Half-Dead City in a Homebrew Setting - Recruitment


Recruitment

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I've been fortunate enough to get a real life tabletop going (in addition to my online tabletop). I've set them both in a homebrew fantasy setting I cobbled together called Krystallos. Some of it is completely original. Other bits I've borrowed from other fantasy settings - I don't quite have the time to worldbuild that I did in my youth. :)

That doesn't mean I don't want to worldbuild, though. With both groups, I've found that the world has grown and gotten better thanks to my players. So, I've decided to run one more campaign in Krystallos via play by post.

In other words, I'm hoping you'll help me further develop Krystallos.

I'll be adapting the Half-Dead City (and possibly other modules) from the Mummy's Mask. I'm looking for five players.

I've set up a wiki with information on Krystallos. Most of what you'll want to know is in the "Setting" section but there's some information in the other sections worth perusing as well.

Chargen Rules:
Here are the basics of chargen:
  • Level 1 characters.
  • No evil characters, please. I prefer my adventurers to at least be a little heroic.
  • Attributes will be rolled using either via Standard method (4d6, drop the lowest die, 6 times) or the Dice Pool method (divide 24d6 between your attributes, minimum of 3d6 in each ability, roll each, keep the highest three).
  • The base races of Krystallos are: Humans (in multiple varieties), dwarves, elves, halflings, gnomes, kobolds, illithid, darfellan and rogue modron. I'm willing to discuss other races. There's a hidden Fetchling colony, for example, in this world.
  • I'm open to classes as detailed in the Classes section of the Krystallos wiki. I will consider third party classes on a case by case basis (and I need access to the class either via SRD or owning the book).
  • Hit points are maximum + Con as per the rules.
  • Starting gold will be rolled as standard for the characters.
  • Two traits are allowed plus one if you take a drawback.
  • You start with two languages: Amethystish (common) and the language of your region. You get one additional language for each +1 of INT modifier you have as well as one additional language if you have a rank of 1 in Linguistics. Languages are based on region, not race.
  • I'm looking to develop Krystallos with your help so I'm happy to discuss and help you develop your background but I do want strong ones for each character. There's a lot that doesn't have much detail yet so there's a great chance here.

Krystallos Trivia:
Here's some trivia about Krystallos. It doesn't say everything about the world but, hopefully, gives you some ideas. If you're going to join this campaign, I highly recommend looking over the Krystallos wiki.
  • Krystallos doesn't have gods. Instead, it has Totems physically present in the form of huge, gemstone statues.
  • Ley lines radiate out from the Totems. These ley lines power Krystallos' existence. At various intervals, stone monuments have been built on the ley lines to help maintain their health. These monuments are looked after by druids who have learned to draw power directly from the ley lines.
  • A hundred years ago, the slave-armies of Tiamat and her god-generals invaded Krystallos through portals located in the Depths under the Kingdom of Obsidian. The Great Invasion lasted ten years until, finally, Tiamat's slave-armies were pushed back through the portals. An adventuring group collapsed the portals, trapping the slave-armies outside Krystallos.
  • Arcane magic is a relatively new thing in Krystallos. While divine magic existed and some creatures had spell-like abilities, arcane magic was unknown until the secrets of it were stolen from Tiamat's slave-armies.
  • Gemstones are very common in Krystallos. There are two different classifications: there are what we consider gemstones, perfect little things that can be cut into beautiful and valuable shapes and larger outcroppings of gemstone crystals that can be cut and used as structural elements for building and crafting.

Citrine Grand Sultanate:

  • The adventure will be taking place in the Citrine Grand Sultanate, located in the Citrine Wastes.
  • The Grand Sultanate consists of several cities and a number of nomadic tribes. It was founded just 75 years ago.
  • Ages before, the area was ruled by the Citrine Kingdom which was led by Pharaohs. The Kingdom's downfall came when, exhausted from multiple wars, it was conquered from within. False Pharaohs ruled until the collapse of the conquering empire.
  • The game will start in the city of Shibbati which, much like Wati in the original Half-Dead City, consists of two parts: the new city and the walled off, original city.
  • The primary residents of the Grand Sultanate are kobolds. In Krystallos, kobolds are clever engineers, intelligent scholars and known for being generous and friendly to strangers. Their culture holds many similarities to classical Persian culture.
  • Other races live there as well. Most came to live in the region during the years of rule by the false Pharaohs but they are fairly integrated by this point in time.

