Ruins of Empire (Inactive)

Game Master EltonJ

pad300 wrote:

Can you buy expert tools for skills, eg. Administrate, Warcraft, Lead, ...

Not that I know of.

Gm ruling, good enough... (PF1 assumes the existence of expert tools for whatever skill, for example, a book to consult on spellcraft...)

From the gameplay thread:

1 Gold Bar equals about a 1000 gold pieces. At least that's what I think.

I can work with that for your campaign. There is a definition under the finances action,

However, in general, GB is a domain system, and GP is character wealth - obviously, they are often kept separate. How closely do you want Domain expenses tracked? Round to whole numbers of GB? To the nearest tenth of a GB?

Round to whole numbers. It's easier that way.

Round to whole numbers. It's easier that way.

OK

I'll post soon-ish. This week has simply been madness!

Hey y'all, Galwain here. Before I'm ready to post in gameplay, I was wondering how bloodline abilities were selected?

Hey y'all, Galwain here. Before I'm ready to post in gameplay, I was wondering how bloodline abilities were selected?

First thing you need to do is figure out your bloodscore, blood strength and derivation.

Assuming you haven't done that,
1) Roll 4d6, take the best 3. Eg 4,6,1,2 = 4+6+2 = 12
2) multiply the result by 2 and add 10. Eg. 12*2 + 10 = 34
This is your blood score. Keep track of it

3) Roll 1d100, and consult table 2.1 here:
http://www.birthright.net/forums/showwiki.php?title=BRCS:Chapter_two_Blood_ and_regency_Bloodline_derivation

Eg. Rolling a 42 and Anuirean ethnicity results in a bloodline derivation from Brenna

This is your derivation. Keep track of it.

Note that table assumes you have chosen your characters ethnicity already. Also, if you have a concept in mind, I am pretty sure that Eltonj wouldn't mind you choosing your derivation.

4) Roll 1d100 and consult table 2.2 here :

http://www.birthright.net/forums/showwiki.php?title=BRCS:Chapter_two_Blood_ and_regency_Bloodline_strength

This is your Bloodline strength. Keep track of it.

Eg. Rolling a 77 results in a major bloodline strength

5) Consult table 2.3, here :
http://www.birthright.net/forums/showwiki.php?title=BRCS:Chapter_two_Blood_ and_regency_Bloodline_score

This will give you a blood score mod (another # to keep track of), A number of minor abilities (Mi), major abilities (Ma) and great (Gr) abilities. There is also a bonus HP column; ignore that.

To continue our example, we got a 34 bloodline score, a major bloodline derived from Brenna. This is a mod of +4, 1 Minor, 1 Major and 1 Great ability.

6)Roll 1d100 for each ability. In this case the 23 (minor), 75 (major), 19 (great). As the bloodline strength is major, the strongest ability you can have is a major ability, so the great ability is downgraded to a major ability. Thus you end up with 23 (minor), 75 and 19 (major). Consult table 2.4 here.
http://www.birthright.net/forums/showwiki.php?title=BRCS:Chapter_two_Blood_ and_regency_Blood_abilities
use the subsection appropriate to your derivation (in this case, Brenna, 2.4 D). You have the following abilities. 23 >>> Animal Affinity (minor), 75 >>> Persuasion (major), and 19 >>> Character Reading (major).
Follow the links in the table for ability descriptions.
Also note, that you can choose to voluntarily downgrade an ability to a lesser power for character reasons, eg. If you felt it fit your character better, you could choose to downgrade the 75 >>> Persuasion (Major) to 75 >>> Heightened Ability - Dexterity (Minor).

I think that covers it.

I've already calculated my bloodline stats.

Bloodline Derivation: 1d100 ⇒ 21 Bloodline: Anuirean Frequency: Common/Anduiras
Bloodline Strength: 1d100 ⇒ 26 Minor Bloodline
Bloodline Score: 4d6 + 10 ⇒ (5, 6, 6, 5) + 10 = 32 Bonus is +4, giving me 3 minor abilities (I believe), and 16 bonus HP

My bloodline is minor and common.

My abilities are as follows:
Ability: 1d100 ⇒ 8 Animal Affinity (Lions) :Minor: Empathic communication: The scion has an empathic communication with the animal to a range of 60 feet, although the scion must be able to see the animal. This ability is similar to the wizard/sorcerer's ability to communicate with his familiar. Members of the species will never attack him unless they are magically controlled. The scion gains the wild empathy ability like a druid or ranger (detailed in the Player's Handbook) but only towards his totem animal.
Ability: 1d100 ⇒ 84 Long Life: Minor: After reaching young adult-hood, the scion will only age at the rate of one year for every five years that passes.
Ability: 1d100 ⇒ 30 Detect Lie: Minor: Once per day, the scion can concentrate on one individual and discern whether he is speaking the truth, as per the spell discern lies. Unlike the spell, this ability only affects a single individual, regardless of the scion's level.

