A month ago, I posted an interest check for a no magic game in a historical setting and, well, there was some interest.
The game will be a no magic game, meaning that no class with supernatural features will be playable. It will be set in feudal Europe, around the 11th century.
Characters will be created at level 3, with half the normal starting gold. Accepted classes are the Skirmisher Ranger, Rogue, Barbarian, Fighter, Monk(must be of the asian pursuasion), Cavalier, Samurai. Homebrew classes, filling the role of the Priest and Scholar will be accepted as well, as long as there are no supernatural abilities associated with it. If anyone is interested in playing either the priest or the scholar can PM me for more information, as i do have something in mind for each.
Two traits are allowed, with a third with a drawback.
Point buy 20 or roll 4d6, drop one for each stat. HP points at first level are maxed, other levels can roll or take average (not pathfinder average).
Everyone is technically human, but make expend the free feat OR the extra skill point for 4 rp points of abilites from the race creation abilities, within reason. Examples of good ones are ethnic weapons or predilititions for skills. Things that give you magical abilites are not.
You may also take any of the human variant racial abilities and you may also choose to be small sized if you wish.
The game will start in in western Europe, at a small waystation on the road to Normandy called The Horse and Foot.
This is a game that will be used to explore some of the mythologies of the middle ages. You can be sure to see things like werewolves, vampires, dragons and others during the adventure, but this would largely unheard of for the characters, so avoid supernatural elements in you backstory. If you choose the monk or samurai class, you must explain why your character is so far from home.
This game, I hope, will be rather dark as the characters are forced to face things they have only heard in stories. It should be fairly roleplay heavy, so in your sunmission, please give me a sample of how your character will play, either as a backstory told from the character's perspective, or merely a sample.
Recruitment will go on until Monday, May 5th.
If serious, gritty, low magic games aren't your style, then please check out my other recruitment threadhere for the exact opposite.
A month
July?
I'm confused.
Sorry, my bad. Posted the thread before finishing the post.
Ah, alright. I read it. I'm interested!
Can I play as one of the various nonmagical Ranger archetypes? I have an idea for a Halfling Ranger that could prove very interesting...
Yes. Forgot to mention those. But you can't be a halfling, technically. You may be a small sized human though.
actually, scratch that, I'd love to try out the Huntmaster cavalier archetype. I CAN get Boon Companion for both of my companions, though, right?
Yes
neat.
Could I potentially use those RP to buy to to a better stat array?
You may exchange 4pts to get +2, +2, -2, your choice. It's about half in power to the dual talent human racial trait, which takes both the feat and skilled.
Interesting... I will think upon this. It is my first time figuring out a character for such a setting.
Would you allow the Brawler from the Advanced Class Guide? I'd love to make a Welsh pugilist with some fun flair added.
I'd be ok with that. Slayer too.
Awesome, thanks! Getting it together now. Do you mind dump stats, or would you greatly prefer more well-rounded chaps?
I have my epic, epic character name picked out.
Will you allow me to take a Horse as a companion as well? Hunters with dogs would often ride horses as well in the Middle Ages, and even today.
You are still going to divvy up the levels among the companions, but I see no reason why not.
Eh, I don't think I will, after all. I'll just buy a horse and maybe pick up Mounted Combat.
I'm going to end up with two dogs and a falcon. The falcon will be used as a lookout more than anything else.
I'm looking forward to this! Can I give up the extra skillpoint to get an extra feat at first level? Or is that too much?
One or the other. With the race creation rules, that much freedom is a bit too much. However, that other can still be exchanged for heart of the blank traits.
You may also want to check out the huntsmaster racial feat and the Eye for talent racial trait.
I'll give up the extra skillpoint in order to get a +2 bonus to Handle Animal and Perception. I am a huntmaster, after all. :D
This seems awesome. I grew up with a friend that wasn't very big on magic in games we played. This seems amazing. I am definitely interested.
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Hmm, seems decent. Lets see where this takes me.
Wow, those were some really nice rolls o.o Grats
I have my pups all named and ready.
yay, I am going to go for a samurai
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huzzah! twas meant to be it seems!
do you mind a samurai being of non Asian heritage but having been brought up in it?
EDIT: what about languages? real world langauges?
also, nice 18 mate
@Darien: Since this is actual middle-ages earth... that makes no sense whatsoever.
