In Varisia's bustling frontier town of Magnimar, the Pathfinder Society's newest lodge recruits a team of rookie Pathfinder agents. Yet when Magnimar's newest heroes pursue their task, they find far more than they had been expecting, becoming embroiled in a quickly expanding hunt for a fragmented artifact from the height of the ancient empire of Thassilon that will take them to some of the most dangerous corners of Varisia!
Looking for 4-6 players that have been invited to this game. I may run two tables depending on the interest shown by those invited. I've run this through the first book for a RL group so looking forward of picking it back up and working toward running it to completion. Most of you are in games I am running, but as a refresher or for those new to me as a GM, check out my profile for details on how I commonly run things.
There is one big change in this recruitment as opposed to my standard. I am looking for a bit of a faster pace with the game. The goal is to consistently get at least 1 post a day but preferably at least two (morning/evening) on weekdays and at least one post, on the weekends. I know things come up and I'm sure it will happen to me, but the above should be the norm. With that in mind, I won't be botting players unless they give me advanced warning they will be away and provide some general guidelines. Otherwise you'll essentially just be 'delaying' for anything you miss. Please consider the investment up front and whether you can maintain a faster posting. Everyone I invited I have seen pretty consistent posting from, so I don't think it should be an issue but please keep it in mind.
With that in mind, if you’re still interested, I need the following for your Submission to be considered complete:
1. Character Stats
2. Backstory
3. Appearance & Personality
4. Time Zone
Please check out the Players Guide. The adventure assumes you are all members of the Pathfinder Society. I'm willing to work around that if someone has a concept that doesn't have them being a Pathfinder, but you need to have a good reason to either want to work with the Pathfinders or for the Pathfinders to want to seek you out.
Feel free to create an alias if you want, but it isn't required as I know how they can stack up. Instead you can just post your submission in spoilers here under your main alias.
- Starting Level: 1
- Wealth: Max for Class
- Classes: Anything within reason. IE nothing crazy like Synthesist Summoner. I'm not as familiar with the Occult classes so if you want to go that route be willing to deal with me working on a learning curve. Firearms are Emerging.
- Races: The Pathfinders come from all over. Any Paizo 15 RP or below. No custom races.
- Alignment: Any alignment is allowed, with the following condition:
Your character must be willing and want to work with the rest of the PCs and the Pathfinder Society, and not have any plans or intentions of betraying them.
- HP: Max at 1st, half + 1 after
- Attributes: 20 point buy, no stat below 8 before racial adjustments, no stat above 18 after racial adjustments.
- Traits: 3, 1 must be a campaign trait.
- Drawbacks: None
- You may self-craft up to 3 items before the game at standard crafting costs, but only if you can succeed on the crafting roll by taking 10.
- Background skills will be in use.
- No 3rd Party content (including the no feat tax rules)
- For any members of the Pathfinder Society tell me why you joined
While this is invite only, I'm going to need a little time to prep maps since it has been awhile since I have run this. Also, I want to give you all a little more time to work on characters/backstories. Since you all are assumed to be Pathfinder Society members feel free to interweave stories with one another. I'm going to set two rough deadlines for now.
1: Recruitment will close 3/15 for your initial character ideas.
2: Game will begin 3/25 at the latest to allow for any adjustments or tie ins for the party after selection.
The above dates are at the latest. They could be moved up if the recruitment goes quickly and I get my prep done fast. If you have questions let me know.
Checking in for great justice (or injustice...depending on my character, hehehe).
In all seriousness...I’m tempted to play something evilish. But not evil as in maniacal take over the world, but evil as in self serving evil. We shall see...but I don’t wanna accidentally drag this towards an evil group off the start.
Couple of questions:
1) Would you be open to someone going Undead Lord Cleric without a deity, but more of an ideal? Basically saw unintelligent Undead creations as a form of golem in a sense, and the intelligent ones as another stage of some creatures lifecycle. A twisted version of a caterpillar to a butterfly...
2) Any thoughts on using Downtime Rules to have businesses (to fund lifestyle expenses, not personal gear) and homes of our own?
May have more questions later...
I don't have an issue with an Undead Lord Cleric, but depending on the group composition others might. Though from what your describing have you looked at the Juju mystery Oracle?
I'm not opposed to doing some Downtime stuff, though I haven't really messed with it a lot in detail. However, being a member of the Pathfinder Society may help in some of those areas depending on what you have in mind.
Honestly? I’ve never enjoyed the feel of the Oracle class.
I have lots of concepts I’d enjoy playing, so I’ll list a few in no particular order:
A) Undead Lord Cleric as above.
B) Former Gladiator with a bit of a cocky attitude and a mouth. Very “Alpha Male” type.
C) Failed Paladiness who is now “changed.” Would mechanically be a bloodrager...with a unique spin on their rage feature (though only in skinning it, not mechanically)
D) An elven Archer whose a bit of a xenophobe when she is around other races.
