How about this one?
You are stocky, compact, or even overweight. Your body might be bulkier than normal, but the added mass is muscle and thick bones, not just flab. You resist damage better than others do.
Mechanics: You gain a +1 natural bonus to defense. If you already have natural armor, its bonus improves by 1 point.
How about the following two IH traits for my snow elf wildlander. one is from IH, one from the IH players companion.
You are graceful, flexible, and acrobatic. You move with excellent coordination and complete difficult acrobatic maneuvers with relative ease.
Mechanics: You gain a +2 bonus to all Tumble checks. In addition, you can use Tumble to move at your normal speed without penalty.
Note: this could be used as written replacing Tumble with Acrobatics, or in a more Pathfinder type way change to +1 bonus to Acrobatics, and it is always a class skill. Either one is great with me.
INTUITIVE LEARNING (MENTAL)
You might not be what most people think of as “clever,” but you have a knack for learning new things nonetheless. Even as seemingly more intelligent people struggle with a new concept, you intuitively understand what needs to be done.
Mechanics: Use your Wisdom ability modifier, rather than your Intelligence ability modifier, to calculate the number of languages you know at 1st level, as well as the bonus skill
points you gain at each level (including 1st).
Note:Since he has been a loner most of his life, he had to learn things through instinct, instead of memorization. He used his widsom to survive not his wits.
Are trail rations considered food or raw materials on the regional worth chart?
Okay, my halfling will probably take the feats Dirty Fighter and Poverty-Stricken (although I'll take a look at Iron Heroes as suggested above).
Having looked at Iron Heroes, can I take the Weapon Bond trait with my claws (instead of Dirty Fighter)?
WEAPON BOND [MENTAL]
You have a natural talent for wielding a single, specific type of
weapon such as a longsword or crossbow. From a young age,
you demonstrated an advanced mastery of its use.
Mechanics: Select a single simple, martial, or exotic weapon
from Chapter Seven. You are automatically proficient with this
weapon, even if your class does not normally grant access to it.
You feel so comfortable with the weapon, it feels like an
extension of your body, personality, and intellect. You may
choose an ability score other than Strength to modify your
attacks and damage with the bonded weapon; consider the
chosen ability score’s bonus your Strength bonus for these
purposes. For example, you still gain 1.5 times the ability’s
bonus to damage when using a two-handed weapon.
You do not gain the bonus for Strength and your chosen
ability when using your bonded weapon type. You gain the
benefits of only one of them, and you may switch between the
two as a free action.
How about Master of Lore?:
You have spent years studying a variety of topics, granting
you a broad though not necessarily deep education.
Mechanics: You may make Knowledge skill checks on
topics that you do not have currently have access to as if
you had ranks in that type of Knowledge equal to your
Intelligence bonus. For instance, if you had an Intelligence
18 (a bonus of +4) and 2 ranks in Knowledge, you attempt
Knowledge skill checks by applying your Intelligence modifier
of +4 instead of your 2 Knowledge ranks to the d20 roll +
key ability bonus (Intelligence) as normal.
If your Intelligence bonus is zero or less, you gain no benefits
from this trait.
Should you fail a Knowledge check, you can try again
after eight hours of rest. As you relax, you might gain an
insight into a half-forgotten lesson or an ancient text you
once inspected.
Character up!
I didn't pick traits because none of them jumped out at me, and I'm still writing up his background, but the nuts and bolts should all be there.
TwiceBorn, what do you think of having our Dorns be related or from the same place/clan?
Sounds good... do you have anything in mind?
Given your Haunted heroic path, it might make sense if I took the Fellhunter path... would have learned pretty quickly how to fight the hungry dead from a shaman who sees the dead everywhere.
Character up!
I didn't pick traits because none of them jumped out at me, and I'm still writing up his background, but the nuts and bolts should all be there.
TwiceBorn, what do you think of having our Dorns be related or from the same place/clan?
Sounds good... do you have anything in mind?
