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109 posts. Alias of Aest.




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The Once and Future Kingmaker Battle Maps, Kingmaker: Svetlana's Tale Battle Maps

Hello, and welcome to the party. Hopefully everyone's still here. I'll try to run 5 posts a week, maybe a few more if momentum stays high.


The Once and Future Kingmaker Battle Maps, Kingmaker: Svetlana's Tale Battle Maps

Dot and Delete!


1 person marked this as a favorite.

”Gather around, grandchildren.” The wind outside howled against the thatched roof and stone-and-mortar walls of the cottage as the old woman gathered her grandchildren around her. She shivered. ”Alfric, be a kind boy and fetch some more wood. It’s going to be a long, cold night. Now, do you want to hear a story? Good, good, now be quiet, Olga, or you’ll be sent to bed instead.”

She settled into her rocker and wrapped her shawl around her. ”This, younglings, is a tale of bygone empires and upstart baronies. It’s a tale of the Greenbelt we call home, and of the far-away Tors of Levenies we can barely see on a clear morning. And it’s a tale of tricky fae and heroic lords. This is the tale of how Oleg and I came to live here, and it starts with a bandit king, a far-away plot, and, of course, the heroes of this tale.”

”Who were they?” A small boy no more than five piped up as he crawled onto the old woman’s lap.

”I’m glad you asked.” The old woman patted the boy’s arm. ”I’m glad you asked…”

===== ===== ===== ===== =====

Hello, this is GM Aest, opening recruitment for a brand new Kingmaker game with, hopefully, a different feel. In contrast to a lot of the political, gritty, Game of Thrones games I’ve seen recently, I’d like to run a fairy-tale, one that emphasizes the residents and visitors of the Stolen Lands rather than the political machinations of the surrounding kingdoms.

Character Creation:

Races:
Let’s stick with Core races. I’d be open to a Changeling with a compelling backstory, but it’ll take a solid application and working with me before you submit anything.

Classes:
I’m open to all Core, Base, Hybrid, and Unchained races, with the following exceptions. Gunslinger (except Bolt Ace), Samurai, Ninja, and Antipaladin are not allowed, and no archetypes that rely on guns are allowed either. For summoner, I’m open to either Unchained or Regular, but will be paying attention for synthesists or master summoners that get out of hand. Please don’t build something too munchkiny. Also, no technology archetypes. We’re close to Numeria, but not in it.

Point Buy:
20 Point Buy. Only one score above 17 or below 9 pre-racial adjustments.

Starting Gold:
Average starting gold for your class, unless you have a trait that modifies that number.

Traits:
One campaign trait, one other trait. You may select an additional trait with a drawback, but you need to check with me first, it has to be something that would be an actual drawback, and you have to play it. I won’t ban any traits, but I do expect them to inform your character’s backstory (don’t pick Rich Parents and then write about being a poor orphan in Restov).

Backstory:
I’m not looking for a novel, but I am looking for enough to judge you as a writer and judge your character as a character. A complete background has the following parts.
--- A background section. This should tell me how your characters got their skills, who they value in life, and why they’re interested in a trip to the Stolen Lands.
--- A paragraph, list, or other form of description for your character’s appearance. A picture would be nice, as well.
--- A paragraph about your character’s personality.
--- A goal or two your character would like to accomplish, or a story you’d like to play out.
--- At least three NPCs. A family member, a friend or acquaintance, and a rival or enemy. Be prepared to have things happen to your NPCs.

Alignment: This is a fairy-tale. Please pick an alignment that fits that genre. (If you can find a fairy-tale with a Chaotic Evil hero who’s actually the hero, show me, and I might let it slide.)

3PP?: No thanks. I don’t know any 3PP material well enough to say if it’s balanced or not, and I don’t have the funds/time to learn it all. There’s a multitude of choices in Paizo’s material.

Let’s run recruitment until May 23rd, roughly at 10pm Mountain Standard Time. I'll pick four PCs, possibly five if there's one I can't pass up. Feel free to ask questions or PM me if you have a wild concept that doesn't fit the guidelines. No promises, but a really interesting character might get me to bend rules (not the 3PP one, though).


The Once and Future Kingmaker Battle Maps, Kingmaker: Svetlana's Tale Battle Maps

The plying scent of cloves and vinegar wafts through the air, just like the sickly yellow fog that rolls through the city’s empty streets as you awaken. Unlike any other city’s streets, this one is devoid of the sounds of merchants selling their wares, of horses and carriages clattering on cobbles, or even the footsteps of a single passerby. Looking around, each of you can see only each other, the sun-baked mudbrick walls of a desert city, and the yellow fog.

It swirls ahead, parting for an instant. A glimpse. And yet, an eternity. The figure is tall. Taller than any man has the right to be. It carries...something...a weapon? And yet, it doesn’t seem to need whatever it is. The mist swirls again, and the figure is gone.

A different place, this time behind where you’ve awoken, offers a glimpse once again. Its body is wrapped in linen bandages and robed in shredded yellow cotton. Its gauze-covered face turns toward you all, and its mouth opens to reveal rows of needle-like teeth in a rictus-like grin. Its casual stride covers far too much distance for even its long, gangly legs, and in just a moment, it’s gone again.

Init. F-77314: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Init. F-54831: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Init. M-59013: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Init. M-93256: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Init. Enemy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Whoever, or whatever, the figure it, its intentions become apparent the next time the mists swirl away. A flash of steel in its hand nearly a foot long. The grin on its face. The way its eyes shift from one of you to another, seeming to linger on each before…

The mists close around it, and it disappears again.

The Party is up.


The Once and Future Kingmaker Battle Maps, Kingmaker: Svetlana's Tale Battle Maps

For Discussion Purposes.

Please dot.


For Discussion Purposes.

Please dot.


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The huge oaken double doors shut surprisingly softly for such massive pieces of wood, blocking your view of the well-dressed man who brought you here. Turning, you take in the room he left you in; marble floor, white-tiled walls, and a spiralling staircase. You only have a moment to look before your arm is gripped, gently but firmly, by a large, dark-haired man in a white tunic and pants. ”This way, please. We haven’t gotten you admitted quite yet.” He leads you through a door into an oak-paneled room with a wide desk and a comfortable armchair. Behind the desk sits a man in a white coat, while nearby stands a woman in a blue dress with white apron holding writing tablet and pen. The man speaks.

”Name: Unknown, see documentation. Profession: Unknown. Place of Residence: Polperro, Cornwall. (Not far from here.) Malady: Amnesia, possibly trauma-induced? Make a note to check up on that, Miss Savoy.” The woman in the blue dress scribbles furiously. ”Person of Responsibility:...None Listed. Who were you, and why are you here now?” The doctor looks at you again, then smiles winningly. ”Doctor Lossandro. I’m sure we’ll be good friends. York?” The big man who led you into the office nods. ”Please take our newest guest and the others to the D Wing to finish up their admission process. And while you’re there, could you bring Zandalus down? I have an idea on how to get him to talk again.”

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Welcome to my third recruitment for a Victorian Strange Aeons: In Search of Sanity. Both previous recruitments ended with deaths in the family, which has led me to believe this is cursed. However, I really want to run it, so we’re going to try again. If you were part of a previous recruitment (or two), you’ll need to apply yet again, since I didn’t ever get to the point of really reviewing characters.

