Hello, all. These getting to know you sessions never seem to go as well as planned, but I'll try it anyways. More coming.
My original idea with this campaign was to bounce between semi-connected subplots on the way to an overall archplot. It was going to feel episodic, without a whole lot of connections between "episodes". In other words, it was going to be House rather than Game of Thrones. I can certainly run it either way, and I'd like your feelings on which style you'd prefer.
I am pretty ok with either style. I've not done too much of the way of Episodic but it could make a feeling time having flowed between dangers to give the people a feel of having a life outside of just adventuring constantly.
Will there be an explanation of how much time has pasted between "adventures" and would we be able to do things with the downtime like craft magic items or other things presented in the Ultimate Campaign?
"Taj" | Female Peri-Blooded Aasimar Swashbuckler | HP 12/12 | AC 15 T 13 FF 12 | CMD | F +2 R +5 W +0 | Init + 3 | Per +4, SM +2 | Speed 30 Ft | Spells: None | Active Conditions: Magic Weapon
Rataji snuck into the premises and ninja dotted the place. I look forward to reading your gameplay!
I like both, though episodic can include a broader plot arc, à la X-Files.
I would like if our backgrounds came into play. Not all the time or all at the same time, but it would be nice for characters to get a shot at expanding on their background and/or pursuing theor own goals.
"Taj" | Female Peri-Blooded Aasimar Swashbuckler | HP 12/12 | AC 15 T 13 FF 12 | CMD | F +2 R +5 W +0 | Init + 3 | Per +4, SM +2 | Speed 30 Ft | Spells: None | Active Conditions: Magic Weapon
I know that I don't get a vote, but I think that episodic may be more satisfying because you get to solve the small mysteries and have a little closure. And it's so fitting with the genre!
@Episodes: That's kind of the idea of the episodic campaign. I'd say there's a couple of jobs per month, with long periods of downtime between them, at least at first. There are, in fact, a fair number of plot arcs and an overarching BBEG behind the scenes of something, but I'm thinking about "bosses" less in terms of something you deal with all at once and more in terms of recurring villains a la some of CSI Miami's criminals.
@Backgrounds: Your backgrounds will certainly be considered and characters will show up from them, which is why I asked for characters and for backgrounds. However, the first job or two are pretty well fleshed out, so don't expect instant background.
@Downtime: I'll allow some downtime, for sure. I'm not sure I want everyone running their own businesses on the side, but crafting is a go, as could be contact rules. Which rules systems are you most interested in?
│Skills: Acro. +8, Dis. Device +10, Escape Art +7, Intim +5, K. Eng +7, K. Local +6, Ling. +3, Prof: Soldier + 6 Perc. +6, SenseMo +7, Stealth +9 │
Checking in. Thank you for selecting me, I'm excited to finally get to play in Eberron.
I like the idea of a more episodic approach. I think it definitely fits better with the theme you set up in the interest/recruitment thread and it'll be a nice change from the norm.
Male human psychic 2: 14/14 hp; Init +2; AC 16 [touch 12, FF 14]; Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +4; Perception +6
Checking in. I'm good with whatever narrative structuring you think works best.
I still need to adjust my skills for the Background Skills variant.
Bojd, would you like to coordinate our spell selection since we're using the same list and we're both spontaneous casters? If we can minimize redundancies, I imagine that we'll be able to have differently-flavored kinds of psychic spellcasters.
Female Changeling Barbarian (masquerade reveller) 2 | AC 18, T 12, FF 16 | hp 25/25 | Fort +5, Ref +2, Will -1 (+2 vs. poison, mind-affecting) | CMD 20 | Init +2 | Perception +4 | Masquerade 8/8 rounds
Checking in. I like the episodic idea, it's different to what I'm used to, so it should be new and interesting.
Bojd, I see you've got ranks in Disable Device. I currently have one of Quill's masks granting the Skilled evolution for Perception and Disable Device; should I keep that, or would I be better off spending those points elsewhere?
For those not familiar with the archetype, the Masquerade Reveler gives up rage, and gains masks instead, usable for the same number of rounds per day as a regular barbarian's rage. Each mask grants four points' worth of eidolon evolutions. It's a bit odd, but it should be fun, and I'm trusting Aest to bring down the hammer on anything that seems too OP.
I still have to work out my skills, gear, and a campaign trait bonus, so I'm not quite ready to go yet, but I'm here and I'm eager.
Checking in. I'm good with whatever narrative structuring you think works best.
I still need to adjust my skills for the Background Skills variant.
Bojd, would you like to coordinate our spell selection since we're using the same list and we're both spontaneous casters? If we can minimize redundancies, I imagine that we'll be able to have differently-flavored kinds of psychic spellcasters.
Hi Tavick! Your list and mine are mostly different. You have more offensive spells, which makes sense in the long run. The only overlap is detect thought (you have it as a sla?) and sleep. I'll review my sleep spell, possibly going for an offensive spell, or a buffing one. I'd like to keep detect thoughts though, given his investigator bent.
Checking in. I like the episodic idea, it's different to what I'm used to, so it should be new and interesting.
Bojd, I see you've got ranks in Disable Device. I currently have one of Quill's masks granting the Skilled evolution for Perception and Disable Device; should I keep that, or would I be better off spending those points elsewhere?
For those not familiar with the archetype, the Masquerade Reveler gives up rage, and gains masks instead, usable for the same number of rounds per day as a regular barbarian's rage. Each mask grants four points' worth of eidolon evolutions. It's a bit odd, but it should be fun, and I'm trusting Aest to bring down the hammer on anything that seems too OP.
I still have to work out my skills, gear, and a campaign trait bonus, so I'm not quite ready to go yet, but I'm here and I'm eager.
Hi Quill! A changeling with masks! We'll never see your real face. For DD, it's up to you. It's good to have two with the skill, but it doesn't have to be either. I'd say follow your concept.
@Downtime: I'll allow some downtime, for sure. I'm not sure I want everyone running their own businesses on the side, but crafting is a go, as could be contact rules. Which rules systems are you most interested in?
I like the Leadership Handbook, which builds on some of Ultimate Campaign rules, in particular the contact rules.
Male Half-orc Fighter/Rogue 4 | HP 40/40 (0 NL) |Init +4 | AC 19 (T 15, FF 15) CMD 20+ | F +10 R +10 W +4 | Darkvision, Per +4 | Combat Stamina: 7/7 | Active Conditions: None
Rataji the Resourceful wrote:
Rataji snuck into the premises and ninja dotted the place. I look forward to reading your gameplay!
Same here. And as far as TV comparatives, wouldn't it be Burn Notice or The Rockford Files for an inquisitive campaign before House? ;)
@Zohruk: Happy to see both you and Rataji around. And yes, either of those would be better, but House is what was in my head.
@Bojd: I'll check out the Leadership Handbook a bit later and see if I like what I see. Are there any parts of Ultimate Campaign you guys liked?
