Talk amongst yourselves.
Discord chatter be here, yar: 7-day link
I will be going over statblocks more closely now that we have our player core and, if I have any questions, pinging you with them.
You are also welcome to discuss (here or in the Discord) what you intend your long term build choices to be, but I want to stress that nothing discussed is binding; gameplay MAY change your ideas of what class or classes you want to go for, and I expect we will have back and forth dialog about it since this campaign may stretch your plans a bit. /not ominous at all
Brimble signing in! Hello team!
Let me know if I need to change anything GM Dien. Totally flexible.
Hey everyone!
I can now verify that the process for creating an alias is difficult enough. No need to further raise the difficulty on that one
Not sure I'm in love with this picture. It seems the sort of thing a child might draw, while daydreaming. I hope I can change it if I don't like it.
'allo 'allo 'allo!! Xiramona is in the HOWSE!
Hello! Looking forward to playing with you all.
@Em Salt - I think you can change your picture up to the point when you've made 10 posts with an alias (someone else will probably confirm or deny this rumour). I agree that it's sometimes hard to find one that exactly fits or even feels sort of right. This probably wouldn't be my first choice but it was the best I could find from those available.
Close but not quite right. You can change your character image at any time, whether you have 5 posts or 500. At 10 posts, you can no longer change your character name (I think) and you definitely can't delete the character from your aliases. So, if you don't like your pic, you can always change it.
Howdy!
Sorry! Just now seeing this. Crunch is mostly done but not quite, I'll post in the Gameplay thread when I can.
Not to worry, we're still just doing prelude stuff. I'll probably be PMing people with thoughts and questions soonish.
When people get the chance, if you can format your stat line similar to Phantrel's - doesn't have to be identical to that, but at least the basics should be there. Em and Xiramona, happy to help if you need any assist with that since I know it may be kind of new to you both.
Good to know I can change my picture at any time. I'll have to see how I like this one.
I set up my profile. Let me know if the formatting is adequate. I'm still unsure on my second feat/third trait, since I don't know what character class or role I'm going to occupy. Examples of classes I could see playing include: Bard, Magus, Sorcerer, Oracle, and Unchained Summoner. I'm not sure how many generally useful feats there are that would work for all of those different classes, and I think it would be cool to leave my build plans up in the air for now. I'll have to think about the feat/trait some more
I know what you mean. I took one generally-useful feat (Toughness) and one... well, not particularly useful, but flavorful to this character and a potential feat tax for later (Endurance).
I appreciate that with the current state of unknowing about future builds, some things like feats and traits that you would otherwise be able to use to set up your build of choice feel murky right now, and I know it requires a bit of blind faith in me. I will say that the campaign will be generous with options for rebuilding feats AND even traits, so don't feel like anything you're picking right now is going to "trap" you in any way. If you wind up with something that turns out to not what you wanted, later, we can work to find an in-game way to adjust it, without penalizing you.
Basically, if you want to pick something like 'Toughness' right now just for general mechanical survival-- or something else you might not normally take because it feels more flavorful than useful-- that is absolutely a solid choice and it will not mean you are 'wasting' a feat. I promise!
Em, all of those feel like potentially fun options for your character. If you do want to lean into summoner, let me know, because it gives me ideaaaaaaaaaaas
Summoner sounds like it could be fun. If you have thoughts on how to set that up long term, I'm open to it.
I picked the trait/feat, so apart from equipment I believe my character sheet is all set up.
In terms of his build, my current plan is to go Paladin with Brimble. Depending on how the team shakes out, I could do AND/OR Investigator.
You'll no doubt be very surprised to hear that the treehugger is looking to move into druid as and when we get there.
I think I've spilled enough tea by now for you all to at least suspect that Xira will eventually become a harrow bloodline sorcerer. Most likely. I think. <_<
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Never fails to annoy me that I can't nest spoilers.
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I have learned from Raka and Colin how to nest spoilers! Thank you, she said, belatedly. Learn new things every day!
***
We are coming up on seven weeks of the game and I hope that nobody is too bored that we have yet to roll a single initiative check. I must say I'm very pleased with the players I've selected for this and that you're all sticking with me so far through the 'quiet' start of things. I was gonna say the following in the Discord but realized I don't think Raka/ST ever got a chance to join us there. SodiumTelluride, did you want another invite? If you just don't do Discord, that's fine, just wanted to make sure you had the chance. I do post images in there for convenience's sake, but I can rehost them elsewhere if needed.
