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....
I LOVE the fluctuating levels and numbers of PCs and NPCs in a grouping at a given time. I'm sure it makes things more difficult to GM, but it seems really real to me, where in this crazy situation you'd have people of different skill sets and skill levels working together at different points in time. It also makes the NPCs more real to me to have them assisting the PCs at points along the way.
Also, Sai was the unsung hero of that fight. She was like one round away from getting pancaked. Cueta would want her in a fight any day of the week.
Nerk did you figure out how much XP we got from the boar? The experience tab of the google doc doesn't have a line for it.
Crapadelic. Thanks, Kal'Tos.
The truth is that I've thought about that several times, bbut never when I was at the computing machine.
Crapadelic. Thanks, Kal'Tos.
The truth is that I've thought about that several times, bbut never when I was at the computing machine.
No worries, I figured I should mention it in case it hsd been forgotten in the excitement of 500 food.
Added. Also, story award for dealing with the hobgoblins - which I think at one point I poo-pooed, but I am as changeable as the weather. As Kal'Tos knows from the Dawn of Worlds game.
After the ants, I started questioning the wisdom of truly random encounters and have adjusted accordingly.
Ah the ant debacle. It amuses me that the rational nature of our party actually led to a fundamental change in the encounter tables. I wonder how long we would have looked for that ant colony...
Added. Also, story award for dealing with the hobgoblins - which I think at one point I poo-pooed, but I am as changeable as the weather. As Kal'Tos knows from the Dawn of Worlds game.
Yay XP! Can't wait for level 4. SO. MANY. SKILL POINTS. And 2nd level spells. An entirely new and more powerful divine spell list to abuse.
I am looking forward to some Nerk-esche answers from using Augury (though it's expensive) and Ancestral Communion.
Also Air Step just looks fun. Flying dwarves anyone?
My next game will be e1.
I tried to get an IRL gaming group to let me run a commoner campaign. Starting missions would be things like "catch the rats in Farmer Willoughby's barn" and "Rosalie's horse got loose - catch it!" Mid-level, I would have run something like a goblin raid on the town, and high-level stuff would have been something like an AP book 2, still centered around the town the commoners lived in.
I thought it was brilliant. No one else did though.
Yay XP! Can't wait for level 4. SO. MANY. SKILL POINTS. And 2nd level spells.
Yes! I'm getting 6 + 2 int + 1 fc + 1 human + 3 for int bump to 14 +1 'cause my math was off last level, for a total of 14 skill points! Sadly, it still isn't enough!
Vallen is getting 2 + 3 int +1fc + 1 skillfulness + 4 for int bump, 11 skill points! On a cleric! I'm insane!
At least 4 or 6 will be going into weaponsmithing and armorsmithing depending on what I need to make one glaive a day. The rest will probably be going into heal, knowledge religion, perception, sense motive... or whatever tickles my fancy.
That's amazing, Vallen! Truly the skilliest cleric that there ever was.
For me, I think - sailor +1, perception +1, bluff +1, diplomacy +1, intimidate +1, dungeoneering +1, local +1, linguistics +1, perception +1, sense motive +1, stealth +2, survival +2. And I'd still like a few more skill points for climb, swim, ships, leathermaking and maps.
Tomag's only going to get +6 skill points next level. But one of those is going into Linguistics, so it's okay. D:
Will the fresh meat be arriving soon? We can throw them on the mountain of pork!
Welcome to the new recruits, when they make it here.
Looking forward to seeing their mode of arrival. If a ship is coming in, everyone is going to freak the hell out. Good thing we're already planning a feast!
I will second the welcome, as long as your aren't heretics.
Very sorry for the longish delay, folks. Things got nutty around here, and I've been thinking a lot about the recruitment and ... excuses are like what?
Anyway, I can't even remember if you were going to wait til after the feast to go back out and explore or not.
Right now my thought is to have the new arrivals arrive when the away team is away. We'd let the away team have the promised days of worry-free exploration, and have the new people arrive and have a bit of action in Newspring with 2PCs and Vallen.
Very sorry for the longish delay, folks. Things got nutty around here, and I've been thinking a lot about the recruitment and ... excuses are like what?
Anyway, I can't even remember if you were going to wait til after the feast to go back out and explore or not.
Right now my thought is to have the new arrivals arrive when the away team is away. We'd let the away team have the promised days of worry-free exploration, and have the new people arrive and have a bit of action in Newspring with 2PCs and Vallen.
That works for me.
Sounds good to me, boss.
