GM Rednal's Planehopping from Bard's Gate (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

Done with the gear too :)

Farms are primarily for food or raising common domestic animals. Larger areas, with the extra space that would more-or-less definitely be required for exotic creatures (because, among other things, none of the other farmers would want such creatures even remotely close to their crops or livestock) would be Ranches instead.

Ashurians are extremely rare in Bard's Gate - almost all are passing through, so it's worth explaining why your character isn't - and have that -1 modifier, but Armorists are generally similar to Magi. That cancels out the -1 from being a Ranger and would leave you treated one step below your actual social status.

So, were we waiting on anything to get the campaign started, or just a generally busy GM schedule?

A check to make sure everyone has their social status and housing in order. I thought Asem, in particular, might want to consider my last post. Once the details are squirreled away, we can begin properly. ^^

Got it.

Ok thanks, I have updated the social status.

As for the reasons he is in bard gate, he has been left stranded there while still young and with little money, when his group of traveling companions disbanded and his mentor was killed a few years before the beginning of the campaign and I figured that a significant portion of his time in Bard's Gate hasn't been easy.

Hehe oki I guess I'll have to wait until Asem has some planar adventuring loot money before I start importing exotic creatures, perhaps he can start with a small property and then once he is wealthier buy off the land nearby, have something more appropriate build over it. Would that work fine for you?

By the way I'm noob in using paizo forums do I need to do something to add my character to the campaign page or it is just something the Gm does?

It's a fourth-level haruspicy ritual. You need to kill at least 500 XP worth of sacrificial chickens.

For real though, just post in Gameplay, then immediately delete that post.

Having a small property is fine. Inside the city is better, of course.

(I mean, really, anyone who has a large farm probably isn't going to be the type to leave it for various lengths of time and be unable to manage it properly... You could certainly look at that as your intended retirement plan, though.)

Hehe oki I guess I'll have to wait until Asem has some planar adventuring loot money before I start importing exotic creatures, perhaps he can start with a small property and then once he is wealthier buy off the land nearby, have something more appropriate build over it. Would that work fine for you?

Raising and showcasing exotic animals sounds like a full time gig or a retirement activity anyway. Having a plot of land outside the city sounds nice though. My need to hire some landscapers. Pretty sure NPC hirelings are cheap. Like a few gold a week cheap.

Thanks BBB and posting and chicken ritual sacrifice done :P

Yeah you are right about the whole full time activity.

I guess I still like the idea of having some land out of town, perhaps having someone tend to it in his absence. That said, if you would find it more practical and I can see your point, I guess a nice house in the market district from roughly the same cost, let's say the 5k grand home. After all I imagine him as a young fellow who spent most of his youth having to save pennies and sort of 'suddenly' having to start to reasoning in hundreds\thousands golds due to the whole adventuring gig (kinda like an athlete who made to some big league sport) so a fancy house would likely be on top of his list of stuff to buy. And I kinda expect the neighbours not to like him too much hehe.

Huh—it looks like we all own businesses. Neat. (One inn, one bar, one farm, and one alchemist's shop).

Also... the half-drow is the classiest? I guess they really do like bards here.

<-- No business here. Just a simple home and drifting between short term jobs to pay the bills. Stable hand for a week or two to help a traveling merchant, construction, bouncer, the very rare fill in security guard type position when some of his old friends need a temp because half of the guard have all fallen ill with whatever happens to be going around. That sort of thing. Depending on your needs, Anders may have even worked for one of you for a while.

And a former paladin who left the church on good terms would probably be ok in other people's eyes, if not for the sudden and unpredictable spirit magic thing. People most likely think well of Anders except for inherent superstition and suspicion when he accidentally summoned ghosts. Those kinds of things tend to persist as nasty rumors, even when the end result is good.

Oh, you didn't go for the inn after all.

I'm uh... a different kind of "bouncer," so maybe we haven't met.

Should be interesting seeing where the chaotic bent to this party goes, though.

