Seems like Imix should either be in some sort of guest house / inn, or staying with Texikuk.
It might take me a little bit to get used to this revised action economy thing.
Speaking of which, how will you be running the combat BP? Roll communal initiative, one side goes, then other side goes, repeat til dead (a la Nerk), or will we be doing by the books initiative?
Guess who has two thumbs and a new Avatar!
Rigel has a place of her own: private room in a guest house where she can do her entertaining. She does her best to get Iseult to stay there, but the girl likes people not knowing where she is.
On the action economy: I get what you say, but it's only when you start to deconstruct it that you realise how well the full-round action/standard/move/swift/immediate actually works; yes, it's a bit tricky to get the hang of - but the only way I could get the new one to work was to throw the swift action back into the mix (I think you're doing the same thing?)...
Combat: I'll be rolling initiative, with bad guys all going at once. We'll be using a Google sheets spreadsheet for battle maps. It ain't pretty, but I'll make up for it with thrilling description and whatnot. The sheet will there so that players can move their PCs around the map, everyone can see what AoOs will be drawn, etc.
O Master-of-spreadsheets Istiel, can you set me up one with those nifty squares? We'll probably also need a day counter/calendar, and a downtime sheet (eventually). I'd do it, but you really are much better with those things. Sorry for the homework!
I'll be using what I call Round 0 with combat. Basically, there will be a surprise round if applicable, then Round 0 (everyone that beats the bad guys with init, then Round 1 with the Bad Guys, then the whole of the PCs. Rinse and repeat.
Actions will happen within order of posting, within the grouping, to keep things moving.
Example round:
The PCs are ambushed by a group of sparklepires, and everyone fails their perception checks. Init is rolled: Rigel 22, Istiel 19, Sparklepires 18, Drazan 14, Oios 4, Imix 4.
Surprise round: Sparklepires go, and do sparkly things.
Round 0: Rigel and Istiel act. Istiel posts first, so her action happens first. As Istiel and Rigel take their actions, they move their PCs on the Google sheet, keeping in mind AoOs, difficult terrain, etc.
Round 1: Sparklepires go, then PCs. PCs post in order of Imix, Rigel, Drazan, Istiel, Oios, so actions happen in that order. Players move their PCs on the Google sheet, keeping in mind AoOs, difficult terrain, etc.
Round 2 and on: Rinse and repeat.
I think this is a happy medium for PBP. Players with high init still get rewarded by more often than not getting that Round 0 action, while the pace moves along at a decent clip.
I'll be botting PCs that don't post within 24 hours of the beginning of their group's turn.
On the action economy: I get what you say, but it's only when you start to deconstruct it that you realise how well the full-round action/standard/move/swift/immediate actually works; yes, it's a bit tricky to get the hang of - but the only way I could get the new one to work was to throw the swift action back into the mix (I think you're doing the same thing?)...
This is true. I borrowed your fix whole hog. Everyone gets three actions and a swift action per turn. Otherwise, the revised action economy doesn't work.
Nice avatar, Imix!
Looks like everyone is ready to go. I'll start working on gameplay posts with the intent to get us going tomorrow or Thursday. Because I'm starting everyone off in different places, they may come in staggered.
Good gaming, everyone!
Since Oios hasn't made it to the village yet what people might know about him is pretty vague.
Heard that a priest friend of Telowo is coming to town
He might be settling down in Shadeholme
Heard he isn't just a priest but an inquisitor!
Absolutely, I'll get the spreadsheet started ASAP! Fortunately I have the day off.
Been reading the revised action economy stuff, trying to get the hang of it. So we have the three actions AND a regular-rules swift action? I think you said it before, but why are we using the revised action economy in any case? I think it was something about wanting to remove iterative attacks?
One more question: How are legal matters dealt with in Shadeholme? Is there a judge or local magistrate? Do any of the PCs have legal authority? Oios is a retired inquisitor, so he wouldn't have any "real" authority anymore I suppose? Istiel is in the same boat- she's sworn to protect and uphold the laws of Takayah society, but could she put someone in prison? Or would she just hand them over to authorities, uh.. slightly battered?
