This is all good stuff, as I'm playing a non-evil cleric of Zon-Kuthon right now. I'll keep an eye on this thread, perhaps I'll share my insights (trivial in comparison as they are). Keep up the good work, chaps!
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Wow. That's good Aberrant Templar. I'll need to keep that in mind.
Well we played the first game today. Got through the first encounter, and well, I blew chucks! And still had fun, amazingly! It wasn't my build's fault (I don't think at least), I just rolled really badly, but I did realize a few things. 1. Daggers are terrible unless you have a strength of 24+.
Despite the fact the rest of the group was overshadowed by the Dragon Rider's silver dragon (3PP), it was still pretty fun. For once I actually had a well thought out character that I enjoyed playing. One of Rolf's personal rules I decided was always be nice to and protect children, so not only did I save several of them during the goblin raid, successfully stabilizing one at negative HP, but it was great fun having this incredibly creepy guy giving candy to kids during the Swallowtail festival and then successfully convincing the sherif that there was nothing wrong with this.
I am using the one from the bestiary, though some of the abilities must not show up in Hero lab. The reason why my abilities are a little wonky is because it's 15-pt buy, and I've taken some out of str and pumped up int, wis, and cha. Other than that I'm not sure what you mean. The 3 traits is because I took the drawback 'paranoid', which I believe is from Ultimate Campaign. 'Student of Faith' is a campaign trait for RotRL, which gives +1 CL on cure spells and +1 DC to channel. The +2 for heal is from a healer's kit. Hhhmmm, then of course there's the human thingy. I looked it up in the book and it does indeed say the subtype changes to giant. Of course it doesn't show that in hero lab >.< DAMN YOU HERO LAB AND YOUR WONKY-NESS!!! I'll need to change that. Thanks for pointing it out, and thanks for the (hopefully what I assume to be) compliments.
Ah, but usually it would've been a serpentfolk cleric of Zon-Kuthon or an incredibly attractive female ogrekin with extra toes that looked nothing like an ogre. The stereotypes I was trying to avoid were either physically monstrous characters, or amazingly hot female characters. Having a (mostly) basic human, who is neither hideously deformed, mosntrous, or hawt, is still quite a departure from my usual stuff. Anyways, that aside, what is your opinion on it's general quality, forgetting about stereotypes for a moment.
Well, that took way, waaay, WAAAAAY longer than it should have. Sorry about taking so long, hopefully people are still (somewhat) interested. Anyways, here's what I got. Rolf Haasterkin
Backstory:
When Sophia Haasterkin, the daugther of a prominent industrialist and a popular magnimarian socialite, went on a trade mission through northern Varisia, half her guards and aids never returned, and she came back battered, mutilated, and two months pregnant. Though she refused to speak on the matter, the few survivers who came with her said the caravan had been attacked by ogres, and that Sophia had been carried off and held captive by the brutes for nearly three weeks until she was saved by a band of adventurers. Her father spirited her away until she gave birth, and unfortunately she did not survive her basterd son's childbirth.
The product of that tragic event was Rolf. Born more or less human-looking, save for an extra toe on each foot, Rolf was the black sheep of the Haasterkin family, raised by nannies and mostly ignored by his grandfather and various cousins. Remarkably intelligent, Rolf showed a talent in many fields of study, but unfortunately, nothing can survive unchanged when tainted by ogre blood. Rolf was often possessed of fiendish and deviant urges, enjoying causing pain and revelling in shed blood. He would often find and capture small animals to 'play' with, usually resulting in dead carcasses and one hell of a mess. When he grew older, Rolf tried to enter the Magnimarian College of Physicians, but ended up flunking out because he seemed more intent on causing wounds than healing them. In his loneliness, Rolf turned to the one being who would listen and not judge him, Zon-Kuthon. Believing it is only through pain can one be considered human, and that it was his duty to help ease the suffering of others so that they may endure their hardships, Rolf took to the Midnight Lord's teachings with Gusto, and after his predilections become known by his family, they gave him a small stipend and told him to leave and never come back. Rolf is a tall, chelaxian man in his mid-twenties, thin to the point of emaciated, with whispy greyish hair and leathery, withered skin despite his age. Soft-spoken and polite, if it weren't for his hideous complexion he could've been considered handsome, but instead he comes across as creepy and unnerving. He still wears the trappings of a doctor, and is almost never seen without his grisly surgeon's tools. Rolf truly wants to be a good, decent person, almost desperately so, but one can never escape the taint in one's blood.... Opinions?
