Background
The year is 4760 and Mivon’s citizenry has had enough. For decades the nobility has become increasingly corrupt and prone to infighting while the citizenry has largely become lawless and rebellious. Something had to change.
The Revolt of 4758 saw the last Mayor pulled into the streets and hung by an angry mob. Mivon’s High General Armando Faustus used the country’s military to restore order to it’s capital city. Eventually order was restored and martial law was first turned over to the city’s Warden Camille Dantes and a new mayor was elected by the people Julias Thorne.
Mayor Thorne ran a campaign or reform and above all law and order. The city watch guard has been given a massive budget and an edict to quell the rebellious elements of the city and crackdown on crime. Camille Dantes in an effort to save her position has raised pay, bettered equipment, and most importantly opened the recruitment for new watch guards outside the fencing academies controlled by the nobility. For the first time watch guards can be recruited to the academy from any walk of life and background and graduate to take the guard watch oath.
You’re in that first wave, and a goodly number of your peers are ridiculous. The success or failure of this experiment is largely on you.
This is the official recruitment thread, strap on it’s gonna be a fun ride.
There’s more interesting tidbits and about the game I intend to run in the Interest check thread that you might want to check out.
3rd level
Races Core, Standard (except Triaxian), Featured (except Drow), Duergar, Grippli, Vanara, Vishkanya
Stat Generation
You can take a 20pt or a 15 pt buy if you take the 15pts you get an automatic 18 and an automatic 8 the 15pts are for the other 4 stats (yes this is a good deal mechanically.)
No stat lower than 6 after racial adjustments or higher than 20.
You can have another 5pts on your point buy by taking an Oracle Curse. You do not need to be an Oracle and this curse will not advance (I'll allow a homebrew feat to advance to 5th, 10th ect at appropriate levels.) This option is subject to approval, basically I'm going to be more involved in character creation to make sure that these are taken for RP purposes not just mechanics. I like merit/flaw mechanics but if this just becomes a min/max power grab I'll likely say no.
Traits 2 traits and you can take 2 flaws to add 2 more, take whatever category you like.
Classes Any paizo classes and archetypes. I'm willing to look at 3PP archetypes or alternative classes but they are subject to approval, Flying Pincushion Games Archetypes are of course pre-approved since I'm already familiar with it.
Since someone is going to ask: no to Spheres of might/magic or Paths of War or Psionics. I have nothing against this content I just don't feel like dealing with it as a GM.
Skills I decided to go with background skills after some consideration.
I also expect some background to explain some of your choices and in particular your flaws. 4-5 paragraphs should do the trick I’d rather not read more than 3 pages.
Ovar all I’m taking 5 players, I might add a 6th if I like the characters enough.
I like to experiment with mechanics. It’s one of the things that makes me a solid game designer so you will see curve balls thrown at you. I do not believe in fair as in not everything is scaled to your level and sometimes you might want to run away and get reinforcements. I’m not Montyhall but I’m not kid gloves either.
Sense of humor is a little important to me because real life is stressful enough. As an example one of the experienced officers leading your group at one point is a Lizardwoman in a heat cycle. She will act a lot like Sgt. Callahan in police academy, there’s a comedic element to the character and it’s tied to her sexuality a bit. I’m going to be upfront the game is a mix of humor and serious play if this doesn’t work for you don’t apply.
I’ve decided to make recruitment run from now to Friday 2/16. Between now and then I’ll comment on builds and backgrounds answer questions ect. As I demonstrated in the Interest check I’m willing to work with people if they have an idea outside the rules laid out but this is only a guarantee of consideration not approval.
Details will be added to the thread as I go. Bits like notable NPCs ect.
He woke up on the shores of the island several days later. All he remembered were a series of colors and sights which always faded from memory when he tries to recall them. However, the changes were easily seen.
