The Levee - Life and Death on the Streets of a Crooked City

Game Master Zesdead

Dot! I'm currently tinkering with a hexcrafter magus.

How young can I be? I was thinking of a rather young character.

Hmmmm... that's a good question and I hadn't really thought about it before - I guess, to a certain extent, it comes down to the dark / horrifying aspects (to quote Mr Pett himself, 'there are lots of monsters and some of them aren't even human') of the AP and what might be considered 'too much' when the adventure starts - gut feel suggests early teens would be okay... much below that, I might end up pulling punches (and that's no fun for the GM when he's got such a fun toolkit to play with!!!)

Would the Roof Runner archetype be acceptable or remotely usful? I love this archetype.

Now that... is a very appropriate archetype - Castorhage is a city upon a city within a city... and, as much as there is a world beneath your feet as you walk through the streets, there is another up in the gables, beams and precipitous edges of the roofs... indeed, there are specific traits in the Player's Guide specifically geared towards such things...

Is there a way I can get the players guide should I get to play? I am not finding it anywhere.

The Players Guide is an FGG publication - and isn't free in the way that Paizo's AP guides are (to be fair, it is around 50 pages long and filled with traits, prestige classes, new races and racial archetypes). I will, when recruitment finishes share the campaign traits so that selected characters can be a little better focussed towards the Blight...

Are you allowing Drawbacks?

Are you allowing Drawbacks?

I knew there was another thing!!! Nope, I'm not allowing drawbacks in this particular recruitment....

Is it fine to have the hook that my character's mother may have been from Castorhage and likely has returned there for unknown (and probably dangerous) reasons? Or is that too great a tie to the city pre-game? She kept it a secret so he still knows nothing more than the typical rumours about the city.

Also, on the Seventh child of the seventh child campaign trait: do you as a GM find it fun to work little oddities in like it suggests? If it isn't something you are interested in doing I can always take a different trait.

Freaking brilliant! I will get started on her very before work tomorrow as I must leave soon.

Is it fine to have the hook that my character's mother may have been from Castorhage and likely has returned there for unknown (and probably dangerous) reasons? Or is that too great a tie to the city pre-game? She kept it a secret so he still knows nothing more than the typical rumours about the city.

Yeah... that's totally fine - that'll give me some horrible seed of an idea to mess with your character at a later stage ;)

Also, on the Seventh child of the seventh child campaign trait: do you as a GM find it fun to work little oddities in like it suggests? If it isn't something you are interested in doing I can always take a different trait.

I like that campaign trait - and I remind everyone that the Blight specific Campaign traits (there are loads of other cool things in the Players Guide) will be available to all characters post-recruitment...

Build is nearly done.
@GM Zed: Is it possible to retrain feats later? There's a feat that becomes one of the Noble Scion class abilities. I'd prefer not to double up, but it'd be neat to retrain it when I get to the point where they switch over.

Count me as interested; I'm a bit busy at the moment but I should have a character ready sometime next weekend.

The Pale King wrote:

Is it fine to have the hook that my character's mother may have been from Castorhage and likely has returned there for unknown (and probably dangerous) reasons? Or is that too great a tie to the city pre-game? She kept it a secret so he still knows nothing more than the typical rumours about the city.

Yeah... that's totally fine - that'll give me some horrible seed of an idea to mess with your character at a later stage ;)

The Pale King wrote:

Also, on the Seventh child of the seventh child campaign trait: do you as a GM find it fun to work little oddities in like it suggests? If it isn't something you are interested in doing I can always take a different trait.

I like that campaign trait - and I remind everyone that the Blight specific Campaign traits (there are loads of other cool things in the Players Guide) will be available to all characters post-recruitment...

Awesome! Thanks for answering my questions Zed.

I am fleshing out my background and trying to decide on the class. Thinking I want something on the spooky side of things to fit with his mysterious mother and the odd circumstances of his birth. Maybe an occult class. On the other hand, his dad was a cleric, so he could always have a bit of divine in him. I wish the Shifter was available during recruitment, it might be worth checking out.

Interested, considering summoner.

Got a character now, just need a name and to get her background down.

Psst! Zed, how do you feel about a character with no memory of their life from before they woke up in Wicken?

Here.

I'll say one of my darker characters I've created yet.

