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As the title indicates, I will be running a the Strength of Thousands Adventure Path using Pathfinder 2nd Edition rules including the Player Core updates. I will be seeking 4-6 players to join me for this adventure, which may take several years to complete. Please see several subheadings below for more information:
Setting The AP takes place in the usual Paizo setting of Golarion at the venerable Magaambya school of magic which is located in Nantambu, the Song-Wind City. This canal filled city is situated on the western edge of the Mwangi Jungle. The year the adventure begins will be 4721 AR. The PCs will start as initiates -- newcomers to the school of magic. The AP will open on the first day of classes at Magaambya, and the PCs are expected to be in class together, so prior relationships are not required, unless chosen for flavor.
Character Creation Rules Strength of Thousands Players Guide outlines a bit more about Magaambya, and the kinds of people who attend the prestigious school. It's a free PDF, and a link can also be found on the Archives of Nethys site if you prefer. Additionally, the Player's Guide discusses ancestries, classes, skills, abilities and other points that might lend a hand to character creation. Campaign specific Backgrounds are available but not required. PCs should choose a primary branch and secondary branch, as outlined in the Players Guide. If you have questions let's discuss.
Please note the part in the Player's Guide titled Magic for Everyone. In this adventure, all characters will be able to cast spells, using either the Druid or Wizard multiclass archetype. Keep it in mind as you are creating your PC.
Application Process - Successful applicants will submit a character concept (no full backstory or stat block required. No alias is needed unless selected for the game, either). This concept should spell out, at a high level, how the pending initiate came to attend the school, what their ancestry and background will be, and how they plan to progress the character given the archetypes noted above.
Further, applicants should provide some detail about their gaming and PBP experience, if any. Players with a track record of staying with games for extended periods will be given preferred status.
Full backgrounds, stat blocks, and crunches will be required if selected for the game, but they can be provided anytime. Any Paizo PF2e rulebook or Lost Omens supplement will be available to build from. Other APs, modules, 3PP, or errata not in existing rules sets will not be allowed. Though most students are natives of Mwangi, the Magaambya takes students of all ancestries so unusual or uncommon creatures are not prohibited. Note, however, that as interactions with those outside the School increase, the more monstrous in appearance a PC is, the harder it will be to fit in or get along. Proceed at your own discretion.
Ground Rules - there will be few house rules besides what is already published although the nature of this AP. This particular story requires the use of an Academia subsystem that will be described in more detail. Additionally, there will be long periods of downtime in this game, which is generally understood to be spent studying, researching, or cramming to stay current in knowledge.
Any GM rulings will be discussed in advance, and reasons for choosing presented where possible. While there may be some discussion about interpretations etc, all GM rulings will be final.
Players are expected to post a minimum of once per day (once total for the weekends usually suffices). Slower posting may result in a warning, and eventually a withdrawal from the campaign. Of course, pre-approved absences are understandable. The GM reserves the right to run a player who is absent or fails to post in the allotted time frame.
During combat or other rounds-based action, more frequent posting is preferred. We will use block initiative to resolve combats with like numbers grouped together, but action will be resolved in actual initiative order, in most cases. It may occasionally result in a "retcon" of certain actions, but generally works out.
We will use Google Draw and other Google tools for mapping, images, and other visually important tools. Someone will be tasked with charting the party's gained loot on a form that will be shared later. If it's not on the loot sheet, its not available.
About Me - I am long time DM/GM going back to AD&D 1st edition. I have many years running games on tabletop and via PBP. I live in the Mountain Time Zone (US) and typically post in the evenings between 9PM and midnight, but will occasionally pop in for other updates during key times. I travel a good deal on weekends, but will usually be able to keep up posting while on the road. I have a dry sense of humor, like a good laugh, love to tell a great story (especially collaboratively) and look forward eagerly to see what the players have left for me on a daily basis.
I realize that's a lot, and if you have made it this far, you must really be interested in talking about this game. Welcome, and thanks for your interest! I hope to have you join me in a great long-term story and see how the magical education of a few PCs turns out.
(I am sure there are things I have forgotten, so please ask any questions)
Hi Dr. Evil.
I've also been RPGing since the start. On the boards, the Sky Kings Tomb game I'm running just hit a year. I can keep to the posting guidelines you outlined.
And, as much as I feel I play too many humans, and in an AP where other ancestries work so well, my application is for a human because it fits the idea best.
Iovia, who no longer uses her last name. She is Chelaxian. Her family was one of the many Chelaxian families that held slaves and controlled part of the Expanse.
However, Iovia joined the Vidrian Revolution on the side of the rebels. Not only had she come to realize that the colonization was wrong, but because of her interactions with the locals in her household, she had come to worship Tlehar, the Rising Sun.
When the Chelaxians left Vidrian, she stayed. She helped with the initial process of starting the rebuild, giving her former home - which as the last member of her family in the country was legally hers - to the new government to use as they saw fit.
She has come to the Magambya mostly to learn about her new home, and she considers that to be the entire Expanse. She expects discrimination until she proves herself to people. She is Chelaxian after all, and she does not hide that.
Class-wise, she'll either be a Cleric (which is where I am leaning), or a Champion of Tlehar.
I'm not sure about what background I'll use yet. I'm leaning towards Acolyte or Noble. Both are recommended in the Players Guide, and none of the AP specific ones seem to fit. I am open to other ideas.
I would go with the Druid archetype, and the Branches would be Tempest Sun and Emerald Boughs. I think in that order, but I might reverse it.
