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I have a GM alias which I may use, or I could create another. Or you could convince me to play as me.
I think in a superhero game with weird names and everyone having multiple avatars, having GM in the title of the GM may be a helpful reminder.
I finished my rough backstory and it got long and dark. Don't worry. Despite all that, Narissa became a cheerfully upbeat person, who genuinely cares about others. I feel like I need to rewrite it to be less depressing. It definitely needs another pass for words and grammar choice. I do want it on record that despite what this shows, she is of good alignment.
I also should probably put something in about why she calls herself Blackeye. It partially has to do with a design on the mask, partially with her missing eye, and partially that she thought it sounded cool.
The nameless half orc lies broken on the cold stone floor. Her limbs twisted, but somehow painless. Sweat mats her brow. She lies there for an eternity, before a thought coalesces in her mind.
Who am I?
"That's better isn't it?
The gravely voice tears her mind apart, causing pain to reverberate through her skull. Who or what it is, she has no idea.
Where am I?
"You can think now can't you? I gave you that. Your mind was broken before. You could be outthought by a mutt."
She struggles to see, but something on her face blocks her view.
What am I listening to?
"Say something, half breed. Anything at all."
She struggles to speak, lips dry and unresponsive. She feels the pressure of a mask against her tusks.
"I-i"
She coughs, feeling blood splattering the inside of the mask.
"W-who am-?"
She trails off, and the voice is overtaken with a dark laughter, malicious and unpleasant to listen to. It feels like someone smashing her head with a hammer.
"Oh poor little nameless slave. Who are you? WHO ARE YOU?"
The scream causes her to whimper.
"You are no one. You are nothing. You don't exist. If we killed you, no one would know the difference. A brain dead orcling, with all the stupid of your greenie parents."
The dead certainty in the voice crushes her completely. She knows instinctively it speaks the truth. Th voice pauses, and for a moment the only sound is her laboured breathing.
"Would you like to be someone?"
A mounting fear climbs in her. She doesn't understand. She struggles to speak, her cracked lips formed words for the first time in her life.
"W-why m-m-me?"
"It was your turn."
The voice almost sounded friendly that time, as if trying to comfort her. She spits the blood out of her mouth, smearing it against the cool porcelain on her lips and swallows the rest. The fear is gone. Calm has taken over. Her choice is clear. Her voice comes clearer now.
"W-what will it c-cost?"
"Your body. Your mind. Your heart. Everything and nothing."
It sighs, breathing for the first time.
"Do you accept the terms?"
The half orc, barely a child, took a deep breath.
"Yes"
------------
The burning building silhouetted the nameless masked warrior. A blackened shadow, she stalked through the night looking for more. Her ear twitched, a sound catching it. Closing her left eye, she turns letting her magic eye scan the darkness. A lone child, crouched behind a tree. Silently sobbing for its parents. She doesn't hesitate. The orders were clear. No survivors. If she was especially good, The Master might let her have a blanket tonight. It got dreadfully cold on the floor.s
"Oh, young one!"
She sings into the night, the cold air kissing her flesh. The axe comes off its sheath with practiced ease, and she spins it, the familiar heft comforting. She pauses for a moment and pushes her ki into her limbs, feeling for wounds. One of the guards had been a particularly good shot, and an arrow was embedded in her chest. It had missed her vitals, and she was sure she would live.
The child had realized she could see it. Screaming, it turned to run. She smiled, the cool kiss of the mask on her face. It was white, and wrapped neatly around her face, protecting her anonymity. She tested the ground beneath her feet, and accelerated rapidly, catching up in mere seconds. The boy tripped on a root, and collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. Wide eyes staring at her. At least it had the decency not to beg. She began to raise the axe.
"Ah!"
Pain tore through her, like a lightning bolt through her centre. She glanced down, and saw an arrowhead emerging from her chest. She was still staring down as another joined it, adding to the pain. Blood began soaking her front. She could feel the demon's disappointment flowing into her. She made a half turn before the third one landed, in her upper arm. The poison flowed through her system and she dropped, the world fading into darkness.
