Thrawn's Jade Regent (Inactive)

Game Master Thrawn007

It seems the GM finder has struck again. I hear there is a group ready for a Jade Regent AP.

Wanted to give my assumptions up front. Thinking about whether there is anything else "special" I want to do with this, since it's campaign mode. I'm considering a couple different rules from unchained, but I won't force them on anybody, I'll discuss with the group first when I have recommendations.

Assumptions from my side:
-Campaign mode (chronicles for PFS will be given out at the end of each book in case any of you play PFS.)
-PFS rules for starting character building except:
-1 of your traits must be a campaign trait
-You may take a drawback to gain a 3rd trait
-No elemental races. Tien races seem appropriate.
-Legendary games came out with some expansion material for this AP that cleans up some of the special rules, and builds on them as well. I'll likely use them, although that likely will be transparent to the group
-I may go off script at times, although if you haven't read the campaign, that will likely be transparent too. I won't go too far off script, but there are some nice areas in this AP to dive deeper into than the campaign covers.
-1/day posting on weekdays, 1/weekend on weekends
-This AP is very heavy on relationships and social interactions. Dialogue will be very important.

Mwahahahaha!!! *cough cough*
Gotta work on that...

Oh! Are we rolling for stats?

Hmm. I have a Mutagenic Brawler I would like to put forward, but I am not sure of the legality of it in terms of PFS. I'll check it out.

Also Times, you are too good at finding GMs. If you could find one for an In Nomine game I'd appreciate that. ;)

I was thinking standard 20 point buy, but I'm willing to discuss.

BTW - Unchained rules I'm thinking about...
1) Fractional bonuses - Only comes into play if someone multiclasses, but I really like these rules since it punishes multiclassing in non-martial classes a bit less.

2) Staggered bonuses- Trying to decide exactly how to work this into the flow of a PbP, but I like it as an alternative to all or nothing on level ups.

3) Background Skills- Not sure they are needed, but considering them.

4) Altered diseases and poisons- I may do this even without discussing with the player base. :)

5) Automatic Bonus Progression - Eliminate the "big six" so we can focus on much more flavorful uses of magic items. It also removes a lot of reliance on finding magic items to be able to function efficiently.

6) Scaling Items- This is the other one I may incorporate without asking permission. Just like #5, it's another tool to give more flavorful items, and eliminates some of the item economy issues that campaigns have.

If I go with 5 and 6, I will highly dissuade crafting however.

Hello, thank you for DMing :)

Dialogue is important? Well, I'll have to pull out my writers kit for this :0

I'm cool with a 20. I think that is what mine is already... If not it's a 25. Also just so everyone knows, I am playing a Bard! I pretty much have the character put together already...

What Nomine?

Hmm. I have a Mutagenic Brawler I would like to put forward, but I am not sure of the legality of it in terms of PFS. I'll check it out.

Also Times, you are too good at finding GMs. If you could find one for an In Nomine game I'd appreciate that. ;)

I'm good with the Mutagenic Mauler archtype, and yes, it is PFS legal.

I haven't played RotR, but I have played the card game, so I am familiar with the surname of your bard from your JR campaign that stalled out.

BTW, that first post of assumptions is just cut/pasted from my PM's with Timeskeeper as I was trying to figure out what kind of players I'd be getting if I said yes.

and I told him amazing ones!

Amazing? Alright Times has gone off the deep end :P Having dmed some of them before I'd say they are ok at not dying and I'm coming in not know what to build for this. Too many ideas.

In Nomine is a game based around the idea that Heaven and Hell are locked in an eternal war and Earth is their battlefield. Players play anything from Angels and Demons to Mummies, Vampires, Werewolves and Mages. In Nomine is such a badass setting.

Finally. I have been craving the ability to play a Mutagenic Mauler properly for awhile. Awesome.

Xan I can't go somewhere if I was already there. ^_^

Darkest, if I ever have the money to get the book, I'll go fishing for a GM for it.

I think most of it can be found for free online. I think the license is up on it or something. It is a pretty old game.

Yeah I saw it said 1997. I was like, ha! I was 5.

So a bard and a mutagenic mauler? Looks like we may need some divine arm or something. Ill dig into my books of knowledge.

I am quite tempted too play an Empyreal Knight of Shelyn.

I've decided I'll be posting a gnome sorcerer (sylvan) later tonight.

~scratches chin~ Hmm...two brawler group or nah. I had thoughts of playing a Wild Child Brawler but unsure now that I see someone else chimed in first and has been wanting it for some time. Though at least the Wild Child is a different breed of brawler from the Mutagenic.