Most damning to his kin was that when he woke, his shadow was gone. Stolen by the fey of the island. That, and there were changes within him. The world seemed dull...listless. The memory of what he had seen on the island called to him. The only thing that felt 'real' anymore were the waters of the Candlemere. In spring and summer, it would be vibrant green, speckled with bursts of color. In autumn, it became orange, yellow, and fiery red, and come winter the frozen surface obscured a deep black that mirrored the inky sky above the lake.
Time and time again he returned to the lake, always looking to *feel* real again. And as he grew, the mutterings of his clan became louder. That he had been changed. That he was not one of them. That his lack of a shadow was a tell-tale sign of weakness. That he had grown taller, and far more muscular, than any elf had a right to be. That there was something unnatural within his eyes. That he would bring ruin and disaster.
Eventually, the mutterings and whispers became more than hushed conversations. They became impossible to ignore. No longer feeling welcome within his own home, he came to the conclusion that it could no longer be called a home.
Leaving the forest behind him, and in truth, fleeing from the lake, he wandered. And what he came to was Mivon. The great city of man. He had never seen anything like it, for within his short life the greatest structure had ever seen was the ruined tower in Candlemere. To see the great walls, the towers, the uncountable homes, it was breath taking.
But...he had no skills. He had no contacts. He had no money. He freely wandered the streets, spending all day gawking at the sights. He spent his first night huddling in a gutter, wondering what he was supposed to do with himself.
Fortunately for him, his parents had believed in an education. And while he was quite slow by elven standards, he still learned how to read and write, both human and common. And because of that, he could read the signs on the street. And by fate or fortune, he read that the watch was hiring. And the rest, as they say, is history...
Fey/Nature Touched
* I used the tiefling chasis to make Eluvias. The resistances felt right for someone infused with nature, and the stats are much better for making a bloodrager.
* As per his background, he has a number of fey related choices. These include two drawbacks.
(1) Umbral Unmasking (You cast no shadow whatsoever, or the shadow you do have is monstrous. Under normal lighted conditions, this is not hard to observe—but uncommon to notice. Creatures that succeed at a DC 15 Wisdom check notice it plainly (an additional Perception check may be required based on environmental conditions). This telltale sign of wickedness cannot be concealed by misdirection, nondetection, or illusions, except those that also affect shadows (such as invisibility).)
(2) Fey Taken (As a child, you were whisked away by mischievous fey for a time. When you returned, you were ever after considered odd and distant. You long to return there, and find the mortal world dull and at times revolting, so you do not eat as you should and do not question strange visions. Effect: You take a –2 penalty on saving throws against disease, illusions, and poison of all kinds, as well as against the spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural abilities of fey.)
While Umbral Unmasking does not have any mechanical downsides, it can have some very serious social consequences. I took it because I liked the idea of the fey stealing his shadow, and thus a part of him. And Fey Taken is just plain nasty. -2 to disease, illusion and poison? Ouch. And being extra susceptible to fey is just a kick in the teeth.
In return though, I took (1) Fey Foundling (Whenever you receive magical healing, you heal an additional 2 points per die rolled. You gain a +2 bonus on all saving throws against death effects.
I'll admit that this does have a very strong bonus with his verdant bloodline. When he bloodrages he will have Fast Healing 3. Which is just downright great for keeping him in a fight.
* And finally, I chose the oracle curse 'deep one' to reflect that it was from the Candlemere lake that he became who he was. As I don't expect any swimming in this campaign, it comes down to being -5ft movement speed.
Equipment
He's got a +1 chain shirt and a +1 cloak of resistance. Both which are what he has brought with him from his elven clan. He also has a weapon which is his heirloom, a silver quarterstaff. This is in no way a good choice mechanically (an earthbreaker for example would be 2d6 damage and x3 crit, while he using a 1d6 x2 crit weapon instead). But it just felt right thematically. Plus as a watchman, he'd be carrying around a weapon which could be deadly, but which isn't designed to outright kill anyone.
Watchman
Diplomacy, Intimidate, Bluff, Sense Motive, Knowledge Local. They all seem like they would be good abilities for a watchman to have.
