DM Sothal's Kingmaker PBP

Game Master Franz Lunzer

Xanda: wasn't really a problem.
I see you jugled your Skills around a bit. No Dressmaking anymore? ;)
Still holding your introduction a bit.

Sorry again for requesting the initiative without describing the situation more clearly.

Currently, I'm waiting a bit for more PC's to chime in on the 'discussion'. Anyone?

I always bow to Dm suggestions. =)

Also, I now think I over edited the character's skills, but am unsure.

Sorc gets 2 +Int mod (Which in this case is +1 fro 3.

Favored class gives another +1 (Instead of that hit point) so that's 4...

One of the starting traits gives me a point in two skills, plus choosing one as a 'class' skill...so that 6?

Much cheers and I happily await joining. =)

Sorry guys been unable to post for a few days. RL getting in the way seems to be a theme with me of late.

As always, thinking the very best for you and yours, mate. (^_^)

I always bow to Dm suggestions. =)

Also, I now think I over edited the character's skills, but am unsure.

Sorc gets 2 +Int mod (Which in this case is +1 fro 3.

Favored class gives another +1 (Instead of that hit point) so that's 4...

One of the starting traits gives me a point in two skills, plus choosing one as a 'class' skill...so that 6?

Much cheers and I happily await joining. =)

As far as I see it, Xanda's Skills are mathematically sound.

@SeekerofShadowlight: no worries.

Thanks for your time and patience. Yes, I've been playing the game with mates for ages.

But around the table with friends you've known for years and every one is there to socialize and have fun is different to a PbP where real Life means other people may not be so fortunate to have the time to just muck around. *bows*

I sincerely look forward to playing with the group and hope to be of a benefit to all. *bows*

Cheers

Not having played or read this campaign and assuming some of you have, are those two heading off to their death going against the mites?

Mites are a Gremil sub-species correct, or am I getting them confused with something?

I also don't know why they are going after them. I seem to be missing plot points as once again I can not remember the point where the mites were brought up as targets.

I think they were first brought up by the hunter we met. He said that they were causing trouble.

Let's sort this out a bit.

Agerron and Big E left the camp, anyone else going after them?
It's already around sunset, at that day, so they probably won't get very far.

Some of you might have heard of the mites causing trouble even before that, from the rumor at the start of the game.
But yes, Sergej(?) told you about them as well.
And yes, they are typically evil, just like Kobolds.

(I think we had some Knowledge rolls regarding them... must go look...)

Knowledge of Mites, as far as Queslin and Devlin might share:

Out-of-Character-Knowledge: It's a whole tribe of mites they might face, if they get there. So, yeah, pretty sure it would be their death.

Honestly, as far as Bran is counting they chose to be stupid and go off alone like angry children. He finds them disruptive and in char will not go after them.

they way it worked out in char, I am not sure how many of the group would go with them really. They clearly do not want some of the group to come.

Out-of-Character-Knowledge: It's a whole tribe of mites they might face, if they get there. So, yeah, pretty sure it would be their death.

I'm not an expert on mites, but I doubt they can run faster than a horse.

That's probably true, but I doubt that the mites will fight you on open terrain. How well will you fare in the Mite warrens?

In-character, I just don't see how Agerron would stay with the group at this point. He held up attacking in order to allow some folks time to talk, and is still getting blamed. On top of that, for some reason Queslin's getting a free pass here. To Agerron, this absolutely was a betrayal; there's no way he would ever count on any of them again. So I really don't see a choice here; he pretty much has to leave.

How well will you fare in the Mite warrens?

Leave? Smoke them out? Who knows?

Queslin didn't get a free pass. He stated his opinion early on while speaking with Majet. She let me know what she thought as well. Then we let it drop. He saw no reason to continue with the argument.

Okay Bryan, hogarth:

Do you want to try surviving on your own in the wilderness, or would you rather make new characters, joining the group again with Xanda?
I'd be sorry to see you leave the PBP alltogether, but if you do want that, there's no way I can hinder you.

