DM Alexander Kilcoyne's Kingmaker PBP- Chapter 3

Game Master Alexander Kilcoyne

I guess we must say goodbye to poor Edric! It wasn't exactly a glorious death, killed by a Kobold...sad to say. It is for a great cause though, to give ones life in such a way :)

Don't worry - I'll make a glorious tale about his demise that will do his fighting prowess and courage justice - and gloss over the particular details. And let's see if his family can't get a Raise Dead arranged, if we get the body to them.

Hey all,

An update on my medical condition - I've already told some of you on MSN.

I have cancer, it seems - aggressive lymphoma. This will of course affect my play somewhat, but I'm not going anywhere - I suspect I'll need this game to escape from reality on regular occasions.

My spirits are high, outlook for treatment is good and my friends and family have all rallied around me.

Any thoughts and/or prayers are welcome. Now let's game on!

Hey all,

An update on my medical condition - I've already told some of you on MSN.

I have cancer, it seems - aggressive lymphoma. This will of course affect my play somewhat, but I'm not going anywhere - I suspect I'll need this game to escape from reality on regular occasions.

My spirits are high, outlook for treatment is good and my friends and family have all rallied around me.

Any thoughts and/or prayers are welcome. Now let's game on!

DM AK,

I know in previous posts you have been wary of the Leadership feat, since in PbP it can have the tendency of slowing down the action and complicating fights.

It's a pleasant surprise to have Mikmek follow Yelena. Will he stay a background character, or can he be developed to some degree?

It has a tendency of slowing down the action in RL games too I find. I've been thinking about leadership generally though and here are my thoughts (Malthir and Casimir were also interested in the feat)-

1. Leadership is effectively the most powerful combat feat there is when taken for the purpose of gaining a cohort for battle. I'd insist any cohort be the 'stay at home' kind- which to be fair is ideal for kingmaker.

2. Any cohort would have to be an existing character in the game, so Mikmek would be a prime choice for example. If you want a specific cohort for a certain kind of character and i'm given some advance notice I could make it happen.

3. Cohorts would be ideal for leadership roles in the kingdom, with high ability scores etc.

As for Mikmek, currently hes intended as a background character. He'll try to stay out of combat, at the most he might heal a downed character with a potion. He could be developed via leadership.

Does Mikmek have the stats of a standard kobold, or is he special?

Currently, standard kobold. When he gets a class level, he'll get a 15 point buy depending on his class etc.

3rd level, Witch

+1 Fortitude
+1 Reflex

Familiar spells - hold person, web
Bonus spell - jump

+1 to:
Craft (alchemy)
Knowledge (arcana)
Knowledge (history)
Knowledge (nature)
Spellcraft
Stealth

1d6 ⇒ 5

You'll need a weeks downtime at Olegs to level but assuming you go straight there you can probably start making level up changes.

When we level Malthir will take:

Paladin 1 lvl. Divine Defender alternate class feature
6+2+1 (FC)=+9 hit points
+1 reflex saves
+1 bab
aura of courage
divine health
extra lay on hands feat
Shared Defense (SU): use 1 LOH to give all adjacent allies +1 sacred bonus on AC, CMD, Saves for 3 rounds per use, standard action.
+1 Craft (armorsmithing)
+1 Diplomacy
+1 Ride
+1 Spellcraft

Casimir is going to pick up the Arcane Duelist and Weapon Master archetypes for bard and fighter respectively. This means the following adjustments retroactively

level 2:

Bonus Feat: Arcane strike - replaces bardic knowledge
Bardic performance: Rallying cry - replaces countersong

Level 3:

Class leveled in: Fighter (Weapon Master - Aldori Dueling Blade)

HP gained: 7 (6 + 1 con). New total Hp 25.

New saves: Fort: +4 Ref: +5 Will: +1

BAB/CMB/CMD: +1 BAB/ +1 CMB/+1 CMD - New total: BAB +2/ CMB +3 / 16 CMD

New feats: Furious Focus, Power Attack

New special abilities:
Weapon Guard - replaces Bravery

Magic:
Bardic caster level is 3, thanks to Magical Knack

Skills:
4 skill points (2 + 1 int + 1 human).
+1 rank in:
Intimidate
Perception
Acrobatics
Spellcraft

Malthir is updated.

