Loose the Tower of Pain

Game Master shrodingerscat

Various creatures have been held and experimented on, but now, through outside influence, find themselves loosed of their bonds. What do they do now?


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Your body aches. Your senses whirl. Gods! even your spirit hurts!
You're not sure how many years you've been here, it's been so long. Days
and nights blur together, and you are only reminded by the occasional
times your are brought food. The incarceration perhaps you could endure,
but the constant prodding and cutting has taken it's toll on you. You
could even perhaps fool yourself that you were here of your own accord
were it not for the uncomfortable collar that was fitted about you.
Strange tools of all shapes and sizes were used on you, testing your
limits and prodding at you. The "man" responsible was silent most often,
only responding with a small chuckle or sigh when you made certain
responses. When you wanted to give in, to just let the pain and torture
take you away from it all, the collar would send a surge into you and
bring you back.You would sit silently for what you might assume to be
days, only to be taken surprise by strange brutes, or drugged. Sometimes
you weren't even sure how you made it into the room, but all you
experienced there was pain and exhaustion. robing your body.You tried to
prepare yourself, by anticipating the times that you were taken, noting
little signs, but just when you thought you had some idea, some pattern
figured out, things would change. The only solace you could take was
that you were not alone. While in the room you would sometimes
catch a glimpse of another creature, and when you were returned to your
enclosure, you would fantasize about who they were, and imagine speaking
with them, have some kind of contact...any kind, that didn't involve
pain.

Then one day things were different.

You were in the room as your captor worked his tortures on you
and you had succumbed to the the mutilation and pain. Things went dark,
and after a time, as expected, you came back to the land of the living.
But things were different. You sat up from the stone slab you had been
placed on, and you were no longer bound! The first thing you noticed
after that was that there were others in the room with you, looking
similarly confused about their condition. You took a few seconds to
consider if it was a trick.

Looking about, you saw several of his shelves knocked over and laying at
your feet with a gash across his chest so deep as to nearly take him in
two was the hated creature.

Your torturer is dead!

What do you do now?

Rules Changes:

1) Hit points are largely static. Your HP total is equal to your three
physical stats added together. The only way that will increase is
through stat increases or feats. (Or perhaps magic)
2) Armor is used as DR, with a modification based on the material it is
made out of. You may often make called shots to bypass armor.
3) STR is not added to your BAB to hit, nor is DEX added for ranged BAB
4) Defense is now a roll, instead of a static AC score, using
BasicDefenceBonus (effectively the same as BAB) (which does use Dex)
5) Will save is based off of CHA, not WIS.
6)Two extra stats, Luck and Appearance
7) All magic has a cost/price, and it depends on the raw power of the
spell and what effects it creates what that is. I like spell components,
so that is one, but there is usually a toll taken on the caster.
I am not going to use spell slots. I will use spells known though.
(If it helps to understand a bit of my reasoning about WIS and CHA,
think of WIS no longer as common sense, but Awareness/Instinct, and CHA
as Determination/Confidence)

Many of these rules I'll be using for the first time, so it's largely a
test to see how they work. If you're not willing to try, then perhaps
this isn't the game for you.

Characters and gameplay:
Your character is a monster. You have
been captured and experimented upon. You will have no class levels to
start, but it is possible for you to learn a class later on. You may
chose almost any non undead or construct creature, although I'm
less inclined to accept an application if the CR of that creature is too
high. No creature with the ability to teleport or move between planes
will be accepted. Alignment cannot be evil (although the "stock" monster
may have been, we'll have to discuss that). What I'm looking for in your
application is what monster you'd like to play, what kinds of things you
like in game, and perhaps a little bit of a background of what your
monster experienced before capture.
I'd like to make this game equal parts exploration, fighting and role-
play, so I hope you do to.The first part of this campaign/adventure is

more structured, but eventually it will be quite sand-boxy.
I'd like to have at least one post a day from everyone, even if it's
just flavor. We may have more, depending on if we get really into a
particular hook, but I require at least one post a day. (If something
comes up and you are unable to post, just communicate it, and we can
work things out)
I don't need to see stat blocks at this point, just ideas.


