GM Phntm888's Way of the Wicked Campaign - Group 2 (Inactive)

Game Master Phntm888

Welcome to the discussion thread for group 2! Now is the time for you to get your aliases taken care of, while I get the first gameplay post ready to go.

I'd also like to get an idea of everyone's time zones, so I know roughly when to expect posts from you guys. It helps me maintain realistic expectations on pacing.

Oh, and someone will have to hold Balam Kael's leash - he's a vicious brute that way. >:)

Hi All! Thanks, GM Phntm888, for running this. I'm looking forward to playing with everyone.

I'm in South Texas, Central Standard Time (GMT-6). I can usually post from work, as I'm often at a computer, so 8 am - 5 pm. There are days when I'm off campus, but I make an effort to post from home then.

Thanks for the invite GM Phntm888, I've been oggoling this Ap as a player forever and I will strive to be the best necromancer ever.

Im taking a wild guess to say that I'm the only Canuck here living in central Alberta (Canada) and like my new Texan (sorry if it's spelt wrong) friend I'm Central Standard Time. Currently as I'm posting this it's 330ish, since I know forum time is not my time. My posting times are good before 7am and after 5pm and sporadic in between. While I can read the post I haven't found a reliable option for posting on my phone.

Greetings all! Thanks for the invite!!

I've really wanted to sink my teeth into this AP for a while!!

I'm probably the most obnoxious time zone. I live in Hawaii, which is 6 or 5 hours (depending on daylight savings time) off of EST. I can reliably post after 8pm EST

Good to be playing with you all. I'm ready to dive in when you are. I am in Chicago, so Central Time.

I should have good response time; look for my posts in the late evenings.

Hey, Meloriel checking in here. I'll have my alias up and running soon.

I live in Winnipeg, Canada, which is central time, as well. I post most often first thing in the morning and mid-afternoon. Most days I also can pop in for a post mid-morning and late night. I'm available to post less on the weekends than on the weekdays.

I'm excited to get started!

And... Jezabel is good to go!

Oh shoot I'm not the only Canuck.... Greetings to all!

So I finally got a chance to read up in my new "companions". I'm really impressed with the detail and uniqueness of everyone. I think this is going to be fun.

@Balem have you thought of becoming an undead... I think a death knight (or grave knight) would fit you perfectly plus the added fact that if would allow you to serve your Lord for a longer service in this world?

Balam has spoken to me about becoming a Grave Knight. I’m allowing it once I figure out a pathway for it.

Anyway, some quick bookkeeping things:

1. Animate dead - This is a great campaign for it, and there are times it will be super useful! However, there are also times it will be inconvenient to have around, and could make things more difficult for you. Also, all the actions of the horde would take a long time. Please keep that in mind.

2. Summoned creatures - Try not to summon too many at once, as it can slow things down, but are otherwise great.

3. Leadership - Totally allowed! In fact, there are several NPCs who will make excellent cohorts - and a special subsystem that allows followers to be more relevant!

I’ll reach out to our Sixth - he’s had a lot of website issues getting on.

@Wraith Bonewalker: You read my mind!! Heehee

RE: Balam Kael's leash comment: Balam's sort of a weird follower/leader sort. He doesn't want to rule, he wants to help other people rule. He's like General Kael, and not Queen Bavmorda (also, he's a dude, so.. y'know there's that). So, he'll probably find someone who's a strong leader type and imprint on them. Also, he really likes war and fighting and kind of just wants to plunge the world into endless conflict. He's self-aware enough to know this is a bad idea, so he figures having someone else tell him what he can and can't fight is for the best.

Well for any horde undead I might leave it to cinematic cutaways (aka you storey anything involving big groups of created undead) other wise I only planned to keep a couple guardian based undead around me.

As for grave knight, use the vampire feats as an example to build a couple feat tree feats to follow with the requirement that the final feat needs someone to do the final conversion with the use of create undead.

So as per the problem of making Balem a grave knight I've put together some Grave Knight feats. This is a first draft and I would be happy to accept any criticism to make them more balanced.

