Way of the Wicked Reversed, Be the Heroes of Talingarde (Gestalt)

Game Master parizzio

Have a few build concepts cooked up, but cannot decide on which I really like.

I suppose if people did come up with a theme concept, I could find one which fit.

What Domains does Mitra grant?

Do the different aspects grant different ones (I believe there were three, the Holy Flame, Cleansing Light, and something else)?

Mitra's Domains: Good, Healing, Law, Protection, War

Oh. I was looking at this page about Mitra... We're not using this?

^That's what I was looking for.

Dotted for interest.
We going with a party theme or no?

Oh. I was looking at this page about Mitra... We're not using this?

Did FMG Publish this?

Absolutely ALL for this. Their material is spread out pretty thin.

@Karstarke (And anyone in general) My two most promising applicants are more than likely going to be Knights of Alerion.

Well I was thinking of a Paladin//Ranger build. Being a Paladin of Mitra who travels the island spreading the good word while being useful to those who are traveling through the forests and such. I have a question if you are a Paladin of Mitra could you perhaps be NG if you follow the tenants of Mitra the Beneficent Sun?

If not thats perfectly fine but I was curious.

@Karstarke: It never hurts to ask, but definitely not. I think being 'lawful' is a pretty important factor of any Paladin. No code without law! Usually, when running evil campaigns, I even have my Antipaladins set to Lawful Evil instead.

No problem, I was just curious.

Is this going to be a more Urban concept game?

Does Talingarde have its own language either? It seems somewhat secluded so I thought perhaps it might have its own variation of Common

Is this going to be a more Urban concept game?

Nope. You'll spend some time in Aldencross, do some dungeon crawling, possibly wilderness survival..

Does Talingarde have its own language either?

As far as I know, they just speak common, so we will go with that. Before this all starts up I'm going to take some time to go back over the books.

Would you be behind the curb if your gestalt didn't have full casting?

My gestalt won't have full casting. I'm going with fighter/paladin.

I was considering Paladin//Swashbuckler is Ranger was not gonna work.
But also considering Paladin//Arcanist if we should have a few with full casting.

I'm making a knight of Alerion, just having a little trouble settling on the build...
My two leading contenders right now are unchained monk/inquisitor or fighter/warpriest (soooo many feats). Both of those would bring 6 level divine casting to the table. I know there's a Pally/Oracle in here too which would cover full divine. It would be a good idea to have a full arcane caster though... I have an idea for a magus/arcanist that I could probably tweak a little to be a knight (though I worry a little bit about not having full BAB).

Well a Unchained Monk//Empyreal Sorcerer is a 9th Arcane caster with high AC and some melee capabilities.

I am playing an Unchained Monk//Arcanist with the Kung Fu Genius feat in another game and having a load of fun. Proving to be very effective.

Yeah, I just have trouble picturing a monk/sorcerer as a knight... (Of course, I guess my other knight ideas are a bit atypical too...)

Knight as in armor clad warrior switching between a big sword or shield and sword?

Or Knight as in upholding honor, courage, chivalry, the law, etc?
remember Monk's are also bound to Lawful

OK, here's Corporal Vincent.

After reading what passes for a player's guide for Way of the Wicked, I can't say I really get the world terribly well. The descriptions verge on cartoonish.

Corporal Vincent is a long serving line soldier of the Knights of Alerion. He came from a fairly normal background as a farmer's second son (so no inheritance). The military was what he saw to be his best option to make a living given his lack of mercantile skills, and his strong frame. Without any noble blood, he could not easily become a commissioned officer, but his leadership qualities have advanced him on the path of a non commissioned officer.

He has server in a number of campaigns on the rather lively northern border, managing to distinguish himself as competent and brave.

He is tall and hearty looking (6'2", 220lbs). Had muddy brown hair and brown eyes. He wears a fine suit of full plate. He is deferential to authority, and rarely comes up with original ideas, as he is aware he isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. His devotion to Mitra is quite evident, and he doesn't carouse at all with his fellow line troopers.

That was one of the main issues with the AP, yeah. The party were baby eating Snidely Whiplash sorts (no exceptions, by order of the PG) and they were going up against the Do Right-iest Dudley Do-Rights to ever walk the face of the planet.

Mitra good, everything else bad. No exceptions.

That was one of the main issues with the AP, yeah. The party were baby eating Snidely Whiplash sorts (no exceptions, by order of the PG) and they were going up against the Do Right-iest Dudley Do-Rights to ever walk the face of the planet.

Mitra good, everything else bad. No exceptions.