I'm thinking of a switch-hitting skirmisher (urban?) ranger. Depends on what the dice have to say about it.
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Interesting. I should be able to make something out of that.
What do you propose for him then? I had assumed his father/grandfather would be able to make the trip via trade caravan to china then ship to japan. Then he could have made the return trip. improbable, but plausible
Ah'll bash ye fookin' 'ead in, ah weel!
(I won't really type the accent that poorly, but I had to make the joke.)
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Ralph Flannigan | CG Male Human | Level 3 Brawler
Str 19 | Dex 16 | Con 14 | Int 14 | Wis 13 | Cha 11
Init +5 | BAB +3 | Melee +7 | CMB +7 | Ranged +6
29 HP | 17 AC | 13 T | 14 FF | 20 CMD | 17 FFCMD | Frt +5 | Rfx +6 | Wil +2
Attacks: Unarmed Strike (B), +8, 1d6+4(+1d4 bleed), x2 Crit
Traits: Witty Repartee, Unabashed Gall, Reactionary
Drawback: Pride
Class Features: Martial Maneuvers, Martial Training, Unarmed Strike, Brawler's Flurry
Feats: Weapon Focus (Unarmed Strike), Belier's Bite, Power Attack, Combat Reflexes
He was not cruel, however, and helped his limp opponent to sit up and drink some water, much to the displeasure of the crowd. Though while murmurs of softness flitted between disgruntled patrons who had come to enjoy the brutal festivities, none dared call out the brawler directly on his kindness. They had seen enough drunken bastards thrown in the ring for impudence in the past and knew that it had never ended well for the hecklers.
The crowd split as Ralph gracefully hopped out of the ring and headed toward the door. "Uhm, Ralph, I mean uh, Mr. Fiery Fist, sir, uh..." the nervous owner of the establishment stumbled over his words, trying to address Ralph as non-confrontationally as possible "Y-you'll be taking your prize money, won't you?" the owner asked hesitantly.
Ralph looked back, spit on the ground at the owner's feet, and simply said, "Ye said ye'd pay me for a fight. That weren't a fight now, were it? Keep yer coin, jus' give me a better match next time." The door slammed behind him as he exited, and the room went silent with bewilderment.
ok, I think I will be making a sword saint ronin samurai.
personality: good natured, he isn't afraid to kill a man, but won't do so unless necessary or if his or a friends (including innocent) lives are threatened. He seeks to protect the weak of the land and most of all his friends and loved ones. He follows no code but his own though that makes him no less honorable. Intelligent and wise he seeks to lend a friendly hand to most anyone he meets.
story told from his perspective is under way.
I am interested, but have a couple of questions.
1) what type of armor are you planning to allow? The 11th century (the 1000's) would have featured very little in terms of plate-style armor. No breastplates, full plate, etc. really. Scale mail is a possibility as Romans had their lorica squamata. Chain mail would have been the order of the day if you cold afford metal armor at all.
The most famous military engagement of that era in Western Europe is arguably the Battle of Hastings (1066). So I'm basing this off the depictions of those events in the Bayeux Tapestry.
2) Weapons: I would argue that depending on dates involved, certain weapons be off the table. No rapiers in 1100, for example.
3) I think a Viking berserker (barbarian) could be a neat fit in this type of setting, but I really don't have a reason for him to be away from his clan that isn't at least somewhat anachronistic. How "true" to history do we need to be. I mean, we WILL be facing things that aren't real, so I expect you'll allow some latitude here.
So really, how married are we to historical accuracy? I'm not set on a particular level, but I would like to be clear up front.
And, I'll roll some stats, see if they'll work. 4d6 drop lowest usually works very well...
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Of course, while I was posting, Ralph rolls the stats of a 37-point buy. As did bon_of_fire. Darien's build has 38 points. Mine works out to a 13-point buy. So maybe I'll pass. Unless you'll consider sticking to a point buy?
Unfortunately, the trait I really wanted to take is an Asiatic themed regional trait that doesn't fit Ralph or this scenario flavorwise.
I think that deserves a reroll entirely Derek :)
actually, wasn't full plate around back then? (in its form) though It was very likely heavier and much more of a hassle to wear. just asking as I don't see Akio wearing full plate anyway :P
EDIT: saw that mount as levels... may just keep it. AHHH I hate options... but I love them so... actually, I may just take the order of the blue rose... refluff it a bit... The level 2 ability fits well with my character. On that matter how open are you to homemade "orders" or "codes" in my way. With GM input and approval of course.