Given your Haunted heroic path, it might make sense if I took the Fellhunter path... would have learned pretty quickly how to fight the hungry dead from a shaman who sees the dead everywhere.
Love it! Character synergy FTW!
So I was scanning through the books for ideas on clans, and I ran across the tale of Nalford, and was struck with an epiphany for a really, really cool character background. I'm going to include it in my character sheet as a spoiler for you and Nightflier to take a look at. Let me know what you think.
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Okay, my halfling will probably take the feats Dirty Fighter and Poverty-Stricken (although I'll take a look at Iron Heroes as suggested above).Having looked at Iron Heroes, can I take the Weapon Bond trait with my claws (instead of Dirty Fighter)?
** spoiler omitted **
Yes, you may. But you may want to change that to daggers or something, because you may find some dagger or knife later on. And I'm thinking to give to you all weapons as covenant items.
Ok, background up, with some flavor ideas at the end. Let me know what you think.
I apologize in advance for the length.
Twiceborn, if you and Nightflier go with what I've concocted, that makes us House Falon.
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Ragnar Death-Speaker and Twiceborn:
TwiceBorn, I like the idea of undead brother. One of my RL Midnight players became Fell some time ago and he fights against degradation by hunting orcs and drinking their blood. So, if you want to go that way, I can handle it. You can play Ungral if you like, but without level adjustment and no need for feeding when you are next to Ragnar. If you are away from him longer than a week, usual rules for Ungral feeding apply. What do you think?
Yes, you may. But you may want to change that to daggers or something, because you may find some dagger or knife later on. And I'm thinking to give to you all weapons as covenant items.
Having looked at Iron Heroes, can I take the Weapon Bond trait with my claws (instead of Dirty Fighter)?** spoiler omitted **
I don't suppose you could stretch your definition of "weapon" to an amulet of mighty fists or something like that? I was kind of looking forward to using claws.
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I don't suppose you could stretch your definition of "weapon" to an amulet of mighty fists or something like that? I was kind of looking forward to using claws.Yes, you may. But you may want to change that to daggers or something, because you may find some dagger or knife later on. And I'm thinking to give to you all weapons as covenant items.
Having looked at Iron Heroes, can I take the Weapon Bond trait with my claws (instead of Dirty Fighter)?** spoiler omitted **
Yeah, I realize that now. Go ahead with fists/claws, then. We'll think of something.
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Ragnar Death-Speaker and Twiceborn
Ragnar Death-Speaker and Twiceborn
** spoiler omitted **
Hmmm... the Ungral idea is interesting, but mechanically it kind of weakens the barbarian's rage (ungral have no CON). And essentially, if I take any damage at level 1, I will not be able to recover hit points unless Ragnar finds some magical way of doing so... unless his covenant item will somehow rectify that? I do really like the possibilities that come from playing a guy who knows he has lost his soul, and who may go into a cannibalistic feeding frenzy if separated from his brother. And if I kept the fellhunter as a heroic path, that too would be pretty cool -- he has become so good at hunting the fell because he is one of the Fell, and he hates what he has become! Of course, I would expect the party to not know that I am undead (at the beginning)... though I suspect that animal companions would be growling at me. I wonder though if Ragnar's ability to raise undead would somehow reduce the uniqueness of my PC as a character?
That having been said... pretty amazing background, Doomed Hero! To be honest, I'm pretty thrilled to be in the same game as you... I admire the great stuff you've posted at againsttheshadow.org!
Nightflier... Do you grant a bonus skill point to be applied toward Knowledge (local: favoured region) , or must PCs spend 1 of their normally allotted ranks in that skill if they want to benefit from the +2 bonus that ranks in Knowledge (local: favoured region) can grant to Knowledge (nature) and Survival checks while in that region (see boxed text in the beginning of the race section of the 2nd ed Midnight campaign book)?
