They began appearing in taverns and on town notice boards all over the Inner Sea region. From the remote desert villages of Osirion to the very halls of the Grand Lodge itself. A cream colored scroll of fine quality bearing the battered shield sigil of the nation of Lastwall.
It reads,
Skilled warriors and adventurers of the Inner Sea region. The Bright Crusade calls for aid. Allies of good make haste to Vigil. The situation is dire. We need the service of powerful individuals. All sellswords, and normal militia that respond will also be welcome and compensated.
It is signed
May you be forever in the light. Make haste,
Magic Precentor Veena Heliu
Character Creation:
Starting level: 5th
Using Automatic Bonus Progression.
Chawful trait lets you waive law chaos for one class.
Bonus feats! 2 at first level and then one every level you wouldn't gain one.
Allowed Material: All Paizo. DSP Psionics, PoW
Races: All paizo.
Starting Wealth: As per WBL. Fast Progression
Points: 20 PB No score below 8 or above 18 before racial mods
Alignment: Any non Evil. And if you must be CN please don’t be disruptive.
3 Traits.
Max HP per level
Player expectations: Please be polite. This is a homebrew campaign set in Golarion so I reserve the right to tweak things once in awhile.
Please give thought to your character. (I’m sure everyone does this!) I would like to work with you to develop them throughout the story and achieve your own personal goals as well as the groups.
I will try to post multiple time per day during the week and will likely(Though not always,) not post on weekends. Please write a background and include character motivations and what you would like to see in this campaign and what goals your character would like to achieve.
Feel free to collaborate on backrounds. This will take teamwork and great trust in light of the dangers you are to face, loner tough guys will have to lean on others far too much to maintain their loner status.
Expect dungeons! Forest and survival! Mountains and snow! Primordial creatures! Fort infiltration! Search and rescue! And all sorts of fun!
Being able to help me track loot, maps and combat is a plus. Because i suck at the maps for combat. So theather of the mind if no one can help out.
Please let me know of absences that will be more than a day or two. I will do the same.
Please be active in the discussion thread. I’ve found that games where the players engage out of character tend to last much longer.
Things about the setting!
This will be set primarily in Belkzen, but may extended into Ustalav.
Good favored enemies would include undead, orcs, and evil outsiders. and maybe dragons DUH DUH DUH!
Belkzen is a dangerous wasteland. Inhospitable, and filled with deadly fauna. It is also home to massive tribes of orcs, with warbeasts and scouts, hunters, villages, fortresses and the like. Orcs are generally CE and all adults fight, men and women alike.
Belkzen is also currently a war zone making it even more treacherous than normal. So while not useless, builds that FOCUS on social aspects versus survival and combat may have a bit of a hard run of it.
The crusade is in it’s second year and is failing. What started as a holy crusade has become a destitute struggle for survival as the forces of Lastwall were met with overwhelming unexpected resistance and a much more coordinated orc force than they expected or were prepared for.
If you want to know more about the tribes of orcs, gallowspire or the walls of men within belkzen let me know. Otherwise you will find out in character.
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...huh.
Can I ask why you seem to be running this at a high-ish power level? 22 pb, 'chawful' trait, gestalt, templates, oodles of free feats.
I'd likely be interested in applying. I can absolutely make maps for you and help keep track of combat; I'm decent at them, either with finding maps from the internet or making my own quickly with google drawings/excel/etc.
Sure!
For one I wanted the feel of the party versus the world. You are trying to succeed where an army failed.
Also, I'm trying to get better at higher level GMing and using templates on creatures and the like.
You mean as opposed to just regular stuff.
I'd maybe be open to do that if people were more in favor of a traditional pb limited resource one class game. Either way I'm just excited to tell the story!
I could make it more suspenseful if I limited players more severely. Hm.
You know what, maybe I'll just rethink some of the Character creation rules before interest gets rolling.
CHANGED.
You're right Arkwright(pun) and I think I will stick with this much easier if we do it this way.
This sounds very interesting. I like the failing crusade bit. I have just discovered PoW and will be looking into putting together something from that. Are you okay with the Arcanist class as one side of the gestalt?
EDIT: I can help with loot/exp tracking if you like.
Aye, makes sense.
I would personally request maybe not gestalt; I always have trouble building characters I like with it, and with making characters who feel synergistic enough to be strong enough. I always feel that if I'm not making a full bab fighter/full caster with perfect stat synergy then I'm going to be behind the gestalt CR increase, just some player nervousness.
Quite interested in making a character with all these resources- dreamscarred, extra feats, chawful trait- gestalt or not.
Edit: Ooh, lovely. One final question I guess, would you be willing to approve my homebrew for me to use for this game? I promise it is quite balanced, and I think flavorful. I'd probably like to use either the Mystic Warrior or the White-Haired Magus.
