White Neb Mountain (Inactive)

Game Master Nebten

Search ye far or search ye near,
You’ll find no trace of the three
Unless you follow instructions clear,
For the weapons abide with me.

~K

"And that is all that was left in its place. Pretty boastful if you ask me, Riikan says after allowing you to read the carefully penned velum.

Riikan Dack, a wealthy rare arts collector, casually sits on the edge of his golden oak desk. He is dressed in white silk robes with thick spectacles resting on his face. He walks over to a side table where a decanter of wine sits with several glasses. He fills the glasses, offering one for you.

"I was hoping to hire your group out to retrieve my stolen weapon. I can offer 10,000 gold pieces, be it in coin or gems. The item in question is more of an art piece then a tool of war. But I will admit, it is quite dear to me. Are you interested?"

Greetings and thank you for exception my invitation.

I am planning on running a classic D&D module as a "home game". I've been itching to run this game for while for some reason, so here I go. It's a short module, no longer then a standard PFS scenario but it can be deadly. The module challenges both the tactical abilities of the characters and the mental abilities of the players. After the module is done, we may continue with these characters immediately after or at a later date depending how life is unfolding. ;)

So onto the important issues: Character Creation.

You have two options: one way to test-out a higher level of a PFS PC you want to make or you want to go off the rails and play something radical.

1) Use the PFS character creation guidelines. We know them all, so it should be 'nuff said on that.

2) 15 point buy, but No Holds Barred. Use what ever source you want. You pitch the PC and we'll try to make it work. I would like to be able to reference the source just so I know how certain properties work.

You will start at least level 6. Depending on how many people want to play, the starting level may go up.

* Hit points will be PFS style.
* Starting gold 13,000 gp. No more then 1/2 of your gold can be spent on a single item.
* Two traits

Please ask any question. Otherwise, I'll let you guys figure out your characters and party on your own. ;)

~Neb

Hm, sounds interesting. Sure, I'm in. Not sure what I want to play yet but maybe I'll have time to work on that today and tomorrow. Or at least think of something interesting.

Sounds like fun. I will see what character build this weekend.

Invites totes accepted, though a question: What setting/pantheon for deities? Is it convering to Golarion, or is this one of those old-man settings that I know little (but am willing to explore semi-blindly)?

Also, heads up: Option 2 is an immediate pick for me, though setting will play into it (after research if it's Greyhawk or something). I am limiting myself to Paizo products, though, as a self-limitation (and from non-familiarity with other things that aren't Eberron.)

I'm in.

Excellent question Baron. If its easier on everybody we can stick with Golarion pantheon. But if you have some overwhelming desire to play a priest of Ilmater go nuts. In all honesty, a majority of Golarion deties have Greyhawk counter parts. A sun god of healing, a dwarf god, an neutral god of death, a chaotic of god of trickery, etc.

As for the setting, I'm keep it open and vague right now. While the original module is set in Greyhawk, I'm going to keep it generic so people don't feel intimidated by not knowing a setting. It won't matter once the game gets going. If we decide to continue on with these characters, we can discuss which world to play in.

As counterproductive as it is, a setting and pantheon decision now would actually let me build a character easier as the earlier it's made, the more wiki research I can do.

Additional question: What about the 3.5 "CR to PC" conversion (that Paizo did away with.) If I've got a "No Holds Barred" setting, you know I've gotta ask about being an imp, lantern archon, or 3.5 Fiendish Gelatinous Cube with class levels, do ho ho.

Don't dig too deep into the wiki, my boy. Don't want to spoil yourself.

I'll leave it up to the players (Greyhawk or Golarion) for the setting, but honestly it won't make that much of a difference at first.

As for monsters, I'll punch them up into my handy Hero Lab and see what their class level would be. So for your Fiendish Gelatinous Cube, 4 level would be used up on race with 2 levels left over for class.

I will warn this, while such options are allowed, they typically don't work well in party dynamics. May consult with your fellow group members first.

Maybe I should have lowered the point buy for the No Hold Barred option. Oh well, that's what ability drain is for.

But you DID reduce the loose option point buy, do ho ho!

Ha, yeah; Fiendish Gel Cube was just the first thing I thought of (since it was the one with its own WotC blog post. Celestial didn't give enough Int for class levels.) Honestly, if its a good-aligned party, I was honestly considering a Lantern Archon Fighter (Archer*) or Paladin of St Cuthbert (or whoever for the setting) for disarming lazer beams or minimum moral ambiguity. And nothing that doesn't really work for the party composition; just going as far as I can until I find something I really want to play or find a boundary.

