Hi, everyone!
Feel free to take a few days to flesh out character details—at the pace PbP moves, I’m guessing it’ll take that long before we wind up in combat or require the whole party to make especially difficult skill checks.
If anyone wants to discuss if/how their characters know each other beforehand, the discussion thread is a great place to do that.
Meanwhile, I’ve created a spreadsheet for characters to put in useful at-a-glance details. It’s not vital to keep this updated to a tee, but it’ll generally help me save time when rolling saves against everyone, initiative etc.
Find it at this spreadsheet link
Wrath of the Nerf Bat: a note for finishing up characters
I said I'd worry about this more when the party was chosen.
So, here’s the scoop. It turns out there’s a few monster abilities whose power is much greater in the hands of PCs, so I find it might in fact be necessary to modify these to start (though they will eventually revert to full monster stats at higher levels). Particularly, Damage Reduction and Regeneration.
1. Damage Reduction: Anyone with DR 10 from a template starts out at DR 5; at level 11, this will increase to DR 10 (following the way the fiendish template does it; having a more standard DR across the party’s resistants will make enemies quite a bit easier to scale)
2. Regeneration/Fast healing: At level 7, Regeneration 5 makes a character effectively immortal. Thus, any regeneration will temporarily become fast healing 2. Maybe there’s a backstory reason why your creature's regeneration is being blocked, and it may be restored later when you have gained more power.
3. At-will Charm Person: A few of you have this, or something like it. Theoretically, since it's a SLA, it could be used repeatedly on the same character until they eventually roll a 1. This doesn't seem like a fair player mechanic. Thus, any NPC who resists a Charm Person, Suggestion, or Detect Thoughts SLA will be immune to that character's same ability for the next 24 hours.
4. Monster starting ability points (a review of the workaround): As I mentioned, occasionally confusingly, in the recruitment thread, players playing monsters of CR >5 don’t get the free template levels or 25-point buy. Instead, add or subtract up to 2 points from each ability score, as long as the total remains the same. Ignore your monster’s starting items and buy 25k gp of whatever you want, and feel free to reassign racial skill points and feats (I’ve crunched a bunch of numbers, and this seems the fairest way to do things for balance reasons).
And, some helpful GM notes to start the campaign:
The first quest will take place in the surface world, although in general I’m expecting at least half of the campaign to take place in the Darklands.
Some of you will probably want a Hat of Disguise for the first mission, unless you have some other means of disguising yourself (or just a large amount of disguise skill).
If your alignment detects as strongly evil (e.g. undead, evil clerics or outsiders), you’ll also want a way to hide this any time you’re going to be interacting with paladins or clerics. The spell Undetectable Alignment will hide an evil aura no matter how strong it is, but is a level 2 spell that might take up some valuable caster slots. However, a scroll of it only costs 25 gp, and is usable by any bard, anti paladin, or cleric.
More expensive, a Ring of Mind Shielding costs 8,000 gp but hides alignment, thoughts, and protects from truth spells.
A character that does not need to breathe (e.g. undead) can also safely hide in a handy haversack or bag of holding (a handy haversack is actually big enough to fit a single medium creature).
Meanwhile, I've started the campaign over in the Campaign thread, so we can get started when people are ready. Feel free to drop in and ask a question or start a discussion with the other characters, even if you're still working on crunch details.
Dot. This is Tiny Coffee Golem. Minor name change. I'll update the avatar as I can.
If nobody minds, I'd like to wield Tenro. I plan on focusing on both range and melee, so I feel like I would get the most use of him, especially if he finds a way to morph his form later.
Of course, I am willing to fully discuss this and yield to somebody who is better suited to use him.
I considered wielding Tenro, but considering I already have one intelligent weapon I didn't want to make him jealous ;).
Also, for the half-dragon cone breath, it states that the cone does 1d6 damage per HD. Can HD be class levels in my character's case? Its not very OP considering she can only use 1/day.
Oh, right, if anybody's curious about that—Tenro's character will function as a regular magic weapon in the hands of his wielder, and then when it comes to his turn, he will be able to take additional actions (shooting mind blast, using any ego item powers he has, etc). So he'll still be able to do his own functional ranged attacks and spells, regardless of who's wielding him.
regarding wielding my character, anyone have an evil mage/psion in their backstory as an antagonist?
"Um... Um.. I could use him.. Otherwise I can only use my hair on ranged opponents, I don't want it cut.. Unless they're good guys.. Then I can kinda smite with my anti-goodness. Rawr?"
~~
Yar! Here be Illia! If anyone's got suggestions for a better avatar, have at it, but I think this one gets the abject timidity across which is her defining up front character trait. :P
Still picking traits, and if we've got crafters, I could really use help getting her disguise down. Might swap out her knowledge Religion for disguise.
