Count of the March (Inactive)

Game Master djdust

Whoa that's a lot of damage add-ons. Are you descended from an ice dragon, Zeetri? I noticed Rime Spell on there as yet another rider effect and I'm picturing So Cold It's Burning Hands + You Are Now Entangled.

And I'm having fun imagining the hijinks that could have led an orc and an ice dragon to strike some sparks... Like, if Shrek stole Donkey's GF... I know family trees go back farther than parents, just horsin' around.

Looks like a heavy hitter and a glass cannon. What a pair!

Ivar looks good to me!

Maybe Zeetri is a third cousin twice removed from Selja?

I think that each time someone asks me how that happened, they will get a different story. I believe that I am done except for purchases. I'm sticking with mundane items for now. He really had his heart set on a rod, but it's a ways off. I heard it's part wilderness adventure. Should I expect to go pass through any cities that I could make an expensive purchase in the future?

Ivar looks good to me!

Sweet, let me know when you want us to jump in... Also are we carrying a letter from the Marquis?

Woohoo, Level 5!

+7 HP
3rd lvl spells
Channel 3d6
Feat: Improved Initiative
Deific Obedience Sentinel Boon: Haste 1/day
Skills: Craft (paintings), Heal x2, Perform (sing), Sense Motive

I'll get things moving along soon!

I'll get things moving along soon!

Sweet! Anything more we need to know?

Ivar, how long have we known each other? Did we meet just as we were hired for this job, or have we done a few missions together?

Ivar, how long have we known each other? Did we meet just as we were hired for this job, or have we done a few missions together?

Hmmm, good question, since were basically glorified messengers, I'd assume Ivar just arrived and was hired to deliver the message. Maybe he had taken a message to the marquis from a difficult place. How long has Zeetri worked for the Marquis?

It's up to y'all. I like the idea that maybe you were sent to the trading post with a message, likely from lumber interests in Andoran, and now the Marquis sends you on this mission to find our wayward adventurers.

You wouldn't have been under the Marquis' employ before this.

I've played Ivar before as a 'bodyguard' for nobility, like the emperor of Constantinople hired Northmen then Saxons to guard him because the weren't involved in local politics. But it didn't feel right for this.

So Ivars been in town long enough to deliver a message to the Maquis and have a night out on the town. I assume Ivar arrived by boat. Are they leaving by boat or riding, or traveling with a caravan?

Was Zeetri traveling with him, or is the message magical in nature so Zeetri is the one actually delivering it and Ivar is just helping keep him safe?

So the trading post is really newly established, and sparsely inhabitated. It consists basically of a ferry across the river, a simple fortification of stone and wood, a manor house, some fields, the grounds keeper's hut, and a small barracks. Traveler's accommodations abount to a few stalls for merchants to trade from. So really not much for a night on the town...

It makes sense you two were traveling together, how long you've been companions is up to you.

It's up to y'all. I like the idea that maybe you were sent to the trading post with a message, likely from lumber interests in Andoran, and now the Marquis sends you on this mission to find our wayward adventurers.

Zeetri, how about, you were hired by the lumber interests in Andoran to deliver the message and finalize the contract, and they hired Ivar to be your muscle. They've known each other the length of this journey. But got along well enough to accept the job together from the Marquis. Simple enough, and we don't have to change our own backstories, other than a reason to be in Andoran.

Sounds good, Ivar.

Hey Zeetri, FYI, he doesn't go by 'Goldilocks' he goes by Ivar.

Have you read any of Joe Abercrombie's stuff? Ivar is a 'named man' borrowed from his books. In the north it means someone who is part of a 'war band' who has earned a name, one that other warband members would recognize. Sort of the same way the modern military use a 'call name'

About the only time he'd use if is he meets another northerner, then he would mention his captain who named him, because the reputation is related to who's war band he was in.

He would also use it if he was trying to intimidate someone.

Hey Zeetri, FYI, he doesn't go by 'Goldilocks' he goes by Ivar.

Have you read any of Joe Abercrombie's stuff? Ivar is a 'named man' borrowed from his books. In the north it means someone who is part of a 'war band' who has earned a name, one that other warband members would recognize. Sort of the same way the modern military use a 'call name'

About the only time he'd use if is he meets another northerner, then he would mention his captain who named him, because the reputation is related to who's war band he was in.

He would also use it if he was trying to intimidate someone.

Ah! That makes sense. I've read a few of of Abercrombie's stuff, but I have a few more on my list. Good stuff.

Read that trilogy last summer! Good stuff.

all I have to say is that Joe Abercrombie is not to be trusted. Don't fall in love with ANYONE!

