Hello and welcome to the game! I'm excited to get started with all of you.
If you haven't already, finish up your character using the criteria below. Please let me know when you're ready for me to review your sheet.
Character Creation:
1. All characters begin at level two.
2. 15-point ability buy.
3. All alignments are allowed, but you must be able to play well with others.
4. All Paizo-created races are acceptable, but core races are preferred. No custom or third-party races are allowed.
5. Paizo-created classes and archetypes only. No paladins or summoners, please.
6. Two traits. One must be a campaign trait. Try to pick traits that align with your backstory, not just add to your character's stats (or figure out how to add stat-boosting traits into your backstory). I'm fine with flavor tweaks to make traits align better with your character's story, but please let me know that you're making the tweak before you assume I'm ok with it (I probably will be).
8. Average gold for buying starting gear for your class.
9. Max HP at level one, roll or 1/2 HD + 1 thereafter. I'm fine with your rolling and then taking the better option for your level 2 roll.
A Couple of Things:
1. Please put the following in the Class area of your profile. Obviously replace the numbers with your information.
Init +3 | Perc +10 | AC 15 / T 15 / FF 11 | HP 11/11 | Saves F +5/R +3/W +6
2. I use Dropbox to host images of maps, NPCs, etc. You don't need an account to view them, but some companies/firewalls block Dropbox. Please let me know if this is an issue for anyone.
3. When doing a skill check, please roll the dice - even if you don't know if your check is valid or needed. I might ignore your roll if it is unnecessary (or if you do a good enough job roleplaying that the dice check is replaced by your creativity), but it speeds thing up if I don't have to ask for it.
4. If any of you use Hero Lab, can you please PM me and send me the .por file for your character?
Thanks, everyone!
Thanks for the selection! It looks like we have a pretty well-rounded party:
Ulgrast Thrice-Blessed - Half-Orc Scarred Witch Doctor
Elisandra Casdemay - Human Cleric
Dorin Stonehammer - Dwarf Freebooter
Yasmin al Akbar - Human Bard
Allie "Cat" Calico - Human Rogue
Thanks for choosing me. I'm looking forward to the game!
Glad to be here!
Bit of background: I've never played the AP but have a strong background in gaming. I tend not to min-max, going more for interesting style.
See you in game!
- Ulgrast Thrice-Blessed a.k.a. Crellan
Good evening everyone,
Glad to be aboard! (Ahem, no pun intended)
Some background for myself:
I currently play in a variety of Paizo adventure paths, and one extremely fun Way of Wicked game as well right here on the Paizo forums. I've been eying this particular AP for sometime, and am excited to be participating.
Other than that, I have 20 years tabletop RPG experience most prominently with D&D and now Pathfinder (since I can't stand 4e). I'm a teacher by day, so most of my posting will be around this time in the evening, though sometimes more on weekends.
Happy sailing!
Thank you for the selection, and a hearty welcome and congratulations to those selected. I am looking forward to getting underway.
I am active in many PbPs, and I host a weekly tabletop game in my home. I have been gaming since 2nd Edition in the early 80's.
So... A dwarf, a half-orc, and three beautiful women walk into a bar...
...only the dwarf actually walks under it. :P
Realizing I'm supposed to say so, Yasmin's character sheet is ready for review.
I had my first introduction to D&D through computer games, including Baldur's Gate, Planescape Torment, and Neverwinter Nights. Started playing some 1E AD&D. Then found myself in a group playing 4E and started getting infected by munchkinism and building characters devoid of flavor. These days, I'm mostly reformed, thanks to Pathfinder and PbPs, though I confess I still try to optimize within the constraints of a character concept.
My sheet can be reviewed too.
Anyone else play when Elf, Dwarf, and Halfling were classes not races? I'm a red-boxer (Basic Set) and first played as a kid in the '70s so I may by the pappy of the group. I actually owned Gary Gygax's "Chain-mail" the precurser to D&D, though as a kid I didn't know enough to keep it as a collector's item.
Cat's sheet is ready to go.
I started with the Red-orange D&D Basic Set sometime around 1980-81.
It's nice to be part of a group where I don't feel old!
Wow - we ARE a bunch of graybeards. This should be fun!
No kidding... well, I feel right at home with this company then! The red box does predate me by about 12-13 years, but I did start playing in the early 90s with 2nd edition.
My particular favorite campaigns were Planescape and Ravenloft if that means anything to anybody. Good times.
I never got the opportunity to play in a Plansescape campaign, but I played in several Ravenloft games. My gaming group has some great stories from the adventure where the PCs bodies are stolen, and their souls are trapped in wooden marionettes.