E) A Druid with a summoning focus, but also likes to mix it up in combat once they can shapeshift.
F) A sorceress focused on enchantments (depending on how you personally handle said spells)
G) A Half-Orc who...isn’t the brightest continual flame torch in the world...but is a beast in combat (honestly, I played this guy before...the game allowed a bit lower/higher stats and his mental stats were all 5. Yes, 5. And he was hilarious to role play, because I can play up a dumb character like a champ! Lmao)
The list goes on...
Hello! and thanks Dak again for the invite.
I'd like to go divine, a dwarf follower of Bolka (dwarven goddess of love, desire and beauty). But an happy to conform to whatever party fits best.
The dwarf woman stands before you, standard fair for her race, broad shouldered as well as thick of chest and hip. Her glossy blue black hair, pulled high in a tail, makes you wonder if you've caught a sight of a true beauty here...
That is until she turns around.
See, Sapher's face is about as plain as plain can be. Heck the plainest Jane of all the Janes would even call the poor dwarf drab.
But just before you turn away, interest gone, you hesitate. Something... maybe the glint in her mahogany eyes, or roundness of her... um... cheeks, stirs something in you.
She'll notice and give a tired smile. "Yes, I am my goddess's faint hope (or sad joke), saying anyone, even a girl like me, will find love." the smile drops away and her hand rests on the heavy hammer on her side "But not today, so turn that gaze somewhere else or I'll smash your nethers into raspberry jam. Repeatedly!" the last part more of a growl.
Then she'll turn away muttering to herself, "And now I'm hungry for toast."
Sapher, short for Saphire, since her mother had great hopes, and pushed her into the priesthood of Bolka, even though her hopes were mostly dashed at that point. Sapher joins the pathfinders to get away, far away!
But given that she could go divine or have turned her back on all of it and be a warrior.
Hello, just dotting for now. I've only skimmed the player's guide, I'll try to read it more in depth tomorrow. From what I understand this AP is somewhat combat/dungeon heavy. I will likely see what other concepts people are wanting to play and see if I can find somebody who fills the gaps, unless great inspiration strikes me in my sleep.
Hey all, after reading a bit of the guide, I was thinking of an Ekujae elf wizard, eventually to take the magaambyan arcanist prestige class. I've been interested in it for a long time, never had a chance to play.
There are a few entries into shattered star that make sense, specifically the exchange agent route. I haven't played a wizard before but this one seems up my alley. Does it look out of place for the setting?
@CampinCarl Yes, it definitely leans toward the combat/dungeon delving side of things. However, there should be one or two party members that are at least decent at talking to people, I mean unless you just want to be the attack first, ask questions later type of group :D
@Litejedi Yup exchange agent would be perfect. I think it makes a lot of sense for an Ekujae elf to want to join the Pathfinders with their past tensions with the Aspis Consortium. Don't see any problems with the prestige class.
Hey everyone. Putting down my initial interest and idea, though I'm still need to read up on the pg and pathfinder society to weave a good backstory. For now, I'm planning on writing up an eccentric goblin rogue, based on the pathfinder goblin than d&d goblin, of course.
Hello, and thank you GM Dak for the invite!
I am on my way to building a Half Elf Cleric (Varisian Pilgrim) of Calistria with the Alabaster Outcast trait, shunned by a noble family that never liked her much in the first place. She'll be a support cleric. More to come.
Awesome, it looks like the concept I've been considering will be welcome with what concepts the others are submitting. I'm wanting to build a slayer, strength based double weapon frontliner with the Ankou's Shadow archetype. Probably half-orc or half-elf, I still need to chew on the idea a little.
What level does this AP end around?
Around 17.
Hello all! Thanks for the invite GM Dak, much appreciated. It looks like you've gotten a solid group already responding here, but if you still have room then I'll gladly hop in. I've played and GM'd the first book of SS before, but I am old and already forgot everything so I'm sure it will be like playing it again for the first time! :)
Since I'm the eighth one to respond, I assume we are going to be breaking into two groups? I only ask as to make sure I'm not duplicating a role we already have covered.
Just curious, will you be issuing Pathfinder Society Chronicle sheets for running it? Since this is a sanctioned module, you can issue a sheet from an AP without running it as a PFS module and still get credit for it.
As far as maps are concerned, a good friend of mine ran this as well and redid all of the maps at a much higher quality. If you are interested, I can shoot those over to you.
Yes, likely two groups if a few more people express interest.
As for Chronicle Sheets if people are interested I can definitely provide them. It's been a long time since I've done anything for PFS so I will need to refresh myself with it, but shouldn't be an issue.
As for maps, I will never turn down higher quality maps :)
Cool, I'll dig up the link and send it to you.