He will also have the personality of being very aloof. Of someone who looks down (without realizing it) on the city and all within it. While polite and very knowledgeable about the law, he will certainly have earned the moniker of 'the grim' based on his personality. The straight
Half Wealth by level to start because you get some serious police issue freebies. More to come but here's a preview:
You graduate the Academy and gain full permission as a Watch Guard once you attain fifth level and pass a test. Once a full member of the Guard you’ll gain extra equipment, skill bonuses, bonus feats, and perks based on your specialty.
All Police trainees are issued: 1 cure moderate potion, 1 cat’s grace or bull’s strength potion, a “trouble” whistle, 1 set of medium handcuffs, 1 +1 merciful melee weapon of choice, a choice of any magical armor or bracers of armor of upto a 4k value in addition to starting wealth. It is noted that getting fired involves turning in said armor items. Excessive potion requisitions will get you into trouble particularly if they do not lead to clean arrests.
Detective
Requirements Perception and Sense Motive in class skills with at least 3 ranks, Int 12 or better.
Trainees are issued Traveler's Any Tool, Eyes of the Eagle, sleeves of many garments, and an ioun torch.
Full members
-trade in their sleeves for a hat of disguise and reconnaissance gloves
-get +1 languages per rank in linguistics
-Access to the Investigator’s library which can add a +10 to knowledge checks
-Can either swap Int for Wis on perception, survival tracking, and sense motive checks or Wis for int on knowledge skill checks.
-half price potions and scrolls
Swat
Requirements Martial Weapon Prof, Medium Armor Prof, Shield Prof, Str of 13 or better
Trainees are issued +2 overall total bonus shield of choice, bonus MW weapon
Full members
-reduce all armor check penalties by 1 stacks with other methods
-+4 circumstance bonus to Intimidate checks in Mivon
Hammer or Anvil
-free tower shield prof, if you already have this free shield mastery
OR
-Improved Sunder for free no need for combat expertise, you may also trade in you +2 overall bonus shield for a free two-handed weapon.
Sniper
Requirements Precise Shot, Dex of 14 or better
Trainees are issued +2 ranged weapon of choice
Full members
-eyes of eagle, bracers of archery, efficient quiver or beneficial bandolier issued
-free regular ammo, half priced alchemical and magical
Hammer or Anvil
-+4 bonus to stealth in urban terrains
Officer
Requirements Any teamwork feat, Charisma pf 13 or better, prof with any martial weapon
Trainees are issued Kight’s Pennon (battle)
Full members
-Knight’s pennon gains honor ability as well and issued circlet of persuasion
-Flagbearer feat and free teamwork feat
-Aid another actions get an additional +2 benefit to their normal effects as long as it is another Guard watch memeber
"Twinklefoots"
Requirements cast 1st level spells
Trainees are issued 3 first level wands and a ring of protection
Full members
-free lesser metamagic rod, 2 2nd level wands and a 3rd level scroll of choice
-access to magical lab and alchemist lab
-one free metamagic feat
Going to edit Eluvias to be an archer.
Thematically it seems like something an elf would be.
He will be a slayer. Edits incoming.
* Any alignment restrictions?
* Hit points after first level?
* How will you handle ability scores adjustments from age categories?
* Guessing no to Young Characters (easy to understand), and no to templates (Lycanthropes would be too good as "sniffing dogs")?
* Any alignment restrictions?
* Hit points after first level?
* How will you handle ability scores adjustments from age categories?
* Guessing no to Young Characters (easy to understand), and no to templates (Lycanthropes would be too good as "sniffing dogs")?
In character detect evil is a part of the application so no evil.
Max HP at 1st and 1/2 +1 after
I already declined on templates. Age cats are fine beyond young because no one would hire a non adult to essentially be a cop in a violent city.
For some reason this reminds of Bright.
I'll try a law obsessed wizard...like abjurer researching the plane of Axis and trying to apply those ideals in real life, to comedic result.
I’m interested. Not sure what direction I’ll go yet. I wonder if a Vigilante would make a good detective...
For some reason this reminds of Bright.
