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Welcome to the discussion thread! Some friendly reminders:
-If you're not going to be able to post for a few days, you can let me know here or by PM.
-If you have questions about what I mean by a gameplay post, quote me and post it here if it's too long a question for the gameplay thread.
-Have fun! I'm certainly going to. :)
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Rock is ready to roll.
Hey there everyone, excited to just be the punchiest dwarf I can be for you all. I looked at people's characters and am quite excited for this group :D
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GM, can we have a gameplay thread to dot and delete in, so that this game shows up in campaign tab?
In the beginning Rock will smash things with his enormous hammer, and he has three main tricks up his sleeves: enlarge person to give himself reach if he can hide behind someone tanky, mage armour for when he’d have to wade into things, and obscuring mist for when they all need to beat a retreat. Ideally, he’d prefer to use max one per combat encounter. He can place the enlarge person on punchy dwarf sometimes also.
His familiar is a flier, and so hopefully will be soon able to drop some alchemical goodies from above. Screaming Arrow is a mascot familiar, which means eventually everybody will be able to communicate with him, share spells, or deliver touch attack spells through him.
To kind of give an idea of where I am going with Baern, I am aiming to go down the Jabbing Style tree as an uncomfortably dexterous dwarf. Martial Flexibility gets me access to the very important "Aquatic Combatant" feat so I'll be able to punch well under water.
Skill-wise, Baern makes a decent off-face, can handle a lot of physical challenges, notices things, and is an excellent judge of character. He will almost always be looking to flank with others; power-attacking with brawler's flurry is quite the negative so that +2 will be very nice indeed.
Punchy-dwarf loves buff spells. All the buff spells please, thank you. :P
I'm also considering specializing in Dirty Trick as my manuever of choice. I know this game has a lot of underwater stuff and I don't think you can trip someone swimming.
When we get to underwater, Rock will obviously be polymorph into firms with water breathing and swim speeds: I haven’t looked into the optimal forms, but I imagine some sahuagin shenanigans may ensue.
Heya, fellas!
Krizonx is pretty much useless in a direct melee, so far as damage goes. That said, he'll be more than happy to distract, delay, and discourage any foes with his spells, while encouraging the rest of the group to do their best with his bardic songs.
That all said, he's a rather charming gnome, and quite the swiss army knife of knowledge and skills...
Looking forward to this.
Good evening all! I'll make a handle for Talan tomorrow and get things rolling. Looking forward to our adventures!
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Good evening all!
Thank you for the invite DM Yttras.
I did a little compiling of info last night.
• Baern Holderhek (Male/Dwarf) Brawler 1 - Set Mind
Skills: Acrobatics +7, Climb +6, Diplomacy +6, Perception +6, Profession (Porter) +6, Profession (Sailor) +8, Sense Motive +9, Swim +6
Languages: Common, Dwarvish, Elvish
• Chaytah "Rock" Dives (Male/Human (Shoanti)) Wizard (Shapechange Specialist) 1 - Set Mind
Skills: Climb, +6, Knowledge (Arcana) +6, Knowledge (Nature +6), Spellcraft +6, Swim +6
Languages: Azlanti, Common, Shoanti
• Caroline Callingwood (Female/Human) Druid 1 - Following in the Footsteps
Skills: Handle Animal +6, Knowledge (History) +5, Knowledge (Nature) +7, Linguistics +5, Perception +8, Profession (Herbalist) +8 Stealth +7, Survival +10, Swim +6
Languages: Common, Sylvan, Aquan, Druidic.
• Kriznox Haab (Male/Gnome) bard 1 -
Skills: +6 Bluff, +6 Diplomacy, +6 Knowledge: History, +7 Perception +8 Perform: Sing, +9 Stealth, +6 Use Magical Device +6
Languages: Common, Draconic, Gnome, Sylvan
• Tálan of Cormentyn (Male/Human(Chelish)) Psychic 1 - Azlanti Scholar
Skills: Linguistics +8, Knowledge (Arcana) +8, Knowledge (History) +12, Knowledge (Local) +9, Knowledge Religion (+8)
Languages: Azlanti, Aquan, Elven, Celestial, Infernal
I may have gotten some of incorrect or it may have changed.
I am more than willing to adjust to help the party as needed. Presently Caroline has the the Druidic Herbalism Nature Bond Variant. I am sure that the potions will help as we progress. This is my first druid so any advice critiquing welcome.
Thank you for the neat overview!
With Bless and Inspire Courage we should be good to bonk at low levels. I didn't roll too hot for my stats so other than INT & WIS, Tálan won't be packing too much heat.
Bravo. Nice work, Ms. Callingwood.
I think, outside of maybe Kn: Dungeoneering, we have everything pretty well covered. We have a lot of support to make sure that when we need to melee and get up close, we can likely make the hits count as best as they can.
I agree, good work Caroline. I am keeping up with the chat, but it's hard to find time to do much with two families' work of holiday gatherings to help with and attend. I do have a question and a notice for you, and a moment to ask them in:
1st. Would you prefer xp or milestone advancement, and
2nd. Once I have a little more time, I'll make a post with other NPC colonists each of your characters would know especially well. When the campaign starts, the ship will be arriving at Talmandor's Bounty after 6 weeks at sea, so you'd have spent a good deal of time with the others on board.
Thank you everyone. It helps to see where we all stand. In class/skills/languages.
I did notice we are lacking Disable Device. While Caroline could get it, but not sure ai want to give up stealth. I guess a question for our DM, is Disable Device going to be important to have?
Milestone advancement is fine by me.
Are the colonists we are close to, the ones listed in the players’ guide?
Milestone is fine for me, too. Tends to work better with adventure paths and negates the temptation to unnecessarily explore every nook and cranny because players don’t want to miss some scrap of xp.
Rock uses traditional Shoanti naming conventions. As such, nobody on board would know of his birth name of Chaytah. He introduces himself as Dives Like Rock, but allows friends to call him Rock (because typing out Dives Like Rock all the time is annoying).
Talan is not a friend. A Chelish academic who studies Azlanti culture was responsible for wiping out his whole village and his purpose in getting on this expedition is a little old-fashioned revenge. Rock isn’t going to blame Talan for that personally and he will work with him if he has to, but it’s going to take a long time for Rock to trust or like him.
I'm ok with milestone as well. ;)
As for disabile device, if it's essential, Kriz might be able to finagle himself around a bit if need be. I'll look into options...
Edit: Hmmm, maybe with the Vagabond Child trait.
Alright, milestone advancement it is.
Merry Christmas and Hppay Holidays! I hope all of you are enjoying the season, however that may be!
Happy Christmas all!
I have the next 9 days off, feels very good!
DM Yttras: I asked earlier, will Disable Device be an important skill that we should have? I know Caroline could get the skill via Wisdom in the Flesh (making it a wisdom based skill at that) Kriznox mentioned he could attempt to get it as well.
Rock has the Disable Device skill for opening doors and locks: it’s called a 20 Strength and an earth breaker.
Given that Rock could make good use of the mending spell, he might be viable as a sunder specialist.
*laughs* That is not really a bad idea, but I am sure that there some items/devices that will require a more delicate touch as well.
Rock has the Disable Device skill for opening doors and locks: it’s called a 20 Strength and an earth breaker.
Given that Rock could make good use of the mending spell, he might be viable as a sunder specialist.
Baern approves.
I am also okay with milestone experience. Keeps everything nice and orderly.
After the holidays, I'll write up about how Baern feels about his associates after six weeks at sea. He's a oddly friendly if initially surly kind of dwarf.
Lastly, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday. Take care of yourselves!
Thank you for reminding me, Caroline. Yes it would be a useful skill for the campaign.
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Thank you DM Yttras.
@ Kriznox - Caroline will take this one.
I will just need some funds to get some MW lockpikcs (hoping they have some on the Island. And eventually a Composite Bow (+2 str). The joys of a druid 70gp starting gold!
@ Baern A lot of what is happening new to Caroline. So all wide eyed and excited. She loves being on the ocean and helping out with small tasks about the ship. She is friendly to most everyone else they have proven themselves not worthy of such due to their actions.
Sorry for being slow, x-mas is taking its toll! I'll sit down to make a proper profile tomorrow and give more elaborate feedback on what I see Tálan doing in and out of combat :)
I've never played a psychic before and while I did look up some guides on what's good and bad, I didn't want to dive into a one-trick cheese pony so Tálan is a pretty all-round character who invested in some RP-heavy stuff like SF: History. With his stat line not being too amazing, he sadly lacks the physical stats to contribute to bonking enemies.
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An update for all of you, I should have start-of-game info out sometime tomorrow, and gameplay by Saturday.
* grin * Looking forward to this.
o/
I'll freshen up his profile page over the next couple of days.
Awesome! Glad to see it.
I'm sorry I haven't posted the pre-game information yet. My Christmas trip ended in missed flight, which has made an already busier than expected trip even busier. I should get everything posted tomorrow.
That sucks Yttras. I hope everything is back on track for you.
I am looking forward to doing... something. The few games I am in have come to a screeching halt with the holidays and since I have the week off I have been updating each of them too often waiting for something to happen.
@ Talan: My first time as a druid as well. I am usually a bard/cleric sort of person. Hence if anyone had advice on Caroline, please feel free to let me know. My worry is that I am giving up the animal companion for the potions. I can see the potential in each but I still have to wonder.
While ACs are nice, I don't think you're giving up a vital part of your character. We're 5 PCs, some of us have ability scores that are bonkers, and the ability to create cures and buffs that anyone can use should be super useful!
No worries DM! Take your time, we'll be here.
I think that, with the control spells and support spells that we have, we can fight pretty well. A big thing is just going to be fighting well on the map and minimizing the danger we're in. Baern is a solid combatant and with the right feats/martial flexibility, I can adapt to whatever fighting situation we're in.
You still get wild shape, right Caroline? That'll let you fight very well regardless of the terrain or situation once you get into it.
The transmutation wizard with the absurd strength is only going to lead to bigger and better things. I really look forward to how that is going to develop.
Kriznox is a classic bard. There is just no one better at supports generally than bards. We'll keep you alive and singing.
I have absolutely no idea how psychics play out but I am super excited to see how one functions in game. The follower of a dead god gaining some divine-esque spells through the power of their mind and faith sounds neat.
@ Daren: Yes, Caroline still has wild shape starting at level 4. Nothing is different there. (it was a choice of animal companion, 1 domain with powers, or the druidic herbalism)
I figured with the situation we will be finding ourselves, with only what can found or made on site, that the potions will come in very handy. Just like Rock has scribe scroll, save I can make 4 free potions (from any druid spell) per day (given that there is time to do so. Cannot be adventuring or the like as it still takes x time as brew potion)
Who is this Daren you speak of? :P
The potions will be super handy. I think we're a very good and interesting mix.
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Apologies Baern ;)
Something seems to have gone wonky with the gameplay thread. I dotted but never saw the dot appear and was unable to delete it, but I have this game on my campaign tab like it should be. I'm wondering if GM dotted and deleted when he created the gameplay thread, which might be confusing the software a bit.
I love the herbalist variant of the bond. Any time I've wanted to play a non-animal companion druid, I've never had a GM willing to allow it. It has cool RP value and interesting mechanics. Will Caroline be doing lots of foraging in the woods, picking up strange seaweeds, scraping lichen off of things, etc.?
As I mentioned above, Caroline is experiencing a new world. She is also a Herbalist (Profession) so looking for all the new and wonderful ingredients from flora and fauna should be, interesting.
