The call has gone out: after several years’ inactivity, Sheriff Hemlock has reopened Sandpoint’s bounty on goblins. The Licktoad goblins have become increasingly bold over the past few weeks, and have attacked several merchant caravans and travelers along the Lost Coast Road! All who would stand up to defend Sandpoint are welcome to do so!
Hello fellow forumgoers! I'm the Second One, and I'm a GM who's got about three years of experience GMing PbPs, and about a decade more than that playing them.As I’ve just purchased Sandpoint, Light of the Lost Coast, my interest in the area has been reignited, and I’m quite pleased to start off my time here trying to tell the most interesting rendition of Jade Regent that I and the players can create.
As far as GMing styles go, I’m much more of a role-player than someone concerned overmuch with mechanics, so I’m looking for 4-6 players with interests similar to mine in that regard. I’m also the sort of GM who’s more than open to suggestions from the players to improve the game experience, and I’ll (ideally) solicit opinions from my players on a regular basis.
Recruitment will be open until Wednesday the 21st of November, with the ideal being to start after the US has its Thanksgiving holiday. That is to say, the gameplay should theoretically start the 23rd or 24th of November.
Being aware of how long a PbP can take, I’d like to maintain a 1 post/weekday and 1/post per weekend schedule, but know that I’ll likely be able to keep pace with higher speeds than that. If for any reason, you can’t make a post for two days in a row, I’ll bot your character and move on. I also ask that if you’re aware of being unable to post for a given time frame, let me know. It’ll make things run smoother.
- No 3rd Party Content. Sorry, folks, I just find the mechanical hazards to be potentially unbalancing, and often not intriguing enough that they add up to make a better story.
- Starting Level: 1st. Somewhat obvious, I know, but better to state it than to leave people wondering, I guess?
- Stats: 20 point buy. No stat below 8 or above 18 before racial modifiers kick in.
- Alignment: Any non-evil. Note that CN types will be examined rather more closely than any other alignment, because I’ve been burned on them before. I’m also slightly biased towards good characters, just so everyone knows.
- Classes: Any except for Gunslinger and Synthesist Summoner. I reserve the right to reject certain archetypes or classes if I think they’re not especially suited to the AP, or to my GMing style.
- Races: Core are perfectly fine, as are certain uncommon races such as kitsune and samsarans, as well as a few of the featured races, such as aasimar, tieflings, and the various geniekin. If you have questions or desires outside of these particular sorts of races, let me know, and I’ll consider it. Note also that kitsune, samsarans, aasimar, tieflings, and geniekin are all much rarer than the core races in Varisia. If you choose to make one of those, make sure to recognize this in your backstory.
- Background Skills: Background Skills from Unchained are in effect.
- Traits: You can have two traits by default, one of which must be from the Jade Regent’s Player’s Guide, and the other of which can be of your choosing from elsewhere (excepting other campaign traits, of course). You may also take a drawback and gain an additional trait, if you so desire. I ask that all traits and drawbacks are referenced in the backstory.
- Wealth: Average for 1st level of your class.
- Background: Hooee, this is the important bit. Remember how I wrote about being a more role-play focused GM, and how I wanted to make the most interesting story I could with my players? Well, the backstory is an important part of how I gauge how interesting a story is possible with the character in question. The backstory needn’t be a novella, though I appreciate longer backstories with plenty of hooks to play with. No, three solid paragraphs explaining who your character is, why they’re in Sandpoint, why they have the traits, drawbacks, etc. they do, and so on. The more interconnected your character is to the setting, the higher their likelihood of being selected is.
With that said, I hope to hear from you guys soon!
Oh! Before I forget…
What sort of mapping tool do you typically use here? I’m relatively new to the paizo forums, and to using map tools, so I’d like one that’s easy to use and handy for players and GMs alike.
I've seen all sorts of mapping tools used here; I'm honestly fine with the "theater of the mind" method as well, though that does kind of disadvantage classes with movement/reach based abilities.
Yeah, I'm fine with it, but I sometimes lose track of who's where, and this is more important in Pathfinder than in some other games I've played in the past.
Having browsed the campaign traits,I have a couple of ideas, in general terms:
A swashbuckling younger sibling of Ameiko.
A Nature Oracle student/sidekick of Shalelu.
Both were easily my favorite Sandpoint NPCs from Rise of the Runelords, so this is pretty appealing to me. I'm leaning towards the Oracle for pragmatic reasons (healing/support), but I've never played a Swashbuckler before, and the idea of a Tian character with an Avistani sword fighting style crossing blades with Samurai in Minkai is both fun and rife with roleplaying potential.
