Welcome to the discussion board!
Please ensure your character sheet is all filled out, that you inude your questions, your story, and enter in the proper fields as mentioned in recruitment.
When you make your first post here in discussion, please answer the following:
• Do you own the book?
• How familiar are you with the rules?
• Is your character sheet complete?
• Do you agree to the three rules listed below?
Some rules for my games:
1) Please remember to check in and post at least once per day. If you can't, please tell us you're unable as soon as you can so we're not all waiting on you.
2) If you have nothing to contribute, still make a post. Describe an emotion your PC is feeling, or something about the world they're thinking about. Something. If you just wait for others to post and you do nothing, we'll end up waiting for a post that will never come.
3) Emotions. Use them often. They help build the world and set the atmosphere of the game. This is a horror game, but because we're on PBP, that horror often doesn't show through the screen. Use emotions to help show the horror as we play, and describe what your PC is feeling at least every other post.
Lastly, join the discord chat! Here, you can quickly ask me questions, I can give a heads up when the next round starts, or even quickly post maps. Plus, it makes for some great out of party discussion. I started doing this with my other Demon Lord game, and it's worked to great success. And if the site goes down again like it did last month, it gives us a back-up location to play.
Please drop by the Gameplay thread. Dot and delete.
Tesswyn here, checking in. Excited to be a part of this game!
I just got the book the other day, have skimmed it but haven't read the whole thing yet.
Again, just skimmed the book so only vaguely familiar with the rules.
My sheet is complete, but on my other computer. I will copy it into my alias profile tomorrow morning.
I agree to the rules!
@Samuel, dot and delete means to make a post in the gameplay thread and then delete it afterwards. This will put a "dot" next to the campaign on the message board, and it will show up in your list of Online Campaigns in your profile.
Please feel free to ask any questions you have. A lot of us are new to this game, so questions will always be answered, even if I have to repeat them. :)
In my other game, players forget a lot of the rules fairly often, so I try to post regular reminders of what can be done. It's all good. Ask away!
As for Dot and Delete, it's exactly what Tesswyn says.
Here is Walter almost ready to go...just need to write up his history. I think everything else is done
@Samuel.
One cool thing about this website is you can set up an alias just for your PC. Go into your account settings and create a new alias just for your PC; it will have its own profile for your character sheet, its own posting history, and more. That way you can separate your PBP characters from different games and your primary account.
You can even set it up to be your primary alias, so you don't have to switch aliases every time you want to post. The forum will just default it to your primary.
If you need any help, any one here will be glad to assist. This is a fairly friendly community. Welcome to the Paizo boards and welcome to the world of PBP! I hope you enjoy it! :)
I just picked up the pdf a few days ago and I agree with your rules as well!! I also have my character mostly finished, just need to flesh out the background.
Heyo! Answers to questions, in order listed:
No.
Somewhat.
Almost.
Yes.
Looking forward to playing with everyone!
Yes
Somewhat
Yes?
and yes
I don't own the book but I'll be purchasing the PDF soon.
I've never played this particular game before but I'm reading through what I can find.
It will be today!
I agree!
As a reminder, you do not have to own the book. My question is just so I can judge how much I need to teach here in the thread. I'll be spending the next few days going over basic rules for the game before we officially start. It will also give people the chance to finish up character sheets and stories, as well as get to know each other.
When you are done with your character sheet, please let me know so I can review it. I want to make sure everything is done correctly and I want to learn about your PC.
Hello! I had to use something other than just Gronder, since it seems that name is in use somewhere else.
1 Yes
2 Not very
3 It will be shortly
4 Yes
Looking forward to it!
Yeah..I noticed it too...just rum your mouse cursor over the portraits for each row and it should straighten them out. Don't know why it is doing this suddenly.
It is good to see another old grognard out here!!
Avatar pics have been a pain in the butt ever since the site revamp last month. Sorry. :(
I've been fortunate so far insomuch that I haven't needed it yet.
Okay, I believe my character sheet is complete. DM, please look it over and let me know if I missed anything.