And an additional welcome to our new comrades. :)
Sounds like a plan to me. I'm busy all of today, I'll get my posts later in the afternoon/evening.
I think Cueta had a plan for exploration? In any case finishing up hex E 15 and then moving to E14 would work well. If Tomag is willing to put on some lighter armor for the journey (if we even have any?) we could speed up exploration?
I'm telling you, man. I need those studded leather pajamas.
I think Cueta had a plan for exploration? In any case finishing up hex E 15 and then moving to E14 would work well. If Tomag is willing to put on some lighter armor for the journey (if we even have any?) we could speed up exploration?
This was it, so that we can start moving our foragers around in a few days. I realized that I have a mistake with our Newspring Area map - I thought we were exploring in 15E now. As such, the Gold River, etc. is a little off-base. I'll get the map updated by the end of this weekend at the latest.
I'm telling you, man. I need those studded leather pajamas.
We can get you a hide shirt made from the wolves, if you like (of course, it won't be ready if we leave the next day from now).
The only armor available that I'm aware of right now is hide armor (the medium version).
Very sorry for the longish delay, folks. Things got nutty around here, and I've been thinking a lot about the recruitment and ... excuses are like what?
No worries, DM Nerk! Life happens. I think excuses are like nipples. Everyone's got a couple, sometimes three?
Anyway, I can't even remember if you were going to wait til after the feast to go back out and explore or not.
We'd talked about waiting, but if you want to get the new guy and girl into the action, I'm sure we could leave as soon as Desnus 2 starts. That would put us back to Newspring with 15E explored (3 days total including travel time) just in time for the feast.
Right now my thought is to have the new arrivals arrive when the away team is away. We'd let the away team have the promised days of worry-free exploration, and have the new people arrive and have a bit of action in Newspring with 2PCs and Vallen.
If you want them to arrive post-feast or at the feast, may I suggest that we hand-wave a few days of trouble-free existence to get to that point? We'd just need to make our capital rolls to get us up to date.
Also, welcome Ysanne and Donatello!
Hello!
Hope I'm okay to post here.
Now... it was no to heresy and yes to ale, right?
Hello!
Hope I'm okay to post here.Now... it was no to heresy and yes to ale, right?
If by ale you mean dwarven stout then yes. Actually given our current situation Kal'Tos may be forced to drink less refined beverages if they become available. That doesn't mean he has to like the situation though.
You think I was passing on ale that also counts as a full meal? ;P
I read your gameplay posts. I worked on the theory I may have to eat my armour.
You think I was passing on ale that also counts as a full meal? ;P
I read your gameplay posts. I worked on the theory I may have to eat my armour.
I think we are past that point, though knowing Nerk another ship showing up will somehow be a setback to our plans.
Man, this is a wierd build. Anything with no ranks is +4 and trained (a virtual rank in every skill) which means putting 3 ranks into perception lowers it by 1.
Man, this is a wierd build. Anything with no ranks is +4 and trained (a virtual rank in every skill) which means putting 3 ranks into perception lowers it by 1.
Where did you get that ability from?
Improvisation. Which, at a glance, looks really strong, but probably doesn't scale well into high levels.
Good thing this is P6, then! :D
-e-
Tomag would not be averse to wearing a wolf-hide shirt under his normal armor, so that he could be reasonably armored while sleeping, and able to ditch the heavier armor for scouting and such.
Cool. Cueta's heading to H'T to discuss the wolf pelts after she wraps her conversation with sis. Actually, I'll go ahead and post that now. It is not like Melilla and Cueta are going to get in a fight or anything anyway...
...
...
...probably.
So excited to be a part of this pbp! Looking forward to creating together.
So you can start familiarizing yourself with it: The Resource Tracking Spreadsheet
Cueta and myself typically keep it up to date/add things, but everyone is welcome to make additions or adjustments. Some things on here are currently not in use, such as the combat map and the adventure tracker.
We'll be explaining things as we go probably, and I'll dig up some old posts I used to explain stuff to the last batch of recruits.
So you can start familiarizing yourself with it: The Resource Tracking Spreadsheet
Cueta and myself typically keep it up to date/add things, but everyone is welcome to make additions or adjustments. Some things on here are currently not in use, such as the combat map and the adventure tracker.
We'll be explaining things as we go probably, and I'll dig up some old posts I used to explain stuff to the last batch of recruits.
Don't be afraid of the sheet! There's a lot there to get familiar with, but it will all be pretty easy to grasp as we go along, I suspect.