There is also the Death Knight. This is a 3rd party version that has more of a melee fighter feel then the mounted warrior feel the Grave Knight has. This would need Gm approval either way.

Ya, i'm excited for the transition.!

I can see him forging pitch-black full plate armor full of spikes and grinning skulls/tortured faces/leering devils/bones/(un)holy symbols to Asmodues/bunnies maybe using some tanned skins from sentients for the leather parts. He pounds and shapes the whole thing with loving care over an evil-looking anvil. Throws 13 crying innocents into a pit he personally dug, covers them in pitch and lights them all on fire. He buckles the still-red hot armor on (including cloak because, why not) and then walks into the burning inferno chanting prayers to the First, and swearing eternal service to Him and his mortal lord as the fire destroys him completely.

Then, he wakes up.

I like that idea a bit more than "wear armor you made and go kill a lot of people for 2 more levels. it's more dramatic

Lots of folks in CST here! Canadians, are either of you hockey fans?

I live in Hawaii, which is 6 or 5 hours (depending on daylight savings time) off of EST.

I uh, am jealous. I love winters here in South Texas, but the summers are brutal. I understand Hawaii is like our winters year round. I think our next lookaround for work, we're going to look at places in Hawaii. I understand the cost of living is pretty crazy. Can two librarians with a kid have a decent standard of living there?

Good to be playing with you all. I'm ready to dive in when you are. I am in Chicago, so Central Time.

I grew up just a few hours south in St. Louis. Chicago is a lovely city, one of my favorites.

What do you all envision your roles within the party being? Occultists are lovely classes in that they can be built in a variety of ways, so I can build Taty to cover weaknesses. At first glance, it seems we're caster heavy. Taty is built to be backup melee, knowledge girl, provide some face skills, and later, be a decent buffer with the bard VMC. I'm happy to grow her in different directions as needed.

Mmmm...those feats don’t quite capture the flavor of the Graveknight. Graveknight is much more spontaneous and less planned. I’m thinking...Asmodeus may directly intervene in this one. Something different...

GM P, will there be time in the margins for our characters to spend crafting, retraining and the like? Or will things hurtle from event to event?

Does anyone plan to tweak their characters now that we know our party composition? Our group has a good spread of knowledges and most of the adventuring skills. Our Bluff and Disguise are weak though, which might mean trouble if we have to do infiltration--something to work on, or is subtlety just not our thing? Also, unfortunate considering where we start, no one has any ranks in Escape Artist. :)

I'm curious to know everyone's PBP experience. How long have you done it, how many past games, how many still going, that sort of thing. I played one multi-year PBP game that got through about a book and a half of a Paizo AP, and a couple of games that fell apart within a month of getting started; I'm not in any others right now. I'd rather focus on making one game strong than getting into a bunch of games.

Outside of PBP, I've played one RPG or another since I was a kid. D&D was the first, unsurprisingly. I'm a big fan of Whitewolf's old school Mage game. These days I play a little PFS (when my schedule permits) and like to get folks together for Fiasco, which requires very little prep time.

I love winters here in South Texas, but the summers are brutal....I grew up just a few hours south in St. Louis. Chicago is a lovely city, one of my favorites.

I went to undergrad in Houston. You're living south of San Antonio, perhaps near Laredo or Corpus Christi?

I'm in Hyde Park, a particularly great South Side neighborhood--right on the lake, lots of green space, beautiful architecture, well integrated, folks from all walks of life.

What do you all envision your roles within the party being?

I plan to build Geborah as a blaster, but as a cleric, she'll have a lot of flexibility and utility if she has time to prepare spells. I expect to be responsible for fixing conditions like diseases, poison, curses and the like, but hope we can acquire some good old fashioned cure light wounds wands so I don't have to dedicate a bunch of slots to healing spells.

Mmmm...those feats don’t quite capture the flavor of the Graveknight. Graveknight is much more spontaneous and less planned. I’m thinking...Asmodeus may directly intervene in this one. Something different...

