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So, me and my friends were talking about doing a game in the near future, and were trying to consolidate our schedules. While we did finally find a few hours for MTG, we couldn't find anytime for a really RPG sit down. Except with our mornings. Assuming we sleep 8-9 hours, we could actually accommodate 5 hours for gaming. But none of us want to wake up and then game. Does anyone else find this to be true? Is the idea of gaming at dawn awful? Do you game in the morning?
Well, there you go. My players were laughing their buts off a few months ago when I walked into the room. A few of them had decided to wage an 'AC war' with each other, trying to create builds that would boost their AC. Fast forward a few months. While the Cleric, Alchemist, and Fighter are still amused with their AC war, everybody else (the Summoner, Sorcerer, and dedicated Archer) is a little bummed about it. Why? Because having a high AC is like carrying a great big sign: "IGNORE ME!" Enemies run up to the high AC guys, and miss them, miss them...and then go for the people they know they can hit. What does one do to combat this? As in, what classes, feats, spells, etc grant one the ability to say: Attack me, not them! We thought the Armiger class from Super Genius would be good at doing this, but after reviewing it (mind you, quickly), it seems to only exasperate this problem. Thoughts?
I'm surprised no one has talked about something like this happening yet. My players went on the hunt for the Cindermaw in last night's game. Once the great beast revealed itself, the party began to buff; no one attacked it. On round one, I had the creature use its fiery breath weapon. I had plans for round two. But they never came to fruition. On round two, the summoner cast Charm Monster; on round one, she had cast Eagle's Splendor upon herself. Now, the Cindermaw already has a poor Will save, but I rolled quite well. Not well enough, however, to save vs. the Summoner's DC; I was off by one (I can't remember the actual DC anymore, but I won't forget the Summoner's player chanting how I missed by 1). Now, the players were just a little higher in level, since their number fluctuates, and they are at 12th level. So, the Cleric, spell slots left empty, prepares Hero's feast, and in due time, they feed the Cindermaw. Then, there was a casting of Fox's Cunning and the like, and they had a average intelligence Cindermaw. Tongues had already been cast, and Diplomacy checks were made. "Did you like your meal? If you did, align with us!" was the general message. They hadn't planned this. They made it up as they went. I was so awed that I let them have it. They subdued the beast for good. They rode the great beast. Just for good measure, each and everyone of the party's members walked in and out of the great beast's gullet for the Truthspeaker's tale. Did I mention that they rode the Cindermaw? They rode the Cindermaw all the way to the Sklar-Quah's encampment. The player's had had enough of chain quests and rituals; they wanted to know how to defeat the B&##~ Queen. In no small words did they explain that they had done the impossible. They wanted to know about the Fangs' of Kazavon. Now. The Shoanti had two options really: Tell them, or...don't. I opted for the peaceful option. The players felt for the Shoanti people. I know the book has the respect points averting war; but the players? They kind of want to ride, balls to the wall, back to the city, with a hoard of Shoanti warriors, and bring war to the Queen. I might just let them. They are the Kwisatz Haderach, after all.
There was a large discussion with my players about changing rounds to last 10 seconds instead of 6. More like a thought experiment really. I thought that the conversation could be fun here, so I bring it to you to think on, and respond, if you'd like: What happens to Pathfinder's mechanics, balance, etc. when you change rounds to last 10 seconds instead of 6? Is it too powerful? Too restricting? Inconsequential? Could you balance it back? Like making spells last 10 rounds instead of 1 minute?
As I reviewed the rules for ship-to-ship combat as I prepared for the second AP, I was shocked to find rules for everything from morale to consumption to miles traveled daily was missing. And the ever so important ship positions. Looking at these rules, well, who needs a Captain? It's a true anarchist pirate ship! No one is in charge here! The mob rules all! Jade Regent had such great rules covering these, and so I wonder, was there such a backlash from people hating them that they were tossed for Skull & Shackles? Meanwhile, this is the part me and mine were looking forward to the most. I had previously ran a pirate game about two years ago in my own game world, and drew out a very large region map on graphing paper that helped the players determine their destination, aprox arrival time, the supplies they thought they'd need, etc, etc. Without those rules or even a large reliable map of the Shackles, I find it hard to motivate my players, and they heartily agree. Who needs to keep track of food? Not us! Has anyone come up with rules to fill in these missing gaps? (I've thought of just using Jade Regent's, where they can apply) Is there a good map of the Shackles that I could present to the players? And lastly, are these rules somewhere that I forgot to look?
I just want to make clear, I'm still getting Shattered Star, and it still looks like a lot of fun, but I was thinking of purchasing the RotR anniversary book, rerunning that, and then linking it directly into Shattered Star...but now it sounds like that isn't happening anymore? It's not a direct sequel, but more of spiritual sequel? Waa! Head hurt. What is truth? Do your characters from RotR come into play in Shattered Star? I was super excited because I had been hearing about this AP for so long now, and that we'd be able to reuse the characters from RotR. So...no? Yes? Can I get a definitive answer?
Well crap. My players, instead of being horrified at the keelhull, loved it, and now want to influence Scourge and Plugg. They've been whipped, beaten, etc., and they STILL want to befriend the two main baddies. One of my players got ticked that they just couldn't befriend these guys, saying it was a thinly veiled railroad instead of a sandbox, the inability to side with these two. On a related note, if the players don't act out, and don't screw up, why would Scourge and Pluggs not like them? Especially if the players want to be their little cronies? Did I miss something somewhere?
Ugh. I finally have a problem I don't know how to tackle. I have a best friend whose behavior at the gaming table has turned for the worst. Cheating, questioning the rules, insulting the players and the GM, mocking the adventure, the system, and even our minis and dice. Add on to that that he is as stubborn as a mule and NEVER listens to input or criticism, and you're dealing with a horrible gamer. But he was the best man at my wedding! It would cause a huge rift if I asked him to NEVER, EVER, come to ANY game EVER again. But no one wants him there. Help?
