Deus Machina - The City of Stars (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

Auralis, City of Stars. Located at a crucial junction of the energies that flow between the planes, this slowly-expanding demiplane city has become a symbol of hope, trade, and fortune. Over the last year at Abal's Agency, a business specializing in troubleshooting odd problems, you've begun to establish yourself as a valued member of the city. Yet the eternal evening of Auralis may be hiding something much darker than anyone ever imagined, and things are not always what they seem...

Character Creation:

Number of Players: 3. Any higher, and PbP games seem to slow down too much, so I'm keeping this group small.

Level: 3 (Gestalt rules, and you will go Mythic)

Point Buy: 25

Alignment: Non-Evil/Backstabbing

Races: Core or Featured

Classes: Any from acceptable sources

HP: Max per hit dice

Skill Points: +2 bonus points per level, put towards Craft, Profession, and/or Perform (this is mostly for flavor)

Traits: 2, drawbacks acceptable for a third trait

Starting Wealth: 3,000 GP

Sourcebooks: All Paizo products. Rite Publishing, Kobold Press, Super/Rogue Genius Games, and Dreamscarred Press (i.e. Psionics) are also acceptable sources. Other materials available on request - generally speaking, the more reputable the publisher, the more likely approval is, but I'm judging things on a case-by-case basis. The entirety of Mythic Mania (once released) will also be acceptable content to draw from, and I'll be accepting retraining of Mythic powers at that time if there's anything you want to change. Auralis is widely connected to the rest of the planes, and many unusual things have found their way to the city...

Recruitment Period: At least 1 week (until Saturday, September 6th, 2014). Possibly longer, but not any shorter than that.

Questions: Just ask! I try to be responsive for recruitment threads. ^^

General Campaign Notes:

-This campaign will take place primarily in urban environments. Other areas may be accessed (sewers, caves, etc.) as the story progresses, even the occasional park, but characters who are close to nature and rely on nature-based powers may find themselves handicapped. Information on Auralis is available in the campaign info tab.

-I tend to run high-power, high-challenge campaigns. However, you shouldn't explicitly try to min-max your characters or otherwise break the system - you'll be plenty strong as it is. I do enjoy themed characters, however, and those who build around a particular idea are more likely to be chosen. Strong characterization in the backstory and literacy in your writing are also things I'll be looking for.

-This is a generally structured campaign. While you will have some freedom (which jobs you accept, how you overcome challenges, etc.), there is a general plotline that I plan to follow. If you're looking for a campaign where you can go anywhere and do anything, then you should consider applying for a different game instead.

-The PCs have known each other for about a year (or longer, if you'd like to make a collective backstory), working together at Abal's Agency. You've yet to learn much about the older employees (Remei, the owner, and Gareth, a warrior of some kind), but you've managed to get on good terms with Mila, who was hired about three months ago to help around the office.

-In accordance with my past experiences, I will be rolling certain things for players - Initiative, Saves, and anything else that would just be a "Quick Roll for X" on the tabletop. This is intended to speed up the game, allowing you to get right into playing instead of waiting days to find out what's happening. However, keep in mind that Mythic powers (and others you may acquire) can change the results of dice rolls. If you think you're likely to use this type of power, you can note your criteria for doing so, and I'll take that into account when resolving things - for example, you can say "I'll use Mythic Power to cast X on myself if my HP falls below such-and-such". I may also specifically pause things and ask if you'd like to change actions you've already mentioned doing (like "I'll just keep attacking the enemy until it falls") if things start looking pretty bad for you. This is the best balance I've found between letting you have control and ensuring that the game moves along in a timely manner.

Dot.

I've been really wanting to play a Skald, but in a three-person group (which will almost assuredly have people who would rather cast than Rage) it might not be such a good idea. I will throw some concepts together. :)

-e-

So I'm thinking that an Aasimar Bloodrager/Oracle might be cool. Sort of like a Rage Prophet, but not quite. Going to keep thinking!

Would you allow multiple submissions? I have a few ideas I'd like to flesh out. A gnomish (or tiefling) alchemist/arcanist who loves to experiment with magic. A elven swashbuckler/magus (or blade adept arcanist) seeking to master swordplay completely. Or rogue/urban ranger or rogue/flying blade former street rat.

