Lords of Taldor: Ascending Majesty: Act 2

Game Master Phoenix Hunter

Raven is a standard familiar.

An unchained Rogue would deal more damage, if you're into that. And I believe pixie can qualify you for arcane trickster if you take a single dip into a caster class, though more casters are fun but not a necessity.

They removed the ability to qualify for PrC's with spell-like abilities. I don't think a race/monster's natural abilities now let them count as sorcerer's or the like.

Am I the only one a little apprehensive on combat encounters potentially being WAY too easy with up powered party of 12?

I don't imagine combat ever occurring with everyone's PC AND cohort with the way this game will be. I imagine it'll be 1-2 PC's or a handful of cohorts at most.

It'll cut down on the chaos a little.

Jesus! I don't know how many of you GM, but 6 characters gets hectic, 8 is a nightmare, and I imagine that 12 would simply be pure hell.

I don't intend on doing full scale combat at all. We'll likely get into Mass Combat with Armies about midway through, maybe sooner, but that won't be the same as regular combat.

Also:

I will try to get the first post up tonight, but I will make no promises, as I only got 45minutes of sleep last night.

No worries, man! If ya gotta sleep, ya gotta sleep. My friend should be posting up Lady Gabrielle's cohort sometime today, as well.

To recap that: I have a friend who is really into the concept of this game, but doesn't have the time to really play a full-fledged PC. So, I offered him my cohort slot, with the expectation that if he falls behind, I can take over piloting him as needed.

As for combats... yeah, a full-party combat would be humongous. However, since we are all very capable characters, I can see us doing quite a few small-group fights, as we are going to be splitting the party all the time. We can accomplish so much more apart than we can together.

-Matt

Yeah. I might beat people up if they get on my nerves, playground bully style. "Really? Lord Rook knocked out your teeth in that closed strategy meeting? The cripple in the wheelchair? Uh huh? Look, even if this were true, would you want the story getting out?"

But only if it makes sense, plot-wise.

As far as actual melee combat, I don't see Valignatir getting into any such activity.

Much more of a caster-type, in combat and out.

Nev is going to be so sad that she can't bash heads in all the time, but she'll live.

Guess we start tomorrow. Can't wait!

I don't have about 10% of my crunch resolved, but I'm good to go.

I'm super-excited as well!

All I've got left is fiddling with teams and the estate. My bud should be posting up the cohort, Justain Orencio, Warpriest12 of Abadar, pretty soon.

-Matt

working on my writings now.

working on my writings now.

Awesome!

I'll read whatever you put up tomorrow.

Sorry it's taken me so long to get this posted. We've been pretty sick around here lately.

Meet Justain Orencio, Warpriest of Abadar and keeper of law.

No worries, everyone. Get stuff out when you're ready and have the time—this campaign will probably keep moving regardless.

@Justain: so is this a Commissioner Gordon, then?

Here's the deal....

This campaign is a beast with lots of gears and cogs for me to keep in mind. Once we get it really moving, it'll carry on its own momentum.

Since this is such a big endeavor, it'll also be something like getting involved with watching GoT or any other largely story-based t.v. shows. We will be moving slowly at first, and consequently, we will have some time to get things ironed out.
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Also:

Here it is! I'm putting up the first GP post now! It's 0445 am Sunday morning, but since I've been up all night, I'm still considering this a Saturday post.

It Begins...

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If you access the spoilers presented in the text, please leave your {Dice=} below your response. You guys are welcome to read them, but if you haven't {dice=}'d the appropriate roll, I ask that you not use the knowledge presented. This would be like DM to Player Table chat, and I'm trusting you guys.

Also, if you'll all please delete your posts prior to the first GM post, just to clean things up, that would be awesome.

It actually doesn't let you delete posts after a certain amount of time, unfortunately.

Inkwell..thought. House Rook's insignia/banner and (possibly) a motto?

Oh... I was picturing it as an actual rook. Like, a raven in front of a tower or something. But that's a cool idea—maybe a crossed quill pen and sword were added underneath the coat of arms by Lord Rook in his younger days.

Since Constantine is effectively a cadet branch of the house, especially if he gets any new titles of his own, he should feel free to use a modified version of the house arms.

Alright! I modified my GM alias profile to include things to remember as spoilers in vital stats description.

I'd like to be able to post twice per day. Once around this time, and once about 12 hours from now.

I'll also be posting "Responses" which will keep the story moving, but will likely be outside the 2 standard times.

So I created my characters on paper because I prefer to do it that way, and still haven't typed everything up to update my profile. I also forgot that I had work early this morning and didn't post before I left. To be honest, I guessed on Thorn's stats, but I wanted to get a post up. When I post for Nev it will be the same thing, but I want to get it up before 7 tonight.

Check out some of the other character alias profiles to get the proper formatting, please get stats up asap. If you need help finalizing one of your characters, I'll be able to help Monday f2f before our regular game.

