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Bottom line. I am mostly undecided between your homebrew and the Serpent Skull with the Council of Thieves a close third.
LOL. You're a big help :P hahahahahah
As far as me and a change of pace...well, I actually run an AP every other week, Carrion Crown (Which I didn't list here since I don't like to run the same thing twice outside of PFS}. So between that, my homebrew and weekly, local PFS events, I stay pretty busy and I get my fill of variety. Though, the homebrew is comingn to a close soon. They just hit level 17 are in the final handful of encounters before that chapter is closed. It would be interesting to have a handful of would be heroes living in the shadow of accomplished heroes who may save or ruin the world! Of course, we could set this well before or after.
One trouble with votes is somebody's always unhappy. Speaking in metaphor, we all got on a bus for Cassomir City. Officer Troli Sourgrapes makes a roadblock, and now we're voting on a new charter. One bus. But if it's not going where you want, being stuck on a bus is bad.
Need a happy bus. So I'll get on whatever bus folk are happiest on. Maybe whatever is closest to Cassomir City? Dial up the fight for Telurion? :)
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Yes.
Let's give this decision until Monday. Harboth may come back by then and have a strong opinion. In the mean time, let's see if I can't throw a LOT of info out at y'all to give you some homework to do until then.
For those who want to research the options a little further, you can check out The Council of Thieves and the Serpent's Skull Player's guides. The other AP's also have free player's guides, so you're welcome to check those out. Each provide an idea of what the campaigns are about in detail, and how each race/class fairs there. The campaign guide to Forzega isn't quite as detailed, but you can check that out as well.
Use this time to review these campaigns and more, as you wish, and start thinking up your characters. Use this time to talk with each other what characters you'd like to make. Since these are not PFS characters, and will only be used pretty much in this campaign, you may want to strategize what you all want to be.
Alternatively, you are welcome to continue to use your characters you have now. You will start over at level 1, but will keep whatever gold or items you have.
To build your character, use a 20 pt build. The only thing you need to keep in mind is that if we play an AP, you need to reserve one trait, which will be the campaign trait you choose from the appropriate player's guide.
Generally, in my ongoing campaigns, I use herolabs to manage the characters. Setting up each character takes a bit of time, but once set up, it's easy to maintain the team. Purchases, encumberance, bonuses, etc, are all calculated automatically. I have all of the resources available for HL, so I can enter any valid character. I produce and regularly update the group's PDF. For those of you who have never used them, you can see an example here. For casters, it has the very nice benefit of printing their spellbooks with full descriptions.
I like to use dropbox to share files with my ongoing groups. If you've never used it before, it's a very useful cloud program. If you decide to, you can install it on any computer/laptop/device you use. Everytime you update a file, add, delete, etc, it does that automatically to that same folder on all computers. On your devices, the files are available any time you have access to the internet. It's VERY handy. In my groups, I make my dropbox folder for that group a shared folder. That allows me to drop pictures of NPCs, maps, Herolabs folios, etc. If you do not have a dropbox account, please sign up for one at this link. Make a note of the email address you use to sign up for the account.
Since the gloves are off regarding house rules, I do use a few as most GMs do. I have a Word Document already, but I do need to update it and tailor it for use with Pbp. I will make it available to you all as soon as I do. A few major points...I do use the Hero Point system found in the Advanced Player's Guide. All Pathfinder rule books are eligable for character creation, as well as player setting books. Do not use campaign traits just yet, however. I do not allow 3.5 or 3rd party feats, except the third party "Priest" class found on the PFSRD (It's basically the wizard version of a cleric).
Last, but not least, I allow a spontaneous casting (within levels) for traditional casters. This basically means you can memorize just one copy of each spell, and any combo of those spells within that level/tier. So rather than having to memorize X copies of magic missle, mage can memorize Jump, Magic missle and identify... and if they end up not needing Jump and Identify (or they're just having an emergency), they can cast three magic missles. There's a lot more details to this system...but it makes traditional casting classes a little more flexable (with some very existant limitations). Because this does cut into the sorcerer's power curve a bit, we give sorcerers, oracles, etc more "Spells known" based on their primary stat (similar to how wizards get more "Spells Memorized" based on that).
