Done!
I think. Should be done, at least.
Dal, I like that. Maybe they could be like the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver in the Ultimate universe, lol.
Neat! Feel free to suggest a surname if Lantherion doesn't strike your fancy either =)
We could go with a surname that starts with an "M", a not-so-subtle nod to the House of M =P
The first one is simple. I like to give PC's incentive to have mechanical stuff to reflect their background. To this end I like to grant a single extra skill point that must be spent in either a Craft, Perform, or Profession. All the same, it should be a part of the character and who they were before reaching adulthood and becoming an adventurer.
The second one is purely for flavor, and is even optional to each player (as in even if the group agrees on it, not everyone has to do it). I like to add a comeliness roll (the good/bad looking level from back in the 1E days). If you decide to use it, roll 4d6, and add your Chr modifier (personality goes a long way). It will rarely come up, but I think it's fun to have a score to determine if you're good or bad looking. Most people hate to saddle that in Chr "you can have a low Chr and still be attractive"
third rule up for debate, and this is where the conflict tends to come up more often than not. Skill usage. This has two parts to the rule.
First, skills neither auto-succeed or auto-fail. I use a rule where a nat 20 is an additional +10 to a skill check, and a nat 1, is an additional -10 to the skill check.
Second, I hate, and I mean vehemently HATE the take 10, take 20 rules. How is it that when people actively try to do their best, they average at a roll of 10, but if they just try to do their plain old average, they also get a roll of 10? If trying your hardest is a 10 average, then doing just enough to get by should be either a 5 or 0. I would like to remove the rule of taking 10/20 out all together.
If taking it out is not an option, I would like to reduce it to taking 5/10, and if that's completely unacceptable, I would like to make it only useable if you are trained in the skill you're trying to take 10/20 in.
*mutters the words house of mavis*
Neat! Feel free to suggest a surname if Lantherion doesn't strike your fancy either =)
We could go with a surname that starts with an "M", a not-so-subtle nod to the House of M =P
I like. Maybe their first names start with a P and a W?
I think taking 10 and 20 out of the game is perfectly reasonable.
Also, I like the other two houserules, and I'll add the extra skill point (assuming I used the one you're giving me on the profession (scribe) and I'll roll for comeliness ah...right now.
Sorry, when I said 4d6 I mean like ability scores and drop the lowest. Which I'm not sure if you did or if that was your Chr mod.
Just to be clear, the auto success/auto fail of 20's/1's is only done away with in regard to skills, yes? A Natural 20 on an attack is still an auto-hit and a natural 1 an auto-miss?
By RAW, there is no auto-success/fail on skills. I'm not changing ANY other nat 20, nat 1 rules. Just making Skill get a bonus or penalty to their roll INSTEAD of making a auto succeed/fail rule. That way the rogue could roll a nat 1 on stealth, and still possibly be quieter than the cavalier, or vice versa, the loud cavalier get a nat 20 and possibly be stealthier than the rogue.
Understood. I like it.
In my high level games we use an exploding d20 rule. When you roll a 20, you roll again and add 20 to the result. Same is true of a natural 1, except you subtract 20. We apply it to attack rolls, skills, saves, the whole gamut.
Largely because we thought it was silly that greatest swordsman in the cosmos had a 5% chance of failing to hit the broadside of a barn =|
---
I am a fan of taking 10, just because of the ease of calculating (especially when phone posting to a pbp), but I'm fine with doing away with it. No skin off my back.
I'm concerned about our other two. I have seen them both post in the other games I am in with them, but have only ever seen the "Yes this sounds like fun" first post from them here. I worry that we have posted so much with just us five, that they are having a hard time catching up (and the gameplay portion hasn't even started yet).
So far, who is in the game?
Are you asking who all has accepted my initial PM? I asked only six people, as stated in the PM, based on how they play their character's in PbP and the quality of RP in their posts when they post.
I asked the four of you (Duboris, Leinathan, Shalafi, and Dal Selpher)
I had also asked FuriaRIOT and Ubertripp. They had both popped in to say they accept, but I'm waiting to see more from them like, opinion on dice or PB, character concepts, or even input on the new house rule post.
