Hello hello, welcome one and all to my WotW recruitment ^_^
So what is this campaign? That's an easy question to answer: it's Way of the Wicked! But what makes it special, you ask? I'm glad you asked! The first book starts out at 10th level super gestalt! With mythic by the end of book 2! And the campaign will end at 25th level/mythic level 10! And METAL!!! Well, only if you feel like listening to metal... it's totally optional.
If you don't know what Way of the Wicked is, do yourself a favor and look up the free player's guide.
No more shall the villains start out as underpowered slayers of goats and other farmlife! No longer will the heroes that oppose them be bumbling oafs that seem like something out of a paladin spoof thread! No, this campaign will see light and dark clash on an epic scale. The conflict between good and evil will be put into focus and only one side will come out victorious in the end. Will you, the villain, gain your vengeance against the kingdom who branded you as 'forsaken' and condemned you for your crimes? Or will the heroes of light emerge triumphant and send your character to the Great Beyond receive their just punishment? It's all up to you and the dice!
To get the immediate question out of the way, "But RVT, the interest check said that the recruitment would probably be up in a month! What's going on?". Well interest was high for the campaign and I have been wanting to see player ideas, so I am listing the guidelines that the first adventure is being playtested with.
While I expect these character guidelines to hold, I make the reservation to change any aspect of the recruitment at will, for better or for worse.
Just to give a full disclaimer, there are TWO slotted players. Monkeygod plans on reprising his old necromancer Veldrin and Divinitus will be using a mobile master of shadows and swordplay. I will probably select three more players for the campaign, but I MIGHT be convinced to add another if there is another that I feel MUST be included in the campaign!
CHARACTER CREATION
Starting level: 10th, special gestalt *see stats and class features*
Ability score buy: 24 points, 1-1 from 10 should suffice.
Classes available: All Paizo, 3PP upon request.
Races: As above, no custom, nothing crazy.
Starting gold: NONE! You're a prisoner, so you have nothing but the clothes on your back.
Traits: 2, plus crime trait. I MIGHT allow drawbacks for more, but you will need to make a case for those.
Bonus feat: 1 at 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th.
Stats (BAB, HD, skills, saves, ect.): You get two 'upgrades' at character creation. These may be applied to any of your class stats, which will increase by one step upon use. Skill starved? Use an upgrade to bring that 2+INT to 4+INT! Want a full BAB melee wizard? Use both of your upgrades on BAB and be a terror in both melee and ranged combat!
Class features: Upon character creation, you select another class that makes sense for your character. From that class, you get ALL class features from that class, but not stuff like BAB, saves, ect.
Skills: You get two extra skill points per level AND have all class skills on your list.
Templates: A VERY select few templates will be allowed, such as a watered down vampire template, lycanthrope template, ect.
Alignment: You MUST be evil aligned. other than that, I think that you shouldn't have a restriction on your other alignment axis and so can be lawful, neutral, or chaotic, no matter your class. Aspects of the class, like a monk's lawful attacks, change to suit your alignment. If you are an antipaladin, you select a code based on your deity or, if deity-less, make your own code.
EXPECTATIONS
1. Use the character creation guidelines as they are written without bending the rules.
2. Use common sense in dictating how much is 'too far' on a character concept.
3. Build a character that actually seems like a character, not a set of stats that grunts during social interactions who has no friends or family because he spontaneously self-conceived. You have a wide berth on your backstory due to your power level, so use it!
4. Post about what you bring to the campaign if you are selected. And don't think that cookies will help! There's already enough of them on this side of the GM table.
5. Don't worry about other characters in the recruitment. As a friend of mine pointed out to me a few days ago while I was creating rules for this campaign that I needed to state this so that there would be no back-and-forth arguments in the recruitment thread.
FAIR WARNINGS
1. The campaign will be brutal and the beginning jailbreak sequence is bound to be a severe challenge of your skills as a player, all befitting those who are inmates within the 'unbreakable' prison of Branderscar.
