Ringtail's Rise of the Runelords

Game Master Ringtail

Ringtail's Rise of the Runelords - Chapter 1: Burnt Offerings

The party, along with their newest ally, brave the perils of the Nettlewood in order to face the goblin threat at Thistletop and put an end to the menace once and for all.


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Male Half-Elf Fighter 3
Ringtail wrote:
I sure hope it is still up an running-we're only just closing in on the end of book 1 of RotRL now; and my schedule will be opening up again soon, so I'll have to see who in my Night Below games are still interested in raising them from the dead before long.

No I meant still going as we were still playing through the books. Pathfinder Online might come out two or three years from now, we might be done with Rise of the Rune Lords by than.


Brony Vegetarian Book Worm 1 / Gambler 13 / Zombie Slayer 6

I think Shattered Star coming out after Skull and Shackles is supposed to be a sequel to Rise of the Runelords. Depending on our pace, if everyone is still around and wants to run through it I'll probably have the copy's to run for my home group anyway. Ready to see if Ansruath can catch a break in the game thread? Their attacks aren't great, but I've had some amazingly high rolls against him lately.


Male Half-Elf Fighter 3

They said Jade Regent was a sequel, Shattered Star will deal with the Rune Lords but has nothing to do with RotRL. Yeah seems to love rolling high on me there.


Brony Vegetarian Book Worm 1 / Gambler 13 / Zombie Slayer 6

I think it was linked with Curse of the Crimson Throne as well, but that is one of the few APs that I actually have read through, ran, or played in.

I'm sorry. Looks like Ansruath stays down for another round. The bonus to hit a prone target is what pushed it over, I think. The saddest thing is that Ansruath's AC isn't the problem; a couple of fights ago I think I rolled 19 and 20 repeatedly with the sinspawn...but only on you. I could barely graze Tardek and the others. At least you have the hp to generally put up with the punishment.


Male Half-Elf Fighter 3

Meh as I said in the game thread at least they are wasting their high rolls on me.


Male Human Bard 3

The thing to really take away from this is 'we probably should top off between fights.'


Brony Vegetarian Book Worm 1 / Gambler 13 / Zombie Slayer 6

Also, given that when Ansruath hits he generally kills and being the front line warrior in a party of casters, cleave (and by extention greater cleave or whirlwind attack) would be an excellent addition at some point to tackle the hordes that surround him more often than not. Woe to the packs that face Ansruath at midlevels should he ever pick up improved critical and great cleave.


Brony Vegetarian Book Worm 1 / Gambler 13 / Zombie Slayer 6

My neice turned 4 today. Which reminds me that my nephew's birthday is soon. He'll only be 6 though, still probably have to wait a couple of years before I can teach him game.


Male Half-Elf Fighter 3

I am not taking cleave freaking standard actions, should just be added on to a hit. Anyway I am taking improved critical woe to anything I full attack at that point. As that is cool happy birthday to your niece. My little sister turned 2 the 10th and my little brother turns 18 tomorrow.


Brony Vegetarian Book Worm 1 / Gambler 13 / Zombie Slayer 6

That's a rather large gaps in ages between siblings-I've only rarely seen bigger.

At one point I considered allowing full attacks with a standard actions to balance higher end action economy in 3.x and not having martial characters feel the need to be a mut of 8 different classes, but think that it would be unneccessary in PF which had already given some teeth the classes lacking, and sky rocketed the effectiveness of barbarians and monks with the releases of APG and UC.


Male Half-Elf Fighter 3

I have seen a number of people call UC, Ultimate Monk for the amount of love monk had gotten in the book.


Brony Vegetarian Book Worm 1 / Gambler 13 / Zombie Slayer 6

Speaking of books, it is about time to replace my first printing PF CRB now that printing number five is out. It is in peices-the cover is more like a folder that generally keeps the pages in order; the binding was so very bad in my early PF books. I wasn't going to get another copy since I can read it for free online, but I'm playing PF a lot more than expected since that is what everyone I know plays (I think I'd be a bit happier with BWG), so I might as well get a current printing in decent condition. Maybe there will be a good holiday sale price on it. Luckily I don't use my Bestiary enough to bother replacing it as well.


Male Half-Elf Hedge Witch 1

I've heard it said that UC did a lot to help the rogue as well, but thus far my reading of the feats presented there has been pretty cursory.


Male Human Bard 3
Ansruath wrote:
I have seen a number of people call UC, Ultimate Monk for the amount of love monk had gotten in the book.

UC could have also been called 'Let's just make Barbarians ridiculous.'

