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I'm planning a new game of Legend of the Five Rings rpg (first edition). I am going to use a slightly different campaign structure than normal. The characters will all start the game as old samurai sat in a tea house and they will be talking about there old adventures. The main game will therefore be an extended flashback as they reminisce about their adventures.

This structure allows me as GM to use something I'm going to call the Rashomon Effect, or in other words "that's not how I remember it".

Once per story arc (of which there will around 5 in total) the group can "remember it differently" to alter something that just happened.

Im just quite sure how that might look as a mechanic in game.

any thoughts?

The group are all young adventurous friends that have been seeking parts of an artifact around the city and surrounding countryside. the latest thing they have been doing is investigating and defeating an evil cult that is trying to infiltrate the city nobility. To this end they have been successful. At the final moment the paladin alone was facing off against the high priest, who, knowing that his cult was destroyed, and having no recourse left, surrendered.

The paladin struck him down, dead.

Not just the best mutant/x-men on TV, possibly one of the best put together TV shows of the year.

The visuals are amazing, really helping tell the story from David's unique point of view.
The soundtrack is brilliant. In fact the use of sound, or lack thereof, has been incredible through out the show.

Hello all.

I am planning an encounter for my group centered around a frontier type village that is ruled by a bad guy. The NPC in question is a human cleric of Asmodeus (level 9 with Evil and Trickery Domains). He has a cohort who is his enforcer within the village to keep everyone inline (cohort is a human monk/weapon adept 7). Basically I want to run this encounter like a Western, where a small town has a legitimate but evil ruler and the heroes roll up and find themselves in the middle of that situation. The Cleric is more of a talker than a fighter, letting his monk buddy be his muscle, but is no slouch if it comes to fisticuffs.

My request for help is for a few key spells this 'black hat' might prep?

Thank you.

Are there any interesting or cool ways to create Evil Twins of characters?

I have a group of 1st level PCs and I want to give them one or flavourful mini-encounters on the way to their next Quest objective. They will be travelling through a harbour town that has plenty of rundown buildings and unkept streets for them to run into something dangerous as they make there way to a location. Things along the lines of rats or other urban pests, footpads maybe?

its a big group though, seven of them, so that might put off casual thieves. Group is: drunken master, paladin, brawler, druid (with wolf), wizard, cleric, and a shaman.

Playing the heck out this beautiful game so far. Well right up till i got stuck on a planet with no take-off fuel and no resources in the immediate vacinity.

Hello. I am hoping that the forums can help me fine tune a number pathfinder characters. This is theoretical party build for my own use. These are not optimised by any stretch just ideas about building a group that would nicely complement each other. Any tweaks to my current builds would be greatly appreciated.

They are:
Isaiah Wetmore: Human Fighter (no archetype), specialism: Archery
Coral Giovanetti: Half-Elf Paladin (Holy Tactician)
Elzen Scarpenetti: Elf Rogue (Scout/Investigator)
Luminostroglio Caligari: Elf Wizard (Transmuter)
Tan Xin: Halfling Cleric (Merciful Healer)

The fighter is a devil with a bow, the rogue is a tracker the paladin buffing with teamwork feats, the wizard is a crafter of constructs plus buffing with spells and the cleric keeping everyone alive with healing. I imagine them as a military squad given the “special missions” to go behind enemy lines etc.

Builds (All 20pt buy)

Isaiah Wetmore:
Human, Fighter (no archetype)
Str: 14
Dex: 17 (15+2 race)
Con: 14
Int: 13
Wis: 10
Cha: 10
Traits: Mathematical Prodigy, Killer

1 – Point Blank Shot, Weapon Focus: Longbow, Fast Learner
2 – Rapid Shot
3 – Deadly Aim
4 – Combat Reflexes
5 – Weapon Specialization: Longbow
6 – Precise Shot
7 – Point Blank Master: Longbow
8 – Snap Shot
9 – Manyshot
10 – Improved Snap Shot
11 – Greater Weapon Focus: Longbow
12 – Improved Precise Shot
13 – Greater Weapon Specialization: Longbow
14 – Dodge
15 – Pin Down
16 – Greater Snap Shot
17 – Clustered Shots
18 – Disruptive
19 – Spellbreaker
20 – Teleport Tactician

