Guild Building (Inactive)

Game Master Jason Lillis

"Get out of Oppara and head for Mut - it's right on the shore and should be a good place to lay low and build up some new facilities quietly. Get a crew together, establish a new guildhouse for me, and - if you're really good - get a seat on the town council. The Collector will find you on the 10th of each month for my cut - 10% off the top of what you make, so keep a good ledger. The best of you will take point in the city once our foothold is secure, so show me what you're worth. Watch out for the Spiked Hand - this is their territory, and if they catch you it'll be clear that we're encroaching. I'll check in personally in one year - until then, keep an eye out for word from me." -Vors the Vicious

Those were your boss's words as you left your home for the small Taldane city on at the mouth of the river Porthmos as it opens onto the Inner Sea. As a young blade in employ of Vors the Vicious, you are being tasked with establishing a new Thieves Guild after pulling off a successful heist with him, but the heat is on to you.

The four of you have traveled for two days by foot to get here, and with the last of your coins you've negotiated a week's stay at the Minotaur's Arms Inn. It's time to hit the streets, raise some capital, and become the dominant guild in the city.

I'm looking for four players for a competitive PBP. Goals: Establish a stronghold, recruit guild members, exert political power over the city, and eliminate the competition. Play will be focused around the Downtime Rules from Ultimate Campaign. The game will use minimal combat to keep things moving.

What I'm looking for:
- 20 point buy for abilities
- Alignment can be any, but be aware that there is a legal system in place for the city - getting caught = getting punished
- Core Race, Aasimar, or Tiefling (alternate racial traits permitted)
- Level 1 - archetypes permitted
- 2 traits (no drawbacks)
- Average starting GP for class is all gear (no coins left over)
- Background answers three questions in 100 words or less: Where is your PC from? How did your PC get to be good at his or her particular skills? Why are they working for Vors the Vicious?
- ~5 posts/week, each post represents a day in the life of your PC (all the phases of a downtime day)

I'd like to get going on 11/18/2013, so we'll have recruitment open until 13:00 EST on 11/16/2013.

Think of this more like a tabletop board game than an AP: less descriptive text, more dice rolling. The goal is to keep things moving.

Let me know if you have questions!

I'm interested, going to rework this character into something useable. So a human or tiefling Knife Master with some fun quirks

Sounds interesting. I think perhaps a halfling oracle of Ancestor mystery. I'll look over some things and verify in a bit.

@Ony - Sounds good, either race will be fine.

@Faelyn - Interesting. Curious to see how such a character would fall into a thieves guild.

So we are fighting each other?

I'm looking for four players for a competitive PBP.

So we are fighting each other?

Not directly. There will be ways to undermine each other (finalizing that now), but essentially you can recruit a team to send against the other person. Pull it off, and they get set back a ways. Don't pull it off, it's more than just embarrassing - it'll cost you.

I'll post some thoughts in the discussion thread re: team vs. team combat.

Hmm, sounds like a fun little diversion. Interested to see what else you come up with GM.

The Discussion Page has some additional information. I'll keep updating it with subsystems for the game.

Ive been thinking bout this since you posted it.. you have anyone locked in yet. anything that's not posted in one of the three threads that is relivant to creating the org? any alignment restrictions.. as in an order of paladins or assassins?

No one locked in yet, actually, only four posts of interest.

No alignment restrictions, though it likely doesn't make sense for a paladin to work for a guy named "Vors the Vicious". Assassination, however, makes a bit more sense. Mut isn't a super violent place in my mind, but it's not without the occasional unexplained death.

Let me know what you think, I'm going to continue refining ideas and putting things together until at least a couple folks are ready to go.

I havnt the foggiest idea yet.

I was going to play a random round of civ 5 and see what came to mind.

another question (sorry don't like to edit posts less its s GM post.)

You said "Background answers three questions in 100 words or less: Where is your PC from? How did your PC get to be good at his or her particular skills? Why are they working for Vors the Vicious? "

Does that mean 100 words for all three max, each one or you don't want to do a lot of reading?

as in if I write this much it will be to many words for a background to be cuz I can just ramble and ramble and whip out a backstory really quickly.

That's just an example thought of right now vary rough and I am unhappy with it :D

Yeah, I like to limit the number of words on entries so that players can show me how they convey stories by being concise. Verbosity is easy.

Your story is actually convincing even in its shortness, except for the last few words.

I just threw the last five words in there to make it 100.

Whats the rules for building the organization?
Nothing yet. don't even plan.. or we get 20bp/ 5 magic/goods/ect?

For example
Bath********** 130g
Laundry******* 120g
Office******** 120g
Pit*********** 040g
Sewer Access** 120g
Shack********* 100g
Statue******** 060g
Tollbooth***** 110g

or Teams
Cutpurses***** 110g
Laborers****** 070g
Drivers******* 0160g(counting laborer cost)
Ships Crew**** 160g

Last thing.. far as our classes. core/base/alternative/3p? :D

I would be interested in this. The complete statblock and under 100 word background blurb are in the alias.

Planning on multi-classing into Knife master rogue.

