If it helps you at all in balancing the party, I think I have figured out a way for my character to be an oracle or a bard (so like divine and more balanced arcane), although I still prefer sorcerer. The concept is basically the same, but it's just that some aspects are played up a bit more in different classes.
And I'll go by your ruling, GM Birch - stick with my arcane caster idea, or go divine.
I have to admit, since others are bringing it up, I'm far more interested in RotRL than CC. I'm just not that into the horror genre in my gaming. I still might give it a shot, but for that I'd probably want a different character if still allowed.
I'm aware I jump from thread to thread - I hope you're keeping up. I now have (in alpha order):
Brand Firestorm
Delgata Pesur
Eltanin Titansglade
Galen Zanderholm
Gwernach Nickelbeard
Horatio Aldebrandt
Ixos
Kaddok Bear-Kin
Kalig the Tireless
Keth Longstrider
Krokod Firetongue
Merwyn Dreamweaver
Miro
Nebuchcanezzar
Veryl Melthid
Walden Tyronius Ettinmoor
Wilthorn Gwanae
Did I miss anyone?
Okay, GM. I've spent a good hour going over Horatio's personality again, and trying to take your feedback into account. Though it's past midnight in my part of Aussieland, and I'm not feeling too hot right now, so if this hasn't actually accomplished anything, be honest. I think it started off better than it ended, heheh.
Horatio’s most distinguishing personality characteristic is his charm. Picked up from years of performing in taverns and learning what people want, it practically oozes from him, and he takes advantage of it. A smile, a slow wink, a subtle sway of the hips or a gentle brush of fingers against cheek – all are tools to him, to help him get what he wants.
As for what he wants? More often than not, it tends to be company for the night. Having only been in one serious relationship, which in itself was rather open to other avenues, Horatio is a connoisseur of pleasures of the flesh, more than happy, even eager, to indulge in one-night stands and flings as he fancies. However, having fallen foolishly more than once, he has no desire to break any hearts – if he only wants company for one night, he’ll be honest about it, and while he has been turned down as a result, he feels it’s better to spend the night alone than hurt someone in that way.
Another cause of his promiscuity is the manner in which his last relationship ended – death. Losing someone he loved has led Horatio to close himself off emotionally, satisfying his body with one-night stands, but guarding his heart and soul out of fear of suffering such loss again. Fear is something he refuses to admit to, hiding his fear behind false bravado and arrogance – a trait he bitterly thanks his father (a strong Chelaxian man) for, for bringing him up to teach him that men don’t show pain, or fear, and that men never, ever cry.
Years of performing in taverns and charming his way into other people’s beds has taught Horatio the value of a silvered tongue. He knows how to word things for his own benefit, and how to twist truths to make his stories plausible. Most importantly, he knows how to be diplomatic when the occasion calls for it, as he has had to talk his way out a sticky situation more than once.
On the outside, his charm, arrogance, and promiscuity blend together, painting him as a carefree rake – and it’s an image he’ll happily wear. Because underneath, he’s far more complex, and he doesn’t want anyone to see past the (admittedly truthful) image he’s crafted for himself. A performer needs a persona, after all.
Firstly, the fear. The fear of losing someone. The fear of having everything you loved most dearly taken away from you, stemming from losing a lover to something he was powerless to stop.
The anxiety – the feeling his father drummed into him, teaching him to fight and fence so he could defend himself from “moths and impers”, and the way that it scares him, because it reminds him that not all problems can be solved with a dashing smile and some well-placed words.
The nightmares – the spider-filled terrors that haunt his sleep, snatching him awake on lonely nights, nightmares of spiders and shiver, nightmares brought on by his loss.
The passion for music, the desire that drives him onward – his dream to compose masterpieces that will be played for years after his own death, to play on the largest stages of the world.
Despite the arrogance, the oozing charm (those less kind would call it sleaze), the bouts of depression, and the fear of letting anyone see him for who he truly is, Horatio isn’t a bad person. He’s friendly, and likeable, and quick to smile and laugh. He’s quick to share a drink (like any Caileanite worth their salt) and quick to strike up a tune if the mood seems low, either by playing the violin in such ways as to make grown men weep, or by bursting suddenly into song. He prefers songs in the Skald or Varisian tongues (both of which he picked up in Korvosa), loving the difference between the one, harsh and guttural, and the other, graceful and weaving.
