This is an assembly point for my new Ptolus game played by invitation only.
Invitees, this is the place to discuss your builds and any other concerns.
Please see the Campaign Info tab for, you know, campaign information. It's still a work in progress. But you will find there some valuable links, especially for character creation.
Testing...one two three
OK, this seems to be working.
I am open to play pretty much anything, but I'd lean away from an arcane caster as the most recent 2 pathfinder characters I am playing/have played are a sorcerer and a wizard.
That said, I decided to peruse the various divine classes to see if anything inspired me - and I could definitely see playing a shaman with a raccoon spirit animal who calls upon the spirits of the city.
I will look at the front line martial classes next and see what inspiration strikes.
Checking in. As I said before, I'm looking at a Slayer or an Oracle with the Shadow mystery. The Slayer would be specialized in debuffing (dirty tricks and intimidating). With the Oracle, I foresee lots of darkness and summoning shadow creatures.
Also, I'm in New Orleans for the weekemd, so I might not be that responsive for the next couple days.
Mic check. Patrick checking in.
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A few thoughts.
For a city campaign and mega dungeon I think someone who can handle traps would be pretty nice to have along. I do think there is at least one trait that lets you handle traps. I can take that and plan to handle traps if no one wants to actually play a rogue and I go down a melee path.
I would be cool with handling the front line fighter type, an arcane caster or a rogue depending on what other people's choices are.
I assume that "Malinor" is Thomas?
Checking in. As I said before, I'm looking at a Slayer or an Oracle with the Shadow mystery. The Slayer would be specialized in debuffing (dirty tricks and intimidating). With the Oracle, I foresee lots of darkness and summoning shadow creatures.
Just remember the alignment restriction.
A few thoughts.
For a city campaign and mega dungeon I think someone who can handle traps would be pretty nice to have along. I do think there is at least one trait that lets you handle traps. I can take that and plan to handle traps if no one wants to actually play a rogue and I go down a melee path.
You definitely want a skilled character and one of those skills really needs to be Disable Device. Use Magic Device will also be helpful. Skill characters can be useful at so much more than just traps, though.
I think the Unchained Rogue is a much better class than the original rogue, but there are several other good archetypes that come to mind. One of my favorites is the archaeologist bard (trade all the group buffs to become Indiana Jones). Another is the Investigator class. Finally, if Tim does take his slayer class, they have quite a few of these skills too, as it's a fighter/rogue hybrid.
Jamey here. I'm still playing with the idea of tech oriented "magician" bard. I noticed there's a magician archetype in the APG, so that seems promising - still keeps the focus on buffing and fits the flavor of the character I'd imagined.
I'm leaning toward using a gun since the character is tech-ish.
I originally envisioned a Grailwarden Dwarf but I'm also struggling with the dwarf -2 CHA since that's such a crucial stat (THE crucial stat, really). Gnomes are equally techie and don't suffer the same penalties so I'm torn between the two. But still leaning toward Dwarf.
Jamey: Yeah, At 1st level a dwarf bard can be a tough build because of the Charisma penalty, but that difference lessens as the character levels up and we're starting at 4th level (when you'll already have a +1 to a stat from level and can afford a Headband of Alluring Charisma +2).
At 1st level the difference between a 14 Charisma and a 16 can be huge. By 10th level, the difference between an 18 and a 20 is pretty negligible. If you want to create a dwarf bard, I say go for it!
Character uber alles!
I haven't said it but I'll say it now:
Post every day. Each player will normally post AT LEAST once a day. Sometimes real life will dictate otherwise, but all of should shoot for twice a day. If something is happening and you think your character wouldn't be involved, then A) post something about your character's thoughts or observations and B) reconsider your character. You're a hero. Be involved!
Good Play-by-Post Practices To reiterate the point above, there is a link on the Campaign Info tab to a great resource for how to make this a better experience for all. I can't recommend highly enough that your read it and implement its suggestions.
You are heroes. You should get involved when stuff goes down!