Azih, looks good. I'm starting Oios off on the road for a couple of reasons, most importantly is I'll be able to describe the world a bit as he moves into Shadeholme.
Istiel, RAA- I like not having actions split into move and standard actions, basically. I've never liked that moving and attacking needed to be two separate types of actions.
It also makes combat a little more lethal, as iterative attacks become a thing from level 1 (granted, you'll need a really high roll to hit with any iteratives).
I also like that with Imix's drawback he can cast in one round if he's inclined to do so. It is still a pretty big drawback, not being able to move and all that, but it can be done.
However, I'm happy to revisit RAA if need be. I'm not wedded to it.
Legal matters - there is a magistrate (Bertram Hamfatten), who works hand-in-hand with the Garrison-Captain. The Garrison-Captain has the power to issue warrants (and only the G-C). The magistrate decides punishment, in consultation with the Lord Mayor (though the magistrate's decision is legally binding).
Any soldier has the right to carry out a warrant and make an arrest, and Istiel, as a warrior-monk, has that right. Though for the most part the monks are a bit aloof from the standard order of command, and tend to be more focused on strictly defense and doing their monky stuff.
Hey - you say "lawbreaker," I say "entrepreneur"... There's two sides to every story, sweetie; or more by the time finished with things!
PS First post ready to go whenever, DM; just give the word.
^ Indeed!
I'll let you know about that post, Rigel.
Way Points (communal shelters based in the wilderness or inns)
Spreadsheet is up: Father of Waters
Istiel is finished if you want to take a last look over everything, BP. Well, except the physical description, I've left it vague. My artist friend is quite excited about this commission so I've given her full reign over character design. She's a sporadic worker, so no telling when it'll be finished. The sketches she's shown me have been quite beautiful though.
Request: Could you update Istiel's NPCs on your Googledocs? I wrote much better versions of their descriptions, you currently have my notes up.
Question: Should I amake an NPC portion of the Spreadsheet? You seem to have a very nice one going in your Googledoc!
Silkworms
"Cut off their hands"?! Oh gods, I really have picked the wrong week to quit glue-sniffing campaign to play a Rogue in, haven't I...
Only if you can't steal hands Rigel ;)
Thanks, Istiel!
Your NPCs have been updated. I think an NPC portion on the spreadsheet may be good. I can get that started. I'm just not too good with the layout and math side of things, so I appreciate your help. I'll get PC NPCs up today.
I'd share permissions on the wiki for updating, but then you all get access to my super-secret side of the site, which has all my GM notes, NPC stats, weather, etc. A NPC tab would allow you all to add NPCs that you think are important, which would spur my imagination as well.
@ Rigel - it is only the wrong choice if you get caught :) Feel free to post your "Last night" post - gameplay posts are going up today.
Note to self: do not get caught (even by fellow PCs)
I'll get that post up shortly.
I'll get the next two gameplay posts up tonight. We're starting with setting the setting, but I'll get things moving in a direction shortly. Want to give you all a bit to feel out your characters.
Looking good already, DM!
*jiggles impatiently while waiting for own post to appear*
Nicely written GM! I feel bad for Tex.
Thanks, Rigel and Imix! You all have given me a lot of good stuff to work with, and don't worry, I got plans for you all!
MWAHAHAHAHAHahahahahahahahaha....
Seriously though, I'm digging what everyone's bringing.
I can retcon if I am overstepping.
And of course they don't throw Suriname to the crocodiles. They spend too long teaching them wild and dangerous magics to give them that sort of warning. If Imix oversteps he'll never even see the blow that kills him.
I like that: "you can do whatever you want, for the Purpose - but don't cross the line."
"How will I know if I've crossed it?"
"You'll have stopped breathing."
I get the impression that whole 'easier to ask forgiveness than permission' thing doesn't really apply in this campaign...!
@ Rigel - breaking it there so you can decide whether you want to let Nando know you're there or not.
@ Imix - no worries, I'm wanting you all to grab some things and run with it. Makes it more fun for me.
