Oh, but it's such fun. And I'm not kidding about making sure Horatio and Olivius become total bros at some point.
My RL games I've run the progression a few times now. Been through RotRL (as DM), Kingmaker (DM), CotCT (player) and Carrion Crown (player). I have a 2nd level PFS character, and one soon to be. Plus 2 3rd level characters in addition to all my firsties.
Well, just a regular bear seems pretty terrible. Give it feats and other goodies and it seems like a wrecking ball. "Let me know when you're done bear. I'm ready to level up soon, but don't want to miss out on lunch."
I have no worries about DMS. It was my attention-seeking humor-driven attempt at comedy. :)
I'm GMing Kingmaker! It's on hiatus, though. We don't have a venue, because s!%& was going missing from my place. We didn't suspect any of the players, but mum it down the banhammer.
Imagine, if you will, a bear animal companion. Now make it large-sized, because the GM is generous. Now give it the same number of evolution points as a 9th-level eidolon. Now give it outflank, pack flanking, and tandem trip. Now give it skirmisher ranger tricks. Now give it a 9th-level Ulfen huntress with a scythe, who riddes the bear into battle. It's amazing. :D
Best part? We're in the year -35,000,000 AR at the moment, and we've identified the stomping grounds of a tyrannosaurus rex. My hunter has fast empathy. I'm so gunning for a new buddy >:D
And yeah, I didn't think you had any worries. I'm just a bit of a fan of Salsa's style (and I'm in all five of his games, so there's that, and oh god I sound like a fangirl).
Kingmaker was my toughest DM test to date, to be honest. The record-keeping of the kingdom-building is definitely not for everyone, so I had to find a workaround for that. Plus the way the encounters are for most hexes (since it's usually one encounter for the hex) make it easy for the PC's to expend all their resources on that one fight, making it far easier than it should be.
It's always a pain in the ass when stuff goes missing in your home. Especially when there's a third party involved in the 'who gets to come in' decision-making.
Huntress/Bear/T-Rex = Win. Like the Charlie Sheen of Winning.
Ewww...a bromance.
What's second level like?
Hah! Funny because it's so very true.
All though at this point, I'm actually running a few characters that have made it out of the starting blocks strangely, including a diabolical elven necromancer that has made it all the way to level 9 in a fantastic Way of the Wicked game.
My group is looking forward to the kingdom-building, at least. I offered to run the "kingdom in the background" thing, but this was the aspect that made them decide on the AP to begin with, so it'll likely stay. I'm compensating for the encounter blitzing by adding more random encounters and hazards - the downside is that it's slowing the game. People seem to be having fun, though. I'm just hoping the game can pick up again soon :-(
The first leg of the campaign was a dungeon crawl with a lot of 5-foot wide corridors. Now that we're in the open and hunting dinosaurs, my character is in her element. I might just live there. :p
Elise - ah, Way of the Wicked. Hopefully I'll get a chance to play that someday. How is it?
Way of the Wicked - love it. The first book is great fun, and the second is good as well though it tends to get bogged down in PbP play just the way it's structured. Highly recommend it if you can get the chance.
I had a couple of players that wanted to do the kingdom-building themselves, so we just started earlier and had the others join us later when the actual exploration began. It worked out well enough. I believe that was also the game where I had to have my first in-depth Chaotic Neutral isn't evil lecture (stemming from a sorcerer wanting to use acid to torture info from the bandits).
Dinosaur hunting does sound like a lot more fun than crawling around in some musty cavern, admittedly.
Way of the Wicked - love it. The first book is great fun, and the second is good as well though it tends to get bogged down in PbP play just the way it's structured. Highly recommend it if you can get the chance.
+1: WOTW is indeed immense fun - was lucky enough to run a cannibalistic, skin harvesting Bloatmage specialist of Gluttony Rune Magic in Mark Sweetman's Wickedness... good times lol. Get thy evil on :)
Bizarrely I've found that 1st-2nd level isn't the big hurdle; its the 2nd-3rd that's the jump as that often coincides with the game hitting the RL wall.
I'm involved in a long running Freeport PF game running a half orc thug (I don't just play half orcs - honest :) in the likely the most inept pirate crew on these here boards. 7.7k posts since 2011 and still kicking (we're approaching 6th level) - but the game continues to be a blast. So long haul campaigns are possible - fingers crossed this will be one :)
Hey, I just rememebered something, we have kind of missed the loot from the fishery as well. There was some stuff to ID (Rhasuel rolled but I don't know if he got results).
I don't think we did anything with or discussed what to do with any of it.
Also, I realize we want to help out the orphans and the girls, but bear in mind that we will also likely want to upgrade ourselves a bit. Consider how far the gold goes in the game for supporting commoners. I don't think we will need to give over more than half (or even a 1/4) of the spoils.