I'm thinking I'll close applications on the 22nd, assuming I get enough people. I'm not sure how interested people will be in a homebrew setting like this. I'm hoping I get some creative, dedicated players to help me out, though.

Thank you!


Will this be a city based game?


Nohwear wrote:
Will this be a city based game?

It will start in a city. However, I'm willing to let it go where the characters decide to wander. If they want to go roaming through the desert or head to a different city entirely, I'm good with that.


Well now, i hadnt planned on taking up another campaign, but this looks really sweet :)
Sniff! Ahhh! I love the smell of homebrew :)
Anyways, one thing that did catch my eye was this from the class section:

Summoner wrote:
Summoners, who have learned to tear a small hole between Krystallos and other planes, are rare. These very specialized spellcasters frighten the populace even more than wizards. After all, if enough holes are torn in the veil between this world and the next, perhaps Tiamat's Great Invasion will return.

that got me thinking about a summoner whos intent WAS to tear small holes in the viel between worlds (why, i havnt figured out yet) and thrus actively summons creatures forth.

I will have to read up more on this Tiamat invasion first and i do have some reservations (master summoner in pbp doesnt get a good rep) that i have to think about first, but thats where my interest currently lies :)
just a note, i dont want to flood the field with things i have to keep track of. So i promise I WILL NOT NOVA SUMMONS...


@Cam James: Coming up with a non-evil idea for wanting that should be interesting. One of the reasons why arcane magic wasnt around before the Great Invasion was because the barriers that divide Krystallos from the rest of reality is thicker than it is on other prime material worlds. The coming of Tiamat's slave-armies thinned the barrier somewhat. Arcane spell casters are thinning it more now just by casting spells. It could be you are hoping to bring more magic flooding into the world to create an Age of Magic?


Mainly just considering options, but what 3pp books do you have that you like. If there are too many, my main interest is Deep Magic and Freeport.


JGray wrote:
Natural Psionic: Illithid are natural psionicists and gain +2 power points at first level. Even if the illithid is not a psionic class, he still gains these 2 power points to use with the resilience ability.

This racial trait was changed in PF version of UPsi to grant Wild Talent bonus feat, or Psionic Talent when gaining manifester class level.

Is there any particular reason you use rolled stats instead of point buy?

4d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 2, 3) = 11 10
4d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 1, 1) = 10 9
4d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 2, 6) = 11 10
4d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 2, 3) = 7 6
4d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 1, 2) = 10 9
4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 6, 3) = 18 15
~ -1 pb

4d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 5, 4) = 15 13
4d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 1, 6) = 14 13
4d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 3, 1) = 9 8
4d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 5, 5) = 17 14
4d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 1, 2) = 9 8
4d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 1, 1) = 9 8
5 pb

4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 1, 2) = 12 11
4d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 5, 5) = 20 16
4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 6, 5) = 20 16
4d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 6, 5) = 16 14
4d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 4, 4) = 19 15
4d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 3, 3) = 9 8
31 pb

4d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 1, 6) = 17 16
4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 5, 5) = 19 15
4d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 5, 6) = 19 16
4d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 6, 5) = 15 13
4d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 3, 6) = 19 16
4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 3, 5) = 17 14
45 pb


@Nohwear: I don't have either book, sadly, but looking at Deep Magic's description, it seems a bit advanced for a world that has only had arcane magic for 100 years.

@Nyaa: I could give a whole speech about simulating the lack of control we have over our genetics but, the truth is, this is the last remnant of old school gamer in me. It is the same reason I like starting campaigns at first level. I enjoy seeing the build from the basics to something amazing through storytelling and roleplaying.

And I will, of course, allow re rolls should stats come out utter drek.

As for the Illithid, thank you. I had changed that to having the Wild Talent Feat but I must not have hit save. I'll correct it as soon as I can sit down on my laptop.


I am potentially interest, but have several submissions in right now and don't want to over commit to too many games. So if several of them pan out, I will be withdrawing my submission.

