Looking at Talia's backstory, it could be that your aunts, Onyx and Opal, married into Houses Phandros and Oberigo. Unless you had a completely different view. .... It would give me the flexibility to have an aunt pop up with Phandros of Oberigo for a little Flavor. Without really getting in the way. Importantly, Onyx and Opal still have family loyalty which extends to their niece -- You. (So at the end of the campaign, you can resolve whatever with whomever in head-canon. And so can I.)
I specifically left them as open plot hooks. Use them how you wish!
Thinking about the Court noble who tried to sacrifice Talia, this is what I came up with -- you can choose:
Lady Felina Imvius. A strong supporter of House Drovenge, House Imvius is showing a considerable amount of talent. Lady Felina is young, still a teen girl, but her thirst for political power and her ruthlessness are showing even as a teenager. It is uncertain (to outsiders of her House at least) to which ArchDevil she reveres most, but there is much speculation. She could be a High Priestess or Grand Inquisitor one day. People would love to know from which ArchDevil she gets her Divine abilities.
I choose Lady Felina. Sounds like a good cat-fight in the works.
If Renzio is Ileosa's nephew -- though she's only a few years his senior -- it would make Lady Dressarosa Renzio's mother.
I have no problem with this whatsoever.
It's important to note that Lady Dressarosa is a non-canonical NPC that another DM on The Boards created for his PbP campaign, a PbP that I liked to read several years ago. She didn't really show up much but I liked her and have used her as an ambassador between Korvosa and Cheliax. I have 'a sentence' about Lady Dressarosa Arvanxi personal background that has never yet come up in gameplay at my table: "In her early 30s Lady Dressarosa is a good decade older than Queen Ileosa and is unhappily married to a pox of a man from House Ciucci." That's all I got, though she's a pretty detailed diplomat and political operative (with no real adventuring powers and abilities).
But it's up to you, I guess, if you want to create more members of House Arvanxi.
I've made sure that House Arvanxi members -- other than Grandcount Aberian, the Lord Mayor of Westcrown -- are not around during our AP. I kinda have to since there are several House Arvanxi encounters (roleplay and otherwise) in CoT and we can't really have Homebrew NPCs stealing the limelight from, or getting in the way of, the PCs.
I came up with this idea that would have brought all of us together for the first time.
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I love coming up with more backstory for PCs -- once the AP starts, though, we have to relegate much of it to background and let the AP be the foreground. (With exceptions, of course.)
This campaign will begin in a bar called VIZIO's TAVERN. In Parego Spera.
You PCs will be there together doing whatever -- having a drink after you just did something, or are planning to do something, whatever. When the MacGuffin or whatever begins.
Couple of questions:
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Let me get to these Wednesday; I'm exhausted.
I have no problem at all if you want to use my Race Builder guidelines to make a custom Tiefling. (Even the same one you used for Sabella is fine.) If you beat me to it you can post it here just in case anyone else wants to take a gander.
I'm going to take a shower, brush my teeth, and read my book before going to sleep.
P.S.: Can't wait to see what Pale DM has in store for us!
Ray, I'm thinking of taking the drawback Attached, as it fits Renzio perfectly.
Officially, it says the GM picks the object/person of attachment, so would it be okay if Ren's attachment is to Talia?
This would explain *why* he seeks(sought?) vengeance vs Lady Felina.
I also had the idea that maybe House Arvanxi or at least Aberian, has the standard racist view of inferiority towards Tieflings. Renzio would obviously balk at this, and the treatment of his sister, and this could be another point of contention between the Lord Mayor and the young Arvanxi.
You have a strong emotional attachment to a person or object that you're terrified of losing. The GM chooses the object of your attachment. Whenever the object of your attachment is either threatened, in danger, or in someone else's possession, you take a —1 penalty on Will saves and a —2 penalty on saves against fear effects. If the person or object to which you're attached is ever lost, killed, or destroyed, exchange this drawback for the Doubt drawback.
Also, we were talking it over, and we've settled on Arcavius Arvanxi as Talia and Renzio's father.
Still catching up and doing some writing tonight (I'll post an updated concept before I sleep), but a question: is it possible for a 1st or 2nd-level character to be battling with the shadow creatures that come out at night in the city? Perhaps they exist in varying strengths so that an early character can tussle with some of them? Or are they at a minimum out of reach of new characters?
