Way of the Wicked (Inactive)

Game Master Whack-a-Rogue

I think the basic art works nice.

Something with a bit more flair

I had given strong thought to those two, but, sadly one makes me look old and the other was not apealing.

Your assistance has been noted, and will not be in vain!

Getting into practice for character, thank you!

Those were picture submissions for my character

I think... he just called you old and ugly.

"Yeah. Guess we have a fight on our hands."
Calls into being a circle of Fire around the two combatants.

More seriously, though, I also took a look at Aligned Combatant...and I don't think it's as great as you think, Hecate. Unless we specifically never fight anybody else who's evil. Also, half damage to neutral enemies.
It definitely does feel like a drawback, that COULD be great in specific situations...but cost us dearly in others.

I think... he just called you old and ugly.

I did no such thing!

Refined and experienced.

Wise and crafty, perhaps...

I was blinded by my own ego and believed he was offering alternative portraits for me to select from, ones I had declined to use already.

My humbly apologies, I offer someone else as a sacrifice of good will!

Every
Villain
Is
Lemons

Otherwise known as EVIL!!!!

I think... he just called you old and ugly.

Oh, I am old an ugly. Thankfully those things have little to do with the source of my power. Really only a lady of the night needs worry about those two things.

@MordredofFairy: This entire AP takes place in a nation that's almost entirely LG. I'd estimate 70% of enemies will be Good-aligned. If you include Neutrals, the "drawback" will be used against 90%. Hence my adding a level pre-req. This isn't a "let's fight the corrupt system and do bad things for the greater good" type of campaign. This is designed for people who want to play as Voldemort, Emperor Palpatine, and the Joker. ;-)

UPDATE
It's that time! The following people can now create the crunch of their proposed characters. If anyone needs assistance getting information on Spheres of Power or any other 3PP, let me know over PM.
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Ekkehardt
Rednal
Erick the Strangler
NenkotaMoon
Marvin Fenster
Hectate Reeve
Zogg Run-catcher
GM Aest
Sholano Gale, Silver-Tongued Scoundrel
The Pale King
Toodles or summat
MordredofFairy
Gilthanis
Godfrey Leitner
Spazmodeus
Gobo Horde
EmissaryOfTheNorth
Ashe
Ambriss Hastings
GM-Gathrix
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One stat 18, one stat 8, 15pts to divide as desired. You cannot dump the 18 for more build points. You also must end up with at least one stat below 10 AFTER racials. Essentially, this is a 30pt buy with some restrictions.
Two traits (a campaign trait is not required)
Drawbacks can be taken if desired but will not give additional traits
You already know the approved classes :-)
Approved races: anything Paizo, but remember Talingarde's race info. Also, if you submit certain races *cough*Merfolk*cough*Drow Noble*cough*etc*, I'll laugh at you. ;-)
Starting gear: none. This includes clothing. This includes spellbooks, holy symbols, bonded items, etc. This includes familiars, mounts, and animal companions. You just got captured. No, you weren't able to hide anything. Not even "there." Or "there." The guards at Brandescar aren't stupid.
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This phase will continue until one of two things happens. 1) Everyone on the list either submits a character sheet or drops out. 2) We reach Wednesday, January 27. Good luck!

Sweet! That's a strong statline to play with, though I am thinking we'll need it being enemy number one for an LG country. I really love the idea of being an Aasimar that goes bad, are you allowing variant heritages?

Yes to variant heritages, "it depends" to the SLA trade-out table. Same goes for Tieflings, by the way.

Thanks, I'll get to work then :)

@Regarding Good and Evil stuff: I understand we get to be Palpajokemort.
But honestly, quite a lot of times, evils downfalls is that the heroes always work together, while evil fights amongst themselves ;)
I don't mean within the party, but, other evil. Like that dude in prison who looked at me funny. I call him Crispy, but the guard didn't find it funny. Maybe because he had to clean up the mess.
I'm not going to pick it up, most likely, because i'm already limiting myself to one element ;) don't need any other restraints even if they may work out in my favor.

@Variant Heritages: Is the Feat requirement for Tieflings waived to get them on-par with the Aasimars who don't need to pay a Tax?

There's a built-in mechanism to ensure the party doesn't murder each other, so don't worry about that. :-)

The Tiefling variant heritage feat was created before people realized that the race is on par with the Core races. As such, it doesn't exist in my games. Take any variant heritage you want. ;-)

Much appreciated. Seeing how my submission, as oracle, will be Cha-based, it helps a lot ;)
One Rakshasa-Spawn Flame Oracle coming up(tomorrow, most likely).

