Hello everyone and welcome back!
So we've got basically two options for this. The extra fourth chronicle does not depend on which mode we play (as it does for Wardens of the Reborn Forge, etc) so I'll do whatever you guys want.
Option 1: PFS mode! Everyone uses a level 3-5 character. After each mini-adventure you receive a chronicle sheet. You'll get three chronicle sheets throughout the module and a bonus fourth at the end as long as you play the same character the whole time.
Option 2: Campaign mode! Everyone builds new level 4 characters according to some new creation rules I will post and you will level up at the appropriate times. When the entire module is complete you'll get all four chronicles at once to apply to a PFS character.
I second campaign mode!
I have/had a feeling campaign mode would be more popular. Here's your chance to make a pirate-y character! I'm going to change the character creation rules slightly from what I have used for the psychics game and some of my other APs.
Starting Level: 4
Stats: 20 point buy
Race: All CRB races, catfolk, ifrits, oreads, ratfolk, sylphs, tengus, undines, gillmen, gripplis, kitsune, nagaji, sulis, and vanaras are allowed.
All racial archetypes and alternative racial traits are available (for that race only, of course).
Classes: All Paizo classes, including the Occult playtest classes and the new Unchained classes (Core versions still available if you prefer) are allowed.
Archetypes: All Paizo archetypes are allowed.
Feats: Weapon Finesse, Throw Anything, and Catch Off-Guard are free feats at character creation. In addition, everyone receives Skill Focus as a free feat at character creation with your choice of skill.
Traits: Any two traits but cannot be of the same type (combat, magic, faith, etc).
Starting Gold: 6000 gp
Skills: if your class only receives 2 + Int per level, you instead gain 4 + Int per level.
If anyone would like to try out some of the new rules from Pathfinder Unchained, please suggest them and I will consider it. I have glanced through the book but have not studied any particular system in depth. If you request it I will read up on it and consider using it for this campaign though.
I will say that in glancing it over the first adventure seems fairly combat-lite with potential for roleplay and investigation, the second is a mix, and the third is a dungeon crawl. So a bit of everything for everyone.
Thinking Grippli Unchained Rogue!
Anyone feeling any particular type of theme? I'm thinking Pirates of the Caribbean. Can we be anti-heroes?
Oh yeah:
Alignments: no evil!
But as far as anti-heroes: sure! I think a little of that is expected when playing a group of pirates.
Hmm, pirates? Not my thing but I'll try to come up with a 4th level dude.
This is my rough draft of a character.
Glub Glub was a rambunctious pirate frog who raided the swamps around his home, but one day his ship was washed out to sea and he drowned. Besmara saw fit to resurrect him, but the cold depths of the sea got to him. He now is always cold to the touch and has minor abilities related to ice. He always floats to the top of water (his hat) and can use minor ice magic (Ray of Frost and Snowball). Since his rebirth, Glub Glub has become much more sullen, but retains his excellent intelligence.
I'm thinking of actually trying my multi-multi-multiclass experiment here (Rogue/Fighter/Cleric/Wizard) but a backstory escapes me.
I may make an undine, but otherwise, there is a decent chance I will recreate either Johender or Jocephus, both being pirate-y characters.
I support this idea Rycky!
@Tektite: Make Undine Johendar!
Any thoughts on my build?
I might scratch Cleric for Oracle and use the Water thingy for it.
@Bold Strider: Glub Glub looks fun - and weird! I'm thinking this is definitely a Pirates of the Caribbean "on Stranger Tides" game. This makes me want to play something weird too. Anyhow, the new unchained rogue seems much more effective then the original and I don't think I have any suggestions for it.
I'm not certain yet, but I'm considering a magus (eldritch archetype) with a level of gunslinger (mysterious stranger).
Or maybe an unchained monk or brawler.