Character Creation:

Patient Number: Please don’t name your character. Instead, give him or her a 5-digit patient number, beginning with either M or F. For example, a female character could be F-74291. If you choose to have your character remember their name or nickname, you can add that to your character’s profile as follows: F-74291 “Mary” or M-14597 “Squints”.
Character Concepts: I’m looking for 4 or 5 characters between 25ish and 35ish years old. These characters can know 1d3+1 of the ten things on the following list, but the rest of their backgrounds are a mystery. 1. His or her first name or a nickname. 2. Where he or she was born. 3. What he or she wanted to be when he or she grew up. 4. A crime he or she committed, whether he or she was caught or not, but not the consequences of his or her crime. 5. How many siblings he or she had. 6. What faith his or her family followed, if any. 7. How much schooling he or she had, and where, up until age 16. 8. The first name of his or her first love, but not what he or she looked like. 9. Two injuries, and a hunch at how he/she got them. 10. His or her favorite childhood book. None of these memories cover adult life (16 and older). Other than three of those ten things, your character only knows he or she was recently committed to Briarstone Asylum near Polperro on the Cornwall Coast of England, his or her patient number, and that the year is 1841. Do not write a background. Instead, put together a list of these things.
Alignment: Since your characters have no recollection of their pasts, I anticipate a lot of partially-neutral alignments. However, any alignment will work, as long as your character is capable of working with others, isn’t insanely grimdark, and isn’t a loner by nature.
Races: Human. I’ll allow a trade-out of any one racial ability or trait from another core race in exchange for either the bonus feat or extra skill point.
Classes: In my mind, the classes that would work the best are Occult and Mundane classes (non-spellcasters). Therefore, the only classes I’ll allow are classes and archetypes without arcane casting, with the exception of bard. Additionally, I’ll only be taking one divine caster at most. See Setting Considerations for more details.
Guns: For all classes, replace hand/light crossbow proficiency with 1-handed firearms. Replace heavy crossbow proficiency with 2-handed firearms. Guns are considered commonplace, with the changes to price and availability that entails, though advanced/modern firearms are a rarity at this time.
Armor: In order to not break Victorian fantasy and avoid having characters clomping around in full plate, I’ll be using the following system. One-half-BAB classes (psychic, etc) do not gain bonus armor as they level. Three-Fourths-BAB classes (rogue, mesmerist, etc.) gain 1 bonus armor every 3 levels. Full-BAB classes (fighter, barbarian, etc.) gain 1 bonus armor every 2 levels and start with 2 bonus armor. Additionally, only light armor is available. This might have an impact on balance, but I think it’ll be okay.
Point Buy: 15, no greater than 17 in any ability after racials, and no more than one ability below 7. You’re not superheroes, you’re amnesiacs trying to find out about your pasts.
Hit Points: Maximum at level 1, half+1 for each thereafter.
Equipment and Gold: As your class average, but only equipment.
Traits: One. Do not pick a Strange Aeons campaign trait. You’ll be assigned one shortly after the AP starts.
3PP: Please, no 3rd party products. I’m not familiar with them, and the amount of options in Pathfinder alone is overwhelming
Background Skills: We will NOT be using background skills, because your characters have no backgrounds.

Setting Considerations:

Gender: In spite of Queen Victoria’s reign, this period was not by any means a golden age for women. As a game setting, I’m going to remain true to this reality, while also acknowledging that it’s a fantasy role-playing game. As such, female PC applicants are not only not discouraged, but welcomed, but be aware that the setting will impose unique challenges upon said PCs, and may not react well when those PCs choose not to follow societal norms.
Magic: Arcane magic, with its flash and showiness, doesn’t feel right for the setting. Divine is more relegated to the Church and to a handful of ‘hedge witches’ that possess a connection to the Divine through whatever means.

As such, most of the magic in this setting falls into the Occult. Whether the result of a pact with an unholy power, the shattering of a mind through trauma, or simply an accident of birth, the Occult has been a force in European society for centuries, and is at the core of many a witch-hunt or inexplicable event. For most people, the Occult doesn’t have any impact on their lives except to enthrall children with stories of Baba Yaga and Morgan le Fey. However, there are those who see it as a path to power. The legendary predictions of Nostradamus, the skills of the Yogi of India, and the trepanned skulls of the Tartars...all speak of the power to be attained if one is willing to sacrifice. Whether that sacrifice is sanity, wealth, or parts of one’s body, great things are possible.
Technology: The Victorian Era is defined by technology. Trains and steam power offer unprecedented access to the world, while the rise of factories is making those smart enough to invest into the newest of the super-wealthy. The setting is going to have technology in it, but it’s not going to be futuristic, nor will it be too steampunk. Be aware of that when thinking about the game.
Faith: Religions will be Earth-based, but with all faiths having some access to the divine. When you’re picking domains/inquisitions, try to justify why your faith would give access to that domain/inquisition. Additionally, try to keep your faith as a player separated from that of your character.


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The huge oaken double doors shut surprisingly softly for such massive pieces of wood, blocking your view of the well-dressed man who brought you here. Turning, you take in the room he left you in; marble floor, white-tiled walls, and a spiralling staircase. You only have a moment to take it in before your arm is gripped, gently but firmly, by a large, dark-haired man in a white tunic and pants. ”This way, please. We haven’t gotten you admitted quite yet.” He leads you through a door into an oak-paneled room with a wide desk and a comfortable armchair. Behind the desk sits a man in a long coat, while nearby stands a woman in a blue dress with white apron holding writing tablet and pen. The man speaks.

”Name: Unknown, see documentation. Profession: Unknown. Place of Residence: Polperro, Cornwall. (Not far from here.) Malady: Amnesia, possibly trauma-induced? Make a note to check up on that, Miss Savoy.” The woman in the blue dress scribbles furiously. ”Person of Responsibility:...None Listed. Who were you, and why are you here now?” The doctor looks at you again, then smiles winningly. ”Doctor Lossandro. I’m sure we’ll be good friends. York?” The big man who led you into the office nods. ”Please take our newest guest and the others to the D Wing to finish up their admission process. And while you’re there, could you bring Zandalusdown? I have an idea on how to get him to talk again.”

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Welcome to my second recruitment for a Victorian Strange Aeons: In Search of Sanity. My first recruitment ended with a death in the family, which forced me to cancel well before submissions were closed and while ideas and concepts were still being discussed. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to think about some things I hadn’t realized would come up, and I think my grasp on the game is stronger for the break. So, without further ado, here are the character creation rules.

Character Creation:

Patient Number: Please don’t name your character. Instead, give him or her a 5-digit patient number, beginning with either M or F. For example, a female character could be F-74291. If you choose to have your character remember their name or nickname, you can add that to your character’s profile as follows: F-74291 “Mary” or M-14597 “Squints”.
Character Concepts: I’m looking for 4 or 5 characters between 25 and 35 years old. These characters can know 1d3+1 of the ten things on the following list, but the rest of their backgrounds are a mystery. 1. His or her first name or a nickname. 2. Where he or she was born. 3. What he or she wanted to be when he or she grew up. 4. A crime he or she committed, whether he or she was caught or not, but not the consequences of his or her crime. 5. How many siblings he or she had. 6. What faith his or her family followed, if any. 7. How much schooling he or she had, and where, up until age 16. 8. The first name of his or her first love, but not what he or she looked like. 9. Two injuries, and a hunch at how he/she got them. 10. His or her favorite childhood book. None of these memories cover adult life (16 and older). Other than three of those ten things, your character only knows he or she was recently committed to Briarstone Asylum near Polperro on the Cornwall Coast of England, his or her patient number, and that the year is 1841. Do not write a background. Instead, put together a list of these things.
Alignment: Since your characters have no recollection of their pasts, I anticipate a lot of partially-neutral alignments. However, any alignment will work, as long as your character is capable of working with others, isn’t insanely grimdark, and isn’t a loner by nature.
Races: Human. I’ll allow a trade-out of any one racial ability or trait from another core race in exchange for either the bonus feat or extra skill point.
Classes: In my mind, the classes that would work the best are Occult and Mundane classes (non-spellcasters). Therefore, the only classes I’ll allow are classes and archetypes without arcane casting, with the exception of bard. Additionally, I’ll only be taking one divine caster at most. See Setting Considerations for more details.
Guns: For all classes, replace hand/light crossbow proficiency with 1-handed firearms. Replace heavy crossbow proficiency with 2-handed firearms. Guns are considered commonplace, with the changes to price and availability that entails, though advanced/modern firearms are a rarity at this time.
Armor: In order to not break Victorian fantasy and avoid having characters clomping around in full plate, I’ll be using the following system. One-half-BAB classes (psychic, etc) do not gain bonus armor as they level. Three-Fourths-BAB classes (rogue, mesmerist, etc.) gain 1 bonus armor every 3 levels. Full-BAB classes (fighter, barbarian, etc.) gain 1 bonus armor every 2 levels and start with 2 bonus armor. Additionally, only light armor is available. This might have an impact on balance, but I think it’ll be okay.
Point Buy: 15, no greater than 17 in any ability after racials, and no more than one ability below 7. You’re not superheroes, you’re amnesiacs trying to find out about your pasts.
Hit Points: Maximum at level 1, half+1 for each thereafter.
Equipment and Gold: As your class average, but only equipment.
Traits: One. Do not pick a Strange Aeons campaign trait. You’ll be assigned one shortly after the AP starts.
3PP: Please, no 3rd party products. I’m not familiar with them, and the amount of options in Pathfinder alone is overwhelming.