Eltonj, can regents build the rooms from ultimate campaign. I am currently specifically considering a series of book depositories & a magical repository...

Eltonj, can regents build the rooms from ultimate campaign. I am currently specifically considering a series of book depositories & a magical repository...

Yes.

I was thinking I’d introduce myself to the party once they reach a port, is that good?

I was thinking I’d introduce myself to the party once they reach a port, is that good?

That's fine. Be your debonaire self.

Yep, that's good. Perhaps in Ilien? Not as batman of course. You're batman is secret.

Elton, a quick lore question. How long to Cerilian 1/2 elves live? Do they inherit their elven parent's immortality? I am assuming not, but a lifespan # would help for the background I am trying to write.

Elton, a quick lore question. How long to Cerilian 1/2 elves live? Do they inherit their elven parent's immortality? I am assuming not, but a lifespan # would help for the background I am trying to write.

Birthright.net doesn't say. Would 700 years work for you? I'm asking because that's the normal elf lifespan in D&D 3.x.

pad300 wrote:

Elton, a quick lore question. How long to Cerilian 1/2 elves live? Do they inherit their elven parent's immortality? I am assuming not, but a lifespan # would help for the background I am trying to write.

Birthright.net doesn't say. Would 700 years work for you? I'm asking because that's the normal elf lifespan in D&D 3.x.

That's fine. I just wanted a number... you could have said a human lifespan for all I care, I just want to get my "age" sorted...

For those interested, King Niall's background is up in his profile.

Ok, everyone, the objective of this bit of roleplaying in the Great hall of Ilien ( starting here : https://paizo.com/campaigns/RuinsOfEmpire/gameplay&page=12#551 )is to get all the characters acquainted so we can all sail together in the morning, off in search of pirates; our first adventure as a party.

A question, who is playing?

I'm in ( Niall ).
I'm pretty sure Rogr is in.
I'm also pretty sure that Galwain is in

We haven't heard from Archprelate Dalan since Feb 26...
I'm not real sure if Kurt ever got started.
Unfortunately, I think Lady Barad is out, as of her last post.

I'm not to sure of the etiquette, should we private message Kurt and Archprelate Dalan? Should EltonJ? (Both the posters are active relatively recently, Aug 2019 or later...)

I am assuming EltonJ is going to play Lady Barad as an GMPC. That gives us 4 which is a party... Although as a big believer in team roles, I would be more comfortable with a cleric/healer. Could we recruit a further NPC/GMPC while in Ilien?

Healers should be in your party retinue.

I have been assuming we will ditch our personal bodyguards (the 2d6+5 ) (as well as the armies and the ships), when we are in adventuring mode. If not, between the 3 players (Rogr, Niall, Galwain) and 1 or more GMPC's(Lady Barad, etc), there's 40+ people on the map, which is difficult.

I would suggest allowing at most 1 companion pre primary character (for example, Niall will have a hard time coming up with an excuse to ditch his sworn (Paladin) Lifeguard...but I will think of one if I have too).

Further, can you come up with some tidbit from Lady Barad's interrogations that will justify going to a adventuring party, rather than fleets & army units? (If you want us to brainstorm ideas, let us know.)

Questions: what sort of ships were captured? And any news from the magistrates?

You captured caravels, and as for the magistrates. Yes, there is some news. Since you ordered them to watch for suspicious activity within Ilien, you find that they have uncovered a spy network within your realm that is eclipsing your spy network.

Eltonj, some gameplay questions.
1) Purchasing of magic items? Pathfinder has a semi-standard set of rules for this :
https://aonprd.com/Rules.aspx?Name=Purchasing%20Magic%20Items&Category= Magic%20Items

I am not sure you want to apply these rules to a BR campaign...

However, if you do, what size of a community is Ilien, and what is ti's base value? I am considering the purchase of some lvl 1 scrolls, eg. charm person. I want to learn spells.

2) Are you requiring the Battle Caster ( http://www.birthright.net/forums/showwiki.php?title=BRCS:Chapter_one_Feats_ New_feat_descriptions&redirect=no ) feat for use of Battle Spells? You didn't mention it to Rogr when you and he discussed making alter winds a battle spell...

3) Superior Masterwork Items (see dwarven artisan, here http://www.birthright.net/forums/showwiki.php?title=BRCS:Chapter_one_Feats_ New_feat_descriptions&redirect=no ). Can they be purchased in Ilien, and for how much?

