Greetings and Salutations!
One of my GM duties:
Your Duties as Game Master:
As a Pathfinder Society Organized Play Game Master running a session at a convention or an in-store event, you have the following duties.
• Introduce yourself.
• Encourage your players to introduce themselves (and their characters).
But, since this is online, just share what you want, if you want. You can introduce your character best, I think, on the gameplay thread, or add some OOC info about them here.
I'm Matt, a 43-year-old father of a two-year-old boy, staying at home while my wife goes through an accelerated nursing school program. As I said on the Campaign Info page, I am relatively new to PbP, PFS, Pathfinder, and GMing, though I have now finished as an online player in six games and as a GM in five (I think - I am starting to lose track). I am hoping online gaming will help keep me relatively sane, especially now that I have had to give up my in-person game for time and scheduling reasons.
Secondary Success Conditions
Or, How do I get my second prestige point?
There is a "Secondary Success Conditions" document we were sent a link to and I've copied the introduction here so that you will know how things have changed with faction missions and getting that second prestige point.
At the beginning of Season 5 of the Pathfinder Society Organized Play campaign, the means by which a PC earns Prestige Points and Fame changed. Before, a PC earned Prestige Points by completing faction missions (short missions assigned by the respective head of the faction) and by completing the scenario’s main mission. With few exceptions, these faction missions are no longer tied to earning Prestige Points, but the players may opt to receive and perform these missions for Season 0–4 scenarios for no special benefit. In those few cases where the scenario still uses the faction missions, treat members of the Grand Lodge faction as though they were members of the Osirion faction, treat members of the Sczarni faction as though they were members of the Taldor faction, and treat members of the Silver Crusade faction as though they were members of the Andoran faction.
In Season 5, a scenario’s individual faction missions have been replaced by a secondary success condition, which typically ties into exceeding the goal established in the mission briefing, finding an additional boon, securing a longterm ally, not damaging the reputation of the Pathfinder Society, or generally excelling at the tasks set before them.
I think it is best to still provide the faction missions for role playing purposes and for PFS historical flavor, but I was never completely happy with the faction missions being tied to the prestige point since they often seemed to require a single pass-fail d20 roll with a skill the character may not have, rather than good and creative gaming.
Also, it seems that the new Secondary Success Conditions are at least sometimes related to the old faction missions, so you might be more sure of getting the second PP if you do the faction missions.
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Hello Hello
Name is Ryan, but I answer to Mezegis or Mez just as easily. I'm 33, and have been a gamer for about 2 decades. I have years of PbP experience in various forums, and have been here on the Paizo boards for about half a year. Matt and I just kind of fell together in other games, and it seems he enjoys my humor and idea that a game should be fun and not the most serious of things. Serious characters are fine, but expect mine to have a little fun at their expense. :D
I can answer just about any question you have, and am more than happy to offer advice if asked, but I do try and abide by the rule of: It's your character, you decide how optimized you want it to be.
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Hi,
My name's Alex, I'm 37 and I've been a pen & paper style gamer for the last twenty years. I learned about Pathfinder a couple of years ago and recently got into it.
I designed the cavalier Eurydes with deliberate flaws in mind, ones that should make for some interesting tension at times. One thing he is not, though, is evil or malicious. He just has some misguided viewpoints and arrogance to go with them. Which could make things fun.
On the plus side, he also makes a loyal and trustworthy friend.
Alex :)
Hi all,
Good stuff on the Gameplay thread, Zander and Kawrock!
I just put up the recruitment thread for two more new or newish PbP/PFS players. (I have a fourth player already who is working on finishing up his character). I think your posts show just what is possible in PbP gaming. (Of course, every one of my posts is a finely crafted jewel... :P)
I said that I was hoping to start formally mid-next week, but we'll go sooner if we can.
Thanks,
Matt
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I found the link to DH's guide to PbP very helpful. I also learned a bit from this post Building a better Doomed Hero. It's also what got me interested in trying PbP out.