Again, I'll provide more information on house rules as I get that sheet all cleaned up. Also, we'll see if we can't get one or two more players' feedback and make a decision on a camapign here real shortly.
Anyway, once you're ready with your new character, email me that character's info. Include your real name, please.
Oops. Sharan is using BellFlower Tiller trait to get a good Survival.
I'll do the homeworks.
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So, hmmmmm, this means I'm going to build AT LEAST 3 characters. Sweeeeeet :D
My inclination so far and just out of the top of my head:
- CoT: Ninja - I have built one before and as far as it seemed, he could strike a nice balance between combat/roleplay/NPC interaction
- Serpent's Skull: Clearly the Ranger, i'm a sucker for that class, mainly the switch hitter
- Forzega: I have been more and more drawn to the Oracle lately - even though I do not know much about the class, I was planning on playing him as the healer for the group, even though your house rules may be more forgiving to a cleric.
These are just some ideas being thrown around to let the brainstormings begin - I will be taking a further look at the respective player's guide to flesh this out some more.
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I'm desperate to play a scenario where innocent peaceful citizens (that mind their own business) are raided by lawful evil trolls compelled by religious fervor. Our mission is to find these evil trolls and burn them.
But any scenario chosen is fine by me. Like Thornborn/Sharan says, if anyone has strong feelings about what to do (which from my experience with this group I believe is open for anything as long as we stay together) I'm up for it.
I suggest a homebrew would provide us with a more flexible scenario for JCS to manipulate since this form of pbp is new to us.
LOL, Kyle. Homebrew, I would try pitching a concept that I know is non-PFS. Once forced to freedom, why not fly?
Still laughing at the troll-hunt.
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Harboth - congats, very happy for you and your wife!
Hey, sorry for the delay - for some reason updates weren't showing up in the discussion thread for me.
Ok, so my preferences. Like the group a lot would like to continue.
Given that PFS is off limits, I'd probably go for COT next. I'd rather not do PFS scenarios (recognizing that they are proliferating) just because I'd like to run thorugh them with a PFS character. Homebrew is fine also (looks like great work so far and comes with a great recommendation), however, I am relatively new to pathfinder and its world and am trying to absorb all the geography, culture and lore of that realm so I am a little resistant to taking on a new one to have to digest, but I am not against it.
Really I am open to anything, ok with making a new character, would want to make sure that we have some balance in the party. I really like the frequency of play and the dependency of posting, it works for me.
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Elwyn, I think you've convinced me. I shall explain.
A couple of years ago, when I was first working with the Pathfinder System, I wanted to basically 'test the waters' by running a homebrew for a while with a few friends. It was very combat intense and designed to level charcters quickly so that I could experience the gameplay mechanics. The land of Forzega ended up taking on a life of its own. It's turn out to be a lot of fun.
Later on, as my comfort level with GM'ing the game grew, I heard about Kingmaker from a friend, and I bought the books. I read through them. Not only did the books have information for the adventure, but there were pages and sections dedicated to the people, the politics, the world and more. I realized that there was more Pathfinder than just the game mechanics. I bought more and more books, and began reading through them, absorbing the culture of the lands and the various races. I really do enjoy it.
While I've run the AP's and read PF novels set in Ustalav, Varisia and more...I've yet to do anything strongly tied in with Chiliax. It's a very interesting land and culture that comes up often in PFS. I know enough to explain some things to the players on a need-to-know basis, but that's about it. I think an opportunity to delve deeper into Chiliax via CoT is an excellent chance to help broaden my understanding much further, which will help me that much more when I GM more PFS locally and at conventions.
So, CoT it is!
OK, we've a setting. PFS 20-pt standard? One Trait and one Campaign Trait from the players guide? I notice Teufelkin, er, Teiflings mentioned. Are they legal for us? And more important, how close can I get to a Nightcrawler who can count to ten? :)
Half-kidding. Hitting the books... (well, d20pfsrd)
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Hehehehe.
