Merchants and Marvels (Inactive)

Game Master Mowque

For all future discussion

Checking in :)

So going to stat out that boat and such?

My current boat or the one I am aiming to replace it with?

The one for this game.

Well if Rileng is setting out to make a vast fortune across the inner sea, may as well use up one to make his mobile base and new shop. He is going to be in Magnimar a while during the build.

Rileng is going to have to start making profits quick to get this sucker built and furbished. The life of a merchant is never easy. ;)

How much money do you have to even pay a downpayment?

Well I didn't go crazy with stuff, magic items, or formula's so I have 14902 gp. I would like to keep some walking around money so let's say an even 14k as downpayment would leave 13500 gp that needed to be paid off. That's more then half down, Rileng should be able to get the rest before they are done building it. With that down payment he would only be paying for labor anyways so the ship builders won't lose from the start. :)

Do you want the ship to be partially done when we start? I doubt we want to wait for the total construction.

How many crew do you want to have and how many 'elite' folks do you want to recruit?

It can be partly done, so long as Rileng has enough time to get the rest of the money.

As for crew, I need at least 20 to run the ship. So 20 sailors, 10 siege sailors, 10 marines, a cook, a carpenter, a master at arms, a master gunner, and a quartermaster. That's a total of 45 ship crew. The sailors, siege sailors, and marines are pretty specialized so would not count as elite I think, the marines are kind of on the line I guess. Leaving 5 elites I suppose in the rest sense their leader/vital types.

Btw Rileng will also recruit at least one personal bodyguard and one assistant (for lack of a better term) that will be less crew and more entourage.

Would you like to start?

Ready when you are. Got to test the waters to see where to make me some profit. Their is always the old stand by of bounties or mercenary work. :)

Couple more questions...

So Rileng is Lawful Neutral. So he won't be breaking the law in this game, then? He wants to make all his money legally?

What exactly are 'iron vials' you have listed?

As for crew...I am thinking general sailors and some others can be hired easily. The ones that will require some 'RP' (and maybe a side quest or two) would be...

1. A Ship's captain (you have no profession sailor so someone needs to steer and handle the ship. Obviously you'd be in charge but you need a nautical man).

2. A Master at arms (some skilled fighter/commander)

3. A master gunner (not so common!)

4. A navigator of some sort.

Not counting your bodyguard and 'assistant'

How does that sound?

The extracts with the lines through them, are they the ones you used today already?

Lawful Neutral is a very complex and misunderstood alignment. In Rileng's case he gives off lawful in the sense of structure and keeping his word when given, as well as his own personal code. In the rare case where he is pinned down into breaking one of his own rules or not, he will always refuse to break his own rule even if it's not in his best interest. Doing so would be a alignment shift and a lot of things would have to build up to it. As for neutral, it's pretty simple. He does what is best, if that means being involved or doing evil acts he has no problem. But he takes no joy in it nor is it his go to option. Both good and evil are tools to him, not the goal or motivation. If you think a alignment change is in order I am fine with it.

Rileng will make his money legally and without breaking the law, simply because it's not worth the risk. If presented with a chance to make a great deal of money with little to no risk concerning the law, he would likely take it depending on it's nature.

Iron vials are the same as regular ones, just made out of iron and not glass. So they won't break very easy and ruin they contents. It's sort of important for alchemist and heavy potion users. Naturally they cost, but not much.

Concerning the crew it sounds about right.

Yes the extracts crossed out have been used, they have a 24 hour duration so I thought why not.

Going to go walk through Rag's End to dare me?

Also, you are a very organized player. Makes it very easy to runt his game, so far. Thanks. The time you put into it, makes the game much better.

Only with a few bodyguards and a wizard with enough fireballs to burn down the place. ;)

No problem, I am a stickler for details most of the time. I think it helps with things.

Been thinking about my first bodyguard. If you don't mind I would like them to be Shoanti (leaving everything else to you), I just think that's perfect for RP in Magnimar and opens up alot of opportunities for stuff. On a less meta side, Rileng would not mind a shoanti at all as he does not care about race and all that nonsense they get in Magnimar and just about every city in Verisia. If anything he would use that to his advantage and like it, they have no conflict of loyalty besides maybe their own people. Even then they are a prideful people who value honor so far less inclined to betray even for them.