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Nightflier... Do you grant a bonus skill point to be applied toward Knowledge (local: favoured region) , or must PCs spend 1 of their normally allotted ranks in that skill if they want to benefit from the +2 bonus that ranks in Knowledge (local: favoured region) can grant to Knowledge (nature) and Survival checks while in that region (see boxed text in the beginning of the race section of the 2nd ed Midnight campaign book)?
About Ungral... If you decide to go with that idea. remember that Ungral can heal themselves by consuming blood and flesh of living victims - and you gain bite attack. While your character is in Ragnar's vicinity, he doesn't need to consume flesh in order to keep his intelligence and personality, but he heals himself like any other Ungral. I would recommend for you to take fighter or even wildlander as class rather than barbarian if you decide to go with Ungral, though.
** spoiler omitted **
For Nightflier-
Is there a Trait that makes Handle Animal always a class skill? (I know I'm sort of working at cross purposes here, since my Path makes most animals hate and fear me. i was thinking that maybe Ravens and Wolves might be immune to that for some reason)
Wolves and ravens are traditional dornish spirit guides. In the Honor and Shadow supplement there's a couple of powerful spirit creatures that take the form of ravens and wolves. It's possible that his ravens and wolves are spirits, or are becoming spirits. It's also possible that they are invisible to everyone else right now, or most of the time, and that Ragnar just can't tell the difference.
Next level Ragnar picks up Magecraft and Necromancy. His magecraft spell is going to be Speak with Animals. He's also going to get a familiar. I was thinking about sinking later feats or traits into having multiple familiars (at least the two ravens).
I want Ragnar to be able to call up spirits, or grant temporary form to the ones that follow him around. The problem with that is that doing so makes Ragnar have to take Conjuration and Greater Conjuration, which gives him access to a whole mess of things that aren't thematically appropriate. I really don't want to sink two feats into being able to cast magic that I'm never going to use. Would it be possible to allow or adapt the Summon Undead spells out of the Libris Mortis, and just have them specifically for summoning spectral wolves, ravens, dornish warriors, and maybe later on some kind of Valkirie figure?
For Nightflier and Twiceborn
Dorns Hate Fell. I thought it might be neat if instead of feeding on the flesh of the living, if Ragnar's brother fed on the damned souls of the undead, sort of like the Soul Reaver games. No actual eating of dead flesh, but to those with the ability to see spirits, scary stuff. In norse mythology there are spirit creatures (usually represented as ravens, but sometimes take the form of wolves, or even men) that eat the souls of the unvalourous or cowardly, and by doing so transport them to Hel. The brother might basically be one of these
I can see the conversation now "What's that Mr. Ghost? You don't want to tell us what we want to know? Have you met my brother?"
As for the problem with Rage, all Con based special abilities become Charisma based after a creature becomes undead. It's an easy fix, and doesn't nerf you at all. Here's the link-
For Twiceborn, regarding uniqueness
I know you've always wanted a deathless barbarian horde.
I'm going to be doing a Caransil Fighter with the Healer path. Going for kind of a paladin-y feel with him though leaning more towards Micheal from The Dresden Files then a stick-up-the-arse as a class ability one if anyone knows the book reference.
I'll post with his profile as soon as I figure out how to do it exactly. I'll look over traits from Iron Heroes and the Pathfinder document just as soon as I'm done perusing my new copy of the Beastiary.
New Profile. Will begin the long involved process of typing in the character tonight.
For Twiceborn and Nightflier, another possibility I thought of-
Another possibility, if Nightfleir doesn't want to give out Fast Heal: Ragnar's presence slows the hunger. So Ragnar can still let his brother eat pieces of him as long as the need for flesh is as fast or slower than the rate of Ragnar's natural healing. Toss in healing magic and we can keep up with pretty ravenous hunger.
It may also be passible that Ragnar's presence makes it easier for undead to gain sustenance in their usual way, or even something particular about Ragnar (he's just extra tasty to undead). That way, the brother wouldn't have to eat as much to gain the healing benefits.
Brother takes damage, Brother eats a chunk of Ragnar's arm. Brother heals. Ragnar grunts and cast a spell. Ragnar heals. All is good.
