Edges of the Map (Inactive)

Game Master Timespiraled

"Five cannons that were once used by Golden Epoch pirates to terrorize the Great Sea shipping lanes have been recovered from a wreck that is believed to have belonged to the notorious pirate, Captain Zantares."

"The cannons, one weighing in at almost three thousand pounds are the latest artifacts divers have salvaged from the wreck of the TEMPEST, which was scuttled in the Eleanor River in 1713. Strand's Museum of Histories and Sciences is currently leading the salvaging efforts."

"Since the wreck was uncovered after last week's heavy rains swelled the river, Museum archaeologists, divers and experts have assembled to begin the extraordinary task of raising the wreck from the riverbed to clear the river's shipping lanes. Rumors are in that an elite team has been assembled to head this task."

"The wreck and its contents are to be displayed in the soon to be opened Golden Epoch of Piracy exhibit at the Museum in the coming month."

CAMPAIGN
Edges of the Map is a Pathfinder adventure with strong Indiana Jones, Uncharted, Tomb Raider, and Jules Verne tropes in mind. The adventure is one based on traveling the world, exploring ancient ruins and discovering long lost secrets (and treasure of course).

It takes place on Orbis, a world similar to our own Earth but quite smaller. The adventure takes place in the equivalent of 1850s. Instead of electricity, technology is powered by phlogiston, an element mined throughout the world containing magical properties.

CHARACTER CREATION

• Stats: 20 Point Buy - no scores below 10 before racial adjustments.
  
• Level: 1st
  
• Races: Any Core except Half-Orc, Catfolk, Ratfolk, Ifrit, Oread, Sylph, Undine
  
• Alignment: No evil.
  
• Health: Max HP at every level.
  
• Allowed Material: All Paizo big sourcebook sources allowed. No splatbooks.
  
• Wealth: Starting gold is average for your class.
  
• Traits: 2 Traits taken from the Ultimate Campaign book.
  
• Domain Casters: Choose any 2 domains representing your ideology. There are no Gods in this campaign per say.
  
• Commonplace Guns: While still expensive and tricky to wield, early firearms are readily available. Instead of requiring the Exotic Weapon Proficiency feat, all firearms are martial weapons. Early firearms and their ammunition cost 25% of the amounts listed in this book, but advanced firearms and their ammunition are still rare and cost the full price to purchase or craft.
  

CHARACTER BACKGROUNDS
Choose your character’s point of origin to begin with and we will work together as a group to create interesting backgrounds. In this smaller world, continents are country sized while countries are essentially city-states and surrounding affiliated villages.

I’m looking for characters that would fit well in a globetrotting/pulp adventure type campaign. Someone who would be interested in traveling a world, meeting new people, treasure hunting, etc.

Edenmarch (Europe)
Strand (England) City
Keldanny (Ireland) Island
Loch Aislinn (Scotland) Collection of Villages
Chasserets (France) Collection of Towns
Islif (Iceland/Scandinavian Countries) Collection of Villages

Esperada (North America)
Nuevaluzia (USA) City
Orada (Mexico) City

Cetza (South America)
Soley Islands (Caribbean) Collection of Villages
Tarakona Rainforest (Amazonia) Collection of Villages

Rasad (Africa)
Khetur (Egypt) City
Maqnaa (Subsharan Africa) Collection of Villages

Jiang (Asia)
Aizu (Japan) Collection of Villages
Honshan (China) Collection of Villages
Shiyan (Nepal) Collection of Villages

PLAYER REQUIREMENTS
I expect players to be able to post 1/day during the week and at least once during the weekend.

I am looking for four characters with a good range of diversity in terms of builds. I will not be taking two characters with the same class for example.

What's your GMing experience like? PbPs?

I'm not seeing any other posts on your account under either alias, so are you new to Paizo, or did you create this account just for this campaign?

About the campaign: Are these globe-trotting adventurers the elite team gathered to raise the wreck? If so, are they supposed to be bodyguards or some other role associated with this archaeological expedition?

