Welcome, one and all, to the paizo forums, to your first play-by-post campaign, and to my world...
This thread is intended as an interest check for members of the Art Institute of Houston's Gaming Evolution League, and for members of the Path of Frost gaming clan (SURPRISE!) More information and rules will follow, as I want everyone to have a chance to get acquainted with this format, but first, a taste of what's to come...
The mortal races, however, are not so easily broken, and in the wake of Kharon's death, have not only recovered, but begun to thrive. On the very slopes of Kharon's mountain lair they have built a new settlement. it is a momunent to the ingenuity and tenacity of a united people. It is a place of innovation and security for a now isolated populace. Surrounded by the savage nomads of the Bloodspire Orc tribes in the plains below, and faced with the lingering remains of a centuries-long winter brought on by the arrogance of the world's last dragon, the people of this forward-thinking town have adapted to survive.
This is Skyridge.
Between the technological and arcane developments of the ingenious Cloudseekers, the blessings of the druidic Circle of Stone, the shrewd Dwarves of the Brewbane clan, and the bold tenacity of the recently established Skyknights, Skyridge has become a bastion of civilization in a world struggling to shake off the chill of the grave. Its people now challenge the death throes of a tyrannous ice age with a lofty goal: To reclaim the sky for mortalkind and take to the clouds.
This is your home.
you are among the people of Skyridge. You've grown up sharing their dream, chasing it in your own way...and that dream is in jeopardy.
Caravans to and from the Algolian Garrison below are being ambushed with more ferocity than ever before; the military escorts the crown provides are no longer enough. Imported supplies are becoming scarce. Crucial research projects are being sabotaged. The coal pulled from the mountain is barely sufficient to fight the frigid peak winds. Food is disappearing. New monsters are emerging from the mountains, pinning the people between old foes and new threats.
Worst of all, hushed rumors abound of a dire secret unearthed within Kharon's mountain tomb. Though the dragonlord lies dead and buried, his lair remains largely unexplored; cave-ins stymie the progress of tunnelers, traps threaten would-be explorers, and subterranean denizens prowl the caverns for warm-blooded prey. Some hope that warmth and wealth can be found among the remains of the killer of dragonkind, but none doubt the lingering dread emanating from within...
Will you be the flame that carries your peoples' dream forward, or will you--and the dream--succumb to the cold?
As this is a preliminary interest check, all I ask at this point is for those interested to create their Paizo account and create a messageboard alias. I will provide help with the process for all who need it. Once sufficient interest is expressed, I will add further information and character creation rules.
Hope you're not afraid of heights...
Well Hello
I am all good for trying to join this.
Lt Crunch reporting for duty!
I'm up for it.
A brief overview of the major factions within Skyridge is now in the campaign info tab; feel free to start brewing ideas about your character.
More info on the town itself and character creation shortly.
You have my attention
So far so good. I'd like to wait until a couple more people have had a chance to weigh in; there are some busy schedules among us and I want everyone to have a clean shot at joining. Depending on the final head count, I may or may not have to hold a recruitment contest.
In the meantime, I can at least start doling out a few bits of info and a few of the creation rules. All die rolls will be done using the messageboard dice roller; see the "how to format your text" dropdown below for more info on how to use this.
1 Goblin
2 Half-orc
2-8 Human
8 Half-elf
9-10 Halfling
10-12 Gnome
13-16 Dwarf
17-18 Elf
19 ifrit, oread, sylph, or undine
20 ???
A quick primer on the races of the world:
Goblins Goblins have been troublemakers in Algol for a LONG time; sometimes purposefully, sometimes incidentally. Their tendency to use fire to simultaneously solve problems and entertain themselves has occasionally led others to appreciate their love of fire, but mpre often has left them with a sour reputation after burning down a home or ten...be prepared to collaborate stories and deal with some hate...Goblins are NOT popular in Skyridge.