@GM Zed: Is it possible to retrain feats later? There's a feat that becomes one of the Noble Scion class abilities. I'd prefer not to double up, but it'd be neat to retrain it when I get to the point where they switch over.

I've never been one to stop folks retraining feats out... and where's the fun in having your class feature duplicating a feat you already have?

I wish the Shifter was available during recruitment, it might be worth checking out.

I think the Shifter is probably allowable if you have the PDF... I'm not sure how keyed into 'the Wilderness' that class is though? The Levee AP is a primarily urban affair so that would need to be taken into account when thinking about effectiveness....

Psst! Zed, how do you feel about a character with no memory of their life from before they woke up in Wicken?

Could be interesting for sure... and allows your nefarious GM to think about things that they may have / may not have done (hey... why let the truth get in the way of a good story!!!) in Castorhage.

I'll say one of my darker characters I've created yet.

Yep... that is pretty damned dark - and strangely in tune with the Blight!!!

Possibility is only limited by the sane imagination.

Here is Something Wicked's submission, Salom Mortara.

I have wandered far awry of my original plan and created a Promethean Alchemist. This archetype loses bombs and mutagen in favor of a construct "pet". Thea (the pet) will provide melee support in combat and serve as a scout outside of it (thanks to the telepathic link between them). Salom is also built to provide melee support and will make use of infused extracts to provide utility and buffs for Thea (and the rest of the party). I'm glad to answer any questions.

Thank you for running this recruitment! I look forward to the results with deepening dread!

Deaths Adorable Apprentice wrote:

Is there a way I can get the players guide should I get to play? I am not finding it anywhere.

The Players Guide is an FGG publication - and isn't free in the way that Paizo's AP guides are (to be fair, it is around 50 pages long and filled with traits, prestige classes, new races and racial archetypes). I will, when recruitment finishes share the campaign traits so that selected characters can be a little better focussed towards the Blight...

The Blight Players Guide: A system-neutral background document about the City of Castorhage and its environs. Includes a player-friendly poster map. ($9.99)

The Blight Players Handbook: A system-specific book with character-focused game mechanics for characters living in and around Castorhage. Includes things such as: races, class options, equipment, cost-of-living by neighborhood, a "fiends & relationships" subsysem, and pre-generated characters. ($11.99 for one game system [PF, 5e, or S&W])

Oh, and I'm submitting for consideration Ian McGoon, brawler.

I really, really, want to do this. And I'm also really, really struggling to find the time to build a new character concept right now. So don't wait for my alchemist--I'll join if I manage to, but otherwise good luck to the explorers of the Blight!

Just a quick update: HERE is my Arcane Duelist submission. As you can see it is still a work in progress. I will post updates as I finish him/her up.

I'm not satisfied with my original concept, so I think I'm going for a warpriest of Calistra. He's a drover who secretly has been working as a spy in a Taldan noble house. More to come.

The Pale King wrote:

I wish the Shifter was available during recruitment, it might be worth checking out.

I think the Shifter is probably allowable if you have the PDF... I'm not sure how keyed into 'the Wilderness' that class is though? The Levee AP is a primarily urban affair so that would need to be taken into account when thinking about effectiveness....

Fair enough. I was thinking one of the less nature-y archetypes.

My second thought right now is the Phantom Blade Spiritualist. It's a bit oddly worded though. Where do you land on how their spell combat and spellstrike work? Some people have argued it should work for any weapon not just one handed melee ones. Which makes sense to me with how occult spells work. It seems like the creator of the archetype wanted it to function with all weapons, but by RAW it seems unlikely that it should.

Tessara is complete, DM. Profile should have everything in it along with some idea of her role and additional info. As always, any suggestions or comments are welcome.

Thanks so much for the consideration.

Welp... I have been fleshing out my character's backstory, but have yet to get to his actual birth! :P

Here's where I'm going so far:

Bertholdt was the sheriff of a little mining village just a day north of Wicken simply called Ironhope. The village had mushroomed in but a few weeks near the entrance of a deep crag where iron had been found.

Several years later, it only took a few minutes to bury the village.

Bertholdt was travelling when it happened. He found a hole where the village once lay. Devastated, he flayed for several days at the buried ruins, but all he found were the tokens and angry ghosts of its dead. They took him and fuelled him.

Bertholdt is an Occultist (Haunt Collector). He focuses on investigation and melee.

