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Here is what I have come up with. Signature skills don't really have much of an impact. A wizard with a legendary arcana skill would only have a +2 over a rogue that picked it up to expert with all other things being equal. If a rogue wants to put that much into Int and the skill that's fine but I still think a wizard that is studying arcana all the time should be better at it than a rogue that is studying it part-time. I think one of the things the different classes should excel at is their signature skills. So how about using the -3, 0, +2, +4, +6 bonus for only signature skills and then adding a signiture skill into the backgrounds. That way if you want and acrobatic wizard that can be legendary in acrobatics they can have an acrobat background. Maybe your party doesn't have a rogue so your bard takes criminal and they now have thievery as a signature skill. Right now the only class that can disable a trap or open a locked door is a rogue. I know that is what the class is for but having another option would be good. Background - Signature Skill.
This can allow for more customization for the classes and make the class skills be a little more meaningful. I think reworking the existing signature skills would also be good. I don't know why performance is a sig. skill for rogues. That should be a Bard only unless you want to invest a background for it. I also think a Wizard should have more sig. skills and points (maybe all the 'knowledge' skills).
I have been reading several threads about skills and how the trained, expert, master, and legendary bonuses are not enough. I tend to agree but going with a -3, 0 +2, +4, +6 bonus across the whole game would not work well so this is an option I think might work. First off, signature skills don't really have much of an impact. A wizard with a legendary arcana skill would only have a +2 over a rogue that picked it up to expert with all other things being equal. If a rogue wants to put that much into Int and the skill that's fine but I still think a wizard that is studying arcana all the time should be better at it than a rogue that is studying it part-time. I think one of the things the different classes should excel at is their signature skills. So how about using the -3, 0, +2, +4, +6 bonus for only signature skills and then adding a signiture skill into the backgrounds. That way if you want and acrobatic wizard that can be legendary in acrobatics they can have an acrobat background. Maybe your party doesn't have a rogue so your bard takes criminal and they now have thievery as a signature skill. Right now the only class that can disable a trap or open a locked door is a rogue. I know that is what the class is for but having another option would be good. Background - Signature Skill.
This can allow for more customization for the classes and make the class skills be a little more meaningful. I think reworking the existing signature skills would also be good. I don't know why performance is a sig. skill for rogues. That should be a Bard only unless you want to invest a background for it. I also think a Wizard should have more sig. skills and points (maybe all the 'knowledge' skills). That is just my take on the 'skills problem'.
With a quick first look, +4d6 sneak attack damage for a level 17 rogue seems to nerf there best and only damage they can do. First edition a rogue could potentially put out the same amount of damage a fighter and Barbarian with some good tactics. I don't see that happening now with an average +12 damage for SA at level 17.
I am stepping in with an alchemist. Marick June Elf Alchemist Crunch:
Abilities
Str: 12, Dex: 14, Con: 10, Int: 17, Wis: 10, Cha: 12 Skills
Feat: Extra Bomb, Brew Potion, Throw Anything
Weapons:
Bombs: 6/day 1d6+3, splash: 4 Armor: Studded Leather Gear: Alchemists Kit (Ultimate Equipment pg. 58) Money: 1 gp Formulas: Cure Light Wounds
Background: Marick grew up in the Daggermark after being abandoned when he was an infant. Growing up around assassins and poisoners Marick picked up the skills needed to brew minor alchemy products to provide for himself and after a couple decades he attracted the attention of the Poisoners Guild. Marick was forcibly recruited into the guild and Marick quickly knew he would never graduate alive. Although he was very good at making alchemist potions and poisons he just didn't have the indifference to continue to create things used to kill innocent people. One night an opportunity arose and he took one of his mutagens he learned to brew and physically overpowered one of the guards and fled the city. Marick fled north to Brevoy always looking over his shoulder. He learned of the expedition into the Stolen Lands and he took the opportunity to disappear in the wilderness.
