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I am recruiting for one or two groups of up to six characters to attempt the Kingmaker Adventure Path. As a quick reminder Kingmaker was quite innovative as it introduced a Sandbox adventure with a kingdom building twist. The players guide for 1E Pathfinder should be still available in the marketplace for free -- and I recommend prospective applicants review it if they are new to this Adventure Path.
For those of you who do not know me, I am returning after a four-year hiatus on these boards. Before I left I ran a variety of pathfinder adventure paths, old school AD&D modules I converted to pathfinder, and a few homebrews. After many years of experience I am convinced Pathfinder 1E is an amazing RPG system, and the PRD/SRD with Archive of Nethys support has so many resources for everyone on line.
If you wish to know my style that is heavily borrowed from GM Blood, please check out this attempt to complete an AP. Even with the best players I knew and loved, we only made it a year--this was an invitation only game, hence the lack of a recruitment thread. Link to AP that made it almost to Book 2
This AP will have a strict posting requirement of once per weekday with the ability to have your character botted by me during real life emergency periods. The character generation will be standard 15 point buy (no minimums as low stats add RP flavor to characters) with all Paizo material in bounds (no third party), and I encourage characters to include the campaign traits provided and consider recommendations for characters in the player guide. I will admit I am biased to standard races, but the occasional tengu, catfolk, or ratfolk will be considered.
Now for the twist. We will be playing a prequel to Kingmaker that will get characters to level 2 and get them their charter to create their kingdom. We will have a chance to see how the group works together and hopefully move right into the Kingmaker Adventure Path.
Previously as a GM, I used google docs and will do so for the prequel. It turns out the second edition Roll 20 kingmaker content is completely different than 1E, so I expect to use google docs throughout this AP and link all maps in the game thread. My free subscription to book 1 of 2E Kingmaker is of little help with maps, but I may snag some of the cool graphics for handouts.
The prequel adventure will be entitled Intrigue in Brevoy and will take place near Lake Reykal in service of House Lebeda. I have some business trips coming up and do not want to rush the recruitment process, as my quick recruitments of the past may have been a mistake.
I also in the past thought aliases were precious, but now I have so many, I no longer think so. Please make up an alias if you are interested with a background / backstory.
I also in the past thought aliases were precious, but now I have so many, I no longer think so. Please make up an alias if you are interested with a background / backstory.
Does this mean that, if you are interested in applying for the game, you should make an alias with background/backstory, OR apply for the game, and also, if you are interested in making an alias with background and backstory, do so?
Given the rate of non-successful applications, I see many long time solid posters/players post their character in a post in the thread, saying they will make the alias if selected.
Sounds an intriguing kickoff of KM. Dotting for interest GM T:) Have a half-orc Inquisitor of Abadar as my gestating concept.
She'll (likely) have been a foundling or orphan whose been brought up by the Church. Her talents meant she was well suited to night watch/guard duties on vaults or trade routes and has been invested by her Abdarian Archbankers to ensure their interests are protected and augmented in any of House Lebeda's endeavours.
Couple of questions from my side on trait (which I'm a big fan of).
What's the starting amount of traits for the game? 1 free +1 KM campaign?
Do you allow Additional Traits feat?
I'm not sure about how this character will be received, so I'm putting it out there before moving forward. Character was originally built for Kingmaker in Feb of 2013, but the background has ruffled a few feathers. Doesn't match your build rules as is (20 Points instead of 15 looks to be the big difference), but I want to clear whether the background/approach is workable for you before adjusting.
Catfolk Archivist Bard born and raised as a slave entertainer to the Lebeda family. Sent along as support for a family member.
The fact the character's history was with the Lebeda family and you are choosing to start in Lebeda lands was a pretty amazing coincidence.
Drek, or Fuzzbutt, is probably the least successful character concept I've submitted for Kingmaker. The slave status seems to be very uncomfortable for many people. I am willing to submit something else if you prefer, GM Tribute.
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Drektan is a great character, I have no problem with it. In Golarian weren't hobbits enslaved? Link to players guide attempted if my google docs works properly.
Let's allow three total traits including one trait from the campaign traits if a drawback is selected. Two traits and no drawback is an option. If your low charisma dwarf wants to be condescending, definitely not a problem--just role play your drawback. Additional traits feat once per character is also allowed. Five should be enough. Rich parents allowed (someone may want to zen archer).
