Welcome everyone! Please be friendly and try to resolve any disputes in an exceedingly lovely fashion. It is fine for your characters to rub each other the wrong way, but keep it civil out of character and chat about how you can make your conflict interesting and avoid disruption, etc.
Posting expectations are one post per weekday, and 1 on the weekend, by which I mean either on Saturday or Sunday, not both. Feel free to post more.
I would categorise myself as a rules heavy GM, feel free to dispute rules and decisions that do not seem to fit within the rules - I would be a massive hypocrite if I minded :) Generally we will not retcon unless it puts a PC at great risk in some way. Please do so here in the discussion thread.
If you do post out of character in the gameplay thread, usually to explain actions please ensure it is in OOC tags and thus shows up blue. Or if you are posting information about an ability, or spell, put it inside a spoiler, as seen below.
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Effect
Range 15 ft.
Area cone-shaped burst
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw Reflex half; Spell Resistance yes
Description
A cone of searing flame shoots from your fingertips. Any creature in the area of the flames takes 1d4 points of fire damage per caster level (maximum 5d4). Flammable materials burn if the flames touch them. A character can extinguish burning items as a full-round action.
Regarding loot, my usual preference is to set up a google spreadsheet and keep detailed notes, but I appreciate that seems a bit rigid to some people. Let me know how you would like to handle it and we will discuss it as a group and come to a consensus.
Thanks for selecting Chana, PoD!
Everything here sounds good to me. That posting rate sounds good, though my preference is often for things that run a bit faster (1-2 posts per day when in combat). Shouldn't be a problem either way.
Re: rules -> As the GM for my long-running Pathfinder home game, I'm quite a rules stickler myself, so I think there shouldn't be any gameplay-style problems.
Re: loot -> My preference is for some kind of equitable distribution / logging (at least for Pathfinder, Starfinder seems to work great with more casual loot grabbing). It minimizes any possible contention, which is especially relevant in a group of folks that don't yet know each other :>. I've run loot log spreadsheets in all of my other campaigns here in PbP, so I would love if someone else took the reins this time!
Anyway, looking forward to playing with everyone!
Thanks for picking me Placeholder!
All above sounds good.
I'm all for a loot spreadsheet. I'm quite miserable at loot tracking I have to admit. I've also noticed in games that don't have one it usually gets confused and messy pretty soon. Somebody always has to go back and compile it after the fact and so forth. If nobody else wants to do it, I will volunteer. It'll be good for my soul or something.
@Olivia: Very unlikely Amandine would know Olivia. Actually I'd be hard pressed to see her having ever come across any of he other PCs now that I've read through all the backgrounds.
Gosh, I need to refresh myself on the backgrounds of the people who actually are in. I read so many of them that all these noblewomen and noblemen are a total blur :>
But I think Chana is in a similar place to Amandine: hard pressed to know anyone more than casually prior to the beginning of the game.
Chana only does rats right? Insect swarms send Amandine straight over the edge!
@Placeholder: I wasn't certain I could use K Local for all the knowledge rolls. If I can't K Nobility can be substituted at a +7 and still use inspiration.
Super excited for this Adventure Path and really thankful to have been chosen. I'm fine with being a stickler for rules and promise if I get called out its almost certainly because I just didn't know better about something. One online loot sheet works for me although I'm not sure Id be the best to keep it updated.
As for in character interaction I suppose that there is a small chance that Khalil might have met or heard of Olivia. He's not from the capital himself, his family lives on the shores to the north. But he has spent the last several months trying to learn more about the nobility in Oppara and its possible that they would have heard of each others mutual interest in seeing the inheritance laws and expectations for women changed.
Hi everyone! Thanks for picking me, GM, really looking forward to gaming with you all.
@rules - happy with that approach although I've played a lot of different games so may occasionally get it wrong. If so, please just remind me.
@others - I took the Influence trait so Damrak is reasonably well known to some, especially if they have business dealings.
In terms of politics, he's progressive and has already had some arguments with the more traditional elements of the Abadar church. He's not an idealist (he's Lawful Neutral): he just knows that economic stagnation is bad for business and sees the princess as the best option for improvement.
