3...2...1...FIGHT! (Inactive)

Game Master Vrog Skyreaver

Okay, so here's an idea that I've run off and on for quite a while now: Forced gladiatorial combat run by an insane god.

The gist: your character was a hero/adventurer/do gooder on your planet, so much so that you attracted the attention of the ringmaster, a being who runs an interdimensional arena that loves to see "heroes" fight: each other, monsters, what have you. (this would be heroes in the fable rpg vein; heroes being fundamentally different than most people).

Character creation: As this campaign doesn't require a GM (per se, but see below), characters need to just meet the following criteria: Each character is built using the following attribute method (rolling here as part of your submission) - roll 4d6, reroll 1s until you don't get a 1, drop the lowest, and add the result together. If the result is less than 10, reroll the stat. do this 6 times and you will have your attribute set.

books: Each character has access to everything except artifacts in the core rulebook; each character may then pick 1 additional sourcebook for their character. This means that not every character will have access to everything, and this includes expanded magic items.

gear: gear will be max starting gold for first level characters, and character wealth by level for characters higher than first. You may spend all of your money on 1 item if you wish, but you may not have more than half your money in consumables; additionally, should you want mundane gear, you will have to purchase it.

levels: The Ringmaster likes budding heroes (level 1), lower middling (level 8), upper middling (level 14), and Great Heroes (level 20).

after creating your character (or characters, as you may have multiple, even in the same bracket), you have to get approval from at least two different players (yes, I will be a player as well). You might have to justify your build to the other two, or they may just say "you're good".

Now, I know that some of you are thinking: this sounds interesting, but I don't necessarily want to fight my fellow players. not to worry! combats can be solo or team (of any size), and can be against an equal number of people or monsters (although opponents can have smaller groups, if all participants are willing to accept that.

Each match should have a moderator who would fit the role of the GM for that battle only.

Now for the rewards: for each match that you win (either as a team member, or by yourself), you gain gold equal to the most expensive item that your opponent (or opponents you/your team managed to beat) owned (which can be handily listed in people's profile). Additionally, you may purchase one item between each scenario (for winners or losers). members of the winning side, however, get to purchase one item at cost.

Finally, for leveling: leveling will be handled quite differently. using the moderate progression chart for xp, you may "buy" your next level by spending GP equal to the amount of XP you would need to level. You can sell items you own for full value, and if you level and your character wealth is less than character wealth by level (including half the cost of leveling), you may get the difference in items.

One more thing: The Ringmaster hates a sure thing. Should any character win 10 matches in a row, s/he is sent back to their home to continue...whatever it was they were doing.

So, interested in trying something a bit different? assuming we get enough interest, this will be open recruitment.

interesting.... dot

this sounds promising.... dot

Could definitely be fun.

Ya, I've had some success with it when some people can't show up last minute for a tabletop game (plus it gives the screen monkey a chance to play!)

I'm going to submit a character for the 20th level tier right now, then work on lower ones later.

4d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 4, 5) = 1416
4d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 1, 3) = 1213
4d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 6, 2) = 1614
4d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 2, 4) = 1315
4d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 4, 4) = 1110
4d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 2, 1) = 99

Reroll 1's: 5d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 5, 2, 3) = 17
Reroll last: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 2, 1) = 12
Reroll 1: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Reroll 1: 1d6 ⇒ 6 15

16/13/14/15/10/15

How is this done - (All 1 on 1 matches, group comes in, only one leaves, teams, Hunger Games style)?

Vrog, you do the craziest of games. Definitely dotting. Now I have to think of a character...

rolls for level 8. (I like levels 7-12)

stat: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 3, 1) = 8
stat: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 2, 3) = 12
stat: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 5, 5) = 17
stat: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 3, 4) = 15
stat: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 6, 3) = 16
stat: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 4, 2) = 13

reroll 1: 1d6 ⇒ 4

reroll 1: 1d6 ⇒ 3

base stats- 10, 10, 15, 14, 12, 11.
and a level 20. (have him worked out, but need to reroll the stats for him.

stat: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 5, 6) = 20
stat: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 6, 1) = 17
stat: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 3, 6) = 18
stat: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 6, 2) = 13
stat: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 6, 1) = 13
stat: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 1, 3) = 11

reroll (2): 1d6 ⇒ 4

reroll (4): 1d6 ⇒ 3

reroll (5): 2d6 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6 reroll: 1d6 ⇒ 4
reroll (6): 1d6 ⇒ 2

base stats- 17, 16, 15, 13, 17, 11

will post the level 20 first, have to transfer everything to text based >.>

Level 8
4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 6, 6) = 22
4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 3, 6) = 20
4d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 4, 3) = 16
4d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 6, 1) = 12
4d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 5, 3) = 11
4d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 1, 6) = 15
reroll: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 3) = 7
reroll again: 1d6 ⇒ 4

18, 17, 13, 12, 12, 14

Hmmm, I'd be interested in something like this, but point buy seems like it would be a better way to go.

