Welcome to the OOC Discussion thread for Courts of the Shadow Fey!
I'm hoping that this thread remains lively and active throughout the life of the campaign.
For those of you who have already been accepted, this can now be a place to talk about party composition, and carry on connecting backstories as you have been doing.
Not all the PC's need backstories woven together. It's fine to save some introductions for RP. We should all start thinking about what brings us to a tavern in Lower Zobeck though, because that is where the gameplay thread will open.
Let's see, what else... Oh!
I know some GM's are walking encyclopedia's of the rules... I am not that guy! Luckily PbP affords me time to look things up before making rulings, but if I make a mistake I don't mind having it pointed out to me politely. Let's just try to do that mostly here in OOC so we don't disrupt the narrative in gameplay.
The same goes for rules questions and interpretations. Don't be afraid to ask here. This is the thread where pretty much anything goes.
I'm going to say some words by way of introduction in my next post.
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Made the alias. Now I just need to fill it in with her background, appearance and personality and then find a proper picture. The former is the easy the part, the latter... probably not so much.
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Momo wakes up smelling warm bread and smoked meat. She throws back her blankets and follows her nose outside where her parents, Mathaus and Sari, are cooking. ”Well look who’s awake!” her father teases, holding out a mug of something warm and spiced. Momo accepts the mug appreciatively and takes a sip. Apple and cinnamon swirl in her mouth and warm the back of her throat. She moans in pleasure, ”You guys are the best.”
Mombar and Ura cross the square carrying a bundle of fabric. ”Momo!” Ura calls, waving her hand and smiling: ”I have your traveling clothes ready.” Momo grins, setting down her mug before bounding over to the approaching Mombar and Ura. Ura unfolds the bundle to reveal a thick forest green cloak with a generous hood for hiding Momo’s ears. Mombar has a pair of brown pants, a tan shirt, traveling gloves, and a new pair of traveling boots in his arms. Momo circles around the two of them excitedly, ”For me?!”
Mombar replies, ”You’re practically our niece so of course they're for you.” Mathaus crosses his arms over his chest, “Momo” he begins in a serious tone, ”You’re now an adult and as is customary, it’s time you leave the nest and discover yourself.” Sari dabs away tears forming in her eyes, ”We’re so proud of you, Momo.” Momo smiles at everyone before rushing back inside the cabin to change into the clothing Mombar and Ura brought.
Returning outside, Momo sees her mother Sari is still desperately trying to hide the tears leaking from her eyes. Mathaus stands proudly by his mate, holding Momo’s bow. ”I fastened a new string to your bow last night,” Mathaus says, handing Momo her weapon. ”Your traveling outfit looks even better than I thought it would!” Ura gushes. Mombar nods approvingly.
The five catfolk sit at an outside table on wooden benches sharing breakfast. Mathaus gives Momo advice about The Old Margreve while Sari warns Momo of possible threats. Mathaus quotes: "Deer and rabbits dance around the starving man.” Momo nods, she knows their village is there by the forest’s permission. Mombar interjects, ”Speaking of the forest, Momo I contacted one of the elves and they said they’d be interested in accompanying you… at least to Zobeck. In fact, she should be arriving at any minute now!” Momo nods.
Mithaus pulls folded parchment out of his pocket. ”Here. Take it. It’s the map from when we traveled to Zobeck nine years ago. I don’t know where your adventure will take you but we’ll be waiting here for your return.” The five catfolk look up because the elf has arrived into their village. ”Ahh, you’re here!” Mombar greets warmly.
Made the alias. Now I just need to fill it in with her background, appearance and personality and then find a proper picture. The former is the easy the part, the latter... probably not so much.
I find the assortment of paizo artwork very restrictive sometimes. I've been searching images of some Margreve denizens.
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Hi All,
Nik'olo will likely end up at the tavern upon returning from his thralldom. Let's just say he won't be buying a Dwarf any drinks...
Hey everyone!
Alfen could be providing music for the tavern, hired just for the evening. Or just enjoying a drink after a day's work at the inn if you'd rather us be there for leisure.
It is likely that if I know any of you, it will be from at least ten years ago.
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Hello all. :)
Morrigan, do you want to travel to Zobeck together with Momo? Morrigan can be the traveling companion Mombar speaks of. Otherwise, a random NPC elf could follow Momo to the Zobeck (just to the gate.)
Certainly, that would make sense. Morrigan is likely headed to the city to find some history books and start to fill in her education, and also seek some aid from the college there to unlock her memories, though I'm sure she'll get sidetracked from that rather shortly. If Momo is heading out at the same time then the two would make natural traveling partners.