Will all Paizo official content be accepted? I've got a concept I'm thinking about that would involve a character being from Tian-Xia. Non necessarily an unusual race, just a background from there. Thinking about a Monk (Zen Archer), with strong ties to nature (Druid in beginning). If this content isn't allowed, I can change the place of origin.
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Tyvollus Iskandir (or Ty to his friends) is a Kyonin born elf who desperately wants to get into the Tanglebriar and help to drive out Treerazer from his people's ancestral home.
He's fairly young and inexperienced for an elf and his village and family have taken up a collection and "intervention" to send him away to learn more of the world.
He is a School of Protean Form wizard with the Familiar Mastery path of study. He'll go druid with the archetype, and follow the branches of Cascade Bearers, with a secondary branch of the Rain-Scribes.
As for me: been playing TTRPGs since about 1991, having run and played most of the popular games over the years. Re: PbP, it's been a while since I've been in one, but have plenty of experience with both short form and long form messageboard games.
Hello Dr Evil!
This is one of Talindra Ravenheart's many cousins :)
Like I said in the interest check thread, this character is actually a bard. Nyandra is an elf bard from recently-seceded Ravounel--perhaps some interesting interactions with Iovia! The latest in a line of artists (her father a sculptor and her mother an actress), it was quite natural for her to pursue a similar path in life. The arts run in her blood, though she tends more toward the performance arts. In particular, she has a hard time appreciating portraiture, to her father's dismay. "So much of portraiture is bare, colorless stone", she'd say. "Art should move", she'd say. She passed her Objects and Objectifications course in bard college, but swore never to work in still media because they don't speak to her. Their artistic disagreement aside, she's still close with her father. As adults, they've come to respect one another's opinions and learn from the perspectives.
She joined a traveling theater troupe in Kintargo, putting her skills to work providing some levity for those struggling in the world much like those in her homeland have been for many years. Often her troupe put on donation shows or had philanthropist sponsors whose views aligned with the troupe's desire to share art with those who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford it. Two events in particular stood out: she performed in Absalom and heard from her cousin Halanestra about how that branch of the family isn't doing well. How was it that an enormous city like Absalom--the Jewel of the Inner Sea--couldn't provide for its citizens? It left her despondent, depressed, frustrated at the state of the world. She knew that some people just weren't able to manage financially, had just accepted it, but seeing such disparity made it ever more clear--not least of which because it was her own family suffering. Not long after, her troupe was invited to play in Nantambu. What a contrast! Seeing every citizen cared for by the city, no one homeless, no one struggling, everyone able to live their life as they want. The experience changed her life, gave her focus.
While in Nantambu, she caught the attention of Takulu Ot, a teacher at the Magaambya, and his wife Niana. Always the bookish sort, they found her after a show reading in a tavern, and offered her a sponsorship to attend. Meanwhile she had been reading some commentary on how magic can be used as a tool to provide equity for all, like those in Nantambu experience.
As for my gaming experience, I started around 2009. I'm in Lia's Sky King's Tomb game, playing the party rogue after two other rogues dropped one after the other rather early in the campaign.
Mechanically, an elf bard as mentioned, either with the enigma or maestro muse and the sponsored by teacher Ot background. I'm frankly undecided about the multiclass archetype: I started writing this from my notes thinking her bookish nature would push her to the arcane tradition, but the desire to serve and provide for others lines up better with the primal tradition. Happy to have input from people on this. :)
Hey, Doc!
I’ve loved everything I’ve heard about Strength of Thousands but never gotten to play it. So here is hoping. I’ve actually played in two of your games, you may or may not recall Hurik Frostheart but if you do it tells you abit about my playing style back in that game. I’m fortunate enough to have access to the Mwangi Expanse book and love a lot about it. Couple that with a fondness for some Anansi stories I remember as a kid, and I hope you’ll forgive me for trying for one of the rarer ancestries for my concept.
Ikto Banashee is of the Anadi, the spider folk of Southern Garund who often hide their true forms from humans (and others) for their own safety. Ikto was a runty but colorful Anadi, who despite the dangers, enjoyed dancing in the wind during storms when they stirred the webs and buildings of his village. It was not that he felt great fury, but rather his joy seemed to rise with them. He learned the ways of the Druidic Order of Storms, and it was expected he would use that knowledge to protect his community. This he did, for a time, but he grew restless and began to chase the wind further and further out. He took his human guise to talk to travelers and merchants who wandered close and learn what lay beyond. Almost everyone was fooled, save one. A stranger whose features confused him seemed to know him not just as an Anadi, but that he was restless in his heart. The stranger had many questions, and Ikto found himself answering many of them despite not knowing this fellow, which was most unlike Ikto. Then, his questions done, the Stranger told Ikto that he should consider the Magaambya Academy, that many answers lay there and he would be surprised how well it suited him. Ikto is not one for mysteries, but he is even less fond of ignorance in himself. Besides, even the Anadi had heard of the great school that accepted almost everyone; though he still thought it prudent to wear his human face when he sought it out.
To nutshell the basics: Anadi Storm Order Druid, with the Sponsored by a Stranger Background. When he gets his free archetype he’ll go wizard. His mainbranch will probably be Rain Scribes, and secondary might be the Unzunjati
If Anadi is too rare and doesn't fit, let me know and I'll happily try something/someone else
Hello! I've always been attracted to the Summoner class, but I don't want to put a strain on things if the class is too complex for a novice PF2E player.
