Aasimar race. We're starting at 1, playing Kingmaker, so up till 16ish I guess.
Quote:
If you need a stat for a feat chain, don't nerf it. I.e., a single point of dexterity damage would "shut off" all the dependent feats until you received a Lesser Restoration.
I'm pretty sure ability damage doesn't work that way. It gives you penalties on skills and other related stats, but doesn't actually reduce the score. Ability Drain would however, much rarer though.
Also thats the same if I take 15 dex really, because in that case I'd most likely not wear the item then.
Trying to make a shield+sword paladin, and am somewhat unsure about how to prioritise my ability scores.
20 point buy, racial +2 wis, +2 cha
So far I came up with:
16 str
13 dex
12 con
10 int
12 wis
16 cha
Here a few thoughts that went into those stats:
I thought about taking 14 con, but with Lay on Hands I'm having enough effective HP I think, that 1 more/level won't make a difference.
10 int - won't be a skill monkey anyway, so 10 is probably enough, can always take the extra SP from favored class.
13 dex - well, eventually I want Shield Slam and Shield Master, which requires TWF unfortunately. So I thought about getting a +2 Dex item by that time to qualify for the feat. Yeah not perfect, I know.
The real issue where I'm not so sure is Cha and Str really.
16 cha - due to racial it's just 14, so not very expensive anyway. Reducing it to 14 just gives me 3 more Points to spend. Could get 17 Str for that though, not sure I should. Cha adds to my saves, my AC and attack when Smiting and one additional Lay on Hands (which is another 1/2 smite due to my Oath).
17 str vs 16 doesn't give me anything now, but would mean 18 at level 4 instead of 8 - if str should even be a priority, and probably putting my level points in Cha is better?
Could get 14 Con as well for reducing Cha.
Str 14, Cha 18 would be completely silly I assume?
Ok, obviously it's 50 feet. I know that, so please don't hit me. Not too hard anyway.
I'm trying to describe how my character is carrying her 50 ft of silk rope. And I have real trouble imagining just how much 50 ft is.
Obviously I could go the boring way and say "well it's somewhere in my pack", but I'd prefer not to.
Would it work to sling/wrap the rope over a shoulder, wearing it sort of like a sash, without getting in the way? It's silk rope, so I guess it's thinner than normal rope.
Or would wrapping it around the waist, akin to a belt work? Here I have my doubts though.
Does that even make sense, or is 50 ft actually alot less volume than I think and just folding it up is the best idea for easy storage and quick access?
Alex nods at the next halfling that approaches the table and her armored companion as well, but doesn't stand up this time "Where are they all coming from, is there a nest nearby?"
"I heard many stories of the Stolen Lands when I was young and the fey creatures that live there. Some of them are really nasty, and I guess I can understand you pray to every god you can think of if you're passing through their territory."
The half-elf visibly inflates at the foreigner's kind words, smiling broadly. "You have it quite right, sir. Amazing results indeed. Astonishing, in fact." His gaze goes distant for a brief moment, the smile still plastered to his face. The far-off look passes as quickly as it came however. "Perhaps you will do me the honor of allowing my humble self to observe your technique. Should we find ourselves travelling together, that is."
"I don't know how much you think you can learn from me, to be honest I think it won't be much" he replies and then turns towards the dwarf again.
"I'm afraid I'm not too versed in the divine myself, so I'll take your word for it. I assume he's a benevolent god if people pray to him for safe passage? Or do they do it to not draw more of his wrath?"
Alright, I added a chapter to my background to explain a connection to Brevoy and why he's here. Please check in my profile if you think that's enough to qualify for Noble Born (Medvyed)
Ingle Farwen wrote:
"What am I famous for?" he says in surprise, turning toward Alex. "Well... as it so happens... that is to say... Perhaps 'famous' is too strong a word, though I am well known in parts north. Small parts, though they be." For a moment the alchemist wishes he hadn't been so hasty in putting his wine glass out of reach. "But famous I will be, rest assured. You have gotten in on the ground floor, as they say. I am a concoctor of potions, elixirs, remedies and restoratives. Amazing applications to bring you vigor and viv. Well, to bring myself vigor and viv. I haven't quite worked out how to get them to work on others just yet. But that is neither here nor there; the secret is just around the corner, no doubt. You could, in fact, say that I also follow a different path as well. I would simply love to sit down and discuss your approach. Most interested. Most interested. Enticed even."
"Oh, I see. I have spoken with a few alchemists a few years ago, I have to say, it is quite intriguing. I do not understand how you do exactly what you do, without having any magical talent born into you, but I know that you can achive quite amazing results still."