Next steps, do we want to try and hunt down the Shambler or wait for a while? If so then I propose the following as part of a plan.
Track him, try to ambush it for a change, maybe by bringing a goat or something with us to draw it out and steak it down once we are close. Once we see it maybe grease the ground as well as try to web it at the same time. Enlarge ourselves, attack it from a distance to try and soften it up and then engage it in frontal combat, hopefully weakened and the guardians on maximum preparedness...any other spells or useful abilities you guys think we could try to use on it? Ray of enfeeblement from Yelena? If we can weaken it, that is less attack bonus and less damage!

Malthir is updated.

Next steps, do we want to try and hunt down the Shambler or wait for a while? If so then I propose the following as part of a plan.
Track him, try to ambush it for a change, maybe by bringing a goat or something with us to draw it out and steak it down once we are close. Once we see it maybe grease the ground as well as try to web it at the same time. Enlarge ourselves, attack it from a distance to try and soften it up and then engage it in frontal combat, hopefully weakened and the guardians on maximum preparedness...any other spells or useful abilities you guys think we could try to use on it? Ray of enfeeblement from Yelena? If we can weaken it, that is less attack bonus and less damage!

I think it would be good to stalk it and the idea of bait sounds like a good idea. If I can get hold of a potion or two of Enlarge, I can tie up the Shambler fairly effectively.

Level update of Kalev coming shortly.

I'd totally forgotten about Mikmek in the chase! :O

He was clinging to you the whole time Yelena :)

I'd totally forgotten about Mikmek in the chase! :O

He was clinging to you the whole time Yelena :)

I had assumed that Yelena just kept him in her robes with the cat....

Malthir Al Dagon wrote:

Malthir is updated.

Next steps, do we want to try and hunt down the Shambler or wait for a while? If so then I propose the following as part of a plan.
Track him, try to ambush it for a change, maybe by bringing a goat or something with us to draw it out and steak it down once we are close. Once we see it maybe grease the ground as well as try to web it at the same time. Enlarge ourselves, attack it from a distance to try and soften it up and then engage it in frontal combat, hopefully weakened and the guardians on maximum preparedness...any other spells or useful abilities you guys think we could try to use on it? Ray of enfeeblement from Yelena? If we can weaken it, that is less attack bonus and less damage!

I think it would be good to stalk it and the idea of bait sounds like a good idea. If I can get hold of a potion or two of Enlarge, I can tie up the Shambler fairly effectively.

Level update of Kalev coming shortly.

Kalev, you should think about taking 1 craft armor to assist Malthir, we can get you some mithral breastplate before you know it! But of course it is up to you. I think we can use all of the crafting and craft feats as we can...

I'm thinking of picking up Craft Wondrous Item at 5th level if Yelena doesn't want to.

I've almost leveled, but I'm not sure which spell to go for... It's probably going to be Bless or Shield of Faith, which would you guys prefer?

I'd definitely recommend crafting feats for this AP, more than any other AP or any of my homebrew games where crafting is heavily encouraged lol.

I'm thinking of picking up Craft Wondrous Item at 5th level if Yelena doesn't want to.

I've almost leveled, but I'm not sure which spell to go for... It's probably going to be Bless or Shield of Faith, which would you guys prefer?

We don't have a shield of faith person so that would be VERY USEFUL! Maybe we should just buy a few more potions of bless...with Casimir going offense we could probably use more defense.

You going to do awesome display? It is very useful for the all pwerful color spray!

Cas is updated. Training montage coming.

3rd level, Witch

+1 Fortitude
+1 Reflex

Familiar spells - hold person, web
Bonus spell - jump

+1 to:
Craft (alchemy)
Knowledge (arcana)
Knowledge (history)
Knowledge (nature)
Spellcraft
Stealth

1d6

What feat yelena? And I'd be interested in knowing what feat and revelation fenna takes too!

