Agents of the Darklands: A Campaign for Monsters and Madmen

Game Master thunderbeard

Meanwhile, here is a list of the character proposals I've seen so far (in thread or by message), to give people an idea of the general distribution of things (I didn't include the people who are contemplating multiple ideas, and if you change your mind, no worries, I'll update this in a day or several):

Arcane caster:
Quasidragon Lich Wizard | Doomed Hero

Did you miss the ghost summoner?

Iranaset, allow me to refer you to the first post of the thread, you'll find the details you're looking for.

I was coming back to delete that post, I found what I was looking for about 10 minutes ago :p thanks!

Ah! Got it, Orfamay. I thought you were still deciding what sort of ghost to be, but I'll add you to the next list of characters.

Do we have anyone picking up haste currently? I ask because we're light on arcanes* and if we don't, I'll grab Blessing of Fervor which is poor man's haste.

*Ghosts and liches don't weigh much.

I've always thought of Blessing of Fervor as the rich man's haste—it buffs the entire party.

While yes, the buff to casters is nice, I feel like the main job of haste is to max out the melees, and haste does that better, for a spell level lower (2 in the case of summoners).

Blessing of Fervor is nice if say, you know in advance your casters will be silenced/grappled, but it's odd to know that up front.

On the other hand, I have tons of 4th level slots thanks to my ludicrous Wis, I'll nab it. :P

Mine shall be le goblin alchemist (:
I took your suggestion, now I just need to put 'em together.

Is it cool if I add templates to the Lizardfolk stats presented on page 226 of the Advanced Race Guide? It has the same RP value as a half-orc and less than any of the other core races.

@thunderbeard as you know I'll be submitting a mindflayer. I don't really want to make an alias unless my characters accepted though. Is it ok if I just submit an idea and then do the crunch if I make it in? I could get it done in an hour.

If that's ok, is there anything other than backstory and intended build you would want?

That should be fine, especially since a mind flayer will require less fiddling than some builds, so feel free to just go with backstory etc. for now

And @Kenji: yeah, I have no problems with any ARG races.

Awesome, that's what I was thinking as well. I'll PM ya tonight or tomarrow:)

Just as a thought, a beholder and a mindflayer would make an awesome duo. If anyone's interested in submitting a beholder and would maybe like to intertwine backstories with me, let me know

Thunderbeard, are we ok to create our own new races?

Follow up, the construct type doesnt specify shape, and encompasses animate objects. Would it be suitable for me to be, say, an animated sword? Obviously id have to get a magical fly speed or something to get around when no one is holding me.

Ah, but Tenro, there remains an important question. What is your enhancement bonus? :P

Ok, Here is my current build. And I may end up changing the type of Oni to the Kuwa or going with the Young template idea. As of now, I'm using the limited customization approach and just relying on the monster stats without a 25-point buy.

Part of why I liked the Oni idea is that they fit really well into the whole disguised as normal people plan. Plus it gives me a chance to play a hulking melee brute. Not a character direction I pick often :)

Then level 7 Giant Advanced (These take my 2 bonus levels for templates, 1 cr each) Lizardfolk it is. My Str is going to be stupid.

I'd be interested in this

Idea so far is for a Goblin Wizard/Magus who, after being killed by his tribe for being able to read, rose as a Worm that Walks(composed of leeches). The first thing he did was kill the chieftain that ordered his death and take control of the tribe. Then he subsequently got bored with them and one by one killed of all others in his experiments.

Ah, but Tenro, there remains an important question. What is your enhancement bonus? :P

whatever I can afford! Hahaha

My idea is a psionic soulbolt (ranged damager) who had his consciousness placed into a weapon. I'd make it a transformative weapon so it could assume different shapes, or take an alternate form racial ability to, say, be a sword OR a bow. But someone (either another PC or, less desirably, an NPC) would wield my character, and on my character's initiative he would take shots at the enemy as well. If he was in bow form, it would be a lot like on, say, The Immortals, when Theseus has the bow and when he draws it back, arrows of energy appear.

@Kenji: Huh. How is Advanced not CR +2? I may need to look into balancing some of the templates that everyone is considering, but that's a concern for later.

And @Tenro: If you really want to create your own race, go for it, I guess, but I'd say there are already tons of great races, and unless you want to have a specific and unique race (like RNE, who wanted to be specifically constructed for a task) it's probably not worth it.

Ah, you are right. The Headsman's Scythe seems to be a pretty good race to start with. The ability scores are laughable, however. Would I just use the 25 pt buy, then? I imagine this would confer zero racial bonuses.