One thing I've totally stopped touching is the capital. I noticed that Kal'Tos's entry seems outdated.
Vallen, since you've got the formula, could you add Ysanne and Donatello to the "Capital" tab?
I updated the construction section with new projects for Horn'Tos (one of our resident crafters and brother of Kal'Tos), assuming that he agrees to make the goods. I'm not sure about the time frame for completion though. I also added a "residents" column to the hexploration tab, for quick reference (and good idea to track the foraging penalties there, Vallen).
Improvisation. Which, at a glance, looks really strong, but probably doesn't scale well into high levels.
Good thing this is P6, then! :D
Good enough I posted it early!
My concept was strongly influenced by the Australian outback farmer stereotype, and they're pretty much omnicompetent, with a dash of Michaelangelo.
The trouble with Improved Improvisation is the prereqs are a killer: Skilled (+1 skill point) Fast learner (effectively +1 skill point) High Int (skill points) and 2 feats. Basically you end up with a lot of skill points anyway if you can take it.
That said, if people don't like it or think it is too powerful for the game (trained in EVERYTHING... every skill, every craft, every profession, every perform... damn near every weapon as well) I have an alternate build that gets a spread of competence through actual skill points. MORE than happy to change it if people think it's not balanced for a survival oriented skill based P6.
...AND I just found a bug in my sheet. Dang.
Man, this is a wierd build. Anything with no ranks is +4 and trained (a virtual rank in every skill) which means putting 3 ranks into perception lowers it by 1.
Actually guilt and worry that the feat tree might have slipped through the cracks was the reason for the above post.
(I love that this is a game where I'm worried the Improvisation Feat Tree might be rorty, incidentally)
Alternate build was the original one where I was trying to be more 'Brigh' focussed.
Basically switches dex and int, buys some of the skills down and buys a bunch of 1 point trained only, crafts and professions (and perform:Storyteller).
Feats change to Endurance, Arcane Strike & Craft Wondrous Item
Trait changes from Never Stop Shooting to Magical Knack (Making him CL 3 as a 2nd level wizard, and therefore qualifying for Craft Wondrous, making it possible to get Craft Arms and Armour Craft Construct at level 5 AND meaning he can eventually build a Junk Golem)
After the discussion with Kal'Tos and Vallen I toned down the Brigh thing and I moved things around a little. Figured if Vallen was going crafting focussed I should let him take them. Also... the cheapest animated object is about 50 days work minimum. An actual Golem would be measured in years!
That said, if people don't like it or think it is too powerful for the game (trained in EVERYTHING... every skill, every craft, every profession, every perform... damn near every weapon as well) I have an alternate build that gets a spread of competence through actual skill points. MORE than happy to change it if people think it's not balanced for a survival oriented skill based P6.
Huh, wish I would have found that feat for Cueta! now, whether or not to take it at level 5 instead of scribe scroll...
I don't have an issue with a +4 modifier for every skill. It's going to be a pretty big investment to increase your str, cha and wis skills past that modifier, and a +4, while nice, is hardly game breaking. Cueta has a +5 or better modifier in 18 skills, and will be proficient in 20+ skills by the time this game is over. You're just getting more breadth earlier, but not as much depth, and using feats to do it. I think it is a perfectly acceptable trade-off.
That +4 modifier means you're really going to shine with aid another checks as well, which is a pretty cool use for skills that comes in handy in this campaign more so than many others.
I'd probably tone down the knowing every craft, profession and perform skill aspect of things though, for a couple of reasons - it takes away a little from our NPCs, which are part of the great fun of this campaign, and it is little strange for a level 3 character to be a competent bricklayer, armor-maker, hunter, harpist, poet, carpenter, bee-keeper, etc.
Cueta: It's a 3 feat feat-tree, the skill equivalent of great cleave.
That omnicompetence is what I was looking for, but it is one of the reasons for the low wis (default profession is less than base trained expert 1), and is also the reason I was looking to be slapdash. Sure you could get him to erect a stone house for you. He'd alchemical cement a couple of rocks together, stick a couple of rough branches underneath and have a functional but ugly house. Or you could get a dwarven craftsman to build you a proper house.
I guess I could list a bunch of skills it does cover, but the best way to do that is just to use skill points. That stops the temptation to just go "me too" when the game suddenly comes down to Crafts: Basketweaving.
If it is problematic I'm happy to trade it out - whether for the stuff I said above or something else. The more I think about it, the more I'm thinking that's probably a good idea, even if it's not the Brigh build I posted above.