So as of now, we have a wizard and a magus and a cavalier. Am I missing anybody? No gnome alchemists?
We've got Duboris' rogue, Oo. (That's pronounced Ooo.)
Actually, Duboris, I have a question about the name Oo. How does one come about a name like that? Did his parents actually name him Oo? Is it a nickname, as in Ewww (Oo) gross, or Ooooh (Oo) neat? Is there some significance to it, as in it's short for something Only Oranges, from the time he tried to steal from a merchant and instead of coin he got only oranges?
Names of PC's is a bit of an immersion thing for me. I turned down a guy with a great character and decent backstory from my S&S game, because he refused to consider changing his name from Randall McNally (too much of an obvious joke name). Not that I'm saying it's a joke name. It just feels like there's some purpose behind the name, and I'm just trying to get some insight into the name Oo.
Oh, by the way Duboris, rogues don't have gladius proficiency, and you didn't take it as a feat, so...how are you using one?
Aardvark, what do you think of the character?
Once I finish grading papers I will be making my character on HeroLab.
Leinathan, the character looks okay.
I have a few questions, no discrepancies (some of these can be answered by anyone that knows):
When Earl bears you (with your gear) and his gear, is he under Medium load? If it puts him at medium load, and it affects more than his speed, could you put the differences in parens on his sheet?
Your surname is Nidoran, does anyone know who they are as far as Magnimar is concerned (what business they are in, or how they are a noble family)? I only own rule books and AP's. Sadly, I don't have the income to buy setting materials. At least that's what my wife keeps telling me ;)
This last is purely a curiosity. I believe someone said the player's guide mentioned there isn't much place for mounts. Are you bearing that in mind with this character?
For everyone
if you use the Hero Labs format to post your PC's, please include all skills they can use, both trained and untrained. If I have to DMPC you for a few days while you are out, I don't want to have to try and do the math for your stealth score just because it isn't a trained or class skill. Thank you.
Elrawien Lantherion
Female Elf Wizard 1
CN Medium Humanoid (elf)
Init +2; Senses low-light vision; Perception +3
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Defense
--------------------
AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 10 (+2 Dex)
hp 6 (1d6)
Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +3; +2 vs. enchantments
Immune magic sleep; Resist elven immunities
--------------------
Offense
--------------------
Speed 30 ft.
Melee Masterwork Rapier +3 (1d6-1/18-20/x2)
Wizard Spells Prepared (CL 1):
1 (2/day) Shield, Sleep (DC 15), Charm Person (DC 15)
0 (at will) Acid Splash, Daze (DC 14), Detect Magic
--------------------
Statistics
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Str 9, Dex 15, Con 11, Int 17, Wis 13, Cha 14
Base Atk +0; CMB -1; CMD 11
Feats Scribe Scroll, Spell Focus (Enchantment), Weapon Finesse
Traits Alabaster Outcast, Charming
Skills Appraise +7, Bluff +3 (+4 vs. characters who could be attracted to you), Diplomacy +2 (+3 vs.
characters who could be attracted to you), Knowledge (arcana) +7, Knowledge (nobility) +7, Perception
+3, Perform (dance) +3, Sense Motive +2, Spellcraft +7 (+9 to determine the properties of a magic item);
Racial Modifiers +2 Perception
Languages Celestial, Common, Draconic, Elven, Sylvan
SQ dazing touch (6/day), elven magic, force of will, opposition schools (evocation, necromancy),
specialized schools (controller)
Other Gear Masterwork Rapier, 150 GP
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Special Abilities
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Alabaster Outcast +1 Diplomacy & Intimidate within Magnimar.
Charming +1 Bluff/Diplomacy/save DC for a language-dependent spell vs. targets who could be sexually
attracted to you.
Controller Associated School: Enchantment
Dazing Touch (6/day) (Sp) Touch attack dazes foe for 1 rd, if HD <= wizard level.
Elven Immunities +2 save bonus vs Enchantments.
Elven Immunities - Sleep You are immune to magic sleep effects.
Elven Magic +2 to spellcraft checks to determine the properties of a magic item.
Evocation You must spend 2 slots to cast spells from the Evocation school.
