Thron's Rise of the Runelords Campaign

Game Master Thron

"The coastal town of Sandpoint has faced few trials and dangers over the course of its forty-two year history, but unfortunately, that is all about to change. Unknown to the town’s founders, they chose to build their community over the ruins of an ancient stronghold once used as laboratory and prison, a place where horrific experiments and unholy explorations into what divides man from monster took place. These are the Catacombs of Wrath, one of several such sites used by Runelord Alaznist’s apprentices during Thassilon’s height, a place where arcanists explored and perfected the stolen arts of lifeshaping and fleshwarping. When Thassilon fell, these catacombs went dormant, but the one buried under Sandpoint was not fated to stay that way."

Okay, so I am going to try my hand at the PbP GM'ing thing. And what better way to do it than with Rise of the Runelords! Some information about me to get started:

I am a full time nurse, and will be transitioning to night shift in the near future. 12 hour shifts. Loads of fun. Been married for almost 9 months. I travel to visit relatives frequently. I also have a weekly gaming group I attend on Sundays. However, I still, situation pending, find the time to try to post once per day in the three games I am currently in. The only things that really hold me up are if I have little to contribute to the scene or any of the above RL obstacles getting in the way, though I do my best to minimize such occurrences. A lot of the time I post from a mobile device, as my computer is currently being repaired. I am not a grammatical genius, nor am I a typing beast. I will make mistakes, so I won't hold you to any unrealistic standards regarding the English language, but the better you write and easier your post is to read, the better.

I like to keep things moving at a decent pace, and as such, will be looking for posts from people at least once per day, exceptions being the weekends. If you have nothing to really contribute to the current scene for the moment, please say so out of character and I will be fine with that. If things are ready to progress in-game, and we are waiting for actions from someone, I will post out of character a request for that individual to act, and if 24 hours pass, I reserve the right to DMPC that characters actions for the round, or move the scene along without their input.

So, if you are fine with what you've read so far, I invite you to apply! Here is the character creation to follow:

Starting Level: 1st level

Stats: 2 options. First is 20 Point Buy. Second is Roll 4d6 drop the lowest, if overall modifier total is less than +4, you may then do a 15 Point Buy.

Alignment: I am going to be allowing any alignment here, though I am expecting every character to have something that motivates them to take part in the campaign. Also, I am a firm believer that an Evil character does NOT have to be maniacal. In fact, true villainy comes in a form that makes the masses love them. If you elect to play an evil character, they stand a far better chance at acceptance if they play well with others. Also, your character will be accountable for their actions. If you are caught committing a crime, expect to be pursued and/or punished.

HP: Max for 1st level; after that, you can either roll upon leveling up or take the average.

Classes: Core Material available on the SRD will be accepted, minus Gunslinger. Sorry, not a big fan.

Races: All races except the following will be okay: Ratfolk, Tengu, Grippli, Samsarans, Strix, Vishkanyas, or Wayangs. If you choose to play something monstrous, for example: a Kobold, explain why you are tolerated in civilized lands.

Drawbacks: I will be allowing Drawbacks.

Traits: Two, one being a campaign trait. So with a drawback you have potential for three traits.

Wealth: Max starting wealth.

Downtime: I will be allowing some of the downtime rules in regards to businesses and teams. The campaign takes place mostly in and around Sandpoint, so if you want to develop roots here, I encourage you to do so. Also, if you want to do some crafting, opportunity will be available from time to time.

Submitting a Character:
Create a profile/alias and include relevant information and mechanics inside. I’m going to be asking that character submissions follow this format, stolen from Jelani. You don’t have to follow that exactly; as long as it’s not a nightmare to read and the information is all there, I’ll be content.

Be sure to include the following in your profile, preferably at the bottom and in spoilers:

Description - Please provide a description of your character as if someone were seeing them for the first time. If you have a picture reference, please include it.

Personality - Self explanatory I hope.

Background - Your character is not a hero of great renown, at least not yet. Feel free to go as in depth as you'd like on this section, but keep in mind that you are level one, and while above the cut of your average soldier or town guard, you haven't done any great wonders yet. Also, I am not blind to the fact that this AP has been out for ages, and many of its features are not so secret. If you have knowledge of the campaign, I invite you to have your character be FROM Sandpoint, and you can incorporate some tidbits of this knowledge in your background. However, I do ask that you do your best not to use out of game knowledge to drive character actions. If I suspect any metagaming to be taking place, I will put an end to it in my own, most likely harsh, means. Also, if you go this route, I expect you to include at least 1 rank in Knowledge (Local) in your character to represent this added insight. In this section, include why and how you came to Sandpoint for the Swallowtail Festival.