Posting a detailed character without an alias is acceptable, though I do hope this will not be the last Kingmaker 1E recruitment. I still hope to get my druid to make it out of book one.
For those of you who had the pleasure to game with Doomed Hero, he made amazing characters and got accepted to almost every game he applied to. Here is just one example of the A solution to a character submission. Every character in his profile is amazingly detailed.
Link to a Doomed Hero Character
And this guide is still one of the best Doomed Hero Guide to PbP
Thank you for running this game, and TWO tables to boot? I would love an opportunity to play kingmaker. I will do some looking at the Player's Guide and come up with something fun.
Dotting for thoughts
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@GM T - perfect on the traits front.
@hustonj: Possible that slavery exists in Brevoy or Restov but unlikely in the River Kingdoms. Their folk by a code called The Six River Freedoms which I've spoiler below for reference - couple have real resonance for Drektan:
Say What You Will, I Live Free: The freedom to speak is not the same as freedom from consequences of speech. Outsiders, drunkards, and fools are the only ones who vocally invoke this freedom. All others respect it, and live with it accordingly. Still, criticism of government is more common here than in other lands. Pride sometimes intervenes, but a long-lasting lord is one who lets tongues wag.
Oathbreakers Die: The opposite of free speech in the River Kingdoms is the gravity of oath-breaking. Petty liars are common, but in a land where tomorrow can bring a gang of mercenaries, the people in charge must know whom they can trust. Riverfolk who undertake oaths of this nature keep them, or die trying.
Walk Any Road, Float Any River: This freedom implies no safety while traveling, especially from the local lord. It merely prevents lords from blocking land and water travel, or charging tolls for passing (except for non-Riverfolk). However, in practice, it means no lord can take his or her people for granted.
Courts Are for Kings: One of the most basic freedoms of the River Kingdoms, this one holds that all laws within the river kingdom are flexible, and that rulers of a kingdom may do as they wish. Visitors to a river kingdom -- be they king or commoner -- are bound by the (often arbitrary) laws of that kingdom. Consequently rulers of the different kingdoms infrequently visit each other, and instead rely on liaisons and intermediaries.
Slavery Is an Abomination: Escaped slaves are an important fact of life in the River Kingdom. A slave that escapes to the River Kingdoms is considered truly free. By some estimates, more than a third of all people living in the River Kingdoms are either escaped slaves or children of escaped slaves. Thousands of slaves make their way to the River Kingdoms annually and fiercely defend their newfound freedoms.
You Have What You Hold: This freedom draws the moral distinction between stealing and robbery. In the River Kingdoms, it is more preferable to face your robber, to be allowed the opportunity to resist (and perhaps to repossess!). It is acceptable (and perhaps worthy of praise) to take what you want by force.
Let me add this pledge— I will run no more games until one or both tables are concluded or weekly posting from players stops.
As for slavery, we will deal with it and freedom as a moral theme. Dreka has provided a “hook” that I should be able to run with on slavery. Feel free to build hooks in your own backstory—I will notice and have been known to add content and bring them into the story. Another moral issue in Kingmaker is banditry and those that chose it for survival. I also add Kingmaker is perfect for redemption story arcs.
If you plan to “dip” into other classes it is nice if it is roleplayed somewhat and can make for a “hook” to better the story.
As I intend to make house Labeda the “good guys” either in our game canon is slavery is 100% acceptable there or the Catfolk slave was a diplomatic gift and sending Dreka on the following missions is a clever way to get her to earn and fully appreciate freedom.
And, no Elephant in Room or any third party — hopefully the feat taxes to be an Aldori sword lord will be worth it. Many adversaries are martial, and feat taxes work both ways. Don’t want to rebuild any bandits.
@hustonj: Totally agree mate - was just popping the River Kingdoms stuff up as a potential flavour hook for Drek seeking a place where their freedom is a right rather than earned or given.
I previously played a gnome river-freebooter in another KM game and it was his mantra, so thought I'd repost for all and sundry.
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Hmmm, hustonj and Black Dow having a conversation about property rights and morality; sounds like my kind of game.
I need to decide if I want to 'dust off' a previous build or create something new. Probably will spend more time on it Tuesday or Wednesday, but I wanted to dot in the recruitment thread.
