Shadow of Ascanor (A)

Game Master Mar Nakrum

Aldous Beauturne wrote:

Why did this negative emotion form into this manifestation? Who knows, except that stuff like this tends to happen in Ustalev.

In the Gothic, everything happens for a reason.

Haha, very true. Perhaps I should have said, "Things like this tend to happen in Ustalev, for reasons beyond the ken of most mortals."

Sounds like the Haunted archetype to me. You can, actually, combine both archetypes.

I really wrestled with this. On the one hand, the fluff is absolutely perfect. On the other, the mechanics... well, its a considerable nerf. Consider, when using Usurp Manifestation:

Pros:

- Damage increases from 1d6+1 to 1d8+2, and at 5th level, fairly substantially to 2d6+2 compared to 1d8+1 at comparable levels. An average jump of about 3 points. Not a bad buff. It of course continues scaling as the spiritualist levels.
- Natural Armor +2. Again, a pretty nice buff. Except it really just offsets some penalties, as noted in "Cons" below.
- +2 to STR. Other than the damage, folded into the first point above, this is actually on the balance a nerf, considering that Brogol is a dex-based phantom with weapon finesse. See below.
- Reach. Reach is king. Very nice.
- at 8th level, the phantom gets the ability to cast spells, in effect cancelling out a pretty big nerf the archetype takes for the first 1/3 of its existence. But this market correction is still on the balance a nerf, as noted below.
- at 13th level, +2 to attacks, saves and skills for the phantom is very nice.
- at 18th level additional DR and SR is the bees knees. But it comes online really late.

Cons:

- The STR bonus to attack (+1) is washed out by the size penalty and the fact that I'm using weapon finesse, which goes off dex, so my attacks suffer from the -2 size penalty to dex. So, Brogol's stats go from STR 12 to STR 14, while is Dex goes from DEX 15 to DEX 13. Brogol's attacks go from 2 slams +5 to 2 slams +4. Once Brogol's Dex increases to 16 and beyond, the slams will suffer an effective -2 penalty to attack when the phantom uses Usurp Manifestation
- The Dex penalty imparts -1 AC, and -1 Ref. It also imparts a -1 init, but I can't see this coming up very often, if at all.
- Large size also imparts a -1 AC size penalty. This washes out the natural armor bonus when combined with the dex penalty.
- The spiritualist loses one standard action / round. Action economy is probably the best feature of this class (as it is for all pet classes). Take that away, and in addition when using the Usurp Manifestation ability the class also loses spellcasting (until 8th level).
-The 8th level buff to Usurp Manifestation is supposed to counter this, but it really is a pretty poor option given that every spell cast costs double the regular amount of spell slots for a class that doesn't get many, and that not all of the spiritualist's spells are going to be available.
-Bonded manifestation is no longer available.

Conclusion: +3 damage, +2 AC and reach is not worth -1 attack, -2 AC, -1 Ref, -1 standard action / round, and loss of bonded manifestation and spellcasting for the next 5 levels (and serious resource management issues after that). At 13th level things get a bit better - some of the attack penalty is negated, and damage buffs and save buffs are always nice. But that's a long way off and I'd rather have the action economy before then.

I love the fluff of the Haunted archetype though, and if selected certainly plan on playing the Doctor as being very haunted, because well, he is. But when I balanced the pros and cons, the Haunted archetype was too big a nerf to swallow.

What would you think of a Ustalavian (Slavic] Knight or a Ranger type?

I am looking at your line up and thinking one of your necromancers guys might like a meat shield.

Or ranger type is a deposed noble whose family was thrown from from their ancestral lands forced out into the cold. But they were survivors. Old blood, skill at arms and a remote hunting lodge turned refuge has allowed the family to survive. Growing up in this dangerous and remote locale required the character to learn the skills of a ranger and to survive the creatures in it. This character has learned of a chance to retake his family's seat.

He is probably Lawful Neutral. He wants to repay those who injured his family, but a noble is also required to follow customs towards his small people, that is peasants are required to do certain things for their lord, but in turn a lord has certain responsibilities to his small people. The lowest of the peasant class, the serf, is attached to the land they are on. As long as they are not in open rebellion they remain while lords and governments may change.