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OH. I just made a connection when I went to dot-and-delete. When you create a campaign from a gameplay thread, you *cannot* delete the first post or else it sort of breaks the gameplay thread. I think I saw a post above about trouble with the gameplay thread and this is likely why. I'm sorry to say I don't immediately recall if there's a solution, but it's worth searching campaign support threads to see what comes up.
Arrus comes from the modest background of a working class family amidst the sea of low-born rabble that live along the peninsula, in Parego Spera.
He grew up surrounded by wooden toys, as his father was a woodworker in the area making fine wooden furniture, ornate boxes, and of course toys. He built up something of a business that was well known in their neighborhood, and began teaching his son how to use the tools.
Just as he is coming of age, his father’s business is thrown into turmoil. A merchant of one of the moderate noble houses arrives in the neighborhood to take over a range of manufacturing businesses. Most resist, but his house has the ability to cut off, or increase the cost of incoming supplies (such as wood fit for crafting fine furniture). Before long, Arrus’ father was forced to accept a paltry buyout offer and found himself an employee of the offending noble house (TODO pick a good relevant one to hate :P)
To deal with his family’s hardships, Arrus falls in with unsavory crowds, taking guard and security detail work at various local businesses. This is the time that really hardens him and begins his personal resentment of the nobles of Westcrown. He’s literally scratching out a living to make up for what was taken from his father.
He tells his family his work is among tamer choices, such as courier and goods delivery. However, he turns out to be relatively successful at what he does and starts getting assignments protecting locations from the shadow creatures that roam Westcrown in the night, or rooting out creatures in the sluices of the undercity for clandestine organizations that use them for smuggling.
By this time he’s getting fairly streetwise, skirting the city curfews, and knowing who to work with and who to avoid. When the Bastards of Erebus emerge, he begins keeping tabs on them for his own safety and that of his family.
But these are nobles. He’s incredibly uneasy at the prospect of working with them, but he’s in a tough spot (TODO) and he was young and needed the money! However, he is continually surprised by these two as they seem a little different from other nobles. Renzio confides in him about an organization he’s heard of before, but only in whispers: The Council of Thieves. Arrus has long thought this organization might be the one that could be utilized to break up the grip that the noble houses have on Cheliax. Energy seems palpable as the two begin forming a bond over this idea as they set out to plan their immediate revenge plot…
Arrus Volso
CN Human Gestalt Rogue+(Slayer or Brawler/Unchained Monk) (currently leaning brawler)
Rogue - for his own purposes, skulking around the city past curfew and getting into places he’s not supposed to be (infiltration).
Slayer or unchained monk because he is a fist/sword for hire.
Roles: melee striker, sneak attacker, mobile TWF flanker, sneaker, physical infiltration, maybe tracker
Campaign Trait: Westcrown Firebrand or Conspiracy Hunter
@ Renzio Arvanxi
The Campaign Trait, Chelish Noble:
I couldn’t find this one on the d20PFSRD but wow, it seems pretty gross. Plenty of Traits just give a +1 bonus to one Skill and make it a Class Skill. That’s a little light, so adding the +1 to CHA checks encountering Chelaxian nobles is no biggie. But wait there’s more. Remove the CHA prereq for a Feat. Now we’re getting pretty hefty for just a Trait. So, um, you also get a Noble’s outfit, a signet ring, and, heh, a $200 gp nonmagical item. Sheesh. This is a Trait, right, not a 5E Feat? What book is it in? ….Actually, scratch that. Cut out about half of the Trait, your choice, and I’ll allow it. (I spent a minute looking through the other Traits in ‘Hell’s Vengeance’ and they are all just so powerful. Traits were sure a great idea back in the day but it seems they just get more and more powerful with each AP. Crazy.)
Alternate Racial Trait, Silver Tongued:
This is perfectly fine to replaced Skilled.
Drawback:
The only issue I see with this Drawback is the interpretation of “threatened, in danger, or in someone else’s possession.” I think every time the PCs are in Initiative the “threatened” and/or “in danger” criteria is met. And a -1 on Will Saves for every single combat seems steep for a Drawback. How would you interpret the Drawback, and significantly, why would you not interpret it as a condition met for every single combat?
