Hello thanks for answering my questions.
But I have a few more. :(
1 Regarding False [or Razmiran] Priest I was talking about the sorcerer archetype not the PrC. I actually did say that, but blame Paizo for giving, not for the only time, an archetype and PrC the same name.
2 If I take the summoning feats, a summoner, master or otherwise, can cast summon monster as a SLA as a standard action anyway. So there is no point disallowing feats as it makes summon monster a standard action.
This probably means the feats are OK. Or if you really don't like summons as a std action, Summoners are either not OK or tampered with. I hope not, as the name indicates they are intended to be better summoners than anyone else.
Pity about Scouting Summons.:(
3 New question. Item creation feats. You said nothing about them being disallowed.
a)If these are taken, can I create items pre-game for myself at half cost?
b) Can I do it for other PCs.
c) Will there be enough downtime in game to make these feats useful. I would think so, but it is a good idea to check.
My thanks.
Interesting... let me think about what would fit well.
Item Creation (except for Scrolls & Potions) Feats are not allowed for this campaign.
There will be downtime for Potion and Scroll creation.
The Feat, False Focus is available for play. The PrC, False Priest is available for play.
As I understand it, a Base Summoner's "Special" spell-like ability, Summon Monster, usable 3+ CHA mod per day, is a Standard Action. A Summoner can not have a present Eidolon and use these Standard Actions for Summoning. ....The Master Summoner Archetype with the Summoning Mastery feature changes this to 5 +CHA mod per day and makes it so that the Summoner can keep his or her Eidolon. (That's the point since the Eidolon is only half strength.) Those are Spell-Like abilities. When using a Spell per day to cast Summon Monster, it is a Full Round Action, as per the Spell.
My ruling for the Feats is such: You CAN use Summon Evil Monster and Sacred Summons, if you select them, for your Spell-Like Ability even though they are Spell Feats. You CAN use Summon Evil Monster and Sacred Summons, if you select them, for your Spells per day -- but they are still Full Round Actions. (I assume you plan on using you SLA for Summon Spells anyway, not so much your Spells per day slots for them, so it ought to work out.) Just keep in mind, your SLA Summon Monster is a Standard; your Spells per day are Full Round castings.
Welcome Tellis Corinesten, feel free to look at the whole Thread at some point to see what's been discussed prior to my sending you that PM about the Open Recruitment.
Their plans for Rahadoum and Diobel are quite,.... interesting.
Guys, feel free to comment on my Houserules. Concerns, suggestions, approvals, questions on ambiguity -- I'm so use to them in my Homegames now that I don't even think about it. It seems RAW to me. So it's hard to remember how weird or confusing they seem for the first time. Not to mention that there seem to be so many.
....Oh, Knowledge Local is a Class Skill for every PC Class. All PCs can know about PC Class Features and PC Race Features. (An NPC Expert, Adept, Warrior or Adept, however, may not have Knowledge Local as a Class Skill.)
DM Ray:- The summons bit is totally clear as is the item creation feats.
Another thing a Master Summoner can do a base Summoner can't is have more than one use of the summon monster ability active at the one time. But your eidolon gets nerfed.:(
When I last played a Master Summoner I never even took a summons spell. This isn't surprising, if I have a cha of 20 or 22 when I start play, which seems likely, at level 8 I will have 4 1st level spells, 4 2nd and 2 3rd. And either 10 or 11 uses of a much improved version of Summon Monster IV, as many or more than my total spells of any level.
About False Priest, I think you mean the sorcerer archetype false priest is available and you looked it up and checked. That is because you say the False Focus Feat is available for play, and this is something the archetype gets and the Pr C does not. But you actually typed, or perhaps cut and pasted, "The PrC False Priest is available for play." Could you confirm/ clarify.
Sorry if I sound argumentative, its not what I am trying to do. I think you should be prepared to accept GM rulings.
Apart from that I am going to wait a bit and see what others intend to play, then make up my mind. It could be the false priest sorcerer or the master summoner.
I've looked now at both the PrC and the Archetype. Both are okay.
I look forward to seeing your either Master Summoner or False Priest Sorcerer.
(Not that my opinion matters here, it must be your choice, but I like the False Priest Sorcerer better. Of course, whatever you want to run is fine.)
Few concepts coming together. For the first I'm going to use Tiefling as a base and build up from there to get my desired end. Fluff is that rather than being born of tainted blood, his powers are the result of a deal with the Infernal powers, Dispater specifically.