I'll try a law obsessed wizard...like abjurer researching the plane of Axis and trying to apply those ideals in real life, to comedic result.
Police Academy, Bright, Lethal Weapon, Rush Hour, Training Day, Turner and Hooch, Robocop, and Law and Order are all influences on what I have in mind. But so is V for Vendetta and Les Miserables as there's a revolutionary element.
Mix in that this is taking place 50yrs forward of a Kingmaker game that stalled out 2nd book as part of it's inspiration so you have me recycling some of that preparation in particular 2 book villains from Kingmaker are possible problems.
I intend to mix skill challenges, heavy roleplay, combat, and a healthy dose of political intrigue in the mix. A politician's career is riding on your group's success and outside forces are watching this little experiment with interest.
Gun technology has not moved very far forward but the genie is out of the bottle and the technology is pretty much everywhere. Think 3 musketeers level guns and you have it right. AS such they are martial weapons.
@Ouachitonian Vigilantes would be useful, it is a good instinct.
DBH here with Milo from the interest thread.
MILO HANSE
Male Human (Ulfen) arcanist 3. NG medium humanoid (human)
Init +3; Senses Perception +6,
Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Draconic, Elven, Infernal, Orc, Skald, Sylvan, Taldane
AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 10
hp 20. Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +2
Base Atk +1; CMB +2; CMD 14
Abilities Str 13, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 20, Wis 8, Cha 14
Special Qualities Arcane Reservoir, Arcanist Spells Prepared, Bonus Feat, Dimensional Slide, Lightning Lance, Skilled, Weapon and Armor Proficiency,
Feats Fast Learner, Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot
Arcanist: Spells per Day: (5/3/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/ DC:15+spell level) Known:
0th - Acid Splash, Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Disrupt Undead, Mage Hand
1st - Burning Disarm, Ears of the City, Grease, Mage Armor, Magic Missile
Skills
Appraise +10,
Craft (Alchemy) +10,
Knowledge (Arcana) +10,
Knowledge (Dungeoneering) +9,
Knowledge (Engineering) +9,
Knowledge (Geography) +9,
Knowledge (History) +9,
Knowledge (Local) +9,
Knowledge (Nature) +9,
Knowledge (Nobility) +9,
Knowledge (Planes) +9,
Knowledge (Religion) +9,
Linguistics(Celestial, Orc, Sylvan) +11,
Perception +6,
Spellcraft +11,
Use Magic Device +8,
Possessions spellbook (arcanist's/blank);
Arcane Reservoir (Su) You have an innate pool of magical energy that you can draw upon to fuel your arcanist exploits and enhance your spells. The arcane reservoir can hold a maximum of 6 points of magical energy. Each day, when preparing spells, your arcane reservoir fills with raw magical energy, gaining a number of points equal to 4. Any points you had from the previous day are lost. You can also regain these points through the consume spells class feature and some arcanist exploits. The arcane reservoir can never hold more points than the maximum amount noted above; points gained in excess of this total are lost. Points from the arcane reservoir are used to fuel many of your arcanist powers. In addition, you can expend 1 point from your arcane reservoir as a free action whenever you cast an arcanist spell. If you do, you can choose to increase the caster level by 1 or increase the spell's DC by 1. You can expend no more than 1 point from your reservoir on a given spell in this way.
Arcane Temper You have quick reactions and fierce concentration. You gain a +1 trait bonus on concentration and initiative checks.
Arcanist Exploits By bending and sometimes even breaking the rules of magic, you learn to exploit gaps and exceptions in the laws of magic. Some of these exploits allow you to break down various forms of magic, adding their essence to your arcane reservoir. At 1st level and every 2 levels thereafter, you learn a new Arcanist Exploit. An arcanist exploit cannot be selected more than once. Once an arcanist exploit has been selected, it cannot be changed. Most arcanist exploits require you to expend points from your arcane reservoir to function. Unless otherwise noted, the saving throw DC for an arcanist exploit is equal to 13
Arcanist Spells Prepared Spell slots per day - 1st = 6, 2nd = 0, 3rd = 0, 4th = 0, 5th = 0, 6th = 0, 7th = 0, 8th = 0, 9th = 0
Bonus Feat Humans select one extra feat at 1st level.