Setting Considerations:

Gender: In spite of Queen Victoria’s reign, this period was not by any means a golden age for women. As a game setting, I’m going to remain true to this reality, while also acknowledging that it’s a fantasy role-playing game. As such, female PC applicants are not only not discouraged, but welcomed, but be aware that the setting will impose unique challenges upon said PCs, and may not react well when those PCs choose not to follow societal norms.
Magic: Arcane magic, with its flash and showiness, doesn’t feel right for the setting. Divine is more relegated to the Church and to a handful of ‘hedge witches’ that possess a connection to the Divine through whatever means.

As such, most of the magic in this setting falls into the Occult. Whether the result of a pact with an unholy power, the shattering of a mind through trauma, or simply an accident of birth, the Occult has been a force in European society for centuries, and is at the core of many a witch-hunt or inexplicable event. For most people, the Occult doesn’t have any impact on their lives except to enthrall children with stories of Baba Yaga and Morgan le Fey. However, there are those who see it as a path to power. The legendary predictions of Nostradamus, the skills of the Yogi of India, and the trepanned skulls of the Tartars...all speak of the power to be attained if one is willing to sacrifice. Whether that sacrifice be sanity, wealth, or parts of one’s body, great things are possible.

I'm tentatively planning on leaving recruitment open for two weeks, but may go a touch longer. Thanks for stopping by, and feel free to ask questions/PM me.


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Hi there. A few months ago, I started a game set in Victorian England and following the Carrion Crown Adventure Path. I had an exceptionally hard time getting it to work due to a lot of real-life reasons that cropped up, but I’d like to start again, this time with a different AP: Strange Aeons. To start with, I’ll be aiming to finish the first book, with an interest in pushing on if that seems like something people want to do.

Historical Stuff:

So, here’s my pitch. The time setting, roughly, is 1840, shortly after the beginning of Queen Victoria’s reign. Historically, the things that happened prior to that time would have happened, and since I’m a history nerd, I’ll be taking that into account. However, with European society, there’ve been different schools of magic. The arcane is a scholarly magic, studied in the universities and schools. There aren’t “magic schools”, but there are professors who know quite a bit about how it works. The divine is more faith-based, and though one religion doesn’t have more power than another because of this, most divine magic-users in England are within the Church of England. Occult magic is either ingrained in a child from birth, acquired as part of a pact with unnatural forces, or pushed on an unwilling subject.

So, given that, magic is not a high-percentage sort of thing. Even within the Church of England, the number of priests that have levels in Cleric, or even Adept, is no more than 5%. All three schools of magic together are uncommon enough, and memories of witch-hunts fresh enough, that there hasn’t been a major societal shift in favor of magic versus technology. As a result, European society is at pretty much the same place it was in the real 1840.

The campaign takes place in England. Beyond that, it’s not clear right now. Certain parts may take place in London, and others may take place in the British colonies, if we get that far.

Character Creation:

I’m going to be doing this a bit differently than usual. As far as build rules go, let’s go with the following:

Point Buy 15.
Races Human. If you have another race you think would work within the setting, talk to me first. I need a pitch about how the race works within the setting and a brief blurb about the character you want to play.
adClasses I’d like the setting (late Victorian England) to inform class choice. If you can justify it, I’ll allow it. Arcane (scholarly) and Divine (religious) magic isn’t unheard of in the England I’m envisioning, but Occult magic would probably be more common.
Guns Guns are commonplace. I’m working on a feat that would simulate the gunslinger’s gun training for other classes to reduce reliance on that class for damage.
Starting HP Class max, half plus 1 for each level beyond the first.
Starting Gold (pounds) As your class average in equipment.
Traits One. This trait may not be a campaign trait. I’ll assign the last trait myself early in the game.
Third Party None please. I'm not familiar with most of it.

Now this is where it gets weird. I don’t want a background at all, with a couple of exceptions. I want a couple sentences of what your character looks like, and a brief description of what his or her childhood was like, ending around fourteen. No more than a paragraph, total. That’s it. Try to not have too many ideas about who your character was as an adult, since we'll be working together on background stuff as the game progresses.

Further, while your character should have a name, don’t use it for your profile. You’ll be receiving a patient number instead.

In addition to the character creation rules, I’d like to know a bit about you as a person. What you do for work, where (in terms of country, at least) you live, what else you do for fun. Since I’m not going to have much in terms of background, it’d be great to know the players a bit better.


The Once and Future Kingmaker Battle Maps, Kingmaker: Svetlana's Tale Battle Maps

Hundreds of feet below the tallest towers in the Dura ward, the district of Underlook exists in shadows. The two of you look around as you cross a bridge between one round tower and another, the depths it spans obscured by humid, hot fog from the Cogs far below. The warm, yellow glow of the magic streetlights would be pleasant if they were closer together, but patches of shadow mingle with those cast by the passersby to create the effect of perpetual twilight.

On the other side of the bridge, the streetlights continue, circling around the tower on the outside of a narrow walkway. There, near the bridge, is your destination. The sign hangs on two short lengths of chain, squeaking occasionally as a breeze blows by. The paint is relatively fresh, depicting a beholder with a hobo’s bindle in one tentacle staring luridly at a scantily-dressed elven woman. Below it, written in a flowing hand, are the words The Wandering Eye Inn. Below that, in a slightly less pretty hand, is another short phrase, crossed out: Seeking Permanent Business Tenant, Inquire Within. You open the stout oak door and file inside, surveying the tavern.

To the west, a wide glass window braced with iron framing across it, offers a view of the steamy fog covering the district. A few tables sit nearby, empty and waiting in the mid-afternoon lull after taverns open. At the bar tucked below a flight of stairs to the second floor, a large, grey-haired man with a thin beard stands, finishing pouring a cheap yellow beer for another man who’s all too comfortable on the barstool. He nods, finishes his pour, and looks over. ”Can I get you something? I’ve got a selection of Brelish brews, or accommodations if you need those instead.”

The Contract:
This rental lease shall serve as evidence of the terms and conditions agreed to by the signatories (hereafter referred to as Tenants) and the Landlord, Talvor Oriom.

Terms: The Tenants agree to pay, by the fifth of each month, 300 Wroats of gold or its equivalent. The first months’ payment has been paid for. Payments will be made month to month in exchange for continued use of the premises.

Payments: Payments are to be made at the Wandering Eye Tavern, directly to the Landlord, and under no circumstances to his daughter.

Security Deposit: A one-time security deposit of 500 Wroats has been made, and will be returned provided no unnecessary cleaning or repairs must be paid for when Tenants move out. The Landlord will require a walkthrough and inspection form both before occupation and before move-out to assess potential damages.

Pets: Pets will be permitted.

Inventories: The premises contains the following items the Tenants may use: armchairs (2), desks (2), desk chairs (2), beds (5), fireplace (1). Additionally, a number of lamps, books, and papers were left by previous tenant, which may be disposed of or used as Tenants see fit.

Keys: Tenant acknowledges receipt of three sets of keys for the premises, which may not be duplicated.

Signature:

Underlook Background (no check needed):
Underlook used to be a thriving center for inns and taverns, and a common place for people to stay. However, other, newer districts popped up as Sharn grew, and today, Underlook is a district that has seen better days. A few taverns and inns struggle on, but many have closed down.

Wandering Eye Background (no check needed):
For most of the Last War, the Wandering Eye housed not only a raucous, fight-ridden tavern on the lower floor, but a Tyrant-run brothel upstairs, as well as a small investigative agency. In the last weeks of the war, the Redcloak Battalion conducted a sweep of Underlook, driving out most of the three major gangs’ influence and shutting down both the tavern and the businesses it supported. It wasn’t until two years ago that Talver Oriom, a veteran of the War, won the tavern at auction and went into business with his youngest daughter, Tolri.

