Alexis, other than the trait that gives you a cantrip, there isn't really anything else out there. My home game solves the problem by not using spell preparation at all, which makes wizards really fun to play, though it admittedly gives the most powerful class even more power. I figured I should go closer to core for these PbP games, though.
Feats that grant an extra 2nd level spell (especially at 1st level!) Are so over the top power gaming though as to boggle the mind, so don't bother asking.
Now, in giving it some more thought, though, traits are supposed to be like half-feats, so if there's a trait to give 1 cantrip, why can't there be a feat that gives more.
Back in the day, my home game had feats called Signature Spell 1 through 3. SS1 allowed you one additional casting per day of a specific spell from levels 1 to 3 of your choosing that you could already cast. You could either cast it at +1 caster level or with a +2 to the DC. SS1 was a pre-req to SS2 which was needed for SS3. They had the added requirement in that they had to be from your specialist school, if you had one. They had a pretty steep gp requirement as they were essentially treated as researching the spell. I don't care for gp requirements for feats, much prefer ability score requirements.
So I propose this:
Signature Cantrips
Pre-req Int 15
Cast three additional cantrips per day from specialist school. Some schools don't have 3, so then you can pick others too.
Signature Spell 1:
Pre-req Int 17
Cast 1 spell level 1 to 3 from specialist school as detailed above.
SS2 and SS3 as detailed above, with +2 int requirements for each one.
Does that help you out?
So I propose this:
Signature Cantrips
Pre-req Int 15
Cast three additional cantrips per day from specialist school. Some schools don't have 3, so then you can pick others too.Does that help you out?
Yes, that is exactly along the lines I was thinking of. I suspect I shall avail myself of that at some point.
BTW, I used recharge magic in the Red Hand of Doom campaign I ran a couple years ago. Since there were very few dungeons (it was more like 1 encounter per day as we've had thus far) the net result was that it actually weakened the casters since they couldn't use their most powerful spells in back-to-back rounds. That and the additional paperwork was a chore.
In the local campaign I'm running now, wizards and clerics simply memorize what spells they want to have access to that day. Then can then cast any of them as frequently or infrequently as they like until they no long have spells of that level. Thus far it hasn't caused problems and it's made spell tracking easier for us.
Watch it now!!! My son's dad has been a gemini his whole life! :)
I rest my case! >:D
I'm hopping a flight this morning so I will be offline until at least 2PM PST - so NPC me as needed.
Soooo, given my possible less than sterling impression within another adventure thread I may as well consider waiting for a slot to open in this one extinct as well?
Soooo, given my possible less than sterling impression within another adventure thread I may as well consider waiting for a slot to open in this one extinct as well?
How does this look folks?
That looks great Nazard. That helps a lot.
Man, those are some painful acrobatics rolls, there, Petey. Yeesh!
He and Gregor are both getting owned by barrels! I'm tellin' ya, the barrels don't like guys with beards!
Feel free to play Biter, folks. The day has come, and the wife and I are in the hospital. The child may be here any moment.
And, in order to save time. hp.
8 works for me!
I'll pop back in when I'm available to post freely, but that might not happen til we get away from the hospital.
Feel free to play Biter, folks. The day has come, and the wife and I are in the hospital. The child may be here any moment.
And, in order to save time. 1d8 + 3 hp.
8 works for me!
I'll pop back in when I'm available to post freely, but that might not happen til we get away from the hospital.
Congrats and best wishes. Hope you got a good night's sleep last night, because its going to be your last for about 18 years.
Level 2 HP roll:
Gregor is leveled up and ready to go...
Congrats and best wishes. Hope you got a good night's sleep last night, because its going to be your last for about 18 years.Feel free to play Biter, folks. The day has come, and the wife and I are in the hospital. The child may be here any moment.
And, in order to save time. 1d8 + 3 hp.
8 works for me!
I'll pop back in when I'm available to post freely, but that might not happen til we get away from the hospital.
Congrats Biter!
Congrats and all the best to your wife, B!
Wow, we level up and Biter gets a new Level 0 henchman! Coincidence?
Have fun stormin' tha maternity waaard! Oh and congrats! :D
LOL! I can see it now... Biter stalking the halls of a local hospital, those little paper booties on, "Biter is'ing needin' a mask and gown, longshanks woman in scrubs!"
