Welcome everyone! Take a while to get to know each other. Campaign is still cooking so please be patient.
Checking in. Thanks for the invite!
Welcome everyone! The game's title will be up soon as soon as I find the right verb. For those of you selected with a background for a different campaign, feel free to unhinge it as you need. For everybody, I'm looking for unresolved conflict in your past that I can revisit. You are free to tweak anything you want, even classes at this point, but please discuss with the group so that I don't wake up to find six monks.
Everyone can expect PMs from me at some point asking some questions about their background.
About This Game
I've run a game based on this same principle before in-person but switched to APs when I couldn't keep up with the pace of the game. So hopefully I can stretch this idea out a bit more. This is a campaign and will take you to late game levels if we stick through this. Mythic rules will (eventually) be employed.
About Me
I've been roleplaying for around 20 years with a variety of systems, but seem to have become entrenched in Pathfinder. I work in project management at a northern Canadian university in a remote rural area, huddled against the cold with my wife and dogs.
About how I run things
I try to avoid railroading games, and instead write island style where the PCs visit areas and encounter events/situations/etc. Things will follow a prestructured outline, but I expect you to surprise me in how it all plays out. I occasionally make mistakes and will readily admit to and fix them. I have also been known to bend or break rules where it suits the narrative, but never do so to create unfair situations. If something unfair happens to your characters, it's pre-written and will work out in the end.
Combat and Party Tracking
The group will be levelled up at appropriate areas in the game, and more or less according to a 'fast' experience track. Loot will be tracked in a spreadsheet, and I'd like to encourage the group to make a campaign log to tell their story (an idea I've happily stolen from Fingers). Maps will be hosted in google draw where players can move their own tokens.
Character Creation Guidelines:
This game will use mythic rules, so please familiarize yourself with the paths, and have one in mind.
- You've already been selected with races and classes in mind. Check with me if you want to change either of these core things. My preference is for a well played human fighter over a half-dragon starslayer or something like that.
- You're level one.
- Max hp at first level. Avg +1 hp afetr that.
- 2 traits.
- 150 gold
- 20 point buy. Your stats should figure in to how you play your character.
- The motivation of this game is to work with a group to solve a problem you all have in common.
- Official Paizo only.
- Please post a full stat block.
- Summary detail should be on the class/level section of your profile like so:
Class Level | AC XX T XX F XX | HP XX/XX | F +X R +X W +X | Init +X | Perc +X
Game Expectations
- Posting rate is 1/day, 1/weekend. I GMPC readily and without mercy or apology. If you do not post I will automate your character, particularly in combat.
- Players will be removed after three weeks of unexplained absence, receiving a warning on their second week.
- Please post in the discussion board if you will miss some time.
- Play your character with the fun of the entire party as your first goal. So inter-party drama, sexual themes, or anything like that must be handled with caution.
Would it be too much to ask you to shave? I don't like spiders...
I'd then just be GM nobeard, and nobody wants that. :P
Just dotting
No, seems like I have to make a post in the Gameplay section to get the campaign shown in Wayfinder.
So I'll be in contact with everyone about backstories. If you mentioned you'd be revising/writing more (ahem Cern) then take the time to do so. Also, as far as I'm concerned your crunch doesn't exist yet - if you want to change anything, including class, feel free to provided I get a heads-up so I don't get six summoners or something.
And precisely so, Ragnar. Once you're dotted in gameplay it will track the campaign in Wayfinder and from your "campaigns" screen for your account.
Excited to be here, ladies and gents! Let's solve some puzzles.
Raven Six here, or perhaps you prefer TAFKAR286 (the alchemist formerly known as RAU-286. ;) )
I've tweaked my background story a bit, swapped out the Reactionary trait for Spirit guide, and my scroll case for a cheap holy text of Pharasma... I think that's about it. ^^
Hector, at your service!
I should be able to fill out my fluff soon, In all seriousness this is gonna be awesome!
What class will you be?
-Posted with Wayfinder
I'll need a bit to get the character idea and concept straight. By now I'm feeling a bit hindered by the rules and am thinking about doing something different all together. But I'll see in the next couple of days.
