GM Granta's AP Planning

Game Master Granta

Hmm. I was thinking the profession synergy was limited to the "free max rank Profession" we gained, rather than any profession skill we chose.

Otherwise, even with the -2 penalty, I might have gone through a lot of jobs. ;)

What Blake said. The alternate rules for Profession are meant to make that skill more useful while adding depth to PCs' non-adventuring lives, not as a replacement for versatile performance. So, limit one Profession per PC.

I'm really liking the idea of being a (former?) soldier for this AP. A little bit of a fish out of water as far as the intrigue, but just as much I <3 Taldor. I made up a fighter to reflect this, took the Dragoon archetype for the Spear Training and ability to use a horse like a champ if needed. Unfortunately, the feat line for getting an animal companion is in a soft cover, so incidental horse use it is! Still need to choose a story feat if I went this route.

So, I just rechecked the text on animals, and noticed that ranged and two-handed weapons are also forbidden (and medium/heavy armor). Effectively, everybody will be limited to light and one-handed melee weapons for the first two levels. Plus, all of book one is indoors. And I have a feeling that the vast majority of the AP will be indoors. You probably won't get to use half of the dragoon's abilities.

Nemesis (story) would net you a bonus skill point.

WOW! Those are some serious limitations. Thanks for the heads up, back to the drawing board.

Nemesis is a good one, nice find!

WOW! Those are some serious limitations. Thanks for the heads up, back to the drawing board.

The AP starts in the Taldan Senate, so the rules aren't arbitrary. They do actually make sense; in truth, too much sense to just GM-waive.

He could still carry a spear, technically, couldn't he? It's a one-handed melee weapon that you happen to be able to throw.

Rough Sketch: A disillusioned son of a noble house, charged with managing an inn owned by the family. He fell in love with a Kelish woman on a business trip outside of Taldor, but he returned with his family and she returned to Qadira. He desperately desires to reunite with the woman he believes is his soul mate, but unable to due the prejudices between his people and hers, he acts out in self-destructive, philandering, passing through one empty relationship after another. He steals from his rich conquests and cuckolds other nobles out of spite. Deep in his heart, he yearns to change his nation's attitude toward Qadira.

I need permission for the 1st level spells:
Adoration (Ultimate Combat)
Delusional Pride (Ultimate Magic)

I went Archaeologist Bard (he's plumbing the depths of noble's bedrooms) to combine the bard and rogue. I took the Fate's Favored trait to optimize the archaeologist's luck, especially since I had to drop strength and am limited to 6 rounds per day.

I was planning to go the Improved Dirty Trick route with feats, but I'm flexible.

I didn't mean that they were arbitrary, just that I could easily see several types of characters get blinded sided by that at the door.

That's true, I could just use a smaller weapon for the interim. Dragoons also only get 2 mount related abilities (two feats at first and an ability at 15th). If I'm not going to get to use combat feats with any sort of regularity, I could still take the archetype but then use other feats in place of the mounted ones. Maybe my nemesis killed my horse and I'll never bond with another one again!

A shortspear would be allowed, but not a spear or longspear.

The arbitrary comment was as much for myself as you guys. I don't like the restriction either, but do think it's better to keep it.

Hmm. Found something interesting... may need to tweak my history.

You said we should do our best to optimize, right?

Adoration and delusional pride are both okay. But fair warning, there will be way more opportunities to use adoration than your ability to cast it. Actually, there will be more opportunities than even a wand could fulfill.

Hmm. Found something interesting... may need to tweak my history.

You said we should do our best to optimize, right?

Yes, and the "peace with Qadira" motivation would come in handy in later books.

With Blake basing off a Bard, and Gummy off a fighter, I'm thinking I might start off with a rogue chassis.

Lady Xemne Stavian, only child of the Baron of Litran. She is a distant cousin of Princess Eutropia, and equally annoyed by the laws of inheritance "Which enslave half the population..".
Bonus human feat: Noble Scion of house Stavian.
She has been sent to Oppara in order to study and make sure the interests of her distant family holdings are not forgotten. Secretly however she has been hoping to at least hold the proxy for her (immediate) familys seat in the senate.
Campaign trait" Senate hopeful.

Know that archaeologist bard includes a lot of the same features as the rogue except for the ability to disarm magical traps and sneak attack (and less of the bard’s support ability).

If you want to make a bard, the group would still benefit from that, especially if you don't trade out Inspire Courage, which would stack with archaeologist'luck.

Given the backstory, you might ask Granta about the Phantom Thief from Ultimate Intrigue.