I have no idea who Arcavius is. I mean, I guess it’s fine; he is not in CoT (unless I completely missed him to this point).
@ Arrus Volso,
Lord Sidonai Drovenge has recently returned to Westcrown from abroad. Considering his backstory -- unknown to the PCs -- he probably makes a pretty good choice for a noble who just bought the property on which your family has run a business, and is selling it or whatever -- is evicting your parents.
I like everything else about your backstory, too.
For your Trait, Conspiracy Hunter, go ahead and make it a +2 bonus.
In your "Attitudes" list:
I don't know what this means:
You may want to change your most hated House from Thrune to Drovenge. Lord Sidonai Drovenge, specifically.
Shadow Creatures:
Yes it is possible to have had an encounter of some kind with a Shadow Creature and have a strong hatred for them and what they've done to Westcrown for the past 100 years since they appeared after Aroden's disappearance.
Shadow Creatures:
Yes it is possible to have had an encounter of some kind with a Shadow Creature and have a strong hatred for them and what they've done to Westcrown for the past 100 years since they appeared after Aroden's disappearance.
Well, not just encounter but the direct question is could a low level character have gone toe to toe with one?
I don't know what this means:
Lol, the notes file I opened to you has some raw thoughts (and that was a reference to a character I was drawing some inspo from). The above posted summary is a cleaner version of the bits I'm finalized on.
@ Arrus Volso,
Lord Sidonai Drovenge has recently returned to Westcrown from abroad. Considering his backstory -- unknown to the PCs -- he probably makes a pretty good choice for a noble who just bought the property on which your family has run a business, and is selling it or whatever -- is evicting your parents.
...
You may want to change your most hated House from Thrune to Drovenge. Lord Sidonai Drovenge, specifically.
Perfect, thank you!
I like everything else about your backstory, too.
Great, thanks! I intend to flesh out some more details of formative encounters to give it more weight, or edge. E.g., he's hesitant to take the job from the Arvanxi kids, but is under a heavy debt for some reason from his underworld ties. I wonder if this would make an interesting hook into anything in the AP?
For your Trait, Conspiracy Hunter, go ahead and make it a +2 bonus.
Great! I hadn't chosen between those two traits, but if i chose that one I'll note this (but I was leaning this way).
@ Renzio Arvanxi
The Campaign Trait, Chelish Noble:
I couldn’t find this one on the d20PFSRD but wow, it seems pretty gross. Plenty of Traits just give a +1 bonus to one Skill and make it a Class Skill. That’s a little light, so adding the +1 to CHA checks encountering Chelaxian nobles is no biggie. But wait there’s more. Remove the CHA prereq for a Feat. Now we’re getting pretty hefty for just a Trait. So, um, you also get a Noble’s outfit, a signet ring, and, heh, a $200 gp nonmagical item. Sheesh. This is a Trait, right, not a 5E Feat? What book is it in? ….Actually, scratch that. Cut out about half of the Trait, your choice, and I’ll allow it. (I spent a minute looking through the other Traits in ‘Hell’s Vengeance’ and they are all just so powerful. Traits were sure a great idea back in the day but it seems they just get more and more powerful with each AP. Crazy.)Alternate Racial Trait, Silver Tongued:
This is perfectly fine to replaced Skilled.
Drawback:
The only issue I see with this Drawback is the interpretation of “threatened, in danger, or in someone else’s possession.” I think every time the PCs are in Initiative the “threatened” and/or “in danger” criteria is met. And a -1 on Will Saves for every single combat seems steep for a Drawback. How would you interpret the Drawback, and significantly, why would you not interpret it as a condition met for every single combat?
I have no idea who Arcavius is. I mean, I guess it’s fine; he is not in CoT (unless I completely missed him to this point).
Chelish noble trait: The +1 Cha bonus is the only part I care about, especially since I already took the noble scion feat. Renzio meets the pre-req, so that part doesn't matter.
Could I also take the Diabloist Raised trait from the CoT player's guide?
Honestly, I'm okay with the -1 to Will Saves for every combat from Attached. It's a really flavorful drawback that fits Renzio perfectly. Unless of course Talia disagrees for some reason.
I suppose if you wanna give me some additional minor boon to offset such a steep penalty, that would be okay, lol.