It would be a shame to lose two well crafted and fleshed out characters. I hope we can come to some compromise to keep them playing, even if it is an out of character action that trumps an in character reaction.

Okay Bryan, hogarth:

Do you want to try surviving on your own in the wilderness, or would you rather make new characters, joining the group again with Xanda?
I'd be sorry to see you leave the PBP alltogether, but if you do want that, there's no way I can hinder you.

You were willing to split into two groups, right (with the possibility of joining up later)? Why don't we try that for a while. If we die, we die I guess.

DM Sothal wrote:

Okay Bryan, hogarth:

Do you want to try surviving on your own in the wilderness, or would you rather make new characters, joining the group again with Xanda?
I'd be sorry to see you leave the PBP alltogether, but if you do want that, there's no way I can hinder you.

You were willing to split into two groups, right (with the possibility of joining up later)? Why don't we try that for a while. If we die, we die I guess.

Yeah, if we can do that, I'd like to. I've enjoyed playing Agerron, and it would be a shame to discard him.

Not knowing her temperment, which group would Xanda be most likely to accompany? If she wants to go mite hunting, Ern and Agerron could head back to Oleg's first to review the info on the mites.

Devlin has no love for mites and sees them as irredeemably evil, so he isn't opposed to going with the group to help Agerron and Ern.

I guess I can bring Xanda to team "Slasherville" ;) if her player is okay with that.
Doesn't necessarily mean that you have to go back to Oleg's first, a meetup in the wild is just as possible.
That would risk Xanda's life as well as yours though. But I let Xanda decide which team she wants to join.

Okay, Agerron and Big Ern have a head start of about a quarter of an hour.
Light is fleeing by the minute.

I'm still waiting on the survival checks of them both to avoid getting lost. This would either hinder or help the rest to find the two.

Michael: 3 dead Kobolds.
There were 7 of them to begin with, Agerron killed two, Big Ern a third.
Kardok was struck unconscious before he could flee with the remaining three.

Also, Kardok is waiting for an answer or something else... seems like nobody really explains what's going on to him, though he hears his name mentioned often enough.

I guess I can bring Xanda to team "Slasherville" ;) if her player is okay with that.

Doesn't necessarily mean that you have to go back to Oleg's first, a meetup in the wild is just as possible.

If Xanda isn't a good fit, I would prefer not to put any pressure on her to join the smaller party.

DM Sothal wrote:

I guess I can bring Xanda to team "Slasherville" ;) if her player is okay with that.

Doesn't necessarily mean that you have to go back to Oleg's first, a meetup in the wild is just as possible.

If Xanda isn't a good fit, I would prefer not to put any pressure on her to join the smaller party.

Right; that's why I asked which she'd be more likely to go with.

Just a general discussion question that I'm genuinely curious about: why the sudden insistence on diplomacy with the kobolds? I say "sudden" because no one seemed to have an issue with ambushing and slaughtering the bandits from before; one could make a case that the first group was in the process of comitting the banditry, which I understand, but the second group we intruded upon first. Matter of fact, everyone was quite gung ho about nailing them, after re-reading. And no one seems to be making the case to talk with the Stag Lord. Devlyn mentioned he had no problem with us killing the mites since they're "irredeemably evil", but are the bandits classified that way? My guess would be no, since you're trying to redeem some. (And note - those two were only taken "under the wing" AFTER they surrendered and the rest of the bandit group was dead.)

The general task for the kobolds says they are "ravaging", so I don't see how they can be interpreted from that as being any less of a threat than the human bandits.

Like I said, just curious.

With out re-reading the initial bandit ambush at the trading post, I don't remember if Michael was gung-ho. But apart from that part I am pretty sure I have always argued against killing prisoners. Although I was not their for the second bandit encounter.

Both the initial charter and the kobolds warrant give room for negotiation. The Kobolds warrant states the option of negotiating an alliance with them and the charter states the punishment for unrepentant banditry as death, meaning their must be an option that doesn't involve killing them if they show remorse.

