Pad300 discussed it with me and decided that playing Birthright by himself is a bit of a problem for him. So I discussed it with him, and he wants to play in the kingdom of Coeranys.
What we want is to explore Birthright as a Roleplaying Game and not just a domain turn game. So, what we come up with is a mixture of Collective Rule and It's Lonely at the Top modes of play. We are looking for 5 different players to roleplay Birthright. So you are either a regent over a domain in Coeranys, or an advisor in the Court (one player will assume the throne of Coeranys, though).
What you need:
You can get a copy of Birthright for AD&D on DriveThru. Alternatively, you could also look into Birthright.net.
Races Allowed
Birthright assumes play with the following races: Human, Elf, Half Elf, Dwarf, and Halfling. Gnomes aren't around. Humans come in five flavors: Anuirean (Imperialist white human), Khinasi (Dark skinned human), Rjurik (Norwegian-Celtic White Human), Brecht (German white human), and Vos (Russian-Pict sallow colored human).
Elves are based on the Sidhe legends of Celtic Europe. Dwarves are based on Central European cultures. And Halflings come from the Shadow World. The advantage of playing in Coeranys is that you can decide to be a certain race, and you will fit right in. Despite racist attitudes.
Classes Allowed
The Core Classes are allowed, Gunslingers aren't allowed (The Birthright Campaign never created guns, but it's set between 1350 A.D. and 1450 A.D.). But certainly swashbucklers are allowed (in Brechtur, it's a national past time). In this Birthright campaign, it's certainly possible for a vigilante to be played. All of the classes from the APG are allowed.
Regents
You can play a Law Regent, a Source regent, a Temple regent, and a Guild regent. Or if you aren't ready to run as a regent, you can play a courtier or noble until you feel comfortable to assume a domain.
Where is Coeranys?
In the Eastern Marches, situated between Elinie, Osoerde, the Sielwode, Baruk-Azik, and the Chimaeron. It's on the map on Birthright.net. It's close by Brechtur and Khinasi in case you wanted to go exotic.
Blooded Characters
You can choose to be blooded or not. You will have to have the blood run in your veins to play a Regent, a simple Wizard, Sorcerer, Witch, Summoner, or Arcanist (or just play an unblooded Elf wizard, sorcerer, witch, summoner, or Arcanist). By blood means a piece of divine essence as part of your heritage.
Other Considerations
One of you have to be chosen to assume the throne of Coeranys. The rest of you don't have to have one of Coeranys' other domains.
Okay, I think that is it.
Nope, it's not it.
Birthright campaigns are more epic in scale -- so you get 25 ability points, 2 traits, full hit points start at level 1. But since you are playing nobles, you start with 5th level resources.
This is your chance to play a noble. ;)
I know basically nothing about Birthright... Would that be a problem?
I'll dot. I played Birthright for like two sessions when it first came out and haven't touched it since.
Okay, so looking at the book, it looks like there's a bloodline roll to determine strength, then which bloodline, and finally what ability you have.
Would we be using the charts in the 2nd ed. book for bloodlines then?
I know basically nothing about Birthright... Would that be a problem?
No, not really. You can perfectly play an unblooded character in this game to get up to speed.
I'll dot. I played Birthright for like two sessions when it first came out and haven't touched it since.
Okay, so looking at the book, it looks like there's a bloodline roll to determine strength, then which bloodline, and finally what ability you have.
Would we be using the charts in the 2nd ed. book for bloodlines then?
No. We won't be using the charts in the 2nd edition book. See this.
Ethnicity: Anuirean (Human)
Elton, I am assuming we are using the mechanism from your last BR campaign: Roll Bloodline score as 4d6+10
Yes, of course.
Ethnicity: Rjurik
Anduiras
Major
1 minor ability
Cure Light Wounds 1/day
I'm leaning towards a cavalier atm, with some sort of regency dedicated to the military.
A cavalier is definitely okay.
Just an update: Still working on my character. I am more up in the air now on class, but the short-form backstory is that he leads a company of irregular soldiers into battle and uses them to patrol his area (think something like a band of rangers or barbarian horde).