Hilarity! :D
As for level 2, I'm still torn on what to do. In my PnP games, Alexis is a Gestalt Wizard/Rogue/Artificer but that's not an option here. I dislike the idea of leveling up in something that I haven't been practicing. Considering that most of what's been taking place so far has been cloak n' dagger, political intrigue, and the guys trying to 'toughen' Alexis up and make her more street smart, that just screams that I need to back it up somehow.
Gonna need a bit longer to think on this, but I'll try to have Alexis updated by tonight...
Well, as much as I'd like to multi-class right now and pick up some greater flexibility, I ultimately decided that since I'm the only arcane caster, I can't very well short-change us. At least not before Alexis can craft even simple items.
Cross-class ranks shall have to suffice in representing her divided attention for now.
Skill Allocation:
1: Climb +1
2: Diplomacy +1
3: Knowledge Geography +1
4: Knowledge Engineering +1
5: Perception +1
6: Profession: Sailor +1
7: Sense Motive +1
8: Spellcraft +1
Spells Learned:
NOTE: I am updating Alexis' avatar image to a more appropriate one recently added from the GameMastery Guide.
Alexis got a boob job! Talk about diversifying!
Alexis got a boob job! Talk about diversifying!
Yeah, I think this avatar would be more appropriate for her sister, he he.
Alexis got a boob job! Talk about DDversifying!
Pfff, fixed that for you. :P In case Elorin and Rath were the only one to notice, the sisters each rolled natural 20s on their bust sizes. There's a damn good reason why they prefer to wear corsets: support!
Still, an elven caster with short hair, a blue dress and something that looks like it could be a wand (yes, I know it's a dagger)? Totally Alexis!
Alexis got a boob job! Talk about DDversifying!Pfff, fixed that for you. :P In case Elorin and Rath were the only one to notice, the sisters each rolled natural 20s on their bust sizes. There's a damn good reason why they prefer to wear corsets: support!
Still, an elven caster with short hair, a blue dress and something that looks like it could be a wand (yes, I know it's a dagger)? Totally Alexis!
If I see Pete stealing glue and making stealth checks for sneak attacks against Elorin's hair I'll know what's up. ;P
Rath may have to seriously re-think this whole 'brother-sister' relationship thing. Elorin may need some competition. :) ROWR!
Sheesh, Alexis wears an expensive gown of blue satin trimmed with mithril and pearls and it gets a yawn. She wears something low-cut and suddenly everyone's paying attention. MEN!
You guys are really just impressed that her mastery of telekinetics have given her an inherent support bonus aren't you? :P
Oy! If you review the thread... you will notice Rath complimented you on the blue dress! :) Let's be careful who we tar with that broad brush. :p
Tar? Pssh! Nothing a prestidigitation spell can't clean off. And stop giving Pete ideas on how to make a fake beard! ;)
Tar? Pssh! Nothing a prestidigitation spell can't clean off. And stop giving Pete ideas on how to make a fake beard! ;)
Hmmm, lots of tar ona boat, used to stick things together...hmmm...*grabs razor* Elorin, c'mere fer a second...
Alexis contemplates who she needs to donkey-punch first with her newly upgraded Telekinetic Fist...
Now that is just mean...
Of course, if Rath were one of the targets, he'd be obliged to stop the Rajkumari from hurting him... and with that Improved Grapple... well she's be fun to 'grapple' with. :) Worth a donkey punch or two!
So Rath threw a level into Monk (no surprise).
Got Evasion and Improved Grapple feats
skills
+1 Perception
+1 Sense Motive
+1 Intimidate
+1 Stealth
Solid choices. A shame you didn't have enough points to put a rank in Sailor, but it makes sense to entrench your established strengths. Plus, plenty of others in the party who can do so. (I hope I'll not be the only one who knows how to pilot a vessel if we need to do independent scouting. Pete, Elorin?)
For Alexis' 2nd-Level spell choices, I'm selecting the following from the Spell Compendium:
(Yes, I'm really liking the telekinetic theme she has going: Telekinetic Fist, Featherfall, Launch Bolt, Launch Item, [Greater] Mage Hand, Scatterspray, Improved Underbust Support, Open/Close...)