Damn, it's not turning out the way I wanted. I might come up with a few more, we'll see.
Are you a male IRL? In answer to that, yes. And actually, the group I'll be playing with I don't really know, I was simply trying to make a more original character concept and came up empty. I think I base them too much on appearance. As for the idea of playing a character someone else made, though a good idea, I don't trust anyone I know enough to make one I'd actually enjoy playing. Anyways, I think I have come up with a cool design. If you wonderful people aren't bored with my banter, I'll post the build and backstory when I'm done, if people are interested of course.
Okay, my friend is starting a Rise of the Runelords game next week, and I'm building my character. Unfortunately, I've run into a problem I've actually had before: being type-cast, by myself and others. My characters always tend to be one of two things:
It's gotten to the point that a few people I usually play with always expect my character to be either a hideous freak or a some hot chick, and it'd probably shock them if they weren't....something that has not happened yet. Try as I might I can almost never come up with any concepts I actually like that aren't this. So, my question is this. Is this wrong? Should I actually try to make something different? Should I break out of this trap or is it perfectly acceptable? If I should, are there any tips that could help me make a character I enjoy? Thanks in advance for your time.
I know it could never compare to Set's awesome stuff, but here was my version. It was literally just a toned down version of their actual stats. Unfortunately, that means some of their abilities are a little unbalanced, but in my opinion (which doesn't account for much, mind you), it's not too bad: Serpentfolk (0 HD)
GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMME!!!!!! I would definitely want this. If this was an actual campaign setting I would probably kill for it (if me not killing someone would mean it was never published, I'm not a monster. DON'T JUDGE ME!.) I had even planned on doing someone like this eventually. In fact, if you need freelancers, I can provide references. OOH! Make some of the top-ranking nazis serpent people in disguise, intent on conquering humanity through proxy. That'd be cool! And if they were a playable race, like renegades siding with the humans against the grand snake-nazi conspiracy, that'd be awesome.
Possibly, very possibly. I do have a lot on my plate right now, so I'm not sure, but if I can free up a large enough chunk of time, I'd definitely let you know.
Huzzah! A mention for me! I was planning to write up a whole conversion of TES for Pathfinder, but like almost all of my projects, ended up falling by the wayside. Perhaps I'll finish it one of these days, I think a few of my players would LOVE a game set in Morrowind. You guys should put up an actual PDF on google docs when it's done. If not, I might. You chaps keep up the good work!
Yeah, I'm not sure what I'm going to do now. I'm having trouble with this adventure, might do something else. Just ignore the stuff I've posted so far.
Yeah, I know that. I'm just new to actually writing the adventure down. I usually just think of a story and wing it from there. I'm still learning how to properly format it. EDIT: There, fixed it.
Well, here is the link for Chapter 1, which is still highly unfinished, but this way you can watch me as I update it. Nobody cares, but meh, might as well. Also, as promised, here are the hookers and blackjack. Blackjack
Click if you dare! Mwuhahaha!!!!
I changed around a few things. Changed the god of the Umbra from Lissala to Count Ranalc, and Pal Cadool from a LN wizard 5/cleric 5/mystic theurge 5 to a N shadowcaster wizard 10.
Any comments? Or am I just shouting into the void (i.e. business as usual)?
I might actually go combine this with some of the other ideas, not sure. 'The Bloodletters' didn't turn out the way I expected, and I'm not sure what to think of it.
Here is the basic outline of the overarching plot. Not sure if I'm happy with it, but let's see what other people think.
Okay, UPDATE!!! Apparently, we're not even getting past Harrowstone, as the current GM basically said 'f*&^ it, let's do your thing'. So instead of having a month and a half to prepare, I have a week......yay....... Also, the players wanted to do the vampire one. That's ok, I can work around that and still do the Snakey Nidal-y one. Here is our party so far. Note the vamp templates are homebrew, and are not mine. I'll provide a link when I can scrounge it up. Also, nosferatu in this are going by the 'Vampire the Masquerade' theme, as in they can look normal-ish, but there is always one creepy, disturbing features that shows that they're somehow 'off-kilter':
My players are weird.... I'll post the basic synopsis soon. EDIT: Forgot to mention, the PCs will be starting at 5th level.
Yeah......yeah......
Perhaps I will keep a journal of it. But we probably won't be starting that one for a month or so. Also, I know it's only semi-related, but what's people's opinion on this: I'm still of the opinion that since serpentfolk are warmblooded and give live birth, females should, well, look female. I know they're reptiles, but still.....it creeps me out when I can't tell what gender a humanoid is by looking at it....Do people agree or am I just weird? If people are interested I might put the finished (or mostly finished, I'll continue working on it) thing up on google docs or something. If it's not complete dribble maybe someone might want to try it themselves!