Wow. You game for almost twenty years, and you know what thought never occurs? How do you clean your dice? Eww. The knowledge that I have NEVER cleaned my dice is gross. Meanwhile, as I stare at these germ ridden things, I wonder how one cleans them? Now, I'm sure people will have lots of answers, (and that is cool!) but my question actually pertains to: how do you clean LOTS, like, lets say, three or more pounds of dice worth, all at once? Better yet, what should someone NOT do when cleaning their dice?
I love werewolves, but am not a fan of the 'Spirit Police' they have turned out to be in either of White Wolf's versions of them. So, I have been slowly working on a Storyteller system that mixes together many different storyteller systems and hacks to create a game in which the player characters are werewolves, cursed with their monstrous condition, and subject to the whims of their vices. While I do have a game in mind for this, before I start going into detail about the game here, does anyone have an interest? This would tie into my Vampire game I'm already running.
Alright RPers, I thought of a game of sorts. I was stuck thinking of names for pointless NPCs...and I wished there was a list I could just look at a list and choose one. Let's make such a list! No rules really, except it must be a first and last name. I'll start.
I threw in a few funny ones...
I'm running CotCT for the first time tomorrow, and I've been looking through the threads here, and seeing that many people think certain elements of the game should have been either: Changed
Just so I can run a game with a full deck so to speak, I wonder which of these things you would have done? Of course, no need to pick just one! Also, in regards to the Harrow points, how important are they really? The method for doing Harrow readings seems needlessly tedious and boring; at least, boring for my players. I've been using Action Points since they were introduced in D20 Modern all those years ago, and feel Harrow points would complicate things; how did you do the Harrow readings? Zell seems like a useful plot train engineer, but also doesn't seem to bring much to the story.
Wow. So, we all know rule zero, yes? It is in every, and I do mean every, RPG I've ever played, and I think that is true for you as well. So imagine my disbelief when a player started to rant and rave about the 'fallacy' of rule zero. That any GM that doesn't go by the rules perfectly is an idiot. And, to my surprise, it wasn't this one guy. There are many people out there that believe this. I mean, what do you say to this? Maybe this isn't asking for advice. Maybe this is just me being so shocked that there is even one player like this, I gotta vent to someone who will help me sort this out in my head. Does anyone have anything to say to this? I asked the player to leave. Am I in the wrong here?
CO, Denver - NWOD, Pathfinder...nothing's set in stone yet! I'm looking for a few gamers in the Denver area, preferably near to the old Attactix gaming area, for an every other Friday gaming group. I'm really jazzed to run a NWOD Vampire game, but am very very open to running a Pathfinder game, or possibly something else entirely. I just ask that we could meet up somewhere neutral first; sadly, I've met far too many gamers that I wish showered or don't talk during games; people who don't bath regularly or don't roleplay need not apply. If you'd like to get into contact with me you can E-mail me at Narratore@gmx.com. I'll happily answer questions here as well! :)
Chapter 1: The first night
The music was loud. So loud, in fact, that even the kindred had to wear earplugs. And the club was almost pitch black. Just the way the Queen liked it. Sasha smiled, and flashed a toothy grin as she sipped her Crimson Cocktail. The Vampire Queen lounged on a long sofa, her legs draped over the changeling Gorgeus, who sat with his arms stretched over the back of the sofa. Both wore their favorite color, white, and Sasha, wearing a tight dress covered in glitter, practically...sparkled. The Queen snapped her fingers as a servant took the glass from her hands. "Richard Richard Richard...B~%%$...what shall we do to you Richard B+@**? We warned you not to try to make a move on Barkovia territory...but you just didn't listen, did you? And don't give us that song and dance about 'not knowing', because we...don't...care..." She chuckled as she swung her feet from the Sofa and stood up. "If it was any other night, we might make such an OLD B$@%@ take a jog in the morning sunrise. Just enough for a taste, mind you. Good for the heart, we're told. Good for the skin as well," She smiled as she said this last part, and walked up to him. The Vampire looked barely a day over sixteen, despite being in her forties. She had to look up at the older Vampire. "But...I have another problem Richard B~~$@, and we think you can fix it for us. Actually, you can thank Nathaniel here for saving your bacon. We think he has a little crush," Gorgeus, known for his outrageous homosexuality, winked his eye at Richard and gave a sly smile. Sasha walked away and gestured over her shoulder. A bouncer moved some red rope railing out of the way, and two vampires were pushed in front of Richard. Sasha turned around and leaned up against a shirtless, well built Gangrel bodyguard. "Richard B!#!%, meet Thomas and Natasha. These two childer haven't a reliable sire, and that's a no no in our city. If they liked it, then they 'should have put a ring on it', as our law clearly states," She giggled. "I can't BELIEVE that Thomas fell under our radar for so long, but Natasha only just got turned. Of course, neither knows who did it. And Micario says that they're telling the truth. So..." She threw him a ring. Richard knew what it was; it designated him as owing to the Queen. "You just got assigned some pupils. Find their sires, report your findings to Micario, and Richard B+!@&? Richard B$%*#, teach them to indulge, to drink deep the waters of life. And you two..." She pointed at Thomas and Natasha. "You teach your B@~+~ instructor how to program a holoplayer and to dance to the lady's words. You do dance, don't you?" She crossed her arms. "Now begone my little monsters, and dance in the dark," She walked over to Gorgeus and plopped into his lap, and went about curling her fingers through his hair. "Oh, and Richard? Don't be a B~##+ anymore, or next time..." She showed her fangs. "I'll eat your heart,"
Setting Synopsis:
Located deep in the Rocky Mountains is the town of Pendros. Long ago it was known as Silvertop, a silver mining town primarily made up of Mexican and Chinese miners. It was almost lost to history when the United States no longer supported the Silver Standard, had it not been for an inventive miner named Lorenzo Pendros, who perfected a method using magnets and heat to purify the surrounding mountain's considerable Zinc deposits. This saved the mining town, and was renamed Pendros in Lorenzo's honor.
