Zeros to Heroes! A Rise of the Runelords Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master DM Alistair

Hello, everyone, newer GM here! After much diddling around I've decided to test the waters of pbp gaming scene. I've ran several campaigns in real life, but never online. I've decided to try my hand at running the Anniversary Edition of Rise of the Runelords!

I know from scanning through the recruitment pages this appears to be one of if not the most popular AP out there, and with it's unique and, dare I say, FUN story, I feel that this would be a good one to start with!

Right, now we need specifics, yes?

I'll be running the game fairly casually since life, you know? I want 1 post minimum a day Monday through Friday and 1 post over the weekends. This is all for fun, so try to make a character that just sounds fun to play, not necessarily one that is 'best' at what they do.

Firstly! - No 3PP! Don't even ask, please.
Point Build - Normally I would call for 15, but I want to try a truly epic game, so let's go with 25 points!
Races - All core plus Aasimar, Kitsune, Tengu and Tiefling. Alternate racial traits are fine, and the only major restrictions are as follow - Fey Thoughts is banned; Variant Aasimar/Tiefling abilities are barred, but Aasimar/Tiefling physical features are allowed and must be rolled (2 max); the Tiefling Qlippoth-Spawn are also banned for mostly aesthetic reasons.
Classes - All but Occult classes (I have no bearing on them). Archetypes are fine, though ask first, please.
Starting Wealth and HP - Starting wealth is max for class, as well as HP. Thereafter, HP is rolled.
Traits - Start with three, one being from the awesome and free Player's Guide, one from either the Combat, Faith, Magic or Social traits list (none of which may increase starting wealth), and one Racial Trait.
Alignments - No Evil.
Starting Level - 1st level.
Lastly! - A simple 5 to 7 sentence background outlining your character, why they are in Sandpoint (local, passing through, settling down, etc), that sort of thing. I will be picking 5 characters.

Recruitment ends December 15 at midnight (that is the midnight from Dec 14 transitioning to Dec 15).

Best of luck and can't wait to see the characters and such!

ok this sounds promising.

now for the critical stuff.
You have no posting history here and there have been a large amount of new GM's recruiting and vanishing especially newer GM's

I don't want to lump you in with them, but are there any assurance that you will not bail within the first 50 posts of the game?

please be absolutely sure you are ready and understand what it takes to GM here.

there are several guides that can help: here is a good place to start

Start small is a good idea. Try Godsmouth Heresy or other beginning moduls that have little to no 'frills' like subsystems to handle.

Dotting, will brew up a char should this get more steam.

I present Barlo Underhill.

Barlo recently moved to Sandpoint. He comes from a family of traveling acrobats who have moved around Varisa with a family carnival. He recently became interested in magic and sent a few days learning arcane lore from a wizard in town, Hendrik. His family has moved on to other parts of Varisa and he is seeking to learn a few extra coin in the meantime.

He is also a loyal follower of Desna.

Dotting, let me see what I can put together!

Interested, though my kobald that I made for this seems to be disqualified, so I'll have to make something new.

Just the basics work, or do you need full sheets?

Dottage.

Interested, let's shake the chargen tree and see what falls out. :)

I'm really feeling like playing a healer of late, so I'm thinking a witch doctor shaman.

How do you feel about VMC?

When you say no variant tiefling/aasimar, do you mean the subraces with different attributes and spells, or do you mean no alternative traits at all, like the aasimar ability to trade darkvision for a halo or the tiefling prehensile tail instead of the relatively useless if you're not a sorcerer fiendish sorcery? Because for this concept I was thinking aasimar, but not if I can't grab halo or trade in that worthless daylight SLA (halo for esthetic reasons, trading the SLA because seriously who uses daylight?)

Story would be dependant on some of these answers, obviously, because a human or halfling would have a different background than an aasimar.

Dotting for interest.

I've got an idea or two for a front liner. I've send you the details later today after work.

I'm also interested.

Interested also - not done a pbp game but happy to accomodate character that assists party balance.

G

I would like to submit this character for your approval. I will update him as needed. As of now he has the zen archer archetype is this going to be an issue?

Dotting for interest.

I've got an idea or two for a front liner. I've send you the details later today after work.

Hey there Fallen, almost as though fate entered in...

A Darius/Noro combo? Just like old times.

I am interested in this. In keeping with the "Zeroes to Heroes" theme, I would like to play a Chosen One paladin.

Always been interested in giving this AP a try. Thinking a human ranger, going to play with some numbers.

Fallen_Mage wrote:

Dotting for interest.

I've got an idea or two for a front liner. I've send you the details later today after work.

