Thinking about settling on Aegis(1)/Soulknife(1)/Warrior(1)note: I know theses classes very well and I know you can make a ridiculous power house with them gestalt, I'll just leave it at that...
I probably could, but my experience with psionics is pretty slim and I haven't played a soul knife in a decade.
How explicit should we be with the secrets?
I have a few secrets that could be left vague so you can build on them however (i.e. "So and So seemed to know exactly when and where to be to arrest Kaseema.") or actually list what the secret is explicitly (i.e. "Kaseema was betrayed by X, and who told So and So where to go.")
I encourage everyone to take it as far as they want, i will be creating a secret my self so it's not an issue ^_^
does sneak attack work with touch attack spells that deal hit point damage?
Yes it does.
I think my character is good to go! All the questionnaires in my profile.
@ Hogeyhead
Sneak Attacks with spells follow the normal rules for sneak attacks
Specifically, the phrasing of sneak attack only specifies weapons in the section on nonlethal damage (which cannot normally be dealt with spells anyways). Touch attacks, ranged touch attacks and other such attacks caused as part of spells may therefore be used to deliver sneak attacks so long as they fulfill the normal conditions of a sneak attack.
In other words, sneak attacks with spells must meet the following conditions:
*The spell requires an attack roll (otherwise, it is not an "attack" for the purposes of sneak attack)
*The target is flanked or denied their Dexterity bonus to AC.
*Ranged attacks are made within 30 feet
*The spell must deal damage
The 3.5 rule limiting volley attacks (such as scorching ray) to 1 sneak attack unless they are made using a full-round action is technically not a part of Pathfinder, though it is a perfectly reasonable ruling on the DM's part.
Damage Type: Sneak attack damage is of the same type as the original damage, with the added subtype of precision.
Is that clear enough now? There isn't any line between using spells for sneak attacks and weapons apart from some odd fluff disparities that don't actually have a source in the rules. (I would prefer if the Paizo devs clarified this, but as these specific rules haven't changed from 3.5 they should still work until the devs say otherwise.)
@Kassema
i will take a look soon after work
I read in the player's guide that characters receive two extra skill points per level to make them more self reliant, are we playing with that? Or perhaps background skills from unchained? I doubt it as it was not mentioned in your character creation, but I thought I'd ask.
no i feel the triple gestalt should be enough to let you completely make a character that is part of this land
Alright, that's what I figured, out of curiosity why do you say that the 1-1 15 point buy helps MAD characters? When you need good stats in 4-5 attributes a standard 25 point buy is better. the 1-1 15 point buy really favors the sad class, as you can more easily start with 20 in your prime stat and still have some decent secondary stats.
max is 18 lowest is 8 and by no means do you really need a stat at 20 i like it when my players think rather than try to overpower. Thats why even though i am letting you all be really powerful dont think that will make conflict easy most of this world will be gestalt and i have a fair number of custom monsters. i have made over the years to help me as i normally run gestalt games.
hell one of the best games i ran ws with a group of 8 gestalt with normal rules for 15 point buy. it really made the players think about how to best deal and work together/make assault plans. To the point they had to have one 8+hour game session be, them just planning on how to best deal with the quest i game them ^_^
ok looks like I may have to change my PC she has int 20
I'm not saying that 1-1 15 point buy is bad, and I'm not saying that you should have a 20 in a stat (I've always felt it's a bit silly), but you did say that you could have over 18 and below 8 after racial modifiers. My point is that because having a stat low-ish, but maybe around 14 is inexpensive in standard point buy and if you are mad you are going to have a lot of stats around 14, then 1-1 isn't helping MAD characters as much as it is helping SAD characters who's buys of 16 is more expensive in the standard point buy, than yours.
I'm not complaining, I think that 1-1 15 point buy is a refreshing change, but I don't understand how it benefits MAD characters in particular. What am I missing?
-EDIT- That game sounds like it must have been a lot of fun, I'm running a similar game now, lots of planning.