Sounds good to me. Although you will be apart of an adventuring company too.
A quick question: Considering Outsiders exist within Birthright, would it be possible for a Tiefling to exist as the bastard child of a Source Regent Conjurer? With all the prejudice that comes with it of course.
A quick question: Considering Outsiders exist within Birthright, would it be possible for a Tiefling to exist as the bastard child of a Source Regent Conjurer? With all the prejudice that comes with it of course.
Yes. Yes, of course. Although be prepared to be treated like an awnshegh.
I'm looking at a Tiefling born to Khinasi parents (based on their relationship with magic the most likely ones to bring forth a Tiefling I think) so I used the Khinasi for derivation.
Derivation: Brenna
Strength: Major
Score: 1 minor ability
Ability: 1/day Detect Lies
Alright, that would work. What kind of Tiefling? Or is that a secret?
I'm interested, but unfamiliar with Birthright. Let me read through the campaign setting book.
I'm super interested in the premise. I'll need a hand with some of the setting's details.
[dice=Bloodline Derivation]1d100
[dice=Bloodline Strength]1d100
[dice=Bloodline Score]4d6+10
[dice=Bloodline Ability]1d100I like the idea of a Vos mercenary captain that has fallen into favor (and service) of a powerful regent.
Alright. That sounds good. Ask any question you like and I'll give you an answer.
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Alright. That sounds good. Ask any question you like and I'll give you an answer.
Let's start with 'Where do I start?' =P
I'm working my way through the wiki but it's a little overwhelming. If understand the things I rolled correctly, the derivation determines which ancient dead deity is the source of my character's divine spark. In this case, as a Vos, it's Anduiras - the god of noble war.
Bloodline strength, score, and ability is where I'm a little lost. According to this table, a Bloodline score of 30 gives me +3 mod, 1 minor ability, 1 major ability, and 15 bonus hitpoints. Do I need to roll a second time for the major ability? Where does the bloodline strength roll come into play?
Edit: After reading some more I think I get it. I don't qualify for a major ability so I get as second minor one. That would be...
Bloodline strength defines your bloodline. You have a major Anduiras bloodline, that means you descend from one the heroes of Mount Diesmaar. You should have 1 minor ability and one major ability.
The roll for your score gives you a bloodline score of 30. The bloodline strength roll comes into play at the start. It also comes into play when you do bloodtheft. When you absorb the bloodline of another scion by piercing the heart of your foe.
The score is an abstraction measuring the strength of your bloodline. You can raise your score either by being a good administrator or by killing other scions by piercing them through the heart.
A blood ability is a power given you by your bloodline. It represents your connection to the old god from whence it's derived. Blood abilities are different by the old gods.
Having a bloodline could mean the difference in how strong your connection to the Arcane Arts is. Only a blooded human can play an arcane caster and have access to all the spells. Elves are different of course.
Alright, that would work. What kind of Tiefling? Or is that a secret?
It's not a secret. I'd be looking at a Rakshasa-Spawn, so a Beast brood.
I've decided to go for that one based on the Brenna bloodline of my character as Rakshasa to me feel like a perversion of Brenna's portfolio. SO the character ending up as a Beastbrood iscaused by interaction between the divine blood and the fiendish taint.
Maybe I missed something. Isn't a 51 minor bloodline score? Am I looking at the wrong table?
This is the table you are looking at right? If so, it's the right table. Though 51 isn't normally assigned a minor bloodline.
I was looking at this one.
Yeah, that's the right one.
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Feral,
"Bloodlines have three primary characteristics. A scion's bloodline derivation (Anduiras (And), Azrai (Az), Basaïa (Ba), Brenna (Bre), Masela (Ma), Reynir (Re), or Vorynn (Vor)) specifies the old god whose divine power flows in the veins of his family. A scion's bloodline strength (minor, major, great, or true) describes the purity of the scion's family's bloodline. A scion's bloodline score describes the power of a specific scion's divine essence. The manifestations of a bloodline are known as blood abilities."
Note that strength and bloodscore are separate attributes.
You chose your character's ethnicity to be Vos (human).
The 79 shows your bloodline derivation to be Anduiras.
