GM Granta's AP Planning

Game Master Granta

Someone may need to let me know how to ninja-dot something.

There are instructions in the link.

Also, there are 2018 character rules, also 2019; albeit they may be the same. Which are we using?

The rules will be slightly different this time, but here is the last set of character creation rules I used.

Welcome aboard gentlemen!

Well I deleted my post about asking how, so I guess that should do it

@Wingnut20x6 - you have to do it (post and delete) to a post in the gameplay thread. The gameplay tread can be accessed via the tabs at the top of the page.

Yeah I just figured that out in my head... have now done both!

I'll hopefully be back in a few years, but we haven't really planned that far in advance yet. We like it here, BRUV, but aren't convinced this is going to be a long-term place for us. How have you been?

Andy H here,

Been a while since did this.

Now that we have everyone here, the first order of business is table size. Do we want to run with just you four or recruit a fifth?

I've always enjoyed the options 5 tends to bring over 4, but I'm honestly fine either way

I am good either way. 4 probably is easier managing online wise, but 5 gives diversity

I can be swayed either way but I think I’d rather try it with four.

I've always liked 5, but won't throw a fit with 4.

EDIT: What's the AP assumption for the party? I know PFS changed it's underlying assumption for encounters once, maybe even twice.

As far as I'm aware, all (1e) APs and modules are written with 4 players in mind. Only PFS material is different.

GM it seems up to you. That’s 2 indifferent, 1 for 4, and 1 for 5

4 may be slightly more difficult but GM can help adjust
But we can start right now when we’ll all be stuck at home due to COVID

5 may be slightly easier but may take time to recruit

I’ll lean more towards 4 and go!

4 it is.

Please take a look at the last version of the character creation rules, and let me know anything that you really dislike. I'll review everything this weekend, then post the official rules so everyone can get started.

What do you think about opening up to the APG? I don't have anything specific in mind, just to open up some archetype and spell options.

@Gummy, if you aren't looking for more classes, feats/archetypes/spells can still be approved by GM. Just in playing around with ideas the other day, he said an oracle mystery from Ultimate Intrigue would probably be ok. (again, just spit-balling)

@GM - My only question.... without even knowing who's playing what yet, would you open UnRogue? We don't have to have a rogue, but it's a very rogue-ey sounding AP. You could do that and still restrict barb and monk?

Just thinking in a party of 4, that little extra UMPH of damage and options may make that class a little more attractive, and hurt us a little less if we pick a non-traditional party make up (no true bruiser)

Of course, "no" is a fine answer :)

@Other players; while GM reviews final touches, is it too early to throw out ideas and see who's interested in playing what?

I’m fine with throwing around ideas.

I am willing to fill any role.
I don’t have a specific character in mind yet. I can find a way to enjoy whatever the party needs.

Here are the ideas I’ve been playing around with (in no particular order):
1. Ulfen Barbarian. - hired as bodyguard/mercenary
2. Human Oracle - battle mystery and lame curse - aspiring knight who hurt his leg jousting and changed his life
3. Inquisitor Of Abadar - trying to keep things stable
4. Human Bard - aspiring Lionblade least fleshed out idea

The only thing I haven’t thought about is a full arcane caster.

Ideas of mine, in somewhat order of interest

Oracle of Calistria - Intrigue mystery, blind curse.

Inquisitor of _________ - intimidate build

Ranger, possibly falconer seems neat, but I'd like a dog.... is there anything out there that gives a ranger a companion at level 1? Or is that druid pretty much

Knifemaster Rogue, if we can do w/out Trapfinding? Not the most ideal but fits my character idea

Bard?

Some ideas I've had floating around are:

Inquisitor (melee focus with some social skills)

Rogue (goal would be high perception/disable device with spring attack in combat)

Oracle (not sure how I'd build this, but I think it is a fun class that can fit whatever the party needs IMO)

If not the inquisitor, the other two are fairly interchangeable in terms of preference.

3/4 of people are looking at Inquisitor and Oracle!

