Mystworld: Realms of Myrndur

Game Master Chingo Chaplo

Myrndur is an ancient and magical world ripe with adventure and teeming with danger. The Myst engulfs Myrndur. Invisible to most, it is like a vast ocean of raw magical energy to those who can perceive it. To those who can manipulate it, it is a source of power beyond imagination. The Myst is the very essence of life. Souls consists of Myst, and when a person dies his soul returns to the Myst. Even the mighty gods consist of Myst. Some say that the Myst is the soul of Myrndur. One thing is certain. If there was no Myst, there would be no Myrndur.

Hi everyone. I'm working on a campaign setting compatible with the Pathfinder rules called Mystwold: Realms of Myrndur, and I'd like to run a pbp game on these boards to playtest it.

It's the first time I'll be running a pbp game as a DM, and I'm not super experienced as a pbp player either, but I am confident I can pull it off.

I'm looking for six players, who'd be interested in exploring new lands and play-testing new races, classes, and rules that are still a work in progress. The rules will primarily be Pathfinder rules, with some slight variations. The major deviation from the Pathfinder rules is the alternate magic system called Mystweaving that I want to playtest. Those rules can be seen here. Second, armor has Damage Reduction equal to the armor bonus it gives, and each class has a Defense Bonus the character adds to his AC if he doesn't wear armor.

The current iteration of the Mystworld: Realms of Myrndur pdf will be accessible from Campaign Info, once I've set that up.

Character Generation

• Ability Scores: 20 point buy or roll 6 x 4d6 drop the lowest and assign.
  
• Classes: Core classes, base classes and hybrid classes + classes from the Mystworld: Realms of Myrndur pdf.
  • Races: The races of Myrndur can be found here.
  • Traits: Two.
  • Starting Wealth: Average by Class
  • Alignment: Any
  • HP: Max at 1st level, Half + 1 each additional level
  

Andara

The game will take place in the kingdom of Andara.

Andara, Land of the Blue Rose and the Black Lions, is a kingdom of aratheël and humans united by a common enemy. It lies in the far west of Korthas by the sea known as Alamar's Deep, and it is neighbored by the land Nakraath, a land of monsters ruled over by the terrible Volhymarlagath, more commonly known as Morgenfang the One-Eyed Tyrant, a dragon of immense power.

Andara has been at war with Nakraath for over a hundred years, and for over a hundred years the andaran commonfolk have lived with the fear that one day Morgenfang will defeat the Andaran Lions, the courageous men and women who hold the borderland between Andara and Nakraath, and devastate Andara.

Andara used to be two nations. The aratheël nation of Tylethar in the west and the human nation of Palanar in the east. The two nations were combined into one under the hero Andar Blacklion, whom the nation is named after. Today, Queen Elsefir Silverleaf, a wise and kind-hearted half-elven sorceress, rules the nation from the city of Ambaraun, the old capital of Tylethar.

More information can be found in the Mystworld: Realms of Myrndur pdf in Campaign Info.

Hmm, looking over the information here... how has casting worked out for you? I'm familiar with the similar Spell Recharge rules (which -usually- has normal casting times, but a cooldown stops you from spamming the same spell every round), but seeing what looks like a maximum of 5 rounds casting time for a first level spell seems a bit long... not to mention making it incredibly hard to cast new spells as the situation requires. Most combats are fairly short, and I'm not certain how well casters will be able to contribute under these rules, especially at higher levels.

Admittedly it's going to be a bit harder being a spellcaster, and a spellcaster will have to rely more on scrolls, wands and other magical items in areas where the Myst isn't as dense. Certain items and Feats will reduce casting time. At higher levels, casting time might be nill. Also it is actions (move and standard) so each round the spellcaster will be able to use two actions out of the maximum 5 on casting.

