Welcome!
Thanks for joining this campaign. The idea is that we will play through Extinction Curse’s first book and then, once we’re done or about done, decide whether to continue or to make it a single shot. The way the adventure is structured makes it fairly easy to wrap things up so the story feels reasonably whole, so either way I believe we can have a nice experience.
We are currently at four players, but a couple more people might join soon. Since some of us are rather new to PF2, I will add rules explanations when relevant.
Meanwhile, character creation guidelines.
The initial story beats are centred on Abberton, a small town in the Isle of Erran (Isle of Kortos’ smaller sibling.)
Your characters are all members of the Circus of Wayward Wonders. This circus is very new; less than a year ago, several performers in Mistress Dusklight’s Celestial Menagerie in Escadar — likely including the heroes — grew tired of their heartless ringmaster’s cruel ways and quit to form their own circus.
Not every character needs to be a full-time circus performer, but whether they are barkers, magicians, clowns or something else they do need to consider the Circus of Wayward Wonders to be home, and their fellow circus members to be friends or even family.
For a bit more info, you might want to take a look at the Player’s Guide and this document with some of the NPCs. It’s a lot (we’re talking about two circuses worth of NPCs!), so don’t feel like you need to read everything. Just pick and choose whatever, if anything, tickles your fancy.
Class: All Paizo classes allowed;
Ancestry: All ancestries and heritages allowed;
Background: Extinction Curse backgrounds strongly recommended but not mandatory. No rare backgrounds;
Alignment: Quoting the EC Player’s Guide: “The most important elements of the characters’ outlook are that they must be willing to work together and be invested in protecting the Circus of Wayward Wonders.” If your evil character can do that, go for it;
AP-specific: you have access to all circus weapons (Bladed Diabolo, Bladed Hoop, Fire Poi, Juggling Club, Poi, Scorpion Whip, Throwing Knives) and archetypes (juggler, animal trainer, staff acrobat);
Other: anything common is allowed as well as anything uncommon/rare that you get access to because of feats, class features, etc.
If your character is a performer, they need to have a signature trick. To keep things short: you need to design a trick based on either a skill or a saving throw.
This can be anything: making your pet ferret dance, throwing knives against a target, swallowing swords, etc. The trick becomes more effective and complex as you level, so it’s a good idea to start with something simple that can be built upon.
If your character is not a performer what is their role in the circus? Be aware that they can change roles between shows: perhaps your acrobat sometimes doesn't perform and instead helps selling tickets or fill-in for a sick clown, for instance.
Here’s another document with a bit more info on tricks and circus roles.
Some character options are tagged as uncommon or rare. Your character does not have access to them by default.
Generally speaking, these require you to either have something that gives you access to it (a class feature, for instance) or ask for GM permission.
Example #1: I explicitly stated that all ancestries and heritages, including rare, are allowed. Likewise, I wrote that rare backgrounds are off the table.
Example #2: a monk with the Monastic Weaponry feat can obtain Fighting Fans even if they’re tagged as uncommon; meanwhile, even though fighters are proficient with all weapons, they do not have access to Fighting Fans.
I believe that most of what happens in the story itself is fairly standard Paizo stuff: there’s some violence, one of the monsters is a bit gory, plus a bit of betrayal, intrigue and etc.
A fair bit of the background revolves around the Celestial Menagerie, which ticks off a lot of boxes on the “circus from hell“ list: animal abuse, mockery of bodies deemed exotic or flawed, worker exploitation, to name a few. I do not plan on emphasising any of that, but references to mistreatment do come up sometimes.
If there are any situations or themes you’d like me to be particularly careful, please, let me know either here or via PM.
Hi, I'm Crystal.
When possible, I like to create new characters in conjunction with the rest of the PCs. So I'm going to post a bit about my current thinking and wait until more people post their completed characters or characters-in-creation to make my final choices.
Right now:
I'm thinking about a Varisian entertainer, used to traveling from city to city with carnivals, circuses, and any other entertainment troupe that's headed in an interesting direction.
She was born just outside of Sandpoint (or Magnamar, or Kaer Maga, or Korvosa). These are all major Varisian cities, and I'm willing to select one that would be workable for another character as well, so that there is a bit of shared backstory. She might also be from Kintargo, in Ravounel.
