GM Treppa's War for the Crown

Game Master Treppa

Tilnar wrote:

DM Treppa wrote:

And, if you'd like a challenge, here's one group's intro postings to War for the Crown. (No spoilers in this first page, so read away.) They set the bar for great intro posts. No pressure.

Pshaw. We can outdo that.

Seriously

Oh yeah, we got this. :)

Ragadolf wrote:

But now I'm wondering, is Charm Person still an effective spell after the first few levels? Or is it essentially worthless at later levels? It IS a 1st lvl spell after all,.... ;P

I mean, it IS... as long as the save DC has some way to scale in order to stay relevant.

Interestingly, my swashy cleric draft does not use the Charm domain; he uses Travel and Good (Azata).

I can’t find a way to keep the actual fencing ability of the cleric relevant beyond level 5 or 6, but at that point the cleric spell list could take over and it won’t matter. Of course, that’s true of most melee clerics.

At least one of my versions I made use the travel domain, and I think both used the charm/love domain(?) (The one that lets you 'charm' your way out of one attack x#/day like sanctuary) And one had a trait that let him Charm person at will. :)

For SOME reason, I really like the idea of a character SO charming that they could literally avoid being attacked (momentarily) and Charm any potential love interest at will. (SO what if it takes some of the fun out of it? Their a teenager racking up their score!) ;P

I'm not sure if it is really the best fit for a Cayden follower? But I like the idea. :P

EDIT- I thought about Callistra, but she's the goddess of lust and revenge, not love. (IIRC?) Not quite right for the concept.

Just a quick note about charm person: This game is about building coalitions and winning trust. If you're in a social gathering and start casting magic spells on another person, that's totally uncool - kind of a magical roofie that can't be covered up without metamagic feats. And people won't forget once the spell wears off.

Also, there's this: Target one humanoid creature. Duration 1 hour/level.

So it might be useful for talking your way through one door guard to avoid combat or influencing someone in one private conversation, but it's probably not the best strategy to rely on magical influence for this game.

Oh that's perfectly legit, and I should TRY to remember that. ;P

In the past (maybe 1, 2 or 3.x editions) It was generally agreed, not all agreed, but most seemed to that if you MADE a saving throw, you KNEW someone had tried to Charm you.

BUT, if you FAILED the save, you had no idea that you were charmed, even after the fact.

Since PF I admit I've been more interested in things like Polymorph (Which needed some tweaks I admit, but they NERFED it into OBLIVION) rather than Charms, so I'm not sure what the most recent PF consensus of Charm is.

Are you saying that once a charm wears off, they KNOW they were charmed?
Cuz if so, that seems to make Charm fairly worthless IMHO. (other than maybe the mentioned 'get-past-a-door-guard' trick)

Worth figuring out 100% BEFORE we get started, just so we/(I) don't (mistakenly) presume one thing and get us all arrested or something.
:P

You raise a good point. For charm spells, if someone makes their save and can make their spellcraft check, they'll know what the spell tried to do. If they make their save but can't make the spellcraft check, they know something weird happened, but not what. If they fail their save, they don't realize the influence during or after.

If you use a dominate, OTOH, people who fail their save are aware they are being dominated and actively resist. It makes sense they would remember afterwards. If they make their save, they don't know what happened without making a spellcraft.

Sound fair?

I would think that even on a failed Spellcraft check, they would see that you were casting a spell at the time they felt something weird. They probably know you were casting a spell on them, they just don’t know what it was.

Exactly.

Make will save:
Make spellcraft check - recognize the spell
Fail spellcraft check - know they felt weird and (unless silent/still) would know a spell had been cast. Unless they were tremendously stupid, they'd know they had been messed with, magically.

Fail will save: happy in la-la land

BTW Rags, if you want to run with the Cayden cleric, go for it!

So, when do you guys think your characters will be ready? I'm prepared to start when you are.

Exactly.

Make will save:
Make spellcraft check - recognize the spell
Fail spellcraft check - know they felt weird and (unless silent/still) would know a spell had been cast. Unless they were tremendously stupid, they'd know they had been messed with, magically.