I am on an analog signal because I am camping. I would love a chance to develop more. If you can give me some quick feedback I will do what I can with my iPhone.

Haha, very true. Perhaps I should have said, "Things like this tend to happen in Ustalev, for reasons beyond the ken of most mortals."

I was implying that it needed an actual reason.

I really wrestled with this. On the one hand, the fluff is absolutely perfect. On the other, the mechanics... well, its a considerable nerf. Consider, when using Usurp Manifestation:...

All of that is fixed if you run an Anger spirit. Not saying that it is required, just pointing it out.

Either way, the concept needs to be massaged, or if you have suggestions on altering the Haunted archetype I'm open to that.

What would you think of a Ustalavian (Slavic] Knight or a Ranger type?

Very nice. The ranger concept would be fine, the important part is that you have a compelling backstory, which you do.

As for the knight...meat-shield isn't a good backstory.

You may have noticed that I'm on early. After about 3 hours of sleep, I woke up to an incredibly painful charlie-horse. So while dulled from lack of rest, I am awake and intent on getting this crafted.

Fighting Chicken wrote:

Haha, very true. Perhaps I should have said, "Things like this tend to happen in Ustalev, for reasons beyond the ken of most mortals."

I was implying that it needed an actual reason.

Quote:

I really wrestled with this. On the one hand, the fluff is absolutely perfect. On the other, the mechanics... well, its a considerable nerf. Consider, when using Usurp Manifestation:...

All of that is fixed if you run an Anger spirit. Not saying that it is required, just pointing it out.

Either way, the concept needs to be massaged, or if you have suggestions on altering the Haunted archetype I'm open to that.

Ah, Ok, I understand now. I'd prefer not to run the anger spirit, although it does counter many of the issues with the haunted archetype.

I'll just drop the archetype and go with a straight Spiritualist, and in this version, Brogol died in such a horrific manner that despair gripped his soul in his last moments, and the power of this emotion pulled him back to the material plane and into the room where he'd just been shot by the Doctor. As Brogol's soul no longer had a vessel, it latched onto the nearest living creature, one that was also fielding an immense amount of psychic pain and despair - his mentor, the Doctor.

It will change around some skill modifiers and improve the Doc's will saves. I'll get the sheet updated ASAP. Thanks for the feedback, and good luck getting some sleep!

Ah, Ok, I understand now. I'd prefer not to run the anger spirit, although it does counter many of the issues with the haunted archetype.

I'll just drop the archetype and go with a straight Spiritualist, and in this version, Brogol died in such a horrific manner that despair gripped his soul in his last moments, and the power of this emotion pulled him back to the material plane and into the room where he'd just been shot by the Doctor. As Brogol's soul no longer had a vessel, it latched onto the nearest living creature, one that was also fielding an immense amount of psychic pain and despair - his mentor, the Doctor.

It will change around some skill modifiers and improve the Doc's will saves. I'll get the sheet updated ASAP. Thanks for the feedback, and good luck getting some sleep!

That works great. And thank you for the sentiment.

I'll just drop the archetype and go with a straight Spiritualist, and in this version, Brogol died in such a horrific manner that despair gripped his soul in his last moments, and the power of this emotion pulled him back to the material plane and into the room where he'd just been shot by the Doctor. As Brogol's soul no longer had a vessel, it latched onto the nearest living creature, one that was also fielding an immense amount of psychic pain and despair - his mentor, the Doctor.

I think that's a better story actually. Under the other way you could at least reassure yourself that good old Brogol had passed on to a better place (and with a party this heavy in necromancy, someone was going to put 2 and 2 together). This way he's also responsible for costing Brogol to relive his last moments of pain and terror until he dies as well!

You may have noticed that I'm on early. After about 3 hours of sleep, I woke up to an incredibly painful charlie-horse. So while dulled from lack of rest, I am awake and intent on getting this crafted.

Wow - I just looked up the definition and that is a 'cute' word for something that sounds terrible!

While we're all keen to start, I doubt anyone is going to begrudge you putting the deadline back a day so you can recover. Up to you though.

I'm wore out for tonight, so I'm going to sleep on a few things.

Thanks for the encouragement.

Okay, I am still evolving this character in my mind.