Her grandmother was a Harrow reader, and she's grown up reading the Harrow, sometimes as a personal philosophical guide and sometimes just to make some money to move on to the next place. She wants to study at the Twilight Academy in the town of Galduria on Lake Ember. It's th home of the Harrowed Society, a group of researcher who study the uses and history of the Harrow.
I'm thinking of either a halfling or human ancestry. I'm also considering a Rogue or Bard class, but that's quite dependent on what other range of classes are in the party.
I've enjoyed playing with GM Omelas in the past, and I'm looking forward to whatever group of imaginative folks that he's put together this time.
Let me know if there's a way to work parts of my backstory into the one you're crafting, and let's see what kind of talents we can pull together as a group.
I was thinking about a Catfolk Animal Wrangler Witch. ?? Don't have much put together yet but I should be able to get a character sheet figured out fairly quick. I have Pathbuilder 2e on my tablet. It is great for putting things together once you have them figured out....
Hadn't gotten to back story yet. Kind of figured a local that grew up with the circus?
Hello! I'm excited to see what sorts of characters everyone comes up with. The set-up looks very interesting.
I haven't played 2E since the playtest, so I'm a bit lost as to the specifics, but I'd like to play a halfling clown. They'd probably be a bard or a rogue (eldritch scoundrel?), but they could be sorcerer as well—whatever best complements the rest of the party. Obviously, there's some overlap with what Crystal is planning.
Thanks for the invite. My concept: Leshy Monk. May take Bard Dedication. Not sure yet.
Daughter of a nymph-turned human-returned nymph, this Leshy began to travel around the world and get acquainted with the humans her mother lived with before returning to the First World.
People like her when she's stretching her viney limbs or she's twisting to and fro, so she joined a circus to continue getting praise and attention. The Celestial Menagerie seemed great at first, but its many problems reared its ugly head and she was delighted to join the Circus of Wayward Wonders.
The background is either Aerialist or Acrobat. Both give Acrobatics as skills. Acrobat has Circus Lore (seems appropriate) but Aerialist gives the Cat Fall feat. Her signature skill will involve some kind of acrobatic flip.
I'll try to whip up a character over the weekend.
Great, you’re all here. Really looking forward =)
So, to summarise it, we currently have:
- crystal: varisian harrow reader (halfling/human rogue/bard)
- rissi: catfolk animal wrangler (catfolk witch)
- neirikr: halfling clown (halfling rogue (eldritch trickster)/bard)
- chadius: leshy acrobat (leshy monk)
I have no problem in adapting encounters so they fit the group’s skillset, so overlap shouldn’t be a terrible problem (though you would probably want to avoid taking the exact same class/subclass).
@Neirikr: feel free to ask any questions — I’m happy to help. I never took part in the playtest, but my understanding is that a lot has changed in the final version of the rules. It might be helpful to use something like pathbuilder (android only), Charon's PF2 character sheet or wanderer's guide.
neirikr and I have been chatting, and I've settled on a human bard for my ancestry and class.
Yes, and I've decided on being a rogue! I'll try to figure out character creation during the weekend.
Tried the Wanderers Guide, but I can't get the background from the game added to the list to select. Are there instructions anywhere on how to do that?
Otherwise I like the app and it looks like it is easy to share the character so others can see it.
Alright, I think I got most of this character worked out. She's a tricky deceiver and acrobat.
@Rissi: I haven't used it for some time, but if you go to the first page (the "Basics" tab, under ability scores there's a section where you can choose books; if you scroll down on that column, there's an on/off switch for Extinction Curse).
@Pandir: thanks, I'll take a look at it soon!
@neirikr/crystal: brilliant, nice that you worked it out.
@GM, Thanks. Didn't see the slider on my tablet. On the computer it works great.
Question about an uncommon Heritage. Will you allow Duskwalker? It would give me darkvision. Then I'm choosing the Night Patron.
See if it is viewable....
https://wanderersguide.app/profile/characters/11570
Let me know. Thanks.
@Rissi: yeah, the interface could make it more obvious that you can scroll down. on macs and phones there’s almost no indication.
Regarding versatile heritages, all are allowed. Duskwalker is completely fine.
A few comments about the two PCs so far:
Looks good, just remember to mark trained class proficiency. Not sure the witch ever uses it, but, eh, doesn't hurt having the correct value.
I might make your hex cantrip work on creatures with darkvision, because otherwise half the world is immune to one of your class’s staples. Will get back to you on this.