Wow some good questions.

A1. Purchasing magic items is allowed, and the city of Ilien is considered to be a metropolis (7/0). Its not as big as the city of Anuire, but it's a metropolis, so around 20,000 gp limit.

Just remember true mages are rare. Sorcerers are mostly found among the elves, and wizards are mostly found amongst the humans. Arcanists are the rarest of both. But there is the magician class that specializes in Divination and Illusion (the best of which was Rournil). 1st level spells are easy to come by. 2nd - 9th level spells are harder to find.

I suggest filling out your library using Mongoose Publishing's Encyclopedia Arcane Libraries, since you inherited the library of High Mage Aeles (and he was an Arcanist).

A2. Requiring the feat? Oh no, but it could be useful. Casting battle spells with the feat makes it easier in a tricky situation.

A3. You can purchase Superior Masterwork items in Ilien, since it's a metropolis. They would cost 50% to 150% of the normal base price, depending on who you go to in Ilien. There are dwarves in Ilien that can craft Superior Masterwork items.

FYI: I'm travelling this week and next, so I'll find the time to post, but it may not be very often... I'll try to get to a proper response to Niall tomorrow!

FYI: I'm travelling this week and next, so I'll find the time to post, but it may not be very often... I'll try to get to a proper response to Niall tomorrow!

Make sure you tell me if you'll join me going back to Tamle tomorrow morning as well as the pact of Ilien bit...

I'd hope to hear from Galwain as well WRT to what to do next and what Q's for Rogr's interrogation team (and Lady Barad).

Also, so everyone knows, I will be travelling from the 17th to the 22nd myself, so posting may be non-existent.

EltonJ, how do battle spells work in your campaign?
1) Assuming you know "Rain of Magic Missiles", how do you cast it/what does it look like in play? What does the feat "Battlecaster" do?
2)(a) A "battle spell" presumably occupies a normal memorizes spell slot for a wizard. But what about sorcerers? Do battle spells occupy a known spell slot or can they research (or otherwise get) the conversions of spells they know? I am guessing the second (otherwise sorcerers are really gimped...), and does this apply to arcanist style casting ( https://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/hybrid-classes/Arcanist/#Spell_Casting )?
2) (b) What about using spell like abilities, specifically, my Conjurer's Focus ( https://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/hybrid-classes/arcanist/archetypes/paizo-a rcanist-archetypes/occultist ) to do a Monster Unit Summoning spell?
3) Can you purchase battle spell knowledge, and at what cost? I assume it's different than regular spell knowledge (for example, you can purchase a scroll of a 1st level spell - magic missile for 25gp, and then scribe it into your spellbook... Rain of Magic Missiles on the other hand...)

A1. Most battle magic is found in the Book of War. A copy of which is found in the Imperial College of Magic library. Battle spells give you an advantage during a battle. Either by reducing the enemy's strength or giving you a passive advantage (like the spell, hallucinatory terrain).

A2. Rain of Magic Missiles is cast according to its casting time. What it looks like is a rain of force bolts blast from your fingertips. Rain of Magic Missiles is a battle spell.

Battlecaster feat:
You are capable of casting battle spells in tactical combat.

Prerequisites: Capable of casting 3rd level spells, Warcraft skill

Benefits: See Chapter Six: Armies and warfare for details on the use of battle magic.

A3. Sorcerers and Battle Magic. Sorcerers may learn the spell as part of their spells known, it takes up a slot of known spells. Battle Sorcerers exist, i.e. Sorcerers that concentrate their energies on knowing the right battle spell, this happens with the second rite of knowledge according to your askance. A battle sorcerer is simply like a War Mage from Cormyr. This should apply to Arcanists as well. An arcanist may learn a new spell like a sorcerer and wizard.

A4. A monster unit summoning spell falls under Realm Magic. This is because summoning an undead unit also falls under Realm Magic (See Legion of Dead (Necromancy) on page 83 of the Birthright Rulebook). You will have to research your monster unit summoning spell as Realm Magic.

A5. As for purchasing battle spell knowledge, that means perusing the Book of War. It's free for students of the college to peruse that book for research. For an outsider to use the library, costs a research fee of about 20 gp. Perusing the Book of War cuts your research time in half, but it still requires research materials to get the right battle spell you need.

Elton, please clarify.

Typically for a 3.0/3.5/PF1 feat, if a feat (Battle Caster) lets you do something : "capable of casting battle spells in tactical combat", without that feat, you can't do it. Yet you previously replied:
" Requiring the feat? Oh no, but it could be useful. Casting battle spells with the feat makes it easier in a tricky situation."

