This is a lead-in adventure for a campaign I will be running in FGG Lost Lands setting. The adventure will proceed through a series of modules. The freedom of the players to select their challenges and direct the course of the plot will increase as the campaign progresses.
When the PC's are high enough level, the legendary Dungeon of Graves, Rappan Athuk, will certainly loom before them. However, by that time, there will also have been opportunities to become embroiled in intrigue in the City of Bard's Gate. In my experience, this is the best way to add dimension to a hack-and-slash dungeon crawl.
There will be future recruitment threads at different intervals in the campaign, so participation in this lead-in adventure is not required for those who just want to test their mettle against Rappan Athuk later (or some of the other quests and adventures along the way). However, participants in the lead-in adventures will be given preference for inclusion. Plus, there might be some treasure you won't want to miss :D.
I'm definitely interested. Anything in particular you are looking for as far as character, crunch, etc? It's been a while for me since I've gamed so a series of lead in modules sounds like it would be perfect to step back in to.
20 point buy. Dump stat as low as 7 after racial is fine. No starting stat above 18 after racial.
*CRB: Everything (Just about. I'm on the fence about crafting. There is a special exception about leadership. More on this later. There may be other things I have forgotten.)
*Base Classes: Cavalier, Inquisitor
*Featured Races: Aasimar, Tiefling, Drow
*APG: All feats, all spells.
*Ultimate Magic: All feats, all spells.
*No Ultimate Combat
*Advanced Race Guide: I don't own this book so I'm not sure.
As for archetypes, I haven't compiled a list yet. I will.
Special house rule: No traits, unless you are a fighter or a rogue. Fighters and rogues get 2 traits. I have to look over the traits but all hardcover ones should be fine.
Don't know, never saw it. I'll get on that character. Like I said, it's been a while and I've always like simplicity with a bit of flair that comes along the way. I like the story of a common person who becomes extraordinary. So character might come across as basic at fist, but I always let the story write itself so there will be big plans along the way. I don't know that I've played a rogue, but fighters are always fun and I like traits. I'll have to think about this...
Curious , why only fighters and rogues get traits?
This is a house-rule we use in my home games, to give fighters and rogues a little boost. If you look around the boards there are always threads about how to fix these two classes, this is my quick fix to keep these awesome iconic classes looking attractive.
Of course my group never played with traits to begin with so it was not a question of the other classes losing them, it was just these two classes gaining them.
For people who are used to having traits and will miss them, don't worry, I have thrown in a bonus feat instead to ease the pain.
Don't know, never saw it. I'll get on that character. Like I said, it's been a while and I've always like simplicity with a bit of flair that comes along the way. I like the story of a common person who becomes extraordinary. So character might come across as basic at fist, but I always let the story write itself so there will be big plans along the way. I don't know that I've played a rogue, but fighters are always fun and I like traits. I'll have to think about this...
That is exactly the kind of story I like as well Fyrian, and that is exactly the kind of campaign this is meant to be. This lead-in adventure is quite railroady I'm afraid, but it is very short and after that things get blown wide open for the story to write itself. Hope you stick around for the long haul.
Well, railroady is fine by me in the beginning. I don't mind following the leader. I've got a few errands to run but I'll try to get something thrown together for this afternoon. I'm feeling a basic human fighter. It's something that's easy to write a back story for and the crunch is pretty simple. How much back-story do you need/want? I'm not sure about the story you're sending us into, any intro or teasers you can post/have us look up?
Two traits is basically equivalent to a feat. So why those two classes are effectively getting a free feat is curious.
Are you allowing alternate racial abilities for the races?
I just explained this above. Those two classes are getting the equivalent of a free feat because I feel they need it.
Alternate racial abilities are from ARG, right? I don't have that book so I'm not sure. I never used them in my games before but my friend Nicos allows them in his PbP so I'm thinking about it :) I have to give them a look.
I've been interested in playing a cavalier, but would want to do a human, and in a setting where I'd have a chance to do *some* mounted combat. I don't mind leaving the horse behind for dungeons, but if it's all dungeons, that would be different.
Well, railroady is fine by me in the beginning. I don't mind following the leader. I've got a few errands to run but I'll try to get something thrown together for this afternoon. I'm feeling a basic human fighter. It's something that's easy to write a back story for and the crunch is pretty simple. How much back-story do you need/want? I'm not sure about the story you're sending us into, any intro or teasers you can post/have us look up?
I'm glad you ask. Please hold off on too much backstory until I get some setting info up for you to check out. This campaign does not take place on Golarion.
Once you have checked out the setting stuff, the backstory you come up with can be as elaborate as you like, as long as the character has his days of great heroics before him, not behind him.