Good point. My players already think I'm weird though, and if I set a campaign in sadomasochism land, then they'll think I'm a pervert (which I am, but not that kind of pervert). But, it's the one my heart calls to me to make, so I'll probably go with it anyway. I'll explain to them that, if at any point they feel uncomfortable, they just need say it and I'll tone it down.
See, that's kind of a trick question. It doesn't say they can, but it doesn't say they can't. They really have no common ancestry or anything, but, then again, neither do orcs or elves and humans. It's a fantasy world, anything's possible! Really, it's up to your GM. EDIT: Heck, elves are aliens! They really shouldn't be able to breed with humans, but half-elves are a core race for some stupid reason. Orcs at least come from the same planet....
Yeah, basically it's the one I want to do, but to me, my job as GM is to make sure the players have fun, and if they have to hold their fingers in their ears and sing happy songs while I describe the Kuthite priest shoving splints into a guys joints and hanging him from chains directly in his flesh, that's not really fun is it?
See, I love that idea too, but again, the squick factor. I have a feeling that at least two members in the group are really squeamish, and I don't want to alienate them.
And also, I know these problems aren't really game-breaking, I mainly started this thread because I'm indecisive and couldn't decide.
With number 3, we're not talking about cannibalism, that's nothing. I'm the guy who came out of Silence of the Lambs and said "ya know, that Hannibal guy had some good ideas" (joking by the way). We're talking about extreme sadomasochism; flaying your skin off and replacing it with someone else's, having choirs of mutilated slaves specifically tortured to emit musical notes, removing people's liver and feeding it to them while they sit in a vat of acid with open wounds covering 90% of their body. Sh*t like that. Think Dark Eldar from Warhammer only describing the tortures in lurid detail instead of broad strokes. If you don't play warhammer, think of the movies Hellraiser or Saw (I think. Never actually seen them. Heard they're terrible but a lot like this) only on crack. A mixture of Heavy Rain and Silent Hill. Nidal really should be called 'Really-F*cked-Up-O-Landia'.
I have a feeling people just ignore threads I start......hhhhmmm....they obviously need more Blackjack and Hookers...
Ok, so here's the deal. I have a distinct feeling (mostly because our GM has said so) that our Carrion Crown Campaign (try saying that three times fast) isn't going past Haunting of Harrowstone, for a few reasons (GM leaving and general boredom). I want to write my own campaign, and have three ideas, all with various problems. I'm going to list them here so strangers on the internet can help me make decisions. Yay modern era thinking! So here they are, and none of them are entirely thought out save basic feel: Idea 1:
One set in Irrisen, revolving around a secret city of vampires beneath Whitethrone, where the PCs are dragged into a struggle for power between the morally ambivalent nosferatu ruler and a young (for a vampire) cleric of Zura intent on conquering the city before invading Irrisen above. The PCs would likely be given a more PC friendly version of the Vampire template I'm whipping up. Problem with Idea 1:
I am really hesitant to set a campaign in an area that is heavily detailed or plays host to an adventure path. I really don't like mucking about with established material. Semi-nonexistent material, on the other hand, I'm more comfortable with. Idea 2:
A campaign where the PCs are contracted by the Sargavan government on the behest of a shadowy benefactor (whose race and class I haven't figured out yet, probably a Mwangi vampire or disguised serpentfolk, most likely female) to claim the stretch of land between Kalabuto and Mzali and create a buffer kingdom. This shadowy benefactor goes with them, disguised as a trusted ally, and takes part in the kingdom building (most likely as the ruler's consort). Her main goal is to eventually strike back at Walkena and Mzali in revenge for some slight I haven't figured out yet. I'd want to do this one because I really want to use the kingdom building rules in Ultimate Campaign. Problem with Idea 2:
The kingdom building rules. I really want to use them, but our group tried Kingmaker a year or so ago, and it failed miserably. Whether it was because of the GM at the time or something else, I don't know, but I'm still hesitant. Idea 3:
This is the one I really want to do. It's not entirely my idea even, but I thought of some cool stuff for it, and I'm excited about it now. It takes this plot seed from Cities of Golarion, specifically the section on Nisroch:
PCs investigating the disappearance of several acquaintances are drawn to clandestine dining parties hosted by a prominent shadow sorcerer at his manse in the Spires. Soon after, they uncover evidence that some attendees engage in gruesome acts of cannibalism. Further inquiry leads them into the perverse world of a secret society of “living vampires” who host orgies where participants cut themselves with shards of volcanic glass and drink each other’s blood. The cannibals are actually shapeshifters hiding among these bloodletters that seek to manipulate the Umbral Court. Since it doesn't explain what kind of shapeshifters, I was going to make it a cabal of serpentfolk (I really, really like serpentfolk, if anyone's noticed) who've lived amongst the Nidalese for centuries. Now after the defeat of Ydersius (this would be post-Serpent's Skull, a campaign my group got halfway through before various factors made us stop ((I'm sensing a theme here))), these humbled serpentfolk are attempting a subtler, less genocidal approach, hoping to create a nation on the surface where their kind can rebuild and, eventually, cooperate with other races more-or-less peacefully. But to do that, they need land, and it just so happens they've watched the Nidalese people and the Umbral court grow decadent and unsuspecting, and seeing as they are not very well liked by their neighbours (save Cheliax, but their hardly in a state to do some invading, seeing as they need to get their own house in order), they imagine as long as they present a mostly harmless front, that the rest of Avistan would see it as them doing the world a favour if they tore Nidal down and built their own nation. The PCs will have to decide between the lesser of two evils: helping the serpentfolk in a somewhat altruistic goal, and hope that they could possibly be turned to the path of good if given the right influence (assuming the party's good, if not who cares), or perpetuating the vile and evil status quo that is Nidal. Problem with Idea 3: The squick factor. Nidal involves some pretty brutal stuff, and I'm not sure if the group (myself included) can handle that. On the other hand, if I tone it down to the point of being non-existent, I'll feel as if I might as well have put it in Cheliax or some crappy place like that.
I too wish to read Nightglass, but haven't been able to find a copy. That and I have about fifty half-finished books from various series sitting on a shelf, their siren call being wholly ignored. Without spoiling it for me, could you give a quick rundown of the main character? I have a hard time reading stories where I despise the protagonist.
In the scene of national politics, a friendly vassal state is worth much more than a land grab. You can trade with them, you can trade through them, you're not accountable for actions that you may "suggest" to them. Think about why the US (out of a quickly-scrapped 1927 plan) never thought to invade Canada - there's just no advantage in it. It's probably way to late to say this, but my national pride demands me to! I'd hardly call Canada a 'vassal state', and the U.S. did try to invade Canada in 1812.....and we kinda whooped their ass (no matter what american historians say). If they tried to again, we'd have the support of pretty much the world behind us, and it would sour their relations with their single greatest trading partner for decades, if not centuries.
Again, my two cents. I'm not entirely sure why, and I know this probably isn't very helpful or based in any real fact, but I always imagined that, at the height of their empire, the serpentfolk (and to a lesser extent, the Azlanti) had a sort of Roman-ish vibe going, particularly their military, though heavily influenced by the Cthulhu/Conan alien wizard feel. The imagery of an anthropomorphic snake wearing the garb of a roman senator or legionary always just seemed cool and right to me, but that may be due to my subconscious association of Imperial Rome with the height of western culture. Again, my two cents. EDIT: That, and the Romans definitely had a thing for narcissism and the subjugation of other races.
Conan/Cthulhu, actually. I'll need to go check up on that book, thanks.
I'm not saying all serpentfolk should or do worship him, but a lot of their shown culture did revolve around him. I've also never read anything saying he was an ascended mortal. Again, your campaign, you can do what you want, but I'm not sure where you're getting your info. That's not an insult, if you could point me towards material I haven't read it'd be greatly appreciated, but if you're only going off the ecology article in Souls for Smuggler's Shiv, I don't remember anything like that in there.
It's from the works of Robert E. Howard, creator of Conan the Barbarian, from whence the the Serpent People originate. And although I have not read through the entirety of your campaign arc, it seems really quite original and well-written. Unfortunately, it's really not my cup of tea, not because of it's themes, but because of the themes you're not using. I'm a huge fan of the whole cthulhu-esque, elder being, alien kind of serpentfolk from the Conan and Lovecraft stories, and without those themes, they're really just snake-y lizardfolk. I will not deter you from your planned course, for you have obviously put a lot of work and love into it, but I just feel as if you're missing out on a lot of great flavour.