Busy morning for me - I'll get some responses up at lunch. Also want to get Istiel the time to jump in, and I know Galorit's really busy at the moment.
At some point, I'm going to get you all on the same timeline, but for everyone's reference, here's how the morning is going:
3 am - keelboatmen wake up Oios with their singing.
6 - Ois arrives at the Way Point. Lijart's family and Drazen are waking. Istiel and the monks start sparring.
6:30 Oios begins the last leg of his journey.
6:45 Istiel punches Suuha in the throat.
7 - Breakfast with Lijart, Rigel wakes.
7:15 - Rigel sees Alma Slate striding towards Shadeholme. Nando pays Rigel a visit.
8 - Lijart and Drazen go fishing. Texikuk crawls back into bed, waking Imix.
8:30 - Korya, Lijart, and Drazen realize there's no soldiers about. Imix is up and dressed. Oios arrives in Shadeholme.
Thanks, don't move on without me! Someone needs to pay for that "Clubfoot" remark...
PS how old are the Chasquis? I'm going to assume that Rigel grew up with them, and so obviously they're older than Iseult; rather than them just being kids
Great posts everyone. I'm honored to be playing with such skilled writers- especially our GM, this is already reading like an interactive novel.
My work schedule is chaotic. I'll probably post a lot on my days off, but I'll aim for at least one post a day on work days.
For the party- I know we haven't gotten into combat yet, but here's a list of very useful buffs that can greatly help Istiel (and Drazen for some spells) kick more ass. If you have them, and you're not blasting things with fireballs, they'd be appreciated. I haven't really been over everyone's characters so I don't know who is capable of what at this point.
List:
MAGE ARMOR- I doubt we'll be finding a wand of mage armor, might have to pay big bucks for one sometime. Super good because Istiel doesn't wear armor.
Barkskin
Enlarge Person- If this gets used regularly might have to retrain improved initiative to combat reflexes for those sweet, sweet AoO's.
Magic Weapon OR Magic Fang
Agree about the great posts, I'm having a lot of fun reading what everyone else is up to!
Istiel - I'll go halves with you on the wand of Mage Armour: +4 AC with no armour check penalty? Yes please!
I have enlarge person 1/day as an SLA, but it'll be a while before that gets revealed, Rigel's a bit shy of magic.
Sure that sounds like a good idea, we'll have to look into magic item availability later.
No problem on the enlarge person, all in due time.
I think we're using sphere magic.
SLAs are exempt... but there's no such thing as mage armour.
Sphere effects are a bit weaker than conventional magic.
^ Yep. I'll have to take a look at what it would translate to. I think there's probably some effect similar in the enhancement sphere?
I've not read over the item creation chapter in great detail yet, to be honest.
I would have thought Protection. Enhancement will turn +1 (or +0) armour into enhanced armour. There's also a talent to give DR/adamantine.
@GM: Got an idea for a flashback post for Chukix. You want it?
Sure thing! I've been thinking about Chuk and I'm still a little foggy on how he's going to play. That would certainly help. I'm going to get a post up for you and Rigel later tonight.
And I suspect you're right - protection it probably is.
Oios has a Barrier ward that's pretty much a DR 5 wall and a aegis that is a +1 deflection AC. There is an armored magic aegis talent that gives +3 AC which is what I think we're looking for. From the protection sphere.
Looks like I have some studying to do to figure out this new fancy magicks.
Fancy sphere magicks look pretty cool, looking forward to seeing what you guys do with it.
Still debating on improved initiative vs improved grapple. Honestly I have the feeling grappling things all the time would slow the game down... but a monk WITHOUT it? The shame... I can always pick it up with 2nd level monk, but I kind of wanted deflect arrows (Trying to be a badass here... well, and live). I suppose stealth+grappling is fine, they don't get an AoO if they don't see it coming! Damn all of these cool feats, damn them to hades. I'm just going to tell myself I can retrain anything I don't like and get over it.
Also: Body Shield. This feat amuses me greatly.
Sorry for the 'one line' response, but it just seemed to fit the Imix in my head so well. I will do longer posts later...
Like Imix did earlier, I'm making stuff up as I go along, but I hope it fits with your vision for the world.
