The Boy King: A Pendragon Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master Jubal Breakbottle

Character reviews

Welcome to the game. Please find below a bunch of comments for everyone. Please let me know when you have finalized your avatar, so I can review then and start the game.

cheers

For everyone

• Naming convention is ‘first name’ de or of ‘your manor,’ for example Bran of Tisbury. In the game, that’s what most NPCs will refer to you as (or Sir Bran or Tisbury maybe fondly as Maddog) and how you should introduce yourself. Therefore, modify your avatar name as you wish
• Finalize your player manor. If you don’t like Tisbury as a name, there are others
• Don’t forget your favored class and its bonus. Vigor effectively replaces Hit Points for the choice.
• I specified gauntlets, because they keep you ‘armed’ without a sword. Please specify on your sheets
• Please specify your armor check penalty and the skills that apply it to facilitate the first encounter when it won’t be applied
• Please put the following in your Avatar Gender – Wounds 26/26 | Vigor 9/18 | Hero 1 | Honor 5 | Challenge 1/1{spoiler=Stats}AC 16, T 12, FF 14; Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +3; Init +3; Perception +6[/spoiler} The point is obviously tracking consumable abilities and easy reference combat info
• Please review your fellow player’s characters. Maybe I missed some comments. You know each other fairly well.
• You start with a number of honor points equal to your Charisma score plus your character level.

Ok name changed and will look to get the rest sorted out ASAP. Thanks for choosing Quintus!! I am looking forward to playing!

Thanks for the selection! My avatar should be final with the changes you asked for.

• Name should be correct (with selected manor), unless you would like us to preface the name with "Sir".
  
• Favored Class will be Bard.
  
• Armor Check is added to appropriate skills, and listed on character sheet.
  
• Basic stats added to gender line.
  
• Honor and Hero points added to character sheet.
  
• Militia trait skill is Survival - indicated on character sheet.
  
• 30 foot movement is correct. I have adjusted on the character sheet.

I typically dislike doing "biographical" backgrounds and tend to do more narrative style backgrounds. Just to clarify some of what's in there:

• Martin is the youngest of four brothers, and has spent his adolescence squired to his second brother, not in a monastery.
  
• As you indicated in recruitment, Martin participated in the Battle of St. Albans, though he did not fight.
  
• Some of his family died in the battle itself, most died after the battle when the assassin poisoned the water.
  
• The priest was just a local parrish priest from Berwick, coming to inform Martin of the death of his family. The scene is just to illuminate Martin and his personality and background.

Hooray! My first PbP here on Paizo! Thanks for selecting me. :)

Ok...I think I got everything you asked for updated, but 2 items. Not too sure what you mean by "add spaces in your background" and in my history, Nonus did not die, and is the elder male heir of the main Balericus family line. Quint taking the title "de Falt" is a slap in the face of the main family as he has severed all connection to that line.
Sorry if it is somewhat confusing...I wanted to give the feel of Quint breaking away from Roman tradition to become an actual knight, rather than just a landholder (as the main family looks at it) Sort of a transition period from villa management to fief.

Hello, thanks for the pick. Will polish avatar and look at everyone else's momentarily.

Quint

You don't indent new paragraphs in your background, so I was asking for some spaces between them to help my old eyes.

Now, that you are selected, I would like to suggest a change in your background. Dorset is one of the most Roman parts of Britain and still refer to their knights as equites and still field legionaires as footsoldiers. The Duke of Dorset is actually referred to as Praetor. Dorset is just to the southwest of Salisbury. Silchester, on the other hand, is only ruled by Romans, specifically Duke Ulfius with knights. The subjects of Silchester are predominantly Saxon. Feel free to rewrite.

cheers

Ok...sounds good, I will rewrite it as his family coming from Dorset. And I will leave more space when writing!!

OK Here's a my game plan:

We're going to have a couple of vignettes to give you guys something to talk about to practice your relationships.

Then, we'll have a couple of 'normal' encounters rolling initiative and such.

Then, you'll return to be knighted and attend court and foreshadow future adventures.