2. Evil may not be monolithic, but it is expected that the party is.
3. The campaign is a bit of a railroad in regards to story at times, but that's the nature of the AP beast, yeah?
CHANGES TO WOTW'S LORE
1. Talingarde is an island in the middle of Golarion's ocean that is shrouded by mists, very much like the real world legends of Avalon. Most peasants have little knowledge of the island but legends. The learned often know that it is a real place, but seldom find reason to explore the distant island. There have been a few voyages to the island in the past, most spurred by prophetic visions, from all over Golarion however.
2. Talingarde's patron deity is not Mitra, but a nearly identical deity of light with a thousand and one sacred names. Most in Talingarde simply know him as the Shining One or the Radiant God due to the fact that it is considered sacrilege for his name to be used in any sort of speech but the most fervent of prayer. It is said that the sun and stars are his many eyes looking down upon the mortal world vigilantly. He is an obscure deity in the rest of Golarion, nearly forgotten since the Starstone fell almost ten thousand years ago, but in Talingarde his worship is strong.
3. Corruption is not nearly as prevalent in this version of Talingarde. The people of the island have been faithful by and large over the countless millenia and the recent Markadian king's enlightened rule has seen many become content with the peace that has settled over the land.
Edit: Recruitment will last as long as I feel is necessary.
Dotting, character to follow.
*cracks knuckles* Very well then! Let's get to work.
Alright, so going Kineticist for Hel's main class in your modified Gestalt, which her Tattooed Sorceror goodies following as the support. One of the upgrades for the Kineticist part is going towards improving her Will save, while the other will go towards.... Hrm. On the one hand, being a Kineticist with a 1d10 hit dice is awesome. But on the other, so is being a full BAB Kineticist. Eh, screw it. Let's be a tough SOB!
EDIT: Very important question, actually. How will our class "adder" interact with our getting a prestige class? Hel's going to be a Bloatmage, so I really need to know this for her concept, to see if I need to make any alterations at all.
cool idea
With build rules like those I think I might have to give it a spin in some capacity. Out of curiosity, which templates would be allowed, and what are we looking at for modifications to them?
I like this idea. I am thinking about a Rasputin-esque Alchemist(Vivisectionist)/monk, locked away for testing on humans and other sentient creatures. Real details to follow once I get home. Also inquiring if all arch-types will be allowed.
Super excited for this, though it will be tough to get in.
Are you allowing prestige classes? I'm assuming prestige classes doesn't work for our extra class features class, but it might for our main class? Similar question about multiclassing, can we multiclass the main class (or even the secondary class?). How does the upgrades work with prestige/multiclasses? Do they only apply to the first class, or do they carry over?
Are there any banned classes, specifically synthesist summoner? It's insanely flavorful, but oh so powerful at the same time. It does have weaknesses of course, but so does every class.
Are you going to do anything special to make chaotic and lawful work in the same party? I have a number of concepts that I kinda want to try out that are rather chaotic. These are just ideas at this point, so if you don't want them in your game, tell me and I'll find something else:
1) A character using the Evangelist Prestige Class following Rovagug. A character truly enjoying blowing up things, though I imagine the character being more party-friendly than you might imagine. S/he won't be insane so realize that having people watching your back means you can blow up even greater things without negative repercussion.
2) The next idea is a bit more extreme, a character following Lamashtu and taking Demonic Obedeince:
Engage in a tryst with the sincere intention of being impregnated or impregnating your partner, or sacrifice a creature that has been alive for no more than a week. Gain a +4 profane bonus on saves against insanity, confusion, and polymorph effects.
I am not sure that character would be appropriate for this game or even these boards at all though. I'm not sure what classes I would pick for this concept, but Synthesist Summoner + a caster class and probably evangelist on one side or the other seems like a good idea.
A less insane idea than those above is that of an arcane trickster. Would it work to pick say wizard (or sorcerer) for the main class and a class with sneak attack for the secondary class, then starting with arcane trickster from level 5?