I should hope you have no idea who Arcavius Arvanzxi is, as Talia and I made him up! lol
Honestly, I'm okay with the -1 to Will Saves for every combat from Attached. It's a really flavorful drawback that fits Renzio perfectly. Unless of course Talia disagrees for some reason.
I'm okay with it if you are
Great! I hadn't chosen between those two traits, but if i chose that one I'll note this (but I was leaning this way).
Oh, and was the option to take two campaign traits there?
Finishing skills and other last details for Tiknesr.
which of these are class sklls for Witch and/or Alchemist:
Lore (arcana),
Lore (cosmology),
Lore (humanoids) ,
Lore (nature),
Lore (society)
Thanks!
On wealth, since my character was working class I was thinking start with PFS standard 150gp. MG instead suggested split the diff between max by-class wealth of Brawler and Rogue (so 200 gp).
Separately, I substituted Lore of nature (oozes, abberations) for Knowledge (dungeoneering) as a class skill.
Could a low level character have gone toe to toe with (a Shadow Creature)?
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I can't give an answer, really.
How about an anecdote around which your metagame brain may wrestle:
Decades ago in 3.5 I DMed 'The Shattered Gates of Slaughterguard' for D&D's 'RPGA' (the original Pathfinder Society -- for D&D conventions). The opening of the campaign, fresh-faced, newly-minted, 1st Level PCs, had to roll for a Random Encounter on the wilderness road from point A to point B. The encounters on the random chart were mundane little CR 1 - CR 4 worms: A few brigands, maybe a lone Bugbear, perhaps a wounded Ankheg. You know. But the one that the PCs rolled in this RPGA campaign off the 1st Level Random Encounter Chart was an Allip. Now, an Allip is only CR 3. One Undead monster against a group of PCs just doesn't have the Action Economy to stand a chance, right? Except that an Allip is incorporeal. And, um, the PCs are 1st Level. With 1st Level starting gear.
Wisely, the PCs fled and it wasn't a TPK.
I laughingly started singing 'Brave, brave, Sir Robin' at them and called the Group of PCs "The Allip Hunters," and the name stuck for the remainder of the campaign.
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Feel absolutely free to include in your backstory that you encountered a Shadow Creature -- in the rough or crude shape of a dog such as a dobermann pinscher. .... But as for going toe-to-toe with one, ....
All of the Traits from the CoT Players' Guide are certainly acceptable, including Diabolist Raised.
I never really had a problem with having more than one 'type' of Trait -- such as two Campaign Traits. I'm more concerned with balance. It kinda seems that Traits published later in Paizo's libris of Crunch get progressively more powerful -- and ludicrously more convoluted. But as long as they aren't obviously ridiculous I don't mind. Remember that Trait bonuses don't stack so two separate Traits that give a bonus to Lore of Nobility, or Initiative, or something, don't stack.
With a Gestalt Witch / Alchemist you would have all of those listed as Class Skills -- I had to double check on Lore of Society and Witch has 'History' which counts.
All characters with Class Levels have Lore of Humanoids since 'Humanoid' is the Lore Skill for identifying Class and Race abilities.
I think max starting wealth is the way to go -- even if your PC randomly inherited or scavenged something cool. Don't bother with average starting money -- go Max.
Importantly, in Gestalt one takes the better of the two Classes -- not the average. So if Rogue starting gold is greater than Brawler starting gold, you take Rogue. Max for Rogue.
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Core Dungeoneering and Nature are combined in Unchained into just Nature -- and as well in mine: Lore of Nature. Aberrations, Oozes, Plant-Monsters, Vermin -- as well as Giants and Fey and Monstrous Humanoids.
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You're good to go.
New:
I'm pretty much ready to start Gameplay in Vizio's Tavern -- you guys together discussing how you may attempt to get your revenge.
I'm still hoping Paizo Website service can fix our Gameplay Thread -- or I'll have to port everything to a new PbP tab (which is what HMM and our favorite Kobold are suggesting I do). Either way, I'll get the Gameplay started sometime on Tuesday. Hopefully! .... I should have time.
Also, I'm thinking about creating a new Campaign on my Obsidian Portal account for our PbP. It's easier for me to use the Obsidian Portal 'Wiki' tab to put all the campaign info for you guys rather than the 'Campaign Info' tab here on The Boards since, when I go to Edit the Campaign Info tab to add info, scrolling down thorough all the text can be tricky.
