Greetings! I am currently recruiting two or three players for a D&D game using the 3.5 edition rules, set in the Expedition to the Ruins of Castle Greyhawk adventure module. Starting character level is 8, so you will be creating new characters at that level, with some starting magical gear as well. Note that this adventure has already started, but it has not advanced very far at all. The new recruits will be joining four other players, who began the adventure some two years ago. Before I go into further detail about character creation and rest of the party, I’d like to introduce how this game came to be on the Paizo board in the first place.
As a long-time player and GM for another play-by-post board called d20 World of Greyhawk, that has been around for 20 years or so, I have decided to move my ongoing adventures to the Paizo board for two big reasons.
First, our pbp board started with EZBoard, then it became Yuku in 2008 - which resulted in many problems, not the least of which was the loss of countless numbers of posts where entire chunks of pbp stories were lost forever. We got through it though, and only recently when Yuku became Tapatalk did many folks on our happy board begin to get really upset. There have been only a few instances of data loss, but mostly it's the style of the board that folks don't like. Switching between profiles is a real pain, and though the board has a couple of high points that, as a GM I find quite helpful, the majority of the changes are a real pain to deal with.
Second, over the years our group of dedicated players have seen new ones come, and others go. Unfortunately, the latter category is larger than the first, and attrition has taken its toll. There are now probably upwards of only ten or twelve active players left on the board. And when these long-term adventures see a great deal of turnover like this, it tends to disturb the momentum and flow of the game and slows things down even more than usually seen in a play-by-post game. Which is why most of my games have been lingering for years with very slow activity.
So, in moving to the Paizo board, I am hoping to recruit more players to join, and based on my experiences thus far on Paizo (I’ve been playing PFS, SFS and a couple other games here over the past several months) I am hoping that an infusion of new, experienced pbp gamers will help revitalize my adventures and get them moving again.
All that said, any players interested in joining this adventure will be creating 8th level characters from scratch. Character creation uses a very simple point buy system using base 8 scores and adding 25 points (not weighted) to a maximum score of 18, and minimum 8 score. Racial modifiers are not added to this, though such modifiers will allow a ‘new’ character to start with a score of higher than 18 or lower than 8 using the 25 points you are given. For instance, when you create your elf character, you can subtract 2 points from CON to give yourself a pool of 27 points, and then use 12 of those to make your DEX 20, but you cannot use more than 10 points to get your INT score to 18. And of course you will get to add another 2 points during creation, due to ability score increases at 4th and 8th level – which can also raise your scores beyond 18 (or even 20 in the above example). Here is a list of allowed sourcebooks, and a few ‘house rules’ regarding character races and classes. Once your character is created, you can spend up to 27k gp on magic items as you’d like, and/or allow me to bestow randomly determined magic items upon you that might deviate from that amount by no more than 2 or 3k either up or down.
A character history would also be nice, especially if related to the campaign world of Greyhawk, and if I get more players looking to join the adventure than I need, I will probably use such as a tie-breaker rather than using a lottery or first-come first-served. If you have the time and inclination to do so, you can also read the entire adventure that has spanned the last two real years (and probably two weeks in game time) right here. I definitely will give extra consideration to players who tie their background story into the adventure history thus far.
Lastly, the four players from the d20 WoG board that are migrating along with this adventure to Paizo are Glorb (Gnome Bard 7 / Rogue 2), Morrow (Human Duskblade 5 / Abjurant Champion 3), Wakandah (Human Wizard 8) and Karieth (Elf Ranger 7). When creating characters for this adventure, I’d ask new players to try and chose other roles beyond those that are currently covered. Obviously a cleric or other healer would be a very nice addition!
If you have questions about creating your characters or anything else with regards to the game, please post them here. I'd like to keep the Gameplay thread clear until we start the game. Thanks!
I am assuming druid and master of many forms are allowed?
Consider me interested...just have to dust off my 3.5ed gears...
Master of Many Forms is definitely allowed. Most of the adventure is underground, if that makes a difference at all.
Not at all i am highly interested will get a character done in the next day or 2
This has piqued my interest as well! I think I still have some of my old 3.5 characters around here somewhere...
EDIT: I actually have an old 3.5 character who was in an old Homebrew 3.5 game many years ago. His name is Reonnyn, a 7th level halfling swashbuckler/warlock. HERE is his profile for review. Let me know if he is suitable for the campaign, if not then I will create someone else :)
This has piqued my interest as well! I think I still have some of my old 3.5 characters around here somewhere...
EDIT: I actually have an old 3.5 character who was in an old Homebrew 3.5 game many years ago. His name is Reonnyn, a 7th level halfling swashbuckler/warlock. HERE is his profile for review. Let me know if he is suitable for the campaign, if not then I will create someone else :)
Nice! The only thing I see off-hand is that you'd have to adjust the ability scores down quite a lot, in order to meet the 25 point buy I use and then make the necessary adjustments to skills, attacks, saves, etc. You can also feel free to level the character up to 8 if you'd like - which would actually bring the point buy you'd be using up to 27. Beyond that, at first glance the character looks great and I'd like to have players with an attachment to their characters - which is sometimes hard to come by when you create a higher level PC.