@Campaign Style: Okay, it seems everyone's more or less okay with Episodic as a format. Here's how I'll do it. I'll present between two and four episode pitches in Discussion, consisting of a title and brief/cryptic description. From there, you can vote on which one you'd like to do and then we'll roll right into it. Sound reasonable, or would you prefer something more linear?
EDIT: Here's an example.
Two Winks, No Sleep
In which an old lady can’t sleep, a pair of Eyes can’t find what they’re looking for, and the PCs take the graveyard shift!
OR
They Belong in a Museum
In which the PCs get involved in school politics, the claws sink in deeper, and someone reads the truth!
│Skills: Acro. +8, Dis. Device +10, Escape Art +7, Intim +5, K. Eng +7, K. Local +6, Ling. +3, Prof: Soldier + 6 Perc. +6, SenseMo +7, Stealth +9 │
I also have disable device so it looks like locks won't be much of an issue for us!
I like the option to vote on a story arch, feels like prioritizing cases which fits.
Selmy should be mostly ready, I swapped out skill focus for Additional Feats as I mentioned I was considering in recruitment. Ran into a bit of an issue where the remaining categories for traits didn't quite fit up, so if it's okay with you GM I took the regional trait: Bandit hoping I could just reskin that to compliment Selmy's background growing up on the streets of Sharn, let me know if that's cool with you.
I'm The Bookworm. As such, I wouldn't mind something having to do with cyphers or with investigation. Some traits offer a +1 to Linguistics and some other situational bonus, which could be used to decypher, or to tell a few things from the person who wrote the note, allowing a sense motive check?
Also, keep in mind I used two feats to build a lot of synergies with my Linguistics check.
"Taj" | Female Peri-Blooded Aasimar Swashbuckler | HP 12/12 | AC 15 T 13 FF 12 | CMD | F +2 R +5 W +0 | Init + 3 | Per +4, SM +2 | Speed 30 Ft | Spells: None | Active Conditions: Magic Weapon
It looks like everyone has checked in, which means that Rataji can go off and get her nails done. Looking forward to seeing the stories unfold.
Male Half-orc Fighter/Rogue 4 | HP 40/40 (0 NL) |Init +4 | AC 19 (T 15, FF 15) CMD 20+ | F +10 R +10 W +4 | Darkvision, Per +4 | Combat Stamina: 7/7 | Active Conditions: None
Rataji the Resourceful wrote:
It looks like everyone has checked in, which means that Rataji can go off and get her nails done. Looking forward to seeing the stories unfold.
Well personally I love the downtime/business section personally though I understand the limiting of people owning their own businesses.
Generally as a bard I do tend to take the Leadership feat at some point (I've never touched the 3rd party book you mentioned...Leadership Handbook but I like the idea of non charisma characters being capable of being excellent leaders. Though I've seen some people Roleplay it out as their cohort being the one that was inspired by their character and he is the one with the following [Using his Charisma to represent the levels of stuff and such]). Personally I tend to balk at 3rd party stuff myself but I'm curious about this one.
My thoughts weren't as far as a business to really go nuts and purchase buildings that would make me money but make sense for information gathering like a tavern, a dance hall, a hospital, maybe a guild hall...but not stuff like magic shop or the like. Some place to put the various lvl 1 followers and some of the higher ones as management in the long term....
There is going to be a lot of Changeling shenanigans apparently given there are two of us ^^.
@Jynn: Leadership is fine, as far as I can see. It'll be a bit before you're qualified for it anyways. In the meantime, something more akin to contacts might make more sense. Let's hold off on alternate businesses for now, until this one's solid.
@Bojd: If you'd like to look at a Linguistics boost, go for it. I'd tie something more to it, though. Maybe a situational bonus to Diplomacy or Knowledge (local) when finding information or something?
@Selmy: Bandit is fine. It's a decent trait.
@Tavick: Once you've signed the lease, we'll be officially off!
Here's our first 3 choices, then.
Two Winks, No Sleep!
In which an old lady can’t sleep, a pair of Eyes can’t find what they’re looking for, and the PCs take the graveyard shift!
OR
They Belong in a Museum!
In which the PCs get involved in school politics, the claws sink in deeper, and someone reads the truth!
OR
Black Clouds and Silver Dance Shoes!
In which the PCs attend the ballet, the dancers end up en pointe, and all the theatre’s a stage!
"Taj" | Female Peri-Blooded Aasimar Swashbuckler | HP 12/12 | AC 15 T 13 FF 12 | CMD | F +2 R +5 W +0 | Init + 3 | Per +4, SM +2 | Speed 30 Ft | Spells: None | Active Conditions: Magic Weapon
Zohruk wrote:
Does that make us Statler and Waldorf? :-D
It does. You reserve the box seat, I'll bring the popcorn. I've always enjoyed having half-orcs as heckling partners. :)
"Taj" | Female Peri-Blooded Aasimar Swashbuckler | HP 12/12 | AC 15 T 13 FF 12 | CMD | F +2 R +5 W +0 | Init + 3 | Per +4, SM +2 | Speed 30 Ft | Spells: None | Active Conditions: Magic Weapon
GM Aest wrote:
@Everyone: Hmm (Rataji) and Redblade (Zohruk) are both veterans of games I've played in/GM'd. I assume they're going to be lurking.
Male Half-orc Fighter/Rogue 4 | HP 40/40 (0 NL) |Init +4 | AC 19 (T 15, FF 15) CMD 20+ | F +10 R +10 W +4 | Darkvision, Per +4 | Combat Stamina: 7/7 | Active Conditions: None
(shows up with double armload of stuff, nods head at Rataji) I'm with her...
Okay, I got popcorn, which I hate but everyone else seems to like, so eat it or don't, I won't be offended. I also got Peanut Chews, both kinds of M&Ms (country and western), and I got chocolate covered raisins, which beats having nothing, I guess. Maybe.
Tickets are in my pocket, I'll get 'em soon as I put this junk down, and I figured I'll run back out for drinks at the first commercial break. You ready...?
"Taj" | Female Peri-Blooded Aasimar Swashbuckler | HP 12/12 | AC 15 T 13 FF 12 | CMD | F +2 R +5 W +0 | Init + 3 | Per +4, SM +2 | Speed 30 Ft | Spells: None | Active Conditions: Magic Weapon
Rataji finishes the last coat of paint on her nails, blows on them, and then looks up at Zohruk with a smile. "How'd you know I liked M&Ms? Country, Western -- love it all." She puts her arm in his, kisses him on the cheek, and then pats her bag with her other hand. "I also brought two pairs of opera glasses. We don't want to miss a thing!"
_____________________________
BTW, Zohruk, I'm a big fan of Long Vigil. You did a lovely job there. This'll be so much fun!