He slowly takes another sip from his goblet draining the last of the wine and waving to a serving girl for a new one before he continues "As for my approach to it, well let's see. I think you could say I try to understand the magic behind the rituals, instead of simply memorizing them"
"Hanspur? Hm, I don't think I have ever heard of that god" At least he was fairly certain it isn't one of the Archdevils.
Carnivyx:
Too bad, I'm sure it would hav ebeen fun RPing with you
"Ah, you've heard of me then! How splendid!" Ingle beams as he lowers himself into his chair, fussing with his cloak as he does so. Setting his glass as far from him as his lengthy arms will allow, he brushes his hands and leans back.
"No, I'm afraid I haven't heard of you" he replies to the half-elf "What is it you are so famous for? I am new to these lands, so I don't know the local celebrities."
After Kragath introduces himself, he adds his own introduction "One might say I am a student of the arcane arts, I guess, even though I follow a different path to knowledge than most my collegues. You may call me Alex for now."
"More halflings... great." Again he couldn't shake the believes and thoughts with which he was raised, that halflings were just lower creatures and born slaves. And again he knew that that was probably wrong.
Instead he nodded at them as well "Greetings, Evan, Jaska. Welcome to our table. And you as well, Master Ingle, Master Peregrine. This is turning out to be quite the illustrous gathering." he adds with another slight bow of his head to the second group of newcomers.
He then sits down again, taking another sip from the wine. "Not a bad one" he thinks.
DM Patcher:
Traits: Yes, been thinking about that alot, all the campaign traits seem to be for Brevory-born people only, and none really fits perfectly, but I'm narrowed it down to three possibles that might work.
Noble-born: That seems like the obvious choice and at the same time not at all, since its completely linked to Brevory families, so we'd definitely would have to talk about it. I would say "Medvyed but instead of feys use devils" But not sure if devils will even play any role in the AP, so that might just be wasted then.
Bastard: Again not a 100% fit, since he's not linked to Brevory families, but he pretty much severed the ties to his family, so that might work. Brevory nobility might frown down on that, even if they don't really like Chelaxians.
Pioneer: Thats probably the worst fit, but you could say that's what he is now. Searching for ancient ruins in unexplored lands etc for old magic?
Alternatively, I could add some tie to a Brevory noble house into his background (like his mother is from there, political marriage with his fathers house), if that would allow some of the traits then.
Leadership Role: Ruler is something he's been trained for since he was little, but Councilor or Magister would also fit I think.
Past catching up: Yes, that be fun ;) Obviously it depends who they send and how much he learned till then, if he'd run or fight, or come up with a more creative solution. But yes, I'm well aware that that might be trouble for him in the future.
"A fey curse you say?" Alex turns back to Teion, seeming quite interested "I heard and read about fey magic, it is said to be ancient and completely alien to us. I have never encountered a fey creature myself yet, to verify that, but from what I heard, I do believe that it is quite possible they are responsible."
Actually he is not so sure the fey magic would seem that alien to him, but even that is just a theory.
Alex raises from his chair as Jonas and Carnivyx arrive at their table, bowing his head politely. That is all he could make himself do. They should be bowing to him, not the other way around. He has to grin silently at this irony. He knows that most of how he was raised was wrong, but still some things were universally true.
But he had no title here, or anywhere anymore and even if he wouldn't be able to tell anyone. So he had to be polite, even to those of lesser station.
"Greetings milady. Greetings Sir." he sighs as he looks at the table "I fear this table is going to get too small soon"
Yes the halfling joined while I was typing, sneaky little thing :)
Alexite smiles and waits for the requested seat. When it arrives he gathers his cloak to the side to sit down, revealing fine threads below, finer than one would expect from an ordinary adventurer.
"Ah, thank you good sir. Apologies for my rough introduction, I'm still getting used to the customs around here."
He turns to the half-elf and his weasel, having overheard the last part of their conversation. "That must have been quite the unusual accident, if it isn't possible to revert him back to his normal form"
I'm currently building a wordcaster, but there are a few things that I'm not sure about.