Ah—yeah, the scythe's unintelligent, which means not playable. I'd seriously consider being a magic weapon that at least possesses someone to carry you around, because otherwise you're not going to have much luck collecting luck and improving yourself (get your thrall the feats Magic Craftsman and Craft Magic Arms and Armor, and suddenly he can beef you up). Plus, without somebody swinging them, magic items can't hit nearly as hard.

I was leaning towards taking the thematically appropriate (but highly disadvantageous stat-wise) Tetsubo for my oni as it fit the mythos.

Tenro, I would be more than happy to alter my build around such a weapon (or any other odd weapon fit for a demon) if you wanted a character to be able to wield you. Because the idea of a PC-controlled intelligent psionic weapon as a character sounds awesome to me. Possibly a warpriest or inquisitor and the deity's favoured weapon?

Huh. It's +1000 gp for an intelligent item to gain the ability to cast a cantrip at will (and I'd say Mage Hand would allow you to move yourself at least slowly).

@Sersi: that sounds great, GM willing. I am not tied to any specific weapon idea, so any kind you like to wield sounds good to me.

@GM: I've no problem getting some sort of power for possession to facilitate the logic of being an intelligent magical weapon. in a game long ago i played an intelligent dagger, and i used Unseen Servant to carry me and Major Creation to put clothes on it, so it looked like a crappy Invisible Man. Of course, the unseen servant couldnt attack with me, but was sufficiently powered to attack with myself (according to the character class i was at that time, which was different than what I'd be this time)

What sparked this idea was Link's sword in the old Zelda games, when you could charge it up and shoot a blast of energy.

Here's Doomed Hero's tiny little dracolich.

He's a cat-sized tangle of greed, envy and cold, calculating hatred. He doesn't like you, but if he thinks there's a decent sized reward in it he can keep his opinions to himself. Probably.

Like every tiny predator in the world, he's more about cunning than brute force. He's really smart, patient, and has a bag of tricks that never ends.

Anaxian's personality is based on a combination of Kain from the Legacy of Kain games, Lex Luthor, and the evilest cat you've ever met.

Actually, I'm going to go with Giant Half-Fiend Lizardfolk Antipaladin 7.

@thunderbeard - can we use THIS?

Huh—hadn't seen that conversion before, Oceanshieldwolf. It's interesting. For the sake of balance and what i already said, I'm going to go with the rules I've mentioned before as standard, but if there's something from there that you specifically want/need, I can take a look at it.

Huh—hadn't seen that conversion before, Oceanshieldwolf. It's interesting. For the sake of balance and what i already said, I'm going to go with the rules I've mentioned before as standard, but if there's something from there that you specifically want/need, I can take a look at it.

Right, so the Monsters as PC's link you provided in THIS post.

I don't actually understand it very well. Specifically, I'd like to submit a Shae with levels in the Dreadmasque class (essentially an Inquisitor archetype).

What level would I be, and is the class something you'd OK? The Savage Species conversion has Shae in it, but I don't really get why you'd get the bonus to Strength etc…

Actually, in this case, the Savage Species conversion and Monsters as PCs rules should work out exactly the same—you'd get 4 levels of outsider and 3 class levels, although you could turn one outsider level into a class level if you prefer.

Meanwhile, I'm not sure how I feel about homebrew classes, but anything that combines inquisitor and bard without even keeping spells is probably not going to be very broken. (and the masks connection is interesting).

Ok, so I just add three Dreadmasque class levels to a base Shae?

Would a Drow Noble Dread Vampire have 4 class levels?

I've been thinking about it. Here is my official submission:

Tiefling Graveknight cleric of As Asmodeus who goes into the Diabolist prc and has two IMp minions.

I believe that gives me all the cool factor I was looking for without straining credulity too much.

Further refining my concept. A Half-orc Demonic Vermin (+1 CR) Worm that Walks (+2 CR) Scarred Witch Doctor 6. It has the cool factor of hiding a mass of worms behind a mast, a lot of resilience (and Con), but also the potential to lose the fetish mask, particularly if he discorporates (although I may have to think about ways to reduce or avoid this eventuality).

Backstory for Bognar, the Dragon-Prince

Crunch So Far:

TL;DR version: Half Red Dragon Orc Fighter 7. Former slave gladiator and all-around warrior.

And Bognar's tentative alias...

Okay... I may have lied. I'm switching my class to Oracle, because that looks like more of a Cleric with Sorcerer mechanics, which I am faaaaaaaar more familiar with. The story still stands ("Praise to Aroden! The mighty gopher of the gods!"), but mechanically, it'll be far more sane.