Sometimes, when moved by music or other forms of beauty, his carefree mask slips aside for a few moments, revealing the sensitive soul he’s always been. Every now and then, one might catch glimpses of who he really is – a young man, prone to melancholy, who’s suffered a great loss; a young man who’s now far from home and missing it terribly. But he’ll brush off any attempts to pierce his facade, laughing it off, drowning it with music or drink – he’s decided it’s better to be thought of as shallow, than to risk facing that loss again.
Im not against Carrion Crown, I just wouldnt have submitted this character. I would have gone with a Half Orc Paladin.
I build characters for a certain story, as like you, I want the character to be able to develop in the campaign.
Though as I said, I could run Keth in Carrion Crown, and I love the idea of the game...Id just tweak the crunch a bit and maybe make him a little more focused on things that go bump in the night. ;)
Okay, GM. I've spent a good hour going over Horatio's personality again, and trying to take your feedback into account. Though it's past midnight in my part of Aussieland, and I'm not feeling too hot right now, so if this hasn't actually accomplished anything, be honest. I think it started off better than it ended, heheh.
** spoiler omitted **...
** spoiler omitted **
I'm with Keth up there. I'd love to play in Carrion Crown, but I'm not sure the Professor would have been the character I'd have made for it.
He'd work story-wise (perhaps being an old colleague of Lorrimor) but I don't see his arcane focus being particularly useful in that setting.
I'm tentative to put this out there, particularly because I don't want to affect my chances of being a player in one of these games(!), but at this point, considering the work that has gone into developing the Professor, if he doesn't make it through I hope you might consider him playing a walk on role as an NPC?
I'm with Keth up there. I'd love to play in Carrion Crown, but I'm not sure the Professor would have been the character I'd have made for it.
He'd work story-wise (perhaps being an old colleague of Lorrimor) but I don't see his arcane focus being particularly useful in that setting.I'm tentative to put this out there, particularly because I don't want to affect my chances of being a player in one of these games(!), but at this point, considering the work that has gone into developing the Professor, if he doesn't make it through I hope you might consider him playing a walk on role as an NPC?
Third tier of agreement to this! Should I be chosen for CC would I be able to create a different character? I would prefer to hold onto Delgata and play him in the RotRL setting, even if I had to use him elsewhere.
I'll clarify one thing now. I won't be playing Carrion Crown. It's too specific to shoe-horn other characters into.
My preference is for Council of Thieves and Curse of the Crimson Throne. I will definitely be giving the option to amend or recreate characters - although the party would have to agree amongst itself how to retain a balance of skills.
And, before I become too pompous, there is the option to play neither if not selected for RotR.
I could shoe horn Keth easier into Council of Thieves than CotCT, If I was given the choice (Im running CotCT currently). But who knows I may get into RotRL.
Aww, man. I had a great idea for a character for CC, too. *g* But I'm definitely most interested in ROTR. Do you have any comments on the story I've given Kaddok? I want to tweak it as much as possible to improve my chances!
I think Merwyn is too good-aligned and innocent for Council of Thieves without significant alignment slippage, but Rise of the Runelords or Curse of the Crimson Throne are both good.
If Horatio's competed to your satisfaction (is he? Did I ramble too much?), I'll state my preference for Runelords. It's what I built him for. But since he's Korvosan, I can work him into Curse of the Crimson Throne with no trouble. I'm less familiar with Council of Thieves, so that might take a little more work.
I'd prefer RotRL but never played Council of Thieves and it sounds interesting :) I am already playing a paladin in a CoCT game, but I can play stupid if I ended up in another one
I'll just voice my preference for Runelords as well. I really don't know much about CC from a players perspective, through I've given the first book a cursory glance, checking a thing a friend said about the monsters, and really read through book four because, well, what it is. This isn't helped by the fact the character was really designed with Varisia in mind (I don't even know where in Golarion CC takes place, now that I think about it. Council of Thieves and Curse of the Crimson Throne, however, are less objectionable, should it come to that. I've never really played a predominately urban so it'd be something different, I suppose. But on the other hand, then I gotta write a bunch more junk for a new char. Give and take, I suppose.