Male Half-orc Fighter/Rogue 4 | HP 40/40 (0 NL) |Init +4 | AC 19 (T 15, FF 15) CMD 20+ | F +10 R +10 W +4 | Darkvision, Per +4 | Combat Stamina: 7/7 | Active Conditions: None
Rataji the Resourceful wrote:
"How'd you know I liked M&Ms?"
"Because everyone loves M&Ms. Well, everyone but rakshasas. I hear it's 'cuz their funky hands have problems with the thin candy shells."
Thanks a ton, that was an immense gratifying experience. I've rarely had that much fun getting into a screaming match in a church. That campaign's early end was my biggest gaming gut-punch since City of Heroes shutdown. :-\
Female Changeling Barbarian (masquerade reveller) 2 | AC 18, T 12, FF 16 | hp 25/25 | Fort +5, Ref +2, Will -1 (+2 vs. poison, mind-affecting) | CMD 20 | Init +2 | Perception +4 | Masquerade 8/8 rounds
The Leadership Handbook is great, but Ultimate Charisma is better. More expensive, but a lot more content, including the psychological combat stuff. :D
Looks like the group voted before I got in, but it works out, as I was going to vote for Black Clouds anyway!
Lurkers, if you do go full Statler & Waldorf, I expect heckling and bad jokes.
There's still a teensy bit of work I still need to do on Quill (campaign feat and crunch for the campaign trait), so if anyone has suggestions for those, I'm all ears. Having just done my shopping, I'm all crunched out.
Also, how do we all know each other? I feel like that's something we should figure out at some point >.>
│Skills: Acro. +8, Dis. Device +10, Escape Art +7, Intim +5, K. Eng +7, K. Local +6, Ling. +3, Prof: Soldier + 6 Perc. +6, SenseMo +7, Stealth +9 │
Ditto on the Statler & Waldorf, if we're not getting heckled you're not doing it right!
As for prior relationships, Selmy traveled a lot during the war protecting high value targets, so it's possible he ran into any number of the current party. As a spy, Quill in particular may have delivered pertinent information to Selmy's group, though who knows what form you may have been in. Let me know what you think.
Male Half-orc Fighter/Rogue 4 | HP 40/40 (0 NL) |Init +4 | AC 19 (T 15, FF 15) CMD 20+ | F +10 R +10 W +4 | Darkvision, Per +4 | Combat Stamina: 7/7 | Active Conditions: None
These are your adventures. We're only houseguests; the S & W analogy might not have been 100% apt. :-)
I won't move further until Tavick posts, and I'll shoot him a message tonight. I'd thought he was around, but he never dotted (ninja-dot or otherwise).
Male Half-orc Fighter/Rogue 4 | HP 40/40 (0 NL) |Init +4 | AC 19 (T 15, FF 15) CMD 20+ | F +10 R +10 W +4 | Darkvision, Per +4 | Combat Stamina: 7/7 | Active Conditions: None
Aest, this might sound like a silly request, especially coming from one of the Designated Lurkers, but I figure what the heck, I'l make it anyway.
Those long strings of "=" you use to make separator lines, is there any way you can break those up to put some spaces in them? I ask because my mobile browser sees that as one "word", and thus renders the page wide enough to fit that whole thing, with the side effect that the text shows up eye-bleedingly small.
Just figured I'd ask. "Shove off, ya tusk-mouthed monster, I'll do it however I please" is an acceptable response (if not my preferred one). :)
Aest, this might sound like a silly request, especially coming from one of the Designated Lurkers, but I figure what the heck, I'l make it anyway.
Those long strings of "=" you use to make separator lines, is there any way you can break those up to put some spaces in them? I ask because my mobile browser sees that as one "word", and thus renders the page wide enough to fit that whole thing, with the side effect that the text shows up eye-bleedingly small.
Just figured I'd ask. "Shove off, ya tusk-mouthed monster, I'll do it however I please" is an acceptable response (if not my preferred one). :)
Male Half-orc Fighter/Rogue 4 | HP 40/40 (0 NL) |Init +4 | AC 19 (T 15, FF 15) CMD 20+ | F +10 R +10 W +4 | Darkvision, Per +4 | Combat Stamina: 7/7 | Active Conditions: None
Bojd wrote:
Tough crowd!
If you mean that in response to my imagined response of Aest's, it's meant to be in good fun. In the PBP in which we met, Aest's character didn't think too kindly of me. "Monster" was her preferred form of address for me (the things Allie said to a fellow child of the Burning Mother...). :)
Male Half-orc Fighter/Rogue 4 | HP 40/40 (0 NL) |Init +4 | AC 19 (T 15, FF 15) CMD 20+ | F +10 R +10 W +4 | Darkvision, Per +4 | Combat Stamina: 7/7 | Active Conditions: None
Zoh's face goes crestfallen at the sound of the girl's voice.
"Oh, hi Allie. Shouldn't you be getting shanked by a Sczarni in a back alley somewhere?
Pretty please...?"
That will make a ton of difference in readability. Drav, Eilidh.
"Taj" | Female Peri-Blooded Aasimar Swashbuckler | HP 12/12 | AC 15 T 13 FF 12 | CMD | F +2 R +5 W +0 | Init + 3 | Per +4, SM +2 | Speed 30 Ft | Spells: None | Active Conditions: Magic Weapon
Those of us who are reading on mobile appreciate the change!
As for heckling, I'm more likely to memorialize moments that I'm watching in really badly written songs. You can ask Quill about that. Still, Zoh and I will have fun watching this, I think. It's nice to have another lurker to talk to about what you all are doing.
Male human psychic 2: 14/14 hp; Init +2; AC 16 [touch 12, FF 14]; Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +4; Perception +6
And Bojd, thanks for the response: I agree that we should both have detect thoughts (and I can't avoid it since it's an SLA for me anyhow), but I do like the idea of building more towards offensive spells. Fits my discipline's theme nicely as well.
I'm ready to go whenever you guys are. When do we sign the lease?
Female Changeling Barbarian (masquerade reveller) 2 | AC 18, T 12, FF 16 | hp 25/25 | Fort +5, Ref +2, Will -1 (+2 vs. poison, mind-affecting) | CMD 20 | Init +2 | Perception +4 | Masquerade 8/8 rounds
I can confirm Rataji immortalizing things in song. Her bard wrote three songs after my paladin died. It was awesome. (And don't worry. He got better.)
I can work with having delivered intel to Selmy before. Anybody else want a link? I imagine Quill may have gotten around quite a bit; maybe Tavik leaked select pieces of information she obtained?
I'll do a gameplay post tomorrow; I'm currently... a little tipsy.
"Taj" | Female Peri-Blooded Aasimar Swashbuckler | HP 12/12 | AC 15 T 13 FF 12 | CMD | F +2 R +5 W +0 | Init + 3 | Per +4, SM +2 | Speed 30 Ft | Spells: None | Active Conditions: Magic Weapon
Her paladin's death hit the group hard, and I think I wrote my finest song in Kingmaker in response. It was an epic moment. Thank goodness he got better, because Kaz's death hit the players as hard as it did the characters...