I seriously debated taking a point in Prof:Sailor going back and forth on whether to put the Intimidate point into it. LOL. I'm still not sure about it. I put my favored class bonus into HP but I could transfer it to another skill point... but 20 HP is so pretty... ;)
20 HP is nice, but I still think the skillpoint and the associated class bonus would be more useful in the long term. Up to you though as you're the one who would be expending the HP. :)
I still consider it a design oversight that Intimidate doesn't have a phrase in it allowing characters who are stronger than they are charismatic to use their Str modifier instead. If not that, then it would be fitting if classes like Fighter, Barbarian, Monk, etc. could do so as part of their class abilities. IMO it's silly to require a feat for that and then STILL get burned by the Charisma penalty. Defies so many story tropes...
I traded (yet again) Intimidate for Sailor... largely because of the issue you pointed out - my 1 skill point takes me from a -2 Intimidate to +2... not exactly world rocking. But prof:Sailor goes from 0 to +7. And I am not spending a valuable feat on the ability to base Intimidate on STR.
As for HPs, it's a tough call. Rath is so skill poor, its a great temptation. On the other hand, 1 HP, particularly at low levels can be critical. *sigh* I just don't know.
From a strictly mechanical standpoint, swapping Intimidate like that is probably for the best. After all, Alexis' Intimidate modifier is +3 which is paltry compared to her Diplomacy modifier. I think a +7 in sailor though could be quite valuable depending on how we end up scouting Arcadia when we get there...
That and I like the idea of Rath piloting a little sailboat around, particularly for scouting and whatnot. :) I rarely do things for a purely mechanical reason.
Nazard: For 2nd level could we please see Gram take one or more ranks in Sailor, in addition to whatever else you think would be useful and in-character? Sense Motive and Carpenter might be appropriate given the level of intrigue and all the ship repairs we've had to make thus far...
Solid choices. A shame you didn't have enough points to put a rank in Sailor, but it makes sense to entrench your established strengths. Plus, plenty of others in the party who can do so. (I hope I'll not be the only one who knows how to pilot a vessel if we need to do independent scouting. Pete, Elorin?)
For Alexis' 2nd-Level spell choices, I'm selecting the following from the Spell Compendium:
Greater Mage Hand
Scatterspray (Yes, I'm really liking the telekinetic theme she has going: Telekinetic Fist, Featherfall, Launch Bolt, Launch Item, [Greater] Mage Hand, Scatterspray, Improved Underbust Support, Open/Close...)
Alexis, FYI I gave Pete a rank in Sailor, best to be safe than sorry, swapped it out for Know, Dungeoneering.
Cool, thanks Eric! :)
OK, went with 19HP
skills
+1 Perception
+1 Sense Motive
+1 Prof:Sailor
+1 Swimming
+1 Stealth
Cool, thanks Eric! :)
No prob, btw where did you get the avatar anyway, and are there any more cool ones available?
Hi! I'm just reading and wanted to say really nice campaing ^^ I almost think about stealing it for my weekly tabletop, but I think the players are the ones that make it intresting to read, well I doubt this will ever happen after reading what happened to sunny, but if ever opens a space I'll have rady an ulfen raider ^^
Hey, thanks for the thumbs-up Caelin. Such words are always nice to hear/see. :)
I've actually got an Ulfen Shield Maiden of my own in a game that Biter is running so I definitely respect your choice of archetypes! :D
Greetings lurker. It's a pleasure to hear such positive things. This is an extremely amazing group of role-players who make my job easy and difficult at the same time.
I do have a parallel version of this campaign running on this site also, but it is not progressing nearly as well as this version due to players bailing for one reason or another. It started over a month before this one, yet this group has almost caught up and will probably overtake the first group within the week. They post like they have no lives and it's always an interesting read. Post your e-mail address, and I'll give you permissions to view the game's website.
Thanks for the nod, Caelin, much appreciated. You wouldn't happen to have a sorcerer, bard, or another arcanist in your collection, do you? Our team is a little light on arcane magic and Alexis is getting a bit 'uppity' lately what with the hot black dress she's wearing... ;)