The magus archetype is pretty good, but only truly useful if the Fey are to be a recurring enemy.
OK after getting the chance to peruse the books further, I have decided on a tiefling trickster. Not sure what sex yet but I am leaning towards female. Looking at taking the Beguiler and Devilish Channeling alternate racial traits here, in addition to the Fallen's Fortitude trait.
I do like how our party is shaping up here, though I am concerned we will be light in the skill's department. I think I can pick up most of the skills here, but always good to have a backup skill monkey as well, he he.
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@all
Please, take a look at the skills document. Quite a few skills are consolidated and there are pretty good (if I do say so myself) descriptions of skills, but you will need to consult the table from time to time. These skills were designed to free some skill points and encourage the skill diversity among PCs.
Also, take note that he party face is determined by status. NPCs will approach the PC with highest status as they would party leader, and as always in my games, Charisma in NOT a dump stat.
Also, can we talk about the goal of this game? If that's OK with you, I'd like to lead sandbox-y game and allow you to explore the world, build contacts and influence events to the fullest. I have an enormous amount of prepared adventures, both published for the setting and those of my own devising, so I propose that we use slow xp progression. The reason for this is that I'd like to tell as many stories as possible, which gets more complicated and difficult as we reach higher levels. Although, it must be said that the Midgard game lasted five years and reached only 5th level.
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eakratz: 16, 16, 14, 14, 13, 12 - unknown race paladin
Doomed Hero: 15, 15, 14, 13, 12 - hugin warpriest/spiritualist/shaman(at my suggestion)
Mark: 17,14,14,13,12,10 - unknown race magus
Eric: 16, 14, 14, 14, 13, 13 - tiefling trickster
Oceanshieldwolf: 16, 16, 13, 11, 11, 10 - unknown race gauntlet witch/shadowsworn
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Doomed Hero, take a look at the archetype tHe order Militant of Mavros in the Wasted West book. It's not the god you wanted, but it may suit your concept of warpriest. Also, Mavros is a mask of Perun, so you still may play the character as Nordic-influenced (although with Slavic elements) or you may call him Thor, since that is his mask in the Northlands.
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@all
One other thing - when you create your character profiles, please do not include nicknames. Surnames are OK. The reason for this is that the nicknames are important in this world, given by bards and fates and you will get them (depending on the game and style of play) when you accomplish great and famous deeds.
Nightflier: Can I use THIS character - she was in a Midgard PbP that faded very early, and has some great Midgard lore/background - I'd have to change her stats and skills however.
Reading up on your skills doc now...
Status:
I'm not following the skills thing - we have no class skills/skill points, but we choose 4 from your list as background skills? And they are at +3. Do we have skill ranks that we get per level etc?
Sandbox tends to flounder in PBP because it takes forever for a group to come to a consensus on doing anything without a clear motivating direction.
And while I like the idea of the time for good characterization, I'm also of the opinion that I'd rather not spend years at the one hit kills you stage. In PBP standard progression can still take quite a while.
I just took a look at the White Necromancer out of the Midgard New Paths Compendium. It's very much in line with the kinds of themes I like to play with when I play Necromancers, and fits in with worshiping Odin and whatnot.
I didn't think I wanted to play another Necromancer in a game you ran, but given the setting and themes, I just can't help it.
Does that work for you, GM?
Definitely liking some of the Magus feats though.
@Nightflier:
* Thinking further, and given I've sent a revised version of the Gauntlet Witch (and most of the variants) off to be published, I may rescind the option of the Gauntlet Witch unless you want to check the revised version. I don't think I could play a Gauntlet Witch as it was published in KQ23...
* I looked at the Shadowsworn a little closer - it's not really very good, or that flavorful in my opinion.
* I also looked at the Drake Tamer from the Book of Drakes, but the mechanics are a little unclear on how to create the Drake, and if Doomed Hero is going to have an undead buddy with his White Necromancer we might get crowded with extra companions.
* I know you are familiar with Thunderscape - how about a Fallen or Seer?
Also everyone can download Yggdrasil Midgard Fanzine for free!
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@Wolf
You will have the same number of skill points as you would anyway, the same number that your class grants you. But instead of class skills granted by class, you choose any 4 skills to become your class skills.
I'd love to see your gauntlet-witch; you have my email :)
Seer is quite OK, but you'll have to sell me on fallen. That is, how would you incorporate the character into the world. If I like the backstory, I'm fine with it.