Today, the tavern does modent business, while the brothel has been converted into a handful of rooms for rent, but until recently, Talver struggled to find a purpose for the old investigative agency. The five-room suite remained in a state of disrepair; though some parts of it could have made a decent luxury room, others screamed business establishment. Put together, it wasn’t much use except for as its intended purpose, and until you came along, it just sat there. Now, all that Talver has to do it have you sign, and he’ll have a permanent business tenant.


The Once and Future Kingmaker Battle Maps, Kingmaker: Svetlana's Tale Battle Maps

Hello, all. Welcome to the discussion thread for out of character stuff. We'll keep using the Facebook chat for quick messages, but longer stuff can go here.

For now, I'd like to see your characters. Ronnie knows how to work the forums, and it's pretty intuitive really, so let's see the builds here.


The Once and Future Kingmaker Battle Maps, Kingmaker: Svetlana's Tale Battle Maps

Go ahead and dot in here. When we're assembled, we'll begin.


The Once and Future Kingmaker Battle Maps, Kingmaker: Svetlana's Tale Battle Maps

Welcome to Ustalav, Strangers!

Classes: Any except alternate classes (ninja, antipaladin, samurai). This could be a good fit for an occult class, if someone so desired.

Races: Core plus Aasimar, Tiefling, Dhampir, and Changeling. If you insist on something else, we'll talk about it, but strangeness is not loved in Ustalav.

Traits: 1 campaign, 1 other.

Point Buy: 20

Gold: 150

Please dot and delete in Gameplay, which will lock this game in, and then feel free to chat about characters here. We'll aim for either the 3rd or 4th, OR for the 7th, which would be significant because it was the first real post of my Kingmaker game 1 year ago.


The Once and Future Kingmaker Battle Maps, Kingmaker: Svetlana's Tale Battle Maps

Dot and Delete!


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The Once and Future Kingmaker Battle Maps, Kingmaker: Svetlana's Tale Battle Maps

Hello, all. These getting to know you sessions never seem to go as well as planned, but I'll try it anyways. More coming.

My original idea with this campaign was to bounce between semi-connected subplots on the way to an overall archplot. It was going to feel episodic, without a whole lot of connections between "episodes". In other words, it was going to be House rather than Game of Thrones. I can certainly run it either way, and I'd like your feelings on which style you'd prefer.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
The Once and Future Kingmaker Battle Maps, Kingmaker: Svetlana's Tale Battle Maps

Fine Print:
This rental lease shall serve as evidence of the terms and conditions agreed to by the signatories (hereafter referred to as Tenants) and the Landlord, Talvor Oriom.

Terms: The Tenants agree to pay, by the fifth of each month, 300 Wroats of gold or its equivalent. The first months’ payment has been paid for. Payments will be made month to month in exchange for continued use of the premises.

Payments: Payments are to be made at the Wandering Eye Tavern, directly to the Landlord, and under no circumstances to his daughter.

Security Deposit: A one-time security deposit of 500 Wroats has been made, and will be returned provided no unnecessary cleaning or repairs must be paid for when Tenants move out. The Landlord will require a walkthrough and inspection form both before occupation and before move-out to assess potential damages.

Pets: Pets will be permitted.

Inventories: The premises contains the following items the Tenants may use: armchairs (2), desks (2), desk chairs (2), beds (5), fireplace (1). Additionally, a number of lamps, books, and papers were left by previous tenant, which may be disposed of or used as Tenants see fit.

Keys: Tenant acknowledges receipt of six sets of keys for the premises, which may not be duplicated.

Signature:

Give me a signature in place of a dot!


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In a shabby three-room apartment above the tavern that shares its name, the Wandering Eye Investigatives Agency used to make ends meet. Not anymore. The glass door creaks open as a prissy-looking half-elf girl turns the key and unlocks it, revealing a foul-smelling waiting room plastered with yellowed newsprint articles detailing the company’s past successes and discoveries. A few hideously-colored armchairs, their upholstery fraying and the stuffing coming out, offer potential clients a place to sit, but it’s obvious no one’s been by in a while. At least there’s a view, or would be if someone had bothered to clean the dust and grease off the wall-length window.

Even worse is the small living space; enough bunks for five (or perhaps six, if they’re small), but no bedding, and on casual inspection it seems a family of rats has moved into the far corner by the fireplace. A little office abuts the waiting room, but the reception desk is empty save a few old documents and a dried-up jar of ink and the owner’s chair is covered in dust. A note lies atop the desk.

Antonin,

As I prepare to leave this plane, I am reminded once again of your curiosity and work ethic, and have high hopes for your future. You will be a great investigative, of this I am certain. I have left the business your father and I started to you, in hopes that you’ll be able to maintain its reputation as an honest, professional company.

Your loving uncle,
Jamis Stantin

None of you are named Antonin, and judging by the condition of the letter, it’s entirely possible he never came by Wandering Eye Investigatives to view his inheritance, much less attempted to keep it running.

In all, not the most auspicious start to your business.

========================================================================

Hello, and welcome to the recruitment thread for The Wandering Eye Inquisitive Agency. This is a game I’ve had in my head, though not fleshed out, for a long time. It started with a character in a homebrew campaign I played in high school, and it’s just recently come to the surface again. It this campaign, you’ll be playing as five friends (or casual acquaintances) in Sharn who’ve been down on their luck in the two years since the Last War ended. Your luck, however, has just turned; you’ve recently been given an opportunity to lease an old inquisitive firm, with the first month’s rent, and deposit, paid for. Today is signing day.

So, without further ado, let’s jump into details!

Campaign Traits:

I’m trying something different with the traits. Here’s my five. Once you’ve found one you like, talk to me about it and list a couple bonuses you think you’d like. We’ll find one that works for both of us. Why am I doing it this way? I’d rather you play the character you like, and tying mechanics to the traits could restrict that.

Additionally, I’m going to try my best to take one character with each trait. Be aware of that. They’re based on the 5-Man Band from TVTropes (link withheld to maintain your sanity).

The War Hero—The Last War colored everything about your childhood. Maybe your mother or father was killed in battle, or maybe the stories of glory to be had filled your head. Regardless of whether you enlisted or were conscripted, you served with distinction along the frontier with Thrane or in engagements with Karrnathi shock troopers. The two years since the war ended have been hard without the structure of the army, and you’ve drifted aimlessly around the city, but when a friend suggested investigative work and pointed out the old agency for rent, you saw an opportunity to relive old memories.

The Spy—You and the War Hero had different ideas of what it meant to serve the Brelish Crown. Shortly after he joined the military, you found yourself on the lightning rail to Thrane, Aundair, or Karrnath with orders to find out what you could about troop movements, supply lines, or anything else you could. Your return from the Last War was unheralded. Perhaps you slipped back into the life you’d lived before, or perhaps you tried to build a new one, but either way, when a friend suggested investigative work, you leapt at the opportunity.

The Bookworm—Your friends may have gone to war, but you stayed for one simple reason; none of the services would have you. It was only later that you found out just why that was. Your family, the wealthiest of your friends’, had purchased two years’ education at Morgrave University, and you spent the war studying relics from Xen’Drik and Aerenal instead of fighting, marching, and dying. After the war, you had something none of your friends did; a degree. However, when an acquaintance pointed you in the direction of investigative work, the opportunity to work with new people and old friends was too much to resist.

The Machine—Like the War Hero, you served in the Brelish army. Perhaps you were forged for that purpose, or perhaps the call of battle filled you, but you not only served, but did so with pleasure. After the war, your reputation as someone who liked fighting followed you, and the best you could do was fighting in the Burning Ring, wounding and killing monsters and men alike for the crowd’s pleasure. A friend saw your lack of satisfaction and pointed you in the direction of investigative work, and you took the opportunity to serve for a purpose more meaningful than pleasure.

