Pondered a tad further regarding where to take him, and I think the Wizard levels would go into Enhancement (Transmutation) - it seems to fit seamlessly with the Android Logic - I like it :D
Akram
Android Ranger (Trapper) 1
CG Medium humanoid
Init +4; Senses Darkvision, Low Light Vision, Perception +4
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Defense
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AC 19, touch 14, flat-footed 15 (+5 armor, +4 Dex)
hp 13 (1d10+3)
Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +0
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Offense
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Speed 20 ft.
Melee bardiche +3 (1d10+7/19-20) and
. . longsword +3 (1d8+5/19-20) and
. . silver light mace +3 (1d6+5)
Ranged sling +5 (1d4+3)
Special Attacks favored enemy (evil outsiders +2)
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Statistics
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Str 17, Dex 18, Con 16, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 8
Base Atk +1; CMB +3; CMD 18
Feats Power Attack
Traits threatening defender, Student of Philosophy
Skills Acrobatics +2 (-2 jump), Bluff +2, Climb +4, Diplomacy +2, Knowledge (arcana) +5, Knowledge (history) +5, Knowledge (local) +5, Knowledge (planes) +5, Perception +6 (+7 to locate traps), Spellcraft +8, Stealth +5, Survival +4
Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Draconic, Infernal
SQ track +1, trapfinding +1, wild empathy +0
Combat Gear alchemist's fire; Other Gear kikko armor, heavy steel shield, bardiche, longsword, silver light mace, sling, backpack, masterwork, crowbar, rope (50 ft.), trail rations (5), waterskin, 12 gp
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Special Abilities
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Favored Enemy (Evil Outsiders +2) (Ex) +2 to rolls vs Favored Enemy (Evil Outsiders).
Power Attack -1/+2 You can subtract from your attack roll to add to your damage.
Track +1 Add the listed bonus to survival checks made to track.
Trapfinding +1 Gain a bonus to find or disable traps, including magical ones.
Wild Empathy +0 (Ex) Improve the attitude of an animal, as if using Diplomacy.
Constructed For the purposes of effects targeting creatures by type (such as a ranger's favored enemy and bane weapons), androids count as both humanoids and constructs. Androids gain a +4 racial bonus on all saving throws against mind-affecting effects, paralysis, poison, and stun effects, are not subject to fatigue or exhaustion, and are immune to disease and sleep effects. Androids can never gain morale bonuses, and are immune to fear effects and all emotion-based effects
Still jigging around with Herolab to get it right, but I'm almost there :D
As to entry into EK, I was thinking either straight up fighter (most likely Lore Warden for the added skills) or ranger. I've seen a cool build starting with a War Priest, but I'm not sure it fits the android theme (though it would probably fit the WotR one), and you're not taking ACG classes ;)
After the first level, will go all out Wizard until I meet the prereqs for EK.
Also need to decide whether I will go melee, or a ranged support (and perhaps add some Arcane Archer to the mix :O) who can also easily double as scout trapspotter - is there some sort of breakdown of what the applications have been thus far?
Edit: One last thing LM, will you be accepting the early entry stuff with SLA and whatnot?
Lord Manticore, am I still on time for a submission? The Slumbering Tsar game was an amazing experience, so I would like another shot at playing with you as a GM.
The plan is going nuts and actually play into a Prestige Class - yep, Eldritch Knight is the idea ;)
I was thinking about the possibility to create a character (let's say he is level 2) who is mainly able to perform as the group's scout/trap spotter, but also with the ability to offer a valid contribution in combat (I am a sucker for melee, but ranged will do). In a perfect world, I would like him to be able to enhance these abilities through magic [I mean, how good is invisibility for a scout?].
I have thought of a couple of possible combinations but really cannot set my mind on any of them, as I have really never played such a character:
- Zen Archer, dipping in... Trapper Ranger or Rogue? (Though the Zen Archer focus on Wisdom kinda hurts the Rogue dependency on Dex for stuff like DD);
- Fighter (Lore Warden? Tactician? Archer?) with a trait that will give him Disable Device (though I would like to detect magical traps), dipping (or multiclassing) in... Wizard? Sorcerer?;
- Straight up Fighter + Ranger(Trapper maybe, though it really pains me to lose the favored terrain options), or + Rogue?
The Lore Warden/Tactician instead of fighter above is mainly to be able to retain a decent amount of skills.
I really don't know, as I am inexperienced in such characters.
Thank you in advance for any possible feedback on this one.
Male Half-Orc Ftr1/Ranger lvl7 | HP 68 | AC 22 FF 16 T17 | Saves +11/+13/+6 | Init + 7 (+9 in Favored Terrain) | Per. +12
Had this one in my favorites, just had to pipe in again to say cheers for having GMed this one. I will keep it on hold in the hopes that we can continue it in the future.
