Looking for a game near concord, martinez, walnut creek. I am in my mid 40's and would prefer a group around that age. I have a friend who might be interested also.
I too a 15 year break when I was 32 due to a job transfer. I have now relocated back to the bay area and am gaming again. I am 47 and find it as much fun as ever. Especially hanging out with high school buddies again.
Im kinda building some questions so I have a good train of though about a new game group. This Saturday im meeting some perspective people for a new game im running and hosting at my house so here is what I have so far please tell me other ones
Roleplaying Questions
#1 What are thoughts on LARPing?
#2 What is a Munchkin to you?
#3 What is the Difference between a Mid Maxer and an Optimizer?
#4 Should every character be effective in both combat and noncombat situations?
#5 Can you still be a good roleplayer if you also try to make an optimized character?
Non Roleplaying Questions
#1 What do you do for a living?
#2 Do you smoke or drink and do you have a problem with someone who does if you dont?
1. No opinion as I dont know what it is
2. A slang term for a height challenged individual
3. Personal choice
4. Not Necessarily
5. Absolutely
6. I manage a fair amount of folks
7. No, yes. I will not game in a room where smoke is present. As far as drinking i very rarely drink during games but I have no problem with it as long as it doesnt get out of control.
Ashen-Shugar(yes that one) Half-Elf Fighter 9/ Mage 21 started in 1E ended in 2E. Grand Ruler of the Three Towers(We have a houserule that you cannot teleport across vast bodies of water, Ashen Shugar owns 3 floating towers that provide the only access across the oceans and is a firm believer in monopolies)
The coolest thing ever was casting true dweomers from 2E, Even wrote my own up for the towers defense "Penultimate Security System"
Hey I just got through looking through a heated discussion on 3PP hate or like.
Personally I have taken a tour through the 3PP stuff and have not seen anything that thrilled me. Granted it was not an indepth tour, That being said I am open to further explorations on the topic.
So What 3PP Race, Class or setting or anything really do you like?
I seem to remember greyhawk 1E having a mine that was formed by a meteorite and turned the local folks(dwarves) into undead flesh craving zombies straight outta walking dead.
I believe their leader was a high level dwarven cleric lich.
So far Paizo's options have provided more than enough options for our group. I have toured the 3PP stuff and have not seen anything that I wanted to play.
But I remain open to new ideas. Has there been a thread posted on favorite 3PP characters? Might be interesting and could open some new possibilities.
Great Post, Although I do not possess the summon good monster feat for MS..Yet, I can see adding this creature to my arsenal, perhaps do a summoner that focuses only on good creatures.
I see no problem with not taking a feature as long as balance is preserved oh lord there goes my inner druid!
If you do not want a bonded item or familiar, that's fine, Yes it does suck to have your bonded item/familiar destroyed, However they provide decent benefits.
Just thinking about the relative power and utility of full casters, I was wondering how far they would have to be nerfed before people thought they became too bad to play.
What if Wizards and clerics had a spellcasting progression like the Magus, gaining a new spellcasting level every 3 levels, would they still be 'tier 1'?
Partial casters would of course be berfed as well, in proportion.
(Diving into the deep end) Oh come on martial dude, you know you want some caster love
I think a lot of people think that casters generally are overpowered and should be banned, and that anything that makes casters more powerful is ipso facto overpowered.
I am running An MS and like the folks above said it's all about the prep. have your 1-3 monsters per level statted out on 3X5 cards and let other players run the monsters if you are using your SLA 3 or more times per encounter.
Mostly don't listen to naysayers about how it takes 45 minutes or so to run your combat sequence, the same could be said for any unprepared character.
Have you by chance thought of playing a master summoner.
1. Forget the whole eidolon thing you do not need it
2. Great spell access
3. Really easy feat tree to figure out.
4. Great Fun
Like folks have echoed on here, pick 1-3 monsters per level you want to summon and have them ready on 3X5 Cards. Pass them out to fellow players.
1. Extra Summons
2. Augment Summoning(Bonus)
3. Superior Summoning
5. Extra Summons
7. Skill Focus(Knowledge Planes)
9. Eldritch Heritage( Arcane Bond) Love me some greensting Scorpion
11. Extra Summons
13. Eldritch Heritage: Arcane Bloodline(New Arcana)
15. Extra Summons
17. Greater Eldritch Heritage(School Power: Conjuration)
Awesome character, don't let the naysayers bring you down. Just be prepared. I have 1 to 3 monsters per level prepared on 3X5 cards and let other players run them although I rarely SLA more than 2 per encounter. Buff the party and be the battlefield general your party will love you.
