Heya Nerk, could I get a 2nd trait for Sorala?
Thank you, sir!
Septimus will take Poverty-stricken.
Septimus needs a second one as well.
The math on that works out as full rations for today and in 5 days. I think the people already decided feast today and in 5 days from now, might have to diplomacy if we don't want a feast today?
Haha, you're right. Illustration #722 of why I went into the liberal arts. I think two full days of rations won't hurt us too much - that really is only decreasing our food stores by about 130 food units, plus probably two lost days in transit for the foragers, and we're actually sitting pretty right now.
Sorala, of course, would know this, since she's much smarter than her player. Although my argument had to do with food supplies, I think there is another aspect to this that needs to be considered. Sorala's concerned that the foragers will not be happy to know that the people of Newspring will be gorging themselves while they are out in the wilderness. When you think about it, the foragers have to be under an extreme amount of stress, out in the wilderness, away from the safety of Newspring (and possibly loved ones and friends), without any armed guards, etc.
If the foragers get their full share sent out to them, and nobody is seen to be partying until the foragers can get back to enjoy themselves as well, Sorala would be OK with it - she just doesn't want to cause a schism within our ranks, as the foragers are doing an incredibly brave and dangerous service for everyone.
I'd hold off on the liquor until everyone can get some, for example. And by making this an event (feast + entertainement + liquor), maybe we have the seeds for a future holiday?
Kal'Tos is fine with 2 days of full rations, he just wanted to avoid blowing all 500 food on two days.
I figured the foragers get a share from the first day as they come back from the wilds, which will continue to make a full ration for today and the feast 5 days from now.
Because everyone is getting fed today and Vallen doesn't have to prepare Abstemiousness, he wants to show the hunters they are appreciated. Kal'tos isn't even going to get a buzz off of two pints of beer- it's more of a gesture of thanks. I don't think anyone is going to get upset because Vallen magicked up a little booze.
I figured the foragers get a share from the first day as they come back from the wilds, which will continue to make a full ration for today and the feast 5 days from now.
Because everyone is getting fed today and Vallen doesn't have to prepare Abstemiousness, he wants to show the hunters they are appreciated. Kal'tos isn't even going to get a buzz off of two pints of beer- it's more of a gesture of thanks. I don't think anyone is going to get upset because Vallen magicked up a little booze.
I have been abstaining from alcohol for at least a month though, under normal conditions 2 pints in would be called lunchtime. Fortunately Nerk hasn't been making dwarves make some kind of withdrawal checks for not consuming alcohol.
Because everyone is getting fed today and Vallen doesn't have to prepare Abstemiousness, he wants to show the hunters they are appreciated. Kal'tos isn't even going to get a buzz off of two pints of beer- it's more of a gesture of thanks. I don't think anyone is going to get upset because Vallen magicked up a little booze.
Well, Sorala says, "There's that old childhood adage, don't bring anything to class if you can't share with everyone."
What about showing everyone they're appreciated? Convince the goblins to go on half-rations for 3 of the next 5 days, and we can have 30 pints of alcohol for everyone to celebrate with. That's essentially 2 shots of mead per person, if the kids drink (not that I'm advocating that our children get drunk).
Cueta says, "Sorala-Stick-Up-Her-Arse, the foragers can get theirs when they kill a giant boar. I'll take my pint, thankyouverymuch."
Haha! I personally like to only share when there's enough for everyone but dwarf culture is all about honoring heroes, so he'll take the risk.
New recruitment is live. I've added a discussion thread and am asking you guys to contain yourselves to that, just so the recruitment thread stays clear.
New recruitment is live. I've added a discussion thread and am asking you guys to contain yourselves to that, just so the recruitment thread stays clear.
Thanks, DM Nerk. If you have other players in your other games that you think would fit, I hope you point them to the recruitment thread.
On a related note, how does 5E play?
I love it.
This is probably the last Pathfinder game I'll run.
But I may well port Golarion and some of the APs to 5e. Muahahaha.
I love it.
This is probably the last Pathfinder game I'll run.But I may well port Golarion and some of the APs to 5e. Muahahaha.
What in particular makes it awesome?
It's new and shiny.
Which is certainly a factor, but it's also very clean at this point. The rules are very simple and there are few nuisancy subsystems that make me want to scream. So it plays fast.
