I am assuming when possible while traveling Emerald rides correct?
Because for group travel across hexes you use the slowest speed in the group which if Emerald isn't mounted would drop the party to 20ft.. But mounted the lowest would be 30ft.
Also another question for Emerald, does she wear any kind of badge, tabbard, colors or livery of House Garess?
Emerald definitely rides when possible.
Yes, she would have the sigils or colors of House Garess on her tabard.
Just doing the initial RP, I feel like I am getting a better handle on who she is.
Brevoy is quite a bit influenced by Game of Thrones, of course. And so that's what I am drawing on for inspiration. Emerald is sort of a mix of Brienne of Tarth and Margaery Tyrell. One could do worse.
Yah I did a deep dive on Brevoy while preparing even tho they are mostly a bank roll as far as the campaign goes.
Everything except has a GoT flare or inspiration one of the biggest being Chorral(sp?) The Conqueror and his two dragons(who in legend are his wives and he is also a dragon) being a direct copy of Aegon the Conquoror and his two sistwr wives and their dragons. And the cold northerns bending the knee to keep autonomy in this case the Surtova's of Fort Ice compared to the Starks of Winterfell.
All work is derivative at some point but what makes it worse is GoT/ASoIaF is itself a highly derivative copy from Tad Williams Memory Sorrow and Thorn series from the 80's just with the murder and sex cranked up to 11.
Well, I quite liked both the books and the show, but they were very different things. I may check out that Tad Williams story eventually.
I do hope things turn out better for Margaery and Loras in the remaining books, should they ever be finished. I really like the Tyrells.
While I like Martins world building and lore I don't like his writing.
I really like the Tad Williams series but I have gotten mixed feedback from friends and family that I have lent it to. Tad even recently a few years back wrote a new book set 30 years after the original series to show how the main characters are aged up and after all the crazy Norn(white walker) nonsense and the happy ending.
Martin actually said in an interview once that he was highly inspired by Tad's book but he obviously changed enough to make it his own. But the Main character of Memory Sorrow and Thorn is very similar to if you Smashed Jon Snow and Bran Stark into one.
Actaeon's backstory is finally complete. Feel free to add any suggestions.
Emerald is from what was once part of Issia, but she isn't an anti-Restov zealot by any means. She has numerous possible ways to find common ground with Actaeon if the topic comes up.
But fundamentally, she thinks that since Issia and Restov were always warring before they were forcibly joined into the Kingdom of Brevoy, they would probably just go back to pointlessly warring if they were separated again - and then once more be easy pickings as they were when Choral the Conqueror came.
So she'd rather find solutions that can help keep Brevoy together, rather than angle for ways to break it up. If some new confederation arrangement that doesn't have the Surtovas on the throne is the way to go... that may be what is needed down the road. Other Issian noble families are getting tired of the Surtova shenanigans.
Actaeon has a lot learn about how the world really works. Currently, Actaeon's world is very black and white, and he will do anything to protect his homeland. He just wants things to go back to the way they were before the bandits came. He is young, proud, and stubborn, with little, if any, knowledge of politics or the workings of governments.
I hope to show true growth within Actaeon as he starts exploring the world outside of his little niche. I bet he will learn a lot from Emerald, even if there are a few bumps along the way.
I am still working on Actaeon's personality, trying to find his character and voice and trying to figure out how he would relate to a character like Sirinus.
I think it will be fun and interesting. Especially once we start killing some bandits.
Wonder if the GoT similarities might be part of the reason Brevoy was never developed much by Paizo? It's a place that never received it's own gazetteer, or any other kind of book despite it's popularity. Given there's an AP on it's doorstep, it seems odd. Even Druma of all places got a campaign setting book eventually for god's sake.
But unlike places lifted from historical or geographical locations in the real world, GoT is copyrighted stuff. It's like they edged up to it enough to hint 'here's GoT land, wink wink, nudge nudge, but if you want to play there, you'll need to add your own details'.