------------
It took years before the mask could be removed without killing her. Years of fighting and struggling to control her mind, her very own body betraying her. Years of mental discipline, meditating quietly. Her mind was a broken thing, torn to shreds by the many magical compulsions that had kept her obedient. Words were hard, and she had to relearn how to speak. Sometimes she would fail and rampage until the elf put her down again, always with the same poisoned arrows. Her memory worked in fits and sometimes she would awaken screaming, having dreamed the horrors she had performed. Other times she knew not who she was or what she was and the ignorance was bliss. And then one day, she came to, her mind strangely focused. Cool air kissed her face, and she touched her cheek in wonderment. The mask was off. The elf was sitting by her bed smiling sweetly at her.
"Do you have a name?
"I- N-no"
Tenderly, the elf brushed her hair back.
"May I name you?"
She paused. She'd never had a name before. But what harm could it cause?
"Y-yes"
"You remind me of someone I once knew, a very long time ago. Her name was Narissa. She too, was taken by the masks. I think she'd be proud to have you bear her name. Do you like it?"
"Yes"
Narissa smiled. She had a name. Then sleep took her once more.
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Her mind wasn't perfect and her body had been severely damaged during the healing period. It took several more years for her to recover her strength, building up her mind the whole time. The elf called herself Marion Nokolo, and had been tracking the efforts of the masked ones for decades. Someone, she knew not who, was kidnapping children and enslaving them as warriors. Using a collection of old magical masks, they managed to revive an old art of channeling ki throughout your body to achieve amazing results without using conventional magic. As hard as Narissa tried, she could never use her ki the way she could when she wore the mask those years ago. Marion continued to track the movements of the masked group, with the eventual goal of ending the person responsible. She forbid Narissa from coming with her until the half orc was ready. Narissa was the first time a masked person had ever been cured that Marion knew of, and the two of them grew quite close. Worried that Marion was getting old and slow, Narissa trained her body constantly, pushing herself to be up to her previous standard.
------------
Marion left and never came back once. Narissa waited for months, months of silence and lonesome. The voice of the demon spoke to her, and she saw things out of the corner of her right eye. For the first time since it had come off, she donned her mask again. It tried to turn her back, the magical tendrils reaching into her brain to pick her identity apart.It was almost too easy to force it aside. She mastered the mask, and used its powers for her own. Despite this, the demon screamed in rage. That was when she learned the truth, that as part of the deal many years ago, the demon has taken her eye. Without a shred of remorse, she cut her eye out and left the cottage. She was completely alone, with one task burned into her mind. She was going to find Marion's daughter, Narissa.
That's awesome! And there's no question she's of good alignment after successfully taking control of the mask, and she even has a goal which a GM can use as targeted plot for the 2nd rotation.
I'll take your advice and use a GM persona tagged 'GM -' then.
This is GM - BAMB!
She's a Bad-Ass Mother Brain!
May I suggest an alteration to the campaign description? You currently have:
Players & PCs:
• Goditty as Narissa Nikolai, a.k.a. Blackeye
• SkaTalon as Ivy Dornn, a.k.a. Daughter of the Dryad
• Lobster as Handsome Hernrietta
But I think you should have (Change bolded for clarity):
Players & PCs:
• Legendary Sidekick as Addison Lane, a.k.a. The Vermillion Vixen
• Goditty as Narissa Nikolai, a.k.a. Blackeye
• SkaTalon as Ivy Dornn, a.k.a. Daughter of the Dryad
• Lobster as Handsome Hernrietta
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Changed.
Also fixed "Nikolai," which is not a typo, but auto-correct's fault. Can we make Auto-Correct a villain, and if we tourture him to death, our alignments shift from good to great?
Also my name is misspelled
Whoops. Can't pin that one on Auto-Correct. Fixed.
This is Addy's sidekick at Lv.5. For all of Lv.4, she'll take the Lovesick penalty, not realizing the weird walking plant is her dear departed friend.
...also...
@ Ska, on second thought, if it's easier for everyone, let's just stick to Golarian deities.
Considering I used a Green Faith avatar for my sidekick, I'm thinking it works as Addy's religion. That or Shelyn, or some merging of the two.
I opened the discussion thread and actually wrote the first Gameplay post a couple days ago. Just waiting for committed players.
Anyone who posted in this thread is invited. Please make a discussion post to let me know you're ready to play in Episode One!
The first Gameplay post is already written (on a Google Doc). I'm just holding out for more players. If the concept seems fun, submit a character and you're in!
