**Important Announcement**
After getting feedback from most of the folks with unfinished submissions, it sounds like tomorrow night should be adequate time to get those ready for consideration, so I'm giving 36 hour notice now. I'll close recruitment 36 hours from when this posts, talk with the current players, and hopefully have a decision posted by about 48 hours from now. If for some reason you don't think you'll be done by then (like if you're just finding the thread now) shoot me a PM and we can talk about what exactly I'd need to consider you and whether you have time to do it.
Here is the list as I currently have it:
Ready for Consideration
Javell DeLeon: Maximus Benedictus- CG human (Vitolian), fighter 9; complete
dwilhelmi: Zeru Oroitz- CN halfling, telekineticist 8/uRogue 1; complete
CucumberTree: Sue- N half-orc, slayer [stygian slayer] 9; complete
Jereru: Bron Frostbreath- CG half-orc, bloodrager [primalist/spell eater] (arcane) 9; complete
SmooshieBanana: Pelipe Lightdriver- LG human (mutt?), brawler 9; complete
Llaelian: Imara of the Druma- LG human (Mbala), sorcerer [eldritch scrapper] (empyreal) 1/uMonk 8; complete
GermanyDM: Deguís (personality)- NG human (Tengwar), inquisitor (Torag) 9; complete
Zorblag: Pestrina- CG human (Vitolian), brawler [steel-breaker] 6/fighter [weapon master] 3; complete
Nikolaus de’Shade: Snow- N human (Svenik?), shifter 9; complete
Grumbaki: Brunhild Blackarrow- LN human (Svenik), slayer 7/sanguine angel 2; complete
Trawets71: Warren Connery- NG human (Tengwar), fighter [two-weapon fighter] 9; complete
adsapiens: Arthorius Ravenholdt- LG dwarf, uMonk 1/sorcerer [crossblooded] 4/dragon disciple 1/evangelist 3; complete
BelacRLJ: Eneko Stavine- N human (Atlaean), bloodrager [primalist] (vestige) 9; complete
Ironperenti: Garen Williamson- LG human (Tengwar?), paladin [oath of vengeance] 9; complete
Works in Progress
Baron Robber: Jonathan Artis- LN human (???), hunter [primal companion] 3/beast rider 6; missing personality/outlook, background
Ideas in Development
polyfrequencies: interest
Storm Dragon: occultist?
Hayato Ken: barbarian/rogue?
Cuàn: human (Kono’ana), melee?
As always, if I missed anything please let me know!
@Arbiter, Thanks for the recruitment, it's been fun building a level 9 character for this!
@Everyone, Best of luck to all the submissions! There are some fun builds in the mix!
@Arbiter: Snow would count as a Svenik, but if you asked her she'd absolutely deny it. Svenik are the people who live at the bottom of the mountains and hunt her kind! (At least in her head!)
@Jonathan- I'll allow the trait but please add something to your background explaining where/why/how you were trained by druids in that way (there is no Pathfinder society in Cardriss, but you can invent some other group to explain it). Also, just to be clear from the start, your wild shape ability specifies "small or medium" without making any allowance for that changing with level, so while your level will effect duration and even what benefits you get, it won't let you gain new size options. Other than that, I've noted the changes and moved you to 'ready'.
@Snow- noted, thanks.
I have my sheet almost done (just need to pick a fighting style and thus Feats). My character is likewise nearing completion story-wise, but I'm waffling on the ethnicity, which will also largely depend on main fighting style.
Looking for a way to bash with a Tower Shield if anyone knows it. If not, I'll go simpler.
Improved shield bash + using it as an improvised weapon? Plenty of feats that would technically allow that.
Using it as an improvised weapon would make it not a shield, sadly; no bonus to AC, etc. Improved Shield Bash would do nothing in that case because it only functions if you're performing a shield bash, which Tower Shields explicitly cannot do.
Yeah I'm a huge fan of tower shields and I REALLY don't believe there's any way to use them to bash. I think you said it best: "...which Tower Shields explicitly cannot do." I believe that pretty much sums it up right there.
My guess would be that if there is, it's probably 3PP because I know of no Paizo rule that lets you.
Yeah I'm a huge fan of tower shields and I REALLY don't believe there's any way to use them to bash. I think you said it best: "...which Tower Shields explicitly cannot do." I believe that pretty much sums it up right there.
