Yeah thanks for the reminder else I'd assume it did due to.. Well most resources recharging to full after resting. Hp is an exception.
"Each day, when preparing spells, the arcanist’s arcane reservoir fills with raw magical energy, gaining a number of points equal to 3 + 1/2 her arcanist level."
You can hold max 3+ your wizard level.
I'm a lawful neutral GM and I pay quite a bit of attention to nitty gritty details.
Yeah exactly. So at level 10 I have 13 points. If I spend them all then after resting I would get 8 back.
It's a small thing and one of the few point-pool type abilities I can think of that doesn't fully recharge. I'll try not to forget now we have talked about it, but it may well still happen once or twice.
Wait... since in the above example I get 8 back and all previous points are lost, does that mean I cannot ever get my full total back without using the consume spells class feature which I don't have as the Exploiter? So I actually have a max of 3 = half level effectively after the first time I use the pool.
Is that correct?
Quick forum search and it appears it is correct, I'll need to take the Consume Magic Items exploit sometime
Looks that way to me =o
I'm glad you're back, Ariarh
Totally forgot FCB. Skills are correct though. I think you might have skipped over Climb, which is essentially cancelled out due to my armour check penalty, and lack of a class skill. (3 Str + 1 rank -4 AMC, not class skill)
The 13 Int is for Unsanctioned Knowledge feat. Can't think of a better character to use it.
I'm a selfish paladin. My auras and lay on hands will only function for myself.
I don't mind switching to a different locale, but I'd like for the cold tactics of the commander to still be required. Is there anything in Ustalav that would fit the bill?
I'm a selfish paladin. My auras and lay on hands will only function for myself.
Boooooooooooo.....
Guys, I'm indecisive between different ideas, so I'll run them by you:
- First idea was my Bloodrager1/InvestigatorX melee bruiser: This guys should be versatile with Extracts, Infusions, the whole shebang. Plus, being an Empiricist means he is knowledgeable and skillful (Inspiration makes it even more brutal for Knowledges, Spellcraft and Linguistics skills). Once he grabs Quick Study, he will be able to put down considerable hurt in melee. But I'm getting the feeling we already have enough melee bruisers, and knowledge skills (just looking at Ray and Kilarra - I am thinking Ariarh will bring more to the table);
- When I noticed we do not have an archer, my thoughts immediately went to the Inquisitor. I guess you all know how that works ;) They are very skillful, resilient, divine spellcasters who can really lay down the hurt. (I would love to dip Zen Archer, but waiting 3 levels for their thing is just too much :P).
- Then I have this guy... Ranger2/BardX (yep, I love Bards) melee bruiser also. He does not hit as hard as the Bloodrager/Investigator but can also lay down some pain through the early mid levels, Inspire courage to increase all our martial damage, uncanny number of skills (I'm counting around 40 skill points at level 4) and so forth. Packed with a few martial feats, wand using and spells, he can hold his own. And also does well in social situations.
- Magus: I have always wanted to play a Magus and have never been able to go past level 5 with one (I was REALLY loving it by the way) :D
- Battle Oracle: I guess we all know how useful and powerful these guys can be (always wanted to try it)
- Archer Warpriest: Oh my.... These guys lay down so much pain...
Any thoughts on all this? :D
This might be out of left field but since I know you were thinking about ranged combat as a potential, what about either the Eldritch Archer Magus or the Arrowsong Minstrel bard?
I have played and enjoyed both hugely
The thing I love about Arrowsong Minstrel is they effectively get Improved Precise shot at level 2 - so much earlier than a regular archer bard can get it
I've looked at both before but... Another Archer Bard after playing one for 5+ years... Probably not ;) (And he also loses Bardic Knowledge and Versatile Performance, two of the things I dig about Bards).
Eldritch Archer Magus... I'm not sure I like Ranged Spellstrike.
That's fair enough. Ranged spellstrike works exactly the same. Imagine doing Shocking Grasp from 30 feet away - that's what Snowball is for an Eldritch Archer with the added bonus that archery is a very strong fighting style anyway.
Sorry! I can still cast spells on you though!
You know way more about this kind of stuff than I do, Edeldhur. My knowledge of combinations, archetypes, etc are extremely limited. I can't really give you any solid advice.
- I did play a Fighter (Archer) once in an Iron Gods campaign. I followed an optimization guide and absolutely dominated damage-wise. I was firing 4 arrows per round, all of which were quite likely to hit and deal tons and tons of damage. I BELIEVE that's actually where I met Furnok, who was playing a female wizard at the time.