In Obsidian Portal y'all can post and keep track of Player stuff, too -- and the more y'all use it the more I'll be inclined to keep updating it.
For those not familiar with Obsidian Portal, it predates Discord by several years and was designed specifically for RPG campaigns. And I've had my account since before Discord so it's what I know, rather than Discord.
Let me know if it sounds okay to you for us to use supplementally with our PbP Gameplay here.
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Finally, one thing I can't do (yet) is put up battle grids and such from my PDFs, especially interactive ones.
If someone could teach me, boy, that'd be awesomesauce. As far as my internet skills go, I do have 3 Ranks in 'Internet: Windows 95 to XP' -- but it's not a Class Skill. I can't even attempt checks with a high DC.
Thanks for all your answers!
One more question:
I'm looking at the Construct Rider Alchemist Archetype which gets Diminished Extracts and trades away Brew Potion, Mutagen, and the L4 Discovery (a pretty steep price!) for a Animal Companion with the Construct type, plus (at L4) the Craft Constructs feat.
I honestly haven't looked into Crafting Constructs yet–and it's not the reason I'd take the artifact (I'm thinking of riding around on a magic-mecha-rat-wolf)–but I was curious: I know you've banned most item crafting. I could see any of:
- still get the feat (instead of banning it)
- get Craft Scroll instead
- or just skip it, and don't take way the L4 discovery.
Thoughts?
I think Craft Construct is okay as long as you're using it to make and repair your mechanical mount. I'm only against the crafting Feats because of PCs with 1/2 price gear overwhelming the CR-appropriate Bestairy encounters (and sometimes the time involved in making (improving) weapons, wondrous items, and such. But for the Construct, it's fine.
I have no idea what mechanics are involved in that build -- I only hope that it ends up similar to a Druid's Animal Companion, Summoner's Eidolon, or Tinkerer's Construct. As opposed to some grossly overpowered thing that wildly outshines the other PCs.
.... Thinking about our Council of Thieves AP -- a Construct/Mount or combatant ought to work okay.
Could a low level character have gone toe to toe with (a Shadow Creature)?.
I can't give an answer, really.
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Feel absolutely free to include in your backstory that you encountered a Shadow Creature -- in the rough or crude shape of a dog such as a dobermann pinscher. .... But as for going toe-to-toe with one, ....
No this is perfect. So I'll leave out as a *main* element. His background went away from the original idea of "protect shops from the shadows" anyway. Thank you!
I never really had a problem with having more than one 'type' of Trait -- such as two Campaign Traits. I'm more concerned with balance. It kinda seems that Traits published later in Paizo's libris of Crunch get progressively more powerful -- and ludicrously more convoluted. But as long as they aren't obviously ridiculous I don't mind. Remember that Trait bonuses don't stack so two separate Traits that give a bonus to Lore of Nobility, or Initiative, or something, don't stack.
Arrus' are Conspiracy Hunter and Westcrown Firebrand. TBH I picked these purely on the flavor, so I didn't give power much thought. They seem simple enough.
I won't respond individually to the other posts. You've answered my questions, TY!
I could buy a little more gear, and need to pick two languages due to INT, but otherwise this character is ready to start.
re: Obsidian Portal: I'm game to give it a try. There are many times to the Paizo boards get me thinking I need to get more serious about other options, like MythWeavers. So, I'm flexible on this.
Extracting maps from PDFs: I've had a lot of luck searching for PDF image extractors on the web (where you upload the file and they produce a zip file of images for you). If WebTools make you uncomfortable, TokenTool is locally runnable.
I'm all ready to go.
I have no idea what mechanics are involved in that build -- I only hope that it ends up similar to a Druid's Animal Companion, Summoner's Eidolon, or Tinkerer's Construct. As opposed to some grossly overpowered thing that wildly outshines the other PCs.
Thanks! The details are all in the archetype I linked but yeah, it's just a vanilla animal companion...plus most of a construct's normal immunities. My plan is 90% just to ride it around, and hopefully stay *away* from melee.
I think Craft Construct is okay as long as you're using it to make and repair your mechanical mount. I'm only against the crafting Feats because of PCs with 1/2 price gear overwhelming the CR-appropriate Bestairy encounters (and sometimes the time involved in making (improving) weapons, wondrous items, and such. But for the Construct, it's fine.