Skills: main skills are Craft (Bows), Profession (soldier) and Perception with occasional ranks Knowledge (arcana) (dungeoneering) (engineering), bluff, climb, handle animal, intimidate, ride, sense motive, survival and swim
Notes: low levels can act as switch hitter, Int, human, and fast learner give him 5 skill ranks per level, once point blank master and snap shot kick in can use bow close up (will have the AC to back that up, can move full speed in armor)

Coral Giovanetti:
Half-Elf Paladin (Holy Tactician)
Str: 12
Dex: 13
Con: 10
Int: 10
Wis: 14
Cha: 18 (16 +2 race)
Traits: Ease of Faith, Magical Knack

1 – Weapon Focus: Morningstar, Skill Focus: Profession (Soldier)
3 – Point Blank Shot, Feint Partner
5 – Precise Shot
7 – Combat Reflexes, Outflank
9 – Saving Shield
11 – Improved Feint Partner, Enfilading Fire
13 – Divine Interference
15 – Bodyguard, Pack Attack
17 – In Harm’s Way
19 – Dazzling Display, Duck and Cover

Skills: concentrate on heal and diplomacy with some intimidate, bluff and sense motive
Notes: In combat can use either bow or Morningstar and shield, buffs allies with teamwork feat to maximise feint/flanking for fighter and rogue, back up healer to cleric, high-ish Cha so can act as face (archetype swaps out divine bond so actually ends up being the slowest member of the group if wearing medium/heavy armor with no way to mitigate the slowdown)

Elzen Scarpenetti:
Elf Rogue (Scout/Investigator)
Str: 14
Dex: 16 (14 +2 race)
Con: 10 (12 -2 race)
Int: 15 (13 +2 race)
Wis: 10
Cha: 14
Traits: Dirty Fighter, Charming

1 – Dodge
2 – Surprise Attack
3 – Combat Expertise
4 – Trapspotter
5 – Improved Feint
6 – Follow Clues
7 – Mobility
8 – Assault Leader
9 – Weapon Focus: Longsword
10 – Hunter’s Surprise
11 – Lightning Reflexes
12 – Slippery Mind
13 – Improved Lightning Reflexes
14 – Thoughtful Re-examining
15 – Spring Attack
16 – Opportunist
17 – Sidestep
18 – Hard to Fool
19 – Improved Sidestep
20 – Another Day

Skills: High Int and rogue gives plenty to work with but max in perception and bluff would be a must, plus Face skills. Can also fill out the knowledge skills to back up the wizard
Notes: Plenty of skill ranks to put in Face skills, use the paladin as a flanking buddy, make most of the teamwork feats from the paladin.

Luminostroglio Caligari:
Elf Wizard (Transmuter, Opp – Illusion, Enchantment)
Str: 11
Dex: 15 (13 +2 race)
Con: 11 (13 -2 race)
Int: 18 (16 +2 race)
Wis: 10
Cha: 13
Traits: Warrior of Old, Hedge Magician

1 – Breadth of Experience
3 – Craft Wondrous Items
5 – Craft Arms and Armor, Craft Construct
7 – Arcane Builder: Wondrous
9 – Skill Focus: Spellcraft
10 – Opposition Research: Enchantment
11 – Maximise Spell
13 – Widen Spell
15 – Craft Staff, Staff-Like Wand
17 – Arcane Blast
19 – Silent Spell
20 – Immortality

Skills: Focusing on crafting and Spellcraft to create items for the group, using transmutation spells and school abilities to buff the group. Can also put some ranks into knowledges to make most use of Breadth of Experience
Notes: Construct builder and buffer

Tan Xin:
Halfling Cleric (Merciful Healer)
Str: 10 (12 -2 race)
Dex: 14 (12 +2 race)
Con: 12
Int: 11
Wis: 16
Cha: 15 (13 +2 race)
Traits: Gifted Adept (Cure Light Wounds), Blessed

1 – Selective Channelling
3 – Skill Focus: Heal
5 – Eldritch Heritage: Celestial (Heavenly Fire)
7 – Extra Mercy
9 – Contingent Channelling
11 – Maximise Spell
13 – Extra Channel
15 – Channelled Revival
17 – Warrior Priest
19 – Lucky Halfling

Skills: Heal. Has enough Cha to back up the main party face
Notes: mechanically this character is mostly a heal-bot. Would swap out slow speed/sure footed for fleet of foot to keep up with the taller party members

I would just like to pick the collective brain here.

