[Interest check] Skyrim inspired sandbox campaign


Recruitment


Just testing the waters to see if people are interested. This is not a recruitment, so please don't submit any characters here.

The basic premise is that dragons (and possibly magic) have been gone for thousands of years, and even those that don't believe that dragons are a myth are certain they are all dead. The main arc would involve investigating mysterious incidents and strange happenings and eventually lead into discovering that something very big is happening.

There would also be opportunities to do your own thing, such as looking for long lost artefacts, overthrowing despotic lords/ladies, and joining secret societies. Whatever tickles your fancy. I'd be asking everyone what kinds of adventures they are interested in to make sure that everyone has a chance to do something they'd like.

I'd also like to see whether people are interested in starting off sans magic at first, and if they'd be interested in using Spheres of Power. I'm also open to any suggestions that any of you may have on what to allow, how to start, and what kinds of things you'd like to see.

I don't have a firm date for the start of recruitment, and it's possible that I may just pick those that are active in this thread and dive straight into making characters and getting the game going if only a few people are interested. I'm playing this by ear, so don't be asking me right off the bat when recruitment starts.


Consider my fancy tickled!

1. I like the idea of homebrew &/or sandbox games. I also happen to like Skyrim, though I understand that is not necessarily the setting here. However, if that sort of open-ended follow-what-you-will aspect is what you're referring to along with the void of dragons, I'm all for it!

2. Spheres of Power, from what I've read of the text, seems to make casters weaker and more flexible. As it's commonly-accepted their power levels need to be lowered at high tiers of play, I think that works well mechanically. For flavor, I like the idea of mixing & matching different spheres as opposed to Vancian-style magic. The more fluid progression should go well with the open-ended style alluded to above.

3. Roleplay > Rollplay, in my personal opinion. I'm a fan of more intrigue-driven games, so I would be interested in applying if such aspects could be a part of your world.

Sovereign Court

I've always wanted to do this but have had no idea how to convert the world. As it turns out, the older versions of TES where very similar to AD&D.

A short rant about daggerfall:
At least, the magic was. Our of all TES, I liked Daggerfall the most. I KNOW! it's a doom fantasy rip-off, but it was the first Elders Scroll game to really begin flushing this out. It set up the groundwork for Morrowind, which is basically an old skyrim with all its good badness. the first of TES that you could be a werewolf was daggerfall! Although it was exceptionally hard.

I am very interested. I'd want to play as an argonian! Or a kahjiit. Who doesn't want that?

Oops, I just realized your DM-salsa... we've had some sourness in the past. Well I'm not letting that leak into this!

My primary intrest would be mainly the freedom. I could create the stats for the Kahjiit (which is basically a catfolk) and argonian. Actually, let me look around for something.


Pathfinder Pathfinder Accessories, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

This sounds really cool. I'm definitely interested.


I'd be interested. I kinda want to play an inquisitor. Would that actually be an investigator instead since magic's gone?


I'd be interested in this, and have what I think is a pretty good concept for a character I've yet to be able to play. He's an inquisitor of Groetus that's quite insane (in a functional way), and he's looking for an artifact that he's convinced Groteus showed him in a vision that will bring about the end of the world. He's interested in searching out the lost nooks and crannies of the world, looking for this artifact.

I'd be interested in Spheres of Power, and could even start off sans magic.

Edit: Thinking about it, it'd be a cinch to convert him from worshiping Groetus to a Daedric prince instead - perhaps Mehrunes Dagon.


DM-Salsa, hopefully your schoolwork has gone well for you. I was in your Way of the Wicked as R'Chir.

To answer your questions, I am keenly interested in Spheres of Power. I've often thought the system worked well with Skyrim casting.

As for starting off sans magic, I can't say I'm a fan of that. The longer the non-magic period is, the more distasteful I'd find it. That said, my question would be:

If a character started out as an Incanter in a sans magic game, how would that play out? Surely they wouldnt be expected to take levels in something else until magic came about for whatever reason (thereby gimping their caster levels). However, if they were to take levels in casting classes and did not have access to magic, well, that wouldn't be very fun would it?

@alientude: that sounds like a sure fit for Hermaus Mora, honestly. He is all about visions and lost knowledge, and drives his subjects to insanity on more than one occasion. If you want more straight-up cackling madness, Sheogorath would be a good fit.


@Tenro: Considering I graduated with my bachelor's almost 4 years ago, I'd say it has. :)

Re: Starting off Sans Magic
This was just an idea that I had while typing up the opening post. I wasn't sure if it was going to be a nonstarter or not, but it appears that the answer to that is it is. So, I'll be starting with magic, but no dragons.