So, 1) can you cast a battle spell without having the battle caster feat?
2) What, if any, checks do you need to achieve to cast a battle spell a) without battle caster, and b) with battle caster.

Elton, please clarify.

Typically for a 3.0/3.5/PF1 feat, if a feat (Battle Caster) lets you do something : "capable of casting battle spells in tactical combat", without that feat, you can't do it. Yet you previously replied:
" Requiring the feat? Oh no, but it could be useful. Casting battle spells with the feat makes it easier in a tricky situation."

So, 1) can you cast a battle spell without having the battle caster feat?
2) What, if any, checks do you need to achieve to cast a battle spell a) without battle caster, and b) with battle caster.

A battle spell requires a concentration check during battle. The Battlecaster feat allows you to cast a battle spell without the concentration check.

A battle spell requires a concentration check during battle. The Battlecaster feat allows you to cast a battle spell without the concentration check.

What is the DC of this check? In the magic in combat section, I see a DC 10 warcraft check (with extra bonuses to success for making it by multiples of 5), but no details on a concentration check.

DC 10.

Ok, to help with the army statistics, here is the details of company of Aerenwe marines that I have
TO&E :
128 Marines => 1 Captain, 1 Adjudant, 1 First Sergeant, 3 Lieutenants (each has a platoon of 40 men), 1 Surgeon, 1 Chaplain
1 Platoon (40 Marines) => 1 Sergeant, 3 Squads
1 Squad (13 Marines) => 1 Corporal, 12 Marines

Combat Equipment of Marines
Heavy Wooden Shield, Studded Leather Armor, Short Sword, Dagger, 2 Javelins. longsword

Okay. Your marine unit outnumbers the Vos pirates. Barely.

With the strategy your using, you should take them by surprise. I take it you are playing Commander? Or is the Captain the commander? Any of them blooded?

Niall will be the overall commander, but he is going to have to go forward with the "scouting" element to do the sentry elimination. The captain will running the company, but Niall is in charge of strategy - Niall tells the captain what he wants done, the captain commands his men to execute.

I know my marines are roughly the same size unit at the pirates - heck, I'm assuming that 120 count is =/- 10%... I figure trained soldiers will have pirates on organization, ie. I expect less sentries and so forth than I would with a military formation, and Morale - I expect en masse surrenders if I get the marines into the ruins while they are still asleep.

Also, you should realize that I am going to abort the attack if the sentries start blowing a horn before we get in. If that happens, I am going to wait, and bring up the reinforcements from Ilien. I will besiege the place and call for a surrender... The thing about a fortified position, is that it is a force multiplier that allows a weaker force to hold off a stronger force, but it does pin you in place. I can call up overwhelming force if I take my time, and I don't expect them to be able to call much by way of reinforcements, as Rogr took their local ships...

Oh, I hope the next random event is a blood challenge.

Oh, I hope the next random event is a blood challenge.

Why do I get the feeling I don't want to know why... Nor to find out the hard way...

Commander Vladistok

Intimidate 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31
Diplomacy 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Saves = 1d20+4
1d20+4

Subject #2 (?Captain Harlan?)
Intimidate 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
Diplomacy 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Saves = 1d20+7
1d20+7

Subject #3
Intimidate 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14
Diplomacy 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Saves = 1d20+5
1d20+5

Subject #4
Intimidate 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29
Diplomacy 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Saves = 1d20+6
1d20+6

PS. Did I find any documents in the pirate camp? Anything from correspondence with other pirates (or a higher commander) to shipping notes ( “sent a load of slaves to base X last month” kind of thing).

You did find a map of Calcorwyn Island and a map of Mieres. Two treasure maps, and x doesn't mark the spot.

Not quite understanding how you are handling the situation mechanically here. You appear to be rolling 2 saves and I don't understand why. I am also not sure why it appears commander Vladistok's will save went up by 2...

What it think should be happening:

Demoralize Opponent
You can use intimidate this skill to cause an opponent to become shaken for a number of rounds. This shaken condition doesn’t stack with other shaken conditions to make an affected creature frightened. The DC of this check is equal to 10 + the target’s Hit Dice + the target’s Wisdom modifier.

Assuming the target DC is made (I suspect it is, except for subject #3), they then need to make a Will save vs DC 16 for the Charm Effect (including a -2 to saves from the Shaken condition). A succesful charm person spell results in :
"This charm makes a humanoid creature regard you as its trusted friend and ally (treat the target’s attitude as friendly )
...
The spell does not enable you to control the charmed person as if it were an automaton, but it perceives your words and actions in the most favorable way. You can try to give the subject orders, but you must win an opposed Charisma check to convince it to do anything it wouldn’t ordinarily do. (Retries are not allowed.) An affected creature never obeys suicidal or obviously harmful orders, but it might be convinced that something very dangerous is worth doing...."