If you were playing in a DMs homebrew campaign setting what would you look for in a gazzetteer for the setting?

Regions?
Cities?
Factions?
Cultural info?

Anything else?

So I begin my exile in some backwater village called Brinford. I guess I should introduce myself, I am, of course, the elf Sulven Molinaari. Recently fencing tutor to the children of the noble house of Batiattus, newly adventurer at large. It's not my fault they seriously undervaluedy services, so no wonder I helped myself to a more fitting recompense.

Gods above, this place is so dull. The innkeeper, Olgar, has been keeping an eye on me. As if there was anything worth taking here anyway. Things picked up when, after splashing out for a bottle of rancid wine, I uncovered a story of some demon-infested ruins to the north. Some fool yokels had gone up recently and haven't been seen since. The demons these folk refer to are probably just goblins in masks scaring the britches off the locals to keep them out of their territory. Still, it is worth a quick look if only to alleviate the mind numbing boredom around here. So that's when I decided to recruit some other adventuresome types to mount an expedition. I wrote a note and posted it on the board outside the inn.

I have now four others to join me but not to the ruins. The first to respond was Cora, a strapping human woman that looked ready to cut in half anyone who looked at her funny. Luckily for me she is thoroughly obsessed with money, which I can use to my advantage. During my negotiation with For a the second and most disgusting of my new recruits appear. I would say hanging around like a bad smell but Figgern smells worse than anything I have encountered, which is saying something. I once had to exit a castle via the midden in high summer, so you know he must stink to high heaven. He vaguely appears to be dwarf-like though mostly he just looks like a walking filthy grey beard. Not that Cora is much more civilised. Maybe I can trade them in later for more couth adventurers.

Third to join was Grasshopper, a very young looking human youth, with a kind of wide-eyed look, one can only assume comes from being cloistered most of his short life. Still another warm body is always handy, though Cora was not impressed that her equal share would now be quarters not thirds. The fourth and final addition seems a bit more promising for intelligent conversation, an elven witch. At this point I had to spot Cora some upfront cash to keep her sweet.

So as the new gang gathered Figgern asked that we help his miller friend find his son. Apparently the son had travelled to Tharbad to sell flour but had been seen for over a week. My gut tells me the boy is either in some whores bed or lying rotting in an alley with his throat slit. The promise of 200 gold reward lights up Cora's eyes though. In order to appease her I graciously allow us to head down the road to Tharbad to search in vain for the miller's son, before heading to the ruins.

Brinford is a small place but it seems to have its own seeress. Her familiar seemed quite interested in our conversation and its appearance sparked more than a few comments from the gang. It was a large housecat but with wide brightly coloured butterfly wings. Cora was for bagging it and selling it, most likely back to its proper owner, the town seeress. I discouraged this notion and the witch agreed.

So that is how I ended up on the road with a warrior, a monk, a witch and a walking beard.

With a heavy heart I interred my father this morning. The coffin was installed next to my mother, dead these fifteen years. I now know that it was his illness that killed him not the riots, though looters did do some significant damage to the shop.
I continue in my belief that the civil unrest was engineered for some purpose. The timely appearance Loris Raknian and his gladiators to quell the rioting, after it had done damage to the city, has sparked my curiosity. Must investigate further.

I jus want to check something that come up in a game I ran earlier this week. The Cleric of the party cast Bless Weapon (its a Domain spell for him) and I allowed the weapon so blessed to bypass the DR/Silver on a Wererat. It shouldnt normally do this, right?

I am planning the next stages of my Halfling Navy campaign. It will involve a Sahaugin attack on the fleet. The Sahaugin view the navy as a threat and wish to eliminate it in one fell swoop. Since the Halfling have an Air Force (Eagle and Griffon Air Cavalry), the Sahaugin need allies in the air. This will be a major campaign eventa huge air and see battle, along the lines of The Battle Of Five Armies from Bilbo’s point of view.

