The Library (Inactive)

Game Master nate lange

As stated in the title this is an open recruitment for a sandbox game starting at 7th level. Please read this whole initial post before asking any questions. I have a big pet peeve about people not really reading posts before they post- if you don't read this post that I stress the importance of it makes me think that will be an ongoing problem.

I know this is unusual but I don't want to give away too much of the particulars of the setting for two reasons:

1) Part of the fun of the beginning of the game will, hopefully, be discovering/figuring out some of the setting.

2) I want you to make your characters free from preconceived notions about the setting. I know in many games having your character fit neatly into the setting can be part of the fun, or one of your selling points but in this game you are going to be 'fish out of water'. Plus, I want everyone to feel free to make whatever character they want... want to play a gunslinging pirate? go for it! a late enlightenment alchemist? awesome! a pre-columbian south American shaman? can't wait to see it!

What I can comfortably share: this is meta-knowledge that your characters won't have at all but the basic concept for the game is that your 'home base' is a fantastical location from which you will have opportunities to travel to a wide variety of different worlds/settings. Some of these trips might be somewhat necessary but for the most part players will have a ton of control over where you go and what you do there. If you want political intrigue in a major metropolis you'll have opportunities to do that. If you want to hunt supernatural evils across the foggy moors of an isolated state you can do that. If you want to protect a peaceful farming village from imperialist invaders (or giants) you can do that too.

If you're still reading, here are the brass tacks...
Posting Expectations: At least three times per week. Ideally once per day but I'd like the feel to be fairly relaxed and if people miss days here and there it shouldn't be a big deal.

Character Creation:
• All published paizo material is fair game, but please see the specific information below. If you want to use something that does not appear on d20pfsrd.com or the Archives of Nethys you will have to provide a working link to it (and evidence it is a legitimate paizo product). I will not be using any 3pp materials (this will be complicated enough without adding rules/systems I'm not very familiar with).
• 25 point buy.
• Average wealth by level. No single item can account for more than half your wealth. No pre-game crafting.

============================================

Complete Applications will include the following:

• Crunch- all your mechanics must be in place.
• No Background- you read that correctly. If its helpful for you in building your character you may think of one potential background that could lead to this character but your character will begin with no memory of where you came from or any specific people.
• Personality and Outlook- this is extra important since you won't have a background. It should be clear from this section what kind of person you are. Your outlook and alignment should make sense together. Without a background this will be one of your most significant writing samples.
• Appearance- this will be everyone else's first impression of you, so make it count. (Also an important sample of your writing.)

Recruitment will be open until 11:59pm GMT on Friday May 27th.
I will select 2-6 players depending on how many compatible characters really get me excited. Selection should be completed, and the discussion thread opened, by Monday the 30th.

Feel free to post questions (I usually check the boards several times a day). I look forward to seeing what you all come up with.

I will modify this character.... I understand he has a background and doesn't need it, but I will add outlook, alignment, and fluff up his appearance... as well as adding another level...

Since characters are starting at 7th lvl, is leadership feat allowed?

This is not really a race, so it's not in the initial post. I had posted in the interest thread.

Would an unfettered Eidelon be allowed? This would basically be using the Eidelon progression table as the class levels. There are 5 levels where the Eidelon doesn't get an HD (4, 8, 12, 16, and 20). On those levels, I'd like to get an actual class level in order to keep the Hit Die up. I've played this before, and it wasn't overpowered. It's basically a summoner without the spellcasting and action economy.

How would you feel about an arcane trickster? I've been wanting to play one for some time. I'm thinking to use the Accomplished Sneak Attacker to qualify after only a level of a non-caster class. I'm struggling to chose between rogue and alchemist (vivisectionist) for my non-wizard level. Do you have any feelings on either of those choices?

From your other threads I get the feeling you are erring on the strict side for rulings, but I'm still wondering how do you rule about the following:
1) Fractional Saves and Bab for a multiclass/prestige class character or normal?
2) Would you allow Magical Knack to stack with other effects that boost casterlevel, for example magical tattoo to bring casterlevel above character level?
3) In PFS wizards have to take spell focus instead of scribe scroll, would you allow the same?
4) I don't suppose you would allow a wizard to get spells even when prestige-classing?