Male Half-Orc Ftr1/Ranger lvl7 | HP 68 | AC 22 FF 16 T17 | Saves +11/+13/+6 | Init + 7 (+9 in Favored Terrain) | Per. +12
It is really a shame to see this one ending, as I was definitely looking forward to it, not only for the nature of your approach to the game LM, but also because this has probably got to be one of the most amazing group I have ever played with.
But in the end, things need to be how they need to be - thank you for giving it your best LM, and good luck in addressing whatever needs to be addressed.
Male Half-Orc Ftr1/Ranger lvl7 | HP 68 | AC 22 FF 16 T17 | Saves +11/+13/+6 | Init + 7 (+9 in Favored Terrain) | Per. +12
People, just a heads up: I will be away with the family during the weekend, most likely until Tuesday - feel free to proceed with my character if needed.
Male Half-Orc Ftr1/Ranger lvl7 | HP 68 | AC 22 FF 16 T17 | Saves +11/+13/+6 | Init + 7 (+9 in Favored Terrain) | Per. +12
ROFL LM
I don't think so Azaraunt, we are simply scouting a tad off to the side, I would say.
"Before making any decisions on what to do from here, let me see if I can gather some intel around this place - the soil seems undisturbed enough down here that it may actually provide us interesting information"
Taking 20 on Survival for a grand total of 34! MUAH!
Male Half-Orc Ftr1/Ranger lvl7 | HP 68 | AC 22 FF 16 T17 | Saves +11/+13/+6 | Init + 7 (+9 in Favored Terrain) | Per. +12
I am perfectly fine with riding along with Azaraunt, or perhaps even better, dismounting and leading both his Horse and the one where Az is, down the slope.
Male Half-Orc Ftr1/Ranger lvl7 | HP 68 | AC 22 FF 16 T17 | Saves +11/+13/+6 | Init + 7 (+9 in Favored Terrain) | Per. +12
"Let us circle around to the site where the narrow path leads down to the canyons - I want to confirm if they were crazy enough to try and tumble down that steep incline, or whatever has happened. They couldn't have just vanished into thin air" - The half-orc grumbles to the others as he pats Lagash.
If we get to the top of the path, Calendir will again look for tracks:
Tracking:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18
Mumbling all the time about nasty bone storms, and how they erase tracks - "A stampede of Dragons could cross this place, and still I wouldn't be able to find their tracks!"
Male Half-Orc Ftr1/Ranger lvl7 | HP 68 | AC 22 FF 16 T17 | Saves +11/+13/+6 | Init + 7 (+9 in Favored Terrain) | Per. +12
Calendir smiles broadly at Numair - "Nah... You don't think they were planning that... Right?! Weren't they supposed to be taking some sort of shortcut around the rift or something..?
Male Half-Orc Ftr1/Ranger lvl7 | HP 68 | AC 22 FF 16 T17 | Saves +11/+13/+6 | Init + 7 (+9 in Favored Terrain) | Per. +12
LM, we don't really have coordinates of any sort to say "we will search this spot" right..? So it is hard to ascertain exactly how to point out where we are going to search first... We are tracking the most likely path of the caravan, all the time looking for clues. If we notice, that we are approaching a chasm, as many seem to be depicted in the map, we will most likely stop and scout first - I would say most likely me and Imbukar?
Otherwise I really cannot detail more where we are going to stop and look around... Dunno if Az or Numair have any input to add here..."
Male Half-Orc Ftr1/Ranger lvl7 | HP 68 | AC 22 FF 16 T17 | Saves +11/+13/+6 | Init + 7 (+9 in Favored Terrain) | Per. +12
Indeed, lets move towards the caravan ambush sight.
"Keep pushing boys!" - the half-orc ushers above the scream of the storm - "By now I am doubting that we will have any good news regarding the caravan members, but we need to give it a try!"
Any chance I can take 10 on these kind of rolls? I don't want to bury any more rolls if I don't have to :/
Male Half-Orc Ftr1/Ranger lvl7 | HP 68 | AC 22 FF 16 T17 | Saves +11/+13/+6 | Init + 7 (+9 in Favored Terrain) | Per. +12
Ok so... Even though Calendir missed miserably his Survival, which probably means he is unable to detect the incoming storm with enough time on his hands, perhaps he can still try to dig out that shelter with a worsened DC? If I recollect correctly, the base should be something like DC20 + 2 for each sheltered companion). If yes:
Survival:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25
@Azaraunt: Elen did take some damage, but then again she wasn't within a Shadow Haven :D
Male Half-Orc Ftr1/Ranger lvl7 | HP 68 | AC 22 FF 16 T17 | Saves +11/+13/+6 | Init + 7 (+9 in Favored Terrain) | Per. +12
Calendir smiles broadly at their friends' compliments - "Now, now boys, lets not get all soft over here - though i know how to wield a sword, ranged combat is my thing - set them up from a distance and I can give them a hard time. Unless they are ages old dragons flying up above, and spewing acid like there is no tomorrow..." - he laughs.
