GM JScot - Giantslayer AP

Game Master Jeremy Packer

To begin, thank you for joining the Giantslayer AP. I am hoping this will be a fun, relatively well-paced, and exciting game experience for everyone.

While I finish getting everything set up, I figure everyone can discuss how the group may or may not know each other. You don’t necessarily need to know each other, but in a small town such as Trunau it’s not a stretch that you could have some prior relationship with each other. In addition, you can finish up any tweaks to your characters now that we know what the group looks like.

A few notes for everyone to provide insight into the campaign I am planning.

I am a fan of milestone leveling, so I will be using that instead of adding up XP. I do still want to provide some benefits for the various story awards, so it is my intention to provide some minor bonuses for them. These could be bonuses to any number of appropriate checks at time or possibly even additional Hero Points.

It is my intention to focus on story and RP as much as possible, and I also intend to customize elements to the characters. It may not start out as customized but over time as we get familiar with the characters there will be more. The overall plot will remain though.

I will be adding a PC sheet for each character, you do not need to fill it out in anyway. I just find it easier to load the tokens from these sheets. Plus it can be a good place to put up a visual image if you want. Many of the visuals I will use in the game will be linked to the Roll20 site. For examples, there are links on the campaign page, though until you join I am unsure if you will be able to see fully.

I am planning on starting the game itself no later than Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Obviously, if you have any questions please feel free to ask.

I guess I should start.

In the real world I am a middle-aged inventory specialist. I have been playing RPGs since the early 1980's and specifically I have been playing Pathfinder since the 3.5 D&D days. I tend to be a forever GM and I love to tinker with the NPC's and monsters, trying to come up with weird and/or cool concepts.

Giantslayer is an AP I have gravitated to running for a while but had never actually done so. I am looking forward to the chance now. Other APs I love as GM would be the Runelord trilogy, Crimson Throne (also my favorite as a player) and Hell's Rebels.

I have found that as a GM I take inspiration from many editions and even games. Or at least I try to. I find that most systems have some strengths and weaknesses so I will take ideas from other games and apply them here. You will definitely see some influence from 2E, but without changing rules. There is also some advice from Warhammer Fantasy I have taken as well.

I look forward to getting to know everyone here and to having a fun game. Thanks.

So there is one other house rule I meant to mention.

I have absolutely no interest in tracking basic ammunition. This includes normal arrows, bolts, and sling bullets. Specifically those listed in the Core Rulebook without any special materials. All others need to be tracked and as long as no one gets abusive of this rule, just assume you have enough. Thanks.

Vethorm reporting in! Thanks again for the kind consideration, GM!

As far as introductions go, I've been around these boards specifically since 2012 (Holy Iomedae!) and have done play-by-post even longer (back when WIZARDS OF THE COAST still had a forum!).

I've actually played with a few of you already; namely Ranhild and I have been in a Wrath of the Righteous game that's gone on for a few years (and several GMs), and Robin's player has GMed me through two, going on THREE Starfinder APs! Finally Hilde's player was part of an Age of Ashes game I'm in! HIIIIIII! XD

I look forward to getting to know the rest of you!

Hello there!

I'm excited to be a part of this group! I've been playing PF since 2014 or so after getting back into TTRPGs. Did a good amount of PFS play (both as a player and GM) and got into play-by-post a few years later. Most recently, I've been GMing an FFG Star Wars game for some friends at home.

I love the RP of this format and really getting to dive into the characters. Wild is actually based on an old EverQuest character I made a good long time ago. Can't wait to continue the story with you all!

Greetings all!

I have been with Pathfinder since about Season 3, whenever that was. Looks like 2011-2012, per notes I looked up because I'm like that. I have been in RPGs since the late 90s, originally White Wolf. Got into 3.0/3.5 during my time in the military, and have not left. I tried 4E briefly but it was not nearly as fun as 3.5 so I came to Pathfinder.

I have only recently tried getting back into PbP, needing an outlet for some creative juices after a move left my chances for RP rather barren.

EDIT:

Also, as to "relationships to other characters", Purg has the Dwarf-trained trait, so if any of our Dwarven allies want to link up, let me know.

Hey everybody! Happy to be here with you all. I've been playing Pathfinder since the beginning (part of the original playtest) and done some 3pp design as well as RPG Superstar.

I love this format for the character interaction and ability to lean into RP, and the wealth of ideas you get to explore.

I'm online most of the time as I work in Social Media (though Sunday/Monday are my usual days off)

Thanks for picking me, GM J!

Hi, all. I've been playing PF on the boards since (quickly checks) late 2010. Before that, I hadn't gamed much since the late 80s, so I'd basically skipped AD&D2, D&D3.0, and D&D3.5. Up until quite recently, the majority of my gaming was PbP...which is why I have over 46,000 posts here. I started FRP gaming in 1977, but before that had done wargames for a couple of years. About five years ago I stopped calling myself middle-aged...I am definitely old.