Cantrips You can prepare 5 cantrips, or 0-level spells, each day. These spells are cast like any other spell, but they do not consume spell slots. As with her other spells, these spells are not expended when cast.
Consume Spells (Su) You can expend an available arcanist spell slot as a move action, making it unavailable for the rest of the day, just as if you had used it to cast a spell. She can use this ability a number of times per day equal to her Charisma modifier (minimum 1). Doing this adds a number of points to your arcane reservoir equal to the level of the spell slot consumed. You cannot consume cantrips (0 level spells) in this way. Points gained in excess of the reservoir's maximum are lost.
Dimensional Slide (Su) You can expend one point from your arcane reservoir to create a dimensional crack that you can step through to reach another location. This ability is used as part of a move action or withdraw action, allowing you to move up to 30 feet to any location you can see. This counts as 5 feet of movement. You can only use this ability once per round. You do not provoke attacks of opportunity when moving in this way, caused by this ability, but any other movement you attempt as part of your move action provokes as normal.
Lightning Lance (Su) You can unleash a lance of lightning by expending one point from your arcane reservoir and making a ranged touch attack against any one target within 30 feet. If the attack hits, it deals 2d6+2 points of electricity damage. The target's vision is also impaired, causing the target to treat all creatures as if they had concealment (20%) for 1 round. The target can attempt a DC 0 Fortitude saving throw to negate the impaired vision.
Seeker You are always on the lookout for reward and danger. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Perception checks, and Perception is always a class skill for you.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency Arcanists are proficient with all simple weapons. They are not proficient with any type of armor or shield. Armor interferes with an arcanist's gestures, which can cause her spells with somatic components to fail
Milo is very gifted academically and in magic. He is lacking in real life experience though. He's tall, well built and good looking. With the end of the old system of dueling for positions of authority he's looking to increase the respect for those who use their wits rather than their reflexes. And has gotten into trouble is the past by openly questioning the merit of Sword lords. He is that clueless.
* How will you handle ability scores adjustments from age categories?Age cats are fine beyond young because no one would hire a non adult to essentially be a cop in a violent city.
But how do you rule ability scores adjustments from age categories? Core or PFS like (purely cosmetic)?
Gun technology has not moved very far forward but the genie is out of the bottle and the technology is pretty much everywhere. Think 3 musketeers level guns and you have it right. AS such they are martial weapons.
Was about to ask about that.
you can use the age category adjustments to stats yes
Will complete the submission shortly
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Police Academy
Aha, I should make a bard that makes special effects sounds with his mouth then. :)
Thanks for the info. GM, After graduation, I see Taicho being undercover using 'characters' and 'disguises.' He's not smart enough to be a 'detective' can he still be undercover as an 'officer'?I just realized that Taicho cannot take 'officer' due to not having a 'teamwork feat.' If he goes 'Swat' can he apply the "+2 overall total bonus shield of choice," to 'two-weapon defense'?
you do not have to fully qualify until 5th level as you can be in training for any path.
For some reason this reminds of Bright.Police Academy, Bright, Lethal Weapon, Rush Hour, Training Day, Turner and Hooch, Robocop, and Law and Order are all influences on what I have in mind. But so is V for Vendetta and Les Miserables as there's a revolutionary element.
Mix in that this is taking place 50yrs forward of a Kingmaker game that stalled out 2nd book as part of it's inspiration so you have me recycling some of that preparation in particular 2 book villains from Kingmaker are possible problems.
Can we expect silliness à la Spaceball, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Loaded Weapon 1, etc as well?
I'm walking a tightrope of serious and humorous tones in my vision for the game.
I am very interested in this campaign and I love the emphasis on fully fleshed out characters with defining flaws and weaknesses.