- If firing arrows or bolts isn't quite your thing, splash damage with an alchemist could be quite helpful.
- Bards are cool. I like bards. I'm not a good bard player, but they're cool and useful. Besides, having some comedic relief might be nice every once in a while, if you want to go that way.
- I know 100% nothing about magi.
JamZilla/Rayland: I sent you a PM. Just giving you a headsup as you did mention you're not always aware of new mail with the new system. :) (addendum: Got your reply - thanks!)
Ededlhur: I'm all for the Ranger/Bard combo (love both classes). I do love me some Inspired Courage etc. The Magus idea has some merit, too, but I've never played the class, so I'm unsure how to advise on it.
And, a general thanks for the welcome back to the game, guys. Appreciate it. :)
Too many choices Edeldhur. All of which are neat. Are any better for whatever backstory is brewing?
Working on stats now, any suggestions on feats? I was thinking about Saving Sheild to bolster whoever is standing next to him, plus possessed hand of course. One more... hmmm....
At the end of the day our arcane casty is in the academia(think wizard in an ivory tower),so he's not inclined to travel. Anything other then you looking for him, is more likely you'll be dealing with his agent, W. That being said I could probably get him to make a road trip, but I need to study more stuff with the Whispering Tyrant's minions first. How would you like your former shield buddies rise from where they fell and came after you as zombies?
Maybe those minions were making a biological weapon to kill the living and turn them into zombies and needed to be stopped. But I'm still thinking on how the distraction would be working. Feel free to chime in.
I have no issues with alignment. Now the thing is how does your bargain with the arcane casty tie in... Maybe one of his agents found you and her(dying) in the alley and brought you two in for the fuse? Or did you seek him out to find out more on the Black Pharoah, or who killed her?
Also going to get on with RL, since it's a Sat, so activity will drop.
Enjoy your weekend sir.
Mam ;)
See no reason in hiding it, afterall.
What do you wish to seek him out for?
- Bards are cool. I like bards. I'm not a good bard player, but they're cool and useful. Besides, having some comedic relief might be nice every once in a while, if you want to go that way.
Yeah... My bards are never comedical, even if they usually are easy going :D
Ededlhur: I'm all for the Ranger/Bard combo (love both classes). I do love me some Inspired Courage etc. The Magus idea has some merit, too, but I've never played the class, so I'm unsure how to advise on it.
Thanks for the feedback Ariarh.
Too many choices Edeldhur.
Definitely... Maybe the weekend will help me come to a conclusion ;)
As for feats, what have you got so far John? Are you planning on any preferred combat method?
Good to know there's another female in the group, GM Mort. :)
This is Ariarh's Cleric. The stats and physical description are done (although I may tweak them depending on how the backstory unfolds or if there are blatant errors/omissions). I should be able to get the backstory done by tonight my time.
I've never played an archer magus, nor played any occult class except for kineticist. Other then that, I've done switch hitter Rangers and archer bards before. But again, you weren't asking me for my qualifications right?
(on phone now, like I am 80% of the time)
Going to my BFs house to kick him out for the morning run.
Two-World Magic (Magic Trait): Benefit: Select one 0-level spell from a class spell list other than your own (From Witch’s List: Selected Mage Armour). This spell is a 0-level spell on your class spell list (or a 1st-level spell if your class doesn’t have 0-level spells).
Sorry, Mage armor is a 1-level spell on witch list, and does not qualify on 0 level spells for two world magic. I heard lamellar cuirasses are rather light and so are haramakis.
Oops ... Yes I like the eastern light armours. I'll fix that error.
Oops sorry. Enjoy your weekend mam :)
Considering going down shield bashing. Possessed hand feats improves two weapon fighting even more, and it would help him be a tank and a damage dealer. Or simply concentrate on defense and helping the group keep from getting hurt, would fit the town guard background so saving shield is a possibility.
Right now I have possessed hand. And thanks to being a human and a fighter, I have 2 more.
Morning Run?!? That sounds horrible, poor friend. :)
Okay, made some corrections/alterations to my sheet. Hopefully there aren't any further blatant errors. Thanks. :)
So the arcane caster taught you to how to tie your sisters spirit to you she could manifest as a phantom?