Force of Will (Su) 60' telepathy with those you have charmed or dominated.
Low-Light Vision See twice as far as a human in low light, distinguishing color and detail.
Necromancy You must spend 2 slots to cast spells from the Necromancy school.
Spell Focus (Enchantment) Spells from one school of magic have +1 to their save DC.
Does this look okay?
Dal, you want to be the older brother?
Elrawien Lantherion spent time in the Temple of Calistria and learned the art of seduction through dance. I choose the prohibited schools necromancy because it is nasty and evocation because it lacks subtly. She is bonded with the rapier. I might name it something.
I kind of imagine her as a Sensate from Planescape into all kinds of experiences, she is getting over being a little brat but is used to getting her way.
Okay, a few things I noticed (looking back over the others as well)
Duboris, why Thassilonian as a language? It just seems an odd choice for a knife master rogue.
Shalafi and Dal, your family name of Lantherion is not one of the ones mentioned in the trait, which means you guys get to make up how and why the family name is a noble one.
Also, for all the Alabaster Outcasts, what was it that made you an outcast from your family (Lein touched on this in his, but I don't think he knows for sure what his family name is known for). More specifically, as an outcast, how far are you from the family. Do they not talk, do they all agree on you being ostracized (sometimes mothers can be sympathetic when father isn't aware). If you met any member of your noble family within the street, how would the interaction play out (anger, silence, totally ignored)?
Also, for our spellbook arcanists (Dal and Shalafi) tracking the number of pages used in your spellbooks is appreciated (I saw this in Dal's profile and was reminded). As spellbook users get up in levels they find their books tend to weigh more and more as they have to carry so many of them.
That's just the once over. When they are built into a profile, it may be easier to look them over.
Rogues do get Gladius proficiency actually. Mostly because it's the exact same thing as a Shortsword.
The name "Oo" comes from the fact that he's always been a bit of an enigma in Magnimar. He's treated as a bit of an eccentric that's particularly against being seen. That's the same reason he wears the lengthy black cloak that covers him entirely. Even then, he likes to stay near exits.
Trust me when I say his name has a crisp reason for being. That said, it's basically a nickname that spurns from "Oswald Orcus."
Also, I rebuked the knifemaster idea, actually, as I didn't want to lose the trapfinding and sense.
The Thassilonian stems from observing ruin runners, keeping eyes on them, and learning of what they unearth to give it to the shadow lodge as ripe information. However, in his work, he became curious and eventually learned the language just so he knew what to keep to himself and what to hand off to them.
I'm iffy on whether he'll be CN or N, but at the moment he's looking more chaotic, if only for his alien nature.
Dal, did you think about the bladesinger equivalent in the Races book for elves?
Assuming I'm about 150 pounds, all of my gear weighs about 75 pounds, and Earl's medium weight is about 152 pounds, so no, we're all a medium load. I'll include that in his speed (reduces it to 35, I believe. That should change when his STR increases at level 4, though.)
I do not. I actually looked up the names to see if there's any info on them, and did not find any. I also know that the Scarnetti family is a part of at least one of the Varisian campaigns, so I didn't want to be a member of the family. If he met a family member in the street, even if they tried to talk to him, he would likely ignore them. He could care less for his family - he doesn't need them any more.
I'm not sure it matters what exactly the family does, but more than my PC wasn't doing it.
I am keeping in mind that there likely won't be room for Earl sometimes, and I'm fine with that. I'm building him to be effective off and on his mount. His archetype gives him a bunch of free mounted feats, and that frees up his other feats for other ones.
Seems Alabaster Outcast is really the only good trait in that player's guide (except for some of the ___ Of the Society, but we don't really have the right classes for those. For example, the barbarian one is great.)
Also...not having an entirely neutral party might be nice. I'm certainly considering shifting to LG, maybe over time...although party neutrality is less of a problem among Pathfinders.
So would the roll be 13? That doesn't seem too pretty, lol.
For 5 gp more, and 1 lb of extra weight just so they can also be slashing and performance, I don't have a problem with it. In that same regard, I'm betting that Hero Labs allows it, so it just may be allowed.
So, it's his initials, I can deal with that.