Both of those are legitimate ideas! I like them both, as far as that matters.
I have an human Inspired Blade(1)/Urban Skald(2-20) that I'd love to play that could very easily be Ameiko's younger brother.
@Baggageboy Likewise a legitimate idea!
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This sounds very interesting. For your consideration:
Mr. Copperpot, gnome sorcerer 1
I've hopefully woven some good character hooks into the backstory (in the Background section of the character sheet), but if anything needs to change to better fit the story, please let me know.
I'm in the Mountain time zone, and don't have a problem posting at least daily or once on weekends. I have been on the boards for a good 5 years, and have over 18,000 posts if you are looking for consistency. I am part of a couple of other long-running PbP Adventure Path games.
As for mapping tools, I do like to have maps to look at for relative position, etc. I've either seen people use Google Slides or Roll20, for the most part. I like both of them (and they are both free).
Thanks for your consideration!
I have an idea but it's a little spoiler-y. Class not decided yet.
The idea is to make the character and Oni spawn tiefling that is a descendant of the Oni that trailed the Kajitsu family years ago.
The character obviously would be clueless about this link.
Dotting.
dotting in...as far as mapping, I've used both Google Slides and Roll20, and as a player I prefer the former.
@Mr. Copperpot While I cannot comment on my final choices, I think it looks neat so far.
@Cuàn Sounds like a reasonable idea to me. I'd need a bit more detail, but I like the base idea.
Strong dot.
I’m thinking about something Shadow-themed. How do you feel about the Wayang or Fetchling races? I know Wayangs are more common in Tian Xia than most places, not sure about Fetchlings (and I’m aware we don’t get to Tian Xia for...a while. The character would probably need to be an exile of some sort, not unlike Ameiko herself).
@Ouachitonian Hm... I think I'd prefer wayangs to fetchlings, just 'cause it follows the Tian Xia theme more... that said, a wayang would need a lot of reasons to be associated with Sandpoint - it's possible a clan of exiles has lived hidden in Varisia, but I'll let your creativity dominate that particular question.
Interested! I've set up this alias's profile with my character details. For me, I like Roll20, though I'll use whatever makes your job easier.
Hm. How by-the-book do you usually do animal companions with regards to player control, handle animal rolls, and all that stuff? I'm thinking of trying a pet class, and choosing between hunter and (unchained) summoner.
Hm. How by-the-book do you usually do animal companions with regards to player control, handle animal rolls, and all that stuff? I'm thinking of trying a pet class, and choosing between hunter and (unchained) summoner.
Hm... I think that I'd let the player control the animal for the most part, unless something came up and another being somehow gained influence over them. Beyond that, I'm open to suggestions.
Interested! I've set up this alias's profile with my character details. For me, I like Roll20, though I'll use whatever makes your job easier.
Looks reasonable to me! I'll have to take a look in greater detail when more submissions are in, but so far so good.
hustonj, here, with the modified Varisian entertainer.
Yes, the long-term plans are for skill dedication, but if the group needs the character to advance as a more aggressive combat beast, I can work that. What he expects to do with his life right now has nothing to do with the Adventure Path the player's signing up for!
Questions, concerns, comments, even just thoughts from other potential players, please, speak up!
Edit: Maps: I've seen Roll20 maps, Google drive document shares, linked graphics files that we couldn't modify, and theater of the mind. I've even been told that we got Theater of the Mind descriptions while the GM had a map he tracked everything on. You could share maps on Obsidian Portal or through Discord, too, if you wish.
All I care about is the ability to see the map if you are going to run a tactical enough game that I need to worry about whether I am in square 27D or square 27E. If you're going to reduce my need to be concerned about that level of tactical detail, then I will probably be happy not to have any maps, as long as there are descriptions available.
hustonj, here, with the modified Varisian entertainer.
Yes, the long-term plans are for skill dedication, but if the group needs the character to advance as a more aggressive combat beast, I can work that. What he expects to do with his life right now has nothing to do with the Adventure Path the player's signing up for!
Questions, concerns, comments, even just thoughts from other potential players, please, speak up!
Edit: Maps: I've seen Roll20 maps, Google drive document shares, linked graphics files that we couldn't modify, and theater of the mind. I've even been told that we got Theater of the Mind descriptions while the GM had a map he tracked everything on. You could share maps on Obsidian Portal or through Discord, too, if you wish.
All I care about is the ability to see the map if you are going to run a tactical enough game that I need to worry about whether I am in square 27D or square 27E. If you're going to reduce my need to be concerned about that level of tactical detail, then I will probably be happy not to have any maps, as long as here are descriptions available.