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I'll take it, Khalil. Olivia has heard of you and the very basics of your situation, but we have not met.
Damrak I don't think Olivia has any business dealings, so probably not.
My god the backstories... Amazing.
Quick questions for the GM:
- Do you have any information of the Vernisant family that I could have? I know in Hell's Rebels they went into detail with the major nobles. I invented a little brother who's meant to inherit the family line, does that present any conflicts?
- Is wearing a weapon at the Gala considered a 'faux pas'? I was thinking about whether or not to bring my longsword.
- Would you say most fashion is from the Victorian style? Or is there a different time period that would suit better?
- Just a side note: Originally I planned for Olivia to have long hair, I'm going now for something short to help fit her avatar picture. (I hate making a character and then trying to find an avatar picture grumble grumble grumble). This picture is now what I have in mind
@Olivia - agree avatars can be a pain! I generally try and find one at the start of the process and then use it for inspiration. That picture you found though is perfect - it completely illustrates that Lawful Good is not the same as Lawful Nice.
Do we want to think about our roles within the group?
Damrak doesn't have full BAB, but his high Str and Judgement ability mean he can hold his own in a brief skirmish. In a longer fight he's outclassed - his d8 HD means he can't go 1-on-1 for any length of time. He might be better off teaming up with Olivia or flanking with one of the others.
Out of combat, Damrak is a diplomat and sense motive guru. He can also intimidate, but don't ask him to lie (Lawful/ran out of skill points). Actually, don't rely on him for anything he's not actually got skill points in: with the Meticulous drawback, he'll suck at it.
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Yeah Olivia views herself primarily as a soldier of faith, but she balances this with the idealist view of chivalry.
I'm planning to be the dependable character. Always there when you need her. Not really going for the 'face' of the party, but enough to hold her own.
As a LG paladin, Olivia does have to follow her paladin code, but I'm going to work hard to balance that with the rest of the party and the task at hand. I imagine that's the struggle of any paladin (or anyone with a code) - finding a balance with the rest of the world.
Oh Khalil would almost certainly have met Damrak at some point. His family is minor nobility but everything they have they earned through trade. His mother and father were devout worshipers of Abadar, that's what inspired him to become a part of the church. He's also worked in the Church and would have wound up a Banker at one of the temples if he hadn't been called to help his family. I think I even mentioned him working in Grandbridge with various money lenders/exchanges in his opening post.
And that sounds reasonable for his knowledge of Olivia. Heard of the tomboyish daughter of the Vernisant family who served at the Worldwound and returned a full paladin. He has a great deal of respect for strong women after being raised almost solely by his mother so I think he'll be happy to meet her for himself.
As for party role I built him with buffing and support in mind. As Evangelist he has Inspire Courage similar to a Bard. Ill try to hand out Inspiring Word from his Nobility Domain whenever I can. Longspear, eventually with a Flag to support Flagbearer, gives him reach and with 16 AC he can help out in close combat if needed. Also has a crossbow which he can use from further back as he focuses on buffing/healing. Outside combat Im a cleric, which is rough considering a usually love playing skill monkeys [I almost submitted an investigator actually]. Diplomacy, Perception and Sense Motive are my skills right now and will likely be my focus going forward. Ill put a point at least in Knowledge Arcana, Local, Religion and Planes as we go just to be able to roll but its never gonna be his strong suit. I will start doing Knowledge Nobility in Background skills but I needed Linguistics at level 1 because I figured there was no way he didn't pick up his mother's Kelish as a child.
Chana only does rats right? Insect swarms send Amandine straight over the edge!
Chana doesn't have any problems with any vermin, including insects (especially once she hits 2nd level and can use wild empathy on them :>). That said, the only swarm type she'll be "summoning" will be rats, so Amandine won't have too much to worry about.
Plus Snips is totally nice. Very "cute" and "hygenic".
I've been brainstorming backstory connections, and I think Amandine and Chana could have a very loose one. I'll whip something up today before I go posting anything in gameplay.