In the 1940's a considerable amount of Uranium was also found near Pendros. In addition to bringing in more business to the town, Pendros's mayor, Alex Runner, opened up a University dedicated to mining, refining, and researching the material. To encourage growth, he was able to pass an initiative to allow gambling within the city. The tax revenue was invested into the school, and even though gambling was outlawed again in the 1970's , Pendros University had established a name for itself. Tonight, in the year 2038, Pendros is now known for being the place for the growth of the cybernetic industry, home to both Barkovia Industries and Thinkbest. (BI makes cheap cybernetic devices and software, and also specializes in transportation technology. Thinkbest is like the Apple of cybernetics, and is sleek, expensive, and overly hyped.) Pendros is also known for it's Casino scene, reopened in 2024, nightclubs, college, and tourism related to the outdoors. It also more well known because it lies on an huge ley line intersection, making it a number one destination for the supernatural world. It's most notable feature is that the city is located on top of miles and miles of natural caverns, the largest and most developed section of these caverns are known simply as 'Underpendros' where the people of the supernatural world can live without the masquerade. The city's dark ruler is a Vampire Queen who came into power in 2009. While her real name is unknown, she goes by Sasha Fierce, a name that elects a giggle from those who know the reference, but do not know of Sasha's power and influence. Sasha, a Zelani Carthian who overthrew the previous vampire prince, Alexander Runningwater, she lives it up in the city's nightclubs, and is actually known for allowing quite a few breaches of the old laws to go unpunished. Meanwhile, the Kindred rule the city, and even the least powerful vampire has some sort of economic control. And they have the supernatural population in their grasp, using werewolves as hunters and bodyguards, changelings as servants, mages as their grand architects, sin-eaters as pest control, the list goes on and on. And as for the Kine, they are now zombies to corporate control. They live in corporate housing, go to corporate schooling, live and die by private law. The public sector is virtually non-existent. This is the way it is, and this is the way it has been for many nights. Many say that this cannot continue. Many say that a change is coming. Many say that soon, the Kindred must pay for their abuses. But the Kindred laugh and just take another sip. "I remember it like it was yesterday, before our current sadness, before the dead wouldn't rest, before the end of days. Back when the night was a time of eternal bliss, back when we all 'lived' in prosperity. But those were the final days of prosperity, those were the final days of joy, those were the final days of our 'innocence'. Those... Those were the Final Tales of Pendros," This is the recruitment thread for Final tales of Pendros. It uses a rules variant on Vampire: The Requiem using WoD hacks, and pulls elements from Vampire: The Masquerade using the Vampire Translation guide's suggestions on mechanics and storylines. I won't be using bloodlines in this game; yes, Zelani are a bloodline normally, but this game won't be using that particular mechanic. See campaign information to learn how to make your character. Here is a quicklist of the Clans available to play. I will list how they interact with the setting in campaign information.
Clans:
Vampires belong to one of a number of clans. While an individual vampire does not choose her clan, the clan that she belongs to make certain assumptions and statements about her. The stereotypes about clans extend to what sort of person a given vampire might Embrace, and are reinforced by the clans’ weaknesses and selection of innate Disciplines. The history of the clans is fragmentary as best. Each has several myths about their own origins, and these myths usually suggest that each clan is a different, if similar, kind of monster. The common origin of the Kindred is that they all come from humanity, rather than a single supernatural force.
The Clans:
Here is a quicklist of the Covenants available to play. I will list how they interact with the setting in the Campaign information. Covenants: Vampires are not solitary predators.
Oh, they like to think they are. Hell, some of them are downright proud of it:the lone survivor, the rogue hunter, the wild animal stalking the veldt. It’s b@!%$+!#. Vampires need one another, whether they like it or not. (Hey, the Danse Macabre isn’t much of a dance when you have one pathetic vampire shaking his money-maker in the middle of an empty warehouse.) It’s why vampires gather in coteries. It’s why they engage in the political process in the city. And it’s why they join covenants. The Covenants
I'm really pumped to run a New World of Darkness (NWoD) Vampire game after purchasing the Vampire translation guide. I like the NWoD rule set, but the Classic World of Darkness had some interesting aspects I liked; hated the Metaplot though. Anyways, I love Vampire games, and would like to know who'd like to play? I have a bunch of ideas, listed below. If any or all of them interest you, let me know, make a vote. If I can get even two people interested, that's enough for a coterie in my eyes. Also, if you've never played, that's great! NWoD is a very simple system to understand. Of Cities and Stories:
Here are the cities, time periods, and stories I’m considering; tell me which one you like:
Los Angeles: Endless Nights of the 80’s
Miami Nights: Cocaine Kings
Things to do in Denver when you’re (un)dead
The Chicago Chronicles
What dies in Vegas, stays in Vegas
The Final Tales of Pendros
Of Clans and Covenants:
Clans: Vampires belong to one of a number of clans. While an individual vampire does not choose her clan, the clan that she belongs to make certain assumptions and statements about her. The stereotypes about clans extend to what sort of person a given vampire might Embrace, and are reinforced by the clans’ weaknesses and selection of innate Disciplines. The history of the clans is fragmentary as best. Each has several myths about their own origins, and these myths usually suggest that each clan is a different, if similar, kind of monster. The common origin of the Kindred is that they all come from humanity, rather than a single supernatural force. Clans I'm considering/you can vote to be in a game (you can pick as many or as few as your like):
Oh, they like to think they are. Hell, some of them are downright proud of it:the lone survivor, the rogue hunter, the wild animal stalking the veldt. It’s b@!%$+!#. Vampires need one another, whether they like it or not. (Hey, the Danse Macabre isn’t much of a dance when you have one pathetic vampire shaking his money-maker in the middle of an empty warehouse.) It’s why vampires gather in coteries. It’s why they engage in the political process in the city. And it’s why they join covenants. Here are the Covenants I'm considering/you can vote on to be in a game(you can pick as many or as few as your like):
Non-playable Covenants:
Of Masks and Dirges: The newly-made monster shapes a mask for itself from the face of its dead human self. It might not seem that way now (though, the Embrace takes everyone differently; the Daeva will leave you feeling like you just got your brains f%$@ed out, the Nosferatu like they were beaten out instead), but that’s what’s happening. You’re dead, bucko, and the thing you’ve become will wear your old human skin like a costume, and traipse through your life making all the right sounds, and you’ll think it’s you doing it. A vampire must be two things: in the human world, they must maintain their Masquerade, but among their Kindred, it’s their Requiem they play to.
