Faithless Zealot's page

Whiteboard programs? What are these things that you speak of?

A internet whiteboard program is just a program that lets everyone draw on a surface. Combine that and a chat service and you have a decent gaming medium. When I was in Iraq I just used the chat, and during combat, movement was a little abstracted.

http://awwapp.com/ is an example of a WB program. there are also purpose built tabletop gaming programs (I am actually working on one), and I head that http://roll20.net/ is a very good one.

There are tons of ways to play! You should put out an ad on cragslist or seek out people at the gaming store. Most of my friends now are either directly or indirectly through pathfinder.

Faithless Zealot wrote:

He would not be as effective as a fighter who spent every feat and class feature to have a better attack with shields though.

Well, a ranger could get Shield Master by level 6, right? And that ranger could have spells, a host of skills, and other interesting class features. To me, it seems both the fighter and ranger are quite "effective" but perhaps have different advantages. (I don't know much about barbarians for this situation, so I can't comment much on them.)

What I meant is that the fighter would have the fighter only feats, making him better at fighting with shields specifically, not other things.

Anyways, dual wielding shields, super effective.

Faithless Zealot wrote:

I made a fighter (Named Hart) that dual wields shields.

It is amazing... once you get to level 11 and you get to ignore all two weapon fighting penalties and bull rush anyone you hit for free. Seriously entertaining stuff.

Do you? I thought that was a feat, not a class feature. Could I not just make a barbarian or ranger who does the same thing?

You could. He would not be as effective as a fighter who spent every feat and class feature to have a better attack with shields though.

Spontaneous casting is the difference between a man with a tool for every job, and being the man who knows how to use the same tool for every job. It may be nice to hit up the ol spellbook to get that perfect spell for the situation, but having a smaller selection forces you to think harder and be more creative (and thus have more fun) to solve your problems.

I do not have any idea on how you could think a bonded object is better than a familiar. Bonded objects are a joke. Having a ring, wand, or staff is retarded compared to a friend you get at level 1 who can at all times aid another on your skills, and has 60 feet of tremorsense, making it impossible for invisible things to sneak up on you unless they fly.

I have never seen anyone play as a Ninja, so I cannot offer any advice on them. As for rogues though, if you kit one out for combat, and make sure you are always flanking your damage can be substantial.

And don't hate on the cavalier. Not every character is made to go spelunking. Play a kingmaker campaign and have him lead an army, THAT is where he can shine. Give him a familiar too, and he can have his inconspicuous raven operating like a UAV.

Also... have you considered... not playing in pathfinder society? You can game online with people on whiteboard programs. Hell, i'd run a game for you online! Your imagination appears to be stifled by their rigid rules of stupidness. I mean, has it ever occurred to you to pay a druid to awaken a whale so that you can give it wings of flying and then be the coolest damn person in the multiverse with your flying whale friend? Or the ridiculous image of a witch who peeled off and animated their skin, then turned their body into leeches so that they could drink a dragon to death while the animated skin runs away with bones rattling in it to safeguard them? (If the bones are destroyed then the witch is stuck in swarm form). Seriously, use your imagination! It's a game, have fun :D

So... what exactly was wrong with fighters before? They were already kind of OP...

I made a fighter (Named Hart) that dual wields shields.

It is amazing... once you get to level 11 and you get to ignore all two weapon fighting penalties and bull rush anyone you hit for free. Seriously entertaining stuff.

The Leader of a city would be called a "Mayor" or a "Governer." In English European tradition I believe for cities that were not the capitol of an area would just have a low noble, such as a knight, as the head. Of course that would be for a town with a small keep or other fortification. If this is a little crossroads town that just sort of happened the person in charge would most likely be the eldest, and called an "Elder." Or something. Also remember, the areas and their leaders are co-named. Counties are ruled by Counts, Principalities by Princes, Kingdoms by Kings, and a Duchy is ruled by a Duke. It all merges together.

As for military ranks, the medieval form was quite straightforward. It is what I would call "company based."
Captain - a French word, the English/Anglo Saxon equivalent is "Chieftain." When a commission (letter) arrived from a king or higher noble asking the local Mayor (knight, whoever) to raise a force of men it would one- make that leader a commissioned officer (which is where the term comes from), and the local men he raised would be referred to as "Sir John's Company" which is where the term company comes from.
Lieutenant - French for "Place holder" This is one who is your tenant in lieu of you. Akin to a second in command. In a Medieval or fantasy setting this would be the Captains good and trusted friend, though not always the best military commander, as trust is more the qualifier. Often the letter of commission would also require a Captains Lieutenant, making these two the only real commissioned officers.
Sergeant - Based on another french word, this one for "servant." A Commissioned officer, who was often a noble, would need professional men at arms to herd the common rabble who were usually drafted. Often these were men who were constantly in the employ of the local noble as guards, making them the most experienced to combat. Since they were not officers at the kings commission they (and all others not appointed by the commission) were referred to as "Non-commissioned Officers" In movies and media the "salty veteran" is almost always an NCO.
Corporal - Latin for "squad commander" or "block commander" this was someone put in charge of a single rank of a formation.
Private - The newest word added to the universal rank system. Initially it was not a rank, but a status. When you were drafted, you could opt to hire another man to serve in your stead, a "Private Contractor"

In times other than war often the Nobles servants (Sergeant) would serve as the local law enforcement, often with some younger but experienced corporals who would be in training. Serving in law enforcement the term "Ranger" came about, as he would patrol the range.
Also, having a standing army is expensive as hell, so often the handful of guards were the only militant force in a town. Their numbers were usually small, less than 50 unless they were being raided all the time.

If you want more info feel free, I have spent years researching this type of thing.