GM's Character Hints Here are some "hints" from another game I'm running. They apply here too:
- The GM doesn’t like dark or gloomy builds. He wants to play all the bad guys. :-)
- The GM pays attention to your avatar. If I have to look at it for a very long time, I don’t want it to weird me out.
- Even though it’s a dungeon delve, social skills will be important.
- The GM likes role-players.
- The GM likes generalists, not one-trick ponies.
So far it looks like this:
Andrew - ???
Jamey - Dwarven magician bard (maybe)
Nick - Not an arcane caster. Maybe a Shaman or other divine caster
Patrick - ???
Thomas - Not a divine caster.
Tim - Slayer or Oracle
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Remember, folks, that I want each of these bases covered. There's six of you, so there should be plenty of room for an oddball or two.
- Melee-based Martial
- Arcane caster
- Divine Caster
- Skill character
- Support/buffing character
- Whatever
Note: You can't all be the "Whatever". :-)
Ok, i've got some ideas for an ex-gladiator that would work as a fighter or a brawler and would cover our front line melee slot if needed (there's got to be an arena of some sort in a city the size of Ptolus, right?).
Warpriest also sparks some ideas. Having never played one, I'm curious, would that class be able to fulfill our front line melee needs? Our divine caster needs? Both? Neither?
Scott - when I had looked up Ptolus/Pathfinder previously I saw that Grailwarden Dwarves could take Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Guns) in place of standard Pathfinder Dwarf Weapon Familiarity. I think I've just realized that's someone's house rule, isn't it? If it's not part of your system I think I'll forgo guns since it would require too many feats to make it work (with a Bard). Just wanted to check before I switch to a different weapon.
You're looking at DivNull's Pathfinder Ptolus conversion, which I certainly consulted for my own conversion. I think I'm okay with that addition. I'll put it into the Addendum. Firearms in Ptolus are not the overwhelming game-changers they are in Pathfinder.
Ok, i've got some ideas for an ex-gladiator that would work as a fighter or a brawler and would cover our front line melee slot if needed (there's got to be an arena of some sort in a city the size of Ptolus, right?).
Right. It is called, get this, "The Arena". And it's in Old Town. There are no contests to the death anymore, though.
Warpriest also sparks some ideas. Having never played one, I'm curious, would that class be able to fulfill our front line melee needs? Our divine caster needs? Both? Neither?
In my experience, yes to the first, a qualified "sorta" to the second. Most of a warpriest's healing is really about healing himself in battle. Still, I'd allow it for both slots if the team didn't want to field a healer.
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I am playing a Warpriest in the Kingmaker campaign. You can definitely be a tank with one. It doesn't gain as many spells as a cleric or oracle but would get some channels eventually and you can do a lot of self buffing as swift actions between the blessings and fervor abilities. I think it does better as a tank front line fighter then a healer. The one problem is the lack of a straight BAB.
I like the cat race. I am tempted by a sword and board ranger Litorian. He could also handle the traps I think. He would be pretty hard to hit, but I am not sure he would do well at drawing aggro. A Litorian Bloodrager would also have some interesting points although limited Charisma. He would be less likely to be able to handle traps well. If I do a fighter I will do one of these.
I am also looking at a sorcerer if no one wants to do the arcane niche. I am not sure which bloodline I would go with if I do that.
If you're looking to start a game this week, you should press on without me and I can join a bit late, adopting the mantle of whatever role is needed when this all plays out. I'll be in an intensive training course beginning tonight and lasting the rest of the week and can't dedicate time to character creation until next weekend.
Additionally, I don't know that I'll be able to sustain posting twice a day as a norm. Once a day is my sustainable average with more than or less than being the oddity. This variance increases with the impending holidays.
If this would crush the sought-after pace of the campaign, I would understand and can respectfully withdraw my participation.
Hey all, Andrew here!
Busy weekend so I didn't get through to making a character yet; I'm catching up on the players' guides today. Hopefully that will give me some inspiration. As I stated in email I don't particularly want to be a rogue, druid, melee guy or bard (based on what I'm playing in other games now/recently) so that leaves arcane or divine caster (cleric/oracle) as most likely for me.