One more question just popped up:

Are Background skills in use? I generally find it leads to more well-rounded characters so worth asking, I guess ;)

The crunch is in Erick the Strangler's profile. Let me know if you see anything glaring.

I'm guessing we start with no money?

Soooooo...Who am I?

My name is Michael, but you know that..

How long have you been playing Pathfinder?

Oooo...I am approaching the 3 year mark. I got back into tabletop after a long hiatus after my first child was born. I have been playing D&D and the like since...1992.

What are your rules knowledge and optimization skills like?

I can go either way. I like both sides of things, but I am very skilled in optimization, specialization, or generalization....

Are you experienced with the PbP format?

Yeah, been on this almost as long as PF/PFS.

If you are, but your game/s ended early, what happened?

Varies. Some die because of players losing interest, some because the GMs had too much going on, some because of personal strife/new babies/stuff.

What kind of combat/social balance do you like?

I like the game to flow. If combat is rolling smoothly, then I like a good amount of it mixed in. However, if it moves slow, I would rather skip the fluff combats and do the important ones. As far as social goes...it needs to make sense.

Do you have previous experience with the WotW AP?

It's the evil game? Not one of the AP line, but still recognized...that's about it.

Ultimately, I'm a guy who played one of your games that had a rough spot that really enjoyed you, your style, and your wife. You know that guy...I'd be interested.

I suspect, in this format, I would want to play something in the face type role. I would want to be a talker that could convince people of anything...the natural salesman so to speak...Maybe bard...maybe Mesmerist...maybe sorcerer...who knows...Lots of ideas...

This is GM-Gathrix's submission for an Antipaladin of Asmodeus-Zelimir Seric. Charismatic, yet unwise. The later is why he is in prison, the unwise decision to incite hatred against the church of Mitra.

However, as a possible minion to be, please, feel free to describe the taste, texture and best way to cook people to the people we are going to kill.

I will not eat them, but I can certainly enjoy the look in their eyes as you do!

Possible minion to be? Certainly not yours, sweetling. I'll bow to no one who's brutal for brutality's sake... you lack creativity, you lack subtlety, and... looks you up and down you lack taste.

this is Toodles, btw.

@yourbenevolentdictator
with your permission, I've traded my sp for the Scent ability, it's thematically appropriate for the character, highly useful, especially in conjunction with with the survival skill, and it's generally not game-breaking. If you'd rather not allow it, I'll decide whether to chance rolling for it or accept the sp

Righto, I'll get started adjusting. I'm pretty close to done already, actually, what with having built the character previously.

EDIT: Oh, are we going to be using Background Skills, by any chance?

@MordredofFairy: This entire AP takes place in a nation that's almost entirely LG. I'd estimate 70% of enemies will be Good-aligned. If you include Neutrals, the "drawback" will be used against 90%. Hence my adding a level pre-req.

This - plus, the entire party is Evil, so wouldn't be affected by any area-effect destructions = Fireballs into melee. Repeatedly.

I would take the Aligned Blast if it's allowed; it's just too thematically Hellfire-like to resist! Let me know what limitations you decide to put on it, or whether you're just going to disallow it (which is cool, too).

On the subject of Talents: will you be allowing the Advanced Talents for conjuration? Whether or not the planar-binding talents are allowed will likely affect how much I put into Charisma.

Also, are you using anything from Unchained? I see someone's already asked about Background Skills.

Hope I am not too late. I just saw this

Who am I? I am evil... 45 yr old gamer/GM

How long have you been playing Pathfinder? What is pathfinder...? I have been playing 'games' for as long as I decided simple people were worth controlling with lies...PFS for 3 years+, pathfinder since 1996 when I graduated with the winged torch... who got the reference...?

What are your rules knowledge and optimization skills like?
rules are for those who make them not for those who are clearly above them... learn your place or I will remind you of where you stand...I am a fair hand at rules for PFS, I believe story line flow and RP trump rigid rules though

Are you experienced with the PbP format?
Once again you speak to me in an insolent voice of foreign things. Do not test my patience. oh yeah

you are, but your game/s ended early, what happened?
Fools either tried to do something crazy and it bit them (serving them right) or people just disappear.... ask me naught where the bodies are located... I shant tell...accidents can happen... had to remove some folks for disappearing some games I run. pity. it happens, RL comes first

what kind of combat/social balance do you like?
the kind where I am in charge, in either setting...you anger me with these questions...
RP is always good. there should be someone in the party that is the instigator and one that is the braggart. keeps people interested in making posts. Combat is controlled chaos. you can only hope to control and then react. makes it fun as well

Do you have previous experience with the WotW AP?
you think you can hold me in a prison? I will escape and find you and cut out your eyes! think I am kidding... remember that player that disappeared in your game...do you know how he disappeared...? I could tell you but that would be the last thing you will ever hear...

yes- game died out. only a few brave souls stayed to carry it a few steps further, they failed. pity was fun GMing it, might GM it again after I play WOTW first...

in the office- will present a submission later. thinking either melee or spellcaster or maybe a gish...

