|
Bigge Club here. Finally managed to get this ready.
I noticed two mistakes in the conversion. First Bane is not a Cantrip.(It's both in the 0 and 1st list) and Class skills list is missing as is skill point per level.
Bluff (Cha), Craft (Int), Disguise (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (religion), Linguistics (Int), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int), and Stealth (Dex).
Skill Ranks Per Level: 2 + Int modifier
The Background and mechanics are in the profile, I will probably add in appearance later, but decided I should not delay any further on that account. I did try to check it few times over, but might have a brainfart some where. Oh and since even the original did not have it, I took starting money as wizard.
Thanks for the clarifications, I'll amend. Re the backstory:
How wealthy is his family? Who attacked his village, and how does he feel about this nation now? How much action did Wultram see in the war? Who was he fighting, and what does he think about people from those nations? What was his role militarily? He travelled the land - where did he go? Why did he go to Q'Barra specifically (assuming he did, or is just passing)? How did he hook up with House Tharashk? And the million dollar question: what does he feel about the Blood of Vol and/or the Emerald Claw?
What happened to the other units in his troop? Were there any he was particularly friendly with (names?) given that in subjective time this was quite recent? What about the members of House Cannith he worked with (albeit they'd be a lot older now)? It is entirely possible he doesn't know, and it might be better from a dramatic standpoint if he didn't.
I like the idea that he's had nearly no interaction with elements of his early days since "waking". I figure (based on what I know of military relationships) he'd have had been pretty tight with the other warforged created for his special unit. I'd even think he'd have been close to some of their trainers, teachers, and/or support staff (the artificers trained to maintain them as they trained).
I don't have a particular name or unit that I'd like for him to have had a special bond with. I'm assuming there would have been one or a few like that, but I don't have any particular expectations, and I'd be happy for you to make them up.
But, in my mind, I like the idea that his program was scrapped due to some failings in his (and his brethren's) design… that whole "problem with authority and orders" thing. Given what little he knows about what happened after he fell inert in that field training exercise, he'd probably assume more than just him were knocked out or destroyed. And further, given that they're bred to be soldiers, he'd expect any of his brethren who did survive that day and went onto become soldiers probably had the life expectancy of any other soldier in a war that lasts over thirty years… which is to say he'd be pleasantly surprised to discover any survived at all. War is hell, right?
All that said, I think it'd be awesome if there were some of his old buddies or trainers floating around out there. Now, who they are after the war… that's really up to you, and I think it would be incredibly cool to play that in in-character.
Cole would likely be excited at the discovery of such a person (warforged, trainer, or Cannith artificer), as it would make him feel less isolated.
Does that help?
Okay, I (137ben) updated the backstory a little bit--
Portforged was formerly owned by house Tharashk, which explains why he is where he is now.
Gonna bow out, give someone else a chance. RL just not giving me the opportunity to get this done right.
Have fun!
Crunch done including buying. On to the background!
Sorry to see Spazmodeus go. Aubrey, if you don't want to recruit another player , I could change Rehil to bard (still aiming for shadow dancer) to share part of the healing load. Back story would stay pretty much the same.
|
|
Sorry to hear it, Spazmodeus. Best wishes.
Re Rehil being a bard, create the character you feel appropriate (though a bard is a good choice too, maybe with one of the archetypes making him more of an infiltration type). I'm not worried either way. I think I'm probably inclined not to recruit a new player since six was the number I really wanted, seven being a little unwieldy.
|
|
Re Portforged’s background:
I’m also uncomfortable that House Tharashk would buy Portforged to transport stuff. House Orien and House Lyrandar can do that pretty effectively already – much better than Portforged, as it happens. Also, if House Cannith were muscling in on House Orien (in particular) and House Lyrandar territory, it could cause major friction. So I doubt House Cannith would actually sell such a potentially useful and destructive item off to another House. In any case, was transport really Portforged's primary purpose?