Btw in case it was not apparent, on work days I post alot less then weekends. But I can keep up at least one per day, more if I am lucky. :)

Shoanti is fine, I certainly won't stop you. Just go to hang out in a Shoanti bar or two. Up to you. You are in the driver's seat this game.

That is fine. Most players post more on weekdays and shut down on weekends, so a nice balance. I am generally more busy on weekends then weekdays.

Did you like the story hooks? Were they believable, interesting?

Yeah the story hooks are good and I have no trouble thinking they would be common in that sort of city. Was curious what the church would ask of Rileng, as for the golemworks. Mages always want something strange and dangerous if not dangerous to get, I rather be the mage then the help. xP

Looking forward to what the mysterious Aspis job is about.

Now that you got me thinking on languages, do you allow the optional training rules for learning a new language?

Basically you learn a new language by spending 20 days (need not be back to back) learning a new language from a trainer or book that knows one of your languages and the new one your learning. They don't count towards your maximum and you can only learn this way 1+Int times.

Yes Rileng is a geek for that sort of thing. :)

I'll say yes BUT you need to interact with an NPC to do it. No easy way out of buying a book. I'll make you RP and work at it.

No problem, once the gold starts flowing I am sure he can hire a language tutor. Anyways ship travel takes time so once he starts moving their will be some sort of down time between the monsters and such as well. ;)

Rileng's Early Morning Shopping List

3rd Level Formula- 90 gp
Skyrocket Firework- 50 gp
Smokestick- 20 gp
Thunderstone- 30 gp
Superior Invisible Ink- 75 gp
Total- 265 gp

Figuring out what he may or may not do with all this, Priceless! xP

Interesting choices.....I look forward to seeing it in action.

Sorry I did not have the list up at the same time. I post IC before posting OOC so I was writing the list when you saw it. Try to be faster next time, I just don't like to clog up the game play thread with OOC stuff as much as possible.

At least not when I have access to something outside a phone.

By the way, some DM's list basic defenses for encounters to save time.

Example
Thug A- AC 20, Touch 11, Flat Footed 19, Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +2

Normally at the bottom of post in spoilers or OOC text.

By the way, some DM's list basic defenses for encounters to save time.

Example
Thug A- AC 20, Touch 11, Flat Footed 19, Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +2

Normally at the bottom of post in spoilers or OOC text.

You wish!

No, in a solo game combat moves quick enough. In a group game, yeah I'd list AC and such. But here, I can afford to keep a few secrets....

besides, maybe I need to fudge so the ooze can eat you!

That's just silly, what ooze......are....y.....OH MY GOD IT'S EATING MY FOOT! O.O

Will anyways I leave the hit and miss descriptions to you then. Less work for me. Ha!

Did Rileng's knowledge rolls give him anything?

Cause OOC I have some thoughts about stuff but if Rileng does not know he can not have or suspect such thoughts IC. :)

I hope you are not bothered that I did some rolling for you. Just trying to move things along, no railroading intended.

Railroading would be tough int his game since I have no plot in mind!

I can't make all the rolls sometimes, that's true for perception most of all. So I don't mind to much, I hold the right to groan none the less mind you when you roll a nat 1 in my name. But as long as it's not lethal and keeps things moving it's cool. :)

I think that still works?

Rogue rolled pretty well there.

I edited, I don't like to eat up post if I don't have to. ;)

Btw these guys are tough, Rileng just had time to prepare sense his scrap this morning. If he knew about the battle or expected it he would not have left two of his extract slots open. Not to mention he has a little back up and their not ganging up on him as much because they wanted to do a snatch and grab. If those four went at him full power from the start, I have no illusions about Rileng getting killed or running again.

Those three brutes got him good after all, Rileng is just slippery by nature so they didn't finish him. xP

I've been running these games for years. This is actually the first time a PC has looted fallen enemies.

I feel I have passed a RPG rite of passage.

I think you saw the post I deleted. I didn't notice the rogue was still on the ship the first read thru.

I think you'll be tickled with the new post too none the less.

So, assuming you get all that gold to the ship-builders, it'll be a decent chunk paid off. And all you had to do was make a pile of deadly enemies!

Nah, Rileng does not play that. It's only been a day sense they made me an enemy. Give me another and they'll learn that was not very smart. >:)

Anyways by my count I only have 2, the Aspis Consortium have nothing to be mad about. Not yet anyways and I won't be the one making them mad if they do figure it out.