Is path of war allowed? I'm considering a number of concepts from there, but they go out of the window if you don't want to deal with the extra complexity. Maybe a Fiendbound Marauder and Dervish Defender?
Just to make sure I got this right: You can for example pick antipaladin as the main class, getting full bab, d10 hd etc, then take sorcerer as your secondary class and still get full spellcasting?
How are we dealing with wizard spellbooks/witches familiars etc? At 10th level they are usually a significant portion of that character's power. At 1st level it's not so bad to start over, but at 10th level it kinda is.
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With metal. METAL!
I've been known to say that this video is the greatest thing on the internet. Let's see if you agree?
(Of course I'll post a character later. It's finished...in my head. The rest is just details. ;-}
Hrm. Can't seem to see how you're handling HP.
Pretty sure HP will be maxed. If it's maxed for Hell's Rebels I can't see it not being maxed here.
I'm just wondering about the half dragon
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If you still have room, I'm liking the idea of an angelkin aasimar antipalidin that has not so much as fallen from grace but instead has set the path of grace on fire since birth.
Born evil, detesting his family, especially his brother and father, and enjoying the wickedness of pain inflicted on others(and even on himself occasionally), both emotional and physical, he has gone to great lengths to test his capacity for violence, only to find his capacity has had no limits thus far.
Smart and devious, Mordrin may have exceptional martial skills, but doesn't rely solely on them as his guile is just as dangerous as his blade. Not the fool to rush into combat, he is more than willing to let others take the initiative in battle for personal glory is not his mission... pain and suffering are.
I'm toying with the idea of Rovagug as his patron and the dread vanguard as an archetype.
As for his secondary gestalt, I'm still mulling over what fits best.
Sounds like my kind of adventure. Do mind fiery explosions, unrepentant chaos and cackling laughter?
This is the character. Need to see what work I need to do though. Unchained rogue okay?
I'm definitely interested.
My concept is a Dark Lord of the Sith. Soulknife primary, psychic warrior secondary. Inspired by the Sith, though made to fit within a fantasy world. Mobile melee fighter with the ability to boost themselves.
I've also got a second idea of a soul archer//inquisitor.
And time for yet another question from me! So, I find myself wondering if it's alright if I take a slightly altered version of the Fey Taken trait that applies to good outsiders instead of fey. The idea is that Hel was essentially abducted at birth by some evangelist kytons, which is part of the reason why she is the way she is. I don't even need another trait in return, as I have more than enough traits as it stands. This is merely because I really like the flavor of the drawback, and would love to throw it in.
"1. Use the character creation guidelines as they are written without bending the rules."
Just wanted to check on something. I'm going Psychic/Kineticist. Is it all right to pick the "primary" class based on which one will provide the better base for saves and BAB rather than character focus?
HP: Max HP of course! ^_^
Archetypes: As far as I know, most archetypes are not a problem, apart from some that give you leadership and some of the summoner archetypes.
Multiclassing: You can only multiclass on one side of the gestalt.
Rovagug/Groetus/Daemonic Horsemen Patron: While these are probably going to be popular choices, even other villains tend to be somewhat unwilling to work with gods of the apocalypse.
Path of War: Allowed.
Psionics: Allowed.
Akhashic: Allowed.
Spellbooks and familiars: This will be handled in-game. You will have all the BASIC things that you need to utilize your classes after a certain point.
Helvetica Quinn: All that you get from your class and upgrades count towards prestige classes. And fey taken is a fine trait refluffed for you!
Nidoran Duran: I would rather wait until people post a template they are asking for before I state whether it is allowed or not. As for changes, things like removing a vampire's energy drain and charm gaze to get an ability to walk in daylight with no more of pretty decent penalty to rolls and inability use vampiric powers when so exposed.
Oyzar: For the Lamashtu concept, there are two main issues. The first is being pregnant in the campaign would carry penalties for you and if my guess is correct, it would probably be a red-button for other players if you wanted to impregnate someone else. The second is that there are not newborns in every place that you may visit, so the deific obedience may be quite hard to fulfill.