Not gonna take Craft at this level...doesn't make sense at the moment, but we can build into the story that I start helping Malthis, thus gaining a rank at next level.

Here are the level up details,

+6 HP
+1 BAB
+1 Fort, +1 Reflex
+1 1st level spell/day, +1 1st level spell known (Shield of Faith)
+1 Revelation (Awesome Display)
+1 Feat (Extra Revelation: Mantle of Moonlight)
+7 Skillpoints:
Diplomacy
Handle Animal
Knowledge(Arcana)
Perception
Sense Motive
Spellcraft
Survival

I'll just update my profile now.

I was waiting to see what others were selecting for their feat before picking mine. What if Yelena took Craft Wondrous Item?

I was waiting to see what others were selecting for their feat before picking mine. What if Yelena took Craft Wondrous Item?

That could leave Fenna to another craft feat at 5th and allow us to make some wonderous items in the break between this AP and the next one...

Malthir has a list compiled already :)

Without craft wondrous item, your at the mercy of randomly generated magical items and your cities base value.

I will be giving you 18-24 months of kingdom building time depending on how you do in the first 6. You won't find time a limiting facgtor for crafting between Chapter 1 and 2. Even in Chapter 2, the pace is still very much player-set; perhaps even more so. If you tell me you want a month's downtime, so be it.

I am debating on taking master craftsmen as well for magic armor at 5th level. Without it I will probably never have magic full plate/shield although magic shields are probably easier to find. We will see.

Right, Craft Wondrous Item it is.

What I am really interested in though, is turning the Sootscale tribe into a crack team of silver miners. What if we petitioned the Swordlords for a mine foreman or two to train them and get it pumping as a source of local revenue? But that's for later.

Looks like everyone is levelled. Once you've RPed out your next decision in what your doing next I can update.

Please note- I've just started my final year at university today. expect my posting rate to slow down a little, but not too much I hope :). Even in worst case scenario, the game will go on.

So what are you going to be when you grow up?

So what are you going to be when you grow up?

If I knew the answer to that question, I wouldn't be stalling at uni ;)

Tanner Nielsen wrote:

So what are you going to be when you grow up?

If I knew the answer to that question, I wouldn't be stalling at uni ;)

Nothing wrong in...enjoying...your time at university. I spent 8 years on a 5 year degree, and yet, here I am earning big bucks...and I even did Arts...

Its a little quiet out there, everyone just busy? Posted on the discussion thread about next steps, what do you guys think?

Its a little quiet out there, everyone just busy? Posted on the discussion thread about next steps, what do you guys think?

I like the idea of trying to bait the shambler into an ambush, personally. It will still be a tough fight, but there's a chance we can take it.

Alternatively, explore a few more hexes before we go for it.

I must point out your planning to hunt a creature that looks like forest, in a forest? ;)

I must point out your planning to hunt a creature that looks like forest, in a forest? ;)

Yeah, something like that :P Not the best plan perhaps...but it'll be a challenge alright :)

Just a quick FYI and perhaps a question mingled in.

Obviously I have been adding encounters to the chapter, as well as attempting to phase people's excellent backstories into the game. This means I have begun to phase out some of my lesser favourite encounters from Kingmaker to keep the XP and treasure values in check.

Just so you know it now if I haven't mentioned it on MSN etc, you won't be levelling to level 4 in this chapter until you have explored all hexes and defeated the Stag Lord. I won't freeze your current XP, so although its all going into the pot I simply won't allow you to level until those two conditions are met. Ordinarily the odds of you being level 4 when facing the stag lord in kingmaker are very low, but with the extra content i've added its a possibility.

The other piece of news you may find more comforting is that when you reach chapter 2 of the game I will be giving you all another trait, personalised to your character.

This is as much a reward for excellent gaming and RP throughout as it is a minor effort to help me balance what is effectively 6 man encounters to a party of 5. Your higher point buy helps a littlee, but from chapters 2 and 3 you'll start to lose out in action economy, so this trait is to give you guys a little boon :).