Maybe Improvisation and it's little brother Breadth of Experience just aren't good ideas in a game like this :/
Actually it's great you also want to craft items. With Vallen handling the divine spells and Donatello handling the arcane ones for the spell requirements of items, we can make anything. For crafting magical items just the craft check and the spell on hand is needed I believe. So if one is doing the craft check and the other the casting, it will help out.
Not that we'll be able to make really cool stuff, given this is P6 (bags of holding are out- requires Secret Chest, a spell level 5 for wizards and wizards) But using Master Craftsman we can achieve a crafting spellcaster level far higher than what we can achieve via the P6 feats (which is 8 I think, not enough to make a +3 weapon or armor, which requires caster level 9 I think)
It would certainly be best if we stick to respective crafts but a little bit of overlap wouldn't hurt. Vallen is hardly optimized for ANYTHING, I just enjoy playing him and decided to make him a skill cleric/crafter after the campaign branched out.
yah super optimized characters our party is not. Kal'Tos used a feat just so he can use a dwarven waraxe we found and is in the process of retraining another feat so he can use it more effectively.
I'm not as skilled as this conversation sounds.
Cueta: It's a 3 feat feat-tree, the skill equivalent of great cleave.
Roh! I just looked at everything further. I don't think I can spare two more feats to get that nifty modifier. Please understand that when I said what I'd do, I meant me - regarding the crafts, performs, and professions. Cueta's background is designed to explain her breadth of skill choices. Childhood = natury stuff; slavery = social skills and linguistics; pirate = water, craft and navigation skills. I could have gone the route you did and explained those skills via her background. By not needing to put points in acrobatics, kno nature and geography, climb, swim, professions, crafts, sleight of hand, escape artist, and so on, I could have then used her massive skill point allocation to shore up the skills I'm just going to be shoring up next level (her core skills as I think of them; diplomacy, perception, survival, stealth, sense motive), and not worry about the basketweaving at all (as it doesn't fit her background). It is a pretty great build and I wish I would have thought of it. I'm going to build out alternate Cueta and see how she stacks up.
That omnicompetence is what I was looking for, but it is one of the reasons for the low wis (default profession is less than base trained expert 1), and is also the reason I was looking to be slapdash. Sure you could get him to erect a stone house for you. He'd alchemical cement a couple of rocks together, stick a couple of rough branches underneath and have a functional but ugly house. Or you could get a dwarven craftsman to build you a proper house.
This addresses my only real concern. I don't think it matters what the skill modifiers are as long as you don't play your character as being a better stonemason than Gaross, sculpter than Vallen, weaponsmith than Horn'Tos, fisher than Walton, etc. As you describe it, your character reminds me a lot of the Gene Hackman character from Unforgiven, who:
If that is what you're going for, and it sounds like you are, I heartily endorse it. It sounds like a lot of fun to be Gene Hackman from Unforgiven, and again I wish I would have thought of it!
I'm not as skilled as this conversation sounds.
Handel animal will be super handy in this campaign, as will linguistics. When we eventually level again, spread some skill points into other skills that would be useful to have.
But really as long as you have a couple useful skills you will be fine. If Kal'Tos didn't have a level of expert and decent Wisdom he would be useless at skills.
But using Master Craftsman we can achieve a crafting spellcaster level far higher than what we can achieve via the P6 feats (which is 8 I think, not enough to make a +3 weapon or armor, which requires caster level 9 I think).
Interesting. I'd like to Cueta's CL up to level 5 at some point so that I can take craft wand. Of course, I'll have 2nd level spells and a 14 wisdom (hopefully) by then, so it is a long way off. Any ideas on how to do this? By P6 rules, her CL would stop at 3, if I understand correctly.
Vallen is hardly optimized for ANYTHING, I just enjoy playing him and decided to make him a skill cleric/crafter after the campaign branched out.
Vallen's optimized at being awesomesauce when it is needed. That guy's got more saves than a Baywatch lifeguard.
yah super optimized characters our party is not. Kal'Tos used a feat just so he can use a dwarven waraxe we found and is in the process of retraining another feat so he can use it more effectively.
What are you retraining to?
You're a pretty badass woodsman and the Golarian equivalent of a truck cab (we just need to hitch a travois to you) - which is also badass!
I'm not as skilled as this conversation sounds.
But being a witch, you are by default skilled at being scary, or so Sorala tells me. And you have a badass last name.