Dotting for interest.

This sounds very intriguing. I would like to either play a Fen Witch or a Medusa type (of course with the necessary modifications to fit the game). Either character to could wear a veil to cover/hide their face unless they want to be seen and/or inflict necessary harm/damage (i.e. Horrific Appearance for Fen Witch and Petrifying Gaze for Medusa for eg).


@Ariar: Either of those could work with some adjustment.

I'm wondering if there's just not much interest for this, or perhaps there's some glitch with the post?


It's too many house rules. I've tried to start similar games before and they fail. People don't want to relearn the game. Armor as DR is an especially bad idea. I was all about it for months and through several new games, but it only works well in low/no magic campaigns up to maybe 6-7th level.


Dotting for interest.

What is the CR level the DM is looking for/around ?

Is something like the 'Scylla' simply too large for what the DM wishes?

Looking for a 'ball park' idea. :)

No ideas as of yet. Life is treating me rather poorly so one the one hand please treat me gently, though on the other hand I don't want to 'take up space'.

Much cheers to all.


Hovering around 6 would be good, and a creature of size greater than L would probably also be problematic come to think of it...


*nods* Shall peruse the Bestiaries and look for inspiration.

*Makes notes. Nothing over CR6 and something' medium*

What about the Monsterous Templates? Young? etc?

Liberty's Edge

Not often such unorthodox races are called for, but I must second some of the opinions and questions put forth. I'm still not sure I got all the reworking of the attributes, and it would be good to have a baseline for "too high" on the CR, unless that's to be determined by interest.

The premise is definitely of curiosity to me. Just be prepared to remind and reiterate all the reworked rules to people on more than one occasion.


Fen Witch is CR 5 (Medium) but the Medusa is CR 7 (Medium), so it looks like the Medusa is out if CR 6 is a strict rule.


You could always add the "Young" template and lower things a little? Ariarh Kane.

Of course...keeping the rest of the group 'un-stoned' will be interesting. ;)


Thank you. The Medusa character could always wear a veil around her allies. ; ) Or the GM could always modify her abilities as the nasty captor was experimenting on the monsters.


Dotting for interest.

Echo Daynen's request that until we get our heads round the house rules proper we'll be reminded etc.

As for character am thinking troll of some sort - possibly Ice Troll...


I was thinking of a Charda (CR 7), Young would reduce it to Tiny, though. :(


*Squeee's* Is so cuuute (^_^)

*Picks up and snuggles the cute little dickens.*

Monster Idea:
So, to reflect the experimentation and weirdness going on. Would a Half-Celestial/Half-Dragon Forlarren (Bestiary 2 Pg: 125) be acceptable? This will put said creature at CR 6

Very much wishing every one all the very best.


Also interested. Will need to look through the bestiaries for a monster to play.

How will luck and appearance work in this game, and how should we add them in as stats to monsters who were made with only 6 scores in mind?


@Daynen: I'm not opposed to reminders. Did you have an idea for a monster/character?

@Ariarh: I think i said "hovering around 6", so 7 is in that area.
Medusas are interesting.

@Blow Dow: Ice troll could work

@Arzani: chardas are neat little beasties, but man, look at the hit dice! Not a problem though, if you like the fella we could pare him down without resorting to the young template.

, aka Sunset:
forlaren are very interesting creature, but i'd rather stay away from multiple templates. I'd rather just advance the hit dice and maybe throw on an extra ability or two.

@Monkeygod: Appearance is largely aesthetic, and was something I was thinking of more to do with initial reactions.
With regards to the 6 other stats, they are separate, almost half stats.
Luck will definitely fluctuate, and can be used as a resource.

At this point though I'm thinking that with the other changes already fairly drastic, these can be dropped. I'll try them in another game.

for everyone: Disregard Appearance and Luck.
there will be hero points though...


Another quick note. Don't not propose lower CR creature just because of the number. We can find a way to bring up the level, ie adding HD or abilities. There are some pretty cool lower CR creatures to work with. Just saying.