The Aid Worker—For you, the Last War began in earnest shortly after the Day of Mourning, when Cyran refugees began pouring into Sharn. Your family had always taught that everyone had a responsibility to help others, and your childhood had been spent providing biscuits and juice to your friends when they grew tired, but now your family threw themselves into helping the hundreds of refugees suddenly living in a strange city with no friends or, in many cases, family of their own. After the war, an acquaintance pointed out that investigative work offered an opportunity to continue helping those refugee, and to do so with those you could trust.
========================================================================

Character Creation:

Stat Generation: Twenty Point Buy. Easy enough.
Starting Level and Gold: Level Two, 500 Gold, plus either one masterwork item or assorted scrolls adding up to no more than 350 GP total.
Classes: All Paizo classes, with the following slight modifications.

Summoner: Summoners must be unchained. Additionally, no Master Summoner or Synthesist.

Paladin: Paladins will not fall for interacting with evil in this setting, provided they can demonstrate some rationale for why they’re doing it.

Gunslinger: Misfire will be rolled, guns are “emergent”. Early firearms are available at the listed prices, and Advanced firearms are somewhere between rare and unheard of.

Racial Archetypes: If you wish to use a racial archetype for a race that doesn’t exist, you must PM me beforehand. Some archetypes (like Naga Aspirant, due to its very Nagaji-specific flavor) are not allowed, period, but others (like Cat Burglar, which has no specifically Catfolk flavor aside from the name) may be useable. Additionally, the Racial Substitution Levels on page 120 of Races of Eberron are to be treated as racial archetypes.

Two-Skill-Point Classes: These classes now have three skill points per level.

Artificer: The Eberron Pathfinder conversion linked in the Primer will be used.

Races: The following races will be legal on startup: Changelings (Eberron), Drow*, Dwarves, Elves, Goblins*, Gnomes, Hag-Born (Golarion Changelings), Half-Elves, Half-Orcs, Halflings, Hobgoblins*, Humans, Kalashtar, Shifters, and Warforged. In an ideal world, I’d want between two and three of the core races, one to two of the Eberron races, and 0 to 1 of the other races, but that’s likely to end up different in the final selection. Additionally, Drow, Goblins, and Hobgoblins all have different fluff than the standards in many settings, and you should be aware of that when writing their backstories.

Traits: All Paizo traits are available, with the exception of Campaign traits. You may take two, with a drawback available for a third at my discretion.

Bonus Feat: Everyone starts with one bonus feat. This feat must be used to expand your character away from their primary focus. For example, if you pick Power Attack as your first level feat, do not choose Weapon Focus (Melee weapon) as your bonus feat but rather Point Blank Shot or Amateur Investigator. I want to see characters who are capable in multiple areas of the game both within and outside of combat. Other bonus feats may be awarded as circumstances warrant.

Sources: The source material for this game will be divided into two lists. Note that neither of these lists include rd party material published by neither Paizo nor WotC.

Paizo Material:/i] All Paizo material is open for play, though I reserve the right to veto certain feats and traits.

[i]Eberron Campaign Setting Material: I own the following material, all 3.5: City of Stormreach, Eberron Campaign Setting, Explorer’s Handbook, Five Nations, Races of Eberron, and Sharn, City of Towers, from Wizards of the Coast. Other sources will only be legal if they can be found in an online database, and only after review.

What I’m Looking For: I’m not against optimization, but if I don’t see weaknesses and flaws somewhere, there’s going to be a problem. These aren’t high fantasy heroes; they’re pulp heroes. If you literally cannot play a character with mechanical weaknesses, at least have some RP ones, and try to demonstrate that they’ll show up in play.

I want to see a character sheet on the forum. It can be Hero-Lab or whatever you want to use, but it has to exist in your alias somewhere. You don’t need to do gear unless selected, as I find it tedious to do when I build characters, but I want to see that you’ve put thought into your character’s mechanics. I’d also like, at minimum, two paragraphs of backstory, a brief description of appearance (both in and out of battle gear), and a suggestion of what your character’s personality will be like. Finally, think about between two and three NPCs that I can play with. Former employers, members of the Sharn Watch, or a tavern girl at your favorite inn, all that matters is that there are NPCs who know you in the world.

Ending Date, and other Business Stuff:

This is where I’m dumping all the information that doesn’t fit above!

I’m going to run recruitment for between ten and fourteen days, the better to allow people on vacation over the holiday to see this game. Expect a check-in once or twice a day from me during recruitment, though I may not always post if there’s nothing to respond to. Once the game starts, I anticipate a posting rate of between 4 and 9 posts per week, which is similar to my other PbP games. I can’t say it’ll be perfectly that, but I’ll do what I can to keep the game moving.


========================================================================

Jesaeli, the slim, prissy-looking half-elf showing you the place, coughs politely, holding out an official-looking document. ”I need you to sign on lines A, C, and G, initial on B and D, and write out a quick statement on lines E and F. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be the owners of this—” She stops, looking around the waiting room and wrinkling her nose theatrically. ”—wonderful establishment.” She pauses, rubbing the heel of one foot against the arch of the other while you sign, then continues, shoving one more paper toward you, face expectant. ”My employment contract. I’ll be your secretary. Don’t worry; someone already paid my first month’s wages, but you’ll be responsible for the rest of it. I just hope we can turn this dump around.”

Her paper signed, she begins opening the cupboards and tiny closets, looking for something. ”Where did he put that mop? We’ll need to get started right away if we’re to open by the end of the week!”


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“I needed a drink,
I needed a lot of life insurance,
I needed a vacation,
I needed a home in the country.
What I had was a coat, a hat and a gun.”
(Farewell, My Lovely)

Hello! The holidays are an exceptionally bad time to start a game, but possibly a great time to garner interest in one, so here goes!

I've been working on a game set in the city of Sharn in Eberron. The PCs will play as inquisitives, or private investigators, in a campaign that's pulpy, noir, and somewhat episodic. Enemies will include street gangs, foreign spies, powerful cults, and corporate interests. I plan to have a good mixture of combat and investigative work in this game.

Attached is a super-brief primer I've written up for those unfamiliar with the setting. It's got links to a few outside sources, including the Eberron Wiki and a Pathfinder conversion, as well as a lot of fluff for the setting and some images I thought worked well for it.

Note: This is not a recruitment thread. That will be later. Recruitment will probably be up the last week of December or first week of January, and until then, I'll be around to answer questions regarding the setting and type of game, but I haven't finalized character creation yet. It'll probably be pre-posted as an additional teaser in this thread, and will certainly be with the official recruitment.

Wandering Eye Primer


Hello, all! I'm working on writing a series of episodic adventures set in the Eberron setting, entirely (or mostly) within the city of Sharn. The players will play as private investigators delving into some of the city's myriad plots and secrets, all the while struggling to keep the rent paid and their receptionist paid. All in all, I'm looking for a pulpy, film noir feel, with little connectivity between separate adventures but with potential for a gradual plot to develop. The starting level is going to be quite low, so that's the power level I'm working with for now.

Where I'm stuck is what kinds of adventures a group of five investigatives might get into in a steampunk/fantasy city of 200,000+ people. So far, I've got the following:

1 A client hires two different investigatives companies to find someone or something, and the two have to race to solve the mystery.

2 The Royal Eyes of Aundair are spying on a noblewoman, and not being too subtle about it. She wants them to go away.

3 A professor at Morgrave University is stealing artifacts from a colleague. The Order of the Emerald Claw becomes involved, and things blow up.

What I'm looking for are pitches like those, just quick ideas I can expand. Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks!


The Once and Future Kingmaker Battle Maps, Kingmaker: Svetlana's Tale Battle Maps

“I have no love of puns,” announces a peeved Kreighton Shaine, the Master of Scrolls in the Grand Lodge, “Yet it cannot go unremarked that the Overflow Archives have begun living up to their name.” The pale elf gestures across the library’s stone lobby toward a pair of shut double doors from beneath which water steadily seeps. He is only one of the midnight visitors bearing witness to this disaster. Next to Shaine, Paracountess Zarta Dralneen stands with folded arms, glaring at an initiate whose hair and clothes are utterly drenched. All three speak at once, but Shaine’s shrill voice rises above the din. “Magical shenanigans in the archives are prohibited, especially this soon before the Grand Convocation!”

“Let us prioritize,” Dralneen suggests. “Are the artifacts within the vaults in danger?”