In RL I do lab safety, environmental compliance, quality assurance, and a few other odds and ends for (mostly) the Nuclear Science & Engineering Division at Argonne National Laboratory. I love my job, the people I get to work with, and the amazing things I help them to do without killing themselves.

As for knowing other characters, Hilde is from Janderhoff, and is in Trunau to officiate at a relative's wedding. So she's likely to have just met any dwarves who live in Trunau, and may also have met others who traveled to the town recently.

Hi all, long time PbP-er here as well. As AZ (Vethorm) mentioned, I've GM'd a big old pile of stuff here on the forums as well as played PF1E, 2E and Starfinder (soon to be 1E) in homebrew games and APs and PFS/SFS. That's on top of having a regular F2F (now online real time) game. My latest love is actually Lancer, but I have a soft spot for the chunkiness of PF1E.

I'll echo the RP comments from the rest of you - my "real time" table is very technical and light on RP, and I find PFS/SFS games stay at the level of "amusing gimmicks and voices" - so I need that extra outlet to actually write. PbP gives more time for roleplay to breathe.

I tend to post late in the evening EST.

Starting Wednesday works for me. I've still got some purchases to iron out for Robin.

---

If anyone peeked at Robin's submission, he's currently an apprentice/burden to Trunau's councilwoman and blacksmith, Sara Morninghawk. He may have made you a simple piece of jewelry such as a bangle or simple pendant, contrary to Sara's wishes. Feel free to describe what kind of item you may have asked for - or received unasked.

Also, GM J, it looks like you deleted your first post in the Gameplay thread. For some reason that breaks the thread, so even though many of us tried to post there and were added to the campaign, I at least didn't have to delete my dotting post--I don't think any of us can post to the thread and make the post stay. It may take an email to Customer Service to resolve.

Also, GM J, it looks like you deleted your first post in the Gameplay thread. For some reason that breaks the thread, so even though many of us tried to post there and were added to the campaign, I at least didn't have to delete my dotting post--I don't think any of us can post to the thread and make the post stay. It may take an email to Customer Service to resolve.

Yeah, I was noticing this. Didn't realize that would happen. Always learning new things. It's odd, but it did what I was hoping for, indirectly.

If anyone peeked at Robin's submission, he's currently an apprentice/burden to Trunau's councilwoman and blacksmith, Sara Morninghawk. He may have made you a simple piece of jewelry such as a bangle or simple pendant, contrary to Sara's wishes. Feel free to describe what kind of item you may have asked for - or received unasked.

I actually wanted to ask about that the moment I saw your submission (but didn't say anything in the recruitment thread so as not to accidentally influence the GM's selection). Since Vethorm is a failed apprentice to Sara's wife Agrit, what if Robin and Vethorm were childhood friends or partners-in-crime (crime in this case meaning the kind of mischief kids get up to, not literal!)?

Robin's not a town native, having only been in Trunau for the past six months, but it's not out of the question that he would have made friends with Vethorm (or anyone else in town) during that time. I see Robin as a fairly gentle soul, but not beyond some hijinks.

What kind of activities would Vethorm be up to?

Whoops! Still, I imagine we'd have seen each other fairly often while Vethorm was apprenticed to Agrit. I feel like while Vethorm may not GET Robin (and would respond to a gift with confused incredulity), he sees Robin as a fellow weirdo and is grateful for having a more sympathetic ear than most of the other townsfolk, who either don't get his issues or will tell him to suck it up and quit whining.

Ooh! Ooh! Maybe with his Shelynite background Robin realizes Vethorm actually has a lot of Charisma, and if he took better care of himself and had a little more confidence in himself, he'd be quite handsome, so he shares some self-care tips when Vethorm wonders aloud how he can work the forge all day and still look so clean!

Just chiming in here. I am glad to see people working on developing things. I expect to be ready to start with the game itself tomorrow evening after work. I like what I am reading though, and while I may not be commenting here much or responding to specific statements, I am making note to see about working it in if the chance comes up.

Alright, I've got all my gear sorted out and should be ready to go tomorrow night.

@Vethorm: I see Robin as naturally aligned with Shelyn's ethos, so he would call Vethorm handsome without hesitation (and regardless of physical appearance) so long as he sees him as an earnest soul. If Vethorm asks though, Robin would have been happy to share tips for self-care.

Looking forward to it!

Alright, I've got all my gear sorted out and should be ready to go tomorrow night.

@Vethorm: I see Robin as naturally aligned with Shelyn's ethos, so he would call Vethorm handsome without hesitation (and regardless of physical appearance) so long as he sees him as an earnest soul. If Vethorm asks though, Robin would have been happy to share tips for self-care.

Exactly, which is why I figured Robin'd most likely tell him something like "you ARE handsome, dude, you just don't REALIZE you are" that kinda thing!

OK, folks, I need to greatly apologize here as I am ready but I apparently screwed things up in the set up by deleting the first post. I had no idea that would actually happen. Lot's of experience running games but still apparently a lot to learn, I guess.

