Establishing discussion thread for Year of Our Lord 1437 PBP campaign...
To reiterate the character creation rules from Campaign Info:
Sandbox RAW
1st level to start, fast track experience
20-point buy
Any playable race published on PRD that is CR 1/3
Any class published on PRD except gunslinger
Max hp per level
Max starting wealth
Two traits from any publication on PRD
Once you have been selected to participate, you may post here and on Gameplay. Until then, please post only in Recruitment. Thanks!
Time to get hype! Thanks for including me in this campaign - I can't wait to see what this group gets up to.
Im excited as well. Just to give you all a little quick insight into my character... he was raised as a slave for illegal fighting pits, but not like a human slave- he was kept with the animals (which were also used in the pits). The owner made all the human slaves recite the Pater Noster (the Our Father, in Latin) 3 times a day and I learned to repeat it, even though I didn’t/don’t understand it at all. A couple months ago the pits were shut down and the Christian slaves released (the Muslims were slaughtered). They were going to put me down too until they discovered I knew the prayer, which they took as evidence of conversion (though I lacked any real understanding of faith or religion at all). Over the past few months I’ve been taught to read and write, and some English, along with the very basics of Christian morality. Having never learned to think critically, he has fully accepted all these teachings and created a personal code based on his understanding of them. His code may make for an interesting dynamic with the Cardinal- it’s basically his understanding of the 10 commandments (plus the golden rule) and never having known any parents his version of ‘honor your father and mother’ is all about obeying priests and nuns...
Seems like a fun group.
I'm excited to start. I'm suddenly realizing that I haven't determined whether it makes more sense to enter this scene as Toshio Okumura the composer, or as Ogon Fox the vigilante. Do you all have any thoughts on that?
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Over the past few months I’ve been taught to read and write, and some English, along with the very basics of Christian morality. Having never learned to think critically, he has fully accepted all these teachings and created a personal code based on his understanding of them. His code may make for an interesting dynamic with the Cardinal- it’s basically his understanding of the 10 commandments (plus the golden rule) and never having known any parents his version of ‘honor your father and mother’ is all about obeying priests and nuns...
Excellent, it is always pleasing to God to rescue another soul from the clutches of the evil one. Lucius isn't incapable in physical combat, but he'll appreciate having someone like Zagathoth around too! :D
You know what, I think it has to be as the Ogon Fox if he's to be associating with you in the open. I'll see if I can get the first post written as Toshio by himself for the purpose of description and follow it with a post as the Ogon Fox joining you all.
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Quick thought - what's our lingua franca here? Lucius speaks Spanish, Italian, Latin, some conversational French and Celestial.
(Assuming thats ok GM - he couldn't have reached 60 in a transnational organisation like the Papacy without the first 4 and Celestial is his one Int earned language. I could lose it for the right to speak the earth languages if you prefer?)
Everyone but Lucious speaks english. I think that's the most shared language. Quinlan Can translate to Italian for him.
Also worth noting that between Toshio, Arc, and Quinlan we have three spellbooks. Once we become better acquainted these can be liberally passed around for maximum spell knowledge.
Also worth noting that between Toshio, Arc, and Quinlan we have three spellbooks. Once we become better acquainted these can be liberally passed around for maximum spell knowledge.
I like this plan. Also, Arc speaks Draconic, English, and French. He'll probably be a bit lost among the Italian-speakers at first.
IRL, I'm also American (and thus only really proficient in English).
In game- Spanish is my first (and best) language but I was recently taught English (because the GM said it was going to be the trade language that we'd run across most often). I only have two languages (and the second only because I took linguistics as a background skill) but I could trade away English if something else would work better for the party (although, story-wise, I think only like Latin or maybe Italian would really make sense). If Lucius is the only one without English maybe he could switch one? Or, I guess, we could all speak English and take turns translating things for him...
Also, I'm a big fan of verisimilitude, so I like to actually use other languages in my posts when I'm speaking other languages... Whatever we settle on for our lingua franca I'm all for using English to represent, but for other languages I like to use the acutal language (or its modern equivalent) as much as possible, and put the translation in a spoiler. If anyone really objects I can do it some other way. Also, if any of you are fluent in the other languages I use, I apologize for what I'm sure are terrible translations.
Also worth noting that between Toshio, Arc, and Quinlan we have three spellbooks. Once we become better acquainted these can be liberally passed around for maximum spell knowledge.I like this plan. Also, Arc speaks Draconic, English, and French. He'll probably be a bit lost among the Italian-speakers at first.
