Allsgard Saga

Game Master GM Woja

Setting: The world of Allsgard, a world steeped in Norse mythology, with some of the names (and genders) changed. It is also a land of emerging firearms, thanks to the innovative dwarves of Dunarhall. I want to avoid posting a wall of text in this recruitment thread, and so I am reserving the player’s guide for the applicants that I pick. It is still a work in progress anyways.

Epic 6: This campaign utilizes the optional Epic 6 rules variant of Pathfinder, with some adjustments to the xp. Characters earn 1-3 xp every time they advance the story, be it by defeating enemies, finding loot, solving puzzles, making allies, and more. Every 50 xp, a character will level up, up to the cap of 6th. Every 50 xp after that cap is reached, a character will earn a new feat. If your character dies, you will create a new one at the same level, but with minimum xp for that level. There will be no permanent character death during the initial adventure of this campaign; why that is will become clear once the adventure begins.

Timeline: I still have a player’s guide to finish, and I am confident I can get it done within a week, so I am giving applicants until the 22nd to apply. Once applicants have been chosen for one or two groups, depending on how many people apply, we will have a week to go over character backstory, and we will begin the campaign on March 1st. For now, post with a general character idea, and we will work on solidifying it to suit the campaign setting later.

Races and Classes: All core races, as well as aasimar (called Vanir), tieflings, tengu (called ravenfolk), and goliaths are allowed. A homebrew race called dragonkin will also be allowed, but you have to become one, and cannot start as one.

All core, base, and hybrid classes are allowed, including gunslinger.

Ability Scores: 20 point buy, maximum 16 in any score before racial bonuses.

Feats and Traits: Characters will begin with one bonus feat, in addition to any other feats they get at 1st level. Characters can have two traits.

Wealth and Health: Maximum starting gold and hp. We will roll for hp after 1st level; we’ll both roll and you can take whichever is better.

The Aesir: The prime deities of Allsgard, the following eight Aesir are the most popular among them, though there are many others. It should be noted that very few dwarves and Vanir worship the Aesir.

EDIT: VMC is allowed. This campaign will use background skills, and the Elephant in the Room feat alternate rules.

Dotting! Like I said on the interest check thread, considering building a shieldmaiden of sorts, maybe even with the brawler shield based archetype just to be different.

Are we using background skills? What about the Elephant in the Room feat taxes rules mentioned in the other thread?

Would VMC be okay?

Are we doing the whole “after level 6, you start getting only feats instead of levels”?

Yes to actually all of your questions. I will update the thread.

I've got a couple of ideas, but need to look at how they'll each work with E6 (never tried it before)
How do you feel about Feral Hunters?

I've got a couple of ideas, but need to look at how they'll each work with E6 (never tried it before)

How do you feel about Feral Hunters?

I am pro-feral hunters.

Can't edit the first post but here's the link to the elephant in the room.

Archlich here! This is tentatively the character I'm working in: Lahrehn Sceadufjord is a shieldmaiden, a shield champion brawler (VMC barbarian) with a more defensive combat style. Still working on lots of things on the background and waiting on the player's guide, so I don't expect her to be finished any soon :) But posting here with the profile mostly to show what I'm working in if more people are inspired and want to think on connections etc.

This looks interesting.

As you mentioned those are the main gods, how would you feel about another inspired by the Norse goddess Skadi?

So a god who actually comes from giant (or possibly Goliath) stock and whose portfolio cover hunting, mountains and things like surviving the cold. Thinking domains like Animal (the hunt), Earth (mountains), strength (weathering the harsh conditions), travel (nomadic life and skiing) and water(Ice subdomain only perhaps, winter).
Symbol would be something like two crossed skis, possibly accompanied by the head of a hunting dog.
Would obviously be mainly a god for Goliaths and hunters.

This looks interesting.

As you mentioned those are the main gods, how would you feel about another inspired by the Norse goddess Skadi?

So a god who actually comes from giant (or possibly Goliath) stock and whose portfolio cover hunting, mountains and things like surviving the cold. Thinking domains like Animal (the hunt), Earth (mountains), strength (weathering the harsh conditions), travel (nomadic life and skiing) and water(Ice subdomain only perhaps, winter).
Symbol would be something like two crossed skis, possibly accompanied by the head of a hunting dog.
Would obviously be mainly a god for Goliaths and hunters.

Such a goddess exists!

Slaki
Gender: F
Alignment: TN
Domains: Animal, Earth, Strength, Travel
Symbol: Mountain peak
Weapon: Handaxe

She doesn't come from giants, as that is not how the gods work in this setting (I will end up posting the player's guide, as I think it will be helpful, once I finish it soon), but she is certainly goddess of the hunt and mountains.