4d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 5, 4) = 16 14
4d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 5, 1) = 15 14
4d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 2, 2) = 12 10
4d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 5, 4) = 18 15
4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 6, 2) = 15 13
4d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 4, 6) = 17 16

I can work with that.

Thinking Barbarian.


@Browman: Cool. Barbarians in Krystallos tend to come from the Thulite Steppes, the swamps around the Amazonite river or the depths of the Citrine Wastes. The Thulite tribesmen are humans. Bronze skinned and roughly seven feet in height on average and they run everywhere. Amazonites tribeswomen are also bronze skinned and averaging seven feet in height but many have them have been altered by the plant and fungi based herbalism they practice.

Of course, barbarians of other races are possible with good back stories.


No idea yet, but might as well roll stats. I am mainly interested in staying in the city.

4d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 6, 1) = 18 17
4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 5, 2) = 14 12
4d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 2, 5) = 9 8
4d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 6, 6) = 20 18
4d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 5, 3) = 15 14
4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 1, 5) = 16 15

Not bad.


@Nohwear: Those are so damn good numbers. I think the 18 and 17 more than balance out the 8. :)


The genetic angle is interesting. Let's try the 24d6 pool, to see if something comes of it:

STR 3d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 4) = 6
DEX 5d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 3, 2, 2) = 19 = 15
CON 4d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 4, 4) = 20 = 16
INT 6d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 3, 2, 3, 3) = 16 = 9
WIS 3d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 3) = 9
CHA 3d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 1) = 8

Nice. 7pb. Perhaps try again?

STR 3d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 1) = 9
DEX 5d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 1, 3, 1) = 13 = 11
CON 4d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 3, 5) = 15 = 14
INT 6d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 3, 6, 1, 2) = 20 = 15
WIS 3d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 2) = 12
CHA 3d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 2) = 9

13pb. I'd be glad to play this if there's a group willing to run 20-. Otherwise, I'll try one more (last time, dice)

STR 3d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 6) = 16
DEX 5d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 3, 4, 1) = 16
CON 4d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 6, 2) = 13
INT 6d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 1, 3, 3, 5) = 20
WIS 3d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 5) = 16
CHA 3d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 6) = 10

I can go with either 2 or 3: 9/11/14/15/12/9 or 16/12/11/14/16/10. For now, I'll run with set 3 and go with a melee cleric / warpriest type. If there's a low powered group that wants to run, I can go set 2 and run a wizard concept as well.


@VinGoodman: A cleric would work. I'm not sold on Warpriests as a class in Krystallos (they'd be called Warclerics, for one thing. There's no such thing as a priest there) but I'm willing to entertain a pitch!

Shadow Lodge

Very interested, i also like the appeal of genetics, like "this is howe you were born, anyway lets see if im was born nicely :D

4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 6, 6) = 23 = 18

4d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 2, 4) = 10 = 8

4d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 3, 5) = 15 = 14

4d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 4, 4) = 18 = 14

4d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 2, 4) = 12 = 11

4d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 5, 6) = 17 = 16

Well that works for me. I was looking forward to play stranger gunslinger, ill read a little abot the setting but in general I was thinking on a human who mainly works as a transporter on the cytrine wastes seeking fortune. He is on good terms with the kobolds whom he have grown fond off. Ill present my submission soon

Grand Lodge

I've always wanted to try my hand at a kobold monk (potentially a Four Winds archetype) - seems like an odd choice for an odd race, but I like a challenge. Hopefully, the dice favor my idea.

4d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 4, 1) = 11 -> 10
4d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 2, 4) = 12 -> 10
4d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 5, 6) = 18 -> 15
4d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 5, 4) = 21 -> 17
4d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 1, 4) = 12 -> 11
4d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 2, 3) = 8 -> 7

Eesh... could be better, but could be worse too. I think that's a 17 point buy? Now how to make this fly...


@ElementalXX: Something to keep in mind - guns have existed for 7 years now in Krystallos. They were invented by a collaboration of kobold engineers, dwarven metalsmiths and ghomish alchemists.

@Rod: Kobolds are VERY different in Krystallos. Not at all the cowardly, nasty things they are in most worlds. Think more Arabian Knights and less swamp dwelling dragon worshippers. Heck, dragons don't even exist in Krystallos.