• Do you own the book?
No.
• How familiar are you with the rules?
I have played two very short lived 5th edition campaigns.
• Is your character sheet complete?
Technically yes, although it is sloppy and will undergo slight grammar and narration changes to make the story flow better.
• Do you agree to the three rules listed below?
Yes, these are reasonable things to expect.
Should prove interesting.
Tesswyn: it looks good. There's a formatting error in the paths spoiler, which ends up putting the equipment spoiler within.
It's the same error I had on my earlier draft of the character sheet.
Let's start with some basic rules.
You have an ability score modifier, just like in 3e D&D (and beyond) and in Pathfinder. It's your ability score minus ten. A score if 9 means a Modifier of -1, while a 12 is a +2.
There are two types of d20 rolls: Attacks and Challenge.
An Attack Roll is simply a roll where your target is another creature. You add the relevant stat modifier. It will be against some ability score of theirs, whether that's Defense, Strength, Will, or some other stat. Attacks can be anything from a physical attack with a sword to trying to convince someone of something or even casting a spell on someone.
A Challenge Roll is a roll vs anything not a creature. This is like making a climb check or an investigation or anything like that. The target value is 10. Always.
Banes and Boons. These are d6. Boons add a d6 to your d20 roll, Banes subtract a d6. They stack and cancel, but no matter how many you roll, you only ever take the single highest value. If you have two Banes on a Challenge Roll, and you roll a 1 and a 6, you'd only subtract 6 from your d20 roll.
If you have a profession relevant to the situation, you can add one or more Boons. If a task is particularly challenging, I may impose one or more Bane. I may impose a Boon or Bane depending on a large category of professions, such as stating that anyone with a Wilderness Profession may get a Boon to look for food in a forest.
Fortune. These are awesome. I'll occasionally grant them for good role-playing or accomplishing certain minor goals. You can spend your Fortune to do the following:
1) Turn one of your failed d20 rolls into a success.
2) Grant someone else 2 Boons to a d20 roll.
3) Turn any d6 into a 6 or a 1.
Hey there!
Almost ready to go. But have some questions.
1. Is ancestry the same as race?
2. How do I calculate my perception, defense, health, healing rate, size, speed, power, damage, insanity, and corruption? I know that as a clockwork my natural defense is 13.
3. What languages do I start with and what languages can I choose as my bonus language? Are these all both spoken and written?
4. How do I know what equipment I start with?
I'm sure I'd have good answers to all of this if I bought the book.
Good questions!
1) Ancestry and Race are the same thing.
2) See the Recruitment tag. I know we rolled your PC in the Discord chat, so you didn't see the opening post for recruitment. It's all there under the Clockwork spoiler.
3) Languages are always Spoken only. To learn to read and write, you'd have gained it during creation or you may gain it when leveling up or as a quest reward.
4) What did you roll for Lifestyle/Wealth? I don't recall if we rolled that. If we didn't, roll 3d6 and I'll tell you what you start with.
Ah thanks. I don't recall the wealth roll either.
Tesswyn: it looks good. There's a formatting error in the paths spoiler, which ends up putting the equipment spoiler within.
Okay, fixed it!
So regarding other races in our potential party, it seems like humans and Orcs won't really get along all that well. Especially in my case where I've taken to the teachings of the cult of the new God.
How much anger/fear/distrust should we show to them?
Ah thanks. I don't recall the wealth roll either.
Poor. You live in squalid conditions and you’re never sure where you’re going to get your next meal.
You have a staff or club or sling with 20 stones, patched basic clothing, a sack, bread, a waterskin, a tinderbox, a candle, and a pouch containing bits.
3. What languages do I start with and what languages can I choose as my bonus language?
Sorry, missed this one. You start with Common.
Other languages available:
• Dark Speech: A guttural language filled with hard consonants, Dark Speech originated centuries ago in Gog, the accursed kingdom that spread across the lands of Rûl and was cast down and destroyed by the Empire’s founders. Although some scholars deem the language dead, beastmen, cultists, and anyone seeking forbidden knowledge learn and use the language.
