DM Barcas - Iron Gods: Unity's Promise (Inactive)

Game Master Isaac Duplechain

The party members:

• Simeon ex-Themostila
  
• Artemios ex-Lucarus
  
• Archelaos ex-Nikephoros
  
• Valarius ex-Epaphras
  
• Soractus ex-Alkaeus
  
• Dryth ex-Themostila
  

I know we are having issues with alias creation. Let's have everyone report in so we can hash out some more details.

Technology in Hermea

Technology exists in Hermea to an extent seen nowhere else in Golarion, including the innovative Alkenstar. No one can explain its source, only that Mengkare gifted it to humanity upon the beginnings of the Great Experiment. The technological wonders of Hermea cannot be sold or brought outside the borders of the island; the penalty for spreading the gifted technology to non-Hermeans is immediate execution. This policy has kept the technology from spreading. Most scholars outside the country have no idea that the hermetic kingdom hoards such extraordinary devices.

Use of technology is widespread. Most citizens take it all for granted. Inside Promise, transit trains connect the different parts of the city on raised rails that jump from spire to spire. Citizens can communicate with one another by whisperlines, small handheld devices that can carry messages to one another. Any number of convenience devices exist, brought on by the urge to innovate and to make human life easier. Cybernetics replace missing or injured limbs and organs, with doctors and surgeons capable of treating disease and injury far more effectively than even most magic. Even the doors of the island are opened by key cards, distributed based on need (for one's personal quarters, for instance) or by role. Recording devices that capture images and sounds can be played back on sightwindow devices. Several of these devices have been placed in the public squares to pass along messages and transmit instructions to the population.

Some have rumored that Mengkare holds still more gifts for humanity, and that he is waiting until they are ready to use them properly and appropriately. The devices are all powered by a pollution-free electricity generation plant in the center of Promise. Items are generally powered by batteries called silverdisks.

Dot. Here's hoping aliases get fixed soon.

Also,'grats to those who made it! Looking forward to a fun campaign.

Checking in. I'm thrilled to be here among so many great applicants. Congrats everyone!

Barcas: Most of us have played with the idea of love or family. Do the Citizens of Hermea even understand these concepts (perhaps only academically)? I suppose some might have studied animals or seen the outside world, but for most it would seem like they are alien ideas and terms. Is there a term or attachment for someone who was raised with you? Schoolmate? Broodmate?

I'll work on stating up Dryth today.

Fantastic - so glad to be one of the chosen few to enter the city of Promise!

Need to stat up; what traits are you allowing, and how many?

Also, how will starting gear work?

I am happy to be here!

Given the above data,I do wonder if my "Numerian Archaeologist" campaign feat is appropriate, and if not, whether it can be re-skinned to provide the same benefits but be more thematically correct for the setting.

Really excited for this game. Hoping the alias problem is solved shortly so we can get rolling.

Here I am! Barcas, since I'm working on my sheet, how do we regulate ourselves with equipment? Will you give us every technological device that a normal citizen possesses? I do not think that in Hermea there are "social classes", right? Everyone owns everything there is, there probably isn't even currency except for import/export with the continent.

Best of luck everyone! You guys who were selected have some pretty blood amazing characters. Barcas' ambition is only surpassed by his ability to deliver it. It will definitely be worth the time and effort you put in. I will be following this campaign with great excitement!.

Barcas: Most of us have played with the idea of love or family. Do the Citizens of Hermea even understand these concepts (perhaps only academically)? I suppose some might have studied animals or seen the outside world, but for most it would seem like they are alien ideas and terms. Is there a term or attachment for someone who was raised with you? Schoolmate? Broodmate?

I suppose most Hermeans consider love to be a superstition, though they do understand it - similarly to their opinion of the divine. The philosophy of Hermea is, "All within Unity, nothing outside Unity, nothing against Unity." (This is a saying that the Citizens recite daily, led by a fanfare from the sightwindow displays in the public squares.)

Need to stat up; what traits are you allowing, and how many?

Also, how will starting gear work?

