Okay, here's what I'm thinking for character creation:
30 point buy
Full HP at first level, and roll for the subsequent levels, taking half if you roll less than that. (i.e. results of 1 to 5 on a d12 becomes 6.)
Any race, any class--I'll even open it up to third-party materials, subject to review of course. I'll probably use some spherecasters in the game.
Starting at 5th level
I'd also like to use a variation of the Pathways system for helping us collaborate on some characters/themes for the game. Sound good to you? Any questions?
I am pondering a fetchling Shadow Caller.
A thing of darkness obsessed with discovering the truth and light. A race of shadows and mist but his mind is dedicated to solid truth and fact.
I am thinking LG but not lawful stupid. Is that a problem for you?
Thoughts?
Also, Pathways sounds fine, once you explain how it'll work.
Ooo, that sounds pretty neat. No problem at all with LG when played well, and I rather suspect you'll play it well.
Gameplay thread is up. I'll explain Pathways tomorrow when it's not past my bedtime. XD
Oh, Background Skills and Automatic Bonus Progression will be in-play, as well.
Okay, so, Pathways. The basic idea of Pathways is to interweave character creation, backstory, and campaign brainstorming. Which isn't a very clear description. Let me try again.
We're going to be using a hack of a hack of the original Pathways system, which I *think* was used for a Smallville RPG system. The original incarnation and the hack I've linked both interweave character creation (stats) with backstory generation. In our case, we're not going to have any mechanical links between the relationships, themes, and characters added to the Pathways document and your actual stats, so it's more of a pure backstory/setting generation exercise.
You should have gotten an invite earlier to a new Google Drawings document--I've also linked it in the campaign header. On this document, we'll add shapes (which represent PC's, NPC's, Themes, and MacGuffins) and links (arrows between the shapes, which represent the relationships between elements). The Pathways process consists of a number of steps, in which we each can place a certain number of shapes and define a certain number of links between them. If you look at the document, I've added your shapeshifting cat companion, Bellis, and a link between him and the mysterious collar he wears. I'll explain the steps as we go (once I'm home from work and can look at the page again).
The idea is, by the time we're done, we'll have a web of characters, themes, and items that will be important to the campaign, with a basic framework of relationships between them. Does that make sense?
For now, once you've decided on a name for your character, go to the Pathways document and add a square with your character's name. I'll describe the first step once I get home.
So basically a physical version of the relationships and interplay I imagine in my head for every game. Ok, I can do that.
Will work on my fetchling today, if I have time. I have much of the fluff in mind.
What do you think of a worshiper of Shelyn?
Also, fetchling will flavor whatever planar stuff you have planned.
A Shelynite would be great--I actually have a Shelynite kitsune warpriestess that I'm rather fond of.
A lover of color and art from a black world that lack both. A man who sees the Material plane as a land of potential, with laws and order in embryo. While it may not live up those high standards, it is much better this home plane. He views his investigation work as merely an extension of that, personal attempts to make this world a better place. He has taken his lineage, the dark and twisted Shadow Plane, and bent it to serve his needs and that of good.
Still not sure what his ediolon will be like or any of that.
Sounds like a great character outline to me.
This is my outline of your... 'partner' in the Private Investigator business, Bellis the shapeshifting cat. Thing. He's possibly more of a mystery than most of the cases you take, and seems to take a certain pleasure in encouraging all kinds of wild theories about himself without giving enough information to confirm or debunk any of them.
Still, when the chips are down, he always comes through, and you're pretty sure he's got a good heart underneath all of the snark and sarcasm. Sound like a fun pair?
I have to ask, what kind of books does he like to read? Also, I own four cats so a cat friend works for me!
I think I might make it a side thing where I am always trying to guess what place/time/plane/planet is he from.
I'm actually mildly allergic to cats, so I've never really observed them for long periods of time. So if Bellis ever does something that seems non-cat-like... I'll just blame it on him not actually being a cat. :D
I am planning on Bellis being a mystery you slowly unravel over the course of the game. Hopefully I'll be able to make it as interesting as it seems in my head.
Bellis asks for a dizzying variety of books. Texts on ancient Osirion, books on magical theory, the latest awful vaguely novel-like products of hack authors, classics of literature, collections of children's stories, books of Tien poetry... it's safe to say his curiosity knows no bounds. About the only patterns you've spotted are that he favors fiction over non-fiction slightly and that he often wants titles having a connection to topics that came up during your latest investigation if something caught his interest.
Also, can you please put the Kazmir game into inactive so it doesn't appear in my game list?
