Congrats Treasure!
I'm sure you'll find some excellent groups that love playing with you, I sure have.
And on that note... sorry about my absence I won't call it depression but I've been dealing with a severe lack of energy for the last couple of weeks and kept telling myself I'll post tomorrow, I'll post tomorrow, etc etc etc.
Thanks guys. So far nothing has worked out, but I think I just need a different approach to get things going. And more eyes, for sure. If you happen to have some advice, I'm all ears.
I totally understand, Janis. Take the time you need.
I can't wait for Janis to get improved feint. It'll boost your damage by so much. You're so close.
I, do not understand the necklace of fireballs.
I can't tell how many are on there or what
Okay, I kinda get it now, how many 5 d6 werw used?
one
So.... on the severe lack of energy... I'm going to be honest, the last few months whenever I said I came down with something... yeah, I lied, it was the same lack of energy.
I see you're having a tough time, and I'm sorry you're going through that. You're welcome here, but if you feel like you need to bow out to take care of yourself, I understand and completely respect that. I would much rather you heal and recover, in whatever way is necessary for your situation, than to demand your time and energy here. It's your call.
Take care of yourself first and foremost.
Honestly, I think the best thing for me is just getting back into routine right now, and right this second, can't promise it will stay this way, I'm kinda pepped up
The way I read it says while you do wear it and do need to wear it, it doesn't count against the neck slot.
I believe you're right, Janis. Although a neck slot wonderous item, it states in fine text
"(It does not count as an item worn around the neck for the purpose of determining which of a character’s worn magic items is effective.)"
--------------------
@Cleo, would you please name your Celestial Dire Boar? Thanks
Gorous
Gorgeous Gorous
I had my first d&d interview, and I'm so nervous. No idea if I'm going to get the job or not. It's a group of hardcore Star Wars people looking for a GM. I keep going on and on about the mistakes I made in conversation. But ahhhhhhh I'm doing things. I'm moving up!
Sounds like you're leveling up... AWESOME!
I had my first d&d interview, and I'm so nervous. No idea if I'm going to get the job or not. It's a group of hardcore Star Wars people looking for a GM. I keep going on and on about the mistakes I made in conversation. But ahhhhhhh I'm doing things. I'm moving up!
Which version? I might be able to help you?
Great work sir!
The system they'd like to use is 5e Star Wars. I'm quite familiar with 5e, but not the Star Wars subset. They're most interested in the Expanded Universe, and from what I gathered, they like periods from before the movies.
Still not a done-deal, but I'm trying to educate myself while I wait. I'm going to search for a pre-written module to see if I can run that, which will decrease the price for them.
Hmm, yeah, not super familiar with the expanded universe BEFORE the movies. After the movies is where I've mostly read. Though the young han solo trilogy is nice. Reveals the reason he speaks wookie, he was basically raised by one. At least before Disney said nope, none of that is canon.
merry christmas everyone
Merry Christmas sir :)
I hope you guys enjoyed your Christmas time. I don't expect frequent posts until we hit January 2021, but I'll continue posting as things come up.
My hope is that we get this vampire dead and montage our way to book3. It's past time.
You do 5e? Got somebody asking around for a GM and thought I'd point them you way if they're willing to pay.
AntiPlague can give +4 to saves. Plus Resistance gives a one time +1 per cast
Tomorrow Cleo can memorize a bunch of them to clear it up, if we survive that is.
I do do 5e, and thanks for the offer Janis. I'm altering my plan of business towards streaming on Twitch. Haven't started yet, but I currently don't have plans to run a paid D&D game. Not unless a full group is already asking for a GM.
I'm "fluent" in Pathfinder, D&D 5e, and Open Legend. I also am willing to learn and run games with Cogent, Talisman, Pathfinder 2e, Starfinder, and Call of Cthulhu 7e. I see each system as a toolbox, and depending on the game and setting, different toolboxes are useful for the job at hand.
Eh, they ignored me anyways. Might I suggest familiarizing yourself with hero system, that is one hell of a toolbox.
Hero system. I'll consider it!
Hello Friends, Happy New Year
I want to ask a couple questions now that festivities are over for the next while. New Years, in my opinion, is a great time to decide what things to end, and what things to begin. Regarding this game, I've noticed that a few people have been showing difficulty in regularly posting. I like all of you, and I want you to continue playing here, but I also want to open the opportunity for you to decide if playing in this game is what you really want to do. You're always welcome to read the game, and chat in the discussion thread if you'd like. I want to get us through to the end of book 6, ideally by the end of this new year. I'm not entirely sure how I'm going to accomplish that, since I seem to love adding wayyyyy too much content, but that's the goal. By December of 2021, I want us to be around level 16 and just about ready for the final showdown.