With out re-reading the initial bandit ambush at the trading post, I don't remember if Michael was gung-ho. But apart from that part I am pretty sure I have always argued against killing prisoners. Although I was not their for the second bandit encounter.

Both the initial charter and the kobolds warrant give room for negotiation. The Kobolds warrant states the option of negotiating an alliance with them and the charter states the punishment for unrepentant banditry as death, meaning their must be an option that doesn't involve killing them if they show remorse.

Isn't the diplomacy option in the "metagame" portion of the kobold's warrant, though? It's only mentioned in the spoilered portion that says what we must do to complete the task (forge alliance or slay them). I.e., no one said to the characters: "You can forge an alliance with the kobolds, if you want. But you HAVE to slay the bandits and mites."

And I'm not sure the kobolds here could be considered prisoners; only one was completely at sword point and we were in the process of removing weapons when they lunged for them. YMMV, of course.

I'm really not trying to start an argument, but I was genuinely surprised at how some of the characters reacted this time around. Again, just trying to understand, is all; the role-playing's been fun.

I am probably the wrong person to be discussing it with. I have missed a number of key facts in this sign up (all sign ups) this past year. My life has been a little complicated and all the new stuff keeps pushing old stuff out of my head.

For instance, I am not quite sure where the charters for the kobolds come from. Are they rumours, requests or specific missions we are being given. I know full well we have been told where they come from, but my brain does not retain the information.

I also didn't know what YMMV meant and had to check.

Devlin is biased just like everyone else. He see's kobolds as potentially redeemable, so he's willing to try diplomacy. He see's mites as irredeemable, so he's willing to slaughter them without trying diplomacy. Now, if the mites try and talk their way out of fighting, he'll be suspicious, just as he would be if Kardok had been the first one trying to be diplomatic.

Also, regarding the fight with the kobolds. How would our party react to a group of big, scary creatures rushing in on our camp unexpectedly, speaking in languages we don't know? Them holding weapons on us, and eventually trying to take our weapons from us? We'd've done the same thing the kobolds did, fight and probably all end up dead. Just some food for thought. I know your characters may not think that way, but I find it all too often that players don't think of it from the "monsters" perspective when doing so could make for a more "interesting" game.

As always, to each their own. :D

If they had attacked us Bran would have not cared if they had been killed. However is is kinda a stickler for rules. The bandits are bandits so to him they chose to be bandits and are there for vermin.

The kobolds are by nature savages, but that group was not hostile until we attacked and acted aggressive. So to him they have yet earn the hanging the bandits did. The kobolds might yet be civilized and made useful.

The mites he is unsure of and will go with the group vote. If they are fey he counts them as potentially dangerous like a rabid animal. They may have to be gotten rid of as such.

Anyhow that is how he thinks.

For instance, I am not quite sure where the charters for the kobolds come from. Are they rumours, requests or specific missions we are being given. I know full well we have been told where they come from, but my brain does not retain the information.

It is a mission officially handed out from the swordlords of Restov.

I'm really not trying to start an argument, but I was genuinely surprised at how some of the characters reacted this time around. Again, just trying to understand, is all; the role-playing's been fun.

All I can figure is that it must be a cultural thing. Presumably there are some places where yelling at someone in a foreign language is considered assault and pulling a weapon on someone is considered a harmless invitation to further conversation. You'll pardon me if I don't look forward to traveling to such a place any time in the near future. :-)

Not knowing her temperament, which group would Xanda be most likely to accompany? If she wants to go mite hunting, Ern and Agerron could head back to Oleg's first to review the info on the mites.

*Bows* I apologize for missing thins question.

I'd rather meet all the characters and let player interaction speak for themselves.....

I hope that is a reasonable answer. *bows*

Also, regarding the fight with the kobolds. How would our party react to a group of big, scary creatures rushing in on our camp unexpectedly, speaking in languages we don't know? Them holding weapons on us, and eventually trying to take our weapons from us? We'd've done the same thing the kobolds did, fight and probably all end up dead. Just some food for thought. I know your characters may not think that way, but I find it all too often that players don't think of it from the "monsters" perspective when doing so could make for a more "interesting" game.

