That's what I like to hear people! One correction though, Child of Caphorite should be changed to Child of Blightburn. And just to give you a heads up, those campaign traits will have TREES! Not the kind dryads are seen seductively propped up against either! I mean trees in the 'branching paths and specialized skills' way! Soak that in and tell me one thing you would like to see in your trait tree and I'll try to add it to the later bonuses. And nobody say a partridge in a trait tree unless you intend for it to be a necroticized mutant partridge that is symbiotically attached to your characters shoulder and casts disparaging remarks at them!
So what else are we waiting on?
All my ideas for the hulking reaver tree just end up breaking the game it awesomely crit-tastic ways. Expanding the crit range immediately comes to mind. Maybe instead of doubling the range like keen/improved crit, there's a tree that just gives +1s the further you go down. Maybe they can stack with improved crit, maybe they don't.
Something less game breaky could be a melee equivalent to rapid shot. Or maybe something that fluff wise is acted out by burying your sword in an enemy then twisting it. Mechanically something like after a successful melee attack you make a strength check against your targets touch ac to do precision/bonus/stat damage depending on your level (or maybe that's a whole branch starting with a flat bonus, increasing to precision dice, and ending at stat damage).
Or maybe an upward sword strike (I like the str vs touch for this too) to knock the target in the air and land prone (maybe add some fall damage [maybe reduce the weapon damage for balance at the start of the tree?]).
Got a bit rambley there. I've never been super great at making up new rules that are properly balanced, but I hope those are at least helpful seed ideas.
Guthrak, I am waiting on everyone to finish up and waiting to get my laptop fixed so I can post more reliably. 2 weeks max on the wait.
Imak, I will utilize these idea in a trait branch. Don't worry, I'll make them as balanced as the campaign traits and even cooler. And yes, I consider the campaign traits balanced because of the more limited healing and the general difficulty level I'm setting this campaign to. Ever played Fallout: New Vegas on Hardcore Mode? If so, then you have an idea. This is a gritty survival campaign after all. And really, the power of the traits means that it won't take a month to do one combat. Either the players win battles relatively quickly or the enemies do. Relatively quickly is somewhat subjective in a PBP though.
Imak, I will utilize these idea in a trait branch. Don't worry, I'll make them as balanced as the campaign traits and even cooler. And yes, I consider the campaign traits balanced because of the more limited healing and the general difficulty level I'm setting this campaign to. Ever played Fallout: New Vegas on Hardcore Mode? If so, then you have an idea. This is a gritty survival campaign after all. And really, the power of the traits means that it won't take a month to do one combat. Either the players win battles relatively quickly or the enemies do. Relatively quickly is somewhat subjective in a PBP though.
Short and brutal combat? I'm for it. Also, more thankful than usual for the inquisitors spell list.
And I should probably mention add to my backstory that Kayt's tavern was actually a really popular place to leave half-orc children. She totally took care of... like... a dozen or so. Taught em all to be inquisitors even... What? Contrived BS retcon so I can reuse the same character if he dies? No... why would you even suggest that?
Imak, that's fine. If your character dies, just change the name. Just don't expect to have all your equipment back immediately. First you have to ninja loot the corpse! Ugh, MMORPG speak!
DevonRex, that sounds like some old Planescape material! Right next to pixie-dust sprinkling demodands, emo balor zombies, drunk angels, and fire elementals taking on the shape of fire hydrants! Just kidding!
Ninja loot the corpse run and gank the mobs that are campin my corpse so i gotta ghost run back to the safe zone so i can get reps and rez
Though in all seriousness, after I posted that retcon, I read that apparently the tavern-churches (tavches? chaverns?) of Cayden Cailean do often double as orphanages. So I'm not as full of it as I thought.
For my starting shotgun, should I use the default advanced firearm shotgun (single shot) from Ultimate Equipment/Combat?
Armored labcoat=equivalent of Studded Leather?
Do grenediers get shotguns?
Imak, yes I know, it's interesting right? And yes, they can get shotguns. Their bombs are still better though.
Guthrak,, yes on the shotgun question, because that's the weakest shotgun available right now. And yes, there are MORE. I will have the info on the armored lab coat by tomorrow.
Also, what do you think of special ammunition? Incendiary/acid/shock/cryo rounds, pulse rounds, blessed ammunition, ammunition shaped so that it causes bleed damage, non lethal ammunition, ect.?
And has anyone discussed how they think this group came together in the Mana Wastes? This is an important piece of information.
Nonlethal damage bullets are easily solved. Scatter weapons like the shotgun can use rock salt, while single shot weapons use rubber bullets.
As for how the group came together, Volk is a mercenary, so he would have gone on most any expedition he was hired to.
Well fortunately Imak and Guthrak are both Half-Orcs, and it's a well know fact that everybody from similar ethnic backgrounds know each other (that's good old fashioned family racism). We're probably like best friends, and take long strolls through the mana wastes together.
Seriously though, since Imak's a warrior for good and Volk is a warrior for hire, maybe we can put together a story where we ran into each other on some job or another, and established at least a professional relationship. We can have delightful arguments where I keep going on about "good for the good god" and he's all like "whatever dude, just gimme my cut."
