Please carry on all points of OOC discussion of any significant length in this thread.
Welcome welcome everyone, go ahead and say hello and when you'd like you can post in the gameplay thread, there is a post waiting. Please finish up your characters as well, and state when they're 100% complete so I can double check them. If they're ready now that's great. You should still be able to post an intro in the gameplay thread before my review, but if you'd like to wait that's fine too.
I'll get a post in the Gameplay thread tomorrow, but want to at least get something up here before turning in for the night. I'm looking forward to exploring the darker side of Ustalav with everyone which, considering it is Ustalav, makes me glad I can see in the dark.
Even if I can only see out to 30 feet ...
I believe my character stats are complete and ready for review. They can be found in the character profile; if you looked at them when I first posted in the recruitment thread, my stat block is unchanged.
Very good and welcome. The darkness that is Ustalav welcomes you too... dun dun dunnnn! :)
What was that? Did you say something? I was looking at the waitress carrying the cheese platter.
Good morning, all! What an excellent way to start the day! Thanks for the invite. I should have stats finalized and posted very soon.
Character sheet is complete and posted.
I'm here! I'm pretty sure my stats are ready for review as well. Let me know if you see anything that needs correcting, and I'll get right on that.
Thanks for the vote of confidence! It sure looked like a tough decision.
Hi all. Glad to be aboard. Thanks for the chance to play Mug. I'll do my best. :)
My character is up and pretty much ready. I may change out some of his gear. Not much you can do with 70 gold starting. Good thing he has his bonded weapon. :) I would welcome comments from anyone. His spell selection is somewhat marshal, at least for now. But that's part of his background story.
I am looking over everyone's character briefly. This promises to be a fun group. One question and comment for Kimgald. First I look forward to seeing how Misfortune is handled in a PbP. Will be interesting. My question is about your Spirit Shield ability. since you are already wearing armor I do not think the armor bonus from Spirit Shield will help you. Will it?
What was that? Did you say something? I was looking at the waitress carrying the cheese platter.
Don't you mean the woman in the red dress? ;)
I am looking over everyone's character briefly. This promises to be a fun group. One question and comment for Kimgald. First I look forward to seeing how Misfortune is handled in a PbP. Will be interesting. My question is about your Spirit Shield ability. since you are already wearing armor I do not think the armor bonus from Spirit Shield will help you. Will it?
No, they interact in the same manner as mage armor; the bonuses do not stack, with the greater of the two taking precedence. Spirit shield does scale with level, though, and I eventually intend to switch out my scale for light armor enchanted with abilities. I considered postponing the selection of the ability until that time, but decided I would rather have it available now in case someone needs to wake me at night, when my armor is stowed.
Don't you mean the woman in the red dress? ;)
Well, I admit I did take note of her dress. Of course, technically I cannot tell what color it was, but it looked delicious.
Well, I admit I did take note of her dress. Of course, technically I cannot tell what color it was, but it looked delicious.
....BWAHAHAHA!!! (I hope you or anyone you know didn't designed that... if so... BWAHAHAH!!!)
....BWAHAHAHA!!! (I hope you or anyone you know didn't designed that... if so... BWAHAHAH!!!)
Not my work. It's actually a design by Viktor & Rolf, a design company based out of Amsterdam.
I suppose it's no more rediculous than holey jeans and oddly stitched shirts! But it sure looks funny, and delicious as you said.
What disappearing familiar? I have a familiar? I didn't know that. That explains the voices I keep hearing; I must have a few of them.
I'm hoping to somehow maintain the concept without being too much of a burden on the rest of the party. The character idea seems like a lot of fun to me; I do have a concept in the wings in case being both deaf and largely blind proves too disrupting, but I really want to make Kimgald work. I might sometimes have the voices in his head "nudge" him in the right direction, should the character seem to be getting too far off-track, though I intend to limit this as much as I can.
I am enjoying it too. And the pace is much better already that some games I have been in. I love to play at any pace, but its much more fun when things are happening at a daily level instead of a weekly or even monthly rate. IMHO anyway. :)
I'm here! I'm pretty sure my stats are ready for review as well. Let me know if you see anything that needs correcting, and I'll get right on that.
Thanks for the vote of confidence! It sure looked like a tough decision.
I'm going to respond to this, mostly because I always feel bad that I can't include everyone, and you comment lets me say it out loud and get it off my chest. Everyone here had some great concepts, writing skills, and responsiveness. I think it'll be a great group and we'll have some good fun.