Eltanin here, and my interest in RotR lay in the fact that it was the first adventure path I heard of. In effect, with a few modifications for origin stories, I'll be glad to play in any campaign.
Aww, man. I had a great idea for a character for CC, too. *g* But I'm definitely most interested in ROTR. Do you have any comments on the story I've given Kaddok? I want to tweak it as much as possible to improve my chances!
I honestly don't need or expect anyone to tweak any more - other than any very recent feedback. I'm now pouring over the submissions and working out the best fit for RotR.
I was just about to announce that I've placed the extra story of Veryl in his Character Sheet, when I saw your post, thank you for picking me, this will hopefully be an enjoyable experience for everyone. The story is under the spoiler tag 'Escape' if you feel like reading it, the tale explores Veryl's escape from Magnimar and how he came to the decision to travel to Sandpoint.
I'm exhausted before we start!
Thanks for sticking by me and well done to you all. What's next? I need you to:
1. Review your characters and make sure they're 100% to your satisfaction
2. If someone fancies themselves as a rules-helper, please check out/help the other guys to make sure they're characters are 100% to your satisfaction ; p
3. Be really clear about why you're on a caravan to Sandpoint from Magnimar
4. Read my opening post. I plan to let you chat for an hour or so game time before you reach Sandpoint. Once I see the chat dying - or if I get frisky - I'll jump in to move it along. That's kinda my style.
5. You can post before your character is complete. It'll be role-playing not dice-rolling initially anyway
6. Please help out if I'm asked a question and you know the answer. I won't mind if someone jumps in and solves the mystery or gives advice.
7. How long is this list? I have a house-rule now. Knowledge (local) is about where you come from primarily. If you go somewhere new, I suspect you're the sort that obseves things, listens to gossip etc. Once you're in a new place for at least 24-hours, you can roll for that place too.
8. If you want to weave back-stories, now is the best time
I'm not a rules stickler, but I know them pretty well. I can be a pretty good person to reference for questions
Checking in! Officially posting with the profile, so I can't go back now. :)
FYI--I've been having some Internet troubles. I think I should definitely be able to check in regularly but if I disappear longer than expected that's what happened. If this goes on for more than a couple days I will keep you posted.
I think I like my character as is but will finalize anything by tomorrow. If anyone else has any comments on build they're welcome to say so--I did this by hand so it's entirely possible I messed up some math somewhere.
To celebrate the equinox seems a great reason for Kalig to go, beyond the draw of Sandpoint itself.
Merwyn checking in. There was just a perfect confluence of classes today and it appears that for the first time in years, I have (basically) no homework.
Looking forward to reading all your backstories in more detail now that the party has been chosen.
-----
Just a quick question. How many traits?
Merwyn checking in. There was just a perfect confluence of classes today and it appears that for the first time in years, I have (basically) no homework.
Looking forward to reading all your backstories in more detail now that the party has been chosen.
-----
Just a quick question. How many traits?
Related to this, is there any chance we could take a campaign trait instead of the campaign feat, or alternatively use the campaign feat to take additional traits in order to pick up campaign traits?
The issue is that none of the feats actually apply to the character except for Varisian tattoo, and that has a pre-req that I am not sure I can fulfill.
*casts an eye over Miro* Well, one of us is going to have to change. :P
GM, I should have crunch updated shortly. Just finishing up in HeroLab. As for the caravan, I'll have to probably rework most of his history... The paths to Sandpoint from Magnimar and Korvosa don't exactly intersect. *sigh*
Checking in. Working on finalizing crunch now.
Just a heads-up, the gameplay thread is up. I didn't realize until very recently.
*casts an eye over Horatio* What a handsome fellow
I'll change, I was never overly thrilled with the avatar for this character anyways
Okay. I'm thinking I can keep most of Horatio's history as-is, but add on that he took a detour to Magnimar on the way to Sandpoint to try his luck there, ran into a spot of trouble he refuses to talk about, and joined the caravan to Sandpoint as a means of getting away quickly. Knowing the character, said "trouble" probably involved a barmaid and her father or spouse. And he's been giving the caravan merry hell ever since. Sound good? (I'm no good at this.)