Seriously, Spell Sunder = :awesome:


Brony Vegetarian Book Worm 1 / Gambler 13 / Zombie Slayer 6

Wasn't Spell Eater (or whatever it was called) in there as well?


Male Half-Elf Fighter 3
Lleneth Chembryll wrote:
Ansruath wrote:
I have seen a number of people call UC, Ultimate Monk for the amount of love monk had gotten in the book.

UC could have also been called 'Let's just make Barbarians ridiculous.'

Seriously, Spell Sunder = :awesome:

Yes, Yes I know UC let barbarian break demi-planes and own castys with batty bat.

Anyway I am writing my own homebrew world(I blame Ringtail for this) and I wanted peoples thoughts on the how many races I should have at a base. There are no humans,dwarves,elves,orcs,halflings, and gnomes anymore. Long story short they all bred themselves out because of some reasons to deal with the world. Here are the few ideas of races I have so far(figured I ask since people are around). To give a point to what I am thinking of for each race will put race/race.
I was thinking of having vampiric elf/orc race that took over some orc and elven parts. A really tough lizard race replace humans and dwarves. A elf/fey take over for halflings. There is a giant/orc/dwarf race that are pretty much what orcs are now. I was also thinking of a shapeshifter race but did not know how to put that into the game without breaking the race.


Brony Vegetarian Book Worm 1 / Gambler 13 / Zombie Slayer 6
Quote:
...Anyway I am writing my own homebrew world(I blame Ringtail for this)...

I need to get back to polishing Spire (my Russian/Mongolian steampunk setting) soon. But I did just download Old World Blues...choices, choices.

Quote:
...and I wanted peoples thoughts on the how many races I should have at a base.

I like Burning Wheel's base number of 4. 7 (as in PF and D&D) seems a bit much to me, but a few are mixes (half-) so I forgive it.

Quote:
A really tough lizard race replace humans and dwarves.

I love suarians and lizardfolk.

Quote:
A elf/fey take over for halflings.

Also an excellent idea. Would they be winged like stryx or pixies, or more like gnomes?

Quote:
I was also thinking of a shapeshifter race but did not know how to put that into the game without breaking the race.

You could give them some interesting limitations. Make them wierd plant-folk that need to absorb nutrients from the soil and sunlight to power their abilities for so long, or be forced stay in one form for a day or so if they ever catch sight of their own reflection, or need to see whoever they are turning into to start a transformation (making it difficult to impersonate someone).

Guests at the hotel this year are nice. This is the third person in 3 hours to bring me dinner. I'm a vegetarian and everything is covered in gravy or turkey, but the gesture is nice and I'm had some yummy things. This last guy really knows how to pan sear some asparagus.


Brony Vegetarian Book Worm 1 / Gambler 13 / Zombie Slayer 6

I'm trying to cut down on the sheer volume of rogue talents, barbarian powers, and so on available since there are a handful that clearly stick out as superior to the rest and so nobody ever seems to touch some of the weaker ones. Rather than eliminate options however, I'd like to combine several weak options to make an attractive one. I'm thinking about starting with the barbarian; first up, combining raging climber, leaper, and swimmer into a single talent (raging athelete). At first I thought it was too good, but when making sample barbarian builds I still had trouble justifying the choice of it over supersition and spell sunder and others. Thoughts?


Male Half-Elf Fighter 3

When I mean fey I mean the chaotic trickster of the wild not winged or anything. As for the barbarian powers I would never take superstition but that is just me. The others as long as others want to be better in combat well they are going to take the powers that increase that.


Brony Vegetarian Book Worm 1 / Gambler 13 / Zombie Slayer 6

My optimizing side loves superstition becuase it gives barbarian a better chance to not be dominated and go on a killing spree against his own party (or even just not be stuck with a hold "thing" spell), however I often find that it is just not in my character's personality to take it when I actually get to play a character (and when that rare character is a barbarian). Great for "bad magic" fearing goblins, though. The invulnerable rager in my current RotRL game (wow, I should get prepared for Saturday!) took it, and it has saved her a ton of times thus far, but it has also prevented some much needed healing on occassion (though those times are rare considering that out of 8 PCs only 1 can cast spells...no wait 2, our assassin retired and swapped for a witch).


Male Half-Elf Fighter 3

Yeah and as we have AM BARBARIAN in the game I am sure he can explain how much more awesome those rage powers are.

I also forgot to mention in my other post but I am going to have a winged race but they will be npc only.


