Jehova's Arena (Test) (Inactive)

Game Master Jehova

I'm torn on the subject. I've said all this before, but i think restricting consumables hampers non-casters more than casters in the long run. And let's face it, once the casters can hit their stride, they don't need more advantages.

Now, getting them to survive those first few levels could be tricky, but i don't think impossible.

What are you guys talking about?

Sorry been working on a New Submission...

We're talking about whether or not the purchase and use of consumables (in this case ammunition, potions, alchemical items, sands, scrolls, or other one- use items) should permanently go against your purchasing budget as you progress through your gladiator career.

For example, every gladiator in here begins with 1000g (WBL for level 2). But, just pulling an example completely out of the air – no basis in reality here whatsoever – if a monk gladiator were to purchase a potion of Invisibility (300g) and a potion of Enlarge Person (50g), and then use them in a fight to obliterate a summoner's snake eidelon (again, purely an example), that gladiator, even if they won, would forever be down that 350g in their winning pile of money.

I love your hypothetical example lol ;-P

:D

Yes, that is quite the hypothetical example. Well put :P

I would say Magical Items you should get back Half-Value. Mundane/Alchemical you replenish fully. So Arrows, Alchemist's Fire, and Fuse Grenades would be replaced. Your example would mean you are down 175 GP but you pay full cost for it.

I agree that 5% is not very much, specially now 50gp in consumables at 2nd isn't a whole lot, for potions and ammo.
However I also like the idea of a partial refund

I too like the idea of ditching the wealth for wins thing and just go with the standard WBL. It makes bookkeeping between so much easier.
I'd probably try an amount like 10% consumable refund and see how it goes from there.
I would also like a cap on consumables to that amount (or 20% maybe) to address the mentioned arena nuke.

Hi,

I've followed the thread for a little time and I have a few builds I'd like to test.

I've not gone through the whole thread but I think I've got all the character creation right.

I'm going to build my stat blocks and PM them with any additional questions.

I'm getting ready to start combing my way through the thread, but I do have a few character concepts in mind already. Before I put one forth for acceptance though, I would like to know how character death is handled? Are you considered to be rezzed for your next match? Is your character done and gone with a reroll on the horizon?

Llaelian and Hanzou, feel free to PM me with questions or simply ask them in the thread, (which might be better because I'll be quite busy for the rest of today and most of the time this weekend). Anything specific to a character build should be PMed though. Character death is definitely not permanent, though your arena record is. There is no experience penalty upon death, but if you currently have VP you'll lose some from a loss. We're currently working on changing the wealth system (at this point I'm leaning towards static wealth per level) and the way consumables are calculated.

The arena is still technically in the 'testing' phase, although we've done a good number of fights so far, so this weekend/early next week a full version (with its own recruitment thread) should be going up. Your characters will need to be resubmitted there once it's live (all characters will be reset to base level and gold), and if you want to wait until that's going on and them jump on board, that's fine. If you've already got characters pretty much ready to go, however, I'll probably be putting up a (hopefully) final testing round tomorrow, depending on how many people are sitting around without fights.

For what its worth, I kind of enjoyed the fact you gained something for every fattle you won and lost something for every battle you lost.

While its true that those who partake of consumable items should show a decrease in wealth as compared to those that don't, I can understand setting a bare minimum that they can drop too. So you can buy as many consumables as your current wealth allows, but you can never drop below the minimum gold amount for your current level. That in turn could prevent them from buying mucn in terms of consumable items if they keep losing.

Jehova, first built sent by PM.

Also, a belated welcome to the new blood. Good luck in your fights! :)

Also, a belated welcome to the new blood. Good luck in your fights! :)

Thanks,

belated welcome to the new blood. Good luck in your fights! :)

I'll second this :P

Thanks for the welcome.

I'm currently trying to decide what to throw up. I have a few ideas floating through my head, but I have to decide which one I want to save for when the arena has its official start.

Belated welcome to the new blood. Good luck in your fights! :)

The more the merrier

Bruno welcomes the new fighters.

Hanzou here and a character has been submitted.

Bruno va m'Shimu is over. What would you expect from a snake but underhandedness?

How are you guys running this? Through a VTT? I want in.

Nope. Regular pbp.

For every round, Jehovah (the creator of this arena) will determine match ups, then will create separate threads for every fight — giving us the links in this thread. Then the gladiators go to their threads, and the fight starts.

Has everyone done pbp games before here on Paizo?

This is actually where I've done most of my pbp so far (though I'm in an actual game now, woot).