Sounds good! Anyone else with a character background?
Grenadiers get all simple +1 martial of their choice.
Mmmmm..background...aaahhhhh...*drool*
Guthrak and Imak could have been from the same orphanage, just followed different career paths. Perhaps my mentor hired us to go retrieve a gadget or we are hired to protect and guide a salvage crew.
Otherwise maybe Guthrak is he closest thing to a medic available for the mission.
This half-orc is no shut-in and enjoys the chance to 'field test' his experiments(I plan on taking the field repair feat eventually.)
(Different ammo would follow magic item rules so no worry there.)
The stock of his homemade breech-loading shotgun is made out of a bowling pin, with a chromed tailpipe barrel and lock built out of relays, switches, and miscellaneous hardware.
Here's Volk's background, more or less.
Most of these freelance fighters embody the spirit of the word “sellsword.” Most specialized in melee combat, but few took it to the extremes that Nolak did. The only ursine member of the guild, he took his place and race seriously. While Nolak was as good, if not better, at the use of weapons as the rest of the guild, his specialty was in those weapons
Nolak taught his son everything he knew, especially the art of handling tooth and claw. Volk took to more than that, though. As he grew, he wanted not just to meet his father’s expectations, but to exceed them. He trained not only his teeth and claws but his whole body as well. His paws, elbows, and knees became calloused and hardened by near-constant training from both his father and his own endeavors. In time he learned to use them in tandem with his already formidable natural weapons, turning his body into a weapon.
At the same time, his sparring with his father burned itself into his memory. With each sparring session, Volk was able to dodge more and more of his father’s advances, developing a technique that was advantageous to his heavy body. This sort of “swaying” motion of avoiding blows and transitioning into strikes over almost a decade reached the codification of a martial art. Nolak found Volk to be as formidable as his comrades in armor while the bear cub was completely unarmed and unclothed.
This sort of bodily route to perfection brought forth in Volk an aspect that Nolak had not anticipated, however. A sort of “Bear-Supremacy” complex arose in Volk’s head. In his opinion, Kodiaks were a superior race that deserved far better due to their physical capabilities, natural weapons, and wisdom. For that reason, he can often seem more gruff towards those of non-kodiak descent.
This pride, however, is also a defense mechanism. Life as a mercenary’s son and wife in a place like Alkenstar was no cake-walk. Nolak’s earnings were often meager, despite his prowess, and was gone for days or weeks at a time. Volk and his mother had to scrounge for food, often taking to the wastes themselves to search for sustenance.
It was here that a strange transformation began in Volk. One day, as he was searching for edible mushrooms at the edge of the city, he found some sort of strange fruit hanging off a building’s walls. It was just above his reach, so he climbed atop a small box in order to snap its stem with his claws. While doing so, the area around his claw began to sizzle and melt. His surprise was audible as his claw instead went through the weak mortar into the home of a very surprised and retired hunter. The man ran out of his house with a musket and, taking Volk to be some sort of mana waste beast, open fired. Volk barely escaped with his life.
Since that day, these occurrences have become far more commonplace in Volk’s life, to his chagrin. Something he’s sitting on will catch flame, a bottle he’s holding will freeze and shatter. The final straw was when sparring with one of his friends, an electric shock passed through Volk’s elbow into his his friend, almost killing him. Since then, Volk had kept to himself, not going out unless necessity dictated it.
His father saw this as unacceptable. “You see as a curse what should be a gift,” he lectured his progeny, “You must learn to harness this great power that has been thrust upon you, and the only way to do that is BATTLE.”
From that day forward, Volk has been doing milk run missions for the Mercenary’s guild, pest infestations and the like. He’s learned far better how to control his strange elemental abilities, but can only harness it for and extremely short periods of time each day. He has yet to understand them, though, and wonders when he will be able to truly see action.
Bear-y well done.
Guthrak and Volk, cool! This campaign is definitely going to be fun.
(Also updated crunch for Traits and basic equipment)
So what is the story with the heavenly gunslinger and psi-bot?
I like the shared orphan background. I'm thinkin we hung out a bit when we were younger but lost track of each other as we grew older and you went alchemist while I went inquisitor. Then we ran into each other something like a year before the game starts, and you asked me to help you test something in the Mana Wastes, and now whenever one of us needs to go to the Mana Wastes, we call the other for back up.
"Heavenly? What do you mean?"
Araden's backstory is still being written, as I'm trying to tie everything together... one thing to keep in mind, though, is that he doesn't know he's not human (he's totally unaware of his age), and he doesn't know that his name is based on a god.
...one thing to keep in mind, though, is that he doesn't know he's not human (he's totally unaware of his age), and he doesn't know that his name is based on a god..
I like it. So has he been around Alkenstar long or recently wandered into town?
Odd skin/hair/eyes can be explained by to much exposure in the Wastes.
Maybe Imak and Guthrak found him out there wandering in a daze on one of their trips?
