GM Aest's The Vaults of Padiskar (Inactive)

Game Master Aest

Hi all. This is for chatting about characters, roles, spell selection, etc., as well as off-topic stuff. Have fun!

You can dot and delete in gameplay, it will still show in your campaigns.

Since we did it in character, what do you think of starting the gameplay with the interviews?

Yeah, I could do that. It'd mean a handwaved 1-week ship voyage, but since I was going to do that anyways...

Hi guys :)

Since we haven't started yet would it be ok if we did some tweaking? Like, I noticed that we all put points into Diplomacy. We could shift some of that to bluff/intimidate.

The only knowledge skill we're missing is Engineering. Colonel Tipper, if you want to pick it up I'll move points to pick up what you dropped.

Please do make whatever adjustments you'd like to your characters. I'd prefer you be happy with what you're playing.

Sure, I will move the point from Knowledge Planes to Engineering. Easier to explain why he would have Engineering than Planes.

My social skills are basically at the aid another level. Not high enough to be the lead face man on any of it.

I'll drop Diplomacy, then. Bluff seems like more of a thing for a secret agent anyway. Also, pretty much the same with the social skills.

I think Raseed's going to be our main face guy. I took a point out of diplomacy to max out spellcraft.

I've never seen a Medium in play before, I'm looking forward to seeing it in action.

I have actually never played with any of the occult classes, and I was expecting the first one to be the Kineticist. Seems like we have a nice and well-rounded party.

I'll keep Raseed's diplomacy as it is and knowledge religion but I'm happy to swap around any other skills.

Unless any of your characters have qualms about spirit talking Raseed will have been inviting you to take part in a séance each morning (channelling the Champion spirit so you have +2 to damage).

I'll fill in my profile after work today.

I've never played a Medium before or really looked at one but I loved the Binder and the radiance house Occultist so wanted to try it out. Looks versatile and hard to mess up without being too powerful.

Investigator, Medium, Cleric (of Sarenrae, hi!), and a Brawler. We're really nicely spread and balanced.

Is there a template you want us to follow? Most GMs want vital statistics in the header, but what qualifies tends to change a bit from one to the next.

Hmm, official party lurker, checking in... I'm really looking forward to reading along with this one.

Hmm

Raseed's header is fine, and really, has more information than I need. race/class/defenses/initiative is enough for me. As long as that's all there, I'm content with anything else you may want to add.

I'll have a first post up either tonight or more likely tomorrow. It was a real day at work, and I'm decompressing a bit first.

Decompress first.

Tomorrow is fine by me.

I'll be able to post today until about 11pm gmt and after that if there's post i'll reply first thing in the morning (7am) so if there's a flurry of activity sorry for holding us back but go ahead without me and i'll catch up! sorry but i need an early night, it's been a looooong day!

Hi question about the medium's spirits.

I think by RAW the Medium can choose different spells known each time he channels the Archmage spirit and can choose a different set of skills each time he channels the Trickster and a different exotic weapon each time he channels the Champion etc.

Would you rather I just take fixed skills and spells etc. attached to the relics and put them into my profile?

I'm fine with you choosing different abilities if you're okay with taking the time to choose them each time. If a "default set" that you can modify as needed would be easier, feel free to build them, but otherwise, you can select at well.

As a confession, I don't know most of the Occult classes that well yet. I've looked over them all, but the only one I've really investigated is the Mesmerist, so I'm trusting you to play within the Medium's rules.

I'll play nice!

I was asking because I was going to offer to help aboard ship by asking the captain he she had something belonging to a sailor who used to work on the ship and channeling their spirit, but didn't want to be locked in to Profession: Sailor and Climb for the Trickster spirit.

I think I'll create a default set of abilities for the most part though, just for ease of use.

Turns out as a Relic Channeler I can't choose different abilities each time, which makes sense.

"Once a relic channeler selects a choice for taboos and spirit powers (such as archmage arcana and legendary champion), those choices remain in effect every time she channels that legend; unlike normal mediums, she can't select a different option each time."

I'd originally intended to have the party start offshore from Padiskar with Gauri. Most of the ship's journey could be handwaved if you'd prefer, since I don't really have anything planned for it.

@Raseed: Glad you caught that. Now that you point it out, I remember skimming the archetype, but not looking too seriously at it.

I don't mind hand-waving the trip, but wouldn't object to a bit more role-play of our initial character interactions. At the very least, skipping forward to morning would make sense.

Hi, all. It's been an incredibly busy two days at work, what with the teachers all getting ready for the first round of Parent Teacher Conferences, and I'm starting a new workout routine on top of that. I didn't make it home until a couple of minutes ago, and I'm not really in much shape to be posting, so I'm going to try to have something up tomorrow morning before work. If not, the afternoon for sure.

Tipper and Mirode should both know I tend to be more consistent than this, and it's just a rough patch, but I do feel badly about it.

I'm currently having some computer problems (freezes up about five minutes after booting up) that are making it really hard to write long, detailed posts, especially if rolls are involved. I just wanted you to be aware in case there's nothing tonight. I'll try my best to write something up somewhere, but...

