Just jotting down a rough draft of Pruner, and your initial interaction with him.
Pruner
Perhaps it was a time of weakness, or despair, or maybe even boredom, when Pruner first approached you. It was a safe place, you thought, where danger could not reach you, and your guard need not be raised. Not that it would have mattered to the man standing quietly, waiting until you notice him. He maintains a grim expression and holds out his hand in greeting, ignoring your expected fear and anger. "I am Pruner, and you are known to me. The Twisting Tree has noticed you, and invites you to dance the wind." He gives a laugh, "Was that mystical enough? I thought it was pretty good. So what of it? Are you ready to fix the things of the world? Or are you going to continue banging your head into the wall? Believe me, I've been there, and the wall will not give first." What follows is a short explanation of the Twisted Tree and their philosophy, or as much of those topics as he's willing to reveal. He impresses upon you the secret nature of what he is sharing, "If you choose not to come with me for your new life, you will never speak of The Twisting Tree. I doubt you've heard of us and that is how we want it, any forgetful words will result in the loss of your tongue, your hands, and your life."
He explains some of the their expectations, "We expect obedience and thought. We are not creating golems in The Twisting Tree, but creative and capable beings who can bend and flow with the changing of the world around them, supple and yet strong, fluid and flexible." Lastly he explains some of their tasks, "You will be asked to do things you do not understand, others -the reason may be more clear. Some orders will be general, others will be specific. If you must question, reserve those questions amongst your brothers and sisters. If you seek a better way, take it, and prepare for the consequences. You will never be acknowledged for your deeds, and if you seek such glory, you will be removed. There is no place for a branch heavy-laden on the Tree, it will bring down all around it when the wind howls."
After he has spent nearly twenty minutes, showing you with a deluge of information, he moves smoothly to an exit, "If you desire this, come now, if you do not, stay and stay silent." With that he turns and leaves silently, leaving the portal open for you to close, or cross.
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Thought I'd start a list of potential races/classes so we can build a good party/not overlap too much:
- Krumthi - Arcane Archer
- hgsolo - Support/Secondary Damage - Cleric
- Heaven's Agent - 1.) Hobgoblin Druid 2.) TWF Rogue/Shadowdancer
- BudFox -
- Ricky Bobby - 1.) Ranger/Fighter 2.) Magus 3.) Wiz or Sorc - Either way, leaning towards a Tiefling at the moment if that works Mug...but not sure yet.
I have no real preference at the moment, I may come up with each and then pick what we need the most...anyone have any preferences for me?? :)
Tiefling is fine, if it has obvious physical fiendish characteristics that will cause fear and distrust. Of course there are steps to disguise this, or perhaps your character will tend more towards the human in terms of looks. But I'm fine with the race being used as long as you keep in mind the potential challenges.
Thought I'd start a list of potential races/classes so we can build a good party/not overlap too much:
- Krumthi - Arcane Archer
- hgsolo - Support/Secondary Damage - Cleric
- Heaven's Agent - 1.) Hobgoblin Druid 2.) TWF Rogue/Shadowdancer
- BudFox -
- Ricky Bobby - 1.) Ranger/Fighter 2.) Magus 3.) Wiz or Sorc - Either way, leaning towards a Tiefling at the moment if that works Mug...but not sure yet.
I have no real preference at the moment, I may come up with each and then pick what we need the most...anyone have any preferences for me?? :)
Seeing this I notice that we don't have a dedicated heavy melee yet. If nobody else goes for a dedicated front-liner I will. So, you can update this as me taking either primary or secondary melee type.
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This is Ricky Bobby - give the profile linked to this alias a look, Mug (and anyone else).
Against everything I already listed...I decided on an Aasimar Magus (Kensai) with the Archon-Blooded Heritage, otherwise known as a Lawbringer. He's a noble with a successful on-the-side home-brewing business, and is multi-skilled/knowledgeable. He wields a katana as his Kensei weapon.
Basically, sort of a Batman-esque character, though I didn't mean to do that - kinda noticed it after the fact.