Hmmm, I think the only point of Craft Construct would be to make constructs...which I'm totally fine to not do. In that case, are you OK with taking the archetype but replacing Craft Construct with
- Craft Scroll (to sub in a less controversial crafting feat)- A bonus feat
- No bonus anything...just don't take way the L4 discovery Craft Construct would normally replace?
Thanks,
OK, my profile is up to date...except I didn't add a construct companion yet, pending DM decision. (Either way is fine.)
Ray, the Noble Scion feat allows you to pick a specific benefit. While Scion of Lore sort of fits, it's not the best of choices.
However, in the PF Companion Heroes of the High Court they offer other options based on the country you're from. While the following is 'officially' for those from Taldor, it's *perfect* for Renzio:
You gain a +2 bonus on Charisma-based checks when interacting with nobles or members of a noble court.
Would that be an okay swap? If so, it would give me a +4 bonus to bluff and diplomacy checks against nobles, the aristocracy, etc when combined with my two campaign traits.
Also, I assume favored enemy(humanoid) and favored terrain(urban) are both solid choices? I'm considering taking the Favored Judgement feat, which is why I'm asking.
In that case, are you OK with taking the archetype but replacing Craft Construct with .... (Scribe) Scroll?
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Either is fine; I have no problem with you're modifying the Archetype.
Choose to take either Craft Construct for the Mount, using it for 'Healing' (repairing) and upgrading it --
or choose to take Scribe Scroll for more utility for your PC.
I guess from a metagame standpoint it makes more sense to have the Archetype give Craft Construct, and then you take the Feat Scribe Scroll when you want, just as a Feat. But again, it doesn't matter to me.
(Noble Scion; Benefit; Scion of Taldor)
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I was wrestling this in my slimy, contoured, metagame brain for several rounds (don't know how I avoided any AoOs while thinking about it).
Most of the Nobles are indifferent to a random member of House Arvanxi. This kind of Feat would be good in those cases. But some of the Nobles in Westcrown have a specific agenda, either pro-Arvanxi or anti-Arvanxi, pro-Council of Thieves or anti-, pro Westcrown's Children or anti-. And obviously most of the specific encounters in the published CoT AP are with these Nobles.
Here's what I would like, if you want a Feat for something that's more roleplay and intrigue -- and you let me know if it sounds worth a Feat:
Noble Scion of Cheliax:
A) You gain a +4 on all Charisma checks dealing with Nobles allied with your House -- DM to determine whether an individual member of your House is 'rogue' or 'heretical' and thus against your House.
B) You gain a +4 on all Charisma checks dealing with merchants, and peasants who are awed by nobility -- DM to determine whether an individual in Westcrown is anti-nobility or anti-'Infernal Empire' and thus prejudice against the nobility.
C) You gain a +2 on all Charisma checks dealing with Nobles who are completely neutral to your House one way or the other.
D) You suffer a -2 on all Charisma checks dealing with Nobles 'rogue' or 'heretical' against your House, and merchants & peasants who are anti-nobility. The DM may determine if a particular Noble or commoner is so antithetical to your House that that you suffer a -4 on Charisma checks for that individual.
The DM will not likely inform you of whether or not you are gaining a +4 bonus, or another modifier.
Note: You can use Bluff to trick a fellow Noble in order to gain a different Reaction Adjustment, and we will have to remember.
So,....
If "Lord 'John Doe' Ciucci" -- House Ciucci allies with House Arvanxi -- is a standard member of House Ciucci, then you will have a +4 bonus to your CHA checks with him. .... If, however, Lord John Doe Ciucci is secretly a member of The Council of Thieves and is working against House Ciucci and House Arvanxi (or if he's secretly an anti-Thrune LG Paladin of Iomedae), you would suffer a -2 (and only very rarely a -4) on your CHA checks. .... You may Bluff that you are also a member of the Council of Thieves, and if it succeeds against his Sense Motive you will no longer suffer the -2 and in fact start getting the +4. Then we may have fun with ye olde "Whisper Down the Lane" when it comes to interactions with certain NPCs, some of whom think you're a member of The Council of Thieves and some who think something else. (I kinda think this could happen in CoT regardless of whether you take the Feat, quite frankly.)