Will you allow the use of ECL templates to race?

@Azrael- yes, leadership is allowed. Cohort is on a 15 point buy, wealth by level for an npc, average hp. I will amend my initial post to reflect this. Also, please not that its not that you don't need to have a background, you are prohibited from having an official background...

@Shi'vatha- honestly, I'd prefer you reworked it as a synthesist but if you really want to apply as an unfettered eidolon I'll consider your application. Frankly, I suspect you'll be somewhat skewed towards the low end of the power level spectrum though.

Dot for interest. But it'll take a bit of thought to come up with something that fires my imagination good and proper. Pre-game crafting is out, okay, but what about during play? I have a faint yearning to do a light item creation type.

@Oyzar-
1) I prefer fractional bonuses (which benefits BAB and limits saves) but its very difficult for some people to wrap their heads around it so we're not going to use them.
2) I apply traits before feats. So magical knack can increase your caster level upto you character level, then you apply the bonus of mage's tattoo or similar effects to you effective caster level (mage's tattoo is not capped at character level so it would take you to character level +1).
3) I will allow wizards to substitute spell focus for scribe scroll (and I'll add that to the original post, thank you).
4) No. A wizard leveling in a PrC that grants new spellcasting levels does not gain any free spells (he must find them to copy and pay for copying).

@WreckTall- No. No using templates. I've added that to the initial post.

@SamC- I have no objections to in game crafting. In some locations raw materials may be hard to come by, and depending on what you're involved with sometimes the free time may be hard to come by, but there are no rules against it.

Cool, I will have to start brain storming. I have a couple of multiclass ideas for rog/ranger or I might go with an elven wizard with leadership and a ranger companion. You've made it so wide open I hope my brain doesn't pop.

Right, okay. Tentatively thinking skald who charges into battle with a big ol' choppy thing, damn near foaming at the mouth as he belts out thundering odes to the glory of battle and the nigh-orgasmic thrill of a foe overcome to inspire his allies (which, because I couldn't carry a tune if it was surgically attached to me, I will not be role-playing :P). Outside of battle, however, he's a calm and soft-spoken, almost introverted scholarly type, with a hobby that revolves around making shiny magic things to play with.

Kind of like Bruce Banner and the Hulk, only with a lot less "woe is me, FML" whinging when he's in Banner-mode and an epic personal theme song that pumps up his friends when he's in Hulk-mode.

Alternatively, warsighted oracle of battle. The restriction on 3pp kills plans to pick up that Strange Revelation feat for a little cross-mystery dipping, but that's okay.

@Shi'vatha- honestly, I'd prefer you reworked it as a synthesist but if you really want to apply as an unfettered eidolon I'll consider your application. Frankly, I suspect you'll be somewhat skewed towards the low end of the power level spectrum though.

Well, the advantage of the build is, ultimate flexibility over time. Since the evolutions can be redistributed (either at level up, or with a wand/spellcaster/etc).

From experience actually playing him, he came out about on par at lower levels. Upper levels might be a bit less, but that's what the class levels are for every 4th level.

Dotting.

Finally a game where I can submit a PC I'm thinking about in a while...

He will be a summoner with the Master Summoner archetype. Do not worry, my intention is not to cluster the battlefield with tons of creatures, quite the opposite.

My intention is for him to take a more utility-focused eidolon and not a combat one... this will be handed by the summoned monster (in singular). He'd only be summoning a single creature each time, even if affected by a couple feats. For this, I'd like to ask you a couple questions:

1) I intend to take the evolved summoned monster in almost every opportunity, allowing me to fully customize my critters, making them unique. This feats allows stacking, each time granting a new 1-point evolution. Would you allow for the staking to, eventually, grant access to higher-point evolution? If you allow it, which would be the rate?

2) Since my eidolon would be mostly utility, the smaller it gets the better, but there is no evolution to reduce its size. Are you willing to allow him to be tiny (a normal eidolon and be medium or small)? If so, how many points would it cost?

Right. Dots for now, more when I'm home and has tended to my own game.

DOT.
Seven is EXACTLY when my Kobold Monk comes online. This I can do.

