Reign of Winter: Child Endangerment Edition

Game Master spectrevk

So, I've been thinking about trying to run Reign of Winter again, but this time as a play-by-post, and with another twist: the PCs will be children, facing the fairies, witches, and trolls they've only heard about in bedtime stories. The rules for creating "young" characters in Pathfinder can be found here: http://aonprd.com/Rules.aspx?Name=Young%20Characters&Category=Campaign% 20Systems

As you can see, they're a bit harsh. NPC classes only to start with. Now, I plan for this portion to only last briefly, as there is a story beat in the adventure that will give us an excuse for these kids to 'ascend' into full PCs, but it will be a little rough to start with. I have a few ideas for how to ameliorate this:

1. A lovable pet dog that will accompany the group on their adventures near town.

2. Granting everyone five (5) "kids are resilient" points. Spending one point will restore all HP with a 5 minute rest, or allow one attack to auto-hit. If used on an attack that has already hit, it will turn that hit into a critical. These points will be lost after the kids become full-fledged PCs.

3. A third idea that I haven't thought of, but which perhaps someone interested in this game would suggest.

So my question is both which of these options would be most appealing, and whether anyone would be interested in the idea at all.

I would be interested in this! I love the fairy tale motifs in Reign of Winter.

Perhaps a third idea could be that the group of children have a Fairy Godmother that accompanies them - maybe a low level/CR fey with some healing and support capabilities?

I'm interested, and like Magicblast's idea quite a bit. Thematically, that makes a lot of sense to me.

Super interested, fairies and fey are my jam.

already have a vague character idea

Magicblast's idea i like as well, either that or the Doggo

Sounds like fun.

You could allow the kids to use a point for a re-roll.

Already in a RoW recruitment right now, but this does sound interesting. I've been in a short commoner-only game before, which was pretty fun while it lasted.

Sounds interesting

I may even go for the magical child PC class when we can take classes

Like theasl, I'm already in a RoW recruitment and waiting for an answer, but it sounds like lots of fun. I'm definitely considering submitting a character.

I've never been a GM, so I don't really have an idea that would affect the game mechanics, but I like Magicblast's idea. Fairy Godmothers are more of a tradition in European fairy tales than in Russian folklore. I tmakes me think of a "cultural clash" between the fairy tales that Taldan children would have grown up with, and their darker, more morbid Irrisen counterpart.

This sounds like fun I'm very interested.

With some Russian folktales there's the magical animal helper (like the Gray Wolf in The Tale of Ivan Tsarevich, the Firebird, and the Gray Wolf), and I personally would love that idea. Either that or maybe a magic doll type idea like from Vasilisa the Beautiful.

Anyway, I'm a folklore fanatic, and so yes. Yes I'm very interested.

Would level advancement speed up at some point, or would we effectively be a level behind for the entire campaign? Basically, will the whole AP be hard mode or just the first book?

My thoughts immediately went to archetypes like the Magical Child vigilante, the Feral Child druid, and the Chosen One paladin. It might be fun to have a group of those types of characters who discover their powers in-game.

I would be interested in this! I love the fairy tale motifs in Reign of Winter.

Perhaps a third idea could be that the group of children have a Fairy Godmother that accompanies them - maybe a low level/CR fey with some healing and support capabilities?

I like this idea! IIRC a Lyrakien Azata with a Wand of CLW would fit the bill.

Sounds like fun.

You could allow the kids to use a point for a re-roll.

I also like this idea!

Would level advancement speed up at some point, or would we effectively be a level behind for the entire campaign? Basically, will the whole AP be hard mode or just the first book?

You wouldn't be a level behind. You'd trade in your NPC levels for PC levels after the "ascension", so at that point it would be more like a normal game, except that the PCs would still be adventuring children. I think I would allow each PC to decide whether or not they lose the "young" ability score template.

One other idea I had was putting the kids on the "fast" XP track while they were using NPC classes, then moving to Medium once they are fully PCs.

Would you allow the 3PP 'Child' curse for an oracle? Another thing that seems very thematic! I'd hold off choosing a mystery too - hopefully something could happen in game which would suggest which way to go. :)

Since everyone is throwing their ideas, I'm thinking of a Ranger. Battle Scout could have some perks for a Small-sized individual.

Since we're throwing ideas out for characters. Im considering some kind of wizard or sorcerer, gonna find a way to get an animal companion and familiar. Then specialize in enchantment magic.

Since we're throwing ideas out for characters. Im considering some kind of wizard or sorcerer, gonna find a way to get an animal companion and familiar. Then specialize in enchantment magic.

Fey bloodline (Sylvan) and then invest in the feat chain for familiars? Eldritch Heritage yourself into Arcane? Or take the archetype that gives you two bloodlines. :)

Ammon Knight of Ragathiel wrote:

Since we're throwing ideas out for characters. Im considering some kind of wizard or sorcerer, gonna find a way to get an animal companion and familiar. Then specialize in enchantment magic.