Two traits are allowed, with the normal restriction of only one per category. You can pick a normal amount of starting gear (equivalent of 150 gp), which are the items that your character has access to by nature of his duty. No one has any true possession, per se, as everything (one's time and labor included) is effectively owned by the state. Keep in mind that weapons are generally kept in armories when not in use - with a few exceptions. (Occasionally, someone will posit in the presence of trusted friends that this rule is not for the protection of the people, but so that the Alkaeus have no opposition for when they need to enforce Hermean law.)

Given the above data,I do wonder if my "Numerian Archaeologist" campaign feat is appropriate, and if not, whether it can be re-skinned to provide the same benefits but be more thematically correct for the setting.

It's a fine choice, especially if he has to go ranging outside the city into the other parts of the island. Technology is occasionally found abandoned on the island, so patrols (usually led by members of tribe Lucarus) ensure that no one from outside is scavenging it or trying to establish an unauthorized foothold on Hermean land.

Barcas, since I'm working on my sheet, how do we regulate ourselves with equipment? Will you give us every technological device that a normal citizen possesses? I do not think that in Hermea there are "social classes", right? Everyone owns everything there is, there probably isn't even currency except for import/export with the continent.

See above. Equipment will largely be handled on an ad hoc basis to ensure that we stick to some equivalent of WBL. Citizens all have a whisperline, the equivalent of a cell phone or radio. Cybernetics are uncommon and usually only implanted when required, though a small number (who have appropriate duties) have more advanced implants. They don't have currency other than silverdisk batteries, which are used for minor transactions as a semi-barter system. There are no classes, but those of higher rank do have more space, more autonomy, and more amenities. Most Citizens have a few amenities of convenience, such as cleaning and cooking tools, that are technological. Citizens also share robotic servants called automatons (or Matons for short), which assist people in whatever they need; these servants do not remain with a particular Citizen for much longer than it takes to complete a given task. (Citizens of higher rank have permanently-assigned Matons, as they have more responsibility.)

Hey, this works now.

I'll fill out the crunch and make a second pass at avatars because I'm not sure about this one after dinner.

A first pass at Dryth. I'll take another look at equipment later. I figure most people in Promise don't have 'Adventuring Equipment' much on hand.

If everyone can put their background and character sheet in their profile, that would be extremely helpful.

Soractus: Let's go with the drow father angle. One, it gives me a sinister NPC to play with. Two, we avoid rape as a topic. Three, there's a specific reason that there wouldn't be tunnels to the Underdark on the island.

Dryth : I presume that he would eventually like to get Craft Robot as a feat and/or take the technomancer prestige class?

I'd like to work in some links between the PCs. How about this as one: Simeon was an assistant to the surgery that healed Archelaos. He didn't know the circumstances of the surgery, but he was very excited to work with Domestus sun-Themostila - widely considered the best surgeon on Hermea and the consul of the tribe. Anyone able to think of another?

Definitely Craft Robot. Very likely the Technomancer prestige class.

Drow pops sounds good, and I strongly agree with your reasoning thereof. :)

Re: starting gear: I know currency isn't reslly a thing in Hermea, but given that we're ballparking a value of ~150 GP of starting stuff, are there any price changes to firearms or tech items that might affect their availability as starting stuff?

You'll be issued appropriate weapons (probably advanced firearms in addition to normal weapons) as part of the adventure. As far as tech items go, you can assume that you have some technological devices appropriate to your profession - such as Simeon having a medical kit, for instance - that is essentially a reskinning of a normal item. (A 2 gp sunrod would be a flashlight, for instance.) Some expensive mundane items like a spyglass would be quite inexpensive (10% of normal cost).

Just checking in - editing the profile from my phone is a pain, so it won't be done until later, but I'm still here!

I like the idea of creating links - Simeon would have followed up with Archelaos post surgery (he's conscientious like that) and maybe got to know him. I'm going through everyone's back story now and will have other ideas, no doubt.

Here's a preliminary statblock. Still need to grab a second trait, and figure out gear, but it's a decent approximation of where I'll end up.

Soractus

As far as bonds go, anybody feel like being a snitch in Soractus's current web of informants?