I saw several mentions of divine earlier, that is definitely an area of interest of mine but it looks like we already may be covered here.
I have a priestess of Sarenrae oracle, a trouble causing investigator, a fiery red headed swashbuckler, or an ex-Sczarni ranged attacker ready to go for an adventure in Magnimar. I can whip up something new if the group needs it.
I really enjoy tying my backstory to at least one character, it makes the initial RP more enjoyable and flavorful. If anyone is up for that, let me know!
I live in Maryland and so I'm on eastern time.
I've seen several Elf ideas posted, really tempting me to go with my Elven Archer Xenophobe. HAHAHA
Do any of you have any requests as to which of the PC's on my list you think you'd prefer to see me run, or are you all fine with me going with whatever I pick? I'm more interested in good story than good mechanics.
Hey all! Thanks for the invite, GM Dak! I've been trying to get into your games! :)
The ideas I'm most interested in pursuing for this are:
1. Gnome Sorcerer (a boastful coward, paranoid illusionist / arcane investigator)
2. Human Arcanist (an old man who was rescued by fey when he was a child, loves the fey and is bored by most everything else)
I could come up with some other ideas if the arcane role is already full (though it looks like two tables). If there are no objections, I'd proceed with one of those ideas.
I'm excited for a faster-paced game. :)
I'm Mountain Time Zone, FYI.
It’s interesting that almost all of my pbp characters are divergent in terms of race, but almost all are nature-themed. I’m a hippy I guess!
@Thron - No reason you can't go with your elven archer if that's what you want to do! I am with you and prefer a good story over mechanics as well.
@PatheticWretch - I'm glad you want to do a full arcane caster because that's the one area I don't have a ton of interest! :)
@GM Dak - Do you want to break us up into groups first? It may make our character selection process easier?
Pacific time zone here.
I'm cobbling together a know-it-all bard (archivist), either human or aasimar.
Eastern U.S. time zone.
I’m waiting to see if a couple more people chime in or not then We can see about splitting into groups or if some of you specifically want to be together for story I’m fine working around that as well.
Central time here. Currently I'm building Sapher as an inquisitor, so it won't interfere with clerics/oracles. I'll build an alternative her as a ranger/fighter/something. Both ways will have her as a melee/tank. I think at least.
Elf archer sounds great Thron. Since you mentioned Xenophobe, remember that Dak specifically stated "Your character must be willing and want to work with the rest of the PCs and the Pathfinder Society." Of course, he never said anything about liking us though :)
Wow, that's a lot of interest already. Nice!
I've two concepts I'm toying with for this game:
1) A ranged Paladin of Erastil. Thinking a young rustic/rural character chosen by Erastil. From a smallish community and receiving visions from Erastil about going to Magnimar and joining the Pathfinders there to aid/protect surrounding communities from the events of the AP. Traditional kind of values: family, friends, the simple things in life. Believes in justice and protection for the simple folk/innocents.
2) A brash Swashbuckler. Was a noble in the city but their antics offended somebody important and they were exiled from their family. Joined the Pathfinders to re-establish themselves as a somebody and to stick it to the family members that exiled them. Gets drawn into the events of the AP through this. Thinking someone super confident in themselves, larger than life kind of figure, witty, arrogant, jumps into things headfirst but still good-natured at heart.
I need to develop them a little more before and do a bit more research I fully flesh them out. If people have a preference or even another role they need to be filled I'm happy to improvise and try slot into that role. Happy to tie in with other characters too if people want to have backstory together.
GMT timezone btw.
I'm interested, though I'm a bit slammed this week and probably won't have a chance to stat up a character until Saturday at the earliest. Like Campin, I often like trying to design around others' choices. It looks like there might be some need for a melee character, so I'm going to lean toward trying to think of an idea in that direction.
So there may be up to two more people joining us. Will give it a few more days but we can start moving forward in the discussion of party split either way. So just a rough look at some things people have propsed/seem to be leaning toward so far:
Thron - Elven Archer Possibly
John G - Dwarf Melee Combatant
CampinCarl9127 - Half something Slayer?
Litejedi - Elf Wizard
Silverstream - Goblin Rogue
Tazo - Half elf Cleric
The Rising Phoenix - Undecided
Pathetic Wretch - Something magical
Profession Smith 6 Ranks - Bard
Burkadiem - Ranged Paladin/Swashbuckler
With the above in mind (note this isn't saying what is above is what you have to stick with, just basing on what has been discussed so far), this is how I would do groups to balance them out a bit:
Group 1: Thron (Ranged), John G (Front Line), CampinCarl (Skills), Litejedi (Arcane), Tazo (Heals)
Group 2: Silverstream (Skills), Pathetic Wretch (Arcane), Profession Smith (Heals?), Burkadiem (Ranged), Phoenix (Fill)
If you all want to use that as a spring board to move forward feel free or if any of you have thoughts on adjustments let me know. Nothing is set in stone at this point, just with the suggestion of splitting groups that is a first stab.