I have a several characters i would have to tweak
Nice! The only thing I see off-hand is that you'd have to adjust the ability scores down quite a lot, in order to meet the 25 point buy I use and then make the necessary adjustments to skills, attacks, saves, etc. You can also feel free to level the character up to 8 if you'd like - which would actually bring the point buy you'd be using up to 27. Beyond that, at first glance the character looks great and I'd like to have players with an attachment to their characters - which is sometimes hard to come by when you create a higher level PC.
Great to hear GM West! Should he be selected I can certainly make the desired changes you requested, and also tweak his background to a Greyhawk flavor.
Now to figure out what class level to take for 8th...Hmmm...
Here I was hoping this would be the one where we fight food based monsters. ;)
Interested and will see what I can come up with.
I am thinking Cleric of Dalt/Thief
Thinking druid/master of many forms or shifter or a warmage maybe a favored soul. Have you ever looked at the green ronin shaman?
Never heard of Green Ronin Shaman, but a quick google search notes it as being outside of the accepted sourcebooks.
As I am effectively mixing players from the Paizo board with players from the d20 World of Greyhawk board, I am desiring to keep the same restrictions in place on that board for this game as well - thus the 25 point buy and the list of acceptable sourcebooks.
But the warmage and the favored soul (as well as the druid/master of many forms) should be just fine. Same with shifter, if it is in that list.
Also, as a healer would be well-received, that will probably weigh into my selection of players to join this adventure. And again, character background and a Greyhawk-themed flavor would be nice to see as well - though neither are required.
Glad to see such interest so far! I really like this adventure module and was hoping to revive it here on Paizo. Looks like I may get my wish. :)
I'll dot here as well. I'm thinking that I will make a Dragon Shaman. I didn't see a list of allowed races, but since the Monster Manual is an approved source, would Kobold be an allowed race?
Sorry Vrog, monster player characters aren't allowed. Only races from the PHB and their sub-racial variants (if any) from those splatbooks I linked to above.
Okay.
So I assume that your game will pick up with the remaining group looking for new adventurers and trying to figure out what the deal is with the robe?
I will throw my name in the hat, I will re-create my Human cleric that I had in living grayhawk games named Hawk. I should have him done by the end of tonight.
Would you allow me to take the battle blessing feat from Complete Champion? I know it's not on the approved list, but the guidelines do say to ask about other books on a case-by-base basis.
I will have to create this one instead of Hawk, since the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer is not park of you book list and that is where I got the god Phaulkon from.
Buckshot, we definitely use the LGG for gods and other details of the campaign world. It's the feats, prestige classes, variant rules, etc that the approved splatbooks are for (and the LGG doesn't have those sorts of things anyway, dating back to 2e rules as it does.) In fact, the d20 WoG board has a list of 'Approved' deities here, and Phaulkon is indeed among them. :)
Vrog, after taking a look at that feat I have no problem with it. Feel free to use that one. The adventure will pick up pretty much where my summary narrative leaves off in the Gameplay thread. The rescued priest has asked to meet those who saved him, which the party can do if they wish or they can head straight back to the ruined tower or do something else entirely while in the great city of Greyhawk. The robe was taken by the priests of Boccob's temple, as they intended to study it further and determine how to heal their brother. The adventurers may, of course, request that it be returned to them.
Oh, ok I am finishing up on this one and besides it looks like you are covered with ranged and need something like a tank in the group which Verdan can be with the heavy armor. It will be done tonight.
Finishing up my character shortly. Making a paladin 8.
A paladin and a tank (cleric of Phaulkon?) would be very fine additions to the group. Is our druid still around and interested? Or the swashbuckler/warlock halfling? I'd like to recruit three brave souls for this one, to join the current group.
Reonnyn is still very much interested!
Did you want a back stories on why we are on the way to Castle Greyhawk?
Never mind, just needed to read the whole intro.
Verdan destroyer of undead is at your service.
I am working tonight and tomorrow will get the druid posted asap
Still working on her but this is my start
GM, when will you be closing the recruitment?
GM, when will you be closing the recruitment?
I'm hoping this weekend! Consider yourself in and Reonnyn as well. I'd like to see completed character sheets for David Barker's Druid and Vrog's Paladin before figuring out who the third will be.
Thanks for inviting me along GM West! I am currently reworking Reonnyn to your specifications and I should be done this evening.
Please review him to make sure I didn't miss anything :)
Will do! I'll notify the players from the other board that we are starting up again, so hopefully we'll see some activity starting this week in the Gameplay section. Feel free to introduce your character as you see fit, but if you'd like advice or feedback (or some GM help) feel free to ask here or in Discussion. Thanks for applying, and I'm really happy to see this adventure re-launch. I was excited to start it and I'm glad it's got a new breath of life.