@Damrak: Chana is intended as a frontliner in combat despite her d8 HD and 3/4 BAB. I figure Wildshape solves all ills.
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Chana likely has the following two, relatively loose connections:
On one of the many times Amandine sold information she had gleaned from visitors to the Exaltation Club, the contact was a scraggly, nervous looking young man, accompanied by a young female street tough with a scarlet scarf covering most of her face. As the transaction proceeded, the street tough kept her yellow eyes on the street, glancing only occasionally at Amandine. While just her appearance would have been enough to be unusual and memorable, the most striking element happened as the pair turned to leave.
A trio of plump rats scurried out of the street tough's scarf, clambered their way over her torso and down into the street. And all through that, the woman stood completely unperturbed.
According to legend, he received a single silver coin while begging in the street and then rather than spend it immediately on food, he used it to cast a spell for a merchant down on his luck.
The merchant returned after seven days and seven nights, bringing tales of how his luck had changed. He returned Damrak not only the lucky Silver Coin, but seven by seven silver pieces. With the eyes of every urchin upon him, once again Damrak cast a spell on the coinage, and returned all of the wealth to the merchant. At this show of graciousness, the merchant fell to his knees. He swore then, in the muck of the street, to follow in Damrak's footsteps. He offered the urchin his business, his wealth, everything he had, if only the boy would join him. And when Damrak accepted, the two of them were never seen again.
Like most of the gutter urchins of the Narrows in the generation after Damrak's, she knows this story as a kind of maybe-true fairytale.
@Chana: I was joking about the swarms, well mostly. Amandine has the Entomophobe drawback, but since your swarms aren't adversaries there's no mechanical effect. You'll probably hear lots of "eeks" and "ews" though. :)
Yeah, Chana and Amandine may have run across each other. She hasn't lived in the Narrows for a while now, but Amandine does make it her business to know everyone and keep track of everything as much as possible.
This is a very lawful group! Looks like Amandine is going to be the black sheep. She's going to be best in encyclopedia and social roles, both of which she'll do very well. She can also sub as a rogue for disable device, sleight of hand and so forth.
I came down to either this build or a Studious Librarian Bard, which is a really nice archetype. But since the reserved spot is a bard, I've never played an investigator before, and I've been wanting to try out the psychic spell list, I went this way. I'm kind of over the Sherlock Holmes model for the class that gets mentioned all the time, and I steal everything without an ounce of shame or remorse, so Amandine is more an Irene Adler or Phryne Fisher take on an investigator. Or if you've watched the show Babylon Berlin, you might recognize some theft from there.
It looks like we have a fairly stout party when it comes to combat, which is nice to see since Amandine won't be much for that sort of thing for a few levels. She can help out, but until she gets Studied Combat she's quite weak in a fight.
This brings me to a question for you all. I've been thinking about ways to improve Her combat performance and I'm wondering what you think of these options.
There's the standard dip into swashbuckler. It works well and Inspired Blade/Noble Fencer are stackable archetypes. A road well trodden.
A 1 level dip into brawler gives Martial Flexibility. She can always choose the Dedicated Adversary feat and pick the enemy at hand. She could just stick to using daggers. This requires a couple of extra feats, Weapon Finesse at least, to get off the ground. I like the flavor though.
Of course she could not dip and rely mostly on casting but her spells per day and level 6 cap make that harder than for a full caster. Also a really want to avoid the fighting with a spear scenario that's so common for investigators and bards. Large weapons like that just clash with the character concept too much.
Anyone have any thoughts on this?
@Chana: Sounds Good!
@Olivia - yes, I'm a big fan of paladins for that reason. That struggle that whatever you do, there's always a cost makes for great roleplay opportunity.
@Khalil - works for me, they'd most likely remember each other as they both stand out for their own reasons. Plus they're both on the reformist/progressive side of the church so they definitely have shared connections.
@Chana - That. Is. Brilliant. It's exactly the sort of story Damrak would love to spread about his past: kind of true but with enough embellishments to keep people guessing.
