
RowynStarr |

I'd like to suggest each of you create two-three character concepts for yourselves, and we have fun creating a party from among your candidates. Imagine yourselves sponsoring a number of young adventurers and participating in a selection committee to determine who makes the cut.
I'll reserve the privilege of hitting the golden buzzer, if there's a superb standout. ;-)
I apologize. I'm one of the people that needs to indicate, but I was under the impression that the character we played was indicative of our fellow players would like to see us play and based on the suggestions, that would be our character. That's why I hadn't chimed in with a preference of my own because I was waiting for the other players to weigh in. But I've also been quiet because two thirds of the players had their own preferences for the character they wanted to play out of the three they put up for submission. I'm not going to go against a player's wishes if they've got a character concept they want to play in an adventure, so that's why I've not made any suggestions on the thread. Lady Ladile is the only player that's not decided on anything and I've already talked with her in person about which of her four characters who I think would be fun to play based on their backstories.
I actually had two of the three characters I submitted already made with the intent of altering backstories to fit the AP. Nameless, my dustwalker gunslinger is the only one I haven't made, but of the two folks that have weighed in, they'd like to see me play my barbarian Dragas.
If folks are ready to go, I will submit Dragas as my character of choice based on the suggestions I've recieved on the thread.

Kradel Blastforge |

I'd say play what you most want to play and use the input from others (myself included) as a tie breaker. The most important thing is to enjoy and be invested in your character.

Lady Ladile |

As RowynStarr said, I think there was some slight misunderstanding as to what we were doing. Our good GM indicated that it would be fun to collaborate together to build our party from a pool of candidates that each of us would put forth. Honestly, I was kinda looking forward to that because it's rare to build an entire group from the ground up together.
But then most of the group basically posted that they really only had one concept in mind or posted multiple concepts but *strongly* indicated which one they actually wanted to play. Those of us who were still going by our GM's original intent were waiting for folks to weigh in on our concepts, which largely didn't happen without a little gentle prompting.
Which, no big deal! Sometimes I go into a game with a very strong idea in mind of what I want to play. But that's why the delays in character selection on my end as well.
Since we're basically defaulting back to the usual process of 'play what you want', I'll try to get my own choice settled on sometime today.

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Yeah, the intent to get the group to help one another build a party died a quick death. Oh, well, it seemed like a cool idea at the time.
Please do play the sort of character you'd enjoy. Don't settle on a concept just because there seems to be a gap in the traditional party roles.
This campaign is largely, but not exclusively, an urban and intrigue-filled campaign. Versatile characters with a variety of skills and an ability to be subtle when necessary will usually have something useful to contribute to the team.
The flamboyant, constant attention-seeker will likely be more of a liability than an asset to the team.
There will be times when a meat stick will be a huge asset to the party. There will also be a great deal of time when he or she is likely going to be an incredibly bored spectator.
The character whose race or other attributes make him or her stand out in a crowd will have a difficult time blending in at some social settings. The Player's Guide discusses the subject in some detail.
I don't think this is the case, but if you're thinking about playing a character who's basically a jerk, even if it's 'in-character', please don't. I just don't want to deal with that kind of a pain-in-the-ass for an extended campaign like an AP.

Sora Whitespire |

I'm just finalizing purchases at this point, but here she is. If there's anything anyone suggests I change to better fit this campaign or party makeup, I'm happy to hear opinions. She's listed as having darts, but those are actually Harrow Cards (Hero Lab doesn't seem to have this as a weapon) that she can throw for damage.
GM Lorenzo, how closely will you be tracking 1) encumbrance, 2) coin weight, 3) hunger and thirst?

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I generally don't track coin weight, unless you're actually carrying a sack of gold around.
I'll trust your integrity regarding your PC's encumbrance, but I don't want to hand-waive it.
Hunger and thirst could be a thing, I suppose. I don't intend to track expenditures for normal meals. Why do you ask? Does Sora have an eating disorder? Body image issues?
Deadly Dealer doesn't come on-line until level-2, right?
I'm not clear on what before that or even after, if you use the cards as a weapon like a dart. Unless I missed something, the card only returns when you use it to deliver a touch spell. Used purely as a weapon it seems to destroy the card, rendering your deck useless.
If I've missed something, please point me in the right direction, so I'll better understand the rules.
Thanks.

Sora Whitespire |

I've seen some GMs verify you actually have x rations on your PC when overland travel comes into play, and I've had others hand-wave it completely, so I just wanted to verify if it'll be micromanaged or not.
Because she's unable to Deliver Touch Spells until Level 3 with her spell deck, Sora will function like an ordinary witch until then, because as you say, throwing a card will destroy that card, and the deck becomes useless. She will just be hexing and using ordinary spells until she's able to use cards without it breaking her abilities.