I'm looking forward to hearing more on your group's connection with each other. Zoh and I demand more backstory!
Male Half-orc Fighter/Rogue 4 | HP 40/40 (0 NL) |Init +4 | AC 19 (T 15, FF 15) CMD 20+ | F +10 R +10 W +4 | Darkvision, Per +4 | Combat Stamina: 7/7 | Active Conditions: None
Rataji the Resourceful wrote:
Her paladin's death hit the group hard, and I think I wrote my finest song in Kingmaker in response. It was an epic moment. Thank goodness he got better, because Kaz's death hit the players as hard as it did the characters...
I'm looking forward to hearing more on your group's connection with each other. Zoh and I demand more backstory!
"Taj" | Female Peri-Blooded Aasimar Swashbuckler | HP 12/12 | AC 15 T 13 FF 12 | CMD | F +2 R +5 W +0 | Init + 3 | Per +4, SM +2 | Speed 30 Ft | Spells: None | Active Conditions: Magic Weapon
"Quill already spoiled it above. I just confirmed." Rataji raises an eyebrow, then grins at the half orc. "You're so cute when you're angry. Did anyone ever tell you that, Zoh?"
If Rataji ever does enter this game, I think I better list Zoh as my boyfriend given the way I've been flirting with him...
In a shabby three-room apartment above the tavern that shares its name, the Wandering Eye Investigatives Agency used to make ends meet. Not anymore. The glass door creaks open as a prissy-looking half-elf girl turns the key and unlocks it, revealing a foul-smelling waiting room plastered with yellowed newsprint articles detailing the company’s past successes and discoveries. A few hideously-colored armchairs, their upholstery fraying and the stuffing coming out, offer potential clients a place to sit, but it’s obvious no one’s been by in a while. At least there’s a view, or would be if someone had bothered to clean the dust and grease off the wall-length window.
Even worse is the small living space; enough bunks for five (or perhaps six, if they’re small), but no bedding, and on casual inspection it seems a family of rats has moved into the far corner by the fireplace. A little office abuts the waiting room, but the reception desk is empty save a few old documents and a dried-up jar of ink and the owner’s chair is covered in dust. A note lies atop the desk.
Antonin,
As I prepare to leave this plane, I am reminded once again of your curiosity and work ethic, and have high hopes for your future. You will be a great investigative, of this I am certain. I have left the business your father and I started to you, in hopes that you’ll be able to maintain its reputation as an honest, professional company.
Your loving uncle,
Jamis Stantin
None of you are named Antonin, and judging by the condition of the letter, it’s entirely possible he never came by Wandering Eye Investigatives to view his inheritance, much less attempted to keep it running.
In all, not the most auspicious start to your business.
Hello, and welcome to the recruitment thread for The Wandering Eye Inquisitive Agency. This is a game I’ve had in my head, though not fleshed out, for a long time. It started with a character in a homebrew campaign I played in high school, and it’s just recently come to the surface again. It this campaign, you’ll be playing as five friends (or casual acquaintances) in Sharn who’ve been down on their luck in the two years since the Last War ended. Your luck, however, has just turned; you’ve recently been given an opportunity to lease an old inquisitive firm, with the first month’s rent, and deposit, paid for. Today is signing day.
So, without further ado, let’s jump into details!
Campaign Traits:
I’m trying something different with the traits. Here’s my five. Once you’ve found one you like, talk to me about it and list a couple bonuses you think you’d like. We’ll find one that works for both of us. Why am I doing it this way? I’d rather you play the character you like, and tying mechanics to the traits could restrict that.
Additionally, I’m going to try my best to take one character with each trait. Be aware of that. They’re based on the 5-Man Band from TVTropes (link withheld to maintain your sanity).
The War Hero—The Last War colored everything about your childhood. Maybe your mother or father was killed in battle, or maybe the stories of glory to be had filled your head. Regardless of whether you enlisted or were conscripted, you served with distinction along the frontier with Thrane or in engagements with Karrnathi shock troopers. The two years since the war ended have been hard without the structure of the army, and you’ve drifted aimlessly around the city, but when a friend suggested investigative work and pointed out the old agency for rent, you saw an opportunity to relive old memories.
The Spy—You and the War Hero had different ideas of what it meant to serve the Brelish Crown. Shortly after he joined the military, you found yourself on the lightning rail to Thrane, Aundair, or Karrnath with orders to find out what you could about troop movements, supply lines, or anything else you could. Your return from the Last War was unheralded. Perhaps you slipped back into the life you’d lived before, or perhaps you tried to build a new one, but either way, when a friend suggested investigative work, you leapt at the opportunity.
The Bookworm—Your friends may have gone to war, but you stayed for one simple reason; none of the services would have you. It was only later that you found out just why that was. Your family, the wealthiest of your friends’, had purchased two years’ education at Morgrave University, and you spent the war studying relics from Xen’Drik and Aerenal instead of fighting, marching, and dying. After the war, you had something none of your friends did; a degree. However, when an acquaintance pointed you in the direction of investigative work, the opportunity to work with new people and old friends was too much to resist.
The Machine—Like the War Hero, you served in the Brelish army. Perhaps you were forged for that purpose, or perhaps the call of battle filled you, but you not only served, but did so with pleasure. After the war, your reputation as someone who liked fighting followed you, and the best you could do was fighting in the Burning Ring, wounding and killing monsters and men alike for the crowd’s pleasure. A friend saw your lack of satisfaction and pointed you in the direction of investigative work, and you took the opportunity to serve for a purpose more meaningful than pleasure.
The Aid Worker—For you, the Last War began in earnest shortly after the Day of Mourning, when Cyran refugees began pouring into Sharn. Your family had always taught that everyone had a responsibility to help others, and your childhood had been spent providing biscuits and juice to your friends when they grew tired, but now your family threw themselves into helping the hundreds of refugees suddenly living in a strange city with no friends or, in many cases, family of their own. After the war, an acquaintance pointed out that investigative work offered an opportunity to continue helping those refugee, and to do so with those you could trust.
========================================================================
Character Creation:
Stat Generation: Twenty Point Buy. Easy enough.
Starting Level and Gold: Level Two, 500 Gold, plus either one masterwork item or assorted scrolls adding up to no more than 350 GP total.
Classes: All Paizo classes, with the following slight modifications.
Summoner: Summoners must be unchained. Additionally, no Master Summoner or Synthesist.
Paladin: Paladins will not fall for interacting with evil in this setting, provided they can demonstrate some rationale for why they’re doing it.
Gunslinger: Misfire will be rolled, guns are “emergent”. Early firearms are available at the listed prices, and Advanced firearms are somewhere between rare and unheard of.