Well I was planning these feats along the line of me crafting him into an undead, so thats why it's more planned. As for the flavor that can be fixed by changing what each feat does. Also I do have to convince a man that first I can do this to him and the benefits if I do.

Lots of folks in CST here! Canadians, are either of you hockey fans?

Oh hell NO! Not that I hate the sport, but I'm not really a sports fan. I'm more of a nerdy guy, more movies, video games, anime, reading wide variety of books etc..

What do you all envision your roles within the party being?

I'm aiming for kinda of the debuffer / crowd control and army builder. Thinking I might take some of the crafting feats. But to be honest I dont know exactly what role I'd fill... Though if Balam needs a controller and wants to become an undead, I'm probably the holder of his leash.

I'm curious to know everyone's PBP experience. How long have you done it, how many past games, how many still going, that sort of thing.

Ive floated the forms a couple years ago until I had some IRL issues that kept me away. I was able to join several games a couple just died out, a couple I had to step away. So now I'm back with a game that I've ran twice IRL, never made it past book 2, but have wanted to be a player in since I came across it. Ive had my hand in D&D since 3.5, pathfinder, palladium, Rifts and dipped my finger into a couple others.

Seth here, changed character name to one in my list of unused profiles =^^=

GMT+2. im from south africa

AOE explosions and eventually contaminate and make our enemies too sick to fight back

Been on the boards and active for a few years

Lots of folks in CST here! Canadians, are either of you hockey fans?

Balam Kael wrote:

I live in Hawaii, which is 6 or 5 hours (depending on daylight savings time) off of EST.

I uh, am jealous. I love winters here in South Texas, but the summers are brutal. I understand Hawaii is like our winters year round. I think our next lookaround for work, we're going to look at places in Hawaii. I understand the cost of living is pretty crazy. Can two librarians with a kid have a decent standard of living there?

Geborah the Laughing Pyre wrote:

Good to be playing with you all. I'm ready to dive in when you are. I am in Chicago, so Central Time.

I grew up just a few hours south in St. Louis. Chicago is a lovely city, one of my favorites.

What do you all envision your roles within the party being? Occultists are lovely classes in that they can be built in a variety of ways, so I can build Taty to cover weaknesses. At first glance, it seems we're caster heavy. Taty is built to be backup melee, knowledge girl, provide some face skills, and later, be a decent buffer with the bard VMC. I'm happy to grow her in different directions as needed.

@Tatienne: I've been here for about 14 years. I'm from Michigan and moved here to teach. I haven't looked back since. It's got some crazy-expensive parts (i don't eat red meat and milk can be near $6 a gallon). But, it's got a lot going for it, too. Travel to Asia is usually super-cheap. Basically, if you make a budget, and stick to it, you can make it work in Hawaii. It's about managing expectations. If you want a big house, you're looking at nearly a million dollars. Even a townhouse is around $200-300k. But, when you're no more than 30 minutes (with traffic) from the beach or the mountains, do you really need a yard?

As for role; I'd planned on playing my antipaladin as an arcane trickster. I felt that his eventual heavy plate armor would REALLY complement the spells and stealth needed for the class. :) Seriously, though, tank/melee. A lot of his abilities are based on swift/immediate actions and his constant auras. He can buff/debuff everyone in like 30 feet constantly, while also trading out massive damage and soaking up hits. I gave up spells because I ALWAYS forget them and casting is counter-productive to melee. He can be a face, but his idea of social skills is the art of intimidation

Mmmm...those feats don’t quite capture the flavor of the Graveknight. Graveknight is much more spontaneous and less planned. I’m thinking...Asmodeus may directly intervene in this one. Something different...

@GM: the graveknight on d20pfsrd mentions a planned transformation using a ritual. It even equates them to something like the melee answer to a lich. So, that could work, too. But, I'm down with Asmodeus' divinediabolic intervention.

GM P, will there be time in the margins for our characters to spend crafting, retraining and the like? Or will things hurtle from event to event?