Hey there Fallen, almost as though fate entered in...

A Darius/Noro combo? Just like old times.

That depends on what the GM says to the PM I sent.

DOT!

This character was in a RotRL that died in the first week. Needs to be adjusted for the point buy.

@DM Alistair, you specify that one trait must be Racial. What about kitsune and tengu that do not have Racial traits?

Hi, I'm thinking of offering agatha, a half orc witch, details to follow

Does 3.5 count as 3pp?
I was thinking about the battle sorcerer (basically an archtype before they had archtypes). I don't know if Pathfinder has an equivalent for sorcerer.

I've never heard anyone's opinion on whether 3.x counts as 3pp, so I really only have my own opinion to judge on, hence my asking.

Does 3.5 count as 3pp?

I was thinking about the battle sorcerer (basically an archtype before they had archtypes). I don't know if Pathfinder has an equivalent for sorcerer.

I've never heard anyone's opinion on whether 3.x counts as 3pp, so I really only have my own opinion to judge on, hence my asking.

You can jury rig something similar, but it takes work. Closest I've seen is Eldrich Scion Magus or Arcane Duelist Bard, but neither gets 9th level spells. :-/

@Edward Sorbel: I've been playing RPG's for a little over a decade, having dropped out of only one group for health concerns. I know that doesn't speak much to my ability to stay in a forum, but I want the group to know I will do everything short of being hospitalized to keep running the game.

@Andrea: I had thought of running a more 'intense' system but settled on RotR for having only one real subsystem that isn't even mandatory (though very easy to keep up on). I do want to run smaller modules in the future, though more on the lines of The Drahon's Demand.

@Barlo: A preliminary look at the character seems fine, though I'll be taking a closer look shortly to see any errors. Still looks like a fun character.

@Alicorn: I'd prefer a statted up character, though you may post them here to prevent making an actual character slot. Also, I'm afraid 3/3.5 rules that have not been properly ported to Pathfinder are not allowed (so no Monkey Grip feats and such)

@thegreenteagamer: In their respective books there are charts that you can roll on to get new racial powers in exchange for their spell-like abilities. The heritages are fine, though save Qlippoth-spawn as stated.

@Viemos: I've heard tales that Zen Archers are really good at what they do but have never had the opportunity to play with one. For now it seems fine.

@Soprovo: Chosen One looks real fun! I'd like to see the stat up and the character blurb!

@Mal Doren: Looks like a fun character! I'll get them on the list soon.

@Demon Lurking: After a second review you are quite correct! I must have confused some homebrew traits I had seen for Paizo official. For Kitsune & Tengu they may take another trait from the list as long as they are not "double dipping" in a trait category.

For those who have PM'd me, I'll be responding in just a few moments.

Actually, I meant the alternative traits in the ARG. I think I get what you're saying; no cherry picking from the d100 charts. Fair enough.

Let's see:

SLA: 100 = 100 sweet! Roll twice!
1st: 1d100 ⇒ 32
Shield Other 1/day
2nd: 1d100 ⇒ 35
Aid 1/day

And finally...
Physical Features: 1d100 ⇒ 47
Extra long legs...weird, but, uh, okay.

Anyways, as I said earlier, I'm thinking a witch doctor shaman, life spirit, probably with VMC cleric (Pharasma, because her being the death goddess works nicely with the whole 'spirit' powering of shamans) to just be a crazy white mage style healer. He's got a good heart, and tries to do right, but is not really a front liner or direct damage type. He would be pretty much an itinerant wanderer who tries to travel around burying dead and healing, and moving along, never really growing attached anywhere...until the events in Sandpoint catch his attention that is.

I'll squeeze some crunch out later.

Or wait...rereading intro paragraph...I'm a little lost...I'm seeing must be rolled but can't be...maybe I'm just misunderstanding the way that is phrased?

If it is Must roll physical, do Not roll SLA, THEN that means my results were...roll 3x, take no duplicates, feathers hair, hair that turns solve in moonlight, and long legs. (:-/ lame; I'm playing a goofy looking dude.)

Which way am I to understand it?

The alternate "looks" (horns, feather hair, etc) must be rolled. Abilities may not. Sorry about the confusion.

Well, do you want me to just take those numbers then, or do it over in light of the fact you said two?

Well, do you want me to just take those numbers then, or do it over in light of the fact you said two?

Tell you what, I'll allow you to keep one of those spell-like abilities (reading over the lists on my lunch I note few are as game-breaking as I had thought when I first read them several months ago), but roll once more on the looks column.