Racial Archetypes: If you wish to use a racial archetype for a race that doesn’t exist, you must PM me beforehand. Some archetypes (like Naga Aspirant, due to its very Nagaji-specific flavor) are not allowed, period, but others (like Cat Burglar, which has no specifically Catfolk flavor aside from the name) may be useable. Additionally, the Racial Substitution Levels on page 120 of Races of Eberron are to be treated as racial archetypes.
Two-Skill-Point Classes: These classes now have three skill points per level.
Artificer: The Eberron Pathfinder conversion linked in the Primer will be used.
Races: The following races will be legal on startup: Changelings (Eberron), Drow*, Dwarves, Elves, Goblins*, Gnomes, Hag-Born (Golarion Changelings), Half-Elves, Half-Orcs, Halflings, Hobgoblins*, Humans, Kalashtar, Shifters, and Warforged. In an ideal world, I’d want between two and three of the core races, one to two of the Eberron races, and 0 to 1 of the other races, but that’s likely to end up different in the final selection. Additionally, Drow, Goblins, and Hobgoblins all have different fluff than the standards in many settings, and you should be aware of that when writing their backstories.
Traits: All Paizo traits are available, with the exception of Campaign traits. You may take two, with a drawback available for a third at my discretion.
Bonus Feat: Everyone starts with one bonus feat. This feat must be used to expand your character away from their primary focus. For example, if you pick Power Attack as your first level feat, do not choose Weapon Focus (Melee weapon) as your bonus feat but rather Point Blank Shot or Amateur Investigator. I want to see characters who are capable in multiple areas of the game both within and outside of combat. Other bonus feats may be awarded as circumstances warrant.
Sources: The source material for this game will be divided into two lists. Note that neither of these lists include rd party material published by neither Paizo nor WotC.
Paizo Material:/i] All Paizo material is open for play, though I reserve the right to veto certain feats and traits.
[i]Eberron Campaign Setting Material: I own the following material, all 3.5: City of Stormreach, Eberron Campaign Setting, Explorer’s Handbook, Five Nations, Races of Eberron, and Sharn, City of Towers, from Wizards of the Coast. Other sources will only be legal if they can be found in an online database, and only after review.
What I’m Looking For: I’m not against optimization, but if I don’t see weaknesses and flaws somewhere, there’s going to be a problem. These aren’t high fantasy heroes; they’re pulp heroes. If you literally cannot play a character with mechanical weaknesses, at least have some RP ones, and try to demonstrate that they’ll show up in play.
I want to see a character sheet on the forum. It can be Hero-Lab or whatever you want to use, but it has to exist in your alias somewhere. You don’t need to do gear unless selected, as I find it tedious to do when I build characters, but I want to see that you’ve put thought into your character’s mechanics. I’d also like, at minimum, two paragraphs of backstory, a brief description of appearance (both in and out of battle gear), and a suggestion of what your character’s personality will be like. Finally, think about between two and three NPCs that I can play with. Former employers, members of the Sharn Watch, or a tavern girl at your favorite inn, all that matters is that there are NPCs who know you in the world.
Ending Date, and other Business Stuff:
This is where I’m dumping all the information that doesn’t fit above!
I’m going to run recruitment for between ten and fourteen days, the better to allow people on vacation over the holiday to see this game. Expect a check-in once or twice a day from me during recruitment, though I may not always post if there’s nothing to respond to. Once the game starts, I anticipate a posting rate of between 4 and 9 posts per week, which is similar to my other PbP games. I can’t say it’ll be perfectly that, but I’ll do what I can to keep the game moving.
Jesaeli, the slim, prissy-looking half-elf showing you the place, coughs politely, holding out an official-looking document. ”I need you to sign on lines A, C, and G, initial on B and D, and write out a quick statement on lines E and F. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be the owners of this—” She stops, looking around the waiting room and wrinkling her nose theatrically. ”—wonderful establishment.” She pauses, rubbing the heel of one foot against the arch of the other while you sign, then continues, shoving one more paper toward you, face expectant. ”My employment contract. I’ll be your secretary. Don’t worry; someone already paid my first month’s wages, but you’ll be responsible for the rest of it. I just hope we can turn this dump around.”
Her paper signed, she begins opening the cupboards and tiny closets, looking for something. ”Where did he put that mop? We’ll need to get started right away if we’re to open by the end of the week!”
Just to reiterate my question from the 'interest' thread...
Can we reskin the campaign traits?
Meaning, can I take the 'spy trait' and have that spy have worked for the Royal Eyes of Aundair or for the King Valenar or do these traits necessarily have to be tied to the Breland?
Or can 'the machine' have been a warhero in another army other than the Brelish Army?
Reading the recruitment post, I think the answer is 'no' but please confirm that you want all traits (and PCs) tied to Breland. Since they are 'childhood friends', they should also have 'relatively' the same age.
And since children don't usually travel much, they all are (or spent their childhood) in a same place. If so, is this place Sharn?
Sorry for all the question but I want to make sure that I tailor my PC to your expectations.
Really been wanting to try a good homebrew Eberron game.
The idea I have in my head is of a shifter ranger with the shapeshifter archetype. He will really embrace his wild side and be able to go through more shifting than another of his race.
However, I was wondering if I could take a different combat style than what the archetype allows. I was wanting to focused on ranged DPS and the natural combat style doesn't offer any feats (other than weapon focus) that can help with that.
@Fabien: The campaign traits are flexible. When I wrote them, I had a certain idea about childhood friends coming back together after the War and starting a business. As the game evolved in my head, they evolved the least. I'd prefer characters from Sharn (or at least those who've lived there for a couple of years) and who might have a reason to know one another. As for ages, that's also flexible. There could have been an adult 'role model' or something as well.
@Mikeal Sebag: There's always something I forgot! Take 1/2+1 for second level, like Pathfinder Society (D8 becomes 5, D10 becomes 6, etc.)
@Cuan: I'm going to stay away from gnolls. I'm aware that in Eberron they're more tolerated, but I have a few villains and missions that may or may not involve them heavily.
@CampinCarl127: Have you considered a hunter? I think there's more flexibility in its aspects than in that ranger archetype's.
Understandable. I'll shelf the idea for possible later use and come up with something else.
Does make me curious whether any potential Gnoll encounters are with Znir Pact or other gnolls, seeing the former broke pretty harshly with the latter and are basically a clan of (shamanistic) hired muscle now.
I have considered a hunter, but I've never been a big fan of the hybrid classes (almost all of them are overbalanced) and the 3/4 progression BaB really hurts a ranged DPS build.
@Fabien: The campaign traits are flexible. When I wrote them, I had a certain idea about childhood friends coming back together after the War and starting a business. As the game evolved in my head, they evolved the least. I'd prefer characters from Sharn (or at least those who've lived there for a couple of years) and who might have a reason to know one another. As for ages, that's also flexible. There could have been an adult 'role model' or something as well.
Understood; I'll then make a Breland native (Sharn native?) who served as a spy in the Last War (The Spy). I think I'll 'bite the bullet' and make an investigator, which seems very appropriate for this game.
