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Scarier (but very useful) Translation of fantasy into real life.
Someone starts driving up, and i get a bad feeling about this So I spread the map over the hood of the car to make it plain we're not looking for trouble. Someone gets out of the car with an AK 47 looking thing, Points it once at my surveying partner, then keeps it trained on me the entire time. he tells me to back up a bit.
My brain starts going "5 foot step behind the car, readied action to dive for cover, trees for cover and then swim check" So i take a BIG step back. He starts babbling about coyotes, meth labs, and people and that he's shot both and it didn't bother him. I mention that we're here studying bats, we have bat books, a bat detector , and the GPS said we were supposed to set up here *hint hint. Someone knows where we are*
The diplomacy check is a success, and he downgrades from the ak 47 thing to a hand cannon we get into the car and get out of there, and stop at the nearest gas station to get a soda, candy, empty some over taxed bladders and celebrate still being alive.
He asked me "how are you not completely freaking out right now? He pointed the gun at me once and i was du du du..."
Well one I'm from new york, two, have you ever heard of role playing games.."
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Designer
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Each of the finalist's entries impressed me in a different way. Finalist 2's ties to PFS ongoing story were really neat, and I think you guys get to see that on full display in the current entry. Finalist 1 fully worked out all six of the medium spirits and channeled items, not just the champion, at the various levels as well, which don't translate into the abbreviated entry here but is worth noting. And finalist three was meticulous and well-organized, with the entire build level by level and citing every source to make it much easier to find and understand the components (which could otherwise be especially hard for the ones that weren't in the RPG line), which also isn't fully on display here, though you can notice the cite for Quests & Campaigns.
No matter who wins the grand prize, all three of you did a great job and you should feel proud of yourselves!
Developer
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Wow, great finalists! I love any excuse to see more phantom thief, and character number two's backstory makes me very excited to see her in play. I'll have to read up on how mediums work before voting, though.
I had a great time participating. I'll be using my entry as my new PC now that I know she didn't make it to the finals.
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Looking at the backstories, it kind of reopens the old debate about whether PFS characters should have special relationships with named NPCs in the campaign as part of their stories or not.I wholeheartedly support any PC who claims to be related to Maldris.
*imagines maldris dusting off a little black book and doing math on his fingers*
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Designer
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It's kind of hard to evaluate the combat effectiveness of a rogue that doesn't have sneak attack without knowing what the intended progression of other abilities will be.
Finalist #3 had a full explanation including a level by level build with comments, but it would be quite long if Tonya listed the whole thing in the blog post. Still, I wouldn't count the fact that the builds are 1st level only against any of the finalists while making your choice, as they did include them.
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Developer
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It's kind of hard to evaluate the combat effectiveness of a rogue that doesn't have sneak attack without knowing what the intended progression of other abilities will be.
I've played a Phantom Thief at level 1 and it can be challenging. The class has a number of fun tricks, though. You can dump everything into Combat Feats to become a Dirty Trick master using Fox or Kitsune Style, spam Minor/Major Magic with Bookish Rogue and Kitsune Star Gems or get Nine-Tailed Inheritor to get all Nine-Tails at level 7.
*Looks up* I guess there are some non-Kitsune related Phantom Thief builds too. You will definitely win at all skill challenges!
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Is there any chance we can get the raw submission even if its formatting is off? Might not be pretty but I can't tell at all what the characters intend to look like even if it could be interesting.
I guess it could be long but hiding it in a spoiler and just copying the raw submission should work right?
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First of all: congrats to those who made it into the semifinals and finals. Well done!
Secondly: I honestly do not think this is the best way to ask us to vote on the finalists. Only giving us the first level of a character and the background gives us no way of figuring out how the later levels will continue to correspond with the backstory and possibly even build on it. I bet the entries gain more uniqueness that truly sets them apart. It's as much a part of their overall concept as their first level is.
As it stands right now, you're basically asking us to vote based on one level even though you specifically asked for five levels. We don't get to see the entire character, but only gain a glimpse of the start of that character's career. For me, that doesn't do the entries justice at all. It's like there's a mismatch between the contest and this final round.