If I overstep the mark I trust I won't simply stop breathing...!
However, I have yet to acquire Imix's talent for shorter posts.
@ Istiel - hey, that body shield feat is pretty cool!
@ Imix - no worries, sometimes one line is all that's needed :)
@ Rigel - no worries either! I enjoyed the additions to the Chasqui.
Istiel, go ahead and give me a dexterity check.
I'll get us moving tomorrow with the moot.
Bad luck on that roll, Istiel - hope it doesn't set the tone for the campaign
DM, is there any chance you could put the link to your wiki in the Campaign tab? We're already on page 3 of the discussion thread and it would be more convenient than having to keep scrolling back to page 1 in order to find it. Thanks
Yeah, Istiel might be doing some extra chores tomorrow...
Heh. Humility is good for the soul, I'm told...
BTW, saw your musings on this and never replied:
Still debating on improved initiative vs improved grapple. Honestly I have the feeling grappling things all the time would slow the game down... but a monk WITHOUT it? The shame...
I don't know if you've made a decision, but in my experience Pathfinder tends to reward playing to your strengths rather than trying to cover your weaknesses. E.g., Rigel's based on social skills so I took the Rake archetype rather than Knife Master, even though rolling d8s for sneak attack was seriously tempting...
Yup you're right, that's absolutely how pathfinder works. Istiel is going to be focused on raw damage, best way to do that is to go first and hit hard. She can pick up improved grapple later if need be considering how she can still grapple, it'll just provoke AoO.
I forgot languages for Imix... With a +4 int bonus, what should he speak? I'd like Wo'tah and Tkoyah.
Also, if Shadehome normally survives (prospers?) on 80% of the excise (at least officially), and they're keeping 14%, this seems to assume they're keeping 17.5% of what they normally have. Assuming it's randomly chosen, that'd be food for 9 weeks? And if it is disproportionately food, probably several months?
How long (as a range) is a siege likely to be before the military gets here? Working on limited knowledge, so...
Okay, Imix has 200gp 'gold' (jewellery I assume. Seems more appropriate for him to be dressed like a king than with a big moneybag, and both are spendable)
There are 700 people in Shadeholme. That's 28sp per person. A poor meal for a day costs 1sp. That should mean he's wearing enough jewellry to literally feed everyone in the village for a month? Or 5 days at 'better than they normally eat' level? I'm working on the assumption that in a village this size, even under siege, preservation wouldn't be as much of an issue as trail rations.
Will wait to post it to gameplay until everyone has had a chance to volunteer.
Umm, so math isn't my forte, but here's my take on the potential for a siege, Shadeholme's food production, and the like.
The tribute is basically a large re-distribution of resources from around the kingdom, with the king taking a cut. (As an aside, I lifted this idea from Incan society, which could provide same day-caught fish for people that lived far from the coasts through a large central bureaucracy). So, provided Tex does her job perfectly (and she's pretty good, but not perfect - otherwise people like Riggle couldn't survive), twice a year (once coming out of winter, once going into winter) the net stored production of the town is sent to the capital, along with the net production of everywhere else. Once there, the resources are divied up, and minus the crown's cut, sent back out to the towns. So, once the tribute is divied up, manufactured and luxury goods from the east, river fish from the Father of Waters and a small amount of exotic goods from the north, wool from herders, honey from the farm belt, etc. will arrive in Shadeholme and be given out to the citizenry. But, in the meantime, Shadeholme has to make about a month without any of the resources it has accumulated, including, but not limited to foodstuffs.
In my mind, taking into account the whole year, Shadeholme is probably a net importer of food rather than a next exporter.
Now, Shadeholme has farms, but is not in the farmbelt. It has hunters and fishers to bring in a varied diet, but coming out of the winter, these folks are have been through the lean season (this is a reason that I put some text into one of Drazan's entries, talking about how the bounty will be coming - the wildlife is much harder to come by in the winter). Without the farms up and going yet (remember, the farms are just now being turned for planting), there isn't much food even going to the Capital in tribute. Most of what Shadeholme will be sending is silkworms (both foraged from the end of fall mating season and from Shadeholme's magical valley, which is temperate year round), furs, lumber and some finished wood products such as bows, spears, furniture, household goods, with some fish and game as well, smoked, dehydrated, and preserved (jerky is a big food - without access to salt, the Three People don't have another way of preserving meat).