Would it be alright if I submit a Summoner concept or are the classic classes more advisable for a newishbie?
'Sup. Already posted my tabletop credentials in your interest gauge thread.
Ruris Cervale is a human cat-beastkin fire elemental-blooded sorcerer from the town of Fusil in Andoran. When he turned thirteen, his sorcerous magic first manifested in him. Though nobody knew where exactly the magic had come from or what its nature was, Ruris shaped his new magical abilities to cast healing spells in the hopes of one day being able to aid his village. Now sixteen, he was a healer alongside the few clerics of the village. Until one day, an accident struck Fusil's mines, injuring several miners and killing a few, including his father. Nonetheless, he tried to help the living miners as best he could, but in his emotional state, his bloodline's influence grew stronger, turning what was supposed to be a healing spell into a searing orb of flame. Though just barely able to redirect the magic to avoid incinerating his patient, it created even more tension during an already trying time. The town was already suspicious of him and his family for being beastkin, this newfound fire magic of his was a direct danger. He could hurt someone. Worse, he could set the forest around them ablaze. Even if by some miracle it didn't end up hurting anyone, it could still break the pact the town had made with the forest's druids.
Fortunately for him, one of the more magically-inclined members of the village suggested sending him to the Magaambya Academy to the south. Since he was a former student of the school, he knew that the school could possibly help Ruris control his magic. Thus, Ruris was given an ultimatum: He would be banished from the village until he learned to master his magic. If he could not, he would never be able to return. Hoping to prevent any further tragedy, Ruris agreed.
Cliffnotes: Human Beastkin Sorcerer with the Sponsored by a Village background, branching into the Wizard archetype, likely as part of the Rain-Scribes.
I realized after posting that I haven't done the best job of tying Nyandra to her background; that's perhaps an indicator to reconsider it, perhaps an indicator to develop further. I'll give that some thought and get an update in soon. If folks find anything in Nyandra's story interesting, please feel free to build on it! I have pages of notes I haven't written up here, so there's probably something waiting to be explored if you're interested. :)
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Ancestry: Human (Versatile)
Background: Sponsored by Teacher Ot
Class: Thaumaturge w/ Amulet Implement
Halcyon Archetipe: Druid Multiclass
Branches: Major: Rain-Scribes, Minor: Uzunjati
Born with no innate magical ability, nor from a family of mages of any stripe, Quatar came up a simple, unskilled laborer who landed a job at the Magaambya delivering produce by cart, and has spent the last few years onlooking at the goings on of the institution proper.
Spending a lot of his free time in the woods, Quatar mastered the skill of the boomerang, and carries a few around, and envying the creatures of their freedom, attempts now and again to capture the birds that roam wild in the hinterlands - a feat he has yet to accomplish. Perhaps if he can bring one home, his mother would be happy, and his father would be proud. He does enjoy watching them however, even as he actively "hunts" them.
His Mother embodies the philosophies of Uzunjati, slowly through his life teaching him stories that were loaded with morality and purpose, serving him as a compass. His father was simply a practical man, embodying the philosophy of Rain Scribes, quick-thinking and adapting to many circumstances in which he had to move the entire family on no less than occasions in the last few years...
It was Niana who first broached the idea to her husband Takulu that maybe the young lad had more potential than meets the eye (no doubt, something she had seen in him that were instilled into him by his parents...). Indeed, with his long legs, he was a natural runner, with an easy, almost feline agility, he was personable to boot. All qualities that, while not classically denoting of a wizard proper, might serve to compliment those of his classmates. And after talking to him time and again, discovered not only a deep reverence for his elders, but nary a "mean bone" in his body. And so, by way of ceremony, Quatar was presented with an invitation to study at the verysame college that he was a laborer for, shifting his duties to early mornings to make room for his flexible studies.
It was around this time that he found his "lucky" ruby...
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Quatar's player here.
A re-imagining of an early AD&D character I had. Or really. I though the name was "cool" when I was a younger lad (and, um, still do), and instead of being a fighter (OG Quatar was a fighter), chose to play a Thaumaturge, because I like the "accidental magic" flair the class seems to have.
As a player
My longest PbP that I am currently in is Abomination Vaults with GM Kwinten, started in October of 2021, spanning character growth of 1st to 7th level. My life was admittedly less complicated then, and the raw depth of my posting has waned somewhat, oh, and I had a several month break where I inexplicably disappeared from December 2022 to February 2023, and was accepted back after writing this post.
As a GM
I think I am finally in the groove of sustaining a long-running game as a GM. I would cite recruiting "known quantities" and conducting GM-feedback as key ingredients. I currently run Season of Ghosts for a team of five lovely players whom I mostly recruited from various PFS games on board. In my opening recruitment post, I describe the lessons learned from my other two attempted-but-failed long term PbP campaigns.
As an Applicant
I apply to several PbP campaigns a year for the last couple years. Usually, they dissolve within a month. Several times, I have stepped down within the first week or two. Of those, it is most often because I do not enjoy playing with the other players involved. And of those, it has either been because I found that they didn't pay attention to the other players at their table, or they wanted to play super sexy female stereotype characters, or I found them to be needlessly combatitive in the discussion tab - sometimes all three! Other times it was because the GM was either too antagonistic, to focused on "theatre of the mind" at the expense of mechanics, or lacked tools to keep the story aspect of their game organized - sometimes all three!
