The Prisoner's Rise

Game Master jdkle309

Hey folks-

I'd like to GM a Golarion-based homebrew campaign. I've never GM'd on here before, so it would be a bit of a learning experience for me.

Setup

Players-I'm looking for three to five players.

Posting-Once a day is ideal. More is great! If there will be a period of time when you cannot post, just let me know and I'll be happy to work something out with you.

Characters

Sources-Paizo only, please.

Ability Scores-Roll 3d6 or 15 point buy.

Races/Classes-Any Paizo is appropriate-custom races are not allowed. If you are playing a human, make sure to specify type (Mwangi, Ulfen, etc.)

HP-Max HP

Gear-You'll be be beginning as prisoners. However each of you may have one item that you could have conceivably smuggled into a prison, (e.g. a dagger, scroll, or ring) This item cannot cost any more than half your max starting wealth.

Campaign Info/Backstory Creation

The party will begin as prisoners in a small jail in Ostenso, Cheliax. Please add a reason for your imprisonment in your backstory. As far as backstory goes, more detail is better!

Special Info

House Rule-Attacks of Opportunity aren't in the game. If your character has an ability related to Attacks of Opportunity, we'll work out a replacement ability.

Lore-This game may not be 100% lore-friendly. Not in huge ways, but I don't have every Golarion-related supplement. So some things may not be completely accurate.

Rules-I may make rules mistakes-feel free to correct me.

Actual Recruitment

Submissions should include a stat block and backstory, as well as personality and appearance. I'll accept submissions till February 10th. By the 15th I should have chosen the players. Multiple submissions are allowed.

Since the game begins in a prison, I was wondering what sort of alignments are you allowing in the game? Are any restricted?

No, none would be restricted.

House Rule-Attacks of Opportunity aren't in the game. If your character has an ability related to Attacks of Opportunity, we'll work out a replacement ability.

Does "no Attacks of Opportunity" mean that you can't take actions that would trigger AoOs or just that they don't exist? I ask because one interpretation favors "crowd controlling" fighters, the other favors "squishy targeting" fighters.

They don't exist. Sorry for not being clear.

So "I run through the gap in the enemy ranks and hit the wizard" is allowed and only slightly countered by the fact that the wizard can cast in melee without bothering about being attacked for it?

Yes-you're right.

Hmm...I may have to work up a dwarf ranger for this...

Film (read: pc stats) @ 11

Sounds good!

Hmm, I am intrigued.

I'll have a character up by tomorrow night. For now I need to plan.

Are we supposed to be heroes imprisoned by an unjust government, or are we disreputable sorts?

Would you mind telling us a little more about the feel of the campaign?

What happens after... Dungeon crawl, outdoors, underground, pirate ships, courting nobility?

I'll definitely keep an eye on this, I'd like to know the answers to the last two posters.

Are we supposed to be heroes imprisoned by an unjust government, or are we disreputable sorts?

Would you mind telling us a little more about the feel of the campaign?

That is one hundred percent your choice. You can be someone unjustly imprisoned or a badass thief or a reformed thug or a gangbanger as long as you can cooperate with others.

As far as feel, I'm planning on medium fantasy. There will be consequences for actions and you'll have to be smart about your actions. People will likely die. So think of it as an almost "gritty" adventure.

What happens after... Dungeon crawl, outdoors, underground, pirate ships, courting nobility?

I don't want to give away too much, but expect urban adventure, chases, and thriller movie-style fugitive action.

Hmm. I have an idea, but I'll need your help to work out the kinks. Please take a look here and let me know if these things sound ok-

Hmm. I have an idea, but I'll need your help to work out the kinks. Please take a look here and let me know if these things sound ok-

Dotting for interest.

Tossing in the idea of a Half-Orc thrown into prison unjustly... Prejudice. His time alone, possibly solitary evolved/triggered latent Summoner abilities.

I'm interested! One question, I'm planning to start as a gunslinger, am I allowed to take my gun with me? If that would be a conflict in your starting scenario I'm willing to start with a different class.

Doomed Hero wrote:

Hmm. I have an idea, but I'll need your help to work out the kinks. Please take a look here and let me know if these things sound ok-

** spoiler omitted **

Also going with unjustly prisoned. Thinking about magus, or maybe sorcerer going into Eldritch Knight.
I have some ideas for the second one.

I'm thinking cleric imprisoned for worshipping a deity other than Asmodeous.

I've been looking for a game suited for a cleric of the romantically tragic Naderi.

