Sebecloki presents Dreamscarred Press' From the Deep Psionic AP (Inactive)

Game Master Sebecloki

What would be common curses in this world besides "by the Minds" style stuff? They seem to be a largely agnostic society, with no planar travel(?) so a lot of the standards are nixed.

Going to wait on GM and see if we get the chance to part Gestalt, I as as I have added in the Vitalist path to Eleven already to see how it pans out.

Taking
Whichever Class gives the higher skill points.
Whichever Class gives the higher HP and saves
Whichever Class gives the higher Starting Gold

combining
Vitalist powers and powerpoints with Thought Scribe
Weapon Proffs
Skills
Class features and Abilities

What would be common curses in this world besides "by the Minds" style stuff? They seem to be a largely agnostic society, with no planar travel(?) so a lot of the standards are nixed.

Not much planar travel

GM Sebecloki I hope you like my use of a Hero Point there. I think that is what they were meant to do, and cheat death is under the list of things you can do with them. But the GM Has to agree. I did not want her to be unscathed by this as that feels wrong, She fell but she was hurt but by the skin of her teeth she survived.

You're right, this would be an ideal opportunity for a hero point. I'm not trying to be crazy here but the dc for a dungeon wall was 20 or 25, so I'm just going by the rules.

What would be common curses in this world besides "by the Minds" style stuff? They seem to be a largely agnostic society, with no planar travel(?) so a lot of the standards are nixed.

Mebbe something to the effect of being "psionicless"? Tryin' to think up an appropriate moniker for that, like "low mind potential"? ;)

I'm still here, I'm just trying to find the best resources for the dungeon under the city -- I should be able to get the battlemaps and stuff posted tomorrow

Mebbe something to the effect of being "psionicless"? Tryin' to think up an appropriate moniker for that, like "low mind potential"? ;)

"Sightless"? "Mind Blind"?

'Blunt' could work, too.

I'm...kind of at a loss for what to do currently. It almost feels like these should be different, concurrent tables because half the party is kind of playing a different game right now.

I may go ahead and divide you guys up, since the party in the port is headed into a dungeon.

Apologies, I had a massive migraine this evening, and literally couldn't look at the screen long enough to get the map done (light is triggering, I'm only managing to write this by wearing light blocking lenses right now).

Sounds painful, take care.

Just as a heads up, I'll be taking my daughters camping this next week so I probably won't be able to post Monday through Friday. If Krat manages to get down to join the others then he'll follow along quietly. The group can have him be sneaky and check things out if they like, but hopefully I'll be back in time to help with anything major that might come up!

"Sightless"? "Mind Blind"?

Transient. wrote:

'Blunt' could work, too.

Those sound like some pretty good descriptors to me. :)

I'm...kind of at a loss for what to do currently. It almost feels like these should be different, concurrent tables because half the party is kind of playing a different game right now.

Sebecloki wrote:

I may go ahead and divide you guys up, since the party in the port is headed into a dungeon.

Should we try to get down into the gash, like the other group, or should we head off to the warehouse?

Apologies, I had a massive migraine this evening, and literally couldn't look at the screen long enough to get the map done (light is triggering, I'm only managing to write this by wearing light blocking lenses right now).

No worries, taking care of the real life stuff, like health, always takes precedent. :)

PS. In terms of the gestalting/partial-gestalting, I may just go with Marksman/Adaptive Gunner archetype as a viable choice,

Ok, I'm going to split storm dragon (Tai), Xonti, and whoever else keeps posting off, b/c it doesn't seem like the stories are coming back together, I'll just do a new recruitment for each table if we need more players. I'll make a new thread for your game 'Table 2'

Krat, Eleven_Zee_Alpha, and Transient will be on the other table.

Also, I was reading some Paizo forum posts by Dreamscarred Press developers last night (apparently they've basically shut down, but this was from about 2015); it seems that they had intended to update 3rd Dawn for PF and include Akashic mysteries in the setting by having some form of the 'old arts' return, and have divine magic be more like in early Dragonlance.

In other words, they were going to turn it into a 'psionics primary' setting rather than a 'psionics only' setting if they had revised it. Another possibility I have seen is treating Akasha as a manifestation of the 'flow'.