Here on, I'll allow one roll on the Variant Aasimar/Tiefling Abilities chart (no two rolls granted by the 100 roll) but only if playing a "base" Aasimar/Tiefling (no heritages)

so I'm tall and...: 1d100 ⇒ 72
Have feathered wings. Boss! I was planning on taking the angel blood and angel wings feats eventually anyways. Sweet. I know these won't let me fly until then, by it's still esthetically cool.

Well now I just have to take halo instead of darkvision, to complete the whole "Angel of Death" motif (making Pharasma all the more appropriate)!

I guess I'll think about which of those two SLA to choose. I think both are on the life shaman list anyway.

@thegreenteagamer - Aren't whippoorwills Pharasma's iconic animal? Maybe your wings are like theirs?

@Viemos: I've heard tales that Zen Archers are really good at what they do but have never had the opportunity to play with one. For now it seems fine.

Excellent I will work on updating him as soon as I can get to my computer with hero lab on it. What do you think about the beginning of his background? Think we could make it fit? I'm thinking after his wife dies he ends up in sand point instead of Heldren.

Well here is a character. Please excuse him for right now, he was meant for another game but was not chosen. I will be fixing him up to the standard here and and fix his backstory to fit the Rp.

@thegreenteagamer - Aren't whippoorwills Pharasma's iconic animal? Maybe your wings are like theirs?

Yes, they are. I like it. A brown and black motif. Cool.

Part of me wishes there was a race descended from Psychopomps, but whatever Pharasma is an ally of Sarenrae, and she's a former Celestial Lord, so it all fits together tangentially.

dot. thinking halfling.

I'm very interested in this

Looking at a sling wielding Halfling Warpriest of Chaldira Zuzaristan

Fallen_Mage here with a submission ready for review.

@Cuan - Sounds fun! Stat them up and I'll get them listed once approved!

@Darius - Preliminary look is fine, I'll take a closer one in a few hours but so far it's solid looking.

Okay, so usually, when I make a character, I like to make a nice looking sheet...but that takes a while to do on my phone (I post 95+% on my phone because I don't have internet at home and only use my computer when I'm out and about). So I'll do one up if I'm accepted, but in the meantime, here's some quick and dirty in a spoiler, so you get what you need.

Equipment always takes me the most time...I can do so before being approved if you really want, but that's one I like to take my time on.

Theravdo was an orphan from the day he was born. His mother died in his birth, and his father, having no clue what to do with the strange boy with the feathery wings, told the midwife, a priestess of Pharasma, to take him away. He was never really taught the way if the clergy, but he just kind of...picked up...on the energy around. All the death, and the Spirits passing...he could just, sort of, feel it. While he loved Pharasma for the good her church did in midwifery, healing, and combating the undead, he couldn't stand the church's lack of commitment to truly do good. So while it was evident he had a gift, he wasn't sir it was directly through her touch, but more the life itself he saw through the people who came to services. He left the church he grew up when he came of age, and has been traveling from town to town since, just hoping to do good...Healing, saying a prayer over the dead, or such...without staying long enough to grow attached. Because its easier to remain neutral like they taught him when you're unattached, even if he desperately wants to do more.

If I get picked I'll throw together a nice alias for you and finish the gear, but anything variable I pretty much in the spoiler, and if I missed anything let me know!

Here is Tiel, the half-elf Chosen One Paladin. Still needs a little tweaking and some equipment still to buy. I have her built for reach right now, but I don't know if I'm going to stick with that or go with an archer build.

Deep down, she suspects that she probably shouldn't be taking advice from a talking songbird. But he's telling her what she wants to hear, so she's going with it for now.

Here's TheChelaxian submitting an old char, reworked from Jade Regent to Rise of the Runelords. Let me know if anything is out of place. Might edit him little bits here and there, but should be solid.

Actually I'll be making a Kitsune Ninja. Should be done by today.

What about Archetypes(Monk of the Iron Mountain)?
What about prestige classes(Brother of the Seal)?

Here is an alchemist I submitted for another RotR game. I may adjust equipment some more due to max gold.

Due to running possibly 2 tables of this and possibly playing in another one I am going to withdraw my application

Well here she is, sort of. Still need to transfer data and proofread from my organiser. Plan to multi-class into a bard.

Dotting for interest and will come up with something shortly. And I see some familiar faces!

Applications are looking good! I'm still at my job at the moment, but I'll be making a list applications in about two hours and posting it up.

Starting to get really excited about this game!

This is Darthrancor submitting a character that I built for a RotR Pbp a while ago. I don't have time to update him till this weekend but I'll get to it as soon as I can.

On archetypes, Is it alright if he remains a Sin Magic Specialist?