Atlas2112: Sucks that the game was nowhere near as cool as the trailer!
Bobbity: Nothing like classic villains! And I certainly have no problem with UR, with all it's snicker-snack, stab you in the back glory! :P
QuidEst: Either one you believe is more beneficial to you!
I will be back later to post. About to eat and probably get on Guild Wars 2 for a while. ^_^
RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16
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My character is (tentatively) ready! I'll be working on translating her into a profile tomorrow. She is a Magus (Battlefield Defiler)/Occultist (Necrooccultist) who worships Urgathoa. She will be very undeath-focused and also will indulge in some other Urgathoan dalliances. :-D
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As I said in the other thread, aiming for a werewolf. How will you handle the CR adjustment of +1? Simple ignore it, one of the sides of the template is reduced, both are reduced...
Since it is not really powerful (it is more flavorful after all), I'm hoping for simple ignoring the adjustment, since the other two options might lead to a weaker PC.
So, all the evil rolling around here and no creepy children? Well,I suppose I should ask about the age thing first...
What sort of ages do you want?
I'm strongly considering just pairing one of the warder archetypes with witch, though I might go harbringer as well. A lot of stuff from the new path of war expanded works of the cursed mechanic. Would you allow hexes to cause the [cursed] status despite not mentioned in the rules? I don't think it would be too powerful, but it would certainly be flavorful... I have a real problem deciding on archtypes though. I want the hair from white-haired witch, yet I want hexes as well. While on the warder side I want both dervish defender and fiendbound marauder. That'll be my dilemma to figure out though ;).
So, here is the background for Kessa
Kessa's father was a sorcerer obsessed with necromancy. His experiments to corrupt life to discover how to become a lich as a way to extend his own led him to the distant land of Tian Xia. It was there that he would attempt dark rituals upon the newly born. Not finding the answers he sought, Graullen realized that he would have to start on a child not yet born. His used his dark magics upon his pregnant wife, Hellena, convinced that the key to immortality could be unlocked. His dark arcana had a heavy toll on his wife, leaving her near lifeless. After giving birth, her empty womb was dissected by her husband. Graukken believed an even greater opportunity existed for perfecting his formula by using the life creating womb. Fortunately for Hellena, her weakened body gave out before she had to endure too much pain.
While he was thrilled with the effect his work had on his daughter, he had no love in his heart for her. He continued his research on her without compassion. He would happily forfeit her life to find the key to shatter the chains of his mortal coil by becoming one of the undead. An endless torment of spells and pain became Kessa's world. The years of experimentation left her organs putrefied, leaving her sterile. She grew up without friends, devoid of the loving and caring comfort of human contact. The one thing her father provided for her was training. He felt that a keen mind would be critical to finding the next great discovery. Graullen also saw to her physical needs to ensure her body would not fail as her mother's had. He hired a disgraced monk to oversee her education and physical regiment. Kessa looked to forward to these lessons as this was the only time she would have physical contact with another being.
The dhampir had also hoped to learn the dark arts from her father, but she lacked the spark to tame the arcane energies and her father punished her brutally for it. For Graukken it was a set back and a lost opportunity to explore greater necromancy. He soon realized that she could provide no more insights on his personal quest to become undead.
Kessa was finally discarded by Graullen, convinced she was a failure and disgusted by what her father had done to her physical form. She sought out an alchemist to see if science could repair what her father had taken away from her. While she learned much from him, he was unable to provide answers. She has spent the last decade persuing her own alchemical experiments, seeking ways to have a child of her own. Ironically, she has followed her father's dark path of using the bodies and lives of others for her own ends.
Her knowledge of anatomy and surviving the excruciating pain of her childhood has made her a formidable combatant. However, due to her need for living subjects, she has developed a style that disables an opponent rather than kill them. She is steadfast in her belief that she will have a child, and use it to destroy the lich her father has become.