The PCs are low level (3rd ish, 1 each of Fighter, Ranger, Cleric, Wizard, Rogue) but there are many high level NPCs (levels 13-17) in the fleet that I want to cull. So the PCs will be occupied with enemy soldiers while the big boys are sacrificing themselves to save the fleet. Though obviously, since the players are the heroes of the story I will need something for them to do save the day, like finishing off a wounded general or finding/destroying a macguffin or going to get help from Storm Giants. What, exactly, will depend on the final make up of the enemy

What standard D&D race/monsters would make good arial support for the fishes? Evil Cloud Giants riding Rocs? Dragons of some sort? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

So last weekend I got to run Pathfinder for the first time, yay. Using my homebrew setting and a party totally made up of Halflings we had one fun afternoon. Last D&D game I ran was 3.0 about 7 years ago. I have to say I really enjoyed it, the system was familiar enough for me to just carry on as usual. I had read up on the major differences (CMB!) and these went over easily with my players. I am drafting a game report that I will post when finished.

Possible issues with Homebrew Campaign Set up

The Campaign

A vast fleet of ships have left their home ports on an epic voyage of exploration and discover. Hundreds of ships carrying tens of thousands are heading west into uncharted oceans.

The largest ships are Junks up to 900 feet long with dozens of sails, crewed by hundreds of Halfling sailors and marines.

The Player Characters are all part of that Halfling crew, specialists in the field of combat, magic and diplomacy.

Problems

The two main problems I can foresee are movement and damage.
Restricted to small weapons they are going to be behind the power curve at every level.
And even on the relatively confined quarters of a ships’ deck the lack of full speed by the PC will cause them a problem, on the open terrain of an island it gets much worse. Other than simply reducing CRs what other ways round could there be?

Hi

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can get my youngest daughter, about to turn 1, for her birthday? Her sister, my eldest, will be 2 shortly after so we already have toyboxes full of regular toys. I am wanting to get something a little different (or possible make if it doesnt take too long to construct).

Yours gratefully

Nermal2097

My geek moment was last night. I was waiting in the station for a bus to travel to another town to go drinking with some old work colleagues when I noticed someone that could only be described as a Skater-Goth. This in itself was not usual but then I notice who he was with and I decided that he must be a bodyguard of some sort as he appeared to be escort a "wizard" through the bus station. The "wizard" was carrying a staff (plain wood) and wore a hooded green velvet robe.

My geek moment: "He must be low level to still need a fighter escort".

Would anyone be interested in seeing some pictures from my wedding this summer? I have finally uploaded theones taken from my camera, though the "official" photos are taking longer becuase of huge file sizes.

I am putting together an adventure (or more likely a series of adventures) that involves the characters being part of a navy and being at sea for a long time. The PCs will be on a ship that is part of a large fleet exploring the wide oceans. Since this will be fantasy gameI would like for this navy to have a arial division. When thinking about mounts I could only come with Giant Eagles and Griffons. What other creatures could fit the bill. Oh and the entire navy and the PCs will be Halfling so the mounts only have to carry small characters.

Simple enough question folks.

The radio station we listen to at work has a Golden Oldie Hour in the afternoon. It has played some songs that I would never have considered Golden Oldies, namely stuff from the early 90's. So when should songs be considered Oldies? 15 years? 20? 30?

Countdown: Monday (five days to go)

So now, all of a sudden, I am getting married on Saturday. This Saturday. In five days time. Wow, that came round quick.

:D

I have started recently to put some work into my homebrew world. I generally do this by preparing and then running a campaign based around the major races. It started about 11-12 years ago when I had to run AD&D for a gaming group and I ran a small campaign using some old highschool stuff me and a friend put together. I then decided to run a campaign set in the ancient history of the world and let the actions of the players help create various myths and legends for each race. First was an all Elf group (Elves being based vaguely on Monotheistic Egyptians), then came an Orc campaign (Jewish Roman Orcs with a campaign model based on DS9, the PC boss was called Boon Disco). Last game I ran was for the Dwarven game (Islamic Dwarves versus Crusading Elves).