Both of them benefit, as I see it. With 1-1, 16 is only 6 points, instead of 10 with a point buy. That means you could feasibly have 16 in three stats (which is pretty good!) with only a minor dump instead of massive dump. Alternatively, 14 in four stats, with a 1 point dump. None of that is taking in to account racial modifiers though.
The SAD characters will probably get to 16-18 regardless of system, and with the cap at 18, the remaining points just round their characters into believable people - because they are SAD, the extra stats don't help nearly as much as MAD characters.
Edit
no i feel the triple gestalt should be enough to let you completely make a character that is part of this land
But the NPC class doesn't advance, I thought? I'd rather have the +2 sk/level than the 4 I'll get from the npc class haha, cleric and fighter skills per level is so bad
The cap is at 18 before racial mods, but I see your point, and it is a good one.
@GM if I made a cleric of Asmodeus could I take the variant channeling for rulership? It isn't exactly on his portfolio, but I think it fits.
-edit- Also could I take the corruption subdomain for evil, I can't find if it's on his list or not.
Hahah, I'm the lone non-Asmodeus worshipper applicant
I think I am ready for an audit. Might need another section for attacks.
dammit this is why you dont make big post at 4am...
i did not see that a made a typo
max 18 after racial mods min 8 after racial mods sorry for the confusion
Domains
Evil, Fire, Law, Magic, Trickery
Subdomains
Arcane, Ash, Deception, Devil, Divine, Smoke
Aw drat now I have to rethink everything. What do you think of a bard/anti-paladin?
dammit this is why you dont make big post at 4am...
i did not see that a made a typo
max 18 after racial mods min 8 after racial mods sorry for the confusion
Domains
Evil, Fire, Law, Magic, Trickery
Subdomains
Arcane, Ash, Deception, Devil, Divine, Smoke
Aaaaah, I see, thank you that clears up everything, odd that the god of slavery doesn't get the slavery sub-domain.
Edit
no i feel the triple gestalt should be enough to let you completely make a character that is part of this landBut the NPC class doesn't advance, I thought? I'd rather have the +2 sk/level than the 4 I'll get from the npc class haha, cleric and fighter skills per level is so bad
i know at fist i was going to have you all start at level 1 npc and then once you were free it would open up to the gestalt classes. i thought that would be to much to ask players to do that so that why i chose to have the 1st level be 3 gestalt.
cool GM ill take 2 off int and move to Wis.
Simple to do.
@ rosa
your missing step 1 of the 10 min background
Going to remake Bard James Bard.
Fraud:You tried to bilk someone out of their cash. To end up in Brandescar Prison, this was no petty con job or penny ante racket. Instead, you brazenly tried to defraud someone important of a huge sum of money. And it almost worked too!
Punishment: Life at hard labor in the salt mines
Benefit: You receive a +2 trait bonus to Bluff checks and Bluff is always a class kill for you.
I ran a long con on princess Bellinda pretending to be a prince. I could bring myself to do the fade away and she throw me in the salt mines.
Your experience with the rules.
I've been playing and DMing Pathfinder/3.5 for around a decade.
Your experience with PbP.
I've been using PBP for the last 5 years. I've played through a few games, with the longest running of them that's still going started in Apr 1, 2014. Of course that is likely because I have good players. This will be my second time playing an evil campaign although my first one was more of an evil overlord type.
Expectations for playing and what you want out of the experience.
I want to be proactive. In most games you are given quests and you have to go do them, but since this is an evil game I want to try and hit unexpected targets. Very interested in getting revenge taking over the empire.
What is your experience with this adventure path? None whatsoever.
4. Philosophy as a PbP player.
I like play by post because it allows for thinking about what you are doing without taking up everyones time. You can keep the mechanics in the background.
5. Why you are applying to this game?
I sort of what to play an evil game and gestalt is cool.
6. Define what you think good role-playing is in PbP.
Frequnt posting and being proactive with the roleing playing don't come up with reason why you don't do something come up with reasons why you do.
7. What is your experience with this adventure path?
None.
In an attempt to get all the information I need to create stuff from character backgrounds without having to continually push for information, I am asking that you create backgrounds the following way:[/b]
Step 1:Write 5 background and concept elements that you feel are important to your image of the character. These can be a concept overview, a list of important life events, a physical description, a personality profile...whatever you need to get an image in your mind. 5 is just a minimum...more elements are encouraged!