I hope you guys have enjoyed the holidays, and are ready to get back to the action.
Hey Cleo, I looked back at when you dispelled the curse on the corrupted holy symbol. What you dispelled was a curse called Pervasive Gloom. It wasn't my original desire, but I wanted something to happen since you were being creative with your remove curse spell.
"Some locations ooze dread and foreboding, whether from old evils left to stagnate or the presence of some lingering psychic residue from years of torture or oppression. The locations can be single rooms, entire structures, old cemeteries, or even decaying forest groves. Trespassing creatures find the gloom nibbles away at their mental defenses, and take a –2 penalty on saves against fear effects, effects with the emotion descriptor, the effects of haunts, the progression of corruptions, madness', and sanity damage."
The channel resistance is in part from the monster itself, and also from the Magic Circle against Good. You'll need either a consecrate, or a dispel magic, or a dispel evil to get rid of it specifically.
The unhallow spell is tied to a specific object in the temple. Destroying that object will end the spell.
For those of you who aren't fighting in the dungeon and might have missed an earlier post: We've got a time lapse to clear up. I'm waiting for Andreste to figure out how to deal with the infliction she suddenly felt while researching. Later we'll have Furnok join her. Janis is kind of just hanging out with Saila.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Hello Friends, Happy New Year
I want to ask a couple questions now that festivities are over for the next while. New Years, in my opinion, is a great time to decide what things to end, and what things to begin. Regarding this game, I've noticed that a few people have been showing difficulty in regularly posting. I like all of you, and I want you to continue playing here, but I also want to open the opportunity for you to decide if playing in this game is what you really want to do. You're always welcome to read the game, and chat in the discussion thread if you'd like. I want to get us through to the end of book 6, ideally by the end of this new year. I'm not entirely sure how I'm going to accomplish that, since I seem to love adding wayyyyy too much content, but that's the goal. By December of 2021, I want us to be around level 16 and just about ready for the final showdown.
I hope you guys have enjoyed the holidays, and are ready to get back to the action.
I've been struggling with these questions over the last few months myself, and I'm sure it's been evident. I really like the things you do as a gm, putting your own touches on everything. I enjoy the other players. I like Andreste as a character.
And yet, I seem to have more and more trouble getting myself motivated to log into the gameplay thread and do something. Looking over my past histories with play-by-posts games, I know the holidays can be struggling time for me- I always get busier with work and family during this time and that certainly plays into it a bit. But that's not really what's keeping me from posting (slowing it down, maybe), and I'm honestly not sure what is.
Although I've moved away from first edition for the most part, I don't think this is it either. You guys are worth playing in any system with, and it's not like I dislike PF1, I just like PF2 more.
I used to have more stamina and energy for play-by posts, but I don't think it's in me any more to participate in a long-term pbp game. It would be fairer to you all for me to withdraw from the game.
I believe there is a potential route wherein if cured of the disease Andreste is suffering from, she reflects on her path and decides that she should take the two babies and raise them on her own. There is a definite appeal towards that end for her and the rescue of the other orphans seems to place an unwieldy burden on the church folk and lessen the odds of the kids seeing a decent home.
In any case, I want to thank you all for inviting me in and letting me get to know your stories and be a part of them. And I especially want to thank you TreasureFox for the original invitation and for being an understanding and stand-up gm. Next few rounds of coffee are on me.
Thanks for hanging out with us Reckless. Andreste was a great wizardess to have around, I am MORE than certain we couldn't have gotten through the cult battle without her, not in the least. The Terror of the huge flying squirrel was awesome.
Good luck, good gaming and I hope to play with you again someday.
Thank you for spending your time with us, Andreste/Reckless. You've been a great player, and I've really enjoyed Andreste. There's no hard feeling here. People grow and change, and see the world with more clarity. I wish you the very best in your next adventures, both in game and irl.
I'll make sure Andreste gets to raise the kids. It's a fitting end
As you can see, I'm wrapping things up pretty quickly. We'll be montaging through our trip to Turtleback in the very near future.
I'll be posting a recruitment for a new mage. @Janis, would you be okay if I also recruited a rogue in your place?
Andreste thanks for your time with us. You will be missed
We should let the Pharesmians destroy the mace
Level 8
HP 5+2+1=+8
+1 Dex
+1 Bab
+1 Fort/Ref
Swift Track:Full speed while using survival to track
2nd Favored Terrain: Urban
+1 2nd level spell
I'd like to hear a final decision on what is being left for the Iomedaens. I'd also like someone to chime in on Furnok's idea of giving the Second Death heavy mace to the Pharasmins. It'd be kind of nice for a character or two to say their goodbyes to Andreste and Ameiko/Amaya.