My original idea for Halflings was for them to have technology far surpassing that of the other races but it gets "lost" down the years. So my first thought was for them to be invading aliens come down in spaceships with lasguns etc. Then I read 1421 by Gavin Menzies ( http://www.1421.tv/ ). So now my halflings will be chinese sailors setting out on a vast voyage of discovery on 300ft long Junks.

Where I am at the moment is thinking about classes and what would be viable in a chinese based campaign. Monks will be a given but what about paladins or bards? Druid is the one class that seems to be right out but the whole shapeshifting thing seems like it could work given some oriental myths. I am willing to allow some japanese into the mis but I want it mostly feel like china. Also does anyone know of any decent D20/OGL books that deal with gunpowder weapons i.e. feats, skills, classes?

Dwarf Planet previously known as Xena will now have an official name, Eris.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5344892.stm

I like how, in a nice little bit of irony, that the moon that was nicknamed Gabrielle will now be called Dysomnia - The spirit of "Lawless"ness.

Stag Do = Bachelor Party = Alcohol
Alcohol = Drunken Nermal2097
Drunken Nermal2097 = Waking Kymbogs up at 2.30 in the AM to come find me wandering in the middle of the road, incoherent, oblivious and covered in vomit.
Nermal2097 = Very guilty and very sorry = no more alcohol

One

I can hardly believe it has been 10 years since I arrived here to serve the Shogun. The training and studies have taken up some much of my day that the time has gone by so quickly.

It was a cool autumn day when I, a noble son of the Shiba family of the Phoenix Clan, arrived at the Palace of the Shogun. My family had long been in service to the Dwarven Shogun and part of that was the training of first sons in the way of the Samurai. The strict Code of Bushido was a distant concept to me on that day. I had travelled with members of my family to the palace and during the welcome ceremony I had to formally say goodbye to them dressed in a white kimono. I could see the pride on my fathers face as he watched me perform my part of the ceremony.

The following day was spent in meditation in the cherry blossom grove in the palace grounds. Three others had come to the Shogun at the same time as me. We sat in silence for many hours, even went a short snow shower left a small layer of snow on us all. At that point I did no know their names, we had not been introduced and talking was forbidden for us. We trained together and ate together for the whole winter without ever saying a word. The Sensei instructed us and we listened. We showed understanding by doing not talking.

In the spring we had learnt enough humility and obedience that we were once more allowed to talk. My new brothers and I spent another afternoon in the cherry blossom grove, this time talking constantly. We told each other of our homes and families. Kuni Jiro was of the Crab Clan and his father was a powerful Shugenja, Jiro was his second son sent to learn the ways of bushido. Kitsune Ryo and Bayushi Akushin both had come from noble families of the far south, newly established and eager to learn the true Way of the Samurai. I told them of my father, a diplomat who had served the Shogun many years ago as Yojimbo to the Shoguns daughter.

That whole first year passed so quickly, we all applied ourselves totally to our studies. We all progressed in the Dojo, practising with long and short bokkens everyday. Akushin quickly rose to the head of the class, he seemed to have a natural affinity for both swords. Outside of the Dojo Jiro excelled at calligraphy, his brushstrokes always seemed so smooth. I found that my own field of expertise was Origami; it came very naturally to me.

http://www.badastronomy.com/bablog/2006/08/15/congratulations-its-a-planet/

So we could end up with three extra planets by the weekend. A few more each year after that as they discover more and more large kuiper belt objects.

Wonder how the Astrologers will retrofit the "new" planets?

Week 2

Kaile and I were in the cage being winched across the lake when several figures appeared on the beach below. One of them was a wizard of some kind, he flung spell after spell toward the cage. I was badly wounded by the onslaught but Kaile faired worse than I. A bolt of lightning struck the cage, the pain was incredible. After it had gone Kaile was not moving. The others managed to winch me across. When everyone had arrived on the beach we chased the wizard down a series of caves. We had no choice but to leave Kaile’s body behind in the cage.

The wizard had disappeared but we managed to track him. The caves were all covered in spider webs. A group of former Allybashers tried to stop us. This definitely proves a connection between Tongue-eater and this cult (Allybashers found at both locations), though what else has driven Badvok’s former associates to fall in with this cult is at the moment a mystery.