The Masquerade isn’t just disposing of the bodies, and not turning into a bat while a hundred school kids with camera phones stand by gawping; the fiction of life you present must run deeper than the bare-minimum caution needed to keep the mobs from remembering the torch and pitchfork routine. Requiem is different. It’s a role you choose for yourself, inherit from a sire, or have thrust upon you by arcane tradition or a whim of the powerful. This is how you behave in Kindred society. Requiem isn’t impossible to change, but vampires are creatures of habit, and if your fellows are used to seeing you act as the Martyr, they may be slow to accept you if you assume the role of Enforcer. Requiem shapes the arenas of Kindred society and politics in which you frequently find yourself tested, and how other Kindred treat you. What does this mean in terms of gameplay? At character creation, you must choose a Masquerade role and a Requiem role. Masquerade is your human mask. Requiem is the vampire face beneath that mask. Masquerades:
Requiems:
I just started up a new game, and my players asked that I choose some unconventional races to be played. I looked through my books, and decided I could run a game using only humans and all the races in the Dragon compendium. My group is mainly made up of girls, and when they saw the Tibbit race, with sequels of delight, I suddenly had a party made up of Tibbits, and rogue Tibbits, at that. Well crap. Of course, they all switched into cats and immediately started acting like cats. In a haunted house. Double crap. They can't do anything! I'm having a host of troubles. Any help would be appreciated on these issues: Everyone dropped their strength scores to 7 to get the extra points, and when in cat form, Tibbits have a -8 to strength. And at a 5 strength, that -8 should put them at a -3. I know the lowest it actually goes is 1, but I just feel like it is giving the characters a free pass at lowering their scores as low as they'd like. Because of the player's desire to be in just cat form, they haven't been able to function in combat; they just run away from all combat encounters. I'm also having trouble wondering if ghosts would even look twice at a cat (Edit: Actually, that question pertains to almost all semi-intelligent dungeon inhabitants). Assuming the world has Tibbits as a major race, would people just assume that a cat is a Tibbit? My biggest problem is motivating the players. They pretty much just want to act like cats roaming around a dungeon. I feel like I should revoke the race, but I'm afraid that'll start a riot. Help please?
I'm trying to get a Curse of the Crimson Throne game that I designed for non-tabletop gamers off the ground, specifically designed for people who normally play those free-form forum roleplaying games online. However, I can't seem to get anyone to join unless I have other players. The game is for beginners, so I am controlling elements of what is available and how those elements work (for example, I'm only allowing non-spellcasting versions of the paladin and ranger) which has made me hesitant to ask for players from the traditional tabletop community, but, as one of the few people interested said "Why the hell not?" Would anyone have an interest in joining such a game? I'm trying to get non-gamers to try playing a game, something I'm a gem at in real life, but I'm having trouble with online. If enough people are interested, I'll throw the link up to the site here. It's also an attempt to work in my own houserules or ones from unearthed arcana, like using mana-based casting instead of Vancian magic, which works so much easier in my opinion.
“Money money! Suck those dice, ya fiend suckin’ horn-beast!” Such was the declaration of the sailor, gambling at the tavern you stopped into for the night. The barkeep, placing your food down in front of you, laughs at the man. “Alright, keep it down Shin. Actually, why don’t you pack it in? I think you’ve spent up all your luck for the night,” The sailor shakes his head. “No way. No way Desna’s going to stop givin’ be her love!” With that, he deposits his whole purse on the table in front of the tiefling his is competing with. The barkeep crosses his arms and shakes his head. “You don’t have the luck of Desna, just the love of greed pushing you forward. You can’t keep doing this forever!” “You bet I can! Just you watch Jim. I’m going to get all the money from this devil!” The tiefling smiles as Shin roles the dice. They bounce over the wooden grain of the table, rolling, turning… Snakes Eyes. The barkeep laughs. “Told you Shin. You can’t be greedy forever!” As the sailor curses, you see the scene in front of you become blurry. Your head spins. The barkeep puts his hand on your shoulder. “You okay stranger?” As your head hits the table, and the world goes black, you here a voice. “Damn drunks. I’ll throw this one at back for ya Ji---” Funny thing is… You didn’t even have anything to drink.
In front of you is a leaning monument to the district’s pain, this four-story courthouse is a crumbling marvel of cracked plaster and chipped marble. Once a testament to justice wrought in shining white stone, the courthouse is now a crushed dream. Rainwater from a recent downpour mixed with mulch oozes from ruptures in the rock like pus bubbling from a wound. The structure of the eastern wing of the upper floor buckled long ago, and now the bell tower tilts perilously, appearing as though it might careen to the ground below at any moment. Two massive pillars frame the heavy oak doors of the court. The pillars’ surfaces run with cracks and fissures like so many burst veins. The doors sag in their archway like the drooping eyes of a madman. The surrounding structures long ago fell in upon themselves in supplication to the creaking courthouse.