(Oof, just realized I have a Valda AND a Kalda. Might change one of their names Changed it to Slaki)

elephant in the room is new to me, I can see it might have an impact on the build I'm thinking of...

Nice.

So far I'm looking at creating a Goliath archer of as of yet undetermined class. Because who can resist the pull of a longbow taller than most humans?

The character would in part be inspired by Thorgal, the main character from a Belgian comic book (different from (most) US comics, yet also strangely similar) set in Viking era (though it expanded from there).

I thought the exact same thing about playing a ranged goliath character. Anyway I will go for something different.

I think a young shaman learning Seiðr would fit perfectly in this setting, and a ravenfolk too.

Goliath Gloomblade Fighter. Has Storm Giant blood in him, and can create weapons which begin as lightning forming in his hands. At lvl6 will take a 1 level dip into brawler for martial flexibility. With the advanced weapon training feat, this will give him a whole bunch of SLAs via Item Mastery, representing the power in his blood. So until then he is a front line fighter who can summon a weapon from lightning. From lvl6+ he's a front line fighter who can do things like heal, teleport, see invisible enemies, etc.

Skills are limited. Will be taking +1 perception every level, and alternating between Diplomacy and Intimidate.

Do the Vanir have their own society, or are they members of other races like most published campaigns?

Do the Vanir have their own society, or are they members of other races like most published campaigns?

Vanir have their own society, and a city called Vanaheim. They are not born to members of other races like in other settings.

When you get the "player's guide" together, Woja, please link it on the Campaign tab or something of the sorts so we can refer to it :)

Do you need help? Maybe suggesting traits, helping flesh out a certain race of place, etc.? I'd be happy to do so, just PM me. I really enjoy Norse mythology (had studied it in school!) and would be my pleasure to contribute.

Cheers

So, if you're proposing not sharing the setting information with players until after you've chosen characters, what setting details are we supposed to base our characters off of? I have some questions:

- Where are the PCs going to begin?
- How will they meet one another?
- Why are they adventuring together?
- What genre are you expecting this story to be?
- What sorts of enemies are you expecting us to face?
- What is the terrain like?
- How long are you planning to commit to this project?

I suppose in a more general sense: If I were to imagine a Norway, but with magic where the gods are real, what do I need to shift in my imagination to have an accurate image of the world that you're creating?

What year do you suppose it would be?

So, if you're proposing not sharing the setting information with players until after you've chosen characters, what setting details are we supposed to base our characters off of? I have some questions:

- Where are the PCs going to begin?
- How will they meet one another?
- Why are they adventuring together?
- What genre are you expecting this story to be?
- What sorts of enemies are you expecting us to face?
- What is the terrain like?
- How long are you planning to commit to this project?

I suppose in a more general sense: If I were to imagine a Norway, but with magic where the gods are real, what do I need to shift in my imagination to have an accurate image of the world that you're creating?

What year do you suppose it would be?

I realized I should have had the guide ready too late. All your questions and more will be answered in the guide which should be posted tonight or tomorrow!

Great! I'll check back in later, then. I'm a huge fan of Norse themes, I just find it tough to make a character without information to base off of.

I'm assuming that your answer will be to refer me to the forthcoming player's guide, but just in case, I'll ask: Can you talk a little about what gnomes and halflings are like in this Norse-inspired world?

Dotting in!

Build question for you, GM.

I wanted to stack the Feyspeaker and urban druid archetypes to make a shapeshifting trickster devoted to Lygi, but urban druid alters spontaneous casting while Feyspeaker removes them.

How would you feel about using both, but just losing out on spontaneous casting entirely like a feyspeaker would?

Looking to make my Goliath a Nature Fang Druid. He'd have the aforementioned focus on archery (making me very happy with the bonus feat you give at 1 so I can get Precise Shot in addition to bow proficiency).

Not sure yet whether I want to grab an animal companion or grab the Animal(Feather) domain for a delayed companion but, more importantly, a nice Perception bonus. Druidic Herbalism also is an option I'm looking into.

I'm assuming that your answer will be to refer me to the forthcoming player's guide, but just in case, I'll ask: Can you talk a little about what gnomes and halflings are like in this Norse-inspired world?

It will be covered in the player's guide, but for now:

Halflings were once slaves and even now that slavery has been outlawed they are still treated as second-class citizens, and are targeted by illegal slavers.

Gnomes are agents of chaos created by the trickster god Lygi who wanted to make the world just a bit more fun for themselves.

Build question for you, GM.

I wanted to stack the Feyspeaker and urban druid archetypes to make a shapeshifting trickster devoted to Lygi, but urban druid alters spontaneous casting while Feyspeaker removes them.

How would you feel about using both, but just losing out on spontaneous casting entirely like a feyspeaker would?