If I haven't said it yet GM Tribute, thanks for being willing to run the game!
I guess I'm back sooner than I thought I'd be...
One of the characters I'd crafted for a kingmaker game, was for a solo game with a character and their close cohort: the character (Kunala) and his cohort (Iradyiel). I called this the 'Backstories backstory' since were dealing with the Lebeda family, would part, or all, of this work or is it too close to home? I would play Kunala, and his brother would just be part of 'His Backstory'.
When the play finally ran its course Iradiel asked Alika if she would travel with him to Galt. He had been asked to bring his talent to Iasrn, "a city of art that was graced by beautiful architecture, green parks, and statuary." The owner of 'The Revolutionary Theatre,' a fellow name Mortious Grump, promised complete artistic control to Iradyiel and Iradyiel wanted Alika to be his leading lady. Iradyiel's production, called 'the Forest Thistle' a coming-of-age story set in the Fierani Forest, did not appeal to the masses of Galt like he had hoped. The show closed abruptly, and Iradyiel in a deep funk left almost as quickly. Before Alika could tell him she was pregnant with his child.
Needing work, too proud to go home and too smart to stay in Galt, she left the chaotic city of Iasrn behind. She had heard there was a new production in the works at the "The Red Dragon Theatre" in the Northern City, New Steven. Traveling to Brevoy as quickly as she could, she parlayed her good looks, experience, family name and 'exotic' Taldori style into multiple starting roles there in the theatre.
Her son was born in New Steven, a beautiful dark haired half elf. Wanting only to remember the good times with his father, she named him Iradyiel Madras, calling him her little Iradyiel. While working she would leave Iradyiel with his nanny, a kind and tender halfling named Famau Troseddol.
Shortly after joining the Theatrical troupe of the 'Red Dragon' she caught the eye of a major patron, one Lord Lebeda. Working through Cal Rhemus, the owner of the theatre, he arranged to meet her. As they got to know each other, Alika learned the lord split his time between Castle Silverhall, the families estate, and his mansion in New Steven where he handled business and politics. The Lord often spoke of his wife, 'Dame Sarrona Lebeda.' An arranged marriage which helped seal many monetary and political issues, but Sarrona was assertive and opinionated, while the marriage of over ten years had produced only a daughter. Soon, Alika, Iradiel and Famau the nanny, had moved into the sprawling Lebeda mansion.
Not long after that, she gave birth to her second son. Kunala, the bastard son of Lord Lebeda. Their lives were happy, Alika retired from the theatre, taking up painting and poetry while the Lord was away. While he was in New Steven they would spend the time enjoying the city or together with the boys. That changed in the summer of 95, When Dame Sarrona, at her thirteen-year-old daughter's request, paid a surprise visit to daddy in New Steven. After a very stressful Erastus, Lord Lebeda with wife and daughter returned to Silverhall.
When he returned to the city that fall he explained that his daughter Elanna, taking an interest in family affairs, wanted to join him in the city and learn about business and politics. He had argued with his wife about the appearance of keeping 'a mistress' especially in front of the children, an argument he apparently lost. He arranged for Alika, Iradiel and Kunala to move to his hunting lodge, located in the north western tip of the Narlmarch Woods down river, at the most southeastern corner of his lands.
The hunting lodge called 'Rivercat Lodge,' was almost a small village unto itself. Located near enough to the East Sellen River to receive regular supplies, but far enough to need a small palisade, it became home to Alika and her children along with the other hundred or so people who live there. The first year Lord Lebeda visited every month, bringing gifts and surprises to the boys. The next year it was ten visits, the one after that was eight. In 4700 when the Lord's legitimate son, Lander, was born, The visits became once a year, in Neth the month Kunala was born which coincided with the best time to hunt elk.
Alika and Lebeda's relationship had slipped away well before the birth of Lander. His visits had become strictly about seeing his bastard son, Kunala. Although he had remained friendly with both Alika and her first son Iradyiel, even approving when Alika told him she wanted to marry a local ranger and bowmaker, Onnello Ustradi. Lebeda had said it would be for the best. Wishing Alika and Onnello happiness, giving them a small wedding gift, though he did not attend the wedding. Onnello had a large shop there in the lodge, but kept a cabin a few miles away, where they would spend most of his time.