A couple points:
1) I am not a rules GM. One of the biggest draws of PBP (for me) is that I have time to look things up! I have made, and will continue to make, mistakes. Please call me on those mistakes in as nice a way as you can. I may not correct the error right away, but I will remember and fix it for next time, probably. I also do not micro manage your stats, so please don't take advantage of my lack of vigilance. I'm referring to your stats, equipment, coinage, etc... I'm hoping you'll all help me with rules so we can concentrate on having fun.
2) Combat, I prefer the spoilered method, meaning I post initiative, and you declare your intended actions in spoilers, and then I resolve them all at once. If others are ahead of you in initiative, feel free to read their posts and have your characters respond with that information, keeping it as meta free as possible. Try to avoid "IF Statements" in your combat posts. IE: "I'll do this unless he does this and then I'll do that, unless this happens first then I'll do this instead." No no no. Declare your actions, and if what you declared doesn't make any sense I'll ping you and have you change them, or -more than likely- I'll resolve it for you as advantageously for you as possible. Ummm, what else... Ah, I will bot you if too much time has gone by with no posts. How much time is too much? 24 hours is too much... If the group is on a roll and then you disappear, then 'too much time' may change.
Ok so there's three points... sheesh
3) Have fun here please. No fun for you is no fun for me is no fun for anyone. (put that on a tshirt). If you aren't happy with how things are, please let me know and I'll do my best to adjust and accommodate. I'll pull the GM card occasionally, but not often, just know that it is there and I'm not afraid to use it! ;)
Phew, were you as bored reading that as I was writing it? Any questions, comments on this information?
PS. Stats all look good thus far. Thank you kindly.
hey thanks for the selection.
I was out all day (will be again tonight as I have a party to attend) but will get the alaias up ASAP.
hello all I am Kimberly (character name). and this is Teddy (holds up a small stuffed bear).
as soon as I get the character portrat uploaded (got find which portable drive it is stored on) will post it, until then
Kimberly is a human girl no more than 12 years of age maybe 10 she has golden blonde hair and blue eyes around her neck is a small silver necklace bearing a charm with the holy symbol of Pharasma she has a small dagger which appears to be her only weapon.
more to come in the gameplay thread.
EDIT need to get going...will read the gameplay thread and post later tonight when I get home.
Whew! Glad I got an introduction posted this morning. Work is kicking me in the teeth, today. I'll have more to say in a few hours, when I get home.
I remember one more thing I'd like you to do. I've had to do this in a game I'm in, and the GM raves about it, and I often find myself wishing I had this in games I GM. So, would you please replace the gender section of your character profiles with what you see below. Customized for you character of course. This speeds up many things for a GM who doesn't always remember things like HP or AC or INIT, etc... I'd like to try it out, if you'd all oblige me at your earliest convenience please. Thanks!
(HP 17/17 AC 20 Touch 11 Flat 19 CMD 19 Flail+4 (1d10+3/19-20/x2), Waraxe+4 (1d10+3/20/x2) Sling+2 (1d4+3/20/x2) F+5 R+1 W+2 INIT+1 Perc+0 CMB +4) -Paladin/1-)
added a link for pic of Kimberly in the profile could not find one with blonde hair so decided to change the hair color to match the pic. (well almost) her hair color should be dark red almost black.
Kimberly,
I am not familiar with reincarnated oracles. What is your starting revelation?
Kimberly is an Oracle of Life with the channel energy revelation.
at 3rd level she must take Loacation Memories revelation and at7th she must take Spirit memories.
the reincarnated oracle is in the advanced race guide.
We using Medium Xp track?
Yes we are
Guys, work is going to be really tight this week, but it should only last the week. I'll try to make up for my light posting during the evenings.
So everyone is on the same page, I'll define taking 10 and 20 as I use them. Taking 10 is a single use of the skill. Taking 20 is 20 attempts of said skill requiring the time and effort a single use would take - times 20. We all on the same page here? If questions put them here! Thanks.
I will be out tonight and won't be able to post until tomorrow
Sorry about the lack of posts, today. I had a very bizarre day at work.
I would like to point out that it would be best to go to the church before poking around the cemetary. this is a small and very suspicious town and messing with crypts without some sort of authorization or backing would infuriate the townsfolk.
There at the table she lays out some possible locations you can gather additional information on various mysteries. The Whispering Way, Harrowstone , and the gradual worsening of the towns demeanor the last few years. Arcana and Religion for the Whispering Way, and History and Local for Harrowstone and other local happenings. Kendra, who is an avid reader, says there are several impressive libraries around town; 1) Her fathers personal library here in the home. 2) Ravengro Town Hall records room. 3) the Temple of Pharasma library - home of Father Grimburrow. 4) The Unfurling Scroll, a school/magic shop run by Alendru Ghoroven - a good friend of her fathers.