I do have my son for the next 2.5 weeks, so we'll be wanting to visit with friends, and maybe Pirate can finish running that We Be Goblins game with him too.

Planning on having it done and up tonight.

Next post due around midnight. I'm out till then! You may play amongst yourselves! No PVP!

I wouldn't dare!
This is the place to be conservative, not to start fights.

Kyra makes no promises where it comes to her Fascinating, Suggestive personality. And oh look, so many people with low will saves in this party!

/jk

Well, define "low".
Val's is +20, not sure how low that qualifies as.

Well, I didn't say everyone.

Although that's still just over a 1/4 chance of failure against DC 27.

Ah, okay. Didn't catch that.

Yeah, there's always a chance.
Dice gods, and all.

I'll specify then. No harmful effects, or violent actions.

I'm sure charming someone would be fine, but remember, any spells you guys do cat, you'll have to keep track of because I will be sticking to the x number of spells per day rules.

Also, in game time you guys have about 30 minutes to peruse until the princess will be announced.

@GM Yes, this is the Commissioner Gordon character. Although just like the DEark Lady isn't 100% Batman, he's not 100% Gordon. But that'll give you an idea at least. :)

Whoa, that's a lot of gameplay posts! Let's see here...

I am such a fat-kid...
I'm sitting here reading all the gameplay posts to catch up before I post the next narrative.I have the T.V. playing Star Trek: TNG, and I have 15 double quarter sized cinnamon rolls and 2 large chocolate chip cookies piled up on a plate, and I'm dipping them all in milk before shoving them in my mouth! Haha!

I'm a few minutes away from posting. I just thought I'd tell you all about by bad habits.

Dude, that's not so bad. I was up until 5 am last night simultaneously making and eating nachos, playing steam games, and binge-watching all of season 6 of mad men.

Can I get your guys' email addresses to share the Google Docs with info about the noble houses I have?

Can't you just put a link under the Campaign Info tab?

I'll try to get that up.

---Edit---
Noble house writeups should be available to you all through google docs now. in the Game information tabs.

As a note, Mark Kay gave me these writeups, and has given me permission to use them.

You can store a great deal of info in the campaign tab. In my game, I use it to list NPC's and locations while keeping a google doc for important NPC attitude listings and a few other things.

Oh, man, there's house mottos. Hmm. Since Lord Rook was the last scion of the family (before he had a ton of babies), maybe his was rewritten to fit his general ideals.

Maybe something like "Patience Is Our Sword" or "All Truths in Time"

Hmm, how do you want to handle in-character knowledge of the contents of the house writeups, GM?

Just finished reading the noble-house writeups. WOW! This game is going to be one for the Paizo history books!!! You've pulled off so much diversity in the houses and NPCs, and I'm seeing tons of potential enemies, allies, and plot threads already!

I'll also incorporate what you've done with House Eiredor into Lady Gabrielle's background. Since her mother is a daughter of Eiredor, that totally explains how Gabrielle received such excellent training in grace and etiquette. She's got some pretty sweet family ties. And it indirectly explains why she had to travel to the colony of Amanadar all the way over in Tian Xia to pick up those other skills that she doesn't talk about. Thanks, GM!

Man, you went all in for these noble houses.
I haven't read them all yet, but I'm getting to it.

For now, I see Valgnatir having a working relationship with House Sclernia, although he absolutely despises them, for obvious reasons.

My question is, do you want us to do a little write up for our Houses?
I'm not sure if you want to hand us that much liberty,. so I was asking.

I want to reiterate. These write ups were gifted to me by one of the potential recruits. I didn't have nearly the time required to create all this by myself.

I do intend this to be something on the level of legendary, but it's roots are far more humble. Mostly "hey, our GM hasn't shown up in a while, want to play on the side?" needless to say, it evolved.

Wanted to inform. I will not be able to mid-day post, as I've got prior engagements. So, I will post a quick response to keep things moving. For now, just assume dancing and gossip. This next bit will last in game 1.5hours before the splitting of the party.

Also, with the amount of work that has gone in to your guys' characters right now, I by no means expect a house write-up.

If you want to do one, by all means feel free. Use this format as a base, and go from there. For existing house, please try to stick as close to Canaan as possible, but if they don't have much information, feel free to elaborate on what they do have.

I could also use help creating other NPC houses too. There are supposed to be literally hundreds of noble houses in Taldor

I have some ideas for houses, so after I get my stuff together I will start on them.

I vote for Patience is our Sword.

Edit: The house descriptions are amazing. Reading through them now!

Hello!

Hell of a day I had! I'm just getting back. I have kept up with your readings, and so will be posting shortly.

I am happy to see that I haven't chosen poorly in my characters and that you are all easily capable of keeping things moving even when I'm not able to give my full attention!

Post up.

Letting you all know, I'm working with Valignatir on kind of a "cutscene" deal before I make my next post. It'll definitely heat up the intrigue level.

I'm concerned about you two plotting...