Fey bloodline (Sylvan) and then invest in the feat chain for familiars? Eldritch Heritage yourself into Arcane? Or take the archetype that gives you two bloodlines. :)

First one was right, good guess, Going either half elf or human.

General idea is he was taken by fey as a kid and has recently returned/escaped

I'm thinking a bug obsessed half orc kid who learns to turn into a swarm using the new swarm shifter archetype.

I'm thinking a bug obsessed half orc kid who leans to turn into a swarm using the new swarm shifter archetype.

Would you allow the 3PP 'Child' curse for an oracle? Another thing that seems very thematic! I'd hold off choosing a mystery too - hopefully something could happen in game which would suggest which way to go. :)

I would generally prefer to keep this all-Paizo for the sake of simplicity. How crucial is the curse to your character concept? I also worry that the stacked strength penalties from the curse and the young template would make the character less fun to play.

sounds like it would be fun

Nikolaus de'Shade wrote:

Would you allow the 3PP 'Child' curse for an oracle? Another thing that seems very thematic! I'd hold off choosing a mystery too - hopefully something could happen in game which would suggest which way to go. :)

I would generally prefer to keep this all-Paizo for the sake of simplicity. How crucial is the curse to your character concept? I also worry that the stacked strength penalties from the curse and the young template would make the character less fun to play.

Wouldn't be absolutely necessary but I'd quite like to. Not sure how long the game would take in time terms but I do like the idea of this kid being stuck as the ten year-old or whatever they start as, while the rest grow up. Would lead to plenty of angsty soul searching etc.

I imagine the penalty from the curse is designed to mimic the template. Are we planned to 'grow out' of the template at any point and if so, could I just keep it and use that as the 'curse' instead?

I'm not too worried about strength, as a full caster combat would not be the first thing on her agenda!

I'm trying to decide if starting with almost no interesting powers encourages min-maxing or discourages it, but I'm interested in this idea. Seems that it would allow for some unusual types of characters.

I'm curious how you plan to do the intro for the game: That determines the starting relationships and, in a lot of ways, what kinds of characters we will play. In normal Reign of Winter, the PCs are mercenaries that go after a missing noblewoman, but there's no way that children get hired to do that. What happens to draw the children into the adventure? Why don't they just... go home?

Also, how old were you thinking? When you say 'children', do you actually mean teens or do you mean like, 9-year-olds?

Third question: What's your thought along the lines of "why are these tiny babies so powerful and badass?" Is there something special about our specific characters?

I am interested probably leaning towards a thief/rogue type. There are a couple Fey themed rogue archetypes.

spectrevk wrote:

Nikolaus de'Shade wrote:

Would you allow the 3PP 'Child' curse for an oracle? Another thing that seems very thematic! I'd hold off choosing a mystery too - hopefully something could happen in game which would suggest which way to go. :)

I would generally prefer to keep this all-Paizo for the sake of simplicity. How crucial is the curse to your character concept? I also worry that the stacked strength penalties from the curse and the young template would make the character less fun to play.

Wouldn't be absolutely necessary but I'd quite like to. Not sure how long the game would take in time terms but I do like the idea of this kid being stuck as the ten year-old or whatever they start as, while the rest grow up. Would lead to plenty of angsty soul searching etc.

I imagine the penalty from the curse is designed to mimic the template. Are we planned to 'grow out' of the template at any point and if so, could I just keep it and use that as the 'curse' instead?

I'm not too worried about strength, as a full caster combat would not be the first thing on her agenda!

The Curse penalties are worse than the standard ones; I'll allow it in this case, and you'll just use the curse penalties instead of the template.

I'm trying to decide if starting with almost no interesting powers encourages min-maxing or discourages it, but I'm interested in this idea. Seems that it would allow for some unusual types of characters.

I'm curious how you plan to do the intro for the game: That determines the starting relationships and, in a lot of ways, what kinds of characters we will play. In normal Reign of Winter, the PCs are mercenaries that go after a missing noblewoman, but there's no way that children get hired to do that. What happens to draw the children into the adventure? Why don't they just... go home?

Also, how old were you thinking? When you say 'children', do you actually mean teens or do you mean like, 9-year-olds?

Third question: What's your thought along the lines of "why are these tiny babies so powerful and badass?" Is there something special about our specific characters?

I would expect that the players all start out as childhood friends, of an adventurous sort. Like the Goonies, or the Stranger Things kids, but this time in Taldor :)

As for why they don't go home, well...in the beginning, it's because they *are* home - the woods around town are their backyard, and they're the kind of kids who stay out after dark and dare each other to go looking for ghosts and such. As the adventure progresses, the stakes will rise to a point where continuing the adventure feels necessary, I hope.

Players can roll randomly for their age, but I would otherwise assume that they are on the cusp of leaving the "young" category: around 10-14.