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I just took a look at the White Necromancer out of the Midgard New Paths Compendium. It's very much in line with the kinds of themes I like to play with when I play Necromancers, and fits in with worshiping Odin and whatnot.
I didn't think I wanted to play another Necromancer in a game you ran, but given the setting and themes, I just can't help it.
Does that work for you, GM?
White Necro is great. If you want to play Northlands-influenced character, take a look at Chapter 9 in Midgard CS as well as Chapter 10 - Pantheon. You have detailed info on Wotan, which is how Odin is called in Midgard. In the Advanced Race Compendium there's a Ravenfolk chapter. Also, take a look at Player's Guide to the Rothenian Plains and Northlands sourcebook.
I just realized that if you go with a slow progression starting at level 1 the best aspects of playing a magus don't even start until level 2 (spellstike).
Slow progression makes it more of in inclination to play front loaded classes. Any thoughts?
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I just realized that if you go with a slow progression starting at level 1 the best aspects of playing a magus don't even start until level 2 (spellstike).
Slow progression makes it more of in inclination to play front loaded classes. Any thoughts?
We will use normal progression until 2nd level at least. And then I'll see how the game progresses.
Okay.
Question.
If the Blade you have in mind functions as a bastard sword it would actually require 2 feats to use effectively as a magus. Exotic weapon proficiency to use 1 handed at first, then Greatweapon Spell Combat to cast while wielding a two handed weapon right?
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Well, yes - if you want to cast while wielding it with two hands. You can use spell combat regularly while wielding it in one hand. Have in mind that you are in no way obligated to take this weapon. I am aware that it requires at least one feat investment and probably Strength build, which you perhaps do not wish to make.
In theory I could just never use it one handed and only need the Greatweapon Spell Combat feat. Exotic WP is only required to use it 1 handed, which benefits me nothing if I can cast 2 handed and don't use a shield anyway.
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@Mark
Great minds think alike :) I have her pinned in my RPG Characters Pinterest board.
Anyway, yes - you can simply ignore executioner's blade as one-handed weapon and use it exclusively with two hands.
@all
Some instructions:
a) Please read Chapters 1 and 10 of Midgard CS. Gods play huge role in this setting, and they are described in Chapter 10. If possible, each of you should choose a god or pantheon to believe in. This is not a world for atheists or agnostics.
b) Midgard has several regions: Crossroads, Rothenian Plains, Seven Cities, Dragon Empire and the Southlands, Wasted West, Dornig, Northlands and some others. These are described in the CS book in some detail and most have additional books, and even CS books of their own (Northlands and Southlands). If possible, chose a region or country other than Crossroads for your character to hail from.
c) As I've stated, everything published by Paizo and Kobold Press is fair game for character creation, but there are other settings by other publishers that are partially or fully compatible with Midgard themes, such as already mentioned Thunderscape, Rhune, Iron Kingdoms etc. Do not hesitate to consult me about a class or a feat that you've found somewhere and would like to use.
@Wolf
You will have the same number of skill points as you would anyway, the same number that your class grants you. But instead of class skills granted by class, you choose any 4 skills to become your class skills.
I'd love to see your gauntlet-witch; you have my email :)
Seer is quite OK, but you'll have to sell me on fallen. That is, how would you incorporate the character into the world. If I like the backstory, I'm fine with it.
Email sent!
@eakratz - note that a White Necromancer is not always the brooding grim necrotic evil lurking graverobber most folk associate with...Necromancy mwah ah ah.. Ehrm. Sorry. I don't know how DH is angling it but it could be everything from an ancestral spirit caller to "I just couldn't let my brother go...so I raised him from the dead."
Also, there is no Pharasmin blight or Golarionica to stop Paladins rubbing shoulders with a good necromancer. Or neutral. Or lawful evil. Um...
White Necromancer's undead minions are neutral, not evil.
I think I'm going to go with a Ravenfolk White Necromancer who is a Plague Doctor. It's just too awesome of a fit. I'll have basic mechanics up sometime tonight.
I'm still deciding - one concept is a Trollkin (Kobold Press Advanced Race Compendium) Seer (Thunderscape Campaign Setting) from the far north who venerates Nine Great Aunts, ancestral/mythical beings who guide her.
Thing is, I'm wondering if the cheese is too thick with this one - if I take the Frostborn Alternative Racial Trait:
I'm afraid that could get hefty - Trollkin get two claws and a bite as Primaries, and while 1 round of three attacks each dealing an extra 1d6 cold damage isn't too bad at level 1, it gets pretty gnarly as we level up.