Malthir, I have your trait in mind already and you roughly know whats coming. As for the rest of you, do you have any suggestions with regards to a trait for your character? Anything related to backstory, favourite tactics etc. is likely to get traiterised somehow-

For example, with Fenna's background as a prophetess i'd like some way to give Fenna a trait to represent it, such as divination spells cast at CL+1 for example.

I was actually thinking about transitioning Yelena. A major portion of her background and motivation for joining the party revolved around our dearly-departed Edric, so I feel like she is just sort of hanging out with the group. 'Looking out for Orlovsky business' is a good reason for her to stay in the Greenbelt, but I am looking for new avenues to explore.

I would like to expand the role of her familiar and her patron. Since she is a tiefling, an outer planar benefactor would be great for flavor. At first I thought an infernal power, but that seems too obvious. Maybe an Axian, I don't know, but a trait focusing on her relationship with her patron as a witch would be great.

I was actually planning to take the star chart mystery at level 7 to give Fenna's prophecies more of a mechanical kick. Maybe something that leads into or augments that would work for a trait.

I was actually planning to take the star chart mystery at level 7 to give Fenna's prophecies more of a mechanical kick. Maybe something that leads into or augments that would work for a trait.

Thats kind of what i'm getting at.

I was actually thinking about transitioning Yelena. A major portion of her background and motivation for joining the party revolved around our dearly-departed Edric, so I feel like she is just sort of hanging out with the group. 'Looking out for Orlovsky business' is a good reason for her to stay in the Greenbelt, but I am looking for new avenues to explore.

I would like to expand the role of her familiar and her patron. Since she is a tiefling, an outer planar benefactor would be great for flavor. At first I thought an infernal power, but that seems too obvious. Maybe an Axian, I don't know, but a trait focusing on her relationship with her patron as a witch would be great.

Thats a shame, I like Yelena but I can see how you seem to be a little lost for motivation with her. Hope you don't feel i've been closing doors to her or any of her abilities.

We never really discussed your patron. What theme did you take for your patron firstly. Secondly, did you want to have creative control over your patron or did you want me to figure something out and have veiled hints throughout the AP. My girlfriend plays a Witch with the Trickery patron and i've been slowly revealing hints via her research and throughout the AP, did you want something like that?

Once we have the above resolved, we can likely tie your patron in via a trait too :)

When we get back to Oleg's I suggest we use the party treasury for a few things.
Couple of potions of bless
Couple of healing kits
Maybe have Yelena make a couple of Tanglefoot bags
The scrolls of tongues (we can still use them, just a chance of spell failure.)

Anything ese we can think of? Yelena now have craft wonderous item so we could make some things like elixir of hiding for example?

Yelena has the Agility Patron. Earlier she introduced Cornflower by his real name; Rhiaowiok, Servitor of Bolothamogg. Of course, that may just be what Yelena says to frighten the yokels. Let me give some more thought to it. I will read over the outer planar material for Pathfinder and get back with you.

Sure thing. I genuinelly believe Yelena was moments from me telling you to re-roll your character had you advanced into the room alone lol.

I'm in two of your games, Alex. I know better than that ;)

Will think on something appropriate for Kalev. Possibly something related to terrain.

I was thinking along similar lines for Kalev. Something to represent him feeling at home in the kingdom you found, for the first time in his life. I was thinking a circumstantial bonus on something while in territory belonging to your kingdom (plenty of events etc. happen in home territory too).

Perhaps the ability to use Guidance on myself x/day while in Homeland?

Hey guys,

I'm going to open up character submission for a game I'm going to run. It will be the Legacy of Fire adventure path.

Just an fyi :)

Hey guys,

I'm going to open up character submission for a game I'm going to run. It will be the Legacy of Fire adventure path.

Just an fyi :)

I'm definitely interested. I've been wanting to try LoF for some time now. I'll re-read the Players Guide and start thinking character concepts.

Any restrictions/special rules?