Magical Knack (Magic): You were raised, either wholly or in part, by a magical creature, either after it found you abandoned in the woods or because your parents often left you in the care of a magical minion. This constant exposure to magic has made its mysteries easy for you to understand, even when you turn your mind to other devotions and tasks. Benefit: Pick a class when you gain this trait—your caster level in that class gains a +2 trait bonus as long as this bonus doesn’t raise your caster level above your current Hit Dice.
Unfortunately you are a level 1 cleric, your hit dice is 1. Your caster level cannot be raised above your current hit dice, which is 1.
Generally magical knack is only useful for classes with CL-3,like paladins or Rangers or if you want to multiclass.
I realise that about my cleric level. It improves the spellcasting component at level 1. So a usual CLW spell is 1d8+1 but with magical knack it's 1d8+3 (+2 trait bonus). If I'm misunderstanding this trait, then I am fine with looking at another. But that's how I've seen it played out before (and discussed on the board chat rooms) and so I went with it.
Magical Knack is good for multiclassing too, isn't it? Allowing your caster level to remain higher even if you dip into something else.
Magical Knack is good for multiclassing too, isn't it? Allowing your caster level to remain higher even if you dip into something else.
Yep, it is, from what I understand of the wording (which should really be rewritten IMHO). :)
And you already mentioned that, reading the entire sentence is good at times...
Here's a clarification on how magical knack works. The CL increase only occurs up to your max hit dice.
This increases caster level for a single spell
Increasing it for an entire school requires a feat, varisian tattoo
Bottom line, caster level increases are not easy to get in pathfinder and it would take more then a trait to increase them for all spells.
Alright, I changed the second trait to Desperate Resolve. I don't foresee any issue with it at this time.
Yeah we all good now. My BF was so happy the internet knows how much I'm abusing him, John G;)
So Piotr manged to bring a dying Ann to the arcane casty so he could bind them both together before she expired?
I'm not sure if I went overboard or I didn't delve deep enough, so I'd like to hear what you think. For some reason, this story ebbed and flowed and I'm not sure if it came out right. I wasn't exactly sure how to include/involve the Great Old Ones, so I took this angle. If it doesn't work, I can do a rewrite. Thanks!
The beginning of her life was something she had little recollection of. Too young to understand the circumstance of her conception or who her sire or mam were, it was a fateful day she was discovered by a Desnan Priestess, Alinza, during her month-long journey across Varisia.
A witch named Lucia Korzha had absconded with the child from a coven of Night Hags during a dark sacrament to Alazhra, The Dream Eater. Finding herself in the path of Alinza, the witch begged the Desnan priestess to take and protect the child for she feared what the Night Hags had in mind for the child.
The girl child was merely two years old and was a pretty, yet strange scrap of a thing, and, Alinza could not turn her away. Cutting short her devout wandering, Alina returned to Magnimar and brought the child with her to Cynosure Tower, the temple dedicated to Desna. There the girl child was fostered by the priestesses; naming her Laelia for her pretty violet eye and Korzha after the witch who had risked her life to rescue her.
The fateful encounter had brought some security to Laelia, for the Desnan Priestesses were kind and patient (even though her strange heritage seemed to bring some uneasiness among the elder clergy). Laelia grew into a sensitive, yet social child; helping around the temple and learning what she could from the tomes and scrolls housed in the temple archives, when she wasn’t curiously asking the priestesses for more knowledge. Laelia’s education revolved around the arcane arts, healing arts, religious studies and delving into the histories of the world around them. Yet, Laelia still felt like an outsider for her mismatched eyes and the two small lumps protruding proudly above her brows.
When Laelia was ten years old, Alinza disclosed to her the truth of her ancestry and what she was – Night-born Changeling. Hearing this, Laelia fretted and grew more sensitive – resolving to grow out her hair and leave a long fringe to cover the lumps on her forehead so she would appear more Human. Yet, the priestesses could not shelter Laelia from every barb or sideway glance cast by those who could not see past their ignorance.
Laelia was always happiest at night, under the open canopy of stars. Direct sunlight prickled her skin and made her feel grumpy and disquieted, so she would cover up her skin when she ventured out of the temple on errands or would only venture outdoors once the sun had set.