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*Cough*
The name kind of gives it away, huh?
Just back from a little jaunt around Galt, heard about this from some folks at the local tavern. Though I'd have a look.
Welcome! When you have a chance, stat him up as shown in the Campaign Info tab and buy 3000g worth of equipment. Post in Discussion thread when you're ready!
Oh... @Sunset! Awesome! I was at work when I read your post, so I didn't get a chance to see that it's you playing the Captain!
Well, as I said, stat the guy. Just jump in-game when life Down Under is less crazy-busy.
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It isn't really my place to comment, what with Addy being in charge around here and all, but if you really do want feedback, then you should know that those questions are setting off my GM instincts.
Before I explain why, I do want to note that having a difference in the level of party members can be fun, and make for a memorable campaign. Especially so when there's fluff not accounted for in the raw mechanics that helps bring things together. If handled between mature adults who can talk out their problems, there's nothing wrong with it. I'm not casting any judgement on your ability to be reasonable about this, and I'm positive that if Addy did okay these options, they would work out. The rest of this post is a purely mechanical discussion about why either of those things would give a significant power boost to the Captain compared to a relatively 'normal' build.
You did ask for thoughts. Here you go.
1) My GMing instinct gives a hard no on this one. Pure Bred Azlanti (As long as you're talking about the one I think you're talking about. If not, please ignore me) is human plus more better. It has all the same powers as a human (already one of the best races according to some optimizers) but with an incredible amount of stat modifiers. It was never meant to be a player race. If it was, it would just flat out replace human. Consider: Henrietta is also a human. If you two took the same class and feats, and matched each others build, the Azlanti would just be better. This one choice gives you +1 to all saves, +1 to attack and damage, +1 skill per level, and +1 to all skills compared to the rest of us (depending on where our racial bonuses fall). Just play a normal human and fluff yourself into a pureblood. It's much more balanced.
2) For many years, I was harshly against players with templates. I had a bad experience with a dedicated 'minmaxer' abusing them and ruining campaigns. Since then I've softened somewhat. Having a vampire or werewolf in your party is awesome! Becoming celestial after you please a god? Sure! Templates make great campaign rewards at high level play. But see, there's two catches. The first is that you have to watch the power level very closely. Templates weren't meant for players, which means they're homebrew. And like all homebrew, balance issues pop up like crazy in the unplaytested environment.
The other catch is that advanced doesn't work. All of the other templates I mentioned do something interesting for the character. Being a werewolf, or a vampire, or having the ability to smite evil, and so on. They all help make your character unique and do something that is unachievable in the rules (I am aware that werewolf and to a lesser extent vampire are becoming less relevant in this regard as options expand. That's not the point). Advanced just increases the numbers. It's not a player choice, it's a tool for the GM who suddenly needs to jack the power of a monster quickly. It doesn't add anything interesting to your character. It just makes you better. Basically it's applying monster advancement to a normal character. If you can't get want you want out of the rules, then turning to a template makes sense. But if all you want is higher numbers, that's also achievable! A level of fighter is the closest to a level with no class features, and very dipable.
Not only that, but it doesn't increase the numbers at the same rate as a normal character. Take a level of a normal class and you gain maybe +1 BAB, and +1 to up to 3 saves. Advanced essentially gives you +2 to all those things, as well as +2 to all skills, +4 AC, and +2 damage. That's a ridiculous increase! 'But I don't get any class abilities!' you may say. Not so. Because you're taking it with a level of NPC Warrior, we can think of the template as the class feature of warrior. There isn't a single class in the game that gives you an ability that good at any level of play. The closest I can see is barbarian rage, which matches the hp, damage, and accuracy buff. But it only lasts a few turns, decreases your AC, tires you out, and doesn't even help on the skill front! And you get the full BAB and high hp of a warrior.
I would argue if you're aiming for a power level equal to an average third level PC, a level 2 character with a +1 template is already pushing it. The advanced template wasn't meant for characters anyway, as it doesn't give you anything you couldn't get elsewhere.
I'm now kind of curious. What are you trying to achieve in your build with those choices that cannot be replicated any other way?
I agree with Goditty/Narissa.
In addition to reasons stated, the power level of the PCs is quite high by design, and relatively equal by design.