Hired for the evening sounds good Alfen. Nik'olo if you don't already know them it's no problem. If you all can just RP yourselves to a shared table, the adventure will pretty much take it from there.
Do you want us to do so in the Gameplay thread?
Yeah, in due time. Irwen is still finishing up the profile, and it remains to be decided whether we hold out for a divine caster.
Other than that, I can open up gameplay just about any time now. I am fine with waiting too.
I don't see HP healing being a problem, but can any of you do condition removal and such later on? There might be situations when you can't depend on NPC's for that.
Aside from that, I have had some groups who like to assess party roles and tweak for compatibility. If you guys aren't big on that sort of thing, no problem, but I wanted to herd you over here to give you that opportunity as well.
I can always take infusion at level 3, that should open some of my extracts to others. Some are to remove conditions.
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2nd level
Restoration, Lesser
Delay Poison
Delay Disease
3rd level
Remove Disease
Remove Curse
Remove Blindness/Deafness
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It is likely that if I know any of you, it will be from at least ten years ago.
Alfen would've been 11 and still a street con, but could've stolen from you or your family before you left. From what I understand Kitsune are probably rare in Zobeck so he'd probably stick out.
I don't see HP healing being a problem, but can any of you do condition removal and such later on? There might be situations when you can't depend on NPC's for that.
Aside from that, I have had some groups who like to assess party roles and tweak for compatibility. If you guys aren't big on that sort of thing, no problem, but I wanted to herd you over here to give you that opportunity as well.
I know you said HP healing shouldn't be an issue, but I do have access to Cure Spells as a Bard. I looked into the archetype Arcane Healer which replaces a couple Bardic abilities with Healing abilities. It seems to me though that the benefits to Arcane Healer are pretty limited, other than the ability to sacrifice 2 bardic performances to cast Cure Light Wounds.
Well since Nik'olo Gaczi can remove negative conditions and cure ability damage, maybe this group doesn't need a divine caster.
Momo gets some divine magic later, Alfen & Morrigan can cure a little.
Is there anything else you guys feel you are missing? Does Irwen need a flanking buddy or does she bluff her way into sneak attacks?
Maybe we should just start with these five and keep a seat open for later in case you find you need something.
I know you said HP healing shouldn't be an issue, but I do have access to Cure Spells as a Bard. I looked into the archetype Arcane Healer which replaces a couple Bardic abilities with Healing abilities. It seems to me though that the benefits to Arcane Healer are pretty limited, other than the ability to sacrifice 2 bardic performances to cast Cure Light Wounds.
Alfen for this party that would be interesting. Channel Energy would give you a better in-combat healing option than the cure light wounds you have as a known spell currently, and it would also give you a little AoE damage against undead, of which there are some in this adventure, not a ton but some.
With the ability to swap rounds of performance for heals, you could ditch CLW as a known spell and add something handy like grease?
The thing to consider is how much would you miss Versatile Performance? Again that might hurt less in this party because skills are so well rounded party-wide.
I am no expert on builds and mechanics but those are my thoughts :)
I'm not too worried about Versatile Performance. I'm a little hesitant to get rid of Lore Master. But if you're not too concerned about not being able to take 10 on Knowledge checks, then I'll go ahead and alter Alfen to be an Arcane Healer.
Oh yeah, Lore Master is quite good but the team has a lot of knowledge skills as well.
Give it a day to decide, maybe someone else will weigh in.
In the end, ask yourself which sounds most fun for you.
I think in Pathfinder Society games, the party is given a wand of cure light wounds. If healing is a big issue at level 2, maybe we should be given a wand? Then at level 6 we shouldn't need the wand? Just a thought. On the other hand, it'll be interesting so see how it goes without a lot of healing available.
I didn't know that about PFS. I usually think of wands becoming affordable at about 3rd level.
You know, I think this crew can handle the intro adventure without a wand.
Let me know if the keyed locations are legible on this for you. I can't figure out how to make it more high-res at the moment.
The Wheatshaff Tavern is item number 31, in Lower Zobeck.
Lower Zobeck is also called the Ashmill District.
Arriving in Zobeck through the South Gate, travelers would pass by the Temple District and the Market District before reaching the Ashmill. This is a working class section of town. People here are just trying to get by. First impressions of the district would reveal butchers, bakers, livery stables.
It's just a bit off the main drag but the Wheatshaff Tavern would be one of the first places to eat that new arrivals to Zobeck would find. Street smart individuals would notice something seedy about the tavern, but to most it just seems a reasonable place to get a meal.
So what do you guys think? Want to just start this game up?
I can't see the map, I had to request access. And I'm going to go ahead and change myself over to the Arcane Healer archetype. Other than that, I'm ready!