Definitely a card-carrying member of the George R. R. Martin school of character development (and destruction).

You try to cleanly write a PC out of the story and the remaining players turn it into a quest %)

Just some housekeeping things:
Updated your Kills list.
I believe the Inventory is up to date. I'd like to clean it up a bit before adding Ivar and Zeetri. Also you may want to try and sell some things so please take a look at it.

Also I'm leaving for some family travel tomorrow through next saturday, so I may be sparsely available during that time.

I am willing to let the Fench sideplot be as much or as little as you wish to make of it!

Jeeze, I don't get many kills. Bard being a bard I guess/not worried about it!

I don't think Moira would let anything terrible happen to Fenchurch without objecting strongly, but I don't want to hold things up either.

Ok, items: Moira's got a couple great magic weapons so I don't think I need any. All yours, Selja and Turanté, if you want! Or $$$.

The Ring of Counterspells seems like a good one to sell, but we could hang on to it if someone wants it.

Bead of Force and Spartoi Seeds seem like great emergency tools. How many seeds have we got, Dust? But we have to remember to use them. We could just sell.

Speaking of which, I need to update my profile with reminders of my best magic items. I keep forgetting to use them! Maybe I should invest more in passive bonuses. I've still got a fireball on my necklace!

I want to acquire a new wand of CLW. Mine is almost kicked.

I don't see anything on the treasure list that I really want... I really need money so that I can upgrade my gear and transcribe those spells into my spellbook!

Remember with ABP your gear upgrades by itself!

Also y'all have a good bit of cash already. But you are here to hire either casting services or the proper scrolls.

I'll have to look back to see how many spartoi seeds were in the bag.

Within the bag are 2d4 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4 charred and blackened, ash stained human teeth.

Spartoi Seeds are cool IMO. It's like you're carrying around your own harryheusen monsters.

Túrante: I just noticed that you're at like, 3000 wealth. Selja's at 8000, and I'm at 10k. Our gold+sell value is something like 20k gold.

So first, let's even up.

Tur: 7000 gp to reach 10k.
Sel: 2000 gp to reach 10k.

That leaves about 11k. Split three ways, ~3600 each for wealth parity.

If my math is right, I'll take my share in Spartoi Seeds instead of selling them.

Of course, keeping something will take a chunk out of our resell, which I didn't factor yet.

If that sounds like a good framework, I'll crunch the actual numbers after work.

I had forgotten about Automatic Bonsu Progression!

Moira's plan sounds fine to me.

Seems like we'll need to deduct the cost of some expensive scrolls from our wealth. Will see if we can negotiate a discount.

Looking through the rules for ABP, it seems like a pure spellcaster is missing out. Give up half your gold fire a +1 to a weapon that I don't have and a +1 to my 12ac, that I hope never gets used, lol. I do like the +1 to my saves, though! Am I missing something important? This is my first time using this variant rule.

Also, Zeetri can chip in a bit a party wand.

The theory with the ABP is that folks will fill their slots with the big six items first: . at 6th level, aside from the + 1 dagger you won't use, you've replaced:
Cloak of resistance + 1: 1,000 gp.
Headband of vast intelligence +2: 4,000 gp
Bracers of armor +1: 1,000 gp
Ring of protection + 1: 2,000 gp.
Which is 8,000 gp worth of stuff. At sixth level you normally get 16,000 gp, with the APB you only get 8,000. It's basically a wash not counting the + 1 to any weapon. And you can fill the four slots: headband, bracers, ring and cloak with whatever you want.

Now if you're a player who does not worry about the 'Big six' bonus' to 1) AC, 2) weapon, 3) deflection (the ring), 4) toughness (the amulet), 5) resistance (the cloak) and to their 6) main stat (belt or headband) then the ABP may feel less 'valuable.' I get that.

I like the fact that it removes the 'need' to worry about keeping certain numbers at the level the AP assumes the characters will have when setting the Challenge rating level. Thus the players can purchase/keep/use magical items that they normally wouldn't because they're worried about the 'big six.' I also like the fact that it removes the need for a 'magic mart' in every village. In my mind, letting the magical Items you acquire feel more magical.

Come on, who wouldn't rather have a cloak of the Manta ray instead of Resistance?

Aside, Ivar doesn't care that much about money and would be happy to share if there is something the group need.

The other good news is this is a homebrew campaign and, although I keep WBL in mind, I don't strictly adhere to it. I put treasure when and where I think it fits and makes sense given the setting and narrative.

