Calling all everyday citizens!
A non-citizen Sylph family of leatherworkers have lost their eldest son. Citizens from out of town have volunteered to help search for him, and are open to help from others.
This campaign is a spin-off from DM Drako's homebrew, The Coin of Attica. The major detail that inspired me to join and subsequently take over GMing for a game in this world is that you begin as "N"PCs (normal player characters), and then you level up based on the actions you take in encounters. Here's the kicker: the levels that you gain will be chosen by yours truly. Before you freak out, just know that I won't do anything crazy-unexpected, and you will be allowed to contest my decision to a degree.
From the original: "Characters will be Lvl 1 NPC classes. Core races. No traits. 17 point buy. Must have way of life skills (profession farming, sailing, or some kind of craft). Not evil. The classes you level in depend on how you play your character."
Another thing I'll add to that is that preference will be given to characters who do not have goals for level progression. The more normal you are, the better. These characters have no dreams of--and in some cases no desire for--becoming heroes.
I have two slots to fill.
Feel free to read the gameplay to see what we've already done, who we already have, and where we're headed. Also feel free to read the Campaign tab (written by DM Drako) to help you with your character's race and background.
Let me know any questions you might have.
Recruitment will close one week from today, or when I feel as though I have two solid submissions.
Requirements for submission: Race, class, feats (if applicable), and a short background.
Alright, since this looks straight forward I'll just do up a short submission and then make an alias if I get selected (since the stats don't seem to be a determining aspect). While I understand that you don't want characters who dream of being heros, I hope you're alright if I submit a character that has dreams (as unheroic as they may be).
Vanclaf de Morci is a young woman who grew up with her head in the clouds (in reality she's always been a goofy kid ever since she had a run-in with a Alraune's pollen that left her a little scrambled in the head). She dreamed of being able to leave her sheltered upbringing and travel the world. Upon reaching adulthood she was finally able to follow her dreams and leave home, making the nearly day long journey to the next settlement over all by herself!
She is especially fascinated with learning about the many different races and how they interact with one another. Thus she jumped at the opportunity to become involved with a family of Sylphs, a race she had only read about previously.
She secretly hopes that one day she'll be able to publish a chronicle of her experiences.
Female Human Expert
Bonus Feat: Fearless Curiosity
Silver Tongued to replace skilled
Profession skill will be scribe
As always feedback and commentary is welcome
Considering the nature of this game I'd like to challenge myself a bit. Should I get chosen I'm going to try and play a pacifist (at least as much as one can be in Pathfinder).
He is an abbreviated submission, certainly with a profile to come if I do get selected. I really like the concept for this game.
Ever since he was a young child Dominic would spend most of his time reading whatever he could get his hands on. His mother died when he was quite young, leaving his bookish father to raise him. The Tryst family owned a small book shop. They would scribe, bind, restore, and keep books, tomes, and scrolls. Dominic's father also had a penchant for collecting uncommon and rare books, often going so far as to take them as payment rather than coin. Of all the books that Dominic grew up reading, the grand epics were his personal favorites. Tales of great generals, of fantastic heroes, of mystical wizards; he just couldn't get enough of them and often bemoaned his rather low birth.
His father died in his early teen years, leaving Dominic alone with the book shop and his father's vast library. In grief he shut himself away for years, pouring over the mysterious books that his father would never let him read, absorbing all the knowledge that he could, and hoping and praying that he might receive even a modicum of the power that those books represented. When he reopened the shop, it was revealed that his prayers had been answered and whether it be through his intense study and practice, or by powers unseen, Dominic had mastered the slightest bit of magic.
When he heard about the search Dominic saw a chance to see the world and live a life that he had only read about in the dimmest of lights. Although he wishes to return soon to his Library and Shop, he never regrets for one moment seeing what it is like on the other side of those words.
Male Human Adept
1st Level Feat: Combat Advice
Bonus Human Feat: Cosmopolitan
Profession Skill will be Librarian
I'm thinking of Dominic like a bookish sort of aide, who's really keen on seeing the world yet has little idea of what true heroes go through.
very interesting, I'm thinking someone who would have known the Sylph boy, someone the same age or a little younger who looks up to him.
Maybe a tanners assistant that the sylphs occasionally do business with. It would be the tanners nephew or maybe a street urchin he looks out for and pays a little.