Also, the numbers are less insane. With ability scores at a hard cap of 20 for PCs and 30 for even the most extreme monsters, the bonuses don't get as crazy. ACs vary less, so, for example a Great Wyrm Red Dragon has an AC of 22, hitable by a first level character. It won't hurt the dragon much, and the dragon will kill the little guy with one attack, but enough fearless little guys can take one down. And enough kobolds can be a threat to your 20th level character. This also makes characters less magic item dependent.
Plus, it's new and shiny.
It's new and shiny.
Which is certainly a factor, but it's also very clean at this point. The rules are very simple and there are few nuisancy subsystems that make me want to scream. So it plays fast.
Also, the numbers are less insane. With ability scores at a hard cap of 20 for PCs and 30 for even the most extreme monsters, the bonuses don't get as crazy. ACs vary less, so, for example a Great Wyrm Red Dragon has an AC of 22, hitable by a first level character. It won't hurt the dragon much, and the dragon will kill the little guy with one attack, but enough fearless little guys can take one down. And enough kobolds can be a threat to your 20th level character. This also makes characters less magic item dependent.
Plus, it's new and shiny.
Hmmmm you have my attention. I will probably look into 5e sometime, probably after I have my thesis complete. It sounds like I would be a fan of this system.
Now if you port Golarion lore/story to 5e... that sounds like a perfect match!
It's new and shiny.
Which is certainly a factor, but it's also very clean at this point. The rules are very simple and there are few nuisancy subsystems that make me want to scream. So it plays fast.
Also, the numbers are less insane. With ability scores at a hard cap of 20 for PCs and 30 for even the most extreme monsters, the bonuses don't get as crazy. ACs vary less, so, for example a Great Wyrm Red Dragon has an AC of 22, hitable by a first level character. It won't hurt the dragon much, and the dragon will kill the little guy with one attack, but enough fearless little guys can take one down. And enough kobolds can be a threat to your 20th level character. This also makes characters less magic item dependent.
Plus, it's new and shiny.
I'm kind of torn, because it does look like a really nice system (full disclaimer: I haven't played though). I love the backgrounds options, the flat math, and the tracks that you can take characters on (forget what they are called) that work like archetypes. Also, rituals, allowing the making of psuedo-casters (I've got a holy warrior that can be built perfectly with rituals), and the spellcasting system seems to be much less fiddly and more user-friendly (and adjustable!). The only thing I think I dislike about 5E is that the skill system seems to locked in at character creation (you can't train new skills, or improve old ones with ranks).
On the other hand, I love Paizo. So, so much more than WOtC. I like their responsiveness to customers, their web presence, and the quality of work that they put out.
Perhaps your idea of mashing up Paizo settings and adventures with 5e is a good way to go.
in case any of you think this is a good idea
I've never heard of Codex Alera until now- sounds like a cool series. I especially enjoyed reading the wikipedia article that said it was made on a bet that the author couldn't write a good story out of two lame ideas.
That person must have been lame themselves because I think pokemon and lost roman legions are two awesome ideas.
I've never heard of Codex Alera until now- sounds like a cool series. I especially enjoyed reading the wikipedia article that said it was made on a bet that the author couldn't write a good story out of two lame ideas.
That person must have been lame themselves because I think pokemon and lost roman legions are two awesome ideas.
The series was a pretty awesome read. My understanding was that it was more of a bet that he could write a good story from two random ideas, not lame ones, only an idiot would think both pokemon and the lost legions are both lame.
The setting is essentially one where every human has some amount of elemental magic under their control. And everything in society revolves around this ability, from social status to what work you do. Most people have modest skill in one maybe two of the 6 elements, but high nobles probably are extremely gifted in most or all. With lesser nobility, knights, etc somewhere in the middle.
Hmm. I'm currently in four games and it is already a bit much, so I think I'll have to pass. It sounds pretty cool though, Kal'Tos. I picked up Savage Worlds not too long ago after a discussion in this game, and I agree with the poster in your interest thread - it may be a flexible enough system to meet your needs. Good luck!