Fail will save: happy in la-la land

I agree (Not that it matters, but I like that we all get along!) ;P

I would add the caveat, that they have to realize enough to decide to make a Spellcraft roll.

(As has been proven recently to me in other threads, it doesn't matter how high your skill is, if you dont declare that you roll it!) ;P

But,... yes! Thank you. NOW Charm Person is not worthless! :)

BTW Rags, if you want to run with the Cayden cleric, go for it!

Orrrr,... just a thought, we could BOTH be young-comrades-in-Clericdom, recently approved official priests of Cayden (outwardly or not? depends on the political situation?)

One of us could focus on the 'charming-wenching' aspect, and the other on the 'drunken-boisterous-brawling' aspect? Maybe we have a friendly rivalry? Always trying to out do each other in the others specialty? :P

(One of us is 'Porthos' and the other is 'Aramis')? ;)

Meh, just a thought. :)

And I am still looking at the other mentioned possibilities.

<Sigh> I like all the choices (some more than others) for various reasons.
I stink at choosing ONE thing from too many good choices! :P

I've got the crunch done (though I really need to not be carrying my backpack) - so it's just a need to work up a useful backstory -- but, as discussed, I'm going to reskin the Athletic Champion trait from someone who won a tournament in the gladiator arena to someone who publicly defeated (and, given her smart-assery) embarrassed the guy who did.

Yep, that's fine, and appropriate for a paladin.

If anyone else wants a trait but doesn't like the backstory that goes along with it, feel free to work up a story behind the trait that fits in your personal story better.

I put (by invitation) in the title because I didn't want folks to see it and get excited about maybe being able to submit a character and join the party.

Now that I look at it in print, it seems very VIP section velvet-ropey.

Vellllvet rooooope...

To be fair the lack of a recruitment thread usually fits that on its own. ;)

Eh, I like variety. The bard is growing on me, unless we wind up sans cleric.

Yah I REALLY need to branch out (a little) more. ;P

I guess I'll give the Cayden-Cleric ONE more try.
(And I still get to use magic, and different spells at that, so thats cool,...) ;)

Busy weekend for me and family, but i'll try ot get it re-worked soon.

I may ask for help in little details, (there are options on both my original versions I liked, but not sure if any are better than others)

EDIT- If third time is NOT the charm, I am going to take it as a sign that I am never to play a cleric again. That is the only interpretation, yes? ;P

Rags, if you don't have the crunch from before I could use my powers (or, more accurately, PCGen) to build your cleric... or a warpriest, if you'd prefer trying that out.

I should have time to work something up over the weekend and should be ready Sunday night.

I think I am still going with “disgraced noble” trait. Is anyone else planning on taking that?

I just need to finally decide on the court bard vs vanilla bard. And it comes down to whether I want a language-dependent debuff (which should have plenty of utility in this campaign) or the normal inspire courage party buff (which might not pay off as well with 4 people).

Rags, if you don't have the crunch from before I could use my powers (or, more accurately, PCGen) to build your cleric... or a warpriest, if you'd prefer trying that out.

Appreciate it, :)

I still have the PbP characters on here from the last two games.
(Both have to be re-tweaked, I think 1 was a 25 pt buy at least),

I need to decide between things like,
The trait that I chose that basically allowed a charm person at will, OR thinsg I have only recently heard of, (Which Trepap can help me with, the 'drunken' sub-domain power?) as that would also fit in well with a Cleric of Cayden. :)
(Although neither would really go over well at parties if you get caught using them?) O_o

HERE is one of them,

And THIS is the other version,

Both took Travel and Charm(love) subdomains,
(Meh, I was mis-remembering the Charm subdomain power(s));P

I'm happy to take any advice or suggestions any may have? I think Travel works for a swashy-cleric who intends to melee? Although I can see swapping from Dex based to Str based melee cleric? :P

Hm, looking at these again, I THINK I was choosing between Travel, Charm/love and Strength subdomains, and I THINK I may have given Cernan one too many powers?