Like Mark said, I won't count the fact that the builds are 1st level only against any of the finalists. However I will not be voting unless I get to see the entire picture. I might be overreacting or just plain silly in this regard, but I can't judge a book just by its cover.
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I'm torn between two entries, and with the info given, I'm not sure I can make a decision. I agree that it would be nice to see the rest of the builds, as that might help me make up my mind (maybe). The contest went to level 5, so we should be able to vote based off of the full entry. If I can't decide, then honestly I just won't vote.
I actually like it. Personally I will be voting for story over mechanics.
Hmm
I am trying to do both. Mechanics should reflect the story.
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I believe Hmm will be favoring the story of these specific choices over their mechanics. Such as, when comparing them a better character story will win her vote over better mechanics. Because the story and mechanics have been written, and will not be changed before the voting is over.
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Congratulations to the finalists.
I'm interested in what got thrown out for not being PFS legal. I'm guessing those who put work in to enter would be knowledgeable about PFS so they clearly missed something. I'd like to know what so I don't make the same mistake. It should be anonymous on who made the errors but listing them would help me. 'Mistakes to avoid when building a PFS character' A helpful learning tool.
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Congrats to the the finalists, well done.
I have a local player who was looking through the builds for any tricks they may want to include in a future build for themselves and they were asking me for clarifications on what they found. Below I listed the questions I couldn't answer.
Perth - Where they are getting so much damage? (As far as I can tell they are getting 2 extra damage on every attack, though the ranged damage at least is probably just meant to be a composite longbow with a +2 strength rating, though it is a regular longbow according to the stat block)
Perth - How they got 9 skills at level 1? (by my count 7 made sense, 8 if they hadn't put FCB into hp)
Brackish - What's the character's second trait? (The first is reactionary) - Not super important, as there didn't seem to be anything mechanically missing but they were still curious
Gwinn - How did they get 12 skills at level 1? (I could account for 10, 11 if they hadn't included FCB to hp)
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Will take a stab at the build bits - Guessing some of it gets caught in the
Perth - Where they are getting so much damage? (+2 needed)
Seance Boon: You gain a +2 bonus on all non-spell damage rolls.
Gwinn - How did they get 12 skills at level 1?
Rogue (8) int (2) Human Skilled (1) FCB (1) - with fast learner for the hp as well
Perth - How they got 9 skills at level 1?
Medium (4) int (2) Human Skilled (1) FCB (1) - maybe mentored was seen as a dot not a bonus or something boosted but not dotted?
Brackish - second trait:
Something for perception as a class skill as Shaman do not get it and it is pirate goodness
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Thanks for the help, much appreciated.
Will take a stab at the build bits - Guessing some of it gets caught in the
Perth - Where they are getting so much damage? (+2 needed)
Seance Boon: You gain a +2 bonus on all non-spell damage rolls.
I saw the spirit bonus didn't think of the Seance boon being calculated in though. Ooc, wouldn't there also be a penalty to Initiative in that case though. I don't know medium very well.
Gwinn - How did they get 12 skills at level 1?
Rogue (8) int (2) Human Skilled (1) FCB (1) - with fast learner for the hp as well
Makes sense, I had quick counted feats and assumed that focused study took away skilled not a feat, but turns out weapon finesse from finesse training takes care of it.
Perth - How they got 9 skills at level 1?
Medium (4) int (2) Human Skilled (1) FCB (1) - maybe mentored was seen as a dot not a bonus or something boosted but not dotted?
Could be, not sure
Brackish - second trait:
Something for perception as a class skill as Shaman do not get it and it is pirate goodness
Totally makes sense.
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Perth - How they got 9 skills at level 1?
Medium (4) int (2) Human Skilled (1) FCB (1) - maybe mentored was seen as a dot not a bonus or something boosted but not dotted?
Climb and Swim don't have ranks in them, but Hero Lab stat blocks like to include them. Both of them are +2 for strength, +1 for Champion. Perth has 7 skill ranks.
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Climb and Swim don't have ranks in them, but Hero Lab stat blocks like to include them. Both of them are +2 for strength, +1 for Champion. Perth has 7 skill ranks.Perth - How they got 9 skills at level 1?
Medium (4) int (2) Human Skilled (1) FCB (1) - maybe mentored was seen as a dot not a bonus or something boosted but not dotted?