Good shout Zev - any and all loot will serve a purpose. Had actually just presumed that the needy kids and common folk we wish to assist would effectively just get a "share" (and not from every haul either)
Either that or leave it individuals to give to the charitable source of their choice. (seem to remember back in the day characters who belonged to organised churches could expect to give 10% of their income as a charitable tithe - but door swung both ways and their would receive discounted/gratis spells and resources...) Food for thought?
Yeah, in character I think it a better decision for charity to be an individual decision, but Zev's not there to raise a fuss. Besides, he would likely still do it out of both a sense of guilt since his moral compass Paul will likely do it, and to impress Mercy a little with his doing of the right thing.
Overall he will want to save up enough to get himself a nice weapon and better armor (read: MW Great-axe, and MW Brestplate).
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Woo hoo, more fat loots! Salsa, I have book 1, do you mind if I assign values to the stuff, or would you prefer to do it yourself? I only ask because I believe Rhasuel attempted to appraise it and rolled rather well, but I'm not sure you replied to it.
Edit: Loot added. You should have no problems getting those MW things, Zev. And have some left over to impress a certain half-orc lady. ;)
Don't mind at all. Also, Go ahead and Level. After the fight with the Deckers, you guys deserve it.
Woot! Ding!....
How do we HP? Is it roll, half, half+1, or some other roll or half whichever's better type of thing?
Alrighty, Nic has claimed a mithral dagger. Who wants the CLW potions? Does Calcedon want the ring? How do you guys want to go about dispersing...if someone wants something, we deduct it out of their share, or just let them have it and evenly split what's left in the hope that it will all even out over time?
Roll half+half HD so
D6 => 3+d3
D8 => 4+d4
D10 => 5+d5
D12 => 6+d6
Alrighty, 1 CLW potion for Paulus, Calcedon, Rhasuel, and Annabelle. 2 CLW potions for Mercy, Zev, Nic, and Elise.
Next? :)
Okay, that's a method I've actually never seen before.
I'll be adding 1 level of Barbarian, before going back to full Alchemist. Basically, it will build off his more violent half when under his mutagen, plus help him get some more armor and HP to be a little more Tanky as I envisioned him.
So, here goes the roll, .
Yay, that works for me. I'll get him updated tonight.
Dammit, I said no whammies!
Yes, Cal would claim the ring. I think selling it for fat loots would be a slight bit out of character.
He'd take it home and enshrine it probably. I'll work out a post later. Got more work to do today!
That brings up my other point. Nic wants the dagger, Cal wants the ring. How do we want to handle that, going forward? Deduct the value out of their 'share' when we sell everything, or just give it to them, in the knowledge that everything will likely equal out over time?
I don't mind just letting them have it, as long as it's not abused. That's a group decision, though.
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I tend to follow the 'take what's best for your character' ideal. It works fairly well until someone gets grabby. I haven't seen anything amongst this group that looks like 'grabby' will be a problem. Then just split the money. I believe the rest works itself out. With a good group, those in need can often get the extra cash they need for something from the party members that have.
Over time, we will easily recognize who uses what primarily to keep them focused. Ex. We have three people that use a bow, but only one that uses it for almost every attack roll. They would be the most likely to get a magic bow, etc...
Really, my idea for Nic claiming the dagger is just a matter of her liking pointy things. :p Zev, you just reminded me that I'll have to get her a ranged weapon at some point. Throwing knives might not always be useful, and she's got the Dex for it.
I'll level when I get back to HeroLab, or sooner if I can be bothered. >.>
Also, man, I am loving the magic items in the ACG. There is soooooooo much good stuff for swashbucklers...
Want or need it's Nic's unless we start getting some objections. Paulus surely isn't going to object, at this point, jumble of emotions and hormones that he is. Here, have this sling. I have a feeling it won't get much use with me. You'll get to feel like David.
I tend to follow the 'take what's best for your character' ideal. It works fairly well until someone gets grabby. I haven't seen anything amongst this group that looks like 'grabby' will be a problem. Then just split the money. I believe the rest works itself out. With a good group, those in need can often get the extra cash they need for something from the party members that have.
I tend to agree. It's a big group, but I think we're all on the same page about loot. Actually, I've never been in a PbP game where this was an issue... MMORPG's though, that's a whole different ball of wax without a good loot system.
Oh and sweet... it's level up time!
Okay, so here is LV 2 for Elise
Divine Grace (woot!)
Lay of Hands
BAB +1
Fort, Will +1
Skills
Diplomacy +1
Heal +1
Perception +2
Ride +1
+4 Con +1 Favored Class
Sadly, I did see it in the LoF I'm in.
We had one PC who wanted to collect the weapons of his enemies as trophies (which right off sounds like giving yourself an RP reason to get the weapons). We faced an enemy with a magic great-axe and spiked armor. My Pugilist Bbn had been using spiked armor from the onset of the game, and the cleric a great-axe as the weapon of his deity. Said individual wanted both of them, because his PC "Thought they would look cool on him." despite using a maul that had special meaning to him all game. Even after the cleric got so pissed he said, 'fine take the axe' the guy tried to sell it to upgrade his Maul.