Roll time
4d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 2, 1) = 9
4d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 5, 1) = 13
4d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 1, 5) = 18
4d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 2, 5) = 15
4d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 6, 5) = 18
4d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 4, 5) = 14

reroll 1 2d6 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7

reroll 2 1d6 ⇒ 4

reroll 3 1d6 ⇒ 3

reroll 5 1d6 ⇒ 5

OK then stats are
12
13
18
13
17
14
Hmmm, doable

4d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 4, 2) = 14 = 12
4d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 2, 6) = 17 = 15
4d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 3, 6) = 19 = 16
4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 6, 5) = 22 = 17
4d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 1, 1) = 7 => 14
4d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 1, 3) = 11 => 14

Reroll 5: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 1) = 3 Reroll 5 - 2: 1d6 ⇒ 3 = 8 Full re-roll 5: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 6, 4) = 16 = 14
Reroll 6: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 1) = 7 Reroll 6 - 2: 1d6 ⇒ 1 Reroll 6 - 3: 1d6 ⇒ 3 = 14

Ok, I think I did this right. All in all a really good set of stats!

I think I'll likely start with a lower middling character.

I've actually done arena style combat once before on the boards, this should be a lot of fun!

Stats- still have some gold to spend, but this guy is done mostly for feats/gear though some gear may be changed. Have to stat his offensive and defense stats out but..

A more fleshed out, but still not finilized version, let me know if anything is off. please and thank you.

I'm thinking of a monk, specifically a martial artist/weapon adept, level twenty. More later.

Edit: sigh. Just realised I can only go one archetype or the other. Oh well, martial artist then.

make sure you list what your sourcebook is with your character. It'll make it easier to get approved.

now onto my rolls for a level 7 character:

4d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 5, 2) = 11
4d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 5, 6) = 17
4d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 1, 5) = 14
4d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 3, 4) = 12
4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 1, 1) = 13
4d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 6, 3) = 13

rerolling the first set: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 5, 3) = 12

rerolling the 1 in the 3rd set: 1d6 ⇒ 6

rerolling the two 1's in the 5th set: 1d6 ⇒ 21d6 ⇒ 5
1d6 ⇒ 6

looks like I have an 11, 15, 13, 10, 17, 11

will have a character posted shortly.

I must say, that alchemist is a tad terrifying.

Rolls for level 20.

4d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 3, 4) = 12 = 10
4d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 3, 6) = 19 = 16
4d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 5, 1) = 14 1 re-roll
4d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 1, 1) = 12 2 re-rolls
4d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 1, 2) = 10 1 re-roll
4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 6, 5) = 21 = 17

re-roll: 1d6 ⇒ 5 = 17
re-roll: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4 1 re-roll
re-roll: 1d6 ⇒ 2 full re-roll

re-roll: 1d6 ⇒ 5 = 15

re-roll: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 2, 1) = 9 1 re-roll

re-roll: 1d6 ⇒ 3 full re-roll

re-roll: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 3, 6) = 15 1 re-roll

re-roll: 1d6 ⇒ 5 = 16

final scores
10
15
16
16
17
17

@gneil: The onus is more on everyone, as opposed to just me setting up matches; if you wanna have a match, talk to your fellow players and set one up. just make sure your character has been approved by two people and the same for your opponents. Then ask someone to be a mod and go to town!

The mods should set terrain and special rules, if any.

Here is my submission for Vorloc the Defenicator:

Just wanted to remind you guys as you're working on your characters, that you only get one additional sourcebook besides the core rulebook to draw from. If you look at my submission above, you will see that I took Ultimate combat, so all of my stuff comes from either the core book or ultimate combat (much as I would like raging vitality or traits, or a furious weapon).

Since it looks like we have some interest, I went ahead and created a gameplay and discussion thread so people can start matches (once their characters are approved).