Hopefully not TOO ridiculous. XD You're expected to be reliable when it comes to getting jobs done, after all.

Incidentally, those who own businesses (even if you're not profiting in-game) need to be registered with the appropriate Guild. ^^ They take membership lists seriously in this city.

I have a feeling I'll be a bit of a grounding element with all the chaos. Anders left the strict lawful good alignment behind when he lost his paladin abilities, but his past still influences the way he thinks and approaches problems. And he's well versed in working as a team.

Am I registered as a tavernkeeper, or as a priest?

Both?

Members of churches only need to be registered with their church (and with the city in general - they don't care if your shrine is big or small, they just want to know that you've got one).

Tavernkeepers must be registered with the Tavernkeepers' Association, who collect a percentage of the tavern's annual income as dues.

Ah, got it.

Hmm, if "book retrieval" is going to be a running theme, I should probably start training autohypnosis...

Alchemist's, Blacksmiths, Wizards, Arms Society, Longhunters. I think that is everyone. We starting this week or next?

*Gestures at the gameplay thread* Technically, we're starting yesterday.

I did not see an update for that. Odd.

Hmm, after thinking about it a bit, I was wondering if I could change out my death sphere talents for conjuration. I built most of the crunch for Anders before writing the backstory, and shooting death magic doesn't fit super well anymore.

Does that seem reasonable before we get too far into the game?

What kind of companion are you intending to make? (Some are definitely more appropriate than others... XD Conjuration is a pretty weird Sphere that way.)

BTW, if anyone has a question they want answered in-character, it's probably worth it to ask early... because otherwise Barion will probably eventually ask Khepira something really terrible.

Also, you can create some realllllly horrifying things with the Conjuration sphere. Skillful + Magical Companion give some insane stuff. If you want an actual ghost, Shadow Companion +2x Undead Creature (with Lingering Companion as your form), gives you an actual ghost, which you've got just enough spheres for if you go for elongated summoning tradition. Or uh... something else.

I missed that Khepira was creature. Is the place we are going on its back? Is it as tiny as a normal dung beetle?

Bariaon: Seems like we only get one question per group so it doesn't matter what you ask after. Just let us get out of the plane before it wrath vaporizes you.

"Khepira was the greatest of the scarabs." I'm assuming it's a powerful outsider or demigod. And if our question isn't necessary to get the book, then we have one free question for the group.

Also, Khepri is an ancient Egyptian beetle god, so, uh...

I was thinking of basically manifesting Kovin's spirit as a sort of spiritual guardian. Mainly looking at Armored Companion, Battle Creature (once to start, probably twice eventually for longsword instead of a mace), Aligned Creature, Shield Bearer and possibly Magical Companion to get some limited Lay on Hands style ability. Depending on talent availability and how the party shakes out, potentially could go with Lingering Companion and/or Greater Summoning to make him a more permanent companion.

I'm imagining it being more of a manifestation of his living spirit called from the afterlife than a haunting undead, and the other spirits that are part of my bound nexus are fragments of the souls stolen by Wexler. Since Kovin died a bit more naturally, his spirit is more free to manifest in this way.

@Anders: *Crunches the numbers* Hmm... Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to accept a battle-focused companion. A combat companion alongside a Full BAB, consistently accurate class like the Gunslinger could quickly do damage in significant excess of what's appropriate for any one character of a given level. A healing-focused companion would be one thing, or perhaps something focused on utility, carrying stuff, et cetera, but I picked your characters for a reason and would rather not significantly increase your DPR beyond what's already planned.

@Barion: I should note that followers of Yidhra tend to support their groups, rather than letting randomness undermine their collective goals... and deliberately messing up the party's goals, even if it's "in character", is not allowed for this game.

That's fine, that's why I ran the idea by you. Perhaps we'll revisit the idea again in a few levels if my damage is low, or shelve it if we're doing fine.