Baaboom. Baaboom. You hear some commotion, and realize that you aren’t where you were. “Oh my god! Where are we?” “This…this is the old courthouse!” “No!” “Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. I’ll get us through this,” You look about, stiff all over, your head still pounding. Baboom. Baboom. This does indeed look like a courthouse, and this, this must be the courtroom. Rows of dusty benches, several askew or knocked over, are lined behind a waist-high partition separating spectators from trials. A dusty wooden jurors’ box, rickety from generations of termites and time’s cruel fangs, stands against the south wall. A high bench covered in muslin rests against the east wall. Two thick tables once stood facing the bench, but now, one has been smashed to kindling. An evidence table rests against the south wall. You sit in a juror's chair. Around you are several other people, all who seem to be as, if not more, confused than you, and most of them look terrified. You aren’t sure about all them…and with your head pounding…you can only make out a few details about some of them… A Half-Orc with a pierced nose.
Your head begins to level out. The headache is now like the memory of a bad dream, and you find yourself wishing that this was a bad dream that would just would go away...
So, create an alias with your character's name, fill out the tables, for languages, you start with your nation's language, if any, as well as the standard. I'd like to see this layout: Combat Details:
Initiative Modifier: AC: Touch AC: Flat-Footed AC: CMD: CMB: Current HP/Total HP: Current Action Points/Total Action Points: Speed(s): Experience Points: (Attack name here)To hit: (Attack name here)Damage: Character Details:
Goal:
Reason to be in Sandpoint: Description: Personality: Favorite Beverage: Favorite Foods: Nationality: Ethnicity: Traits: Skills:
Feats:
Class Features:
Equipment:
Equipment: Containers: Carrying Capacities: Current Weight: Light Load: Medium Load: Heavy Load: Lift over head: Push/Drag Load: Money: CP:SP:GP:PP: Am I missing anything? I want books and pages so I can look them up. Am I asking too much? Moving on. I'd also like to take a vote and know if you guys would like to use any of the following house rules. Keep in mind, what is good for the goose is good for the gander:
House Rules:
1. No confirming critical hits. 2. On non-combat related skill checks, rolling a 1 is considered to be a -5 instead, rolling a 20 is considered to be rolling a 25. 3.Contacts (This is the only non-vote. If you want contacts, you get them, if you don't, you don't, but that doesn't determine if your fellow do or don't. I choose who the contact is, but not what type.) 4.Skills that I have in all my RL games: Common Sense (Wis), Endurance (Con), and Initiative (Dex). I can explain these, if you want. 5. HP at 1st level: You get maximum HP, and add your Constitution score & modifier to your HP. 6. When rolling HP at later levels: If you roll a 1, you treat it as a 2. I'm a houserule nut, but I'm trying to keep it down in this game. Any questions for me?
I know, it seems like apples and oranges, but let me explain. Words of power is a system in which you can piece together magical parts and make a spell, right? Try and replicate an old spell, and you will come up with something that is similar to the old spell, but not quite. Which was fine, because that wasn't what the system was about, it wasn't about remaking old spells, it was about making new ones. So why is the Race Builder trying to do something it shouldn't? Maybe you say: But goblins, you should be able to remake halflings with this system! And I'll say: Yes, yes you should be able to. But you should be able to create new races with it as well. And you should be able to make monstrous races, like trolls, without racial hit dice, and see how those measure up. But instead of looking at all the parts lying in a pile, and building up the races from there, you took the preexisting core races, and broke them down in such a way that each core race had to come out to the same point amount. You tried making the race builder do something it cannot do: Make the core races fit into neat and tidy little boxes. You didn't make this mistake with some other fan favorites: Aasimar and Tieflings, easily the two races everyone knows are just a little better, but not by much. And you didn't deny it. You took the tools and built those races up to their point totals, knowing that they would come out just a little better, instead of taking the components out of those races and tossing them into the pile, which is what happened here with the core races. (Heck, it might have even happened with the Aasimar and Tiefling, but no one has ever denied that they are slightly more powerful.) I don't believe that the core races are going to be built up from a pile of tools that don't exactly match them and come out to be the same point totals. I want to give a clearer example of what I am talking about Elf Immunities should be something someone comes to the board with, and says: Look! Look! I made this racial ability with all the parts given to us, and it is like the Elf's immunities! I took that one ability that makes you immune to (some list of magic effects, like fear, sleep, sickness, paralysis, etc.) and chose sleep! It cost me (xRP)! And then, I took this other ability, the one that gives you a +2 racial bonus on saving throws made against (a specific school of magic) spells and effects, I chose Enchantment, and that cost me (xRP)! Oh boy! And when I added all these other abilities together, and made the Elf with these tools, it cost (xRP) amount, which is not the same as the human, or the gnome, or the dwarf, because why would it make any sense that those races, which are so very, very different from each other, have ever come out to be the same cost? And you know what? That's okay. *Breathe* This comes from a lot of places. There should be a racial ability that any race can receive a +1 racial bonus to all their saving throws, not just halflings or the halfling subtype. And if I am making a skill based character? It is just odd that I could purchase Adaptable, Bonus Feat, two skill bonuses and Integrated, all of which can do similar things but at drastically different prices. Am I making any sense here? This is so odd, I usually playtest these before having comments, complaints, suggestions, but I feel like, if we are going to go into this pretending like the core races all would come out to cost the same thing, then the only thing that needs to be playtested are the rules for challenging advanced and monstrous races (which look awesome, btw) and any new abilities. Hey, I am open to being told and convinced "No, you are wrong," if it is followed up by: "And here is why," And please, discussion, not hatred.
Hey, I'm trying to make a race that has an incredibly sunny disposition, and was going to give them Eternal Hope and Fearless, but from the wording Fearless has, I am wondering if their bonuses against fear would stack for a total of a +4 racial bonus versus fear, or if it would be pointless (HA! Pointless) to take Fearless.
