From what I've seen, the party is pretty well balanced socially, and there are several who could step into varying situations and have a pretty good chance of a successful social interaction.
Actually, looking at it now, the group is actually well balanced overall - enough arcane and divine power, several front line heavy hitters and missile support, wilderness and social skills - you guys got it covered.
I've realised that if I take on the Archetype of spellblade, I get a good reason to keep the two weapon fighting feat, plus, it will tie in well with the background.
Imagine someone trying to form a blade of pure magical force, someone inexperienced might try to form something bigger than a dagger, thinking it a weak weapon.
As arcane energy runs down and slowly forms a blade, the man would feel exhilaration, and then he will notice how energy begins to seep back up his arm.
He would grab onto the blade with his other hand, as more energy snakes up both arms, covering his chest.
His fear will grow as he loses control; his body is being burned by the energy, searing away all his body hair.
Suddenly the energy will shatter, like a hundred small shards of force, cutting his arm and chest to ribbons, mercifully sparing his face.
Well, if you want to change/add an archetype to your character, now is the time! One caveat: that archetype replaces spellstrike, which is widely considered to be one of the magus' most desirable abilities.
Spellstrike is an amazing ability! One intensified shocking grasp crit and you're looking at 20d8 electricity damage at 10th level. Or more reasonable, 2d8 at first. By far your most go to ability, and the reason the current favorite magus build is a scimitar wielder.
Well, since I have never played a Magus before, I think I'll go with the vanilla then, to find out what the entire hubbub is about.
Standard Magus it is then.
@ BoggBear - you should probably take a look at this excellent guide to the Magus: Walter's Guide to the Magus
It may help highlight some issues and possibilities with the class, and help you plan how you want Ruhk to develop.
Inwe has a pretty good charisma, but her sect comes across as more mysterious, and "out there", so I'm not sure how good she'd be speaking with people in a normal situation. With her god's gift for prophecy, and foretelling, she would probably just confuse whoever she was talking too. Still if a pretty smile, and whimsical attitude would help she would be the girl.
Charisma wise, Alendrethala is quite good herself. I like the idea of the female PC with high charisma (i know it is not technically true, that charisma=physical beauty) but helps me in having an idea of the PC, physically too.
And i don't want anyway a PC who cannot handle herself in social situations.
Useful information, I get how spellstrike works now, I'm not sure I did before. Thank you.
With an axe that massive critical spell will probably not happen too often, but an axe still fits better thematically.
Of course, close to Calimshan, Ruhk might just find himself a falchion...
But maybe that would not work? I was envisioning it like maybe resting the Falchion on one shoulder to get one hand free, and then grab the hilt and swing.
With spell combat, the weapon has to be light or one handed, so the falchion wouldn't work.
If you wanted to switch to another weapon with a better critical range, that would be fine. Maybe Ruhk is also called a dandy because he prefers a lighter, non traditional weapon, such as a rapier or a scimitar, or even a longsword? Just food for thought.
EDIT: Also, just as a note, since Magi are a 3/4 BAB class, it's best to choose one weapon and stick with it; you'll eventually be able to qualify for weapon focus/imp weapon focus/specialization in order to improve your odds.
It's kind of you, but we agreed axes fit best thematically, I'm not very good at optimization, whenever I try I tend to muck it all up.
However, Ruhk won't get a second feat til level three, plenty of time for him to become interested in trying another weapon which he might take weapon focus in.
The absolute best weapon would be the Falcata, but I'm not sure there are any in the realms.
I still think that Alendrethala could be traveling from Amn to Tethyr with another party.She thinks she had some clues as where to look for, but the people she is traveling with have other plans (not going too much into details here). Inwe knows where to look and probably she isn't alone as well, and of more reliable people, so the two sisters may found themselves on opposite sides against their will.
But such approach may result in a lot of extra work for the GM.
Oh oh, I love falcatas! Maybe I could spend some skill points in Craft (Weaponsmith) and come up with one as a magnificent idea I have for a sword *wink*
And my love is not only rules related, falcatas were originally an iberian sword, and being Spanish seeing something from here become so cool is always nice!