I listed Travel and charm, but I also gave him the "Deity 1st lvl domain spell as SLA 1/day (Strength-Enlarge Person) " power,
Maybe thats a Aasimar/cleric thing? cant find the notes on that, just the power,... :(

EDIT- Found it!
It was a TRAIT
-Story Trait- Touched by Divinity (Start with silver holy symbol, Pick one Domain of Deity, gain 1st lvl domain spell as Spell like ability 1/day)[Strength- Enlarge Person]

There's a revelry subdomain of the Chaos domain, but it doesn't look hideously useful. Norveg has the ale/wine variant channeling feature, which might be what you're thinking of with drunkenness.

Ale/Wine: Heal—Creatures ignore the nauseated and sickened conditions, as well as ability damage and drain from poison, until the end of your next turn. This does not bring back to life creatures killed by Constitution damage. Harm—Creatures are nauseated for 1 round.

Not sure that would help much here.

Travel is always great, especially if you're dexy and going to tumble a lot, which costs more in movement. If you're going STR based, I don't know that it's quite so useful since your Dex won't be that high.

Cernan looks much more spell-focused than combat focused. Emiliano is more dex-fighter and channeler. Neither is wrong, of course. Depends on how you want the character to play.

I had been going for the Good (Azata) subdomain - the granted power looked like it could be pretty useful. One peculiarity would have been that the Azata subdomain and Travel domain both give fly as their 3rd level spell. But honestly, if you can cast fly, what else would you even consider preparing in its place?

I also foresee this cleric ruining Rags for arcane casters forever more. “What do you mean I know ALL these spells? Like, I can prepare any of them? Off the entire list?”

I had been going for the Good (Azata) subdomain - the granted power looked like it could be pretty useful. One peculiarity would have been that the Azata subdomain and Travel domain both give fly as their 3rd level spell. But honestly, if you can cast fly, what else would you even consider preparing in its place?

TRUE

I also foresee this cleric ruining Rags for arcane casters forever more. “What do you mean I know ALL these spells? Like, I can prepare any of them? Off the entire list?”

And,... you are not wrong? ;)

There's a revelry subdomain of the Chaos domain, but it doesn't look hideously useful. Norveg has the ale/wine variant channeling feature, which might be what you're thinking of with drunkenness.

PRD wrote:

Ale/Wine: Heal—Creatures ignore the nauseated and sickened conditions, as well as ability damage and drain from poison, until the end of your next turn. This does not bring back to life creatures killed by Constitution damage. Harm—Creatures are nauseated for 1 round.

Not sure that would help much here.

Travel is always great, especially if you're dexy and going to tumble a lot, which costs more in movement. If you're going STR based, I don't know that it's quite so useful since your Dex won't be that high.

Cernan looks much more spell-focused than combat focused. Emiliano is more dex-fighter and channeler. Neither is wrong, of course. Depends on how you want the character to play.

Yep, Norveg's variant is what I was thinking of, Quite appropriate, but more so for Dionysus than Cayden perhaps? ;)

Travel is great in general, good domain.

Hrm, I agree that 'Emiliano' is more melee-focused (as intended) as a human that extra 1st lvl feat/Weapon Finesse comes in REAL handy for a Dex build! ;)
Cernan is, just not really optimized for either way really? Pretty much just 'standard' Cleric? O_o

Although I DID like all of the 'little' racial extras you get as an Aasimar. (Darkvision, Skilled, SLA, AND Resistances? Yes please!) ;P

If I were to bring one over directly (Stats adjusted properly of course) either one would probably work , I would probably tweak ONE or two skills, but they are both already 'basically' ready for a talky campaign with Bluff, Diplomacy and Sense Motive. :)

I will say, from experience, that the issue with battle clerics is not having time to buff, which is why I fell in love with the warpriest (fervor for the win).

Alright. Draft is up. I appreciate feedback.

I will say, from experience, that the issue with battle clerics is not having time to buff, which is why I fell in love with the warpriest (fervor for the win).

Yes I actually think I may be using the second level buff spells that I almost never use (Bulls str, Etc etc) this time around. Very helpful.

(But UGH! those nerfed durations!)
>_<

Alright. Draft is up. I appreciate feedback.

How did you get 30 bots? No Numerian tech allowed. :P

Auguste de Bernardin wrote:

Alright. Draft is up. I appreciate feedback.

How did you get 30 bots? No Numerian tech allowed. :P

Bolts!

Treppa wrote:

Auguste de Bernardin wrote:

Alright. Draft is up. I appreciate feedback.

How did you get 30 bots? No Numerian tech allowed. :P

Bolts!

NUTS! to you I say! ;P

EDIT- Just practicing my smack-talk for the dueley parts,... ;P

(Semi) serious question,
(As serious as I can be at any rate)

DO we have an Arcane caster yet?
I'm looking at a cleric,
CH has a Bard,
What else we looking at?

(When I read the background for this, I'm seeing less of a 3 musketeers vibe and more of a medieval James Bond spy thriller)? ;P

ALTHOUGH, to be fair, the 3M DID have a LOT of Espionage in it! ;P

ALTHOUGH, to be fair, the 3M DID have a LOT of Espionage in it! ;P

IT TOTALLY DID!!!

(Semi) serious question,

(As serious as I can be at any rate)

DO we have an Arcane caster yet?
I'm looking at a cleric,
CH has a Bard,
What else we looking at?

Paladin and possibly vigilante.

Not like you need an arcane caster. They're horribly overrated.

Ragadolf wrote:

ALTHOUGH, to be fair, the 3M DID have a LOT of Espionage in it! ;P

IT TOTALLY DID!!!

Ragadolf wrote:

(Semi) serious question,

(As serious as I can be at any rate)

DO we have an Arcane caster yet?
I'm looking at a cleric,
CH has a Bard,
What else we looking at?

Paladin and possibly vigilante.

Not like you need an arcane caster. They're horribly overrated.

My name is Ragadolf TheMadMage,

;P

(Semi) serious question,

(As serious as I can be at any rate)

DO we have an Arcane caster yet?
I'm looking at a cleric,
CH has a Bard,
What else we looking at?

You mean other than CH's bard?

Right? Since when are bards not arcane casters?

Would I be rushing folks if I posted some initial intro text and an RP invitation?

I don't so

Right? Since when are bards not arcane casters?

<Facepalm>

But to be honest, they aren't the FIRST class I think of when I think of 'Arcane Casters'. ;P

Untrue. Witches can heal.

Untrue. Witches can heal.

Ah. Aged wizzie sits corrected.

(its been a lONG monday. I dont feel like STANDING to be corrected.) ;P

I personally think bards are divine.

I personally think bards are divine.

God-like?

At any rate, I’m ready whenever!

I personally think bards are divine.

Agh!

(Or worse, ME!) ;P

I have figured out the backstory, just need to write it. I think I'll also need to negotiate a long-term stay in an inn (or bug one of my newfound sponsors), if only to avoid being weighed down by my backpack all the time.

We really *do* need a Porthos!

Nice background! :)

Sorry,
Been busy at work, and,... distracted.
And not in a good way. :P

Short version, got called into new boss's office today (Old boss just retired) for a meeting to address some 'concerns'.

yeah. The 'concerns' were Two. Pages. Long.
O_o

(Anyone who has met me knows most were bogus, a few were legit if over stated, and the rest ranged from 'really?' to 'WTF?!?')

Short-short version? Aged wizzie needs to learn to keep his Big Mouth Shut.
>_<

Working on it (PC), but, not really a priority this week. Sorry. :(

Ahhh, that sucks. PIP? I can't believe they're doing that kind of stuff during a pandemic when everything is cattywampus.

Yeah it stinks.

But, honestly? It's my own darn fault. (SOme of it anyway)

I really dont know when/how to NOT talk. Or at least when I should STOP talking. :P

The 'WTF' part?!? yeah, not a clue, honestly. O_o

(But it is 'bad' enough THAT got sent straight to HR,... so I'm expecting a phone call from them too,... and not a clue who or why,...)
>_<

Must. learn. to. keep. big. mouth. shut.

THIS is what I get for trying to be funny all the time. Darn insecurities & wanting to be accepted so I try to make people laugh,...

Time to suck it up, bite my tongue (hard), and stop trying to be my student workers friend, Just be their !@#$-*&^% boss.

Sorry,... it's been a REALLY long day,.... ;P

Wow, Rags, that's made of badness. Wishing you the best on all that.