Your characters will be able to interact prior to game start in the Gameplay Thread, partly as a way to have fun and pass the time, partly to help me evaluate your posting style/frequency/character personality. The pre-game RP will be taking place during the festival.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Recruitment will be open until February 7th, and I will try to make my decisions by the 9th.

Mu. Hu. Ha.

4d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 2, 4) = 14 12
4d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 5, 5) = 18 15
4d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 5, 5) = 16 14
4d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 6, 1) = 13 12
4d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 5, 6) = 18 15
4d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 3, 5) = 19 16

Oh, RotR? I totally forgot you were doing this!

Hmm... to bring back Baern Steelskull, the headbutting Fighter of Pain, or perhaps that one Shoanti Oracle/Sorcerer..

Kagehiro, what are you aiming for?

Utterly clueless for the time being. With that stat array, I can pull off pretty much anything.

Hello, I started this previously, but the game fell apart before we got too far so I don't have too much knowledge of it. I am working on changing over my character to your preferred format.

I would really love to play through this!

Indeed. I'm going with the point-buy myself - always prefer the point buy. I could possibly bring back this guy, the aforementioned Shoanti Oracle.

He'd eventually go Sorcerer and then Mystic Theurge - but.. I'd need to revise him, as I found out quickly that he was horrible early-game. -5 ranged, -3 melee? XD

Then theres the Dwarven Foehammer who specializes in a Dwarven Longhammer combined with a Dwarven Boulderhelmet - a Giant Hunter, as it would be.

..perhaps something else, though. Hmmm..

Dotting for interest. I'm thinking an human cleric of Desna or a rogue (can't decide if I want them to be a human or Tiefling...)

I may just bite the bullet and jump on a Paladin. Giving consideration to another wizard, too, but my idea is a little far-fetched for that one. Haven't done a Lawful Stoopid in a good while.

I'm interested in applying with a character that would begin as an Oracle, and end up taking levels in Paladin, Ninja, and perhaps even Monk and Ranger down the line to become a competent melee combatant with a variety of other useful tricks. One piece might be pushing it too far, so I'll ask if you would consider the following two abilities to stack for Reflex saves. I would probably stick with the character concept even if you rule Cha to Reflex only applies once.

Divine Grace (Su)
At 2nd level, a paladin gains a bonus equal to her Charisma bonus (if any) on all Saving Throws.

Sidestep Secret (Su):
Your innate understanding of the universe has granted you preternatural reflexes and the uncanny ability to step out of danger at the very last second. Add your Charisma modifier (instead of your Dexterity modifier) to your Armor Class and all Reflex saving throws. Your armor’s maximum Dexterity bonus applies to your Charisma instead of your Dexterity (see FAQ.)

No, I wouldn't let those stack. Also, try to avoid a character that has to have 3+ classes to work. The idea of a team is that not everybody is capable of everything, but rather each part makes a cohesive whole that relies upon the specialties of the others involved to survive.

4d6 - 1 ⇒ (1, 2, 5, 1) - 1 = 8 -2 -1
4d6 - 1 ⇒ (6, 6, 4, 1) - 1 = 16 10 +3
4d6 - 4 ⇒ (4, 4, 5, 6) - 4 = 15 7 +2
4d6 - 4 ⇒ (5, 5, 4, 6) - 4 = 16 10 +3
4d6 - 1 ⇒ (4, 6, 1, 4) - 1 = 14 5 +2
4d6 - 1 ⇒ (6, 1, 3, 5) - 1 = 14 5 +2

So, that's a 35 point buy with a +11 total.

Also, I think you may not be familiar with all the features of the forum. If you put dice rolls in a post and then press "preview", you can see what the results are going to be without making the visible to anyone else. This means that people familiar with how the forums operate can do the 4d6 roll and choose to do the 20 point build without you ever knowing they tried the dice rolls first.

One good thing about how the system does dice rolls. If you do a die roll in a thread, the system remembers that roll whether you post it or not, and if you "try again later" it gives you the SAME RESULT. One bad aspect is that if you post a bunch of die rolls, and the go to insert another one in the middle of the post, that DOES change the results from that point down.

I ma currently awaiting the results of another RotRL application thread. If I don't make that game, I'll modify the character build for this result set. I REALLY don't know where I would put that 8, though. I might well leave it in Strength . . ..

I am kinda banking on people being honest, as if they are going to be so dishonest over a risked 5 Point Buy difference, I'll catch em in something eventually and they will be sucked into a demiplane with a Balor.

Alright, I think I've narrowed it down to three likely choices:

I'm actually thinking of a Halfling Summoner myself - a tag-team duo of con artists. The Eidolon would be a small, bipedal Eidolon focused around skills more than combat.