Maybe I'm alone here, but I can't get any DM other than my own wife to allow Third Party materials into their games. And I can't get players to use 3rd party materials either. I've never understood the mad hate-on some people get for third party publishers. Yes, I can recall the early days of 3.0, and I can remember the either underpowered or overpowered material...but many Third Party publishers for Pathfinder aren't just good now (most of the time), they are amazing! And it isn't so hard to look something over as a GM and give it a thumbs up or down. The blanket "NO" I run into all the time is infuriating! "Can't you just look at it?" "NO" "Why not?" "NO" "It will take two minutes" "NO". And players glance at them and play something core, or, if it happens to be a GM for another game playing in mine..."NO" I actually think this is why I still encounter people who won't support, play, or even look at, Pathfinder. They view it as some third party system for a game that is no longer published, not a whole new system that can also support the old one! What can the gamer community at large do to encourage the acceptance of third party materials? I love these things, and spend lots of money on them, but since I can't use any of them, I run into the problem that I spent all of this cash for no reason than fantasizing about how I could use them...while fantasizing! At a smaller level, what do you think I, and of course, someone else in my situation, could do to resolve the "NO"? And why do DMs always say "NO", and why do players never care to look them over?
Hello all! I noticed that my own homebrew didn't take off, and I'm keen to start DMing my first PbP game. So, I'm trying again, with something tried and true, the Rise of the Runelords. I am going to be adding stuff in between as well, so don't be surprised if the adventure takes little sidetracks if you've played before, but nothing too crazy. Some of the adventures take place in other places in Golarion, but I'm going to move them to Varisia. Here are my build rules:
»Races: Core, plus Aasimar, Changeling, Fetchling, Ifrit, Oread, Sylph, Tiefling, and Undine. I also will allow Eberron's Changelings with a +2 to any attribute, and Rite Publishing's Gargoyle. »Everything else: Any Paizo Pathfinder book, Any WoTC 3.5 book (except for BoVD and BoED), any non-setting Malhavoc press books, and any 3rd Party Pathfinder books; the last three need to meet my approval/conversion and I need to own them! I'm pretty easy going on what I allow though, I even allow things like the Book of Nine swords, and words of power. If you've ever wanted to make a stupid broken character, now is your chance! »25 point build »Average starting gold plus 25gp. »2 Traits »Action Points. »Any Alignment but CE; if you play evil stupidly (Hi everyone! I'm evil! or as I usually see it: Hi Everyone! I'm a jerk!), I will allow your character to get killed, or just ask you to make another one. »Select a Golarion Deity »A character goal (this could be a goal you have for your character but your character doesn't know it!) »One paragraph describing what your character looks like, how they carry themselves. »One paragraph describing you character's personality »We'll start the game in Magnimar, as you are heading to Sandpoint. Give me a reason why your character is heading to Sandpoint. »Just for fun, tell me your character's favorite food and drink. My house rules:
As far as posting, I expect you to post at least once a day on weekdays, and at least once on the whole weekend. I know that ya'll have lives, I have one as well, there are holidays, meetings, finals, funerals, etc., so I will be pretty lenient if you tell me about when you will be unavailable, if it isn't very often. Since I'm new to DMing PbP games, I will be looking to you guys to guide me on proper posting etiquette. I'm also considering placing in three skills I have in all my games, (but if it is too much, I won't), Common Sense, Endurance, and Initiative. I am also considering allowing Contacts but I don't want a game to die once again because I have houseruled too much!
My wife really wants to subscribe to a magazine, any magazine really (I haven't the slightest clue why). We're both gamers and nerds, and so she asked me: Are there any Pathfinder Magazines out there we could get? Any REAL ones? I've seen Kobold quarterly, but my wife doesn't want to get that because half the magazine is 4ed, and you have to pay for shipping. I think that's actually what bugs her, is paying for the shipping. So, are there any OTHER pathfinder magazines out there? Or any that cover all PnP rpg styles, instead of just two? Or nerd/gamer culture? And all without paying shipping? (It really bugs her!) She really wants a magazine subscription.
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Those were the final tales of Pendros.
So, I've been interested in running a PbP game for sometime now, and after reading some advice threads, the resounding "Just do it" theme kept showing up. So, I'm going to 'just do it' and see where it goes. Be aware that while this isn't my first rodeo at GMing, it is my first PbP. One question though...How do I even make a campaign (like the cool pages that show up on your profile)? Does it make itself? The campaign is one I ran before, based off of a few APs and stuff from my own noggin, mainly Curse of the Crimson throne, but twisted very very differently. The game takes place on earth, in the near future, a future that couldn't exist in our timeline. It is vaguely based off of Urban Arcana, where the border between our world and another one is weak, and fantasy beings now live in our world. It is cyberpunk, and horror, pulling much, but not all, of it's mythos from the New World of Darkness. The setting takes place in a fictional city deep in the rocky mountains, known for its Casinos, Night Clubs, and University. Have I lost you yet? No? Oh good... Because it gets nuttier. I'm allowing almost ANY d20 material. Well, lots of it anyways. Here is what I showed my players when I first ran this game, as suggestions:
Here is a list of all things you could play:
Mundanes:
(Those who are known to the world and may even live normal lives)
Human Android Frank Moreau Mutant Infused (Superheros, or at least those with Super powers at least) Masked:
(Those not known to the world at large. Some of them aren’t even known in the masked world)
Awakened (aka Hunters)* Gargoyle* Kappa* Vampire* Werewolf* Werecat* Wererat* Wereboar* Werebear* Demon* Mage* Psychic Ghost* Feytouched (aka Changeling)* Angel* Succubus* Kitsune Dhampir (Half-Vampire) Displaced/Shadowkind/Shadowborn:
(The Displaced, also not known to the world at large, are people from another world, most likely a fantasy world. Recently, those coming from the other world did not lose large portents of their memories, which used to happen, and their powers remained. Shadowkind are those displaced from the other world, Shadowborn have at least one shadowkind parent, but were born on earth)
Aasmir Bugbears Changeling Doppleganger* Dragonborn Drow* Dwarves Elves Ghoul* Gnome Goblin Half-Dwarf Half-Elf Half-Ogre Half-Orc Half-Elf Hobbits Hobgoblin Human Kobold Medusa* Minotaur* Ogre* Snakeblooded Tiefling Undead Vampire* Ghost* Werewolf* Now, before I start posting my lengthy, lengthy house rules….is anyone interested?