And then Diplomacy. The difficulty to adjust the subjects attitude with diplomacy is (10 + subject Cha mod) for a friendly[i/] subject. Doing so would result in a [i]helpful attitude: " Once a creature’s attitude has shifted to helpful, the creature gives in to most requests without a check, unless the request is against its nature or puts it in serious peril. Some requests automatically fail if the request goes against the creature’s values or its nature, subject to GM discretion." At which point, the subject should be enthusiastic about telling us everything...

I am back!

...and you were busy, busy bees! I'll try to catch up, but I can't promise that I would miss a few details! What's the long story short?

I am back!

...and you were busy, busy bees! I'll try to catch up, but I can't promise that I would miss a few details! What's the long story short?

The short version :

Found pirate outpost on island of Tamle. Took pirate outpost on island of Tamle.

And the King wants to wipe out Pirate base on Caelcorwynn island.

Elton,

About odd spells, in the original source (2nd ed), Book of Priestcraft there is a spell, Population Growth... There is no corresponding spell in the 3.5 conversion at BR.net http://www.birthright.net/forums/showwiki.php?title=Realm_spell_description s&redirect=no

Does it exist? What do the details look like ?

From the gameplay thread:

EltonJ wrote:

1 Gold Bar equals about a 1000 gold pieces. At least that's what I think.

I can work with that for your campaign. There is a definition under the finances action,

http://www.birthright.net/forums/showwiki.php?title=BRCS:Chapter_five_Rulin g_a_domain_Domain_action_descriptions&redirect=no
"ratio of 2,000 gp for 1 GB (and visa versa)"

...

Elton, can you confirm for me which exchange rate we are using to move from GB to gp? Thank you,

pad300 wrote:

From the gameplay thread:

EltonJ wrote:

1 Gold Bar equals about a 1000 gold pieces. At least that's what I think.

I can work with that for your campaign. There is a definition under the finances action,

http://www.birthright.net/forums/showwiki.php?title=BRCS:Chapter_five_Rulin g_a_domain_Domain_action_descriptions&redirect=no
"ratio of 2,000 gp for 1 GB (and visa versa)"

...

Elton, can you confirm for me which exchange rate we are using to move from GB to gp? Thank you,

A domain's treasury is measured in gold bars (GB). A gold bar abstractly represents things of worth owed to the regent, be they in cash or commodity, in service or in kind. The default gold bar is roughly equivalent to 2,000 gp in coin value if quickly disposed of, but this value may differ regionally. The things of worth represented by a GB varies by the nature through which the revenue is generated – generally through taxes on commodities, but also in part direct seizure of such (the lord’s share of corn, ground wheat, etc.), and extraction of certain feudal services (including military obligation or scutage). A GB of value often consists of a wide variety of things of value. The exact nature of these things is usually irrelevant, as GBs are only used to finance domain level actions and pay for domain actions.

From here.

Elton,

About odd spells, in the original source (2nd ed), Book of Priestcraft there is a spell, Population Growth... There is no corresponding spell in the 3.5 conversion at BR.net http://www.birthright.net/forums/showwiki.php?title=Realm_spell_description s&redirect=no

Does it exist? What do the details look like ?

I'll have to take a look at the spell to make a conversion. My copy is in storage, so I can't take a look at it soon. It's non-inclusion could be an oversight by the BR.net team.

Well, it's a cleric/druid spell. The spell still exists, but only clerics with temple holdings of 3 can cast it.

What it does is make the province's inhabitants fertile and willing to have kids.

Well, it's a cleric/druid spell. The spell still exists, but only clerics with temple holdings of 3 can cast it.

What it does is make the province's inhabitants fertile and willing to have kids.

So I could potentially make a deal with the Eastern Temple of Nesrie to cast it. OK.

Just remember, the province rating will go up by one when it is cast. Which means your sources will suffer in the province.

Just a heads up.

Another Question. Could I use the
retraining rules to improve my bodyguards?

In this particular case, I want a few more sneak-ish types (I felt my arse hanging in the breeze during the last adventure), so I would be looking to retrain their warrior levels to PC class (ranger or maybe slayer ) levels.

Just remember, the province rating will go up by one when it is cast. Which means your sources will suffer in the province.

Just a heads up.

I understand, although presumably when it succeeds, not when it is cast ... I was thinking about using it in Calrie, Dhoenel and Halried, where the ETN has holdings, and the source level is already 0.