Then, we'll have a couple of 'normal' encounters rolling initiative and such.

Then, winter and gaining 2nd level will complete year 495.

The campaign is 80 years long. These characters probably won't live to see the end, so you need to think about family. Not right away, because you are younger than normal knights, but some time.

You'll get some missions. Fight in battles, tournaments, and duels. Play political intrigue.

As a group, you should develop something in your relationships that keeps you together and protects your lives, but it's OK to be rivals and not best of buddies.

Let me know what you think.

cheers

This is going to be awesome!

Any suggestions on improving Raedwald's backstory?

You'll get some missions. Fight in battles, tournaments, and duels. Play political intrigue.

As a group, you should develop something in your relationships that keeps you together and protects your lives, but it's OK to be rivals and not best of buddies.

I wouldn't mind developing something of a friendly rivalry with one other character. The most likely candidate would be whoever is the most successful in combat at the start. If you are familiar with the Order of the Cockatrice edicts and abilities, this would never sit well...

That said, I don't want to become a foil for the whole group. So, best to tread lightly in this area. It may just play out as a lot of internal thought monologues, rather than actions to start.

Any suggestions on improving Raedwald's backstory?

I couldn't find where you responded to this comment above "Add in your background that your father had added you to his will with the earl of Salisbury." This is important, because your character would not have inherited without a Will saying that he would if your older brother dies without an heir.

Also, your background finishes with Raedwald as a knight.To paraphrase Yoda, you're not a knight yet.

Start reviewing other characters to develop a relationship with each of them.

cheers

Bran's not very sophisticated or social. Here's his probable opinion of the others based of reading your sheets.

Quintus - Snobby Roman. Bran probably avoids him just based off of his appearance.

Martin - Arrogant prick. Also to be avoided if at all possible.

Raedwald - People don't give him his due because he's a Saxon. People don't always give Bran his due either, because he's a backwater pagan. Bran empathizes with Raedwald, and if they've had time together they'd probably be friends.

Status:

• Bran looks ready and offers potential relationships
• Raedwald is updating his background and needs to offer potential relationships
• Martin looks almost ready; please put your favored class in your profile, so I don't have to look for your post. Martin suggested some relationships, and it appears Bran would be a foil. A better question is how can Martin not be a foil to Quint and Raedwald?
• Quint is not ready. Please specify your skill ranks and favored class. Look at your peer profiles if unclear. Background update forthcoming.

To not lose momentum, I plan to start the game today with an introductory post later today. I would greatly suggest that you mutually agree between yourselves on the starting relationship between your characters to align your role-playing. Please discuss here, so I can see what you've decided.

thanks

Martin - Arrogant prick. Also to be avoided if at all possible.

Martin suggested some relationships, and it appears Bran would be a foil. A better question is how can Martin not be a foil to Quint and Raedwald?

I guess that depends on how much weight anyone gives to his arrogance. I'm not sure I really intend to play him as classically arrogant, anyway (in the sense of "I'm the best" style of arrogance).

Keep in mind that as landed gentry, there is an element of 'divine right' that we all adhere to. Martin is not a kinslayer. He was resolved to his station, and determined to rise above it, before the deaths of his father and brothers. Now, though, he is certainly convinced that he has the divine right to rule his lands (and any others he can obtain).

As I stated somewhere already: I am mature enough to recognize the difference between things that make good character flaws, and things that make for bad gaming. I have no intention of bogging down the game by being constantly adversarial. My expectation is that Martin will usually be in agreement with the party, but just a little more determined to gain power/wealth/advancement with every action.

In any event, it looks like Martin will be the sole caster, primary healer/buffer, and likely the primary face of the party. That should be plenty of fuel for pride, even though it makes him somewhat less capable at combat at low levels.

Martin

That just hit me that you are going Bard! As an arcane caster, you must be Pagan. In your backstory, you are in a monastery, i.e. Christian. Would you please update your backstory to explain the previous pagan training that would explain how you learn the abilities of a Bard, as opposed to the usual hand-waving in regular Pathfinder. Meaning, at first level there is tacit belief that wizard training takes a decade as per the starting age table. However, you can have first level rogue start leveling in wizard without any apprenticeship or training as per RAW.