I am already an idiot for being in as many games as I am. I should probably chill out. D:
Hope it goes well for you, though, Kal'Tos! :D
I just realized we never asked the hobgoblins if they have ever seen any other humans. Considering our first contact party was an elf a dwarf and two humans do you think they didn't attack because of the humans? I sure as heck wouldn't trust the native elves and dwarves.
I just realized we never asked the hobgoblins if they have ever seen any other humans. Considering our first contact party was an elf a dwarf and two humans do you think they didn't attack because of the humans? I sure as heck wouldn't trust the native elves and dwarves.
I just assumed that we all look radically different from the native elves and dwarves, in manner of dress, weaponry, and perhaps skin tone. As a result, the hobs didn't know exactly what was happening, but knew that something different was going on.
Also, it is entirely possible that they did attack our NPC scout group under the assumption that they were enemies, and put together after the fact that we were new players on the scene. We still don't know (and probably shouldn't ask, if the hobs become our friends) what happened there.
Regarding the existence of native humans, my assumption so far is that there are none in the NW. I don't know if Nerk has done this by design or not, or if there are humans that we just haven't found yet, but no humans plus hobgoblin allies and dwarf and elf enemies does make the Golarian New World a decidedly different analog to the real world experience, and I like that, especially given the really nasty real world effects of colonization on the native human populace.
Anyone who bet Jim Butcher he couldn't make a good series out of two random ideas must have been high. The guy is best known for the Dresden Files. And anyone who says urban fantasy isn't genre blending is high.
Boy, I am turning into an old curmudgeon.
I love Savage Worlds, and I do understand the fear of GURPS, but I think both are fun systems. Savage Worlds is definitely more conducive to quick, pulpy action and GURPS is slower, but it has an unparalleled depth.
re: 5th
You CAN add skills, by taking feats or multiclassing, but since the numbers are contained, so that with a good ability modifier, you don't need "ranks" in a skill.
And I 95% agree with Paizo over Wizards. That will return to 99% when I receive the order I placed almost 4 weeks ago, which I'm assured is not lost in Paizo shipping limbo. The last 1% is really just a placeholder to represent my hope that Wizards might be stepping up their game.
Also, I'm sort of letting this game simmer while I attempt to recruit new blood. Mostly because with everyone being back in camp, it's a good time to bring new people in.
Last, I don't know if anyone will ask, but I'm thinking of opening up the hobgoblins as a potential PC race, which I didn't do last time out. Thoughts?
Anyone who bet Jim Butcher he couldn't make a good series out of two random ideas must have been high. The guy is best known for the Dresden Files. And anyone who says urban fantasy isn't genre blending is high.
Boy, I am turning into an old curmudgeon.
I love Savage Worlds, and I do understand the fear of GURPS, but I think both are fun systems. Savage Worlds is definitely more conducive to quick, pulpy action and GURPS is slower, but it has an unparalleled depth.
re: 5th
You CAN add skills, by taking feats or multiclassing, but since the numbers are contained, so that with a good ability modifier, you don't need "ranks" in a skill.And I 95% agree with Paizo over Wizards. That will return to 99% when I receive the order I placed almost 4 weeks ago, which I'm assured is not lost in Paizo shipping limbo. The last 1% is really just a placeholder to represent my hope that Wizards might be stepping up their game.
Also, I'm sort of letting this game simmer while I attempt to recruit new blood. Mostly because with everyone being back in camp, it's a good time to bring new people in.
Last, I don't know if anyone will ask, but I'm thinking of opening up the hobgoblins as a potential PC race, which I didn't do last time out. Thoughts?
Yah betting he couldn't take two ideas and make an awesome story was a bad idea. Especially when you pick the lost legions as one of them.
I agree with your analysis of the differences between GURPS and Savage Worlds. I think for a play by post either GURPS or world of darkness will be better as there is less concern over how fast things move.
Lastly I think it might still be too early for a hobgoblin PC, but I am not terribly opposed to it.
Re: Hobgoglins as PCs - I'm fine with it.
One question while the game simmers. Could we knock out a few of at camp stuff? Build some capital, start some new projects, etc., and just keep everyone at NS until the feast (or handwave that last day of exploration and build some capital around that day as well?)? It could be a good way to advance the timeline a bit while we're in a holding pattern.
Oooh hobgoblins as a playable race is an excellent idea. New race unlocked! They actually have a pretty cool ability mix and racial traits.
