Hey all,
Feel free to dot in here while I work on getting all of the relevant info ready to go. Now's probably a good time to establish your background as a group; who knows who, how you all came to meet in Luskan etc.
I've already been talking to Khasos about him as a possible mentor for Tyrek. That maybe opens up something of a rivalry with Tula given our opposite natures.
Greetings all! Thank you, GM Harm. Looking forward to this game!
With our limited melee presence, I'm considering switching Cinder Dance for Touch of Flame (I'm terrible with weapons) so I can contribute on the front lines some. It's a supernatural ability so it won't provoke. I could drop wisdom for strength as well, which would definitely fit the concept.
Any thoughts on that idea?
GM alright with me making any changes?
Woot Woot!
Thanks for picking me, this is gonna be fun!
I have some ideas for connections to other party members; we can use all or none of them, depending on those players ideas for their own characters. All this is presuming your characters can get past the usual issues people have with half-orcs of course, being an outsider that has to earn his place in the group can be fun too.
Thadaenn Wyrmbeard: This one should be easy. Met in a Luskan tavern, now they're drinking buddies (or rivals, a half-orc and a dwarf would probably take a few swings before they came to respect each other).
Tuva Black Raven: Probably something simple like they struck up a conversation while he was looking at (maybe buying, but probably not, that would mean less money for ale!) her scrimshaw pieces. The fact that she feels like an outcast would resonate with him: since he left home he's been looking for a place to fit in but can't because half-orcs usually get treated like crap.
Khasos Sky-talker: A fellow half-orc! That alone would be enough for Griff to feel more comfortable with Khasos, and although I'm not sure where they would have met, I'm sure they'll become fast friends.
Tyrek: Tyrek spent a few years settling into society after escaping slavery, maybe he met Griff at some point and they keep randomly meeting in different towns as they travel different but parallel paths. "Tyrek has a fiery and sometimes volatile personality" tells me that maybe they ended up on the same side in some sort of fight somewhere.
Nilah Sevrom: Like with Tyrek, maybe they met on the road to Luskan? It's unlikely they would be close friends, but certainly possible they would be cordial acquaintances, so to speak. If nothing else Griff would be interested in her unusual appearance, since he hasn't seen many tieflings.
Like I said, we can use all or none of this. Griff probably wouldn't be good friends (yet) with any of you, but a budding friendship and respect of your abilities and what you've gone through is certainly likely.
With our limited melee presence, I'm considering switching Cinder Dance for Touch of Flame (I'm terrible with weapons) so I can contribute on the front lines some. It's a supernatural ability so it won't provoke. I could drop wisdom for strength as well, which would definitely fit the concept.
Any thoughts on that idea?
GM alright with me making any changes?
As the only full melee in the group, I wholeheartedly endorse anyone who wants to step up and take a few of the shots I would have. :)
Tyrek: Tyrek spent a few years settling into society after escaping slavery, maybe he met Griff at some point and they keep randomly meeting in different towns as they travel different but parallel paths. "Tyrek has a fiery and sometimes volatile personality" tells me that maybe they ended up on the same side in some sort of fight somewhere.
Tyrek tends to light buildings on fire when he gets into fights, but that still works. Barring that, Tyrek is not above drinking to his woes and could've met Griff in a tavern somewhere, for sure. I think it would be very interesting if Griff was present somewhere south of Luskan when Tyrek accidentally burned a tavern down. Griff would've observed that Tyrek was clearly not in control of his ability and that he really didn't intend for things to go that way. Fire just starts coming out of his pores when he gets angry. He only meant to argue. etc. etc. If Griff walked away from a situation like that with him, there would definitely be remorse about it from Tyrek.
I'm working out a tie with Khasos as a guiding force toward teaching Tyrek to get along with others. At the start of the game, I plan on having Tyrek defer to Khasos a lot when it comes to decision making. His hasn't been working out so well.
Edit: I went ahead and made the changes I talked about in my last post. I can undo them easily enough if the GM disapproves.
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As the only full melee in the group, I wholeheartedly endorse anyone who wants to step up and take a few of the shots I would have. :)With our limited melee presence, I'm considering switching Cinder Dance for Touch of Flame (I'm terrible with weapons) so I can contribute on the front lines some. It's a supernatural ability so it won't provoke. I could drop wisdom for strength as well, which would definitely fit the concept.
Any thoughts on that idea?
GM alright with me making any changes?
I expect my Magus to help out here increasingly, it will be slightly limited at early levels but I expect her to become a front liner in no time.
Greetings friends! Excited to be gaming with all of you!