Out of the available classes they offer pretty diverse options

So, I'll go ahead and officially rank mine

1-Oracle
2-Inquisitor
3-Ranger, but would tie Rogue for 3rd if UnRogue became an option

These are only my initial thoughts, and I'm super willing to help balance the party or play something else.

Oracles and inquisitors are pretty flexible/ fun classes I think that’s why they are popular.

I like having both an inquisitor and an Oracle it doesn’t pigeonhole anyone into the heal bot role. This could work:

Wingnut - Oracle
Gummy - Inquisitor
Mr. H - Barbarian, Bloodrager (Martial)
Brutesquad- flexible

Thoughts??

Also, GM what is your take on party balance, do we need a full arcane caster?

What do you think about opening up to the APG?

Other than the extra base classes, everything in the APG would probably be approved. Most non-occult stuff would be approved, I just have a stylistic preference for starting small and adding, rather than starting big and removing. I would be open to the second approach though, if multiple players feel like that makes character creation easier.

My only question.... without even knowing who's playing what yet, would you open UnRogue?

No. I'm a firm believer that core monks and rogues are appropriately balanced, and that the unchained versions devalue full BAB classes too much.

Is there anything out there that gives a ranger a companion at level 1?

Senate Rules. You spend all of level 1 in the senate, and wouldn't be able to retrieve any belongings or companions until level 3.

GM what is your take on party balance, do we need a full arcane caster?

Need? Probably not. Want? Yes.

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You're probably all aware that this AP has a lot of social encounters, but that does not mean social skills. It means be good as at many different ones as possible.

If you lump the different craft, perform and profession skills into one group, there are up to 29 different skills that can be used during just the level 1 encounters. If you differentiate those 3, there are almost 50 useful skills before you even reach level 2.

Plus, a lot of those encounters don't use any CHA-based skills at all.

Knowing most of the APG is ok is good enough for me, tbh. Also knowing what your auto-no's are so I can manage my expectations accordingly :)

Mr. H, that looks good to me! I'm going to tinker with some Inquisitor builds and maybe post one or two. I acknowledge that I'm the only one who has commented on the proposed list so far, so I will be flexible if it changes!

EDIT: Heretic Archetype from Ultimate Magic?

Also knowing what your auto-no's are so I can manage my expectations accordingly :)

I have judged Paizo lacking in integrity and wisdom for ever publishing Occult Adventures in the first place, and said judgment will fall heavily upon any fool who wastes this court's time with a subpoena for anything from those pages.

In general, and more seriously--I want to see a powerful party, it should just come from effort and skill rather than cheese which was published to suck money out of roll-players. In specific, if you spent hours searching and reading the Archives of Nethys for "sunder" and "combat maneuver", I'll allow your +33 sunder at level 7.

Looks like arcane is the big need moving forward. I have a couple of hours today, and most of the day tomorrow, to mess around with a couple of ideas.

So put me down for Wiz/Sorc for right now.

Requests:

Heretic archetype (Ultimate Magic)
Focused Study alternate racial trait (Advanced Race Guide)

Do you want reasons why we are taking something?

Heretic archetype (Ultimate Magic)

Focused Study alternate racial trait (Advanced Race Guide)

Do you want reasons why we are taking something?

Yes to both, focused study is one of my favorites. And reasons aren't necessary, but won't hurt. Links help though, there are a lot of similarly named things in Pathfinder.

I like the list and it seems we'll have a large amount of stuff covered class wise, with a primary melee, two flexible divine middle-grounds, and a sorc/wiz should do us well

@GM - do you have specific things our craft/perform skill will do, or is it just up to us/team/you to help figure out the best way to make them useful?

Requests:

Feat - Cosmopolitan
Alt Racial (half orc) Sacred Tattoo
Spell - Bestow Grace

Since I will start with scribe scroll may I use some of my starting cash to scribe A few?

This is the alias I, Mr. Hebeme, will be using.

Somewhere along the way my Ulfen Barbarian became a Taldan Urban Ranger (APG). I still need to sort out gear and choose a skill focus for focused study (I want to wait and see what are needs are).