I've had a thought on Leadership that I'd like to propose. Assume all PCs have a modified form of Leadership as follows: Rather than simply attracting followers and a cohort, when used in a campaign focused on intrigue or otherwise RP heavy, Leadership merely sets a maximum number of contacts and agents the PCs can trust and they must recruited them through roleplay. So, if someone has a score that allows 10 1st level followers, 1 2nd level follower, and a Cohort of 6th level then the PC must individually recruit each one. Followers and cohorts are assumed to have a high degree of loyalty to the PC and thus can be trusted with more sensitive tasks. Followers in excess of these numbers can not be trusted to the same degree and are subject to the whims of cruel fate.
Since we'll be forming networks of contacts to go about our duties this would give us both personal goals to work towards (expanding our networks) and give us a mechanical limit to the scope of our networks. Thought I might put it out there and see if it was something the DM could work with.
@DM Ray.
I may well elect to play the false priest sorcerer. Master Summoners are powerful, but one dimensional to a degree. Good for combat heavy campaigns, stealth and intrigue not so much.
However, Summon Monster can do a lot of things besides kill badies, uh, goodies.
False Priest Sorcerer has a lot more flexibility. Well, once you hit 9th level. As I said, I will wait and see for now.
When I thought the campaign was likely to be gestalt, I had both very much in mind. :)
Considering a priest with Evangelist and this archetype if it is allowed.
Would you be more willing to allow Leadership if instead of all us starting the game with a cohort and followers, we gained them in game (perhaps during that prequel-esque 'adventure' in Cheliax that you mentioned to get us all set up) via roleplay and interaction?
Heck, if nobody minds, we could even gain the cohorts/followers while out doing our subversion/expansion.
.
Yeah,....
This is more like what I was thinking.
Especially the second of your two ideas.It's not Leadership/Cohort/Follower as per RAW, but these are NPCs who you meet, corrupt/subvert to support you.
Eureka -- I do believe that that's the whole (method) of the Campaign!
.
I've designed it so that you the PCs, and as a group will be creating cohort-like and follower-like NPCs through roleplay.
In fact, that's how you can get success in an area-- get enough NPCs to do as you say to promote Cheliax in their village/ town/ city.
I will not be creating a mechanic for this but will rather use DM, um, sense and feel based on your roleplay and the NPCs you are dealing with at the time.
A PC's CHA will Not be part of the decision, ensuring that Players can build PCs they want to play for this game rather than being forced to play a high-CHA PC. (I assume most Players drawn to this game will put something into CHA, but it shouldn't be a requirement.)
Gotcha, just a thought. Kinda helps me zero in on domain choice as I meld mechanics and fluff for my concept.
This took some looking at; normally I am NOT a fan of the Evangelist Archetype. However,....
Evangelist is available for play, ....IF you also go with the
Asmodeun Advocate Archetype as well.
My concern boiled down to your ability to combine Diplomacy and Bluff into one Skill (Barrister). These two Skills will likely be very important in this campaign and combining them,.... not to mention that you get half your Level as a bonus!....
But since you also have to put Ranks into Perform: Oratory from Evangelist, I am allowing it for play.
I look forward to seeing your new PC.
What are your thoughts on using Diplomacy to Gather Information? It seems that Profession: Barrister should not be allowed to be used for Gather Info.
(And hearing your plans for Rahadoum!)
But what about game balance?
....I'll allow it. It is how it's written.
DM Ray- Just a rules point.
The Evangelist and Asmodean Advocate are incompatible archetypes. They both have the domain class feature altered. And it is not just technical, if you take one of those archetypes you give up one domain, if you take both you give up one domain not two.
And buying into the debate on Barristers, from someone who used to be a solicitor [related] and work with barristers. The means of information suggested by Tellis are all about the court process.
You can't do any of these things unless you are acting for a client who is engaged in a court case, and then only to the other party to the case.
I noticed that when I looked at them but ultimately, one says you have to have The Trickery Domain and one says that you can only have one Domain.
While technically they may not be allowed to work together, I don't see any real problem.
And trading a Domain for a Familiar doesn't really unbalance anything, I don't think.
Thanks for noticing, though.
.
EDIT:
Though I'm a big believer in real-life/logic-arguments-should-NOT-be-used-in-D&D, such as the one made earlier about Barristers, I think there's a potentially bigger downside in disallowing the Gather Info checks to being part of the Profession check. I do think it's mildly unbalancing and don't really think it fits (despite the argument), but it's just not worth it to disallow.
Hey, I'm the guy with all the little niggling houserules; I can allow stuff I don't usually allow. We're ultimately Players who don't know each other (or our playing styles) looking to enjoy this PbP. I need to try to let a Player play what they want.