Yeah, that would do it.
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Venture-Captain, Minnesota
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I believe Hmm will be favoring the story of these specific choices over their mechanics. Such as, when comparing them a better character story will win her vote over better mechanics. Because the story and mechanics have been written, and will not be changed before the voting is over.
^ Exactly. Thank you, Steven!
Characters for me go in three stages:
1) Personality Idea like "Blakros Bastard", "Blues Brother" or "Kitsune Infiiltrator with a Monkey Flag"
2) Then I build out mechanics to make sure I have a secure skeleton for my character;
3) Then backstory and personality in depth.
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In this case, the mechanics for all three concepts have been vetted. So I'm going to assume that all would work easily well for Tonya to play. I'm going just for story, personality and verve. What do I think would be the most fun to bring to a table of strangers and just roleplay?
Hmm
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I'm interested in what got thrown out for not being PFS legal. I'm guessing those who put work in to enter would be knowledgeable about PFS so they clearly missed something. I'd like to know what so I don't make the same mistake. It should be anonymous on who made the errors but listing them would help me. 'Mistakes to avoid when building a PFS character' A helpful learning tool.
I don't know if mine got thrown out or not, but I'm assuming I got a DQ. I read "Level progression: 5th for feats, skills, and selectable class features" and submitted a 5th level PC. I missed the later clarification for a 1st level PC.
I like all three finalist backstories and I like the fact that they're different styles of writing too. I would also like to see what the finalists level/build progression looks like because a PC is a combination of who they were (backstory) and what they are (class and build).
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Venture-Agent, Massachusetts—Boston Metro
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Yeah, I figure the mechanics must be sound, so which character has the story I want Tonya to play with?
I'm still curious about which character options the rogue is going with, though.
I'm curious because it really isn't designed for PFS and even the track record with material from that book is kind of rotten to the point where it is amusing and irritating.
Venture-Agent, Nebraska—Omaha
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I'm curious because it really isn't designed for PFS and even the track record with material from that book is kind of rotten to the point where it is amusing and irritating.Yeah, I figure the mechanics must be sound, so which character has the story I want Tonya to play with?
I'm still curious about which character options the rogue is going with, though.
Really? I very much enjoy Intrigue options.
I know you can make a mean Intimidate debuffer with the Phantom Thief archetype, which seems to be the direction she's geared for. But that's pretty easy to include. For refined education, she has Perception already, but there are several directions to go for later levels. The Disable Device skill Unlock partially replaces trapfinding, Acrobatics and Escape Artist can be handy, and social skills are always nice to have maxed.
Gwinn won't be a combat powerhouse, but demoralize is a decent debuff. With either some bonus combat feats or magic abilities I'm confidant she'll contribute. I'm just not quite sure how.
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Venture-Lieutenant, Minnesota—Minneapolis
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I really would have liked to see the 5th level builds as well in judging these. It would tell a lot about how the build fit the story. I've votes without it, but feel like we are voting with only 1/3 or less of the information.
Although I had read Prince of Wolves, I hadn't connected the name Jeggare to entry #3 until I looked it up. I could see where he would be a bad role model for a young, adventurous Chelish Lady. The archetype fits the background well.
While they won't officially say until Friday, I have a sense of who is in the lead.
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I actually like it. Personally I will be voting for story over mechanics.
Hmm
I couldn't care less for the mechanics beyond race, class & feats. 'Tis not like I know how the barbarian sitting next to me rolls 2d6+11 damage or the wizard next to her casts a spell without seeming to move. As a GM I might have a question or two, but by and large I trust the player to know their character. Just as I have to trust that the developers where satisfied with the full build. I have played with the VO enough to know she knows what she is doing without giving me all the details.
But the backstory... well that is what seperates the level 1 rogue (with weapon finesse) from the level 1 rogue (with weapon finesse). 'Tis the Chelaxian accent vs. the Varisian accent that I will remember after leaving a table. Or the aspiring farmer's dream, the expanding Jaggere legacy & a Pathfinder from the Grinning Pixie .
Well done all, especially for tieing into the existing lore. :) I will vote based on which character I would most enjoy playing mostly because that matches what the VO said she would like to play. :)