Character will be a sorcerer.
a) The level of meta words describes the minimum level a spell must have to be added to it. But does it in any way increase the spell level? For example the Quiet metaword is basicly the Silent metamagic, but I don't think it actually increases the level. However there's a limit on how often you can use it. That's correct?
b) When combining Effect Words, I have that table that says what can be combined. For example a 6/4/4 combo is an 8th level spell. But what if I want to make a 6/1/1 spell? Is it still an 8th level spell, since thats the lowest I can use a 6th level in a 3-word combo? Or would it for example be a 7th level spell, even though that only says 5/3/3, but due to some formula used it still works?
c) Bloodline bonus spells are still the actual full fledged spells, right, and not effect words that make that spell?
d) Ok... let's say I DO want to slap a meta word with level 1 on a level 0 word. Like Quite Echo, I don't want them to know that I cast the fake noise spell. Can I do that, by spending a 1st level slot on the spell?
dotting for interest, I'll post a concept later once I'm home again.
I'm not sure yet what, but maybe some sort of sorcerer, or something similar.
Since you said you allow Words of Power, I decided to give that a try, since it interested me how that would work out, ever since I read about it. So I'll be playing an Wordcaster Sorcerer (most likely Infernal or Pit touched bloodline - don't worry, won't be evil. Probably NG actually, see background)
I know, he's another human, but the human alternate class ability is just too sweet to not take for this concept, and another race wouldn't exactly fit the background I have in mind either. Also humans are with 90% or so the most numerous of all races in Golarion anyway.
While I'm in europe my posting habits match the EST timezone more, and yes, I'm quite capable of posting multiple times a day.
Background::
Alexite Ratarion was born in Cheliax as a child of one of the many devil worshipping noble families. From infancy his family and their infernal masters had great plans for him, teaching him primordial and archaic magic since he was young. He doesn't exactly know what those plans for him were, if he was supposed to usurp the throne or lead an army of hellspawn, but he always had a feeling it was something big and utterly evil.
Even at a young age he was forced to do terrible things and swear horrible oaths to dark forces. He didn't know better, he tells himself these days, he had to do it, or they would have killed him.
The older he got the more he despised his so called destiny and the devils that his family had made a pact with. One night he packed his things and slipped out of the family estate. He hated the fact that he had to slit the throats of two of the guards, but it had to be done, otherwise he would never have made it out. And he knew what the fiends would do to him if he was caught, so that was not an option anymore.
He travelled for a long time, moving far to the north-east from his homeland, where he hoped noone would ever find him again, and where he could study his use of magic in case he they would and he has to defend himself. He uses the name Alex now and keeps his family name a secret.
Questions::
1. Why are you interested in working with the Swordlords of Brevoy?
He arrived in the region a while ago, and has run out of nearly all the money he took with him in the meantime, and he obviously won't get any more from his family's coffers. So when he heard that the Swordlords are looking for people willing to explore the wilderness to the south, he decided to take the job. The chances of meeting people that would recognize him for what he is or that are actually hunting him are alot less likely in the wilderness and maybe he will find some ancient ruins that will improve his understanding of the forces that power his magic.
2. What is your motivation to reclaim the Stolen Lands?
None. Sorry. Unless "because he gets paid to" counts. At least for now I don't think the PCs know thats the plan anyway, they're just explorers for now.
3. What will your character contribute to the group?
Spells. Lots of them. And since he's a wordcaster hopefully more versatility in his spells than a standard caster. Also since he has high charisma score, and from his background he would make an optimal party face I think.
4. What are your plans for your character mechanically?
Go full out Sorcerer to level 20. Thats the plan for now at least, if roleplay wise his motivation shifts, he might multiclass into a PrC or another base class.
5. What are your plans for your character from a story-perspective?
He is still on the run and possibly bound by some of the eldritch oaths and rituals he was forced to swear and perform. His primary goal is survival. Secondary is to cut those oaths or at least make sure they won't come back at him. Third to kill the devil that practically rules his family (long time goal :) ). All of this might change over the course of the AP, as I have no real clue whats going to happen down the road.
A character sheet will follow soon, the words of power are still new to me, so it takes a bit longer to get familiar with all the options.
Roleplay:
The young man, maybe in his early twenties enters the room and pulls the hood of his cape back, revealing long, fiery red hair, held together with a leather cord at the nape of his neck.
He smiles a bit as his gaze wanders through the crowded room. So much like home and yet so different all at the same time. He hates to admit it to himself but he does miss the comforts of home. But here noone would be sacrificed today, and that is something he certainly wouldn't miss.
He grabs a goblet of wine from a passing servant and heads to the nearest group of people. Quite the diverse group he thinks to himself, a human, a dwarf and a half elf... that's almost like the beginning of a bad joke.(yes, Kragath, Rorgrym and Teion)
He waits for the right moment and then nods his head in greeting. "Good evening gentlemen. This gathering is quite nice, isn't it. Better than I would have expected from this place. You may call me Alex, at your service."
i'd use piranha stike over power attack with a TWF halfling
also, when am i gonna get stats for a full "Ling" :P
Why?