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Greets to all! Given I'm closing in on 58, it looks like I'll be the game's token Old Fart. I've been FRPing off and on for decades, starting way back in the days of AD&D. GURPS, Dragonlance, RuneQuest, d20... I probably can't remember all the systems I've drifted through with friends over the years. For the last year and a half or so we've been exploring Pathfinder (via d20 Pro and Mumble, since some of us are now separated by states and many miles) in two interleaved campaigns (one set in Golarion, the other in a homebrew world). I still consider myself a Pathfinder newbie, but at least I'm finally starting to get the hang of AoOs...
I got involved with PbP fairly recently (though I was doing PbM ages ago thanks to Flying Buffalo, and participated in one of the earliest online campaigns via Compuserv's "CB Simulator" -- I'd say I'm showing my age, but I've already admitted to that...) I enjoy the "collaborative storytelling" aspects of FRP and I'm something of a frustrated fiction writer to boot, so PbP is a near-perfect fit for me.
Alex, Tuich (pronounced "twitch") has some serious issues of her own, so she and Eurydes should get along just fine. There's a lot of pathos about her thanks to a tragic backstory (which will come out if/as time allows), but she keeps her troubles to herself as much as possible, so y'all won't have to deal with an angstfest.
(And in other games one of my PCs has to cope with an overzealous Inquisitor and a second with both a Paladin and a Hellknight, so... "interesting tension?" Bring it!)
Well, this looks like it is going to be a ridiculously good group, and this humble GM will try to be worthy. I hope everyone caught my disclaimer that "I'm relatively new to Pathfinder, to Play-by-Post play, to the Pathfinder Society, and to GMing, but I also hope to take suggestions and corrections well."
Maybe, though, I can figure out how to cut back in other areas so I can continue this group beyond this scenario, at least until someone else feels up to GMing...
~~ Matt
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Well, this looks like it is going to be a ridiculously good group, and this humble GM will try to be worthy.
Just thrilled to have a chance to game and do some RP.
And I'll second your praise. Everyone's posts have been well thought out and awesome. This looks to be a fun group.
So, I'll go ahead and introduce myself. My name's Ray, I'm 31, and I live in Puerto Rico with my wife. No kids yet, but that might be changing soon, since I'm finally hitting that place where I sorta, kinda feel like an adult.
I volunteer at Anime/Comic conventions. Actually, the guys who run them here in PR are in my gaming group. I normally run a table there, and we try to introduce folks to RPGs and tabletop games.
Tuich, yeah, I did play-by-mail, too, many years ago. A 'galactic conquest' game, with each turn taking about a month to come in. It gave a lot of time for anticipation, and when the big envelop finally arrived in the mail it was a big deal.
I sometimes tell the story because it was in the early days of the internet, when it was primarily a NSF backbone and only colleges and universities, the government and military bases, and such had access. My friend and I were wondering if we could use this internet thingy to send turns back and forth, having them automatically entered instead of entered by hand into the computer simulation and saving a lot on paper and postage, etc. But, while this part of the game wouldn't be charged for, it was associated with a commercial activity, and using the internet for commercial purposes was against the rules.
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Tuich I took a look at your stats as I can not help but be morbidly curious. Unfortunately the hide shirt is not legal for PFS play according to the Additional Resources page. I am also unfamiliar with the Varisian tattoo trait. If you know the source material it is from I would double check it on that same link.
There is a "Varisian Tattoo" in "Pathfinder Player Companion: Varisia, Birthplace of Legends" as a trait, and it is mentioned as legal.
There is another "Varisian Tattoo" in the "Inner Sea World Guide" which is a feat, and it is also legal.
(Assuming I am reading things right.)
The are quite different powers, though.
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Ah yes, Starweb! (Unless you played the "Galactic Conflict" variant.) I played one game, failed miserably, and decided I needed to work my way up from less challenging stuff. I can't recall which games I fell back to (I don't think Tunnels and Trolls was among them), but the result was many years of enjoyment.
Thanks for the ride in the way-back machine. Yep, when I was involved in PbM it was essentially the era of the dial-up BBS and FidoNet. I still remember the excitement of upgrading to a 1200BPS modem from 300...