Yes, you can submit multiple ideas - I've done it in the past myself, though I do ask that you keep it to two at most. XD

Fair enough. I think I'll submit the first two, though that will likely change after I build one. I'll be back.

Edit: What is the tone of the campaign? Trying to figure out which direction to take my backstory.

Actually, on further thought, I'm thinking Aasimar Paladin/Oracle. Would be able to cover all the healing a group could need, while also being tough as nails and being able to fight or act as a divine spellcaster as necessary.

And on that note, DM Rednal, what are your feelings on homebrewing a variant of the Scion of Humanity trait for Dwarves?

Fluff-wise, that's a difficult one, since Aasimar are said to have been specifically descended from humanity, and that other races wouldn't breed true - certainly not enough to have gone on long enough for a "Scion of" power.

On the other hand, we're not playing on Golarion, and that's not a mechanically huge change. XD Also, Dwarves are a Core race. Here you go:

Scion of Dwarves: Some aasimars' heavenly ancestry is extremely distant. An aasimar with this racial trait counts as an outsider (native) and a humanoid (dwarf) for any effect related to race, including feat prerequisites and spells that affect humanoids. They can pass for a dwarf without using the Disguise skill. This racial trait replaces the Celestial language and alters the native subtype.

Perfect! Exactly what I was hoping for. And I should probably ask before I do so, is it okay to pick one of the Aasimar variant heritages, as well? Angelkin would work beautifully with what I am trying to do.

Also, I don't know exactly where this actually comes from, but this is included in the d20pfsrd section for Aasimar. Maybe it's from Blood of Angels?

Not all aasimar are descended from humans. Aasimars can be born of any intelligent race, though human aasimars are the most common. Aasimars of other races usually exemplify the ideals of beauty and skill as seen by their base race. For example, halfling aasimars are small, beautifully proportioned, and display exceptional grace. Half-orc aasimars are slightly larger and stronger than ordinary orcs, with tough skin and metallic claws and tusks—they are likely to be neutral rather than evil, but still display aggression and incredible combat prowess. Less common humanoids, such as lizardfolk, catfolk, tengus, and others, can also produce aasimars, though given these races’ exotic appearance, members of the more common races may have trouble telling such aasimars apart from their kin.

It should be noted that while any creature that breeds with a celestial may give birth to half-celestial offspring, only humanoids can give birth to aasimars. Thus, while it’s possible to encounter a half-celestial dragon, unicorn, or griffon, any children of such creatures would be either half-celestials or normal members of their race. (And just as often, these less conventional half-celestials are sterile.) When discussing half-celestials and aasimars, it’s important to distinguish them from both true celestials (angels, azatas, agathions, etc.) and simple celestial creatures (creatures with the celestial template, which are themselves denizens of the good-aligned Outer Planes but similar in many ways to their Material Plane counterparts). Most aasimars also have a difficult time getting people to grasp distinctions between celestial types, with common folk erroneously grouping all such beings together as “angels.”

Non-human aasimars have the same statistics as human aasimars with the exception of size. Thus a halfling aasimar is Small but otherwise possesses the same statistics and abilities as a human aasimar—the difference is purely cosmetic. Non-human aasimars do not possess any of the racial abilities of their base race. However, they are usually raised in the same cultural context as other members of their base race, and thus generally adopt the same fighting style as their peers, use the same types of weapons and armor, and study the same skills.

Variant Aasimar Heritages are from the Blood of Angels book - and therefore quite acceptable. XD

And yeah, I noticed that sidebar - though it does vary slightly from the fluff given in the main section. Well, that kind of thing happens in games like this! Either way, dwarf-descended Aasimar are okay for this game.

Two ideas at third level? Oh fun!

