Grigore the Grim's page

Here's a character I made that was in a RotRL game that died out before our first encounter, too. It's 25 point buy, but I can easily fix that if I'm selected. Thanks!

Respectfully withdrawing my application, just got accepted to a CotCT game.

Thanks!

Would you take one more submission? This character was accepted to a RotRL game, but right after the game started the DM vanished.

I really want to play RotRL, and I think this character is interesting. He is a former pitfighter who has "retired" to the relatively uneventful life of being a Sandpoint militia member/ sometimes actor in local plays.

Everything including background is in the profile. It's 25 point buy so I'd have to slightly tweak the stats (and probably lower his age a bit, as I made him middle-aged for flavor but with the lower point buy I probably won't be able to do that and meet the prerequisites for the feats I want).

Thanks!

Congrats!

Here's a fighter I made for a RotRL game here. Very shortly after the game started the DM disappeared and hasn't been back since. It's 25 point buy so I'd have to tweak it slightly, but background and everything are included in the profile.

He used to be a pit fighter in Riddleport and has "retired" to the militia in Sandpoint, also acting in some local plays on the side.

I've been checking in. I hope everythings ok

Hey, a song is a song. In Riddleport we have a saying--'The only thing better than fame is infamy'. I hate to disappoint my fans, but I'm afraid a fight will have to wait for another day.

Grigore bows in mock sadness to his "audience".

Nope, I didn't forget, but you only get so many spells per day and we have a 7 person party. Wands of CLW are invaluable, allowing healing outside of combat and freeing up spell slots for buffs/debuffs/save-or-sucks (a la hold person).

Besides, what happens when YOU get hit with Wis damage (and can't cast your higher-level spells)? Wouldn't you be glad to have a potion of restoration then? ;-)

Better you than me. I have all this armor weighing me down as it is ;-)

Fair enough, though dividing only the remainder into party funds would mean it would grow very slowly - perhaps instead we could add 10% of all coin earned to the party fund before dividing up the loot? This would give us a more decent party fund without taking too much away from all of the players to buy their own equipment - Scoria's definitely going to wants bracers of armor and an amulet of Mighty Fists in the future.

As for the potion, yes, as a monk, Scoria would probably benefit from it as a one time deal, in the need of an emergency, but if anyone else thinks they have more need of it, I'll let them have first dibs.

Right, sorry, I didn't mean to suggest that was the ONLY way we could set up a party fund. I just meant I thought it would be better to put the remainder in a fund as opposed to: "Ok, everyone gets 47 gold, 7 silver, 2 copper, and we have 5 copper pieces left." We could put the painting money in the party pot and start off with 52 gp in the fund, pretty good way to start off before the first adventure even starts, IMO.

@ Grigore: Pratus' husband (a fit man in his early 30's named Brighton) winks knowingly at you. He's just toying with her, Grigore. They've been going for ten minutes and he hasn't even worked up a sweat. Ulfen brute! True to Brighton's words, Pratus looks fresh and virtually unscathed, while the Ulfen woman gasps for air, clearly favoring the right side of her torso, no doubt sporting a fractured rib or two. Just as your coin reaches the bookie's hand, Pratus ducks a vicious roundhouse blow and counters with a thundering uppercut which takes the huge foreigner off her feet and down to the ground, where she stays for several minutes.

There's a murmur of surprise from some, scattered applause from others. A disgruntled man next to you, obviously having bet on the wrong side, shakes his head sadly and says quietly to his friend That's NOT supposed to happen in Golarion!

Pratus spies you in the crowd and greets you with a handshake. Grigore! Good to see you! Maybe this one has a sister you'd like to fight? The Ulfen woman is being helped to her feet by two of her countrymen, who are looking darkly at Pratus. You made two silver on the fight, as well!

Sweet! Cash money! ;-)

Well fought, Pratus! If that one has a sister who wants to face me in a beauty contest, well, sign me up and I'll shave my beard. As for fighting--I'm trying to be on my best behavior today, you know, an example to the other citizens and all on account of the festival.

Grigore seems mildly disappointed that he doesn't get to fight an Ulfen woman, but the moment passes and he's smiling again.

That last punch won me some good silver, so let's have a brew, shall we? First round's on me...