Re: Setting
I appreciate the enthusiasm, but I would like to point out that this isn't going to take place in Skyrim or anywhere else on Tamriel. It is going to be a homebrew setting and I want to have a similar feel, but it isn't going to be the same setting as The Elder Scrolls games.

It seems that there's interest, so I'll start up a recruitment thread in the next day or so. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread in the meantime since no one's talked about how'd they like to start off. do you guys want to all know each other beforehand? Do you want to start at level 1 or a little higher than that? Do you mind starting off a la Morrowwind, Oblivion, and Skyrim?

Also, does anyone have a major beef with the automatic bonus progression or background skills from Pathfinder Unchained?


DM-Salsa wrote:


do you guys want to all know each other beforehand?

Hard to say without knowing a bit about your setting; the parameters of it may lead to some characters having a distant entry point while others are well-connected.

DM-Salsa wrote:
Do you want to start at level 1 or a little higher than that?

I've no problem with level 1. Nothing above 6 to start please.

DM-Salsa wrote:
Do you mind starting off a la Morrowwind, Oblivion, and Skyrim?

Again, with how the setting does prisoner treatment, it depends, but I probably wouldn't mind. Familiars/animal companions are a consideration here though.

DM-Salsa wrote:
Also, does anyone have a major beef with the automatic bonus progression or background skills from Pathfinder Unchained?

Nope!

Have you used this setting before? Where could playpodes be involved?


@Harakhty Suntooth: I haven't used the setting before, though there are elements from a setting I have used previously. I'd have to think about where platypodes would live, but I'm certainly not against having them involved.

As for how things start, I think that's less setting and more related to the adventure, and in any case, that state of affairs would be short-lived, although I do see your point about prisoner scenario. I'll have to get things out of my head and onto paper, so to speak, for the recruitment anyway, so I'll just ask there.


Interesting. Even more so if Spheres of Power (mmm... Incanter build-a-mage), Automatic Bonus Progression and Background Skills are used.


DM-Salsa wrote:

do you guys want to all know each other beforehand? Do you want to start at level 1 or a little higher than that? Do you mind starting off a la Morrowwind, Oblivion, and Skyrim?

Also, does anyone have a major beef with the automatic bonus progression or background skills from Pathfinder Unchained?

1. I don't have an opinion for or against knowing others beforehand.

2. I always prefer to start higher, especially in PbP where months of time IRL can pass between levels, even at the bottom.
3. I presume you mean imprisoned, with no gear, then picking up basic gear as you move along? For PnP RPGs, I believe that the 'tutorial' isn't necessary, but the prison aspect can be good for exposition. I'm always slightly wary, however, of starting off with no gear (as in my experience it tends to be a sign of a DM that likes to keep the party below WBL). On the other hand, buying gear for a new character can be quite tedious, hahaha.
4. ABP: I haven't played much with it but am not opposed to it, it seems OK on paper. The Mojo system is nice too.
5. Background skills: I am a biiiiiig fan.

As for what kind of character i'd submit, it would definitely be a caster of some sort. What kind of caster would depend on the setting and the other party members. I'd most likely put forth an Incanter, but with attention paid not to overly duplicate what spheres the other casters were doing. MAYBE an Armorist, flavoring it like the Bound Weapon spells of TES.


If you're interested Salsa I once went through and created a races guide for all the skyrim races, based on how the skyrim skills match up etc. I can see if I still have the electronic copy and send it to you if you want. It had stats for all the different Elf kinds etc.

Alternatively I can try and put it on google if I only knew how...


Let me save you some time there, Nikolaus de'Shade and say that we're not using the Elder Scrolls races. I think there's enough options out there that you can pretty much play what you wish, and while the setting is certainly inspired by it, it is not Skyrim.


I'm interested. What do you think about Path of War?

As for the questions:
- No preference about knowing each other or not.
- Higher starting level sounds good, but nothing too high - 3rd or 4th would be nice.
- Being in prison and then breaking out and finding our gear? Sounds fun.
- Never played with ABP, but it looks good. Less pain with getting enchantments and frees slots for items.
- Love background skills.

Sovereign Court

I am unfamiliar with spheres of power... where might I find this?

And if it is not TES, then I don't mind... I'm desperately looking for a place to shove my character Ideas.
What races will you be allowing?
I tend to use non-core more than I don't. Teifling's and Aasimar are what I'm interested in most ATM.

And... what madcaster said.


Spheres of Power Wiki

You can also find it in the store here or the store at Drive-Thru RPG.

I don't think I'll be allowing Path of War because I don't know the mechanics behind it very well.

As for races, I'm still debating and probably won't make a final decision until I post the recruitment thread.


DM-Salsa wrote:
I don't think I'll be allowing Path of War because I don't know the mechanics behind it very well.

Okay.