@shrodingerscat: No worries then. Will keep the Medusa as an option then.


I'm interested in joining this, I'm very new to play by posts but I've roleplayed on other websites for years. Currently I'm looking at the Nymph, Selkie, Fire Nymph, or The Soul Doll.


Next idea:
So....just having found the wonderful art work etc that is 'Mysts of Panderan' a thought took me. Might I play a 'Tainuki' (Bestiary 3 Pg:259) Though, instead of the raccoon marking etc just change the fur to something more 'Panda' like?

It is only a CR4 critter, but I feel the Role Playing potetnial is definitely there.

Thoughts? Comments?

Very much cheers to all.


I'd be down for this. I'm thinking a Bagiennik would be interesting. Maybe this was the result of the pairing of an aquatic humanoid and a chaos beast. And strangely I guess it would be the "cleric" to a certain extent. Maybe a belief in the "pattern in the chaos."

Bagiennik: https://sites.google.com/site/pathfinderogc/bestiary/monster-listings/aberr ations/bagiennik-kp


Any chance to play a minitoar will be jumped on by me :)
I just love the look of this guy.

That or possibly an ogre :) I'll have to look around.

Liberty's Edge

Thinking on it now, it's hard to pass up the possibility of playing a dragon. Even a wyrmling one.


@toujours: I said previously no cojstructs, but the soul doll strikes me as the most interesting of your choices...creepy.

@,

Spoiler:
a bit too warm and fuzzy. Tainukis and pandas strike me as a bit silly, and I'd rather not have that vibe.

@aeryk: snot powers! Ewwwww. Maybe we could make it slightly less discusting though...

@gobo horde:that is one of my more favorite minotaur depictions. Ogres can be cool too.

@daynen: was wondering when dragons would show. A little surprised it didn't happen sooner. Its a posibility, there are other dragonlike beasties to chose from as well.


I decided against dragons personally because I figured they would be everyone's first though.

I thought of the soul doll because of the dolls that protect Irrisens' boarders finding them to be the most interesting of the bunch, I don't have my heart set on them and just wanted to mention them. I'm actually thinking of the Nymph mainly, I found it challenging to find something I found interesting that wasn't bound to a certain place or didn't have a form of teleportation/plane shift.


*Rolls eye @ DM*

(^_~)

Hmmm....


Seems to be some great ideas here, and I'm struggling for motivation and time at mo, so I'll graciously retract my hat from the ring.

Enjoy and no worries re: the name shrodingercat ;)


So how are we doing this? Are we just taking the base creature stat block and playing it as is? Are we equiping the monsters or using the monsters base equipment? A minotaur is CR 4, I personally would love an extra racial HD so I could take minotaurs charge :) how are we balancing them against eachother or just not bothering?


This sounds interesting. Perhaps I should make a faun to accompany Toujours' Nymph? Though I will need to increase hit dice or whatnot to balance him out... A kirin might be kind of fun, actually. No hands, though...

Alright, in summation, I'm looking at these:
Faun (Bestiary 3 144)
Kodama Kami (Bestiary 3 162)
Dandasuka Rakshasa (Bestiary 3 225)
Young black or brass dragon (Bestiary, 102)
Vulpinal Agathion (Bestiary 2, 22)

In roughly that order from most desired to least. I'm just spouting ideas right now, though.


@shrodingerscat: Yeah, that part is a little gross. Maybe he can ball up the oils in his hand and throw them...hm, maybe even go alchemist and swap out fire for this oily acid (half fire, half acid).


@gobo: I'm thinking as is with the addition of a few points to be more heroic. Lower CRs will get a boost to hd to bring them up a bit. As for equipment, you'd start with none, having been a prisoner gor quite some time.


Sphinx!


@,: man, I keep almost missing your posts...sphinx could be cool


(^_^)

I do apologize for not being able to post more.

Life is slamming me atm.