I was also looking at this feat:
You are massive compared to others of your race.
Prerequisites: Trollkin, Strength 16.
Benefit: You can wear armor, wield weapons, and use equipment sized for creatures one size category larger than your own without penalty. You can carry double the normal load for your Strength score for the purpose of your carrying capacity and for determining your thresholds for light, medium, and heavy load.
And lastly, how will we work with the Seer's signature ability in PbP:
Second Sight (Ex): The gift of second sight is the seer’s
defining ability. The second sight allows a seer to glimpse visions
of the future, though this gift is frequently difficult to control.
Once per twenty-four hour period, the seer may meditate for
one hour in an attempt to glimpse visions of the future. The seer
receives a series of abstract premonitions about possible future
challenges. This grants her a number of uses of second sight equal
to her Wisdom modifier plus double her class level.
The seer may use her second sight to empower a number of her
prophetic gifts. However, all seers possess the basic ability to use
their second sight to grant minor bonuses to a variety of actions.
She may grant a +1 insight bonus to any skill roll, attack roll, or
saving throw that she witnesses, applied as an immediate action.
This bonus increases to +2 at 5th level, +3 at 10th level, and +4 at
15th level. The seer must declare use of this ability after the roll
is made, but before the results are revealed.
I guess I could just nominate who I think I'll buff? Immediate actions can be hard to interject into a PbP, particularly with clashing time zones (I'm in Australia).
Thoughts anyone? As I said, I'm still deciding, but this was one concept that felt flavorful but then got cheesy. As Doomed Hero knows, I'm not a min-maxed of power gamer, so I'd like to see what you guys think...
Uuuugh. I always forget that Tengu don't have wings in Pathfinder. I hate that so bad. They're supposed to be ravens, not emu.
They don't even eventually get wings. They can get wings once a day, for a few minutes. It's awful.
Here's my thoughts-
1) Play a Syrinx or a Stryx, or one of the other races that start with wings. Have them be, cosmetically, ravenfolk. (Keep the descriptive fluff, change the mechanical chassis. This would be house rules territory).
2) Play an Aasimar who is of Tengu stock. (see the section about non-human aasimar. This is explicitly allowed within the existing rules). I still wouldn't get wings until 5th level, but they'd be real wings. This would be easier to swallow because my racial bonuses would actually benefit my class. (turns out tengu make crappy white necromancers)
Thoughts?
Huh. I'd be okay with either of those options, though I would personally go with option 1. Waiting for 5 levels to be iconically what you want to be is not my idea of a fun game...
My other thought is just to play a regular aasamar based on a Valkyrie. Spear. Healing mojo. Spirits of dead warriors. Eventual wings. That sort of stuff.
Heh, I like that too.
Personally I'm wondering whether to simplify also and make something more human and more....Slavic/Eastern European. Like a Russian Boets or Bogatyr... I really can't decide yet. And then martial witch concepts beckon...
Ok, I'll decide tonight. Enough stuffing around...
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@eakratz
Take a look at the Order of Undying Sun archetype. It's in the Crossroads book I think, although they are paladins of Khors.
Paladin of Veles would be a great fit for the game, but Veles is a difficult god. He is uncaring, concerned with the preservation of world, magic and ley lines. His paladin would be more of lawful neutral draconic Judge Dread type than a shining knight.
His priests are rare and paladins even rarer, so it's not inconceivable that you would be the only one.
His relationship with undead is semi-uncaring. If they destroy the natural world or drain magic, he works to destroy them. If they do not have an impact on the world (which is not the same as not having an impact on mortals that live in said world) he ignores them.
A paladin of Veles would choose Smite Evil or Smite Good upon character creation. Once chosen it can not be changed.
@oceanshieldwolf
I'm okay with Frostborn. If you want to escape the cheese factor, simply use a weapon. Anyway, this ability can be used once per day, which means that you'll have to choose carefully when to use it. I'm more concerned with Hulking Build, to be honest. :)
@Doomed
Asimar of hugin origins is perfectly fine.
So if I did decide to go with the Fey Warden, would I have the blade all along and it comes awake at third level, or not have it until then?
I'd think the first option makes more sense.
Though if everyone is going melee, I might still go with the archer magus.
Also, reading up on Tintager, it feels very much like The Wall.
I don't really see one of the Feywardens adventuring at all (unless the whole point was hunting elves)
Other than spell casting we don't seem to have much in the way of potential ranged combat so far.