That will work out. By early mid levels, Tyrek will be full on caster, though he might still hang out in melee some. He can just hold the line for now.
Hello, wanderers. May the winds of the North give us fair weather.
I'm currently going to be doing mostly support and backup healing.
I am happy to have met people as previously discussed - my backstory's all included in the alias!
All right.
Conceptually, Khasos is the group's Obi-Wan. He's going to take the role of wise mentor, using his powers to help the group achieve their goals and grow as people. This mindset will come from his faith in Selune.
If anything ever challenges that faith badly, his confidence might waver.
Mechanically, like Tuva, Khasos will be about support and healing. As we level up I will probably focus on the debuffing hexes; Tuva and I could get some great chains going to ruin some bad guy's days!
When I can select another spirit I will likely either select Ancestor or Battle, as both will give me more support utility. If in-game events would lead Khasos to a more martial bent, I'd probably see about converting the Silverstar PRC for Pathfinder.
Khasos interprets celestial movements as divine omens, and follows this portents. He'll have ties to Tuva and Tyrek, and could easily have met any of you during his travels through Faerun, particularly if any of you have ever sought guidance.
Khasos sat, awaiting the arrival of his friend. His tent was a simple, but sturdy one, and the half-orc had used his skill at navigating the wilderness to find a good outcropping of rock that served as a wind break. It was a welcome respite from the harsh winds of the North. Khasos was glad he had not spent longer in the south; he had become tolerant of the weather during his youth, and did not want to become accustomed to a warmer climate. Icewind Dale was his home, and he knew in his heart that he still had much to accomplish there.
And much to accomplish here, as well.
Tyrek pushed aside the flaps of the tent, his eyes darting about as he did so. That one motion betrayed much to Khasos; Tyrek was wary, always worried that someone new might end up holding the lash. The man had endured so much that Khasos was sometimes in awe of him. How could he have remained sane through so much pain? Khasos let none of that show on his face, however. It was not pity he held for Tyrek; it was admiration.
Notable, a fire was not lit, though Khasos had prepared a small firepit and supplies. Tyrek moved to take out a flint and steel from his supplies, but Khasos held up a hand before speaking.
"No, my friend. Not like that. It is time."
His rich baritone was betimes like honey to the ears. Tyrek hesitated, his normally excitable and passionate personality somewhat muted by the prospect of this task. Khasos doubted many people had seen him like this.
"But...what if I can't control it?"
A world of trauma in that one question. But Khasos knew how to reach around it.
"Tyrek," he began, "I know your fears. And to be honest, I appreciate them. Having a healthy respect for your power makes you a better person than one who wields it indiscriminately! But it is time for you to move past them.
The Flame is in you. It is plain for me to see, but you must remember this; yes, fire can rage and destroy in chaos, but since our ancestors first looked to the sky and dreamed of civilization, fire was not only destruction, it was *life*. It was light and warmth and protection. It is still those things, and eventually, it was also industry, and engineering, and many other things that have brought our people to where we are now.
The power is in you. It will *always* be in you. You think yourself a conduit, merely a gate to open and let out the inferno. I tell you this; you are not. The Flame is the symphony, true; it must be heard. But you are not the audience, there merely to experience the cacophony. You are it's conductor. Merely bend your mighty will to the task, and you will see it directed. You can do this. I believe in you. Our Lady in Silver believes in you, or we would not have found one another.
Now light this damn fire, my toes are getting cold!"
Khasos finished with a grin, ensuring his words were not needling or biting. After a moment of concentration, a small spark emitted from Tyrek's fingers and lit the dried wood in the firepit. It caught, and began crackling and giving off a pleasant heat almost immediately.
At that point, Hope came out from where she had burrowed under Khasos's tunic for extra warmth. Hope had taken a liking to Tyrek over the months of their travel, and once the human sat down, Hope curled into his lap. That was good; Hope being calm and comfortable would let Tyrek know everything was well as they proceeded.
"Time for one final lesson, my friend. One last revelation for you before we continue on, and when we are done, I won't have anything more to teach. But we will still be friends...brothers, even, with a bright future ahead."
At Tyrek's quizzical look, Khasos smiled, then thrust his hand directly into the fire that had just been started. He held it there a few moments, face contorting, and he groaned in pain as he deliberately burned his own hand.
Khasos withdrew his hand, already red and blistered. Tyrek was aghast, clearly not understanding why Khasos had done this to himself. The Shaman spoke, voice more gravelly than normal, tinged as it was with pain.
“The Flame is not your only power. You *know* this. You feel it. Fire can destroy, yes, but it can also purify and cleanse. Feel the Flame, Tyrek. Use it, but not to harm, not to burn. Use it to help me!"