I am going to reach out to the Paizo people to see if I can salvage this or if I need to start all over again (if I do, it shouldn't take too much to do). Give me until later this evening and I will let you know.

Sure thing. If there's a new thread we'll jump on over to it.

Agreed. We can migrate just as easy as can be.

Yes indeed!

Whatever we need to do!

I think you can unset the Discussion thread from the Gameplay thread--edit the campaign, and there should be a button next to the Discussion thread name. Once you do that, you can create a new Gameplay thread and pair this thread to it--I'm not sure whether the boards will let you link the Recruitment thread to the new campaign, though.

I'm here for it. Just let me know.

As for story, Wild is relatively new in town. Probably not more than a day or two. I expect he's temporarily holed up at the Ramblehouse with other "right-sized" folk. During the day, he's likely at the Barterstones or the Commons waving his banner around and preaching about the End Times as he believes it to be. He is outwardly friendly toward orcs, half-orcs and small ancestries but wary of humans and dwarves.

I think you can unset the Discussion thread from the Gameplay thread--edit the campaign, and there should be a button next to the Discussion thread name. Once you do that, you can create a new Gameplay thread and pair this thread to it--I'm not sure whether the boards will let you link the Recruitment thread to the new campaign, though.

I had to disconnect it all and then go back into the recruitment and kind of start over, but it appears to have worked. I pasted the game details back in and started a new game play. Feel free to start when you are able to. In the event that some people do not see this, I will reach out via PM. Thanks for the patience.

I had to do a search by your name. Was not hard, but was not automatic.

I'm in like Flynn!

Just a note, GM, you're adding an extra "R" in Vethorm's name. :P

Didn't realize the whole game vanished. Will get a post up in a few hours, dotting for now.

I'm in like Flynn!

Just a note, GM, you're adding an extra "R" in Vethorm's name. :P

I guess I either need a bigger monitor or better glasses. Not sure how I keep making that mistake.

Lol, I see we have a new campaign thread. Time to get rolling!

I am confused. So I wait for the others to roll, do I roll my own con/ath?

I am confused. So I wait for the others to roll, do I roll my own con/ath?

Sorry for the confusion. You can roll now and we can do the math after or you can wait. It is up to you really. I do not foresee anything happening to make your roll invalid.

OK, I know what it is in 2e; what's an Athletics check in 1e?

OK, I know what it is in 2e; what's an Athletics check in 1e?

No idea. Strength check maybe? I just rolled a Con check since it was a lower DC.

{incoherent grumbling}

More apologies. I should have said Combat Maneuver Bonus check. Hope that clears things up. And if something else doesn't make sense please call it out and I'll respond as soon as I can

It's those PF2e / 5e rules leaking lol. Happens to me more often than I'd like.

Just a note, GM, you're adding an extra "R" in Vethorm's name. :P

And now he's calling you Vethrom. If this is a bit, I don't get it, but it sure looks like it is supposed to be Vethorm.

Well, at least most of us are getting all the crap rolls out of the way before we end up in combat. lol

Purg assures you he can roll like this for weeks.

Lol

Vethorm of Trunau wrote:

Just a note, GM, you're adding an extra "R" in Vethorm's name. :P

And now he's calling you Vethrom. If this is a bit, I don't get it, but it sure looks like it is supposed to be Vethorm.

I assure you this was not a bit, thought the goblin in me wants to make it one now. It is a simple run of the mill typo. Or so says the embarrassed GM trying to cover himself.

And on that note though, I need to mention that I likely won't post in full until later tonight due to spending the day and evening with family. I wish everyone else a great day. Thanks.

Don't forget to leave out a chocolate bunny for the Easter Snoop Dawg! :P

Well, that ended quickly. With the Tug-of-War over, I want to address one things which you may note in the post. I prefer to run games with Milestone leveling but I feel that the story elements have the potential to get lost. As a way to reward good RP and involvement in the story, I will often give little bonus when there story awards may come up. They may range from a +1 on a specific check to awarding a hero point to each PC.

Don't forget to leave out a chocolate bunny for the Easter Snoop Dawg! :P

My house is 100% a Peep house!

Vethorm of Trunau wrote:

Don't forget to leave out a chocolate bunny for the Easter Snoop Dawg! :P

My house is 100% a Peep house!

The correct answer is Reese's Egg.

Hey guys, quick question for everyone.

Where are each of you staying. I think Wild mentioned he was staying at the Ramblehouse but I am not 100% sure I am recalling that correctly. Ramblehouse is the likely place for strangers but there are a few other boarding houses (though not named). Hilde might be welcome at the Sanctuary as a fellow priest. Robin might be able to stay with Sara, though not likely.

Just looking to get an idea how to form the narrative coming up. Thanks.

Hilde will stay at the Sanctuary, or with family in town.

Wherever those that came with the last caravan to come into town would be

Purg stays at Ramblehouse with many of the other smallfolk. I believe I did put that in background.