I'd just like to know everyone else's class and role in the party before deciding finally.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Well, I'm an Alchemist, specializing in knowledge, disabling devices and ranged attacks. My magic is never going to reach beyond 6th level, even if I reach character level 20, but I can mix up bombs for devastating ranged damage, and mutagens to temporarily trade Int., Wis. or Cha. for Str., Dex. or Con., which means I can be melee support a few times a day.
I think I'll aim for the Master Chymist PrC, if I survive long enough. ^^
Juid is a cleric with miserable combat stats. His focus is straightforward social interaction, i.e. diplomacy not bluff, and on fire and healing magic.
I'm planning on levelling as a straight-up inquisitor, taking knowledges as I level to help with ID'ing monster weaknesses. Most of my spells will be for support & utility purposes.
Skills-wise, I'm going to level Stealth, mostly so I can provide backup to whoever goes scouting, and feats-wise I'm building her mostly around ranged combat.
I'll be doing my best to work as the tank for the party. I can also sit in asan additional party face. I'dlike to help with melee debuffs as well until later when i get my expanded critical range and will then pass my crits off to another member for better damage.
I can share a bit of that tank load, and as a high damage character I can definitely benefit from the passed crits. This is gonna be a fun crew
Are you planning on putting any points into Stealth?
Because Czein & Crystal could be the scouts for the team.
I can, but in medium armor the check penalty can be brutal
We'll see tomorrow when I attack the crunch and see how much Dex I end up with.
I'll take a look at the crunch today. I want to take stealth, but I'm not sure if I can afford it.
I'll stick with the male witch and play him as a debilitater/charmer/illusionist. He will be having relatively high charisma and all social skills. Influencing everyone around him through word, hex and spell. Since most hexes are SU, they will work quite well in negotiations I guessed.
His mentor is the hook for the mythic path to become an Archmage and some other, personal quests.
Is it OK to take a drawback if I want to? Do you allow for Campaign traits if they can be retailored? (I think there was one about being an outcast on the run from one of the APs.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Or you could take the Additional Traits-feat? That way, you get two bonus traits instead of one and a handicap.
@Crystal- My perception bonus will be lowish, but I can always pick up for stealth as I'll be in light armors anyways. Sorta fits in with my background as well.
@Czein- Well if you are planning to use axes then you will be a great person to follow me up from Butterfly's sting. I may pick it up early (level 3) if I don't need something else instead.
@Everyone- I think I will be planning for the "Champion" mystic path as it offers more synergy for Hector. Also, anyone interested in Teamwork feats (or have room in their build)? I was considering the following feat progression: 3rd- Paired Opportunists, 4th(Bonus feat for me) Butterfly's Sting, 5th- Broken Wing Gambit
Not sure if any other Melee have room for those or not. If there is a ranged person, I can also pick up Wounded Paw Gambit from the Advanced playtest. Same as Broken Wing, but allows a ranged attack as well. Otherwise, I'll taking the improved/greater dirty fighting feats. But the free attacks from Broken Wing Gambit (and at an additional +4 attack) are hard to pass up imho.
Juid seems predestined for the marshall path. He won't be much help with feats that require being in yo face on the battlefield or that have a min physical ability score.
Drawbacks are fine. If the group was more min/maxy I'd disallow them but that's not the case. Campaign traits - check with me - but should be fine. They're typically balanced.
Provided how fast my map-making goes (I'm learning to use image editing software to make fancy maps) I should be ready to start in August. Thankfully, the pace of PbP games means I don't need a dozen levels of gameplay completed right now.
I've got it, fluff and crunch well underway, and Czein is gonna be an infiltrator (ranger archetype) which fills out his backstory very nicely.
One more day.
You know, I think I might shoot for Craft Construct, if we all survive long enough. ^^ It could be a hoot.
I think I'll head for the Trickster Mythic Path.
I have finally settled for a character build. He is a merchant for rare artefacts and has thus travelled far and wide in the north. Before he gained his patron and thus witch powers, he was already a cunning and scheming traveller, merchant and diplomat. Still he wanted more, being only the second son he would never lead the household and his father was more impressed with his brother's strength in battle than Ragnar’s intelligence and charisma.