The only character I can think to submit is a gunslinger/alchemist but I fear the whole matching power level thing is going to be the kicker. gunslinger is very good in combat.

I'm thinking Inquisitor/archer or maybe a barbarian/witch (Con Based). I should look at prestige classes before committing I think.

Interested. Not sure what I'll submit, but this sounds fun.

@Sir Longears-
1) the feat is very clear that it grants a 1 point evolution (not 1 evolution point), so I'm afraid there's no way to build up to more expensive evolutions.
2) sorry, I'm not going invent any new evolutions- you'll have to stick with being small.

@Zayne- a gunslinger could be fine, just practice a little restraint if you don't want to be too extreme on the power level bell curve... Even iterating with a two-handed firearm isn't too egregious if you're not stacking a ton of stuff on it. A three armed dual-wielding freak might run into some issues.

@WreckTall- the scarred witch doctor was "errata'd" out of Con based casting.

Four arms actually.

Errata'd is a good name for a monster with devastating powers of sucking the air out of a room. :D

Dot. I'll try to come with something during the weekend.

Apropos Gunslinger

Ogre Gunslinger 5/Fighter 2
Str 21, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 6
Cannon +5 Ranged, 12d6+8
Vital Strike +5 ranged, 12d6+8
Cannon Rifle Butt Deed +11/+6, 2d8+13
Vital Strike Rifle Butt +11, 4d8+13
Feats: Point Blank Shot1, Precise Shot3, Deadly Aim4, Weapon Focus(Cannon)5, Vital Strike6, Improved Initiative7, Power Attack8
Gear: Beneficial Badolier(swift action reloads), +1 Cannon, Muleback Cords, Full Plate +3

'In most cases, a Large or larger creature can use a siege firearm as a two-handed firearm, but the creature takes a –4 penalty for using it this way because of its awkwardness.'

All jokes aside, I'm not entirely sure what I'll make.

Anyway, I'd like to know, as we don't have official backstories, do our characters themselves know their backstory, even if the players don't?

Amnesia lends itself well to certain personality traits, and definitely inform actions and mannerisms.

Finally a game where I can submit a PC I'm thinking about in a while...

He will be a summoner with the Master Summoner archetype. Do not worry, my intention is not to cluster the battlefield with tons of creatures, quite the opposite.

My intention is for him to take a more utility-focused eidolon and not a combat one... this will be handed by the summoned monster (in singular). He'd only be summoning a single creature each time, even if affected by a couple feats. For this, I'd like to ask you a couple questions:

1) I intend to take the evolved summoned monster in almost every opportunity, allowing me to fully customize my critters, making them unique. This feats allows stacking, each time granting a new 1-point evolution. Would you allow for the staking to, eventually, grant access to higher-point evolution? If you allow it, which would be the rate?

2) Since my eidolon would be mostly utility, the smaller it gets the better, but there is no evolution to reduce its size. Are you willing to allow him to be tiny (a normal eidolon and be medium or small)? If so, how many points would it cost?

If you only intend to summon a single creature at a time, isn't one of the other archtypes much better than Master Summoner? Your Eidolon would also be a much better skildolon that way. IMHO cluttering the game with summons isn't a problem at all in pbp, no one are going to wait on you to figure out what to summon or what to roll. The biggest problem with summons in tabletop is that it takes a lot of time to control so many characters, but that problem is simply not there in pbp.

Hmm. I kind of want to do something with tech - an eldritch archer perhaps.

However, upon investigation, that'd require a very steady supply of batteries, which seems pretty dangerous to rely on. I might do something else instead. Or carry a bow for when I run out.

Fiendish Heritage
You possess a strong tie to your fiendish ancestors, granting you favorable abilities.

Prerequisites: Tiefling, must be taken at 1st level.

Benefit: Your fiendish bloodline proves particularly strong, being tied to a specific race of fiends. Rather than taking a tiefling’s usual racial ability modifiers, choose one of the tiefling heritages presented on Table: Variant Tiefling Heritages.

In addition, you may roll on Table: Variant Tiefling Abilities three times and choose the most favorable ability.

