Ambitious Hearts of Golarion

Game Master Monkeygod

Discuss all of your heroic(or catastrophic) deeds here! And ya know, normal ooc topics, lol

Hello!

Hi

GM, i have discovered a method to make my Demiplane as large as i want that works RAW but i want to run it by you first.

Since Kisyu-EL is a cyclopean seer, she can choose the outcome of any dice that she rolls personally with flash of insight, 2/day. this includes the d100 percentile dice.

If she casts create greater demiplane, selects the wild magic trait for her plane, she can purposefully fail the caster level check to cause her magic to go wild. She can do this normally or she can use her final revelation, which lets her select a number on her d20 rolls without expending flash of insight if the number is below her cha mod.

By selecting the 32-35th result, the following effect will trigger: "The spell functions normally, but any material components are not consumed. The spell is not expended from the caster’s mind (the spell slot or prepared spell can be used again). Similarly, an item does not lose charges, and the effect does not count against an item’s or spell-like ability‘s use limit." You can find it under the wild magic planar trait

this means she does not require the diamond material component for permanency if she casts in within her plane.

Normally, i wouldn't make use of this but i realised her demiplane would be too small to hold all her followers and have room for a grove even if i spend a ton of gold normally. This way i can set the size of her demiplane to a more appropriate size.

Edit My sense of scale is a bit off but a cubic plane 1 mile by 1 mile by 1 mile should be big enough to hold her followers, her cohorts and Sacred grove's children right? It would take her time to cast the spells but she has had nothing but time

For context, if she builds the plane by normal means(gold), she would only have a plane thats a 130ft by 130ft by 130ft cube. which would make the surface area less than half a soccer field. Not really big enough to live on

Edit 2 By my calculations, even without material components, the creation of the demiplane is still a time consuming task. It will take her slightly under 459 years, and spending 12 hours each day, to create a plane of that size while limited by her flash of insight uses. It might seem like a long time but it should be well within Kisyu-EL's means.

Let me start of by saying I suck at math, lol Water and electricity mix better than math and I. Also, I'm not fully rested and my tinnitus is bothering me.

That said, Create Greater Demiplane allows you to create a plane that is twenty(20) 10ft cubes per level. Which, seems like even just one casting would be bigger than your 130x130x130ft cube? Heck, even the lesser version should be bigger than that(again, I think, and I suck at math, lol) cuz that's three(3) 10ft cubes per level.

How did you get 130ftx130ftx130ft?

Either way, with just your extra 150k gold, you can make six(6) castings of the greater version permanent.

Ah that’s because volume is a b+%$&.

The volume of a 10ft by 10ft by 10ft cube is 1,000 cubic ft

The volume of a 100ft by 100ft by 100ft cube is 1,000,000 cubic ft

Because you have increase each value by a factor of 10, you in effect increase the volume by a factor of 10^3

The volume created by create greater demiplane spell is 20 x 22 x 1,000=440,000 cubic ft

5 permanent casts nets be 440,000 x 5=2,200,000

A 130 ft by 130ft by 130 ft cube has a volume of 2,197,000 cubic feet.

The surface area of such a cube is as said earlier less than half a standard soccer field(160ft x 140ft)

I can manipulate the values slightly but it’s still rather minimum as you can imagine without the wild magic making it free

And plus for the plane I want to create, even with wild magic, it still take lots of set up( about 459 years of casting 2 create greater demiplane per day)

Edit I know this because I remember telling my DM about wanting to make a demiplane handing him the specifics and we did the calculations together. He realised it was infeasible but sort of just handwaved the cost to make it a time requirement. I revisited the math when I was figuring out the description of the demiplane

Ultimately, you can decide if I should do it even if it’s acceptable RAW.

It’s not all good having a large demiplane either. With smaller demiplanes I could cover the whole thing with mage’s private sanctum, forbiddence and glyphs. For larger demiplanes it would be impractical.

The upsides are also more decorative for larger demiplanes. I could have full forests, lakes and settlements for my followers in the large demiplane. For the smaller one I will likely have most of it covered by the grove with the followers living in it. Food and shelter wouldn’t be an issue since the azata can control stuff like plants and move the earth to form temporary housing when they need sleep.