Half-Orcs Since Orcs have been the single most prevalent threat to the safety of travelers and towns alike for centuries, it should come as no surprise that Half-Orcs are viewed with, at best, extreme suspicion. A Half-Orc in Skyridge will have to endure scrutiny and mistrust as he works tirelessly to earn a reputation as anything but a savage.
humans As some of the first people to reject Kharon's rule and leave for the frozen wastes, humans have proven their tenacity time and again. They've had a hand in the founding of kingdoms and the winning of wars, and will fit in nicely...most of the time.
Half-Elves Given that the vast majority of Elves have been withdrawn to their ancestral home in Redwood Forest for a long time, and that in centuries past they've gone to war, even with humanity, seeing a child born between an Elf and a human is a truly momentous thing. This deserves a quality backstory.
Halflings Halflings in Algol are about where one might expect: constantly underfoot. They are not completely absent from the annals of history, but neither have they been at the forefront of myth and legend...at least outside their own circles. From pickpockets to pioneers, halflings have shown they can adapt, and that they're capable of anything.
Gnomes Gnomes have been responsible for a great many inventions and new spells over the centuries; a gnome designed the initial plans for Skyridge, and a gnome created the city's best heat source, a transportation system, AND a criminal justice tool...all in one device! A gnome will enjoy some respect for what he is, but he'll face high expectations, given the shoes he has to fill.
Dwarves As the economic heavyweights of Skyridge, Dwarves enjoy a respect their kind hasn't known for centuries since the displacement of their underground kingdom. The Dwarves of Skyridge count among their numbers merchants, soldiers, miners, innkeepers, and unanimously respected brewmasters. Some might even argue that they are the ones who run Skyridge...though never openly.
Elves The Elves of Redwood have been isolationist ever since Kharon's genocide. Since his death, they've begun to trickle back into the world, each seeking something different. An Elf in Skyridge would likely need a strong sense of purpose and a very good reason to trade his forest for a chilly, secluded mountain slope.
Half-elementals Though the dragons are gone, the elements are alive and well in Algol, though drastically out of balance. A half-elemental, while rare, would have every chance to succeed and win a place for herself in Skyridge, though one should expect a mixture of suspicion, bewilderment, common misconceptsions, and sometimes unhealthy curiosity from the natives...
Mystery race What. You think I'll spoil it? If it happens, we'll talk. You COULD always burn your dice pool on rerolls...
From the primordial muck, arises...
STR: 13
DEX: 12
CON: 14
INT: 13
WIS: 13
CHA: 10
So I be a dwarf. A well endowed and gifted dwarf at that.
“As a man, casting off worn out garments taketh new ones, so the dweller in the body, entereth into ones that are new."
It matters not how straight the gate, how charged with punishments the dice. I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.
STR: 11
DEX: 11
CON: 11
INT: 18 (+2)
WIS: 15
CHA: 11
I am a human genius, first in class at Skyridge Prep.
got to figure out how to get the green dice rolls...
spending 1d6
Quick aside: Flyn, you haven't checked in. This is a closed recruitment. Could you clarify who you are, please? I've already extended the appropriate invitations and we aren't looking for pickups at this point...
Well lets see what I get.
Lets go RNGesus.
I think RNGesus has smiled a bit.
STR: 15
DEX: 16
CON: 10
INT: 10
WIS: 15
CHA: 12
Update: I've added some more details about Skyridge in the campaign info tab; hopefully this will whet some appetites and provide some inspiration.
Since we've officially started the creation process, it's a good idea to start clarifying some standards and etiquette.
Best method: click on 'my account' at the top of the page, scroll down to 'messageboard aliases' and click 'create new.' This opens a blank alias with the appropriate tabs, and hopefully the rest is self-explanatory. I highly recommend the use of the 'spoiler' formatting to save space, as there's a lot of info that goes into a character sheet. There are several ways to organize your character's information, and I don't have a strict preference; as long as your details are clear, the components can easily be identified and separated, and everything stays accurate, you may arrange how you wish. Feel free to glance at some of my aliases for an example of how I do it.