@Amandine - I like the Irene Adler slant. Look forward to seeing what you make of it. Agree that our characters are unlikely to know one another, but do you think they'd have a shared recognition that they've both come up from the Narrows into this world? Can't decide whether that would make them feel sympathetic or annoyed by the reminder of their past. Maybe both, depending on mood. That's why they call it roleplaying, I guess.
As for dipping other classes: it would delay your casting even more, and would push back even further the point at which you get Studied Combat. I think focusing on your strengths (buffing, manipulation) is a better bet. But I'm certainly not an expert on character optimization.
EDIT: Alternative thought, grab exotic weapon proficiency: firearms at level 3 - when you can afford a gun - and be the group's ranged option.
@Chana/Olivia: gameplay thread is open (just in case you hadn't realised)
@GM: slightly concerned about healing given our cleric doesn't yet have channel and doesn't have spontaneous cure spells. Can I use my connections trait to start this week with a free scroll?
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I'm just waiting on GM to answer a few of my questions in the discussion thread. Then I'll post.
Amandine I'd suggest either sticking with Investigator or maybe dipping into swashbuckler. We're already very heavy on the frontline. Maybe you'd like to pick up a hand crossbow, shortbow or something from that side of things? I don't remember the rules about guns, but you could work your way up to having a pistol? Even if you just pick up point-blank shot and precise shot, you could still definitely help.
@Damrak: Although she's not going to trumpet it to the room, Amandine isn't trying to hide her background so it probably won't take long for Damrak to find out. Her situation is more of a dip into and back out of the Narrows. Roughly the period after her father's death and before she started picking up extra income at the Exaltation Club, about 6 years say. With their age difference, it seems unlikely they were there at the same time.
I'd say it depends more on Damrak and his take on it. Amandine is more "Well that happened. Now onward and upward." about her past. I do think they both share a lot of views on the world and how it works, even if Damrak is more money focused and Amandine is more self-sufficiency focused, and their alignment differences of course.
Yeah, I looked at ranged possibilities and they're tough to work with investigator. Even Ranged Studied Combat is limited to 30' and there's really no way for Amandine to get any damage bonuses. A pistol or pepperbox sounds cool actually, and thematic for the character, but it's a big investment and a long slog to make it work.
She does have Telekinetic Projectile as a 0 level spell. Throwing objects for 1d6 up to 25' and range increases with level. That's about as good as she can do with a short bow. Better considering the ammo: candlesticks, ashtrays, books, wine bottles, you name it. Endless pummeling hijinks! Maybe just use the spell and add Point Blank Shot to it.
We do have the reserved character, a bard, who hasn't checked in yet. It occurred to me to dig up his character sheet, and he's actually ranged with a longbow so we do have some coverage in that area.
Quick questions for the GM:
- Do you have any information of the Vernisant family that I could have? I know in Hell's Rebels they went into detail with the major nobles. I invented a little brother who's meant to inherit the family line, does that present any conflicts?
I believey change we need to make is to age him up a bit, otherwise I see no issues.
NE male human
cavalierACG
SOCIAL INFORMATION
Favors Proud discussions of family history or of crushing political enemies, and those seeking the return of Taldor’s glory days.
Detests Those who support Princess Eutropia’s bid for the throne and those who believe that bloodlines and familial history are irrelevant aspects of leadership.
A proud man in his early fifties , Calhadion Vernisant is the appointed leader of Greater Ridonport and
a hereditary senator. His political ambitions are considerable, though he kept a low profile following the brutal dismemberment of Grand Duke Forath Bozbeyli (the former head of Tandak Prefecture). He has played up his being a direct descendant of General Arnisant and used his pedigree to politically bludgeon his peers into submission, leveraging their fear of appearing unpatriotic against them. This has gone on with increasing openness in the decade since Calhadion became head of his household.
Crownfall also mentions he is disgraced, but does not seem to mention why. He is apparently a part of many PFS scenarios so I am guessing it is something that happened there and likely to do with the Grand Duke dismemberment affair. I'll let you know when I discover more :)
- Is wearing a weapon at the Gala considered a 'faux pas'? I was thinking about whether or not to bring my longsword.