I have an idea for a character, but I wanted to get pre-approval (or pre-consideration) before I continued building the character. I am interested in creating a Human Vigilante (Zealot) with the 3PP Curse Child (from the book Oracle's Curse created by Tripod Machine). The character's social identify would be a human adult trapped/cursed/blessed in a child's body, and in his vigilante identity he would pretend to be an adult Halfling. I think this would be both enjoyable and comical to roleplay and add a lot of unique characterization.
If so approved, would you consider both identifies to be categorized as small or medium (it matters not to me)?
While technically a 3rd party class, I'd like to request The Priest, which is mechanically closer to an Archetype. If allowed, I don't suppose I could also add the Evangelist archetype?
Current plan is a pretty old Aasimar priest who had a desk job for most of his life, and seeks to see the streets and keep the folks he's been fixing for years from getting shot in the first place.
@Magicblast I approve creation, small would be correct.
@Vagabond familiar with priest approve that but not stacking with evangelist
@Taicho Blackfeather it is a +2 magical shield you can have a weapon instead with up to an overall +2 bonus
I am thinking caster...I really like Mesmerist. A former(?) con artist who sees a good opportunity....thinking...
@Taicho Blackfeather it is a +2 magical shield you can have another piece of armor instead.
Officer track update:
Officer
Requirements Any teamwork feat PR the ability to confer a +1 morale bonus to a group, Charisma pf 13 or better, prof with any martial weapon, 1 rank in Diplomacy
Trainees are issued Kight’s Pennon (battle)
Full members
-Knight’s pennon gains honor ability as well and issued circlet of persuasion
-Flagbearer feat and free teamwork feat
-Aid another actions get an additional +2 benefit to their normal effects as long as it is another Guard watch member
Damn...I’m so tempted to make a new character.
Dwarven Swat.
Build.. Dwarven Warshields. +1 with Bashing Enchantment.
Wears a +1 merciful Dwarven Boulder Helmet, so he can headbutt people into compliance.
Need to send someone into the breach? Throw the dwarf into it.
God damn it. That’s too awesome. Rebuild coming.
Grumbaki here. Withdrawing Eluvias. Presenting Sven.
A dwarf swat. Carries around a heavy shield, wears fullplate, and has a thick helmet. No weapon in sight.
He fights with his shield (when buffed +10 Hit, 2d6+12 damage!) and when he needs to take people back alive he headbutts them into submission (+9 Hit, 1d4+1d6+8 nonlethal).
Thematically he is everything a swat member should be. And I think that the fighting style skirts the edge of seriousness/humor that the campaign is going for.
Any job like patrolman, guard, escort, Medical Examiner, etc?
Would you allow the Minotaur Double Crossbow? It deals 1d10 damage, but fires two bolts with each shot(meaning it doubles non-precision damage).
Any job like patrolman, guard, escort, Medical Examiner, etc?
I'm considering a few more career paths.
Mainly:
Secret Service- Basically a job built around being a very competent bodyguard.
Kennelmaster/Stableman/Falconer- You care for and fight alongside an AC you're both working.
Union Lifer- You don't want no specialties or promotions, you just want to do this long enough for a pension and retire (the focus here would be lesser benefits but very easy entry.)
Would you allow the Minotaur Double Crossbow? It deals 1d10 damage, but fires two bolts with each shot(meaning it doubles non-precision damage).
Link it? If its the one I'm thinking of doesn't that have like a -4 to hit?
@Gm Solspiral
This is Dorian Grey.
Given the fun nature of your game, would this little fella be acceptable (after adjusting to your specs)?
I really have fun with these two (toad is purely comic relief nothing mechanicly). Unfortunately, their games were prematurely ended.
I can see some more fun times here...lol.
Thank you for running.
Would you allow the Minotaur Double Crossbow? It deals 1d10 damage, but fires two bolts with each shot(meaning it doubles non-precision damage).Link it? If its the one I'm thinking of doesn't that have like a -4 to hit?
A -2 penalty. The fiddlyness is worth it though, for a crossbow that potentially rivals what bows can do.