As I'd like to finish this campaign through to the end and I probably overestimated my ability to balance CR I switched it to normal.
I hope you are still interested MisterLurch. And Arcanist and POW are both fine.
I like both of those Arkwright and I approve them. I love the flavor of the hairstyles. Reminds me of Typhoon
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Dear me, very kind of you. Glad you approve. I'll start thinking.
Name: The Lady Elovanakovia Parvanovitch, Sergeant of the Winter Guard, commonly known as 'Elo'
Race: Female half-elf (Irrisen ethnicity)
Alignment: LN
Class: Magus (White-Haired Magus)
Backstory: Raised from a dalliance between a minor Irriseni noblewman and a passing monk of Irori, Elo chose to blend her parentages by following the path of the white-haired magus, as well as entering the rudimentary military service of Irrisen, seeking to be made a knight of the realm. Proving her worth against the frosted abominations of Irrisen's wilder reaches she rose to the rank of sergeant, disdaining all favours and help from her mother's attempted nepotism. Now she has been sent to Belkzen as part of a small detachment of troops send to help quell the Orc threat.
Personality: Tough, loyal, forthright, blunt, easily angered, prideful.
Sheet: Later
Ah too bad if it was gestalt I'm sure you would get lots of interest.
Yeah, I'm just not ready to GM at that level. I'd rather have a game with a few committed players that I can actually finish than a big blow out recruitment where I fizzle out a month in and waste literally everyone's who's involved time.
As I have done that before, I'm trying to not repeat the mistake. I will see this one through dangit!
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no worries, I would rather have players that post and keep a game moving as well. I have had 4 or so games end recently so looking to add more. I will see what I can come up with.
This is my proposal for a character in your glorious campaign
Name: Gregor Emilovich
Race: Male varisian (ustalavian) human
Alignment: LG
Class: Sorcerer (psychic bloodline, Occult Adventures, pg. 125
Backstory Gregor was born into a family with strong psychic ties; his materal grandmother is a renown spiritualist, and his mother a medium. Using his gifts, Gregor has been helping his home county of Varno keep the restless dead at bay. One night at the Savage Vine in Cesca, Gregor saw the cream colored scroll, asking for aid. Since then, he has thought of little else. One week later, Gregor Emilovich took a stagecoach to Vigil.
Personality: Determined, mysterious, "spooky", with an intense gaze.
Sheet: Later
Will you allow Variant Multiclassing?
Hm. Maybe. I'm into the failed crusade thing...I may post something later tonight.
Will you allow Variant Multiclassing?
What would you be taking as your variant?
I'll be submitting a character, here is my background.
Name: Barrett Armstrong
Race: Male elf
Alignment: TN
Class: Spellslinger/Eldritch Archer
When he was young, Barrett was hot-blooded, loud, and had a mean temper. As the unwanted bastard of a noble and a whore he grew up rough, giving him tough skin and a grudge against the world. He did some time in an orphanage and later as a collegiate before he struck out on his own and quickly fell in with a bad crowd, a group of desperados and renegades that called themselves the Fairfield Raiders (after the town in which they all met). The gang was small-time, knocking over caravans and stealing horses for the thrill as much as the money. After riding with the raiders for a few years, Barrett fell in love with an escort named Lucille. He scraped together some leftover cash and left the gang, marrying the girl and settling down on a small farm to live an honest life.
Years passed and the memories of the gang faded from Barretts mind. He and his wife had a daughter, and together they managed to turn out a modest living on their homestead. It had never occurred to him that while he had left his former life behind, it was not quite as done with him.
In his absence the Fairfield Raiders had grown into something much more dangerous, turning from simple petty crimes to a darker path. Heinous rituals, infernal pacts, and wanton destruction culminating in their leader, Eddy "Bonskaw" Fasco, ascending to Lichdom. Maybe he had trouble coming to terms with his own mortally, maybe mind-boggling power had been too tempting? The specifics weren't important. What was important is that Boneskaw had a bone to pick.
The past has a funny way of coming back on you (funny, that is, if you're sick in the head). Years ago Barrett had clashed with the Eddie over the hand of Lucile, and now the newly made Lich was intent on having his pound of flesh. It was for that reason that Barrett found his home burned to the ground, his wife and daughter slain, and himself cruelly spared that fate so that he may live on in suffering.
Revenge is a two-way street and now Barrett is strapping iron to his hip for the first time in over two decades. Last he heard Boneskaw had fled into lawless country - Belkzen. It won't help. Barrett is going to track down that family-killing-son-of-a-b+!$~ if it's the last thing he does, bloodthirsty orcs and failed crusades be damned.