Ludivine will start to make progressively more sense with time. At least she knows what she wants and isn't afraid to ask for it! Spoiler: she is completely apolitical at this time, and doesn't much care about bandits either. She has bigger (or at least more personal) fish to fry.
Wonder if the GoT similarities might be part of the reason Brevoy was never developed much by Paizo? It's a place that never received it's own gazetteer, or any other kind of book despite it's popularity. Given there's an AP on it's doorstep, it seems odd. Even Druma of all places got a campaign setting book eventually for god's sake.
But unlike places lifted from historical or geographical locations in the real world, GoT is copyrighted stuff. It's like they edged up to it enough to hint 'here's GoT land, wink wink, nudge nudge, but if you want to play there, you'll need to add your own details'.
Ludivine will start to make progressively more sense with time. At least she knows what she wants and isn't afraid to ask for it! Spoiler: she is completely apolitical at this time, and doesn't much care about bandits either. She has bigger (or at least more personal) fish to fry.
There is a short gazetteer in issue 1 of kingmaker, which is where most of the GoT similarities we know about are written. Names each of the lords and their regions and concerns. There is enough there for adventure hooks ect. But I think anyone interested in a GoT game would just play in homebrew Westerros instead of its relatively tiny knock off.
Quick note lets have everyone start with 2 hero points 1 per standard rules and 1 for backstory.
First true gameplay post is up discuss and let me know how you wish to proceed.
I get a weird feeling Ludi and Emerald are going to butt heads with Actaeon in the middle not sure to take his sisters side or the pretty girls side
Hey! Is that a backhanded way of saying Ludivine isn't attractive? :p
Hey! Is that a backhanded way of saying Ludivine isn't attractive? :p
I plead the 5th?
Just fyi you still need to put Ludi's backstory on your sheet or if you have it someplace else public give me a link to it.
I have to say, I am not sure how to respond to Ludivine.
@Ludivine, OOC, what is your vision for the kingdom that the party eventually establishes?
Honestly I don't have any particular vision for it myself. I think Ludivine will be fairly Fey friendly though.
As for Ludivine, the real question right now is: who's doing the talking? You'll probably hear some varying opinions from her about the same things over time.
Spoopy
Working on a post.
I got the hexmap of the Northern Greenbelt up which is the land you are chartered to explore. With slides I don't have a good or easy way to hide parts of the map so you will have to use suspension of disbelief when deciding where to go. The Building on the map is obviously Oleg’s as it is labeled. We can work out a System how to mark what is explored vs. just crossed. For right now consider the only part of the map compete is the hex containg Oleg’s. Each hex is 12 mile across from the farthest corners.
The two images on Slide 1 are Oleg and his Wife Svetlana who you will be introduced to when the post come up.
Post is up and I got all the party tokens in the slides. If you want a different image than the forums like Ludi provide me with a link or PM so we can figure out a way to send me an image file such as email, or discord ect.
Let me know if you have any questions otherwise proceed.
With slides I don't have a good or easy way to hide parts of the map so you will have to use suspension of disbelief when deciding where to go.
I snipped and pasted a darkened hex grid on the right side of your map if you want to use it to create a Fog-of-War. You can use this to copy/paste to create more and overlay them on the grid. Feel free to delete if you do not like it.
Actaeon: You look at Svetlana analyzing her like a hunted target, however you get distracted by her blond hair and shaply figure before meeting her eyes and she gives a disproving glare as you inspect her. Your hunch is that she is pretty and a good cook by the smell of the stew and fresh bread.
LOL
When I wrote Actaeon's post, I was thinking that Actaeon would view Svetlana as more of a motherly figure with Actaeon returning home after a long day of farming to a nice motherly-cooked meal. Since he just met Svetlana and Oleg, he would still be leery with bandits about.