Actually, if you think about it, that's almost exactly how Agerron thought - surrounded by kobolds and only keeping one at bay, they're speaking a language he doesn't understand with several party members who refused to translate and at the same time didn't back him up, and the kobolds suddenly lunge for their weapons. Eerily similar ... ;-)

(As a side note, I generally won't read spoilers unless they have my name on them or the folks involved say they share the info, so I still don't know what has been said with the kobolds.)

OK, I think I have an idea of why folks reacted the way they did. I may not agree, but that's what's made the last few days of role-playing a lot of fun!

Bryan wrote:

I'm really not trying to start an argument, but I was genuinely surprised at how some of the characters reacted this time around. Again, just trying to understand, is all; the role-playing's been fun.

All I can figure is that it must be a cultural thing. Presumably there are some places where yelling at someone in a foreign language is considered assault and pulling a weapon on someone is considered a harmless invitation to further conversation. You'll pardon me if I don't look forward to traveling to such a place any time in the near future. :-)

That won't be how Agerronia and Big Ern's House of Hookers and Blow operates!

Real Life has jumped up and smacked me in the face recently. As a consequence my posting will be rather erratic for a bit as I only have access at work.

Real Life has jumped up and smacked me in the face recently. As a consequence my posting will be rather erratic for a bit as I only have access at work.

Thanks for the info.

Folks, I'm unsure. (in a general sense)

Are you still discussing something?
Anyone else commenting on the request of weapon for Kardok?

Does anyone take notice of Xanda (who's an easy target to spot, even through the trees, riding on her horse in your general direction, draging a cart behind) ?

I see that Agerron and Big E are on their horses and riding, but I didn't see a clear statement of actions on your side.

Just curious -- why does Queslin have 6 languages? Shouldn't he have 5 languages known (Common + Elven + 3 bonus languages for a high Int)?

Maybe at one point in character creation he had a point in Linguistics (to learn Giant) but later dropped it.

It was an error. I have corrected it. Thanks for pointing that out.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

I hope you all are able to enjoy this time of year.

Thanks for participating in the game so far, I take that as a very well liked gift from you.

Dankeschön.
DM Sothal / Franz Lunzer

Merry Christmas or Happy [insert name of applicable holiday here] to everyone! It's been a fun game so far!

Welcome in the new year! May you all have had a good start and fine days to follow.

I'm taking another day or two off, if you want to know, then I'm going to be back online and leading on again.

So long,
your DM ;)

Been absent for the whole Christmas and New Year Period, hopefully things will be back to normal by Wednesday. Touch wood.

Delfey didn't just move, he executed a withdraw to a spot where he wouldn't draw AoO from either of the Thylacine's.

Withdraw states that you don't provoke AoO's by leaving the square you start in. Delfey needed to leave the square right of that as well, which was still threatened by both animals.

The square you start out in is not considered threatened by any opponent you can see, and therefore visible enemies do not get attacks of opportunity against you when you move from that square.

...
If, during the process of withdrawing, you move out of a threatened square (other than the one you started in), enemies get attacks of opportunity as normal.

Withdraw states that you don't provoke AoO's by leaving the square you start in. Delfey needed to leave the square right of that as well, which was still threatened by both animals.

Withdraw wrote:

The square you start out in is not considered threatened by any opponent you can see, and therefore visible enemies do not get attacks of opportunity against you when you move from that square.

...
If, during the process of withdrawing, you move out of a threatened square (other than the one you started in), enemies get attacks of opportunity as normal.

Ah, sorry. I didn't see a map of the encounter so didn't realize that.

Out of curiosity, how many miles can we travel per day in this terrain, on average?