With a party of seven we're many times going to have coin amounts that don't divide evenly. My suggestion for simplicity's sake is to keep that in a "party" fund and use it to by potions, wands of CLW, scrolls of restoration, remove curse, remove disease, etc. Situational things that come up as we go.

So with the 50gp from the painting, everyone gets 7gp more and our party fund totals at 3 gp. Sound good?

Doh! Totally would have bet a gold piece on the fight had I remembered I had that gold, haha.

I don't think anyone addressed my comment earlier, but Scoria, I think you should take the strength potion. As an unarmed fighter, the only way you can really increase your attack at low levels is by strength potions (or magic fang, but we don't have a Druid). We can get masterwork weapons, magic weapon spell, etc.

Apologies for the delay, guys, my wife and I had a little scare with our baby's health but everything is now okay. Thanks very much for your patience and understanding!

No apologies necessary--family comes first. I'm glad everything is ok!

Grigore appreciates the delivery and respect commanded of the speeches. It's not easy to address a crowd of the size, he thinks. As the entertainment begins, he watches the red-haired dancer with interest for a moment, until he sees a portion of the crowd circling around something, spectators jostling to get a better view.

Looks like a fight's brewing, he says to himself as much as the others. He hurries over, bulling through to see what's happening, eventually standing next to Pratus' husband. He shouts over the din, only half-turning to the concerned husband so he can watch all of the fight. Looks like your boy may have bit off more than he can chew. But he's quick, and I'll take quickness over strength any day. Grigore slaps the man on the back, intending to be reassuring, while signalling to whomever the bookie is that is taking bets. He pulls out a silver piece and throws it to the bookie, pointing at Pratus.

Sorry guys, had a little family emergency yesterday afternoon.Will be back home later today and post. apologies again!

No worries, take your time. I hope everything is ok. We understand, and we'll be ready when you are. On the family emergency front--my wife is 37 weeks pregnant. If I vanish for a day or two, you know why. ;-)

Yep, let's go. Stick with me and I'll see if I can use my "official" position to get us close to the stage. C'mon, people!

Grigore stands tall and starts walking through the crowd, trying to navigate a path to the stage without disturbing too many people.

Sheriff Hemlock shakes Erynion's hand. Welcome, sir, you've arrived in our little town in it's finest hour. Enjoy the festival!

Turning again to Grigore, Hemlock says Grigore, I know you've had this day booked off forever, and I don't begrudge you your time off, but if you can, keep your eyes open for trouble, okay? He says this while looking pointedly at Digger.

The sheriff is about to walk away when he notices Scoria. Hello, Scoria! Thanks to you and your fellow craftsmen, our town rises like a phoenix from the..... He cuts off when he sees the painting you are carrying. He seems about to say something, then claps his mouth shut and walks away briskly, shaking his head.

Grigore's face hardens as he answers seriously.

Sure thing, Sheriff. Anyone fool enough to cause trouble in my vicinity will wish they hadn't.

Then he smiles, so as not to put off the newcomers. But what could go wrong? Everyone is just here to have a good time. Make sure you take some time to enjoy yourself too, Sheriff. This town won't see the like of a similar festival for quite some time.

Grigore waves in greeting, motioning to his companions in turn.

Morning, Sheriff. This is Scoria, Calkin, Thorjar, and Erynion. Travelers, revelers, seekers of knowledge and adventure. So Sheriff, what food looks good today?

"Have the opening speeches been delivered yet? If they have, let's go sample the foods. All the eateries of the town have put out their best today, and I for one could go for some food."

Me too, I've a fierce hunger. Maybe a haunch of goat, a mug of ale...

Aye, you never can tell what some art collectors will pay for certain items. That painting might be with a king's ransom.

He shrugs.

A least save the frame.

So, can we all agree to call it a Potion of Goat's strength? ;-) I'm thinking Scoria takes the strength potion and Brevyre takes the remove paralysis potion. Good?

