GMEuan's War for the Crown

Game Master Euan

Welcome All!

This is the War for the Crown Adventure Path by Paizo using the Pathfinder rule set (Pathfinder v1). Please download and read the War for the Crown Player’s Guide (link). We will be using Roll20 for mapping and the Paizo message boards for gameplay. There is also a tracking spreadsheet using Google Sheets for Treasure, critical NPCs, and more.

I feel the Game Master sets the pace, and I want a brisk game insomuch as we can with this role play heavy AP. I plan to post a couple times a day, and likely more often as needed. I hope you will all post regularly daily. If you haven’t posted for 24 hours, I will act for you, have you delay, or otherwise fall behind. When I ran Curse of the Crimson Throne on these boards, it took 745 days (two years, 15 days) and I had 2,706 posts (3.6 a day average). Later in Second Darkness it took 758 days (two years, 27 days) and I had 2,025 posts (2.6 a day average). I’ve lengthened the time of my games for more role play and eased up a bit on the time pressure so my Mummy's Mask campaign should run a little over three years (though I’m still around 2.1 posts a day). I expect this campaign to take at least three years, and possibly longer though I hope to increase my posts per day.

Do not worry about what the others are playing, most have not as yet decided, and it doesn’t matter. If we have six halfling bards, we’ll make it work, and will surely have a lot of fun along the way. (Funnily enough, I say this for every AP I run, but it might actually be true for this one!) Build what you want to play, and I’ll worry about game balance. That said this is a role play heavy AP, so plan accordingly so you can engage regularly. Hopefully someone brings a dagger as there will be combat as well of course.

You will start at first level and will gain levels at approximate intervals throughout the AP. Please create your character following the standard Pathfinder point buy system (link) using a 20 point buy. Hit Points shall be determined in Pathfinder Society style - maximum at first level, average +1 for all subsequent levels (so Fighters start with 10, and gain 6 at each level for example). We are using Background Skills (link). You’ll start with 200gp and three traits (link), one of which must be chosen from the campaign list (scroll down to War for the Crown after clicking). Remember, you may only have one trait per category. You may also have a drawback if you wish, but it does not give you an additional trait, so I don’t expect any but the most adventurous to choose one. Finally, we will also use Hero Points (link). You’ll start with one, plus one more if you complete the background outlined below.

We’re not using mythic, variant multi-classing rules, or any third party rules such as gestalt or spheres of power. I do not want to limit your alignment too much, especially as I view them as general guidelines, but no evil folks rattling around please. No gunslingers or other ‘tech’ themes. I like my fantasy fantastic and firearms throw me off a bit. Please no summoners or very unbalanced builds. You should build well, but someone who’s only good at one thing, will spend a lot of time waiting as the others play. Also, please limit your race to the core book.

Please write a description (what do newcomers see?) along with a public background (what would someone with a Knowledge Local DC 15 know about you?). Finally, please also write a detailed background that tells me something about yourself. Speak about your recent past, future goals you may have, one or two people you may know, and a memory of something in your past that is important to you. The detailed background need not be long. 4-5 short paragraphs are sufficient in most cases (1-2 history, goals, people, memory). This is important, please don’t skip it.

You are beginning in Oppara (link) the Gilded City and capital of Taldor (link). It’s a lovely place with a somewhat Mediterranean climate, though generally on the warmer side. You are assumed to be invested in Taldor’s future and so even if you’re not from here, you’d be familiar with Taldor and its history - at least as much as the Wiki articles cover. For even more, check out Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Taldor, the First Empire (link). There is plenty of information in the Players Guide about your possible motivation, and I’m delighted to talk to you further about it individually. It also mentions your benefactor, Marcela Lotheed though you have not yet met her.

For more information please see the Campaign tab. There is a lot of useful stuff in there on what I’m planning in terms of tone, some discussion of die rolling, etiquette, crafting, and more. It might help to answer some questions you may have and is an important read for the campaign.

Finally, out of respect for Paizo, and the mental age of players and possible readers, I keep my campaigns PG 13 for the most part. Please do the same.