Thanks!
I should have time to build the summoner tonight.
All right, so, Pathways. Here are the symbols we'll be using:
Protagonist (Square): This is used for PCs. All PCs are placed in the center of the page and are automatically connected to one another.
Secondary Character (Circle): This is used for NPCs. These NPCs should typically be neither antagonistic nor completely helpful: they are not the players’ enemies (that’s antagonists, below) but they will often have their own goals and serve as foils.
Theme (Triangle): This is a one or two word theme, typically a very broad noun like “Ostracism,” “Fear,” “Sacrifice,” “Forgiveness,” and so on. The intent is to give the GM ideas as to what concepts are central to the game when planning scenarios.
Macguffin (Pentagon/Shield): This is an important item or element that will drive the plot by frequent attempts to obtain or use it. It can be something powerful but specific (Mjolnir, Cap’s Shield) or something broadly important (the Odinforce, the Super Soldier Formula). It should not be something easily destroyed. It might also sometimes be an important location; in this case, draw the symbol as a diamond.
Antagonist (Hexagon): This is a character or group with goals the create conflict with the PCs. They might not be villains as such, but they will always have an agenda that causes them to be at odds with the protagonists.
A few other rules and tips:
Themes cannot have outgoing arrows, only incoming arrows. The label for this arrow is the name of the Distinction so created.
Other players and the GM might draw arrows from other nodes to any protagonist, but only the player of that character can draw outgoing arrows (i.e., only the player can define how his PC feels about other nodes). With the above rule, this means that only the player can connect his own PC to themes.
Each node can only have a single outgoing connection to any other node (i.e., it can’t have two different relationships with the same element).
Unlike Smallville, when a player draws an arrow from his protagonist, he does not get to draw and define a reciprocal relationship for free: if he wants to control both sides of the relationship, he’ll need to spend another connection before another player or the GM decide to spend one to define it first.
Remember that placing something means giving it a node type and an interesting name, but the other players can and will define it by creating connections, and the GM will ultimately stat it and use it based on those connections. Don’t get your heart set on a thorough definition for an item as soon as you place it: something cool sounding but vague will likely be enhanced by other player input.
I'll add one additional one, since there's only the two of us:
Whenever a step says to place a node or a link, you may place two if you wish. This will give us more material to work with.
Any questions? The first step is pretty simple:
1 Add a Theme (Triangle).
2 Draw an arrow from your protagonist to any Theme.
I present, Zota Greyblood.
Not sold on avatar but I had three fetchling ones to choose from. Zota has hair, black but shimmering with iridescence in the right light.
I have updated the Pathways thing!
I am still building him, summoners take a long time. I am still totally undecided about the flavor of the edilion.
Also, as a Shadow Caller some of the creatures I am forced to summon are evil, can I get a GM dispensation to still summon them as long as I use them for good purposes?
Make sure to label your links to describe what the relationship means.
No problem taking your time on the build--I still need to build Bellis.
Okay, so here's the next step:
Add a Secondary Character (Circle).
Add a Macguffin (Pentagon).
Draw an arrow from your protagonist to any Circle or Pentagon.
Draw an arrow from any Circle or Pentagon to any protagonist.
Draw an arrow from any Circle or Pentagon to any Circle, Pentagon, or Triangle.
Remember you can place two if you want.
How does that look?
You can only see shadowy outlines. Bookshelves along the walls, a writing desk in a corner, piles of scrolls and notes. Cabinets filled with barely discernible objects, all carefully labeled. Paintings and artistic fabrics hang on the walls as well, more vague impressions then reality.
Draped over the carved mantlepiece is a cat with a red collar, eyes glittering in the gloom. It ponders you gravely, tail lost among the scattered shapes on the mantlepiece.
In a corner, legs outstretched is a man, or something like a man. He is long and lean, wearing close fitting clothes made of leather and dark cloth, merely an extension of the shadows. The little skin you can see is dusky, like chalk dust mixed charcoal. The face is a mystery, wreathed in darkness, both natural and magical. He has no hood and his long black hair hangs down to his shoulders, an oily, iridescent sheen to it, catching the light like a raven's wing.
His long, delicate fingers are in front of him, toying with a long piece of string. He creates cradles, hammocks, intricate knots with the pale lines, then with a quick shake of the hands they fall apart, undone again.
This is Zota Greyblood, solver of a thousand crimes, the helper of the poor, the last refuge of the helpless, the hopeless. A man who is rumored to come from the Shadow Plane itself, exiled here, and has dedicated himself to the law and order Absalom so often lacks.