My guess would be that if there is, it's probably 3PP because I know of no Paizo rule that lets you.
I know of the 3pp route; Tower Shield Mastery from the Equipment Sphere in Spheres of Might. The 1st party option is real well hidden if it exists though.
@Storm Dragon- I think your original back up plan (going simpler) is probably the way to go here.
Actually, I think I'm gonna drop out since I can't find that. I'm pretty enamored with this character concept and he may just be the perfect backup for when my War for the Crown character dies; in that case I can just use Spheres to do what I want.
@Storm Dragon- I understand, good luck finding your idea a home.
Just because it got me thinking about it...I would argue by RAW that you can fight with a tower shield, but you can't defend with it at the same time, as it can't be used to Shield Bash (so improved shield bash doesn't work). So the only way that I can see a tower shield build working where the shield is the weapon, is to use 2 Tower Shields.
Now, because this is insane, here is what I would do if I had to make a tower shield user:
Race: Kasatha
Multi-Armed: A kasatha has four arms. One hand is considered its primary hand; all others are considered off hands. It can use any of its hands for other purposes that require free hands. (4 arms; 8 RP)
2 hands hold 1 Tower Shield. Use this as an improvised weapon for hitting people with.
1 hand holds a 2nd Tower Shield. Use this for defense.
1 hand is free for doing whatever else needs to be done. In combat this would probably be holding the second tower shield for extra support, meaning 2 hands on each shield given how heavy they are)
For the attacking tower shield, I point to this rule: "Improvised Weapons: Sometimes objects not crafted to be weapons nonetheless see use in Combat." And for this it is a Tower Shield. :)
Traits:
* Surprise Weapon (+2 hit with improvised weapons)
Class: Hinyasi Brawler
* Feats to get: Proficiency Tower Shield, Weapon Focus (Improvised Weapons), Weapon Specialization (Improvised Weapons), Catch Off Guard (free with archetype), Improvised Weapon Mastery (damage dice +1 step)
At level 9, what this means is that you have a Tower Shield as a weapon, which is 2d8 damage 19-20 critx2. You get +2 to hit with it due to surprise weapon, but -2 hit because you have a Tower Shield. So that just evens out. But the Hinsayi gets +2 hit and damage with the improvised weapon, so that is a thing. I'm not sure if you could get impact for this (it would certainly get an enchantment bonus from ABP)
But the best part? Because of Hinsayi, you can get a free action trip once per round when hitting someone with your tower shield.
As a final thought...this might be a good Vital Strike build as well.
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And there we go. It's completely and utterly ridiculous, but I think by RAW it works.
I don’t believe, RAW, that works either. The problem comes in the improvised rules section... “To determine the size category and appropriate damage for an improvised weapon, compare its relative size and damage potential to the weapon list to find a reasonable match.” The largest martial 2-handed weapons are the bardiche and the earth breaker at 14 lbs... a tower shield is 45 pounds. So, you would have to rule that it’s sized for at least large, if not huge, wielders. There might be a work around for that, like maybe one of the giant hunter archetypes, but you’d need an even more convoluted build than you’re already proposing.
@Arbiter of the Tower Just to let you know I've updated Imara with a couple of paragraphs on appearance, personality and some minor possible changes to the build. Good luck to do you selection.
That would only work with a dip for Titan Fighter or 3 levels on the similar Barbarian one. Plus, it would be much better to use Shikigami style. Plus, I wouldn’t use a tower shield as there are better improvised weapons if you want to maximize (like the sledge). Finally, hinyasi aligns the damage of all improvised with his unarmed strike, so it’d be much better to stick to a light weapon for example to be able to flurry. I did this build many, many times - I usually go the disarm/feint route and combine with snakebite striker. Single class, much less convolute, no need for strange races, and an absolute beast for damage. This game here, however, isn’t about optimization - so I went a different route that, even if not as effective, is still thematic and fun ;)
@Llaelian- Thanks for the heads up!
@Arthorius- thematic and fun is what we're looking for here, good call.
@Everyone- the current players and I have started reviewing all the characters, so if you make any changes at all please post here to point them out, otherwise they may be overlooked. Also, you've got 12 hours and change left to get your things submitted.
**12 hours left for submissions**
A question:
How do you feel about Combat Stamina?
Would it be allowed and if so in what way (Feat available, Free for Fighters or something else?)