Sweet, I'm the wilcard! That works for me just fine.
If Smith goes bard and Burkadiem goes swashbuckler, then we'll likely still need a divine healer. I can go with my aasimar oracle in that scenario. If you want to go pally instead, that's fine too. Let me know if you think we need something else instead, otherwise I'll plan on the oracle.
My character is going to be more of a frontliner type. Definitely gonna grab heavy armor with a dip, probably into armored hulk barbarian. Yes I will have some skills, but I'm much closer to a frontline ranger than a true skillmonkey.
I can rock the archer.
And John - oh, she’s willing to work with them...but as you said...she doesn’t have to like it! Haha!
If those are the groups you wanna go with that works for me.
And for the record, I’m Eastern Stone Zone.
I’m debating on Ranger or Fighter for my build...I’ll have to look some stuff over to decide, but Ranger seems most fitting and is how I’m leaning currently.
CampinCarl, if Sapher stays an inquisitor, she'll have a decent amount of skills allowing us two to average out as skills and frontliner.
But she doesn't have disarm devices. Is it something you would be able to grab?
Hey GM Dak - thanks for the invite.
I'll read the Player's Guide but I'm almost certain I'll play a follower of either Hanspur or Groetus... perhaps a warpriest or some other variant of divine/martial combo.
Thron, I was planning on elfing, though the Ekujae Elves are a bit different culturally. So you won't hate everyone?
Excellent Thron! If you are going fighter/ranger, Sapher will stay inquisitor. A little back up healing for Tazo's cleric
By the way, with us together Tazo, our group has a cleric of Lust and a inquisitor of Love... makes us into some kind of adult version of the care bears.
Unfortunately no. I'd have to spend a trait to get it as a class skill, but even then my character won't have a good dex and will also be sporting heavy armor. He would be mediocre at best.
If we're expecting heavy dungeons delving we may need a dedicated trap person in each group.
Ah... got confused cause the last slayer I had in a group must have taken it as a trait. Sapher would be crap as a disabler, for the same reasons.
I could probably work that into my trait line up. Would make sense for a Ranger/Scout to be good at disabling traps.
Alright, so I believe everyone that said they would be interested is here. Here is what I am thinking for the adjusted groups:
Group 1: Thron (Ranged), John G (Front/Skills/Heals), CampinCarl (Front/Skills), Litejedi (Arcane), Tazo (Heals), Phoenix (Fill)
Group 2: Silverstream (Skills), Pathetic Wretch (Arcane), Profession Smith (Skills/Heals?), Burkadiem (Ranged), Motteditor (Front), PDK (Front/Heals?)
I'll give it 12 hours or so for anyone to comment, but assuming this works for everyone I will split the groups out tonight into separate threads. Still plenty of time to work on your characters, but figure that way it will keep things a little less congested.
Do you have a set language on Google Translate you’d like us to use for Elven? Just curious for future reference.
All the most common languages I use in Google Translate are in my normal profile Here
Cool. And FYI this will be the Alias for Thron’s Archer.
Thank you for volunteering, Thron!
I’m always on board for things that make sense thematically.
Just also brace yourselves for me demanding elf-made arrows, and complaining frequently on the shoddy handiwork of Man. ;-P
I’ll get to work on my crunch as I have time here at work. Hopefully things stay chill enough to let me hammer it out.
I'll take a look at options and what everyone else is planning and come up with a concept ASAP.
Just also brace yourselves for me demanding elf-made arrows, and complaining frequently on the shoddy handiwork of Man. ;-P
Since background skills in a go, it'd almost be a sin for you not to take Craft: bows! ;)
Already planning on it ;-P hahaha
Normally I don't post my characters this early in the creation process, but since everybody is designing around each other I expedited the crunch so you can all see what I bring to the table.
Drask Umbra. He will use a greataxe until level 2 when he can pick up two-weapon fighting by using a slayer talent to acquire ranger combat feats. A few levels in, maybe around 4, he will dip into armored hulk barbarian and throw on full plate.
I don't have his fluff written yet, but I have the outline. I'm very excited because I have a really cool background that works well with the traits and class choices. I'll let you know when I have more written down.
Saphet's a dwarf, so they can bond over complaining about shoddy human crafting.
Looks like the wildcard is now on group 1! If we have a cleric and inquisitor then there is no need for me to go oracle any longer. Any requests for the last slot for group 1?
Personally I'm a play what you want kind of person, as long as all the bases are covered, so Oracle sounds great! We'll have so much healing we'll be able to take on Anything (within reason)
I tend to do that as well, but just wanted to see if anyone had a prefeence (I’m flexible).
An oracle or a swashbuckler are probably my top two.