I'll get to working on that stat crunch in a bit...

As for his background and personality?

Dotting as a dot for now.

Sadly, no imediate idea for a creature nor class.

Shall consult the Bestiaries when possible. As a question? Has any one chosen Drider yet?

Much cheers to all.

Heh, the one thing that really tempts me about the Erinyes back up character is the idea of an Erinyes/Succubus catfight. :P

Dot, no, I do not believe anyone who has posted their idea has included a Drider yet.

How do we figure hp after level 1 roll it or half +1, or something else?

HP: 6d10 ⇒ (6, 2, 5, 10, 5, 4) = 32 In case we roll.

Dotting as a dot for now.

Sadly, no imediate idea for a creature nor class.

Shall consult the Bestiaries when possible. As a question? Has any one chosen Drider yet?

Much cheers to all.

I know thunderbeard may not approve it, but HERE is a Drider Cavalier archetype...

Ah! Got it, Orfamay. I thought you were still deciding what sort of ghost to be, but I'll add you to the next list of characters.

Ghosts come in sorts?

If you're wondering about the base creature, I think I'm going with half-elf (half-drow-ish), with a lot of built-up resentment against the various full-blooded drow, basically for treating him like a skuzzweasel while he was alive all those thousands of years ago. Be careful how you treat your slaves, as they may return as restless undead millenia from now and wreak untold vengeance against your g'g'g'g'g'g'g'g'g'g'g'great grandchildren. Or, if you're an elf, against you.

For a plot hook, I'm basically stealing a little more from Red Dwarf (hey, if you steal, steal the good stuff). Normally a ghost is bound to his death scene and can only be freed by undoing whatever great task holds the ghost to this mortal coil. But through the Awesome Power of Plot, the All-Powerful Patron has managed to shift this guy's binding to a specific mobile MacGuffin that can be brought with the party as needed. (I'm thinking of flavoring this MacGuffin as an otherwise mundane ring that is worn by the eidolon, but really any piece of vendor trash would do.) The inspiration for this is, perhaps obviously, Rimmer's "light bee" which generates his holographic form.

This gives a lot of room for psychological hooks and preserves a lot of the traditional ghost limitations while (I hope) not interfering with your ability to run an adventure.

There's a feat I would like to take: Self-Delusion. It basically substitutes Charisma for Wisdom for Will saving throws, and also seems to tie into holding-it-together-through-sheer-force-of-personality that typifies a ghost for me.

It's a 3PP feat (Super Genius Games), though, so I need GM permission.

So, this mysterious patron of ours:

A wanderer moves through the Darklands, unseen by most, clad in the garb of a simple human traveler—and, somehow, she is gathering an army. There are rumors spoken in the dark places and undertaverns of an ancient queen a fallen god, a demon lord of trickery risen from the Abyss. All you know is that, when you heard her summons, you came.

She's real? As in, we've met her? Or is this a dream-sequence where I was riding a giant chocolate donut when the Jack of Diamonds started telling me that she was really a demon lord of trickery and that I should proceed immediately to the nearest exit without stopping to gather my carry-on bags? And then, just before I woke up, I realized that I was wearing a penguin costume but had forgotten to put on my trousers.

(Yes, I've had that dream. Haven't you?)

Heh, the one thing that really tempts me about the Erinyes back up character is the idea of an Erinyes/Succubus catfight. :P

I believe there are people who would pay money for a scrying image of that.

I didn't see do we keep the monster feats or can we pick others?

Working up the partial crunch of the ghost summoner here. By the way, I can recommend the myth-weavers site as a very good spot for electronic character sheets. I'll probably put this aside for a few hours and see what else is being done, so that we can get reasonable coverage in the party. Just as an example, i've got pretty rocking Intimidate scores -- actually, pretty rocking social scores generally, but Intimidate is my only class skill. So I could be the party face if I spent a trait or two, or I could be the backup-face specializing in Intimidate right now with no further adjustments.

Comments welcomed, of course.

Thunderbeard, would you accept the Nightmare Creature template? I'm thinking of statting up a nightmare fey. I'm not sure if a Nightmare Nymph would be allowed; that's a CR 8 with no levels (and I'm fine with no levels; it's a very versatile druid/debuffer). If not the Nymph, then what about a Nixie or Pixie? Nightmare Pixie sounds absurd, but that template is just so darn cool.

Might try my hand at making an equivalent of the 'Scylla'. Game needs more tentacles.

Heh...or maybe a baby Moon Beast? (^_^)

Much cheers to all.