Finally, one thing to think about: CrystalSeas is making a bard, which is also an occult caster. If you want to add a bit more diversity to the group’s toolset, there are other patrons that can grant you access to the other spell lists. Absolutely not saying you should do it, just something to consider.
Looks good to me, just one question: aren’t you worried she might have her ability scores stretched a bit too thin?
Ok, I this will be my bard. I may fiddle around with the list of cantrips. I think I want a couple offensive spells in that mix.
Missing her backstory, but the basic structure is there. Also need to create a trick/performance for her.
Neirikr here. I decided to do things manually, since that's a good way to learn the system. Let me know if there's anything that looks awry.
I already included a hook for Crystal's character, with Finch having travelled alongside Varisians in the past. She and Ceija might have come to join the circus at the same time, or seen each other on the road previously.
My intention is to play Finch as being sort of nasty, but ultimately loyal to her troupe. If she seems like too much, I can tone her down to CN or maybe NE.
If we get through the first chapter and still want to go on, I'd suggest we get, if not a complete rebuild, a pause while people tweak their characters to better work with the rest of the party.
This is Rissi/Katala
If the bard is an occult caster I can change to Rune. That would be the Arcana Skill and Arcane list. The hex cantrip isn't useful in combat but it looks useful out.
And I can learn Shroud of Night later. But I wouldn't change it to blind creatures with Darkvision. It's just a cantrip....
I'll get the CS updated and linked to this alias today unless I get swamped with work/home stuff.
# 5th player
FYI, we should be getting our 5th and last player checking in here soon. No idea what sort of character they have in mind.
# Progression
Minor thing, but just in case any of you like to plan your builds ahead of time: EC’s first book has 4 chapters. You go up a level at the end of each one of those, so when you finish chapter 4 you’ll be level 5.
In addition to the regular 4 chapters, I have added a minor prologue/chapter 0 with some roleplay and two (possibly) hostile encounters. This way we hopefully 1) give you a chance to see how your current choices feel and 2) make the beginning of chapter 1 go down a bit smoother, since it leans heavily on the PCs’ connection to certain NPCs.
# Retraining/rebuild
You can retrain whenever we have downtime. At the end of each chapter you’ll have at least a few days of downtime and more can be arranged if you want it.
For the first level or two, you can ignore the time restrictions. In addition to the usual retrain rules, I am also fine with minor tweaking of ability scores (swapping a couple bonuses around = fine; bringing your 8 INT to a solid 18 = probably not fine).
No problem — I actually assume you’re more familiar with the system than myself and trust your decisions. It was more of a “as the GM I should probably mention this” kind of thing.
One thing I missed on a first look: what’s your alignment? In case you meet creatures with aligned damage or spells.
All looks fine to me. Congratulations on remembering the 4 free ability bonuses after ancestry, class and background. #1 thing I kept forgetting when first building PF2 PCs.
Also, going down the deep end of the alignment pool, eh? ;) More seriously, with the way you built her personality it should be fine. Some conflict with good-aligned PCs is probably unavoidable, but she seems smart enough to pick her battles.
Which name does she/you prefer? Finch or Sherry?
Looks good. A couple of suggestions regarding spells/cantrips:
- In case you missed it, Varisian ethnicity gives you access to the arcane tattoos feat, which is an extra arcane cantrip (useful for a buff like shield);
- Agitate and phantom pain are cool 1st level damage spells. Agitate is a particularly good combo if you ever have a fighter nearby because of AoO;
As you prefer, it was really just so you were aware of where the rest of the groups is right now.
Regarding the shroud of night hex cantrip: no problem, but be aware that technically shroud of night only makes the target’s foes Concealed. Meaning, whenever they roll an attack, I roll an 1d20; on a 1, 2, 3 or 4 the attack misses automatically. Blinded is a different (and much more serious) condition.
More on hex cantrips: currently, there is no way for a witch to get a second hex cantrip. It’s a bit silly, in my opinion. If you want another hex cantrip, I can create a 2nd level feat that allows you to do that.
Final bit on hexes: keep in mind you can only cast one hex each turn.
As such, you can cast only one hex each turn; attempts to cast a second hex spell on that turn fail and the spellcasting actions are lost.
I think I'll just create a regular CS on this profile. I'm having too many issues with the Wanderer's Guide thing. It keeps dropping things and it shows me untrained as a Witch. That makes my spell attack and DC 14 rather than 17. Still should have it done tonight.
