GM Kate's Ruins of Azlant (closed) (Inactive)

Game Master Kate Baker

I often find that I have to play a character for a little while before I know how I want to role-play them. Eugressia ended up a bit different from my original plan, and my almost-Seeker witch Zella is substantially different from what I first envisioned.

Yeah, me too. I have a concept for Toby, but I'm also sure how I play him will end up different than how I imagine him. My vision has even changed a little just in a couple posts.

I agree too. Many times in PFS I just start with a hook or a gimmick, because that's all I really have time to convey. Something about role playing in pbp though brings out depth and sides to characters that I didn't know was there. I'm looking forward to seeing what unfolds!

It is also a bit challenging because there isn't much written in Pathfinder literature about some of these strange creature types or cultures, either. I find I can "relate" to dwarves, elves, etc because there's a lot of existing lore to draw from.

Building as you go along is the most rewarding and fun way to do it — agreed!

I was worried about that with the Rougarou, but so far that's been a really fun aspect. I can make Toby the hyper dog-person of my imagination without having to worry about conflicting with existing lore.

Even that has changed though. My original idea was much more Mr. Peanutbutter.

I definitely expect he'll grow 'n change, that's part of the RP magic! It's just harder when there's fewer human norms to peg thought processes and social approaches on, though, since that's one of the big ways character gets conveyed.
We'll see what happens! Just like leaving some backstory and character goals intentionally underdeveloped, 'lil Crechey's got room for his mind to mature :)

Two questions:

Is Cedar the only employee of the Bountiful Venture Company?

Is anyone a member of the Pathfinder Society?

Purpose Creche is neither an employee of the Bountiful Venture Company nor a member of the Pathfinder Society.

Silt's not a member of the company or a pathfinder, just a simple kelp farmer.

By the way, I will put up the rest of my character on its profile today. Probably helpful for you to see traits and such!

Completed profile. Today I learned that Hero Lab has a BBCode output option for stat blocks; quite convenient!

Completed profile. Today I learned that Hero Lab has a BBCode output option for stat blocks; quite convenient!

Yeah, super useful for PbP (so much so that I wonder if they added that as an output option in response to requests from PbP players).

I've been frantically prepping games, both for the #8-20 table I ran last night and for Big Bad Con this weekend. I'll try to get my full profile up tonight, but it may not happen until Sunday.

Hey Kate,

Just to confirm we're doing HP like PFS, so full HD at level one and then half, correct?

Yup! If someone has really strong feelings about rolling for hit dice, I'm open to it, but you could end up like Dennis's 5e bard. :P

Hey! Weary is just fine, thank you! He's just a little....tired.

Kate, I just want to say that I think it was a great decision to handle the intro narratively. I don’t get the sense that anyone minds just hanging out and chatting in character. I think it’s been a lot of fun, and a nice way to ease into the game!

Absolutely!

So, I maaaayyy be modeling my Toby posts after our hound dog....

I could try to model Purpose Creche after our dog, but I don't think wyrwoods can barf~

There are about 50 colonists altogether, and I will introduce some of them as we go, though you obviously met all of them on the ship. This is a few of the most important though.

The map shows up fine for me. Can you see the other slides (with the NPC profiles), Doug?

Hmm, guess I shoulda delayed instead of holding! Doubt anybody'll surface now that there's two targets in the water.

Kate, is there some way I can make tokens for Cedar’s various summoned creatures? I figure some of them will be appearing more often than others. The dolphin is the only aquatic one I have at level 1, for example. We may want a generic token too.

I made a little guide!

Once you've made them, I'd think you could either make a new slide as summon icon storage, or you could stash them on the first slide with the initiative block so they're easy to find when you want to reuse them.

Awesome, thanks Dennis!

Yes, feel free to use the first slide, or, if you need more room, you can totally add another slide to the deck for that purpose.

I also just spread out the NPCs a little bit more, so that each one has space underneath. I might add more information there, but y'all can also feel free to add notes, if you'd like.