*Was going to ask to modify so I could use light beams instead of bow/arrows.

Alright, this isn't a really cool, far-out idea, but I really want to play a paladin. I'm thinking of doing the Warrior of the Holy Light archetype.

Yep, a typical good-time-ruinin', law-abidin', knight in shining armor. I hope nobody was planning on running something Evil.

Scratch my Orog necromancer/assassin. Dang and I almost had his purchases made. :-P

Aaarvid. I hope you didn't throw all your work out. I can change mine, I only just barely started putting him together. Sorry. :(

Well, I meant the point by should have been 10 instead of 15 for those who want to get a little crazy. ;)

Don't worry Sign, I think Aarvid was messing with you. Right? o.O

I was just kidding. My first thought was a Tengu Zen-Archer. If people are going all holy-warrior-like, I might do something more like an inquisitor of St. Cuthbert (or the Golarion equivalent).

Doesn't sound like anyone's going arcane? I'll probably whip up a sorcerer then. Nothing too crazy. I'll think about the build a little more but I'm leaning towards a gnome with either fey or sylvan bloodline.

I will build to fill, though Build Option 2 is pretty much a given (since if I can play something in PFS, it can fit on a boat and be an enemy in S&S.)

So are we looking at:

Holy Paladin
Tengu Monk or ??? Inquisitor
Gnome Sorcerer
Mr. Cube

Greetings everyone. As always, I'm late to the party. Driving back home today, but I'll use the time to brainstorm ideas. I'm thinking I may create something damage heavy or heal-y, maybe I'll check out an ACG, since it will be starting at 6. Hmmm.

Nebten - what would be good languages to know for the campaign? I just ask because I really want to try out the Antagonize feat, but it requires foes that can understand what I'm saying. Will common suffice for the majority of the enemies?

Is this a question that is too meta-gamey?

For this module, you'll be fine with just Common for a majority of enemies. If we do continue on, I know two things.

One, you may want to stick with the traditional languages: Giant, Draconic, something evil-outer-planary, and Alko (or what ever is serving as Undercommon nowadays).

Two, I have no direction where we are going after this adventure.

How is everybody coming along with their characters?

Too many ideas simultaneously for me. I'll hobble something together once everyone else has roles picked out (and thus narrow my logical play range.) Also, in Golarion: Aklo is the language of the Outer Planes and madmen; Undercommon is still Undercommon (for all them Dark Folks.)

What is the the level mod on a Lantern Archon? I figure the "Negative Bajillion" point buy might be a bit pleasing. (Side note: the "Can work with a paladin" clause is actually really good start on forcing my decision along, which is good.)

Actually, only Dark Folk (Slayer, Creeper, etc) speak Dark Folk. Its an on going joke in our game that when ever we come across Dark Creepers/Slayers they seem: 1) surprised to see the party 2) try to warn the party of something dangerous.

Sadly, they only speak Dark Folk and nobody would pick up a language that only 3 or 4 creatures know. So we can't understand them. Therefore we think they are threatening us, and fights follow.

Lantern Archon is 2 levels.

Whenever I hear the idea of a lantern archon PC, I cannot help but think of a near TPK where everyone dies or is incapacitated and the lantern archon has to carry out bodies or lost treasures and has no pockets. :-) Would we have a way to heal such a character?

I have either my tengu zen-archer done or can finish a human/aasimar oracle or inquisitor if either of those would be more appropriate to fill out the party.

Weirdly enough, I'd be corporeal and can Greater Teleport at will (with 50 lbs of stuff.) If at least one Oil of Cure Blank is kept around on a person, I can use Aid and just weirdly rub oils on people with my not limbs. Seriously, if it weren't for the fact their highest mental stat is 11, I'd make a No-Components Caster archon of some kind in a heartbeat. As it stands, maybe a Weapon Master of rays Fighter. Can't Deadly Aim (die to them being touch) is z little disheartening. I don't see a rogue, though; I could try to Archon at that for horrible ranged sneak or just buy Muleback Cords to get a carry capacity Strength of 9 and just be a skills guy-thing.

Still working on a concept. Waffling between Bloodrager, Slayer, or Shaman. I'll be gone most of the weekend organizing a small con, but will get something together by the first of the week.