I like to think of myself as a super spy.
[b]Step 2: List at least two goals for the character. At least one of these goals should be one that the character has, while another should be one that you, as a player, want to see developed over the course of the game.
In character Marry princess Bellinda
OOC Get a dark motercycle as my mount.
Step 3: List at least two secrets about your character. One is a secret the character knows, one is a secret that involves him but that he is not actually aware of yet. This will help me in creating plots that center around your character. I will also be creating a third secret which you as a player will not be aware of, so expect some surprises!
I'm in love with princess Bellinda. I was runing a long con on her, but couldn't bring myself to yank out.
I have the pointal to become a even more powerfull double doppelgangers capable of not only shifting my appearance, but also skills, memories, and even the extraordinary and supernatural abilities of creatures whose forms they choose to mimic.
Step 4: Describe at least three people that are tied to the character. Two of them are friendly to the character, one is hostile. If you like, you can include an enemy of yours here as well, so I have an instant NPC nemesis to throw at you.
Bellinda hates me now.
My father Gimrock that I have not seen in years.
My banker/lawyer Farrim Gandy we have mantained a good relationship for all long time.
Step 5:Describe three memories, mannerisms, or quirks that your character has. They don't have to be elaborate, but they should provide some context and flavor
The trick to being a good shapeshifter is to impese yourself in the Role. If you keep quirks in all forms you will be found out.
I once impersonated the high preist and took confessions. That gave me alot of black mail material. The donations were nice too.
1.How does your character interact with the others within a group?
I am very friendly. I like to try and turn every job into a scam.
2. What is your character's role in a group?
I make a very good face as well as a good scout, but I can pull my weight in a fight.
. How is your character not as they seems? I want one or two skills that would surprise others if they found out he knows them. Also include personality traits, positive or negative, that would similarly surprise others.
I can read minds. I don't tell people about that because it makes them paranoid.
4. What are your character's goals, conscious and, perhaps, subconscious?
subconscious I wand a place to belong.
conscious Marry princess Bellinda. Right now I think the best way to do that is take over the kingdom.
5. How easily does your character love? Have they been in love?
No easyally, but he is in love with princess Bellinda.
6. Is your character racist at all, either now or in their past?
No really I have walked a mile in about every races shoes.
7. All people believe something that is not true, both about the world around them and about themselves. What lies/untruths does your character believe about themselves and the world around them?
Sorry can't think of anything. If there was something that I knew was not true I would stop beleaving it. He does like to test things.
8. How is your character about material possessions?
Easy come easy go.
9. What does your character perceive their major problems to be?
Stupied heart
Take over the kingdom force the princess to marry me and hope she grows to love me eventually.
11. What are your character's religious beliefs?
Well Antipaladin so serving Asmodeus. He has been mostly hands off.
12. What does your character fear?
Being found out. Even with people he knows well he puts on a show.
13. How much of a temper does your character have? What sorts of things set them off?
No real temper.
Lost in cut and past GM, put it back now GM, its shorter but the same.
Working on the background, but will need to continue later. You can expect a submission sometime tomorrow.
everyone take your time really flesh out your characters, i will give feed back to everyone that ask but i will not be making my finale selection until Aug 4th so plenty of time to think on your background.
Since that and your passed gaming experience will lend a big part to my decision. This in no way excludes new players to PBP just have a compelling background ^_^
@ everyone who has submitted a completed character i am looking them over and i will start posting my feed back soon, its 12AM here and i need to be up in 5 hours ^_^ ill try to have my feed back for Rosa up first and then ill look at Kaseema Ruan
Aw drat now I have to rethink everything. What do you think of a bard/anti-paladin?
i do not mind any class combination note:i am manly looking for thematic characters not cookie cut ones
Aw drat now I have to rethink everything. What do you think of a bard/anti-paladin?i do not mind any class combination note:i am manly looking for thematic characters not cookie cut ones
That's fine already wrote up Bard James Bard. I think he might even have a better story he is definably more social. I'm leaving the stats till I get you review of the Questionnaire.