Important question before I make my ruling:

Even if ya don't need to worry about material costs, you're still bound by how long it takes to cast the spell, right? Ie, 459 years, or some such nonsense? lol

Also, how would that change if you could cast it 4/day? And, do you have any allies/minions/cohorts, etc that can also cast the spell?

Important question before I make my ruling:

Even if ya don't need to worry about material costs, you're still bound by how long it takes to cast the spell, right? Ie, 459 years, or some such nonsense? lol

Also, how would that change if you could cast it 4/day? And, do you have any allies/minions/cohorts, etc that can also cast the spell?

First yes: still bound by time. It will take centuries to finish the full demiplane. For the cubic mile sized demiplane, it would be slightly under 459 years. It seems very long but she could have began around the same time the runelords began constructing their rune wells and finishing it during the period after earthfall.

Ah well theoretically 4/day would be the max as the spell takes 6 hours per casting. The time would merely get cut in half.

However, practically 2/day is the maximum and she will receive no help from her allies/minions/cohorts. The only reason she can do this reliably is because as a cyclopean seer, she can select her desired result from the wild magic table with flash of insight. She can only use flash of insight like this 2/day. Her cohorts are not cyclopean seers and neither is Sacred grove. So while technically, Yleth and sacred grove have the slots for it, they won’t be able to cast it for free. And at this scale, any casts they can manage would be expensive and inconsequential.

So she is the only one who can make use of this wild magic trick

Voice of Awesomeness wrote:

Important question before I make my ruling:

Even if ya don't need to worry about material costs, you're still bound by how long it takes to cast the spell, right? Ie, 459 years, or some such nonsense? lol

Also, how would that change if you could cast it 4/day? And, do you have any allies/minions/cohorts, etc that can also cast the spell?

First yes: still bound by time. It will take centuries to finish the full demiplane. For the cubic mile sized demiplane, it would be slightly under 459 years. It seems very long but she could have began around the same time the runelords began constructing their rune wells and finishing it during the period after earthfall.

Ah well theoretically 4/day would be the max as the spell takes 6 hours per casting. The time would merely get cut in half.

However, practically 2/day is the maximum and she will receive no help from her allies/minions/cohorts. The only reason she can do this reliably is because as a cyclopean seer, she can select her desired result from the wild magic table with flash of insight. She can only use flash of insight like this 2/day. Her cohorts are not cyclopean seers and neither is Sacred grove. So while technically, Yleth and sacred grove have the slots for it, they won’t be able to cast it for free. And at this scale, any casts they can manage would be expensive and inconsequential.

So she is the only one who can make use of this wild magic trick

After thinking it over, and realizing that other PCs didn't pay for their cities, strongholds, nations, etc, I'm not gonna make you pay for the permanency spells needed to build your demiplane. This includes any castings of the spell via your allies/cohorts/minions, etc.

*However*, as I've said elsewhere to both you and others, don't abuse this. Make it as big and full of awesome stuff as you want, but no abusing time/magic traits or other such shenanigans one might get up to in their own personal plane.

Well that works too thanks, I will make a post about the stuff in the demiplane soon with stuff like descriptions.

I will leave the time trait untouched don’t worry.

I'm gonna repost what the original GM had said about this game in his discussion as a reminder to everyone as to how this game will work:

The story will begin with an introduction from myself, after which PCs will begin telling their tales. After a time when characters have established themselves and their place in the world narrative I will introduce the first epic event, after it’s resolution the tale will go back to individual stories, than at an appropriate time the next event will begin etc.

Being largely a cooperative narrative story the game will function more like a series of linked novellas than a rules heavy dungeon crawl with a united party and the DM making all narrative world decisions.

The most important things to keep in mind in this game is to always play nice with your fellow story tellers and that you can do whatever you like with the game world, only needing a nod from me if you are fundamentally changing an organization or using an epic element (which I will usually grant unless I need that element for one of the Events or it will obviously be disruptive to others players stories, in which case a conversation must take place about how it will all work.)