Or another non-citizen family member who's family trades with the Sylphs. possibly Hunters (poachers) who sell there hides to the sylphs.
a couple of questions.
I read that the different districts are more segregated. So how likely would it be to have a half-orc in Gilsi, either as part of a family or an abandoned orphan?
Second, can I justify the "warrior" class if he grew up on a rough part of town and sleeps in the tannery to chase off thieves? Or would he need to come from a non-citizen family that hunts and trades like the sylphs to warrant the "warrior" class?
Also, what was the Sylph's boy's name? I probably just missed it in the game thread.
@Johnnycat, Vanclaf looks good! Expert scribe is a little more adventurous than we were going for originally, but at this point in the game, it looks okay. Also, it'll help hook you in to the main plot (which is not the Sylph thing, btw...feel free to read the first page or so).
@Gen, looks like Vanclaf and Dominic could be friends! The writer and the reader. If you're going to be an Adept, it'd have to be primarily a magical library.
@Robert, sounds good! Your character would likely need to be a non-citizen which would definitely be a first for the PCs in these games! The street urchin would fit best at the moment--especially if you want to be a half-orc, but any of those would work.
I'm gonna be a stickler for things like warrior and adept, etc. Warriors will be low-ranking town guards, blacksmiths, etc. Hunters are commoners, street urchins are commoners, etc.
Forgive me for overusing etc. I'm multitasking...
Finally, I can't think of the boy's name off the top of my head...
decided to do a non-citizen human, I planned the character to be warrior, I would like to make that happen if we could, please look at the back story and give me an opinion, thanks
Lucius” the butcher” retires from the army as a full citizen. He retires to the town of Gilsi purchasing a butchers shop, as a play on words for the nickname he earned in the army. He brings his non-citizen mistress, Daicee and her idiot brother, Taidhg, with him. He opens the shop, tired of the killing he sub-contracts with the brother, who is a tanner by trade, to kill the animals and skin them, for that service and to provide for Daicee, he gives him space to open a tannery.
Lucius, marries a local merchants (Shrew)daughter for the financial stability but keeping Daicee on the side. Daicee eventually gets pregnant and bears our intrepid hero Taldo. Lucius, clearly upset, gives clear direction not to tell Taldo who his father is.
At the age of five Taldo’s mother dies. Lucius and Taidhg maintain their working relationship so that Taidhg will have a way to care for Taldo, and so the boy will be near. Lucius citizen wife has only born him daughters, and their relationship is strained. Over the years Lucius spends time with Taldo encouraging him to become a soldier and a citizen the way Lucius has. He even gives Taldo pointers with weapons: gladius, javelin and shield.
Taidhg for his part resents the boy and gives him the worst work possible, killing the beeves. Every day Taldo stands atop a narrow gated area, the cow is led in and tied in place, Taldo then swings the sledge hammer down, striking the animal in the forehead, killing it instantly. When all the cattle are killed in the morning he then spends the afternoon skinning and scraping hides. In the evening he sleeps in the tannery to “guard” it. His only free time is when Lucius asks to see him, which of course, Taidhg will not refuse.
I presumed Taldo could be a warrior, if blacksmith is more …fighter-like… I could change the story to that.
I got stuck on the idea of a famous warrior who was called the butcher actually becoming a butcher so when someone said are you "blah blah the butcher?" he could go "yeah, wanna buy a flank steak or ribeye?"
If you want him to be 25 and having left his uncles employment and joined the city watch under Captain Iyers, that could work also. Though it would be tough for him to be friends with the sylph now, seeing he wouldn't be at the tannery anymore.
Taldo is not a citizen
Taldo is the bastard son of a citizen named Lucius, his mother is dead, he works for his uncle, who despises him and gives him the worst work possible.
Taldo ( 6’) is taller than his sparkplug of a father and shorter than his lean uncle, but he is much thicker than Taidhg (6’ 4”), but not a barrel with legs like Lucius (5’ 10”).
He is around 17-20 years of age, nearing his majority so he will be able to join the army soon. Depending on the ”age of adulthood”
After his mother’s death he stops talking for a long time, when he does start talking again he stutters.
He idolizes Captain Iyers, and he wants to join the military to earn citizenship.
He is friendly with the sylph boy and wants to help find him, in the process proving his value to Captain Iyers.