Khasos did not know what Tyrek thought, or what he felt at that moment. But between the two men, there was a bond. There was trust. And Khasos knew Tyrek was capable of so very much more than what Tyrek himself thought.
Tyrek took Khasos' hand, and Khasos felt an incredible warmth surge into him. It caused no pain, unlike his previous burn. This time, he felt calm, secure, safe and whole, as though he was a child at his parent's hearth during Moonfest. As the feeling receded, he looked down at his hand; free of burns, whole and healthy. Tyrek looked amazed.
"And now, my friend, we will walk into the future side by side. Let us see what Icewind Dale holds for us.”
A bit of a scene between Khasos and Tyrek, setting up their relationship. GM, please read. Everyone else feel free to if you wish.
That was fantastic Khasos, great writing! That scene really sets a fantastic time for the relationship between you and Tyrek, thanks for putting in the effort.
I'm out of town tonight, but expect the first gameplay post to be up and ready tomorrow all!
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Nilah Sevrom: Like with Tyrek, maybe they met on the road to Luskan? It's unlikely they would be close friends, but certainly possible they would be cordial acquaintances, so to speak. If nothing else Griff would be interested in her unusual appearance, since he hasn't seen many tieflings.
Adding to this... they might bond over both being outcasts or generally not readily accepted by the more common races. Perhaps they did meet on the road, or even better, perhaps Griff helped her a bit in her search for her missing love. That would be a good hook for her to then care about things important to him and participate in this adventure, putting her search aside or continuing it where they need to go.
@Griff: Tuva would be disappointed but understanding if Griff is "just browsing," as she knows what it is like (recently!) to be very poor and have nothing. :)
@Tyrek: We will at some point early in the adventure have a scene as a result of something that Tuva will do. You'll know it when you see it.
I look forward to it!
I think we still need to find ties to Nilah and Thadaenn? I feel like it will make the GM's job a lot easier if we all have at least one connection to draw us all together.
Nilah: I'm not sure if there's much here, but Tyrek has a history of being persecuted(burn scars all over his body, barely functional hands, stunted growth, not to mention the burning things down part). If he witnessed Nilah being persecuted for her unusual appearance, he would be sympathetic. He has a somewhat volatile personality, but he has empathy, especially for those who are struggling through hardship of some kind.
Thaedann: How would you react to a guy you never met setting a building on fire on accident? lol. Maybe Tyrek isn't the right tie-in.
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Nilah: I'm not sure if there's much here, but Tyrek has a history of being persecuted(burn scars all over his body, barely functional hands, stunted growth, not to mention the burning things down part). If he witnessed Nilah being persecuted for her unusual appearance, he would be sympathetic. He has a somewhat volatile personality, but he has empathy, especially for those who are struggling through hardship of some kind.
Right, so you could take that further and simply include Tyrek in the thread I described above. Perhaps the three (inc. griff) of them bonded just enough to all help with Nilah's search and have a short pre-quest. With two party members that helped her, she's more likely to be just selfless enough to participate in the coming adventure (as her background heavily reinforced mistrust and self-preservation). She just needs these opportunities to work with people who aren't out to use her.
A mini-adventure sounds great to me. I imagine it goes something like, Griff and Tyrek in a tavern. Tyrek burns down the tavern. They bail. Tyrek for obvious reasons, Griff because he doesn't want to be around when they try to stick someone with the bill for repairs.
They run into Nilah on the road.
Would she approach strangers asking for help? Or is there some event that would make sure they didn't just pass each-other on the road?
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A mini-adventure sounds great to me. I imagine it goes something like, Griff and Tyrek in a tavern. Tyrek burns down the tavern. They bail. Tyrek for obvious reasons, Griff because he doesn't want to be around when they try to stick someone with the bill for repairs.
They run into Nilah on the road.
Would she approach strangers asking for help? Or is there some event that would make sure they didn't just pass each-other on the road?
Probably not outright ask for them to come along, but she would be asking everyone under the sun if they've seen a person with a description. Some people she asks show their prejudice, Griff and Tyrek notice this and decide to help a bit more than just answering her questions. As she's becoming hopeless in her search she would hesitantly accept the help.
So, I hope Griff is up for this. Tyrek would be willing to help, but would be more than useless at it.
Although, if you mentioned you were looking for a slave who got sold off, Tyrek might try really hard to help you. He's not a big fan of slavery, as a general concept. And he can definitely bully people into telling you information you need if he had a cause. Fire's scary, yo.
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So, I hope Griff is up for this. Tyrek would be willing to help, but would be more than useless at it.