Kawrock, thanks for the sanity check; always appreciated. I checked the Varisian Tattoo before I got started yesterday since it's central to the character concept. (Essentially it's a flavor thing, granting proficiency with Bladed Scarf and Starknife; sort of de rigueur for a Varisian! Plus a +1 to charm and compulsion saves.) It's from Varisia, Birthplace of Legends and is explicitly listed as PFS-legal. (Not to be confused with the same from the Inner Sea World Guide, which boosts spell level limits for one school of magic.)
Unfortunately I got delayed this morning so haven't done the full validation yet (only just double-checking the point buy now). All should be squared before the game launches (we're still waiting for one player, I think?) but please don't hesitate to speak up if you spot anything else amiss (I caught and removed a CLW wand this morning that was a loaner carried over from the other game, oops!)
Edit: Ninja'd! :o)
Yeah, I remember when a friend got a 1200BPS modem in High School (I don't think it was 2400...) and had to pretend for days - in the days without cell phones or even call waiting - that his parent's home line was a dedicated BBS line.
As for computer games, the last I played was Ultima IV. So, the modern stuff is just overwhelming.
And, later, the time I blew away the college lab I was working in by buying a 1 GB hard drive for $350, back when RAM was stuck at $45 a megabyte...
Anyway! Yes, we are waiting for one player, to whom I sent an acceptance PM late last night. They are new to PbP and PFS, and it was their first post on the boards. :-)
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Hello all!
It looks like I'll be rounding things out as the baby of the group. I'm a 21-yr-old college student from Texas (studying Geology, with graduation on the horizon!). I got into tabletops a couple of years ago on the insistence of a good friend, and I am currently playing in an IRL Rise of the Runelords campaign as a bard. I'll try not to ask too many foolish questions, but please feel free to let me know if I make any egregious errors; I am completely new to posting here.
Thanks again for letting me join in!
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@Vyk Tyr
You really gave Eurydes something to think about, since he agrees whole-heartedly with your comment about the welfare of children. He will definitely be examining his beliefs against his impression of you! (I think he's encountered tiefling villains as a member of the Taldan military, and because of his general attitude towards uncommon races, he is slow to trust others. I'm not sure where he's headed at the moment, but I like this challenge.)
Hi Lady Adelaide,
Welcome aboard! Join in on the Gameplay thread as soon as you want.
It's a lot of work, but do work on the Class/Level stat block and on filling out the rest of your character sheet (equipment, skills, etc.) when you have time. I think I only need Initiative, Perception, and Sense Motive in the near future, though, and perhaps a trait or feat if it is something I need to know about.
Remember, also, that you can rewrite your character until he/she reaches 2nd level, when things are supposed to be fixed.
~~ Matt
PS - My wife was born and raised in Amarillo, but moved up to live with me in the Portland, Oregon, area about 10 years ago.
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I'll try not to ask too many foolish questions, but please feel free to let me know if I make any egregious errors; I am completely new to posting here.
Welcome aboard! In my experience the folks on these forums are both patient and helpful, so don't shy away from asking what questions you will. And remember: We all start(ed) out as "completely new!"
Speaking of questions, I have one regarding PFS mechanics. We're required to own the source book(s) for any material we use in Society play. While Oracles as a rule don't worship specific deities, Tuich is aligned most closely with Ashava because that fits perfectly with her backstory. The Empyreal Lords (including Ashava) are introduced in Chronicle of the Righteous, which I don't own.
Given that Oracles aren't required to select a deity for PFS play, do I need to buy this source? I'm willing, but I can't imagine having to drop $13.99 on a PDF just to mention a specific deity during role play (while receiving no functional benefit) was really the rule's intent.
GM opinion, please? If I need to buy the source book I'd like to do that before the game kicks off, just so there's no appearance of impropriety.
Thanks!
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Hello all!
It looks like I'll be rounding things out as the baby of the group. I'm a 21-yr-old college student from Texas (studying Geology, with graduation on the horizon!). I got into tabletops a couple of years ago on the insistence of a good friend, and I am currently playing in an IRL Rise of the Runelords campaign as a bard. I'll try not to ask too many foolish questions, but please feel free to let me know if I make any egregious errors; I am completely new to posting here.