Feel free to coordinate with the other players, but I prefer you do as much of that in character as you can. There will be opportunities in the Gameplay thread and I won’t expect your final characters until those are played through. I’ll let you know when that occurs so there’s no confusion. Naturally, if you want to have some sort of prior relationship with another character or some other complicated construct you’ll need to have those conversations out of character to save time, but most of you will start the campaign not knowing each other (probably).

Sub-systems
There are two major sub-systems in this AP. The first I have outlined in the tracking sheet (link) in the sixth tab marked ‘Social Rounds’. Please read it, and the ‘Social Combat’ section of the Players Guide, but relax, it’ll be clearer when you actually have some NPCs to try it on. The third tab of the sheet is there to help track it all and to keep the large number of NPCs from becoming overwhelming. This sub-system is in use at various points in the AP, so mastering it will help you but there’s room to fail in the very beginning as you learn.

In Book Two there begins a complex persona system called Agents of Change, which can provide some minor boons with a little luck. It seems to me to be a rather involved system that might really drag down the pace of the game with PbP. I’ve cropped the relevant bits out of the AP and posted it here (link). Please read at your leisure and let the group know what you think. This doesn’t begin for a while, so we have some time to talk about it.

Though it’s used again in Book Six, this sub-system is completely optional (unlike the Social Rounds). For my vote, I’m inclined to not use it as I think it’s a bit too much for PbP, and is also a bit muddled. It’ll also be yet another layer of things to track. Still, read it, comment here in the discussion thread, and we’ll decide as a group. No rush as I said, for it’s a while before we have to decide.

Role Play & Skills
As you should expect this is a very role play intensive campaign. That doesn’t mean everyone has to max out Diplomacy to function, though that skill is, admittedly, heavily used, as is Sense Motive. You should also try to make sure the party has a broad assortment of well-honed skills. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out, I’m happy to help.

Mostly I just want to make sure that no one is left sitting at the table with nothing to contribute. It’s fine if you have overlap (probably a good thing in fact), but I don’t want five players with maxed out Diplomacy & Perception and nothing else. Naturally, Diplomacy is going to be important, especially in this AP, but it shouldn’t be the only tool in the box.

Tracking Sheet
Finally, I need someone to assist me with the tracking sheet (link). I’m fine if one of you prefers to handle it, or if you rotate the requirement. I’ll teach the person(s) doing the sheet, but it’s really less complicated then it looks. My helper on this will enter most if not all the treasure, and may add some NPC data as well in time. Initially at least I’ll be doing all the NPCs and the Calendar (an extension of the summation I used to do each level). Discuss it among yourselves and let me know.

Dot!

I'm currently considering a bit of a Green Knight / Ambassador to Fairyland concept. Not least of all because Fairyland is so close to me.

Good morning all! So happy to be returning to PBP even though I probably did need some down time after the last long one.

A first draft of Kamari (a vigilante) is sitting in Euan's in-box. Things are rarely quiet around this Loyalist who believes Taldor should embrace its diversity and address the great poverty and gender inequalities that hold it back. She looks forward to meeting the lot of you.

Regarding Agents of Change, I could take it or leave it. I think our influence upon the world will be measurable without it, but sometimes some system is helpful. Ultimately, I trust Euan and the rest of us to tell a good story. I don't think any of us are trying to "win" this game.

Finally, I'm always happy to assist with the tracking sheet.

You are a scholar and a gentleperson, Kamari, for taking on the Tracking Sheet.

I will support those who are interested in Agents of Change, though I am quite content with the potential RP within this group to forego it.

Yes, thanks for taking on the tracking sheet!

I know the illustrious GM asked for rolls, but are Take 10s viable going forward?

You can take-10 all the usual times, even when I call for 'rolls', which means most of the time.

The only thing that you're unable to take-10 on is the social rounds. Those will be very clear when they're happening (and haven't happened yet).

If I recall correctly, we have each gotten 2 gifts of 100 gp and 80(?) gp from our benefactors, yes?