Yeah, I've already done enough stuff at first level, and PbP is slow as it is... so I figured starting a bit further in would be more fun for everyone. XD

Neat! Sorry that I'm pestering you so much, but I want to make sure that the idea I'm coming up with doesn't rub you the wrong way. :)

I'm generally open to good fluff, especially if it's not very different mechanically. XD Doesn't guarantee I'll choose it, of course - but still, feel free to ask any time you have a question, and I'll do my best to answer promptly. ^^

quite a few people might have characters still made from the last time you had recruitment, they just have to update them to level 3, pretty sure I still have him.

Anyway, how hard are combats? Something tells me there is a catch, because we are powerful, the combats are killer like combats. Maybe I'm wrong about that, but every time I see DMs letting their players be powerful, it makes me wonder why we are so powerful.

PS: As many games as you DM on this PBP, I wish you could DM for us on table-top. The Galaxy Gamers store I go to has the worst of luck for Pathfinder. There were at least 8 people wanting to play and at least 2 people wanting to DM, both of which backed down, but yet the shop has had at least 7-8 different 5th addition table-top games in 8 months and 2 are current, not to mention one 4e campaign. If only you lived close by.

You realized, of course, that a gauntlet of sorts gas been thrown? Nature characters handicapped? Mwahahaha!

Oh, uh... dot? Yeah, dot for later. >.>

You realized, of course, that a gauntlet of sorts gas been thrown? Nature characters handicapped? Mwahahaha!

Oh, uh... dot? Yeah, dot for later. >.>

I think I missed your joke there, I had to google gauntlet of sorts gas and found nothing related.

I believe he meant "has" been thrown.

The typomonster rears its ugly head! I imagine he's saying that "a gauntlet of sorts has been thrown".

As my character idea takes a bit more shape, I'm starting to think up a better overall picture of him. So far, he's an Angelkin Aasimar Paladin/Dual Cursed Life Oracle (with the Lame and Tongues curses). He's going to fight with a Dwarven Waraxe as his primary weapon, so he can bust out a shield if necessary. :)

Classes: any acceptable sources...does that mean 3PP?

If the class is from any of the listed companies, then yes, it will be considered. ^^ 3PP classes from other companies are case-by-case... though I should note that, in general, anything truly outlandish probably won't get picked.

dot

Do you have any source material on Auralis, City of Stars? It would help in crafting a character if I understood more about it.

Is there unique qualities of the demiplane?

How is travel handled in and out of the plane?

Do people make it there by mistake/event?

Can a gestalt be made with a 3 hd/+3template creature and a pc class?

Is there more information Abel's agency? Do they recruit? Do you apply? How is the hierarchy handled?

What is the architectural style of the demiplane?

Do demons and angels walk around the environment without conflict?

What is the politics of the area like? Is it a monarchy?

Dot. Thinking something like an Urban Ranger/Rogue. Like the Slayer class on steroids.

Could I play a homunculus with the Life Spark template? I could be an awakened construct of of another player with a single class, maybe?

What languages are you likely to run into in Auralis?

Ooh! Looks fun :)
I am going to update (and fix up) this character. Rockjaw is a dwarf armoured hulk (will have to gestalt him with tower shield fighter), he is a dwarf from a line of dwarven stonelords, yet he was the only one not to be touched by the divine, instead he is just a regular dwarf. Humiliated and in an attempt to change this he covers himself with stone and runs headlong into battle. It dosent work an he has gained quite the shame and inner rage at his own failings.

He's a dwarf, tough as stone, covered in stone, and about as impossible to stop as a rolling boulder. And about as loud.
Mechanically he is very durable, lots of hps, decent AC, massive resistances and rage. Offensively he fights with his head, a venerable battering ram, and controlls the field with combat maneuvers, diving squishies and for flanking and headbutting dangerious foes away. I just realized, I built Alistar from league! I did not notice that before!

I also think it would be fun if Serinof builds his dwarfish paladin :) Rockjaw would have a real dwarf paladin paragon to measure up to and fall short of XD
Expecially when his temper gets the better of him

Now I just got to figure out how he got to this planet.
Oh ya, don't ask him to sneak, climb, swim or sing. Just don't. He WILL do that last one >.>

Hi Rednal! This is Rory Dunne's player from The Last Grimoire

I wanted to ask before I got too far into character creation: is Lawful Evil okay? I'd like to play an inquisitor for an evil deity, but his inquisition is only really concerned with those who claim dominion in that deity's domain. That way, as long as no one plays as a follower of a competing deity, there shouldn't be any conflict.

