Okay, the numbers stuff is all done, but I'm still writing background and personality. There's a short paragraph if anyone wants to take a look, but I expect there will be quite a bit more sometime not too far off.
Odea/Aula
Welcome to the team! =D
Aula, since I didn't see you dot the gameplay thread, I put in a new post, and you are written in and ready to be included.
Jinx, I'm holding out for your round 2 action.
Ok, top of the Round, Jinx up. Let's focus people...use the Force to get the dicebot on our side.
Oh man. I am really enjoying Larenti's struggles with these dogs! lol
I'm going to wait about 24 hours before posting for Jinx
On a side note, I am considering introducing a new houserule and would like your opinions on it.
The basis is about adding more skill points in the form of each class getting a rank single specific class skill equal to their class level.
For example: a 3rd level wizard would get 3 free ranks in Spellcraft, a Cleric in Knowledge Religion. A multiclass character only gets them for the levels in the classes they have Ftr 3/Rog 2 would get 3 in intimidate and 2 in Knowledge Local.
If you all agree to this, then it will become retroactive, and any points you may have already spent in your specific class skill will be returned to spend elsewhere (since you would have already had the class skill).
Aula - Knowledge Religion
Bardigan - Spellcraft
Ganner - (Thinking Sense Motive, Monk is a tough one)
Jinx - Knowledge Religion
Larenti - Knowledge Local
TLDR: It's power creep, but I approve.
While I generally don't mind power increases (and extra skill points are minor power increases), it does change some character dynamics and significantly affect balance by giving away a scarce resource (skills), especially given that some characters/classes have very little of that resource (e.g. most clerics and sorcerers--2+INT on a non-int based class). It also avoids some pitfalls/challenges a character or party will face due to lack of said skills. Knowledge skills especially allow characters to act more appropriately in given situations--the classic example being a character that normally would use his longsword in a fight switching to a club against skeletons because he "knows" that bludgeoning works better against them. Recognizing or knowing a game mechanic effect (assuming that players do not metagame knowledge that the character would not have) can drastically change an encounter.
On the other hand, there are many things that certain characters probably _should_ know due to their background/profession/etc., but that players do not take for the character due to the lack of skill points available. Knowledges are often in this category, as is, for example, swim/survival/heal. Why do these get passed up? Again often game mechanical advantage--usually because they want to have a strong showing in one or two "more" used skills (like perception/diplomacy/stealth/intimidate etc.) that give them a combat advantage or prevent a disadvantage.
Regardless, one skill rank per level in a skill that is assigned by class and not chosen by the player is certainly not game-breaking (I've played in plenty of games where players got a free rank in a profession, or where (for example) halflings get free Profession: Cook etc.) and I don't think that skill based characters were significantly disadvantaged or lost balance due to the change, so I think this house rule would be fine.
Okay, long overdue response, but the rule seems approved. Go ahead and add/reallocate the skill point you get (or already spent) for your respective class skill.
Also, FYI
It seems that Jinx has most definitely stopped playing with us. As such, I have invited a player from another game (Tilnar, who is Vyshael from my CotCT) to NPC Jinx for me. He will start after this fight, and it will only be to the end of this compound. After that, Jinx will find other things to do, and Tilnar can bring in a PC of his own to join you guys.
Is there a specific role that needs filling -- just to get some ideas flowing for the post-compound times.
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Well, so long as you'll be really terrible at level 1 and good at going down in a heap, you'll fit right in regardless of what class you pick! =)
Free skill point shifted from Spellcraft to Climb! Whoohoo!
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Well, so long as you'll be really terrible at level 1 and good at going down in a heap, you'll fit right in regardless of what class you pick! =)
I can do that!
Of course, I'm not sure why I'm happy about it. Must be the desire to fit in?
Generally speaking, I'd rather a player come in with a character idea he or she likes and is excited to play rather than forcing them to pay obeisance at the altar of Balanced Party Composition; but, I understand that sometimes a nudge can help focus ideas.
Not that you needmusthafta do anything in particular apart from what you think'll be fun, if it helps hone your thoughts at all, 3 of our group presently like to be in melee and the 4th is a strange woman who seemingly heals our wounds through the power of dance.
None of us who are melee-focused are full BAB classes, so another body in the mix to help get flanking bonuses or something like an order of the dragon cavalier or a bard could prove helpful. Any kind of ranged character, be they spell slinger or arrow pepperer, would probably shine too, so long as they took Precise Shot ASAP though =)
I seem to have come back 'round to "anything will work". =P
Well, you should also look at the player's guide for this AP, and keep in mind that at least some people in the party (I only know about Aula, not the others) will want to try and be surreptitious and stealthy once in a while.