Only question is knowledge. I assume these would be native hobgoblins... how much would the player get to know?
They would be native hobgoblins. Their knowledge won't add anything too substantive to what you already know, so anyone building a hob would have to accept that limitation. They'll have spent most of their lives in BS Valley. Otherwise, someone will try to break the game by designing a hobgoblin international diplomat.
And, it's going to be at least 5 days (real time) before we have new people. I think if we aim to introduce the new people when everyone's back in Newspring for the feast, it'll work. I'll have to work up a story for them, but that'll depend a lot on who they are. So we can probably safely go ahead and I'll avoid introducing anything major, as difficult as that can be.
They would be native hobgoblins. Their knowledge won't add anything too substantive to what you already know, so anyone building a hob would have to accept that limitation. They'll have spent most of their lives in BS Valley. Otherwise, someone will try to break the game by designing a hobgoblin international diplomat.
And, it's going to be at least 5 days (real time) before we have new people. I think if we aim to introduce the new people when everyone's back in Newspring for the feast, it'll work. I'll have to work up a story for them, but that'll depend a lot on who they are. So we can probably safely go ahead and I'll avoid introducing anything major, as difficult as that can be.
Unless our scouting efforts encounter them? Perhaps as the desperate survivors of another wreck with rumours of other survivors.
Excellent! I have to admit, I'm anxious to get some capital accumulated and some new projects started, so I'll welcome the uninterrupted time to get some things going. Should we just try and tackle one day a real time day? I would imagine this would require little to no time on your part, Nerk, excepting the food rolls - just us players posting in the appropriate threads what our PCs and PC2s are doing for the day.
I may post some stuff in the gameplay thread as well, just to make note of what my PCs are doing, but it wouldn't require any stewardship on your part.
Can we say that if we send the explorers out on Desnus 2 that they encounter no issues and finish exploring that hex?
@ Cueta: 1 day travel time to E14 (12 hours), 1 day to finish exploring, 1 day to get back. You could turn it around in two days if everyone makes 2 DC 12 fort saves for no sleep.
Or push into another hex (E15, for convenience) on day 3, explore for a day and come back the next day for barbeque.
Thanks, Nerk - I forgot about the travel time! That certainly makes me wonder if we should hold off and just earn capital these next 4 days. Then we could retransit back up to 14E and onto 15E after that.
What do you all think?
The hex isn't going anywhere I say we hang out in Newspring for a while.
If everyone else wants to go explorinating then Nerk's plan is a good one, but I think everyone should sleep.
Thanks, Nerk - I forgot about the travel time! That certainly makes me wonder if we should hold off and just earn capital these next 4 days. Then we could retransit back up to 14E and onto 15E after that.
What do you all think?
Kal'Tos would grudgingly accept this COA.
Tomag definitely understands the necessity of exploring the area around his new home, but a couple days break doesn't sound like a bad plan at all.
It's been a rough week for the poor guy. A ghoul paralyzing him, a couple days of no sunshine, getting nearly gored to death by a boar. Rough stuff for a smiley half-orc.
I thought that was like, breakfast for a half orc...
Hush you. Tomag's a sensitive guy.
We traveled west through the rotten lands, into a vast hilly forest. The land there is beautiful. There is a river that glisten and sparkles like jewelry. The hills let one see for miles. To the east, past the Broken Skull Valley are old, old mountains. Dwarves would call them elder hills. A lake shines in the middle, from our distance a mere bird bath. To the west are vast flat lands covered in forest so thick a squirrel could travel its length without touching the ground.
We found a shallow cave that had served as a frequent resting point for travelers long past. It had not seen use in years. We could not determine who built the fire pit. I believe the bugbears roam the flat forests. At one time they may have roamed here as well.
OK, you're hired. Istiel will be writing my descriptions from now on.
Ha! Thanks.
I enjoy writing in her speaking style a lot, and I like to think Istiel is quite descriptive when she is speaking to someone she considers worthwhile.
Kitchen added to the Newspring Hamlet map. Nerk, let me know if you want it moved - I put it by the garden by the spring.