I sadly can only cast one cure spell per available spell level a day, but Tálan also has 'bless' and 'virtue'. Eventually, I do get Magic Vestment which is an absolutely amazing spell.
And hopefully Daze and Sleep will be super helpful in the adventures to come ;) if not, I'll be a glorified knowledge bot, haha!
I would not worry too much about that Talan. Caroline and Kriznox can also cast cure spells. Hopefully we will be able to purchase a wand at some point and we can all use should the need arise. We have a decent amount of overlap in the support area.
> The cure or inflict spells don’t count as being on your psychic spell list for the purposes of any other effects.
Sadly I can't use wands or scrolls of the various cure spells :(
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Talan: That is a bummer. If you add it to a spell list it should be scroll/wandable in my opinion. You are basically a mental sorcerer. They did it to the investigator as well, but did not say it in the actual rules (even though an alchemist can.). I was generous enough to have a GM who hand waved that and said I could use wands in that campaign.
Merry New Year to everyone. All the best in 2022!
Happy New Year!
And it's alright, I suppose. Imagine playing a wizard and being able to pick a spec that gives you access to healing spells! I'm already more than happy that I can contribute with some spot healing plus the odd divine buff.
Happy New Year, folks!
Recalling the dark rituals she witnessed from past the young woman makes her way down to the lower decks. She was able to capture several rodents over the many weeks of the voyage. She had a place out of the way and much had been prepared. It was not long before she was chanting a low tone in a strange tongue before taking up the small rodents one by one and offering them to the Darkness...
"O Ferlern, ik rop dy.
O Ferlern rop ik dy.
O Lost One, kom nei foaren, d'r is in taak foar jo!
O Yttras, ik rop dy!"
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Here (finally) is the further information on NPCs that I promised. I’ve put it all in one post instead of 5 PMs for ease of access, but please only read the “Important Colonists” section and the one labelled with your character’s name. This will give you a starting-off point for developing relationships with other colonists over the course of the adventure, and contains information that other players may not know at the start.
Sorry about not getting this out when I said I would. Between heavy snow, car troubles, and sickness, its been a long start the the new year. I should have the opening gameplay post up today.
Ramona Avandth - Employee of the Bountiful Venture Company and head of the colony. Always projects an aura of calm and control, and works to know each of the colonists by name. Has short cut brown hair and a tan complexion. Has a fine ear and singing voice.
Lyra Heatherly - Employed by the Bountiful Venture Company as an explorer and mapmaker. Generally cheerful and something of a daredevil. A half-elf with long strawberry blonde hair and blue-green eyes. Rarely seen without her trusty pack.
Perrell Beys - Employed by the Bountiful Venture Company as a colony historian and scholarly advisor to Ramona. Soft-spoken but stubborn, and exactingly precise. A human woman with short-cropped red hair, a smattering of freckles, and a simple, practical shirt and vest.
Eamon Caranth - A priest of Erastil who volunteered to join the colony as a missionary. Easygoing and relaxed in demeanor. A friend to Father Nurpico, and the “defense attorney” in colonial trials. A tall half-elf with straw-colored hair and a pale complexion.
Kurvis Nurpico - A priest of Abadar who also volunteered to provide spiritual support for the colony. Generally perceived among the other colonists as gruff and curmudgeonly, but a friend to Father Caranth. A man with steel-gray hair and formal attire, and among the oldest of the colonists.
Anya Sandstrider - When Anya meets you, she expresses surprise to find another of her people traveling with outlanders to this strange new land. She is curious about your story, and tells you about her desire to help these “soft” people become stronger, and how she sees them as her new tribe.
Carver Hastings - Carver is the oldest of the colony's soldiers, and definitely the one with the most curious mind. He asks you how one of your people came to be a wizard, and is intensely interested in the story of how you came to Andoran, both sorrowful for your loss, and curious about the cave itself.
Alba Divenvaar - As an alchemist and a traveler finally ready to set down roots, Alba almost instantly took a liking to you. She’s traveled across much of Avistan and Garund, and takes great enjoyment in sharing stories of her adventures and alchemical and herbal tips with you over the course of the voyage.