Edit
What I mean is right now you just have bullet points and not much story...which is good but tell me how and why
Will do GM I am working on it now in word, her work to bring about her masters faith once more an her fall.
The site likes to eat long posts so I find it always best do it off line in word.
I do the same np take your time ^_^
Oh and so others don't get put off by my post listing some as approved. It just means that their character is approved. I still will not make my final selection until the 4th
This is very interesting, however I have a very hard time settling on a concept.
Would a half-orc bloodrager//witch doctor be ok? What about the fetish mask, I hope there will be a way to retrieve it? Can you use hexes while in a bloodrage, what about if you have the mad dog feat?
A wizard//mindchemist is another intriguing idea.
A sorcerer//oracle with the heavens mystery is another idea, though the limit on charisma makes it a much less attractive option.
Maybe I'll just go with a Swashbuckler//Magus.
Do you have any preferences for the various combinations or is it entierly dependent on how I answer the other questions?
I'll get back to answer the full questionnaire later. Though I need to do a more through reading of the rules first.
Edit: Looking at those houserules I kind of want to do something with combat manouvers, a monk//bloodrager or unchained monk//cleric aiming for greater trip + Ki throw + vicious stomp + either improved Ki thow or binding throw sounds like it could be fun. Sadly I am doing martials for most of my other games so I kind of wanted to do a caster for this one. This build is really MAD though and the ability score generation does favor SAD heavily.
Someone else had been thinking (but dropped the idea) of a barbarian/witch doctor I think, and GM said the mask would be broken, but you would be able to replace it for free.
Did you have any comments about Theo, GM Bone Man?
Edit: Link to the post with my answers to your questionnaire.
@Theodric
your is the next character i will look at, its been a long day for me but im taking time off after Wednesday so i will give you feed back soon
@Oyzar
casting magic when raging would follow the same rules so you wold need the appropriate feats/rage powers
as to arcane bonded items/ familiars they are lost/dead but players will be able to replace them at with out the normal cost once freed.
i have no real preference with the classes players choose but i am looking for more thematic characters that are part of the world.
I will attempt to post something tomorrow, just trying to pull everything together.
I also wanted to ask what your plans are for combat and maps?
The biggest cost to losing the familiar/mask etc is probably the spells known. Will we always be very far behind in that regard or will we be able to catch up(without paying a lot of money)? An alchemist is nearly useless without his equipment.
I think I'll go with a guy (or girl) who joined some army or another (warrior), but then was trained as a sapper. Seeing the effectiveness of bombs, he wondered what other things he could do with alchemy and even found a way to enhance in mind. During a siege, he was part of a team digging under the walls to blow them up when the team came upon a secret chamber. Obviously he was curious and he poured through the knowledge therein to find arcane power. Not sure if I want him to be a follower of Irori (LE) or Norgorber(NE), but definitely someone craving for knowledge. Maybe he killed his team (maybe they were just two) to keep the knowledge contained there to himself. I haven't decided on his crime yet. Defic Obedience Irori would be kind of cool, allowing for +16 to every knowledge check with just a single rank (+20 with conotagen), maybe that is overkill though, but it would define his character very clearly. He is all about knowing things, no matter the cost. Either Witch or Wizard could work fine for the arcane power side.
What do you think, is it an interesting outline/start or am I better off looking for something else? Knowledge (Irori) or Secrets (Norgorber)? Witch or Wizard? One problem I can see with wizard is that alchemist//wizard is nearly useless without gear. A witch at least have hexes. A big problem with this combination in gestalt is that conatogen takes 1 hour to prepeare as does both witch and wizard spells. Will there be any "fix" for that since this is gestalt? Is it possible to have multiple familiars if the character picks up tumor familiar as well? Would you allow Ability Focus for +2 DC on a single hex?
Probably going human, because it makes sense, is fun to roleplay and your point but rules makes the ability scores from other races much worse(you no longer get much benefit from them since you can just move points around freely). Though Tiefling and Elf is interesting too...