Anyway, since nobody's gotten to do any combats, I will instead incentivize you all with praise! Spoilering for space but none of this is meant to be private.
Thank you so much! I will admit I'm itching to get to the next part, but I'm having fun here too.
Crap, I totally forgot about the Discord. I don't generally use it, but I will make a point of doing so. Can you create another link please?
Nice blurbs! Glad Argatha is, cough, shining through. :)
I too am curious how he'll develop. hehehe.
Thank you so much! I will admit I'm itching to get to the next part, but I'm having fun here too.
Crap, I totally forgot about the Discord. I don't generally use it, but I will make a point of doing so. Can you create another link please?
Your wish, my command!
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Thank you for the kind words. I'd second everything about the group and I'm also really enjoying how you're bringing the world to life, GM. It's clear how much you're enjoying the scenario, Salt Spire feels like a lived-in place, and it's great that you're rolling with what the characters are doing. It makes playing very easy when all that's going on.
We are coming up on seven weeks of the game and I hope that nobody is too bored that we have yet to roll a single initiative check
Bored is certainly not on the list of words that come to mind, when I think of this game. There are others, a sampling of which I offer here: impressive, gripping, depth. I get a sense of history, at times, which glitters like the towers of a remote city, seen through a sunlit mist.
We are coming up on seven weeks of the game and I hope that nobody is too bored that we have yet to roll a single initiative checkBored is certainly not on the list of words that come to mind, when I think of this game. There are others, a sampling of which I offer here: impressive, gripping, depth. I get a sense of history, at times, which glitters like the towers of a remote city, seen through a sunlit mist.
As poetic as Em herself! Shucks.
My friends have often been full of such phrases
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By the way, I just have to give a big thank you to GM dien for picking Raka (and really the whole group). I'm enjoying this game immensely, due in no small part to the party we have. I was thinking last night about how Brimble's and Raka's first conversation started with a sex joke, and it struck me how much this game feels like a real group of people who were forced together and are slowly getting to know each other. (I mean in-universe some of us know each other already, but you know what I mean.)
Given that at selection time Raka's backstory was like two bullet points, clearly you saw something in her that even I didn't at the time. So I am so glad I got picked for this. :)
By the way, I just have to give a big thank you to GM dien for picking Raka (and really the whole group). I'm enjoying this game immensely, due in no small part to the party we have. I was thinking last night about how Brimble's and Raka's first conversation started with a sex joke, and it struck me how much this game feels like a real group of people who were forced together and are slowly getting to know each other. (I mean in-universe some of us know each other already, but you know what I mean.)
Given that at selection time Raka's backstory was like two bullet points, clearly you saw something in her that even I didn't at the time. So I am so glad I got picked for this. :)
I meant to reply to this sooner, but I'm so glad you're having fun! I agree that this is shaping up to be a fun party and I'm enjoying all your interactions with each other.
I can't claim to be any sort of expert at picking players but I've gotten lucky with the last few groups I've selected - I have a complex, scientific, and rigorous selection process that I employ which I call.... "Good vibes, dude!"
It isn't necessarily about the length or depth of the backstory, but just a sense of 'how is this person gonna PLAY this character' - things like a bit of humor are usually a good sign, as well as signs that the player is engaging with the setting I'm describing. In Raka's case I remember snickering at the bit about the difference between Raka's own answer and the recruiter's observations - it was a small detail, but it showed me that you were taking advantage of the in-world conceit of the recruiter to reveal something about the character-- she has her own self-perception which is different from what a stranger might see, etc., and it just showed me that you were engaging well with the setting. IDK. Like I said, it's super-scientific. ;)
woh-woh-woh:
Well how about that.
5pt stat buy (up to 15) increases dexterity +1 (17), wisdom +2 (14)
+4HP (10 ranger better than 6 adept) (total 10)
+1 BAB (1)
+2 Fort & Reflex Saves (2/2/2)
+5 skills (4 more from class +1 favored): Climb, Perception, Stealth, Survival, Swim)
More class skills: climb, intimidate, knowledge dungeoneering, knowledge geography, knowledge nature, perception, ride, stealth, swim
Ranger’s Focus (Ex): Once per day, the guide can focus on a single enemy within line of sight as a swift action. That creature remains the ranger’s focus until it is reduced to 0 or fewer hit points or surrenders, or until the ranger designates a new focus, whichever occurs first. The ranger gains a +2 bonus on attack and damage rolls against the target of his focus. At 5th level, and every five levels thereafter, this bonus increases by +2 (+2). At 4th level, and every 3 levels thereafter, the ranger can use this ability one additional time per day (1).