“How should I know?” Shaine barks back. “This delinquent initiate— what was the name? Wormell?”

“Virml, sir,” replies the sodden Pathfinder.

“Virml says he sneaked into the archives on a dare,” summarizes Shaine, painfully emphasizing the initiate’s name with scolding disdain. “Presumably, he thought the holdings would be harmless. Instead, in his naivete, Virml triggered some dormant curse or other. So, yes, thanks to Virml here, the archives and the vaults below continue to flood, threatening all the books therein.”

Miserably, Virml holds up an armload of soggy manuscripts. “I salvaged a few, sir.”

Sighing, Shaine leads Virml towards the stairs. “Take them up to the scriptorium. Start making dry copies.” Then, turning to survey the rest of the room, he continues issuing orders. “The remainder of you should wade in there and plumb the origins of this deluge. Stop it, if you can. I must report this debacle to my colleagues and begin organizing the cleanup.” Abruptly, he seems to notice the paracountess for the first time. “What are you doing here, Dralneen?”

Zarta smirks and shrugs. “Unlike you, Shaine, I love a good pun.”

Questions during the briefing?


The Once and Future Kingmaker Battle Maps, Kingmaker: Svetlana's Tale Battle Maps

Where we discuss.


A Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for levels 1–5.

Beneath the Grand Lodge of Absalom lie the vaults, a series of storerooms and libraries that contain much of the Society’s findings from the past centuries. Cataloguing the sundry relics and texts takes time, and finds requiring closer study find their way to an extensive vault called the Overflow Archives. Soon after a pair of initiates sneaks into the archive and steals a few items on a dare, the complex inexplicably springs a leak. It is up to the PCs to investigate this strange phenomenon and put a stop to it before thousands of priceless documents are ruined forever.

Content in “The Overflow Archives” also contributes directly to the ongoing storyline of the Dark Archive faction.

Written by Scott Sharplin.

____________________________________________________________________

Hello, all! I'm looking for a few patient PbPers to accompany me through my first time GMing a PFS scenario. I'm hoping to run this in the 1-2 subtier, but if interest is high for the 4-5 subtier, that's what it'll be. I currently have six slots available, and will be taking the first six to give me to following information in whichever tier fills first:

Player's forum handle:
Character name:
PFS#:
Race/Class(es)/Level(s):
Faction:
Any special rules, boons, or corner cases you need to let me know about:

A one or two-sentence blurb about your character:

____________________________________________________________________

A few notes: I'll try my best to post at least once per day, but things have been busy for me this fall/winter, so I may miss one here and there. This is not for the PbP Gameday, since I don't think we can finish before the date with Thanksgiving coming as well.


Since one of them adds your Charisma modifier as an untyped bonus to your Saves and the other replaces Wisdom with Charisma, do they work together?

Divine Grace

Irrepressible


The Once and Future Kingmaker Battle Maps, Kingmaker: Svetlana's Tale Battle Maps

Hi all. This is for chatting about characters, roles, spell selection, etc., as well as off-topic stuff. Have fun!


The Once and Future Kingmaker Battle Maps, Kingmaker: Svetlana's Tale Battle Maps

Just a dot here, for now!


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Once the Shimmering Jewel of Jalmeray, the city of Padiskar played opulent host to the wealthiest and most elite. Djinni served humans within its high-domed halls, its markets bustled with merchants and explorers from beyond the Obari Ocean, and its temples were spoken of across the Inner Sea. Sprawling streets, covered with lattices of copper and stained-glass, housed immaculately-kept gardens, and above it all, towering high on a hill overlooking its busy harbor, Khiben-Sald's Castle of Gold and Ivory seemed to pierce the skies themselves.

What caused Khiben-Sald to leave the isle of Jalmeray with every last one of his people, no one knows. For centuries,the Shimmering Jewel gathered dust, the only inhabitants bound djinnis following their masters' last orders. And so Padiskar sat, growing more overgrown and more decayed as time and the nearby jungle took their toll on its walls. It took three centuries before the Arclords, exiled from Nex to the west, landed their ships on Jalmeray and began the process of driving back the jungle. In Niswan, they set about rebuilding and remodeling the city to suit their tastes,forging an eclectic mix of Garundi and Vudrani. But aside from one expedition to Padiskar, the Arclords left Khiben-Sald's city alone.

It wasn't until the Vudrani returned with an army of marids and swept the unprepared Arclords both figuratively and literally into the sea that Padiskar was recolonized. The outer city, which had borne the brunt of the jungle's growth, was reclaimed into several dozen smaller villages, collectively called Padiskar. But even with the Vudrani's return, OldPadiskar remained a mystery. The few who traveled across it in a bid to save time visiting another village swore they felt a malevolent presence watching them, or disappeared within the maze of ancient halls and collapsed towers. Worse,something howled and screamed at the moon from inside the walls of Old Padiskar. Nonetheless, the fishing was good and the ground fertile, so life in the shadow of Khiben-Sald's palace went on.

Last week, a desperate missive reached Prem Gadhavi, the Maurya-Rham ambassador in Katapesh. The daughter of the Rajah of Padiskar had been kidnapped, and it was believed her kidnappers had fled into Old Padiskar. Prem immediately put out a flyer asking for brave men and women to find the Rajah's daughter, and, perhaps, to deal with whatever the Arclords found in the ruins.

Hi all! If you're interested in adventuring in an exotic locale, meeting fascinating new people, and possibly doing more than your fair share of killing, I have a proposal for you! An expedition into the megadungeon of Old Padiskar, an abandoned city and the vaults of the ancient Maharaja Khiben-Sald. I'm looking for four or five players, each with a unique and interesting character concept, to take part in this expedition. While Old Padiskar and the Vaults below will certainly be a megadungeon, the city of Padiskar will have its own unique challenges, especially to outsiders, and social skills will be as useful then as combat skills are in the dungeon.

Character Creation!:

Level: Characters will be somewhat-seasoned adventurers, and are starting at third level. Wealth will be 3000 gold coins, of which no more than 1000 may be spent on a single item.

Sources: All Paizo sources will be allowed. Third Party will not be. I have a hard enough time keeping up with what the Paizo-built classes, feats, and archetypes do.

Races: For this game, I will allow the following races: Aasimar (and variants), Dwarf, Elf, Gnome, Half-Elf, Halfling,Half-Orc, Ifrit, Human, Nagaji, Oread, Samsaran, Sylph, Tiefling (and variants), and Undine.

Classes and Archetypes: I will be allowing all classes with the following exceptions: Summoners and Rogues must be Unchained, Gunslingers are not permitted, and Sleep Hex does not exist.

Traits: Two traits, one of which must be a campaign trait (see below). I will allow a third trait with the selection of a drawback, provided you okay it with me first. No two traits can come from the same category (only one campaign trait,only one magic trait, etc.).

Statistics: Generate your character's statistics with a twenty-point buy. No stat over seventeen or under eightbefore racial modifiers.

House Rules: Background Skills from Pathfinder Unchained will be in effect.

Additional Information: Aside from your character's stat block, I will be most impressed by inclusion of the following things. First, a well-thought-out backstory, along with a few NPCs. The backstory doesn't have to be a novel, and too much is as bad as not enough, but I'd like to see something, and the NPCs are there to see that your character has a connection to the world. Second, a personality. I'd like to know about how your character sees the world, what his or her goals and motivations are, and a couple of quirks. Third, I'd like two appearances. The first is an idea of what the character looks like when he or she is "on the job". The second is how he or she might dress in a comfortable environment without any threats. Finally, there's a spoiler marked interview. There will be a few questions that need to be answered in character so I can see what your character's voice sounds like.
========================================================================

Campaign Traits:

Choose one of the three traits and one of their respective subtraits. You gain both of these bonuses. I will allow limited reflavoring of these traits if you work with me on said reflavoring.

Arclord Agent: The Arclords have never forgotten their humiliation at the hands of the Vudrani, and yearn to return to Jalmeray. Prem Gadhavi's call for heroes might be exactly the 'in' they need; having a Rajah in their debts would be quite useful. To this end, they've sent an initiate to apply for the position in the expedition. You gain a +1 trait bonus to Knowledge (arcana), and Knowledge (arcana) is always a class skill for you.