In any case, the Preserve Organ spell can even allow us to build up a surplus of "fresh" meat for the brother. (that's what the spell does) Kind of like trail rations for the Fell.
By the way, it would be really nice to have a name to call the brother. Hint, hint.
More for Nightflier and Twiceborn. They just keep coming!
There's a few items written into the story of the two brothers that would make great covenant items.
For the either of them-
The Wolf's Head Sword:
I think that Ragnar made the Pommel himself, carved from the bones of their father (or something like that) It spent 100 years in a city of the damned being carried around by a guy who is basically a walking necromantic conflux. Who knows what might have happened to it. It was originally the brother's, given to Ragnar to protect the kids, but it could always be given back. Ragnar uses a sword, but the brother will undoubtably be better suited.
For the brother-
The Crown of the Weeping King:
Their former lord, possessed and corrupted by the shadow, slain by the brother in defense of the children, wore the Iron Crown of House Falon. When the Brother was pulled free of the tangle of bodies and brought back to life by Ragnar, the crown fell free of the demonic king's brow. They retrieved it. Technically Ragnar is noble, and distantly related to King Falon, but does not know if he is the sole living heir (since teh brother is dead) or if there are any who have a more direct line to the throne to pass the burden too. In the mean time, the brother carries it with him as an arm band, digging into the flesh of his enormous biceps, reminding him of his duty.
for Ragnar
The Castilan's Pike:
Dorns have a hierarchy and everyone knows their place. The highest ranking warrior bears the flag into battle. If they fall, the next closest ranking warrior picks it up. Ragnar is the last survivor. He is the only one left to carry the flag of Nalford, and he is very much a creature of duty. At first opportunity, he recovered the Pike, and now carries a 100 year old banner of a destroyed city. (the Fast Heal thing would work well for this one, making it's bearer harder to take down, ect.)
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Ragnar and Nightflier:
Alright... Name: Eyvindr (byname to be determined).
I like the idea of being Ungral. I like the idea of being able to stave off the hunger if I stay within a certain distance of Ragnar (but how far can I go before his presence loses its "benign" effects? 30 feet? 50 feet? More?). If I have to take a chunk out of Ragnar now and again to regain hit points, so be it... otherwise, I guess my strategy is to hunt down legates, orcs and goblinoids whenever possible in order to feed off their flesh (using the pretext that swallowing the enemy's organs enable him to absorb their strength and power).
That having been said... the ungral discomfort in light could also be problematic in the long term. The setting book does not seem to specify what kind of mechanical impacts light has on the fell, though p. 344 does state that "it clearly affects their ability to see. Undead will shy away or even flee from sunlight, and even bright torchlight and lamplight seems to affect them." Any thoughts on this?
One more thing... if I do play an ungral, would I get a d12 for a hit die (as per Midnight rules), or d8 (as per Pathfinder rules)?
If I play an ungral, my strongest hatred would remain for the fell. I hunt them down in order to convince others (and myself) that I am not fell.
Nightflier, if you feel that a Fell in the party would be too difficult to manage (due to both the feeding and sunlight issues), feel free to say so. While I like the roleplaying possibilities it opens up, I also realize that the feeding and light aversion could be problematic for the DM and other players, not to mention myself... in other words, I am not totally set on playing a fell PC.
One way or another, I'll write a background that is consistent with Ragnar's, and will switch my class to wildlander (perhaps multi-classing as barbarian). If I was not with Ragnar when Nartok was razed and consequently was not "touched" by the event (i.e., no slow aging), then perhaps I witnessed his emergence from the ruins one hundred years later and have become one of his disciples? Perhaps I see Ragnar as some sort of Dornish messiah, a messiah that I have sworn to serve and protect?
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1) Eyvindr can get away from Ragnar as far as the ruins of Nalford are wide (we'll do some thinking on how long that distance exactly is)
2) You gain bite attack and you can feed from the living like any other Ungral. The feeding is only for healing, though. You do not have to feed in order not to degrade (as long as you are with Ragnar). In fact, except for your paleness, you are not that much different from living Dorn. You can play your character as some kind of vampire, if you wish.