So...Sphinx it shall be.


hey, if this is still open, sounds like a good chance to play a doppelganger. They're always fun. Since they are CR 4, the advanced template would probably bring them pretty close to the other options i've seen, that or half dragon... oooh...


@ Krik' Gruhg,

The DM is disinclined to acquiesce to your request... (¬_¬)

Don't think templates are viewed in a good light is what mean.


I saw a post where he said he didn't like multiple templates. I also saw several posts about young and advanced...

Since we are not taking class levels, I'd be interested in seeing how he would balance a CR 4 with a CR 7.

I'd like to play the doppelganger. It would be more interesting as a half-dragon doppelganger (doesn't that bring a mental picture?)

Regarding the house rules, that is definitely a lot of them, and it is a concern. Not only does it require revamping the characters, but every npc as well. there are also going to be a lot of unintended effects down the road from these as well.

For instance, static HP means that later spells are less useful, or over powering. Like heal/harm. Heal is overkill and harm is devastating.
The progression of cure light/moderate/serious/critical becomes less important if the HP don't change.

Conversely, the dice increase for something like fireball becomes a TPK after just a few levels instead of just a serious threat.


Sorry...don't mean to put words in the DM's mouth.

I am hoping you'll be able to do what you wish, Krik' Gruhg.

On a side note....Can we change the feats as listed for the Monster entries?

If the creature has spell like abilities...Might we adjust said spells for others? (Assuming said spell like abilities recreate known spells)?

Just some thoughts.

Very much cheers to all.


A will-o'-wisp (CR 6) seems pretty cool and intriguing to play, too. What do you think, shroderingscat?

From my other choices, I'm leaning toward the Medusa.


@Krik: doppleganger is an interesting idea, thought i'm not sure about half dragon. We could maybe givem some dragon like qualities or more hd.

@Ariarh: will-o is a cool idea too, though we'd have to figure a way that you can manipulate things. As listed, they're just balls of light with no appendages.


So here's the applicants ideas so far (i'm by no means closing recruitment, just clarifying)

Ariarh: medusa or will-o-wisp

': sphinx

Arazni: charda

Daymen: wyrmling

Toujours: nymph

Aeryk: bagiennik

Gobo: minotaur

Winwar: faun or kodama kami

Krik: doppleganger

What I'd also like to know is the reasoning behind your choices. Why did you want to play that creature? What about them interests you the most? What is essential to it's coolness in your eyes. This last question is especially important because the wizard (your former captor) will have modified you in some way, and I wouldn't want to change the part that is the reason you chose that creature. (does that make sense?)


, wrote:

Sorry...don't mean to put words in the DM's mouth.

I am hoping you'll be able to do what you wish, Krik' Gruhg.

On a side note....Can we change the feats as listed for the Monster entries?

If the creature has spell like abilities...Might we adjust said spells for others? (Assuming said spell like abilities recreate known spells)?

Just some thoughts.

Very much cheers to all.

i would allow re-selecting of feats and skills, and changing spell likes within reason (i.e.) case by case.

also, as a side note, your sphinx would probably be pared down a bit (what with it being CR 8 and all)


On the subject of a Will-o-Wisp manipulating objects, you could give them an enhanced form of mage hand or you could give them telekinesis. I'd go Mage Hand and let them manipulate things with the dexterity of a human hand and use they're charisma as a strength score.

To be honest the Nymph was my last choice, but I've always enjoyed them. I like most about them is they're unearthly grace and beauty, I love that one minute they can be the lovely inspiring beauty and the next an embodiment of primal fury.


Medusa.

Why did you want to play that creature? I have always had a fascination with Greek Mythology and Medusa always struck me as an enigma (unjustly cursed by a goddess - always pulls at my heartstrings!), a dichotomy that would be interesting to play out. I don't want to play her as evil (and I know that isn't an option here, anyway) -- I think a neutrality would be better suited -- a centred or balanced existence. She does not seek to do harm to others for the pure pleasure of it -- but for necessity of survival etc.