That... wasn't really my impression, though I only got through the first book with my group. While the antagonists certainly had members among them that were shining knights of valor there were also plenty of Lawful A##@&%%-type characters for my players to genuinely want to take down, as well as just regular people who make regular people mistakes (which the party was perfectly content exploiting of course).

Yeah, the vast majority of the Knights of Alerion are your typical sword-wielding, horse-riding, armor-toting knights, but the order has taken off since house Darius came into power.

They also work closely with specialists from Sacred Brotherhood (though noble blood is required to join them, exceptions are made for sorcerers of 'non-evil' bloodlines [not specifically ), The Mitran Army, The Cruch of Mitra, and Blessed order of St. Mararius. These orders working together on a sensitive mission would work well

Actually Sundakan, Lawful Neutral and true Neutral alignments were allowed in the AP. Sure, you had to be guilty of a crime, but one of those was Dueling to the Death which isn't exactly that terrible.

Alright, current plans are either a fighter or barbarian/kineticist, a slayer/investigator, swashbuckler/skald, or another attempt to make crossbows viable.

Is anyone getting the themed party idea off the ground?

I actually decided not to go with the Yutak. I can't seem to get my head around it but it also looks like the the recruitment as a whole is veering towards the more chivalrous and devout.

I'm looking at a follower of Mitra in the form of the Fire Undying. I want to head for the Holy Vindicator PrC on one side of the gestalt, so that means that I'd at least include Cleric, Oracle, Paladin or Warpriest (seeing that Shaman would be odd and Witch isn't an option).

Haha well the thread title did say 'heroes' :)

Native Talrineans are better suited to this also, since this is an affront on their homeland.

I actually decided not to go with the Yutak. I can't seem to get my head around it but it also looks like the the recruitment as a whole is veering towards the more chivalrous and devout.

I'm looking at a follower of Mitra in the form of the Fire Undying. I want to head for the Holy Vindicator PrC on one side of the gestalt, so that means that I'd at least include Cleric, Oracle, Paladin or Warpriest (seeing that Shaman would be odd and Witch isn't an option).

Swim against the stream! Go odd! No matter what I end up playing, I know I'm going to have fun lamp shading the tropes of this setting or pointing out the inherent flaws in medieval life present in even the lawful-good kingdom.

Expect call outs to Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Should have back story up tomorrow. When do you want the crunch? I can probably have it done tomorrow as well.

I was hoping to do some of the upstream swimming myself.

DM Snowe did you end up taking a second look at the non-evilness of the naatanuk?

@FEeral: I did; for some reason I was remembering all three of the major northern factions being evil, but the Naatanuk and the Ice Elves aren't necessarily so.

I've been digging around seeing if I could find some stat blocks for them with no luck thus far. If you find something, link it to me!

@Ashe: In no hurry for the crunch. Concepts, backgrounds, and personality are definitely more important to me here.

Cuàn wrote:

I actually decided not to go with the Yutak. I can't seem to get my head around it but it also looks like the the recruitment as a whole is veering towards the more chivalrous and devout.

I'm looking at a follower of Mitra in the form of the Fire Undying. I want to head for the Holy Vindicator PrC on one side of the gestalt, so that means that I'd at least include Cleric, Oracle, Paladin or Warpriest (seeing that Shaman would be odd and Witch isn't an option).

Swim against the stream! Go odd! No matter what I end up playing, I know I'm going to have fun lamp shading the tropes of this setting or pointing out the inherent flaws in medieval life present in even the lawful-good kingdom.

Expect call outs to Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Not sure about the flaws in Matharyn ;) Gary McBride mentioned somewhere that in this 100,000+ populated city, they don't even lock their doors O_O

I don't think everyone is building with them in mind but it kind of looks like the party may be either all Knights of Alerion or a unit composed of members from the Knights of Alerion, the Sacred Brotherhood of the Griffon, the Church of Mitra, and the Blessed Order of Saint Marcarius (possibly one of each).

@FEeral: I did; for some reason I was remembering all three of the major northern factions being evil, but the Naatanuk and the Ice Elves aren't necessarily so.

I've been digging around seeing if I could find some stat blocks for them with no luck thus far. If you find something, link it to me!

Thanks for the second look! =)

The only stat block I've found has them as literally awakened polar bears which are ~CR 9 creatures and obviously out of whack with our starting point for the campaign.

A few options come to mind.

A) If you've got the time and inclination, you cook up a 'young naatanuk' race using the race building rules that's more or less in line with the other races you're allowing.

B) I do the race building and get your approval/tweaks as necessary.

C) I use one of the legal races and just 'reskin' it to be an adolescent Naatanuk. I could probably do it easily enough with tiefling or maybe half-orc.