3) As long as you are with Ragnar, your light aversion will be manageable - same as that of a dworg.
4) You get a d12 for a hit die, as Ungral are unique to Midnight.
5) I like the idea of you playing Ungral for several reasons - it's a great story and there are great role playing opportunities there. In my "living" campaign, I have a character who became an Ungral so I'm used to having one in the group. You and Doomed Hero are very familiar with the setting, so I think that you two can play this kind of characters and not destroy the game.
6) If you decide to play barbarian, you will not have any rage powers. I'm gonna rule that undead do not have necessary bodily functions to support the rage.
7) I like the idea that you are brothers, but I'm not gonna pressure you either way. How you two decide to connect your characters is up to you.
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For Twiceborn and Nightflier, another possibility I thought of-
** spoiler omitted **
More for Nightflier and Twiceborn. They just keep coming!
** spoiler omitted **...
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I'm going to be doing a Caransil Fighter with the Healer path. Going for kind of a paladin-y feel with him though leaning more towards Micheal from The Dresden Files then a stick-up-the-arse as a class ability one if anyone knows the book reference.
I'll post with his profile as soon as I figure out how to do it exactly. I'll look over traits from Iron Heroes and the Pathfinder document just as soon as I'm done perusing my new copy of the Beastiary.
I translated first two books of Dresden Files to my native language, so I know what you're talking about. I like the idea for your character. I'd recommend Weapon Bond trait from Iron Heroes and two long swords as primary weapons. Have you seen my changes to Caransil that I posted earlier?
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This is what we have for now:
Eric Swanson - Solvistania Elghreah, NG Female Elorg Channeler (Hermetic tradition), Dragonblooded Heroic Path
Hogarth - Pete the Runt, Halfling Rogue, Beast Heroic Path
TwiceBorn - Eyvindr,Dorn
Senmont - Chops the Defender Dworg, NG Male Dworg Defender, Steelblooded Heroic Path
Nostri - Caransil or Erunsil fighter
Izkrael - Zafina Sabbah, Human, Sarcosan, Wildlander, Shadow Walker
amertes - undecided class and race
scranford - Sky'tor Tu'kaleth, Erunsil Wildlander
Doomed Hero - Ragnar Death-Speaker, NG Dorn Barbarian, Haunted Villainous Path
Question for Twice Born and Doomed Hero - when did Ardherin crossed over to the Dark Side?
895 TA (pg 275, midnight 2nd ed). The third age ended in 897, and it is now the year 99 LA.
So, 103 years ago.
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Question for Twice Born and Doomed Hero - when did Ardherin crossed over to the Dark Side?895 TA (pg 275, midnight 2nd ed). The third age ended in 897, and it is now the year 99 LA.
So, 103 years ago.
That's what I thought. I don't have all the books with me now.
Eric, your character can not be 150 years old. Use guidelines for dworgs when deciding your character's age.
Question for Twice Born and Doomed Hero - when did Ardherin crossed over to the Dark Side?895 TA (pg 275, midnight 2nd ed). The third age ended in 897, and it is now the year 99 LA.
So, 103 years ago.
That's what I thought. I don't have all the books with me now.
Eric, your character can not be 150 years old. Use guidelines for dworgs when deciding your character's age.
Age corrected.
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Eric, do you intend to take some prestige class in the future? Solvistania has the potential to become one of the most powerful casters in the game. Do you intend for her to remain magic-user or will you take levels in other classes? It's important for me to know that, so that I can assign useful covenant items.
Eric, do you intend to take some prestige class in the future? Solvistania has the potential to become one of the most powerful casters in the game. Do you intend for her to remain magic-user or will you take levels in other classes? It's important for me to know that, so that I can assign useful covenant items.
If she has the potential to become the most powerful spellcaster, then her life expectancy is correspondingly very low, he he.