If I understand how a mechanic works -- Unchained Monk, Master Summoner, Evangelist -- AND I don't see a Player unbalancing his or her PC, I want to try to allow it. It is true that I prefer mechanics from books and mechanics I have and am familiar with, but I should try to allow it if I can.
The Asmodean Advocate can use Profession to Gather Info.
I noticed that when I looked at them but ultimately, one says you have to have The Trickery Domain and one says that you can only have one Domain.
I think my point has got lost, possibly because I didn't express it clearly.
Each archetype, of cleric or any other class, involves giving up A to gain B, trades a negative for a positive.
Asmodean Advocate gives up one domain [among other things].
Evangelist gives up one domain [among other things].
If you take both you should lose 2 domains to get the negatives of both archetypes. That is the whole point of the rule you can't take archetypes that alter or replace the same class feature I think, you won't be paying the cost for both domains. Unbalancing? I think so.
Rule as you want, it is not really my concern.
Though I'm a big believer in real-life/logic-arguments-should-NOT-be-used-in-D&D
This is just theoretical.
I am of the opposite view, well mostly. It is real life logic that if you start with 10 arrows and have fired 4 you have 6 left. Everyone uses it in RPGs. You just have to, otherwise you can't figure anything out.
Real life logic should be used in RPGs unless it interferes with the heroic nature of the play or leads to excessive argument.
And true to my own philosophy, I better stop there. :P
I noticed that when I looked at them but ultimately, one says you have to have The Trickery Domain and one says that you can only have one Domain.I think my point has got lost, possibly because I didn't express it clearly.
Each archetype, of cleric or any other class, involves giving up A to gain B, trades a negative for a positive.
Asmodean Advocate gives up one domain [among other things].
Evangelist gives up one domain [among other things].
If you take both you should lose 2 domains to get the negatives of both archetypes. That is the whole point of the rule you can't take archetypes that alter or replace the same class feature I think, you won't be paying the cost for both domains. Unbalancing? I think so.
Rule as you want, it is not really my concern.
Though I'm a big believer in real-life/logic-arguments-should-NOT-be-used-in-D&DThis is just theoretical.
I am of the opposite view, well mostly. It is real life logic that if you start with 10 arrows and have fired 4 you have 6 left. Everyone uses it in RPGs. You just have to, otherwise you can't figure anything out.
Real life logic should be used in RPGs unless it interferes with the heroic nature of the play or leads to excessive argument.
And true to my own philosophy, I better stop there. :P
Actually, I agree that you are right... They are incompatable. I originally read it that you had to take the trickery domain, but missed the part that you only get one domain.
I fail to see how they are incompatible.
Each says you may only have one domain. If you took both, you would have one domain, not zero. And it has to be Trickery.
Also, they are alter effects, not replacement. As such, I know a lot of GMs allow archetypes that alter the same class feature, as long as the alter aren't too extreme, and I don't think this is.
However, its all up to Ray, and he seems OK with it, citing the most important rule of all gaming:
Have fun.
@ Rostam,
I am not in a hurry to get PCs. It's Thanksgiving week in USA and I expect I'm not the only one who has a limited amount of free time in the next few days. Early-to-mid next week sounds okay to me.
But feel free to talk about what you're planning here so other Players can see what's being made.
We have six Players that seem dedicated,
Almagafor,
Joynt Jezebel,
Rostam,
Monkeygod,
Thunderbeard,
Tellis Corinesten
Feel free to go to the Rules Forum and start a Thread on whether one can do what he has asked to do RAW.
Strong am I with the RAW, but not that strong.
I have a number of Houserules that I like so I can't stand on any kind of RAW high-horse. But I do try to follow the rules as they are written -- Wherever I think it's balanced, fair and fun. And I bend or break them, trying for consistency and fairness and fun-ness, when I feel it's good to do so.
In this case, though it looked to me like those two Archetypes can not be taken together, I just didn't see the imbalance nor reason to curb a fun-for-play request.
I am not a fan of a million-and-one splat books and bloat. That being said, I want Players to be able to play what they want to play. If I understand the mechanics and how they play out at the gaming table, then all I have to do is consider whether the PC would be too strong compared to the other PCs. And finally if it seems appropriate to the flavor of the specific campaign. Those conditions met, I allow the request.
I do not enjoy poring over rules and such. That's not what I'm in this for.
Hopefully you see my reasoning in allowing the request.
Hopefully you see I'm trying to be fair, consistent and allow for fun.
@ Joynt Jezebel,
Ah, I see you called me out on my poorly-worded philosophy.
My feeling is this, I don't believe one should use real-life logic or physics and such in rules-interpretations because, to me, I'm more interested in game-balance and enjoyment.