Anti-Paladin Angelkin aasimar of Calistria.

I'll come up with a stat block in a bit, but it'll be a whip focused Anti-paladin.

Reporting in

-edit- Might change to human, using a whip is pretty feat intensive.

Alternative Physical Feature 1: 1d100 ⇒ 76 = emits strange noises
Alternative Physical Feature 2: 1d100 ⇒ 89 = no reflection

Glad I could bump things for you. :)

Here is Uzziah Na'Gulmar

@Griar - Vors frequently put your practical knowledge to work as the fletcher for the lower rung of thieves within the organization. He sent an additional note along with you to Mut: When you get there, go find Ehrlen the Smith - he owes me and he's got a shop you can set up in, just tell him I sent you.
Vors introduction gets you into a shop that provides you with the equivalent of MWK artisans tools five days per week, giving you a slight bonus on making GP those days (closed on weekends). This doesn't prevent you from working 7 days per week, just provides you a bonus to your regular income when you do work.

@Saul - Vors did indeed encourage you toward work with the Calistrian temple in Oppara, seeking to hone your dominating personality into a way to control the influential noblewomen (and certain noblemen). He sent an additional note along with you to Mut: When you get there, go find Alizia - she owes me and has got a "dance hall" you can set up in, just tell her I sent you.
I might recommend taking a rank in Profession(Oldest), or something like it to represent your skills gained from the Calistrian temple. Or, take a trait that makes Perform a class skill. That way, you have a "practical" skill to apply toward making money using the Downtime system - though if you want to focus your character on carrying out heists as a primary source of income, that's possible. See the discussion thread.

@Uzziah - Your inclination to advance your goals with violence, and your nimble-fingered approach to money-making made you a natural fit for Vors' organization. He sent you to Mut with the following: When you get there, go find Anandan - he's hellspawn like you, owes me and he's got a good knowledge of trade in the city and when to try your skills on the crowds, just tell him I sent you.
Good stuff, however even with Rich Parents, there's no way to afford an umbrite item at this point - a rapier made from the stuff would cost 6000 GP (20 x 300). I'm not interested in it being used as a special material in my game, but we'll see once we get to the cash accumulation point.

You are starting with the clothes on your back and the tools in your hands. Your goal is to raise GP, then Goods, Influence, Labor, and Magic, get a team together, and be better than the others.

You don't start with BPs, because this is all Downtime rules.

Room and team prices are in Ultimate Campaign, or on the Reference Document.

I'll make a GMPC to go with you four, and post first as a model of what I'm looking for for ease of play.

Feel free to either go it alone, or pool your resources as you will.

Check out the Discussion thread, more there.

Let me know if you have questions!

Oh, yes - just in case - paizo published classes are permitted, as are archetypes, but let's keep it there.

apologizes that was supposed to be a dagger not a rapier (price 601g) I had initially picked a standard rapier when creating him. Just plain got confused. I will change it to just a MW rapier and figure out what to do with the other 281g. Are the other special materials I picked ok, or want me to totally redo gear?

Obsidian is fine. What's the crystalline stake for? What resource is it from?

Its a Simple wooden stake (cost 0x200=200g is my assumption)

I wanted to spend some of the rich parents funds on something I would never normally buy or even use to represent something that one of the slaverowners I killed had on a shelf in his bedroom. I was going to pick up the spear the guy had on the wall but that would be to hard to hide upon my person so I grabbed the stake in the case it may one day be useful.

Character sheet is updated.

If anything needs adjusting, let me know.

I suspect this is still open? I've never tried something like this and it sounds awesome. ^_^

I suspect this is still open? I've never tried something like this and it sounds awesome. ^_^

If you are interested, pitch a character. There isn't a lot for me to balance in terms of encounter creation, just numbers to crunch. 4 players was my original cap, the current 4th is a GMPC that I may just keep running for the sake of keeping pace with other characters.

Let me know what you think.

Character sheet is updated.

** spoiler omitted **

If anything needs adjusting, let me know.

Looks good.

Crystalline = Ok. It won't see a lot of use.

Thinking about a halfling sorcerer who made a few mistakes involving the wrong people. Charismatic and nimble, a sweet-talker who enjoys the idea of being a con-man.

Full character incoming.

Thinking about a halfling sorcerer who made a few mistakes involving the wrong people. Charismatic and nimble, a sweet-talker who enjoys the idea of being a con-man.

Full character incoming.

Sounds good - looking forward to the heists! Make sure to take a rank in something that can make a coin or two (craft, perform, profession, spellcraft, sleight of hand). See the gameplay thread

Jhilad was raised in the city of Almas. Curious, mischievous, and talented proved to be a difficult combination for the halflings parents, who tried to no avail to keep him out of trouble and focused on his studies. When he did actually take tutelage the young sorcerer learned well, perhaps unfortunately inspiring the Halfling to more audacious mischief. With the arcane adding to his repertoire and confidence brimming, Jhilad set out to make his fortune. Arriving in Oppara, however, he aimed too high too soon. Caught between Vars’ offer and death... his decision was easy.