%: 1d100 ⇒ 84
84 You are immune to magic sleep and paralysis effects.
%: 1d100 ⇒ 25
25 You gain acid resistance 5.
%: 1d100 ⇒ 4
4 You can use mage hand 3 times per day as a spell-like ability.

Please don't roll for things unless you have a high level of certainty that you're going to use it... I'm not a huge fan of those random tables to begin with and i really don't like it when people go fishing on them just to see if they like/benefit from what comes up. I'm not saying that's what just happened, but offering that as a general piece of information.

I'm very interested in this conceptually, it will take me a short time to come up with a character that I think I will really enjoy for this.

I submit Ealasaid. A bloodrage/steelblood of the arcane bloodline. There is a background in the profile, it is from a previous campaign and I'll keep it for previous games in case I have not the chance to play in this one, so just please ignore it.

I'm sorry

Yes I am going tiefling Inquisitor.

I will be using the Heritage feat to go with Asura-Spawn, and I rolled without thinking

No problem. Like I said, I was just putting that information out there.

GM, I am quite interested in your concept for open-world exploration. I've found with players in my RL game the enhanced onus on the players for content in sandboxes allows me to be descriptive as a GM. Given your history, I'd be thrilled to play under your narration.

In creating my character for submission, I do have a few questions:

1.

"don't want to give away too much of the particulars of the setting"

That's completely understandable, but a few points I might need a nudge on are Favored Enemy & Favored Terrain: Should they be avoided? I'm not asking which creatures/places are common, but rather if there would even exist any level of regularity to give these choices some teeth. If we're playing on a localized version of a Settlers of Catan board, one might see a little of everything, which is fine. Yet it may instead be the case we are playing on Arrakis where would unwise to specializing in aquatic assaults.

To the point, I ask because I am considering a character with an innate wanderlust. With your blessing, this class would be something I'd pursue.

2. Almost a corollary to my first point, you mention

"If you want to protect a peaceful farming village from imperialist invaders (or giants), you can do that too."

I'm taking that to imply there would exist villages and the like in the first place, and we are not playing in a world entirely bereft of people.

3. How do you envision a psychic duel's "binary landscape" to appear, and would using such features bother you?

4. For classes that rely upon a particular thing (gunpowder, diamond dust, replacement familiars, etc.), is it reasonable to state while the necessary things might be uncommon, they would at least be present in some regard?

Many thanks!

Well, that's a fine how do you do. I go do the build, and for some reason I thought we were 5th, not 7th. *sigh* I'll go level him up two more levels.

However, I think you can see where I'm going with Shi'Vatha's Build

He's not overpowered (I don't think), but he's very good at being sneaky, which is what he's built for. He can do so so damage, but he's got a high AC and does a lot of sneaking around.

Nate, I finally finished up Azrael, and posted his personality, outlook and description... I hope they are what you are looking for.. However if you want longer or more, just let me know and I'll be happy to write more...

Currently waffling between updating four ideas that I've been sitting on:

Andarian Six, android alchemist (chirurgeon, inspired chemist) - A good healer/support character, with bombs and the benefit of the occasional really good Knowledge check. Like many androids would play well in the "outsider trying to fit in" role.

Azura Celestine, aasimar bard (arcane healer) - A happy-go-lucky support character. Mature content warning: Mystery cultist of Arshea, so might not be content-appropriate for the group.

Hulaois, centaur cavalier (charger) - This character is incomplete because, as written, centaurs are pretty massively over the top on their ability score bonuses. I'd want to bring that into line before finalizing it. This guy is a sort of bridge between the knightly ideals of the cavalier with the free-roaming lifestyle of centaurs. Good for overland encounters, not so good for vertical dungeons.

Niobe Aptos, merfolk druid (skinshaper) - Thanks to the skinshaper archetype she has a pretty good ability to be land-dwelling for a lot of adventures, but obviously has strong underwater support abilities as well.

Also kicking around the possibility of a drow swashbuckler, though that is a newer concept and I don't have an alias lingering around for him (yet).

Easy enough to scrub backstory from any of these and then update to level 7, any thoughts?

Well, well, well. Isn't it a curious premise for a game?
I will think multiple concepts and such, one of those is an Alchemist going into Master Chymist (if allowed). A gunslinging, bombthrowing, alter-egoing alchemist with a wide array of skills and a moderate amount of ranged and AoE damage.