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I wouldn't micromanage it, unless it had an impact on play in a given situation.
Did you look at the magus archetype, Card Caster?
It might be worth your while to consider taking a level or three in that class, maybe even to start as one.

Korinne Bryden |
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This is Ladile's final submission; I decided to go with my general paladin idea but I reworked a lot of things and fleshed some stuff out to make her a bit less 'generic'. So I have Korinne Bryden, a human paladin (Martyr/Oath of Charity) of Sarenrae who will offer some ranged damage and support abilities. While I realize I could do the ranged bit more effectively with the Divine Hunter archetype, I find the Martyr archetype much more compelling from an RP and personality standpoint.
Short version of her background (long version is in-progress and will be on her profile sheet) is that Gaedren Lamm took her in after her parents died of illness and her baby brother was taken away to an orphanage and she worked as one of 'Lamm's Lambs' out of a sense of thanks and a desire to be useful and not a burden. Then she had a chance encounter with a priestess of Sarenrae who lost her holy symbol; when Korinne went to return it she was so captivated by the services that she forgot all about the job she was supposed to be doing and was severely beaten for her trouble.
A near-death-turned-religious experience later, she felt called to a higher purpose and ran away to join the Sarenite temple and worked her way up from there. Her faith burns brightly, sometimes bright enough to burn as she bolsters her allies, but she's happy to shoulder the pain of it so that others don't have to.
I've got her mostly built in HeroLab too; just need to get her equipment sorted and her profile set up and then she'll be good to go!

Sora Whitespire |

Did you look at the magus archetype, Card Caster?
I did, and I like it, but maybe you can help me. I generally don't multi-class. Isn't the Magus a strength-dependent class, while my current build is generally dex/int? How could I make three levels of Magus work before going Witch?
As a trade-off, I would not be able to hex until Level 3 if I went this route.
Happy to hear your suggestions. Character mechanics really aren't my thing.

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Forger's Supplemental Guide to the Updated Magus has a bit to say about the magus class and some specific ideas about the Card Caster archetype.
Myrrh, Frankincense, and Steel: Kurald Galain's Guide to the Magus has some thoughts and also notes that Card Caster 'stacks' with the Hexcrafter magus archetype, which might intrigue you, given your interest in hexes.
Note that a Hexcrafter has access to brand, a 0-level curse spell that that actually does a little bit of damage as well. (My hexcrafter magus uses the cantrip to brand his name or rude, four-letter words on his target's foreheads. Slick combined the Hexcrafter and Bladebound magus archetypes, a very versatile combo, though more melee- than range-focused.)
There's at least one thread on the Paizo forums about combining Card Caster magus and Cartomancer witch.
Sticking with your original concept, have you looked at Iconic Design: Witchy Business written by Alex Augunas?

Sora Whitespire |

Yeah, I did see that last article but didn't want to handle the PBS/PS feat-tax at Level 1, also wasn't really sold on playing a halfling just to pick up a trait. I put together a test build for the Magus variant, and it would mean I lose the ability to limitlessly hex (since it now costs Arcana) with the tradeoff being I now get to deliver touch spells via cards at Level 2 instead of Level 3. It also looks like the hexcrafter can't hex until level 3?
To get around Deadly Dealer making my spell deck useless, she can just carry two decks once she can afford a second, or simply wait till Level 3 and not have that problem. Nothing stopping her from using spells at Level 1 instead of throwing cards.

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RowynStarr, have you settled on a PC concept yet? I think everyone else has done so.

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@Korinne- since we have some similar backstories would you like to collectively work a 'hook' in with them. Say something like we were in the same band of street urchins or something like that? Maybe we haven't seen each other for several years but have always wondered what happened to each other?

Korinne Bryden |
Sure; I have no problem starting out already knowing some of the others if it makes sense from our backgrounds.
Also, I believe Rowyn settled on Dragas per the very first post on this page. He usually doesn't do much/any posting on Sundays due to being busy with church and F2F games with our local lodge.

Korinne Bryden |
Okay, Korinne's profile is basically set up and ready to go; I'll probably add more stuff about her personality and appearance and such a bit later but otherwise I'm done.
By the way GM, I know you'd initially mentioned starting up once Gameday is finished (November 17th) but may I gently request/suggest waiting until after Thanksgiving? That way everyone should hopefully be done with family obligations for a few weeks until we get close to Christmas :)

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No problem, Korinne. We won't start the action till after Thanksgiving.
I might post some scene-setting stuff and put together tracking sheets and things like that.

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Waiting until after Thanksgiving to start? That would be great! I was going to have to bring my tablet and try and keep up with posts while I was in the U.K.- I will be back on December 1.

Dragas |

Here we go. I believe I have everything correct, but it never hurts to have a second pair of eyes to check my work. GM Lorenzo, if you'd like to look him over, I believe that Dragas is ready to go for CotCT.