I'm interested in bringing in a Half-Elf Summoner from the Lands of the Linnorm Kings. He's spent most of his life on the sea and could have easily angered the wrong official while docked at Ostenso.

I'll roll here to see how I need to adjust his stats. Hopefully the dice don't hate me.

3d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 4) = 9
3d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 3) = 13
3d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 3) = 5
3d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 5) = 9
3d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 6) = 13
3d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 4) = 11

ETA: RIght... So that's a -3 point buy equivilant... Right?

That sounds just fine, GM. :)

I'll make the announcement now then-

I'm planning on submitting a masked vigilante character, sort of like a fantasy-batman/daredevil type.

If I'm picked, I'd like to try and form a group of like-minded individuals who wear masks or other disguises to protect their identities while going after corruption in the city. Adam Warnock seems interested in the idea, and I'd be happy to link backstories with anyone else who is on board.

My character will be an acrobatic fighter who dips monk, eventually combining Bodyguard and Crane Style to get in the way of attacks aimed at my friends, and then negate them.

Anyone feel like potentially being a part of my little fantasy Justice League?

That sounds just fine, GM. :)

I'll make the announcement now then-

I'm planning on submitting a masked vigilante character, sort of like a fantasy-batman/daredevil type.

If I'm picked, I'd like to try and form a group of like-minded individuals who wear masks or other disguises to protect their identities while going after corruption in the city. Adam Warnock seems interested in the idea, and I'd be happy to link backstories with anyone else who is on board.

My character will be an acrobatic fighter who dips monk, eventually combining Bodyguard and Crane Style to get in the way of attacks aimed at my friends, and then negate them.

Anyone feel like potentially being a part of my little fantasy Justice League?

when you put it that way it's pretty tempting. I may be on board to create a character of this sort.

Oh geez DH, now you got me rethinking my idea. Could do a cleric/rogueish type thing maybe...

Hmm... I could probably rewrite most of this into a synthesist... That'd be a dang good costume.

DM, as I've currently got a -3 pt buy, would you consider letting me jump ship over to the 15?

Dot for interest...
Vigilantes? Definate maybe...

torn between my initial idea and a knife master, alias "The Kukri"

edit: I think i'll go with that one, if i can get the proficiency.

are we using traits?

further edit: traits or no, it'll be knife master, albeit i might have to go with dagger

Maybe a Changeling Cleric of Sivanah.

hi, longtime PF fan, longtime lurker, and infrequent poster here

i'm a longtime d20 player, but a newbie to PbP

nevertheless, I am interested in this campaign

since i don't know how to put my posts in a "hide" button, i'll directly copy/paste my character submission:

Saben
NG male Tian-Sing human magus 1
Str 14, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 10 (15 point buy)
Hp 10, Init +2, Spd 30 ft.
BAB +0, unarmed (1d3+2), ranged touch +2
AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 10 (+2 Dex)
CMB +2, CMD 14
Fort +3, Ref +2, Will +2
Special Abilities: arcane pool 3 points/day, spell combat
Magus Spells Prepared: (CL 1st; concentration +3) 0-arcane mark, detect magic, read magic; 1-mirror strike (2)
Magus Spells Known: 0-all; 1-mirror strike, shield, true strike, unseen servant, warding weapon
Skills: Acrobatics +3, Climb +6, Perception +1, Spellcraft +6, Stealth +3
Feats: Improved Unarmed Strike, Two-Weapon Fighting
Languages: Common, Draconic, Minatan, Tien
Favored Class: Magus (+1 hit point per level)
Equipment: scraps of his spellbook (enough to memorize his spells)

Appearance: age 18, 5’7”, 165 lb. Saben has short black hair, brown eyes, dark skin, and a lean build. His prefers nondescript clothing, usually a white long-tailed shirt, matching trousers, and boots of thick, layered cloth. His clothes keep his most distinguishing feature, a large burn scar on his back, well hidden.

Personality: Saben is friendly, idealistic, and an optimist. His instinctive desire to help others comes from an unusually intense case of survivor’s guilt and can sometimes have detrimental consequences, as he is willing to enter known danger without regard to his own safety.