"I agree that we will need a safe night sleep, and unless they are waiting for us in the morning - whomever or whatever they may be - I guess keeping us safely inside something that I will leave to the discretion of our Archmage friend, is our best option"
His hand resting on Lagashs' flank, the ranger observes the surrounding area - "Let us do a quick scouting of the area around before we make camp - we have managed to keep the last fights under control, but I have a very bad feeling about this - no matter how casually we may try to look at it, the fact is this place is clearly cursed, and packed with unliving creatures... I am no stranger to these but this cannot bode well - do you think there is a particular origin or reason why we are finding so many in this particular areas, or would you say this is pervasive to all of this desolation...?"
Male Half-Orc Ftr1/Ranger lvl7 | HP 68 | AC 22 FF 16 T17 | Saves +11/+13/+6 | Init + 7 (+9 in Favored Terrain) | Per. +12
As he unleashes a volley, Calendir communicates telepathically with his companions.
Telepathy via Imbukar:
These are called ghoul wolves, and yes boys... They are undead wolves, all nine of them. They are smart and predatory. The bite can cause paralysis, and that is what they usually try first, using claws to get a footing on you, and for times when paralysis doesn't work. Get them before they close in!
Assuming I have found no particular additional resistencies or weaknesses to communicate to the others, so Calendir fires away. If there are additional details known to him he would react accordingly :D
Male Half-Orc Ftr1/Ranger lvl7 | HP 68 | AC 22 FF 16 T17 | Saves +11/+13/+6 | Init + 7 (+9 in Favored Terrain) | Per. +12
"This place is a mish mash of nastiness if I ever saw one..." Calendir growls as he strains his eyes to try and gauge how many wolves there are, and how the pack is behaving.
Male Half-Orc Ftr1/Ranger lvl7 | HP 68 | AC 22 FF 16 T17 | Saves +11/+13/+6 | Init + 7 (+9 in Favored Terrain) | Per. +12
If I remember correctly, we have the risk of running into the "gost caravan" if camping too close to the path? I suggest we follow the caravan's shortcut, but camp somewhat away from the road itself.
Coffee Demon: The group consists of people who mostly see D20 as generic monster slaying, even though they have hardly ever played it. They have been mostly playing Rolemaster and Spacemaster, with some Shadowrun and Ars Magica. As for the playstyle, we often have mostly roleplaying with the occasional combat (in our SR group), in the other groups, the so called meta game is what is most important to them, like having a base of operations and doing all kinds of things like crafting and building with making maximum use of what the rules allow (which is kind of annoying at times).
What I want with Pathfinder is to bring the RPG feeling of old back, going on actual quests rather than satisfying personal hunger for power or need for parts. Being on the road for days and weeks, not hiding in a big castle/space ship/company, and explore the world instead of exploring more tables in a book. Heck, even saving a princess from a dragon would be a change...
I think the guys will be fine with the feats and other things that Pathfinder has to offer, it's certainly a bit complex but nothing that cannot be dealt with.
As for Adventure Paths, I might look into it. Will have a talk with the group after Christmas and poke them for what they would prefer. Initially I wanted to start with some self made stuff just to see if it's fun, but I guess it could also work the other way around.
Astral Wanderer: You are probably right, more options will only lead to more confusion. That's why I am going to keep things basic in our first campaign, which I aim to keep relatively short, perhaps half a year. But I do want to get some of the more advanced things as well, for one because I really love to read all that stuff and want to be prepared but also to make sure my friends know that there are many more options available if they keep playing. This might sound a bit silly, but that usually keeps them interested.
So I will get a basic setup of mats, pawns and maybe an adventure path to start and some of the other suggested stuff for myself for now and for us all to play for later. And yea, right now I have a little money to burn, it's better spent that way than what I usually would do with the money :D
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As an overview, I got the following things on my list now:
Basics:
Bestiary I + Pawn Box
Bigger Basics mats
NPC Codex Pawn Box
Optional stuff for later use (and for me to read when I get them):
Advanced Players Guide
Advanced Class Guide
Gamemaster Guide
Depending on the talk next weekend, I will probably also get
Rise of the Runelords Anniversary Edition + Pawn Box
Varisia, Birthplace of legends (would have been my choice of places to start anyways, it looked quite interesting in the Inner Sea World Guide)