Alika and Onnello were happy, eventually having three children of their own, two Girls: Erica and Rachel, and a boy Davidian. Alika continued making sure all the children had a liberal education. She would teach them music, geography, languages and proper etiquette. Onnello taught Iradyiel and Kunala woodlore and weapons. Kunala continued to be taught dueling and statecraft by tutors his father would send to the lodge. Even paying Kunala's tuition to the prestigious Aldori Academy of Restov.
He was at the Academy when word came that Lord Lander had died. Worried for her son’s life, Alika sent Iradyiel to Restov with instructions for the two of them to leave the country.
Quick modification to your known build rules in place.
Updated the format to be closer to my current standard.
Moved a couple of skill points to adjust for long-term build strengths. The archetype provides full Trapfinding benefits under another name, though Disable Device isn't a class skill until he gains the Bardic ability to treat everything as class skills. So a curious cat has some ability to deal with locks and traps but doesn't START to REALLY know how until level 2, and then inexplicably gets a jump in capability at Level 11 . . .. Didn't take advantage of that originally? Or with the submission to other games? Interesting . . ..
Also, I didn't want to start creating Lebeda NPCs on you. The Lebeda family is most of whom Drektan knows. I can and will create some NPCs (and even servants) if you wish, but I'm not going to do it without clearing it.
Yes. Thank you for volunteering to run the game (both tables), and for giving me a chance to show off a more unusual character.
No EitR is going to make the Aldori path less appealing. Even a straight Rogue can qualify for Aldori Defender in time to take it at Level 6, though. So, if anybody WANTS to go down that path, it really isn't hard to do.
And, let us say the Aldori sword counts for all 1E swashbuckler abilities too. Seems an omission on that class.
And feel free to create NPCs in House LAbeda.
Sounds fun, VERY tempted, but I'd lying if it wouldn't end up stretching my time too thin, and that never works out well for anyone. ;)
In any event, HAVE FUN wit this, and know I'll be lurking along, reading what you've come up with for your prequel!
~ Flanderdash
And, let us say the Aldori sword counts for all 1E swashbuckler abilities too. Seems an omission on that class.I agree it feels weird, but I understand the rules-lawyer reason it doesn't fit....
I am NOT saying RAW is right, I'm just saying how RAW lays it out. I believe rules should support story, not the other way around. <grin>
Interesting conversation on the swashbuckler with an Aldori sword. I've not played a swashbuckler, may be interesting to put one together, unless I'm stepping on someones toes?
GM Tribute, would it be ok if Kunala was an 'illegitimate' child of Lord Lebeda?
For those of you who had the pleasure to game with Doomed Hero, he made amazing characters and got accepted to almost every game he applied to.
Played with DH…at least three times. The first time (can’t believe that was ten years ago on these boards) was perhaps the wildest character I have ever had the absolute pleasure to play with. It was an all Goblin game, but not We Be Goblins. DH played Dogdog, a scizore wiedling goblin Maddog barbarian. The scizore was a wolf-skull gauntlet hand puppet that Dogdog believed was his mama (and which provided pithy advice to Dogdog in mama’s voice as voiced by…Dogdog), and Dogdog’s animal companion was Dogdog’s dog, Dog. Fun times.
And yes, DH’s guide to PbP’s is a seminal piece of advice. I have his thread, his GM advice thread, and Painlord’s follow up to DH’s ideas linked in this alias.
Returning you to your discussion - I’ve had my fill of Kingmaker so have fun with a twist!
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Well, I have to say that my interest is piqued having read throw this thread. I'm leaning towards playing a hunter. Are changelings on the table?
Oh and hello Black Dow! I was tempted to play a cleric of Abadar when I saw that you were planning on playing an inquisitor of Abadar. I thought playing part of a couple of Abadarian clergy with you would be fun.
Robert Henry, yes to the bastard to Lord Lebeda. I always thought Inigo Montoya from princess bride would want more swashbuckling in Pathfinder, but I don't see many.
And Adam two divine casters are fine -- Abadar, Pharasma, Gorum, and Erastil are the thematic choices in the area with Abadar being the most prevalent. Erastil's favored weapon is a longbow, which I was told by a friend was a trap to trick clerics to spend feats on the longbow versus divine casting and channeling, but his domains are rock solid.