Anyhow, if selected, I can't promise I'll stay, because I don't want to waste anyone's time, but, if I foresee challenges downroad, I have no problem bowing out sooner than later, and, if not, it means I am committed for the long haul. Chemistry, I have learned, you discover pretty quickly, and I think it is important that we respect eachother's time, foremost.
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Question for GM
Why did you go MIA for your last round of campaigns?
=)
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Been excited for this!
Za Minyahil is a ghoran who awoke to his current life in Nex's glorious capital, Quantium. His memories of his past lives steered him towards not just the study of magic, but also the need to protect himself and his fellow ghorans, drawing him down the path of the Magus. However he didn't feel a strong draw towards Nex's military applications of magic or any true desire for power the way so many other Nexians do. He began to ask himself and those around him existential questions about WHY the cyclical lifespan of the ghorans was the way it was, if maybe there were ways they could live on after reseeding, a way for new ghorans to truly be born, instead of the slow decline they currently endured as ghoran lives were snuffed out by accident or murder that couldn't be replaced. While his peers empathized with his questions, they were ones other ghorans had spent whole lifetimes puzzling over, and even some charitable non-ghoran mages had volunteered their expertise to help, but no answers had ever come. It seemed like there was no magic that could improve on Ghorus' design, and Za Minyahil began to grow frustrated.
The seed of an idea began to germinate in his mind: Perhaps the answers needed to save the ghoran people from this fate couldn't be found within Quantium's libraries and arcane laboratories. Maybe the way Nexians practiced magic, the paradigm he'd been learning from, didn't offer solutions to problems of life and renewal, only domination and destruction. He'd heard whisperings from some foreigners in the city, such as the embassy of the Mualijae elves and merchants from Kibwe, of a school for magic older than even Nex's vaunted academies; the Magaambya. Za Minyahil decided to uproot himself and make his way across the Shattered Range, across the Mwangi Jungle, and apply to the school as a student. There, he reasoned, he would learn magics he could never have found in Nex, and maybe, just maybe, he'd find other inquiring minds who would lend their knowledge and power to his own to develop a means for ghorans to truly begin growing as a people. He sent a letter with a caravan, hoping to receive a sponsorship, but months passed and he never heard back. Frustrated, he packed what few possessions he had and began to make the journey anyway, figuring if he presented his case well enough (and possibly offered the school insights into Nexian magical practices as a mutually beneficial exchange) he'd be accepted anyway.
The journey to Nantambu was an arduous, aggravating trek, as misfortune seemed to hound Za Minyahil at every step. The magical textbooks from Nex he'd hope to use as part of his offering were eaten by insects, the weather was terrible, with heat so strong he felt he would literally wilt, no merchant caravans seemed to be traveling the same way he was, and those few other lone travelers seemed unnerved by a talking flower-man asking them for aid, suspecting some trickster spirit's malice. But Za Minyahil was not a fragile blossom, that would shrivel up and die at the first frost, and he finally arrived at Nantambu, where he received a surprisingly kind and gracious welcome, even before he had said he was a prospective student. The one spot of good fortune was that he had arrived just as the school year was about to begin, so he immediately made for the campus and presented himself. The real work was soon to begin.
Za Minyahil's intended class is Sparkling Targe Magus, with his multiclass archetype being Druid (using the Cultivation Order variant of the Leaf Order introduced in Wardens of Wildwood), with the Unsponsored background. As for his intended branches, Tempest Sun Mages is recommended for Unsponsored characters, and it fits Za Minyahil's belief that Nex's paradigm and practices of magic narrowed his view of ways to solve the ghorans' problem, and another that he would definitely be interested in upon learning of them is the Cascade Bearers, since they're the ones at the Magaambya pushing the boundaries of magical study, so if anyone at the Magaambya can help him work towards his overarching goal, it's them.
As I said in the previous recruitment thread, I've got extensive experience in the Pathfinder play-by-post scene here on these boards, having played through the Iron Gods and Dead Suns adventure paths to completion, as well has being in a few currently active campaigns that I've been part of for five or more years. I am aware that Ghoran is a Rare ancestry and that if accepted, Za Minyahil would likely go the whole storyline without encountering another of his kind, and that's partially by design, as I do want to work an angle of learning what "the animals" are like and working through some of the inherent fear and distrust in the collective ghoran psyche, realizing that the ghorans will never be able to solve the problems they face as an ancestry alone, and that there are people outside Nex who will view them as actual people and treat them with the respect and dignity that demands. I also don't hold any expectations of him actually achieving a breakthrough in ghoran reproductive biology mid-campaign. It's very much epilogue material, should he survive his adventures.
Hello! I've always been attracted to the Summoner class, but I don't want to put a strain on things if the class is too complex for a novice PF2E player.
Would it be alright if I submit a Summoner concept or are the classic classes more advisable for a newishbie?
Summoner is probably a bad choice for a new player. It's like playing a melee character and trying to learn the hardest variation of action economy. I've had somebody playing PF2 since the playtest who found it too much.
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I'm thinking of playing an ekujae Elf Magus. Still playing around with details.
I would go with the Druid archetype, and the Branches would be Tempest Sun and Emerald Boughs. I think in that order, but I might reverse it.
Don't fixate on the branches right now. Part of the early AP is working with each branch and making sure what you have selected is a good fit. There will be a time to readjust without penalty, but after that, those relationships need to become fixed.