The 51 indicates that it is of minor strength - either your ancestor didn't collect a lot of power at Deismar, or the bloodline has been weakened by events (generally breeding with the non-blooded or a weaker blooded scion) over the course of time.
Your personal bloodscore is 30. This would give you a minor power (roll was a 4 => Animal Affinity - Lions ). It would also give you a major power if your bloodline strength was strong enough to support a major power; it is not, so you get another minor (roll of 56 => Heightened Ability - Charisma ). If your character somehow manages to increase his bloodline strength (strength, not score) to major, one of your abilities would upgrade to a major (as Heightened Ability does not have a Major version, it would be animal affinity).
Thanks pad, that helps a lot. Looking at the tables I think I understand now.
What does the mod column and Max HP bonus column on the Blood Score table affect?
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Got it. Mechanics aside, now comes time to figure out a backstory.
Are any regents in the market for a talented mercenary with an eye toward personal power and wealth but little interest in the throne? I'm thinking of a figure like Bronn from Game of Thrones but with a better established code of honor.
The regent hasn't been chosen yet, and he'll (or she'll) be usually the one with the strongest blood.
..., and he'll (or she'll) be usually the one with the strongest blood.
So far I'd say that's me, with the roll of 95 on Bloodline Strength.
I'd personally find it an entertaining idea to have my character have the strongest bloodline yet being unable to be regent due to being a Tiefling and not being accepted as regent.
..., and he'll (or she'll) be usually the one with the strongest blood.So far I'd say that's me, with the roll of 95 on Bloodline Strength.
I'd personally find it an entertaining idea to have my character have the strongest bloodline yet being unable to be regent due to being a Tiefling and not being accepted as regent.
You almost have a great bloodline.
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Okay, here's my submission:
CG Human (Rjurik) Brawler 1
str 16
dex 16
con 16
int 10
wis 10
cha 10
HP 13
AC: 21; T: 13; FF: 18 (10 base +3 dex +5 armor +3 shield)
BAB 1
Init +3
Fort +5
Ref +5
Will +1
Speed 30'
Weapons:
1) Shield: +6 to hit; 1d8+5 damage; 20/x2 crit
2) Unarmed Strike: +4 to hit; 1d6+3 damage; 20/x2 crit
Skills:
Acrobatics r1 +7
Intimidate r1 +4
Lead r1 +4
Perception r1 +4
Sense Motive r1 +4
Warfare r1 +4
Languages: Rjuven
Class Features:
*Archetype (Shield Champion)
*Brawler's Cunning
*Martial Flexibility
*Martial Training
*Unarmed Strike
Traits:
*Shield Bearer (+1 damage on shield bash. 1/day as a free action, give an adj. ally a +2 trait bonus to AC for 1 round as long as they stay adj.; race)
*Indomitable Faith (+1 trait bonus to Will Saves; faith)
Feats:
*Improved Shield Bash
*Weapon Focus (Heavy Shield)
Equipment:
+1 chain shirt -1250 gp
+1, Bashing, Heavy Steel Shield -8170 gp
1080 gp
Morgan is a recent addition to the nobility of Coeranys.
He began his time as the captain of a small mercenary band. His company took a job working fighting in a small border skirmish for someone who turned out to eventually be the regent of Coeranys.
Morgan's company performed well and the two got along well with each other, so Morgan was asked to make it permanent. After talking to his people, he agreed.
Okay, here's my submission:
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
I like it.
It looks like Vrog and I were thinking of similar characters. =(
Since he got his in first I'll withdraw.
You still have time to think of a different class.
Or I could switch to a different character. First level characters don't take that long to make.
I'm making my Tiefling an Oracle but I do have a question in regards to the character building:
How do you see the balance between combat and more social/intrigue encounters? Asking because the setting lends itself quite well for the latter and I want to make sure I do not cripple myself, and by extent possibly the party, too much by building for something we won't be doing.
There would be some social/intrigue encounters yes. The balance should be about 1 to 2. 2 social encounters for every 1 combat encounter. Obviously, Ultimate Intrigue would be used a lot.
Okay, anyone else interested in a Game of Thrones?