Unopened Eye: As a trained initiate of the Arclords, you have a greater mastery over a few of your spells. Choose two arcane spells. You either increase the DC of those spells by 1 or the duration as if one caster level higher. This choice must be made when the spells are selected, and cannot be changed.

Closed Hand: Though you can trace your lineage to Nex's retinue, you've never exhibited a special talent for magic.Instead, your mind has been assaulted by magic so many times it's grown resistant. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Will saves.

Padiskar Native: You grew up in Padiskar and remember the Rajah as a kindly uncle. News that the Rajah's daughter had been taken into Old Padiskar filled you with a sense of purpose, and you've volunteered to return home to help find her. You gain a +1 trait bonus to Knowledge (local), and Knowledge (local) is always a class skill for you.

Black Sheep: Growing up on the wrong side of the law in Padiskar, you had to watch your step. From the time you committed your first crime, your hair-trigger reflexes have kept you one step ahead of the law. You may have come too close to getting caught in Padiskar, and you were waiting the law out in Katapesh when you heard the expedition advertised. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Reflex saves.

Favored Son: While the villages and towns that make up Padiskar are a shadow of their former selves, the fields are still fertile and the ocean still teems with fish. You may have been in Katapesh to sell the harvest at the city's markets and bazaars, or perhaps to purchase goods for your family. You gain a +1 trait bonus to Diplomacy against citizens of Padiskar, and once per day you can roll twice on a Diplomacy check.

Outlander: The mysteries of the Impossible Kingdom attract foreigners from across the Inner Sea, and an opportunity to explore a city not touched since Khiben-Sald's departure is one many would jump at. Even with the threat of the horror within Old Padiskar, you're convinced your knowledge you've acquired in your explorations so far will help you recover the Rajah's daughter, and perhaps something of more value than that. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Knowledge (dungeoneering), and Knowledge (dungeoneering) is a class skill for you.

Mystic: While you've served the deity you follow faithfully (or perhaps not-so-faithfully), stories of the Vudrani temples of Jalmeray have always intrigued you, and you've had several dreams in the past week or two of your god or goddess and one of those temples. An opportunity to visit one of Jalmeray's temples seems like a divine gift to you, as does your improved connection with your deity. Choose two divine spells. You cast those spells at +1 caster level.

Explorer: The legends of Jalmeray's gold-domed halls and impossible beauty have always inspired you, and you may have been in Katapesh to catch a vessel to the Impossible Kingdom when you heard the call for heroes. An opportunity to not only document the exploration of an ancient Vudran city, but perhaps to come away with a few ancient artifacts, was all the motivation you needed to inquire further. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Appraise checks, and if you have Bardic Performance, you gain three extra rounds of use per day.

Mercenary: You may have been a member of a band of sellswords, or perhaps a bandit in the wastelands of Geb and the deserts of Katapesh. Either way, the plight of some Vudrani princess doesn't interest you so much as the payment and prestige for success, and you think you're tough enough to get to that success, one way or another. You gain a +1 bonus to Fortitude saves.
========================================================================

Interview:

The streets of Katapesh bustle and shouts of merchants and peddlers compete with each other to be heard. A fine dust fills the air, which smells as much of sweat as perfumes in the hot autumn sun. You navigate the chaos of the Daystalls, gradually making your way toward a sprawling mud-brick building. As the ivory-and copper doors to Prem Gadhavi's estate open, a beautiful, coffee-with-cream skinned woman bows gracefully before you before turning and beckoning you forward. The room she leads you into is near-black, with only a hooded lantern set on the desk. Nonetheless, she guides you expertly across the thick rug and into a padded seat before retreating to stand near the door, her sari swishing as she walks.

An ancient, wavery voice, filled with stress and pain, speaks, breaking the room's silence. "I apologize for the dark, but the light gives me such a headache anymore. Nalini tells me you are here to answer my call for help. That is good." The lantern moves, and there's a brief flash of lamplight. The old man's face is wrinkled and covered with dark spots, and his neck seems almost too thin to support his head, which rests against the chair's back. Then the lamp closes and all is dark again. "I have a handful of questions. It is important we send the best-suited in our attempt to retrieve my granddaughter Yamuna. Let us begin."

1. What do you offer the expedition? What are you best at?

2. What areas do you struggle in?

3. Have you any experience with Vudra or the Vudrani?

4. What training, formal or otherwise, might you have that would be helpful to this expedition?

5. Do you have any duties or obligations that could conflict with our expedition? Would you explain them to me?
========================================================================

About Me:

Hello again! I've been playing on these forums for almost a year, and have been a fairly consistent poster in my games.I've run three games here. The first, a Curse of the Crimson Throne game, had to be dropped due to a death in the family, an almost-move across the United States, and some other life issues. The second, a Carrion Crown that I inherited, was also dropped for the same reason, but I was able to find a GM who's keeping it going before I left it. My Kingmaker game is still ongoing, and the players are perhaps two thirds of the way through the first book. I've also had a number of characters in a variety of games on the boards. Check my aliases if you'd like.

In real life, I'm a 25 year old male. I have a bachelor's degree in History with an unofficial focus in South Asia (India and Pakistan) during and immediately after the British Empire period. I live in Colorado, which is Mountain Standard Time, and work as a literacy aid at a local elementary school. As such, my hours of posting range from between 5:30 AM-7:00 AM, and between 4:00 PM and 10:00 PM. I am totally unavailable aside from that time. I'm not currently involved in any face-to-face gaming, but participated in a 3.5 campaign that went three years every other weekend, as well as a few other games.

As a GM, I enjoy using Google Docs to support my maps and often spend time searching Google for images to better convey the pictures I try to paint with words. I've also used Youtube clips when specific sounds are needed, but am sure to warn people that the links go to sound before they click it. I'd love to say I can commit to 1 post/day, but sometimes it'll be more and sometimes it'll be less. I do promise that I will do what it takes to keep the game moving along.
========================================================================

Recruitment will close on the thirtieth of September unless there's a noticeable period without submissions, in which case a 48 hour "last-call" will be issued. I will have a decision made by the first of October, barring issues on my end or an overwhelming number of submissions. Oh! One more thing. I've seen and been in a number of recruitments that encouraged active role-play amongst the would-be players. I only want to see In Character posts for the interview questions, please.

Good luck to all!


Hi all! This is just an interest check for now. I'm curious whether or not there'd be any interest in a homebrew (mega?) dungeon trek through the abandoned city of Padiskar in Jalmeray and the vaults below it. The creative team has left a nice opening for a large-scale adventure in the city, and I think it'd be a rich and fun game, but haven't done more than think about it and sketch a few rough maps. If there's interest, I'd love to build it and make it happen!

Now for the technical stuff: I'd certainly use Pathfinder, probably allowing all classes including occult (assuming I can figure out what they all do), and probably starting at level three. I would use Google Draw to support my maps, which I make in Inkscape. The game itself would probably start out with a fair bit of RP before actually entering the city of Padiskar, at which point combat would take the front seat. However, I love social interaction in the game, so having "face" skills would still be occasionally useful.

If this sounds like a fun game, let me know!


I was wondering what the best sources of information for this goddess are. I'm building a character who feels like the goddess would really fit, but there's not much available right now.


I'm running a Kingmaker game on the boards (which means it's slow, which is part of the problem) with the following party: support bard, archer ranger, control-focused witch, dex-based magus, and mounted paladin of Erastil (medium sized). We've just spent nearly a month (real-time) in the mites' lair and immediately headed to the kobold warrens to return Sharptooth and deal with Tartuk. This, coupled with a few overland fights with dense undercover and lots of trees, has made it so the paladin can't shine (bad rolls certainly made it worse) while the magus has bee able to fight to his fullest potential in nearly every combat. The magus has become very dominant in terms of damage output, and the paladin is feeling like the magus is basically soloing everything. The other party members are (at least to me) getting enough opportunities to do their things, so it's really a problem of the paladin being left out.

My concerns are twofold. First, I want to give the paladin an opportunity to do his thing, but I also don't want to impose OOC restrictions on the magus. That leaves me with the random encounters, the hexes in the south and west of the map, and the Stag Lord's Fort to make a mounted paladin really perform, using terrain, enemy types, etc.