Also, the Bestiary 4 Dark Folk Dark Caller speaks both Dark Folk and Undercommon, though you're right on how useless it would be. Nothing is better than learning Sasquatch, though. Given that I'm in the processes of making a Shadow Plane Equivalent of a book 5 encounter for S&S (for a party split due to having 10+ people), I'm only slightly surprised I didn't notice that.

(Endless)

I'm still here!

I originally made this guy for a Wrath of the Righteous game I (sadly) didn't get in to, so I'm recycling him. I made his as level and plan on just leveling him up to six but haven't had time this week. I will do so as soon as possible though, hopefully this weekend.

I am still on the fence between the Tengu Zen Archer and now "Nigel", a recycled build of a roc-mounted Halfling Inquisitor. Playing around with builds on both.

I would have either be LG to mesh with the paladin concept. The zen-archer is better damage dealer but the Halfling is possibly more versatile.

Sorry, I kind of forgot about this. I will have a character wound up an posted Tuesday night. My guy is going to be a reformed bully. He's making his penance as a Paladin - a real glutton for punishment.

What it looks like we're lacking is Trapfinding; Would a Lantern Archon Rogue (with Muleback Cords for a 9 strength carry capacity) function in the Skills role?

Friendly and curious beings, lantern archons eagerly converse with and assist other creatures. Their bodies, however, are merely globes of spiritual purity and pale light, and though they might interact with their surroundings through pure force of will, such interaction proves too weak to help with most physical tasks.

A Lantern Archon body is that of a globe, so it cannot use magic items that use body slots.

Ha, new idea, pre-shot down; Using that weird "SLAs count for prestige class prereqs" FAQ, Archon Rogue 3/ Arcane Trickster 1 (using the Minor Magic Rogue Talent to get Mage Hand as a SLA 3/day and Greater Teleport for the "2nd level arcane spells" prereq.) Alas, Archons are too dumb to use Rogue magic.

Will keep at that rapid-fire drawing board, though Lantern Archon is out. Seeing no rogue, I'll still continually build to "Trapfinding and Can work with an paladin." Not Des' shady background-adin totally helps, though.

Question: Do you have the Herolab files for Chronicle of Righteousness? If so, what does a Spyglass Archon turn out to be?

I don't have Spyglass Archon/Chronicle of Righteousness, but it looks like that race will take up 4 character levels.

Entering the last stage of building, though even I'm not sure how 3.5 handled this; Am I using the Adding Class Levels bit or going verbatim by monster.

Currently building assuming there's no chances to the base creature. Also, how are hit dice being handled? Rolled, take half, or something else?

I have Chronicles of the Righteous on Herolab. Spyglass has 4 HD.

Pretty much you have the race HD, then slap on 2 levels of rogue, and there you go Aothan.

Hit points, standard PFS style.

How's everybody else coming along? Tektite, Sign?

Cool; Then I've got only gear and "Picking my only feat" left. Picked up trapspotter as my rogue talent.

Current usefulness plan is "Using Aid and Continual Flame at-will to keep all buffed up and seeing outside combat," "teleport into flanks with melee beasts" and "Ensure not-Desmond doesn't start relapsing or anything."

Here's a pic of the PDF for the base creature here.

Well... I managed to create a character page. But I don't have anything entered in yet.

Sorry! I forgot to check in this week! I've got the character leveled to 6, just haven't updated his profile or made purchases yet. I'll work on that today though.

I've got this character leveled to 6 and updated.

Ok! 98% done! The only thing I think I have left is to pick out tricks for Noggin but that won't take me too long.

OK, well gameplay has opened up and we can RP the intro a bit while people are putting the finishing touches on their characters.

Honest Trailers, Game of Thrones, major spoilers

Game of Thrones 70's throwback. (spoiler free)

I think I'm ready.

Head's up all. I'll be out traveling through Wednesday, so this game will be on pause until then. To my GMs that I have PCs in, continue on in my absence accordingly.

OK, so I'm torn about which way to go on allowing AC/Mounts/Familar who can't "talk" to pass through the riddle trap with their master. I can argue both ways. So I'm going to roll the dice. If "PCs" is higher, then we'll say the AC is OK. PCs rolls first.

PCs: 1d100 ⇒ 54
DM: 1d100 ⇒ 72

Out of curiosity, and something I was thinking about today at work; since it was a water-filled pit, could we have not just swam across it? I thought maybe it was disease ridden or something, but it struck me kinda of funny today, that we were treating it like a standard pit, but it was full of water.

Are you kidding? That was not water! That was liquefied acid swarming with fiendish piranhas. (or at least that will be Nigel's account :-)