I realize the setting is loosly based on the Roman Empire. Is the technology similar or is it more modern, I only ask because Captain Iyers’ page has him with firearms so I’m just double checking,
If there is a concern about me playing the "strong quiet type" please look at the game thread for my PFS character "Usawoti"
Cool, let me know if I need to do anything more to fill out my submission. Otherwise I'll wait to see who gets selected before creating an alias.
The government organization is like the Roman Empire, but the technology is Pathfinder standard, which is [emerging?] guns.
But as a non-citizen with a low-paying job, you need not worry about that, as you'll likely not have been able to afford a gun.
I should mention the money situation before we get too far. Originally the characters were allowed to spend 3 months wages on gear. If you're poor, that's 9 gp. If you're average that's ~30gp. If you're wealthy that's ~100gp.
Most if not all the characters in the game started with the 30 gp, so I won't have any issues with that. If you want to make an argument for 100gp, that's your prerogative, but just know, I will be strict, just to be fair to the current players.
as I put in the spoilers Taldo is a tanner, (Hm Taldo the tanner, it has a certain ring) he will have tanner as profession, leather worker as a craft, and handle animal. I probably will do a fourth skill to be named later.
Would you permit him to craft his own hide armor?
What were your impressions on letting him be a warrior. either young while working for his uncle or a coupe of years later being on the city watch, possibly part-time or as a volunteer.
one more question, once we get up and running how often are you expecting everyone to post. I prefer faster moving games, I realize that is out of your control though.
|
I have created a submission that I hope is acceptable. I did add traits, and would ask that we be allowed to use them...I found that it helped to give my NPC character a little more depth...but it would be up to you.
Dantos
Male human expert 1
NG Medium humanoid (human)
Init +1; Senses Perception +4
--------------------
Defense
--------------------
AC 13, touch 11, flat-footed 12 (+2 armor, +1 Dex)
hp 11 (1d8+3)
Fort +2, Ref +1, Will +2
--------------------
Offense
--------------------
Speed 30 ft.
Melee quarterstaff +3 (1d6+4)
--------------------
Statistics
--------------------
Str 16, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 10
Base Atk +0; CMB +3; CMD 14
Feats Bludgeoner[UC], Fast Learner[ARG]
Traits artisan, artistic dilettante (taldan)
Skills Appraise +7, Craft (blacksmith) +6, Craft (carpentry) +8, Craft (mechanical) +6, Craft (stonemasonry) +7, Diplomacy +4, Knowledge (engineering) +6, Knowledge (local) +6, Perception +4, Profession (Builder) +4
Languages Common, Dwarven, Halfling
Other Gear leather armor, quarterstaff, artisan's tools, 15 gp
--------------------
Special Abilities
--------------------
Bludgeoner Inflict nonlethal damage with bludgeoning weapons
--------------------
Growing up in a large family, Dantos was given a chance to try his hand at a number of different crafts. His father was a carpenter, and his uncle a stonemason. The boy was apprenticed to both, and while maybe not excelling at either, he gained an overall understanding of construction using both mediums. He was also interested in mechanical items and how machines work, so picked up a smattering of this as well. Finally he worked with the forgemasters in the town for a year to gain an understanding of the methods and techniques needed to create his own tools and equipment. After several years of hands on learning, Dantos began work as a builder.
For the first few years he worked mostly with his family, completing jobs for his father and uncle, but soon his knowledge allowed him to branch out and pick up contracts on his own. Most were small jobs, like building a chicken coop, or renovating a cottage, but it was not long until he was being ask his opinion on larger and more complex tasks. To date his greatest achievement was being ask to act as the assistant foreman on the new addition to the local church. It was in this role that he was able to show his talents in all areas of construction, something that was not missed by the elite and wealthy of the town.
His hope is to make enough money to open a small building company, with him as the foreman. He might also study a bit of architecture to help him understand designs and how to build complete buildings.
@Gen, looks like Vanclaf and Dominic could be friends! The writer and the reader. If you're going to be an Adept, it'd have to be primarily a magical library.
That was the idea behind Dominic inheriting "rare and uncommon books" was that they were quite possibly magical or mystic in at least a small part.
@Robert, sorry I didn't say. That's a yes to warrior, having been trained by his father, the soldier. As far as crafting your own hide armor, as long as you rank Craft (Armor), which could make sense, you can follow normal crafting rules to have made it before hand (1/3 price for materials, and a successful check, with retry rules). Sound fair?
As far as pace, I told everyone from the beginning, that posting was going to be every 1-2 days. Any more than that, and I'll need a heads up so you can be botted/delayed etc.