• Only light and one-handed weapons are allowed inside the senate building; ranged weapons and twohanded weapons are not allowed inside the building. All weapons brought into the senate building must be peace-bound—secured in a sheath with a length of decorative cord. Drawing a peace-bound weapon requires a full-round action. Guards do not need to peace-bind their weapons.
• Animals are generally not permitted inside the senate building, excepting familiars and service animals. Animals larger than an average member of the senate guard are not permitted within the building under any circumstances.
• While guests are free to roam the senate building when invited, individual senators’ offices are off-limits and locked. No one but the senators and a single aide for each is permitted on the senate floor during a vote.
- Would you say most fashion is from the Victorian style? Or is there a different time period that would suit better?
I always think of Taldor as faintly Spanish, probably more Georgian than Victorian, probably a great deal more risque and colorful than either. Taldor is large enough and old enough that all of those ranges mentioned should be more or less appropriate though.
I'll post the senate rules again to ensure everyone gets a look, I'll put them up in Campaign Infor for easy reference shortly.
• Potions, scrolls, spell component pouches, and wands are permitted inside the senate building, and in fact, many senators are themselves spellcasters. However, spellcasting is not permitted within the building without written approval (often issued to entertainers).
• Only light and one-handed weapons are allowed inside the senate building; ranged weapons and twohanded weapons are not allowed inside the building. All weapons brought into the senate building must be peace-bound—secured in a sheath with a length of decorative cord. Drawing a peace-bound weapon requires a full-round action. Guards do not need to peace-bind their weapons.
• Animals are generally not permitted inside the senate building, excepting familiars and service animals. Animals larger than an average member of the senate guard are not permitted within the building under any circumstances.
• While guests are free to roam the senate building when invited, individual senators’ offices are off-limits and locked. No one but the senators and a single aide for each is permitted on the senate floor during a vote.
I'll post the senate rules again to ensure everyone gets a look, I'll put them up in Campaign Infor for easy reference shortly.
• Breastplates, ceremonial armor, and light armor may be worn inside the senate building, but no other armor is permitted for anyone except guards.
Hrm. What about an armored coat? If not, can I swap it out for something that I can wear (probably lamellar (leather))?
No its really not the kind of thing that would look appropriate at a ball, plus its medium. No problem with you swapping it out, its reasonable to assume you had inquired previously about the rules. Which goes for anything anyone wishes to alter given this information gear wise.
@Damrak, since I could still edit it I have added the additional info your knowledge checks garnered into the post with your spoiler.
OK, that's fair. I will go with the leather lamellar. Thanks.
Also - any word on whether I can get hold of a scroll this week in time for the Exaltation Gala?
Changed my avatar to one that fits a little more closely to how I picture Khalil although I hate that nothing Ive seen really captures him at all. The other one was far too gruff though. I also took the opportunity to swap out his steel lamellar for leather since I had completely forgotten about the restrictions on armor. Weapons I did know about and basically he's just leaving his at the inn he's staying at while he's in town for the Gala. Neither his longspear nor crossbow are allowed and frankly he's not one to insist on carrying either when not necessary.
I would definitely recommend taking some form of weapon, while it does make sense in character, it would be a long stretch unarmed.
@Damrak, sorry missed that somehow, yes a cure scroll will be fine to have picked up from a contact before hand :)
Tanglefoot checking in. My apologies for the delays. I'll be posting in the gameplay thread directly.
Edit: By the way, Tanglefoot would be wearing his chain shirt under his suit, and he would be carrying his longbow and quiver under his arm, though he knows he'll have to turn them in before entering the gala.
Edit 2: I should also note that while Tanglefoot would probably not know any of the nobles in the party, they might know of him, due to him entertaining for many of the nobles in the city.
@Khalil al-Shirin Duvan: Yeah, the lack of good avatars for PbP characters is an ongoing irritation for me. I can hardly ever find anything that fits what I have in mind. I really wish they would update them with more art from recent publications. I always add more suitable character art in the character's profile.