Gonna' peruse the homebrew wiki a bit and maybe throw a sheet into the ring.

Grand Lodge

Oh, Arabian Knights, huh?
That gives me an idea...

Shadow Lodge

@jGray: yeah I noticed that, in general I was thinking that while on transport work a kobold alchemist had no money to pay him so he gave him the secrets of guns instead as well as a pistol he had created. I have no problems in guns amunition being rare, thats what gunsmith is there for :). Also i was wondering how do you feel about the trench Fighter. Im aware the "regular fluff" does not match but its a good combination to get enough feats, im planning dualweilding (no double pistol nonsense tought)


Gonna go hardcore mode and roll random abilities straight down and then make a character from that maybe.

Strength: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 6, 3) = 16 15
Dexterity: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 6, 5) = 17 15
Constitution: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 2, 4) = 16 14
Intelligence: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 5, 4) = 16 14
Wisdom: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 6, 3) = 15 13
Charisma: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 1, 2) = 7 6!

Gonna' make a bard...heh


@Rod: Exactly. Kobolds in this world are clever engineers and scientists and their culture is much more akin to medieval Persian/Arabian. The Grand Sultanate is highly civilized and one of the world's great powers.

@ElementalXX: The Trench Fighter is designed for a world with machine guns. Not a world where there are just muskets and flintlock pistols. I don't think it would work here. I'm still deciding, but I might house rule that guns attack vs AC not touch attack AC.

@JJ Jordan: Not sure if you're serious there or not. :) Though many Bards in Krystallos are members of the secretive Bard's College, a group dedicated to learning "all knowledge" so they can discover the "Story/Song" that the Totems told/sang to create the world.

Shadow Lodge

@Jgray: Oh no problem Jgray, in any case I can go Bolt Ace if you feel firearms are too problematic


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Not serious. Though playing an ugly bard that can't sing has a unique melody to it.


@ElementalXX: I'm not against firearms (I specifically included them in this world for a reason) but I want to make sure they don't overpower other weapons or magic in the setting.

Shadow Lodge

@JGray: No problem I understand the concern, if this helps I made an analysis about gunslinger damage. Basically without double firearms they are on par or little below two handed fighters.


4d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 6, 6) = 17 - 15
4d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 4, 1) = 14 - 13
4d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 5, 4) = 14 - 13
4d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 3, 5) = 17 - 14
4d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 6, 6) = 17 - 15
4d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 2, 3) = 13 - 11

I have an idea but I also have a few questions...


@Marko: Ask away!


4d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 5, 2) = 14 12

4d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 1, 6) = 13 12

4d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 3, 1) = 9 8

4d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 5, 4) = 17 14

4d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 4, 4) = 17 14

4d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 6, 6) = 20 18


Thinking I might roll up an investigator with those stats.


@Tuyena: An investigator would work. Especially one interested in ancient secrets.


JGray wrote:

@Tuyena: An investigator would work. Especially one interested in ancient secrets.

Yeah I'm actually thinking of something like a historian who is in the process of writing his magnus opus.

Silver Crusade

What would be the starting point for this?


4d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 2, 6) = 18
4d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 6, 6) = 15
4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 5, 6) = 21
4d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 3, 1) = 9
4d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 5, 5) = 15
4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 4, 4) = 15

16 14 17 8 13 13

32 pt buy, pretty nifty

EDIT: Gold: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 4) = 11

How in-depth do you need backstories to be? I'd like to engage the setting somewhat, but at the same time I want to keep things simple (especially since we're starting at lvl 1). I'll be submitting a Human Urban Barbarian, so I should at least have some sort of justification for being in the city beyond "just ending up there". My initial concept is spoilered below, if you approve I'll work up a whole alias.

Spoiler:

The act of raising a city has a multitude of inherent challenges, none of which are alleviated when that city is built in the ashes of its predecessor. Such it is that the city Shibbati grows, fueled by the ingenuity and clever invention of a legion of Kobold engineers. By their hand has the city been born anew.

