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Oh dear. I hope this isn't the end.
I quite enjoy this game, and I am certainly willing to continue.
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It looks like Greenly has stopped posting across all her games with no mention on any of them about why. Hopefully Photine is still planning to return after RL calms down as she’s previously posted.
I’m absolutely ready to continue on with the campaign. I’ve been waiting to post in gameplay until there were others from players and the GM. Hopefully we can keep going. While I was weak about posting for a while due to RL, this is one of my favorite campaigns on the boards and I’d hate to see it shut down.
Shall we move onto the hunt itself and see if that reinvigorates our pace?
Sure, that sounds good to me!
Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.
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A heads up to all my games:
Tomorrow morning, my wife and I will be driving across a couple of states to spend the week with her family, and we will be returning on Friday.
I will be bringing my laptop with me, so I can still make posts during downtime, but my posting rate may be a bit more erratic than usual.
Thank you very much, and happy holidays.
I think it's safe to say at this point Greenly and Photine aren't going to be returning. I took another quick look and neither of them have posted under any of their avatars since mid-November.
What should we do? I don't think we can proceed very easily with 3 players... Unless we switched to gestalt builds... :)
I do know someone who's a very solid, reliable player. We've been in a game together since early 2016 and it's still running. He's looking to pick up a game I believe. Anyone else know of anyone?
Of course we can also do an open recruitment.
What do you think Vayelan? It's your call of course.
Yep, looks like we're down to 3. I would be very happy to pick up a new player that's well known to one of our existing crew. I think we could use an active new member to help kickstart us.
Amandine, if you have someone in mind that you think would be good, I'd be all for it!
That said:
Vayelan, considering our losses, it's up to you if you're willing to keep us rolling. I know from experience that the loss of player momentum in a game can nosedive motivation to GM. And I know you have multiple games that you're running on the forums that may take precedence over this one.
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As long as I still have at least a few dedicated players - and I know that I certainly have that with you three - I am willing to press onward. That is especially true with War for the Crown because it provides a welcome change in theme and mood from the other games I run.
If any of you know good players you would vouch for, please feel free to extend invitations to them.
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Thanks for hanging in with us Veyelan. :)
Yeah, this might me my favorite among the APs I've played and I want to see it all the way through.
I've sent a PM to the person I have in mind. Hopefully he'll bite (I think he will). If I had to predict, I'd say he'll decide on a martial character. He plays the good-natured bruiser very well. He could surprise me though!
The person I contacted is in. He'll be getting in touch with you Veyelan.
I also took a quick look back through the loot sheet. Don't know how we'll handle things in general with it, but there were a couple of items Greenly currently has that each of you might want to grab.
Olivia: Potion of Bear's Endurance?
Chana: Envoy Ring?
Any of us could benefit from the Envoy Ring, but Olivia already has Dignity's Barb, and the Disguise Self feature of the ring might wrk really well for Chana. If she ever wanted to go without the veil, or was forced to remove it, she could appear as just a typical human.
Yep, I'd be happy to grab the Envoy Ring - that Disguise Self helps Chana a lot, and the comprehend languages will really come in handy too.
I'd vote for 2 new players. We really need an arcane caster the most I think. At our current level Photine may not seem like a critical loss, but as we level up more, I think we'll feel it more and more without a replacement. Amandine is a psychic 6 level caster, and the psychic spell list is narrow and her spell DCs low for high level play.
An extra martial character is probably less of a problem, but Amandine is much more a combat support character, she's fairly fragile and very dependent on studied strike, which has limited uses per day, to be effective. Paladins are great at dealing damage when the opponent's alignment is evil, but not as much when it's not. This campaign may prove to have fewer opponents who are evil aligned than the norm.
I'd say we were in a good place with Greenly and Photine in the party, and we need a couple of players who do what they used to do.
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Just to confirm, that's 2 more including the one you've invited, or 2 more not including?
Yeah there are still quite a few niches that could be picked out. Arcane for sure, but honestly pretty much anything other than a face character could be useful.
I'm not optimised enough to claim the tank, damage, or healing roles by myself.
I meant a total of 2, so one more than the person I talked to. Yeah, there are other roles that could use some coverage but hopefully the new people coming in will take a look at where we’re at and create characters with an eye toward doing more than one thing.
I've been in contact with the player that Amandine recommended. I've been answering their questions regarding character creation. They are leaning towards a bard, so that would provide some arcane support, as well as extra coverage in other areas.
Regarding wealth, I'm not worried about imbalance. After the Jubilee concludes, the next part of the adventure focuses on funding public works to restore Stachys, which requires a bit of capital. While you can earn funding from other nobles and locals to offset costs, it will still take investments of gold from the party.
The second book is divided into three chapters. The Tanager Jubilee is the first, allowing the characters to make their debut among the aristocracy of Meratt, meet their neighbors, and identify important players in the county.