Iovia, who no longer uses her last name. She is Chelaxian. Class-wise, she'll either be a Cleric (which is where I am leaning), or a Champion of Tlehar. I'm not sure about what background I'll use yet. I'm leaning towards Acolyte or Noble. I would go with the Druid archetype, and the Branches would be Tempest Sun and Emerald Boughs. I think in that order, but I might reverse it.
I accept Iovia, the human cleric (?) of Tlehar as the first applicant (not selected yet) to the game. Well done. A cleric at a wizard's school should be interesting.
Will all Paizo official content be accepted? I've got a concept I'm thinking about that would involve a character being from Tian-Xia. Non necessarily an unusual race, just a background from there. Thinking about a Monk (Zen Archer), with strong ties to nature (Druid in beginning). If this content isn't allowed, I can change the place of origin.
As stated above, all Paizo 2nd Edition rulebooks and Lost Omen supplement content is approved. Content for specific APs, modules, or 3PP is not approved. What background are you thinking specifically?
Tyvollus Iskandir (or Ty to his friends) is a School of Protean Form wizard with the Familiar Mastery path of study. He'll go druid with the archetype, and follow the branches of Cascade Bearers, with a secondary branch of the Rain-Scribes.
Ty is accepted as an applicant. Hopefully he will be patient enough to stand for years of study before he goes off on a mission to Tanglebriar.
Nyandra is an elf bard, either with the enigma or maestro muse and the sponsored by teacher Ot background. I'm frankly undecided about the multiclass archetype:
Welcome Nyandra. I accept your application. Knowing the multiclass archetype isn't critical now, but will need to be sorted soon. What about the branches of the school? Any thoughts?
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Ikto Banashee is of the Anadi, Storm Order Druid, with the Sponsored by a Stranger Background. When he gets his free archetype he’ll go wizard. His main branch will probably be Rain Scribes, and secondary might be the Unzunjati
Thanks Ridge. Glad to have you applying. For this AP, Anadi is fine (you may not know how rare this is for me to say) but there may be some circumstances that make things more difficult for Ikto, even in human form, so be forewarned. He is accepted as an applicant. I think that makes 4 so far.
We have a druid with a wizard archetype and a wizard with a druid archetype in the mix so far. Should be interesting.
Hello! I've always been attracted to the Summoner class, but I don't want to put a strain on things if the class is too complex for a novice PF2E player.
Would it be alright if I submit a Summoner concept or are the classic classes more advisable for a newishbie?
You may subnit a Summoner if you wish, but it is complicated mechanics to know and understand and may not suit a novice PF2 player. Will try to help you as much as I can.
Ruris Cervale is a human cat-beastkin fire elemental-blooded sorcerer with the Sponsored by a Village background, branching into the Wizard archetype, likely as part of the Rain-Scribes.
This checks all the boxes and is now an accepted application. Depending on how Ruris presents, he may have a difficult time with relationships with the more human of his classmates, but that's part of the joys of being different....
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Background: Sponsored by Teacher Ot
Class: Thaumaturge w/ Amulet Implement
Halcyon Archetipe: Druid Multiclass
Branches: Major: Rain-Scribes, Minor: Uzunjati
Welcome Quatar. Please join the list of accepted applicants. Is the last name pronounced Lynx-Axe or some other way? Have run a game with Thaumaturge once before, so am interested to see how it plays with a different owner.
Given your similar background, is there a linkage with Nyandra for either of you? Obviously different culturally, so not likely, but possible.
Za Minyahil's intended class is Sparkling Targe Magus, with his multiclass archetype being Druid (using the Cultivation Order variant of the Leaf Order introduced in Wardens of Wildwood), with the Unsponsored background. As for his intended branches, Tempest Sun Mages is recommended for Unsponsored characters, and it fits Za Minyahil's belief that Nex's paradigm and practices of magic narrowed his view of ways to solve the ghorans' problem, and another that he would definitely be interested in upon learning of them is the Cascade Bearers,
Never seen a ghoran played before. I understand how you want to progress for Za. You will not be able to use a druid variant from Wildwood, as other AP content is not allowed here, but it can be easily changed.
Za is accepted as an applicant. Thanks for the thoughtful concept.
I'm thinking of playing an ekujae Elf Magus. Still playing around with details.
Good luck coming up with a winning concept.
Welcome Nyandra. I accept your application. Knowing the multiclass archetype isn't critical now, but will need to be sorted soon. What about the branches of the school? Any thoughts?
Ah, branches! I knew I forgot something! That's something I'm pretty clear on: Emerald Boughs as primary, as recommended for the background, and Uzunjati as secondary. Nyandra's a nerd but an extrovert, she likes books and people equally well. Books are written by people, after all! I think these make good sense for a bard. Given this, it makes most sense for her to be an enigma bard. And, yeah, she's taking the arcane archetype. She's rather younger, more or less fresh out of bard college with maybe a year of performance experience. I've got some further ideas for character development from this, can I share those now or would you prefer I wait until a later stage?
Thanks for your interest so far. There are 7 approved applicants at this point. Likely, I will keep recruitment open till there are at least 12 approved applications.
Right now, simplifying for brevity, there is a cleric, a wizard, a bard, a druid, a sorceror, a thaumaturge and a magus. A well rounded group at this point, if a little caster heavy, which is no surprise given the setting/story.
I plan on taking my favorite character ideas and rounding out a fair party, but no pre-conceived concepts about particular roles. I am unlikely to take characters whose abilities are very similar however, so keep that in mind.
I will try to check in occasionally and give updates or answers to questions. LMK if you need more info about anything at this point.