Seriously, she was going to take the Wizard PrC, but if there are other PrC available better suited, then let me know, thanks.
As long as we're talking about PrC's, I'd like to run my progression plan by you.
At 6th level I plan on taking the Warrior Arcanist PrC. At 9th I plan on switching to Syphon and riding it out. That sound ok?
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As long as we're talking about PrC's, I'd like to run my progression plan by you.
At 6th level I plan on taking the Warrior Arcanist PrC. At 9th I plan on switching to Syphon and riding it out. That sound ok?
I'm interested in players plans for PrCs because of starting covenant items. Your starting covenant items will be sort of binding element for your group. In fact, the game will be called "The Knights of the Covenant". Your plans seem fine to me.
To all players: I reward good background stories with bonus feats. Feel free to elaborate them if you like. I intend to give enough time to all of you to create memorable and fun characters.
To all players: I reward good background stories with bonus feats. Feel free to elaborate them if you like. I intend to give enough time to all of you to create memorable and fun characters.
How in depth to you consider elaboration?
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Well, your background is nice and enough for me to decide which covenant item togive you. But check out Ragnar's backgroud that he put in spoilers. That kind of dedication to the character and the game deserves to be rewarded. Now, you do not have to write a long and detailed backstory if you don't want to. I'm just saying that you'll be rewarded if you do.
Nightflier, you mentioned in the other threat that the wildlander class is closer to the Pathfinder ranger... have you actually changed the wildlander class as presented in Midnight 2E? If yes, could you please tell me what changes you've made?
I'm sorry if I've been slow to post my stats and background... will hopefully be able to get that done by the beginning of next week... Thanks for your patience!
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Nightflier, you mentioned in the other threat that the wildlander class is closer to the Pathfinder ranger... have you actually changed the wildlander class as presented in Midnight 2E? If yes, could you please tell me what changes you've made?
I'm sorry if I've been slow to post my stats and background... will hopefully be able to get that done by the beginning of next week... Thanks for your patience!
I planned to wait for all the players to decide on character concepts and then post changes to the classes, but there will be at least two wildlanders in the group and perhaps 3, so it makes sense to make an exception.
Okay, essentially, I have decided to combine Pathfinder Ranger and Wildlander. All of the Pathfinder Ranger class abilities are still there - you just add to it Wildlander class abilities at appropriate levels - Danger Sense, Wildlander trait and Master Hunter. I realize that this seems over the top, but this game is game of heroes of epic proportions. These changes apply only to PCs and not to NPCs.
And there's no need to hurry. Take your time and try to create a character that will be fun for you to play.
I forgot one thing: New Wildlanders get Magecraft feat at 4th level instead of priest spells. They can choose any tradition and they get 1 spell point per level beyond fourth.
Man, three wildlanders? Now i wish someone was playing a Tactician. Coordinated Attack with three Hunter's Strike's=one really dead bad guy.
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I forgot one thing: New Wildlanders get Magecraft feat at 4th level instead of priest spells. They can choose any tradition and they get 1 spell point per level beyond fourth.Man, three wildlanders? Now i wish someone was playing a Tactician. Coordinated Attack with three Hunter's Strike's=one really dead bad guy.
There will be nine players, after all. I'm a little worried who will heal all of you guys.
There will be nine players, after all. I'm a little worried who will heal all of you guys.I forgot one thing: New Wildlanders get Magecraft feat at 4th level instead of priest spells. They can choose any tradition and they get 1 spell point per level beyond fourth.Man, three wildlanders? Now i wish someone was playing a Tactician. Coordinated Attack with three Hunter's Strike's=one really dead bad guy.
Good point, but I do have Cure Minor Wounds as an Innate Magic spell.
EDIT: also I fleshed out her background.
Pete also knows Cure Light Wounds. I'm not sure he'll want to use it on any stinking godforsaken half-orc scum, though. ;-)
I'll put up his background this weekend. Don't expect anything too fancy, though.