The thing is, without being a gunslinger reloading firearms is hard. Haaaard hard hard. Would revolvers be allowed? That would ease quite a bit dual wielding them, which would be my intention, but it isn't a harsh requisite.

Aaaand I just noticed that they actually have a Taur base form now. I didn't realize that, which means I need to base Shi off that, instead of the Quadruped base. Oh well, back to the stat shuffle again...

I take it we get 2 traits?

Dotting for interest, so many ideas!

Sheesh, tauric eidolons, alchemists with soldier drugs and small arsenals of things that go *boom*, characters with mandatory mature content warnings...

I feel so conventional and straight-laced with my little buffy, craft-happy nerd-skald :P.

Sheesh, tauric eidolons, alchemists with soldier drugs and small arsenals of things that go *boom*, characters with mandatory mature content warnings...

I feel so conventional and straight-laced with my little buffy, craft-happy nerd-skald :P.

XDDD

I'm making a Rogue, probably. I want to try the VMC rules now that we have the chance, though; never tried them before. So will probably VMC into Magus or Barbarian.

See? Easy and plain :P

Shi'Vatha, Level 7 The sneaky, flying little trapper ranger that annoys all the bad guys.

Skill Monkey Eidelon. So so damage, but sneaky sneaky.

Primarily a scout/infiltrator type.

Sam C. wrote:

Sheesh, tauric eidolons, alchemists with soldier drugs and small arsenals of things that go *boom*, characters with mandatory mature content warnings...

I feel so conventional and straight-laced with my little buffy, craft-happy nerd-skald :P.

XDDD

I'm making a Rogue, probably. I want to try the VMC rules now that we have the chance, though; never tried them before. So will probably VMC into Magus or Barbarian.

See? Easy and plain :P

LOL, He and Shi seem they'd make a good pair, especially if you go Barbarian.

A rogue who freaks out and does massive damage, and a tooth and claw laden Outsider that sneaks and steals stuff (but only for the greater good!). :)

@Zia-
1) favored enemy and favored terrain certainly can be of use. How often they come into play will depend on how selective you try to be about where you travel. I have no objections to the horizon walker prestige class.
2) there will be towns and cities you can interact with.
3) I'm not sure how well I'll be able to describe psychic duels, and I probably wouldn't allow them in a RL game (because I think it would that down) but I'm not opposed to trying it?
4) things like gunpowder and expensive material components may be difficult to come by in some places so it's wise to stock up before heading such places if at all possible.

@Jesse- any of those are acceptable. Centaurs are definitely getting into the territory of limiting your options for other characters you could be teamed with (per the power level spoiler).

@Emissary- I guess I left it open for modern firearms since Paizo published them... I kind of forget those were a thing. Truthfully, bullets for modern firearms will probably be hard to come by but if you don't mind that issue than I'll stand by the original statement (though, remember the note on power levels). Also, you could go gunslinger with VMC[alchemist].

@Jereru- I'm an idiot. See my next comment.

@SamC- nothing wrong with that.

**IMPORTANT: everyone please read**
I forgot one important detail- everyone gets 2 traits following the normal rules. You cannot select a campaign trait (since they tie you to a specific campaign that we're not playing).

I know I said anything published but I'm going to have to renege on this one... I will not be allowing drawbacks. Sorry.

I assumed we could also take a drawback for another trait, if not, please let me know.

Dot.

Always love me a chance to make a dragon disciple...

I too am interested in the question about drawbacks/traits)

also - question for you - If we are going to be traveling to different worlds, is it going to be a liability to be tied to a deity from Golarion? or will the deities be able to grant their spells/boons/etc across the multiverse? If not, I will rework my character. Or make a completely different one..

Also, any feedback on character is welcome. I can rework anything you don't like.

@Jesse- any of those are acceptable. Centaurs are definitely getting into the territory of limiting your options for other characters you could be teamed with (per the power level spoiler).

Personally I think a centaur should probably just be something like +2 Str +2 Con, but I'm flexible. I left the character's stat array unset in case a DM wanted to make a custom ruling on it.

This looks awesome! Count me as very interested--going to think through a few concepts.