That of course is all assuming you're willing to consider the concept to begin with. There's no sense in worrying over crunch if you're vetoing the idea entirely.

I don't think everyone is building with them in mind but it kind of looks like the party may be either all Knights of Alerion or a unit composed of members from the Knights of Alerion, the Sacred Brotherhood of the Griffon, the Church of Mitra, and the Blessed Order of Saint Marcarius (possibly one of each).

Having everyone be holy warriors of some kind gives us good justification to be A) working together and B) being chosen to get sent on this particular mission at least.

If we're going for a church ordained team, my naatanuk (name to be determined) could be a frowned upon pet project of a respected priest. Kind of like Professor Bruttenholm did with Hellboy but without the whole demon angle.

There's always Werebear kin skinwalkers. That might be a decent approximation.

What level does this end at?

After some further thought I'm looking at making a redeemed arsonist who joined either the Church or the Blessed Order. He'd be a Life Oracle with the Blackened curse.

I'm not sure on race yet but it will most likely be either Halfling or Gnome. Similarly I'm not sure what the second class will be but Pyrokineticist seems fitting.

During the very last fire he set he got very badly hurt and was taken in to be treated by the Blessed Order. Due to his wounds he was considered a victim and nobody looked at him as the possible arsonist. During his time in the care of the Order he started having pain induced visions of Mitra and his chance at redemption. The moment he decided that, should he survive, he would from then on work to redeem himself and help the people of Talingarde he made a miraculous recovery. All his burns healed, leaving no scars, with the exception of his forearms and hands. Those remained blackened and shrivelled as if to remind him of the promise he made.

EDIT: Normal WotW ends at 20

Whatever level we are when we win...

@Cuan - Just make sure your past includes *petty* arson only. Arson is one of those lovely crimes they execute you for in Talingarde. Damn uptight Mitrans ;)

@Arachnofiend - While true, even if the PC's have different backgrounds, I can just work with each individual person to give them a reason to be in Aldencross. Once there, you'll have *plenty* of reason to want to work together *evil GM laugh*

@Karstarke - I'm not entirely sure! I intend on replicating a lot of the events from the first three books, which is somewhere around level 10? After that, it's pushing into the Savage North. From there, who cares? As long as players participate, I'll keep this going.

@Feral - I'll play with it tomorrow when I wake up. I'll try using the racial point buy, but I want to read into the race first to make sure whatever I do gives a somewhat accurate representation. I'd love to contact Gary McBride an ask him....but I'm sure we all know how that will go >_>

He wouldn't have killed anything bigger than livestock. That and he was never caught and is assumed to be a victim of some other arsonist. Perhaps he had a partner in crime who did get sent to Branderscar and the authorities assumed he acted alone.

At the moment the game starts the character would be far away from his past and would actually already be working on his redemption, healing and helping the people of Talingarde. In some sort of cosmic/divine irony he'd be particularly skilled at treating burns.

There's always Werebear kin skinwalkers. That might be a decent approximation.

That would probably work too.

@Feral - I'll play with it tomorrow when I wake up. I'll try using the racial point buy, but I want to read into the race first to make sure whatever I do gives a somewhat accurate representation. I'd love to contact Gary McBride an ask him....but I'm sure we all know how that will go >_>

Sweet! I look forward to seeing what you put together. I take it from your language that you're open to the concept at least so I'll start putting some background together.

I'm not familiar with Gary. Is he known for not responding to fans?

If this isn't closed I'm going to try to submit a druid//cleric or inquisitor on time.

Actually Sundakan, Lawful Neutral and true Neutral alignments were allowed in the AP. Sure, you had to be guilty of a crime, but one of those was Dueling to the Death which isn't exactly that terrible.

At the start, yes.

You're either full on evil or dead/left the party by the end of book 3, at a minimum since (Full spoilers for Book 2-4 of the AP follow):

There is no gray. Way of the Wicked railroads you into being EEEEEEEEEEEVIL with all the capital E's you can find.

You aren't allowing Psionics are you?
What about Occult?

I imagine Psionics opens up the same can of worms as Path of War (it requires a lot of reading various sub-systems on his part).

He did say all Paizo classes (besides a few exceptions) were allowed though.

lol oh dear god, Gestalt. Uh... yeah, I'll draw something up. It's gon' be something nasty.

Considering redoing the Ranger half of my build to be a Divine Tracker/Skirmisher archetype mesh which takes all the forest stuff and adds more Divine flavor such as Blessings.

Here's the fluff for my submission, Nukilik.