I'm thinking to recycle this concept. Ursion was made for a S&S game that fizzled out; he was a skirmisher ranger, which is pretty close to slayer. His ambition is to be a pirate captain, though he's really all business and minimal flash (hence, slayer rather than swashbuckler). Would you mind him keeping the AP trait Besmara's Blessing? It's +1 on Perception and Profession (Sailor) checks; 1x/week can reroll a Profession (Sailor) check.
S&S campaign traits are fine for this module.
I am ready to start whenever you guys are. How long does everyone need to finish up their character? Maybe try to start by the end of next week?
I think I've narrowed down my idea. It should be ready by this weekend.
I will be in Orlando for Memorial Day weekend so posting may be hit or miss. I'll try to nail down my idea though.
I think that'll be doable--I've already gotten started on the revamp of Ursion. One thing, though--I'll be traveling through the second and third weeks in June; I'll mostly be in areas with decent cell service, so I can keep track of campaigns by phone, but my posting is likely to be slow.
In the meantime, here's some background for the character and how he came to be gallivanting around and robbing people on the high seas:
The city of Eleder stifled under a blanket of oppressive heat. Even two hours past sunset, the evening's cool sea breeze barely touched the beach before dying away in the tropical humidity. Baron Utilinus signed and sealed the last of the documents in front of him, handing them to one of the omnipresent servants for the next stage in their journey through the Sargavan bureaucracy. There came a gentle knock at the door. "Come!" the Baron ordered, and the door opened to reveal yet another servant with a couple he recognized immediately.
"Count and Counte--er, Master and Mistress Crispin, Excellency. And their son." His task done, the servant bowed and left the room, closing the door behind him.
The Baron had never seen the young Ursion before, but his ancestry was clearly stamped in his features--Chelaxian black hair and pale skin, with only a slight tan and what was probably windburn coloring his face. The plain sailor's clothing seemed tailored for him, looking far more appropriate than his parents' faded and oft-mended formal garb. He looks like both his parents. It remains to be seen if he inherited any of his father's subtlety or his mother's drive, though. The Baron smiled in greeting. "A pleasure, as always. And Ursion--also a pleasure. We've never met, though I've heard much of you. And I daresay you've heard much of me. By the questioning look on your face, I'd wager you don't know why you've been brought here. I'll let the Count and Countess explain." The bewildered look on Ursion's face told the Baron his surmise was right--Morvius and Pontia had never told the boy they were nobles. Not that I blame them...without estates and holdings, the title's an empty one.
The count spoke hesitantly. "My son, you've been brought up to be a sea captain, unlike any of your older siblings. You were born with Besmara's Blessing, or so the priests told us, and it seemed natural that you'd command one of our trading ships, and later our fleet." He laughed bitterly. "Our fleet. Ha! By the time you're trained, we won't have so much as a rowboat--the Free Captains have seen to that, bleeding us dry. We have another part for you to play, though. It's a wild gamble, a complete toss of the dice, and even if it fails there's a good chance you'll be able to at least poke a stick in the eye of those devil-bought bastards of House Thrune."
Countess Pontia continued, her voice far more forceful than her husband's. "Ursion, you must leave us and go to sea on your own. Your task is to accept what Besmara's Blessing truly means--you must become a pirate and win a name for yourself preying on the same sort of vessels you once hoped to command. Preferably those flying Chelaxian flags, of course. Then, and only then, will you be able to reach for a higher prize.
"My son, you must become a Free Captain yourself. Then you can restore our fortunes--all our fortunes, and make Sargava great again. Your father and I have given you the tools you'll need, but it's your choice and yours alone. Will you accept this?"
While his parents spoke, the young Ursion grew more and more incredulous, eyes wide in something like horror. As his mother finished, he stood mute, looking back and forth at the others in the room. Finally he found his voice. "Mother...father...Count and Countess...." His tone grew sarcastic at the last. "You want me to, to give up all I have and run off? You think I can actually become a Free Captain? You're mad, all of you. And I won't have any part of your idiotic plan!" He fled the room, slamming the door behind him.