Track (Ex): A ranger adds half his level (1) to Survival skill checks made to follow tracks.
Wild Empathy (Ex): A ranger can improve the initial attitude of an animal. This ability functions just like a Diplomacy check to improve the attitude of a person.
- - -
Re skills if I understood gestalt correctly you get the max of your two classes so in Colin's case he likely doesn't gain any new skills at all since expert has loads of skills and most other classes have less.
Argatha is an Adept, not an Expert. He got 2+INT skills for Adept, and is now receiving 6+INT skills for Ranger... so he would receive the difference (4) skill points as he gestalts at 1st level... that excludes his FCB bonus because I don't know what he did with that when he was just an Adept.
I didn't take a favorite class bonus as an adept (ranger being my favored class), but Brimble has my intent. I hope I got it right - this is my first gestalt!
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I haven’t checked your other numbers (which are easier) but your skill point change is spot on. Welcome to your first gestalt game!
Gestalt changes (in brief)
1 level of Pally
+1 BAB (and related mechanics)
+2 HP (up to d10)
+2 Fort Save
No new skill Points
Fun Stuff
> Detect Evil
> Smite
Ok I think I'm all set. I took the Sacred Shield archetype (probably not much of a surprise), trading Smite Evil for Bastion (heh) of Good which encourages the baddie to come after me instead of you as long as you stay close. I also plan on taking Warrior of the Holy Light, since I really don't see Raka casting spells, but at this rate I don't know if we'll ever reach level 4 lol.
Quick overview:
1 level of druid (halcyon archetype)
+2 hp
+2 Fort
+2 skills
Spells
I trade out a lot of the standard druid class features. I lose nature bond (so no animal companion, domain or herbalism), nature sense, wild empathy, and spontaneous SNA.
In return I get a bonded item, Diplomacy and all Knowledges as class skills, bonuses to Diplomacy and Knowledge local, all spells from the Good domain added to my list and can spontaneously cast them.
I will also not gain wild shape at later levels, but instead can add wizard spells to my list. So it's very much a caster-focused archetype.
Might be worth coordinating on spells? I'm initially thinking Druid: entangle, snowball, open slot (bonded item); Adept: bless, sleep. Very much open to suggestions though.
For cantrips between the two classes I've gone: create water, guidance, light, purify food and drink, ray of frost (via Two World Magic trait), stabilise. I'm assuming at least one, if not both, of Em and Xira will be taking detect magic and read magic.
Change Log
-Hp went from 1d6+1+1 to 1d8+1+2 (2x fcb)
-+4 skills per level. Took perform oratory and dance, intimidate and bluff
-Bardic performance, bardic knowledge, spellcasting
-good (+2) ref and will saves
-Dex upped from 12 to 14, Cha upped from 16 to 17
-2 points of Influence to up Cha to 18
-gained proficiency with a lot of weapons
Spellcasting wise, I am looking at other people’s sheets when picking spells, but I don’t think I’ll do more coordination than that
Gestalt summary:
HP: Unchanged
FCB: +1 skill point -> Kn: Planes
Saves: +2 Fort, +3 Reflex
Dex: +2 Dex -> +1 Init
Class features: Gains throw anything, Alchemist (+1 per level to craft alchemy), Bombs +4 1d6+4, 4x per day, Mutagen (+4 dex, -2 Wis, +2 Natural Armor), Extracts
Colin also gains a martial weapon proficiency - lets hold off until we've explored the armories before deciding what this should be, but typically it would be a longbow for his archetype.
Ch-ch-ch-changes:
+1 Str, +2 Cha, +1 HP
1 level Sorcerer, Harrow bloodline
Sorcerer spells:
1st (4/day)—grease, mage armor
0 (at will)—disrupt undead, message, prestidigitation, resistance
Adept spells unchanged:
1st—comprehend languages, cure light wounds
0 (at will)—create water, detect magic, light
Bloodline Arcana: Harrow: Divination spells +5 to result of roll. Roll twice, keep best result. (Max Chance 100%)
Eschew Materials: Cast spells without materials, if component cost is 1 gp or less.
Spell Focus (Divination): Spells from one school of magic have +1 to their save DC. (Granted by Zenith)
Twisted Fortune (6/day, DC 13) (Sp): As a standard action foe in 30 ft is confused 1 rd (Will neg).
Varisian Tattoo (Divination): Spells from chosen school gain +1 caster level. (Granted by Zenith)