Also, for those interested, there's links to a lot of the previous matches on the Campaign Info tab (not entirely up to date, but there's certainly a few).

Incidentally, Kailin's latest match is over and he got his ass kicked. And Eben, m'Shimu seems... interesting. I don't have the slightest idea how you did most of what you did, and it intrigues me @_@

That's actually the first fight where Bruno/Esmeralda have lost without landing at least one blow. :(
Good build though. I have no idea how you did it.

I'm actually in two other PbP right now. These forums are my only PbP experience. :)

As much as I'd love to keep it a secret, here's a hint.

And yah, m'Ahimu is pretty much built around trying to negate opponents ability to strike at all.

Oh hey. I suppose that's rather straightforward actually >_>;;

As much as I'd love to keep it a secret, here's a hint.

And yah, m'Ahimu is pretty much built around trying to negate opponents ability to strike at all.

Oh you sneeky, stealthy devil. :P

Hey guys, this sounds cool--I'm going to try to read through the whole recruitment thread today and make a character to submit, but are the links to the fights posted anywhere? I'd like to read through a couple.

Also, what level are most of the fighters? If I make a new Level 1 guy will I just get mud-stomped?

All new gladiators start at level 2, 1000g to outfit. Consumables are a ongoing debate (potions, scrolls, alchemical items, etc).

And hey, Bauers, good to see ya over here. :)

Oh you sneeky, stealthy devil. :P

"Thankssssss

Thanks, Eben. Likewise :-)

(FWIW, I agree with your above point that consumables help bridge the gap between casters and noncasters. And I say that before having chosen my class or tried any arena battles here, hehe. )

Made a Level 2 guy ready to fight. PMing the build to Jehova.

Quick questions: 1) Do we start out with weapons sheathed or drawn?

2) How are HP handled after Level 1? I'll do half rounded up + Con for now, but I'll change if it's different.

lvl 1 is full hit dice + con.
after that its rounded up +con.
so a 2nd lvl Fighter would be, 10+6 and any Con Bonus.

Weapons are at the ready.

Or however you decide they are, but you have to carry your gear in... whether stowed or in-hand.

Ok, so I could choose to start with a potion or something in my hand instead of a weapon, gotcha.

As it stands now, are consumables replaced after each fight? Or no?

I chose my gear as though it's permanent and your additional money adds to your current gear, but it looks like you're considering having the gear just reset to a certain wealth level either each level up or after each fight, right? Like using one weapon and then it's just replaced when you want something else, instead of having to sell previous gear at half price. That decision would ultimately affect my gear as well.

One more question--do prepared casters get to choose their spells memorized based on the opponent they're about to face?

Thanks guys for answering all my questions, and Happy St. Patrick's Day!

In the current iteration of the rules, used expendables/consumables (ammo, potions, wand charges, alchemical items, etc) are not replaced. If you purchase them and use them, that money is lost.

And all other items can basically be 'sold back' between fights at full value.

That make sense?

And no, prepared casters can't cater their spell choices to their opponent. They need to 'lock in' their gear and build before they're ready for any round of arena fights.

Ok, in that case I'll have to change my gear a bit. Or I could just leave it for flavor purposes, hehe

I almost made a magus with 2 double crossbows to spellcombat true strike and shoot. Is that kind of thing frowned upon in the arena?

To the best of my knowledge, I think relatively crazy builds are no problem. Part of the intent, I think, was to see people come up with really effective builds, through all levels of play.

That said, I thought Spell Combat needed a melee weapon to be used (unless Myrmidarch archetype, I think)? But that's a very nice idea if it works :P

Yep, you're right, only melee. Glad I didn't go with that idea ;-)

Anybody up for a practice match? Or does Jehova have to set those up?

I don't think there's a problem with practice matches... they just won't count for any arena VP or gold rewards or anything.

You just need someone to arbitrate it.

Honestly, I think Jehova's going to need some Arbiter help or a backup of some kind just in case his life gets busy all of a sudden. If the real arena is more active than this one he'll quickly have his hands full. Especially if people start regularly wanting practice bouts or "unranked" team events or what have you.

Agreed. I don't have much bandwidth, but I'd be down with overseeing a few games. I'll try not to botch it up.

Heh, messing it up is my fear too.

Someone up for fighting a test fight against mbauers? I could toss together an opponent for him if someone would prefer to arbitrate it.

Also, Jehova, what's the next step? Do we have another round of test arena fights? Or an ETA on the actual live arena launch?

If no one objects, I could arbitrate. I just don't know if there are any special requirements to set up a thread.