Ragnar studies in secret and thus gains some insight into how to sneak about and lie his way out of any kind of situation. When Ragnar’s dabbling in the arcane arts was uncovered during a daring ritual, he left his home, mere hours before his father's decision to cast him out.
Today he uses his hexes to manipulate everyone around him even better. His spells are reserved for when he is in a tight spot. Since his physical abilities are weak, but he still has to get close to the enemies for casting most of his magic, he will need good protection and will thus be heading for a trusted hireling (can I get Leadership for my own protection?) as soon as he can.
Furthermore there is a bigger backstory to his familiar and patron, but that I must still figure out completely.
Skills: Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Knowledge (Arcana, Planes), Sense Motive, Spellcraft, Stealth.
Patron: Deception (thus gaining some illusion spells like Invisibility)
Hexes: Evil Eye, Charm and ASAP Cackle
I also speak a 6 different languages, and will later get a hex to understand them all (a few times per day)
I won't do much damage (most of the time none at all). But most Hexes and Spells will make our enemies weaker or take them out of the picture completely.
If I may, I would also apply to be the face of the group. For all anyone will see when looking at me, I am a far-travelled merchant with a knack for curiosities. My true nature will be hidden to all but my companions.
And as I said earlier, I am headed for the Archmage mythic path.
(@Spiderbeard: I will write up a backstory including the quest I'm on. If you may, we could make it into a Story Feat, like in Ultimate Campaign. And I would like to see it as the anchor for entering my mythic path)
Juid is a cleric with miserable combat stats. His focus is straightforward social interaction, i.e. diplomacy not bluff, and on fire and healing magic.
It seems we'll have a lot of overlap in this regard. With his background, Ragnar will certainly be better at handling situations requiring bluff and deception. Juid is much more of the moral politician; he refuses to lie outright (though distraction is another matter entirely).
Ragnar knows both, but even in an entirely diplomatic debate, he will use his hexes to gain the upper hand. Since these are SU, no one will ever know...
Yes, I know how much overlap we have, but this is the only way I can think of this character. As an alternative I would offer to build an outright wizard/sorcerer or a magus. Let me know what you prefer. (Magus would be an addition in close-combat and as a Linnorm-Sorcerer I'd rain frozen death down on our foes or something along those lines).
Since the crunch isn't nearly finished, I can still reimagine Ragnar.
I'm in two, no, more like 14 minds about Ragnar. This is but the second idea for a build I had. But I see how it overlaps with everyone else pretty hard. As a witch I can think of nothing different that would fit my style.
I have never played a sorcerer before (always wizards), could be fun.
Anyone know if Magus is worthwhile? And do you think we need another close-combatant?
Personally, I don't mind overlap. It's always good in combat so why not out of combat. Perhaps there are cool team feats to explore.
On another topic, I've only seen one magus, in our RL game, and he was devastating in combat. Unfortunately, he got a little overconfident at the end and an enormous, tentacled monster grappled him and yanked him into the Abyss.
I played a magus in my group's RL kingmaker. He was fun and did great spike damage. I went kensai and was sad by my unlucky rolls. Hitting was never an issue, but even with +14 to crit confirmation rolls, i rarely confirmed (got lots of <6 die rolls).
I don't mind if there is overlaps ( we'll have like 3-4 party faces), but we are going to really need some utility magic. Ya never know when there will be out of combat obstacles to overcome.
Maybe my favourite class will get another run: Wizard.
Yes, I think that might work quite well. Something like a councillor, with Knowledge Nobility, History, Geography and stuff. OK, sounds like Ezren, but hey...
-Posted with Wayfinder
Overlap isn't bad. ^^ There are always situations with the potential to knock one or more of us for a loop. Under such circumstances, it's nice to have someone capable of stepping into the breach.
Also, don't underestimate the value of a good support bonus. ;)
Looking good!
What? The witch or the alternatives? ^^
-Posted with Wayfinder
Do people talk about who they actually are on these forums or is it more of an anonymous thing? I might mention that I'm in Frankfurt, Germany, so I'm on Central European Time (GMT+1).