Monk side is complete, tomorrow I will have time to finish the alchemist and post her stats & abilities.
GM, I'm interested in using the Nightmare Creature template for my character.
Would that be allowable for being one level lower? In a Gestalt game that's an even higher price than normal.
What do you think?
Hello,
Very interested in this campaign. This is the concept I would like to play. He is a Feral Hunter/monk with a little rogue. He is modeled after a NPC from long ago the Cat Lord. Looking forward to the game if you have room. Thanks
...Wow. This is nuts. Dotted.
I do believe I'm going to rejigger an old favorite of mine, a good ol' bruiser and grappler extraordinaire. Bognus 'Bluebeard' Dolgrin, Dwarven Unchained Barbarian/Unchained Monk, coming up!
I have slightly changed my mind and am instead interested in being a half fiend.
To fit nicely with the template he would first be a tiefling cleric(fiendish vessel)/inquisitor(infiltrator).
Do templates take up one or both sides of the gestalt? And what do you think of Quickling? Too much?
Templates have nothing to do with gestalt. Technically you could have any number of templates but that'd be a funky looking character. And hard to create a backstory for. Half-Dragon, Half-Fiend, Elemental, Quickling, with shape-shifting? Yeah, my parents were swingers apparently.
yep
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16
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Templates have nothing to do with gestalt. Technically you could have any number of templates but that'd be a funky looking character. And hard to create a backstory for. Half-Dragon, Half-Fiend, Elemental, Quickling, with shape-shifting? Yeah, my parents were swingers apparently.
Templates may be separate from gestalt rules-wise, but every GM I've ever known has included templates as a character level adjustment on one side of the gestalt.
Templates have nothing to do with gestalt. Technically you could have any number of templates but that'd be a funky looking character. And hard to create a backstory for. Half-Dragon, Half-Fiend, Elemental, Quickling, with shape-shifting? Yeah, my parents were swingers apparently.Templates may be separate from gestalt rules-wise, but every GM I've ever known has included templates as a character level adjustment on one side of the gestalt.
I've seen a couple that apply it to both sides. I figure it's best to verify before starting work.
I am making a Barbarian/Oracle. Do I get spell casting or no?
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Not being funny Red Velvet Tiger But you seem to have a lot of GM alts and stalled games on your Profile.
Could you say how this game will not go the same way?
Templates have nothing to do with gestalt. Technically you could have any number of templates but that'd be a funky looking character. And hard to create a backstory for. Half-Dragon, Half-Fiend, Elemental, Quickling, with shape-shifting? Yeah, my parents were swingers apparently.Templates may be separate from gestalt rules-wise, but every GM I've ever known has included templates as a character level adjustment on one side of the gestalt.
We only get HD/bab/saves/etc on one side of the stalt, so it makes a lot of sense that it would deduct from both, otherwise you could end up with wierd things like higher casterlevel than HD or getting spells known earlier than you would normally get HD.
@Jonny: There is a post about it in her Hell's Rebel's recruitment.
Templates: They take up levels on one side of the gestalt as per the typical ruling. :)
Big Ben Clocktower: I have no problems with creepy children type villains! The Book of Vile Darkness, for example, had the elven Shadowchild. If you haven't heard of her, she was an interesting example of evil child, along the lines of Damien the Omen.
Sunderedhero: PBP of course!
Doomed Hero: You may take that template but with a few alterations. Instead of regeneration, you get 'Not Dead Yet', which allows you to heal back to 1/2 your maximum HP once per day upon receiving a blow that would otherwise kill you and allows you to use your feign death ability immediately. That should preserve the unstoppable killer vibe and not have regeneration. Fear aura is something that you can selectively turn on and off and probably should in some cases, since it affects allies and enemies alike.
HighonHolyWater: Half fiend is allowed, but without stat bonuses. The base abilities are powerful enough, yeah?
Philo Pharynx: Quickling is a little bit too much.