Intrigue in Brevoy, our chapter 0 prelude will be a mission south of the Brevan border to settle problems with trade caravans. There will be skill and social challenges and probably 3-5 episodic combats. I can make any backgrounds work, though ties to Brevoy will make integration easy. It will start with a tavern encounter like all good old school games did.
Oh, an Erastillian huntsman sounds fun.
I asked this, but I think it got missed, are changelings on the table? It seems like they are, but I want to confirm for sure. I don't know if I'll go that way just yet, but a few of the ideas I have would work really well as a changeling. (Not to mention they come with a built in hook for you to throw some Hags at us. :D)
Just some ideas that I'm mulling over:
- Abadarian Priest (Cleric, Oracle, Wizard, or Arcanist) that is Black Dow's inquisitor's partner
- Erastillian Hunter looking for a quiet place to call their own, and winds up getting swept up into whatever chaos ensues at the tavern. (There will be a brawl, right? :P )
- A druid looking for help with the bandits in the Stolen Lands.
- A witch freshly escaped from Irrisen and looking to get in good with a powerful backer for her own protection.
@Black Dow: I'd love to hear any ideas you might have on the first one. As I said, I'd love to see what we could come up with together.
Allow me into introduce you to Viktor "Bloodcoat" Betyrina. He is originally from a failed Reign of Winter campaign, but I like the character concept so much, I'd like to resubmit him here.
Viktor Betyrina is a male jadwiga noble, a third-born son with no hope for upward mobility in irrisen society. Once he was of age, instead of staying to be married to a domineering jadwiga would-be princess, Viktor took his inheritance and left Irrisen. Being denied training in become a winter witch, due to his gender, the angry jadwiga noble trained in the ice school of magic.
Viktor would chance to meet Lord Lander Lebeda during his exile and strike up a friendship of sorts. The Rostlander Lord would invite Viktor to his noble house and serve as a arcane adviser and enforcer.
*****
Viktor Betyrina, being from a society of elitist sociopaths, is without mercy to his enemies, and can be brutally honest with those few he calls 'friends'. If possible, for RP purposes, I'd like Viktor to be NE. I will absolutely make sure to not included an pvp between characters because of his actions. If not, he would stay CN.
So, I’ve come up with idea of a rogue from the River Kingdoms who survived a hanging and eventually makes his way to Brevoy (see background). Does he need to have ties to house Lebeda?
The first thing you notice about Thom is his bulging eyes, which appear ready to pop out of his head. The protruding orbs are unsettling to look at but close inspection reveal that they are a dull, unremarkable, brown a shade darker than his hair which he wears in a blunt bowl cut. The lad stands a few inches over five feet with a sinewy and slight build. His complexion is dark, a testament to his mother’s Kellid heritage. The wiry young man is always smiling as if laughing at the world. Thom has a rope scar around his neck from a hanging that didn’t take.
Thom is first and foremost a survivor, a bit slow to trust, always looking out for his own self-interest. The wiry young man is a bit lazy and indolent always trying hard to get out of work and he has no great compulsion to keep his word or stick his neck out for others. However, he has a good heart and usually makes the right choices, sometimes, with a little encouragement from others, in the end. Thom is also a fun loving free spirit quick of tongue and wit which often lands him in trouble. He also enjoys sharing a good joke, strong drink, and a nice smoke with his companions but his one weakness is fish; poached, boiled, fried, or sautéed he loves them all. He is known for his foul mouth and penchant for cursing.
It is a little before noon as Bug-eyed Thom watched the town from the concealment, and shade, of a grove of trees. ”Bugger me with an Ogre’s thumb,” he cursed aloud and thought, Looks like it’s busier than a beehive. How do people live in these places? His mind began to wander and turn to the past while he considered his next course of action….
The wilds of the River Kingdoms are hard and unforgiving lands that have produced hard and self-reliant people. Thom is one such product born to a family of swampers, people who made a living off the scraps found among the reeds and bogs created by the Pitax River. Thom’s father was an illiterate, gap-toothed, swamper also named Thom who was a short tempered, heavy-handed man and went by the moniker Mumbling Thom. Thom also had two brothers named Thom. To distinguish between the three their father gave them all nicknames. Back then, our Thom, was known as Smiling Thom and his brothers were Bright Thom, known for his smart mouth and not for any intellectual prowess, and Big Thom who was big really big.