Here is the rationale behind the OP's char-gen system:
• Class: core/base/alt/hybrid, any archetype - I find non-standard classes/archetypes interesting enough for me to not worry about them being broken.
• Race: standard only, please - I do find non-standard races more broken than interesting.
• Stats: 19-19-15-15-11-11 - The PCs are not ordinary human(oid)s. Attribute scores are higher than what you get from a 25-point buy. I made the array a two-best-two-worst system for quick char-gen, and made the numbers off so you can increase one mod by Lv.4, and if you want to, you can increase multiple mods by Lv.8.
@Sunset/Cap'n,
For the Captain's original build, you have STR:16, DEX:16, CON:15, INT:12, WIS:10, CHA:15.
If you want to convert this to a legal Round Tabletop PC, here's a change that leaves all your stats equal or greater:
• Stats: STR:19, DEX:19, CON:15, INT:13, WIS:11, CHA:15
• Race: Human (+2 to INT)
Of course, you can re-stat your PC however you like as long as it's within the posted char-gen rules. Because this game will have multiple GMs, I want to avoid making exceptions.
No worries. A character who uses his fists and hurls objects fits the game. Are you sticking to the throw anything feat? If you have high charisma, low wisdom, you could always take the Scaled Fist archetype if you play a Monk. (Not sure about how the Brawler class works, though I suppose Monk limits your alignment to LG.)
Feel free to bounce ideas off me or just re-stat and submit.
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is this still looking for players
Welcome, Ed! Yes, Recruitment is still open. Go ahead and create a PC if you want in. (Char-Gen rules are under the Campaign Info tab.)
I have an idea but I am unsure if it will actually work for this. but it might fit the idea of a super hero comic theme a bit.
Professor Alistair Cooper, Time agent from the distant future (perhaps another world) trapped on the current planet in the current time. learning to adapt.
he has an array of technological devices and he tinkers with more to create other devices. all in the hopes of returning to his own time stream. as far as race and class, he would be human (azlanti decent but not pureblood) bard with possibly gunslinger.
Most of that could work.
I like him being from another world (or plane) but not time. With time-travel, it's too easy to get into a weird paradoxal situation if we start doing time-travel plots (for targeted plot). But if he's from another world, maybe one of the GM rotations will take Alistar (and the whole party) to his world.
Gunslinger/Bard? Yes. You're level 3, so dual class accordingly.
For race, please stick to normal human or any other standard player race. I already had to say no to an Azlanti human a few hours ago.
For gadgets, you can start with 3000g worth of stuff.
...
So no on time-travel and no on non-standard race. Yes to the rest. And again, note the Char-Gen spoiler under the Campaign Info tab.
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when I said azlanti descent I did not mean Azlanti pureblood. it was more of a flavor thing. like Varisian or Tien in pathfinder. the only thng it would probably give is the ability to speak Azlanti
I'll see what I come up with. many things will have a different flavor to them but mechanically it will be the exact same as normal pathfinder rules.
Oh... okay. If you mean normal human stats, but Azanti language, that's fine.
You can make up a language for the world you're from (though calling it Azanti works just as well), and we can BS some translator gadgets when we go there. I'm picturing lips moving but not matching the words, like in a badly-dubbed movie. That, and Google Translator type errors. Maybe it filters swear words, so when someone stubs their toe they say "excrement!"
Yes, all for flavor is perfect, as I do see a lot of potential for a targeted episode!
Thanks for clarifying. Looking forward to Alistair. (And I appreciate the Alice Cooper homage.)
I apologize but I'm unfortunately going to have to bow out. Hope you all enjoy!
Thanks for letting us know!
Currently working with a player to help stat out a shield-fighter...
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Brawler wasn't a bad suggestion: it's my favorite class in game and I try to squeeze two levels onto any dip-friendly martial build. There's a really fun shield throwing brawler archetype, too, but IIRC it trades out martial flex which is insanely powerful and forever relevant
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Hi, I am still working on the character back story. had a face to face game last night s long as there is still room
@Edward,
Looking forward to it! And, yes, there's room. We'll start action once 4 PCs are combat-ready.
@Lobster,
Hmm... if the archetype makes a good Captain A, Brawler might be the way to go. The player can always tweak it, and I can offer some choices.