You can always wait till you get home, if you desire longer posts. I simply don't post from my phone, ever.

I desire for the game to move forward because I enjoy it. :D

I just don't want you to think I am getting lazy or disinterested by posting shorter post then normal. Some DMs react to that and some don't, simply felt the need to explain it.

Are you enjoying the game?

I only ask because you seem to dismiss the NPCs. That strikes me a story problem for me. Something I need to work on?

What do you mean dismiss the NPC?

Got some time now, so I guess I will explain a few things in case it's hazy. Rileng plays things close to the vest as it were. More so when he suddenly finds himself surrounded by enemies.

Now that he has some time and no one is trying to kidnap/kill him. Rileng is looking for crew and more people to add to his entourage, their by increasing his resources and ability to gain resources. By way of adding Arazella or a meat shield type. His current bodyguard does not fit that bill and is more assassin/spy really. Nothing wrong with that but he needs someone that can take hits and not just dish them out. He himself being a good example of being skewed towards glass canon when buffed.

P.S. I enjoy this game very much. I think the fact we are already on page 3 speaks for itself. xP

Going to post somethings so you don't have to ask.

Rileng is playing with 5 gamblers, not counting the dealer which counts as the house. The game is going to be a cross between 21 and poker.

I leave the Gambler's bluff and slight of hand DC up to you, but if Rileng's Sense Motive or Perception beats theirs respectively then he gets a +1 to his hand as well as a +1 per 5 he beats their DC.

The sense motive bonus effects his ability to predict their hands value and any bonuses increase his score. The perception bonus is to catch any off behavior like cheating, teaming up, or dirty dealing. This bonus applies to his hand as a bonus to counter anything done against him only by that person or team. It does not add a bonus to his hand for all opponents.

A Int check will represent someone's hand every round. Their are a maximum of 5 rounds at which point you will be forced to show your hand. You can show your hand earlier in the rounds but doing so forces everyone to show their hand. Every round after the first you roll a new Int check, if it's higher then the one before it then you add the difference. Bonuses gained via sense motive or perception stack and carry over.

Getting a nat 20 in the first round means you roll again the second round and add that to the 1st round's score. You treat the 2nd round roll as your first, unless you roll a nat 20 again in which case it carries over again. You get the idea, this means getting a nat 20 will not cripple you after the first round.

Betting is done every round, their is a minimum and anyone can raise it as normal by increasing the stakes come their turn. This allows someone to buy out their opponents by forcing a fold. But it also allows anyone that meets your raise the ability to confront, forcing everyone to show their hands regardless of round or turn. Making raising the stakes risky as well.

If I missed anything then let me know. Also I am making up the cards as I go and their value because I am not creating a deck. xP

P.S. Profession (Gambler) or other skill can replace bluff, you don't need to be a good liar to be a good gambler. Just the most common skill. ;)

Um, I appreciate all the thought you've put into this and it is an interesting attempt to semi-randomize a card game with pathfinder mechanics, but I'm really not interested in actually replicating a card game. I know that a game can provide insight to character (I've watched James Bond play baccarat ) but this is far more detailed then I really want to do every time I post in this game.

Would you mind if we just abstracted the game to a Int Roll, a Sense Motive and perception check?

No problem, I would hate to bog down the game. :D

I hate to be a downer but that was too much to do...

Want to do another post?

As I said, no worries, posted. But man I hate those dice sometimes. This is why skill monkeys rebel and burn inspiration in my case. My mods defy you! xP

Besides the meeting with Shelia, if she gets back to him. Rileng is going to start looking for a location for his base of operations. He probably be looking in Underbridge, one of the water pilings or a coastal location. A place that has access to the water for when his ship finally gets built. Not to mention Underbridge has the cheapest land prices, or none if you can claim the area as others do from time to time.

Shelia said she could help with the Ushers so Rileng would bring that up during their meeting. Once his price for the information was being worked out he would have that added into consideration. He would rather have her use politics then pay basically extortion. ;)

Until his meeting with Shelia he will go real estate hunting in the Underbridge. Never hurts to keep on building.

You want me to post?

Yep, depending on if I get a letter or not will pretty much determine what I will do for the day. I doubt a messenger is going to find me anywhere I may be in the city. :)