Does anyone plan to tweak their characters now that we know our party composition? Our group has a good spread of knowledges and most of the adventuring skills. Our Bluff and Disguise are weak though, which might mean trouble if we have to do infiltration--something to work on, or is subtlety just not our thing? Also, unfortunate considering where we start, no one has any ranks in Escape Artist. :)

I'm curious to know everyone's PBP experience. How long have you done it, how many past games, how many still going, that sort of thing. I played one multi-year PBP game that got through about a book and a half of a Paizo AP, and a couple of games that fell apart within a month of getting started; I'm not in any others right now. I'd rather focus on making one game strong than getting into a bunch of games.

Outside of PBP, I've played one RPG or another since I was a kid. D&D was the first, unsurprisingly. I'm a big fan of Whitewolf's old school Mage game. These days I play a little PFS (when my schedule permits) and like to get folks together for Fiasco, which requires very little prep time.

@Geborah: PBP experience: I run 4 PBPs, and play in something like 7 more. I started PBP maybe 5 or so years ago, and did PbeM and and tabletop before that.

PBP Experience? Not much, unfortunately. I've only started doing PBP a few weeks ago, and am really enjoying it. As for IRL, I've been playing since 3.5, and have been on board with Pathfinder since before it had its own ruleset. I GM a lot of games at home, mostly for family and close friends, especially for my children. I've GMed all through way a tons of adventure paths, some of which were completed over a year, and some of which took multiple years to get through. Just depends how often each group had a chance to meet. I do custom campaigns, as well, of course. Unfortunately with all that GMing I never get a chance to PLAY, which is why I've come to love PBP so much.

Hockey? I love hockey. My whole family is involved in it, been playing since before they could walk, so on. I personally, never played except for fun. Unfortunately, I haven't had a television for years, so I don't keep up on the games or recent news. So, love the sport, but don't follow it.

And, role in combat? Jezabel is not your typical caster-type witch. She's very melee focused, with unarmed strikes and melee touch spells. She can also heal people so, you know, they don't die too early. Gotta keep your pantry fresh! She's good at knowledge planes and arcane, spell craft, UMD, and intimidating people. Smart, but not so wise. Unhinged. So don't me let make the battle plans, guys. Won't end well.

So we have:

Antipaladin (dread vanguard, lord of darkness)
Occultist
Witch (ley-line guardian)
Cleric (theologian)
Alchemist (plague bringer)
Necromancer (undead)

Pretty cool mix of stuff... I'm excited to see this go!

I went to undergrad in Houston. You're living south of San Antonio, perhaps near Laredo or Corpus Christi?

I'm on the border. I live in McAllen, and work at UTRGV (formerly UTPA and UTB). I split my work week between Edinburg and Brownsville. It is a nice area, but I miss more urban environments.

I'm in Hyde Park, a particularly great South Side neighborhood--right on the lake, lots of green space, beautiful architecture, well integrated, folks from all walks of life.

Cool! We've got good friends that lived in Lincoln Square for many years, so I'm more familiar with the North side, but I understand that Hyde Park is neat.

Oh hell NO! Not that I hate the sport, but I'm not really a sports fan. I'm more of a nerdy guy, more movies, video games, anime, reading wide variety of books etc..

Haha, I won't brag on my team then ;)

@Tatienne: I've been here for about 14 years. I'm from Michigan and moved here to teach. I haven't looked back since. It's got some crazy-expensive parts (i don't eat red meat and milk can be near $6 a gallon). But, it's got a lot going for it, too. Travel to Asia is usually super-cheap. Basically, if you make a budget, and stick to it, you can make it work in Hawaii. It's about managing expectations. If you want a big house, you're looking at nearly a million dollars. Even a townhouse is around $200-300k. But, when you're no more than 30 minutes (with traffic) from the beach or the mountains, do you really need a yard?

Sounds lovely to be close to the beach and the mountains. We've got a beach here, and it is a relatively nice one, but nothing like the pictures I see of Hawaii. Travel to Asia being super-cheap sounds awesome.