Gestalt can make things pretty weird this way. Choices that are perfectly fine on their own might end up inappropriate - or something that's normally a terrible choice might end up rather decent.

Action Economy is the most valuable resource in the game, so I have to be particularly careful about anything that gives a character more of that. Still, feel free to ask if you have any other questions. Spheres of Power is pretty good at making ideas work, so if there's something you want to do, there's a decent chance it can be done somehow.

Yeah, I'll have to think on it a bit more. I like the idea of manifesting his spirit somehow, I'll just have to find another use for it. I was mostly avoiding having him fall into a healer type role, since between channels and the life sphere I should have that pretty well covered.

I'll think about it and let you know if I come up with any new cool ideas for the concept.

If possible, more debuffs or buffs are always handy. Not familiar with spheres or soul weaver but fractional increases party wide shouldn't through things off.

Speaking of the Life Sphere, Revitalize is your best friend for out-of-combat HP recovery. It's basically 10 HP/level for one Spell Point, delivered as Fast Healing 1.

Oh, interesting. Somehow I missed the "per caster level" part. So many excellent talents to choose from...

My third level stance gives me that too. In Path of War, stances can be maintained indefinitely so I'll never need healing out of combat. 1 Fast Healing is pretty week in combat though. It'll protect me from bleed but that's about it. Stances don't continue when unconscious.

@Anders: How about a "Jedi Spirit Guide" sort of thing? Fill it with Skilled Companion (maybe still the incorporeal bits for flavor), and some Magic, Wisdom, etc. Then add Divination, and maybe some Creation, Alteration, or possibly Fate. Maybe personal-only Illusions for invisibility. Dowsing + Divination Range, Object Reading, Witness the City, Detect Scrying, Detect Teleportation, and Augury, would all give spirit-themed boosts that nobody in the party currently has access to without actually providing any combat utility whatsoever. (If it's not too OP still)

@Rednal: Fair enough. Barion's very interested to see what happens if he asks Khepira a question that results in a paradox, but he'll check first to see if anyone in the party has a personal question of their own.

@Barion: Your group (as in, everyone from it) can only ask one question. In total. You're being sent with a specific question to ask. XD Of course, once you know the way there, nothing stops you from returning a year later on your own and asking something else...

(And yes, this is actually how this particular demiplane is set up.)

Ah. That is an extremely good point. Well then.

The Zodiacal Planes in general tend to be like that. XD As you will understand when you have the chance to visit more of them.

Hey guys, I'm going to be at an astrobiology conference until friday and can't bring my portable keyboard with me (laptop keyboard is functioning only intermittently). Feel free to bot me as necessary.

Update: computer has been broken for a week, power button is malfunctioning such that the computer shuts down after 30 seconds of use. I'll be offline for a few more days, unless I can continue to sneak in PbP time at work...

Computer is finally back! And I'm not traveling anymore, which means I can post things again. Sorry y'all.

Bump? Waiting on Will?

To do what? We're leaving right?

Everyone should always post, even if it's just a brief bit agreeing with the party's actions.

(This is because I run a heck of a lot of games, and I specifically do NOT check them until I see that everyone has posted... or at least that someone has poked me in the Discussion thread. I could not possibly remember how many people I was waiting on otherwise. It is absolutely, totally, utterly vital that everyone keeps posting after I have. Otherwise the game just slows and dies.)

Speaking of which... (let's get to the part where we fight stuff with this wacky combat party!)

(Rednal's fine with posts like "____ followed" but wants to make sure everyone's read the last post before posting again)

I will try to better about that. Sorry. I don't like those kinds of posts but it better than slowing down.

But waiting for everyone to post also slows games. What if someone does actually leave without warning? We'd never know and be stuck. Someone will likely point it out that they haven't posted but we could end up waiting a week or more. Better to just move forward unless their character's input is absolutely necessary. Like if an NPC asked them something directly. My two cents.

Is it just me or the site has been hard to access for the last few days? I mean the page kept failing to load for me.