Oh oh, I love falcatas! Maybe I could spend some skill points in Craft (Weaponsmith) and come up with one as a magnificent idea I have for a sword *wink*
And my love is not only rules related, falcatas were originally an iberian sword, and being Spanish seeing something from here become so cool is always nice!
I would love that too, i'm going to invest in magic item creation feats, so having a good artisan in party is a great idea. I would have taken some point in craft myself.
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Good morning all!
Just a few bits n' pieces:
@ Ruhk - there are definitely falcatas in the realms. Just need to find or buy one.
@ Gandal - I don't minds DMing whatever scenario you and scranford want to put together ... I'd maybe add some extra elements to it, but it would be your show
@ All - just to go over a few PbP conventions well before the game actually starts:
- in character speech should be done in bold; which is [b][/b]
- if you want to give us an insight into your characters thoughts, they should be in italics; which is [i][/i]
- if you want to say something out of character, use the ; which is [ooc][/ooc]
- if you want to privately say something to another character, say for example in a language you think no-one else knows, indicate the character and mode of communication, and use the [spoiler=] tags; note, we're going on the honour system for their use, but be warned that I'll be reading the spoiler, cuz I'm the DM and I need to be in the loop
- and of course, we're going to be using the message board's built in dice roller ; which is [dice][/dice]
- most of the time, I'll post my rolls in public, but on occasion, I may roll privately, if I think it serves the story/narrative/mystery/whatever
- as noted earlier, I will be rolling initiative and sometimes perception rolls for your characters; if you want to take an action that requires a dice roll, such as a diplomacy check, then please include it along with the description of what you're doing. For example: Vestilet encounters a family, barricaded in their house, and wants to convince them it's okay to come out. Vestilet would indicate what he wants to do, and include his diplomacy roll in his post. I'll check it against the DC and indicate the degree of success.
- likewise, in combat posts, if you're attacking something, please include your attack roll, possible critical confirmation (if needed) and damage roll
I know these things are all basic, and you're probably using them already, but making sure we stick to these conventions will make the game so much easier to keep going - and I want this to be a campaign to remember. I trust you guys implicitly, and have a good feeling about all of you, so I'm going to put a lot of effort into this game.
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I would love that too, i'm going to invest in magic item creation feats, so having a good artisan in party is a great idea. I would have taken some point in craft myself.
Ooh so you want me to spend the day working at the forge and then, when I'm tired, sweaty and dirty you will come and start waving your sissy fingers around while saying some magic words and make my Masterwork Bow a +3 Flaming Keen Distance Bow? And you think I won't mind? Well... actually that would be darn cool!
If the DM Locke is alright with it I will spend some precious skill points next level on bowmaking and weaponsmthing. *Yay*
Oh oh, I love falcatas! Maybe I could spend some skill points in Craft (Weaponsmith) and come up with one as a magnificent idea I have for a sword *wink*
And my love is not only rules related, falcatas were originally an iberian sword, and being Spanish seeing something from here become so cool is always nice!
I am with Evenor on this. Pretty much same reason to but I am not from Spain. So far only have one character that has a falcata though. Have not gotten to use him. Should make more that use it.
Hmmm, right, so Falcata is a real option. But it is an exotic weapon so I can't take that feat til lv 3, and if I am going to focus on one weapon, then the two weapon fighting becomes a lot less interesting.
Would it be ok to switch it to Toughness instead?
Zazesspur, located on the Sword Coast just south of the Starspire Peninsula, is Tethyr's largest city. Its population (now up to 375,000) has swelled over the past ten years with the influx of refugees from Castle Tethyr and the surrounding area. Zazesspur is a major port, and its location on the Trade Way makes it a center for trading and commerce as well. The open land to the southeast is too dry for anything more than livestock grazing, but the Purple Hills to the south are very fertile and provide the city with a good deal of its food. Zazesspur is also the home of many of Tethyr's finest craftsmen and artists. Of particular repute are the towns leatherworkers, weavers, dyers, and tailors.
Zazesspur, though one of the "Big Four" of Tethyr's cities, has had to tread a fine line, politically. Most of the survivors of the destruction of Castle Tethyr fled here ten years ago, and not all the
Telthyr family sympathizers were found. As a result, there is a strong underground political movement trying to find a surviving Tethyr heir and reestablish the Tethyr monarchy. This will be difficult, as there are no known living members of the family left in Tethyr, but it doesn't stop this small but powerful underground group from trying.