Meanwhile, if "Lady 'Jane Doe' Oberigo" is a standard noble, like most, who is neither antagonistic nor especially supportive toward House Arvanxi, you gain a +2. If Lady Jane Doe is specifically written to want to overthrow House Arvanxi because she has a personal vendetta or hatred to House Arvanxi (maybe she was raped by Aberian Arvanxi or something), then you have a -4. But you won't know one way or the other. If you Bluff that you could have a similar or compatable agenda, and if it works, you would gain a +4.
And this is why you have a bastard who is not officially acknowledged as part of the house. Though I admit I might get penalties if somebody knows I'm affiliated with you.
It's also why I mentioned -- I think maybe before Monkeygod and I started the Discussion tab here, so it may be new -- that if everyone wanted to take One Level in Vigilante so the group can have two identities, it could really work well for the campaign.
Not up-front though, right? For most that would be taken at 2nd level (giving some time to mull it over).
How about tristalt at 1st level, with one being vigilante? After this we would go back to normal gestalt.
Personally, I could almost take vigilante/warlock. It just gives me mystic bolts which are so much worse than dread bolts. If I could take warlock getting the vigilante specialization instead of mystic bolts, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
Either is fine; I have no problem with you're modifying the Archetype.
Choose to take either Craft Construct for the Mount, using it for 'Healing' (repairing) and upgrading it --
or choose to take Scribe Scroll for more utility for your PC.
Ahhh yes, repairs/healing. I see it's often discussed for this archetype, since the archetype doesn't really give a way for it to be repaired between L1 and L4. Half the posts suggest houserules, e.g. 'Yeah talk to your DM about it. I'd probably allow Knowledge Engineering to function as a pseudo "Heal check"'
One option that does is fast healing. That leads me to a Q about Infernal Healing, which requires a drop of devil's blood. I assume over play, before too long, we may collect plenty of devil's blood in Westcrown. Until then, perhaps it's available for sale? Any notion of the cost for a drop of blood?
I'm sure that the church of Asmodeus will be perfectly willing to sell devil's blood. And teach people the spell. No cost, you just need to sign this document. It's some silly thing the higher ups insist on. No need to read it, it's just the standard legal mumbo-jumbo.
In some games, a couple drops of tiefling blood is enough to trigger it, which is easy to do in this group.
Obviously no Tristalt, LOL. Not even for one Level.
Vigilante is something that the group may want to talk over before really getting into Gameplay -- I think what you've come up with works well without it. Remember that when CoT was published there wasn't even an APG or B2, let alone the Vigilante Class. It's just something that could be fun. If y'all, a few levels in, all decide that it'd be cool to take a Level in Vigilante and create a group alter-ego, as it were, awesome. If not, that's okay too. (Disguises from magical Hats and Skill Ranks are fine too if it comes to it. Or one PC may go at it; it's all good.)
@ Tiknesr,
Honestly, I'm not gonna have time (or motivation) to really look at the Crunch for your Archetype and do the research of what other DMs and groups have done with it to make it work. You can (have already) do the research into it and come up with a fair ruling. You can ask if the other player's want to give their opinions and suggestions and concerns. And then do what you feel is appropriate. And balanced.
Since I started using Background Skills a few campaigns ago I haven't had anyone play a Bard, but our group was like, 'Hey, if someone plays a Bard we should probably make that PC have Artistry as a regular Adventuring Skill rather than a Background Skill. It's just so critical to the Crunch of the PC design.' Likewise, for us, I think if you're going with, like, Profession: Tinkerer or Profession: Engineer or something that you use for your Construct the way a Bard uses Perform (now called 'Artistry'), you ought to make it one of the Adventuring Skills so it's all balanced and fair. Background Skills are really for Flavor.
I dunno how much is Tiefling or Devil blood, one bazzilion gold pieces per ounce? Per shot? Whatever, make it up. .... Although I'm confident that Priests and lawyers in Cheliax wouldn't say "legal mumbo-jumbo" when they're tricking you into signing on the dotted line without reading the document first. They'd smilingly explain every nook and cranny of their writing and tout how important it is -- confident in their ability to trick you with their words: 'I'll trade you the weight of a pound of platinum on Golaria for the weight of an ounce of your Soul on Akiton!'
Gameplay and Discussion are open!