Waa! Alright, I've got this buddy of mine, returned from Afghanistan, and long story short, at every turn, he questions any damn rule that can't be explained with realism or magic. He did this once when I told him how he couldn't sneak up on another character while in plain sight, and that he needed cover/concealment. Everyone agreed with me. Our mistake. Now, at every turn, he tries to sneak up on us in broad-damn-daylight, and most of the time, he's successful. And everytime, I hear "And look who has no cover!" Now, a new problem has crept up, and I can't help but feel stumped. He went on about how you should be able to apply the Dodge feat to CMD, and anything else that makes your touch AC go up, like a Luck modifier. I can't help but agree, but I know the reason for this is game balance. I guess I have two questions: 1. Explain to me why CMD could be visualized in such a way that Dodge doesn't apply when someone tries to trip me, but if my legs are being attacked, suddenly it comes into play? 2. Deal with a player who questions the rules anytime something comes up where he feels he could do something that his character can't, only because of the rules, or anything dealing with realism (I call him a 'Why?' gamer, because it reminds me of a two-year old child you asks Why?) This guy is otherwise a great gamer, my best friend, and would have been best man at my wedding if he hadn't been in the middle east at the time, so, kicking him out is so far from being an option, it isn't one. Thanks in advance, fellow pathfinders!
When my third character died in Carrion Crown, I had had enough. I love spellcasters. It's not like I hate Warrior or Expert types, I just love the options spellcasters get. However, my GM is actually normally the group's power-gamer (I use this descriptor as a bad thing, instead of optimizer), and doesn't like getting repeatedly hexed, and that is what I do; I make hexers. So, bad guys would run from the other side of the battle field just to get one hit off. Sure, they would provoke all the way over to me. Sure, it was bad from a tactical point of view. But, when all the baddies mob me, I break out in this awful rash I like to call 'My own brains' and they don't make a topical cream for that! One of the players suggested inquisitor, but I know next to nothing about this class. So I turn to the evil minds of my fellows out on the internet! Please, I like carrion crown, but I hate this DM! My favorite DM runs Kingmaker next, so, I want to get through Carrion Crown as fast as possible! Help me break this inquisitor. Your limits: 20 point buy.
Hello! I'm having a bit of trouble, and any advice or insight, I'll take! I designed a game linking up a bunch of Modules and APs, taking their stories and linking them all up. It makes it much easier for me to run, what with having a busy schedule and no time to really devote to anything more than taking a few notes on the train while reading the adventures on my Kindle. But I did it! And about three months in, I realized I had made a huge mistake. I had linked up a bunch of low-level adventures, like 1st-2nd level adventures, when I wanted the characters to be 5th level. Which they are. I was thinking of adding the difference between the adventure and the characters to every number I run across; A 1st level adventure with DCs of, say, 14, become 18, saving throws for monsters go from +3 to +7, monster HP goes from 10 to 14, etc. Does this seem balanced? Does it favor the adventure or the Characters? Is there something more, less or differently you'd suggest?
So, after going over Seven days to the Grave, I keep giving serious thought to this game-hack: What if the blood veil makes you come back as a Zombie? I actually hate Zombies, and the whole genre, but my players LOVE the things, so I keep thinking: What if Pathfinder #8 was about a Zombie Apocalypse instead of a plagued city? What would change? Just throwing out the idea ball to be bounced around.
I'm playing a Witch, and I have chosen Ice Tomb as my new hex, because it looks cool. However, I have some questions, and am wondering how you guys think this works: It just says 'target'. It doesn't say touch attack, or melee touch attack, and it doesn't list a range for the ability if it worked like evil eye, where the target is just affected within 30 feet. It doesn't say how long the ice lasts for, and it doesn't list a break DC for those creatures who are immune to unconsciousness and/or paralysis, and it doesn't say what happens if the creature happens to be immune to those conditions. Is it immobilized in an ice block? Or was it supposed to be frozen in a thin layer of ice like a Sub-Zero (Mortal Combat) attack? Is it still staggered if it is immune to Unconsciousness and/or paralysis? Help!
Wow, no one is discussing this product? Well, I have a question, if someone wants to answer: How did social conflict rules work for you? I found that they needed tweaking; once the PC's got someone's Morale down to 0, they practically had a slave. I was hoping someone else might tell me how it went for them.
In my game, I let the players run and build whichever town their characters end up in. It's worked out pretty well so far. I was trying to brainstorm interesting/amusing shops and services the town could have, maybe to make the players laugh or find interesting or something else. It could even be an anachronism; the game took the oddest turn when I allowed a player to be a gunslinger, and now it's a Frankenstein monster of a setting; part Dark Ages, Part Roman Empire, part Steampunk part Western. Any thoughts?
So my wife has begun running Legacy of Fire, and me and the other players are having a ball. Two of us thought it would be great to be Pesh dealer/users. My wife found references to Pesh users (possibly) needing better, more expensive Pesh for long time users. However, the rules are mute on this point (including the ones in the GM Guide). She likes the idea that we'd either have to use more of the cheaper stuff or some of the expensive stuff. So, she has asked me to flesh out rules for this. My problem is that I'm not sure how these might work. Suggestions?
I am not a lover of any Half-race (Half-Elf or Half-Orc, for example). I have long contemplated designing racial feats that allow a player of any race to take them and call their character Half-(insert something here). This is what I have so far; I could use some help with ideas fleshing these all out and balancing them. Disclaimer: Not all of what lies below is original. --------
Celestial Blooded (Angels, Archons, Celestials)
Celestial Blooded
Titan Blooded
I am contemplating running a game in which the party while typically run into...another party of adventurers. I am wondering what is the proper level of this opposing party(s) to the give the party a challenge but not outright kill them either. Same level? One higher? One lower? This is what I am wondering. Is there anything else I should consider when doing this? Thanks!
Alright. Let us say that I've got Natural Armor that has a +1 enhancement bonus, some armor with a +2 enhancement bonus, and a shield with a +3 enhancement bonus. Now, can I stack all of these together to get an extra +6 bonus to my AC, or is the highest bonus (the +3 bonus from the shield) the only one that applies because it is the highest enhancement bonus? I only ask this because the way enhancement bonuses are described is way confusing.
While reading the description for the Protection from Evil spell, I hit a hick-up. The lack of a definition of the term 'Evil Creature'. Now, is an evil creature any creature with an Evil Alignment and/or the Evil Subtype, or is it just a creature with the evil subtype? On a slightly related note, my DM loves summoners, and we are always fighting Eidolons. Are the Eidolons of an evil summoner considered evil as well? Thanks!
(I guess I'm not sleeping) After reviewing the forum, I'd like to say this before I commence with my complete playtest report: Both me and the Magus's player loved the 3/4 BA+, and thought the magus's only weaknesses as written were: -The abilities, as written, are not yet idiot proof. When presented with the class, only the law-student thought it was an easy class to understand and play. Otherwise, everyone looked at it and their brains oozed from their heads. I am, sadly, no good at making wordage clearer, so I have no suggestions. One of the things I like about Paizo is how you idiot proof everything. Please do it again! -Not enough 'stuff'. I'm excited for another Inquisitor, but with an arcane bent. If someone wants to play high BA+, low Spell progression, let them have the duskblade. I want the Magus. I love 'stuff'. It looks like you shall add more 'stuff' so I say: yes please! -The name. But, I recall these battles during the 'Advanced' playtest, so I won't go any further with this.
You've seen it a almost every fantasy-based movie/tv show with a big monster. The hero climbs up the monster and does something like poke out its eyes or cut off its head. And this is exactly what my players try to do everytime they encounter a monster bigger than themselves. Ogres, Dragons, Purple Worms, you name it, they wanna climb it. And I always find myself at a loss for how those rules would work. On a slightly related note, how do you actually kill a giant upon whom your attacks will hit their ankles, or the monster whose tentacles are the only things characters can hit? How do you see it play out? Thanks!
Sadly, this isn't a discussion about my awesome heavy metal bard, nah, it tis my desire to play one, and I haven't the foggiest idea on how you could make one RAW. My DM loves the idea, and has allowed me to play a heavy metal player from earth mysteriously transported to his fantasy world, and my electric guitar will no long need electricity or speakers to work. Awesome. Anyways, he allows any WotC book alongside Pathfinder, so I wonder, how shall this 7th level Human Bard be made? I would love suggestions.
Since the first time I played D&D (and any similar system) over ten years ago to now, I have hated Strength and Constitution. It doesn't make any sense. Why would a guy who is built like a brick house not be able to take a hit, or better yet, how can a little geek of a guy be able to take a fireball straight to the chest and live? It doesn't make any sense, and it is a mechanic that I find old and funky. While I am sure many of you will leap to it's defense with any number of explanations, I am more interested in discussing a game mechanic I've been using for over two years now with no consequences: Physique. The Ability Scores Physique and Constitution have been combined into one score called Physique. For the purposes of what Strength and Constitution did, Physique does it all. Simple, right? And when it comes to spells like bull's strength plus bear's endurance, think of it like this: Normally, if you cast Bull's Strength on yourself twice, does it stack? No, of course not, it just resets. Same principle here. But, that eliminates a physical ability score, and a bit of an unbalance. Well, the other problem I've had since day one was Strength being what you used to hit in melee with. How does that make sense? Did the game developers every actually fight each other? When you hit a guy, it isn't because you put more muscle behind it, it's because you used what we attribute to the dexterity score. The Armor system also makes no sense. Armor usually doesn't make a blow not hit, but it does make it hurt less. First, I make armor and natural armor work as a Damage Reduction. Simple. Next, we make melee attacks (not damage) based on a Dexterity based attribute. I split Dexterity into two attributes: Agility
Agility is your ability to move your whole body in quick, precise motions.
Think of it this way, if it helps: RaW, Dexterity says a person who is good at video games is also good at being an Acrobat. Well, that certainly doesn't make sense. So, we split it up. Now, however, the general AC of all characters has fallen quite a bit. So, I bring in one final Attribute. Luck. This is one I am still playing with, but for now, I've been adding it's modifier to the players' AC and, if using action points, adding it's modifier to how many action points you receive at each level. *Breathes* Thoughts and comments please?
Short Story: I'm a GM for a group who mainly plays Pathfinder, but at a request, I went and purchased Vampire: The Requiem to run it. After looking over the book, I have no earthly idea what the driving point of a Vampire game is. Help? Long Story: I've been a GM running D&D/Pathfinder for the last ten years. I find these games are a goal driven in nature (usually to get treasure and kill monsters) and games like D&D (D20 Modern, Alternity, Star Wars RPG) are also goal driven (complete the mission). My group has always had people coming and going, but inevitably, someone brings a girlfriend to the game table, and sometimes, they actually keep coming. Well, this phenomenon has left my gaming table with more girls than boys, and guess what they all have in common (including the guys)? A love for that damn Twilight series. *Shudder* Well, I was persuaded (my wife told me) to purchase Vampire and run it. And yes, I already knew and told them sunlight glitter vampires are a no-go. As I look over the book, I find it hard to find a motive for playing. Okay, you're dead(ish), you feed with a quick game mechanic, and then what? I'm not saying what do vampires do, but what do Vampire PCs do? Looking at it as is, Vampires don't seem to be any different than humans in their motives, so what makes a PC's life more interesting, more 'game worthy' than another ones? In D&D, you adventure, and in more modern games, you work for a government agency (or the like) to complete the mission. So what is the point?
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