Also what're the deities in this universe? Specifically, is there an evil deity for monsters?

I'm thinking of making a Hungerseed (Tiefling) inquisitor/ranger: basically a skilled hunter of those who would undermine his deity. Part of his backstory would be that he was brought to the city as a slave to sell, but broke free and found refuge and work under Remei, a fellow tiefling, even if she isn't quite so monstrous as he is in his true form.

Hmm, doting for a barbarian rogue build. Should be interesting.

If Super Genius stuff is allowed, do you mind if I use some of their Archetype Packages? They should be on the d20pfsrd.

Found this post while digging back. It should give you a real good idea of his character :)

The door that all of you had entered a good half hour before and from which the Sargent had left shuddered with a resounding BOOOM!

Those with good hearing might have heard a muffled voice from the other side..."Locked by Tundar! A-a-an I is late! Well..."
Another resounding boom and the door splinters and cracks under the weight, Then another. With a third and final Crack, the door gives way and a bolder rolls through followed by two fuming guards.
Guard 1: "I got the damn key right here you Oaf!"
Guard 2: "Headbutting the door down? Seriously!"
Yet the boulder keeps rolling and only as it gets closer and 'stands up' do you realize that there is a dwarf that you hadnt seen at the great hall in the middle of the rough stone, muttering: "late late late..."
Pausing briefly, eyes blinking rapidly, he takes in the group, then utters loudly:
"Rockjaw. Who be you, by Tundar!?"

Now that you get a good look at him, you see a Dwarf clad from head to foot in rough hewed stone so marked with chips and abrasions as to resemble worn stone moreso than the once finely crafted and engraved stoneplate it was. To its side rested a literal slab of stone masquerading as a shield, atop the pile of rocks sat a smaller one inset in a helmet so banged and dented and visably run through with cracks as to draw testament to the hardships it must have endured. Of the rock in its center, a face so smashed and misshappen, with a scowl and dull grey eyes framed by a scarred and bleeding brow blankly looked out over the small group gathered.

Just headbutted my way in :) And hopefully a decent sized dot?
If any of them knew of him before, they would probably know him by some of his more colourful nicknames, Stoneface being the current favorite.

So, was thinking a Shadow Assassin / Spell-less Ranger, possibly Wayang to go with the whole "shadow" vibe ?

@Litany of Curses: The Campaign Info tab has a fair chunk of information you should check if you haven't already. Other than that, in order: Yes, permanent portals, no, maximum +2 in templates unless you also take a -1 for balance (at which point +3 may be viable), the owner scouts people and newer employees listen to older ones, stone buildings with increasing ornamentation in richer districts, they're rarely seen because Auralis is mainly connected to the Inner Sphere (though they tend to be heavily watched while present and five or six of each is normal to have in the city at any given time), I answered that one in the campaign info tab, and "Races: Core or Featured".

@Seranov: Auralis uses Common as the language of its trade. Inner Sphere languages (especially the elemental tongues) are also good to know, and while they won't show up too often, the tongues of the Outer Sphere may also be relevant on occasion.

@TLK: "Alignment: Non-Evil/Backstabbing". XD As for deities, standard Pathfinder stuff (the expanded list, mind you, not just core deities).

@Ptolmaeus: Go ahead. ^^

@Gilthanis: Wayang are Uncommon.

Hmm alchemist barbarian four hands all natural attacks. Don't know what mythic works best for it. Better post later

Neat. I've got most of Jorn's crunch nailed down, now. It's just a matter of building him a background. :)

How much are you actually looking for? A simple explanation of his past, or a more in-depth tale of how he came to be working with Abal's Agency?

2-3 decent paragraphs is enough for their background - Gestalts take time to build, and I don't want you to spend too much effort. XD Characters who get chosen can expand things later.