Usually, I express this when talking about spell effects-- lightning bolts in water or on mirrors, magical grease, feather fall, prestidigitation for goodness' sake.
But also sometimes with monk slow fall or combat reflexes or Acrobatics and Bluff checks. There's always something.
For me, if its a first level spell it should look, feel, taste, smell and sound like the other first level spells. And be better than Prestidigitation!
This is for game balance. Physics all you want, Fireball is only a 3rd level spell.
....The other side of the coin is enjoyment. I don't enjoy rules-lawyering but appreciate Players -- even rely upon -- who try to follow the rules and are honest and open when they see something that concerns them. I try to learn the stuff I don't know when I'm confronted with it but don't like spending a lot of time on it -- that's not fun for me. Again, I try to be fair, fun and consistent though Yoda knows I don't always make it. ....This is a group game, afterall. Teamwork.
Ok, some musings/questions.
PC Nobles: You don't like a PC starting as a Duke, how would hereditary Count with personal status of Paraduke sound? Means that the character would likely have a goal of hereditary investment for the higher title.
Inquisitor Domains/Inquisitions: Since Leadership is not allowed what would the 8th level power of the Nobility Domain be? How do you feel about the Sin Inquisition? (I ask since it's from Blood of Fiends)
Inquisitor Archetypes: I'm eyeing Sanctified Slayer as I kinda love the idea of the Studied Target bonus and the Sneak Attack, would that be ok? Not sold as Judgement is a rough thing to give up, but would like to know ahead of time for the big crunch.
Me asking doesn't mean I'm going to necessarily take an option, just like to know if it exists.
In other news: Slowly formulating background and race, cribbing from old concept of mine and tweaking as the sandbox may offer the perfect opportunity to do something I wouldn't be able to otherwise do. Tiefling for basic starting point, eyed Pass for Human racial trait, had a vicious little thought, now I'm seeing if mechanics can be made to support. (Mechanics not too much of an issue, just seeing if I can get them to match what's in my head.)
@ Almagafor,
Some specifics to come but this is the opening gist as I see it now -- subject to change....
This will begin in the Longmarch Archduchy under House Charthagnion and be in a rural area outside of Corentyn.
I'm being very general and generic here, avoiding specifics.
You are part, geographically, of a Barony in the Longmarch Duchy and want to advance beyond that into real power in the County, Duchy and beyond. A Chelaxian Count doesn't like you, is keeping you from advancing your stations in one of his new Baronies.
He sees you all as a threat to his niece, the hopeful Baroness. The Count is having trouble consolidating his niece as Baroness because she refuses to marry the gentleman from House Charthagnion who the Archduchy, and her father the Count, wants as her husband.
You are more powerful than the Baroness, the Count's niece. But you're unable to move against her (if you wanted to) without swift retribution from the Count. You are not powerful enough to challenge him (if only you could get him alone, but alas....).
The Count is becoming desperate to marry his niece to the young nobleman from House Charthagnion. He knows how ephemeral his authority over the Barony is if his niece can't consolidate her power as Baroness -- and he knows how tenuous her hold is now.
.
There is a bit more that will get you guys started but that's a good enough bit for now. Again, please no more research on Corentyn, House Charthagnion, or the Longmarch Archduchy.
So, Almagafor, I hope this helps. I really hope you can find something in there to work with me on for your nobleman PC. I will help get you what you want if I can.
Metagame:
I am planning on 8th level being the "adventure" that gets you to overcome/overthrow the Count and do whatever, gaining quite a bit of power, authority and prestige in the Archduchy. This will all prompt your introduction to House Thrune for Queen Abrogail's long-term mission abroad. And you will level-up.
9th level will see you plan and begin to implement your gambits abroad. I expect you'll reach each of the six places in our mission and get started. And you'll reach 10th level. At 10th you'll return to each of the six places for follow-up and see how your plans are working out. Success means advancing to 12th level.
At 12th level you should have underground strongholds and portions of populations in all six places and be ready to make bigger, maybe even louder moves. I assume you'll be bouncing back-and-forth among your six places.
At 13th level you will be pushing for open Chelaxion support in all six of your locations. This is when Cheliax herself will start to openly support you. And this is where your mission will finally succeed (or fail).
Alma,
I too am thinking Inquisitor. Not sure how I will theme him just yet. I'm still considering one of the Hellknight PrCs, but I think I would like to gain that in game. I have Path of the Hellknight and it has some details on the ritual in takes to take one of the PrCs.