Let me know if you have comments or concerns at this point. It's still a long way from finished.

Lots of interesting characters concepts and builds going around! I eagerly await to see what else my fellow submittees come up with.

The Storyteller clears his throat, spitting something unpleasantly globular into the fire, and turns towards the assembling crowd...

The Rogue's Gallery

• Adam Warnock - Pyrokineticist
  
• Lady Ladile - Lamplighter Investigator
  
• Eric Swanson - Human Bard (Arcane Duellist)
  
• Harakani - Investigator
  
• Karmic Knight - Halfling, Melee Based Character
  
• Tazo - Alchemist
  
• Fighting Chicken, Calistrian Warpriest
  
• Death's Adorable Apprentice, Rogue (Roof Runner Archetype)
  
• The Pale King, Phantom Blade Spiritualist
  
• Dreaming Warforged, Occultist (Haunt Collector)

And here, we have some characters ready for the GM to cast his eye over... I will try and get to these this evening and provide some feedback before I open an In Character Discussion (I'm not sure yet whether I'll keep the IC discussion in the Recruitment Thread or maybe start the Discussion Thread proper...)

• Lady Grayrose - Euphemia Blaithe, Human Witch
  
• Dorian 'Grey' - Virgil Geryon, Half-Orc Mesmerist
  
• Lazy Clownfish - Harold Oakleg, Dwarven Monk (Unchained)
  
• Gerald - Tessara Omelian, Half-Elf Psychic (Sorrow Discipline)
  
• Haladir - Ian McGoon, Human Brawler
  
• Just a Mort - Luriel, Half-Elf Summoner
  
• Something Wicked - Salom Mortara, Promethean Alchemist

I have a second trait left open. I'll probably make a last minute decision on what to fill it with. Maybe magical knack (mage armor).

I changed my mind. I am going with the Fiend Keeper archetype Medium. This is the single coolest archetype I have ever seen and it fits where I wanted to go with my character.

Okay, here's Gillian Flynn, my investigator! All relevant information (stat block, background) should be on her profile but please let me know if there's anything I'm missing or that needs clarification!

Build is done.
I still need to write up the background, personality and appearance in the profile.
Not 100% on the picture, but I'm having trouble finding one that fits.
I like the recruitment roleplay idea, but I'll have to think about whether Oscar is disguised for his trip to Castorhage or not.

It appears there is a distinct shortage of healers in the completed submissions. Well, time to be a masochist and apply with a Blossoming Light Cleric! *cues in dank healer memes*

Edit: Quick question: are the core deities the only ones available or are lesser deities such as Naderi (not what I want) or Empyreal Lords options?

I could have picked up healing as a summoner, unfortunately it wouldn't be true to the character so I passed on that one.

I could technically pick up infernal healing. We will see what things look like later.

Work is taking place on Mariella Applecask, a NG Halfling Oracle of Life with the Divine Herbalist archetype focused on heals and buffs. I have the PHB for The Blight and will be working on her background after I finish work on her statline. When is the cut-off date for submissions?

It appears there is a distinct shortage of healers in the completed submissions.

I can patch you up right nice! Hold still...

...Edit: Quick question: are the core deities the only ones available or are lesser deities such as Naderi (not what I want) or Empyreal Lords options?

Castorhage is a huge city with many gods of its own... I am fine with looking beyond the core deities - indeed, in my Bloody Jack game, we had an Inquisitor of Ragathiel...

I have the PHB for The Blight and will be working on her background after I finish work on her statline. When is the cut-off date for submissions?

I hadn't (and still haven't) placed a hard cut off date for submissions as I was waiting to see what the level of interest was going to be... I am likely to run the recruitment through this week and as far as the following weekend (so up to around the 18th / 19th November) - but that's a fairly loose target right now - TLDR, don't stress about getting a fully fleshed out / statted application in over the next day or so :)

I'm just putting together a submission--Moira Keening, a Dirge Bard. Her profile got eaten by the website but I'll type it up again in a bit.

Mariella Applecask is near completion as far as her general statblock. I do have a few questions before I finalize that and work on her background.

1. I plan on utilizing poisons with her, as she is an herbalist by trade. Will there be any alignment conflicts if I utilize poisons? I would assume not, as that is primarily a paladin stipulation, but I wanted to check.