Alastair Cooper (Edward's PC) has been given the green light. Hopefully, he'll grace us with is presence in the bar this weekend!
Nice! Jump in when ready!
My Account > Account Settings
That forces you to sign in. From there, you can create an alias.
*Tugs forelock*
Thank'e again Ma'am for your timely assistance.
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The Awesome Warriors of the Round Table would like another hero or two to join the team!
Check the OP to see if this super-heroic "Round Tabletop" style campaign is for you. And if it is, don't stop and think about it first like that diminutive doppelgänger on your shoulder keeps telling you to do. Create a character and jump into the fray! 'Cause all hell's about to break loose, so come Tuesday there will certainly be a fray into which you can jump!
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Potentially interested, will check in tomorrow morning when I have more time.
Oh—you're GM'ing the game with Sara Burke in it, aren't you? If you decide to play, we'll be lucky to have you.
Also rather interested -- using Androk Jeggare or some variation on him (originally for the Alive in the Red Revolution campaign), albeit modified for this campaign. From what I can see offhand, he gets stripped down to 3rd, and needs to convert the tiefling to something else -- which, considering the attribute set, shouldn't be much of a burden. I'll be sad to see the darkvision go, along with its development into 'see in darkness', and alas that Campaign Trait from Red Revolution is going to make the Safe House disappear, but ...
Quick Q, though -- that 3000gp is the 3rd level WbL, not 3rd WbL + 3000, right?
Oh—you're GM'ing the game with Sara Burke in it, aren't you? If you decide to play, we'll be lucky to have you.
Yes, that's me. :)
It looks like you're short on spellcasters. I will look for a fun archetype
3000g is the total starting bucks. I wasn't really considering anything other than the amount being just enough for okay starting goodies.
Half-orc would give you darkvision, at least. But yes, extreme limit on race and good-alignment-only, and then I throw balance out a closed window by allowing all core/base/alt/hybrid classes, any archetype.
Love the way you're playing Flametongue, so whether you modify Androk or bring in another Lv.3 hero, you're welcome to join us.
Oh—you're GM'ing the game with Sara Burke in it, aren't you? If you decide to play, we'll be lucky to have you.Yes, that's me. :)
It looks like you're short on spellcasters. I will look for a fun archetype
Oh. Of course someone named "Brainiac" plays a high INT hero!
Looking at bladed scarf dancer/ greensting slayer magus! I will build her in the morning. :)
As a Fashionista player (will be when I'm not GM'ing), I am ashamed of having not noticed scarf weapons. I was too focused on shoes.
Serious now: that's awesome! Can't wait to meet her. (Or throw bad-guys at her, and then meet her when we're both PCs.) Will GM-PM you with something your character knows coming into the game.
Okay, here's my magus! I still have to work out the rest of her equipment, spellbook, and backstory. I will get to that a little later today.
Great! (And wow—forgot elves have a + to INT. She truly is a brainiac!)
If you are ready to post as of this combat round (within ~36 hours), enter the game with the knowledge/observation I PM'd you. Anabes can enter the game anytime through the front door of the Fu Bar.
You won't be in melee reach of the monster. What you saw (in my PM) is by the door, so you can move to "that" with a single move action. (Saloon style swinging door doesn't impede your movement.)
Okay! Let me finish my spells and gear and I'll post soon. Backstory still to come. :)
EDIT: I overlooked the spell dancer archetype last night, so I will take that instead of greensting slayer. Makes more sense.
Hm. I have some ... slight issues with the 18-18-14-14-10-10, in part because much of what I need to do requires a somewhat broader spectrum of talent. Would exchanging points get build points (the total of which, for that set, is 44), or 1:1, something else, or just not allowed at all?
The idea is to have a quick, sloppy two-best/two-worst char-gen. And I changed it to odd #s, so if you want, you can improve a different mod every 4th level.
(19-19-15-15-11-11)
No to total of 45, because it sets up a pump-one/dump-none possibility that I want to avoid—not that you're trying that. I just don't want to set a precedent I'll regret later.
Before I say yes or no to 1:1 (all 15s), let me ask you this: does two 19s and two 15s, couples with the quick mod improvement, get you what you need? (I ask, as some feats require odd #'d stats in the teens.)