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It appears that only three players have ninja-dotted into the Gameplay thread as their PCs: Korinne Bryden, Kradel Blastforge, and Viggo NMN.
Everyone else, please do so, and make sure you've put together a solid tagline for your PC and a complete Character sheet in your profile. I'll need to see them at the start of things, and frequently throughout the campaign.
If you've got some limited but important tracked resources, eg rounds of bardic performance or rage, spells per day, etc, it would be a big help if you include them in your tagline and adjust them as we adventure.

Dragas |

Dotted in on the Gameplay thread and added my rage ability to my tagline. Character profile looks good, but I'm always open for another pair of eyes to make sure everything's in order.

Kradel Blastforge |

Just on a quick look you seemed to have a pile of feats and some of your stats seemed high for attack bonuses, hp, and such in your spoiled stat block. Is this a recycled character and those are relics of the old one?
Also is this a regular barbarian or an unchained one? I wasn't sure.

Dragas |

It's a core class barbarian. I did have too many feats. Originally, I made him for a recruitment thread for Tyrant's Grasp. He didn't get selected, but I liked him and I kept him in reserve in case another AP game opened up.
I did have too many feats, but I think that was either a thing for Tyrant's Grasp that the GM allowed for, or I was putting in things I wanted to have later as he leveled up. Fixed that where I've just got two feats.
The stat blocks all look fine to me. I have two different ones for attacks, one at normal and the other for rage mode. +4 mod to STR + BaB = +5, up to +7 when in rage mode for attacks.

Kradel Blastforge |

It's a core class barbarian. I did have too many feats. Originally, I made him for a recruitment thread for Tyrant's Grasp. He didn't get selected, but I liked him and I kept him in reserve in case another AP game opened up.
I did have too many feats, but I think that was either a thing for Tyrant's Grasp that the GM allowed for, or I was putting in things I wanted to have later as he leveled up. Fixed that where I've just got two feats.
The stat blocks all look fine to me. I have two different ones for attacks, one at normal and the other for rage mode. +4 mod to STR + BaB = +5, up to +7 when in rage mode for attacks.
Ya those were probably rage modified stats I saw then. Kradel will be very greatful to have a strong ally nearby!

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I know everyone's ready to get started, but I've been a bit busy, and I'm a little low on creative enthusiasm right now.
We'll start soon.

Sora Whitespire |

I'm right there with you re: creativity and being busy as well. Happy to start whenever you feel you're ready.

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Folks, I ask you all for your patience. I'd like to finish GMing 'Gallows of Madness' before tackling this AP.
I'm trying to scale back some of my activities to free up time to devote to other pursuits.
Thanks for your understanding.

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We've slowed down a little since around Thanksgiving, but we should be able to pick up the pace now that the holidays are coming to an end.
Realistically, end of January seems likely.

Korinne Bryden |
As always, no worries on my end GM. Take all the time that you need.
I'm trying to scale back some of my activities to free up time to devote to other pursuits.
At the risk of being nosy, PbP/Pathfinder losing some of its luster or are you just finding that you need/want more time for other hobbies and/or life tasks? I'm sort of finding myself in a similar position of late; still enjoy PbP and GMing but I've found more and more that I've been missing doing some of the other things I used to do. The winter SADs don't really do me any favors either when it comes to PbP enthusiasm and creative energy in general. So I'm trying to be a lot more judicious about what games I take on, either as a player or as a GM. I've even asked my husband to give me a figurative Gibbs slap if I'm about to commit to more than I can reasonably handle at any given time since apparently I'm sometimes a poor judge of what I can and can't do. Being a neutral third party he won't be shy about being direct with me if I need it.

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I made the mistake of signing up for too many games during Gameday, a mistake compounded by playing with folks I didn't really know. I think I'm done with cons, in general. It's a personal choice for personal reasons, not at all intended to encourage anyone else to follow suit.
I still enjoy playing with you guys, and I think I'll stick to that for the foreseeable future. Ironic that this is one of the very first groups of folks I was introduced to by Hmm at the start of my PbP phase, and it's really the only group I enjoy being with, regardless of the platform.
To the extent that we are what do, I felt that gaming was consuming too much of my time, limiting time available for other people and passions more important to me.

Korinne Bryden |
Quality over quantity, for sure. I'm happy to have you and everyone else at the League table (or the TL;DR table in Dragas' case) for as long as you want to play. There's a lot to be said for having a solid, consistent group of people to play with and I'm happy to do some extra juggling and gymnastics to help keep it going. So if we ever reach a point where it becomes difficult to field scenarios everyone can play then I can start running more modules.

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Dragas would like to invite a seventh player to join the team.
I have no problem with that, and I'd like to make sure everyone else is okay with it, too, before we extend the invitation.
Please let me know what you think.