Funny, I thought that might be the case, due to your posting times. I'm from Trier, Germany too.
I'm not really sure on that matter. You can add your time zone in your profile, so that's no big secret. The rest might be up to the people you are playing or posting with. Everything is visible to the whole internet, so, yeah, you should consider that.
As for me, I like knowing who I'm playing with, to a degree at least, especially at the beginning. If someone wants to remain anonymous, I'm fine with it too.
I find that most people share some personal info, and then how detailed they get is personal preference. Anyone who wanted to find out who I am could do so easily. :) Btw my wife is -delighted- to know there's somebody from Trier in my game. She lived in Wittlich for a summer when she was younger. My only experience in Germany was Aachen as I lived close to the border in the Netherlands.
Anyways, I'm Dave and I'm from northern Alberta (a couple hours out of Edmonton) in Canada. I'm 34 and work in IT at an online university and live with my wife (also a PF player) and dogs.
And I meant that your witch concept sounds solid, Ragnar.
I'll have a focus on utility magics, don't worry.
Incidentally, I'm from Canada--specifically, Nova Scotia. Planning to go back to university in September for an honours equivalency program in Psychology.
I'll have some simple goodies starting at level four to help fill gaps if I need to, I just want a campaign that doesn't get bored before level ten and bail.
I'm working at a small Christian Camp near my home in Western North Carolina, United States until I go back to college this fall in Georgia for Outdoor Leadership and Education. I'm an open book :D
I'm Michael, 28 and in my last year at university. Till December I'm working on my master's thesis in Wirtschaftsinformatik (well, best translates to Business Informatics, it's IT plus Economics, it's a relatively new German discipline) . After that I'm working in IT/Business Intelligence. So if I sometimes have a little less time, you know why ;-)
I'm living with my girlfriend, without kids or pets for the moment.
Wittlich is close by. What brought her here? Funny coincidences. Do you or your wife speak some German?
-Posted with Wayfinder
@Crystal - Awesome! I have never been to the maritimes and feel I am a poorer person for it. Nova Scotia gave us the donair (for Ragnar and Juid it's a Canadian variation of a doner kebab) and I will love 'em forever for that.
@Czein - I'm in this for the long haul, so no worries there. I tend to post more frequently than most of my players, so the game will go at the pace that works for the group.
@Ragnar - Very cool. My job is moving into IT business analysis, previously I worked in a project management office doing estimations and reporting. I'll read on Business Informatics, sounds interesting. And my wife went when she was 18 to work as a nanny using some sort of program. She keeps practised with her German, but hasn't had to exercise it for years. She's a racing fan so we intend to visit some day for a grand prix, or maybe a rally.
Sadly I have never been to North America. Hopefully finally earning some real money will help with that. I'd love to see Canada especially.
@SpiderBeard - You'll need to be quick with that. They are currently having dwindling sales numbers for the F1 in Germany and the future of big motorsports events isn't very bright at the moment. They even consider closing one of the tracks completely and one other is being sold to a private investor. But I guess it is Germany and we will always find a way to have cars drive around in circles ;-)
Seriously, it's great fun!
Wirtschaftsinformatik is both IT and economics, but more. It has it's own techniques and philosophies, that are more than just an intersection of it's founding disciplines. Outside of Germany there is nothing really comparable. Therefore there is no real translation.
One of my best friends is married to a girl from the US. They met on a semester abroad and she now moved to Germany. I think it’s funny how similar but different our cultures and our ways of thinking are.
I hope this campaign won't just die down, but I have high hopes. I'm more the reliable kind, so expect me to keep my posting schedule or at least announce my absence in advance.
I'm Jim. Born in New York state. I moved to Frankfurt nineteen years ago, a few years after fulfilling my dream: to bicycle around Europe for six months. It was a little challenging and a lot of fantastic. I live with my German 'husband' and our fox terrier Tom Sawyer. I'm a financial translator and an English coach for German managers.
Wow, that's fascinating Jim! I used to mountain bike with my father when I was a child/teenager, but never longer than a day's tour. Which countries did you visit?