Hello everyone! Thank you for responding to my message, and be sure to introduce yourselves! I've invited 5 people instead of 4, per Painlord's recommendations. For those of you who submitted multiple characters, now is your chance to work out with the other players which one you're going to play. Once that's done, you can see if anything in your fellow player's backgrounds suggests you might have met before, and do some minor tweaks if necessary.
Our goal is to start the gameplay thread no later than the 13th, but we can start earlier if everyone's good.
Hey, all!
First, thanks for having me, and congratulations to everyone who made it through the sieve.
So this was originally a thaumaturge, but the backstory can also fit a charismatic rogue (or bard and swashbuckler, but I currently play those in different tables, so I'd rather not go that route). With that said, I could make last-minute changes if we lack a PC that can deal with traps.
Just putting that out there for consideration.
I proposed two characters:
A female human inventor. I've worked out the main crunch but still debating the options around the inventor innovations. I'll post something once I've decided. It is a character inspired by Agatha Heterodyne of the Girl Genius graphic narratives.
The other is a female Catfolk either swashbuckler or Rogue.
Here are the details so far.
I don't have a strong preference. Let me know ideas for good party balance.
I just started several scenarios in the Pathfinder Society and Starfinder Society Outpost VII event, so I'm going to be busy and may be a little slow to respond here. I frankly had forgotten about these submissions.
An inventor might have a bit of a hard time finding machine parts while on the expedition. If you're really set on it we can try to make it work, though.
Greetings everyone! Looking forward to having fun learning Pathfinder 2e with you. :D
Okoteck actually has high dexterity and a penchant for breaking into places, so he has Thievery trained and a set of thieves' tools. A dedicated rogue would do better than him, but he can fill in if needed. I'll get to work making an alias for him later tonight.
That said, he's a magus, so he can do good melee damage, covers a fair number of knowledge-based skills, and has a few spells.
Hi everybody! I submitted two characters:
Human Kineticist (Air & Water)
Auivarin (Human) Gunslinger (Drifter)
I like both characters so I'm willing to play either but I think my preference right now would be to play the kineticist.
Looking back, it looks like we've all built Dex-oriented characters with Thievery! My Kineticist (Con-based, but Dex is her second best stat) could switch Thievery out for something else. She had fewer skills than I wanted to work with anyway. And my gunslinger's background would better suit several alternate skills besides Thievery.
Dex is just so useful! Anyway, here's an alias for Okoteck. I'll probably play around with the formatting, but all of his stats are here.
An inventor might have a bit of a hard time finding machine parts while on the expedition. If you're really set on it we can try to make it work, though.
I think as long as the inventor as appropriate tools, she can do everything allowed in the class abilities. Supplies are only needed if crafting something from raw materials.
You might take an idea from the Starfinder Technomancer class which has spells that can convert random junk into items. In the case of the inventor, she doesn't cast a spell, but she could probably convert a similar bulk value of old weapons, armor, and adventuring gear into something.
Large items might require a workshop, blacksmith's shop, etc.
Will we be in an area that is devoid of civilization or just wilder than most areas further south?
There is civilization on Thalis (after a fashion), though you probably won't meet it until level 2 or so. The ship, Hellion's Cry, will serve as a base of operations in the early game. It won't have a fully-sized forge onboard, but it will have a workshop.
P.S. Thalis is north, not south, just to clear up any confusion.
Alright, I'll just go with a thaumie. Will pick up a rogue archetype at some point, probably, so until then, no +1 vs traps.
But I'll live with that.
With that said, this seems like it will be the final version. I have 7 silver to my name. Goodie.