The fight carried on down further into the cave where we are also attacked by giant spiders. Monstrous things the size of ponies, they are surprisingly quick and being attacked by one is not pleasant at all. And they smell horrible. The Wizard joined the fight again this time with two Ettercaps. I have heard of them before, tales from wandering clerics and knights that visited the Temple, but to see the withered bodies with spider-like heads is another thing entirely.

We struggled on, Badvok was injured and knocked unconscious. Lia fought bravely against the horrors and used the healing wand on us all. Tycho’s spells helped to finish off all the attackers, including the wizard (a Halfling). Once Badvok was brought round and healed we searched the area and found many interesting items, including six of the eight Wands of Water Control.

It was then we heard the sound of battle coming from the beach.

* * *

I went for a job interview yesterday morning at 10am, my first outside Sesame for 7 years, and aced it. By 1pm I had been offered the job at the salary level I had requested and I start a week after I finish here at my current job. Yay me.

I was worried about the interview but over the course of the hour I was getting more and more positive about the outcome. Thanks for the good vibes sent my way, they have paid off. :D

This morning I will find out if I get my promotion or not. If I do I will get to stay at my current company, if not I will be made redundant at the end of this month and will be looking for work from this afternoon onwards.

I am feeling very nervous right now.

I am thinking of creating a new CD for work. This will be the last one I do though due to being made redundant at the end of the month.

I am trying to think of some good tunes to say goodbye to everyone at work, I have fond memories of most of the people I work with (others, not so much). So far I have

Oasis - Dont look back in anger (opening track)
Nancy Sinatra - These boots are made for walking
John Denver - Leaving on a jet plane
David Gray - Say hello wave goodbye
Daniel Powter - Bad Day
Foo Fighters - Resolve
Greenday - Good riddance (Time of your life) (closing track)

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Our group is currently playing through Shackled City. One of the PC died early on and we have named our party in his honor. We are now called the Valas Avengers, or Avengers for short.

I have been searching everywhere to find a suitable prestige class for my character Coda (gaming journal is posted in that section). However, I have yet to find anything suitable. So I am thinking that I should create a new prestige class specific to our party and its history but I have no idea how to go about doing it. Can anyone offer any sugestions as to whereI should start?

I know there is already a thread on this but it is buried in the archives.

Do you listen to music during games, if so what do you listen to. I prefer to have a selection of different CDs on hand which will generally include Classical, Metal and Film Soundtracks (Gladiator and Matrix being the usual two).

I am pondering what kind of ranged weapon(s) to use for my Fighter (Coda Tyburn, Journals are in the Campaign Journal section). He is very strong but has little dexterity (18 and 10 respectively). I have a longbow but rarely hit anything with it and do comparativley little damage with an arrow. I think I am a way off getting a Mighty bow so I was thinking about stocking up on throwing weapons. My main choice would be either Javelins or Throwing Axes. Does anyone have any recommendations or experiences with either. Or does anyone have another weapon that I could use?

Character Background – Coda Tyburn

Born to unknown parents, a small child was found in wrapped rough cloth on the steps of the Temple of Lordly Might in Cauldron. The priest that found the child was reading The Tyburn Codex at the time and so named him after the book. “You shall be called ‘Coda Tyburn’ little one,” he said.

Coda grew tall, taller than most of the priest by the age of twelve. His Orc blood was obvious to all the brothers in the temple. They showed Coda great patience and taught in their ways. He grew up strong and healthy, performing all the chores set to him and mimicking the clerics in their daily exercise.

The clerics taught him to read and write and he studied scriptures everyday but the subtleties of divine wisdom always escaped him. Coda always felt more at home in the exercise yard, especially when visitors would leave their horses in his care. Coda developed a knack with animals and showed great promise with the large horses ridden by visiting knights.

As Coda neared maturity he intended to take vows and spend his life in service to Kord. He spent days studying and meditating ready for the Testing. The day of Testing, however, was one of failure for Coda. Kord obviously had another path in mind for the half-orc orphan. Coda accepted his god’s judgment and renewed his practice with the sword and martial prowess as a way to continue his worship.

Now Coda Tyburn is a devoted follower of Kord, using the Greatsword as his weapon of choice and using his massive strength to great effect in combat.