As far as being "a bit of an enigma in Magnimar". At 1st level, in a large city the size of Magnimar, I would imagine it's safe to say that less than 5% of the population (about 800 people) has ever even heard of or seen him.
To all, be wary not to put too much past successes into your backstories, as 1st lvl PC's with 0 XP it's hard to justify. If you look at the post I linked before about a player ruining campaigns, he had a Star Wars backstory of having blood stripes (like one of the greatest honors). He got it for saving an entire space cruiser of people by crashing it into a star destroyer as they escaped. At 1st level. We warned the GM he would try to use it in game to get privileges.... and of course he did.
As far as the 13 for looks, that's not just above the commoner average, you are also an elven woman, so that is one of those DM factors that I take into account without applying a hard set modifier to it (as all races see beauty differently).
Well, he's not doing anything too grand. He just watches people dive into ruins and oversees shady no-name deals. He's actually wanting to add a bit of spice to it, as he's never actually done assassinations yet.
Also I might just have his nickname be "O" (That's not a zero.) Too many questions about his Oo name. Lol.
Would my charming trait help?
Duboris - are you planning for your character to be an assassin? You DO know that the Shadow Lodge isn't evil, they're just watchdogs of the Pathfinders, right? And that Pathfinders are explorers, not murderers?
No, not an Assassin. He's going to be 20 full levels of rogue, actually. That said, I'm aware they're chroniclers. Shadow lodge is ran by the guy who didn't like the grand lodge and made them do him a ton of favors after ranking up plenty of debts for himself to get paid. That said, O isn't particularly interested in the killing, so much as the watching.
Regardless, in the line of work he's in he's not sure what he'll likely be getting into, hence his sudden interest in stealth strikes, whether with his sap or intentional stabbing. He's not had the opportunity for either, though.
Also, while they *are* the watchdogs, a thing O rather enjoys as he relishes in juicy information, they're still skeptical of the decimverate, right? He's a bit iffy on the whole thing too.
Assassinations, is that something to do with the shadow lodge? It begs the question of whether you intend on taking the character the route of the assassin. If that's the case, and he belongs to or wants to belong to the shadow lodge (if they are indeed assassins or maybe even organized crime), what is it that makes him a member of the pathfinders?
Even under the premise of having initially been alright with having evil in the party, I've always had an issue with assassins in a PC party. Unless the party conducts the assassinations with you (which I don't see happening in most non-evil parties) it is pretty much a solo career.
EDIT: Ninja'd by Lein
And then ninja'd by Duboris while typing that Lein ninja'd me.
Shalafi, the trait wouldn't help the score, but the score would help better track the trait. Like I said, a 13 isn't bad. A large portion of human males would likely qualify for you to get the bonus from your charming trait. Boy they dig them elf womenfolk.
RE: Archetypes and Familial Relations
Once you mentioned Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, Shalafi, I immediately began reconsidering kensai and loooking at the elven spelldancer magus archetype instead. I'm not settled either way yet, but it's pretty much 50/50 split at this point.
I was actually thinking we could go with the twin angle. But older or younger, I think Faedrin's definitely going to be the overprotective kind of brother.
RE: Campaign Traits and Surnames
I made up a surname because I looked up all the families listed in the player's guide and they're all humans. There are loads of noble houses though, so I figured we could just be from one of the slightly more minor houses.
Maybe the family sent Elrawien and Faedrin away to some prestigious academy to pursue their arcane studies. When the siblings returned to Magnimar, they found the family on hard times. After a few years, the family's on the verge of losing everything and the two decide to band together, join the Pathfinder Society, and waltz into a windfall that will restore their family's position, comfort, and security? How's that sound?
RE: Comeliness!
So what you're saying is that he's thinking about assassinations because he doesn't know exactly what his job is?
Aardvark, the Shadow Lodge is a faction within the Pathfinder Society. He is a Pathfinder, he just pays his allegience to the Shadow Lodge (which may ultimately be a problem, as the Grand Lodge is the primary authority figure within this AP).
OK. By when do you think we will be ready to start?
I see her joining the party as a way to find experiences and to look for more magic.