Did any of you play Spelljammer? There seems to be a very big love/hate divide on that one. I wonder if anyone has toyed with the idea of running this AP in space - Stars and Shackles?
I have not played Spelljammer, but I have heard good things. I too am a verteran of Ravenloft, but not Planescape. My group is currently preparing characters for a run at Montey Cook's Numenera. I am really impressed with the simplicity of the system.
@GM Tallgrass: Can you open the Gameplay Thread so that those of us present and accounted for can dot to our campaign tab? Thanks
Montey Cook's Ptolus was my home group's playground for several years before Pathfinder came along and 4E had me leave Wizards behind.
The original Ravenloft remains one of the greatest adventures of all time. The campaign world that followed was fun as well. Never played much spelljammer, but it looked intersesting as well. Stars and Shackles could be a trip.
You're all veterans compared to me, then. I've only played in some homebrew games. I know the DMs pulled from various sources, but I couldn't tell you where it all came from.
Looking forward to the adventure!
Hello, friends and adventurers! I apologize for being incommunicado, but I am at a trade show in fabulous Las Vegas. I have no access to (free) wifi, so I'll have to get things moving next week. Sorry for the delay.
Keep interacting - I'll be back soon!
Thanks, GM Tallgrass, see ya soon.
Probably just as well... I'm actually away this weekend until Sunday night.
Just bumping the thread.
Just saying hello!
*Whistle*
The Gameplay Thread is up! Thank you for your patience, and let the game commence!
Please note, I haven't actually checked your character sheets yet, so there may still be some changes that need to be made. But I'd rather not hold up the game any longer.
Cheers!
Woohoo!
Ugh. That last post was awful. So many little rules that aren't that complicated, but require explanation. The Campaign Info tab will be full of these rules, and I'll be adding to it regularly as new game aspects are introduced. Be sure to check it as we move forward.
Fine job at the summary. It should go fairly smoothly. If anyone has not seen the Player's Guide to the AP, it is quite helpful too.
Just for clarification, is Kroop drunk or sober today?
He's drunk. A check is required.
Is there a reason we can't take 10 on the checks? And for clarification - If Ulgrast makes a DC 10 profession sailor check he does not have to make either a dexterity or a fatigue check - correct?
Finally what is the mechanism for a fatigue check?
There is supposed to be an air of randomness to the success or failure of tasks. It's a little gamey, but in time, taking 10 will be an option as you all settle into your roles aboard the ship.
For the task you were given today, you have to make a Sailor OR Dex check, AND a fatigue check which is just a Constitution check.
Most of you met some of your fellow sailors today. I've updated the Campaign Info tab with a link to our NPC spreadsheet. Again, this is a little gamey, but it should help you keep track of who you've met and how they feel about you.
I'm also going to add a map of the Wormwood. Your character technically won't know all this yet, but you'll have time to explore the ship this evening.
Just in case it's unclear, you need to make the following decisions:
1. How you'll handle the rum.
2. How you'd like to spend your evening (you may take more than one action, depending upon your action).
Feel free to RP the evening as well - if you decide to influence someone, RP the interaction and include your rolls. I'll let you know who you met and whether or not you were successful.
And with that, all of the daily meta-game rules are shared. Now we can fall into a daily rhythm without stupidly long explanation posts. Let the rejoicing commence!
Any questions, let me know.
Hello, friends! So sorry for the delay. Client website issues have taken my full attention. We will resume shortly!
Love always,
Tallgrass
Looking forward to it :)
Any update on when the campaign will resume?
I am having absolutely terrible luck with this AP. This is my third attempt at using this PC on Skull and Shackles, and the PbP simply dies early in everytime. I can only hope that it has not happened again?
I'm not holding my breath at this point... there hasn't been a game post in almost two weeks, and I'm at the point where I'm rarely checking in with this one.
Such is life with PbP's I suppose.
Indeed, hard to keep one going for long.
I guess I've been luckier than I realized. The first two PbPs I ever applied for are still going on.
One is a Kingmaker, and the other is an amalgam of several different adventures that the GM has cobbled together. Both have been running for several years.
Skulls and Shackles seems to be one of those APs that dies quickly if it is not constantly maintained - especially at the beginning.
It's frustrating, because it seems like it'll be a lot of fun if we can keep it going. I was just getting a feel for Allie's personality, and how she would act and react to potential situations.
I hear ya, Allie. I just think the daily maintenance and rolls throw off the GMs pace with Skull and Shackles. Still keeping my fingers crossed a little longer before I give up and hide the Gameplay thread.
This is my second try at this AP as well. We didn't get much farther than this one. I almost think this AP would work better as a PbP skipping this whole shanghai part.
I concur, and considering we are already at Level 2, that may be a great idea, if our GM, or someone else is willing to pick it up there.