I personally liked 'Divinity of the Flesh', but lets see if we can brainstorm some other ideas: I know you don't like Ydersians, but what you could do, seeing as they would most likely only refer to other serpentfolk as 'people', is have them split into several subcultures that take their name from what deity they worship. There could be the more populous Ydersians, the 'Abraxians' (i.e. those who worship Abraxas), the second largest subgroup, talented in magic, who share a violent hatred for the followers of Ydersius, and the 'Geryonites' (worshippers of Geryon), who, although few in number compared to the other groups, are much more orderly and organized, making their homes in subterranean swamps and marshes. There could even be groups who worship the Great Old Ones/Elder Gods or the various Protean lords, called the 'Yigites' (after the Great Old One Yig, patron of the Serpent People from the Cthulhu Mythos) and the 'Maelstromi' or 'Proteasians' respectively. These latter two groups would have a much higher propensity to be non-evil, sometimes even straying into good. [Shameless Plug] You should also take a look at my converted Call of Cthulhu d20 Serpent People if you're a fan of 'classic' serpentfolk.[/Shameless Plug]
After reading through the ol' CoC D20 book and it's depiction of serpent people, I thought I'd try converting them to Pathfinder, because, well, PF serpentfolk are kinda ridiculous. So, I thought I'd share the resultant abomination with the community. As for design choices, I gave them spellcasting ability because in CoC, serpent people often know several spells, and as CoC's magic system is vastly different and there is no difference between arcane and divine, and without it they were essentially lizardmen with poison, I thought it wouldn't be too unbalancing for their CR. So....opinions? Serpent Person CR 1
Racial Stats:
Did somebody say serpentfolk? Anywho, I believe at one point (not sure exactly) they are referred to as 'Ydersians', taking their name from their god and supposed creator. I will peruse my pdfs to see which book it is referenced in. EDIT: Apologies, I couldn't find it. Disregard my statement (unless you like it that is). And the good Mr. Pirate had some wonderful ideas that really expressed the feel of the serpentfolk. I should know, they're my favourite thing in all of pathfinder.
As I did say it would be toned down, I'm just trying think of a way to do so properly. I would post something now, but this early in the thread and it should have been under homebrew. Perhaps some of the immunities of the undead type, but still susceptible to mind-affecting effects?
Know before ANYONE cries afoul of 'game-breaking!', 'badwrongfun!', or of general insults to my character, I would like to point out that Paizo did release a supplement for vampiric PCs (i.e. Blood of the Night), so obviously I'm not the only person wondering about this, so please let's keep this civil. As Carrion Crown is the gothic horror campaign, and as it specifically states in Blood of the Night that nosferatu are the most likely vampires to be neutral, I was wondering if, properly toned down, they could serve as proper, thematic characters with rich roleplaying opportunities in a Carrion Crown campaign. What is the community's opinion?
I'm not sure if that's directed at me or not, but if it is, I apologize.
Well, this whole experience has been enlightening. I am simply going to say you don't know the situation, you don't know all of the details, and if I try to set things straight no one will believe me. I apologize to those whose time I've wasted, I apologize to those whose sensibilities I've offended. Anything I say from this point on will only make things worse, so I will exit with what dignity I have left. I will resolve my problems myself, and will keep my 'emotional baggage' out of the forums. I hope one day we can leave this behind us, after all, we all make mistakes.
Because I have incredibly low self-esteem, several pre-existing mental and anxiety conditions, am incredibly worried about what people think of me, and obviously don't think before I post. What I've learned from this whole fiasco is I might as well go crawl in a hole and die.
FYI, I used the race builder BEFORE he banned it! When I first posted, I didn't realize this was going to be the damn CIA! Do you really have nothing better to do then point out inaccuracies in something someone said when he was upset and obviously not in a sound state of mind?! Really, I may not have much of a life, but at least I don't make myself feel big by picking on people when they can't see you.
You're wrong. That is all I'll say. You misinterpreted what I said and my motives. I'd try to explain, but I'm not going to waste my time. You can screw off.
I had already stated, I used the race builder to change THE STATS. I would post the race builder stats, but obviously I'll still be nuts for some people. I was not expecting full class levels, I was actually going to about only 5th level compared to them. And by the way, they weren't core races either! You know what, I'm not even gonna bother with this thread anymore. The game's tomorrow. I was just looking for a place to vent, and some of you respected that. Others....did not. So in short, screw you guys, I'm going home. That was fast. EDIT: Thank you Mr. Darkwolf. Though my statement still stands. By my standards this thread has ended. Thank you to those who helped.
It's a 3rd party feat called spell finesse, it lets you switch the casting stat of a class to a different mental stat.
Thanks Mr. Orange, that might work.
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