So most people live in apartments, then, given the housing costs?

Hockey? I love hockey. My whole family is involved in it, been playing since before they could walk, so on. I personally, never played except for fun. Unfortunately, I haven't had a television for years, so I don't keep up on the games or recent news. So, love the sport, but don't follow it.

Cool! I grew up watching the Blues, still follow them. The wonders of the Internet making it all possible in a place where 99% of population has never strapped on skates, I'd bet.

PBP Experience: I've been on the boards here for a few years now, and have played in some long-running games (and some not so long-running ones :). I'm currently in book 2 of KM, CC, and S&S on the boards here. I GM one game, a homebrew, set in Arcadia, though the PCs don't know that they are Arcadians, yet - they'll put it together when the Chels show up :)

Haven't played tabletop in years. I much prefer PBP these days, both for ease of schedule and immersive story-telling.

Updated for described roles:

Melee DRP & Tank/debuff/buff/intimidate: Antipaladin (dread vanguard, lord of darkness)
Melee backup/knowledges/buff/diplomacy: Occultist
Melee backup/knowledges/healing/intimidate: Witch (ley-line guardian)
Blaster/condition removal/utility: Cleric (theologian)
Ranged DPR/debuff: Alchemist (plague bringer)
Crowd Control/debuff/minionmancy: Necromancer (undead)

That is a pretty well-rounded group. Geborah has a point about deception/infiltration. I can take illusion/enchantment implements, which will help, but that build won't really take off until level 7. Occultists don't get bluff or disguise as class skills, but spells and focus powers should be good substitutes.

I’m also looking forward to the two witches and the Changeling forming their coven :)

Geborah, there will be downtime for crafting - but sometimes things will be happening too quickly. There’s actually a decent balance.

I’m also a hockey fan, and looking forward to the season.

Had a busy but productive day. Will start gameplay tomorrow

I’m also a hockey fan, and looking forward to the season.

Nice! Where are you from, GM, if you don't mind me asking?

Had a busy but productive day. Will start gameplay tomorrow

Sweet! Looking forward to it.

Geborah the Laughing Pyre wrote:

I went to undergrad in Houston. You're living south of San Antonio, perhaps near Laredo or Corpus Christi?

I'm on the border. I live in McAllen, and work at UTRGV (formerly UTPA and UTB). I split my work week between Edinburg and Brownsville. It is a nice area, but I miss more urban environments.

Geborah the Laughing Pyre wrote:

I'm in Hyde Park, a particularly great South Side neighborhood--right on the lake, lots of green space, beautiful architecture, well integrated, folks from all walks of life.

Cool! We've got good friends that lived in Lincoln Square for many years, so I'm more familiar with the North side, but I understand that Hyde Park is neat.

Wraith Bonewalker wrote:

Oh hell NO! Not that I hate the sport, but I'm not really a sports fan. I'm more of a nerdy guy, more movies, video games, anime, reading wide variety of books etc..

Haha, I won't brag on my team then ;)

Balam Kael wrote:

@Tatienne: I've been here for about 14 years. I'm from Michigan and moved here to teach. I haven't looked back since. It's got some crazy-expensive parts (i don't eat red meat and milk can be near $6 a gallon). But, it's got a lot going for it, too. Travel to Asia is usually super-cheap. Basically, if you make a budget, and stick to it, you can make it work in Hawaii. It's about managing expectations. If you want a big house, you're looking at nearly a million dollars. Even a townhouse is around $200-300k. But, when you're no more than 30 minutes (with traffic) from the beach or the mountains, do you really need a yard?

Sounds lovely to be close to the beach and the mountains. We've got a beach here, and it is a relatively nice one, but nothing like the pictures I see of Hawaii. Travel to Asia being super-cheap sounds awesome.

So most people live in apartments, then, given the housing costs?

Jezabel wrote:

Hockey? I love hockey. My whole family is involved in it, been playing since before they could

...