The best way I can think of explaining it at the moment is that the game is spilt into more or less two distinct parts that cycle to keep the games energy up, the group roleplay part and the more classic DM run adventure part.

In the group roleplay part you are narrating the personal story and perspective of your character. Likening it to writing a novel or just talking to yourself is a fair criticism but it’s not meant to be a strictly solo endeavor unless you want it to be, mixing narratives and entertaining each other by taking the role of NPCs and setting encounters for each other is also standard fair. This part of the game tends to be rules light. Another big (and fun) part of this is developing the relationships between the PCs if the choose to interact.

In the adventure part the game shifts into more classic D&D mode where the rules matter, the DM sets the scene and the event has a beginning, middle and end. Players are not forced to participate in the adventures but they make for a more crunchy and exciting segue between what is typically the more dramay and angsty story lines of the group role-play part.

This particular game is meant to be based around the theme of ambition, with each character working towards their dream and narrating their perspective and each epic event being based in some way around the theme as well…i.e. ambition run wild and dark, what will you do to achieve your dreams? etc.

Two things I guess I should make more clear is that limited DM interaction during the group roleplay style is not no interaction, I will be involved, I just won’t be dictating anything and secondly there is no limited on how much you can wrap your stories in with the other PCs or even just use the other PCs to control certain elements, you don’t need to tell your story alone unless that’s what floats your boat. For example, in one game I am DMing right now the story is based around a group of countries with each player playing a ruling family, in this story every PC controls NPCs in every other players court and we cycle around the focus for maximum storytelling fun with occasional breaks for I the DM to bring in outside threats or complications to the kingdoms, all in all it seems to work very well.

****************************

I will be making an in game post regarding news, events, rumors, etc that are happening out in the world. Most of them will be plucked from various APs(including the ones we PCs have completed), so it will probably take me a few days of reading/lore diving before I make it.

In the meantime, feel free to tell your own stories, or wait for me to make said post.

Might I suggest any introduction arc that players do be put into spoilers? It’ll get very confusing otherwise.

First post made! And if the impertinence could be excused, an invite is made to Matriarch Urlrith Tanor'Thym to respond. :)

I have an idea brewing for introducing Bolvar and his Gemforged Order, as well as Urlrith's city. And hopefully to run a simple (okay, probably complex) encounter to test out the stats of both Urlrith and Bolvar. See what the numbers we came up with can do, while having our leadership forces narratively in the background while the demigods do what demigods do.

The basic idea here...is that this will involve a planar threat which can hopefully serve as the inspiration for the joint story we both spent on points on. And it can hopefully set the stage for our two characters being known entities to each other.

Kisyu-EL is also open to work with anyone. I don’t really have someone specific in mind so if you do come to new thassilon or otherwise want to meet her, feel free to do so.

My idea with Kit is that either he'll be caught up in dealing with issues in Irrisen or he can leave Irrisen to his friends for a time to go help with issues across Golarion, so if there's something that would be international news he can get involved.

I was chatting with a friend about this game and how I'm currently not allowing PCs to make use of 3pp systems like Spheres/PoW/etc as well as mythic. It made me realize something a bit interesting for game: Normally, I am of the opinion that the GM gets to 'cheat' and can make use of material the PCs can not. However, this is a shared narrative game, and even if I'm the only GM(Almonihah did mention he could help as well, but I won't hold him to that), I still want everyone's input on this:

Would it be okay for me, as the GM, to make use of Spheres/PoW/Psionics/Askaha and mythic for the BBEG when I run an epic event/encounter?

I am not nearly comfortable enough for several players to make use of them at such a high level of gestalt play, but I am okay with making some use of them myself. However, if ya'll think that's unfair and don't agree, I am also completely okay with not using any of those rules whatsoever.

I have no experience using those 3pp systems so I can’t comment too much but I don’t mind. I will just treat bosses with those abilities as homebrew monsters

I think that would be perfectly fine to do.

(Honestly enemies using the exact same rules as PC's to build was one thing I don't think was the best idea with Pf1e.)

GM: I'd like to be clear as towards what is expected.

Should we be pursuing our own adventures? That is...for example...Johnny_Panic and I being...something like co-GMs, in telling a story with the two demigods? Or is this more of an introduction, where you will bring us together into a story being told with all of us? It'll really impact how this meeting scene plays out, and what the two of us need to do beforehand.

GM: I'd like to be clear as towards what is expected.

Should we be pursuing our own adventures? That is...for example...Johnny_Panic and I being...something like co-GMs, in telling a story with the two demigods? Or is this more of an introduction, where you will bring us together into a story being told with all of us? It'll really impact how this meeting scene plays out, and what the two of us need to do beforehand.

Both, actually. You guys(all players) can run and pursue your own adventures *and* I'll have my own things as GM too. However, it won't be anything like a typical adventure, but rather epic events/encounters that are suited for our legendary characters.

For example, let's say the 'mysterious threat in the Underdark' is some virulent undead shadow plague. You and Panic can run that entire plot to conclusion as you see fit. **Unless** the engineer of said plague is a demon lord or an epic level necromancer, at which point, I would handle the final encounter. This is a big aspect of the shared element of this game. You guys are all free to create and tell your own stories, accomplishing all sorts of massively heroic deeds. However, if you're intending to challenge foes of equal or greater power, take over a nation/planar layer, and similar truly epic goals, you need to let me know, so I can step in and help with that.

I'm not sure if Panic remembers(it was a **long** time ago), but he was part of the original Ambitious Hearts game, though I believe he joined a little later(possibly even after Dogblade, the first GM, went MIA). I also think that might have been the first game he and I shared together.

I'll be making a post later today that will reveal some of my ideas. None of them need to be acted upon, nor do all players need to be involved. Some will be tailored(at least, to an extent) to certain PCs and some will be more general. I will try to eventually have something specific for each PC, but that's gonna take some time/research/lore diving, and I wanna get my initial post up sooner rather than later.

So, Panic.

From recruitment: "
We've both spent 1 narrative point...in areas that are fairly similar. You into the darklands to control more the region around her city. And me to revitalize the veins under Kravenkus so that it can once again be a functioning dwarven city.

I'm pretty sure that the two would be combined. One area, two benefits. :)"

------

Shall we pursue this? I'm very much open to ideas on how we go about it. Including it beginning as a "virulent undead shadow plague."

So, Panic.

From recruitment: "
We've both spent 1 narrative point...in areas that are fairly similar. You into the darklands to control more the region around her city. And me to revitalize the veins under Kravenkus so that it can once again be a functioning dwarven city.

I'm pretty sure that the two would be combined. One area, two benefits. :)"

------

Shall we pursue this? I'm very much open to ideas on how we go about it. Including it beginning as a "virulent undead shadow plague."

Just an FYI, you do not need to take my example as gospel. It was a random idea thrown out there. In this game ya'll have more or less as much say as I do when it comes to your own stories.

Hey GM, Kisyu-EL’s plans for now will not be too grandiose. I intend to use the 2 of the 3 npcs I included in her backstory as plot hooks. Namely the two currently in New Thassilon. So I will focus on that for a little bit.

One thing I want to confirm, I want to dominate a Hallowed Lynx(CR 18) and make it good/ loyal to one of the npcs. Because in Thassilon having one was a status symbol and a loyal one will likely boost the npc’s legitimacy in the new of New Thassilon’s high society.

This is fine right? The lynx’s will save cannot succeed Kisyu-EL dominate monster/ Geas mechanically. I just want to make sure you are ok with her doing this. I might also have Sacred grove help out since the Lynx is a magical beast.

This won’t happen yet. It will take a few more posts

I have my own thoughts about the above spoiler from Bolvar, but I'll weigh in after Urlrith does.

@Kisyu-El: Yeah, that's fine, though I must admit, I find it a little amusing your first thought on how to get a loyal companion is "Dominate/mind control the evil out of it." Which, does not sound Good at all. Are you sure you're not an evil PC? lol

Hello fellow mortals

As a sort of FYI/reminder:

Both players and GMs don't need to roll dice for the most part unless they want to or feel they need to.

Using our two demideities as an example: I don't expect Bolvar(or myself as GM) to need to roll dice for anything related to dwarves or Torag. Nor for anything related to general crafting, however, he might want to roll if the subject is another race's weapons or armor. Ie, elven/orc/goblin/etc. Unless he maybe spent a few decades/centuries among them, learning their craft too.

Same with Urlrith, and the drow or Moloch. She might need to make rolls on other levels/areas of the Darklands(like the Vaults of Orv), or some obscure powers or places in Hell.

You can, of course, always roll to show off(absolutely nothing wrong in this sort of game!) or if you feel you need a chance for failure to spice up your story/scene. However, it's only ever gonna be required for when a GM is running something, and even then, only in instances where the outcome isn't or shouldn't be certain.

Would Xia, be Undead and the Whishpering Way

I mean it’s simply the easiest way for Kisyu-EL and the one that has a 100% success chance. Would you allow her to simply tame a hallow lynx without magic using just her skills? If she can do so or help the noble she is allied with do so she would. The lynx’s are essentially made to be pets so I assume they can be domesticated normally.

Also come to think of it, I ran Kisyu-EL as a more practical good guy. Fighting for the good of the world and willing to sacrifice to defeat evil doers. But that also meant if you were evil and she couldn’t see any way of making you change for the better normally, she wouldn’t hesitate to bring you under her domination. After all, this way she can make sure you don’t do evil acts

I mean it’s simply the easiest way for Kisyu-EL and the one that has a 100% success chance. Would you allow her to simply tame a hallow lynx without magic using just her skills? If she can do so or help the noble she is allied with do so she would. The lynx’s are essentially made to be pets so I assume they can be domesticated normally.

Also come to think of it, I ran Kisyu-EL as a more practical good guy. Fighting for the good of the world and willing to sacrifice to defeat evil doers. But that also meant if you were evil and she couldn’t see any way of making you change for the better normally, she wouldn’t hesitate to bring you under her domination. After all, this way she can make sure you don’t do evil acts

Yeah, definitely, **especially** since you have Scared Grove to help you. Kisyu-El herself might not be able to, but SG absolutely can.

Sorry everyone, my last posts should have been here, running on 4 hours sleep because of work

I find myself thinking that Kit's most likely first contact among the other PC's would be Areelu. The former Worldwound isn't that far from Irrisen (Just the Realm of the Mammoth Lords in between) and her concept of being a monster seeking redemption would definitely fit in with his aim to make a nation that welcomes both humanoids and those typically seen as monstrous... and he'd also be wary about her power and whether or not her remorse is genuine.

I am in Ustalav so I'm not that far from Areelu or Kisyu-El

Totally open for you guys to know her, or try to reach for whatever reason :) Just let me know how, and we can set it up accordingly. It could also be that you simply "heard" of her, and goes seeking for whatever reason (Help with some larger than life mission? Check to see if she can actually be trusted, especially with the type of power she owns? Offer yourself to be the new owner of Radiance?)

GM: What is the expectation? Should we abandon the current scene we are in about the local threat, and instead respond to the visions?

GM: What is the expectation? Should we abandon the current scene we are in about the local threat, and instead respond to the visions?

I expect you to roleplay your character. You were given a vision of a lost Sky Citadel by your god. However, that's all you saw, and even then, only the exterior.

I do not know what the 'local threat' is or isn't, however, you also have no information about Jormurdun, other than it has seemingly been 'rediscovered'. Which, was intentional.

I am not going to tell you how to play your character, ever, but *especially* not in this highly narrative, shared game.

React however makes the most sense for Bolvar.

Also, atm(ie, your current scene with Urlrith, sitting in a tavern), neither of you know any of the other, non spoiler news/rumors/reports. Everyone will learn of all of it at some point(whenever makes the most sense for your PC), but right now, all Bolvar knows is his vision, and whatever threat lurks deeper in the Darklands.

And yes, I am being deliberately vague. I'm not gonna walk you through how you should roleplay your PC. I trust you'll reply in the best way possible for him. Don't worry about what I'm doing. At least, not right now.

TL;DR

If you wanna know my expectations, ask yourself: WWBGD??

What Would Bolvar Gemforged Do??

Still have an idea for this second character

Still have an idea for this second character

Heck yeah!! Definitely allowed to play more than one PC!

Weretouched Shifter Bat/Vigilante who finished Curse of the Crimson Throne.A literal fashion mogul and Noble. Who keeps the streets safe at night or day as a Large Were Bat. Her house is a Black Back on Silver and Gold check. She has beautiful features of Tan skin, Purple Eyes and Long Luxurious Silver and Black hair.

Weretouched Shifter Bat/Vigilante who finished Curse of the Crimson Throne.A literal fashion mogul and Noble. Who keeps the streets safe at night or day as a Large Were Bat. Her house is a Black Back on Silver and Gold check. She has beautiful features of Tan skin, Purple Eyes and Long Luxurious Silver and Black hair.

My PC, Lord Magnius Arvanxi, has also completed CotCT. As I said to others, you are more than welcome to have shared that adventure with me.

Also, I am turning my version of House Arvanxi into a sort of safe haven for outcasts, exiles, and similar 'cast offs' from society. Hence their patron being Redeemer Queen Nocticula.

Would you like to be adopted in Arvanxi?

Well, not to say it, but my cohort (Arueshalae) should be a beast on her own. If anyone wanted to play her, I guess she could also be built as a player character (I didn't build anything for her yet). Of course, assuming you're into redeemed demons type of thing :D

Of course, Monkeygod knows that Nocticula is also intimately connected to my character :)

Eyes are gold, not purple.

I have yet to come up with a name, but she would be in good graces with the house. She likes her Bats, and Bobbins is the name of her Store. As she creates amazing clothing, as well as being a decent Engineer.

I can look intoyour back ground Magnius, and we could be House Allies,

Ngl, Bats & Bobbins is an **awesome** name for a shop, even if the 'bats' part is just in reference to her.

Alternatively, there's several allied minor Houses to Arvanxi, or she could be a member of an entirely different House, who is working to ally her House with Arvanxi.

Hmmm... did I write all of that background and then not mention that Kit & Greta's official position is the top generals of the Irreseni army?

Ngl, Bats & Bobbins is an **awesome** name for a shop, even if the 'bats' part is just in reference to her.

Alternatively, there are several allied minor Houses to Arvanxi, or she could be a member of an entirely different House that is working to ally her House with Arvanxi.

Allying would be interesting, as she says she is the last daughter of a fallen Cheliaxan House. So she made a new house and sigil. And with her entrepreneurial power, she would be someone you'd love to ally with. She, though, is not the Barwoman who helped you. LOL. First, a woman is a black bat motif and then a werebat.

Lord Marshal Xia Ravencrow wrote:

Still have an idea for this second character

Heck yeah!! Definitely allowed to play more than one PC!

Working on my posting for Kisyu-EL but if we are allowed to play more than one PC could I build and play Neve? Kisyu-EL party member who currently should be working to oppose demonic/hellish influence. If your house is a safe haven for outcasts, exiles and the like Neve will be more than happy to ally with you. Provide you stand opposites to hell ofc

I will have to change her classes a bit but it should be fun. If she also get NHP I know exactly what to spend it on

I have to say all these PCs sound amazing.

I still haven't finished with my one + cohort, I definitely am not going to make another. XD Have fun with that all of you, though!

How shall we go from here? I could run a test combat for you? Get a feel for your character if you like. Or we could narratively move forward with what occurs for our followers?

I wonder if we should ask GM if we could use the Mass combat system It could be a good way of using our Leadership and Cohorts / Followers to do lager events. I build my PC and cohorts for this reason, one on one she is not strong at all. So would lose to most of the other PCs. She is cunning not strong. :)

Something like this
Drow Army (Medium)
XP 400
CE Medium army of drow (warrior 3)
hp 3; ACR 1
DV 11; OM +3, ranged
Tactics dirty fighters, false retreat, sniper support, spellbreaker
Special darkvision, light sensitivity, poison, spell resistance
Speed 2; Consumption 1
Note +2 OM due to spell-like abilities