What about them interests you the most? She is beautiful but terrifying in the same breath. She can (if her serpentine hair is covered) be mistaken (from a distance) for a beautiful human woman, which gives her an advantage over other obvious monster forms. I like that ability to camouflage/conceal one's true nature. It adds a different kind of strength to the "monster".

What is essential to its coolness in your eyes? I love the power that the Medusa has to turn her enemies/prey into stone with a look. And if she decides to be careful, she has to ability to not petrify them, giving her a sense/semblance of control. Being able to strike from a distance with just a look -- can be most useful.

Liberty's Edge

why play a wyrmling?
Well, It's not hard to imagine that fantastical creatures are fascinating, and dragons have always held quite a spot in my imagination. From the tiniest hatchling to the most immense wyrm, dragons simply refuse to be ignored or forgotten. Being able to play one, even young, sends the imagination spinning. Add to that the unusual circumstances surrounding its current existence, and its interesting to think how his personality might be affected by his suffering.

what interests me the most?
the variety of natural weapons that dragons possess over their lifespan is bewildering. Time is on their side, and age only brings greater power and presence. Even the laziest of dragons is a force to be reckoned with at any point in its life.

What's essential to its coolness?
Well, for the silver dragon species specifically, the fact that it resembles living metal as it ages, and its affinity with cold and weather resonates with me. For a little more context, see if you can spot the image and data entry from the D&D 3.5 monster manual. THAT is the silver dragon I know and love. Sorry to say, the pathfinder entry just depresses me by comparison. (Feathers? Seriously?) If you can get your hands on the draconomicon, it's all spelled out. They're wind riders, more than even most dragons, and while good natured, they remain apex predators and forces of nature.


Why play a bagiennik? It's an interesting combination of a protector of nature mixed with the madness of a Golum-like creature. I do keep picturing a smaller creature, so maybe it's growth was stunted.

What about them interests you the most? I like the chaotic nature of the character and it's uniqueness. The unpredictable behavior would be fun to play (though I would make sure it's not too distruptive and fun for everyone else).

What is essential to its coolness in your eyes? I do like the oily acid power. The combination of fire and acid damage is interesting and would be cool looking toward alchemist, but the fire is not essential.


A half-dragon doppelganger would be CR 6, and about on par with the others.

Better yet, since a couple of people were talking about medusa's already, a half-medusa doppelganger...

half-medusa for doppelganger:
Here's my suggestion, +2 CR would increase the creature to CR 6, HD should be 7. all of the doppelganger abilities plus medusa's all-around vision, and petrifying gaze and poison, when in true form only. +2 Dex, +4 Con, +2 Cha Compared to other +2 CR templates, it's on the low side.

You want to see my true form? Are you sure about that?

You're making me angry. You won't like me angry. I revert to true form.
*
*
*
Why did you want to play that creature? Always liked the doppelganger, one of my favorite monsters. When played well, and correctly, even your own teammates won't know.
What about them interests you the most? first off, the polymorphic shapechange just provides a level of flavor play that plays to my sense of humor.
What is essential to it's coolness in your eyes. The shapechange is definitely the most basic component of the doppelganger. While the detect thoughts should be an important part of the character, I've just had too many GMs that have peons with awesome will saves to the point that without spending considerable resources it was next to useless.


Why play a Sphinx?

What about them interests you the most?

What is essential to its coolness in your eyes?

Questions! Too hard! >_< *Flails*


@Krik: as it is, dopplegangers played intelligently/creatively (as a player would) are plenty powerful. If you were to be selected, I'd prefer just advancing the hit dice. I'm more interested in having people use the powers they have in new/interesting ways, than tacking on templates and such. I am one to award special abilities, but I prefer to highlight the ones you have.


Okay...am very happy to run the 'Young' template over the Sphinx information. :)

Also...shall look at which spell like abilities shall be pruned by such action (The once per week 'Symbol' I'm looking at you >_>)

Thence shall compare the other spell like abilities and maybe tweak things here or there.

After reading a Paizo work of fiction I am liking the author's use of 'Mage hand' for one of their charters. :)

Very much cheers to all and I hope life is treating people very well.

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