Alright, here's my submission: Tavick Tarker, intrepid reporter.
Campaign Trait Thoughts:
While I'm thinking to take The War Hero for my trait, I could tweak his backstory so that instead of reporting from the front lines, he's working as a spy for the Brelish crown (under the guise of a reporter) The Spy or working at the Chronicle while doing research at the Library of Korranberg The Bookworm.
If you believe that Tavick's time embedded in a Brelish unit during the Last War is a nice twist on the trait's backstory, then here are some of the bonuses I was thinking of:
Trench Fighter [The War Hero]
Your experiences fighting in the trenches during The Last War have taught you how to keep moving while staying low.
You can take a 5-foot step while crawling.
Inured [The War Hero]
The atrocities you witnessed during The Last War have numbed you to horror.
You gain a +2 trait bonus on Will saves against fear effects.
If neither of those work I can brainstorm others or work on possible bonus for the other two possible traits.
Hmm. Would you consider allowing the Masquerade Reveler barbarian archetype from Rite Publishing? I've been itching to play one, and a changeling seems like a good fit for the Spy.
If not, I'm happy to play an investigator bookworm with a film noir-style internal monologue.
@El Ronza: Hi! I know I said no 3rd Party somewhere...That being said, I really like that archetype (I happen to have the book), and I'd be willing to consider it. I'd want to know more about the character, and I'd consider having the second character roughed out in case it wasn't what I wanted to see. Tell me more about your rough idea for the character. And while you're at it, if you've got anything else for the investigator, that'd be cool too! You can PM me that stuff if you'd like.
How do you feel about a jaded ex-Karrnathi soldier who has come to Sharn to make a fresh start? I'd probably go with the war hero trait, looking at fighter or brawler for class choice.
So I only just saw your thought regarding the PC's being childhood heroes who returned home to start a business in Sharn. I don't want to be the one to throw a spanner in the works, I'll start working in a concept that fits your themes. Thanks for the quick feedback though!
I think this game screams collaborative character backgrounds, so is there anyone who'd like to work together? I'll try and get a rough draft of a character up today, my character would have been a bit of a troublemaker as a youth, a daredevil with little common sense but a heart of gold.
So I only just saw your thought regarding the PC's being childhood heroes who returned home to start a business in Sharn. I don't want to be the one to throw a spanner in the works, I'll start working in a concept that fits your themes. Thanks for the quick feedback though!
I think this game screams collaborative character backgrounds, so is there anyone who'd like to work together? I'll try and get a rough draft of a character up today, my character would have been a bit of a troublemaker as a youth, a daredevil with little common sense but a heart of gold.
Was thinking about collaboration as well. My character as submitted is one of the last of the Warforged to be created which is part of the reason why he is a Divine class. The Warforged who participated in the Last War were indoctrinated by House Cannith to NOT follow the Gods or pay much attention to them, at least in the sources I have read on the subject. So childhood friend for Pierce would include knowing him for the past 3-5 years.
Gauntlet is a very strange Warforged. Built to be a front line defender, he came out of the Lifeforge unable to know his full abilities or what his true purpose was. Needing fighting bodies as fast as they could build them, and to help meet their quotas during the Last War, the Forge Master of House Cannith at the time ordered him trained in the use of his strange abilities and sent to the front lines ASAP to be used in a commando or even a suicide unit. However, a particular d'Cannith named Savilar disagreed and argued vehemently to dissect the Warforged and study this anomaly to see if it could be replicated. Obviously he last the arguments becasue Gauntlet was shipped out shortly after.
He arrived on the battlefield, ready to do his part to win the war...and peace descended like a hammer on Khorvaire, and he was free to suddenly find his own way in life. But what was life if not killing the enemy? He was lost. Following a lot of the disenfranchised soldiers from the war he ended up in Sharn: From fighting monsters and mock battles to body guarding soft-skins to make ends meet, and in the end desperately trying to find a purpose in his life.
Unlike others who fought in the war, Gauntlet has no war horror stories, but he often dreams of the Cannith that wanted to dissect him may still want to do so. In that regard Gauntlet has gone out of his way to remain out of touch of anybody he knew prior and during the war and fearful of making new friends.
It is at this point in his life that Gauntlet gets the unusual suggestion from one of his bodyguard clients (after finding her lost pet) that he would make a good Inquisitive.
NOTE @GM Aest: I felt since you wanted our characters to be flawed, I should build part of them into my campaign trait ideas. Let me know what you think and I'll get the crunch put together. Role-playing this will be even more fun!
Anomaly [The Machine]
As unusual as the warforged are, you are even more so. Your unusually skewed nature is off-putting and causes normal animals to react badly to you (Reduce the initial reactions of domesticated and wild animals by one step.) However, your machine-like memory and logical thought processes improve your tactical decision making and can often help with remembering minor facts and information. You gain a +1 to initiative (all the time) and +2 to any Knowledge Skill check once/per day.
Paranoid [The Machine]
You are afraid someone (d'Cannith) is after you (true or not) and you are on constant watch for them or their allies. You find new people difficult to trust. You only get 1/2 of any bonus from the Aid Another action. You are also +1 to Sense Motive (which is now a class skill) and on all Perception checks.
Quick question too:
What are your thoughts about Warforged attachments?
Farrier here, just wanting to register interest for my Brawler. I'm still toying with ideas for the trait (The War Hero), but I've made a decent start on backstory and character sheet. If anyone is making a character around the age of 24 who s a Sharn local and would like to collaborate let me know!
@Pierce, I haven't completed my character's backstory so I'm still not sure what he's been up to in the last 2 to 3 years. If I can incorporate your character into my story I'll hit you up and you can let me know what you think :)
@Pierce, I haven't completed my character's backstory so I'm still not sure what he's been up to in the last 2 to 3 years. If I can incorporate your character into my story I'll hit you up and you can let me know what you think :)
Aest, I am really, really interested in this one, but I'm worried about being overbooked in my campaigns once the holiday season ends. Can I apply to be understudy? The person who might fill in to fill a campaign gap if you get a drop? I'm pretty good at filling gaps later on, and I'm planning on reading this all the way through. I just don't want to apply outright now until I see how busy all my games are post holidays.
Just dotting in from the interest thread. As stated there, I'm looking at a brawler or memserist, a local boy scarred and shell-shocked by the war who came home and joined the Sharn Watch only to find the experience as ethically murky as the wartime period of his life. He tendered his resignation after some bad experience that I have yet to figure out.
Disillusioned from the war and his time with the watch, he's looking forward to this next phase in his life, working as an inquisitive with old friends.
This character will have the Spy or War Hero campaign trait, and be very noirish in presentation.
GM Aest wrote:
All Paizo material is open for play, though I reserve the right to veto certain feats and traits.
Does this include Variant Multiclassing from Unchained?