Alright, I have to decide between 3 characters.
1 - Stigandr Brokenshield, Ulfen Fighter (maybe ranger down the road)
2 - Khair abd Bahram, Kellish Cleric of Sarenrae
3 - Sabletail, Tiefling Rogue
So, since I cannot decide, I'll let the die be cast.
Roll!: 1d3 ⇒ 3

I have been wanting to throw a Barbarian at Rise of the Runelords for ages, but really haven't gotten around to put that idea into play - most times, when I arrive on the recruitment threads there are already others putting forth a barbarian type, and I end up leaving things at that - this time I am giving it a shot :D

4d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 6, 5) = 21 = 16
4d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 3, 3) = 18 = 15
4d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 6, 3) = 15 = 13
4d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 3, 3) = 13 = 10
4d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 6, 3) = 21 = 18
4d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 2, 6) = 16 = 14

Wow....

DM Thron, are you allowing Archetypes? Was planning on an Invulnerable Rager if possible.

Archetypes from core material are fine.

4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 2, 6) = 19 17
4d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 1, 4) = 11 10
4d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 3, 2) = 12 11
4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 2, 6) = 17 15
4d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 4, 5) = 17 14
4d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 4, 5) = 17 15

Rogue eventually going into sorcerer and arcane trickster...
Str 15
Dex 15
Con 10
Int 14
Wis 11
Cha 17

or Rogue eventually going into wizard and arcane trickster...
Str 14
Dex 15
Con 15
Int 17
Wis 11
Cha 10

Will need to do some pondering...

Great! I have already an idea on a character personality, and reasons for being in Sandpoint, so I'll get working on the crunch, backstory and board alias as soon as possible. Thanks DM Thron.

I was in another RotRL that went kaput during the climax of Book One. I'll try to keep that in mind for my backstory.

4d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 4, 1) = 15 14 (+2)
4d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 3, 4) = 14 11 (0)
4d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 4, 1) = 8 7 (-2)
4d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 1, 5) = 9 8 (-1)
4d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 6, 5) = 19 17 (+3)
4d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 4, 4) = 20 16 (+3)

So that's a net +5 modifier right there. The negative mods are a little painful, but I'll see what I can do with them. Some kind of caster seems likely.

Lot's of RotR's on these boards lately...

a conspiracy perhaps?

Never played, sounds fun, let's see what the dice have in store...

4d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 5, 3) = 10=9
4d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 2, 1) = 14=13
4d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 3, 3) = 14=12
4d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 6, 2) = 16=14
4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 1, 5) = 13=12
4d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 4, 5) = 17=15

Hmmm, now it's off to the drawing board!

I have Ravboom here. He was built for a Kingmaker game, but I had some OOC trouble with one of the other players, and it kind of ruined the game for me, so I dropped out. I still like the character though.

I believe he's already built on a 20 pt build, and he's already built for max gold starting level. He's a LN gobby who was a former slave who escaped, so he didn't really grow up in a normal gobby den. I'd modify the background to fit better, and tweak the traits, obviously. If he's even remotely acceptable.

On a secondary note, I run 2 games on here, and am in several games, and only had trouble with one person in OOC so far, so I think that was an abberation. But if you don't feel comfortable having me in with that revelation, I understand.

I have finished adapting Cerin, let me know if there's a problem with his feat (or anything else). Do you allow rolling for a Variant Aasimar Ability?

Hey Thron, I've been wanting to play RotR for a while now (and have held off on reading it) waiting for the right GM to offer it. It's great to see someone who I've played with before and know is a good writer!

4d6 - 3 ⇒ (3, 3, 6, 6) - 3 = 15
4d6 - 2 ⇒ (4, 2, 4, 5) - 2 = 13
4d6 - 2 ⇒ (5, 3, 3, 2) - 2 = 11
4d6 - 1 ⇒ (1, 5, 6, 5) - 1 = 16
4d6 - 3 ⇒ (3, 5, 6, 6) - 3 = 17
4d6 - 5 ⇒ (5, 5, 6, 6) - 5 = 17

...and Holy Carp, those are some fine rolls. If you want to tone that down some, just let me know.

Tentatively thinking a Bard, either vanilla (no archetypes) or an Archeologist.

You can do anything you want with those stats, even a monk. :P

Hello, I'd be interested in playing an arcane caster of some type, probably a witch. I'll need to read over the players guide before I finalize the idea and wor out a background. I'll try to have a framework up by tomorrow and a background by Sat.

Thron, do you know what size party you're going for?

Everything is in the profile for the character! Hope to be chosen. (Used 20 point buy because my die rolling luck is awful.)