It was on her thirteenth birthday when the dreams and nightmares began. Laelia was plagued by a strange, yet pernicious woman, tormenting her each night, whispering dark things into her mind regarding the people she had come to love and respect. The solace she once found at night began to diminish until all she felt was a kind of desperation in regard to the night and sleep. Laelia’s pale skin grew paler still as she found little rest or comfort during the night hours. The priestesses grew concerned; for the girl had started scratching at the lumps on her forehead – scratching until the skin broke and bled. During particular vivid nightmares, Laelia would scream out as if suffering searing pain. Alinza wondered if the woman in Laelia’s nightmares was a Night Hag coming to claim the child she had once lost. The clergy of the temple rallied around Laelia and tried to take her mind off the troubling dreams. It was on the nights of a full Moon that the nightmares were at their worst, and Laelia clutched at the wooden holy symbol of Desna, praying for release and protection.
It was on her fifteenth birthday when Laelia attempted to cut off her horn-like lumps in sheer frustration and exhaustion. Alinza tended to the self-inflicted wounds and healed Laelia, yet she knew worse would befall the girl. Upon the girl's insistence, a Varisian artist was brought in to tattoo a set of swirling runes on either side of Laelia's face - she hoped the inked adornments would draw people's eyes away from the lumps on her forehead.
Finding out that a caravan of Varisian gypsies would be leaving Magnimar in a day or two, Alinza organised passage for Laelia in return for the girl providing healing services on the road. Perhaps a change of clime would benefit Laelia and any growing connection between the Mother Hag and the child would be lessened with distance and time.
Life on the open road was not a true hardship for the travellers in the caravan who days were filled with adventure, music and grand tales/stories. Laelia befriended the caravan leader’s son, Vano, and he taught her how to load and shoot a light crossbow. The industrious young man, who was a year older than Laelia, even showed her how to make a sling and to find the best stones for it. He excelled in blades mostly, so she watched him wield them and throw them at wooden targets.
The elder gypsies knew of the girl’s night-time malady, and did what they could, especially during the Full Moon and the Dark Moon. The gypsies had heard of such stories – of foul Hags poisoning the minds of their offspring through their dreams. They attempted to ward the child from the sight of the Mother, who was determined to corrupt her precious soul. Yet, the ward lasted only a night as their ancient methods/ways were no match for the strength of will and power of the seeking, robbing Night Hag.
Along the road, the caravan would collect wandering priestesses who would journey with them for a while. To keep herself occupied and to shut out the darkness, Laelia prayed to The Great Dreamer, Desna, every night before bed. Laelia threw herself into the pursuit of divine magic and she practiced and learned from each priestess who crossed paths with her – hoping the more her magic manifested in the divine, the lesser her Mother’s influence and power over her.
It was just before her seventeenth birthday that Laelia ran out in the middle of a field they were spending the night in and screamed unto the night sky, begging for recourse. The girl had tried everything to waylay the call from the woman in her dreams; Laelia had pleaded and bargained with Desna, yet the goddess had not answered her prayers. Was she being punished for the evil taint in her bloodline from a Mother she had never known? As Laelia railed against the night, an eclipse took place, obscuring half the moon and something ancient seemed to be flowing liked freezing water from her head and down her spine. At wit’s end to find solace in the Night once again, Laelia accepted the presence that had come to her – like a dark whisper it wove around and around. Laelia stood absolutely still in the field, unable to move, gazing at the open heavens above her and the darkening starlight. Yet, she was being soothed; her mind washed from its prior invasion. She stayed in the field for almost an hour, watching as the moon returned to its normal visage, then Laelia returned to her caravan, immediately falling into a deep and undisturbed sleep. It had been four years since she felt such peace. Perhaps The Great Dreamer, Desna, came to her last night in a way Laelia had not expected (or so she had convinced herself).
Upon waking, the gypsies were astonished upon hearing the news of Laelia’s first restful night with them. Some were sceptical and drew strange runes in the air before Laelia. The girl travelled with the caravan for the next six months, writing and mailing letters to Alinza whenever it was practical to do so – and Laelia practiced her spells and healed any who sought help along the road. She was not plagued again by any vivid dreams or nightmares involving the strange woman and she was grateful. The gypsy caravan continued making its way across the lands to Ustalav.
Are we ok to read each other's backstories before I do so?
If GM Mort is fine with it, I don’t have an issue with people reading my backstory draft for Laelia. :)
If the players don't mind, I have no issue with backstories being shared openly here.
I will suppose that the arcane caster shielded you from your mother's dream invasion - if that's the case, then as part of the bargain, you would be called to his side in Iris Hill, in Thrushmoor in return for protection.
*salutes Ariarh*
That was a heroic effort! I've not seen that long a backstory for a long long time.