Also, fair warning, I will probably remove battle maps from the deck as go, but I'll save them on my end. I think there will be enough slides that need to stick around as reference (NPCs, island may when it shows up, etc), that battle maps like this one don't need to clutter up the deck.

Would I be able to hold onto the edge of the boat and dip most of my body underwater?

Yes, though you could then only use one hand for other stuff. Also, I'm sorry about getting Purpose's name wrong earlier! I realized it after it was too late to edit.

Oh, didn't even notice!

I propose Carol or Coral or some other C/sea name for the pink dolphin~

Note to self: get aquan for Cedar in this aquatic adventure AP!

I was just thinking the same thing!

Me too. Toby is no great linguist, but even he may pick up a few words after a level or two.

Aklo might be good too.

Speaking of, is anyone planning on being the knowledges person?

With 3 skill points/level I'm not going to invest much more than a point in class knowledges on this character unless I need to.

Good point Doug.

Cedar has 5 skill points per level. I was going to focus on Kn: Planes, and social skills. He’s got an 18 CHA, so he can be the face if we would like. But I didn’t plan on him being the skill monkey or the knowledge person.

Purpose has 8 skill/level, and is definitely a knowledge-y type fella. I started with arcana, history, and religion for backstory and plan on expanding! Already looking to grab dungeoneering at level 2.

I usually pick some "focus skills" I plan on putting points in every level - those're arcana and religion for Porpoise Crêpes. Possibly linguistics, as long as there's languages I need to keep learning.

Works for me. I will try to put points into survival/perception at every level, some heal, and a little handle animal as well. I'll also drop a point in diplomacy so I can assist without penalty. Otherwise, my Druid knowledges are probably going to stay pretty low and be useless at mid to high levels.

#teamwork!

I'll probably put a point in k.nature at 2nd, but will likely never get very high with my -1 INT mod

Nice job, guys! While you all check out the canoe, I'll start some administrative details. It is currently early afternoon. Just to make life easier, I will assume that you walk around the colony for about 30 minutes, getting the lay of the land, but not going into buildings. You see and hear no one.

I will make a monster post describing the exterior of all the buildings and objects of interest. This part is a bit of a sandbox, which can make a PBP really drag. If one person suggests a location and another person seconds it, if no one has objected by the time I see the posts, I will just move you along to that location. Also, please let me know if you want a standard door-opening procedure that I can bot, like if you want to sneak up to doors or search for traps or whatever.

Does that all sound okay?

Sounds good to me!

I don't think Purpose Creche has any rough-and-tumble adventuring experience, so I doubt he has a door-opening procedure in mind. He'll go along with whatever sensible plans others voice, however!

Sounds good to me!

Looks like Purpose, Tobias, and SIlt have +5/+6 perception so they should check for traps and such.

I don't think we have a rogueish-type, so I suppose we can bash doors and set off traps if needed.

In terms of marching order, Silt will stay up front with his club in hand, if that's alright with everyone.

By the way Silt is dazzled in bright light, so if we're in direct sunlight he will take a -1 on sight-based perception and attack rolls.

Noted!

Cedar is going to have to rely on summoned creatures for a lot of things.

I think he'd prefer to stay towards the back in general, probably 3rd if everyone was marching in a line. Despite my potential provoking of 2 attacks of opportunity, he's not a daring fella.

Sounds like door-opening procedure is everyone checks for traps/suspicious things, then Silt goes first and opens the door, club at the ready.

A12: This is a well in the center of town. The water seems clean and potable.

The water's potatoable!? Congratulations, Sil'tchaak!

One other note on knowledge skills: this won't help much for monster identification, but you can go to other colonists for things (once you're all together again). For example, if you need some help with history, you could talk to Carver, Perrell, or even Ramona.

Silt is probably the optimal choice to lead marching order, but there will definitely be times where Tobias gets excited and rushes ahead.