I thought the combat was smooth and efficient, particularly with the size of the party we have. One possible suggestion I have (I start work in a couple weeks and I know I'll only be able to post at certain times and don't want to slow down combats) is to maybe have a set criteria of what we'd want to do in combat if we can't post our actions in a timely fashion, kind of like certain RPG video games, you know? Like: Defensive = Stay close to others, fight defensively, withdraw when hurt, etc. Aggressive = Charge, Power attack, strike out on ones own, etc. I don't know, just something to let people know a general idea of what we want our character to do in the event that we can't post or something. Just thinking out loud.

[Brad Pitt] Oh, God, what's in the box? [/Brad Pitt]

The goats are defeated, but we're not back in Sandpoint. I must be dreaming. Let's see if I can change that.

Death to the devil goat!

Grigore steps over and viciously smashes the Alpha goat in the face.

Coup de grace, auto crit 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (4, 2) + 6 = 12

5 ft step: Next to Alpha

Full Round action: Coup de grace

He will then look around, and if he is not transported back to Sandpoint, Grigore will sigh and take off his underwear, giving it to the Alpha goat.

;-)

Grigore the Grim wrote:

Hmm, when I quoted it took out the roll amounts. I hit 21 AC for 7 damage. The post is from the previous page in the thread.

It worked okay for me..... Goat A is now defunct, thanks to your high-rollin' ;-)

Grigore the Goat Slayer!

Hmm, when I quoted it took out the roll amounts. I hit 21 AC for 7 damage. The post is from the previous page in the thread.

I don't think my turn affects Brevyre's or the Alpha goat's, so I'll just post it now.

How far have I fallen in the public eye, reduced to fighting goats? Stay down, Bessie!

Grigore throws his efforts into taking down his foe, then hurries over to help Thorjar.

Punch Goat A, Bless, Naturalist 1d20 + 7

Damage 1d4 + 3

Standard: Punch Goat A

Move: To H-20, flanking with Thorjar. (If Goat A isn't dead, this provokes an AoO)

Effects: Bless (+1 morale to attack and fear saves), Naturalist (+1 to attack, saves, and AC vs regular goats). AC: 21 vs regular, 20 vs Alpha).

Edited to fix ooc tags

Here was my turn, posted earlier.

Just traded out Sense Motive (which he was always going to suck at anyway) for UMD.

Do you realize how easily you could lie to yourself? ;-)

I took something like that already, that's where one of his +2's come from ...ah, here we go, "Silver Tongued." And I'm pretty proud of his ridiculous bluff score. His ambition is to be a God of Stories (Lies).

Right, it's kind of misleading that they're called "Racial Traits", because then it sounds like you have to waste a trait to get it. Just like "Class Features", let's call them "Racial Features" for a moment. The two human racial features are "Skilled" and "Bonus Feat". Since you used your bonus feat to get Skill Focus (Bluff), instead you might as well exchange your "Bonus Feat" Racial feature with the "Focused Study" racial feature, which gives you Skill Focus (Whatever) at level 1, then another Skill Focus feat at 8th and 16th level. Pretty awesome.

I personally don't think Silver Tongued is worth it, as you're getting +2 to two skills instead of 20 skill points down the road (and skill points are awesome), but as a Rogue you're probably not hurting on skill points. Still, to play Devil's Advocate--if you didn't take Silver Tongued and instead kept skilled, you'd still have a +15 Bluff skill (ridiculously high at lev 1, haha) and now you get another skill point. Take a rank in UMD (Best Skill in the game, IMO) and with you having 18 Cha you now get +8 UMD at level one, not too shabby. Then take the Advanced Rogue Talent Skill Mastery (linkified for your convenience) at level 10 and you can pick 5 skills to automatically take 10 on, even when stressed (and you could take for Digger Bluff, Diplomacy, UMD, etc). Now you're pretty much auto-succeeding. But now I digress, hehe.

Whoa, that's crazy-high bluff skill. Hey Digger, since you took Skill Focus at first level anyway, thought I'd show you this alternate Human trait that replaces the human bonus feat, in case you hadn't seen it. It's just entirely better.

Focused Study: All humans are skillful, but some, rather than being generalists, tend to specialize in a handful of skills. At 1st, 8th, and 16th level, such humans gain Skill Focus in a skill of their choice as a bonus feat. This racial trait replaces the bonus feat trait.

I don't think my turn affects Brevyre's or the Alpha goat's, so I'll just post it now.