It does help, the more concrete information I have the more I can work with it. First thought is go second son (I'm already clergy, it makes sense); second would be an outside noble trying to move in using some old claim or cat's paw, if we lack the same direct liege it would make it much harder to move directly (also certain feudal rights/customs would interfere); third is to go BIG name, little real power due to various reasons (from initial character sketch, due to the house having made a play for imperium during the civil war, it's alive because it sided with Thrune not long after); or some combination of the three. Might think of some other possibilities later.
I fail to see how they are incompatible.
Each says you may only have one domain. If you took both, you would have one domain, not zero. And it has to be Trickery.
GM Ray suggested opening a thread in the rules section to establish the RAW. I think it can be cleared up with a quote from the rules:-
"Archetype "Stacking"
A character can take more than one archetype (sometimes called "stacking" archetypes) and garner additional alternate class features, but none of the alternate class features can replace or alter the same class feature from the base class as another alternate class feature"
However, GM Ray has said he will allow it, whatever the RAW, and I am fine with that.
Regarding the Nobility Domain, 8th level ability:
1) What do you suggest?
2) What do you get in Pathfinder Society?
Regarding the Sin Inquisition:
I'm going to have to spend more time thinking. Sin Sense sounds perfectly alright if the target gets a Will Save. In fact, I really like it. ....But Indulge seems scary to me. My first thought is that some NPCs may accept being Sickened. Give me a day or so to think about this one.
Regarding Sanctified Slayer:
My problem with Sanctified Slayer is that Studied Target is something you can always do while Judgement is once per day.
A Slayer is like a Full BAB Rogue whereas the Inquisitor is a Medium-BAB partial Divine Caster. Combining the two gives you a much more combat-able PC with all the Inquisitor spells. (I wish they had made Sanctified Slayer able to use Studied Target x-number per day.)
....Ultimately, YES, I will allow Sanctified Slayer.
I've only had a Slayer once in my campaigns but I'm pretty familiar with it. Inquisitor I know inside and out, as both DM and Player. So I hope you'll go Base Inquisitor. But Sanctified Slayer is available for play.
I found the feat, Pass for Human, but it sounds like you're eyeing something else. Remember the Race Builder option if you want.
I hope we can find a House and a "rank" in the Longmarch Archduchy that you can shoehorn your PC idea in. I'm not in your head, of course, but I could sure see this campaign as the "prequel" for your PC before he becomes a Duke. How did your PC Duke-idea get to be a Duke in the first place? Could that work?
@ Monkeygod,
The only experience I have with Hellknights is with completely rewritten, homebrew NPCs. I'm in uncharted waters with published Hellknight crunch. What Order were you thinking of?
Nobility Domain: Looks like PFS gets Persuasive as a bonus feat at 8th. I had honestly forgotten to look there as I don't play PFS (Nothing run near me). Not sure I would suggest anything different, at least nothing comes to mind.
Sin: Copy. Sin Sense doesn't appear to grant a save, though if you are immune to mind-affecting you're safe. It could be argued that the DC to resist the follow up skill check is your save or that the ability is more of a self buff anyway. Indulge was actually less impressive to me at first as you have to use it before using Sin Sense, I could see it going badly if you used it on someone who had a problem with... let's say wrath. Also it allows multiple saves and is once per day. On the topic of Inquisitions, I was also looking at Conversion which might be far scarier than Sin or the Nobility Domain in my hands.
Sanctified Slayer: Thanks. I think the main balancing point is that Studied Target scales slower than Judgment and has very specific functions. It's more generally useful as it gives skill bonuses outside of combat and can be used throughout the day, but the thought of Fast Healing or Energy Resistance or a sacred bonus to AC on demand for combat is much more powerful in bursts. I think it all comes down to the length of the adventuring workday and what you plan on doing in it. All and all, I think it's the more powerful choice for this campaign to grab Sanctified Slayer.
Pass for Human: Tiefling racial alternate, they count as Outsider(Native) and Humanoid(Human), don't need Disguise to appear human, and lose their racial language. They also are limited in what other racial traits they can grab as they can't differ from the human norm (i.e. no wings or claws)
Duke: Character idea has been through a few submission processes and altered a bit each time, getting more refined over time. Prior submissions were happening nowhere near Chellish borders so actual rank was unimportant. Basic character started thus: Love Cheliax, wanted to play Inquisitor, don't like Asmodeus, got to researching. Eventually found Dispater and decided I really liked the guy and thought playing one of his faithful might be really fun. So evolution of concept begins. PC is a member of the royal court of Abrogail and a diehard supporter, sees himself as serving his patron god's will by backing his sovereign, has connections in court and works in the shadows and behind the scenes to push her/Chellish interests. Once that much was done, Duke seemed to be the most appropriate rank, would put him within the royal court proper and the whole tie-in with the Iron Duke was just too perfect.