What's your GMing experience like? PbPs?

I'm not seeing any other posts on your account under either alias, so are you new to Paizo, or did you create this account just for this campaign?

About the campaign: Are these globe-trotting adventurers the elite team gathered to raise the wreck? If so, are they supposed to be bodyguards or some other role associated with this archaeological expedition?

Been playing Pathfinder for years and 3.5 before that (I think I'm at 15 years of playing) but it's my first time trying out the Play by Post in a long time.

Created a new account primarily for this campaign and to hopefully join in and play in some.

I've read a lot of PbPs here on the forums though, and I have a good grasp of how to handle one.

As for the team, yeah they're the "elite team" mentioned. They're not bodyguards, but rather independent contractors of a sort. They'll have ties to Strand's Museum of Histories and Science but will largely have free reign. Think of them as the crew from Disney's Atlantis. A bunch of specialists working for a sponsor.

I've also played part of this campaign in real life before, which helped immensely but the group disbanded.

Are you using any of the following?

Drawbacks? (allows one extra trait)
Background Skills? (This seems especially appropriate to this type of game)
Variant Multi Classing?
Unchained Classes?

Erick here seems appropriate for this type of game. He's an Order of the Tome Honor Guard/Emissary/Musketeer Cavalier. A little gruff, but fits in with the genre pretty much as is (personality and background wise). I'd need to rebuild him per the rules of course. For those who start with firearms, can they start with advanced firearms, or only old style firearms?

@mdt: I'm not using drawbacks or variant multiclassing but I'd allow Unchained Classes (should also mention I'd 100% prefer Unchained Summoner over regular one) and I could be persuaded to use Background Skills if the group agrees since it's a major change.

@Erick: The character sounds grand. Starting firearms should still be early firearms.

(Note both of those is me! Just wanted to show you the character).

It would be nice to decide on the background skills before we build characters, as they'll affect our builds. But I'll see what I can do without the decision.

How are you handling languages?

@mdt: Right, can't believe I forgot languages. (Really wish you could edit original post)

Languages: Common, Racial Languages (Elven, Dwarven, etc), Elemental Languages (Ignan, Aquan, etc.) and then there's Cetzan (Cetza), Rasadin (Rasad) and Jiang as new languages.

I'd rather not throw too many new systems at the game then so let's go with a no for background skills but I'll find some way of making up for it in game.

Count me in as interested.

I'd be interested in joining a have an Ifrit witch idea.
Would it be okay to use mythweavers for the character sheet?

@Fifth: Awesome, if you have any questions let me know.

@Yuri: Mythweavers is fine as long as I can easily reach the sheet at any time.

To clarify, we're starting in the equivalent of Europe/London but we're going to do a lot of globretrotting.

Also, I've considered and I've added Grippli to the acceptable races but you'd have to come from the Cetzan continent.

Very interested, might go for a ifrit mysterious stranger.

After further clarification, the GM actually means all core races are allowed, as well as the other listed races, which are also allowed despite not being core.

@Fifth: Thanks for clearing it up.

To make 100% sure

Allowed Races: Human, Elf, Half-Elf, Halfling, Gnome, Dwarf, Ifrit, Undine, Sylph, Oread, Catfolk, Ratfolk, Grippli

Historian, is there a counterpart for India on Orbis?

@Andostre: Yes actually, it's missing from the Jiang continent. You're looking Jharana and it's one large city.

At this point, I've had a few known friends show interest so I still have 1-2 slots open for other players.

I'll be aiming to begin this weekend if possible.

In that case, I'll go ahead and drop out. Life is a bit busy this week to do a rebuild. Good luck all.

@mdt: Sad to see you drop out, but I understand. No worries.

Sounds interesting.. I'll take a spot if there's one still open.

Sounds like Gunslinger and Witch are taken so far.. An Investigator sounds like it would fit well, or an Archeologists Bard. I've also been wanting to try a Vigilante. Maybe I'll look into that.