In any event, that sort of changed my view on the setting a bit in terms of character options if anyone had some new urges based on that conception if we were going to do a gestalt instead of a level up.

My current thought is to try to get 1-2 players for both tables.

I'm going to post a new recruitment for both tables -- did anyone want to weigh in on doing a half gestalt (i.e., 'gestalt archetype'), or gestalt for either table. I'm posting the current build rules:

Dreamscarred Press has a helpful From the Deep: Player's Guide that presents setting information and most of the race/class options. However, note that I modify a couple of these elements below.

Ability Scores: 25pt. or buy use the Dice Pool method where 1's are rerolled. You can attempt 4 sets if you want. You can try each method and decide what you want to keep.

Race: Anything from the Player's Guide. You can also pick Blues even though they aren't listed in the Player's Guide, as well as Arkhoon and Maedu. I am also open to other options that make sense within the setting, though I don't necessarily have a list. Reptilian, avian, and insectoid races, or other unusual options would be appropriate.

Class: Dreamscarred Press was apparently going to revise Third Dawn as 'psionics primary' instead of 'psionics only' -- akashic mysteries works well for this setting as well, either as an 'old art' from the magical pre-psionic world returning or some kind of manifestation of the 'flow' in the world. Consequently, I am going to allow all psionics classes, akashic classes, any non-magical classes, and any magical classes as long as they take a psionic archetype such as gaean or cerebremancer.

Skills: We will be using the background skills system and skill unlocks from Pathfinder Unchained. For skill unlocks, all characters automatically get access to the expanded skill features when they achieve the requisite ranks in their skill. In other words, this is now a base part of the skill system. If anyone wants to play a rogue, I'll work out some additional feature with you to compensate for everyone getting the skill unlocks.

Feats: 1 per level, with the Elephant in the Playground feat tax rules also in effect. Additionally, all martial characters get the Combat Stamina (Combat) and Push the Limits (Combat) feats for free as long as they fulfill the prerequisites. They also receive Extra Stamina (Combat) when they fulfill the prerequisites.

Equipment/Wealth: Roll or take average. This is a swashbuckling setting with ancient industrial level technology, so we will be using the 'guns everywhere' setting for technology.

Hit Points We will use the Wounds and Vigor system from the Gamemastering Guide instead of hit points. Take maximum values per level. The creatures will also receive maximum values.

Xp: I am not using xp, I'm just going to level you up at the appropriate level.

Traits: Two traits, and up to two more with drawbacks. You can re-fluff something from a Paizo AP if you want.

One way to get Psionics and Magic working the same way is to use the

Combining Psionic and Magical Effects

One thing I have done is just give magic uses a PowerPoint Pool like any Psionic power user. with spells having the same cost per level as a power. 1st 1pp / 2ed 3pp / 3ed 5pp and so one.
All they can use Psionic feats on Spells. etc

sionics–Magic Transparency etc

If we get new players I personly don't see the need for gestalting any more.

I'm good with either, though leaning to full gestalt if we do either one. Gestalt archetype doesn't really do much for me, but I'm also pretty fine with my build so I wouldn't mind just the slight boost either.

You may wish to turn the new thread into a full campaign, or alas my dotting does not bring it up on the games section.

If we're gonna do gestalt then I too would rather do full gestalt. Transient will take some fun stuff from the Akashic section, because I love Akashic, but there is an Archetype for the Aegis that grants a limited access. So I can do that. I just think something off the wall, like the Rajah perhaps, might be fun.

Also, I was reading some Paizo forum posts by Dreamscarred Press developers last night (apparently they've basically shut down, but this was from about 2015); it seems that they had intended to update 3rd Dawn for PF and include Akashic mysteries in the setting by having some form of the 'old arts' return, and have divine magic be more like in early Dragonlance.

In other words, they were going to turn it into a 'psionics primary' setting rather than a 'psionics only' setting if they had revised it. Another possibility I have seen is treating Akasha as a manifestation of the 'flow'.