....I'm thinking of charging some water with C02..and calling it Alken Seltzer.. *ducks*
....I'm thinking of charging some water with C02..and calling it Alken Seltzer.. *ducks*
...Please do that. Also, I'm cool with that. I like the idea of him having been wandering the Mana Wastes on his mission for so long that he's a little frazzled, unused to civilization, but also a little lonely and craving social contact.
A warning: Volk does not deal well with bear puns.
He may just have to grin and bear 'em now and then.
Watch your back, Guthrak. I hear he can take men down with his bear hands.
Maybe, so he can really get mad at us, he could take a level of barbearian.
If he has trouble controlling his temper, he might be a bi-polar bear.
Don't worry about the puns, Volk. We're just kidding.
If you're mad, we can make it up to you by baking a beary pie.
In all seriousness, so how did Volk come to be involved with our ragtag team?
...I suggest a new strategy...let the Kodiak win...
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*pokes the robot's 'on' button* Hey! Is this thing functional?
So..... gun stats? other promised stuff? whereis?
Don't touch my buttons Carbon Based Bi-pedal creature. Are you trained to manipulate an Unamatrix Prototype Combot?
Ok, were are we in getting this moving?
@DM - What other information do I need to finish my toon?
Military Bots
Speed: 30 ft.
Face/Reach: 5'x5'/5'
Natural Armor: +5
Starting STR: 16 We will need to talk about improving this later
Starting DEX: 14 We will need to talk about improving this later
Starting CON: -
Starting INT: 10 We will need to talk about improving this later?
Starting WIS: 14
Starting CHA: 08
BAB: Full
All Saves: Bad We will need to talk about improving this later
Starting Construction Points: 13 Surplus
Extras:
1. Extra Arm
2. Internal Communicator (radio)
3. 360 Vision
Gameplay will begin Wednesday!
Oh yes, gun stats! For your starting guns, you will have to pick from the ones listed in Ultimate Combat, because the guns I have statted up are the equivilant of magical items in power. Tried to scale them like real Fallout weapons.
Also Imak, what is that text picture lol?
It's supposed to be a kilroy of sorts. No one posted for a while so it's someone poking their head in to take a look.
Also, my job's busiest week starts Monday and I'll be working 12 hour days, so I'll probably only manage a post at night. Maybe something from my phone during the day.
Cool! Can't wait to get started. I've decided not to put really any backstory in Araden's profile, because he doesn't rally remember anything about himself. How'd you get in the Wastes? "I've... been here as long as I can remember. All I know is the dryness of my skin, the weariness of my limbs, this damned thirst... And I'm looking for... something..." Fingering his throat, the man pulls a strange object forth on a string tied around his neck. "The partner to this."
Trained-schmained..once I have yer chassis off and poked around a bit inside, I'm sure I can make your circuits spark better than any ofeecial factoree techneecian The last said with obvious contempt.
"I care not for your petty trifles, furless ones. Tell me when we are to complete the task at hand. I yearn for combat..."
Ready when y'all are.
Liking the RP and the game hasn't even started yet! Araden has that lone wanderer air about him, Dr. Guthrak reminds me of Dr. Zed from Borderlands, and Volk.... well Volk is limb-breaking intelligent bear, so that's enough to show character!
Dr. Guthrak, sorry about not adding stats already lol! An armored lab coat grants a +2 bonus to AC, max DEX +6, a -2 armor check penalty, spell failure 10%, 5 lb weight, gives a +2 bonus on saves vs. diseases transmitted via contact, and if it was not your starting armor, would cost 200 GP, due to how rare it is. Also, it can be donned as a standard action, due to the fact that it's a coat.
I hope everyone is ready for some crazy RP and brutal combat!
"My guns have never failed me yet."
Araden, will begin with 50 rounds, which I think is a fair number considering you can recycle used ammo with the campaign trait. I assume you did choose Gun Nut, right? You haven't listed any traits on your sheet. No big deal, but just try to have them listed by Thursday.
Also, Volk, I saw you picked Hulking Reaver as a trait, but did not list it under traits. Not really a major issue, but if you add it under traits, it would make reference a bit easier.
How much starting ammom for my shotgun, solid and scatter? would 1d10 of each be fair?
any other gear we should track?
Toolkits?
Campaign Traits? Totally missed them! Helluva nice deal, though; definitely Gun Nut, all the way. And fits the character concept extremely well, too. Helps explain how he's been going this whole time using (relatively) rare weapons.
Dr. Guthrak, 12 of each ammo is fine. Other gear is at your discretion, but it would make sense to invest GP into items that are used with skills and such. As for ammo, simply craft more. If it's a concern, Araden has Gun Nut, so we may work out something with him on helping with party ammo.
Araden, if you like that trait at level 1, wait until you see it at level 5! And yes, you guys have progressive traits which grow stronger as you level. Also, you know to pick a trait in addition to the campaign trait right? Just making sure since the whole trait section was blank last I looked. Like I said, no biggie, but just try to make sure you have them ready by Wednesday.
Ah, I had put Hulking Reaver at the bottom of the character sheet but forgot to list it under "Traits." The error has now been fixed. Can't wait 'till Wednesday!