Speaking of barbarians, I need to eventually find a new home for Yuma, since the PbP he was in died a long time ago. He was my attempt at a barbarian who was good at something other than smashing faces into a million pieces Gurren Lagann style. Something more...battle-field controlling, I guess you'd call it. I was going to give him fiend totem to gain ram horns (his tribe's totem spirit) and take the power where you damage the ground to make difficult terrain. Combined with pushing assault, combat reflexes, the feat that allows you to ignore difficult terrain, and a bardiche (maybe lunge as well), he was going to make difficult terrain, and continually push the opponenent back while causing a little bit (well...still raging) damage, forcing them to move rather than 5' stepping (due to terrain) to get back toward the group, provoking AoOs to get pushed back some more with combat reflexes. And of course he'd still have the gore incase enemies got inside of his reach.

Barbarians are fun.

And far more complicated (to me, at least) than wizards.


Male Half Elf Inquisitor(Preacher), level 3

Fisnis found a home again. He is off beating up hill-billie town folk from a swamp.


Brony Vegetarian Book Worm 1 / Gambler 13 / Zombie Slayer 6

He's got a new portrait too, I see. I like the upgrade.


Male Half-Elf Fighter 3

I gave him some tattoos and things this time around.


Brony Vegetarian Book Worm 1 / Gambler 13 / Zombie Slayer 6

Last time Flitter has been online was the 16th of September. I know he was having computer problems back then and planned on being back as soon as possible, but it has been over 2 months now-I wonder if we should expect to see him back at this point or not.


Male Half-Elf Fighter 3

It has been two months already?


Brony Vegetarian Book Worm 1 / Gambler 13 / Zombie Slayer 6

More than 2 months since we've heard from him, a week past that since he's had a post in a game thread. The 8th will be 3.

I have far too many adventure ideas rolling around in my head that I want to run. I'm going to end up over extending myself again and not being able to keep up or give focus where it is obligated if I don't set some boundaries. I'll be playing in a 4E PbP and running this 1 as of next week. I'm staying "on call" in CC in case of a drop, but the group seems to be going strong for the time being, so I'm not going to bank on joining in again anytime soon (at least I enjoy lurking/watching). I could probably play in 1 more and run 1 more. I'd hate to start back up Night Below for 1 group and not the other though. Perhaps I'll see who is still around from both crews and combine the remainders into 1, or if interest has waned in the time since we last played start a new game.

Aside from my homebrew setting I have 2 other ideas in the forefront of my mind; a game where the players are neutral to evil and attempt to join and work for the Pioneer Patriciate (a LE organization that would be similar to the Pathfinder Society, but with the intent of using the old treasures they uncover for their own ends) and undertake missions ranging from heists to assassinations. I might just have such a want to run that type of game because I've been watching the 2011 Hunter x Hunter revamp (I'm getting far too old to be watching cartoons all of the time, it is starting to slide from sad to creepy). The other would be more or less a level 5 to 8/9 playtest of the boxed campaign I just finished my first full draft of (and the EDITING begins...sigh). It is the middle chunk of our work, but should stand well enough on its own, I hope.


Brony Vegetarian Book Worm 1 / Gambler 13 / Zombie Slayer 6

Make that 4. I also want to run my hot air balloon/dirigable race around Golarion game and my wierd west game, though Golarion is hardly the setting to handle such a style.


Male Half-Elf Fighter 3

Well I know four people are gone. The couple from my party had their RotRL start back up. Flit is gone so three done for that and The halfling bard from the other group is trying to get into a game.
I have a whole set of games I want to run for my homebrew world. The two main ones though are rebel game and other is where a gang takes over a country. Players are the gang and in the rebel one will be very high powered and very dark and gitty. Gang one is set 500 years after rebel one.


Male Half-Elf Hedge Witch 1

Well, Ringtail, if you find yourself in need of players, I'd be happy to hop into one of your games (though likely not more than that, because I feel like I've already been neglecting CC).

As far as the races in your game, Ansruath, they sound pretty spiffing to me. How do you invision the shapeshifters? If they turn into an animal, I don't imagine that Beast Form I once per day would be too unbalancing, especially if they're required to take a specific form (like the 3rd edition Hengeyokai). If they're like lycanthropes and shift into a hybrid form, granting them a couple of natural attacks in an alternate shape would be mechanically simple, and the cosmetics could be handled however you want. Alternatively, maybe you could consider giving them a "rounds per day" spent in an alternate form. Would that be applicable to racial abilities? I know we haven't seen a precedent for it yet.


Male Half-Elf Hedge Witch 1

Ringtail! What's this weird west game you mention? I loooove westerns, and I'd be eager to hear more about the setting, whatever it might be.