That's pretty neat sounding that the devs were thinking of going with a "Goldmoonish" Dragonlance vibe for the Akashic stuff; either way works for Xonti since he's an adherent of the Flow [matching perfectly with the Cryptic stuff] and his clothing is kinda a mix of the standard Ophiduan toga and regular adventurer-wear; he'd hafta draw the line at wearing a wig though... scaly reptilian-types and wigs never end well, as can be seen here. ;p

I'm going to post a new recruitment for both tables -- did anyone want to weigh in on doing a half gestalt (i.e., 'gestalt archetype'), or gestalt for either table.

Heh, so how does the half-gestalt/gestalt archetype thing work? ;)

I've made a decision, I'm going to do a 'half-gestalt', which means you get a free archetype (instead of changing out features, you stack them w/ your base class).

I've connected both tables to this same discussion thread.

I made a couple of small changes to the build rules; because I'm allowing more classes now, you can make a different character or change your class if you want.

Here, are the other changes

--Stack an archetype instead of replacing features (i.e. 'half-gestalt). If you pick a Vancian caster class, you have to use a psionic gestalt.
--I'm increasing the health totals a bit -- add constitution bonus to vigor, and double your vigor score at first level.
--You have two options for traits, either take 1 from each of the six categories, or stick with the original offer -- no category restrictions, with two free, and two available for drawbacks.

With the Half-Gestalt/bonus archetype do we gain that ability on any classes we multiclass into later, or do we only get it on our first class?

You get it for any other class too -- that's really equivalent b/c you're not getting anything extra since you're exchanging a level and a stacked archetype in one class for a level and a stacked archetype in another.

Aha, I finished up my Dromite Psychic Warrior Pathwalker last night, but with a free archetype I think I'll make an Elan Wilder/Blasting Wilder.

Well, my options are limited as a Mystic, so since I don't care about guns, don't really need a couple of extra bonus Feats (which is all I lose from my current archetype), and can't find a Bloodrager Bloodline I really like, Knight-Chandler it is!

I'm not really getting any bites so does anyone else have some other friends that would like to play?

Well, if nobody bites I've played a ton of successful games with only 3 players, so I'd be comfortable moving on.

I think that with the new build rules and a free archetype I'll probably just teak Krat slightly. Adding the Circuit Breaker archetype to what I've got now would fit the setting well enough I think.

I think I'm also going to see what I can put together for a Dromite Tactician (Battle Medic) just to see what I think of it and then decide which to play. I should have time to put that together by tomorrow or Monday at the latest as we're starting at level 1.

From that first set I can make a 18, 16, 16, 14, 14, 10 spread, so let's plan on that.

I've made a decision, I'm going to do a 'half-gestalt', which means you get a free archetype (instead of changing out features, you stack them w/ your base class).

--Stack an archetype instead of replacing features (i.e. 'half-gestalt). If you pick a Vancian caster class, you have to use a psionic gestalt.
--I'm increasing the health totals a bit -- add constitution bonus to vigor, and double your vigor score at first level.
--You have two options for traits, either take 1 from each of the six categories, or stick with the original offer -- no category restrictions, with two free, and two available for drawbacks.

Hmmm... As a Medic, there are only a few options, with none of them especially attractive... I suppose Sanguinist will be the choice.

Seb just mentioned this game over in his Greyhawk game. I'll bite! I'd love to bring in a Zealot.

Good to meet yall!

Seb, any concerns about any of the following uncommon races: Grendel, Catfolk (Lion), Tengu (Pigeon), Kestrel? (Or for that matter, halflings?)

Seb just mentioned this game over in his Greyhawk game. I'll bite! I'd love to bring in a Zealot.

Good to meet yall!

Seb, any concerns about any of the following uncommon races: Grendel, Catfolk (Lion), Tengu (Pigeon), Kestrel? (Or for that matter, halflings?)

** spoiler omitted **

Those sound good -- the halfling is the only one that doesn't fit so well unless you do something different with it (like there are red-skinned desert dwelling elves north of the campaign area called adonais)

Great! Also, in Greyhawk VMC is a *free bonus*, but I think in this campaign one needs to trade feats for it, yes?

yes.

Alright! Sheet done!

I've read the Player's Guide, but not the Campaign Setting overall.

Can you say more about the Flow? Are there is organizations that ascribe to it? I think my Zealot will be a member of such a group. Happy to make one up, but if one exists (or Seb wants to make one up) I'll happily be a part of that.