Malinor, that's an interesting idea to have all of us have some stealth capability. I'm up for it, unless someone wants their character to be loud and proud!
In reference to the "All-Stealth" party. Your GM hears "lightly armored" and cringes. I've run too many games of late wherein everyone went for the "jack-of-all-trade" characters and as a result watched the parties get their heads handed to them because nobody could take a pounding. Be sure your party has someone who can not only dish out damage, but can also take it (I'm talking a high-AC character, here, folks!)
There won't be any Hero Points to pull your chestnuts out of the fire when you run up against some angry fire giants or whatever. So plan accordingly.
So far it looks like this:
Andrew - Spellcaster (arcane or divine)
Jamey - Dwarven magician bard (maybe)
Nick - Not an arcane caster. Maybe a Shaman, warpriest or ex-gladiator
Patrick - ???
Thomas - Not a divine caster. Maybe a litorian ranger.
Tim - Slayer or Oracle
Thomas, if you're considering a ranger, let me call your attention to the Freebooter and Dungeon Rover archetypes. Maybe the urban ranger, too.
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- Melee-based Martial
- Arcane caster
- Divine Caster
- Skill character
- Support/buffing character
- Whatever
Patrick - private email to you.
Everyone, I'm not saying you have to post twice a day. I'm saying that'd be nice from time to time. Once a day will be fine.
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Someone in full plate can still make what I would call a good faith effort to stealth. IE. not be -6 to the roll. Would it take some concerted effort in doing, yeah, but would it be nice to have the option. I think so. The ranger would have a pretty solid AC, be positive in stealth, and not be such a jack of all trades that he wasn't able to fulfill his role.
Since we have have at least one person thinking perhaps an arcane caster and two that are contemplating potentially doing the divine caster route I will go ahead and claim the melee based martial with the Ranger. He will be the sword and board variety. I will check on those archtypes.
Unfortunately I will not be able to handle magic traps. Trap Finder, a trait that lets you find magical traps and gives Disable Device as a class skill, came from People of the Sands which I believe is outside the allowed list. So that will be left to someone else.
I will allow Trap Finder.
The purpose of my prohibition on non-PFS stuff is that it's much shorter than providing a comprehensive list of stuff that's probably overpowered or broken in some way. I don't think Trap Finder fits into either niche, so I'll allow it.
re: Full Plate and Stealth. I agree! My first PFS character is a 12th level ranger (with a dip into Cavalier (Emissary) to let him wear medium armor and still move his full rate. He is quite stealthy. And he wears mithral full plate.
So far it looks like this:
Andrew - Spellcaster (arcane or divine)
Jamey - Dwarven magician bard (maybe)
Nick - Not an arcane caster. Maybe a Shaman, warpriest or ex-gladiator
Patrick - ???
Thomas - Ranger (litorian?)
Tim - Slayer or Oracle
Thomas, if you're considering a ranger, let me call your attention to the Freebooter and Dungeon Rover archetypes. Maybe the urban ranger, too.
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- Melee-based Martial (Thomas's ranger)
- Arcane caster
- Divine Caster
- Skill character
- Support/buffing character
- Whatever
So far it looks like this:
Andrew - Spellcaster (arcane or divine)
Jamey - Gnome Bard
Nick - Not an arcane caster. Maybe a Shaman, warpriest or ex-gladiator
Patrick - ???
Thomas - Ranger (litorian?)
Tim - Slayer or Oracle
______________________________________________
- Melee-based Martial (Thomas's ranger)
- Arcane caster
- Divine Caster
- Skill character
- Support/buffing character (Jamey's bard)
- Whatever
Let's try to decide within the next few days.
Thinking of the many online games I've played, and discussing them with others, something comes up a lot. In PBP games, it is easy to lose sight of why the PCs are doing whatever they're doing at the moment. "I don't get it. I'll just wait for someone else to make clear what's happening. I guess it's just easier not to think about it." And that's how most PBP games die. Not from lack of player interest, but from the time lag killing player investment in the story.