I'm fine with you all reading Piotr's backstory, still working on the details. I think I'll get coffee before reading everybody's though.
So off, to a morning run, but in the car and for donuts :) Saturday morning ritual, wake my teenagers and make them practice driving when there are fewer people on the road, with coffee and donuts as the reward for not killing me.
That's what you call incentive
Taking her corpse to the caster is fine. I suppose she could be screaming at Piotr through his gift all the way there, telling him that she doesn't have much time before she gets torn off to Abaddon.
Donuts! Argggh too much sugar :P Trying to lose weight here so ;)
That sounds like good parenting. Unless they aren't morning people.
My weight loss is not going well: Banana bread, croissants, birthday cake, white breads, cheese and cheese and cheese. I've managed to stay away from the donuts though!
No issues with sharing character backgrounds. I haven't read any yet but I shall peruse today.
I'm off to a morning run to the kitchen to make a 2nd pot of coffee. And by run I mean a meandering walk.
Undead works for me, as does turning the shield buddies into zombos.
Assuming that the undead are being controlled by a necromancer general, I think it could work. The Iomedeans would need to storm something, such as a weapon that turns people into undead, or a site designed to create plagues that the undead can carry, or a breeding ground for undead. There should also be a secondary site valuable to the general, that Kilarra's team assaults. The necromancer general would need to allocate his forces to defend both sites, therefor weakening his presence in the main target. It's like a two-pronged attack, but one side is a suicidal run designed only to get the necromancer general to over-commit forces. Does that make sense?
Maybe this example will help:
Necromancer general has 200 undead at his command
Iomedean commander has 150 soldiers at his command
Necromancer needs to defend two points, point A and point B
Necromancer sends 150 undead to point A, and 50 undead to point B
Iomedean commander sends 130 soldiers to point A, and 20 soldiers to point B
Soldiers at point B get completely crushed, but soldiers at point A now have a fair fight.
We survived, with happy bellies of horrible disgusting evil blah blah round bags of dough and sugar(abjectives insterted for you anti donuters) and lovely coffee! And nope, they are not morning people, if there are any teenagers that are, none of them are related to me. Noon would be their preferred wakeup time.
I'm reading now and feat figuring.
But you're a good Dad for being up so early so your teens get driving practice =)
I bake lol. Imagine how much harder it is when you can make cakes anytime you want. Though of course when I bake my own cakes, I cut sugar by half.
One site would clearly be their laboratory where they're busy making their plague. Now trying to figure out how that plague would work - but probably an airborne plague that contaminates anything it toucihes. So technically one guy with overland flight and invisibility could open a whole canister of doom over the town, and you'd get everyone dying of the plague and rising as plague infested zombies.
Now what would be the secondary site that would draw the necromancer general's attention? His barracks? Where his minion necromancers are lazing around? Or could you suggest another potential location? Drawing blanks here.
I don't bake, but my family is always bringing home pastries and such. My tummy is speaking to me!
Hey a barracks works! Ties up the necromancers while they deal with Kilarra instead of high-tailing it to the laboratory as reinforcements. Of course, Kilarra wasn't informed that it was a BIG barracks. Maybe just a little outpost that needed to be taken care of.
Plague sounds good.
Okay so it goes like this:
1. Kilarra is part of a unit in a Iomedean army stationed in Ustalav
2. The commander of the army identifies a plague laboratory, and realizes that the enemy has too many forces to charge headlong
3. The commander sends Kilarra and her unit to storm an enemy barracks to tie up reinforcements, but lies to Kilarra about how dangerous and suicidal the task is
4. Kilarra and her unit storm the barracks, get completely demolished, and Kilarra finally breaks once her friends are reanimated and she's forced to kill them
4.5 Optional: Someone reveals to Kilarra that the commander knew this would happen (Agent W, an outsider) and willingly sent them to their death. Otherwise, Kilarra figures it out on her own.
5. Kilarra calls out to whoever will answer for the power to survive and destroy her commander. She is willing to sacrifice anything, including her soul. The one who answers is either Agent W or arcane caster
6. Kilarra kills the necromancers (or flees from the necromancers) using her newfound power, then marches back to headquarters.
7. At headquarters, Kilarra kills anyone who stops her from getting at the commander, who she then tortures with cold cruelty until she finally lets him bleed to death.
8. Her power wanes, and she is now required to hold up her end of the deal. She joins Agent W and the arcane caster, whether willingly or by mind control.