Yes, races from the Advanced Race Guide, including Tiefling, are available for play. 20 pt build, use one trait from the campaign book, and one trait from a non-campaign, Paizo source.
If you all want to talk classes, now is the time. I'll set up a new camapign thread when I have some spare time, and let you all know here when it is ready.
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Interestingly - I developed Elwyn out of a character that I was submitting for a PBP COT campaign - would need to redesign, rename, etc but here is an idea of the background, yes another rogue.
The first and only son of a wealthy trading merchant Elven father and Chelaxian Human mother. He grew up in and around the docks of Egorian. He spent his days following his father around and being generally doted on. He was well educated and attended a fine school where fencing was his favorite activity. All was well until his father's untimely death when he was a young boy of 10 in an accident while loading a ship with cargo. Though his father's partner, a human named Aergon, was ruled out as having any negligence in the matter, Elwyn's suspicion remains - did he see something that day or was he just imagining it?
Aergon always fancied Elwyn's mother and was 'there' for her during her time of need. Soon she was pregnant and they wed. Ultimately they would have two sons. Over time Aergon cared less and less about hiding his prejudice for elves and half-elves. Eventually tolerance turned to indifference then to abuse. Soon he was being abused routinely anytime his mother was not around. The torture was reinforced by his half brothers once they were old enough to land a punch.
Then, at 18, his mother got sick. Once she had passed there was no place for Elwyn. He had no share in the company and Aergon threw him out. At first, he did what he could to survive, getting by working the docks, in any way he could. While not entirely slight it is not the work he was made for. He's quicker and more agile than the others and this has saved his hide a couple of times in just the short time he has been on his own. He wants something more, he wants his birthright back, he wants to find out what happened to his father.
Fearing that Aergon was not satisfied with his exile from his family home, worried that he might turn him in to the government as some type of traitor, or worse, Elwyn boarded a ship as a deck hand out of Egorian and has ended up in Westcrown. Mercantilism was in Elwyn’s blood though. His father built his own shipping business from the ground up despite the odds and the prejudice and Elwyn had paid keen attention, accompanying his father to negotiations and performing many tasks for him.
- He's angry, understandably so, and frustrated. He's not sure where to place his anger and that might get him into trouble
- He's young, so despite his father's teachings during his early years, he's inclined to be brash and take risks. At this point he feels he has nothing left to lose
- He feels like he’s owed something, but not that the world owes him
- Having been a victim, having been bullied, he has a soft spot for others being preyed upon or whos weaknesses or vulnerabilities are being exploited. But he doesn't view himself as a victim he sees himself fully capable of defending himself and securing what is his
- Its going to be a long time before he extends his full trust to anyone
- He's been finding himself spending more time in taverns as of late and has developed a bit of a weakness for wine, women and song
- A part of him just wants to escape, get far away and never see this place again ... he just might be at the point in his life where he gets himself into something much bigger than he is
I envision playing Elwyn as the ‘unexpected hero’ … he is thrown into circumstances that are beyond his control. He must summon the ability to survive, find and hone his skills and ultimately thrive.
First of all, Elwyn is at a crucial point in his life right now. Full of questions, doubt and anger. Ultimately he was brought up well by his father, his compass points in the right direction but it may not be a direct path. His anger may be misplaced and misdirected until he learns to channel it properly … as he moves past the selfish desire for revenge to the selfless pursuit of redemption and restoration. There is a hero and a leader lurking inside of him, one that could do great things. But first he needs to figure out where tomorrow’s work will come from, where he will be sleeping next week. For the past several weeks Elwyn has been getting by scrounging up whatever work he can, most often as a dockworker or deck hand.
I can't promise I won't completely change course, since each new paragraph might ring the Pavlovian bell, but currently taking shape is a Teifling who will at least dip Conjuror, but probably focus more on fencing and 'face'ing.