So crunch is essentually done. I need to finalize a feat and a trait, and choose my non-core equipment then my 420lbs of dwarf and stone is ready to rumble :)
Fluff is more a case of consolidating the information and lore about him together.
A few questions tho. Is it ok to have a stone tower shield? Im only really saving about 18-20 gold to have my weapons made of stone (and paying 300 extra for my armor) and its the thematics i really want, that "literal slab of stone masqurading as a shield" bit :)

I have to decide between spiked destroyer, merciless rush, breaker of bariers, hard headed or improved overrun as my final feat. Some of these have an evil alignment requirement. Can you weigh in on this?

Along with alignment, he was originally a lawful neutral balarbarian. Lawful and adheres to his own code but his temper can get the better of him at times. If not, then ill play a true neutral barbarian who,most of the time adheres to his bound, stern side but struggles with a lack of ordered controll in the midst of battle or when he looses his temper. (aka ill play him the same regardless :p)

Next is his last trait. I am thinking of taking a bred for war via reflavoured adopted trait. Its the only +CMB trait. You ok with this? Otherwise i will take tunnel fighter (more for flavor then its expected use).

I'll bite.

Azten wrote:

You realized, of course, that a gauntlet of sorts gas been thrown? Nature characters handicapped? Mwahahaha!

Oh, uh... dot? Yeah, dot for later. >.>

I think I missed your joke there, I had to google gauntlet of sorts gas and found nothing related.

My ongoing hatred of autocorrect continues...

@Rockjaw: For a Stone Tower Shield, you could make that as per the material. (Half Hardness, Fragile, 25% cost, 75% weight)

For the feats, I would suggest taking things that are not evil. XD There's a reason that alignment restriction is in play... although, technically, you could take the Beyond Morality mythic ability later and nab evil-aligned stuff that way. Just note that the owner of your business has... views... on evil acts. (Remei is CG, Gareth is LN, and Mila is LG)

For alignments, I do believe that Lawful is restricted for Barbarians, and I generally do plan to enforce the rules as written... so yeah, go true neutral. (And remember, Mythic Tier 3 has Beyond Morality, aka "Alignment Restrictions no longer trouble me". Also, I do accept the Retraining Rules...)

Reflavored Bred for War is fine.

Took a look through the third party stuff you mentioned and the White Necromancer looks really fun. Thinking a LN Damphir Urban Ranger/White Necromancer and definitely one of the spell casting mythics.

Currently I am thinking of an Aasimar Brawler/Magus on a quest for ascension.

Very tempting and right up my preferred gaming alley... Given all the bennies (generous build, gestalt, and mythic) I'm inclined to not go fancy on classes and optimizing. I'll be submitting an unconventional Paladin of Sarenrae/Zen Archer Monk. She's more personality than power-gaming and is more of a pragmatic crusader than a holy-roller spouting sacred writ. She doesn't preach, letting her actions speak for her and she has something of a love/hate relationship with her deity.

If any of that raises a red flag for you, please let me know.

The char sheet I'm using here is a high level version of her. I'll tone her down and change the feats/feat order some.

Sounds good to me. ^^ Some degree of pragmatism is quite helpful in Auralis - it would be hard to walk through the marketplace without getting tossed out of the entire city otherwise.

Very interested! This is Malendraenas, Priyya's long-time companion and hunting party (well, once you consider the Animal Companion Talvyra, anyway). I love the style of this game, and if you take a look at the last game these two were in together, I think you'll see why this is such an attractive game for them. :)

I realize Mal is a Druid, but he's really more of a feral military ranger/hunter type with a preference for fighting in Wildshape form. I'm tempted to rebuild him as a Slayer / Druid or Slayer / Hunter to reflect that. He's generally uncomfortable in society, but would follow Priyya anywhere to protect her (not that she'd admit its necessary).

Mal would also make a decent scout, skirmisher, and lock/trap-breaker. :)

Firearms? The current idea I'm kicking around is a Gunslinger (Siege Gunner) / Investigator or Slayer. I have yet to decide.

I'm definitely very hype for this. I've yet to find a gestalt game that actually went far past the recruitment stage.

Firearms are Commonplace. ^^

Shotgun hero is on the way!

Rednal, any limits on how we spend the cash? "No more than half on a single item" or any rules like that?