Bane88: Of course! The only reason that you wouldn't in Hells Rebels is because it is a much lower-powered game by comparison.
Jonny...Panic: There is a post about it in my Hell's Rebels recruitment, so you could check there. If you need elaboration then I will explain. About half of the campaigns listed with me as GM is when I was attempting to co-GM for TSP, now known as Divinitus. Two of the campaigns were recruitments that never got off the ground. And the others I had to quit because at the time I was in an abusive relationship, going to college, having financial troubles, and I was trying to help TSP/Divinitus with his problems as well. My internet was turned off due to lack of money about a week later, so it wouldn't have done any good to continue them anyway.
Itsme: You get all weapon/armor proficiency listings from both classes. All classes have access to all skills.
I will be back to post later today. About to go do some video gaming! ^_^
Now I'm confused about templates... An example:
Let's say I'm taking Warder(with hd) and witch (without hd) and I want to take a template, let's say Alacritous Creature, but sacrifice Warder levels. Does that mean I also lose HD, or do I fall back to the HD/skills/saves of the witch? Speaking of Alacritous Creature, that's too much yes?
So I would have to apply the template to the non-HD side? I guess that makes sense, though it removes quite a bit of flexibility. Can't I just take Witch 2 -> Warder 8 on one side and Template 2 -> Witch 8 on the other side though?
@RVT: Does the rule "1. Use the character creation guidelines as they are written without bending the rules." mean you won't allow any minor modifications to printed material (for example a minor homebrew archtype replacing or modifying a single ability of a class)? A witch fits so well flavor-wise with a character focused on the cursed razor discipline, but mechanically they don't interact all that much for example.
Would the oath of the Quills be compatible with the plot of this game?
Obedience is demanded - it shall be given. When Whisper speaks, I shall listen. When She demands, I shall comply, though it brings misery to myself and others. I shall keep Her secrets, guard Her treasures, and do Her will, until the day that She releases me from my grim task, and even in the absence of Her voice I shall seek knowledge both beneficent and baneful and preserve it against the day when it is needed. If I fail in this oath, let Her wings beat for me, and take me away forever more
. You are of course free to chose who the Whisper actually is.
So I would have to apply the template to the non-HD side? I guess that makes sense, though it removes quite a bit of flexibility. Can't I just take Witch 2 -> Warder 8 on one side and Template 2 -> Witch 8 on the other side though?
Multiclassing: You can only multiclass on one side of the gestalt.
Posting as the level 1 version of Veldrin.
RVT, could I be a Noble Drow or should I stay commoner?
Also, in a normal WotW, you purchase starting gear which is later recovered. Should we do the same here, but with level 10 WBL?
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So I would have to apply the template to the non-HD side? I guess that makes sense, though it removes quite a bit of flexibility. Can't I just take Witch 2 -> Warder 8 on one side and Template 2 -> Witch 8 on the other side though?
@RVT: Does the rule "1. Use the character creation guidelines as they are written without bending the rules." mean you won't allow any minor modifications to printed material (for example a minor homebrew archtype replacing or modifying a single ability of a class)? A witch fits so well flavor-wise with a character focused on the cursed razor discipline, but mechanically they don't interact all that much for example.
I think you can apply the template to whichever class you want, even to the HD side, and it will not change BAB, HD, saves and skills, just class features.
You are of course free to chose who the Whisper actually is.
"Whisper requires saltpeter, sulfur, charcoal, and magnesium, oh and a sandwich. Ham on rye. Whisper has to watch his fig. Chop Chop minion."
Okey, I'll work on the specifics but as I statted in the interest check I'll be rolling Dominic, disciple of dispater and lord of iron!
For the super gestalt part I think something divine would be the most appropiate option, but cleric and oracle seem outright too powerful, so I'll check warpriest unless our Most Malevolent DM says a Fighter/DoD with a splash of oracle/cleric is okey!
Careful with Warpriest. Lots of things to keep track of.