Personality: vindictive, sorrowful, stubborn, wizened
Sheet: WIP
In the meantime, any feedback/commentary/criticism is welcome and appreciated.
What would you be taking as your variant?
Will you allow Variant Multiclassing?
I was thinking monk.
As I read that, I slowly adopted the voice in my head of sam elliott.
It sounds like the main character in a western. I love it! It gives a hook and a reason for you to go there.
I also really like spellslingers. The inherent danger of using spells in a gun is so cool. Not that I want you to fail, but I'll laugh maniacally if and when it happens.
Interested... let me look and see what I can offer.
I was thinking monk.What would you be taking as your variant?
Will you allow Variant Multiclassing?
That should be fine.
Are we allowed access to advanced firearms at all?
Probably not at the start, but an inquisitive mind with craft guns might be able to figure it out.
Also I think that the opposition will have some. I like the orcs from warhammer 40k where they just blow stuff up and have crude advanced weapons.
I forgot to mention: I am more than willing to link backstories. I can do some magical crafting as well so if I can help anyone out just give me a shout!
I have a character I'd like to play: Xharz, (chawful trait) NN Unchained Monk, Variant Multiclass Bard, seventh-son of a seventh-son (no game effect, just fluffy) "Human" (actually an Asura-spawn with Pass for Human and no knowledge of his ancestry). I did assign him the umbral shadow disad, giving him a four-armed shadow that doesn't match his actions and is rather creepy (he thinks is some sort of curse rather than any sort of reflection on his true nature, but he's unwilling to get rid of it because divinations have said that it is part of why he has Darkvision).
Thoughts & such?
I will put forth The following:
Name: Gaurm
Race: Probably Half-Giant
Alignment: N-G
Class: Warder or Warlord (Path of War)
I will finish up tonight once I am done with work. Johnny, I like the backstory, perhaps we can put some backstory link together? Talk more about it later...
I have a character I'd like to play: Xharz, (chawful trait) NN Unchained Monk, Variant Multiclass Bard, seventh-son of a seventh-son (no game effect, just fluffy) "Human" (actually an Asura-spawn with Pass for Human and no knowledge of his ancestry). I did assign him the umbral shadow disad, giving him a four-armed shadow that doesn't match his actions and is rather creepy (he thinks is some sort of curse rather than any sort of reflection on his true nature, but he's unwilling to get rid of it because divinations have said that it is part of why he has Darkvision).
Thoughts & such?
That's true neutral there? Sounds pretty cool. I'd like to see a sheet to get a look at the mechanics but I like the concept.
Where should I send the sheet? And do you mind a LOT of abbreviations? :)
Will you allow half-giant from dreamscarred press?
Will you allow half-giant from dreamscarred press?
As it is a psionic race, yes allowed.
Ok goodnight all.
But didn't you say "Races: All paizo."?
Also, with the bonus feats, is it three total including the 1 we get from progression or does the two include that?
I've been wanting to run a halfling caviler. Potentially a mounted archer. This campaign seems well suited for it considering the whole failing crusade angle. Not sure what backstory i would make, basics would probably be easy, depending on order.
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This is Johnnycat with my finalized submission. Everything should be in order (which took me a bit; there's a lot of moving parts).
Feedback/criticism/commentary is still welcome as is anyone looking to have connected backstories in some form or another.
Greetings, This is Misterlurch's submission. It is still a work in progress (there is a freaking ton to read about PoW).
Would you allow any alternate racial traits for the Half-Giant to take the place of the psionic traits they have?
I'm going to submit an Elan Marksman assuming that race is ok. Had originally envisioned a half-giant but there have been a number of those submitted already. This will be my first foray into psionics.
But didn't you say "Races: All paizo."?
Also, with the bonus feats, is it three total including the 1 we get from progression or does the two include that?
Yes I did, what I should have said was from listed sources. So DSP Psionics. and PoW though I don't think that has races.
It's three total, four if you're a human with the bonus feat
Greetings, This is Misterlurch's submission. It is still a work in progress (there is a freaking ton to read about PoW).
Would you allow any alternate racial traits for the Half-Giant to take the place of the psionic traits they have?
These are the replaceable ones:
Naturally Psionic: Half-giants receive Wild Talent as a bonus feat at 1st level. If a half-giant takes levels in a psionic class, he instead gains the Psionic Talent feat.
Half-giant Psionics: Half-giants gain the following spell-like ability:
1/day—stomp. The manifester level for this effect is equal to 1/2 the half-giant's level (minimum 1st). The DC for this power is equal to 10 + the power's level + the half-giant's Charisma modifier.
Psionic Aptitude: When a half-giant takes a level in a favored class, he can choose to gain an additional power point instead of a hit point or skill point.