Your Benevolent Dictator wrote:

@MordredofFairy: This entire AP takes place in a nation that's almost entirely LG. I'd estimate 70% of enemies will be Good-aligned. If you include Neutrals, the "drawback" will be used against 90%. Hence my adding a level pre-req.

This - plus, the entire party is Evil, so wouldn't be affected by any area-effect destructions = Fireballs into melee. Repeatedly.

I would take the Aligned Blast if it's allowed; it's just too thematically Hellfire-like to resist! Let me know what limitations you decide to put on it, or whether you're just going to disallow it (which is cool, too).

As said, I was not certain we'd really never need to go up against competition/superiors/traitors (all problems that evil overlords-to-be often face), which would have seriously changed the dynamics. Because then the fireballs into melee could as well be fluffy butterflys tickling people. It's since been clarified by YBD...but I think it's still more flavor-approbiate for my fire to hurt everything, instead of burning selectively. ^_^

Another question that came up: is it permissable to reflavor things if they stay mechanically identical? specifically thinking about oracle curses...while they are curses, they are very...wildly different in how balanced they are, and many require a certain kind of flavor(e.g. child, blackened, or wasting) that could well also be "explained" differently while having the exact same effect...?

Also, how are you going to handle Bonus Spells from Bloodlines/Mysterys/etc in conjunction with SoP, or extra spells known gained from Curses?
With the 1/day SLA variant, extra spell points(like sorcerous blood), or completely removed?
Because depending on handling that could make certain archetypes/curses/choices significantly more preferable than others - (e.g. some curses only or mainly give spells known...if those are wasted, the associated curse may not be very intriguing regardless of flavor)

@heofthehills/qwerty1971: you're late to the game, but I did close recruitment earlier than stated, so I'll let you off the hook. :-)

Re: background skills - somewhat. I not using the system, but I will give everyone 2 bonus skill points per level to be spent on nonadventuring skills.

Re: reflavoring - I'm generally a fan, but it does depend on the situation. For Oracle curse reflavoring, I'll need more information.

Re: SoP and bloodlines/mysteries/curses/etc - varies. I've slowly been doing my own conversions, but they're still woefully incomplete. Give me specifics, and we'll hash it out together.
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On a different note, I've made some optional revisions to the Sorcerer and Cleric classes. If you're interested, let me know.

So we all are using spheres of power? I am reading through it for the first time. As an Inquisitor do I pick one now or do I not have any ability until level 2. I could use a hand in understanding it if someone could give me a quick rundown. Thanks.

Spherecasting is not required, but you can certainly use it if you want. I'll get you the Inquisitor conversion info after work.

Cool, I will finish my character without it for now but will give it a read. Thanks.

Spherecasting is basically idea-based casting - you pick a theme and roll with it. For example, "I want to be someone who creates and controls fire". With an idea like that, you'd probably pick up Destruction (with Fire Blast), Nature (Fire), and maybe Weather (with the Focused Weather: Heat drawback). Later on you might add Life/Healing ("Cleansing flames that burn away impurities without harming my friends") or War/Buffs ("I create areas that stoke the flames of passion and make my friends stronger").

The system has very little fluff of its own, at least outside of the classes - it basically gives you the mechanical tools, then lets you decide how to make the caster you actually want to play, and you can flavor your powers pretty much however you want.

You always get two Talents (basically, spell choices) when you first take a level in a Spherecasting class, so as an Inquisitor, you'd have a few abilities right away.

Emissary here with questions!

1)Changelings. I have realised that a son of a witch may be as well a witchborn changeling, but would you be ok with a male changeling? I can both change to female (victor to victoria ain't hard) or use human
2)Speherecasting in the Battle Scion. Is it possible? will it be too much tinkering? Are you okey with it.

As I said I can be a plain Battle Scion and use human, the concept is far more important than the crunch for this themed game!

@Emissary: Changelings are always female, as they're literally baby Hags. On a more positive note, the Battle Scion can easily be converted. It's considered a low-caster like a Ranger or Paladin.

@reflavoring / SoP and curses/mysteries.