A larger group, one that is actually gaining power in Zazesspur, is promoting the idea of a return to a royal family system of rule, with a new king chosen by some as-yet-undetermined method. The reasoning this group is trying to use is that while the overthrow of a decade ago was necessary, the problem was the excesses of the Tethyr family, not the system of monarchy itself. While this is still not the opinion of the majority, it is growing significantly. One sign of its growing acceptance is that proponents of a monarchy can say so in public today with little fear of being killed by a mob; this wasn't true five years ago.
Given time, this position has a good chance of winning over the majority, first in Zazesspur, then throughout Tethyr. There are many former bureaucrats and minor nobles living in the city under new names who are using their hidden wealth and still-considerable influence to bring about this return to monarchy. Of course, there are factions in Ithmong and Myratma who have other plans ..
Zazesspur is ruled, at least nominally, by Grand Duke Alain Axelschmidt, known popularily as "The Iron Duke" for his stout defence of Zazesspur from all manner of predation, and his inflexible and sometimes brutal championing of law withing the city. In truth, rule of the city rests with the duke, the major churches, and the mercantile guild; an unstable political situation which, even now, begins to sway as the winds of change gather strength...
@ BoggBear - absolutely, go for it - TWF is largely wasted on the Magus anyways, as one of his most awesome features is spell combat anyways.
Also, just as a friendly reminder, I'd REALLY suggest you reconsider your first level spell choices. Neither shocking grasp nor color spray are on your list, and I believe very strongly that you should check them out.
Just as an aside - are people reading my background info bits on Tethyr and it's people? I know they are big walls of text, but there's important stuff tucked in there that I really don't want you to miss.
I thought the Half-Orc bandit guy was cool.
@ Vestilet - make sure you check out Bertram as well, he's the ranking Helmite in Tethyr, at least for now.
I did, who was his lover exactly or do we find that out in game?
Shocking Grasp is the Magus bread and butter spell, and with the right metamagic feats you can use it for the entire career of your character. If you really love falcatas (and pending GM approval of course) the bladebound magus archetype may be something that interests you as well.
I'm reading the background info, but the next two weeks are kinda crazy for me. I probably won't have any breathing room until next Thursday to really dig into them, right in time for the wedding on Saturday. I'll be read up and 100% ready for the game on the 31st though, no worries.
His lover was the valiant paladin Arteris! I remember cause I didn't expect the head of the Helmite church to be in love with a male paladin...
And I am reading them DM!
His lover was the paladin Arteris, who died under the weight of an attack by the mighty green dragon Gethharis. He was an influential member of the Watchers over the Fallen, a Helmish order of holy healers who protect the wounded during and after battles - kind of like a militant, heavily armed red cross. The young hero's body was never recovered; his armor and weapons, including a powerful, everbright enchanted set of full plate armor and his holy bastard sword (named Argent Justice) must be in the evil dragon's hoard.
His lover was the paladin Arteris, who died under the weight of an attack by the mighty green dragon Gethharis. He was an influential member of the Watchers over the Fallen, a Helmish order of holy healers who protect the wounded during and after battles - kind of like a militant, heavily armed red cross. The young hero's body was never recovered; his armor and weapons, including a powerful, everbright enchanted full plate armor and his holy bastard sword (named Argent Justice) must be in the evil dragon's hoard.
I remembered the name just wanted to know the other bits of information. Cool names for gear to. Thank you for answering my question.
@Dandy most of what everyone is saying are good ideas and information. The only thing I will disagree with is Bladebound magus for other than flavor I believe it is useless. My reasons for this are first you will be behind on bonuses to your weapon since the only way you can up it is by using your arcane pool. Second it greatly reduces your arcane pool. Lastly it is a smart weapon that does what it wants to do. If DM Locke wants it to say go kill a demon and you say no it will fight you to get what it wants done.
That's good advice from Vestilet - if you've ever read any of the Elric of Melnibone stories, you can imagine the type of difficulties a weapon with a will of it's own can bring :-) I'd have to play that sword as an NPC, really.
