Opening the Discussion thread like I promised. First scenario will be The Wounded Wisp. I'll open the Gameplay thread as soon as we get a couple more players.
Aye, that's fine, I wanted to use the discussion thread for team building anyways. Couple of quick questions, how much experience with PFS and PbPs does everyone have in general?
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Dotted for interest. Concept is a classic sword-and-board fighter from Lastwall. Will expand background in next few days, and figure out stats and feats based on party needs. With Drill Sergeant will have Tactician at L2 and solo tactics at L5 (AWT), so if there are teamwork feats I really want to try out you won't all have to pick every one.
Have played PFS for 2.5 yrs, RPGs for 30+, this is my first PbP.
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@Anthys: Vindler also hails from Lastwall, so perhaps we could build along the same lines in terms of feats. I'll be shield and weapon as well, so something like Shield Wall would be great for us to start off with. I'm going Cavalier at L2 and mixing it up from there, so I'll be able to share teamwork feats starting at that point, plus I'll get the Inquisitor's Solo-Tactics a couple levels after that so I can also pick up feats I want to try out without requiring others to do the same.
@Fez: I've played RPGs for a few years, PFS for about 1 year, and I'm currently part of 3 other PbPs, each of which I started in the past few months, so I'm relatively new, but learning quickly.
@Qiote: I'm glad you're looking at Cavalier. We might have some fun with group charges later on.
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I was really torn between wayang hunter or inquisitor with animal, or the cavalier I went with. I just wanted to try a small, mounted, coordinated character.
I am thinking of focusing on trips - both the wolf and maybe using a flail. Also considered going whip with helpful halfling, but that gets a little too far from the small knight in shining armor feel. So I figure I will try for flanking and CMB teamwork feats primarily.
I have been playing PFS (online only) for not quite two years. Prior to that, I used to play in my younger days, but had gotten away from it for 10-15 years. The PbP format works great for my schedule (which varies day to day).
That's awesome guys. I'll give it another day or so to see if anyone responds to the PMs for the experiment or try and beg the "spare" person off Aeroden's table before I set up the initial scene. Real quick, are your characters going through Confirmation (we'll do that scenario soon after this) or are they coming in from a field commission?
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@Fez: Probably going through Confirmation. Vindler is an experienced warrior from Lastwall, but would want to enter the society by the books (being Lawful Good and all). He's joining up with the society because a vision from Alabar told him that the threats of Belkzen and Ustalav are only the tip of the iceberg in terms of threats to the civilized world.
Hmm... This'll be interesting.
Hokay, so here is the Earth and what our situation is, is this:
With people not responding and several others dropping from the first team we now have 2 GMs and 6 players. Looking at it Aeroden and I have some ideas. The first is that we each run a table of 3 with a pregen, the second is that I run a massive table of 7 (including him). Other ideas we haven't considered yet are welcome.
We want your opinions. What would you guys like to do with this situation? He is asking his table the same questions right now.
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Perhaps we should fire ze missiles?!
Or you know, something else.
I'm personally okay with either option, though I would prefer to keep the table PFS legal so I can get the credit. So...preference would be 3 players+pregen, but if it's a question of whether we'll all actually get to play, I'm definitely more in favor of getting to play.
My biggest worry about the second option presented is the table glut if there are 7 players and several have ACs. If we leave it as 3+ pregen then we can potentially pick more people up along the way.
We'll be using Qiote's idea. I'll be getting a character together for Aeroden's table and he'll be popping in here soon.
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I've statted up Anthys, and put a short background into the profile. Currently his 1st-level feats are Shield Wall, Divine Fighting Technique (Iomedae's Inspiring Sword), and Weapon Focus. I can swap out Weapon Focus for another teamwork feat if one is requested.
I like the fact that Vindler is also from Lastwall. Perhaps they fought in a shield wall together against the orcs.
Anthys has joined the Society in hopes of eventually gaining enough influence that they will use their resources to help him locate the Bloodstones of Arazni. He knows this is a long-term goal, and knows it will take running many errands on their behalf.
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@Fez: Sweet! I'm excited to get started!
@Anthys: I think it'll be okay to start out with just Shield Wall. Since you're going Fighter, you'll have plenty of feats to add to the group, and Qiote and I will be nearly as prolific with our options as well. What's best is we'll all be able to share through the Tactician ability by L2 (I'm gonna MC Cavalier at 2), and I'll be able to use feats you two don't have through the Solo Tactics ability at L4. All that to say: yeah, I like that we're both from Lastwall and I would definitely be down with our backstories tying in together.
I am going to have to officially start this thing Sunday or Monday, as I just learned I have to travel tomorrow. I'll do my best to get things up before then, but no promises.
Haven't heard anything, but I figure we'll get this adventure underway and he can jump into the Wisp with us.
Again, travelling tomorrow, lack of alacrity with responding during the day.
Sorry fellas, I've been slacking this weekend. My family just bought a house, and if you've ever done so, you'll know the amount of paperwork that requires.
Is there anything in particular you seem to be lacking, role-wise? I'll fill up whatever, I'm not too set on any one idea.