Doesn't the Eldritch Scion lose the spellbook for spontaneous casting?
Toshio speaks English, Dutch, French, and German (and Japanese and Sylvan, but I doubt that's in common with anyone else). No Italian! I'll probably put ranks in Linguistics as we level up to learn Italian and Latin, though.
Quick thought - what's our lingua franca here? Lucius speaks Spanish, Italian, Latin, some conversational French and Celestial.
(Assuming thats ok GM - he couldn't have reached 60 in a transnational organisation like the Papacy without the first 4 and Celestial is his one Int earned language. I could lose it for the right to speak the earth languages if you prefer?)
Among churchmen and literate sages and nobles, Latin could serve as a lingua franca... French and English are widely spoken by traders and merchants who travel... But I understand you mainly mean among the party, probably, so part of my fun as GM is watching you all figure out how to communicate with each other without a Common tongue lol...
Love the beginning we have started! This will be a blast!
Forgive my ignorance, but is there some reason your combat info appears in a banner by your avatars in Discussion, but not in Gameplay? And while on the subject, please add the pertinent info to both aliases, Toshio/The Ogon Fox... Thanks!
Zagathoth appears to have everything I might need to see on the fly in his banner, in case anyone isn't sure what to post in banner...
Does this look better?
Can't say I've noticed a difference between Gameplay and Discussion.
Doesn't the Eldritch Scion lose the spellbook for spontaneous casting?
Derp. Well, his precious spellbook is now just a regular ol' diary. Also, updated Spells Known to reflect this change.
Does this look better?
Can't say I've noticed a difference between Gameplay and Discussion.
Looks great! Thanks! :-)
Shame about your spellbook Arc.
I can see everyone's info in gameplay as well.
@The Ogon Fox - Is there a physical description of your kitsune form somewhere?
Eh, it's fine. I've always preferred spontaneous casters!
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Wait - we have background skills?
Lucius can learn another language if that's the case... two if the GM will allow an exemption and let him take 2 ranks in linguistics at level 1...
Although to stay in character it would be German first, and English second - at least that way he could actually talk to Johann, which I assumed without checking at the start!
Wait - we have background skills?
Lucius can learn another language if that's the case... two if the GM will allow an exemption and let him take 2 ranks in linguistics at level 1...
Although to stay in character it would be German first, and English second - at least that way he could actually talk to Johann, which I assumed without checking at the start!
Yes, we are using background skills, so you get 1 extra language.
Everyone should learn English. Gods, I sound like an self-righteous American right now, but if we have to translate between languages-- for years of play time- the novelty will wear off fast and it will become impossible to know each other. Just being practical.
Lol... Trying to think of a joke, like, you should all get matching fannypacks that have Murica written on them lol... Seriously, though, good point
Lol- I kind of like the idea that Lucius never has any idea what’s going on and has to rely on translations from an 8 Int orc who’s only been speaking English himself for a couple months. Of course, that only works if he remembers that his character doesn’t understand anything that’s said in English in game...
Plus, good luck using bluff/diplomacy/sense motive through those terrible translations!
Lol- I kind of like the idea that Lucius never has any idea what’s going on and has to rely on translations from an 8 Int orc who’s only been speaking English himself for a couple months. Of course, that only works if he remembers that his character doesn’t understand anything that’s said in English in game...
Plus, good luck using bluff/diplomacy/sense motive through those terrible translations!
lol! In my tabletop game set in this same world, much hilarity has been caused by this very thing, a half orc druid with not so great Charisma translating to Arabic everything a wood elf paladin named Celeste tries to say to the Arabic Npcs... I have awarded bonus XP for making me laugh out loud :-)
I know lots of GMs just use milestone leveling, but I'm an old school hard core RAW stickler, so I will be tallying XP for the group. No real need for any of you to tally along with me, but when I award it, I will note it here in discussion along with what earned the XP, because I believe in 100% transparency from GM and players alike, except where keeping things hidden increases the enjoyment for all...
So far, 120 XP earned for the party by Zagathoth for his humorous RP (mistranslating the pickpocket's words to the Cardinal lol)... Really, all of you are doing a fine job RPing so far. I like the tension between bear and fox, too...
Although overall I'd like a serious tone for this game, and will be awarding bonus XP for drama and tragedy as much as for comedy, some well-timed humor always increases the fun! :-)
Divided by 6, you each have a modest 20 XP so far! Woohoo!
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I'll stick with not knowing English for now - it just doesn't make sense in character that Lucius would. I'll take another rank in linguistics at level 2 and pick it up then, once he's had a chance to learn it from you lot. He's got a good ear for language, just not yet!