A rather unassuming looking blonde, tall man steps forth into the arena across from a dangerous looking warrior. The man stands unarmed and unarmored. Any person would call the winner right now, the warrior.

The warrior taunts him I'm going to kill you pipsqueak, but the man only smiles.

As the crowd cheers die down, the announcer calls out.

3...2...1... Fight!

The warrior turns to face his opponent, but recoils in terror. As there is no longer a man, but a pale beast, cloaked in fur and strained clothing. The thing takes to the air on white, dragon like wings and charges the warrior over and over again, tearing with massive teeth and claws, until the warrior stands no more.

The beast stands for a moment, but then cries out in pain as its bones move and organs squish, shrinking down to the man that stood there before.

With blood on his hands and mouth, the man calls out. "Who's next?"

_________________________

The artist formerly known as Gniel here. Who wants to face this character?

Just wanted to remind you guys as you're working on your characters, that you only get one additional sourcebook besides the core rulebook to draw from. If you look at my submission above, you will see that I took Ultimate combat, so all of my stuff comes from either the core book or ultimate combat (much as I would like raging vitality or traits, or a furious weapon).

I actually have a bit of a question about that. With the one soucebook rule, does that mean that say, all the APG classes are by definition restricted to CRB + APG?

That makes a lot of material impossible to ever use, was this your intention?

That's a good point. Perhaps we should make it 2 books total? That way people who are playing apg classes could pick another book that they want to use, but would lose access to PHB stuff (although obviously, the combat section would stay in).

My intention was to limit "cookie cutter" builds that arise. plus, it makes resource allocation for character creation matter: if you want some specific trait, you would need to decide how badly you wanted it.

How about this: CRB + APG + ARG (all very common) + one "Ultimate" + 1 minor book (from random sources like APs or specific race books). Because the 1 book limitation hurts. This combination would limit combinations, but be free enough that no one should really worry about it.

I could see the first 3 plus 1 other book. That should give people PLENTY of options to pull from. I suppose you could substitute APG for ACG playtest, if you really wanted.

Ultimately, however, I'm just one guy, so my opinion can only count for so much. My goal was to try and make more creative builds, as opposed to just seeing how the same rehashed ones do against each other.

Plus, I want to make people think.

I like the idea of limiting sources, just don't want to hose the non core classes.

How about just making it CRB + Any 2 additional books? Still limiting but ensures that all material is still available in some form?

I'm intrigued, but will warn that the more "Lets let that book in too." type stuff that happens, the less you get away from your goal of not everything being cookie cutter.

I would say either restrict to core+APG or just go all out and try to encourage people to produce interesting builds. For interesting builds, diversity of source books would help.

Yes, but you don't need diversity of sourcebooks to make an interesting build; there are actually plenty of interesting builds to be had with just the core rulebook as a matter of fact.

That being said, the core plus 2 rulebook option isn't the worst idear in the world. What do you guys think about that?

That really hurts any base class users. How about Core + APG or ACG + 2 source.

With 4 books available there's not really much choice to make anymore. Few builds will need more than that in the first place.

i think my fighter uses,,, two?

Well I'll admit I have an ulterior motive here. My build uses core, apg, UC, and UM. I could drop the vivesectionist, but I'd rather not if I don't have to.

My point is that for any one who wants to play a base class, they have to pay for it with a book. The way I see it, APG and CRB are so commonly used together, in my mind they are the "core" of pathfinder (though I realize that is not technically the case).

4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 4, 2) = 16
4d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 6, 6) = 18
4d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 5, 3) = 16
4d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 5, 3) = 13
4d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 6, 5) = 20
4d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 6, 4) = 16

2d6 ⇒ (5, 6) = 11

14/17/13/16/17/14

I'll finish this later.

Perhaps I'm being a jerk, but making a build that violates rules of the original post, and then arguing for your build to be legit with rules changes later is poor form to say the least.

I think CRB +1 other book is fine. You want to play a class from the APG, OK, that's your extra choice. Its not like you don't know the rules when you chose the class. I will point out, the purpose of this game isn't to make the most asinine roflstomp build out there. There was an arena a few months back that failed because a few of us made normal characters and got blown apart by the OMGWTFBBQ uber builds of some others. It became unfun and quickly died.

A concern of mine is what happens when only 2 people put in builds for the lvl 1 bracket? Do they fight monsters? Who would run them? I'm interested in the game, but want to see how a few things would be handled before I work on a character for the lower levels. Combat at 20 is silly.