This is just a minor thing, and I might get to more concrete stuff at a later time, but currently your campaign trait says Rise of the Runelords. xD
The idea for my character is to make him a Samurai using the Ironbound Sword and probably also the Ward Speaker archetypes. I am however thinking of starting of as a Fighter (archetype undecided).
It would all come together once the character has 3 levels in Ironbound Sword as from that moment Samurai and Fighter levels stack for the progression of class features (pre-existing ones, he won't get new abilities based on the stacked levels).
The idea is that switch to Samurai would come in once the character actually discovers his connection with Tian Xia, which should happen within the first book.
Hm, seems legitimate to me.
I'm tossing around a couple ideas in my head. Out of curiosity, are you fine with the Occult classes? Some are, some aren't, so I thought I'd make sure.
I'm okay with most of the occult classes, though I admit to not fully understanding how the majority of them work (I get, like, the psychic. xD)
I've been interested in Jade for a while. I have an idea, but it relies on two things:
1) Are Strix a possible race?
2) Would the Far Strike archetype be applicable to UnMonk? I think the "conflict" is that Far Strike specifically calls out diamond body being replaced where it is a power choice for UnMonk. Maybe dropping the 10th level power for UnMonk?
Thanks
For mapping I prefer to use Google docs. Put the map from the AP on there, add the players icons from here. Put a link to it up top in the campaign info. Make it editable for anyone with the link.
Are you ok with prior knowledge? I was in a Jade regent PBP campaign that started on book two and died at the start of book three. I would love to reach the end of the campaign. :)
I've been interested in Jade for a while. I have an idea, but it relies on two things:
1) Are Strix a possible race?
2) Would the Far Strike archetype be applicable to UnMonk? I think the "conflict" is that Far Strike specifically calls out diamond body being replaced where it is a power choice for UnMonk. Maybe dropping the 10th level power for UnMonk?
Thanks
Strix are generally frowned upon, given that they're pretty much exclusive to living in Cheliax. You'd need a very good background to tell me why they were in Varisia, and why they were associated with the characters, to get a strix in the party.
As to your other question... I think that would be fine, I guess? I'm not very experienced with the differences between Unchained and vanilla.
For mapping I prefer to use Google docs. Put the map from the AP on there, add the players icons from here. Put a link to it up top in the campaign info. Make it editable for anyone with the link.Are you ok with prior knowledge? I was in a Jade regent PBP campaign that started on book two and died at the start of book three. I would love to reach the end of the campaign. :)
I am striving to put together the maps as we type, so to speak, and I agree that I find Google Docs more accessible than roll20, at least for the moment.
I don't mind prior knowledge, so long as you can keep it from overtly influencing your IC actions.
Wonderful, looking through the submissions I see a lack of healing, so a Cleric/Oracle/Shaman will be on the way.
Oh! I forgot that Varisia, Birthplace of Legends, there are two extra campaign traits - Best Customer and Foreign Tongued.
Feel free to choose from those in addition to the ones listed in the Player's Guide.
dotting. Have to read through the player's guide to come up with a concept.
Kenta Kaijitsu is the youngest child of the Kaijitsu family. He grew up admiring both of his older siblings, and was far too young to understand why Tsuto was sent away by their father, or why his sister and mother became estranged from his father afterwards. Lonjiku kept the boy largely in the dark about what was going on, and Kenta's attention was drawn by stories of flashy swordsmen that he heard from his sister whenever he'd visit her tavern. The boy would often pester visiting adventurers for tips on swordplay, and eventually became the apprentice to a rakish duelist from Riddleport who was laying low in Sandpoint for a few months to recover from wounds he'd received in an incident he refused to tell the boy about.
Kenta took to the man's instruction quite well, and continued to practice on his own years after the man had moved on, in between shifts at his father's glassworks. That changed rather suddenly when Tsuto returned to Sandpoint, and Lonjiku was brutally murdered in the Glassworks shortly thereafter. Nobody had ever told Kenta the truth about what happened, and the knowledge that his brother was somehow involved in his father's death has haunted him ever since. When he learned that Ameiko would be traveling, Kenta insisted that he come along to protect his only remaining relative. Deep down he's quite aware that Ameiko is more than capable of taking care of herself, and is easily his better in combat, but he still wants to try. He's lost too much family already by not being present when they were in danger; he will not make the same mistake again.