Thanks again for letting me join in!
Don't worry too much about asking questions, I had to ask some to get started here myself. I'm new to PbP roleplaying, as you can see from this board. Feel free to join in on the gameplay boards!
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"She DOES teach that we should seek inner beauty and not judge those solely on their race or appearance."
Amen to that. I hope I'll be able to steer Eurydes there, but if he does become good, it'll likely come from a serious shock. He does indeed habitually judge people on that basis. But at the same time he's puzzled that he's beginning to respect the tiefling a little bit. :) At least he thinks he does. It'll take time for me to get him to warm up to the party. As he doesn't seem to realize, an important part of being "human" means learning to trust others on the basis of their character and actions, not just being humane or loyal. It also makes you vulnerable in some ways, which I believe he's afraid to do.
He doesn't have any true animosity towards Kawrock, though. I think he's looking to prove the humans are better than this "monster" companion. After all, he does have that "humans are superior" outlook going. It'll be a challenge for me to overcome that, but given the fact that this is an attitude problem he has, and not true villainy (yet), I think I might have fun emulating progress with this guy.
There is a villain in this adventure that has a fun, really awful personality, so that several people on this site have made characters based off her name, but I don't think anyone has actually played her. I might have to give it a try, just myself. Perhaps make her a Silver Crusader in her own right, but keep all of the personality details the same: Good, but without any redeeming qualities. Every post would have to have a disclaimer saying, ""
* Caution: Small rant ahead *
Regarding the requirement to own sources, I would take the controversial position that it shouldn't be part of PFS play at all: It's meant to encourage the ownership of the product - which keeps the game as a whole going - but there shouldn't be such a steep fee to make a character comparable to anyone else's, much less a $30 fee for one trait or piece of equipment that just fits your character. It strikes me as very unegalitarian and actually counterproductive, since people who get into the game and have a good experience with it - perhaps trying it out through PFS play - are going to end up buying products. Fortunately, it isn't an actual requirement that the GM check these things, only a right if they want to, as I would much rather quit GMing than do so.
That said, I'm seriously thinking of buying a stupid t-shirt so that I can get the free reroll per session, even though I am playing exclusively online. An even cheesier promotion.
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Hi Lady Adelaide,
Welcome aboard! Join in on the Gameplay thread as soon as you want.
It's a lot of work, but do work on the Class/Level stat block and on filling out the rest of your character sheet (equipment, skills, etc.) when you have time. I think I only need Initiative, Perception, and Sense Motive in the near future, though, and perhaps a trait or feat if it is something I need to know about.
Remember, also, that you can rewrite your character until he/she reaches 2nd level, when things are supposed to be fixed.
~~ Matt
PS - My wife was born and raised in Amarillo, but moved up to live with me in the Portland, Oregon, area about 10 years ago.
I'm currently just getting the backstory; I have her crunchy stuff already nearly done and will post it tonight. For your references my Initative is +3, Perception is +0, and Sense Motive is +4. Traits are Reactionary (Combat) and Illuminator (Religion).
Also, Texas is a veeeeery big state! I'm from the DFW area and I was always jealous of Amarillo growing up because they got snow earlier than us ;)
Also, Texas is a veeeeery big state! I'm from the DFW area and I was always jealous of Amarillo growing up because they got snow earlier than us ;)
Oh, I know. Just conversation. :)
~~~
Check my work below, if you would. If you don't say anything, I'll assume it's correct.