Okay, I'm having a tough time reading the subtexts of your posts. Do you want to move along?

Subtext?

I don't think I do any subtext. I was asking about a monster name I've never even heard of.

Sorry. I meant, more or less, to let me know when you're ready to get to the action. I was watching the debate last night, and will hopefully have a post around lunch.

You can roll any time you're curious about something. When in doubt for Knowledge rolls, you can always roll a generic D20 and tell me the modifiers. I'll give you info for the one that's most relevant if you don't ask for anything specific.

I will post tonight but it will be without formatting. My laptop is dead and I was helping a client yesterday when they were about to fall and my phone fell out my pocket and broke. Accessing all the format keys is slow and annoying!

I'll have a post tonight. In the meantime, what do we want to do with Raseed? As has been mentioned, he's been out for a while. If we do decide to replace him, I can contact some of the other applicants. There's a couple that were natives of Padiskar, and maybe they could adjust their stories to be here.

I would like it if we least checked if minoritarian got his laptop fixed yet and if there are other problems. See if he thinks he will return to posting soon.

Otherwise selecting from one of the previous applicants seems fair. Doesn't necessarily have to be restricted to a native. Just have to adjust the story appropriately and give the Rajah a reason to recommend their specialist.

I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but it is more difficult to press on with only three. In regards to that, is there more conversing you'd like to do about the room, or would you like to investigate anything else? I promise we will be getting to combat eventually.

I was just giving people time to respond before going out on the roof to check that pipe.

Sounds good to me, I'd just promised a post this evening, but if people want to chat a bit, I'll leave it for a bit. Mirode has been fighting being sick, if I remember right.

Yep. It FINALLY started to get cold here so of course I got a cold right away. I'm fine with going slow and waiting for Raseed to come back. It's up to you guys.

Even if someone has computer problems there are usually other places to get online and drop a word to your group. What I suggest if that you pick up a fifth player, not a replacement, keeping Raseed's space open for a while. If can be a local, or it can be another traveler / immigrant / whatever.

Hmm

Alright, we'll do this how I often do things. Anyone have any specific players from the recruitment they'd like to see in the game? We'll keep Raseed's spot open in case he comes back, and pick up a 5th to compensate for it.

No opinions? I'll message people either tonight or tomorrow if there's no chatter here.

I have one person that I thought of last night and will contact.

Ello everyone. I've popped. Please forgive me if I do make some diplomatic blunders, I've spent quite some time playing grumpy wizards who are likely to throw books at you when they get irritated. Well, guess it's new learning experience :)

So you will throw frantic cats with this character?

Mort! Hi Mort :D

Universalist wizard + hand of the apprentice = thrown books. Though I've heard of wizards throwing greatswords. Man, that's just wrong.

About throwing cats:

No, its animal abuse and I'm not a Crazy Cat Lady yet :)

Hi Feth! *waves*

Hi, and welcome to our fifth (or fourth) player. I'm hoping to get this rolling again tomorrow.

GM Aest, could you point me some places where I can read on Vudrani lore (playing a native and all), I am not well-versed with Real Life Indian customs.

I've looked at what I could find online regarding Vudrani deities, came up with the following list:

Arundhat
Ashukharma
Chamidu
Cloud Sisters
Dhalavei
Diomazul
Dinehdal
Gruhastha
Irori
Lahkgya
Likha
Matravash
Omrataji
Ragdya
Raumya
Suyuddha
Vasaghati
Vineshvakhi
Vritra

From pathfinder wiki. Chamidu is close, but her domain does not include the land itself. In the Vudrani Pantheon is there a god/goddess that ties specifically with the land?(i.e like Gozreh for Inner Sea Equivalent). Don't worry, asking me to read stuff is like asking water to run downhill...

Honestly, Gozreh is one of those gods that's old enough and all-encompassing enough that he'd fit in most pantheons. I'm doing the same thing with Naderi, not because she's powerful, but because her field is so specific it wouldn't make sense to have another god/goddess doing the job. At some point here in a bit, I'm going to start making up gods/goddesses for the Vudrani pantheon (probably with only a few domain lists, as needed), but for the time being, Gozreh is fine.

Also, that list is what I found as well. I've heard rumor that Inner Sea Faiths (I think it's called) may have a bit more on the subject, but for now, I'm holding my breath.

Let me know when you're ready to jump into Gameplay.

Im ready.

Alright, pushing ahead then.

Anyone want to climb down the rope?

Apologies! Laptop died and couldn't afford a replacement or repairs and a client at work smashed my phone. I had to wait for the NHS to authorise payment on a new one before arranging repair. My work computer has a lock on pretty much all websites that don't relate to health and social care. It's been a grim few weeks of no internet access. I never ever want to be in that situation again.

Once again, sorry for the disappearance with no contact.

Welcome back!

Oh, and as official party lurker, may we please have more awesome posts for me to read? I've been looking forward to reading more in this story!

Hmm