In the silence that followed, the Baron breathed deeply, tapping his chin with one finger. "Well, that went better than I would have expected. Do you think he'll do it?" Morvius and Pontia looked at each other, then back at the Baron, both smiling. "Of course he will."
Tears streamed down Ursion's cheeks as he frantically packed his few belongings. There's a ship in port...there's always at least one. They'll take a skilled hand with no questions asked. What were they thinking? Me, a Free Captain? But far down in the back of his mind, the thought echoed, with a slightly different inflection: Me! A Free Captain!
OK, here is my concept. Not sure if it final as I'd take suggestions for different feats, etc.
You a farmer?
Tektite's PC here. Still a bit of a rough draft. Need to nail down a couple traits and a few other odds and ends.
I'm seeing lots of lightly armored, melee fighters. Perfect pirate group!
I'm going with this.
Concept: Magical Mr. Mistoffelees. With a gun.
Well, I never!
@EF: a beneficial bandolier isn't legal for PFS, but could I purchase one for this game since we're playing in campaign mode?
Sure!
A farmer? Hmm, not what I imagined after I made him. Not sure what you mean. Of course, I think I need to tweak him and would accept suggestions.
It's because his initials are 4H. Sorry, bit of a stretch.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Ah, didn't think anybody would catch that. :) I was gonna call him Triple H but I went with four classes.
Looks like we have five PCs reasonably ready? I'll get this started sometime soon, likely tomorrow.
Yeah, think I'm ready.
OK, maybe I wasn't ready. I just noticed I swapped my Wisdom and Chrisma scores (due to my last-minute change to Oracle over Cleric) so I had to update myself again. I don't think anything has been affected yet.
Slim posting for this weekend. Hope to get something up by tomorrow evening.
I start a new show tomorrow that might restrict my ability to post. I still hope to get at least one out per day, but it might be slower at times.
I will be going on vacation starting Friday and will have no internet access for the vast majority of the time I'm away. I should be back a week from Sunday. Please bot my PC as best you can please!
Shollana is leveled up.
Perception +1 (+9)
Ursion is finally leveled up; work has been keeping me busy since the camping trip.
I am leaving for Chicago to take the Bar Exam on Tues/Wed. Posting will be sporadic, if at all. Back on Friday!
Good luck!
Shameless plug here: I'm playing in a Carrion Crown game here on the boards, and the GM has had a major attack of RL and needs to drop the campaign. If anyone here is interested and has the time to pick it up, the Recruitment thread is HERE.
One other thing--Bold Strider, how did the bar exam go?
It was awful. Team February!
Also, I'm running CC atm. How many players in your group?
At least four and possibly five; the fifth has been kind of quiet of late. Incredibly funny dirge bard, cleric of Shelyn, bladebound magus, and urban ranger (me). Fifth is a wizard. We're just getting into the alchemy factory in Lepidstadt.
Was gonna see if I could squash you in with my group, but that would make a party of ten. Seems a bit unwieldy.
Give me a couple weeks to wrap up this set of scenarios and I will take over as GM. Sound good?
Sounds great! Campaign is HERE, and I'll have the current GM ping you.
Hey everyone! I'm doing a bit of a private recruitment for the upcoming Gameday specials by only announcing it to a few of my games at a time until they are full.
First, I am starting 06-98 Serpent's Rise on September 19 (the first day of Gameday 4). This is the special where you get to play 7th-level Aspis pregens. Go ahead and check in on the campaign Discussion and Gameplay threads if you are interested. I'm taking six players and it's first-come-first-served.
The next one isn't starting for a while but I've got it set up anyways. Starting on November 5th is the special 06-97 Siege of Serpents. This is open for levels 1-11 and is again first-come-first-serve. The six that get in will need to coordinate and decide on a tier. Since it is not starting for a couple months obviously your character does not have to be free immediately and you all have time to decide on the party composition. You are welcome to check in on the Gameplay and Discussion threads though and start organizing the party.
Thanks!