Life as a swamper was hard and food was always in short supply. To escape this hard life and Mumbling Thom’s heavy handedness the three Thoms ran away absconding to the Stolen Lands with hope in finding their fortunes. Unfortunately, none of the three Thoms were known for their work ethic and they turned to banditry to make ends meet. The three Thoms had found their niche and knew some success as bandits but as luck would have it their success drew the attention of another group of bandits ran by the infamous Stag Lord.
In the end the three Thom’s met their end at the hands of these marauders. Bright Thom was not smart enough to avoid the axe of the bandit that cleaved him in two. He was the first to fall which was appropriate since he was the oldest of the Thoms. While Big Thom and Smiling Thom were hung from a tree by the bandits. Big Thom died but Smiling Thom managed to survive, however, the strain from being hung caused his eyes to nearly pop out of his head. Unfortunately, that meant that the surviving Thom had to dig a bigger grave for Big Thom…. without the help of that smartass Bright Thom.
Now everyone called Smiling Thom Bug-eyed Thom on account of his eyes almost getting squeezed out of his head. Bug-eyed Thom swore off his villainous ways and started for Brevoy to try to find honest work. But if the opportunity arose he would take revenge for what the bandits done to him and his kin.
…. Bug-eyed jumped to his feet and muttered, ”No use getting all puddled eyed about the farking past. Best pay me respects to the citizens of Silverhall.”
Edit: he will probably be an unchained rogue with the scout archetype. I do have a question, how important is trapfinding in Kingmaker?
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Robert Henry, yes to the bastard to Lord Lebeda. I always thought Inigo Montoya from princess bride would want more swashbuckling in Pathfinder, but I don't see many.
Thanks! Because Kunala is attending the Aldori Academy of Restov, I will probably take the campain trait 'Sword Scion' instead of 'Bastard' or 'Noble born' is that ok?
Also, with the conversation about 'swashbuckler, there is the archetype Rostland Bravo Does it not meet the same general attributes of the regular 'Swashbuckler' class?
The Rostland Bravo seems ideal for this AP. I did not catch it before, it is amazing how much content for Pathfinder there is!!
Viktor, if no paladins apply, I can see allowing a NE character. A question I pose, there is an evil plot that your NE character is invited to participate that overthrows a new kingdome you are creating, and you benefit immensely from it. Moreover, your participation almost guarantees the success of this plot. I can see a CN easily saying no, but what would this character say assuming we have accepted this gaming construct called alignment??
pad300: Since Kingmaker offers downtime and crafting skills are immensely valuable in their own right, I will ponder allowing background skills.
I'm feeling a bard of some sort. Still having to go back and review my Pathfinder stuff as I've been playing 5E since it came out, but I'll come up with something soon.
Perhaps a Gnome Pioneer if I can come up with a reason to be here that makes sense to me.
@GM: Thanks for running this game! Do you have a preference on alignments? I have a witch concept that's Chaotic Evil, the forbidden alignment, haha. Isee above that you're okay with Neutral Evil, and she's not a PvP concern or anything, just the alignment that made the most sense.
Viktor, if no paladins apply, I can see allowing a NE character. A question I pose, there is an evil plot that your NE character is invited to participate that overthrows a new kingdome you are creating, and you benefit immensely from it. Moreover, your participation almost guarantees the success of this plot. I can see a CN easily saying no, but what would this character say assuming we have accepted this gaming construct called alignment??
Excellent question. As a child of a culture where he missed his chance at loyalty by being born two hundred years too late, Viktor would jump at the chance of being a powerful ruling member of a new kingdom. The benefits of participating in overthrowing the new kingdom would have to be SUBSTANTIAL.
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Tom, trapfinding is not important until it is. But, Kingmaker seems to be a campaign you don't need trapfinding as much.
Given I am in the camp that rogues don't seem to have enough nice things, I typically give rogues more leeway to be on constant alert and in constant stealth mode than any other class. I haven't checked out the unchained version. If I do allow background skills, rogues will get 2 skill points per level and every other class 1 to apply to background skills.