None of this prevents Portforged heading to Q’barra for a bit of excitement and signing up with Tharashk as a security operative/prospector. But it is probably more likely he was turned out of House Cannith at the Treaty of Thronehold when he was emancipated. How did he feel about that (happy to be free, unhappy to lose his home, something else)? How does he feel about his purpose now? Getting away from the inherent peace makes him sound a bit like a violent nutter (plus there is actually plenty of violence still going on in the Five Nations – the Last War is only just over in the last eighteen months and everyone thinks it will start again)? Is that how he is, or is he more looking for adventure and excitement?
The angle re Cannith and what they might have had in mind is a live one, but “enslaving aristocrats” is maybe a bit odd – Portforged would exist at all without House Cannith. Did they do something to him to make him angry? And support/destroy is not an either/or – there are other options, primarily indifference. What is it that makes him care either way?
Who was Cole fighting when he was damaged? How was he lost?
Somehow I missed these.
Secondarily, if we want to keep him tied to Cyre in some way, we could say the Cannith forge his training was based out of was hidden somewhere in Cyre... which means Thrane, Karrnath, or the Valenar would be good choices. I would think a Valenar raiding party would make short work of a heavily-armored (slow-moving) warforged unit of cadets. The Karrnath machine of war seems capable of wreaking their own brand of destruction as well, so that fits, too.
I'm fine with you picking, and telling me what Cole remembers about the experience. If you'd prefer I pick the enemy I'm likely to go with Thrane.
Then there's the very real possibility that—depending on how much Two-Five-Dot-One actually had learned about the world at the time of this field training—he may not really know who the enemy was. They blundered into an ongoing fight, the officers ordered they fight a retreating action, the green 'forged complied to the best of their abilities. Maybe he heard some comments from his CO's during the fight—and he would definitely recognize any insignias or battle standards from the engagement—but he might not have had proper understanding or perspective of the fight when it was ongoing... having to instead patch it together when he awoke thirty years later.
As to how he was lost, I like the idea that he was cut down in combat, maybe helping a friendly unit out, and crawled his way to shelter as best he could. Given that he's a warforged, maybe he pulled himself into a river thinking the enemy would be less likely to look there in the heat of combat. Unfortunately, it also meant his makers didn't think to look there, and it literally took the course of the river shifting (as rivers do over time) to reveal Two-Five-Dot-One's semi-buried, inert frame.
Thoughts?
fluff is updated.
Let me know what you think dm
Who was Cole fighting when he was damaged? How was he lost?Somehow I missed these.
** spoiler omitted **...
Rehil's background is sketched out. Terrible writing, really its just an outline. No doubt it will expand in detail during play.
Regarding changing to bard -- the main motivation would be to help Algar's character with healing at early levels and maybe pick up some utility magic for the group. I'd still be planning to go shadow dancer down the road. So Algar how do you feel about William and healing duties?
|
|
Re William’s backstory:
Being a wannabe Talenta plainsman is fine – it’s a good explanation for his mechanical powers (by the way – don’t you get an animal companion or something? I didn’t see it in your stats). I liked the backstory in the previous, non-Eberron version about how he wanted to be a cavalier. If he has romantic notions about Talenta tribesmen and also idealism about military orders, this might fit quite well with a Thranish background. Thrane is vaguely racist (it’s very pro-human) and while Will might have had notions of being a Knight of Thrane, scratching his riding and idealistic itches, he would have had formidable obstacles put in his way due to his size and race. But nevertheless it is entirely conceivable that Thrane could make use of his riding skills and stealth as an outrider/scout, and so he could have joined up as a recruit to the Thranish army towards the very end of the Last War where he ultimately suffered his injury. If we assume that he then was out of action with his leg until after the Treaty of Thronehold, he is effectively demobbed having failed to achieve anything much of his dreams. His wanderlust could then derive from dissatisfaction at having failed to really serve his country or live up to his own ideals as a noble warrior. It could also act as an on-going drive to prove himself. (It should also be pointed out that a connection to Thrane would probably be helpful for the campaign.)
The bit about serving on the caravan routes as a guard for House Ghallanda is fine – and that could easily take him out of Thrane and into the Talenta Plains, and maybe southwards on to Q’barra. The stuff about Kalatan? It’s from your old write-up and doesn’t really add anything to this narrative, and anyway doesn’t have anything much to do with Eberron, so you can happily lose that.
Does this work for you?