Hmm yeah I suppose its too much to expect no problems. I might have to just ret-con his weapons then. Even if he'd have to turn them in I suppose it would be best to keep them close. Ill figure out which he'd likely have with him. Probably the longspear with his family's flag and emblem attached to it.
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I wish they'd just let us upload our own pictures. Oh well, this one's fine. I think I'll do as Amandine mentioned, and link one in my profile.
Actually I thought I didn't have a title due to not being the heir of the house. But since I am an unmarried daughter of an earl, I would still get the courtesy prefix 'The Lady'.
I'll blame it on the spluttering, which I will blame on the wine.
Tanglefoot I loved your entrance. Beautiful.
If I remember correctly it has been discussed. The reason Paizo doesn't allow outside pictures is since it is an all-ages company site, they would have to police avatars for inappropriate stuff and that would be a huge and constant task.
Tanglefoot I loved your entrance. Beautiful.
Thanks! This character took a while to figure out, personality-wise, but I think he's going to be a lot of fun.
If I remember correctly it has been discussed. The reason Paizo doesn't allow outside pictures is since it is an all-ages company site, they would have to police avatars for inappropriate stuff and that would be a huge and constant task.
Its understandable, but still frustrating. I really wish I had the proper pics for Martella and Princess Eutropia, etc., they are much better than the nearest i could find.
@Damrak, sorry missed that somehow, yes a cure scroll will be fine to have picked up from a contact before hand :)
Thanks, character sheet updated.
Tanglefoot's remark about playing a role makes him shift uncomfortably: he was happier when the man was merely making sport of their clothing.
I should note that Tanglefoot didn't actually say anything about anyone's clothing out loud; italics indicate unspoken thought, at least in my posts.
I should note that Tanglefoot didn't actually say anything about anyone's clothing out loud; italics indicate unspoken thought, at least in my posts.
Tanglefoot's remark about playing a role makes him shift uncomfortably: he was happier when the man was merely making sport of their clothing.
I get that - I've been doing the same - but the spoken references to "turtledoves" and "what aristocrats we are" seemed to be fairly mocking, from the context :-)
Given Damrak's relatively high sense motive it seemed reasonable that he understood that Tanglefoot was making fun of them.
Yes, that's reasonable. And yeah, Tanglefoot is big on implying things, rather than being explicit, and he was definitely making implications there.
There is actually a way to make the characters and NPCs look as they should. It takes a little work and coordination amongst us though.
If you've noticed, you can change the appearance of an avatar to your own choice of pic, but it's for yourself only. If you haven't noticed, just scroll over an avatar and you'll see a little photo icon appear down in the lower right corner. You can change both your own and other people's avatars this way.
We would just need to supply the pic we want used to be available for everyone, and let everyone know to use it. Portrait pics work best as the pic will resize to fit the space. Full body art is tiny for example, and the art will sometimes get stretched to fit. Talk about photos adding 10 pounds!
We could set up a page on google slides where we each put our preferred art. Everyone downloads it and applies it, voila we all we the same thing as we want to see it.
I will be setting up a Google slide for NPC pics, I can post any images people want for their characters there. First slide can be PC pics perhaps.
Alright, I just went ahead and set up a Google Slides page for avatar sharing. Just copy or download the images to your own device and place them over the Paizo avatar.
There's other Martella Lotheed and Princess Eutropia art options. I picked the first I found but feel free to add the version you prefer to Google Slides and use it instead if you like.
Oops, and the link:
I will be setting up a Google slide for NPC pics, I can post any images people want for their characters there. First slide can be PC pics perhaps.
Ah, Okay. Best to keep everything in one place. Placeholder, would you mind moving the three images I've posted on the one I set up to that slide?
Ah yes, badly worded by me. Place your curser over the avatar.
Yeah pretty sure that the feature you're mentioning is not standard for most people Amandine. Might be an addon you have?
Oh! Is that part of the Paizo Campaign Tools addon?
I do have that installed. Totally worth it for the other stuff too.
Oh! Is that part of the Paizo Campaign Tools addon?
I do have that installed. Totally worth it for the other stuff too.
Yes, it is indeed.