So, my two-part question...

1) What do I need to do to make the random encounters work better for the paladin?

2) What changes need to be made to the Stag Lord's Fort to make it more mount-friendly while still being an interesting, chaotic fight (assuming a fight instead of an assassination)?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.


Hello recruitment subforum! Late last fall I took on a great group of players working their way through the second book of Carrion Crown. Over the last three weeks I lost a close family member and moved halfway across the United States to look for work, so I can’t devote as much time to games as I used to be able to. I’m looking for anyone willing to take on a group of dedicated heroes currently exploring the town of Lepidstadt in Ustalav. The party is currently fifth level and inside the Vorkstag and Grine Chymic works.

Sour Heck, a human dirge bard modeled after Dolorous Edd from ASOIF.

Iesha, a half-elf cleric worshiping Shelyn.

Eloise Tow, a serious Chelaxian bladebound magus.

Peredur, a ranger and follower of Pharasma.

There was also a conjurer who may or may not still be with the party.

If there are any GMs who have the time and inclination to adopt this party, both they and I would very much appreciate it. I’ll be on and off periodically over the weekend to answer questions, and I’m sure the players will be in and out of the thread as well. They’re all very strong roleplayers, and it’d be a shame if the game stopped here.

Here’s a link to the game, if you’re at all interested in reading up on it.

Thanks,
GM Aest and the Hawthorn Society


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Link Here

I'm running a PbP Kingmaker game on the boards, and I'm disappointed in the lack of a good regional map, so I've been working on a hex map of the region this AP takes place in using Inkscape. So far I've got a rough sketch of the geography for the aforementioned area of the map as well as rough political borders. I'm starting to add more detail to the physical geography of the region, but I wanted to share what I have so far. I'll keep this updated every few days with my work, and when it's at a reasonable point, I'll open the GoogleDoc so everyone can use it (unless someone has a more share-friendly system, this is what I've got).

Issues I'm aware of:

Iobaria's map is not oriented true north. My reference image wouldn't fit correctly with that for Brevoy unless it was about 10 degrees skewed toward the northeast.

No scale, no key, no political stuff. In fact, the map may be horribly out of scale for all I know.

Inkscape isn't the most beautiful program for building a map, but it's doing an okay job, I think.

I'm aware that other people have done similar projects, but I have free time and wanted to give it a shot. If anyone has comments or critiques, please let me know.


The Once and Future Kingmaker Battle Maps, Kingmaker: Svetlana's Tale Battle Maps

This is the Discussion thread. I think it'd be cool if there were some inter-party connections before the game gets started. I'm not anticipating that everyone would know everyone else, but some pre-existing connections should be here.

Also, if you want to set up your builds so they synergize, or figure out what everyone else is planning on playing, this is the place to do it.

I'll get the campaign started once everyone's ready to rock, but as I've said, there's no rush. Take your time and make characters you like.


The Once and Future Kingmaker Battle Maps, Kingmaker: Svetlana's Tale Battle Maps

This is the Gameplay thread. Just a dot here, to get it in your campaign tab. Gameplay posts will happen when everyone seems ready.


http://paizo.com/campaigns/TheCurseOfTheCrimsonThrone/gameplay&page=las t

I was trying to start a campaign thread for my COTCT game, but I seem to have broken it somehow. I've attempted to post my intro post several times, and it won't let me. I'd flag it for someone to look at, but there's not actually a post to flag. If someone could just delete it for me so I can start over, that'd be great. If not, explanation as to how to fix it would also be wonderful.

Thanks.

Christopher Huisjen, AKA GM Aest


The Once and Future Kingmaker Battle Maps, Kingmaker: Svetlana's Tale Battle Maps

Alright, here's the discussion thread. If you have questions about how I'm going to run this, please let me know. Also, take some time to think about how your characters might know each other. If there's not pre-existing connections, that's okay, but sometimes it's fun.


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”Korvosa, the Jewel of Varisia, has long sparkled on Varisia’s southern shore. Established 300 years ago by Cheliax at the height of that empire’s expansion, the city now commands its own destiny. A line of Korvosan kings and queens emerged to rule the city, establishing an infamous seat of power-the Crimson Throne. Rulers have sat upon the Crimson Throne for more than a century, and the city has flourished. Yet the monarchy always seems on the brink of disaster. The Crimson Throne is not a prize to be won-it is a curse. No monarch of Korvosa has died of old age, and none have produce an heir while ruling. Even though King Eodred II controls Korvosa more fully than any previous monarch, that control remains tenous, and many secretly count the days until their latest king falls to what many call the Curse of the Crimson Throne.”-Curse of the Crimson Throne, Edge of Anarchy

First, here’s a little about me. I’m GM Aest. In real life, I recently graduated from college with a degree in history. I’ve been playing RPGs (mostly D&D 3.5, with a smattering of other stuff) since 2006, and I started playing Pathfinder a little over a year ago. A combination of moves and graduating put me out of touch with my playgroup, and my current city doesn’t have an active RPG scene, so here I am on the forums. I’ve got some experience GMing face-to-face games. This will be my first time GMing a PbP.

As I was reading Curse of the Crimson Throne over the summer, I fell in love with it. While there are a number of flaws and assumptions in the AP, the basic premise is something I’d been trying to work with in a homebrew for some time. I will be running it under the Pathfinder rules set, using the conversions provided by the PFSRD. In addition to these mechanical changes, there may be some minor story-based changes as well. Certain sections were very railroaded, and I’ll be trying to keep those sections a bit more open.

I consider this recruitment thread to be an agreement to GM the AP. I will post at least once a day, including weekends. I’ll do my best to keep the game moving, and I’ll listen to any complaints made in the discussion forum or by PM and do my best to help solve them. Submitting a character means you agree to post at least once a day, to bring up complaints in a timely manner, and to try to keep player drama to a minimum. If you have to drop from the campaign, do the players and me a service and let us know in advance so we can arrange for a replacement. Above all, remember that I am fallible. If I make a bad rules call, let me know and I’ll correct it, either in that situation if possible or in the future.

So, what I want from you, as potential players, is the following:

1. Read the Curse of the Crimson Throne Player’s Guide. I don’t expect you to be an expert on Korvosa, but you will need the background knowledge.
2. Pick your race, class, and traits. I want a backstory detailing some of your experiences with Gaedren Lamm, your everyday life (either before or after you encountered Lamm), and a couple of NPCs. Feel free to use any of the ones in the Player’s Guide, or to create your own NPCs.
3. A description of your character. The first part of this is physical appearance. I want to know what your character looks like and how he-or-she sees him-or-herself. The second part is personality. How does your character act?
4. I’ll want to see your stat-block, but that’s less important in the consideration process than your backstory and personality. I want to make sure that the characters I choose are well-rounded, well thought-out characters. If you’d like to build an alias, you can, but it’s not required unless you’re accepted.
5. Please submit your character to me via post here, or PM it to me and leave a post here that says you sent it.

Character Creation Guidelines:

Starting Level:First
Alignment:Any Nonevil.
Ability Scores:20 point buy, no stat below 6 or above 18 AFTER racial adjustments
HP:Max first level, rolled or average+1 after
Traits:two, one must be a Curse of the Crimson Throne campaign trait. An additional trait may be allowed with a drawback, at my discretion.
Starting Gold:Average starting gold for your class.
Races:All core races are allowed. Aasimar, Dhampir, and Tiefling are allowed, but their backgrounds will need to justify their existence in the campaign. Racial options (Angel-Blooded, etc.) are allowed, but need to be justified.
Classes:All core classes and base classes are allowed. Archetypes need to be run by me for approval.
Required Books:Curse of the Crimson Throne Player’s Guide. It’s a free pdf. Anything in the book is considered common knowledge to residents of Korvosa.
Third Party:No third party.

Character recruitment will close on Monday, November third, around 4:00 pm (Mountain Standard Time). I will try to have the party selected within 24 hours of closing recruitment, depending on how many submissions there are and how long I work that Tuesday. I’ll be giving you a few days to forge connections between your characters and ask any questions you might have. Play will start on November seventh.


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