I thought the Half-Orc bandit guy was cool.
Is it wrong that I'm rooting for him?
I thought the Half-Orc bandit guy was cool.Is it wrong that I'm rooting for him?
Well other than being a bandit leader seems like he would of been a cool person. If he would of went and been a solider or a knight I doubt there would of been much of a difference so I guess it is not wrong.
I thought the Half-Orc bandit guy was cool.Is it wrong that I'm rooting for him?
The bad guys are often more interesting, aren't they?
Still - I wonder who that Thieves guild leader is in Zazesspur who refuses to work with him, like her counterpart in Saharkhan does? Some sort of history there, or some other allegiance? Hmmmm.
He's a bandit and a half-orc... Evenor hates him no matter how cool he is!
I've changed the feat and the spell selection a little, but I'm staying Vanilla when it comes to archetypes.
I've handed out enough intelligent weapons during my time as a dm to know it is more fun to earn them, or CREATE them. Being given one gratis as a class feature is not really my style.
Right, so it took a little re-doing and re-thinking, but I’m happy with Ruhk now, just have to wait until lv 3 for the final “flavour” to kick in.
Hmmm, I think El Mirador in "Sharpes Sword" might have had a Falcata in his weapons case?
@ BoggBear - just a few things about Ruhk:
- you start play with all 0 level spells (listed on pg 13 of UM) as well as six first level spells (3+your INT bonus of 3). If you dont want to list all your cantrips, thats fine, there are quite a few; but you do need to choose one extra 1st level spell.
- don't forget that your battleaxe can be used one-handed; you only get a +3 strength mod to damage using it two handed. You might want to create macros (as per Balodek/Lockjaw Stoneshield, above) in order to keep modifiers for different circumstances separate.
Otherwise, he looks good! Ready to layeth the smacketh down, so to speak :-)
Just as an aside - are people reading my background info bits on Tethyr and it's people? I know they are big walls of text, but there's important stuff tucked in there that I really don't want you to miss.
I'm copying-paste them in document on the desktop, so yes, i'm reading them.
And i'ld like to know what happened to Evantha Haresdown after her capture.If the bastard has done to her what i think i will....i will.....he is going to regret it.And i want the hoard of Gethharis of course.
Ooh so you want me to spend the day working at the forge and then, when I'm tired, sweaty and dirty you will come and start waving your sissy fingers around while saying some magic words and make my Masterwork Bow a +3 Flaming Keen Distance Bow? And you think I won't mind? Well... actually that would be darn cool!
If the DM Locke is alright with it I will spend some precious skill points next level on bowmaking and weaponsmthing. *Yay*
Precisely my idea, even though i'm afraid it'll be harder than it was in NWN2 (and all expans.MotB and SoZ)....i took the habit of crafting and enchanting my onw weapons/armor/wondrous items from those games. In 3 and 3,5 (tabletop) the process of creating magic items costed XP :( so never did in RL games
I would love that too, i'm going to invest in magic item creation feats, so having a good artisan in party is a great idea. I would have taken some point in craft myself.Ooh so you want me to spend the day working at the forge and then, when I'm tired, sweaty and dirty you will come and start waving your sissy fingers around while saying some magic words and make my Masterwork Bow a +3 Flaming Keen Distance Bow? And you think I won't mind? Well... actually that would be darn cool!
If the DM Locke is alright with it I will spend some precious skill points next level on bowmaking and weaponsmthing. *Yay*
Just to be a party pooper, as is my wont; you can't have the keen property on a ranged weapon :-)
Just to be a party pooper, as is my wont; you can't have the keen property on a ranged weapon :-)
I'm pretty sure we'll work out something about this. After all there was the "Blunt" property for bludgeoning weapon which was the same if i'm not wrong
@ Gandal - if you and scranford could try and work out how you want your backstories to mesh, then we can start to roleplay the sisters' prologue this weekend, if you have the time.
@ Gandal - if you and scranford could try and work out how you want your backstories to mesh, then we can start to roleplay the sisters' prologue this weekend, if you have the time.