Stats (still needs some work, not all equipment purchased yet)
STR 10
DEX 18
CON 13
INT 10
WIS 12
CHA 14
AC 18, Touch 14 Flat 14
HP: 12 (+1 favored class)
Fort: +1 Ref: +6 Will: +2
TRAITS: Younger Sibling (Ameiko; +1 Will saves), Axe to Grind (+1 damage vs targets threatened only by you)
FEATS: Weapon Focus (Rapier), Fencing Grace
ATTACKS
Rapier +6 (1d6+4, 18-20)
SKILLS
Acrobatics (Dex) 1
Bluff (Cha)
Climb (Str)
Diplomacy (Cha) 1
Escape Artist (Dex)
Intimidate (Cha)
Knowledge (local) (Int)
Perception (Wis) 1
Ride (Dex)
Sense Motive (Wis) 1
Swim (Str)
BACKGROUND SKILLS
Craft (Int)
Knowledge (nobility) (Int)
Perform (Cha)
Profession (glassblower) (Wis)1
Sleight of Hand (Dex) 1
EQUIPMENT 175gp starting
Studded Leather Armor (25gp)
Buckler (5gp)
Rapier (20gp)
Shortbow (30gp)
40 Arrows (2gp)
Hm, I'm considering asking that the submissions are in a singular format, just so I can find things when I need to look for them.
EDIT: I've added a template for a character sheet that I'm familiar with, so I can find everyone's stuff. I won't make people change, but it would help me if you do. Check this alias' profile to take a look at it.
Very interested! That's exactly the pace that I run at and I find that, while mechanics can be really fun, the endurance of a game comes from the story, not the cheesy crunch. Am pondering...
I definitely add my voice to any support for google maps. The best option for most people, imo. Roll20 is fantastic IF everyone involved has access to a reasonably fast internet connection, the GM pays for premium, etc.
What year does Jade Regent begin?
If I lose out because the template I produce as I do things by hand doesn't match the output from a piece of software which requires that I pay twice to use material I've already purchased, so be it.
I'm neither purchasing the software nor taking the time to duplicate it. I work pretty hard to keep things easy to find and fully documented. That format provides no means of justifying or verifying anything, because you are supposed to just trust the software. And it tries to convince you that comma-seperated lists are as convenient as columned lists for finding things.
What year does Jade Regent begin?
** spoiler omitted **
This particular iteration of Jade Regent begins in 4711.
The wiki is fairly safe, but largely because it's pretty incomplete. What sort of questions did you have? I can possibly answer them.
If I lose out because the template I produce as I do things by hand doesn't match the output from a piece of software which requires that I pay twice to use material I've already purchased, so be it.
I'm neither purchasing the software nor taking the time to duplicate it. I work pretty hard to keep things easy to find and fully documented. That format provides no means of justifying or verifying anything, because you are supposed to just trust the software. And it tries to convince you that comma-seperated lists are as convenient as columned lists for finding things.[/qute]
No worries! I didn't mean to make anyone uncomfortable, but I did kind of want to be able to find the stuff as easily as possible.
That ended up answering a lot of my backstory related questions.
Since the PCs are intertwined with these four NPCs, are the backstories we provide essentially a first draft that will be altered to fit better if they go too far afield with established history of NPCs? Or are we better off just keeping it vague?
Hm... I think that I'll probably alter the backgrounds of the NPCs for especially compelling backstories from the PCs, but just do what feels right to you, and I'm sure it'll turn out fine.
I modified my character sheet to match your format. :)
Looks good! Oh, how did you get the damage modifier of +7? I see the +4 from your Int, but does it also add strength?
The hair is her only natural weapon, so it adds 1-1/2 Strength to damage, and she uses Intelligence instead of Strength when hitting with it. That makes it +6, but I can't figure out where I found the extra +1. Whoops! Maybe I did a draft with +5 Intelligence instead of +4? Sorry about that.
No worries.
Hmmmm . . .. Probably over-reacted, but I have had a couple of people over the last several years tell me they expected me to spend the money if I was going to TRY to play in their game.
Guess I'm still reacting to their inappropriate expectations.
Hmm...I'm very interested, possibly in creating a Kitsune Bard or some other type of diplomancer, but I can't decide yet. That only works best in a group of 5+ players, though, and there's at least two CHA folks upthread. :) I'll put my thinking cap on!
Hmmmm . . .. Probably over-reacted, but I have had a couple of people over the last several years tell me they expected me to spend the money if I was going to TRY to play in their game.
Guess I'm still reacting to their inappropriate expectations.
Yeah, I don't expect you to spend anything other than time on the game. That seems really somewhat skeevey to me.
Super dotting. I've been wanting to play this campaign for years now, but I can never seem to make it happen.
I'm tentatively applying with this character.
She is in another PBP campaign that started just a little bit ago. That campaign looks very much like it is about to die.
If that campaign does NOT die I'll withdraw my application.
But, if it DOES die, I quite like this character and would like to continue to play her :-)