Available alternatives:
Intimidating: Half-orcs receive a +2 racial bonus on Intimidate checks due to their fearsome nature.
Gatecrasher: Many half-orcs revel in acts of wanton destruction. Half-orcs with this racial trait gain a +2 racial bonus on Strength checks to break objects and on sunder combat maneuver checks.
Overlooked Mastermind: Some half-orcs use half-orcs' brutish stereotypes to their advantage, causing others to underestimate their intelligence and scheming. Such half-orcs gain a +2 racial bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy, and Sense Motive checks. This bonus increases to +4 against other humanoids. They also receive a +2 racial bonus on Bluff checks to feign ignorance and Sense Motive checks to intercept secret messages, and this stacks with the above bonus.
Relentless: Dwarves are skilled at pushing their way through a battlefield, tossing aside lesser foes with ease. Dwarves with this racial trait receive a +2 bonus on combat maneuver checks made to bull rush or overrun an opponent. This bonus only applies while both the dwarf and his opponent are standing on the ground.
Unstoppable: Some dwarves train from a young age to outlast orcs on the battlefield. They gain Toughness as a bonus feat and a +1 racial bonus on Fortitude saves.
Trusted Mediator: Sulis are renowned as impartial mediators, and they learn to shroud their minds to prevent magic from tampering with their judgments. They gain a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against mind-affecting effects
Okay, I have my sheet to go with my above submitted character.
Looks good!
Also Everyone remember that we are using Automatic Bonus Progression this means no stat enhancing items or straight +1 bonuses to weapons/armor.
Aye, I'll switch things around.
EDIT- all sorted.
Are we still using full Wealth By Level? Because the OP reads like we do. Only it's customary to cut funds in half to account for ABP.Okay, I have my sheet to go with my above submitted character.Looks good!
Also Everyone remember that we are using Automatic Bonus Progression this means no stat enhancing items or straight +1 bonuses to weapons/armor.
What! I missed that part. I will take into account with loot. Since the start of this campaign may be sparse as far as available things go, stick with WBL and buy mundane gear and magical knick knacks.
In this system, magic weapons, armor, and shields never have enhancement bonuses of their own; those bonuses are granted only through attunement. Any weapon, armor, or shield special abilities on attuned items count against a character's enhancement bonus from attunement. To determine an attuned magic item's enhancement bonus, subtract the cost of its special ability from the enhancement bonus granted by attunement. (This applies only to special abilities whose cost is equivalent to an enhancement bonus, not to those that cost a flat amount of gold pieces.) For example, if a character with a +3 enhancement bonus from weapon attunement wields a keen scimitar, she subtracts 1 point of her enhancement bonus (for the cost of keen), leaving her with a +2 keen scimitar. If a character doesn't have enough of an enhancement bonus to afford the special ability (such as a 4th-level character with a vorpal longsword), she can still use the weapon's power on its own, but the weapon gains no enhancement bonus.
In this system, adding bonus-equivalent special abilities to items costs significantly less because you are paying only for the special ability, not for a base enhancement bonus (see the table below). To determine the price of specific weapons and armor, remove the flat enhancement bonus and reduce the item's cost by the amount listed on the table below. For example, a flame tongue is normally worth 20,715 gp, but under this system, it would lose its +1 enhancement bonus and its price would be reduced to 18,715 gp. Specific weapons and armor can be attuned; they then grant the character's enhancement bonuses from weapon attunement and armor attunement as normal.
Abilities or spells that add to your weapons enhancement do not stack. However spells that add temporary abilities such as holy or flaming are fine.
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Technically since we're fifth level we all have a +1 weapon/armor, we just can't buy outside of the ABP progression.
Has anyone submitted a healer yet or should we pick up a wand?
Technically since we're fifth level we all have a +1 weapon/armor, we just can't buy outside of the ABP progression.
Has anyone submitted a healer yet or should we pick up a wand?
This is absolutely correct.
Hmm. I'm considering a Battle Templar from POW. Looks like a fun time.
Something like Cleric 4/Ordained Defender Warder 1 into BT once the levelup comes around.
May have some healing abilities but IDK for sure as I don't have a sheet submitted yet.
Can't say I've ever seen a cleric with 7 WIS before. Also, I think you have power attack listed twice. Also, Shield-Bearer is an awesome trait for Zweihanders if you can work it in!
This is Johnnycat with my finalized submission. Everything should be in order (which took me a bit; there's a lot of moving parts).
Feedback/criticism/commentary is still welcome as is anyone looking to have connected backstories in some form or another.
Looks good. i'd recommend having a bow or melee weapon for sneaky situations but that of course is up to you if you are even interested in sneaking!