I would be interested to play. I will look at the rule books and come up with a character. I have never played in the WoD but I am very interested. Here is a great actual play podcast the has a long Hunter game: Knights of the Night podcast. The players and storyteller are excellent and you learn a lot about the system and game play style.
Hope your vaca is nice and we can manage is you can't post. DM: If you can remember I kind of need to now what the days are like as far as sunny or not. Also I am going with a Dexter Dark Passanger type personality for Jaxus. This way I can kind of roleplay with myself and if you want in the story you can let me know where this might really flare up and I will role with it. I have also thought about taking my next level as a barbarian to give my other half an outlet that the others will see. I will probably only take two levels of barbarian, one at 2nd and another at say 4th so I can take the biting rage power. Not that it is very good but is adds some cool flavor. Do you have any concerns with this plan?
The only change I suggest is for non combat rolls (init,skills) use a 12 hour limit and combat roll at 24. In my other games it slows stuff down a lot waiting for some one to roll init or sence motive roll that doesn't really impact the game a lot. On the weekends you can change both to 24. It is just a suggestion other than that I am good with everything else.
GM: Cool I think it will add some mystery too because Jaxus's wounds would seem to disappear after a couple of days.The others should start noticing Jaxus isn't a normal human after awhile.
I can't remember but can we use 'DM' on this site since it 'belongs' to WotC?
GM: I had an idea for a dhampir racial trait that might help the healing situation and add some more flavor for my character.
Have a fast healing trait for Jaxus. Vampires have fast healing 5/round. This trait would be fast healing 5/day. This would give Jaxus a vampire triat that would add to his theme and would help alittle towards his healing. The fast healing would not affect combat and would only take affect after 8 hours of sleep. It would be really helpful for the first couple of levels while we don't have access to money for wands and potions. I don't know if it is too powerful for a trait than maybe a feat. Let me know what you think.
As far as the other stuff above it is just like all the other pbp I have played so no questions for me. DM: As far as the vampires go I had initialy thought of Conte Ristomaur Titiac as he wandered around looking for a cure fore vampirism as Jaxus's father. As far as I know he doesn't have anything to do with the CC AP so if you want to change that I am good with that. As far as the vampire that destroyed his village I know that 'Ashes at Dawn' has vampires in it so I kind of left that open so you could insert in what ever NPC you wanted. I know it might take years to get to Ashes at Dawn but I thought I would put it out there anyway. Let me know if you want to change anything.
Jaxus doesn't really hide what he is but he is not going to advertise his nature. If someone asks he will tell them but he looks like a pale human that doesn't really like sunlight. I have met several such people in my life time and have never asked them if they were half-vampire so I was going to kind of let it evolve in the game and soo how it goes. Hopefully Jaxus isn't unconscious and when someone tries to heal him that's the end of it, not very fun way to surprise everyone but I guess we will see.
Issan: I think channel energy will hurt but cure light wounds still works normally. Let me know if you think otherwise but I think if I can stay alive it will be a cool character roleplay challange.
Jaxus Character Sheet Spoiler:
Jaxus Deverou CR 1/2
Male Dhampir Ranger (Skirmisher) 1 LN Medium Humanoid (Dhampir) Init +4; Senses Perception +8 -------------------- DEFENSE -------------------- AC 18, touch 16, flat-footed 12 . . (+3 armor, +1 Dodge) hp 10 (1d10) Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +2 -------------------- OFFENSE -------------------- Spd 30 ft. Melee Dagger +4 (1d4+3/19-20/x2) and . . Longsword +4 (1d8+3/19-20/x2) and . . Longbow +5 (1d8+3/20/x3) -------------------- STATISTICS -------------------- Str 16, Dex 18, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 12 Base Atk +1; CMB +4; CMD 18 Feats Dodge Traits Subject of Study(Vampire), Skills Acrobatics +6, Bluff+ 4, Climb +6, Escape Artist +4, Heal +4, Intimidate +2, Knowledge: Nature +4, Stealth +8, Survival+6(+7 to track), Swim +6 Languages Common SQ Track, Wild empathy, favored enemy(undead) Combat Gear Dagger, Longsword, Studded Leather Armor; Other Gear Backpack, Bedroll, Blanket, winter, Cold weather outfit, Crowbar, Flint and steel, Rope, silk (50 ft.), Sack (empty), Waterskin -------------------- SPECIAL ABILITIES -------------------- Resist Level Drain, detect undead 3/day, Light Sensitivity, Negative Energy Affinity, Low Light Vision, Darkvision 60 feet. I need to check the math for the skills and gear but it is a start.