** spoiler omitted **Who was Cole fighting when he was damaged? How was he lost?Somehow I missed these.
** spoiler omitted **...
I think this works great. Thanks for the feedback.
one more question... this one mechanical. Warforged being immune to fatigue and exhaustion from the get-go coupled with the Pathfinder rage mechanics opens up rage-cycling from the first level.
Are you okay with this? Basically, are you okay if I pick up rage powers that are useable once per rage, and then flip rage off and on at my whimsy to get to use those rage powers more often (with no downside) in combat?
I would love to be able to use stuff like Strength Surge semi-reliably as I level, but I know some DM's really don't like rage-cycling at all. I certainly don't want to choose rage powers thinking I'll be able to play them one way, and basically have my expectations misaligned with yours.
|
|
** spoiler omitted **Who was Cole fighting when he was damaged? How was he lost?Somehow I missed these.
** spoiler omitted **...
I think this works great. Thanks for the feedback.
one more question... this one mechanical. Warforged being immune to fatigue and exhaustion from the get-go coupled with the Pathfinder rage mechanics opens up rage-cycling from the first level.
Are you okay with this? Basically, are you okay if I pick up rage powers that are useable once per rage, and then flip rage off and on at my whimsy to get to use those rage powers more often (with no downside) in combat?
I would love to be able to use stuff like Strength Surge semi-reliably as I level, but I know some DM's really don't like rage-cycling at all. I certainly don't want to choose rage powers thinking I'll be able to play them one way, and basically have my expectations misaligned with yours.
Let me think about that. If there are any rules-lawyerly types here who fancy chiming in here, please do.
|
|
Comments on Rehil’s backstory:
You mention that his mother’s fall was due to the development of an aberrant mark. That’s a possibility. However, another could lie in the schism between House Phiarlan and House Thuranni, which was bloody. Perhaps her family was based in Regalport but considered by both sides to be suspect, maybe even with members of it assassinated (if so, why was she spared – maybe because of baby Rehil? what does he think of the deaths of his family?) in the fall-out from the split (which was about 25 years ago). Perhaps she had to work in a much more lowly and uncomfortable (and untrusted) position to ensure she could work her way back up for her and her son (thereby both pushing Rehil hard and resenting him too). It could also explain Rehil’s lack of progress beyond lacking charm and wit (since if you go bard you’ll have a high CHA) or even screwing up (though his lack of support within the House could easily leave him scapegoated). I’m slightly unhappy with the aberrant mark angle as that’s hereditary and as her descendant that could leave Rehil permanently out in the cold.
As a minor issue, Rehil won’t necessarily be “on site” but more travelling to gather information. The destination for the opening boat trip is in the deep jungle. You wouldn’t be expected to learn much of great import there. But you could plausibly be following up on some rumours as part of your brief. As a deep cover operative, how do you communicate with your handlers? Who are they? What do you think of them, and your duty, and the House in general?
it works fine DM.
i'll rework on it in the next few days. (I am not very familiar with Ebberon so i relied mostly on what i could find in the wikia)
Fred extend his paw to the DM as way to say hello
Re Portforged’s background:
** spoiler omitted **...
Yea, I realized the whole thing with Tharashk didn't make sense.
I removed it, along with references to Quori.
Re: 'relative peace in the Five Nations'
yes, that phrase was poorly worded. Basically, Portforged was built for quick combat and movement. That's what it hopes to find in Q'Barra.
The five nations, on the other hand, are engaged in a slow, subtle cold war, which is not something Portforged feels as good at. I edited the bio in my profile to make that clearer.
Re: related warforged,
Portforged was an early proto-type in its line, but was constructed only six years before the end of the last war. It was also a very experimental project, so only a few were built. However, none of them (that it knows of) are substantially more advanced than Portforged, since the war ended before much testing or development could be done.
I've got a (very) brief back-story up for my friendly lizardman.
Like our elven friend above, it's essentially just an outline, but It's all I've really got time for tonight, I look forward to feedback/refining it.
Alsoo, what's the average starting age for the race?
Any ruling on starting gold?
EDIT: NVM that last bit, see that it's max wealth and included in the campaign info.