Hi Llyr! *waves*

I agree with Mezegis. I haven't submitted a character yet for two reasons: I'm waiting for the book issue to get resolved definitively, and I've only seen Level 20 builds. I'd much rather fight at mid-level where the utter insanity of high-level combat hasn't kicked in yet. Plus, I'm a bit concerned about balance. I participated in one of the failed arenas from a few months back. I ended up completely dominating the competition because there was apparently an unspoken assumption that everyone would submit a purely martial character, and I entered an Evoker Wizard with a unique (but easily countered in numerous ways) gimmick.

tl;dr Like Mezegis, I'm a bit concerned about balance - especially since we're rolling stats instead of going point-buy.

I CAN do builds for any bracket in need of an extra.

I'm working on a submission for another game at the moment but once I'm finished I will likely be submitting characters for all the brackets.

As far as the book issue, I'd still vote for CRB + 2, only allowing 1 extra means you can't ever use any of the Base Class material outside of APG.

The idea is to limit options available per character, not to ban a large swath of options outright.

Well, to be fair, I didn't realize I had broke the rules until I had already put the effort into making a character.

But even had I not, I would still argue CRB+APG+2 (or one) as otherwise you limit entire classes. Its one thing to say limit books to limit feat, race, or item selection, but to force roughly half the classes in existence to use one of their book slots to get play that class seems unfair to me. Especially a book that is about as significant and as commonly used as the core rulebook.

CRB +2 others sounds fine to me.

Looking at doing a 'Lower Middling':
4d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 4, 1) = 8
4d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 3, 2) = 13
4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 5, 1) = 15
4d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 6, 3) = 17
4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 6, 2) = 19
4d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 1, 2) = 7

Rerolling 1s in 1st set: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8
Rerolling 1s in 3rd set: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Rerolling 1s in 6th set: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 6) = 8

Which leaves me with 12, 11 14, 14, 17, 11. Not bad.

I'll be willing to admit I want to try this out from the ground up, so I'll start with a noob.

So for my 1st level character I'll start out with:

4d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 3, 2) = 9
4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 3, 4) = 17
4d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 3, 5) = 20
4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 5, 1) = 16
4d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 3, 6) = 19
4d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 6, 1) = 10

1s in the first set 1d6 ⇒ 2
1s in the forth set 1d6 ⇒ 6
1s in the sixth set 2d6 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7

1st set reroll 4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 6, 5) = 18

So this gives me: 16, 14, 17, 17, 16, 13
Pretty good I think

A question, do the companion and campaign setting books count towards the 1 book? What about ultimate equipment?

Dotting and also chiming in for CRB+2. Otherwise, you can't ever have an archetype of a APG class, which is just too restrictive.

Also, a set of stats for me to mull over:

#1: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 2, 6) = 11
#2: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 2, 2) = 8
#3: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 5, 3) = 14
#4: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 6, 4) = 15
#5: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 5, 1) = 12
#6: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 2, 4) = 13

Reroll from #1: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Reroll from #2: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Reroll from #4: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Reroll from #5: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Results
#1 {3, 2, 2, 6} = 11
#2 {6, 3, 2, 2} = 11
#3 {3, 3, 5, 3} = 11
#4 {3, 4, 6, 4} = 13
#5 {4, 2, 5, 6} = 15
#6 {3, 4, 2, 4} = 11

...

I have no words...

Oh dear. Oh my.
If others agree I think you should be permitted to reroll those.

^^^ this.

Why not spec out the same character for each level bracket.
That is levels 1, 8, 14 and 20. This might also make the characters...more organic I suppose.

As for the books, why not just allow paizo hard covers and leave it at that. Simple is best. Don't allow traits because this isn't a roleplay, per sey. It's a cage match. And no optionals like power words.

Should be fun. I have this idea in my head of a magical collesium, with changeable terrain and scenarios.

Ok, trying again.

#1: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 2, 3) = 12
#2: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 6, 2) = 15
#3: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 2, 2) = 10
#4: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 6, 5) = 19
#5: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 5, 5) = 14
#6: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 6, 6) = 17

Reroll from #2: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Reroll from #3: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Reroll from #5: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Results
#1 {2, 5, 2, 3} = 10
#2 {6, 5, 6, 2} = 17
#3 {5, 5, 2, 2} = 12
#4 {5, 3, 6, 5} = 16
#5 {6, 3, 5, 5} = 16
#6 {3, 2, 6, 6} = 15

That's much more reasonable.