In fact, I'd been working on a western in which to set a few short pieces of fiction (that hasn't been working so well, though), but Ansruath has now got me wondering if it might serve as a campaign setting. It's got a general history to it so far, seeking to blend elements of pulp westerns and byzantine dark fantasy. So far, the general feel is a western wasteland, the post-apocalyptic remnants of an advanced steampunk civilization that blew itself up when they started trying to mix magic with their technology. It's got cowboy/knights and vampires (nosferatu-style, like a creepy undertaker) and Cymerien-style barbarians in place of Indians. Think there's any merit to a setting like that?


Bear in mind that Superstition doesn't always have to be related to a distrust of magic. It could also just be an inherent quality that makes you highly resilient against magical attack, but is uncontrollable and thus works against beneficial magic as well. Just the same as Spell Sunder doesn't have to be about hitting reality so hard that it breaks, it could also be knowing what makes magic tick inside and out and therefore knowing how to cut through it with a blade through use of expertise instead of awesome.


Male Half-Elf Fighter 3

The shapeshifters will pick one of two forms at character creations mammal or reptile. Since normal animals are no longer around I am making custom animals for everything and same goes for the shapeshifters.
Mammal form is an animal is like a bear/tiger/ gorilla. It is big hits hard and can take some damage. The reptile form is a combo of a snake/velociraptor/crocodile. Which is faster and can move. See thing though is I am going to use ARG when it comes out for all the races so I can make sure they are more or less balanced since I can base my racial abilities off of the ones in the book or just refluff them for my races. Reason for this is my races need to be high powered reason for this and having a base line is good.

Now on to the western you are talking about seems cool. I myself do not really like westerns but that is me.


Brony Vegetarian Book Worm 1 / Gambler 13 / Zombie Slayer 6
Quote:
Ringtail! What's this weird west game you mention? I loooove westerns, and I'd be eager to hear more about the setting, whatever it might be.

Honestly I've been playing a lot of New Vegas and watched Gunless 3 times in one week, so I've been on a bit of a western theme kick lately.

I don't even really have too many ideas for it just yet- just a pretty solid adventure seed (involving chupacabra and vampires) and some strong personalities (involving gunslingers and alchemists, and another hombrew class I've been working on / daydreaming about that allows a PC to remove their limbs and replace them with steampunk or clockwork peices to gain varying effects). Unfortunately Golarion doesn't have a suitable tejano styled setting within it, so I'd have to reach into another campaign setting or make my own (another, because wierd west certainly doesn't fit into my fully thought out campaign setting anywhere).

If you build a western themed setting for PF based on what you've been working on, I'd be more than happy to run the above game within it (which seems like it would fit well), however, to save myself some work.


Trinam wrote:
Bear in mind that Superstition doesn't always have to be related to a distrust of magic. It could also just be an inherent quality that makes you highly resilient against magical attack, but is uncontrollable and thus works against beneficial magic as well. Just the same as Spell Sunder doesn't have to be about hitting reality so hard that it breaks, it could also be knowing what makes magic tick inside and out and therefore knowing how to cut through it with a blade through use of expertise instead of awesome.

Very true. Flavoring powers to taste is always possible. The barbarian I want to rehome did change the lesser fiend totem into channeling the spirit of the mountain ram. Any thoughts on the merits of a non-ragelancepounce, battle-field control barbarian?


Off the top of my head?

Dazzling Display (Or something else that can do it only better), CAGM, a reach weapon, Unexpected Strike, lots of intimidate, Terrifying Howl and Horrifying Glare, and Antagonize with some Armor Spikes to spice...

That'd make you a guy who can demoralize everyone within 30 feet one round and then make them RUN the next, be nigh-unapproachable, can force Castys into trying to melee him, or can focus on one enemy in a round to make him run.

And just don't try to get close to him ever.

Not sure how I'd structure the build (Probably Urban Barbarian to preserve AC while raging ) but it seems viable.


I had not even considered the fear effects. Good idea. I was hoping to lock people into corners or against wall with the effects listed above, creating walls and corners if need be via a friendly spellcaster or someone with a few cheap feather tokens (boats, trees, and anchors have never failed to impress me with their many uses). Hmm...at low levels tanglefoot bags to lock someone down after I've moved them where I want them could be useful too. My only problem was getting to the minimum level where the barebones of the powers/feats can come together and get the lockdowns to start working.

I could get the feats I needed quicker by investing in fighter (no more than 3 levels, need that 17th in barbarian, though I think I have heart of the fields already on him), but that would set me back on DR from invulnurable rager and rage powers, which I need fewer of but are vital to the plan...plus come and get me is just awesome.

With 3 levels of phalanx fighter I could use a bardiche in 1 hand and still have a shield for defense (I'd be proficient in tower shield, but that'd probably be over doing it), which could help make up AC ground from lunge.