There is really no minimum backstory, a few sentences to a paragraph will do. That is not to say that characterization and character development aren't important, but the key word is development. You hit the nail on the head already when you said you like to let the story write itself.
You guys sound like a great fit for this game, I'm really pleased you are popping up and posting so soon.
I've been interested in playing a cavalier, but would want to do a human, and in a setting where I'd have a chance to do *some* mounted combat. I don't mind leaving the horse behind for dungeons, but if it's all dungeons, that would be different.
My current pass at this campaign in my home game has a cavalier and he has not been frustrated. As long as you understand you will not always be able to bring your mount, I can promise you will not never be able to bring your mount.
There is a mega dungeon crawl in the distant future of this campaign, level 6-7 but we can cross that bridge when we come to it.
No need to apologize. These modules are known to be severely dangerous. I have seen other threads for PbP or description of home games running some of this material using 35-40 point buy, max HP, double WBL, etc, to mitigate the deadliness.
I prefer to just tone it down a little by making running away a viable option when PC's are in over there heads, but I am throwing in an extra feat, for everyone.
That's every class. The only boon fighters and rogues are getting relative to other classes is two traits. It's unfortunate this happens at 1st level, when the disadvantages of these classes aren't apparent yet, but what other sensible time is there to introduce traits?
I hope this little houserule isn't going to scare anyone away that would want to play otherwise but I've road tested it and I promise it isn't going to crash the campaign.
It may seem like a big deal at level 1 but compare those same characters to the rest of the party at 6,9,12,15? It's just a little leg up.
Would people have objected so much if I house-ruled that fighters get 4 skill ranks instead? Maybe that would have been better but I don't want to turn this into a debate, there are enough threads already for that :)
It's not a dramatic houserule, it's actually quite subtle after the earliest levels, please don't let it turn you away from a game you would otherwise enjoy ;)
OK cool, fnord72. Maybe an arcane trickster fits the bill?
I do use d20pfsrd all the time as a reference, but I prefer to use material from books I own because those are the ones I've actually curled up with and read thoroughly, so I feel more comfortable challenging PC's built with the material in them, and adjudicating any rules questions that come up.
It seems the alternate racial abilities from ARG have a good reputation for balance though, do they not? I am all for giving players more customization options.
As for archetypes I've never compiled a list of which ones to allow or disallow, my players have a sense of which ones will fit the vibe of my games. I'm tempted to just include all APG and UM archetypes, the only thing I'm a little worried about is that I have read some archetypes obsolete the rogue? I prefer a little niche-protection for the classic rogue.
Awesome Orelius. Halfling Cavalier sounds great, but one other poster has expressed interest in a cavalier already. I'll let you two work that out if it's an issue.
Good question. I'm comfortable green-lighting all rage powers in APG and UM, but for Sorceror bloodlines I will ask that players please pitch the specific concept they have in mind to me. There are a few that make me uneasy. Rather then make an exhaustive list, it is easier for me to consider proposals case-by-case. Thanks in advance for understanding, I have only ventured outside CRB in the last year or so.
:)
Edit: I'm looking at the bloodlines now and the only things I'm going to restrict are wildblooded and cross-blooded. If that crushes a concept you had just run it by me. Everything else from APG and UM will be fine.
No problem, I totally understand being worried about balance and theme issues as you open up the source material.
I am curious as to your reasoning with Ultimate Combat though? I'm not at all worried about it's absence ruining any of my character ideas, just intrigued by the wholesale ban.
I'm juggeling a few ideas around at the moment but a barbarian is a distinct possibility.
It's Fyrian and here's my guy with a very basic crunch with links to my sheets. As requested I'll hold back on any background until we get the details from you. I tend to get pretty carried away sometimes on my stories, but I'll let that build with the campaign. If you have any questions please let me know!
Astor Evisthan Stats:
Astor Evisthan
Human Fighter 1
NG Medium humanoid (human)
Init +4; Senses Perception +2
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Defense
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AC 16, touch 12, flat-footed 14 (+3 armor, +1 shield, +2 Dex)
hp 16 (1d10+6)
Fort +5, Ref +2, Will +1
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee light shield bash +4 (1d3+3/×2) and
longsword +5 (1d8+3/19-20/×2) and
morningstar +4 (1d8+3/×2)
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Statistics
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Str 16, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 7
Base Atk +1; CMB +4; CMD 16
Feats Cleave, Power Attack, Toughness, Weapon Focus (longsword)
Traits reactionary, suspicious
Skills Climb +5, Perception +2, Sense Motive +6, Stealth +1, Survival +5
Languages Common, Elven
Other Gear Studded leather armor, Light steel shield, Longsword, Morningstar
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Special Abilities
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Cleave If you hit a foe, attack an adjacent target at the same attack bonus but take -2 AC.