GM can you surprise me with gear for the druid
Thank you
Ok I think I have Reonnyn finished now. I am not sure how you are doing HP so I will wait for your answer before generating them.
I will look over the game thread this weekend and make an intro post then. Looking forward to this :)
Sorry about the delay; between the flu and having no internet the last couple of days, it's been a good week =,(
Since my internet is down at my apartment, I'm typing this at work before I leave for the evening, and I will likely not have internet access this weekend. I will likely drop in on my phone, but I might not be able to respond with too much veracity.
I wasn't sure how we're doing HP, so I left that part blank. Other than that, I should be good to go.
Without further ado, I give you
LG Human (Rhenee) Paladin of Celestian 8
STR 12/14
DEX 10
CON 14
INT 8
WIS 17/19
CHA 14/16
HP
AC 23 (10 base +0 dex +9 armor +3 shield +1 deflection), T 11, FF 22
BAB 8
INIT +0
FORT +11
REF +5
WILL +9
Speed 20' (30')
Skills: Concentration r11 +16, Knowledge (Planes) r5 +5, Knowledge (Religion) r1 +1
Feats: Battle Blessing, Disciple of the Sun, Improved Toughness, Skill Focus (Concentration)
Class Features: Aura of Good, Detect Evil (At-Will), Smite Evil (2/day; +cha mod to hit and Paladin level to damage), Divine Grace, Lay on Hands (24 hp/day), Aura of Courage, Aura of Health, Turn Undead (5th level cleric; 3/day), Special Mount, Remove Disease 1/Week
Spell DC: 13+Level
Spells/Day: -/2/1
Languages: Common, Rhopan
Equipment: +2 Periapt of Wisdom, +2 Cloak of Charisma, +1 Fullplate, +1 Heavy Shield, +1 Longsword, +1 Ring of Protection, Gauntlets of Ogre Power, Lesser Rod of Extend Spell x2, Wand of Cure Light Wounds (50 Charges), 120 GP
Why most paladins are called after years of serving in the church, those who serve Celestian often find themselves empowered during their travels. More than one merchant or caravan guard has found himself a holy warrior of Celestian after they went out of their way to protect the roads and pathways that travelers use to move in peace.
Joryn was one such paladin. Active in his clan's Caravan, during an attack by Gnoll bandits, Joryn heard the sound of a pure chime ringing. During the battle, he found that against those who held ill intent in their heart he was like a cleaving storm.
Shortly after that, Joryn discovered the other thing that all Paladins of Celestian have: a deep and abiding desire to see new things. Bidding his family farewell, Joryn took the surname Lightbringer and made his way into the world, always seeming to arrive just when he would be needed most.
Oh HP! Yes, at 1st level you get full HP, every level thereafter you roll the hit die and if you roll less than half, you get half automatically.
Go ahead and roll them here in recruitment, and then just add them to your character sheet.
Once I see the druid character, I'll decide between the paladin and the druid for the 3rd and final character. Though if anyone from the original board doesn't make the transition to this one, I'll wind up taking all four of you.
OOK here is my roll:
Looks like the total is 54.
Hit points
So the '2' turns into a '4' and total becomes 50
the 2 and 3 should become 4s so her total hp should be 58
I'm going to take the paladin character into the adventure. Vrog, I'm figuring you'll make an alias for Joryn once you have good connectivity again?
Loren, I will be in touch should another opening occur in the near future for this adventure. I do thank you for your interest! Also, I'm going to be moving a couple other adventures to this board, including a 3.5e Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil and a Pathfinder Slumbering Tsar Saga adventure and will be looking for a few brave souls in the next month or so. PM me if you're interested and I'll give you first dibs on either of those, if you're interested.
My internet should be back up when I get home, but I'll get an alt created shortly.
EDIT: and here he is. Rolling HP below:
taking half for 4 of those will put my HP to 69.
5/23/19 - Looking for two players to fill some holes in the party. A fighter type and an arcane type would be great! Be sure to read the very first post in this thread for further details.
DOT.
Two Rangers, a Cleric, a Swashbuckler/Warlock, and a Wizard.
Are you allowing submissions from the Book of Nine Swords? If so I'd be interested in playing a Warblade.
If not, I'd be interested in playing a Cleric of Boccob or a Paladin of St. Cuthbert. As the setting is post Greyhawk Wars, I'd also be interested in playing a Wizard who was an apprentice of one of teh Deceased Circle of 8.
Let me know which of these potential submissions intrigues you most GM.
Hey that's awesome - greetings to the both of you!
Daniel, I'm not familiar with the Forcemage. Is that a homebrew? That's the only reference I found in a quick google search. I'd probably have to disallow the class choice if it's homebrew, unfortunately.
Shadow, the same goes for the Warblade. Couldn't find that class except for a homebrew description. A paladin of St. Cuthbert would be a great choice, but the wizard sounds intriguing as well. Either one would be a welcome addition to the party.