My weapon focus (warhammer) feat is being retrained to weapon focus (dwarven waraxe)
And yes Ceuta, spending 20 years as a miner then becoming a travelling priest for another 20 years tends to make you somewhat able to take care of oneself. I wouldn't go so far as to say I am a woodsman half my survival comes from my decent wisdom score.
What Kal'Tos is good at is killing things that he encounters out in the woods.
Also I am thinking of asking Horn'Tos to make us some longspears when he finds the time. The weight won't really matter, , at least to Kal'Tos it won't, but they could be super handy if we need reach at some point.
I think Tomag's Intimidate is pretty optimized. ;)
He's a big scary mofo when he's not smiling~!
I think, should any bad stuff happens to Tomag (KNOCK ON WOOD) that any new character I make would definitely have either Breadth of Experience or Improvisation. That kind of ability to do skill-related stuff in this skill-heavy campaign would be beautiful. D:
Actually it's great you also want to craft items. With Vallen handling the divine spells and Donatello handling the arcane ones for the spell requirements of items, we can make anything. For crafting magical items just the craft check and the spell on hand is needed I believe. So if one is doing the craft check and the other the casting, it will help out.
Not that we'll be able to make really cool stuff, given this is P6 (bags of holding are out- requires Secret Chest, a spell level 5 for wizards and wizards) But using Master Craftsman we can achieve a crafting spellcaster level far higher than what we can achieve via the P6 feats (which is 8 I think, not enough to make a +3 weapon or armor, which requires caster level 9 I think)
Really? That would be good, but I don't want to take your niche. Spellslingers are a bit EXPLETIVE at crafting because they have have 4 opposition schools and are -4 to anything from those schools. I like that the one craft Donatello really cares about is the only one he's not naturally talented at.
Ooh, Master Craftsman is clever!
You can ignore most requirements by taking a penalty to the crafting, incidentally.
I was thinking about how on earth you'd get a stonemason and a clockworks guy working together? Huge stone gears.... WAIT THAT'S AWESOME!
Cueta: I think your characters skills and background are awesome! I shall have to watch Unforgiven, but that does sound like what I'm after. Jury-rigged and "she'll be right, mate".
I have a tendency to descend to unintentional powergaming when I'm not paying attention, so I guess I'm over-sensitive about this. But when players say things like "pretty great build" and "definitely have" it makes me think I've done it again.
Still, perhaps I am over-sensitive, so I shall shut up about it until DM Nerk jumps in.
I shall have to watch Unforgiven, but that does sound like what I'm after. Jury-rigged and "she'll be right, mate".
It is in my opinion the best western ever made. But I should say the scenes with Hackman and his house are very minor - like two short scenes, irrc, that have little to do with the overarching story. So don't watch the movie for that!
Also I am thinking of asking Horn'Tos to make us some longspears when he finds the time.
I think longspears is a good idea. I'm hoping he can make me a lucern hammer and a falchion or greatsword at some point myself, as I'm concentrating a lot less on maneuvers than I thought I'd be - I'll be giving someone my bill hook and flail at that time.
I have fallen victim to one of the classic blunders.
No, I didn't get involved in a land war in Asia....
I invited Ysanne and Donatello to join us and then went on my merry way without really telling them what to do. So I owe them an apology for that. Sorry guys. I can be a bit of an airhead at times, and you'll probably see me asking to be brought up to speed from time to time, which is sort of pathetic when it's my own campaign I'm being brought up to speed on. I forget things (like xp) and need to be reminded repeatedly. Nevertheless, these poor fools carry on with me, so either I'm doing something right, or I'm like that doddering old uncle who manages to be just amusing enough that you still have him over for Christmas even though he gives everyone homemade jerky that even the dog can't chew through.
Donatello, I PMed you about it, but I want to reiterate here. You have an unusual build. Maybe it strays into the arena of powergaming in this specific campaign, but if it does, it's just a toe over the line. Basically, you spent all your feats to be a jack-of-all-trades. That's pretty damn awesome, but very far from game-breaking, and if you go hang out with the min-max crowd, they'll probably tar and feather you for even suggesting it.
More importantly, it makes perfect sense for your character, both in terms of his background and how you've talked about playing it. So, not a problem.
So, welcome to the discussion thread Ysanne and Donatello. As you can see, we're wrapping up a few conversations in the gameplay thread, after which I'm kicking the "away team" out of Newspring for a couple of days. You guys will arrive, there will be some excitement which will give you the opportunity to shine a little. Not that I think your characters need special treatment, but I'm certainly curious to see how they do in action, and it will help bring them into the narrative.