Lastly, don't forget to browse through avatars. you might be surprised at what you find for a posting avatar, and the images help break up the walls of text we might be seeing from time to time. To select your avatar, go to 'my account' and click 'edit' next to your alias name. Click 'change' and have fun sorting by race, type, gender, etc. Ignore the 'pathfinder society' section; it's of no consequence here.
'One post' however, does not mean 'one line,' nor does it mean 'one novel.' If I post 'he turns his back to you' on Tuesday and I see 'I pick his pocket' from you on Thursday, I'm going to start throwing some suspicious glances your way. You have plenty of time to think about your actions, your words, your thoughts, and the narrative descriptions that support them, BEFORE you actually post; make use of that! We're writing a story here! Let's flex those literary muscles and USE our words! I don't want to see 'I attack,' followed by your dice roll, nor do I want a Shakespearean sonnet with an asterisk and a *hello at the bottom every time an NPC shows up. Use a notepad, spellcheck, refine your typing a little, consider how your action looks, sounds, smells; make it look engaging and interesting, and above all, don't step on toes! Don't say 'I disarm him, catch his sword, stab him with it, and laugh haughtily at him,' because something like that's likely to require some ROLLS at the very least; at worst, you may be not only assuming someone's action incorrectly, but you may be seen as a spotlight hogger who's trying to rob others of their chance to do something. If, on the other hand, the group ends up collaborating to the point where that kind of thing is agreed upon and PLANNED by all involved, then by all means, write like a team! Just make sure that, no matter how bad it gets for your characters, the PLAYERS are still having their fair share of fun.
SPEAKING of classes...
Your character class should, ideally, emerge from your background, not the other way around. If you're using the 10-minute background or any variation of it, and you have enough sense of adventure to let the character grow into its own, it'll emerge natrually. HOWEVER, I do have a wrench to throw in the gears:
There are lots of classes which simply aren't very suitable for the setting: cavalier, inquisitor, gunslinger, ninja, antipaladin, and samurai--there are just too many reasons they would be out of place. There should be virtually no reason your background leads you into one of these classes, to be honest. Maybe in another campaign and another place, but not this one.
No clerics. That's not a typo. Religion isn't as much a focus in Skyridge, and there aren't really any established churches at the moment; the last thing that passed for a church in the region was the devout following of Kharon, aaaaaaaand we all know why THEY wouldn't have a church today, don't we?
Paladins may exist, but they are not champions of a god...or at least, not one they can quite identify. More on that later, assuming anyone actually thinks paladin is a viable choice for their background, but much of what applies to Clerics applies here.
For most other cases...I'd like to approach them on a case-by-case basis. As a habit, I tend not to look too closely at third-party materials; they have a reputation for being...unbalanced. If something catches your eye and seems VERY appropriate for your background AND the setting, bring it to my attention and we'll examine it more closely. Otherwise, Paizo material should cover most niches quite well.
flesh out your backgrounds a bit, figure out where you might have fit into Skyridge, and create a person. Once we have some solid backgrounds, I'll go over them with you and help figure out everyone's final selections.
Take your time with this process, and don't hesitate to ask tough questions. The more emphasis we place on this, the more likely we'll have robust, enjoyable characters to play out. I'll be on hand to review backgrounds/choices, help with corrections, advise on optimizing your experience on the boards, and approve final character sheets when all's said and done. Be prepared to rethink a few things, too: I may yet have a surprise or two to throw your way. I'll try not to completely derail a background, but there's a good chance some might be steered in a slightly different direction.
By the way, I forgot to add something near the beginning of character creation. I don't see alignments in the traditional sense, and I intend to express that here.
Alignment restrictions on classes are lifted. Alignment will not be a checklist of actions that I use to push you out of alignment and penalize you. Those classes that normally have a restriction will instead have more of a code they live by, and egregious violations of that code may cause the appropriate penalties. Less black and white, more gray.