No one needs ties to House Lebeda, just a reason to be in Greatwall.
From the future gameplay thread:
You think of your future in Greatwall, and before your summons, it was fairly bleak. Perhaps you were one of the original farmers and watched it transform into a war-forged stronghold. Maybe you were a deserter or soldier who spent his term and ended up here. Maybe you arrived on one of the major merchant caravans that still passed through the trade routes to the east. Although war makes trading dangerous, it also makes it profitable. Maybe you were part of the numerous contingents of Abadar or from a small Erastil shrine. Could you have been sent to further House Lebeda's interest in maintaining control of this vital trade route?
Interesting, some questions about alignment are appearing. As I am working on an Alchemist character, I had been planning to go with either N or CN to be safe. However, if Evil alignments are possibly on the table, I would very much consider a NE alignment as the Alchemist for alchemy's sake would go hand-in-hand with the background I have been cooking up: Alchemist looking for a place without the constraints of society's expectations.
If you're familiar with the backstory of Rapture from the Bioshock video game series, my guy is pretty much looking for that haven from ethics and morality.
One thing about Kingmaker which I love is the concepts it speaks to are more about survival and toleration. The group can be a total band of misfits, but as long as they are watching each other's backs, it works. Evil alignment characters are extremely selfish which makes them hyper aware of others' uses and strengths in relation to their own making them much more likely to tolerate any goody two-shoes and even moderate their own behavior to achieve the goals the AP offers. Kingmaker really does open the door for alignment compositions which would never work in a heroic campaign.
EDIT: My own interpretation of alignment has always rested in the mind's eye. Is a person Evil because they did kill someone or because they really want to so bad they dream and fantasize about it? Personally, I'm more inclined to think of alignment as the intent or desires within oneself. Pretending to normal and behaving outwardly as a perfect citizen while secretly harboring desires to subvert society is what makes someone (alignment-ly) Evil. Which really does open the door to having Evil alignments in an otherwise 'good' party since most-often appearances are all that matter to the casual observer.
@GM Elfriede, if your CE Witch gets chosen for the same game as me, I can definitely see our characters becoming quite close collaborators. I won't say friends, naturally. We both know the closest we'd get is a very healthy respect for the danger the other poses. >;)
standard 15 point buy (no minimums as low stats add RP flavor to characters)
Hi there! May I ask what "minimums" means in this context? :)
Unchained Rogue provides a significant boost to rogues.
True, so true, love Unchained Rogue!
Unchained Rogue provides a significant boost to rogues.True, so true, love Unchained Rogue!
Agree, nice class that has fixed most of the problems.
@GM Tribute unchained rogue has access to skill unlocks which make them truly one of the best classes at skills (Investigators may be better). If background skills are allowed 2 for everyone is fine with me. Thanks for the information and and feedback.
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Following hustonj's post, I'd like to elaborate a tad more on expectations of Evil and alignment in 3.X/Pathfinder altogether.
If allowed to play an Evil-aligned character, expect me to roleplay my character very acutely. At any point in which the story we are creating together would clearly result in my character no longer wishing to pursue the desires of the group, that character would exit the story to become an NPC in the GM's arsenal of potential adversaries. On the other hand, in RL, my tendencies run very much to LG, and in video games with Open World choices, I will typically save/leave enemies alive , etc. when given the choice because that generally represents me as person and makes me feel good. So in truth, there is always the strong possibility my character may see the error of their ways as the story progresses. Redemption can often be a fun and interesting character arc to play through and develop.
I truly detest Alignment as a RP mechanic as this artificially makes players prioritize choices which go against natural emotional and instinctual response in favor of 'What would alignment X do in this situation?' just to keep the alignment's benefits rather than true-to-character reactions. Alignment is often the worst instigator of unconscious meta-gaming in my roleplaying experience. Do I live with it in order to game? Absolutely. It's more of an annoyance at this point in my life, I'd say, or perhaps I've just become numb to the stupidity of requiring it.
Am I willing to adjust character and motivations in order to join this table if Evil alignment doesn't work for those selected? 100%. I'm here to have fun and provide great RP for the game so hopefully we all enjoy the wonderful collaboration together.