Background: Saben is a young rice farmer from the distant, war-torn land of Minata in the Dragon Empires. He was ten years old when his village was destroyed by a rampaging warlord. The fire that razed his village and killed his family left a large burn scar on his back to forever remind him of the hell that orphaned him. The warlord took him and several other children as slaves for a time and he survived solely due to the intervention of a Chelaxian adventurer and mage, who rescued him and brought him to Cheliax as his ward and apprentice. His adopted father, Naugus, noticed that Saben’s traumatic experiences left him with an intense case of survivor’s guilt manifesting as an obsessive desire to protect and help others. Unable to help Saben overcome his survivor’s guilt, Naugus elected to train his ward in combat, magic, and other skills so that Saben at least had some ability to take care of himself. Saben spent his formative years in the oppressive, pro-slavery atmosphere of Cheliax and, reminded of his own past experiences, did what he could to free other slaves. His activities were seen as treasonous and he was ultimately arrested and imprisoned. Saben tried to contact Naugus for help, but his adopted father never came for him and Saben feared that his mentor may have been killed as a result of his actions.

Takara-

In my profile you'll find a handy guide I wrote explaining the basics of PBP here on the Paizo boards. It has handy tips about coding and formatting. Hope it helps.

reviewed it, it is very helpful. thanks!

Anyone feel like potentially being a part of my little fantasy Justice League?

Dangit... this may be the best opportunity ever to play a paladin/rogue. Let me see if I come to my sense though.

Hmm... I could probably rewrite most of this into a synthesist... That'd be a dang good costume.

DM, as I've currently got a -3 pt buy, would you consider letting me jump ship over to the 15?

That would be okay.

torn between my initial idea and a knife master, alias "The Kukri"

edit: I think i'll go with that one, if i can get the proficiency.

are we using traits?

further edit: traits or no, it'll be knife master, albeit i might have to go with dagger

We are not using traits.

I'm interested! One question, I'm planning to start as a gunslinger, am I allowed to take my gun with me? If that would be a conflict in your starting scenario I'm willing to start with a different class.

Gunslingers are great! I would allow the gun on two conditions.

One-it is a pistol.

Two-you only have a few bullets.

3d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 6) = 173d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 6) = 173d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 6) = 93d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 1) = 73d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 6) = 123d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 2) = 7

I think I can make that work.

I'm guessing that I will taking my holy symbol as the item I have managed to sneak in.

Ok, so which idea would work best for the JL themed type group:

Con artist and cleric of Sivanah

or

Prostitute and cleric of Calistria.

Both have good reasons for being in jail besides just worshipping un-approved deities.

I'd say Con Artist personally, that way you can pretend to be a prostitute priestess if you need to, but aren't stuck with that.

I was leaning a bit that way anyway, the prostitute angle does seem a bit overdone.

Probably going with Neutral for an alignment since she doesn't mind some stealing when she needs too, but isn't actually evil. Just trying to make a living.

Ok, now that that has been decided, let's try a roll. We can default to 15 point buy if we don't like it, right?

3d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 6) = 17
3d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 6) = 15
3d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 3) = 8
3d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 3) = 13
3d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 6) = 13
3d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 6) = 10

Ok, now that that has been decided, let's try a roll. We can default to 15 point buy if we don't like it, right?

3d6
3d6
3d6
3d6
3d6
3d6

Yes-you can.

bi0philia wrote:

torn between my initial idea and a knife master, alias "The Kukri"

edit: I think i'll go with that one, if i can get the proficiency.

are we using traits?

further edit: traits or no, it'll be knife master, albeit i might have to go with dagger

We are not using traits.

okie dokie

Are you okay with Changelings as a race?

@jdkle: could you also provide some background info on Ostenso?

Worked up an Oracle of Battle. Thinking of Multi-classing into Paladin, but she'll definitely be a dual-role no matter what I do down the line.

Astra Vesper

I've got a basic backstory for her, but I'm struggling with the details. She's originally from Andoran, but got caught in a sting organized by Hellknights to catch the freedom fighters that have been plaguing the slavers on the western border and coast. She's slowly losing her mind after a year of imprisonment and torture that has left her weaker and blind.

I'm also trying to reconcile going crazy and LG, so ideas on that would be welcome.

DH, you need a cousin this time around?

Hey! Awesome. Yeah, let's see if we can make this idea work in a game that lasts longer than a month.

Lets hope we both get accepted first! I need to think about what kind of masked crime-fighter I'd want to play for this one. In the meantime, lets see if the dice gods bless me:

3d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 3) = 14
3d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 1) = 11
3d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 2) = 9
3d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 5) = 12
3d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 1) = 9
3d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 3) = 8

Ewww. 15 point buy it is.

Also someone asked about Ostenso. Here, read that.

So we've got monkish person, rogue, magus, cleric, oracle of battle so far.

I've got a hankering to play a scarred witch-doctor Witch, but don't really like the orc flavor that much. Any chance you'd let me reflavor it and play a human scarred witch doctor DM jdkle309?