Could the Major use 150 gp of that to get his parade armor up to masterwork quality via the Masterwork Transformation spell?

And would people consider that to be formal enough (considering his station) for the events he will be attending?

Sorry, need a bit more time. Still figuring out what direction to take.

Lots going on for me right now.

No worries Elen, take your time.

Major, that's a good question. A fully prepared courtiers outfit includes 50gp in jewelry and 30gp in clothes. I'm certainly fine with you making your parade armor masterwork, but that's not the only thing you're wearing to the Gala. I think you'll still need other accoutrements to make it all work.

Given that you're going 'in military dress' as it were, I'm OK switching out the 50gp jewelry for a suit of masterwork parade armor, but you'll still need 30gp in a cloak, boots, and maybe even, dare I say it, a cravat.

So you'll need to spend 150gp on the Masterwork Transformation, plus 30gp in supportive clothing.

So you'll need to spend 150gp on the Masterwork Transformation, plus 30gp in supportive clothing.

Okay, yes, thank you. Will spend his monies on the suggested upgrades.

Sorry for the delay, folks. My Fitbit records my bedtime yesterday as '4:00pm' for some reason. That's what I get for kayaking 4 hours after waking up at 5:00am, then lavishing the family with Black Dog bbq under the noonday sun...

Level up!

I do believe you should now be level 2. 

Please note the things that have changed or been added, and put it all in a spoiler so those who don't want to know your build can remain in the dark. For those of you with character sheets off site, please send me your updated sheets for reference (though if it's the 'same' sheet, no need, just let me know when you're done so I can check it).

You gain all of your new abilities right away, including new spells and the like. However, you do not regain what you’ve already used/cast for today. It’s not a rest exactly, just a gain.

Background Skills for Anselm

1st Level
+1 Craft (Painting)
+1 Perform (Oratory)

2nd Level
+1 Perform (Oratory)
+1 Knowledge (Nature)

LOL!

...6.5 gp starting monies
+.180.0 gp first two rewards
-.180.0 gp mw parade armor/fancy flair for party
+.300.0 gp bonus
-..30.0 gp tithe
——————
.276.5 gp to spend

Level Up!

I do believe you should now be level 3.

Please note the things that have changed or been added, and put it all in a spoiler so those who don't want to know your build can remain in the dark. For those of you with character sheets off site, please send me your updated sheets for reference. If it's the 'same' sheet, no need, just let me know when you're done so I can check it.

You gain all of your new abilities right away, including new spells and the like. However, you do not regain what you’ve already used/cast for today. It’s not a rest exactly, just a gain.

Rereading to get myself reoriented and came across this which I missed, but I'm sure other's didn't.

Fake

- Perhaps because he’s a military man himself, while there another guest mentions that one of the display items, a crossbow marked Dignity’s Barb is a fake, ”Well, a reproduction anyway. The original, a famed weapon of the Seventh Army of Exploration, was displayed in the case centuries ago, but was lost and replaced with this. It’s not a bad copy really, don’t you think?”

Real

- One case holds a finely crafted darkwood light crossbow whose brass fittings still glint like new, unlike the rest of the displays. A simple brass plaque inside the case labels it “Dignity’s Barb”.

A+ Kamari! I totally forgot about that...and it was to my character.

Nice remembering. I just knew you were good for something. ;)

That ‘real’ post above is also where we met the simpering Imistos. He completely fooled Kort.

Group Purchases

• Wand cure light wounds (750gp ea, x2)
• Scroll of lesser restoration (150gp ea, x4)

+ Antitoxin (50gp ea, x 6)

Anselm Purchase
+ Mithral shirt (1100 gp)
+ Disguise kit (50 gp)
- Masterwork studded leather (sell for 85gp)

Claim
I think we could use the following items marked to sell if this next caper is difficult:

+ Scroll of invisibility
+ Scroll of summon monster ii
+ Potion of bull strength
+ Masterwork shortsword
+ Potions of delay poison

For the bookkeeping, Kamari holding onto:
- Ring of Protection +1
- MW rapier
- MW thieves tools

Muri claimed the holy symbol here. I had mistakenly believed that each halfling had one, but apparently only Imistos was coined enough for silver.