And here's the kicker I have never summoned my eidolon, in fact I have not even built one.
Intensified raises the max damage from 10d6 to 15d6.
So at your current level which would be 11 for fireball with the feats. Intensified fire ball would be 11d6+5, empowered would add 50% or 5d6 more so 16d6+5
For the player who likes being the Chessmaster, the Summoner is a dream come true.
I am playing a halfling MS in a homebrew game and am not using an eidolon at all. Like lazar said I use the SM as battlefield control along with the pit and grease spells and buffing the party all the while staying invisible.
So far none of the complaints that seem to permeate these boards such as broken and taking too much time in combat. ( I pick 1-4 creatures per level and have them on 3X5 cards ready to go and let other players run them on their initiative).
What if.. A high level wizard knew he was dying and as a dying wish built his tomb and used his ridiculous amount of swag to defend it.
Example.
Encounter 1. Pit of water with a door at the bottom, the water is normal. Upon opening door the water falls onto a dirt ground which interns waters the bag of beans in the ground.
Encounter 2. An eversmoking bottle fills a room with 1 hidden door and a smoke elemental.
Encounter 3. a room laid out like a corn maze permanently darkened and filled with 4 wraiths or spirit trolls each having 1 pinch of dust of dissaperance( Ok, That might be a little cruel).
Encounter 4. A "Room" that you have to walk down a 10' wide hallway that skirts the perimeter in the the room are 2 imps each possessing a ring of spell storing. Having the spells Forcecage, cloudkill and delayed blast fireball pick your level. Me I would go 23rd.
Ok, you build the rest but I would include a simulacrum nuking said party from a distance that has many obstacles.
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Your Academy could even be a kind of Winters Council. One that operated on Golarion through the Ages following Earthfall, doing what they could to protect the elves and elvish properties left behind. And would likely be offended by the elves who left returning saying, "We're back now, you poor, unfortunate forlorn. Just let us take over."
That totally fits with the whole shadow government as well as BBT's ideas of the medieval version of genetic research/mind control experiments.
Although the only differences between my character and a standard elf is that I am picturing him being a cross between a greyhawk 1E valley elf and a 2E dark sun elf( just not 6' tall) a lot more of a tribal look.
Man It 's giving me some ideas for a hi level game reminiscent of the X-Files
I like the idea, perhaps this "academy" is run by a group similiar to our CIA, unbeknownest to Elven Rulers. this program falls under the "Black Budget" parameter.
A fully functioning Elf gate, Wow my DM will love it for campaign flavor. Just imagine the political implications if these secrets were comprimised.
Elves, ok we know a bunch of arrogant treehugers right...However, On an island hidden by ancient and powerful elven magic( I am kind of picturing the island from "Lost") there exists a breeding program/ academy designed for the protection on the elven race. These "students" are evaluated and trained in a specific school that that matches their particular strengths.
Even if this runs contrary to perceived Elven beliefs. These "War Wizards" are to be used in times of great need i.e. threats to elven independence/eradication.
So my question is What would you call this academy and/or group of students?
Also this is my prelimanary background story, if you have suggestions to add on that would be appreciated.
hp 19/11; AC 16 t13 f13; F 5, R 3, W 4; bab 1 +4 melee +4 range; cmb 1 cmd 14; init +3; arc pool 4/4
Size
5'5" 107 lbs
Alignment
NG
Languages
common, elven
Strength
11
Dexterity
17
Constitution
14
Intelligence
16
Wisdom
12
Charisma
12
About Leithe
half elf racial features:
Elven Immunities: Half-elves are immune to magic sleep effects and gain a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells and effects.
Adaptability: Half-elves receive Skill Focus as a bonus feat at 1st level.
Keen SensesHalf-elves receive a +2 racial bonus on Perception checks.
Low-Light Vision: Half-elves can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light.
Elf Blood: Half-elves count as both elves and humans for any effect related to race.
Blended View Prerequisite(s): low-light vision. Half-drow whose non-drow parent had low-light vision might be blessed with a legacy of versatile senses. Characters with this trait keep their low-light vision but also gain darkvision to a distance of 60 feet.
traits:
Bloodthirsty: Benefit: Whenever you make an attack that reduces a foe to 0 hit points or fewer or you confirm a critical hit, your attack deals 1 additional point of damage. The additional damage is a trait bonus, and is multiplied by your weapon's critical hit multiplier.