Wikipedia article on plate armor
Look, I'm no expert, so if the GM wants to allow something that's fine with me. But this article bears out everything I've heard on the subject.
And I sure hope a re-roll is in order Darien! In fact, I'll give it a whirl right now, and the GM can decide whether or not to let it stand.
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Even worse! I'll check back in a couple days and see where things are headed. Maybe this is a sign for me to stay out...
hm, a coat of plates from the 1200s sound feasible, perhaps treat it as Stone plate armor? and make it say, 400% more costly to show the rarity of it?
no magic I also assume means limited to no potions?
Oh, also, this is Darien lol. My guy is coming together nicely.
@Darien If you do samurai, you must be Japanese and give me a damn good reason that you are in Europe. Keep in mind that while technically I am allowing asiatic classes, I prefer to keep things to Europe.
@Derek You may do 20 point buy if you wish. Anyone may decide to roll or do pointbuy 20
I will work something up this weekend. Armor and weapons going to be held to the correct time period as well, yes? How do you feel about a Arabian Cavalier (Emissary Archetype)?
I'd be very interested in this
Basic idea is to play the 7th son and 10th legitimate child(out of 11) of a Venetian nobleman. He's the last son of his father's second wife and as such has no claim to land or vast riches and as such has figured he needs to make his own fortune.
Class wise I'd like to combine Fighter (Lorewarden) with Rogue (Rake). Beyond that I'd be interested in taking some levels in a refluffed version of the Aldori Swordlord, if that would be possible.
I'd be interested to try a Viking raider spell-less ranger, if that boat hasn't sailed (so to speak)?
I am working on a skirmisher ranger, Krisam, but don't let that stop you from submitting one as well.
My character will be the only child of a Dane father and an Anglo-Saxon mother. His early life was fairly nomadic as typical for the Danes of the time but the family eventually settled near London at his mother's behest. His father is a member of the local militia that protects and manages the border with the Anglo-Saxons nearby. He's had a mostly uneventful life other than being of mixed heritage which I suspect was not even all that uncommon; many of the Viking raiders who spent extended amounts of time in or settled in Danelaw would likely have ended up courting Anglo-Saxon women.
He will be a ranger by class but an artist in his heart and this will be what brings him to Normandy. Most all of the great European architecture of the time is in France as the 11th century is the beginning of the Gothic period. Anglo-Saxon art was quite intricate in its own ways in terms of the stonework but the architecture simply does not compare so he will be travelling through France to see the cathedrals, taking odd jobs here and there as needed.
I need a bit more time to flesh out the fluff and work out the crunch. I'm no historian nor an authority on art so I'm prolly making horribly broad generalizations that the real experts can easily pick apart; please don't be too hard on me. I'm just trying to make an interesting character that is loosely, very loosely, historically appropriate.
In that case, I'll jump in with some rolls (assuming the spell-less ranger is an allowed class, since it's 3pp).
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Sheesh. I guess it's 20 point buy, then.
I was also thinking of making a Dane, looking for his lost brothers who mysteriously disappeared after a storm off the coast. Maybe it's not so mysterious and they just drowned, but he thinks Odin has shown him a sign that they're alive.
Ah. The ups and downs of the roll system.
A lot of danish vikings applying. I will definitely be somewhat out of place. But I feel I would get along with just about anyone bar a murder hobo :)
"We are red, we are white, we are Danish dynamite!" ;) Maybe a raid gone wrong is responsible for all the Vikings in the area?
DM, what are you using as the Common tongue? English? If the spell-less ranger isn't okay, I could reskin as a fighter, but I'm really, really hoping the ranger is okay.
I should have Thorfinn up for consideration sometime tomorrow.
"We are red, we are white, we are Danish dynamite!" ;) Maybe a raid gone wrong is responsible for all the Vikings in the area?
DM, what are you using as the Common tongue? English? If the spell-less ranger isn't okay, I could reskin as a fighter, but I'm really, really hoping the ranger is okay.
I should have Thorfinn up for consideration sometime tomorrow.
In general, French or Latin is the closest thing to a common tongue in this time period.