Basically, out of Shadeholme, in order of importance: bulk commodities, some foodstuffs, small amount of finished goods.
Into Shadeholme: foodstuffs, finished goods.
When the mayor says he's holding back 1/5 of the tribute, he's guestimating (because I haven't sat down and crunched the exact numbers and ratios). What Tex has been told to do is hold back all the foodstuffs which,numerically aren't that great a ratio of the total tribute, as well as probably some lumber if firewood is needed on cold spring nights, and maybe some bows and spears.
Just to reiterate, the farmers aren't producing food during the winter, they probably have been producing lumber in the meantime (I hadn't thought about this until now). The hunters and fishers bring in much less than later on in summer and fall.
Now, farmers may have kept 20% of their food production from the last growing season, but that would be by and large be diffused around town with the underground and semi-legal economy, and these foodstuffs will essentially be the food, supplemented with fish and game, until the first crops come in and the tribute disbursement comes back to Shadeholme, that everyone has to survive on.
So basically, Shadeholme is coming out of winter, has little in the way of built up foodstuffs, and according to the king's orders, is sending that surplus out with a period of belt-tightening before the disbursement arrives.
Now, if the townsfolk are under siege, everyone alive is going to be on Eel Mound (I keep forgetting to put this in the narrative, but Eel Mound is surrounded by a wooden palisade other than the entrances, which can be gated and closed- this is where the residents all go if under attack, or that's the plan at any rate). If under siege, Shadeholme will have the valley and can take down the silkworm forest to grow crops, but that will hurt the economy in the long run. No one will be hunting or farming in the interim, and that will hurt the food supplies in the short term.
So, the Mayor is taking a worst-case scenario view. If someone were to attack Shadeholme, spring, just coming out of winter, is when the town is most vulnerable. The crops haven't been grown, the wildlife hasn't been plentiful, and what's left of the surplus is gone or going to Cornucopia.
Mathematically speaking, I'm not sure what the exact amount of food per person is in Shadeholme at the moment. Narratively speaking, by holding the food back, the Mayor is hoping, worse-case scenario, that if the town is surrounded, the farmers, fishers and hunters not able to their jobs, the town has enough food to make it until the siege breaks.
I should state that all this writing doesn't mean that a siege is coming. Though, if I'm doing my job alright, that possibility should seem to be within the realm of possibility.
I hope that all of this rambling makes some sense and that it makes sense in terms of the setting and world, and makes seems plausible.
Let me know if anyone has questions.
Other questions:
Languages:
Abyssal (Spoken by the Mountain Tribes),
Aquan,
Atsoo (Kingdom of the Sky Peoples, the Wo'Tah)
Auran,
Ignan,
Terran,
Tkoyah (the common tongue of the Three Peoples)
Tooyah (a largely dead language save for dissidents and scholars; also spoken by the People of the Reed)
Tsinyah (spoken by the ethnic group around Shadeholme)
Wo'Tah (ceremonial language spoken by the Sky Peoples elites)Regardless of a PC's int modifier, in addition to Tkoyah, s/he knows Abyssal if s/he's from the Mountain Tribes, and Tsinyah if s/he's from the Tsinyah ethnic group.
I could definitely see Imix speaking Tkoyah and Wo'Tah. He'd also probably speak at least Aquan, due to his heritage, if not the other elemental languages.
Siege stuff:
knowledge:engineering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 How much food is normally stored in forts for sieges?
Imix knows that the Counting House, a warehouse located in most defensible part of every town (in this case, on Eel Mound, behind the safety of the palisade) is where all the goods of the tribute are stored. This would include surplus food stuffs. Tex spends much of her working life in this building, as do her staff. There is a contingent of guards there as well (in Shadeholme, with its small garrison, this is 5 soldiers at all times). The guards answer not to Tex (though in practice they will defer to her day-to-day) but rather the currently absent Garrison-Captain.