Do we get the +2 skillpoints per level that is normal for way of the wicked? Do we get any extra background skill skillpoints?
I am working on a fortune teller who has been convicted of bilking the poor out of their money with minor magics.
I'm thinking he'll be a tiefling ranger/wizard/adept, but I'll see how it goes as I finish pulling his story together.
If I do end up with tiefling, would the Breadth of Experience feat be allowed for him? It specifies dwarf, elf or gnome as a racial prerequisite, but Tieflings can have a starting age over 100 and can actually live longer than elves.
1. Your experience with the rules.
Have played pathfinder for about 2.5 years, though have read most of the rules in that time, so I would say very good familiarity.
2. Your experience with PbP.
Most of my playing has been through PbP, I've played in dozens of PbP games but only 3 RL games. I've played mostly pathfinder, but with a fair bit of free-form tossed in. Only a few has lasted over a year though.
3. Expectations for playing and what you want out of the experience.
We play to optimize for the fun of all involved. Hence priority number 1 is to make sure everyone have a great time. Developing our characters and the interactions or relations between them, fitting them into an awesome storyline and figuring out how to deal with the challenges they face is all part of that. I have one expectation and two hopes. I expect that the other players are here to have fun and play out their characters. I hope that people are active and passionate so that the game develop at a pace where it is easy to stay involved. I also hope to be able to discuss how to handle the challenges we face with the other players.
4. Philosophy as a PbP player.
Most of it is already listed under #3. I find that games are way more fun if they are very active as it's much easier to stay in touch with what is happening in the game and stay immersed. I try to describe what my character(s) look like, what they sense through the 5 senses and a bit of their thoughts and emotions to make the game more immersive. It's important to not overdo it though, LotR might have been one of the books I've read that I've had the biggest problems get into because it was overly descriptive. I tend to play quite active and inquisitive characters and this one looks like (s)he'll be particularly curious. Pathfinder offer a lot of mechanics through the system. I like to explore them and find good and appropriate options for various characters and to discuss these options with others. I know some people dislike to discuss their character so I wouldn't mind to be told in advance so I'll try to stay away. I also love being dealt challenging encounters that we have to work for in order to overcome and to figure out how to do so together with my teammates.
5. Why you are applying to this game?
I've been wanting to play an evil game for a while, I've tried to play an evil character a couple times, but sadly those games have all died before they got to double digit pages. Honestly the biggest factor in deciding to apply was the thorough work by the GM in putting together the first post. The opportunity to play under a great GM is always massively enticing. I love the options gestalt offer and the ways you can tune the characters in so many different directions.
6. Define what you think good role-playing is in PbP.
Posting actions that makes sense in the context of the character. Leaving openings for other characters to play off your posts, either through direct questions or of mentioning topics relevant to their interests. Trying to include some more than just dialogue in the post to get more insight to the character and the world, actions, senses, thoughts etc... As I mentioned before not overdoing it is also important. If every post is a huge wall of text it can be sort of daunting for people to take in. It's also important that people contribute towards the plot, though that certainly doesn't have to happen every post, but it's much more fun if everyone participates. Activity is important, but I don't see it as part of role-playing. I've had active people who makes post that doesn't make sense and I've had inactive people with amazing roleplay the few times they posted.
7. What is your experience with this adventure path?
I started it once but we didn't get out of Brandescar. I think the GM modified it heavily though, so I am not sure how relevant it will actually be, though I haven't read anything of the path myself so I wouldn't know for sure.
Whew, that was longer than I thought it would be. Will be back with part 2 and 3 later
Okay I'm done phase 1, 2 and 3, but I'll need another day to fill in that four page character sheet.
1. Your experience with the rules.: Extensive. I have been playing Pathfinder since the original Beta, with about 9 years of 3.5 before that. I'm not really a rules-lawyer though. I still feel like I regularly learn little nuances of the system I didn't know.
2. Your experience with PbP. Oh boy... just added up the inactive games I've been in on these boards. Ninety six. I am in 8 currently active games. I have nearly 20,000 individual PbP posts so far.