Here's my stats roll as I develop a PC

1d6 ⇒ 31d6 ⇒ 31d6 ⇒ 11d6 ⇒ 4 10
1d6 ⇒ 21d6 ⇒ 51d6 ⇒ 41d6 ⇒ 6 15
1d6 ⇒ 21d6 ⇒ 61d6 ⇒ 61d6 ⇒ 6 18
1d6 ⇒ 41d6 ⇒ 41d6 ⇒ 61d6 ⇒ 4 16
1d6 ⇒ 61d6 ⇒ 31d6 ⇒ 61d6 ⇒ 6 18
1d6 ⇒ 41d6 ⇒ 31d6 ⇒ 41d6 ⇒ 3 11

4d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 5, 5) = 19
4d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 5, 6) = 18
4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 2, 2) = 11
4d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 2, 1) = 7
4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 3, 6) = 20
4d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 3, 6) = 14

Are any of the racial feats combat feats? Could a Bhakiri fighter take Gore and Powerful Charge at level 1?

Powerful Charge isn't meant to be available at 1st level. Consider it to have the prerequisite Character Level 3+.

Dotting for now.

Dotting.

Reading through the book now - everything looks great, really thematic and interesting and well put together, I'm super interested in this. I have just a couple of questions, as I work on creating a character.

1. The defense bonus that one gains if they do not wear armour. How does that work for Flat-Footed / Touch?

1B) Does the Defense Bonus give DR like normal armour does?

2. I'm noticing that each Race has a HitDie listed for it, and I am not sure why.

3. Akavali have Psionics but I didn't notice any psionic classes. Is that an oversight, or are they meant to be an optional race for if you're using psionics?

Hi YoricksRequiem.
Glad you are interested :)

1. A flat-footed character loses his Defense Bonus to AC. A character retains his Defense Bonus on Touch attacks.

1b. The Defense Bonus doesn't give DR like normal armor, which is the reason why one would want to wear armor even though he has unarmored Defense Bonus.

2. Ignore the racial hit die. Also the racial talents are feats. If confused, use the link to races under Character Generation above.

3. The psionic classes from http://www.d20pfsrd.com/ are allowed.

Extra: If you need the Defense Bonus progression for a class that isn't described, just ask.

How long will recruitment be open?

Recruitment will last until six suitable characters have been chosen.

Ah well. I can't submit until Saturday, so I guess I'll miss this one.

Recruitment will most likely still be open by then.

Wanted to submit Aralu here. Needs some final polishing but the crunch is mostly done. Description and fluff to come a little later as I read into the setting more.

An ikaiji bladedancer. Nice :)

I noticed you add both defense bonus and armor bonus AC. Defense bonus and armor does not stack. If your character is wearing armor, you use the higher of the bonuses.

Also, Defense Bonus doesn't apply to DR. Armor exclusively gives DR.

Aralu made literally exactly what I was going to make, haha. So I think I'm going to make a Koroku Assassin instead.

I'll have crunch up tomorrow while I continue to work on the backstory.

[EDIT] More questions:

1) Is the Ragh Naka considered a light weapon for the purposes of the Assassin being able to use Dagger Finesse with it?

2) Something else I don't really see is language. Is it safe to assume that even these fearsome owlmen are able to speak Common?

1) Yes. The Ragh Naka is considered a light weapon.

2) Yeah. A koroku adventurer would be able to speak common. It might be broken common, but he'd still be able to understand and be understood.

Made those crunch corrections to Aralu, thank you for clearing that up for me Chingo.

Also added profile and tidied up the character sheet a bit.

Still need to purchase stuff but I think I'll worry about that if Aralu makes the cut.

Dotting for interest

Great, thanks Chingo! My crunch is done, aside from Equipment. Going to be working on the fluff tomorrow!

@Aralu I like the character description and background for Aralu. I think it's safe to say she'll make the cut.

@Iruaka Crunch looking good. Looking forward to see the fluff.

Important
When making your background, you need to work out a reason for being in in the gelbenese port town Kelderhaag and being hired by the caravan master Lambrecht to escort a caravan from Kelderhaag to Palanost in Andara.