2. With Cleric/Oracle spells written before Oracle was released that use Wisdom to determine effects, would I be wrong in assuming that they use Charisma when cast by Oracles?

3. How much do you rule an egg as costing? It's a random question, but one that has a purpose.

4. How do you view the Healer's Way ability, found here as working at 1st level? I am fine with it not functioning until 2nd level, but a friend of mine said he believes that it was "fixed" to have a minimum cap, allowing it to function at first level.

5. Seeing as how Mariella is going to have an insanely high Profession: Herbalist, will I be able to gather plant-based toxins in-game to save quite a bit of gold on poisons? From what I have read in the setting, the area around Castorhage sounds rife with toxic plantlife.

6. Should I note the passive, officially-unlisted ability from the Divine Herbalist listed above Master Herbalist, the ability to use Profession: Herbalist in place of Craft: Alchemy, as an actual ability? If so, what should I call it?

7. And lastly, just double-checking, we get an extra 2 points for Background Skills, correct?

Mariella Applecask is near completion as far as her general statblock. I do have a few questions before I finalize that and work on her background.

1. I plan on utilizing poisons with her, as she is an herbalist by trade. Will there be any alignment conflicts if I utilize poisons? I would assume not, as that is primarily a paladin stipulation, but I wanted to check.

I suppose it depends what you are doing with the poisons!!! No... I don't see poisons affecting alignment any more than stabbing someone with a sword - it all depends to whom it is being done..

2. With Cleric/Oracle spells written before Oracle was released that use Wisdom to determine effects, would I be wrong in assuming that they use Charisma when cast by Oracles?

Sounds reasonable...

3. How much do you rule an egg as costing? It's a random question, but one that has a purpose.

Nominal cost during spring, summer and autumn... when winter hits and food becomes scarce in the lowest parts of the Blight? Well that's a different question...

4. How do you view the Healer's Way ability, found here as working at 1st level? I am fine with it not functioning until 2nd level, but a friend of mine said he believes that it was "fixed" to have a minimum cap, allowing it to function at first level.

Hmmmm, that's a particularly badly written ability!!! Replacing a Level 1 ability with something that, by rights, needs two levels to work!!! I'm fine with it being available from Level 1.

5. Seeing as how Mariella is going to have an insanely high Profession: Herbalist, will I be able to gather plant-based toxins in-game to save quite a bit of gold on poisons? From what I have read in the setting, the area around Castorhage sounds rife with toxic plantlife.

Castorhage is a poisoned, alchymic and infested place... there are likely poisonous moulds and fungi in the dark and horrid corners of the low districts - and, worse still, cultivated venomous plants in the more 'cultured' places...

6. Should I note the passive, officially-unlisted ability from the Divine Herbalist listed above Master Herbalist, the ability to use Profession: Herbalist in place of Craft: Alchemy, as an actual ability? If so, what should I call it?

...sounds fine - call it whatever you feel fits best.

7. And lastly, just double-checking, we get an extra 2 points for Background Skills, correct?

Yep, 2 points specifically for Background Skills...

Please consider Moira Keening for your Blight campaign. As a big fan of Rappan Athuk, I'd love to see what Frog God Games has going on in Castorhage. Thanks!

GM Zed, you say there is little magic floating around. What does that mean for Wealth by Level? I assume we won't simply be able to 'buy stuff', so our usual magics won't exist. Will the AP reflect that?

In other words, will it simply be harder to survive the longer we go, or is it designed around a magic poor party?

Trying to sort out what sort of fellow to roll up for this opportunity...

Thanks for your time!

Excellent. Expect my complete submission in 1-2 days. I just need to finish the background and transfer the statblock from Mythweavers to here and Mariella Applecask will be finished.

As for what Mariella will do with poisons, she will use them to both augment her lethality against monsters when no healing is required via her blowgun and to find nonlethal ways to subdue mind-controlled/possessed individuals, enemies who need to be interrogated or who there is no point in killing, and similar targets. With her Poison Use she gets from the Deep Jungle alternate racial trait, she becomes much more viable than just as a healbot, particularly when paired with her high Profession: Herbalism that is used by the archetype in place of Craft: Alchemy, which makes poisons a much less costly endeavor.

GM Zed, cancel my last question - you already answered it in your first post. Reading comprehension fail! Won't happen again. I'll submit someone, this looks like a lot of fun!