Link. And text below, for ease:
Racial Weapon: Minotaur Double Crossbow
Minotaurs have a love of complicated things, and the double crossbow is one of their favorites. This heavy weapon fires a pair of iron-tipped bolts with deadly accuracy. Due to its size and weight, however, non-proficient wielders suffer a –8 penalty on their attack rolls. Even proficient wielders take a –2 penalty on their attack rolls. If the attack is successful, the target takes the listed damage twice, although critical hits and precision-based damage are only applied to one of the bolts.Reloading a double crossbow takes 2 standard actions (one for each bolt), although the Rapid Reload feat reduces this to 2 move actions (meaning that it can be accomplished in 1 round).
If you’d like to equip a minotaur with one of these, add a “Ranged” line to the Offense section of the Minotaur like the following (assuming as a racial weapon no additional proficiency feats are required for a minotaur wielder):
Ranged minotaur double crossbow +4 (4d8 19–20/x2 [critical to 2d8 damage only])
The plan would be something like Bolt Ace 5/Something else 15. Inquisitor, Ranger or Fighter, like as not. I might shoot for Vital Strike and make a literal sniper - this thing is potentially functional that way.
So...4d8 damage, twice. 8d8 on a hit. With many shot that is 16d8. Crossbow Mastery let’s you reload as a free action, and bolt ace lets you get dex to damage as well. Inquisitor on top of that would net you Swift Action bane.
Assuming Dex20 at lvl10, with crossbow mastery, rapid shot, many shot...
That becomes 3 shots per round. First Hit is 16d8+2d6+6 damage. Subsequent hits are 8d8+2d6+6 damage.
Sounds nasty if my math is right!
It's not quite right - for starters, the numbers are for Minotaurs which are large sized, so that's a large crossbow. And "the listed damage twice" is misleading - the line for the statblock already includes the doubling, that's why it says only 2d8 can crit.
And crossbows never qualify for manyshot.
It results in a medium crossbow that does 2d10 damage normally, and 3d10 on a crit.
Edit: The big thing about it is not so much the base damage as it is that it effectively doubles bonus damage, as long as it's not precisionbased, i.e. the investigator's studied combat bonus or sneak attack.
At level 3, it's not impressive. Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot & Rapid Reload on a +1 seeking minotaur double crossbow means I shoot 1 time for 2d10+2, with a nonstandard -2 to hit before having to spend two move actions reloading. Rapid Shot, Crossbow Mastery helps a bit, and so does Dex to damage from Bolt Ace 5. At that point, I could be looking at (assuming 20dex) +7/+7 for 2d10+12 or +8 & +14 with point blank shot.
Edit2: If this is all to fiddly and char-op'y for this game, that's perfectly fine. I just liked the idea of a crossbow sniper, and pathfinder typically doesn't reward it as well as normal bows.
@groundhog the one I'm familiar with and is this one which is fine but it has a fair drawback for it's damage double crossbow
Bear in mind I'm completely okay with repeating crossbows which helps them keep up with bows. Bolt Ace also ramps things up a bit and I am fairly generous with treasure.
Eh, could we remove the rule that says that Crossbow Mastery can't make it a free action to reload it? I can work with the larger to hit penalty, shorter range increment and smaller damage die, but *never* being able to full attack, use the sniping rules or move-and-attack in the same round is a bit much to swallow.
Eh, could we remove the rule that says that Crossbow Mastery can't make it a free action to reload it? I can work with the larger to hit penalty, shorter range increment and smaller damage die, but *never* being able to full attack, use the sniping rules or move-and-attack in the same round is a bit much to swallow.
So use you +2 ranged weapon of choice for a +1 shadow shooting double crossbow and never worry about reloading... The top part can be modified as a repeater as better tech is now available and I'll rule you need not fire both at once so you can forgo the -4 when just using the top.
I'm more than willing to work with you.
I was thinking a goblin and his toad...
I can't help but keep thinking of the watch from Diskworld.