That's a good question, Fighting Chicken. Variant Multiclassing is a very cool system, and I've found it to be quite well-balanced because of the high price (lots of feats) that must be paid for the class features you gain.
I'd be interested in using Variant Multiclassing myself, if it's available.
@CampinCarl: I'm a bit iffy on allowing it, simply because the lock-in to natural weapons is part of the drawback for their shapeshifting ability.
@Gauntlet: Warforged Components? They seem like magical items to me, stylized for Warforged. I'd be okay with them. Assuming that's what you're talking about.
@Hmm: You're on my shortlist for people I'd want in my games as-is. If you want to follow along and wait for an opening, that's perfectly fine with me.
@Fighting Chicken: I'll allow VMC if you want to use it.
@Everyone: I'll look over submissions and campaign trait bonus discussion tonight/tomorrow and get back to everyone.
Would you allow a Halfling Nature Oracle with roots in the Talenta Plains to pick a dinosaur for the Bonded Mount Revelation?
And second, how do you feel about characters being members of Dragonmarked houses? Does it make a difference whether the chracater itself carries a Mark?
Looking at making a Halfling member of House Ghallanda who was sent from Gatherhold to Sharn in the Last War to ensure safety.
@Gauntlet: Warforged Components? They seem like magical items to me, stylized for Warforged. I'd be okay with them. Assuming that's what you're talking about.
That's exactly what I'm talking about. Thank you.
GM Aest wrote:
@Fighting Chicken: I'll allow VMC if you want to use it.
dotting for interest. Looking at a halfling. Member of house Jorasco because I really like them. Maybe a saurian shaman druid or arcane healer bard. Gonna do some thinking on that. Seems interesting.
Oooh, hope I'm not too late to throw my hat in! I've had an idea for a warforged fighter, a two-weapon fighter who was a linebreaker for Cyre during the war, who's found himself odd jobs as hired muscle in Sharn since then.
That's fair enough, and actually I think it would fit really well into the concept of you wanting us to use our feats for different purposes.
I'm actually going to go with your original suggestion and might change him into a hunter instead. I've never gotten to try the class out before so it should be fun to give it a ride.
Comments: I’m a big fan of your NPC connections; there’s a lot of potential to have your NPCs tied into some of the storylines I’m thinking about. I have a few questions:
I think Pierce is a male personality warforged, but there are a few times where you refer to his as “she”. Is this deliberate?
Does Pierce consider himself an inquisitor, or is there another title he’d prefer?
Is there a specific inquisitive agency you had in mind? If not, Information Acquisitions, run by Kalaash’arrna, a half-orc with the Lesser Mark of Finding, springs to mind. It could have a role in the campaign.
I have one question about your stat array. Where is the Wisdom penalty coming from? As far as I know, Warforged get +2 Con, +2 Int, -2 Cha.
RE Campaign traits: I think that’s a reasonable campaign trait. Out of curiosity, which Knowledge skill were you planning on using it in?
Finally, what role do you see Pierce playing in the party, both in and out of combat?
Tavick Tarker:
I have to say that I enjoyed reading your background. It didn’t leave a whole lot of questions for me in terms of where he came from or what his motivations were, and it was well-written. I do have one or two questions, though.
Do you feel that an intense focus on Divination could be overwhelming to an investigative game? There’s not a right or wrong, I’m just curious about your thoughts.
What role do you see Tavick playing in the party, both in and out of combat?
Gauntlet:
A nice, quick background you have there. I have a couple questions, some about mechanics and some about fluff.
First, in your character sheet it says you weigh 2200 pounds. I’m curious how a weight that’s more than triple what most men can drag in-game translates to a CMD of 15.
I’d like to know more about the NPCs of Gauntlet’s past. Right now there’s a compelling villain in Savilar d’Cannith, but I don’t see a lot of potential allies or acquaintances, with the exception of an unnamed client with a lost pet.
RE: Campaign traits: I like the flaws built into the traits. I’m not going to require people do that, and if you wanted to just RP them, that’d be fine with me. Of the two, I like Anomaly better. I think it fits more with what the background you’ve given me suggests.
Finally, what role do you see Gauntlet playing in the party, both in and out of combat?
Arlan:
Your backstory seems solid at first glance. I’m also curious about the last two or three years since leaving the army. I like that you’ve left it open to discussion with other potential submissions, since it gives a good window for pre-existing connections to be forged.
I only have one real question. What role do you see Arlan playing the party, both in and out of combat?
@Everyone: One thing I’ve noticed is that several submissions have three traits including the campaign trait. My original intent was to have one non-campaign, one campaign, and a third if you took a drawback. I apologize for not being more clear.
@Cuan: I have no problem with dragonmarked houses in this game. A few may show up as antagonists/protagonists, but feel free to play with them anyways.
I have a character idea floating around in my head for a drow. I will take the stump of a profile I have for Tazantahrac and rewrite it for submission here (I believe it's currently up as a Path of War build so pay no mind to its numbers until I repost saying it's up to date, I'd prefer to not post with it as right now it's under the ten-post limit). I know you said your first choice is Brelish natives, but his voice is the loudest in my head; I'd understand 100% if you don't think the guy's a good fit, so no worries.
Quick question: would the drow long knife be a cromulent weapon for use with the knife master rogue archetype? The thing seems like it's halfway between a dagger and a short sword; I could see it going either way.
Thanks for your time.
Ghorrin Reblade
EDIT: second question I just remembered I had: the Drow Scorpion Claw weapon, would that be part of the close weapons group? (I have two separate build ideas brewing, so this question is separate from the one above.)
I apologize for not asking about clearing a drawback and third trait with you. I picked up the burned drawback which is evident in his background if that's alright.
Comments: I’m a big fan of your NPC connections; there’s a lot of potential to have your NPCs tied into some of the storylines I’m thinking about. I have a few questions:
I think Pierce is a male personality warforged, but there are a few times where you refer to his as “she”. Is this deliberate?
Purely accidental. I will go through and make those changes.
Does Pierce consider himself an inquisitor, or is there another title he’d prefer?
He considers himself an Inquisitor. Especially in light of the personal connection he believes he has with Aureon. He does not know what his role in the grand design is yet but he believes that it has something to do with the acquisition of more Knowledge. Certainly for him Knowledge is critical and he seeks those who have it in abundance. Point being that the course I have him on from a personality standpoint is uncovering secrets of individuals and exposing them to the light.
Is there a specific inquisitive agency you had in mind? If not, Information Acquisitions, run by Kalaash’arrna, a half-orc with the Lesser Mark of Finding, springs to mind. It could have a role in the campaign.
No, I can certainly incorporate that into my Background when I get home tonight. Thank you for the suggestion!
I have one question about your stat array. Where is the Wisdom penalty coming from? As far as I know, Warforged get +2 Con, +2 Int, -2 Cha.
The version of Warforged for Pathfinder I located initially on the net had a -2 to Wisdom. Will make that correction.