There definitely seems to be enough interest - should I create a separate recruitment thread, or is everyone okay with posting their characters here?

Character generation will be fairly standard: 20 build points, and assume 150GP for starting gear, as I assume the kids have pilfered gear from parents, retired adventuring uncles/grandmothers, etc. I will go with the Fairy Godmother idea, as well as the dog. If one of you decides to pursue a class with an animal companion or familiar, you can choose to take them with you on your adventures into Irrisen. Lastly, I realized that Pathfinder already has a mechanic for "luck" - Hero Points. Everyone will start with two.

Personally im okay posting here

Sure. But if we ascend. May I give a suggestion for gear? Rather give everyone like 20gp or the sort. As our gear will prob be child proof. So wooden swords. Buckets. Dustbin lids etc. And if you plan to make our ascension more magical. Our makeshift gear becomes "real"

I plan to go magical child. So I'll see what familiar I will pick

So if we roll age: 8+1d6?

8+1d6 sounds about right to me. I didn't realize it, but my initial link to the rules on AON didn't work. Hopefully this one will: http://aonprd.com/Rules.aspx?Name=Young%20Characters&Category=Campaign% 20Systems

Age: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

So im going Sylvan sorcerer and Eldritch heritage arcane. getting both a familiar and animal companion.

For now however just picking an NPC class

Kryas Azrin

Half elf around age 13

he used to live in the village, but word has it he disappeared a while ago, he came back just recently.

Thats my general idea around my character so far

It looks like your link keeps adding a space after the second %. I know I've had trouble with the paizo boards accepting a long string and that might be what's going on here. Maybe if we try this.

As for character, I'm looking to eventually go Ranger (Divine Marksman). For now though, a warrior. Liam Hode, about 12 years of age, son of Ivan, the fool. Liam worked hard to become strong and brave to prove his worth, distance himself from his father's legacy. Hopefully going to run with an arc where he can learn to let go of the comparisons between Ivan and himself, and just let it be.

The Curse penalties are worse than the standard ones; I'll allow it in this case, and you'll just use the curse penalties instead of the template.

Having re-read and noted the use of 'modifier' rather than 'score' I'm inclined to agree!

Well, either way I'd stat up an adept for the first bit and then look to 'develop' into a full oracle at some point. Exactly what the curse and mystery would look like could depend quite heavily on exactly what happens in the story. :)

---------------
Issi 'Flamehair'

Age ~10

Daughter of a Qadiran mother and Taldan father Issi has lived in ? all her life. She shows a small gift for magic and serves in the local temple as an acolyte. She has a gift for mischief however, but can usually get out of trouble again with a little natural charm.

Very definitely a ringleader :) Would probably work very well with Ivan as long as he did what she said!

age: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Raggnor a half-orc who's friends call grub because his taste for eating insects later becomes a swarm shifter.

Finn Dawkins is a #: 10 + 1d6 ⇒ 10 + (6) = 16 year old halfling, he is a charming orphan, too much trouble for anyone to take him is but he has never done anything really bad either.

I may shift my concept to a kitsune rogue. Arctic fox.
Fast talker and trickster. Can easily be the face of the party. Or any face for that matter.

I think my character and Issi can be friends. Over their glib tongue or their love for mischief. These two can be quite the fire stokers

Seems like alot of mischief. I can look at another direction, We do not have any martial looking concepts Chosen One looks fun

Actually. Dont mr strange. I'll come up with something else. =^^=

GM spectre- you didn't answer my third question! Are the PCs special? If so, how? If not, how are you justifying a 12 year old reaching mid-levels and taking on huge terrifying monsters?

Also, you didn't really answer my first: what specifically starts the adventure?

Also, clarifying character generation: traits? HP? Starting level? Alignment restrictions? Race restrictions? Allowed material?

My character is a human summoner with a wolf eidelon. I haven't written a background or added equipment yet but here is a Herolab statblock for both. Let me know if there are any problems.

I think my character and Issi can be friends. Over their glib tongue or their love for mischief. These two can be quite the fire stokers

This sounds perfect... completing Reign of Winter, one embarrassing prank on the adults at a time!

If Mr Strange doesnt mind, and Issi seems to like idea, then perhaps i will stick with a Trickster

This is what I got so far and he will be a Feyform Shifter.

I have a busy week ahead, and I don't think I'll be able to have a character ready in time :( My apologies!

I'm afraid I'll have to back out.

I wish everyone a great game!

I present Yume. She is a aspiring sorceress. Destined to inherit her family's power. (Nine-tailed heir). Though her magic is rather weak and very basic, she will grow and master her magic like that which her family has all but forgotten

I will put together a Chosen one do gooder, Looking to keep the rest of these ruffians alive.

Yes, I am going to go with a Paladin: Chosen One of Grandmother Crow. Let me put something together and post it

Here is Donovan, I suspect that he has a crush on Issi and is easy to manipulate.

Very interested... need to think