Honestly, I'm a little embarrassed by those numbers. I didn't realize they were so high.
On the other hand, its safe to say I'm committed.
3. Expectations for playing and what you want out of the experience.: I enjoy character interaction and watching the story unfold. I'm in it for the richness of experience. I don't really like it when things feel rushed or the story seems like a short bridge between combat encounters.
I want it to feel like I'm reading a book where I am controlling one of the main characters.
4. Philosophy as a PbP player.
Always Be Pushing.
I try to advance the story, or somehow engage another player every single time I post. That's really it. Every story is unique, but that one rule tends to work in every situation.
5. Why you are applying to this game?
Xanos is my all time favorite character. I enjoyed him immensely the first time I was able to play him. Sadly, that game ended. I'm looking to reprise him. I know it is a different game and a different version of the character, but I'm looking forward to exploring the differences.
6. Define what you think good role-playing is in PbP.
It comes down to writing skill. Spelling, punctuation and ability to articulate thoughts are critical. Being able to use the formatting tools well is also key.
After that, it is about being able to engage with the other players and inspire them to post more. The more people post the more momentum the game builds and the more successful it will be. Ignoring or minimizing other player's contributions is the fastest way to game death in PbP.
7. What is your experience with this adventure path?
I have played through the first book twice. I love it. I really want to see where the story goes.
Step 1:Write 5 background and concept elements that you feel are important to your image of the character. These can be a concept overview, a list of important life events, a physical description, a personality profile...whatever you need to get an image in your mind. 5 is just a minimum...more elements are encouraged!
Xanos is a philosopher. He thinks of the gods as slave masters and wants to advance the idea of breaking free of their control. Here is the philosophy he has developed over the years-
Life is Bondage, every aspect of mortal life, from desire to emotion, to breathing and eating is a form of control. It limits us and makes us small, servile and unable to take responsibility for our own actions. It is these things that allows the gods to justify their treatment of us.
To Know Freedom You Must Know Slavery, we all have many masters. We must accept them, serve them dutifully in order to understand what it is they ask from us and why, and then we must rebel against them with every fiber of our beings. Personhood is earned.
Death is Peace, Peace is Failure, when we die we no longer struggle, which means we can no longer learn or grow. We are subject to the whims of the gods, and only they decide if we get another chance. Death is the ultimate shackle, the ultimate surrender of personhood.
The Spiral Must Be Broken, the cycle of life, death and rebirth is like a cosmic whirlpool that sucks down every living thing, churns it at the bottom and then spits it out back to the top again. Every living thing tries to fight the current. They all lose. To be free we must leave the waters.
That philosophy colors his approach to every situation. He has existed for centuries exploring ways of breaking free of what he thinks of as divine tyranny. Now, he is forced to start over. To some that would be devastating. To Xanos it is an opportunity to try a new approach.
Step 2: List at least two goals for the character. At least one of these goals should be one that the character has, while another should be one that you, as a player, want to see developed over the course of the game.
Xanos' Goal: Destroy the entire Mitran religion. Normally he wouldn't single out a particular religion in his personal crusade to escape the gods, but they made it personal.
His tools for this goal will be their own religious texts. He plans on creating their version of Revalation. He figures that since they already wrote the book on how their world is going to end, he might as well just use it.
My goal as a player: Become a lich, and perhaps eventually even shed his corporeal form entirely, breaking free of the mortal plane to exist as a being of pure intellect and will.
Step 3: List at least two secrets about your character. One is a secret the character knows, one is a secret that involves him but that he is not actually aware of yet. This will help me in creating plots that center around your character. I will also be creating a third secret which you as a player will not be aware of, so expect some surprises!
What Xanos Knows: His name isn't actually Xanos, and the body he is in is not his own. That means when he signs the contract, he will be signing a false name in someone else's blood. It will be utterly meaningless, just like the god and the church who employ it.
That said, he's completely willing to work with them to complete his other goals.
What Xanos Doesn't Know: His philosophy has spread in dark whispered corners and a cult has formed which elevates him as a saint/god of rebellion.
He's going to hate that when he find out.