Without resorting to heavy gamesmanship, we know something about Harrowstone and the Whispering Way. I'd like to know what's happening in the town.
I know that the church of Pharasma used to store them in a false crypt...
Also, Pyotr can't really engage in theft and borderline grave-robbing. If they gave us permission to take the weapons, it would be better.
Kimgald would want to seek the blessing of the church before reclaiming the Professor's cache as well. That said, given the community's apparent paranoia and lack of reason he would have no problem claiming it even should they refuse the request.
I'm fine with us splitting up at this point and handling separate tasks. It sounds as if Kimberly often makes these trips to the church, so there's little reason to expect trouble during the outing. Additionally, all three heading to the church are training in Knowledge (religion), so we've got the noggins needed to do some collaborative research. I also have Knowledge (history), to see what I can find out about the prison.
I do think that we should go as a full party to the prison when that time comes.
but any other place in town we may need a good talker to deal with the townsfolk (especially if we want to gain information)
Oh definitely. When we visit the Prison, given the background information we already know, we should go together.
We've got several faces in this party, too; Kimberly, Pyotr, and I are all trained in Diplomacy. I think we're set up as best as can be expected to deal with the locals.
I disagree on a number of points, but can go along with majority rule as far as splitting the party. But as far as the cash in the crypt, I believe I recall the the church did not even know it was there. The professor certainly did not ask permission. We take nothing for our own gain, only use a stockpile of provisions for their intended purpose.
In truth we should trust no one in town at this point, and telling anyone about these provisions tips our hand. That is Tolvan's position anyway.
Sounds like we have a majority for splitting the party for research locations. But the crypt decision still needs to be resolved, will you go there with or without talking to the church first, who will be going, and the time of day you'll go, regardless of what you do beforehand.
I have no problem keeping the party together. But, aside from just general information on Harrowstone and The Whispering Way, do we actually have any idea what we are researching? It just feels like we are searching for answers, without any actual questions.
I'm guessing (hoping) more specific mysteries are out there to be uncovered by talking to the townsfolk.
In any event, the Professor's notes said:
I am not certain if the current clergy even know of what their predecessors have hidden down below.
The temple just seemed to me to be the best place to go first.
Oh definitely. When we visit the Prison, given the background information we already know, we should go together.
We've got several faces in this party, too; Kimberly, Pyotr, and I are all trained in Diplomacy. I think we're set up as best as can be expected to deal with the locals.
We need whatever general information we can get at this point, I think, as well as the list of names the professor mentioned in his journal. It makes sense to me to try to mimic his footsteps as best we can; he carried out research, looked into the cache, and explored Harrowstone. Unless we turn up something to lead us in a different direction, I think we should follow the same general chain of events.
The Pharasmans may not know what they have, but Kimgald holds the Lady of Graves in high regard. He would rather speak with the church and deal with any resulting fallout, rather than sack the cache of a possibly-forgotten sect of her followers. I believe Kimberly has close ties to Pharasma and her worshipers as well, which might have some bearing on our course of action.
But they are so unrefined, my dear. :P
Seriously, though, I only mentioned Diplomacy specifically due to its gather information function. Neither Bluff nor Intimidate serve in this capacity.
Pyotr wasn't really worried about the books. He was trying to detect undead in the building and around town. Obviously, he doesn't have the scent ability, so it would've had to have been one heck of a Perception check, if there even are undead in the temple. Mostly it was just flavor for the situation and to make Pyotr a little more odd to those around him. =)
Aha, understood :)
Did I tell everyone I was on vacation? I thought I did, but if not; I'm on vacation for about a week. I'll post as I can. Quality and quantity will suffer (obviously) but I'll do what I can. :)
Don't think I knew. Have a nice vacation. What are you doing? I am always looking for good ideas for trips. :)
We're at Lake Tahoe in Cali at a resort-y type place. It's pretty awesome, but not cheap.
I skied Mammoth this past March so I have seen that part of the country - I know its south of there but I think its similar.
Nice. I've got some excellent memories of Tahoe. Used to attend a summer camp on the eastern shore.
Good times. Except for the year my younger sister went as well; she got a bit carried away in an improvisational acting class. Slapped me so hard the smack was probably heard on the opposite shore. Everyone was stunned, none more so than my sister. She was so embarrassed.
Okay, so that was a good memory, too. :P
wanted to add that in about one and a half weeks I will be: