Might and magic, Lords of the Contested Lands

Game Master Chyrone

It would still be N of Daniel. As he did not say he'd move back, but describing it as taking a step back out of anxiety, that looks like IC RP.

That said, what alternative did you have in mind.

I guess, if he didn't move south, I'd either ask him to move aside slightly to attack without cover and ready for that. But since the next round is already going now, I'd probably have tried to cut Rowan's bonds since I was still holding the dagger.

Ok then, Rowan can consider herself cut free from the webs.

All right, thanks. Edited my last post to reflect this.

Sorry, I've had a very long day and I'm having a hard time concentrating on the room layout and new puzzle. I'll post my thoughts tomorrow!

If it looks like i'm waiting, it's for Daniel and Rowan, before proceeding.

apologies, time got away from me due to work.

So....for an entirely not suspicious purpose,

Regarding the PCs;

Average expression?
Hair styles?
What style/type of clothes is everyone wearing?
What color are said clothes?
Items strapped tight or holding something at all times?

:)

Hmm...

Average expression:
... probably mostly neutral, but if she's in a good mood, maybe a slight smile or a smirk. Probably doesn't look sad unless she is reminded of her financial situation or her lost parents.

Hair Styles:
Typically long and straight, but pulls it back into a tail when she is studying something.

Style/type of clothes:
Comfortable elven clothing (thinking something medieval, but like cool long puffed sleeves and a vest and bandolier, not a dress)

What color are said clothes?:
Dark earth tones, but perhaps the vest has a splash of color and intricate embroidery.

Items strapped tight or holding something at all times?:
Most things she might need (weapons, spell components) are easily accessible, but things like bedroll and rope that she isn't going to need at the spur of the moment are well tied and stored in her pack. When they are in a place where they expect to run into trouble, she'll be carrying a weapon.

expression-
slight smile, friendly and welcoming, not a cocky smile, warm/happy vibe.

Hair style- Pretty much as the alias image and the linked. Shoulderish length, a bit shaggy perhaps.

Clothes- Comfort and utility.

color- varied, light/warmer colors in general.

items- Most "combat" type items are general strapped along his belt or thighs, other items are in his pack. His shield is almost always strapped on his arm.

Totally not suspicious with the other team's caster behind us in while we're in perfect colour spray formation XD

Average expression? > Reserved and alert when not talking to someone. Shy when (expecially unexpectedly) spoken to by figures she finds intimidating in some way. If she judges otherwise, a kind, slight smile more pronounced to those she feels are in need of protection.

Hair styles? > As the alias, just above the shoulder blonde hair that doesn't fall over her eyes.

What style/type of clothes is everyone wearing? > Utility clothing for travel, whatever passes for normal-ish for a woman on the road in this world which isn't a full dress. Probably a green and brown woodsman outfit over which she can carry the scale mail, along with a dark-toned travel cloak.

What color are said clothes? > Green and brownish. Idea is to blend in to natural environments as well as possible.

Items strapped tight or holding something at all times? > Her armor is strapped tight and her main weapon is usually held. Also has a dagger on her belt from a holster. Most of her other stuff, including her purse, is in her backpack. She tends to keep that on her too, but I believe the unwritten consensus is that everyone drops them at the start of combats as a free action so that they don't interfere with movement?

By the way, @Daniel kinda, seems like your surname is used for this combat instead, and you're on top.

posting to my games, My posting may be spotty at best for the coming week or two due to a plethora of life reasons. Please don't hesitate to bot me if necessary. I'll be trying to get posts in but may be unable too.

I'm guessing Brunhild missed the post earlier. Perhaps Rowan's job is overconsuming, no posts since June 24th.

Brunhild, things need shooting soon. ;)

Well,
With Rowan mia, atm, without a knowing why, if ever. :/

Would you like to proceed as are, or get a new 5th, provided Rowan is still missing coming weekend?

Either is fine, but I'm sure we can go on as is for now. We always have the option of getting someone else, so no rush.

Have any of us tried to PM him or her?

I'd say give a few more days after a PM if not, then try and get a replacement perhaps.

We always have the option of getting someone else, so no rush.

Hmhm. Depending on how quick you move through the plot, that is. ;)

What? You aren't planning an endless and always fascinating storyline for us that lasts for years? Color me disappointed. :)

This campaign aught last for some time. Lvl 13 is the goal at minimum, before endgame occurs. :)

But i'm hinting at much closer things. You guys entered the hunt as a group. Continuity is much easier if an entree was part of the group at [event]. Hence me asking if you'd like a 5th, or would brave the adventure with 4.

Ah. Well, if you think it is important to get someone in earliest, then go for it. :)

I can adjust where needed, no issue.
You do recall FangDragon's skyship campaign, we're doing with 4.

I'm merely asking what the team's preference is.
I'm good either way.

Brunhild, Daniel, your thoughts on it?

Guess i'd have a slight preference for five, but four is fine too.

Astella's preference is for Alexis to bail on her group and join ours. :)

XD

I must unfortunately disappoint you. She's not going to abandon her friends. :3

Yeah, I figured. :)

Seems like the team's fine either way, but a slight favor for a 5 people party.

That leads me to the following question;
What class/role would you think would best suit the party's needs?

Well, we have paladin tank, monk archer, archer bard, and melee (cleric) soon. With the classes restricted to core, I would say control-based wizard is probably the most solid addition. We're very light on arcane magic in general and our knowledges could use a bit of help. IIRC, Astella's archetype is also a martial bard one that trades away spells per day and all knowledge stuff for archery related abilities, so there'd be less overlap with a full wizard.

Any full caster class would work, though Estelle is correct that sorcerer/wizard could be the best choice with the party as is.

However... Astella's back story is also perfect for moving over into a cold-based sorcerer, discovering her snow elf roots go a little farther than she expected, so honestly, I think just get the best person you can, and if we need more magic, I can switch over. It's still level one, so we have plenty of room for switching things around... and people usually stay longer if they have a choice about what kind of character they want to play. Good player is better than perfect character.

You going to recruit, or just ask someone?

Recruit in the weekend.

Though one person i've been talking to about the game might be interested.
We'll see.

In a group with 3 martials, bard buffs are also very nice to have, though. Could combine the options and search for either a bard or wizard or such, keeping a potential class change for Astella in mind?

True. There is the training hall on the island after all.

If you'd like to advance to arcane, i could ask for a bard. If you prefer bard further, i would ask for an arcane. If you'd go mixed, then either's fine.

I'm okay either way, and both would be fun. I'm cool if you give the choice to the newcomer.

(Fair warning though... I might take one sorcerer level even if I stay bard overall.)

Hello everyone,

I'm the player the GM is talking to about the game. I'm at the point of choosing a class and, if you're interested in buffs, the bard is probably the better bet. 1st level wizard buffs are limited to spells like Enlarge Person, Magic Weapon, Protection from Evil, etc. I don't know how often or how available adding spells to the spellbook would be so picking the initial spells might be more or less important. I was thinking either Wizard or Summoner but I'm open to other suggestions. If adding spells is very difficult than that difference between a Wizard and Sorcerer becomes less important.

Hello everyone,

I'm the player the GM is talking to about the game. I'm at the point of choosing a class and, if you're interested in buffs, the bard is probably the better bet. 1st level wizard buffs are limited to spells like Enlarge Person, Magic Weapon, Protection from Evil, etc. I don't know how often or how available adding spells to the spellbook would be so picking the initial spells might be more or less important. I was thinking either Wizard or Summoner but I'm open to other suggestions. If adding spells is very difficult than that difference between a Wizard and Sorcerer becomes less important.

Hello, and welcome! Nice to meet you.

On the class picking: We talked about this earlier among ourselves and Astella, the current bard, offered to retrain into sorceror so that the new player could pick if he/she wanted to be either a bard or a wizard/sorceror. The available classes in the original recruitment thread were restricted to core only, so the basic ones from the core rulebook. I'm afraid summoner wouldn't be selectable under those creation rules. So, pick what you think you'd enjoy playing more!

Thanks for the welcome! :)

I'm a big believer in the 'four archetypes' of combatant (usually melee), full divine caster ('full' meaning a class that reaches 9th level spells), full arcane caster, and a skilled character - usually a rogue if there's the possibility of magic traps that need to be disabled. If the player with the Bard wants to stay Bard that's fine with me. Or if they want to change and go Sorcerer from here out, I could make a Bard.
Wizard, I would check with the GM about archetypes to increase flexibility.

The DM was kind enough to let me have the trap finder trait, so I can disarm magical traps without being a rogue.

And if you are saying you don't want a choice, I would be happy to make it for you, but I left it open so that you could choose. I don't care which way you go. My character will adapt either way.

As for ninth level spells, I love the idea in theory, but in play by post the games almost never last long enough to get that high, so not sure that should be a major factor. :)

I just didn't want an angry bard breaking a mandolin over my head! :P

A little heads up, though. :)

I'm trying to keep it lore friendly, so some languages are more difficult to pick up, or not/rarely present in some parts.

Naturally, compared to Golarion, languages are fewer in number.
Some languages, mostly those not spoken within 'civilized lands' (such as Abyssal, Celestial, Infernal, Nighon creatures' races), would require source material such as a teacher, literature, or some such.

She'd not use a mandolin.....drums also work, and those don't lose their functionality over a hit. :P

Wizard, I would check with the GM about archetypes to increase flexibility.

In case it helps you decide either way, our biggest 'weakness' in the party right now is probably a lack of knowledge skills (that, and that my character can't hit the broad side of a barn since she can't roll above a 5 in combats :') ). While Astella is a bard, her archetype trades away her knowledge (and skill?) bonusses for archery bonusses. That's why I thought a wizard might be the best overall addition since they are the only base class that is int-based and has all knowledges as class skills.

On versatility, the best wizard archetype I know for that is Pact Wizard. It gives up the bonus feats, but you can select a witch patron and spontaneously cast your spells to the spells on that patron list. I once made a transmuter pact wizard (foresight divinition school) for the time patron, who then took preferred spell at level 5. He could spontaneously cast any spell of level 3 or higher to haste or slow, later disintegrate as well, among others. Was pretty fun :) Also had a fairly strong flavor theme for time and seeing the future. Though yeah, the archetype would require DM approval.

In the end, what matters is what you think is most fun, though :)

(I also have the Breadth of experience feat to make up for the lack of all the bardic bonuses, so I think most of our knowledge deficit is because we are low level. However, I also don't intend to pour all of my points into knowledge skills, so do as you will, of course.)

PbP is a long process. Play whatever character speaks to you the most. It’ll be best for everyone in the long run.

Who knows what you'll meet as fellow PC.

Could be a hyperactive gnome, could be a bearded wizard, could even be a vital strike zealot 1/2 orc warpriest, for all you know.

:)

why not a hyperactive gnome wizard(with a beard) that is a follower of gorum?

That just smells of an eldrtich knight that runs around whacking folks with a ridiculously oversized sword.

Given that it is pathfinder, who knows? In one of my game I have a dwarven pact wizard. He is strength based and will be all about vital striking. Because he has a magical Book of Grudges. First use his intelligence to check the book to see if there is a grudge listed about you. And if so, use the book to beat the grudge out of existence.

Pathfinder allows many, many strange characters.

I love it, I want to add living grimiore inquisitor as a gestalt to that. Vital strike them with the book.

"another name stricken from the Dammaz Kron!"

Pathfinder allows many, many strange characters.

Very true. Imagine some zealot beating the pulp out of an enemy, crying out [insert deity] loves them, repent and be forgiven.

I love it, I want to add living grimiore inquisitor as a gestalt to that. Vital strike them with the book.

"another name stricken from the Dammaz Kron!"

I see you speak Khazalid fluently. :)

https://paizo.com/people/TorgaldFrostbeard

This is the character in question.

* Archetype is Bonded Wizard with the book.
* Bonded Force gives extra castings and improved mage armor/shield
* At lvl7 the archetype allows you to turn your bonded item into a wondrous item
* At Lvl7 turn bonded item into book of extended summoning
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/a-b/book-of-extended-su mmoning/

Traits
* Surprise Weapon (You are skilled at fighting with objects not traditionally considered weapons. You gain a +2 trait bonus on attack rolls with improvised weapons.)
* Seeker (+1 perception and class skill)

Feat Plan
Lvl 1: Catch Off Guard (You do not suffer any penalties for using an improvised melee weapon. Unarmed opponents are flat-footed against any attacks you make with an improvised melee weapon.)
Lvl 3: Shikigami Style (1d10 damage)
Lvl 5: Shikigami Mimicry (2d6 damage)
Lvl 7: Shikigami Manipulation (2d8 damage, Upgrade Bonded Item to book of extended summoning, giving it +4 enchantment bonus...for 750 gold!)
Lvl 9: Arcane Strike (+2 damage, increases by +1 at lvls 10, 15 and 20)
Lvl 11: Power Attack
Lvl 13: Vital Strike
Lvl 15: Furious Focus
Lvl 17: Weapon Focus
Lvl 19: Toughness
Lvl 20: Immortality

——

Character is for an all Wizard party, to fill the role of a fighter. It was the best I could come up with for a fluffy take on a Wizard who acts as the front line.

I remember that recruitment. I had originally planned to submit a wizard that had a 16 or 15 Int at the start XD. Planned to make use of polymorph spells later on to act as a frontline.

and indeed, I'm fairly rusty, but I have done some research into the great language and I remember a few bits and bobs.

Dun, Dun duuuuuuuuuuuun