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Za Minyahil's intended class is Sparkling Targe Magus, with his multiclass archetype being Druid (using the Cultivation Order variant of the Leaf Order introduced in Wardens of Wildwood), with the Unsponsored background. As for his intended branches, Tempest Sun Mages is recommended for Unsponsored characters, and it fits Za Minyahil's belief that Nex's paradigm and practices of magic narrowed his view of ways to solve the ghorans' problem, and another that he would definitely be interested in upon learning of them is the Cascade Bearers,Never seen a ghoran played before. I understand how you want to progress for Za. You will not be able to use a druid variant from Wildwood, as other AP content is not allowed here, but it can be easily changed.
Za is accepted as an applicant. Thanks for the thoughtful concept.
Regular Leaf Order's fine too, the only thing it changes is one focus spell down the line anyway.
I love the ghoran idea. It's one of my fave ancestries in the game, even though I have yet to actually play one!
All of the approved applications are solid. I think Dr. Evil will get a good group of players.
As for me, I am still leaning cleric, but if the final group is too overly caster, I'm happy to go Champion if I make it to that group.
Similarly happy to build something completely different if the group needs it. The initial idea is a human fighter, because that's as simple as you can go and I want to try my hand at making it interesting narratively :D The idea's already forming in my head, but I'll stick to one submission :)
Song Gu is from Changdo the capital of the Successor State of Po Li. The people of Changdo are devoted to faith in the reincarnation of the Eternal Emperor of Lung Wa.
As are most youths when they reach age He was presented to the Oracular Council with the usual claims of divine signs and miracles. As usual it took a bit of deliberation... but it was determined that young Song Gu didn't possess the divine spark required for the Path of Numbers.
Secretly Song Gu was glad. He had always enjoyed spending time exploring the Chang Liao jungle more than spending time on his knees hoping for the emperors return. His excursions there started with hunting for small game to provide extra food for his extensive families table, but he soon grew quite adept at hitting things with his short bow. This skill with the bow was noted, and his parents were offered an opportunity for the 14-year-old boy to begin training with The Malachite Battalion, Po Li's standing army.
He learned much in this training not only enhancing his skill with bows, but also in how to handle himself with both mundane weapons, and in unarmed combat. But he was bored. Surely their life offered more than this. He missed the freedom to roam the jungles and interact with the natural world. And he wasn't good at soldiering. Sure, the combat was easy enough, and he had a knack for it, but he often was reprimanded for his daydreaming while on the drudgery of watch duty.
Then came the Dragon Temple Festival the autumn of his 17th year. He was off duty, watching an exhibition of dancing, when a man approached him. He remembered him not for his frail body and large head, but for the questions he asked. He couldn't really remember the exact questions, or even his answers, but before the man departed, he mentioned that Song Gu might find study at the Magaambya enlightening. Though he passed this off as just a strange encounter... he couldn't stop thinking about it. In fact, it became an obsession. Perhaps this is your destiny. Perhaps this is what you have been seeking without even knowing it.
So here you are. Three and a half years later and having spent every coin to get here. Now what?
Song Gu is using the Sponsored by a Stranger Background, and plans on joining the Rain-Scribe Branch with additional interest in the Emerald Boughs. He is a human Monk with the Monastic Archer stance and a strong interest in nature.
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I'd like to apply with Ntuni, a taralu dwarf from a remote village in the middle of the Expanse and was sponsored by her village.
She is a fighter with a strong connection with the earth and going into druid. She uses only equipment made from stone, carries small gems instead of coins and refuses to wear boots, since (according to her) she feels bad when not in contact with the earth.
Like her kin, she dyes her hair (purple) and venerates Uvuko, a draconic deity member of the Sky Keepers who are devoted to protect the weather over the Expanse.
I'll be focusing her magic from the archetype on earth/stone spells. Since Uvuko's body forms the boundary between the earth and the sky, Ntuni's powers might also link to air, but I'm not sure yet. Thinking about only being able to cast earth/stone based spells while touching the ground and air spells only while not touching it.
Totally unsure about the branches yet.
I love the ghoran idea. It's one of my fave ancestries in the game, even though I have yet to actually play one!
All of the approved applications are solid. I think Dr. Evil will get a good group of players.
As for me, I am still leaning cleric, but if the final group is too overly caster, I'm happy to go Champion if I make it to that group.
You can decide when you see the full 12 applicants. Not sure anyone has to change anything they don't want to.
I agree that there are some great concepts so far!
Song Gu is using the Sponsored by a Stranger Background, and plans on joining the Rain-Scribe Branch with additional interest in the Emerald Boughs. He is a human Monk with the Monastic Archer stance and a strong interest in nature.
I did not see your choice of multiclass archetype between wizard and druid but guessing druid with the focus on nature. Song Gu is accepted as applicant #8.
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I'd like to apply with Ntuni, a taralu dwarf from a remote village in the middle of the Expanse and was sponsored by her village. She is a fighter with a strong connection with the earth and going into druid. Totally unsure about the branches yet.
This looks like a great concept. I am intrigued how a fighter base character fares in this AP. There are some stylistic things (purple hair, earth connection, no shoes) that are very nice touches.
Ntuni is applicant #9
Ah, if we're at 9/12 of applicant slots to even apply, it doesn't look like I will make it in given I was waiting on my question to be answered. Went to a concert last night, so only just had a chance to check the thread now. As I'm working at the moment, I won't likely be able to get a solid concept together before three other people post today.
C'est la vie.