I can't see the map, I had to request access. And I'm going to go ahead and change myself over to the Arcane Healer archetype. Other than that, I'm ready!
Same here.
I would suggest we move the start to the game thread. As it is, I don't see this thread in my campaign tab, which makes it harder to keep a tab on ;)
But yes, I'm ready to start whenever.
Sweet Alfen I think that will be fun.
Those knowledge checks weren't meant to be a gameplay post, just some lore that might help set the scene a bit.
Try this link for the map.
This is mainly for the players who don't have the campaign setting book, it's the same map of Zobeck from the book. It should be helpful for everyone to have it accessible here though, for easy reference.
I'll work up a first gameplay post and folks just post when you're ready. I realize I originally said a much later date but now I'm excited so I figure lets just dive in, yeah?
That link works for me!
Sweet is it legible? Can you identify the labels?
Yes, everything is legible.
Great.
Momo, for the start of the adventure what season are we talking? It happens on your birthday so you decide.
Ok I opened up the gameplay thread so people can trickle in with intro posts when ready.
Írwen is going to max out on UMD, so wands are a viable, yet expensive, option (divine scrolls less so, due to her poor Wisdom). Its unreliability makes it undependable in combat, but outside of it one can always count on the law of large numbers to make it work.
As for the Wheatshaff Tavern, Írwen might have gone there to meet a suitor – would that work? Or perhaps a neutral ground where stipulations for a duel could be made?
Hurray, after 2 days our game thread is live!
[dice=Lore (Zobeck)]1d20+5
As for the Wheatshaff Tavern, Írwen might have gone there to meet a suitor – would that work? Or perhaps a neutral ground where stipulations for a duel could be made?
Totally. Sounds good.
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You know, I'm really proud to belong to this hobby. With all the challenges facing the world I think imagination is more important than ever.
I got so much enjoyment from this first round of posts today. I'm really super stoked for this game.
You guys rock.
I'll post again in 5 or 6 hours. I want to give more people a chance first.
Yup they say PbP is a marathon not a sprint.
Tomorrow is a busy day for me, I will be checking in from mobile but I may not be able to post until late.
She turns around towards the table where Momo and Morgraine are eating.
Well hello Tiferet! lol, small world. ;)
Momo's Perception and Survival are both +8 so you can treat Momo's second role as Survival if you like. It'll be the same result.
Did the horned creature stop to talk to Nik'olo or did the horned creature run off?
You can roll the survival check separatelywhen the opportunity presents itself. You will need a 20 because of all the smells of the city masking the scent.
False, powerful odors can easily mask other scents. The presence of such an odor completely spoils the ability to properly detect or identify creatures, and the base Survival DC to track becomes 20 rather than 10.
The horned tiefling ran off straight away, you've even had another bowl of stew since he left :D
[Dice=Stealth (Hide)]1d20 +9
Good question. You can only use a creature for cover to use the stealth skill if that creature is a larger size category than you. So, a halfling could use a human as cover to attempt a stealth check, or a human could use an ogre, for example.
Also, you can only attempt a stealth check against a creature who is not aware of you yet. Stealth is for remaining undetected, it can't make you disappear.
Special: Normally the soft cover provided by other creatures is not sufficient to allow you to attempt a Stealth check. Soft cover provided by creatures at least one size category larger than you does allow you to attempt Stealth checks against other creatures not already aware of your presence at a –10 penalty. If the creature providing the cover knows which square you occupy and is trying to avoid concealing you, this penalty increases to –20.
Of course, for flavor is fine but there's no mechanical effect :)
Please note that I'll be away for the long weekend, coming back Tuesday, with very limited internet during.
She turns around towards the table where Momo and Morgraine are eating.Well hello Tiferet! lol, small world. ;)
And smaller forums still :) Yeah, I just made the connection, and my (virtual) pen just slipped. Nice to cross paths once again!
I'll post again when I get off work in about 6 hours.
And smaller forums still :) Yeah, I just made the connection, and my (virtual) pen just slipped. Nice to cross paths once again!
Indeed! :)
I guess with Nik'olo Gaczi gone for the weekend I won't push things too fast onto the next scene but we'll just sort of cruise along for now.
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Wow, such great writing all around. The posts in this game are so entertaining to me I love it.
Looks like I'm going to be mobile only until tues morning. I'll be slow till then, which is the same time Nik'olo Gaczi gets back. But I am here, I can do what I can from my phone.
Hey guys I thought I'd be able to post more from mobile but I'm having a bit of an adventure in the IRL big city. I'll be back full-speed tues night.
I'm a firm believer player initiative should be encouraged, not stifled, so I won't interfere with Momo's mad dash ;) I'll be waiting for the GM to tell us its results before posting.