Well, I feel like an absolute poopy-head for bringing up the Evil PC discussion. I DID NOT want this thread to devolve into the alignment argument. My bad. :(
Considering that the GM is open to allowing evil alignments, it's quite possible that they, like quite a few GMs, use a slightly different version of Evil in their games from RAW. I personally find a different interpretation allows for higher standards for Good and more complex Evil, which I personally enjoy, though no judgment for liking to play it differently!
In my opinion, there's no need to argue about which interpretation is Best or Correct at all! Luckily, we're in a situation where the GM gets to circumvent all the alignment debates however they please.
So I think the best thing to ask GM Tribute is, how are you running Evil alignments? Do you like to mostly take a light touch and let the players interpret it for their own characters except in egregious cases? Do you run with RAW, or do you take a different approach?
I'm so torn on the alignment thing. On one hand, it can go wrong so easily if the alignment is played and not the character. If that make sense. But certain classes/archetypes require an evil alignment so, it makes it hard as a player to make the decisions that could potentially cause their character to lose class abilities.
That being said, I did run a NE Arcanist in an IRL Emerald Spire game and he ended being the center of some really good plot beats. He was the "I will get my hands dirty to keep yours clean" guy.
But, in other news: I have my submission completely done (unless background skills do come into to play, in which case that's an easy alteration.
Edit: I suppose it would help to post as the correct alias given that the entire thing is on the profile.
I was trying to stay out of this, but I basically agree with
hustonj.
That being said, I did run a NE Arcanist in an IRL Emerald Spire game and he ended being the center of some really good plot beats. He was the "I will get my hands dirty to keep yours clean" guy.
Isn't that what neutral means? Evil says "I want to get my hands dirty and I don't care about you guys" or so I thought.
Sometimes. Not always! Alignment is probably the most-often house ruled mechanic in the entire game, and it's not even close. I think it may be best to avoid assuming, especially when nobody is here for an alignment debate.
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Just some ideas that I'm mulling over:
- Abadarian Priest (Cleric, Oracle, Wizard, or Arcanist) that is Black Dow's inquisitor's partner
- Erastillian Hunter looking for a quiet place to call their own, and winds up getting swept up into whatever chaos ensues at the tavern. (There will be a brawl, right? :P )
- A druid looking for help with the bandits in the Stolen Lands.
- A witch freshly escaped from Irrisen and looking to get in good with a powerful backer for her own protection.@Black Dow: I'd love to hear any ideas you might have on the first one. As I said, I'd love to see what we could come up with together.
Hey Adam :)
Abdarian duo would be pretty interesting. My inquisitor is taking shape in my head and crunch-wise... She'll likely be LG and, as a half-orc, perhaps more charitable in her inclination for the distribution of wealth etc. A counter balance might be a more hard bitten Abadarian whose LN and sees business as far more cutthroat? Conversely she may need a handler whose has closer ties to the faith?
A covetous cursed Oracle of Abadar would seem a hoot on paper... Perhaps both oracle and inquisitor are misfits within the Church. Being sent to a backwater to fail... and if somehow they succeed and fill the coffers then it was all Abadar's will in the first place :)
I might also play her as more LN at the inception of the game, but as the campaign develops and the needs of the many outweigh the coffers of the few, she gravitates towards LG. Of course the Kingdom may be more feudal and my inquisitor becomes the tax collector (She-reeve of Rottingham so to speak). Who knows... time will tell if lucky enough to be selected.
However make up of the group might benefit more from other faiths/beliefs being present. So all of your options are a great fit.
Another (wider) consideration - is the potential of the Abadarian church quietly backing a potential noble bastard whose claim may come good... chips would be called in.
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I was trying to stay out of this, but I basically agree with
hustonj.That being said, I did run a NE Arcanist in an IRL Emerald Spire game and he ended being the center of some really good plot beats. He was the "I will get my hands dirty to keep yours clean" guy.Isn't that what neutral means? Evil says "I want to get my hands dirty and I don't care about you guys" or so I thought.
To elaborate: he was very much after as much power as he could get. I joined the game after they had already cleared a few floors.
Essentially, he wanted a piece of the pie they all had (the GM added SOME mythic to the campaign) and was willing to do their dirty work in exchange for access to that power.
We had some instances where my character did some really awful things in order to make everyone else's life better. When we ended, my character left because he had killed a well loved NPC who had been
But I don't want to derail this thread.