No worries Krumthi, thanks for the interest and good luck with your other commitment!
MisterLurch are you still checking in? You've now moved to our #5 spot! Congrats!
heya folks. i am here and my creative juices are flowin' ..
a couple of my ideas are a two weapon fighter, but the secondary weapon is .. his shield. also interested in an archer, perhaps a monk-ish style. and last, but not least, i would like to try out a master of many styles.
i have also noticed that unless heaven's agent chooses druid, we are pretty short on healing, so i would be open to a cleric/paladin role as well.
thoughts?
EDIT Scratch that; I am going to go with the LN hobgoblin knifefighter/shadowdancer. It is going to be an extremely Feat-heavy build, but it is my final decision. Should be lots of fun.
How should we determine hit points at 2nd level?
Max 1st level. 2nd level is half your dice +1 - or you can roll +1, and take the higher.
One hobgoblin knife fighter, as promised. I still need to buy equipment and write the character fluff, but I think everything else is good to go.
Speaking of vacations... I'll be on vacation at Lake Tahoe, from tonight till next friday (the 12th). Supposedly there will be internet and I am bringing my laptop, but I'm sure my posting will be sparse at best.
Please everyone finish up characters and I'll review the characters as I can. If I have a chunk of time, and the characters are ready and reviewed then I'll do my best to get a starting gameplay post during the vaca.
Hey, I am back, thanks for being patient. Had an extra day of travel afetr a flight got diverted due to maintenance issues.
I'll get to work on my character today, may check in for input, etc.
Hmmm ... how about an inquisitor with some healing focus, could blend some skills with second like combat ability? Thinking more standard races - something that really blends in human, maybe half elf. Figure that a couple of folks with skills focus isn't bad given the scope/role of the organization. If we have the mage and the heavy hitter down.
i am narrowed down to an archer, or cleric. Are we still using the pathfinder pantheon?
BudFox here - A very early work in progress, much left to do here (largely pasted over from another build), but it is a start. Leaning towards half elven, not dure about diety yet, need to fix equipment aand a lot more. Family originally from Ustalav, carpenter, son of a carpenter, etc. Won't have the undead focus that is currently there.
I still have to crunch the numbers but I am thinking that I will go with a battle cleric. One I am toying with is a Tengu cleric of Erastil - don't worry, that backstory will come together nicely - though I have other potential ideas.
So how much is the armor/uniform of the Molthune army going to cost me, and how much trouble am I going to get into if someone realizes I'm not supposed to have it. :P
I'm not even sure what Molthune's uniforms look like. I'll have to do some searching. If all else fails, some creative thinking.
will you allow the use of the strix race?
I still have to crunch the numbers but I am thinking that I will go with a battle cleric. One I am toying with is a Tengu cleric of Erastil - don't worry, that backstory will come together nicely - though I have other potential ideas.
As much as I liked the idea of a Tengu cleric of Erastil, it is just so much better as an archer than a front-liner, and I wanted to be a front-liner. I think I am going to make a fighter-cleric, going into holy vindicator, don't know what race yet.
@Halbrin - It's actually a common tactic for the normally evil races to war the armor of the Multhune army, as long as they don't have the tell-tale insignia of the army on their chest. It helps them to be more accepted for those who wish to mingle. So no trouble unless you actively pose as Army.
@MisterLurch - Yes we're using the Pathfinder pantheon, and I'll consider a Strix. Please run the backstory by me of how/why a Strix is in Human society when it hates humans so much. There's a lot of animosity there.
would you allow a "divine archer"? a divine version of the arcane archer?
This is hgsolo. I got all my stats and such done. As I said, melee cleric, planning on going into holy vindicator. I'll put up the backstory later.
@MisterLurch - Would you break the divine archer down for me a little, so I don't need to research it heavily myself? Thanks
Everyone who's put characters together thus far; I'll do what I can to review them asap and thank you! Some really interesting ideas going here. Yay! :)
I'll be finalizing mine today - so if you are reviewing, perhaps get to min later on in your process.