My concept is a Shulfenth, a lizardfolk magus from Jaha, a juvenile when his clan banded together with some Lirgeni humans to leave the Sodden Lands and travel to Jaha, finding it empty when they arrived. As such he remembers both the swamp home they left and the stone city they came to live in, and has learned to work alongside humans. When some of his elders and their Lirgeni allies found some concerning writings and magics deep within Jaha, they determined to send an expedition to the Magaambya to consult with the experts there. Shulfenth volunteered to travel along with them and enroll in the Magaambya, as he sees value in combining the ancestral knowledge of his people with the ancient knowledge of magic taught in the venerable school.
In a perilous journey he traveled with the expedition down the Olongo River to Lake Ocota, and from there down the Vanji to Nantambu. While his elders consulted with the scholars of the Magaambya, Shulfenth presented his application to attend as a student. Shulfenth has a great respect for the ways of his people, but his experience working alongside the Lirgeni in Jaha has left him curious to the ways of other people, a curiosity he hopes to sate in school. He already has incorporated a bit of human magic with some of the spear techniques of his clan to defend himself during the dangerous journey to Nantambu.
In terms of development, I see him picking up the Wizard archetype to reinforce his Magus spellcasting as he learns more about other magic traditions in the Magaambya, and gravitating towards the Cascade Bearers and the Rain Scribes as he comes to appreciate finding new ways to apply the teachings of old to face today's challenges.
My experience with play-by-post goes back somewhere around fifteen years at this point, though I've only been on the Paizo boards for the past eight years. Currently I'm running a Reign of Winter campaign that's in the middle of the fifth module (I took over from a previous GM during the third), in a homebrew Pathfinder 1e campaign that I've been part of for over three years, and in a homebrew Starfinder campaign that's been running since 2019.
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Background: Sponsored by Teacher Ot
Class: Thaumaturge w/ Amulet Implement
Halcyon Archetipe: Druid Multiclass
Branches: Major: Rain-Scribes, Minor: UzunjatiWelcome Quatar. Please join the list of accepted applicants. Is the last name pronounced Lynx-Axe or some other way? Have run a game with Thaumaturge once before, so am interested to see how it plays with a different owner.
Given your similar background, is there a linkage with Nyandra for either of you? Obviously different culturally, so not likely, but possible.
You got it. Like the feline and the weapon. Because tight + tight = more tight. Was the logic of my many years younger self...
I like to decide upon fundamentals, but also leave some room for development specifically to the AP. Which means by the time we would get to Thaumaturge choosing a second implement, I will likely choose an object that is somehow tied to the story.
I am unclear on the connexion with Nyandra who does not seem to have a profile yet. But is a Bard who like books and also has a secondary Branch of Uzunjati?
Is that what you meant?
=)
I love the ghoran idea. It's one of my fave ancestries in the game, even though I have yet to actually play one!
All of the approved applications are solid. I think Dr. Evil will get a good group of players.
As for me, I am still leaning cleric, but if the final group is too overly caster, I'm happy to go Champion if I make it to that group.
You can decide when you see the full 12 applicants. Not sure anyone has to change anything they don't want to.
I agree that there are some great concepts so far!
Yes. Headed towards Druid. Should have made it clearer.
Tindertwig is a sneaky, curious, big-eared Goblin. His Lucky toad--Dirtbag--is his personal adviser as he talks to Dirtbag constantly. Tindertwig dresses in all browns and greens to help blend into his surroundings. He despises being bored and he constantly tries to entertain himself ( & Dirtbag)! He is 3'2 36 lbs with a solid, but wiry frame. He likes to sneak up on his prey and shoot them from behind--of course. He is also fond of new things and he isn't afraid of using 'experimental' gadgets.
Tindertwig recently ran afoul of some rapid dogs. He accidently dropped his flintlock pistol while attempting to hold his suddenly stuffed pants and run away at the same time!
After wandering the Expanse for a bit (soggy trousers and such), the Lost Gunslinger found himself at the entrance to some school called the Magaambya. Having nothing better to do, the Goblin signed up for some classes....Tindertwig heard that Wizards are cool!
An obvious choice for Background is Unsponsored...lol!
I find it funny that a Goblin Gunslinger would actually sign up for classes at some school he accidentally stumbled upon.
He would go Sun Mages and Uzunjati.
Thank you for running!
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Kiyomi is an Ekujae elf who naturally feel into the way of the warrior mage. Several generations back, some of her family was exiled for showing draconic taint. But none have been seen for nearly a century.
Still young, some would say too young, she found herself growing scales. Draconic scales. Many saw this as a sign of a curse or a personal failure. She has travelled in hopes of learning how to rid herself of this draconic taint.
She is an Ekujae with the dragonborn heritage. She'll have the Cursed Family background.
I've been gaming for about 40 years, and gaming with PBP for longer than paizo has been a company.
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Sorry team, I am unable to spend any time with the thread this evening. Just dropping to let you know I will back and posting tomorrow night instead.
Hi Dr. Here is the character I am considering. I'm spoilering it for readability.
Background
M'baba has always had a knack for creative solutions. Coming from the small village Jericoacoara, they have not always had available resources to solve all their problems, but M'baba always came up with alternative ways to resolve situations. He was always considered a smart young man, with a knack for getting in and out of trouble very fast.
After a hunting mishap, M'baba was left an orphan but was informally adopted by the entire Jericoacoara people. He never wanted for a place to sleep or food. He repaid them continuing to contribute with clever solutions. One day, he was surprised to know that the villagers had gathered and joined resources in sending him to Magammbya school for magic.