The head tilts up, and his pale eyes catch yours, seeming to be the brightest points in the room. ”And what might be your problem?”
Oooo, fun! I do like the scene.
Let's see, my turn for Pathways now... it may take me a bit, as this weekend's been busy. I'll let you know when it's your turn again.
All right, I've done my steps. Here's what's next:
Think about your character’s personal ethics/code and desires. Add one (or two) of the following:
A Theme (Triangle) if your character is defined by an Ethos
A Secondary Character (Circle) if your character is motivated by Love
A Macguffin (Pentagon) if your character is in pursuit of an Item
Then:
Draw an arrow from your protagonist to any Theme.
Draw an arrow from any valid node to any protagonist.
Draw an arrow from any Circle, Pentagon, or Hexagon to any Circle, Pentagon, Hexagon, or Triangle.
Will do.
Eidilon is on my alias page! Rest of it is done, just needs turned into text.
Updated Pathways!
Ok, Zota's page is done. Might be a few small errors, but nothing big.
Just a few bits of mundane equipment.
We can start whenever you like!
It's probably going to be Monday or Tuesday next week. It's about bed time for me. :D
Works for me.
I've added a few more facts Zota has figured out about Bellis to his alias here.
I've updated Pathways, but the next step will have to wait until I'm home again.
I think I'm ready to start the first case, though. I have just one question--how easy is Zota to find? Does he have a sign on his front door saying 'Zota Greyblood, Private Investigator', or is he more discreet?
Maybe not quite a sign, but after having helped many people in minor cases, word of mouth will get you to his place rather easily.
Ah, one other thing about Bellis--while Zota has seen him take humanoid forms, he's never assumed the form of an actual human. Or dwarf, or elf, or anything normal like that. His humanoid forms always tend to be animal-like, somehow.
Now we find out how good I am at giving enough clues for you to solve the mystery without leading you along by the nose or giving so many it's obvious right from the start.
It is a hard line to walk. I ran a murder mystery game once, on these forums. We did three murders, three different mysteries. It went pretty well, but I did have to walk that line.
Also, as a Shadow Caller some of the creatures I am forced to summon are evil, can I get a GM dispensation to still summon them as long as I use them for good purposes?
I realized I never answered this question. I'd allow you to say they're constructs of shadows that just happen to function exactly like the evil creature, if you'd prefer.
Roughly where does Zota live in Absalom? Which district and roughly where in the district? (I believe the pathfinderwiki page has a map of Absalom, if you don't have access to it otherwise.)
That works for me.
I'd imagine in the Docks, in the basement of some tavern or other.
Okay, here's the next Pathways step:
Think about your character’s plans for the future and why he or she continues to fight. Add one of the following:
A Theme (Triangle) if your character pursues an Ideal
A Secondary Character (Circle) if your character is supporting a Group
A Macguffin (Pentagon) if your character is in pursuit of Knowledge
Then:
Draw an arrow from your protagonist to any Theme.
Draw an arrow from your protagonist to any Circle, Pentagon, or Hexagon.
Draw an arrow from any Circle, Pentagon, or Hexagon to any Circle, Pentagon, Hexagon, or Triangle.
Done!
All right, we're almost done with Pathways, and it looks like we've got some interesting possibilities. I'd like to do one last custom step to finish up:
Create two links between any valid nodes
I'll do likewise, and then we'll be done!
Done!
Some good stuff here....
Indeed. I'll have to start plotting out the secrets behind some of these hints...
What did you think of it, by the way? I think it's an interesting form of structured brainstorming for a campaign.
I am curious to see how it works...
We'll see how well I'm able to use it. XD Though of course, feel free to reference characters and such from it, yourself.
I will do so, and try not to step on plans you have!
Please, don't blind me and take my class levels!
Don't worry, I'll find a more creative way to torture Zota. >:D
Sorry, work has been busy the last few days...
*finds a hungry dragon*
Am I being dense GM? I don't want to just go home, but I don't see any threads....
I think I'm being entirely too clever. Sorry. Let me fix that.
What did I do wrong?
Nothing, I'm just still figuring out how to do this well.
I have not forgotten the ring I have in my pocket.
It doesn't match the description, if you're wondering.
Also, this is about all you can learn at present. Consider it foreshadowing.
Huh, did you mean that section to be so short? Was expecting I'd have to travel to the Plane of Fire or something for that guy.
Yeah, this was supposed to be a shorter, more 'normal' mystery... but with hints at bigger things moving.
Sorry I kept pushing then!