Initiative
[d ice=Eurydes's Initiative]1d20 + 0[/dice]
[d ice=Kawrock's Initiative]1d20 + 3[/dice]
[d ice=Vyk Tyr's Initiative]1d20 + 3[/dice]
[d ice=Zander Scott's Initiative]1d20 + 2[/dice]
[d ice=Tuich's Initiative]1d20 + 4[/dice]
[d ice=Lady Adelaide's Initiative]1d20 + 3[/dice]
Perception
[d ice=Eurydes's Perception]1d20 - 2[/dice]
[d ice=Kawrock's Perception]1d20 + 9[/dice]
[d ice=Vyk Tyr's Perception]1d20 + 0[/dice]
[d ice=Zander Scott's Perception]1d20 + 6[/dice]
[d ice=Tuich's Perception]1d20 + 0[/dice]
[d ice=Lady Adelaide's Perception]1d20 + 0[/dice]
Sense Motive
[d ice=Eurydes's Sense Motive]1d20 + 2[/dice]
[d ice=Kawrock's Sense Motive]1d20 + 3[/dice]
[d ice=Vyk Tyr's Sense Motive]1d20 + 0[/dice]
[d ice=Zander Scott's Sense Motive]1d20 + 2[/dice]
[d ice=Tuich's Sense Motive]1d20 + 3[/dice]
[d ice=Lady Adelaide's Sense Motive]1d20 + 4[/dice]
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Also, Texas is a veeeeery big state! I'm from the DFW area and I was always jealous of Amarillo growing up because they got snow earlier than us ;)
Oh, I know. Just conversation. :)
~~~
Check my work below, if you would. If you don't say anything, I'll assume it's correct.
Perception
[d ice=Eurydes's Perception]1d20 - 2
[d ice=Kawrock's Perception]1d20 + 9
[d ice=Vyk Tyr's Perception]1d20 + 0
[d ice=Zander Scott's Perception]1d20 + 6
[d ice=Tuich's Perception]1d20 + 0
[d ice=Lady Adelaide's Perception]1d20 + 0
I would love to visit the northwest sometime. At the risk of stereotyping, I'm a huge fan of hockey. I have a friendly rivalry with a friend from Minnesota who "harasses" me about "stealing [their] team" (the North Stars changing HQ to Dallas ~20 years ago).
Anyway, to business. There's an error in my perception, but it's my error not yours. I completely forgot to include the +2 to Perception that Half-Elves get. I'll have my full stats up shortly so you won't have to rely on my garbled rememberings.
In short: [d ice=Lady Adelaide's Perception]1d20 + 2
**Edit: And I am using the Elven Reflexes race trait for my +2 to Initiative, instead of Reactionary. It's a fluff detail, but still.
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I am using the Elven Reflexes race trait for my +2 to Initiative, instead of Reactionary. It's a fluff detail, but still.
Silly question maybe but, as I recall, Elven Reflexes and Reactionary are identical in effect. Is there a reason not to use one of those trait "slots" for some other benefit?
I'm wondering if maybe each is a prerequisite for some planned future acquisition, or if your choice is something PFS-related that I need to understand.
Thanks!
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Silly question maybe but, as I recall, Elven Reflexes and Reactionary are identical in effect. Is there a reason not to use one of those trait "slots" for some other benefit?
Elven Reflexes is a Race Trait for Half-elves, while Reactionary is a Combat Trait. If she wanted she could have taken both.
As far as I know Traits aren't used for any kind of prerequisites. They are instead meant to reflect background information of your character, and provide you a small benefit because of it.
Mechanically speaking, they do the same thing, provide a +2 to Initiative checks. It seems that Adelaide just switched them for purposes of Fluff.
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Mechanically speaking, they do the same thing, provide a +2 to Initiative checks. It seems that Adelaide just switched them for purposes of Fluff.
Yep! This is correct. I couldn't really fit "got beaten up all the time" into my backstory, so I was going to switch out the trait because I felt bad about not being honest to the intent of traits. But then it turns out that there was an identical one for Half-Elves anyway, which is awesome.
Elven Reflexes is a Race Trait for Half-elves, while Reactionary is a Combat Trait. If she wanted she could have taken both.
While that would be cool, I unfortunately wouldn't get both bonuses, since they're both trait bonuses.
So, I'll have the backstory up today but all the crunchy bits have been posted. Sorry to keep y'all waiting!
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I couldn't really fit "got beaten up all the time" into my backstory...
Speaking for a PC with a hard-earned Reactionary trait and a traumatic life-changing event born of being taunted and bullied, be thankful you "couldn't really fit" it in! :op
Sorry to keep y'all waiting!