I'll have a few thoughts on rank once I've mulled it over some more, haven't quite got the right handle on it. Leaning toward a second son of lower personal rank whose brother is his immediate liege (Duke brother, Paraduke PC? Limits power as he owes everything to the older brother but would put him in the court proper. Used as agent of his brother to push claim on the Barony? Maybe just pushing to get a connected loyalist the position, not even a family member so he can justify leaving later.)
I should note that some things I post for potential PC are also notes for me as I develop the idea, I'm not quite sold on anything and have a backup character idea in case this is unworkable. I'd just like to see some iteration of this guy played.
Query: Background Skills? Thought I might bring it up as a possibility as I do like them. Since you're consolidating knowledges and tweaked Linguistics maybe one Background Skill Point to put in a profession or craft or artistry?
So amusingly, and entirely separate of Alma, I was thinking of building an alt Tiefling, using the old Hellbred for the name.
It would be somewhat more martial themed, as I was considering giving it Natural Armor, and maybe a defensive SLA(Mage Armor, Blur, etc) and possibly weapon familiarity. The rest of the race would be Tiefling, but loose fiendish sorcery, darkness and the skill bonuses, instead gaining Gift of Tongues.
I fully recommend background skills(the normal +2/level) even with your consolidated skills, as they are awesome for fleshing out a character and making them more real.
Almagafor/ GM Ray-
You two seem to have a lot of knowledge of Cheliax, which has a lot of detail I don't think is from the Inner Sea Guide. What source are you drawing on? There is a near infinite amount of printed material about this game.
And some questions for the GM.
First on Cheliax and Kitsune, can I come up with a kitsune noble house, or small subordinate kingdom? It is fine if it doesn't fit your view of Cheliax, but it could make my characters involvement in the camapign make more sense.
Second, could you have a look at the Psychic Blooline, it is from Occult Adventures. [Confusion alert, there is a bloodline of the same name from dreamscarred press, I am referring o the occult adventures one.]
a) Is the bloodline available.
b)A quote-
"Bloodline Arcana: Your sorcerer spells and spell-like abilities count as psychic instead of arcane. You use thought and emotion components instead of verbal and somatic components when casting your spells."
and from Occult Adventures about psychic magic:-
"Instead of verbal and somatic components, all psychic spells have components related to the caster's inner being. The two psychic components are called emotion components and thought components. If a spell's components line lists a somatic component, that spell instead requires an emotion component when cast by psychic spellcasters, and if it has a verbal component, it instead requires a thought component when cast by psychic spellcasters. Psychic spells cast by non-psychic arcane and divine casters use any listed somatic and verbal components as normal.
Emotion Components: Emotion components represent a particular emotional state required to cast the spell.
A psychic spellcaster marshals her desire in order to focus and release the spell's energy. It is impossible to cast a spell with an emotion component while the spellcaster is under the influence of a non-harmless effect with the emotion or fear descriptors. Even if the effect's emotion matches the necessary emotion to cast the psychic spell, the spellcaster is not in control of her own desires and animal impulses, which is a necessary part of providing an emotion component.
Thought Components: Thought components represent mental constructs necessary for the spell's function, such as picturing a wolf in vivid detail—down to the saliva dripping from its jaws—in order to cast beast shape to transform into a wolf. Thought components are so mentally demanding that they make interruptions and distractions extremely challenging. The DC for any concentration check for a spell with a thought component increases by 10. A psychic spellcaster casting a spell with a thought component can take a move action before beginning to cast the spell to center herself; she can then use the normal DC instead of the increased DC."
The last question is- this would mean that you can very likely charm people w/o them realising you care casting a spell. I mean maybe someone familiar with psychic magic would realise, but few would be I think. Strikes me this could be very good indeed for this kind of campaign and for a kitsune enchanter generally.
I'm freakishly busy today, guys, and don't have tremendous time -- some of your questions will take a while to get into. Here are the answers I can give quickly....
Sin Sense and Indulge are available for play (the Domain) -- please let's work out a Save for targets of your Sin Sense ability.
Pass for Human alt racial trait is available for play.
Background Skills are not available for play. But you do have three traits and you can design the background for them however you want.
.
Nothing from Occult Adventures is available for play. Each time I read a bit into it for something I start getting squeamish. This time is no exception. Hopefully this won't hinder your concept too much.