Made some modifications to the Dragoon and came up with a name! Took out the mounted charge related feats, added some "always on" feats instead. If we ever do have the opportunity to use mounts, he can grab a horse, charge in with the lance, and hopefully gtfo before someone takes it out :) I took stand still and pin down because at level 7 I threaten adjacent with my lance (thanks to the spinning lance ability. I'd do a d4 damage, but otherwise keep all my lance related bonuses) and that sounds like a uniquely effective option to keep people from just walking around me.

Looking at items, Sash of the War Champion and Mithral Full-Plate will be some fun purchases, I'd have 5 max dex and 0 ACP! The obligatory stat/save bumping and bonuses to my weapon too of course, but I think all that together would make for a competent frontliner with good defenses and some mean damage.

Time to work on some fluff...

Lots of nobility possibilities in the traits.

I thought a bit about a boreal sorcerer, for controlling battles with slowing effects. There would even be an ability to see through fogs later.

If we want crafting, and there is need for skills, a straight wizard might be better. I have one concept I could try, I played one scenario as a witch, but wizard works too.

I'll do a crude sketch on both during the weekend.

Phantom Thief would be okay. I actually have one in PFS and really enjoy playing her. Two bards could also work, just keep in mind that the effectiveness of buffing depends on the characters being buffed. If both bards are wading into melee after starting their performance, so that you have at least three combatants then you should be quite effective. But if both bards are hanging back and buffing just Gummy Bear's dragoon . . .

@Melda: I strongly encourage each caster to take one, and only one, crafting feat. You simply won't have enough downtime to utilize multiple feats. And Craft Magic Arms and Armor works best for the divine caster, since those items require less prerequisites than wondrous items.

Here is a spreadsheet to help coordinate your skills. Write your name in column B or C if you are planning to put maximum ranks in the skill, or if it is covered by your Profession. Column D is if you are partially training the skill.

I've got a long ways to go but I'm getting started on my Oracle. I'm leaning towards the Rising Star or Taldan Patriot campaign trait. Any thoughts on that?

Are we serious about pursuing the blind fighting technique? If so, how does the waves mystery help that?

You cast Obscuring Mist (and can see through it perfectly), we fighty people take Blind Fighting so we have a better chance of hitting (4%/25% miss chances) while the NPCs (ideally) don't have Blind Fighting or Blindsense and suffer 20%/50% miss chances.

I'm putting a (+) next to Pavo's name on skills that will be super-maxed by class features/optimization.

EDIT: Was Intimidate intentionally left off? Pavo won't be taking any Intimidate ranks.

I don't see the relationship with the waves mystery. Obscuring Mist is on my spell list no matter which mystery I take. Or maybe you are saying that I can get the Water Sight revelation so I can also see in the mist. Is that the benefit?

I added in intimidate, hope that is ok. I've put in the skills I plan on taking in the sheet.

MindXing, Water Sight is probably why that mystery was recommended so it doesn't gimp you at all. IMO, if you aren't digging the mystery, we don't have to do the whole cloud thing. It can be ruthlessly effective, don't get me wrong, but there are other ways to be effective.

Also, three melee combatants sounds fun... with two bards buffing too, that could get real silly real quick.

I don't see the relationship with the waves mystery. Obscuring Mist is on my spell list no matter which mystery I take. Or maybe you are saying that I can get the Water Sight revelation so I can also see in the mist. Is that the benefit?

Yes

But if both bards are hanging back and buffing just Gummy Bear's dragoon . . .

Definitely planning on sending Pavo into the thick of it.

Story Feats: If they are related to an NPC (like Nemesis), should we just leave that super vague and unnamed so you can put in an AP NPC, or should we provide some sort of a character framework for you to further flesh out?

EDIT: When we make aliases, do you want them to replace our profiles on here or reserve them for the AP thread itself?

Yes, Intimidate was intentionally left off for reasons which I cannot disclose due to an NDA that I had to sign before purchasing this adventure path. I most definitely did not forget to add it.

The NPCs for story feats will probably be determined on a case by case basis, depending on how well the role fits an existing character. And it makes little difference to me whether you switch to aliases now or later.

In exchange for your service, she offers coin, new clothes, and invitations to one of the most prestigious social events of the year: the Exaltation Gala, held in the senate building.

Does this mean we don't need to worry about buying courtier's outfits?

Martella provides each PC a 30-gp line of credit at her favorite tailor shop, Thread Rare. This is enough to acquire a courtier's outfit at no cost to the PC, or the character can provide the remaining 45 gp for a noble's outfit for the senate festivities; in either case, Martella also arranges the loan of enough high-quality costume jewelry to complete each outfit.