I haven't actually looked at what happens work abp at latter levels, I guess. I need to do some more research, lol.

lol, I was thinking we were sixth level so I went to those numbers :)

At fifth level the numbers aren't as impressive, sorry!

Edit:5th level: 10,500 gp. (5,250 gp ABP), 4,000 worth of gear (not counting the + 1 dagger), 6,000 counting it, so a - 1.250 gp or a 750 gp net gain, depending on how you want to look at it.

Edit # 2 I think the reason they give a bonus to the mental prowess first is to make up for the disparity you've pointed out.

I'm not seeing a bonus to mental prowess. I see:
2) attack potency +1
3)skill potency
4) devastating attack
5) defence potency

I'm I looking in the right place?

I was looking at second edition. So many games. I also host d&d 5e for high school kids, and get those rules mixed up some times.

Lol, sounds like you can use more coffee :)

Seriously, if there is something on Zeetri's wish list you can have Ivar's cut to get it. I'm happy to get rid of his haversack and spot you the 2,000 gp. if you need it.

When I play in a 'regular' game I tend to use whatever we find, that way we get the best value from the magic items. In ABP games, I pick whatever weapon/style suites my fancy because I don't have to spend extra to keep them 'up to par.'

For what it's worth, Zeetri can carry around a longspear and get AOOs against enemies that approach him for 1d8 damage. Not saying it's optimal, but it could randomly help.

The only thing that Zeetri really wants is a wand of Daze. I love the idea of casting a fireball only it's an acidball that locks everyone down for a round. The lesser one is 7,500 I believe. He'll just use whatever else we find, as you say.

Ok, Zeetri has 5,233 gp to spend, with GM_WilloftheWylde permission, Ivar will dump the haversack and multitool and purchase a barbarian's kit. freeing up 2,250 and spot him another 17 gp.

I will tweak his gear so he can still contribute 300 gp. for a group wand.

The only thing that Zeetri really wants is a wand of Daze. I love the idea of casting a fireball only it's an acidball that locks everyone down for a round. The lesser one is 7,500 I believe. He'll just use whatever else we find, as you say.

The Lesser Metamagic Rod of Dazing costs 14,000, but is craftable for 7,000 if you can swing the Craft Rod feat.

To Ivar's point about using found weapons, we've actually been finding specific weapons with magic properties that stack with ABP--I forget if we've been accounting for those. Selja wants to use her glaive while Turante wants to use her Dueling Sword, so it's a bit tricky to use these finds.

Curious what have you found? So before I crunch numbers should we see if crafting was aloud?

I'm so confused!

Edit: I went ahead and made the changes on Ivar's page. If we need to change it back I can.

The Lesser Metamagic Rod of Dazing costs 14,000, but is craftable for 7,000 if you can swing the Craft Rod feat.

Bah! Craft Rod is a 9th level feat. I wait. That is one that I will most likely pick up. I see him as a rod man. I should have named him Dennis.

Booooo!

So do you want the 2,267 gp for something else?

Here's the Loot Table.

There's a Corrosive Scimitar and Ominous Heavy Mace, both of which I forgot about.

neat, neither will do the raw damage of Ivar's axe, and his Saex is thematic.

I'd sell them and use the money to buy a cloak of the Manta Ray :)

Unclaimed Inventory:
Grappling Hook 1
Scroll of Spider Climb 150
Scroll of Remove Disease 375
Holy Water (3) 100
Oil of Bless Weapon 50
Potion Protection from Evil 50
Sunrod (3) 6
Potion Magic Stone 50
Bead of Force 3,000
Ring of Counterspells 4,000
Scroll Summon Monster I 25
Wand Corrosive Touch (20 charges) 750
Spartoi Seeds 3300
Corrosive Scimitar 2015
Ominous Heavy Mace 2012
Scroll of Locate Creature (CL7) 700

Although, due to the purchase limit, you won't be able to sell off the Bead of Force, Ring of Counterspells, nor the Spartoi Seeds.

Traveling down to Portland, Oregon for the weekend! My posts will be slow and short.

I don't have major needs for any magic items but the seeds are cool and the corrosive scimitar might be useful until the end of the mummy quest (we need acid damage, right?).

Do y'all want to focus on purchasing the scrolls for now and then sell off loot after the mummy job? You'll likely have more loot then.

How much time do you want to spend in Belhaim? Turante mentioned copying spells and do you want to visit Fench in jail?

I hate dealing with loot accounting so I am in favor of buying scrolls and getting back to the action!

That said, if for example Moira prefers to deal with the mathy stuff, Selja is happy to figure out something to buy for herself.

I, and Zeetri, feel that we didn't have a hand in the gathering of loot, so it's none of our business.