As long as you have 13 Str Power attack seems superior, as it can be used with any weapon, not just light weapons.
While a rapier for example can be finessed it's not a light weapon.
Suddenly Belgretor jumps up from his chair, and bows deeply to Nelrem
"Oh, I just realised that I have some things to take care off before the festival. Really important halfling business, you understand? Maybe you should join a table with some of the other nice people over there, perhaps one of them is in need of your services?"
As he wiggles himself through the crowd towards the exit, a small knife apears in the palm of his hand and without much trouble he cuts the strings of what seems to be a fat purse which vanishes under his cloak, just before he vanishes into the night outside.
After a talk with GM_Todd, I'll be bowing out of this game here, I'm already playing in the other game of his, and he wants to give others the chance to play as well.
So I wish you all good luck to be accepted and have alot of fun!
"It's busy tonight, but I've seen better and worse crowds here. This inn attracts a lot of the adventuring types, heard a few stories from the owner herself before. She's kind to the wanderers here. And for the most part there isn't much trouble to be had, unless you go looking for it of course."
"As for the entertainment, Yes. It usually is that good. I get a lot of business though contacts made here. It's quite the spot to be for a patron of the finer arts, or simply the right opportunist."
Feeling a little better of mood Nelrem orders another round while the getting is good. Again ordering the house's finest for him and his guest. And if anyone doesn't have a seat, I invite them to Master Belrgretor's and I's, table.
Belgretor politely listens to the answers the half-elf gives him to his questions, but his eyes wander through the room, scanning it for potential targets.
"Just look how they all crowd up around that woman bard, it's like they're having a competition about who talks the most to her. Humans..." He shakes his head and laughs a bit. He'd never understand the tall folk.
After a while he notices the redhaired woman enter and sit down at an empty table and waves to Viorela "Hey lass, no need to drink alone, come over here."
"A toast then, to new friends. May our paths weave straight through the tapestry of all things."
Belgretor bumbs his mug with Nelrem's and laughs "To new friends!" and drinks almost the entire contents at once.
It is always good to have an alibi, someone who can confirm that he was with them the entire time and so could impossibly be responsible for misplaced things. Except for those short minutes that one of them would be away to get a drink, but almost noone ever thought of that.
"You're from here? You always have such fine entertainment?"
"Well met yourself Master Lightfoot." he offers his one arm out to shake hands.
"I am Nelrem, and you are indeed welcome to..." Pausing as the fellow sits down mid-sentence. "Um, I see you found the seat to your liking already. But I welcome the company regardless Little Master, and if you missed it, beer is on the house while the Master of Theaters over theres wallet stays open. Very generous indeed." He says with a wink.
Nelrem then slides one of his colorful ads across the table, it's decorated type with colorful designs and patterns, with...
The halfling nods and keeps grinning "Ah yes, I heard. A very generous man. He is a Master of Theaters, you say? That is very interesting."
He certainly intented to lighten the man's purse by a few coins before the evening was over.
He takes the paper and looks at it, but then slides it back and shakes his head "Oh, I'm afraid no. I'm just a traveller wandering the land and here for the festival, I have nothing worth writing down"
Raising his mug at him he adds "But tonight is for drinking and dancing, not for business"
Not being able to put all your eggs in one basket (Dex) is an intentional drawback of the game. If you could get AC, saves, + to attack, + to damage, bonus to initiative, and nice skill bumps by boosting Dex it would be an overly powerful stat. The fact that you can still get all of that without the + damage bump is still very nice.
Halfling TWF Dex rogues should focus on boosting their + attack stat so that they can land all of those nice sneak attacks. Rather than worry about a ho-hum Str stat, try to get some weapons that add elemental damage if you want the damage bump. At least that's my take on it, and I played a TWF halfling rogue up to around level 12 and had a blast. Good luck!
Yes, Dex is responsible for alot more, I understand that. And I see the need for increasing +attack as well.
However look at it this way:
Let's say we have two 12th level rogues.
Rogue A started with 10 str, 18 dex, took weapon finesse and put all points into dex.
Rogue B started with 15 str, 15 dex, doesn't take weapon finesse and puts all points into str.
Both have a +4 str/dex belt, and both have TWF and Imp. TWF.
BAB is +9/+4, both get a +1 for small size and another +1 for weapon focus.