Does the first book take into account that we won't be equipped like usual adventurers? E.g. no backpacks, rope, grappling hooks, sacks of powder, crowbars, etc.

Does the first book take into account that we won't be equipped like usual adventurers? E.g. no backpacks, rope, grappling hooks, sacks of powder, crowbars, etc.

I haven't looked at the combats in detail yet, so it's hard to say. It definitely should though; you start in a situation that prohibits the normal adventuring setup.

They have done this in a number of APs now.
Serpants skull, - shipwreck
Strange Aeons - start as prisoners are two that jump out at me.

The skills spreadsheet has been added to the top of the campaign for easier reference.

There are a few skills where Xemne and Tiber are in "MAX 2" with "MAX 1" blank. Did you do that to signify something specific, i.e. that you won't be quite as strong in the skill even though it is maxed out? I had intended that column to simply be for skills where two PCs are training it.

That is exactly what I was trying to signify. Intimidate, for example, will be maxed because I will have full ranks in Soldier. I can move my name over though.

...and I screwed up. Will need to rework skills or change archetype.

You can't leave us hanging like that! What happened?

I've been struggling here. On one hand, I really want to play this AP. On the other, life is pretty darn hectic for me at the moment, and I'm probably in too many games already.

However, I think I'm going to have to do the adult thing here, and pull out now, rather than get half way through the first book and then have a melt down. That gives you the chance to bring someone in at the beginning, which is really the best time to join an AP.

So, sorry about the late notification. I've wrestled with this over the weekend, but I think it is the responsible thing to do.

I'm sorry to see you go, but do understand. Bandwidth limits always win in the end, the only question is how bad a beating we take before finally crying "Uncle!"

You can't leave us hanging like that! What happened?

I mistakenly convinced myself that Versatile Performance was still part of the Archaeologist archetype.

It's simple enough, I suppose: I take the rank out of Perform and put it in Bluff. I had hoped to get both Bluff and Disguise for the price of one, though.

That's too bad, Aerondor. I'm about to cry "Uncle" on a live AP that I'm playing, so I sympathize.

Good luck in your games Aerondor! See you around the boards! :)

Ouch, I've done that before. This archetype TOTALLY has that ability, that's why it meshes so well with this other ability! And then reading comprehension kicks in. I'm pumped to see what everyone else is bringing and how the builds fit together! :D

I'm considering a more calculating version of the Nuthatch. He is more intentional in his antics and less a blessed fool.

Would you consider the Inquisitor's Sanctified Slayer archetype? It trades Judgement for Studied Target and a slow Sneak Attack progression.

Nevermind. Inquisitor is missing too many class skills that I would like.

Trying to balance a lot of things at the moment so I'm not able to invest as much into character creation as you guys! But I'm working on it. Still working on the Oracle.

What does Max1/2 mean in the skill sheet? Are these just the skills that we intend to put max ranks (i.e., our level) in? Is Unmaxed a skill that we intend to put some, but not all ranks in?

As for the Oracle curse, I'm leaning towards lame. I think speed won't be a factor in this AP.

Have you guys looked at the Intrigue mystery? That might be more useful than Water for me.

Before I get too far down the Intrigue mystery path I should make sure I can use that. GM? It's from Ultimate Intrigue. Is it allowed?

@MindXing: Take your time with character creation. Making a fun and effective character is far more important than finishing quickly.

Max 1 is for a character that is putting maximum ranks in a skill. "Unmaxed" is for a character that is only developing the skill a little bit. "Max 2" is just in case we have two characters fully developing a skill.

Re: lame. Speed is always a factor. That said, the curses are supposed to be a burden. I just started playing a lame oracle in Reign of Winter, and so far all I can say for certain is don't combine it with the warsighted archetype. I don't know what I was thinking during character creation.

@All: I keep procrastinating and forgetting to review Ultimate Intrigue, so it's time for the shortcut.

• Vigilante is not legal.
  
• Archetypes are legal.
  
• Feats, spells and equipment available upon request.
  
• Chapters 3 & 4 still pending, but will most likely get used.

Also, skill unlocks are legal (Pathfinder Unchained, p. 82)

And in other news, we have a potential replacement for Aerondor's spot. I will PM each of you about the candidate though, since she is already spying on us to learn about the game. Just in case one of you does say no, I don't want to force you to say so in front of the player.

The lion blade prestige class from Inner Sea Intrigue is legal, with the caveat that you cannot take levels in the class until your characters actually join the Lion Blades, which looks like book four (level 10-12).

Also, it looks like the AP runs through level 17.