Step 4: Describe at least three people that are tied to the character. Two of them are friendly to the character, one is hostile. If you like, you can include an enemy of yours here as well, so I have an instant NPC nemesis to throw at you.
Sir Renfield the Witch-Hammer: A legendary witch-hunter, one of the church's most successful and ruthless sons. He trained most of the current generation of Inquisitors and wrote the actual book they use in their hunts.
Xanos was his "White Whale" for years, and the final feather in his cap before he retired.
He's going to be very upset when he finds out Xanos escaped from Branderscar.
The Other Xanos: An experiment years ago with a Simulacrum created a weaker version of himself. They parted amiably, both pursuing their shared goals separately. The double is still out there somewhere, and now their roles are reversed. Xanos does not know the whereabouts of his artificially created double, or if they will still be allies if they meet again.
It could be that his double is the one responsible for the rise of the Xanos Cult.
The Trapped: All over Talengarde are spirits and ghosts of people who remained behind after death, abandoned by the gods and unseen by the world. They are trapped in a half-existence. Xanos can hear them and has sympathy for their plight. Anyone willing to fight back against the gods even after death is someone Xanos respects. as a shaman, these are the spirits Xanos routinely communes with.
Step 5:Describe three memories, mannerisms, or quirks that your character has. They don't have to be elaborate, but they should provide some context and flavor.
1) Xanos doesn't like bodily functions. When he isn't actively doing something, he tries not to twitch, move blink, scratch or any of the other things that people normally do. He even breathes as little as possible. He considers everything his body does that is not purposeful to be something that needs to be mastered an overcome.
He tries to ignore base impulses like sexual desire and emotional reaction. He even dislikes eating and does it as little as possible. Sleep is his least favorite activity. He considers it an enormous waste of time.
2) Xanos has very little respect for the sanctity of life. He considers nearly everyone to be insignificant and almost always controlled by shackles they cannot fight against. He has no respect for addicts, carousers, the lazy, the stupid, or people who swear oaths that limit them.
He respects people who manifest their own will into power and anyone intelligent enough to have a good debate with him.
3) Xanos sees power as a means to an end. It is a step along the path, not the end of the path. Even if he succeeds in his goal to destroy the Mitrans, it will not be enough. Every goal is part of a larger agenda that ends with the death of the gods themselves. Because of that, Xanos is almost never satisfied or content. He is a workaholic of the worst sort.
1.How does your character interact with the others within a group?
Xanos is an advisor. He will not lead, but he will expect his advice to be considered before a decision is made. He works very well with others, but will speak his mind if someone is being foolish or hasty.
2. What is your character's role in a group?
The God Wizard. Battlefield control at its finest. He is the swiss army knife of the group. He won't be killing the enemy very often. Instead he will be rendering them helpless. After the fight he will collect the bodies.
The great thing about necromancy is that every enemy is an ally waiting to be animated.
3. How is your character not as they seems? I want one or two skills that would surprise others if they found out he knows them. Also include personality traits, positive or negative, that would similarly surprise others.
Xanos is extremely artistic. For all his cold, analytical behavior, he is an extremely talented artist and craftsman. He enjoys painting, needlework, scrimshaw and leatherworking.
Xanos is also incredibly proud. For all his talk about not being chained by the limits of the human experience, he is a first rate egotist. The fastest way to piss him off is to suggest that he is a fraud or an idiot.
4. What are your character's goals, conscious and, perhaps, subconscious?
Escape Branderscar. Relearn the foundations of magic. Destroy the Mitran church. Ascend to a higher state of being. Kill everything else that gets in his way.
Subconciously, Xanos hates himself and everyone else because of their mortality. He thinks that anything that can die pretty much deserves to.
5. How easily does your character love? Have they been in love?
Love is the motive behind everything. Xanos loved someone once. Was sacrificed as an appeasement to the sun god (who would much later be called Mitra) because there had been a drought for many years. His people wanted the sun god to rest and let in rain so they sacrificed the girl with the most beautiful voice in the land to sing the sun god to sleep.
Xanos went a little crazy after that. Now he hates love, religion, himself, and the gods. He tried to bring her back to life, but he was not a priest working a miracle and so she was a hollow shell of herself.