Old Kork Thaumaturge 1
Small / Goblin / Unbreakable Goblin / Humanoid
Perception +4; Darkvision
Languages Common, Goblin
Skills Acrobatics +6, Arcana +3, Athletics +5, Lore: Esoteric +7, Lore: Goblin +3, Lore: Scouting +3, Medicine +2, Nature +2, Occultism +3, Religion +2, Stealth +6, Survival +2, Thievery +6
Str +2, Dex +3, Con +1, Int +0, Wis -1, Cha +4
Items
Studded Leather, Backpack, Bedroll, Chalk (10), Flint and Steel, Rope, Rations (2), Torch (5), Waterskin, Soap, Healer's Tools, Thieves' Tools, Climbing Kit, Crowbar, Clothing (Cold-weather), Elixir of Life (Minor)
HP 19
AC 18; Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +4
Implement's Interruption Trigger The target of your Exploit Vulnerability uses a concentrate, manipulate, or move action, or leaves a square during a move action it's using. Requirements You're holding your weapon implement and are benefiting from Exploit Vulnerability against a creature. The creature must be within your reach if you're wielding a melee weapon, or within 10 feet if you're wielding a ranged weapon. Your weapon senses a moment of weakness and guides your hand to strike down a foe. Make a Strike against the triggering creature with your weapon implement. If your attack is a critical hit, you disrupt the triggering action. This Strike doesn't count toward your multiple attack penalty, and your multiple attack penalty doesn't apply to this
Strike.Speed 25 feet
Melee Dagger +6 (Agile, Finesse, Thrown 10 ft., Versatile S), Damage 1d4+2 P +2 physical
Melee Combat Grapnel +6 (Finesse, Grapple, Tethered, Thrown 20 ft., Uncommon), Damage 1d6+2 P +2 physical
Exploit Vulnerability (Esoterica, Manipulate, Thaumaturge) Frequency once per round Requirements You are holding your implement. You scour your experiences and learning to identify something that might repel your foe. You retrieve an object from your esoterica with the appropriate supernatural qualities, then use your implement to stoke the remnants of its power into a blaze. Select a creature you can see and attempt an Esoteric Lore check against a standard DC for its level, as you retrieve the right object from your esoterica and use your implement to empower it. You gain the following effects until you Exploit Vulnerabilities again. Critical Success You remember the creature's weaknesses, and as you empower your esoterica, you have a flash of insight that grants even more knowledge about the creature. You learn all of the creature's resistances, weaknesses, and immunities, including the amounts of the resistances and weaknesses and any unusual weaknesses or vulnerabilities, such as what spells will pass through a golem's antimagic. You can exploit either the creature's mortal weakness or personal antithesis (see below). Your unarmed and weapon Strikes against the creature also become magical if they weren't already. Success You recall an important fact about the creature, learning its highest weakness (or one of its highest weaknesses, if it has multiple with the same value) but not its other weaknesses, resistances, or immunities. You can exploit either the creature's mortal weakness or personal antithesis. Your unarmed and weapon Strikes against the creature also become magical if they weren't already. Failure Failing to recall a salient weakness about the creature, you instead attempt to exploit a more personal vulnerability. You can exploit only the creature's personal antithesis. Your unarmed and weapon Strikes against the creature also become magical if they weren't already. Critical Failure You couldn't remember the right object to use and become distracted while you rummage through your esoterica. You become flat-footed until the beginning of your next turn. You can attempt to Exploit Vulnerabilities in one of two ways: either by invoking properties that repel that type of creature, or by attempting a more improvisational, ad-hoc method with your esoterica that can impose a custom weakness on any creature, albeit one that usually isn't as dire as a creature's existing weakness. Mortal Weakness After identifying a creature's weakness, you use a thematically resonant bit of esoterica to attune your attacks to your discovery. Your unarmed and weapon Strikes activate the highest weakness you discovered with Exploit Vulnerability, even though the damage type your weapon deals doesn't change. This damage affects the target of your Exploit Vulnerability, as well as any other creatures of the exact same type, but not other creatures with the same weakness. For example, when fighting a pack of werewolves, you might use silver shavings or crushed moonstone to deal damage that applies their weakness to silver to your attacks against any of the werewolves, but you wouldn't apply this damage to any other monsters with a weakness to silver. Personal Antithesis You improvise a custom weakness on a creature by forcefully presenting and empowering a piece of esoterica that repels it on an individual level; for instance, against a tyrant, you might procure a broken chain that once held a captive. This causes the target creature, and only the target creature, to gain a weakness against your unarmed and weapon Strikes equal to 2 + half your level.
Additional Feats Additional Lore, Dubious Knowledge, Goblin Lore, Scroll Thaumaturgy, Unbreakable Goblin
Additional Specials Esoteric Lore, First Implement And Esoterica (Weapon), Implement's Empowerment, Weapon Initiate Benefit
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I'm not sure if they're going to go with the inventor or the rogue yet, so you shouldn't feel compelled to take the archetype.
That catfolk rogue would make a pretty good face; I don't think anybody has submitted anything else with tons of social skills and good Cha.
EDIT: I also invited Wrong John Silver, who submitted a bard, but he hasn't responded yet. I'll give him a few more days.
Dropping points in diplomacy and deception at level 2. They did not make the cut at level 1, but CHA is my main stat. So it will take a while, but we will get there.
There's also plan for medicine (out of combat healing) from level 3.
Any ideas on connections our characters might have made with each other? My Kineticist is the daughter of a pirate captain, though she's been living in Eredorn
training with sha'irs for the last 5 years or so to get her kineticist abilities under control.
@Clebsch Your inventor link isn't set to give permission to access by default. The rogue and swashbuckler links work fine.
Hello! This is Wrong John Silver's character.
I'm playing a changeling bard. I'll get the stats over this evening. Pleasure to meet with everyone!
Still trying to decide on the best avatar; this definitely gets over the "bard with eyepatch" feel, but I'm going to be a bit more of a hapless occultist than a singing fop.