How far have I fallen in the public eye, reduced to fighting goats? Stay down, Bessie!

Grigore throws his efforts into taking down his foe, then hurries over to help Thorjar.

Punch Goat A, Bless, Naturalist 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Damage 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Standard: Punch Goat A

Move: To H-20, flanking with Thorjar. (If Goat A isn't dead, this provokes an AoO)

Effects: Bless (+1 morale to attack and fear saves), Naturalist (+1 to attack, saves, and AC vs regular goats). AC: 21 vs regular, 20 vs Alpha).

Edited to fix ooc tags

Well, I like the format Ive been using, which is move, standard, then effects or something like that. If you want, people could post their effects on their square on the map, under their name in the comments tag

Oh, and the goat charged, so Thorjar confirms if the goat's original AC is 16 or 17 (if a magical beast). Sorry to butt in, goat pun intended.

Heads up that Thorjar's confirmation roll is actually a 14 with Bless, 15 with the Monster Hunter trait if Alpha is a magical beast or aberration. Does that confirm?

Brevyre takes a 5 foot step to the right, behind Scoria. "Iomedae protect you Scoria!" Cast shield of Faith for +1 shield bonus to AC on Scoria

It's actually way better than that, a +2 Deflection bonus to AC. Awesome spell, IMO. These goats don't stand a chance! ;-)

Shield of Faith

Hmm, he's cautious. Talking, cautious goats. What sorcery is this?

Grigore circles around in a defensive stance, jabbing with his cestus at the advancing goat. C'mon, let's see what ya got, Shaggy.

Move--around to D-19 such that there is no AoO, straight west then north.

Standard: Attack Goat A with cestus, Bardic Music, Bless, fighting defensively 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 1 + 1 - 4 = 21

Damage 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Effects: Bardic Music +1 AC, Fighting Defensively +2 Dodge bonus, 23 AC vs normal goats, 22 AC vs Big Guy.

Hey, doesn't matter to me, just wanted to follow protocol lest another goat teleport next to me ;-)

Do you want me to move my own square, or do I just declare actions and you move the square? And bring it on, Goat A! Hehe.

Talking goats? Best to tread lightly...

Grigore advances slowly, shield raised high.

Move: To F-20
Standard: Total Defense
Effects: Naturalist: +1 AC and saves vs regular goats, Total Defense: +4 dodge vs everyone. AC 25 vs regular goats, 24 vs Alpha

Fwiw, I'm watching what's going on here, I just haven't declared my action because the big goat's turn might affect mine. I'll be ready on my turn, though.

Grigore the Grim wrote:

Two out of Seven natural 20s rolled--not bad.

Now that you've done it in the OOC thread, we'll expect it everytime in the IC thread too. ;)

I can state strongly that there is a good chance I will roll a 20 approximately 5% of the time ;-)

I'd think so too, but my +7 is for any knowledge skill aside from the three mentioned. Those three have an additional +4. Just being thorough really.

The Naturalist bonus will apply only against them.

Ah, yep. I see it now. Missed the +4 to the right at first. My bad.

I'm on the map but I believe I have to wait for the Alpha goat to go first, right?

Erynion, I'd assume Knowledge (Nature) or, if they're fiendish or something, Knowledge (Planes). Could be Arcana if they're Magical Beasts I suppose.

Two out of Seven natural 20s rolled--not bad.

I like the clustered initiative roll that Thorjar put forward - given how PbP works, I can see how it would make things quicker. Expecting people to post in order of initiative is unrealistic, most of the time at least.

My idea of how combat will work:

1.) Map will be revealed; everyone will place their character, unless otherwise directed. Sometimes, I will place your character, and I will definitely do so if I haven't heard from you in a timely manner.

2.) While placing your character, roll initiative; I'll roll for the baddies. I'll also roll for you if I haven't heard from you in a timely manner.

3.) At the beginning of each round, I'll post the order of action, along with any status effects that are active. I'll cluster you into groups of two or three - like Thorjar mentioned, anyone in that cluster can act, in the order that they post. It'll make things a bit snappier, I think, while still paying respect to the initiative system. I'll act for you if I haven't heard from you in a timely manner.