Sure, I would be fine with that!

Here is the player's guide. It is subject to change as the campaign draws near; players will have a complete copy once it is finished.

Read the players guide! Cool stuff. Keeping my build, still picking appropriate avatar. Will be playing the Gloomblade as a mercenary with sorcerer tattoos runes carved into him, thus explaining his weapon summoning ability. Will add to the background soon enough. But the short of it is that he is an escaped Goliath slave, working as a mercenary. Given his name, and runes, by a Dwarven Skald that he worked for as payment for his services. Has come to prove himself, thinking that it is the best way to attract the right employer.

Okay!

I'm imagining... a female sea raider. A fierce proponent of Woja, so much so that they extol themselves as a descendant of Woja. An oracle that becomes a barbarian. Perhaps a member of the jarl's guard? I'm envisioning someone who charges into battle alongside her fellow shield-maidens on the regular and who performs admirably but not eye-stoppingly. Her real strength would be in timely magic, inspiring words, and staunch allies.

I'm imagining a character strongly motivated by fantastic situations and glorious victory.

Players guide will be my lunchtime reading :)

I'm seeing a bit of overlap in character ideas between these and my main idea, although maybe not too much operational overlap.
Might try one of my other ideas, once I've had a chance to see the guide

Hmmm, I might change things up a bit.

Thinking of changing my character to instead see it as his mission to get Goliaths changed into a proper race. Think Pinocchio's drive to become a real boy but on a much grander scale.
Just figuring out how to go after this in ES6 (In regular game I would have gone Mystic Theurge for a character that simultaneously walks arcane and divine roads to that goal).

Also wondering what the lifespan of Goliaths would be, considering they are more or less glorified constructs (at least that's how I read it).

Also wondering what the lifespan of Goliaths would be, considering they are more or less glorified constructs (at least that's how I read it).

Excellent question! The goliaths of this setting live to be about 60. They don't "age," but they do have that built-in lifespan the giants gave them to prevent them from becoming too powerful.

Cuàn wrote:

Also wondering what the lifespan of Goliaths would be, considering they are more or less glorified constructs (at least that's how I read it).

Excellent question! The goliaths of this setting live to be about 60. They don't "age," but they do have that built-in lifespan the giants gave them to prevent them from becoming too powerful.

Hmm, that would also add "extending lifespan" to the character's to do list.

Since some other ingenious soul called the seiðr...

I'm imagining a monk, originally from Hedmark, who went up to the Boreal Monastery for dark, personal reasons I haven't come up with, yet. *smile*

He has a sister back down in Hedmark, which is why he finally decided to leave the monastery (after mastering more than one fighting style): she could be in danger from the Reapers.

I didn't note any details in the Player's Guide about elves, but I am thinking he is half-elf.

Also, I see him with a full head of hair and a beard. Going with the bald look in the North seems a bit impractical.

I'll have a full character sheet to submit by the 22nd.

Great setting!

So, original idea...
Gunnr Gudrunardóttir - female Human, Hunter (Feral Hunter), mechanically a switch-hitter with a bit of support magic and survival/hunting ability

Gunnr was born in a farm near Hedmark just after midnight on midsummer day, after a 24-hour labour which her mother spent loudly blaming her husband and all the Aesir for the amount of pain she was in. It's unlikely any of the gods took the random cursing personally, but it's possible that at least one of them heard, and if that's the case it was probably Lygi.
When she was a year old Gunnr began to show signs of a strange ability - very slight changes to the shape of her ears, changing eye colour, and fine fur that would appear briefly before vanishing. As she grew older she was able to control these changes and found they were the side effect of other changes, such as the ability to carry more, hear more or see further.
Gunnr is the middle of three children; her brothers would often tease her about the changes, but would also stand with her against anybody else who took exception to her strangeness, leading all three to get into a number of scuffles as Gunnr grew.

Now 19, Gunnr has decided that something must be done about the bandit attacks...

Question: It says that Goliaths count as both human and humanoid (giant) for any effect related to race. Can they take feats with Stone Giant as a prerequisite?

Background is done. Sven is a Goliath seeking to unlock the arcane power within himself, and to get paid in the process. For the build, it will go like this:

Lvls 1-5: Gloomblade Fighter
Lvl 6: Brawler
Lvls 7+ Gloomblade Fighter

It really hurts him as a fighter to dip out. But the reason for it is to get him martial flexibility. That allows him to get a combat feat that he doesn't have as a move action. Which at lvl6 will be advanced weapon training which lets him get item mastery feats without weapon prerequisites.

Therefore, at lvl6, he'll be able to cast things like see invisibility, lessor restoration, healing spells, dispel magic, fly, dimension door, etc. That represents the true awakening of his runic magic.