Having so much trouble finding a good avatar. I'd like him to be young, smiling and Osirian-looking (or at least vaguely middle-Eastern)... I'll keep looking.

Also I am now very depressed because I realized I won't be able to qualify for Dazzling Display until level 5. That's terrible, all those days practising intimidating moves with such an old-fashioned weapon... wasted.

Wouldn't he be able to take it at level 3, assuming he takes Weapon Focus at level 1?

Wouldn't he be able to take it at level 3, assuming he takes Weapon Focus at level 1?

Can't take Weapon Focus without BAB 1.

Considering final feat and gear and I came to the question of what melee weapons are common in Hermea? Are we using classic medieval blades beside our laser guns, or have bladed weapons been advanced as well? Is the focus perhaps the falcata, strange esoteric blade of Taldor? Do they wield more modern blades, perhaps fencing blades like rapiers or cavalry sabres? Given that the katana is widely viewed as a superior blade in many ways, would such a weapon exist on Hermea?

Just trying to figure out the specifics. Your insight would be appreciated.

Rapiers are likely common. They originally came into vogue as armor phased out, I believe. Medieval armor would be far less popular here as the firearms made cover more important than armor. However, they can forge anything, and Hermeans are encouraged to train with weapons of their choice.

So looking through the backstories, Simeon and Dryth probably know each other coming from the same tribe. They have opposite interested, though both are trained in technology.

Valarius, Magnus tal-Diocles is likely a contemportaty of Dryth's own mentor, Tyrone tal-Diocles. Magnus could have also been involved in the experiments to create Dryth.

Soractus, given your talents for infiltrating various parts of Hermean society, perhaps you were even one who spotted or verified Dryth's talents for admission into Citizenship while he was at the farm. You could have posed as another farmer or as a Rhodeans evaluating the non-citizens. Of course, Dryth won't know this. Heck, if you want to really push your background, you could have been part of or involved in all of our lives at some important point.

Hey Barcas! Didn't know you had another game starting, and didn't really have time to dive in to character creation as deeply as your games require - but I read your recruitment thread to the end in order to put in a plug for Simeon, who I play with in a Way of the Wicked game. Great RP'er, with a very different concept in this game than the other!

Have fun, y'all!

(In case anyone's wondering who just popped in to sound off, I'm the co-captain of the Empty Lighthouse, a free ship in Barcas' Skull & Shackles game.)

Glad to know I am getting the good stuff!

Here is Artemios's alias, complete with character sheet. The avatar is only a placeholder until I find something more appropriate.

DM Barcas, I gave Artemios a double pistol, but you implied that more advanced firearms were common. Should I consider replacing that with a revolver?

Having so much trouble finding a good avatar. I'd like him to be young, smiling and Osirian-looking (or at least vaguely middle-Eastern)... I'll keep looking.

Yeah, most of the male portraits are those of the villains and deformed weirdos that adventuring parties are likely to meet. Paizo (very logically) hasn't invested in many square-jawed hero portraits.

Females, on the other hand, have some great choices available to them. Good or evil, most of the females look great.

OK, pretty much done: crunch is now in profile.

A few remaining questions though:

I want to take a firearm proficiency as one of my feats (either Martial/exotic weapon proficiency) - Simeon has had training as a combat medic and is a proud and competitive sharpshooter. What firearm would he most likely have used - likely some sort of pistol.

I get 5 bonus languages - what languages do Hermeans have access to?

Still not clear on gear, will give it some more thought. How much are silverdisks?

Oh, and thanks for the kind words Doran/Felrin! Now I have a lot to live up to...

I'm trying to go for a build that is both good and useful for the party and that makes sense story-wise. I have my WIP crunch in the profile.

Since my dreams of Dazzling Display are gone, how much sense does it make for Archelaos to have stuff like Arcane Strike or Combat Casting? As opposed to other party members, he really has no reason to have combat training.

As for languages, I took common, Draconic (duh), Osirian (he would've learned it for theatre reasons), Elven. I still have two - probably Chelaxian, since it has a long tradition of theatre and opera.