Magical Lineage: One of your parents was a gifted spellcaster who not only used metamagic often, but also developed many magical items and perhaps even a new spell or two—and you have inherited a fragment of this greatness.
Benefit: Pick one spell when you choose this trait. When you apply metamagic feats to this spell that add at least 1 level to the spell, treat its actual level as 1 lower for determining the spell's final adjusted level. (shocking grasp)
feats:
Skill Focus +3 to any one skill ( 1/2 elf bonus feat) spellcraft
Weapon Finesse: Benefit: With a light weapon, elven curve blade, rapier, whip, or spiked chain made for a creature of your size category, you may use your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier on attack rolls. If you carry a shield, its armor check penalty applies to your attack rolls. Special: Natural weapons are considered light weapons.
magus abilities:
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A magus is proficient with all simple and martial weapons. A magus is also proficient with light armor. He can cast magus spells while wearing light armor without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance. Like any other arcane spellcaster, a magus wearing medium armor, heavy armor, or a shield incurs a chance of arcane spell failure if the spell in question has a somatic component. A multiclass magus still incurs the normal arcane spell failure chance for arcane spells received from other classes.
Spells: A magus casts arcane spells drawn from the magus spell list. A magus must choose and prepare his spells ahead of time. To learn, prepare, or cast a spell, the magus must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a magus’s spell is 10 + the spell level + the magus’s Intelligence modifier.
A magus can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. His base daily spell allotment is given on Table: Magus. In addition, he receives bonus spells per day if he has a high Intelligence score.
A magus may know any number of spells. He must choose and prepare his spells ahead of time by getting 8 hours of sleep and spending 1 hour studying his spellbook. While studying, the magus decides which spells to prepare.
Cantrips: A magus can prepare a number of cantrips, or 0-level spells, each day, as noted on Table: Magus under “Spells per Day.” These spells are cast like any other spell, but they are not expended when cast and may be used again.
Spellbooks: A magus must study his spellbook each day to prepare his spells. He cannot prepare any spell not recorded in his spellbook except for read magic, which all magi can prepare from memory. A magus begins play with a spellbook containing all 0-level magus spells plus three 1st-level magus spells of his choice. The magus also selects a number of additional 1st-level magus spells equal to his Intelligence modifier to add to his spellbook. At each new magus level, he gains two new magus spells of any spell level or levels that he can cast (based on his new magus level) for his spellbook. At any time, a magus can also add spells found in other spellbooks to his own.
A magus can learn spells from a wizard’s spellbook, just as a wizard can from a magus’s spellbook. The spells learned must be on the magus spell list, as normal. An alchemist can learn formulae from a magus’s spellbook, if the spells are also on the alchemist spell list. A magus cannot learn spells from an alchemist.
Arcane Pool (Su): At 1st level, the magus gains a reservoir of mystical arcane energy that he can draw upon to fuel his powers and enhance his weapon. This arcane pool has a number of points equal to 1/2 his magus level (minimum 1) + his Intelligence modifier. The pool refreshes once per day when the magus prepares his spells.
At 1st level, a magus can expend 1 point from his arcane pool as a swift action to grant any weapon he is holding a +1 enhancement bonus for 1 minute. For every four levels beyond 1st, the weapon gains another +1 enhancement bonus, to a maximum of +5 at 17th level. These bonuses can be added to the weapon, stacking with existing weapon enhancement to a maximum of +5. Multiple uses of this ability do not stack with themselves.
At 5th level, these bonuses can be used to add any of the following weapon properties: dancing, flaming, flaming burst, frost, icy burst, keen, shock, shocking burst, speed, or vorpal.
Adding these properties consumes an amount of bonus equal to the property’s base price modifier. These properties are added to any the weapon already has, but duplicates do not stack. If the weapon is not magical, at least a +1 enhancement bonus must be added before any other properties can be added. These bonuses and properties are decided when the arcane pool point is spent and cannot be changed until the next time the magus uses this ability. These bonuses do not function if the weapon is wielded by anyone other than the magus.