Note, my bonus archetype will probably be Void Prophet, so i think my perspective will be that there entire material world and even live itself is illusory, just a manifestation of Flow.

If that's extreme or heretical for Flow adherents normally than I'll be from a fringe group.

Krat is now upgraded and ready to go. I've added a couple traits and taken away drawbacks, added a bit more vigor, and now have the circuitbreaker archetype, though it doesn't do that much. It's mostly the same Krat as before. Let me know if anything looks off!

Now I'm taking a look at a tactician.

I've read the Player's Guide, but not the Campaign Setting overall.

Can you say more about the Flow? Are there is organizations that ascribe to it? I think my Zealot will be a member of such a group. Happy to make one up, but if one exists (or Seb wants to make one up) I'll happily be a part of that.

Note, my bonus archetype will probably be Void Prophet, so i think my perspective will be that there entire material world and even live itself is illusory, just a manifestation of Flow.

If that's extreme or heretical for Flow adherents normally than I'll be from a fringe group.

Honestly, this is an extremely minimally-developed setting. Most of the 100 page published setting is about the southern continent which the AP doesn't even take place on. The continent of the AP has maybe 10 pages on it, and no map in the published material, so just make something up if you want to go in a specific direction. I've already expanded on aspects of the Protectorate society like dress and cultural habits to try to develop it more.

Thanks. Just knowing it's minimally developed is useful.

One more Q, do you know who I'll be joining? When joining late like this, I like to at least consider making some decisions based on needs at the table.

...And actually *another* Q: in terms of free archetypes...some classes (esp, I think, many Dreamscarred classes) don't really have many options for archetypes...but if we're getting a bonus one, I'm wondering if I could add the soldier archetype to my Zealot instead? (If not, no worries!)

Starting cash: 5d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 2, 4, 3) = 20

I don't know if it's in the character creation details, but the Spheres classes had been decided against for character creation earlier. I guess I'd assume that would go for archetypes as well (as adding a Spheres archetype is essentially just making something a Spheres class.)

I'm wary about spheres of power b/c I think, as we already discussed when we started this campaign, it's such an open ended system that it's going to erode the distinctive character of the casting traditions associated with psionics -- psionics, akasha, and ether magic are associated with a not air tight but still distinctive set of things like ectoplasmic weapons, 'blasts', energy fields, crystals, attunements, etc. that are different than Vancian casting.

I'm open to spheres of akasha specifically, but the spheres of power classes cover every imaginable variation of magic from defiling to ur priests to elementalists to shadowmagic, that I don't want to issue a blank check to use that system. A lot of that doesn't feel very on target for this settting.

I'm open to picking a non- base-class archetype as long as it doesn't get into confusing corner cases about modifying class features you don't have -- I'm not going to get into that, you can't have an archetype that's incompatible in that way. If it's actually compatible (like I guess some fighter archetypes might be compatible with rouge, I'm not sure, I'd have to look at it), then I guess that's fine.

Oh i should clarify, this is a Spheres of Might archetype. (I think you said you were open to Might but not Power).

If that changes your opinion, I'll roll with it. If you'd rather avoid Might too I'll look for something different.

I'm easy, just let me know!

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Q 2: do you know who I'll be joining? When joining late like this, I like to at least consider making some decisions based on needs at the table.

spheres of might is fine as long as it's compatible.

You should be table 2

Here is Zorblag's Dromite Tactician (Battle Medic) who could step in as a healer/support long term either replacing Krat (skill monkey/striker,) or, if need be I could play both at table one while we get things going. I think that at this point I'm happy enough with both builds that I can play whichever is more convenient for the table.

OK, I've finished Yuumka Flint-Eye, a Zealot (Void Prophet). She'll be able to hold her own in melee, is pretty tanky for L1, and is good at debuffing, demoralizing, and occasionally frightening foes.

She's ready to be introduced whenever.

NOTE, I'm going camping Fri-Mon.

OK, I've finished Yuumka Flint-Eye, a Zealot (Void Prophet). She'll be able to hold her own in melee, is pretty tanky for L1, and is good at debuffing, demoralizing, and occasionally frightening foes.

She's ready to be introduced whenever.

NOTE, I'm going camping Fri-Mon.

Go ahead and post in Table 2.