Thoughts were on a Nagaji Wild Child Brawler with a monitor lizard companion ^_^. Though whether to use my old fluff for a similar character is something I should consider carefully as he was CE and a cannibal.

Though, I could switch it up and go Barbarian Flesheater to give the group a different class for the other front-liner....Idk, how does the gm feel about CE in a group of heroes and the group feel about the oddity of having a cannibal?

Of note, he can work with a group and not plan to kill them. He's more of the unsavory sort who does what others are unwilling and may take pleasure in it.

Uha, while CE may not be a main issue the whole cannibal thing would be yes.

Sigh, such stringent players.

Hey! I have a cannibal thank you!
Thank you!

It's more of the APs aren't the greatest chance to play Evil characters.

Ah true true, how about civilized cannibalism more akin to say the White Glove Society from Fallout New Vegas. He won't present what he's eating as people and he'll class it up and cook it like a proper steak and the like? After all, we're not savages. ~proceeds to pat his lips with a handkerchief~

I'd prefer to avoid the evil and cannibal side of things.

As a paladin of Shelyn I do not think Canabalism is accepted in my goddesses eye.

Wrong one XD

Actually, more fitting with the character I had in mind, I will be building a redeemer paladin instead of a Empyreal Lord if that is ok with the GM

This is Xan Nes. Almost nothing is done yet, but I do have some stuff on here so I will put him up. Did a bunch of stuff for the background generator, and he had had one horrible life. I will get his backstory done then all of his crunch.

There is one part of him I would like help on, as he was possessed at one point and I am trying to figure out what would possess a loyal worshiper of Shelyn.

~fake pouts~ Sigh, all thes LG players with their not liking my idea.

I kid, no worries. I'm gonna sit here and think for a bit if I wanna keep the puncher or go something else.

1)I'm super lazy when it comes to Multiclassing. I'm very very rarely a fan of it as it seems the game was always meant to be done in a single class. That said, it won't really effect me as I'm playing a martial class.
2)I've never seen this in play before but it's interesting as it does give you a little here, a little there and makes more sense for someone's ability to raise so I'm game if you have it figured out how you want it.
3)Always a fan, can't benefit enough from having more skills and I'm playing a negative int character so I would appreciate it ^_^ (Plus, PROFESSIONS. I love professions, I love being able to round out a character as something more than a class)
4)Do it! Ravage my body with diseases and maladies!!!
5)I find this interesting in a fashion just because it does let you play with magic items you never would otherwise so it makes for fun
6)I have seen these before and always wondered about them but always had to remove them from my hero labs stuff as I get confused.

I am gonna go ahead and continue down the Wild Child Brawler path, I'll behave and be a normal albeit carnivorous nagaji. I'm debating between CG and LG depending on how he grew up (Mainly if he lived and breathed in his more malleable years in a nagaji tribe. If so, then his best friend [Ameiko] will have saved him in some form or fashion and that is why he follows her out of honor.)

Here is my submission for the JR campaign, Gozzamer, gnome sorcerer of the fey wilds!

Gonna reuse this alias for the Nagaji...plus even though it's a picture of a kobold I like it.

How close is everyone to being good to go? How quickly would you like to actually kick things off? Is Monday a good target? Too fast? Too slow?

I'm doing a bit of writing which is why I'm mostly being quiet and letting you all do your thing at the moment. (I'm going to change up a few details on some things to keep things fresh since I know at least one player has played through the beginning of this before.)

I'll likely take a look at characters tonight. (BTW, I reread redeemer and I'm good with it.)

I have some crunch and background too cover. I will probably have a page or two of backstory when its all done, so you have been warned. Especially because of what I rolled on the background generator. I could probably do a page on the possession on its own. Best I can think of really is a shadow demon, or some Zon-Kuthon beastie. But I don't know for sure. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. Maybe Urgathoa? Those are the only enemies of Shelyn I can remember.

Some help is definitely appreciated for this

That's not a downside. That's a plus for me.

I have a 96 PFS characters now (as soon as the next AR update happens, I should finally hit 100.) I have a background story on every single one of those characters, with detail.

Shadow demon is definitely a solid choice. I was looking through all the different kinds of Oni to see if any would be a good fit (just because this is a Tien based module) but I didn't find any winners.

Another take on this...does your character even have to know what possessed him? If you want to leave that detail blank, perhaps you could find out later.