"Wow, what um.. Lovely wings you have?"
"I made them myself <3! Paper mache'!"
~~
By the way, for the martials and other people that care, being within 60 ft of Illia grants +1 hit/damage, and +2 Initiative, presuming you can see her.
Dapper GM: The armor I wear that contains my soul is glammered. As in a manner of speaking the armor is me, would it be ok if it could extend it's glammer ability to function as a hat of disguise?
I imagine that makes sense as long as you don't open the faceplate. :P
Sure, since the armor covers most of your body I don't see why a glamor wouldn't disguise most of your body as well.
Sure, since the armor covers most of your body I don't see why a glamor wouldn't disguise most of your body as well.
Perfect.
QQ: If I open the faceplate can I make it look like a normal face (illusion only) or will it be a skull looking back at them?
Heck, it's up to you to decide just how undead your face looks. But I'd say glamered armor is more expensive than a hat of disguise, and you're defined by your armor anyway, so why not.
Still picking traits, and if we've got crafters, I could really use help getting her disguise down. Might swap out her knowledge Religion for disguise.
Yo. I don't know if we can do that before the game actually starts, though.
I'm also not sure if crafting-at-cost for the entire party instead of just me is something our Fearless and Dapper leader wants to allow.
If your alignment detects as strongly evil (e.g. undead, evil clerics or outsiders), you’ll also want a way to hide this any time you’re going to be interacting with paladins or clerics.
Do neutral ghosts detect as strongly evil? Ghosts are one of the few (intelligent) undead that don't come with built-in alignment restrictions and I figured selfish-neutral made more sense as an alignment .
I'd say, you can have an item crafted for you, but starting gold gives the total value of your gear, so no cost reductions there yet.
Also, huh... I looked it up, and you're right, a neutral ghost is totally possible and has no alignment aura. Good to know.
i'll hold off on posting in gameplay until i am more done with my character.
Disguise is a pretty big deal to Anaxian. He goes to great lengths to ensure that people underestimate him.
He has an Angelskin Harness which negates his alignment for the purposes of detection.
He's undead, so his mind can't be read.
He typically has Nondetection up to protect against scrying.
He tends to disguise himself as a cat or a bird, and when he's in his true form he looks completely alive and normal (he treats himself with Unguent of Timelessness and Gentle Ripose and has a +29 Disguise check. He looks pretty much like a normal Pseudodragon, save for the slightly glowing eyes).
All his magic items have Magic Aura cast on them (he has a magic item that casts it), so he doesn't radiate to detect magic at all.
Basically, he looks utterly normal to pretty much all forms of detection. The only one he hasn't been able to get around yet is Detect Undead (go figure).
Mr. Animated Armor, can you be worn by another party member?
No, Graveknights can not be worn by another. They're pretty much the martial version of a lich.
Like Ten, I won't post in gameplay till I've completed my character.
Well, there's a caveat to Graveknights. Once a Graveknight has been destroyed, they can be taken out of their suit of armor, which can be worn by someone else. Once someone dons that armor, however, it gradually corrupts them until they turn into the original Graveknight.
So it's probably not a good idea to wear that armor, even if it is possible.
Well, there's a caveat to Graveknights. Once a Graveknight has been destroyed, they can be taken out of their suit of armor, which can be worn by someone else. Once someone dons that armor, however, it gradually corrupts them until they turn into the original Graveknight.
So it's probably not a good idea to wear that armor, even if it is possible.
mental note taken. recurring villain. bwahahaha
Ah, and Iranaset—I missed your comment above. Yes, your HD as a half-dragon with character levels would be equal to your total level.
I didn't realize you were a graveknight. That means you have a body. For some reason I had it in my head that you were an animated suit of armor.
We're going to be great pals. :)
Of course Delyliath comes equipped with a ring of mind shielding, so that she can lie out of her teeth while into a zone of truth under the detect evil of a whole gang of paladins.
Also .. one question of utmost importance for Delilyath.
What kind of weapon are you Tenro?
Are you made of precious metals and/or encrusted in gems?
That's quite relevant to our characters interactions :P
Havent decided the actual weapon yet. i was going to base that off of what weapon was desired by the person who ended up wielding my character at start.
the material however, will be diamond.
in general, if no one had any idea what was wanted, i was leaning towards a one-handed bladed weapon. +1 Keen and Speed to start. later, i had plans to gain some alternate weapon forms (i will start with one alternate weapon form), and couple those with an intelligent magic item ability that bestows proficiency to the wielder. then i would have alternate forms that were weapons rarely seen in play, like a scythe.
Well, that works for me. I currently wield a +1 Keen scimitar.
Also, I was thinking of taking Cold Iron Warden but I give up my teamwork feats.