They most likely have magic weapons too, but I'm ignoring that now, or it just gets too complicated.
A has 14 str, 25 dex.
He gets 4 attacks and makes them at +16/+16/+11/+11.
His damagebonus is +6d6 +2 or 21+2=23 on average.
B has now 22 str, 19 dex.
He also gets 4 attacks and makes them at +15/+15/+10/+10.
His damagebonus is +6d6 +6 or 21+6=27 on average.
Yes at 8th and 16th level the difference in attack would be 2, but that difference will always be 1 or 2, while the difference in damage always gets bigger.
A obviously has better saves and AC, that might account for something as well
I'm sorry I'm not responding much to this thread - it looks like things are going great. Now, just start interacting with one another so I can see how/if you play well with others.
That's the part I was conflicted about alot when making this concept.
Right now I'd have no problem actually stealing from any of them as I don't know them, but obviously that's a) not playing well with each other and b) not exactly what I'm gonna do once we work together. I think.
RP:
Belgretor walks up to the table seating the half-elf (Nelrem), stops infront of it and bows, making his cloak flourish as he does so with his left hand, while holding his own mug of ale level in the other.
"Greetings Master Elf. Belgretor Lightfoot at your service. I saw you drinking alone, and it is always sad to see someone drink alone. So I said to myself 'Bel, you can't let that poor elf drink alone. Look just how misserable he looks. Even though that could be because he's an elf. Now go over there and cheer him up'. So, here I am, no need to drink alone anymore now! And no need to thank me either!"
Once he is finally finished talking, seemingly without taking a single breath inbetween, he climbs up on the nearest chair or bench without waiting for an invitation, slams his own mug down on the table and grins at the half-elf, apperently waiting for him to say something.
I'm building a halfling rogue right now, and I came across a dilema here.
At first I thought of making him high dex (18) and low str (10), but Dex can be added to attack with Weapon Finesse, but there's nothing like that for damage that I'm aware of.
So sure, eventually I do alot of damage via flanking and sneak attack, or so is the plan at least, that a +3 or +4 from strength isn't really that important, right?
But I kept thinking. Why do I actually need high dex for a rogue? To qualify for TWF feats? That means I need 15 Dex at level 1, 17 at level 8 and 19 at level 15.
I guess having 15 Dex and then getting a +2 and +4 dex item at the appropriate intervals is probably not that hard. Even a str/dex/con belt should be easily in the wealth by level (or make a seperate +dex gloves or something)
That way I get higher strength, can put my level-updates into strenght, do more damage. I also safe a feat on Weapon Finesse as I don't need that.
On the downside, some of my dex-based skills will be worse.
However due to dex bonus and str penalty, well I'll never get str as high as dex. I can easily reach 18 dex, but str, I can barely get to 15. Basicly you could say it's a -2 attack vs +2 damage.
But then again, when I put points into Str it raises both attack and damage, while the dex rogue would only increase attack.
So maybe not such a good idea with that race?
Does that make sense? Am I missing something?
Yes, a halfling maybe is not totally optimal for this, but that part is not really negotiable.
Or is there actually a feat that replaces Dex for damage as well? (but even then the higher str might be better as it would still cost me 2 feats (or 1 rogue talent+1 feat))
1. Why are you in Sandpoint? Are you a local or a visitor to the city?
Belgretor is a visitor who has just recently arrived in Sandpoint with a merchant's caravan that he met a few days earlier.
2. What are your motivations for attending the Swallowtail Festival?
He heard about the festival and decided to be there, as such occations present him with many opportunities for his favorite hobby. Spontanous wealth-redistribution. And due to the many visitors and strangers, one more will not draw too much attention.
3. What will your character contribute to the group?
trapfinding and disabling, general sneakyness, and of course sticking the pointy end of his weapon into the bad guys.
4. What are your plans for your character mechanically?
Even though I'll start with a one-handed build most likely over the course of time, I'll pick up the TWF feats. I plan to stay single-class rogue for now, but who knows.
5. What are your plans for your character from a story-perspective?
His main goal is to live a comfortable life with as little actual work as possible.
RP:
At one of the tables at the wall, the little halfling grinned wide over his face as the large guy announced that he'd pay all the drinks from now on. This couldn't be any better, all he had to do now was wait.
In a little bit most in here would be so drunk they wouldn't notice if a stone troll would try to empty their purses, much less a halfling.
But till then it meant blending in, and so he joined into the shouts of joy over the announcement and the following laughters and ordered his own mug of ale. No sense in passing free drinks up after all.