I like the idea of a Kitsune family/ clan trying to climb-the-ladder in Cheliax, yes. But I prefer to do the initial design framework. Give me a couple days to develop a small Kitsune clan in the Longmarch Archduchy and then I'll present it to you for some revision -- and give you the green light to put your PC in there somewhere you like.
Not that it's relevant since Occult Adventures is not a book I allow, but were someone (PC or NPC) to use Psychic magic instead of Arcane magic to "cast" Charm Person, the target or other observers could just attempt a Knowledge Local check to know what happened.
Knowledge Local, RAW, is for info on Humanoids. Humanoids advance by Class level. So I rule that a Knowledge Local check is what one needs to recognize when a Class Feature is being used or what Class Levels an opponent has -- maybe even how many. It makes it a Skill on par with the other Skills and, in my opinion, is a legitimate RAW interpretation -- even though I openly call it a Houserule. (Remember that Knowledge Local is a Class Skill for all PC Classes (but not commoner, warrior, adept,....).)
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@DM Ray:-
No problem about the Psychic Bloodline.
I can do the concept fine w/o. There are at least 5 other bloodlines I can take with heaps of point. Any chance of you coming up with a house rule that allows 4 or 5 bloodlines? I am joking.
On the Kitsune clan- if you don't want to design a clan, and you got plenty to do, I have another background idea where my character and her family were slaves. And my character agreed to infiltrate the Cult of Razmiran at age 12 in return for freedom of herself and family.
It explains the Razmiran/ False Priest Archetype, but would mean I am not a noble. There are plenty of ways I could get into the action anyway.
I am pretty much settled on the character now, so I should have a build and background soon.
Background skills seem tailor made to your game and what I have gleaned as your style of GMing.
Is there a particular reason you don't want to use them? Not trying to be argumentative, just honestly curious. They don't really add any power to a character, but they do make your character much more in depth and interesting.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
And if you're not in the States -- Happy Thanksgiving anyway. It's the only truly great US Holiday.
I will be back on the PbP soon, able to do some stuff tonight and Friday night. (We've cancelled our Friday night game for the Holiday so I'll be free to work on the campaign.)
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When a Player wants to add some fluff & flavor to a PC, I allow it at no cost -- with the understanding that one can't use it to affect roll'play. So if you want to have been trained as a vintner and be a wine connoisseur, always appreciating a bottle of red on downtime, you can. Just have it on your character sheet. You can always have a few bottles of nice wine in your pack. And you can always talk to NPCs about wine and your knowledge will shine through. But you won't get any roll'play benefit from it. I can't give you a +2 circumstance on a Diplomacy roll or let you use your wine to, I dunno, mask your scent from a trailing creature, set up a false crime scene, Bluff a bartender with it-- that kind of thing.
You can be a marvelous wood carver, a maestro violinist, a calligrapher, a cat trainer, a horticulturist -- whatever. For free. But you can't use it to affect any roll with a DC or use any of the free items (chamomile tea, puppets, a violin) to affect situations outside of fluff & flavor roleplaying.
Meh, I like that they moved Handle Animal, Linguistics, a few of the Knowledges, SoH, and added Lore into Background skills.
Getting the two bonus skills for skills that have true uses in game, but are more thematic than say Perception, Ride, and Stealth is pretty awesome to me.
But, I get you not wanting to use them.
I wish there was an Inquisitor archetype that gained an Investigator's inspiration and talents. Or some other way to get the talents(I know there's the Amateur Investigator talent).
Ray, are you sure we can't convince you to make this game gestalt? lol joking, joking.
I'll likely go Inquisitor, as I'm not sure I wanna deal with alchemy and a formula book.
An Investigator-1 / Inquisitor-7 is a playable PC. Especially in this game. Or INV-2 (Empiricist) / INQ-5.
To Gestalt or not to Gestalt was surprisingly not a difficult choice. I prefer Gestalt and there was quite a bit of discussion earlier. But when I started nailing down some design and development, it became clear relatively quickly that this campaign should not be Gestalt. Not even close.
Ray, I'm considering Investigator 3/Inquisitor 5.
Question,
If I do go this route(vs full Inq) would you allow me to take a rogue archetype if all it replaces is trapfinding/trap sense as an Investigator?
Also,
RE: Your house rules-
Limited crit range: Unsure the reasoning here. If you're investing that much in an expanded range, I see no problem there.
Elven Curveblade: Is there a particular reason you called out this weapon among all the exotic racial weapons? The others may not be as strong as the CB, but its seems kinda unfair.
Everything else seems alright. I was gonna question what else to allow Wizards to choose instead of Item Creation as bonus feats, but then I remembered Arcane Discoveries.