RE Campaign traits: I think that’s a reasonable campaign trait. Out of curiosity, which Knowledge skill were you planning on using it in?
I was not sure yet. Probably Knowledge Local.
Finally, what role do you see Pierce playing in the party, both in and out of combat?
In combat Pierce will be an out of the box combatant. My Bonus Feat was specifically chose to take advantage of anything anywhere to use as a weapon. The Trait that gives assistance to that really cinched the Feat decision for me. He is probably more of a Flanker though as his BAB will never be great and his strength is average.
Out of combat he will be pushing the envelope make the Inquisitive Agency successful. As he does not sleep he will be a workaholic initially taking risks because he has always been such a loner. He is socially awkward (8 Charisma) and I wanted the Ability scores to reflect that but because of his Pride he fails to see his shortcomings so I think that will be an interesting RP opportunity. A Character who seeks to be the face but simply is not very good at it because he is rude and brusque.
I see your comment re the 4th Trait and I was going to ask that question :-). Will remove one of them.
I've been working on description, personality, background, and motivations. Looks like it's going to be a human Tharashk psychic detective.
Let me know if you have questions or comments. Here is the fluff I have so far.
Bojd's Fluff:
DESCRIPTION
Bertholdt is a tall man of darker Brelish complexion. Lean, and muscular, he carries himself in an unassuming way. His luscious black hair turned silver on the Day of Mourning and his silvery eyes normally filled with defiance are now often lost in thoughts or looking at something beyond this world. His deep voice sports a mix of accents edging a Brelish signing staccato.
He favors dark brown tunics of leather or thick wool, cut at the shoulder to allow fluid movements, under which he wears ample white shirts, worn to the neck, with a "cravate" of white silk. Over these, a fine mustard coat sporting strands of silvergreen protects him from the weather. A pouch on his side carries his precious pipe and tobacco.
PERSONALITY
A lot happened in the years leading to the signing of the Treaty of Thronehold. Bojd, fuelled with a passion and looking for a cause, sought to embrace the causes of his House and of his country, and got burned for it. A traitor for some and a hero for others, he sees neither when he looks in the mirror, just an easily manipulated youth.
The voices in his head have deeply troubled him. Together with the dragonmark on his shoulder, they mark him as destined for greater things. The thought fires and frightens him, for he thought the same thing when he set for Thronehold. Perhaps he is still a pawn, but in a larger game with higher stakes?
BACKGROUND
He still remembers her green eyes and her opiating scent… They had met during his studies at Morgrave; its doors suddenly swung open with the sudden appearance of the Mark of Finding on his left shoulder. She was at first just a pretty face in the hallways, then a reason to take an extra course in mega-archaeology, but nothing more, until they met again in Thronehold.
His studies in linguistics had been sponsored by his House, but as the war suffocated out, he was sent to Thronehold where he worked on code-breaking, with the rare excitement of joining veteran hunters in tracking a war criminal, or assembling evidence for a conviction. His loyalties had thus far lied with House Tharashk, until he met her again.
Kassandara was a clerk in the Brelish embassy. In the heat of the political intrigues shaking the continent, their kept passion lit in a blazing fire. Bojd used his House immunity to slip across each nation’s quarter. He used his dragonmark to collect information, in particular on Droaam negotiators, who made the mistake of using the most exotic, and therefore unique and easy to track, helmets, weapons, or dresses.
She disappeared the morning of his summon. Droaam had been expelled from the treaty negotiations and, he was then told, House Tharashk had potentially lost an important source of revenues. His superiors suspected he had something to do with the expulsion of Droaam, which led to a long and difficult forced stay in the Shadow Marches, until they decided to leave the matter be.
Shamed, deemed a traitor, Bojd moved to Breland, where he was received as a hero and a valuable asset for the Dark Lanterns, but he never saw Kassandara again.
As for the voices, these started on the Day of Mourning. Everywhere he goes, he hears them whispering in his head, guiding his steps towards an unknown destiny.
MOTIVATIONS
With a story such as his, Bojd secretly looks for fame and fate, but fears what may come with them. At the moment, he is relieved to spend his time and energy in building something small, with friends, to bring small solace to a few. Deep down, he wishes he can help his House consolidate its relations with Droaamites in Sharn and secure lucrative mercenary contracts. This way, some of his recent sins may get atoned for.
First, in your character sheet it says you weigh 2200 pounds. I’m curious how a weight that’s more than triple what most men can drag in-game translates to a CMD of 15.
I’d like to know more about the NPCs of Gauntlet’s past. Right now there’s a compelling villain in Savilar d’Cannith, but I don’t see a lot of potential allies or acquaintances, with the exception of an unnamed client with a lost pet.
RE: Campaign traits: I like the flaws built into the traits. I’m not going to require people do that, and if you wanted to just RP them, that’d be fine with me. Of the two, I like Anomaly better. I think it fits more with what the background you’ve given me suggests.
Finally, what role do you see Gauntlet playing in the party, both in and out of combat?
Answers:
]I felt the weight was extreme too, and I was going to ask about that. The Eberron/Pathfinder info link you provided for the translated racial info lists that if I wanted to use the Eberron alternate Racial trait (Adamantine Plating) my weight was to be multiplied by 8! Average weight of a warforged is something like 270 lbs. I thought it was extreme too. I would suggest an increase by 80 lbs or something, not multiplied by 8, but it is up to you.
I had not meant initially to go so much into my character's background...but I definitely intended to add more info and NPCs later too and will do so ASAP.
With Gauntlet, I tend to see him as the strong but silent type, unless something highly illogical strikes him -OR- if he just feels the need to speak out about possible useful trivia that he picked up somewhere. He is highly perceptive and forgets little, and with his not needing to sleep, it makes him a good man for following targets and staking out locations, or just dogging the footsteps of criminals who do have to rest. He tends to trust strangers very little, especially since those around him tend to be put off by his race and unusual supernatural aura.
As a trained commando, Gauntlet tends to try and resolve fights as quickly as possible and tends to try and fill in the gaps in a group fight as needed: He usually mainline fights or defends by summoning a two-handed mind-blade or he can back off and cast his limited spells and provide basic support, including carrying away wounded comrades or anything else that is required to achieve a goal. Using the Variant multiclassing and some specific skill choices he is also learning some basic rogue abilities too over time. He is not very strong as a ranged combatant yet, but that could improve over time as his magic improves, although he tends to stay away from the flashier combat spells.
@Redblade: You can certainly submit a drow. Just be aware that the fluff for them is different than Golarion. From my read of the long knife, it seems like it'd work with the archetype. Drow Scorpion Claws are definitely close weapons.
@CampinCarl: It should be okay. I'll have to see the background to be sure, but if you justify it well, I'll allow it.
@Cuan: Which dinosaur do you want?
@Pierce and Gauntlet: Thanks for the responses!
@Fabian: Sorry to see you go!
@Dreaming Warforged: I'll get you in the next batch of questions and comments.