As for sieges, neither the beastlings nor the Mountain Tribes have ever massed in such a number as to seriously threaten Shadeholme (and because of this, Imix may feel that the Mayor is being overcautious). To the north, however, this is not the case. Fire Peaks is a sizeable settlement, with a more professionalized army, and the neighboring northern tribes are more organized. But they are far from Shadeholme. In other words, the food the Mayor is holding back is the siege backup.
knowledge:geography: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27 How long to Cornucopia?
A heavily laden tribute caravan can reach Cornucopia in five or six days. A Chasqui relay (one Chasqui running to a Way Point, passing on information to the next Chasqui, who runs to the next Way Point, and so on), can get information to or from the Capital in 24 hours. Chasquis are always stationed at rural Way Points for this reason, and unless they are out on a run, delivering something for someone else, there shouldn't be a holdup.
So, the danger of a protracted siege is pretty low, as long as communication with the Capital (or at least a nearby safe Way Point) is possible. Another reason that Shadeholme doesn't have food supplies dedicated to surviving a siege, and why the Mayor may be being overcautious.
Okay, Imix has 200gp 'gold' (jewellery I assume. Seems more appropriate for him to be dressed like a king than with a big moneybag, and both are spendable)
There are 700 people in Shadeholme. That's 28sp per person. A poor meal for a day costs 1sp. That should mean he's wearing enough jewellry to literally feed everyone in the village for a month? Or 5 days at 'better than they normally eat' level? I'm working on the assumption that in a village this size, even under siege, preservation wouldn't be as much of an issue as trail rations.
Imix would appear to be fantastically wealthy to the average Shadeholme farmer, probably richer than anyone in town. That will change when [CENSORED] ;)
But, if you're asking if you can buy food for everyone in town, well, there's not that much food to buy. Most of the food belongs to the Lord Mayor (well, the king actually) and is stored at the counting house, or in individual root cellars, smoke houses, larders, etc. And if it comes to his worst-case scenario, Gilder's would just ration it out.
Restaurants essentially don't exist in this society. The Copper Cauldron is, in addition to the Way Point and inn of Shadeholme, also the only establishment that functions like a tavern and restaurant, and the CC just isn't going to have a huge food surplus to feed everyone for very long.
So, the government is basically the only game in town at a large enough level when it comes to food disbursement. Imix could try and buy individual portions from people, but Tsinyah are also generally practical - you can't eat a belt, and that Tsinyah's belt will work just as well in a siege.
DM, is there any chance you could put the link to your wiki in the Campaign tab? We're already on page 3 of the discussion thread and it would be more convenient than having to keep scrolling back to page 1 in order to find it. Thanks
Thanks for the reminder, Rigel. Wiki and Istiel's spreadsheet are in the campaign tab.
Thanks GMBP! I love the verisimilitude of your world, and I can see there is a lot of work. just checking round the edges - sorry to be a hassle.
So, what I'm looking at is having Imix 'buy' the food from the Excise. That'll remove his 'remaining' 200gp.
Mindset: Cornucopia can't let mayors start making these decisions every time they get nervous. Someone will have to be made an example of. Mayor seems to be trying to throw Texikuk to the crocodiles - but Imix thinks there'll be more widespread punishment.
This way Tex has an alibi (she's giving the 'right amount'). If there is a siege they'll have food for a reasonable period. The Mayor won't have messed with the excise (and 'one fifth' did sound like he was being pretty dodgy). Cornucopia doesn't have to make an example of anyone - they might want Imix's head, but he's outside their domain, which means there is no precedent.
If there's no siege, he trades the food for jewellry later.
If there is, and he needs these people, he's bought goodwill.
Wow, this is a seriously well-imagined game world! Kudos to you, DM.
It is very impressive! I'm pretty familiar with the basics of European medieval cultures, but this is all very new to me!
On phone all day. Can I have Tkooyah, Tsyiniah, and Abyssal? Will have to shift one skill point to Linguistics to get that if that's okay. Fits Oios' history.