This looks awesome! Dot for interest, I'll come up with something in the next couple days.

The Rogue's Gallery

• Adam Warnock - Pyrokineticist
  
• Eric Swanson - Human Bard (Arcane Duellist)
  
• Karmic Knight - Halfling, Melee Based Character
  
• Tazo - Alchemist
  
• Fighting Chicken, Calistrian Warpriest
  
• Death's Adorable Apprentice, Rogue (Roof Runner Archetype)
  
• The Pale King, Medium (Fiend Keeper Archetype)
  
• Dreaming Warforged, Occultist (Haunt Collector)
  
• King Faleyros of Mendycia, Halfling Oracle (Divine Herbalist Archetype)

And here, we have our characters ready for the GM to cast his eye over...

• Lady Grayrose - Euphemia Blaithe, Human Witch
  
• Dorian 'Grey' - Virgil Geryon, Half-Orc Mesmerist
  
• Lazy Clownfish - Harold Oakleg, Dwarven Monk (Unchained)
  
• Gerald - Tessara Omelian, Half-Elf Psychic (Sorrow Discipline)
  
• Haladir - Ian McGoon, Human Brawler
  
• Just a Mort - Luriel, Half-Elf Summoner
  
• Something Wicked - Salom Mortara, Promethean Alchemist
  
• Lady Ladile - Gillian Flynn, Lamplighter Investigator
  
• Harakani - Oscar Hartwell, Human Arcanist
  
• Parrot Familiar - Moira Keening, Human Bard

And, in related news, I think the time has come to open the Discussion Thread so folks can (only if they want to and noting that it has no impact upon my eventual recruitment decisions) explore their character and press the NPC's (or their fellow potential players) for more information / tall tales about Castorhage.

Welcome... to the Smiling Pig.

My background and crunch can be seen in my alias. Let me know if you'd like me to explain anything, change anything, whatever. :)

I’ve DMed and Played on these boards for a few years now and been in the D&D realm for a few decades. I’ve always been an active and supportive player in every game. Please feel free to peruse my aliases and campaigns for examples.

If selected, I can also help with treasure tracking if you like, though I know there will be less of it. I have a useful spreadsheet that I use in campaigns I'm in to help track that sort of thing so you don’t have to. You should be able to see a version of it here (link).

Thanks for your consideration and good luck picking a group of hardy adventurers from this fine pool of applicants!

This is Karmic Knight's submission. The backstory is long btw.

Deaths Adorable Apprentice here with my little rouge. The website went down earlier or she would have been done earlier. I am still missing a trait but I don't know what I want currently.

Hey, just popping in to say that this campaign looks like tons of fun. I'm not sure if I could fit another PBP into my schedule, but this certainly makes it tempting!

Have fun guys.

The Rogue's Gallery - getting larger!!!

• Adam Warnock - Pyrokineticist
  
• Eric Swanson - Human Bard (Arcane Duellist)
  
• Tazo - Alchemist
  
• Fighting Chicken, Calistrian Warpriest
  
• The Pale King, Medium (Fiend Keeper Archetype)
  
• Dreaming Warforged, Occultist (Haunt Collector)
  
• King Faleyros of Mendycia, Halfling Oracle (Divine Herbalist Archetype)

And here, we have our characters ready for the GM to cast his eye over...

• Lady Grayrose - Euphemia Blaithe, Human Witch
  
• Dorian 'Grey' - Virgil Geryon, Half-Orc Mesmerist
  
• Lazy Clownfish - Harold Oakleg, Dwarven Monk (Unchained)
  
• Gerald - Tessara Omelian, Half-Elf Psychic (Sorrow Discipline)
  
• Haladir - Ian McGoon, Human Brawler
  
• Just a Mort - Luriel, Half-Elf Summoner
  
• Something Wicked - Salom Mortara, Promethean Alchemist
  
• Lady Ladile - Gillian Flynn, Lamplighter Investigator
  
• Harakani - Oscar Hartwell, Human Arcanist
  
• Parrot Familiar - Moira Keening, Human Bard
  
• Death's Adorable Apprentice - Alexis Von Brant, Rogue
  
• Karmic Knight - Methilius the Feral, Halfling Barbarian

Hey guys, I'm just stopping by to say I'm withdrawing my character from this game. I've started up my own campaign and I worry about spreading myself too thin.

Have fun though!