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We need pretty much anything except for front-liners. We've got an Inquisitor, Fighter, and Cavalier, so melee should be well covered unless you wanted to be more sneaky. I'll be able to do some divine casting so I can help with healing and buffing to an extent, but we could definitely use some arcane support.
Congrats on the new house! Take care of business as you need to. We'll be here! :D
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Skirnir Magus or Skald? Base Magus and Skald have the same number of spells/day, so I'd be losing out on one with the archetype, but have the benefit of being prepared; Skald gets one more 0 at 1st, too, whoo! xD. But Skald brings Raging Song.
I've never played either, though, and only been in two encounters on here with a Skald. IIRC, I've never seen a Skirnir played, so my personal experiences with both are minimal.
Or just base Bard, too.
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I've played a few scenarios as a vanilla skald in PFS IRL. Pretty fun. I definitely ended up doing more spell-casting than melee combat, but the option was really nice when it came up. Plus, the raging song bonuses are optional for party members at the beginning of each turn, so everyone can adjust strategy as needed. That also gives us another player with CLW on the spell list for wands and such.
In the end, it's your call, but those are some initial thoughts on the options we're discussing now.
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I don't think the character I sketched out could accept inspired rage, but I could make a new one if you want to go Skald. Any thoughts on Spell Warrior Skald? Or one of the many bard archetypes?
As it is, he's a LG Iomedae follower who has fought the orcs of Belkzen for years in shield walls, and believes that defense beats offense, that discipline and training beat berserk rage, and that patience is a virtue.
He could be replaced by a CG Gorumite with a more aggressive mindset.
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I hadn't looked at any archetypes yet; I'm just arriving home, and didn't want to get excited about something before I checked Additional Resources, in case I found it to be prohibited.
But, you're right; you definitely sketched out the one (well, probably not 'the' one, but ya know) melee that wouldn't want Raging Song! I've got a LN Warpriest of Irori on here, and he takes it, but he's not exactly a typical Irorian; he's Dwarven, to boot!
So, don't change on my behalf, unless RS is something that the other two would really like to have. I'll look at the archetypes and put something together in the next hour (assuming I don't get lost in reading, then it might be two).
IIRC, Songhealer Bard is legal, and then I could lose CLW at a later level when I get more musical healing.
EDIT even though I'm still typing: Huh; that's not the Songhealer I remember; I thought it had a channel feature, forget that nonsense.
Spell Warrior Skald looks pretty solid though. +1 weapons at first level, and Improved Counterspell, it seems pretty tight. I think I'll roll with that, and if I need to change, I still have two sessions to do it. "Savage Ray Cyrus" still gets to sing!
Edit again, this time after clicking submit: Oooh, it was "Arcane Healer," not Songhealer. Arcane Healer Bard, but it's only once/day. If we don't want me to benefit from the Teamwork feats (at least Shield Wall), and just want arcane, I could always go White Mage Arcanist; I get Cure, but it wouldn't be on my list.
Last edit to really confuse the issue: Arbiter Bard essentially gets Solo Tactics at 3rd, and if everyone's going to be sharing teamworks anyway, I could use that and take the caster ones.
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With the Skald, Bard, or Magus we could have a party with all-around solid AC with no obvious "soft target". Especially once I start sharing Lastwall Phalanx. That lack of easy targets removes a major drawback to defensive builds. You could do that with a white mage (or witch) build but it would be a bit harder. So I think the 6-level caster has an advantage. Hopefully we won't need tons of healing but I know I won't be a big help in the skills department.
I'll be travelling most of tomorrow, but I'll work on pushing the story forward. I've sent a PM to Aeroden, and hopefully they answer soon.
Quick vote, start today/tomorrow or start after the weekend? I'll be dropping in a pregen until Aeroden shows back up, any choices?
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I present Alan Wolfpack. He may just be a normal bloodrager right now but he'll be racking up the following teamwork feats by level. Let me know if you want me to adjust the build.
Lvl Feat
4 Outflank
5 Paired Opportunist
7 Pack Flanking
11 Coordinated Maneuvers
By level 3, he will get an AoO upon a trip. If anyone can grant paired opportunist before I can pick it up at level 5, that would be a great benefit. Also, with Outflank, any crit will trigger an AoO as well. I might be able to adjust some of these feats down lower or replace them with others.
GM, let me know how you want me to enter into the game.
You can jump in by heading down the stairs and saying that Dreng asked you to replace Kyra and that another team needs her. Bring her six pieces of candy to eat before she goes.
Travel today, don't expect quick posts.
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Hey there, folks. Just so you know, my in-laws are gonna be in town with us for the next week so I may not post as regularly. If it goes too long, feel free to bot me. I'll try to get in at least one post/weekday as usual if I can. If I'm not able to check in, hope any of you fellow Americans have a good 4th and that the rest of you enjoy your weekend!
Excuse my lack of posting the next few days, I'm in the middle of moving and will return as soon as I am able.
Coincidentally I will also be gone, overseas, but from Friday through August 18th or so. I am not sure if I'll have access to the internet during this time, which is why I'm trying to get the fight finished as quick as possible without hand-waving it. I will let you guys know when I am back.