In a face to face game I start off each session with a recap of what's happening in the story, along with some probably not very subtle reminders of things the party needs to be concerned with. They may remember that the bad guy lives in the big castle, but do they remember my hint about the mayor being related to family that once owned the castle? Or that an army may be on the way?
So I think I need to do the same in an online game. Sure, it's all there in print, but it's a lot to read over and what's important may not stand out. So I'm going to implement a periodic review of who's who, what's what and what's at stake. I think I'll start with every two weeks and adjust from there. Maybe with a link to all previous reviews.
I hope you won't see it as patronizing but instead as a recognition of the limitations of the medium.
Tim, if you are leaning towards the Oracle, I will come up with something rogue-y.
So is the Unchained Rogue intended to replace the original Rogue class?
This is Thomas. I changed my name/avatar.
I was currently planning on doing the Urban Ranger, but if your going Rogue I can go back to the Litorian Bloodrager. If you want to do something else that is skill based I can handle traps as the ranger.
So is the Unchained Rogue intended to replace the original Rogue class?
Right. It is generally a straight-up upgrade from the previously-maligned rogue class. But beware. The unchained classes don't necessarily qualify for the archetypes of the base class. Still, I think a vanilla unchained rogue is a pretty flexible class.
Thomas, I figured if you had the melee character covered, then Tim & I could cover the divine caster and skill character (either his Slayer and my Shaman, or his Oracle and my Rogue). That would leave the arcane caster for Andrew, and Jamey's Bard for support/buff
I love the recap idea. I often think PBP is cooler since you can search for what happened, but it's the things you don't even think of searching for that bite you.
Nick, I've just discovered the Lamplighter Investigator. Do you want to do your Shaman?
Shaman it is! You good with the arcane caster role, Andrew?
So far it looks like this:
Andrew - arcane spellcaster
Jamey - Gnome Bard
Nick - Shaman
Thomas - Litorian bloodrager
Tim - Lamplighter Investigator
Okay, folks, now I need you to go write these suckers up and post them here. Since Thomas is taking a litorian, no other character may be a litorian or harrow elf.
BTW, I was asked privately about languages and I think I'll tell you all the same thing. Languages won't play an enormous role in this story, but to the extent they do, the most common language is "Prustan" (Common). After that, elvish, dwarven, celestial and infernal will each appear. Languages playing a minor role -may- include: Old Prustan, ancient elvish, aquan, auran, ignan, terran, orcish and "The Tribal Tongue" of the Nallish barbarians.
Can everyone please have their characters ready and posted within 48 hours? That's the morning of Thursday the 17th.
Thanks. Let's get this thing underway while the energy and excitement are still there. The waiting is killing me!
- grease
- sound burst
- glitterdust
- chord of shards
- ear-piercing scream
- cure light wounds
- alter self
- arcane disruption
- invisibility
- comprehend languages
- blur
- suggestion
- detect thoughts
- detect magic, greater
If I had only two slots, I'd put either glitterdust and suggestion or grease and ear-piercing scream in those slots and get a wand of cure light wounds as well as multiple scrolls of invisibility, comprehend languages and alter self.
Glitterdust is golden (literally as the case may be).
I recommend having utility spells like Gliterdust, Invisibility, etc. or spells that have extended effects. Hideous Laughter, Confusion, Slow, etc.
For every round offense a bow will often be better. Bards have limited spells slots. If start throwing them into ear-piercing screams you will run out very fast. Find something you will have fun doing that will allow you to alter the battle for more then just one shot attacks and you might enjoy it more and have something you want to do each turn. And a short bow is always a decent option or a long spear and flanking if you can survive. :P
I agree with Thomas/Silas.
For a more martial bard build, see my aliases and check out "Cesare Andistore". The oracle dip isn't necessary to the Arcane Duellist, but is fun.