We’re not using combat stamina at all, sorry. There’s a lot going on already by the time you finish the background quest.
We’re not using combat stamina at all, sorry. There’s a lot going on already by the time you finish the background quest.
That's perfectly fine. Just means my list of feats changes a bit in both contents and priority.
Yeeesh posting in the next minutes.
Made some major modifications and had to figure out something about that multiclass BAB.
Altean UC barbarian/oracle of lore/shadowdancer.
Now only need to figure out the avatar and write down the backstory, then it's good to go.
I'll step away for this recruitment.
I like the setting and have a fun character concept going, I just can't figure why he would choose to enter the tower instead of exploring the world and that's a pretty crucial part here I think.
So instead of bending over backwards to make him fit, I'll bow out.
Good luck all and good gaming.
|
Here you go, as promised.
Bizan is a sturdy barbarian with a lot of staying power even without rage.
She can deal quite some damage in melee and reasonable range, has a good skill spread, can control with dirty trick maneuvers, trip and intimidation - a favorite of hers.
Ripples the trusty shadow is always at her side, aiding in combat and exploration, in which she is also good.
On top of that she possesses some minor divine magic and healing powers.
Gaius Ignatius V would like to brave the Tower of Ages:
Gaius did not understand his father’s departure at the time. Daddy always went on trips and came back. Battle, rare as it was, sounded scary, but daddy always came back. Except this time…
Nine years later, Gaius’ older sister Tullia was similarly sent to the tower, with high hopes. Where Gaius Ignatius IV was a capable warrior, Tullia had shown a spark of arcane promise and was sent to train with the Atlaeans to prepare for her pilgrimage to the Godspire. Before she arrived in Korryn, there were tales reaching back home of her mighty deeds on the road. Perhaps she would be the one to best the Tower and return, as hundreds before had failed. And yet…
She had only been nineteen years old then, younger than Gaius is now. And yet Gaius, now twenty-four, has trained every day since her departure to follow in her footsteps, fully expecting that the King would summon him to follow in his sister’s and father’s footsteps.
Gaius does not know why the King continues to send members of his family to the Axis of the World, but there must be a reason. And as the festival of New Tran approaches, Gaius is confident that he will receive his summons and learn the secrets that his father and sister could not (or did not) share with him.
*I can make one up, but if this already exists, then great!
Where his father was deeply affable and his sister was a remarkable tactician, Gaius is stubborn and prone to tempers. He has a broad education that has touched on almost every topic, and a (perhaps misplaced) confidence to prattle on about a given topic as though he knows all that there is to know. But he means well. More than almost anything, he enjoys telling stories. Stories to inspire, to entertain, to put someone in their place: for however long this journey lasts, Gaius is certain that he will create many more stories in the process.
But in all honesty, this guy is a strength striker. He’s well-armored hits reasonably hard—maybe not as hard as possible, but with decent reliability. Rather than pouring everything into Strength to get him to a 22 and rocking a two-handed weapon, I’ve opted for a more-balanced approach that can skirmish effectively. I have particularly built him as a mage-killer, building on the arcane duelist’s native Disruptive feat chain with the Step Up feat chain and items to move through threatened squares and difficult terrain more easily. Riving Strike is a fun addition that makes it easier for the wizard and cleric to land save-based spells by lowering enemy saves whenever I hit. Hopefully this helps at least somewhat with Defender territory as well: not so high of a DC that enemies ignore him and run around, but enough to stand in the way and stay nasty.
Finally, he makes a solid scout: he won’t be dealing much with trips, but he’ll be able to spot them or an enemy, stay undetected, and provide enough oomph to lead the party forward. He’s got a bit of knowledge to help out and a little bit of face potential just in case, but those are far down on his priority list.
Human Arcane Duelist (Bard) 9
LN Medium humanoid (human)
Init +3; Senses Perception +13
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Defense
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AC 25, touch 14, flat-footed 22 (+3 Dex, +7 armor, +3 shield, +1 deflection, +1 natural)
hp 99 (9d8+27)
Fort +7, Ref +11, Will +9
Defensive Abilities The DC to cast spells in this creature’s threatened range increases by 5
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Offense
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Speed: 30 ft.