Comments on Rehil’s backstory:
** spoiler omitted **...
OK, first off, whereabouts does Rehil come from? House Thuranni is based in the Lhazaar Principalities which are based on a very large archipelago to the east of the main continent of Khorvaire. These are effectively a series of small countries run by (more or less) pirates of varying degrees of ruthlessness. The biggest, Regalport, is where House Thuranni is based, so this seems a good place for Rehil to come from. The Lhazaar Principalities weren’t central to the Last War – they tended to use it as an excuse for raiding, profiteering or mercenary work – so it is plausible that Rehil was largely untouched by the direct impact of the war. By the way, how old is he? Is this the case? (Usefully, the Lhazaar Principalities are reasonably close to Q’barra – Lhazaar pirates being one of the hazards of the area.)
You mention that his mother’s fall was due to the development of an aberrant mark. That’s a possibility. However, another could lie in the schism between House Phiarlan and House Thuranni, which was bloody. Perhaps her family was based in Regalport but considered by both sides to be suspect, maybe even with members of it assassinated (if so, why was she spared – maybe because of baby Rehil? what does he think of the deaths of his family?) in the fall-out from the split (which was about 25 years ago). Perhaps she had to work in a much more lowly and uncomfortable (and untrusted) position to ensure she could work her way back up for her and her son (thereby both pushing Rehil hard and resenting him too). It could also explain Rehil’s lack of progress beyond lacking charm and wit (since if you go bard you’ll have a high CHA) or even screwing up (though his lack of support within the House could easily leave him scapegoated). I’m slightly unhappy with the aberrant mark angle as that’s hereditary and as her descendant that could leave Rehil permanently out in the cold.
As a minor issue, Rehil won’t necessarily be “on site” but more travelling to gather information. The destination for the opening boat trip is in the deep jungle. You wouldn’t be expected to learn much of great import there. But you could plausibly be following up on some rumours as part of your brief. As a deep cover operative, how do you communicate with your handlers? Who are they? What do you think of them, and your duty, and the House in general?
|
|
Also, William:
|
|
Comments on Grazzat's backstory:
|
|
** spoiler omitted **...Comments on Rehil’s backstory:
** spoiler omitted **...
Rehil:
Better?
Appearance : Aside from being a little darker, and a bit bigger and better muscled than the average elf, Rehil is entirely unremarkable. His carriage is erect and he spreads his already wide shoulders. He moves fluidly.
What are the Eberron racial norms for elves?
His dress varies depending on the occasion. His normal clothes are dark and drab, as is his leather armor. He has a set of bright blue and yellow clothes which he keeps. Someday, he may wear them again to dance in public.
|
|
** spoiler omitted **
Appearance : Aside from being a little darker, and a bit bigger and better muscled than the average elf, Rehil is entirely unremarkable. His carriage is erect and he spreads his already wide shoulders. He moves fluidly.
What are the Eberron racial norms for elves?
His dress varies depending on the occasion. His normal clothes are dark and drab, as is his leather armor. He has a set of bright blue and yellow clothes which he keeps. Someday, he may wear them again to dance in public.
That's fine - please stick it in your character sheet.
As for racial norms, what you have is fine. Elves sort of divide down into threemain types, but they are culturally distinct rather than different races: the Aerneal elves, who are sort-of nice necromancers; the Valenar elves, who are war-like cavalry; and Khorvaire elves, who are basically more defined by the nation in Khorvaire they come from, and are closely integrated with that rather than a separate "elfish-ness".
By the way, last I checked you seemed to have a +2 bonus to Fort which I wasn't sure you were entitled to.
|
|
Better?
Indeed. You haven't really dealt with the issue of where his divine powers come from, but we can leave that ambiguous if you prefer.
I assume for physical description we are running with: short?
On the mechanics: I notice William has two traits. We aren't playing traits, so please remove those. I'm also wondering about his AC - in particular, where does his +1 racial bonus come from?
william is short with red hair a somewhat big nose (like the picture) is wearing a yellow shirt (currently when not wearing is chain shirt)
the +1 racial comes from Racial Outrider, Underfoot (+1 Dodge AC vs larger opponents) (as noted on char sheet)
-----
Underfoot Halflings must train hard to effectively fight bigger opponents. Halflings with this racial trait gain a +1 dodge bonus to AC against foes larger than themselves and a +1 bonus on Reflex saving throws to avoid trample attacks. This racial trait replaces halfling luck.
|
|
Ment to ask last time should we be buying rations or will employer take care of those?