Since that's definitely something that could affect the group, figured I'd ask you all first.
If you tack on the Transformative property (or we pool our resources to get you further enchanted) you could be whatever weapon the person swinging you wants you to be.
If you tack on the Transformative property (or we pool our resources to get you further enchanted) you could be whatever weapon the person swinging you wants you to be.
yeah i was eyeing that for future expenditure.
Also, I will admit, I partly want to wield Ten cuz him and I go back quite a ways, and we have good chemistry, so it would be fun to work together in a much more unique way.
I looked for but did not find a trait to my desires. Could I have this one?
Fashionista: All those hours spent dressing up your little siblings* paid off, +1 to Disguise and it is always a class skill for you.
Also, if I can have a Ioun/Wayfinder Resonance number 36, good type, Illia can fairly well disguise herself as a celestial. I'd be willing to pay Crimson Stranger extra for that or have it be my gift, as it'd be absolutely perfect for her.
I would love to give it a try, but if you guys are confident you can roleplay the combo better, go right ahead! I'm just greedy. :P
*Because I can totally see Illia playing with small children's hair and costumes all the time when she was a celestial. :P
Oooh, creepy fake celestial. Love it.
So, Pseudodragons are telepathic, but they can't speak. I have some questions regarding Telepathy-
1) Does telepathy work on creatures under the effects of Mindblank, or on creatures immune to mind effects like undead?
2) How would a creature that can't talk (via the normal sense of the word) deal with Verbal spell components?
Also, a Lich's Fear Aura might be problematic if it can't be turned off. The ability doesn't mention anything about suppressing it. Should I assume that I can?
Pseudodragons can still vocalize, right? So that means their verbal components should go through fine, like it would if you had Natural Spell, I think.
Yeah, Illia-, that trait idea sounds balanced. However, there is a similar trait (just not for Disguise): Extremely Fashionable.
1) I've always assumed that telepathy for creatures without a Detect Thoughts ability is initiated one direction: you send messages to them that are similar to talking, and then they can respond along the same mind channel you called them on, or out loud, whichever they prefer.
Not sure how undead deal with this, but as an undead telepath, I'd say you could contact other undead regardless.
2) I think the Lich's fear aura only triggers if you actually look at it in its terrifying undead form (or blowy eyes or something), so any disguise should be enough to mask it.
Oooh, that is a good one. But Disguise isn't one of the three skills.
Also, about the wayfinder Ioun resonance, number 36? Being able to detect as good would be awesome. :) Otherwise, I'll just go with the extra CMB/CMD.
Oh, sure, that sounds fine.
Pseudodragons can still vocalize, right?
I'm honestly not sure. Normally maybe, but given that Anaxian removed his lungs, I'm guessing probably not anymore.
Ack, just realized it'd be a DC 18 Will save to see through. While not bad, that's not just gonna cut it vs Paladins and Clerics. I'll just take the normal bonus and stay 130 ft away. :P
Pseudodragons can still vocalize, right?I'm honestly not sure. Normally maybe, but given that Anaxian removed his lungs, I'm guessing probably not anymore.
i'd guess that since the original dracolich doesn't need feats or special abilities to speak that you shouldnt need anything special to speak, regardless of lung presence/absence
Ack, just realized it'd be a DC 18 Will save to see through. While not bad, that's not just gonna cut it vs Paladins and Clerics. I'll just take the normal bonus and stay 130 ft away. :P
illusions are funny. Unless the observer has Trueseeing or something like that, they actually don't get a save unless they interact with the disguise. Just seeing it isn't enough to break the illusion unless the illusion is of something that seems strange or unreasonable.
So basically, unless they touch your wings, you're fine.
True, but it wasn't the disguise I was worried about. It was detecting as good. Casting a detect spell counts as interaction, so they auto get the DC 18 will save to see through the false alignment reading. Considering that a pass would reveal to the paladin "Ooh hey, this person reads evil" I didn't want to risk that.
Considering our party bluffer, I think I'm better off detecting as NOTHING, and then Delyliath saying "Ooh yeah, cast undetectable alignment on us all today. We were in a bad guy lair earlier and didn't want to set off traps with our Aura's of Goodness. Also, you want to go home and think about becoming an antipaladin."
You can always pick up some Angelskin underwear. ;)
I'm off to bed. Hope its cool I get to wield Ten(Who seriously needs a name!), but if not, I'll deal.
Will finish my PC tomorrow, though the vast majority of stats are done.
The name will be Shimsil
I could, if I wanted a 20% chance of hurting myself whenever I center an Unholy Blight on myself. Though, I'm sure Illia- would appreciate having masterwork underwear. :P
Or, I could presume we will spend less than 40 days in the field, and go with scrolls of Undetectable Alignment.