Notes:
1)If there are no objections, I plan to use all of the above for rules from unchained. I don't think they will have a major impact (even if someone does multiclass.)
2)I've outlined fairly significant changes to part 1 of the first book. Same overall plot. Same connection to the rest of the AP. Same major hook to get the party involved in things. Changed up encounters some and moved elements around to give new twists for those who have played that part before.
3)I will be using the Legendary games update to relationship rules outlined in the Jade Regent Player guide. Shouldn't have a huge impact from what you see, but it's a cleaner better system. I'll likely track additional relationships as well as the ones defined in the path. Once again, this is to add some surprises/twists for those who played.
4)What is everyone's feelings on the caravan rules? Do you want any focus there? I'm happy to use them, but I know a lot of players don't care about that side of things, since it's more logistical.

When it comes to the caravan, I think it's really good rp time. The jobs for the caravan would add some fluff to this and give us time to talk to the NPCs as well as ourselves.

I am always game for more npcs to romance/befriend.

I think its best if he doesn't know what possessed him, or if anyone does. Just that he was possessed. I would at least like to know in terms of what kind of personality was left behind, but I will be leaving a small physical reminder that has no actual impact unless you folks want it to. I am also going to be playing up his bestial appearance with a few little backstory bits. :)

As for caravan rules they look fun, and I am always up for relationships and romance with NPC's though with the way Dav is turning out to be that will be fun. He is willing to offer fashion advice to anyone though.

Sarhashil might need the help, he doesn't wear enough armor/clothing. He follows the warrior women code that the less is covered the better one is armored. (I kid of course about the code but he does wear little armor, thinking more Conan than anything else.)

Done with crunch, and up for review :)

Monday should be fine with me, I gotta work with Timeskeeper a bit since I'm best friends with her sister to do a bit of inclusion of her in my back story. I think that's the only person so far I gotta personally put in.

Though, I don't know what Darkest Heart has in mind just yet.

Question I forgot to ask...what of the three or four starting language choices am I supposed to start with GM? Common/Nagaji, Common/Nagaji/Tien, or Common/Draconic?

We were definitely going to RP caravans. I just wasn't sure how interested everyone is for the subsystem stuff. I LOVE subsystems, and this AP has two that are pretty unique to them. (If I actually go forward with running a Wrath of the Righteous campaign, I fully intend to steal both of these subsystems for that, even though it already uses two other subsystems.)

Question I forgot to ask...what of the three or four starting language choices am I supposed to start with GM? Common/Nagaji, Common/Nagaji/Tien, or Common/Draconic?

I believe it's Common/Nagaji, unless you take the race trait that changes it to Tien/Nagaji.

I personally enjoy the subsystems.

You sir, have shot me in the heart. I was hoping for Common/Draconic (From APG) or Common/Nagaji/Tien (From Dragon Gazette) as I wouldn't have to take linguistics levels more than once and would have the two useful languages out the starting languages (Draconic and Tien).

Which Race Trait is that?

Typically I find the subsystems the reason for running the various APs. They add a unique roll to the game that can give people something to focus into and or toy with over time.

When it comes to the caravan, I think it's really good rp time. The jobs for the caravan would add some fluff to this and give us time to talk to the NPCs as well as ourselves.

I agree. Any time I can RP is a good time.

Alright to my knowledge, I will know Timeskeeper's character beforehand (I believe she chose Amekio's younger sister trait). As I am honor bound to protect the lineage of Lonjiku.

Does anyone have plans to attempt to romance either daughter of Longjiku?

I assume I know Dav from how often his mentor is around...Gozzamer is it the same for you? Is your mentor Shalelu, therefore you hang around her town of choice typically?

To be fair, I think many people have seen Dav. Knowing him is another mattter

Nagaji stuff I see:
Common/Nagaji (Inner Sea Races)
Tien/Nagaji (Dragon Empire Native/Dragon Empires Primer)
Common/Draconic (Bestiary 4/ARG)

Any of these are fine.

I think I will stick with Common/Draconic and forgo my +1 HP for my first level so I can pick up Tien. Personally I just can't wrap my head around the idea of being able to learn any more languages easily as an 8 intelligence character. (I may only be able to write in Common, just to make up for this as a personal quirk)

Relationships I see thus far:
Ayame Kaijitsu: Younger Sister of Ameiko Kaijitsu (younger sibling trait)

Sarhashil: Honorbound to protect Ayame and Ameiko Kaijitsu (best friend trait)

Davlamin "Dav" Beau: Was helped by Koya Mvashti in the past (best friend trait)