While purchasing the wands at the temple, Anselm also asks for an enchantment on the shortbow he found the previous night.

Erp. I meant making it masterwork.

.276.5 gp to spend

...276.5 gp to spend

..2441.5 gp to spend
-.2000.0 gp handy haversack
-....1.0 gp quarrel of bolts (20)
-...25.0 gp 2*scroll of oath of anonymity
—————
...415.5 gp to spend

EDIT: Oops, I’ll need to adjust for discounts when I get home tonight.

Sorry, I am exploring a new phase of my career. It's been quite taxing so far, and I may be slow to post of missing some entirely. I'll try to pay more attention.

Apologies in advance as I am bound to miss stuff again though I will try not to.

Catching up on Kamari's personal bookkeeping and purchases. In summary:

GP Gained = 2,777.5
GP Spent = 1,321.5
GP Remaining = 1,456

Updating for discount.

...276.5 gp to spend
+.2135.0 gp last disbursement
+....30..0 gp sell short bow and old thieves tools
—————
..2441.5 gp to spend

..2441.5 gp to spend
-.2000.0 gp handy haversack
-....1.0 gp quarrel of bolts (20)
-...25.0 gp 2*scroll of oath of anonymity
+..202.5 gp -magical discount
—————
...618.0 gp to spend

2497 gp
-50 GP – Lady Piblet for doodads and a dress.
-750 – 1 wand 50 charges
-75 – First level spells for book:
-180 - 2nd level spells for book
_________________________________

1442 gp

Income, Purchases, Found Treasure

+ 200 — Start
0 — Masterwork studded leather
[color=red]-35 — Light crossbow[/color]
[color=red]-2 — Bolts (20)[/color]
0 — Noble's outfit
[color=red]-100 — Signet ring + jewelry[/color]
[color=red]-1 — Dagger[/color]
[color=red]-55 — Masterwork artisan's tools[/color]
[color=red]-50 — Potion of mage armor[/color]
[color=red]-0.03 — Ear plugs[/color]
0 — Hat of disguise
+300 — Payment from Lotheed
0 — Scroll of invisibility
[color=red]-100 — Alchemist's fire (5)[/color]
0 — Scroll of summon monster
+2135 — Sept '20 disbursement
[color=red]-50 — Disguise kit[/color]
+85 — Sell masterwork studded leather
[color=red]-990 — Mithral shirt[/color]
[color=red]-337.5 — Masterwork longbow[/color]
[color=red]-1 — Arrows[/color]
[color=red]-2 — Blunt arrows[/color]
+17.5 — Sell crossbow
+1 — Sell bolts
_________________________________________________
814.97 gp Balance

Huh?

What'd I do?

Huh?

What'd I do?

Doy. I meant Kamari, who is clearly out of freakin' control. Apologies.

Kort waits and listens, trusting Anselm's tongue to open any door. His eyes widen slightly at Elen's Kamari's coin-counting actions, but he keeps a straight face, unseen.

She's putting out quality posts and you're dropping one-liners and offending innocent people. Sheesh!

Doy. I meant Kamari, who is clearly out of freakin' control. Apologies.

You are forgiven -- by me, anyway.

Painlord!?! Geez, what have you done now?!?!

Weird wedding weekend with Wisconsinites will begin shortly, weather permitting. Should be back to the boards by Sunday evening...

Have you heard? There's this pandemic thing going on...

It's going to be... interesting...

Level Up!

I do believe you should now be level 4.

Please note the things that have changed or been added, and put it all in a spoiler so those who don't want to know your build can remain in the dark. For those of you with character sheets off site, please send me your updated sheets for reference if applicable. If it's the 'same' sheet, no need, just let me know when you're done updating it so I can give a once over. Thanks.

You gain all of your new abilities right away, including new spells and the like. However, you do not regain what you’ve already used/cast for today. It’s not a rest exactly, just a gain.