And I'm happy to change avatars. I only chose this one because it looked suitably smug. The character isn't even blond. >.>
Scratch my earlier questions, I went back through and read the thread: questions answered. :D
I'm not a rules stickler, but I know them pretty well. I can be a pretty good person to reference for questions
Thanks for the help.
Merwyn checking in. There was just a perfect confluence of classes today and it appears that for the first time in years, I have (basically) no homework.
Looking forward to reading all your backstories in more detail now that the party has been chosen.
-----
Just a quick question. How many traits?
Feats and traits! RotR (and specifically the player's guide) was written pre-Pathfinder. What you'll find in that guide are called campaign feats (Feats of Varisa from memory) but are actually from a Pathfinder mechanics perspective traits.
So...2 traits (one campaign) - as many feats as the character dictates. You can also use the anniversary traits if any work for you.
Scratch my earlier questions, I went back through and read the thread: questions answered. :D
D'oh! I should read all the posts before responding.
It would be funny if Miro and Horatio had half-smiles on opposite sides of the mouths.
I call the good-looking side! :P
Wait-hold-on-let-me-check-your-cha-score-oh-wait-bard-lolnope-you-win
The only downside to having high charisma is being picked to do all the talking. And with this character's personality... that's going to be fun. *devious smile*
Lol don't worry I'm a good secondary face. Don't have magic or any feats/skills to specifically help but I intend to keep max ranks in diplomacy and bluff
I built Horatio to be a skill monkey. 9 points a level doesn't hurt at all. Keep the social skills nice and high of course (since unless Merwyn wants it, he'll probably be the face), and throw points into all the knowledges as they seem most relevant. I'm considering putting a rank in linguistics at every level, too, to really take advantage of high diplomacy. Never know when you'll need to speak Necril or Ancient Osirian. :P
I don't want to be stepping on anyone's toes, though. Seems to be the problem with playing a bard; no matter what they do, they're overlapping with someone. Doubt any of you can play the violin so beautifully, though :P
Which reminds me, I have a few questions for the GM regarding versatile performance a bit later...
I'm really enjoying the posts and don't want to stop the flow, whilst needing to move you on slowly.
So I'll post something later today to take you to the next stage.
Meanwhile, could you all please post a one-liner here to let me know if your character is now complete or, if not, when it will be.
Many thanks.
Horatio should be ready to go any time. Some inspiration's just hit me, so I might be tweaking his backstory more over the weekend. It won't change anything, just expand a bit more on the circumstances that shaped his life, and potentially provide you with things to torment him with.
Like an intense phobia of large spiders.
My character is basically done, just assigning monies and such.
To Horatio, I hope you can cover the social skills. The closest to social I'm getting is disguise and perform(storytelling, oratory, act?) = disguised shadow puppetry
Also with my low amount of skill points, hopefully you can cover lots of knowledges. I only have knowledge(arcana) because I can't afford any of the rest.
----
I'll need your help to cover some arcane stuff as well. I am focused in illusion with a smattering of utility and damage, so it will probably require both of us to pick up all the arcane roles (and I see you've also got some healing).
Just to say that after today (my time) my posting will be sporadic for the next three days. Saturday and Sunday are always my slowest days – I tend to post mostly in the evenings.
Monday is my wife’s birthday, so expect zero posts and then I’m full steam ahead again from Tuesday morning. Thanks for your patience.
I believe that Veryl's crunch is in order, as is his backstory and extra story which explains why he's heading to Sandpoint. But if anyone notices anything wrong please feel free to inform me of my mistake.
Crunch should be done, though I will probably be tweaking backstory over the weekend
If it is okay, can everyone assume that Veryl's last post happened before the caravan stopped at Sandpoint, it just would make more sense.
I know this has been hashed through but I have managed to confuse myself regardless:
I think I misinterpreted the earlier character creation instructions -- I took a campaign feat (from the old RotRL player's guide, not the anniversary edition) as a bonus feat, and then two traits that are just APG traits.
The campaign TRAITS are those that are listed in the APG under "campaign traits" yes?
So
1) Should I remove one of my generic traits?
2) Should I replace said generic trait WITH the campaign feat I took, or also remove the campaign feat I took and replace it one of the campaign feats in the APG?
As the campaign FEATS from the old RoTRL players guide are notably a bit more meaty than most TRAITS.