A magus can only enhance one weapon in this way at one time. If he uses this ability again, the first use immediately ends. (4)
Spell Combat (Ex): At 1st level, a magus learns to cast spells and wield his weapons at the same time. This functions much like two-weapon fighting, but the off-hand weapon is a spell that is being cast. To use this ability, the magus must have one hand free (even if the spell being cast does not have somatic components), while wielding a light or one-handed melee weapon in the other hand. As a full-round action, he can make all of his attacks with his melee weapon at a –2 penalty and can also cast any spell from the magus spell list with a casting time of 1 standard action (any attack roll made as part of this spell also takes this penalty). If he casts this spell defensively, he can decide to take an additional penalty on his attack rolls, up to his Intelligence bonus, and add the same amount as a circumstance bonus on his concentration check. If the check fails, the spell is wasted, but the attacks still take the penalty. A magus can choose to cast the spell first or make the weapon attacks first, but if he has more than one attack, he cannot cast the spell between weapon attacks.
Spellstrike (Su) At 2nd level, whenever a magus casts a spell with a range of “touch” from the magus spell list, he can deliver the spell through any weapon he is wielding as part of a melee attack. Instead of the free melee touch attack normally allowed to deliver the spell, a magus can make one free melee attack with his weapon (at his highest base attack bonus) as part of casting this spell. If successful, this melee attack deals its normal damage as well as the effects of the spell. If the magus makes this attack in concert with spell combat, this melee attack takes all the penalties accrued by spell combat melee attacks. This attack uses the weapon’s critical range (20, 19–20, or 18–20 and modified by the keen weapon property or similar effects), but the spell effect only deals ×2 damage on a successful critical hit, while the weapon damage uses its own critical modifier.
lvl 0 - 3/day dc 13 - acid splash, prestidigitation, detect magic, arcane mark
lvl 1 - 1/day dc 14 - frostbite (1d6 and fatigue), color spray, shield
equipment:
90 gp
studded leather armor
rapier
morningstar
backpack
belt pouch
flint and steel
ink
inkpen
mess kit
rope, silk 50'
soap
spell component pouch
trail rations (5 days)
waterskin
background:
Leithe was born and raised in Magnimar to Dariusz Hunter, one of a few town alchemists, and his lovely elven wife, Alyrriel. They lived quietly and raised two daughters and one son. All three were trained in at least a modicum of alchemy skills, limited only by each one's talent in the field. Leithe showed the most aptitude and was given a bit more training than her siblings. Their mother had been a traveling bard in her youth, specializing in dance and song, so the children were brought up in a house full of music and dance as well. However Leithe showed little talent for the arts, and was often jealous of her twin Neithe and her brother Damon for their skill.
Still, she at least tried and participated, though often to the laughter of her siblings. She sometimes got even with them with childhood alchemical pranks like stinkbombs and disappearing ink in their pots when they did their lessons. Yet, despite all this, there was no lack of love in their household, and childhood slights and bad blood gave way to love and respect as they grew older. Neithe met and fell in love with another half-elf and married him, with Leithe as her maid of honor. Damon left to study performing arts further, traveling with a troupe of itinerant players while he learned his craft. Eventually, he settled in Sandpoint, where he frequently stars in local plays and musicale reviews. Rumors have been heard that he met and lives with a very handsome human actor and they have been together for about three years now, but he has never confirmed this to the family.
Leithe discovered a love of magic, and after a great deal of pleading to her parents, she was given the funds to attend the Academie in Korvosa. She proved an apt enough pupil, thought perhaps not with the natural abilities of some of the other students. One of her teachers though saw her dancing in the rain one afternoon and saw her love of movement, even if it wasn't a well-honed skill. He approached her and asked if she wanted to learn to blend her magic training with swordplay and dance. He got her a weaponmaster to tutor her in fighting arts and dance, for many of the movements required are actually very similar, while she continued her magical studies as well.
Three years of training later, she finally mastered the basics of combining magic with swordplay, and was given her certificate of completion of the most elementary skills the Academie had to offer. She was ready to pursue a career! She considered several options, and for a little while, returned home to serve in the Magnimar militia, but it had been quiet in the area of late, with little chance for her to use her skills very much. After six months of fairly boring inactivity, she left to join the Pathfinder Society. Almost a year later, between assignments for the Society, she took on a job as a caravan guard, because, well, jobs for the Society pay only what Pathfinders find along the way. The Society pays nothing in terms of a stipend.
When the small caravan arrived in the town of Belhaim, the caravan master Gribbs, was arrested for smuggling. Though the guards were found to be innocent of any wrongdoing, she found herself stranded in town, without benefit of pay. Luckily the local innkeep took pity on the guards and offered them room and board for a few nights. She offered to perform for her keep, but the keeper of the Wise Piper would have none of it, and let her stay for free. She accepted, wondering how she'd get back to Absalom to get her next Society assignment.