@WerePox: I think an interested player wants to play a ratfolk investigator but hasn't posted into the thread just to throw that out for you.

Alrighty, so Gunslinger, Witch, and Investigator have shown iinterest. Do you know of any other classes semi-spoken for? Just not trying to duplicate others is all.

Alrighty, so Gunslinger, Witch, and Investigator have shown iinterest. Do you know of any other classes semi-spoken for? Just not trying to duplicate others is all.

I believe Druid as well actually, but again it's from someone from a Discord I'm on who hasn't staked their claim here on the forums.

Hi, yeah, I'm the person from the Discord who's building a ratfolk investigator for this.

Added the Campaign Guide to the Campaign description. Feel free to chuck worldcrafting questions at me and I'll fill it in.

CHARACTER BACKGROUNDS

Choose your character’s point of origin to begin with and we will work together as a group to create interesting backgrounds.

Historian, I have the crunch for a Human Druid, and I was about to write up the background when I remembered that you posted the above, where you say we'd create the backgrounds as a group. How much of a background do you want for submissions?

Here's my character, sans-background:

Point of origin: He grew up in Jharana, but he's starting out in Maqnaa.

@Andostre: You're welcome to invent up some backstory if you want. Just let me know if you need any background information on just about anything.

I think I've decided to play an Occultist. Seems to fit the storyline I think. Haven't played one before so it will take some time to get it built.

@WerePox47: No worries, let me know if you have any worldbuilding questions.

@Andostre: You're welcome to invent up some backstory if you want. Just let me know if you need any background information on just about anything.

Ok, great! Here's my backstory, then. I made assumptions of the world based on my (imperfect) knowledge of Earth history, but anything that doesn't fit in with the way things are on Orbis can be changed.

This, plus the crunch I posted yesterday are my submission.

Additionally, I want to add that having GMed PbP campaigns (although not on Paizo boards) and having played in various campaigns on the Paizo boards, I am familiar with the routine and I understand the importance of keeping posting momentum going, and I understand it's the responsibility of both the GM and the players.

I've been playing since 1st edition D&D (barely), GMing since 2nd edition, and have been involved in a number of related, continuous PbPs since... dang, since 2006. Those aren't on this board, but I am involved in a fair amount of other PbPs on this board. I'm pretty laid back about the rules as a player, and I enjoy playing flawed characters that aren't supposed to be taken too seriously.

Let me know if there are any questions, and good luck to everyone!

"...Rumors are in that an elite team of first level farmers has been assembled to head this task."
;p

I always got a kick out of first level elites :) it always seemed kinda contradictory X)

Think of them as the crew from Disney's Atlantis. A bunch of specialists working for a sponsor.

Funny. I was actually thinking of using Vinny as inspiration to create a demolitions themed character :)

I need your OK on something tho, would it be alright if I created a Human Alchemical Trapper Alchemist?
He creates bombs and such to access hard-to-reach areas. Eventually getting things like Underwater bombs, Rocket bombs or Explosive Missile for his gun.
Fits the concept of a specialist ^_^

This is Werepox47 character. Crunch is under his profile. He still needs some review and a backstory.

@Andostre: Pretty complete backstory there, definitely a lot to work with.

@Gobo: I can survive knowing that alchemical trapper is used by a non-kobold. You have my permission.

@Horatio: looking solid.

@Andostre: Pretty complete backstory there, definitely a lot to work with.

Thanks. I tend to prefer brief backstories, but I had a lot that I wanted to work in there.

Working on backstory today. Just a question but have you considered using Automatic Progression Bonus?

I'd rather not throw too many new systems at the game then so let's go with a no for background skills but I'll find some way of making up for it in game.

Background Skills are different than merely giving more skill points, not the same freedom, and the list can always be edited at the GM discretion, like "perform isn't a background skill for Bard", "Craft Alchemy isn't a background skill for Alchemists", "Knowledge History won't be a background skill" etc... this can help the Skill points starving classes like fighter, especially at 20 PB no dump stats.