That makes sense! So you speak German, then? Cause whatever happened prior to getting to Rome, Johann bumped into you and seems to trust you.
That's another 130 XP per PC for foiling the theft of Cardinal L's coins. Total XP 150 each now...
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I'll stick with not knowing English for now - it just doesn't make sense in character that Lucius would. I'll take another rank in linguistics at level 2 and pick it up then, once he's had a chance to learn it from you lot. He's got a good ear for language, just not yet!That makes sense! So you speak German, then? Cause whatever happened prior to getting to Rome, Johann bumped into you and seems to trust you.
Yeah my linguistics rank this level got me German :)
Really good RP going on at both tables! Adding another 20 XP to each PC's total, bringing total per character to 170 XP...
Obviously, you will start gaining bigger amounts once you start winning combats, overcoming traps, etc, but the little bonus awards for good RP each day will certainly add up over time...
I'm interested in linking images of maps for combat and to help you visualize complex scenes, but I'm afraid I'm not very savvy about the best ways to do that. Anyone have any ideas on how to link photos of maps I draw? Or is it better to draw them with a paint tool and link them?
I can always link maps I find online, of course, but I can't mark positions of combatants on them. I need help with uploading my own photos or paint files to the web so they can be linked here, I guess?
Any free photo-hosting site will give you a shareable link if you just need us to see it (if we need to move tokens around on an image with a grid, that will require something more). I still have the Photobucket account I created some 10-15 years ago, but I'm sure Google Photos would work, too. Then just post the link using the [url] tags here.
Any free photo-hosting site will give you a shareable link if you just need us to see it (if we need to move tokens around on an image with a grid, that will require something more). I still have the Photobucket account I created some 10-15 years ago, but I'm sure Google Photos would work, too. Then just post the link using the [url] tags here.
Thanks! Do I just go to Google Photos and make an account?
Thanks! Do I just go to Google Photos and make an account?
Well if you have an account with Google already (say one you use on an Android phone, or for email) you should be able to access Google Photos with the same account. But if not, then yes I think you'll need to create one.
I just use a google doc for sharing maps
Okay, i will check it out, thanks!
Who has 2 thumbs and figured out how to link THIS PIC I TOOK OF ARCH OF CONSTANTINE while in Rome a few days ago? This guy! :-)
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Question MJ66: since Lucius is a cardinal I assume he has his own palazzo, a staff etc? Obviously I don't want to start game breaking but I'm assuming Lucius has enough 'background wealth' to be able to feed, house and clothe other members of the party for some while without needing to worry his in game resources? I've got a 50gp/week 'favour' from the church via my traits, so I'm assuming over 20 years this will cover most things until you say otherwise?
That ok? I don't intend to abuse it or anything!
Question MJ66: since Lucius is a cardinal I assume he has his own palazzo, a staff etc? Obviously I don't want to start game breaking but I'm assuming Lucius has enough 'background wealth' to be able to feed, house and clothe other members of the party for some while without needing to worry his in game resources? I've got a 50gp/week 'favour' from the church via my traits, so I'm assuming over 20 years this will cover most things until you say otherwise?
That ok? I don't intend to abuse it or anything!
Yes, the 50 gold per week trait ought to keep the party comfortable during the low levels, without worrying over much about bookkeeping or reducing the Cardinal's resources. It stands to reason that you would have a nice palazzo with servants, etc. As long as it is mostly fluff, I don't see it being a game breaker, especially if you are careful not to abuse it. :-)
Another fine round of RP today, so I'm awarding each PC another 20 XP... Total XP per character is now 190 XP...
All of you are slaying with the RP, bringing the PCs to life, I'm digging it! Johann makes me grin every post lol :-)
It is time to see how you do with slaying monsters!
A bit about my GM style: It could be called Gygaxian (as compliment or insult lol...compliment to me, Gary is my patron deity lol). Not because all my adventures are deadly dungeon crawls through illogical trapped mazes made by insane wizards lol... I am comfortable with wilderness, urban, extraplanar and all other forms of adventure, and so was Gary Gygax.
I am impartial in my sacred duty to maintain integrity of my game, even if I openly cheer for the PCs. If dice and player choice lead to a TPK, we'll just have to roll up new PCs, because I'm not the kind of GM to prevent Fate from having its share of blood lol...
MJ66's Fantasy Earth is a dangerous sandbox. If you don't pay attention to warning signs, you can stumble in way over your head!
The legends bards will sing of your exploits can be either heroic tales of victory...or cautionary horror stories lol
Lmao