I also want to hear from Janis if he feels like he can play or not. I don't want to put pressure on him, but I also feel like I have a limited amount of time.
I'm working on setting up book 3 and the recruitment thread. @Cleo, I'm considering inviting Abbo and Vandomir from Hell's Rebels. If you'd consider giving me your honest opinion (either here or in private) of if you'd like to play with them, I'd really like to hear it.
As part of recruitment, I've decided to rewrite the campaign traits, since they're for book 1. You guys will have the option to replace your campaign trait with a new one, if you so desire, and you feel like you can make narrative use of the mechanical benefits.
Who here is familiar with book3, the Hook Mountain Massacre? I do want to point out that this book is a bit... graphic regarding the monsters' actions. If you have difficulties with the following categories, please feel free to message me. I won't be going into fine details, and the horrors are not done to PCs, but it's good to ask.
- Body horror (loss of limbs, violent death, blood, decomposition of bodies, etc)
- Cannibalism, incest, allusion to infanticide, using bodies as materials/entertainment
- Sexual violence (not committed against PCs)
- Torture (mostly body related, some psychological)
- Gruesome and tragic deaths
- A lot of Alabaman and other southern US references and stereotypes
If any of these are difficult for you, or you're wondering if something else might be included in the game, please feel free to message me. We'll figure out how to accommodate you so you don't have to suffer.
Just because it is there is A LOT of inbreeding does not necessarily mean it is a reference to my state (Alabama). :)
I am familiar with this book in various degrees.
Cleo doesn't care much about treasure (obviously since she really doesn't have any) and has no interest in a weapon designed to kill enemies of her faith. Plus she sucks at fighting so a magic weapon is wasted on her. I agreed with Wabbit's idea of the chainmail through with your addition of resizing. (I'll look over the rest sometime today)
I'll try and post something today saying goodbye and get with you about Abbo and Vandomir.
I'd like to hear a final decision on what is being left for the Iomedaens. I'd also like someone to chime in on Furnok's idea of giving the Second Death heavy mace to the Pharasmins.
I'm good with giving the mace to the Pharasmins. And as CLeo (armor) and Wabbit (cloak+2) have taken treasure I believe the rest belongs to the Iomedeans
It'd be kind of nice for a character or two to say their goodbyes to Andreste and Ameiko/Amaya.
Will do.
I also want to hear from Janis if he feels like he can play or not. I don't want to put pressure on him, but I also feel like I have a limited amount of time.
I'd like for Janis to continue with us. But only if he feels capable of keeping up long-term. @Janis this is a tough and weird time in the world. It's completely understandable for things to be overwhelming. There's no shame in saying you can't commit to us long-term. I hope you can, but if not I'll say thank you for your time with us and thanks for being honest about your ability to post or not post with us consistently. Hope things get better for you.
Who here is familiar with book3, the Hook Mountain Massacre? I do want to point out that this book is a bit... graphic regarding the monsters' actions. If you have difficulties with the following categories, please feel free to message me. I won't be going into fine details, and the horrors are not done to PCs, but it's good to ask.
- Body horror (loss of limbs, violent death, blood, decomposition of bodies, etc)
- Cannibalism, incest, allusion to infanticide, using bodies as materials/entertainment
- Sexual violence (not committed against PCs)
- Torture (mostly body related, some psychological)
- Gruesome and tragic deaths
- A lot of Alabaman and other southern US references and stereotypes
If any of these are difficult for you, or you're wondering if something else might be included in the game, please feel free to message me. We'll figure out how to accommodate you so you don't have to suffer.
I have no familiarity with any of this AP...I have no problems with any of what you listed above.....Not that I don't have moral problems with committing those acts myself IRL lol...I'm not CE....I just don't have a problem with them as part of our story
While inbreeding is the most... overt of the stereotypes, there are a few more subtle ones, although I don't think any of them are really Alabama-specific. I'm aiming for a good laugh, but sometimes it doesn't work out.
I totally get it, Wabbit. You're not psycho.
I like having topics like these in my stories, but only when handled responsibly. I know there are plenty of people out there who don't share that mentality, and that's totally okay.
These are the campaign traits that I've been designing. I'd be curious to know what you think. Keep in mind that the ones that inflict penalties are meant to be more powerful.