@Daniel, the only reason I'm having y'all start without traits is because the PCs in the game have already made their characters without them. So, still no traits, sorry. Otherwise, your character looks ready to go
@Gen, the issue is that in this world, magic is highly regulated and extremely showy (this is a major part of the main story). So if you were to practice magic at all for any amount of time (for instance, the amount of time necessary to become an Adept), you'd have to be a member of the Forum of Nethys, even if it's just as a consulting librarian.
I'm sorry I keep forgetting parts of the mythology...it's been a while since the original recruitment for this homebrew world...
I'm gonna be a stickler for things like warrior and adept, etc. Warriors will be low-ranking town guards, blacksmiths, etc. Hunters are commoners, street urchins are commoners, etc.
Forgive me for overusing etc. I'm multitasking...
Finally, I can't think of the boy's name off the top of my head...
It kinda sounds like 'No Aristocrat', but what about Expert?
Edit: and Adept are Divine Casters not Arcane (unless there are some houserules there).
Experts are allowed I believe. They have a few in the game already.
@Gen, the issue is that in this world, magic is highly regulated and extremely showy (this is a major part of the main story). So if you were to practice magic at all for any amount of time (for instance, the amount of time necessary to become an Adept), you'd have to be a member of the Forum of Nethys, even if it's just as a consulting librarian.
Would it be alright if I had been a consulting Librarian to the Forum, or is that too far beyond where the PCs would be able to have hailed from.
Hello
I am Orland Delmar, Engineer and Clockwork specialist.
I have recently graduated from my apprenticeship from Master Fank, and have hung out my shingle on my own, so to speak.
He still has connections and a soft spot in his heart for his Master.
I would love to be considered for this game. Thanks!
I am going to withdraw from consideration as I have picked up a different game.
Thanks anyway.
@Alex, I did some re-reading, and Aristocrats are fine, just remember, 100gp of gear max. And I need a very good reason for you to go trapsing about when you're an aristocrat.
@Gen, The forum is the magical organization in Attica. Not really a place, so that works fine. Also, didn't realize Adepts were divine, but divine magic is still regulated within the church. Either on loan to the Forum or a clergyman. Either one works.
@Taldo, Second language, I would consider the people you work with. As a tanner, you'd probably work with halflings and gnomes; as well as maybe elvish, etc. Whatever people your character interacts with, that's a good way to determine your second language. As for deities, the major inner sea gods have precedence, with Sarenrae having the largest following. Soldiers are known to follow Gorem and Iomidae as per Golarion.
As an apology for jumping into the discussion too early; let me present a list, short though it may be.
Gen Thunderfist Male Human Adept
Johnnycat93 Female Human Expert
Daniel Steward Male Human Expert
Robert Henry Taldo the Tanner Male Human Warrior
@Alex, I did some re-reading, and Aristocrats are fine, just remember, 100gp of gear max. And I need a very good reason for you to go trapsing about when you're an aristocrat.
No problem.
I think Hunter fit Aristocrat, Expert and Warrior more than Commoners, Gatherer on the other hand.
I can see both Commoner and Expert for Street Urchin, depending on how long they have been there and what they do to survive (Street Urchin and Sewer Rat).
Edit: side question, starting age/accepted age categories?
In this society, what with domesticated animals and all, hunters are not very necessary; that's why I said commoner for hunters. Expert, I could also see.
If one were an expert in something, I seriously doubt they'd be a Street Urchin. Especially since "street urchin" is a term usually used to refer to a child. Homeless men on the other hand, could be experts, but there'd have to be some reason their expertise is out of demand (like, say, they're non-citizens).
I'm gonna rule that if you use a template, you have to be commoner. I'm used to the "Template as Level" rule, but as you're level 1...
I'm planning on playing as the Dwarf Blacksmith's son. Would you consider that warrior, expert, or commoner?
Recruitment is officially closed, selection will be made by the end of Saturday.
If it's an adult son, I'd say expert unless he was a soldier/guard or trained by one at one point, but that's been done. If it's a young character, it's a commoner.
Thank you for the heads up. Good luck to all.
Congratulations, Taldo and Dominic you have been voted in! Thank you to everyone who applied, please let me know if you'd like to be contacted in the event another place opens up in this adventure!
Fantastic, I'll whip up a profile here and get to the discussion thread