That doesn't define a class to be played, but may direct you to character personalities or class archetypes (or even races) that may be better at being quiet/lying/don't feel obligated by their gods to tell the truth/can disguise themselves etc.
Ok, looking at things, I'm leaning toward Slayer (maybe with Amateur Swashbuckler), Swashbuckler (maybe Mysterious Stranger) or Urban Ranger.
I'm thinking we need at least one d10 hit die around here. ;)
Travelling most of today, should be back online tomorrow (Thursday), then may be missing through Sunday. DMPC if needed.
Gonna be on vacation, but should have internet access most of the time. But if there is a day or two delay, that's why.
I apologize for any delays on my part. I am off this week, so will be limited in how often I can spend time on the computer.
The next three weeks I am on a work schedule non-conducive to steady posting, so I will try to post when I can (could be as bad as once a week), but my player posts will be likely more frequent than my GM posts based on the amount of time each one takes.
Going into an internet-free area today, maybe for a few. So, I might be scarce. Larenti continues to barf. Back home on Wed.
I'll be traveling and unable to post this weekend. Hopefully I come back to us having found something awesome in this dingy hole =P
As a head's up -- I'll be out of town in a place where I'm not expecting to have any internet access from Friday, Sept 2 until Saturday the 10 (and will likely be unpacking and the like, such that Monday the 12th is probably the safest estimate of when I'll be able to catch up and post).
I'll still be here to play this week, but given the chaos of packing, I wanted to make sure I posted a warning of my absence while I can (though I will try to post a reminder before I go..)
While I'm gone, please feel free to bot Jinx as needed.
I'm travelling from today through the weekend, posts may be sparse.
Please forgive me, I was on vacation last week and thought I would have more time to post than I did. This week and the following two, I am working a shift that makes it hard for me to post regularly. The games I run may suffer more for this, as it's easier to make quick posts as a player than the work I need for posts as a GM.
'Jinx' don't worry about how and where to work her out and your new one in. Once you guys get to the Long Roads Coffeehouse we can make the swap.
Since this is a rebellion campaign, Jinx can fall back into an NPC role, and your new PC can step up into the space. That way she can still be involved and not have to be written out, just take a more backseat part.
As such, have you made/planned your incoming character? You can easily work in at the coffeehouse, I just need to know what you make and backstory so I know how I'm going to tie you to the coffeehouse.
Are we anywhere near 2nd level yet?
Ehhhhhh, close-ish...
I just updated the XP tab on the loot list (you guys should be able to view it), and I have you at 1650 each. So, not too much more to level. You should level roughly around when the book says (which isn't quite yet).
lol - our level one purgatory continues! =P
we shall endure and overcome!
Tilnar, what's the status of your replacement character?
We will make the switch from "Jinx" to it here at the coffeehouse, so we might need it put together shortly.
The start of the discussion thread should have all the CharGen rules. It's still some distance to 2nd, where there will be more happening with the new character before the group reaches 2nd, so go ahead and build it at 1st.
I'll need to throw it together -- sort of stopped thinking about it for a while -- I can give you some basic personality and history (and stuff like race) tomorrow night with mechanics to follow.
=> 11
=> 15
=> 11
=> 13
=> 8
=> 8
=> 11
... well that was miserable...
=> 9
=> 9
=> 14
=> 16
=> 14
=> 9
=> 10
... still no...
=> 17
=> 8
=> 17
=> 8
=> 11
=> 15
=> 16
Ok, that set works. So 17 (+3), 17 (+3), 16 (+3), 15 (+2), 11 (0), 8 (-1) ==> Net +10.
Off to paste together a character.
He's just a poor boy from a poor family
Spare him his life from this monstrosity
Easy come easy go will you let me go
Ok. Mechanics done. Will need to flesh out description and finish mapping out the history -- will have it in the next few days (I've got some ideas where it's going -- which will be seen in the trait selection [ex-Asmodean] and the skill selection [Profession (Courtesan)].
Basically, she's almost totally ready to go.
Okay, I've been revamping how I track the loot list (will be updating this for all my games).
Now each one of you has your own sheet in the loot list.
This allows for multiple uses for me and you.
First, it tracks actual who is carrying what, and all price values are set at half for the sake of resale. This allows for ease of options in regards to how the party wants to split loot (buyout, even shares, need vs. greed, etc...)