Okoteck has traveled extensively in the Free Isles and less extensively in the Cornyrian Confederation, working as a translator and studying as a scholar (and magus), so anyone who's been in those areas might have run into him.
Kork just recently arrived to Eredorn to find an old friend of his. Probably only been there for a few days, hanging around in some sort of simple, cheap inn and doing odd jobs to make money for the actual stay.
So if anyone was making these kind of one-time jobs, or staying in a similar place, they could have met.
GM, if it's not much of a bother - could we get a gameplay thread going to just dot in?
It would make the thread visible on the campaigns page so we are updated when any discussion is happening.
GM, if it's not much of a bother - could we get a gameplay thread going to just dot in?It would make the thread visible on the campaigns page so we are updated when any discussion is happening.
Done.
Amazing. Thank you.
So Almonihah, Espi, and Wrong John are set, and Cloaked seems pretty set on the kineticist. Clebsch, your thoughts on which character you want to play?
Dotted in as the Kineticist :)
I'm fine with the recruitment to the crew of the Hellion's Cry being my first time meeting everyone. What does everyone else think for their characters?
I could go with any of the three I've developed. Since there is some question of the availability of civilization as a source of raw materials, I'll go with one of the Catfolk.
Mechanically, the rogue and swashbuckler are very similar, the main difference being sneak attacks (rogue) and panache based moves (swashbuckler).
Since I'm still learning PF 2E, I will go with the rogue, since I'm more familiar with the 1E rogue than the swashbuckler. Establishing opportunities to use sneak attacks seems easier than establishing panache.
I'll set up a profile and dot in shortly.
Profile is done. I've dotted in, so I'll check whenever there is a new post.
Can everybody make tokens for their characters (there's a great tool at https://rolladvantage.com/tokenstamp ) and place them on the map on the couch by the rectangular tables, please?
For Okoteck, it might make sense to create two tokens, one for bird form and one for long-nose form.
You can use custom art, take it from elsewhere, use AI, whatever you want, I just need those tokens.
(Please don't move any of the solid gray, white, or green rectangles, or any of the other tokens already placed, without asking me via PM first)
Kork just recently arrived to Eredorn to find an old friend of his. Probably only been there for a few days, hanging around in some sort of simple, cheap inn and doing odd jobs to make money for the actual stay.So if anyone was making these kind of one-time jobs, or staying in a similar place, they could have met.
Okoteck has traveled extensively in the Free Isles and less extensively in the Cornyrian Confederation, working as a translator and studying as a scholar (and magus), so anyone who's been in those areas might have run into him.
I'm fine with the recruitment to the crew of the Hellion's Cry being my first time meeting everyone.
Jay'mrow and Syper, could you tell us where other players might have met your characters?
It's okay if nobody knows each other and we all go in blind, you'll have the opportunity to introduce yourselves pretty quick. The structure of the campaign is such that once you sign on to the expedition, the question "Why is my character sticking around with the other party members?" won't be hard to answer.
P.S. Thanks, Kork, for placing your token.
Token placed. Since Jaym'row is a saloon entertainer (background), might she be performing for the customers? Perhaps she is on break.
If anyone knows Jaym'row, it's likely by having seen her act in bars and such. If Jade or Syper is the type to have casual affairs, that's a possibility.
Her background (Saloon entertainer) specifies
"All you want to do is entertain the people, but sure enough, bad news seems to follow you. Gunfights, brawls, robberies, and more befall establishments you play at, and word is quick to spread. Keep one town ahead of the gossip, and you just might be able to play a gig, command a stage, or run a table again."
Feel free to use this as a seed of a past connection. In fact, it's likely that one of the reasons Jaym'row wants to leave town on this adventure is partly to get away from such a bruhaha.
As Syper is a bard, perhaps he and Jaym'row have performed together.
Are we going to roleplay the interview that is detailed in the campaign tab? Should we write our response to that and post it in gameplay, discussion, or on our profile?
Thank you guys for placing your tokens!
The teaser will be part of the first session, yeah. I've made a few minor changes to the wording in the version I will post in the gameplay thread.
I'll post the new version of it (including a bit more than what is included in the teaser) as soon as everybody has placed their token and posted that they're ready.
EDIT: By "entertaining the customers," are you saying in an impromptu fashion or as an established employee?
My token is placed and I'm ready!
... I'll post the new version of it (including a bit more than what is included in the teaser) as soon as everybody has placed their token and posted that they're ready.
EDIT: By "entertaining the customers," are you saying in an impromptu fashion or as an established employee?
Ready to post.
Jaym'row would prefer to be paid for her performances, but if the house is not hiring, she'll do a little busking if no one objects.
I found an image for my token I like better, so I changed it.
Cool, I like it better too!