Uh, also. The Saving Finale spell is a favorite of mine, but how does it work in PbP? Posting its use 12 hours after the save to be re-rolled is hardly "immediate". Should I set conditions ("if X fails a save vs a mind-affecting spell, cast Saving Finale")?

EDIT: my phone decided it was time to retire, so for a while I'll be able to check the thread only from 6 to 11 pm (GMT+1).

Everyone in Hermea is expected to be able to defend the homeland, so any combat feat would make sense in that context.

Martial weapon proficiency would give access to most firearms. Early firearms are used for training, and advanced/tech firearms are used for actual combat.

Languages would be fairly standard, and learning multiple languages would be encouraged.

I give the players full access to save DCs, enemy AC and hit points, etc. I generally favor having the players roll their own saves, their attacks, and the saves of their enemies. This allows the players control over the narrative and gives them the opportunity to write up the enemy reaction to the attack/spell. As far as immediate actions, I prefer conditional setups, but the occasional retcon is fine.

Would learning planar languages be too religious/superstitious?

I'm thinking about purchasing the following:
Club = Asp or Baton (Stun Baton?)
Dagger = Tactical knife
Abacus = Calculator
MW artisan tools = High grade computer/robotic diagnostic kit
Bottled Lightning = 1 use taser/power surge device
Alchemist Fire = low grade Thermite
Sunrod = Flashlight
Compass = GPS? (or just a modern compass)

@Archelaos, there is no Chelaxian language, Common (which is Taldane in Avistan) is spoken there. Recall that Cheliax was, until rather recently, a part of the Taldan empire (having been conquered in 3007). Now, given its recent cultural turn, learning Infernal would make sense for someone interested in Cheliax.

@Dryth, its definitely a possibility with Magnus being involved in both of our development, which would in turn provide a chance for us to have met. Given that possibility, any further ideas to intertwine ourselves?

I think Valarius is ready to rock, @DM_Barcas, care to offer any feedback?

Planar languages are fine from a story standpoint.

Valarius, let's have him not have a bonded blade yet. I have plans regarding the black blade.

Artemios, don't think I haven't considered his secret. But I will keep my thoughts close to the chest.

Oh - and can you all include a description of your character's appearance, along with his age?

He doesn't get the black blade until 3rd level, so it is yours to play with as you will (that is what I was hoping for in fact). That is just a plain old longsword he is statted up with (the rapier in gun culture historic reference makes sense, except that Hermeans don't fight each other but rather the big dumb brutes in metal armor back on Avistan, so I figured a classic longsword, though admittedly perhaps styled like an early renaissance cut & thrust sword, or perhaps a scottish backsword).

I will get an appearance up shortly.

OK, I'm thinking of taking Martial Weapon Proficiency (pistol) as my last feat.

Given that I start with Craft (alchemy) and Brew Potion, can I start with alchemical items and potions at half cost?

I'm working on description.

I have updated the Campaign tab to reflect some of the new information, as well as the list of NPCs generated so far.

Simeon ex-Themostila
Silverdisks are inexpensive and ubiquitous on Hermea. (Essentially, we probably won't be dealing with issues powering technological items very often.) Citizens receive as many as they need. We have Simeon linked with Archelaos as a former patient; presumably he was part of the transplant team but did not participate in the euthanization. "Half-price" alchemical goods are fine.

Artemios ex-Lucarus
Artemios would take part in patrols around the island, which is where he would have a chance to come into contact with the Androffan technology. He could also have trained with Ikatia ex-Lucarus, who is Archelaos's current mate, or with Helios ex-Lucarus, who is Valarius's friend.

Valarius ex-Epaphras
I'd like to have Magnus merge with Constantine ex-Epaphras (from Artemios's profile), as they fulfill almost the exact same role. I'll leave it up to you guys if you know one another well through a shared father figure.

Still missing a feat and the equipment.

Combing deviantart for a portrait and also working on one myself with Heromachine. Hope to be done by tomorrow.

Do we have a set date to start playing, or are you all waiting on the slow ones (such as myself)?

A day or two, probably, once I feel that everyone is ready.