Actaeon is not a perve. :)
Actaeon: You look at Svetlana analyzing her like a hunted target, however you get distracted by her blond hair and shaply figure before meeting her eyes and she gives a disproving glare as you inspect her. Your hunch is that she is pretty and a good cook by the smell of the stew and fresh bread.LOL
When I wrote Actaeon's post, I was thinking that Actaeon would view Svetlana as more of a motherly figure with Actaeon returning home after a long day of farming to a nice motherly-cooked meal. Since he just met Svetlana and Oleg, he would still be leery with bandits about.
Actaeon is not a perve. :)
Just playing up the bad roll. And I doubt she would take it personal. Just the bad roll and the studied target ability. Svetlana definitely has the capacity to be kind of motherly although by art I wouldn't put her above 35.
Actaeon asking the important questions I am gonna take a break for dinner and some video games and let Emerald and Hadin and everyone else get any comments or questions in before answering.
Since Actaeon mentiond exploring the trading post after tbe conversation I will give descriptions of each of the areas, to help with your planning.
Sorry , a bit sick these days, please bot me as needed
Sorry , a bit sick these days, please bot me as needed
No worries. Busy at work today and than have my in person pathfinder game tonight so I am probably not getting a post up until tomorrow sorry for delays.
Will work up the combat map after work tonight. Since you all agreed to an ambush you will get a suprise round on the bandits assuming you don't expose yourselves somehow.
Apologies for the delay work and home were busier than I expected the past few days but tonight looks clear.
@Emerald. You seem to have the most rules exprience here but everyone feel free to chime in.
I don't think I have ever run into a suprise round that includes a mount. Since a mounted combatant doesn't use it's own move action does that mean during a suprise round a mounted person can have their mount make a move and the rider a seperate move or standard? It seems a little too good to be true. So my inclination is no.
By the rules it would work as you note, but it's your prerogative as GM to rule otherwise.
I would say that mounts are quite good when circumstances permit, but circumstances do not always permit. And even when they do, mounted combat is often less powerful than archery.
In this case, Move + Standard would not allow a Charge, for example.
If you do choose to rule this way, I might look to get the Lookout feat for Emerald and her horse, which seems a reasonable investment for both to be able to take full-round actions in a surprise round.
In this case, Move + Standard would not allow a Charge, for example.
Which is consistent with an on foot charge because it is a full round action.
Surprise is usually meant to get an advantage on position or use ranged attacks anyway. Also going forwards more encounters will be outdoors with the occasional crawl so it shouldn't be a huge deal. But if party tactics leads to trying to get more surprise rounds than that feat would be a good option and we can work on a way to getting it as a bonus or training feat.
In this case, Move + Standard would not allow a Charge, for example.Which is consistent with an on foot charge because it is a full round action.
Surprise is usually meant to get an advantage on position or use ranged attacks anyway. Also going forwards more encounters will be outdoors with the occasional crawl so it shouldn't be a huge deal. But if party tactics leads to trying to get more surprise rounds than that feat would be a good option and we can work on a way to getting it as a bonus or training feat.
My idea for Actaeon (at least for now), is to take advantage of his Stealth and attempt a Surprise Round as often as possible. The Trait Actaeon took also benefits him in a Surprise Round. The Lookout Feat might be a solid addition.
Sleep has a 1 round casting time, so cannot be done as a standard action in a surprise round. Sirinus could do a 5' step and start casting with a standard, then finish with his standard next round - assuming that he beats the bandits on initiative.
That was a change from 3E to 3.5, I believe.
But again, GM can always rule otherwise.
I haven't rolled it but trust me the bandits won't go before the spell pops. Their sheer comfort of doing this months unopossed has made them complacent they get a nasty penalty to init.
Interestingly they aren't as close together as I'd hoped either. A 10' burst will at best *maybe* capture the three ahead of their leader. Or maybe I start with the leader since he's at a more escape-ready position and those in the interior are already a bit more enclosed/ambushable.