The second chapter focuses on the characters' roles as caretakers of Stachys. In addition to improving this one settlement, you also have chances to improve life across the entire county. Progress in this chapter is partly measured in Loyalty Points, tracking how much of a positive impact you have on Meratt and how endeared the locals have become to you.
The last chapter focuses on finally trying to wrest control of the Palace of Birdsong from Count Lotheed, giving Princess Eutropia a stable base of operations and source of income for her bid for the crown.
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Our first new recruit is finishing up their character, while our second has been discussing their ideas with me.
Awesome!
Can't wait to see who's coming!
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Greetings everyone! I appreciate you letting me slip into this game. I was invited by Amandine. I will admit I'm looking forward to seeing what I can do in this game. I'm reading the highlights of the game posts so far, and I'm about half-way done.
Welcome Dro'gan! Just looking at your character's statline and I'm already looking forward to seeing what crazy stuff you're bringing along.
Yes...he comes with many unusual abilities. One of the more complicated 4th level characters I've ever created. He feels like he will be a load of fun too. That's the point, right?
Exciting! Hello Dro'gan!
Can't wait to see our next new partner!
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Apologies for the delay, everyone, I've had an uncharacteristically busy week at work.
Without further ado, I present to you Bartolo Talbot, a gentleman of high society, a stalker of the highest circles, and a business man of no small worth, Bartolo Talbot. Now if only Paizo forums would fix their stuff and let me edit the alias...
Born in the well-off House Talbot, an ancient, yet reasonably unassuming and discreet noble house, Bartolo quickly proved himself to be, if not a black sheep, then at least one with spotty hide.
While his skills in the markets and negotiation are no lesser to anyone bearing the House's name, his overly open personality, boastfully loud hobbies, and occasionally unnecessarily direct methods have earned him the ire of his strictly conservative and scheming father - his firm belief being that if one doesn't devote himself strictly to the trade, one's wasting his life, and that nobody needs to see the real mony's origin.
The discord between him and his house reached a peak roughly two months ago, when he was operating a small winery and distillery in a remote port town. A group of kidnappers, later confirmed to have been sent by his father to return him to the family's manor to be 'retrained and tamed' happened upon Bartolo drinking and entertaining a crowd of workers and sailors in a dingy-looking tavern. Bartolo gained an even greater reputation in said small town after bludgeoning a massive half-orc to unconsciousness in the town square - with a lute, nonetheless. After the failed attempt, an irate Bartolo hopped onto a merchant's cart, loading the tied and bound kidnappers in the back, and returned to his family's manor, his face a furious red the whole way.
Terse negotiations ensured, and at the end, a compromise was reached - Bartolo would assume control over a few minor businesses of Talbot's in distant Oppara, and keep the family name out of it. In return, his father would give up his hopes into forging him into the new Talbot heir.
Bartolo has settled nicely into the capital of Taldor, already making an impression amongst the middle classes of Oppara. The underworld has heard of him, too, as during his first week assuming control of a warehouse, he intercepted a group of thieves trying to steal from it. The story of how he held the last thief by his legs, dangling from the third story of the building and shouted, red-faced to the thief to 'Apologise for stealing from me!', the crowds below bellowing in laughter, is already making waves in Oppara.
Bartolo is loud and proud of it. An overly energetic man, seemingly always on the move, he rarely considers stopping and pausing. Even in his spare time he prefers to discover new and exciting places in Oppara, entertain locals by playing rowdy songs on his lute, or even go into a brawl at the docks. While not simple, he's definitely a direct man, at least on the surface. Years of dealing with merchants (and his family) have rendered him an excellent judge of character, and he's good enough at holding his judgements for himself, at least for a while.
Bartolo is a towering man, with dark hair and eyes. While lacking the defined and wiry fitness of a seasoned veteran or a talented duelist (as he loves food as much as he loves company), his sheer heft often makes assailants take a second thought. Usually dressed in bright and fashionable clothes, cut to the latest fashion, he's rarely spotted without a musical instrument - even if some would swear that wasn't on him when they last saw him. His expressions, both facial and body, are overt, often bordering on the dramatic. Quick to smile and quick to frown, he seems to wear his thoughts on his face, but the few who know him well would hint that some of it is the facade of the 'loud, brash nobleman'.
NG Medium humanoid (human)
Ranger (Dandy) 4
Init +0; Perception -1
Favored Class Bonus +1 to HP
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Defense
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AC 16, touch 10, flat-footed 16 (+6 armor, +0 Dex, +0 Shield)
hp 40 (4d10+12)
Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +3 (+2 vs. illusions);
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Offense
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Speed 20 ft.