Ah, damn. Thanks for letting me know — will stop recommending it to people.
If the bard is an occult caster I can change to Rune. That would be the Arcana Skill and Arcane list. The hex cantrip isn't useful in combat but it looks useful out.
Be sure you take a look at my Spell Repertoire and my Build sections on this profile.
We may not have very much overlap, if any.
A couple of suggestions regarding spells/cantrips:
Thanks, I'd missed that because I wasn't looking at Archetypes.
@CrystalSeas: I was refererring to this 1st-level human ancestry feat, actually, not the archetype. Although if you like the archetype it's definitely a possibility.
@CrystalSeas: I was refererring to this 1st-level human ancestry feat, actually, not the archetype. Although if you like the archetype it's definitely a possibility.
Missed that, too!
Tattoos would be pretty in-character for her. Hmmm.Edit:
Ok, swapping out Human Ancestry Feat: Cooperative Nature.
Swapping in Human Ancestry Feat: Arcane Tattoos (Electric Arc).
Just to confirm my reading of this
a) I have a spell attack roll bonus for Occult spells from my CH bonus (+3)
b) This is an arcane spell. Normally would use IN bonus (+0).
But
c) This is an innate spell.
You're always trained in spell attack rolls and spell DCs for your innate spells, even if you aren't otherwise trained in spell attack rolls or spell DCs. If your proficiency in spell attack rolls or spell DCs is expert or better, apply that proficiency to your innate spells, too. You use your Charisma modifier as your spellcasting ability modifier for innate spells unless otherwise specified.
So, my two innate spells use +3 for their attack roll bonus. If my occult proficiency goes to expert, my innate spell attack roll bonus also increases.
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@GM: Sherry usually goes by Finch, which is also her stage-name. That's what I'll be calling her, primarily. She does tolerate people calling her by her first name, as long as they are reasonably familiar with one another (including most members of the troupe). Just don't call her "Miss Rosefinch"!
@GM: About the Hex cantrip... True, I was remembering incorrectly. Basic Lesson gives another Hex, increases Focus pool by 1 and gives my familiar the associated spell.... NOT a Hex cantrip.
Actually, as powerful as cantrips are in this game I can see why they limit them.
@CrystalSeas: huh, I think you’re right. The rule doesn’t specify that the proficiency in spell attacks/DCs needs to be tied to the tradition, so, yeah, electric arc’s DC should be 10+proficiency+level+ability mod. Same as the cantrips you get via your class.
@DM Shade: welcome! I can see the enforcer being a good match for Neirikr’s Finch, but that’s of course for him to decide. Mechanically, I think your assessment is good and all three options seem solid for the group. But, in the end, what's most important is that you play the character you feel is the most interesting =)
@Katala: let’s do it like this. Whatever patron you take, if you feel your hex cantrip is frustrating, let me know and we can work something out. I would hate it if you never get to use one of your class’s main features.
Welcome DM Shade.
I'm playing the happy-go-lucky acrobat of the group. Play whomever you want. I can see Pandir always trying to impress the orc bodyguard, or playing fireworks with the goblin. She will be jealous of the Oracle, especially if he's the social type.
Play whomever you want, Pandir will help!
Out of the three, I'm most partial to the orc tank, but I'm also keeping my eyes open for the other characters' choices.
Welcome!
Notice that Ceija is trained in Medicine; has the Battle Medicine feat; and has the Bard composition spell (focus spell) Soothe, which heals.
I'm not sure if anyone else is trained in Medicine, but we've got some basic healing available.
Nitpick: Ceija has the occult spell Soothe on her repertoire thanks to her muse, but it’s not a composition spell. It’s still a healing spell, but uses spell slots instead of focus points.
Nitpick: Ceija has the occult spell Soothe on her repertoire thanks to her muse, but it’s not a composition spell. It’s still a healing spell, but uses spell slots instead of focus points.
So it is. Character sheet is correct, but I misremembered. So it's, at best, a once per day spell, not repeatable after focusing.
Have added the CS to this alias.
Let me know if you see any issues. Thanks!
Yes. I mean, you can burn all your slots on soothe, but let’s hope that’s never needed ;)
Can’t spot anything wrong on a first look. What is her alignment? And I know nothing about Flicker, but already love him/her/them.