Oh, I see the revised actions now. Cool cool.
But yeah, I don't think you get a 5' step on top of stanard-or-move in surprise round. Shrug. I certainly won't argue it :P
Depending on what the leader does this round, there still may be a chance to put him to sleep too :P
BTW GM, for this encounter absolutely assume Sirinus will be using points from his arcane reservoir at each casting to increase the sleep DC (by just 1, he doesn't have potent magic yet).
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5ft. step is a free action as long as you haven't made any other move actions in a round so fair for me IMO
I also didn't change init based off of actions in the surprise rounds since I kind of ran it freeform.
In the future I may run surprise rounds that way if only one side or the other acts and allow any bonuses like Actaeon's to apply when init is actually rolled at the start of the first round.
Hello all. I'm going to be in nature and away from computers starting Friday evening (4/29, 5pm, US/Pacific time) until late Sunday 5/1. I should be able to catch up in all games that same evening. As my absence is over the weekend I hope/expect for minimal disruption to my games.
Sorry for the delay in posting. The weekend was warm and dry after 3 weeks of rain, and with more rain coming all this week. I needed to spend it outside!
I don't want to drown out others from getting questions in. It seems like we're not going to get the full picture of the bandit organization from these two.
I just dislike prisoner interrogation scenes, so am sitting this one out.
Will be here when it is done.
That's fair, but I mean we're just thinking of questions. Sirinus isn't about to take fingers and toes. :) If you have ideas of what we should ask my character can still do it.
I just dislike prisoner interrogation scenes, so am sitting this one out.
Will be here when it is done.
Hmm I never gathered that from the other games. Always feel free to speak up if there is something uncomfortable in the game even through PM if group is also uncomfortable.
Not to meta for you but Sirinus has the right of it. You are at the bottom of the bandit ladder so do with that what you will.
It's not uncomfortable in this case, just not interesting or appealing.
I have no suggestions as to what to ask. Carry on. I will be here when it is done.
Brannart and Rayland was a very different scene. That didn't feel to me like "We beat you up so now you have to do what we say" (as is the usual thing for questioning mooks) but rather "What happened to you?" - where giving the answers was for Rayland's benefit and not ours. I can't really explain it, I just find questioning random minions to be unappealing. I understand that others find it productive and so I'm not trying to stop anyone. I just wanted to chime in that I am still here.
As a paladin, Hadin won't use violence against prisoners. If they can truly redeem, he's open to it, but that's all
GM: how would attempts at converting the bandits to the path of true redemption work?
*Possibly* productive. It stands to reason one must try.
Interrogation scenes can get messy if you're playing an evil character. I believe that Actaeon would want these two hung for their crimes, but he is not going to perform to any kind of torture. We have a lead of where the camp is. I say we come to a consensus of what to do with these two, then make preparations to advance the story.
Sorry for the delay in posting. Last week was a bear at work. I intended to catch up over the weekend, but I decided to test out some new rain gear. We got a pretty good soaking rain over the weekend, and I decided to test out my new gear and practice setting my tent in the rain. It has been a while for that. I will be away the next few days hiking again, and it looks like I will have some amazing spring weather to walk in.
Happy Trails!
As a paladin, Hadin won't use violence against prisoners. If they can truly redeem, he's open to it, but that's all
GM: how would attempts at converting the bandits to the path of true redemption work?
There are a couple of ways in the rules to do it but none of them are fast, similar to real life. If you were later in the campaign where you had your own settlement ect and you could guarantee their 'compliance' while away you may have a chance. At first level however you may have to choose a 'bad' option. Whether that is is execution, releasing them ect.
Emerald very much agrees with Actaeon and is willing to execute them as swiftly and mercifully as possible.
Torag is not the god of second chances for the guilty. She might be swayed if they seemed genuinely remorseful, but they don't.
No problem for a humane, as painless as possible, execution if such are the rules of the kingdom to come