Although, if you mentioned you were looking for a slave who got sold off, Tyrek might try really hard to help you. He's not a big fan of slavery, as a general concept. And he can definitely bully people into telling you information you need if he had a cause. Fire's scary, yo.
Excellent. I like it. Let's see what Griff thinks of it.
I think we should put a little space here. Have these events happen awhile back and far south of Luskan.
What would Nilah do if she spent so long searching that she had to give up hope?
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I think we should put a little space here. Have these events happen awhile back and far south of Luskan.
What would Nilah do if she spent so long searching that she had to give up hope?
The initial blow to hope would be after the extensive search based on the initial lead. I probably should have said "desperate" more than hopeless, but maybe both apply. It's more that since the initial lead didn't pan out, the process isn't going to be as easy as she'd hoped. Next she has to connect with slavers and those familiar with the trade to inquire about possible destinations, but given how they lack identity in that life, it's like searching for a needle in the ocean. So, I think it's more a practical backing off of intensive searching, and waiting for useful clues and leads. She smarter than wildly guessing at random locations without any leads. So then she can lend her focus to other things.
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Hey all,
Feel free to dot in here while I work on getting all of the relevant info ready to go. Now's probably a good time to establish your background as a group; who knows who, how you all came to meet in Luskan etc.
BTW, if you wanted dotting to populate the character and player lists, I believe that has to happen on the gameplay thread.
So, would you say that when she goes to Icewind Dale to help with the threat there, she thinks she might find him or has she put her quest off at that point?
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So, would you say that when she goes to Icewind Dale to help with the threat there, she thinks she might find him or has she put her quest off at that point?
It’s a “her”, but no I don’t think she’d have any clear expectations. Just, “here’s another place and maybe the local slave trade will provide a clue or be eliminated.”
Heh, she's grasping at straws at this point. Ten Towns is the place people go to run away from their troubles, like slavery, or warrants etc. Not too much of a local slave trade to be had.
Although, there is some chance that the one she seeks got away and fled north.
Probably not outright ask for them to come along, but she would be asking everyone under the sun if they've seen a person with a description. Some people she asks show their prejudice, Griff and Tyrek notice this and decide to help a bit more than just answering her questions. As she's becoming hopeless in her search she would hesitantly accept the help.A mini-adventure sounds great to me. I imagine it goes something like, Griff and Tyrek in a tavern. Tyrek burns down the tavern. They bail. Tyrek for obvious reasons, Griff because he doesn't want to be around when they try to stick someone with the bill for repairs.
They run into Nilah on the road.
Would she approach strangers asking for help? Or is there some event that would make sure they didn't just pass each-other on the road?
This sounds great. One thing Griff definitely won't like is people dismissing Nilah just because of who/what she is, and that would probably lead to him volunteering his help. He doesn't have much in the way of responsibilities, so it wouldn't really be going out of his way to spend time helping find someone.
Also, if he was around when Tyrek burned down a tavern, he'd originally be a little freaked out but later find it hilarious. He'd definitely want to get on the good side of someone who could do that. :)
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Heh, she's grasping at straws at this point. Ten Towns is the place people go to run away from their troubles, like slavery, or warrants etc. Not too much of a local slave trade to be had.
Although, there is some chance that the one she seeks got away and fled north.
Possibly. I expect it to take a long time and not resolve in this adventure, as that could be quite disruptive to the main plot here (is she just done with all of this when the search is over?). If a random tip helps the GM move us to the next place at some point that’s fine.
Thadaenn Wyrmbeard: This one should be easy. Met in a Luskan tavern, now they're drinking buddies (or rivals, a half-orc and a dwarf would probably take a few swings before they came to respect each other).
Sounds good. Thâedænn is very outgoing and enjoys drinking and socializing. He's not much of a brawler, he's a bit lazy when it comes to physical exertion due to his pampered upbringing. He's much more of a talker, politician and would be intellectual. He would find anyone that is a bit rough around the edges to be absolutely fascinating. Give him a few drinks and I'm sure he can get pretty boisterous with a little deviant in him. He's used to getting his way and not getting in much trouble b/c of family connections and money.
Also, I'm a bit under the weather right now. So, I apologize if I don't post much for the next couple of days. I'll try to come up with a some other character connections over the next couple days.
As for his build, I originally thought of going dragon disciple with little focus on the martial side, possibly not even a level of a martial class... just sorcerer right into DD. But I do give up a bunch of spell casting levels or I end up using a lot of my feats to get full caster levels... So, I thought about staying Sorcerer all the way; either cross blooded to acid elemental bloodline or 1 level of wizard to get admixture. That way I could convert certain spells into acid based.