Melee: cold iron longsword +12/+7 (1d8+6 S/19-20) {power attack, arcane strike, and inspire courage = +12/+7, 1d8+14; bladethirst opens more versatility}
Melee: shortsword +10/+5 (1d6+4 P/19-20)
Melee Whip +10/+5 (1d3 S/x2, 15 ft reach)
Ranged: composite shortbow (+4) +9/+4 (1d6+4 P/x3) {arcane strike, and inspire courage = +11/+6, 1d6+11; bladethirst opens more versatility}
Special Attacks: bardic performance 23 rounds/day (move action; bladethirst, dirge of doom, distraction, fascinate (DC 17), inspire competence +3, inspire courage +2, inspire greatness, rallying cry)
Item Spell Abilities
Constant – Feather Fall (Ring of Feather Falling, CL 1st)
1/day – Feather Step (Feather Step Slippers, CL 3rd)
Bard Spells Known (CL 9th; concentration +12, +18 to cast defensively, 3/day roll twice to cast defensively and take the better)
3rd (4/day) exquisite accompaniment, good hope, haste, rain of frogs
2nd (5/day) anticipate thoughts (DC 15), blistering invective (DC 15), glitterdust (DC 15), mirror image
1st (6/day) heightened awareness, liberating command, saving finale, tears to wine, vanish
0 (at will) detect magic, light, mage hand, message, prestidigitation, read magic
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Statistics
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Str 18, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 16
Base Atk +6; CMB +10; CMD 24
Feats: Arcane Strike (B), Combat Casting (B), Disruptive (B), Following Step, Lingering Performance, Power Attack, Riving Strike, Step Up, Step Up and Strike
Traits: Armor Expert (combat), Practiced Disruptor (social)
Skills: Acrobatics +15 (+4 competence to move through threatened square or enemy space), Bluff +7, Climb +8, Diplomacy +9, Escape Artist +7, Intimidate +15, Knowledge (arcana) +8, Knowledge (dungeoneering, engineering, geography, history, local, nature, nobility, planes, religion) +7, Linguistics +6, Perception +18, Perform (oratory) +15, Sense Motive +13, Spellcraft +14, Stealth +20, Use Magic Device +15
Languages: Vitolian, Tel’Aeth, Tengwae, and a Common tongue if it exists or Elven if not
SQ: Arcane bond (longsword)
Gear: belt of tumbling, cloak of elvenkind, cold iron longsword (attuned +2), composite shortbow (+4) with 20 arrows, eyes of the eagle, feather step slippers, flint and steel, handy haversack, heavy darkwood shield (attuned +1), mithral breastplate (attuned +1), ring of feather falling, spell component pouch, spellguard bracers, spring-loaded wrist sheath loaded with wand of cure light wounds (50 charges), spring-loaded wristh sheath loaded with shortsword, whip, 360 gp
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Special Abilities
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Arcane Strike: Arcane duelists gain Arcane Strike as a bonus feat at 1st level. This ability replaces bardic knowledge.
Bardic Performance: An arcane duelist gains the following types of bardic performance.
Rallying Cry (Su): At 1st level, an arcane duelist can use performance to rally dispirited allies. Each round he makes an Intimidate check. Any ally (including the bard) within 30 feet may use this check in place of his own saving throw against fear and despair effects. Those already under a fear or despair effect can attempt a new save each round using the bard’s Intimidate check. Rallying cry does not work on effects that don’t allow saves. This is a mind-affecting ability that uses audible components. This performance replaces countersong.
Bladethirst (Su): An arcane duelist of 6th level or higher may use performance to grant one weapon, one natural weapon, one end of a double weapon, or 50 items of ammunition of the same type within 30 feet a +1 enhancement bonus. This enhancement bonus increases by +1 for every three levels after 6th (maximum +5 at 18th level). These bonuses stack with existing bonuses and may be used to increase the item’s enhancement bonus up to +5 or to add any of the following weapon properties: defending, distance, ghost touch, keen, mighty cleaving, returning, shock, shocking burst, seeking, speed, or wounding. If the weapon is not magical, at least a +1 enhancement bonus must be added before adding special abilities. This performance replaces suggestion.
Mass Bladethirst (Su): An arcane duelist of 18th level or higher can use his bladethirst performance to enhance the weapons of as many allies as desired within 30 feet. The bonus provided by this power is +4 if conferred on two allies, +3 for three allies, +2 for four allies, and +1 for five or more allies. The power granted to each weapon must be identical. This ability replaces mass suggestion.