It also shows me (and you) who is carrying what and what load that puts you under (a lot of people forget to take into account coin weight).
Lastly, it gives me your total weight, if for instance someone needed to drag/carry you to safety or you wanted to ride a mount.
I already added everyone's starting gear, but am still missing only the body weight for two characters: Ganner and Larenti.
Also, you guys still have a bunch of undecided treasure to distribute among yourselves. Moving forward, all treasure must have a bearer, else it gets left behind. There is 35 lbs and 13,000 GP worth of loot that I need to know who is claiming. (Okay, only 2,000 GP if you don't count the Silver Ravens.)
Also, in case it doesn't show, I put importance in the use of identification skills/abilities.
I put a LOT of stock in Appraise.
Anything of nonmagical value, outside general store items (standard weapons, armor, or adventuring gear) will require an Appraise.
For example, Alchemical items, need an Appraise (or Craft Alchemy) to ID. Special Materials (Mithril, Adamantine, Cold Iron), will need to be Appraised to recognize the value.
Magic Items need to be ID'd: Detect Magic and Spellcraft for most, Perception alone can be used for Potions, and Spellcraft alone can be used for Scrolls as per the rules.
I'm going to be away on business from the 14th through the 21st. It is likely that I will not be able to post during this week.
Safe travels!
Okay, I ended up being out a week longer than expected, and I'm back to my first full day at work. I need to catch up on all my games, and will do my best to post something within the next 24 hrs.
Welcome back!
As a head's up, I'm about to be out of town and without easy access to a computer for about 2 weeks -- basically, I'll be able to post Monday (13) and then not again 'til the 28th.
Feel free to bot Dawni as needed, she's pretty straight-forward to run as a level 1 ranger. ;)
Hey guys, sorry I've quieter of late; we're in the middle of a big system conversion at work and I've hardly had a spare moment. On top of that, I've been trying to prep like crazy for my annual CabinCon trip this weekend (Thursday - Monday), so I'll be entirely offline during that span as well.
In terms of the Tengu, I think it's worth making friends -- which likely means dealing with the "not-Tengu" -- who, sadly, knows the secret of where it was.
So here's hoping we can identify what it is between a touch of research and the new skill points from leveling? ;)
Leveling summary:
+1 BAB
+1 Fort & Reflex
Bonus Feat (dodge) and Evasion
Skills +1 x6 (Escape Artist, History, Religion, Linguistics (what do the Tengu speak?), Perception, Sense Motive)
Right.... House rules.
Level 2!
+1 BAB
+1 Fort
+1 Will
+1 1st lvl spell known (shocking grasp)
+1 cantrip/day
+1 1st lvl spell slot/day
gain spellstrike
+5 skill points
+1 Acrobatics
+1 Climb
+1 Diplomacy
+1 Knowledge (arcana)
+1 Knowledge (nobility)
+2 background skills
+1 perform (oratory)
+1 spellcraft
For ease of reference, here are the 6 Officer Roles we can fill:
Demagogue: The officer adds his or her Constitution or Charisma modifier to the rebellion’s Loyalty check.
Partisan: The officer adds his or her Strength or Wisdom modifier to the rebellion’s Security check.
Recruiter: The number of supporters recruited during the Upkeep phase on a successful Organization check is increased by the officer’s character level. This bonus stacks with that provided by other recruiters.
Sentinel: The officer grants a +1 bonus to the rebellion’s two secondary Organization checks, and can aid during all Organization checks attempted to resolve one event during the Event phase. The Sentinel can add her Constitution or Charisma modifier to a Loyalty check, her Strength or Wisdom Modifier to a Security check, or her Dexterity or Intelligence modifier to a Secrecy check made during this event’s resolution.
Spymaster: The officer adds his or her Dexterity or Intelligence modifier to the rebellion’s Secrecy check.
Strategist: The officer grants the Silver Ravens a bonus rebellion action during the Activity phase. Any Organization check made to resolve the effects of this bonus action gain a +2 bonus on the check.
---
I think Bardigan is shaping up to fit the demagogue role best, unless anyone else would prefer to fill that role?
Sorry, been a dumb week -- will level tomorrow
Okay, as we move into the Rebellion Sheet tracking phase of the adventure, one of the things I will need to know is what the Focus of the organization will be.
Loyalty: If you want your organization to focus on political clout and popularity.
Secrecy: If you want your group to remain sneaky and subtle in its opposition of the government.
Security: If you want your group to be scrappy and eager to get in fights against Thrune’s agents.