I'm in this weekend, waiting news from Scranford
Edit:only on Sunday thought
Just to be a party pooper, as is my wont; you can't have the keen property on a ranged weapon :-)
Oh you evil evil man! Actually I intend to get Improved Critical to have a better chance with any bow so it would have been no use. Just sounded coool. *wink*
Not that this has anything to do with this thread but.....I WANT SKYRIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CANNOT WAIT ANOTHER 3 WEEKS!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
@ Gandal - I know! It's going to be hard to keep waiting! I'll try to keep this game running, even though I'll be playing Skyrim A LOT! And then Arkham City comes out for PC the week after ... and Torchlight 2 sometime before christmas ... I want them all, but I have to leave my wife some ideas for x-mas gifts.
I got Skyrim on reserve so day it comes out going in early before my class so I can get it. I am doing this so while in class I can bother the crap out of my professor because she wants it really bad as well.
Ten years ago, Tethyr was almost exclusively a human nation. All that changed with the upheavals that deposed the royal family. Humans are still the predominant race in Tethyr, but their days of exclusive monopoly are over. There have always been rumors of a large elf tribe (perhaps several) in the huge Forest of Tethir, but the elves have been reluctant to show themselves in the past. (Given the former royal family's attitude toward elves, this should be no surprise.) Information on the elves of Tethyr is still sketchy, but one of two things has happened: either a large number of new elves have moved to the forest in the past five years, so that their sheer numbers make them more visible; or the elves that have always lived there have decided to become more outgoing. Travelers on the Trade Way have reported seeing (and sometimes meeting) large groups of elves. The towns on the edge of the forest, such as Velen, Mosstone, and Port Kir, have also reported increased contact.
There has never been a very large dwarf population in Tethyr, and things have not really changed in the past ten years. There is one small tribe in the eastern end of the Starspire Mountains that regularly sends trading expeditions into Zazesspur, but that's about the extent of it. Saradush and Ithal Pass have an increased contact with dwarves because of the large numbers living throughout the Snowflake Mountains.
Halflings are also common throughout Tethyr, though they are most often found in the Purple Hills near the seacoast. No halflings (or any other non-humans, for that matter) were allowed to participate in Tethyr government, even on a local level, but that has changed. Today, there are several halflings sitting on Town Councils in Tethyr; their influence is greatest in Myratma and Zazesspur.
Half-elves are very common and treated well; half-orcs are nearly as common, but not treated nearly as well. Orcs are considered monsters, not another equal race; they are shunned and hunted down at every opportunity. Half-orcs are barely tolerated in Tethyr society. Of course, there is no institutionalized persecution (there are no institutions), so even a half-orc can succeed in Tethyr, given luck, quick wits, and a strong sword arm.
For the past 1500 years, Tethyr has had a single, strong royal family ruling with absolute power. When a king died or became incapacitated, his oldest son took the throne. As the family trees of those close to power became more intertwined and complicated, there were the inevitable wars of succession and bickering over which second cousin was the "true" heir to the throne, but the civil wars were brief. And once the fighting was over, the system returned to normal, until the next major dispute in a few hundred years or so.
All that changed 10 years ago. The current ruling family had been in power for over 350 years, so long that they had dropped their own family name centuries ago (no one even remembers it now) and simply called themselves Tethyr. King Alemander IV was comfortably ruling from Castle Tethyr, and the country seemed happy enough. But there was a broad current of dissatisfaction among the people of Tethyr. Non-humans were forbidden by law to own land, and since most rights and privileges accorded citizens were based on land ownership, they became second-class citizens as well. Things were especially bad for elves, who were driven deep into the Forest of Tethir by royal armies. Alemander IV took land away from rightful owners and gave it to nobles who promised larger contributions to the royal treasury. These social and economic inequities, coupled with several harsh winters and bad harvests in a row, made the time ripe for a change.
But it takes more than just a couple of lousy winters to depose a king; it takes treachery. In the case of the fall of House Tethyr, it took an ambitious general and impatient royal heir. Prince Alemander grew tired of waiting for the robust Alemander IV to make room for him, so he struck a deal with General Nashram Sharboneth, commander of the king's largest army. While Sharboneth marched his army toward Tethyr, bringing along a sizable group of angry peasants recruited with the promise of land reform, the would-be Alemander V downplayed the alarming reports from the king's spies and advisors. The prince silenced his father's most persistent counselors permanently, either
through murder or exile. By the time Sharboneth's army arrived and laid seige to Castle Tethyr, it was too late for loyalists to help.