@GM - let me know if I need to make any changes (crunch in alias). I will PM you a background sometime today. Also, I chose the Nemesis story feat so after you see the background we can brainstorm.

This will be the Alias for Brutesquad07, or Andy H.

I am going Wizard. Still deciding on details, plan to finalize them today.

Let me know if there is anything you want/need me to consider for your characters. I tend to be more of a Transmutation than a blaster or controler guy. I like to make my tools stronger and more useful...

Ok, getting close.

@Akorian/Mr. H... assuming you are primarily melee?

@Gummybear... can you confirm if you're also likely to be primarily melee? I believe an older post noted your inquisitor was likely to be melee based

@Team;
I'm between two builds right now. All have lots of skill options, both heavy on disguise for one reason or another
One is an average melee build - 14 str at best. May be a great longspear support option, flank buddy. No dex to speak of...

Then, I have a dex based build.
1) Does anyone feel we need a dedicated ranged option?

2) Since Mr. H is now a ranger, we now have even more casting. We also got trapfinding in him now. My character plan could go really well with Oracle 1/Knifemaster X, which grants even more skills, and probably ramps up my potential damage

Or just stick with Oracle to get another full caster in the mix?

What would be benefit our Ranger/Inquisitor/Wizard team?

I'm probably leaning towards the first, just as a note; but I wanted to check

If there was a clamor for more of a dex option, I'd be happy to oblige

Oh and not to overwhelm, I'm very interested in the Lost Legacy story feat. Figured we may not want tons of overlap there

Yes primary melee sword and board. Although I won’t have a shield right away because of the senate rules (I think).

@wingnut20x6 if you’re going caster, stay on target. Anything that slows your spell progression is a trap. True power lies in the next level of spells

I will be looking at transmutation spells, is anyone interested in enlarge person? It is powerful for heavy hitters not so good for finesse. Mr H, if you have no shield for a while long sword can be 2handed, an enlarge will up that damage, but your AC will suffer. Gummy, is enlarge a help or a hindrance for you?

Ok no multi, which means lm gonna go #1. More details soon.

I am looking at 2 Story Feats; Artifact Hunter and Crisis of Conscience.

@Gm can you advise if either would work with the character as I laid out. The Crisis of Conscience fits thematically but is very underwhelming Mechanically. Artifact Hunter fits mechanically but only brushes by the actual character.

Ok, have my build in my profile. We can Tweak as necessary, but the gist is there. Just need the Story Feat (if any) to complete as is.

@GM Advise if I need to do anything else posting it wise. I can send you a PDF if you prefer.

So I'll probably need assistance with the PBP nature of this game.

@GM could we take over the skills spreadsheet I see on this page?

Since I will start with scribe scroll may I use some of my starting cash to scribe A few?

Yes.

@GM - let me know if I need to make any changes (crunch in alias). I will PM you a background sometime today. Also, I chose the Nemesis story feat so after you see the background we can brainstorm.

Everything looks fine.

I'm very interested in the Lost Legacy story feat. Figured we may not want tons of overlap there

Lost Legacy is fine, and you are correct, it's best if everyone has a different story feat.

Although I won’t have a shield right away because of the senate rules (I think).

Shields are allowed, though a tower shield would be awkward.

I am looking at 2 Story Feats; Artifact Hunter and Crisis of Conscience.

Either would be fine, though my preference is for customizing CoC to fit better. Are you up for writing your own feat?

Ok, have my build in my profile. We can Tweak as necessary, but the gist is there. Just need the Story Feat (if any) to complete as is.

Azlanti is from a Linguistic rank, right? Please list the contents of your spellbook somewhere.

@GM could we take over the skills spreadsheet I see on this page?

By all means, please do.

CHARACTER CREATION

So we just lost Bloodrager, but gained Alchemist, Cavalier, Witch, Gunslinger, Ninja, and Samurai... does anyone need a new look at options?

Assuming I was playing more of a “healer” role which I knew going into this I probably won’t change, I need to stay Oracle or Cleric I think...