As mentioned, I had intended to go with an Oracle of Flame.
I expect the revelations to stay the same, the question was mainly in regard to the mystery spells gained.
I've seen people handle them as Vincian spell-like abilities usable 1/day(same with other bonus spells), but by raw, I think they are lost?
Which means picking an archetype trading them out for others would not impact the flavor.
(and would make a Kitsune nine-tailed mystic seriously powerful in comparison)

@Ashe: like Rednal said, you'd start with two talents and CL 1. From then on, your CL would advance with your BAB. So, at Level 2, you'd gain a third talent but stay CL 1. You'd become CL 2 (and gain another talent) at Level 3.

@Emissary: A spherecasting Battle Scion would gain CL 1 at Level 4 (with the standard two talents). At Level 5 and every two levels thereafter, you'd gain an additional talent. Your CL would equal your character level -3, and your spell points would equal your character level -3 + your INT mod.

@Mordred: your revelations would stay the same, as would the capstone ability. Instead of mystery spells, you'd gain a bonus magic talent at Levels 1, 5, 10, and 15. This could be taken from Nature(fire) or a limited number of Destruction talents.

Alright then, I do believe I'm ready. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that I've missed a few details I'm forgetting about, but everything should line up decently. I did have one question as I got things ready; I was looking at the Kindred-Raised racial trait, but ultimately decided I didn't want to rework Sholano's history just to make it fit mechanically. I like his bastard heritage too much.
Any chance I could use that trait (if I decided I want to, I'm still not actually sure) without actually being raised by half-elven parents?

Oh, and if it's alright with you, I think I will be taking the Paranoid drawback. I believe you said drawbacks were available, but no extra trait comes along with them, yes?

Thanks for the quick reply. I commented on your reply within.

It's still a little time off before needing to pick one out, but I want it all to "click together" so simple gauging my options early - thanks for your patience.

Makes sense. I will see if I like any talents. The first two talents come from the same sphere though right?

Makes sense. I will see if I like any talents. The first two talents come from the same sphere though right?

AFAIK, you spend ONE of the talents to unlock a sphere. you can then unlock a second sphere with the other talent, or unlock something in the sphere you just gained.

This may be a bad example but I'm just trying to understand it. So War Sphere. Do the totems stack. I know it wont turn out this way but lets say there are 5 of us and we all are casters and we all have war and the Scourging totem. That would be 5 damage a round to all within 50' Seems good at low level. I mean this isn't really a stacking question it's 5 different sources of damage. The stacking would come in on say the Iron totem giving natural armor but I assume normal stacking rules apply so no. I have to keep looking at this.

Be done later today with an entry.

Ashe here, Cole is ready to go. I will continue to look at the spheres of power. I may change.

@Ashe: Mordred is correct regarding how talents are used. It's basically Skyrim's skill system. ;-) Regarding stacking, I'm going to have to research that one. It's not something I've seen suggested before. Let me get back to you.

Not looking to game it, just curious. I could come up if a few of us have spheres. Especially the war totem one that does damage.

May be, yes. Scourging Totem can do Fire damage and does not seem to allow a save.
Plus in my first draft I have "Easy Focus" as a Boon, which would allow me to place it in one round, then maintain focus with move action while still being able to 5-foot step and sling Fiery Blasts, simultaneously pulsing waves of flame with friend/foe recognition.

Speaking of first draft: does this seem correct:

@Mordred: almost perfect. You actually gain FOUR talents from your Oracle level (2 base + 1 from being a high caster + 1 from your mystery). Then there's the bonus talent from your drawback.

Presenting Linus Arche Traian

You can get an impressively high number of talents at first level if you really understand the system. XD

(Though admittedly, Spheres sort of encourages this with the build-it-yourself approach.)

YBD, did you have any thing for me or did I need to suggest a potential character at this point?

@heofthehills: you're ready to submit a concept and picture. :-)

Ah, right, high caster is 3 Talents, not 2. Thanks a lot!
I'm almost done, but revising my backstory, running into a slight...difficulty. Specifically, the age/lifespan given for tieflings. If I have human parents, and the pass-for-human racial trait, could I just "age" like normal humans do? I always found it slightly silly that Aasimar/Tiefling children by original ruling are not even "teenagers" when their human parents die of old age. And using the paizo document makes them come of age with 20, but lists the same age-jumps as humans(middle age/old/venerable/max), while not having fixed the starting age(so a "trained" tiefling could at worst start his adventuring career 2 years before becoming venerable? Thats hell of a long training period...)
So, can I just use human ages, pretty please?

@Rednal, yep, especially with the "drawbacks"-system it would be easy to unlock spheres, gain extra talents, then pay off the drawbacks at later levels-...