Checked SoP, and they seem to add a couple of new systems - Pact and Strange Magic. Will you use those, or is it just SoP?

Sovereign Court

Well, SoP seems interesting. I may make a shifter. Seems... hmm... yeah... looking into it.

As for race, I will likely play the most exotic thing you allow.

That, or try to make something even stranger using what I can.


color me interested.


1. I don't have an opinion for or against knowing others beforehand.
2. don't care much about starting level(s), but more about ability scores generation.
3. dunno about ABP.
4. yes to background skills.

Q. Race and the like: would templates be allowed?


Pathfinder Pathfinder Accessories, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

I don't really care either way as to knowing each other or not the characters know each other. I'm pretty flexible as to what level we start at. Yes to Background Skills. I do like the ABP but sometimes the decreased wealth is a little tight.


Definitely interested in this, I'd be willing to go along with whatever, but I prefer ABP and background skills. Knowing each other would for me depend on my character. SoP looks cool, but I've never used it before.


Hello again Salsa! I'd be interested in joining in on this campaign as well.


I would also be interested in ABP And background skills. I'm ambivalent on knowing other characters ahead of time. As for start level, I pretty much always prefer starting at 1st.


I am fine with ABP and background skills. (I actually consider background skills default in any game I run). I would not mind having a character or two of the party known in advance, but I don't want to insist I know everyone.

As for level, I am kinda tired of starting at 1 and then never getting off the ground with it, but also, I don't need to start at level 5 or anything either. That opinion... I guess I don't have a serious position on it yet.

If you're interested in a TES-themed game, then yeah, I'm totally okay with that. I've not used anything from Path of War, but I bought the books and I'm interested in playing a Ravenlord Harbinger.


as far as starting level go, I find level 3 to be a pretty decent spot. Its low enough to feel like a fresh adventure, but high enough to have some of your neat abilities already.


Madcaster wrote:
DM-Salsa wrote:
I don't think I'll be allowing Path of War because I don't know the mechanics behind it very well.

Okay.

Checked SoP, and they seem to add a couple of new systems - Pact and Strange Magic. Will you use those, or is it just SoP?

No, those are options from other publishers. I do not have the books and will not be using them.


DM-Salsa wrote:
... do you guys want to all know each other beforehand?

It would make a refreshing change to know everyone, but I'm not too bothered about it.

Quote:
Do you want to start at level 1 or a little higher than that?

I'd prefer to start higher. Too many games started as 1st level and not really finished, plus 1sy level can't do do much.

Quote:
Do you mind starting off a la Morrowwind, Oblivion, and Skyrim??

Never played these, so I don't know what that means.

Quote:


Also, does anyone have a major beef with the automatic bonus progression?

I've not played it, but it looks interesting. Would it stack with e.g. Warpriests Sacred Weapon or Magus's Arcane Pool Enhancements?

Quote:
or background skills from Pathfinder Unchained?

I like this, it makes a lot of sense to me and gives a character some flesh to his background.


Can I put in an interest too? Was the race question answered definitively? What races are allowed?


I'll have a recruitment thread up in the next couple of days with all of the details you need to make a character, including race.


Cool cool. Sounds good.


@Gavmania: The Skyrim/Oblivion/Morrowwind beginning means as prisoners (which I think would be interesting). I'd think that ABP would stack in the same way as a normal enchancement.


DM-Salsa wrote:
I'll have a recruitment thread up in the next couple of days with all of the details you need to make a character, including race.

Looking forward to this!


Dotraj wrote:
@Gavmania: The Skyrim/Oblivion/Morrowwind beginning means as prisoners (which I think would be interesting). I'd think that ABP would stack in the same way as a normal enchancement.

Pretty much. And don't worry, if I do go that way, I'll let you get geared up before throwing anything too deadly at you.

Sovereign Court

For those who don't know how allow all the elder scrolls begin:
You are in a dungeon with no equipment save for perhaps a dagger and whatever you happen to pick up from the dead bodies that inevitably follow you.
Basically, your in prison for an unexplained reason, and are suddenly thrown into a world where you now are the greatest Hero/Villian.


Prophesied greatest hero/villain, so you're sort of on rails there. Actually kind of hoping Salsa doesn't include that part. :)


Not prophesied, no. If I do start out with the prison start, it's only going to be on rails long enough to get you out of chains. Beyond that, entirely up to you.

Sczarni

Oh yeah, love me some sandbox. And love me some khajiits; not that catfolk are inherently khajiits, of course not. I would love to make a character for this, and probably the worst combat character ever let me tell you. Give me a sandbox and I'll lay in it for a while, maybe kick up some sand, and then the ideas rain on me.

I can work with any start, any setting, anyone. My dream of creating a mythical (not mythic) thief will one day be a reality.


Recruitment thread is live.

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