He believes that as long as the gods control the reigns of mortal existence, no one is truly free. The things a person loves can be ripped from them at any moment, so it is not worth loving anything. He has never loved since and likely never will.
6. Is your character racist at all, either now or in their past?
Not at all. Xanos judges people on the merits of their actions and words, not on their appearances. He considers himself above such arbitrary judgements.
7. All people believe something that is not true, both about the world around them and about themselves. What lies/untruths does your character believe about themselves and the world around them?
Xanos believes there is some way to become powerful enough that the gods have no longer control his existence. He's probably wrong about that.
8. How is your character about material possessions?
Anything that is not serving his purpose is unimportant. He appreciates anything with utility. He despises luxury goods.
9. What does your character perceive their major problems to be?
He has to keep his true motives secret, which on the grand scheme of things means he's working all by himself. He knows that is going to make things very difficult, so for now he is concentrating on the communal goal of overthrowing the Tallengarde government and destroying the Mitran church. Once that is accomplished he hopes to be able to do the rest on his own.
He also worries about being too weak to achieve his ends. He was used to being very powerful for a long time. Now he is not and has to quickly learn what his limitations are before they kill him.
10. What does he perceive the solutions to those problems to be?
Caution and hard work. He approaches everything with the experience of ages and a willingness to push himself to the brink of death to achieve his ends.
11. What are your character's religious beliefs?
If you meet a god on the road, kill them.
Literally and figuratively. Xanos is an anti-theist who is obsessed with deconstructing what it means to exist. To him, religion is a chain and the gods are the ones holding it.
12. What does your character fear?
Death. More than anything Xanos does not want to die. Its the simplest thing about him.
13. How much of a temper does your character have? What sorts of things set them off?
Xanos is one of those people who's fuse burns long and cold, but when it finally goes off, destroying the source of his ire shoots to the top of his priority list. He holds a grudge like no one else in the world, and he's very patient.
On the list of people not to piss off, a creative necromancer is pretty near the top of the list.
Starting work on his stat block now.
Xanos is my all time favorite character.
I can see why. I read through his background and that's a great concept. It's one that I wish I'd have thought of. :P Xanos' philosophy is the next logical step from where Theo is. He accepts Asmodeus' world view as the true state of affairs (e.g. the weak are ruled by the strong at pain of death or worse). The next step is to recognize that Asmodeus and the other gods have set things up in this manner for their own benefit at his (and others though he doesn't care as much) cost. Might make for some interesting RP if we end up playing together. Also some interesting interactions as Theo turns into the undead form that Xanos hungers to be. :)
Xanos is my all time favorite character.I can see why. I read through his background and that's a great concept. It's one that I wish I'd have thought of. :P Xanos' philosophy is the next logical step from where Theo is. He accepts Asmodeus' world view as the true state of affairs (e.g. the weak are ruled by the strong at pain of death or worse). The next step is to recognize that Asmodeus and the other gods have set things up in this manner for their own benefit at his (and others though he doesn't care as much) cost. Might make for some interesting RP if we end up playing together. Also some interesting interactions as Theo turns into the undead form that Xanos hungers to be. :)
That sounds like some pretty amazing story fuel.
Alright, i think Xanos' sheet is complete. I also picked a better avatar picture to represent him in Branderscar prison.
I'm going to make a few minor formatting changes to make it nice and clean, but all the mechanical stuff should be good.
dammit this is why you don't make big post at 4am... i did not see that a made a typo
max 18 after racial mods min 8 after racial mods sorry for the confusion
Xanos, A heads up, your PCs int is 20, like mine was, GM Bones altered the PC make speck, and said the above.
Just in case you missed it.
Love the PC by the way, nice background idea, I have a God hating PC as well, but he things they enslave minds to power themselves no matter if good or bad, law of chaos, if you follow a god your a god slave and used as fuel buy them. That need of gods comes before all other things, in other words all gods are parasitic.
Thanks for the heads up. Character adjusted.
Spiritualist looks like a cool class, I should read up on it some time.