Animal Keeper
You come from a long line of livestock farmers and ranchers, with your home outside Turtleback Ferry having been lived in since your great grandfather. Through generations of taming and breeding these livestock, you've been privy to training techniques that are a family-kept secret. You always treat handle animal as a class skill. Choose a domesticated animal typically found on farms or ranches, located on either the animal companions list, or the familiars list. You start the game with this animal, and receive a +3 bonus to both handle animal and ride checks related to that animal's general subfamily (canines, equines, felines, etc). Finally, choose between animal companion or familiar.
Animal Companion. If you do not have the animal companion class feature (or similar), you gain the Animal Affinity feat, and it replaces the Nature Soul feat as a prerequisite for the Animal Ally feat. If you already have the animal companion class feature (or similar), and use this animal as your companion, you gain the Boon Companion feat.
Familiar. You automatically gain the Familiar Bond feat, regardless of prerequisites, and you ignore the Iron Will prerequisite to qualify for Improved Familiar Bond. Your familiar always has the Speak with Master ability.
Black Arrow Hopeful
Though the Black Arrows often buffer their numbers by taking on criminals sentenced to the life-long crucible of ruthless discipline and rigorous training, occasionally someone crazy enough wishes to join their ranks. You've been training for years in the hopes of joining the grim Order of the Black Arrows, charged with protecting Turtleback Ferry and most of Varisian civilization from the threat of Ogres, Trolls, Wyverns, and other terrible foes. You gain the Bravery class feature, treating your character level as your fighter level -4. If you already have the bravery class feature, it increases by 1. In addition, whenever you threaten a critical hit on an enemy who's size is larger than your own, you gain a +2 bonus to confirm the critical threat. This bonus does not stack with the Critical Focus feat.
Charitable Soul
Whether by religious calling, or just by pure morals, you've always felt the call not only to help the poor and destitute whenever you come across them, but to seek them out and help. Your travels have brought you to the townsfolk of Turtleback Ferry, where many of its farmers and fishermen sleep in rundown shacks and spend their hard-earned coppers at the taphouse. You start with 10% less wealth than your level's recommended wealth level (in this case, 29,700gp). Include in your background how you have demonstrated your charity, which may include monetary donations, or volunteer work rather than working for profit. At the beginning of the game, you count as a charitable soul for the purposes of sin magic. Choose from one of the following skills (Craft, Lore, Perform, or Profession). You gain free skill ranks equal to your character level for that skill, and you gain masterwork tools if that skill requires them.
Hard Worker
Growing up in Turtleback Ferry is no picnic. You've learned that no one gives you anything in life for free, that hard work and true grit are the only things that keep you on your feet when the going gets tough. You gain either the Great Fortitude or Iron Will feat to reflect your tenacity, and you gain a +2 bonus to all strength checks and strength-based skills. As a bonus, if you ever gain the grit class feature, your maximum grit points increases by 1.
Paradise Hopeful
You've heard of a new place in Turtleback Ferry called Paradise, which has soared in popularity despite its remote location. It's a gambling den floating off the shores of Claybottom lake, and features a wide variety of games of chance, with huge gold prizes and stories of commoners making it big. There are incredible musicians, scantily-clad women, and tons of alcohol. To you, it truly sounds like a paradise, and you've been hoarding gold to spend when you finally set foot there. At the beginning of the game, you count as a greedy soul for the purposes of sin magic. You gain a +2 bonus to all checks made to haggle over a price, and you spend 10% less on all materials for crafting or spellcasting than what they're actually worth. Once per day, you can ask the GM to roll twice on a single d20 roll in your stead. If you succeed on both rolls, you gain a critical success. If you succeed on only one, you succeed at the task, but at a minor cost. If you fail both rolls, you suffer a critical failure. The GM uses their discretion to determine the benefits or penalties of the result.
Pious Churchgoer
Your dedication to the sermons of Father Virgo Ferrus and the teachings of Erastil have given you great respect in the larger community. You gain a +1 bonus to religion checks, and religion is a class skill for you. Townsfolk from rural origins automatically treat you as friendly unless motivated otherwise. If you have at least 3 ranks in religion, you automatically gain the Deific Obedience feat for Erastil.
Ruins Delver
Many ruins of ancient Thassilon hide within deep patches of dangerous Varisian wilderness, waiting to be studied and plundered. However, even those who are skilled or lucky enough to brave the wilds are not safe within the ruins. Timeless monsters and magical traps threaten adventurers who delve recklessly. You are one of the few who've managed to explore these forgotten time capsules, and as such, you've picked up a few tricks along the way. Choose one of the following options:
Scholar. You gain a +3 bonus to arcana and history checks related to Thassilon, and can make these checks untrained. Furthermore, you can speak and read Thassilonian.