Your Pagan-ness would probably give you a solid connection with Bran defusing the arrogant prick aspect.

As per your "difference between things that make good character flaws, and things that make for bad gaming", I selected your character because of the strong personality and your player experience. What I was asking is that you align with the three other players how your characters will interact before you start.

thanks

He's not in a monastery. He's in a festhall (and quite drunk). The priest is just delivering the news of his family's near total demise. I can easily change that, though, if you prefer. What's an appropriate title for a spiritual leader of the pagan variety? "Druid" seemed too high a position for such a small task. Or should I just make him a secular functionary peon?

Raedwald of Broughton wrote:

Any suggestions on improving Raedwald's backstory?

I couldn't find where you responded to this comment above "Add in your background that your father had added you to his will with the earl of Salisbury." This is important, because your character would not have inherited without a Will saying that he would if your older brother dies without an heir.

Also, your background finishes with Raedwald as a knight.To paraphrase Yoda, you're not a knight yet.

Start reviewing other characters to develop a relationship with each of them.

cheers

I didn't respond to it, but I did do it. Should I go into more detail about it?

Also, deleted the bit about him being knighted.

Here's sort of my thoughts about the others:

Quintus: A sort of a kindred spirit, both of them are outsiders who identify as Britons rather than the people of their birth.

Bran: A decent, simple soul despite his Pagan beliefs. Because of Bran's laid-back attitude, Raedwald would probably like him. That won't stop him from proselytizing a bit.

Martin: His arrogance and his Pagan beliefs are off-putting, and Raedwald would likely see him as a foil or rival, as they're both Cavaliers with very different ideals. He also finds his callous reaction to the deaths of his family disgusting, as Raedwald cared deeply about his own family and was devastated by their loss.

Martin

As a Bard with at least one level dip in cavalier, you are game mechanically not pure in anything. Especially as a knight, you would not have the time to devote to fully knowing the Pagan mysteries. Therefore, two ends of the spectrum are that you were taught by a fully knowledgeable Pagan but only learned/remembered a little bit OR you were taught by someone of limited knowledge and learned everything that they knew. Of course, it would be a spectrum between those two points.

• Druids are male fully knowledgeable in the Pagan mysteries. Merlin is the example.
• Bards are the lowest class of druids focusing on entertainment. Talliesin and harper Eliot are two examples.
• Enchantresses are female fully knowledgeable in the Pagan mysteries, whether priestess, high priestess, or crone. Examples are Viviane, the Lady of the Lake; Nimue; and Morgan le Fey.
• Witches are community-based, ground-level enchantresses.

Please do not select one of the example NPCs. Please create your own NPC who you could potentially continue to use as a reference and adviser.

I'm misunderstanding your backstory, because it's not completely clear and leaves lots of inferences. You say you prefer narratives, which is fine. As you retool your backstory, please set/describe the stage/setting a bit more. It's almost as important as the plot and characters.

cheers

Yeah, part of the narrative style is to leave openings. That may be why I like it. But I can definitely lock down the scene and the npc a little more strongly. I'll get it done tonight.

Yeah, part of the narrative style is to leave openings. That may be why I like it. But I can definitely lock down the scene and the npc a little more strongly. I'll get it done tonight.

Great. I'll start the gameplay post later tonight to give you time and let me get my kids to sleep.

cheers

I didn't respond to it, but I did do it. Should I go into more detail about it?

I just found it. Thanks

Ok I think I have corrected my character sheet to your specs...if I am still missing anything let me know...I followed Bran's sheet as a guide, but might still have missed something. Will get to work on background...it will be quite a bit different, I think, but still with a roman leaning to the character.

Ok I think I have corrected my character sheet to your specs...if I am still missing anything let me know...I followed Bran's sheet as a guide, but might still have missed something. Will get to work on background...it will be quite a bit different, I think, but still with a roman leaning to the character.