The Historian wrote:

I'd rather not throw too many new systems at the game then so let's go with a no for background skills but I'll find some way of making up for it in game.

Background Skills are different than merely giving more skill points, not the same freedom, and the list can always be edited at the GM discretion, like "perform isn't a background skill for Bard", "Craft Alchemy isn't a background skill for Alchemists", "Knowledge History won't be a background skill" etc... this can help the Skill points starving classes like fighter, especially at 20 PB no dump stats.

I understand that. Thank you but I'm still not using them.

Working on backstory today. Just a question but have you considered using Automatic Progression Bonus?

I have not but will look into it.

My experience with it is that it makes loot alot easier on the GM, but is cartainly not neccessary.

My experience with it is that it makes loot a lot easier on the GM, but is certainly not necessary.

It's starting to grow on me, I'd need to take a longer look and see how it changes wealth by level. I'm all for allowing more interesting items to be used instead of the Mandatory Shopping List.

I've got a decent start to his backstory, but im still alittle unsure of things with not knowing much of the world. Would you mind reading what I have so far and see if you can give me a couple of pointers on making it better based off the camp setting?

I've got a decent start to his backstory, but im still alittle unsure of things with not knowing much of the world. Would you mind reading what I have so far and see if you can give me a couple of pointers on making it better based off the camp setting?

I can definitely do that. Again, ask questions and check the Campaign Guide linked at the top for ideas.

As a Loch Aislinn born half-elf and an Occultist, you might have been attracted to Loch Aislinn castle ruins, the Four Fingers (think standing monoliths slightly akin to Stonehenge) or the ancestral history (including some fairly significant battles, curses and occultism) of the Loch Aislinn clans.

Is the Phantom Thief archetype from Ultimate Intrigue allowed? I've been scanning over stuff on the SRD and it caught my eye--would work fantastic with my concept, but I don't want to jump the gun and I've never seen that book before. I've been lax on keeping up with Paizo stuff of late so I dunno.

Is the Phantom Thief archetype from Ultimate Intrigue allowed? I've been scanning over stuff on the SRD and it caught my eye--would work fantastic with my concept, but I don't want to jump the gun and I've never seen that book before. I've been lax on keeping up with Paizo stuff of late so I dunno.

Intrigue is a big book so it's fine with me. There is still a rather high amount of dungeon delving, tomb raiding and high octane adventure and while there is roleplay and social areas, the adventuring is still the high point. Think Indiana Jones for example.

But if you want to go for it, go for it.

I still haven't made my final choice on which players I'm choosing, though I'm nearing a decision. I have 2 slots already filled, so I'll be picking anywhere between 2 to 3 other players.

Melusine du Tromblon, a [just saw tiefling is out] spellslinger (future unchained rogue multiclass) from Chasserets. She has a tendency towards naval piracy and general treasure hunting. More to come

If everyone is getting proficiency with guns, would the spellslinger get something else to replace exotic weapon proficiency?

Melusine du Tromblon, a [just saw tiefling is out] spellslinger (future unchained rogue multiclass) from Chasserets. She has a tendency towards naval piracy and general treasure hunting. More to come

If everyone is getting proficiency with guns, would the spellslinger get something else to replace exotic weapon proficiency?

Everyone does not get proficiency with firearms, no. Instead, Firearms become martial weapons so instead of Exotic Weapon Proficiency the Spellslinger would get Martial Weapon Proficiency.

I'd need the full statblock before being able to consider Melusine for selection.

I'm aiming to select my final group within the next 24 hours or so.

Hey TerrorOfDeath submission here.

Working out some details, should have an alias up shortly.

Here we go. Origin point=Khetur. A few basic backstory elements that are still general enough to weave together with others, a crunched-out character ready to go...and all you gotta do is approve it.

I love Mythweavers...so helpful.