Hi DM Thron. I'd like to apply with this character. The fluff's all there, but I need to rebuild for a 20 point buy, spend some more money and select a campaign trait. I'll try and do that tonight.

Interested, let's see what I get for stats before I go too crazy on ideas.

4d6: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 3, 3) = 11 10
4d6: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 1, 6) = 16 15
4d6: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 6, 5) = 20 16
4d6: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 5, 4) = 17 15
4d6: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 5, 4) = 15 14
4d6: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 3, 4) = 19 16

Hot damn.

So I'm thinking a sword and shield two weapon fighter. I even get to be good at some skills.

I'll get a build posted some time after I get home from work and can play with HeroLab.

Going for a party of 5.

Variant Aasimar and Tiefling bloodlines are fine, but not doing the variant ability table, unless you take the feat, and if you do so, I will make the roll for you.

Ravboom, you will need a VERY good reason why you are tolerated in the town of Sandpoint as a goblin. Just a heads up.

That's pretty much a given no matter where, as I understand it, being a goblin. :) I was thinking of taking the Monster Hunter campaign trait, and adjusting his background to be that he'd been hunting monsters in and around Sandpoint for the last 3 to 6 months or so. That way the locals had gotten used to him (usually used to him bringing in things for bounties). Not necessarily in love with him, but he's 'that scary strong little gobby that keeps bringing in giant scorpion tails' rather than 'that stupid gobby!'. :)

I've got a wannabe golemcrafter I'd like to bring in.
He was in a Runelords game already, but got two encounters in before the game died. Happy to start him again though.
Does that sound alright?

4d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 5, 6) = 23 18
4d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 2, 6) = 16 13
4d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 2, 1) = 12 11
4d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 6, 6) = 19 18
4d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 4, 2) = 13 12
4d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 6, 4) = 13 12

WOW, I didn't know it would remember rolls. I accidentally refreshed the page and lost my post, so I was expecting to lose that roll.

I may try some kind of Bard or else a divine spellcaster (probably an Oracle or a Cleric) there appear to be a lot of arcane spellcasters already.

Profile updated with the exception of adding more equipment. As a monk, he doesn't need much in terms of gear, but as a dhampir, healing is an issue.

DM Thron; is buying a potion of inflict light wounds before the campaign begins permissible? Some DMs don't feel comfortable with starting PCs having magical items, and it's a rather odd item (something only a dhampir would gain any benefit from, aside from use as some kind of magical poison). If allowed, I'd probably buy two for extra survivability.

Hello again, this is Edeldhur's Barbarian submission - crunch is somewhat finished, to give an idea of the mechanics about the character. I am still on the fence regarding the Pride drawback, but I'll mull it over some more - fluff to follow.

OK, cool. Halfling Archaeologist in the works. He'll be a good sneak and trapbreaker, with bard spells & a bit of archery.

Ideas buzzing for fluff now. More details sometime this weekend.

Harakani: Sure, I will discuss any issues I think of with you at a later date (at work, shhh).

Morythine, and everyone else: If you can afford it and it is core material, you can buy it.

Well since Gyr is going sneaky-sneaky type, I'm going to avoid my sneaky summoner/eidolon - since I know Gyr is an excellent writer, I don't want to compete with him given the excellent entry he'll likely post :P

Expect a Dwarf. Love me some dwarves.

Ooops! Crusty, wasn't trying to step on your toes.

If you're feeling attached to your sneaky summoner, I could take my Archaeologist concept toward Swashbuckler too, just let me know...

Actually I've come up with a new and improved concept.

A Dwarven Spellkiller Inquisitor - a purger of heretical arcanists. Need to work in the fluff on why he's in Sandpoint obviously, but I'll come up with something.

I've decided to run a half-elf witch, with the beast-bonded archetype. I figure he can be the "crazy" hermit of Sandpoint, living on its outskirts but stopping by every so often to sell scrap. He'll be awkward, but kindly enough to keep watch on the goblin population for the people of the town (hence the Goblin Watcher trait).

I already like the Avatar Mahorfeus :D

Ok, I'll be submitting a character named Kala Steelheart shortly.

DM Crustypeanut;

Would you allow the ACG trial classes? Specifically, I always thought a Shoanti would make a great Brawler...

Thanks

DM Thron is the DM for the AP.

Sorry, yeah I'm not the DM XD I just use this profile as my general posting profile - I am a DM in a few campaigns, but not this one ;P

Dotting...now for a concept..

I'll let the acg classes fly.

Also, just wanted to remind everybody to try to keep any heroics in your background to a minimum, as your true legacy will be beginning in Sandpoint.