• Dwarfish: The language of the dwarfs has a harsh sound, precise lexicon, and long, compound words. It uses a runic alphabet.
• Elvish: The language used by the elves and other faerie has a soft and musical sound, perfectly suited for singing and reciting poetry. Elvish uses its own script, its characters flowing into one another.
• High Archaic: The language of scholarship and magic, few people use High Archaic in conversation. It uses the same alphabet with the Common Tongue.
• Trollish: The language of the trolls is as ugly as Elvish is beautiful. It belongs almost exclusively to trolls and giants, and it sounds like a mixture of grunts and barks. It uses a runic alphabet similar to Dwarfish.
How much anger/fear/distrust should we show to [orcs]
We'll start in the Northern Reach, which is much more tolerant of other races than the heart of the empire.
Even though the Cult of the New God has its Crusades going on in the Northern Reach, they're viewed more as a protectorate of all races than a harsh tyrant over anyone. The Crusades stops the undead and other deadly forces that come out of the Dessolation (far north). Orcs are very much a part of that fight, fighting on the side of the Crusaders.
So in the Northern Reach, humans and orcs will have a much more amicable relationship.
You may choose to have your personal PC be more distrustful of Orcs if you so choose (especially if your character is from the Empire proper). But in the Northern Reach, it's not as common.
If you go to the Campaign Tab, I've posted a bunch of links to rules and lore (some of which I'll be reposting here) so you can read up on your religion.
Yeah, I was going to ask that same question, especially since I rolled for a hatred of orcs... should we change that, or go with it? I don't necessarily think the hate has to be homicidal, but if it's easier to not have it there, I'm good with that.
Ready for character sheet review!
Yeah, I was going to ask that same question, especially since I rolled for a hatred of orcs... should we change that, or go with it? I don't necessarily think the hate has to be homicidal, but if it's easier to not have it there, I'm good with that.
I'll give you a few options.
1) Go with it. It could make for some really interesting role-play. Just don't take it to a point of in-party combat.
2) Re-roll. If you get the same value, I'll adjust up on if you roll even or down one if you roll odd.
3) Instead of it being a Hatred, make it a Study. The mechanics are that you gain a boon when making an attack roll vs an orc, so you can say that you don't Hate them, but rather have studied them intensely. Or some other reason as to why you get a boon vs orcs. Remember, Attack Rolls aren't just physical weapon attacks, they're any time you need to make a roll vs another creature. So it could he to persuade, or a spell effect, or some other thing that uses the Attack Roll mechanic.
Hey Gron - do you think we know each other? Are we from the same massif that got destroyed?
@bookrat
I'll give 1 a shot, and we'll see how it goes.
@slevin
Sure, works for me!
1) How long have you lived here (minimum two months)?2) What do you do in this town (Do you have a job? Live on the outskirts? Soemt the last of your silver living in the local inn? Etc..)
2a) If you're not sure what you've been doing, roll 3d6 twice and a d20, and I'll tell you.3) What do you look like? How are you dressed? What's your general persona (timid, confident, etc...)
4) Which other PCs do you know? How long have you known them? What's your attitude towards them?
To answer those I guess I need to ask some questions of my own.
How much time passed since I was in Cheqwood and how far are we from Cheqwood?
Alright everyone.
I've got a ton of information for you in the campaign info tab.
Multiple links to the setting so you can read all about the world of Urth and the land of Rül (your continent). Also of bug importance is the Northern Reach, where much of my adventures will take place.
In addition, there's a bunch of links for various rules. You're free to read them as you like, but I'll be reposting a lot of then when the time comes. During our first combat, I'll be posting the combat rules for everyone.
Lastly, please check out the two maps! The artwork for this game is pretty slick, and it helps give an idea for where you are. Speaking of which, Asylum is located about halfway between and a little south of Highwater and Vanguard.
------------
I've also posted our first in game post. Many of you have taken the initiative and joined in! Thanks! If you haven't done so, please join in as soon as you're able. The adventure hasn't truly started, but I'm laying down the ground work to get things going. We've got some great history so far - thanks everyone!