However, it its better for the group, I could go more martial orientated (1 sorcerer & 4 fighter/barbarian) and then go Dragon Disciple. That would be a very fun character too! We have a lot of magic already and less martial. I'm open to either progression path. I think both directions will make him a very interesting character to play.
Of course, all of that is contingent on the DM's approval to change things up.
Build Stuff
Actually, we have a bunch of support casters, and really 3 melee characters, so no real deficiency there with the way I've set up my character. What we really need is battlefield control/aoe if you're looking to adjust your build at all. I will have a little bit of aoe damage, but only ever fire. And no control. Just burning.
I really like the idea of being versatile through admixture, but would you consider using VMC to get it(albeit at level 7) instead? We would get a huge benefit from you hitting level 6 and picking haste right away. I don't think anyone else can cast it. Maybe the magus later?
I see two options here that seem good. One, stay Gold(I assume?) dragon bloodline and pick up VMC Wizard to be able to switch a few spells a day to acid/electricity eventually.
Two, switch your bloodline to a dragon that does acid(copper) or electricity(brass) damage and skip the VMC, thereby broadening our versatility as a group right away. If we run into enemies that are resistant to your element, use control spells instead. Pick up glitterdust/web at level 2 etc.
I definitely wouldn't lose caster levels.
Just my 2 cents. Definitely do what you think you would enjoy.
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Build StuffActually, we have a bunch of support casters, and really 3 melee characters, so no real deficiency there with the way I've set up my character. What we really need is battlefield control/aoe if you're looking to adjust your build at all. I will have a little bit of aoe damage, but only ever fire. And no control. Just burning.
Yeah, I know the magus doesn't look like much yet, but at 3rd she'll take Dervish Dance (use Dex for Dmg bonus too with scimitar, and apply weapon finesse bonus to it), and then delivering an increasingly powered shocking grasp and other touch spells via spellstrike and I believe her front line effectiveness will really start to take off. I do not intend to hold her back as a ranged caster.
I'm playing an eldritch scion in a Kingmaker game, currently level 4, and the main problem for the character is that she just can't take hits - AC is not great and hit points are low. When she hits with a spellstrike, it's devastating. I took a few defensive spells (blur, warding weapon) to shore up the deficiencies in combat.
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I'm playing an eldritch scion in a Kingmaker game, currently level 4, and the main problem for the character is that she just can't take hits - AC is not great and hit points are low. When she hits with a spellstrike, it's devastating. I took a few defensive spells (blur, warding weapon) to shore up the deficiencies in combat.
Out of curiosity, is it strength or dex based on the non-magic side?
That's a good tip though, I'll try to emphasize defensive spells. Actually, I think I'm going to go swap one of her first-level spells for mage armor :)
Strength-based - used a dhampir build with +Str/+Cha. Burst damage with stuff like scorching ray is substantial. Really the damage from spell combat is what makes it go, so having an extra +1 from strength is trivial - if you have the arcana that lets you use rays, you should always be swinging ray of frost at the very least (+1d3), and if you have warding weapon up you don't need concentration checks for a short fight to cast in combat.
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Strength-based - used a dhampir build with +Str/+Cha. Burst damage with stuff like scorching ray is substantial. Really the damage from spell combat is what makes it go, so having an extra +1 from strength is trivial - if you have the arcana that lets you use rays, you should always be swinging ray of frost at the very least (+1d3), and if you have warding weapon up you don't need concentration checks for a short fight to cast in combat.
Yup, was planning on that arcana. Have some other feat paths that are going to do amazing things with some simple touch spells as well, but those can get used up. The scimitar on it's own should become pretty good with dervish dance+weapon finesse early, and weapon focus+improved critical later (how many levels are we going again?)
GM snuck the gameplay thread in on us.
Edit: I'm not really sure what angle to take here. Maybe I'll just post something brief and follow up after everyone checks in.
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GM snuck the gameplay thread in on us.
Edit: I'm not really sure what angle to take here. Maybe I'll just post something brief and follow up after everyone checks in.
Given the opening setting, I imagine the characters that know each other having miserable conversations, stuck inside avoiding the cold.
Yeah, I figured something out.
Sorry the opening post was so vague guys, I'm doing everything from my phone currently. Tyrek nailed his response though, so well done there.
So probably something like.. Neverwinter?
Works for me.
I suppose this is a good time to bring up a bugbear of mine; I really suck at maps. Are you guys happy for me to run combat without the use of maps? I plan to outline the lay of the land in ooc text at the end of each round for ease of tactical decision making, and if it doesn't work I'll have a look around for suitable tiled maps