Trapkiller. You gain a +1 to disable device checks, and treat disable device as a class skill. You also gain the ability to disarm magical traps. If you're already capable of disarming magical traps, you can use disable device as a means of understanding how mundane and magical traps function.
Treasurefinder. You gain a +1 to appraise, escape artist, and perception checks, and one of these skills is a class skill for you. In addition, you automatically know if an object is a magical item simply by looking at it.
Wilderness explorer. You gain the woodland stride and trackless step druid class features. If you already have these features, or later gain both of them, you instead gain Mystic stride as a bonus feat, and treat stealth as a class skill.
Savage Outcast
Hailing from the dangerous and monstrous lands around the Storval Plateau, the Cinderlands, Kaer Maga, and the Sanos/Ashwood forests, you've travelled to Turtleback Ferry for your own reasons. In order to be accepted by your new peers due to your monstrous race or foreign customs, you've worked tirelessly to show the locals that you mean no harm, and that you're trying your best to integrate into their society. You gain a +1 bonus to diplomacy checks, and diplomacy is a class skill for you. In addition, all locals of Turtleback Ferry treat you with at least indifference, unless they have a specific reason to treat you otherwise. If you do not normally get Common from your starting languages, you gain Common as a bonus language. Suitable monstrous races include Humans (Shoanti), Changelings, Dhampirs, Duskwalkers, Gathlain, Goblins, Naiad, Orcs, Ratfolk, Skinwalkers, Tieflings, and Vishkanya. (I reserve the right to ban certain alternative racial traits or racial feats that may prove problematic. Use these options responsibly.)
Taphouse Regular
You've been drinking in the taverns of Turtleback Ferry and mingling with the townsfolk for as long as you can remember. Over the years you've managed to learn who the movers and shakers are in the community, and are well aware of rumours and myths that pass from mouth to mouth. Most people in Turtleback Ferry automatically treat you as friendly unless motivated otherwise. You gain a +1 to knowledge local checks, and knowledge local is always a class skill for you. Due to your familiarity with bar fights, you gain one of the following benefits:
Improved Unarmed Strike feat, Catch Off-Guard feat, or Uncanny Dodge class feature.
Wandering Pilgrim
You've spent a significant amount of time wandering the Varisian roads and trails, searching for holy sites of your deity, and letting your faith guide you to the places you are meant to be. As each day has passed, you've been feeling a stronger and stronger pull towards the town of Turtleback Ferry. The gods demand your presence, though for what reason, you're unsure of. Once per day, you may cast the Augury spell as a spell-like ability (without material components). Furthermore, you are never considered flat-footed for the purpose of not yet acting in combat.
Witch Seeker
You've been in contact with a mysterious witch living a short ways into the Kreegwood, known as Onawa the Night Watcher. You might have made a significant bargain with the witch, or even trained under her watchful eye. Either way, you've learned some impressive magic, though at a cost. Choose either a first level or second level spell from the Witch spell list. You gain that spell as a spell-like ability (usable once per day if a second level spell, or three times per day if a first level spell), using your intelligence as your spellcasting ability. However, you also suffer a -4 penalty on all saving throws against hexes and curses.
I think what I'm going to do is open a recruitment thread, and invite Abbo and Vandomir to participate in the recruitment. I'll probably open it up by Monday and run it for 4 days ish. I'll try to keep you guys entertained during that time, but there will be a bit of a lull. The new characters will join us right as we hit Turtleback Ferry.
I'm going to play a little loose with the recruitment requirements. What I think is necessary is a knowledgeable character who's a Thassilon expert, and we'll want someone who can find traps. I still think a proper wizard and rogue combo would be ideal, but I'm open to things like lore oracles, smart bards, spellcasters with knock/dispel magic/disintegrate. I'm open to alternative forms of problem solving. Combat-wise, we'll want at least one of them to be able to deal damage, and one of them to be more supportive or controllery. I think we're good on tanks, and decent for heals. We're not a min-max group, so I'll be looking at narrative more than mechanics.
There is one thing I'd like to ask of you guys. For those of you who speak Thassilonian due to putting a rank in Linguistics, would you mind retraining that for me? I want to make Thassiloninan a secret language that's difficult to obtain. If you're worried about not being able to understand something, spells like comprehend languages function normally.
Are the newcomers getting wealth per level or will they be lowered?
They'll have WBL unless they take the Charitable Soul campaign trait, in which case they'll have 10% less. Do you guys feel like WBL is too much? Or should I increase the Charitable Soul trait to something like 20%?
My preference would be that they start at our wealth by level if possible. At least the average.
I can probably math that average. I've been recording your monetary donations. The magic mace you donated was worth roughly 50kgp, which was a huge boost for everyone's charity level (I split it evenly).