From then on we had to switch to a buyout system.
Wow... that is lame; I think as GM, I'd have intervened on that character and said something to the effect of "Character background or no, that ain't gonna fly."
Alrighty...anybody else want anything out of the pile? I deleted the potions of Cure Light, so please make sure you put them in your personal inventory. 2 each for Elise, Nic, Zev, & Mercy, 1 each for Paulus, Cal, Rhasuel, and Annabelle.
Wow, Zev. That's some seriously dickish behaviour. :/ I mean, I can see Nic collecting daggers, but that's just ridiculous. It sucks that one player's behaviour impacts on the group like that. :-(
I tend to go by what's best for the group, so I'm with everyone else on this.
Cheers for the potions; I'll add them to my inventory.
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But I want all the loots for story purposes! I've got a noble house to rebuild!
Kidding!
I'm glad with whatever. If someone feels like they're getting the short end of the stick, we'll see what we can do for them. Is anyone planning on getting crafting feats? I don't think Cal is up for such a thing unless we reflavored wands to be violin bows and he could play them to activate them... I shouldn't try to think up ideas. I don't even know if we have the down time to handle any creation feats in this one.
In any case, I should roll for HP
Not bad, not bad. I'll try to get things updated on the ole sheet by tomorrow.
I was planning on taking Crafting feats (and also feel I am the best suited for it, as well, since I have access to all clerical spells, and there is not a need for me on the front lines). I believe the AP has blocks of downtime for such.
HP - 5 + 2 Con
BAB - +1
Fort, Will - +1
Skills - (base 2 + 1 Int + 1 Human + 1 favored class)
Heal +1
Sense Motive +1
Diplomacy +1
Spellcraft +1
Knowledge Religion +1
Alrighty...anybody else want anything out of the pile?
Elise won't need anything from that pile. When all is said and done, are we going to have nearly 700g? I think if that is the case, I'll be purchasing a MW Breastplate.
Minus is not only a fence. (Hint, hint)
:
Am good with the mooted way of divvying up the swag. Like plenty have said it's not likely that we'll be butting heads.
Will duly add the potions to Mercy's gear.
Have added Warrior of Holy Light archetype to her profile - this will provide us all with major boons and protection down the line. However she forfeits her spell casting (which is cool with me - more in line with her being the embodiment of being a "Shield-Maid") Doesn't kick in until 4th level anyways.
Gains Divine Grace and Lay On Hands class abilities.
+1 BAB, Fort & Will +1
Skills (4 Ranks to spend - 2 base +1 Int +1 Favored Class):
+1 Rank Diplomacy
+1 Rank Heal
+1 Rank Perception
+1 Rank Sense Motive
Minus is not only a fence. (Hint, hint)
Ah, I'm pickin' up what you're puttin' down ;)
Re: the Loot - am thinking that the MW Studded Leather would be a good shout for either Annabelle or Nic? Re: sale only nets 87 odd gold...
Oil of Keen Edge and the Wand of Magic Missiles should also be kept hold of...
A Keen Edged Scimitar or Rapier for instance will threaten on 15-20, which could be mighty useful against a Big Bad or Boss?
The adamantine arrowhead is a pretty cool novelty item for a ranged attack character, but that's just the magpie in me with regards loot - love games/groups that find a home for such kit, but also recognise that's just me and we've all a shopping list of "wants"?
Just mulling over the haul and thought I'd chip in my 2 runes worth :)
I think only Rhasuel & Calcedon could use the Wand with any degree of certainty. No complaints if either wants it.
I usually don't like expensive consumables like oil of keen edge (I think their gp value is better spent on non-consumables, but that's me), but if anyone wants it, I won't object.
Yeah I hear ya on the expensive consumables -savvy point and good wisdom as always Brother Westland :)
With regards the wand, with such a big party and potentially some close quarter scraps, the wand striking unerringly (in most cases) means Rhasuel or Strings could plug away? I'm happy for it to come out of Mercy's cut and be used by either one of them if they have other signature items they really want?
I tend to agree about the consumables, but often that's because I forget about them more often than not until after I needed them. I much prefer passive bonuses. All the same, Zev will not argue if someone else wants it. The wand, though has plenty of usefulness.
I did update Zev last night, just forgot to post changes. They are in the profile though.
Rage (6 rds/day)
Fast Movement
More Armor/Wpn Prof
BAB +1
Fort +2
Skills
Acrobatics +2
Craft (alchemy) +1
Intimidate +1
Perception +1
Survival +1
Hit Points: 12+2 Con
I have quite a few heals at my disposal, but they won't do any good if I'm laying on the floor. I'll throw in.
Sorry, both Zev and I don't really feel like putting in on that. Besides the 12 potions we just got, at next level he can infusion his cures. To top it off, he has brew potion, and will likely churn them out during down time.