I am picturing him maybe using the Slavic sword that looks like a single edged saber paired with a khyber which is sort of like an Eastern European and Middle Eastern gladius. It is a slashing and piercing weapon and a longbow

Or maybe an ancestral bastard sword and a longbow if that is more appropriate.

I would think favored enemy would be undead, but I am also thinking human is appropriate. He is a deadly opponent having spent many hours on the drill yard.

He is not a young man, probably in his mid 30s, with dark hair and eyes, high cheekbones and a close cropped and shaped beard.

This is all I can get done on this connection tonight.

I have his hunting lodge fleshed out in my head.

It is a slashing and piercing weapon and a longbow

You mean: "It is a slashing and piercing weapon, and I will also have a longbow"?

Yes lol. I was falling asleep.

I think that's a better story actually. Under the other way you could at least reassure yourself that good old Brogol had passed on to a better place (and with a party this heavy in necromancy, someone was going to put 2 and 2 together). This way he's also responsible for costing Brogol to relive his last moments of pain and terror until he dies as well!

Made all the better by the fact that Brogol is probably going to do everything he can to keep the good doctor alive.

I can see you're going to need some way to not have a big heart to heart and work it all out though - or perhaps that is the Doctor's story's conclusion.

Though on the other hand I can see him looking for a way to bring Brogol back.

For sure. There's a lot RP possibilities with Brogol being a constant reminder of the very real consequences of the Doc's actions. If selected, he will most certainly be looking for a means to bring Brogol back, but for obvious mechanical reasons, I hope Doc is unsuccessful.

I have been otherwise preoccupied this weekend but as a late voice I will mention that I hope Bēl-Ṣullulim is on the mend. That and I look forward to potentially engaging in moralistically murky territory. :p

Ask Chester nicely and he could bring Brogol back. Just...not as he was. Or even remotely close. >:D Get better soon, Bel! Charlie-horses are rough, so I know that feel.

Are we making this an evil campaign or just a dark gothic medieval one?

I think some of that will be shaped by who ends up playing. Some submissions are darker than others, and none of us are..."good" but some of us might be nicer than others?

I had to google what a Charlie-horse was, I thought he went our horse riding and fell or something :S

Turns out we call them Corky which is why I didn't get the term.

yeah its looking like ill have to bow out of this. i keep changing how i want the alchemist to be. i make him one way then want him another.

yeah its looking like ill have to bow out of this. i keep changing how i want the alchemist to be. i make him one way then want him another.

I know how that is. I spent the last two weeks agonizing over Marris Ghalmont.

Happy Un-Birthday Everybody!

I would like to again thank everyone for submitting their characters and working with me to fit into the campaign. I've had a lot of fun, and look forward to our future exploits in the dark realms of Ustalav. As it stands we have 11 submitted characters.

I've spent some time thinking about it, and because of everyone's excellent concept work, I would like to invite all of you to play in Shadow of Ascanor. Really, I'm blown away by your creativity and willingness to do get into the theme.

Because of the number of characters, I have decided to run two parallel games, of 5-6 characters. Should we suffer significant drop-off, we'll have a paradox event and combine the two together.

Now it's time to put together the cast A and cast B, and listen to some Dead Man's Bones. Let me know if you have any questions.

Excellent idea, I'll have an alias up in no time!

Yeah I will get an Aldric sockpuppet darned up real soon. Good times.

Here's the preliminary casts.

I'll give everyone a day or so to look them over, if you feel like your character would fit better somewhere else, we can talk about it.

Ask Chester nicely and he could bring Brogol back. Just...not as he was. Or even remotely close.

Haha, I think the Doc would decline that offer :)

Here's the preliminary casts.

Excellent! Thanks for running this game - it looks like it will be lots of fun.

Both necromancer's on one side?

Both necromancer's on one side?

I did it for the novelty of having two different types of necromancers in the same party.

But if that's not your style, I can move you to the other party.

I'm happy where I am!

I don't mind. Just surprised. So move to discussion?

Nah, this sounds perfect to me. Looking forward to how it shakes out in the game!

I get to Boise late to hog I can flesh out more. First name is Vlad.

Yay! Should be interesting to see how it all plays out!

Cast B, your campaign awaits you here.