Deciding to multiclass is so much harder to decide on than the given it was in 3.X...

I'll need to make a level by level build and chart him out to see how to put him together best. Non-casters are so complicated. With a wizard I just have to pick a spell, point, and click. Ironically the barbarian makes me have to think the hardest.


AND you'd get Heavy Armor proficiency to keep your AC up. If you're doing that, definitely take Urban Fighter since you'd be negating Fast Movement through the heavy armor, and definitely go for the darn armor. You move slow, but it won't really affect you too much considering you exist to set up a wall. You can afford to dip up to 3 levels as the Barbarian capstone is... kinda meh. (And as far as Heart of the Fields goes, the BEST way to use it is to pop some Allnight from the Adventurer's Armory, be immune to fatigue for 8 hours, and then Heart of the Fields the Exhaustion from it.)


Male Half-Elf Fighter 3

If you are going to go with heavy armor I would do Armored Hulk archetype. Yes I know it not some of the other archetypes but hey you get some nice bonuses for wearing heavy armor.


Brony Vegetarian Book Worm 1 / Gambler 13 / Zombie Slayer 6

*Adds Adventurer's Armory to cart.*

Now I definately have to find a PbP game to test him out.


Brony Vegetarian Book Worm 1 / Gambler 13 / Zombie Slayer 6
Ansruath wrote:
If you are going to go with heavy armor I would do Armored Hulk archetype. Yes I know it not some of the other archetypes but hey you get some nice bonuses for wearing heavy armor.

What does armored hulk give up (doesn't have book on him at the moment)? Can it be taken in conjunction with invulnurable rager or urban barbarian?


Ansruath wrote:
If you are going to go with heavy armor I would do Armored Hulk archetype. Yes I know it not some of the other archetypes but hey you get some nice bonuses for wearing heavy armor.

It would solve the speed problem if you want a move higher than 20, though.


Ringtail wrote:
Ansruath wrote:
If you are going to go with heavy armor I would do Armored Hulk archetype. Yes I know it not some of the other archetypes but hey you get some nice bonuses for wearing heavy armor.
What does armored hulk give up (doesn't have book on him at the moment)? Can it be taken in conjunction with invulnurable rager or urban barbarian?

It can't. It replaces Fast Movement, Uncanny Dodge, Trap Sense, and Improved Uncanny Dodge.


Male Half-Elf Fighter 3

Gives up fast movement which it gets back anyway. Gives up trap sense and the uncanny dodges. No cannot be taken with either of those. Though if only urban barbarian did not have that dumb first level power. Yeah I can move through crowds easier.


Brony Vegetarian Book Worm 1 / Gambler 13 / Zombie Slayer 6

I could have a decent enough AC at mid-levels that that loss of invulnurable rager DR wouldn't hurt as much as it would for most low AC barbarians (the IR in my home game stopped wearing armor entirely- toughness, DR 4/-, 21 CON, and amazing rolls on a d12 ensured she rarely runs low on hp even in long battles, she'd have even more but buffing superstition with favored class is kind of amazing). Armored hulk may win out in the end. Now I need to do 2 full builds and compare them side by side, level by level. At least I love math. Pretty set on the 3 levels of phalanx fighter though.

Hmmm...armored hulk gives a bonus to cmb for combat maneuvers (just realized I could check the PRD). Overbearing assault/onslaught would give useful battlefield control options, or barring those even just the overrun chain. It's basically trip for low-INT fighters anyway.


Rough level 12 projection of a battlefield control barbarian. Saving throws are great (all at a +19 or higher while raging). Didn't have room for a few feats wanted (furious focus and antagonize). Thinking of lowering cloak of resistance bonus for more cash-like AC to be a bit higher. Thoughts?


Male Half-Elf Fighter 3

I would not dump int and cha that low but that is me. Nice saves though.


I built him with the standard 20 points of PFS. It was a tough call on Int. Since I was taking heart of the fields I didn't get skilled, but upon looking over the barbarian class skills list I found that there were only 2 I really cared about having capped (perception and intimidate). I refrained from going down to 7 since I happened to have 2 points left over and, having a social skill and perception, wanted a mobility skill (still might drain a point or to from something to rank up swim and/or climb once each). The MAD aspect of needing all 3 Str, Dex, and Con, as well as an okay Wis was forcing Int and Cha low as it was. Since my armor has a max Dex of +3 I may yet lower my base Dex to raise Cha a modifier and possibly Int back to a 10, but his functionality relies on combat reflexes granting more AoOs that he ould normally get attacks in the round so I don't want it too drop too low. Still a work in progress.


Ringtail, it looks like we have lost Dehrisan.

Post is here.

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