But such wonders are not without their own unwanted results. For each tower that scrapes against the sky, there comes an equally sized pile of stone and metal left over from the construction. Here enters the Breakers Guild; an organization of men and women that earn their livings by collecting and recycling these materials for future use. Often this role carries them into the absolute depths of the city, and it is here that the hammers that serve as the badges of their office become weapons against the scum that resides there.

If I'm understanding this recruitment correctly, trap sense and Kn Engineering will be good things to have and won't clash too much with the overall theme.


Question GM would the Elans race be allowed (I will be reflavoring them)?


@Tuyena: Awesome idea. That would fit in nicely.

@Endoralis: The starting point will be the city of Shibbati in the Grand Sultanate of Citrine in the Citrine Wastes. The PC group will be part of a lottery allowing them to explore a section of the walled off portion of Shibbati, a necropolis that was isolated due to a horrible plague many, many years ago...

@Johnnycat93: I'd like some depth to the background, a bit more than what you have. Your concept is very neat, though! It fits in very well with the theme of Shibbati and the Grand Sultanate as a growing city, struggling with respecting the heritage of the Pharaohs while still attemping to profit from it.

@Viluki: We can certainly discuss them. I've got some ideas of my own about who the Elan would be in Krystallos. What are your ideas?


Character concept: i (mordon)

A construct who wrestles with the truth beyond facts. Collector of folk lore, parables, analogies and metaphors of various nations. Wizard turned cleric dual class (mythic theurge?)

Sadly, while I love this concept, I also know such a person is better served as an NPC or cohort, as he will lag behind in his ability to excel in his "assigned" tasks in a party despite his versatility. I'll be glad to talk to you about who i is. But, as a player, I will be bowing out.

Good luck everyone. And, if you run into i someday, say hi to him for me. And don't forget to share a story with him.


@VinGoodman: Don't give up on a good concept just because you think he won't do well in a group. A good GM (which I hope I am) crafts an adventure towards the party. The party shouldn't craft for the adventure.


Starting Gold: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 3) = 12 120 Gold


I'm a new pathfinder player, am interested in joining if you guys are willing to take me. My character concepts was either a mysterous hermit style Witch, or a Ninja. Also, hello Nowhear!


@Saithor: Feel free to come in, pitch a character. I'll be picking five for the game so no promises (that's pretty standard on these forums because of how many players there are). Witches are very rare - to be a Witch you have to be born on a conjunction of ley lines at the exact same time an animal (your familiar) is born. But they do happen on occasion. Ninjas as a Rogue variant are possible - they aren't very nice people, though. Ninjas in Krystallos are assassin specialists from the Jade Kingdom. I am asking for non-evil characters.

Silver Crusade

Lets see what we get.

4d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 2, 2) = 11 10
4d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 4, 3) = 15 12
4d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 5, 6) = 17 15
4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 3, 5) = 18 15
4d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 1, 2) = 9 8
4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 6, 1) = 17 16

24 pb Not bad


Probably try a witch then

Attribute: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 5, 4) = 15
Attribute: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 1, 6) = 13
Attribute: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 2, 2) = 12
Attribute: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 5, 6) = 19
Attribute: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 2, 6) = 14
Attribute: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 2, 6) = 16

So 13, 12, 16, 10, 10, and 13


This is the alias for the Urban Barbarian. The profile should contain all of the crunch as well as updated background info. If there are any issues or if anyone has feedback, I'd love to here it.


Gil, looks good. Nice background. Stats look fine.

Scarab Sages

I'm interested in this.
I have a couple of questions:
a) Is this a php game or is it going to be run using a VTT?
b) As I live in the UK I am just wondering when this would be running (eg UK evenings/UK nights etc)?


So looking over the wiki, how would things work if I wanted to play an Oracle?


@Harper101: Play by post. I'm hoping everyone can post at least once per day.

@Nohwear: I apologize. I should have said this earlier. There haven't been any Oracles since the destruction of the Obsidian Totem at the end of the Great Invasion.


I guess really I was wondering if I could be either the last oracle, or what appears to be the first one in however long?


I'm tentatively interested and am thinking about concepts. Can you talk a little bit about what your plans are if you finish Half-Dead City? Would you continue using the Mummy's Mask modules or start working with something else? Do you have a broader theme in mind if this continues to higher levels?

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