Good question. Here are the tables I go by, direct from the AP:

Traveling (Time to cross 1 hex = 12miles [middle of hex to next hex middle])
Party Speed ... Plains ... All other terrains
15 feet ... 11 hours ... 16 hours
20 feet ... 8 hours ... 12 hours
30 feet ... 5 hours ... 8 hours
40 feet ... 4 hours ... 6 hours
50 feet ... 3 hours ... 5 hours

Exploring (Time to fully explore 1 hex, 150 square miles IIRC)
Party Speed ... Plains ... Forest or Hill ... Mountain or Swamp
15 feet ... 3 days ... 4 days ... 5 days
20 feet ... 2 days ... 3 days ... 4 days
30 feet ... 1 day ... 2 days ... 3 days
40 feet ... 1 day ... 1 day ... 2 days
50 feet ... 1 day ... 1 day ... 1 day

Sothal: Due to things happening in real life, my presence in game may be less. Feel free to NPC me as needed, and should Devlin die, I'm okay with that. Just a heads up.

Thanks for the info.
Easy solution for the time being is to send Devlin and Delfey back to Oleg's with the cart of Xanda.
You'd have time to sort things out in Real Life, Xanda's cart is taken care of, and Devlin is save there for the time you aren't around.

I hope everything will work out allright at yours and you find time to join us later again.

This ongoing PBP-campaign needs a new player or two.

Due to a near TPK we are down to 4 players and would like to up that to 5 or 6 again.

Characters are currently at level 2, though on the powerful side, due to the special creation rules I brought upon myself. (Can be found here)

Who's interested? What would you play?

What are the current players characters classes? Ill fill any gaps you might have

Rules in discussion thread? I'm seeing a lot of d6's!

I have a scarred rager barbarian I can retrofit.

Edit: Or a guide/skirmisher ranger. If there's a need for a melee guy, I've got that covered.

I'd like to throw my hat in the ring with a straight cleric. Been a long time since I played just a cleric. Is the Advanced Race Guide in effect (now that almost everything is in the PFDSRD?).

Current players are:

Majet Greenhill, the gnome alchemist
Tyr Thordinsjon, the human fighter
Big Ern, the human barbaric alchemist
Agerron, the human oracle

Melee is pretty covered.

The Cleric would be a nice addition.

Allowed books: Core, APG, UC, UM. No ARG.

A warning here: This PBP can at times grind to a halt, due to personal things. It took us long enough (more than 2 years!) to get not nearly a month into the campaign.

I'll put together a cleric based on the above stats during lunch today. I assume lvl 2 starting wealth? If no ARG, then I'll likely go standard dwarf cleric.

Here's the background for a character I've loved for years, but never got to play much. The drunk cleric just strikes a chord :)

Rolling for stats

5d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 6, 1, 3) = 14
5d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 6, 5, 2) = 18
4d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 1, 1) = 9
4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 2, 6) = 18
6d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 3, 1, 3, 4) = 16
6d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 1, 1, 3, 6) = 14

12, 15, 8, 16, 11, 11. That sucks big time.... You seem like you need some arcane assistance, so ill do a wizard. Thinking Elf the race.

11, 14, 13, 18, 11, 8
HP: 14 Bab: +1 Ac: 12
Speed: 30 ft Init: +2
Fort: +1 Reflex: +2 Will: +3

Longbow
+3, 1d8 x3

Feats:

Cosmopolitan

Skills:

Appraise: +8
Craft Weapons: +8
Knowledge Arcana: +8
Knowledge Engineering: +8
Knowledge History: +8
Knowledge Nature: +8
Knowledge Planes: +8
Knowledge Religion: +8
Linguistics: +8
Perception: +7
Spellcraft: +9

backstory to come

Forgot some important things:

Admixturist Wizard

Spells Prepared

Read Magic
Light
Mage Hand
Message

Mage Armor
Burning Hands x2

8d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 3, 1, 5, 2, 2, 2) = 26 -> {5,6,5} = 16
6d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 6, 4, 5, 4) = 29 -> {6,6,5} = 17
4d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 5, 5) = 18 -> {4,5,5} = 14
4d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 5, 5) = 16 -> {3,5,5} = 13
3d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 6) = 17 -> {5,6,6} = 17
3d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 6) = 13 -> (4,3,6} = 13

13/13/14/16/17/17

assume we start at level 2 as well?
HP (level 2 roll) 1d6 ⇒ 1

*hmm... I did write 1 or two additional players...*

@bigrin42: I like Whiskeyjack so far, but I think you misread the ability creation rules.
It's assign the dice and then take the best 3 of the array.

