-giants are completely different from PF UPsi, which version will be used?


All of the races are going to be altered to fit closer to the original depictions of the races in Dark Sun. To answer your specific question, however, Half-giants will be some fusion of the two.


I am seriously chomping at the bit for the chargen guidelines. I'm also very curious as to what the location and time period will be. Before/after events in the Prism Pentad series (i.e. the fall of Kalak) being the major one.


I only really have one request on chargen, and that it be at least 3rd level to start, though 5th would be even better.

Starting at first is not my favorite.


I would prefer starting at first as I enjoy low-level play. Plus, this is most likely a new setting for most applicants, so it will give them a chance to grow into the intricacies of the world alongside their characters.


I know a very few things about this setting, and one is that starting a game at 2nd level is in some circles called "The Athas Rule" (because the setting is so deadly), so 3rd wouldn't be a huge stretch.


I second 3rd-5th starting level. Paizo alone writes two rusty dagger shanktowns per year (first book of every AP), and none of AP settings are as deadly as Dark Sun.
Also some Paizo classes plain don't work at low levels, or are virtually indistinguishable from a fighter or rogue.


Sixteenbiticon, the campaign will be after the events of the Prism Pentad series, with the changes to the setting that implies, most notably that the city of Tyr is free, run by the mostly-benevolent former First Templar.

As for those inquiring about level, my thoughts are as follows. I have heard of 'The Athas Rule', though only once and I'm unsure if it was called that by name. That being said, the opening portion of the campaign is best suited to level 1 characters, given a certain plot point that I intend on utilizing. Of course, if people would like to try to politely convince me that a higher level is more suitable, feel free to.


I don't have any particular convincing arguments besides "I don't like starting at 1st level", sadly.

Every character just feels so same-y at 1st, and you have a hard time explaining why exactly you're being sent on, volunteering for, or recruited to do dangerous missions.

There's a few, very few plot points that can take advantage of it (Starting off as slaves, perhaps) but not many IMO.


Hey, being a slave isn't easy. You either learn (level) fast or die. And it doesn't look like undead campaign :)

Rynjin wrote:
I don't have any particular convincing arguments besides "I don't like starting at 1st level", sadly.

I do. This is PbP. Even in PFS with its high leveling rate, if you play with one character all the time you are expected to gain about four levels a year (about a month for one module, three modules per level). This means anything tougher than saving a village from 3.5 terminally ill kobolds is 3-6 months away. City/area scale decisions are two years away. Continent/planet/plane ones - four to five years.

How many campaigns survive for more than half a year?


Much like Tomb of Horrors and a few others, one is always told to have a back up PC or 3 ready for Dark Sun. Starting us a couple of levels beyond 1st should hopefully make the PCs less squishy and thus lessen the need for us to have to roll up new characters any time soon.


I'm the DM of the campaign Sixteenbiticon linked to upthread. I'd recommend starting at level 2 if you want characters to be novices, level 3 if you want them to be a little more robust (also depends whether you choose to beef up the races like I did). If you start them at level 1 you're forced to use the equivalent of rats and kobolds for the first few combats or risk a TPK. Starting at level 2 lets you use nastier opponents right out of the gate, which I think is more appropriate for Dark Sun. Remember, on Athas even pets and herd animals are easily capable of killing a man. Anything under CR 1 has to make a Fort save or die when the sun comes up!


An excellent point DM U.a.D.S.!

Level 2 it is!

Sorry for the wait everyone, but if you've ever been to a big video game tournament, you undersstand how much of a hold-up they can be if you participate and do well!


I will wait to see how the customized races look, but I am definitely going with two levels of Psychic Warrior (Traceur).


Would Dreamscarred Press' Path of War be available as well? I've wanted to play a Stalker for a while now.

If not, an Aegis/Soulknife/Metaforge could be fun.


Well I didn't get into CoT :) looking forward to trying my luck in the space campaign:)


SixteenbiticonI am almost finished balancing out the custom races, so expect a post sometime this week, possibly tonight or tomorrow.

Rynjin, anything that Dreamscarred Press publishes is automatically allowed! I would even allow the new Incarnum-style classes, if people were interested in them. Stalkers are VERY fun to play! Which Disciplines are you planning on utilizing?

Azih, there were a TON of applicsations for the CoT campaign! It was difficult to actually decide on a group, because pretty much every application was just amazing!


Not sure. I think Solar Ray is good for use with a Thrown Weapons character, but most of the other Disciplines are melee based for the most part. Assuming the PoW Feats are available too, I can actually make a Dex based thrower with Deadly Agility.

Or, I might focus on Thrashing Dragon and Veiled Moon, and take the Umbral Blade PrC.

Though that second one sorta depends on how far and fast we plan on progressing in levels.


Rynjin is pretty much in line with the ideas I ran through before settling on traceur/slayer/elocater. Great stuff.

Honestly, with these two characters I am getting a thieves guild sorta vibe. I realize you're also running CoT, but the idea of a band of stealthy and mobile fighters taking on missions in the Dark Sun world sounds entirely too cool to pass up. Maybe we're tasked with eliminating the remaining forces of the fallen sorcerer kings...

I'm just brainstorming here, of course. Just throwing out ideas :)


Rynjin, yes those feats are allowed! As for level progression, everyone will gain a level after each 'adventure'. This will keep leveling at a decent pace and cut out the 'Kobolds for 3 years' predicament that Nyaa was speaking of. Does that answer your question?

THE DARK SUN RECRUITMENT IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS!!!


GM Sorceror-King of Athas wrote:
As for level progression, everyone will gain a level after each 'adventure'. This will keep leveling at a decent pace and cut out the 'Kobolds for 3 years' predicament that Nyaa was speaking of. Does that answer your question?

Yes, thank you.

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