4.) You will proceed to beat down your enemies and restore honour, truth and justice in the world. In a timely manner, of course :-)

5.) Repeat step three at the beginning of each round, until all enemies have been stomped into oblivion.

Comments / concerns / kudos?

This all looks good to me, and I like the clustered Initiative idea.

I agree that it would probably be best for you (DM MG) to roll initiative for everybody. I'm in another game that has a lot of players and we keep it moving, but different people are available to post at different times. I can see waiting for someone's action and RP and whatnot, but waiting for init rolls could get tedious.

And while it seems that it would be annoying/extra work for the DM to do everyone's init, one thing that makes it easier is to just put in your DM profile a "dice macro" if you will of a list of all of us with the dice command next to our name.

Like just click the quote button on this and copy and paste the following in your profile:

Grigore 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Thorjar 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Brevyre 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 (it was listed as +0 but you have reactionary so I think it should be +2)
Scoria 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Digger 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Erynion 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Calkin 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Then each combat just post this and we're good to go. I'm happy to roll my own init, but this would probably work better with such a large party, IMO.

Wow, Calkin you had to go and throw off our "all +2 init party", didn't you? ;-)

@Scoria--in my aforementioned Dragon's Delve game, I have a gnome alchemist who makes potions a lot, but I also have the Leadership feat with a warforged artificer cohort. Cheesy, I know, but I swear I try not to abuse it, hehe

Of course, you must always take into account the GP limit of every town and city. Perhaps in Magnimar you could get several CLW wands, but sometimes all they have available is one CMW wand with perhaps ten charges left.

The idea that you can walk into any town with a big bagful of gold and purchase any magic item you need has always seemed unrealistic to me, unless it's a metropolis or capital of a nation.

Edit: Congrats to everyone who made it! I hope that all the rest of you who submitted will find themselves another game shortly.

I completely agree-- I meant it more from a comparison standpoint than a practical standpoint. Buying 6 wands is a bit much (of course, crafting two or three wands...hehe)

Welcome Digger!

Congrats Erynion and Calkin!

Seems like a solid group.

Heck, wands of cure light can be even better while in combat, if you've got a free hand...wanding doesn't provoke.

I think that a wand of CLW is the single best item (bang for buck, obviously) in the entire game.

So, I can buy one wand of CMW for 4,500 gp, or I can buy 6 wands of CLW? Um, yeah, I'll take the six CLW.

Welcome aboard, Scoria!

I wouldn't worry about too many build changes now, at least until we see who else is in the game. For example, now that you're in and you and me can punch stuff, Thorjar might want to switch back to a ranged Inquisitor. ;-)

As for archetypes, I think Monk of the Sacred Mountain fits your character very well in terms of how you have portrayed her so far. Plus, I think it's hilarious that an Ancient Dragon could try to make 8 trip attacks against you or bull rush you, etc, and nothing happens, hehe.

I can always tweak my build if it's necessary, but I feel like we don't need to be fully prepared for every eventuality. We're going to have some "holes" as a party, but that can sometimes lead to memorable encounters where we need to think outside the box, you know?

Like, my Dragon's Delve party does ridiculous damage but has pretty poor healing. So we try to kill stuff as quickly as possible before we all die. Conversely, the Skull and Shackles party that I DM has a ton of healing, but not that great damage output. So they try to outlast opponents as they do steady damage and keep healing.

@ Brevyre - taking a few levels in Paladin probably wouldn't do a whole lot for the group as a whole, and in fact, would cost you higher level access to some of the great cleric spells. Choosing the crusader archetype already weakens your most useful ability - your spellcasting - for what looks to me like a dubious payoff (weapon focus and a few feats). If we could have you focus a bit more on traditional cleric-ing, then I could take Thorjar up on his offer and feel a bit better about the party's capabilities.

@ Thorjar - thanks for the offer, I may take you up on it!

Regardless of your decisions regarding your builds, I'd like to invite you both, along with Grigore, as the first three players into this game. Congratulations, and welcome! I'm going to choose another three players shortly.

P.S. Does anyone know what happened to Digger?

Great, thanks and congrats Thorjar and Brevyre!

I'll add my traits back in a second...