On Gelben
Gelben, Land of the Silver Bear, is the nation northeast of Andara, also by Alamar's Deep. Gelben is a nation of city-states in northwestern Korthas, ruled over by King Gosserick Thalenbaern from the city of Belgriff. The lords of Gelben are typically the most wealthy merchants, and their armies are made up of mercenaries.

4d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 5, 6) = 22 17
4d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 1, 2) = 8 7
4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 4, 6) = 17 15
4d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 5, 5) = 17 15
4d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 5, 5) = 17 15
4d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 2, 1) = 12 11

Nice rolls :)

4d6 17

4d6 7
4d6 15
4d6 15
4d6 15
4d6 11

Thinking Aratheel windstrider though the PDF is missing their spell list

My stats would be

Str 17
Dex 15 +2 racial =17
Con 15 -2 racial =13
Int 15
Wis 11
Char 7+2 racial =9

That'd be neat. The aratheël windstrider uses the Magus spell list.

That'd be neat. The aratheël windstrider uses the Magus spell list.

Cool, I assume lvl 1 characters?

Yep. Lvl 1 characters. With medium level progression, but combat won't be the only thing that'll give xp.

I am interested

I would like to submit a Lurenathi Black Lion, named Rhanviel Thuven. I will read through relevant stuff about the nearby kingdoms before making his background story. I really like your setting and want to play it well. I think I'll be taking the Wolf Form (Trip) Feat, but I'm unsure at the moment. It looks nice.

My question would be about the racial culture of Andara; am I mistaken that the Alatheen(elves? I probably spelled it wrong) don't like lycanthropes at all, and the lurenathi alongside them...?

When i further understand the elements you've woven into the setting I'll be able to weave a better story with it's material.

But I'm telling you that I'm ready for it.

Stats:
11: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 3, 2) = 13
16: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 4, 6) = 19
12: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 4, 3) = 13
13: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 5, 6) = 14
11: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 4, 4) = 12
15: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 2, 6) = 17

I will keep these.

Yeah, if you could tell me more about the role/general populus' of Andara's opinions of Black Lions and Lurenathi, that would help me out alot. I'll be reading through the documents though.

I want to submit full crunch with a skeleton of fluff which I will continue to update as I read through the document, is that okay?

EDIT: Also, I'm assuming that this concept will make sense only because the two kingdoms are near eachother. If they don't mesh or are out of place in a manner that are outside of being uncommon to the point of cheesiness, I will scrap this idea and think of another one. Noooo prob.

I'm pretty interested... I was tempted by a bladedancer, but, since someone already made one... maybe a hulking Ogren fighter or barbarian could be good...

15 4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 5, 4) = 19
7 4d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 1, 3) = 8
9 4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 2, 1) = 10
15 4d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 5, 5) = 19
17 4d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 5, 2) = 19
16 4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 5, 5) = 21

Well, I guess I'll keep those... though it'll be a... hmm... interesting character...

With spells potentially being unreliably slower in this setting, there will probably be a majority of people crowding the martial classes. I don't know Chingos preference, but I don't mind if anyone else wants to be a bladedancer. I'm sure our builds will be different enough as it is, and it might be interesting to see the dynamic between the two characters.

Do you want to do a dancing-troupe kind of thing? That could be cool... there are some nice teamwork feats too, at higher levels... although the Ogren is kinda (heh) growing on me, so I'm fine with that too.

Your call. If we both get in we can work out the history part at that point. I enjoy establishing some bond or history with other players that are willing and wanting of the same.

Okay, here's what I've got! Reading the OP again, since its kind-of supposed to be a playtest I think I'll try something different rather than having two very similar characters. If we both get in, let's have some fun interactions anyway though!