Here goes
Within the flames of vengeance rises Draken, reborn from the ashes to bring forth something new.
str: 15 ()
dex: 8 (+2)
con: 13 ()
int: 12 ()
wis: 10 (-2)
cha: 14 (+2)
spending 1d6
screw it since i cant role play what i dont know here is my last reroll RNJESUS HELP ME!!!
Freyr Gram at your service.
Alias Change so no one get confused
Within the pale white room, rested a pool of ashes, three humans and a dwarf. The ashes glowed with a iridescent orange as a strange wind blew through the room.
As ashes start to drift off across the pale, bland room, an arm shoots out of the ashes and claws at the floor. Dark grey scales, seemingly edged in molten gold, cover the back of the hand and arm. Bronze skin along the arm bunches as the arm flexes as if from immense effort.
Horns burst out of the ashes, along with a head and shoulders. Ribbons of fire wreathe the head behind the horns; horns plated on top with scales similar to those on the arms, and ribbed on the bottom of the same horns that reach out in front of the head for almost a foot long.
Pointed ears ,and a face almost as fair as an elf's, rests beneath these same horns.
within seconds the rest of the figure emerges from the ashes. Aside from the matching scales running down the front of the legs, the rest of the body resembles that of a human with bronze skin, encased in leather armor. Standing up to his full height, the Half fire elemental cracks it's neck once, Twice, before opening its molten eyes.
"Greetings...." Grumbles Draken as he scans the room. All six of the marked Golden miniature, dart sized, obelisks hanging from Draken's ears collide with each other and create a metallic clang that echoes through the room.
Jeez, your Ifrit sounds more like a Tiefling that just escaped from the inferno...
Which reminds me: if people are getting some backgrounds written up, it's a good time to post them in your alias to see how they stack up. I'd like to review them for errors and potential...'issues,' as well as help clear up any challenges and fill any gaps. It'd also be a good way to see whose lives intertwine prior to the introduction. Collaboration is good!
Salutations! I have created a very tentative character background and I would love suggestions/constructive criticism as to what I need to do as well as the direction to focus my creative energy.
Alright, quick check-in:
Edric: I like what I'm seeing so far. Some good insertions into world lore, good job putting some names to faces and helping establish some prominent names in the setting. Can't help but think of Nicholas Cage with that avatar...heh.
Freyr: Off to a good start, though may I recommend a little...indentation? Wall of text crits you for 9001 damage. Good idea to read it back to yourself so you can hear how it sounds; a little refinement will go a long way, but it's a good foundation nonetheless.
Everybody else: having trouble? haven't seen any updates and backgrounds yet. If anyone's discovered they won't have the time or inclination, don't be ashamed to say so. Sames goes for those having trouble. send me a PM, or post here to seek aid from your party. We all have experiences to draw from.
Once we get a few backgrounds established, it'll be a little easier for people to start weaving things together a bit if desired.
EDIT: This is also a good time to ask any important questions about the world which may impact your backgrounds. I'm still ironing out details and filling in blanks, so important questions will provide direction for that. Post them here so they're noticeable to everyone...unless they deal with a secret the party shouldn't yet know; then a PM is better.
For those who I wrongfully assumed were familiar with it, I've added a link in the campaign tab to the 10-minute background process.
'You wish to know of my past, well fine then.... let me tell you a story of blood...'
i have posted my background... still need to work on traits and class and stats stuf
Check-in time, guys: Some are making progress, some haven't made any at all. I'd like to know how many people are still actively trying to get in on this so I can think ahead here.
Draken, Freyr: you'll want to move forward on your character sheets (and do some editing and cleanup on your backgrounds) so things are nice and tidy (and most importantly, complete.)
Edric:
Dalinton, Aravigon, Thelonius: no progress for several days now. If anyone's having trouble, I say again: speak up. I'm about to set down a deadline once I've got some solid content ironed out, and anyone who's not ready WILL be cut from the final picks. (think I won't run it with 3? huh? HUH?!)
Just touch base and let me know where you stand, folks. I don't want to string people along for months with no gameplay, nor do I want to push people who aren't actually interested or can't find the time. Just communicate honestly and everything will work out.