Although he sounded thankful, he resented the villagers a bit for wanting to part with him, as he understood it.
Who he is
M'baba is a very giving young man. He is a problem solver at heart and likes to see the solutions he comes up with implemented. He gets a little frustrated when things don't go his way, especially if his solution doesn't work.
He is intended as a Human Rogue with the Sponsored by a village background. For the free archetype, he is going Wizard.
I have been playing TTRPGs since 2001. I have played a lot of games, mostly d20, and GM'd some. I am rather new to PbP, and am participating in 4 games and GMing one. My biggest inexperience is with Pathfinder 2e, which I have played very little of. So far, I have been very active in all my games, although summer vacations surely made things slower.
I have a 10mo baby daughter. My family is my priority and on weekends I occasionally don't have time to sit on a computer.
I'd like to apply with Ntuni, a taralu dwarf from a remote village in the middle of the Expanse and was sponsored by her village.
She is a fighter with a strong connection with the earth and going into druid. She uses only equipment made from stone, carries small gems instead of coins and refuses to wear boots, since (according to her) she feels bad when not in contact with the earth.
Like her kin, she dyes her hair (purple) and venerates Uvuko, a draconic deity member of the Sky Keepers who are devoted to protect the weather over the Expanse.
I'll be focusing her magic from the archetype on earth/stone spells. Since Uvuko's body forms the boundary between the earth and the sky, Ntuni's powers might also link to air, but I'm not sure yet. Thinking about only being able to cast earth/stone based spells while touching the ground and air spells only while not touching it.
Totally unsure about the branches yet.
Have you seen this Archetype ?
Seems really solid....
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I'd like to apply with Ntuni, a taralu dwarf from a remote village in the middle of the Expanse and was sponsored by her village.
She is a fighter with a strong connection with the earth and going into druid. She uses only equipment made from stone, carries small gems instead of coins and refuses to wear boots, since (according to her) she feels bad when not in contact with the earth.
Like her kin, she dyes her hair (purple) and venerates Uvuko, a draconic deity member of the Sky Keepers who are devoted to protect the weather over the Expanse.
I'll be focusing her magic from the archetype on earth/stone spells. Since Uvuko's body forms the boundary between the earth and the sky, Ntuni's powers might also link to air, but I'm not sure yet. Thinking about only being able to cast earth/stone based spells while touching the ground and air spells only while not touching it.
Totally unsure about the branches yet.
Have you seen this Archetype ?
Seems really solid....
Seems interesting, but it is focused on unarmed strikes.
With the free druid archetype and the peculiarities of the taralu dwarves, I believe that would tip Ntuni into "special snowflake" territory. I prefer to keep her other aspects more clean and straightforward, thus more believable imo.
My concept is a Shulfenth, a lizardfolk magus. I see him picking up the Wizard archetype and gravitating towards the Cascade Bearers and the Rain Scribes as he comes to appreciate finding new ways to apply the teachings of old to face today's challenges.
Welcome Shulfenth. You are an accepted applicant. I don't know much about the Lirgeni so far, so we will see how that plays out at the Magaambya.
I am unclear on the connexion with Nyandra who does not seem to have a profile yet. But is a Bard who like books and also has a secondary Branch of Uzunjati?
Is that what you meant?
I meant because you are both choosing the Sponsored by Teacher Ot Background, but its certainly no requirement.
Tindertwig is Goblin. An obvious choice for Background is Unsponsored. I find it funny that a Goblin Gunslinger would actually sign up for classes at some school he accidentally stumbled upon.
He would go Sun Mages and Uzunjati.
Tindertwig is a unique concept. He is accepted as the 11th applicant to the game. Can you describe how he ended up with a gun? Also, which archetype do you plan to incorporate later, if known?
Kiyomi is an Ekujae elf who naturally feel into the way of the warrior mage. She is an Ekujae with the dragonborn heritage. She'll have the Cursed Family background.
Not sure there is enough here to fulfill the requirements, but I will allow you to build on it and still be accepted. Can I assume the class is magus? it's not clear.
What is the archetype you plan to work to, and what branches of learning would Kiyomi follow at school?
M'baba is a Human Rogue with the Sponsored by a village background. For the free archetype, he is going Wizard.
Thanks, I will allow this applicant, even thought that makes 13. What branches is M'baba likely to follow at Magaambya? It's ok not to know at this point.
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At this point, Recruitment for this game is now CLOSED. All the applicants are accepted, and Philo is in the mix once a few more facts are presented for Kiyomi.
Here is my Cliff Notes version of the applicants so far. Please correct something I have wrong.
Iovia - human cleric
Ty Iskandir - elf protean wizard
Nyandra - elf bard
Ikto - anadi storm druid
Ruris - cat beastkin fire-elemental sorceror
Quatar - human thaumaturge
Za - ghoran magus
Song Gu - human monk
Ntuni - dwarf fighter
Shulfenth - lizardfolk magus
Tindertwig - goblin gunslinger
Kiyomi - elf magus(?)
M'baba - human rogue
Since this is a fairly light recruitment process, I am likely to take 5 or perhaps 6 into the game to start, expecting attrition to bring the group down to more like 4-5 fairly quickly.
Please take the next day or so to refine the concept (not necessarily the crunch, there will be time for that) and the backstory, incorporating the Background etc you selected. Inform us if there are material changes.
I expect to make final decisions on Friday.