Actually, no. this state, for some reason, seems morally opposed to the concept of "apartments" as anything but housing for poor people. Instead, it's over-priced condos (the newest development in Kaka'ako actually boasts that it'll have a few condos selling for over 2 million USD), townhouses or homes in planned subdivisions with Home Owners Association fees. I usually end up renting out of someone's house or condo.

but other than these annoyances? Ya, i can't think of moving back to the mainland.

Nice! Where are you from, GM, if you don't mind me asking?

Well, I'll say this - my hockey team has the best player in the league on it.

Gameplay is now up! You all have Edit access to the map, but please don't move your tokens at this time - you are chained to the wall, after all.

Tatienne Talbot wrote:

Nice! Where are you from, GM, if you don't mind me asking?

Well, I'll say this - my hockey team has the best player in the league on it.

Well that narrows it down for me, I'm gonna guess you live somewhere in North America?!

GM Phntm888 wrote:

Tatienne Talbot wrote:

Nice! Where are you from, GM, if you don't mind me asking?

Well, I'll say this - my hockey team has the best player in the league on it.

Well that narrows it down for me, I'm gonna guess you live somewhere in North America?!

Hmm, if it is North America - though there are many leagues, and each would have a best player - I'd bet Edmonton or Pittsburg.

Well I'm in Edmonton, and if your here Phntm I might have to buy you a beer!

Connor McDavid isn't the best player in the NHL yet - he will be eventually, but he has to win a Stanley Cup or 3, along with a couple of Conn Smythes. ;)

Also, Phil Kessel is a 2-time Stanley Cup Champion, and former independent presidential candidate this past election.

Kessel also made an appearance on this shirt!

Whew... lucked out there, didn't want to buy the guy/girl a beer.... wait are my inner thoughts be posted here.... @$&^ they are... @#$@

Yeah just ignore the comments above folks... nothing to see there... :|

That he did. Reaves and Kessel are quickly becoming bros.

Wraith, I don't see any comments (wink, wink, nudge, nudge, know what I mean?).

Campaign-related, I have given further thought to Balam's eventual transformation into Graveknight! Reading all the way down to where d20pfsrd hid the information about the ritual way to become a Graveknight (seriously, put the stuff up top with the rest of the "how a creature becomes a Gravekinght" information - it's called formatting), I have decided that the process will be more akin to that which is available for becoming a lich as opposed to that of a vampire.

Of course, research will have to be done to determine how to achieve the transformation - after all, the ritual is hardly going to be common knowledge.

Researching undead minions is my fortay.

Would I need a feat tree to get what I need? Or should we simply at it over a period of Time?

What is it you want to do my friend

He's looking at Half-fiend - and that is going to have to occur over a period of time, as a feat tree may very well require over half of your level-based feats. I'm going to work on getting that one set up for you - hopefully by the time we hit level 3 I'll have the beginnings of whatever it is worked out.

that would be awesome :) thank you

Hey balam is your AC's suppose to be like that -> ac 10 the 11 ff 11? I just noticed and it seemed a little weird to me

Probably not.

Nope. it's not supposed to be like that.

i have fixed it. Silly typo

No worries cause if it wasn't I was gonna asked how to boost my touch and flat footed ac.

He's looking at Half-fiend - and that is going to have to occur over a period of time, as a feat tree may very well require over half of your level-based feats. I'm going to work on getting that one set up for you - hopefully by the time we hit level 3 I'll have the beginnings of whatever it is worked out.

Fun thing about alchemist is that there arent a lot of feats that i actually need. So i wont mind going and having to focus over 5 feats.

Vampire template also needs like 5 feats to get it. So 6 or 7 for this is worth it I think. =^^=

Only difference is that the CR increases over Time, where as the vampire and lich ones are a once off +2

I’ll probably tier up the feats with level requirements for the higher HD abilities. I’m still trying to figure it out.

GM, when Geborah was out of the cell, did she see a staircase going up or going down? Did she notice anything about the south door or the closed room to the east?

Geborah has seen everything revealed on the map. Those stairs go down, and the big U-shape is a fireplace.