Quintus

Maybe you miss saved the changes, because the profile that I just checked still has the following problems:
- I can't find the favored class or its bonus if fighter
- no skill rank total
- no math of skills
- I think * is supposed to be your armor class penalty, which you don't specify, but you have a knowledge with an *

thanks

Ok...new background up. As to connections with the others....he probably met most of them these last few hectic days of battle and tragedy. The whole idea of him being the lord of Falt has not even begun to sink in.
He would probably get along with most of the squires, and while some of his upbringing was Roman, he (and his family) strive to fit in to the new Cymric way of life. As Broughton is probably the closest player fief to Falt, he most certainly could know Raedwald from before becoming a squire.

fixed...now comes from Dorchester. Skills should also be fixed, and my favoured class is listed as is the fighter feat (which I do not get because it is taken by my archetype)

fixed...now comes from Dorchester. Skills should also be fixed, and my favoured class is listed as is the fighter feat (which I do not get because it is taken by my archetype)

Huh? Favored Class bonus: +1 Vigor or +1 skill ranks or +1 CMD for fighters. What did you take?

Could you please total your skill ranks? It'll be very helpful after 1st level.

Your background got shorter eliminating Nonus family connections detail in Dorset and paragraph spaces. Please add more. The player's map of Britain show the two cities in Dorcet are Donchester (or present day Dorchester) and Wareham. Search Google Maps for "Dorset, UK" for landmark names.

ok..FCB is there...+1 skill point....as to background..you wanted it rewritten and I have taken it from the granting of the fief to present-day. What else would you like to know?? I thought you wanted me to simplify the background, otherwise I can just use the old one and change the location from Silchester to Dorchester, if that is ok...

ok..FCB is there...+1 skill point....as to background..you wanted it rewritten and I have taken it from the granting of the fief to present-day. What else would you like to know?? I thought you wanted me to simplify the background, otherwise I can just use the old one and change the location from Silchester to Dorchester, if that is ok...

Thank you. I liked the old one with paragraph spaces. I only suggested a rewrite from Silchester to Dorset.

Would you please total your skill ranks like Bran

thanks

Bran

You should have 13 Vigor with your favored class bonus, right?

thanks

Ok...I think we are almost there :-)
Skill total added
Background reworked to Dorset

Ok...I think we are almost there :-)

Skill total added
Background reworked to Dorset

Almost. Paragraph spaces and Praetor of Dorset not Duke.

arrgh...lol...I just realized the spacing..will change to Praetor as well...thanks!!! Sorry to make it so difficult.

Bran

You should have 13 Vigor with your favored class bonus, right?

thanks

I do. I changed it in my gender line but forgot to update the sheet, my bad. Should be fixed now.

Okay! Is there anything else I need to do before we begin?

Martin's background has been updated.

Okay! Is there anything else I need to do before we begin?

No, looks good. The Gameplay post is up and waiting for you.

Hey, um, how do I get different color texts in my posts like your dice rolls and OOC stuff?

Look at the bottom where it says,"how to format your post"

Raedwald

This is what the "How to format your text" spoiler looks like. Please post soon.

Quoted material here....

This is bold and italics and strikethrough.

Go to Paizo Publishing.

Contact customer.service@paizo.com

• one
• two

This is bigger and this is smaller.

This is out-of-character commentary for play-by-post threads.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 121d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 This is a dice expression.

OK folks, I would like to set some posting frequency expectations:

• First, I expect you to post at least once per 48 hours as per my initial recruitment post
• Two, if you cannot post within 48 hours due to real life issues, please advise me
• If you do not post within 48 hours and do not advise me, then I will DMPC you for a little while. If it persists, I will recruit a replacement character.
• Multiple times of posting late without advising me will also be reason for me to find another player
• If you don't know where you stand with me, please PM me. I'll tell you.