Hrusk the Heft
Large Humanoid (Ogren)
Two-handed Fighter 1 Archetype

@That Other Guy The lhurienathi are a race "descended" from the aratheël (basically they are lycanthropic aratheël). For ages they have lived in recluse in Lhurien, the Hidden Kingdom, protecting the site where they were "cured" of lycanthropy (changed from unwilling werewolves, into lycanthropes able to control their shapeshifting with no hybrid form).

I'm thinking Rhanviel Thuven might be an exile from the Hidden Kingdom, who traveled north (Andara isn't that far away from Lhurien) and joined the Andaran Lions. I can see why he became a Black Lion, as lhurienathi are naturally stealthy woodland survivalists.

That didn't really answer you question though. Most people in Andara doesn't know about the People of the Hidden Kingdom. Those few who do know about them, know that they have vehemently kept outsiders out of their forest for centuries and that they can change into wolves.

In the eyes of most you'd pass for an aratheël, and you'd probably keep your lycanthropic ability low key, as werewolves are feared. Other Black Lions who trust you might know your ability and value it.

The tricky part'll be explaining why a Black Lion is employed as a caravan guard in Gelben. One possible solution might be that no one knew about your lhurienathi background, and you fled Highrise Keep when your lycanthropy was discovered.

I'll leave that to you.

@Jonakhan Hi Jonakhan. I like Hrusk the Heft, but how do you get that much damage with the greataxe?

I am willing to change my concept to a caster if there is a lacking, you said you wanted to test the magic system. I'll edit this post when I reconsider what I'd like to do with a caster with the build itself.

@Jonakhan Hi Jonakhan. I like Hrusk the Heft, but how do you get that much damage with the greataxe?

The Greataxe is a 1d12 weapon for Medium characters. For Large characters, it goes up one step, which takes it to 3d6, as described here.

I still need to finish my own fluff, which I will be hopefully doing today.

General Notice about Spellcasting
To negate the caution about the alternate spellcasting rules, he are a few examples of how it would work (keep in mind that a round is only six seconds):

Example 1
A level 1 wizard wants to cast Shield in an area of normal Myst density. He wears a magical bracelet which functions as a focus for channeling the Myst (reduces casting time with 1 action) and he has the feat Quick Casting I (which further reduces casting with 1 action). He begins casting the spell.
Casting time1d4 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 1 - 2 = 1 Result Shield takes one action to cast. The Shield has a duration of 1 minute (10 rounds).

Example 2
A level 1 wizards wants to cast Burning Hands on an enemy in an area dense with Myst. The wizard doesn't have any foci or feats that reduce casting time.
Casting time1d2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 Result Burning Hands takes two actions to cast (1 round). Burning Hands does 1d4/level fire damage (max 5d4), and since the Myst is dense the caster gains Caster Level +2. Burning Hands does 3d4 fire damage.

@Iruaka It's a large greataxe. I see. Thanks. And looking forward to your fluff. The koroku assassin with ragh nakas is a really cool mental image.

@That Other Guy Well, there is a spellcaster lacking, so if you were change your concept to a caster that'd be great. I liked the idea of Rhanviel Thuven though.

I did too, but if everyone else is filling that role I'd like to do something different. I'll have something up in awhile...

Ohk so, I still love the Lurenathi race. I want to build a Lurenathi Lore Shaman, with a hare as a familiar.

...when scouting, we look like a wolf chasing a rabbit...

20pt buy
STR 8
DEX 12
CON 10
INT 12
WIS 18
CHA 14

So, uh, I think it'd be interesting if he still was a Black Lion, or served with them in some capacity. He could easily have been a scout for them.

Rhanviel Thuven. He has a lot of secrets kept from the Black Lions, but has always been loyal to the cause.

Question: Can Lurenathi use the Blend spell? They are of elven descent.

Another Question: I plan on using the very wierd Arcane Enlightenment Lore Hex, heavily relying on it basically all game past lvl 2, can I expect to get mental stat-boosting items over time to make this viable for me? (Not asking for uber-cheese, just asking.) The mechanical build is going to be heavily based around that feature, and if it's not viable I'll probably make something less interesting. (Just saying that bc this concept seems REALLY INTERESTING ATM)

Third Question: Does the casting time bit apply to SLA's?