@Aroach1188: elf wizard hu? I don't say anything to that right now, but one other thing:
Your rolls are really sucky... even though you rolled two dice more than the others. 28 was the baseline. I'll let you roll again, starting fresh. It can only get worse, right?

@Oleg: right, level 2 it is. I don't see any mention of race and class, or anything else for that matter though.

@all: I will only have two new players. Right now the drunken dwarfen cleric has the best cards, but I'm giving it another day.

Ah, I did indeed misread them. I was going off of what someone else had posted, not being very familiar with the "dice pool" rules. I guess that makes the stats (using the same rolls, and just taking the best 3...

16
12
16
14
17
14

Which isn't quite as spectacular ;-)

But definitely doable.

I'd love to try my hand er keyboard as an arcane/ranged character

I'll post more details later tonight

I guess i miscounted my rolls. Thanks for the rerolls

5d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 1, 2, 5) = 11
5d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 2, 3, 4) = 16
5d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 5, 6, 3) = 25
5d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 2, 4, 4) = 13
4d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 1, 1) = 8
4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 6, 2) = 18

9, 12, 17, 10, 7, 16. Better this time. Is there something wrong with an elven wizard in this campaign?

Okay so here's my idea in rough

I haven't got a name yet but I see him as an explorer and hunter of sorts that upon hearing about a charter to reclaim the Stolenlands saw it as a opportunity to test his skills and put them to use for a good cause.

Depending on how the game progresses and which way he is needed to develop I see his going either arcane archer or eldritch knight

I am pretty flexible if you wanna see something changed

@Whiskeyjack: Yeah, the rules are a bit obscure and, should I start another game, I'd likely not use them again. At the very least, I'd modify them and take away some dice.
But here you have the same standards as the starting characters, so it's okay enough.
And your stats now fall better in line with the rest of the group so far.

@Aiunder: Elfen Fighter/wizard...

@Aiunder & Aroach1188: Nothing wrong with an elfen wizard at all. It's just that elfes and half-elfes haven't been given the most warm a welcome from the party. Mostly due to the behaviour of said (half-)elfes.
(Hint: Don't speak to them in elven at first when you meet them. ;) )

What else d' ye need from me? I been holdin' back on selectin' me gear until I be hearin' back from ye, but if'n ye be wantin' me to finish i' off I can be doin' jest tha'.

@Whiskeyjack: You are in. Finish your char and gear, I'll write up a little something to get you going.

Not having heard from anyone else I'm torn between Aiunder and Aroach1188's proposals. Both are interesting and would fit the group, I guess, but right now I only see the skeleton of characters, their stats. Time to flesh that out a bit!

I want to thank all others for their interest. You'd probably be awesome players, that I have no place for, on this virtual table, right now. Thank you.

Th' drunken cleric t' th' rescue! Jest ye sit righ' back an' I'll tell ye o' me time in th' Copper Dragoons. Ol' Major wahtsisname, Carver were i'? He gave me a souvenier dragon tooth, it's here in me pack somewhere...

I'll get the equipment sorted out here in a bit. Just let me know how and when you want to introduce Whiskeyjack.

Edit: Also, how did you do HP generation on level up? And what Xp value?

okay lemme add a little muscle and flesh to this..

first things first a name... Nero Vendel Thelaris

Also, how did you do HP generation on level up? And what Xp value?

Hit points:

Nero looks good so far, but I'd like to give Aroach1188 a chance as well. Hope you understand.

Here is my wizard, Elrond

Definitely

Well, I haven't heard many oppinions, but those I heard agree with me:

Nero Vendel Thelaris gets the second open player slot.

Gratulations. Get your character ready including gear and everything and point me to it, to let me have a look.

@Aroach1188: Thanks again for your interest.

thanks. I'll have him ready later today and post here.

Finally got the forum to save all of it.