Eamon Caranth - A missionary to the colony, the cleric of Erastil has an appreciation for nature that allows a lot of common ground with you, aside from the faith of your friend. If you confide in him about Jelena, he would encourage you to remember the importance of supporting family and building community, but not give any definite guidance on what exactly to do.
Carver Hastings - The old soldier is all that you assumed Carver was, until one evening when you both had a fit of energy and ended up on the deck together, watching the Arch of Aroden passing by. As you talked with him, you discovered that he knew a great deal about history. His revelation that he was an undercover Pathfinder following in the footsteps of Durvin Gest made his position in the colony make more sense to you.
Perrell Beys - The official colony historian and scholarly advisor to Ramona is also a friend made through discussion on ancient Azlant, though her interest in you seems a little more than academic.
Alba Divenvaar - Alba was a surprise to you on board, a dwarf who has travelled far and wide learning the art of alchemy, a wanderer like yourself. She is supportive of your decision make your own way.
Antwyn Malros - The young human leatherworker says that he wants to be a fighter and an adventurer, and after being told by several members of the ship's crew that they didn't have time to train him in fighting, he came to you asking for assistance.
Frel Tanboor - The son of Iobaran refugees, this one-eyed trapper is also a card sharp, and has actually pulled one over on you during a game with some of the Peregrine’s crew.
Kalcora Weems - The only halfling among the second wave of colonists, Kalcora is an eccentric person, who befriended you over being the “small people” among the colonists. She is an expert haggler, and a former slave from Chelix.
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Wow... it worked! *laughs*
Haha, are you Frysian? I'm not, but I can read that Cthulhu-esque prayer just fine.
I'm excited to get this campaign going! Hope all is well now, Yttras.
The player cracks his knuckles..
Let's get typing up some stuff then! It'll pass the time the best anyways.
"Ramona Avandth, is it? Name's Baern; I'm your porter. Got a cousin on the other side waiting for me. Let's not take long, yeah?" He said rather curtly, hurriedly moving past the human to claim his little piece of the ship before they head out on their long journey across the sea.
In time though, the rough demeanor of the dwarf would seem to disappear. The soft and beautiful voice she had would remind the dwarf of the times when he was younger and foolish, listening to minstrels in run-down taverns with a flock of hooligans around him. Before they land, she would find him quite agreeable and helpful upon the ship itself.
Alright, that is it for the NPCs. If anyone has any ideas of a "key" moment between themselves and Baern, let me know.
I am thinking that for Caroline, he sees her performing a ritual early on morning. I'm thinking that, being from Almas and being much of a city boy and sailor, he doesn't have much experience with druids.
For Rock, I think theirs is really simple; an arm-wrestling contest. Baern is strong but Rock is strong and the dwarf's pride is hurt after being beaten by the Shoanti. He accuses him first of cheating and then swallowed his pride and apologized for his rude outburst. Since then, they've become buddies through and through.
For Kriznox, I think perhaps Baern tried to teach the gnome some dwarven songs (badly) at some point or shared sea shanties that they hadn't heard yet. That's the easiest way the two could get along.
As for Talan, I don't think they're that close yet. Their personalities and what they like seem to be very different. I think perhaps, when moving old boxes and a swarm of some kind of insect came out, he had a chance to see the usually tough and gruff Baern freak out.
Let me know what you guys think!
Talan: I am not Frisian. I merely looked for a language to be druidic and will use for spellcasting.
Baern sounds reasonable. She would do her morning rituals for spells and such in the early morning just before the sunrises. Perhaps catching her on one of his "late nights" wondering what she was up to. As mentioned she would be helping where she could, help altering winds if needed, healing injured sailors with spells and potions. She is generally just a nice helpful woman, who takes any gesture of friendship at face value. (Unless you/anyone shows to be not worthy of such. Caught in lies, saying one thing and doing anything.)