So, about these wolf hides... would anyone mind if I asked for a hide shirt or hide armor to be commissioned for my sister? If she doesn't want it, or already placed claim to one of the two suits of hide armor currently available, I'd happily commission a hide shirt for myself (6.67gp for a hide shirt, 5gp for a hide armor). That would leave us with 3.33gp materials (leather armor), or 5gp (another hide armor).
Alternatively or in addition to some hide/leather armor, Nerk, could we comission cold-weather outfits from these wolves? It is never too soon to think about weather, and given the glut of woodsy types we have, I think our PCs would realize that it could get pretty cold here. A cold-weather gear would cost 2.67gp of materials.
Anyone else have thoughts, comments, concerns about what to do with the wolf hides?
Cueta ... yes. And while winter is a long way off, you're quite right about cold weather outfits being worth investing in. Especially if there isn't substantial shelter for everyone yet. Or if you're going to continue sending out roving parties of foragers.
Also, Newspring map looks great. A note if it expands, the stream's banks will become effectively a mini-canyon past the forge. The kids like to play there and it opens into a small, sheltered cove (maybe 100' long and <30' wide) where the pseudo dragons were first encountered. It's one of the few places in your hex where stream means sea without any marsh.
Speaking of pseudodragons has anyone seen them in the last couple of days/ should we try to give them a bit of boar meat?
You can commission whatever you'd like from Horn'tos or Gaross, Cueta. Vallen is a bit busy with the glaives and will be for some time. I figure by the time he's done with the glaives we will have our food problem solved and then we can start making real equipment for ourselves.
The pseudodragons seem to have a wide range, and (metagaming here) I think they only show up when Nerk rolls the percentile die for them on an encounter table or they're important to the story.
With our combined survival skills we could certainly track them down, but Manari might be the only one that could successfully speak to them.
They really only show up when I remember them. You probably see them in the distance periodically. They are wide ranging, but you're certainly in their range.
After the ants, I started questioning the wisdom of truly random encounters and have adjusted accordingly. It's also interesting (metagaming) because it's a constantly fluctuating, non-standard party. 8 (was it 8?) ghouls and an ogre worked out pretty well for 13 (counting Sai) of you, and the pig worked out ok for 4, but even that was sketchy because the party is mixed levels. It's always a guess, but I'm under the impression we're all having fun, so....
It makes sense that we sometimes come across foes that are more dangerous to fight than normal. After all, the wild creatures of various levels have to coexist somehow.
Cueta ... yes. And while winter is a long way off, you're quite right about cold weather outfits being worth investing in. Especially if there isn't substantial shelter for everyone yet. Or if you're going to continue sending out roving parties of foragers.
Hmmm. Maybe we should have a discussion about what to do/prepare for winter? We're going to need shelter, obviously. Should this be priority number 2, after food? Should this be something that we provide, or should we essentially leave it up to the Newspringers to build their own?
Cueta's number one concern is her sister, and then the community as a whole, so she'll approach Melilla first about armor, andif lil' sis delcines, ask for Horn'Tos to make cold-weather outfits. We can make 7 and have 1.31 gp worth of leather left over.
Nerk, would you like me to figure out how long that is going to take Horn'Tos to do, provided he takes 10 every day, or would you prefer to keep his modifier secret?
Also, Newspring map looks great. A note if it expands, the stream's banks will become effectively a mini-canyon past the forge. The kids like to play there and it opens into a small, sheltered cove (maybe 100' long and <30' wide) where the pseudo dragons were first encountered. It's one of the few places in your hex where stream means sea without any marsh.
Thank you! I've got a grid overlay for this map, with each square representing 5' squares, and have been building everything to scale per the rooms in the UC book (the kitchen is at the large end, 6 squares, as I figure it will be a large industrial/community kitchen, while the common room and bunks are at the small end, iirc, so that they fit in the palisade with plenty of room to spare).
I also tried to create a Portress map, to scale. It... didn't go well. If we settle there, I'll tackle it again.
How many feet south from the forge is it before the mini-canyon opens up? Or is this mini-canyon basically at the beach, 1 mile away? At some point I plan to create a beach map, but figure that can wait until we have some building there (I'd love to get a guard tower/signal tower there).
Perhaps I should post the Newspring Hamlet map with the grid overlay too. It may help for scale if there is ever a fight within NS proper. I'll do that tonight when I get home.