Character sheet is nearly ready, just need to choose spells. Jhilad will be a halfing sorcerer who intends to be a master con-artist.

Aaaand alias is finished, I believe. How's everything look, did I overlook anything? ^_^

Aaaand alias is finished, I believe. How's everything look, did I overlook anything? ^_^

Hmm, you should have one more HP or one more Skill Point.

Also: Which type of performance is your character skilled in?

Extravagant noble's clothes would not be included in the selection of free clothes - only those under 10 gp in value.

Under currency you still have 70 GP listed - is that your starting GP or current GP?

Otherwise, great stuff!

Oh! I forgot about that, thanks. ^_^

Street performance, he's a magician! :D Using his cantrips and his personality he wows and amazes his victims. :D

The nobles clothes come with the 'calculated bribe' trait.

I forgot to delete that, he spent about 57g I believe, and the rest he doesn't get to have because he starts penniless. :P

Got it - you are good, go ahead and post!

alright took the hedonistic flaw and picked up talented, dropped sense motive (for now) and picked up perform (acting)

Dalin Mountainbrow may be interested in repaying his debt to the Vicious!

Thanks, Dalin. I've got 4 players for now, which is my preferred hard cap. I'll keep you posted if anything changes.

Hello, just posting a dot. (^_^)

Was linked to the game thanks to GM Cyrioul.

Will catch up on things and see what is what.

As always a 'Sunny' clamors to begin bouncing around in a new vista. (^_^)

*Strides in...Looks around...* (¬_¬)

Hmmm...what folks might need is some 'muscle'...

It's all well and good to slip around doing the slick things, but some times, just some times, there's a call for some one who can stand up to those who'd want to put pressure on other folks.

Then, there's the times when some one who's...entertaining...doesn't want the fun to go too far...

*Flexes lithe muscles*

Nice, I like the concept.

For simplicity, and perhaps not having to rework the entire character, would she be a Level 2 Monk, Ninja, or combination of the two for this game? Also, take a look at the Downtime rules for Earning Capital, and tell me what skill (and accompanying Level 2 bonus) she would use to earn the following:
GP
Goods
Influence
Labor
Magic

I'd start you at 3500 XP, Medium advancement. A little behind the two others, but not far.

I'll get you a starting GP amount soon, just need to figure out a balanced amount.

Welcome!

OKay...am working the character up in 'Herolab'.

I must ask the DM if they don't mind me doing this for the character.

OKay...am working the character up in 'Herolab'.

I must ask the DM if they don't mind me doing this for the character.

** spoiler omitted **

Meera - Works for me - thanks for the heads up!

Re: GP -

Unless you want to start from the beginning and map out what you would have done for 3 months of downtime starting with 0 GP available (option 1), you can come in on 1-10/Lamashan/4710 AR with 615 GP in hand and 1 team of Laborers or 1 team of pickpockets (your choice) and a shack to live out of (option 2).

Let me know if you have any questions about how we are running things, but the Discussion page should be helpful with the caveat that I'll be dropping the Heist idea for now (it wasn't very balanced on my part).

Questions?

*Bows*

Thank you for inviting me.

I'll need some time to read through the rules and work through the days.

Also, with starting traits...One's staring cash can be as high as 900 odd gold. That will be factored in as well, yes? Also, starting at 2nd level will generate moneys? (^_~)

As for 'Gangs' and 'Shack'? I'll try for something a little more fitting for the character. (^_~)

Very much cheers to all.

The shack is a place to live out of, and sorta serves a starting point for a for some of the other rooms. They are worth about 100g. You would do better to map out the whole three months but option two lets you just jump in and get going starting now. None of us four initial people used any our starting funds at 1st for any types of Capital or goods/teams, and I have the wealthy parents trait -if you go this route use it for gear/items.

Starting as you are, is saving you a inncost of 2g(for a cheep inn for a week) and if you go the laborer route, they can be upgraded to almost any other team where as if you go the cutpurse route you will make more coin and have an easy source of capital goods/labor vs just labor.

*Nods* Yah...perusing things trying to catch up with as many days as folks have had does seem rather daunting.

Interesting to hear about your own back ground. I'll be extravagant and spend the moneys on the character. (^_~)

Thank you very much for the input and much cheers to all.

I wonder, would we two here Know of you?
Perhaps we had done business together at some point before we came to this.. place. We are members of a guild there, every month we have to pay our dues each moon.

Perhaps the two that were here before, simply got transferred back to headquarters and the collector brings you with as replacement's on the 10th, as collector comes each 10th..

IF you don't have a physical copy of Ultimate Campaign. Look through the This d20pfsrd link to downtime rules because its easier to navigate then the srd here for the actual rules. I also suggest reading through gameplay/discussion as I know ive made a few mistakes, we all have. but you can learn from what we did right/wrong and then know what to do. With the coin you do have, since your above 1st level. I would keep some of it to earn capital with. Goods/Labor costs 10g per, Influence costs 15g per, Magic costs 50g per; if you earn them yourself - double that if you buy them.

This looks like a lot of fun and I'd really like to get to know the downtime system a little better. Are you guys still open for another player?