Thanks
@MisterLurch - Would you break the divine archer down for me a little, so I don't need to research it heavily myself? Thanks
so the divine archer is not something i have seen already written up. all i had envisioned was that it would be functionally the same as the arcane archer, but would have a pre-requisite of 1st level divine spells.
EDIT: i found this link while browsing the forums: Sacred Arrow
Updated profile - need to add more backstory and flush out equipment but he is generally ready for review and critique.
Got my backstory together but I didn't include anything on how Elianna joined the Twisted Tree.
Elianna was extraordinarily lucky to have not gotten killed running away at night, so far from civilization. After a couple of days on the run, Elianna started running short on food, and she had few survival skills, but fate smiled upon her when she met Rierdan, a cleric of Cayden Cailean. Rierdan asked what she was doing out on the road by herself, but when she didn't want to talk about it he didn't press the issue. He offered her a place to stay and some food, and she simply started traveling with him. Over time Rierdan taught Elianna about the Lucky Drunk's philosophy, and when she said that drink had caused her father to beat her mother and herself, Rierdan told her that drink does not make a good man evil, or a cowardly man courageous. Rierdan believed that alcohol would bring out an individual's true nature, and it was actually the best way to know a man's principles. Elianna eventually came to see the wisdom in this, and stayed with Rierdan, learning the virtues of a good beer, and a life on the road. After she was ordained as a cleric, Rierdan revealed to Elianna her true nature. At that point she decided to forsake her familial name and adopt her own, though from time to time she still struggles to understand her place in a world full of humans.
Generally speaking, Elianna is very easy going, and as a cleric of Cayden Cailean she often enjoys a drink. She never drinks enough to lose control of herself though, and thinks that anyone who drinks in excess is a fool. While she enjoys her freedom though, she does not chafe at authority quite so much as Cayden's other priests. More than anything else, she cannot stand the thought of someone taking advantage of someone weaker or smaller than them; especially if it is a man abusing his wife or children.
How are we doing HP - max then half?, roll?
@Albrecht
Max 1st level. 2nd level is half your dice +1 - or you can roll +1, and take the higher.
Great, thanks, must have missed that, I'll make the change. Otherwise, I think I am finished and ready for review - I'll take input from anyone as far as balance and optimization go. Was thinking about Community as a domain.
Sounds good! Still here and checking things out. I'm probably not going to be able to devote the needed time till after the vaca, but I am reviewing.
@MisterLurch, I haven't seen one before either, which is why I was hoping you'd break it down for me. Conceptually-wise I have no problem with it.
Sounds good! Still here and checking things out. I'm probably not going to be able to devote the needed time till after the vaca, but I am reviewing.
@MisterLurch, I haven't seen one before either, which is why I was hoping you'd break it down for me. Conceptually-wise I have no problem with it.
Are you okay with my justification for the Strix character?
Great, thanks, must have missed that, I'll make the change. Otherwise, I think I am finished and ready for review - I'll take input from anyone as far as balance and optimization go. Was thinking about Community as a domain.
I was going to say something about the spell selection of certain domains, but apparently inquisitors do not gain the domain spells. Sooooo, if you want to stick with Abadar as a deity, I'd pick up either travel or nobility. Nobility (or leadership subdomain) is only viable if GM Mug allows the leadership feat. Travel is always good because of the boost to speed. And, the trade subdomain gives a decent boost to bluff, diplomacy, and sense motive, and might fit your character better than the regular travel domain (I thought about taking it, but travel fits me better).
Also, two melee divine characters. Should be fun. :)
Great, thanks, must have missed that, I'll make the change. Otherwise, I think I am finished and ready for review - I'll take input from anyone as far as balance and optimization go. Was thinking about Community as a domain.I was going to say something about the spell selection of certain domains, but apparently inquisitors do not gain the domain spells. Sooooo, if you want to stick with Abadar as a deity, I'd pick up either travel or nobility. Nobility (or leadership subdomain) is only viable if GM Mug allows the leadership feat. Travel is always good because of the boost to speed. And, the trade subdomain gives a decent boost to bluff, diplomacy, and sense motive, and might fit your character better than the regular travel domain (I thought about taking it, but travel fits me better).