I believe a mid-week start was the target, so we're still potentially ahead of schedule. Anyway, Tuich and the boys are putting this period to good use "settling in" and getting to know each other. Take the time you need.
Though given the physical impressiveness and/or presumed experience of everyone else in the room, Tuich is starting to think maybe she's the one who should say,
”Sir, I’m not sure I should be here."
That should change once we start seeing some action, but for now she's feeling very outclassed and beginning to wonder if she was accidentally assigned to the wrong team.
So, you know, hurry along every chance you get. ;o)
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That should change once we start seeing some action, but for now she's feeling very outclassed and beginning to wonder if she was accidentally assigned to the wrong team.
Ah, don't worry. It's fun to leave some room for your character to grow. And it seems like everyone is purposefully doing that. Excellent stuff.
Since I chose to be a magus, a class which mechanically struggles for the first few levels in combat, I decided to play him as a bit of a braggart. It should be fun for him to eat some humble pie when those rolls start going against him. And they will.
While that would be cool, I unfortunately wouldn't get both bonuses, since they're both trait bonuses.
Yep, Tuich and Adelaide. You were right. Just double checked. The text clearly says trait bonuses don't stack. I thought they were untyped.
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Also, Texas is a veeeeery big state! I'm from the DFW area and I was always jealous of Amarillo growing up because they got snow earlier than us ;)
Oh, I know. Just conversation. :)
~~~
Check my work below, if you would. If you don't say anything, I'll assume it's correct.
Initiative
[d ice=Eurydes's Initiative]1d20 + 0
[d ice=Kawrock's Initiative]1d20 + 3
[d ice=Vyk Tyr's Initiative]1d20 + 3
[d ice=Zander Scott's Initiative]1d20 + 2
[d ice=Tuich's Initiative]1d20 + 4
[d ice=Lady Adelaide's Initiative]1d20 + 3Perception
[d ice=Eurydes's Perception]1d20 - 2
[d ice=Kawrock's Perception]1d20 + 9
[d ice=Vyk Tyr's Perception]1d20 + 0
[d ice=Zander Scott's Perception]1d20 + 6
[d ice=Tuich's Perception]1d20 + 0
[d ice=Lady Adelaide's Perception]1d20 + 0Sense Motive
[d ice=Eurydes's Sense Motive]1d20 + 2
[d ice=Kawrock's Sense Motive]1d20 + 3
[d ice=Vyk Tyr's Sense Motive]1d20 + 0
[d ice=Zander Scott's Sense Motive]1d20 + 2
[d ice=Tuich's Sense Motive]1d20 + 3
[d ice=Lady Adelaide's Sense Motive]1d20 + 4
Yes, Eurydes' numbers look correct there.
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Truth be told, Zander will be undergoing a complete re-write before level 2. He's probably going to end up a half-elven Rogue/Sorcerer heading toward arcane trickster. I built him as a cleric because there is a rarity of people who play "support" characters.
Really? Is that a thing? Weird. Clerics are fun as hell to play.
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Ah, don't worry. It's fun to leave some room for your character to grow.
Oh, I'm not worried; Tuich is the one who's feeling outclassed! :o)
I'm a huge fan of characters who can evolve in more ways than what's recordable in a stat block. Beating a phobia, realizing a prejudice is unfounded, getting past self-flagellation, developing a new world view, that sort of thing. As you said, that seems a common theme in this group so I'm looking forward to an especially enjoyable gaming experience.
In a sense, Tuich is borderline bipolar. She can swing from a straight-ahead "Just Do It!" mentality when focused on the job at hand, to almost crippling insecurity when she has time to think and reflect. In her other incarnation, she got in the face of a 9th level (105HP/22AC) brute of an ally because she was being cut out of a recon mission she had suggested... and ten minutes later was tearfully admitting to an escaped halfling slave she had much to learn from her.
You've already seen hints of that in this incarnation. She presented her views matter-of-factly and was all business when considering the best approach to the tasks at hand... but as soon as she realized the whole roomful of (intimidating!) strangers was staring at her and she lost focus, she went self-conscious. I find her a challenging character to play because of that (which I like).