The shadow lodge certainly works under the grand lodge, however, it just doesn't much like the idea that the lodge focuses on certain people, rather than everyone, or more importantly, the people that actually need it.
Remember, we're all supposed to be Pathfinders, so create characters that are good Pathfinders.
Hey, Dal Selpher, I think the Spell Dancer archetype would be a great choice if you ended up going with being siblings with the wizard.
Just my personal opinion.
I post a LOT on here. I would say that I don't have a life, but... i do. I just manage to get on a lot.
I think that the Spelldancer archetype might make an interesting shadowdancer.
a sub-category of wizards who study the effect of physical movement and techniques upon spellcasting ability. They believe their ability to cast spells while fighting is an outgrowth of the concept of the “spell dance,” which itself is just another kind of wizardry.
Class Features
A spell dancer has the following class features:
Class Skills
A spell dancer adds Acrobatics and Perform (dance) to his list of class skills and removes Intimidate and Ride from his list of class skills.
Spell Dance (Su)
At 1st level, a spell dancer gains the ability to expend 1 point from his arcane pool as a swift action to gain a +10 enhancement bonus to his movement rate and a +2 dodge bonus to Armor Class against attacks of opportunity provoked by moving through threatened spaces for 1 minute. For every four levels beyond 1st, the spell dancer gains another +10 enhancement bonus to movement and +2 to AC against attacks of opportunity provoked from movement. At 5th level, once per spell dance as a swift action, the spell dancer may use one of the following on himself as a swift action: blur, fly, or haste. These abilities last for 1 round. At 9th level, the spell dancer may instead take a swift action to use dimension door as a spell-like ability once during a spelldance. At 13th level, the spell dancer may instead choose to take a swift action to gain freedom of movement for 1d4 rounds.
This ability replaces the magus's ability to expend points from his arcane pool as a swift action to grant any weapon he is holding magic bonuses for 1 minute.
Arcane Movement (Su)
At 5th level, whenever a spell dancer casts a magus spell, he gains a competence bonus on Acrobatics, Climb, Escape Artist, and Stealth checks equal to the spell's level until the beginning of his next turn.
This ability replaces the bonus feat a magus receives at 5th level.
Dance of Avoidance (Su)
At 7th level, while wearing light armor or no armor, a spell dancer gains a +2 insight bonus to Armor Class.
This ability replaces the medium armor class feature.
Greater Dance of Avoidance (Su)
At 13th level, while wearing light armor or no armor, a spell dancer's insight bonus to Armor Class increases to +4.
This ability replaces the heavy armor class feature.
Magus Arcana
The following magus arcana complement the spell dancer archetype: arcane cloak, prescient defense, close range, concentrate, hasted assault, spell shield.
Yeah, you both make excellent points for the spell dancer. It's a tough decision between that and kensai. Kensai gets to hit harder but can't wear armor, spell dancer is much more mobile but loses weapon enhancements through arcane pool.
Tough tough tough!
I personally like mobility, it gives you a lot more options in combat. I'm making a very mobile combatant as well. Not only that, but you don't really NEED to hit harder...my character will do that pretty well, and you've got spells to help make up for the lack of a to-hit bonus. Also, the kensai archetype takes away a spell per day for every level. That's pretty significant.
Did I mention that I've never had to be DMPC'd before? My track record's swell.
Also, Lein, I'm aware. I'll be posting up O's background rather shortly, actually. Most likely before I go to bed tonight.
I'm not much of a blaster.
Hey, if Dub does have to be DMPCed maybe you can make him into the bad guy?
So, I'm seeing a party that is:
Wizard (Enchanter)
Magus
Rogue (some archetype)
Cavalier
Is that correct? Looks like we'll need a cleric? Happy to do that if that's the case.
Here are my rolls:
- 2 = 16
- 4 = 18
- 3 = 12 (drop)
- 1 = 15
- 1 = 14
- 4 = 17
- 2 = 16
Final set is:
18
17
16
16
15
14
As a great man once said: Hoody-frickin-hoo.
I'll roll comeliness after I place CHR stat.
Oh, and I'm going to mull those rolls and peruse some domains tonight. I'll post a character tomorrow. Sorry for the slow posting. A bit of a week for me.