A quick question: What ranger fighting style does Jaxus employ? Ranged weapon? Two-hander? Natural attacks? Since there doesn't seem like many front liners in the list I was going with two-hander or two-weapon. I like the flavor of the Natural attack with my character but the damage output is pretty small. Two 1d4+str is not a whole lot.
I am interested in playing. I have a dhampir ranger Jaxus Deverou that is looking to destroy the very monsters he shares blood with. Background
Spoiler:
In 4674 Jeniveve Deverou met a handsome young stranger in her small little town. Jeniveve was a well versed herbalist and alchemist and the young man was very interested in some of her work. He was interested in her theories on the prevention of vampirism. She had been working on different formulas to prevent the curse from taking effect and he was interested if it could be a cure also. For months they researched together and finally after months of failed experiments and fruitless work he exploded in frustration and fled the small town. He may have left town but he left something behind. Jeniveve was pregnant. Seven months passed and Jaxus Deverou was born. The new mother was overjoyed but could not understand why Jaxus cried most of the day and was only content while it was dark or cloudy. Soon she started to understand that Jaxus was a dhampir.
Early childhood in the village was hard for Jaxus once the villagers figured out what he was. Jeniveve did her best to protect him and soon the villagers fear and scorn turned into neglect and indifference. Years pass and Jaxus soon learns to use what he has considered his curse to his advantage. His fast reflexes and eyesight at night become useful as a guard for the village at night. Wolves and minor monsters pledge the village all the time and Jaxus quickly earned the respect of the village elders by defeating several on the night watch. Jaxus guarded the village for five years with no real conflicts until he was just twenty-two and the Night of Screams. The village was set upon by a necromancer and his horde of ghouls when Jaxus was on watch. When Jaxus confronted the necromancer that was when he noticed he was also a vampire. The vampire effortlessly paralyzed Jaxus and laughed as he forced him to watch his whole village be destroyed. His mother ran to him screaming as a pack of ghouls fell upon her and devoured her right before his eyes. When it was all done the vampire released Jaxus and left him in the village he failed to protect. Fury, guilt and shame filled Jaxus was he wandered his ruined village looking for survivors but all were dead and soon fires left unattended spread throughout the village and erased it completely. The next day a small caravan arrived and Professor Lorrimor was on it. The professor found Jaxus in the village square near catatonic from shock and took him along and left the ruined village behind. Professor Lorrimor nursed Jaxus back to health and after hearing his story helped Jaxus start a new life near Ravenglo. Jaxus took all the fury and self loathing he felt and swore that he would not rest until he avenged his village and his mothers’ death. Appearance
Spoiler:
Jaxus has black hair and ice blue eyes. He wears a long leather coat and hood to stay out of the sun when he travels during the day. His pale face makes women gasp when he smiles but that is a rare site to see. Personality
Spoiler: Jaxus is filled with self loathing most of the time so he rarely enjoys anything and keeps to himself. He had friends in his old life but feels he doesn't deserve any now so is very standoffish. When he does have friends he quickly warms to them and is very loyal and protective but still fears that he will let them down like he did his village. Organized Play Characters
Aliases
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Shou
Hannya Kotaro
Hannya Jubei
Yukitsune Kotone
Hannya Mizumaki Gamehime Kaoru
Kurtnee Ahn'Aurqee