EDIT QUESTION: Due to the elven heritage of Lurenathi, could I use the Half-Elf racial favored class bonus for the Shaman?

.................................................................

So, first feat is Wolf Form: Natural Spell.

I believe that most of the crunch information is held within this post then...

WHADDAYA THINK?

A Lore Shaman. Cool. The Black Lions are an elite guerilla group though, who have seen lots of gritty combat in the Shadowpeaks. I don't see how well that ties in with being a shaman.

Answers:

1: He can use the Blend spell.

2: A headband of enlightenment might just fall down from the sky in front of you at some point. Kidding aside, it is far from unlikely that you will get a mental stat-boosting item at some point.

3: Casting time does apply to SLA.

Due to the elven heritage of Lurenathi, could I use the Half-Elf racial favored class bonus for the Shaman?

I'll be working on fluff to make it legit within the next two days.

Yep. You can use that.

Looking forward to see your fluff.

Thanks. I look forward to immersing myself in Myrndur.

Good to hear. Glad to have you on board.

Okay, I've read through the PDF and have a grasp on a bunch of it now; a story is in tow.

However, I now also understand the magic system in full, and have changed my ability scores to be as such:

STR 7
DEX 11
CON 13
INT 12
WIS 18
CHA 14

I will now also hope for Con boosting items........

Crunch is finished, aside from perhaps minor equipment buys.
He speaks Lhurienese and Andaran, worships Sibilune (obvs.), and stuff.

Question: Do actions other than standard actions count towards spellcasting times? And, being a shaman (divine caster), am I right in saying that I have all of my spell list accessible to me (effectively) spontaneously?

Also, (I'm only saying this as a player) I think that Energy limits should at LEAST be (Constitution Score+ Level)x2. If the score stays the same and the costs for spells go up it further taxes the caster in ways that I think are too harsh, especially scaling upwards in level. I looooooove the concept for energy and casting however and other than the numbers I think you're executing it well.

...................................................

Short-hand Background Story:

Rhanviel was always good at finding things. The woods were as a map for him in all his days, and no prey could pray to any deity to keep them from becoming morsels for the young Lurenathi. He was born to a touched clan among the forests, the Thuvens. When the demon lord Rhevagaath was unbound into the realm, the Thuvens were among the first clans to take up rigorous arms against his destruction of the home Sibilune gave them. Rhanviel was right alongside his family's spirit of fight, but his father and three sisters were at a loss. Too much power was pressing in against the Lurenathi forces, and even the weaving of the whole swath of clans was not enough. So the Lurenathi took council and told their youth to go forth and search for a power greater, for aid against the horrid Rhevagaath. His father told Rhanviel to go, for he was well suited for the task, and as he was commissioned, his father ignited him with the touch of the Myst.

After a while of meandering, searching for the secrets of the Myst and the Gods alike, he found himself inside of Gelben. He had found a Mystweaver of many years, a Faun named Elsenhe'ir, who promised him an apprenticeship, for the right cost. Not knowing the ways of commerce and trade, it took Rhanviel some time to find sufficient income, but over time Rhanviel scored a job on a caravan team led by a man named Lambrecht. He hopes the job will pay enough for the faun, and that he will be able to one day destroy Rhevagaath himself.

This doesn't really portray his personality, which I will carve within the next day, but those are the facts of his past. His overall aim is to figure out how to destroy Rhevagaath, whom he hates with all his being.

EDIT: His Character sheet is in a link on his profile. Cheers.

First of all, I love the background story.

Second, answers to your questions:

• Move actions count toward casting time too.
  
• You have access to all of your spell list.
  
• Energy equals (Constitution Score + Level) x 2. We'll see how it works in game, and change it if it works poorly.

how would a magus spell combat,quicken spell metamagic, or Arcanist exploits work under this system