Now we're just waiting on Okoteck/Almonihah, Espi/Kork and Syper/Wrong John.
To add a token to the slides, it's Insert -> Image -> Upload from Computer (or Search the Web)
Token added.
I've been a sailor most recently, so PCs might know me from working on a ship together.
All right, I've added in Okoteck's tengu-form token. Let me know if it doesn't "read" well and I can zoom in more on the face.
Maybe our characters have just met in passing? It sounds like many of us have traveled, being able to say "Oh wait, weren't we on the same ship that one time?" seems like it would make sense.
For future reference, this site is also good for custom made figure that are modeled in 3D. You can then make a 2D token image from that.
Maybe our characters have just met in passing? It sounds like many of us have traveled, being able to say "Oh wait, weren't we on the same ship that one time?" seems like it would make sense.
My character hasn't traveled in 5 years and was 14 then but it's possible as a starry-eyed lass she was enchanted by Syper or Jaym'row's performances while on shore leave, assuming they were performing that long ago. Or if you booked passage on her pirate ship.
Jaym'row has only been adventuring solo for about a year, I figure. I think the only character she might have gotten to know at all would be Syper. I'm happy meeting the other PCs for the first time, just to keep things simple. Perhaps she and Syper are friendly rivals on the lowlife tavern circuit.
I just realized I don't yet have equipment. Are there any special rules regarding equipment (I'm not taking firearms)? What are we starting with?
I didn't see anything in the character creation page so I'm assuming it's the standard 150 sp. That's what I did for Jade anyway.
Yes. Standard equipment (150 sp). There's nobody with a noble or aristocratic background in the party, so we don't even need to get into that.
You'll have 2 days to shop with the additional 80 sp signing bonus after the first encounter at the tavern.
Your locker space on the ship will be 25 Bulk, so keep that in mind.
My plan is to have fewer, harder encounters that are worth more XP, both because harder encounters are more engaging and because filler is even more tedious in PbP than in person when you can giggle and do Monty Python impressions while strategizing.
I'll aim to stick to the wealth-by-level guidelines over the long haul, but there will be considerable variability, especially early on.
It seems like nobody's backstories are screaming out "I know [other player] very well from [such-and-such]," and we're all fine with just showing up to answer the ad, so if it's okay with everybody I'll start the game as soon as Syper has finalized his equipment.
I think each player should have their character sheet in one location. If you want to keep everything in your alias's profile page, that's fine. If you want to instead have a pdf in your Google Drive, that's also fine, just keep the link in your profile so I can reference it easily and be sure to set its reading permissions to "Anyone with the link."
Okoteck, I sent you a PM about your skill selections, so if you could get back to me when you've read it that would be great.
Okay, now all we need is Syper to finalize his equipment and we can get this party started!
All right, I've added in Okoteck's tengu-form token. Let me know if it doesn't "read" well and I can zoom in more on the face
At this size all I'm getting is a vaguely dark head on a yellow robe.
Does mine need more zooming in on the face too?
No, it doesn't need it. Your picture is pretty good, with the contrast and whatnot. You can zoom in if you want, but it's not make or break. Oko's problem is that he used Tokenizer's default, dark brown background, which his character doesn't stand out from very well.
But if you have trouble seeing a token on the map, you can zoom in using the magnifying glass on the toolbar (the one with the plus sign inside it, below "Format").
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For those of you who haven't played 2e before, one of the things that was changed is initiative.
The default initiative roll is a Perception check. If you're hiding from the enemy you can roll a Stealth check instead. If you were in the middle of a conversation and trying to bluff or distract them from noticing your imminent hostile intent, you roll Deception. If you're attacking with a weapon you concealed on your person, you can roll Thievery (though you'd have to retrieve the weapon, which can cost you an action or two).
Using rolls besides Perception is a GM call, and since I'll be rolling initiative for you (otherwise we'd waste a whole day for no reason every time combat started) I'll be deciding which rolls to use.
Surprise rounds don't exist anymore, since giving certain actors extra actions contributed to the problem of "rocket tag" that pervaded 1e. If you're in hiding, cover bonuses to Stealth apply to your initiative roll, which can help you go first, but it doesn't give you an extra attack or spell.
If you're familiar with 2e but haven't played the remaster, this article will be helpful:
Pathfinder 2e Remaster Transition Guide.
I redid the token, hopefully it reads better.
I'm ready to play I believe!
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Using rolls besides Perception is a GM call, and since I'll be rolling initiative for you (otherwise we'd waste a whole day for no reason every time combat started) I'll be deciding which rolls to use.
I suggest that GM rolls player saving throws too for the same reason. Every time an enemy casts Fireball we don't want to wait for everyone to post their saves before moving on, and if they're not resolved right away there's a high chance they get lost in the shuffle.