1) What is the Rogue Archetype? What do you get for Trap Sense?
2) Threat Range is a personal problem, yes. Not a balance issue, per say. I like for nat 20s to be Crits. I hate that a 15 could be a friggin Threat. ....Like I mentioned with all my crazy niggling Houserules, they're open for discussion and exclusion. You guys can out-vote me pretty easily.
Anyone else want to get back Threat Ranges? (One vote for NO, mine -- One vote for YES, Monkeygod's)
3) I just think it's more balanced to make an Elf or Half-Elf take Exotic Weapon Proficiency just like everyone else. Admittedly, I don't see many Orc Double Axes, Gnome Hooked Hammers or Dwarven Long Axes -- I'd probably cringe and kick myself for calling out the Curved Blade and not the others if someone went for it. (Oddly, I am currently running a PC with a Dwarven Long Axe who took Exotic Weapon Proficiency.) Again, you could get others to rise up and out-vote me on this one.
4) Don't forget Meta-Magic Feats as possible choices in addition to Discoveries or Spell Mastery.
The start-up is almost completely designed. It'll be ready to go in another couple days -- though I want to give everyone time. Inauspiciously enough, we've decided to start this PbP right as the Holiday season is kicking in to full gear. I'm sure that will affect our Gameplay.
Just FYI, some term papers are coming due for me, hence my relative silence. Everything will be done on the school front by next Tuesday though.
@Amalgafor- Admirable dedication. Good luck with the assessment.
@DM Ray.I have a character, named Yaos, the details of which can be seen by clicking on the alias.
I decided to go the Master Summoner route. There are a few things to note, many stemming from the fact the version of Herolab I have isn't 100% current and certainly does not incorporate your particular design rules.
1 No backstory yet. Its sitting in my head, will type it soon, hopefully when I know the character is in principle OK by the GM.
2 Just ignore the Eidolon, its a total mess. The current plan for the eidolon is to have an avian base form [not on my version of herolab]with improved AC and arms evolutions and the remaining 6 evolutions assigned to skills the party needs.
3 Yaos's skills are legal picks. I want to review them with my fellow PCs before a final version of my character.
4 I have one feat unassigned. I am tempted to take the feat that allows you to cast 2 spells on a one off basis of someone who's brain you have eaten cos it is so evil.
Hope the character is OK at least in outline.
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North of Corentyn, the seat of power, lies the deep Anferita Wood. A forest of shadow and fog – and a terrible Druid -- Anferita is the domain of Yeth Hounds, Manticores, Wyverns and yet more dangerous predators. The northeastern area of Anferita, well into the foothills of the Eismonts and the plains far west of the port city, Macini, stands Charthagnion’s Gheradescci County.
This County, ruled by one of Charthagnion’s loyal retainers, , is soon to be the site of an important wedding. Count Vocaturo Spartaco’s niece, the newly titled , is to marry of the powerful House Phandros in Westcrown.
Rumors have been rampant throughout County Gheradescci that the young Baroness is refusing to go through with the wedding, despite pressure from both her uncle the Count and the ArchDuke himself, far to the south in Corentyn. Nonetheless, the wedding is planned, Countess Olivia Spartaco herself is overseeing the Event and has sent word to nobles throughout the Longmarch Archduchy, from Corentyn to Westcrown, from Macini to Hinji.
And now the Baron-Consort is travelling by caravan from the august city of Westcrown to his new home in the wild foothills south of the Eismonts, just north of Anferita, to meet his Baroness-Regnant and increase the power of both House Phandros and House Spartaco.
It is your intention to ambush that caravan.
And sometime today, probably in another hour or so, I'll get a geographical description of Gheradescci County up (including a clan of Kitsune and some figures of House Spartaco).
Feel free to ask any questions as you continue to work on your PCs.
And let me know whether I've missed answering your past questions.
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Knowledge Geography/History can be made to know about Longmarch Archduchy, Gheradescci County, Macini, Hinji, Westcrown, Westpool, House Charthagnion, House Spartaco, House Phandros, and, you know, Cheliax. I'll give some info now in Recruitment -- some you'll have to wait for gameplay and, you know, make your rolls.
Knowledge Local can be used to discover Class features that individual NPCs have. (So it's a Knowledge Local check to know what Class Levels Count Vocaturo Spartaco has, and Baron-Consort Francesco Phandros (or even ArchDuke Kettermaul Charthagnion).
Hello DM Ray- You did miss a post you were supposed to respond to.
That is the one 3 above this, just before your last 2 posts. It is the first post made in my new alias, which is the character I intend to play. You previously knew me as Joynt Jezebel.