Since we now have an incantation (aka scroll) in the party, let's discuss how they work.
Incantations are bit of magical writing, written on anything from a piece of paper to a clay tablet to even strange symbols weaved into a spiderweb.
They're one use itmes.
Each one will have one spell on it. To use it, you'll need to know your Power Score and the Spell Rank. If your power is above the Rank, then it takes an action to use. If it's equal or greater, you need to make an Intellect Challenge Roll plus one bane for each Rank above your Power Score.
Everyone should have a Power Score of 0, which means a Rank 1 Incantation would imposs one bane to cast it. You can increase your Power Score by gaining levels in a Spellcasting class.
Hopefully, that all makes sense.
got it...thanks for the explanation bookrat...I will need to read up more on the rules as we go along, but I really love trying out new game systems...so once again thank you for including me in this game!!!
We still need character sheets and taglings for Grondor and Ugly. If you need any help, please let me know. I'm also available on Discord for quicker communication.
Everyone else: please double check your taglines to ensure you have everything and that it's correct.
You should have gender, ancestry, Path, level, four stats, HP, defense, movement, insanity, corruption, fortune, and status.
For ease of use, you can copy paste the entry listed under the character sheet spoiler in the recruitment tag.
For those new to PBP:
In general, we use Bold for our characters to speak. Just bracket your text with [b][/b].
We use Italics for thoughts. Bracket your text with [I][/I].
To speak , we use the OOC tags.[/ooc]
Normal text is used for descriptions or declared actions.
You can see a the available tag options in the spoiler at the bottom of this page.
Is the scroll spent on a failure or is it just the action economy that is wasted?
Success or fail, the scroll crumbles away.
When you have a critical sroll that you absolutely want to cast, remember to use your Fortune. You can turn a failed roll into a success.
Looks like Charlemange is here to stay.
Don't forget to update your tagline after you make your choice!
Choice made, tagline and inventory updated.
Also, if you're interested in going down this path, there are a couple of Traditions (Schools in D&D/PF) that have Blood sacrifice as part of their base casting. While they're typically damage to yourself, I'm fine with using someone else's blood in exchange for corruption (and I'll give a Will Challenge Roll for this, too, considering how often it will come up).
Generally, I prefer to limit new players to the core book and expand only on the second PC, but if you're going to take this PC in interesting directions, I'm more OK with expanding our options so we can explore where this leads.
Story is more important than rules, ya know?
@Everyone: If you have an idea for where you want to take your PC for the Level 1 novice class (Warrior, Rogue, Priest, Magician), let me know and I'll introduce story elements to help you along that path. Work with me so we can forge that path together.
If you're not sure yet, that's ok! I typically enjoy discovering my PC through adventure and see where the path takes me.
I was thinking going rogue, but It might change based on gameplay. :)
I was thinking a Warrior or Rogue, either one with magic talents.
Effects of Insanity and Corruption:
These two scores don't have any major effects until your number starts getting higher.
Insanity
When you gain an Insantiy point, you're frightened for a number of rounds equal to your new score. Normally, this is only a roleplaying effect, but in combat it can mean something a bit more dire.
When your Insantiy Score becomes equal to your Will, that's when we can get some major effects. This is called Madness. In such an instance, you will roll a d20. The result can be anywhere from giving you a Boon on future insanity checks to instant death.
Your total Insantiy Score drops by 1d6+ Will mod when you go mad, and can build back up from there. You can also reduce this score by gaining a Quirk to he determined by the DM. A quirk is a compulsive behavior, a phobia, or another condition that permanently affects your character.
Corruption
Corruption doesn't have an effect until you're at 4+. However, each time you gain corruption, you'll roll a d20. If the result is less than your new score, you'll gain a Mark of Darkness.
You can reduce Corruption using high level magic, dedicating your life to attonement and good deeds, or going to Hell and letting devils painfully eat it away before your soul goes on to the afterlife.