Also, two melee divine characters. Should be fun. :)
and one ranged divine ... cleric of Erastil
Oh man. Erastil, Abadar and Cayden Cailean all in one room. This will be interesting. 3 divine, 1 arcane, and 1 martial. Maybe I should have made her a straight fighter.
since we already have two other divines, i can switch to a regular fighter. or perhaps a ranger.
do we have any arcane support?
since we already have two other divines, i can switch to a regular fighter. or perhaps a ranger.
do we have any arcane support?
nvm. reading can answer many questions. do you guys think that I should remain with my cleric idea, or change it up to either a fighter/ranger, or a bard?
nvm. reading can answer many questions. do you guys think that I should remain with my cleric idea, or change it up to either a fighter/ranger, or a bard?since we already have two other divines, i can switch to a regular fighter. or perhaps a ranger.
do we have any arcane support?
Well, actually I was torn between a cleric and a cleric/fighter, but I think I may change up my stats so that level 2 is fighter. Losing some casting won't hurt as bad if we have another full cleric and two half casters.
Thoughts?
then i will remain with my initial plan :)
Thanks for the input - I'll take a look again at Nobility. Do you think that's better than the benefits of Protection with the saving throw bonuses? Also - I thought about doing a level of ranger to get some archery bonuses or I could do fighter to further the use of the heavy mace, could even do 1 lvl Inquisitor and 1 lvl fighter - though I really like the initiative bonus I get from the 2nd level Inquisitor.
so what all domains are you guys taking?
Hey, I may be a rogue, but I'm still a pious character; don't be forgetting Alseta. It's a good thing she gets along fine with the Stodgy Patriarch, the Stuffy Businessman, and the Incorrigible Party Animal. :P
EDIT How come there are no friendly-looking hobgoblin avatars? This is the closest I could find, and it's not even a hob.
@Albrecht: I'd probably go straight inquisitor for you. If you want to dip go fighter, because ranger requires two levels to get the feat (though favored enemy is nice if you have an idea of what you want to focus on). As for domains, the bonuses from protection are resistance bonuses, which means they don't stack with the cloak of resistance.The cloak is a relatively inexpensive way to up you saves, and you get the higher level bonuses earlier on.
@Lurch: I am thinking strength (ferocity) and travel. Ferocity gives me a smite-like ability, which is nice for the extra damage (though it is considerably less desirable if I multi-class). Travel is nice because it offsets the reduced movement from medium or heavy armor, and comes with some nice spells. Since you are planning on going archery, I'd focus on things that give buffs to your team mates, because you will be avoiding the center of attention. Also, since you are going with Erastil, grab the feather domain. It is the animal domain, but done well.
@Halbrin: You obviously aren't that pious if you don't get any spell slots. :P
That's great input, thanks. I'll review the domains again and will likely make a few changes - you make a good point about the cloak of protection for the saves - puts it into perspective - what abilities can't you get for 1,000 gp or would pay much for for them ...
Took your advice on the Travel Domain and will also stick with the Inquisitor path so as not to dilute its value. Pretty muchready to go unless there is other input.
Thanks again.
Took your advice on the Travel Domain and will also stick with the Inquisitor path so as not to dilute its value. Pretty muchready to go unless there is other input.
Thanks again.
Well, your BAB and base saves are wrong. You should have BAB +1, and Fort and Will should be +3.
Ok, I'm checking in so you all know I'm alive and am aiming to take time to finalize reviews this very night. Keep up the chatter and self-reviews as that saves time for me. Wahoo for vacations! Oddly my wife doesn't consider taking 1+ hours a day to type on my comp good 'family vacation time' ;) Smart woman I married. Be back tonight!