So, I think mechanics are more or less solid at this point (with the exception of our possible orc enforcer). Feel free to tweak things until we start with gameplay, but please let me know of any major changes.
Which leads to/is intertwined with background and such. Most of you have already alluded to your character’s backstories, but could you consolidate it in your profile like Finch did? Just so I can have a “single source of truth,” so to speak, instead of hunting around for posts in this thread.
For anyone wondering, these are the next few steps:
• backgrounds;
• signature tricks (when applicable);
• confirmation we’re all ready;
• begin gameplay.
I’m not attaching dates at the moment, but I’m guessing we might be able to get started sometime next week.
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'Ello. I am Grog.
I work hard.
'Ello Grog.
I have a backstory. Check out my character profile.
The Signature Trick is the Triple Flip Leaf Glide, a stunt on tight ropes where she triple flips and seems to float towards the next platform. It is keyed to her Acrobatics check. She has the Cat Fall feat so even when she screws up she won't take damage from falling. Some call this cheating, she calls this exciting!
@GM Omelas
Temporary link until I can finish writing backstory.
References
This is a list of references to Lost Omens setting material that is relevant to Ceija's backstory, including NPCs, places, organizations,etc. Includes esoteric Harrow information, clerics of Milani, and bits and pieces of old Varisian lore from early PF1 days.
CS updated. Neutral tending toward good.
And I added a couple of links to details about Flicker. She does know that I won't eat her....
Are we starting in Abberton with the Circus of Wayward Wanderers? Or Celestial Menagerie with the Celestial Menagerie, escaping to Abberton with the Circus of Wayward Wanderers?
Brilliant, thanks for all the material, everyone. And 'ello Grog =)
@Katala: you start in Abberton, the day before your first official performance to an audience bigger than a handful of people. About a year has passed since you left Escadar and the Celestial Menagerie.
I'm not sure I understand what the tricks are for. When do we use them and what do they do?
Ceija Anjeza backstory is now up. It's also linked on this profile page for future easy access.
I'm not sure I understand what the tricks are for. When do we use them and what do they do?
There's a spoiler in the heading of this thread, plus a link to more information about them.
I'm going to need help figuring out what kind of performance singing/dancing/playing an instrument might be. Not the checks so much as how to describe what they're doing in the circus ring. Opera isn't usually a circus act.
But I'm seeing a 'mind-reading' act with a partner using the cantrip 'message'.
@Ceija: great, thanks!
@Finch: in answer to your question.
Signature Tricks and Circus Shows — Part 1
Extinction Curse comes with a whole Circus Show subsystem, which I have avoided going into detail so far to avoid overwhelming people with extra rules right off the bat. Apologies if this created more confusion.
In short: at least once during the module you must put on a circus show. This show requires 7 tricks to be performed to an audience. These tricks are either performed by NPCs or the PCs. You only have 6 NPCs and some of them might be unavailable for the mandatory performance, which means one or two characters have to step in.
PC tricks are called Signature Tricks and are essentially one skill check or one saving throw. Example tricks: swallowing swords (fortitude save), a comedy show (Society check) or having an animal jumping through hoops (Nature check).
It’s a bit more complex than that, actually, but the signature trick is the only thing that needs to be decided in advance and felt like a relatively organic part of character creation anyway.
My idea was to play through the mandatory show and see whether it was something you’d be interested in doing more of or not.
If you want to have the full rules before we begin, let me know and I'm happy to give more details.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with your idea, but feel free to take poetic liberties with the trick.
You could, for instance, also use your Scam Lore or Deception as a way of "reading the mind" of someone in the audience.
An opera-like performance could also be acceptable (one of the performers you can hire for the circus in book #5, I think, seems to be a singing banshee).
A few ideas: dancing lights and electric arc for pyrotechnics, illusory disguise for impromptu costume changes, ghost sound for amplification.
Calling some 'lucky' person down to the ring, bedazzling them with nonsense, and then putting my hand on their forehead to "read their mind". Probably hangs about at the entrance to the tent chatting up customers lined up before the show starts as a way to pick up overheard conversations.
Or card tricks where I "guess" the card that the mark chose from the deck
I'll mull that over for a day or two and see how I can refine it. Thanks!
Special request to each of my circus partners.
One of the things I do to get to know new people is do a free Harrow reading for them.
Could each of you send me a message with a question you want to ask the cards? Or just post it in a spoiler.