Ranged Light Hammer +4 (1d4+5)
Melee Masterwork Earthbreaker +10 (2d6+7)
Melee Improvised Weapon +6/10 (1d4+7,x2)
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Statistics
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Str 20, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 14, Cha 14
Base Atk +4; CMB +9; CMD 19
Feats Noble Scion (Talbot), Power Attack, Enforcer, Bludgeoner
Skills: 6/level (Rank/Class/Stat/Bonus)
Bluff +9 (4/3/2)
Diplomacy +10 (4/3/2/1)
Intimidate +9 (4/3/2)
Sense Motive +9 (4/3/2)
Knowledge(Local) +6 (4/3/-1/1)
Climb +9 (1/5/3)
Swim +9 (1/5/3)
Knowledge (Nobility) +6 (2/3/-1/2)
Background Skills: (Rank/Class/Stat/Bonus)
Profession(Merchant) +11 (4/3/2/2)
Perform (String) +8 (2/3/3)
Appraise +4 (2/3/-1)
Skills: (Rank/Class/Stat/Bonus)
Languages Common, Infernal
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Special Abilities
Imposter-Wary (Human)
Ranger Combat Style (Menacing)
Favoured Nation (Taldor, +2)
Favoured Terrain (Urban)
Rumor Empathy (+7)
Hobnob(Ex)
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Traits
Tools of the Trade
Senatorial Hopeful (Campaign)
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Gear
Belt of Giant Strength 4000
Masterwork Earthbreaker 315
Masterwork Breastplate (Agile) 550
Pathfinder Pouch 1000
Courtier's Clothing 30
Jewelry worth 150
Masterwork Lute 50gp
some cash remaining
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Spells
0th: -/day
Summon Instrument
Mending
Detect Magic
Message
1st: 2/day
Cure Light Wounds
Expeditious Retreat
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Apologies for the delay, everyone, I've had an uncharacteristically busy week at work.
Without further ado, I present to you Bartolo Talbot, a gentleman of high society, a stalker of the highest circles, and a business man of no small worth, Bartolo Talbot. Now if only Paizo forums would fix their stuff and let me edit the alias...
I'm looking forward to seeing Bartolo in action - especially how he interacts with the NPCs of Meratt County.
Welcome aboard Lion Cleric/Bartolo! I'm looking forward to playing with you!
@Veyelan: Can you give any hints about when our new team members will be making their appearance. You know how Amandine doesn't like surprises. :)
I like the 'Dandy' Ranger concept. That looks like it will fit in perfectly.
Thanks guys - I still can't seem to select a profile picture, but I've settled on an OOC one that does look like 'I like wearing silk, but I'm not below glassing someone giving me the lip' type of noble I was going for. And the hat is just perfect. Means I had to pick a different colour for his hair than what I described, but, well. Concept art was amazing. Unfortunately, the Shoanti earthbreaker wasn't included, but nothing's perfect.
Dro'gan, we're bound to have a performance art at some point.
As for the interactions, while Bartolo does prefer the loud and proud way, he's too clever (if a little behind on his book knowledge) to not take advantage of people taking him for a meatheaded noble spawn. Which he may or may not occasionally be, especially when provoked.
Picture's in the alias information - the issue is actually the forum link to the portraits page is dead at the moment, so I can't add it.
The profile is up, though.
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I've been running a bit of a solo encounter for Dro'gan via PM. He is currently at a dockside tavern in the fishing village Pensaris, in Okerra's barony. Depending on how quickly we wrap up the last couple of events in the Jubilee, the party may either cross paths with him on the ride back to their estate, or he may be there waiting for them when they return. He's been dispatched with messages to deliver to Okerra, Voinum, and the Betonys.
I haven't yet had a chance to talk with Bartolo about how he can be introduced.
What feat do I need to take to gain Detect Lesbian as a spell-like ability?
Calistria worshippers only. :p
Any objection if I move the solo encounter I have been running with Dro'gan into the main gameplay thread (via spoiler) in order to bring Bartolo into the fold? As Dro'gan travels south down the road, it seems like a good opportunity to bring Bartolo north along the same road, leading to a meeting.
Fine with me!
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Also, I've added Lady Sittas and Lieutenant Gortius to the NPC tracker. In the AP book as written, the two are described as participants in the joust and only given stats like AC, Ride bonus, and attack bonus. They are not given any personality, social traits, biases, or any of the other information provided for the more significant NPCs.
However, since we've turned them into Ascended Extras, I will put together some characteristics for them, and I'll try to work them into the rest of the adventure.
Awesome. I like the idea of the new party members having preview story bits in the main thread. Seems like a fun way to introduce them to the players, if not to the characters.
Perhaps that was a bad choice of terminology.
A "Lothario" is a man who behaves selfishly and irresponsibly in his sexual relationships with women.
Ugh.
The portrait situation has gotten to me harder than I thought.
TreasureFox, which program are you using for custom portraits? I know there was a way to change how you see others' portraits with a Google Overlap, would like to do that too.
The picture I had in mind is this one.