Bonus Feats: An arcane duelist weaves might and magic in his combat style, gaining the following bonus feats at 2nd level and every four levels thereafter: 2nd level—Combat Casting, 6th level—Disruptive, 10th level—Spellbreaker, 14th level—Penetrating Strike, 18th level—Greater Penetrating Strike. This ability replaces versatile performance and well-versed.
Arcane Bond (Ex): At 5th level, an arcane duelist gains the arcane bond ability as a wizard, using a weapon as his bonded item, allowing him to cast any one addition spell that he knows once per day. He may not choose a familiar or other type of bonded item. He may use the hand holding his bonded weapon for somatic components. This ability replaces lore master.
Arcane Armor (Ex): At 10th level, an arcane duelist gains Medium Armor Proficiency and can cast bard spells in medium armor with no chance of arcane spell failure. At 16th level, he gains Heavy Armor Proficiency and can cast bard spells in heavy armor with no arcane spell failure. This ability replaces jack of all trades.
Practiced Disruptor (social): You are experienced at facing off against spellcasters. You can attempt Knowledge (arcana) checks untrained; if you have ranks in that skill, you instead gain a +1 trait bonus on those checks. The concentration DC to cast a spell defensively in your threatened area increases by 1.
@Cuan- that’s totally understandable, maybe I’ll just run a game in Cardriss sometime that’s not headed into the Tower.
@Hayato- I’ve moved you to complete.
@Everyone- Unless there’s a surprise last minute application, I think that’s everyone! We’ll have a decision some time tomorrow.
Not an enviable task. There are party of really good submissions here
Unless I've completely missed something, this should be the list as it stands now.
Ready for Consideration
Javell DeLeon: Maximus Benedictus- CG human (Vitolian), fighter 9; complete
dwilhelmi: Zeru Oroitz- CN halfling, telekineticist 8/uRogue 1; complete
CucumberTree: Sue- N half-orc, slayer [stygian slayer] 9; complete
Jereru: Bron Frostbreath- CG half-orc, bloodrager [primalist/spell eater] (arcane) 9; complete
SmooshieBanana: Pelipe Lightdriver- LG human (mutt?), brawler 9; complete
Llaelian: Imara of the Druma- LG human (Mbala), sorcerer [eldritch scrapper] (empyreal) 1/uMonk 8; complete
GermanyDM: Deguís (personality)- NG human (Tengwar), inquisitor (Torag) 9; complete
Zorblag: Pestrina- CG human (Vitolian), brawler [steel-breaker] 6/fighter [weapon master] 3; complete
Nikolaus de’Shade: Snow- N human (Svenik), shifter 9; complete
Grumbaki: Brunhild Blackarrow- LN human (Svenik), slayer 7/sanguine angel 2; complete
Trawets71: Warren Connery- NG human (Tengwar), fighter [two-weapon fighter] 9; complete
adsapiens: Arthorius Ravenholdt- LG dwarf, uMonk 1/sorcerer [crossblooded] 4/dragon disciple 1/evangelist 3; complete
BelacRLJ: Eneko Stavine- N human (Atlaean), bloodrager [primalist] (vestige) 9; complete
Ironperenti: Garen Williamson- LG human (Tengwar?), paladin [oath of vengeance] 9; complete
Baron Robber: Jonathan Artis- N half-orc, bloodrager [shapechanger] 1/skald [red tongue/totemic skald] 8; complete
polyfrequencies: Gaius Ignatius V- LN human (Vitolian), bard [arcane duelist] 9; complete
Hayato Ken: Bizan Ashura- CG human (Atlaean), uBarbarian [invulnerable rager/untamed rager] 5/oracle 1/shadow dancer 3; complete
And, unless someone applies out of the blue in the next 2 hours, that should be our final list. I've already been exchanging PMs with the current player and we should have an announcement within the next 12 hours, I think.
Thank you all for the interest, and for all the work that you clearly put into your submissions. It's never easy to pick two spots out of seventeen characters, but after a lot of deliberation the two characters who we've chosen are Maximus Benedictus, and Gaius Ignatius. You two please check in to the discussion thread as soon as you can. To everyone else, I wish you better luck in your next recruitment and happy gaming.
Ah well, congrats to those chosen! Have fun.
Have fun!
Congratulations to those selected, and thanks again for the opportunity!
Thanks for opportunity as well as the review and discussion about the submissions. Have fun with this game, it is a awesome setting.