Power Attack -1/+2 You can subtract from your attack roll to add to your damage.
I'm reviewing the Aasimar description: what is the significance of an Aasimar being of the "outsider with the native subtype" ? Does that mean that they can be dispelled (or whatever the proper term is) to another plane?
I'm pretty new to Pathfinder and am still learning the rules so I apologize if this seems like an "obvious" question.
No problem, I totally understand being worried about balance and theme issues as you open up the source material.
I am curious as to your reasoning with Ultimate Combat though? I'm not at all worried about it's absence ruining any of my character ideas, just intrigued by the wholesale ban.
I'm juggeling a few ideas around at the moment but a barbarian is a distinct possibility.
To avoid stirring up any controversy I will just say that UC is out simply because I don't own it.
It's Fyrian and here's my guy with a very basic crunch with links to my sheets. As requested I'll hold back on any background until we get the details from you. I tend to get pretty carried away sometimes on my stories, but I'll let that build with the campaign. If you have any questions please let me know!
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
Edit:Forgot to add the extra bonus feat, doing that now.
Edit to the edit:Everything is edited.
Looking good. I didn't mean to discourage backstory, I just didn't want you to write a novel set in Varisia only to find out this campaign is not in Golarion ;)
FYI, I have started the info upload in the campaign tab. Deities and a map will be going up next.
I'm reviewing the Aasimar description: what is the significance of an Aasimar being of the "outsider with the native subtype" ? Does that mean that they can be dispelled (or whatever the proper term is) to another plane?
I'm pretty new to Pathfinder and am still learning the rules so I apologize if this seems like an "obvious" question.
Not a bad question, I think it's easy to overlook the fact that there are some mechanical considerations to having the outsider, native subtype. From what I understand, spells like enlarge person that target "a humanoid creature" will not work on you.
But no, you can't be banished to another plane, you are native.
Anyone else feel free to chime in if this is incorrect or incomplete.
Sorry, another question...I really need to consolidate these.
Grimmy, would you be okay with using a feat to take a story feat from the Ultimate Campaign book? Those are really great for giving your PC a potentially long running character hook and excellent motivation for one's character as well.
Second question: Can I sacrifice a feat for two traits. Again, I like traits as a way to help define my character a little better. I think they do a nice job of "filling in" the character background rather than just feats which are usually just mechanical bonuses.
No need to apologize at all. Keep the questions coming.
Ok, on the first question... I have no idea what story feats are. Are they generally considered to be a fair trade for a feat? Is that how they're intended to work? I don't know. Let me get back to you.
On the second question... Additional Traits
That should do the trick.
No need to apologize at all. Keep the questions coming.
Ok, on the first question... I have no idea what story feats are. Are they generally considered to be a fair trade for a feat? Is that how they're intended to work? I don't know. Let me get back to you.
On the second question... Additional Traits
That should do the trick.
I thought that there was a feat of some kind that allowed you to take some traits but I couldn't recall exactly what it was called or where it was located. Thanks.
I'd suggest checking out the PRD link: Ultimate Campaign/Character Background then at the bottom of that page there is a link to Story Feats. Some provide little advantage at all and you are almost "wasting" a feat by taking them but, as I said previously, they provide for some really interesting character arcs. Generally, fulfilling the requirements for a story feat will take many gaming sessions and they provide a nice running story line (in the background) for your character.
Everyone, don't feel overwhelmed by the amount of info I uploaded about Bard's Gate. It's just there for those who like that sort of thing, to possibly spark some inspiration. If your eyes glaze over, don't feel you need to read it. It's a long way off yet anyway.
@Otm-Shank, Arcane Duelist sounds rad, I thought the group was shaping up to be a little on the brawny side! Barbarian is fine too though, whatever you decide.
@Logan1138, I started checking the story feats out while the paizo site was down just now, I got myself a little confused. Is it the kind of thing you could self-adjudicate for now so I don't have to familiarize myself with new rules? I know you are meticulous with the rules so I trust you.
FYI, everyone, someone should have survival trained.
Also, it won't be evident right away in this segment, but in the segments coming up, divine characters really rock.
OK guys, the deities are up under the campaign info tab.
I think none of these deities have sub-domains, and there are a couple good domains not covered by the pantheon, so if there is a deity you like and you want a sub-domain of one of that deity's domains, just run it by me.
Likewise, if you approach things from the mechanics side and there is a domain you want that doesn't seem to be covered, run it by me, we will see if we can find deity that makes sense for that domain.
This looks interesting. I am thinking a fighter or a rogue. I did not see anything on starting gold and equipment or HP.
Sorry I missed this earlier. We are looking a little heavy on fighters, although it's too soon to say for sure. Multiple fighters are ok anyway but you might have a better chance with the rogue.