Updated appearence to profile. Pasted here for convinience sake.
Playing around with hero machine took bit longer than I anticipated.
** spoiler omitted **
Buy some rations by all means if you want, but to start with you will be provided with food (and Rehil's the cook).
** spoiler omitted **
Appearance : Aside from being a little darker, and a bit bigger and better muscled than the average elf, Rehil is entirely unremarkable. His carriage is erect and he spreads his already wide shoulders. He moves fluidly.
What are the Eberron racial norms for elves?
His dress varies depending on the occasion. His normal clothes are dark and drab, as is his leather armor. He has a set of bright blue and yellow clothes which he keeps. Someday, he may wear them again to dance in public.
That's fine - please stick it in your character sheet.
As for racial norms, what you have is fine. Elves sort of divide down into threemain types, but they are culturally distinct rather than different races: the Aerneal elves, who are sort-of nice necromancers; the Valenar elves, who are war-like cavalry; and Khorvaire elves, who are basically more defined by the nation in Khorvaire they come from, and are closely integrated with that rather than a separate "elfish-ness".
By the way, last I checked you seemed to have a +2 bonus to Fort which I wasn't sure you were entitled to.
I had put it in his sheet right after my previous post here, but the board monster ate it!
That fort bonus is one of the perils of cut and paste character generation. I'll fix it right now.
So even as we "introduce" our characters in game I'd like to do with the players here, if you're amenable.
My alias shares most of what I'm comfortable sharing in the wild, wild web, but I'll summarize here for your convenience and expand on it.
I live about 30 mi north of Boston, Mass, USA. So GMT -5, or so.
I'm a mechanical engineer, interested in measuring geometry. Part inspections, alignments, and reverse engineering, mostly.
I started playing sometime around 1979 or 80. Ran out of groups to play with in 86 and then family set in. Fast forward to 2007 when I discover the Paizo boards and PbP. Jump again to today -- I'm running two PbP games and playing in 7 or 8 more.
Aubrey's original Eberron Campaign was one of the first PbPs I found when I arrived on the Paizo boards. I was really impressed. I missed the original enrollment by mere months. I've missed other chances to apply for his games, by days and hours. So I am thrilled to be in this game.
I am really looking forward to playing with you all. I hope we have a great ride together.
Eeeeexcellent! I'll drop an intro post both here and in the game thread when my kiddos are down tonight!
Comments on Grazzat's backstory:
I was aiming for the gold dragon though, that's true.
Care to expand on what the "analogue of his dragon sire with a potential god?" part is referring to? I'm open to suggestions.
|
|
|
|
Well, in terms of introduction, I work for the Bank of England (which sounds much cooler than it is) apparently keeping the UK's financial system from harm. I've been on these boards for a while now. Started playing maybe back in 1983-4, but mainly non-D&D systems. Like many people it all faded away until 3e came out and I found a group to play with about 12 years ago. We meet semi-regularly, but my main RPG-playing is the campaigns on these boards.
First post!
How do ya'll feel about interior monologue? Do you want to see writ plain, spoilered, or keep all that psycho stuff to yourself and show what's going on in there by exterior description of the PC and his actions?
Yow Aubrey! burning the midnight, etc.
Aubrey's Eberron campaign was one of my first reads on these boards as well. It's definitely why I jumped into this one.
I'm from Texas, but am pretty far from the stereotype. No horses. No cowboy hats, buckles, or boots. Though my wife (from up north) says I do talk slow.
Not much else to tell except that I'm in my thirties, have a surprisingly limited rpg experience, and have a wife and two tiny kids.
Looking forward to gaming with you good folks.
This could get interesting if the low-charisma, quiet warforged is the talkative one...
I was halfway through a reply this morning, when work busted badly loose. I can post in a couple hours.
Feeling unwell. Might be a bit quiet.
Get well soon,
I'll get a write up of his appearance and get a post up in gameplay sometime tonight.