The final step of the plan was ready to be set in motion. As Sharboneth launched a direct assault on the castle (using the expendable peasants as shock troops), a handful of elite soldiers let in a secret entrance by the prince would eliminate key guards and open the gates. At the same time, the prince (one of the few people allowed to see the king directly) would murder his father. A fire set by the elite troops would
destroy the evidence of treachery, and the general and the prince would emerge from the conflagration and announce a new, joint government.
The plan was executed perfectly, up to a point. Sharboneth double crossed the prince; his men were much too efficient in setting the castle ablaze, and Prince Alemander (along with most of his fellow conspirators) died horribly in the fire. At about the same time, a spy planted on the general's inner staff by the equally duplicitous Alemander murdered the general and dissolved his body with a powerful acid before anyone could come to Sharboneth's aid. To make matters worse, everyone had underestimated the resentment the people felt for the royal family. Once Castle Tethyr began to fall, there was no holding back the mob. In one night, the proudest, strongest castle in
all the country was reduced to a smoking ruin. Everything of value: fine tapestries, plates and silverware, furniture, jewelry, weapons, clothes, armor, paintings, statues, etc. was either stolen, burned, or just ripped apart and stomped into the dust.
As news of the fall of the royal family spread, so did the chaos. In what is now known as the "Ten Black Days of Eleint," anyone known (or even suspected) of blood connection to the royal family was put to the sword. This led to some darkly humorous moments, as social climbers who had bragged just a week before of being a sixth cousin twice removed of a royal aunt tried in vain to convince an angry mob that they were "only kidding."
The nobles who were the biggest supporters of the royal family also came under attack, and some baronial keeps fell. Local leaders who had adequately distanced themselves from the Tethyr family, or were popular enough (or feared enough, or strong enough), survived. These surviving nobles became the initial players in the fight to decide the fate of Tethyr.
One thing was certain; any leader or type of government that too closely resembled rule under the Tethyrs would not be accepted. "Royalist" became a dirty word in Tethyr society. Today, the power struggle continues, and there is no sign of it ending anytime soon.
I preordered Skyrim too.Am at work now will read all that background stuff tonight
Myratma, located in the southwest corner of Tethyr, is one of the country's "Big Four" cities. It is very similar in many ways to the great cities of Calimshan, which is understandable given its closeness to Memnon and the Calim Desert. Myratma depends greatly on commerce and trading for its livelihood, though there are small but important agriculture and manufacturing activities in town. Myratma handles nearly
all the bulk agricultural products from the center of Tethyr. Wheat and other grains come down the River Ith by barge, and are stored, sold, and shipped (both overland and by sea) throughout the area. Calimshan is a particularly important customer for Tethyr grain sold through Myratma.
The Purple Hills to the north are rich in fruits and vegetables, and Myratma does a big business in them, too. Ship building and repair is also a major business here. But the most famous business in Myratma is the Tethyr Mills, a huge textile mill right along the banks of the Ith known throughout the Forgotten Realms for its fabrics. Of particular fame are its silks, which are the choice for the finest clothes in both Calimshan and Amn, and a light canvas of such tight weave that it is waterproof. This canvas is in great demand for use in the sails of the largest ships on the Sea of Swords and beyond. It is also very popular for use in tarpaulins and tents in rainy areas.
The current Town Council, headed by a merchant named Reshtiva Gullifort, is ambitious enough to want to reunite Tethyr under their banner, but realizes it doesn't have the clout to pull it off ... yet.
It is rumoured that Gullifort has been negotiating with the Pasha of Calimshan for support in her plan; if true, such support could make Myratma a major player in Tethyr's future; though the involvement of a foreign power in Tethyr's affairs is guaranteed to be a controversial topic in the halls of power.
Here's a map of the bulk of Tethyr, for those who aren't familiar with the setting. It contains quite a few points of interest; any questions, please ask.
It is saying that the page or doc is not available DM Locke.