So a fighter, who eventually gets a splattering of very useful spells.

@Sven: Keep in mind there is no level 7+. This game is E6 so the level caps at 6 (after that, we only get feats but no more class levels, caster level, spells, BAB etc.).

Ah, right! Thanks for reminding me. Well, that's perfect. Because lvl6 getting his SLAs would be the perfect capstone. :D

Right. I like the idea of doing an iron caster (there are ways to do it even without cheesing with brawler, by the way!) and I think it's cool you're doing it around a gloomblade using a runic theme :)

Right. I like the idea of doing an iron caster (there are ways to do it even without cheesing with brawler, by the way!) and I think it's cool you're doing it around a gloomblade using a runic theme :)

Thanks. :)

Also, what ways are there besides brawler?

The Barroom Brawler feat, plus Abundant Tactics on Advanced Weapon Training, for example. Gloves of Dueling helps. It all depends on how often you want to be "casting" - Brawler will usually get more uses per day, but it's a dip against the full class progression so... You have to balance. The multiclass thing ends up being good to increase your Base Fortitude too, so especially in a level-capped game this might be a good idea. You will want your Base Fortitude high (target for a +6, I think the highest spells would be a +7).

The Cartmanbeck's Guide to the Iron Caster - it's not up-to-date with the last books so it's possible there are other fun builds going around.

Many thanks. Switched the dip to barroom brawler on the feat plan.

Also if Goliaths can take stone Giant feats, I’m taking stone soul. 1/day for 10 minutes can absorb 10 points of damage. This represents him summoning not only a shadow weapon, but a shield as well. :)

Definitively interested in a Norse fantasy campaign! I only have a rough idea for a character right now but I’m thinking of making a squishy arcane full caster for this if only to stand out against all the armored vikings. A Winter Witch or an Elemental Sorcerer are the likely contenders right now.

Regardless of which wins out I am curious about a few things before I fully start hammering out the character sheet:

- Can you get an extra trait if you take a drawback?
- Can we reflavor Golarion-based traits/feats and use them for our setting?
- Besides the languages of the core classes what are the other main languages in Allsgard?
- This might be something you'll explain in the Player's Guide but I'm wondering if we'll be using the deities shown in Book of the Damned for Allgard's Archfiends?

Definitively interested in a Norse fantasy campaign! I only have a rough idea for a character right now but I’m thinking of making a squishy arcane full caster for this if only to stand out against all the armored vikings. A Winter Witch or an Elemental Sorcerer are the likely contenders right now.

Regardless of which wins out I am curious about a few things before I fully start hammering out the character sheet:

- Can you get an extra trait if you take a drawback?
- Can we reflavor Golarion-based traits/feats and use them for our setting?
- Besides the languages of the core classes what are the other main languages in Allsgard?
- This might be something you'll explain in the Player's Guide but I'm wondering if we'll be using the deities shown in Book of the Damned for Allgard's Archfiends?

Yes to extra trait with drawback, yes to reflavoring Golarion traits. The people of the north speak Common and Northern. And I will have to look into that book!

Just some other things to note that I should have added to the player's guide: there will be long (years) periods of downtime, so think about what your character would do in their spare time! Also, the initial adventure of the campaign will be rail-roady, but after that it will be up to the players where the characters go and what they do. There will be plot hooks to follow, but you have agency over which ones you pursue.

Just some other things to note that I should have added to the player's guide: there will be long (years) periods of downtime, so think about what your character would do in their spare time! Also, the initial adventure of the campaign will be rail-roady, but after that it will be up to the players where the characters go and what they do. There will be plot hooks to follow, but you have agency over which ones you pursue.

Things to do in your spare time - that's what background skills are for :)

Talking of languages (and linguistics) would northerners be likely to learn Giant and other monstrous languages, or would Vanir gnome and halfling be more likely?

Talking of languages (and linguistics) would northerners be likely to learn Giant and other monstrous languages, or would Vanir gnome and halfling be more likely?

Dwarven, giant, halfling, draconic (the language of magic), celestial (language of the Vanir) are all languages that it would make sense to learn.

I have thought some more. I believe I will be using skald (dragon skald) with Variant Multiclassing in Paladin. This character will straddle the line between seeker of glory in battle while raiding and paragon of virtue. This character will be adept at inspiring words, sea travel, and battle.

Could I please get more information on elves, if it's not a problem?

Dotting in. I'll definitely give the player's guide a read over soon!

Hey everybody! Just stopping in to say my week has become a lot busier than anticipated, so I am pushing back the deadline. I will keep recruitment open until March 1, and I intend on getting a new player's guide, which touches on all the core races, up soon. Hopefully over this upcoming weekend, but I make no promises.