Now, posting format expectations:

• When you describe how your character is reacting to the current scene, please use present tense
• Only use past tense if it happened much before the current scene, such as during the previous day, in your character's childhood, etc.
• Format speech as bold-face within quotes, such as "Blah, blah, blah. I'm talking now."
• All language is assumed Cymric
• If your character speaks in Saxon or Roman, you Google translate to post something in German, Dutch, Italian, or Latin with a spoiler below with the translation in Cymric=English
• If your character thinks to himself, use italics such as I wish everyone knew how I wanted them to format their posts
• Put all game mechanics at the bottom of your post in OOC or {dice=Knowledge (posting format]1d20+[dice}
• I prefer separating your description and game mechanics with a line using the underscore key, like this ____________
• When you're in combat, identify the round of your action at the top of your post in bold, ooc like this Round 2
• If you have temporary effects to your character, keep track of them in the ooc game mechanics section, such as Fatigued, round 1 of 4 or fighting defensively AC +4=24

If you have any questions, please ask.

cheers

Hey, um, how do I get different color texts in my posts like your dice rolls and OOC stuff?

Raedwald, here is a great guide to play-by-post gaming: linked for your convenience.

Down below the box you type in to post, right below "The most important rule", is a line that says "How to format your text". Click on the box that says "Show" and it will give you instructions.

[b]bold[/b]
[i]italics[/i]
[ooc]out of character[/ooc]
[dice: 1d20 ⇒ 1[/dice]

These are probably the most important.

I meant to type text, not post, before sorry.

While we are discussing formatting:

DM Jubal: How do you generally handle combat? Do you go strictly in order of initiative, or do you use initiative blocks? Do enemies operate on the same initiative, or will they go individually?

While we are discussing formatting:

DM Jubal: How do you generally handle combat? Do you go strictly in order of initiative, or do you use initiative blocks? Do enemies operate on the same initiative, or will they go individually?

We'll see. It'll depend on the combat. I prefer letting enemies operate on there own initiative creating natural initiative blocks for PCs, but when it clogs pace I'll switch to initiative blocks for enemies.

When it's a bunch of PCs initiatives, I want them to post ASAP and try to coordinate their actions. If there are any coordination failures, I'll fix them in the round summary.

Does that answer your question?

Yes.

Also, just to clarify, do you want all 'mechanics' placed at the bottom of the post? Or should some things be included in the meat of the post?

Example:

Martin places his hand on the hilt of his sword. "I'll not suffer your insults. Pay us the money owed or it will cost you your tongue." Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24 Martin pulls the blade half-way from the scabbard, stepping to the side of the warlord, placing him between himself and his allies.

At the bottom. Preferably below a line. Especially in combat, because I copy and paste descriptions into round summaries.
_____________________________________
Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

thanks

Posted. Sorry to keep you all waiting, I thought there were specific things like [color=blue] that changed that. I didn't know the green was PART of dice rolling. Looks like Quintus is the winner!

Hey, I know it's way early to ask, but as it's likely our starting characters won't live to the end of the campaign, will we be playing as our current character's children when that time rolls around?

If so, will it be upon the death of our current characters, or will there be a point where our current characters can "retire" from active service?

Will we make these second-generation knights ourselves, or will you/the whims of chance decide if or how many kids our characters have?

Can these second-generation knights be a different class than their father?

In the unfortunate event that a character dies childless, will their player be allowed a new character even if said character is unrelated to their first one?

Even if the character DOES have kids or something, can a player play someone new instead of specifically a descendant of the first PC when that time comes?

And last but not least, if a player has a daughter (again, whether because the player chooses to have their PC's child be a daughter, or because you as the GM decide whether or not the PC's child survives childbirth and what that child's gender is, or if a child's survival and gender is determined solely by a dice roll), can the player choose to have said daughter trained in knightly skills (something very unlikely and strange in this setting, I know) and have that daughter become their second-generation PC? I know you stated in recruitment that you weren't opposed to female knight characters, but in the event of a well-written female character vs. a well-written male character the male would be selected by default simply due to the conventions of the setting, but I'm assuming that we as players won't be going through some kind of "re-recruitment" and get punted from the game if our second character doesn't measure up to our old one.

You will play these characters as long as you can. You can choose to start playing the children of these characters when they turn 17 at the earliest. If your characters die without issue, we will see.