I am totally okay with Magnus becoming Constantine. That being the case, Artemios and I have likely traveled together for the past couple years and have a substantial relationship. Given our different roles and capacities, I would expect a complimentary friendship to have formed, rather than any kind of rivalry. Sound good to you, Artemios?

As we start the campaign, I'd like to take a moment to explain a few things about my style as DM.

First, this is a collaboration. If you want to add something that will add to the depth of the game, you don't need to ask my permission. I like to give you a lot of trust, which is the same reason I put enemy stats out in the open. That said, I prefer to be able to do the NPC dialogue (minus the occasional verbal cues for the PCs to continue, for instance). The roleplaying sample was a little different, as I expected you to run both sides of the conversations; at this point, I'll be the other side of it.

Second, I picked you all because I believed that you would write up the best game. Let's maintain as high a quality as we can. Play-by-post is the purest (in my opinion) opportunity for roleplaying. I'd like to really get into your characters. In both of my other games, my PCs have such defined personalities that I can (and do, at times if a player goes missing or takes a break) keep them in character myself. I'd like to be able to do that with this game as well, but that requires a lot of good writing on your part.

Third, I have a combat template that I'd like you to use, but I won't post it until we actually get into combat with something. (This probably won't be for a fair amount of time as we work through the initial introductions.) As I said, I give you the full information so that you can write a narrative of hitting, missing, passed or failed saves, and kills. I roll Initiative for everyone, but I tend to have the players roll for almost everything else.

By the way, you can add me on Facebook if you'd like. (Actually, you might not be able to. I have high privacy settings. Send me your profile link via PM if you want me to add you.) It's an easy way to ask questions of me and for me to ask questions or offer feedback of you.

I'm very excited about this game. I think we'll get into some pretty deep philosophical weeds, and I'm really looking forward to it. I hope that you are, too! The gameplay thread is up, so let's get to it!

Excited about getting started!

I'll warn you that I'm pretty new to PBP, so lots of feedback is *definitely* appreciated.

Also, as a heads up, my 9-5 is of a variety that usually keeps me from posting; I can generally check in a few times, and respond to things very briefly, but most of my composed posting'll happen first thing in the morning, or later in the evenings. (Or on occasionally days when I'm not in the field, you might see something mid-day. But don't grow to expect those. :P)

I am totally okay with Magnus becoming Constantine. That being the case, Artemios and I have likely traveled together for the past couple years and have a substantial relationship. Given our different roles and capacities, I would expect a complimentary friendship to have formed, rather than any kind of rivalry. Sound good to you, Artemios?

Yep. Sounds good. Artemios jokes that you're half-mad for mixing it up toe to toe when you could just as easily shoot things from a safe distance.

So I wrote up this long post about one of Artemios's mentors (Constantine) and how Valarius could have come on that mission, and then I noticed that you and DM Barcas had already agreed to that. Great minds think alike. Some just do it more slowly...

Man, I hate that avatar. If anyone spots one they think would be good, let me know!

Scott / Tarondor / Artemios

Ok, a bit about my posting habits.

I only post between 6 and 11 PM (GMT +1). If my phone comes back to life, I usually check the threads during the day, and start thinking of what my character would do, then compose the post once I get home. I usually manage to post during the weekends.

English is my second language, so I will get a syntactical construct wrong every once in a while. I appreciate significant corrections if you have them, in private.

From the Male, Human categories:
#64 (blond hair, square jaw)
#73: possibly a good pick for Archelaos, just with hair
#131 (square jaw, my avatar for Pytros)
#175 (blond hair, square jaw)
#285 (goatee)
#295 (red hair)
#399 (dark, messy hair)
#427 (Eagle epaulets)
#485 (head scarf)

I will be posting mainly during the night hours (Texas time).

I'll jut go with this Sajan one. At least it's dark-skinned, somewhat smiling and has a shaved head.

Posting habits: I have two jobs and two small children. I will virtually never have time to post from home, which means that I will rarely post on the weekend.

I will check the thread every weekday and try to post at least once per day, typically between 9-5 Eastern

I'll check out those avatars, DM Barcas. Thanks.