Well, I got a new character out of the deal - never a waste of effort. Congrats and enjoy the game!
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I'm in Port Angeles. We went from 75 degrees on October 25 to snow on November 2. The cottonwoods still have most of their leaves. Very strange.
I am very fortunate to live in the Pacific Northwest in the US, which is just amazingly beautiful, if you've never been. We're farther north than most people realize and in the summertime the sun sets after 10 PM and it glows a deep pinkish orange on the horizon. Our house has a lot of windows and at sunset the whole house fills with this incredible color. I like to call it the "magic minute" although it lasts a little longer than that. It is my favorite time of day and I miss it when the season changes. It feels like we're quickly approaching the magic minute with this recruitment, when all are excited at the possibility of being chosen, and before the change of mood for many. Good luck to all.
@GM Elfriede, here are some of my recent character play samples. I'm currently in only a handful of games and post frequently. Tarrow Harfoot This game ended far too soon, unfortunately.
I expect Merrick will combine the earnestness of Tarrow with Esgean's amicable nature, and a dose of Rilynn's pragmatism with a touch of Never's ferocity in combat. And then something unique I'll figure out as we go.
Abella is done, barring any sudden bursts of inspiration, so I’m just chilling and checking in regularly :) @Abella, I love your first-person backstory. I don't think I seen that done here before. Really fun to read!
I've decided on literally no equipment. Merrick has fully embraced the clothes on my back, will travel philosophy. He may acquire a sack for bread when necessary. Also, it is my intention to rp Merrick's awakening to Ki Mystic and Qinggong abilities when it happens at lvl 3/4. @Sujani, you mentioned Monk and piqued my interest. I can save you a feat; you have Power Attack but EitR gives you Risky Strike for free. If we both happen to be selected, Merrick will happily serve as a mentor when you're ready to dip into Monk.
@GM Elfriede, yes, actually I slept on it and realized it was a dumb question.
Risky Strike is a free equivalent for basically every feat variant in the game to trade Attack Bonus for Damage. Defensive Stance replaces Combat Expertise pretty directly, but for free. Yeah, not sure why I thought Defensive Stance would interact with Crane Style like Fighting Defensively. Clearly different tools.
@Bellinda, Rodrigo, and Merrick: I'm fine with you tying together your backstories. It sounds like a cool way to know someone before the game starts. I'm still likely going to be evaluating my choices independently of each other first, though, just to be fair to those who don't connect with others. Naturally! Risky Strike is a free equivalent for basically every feat variant in the game to trade Attack Bonus for Damage. Defensive Stance replaces Combat Expertise pretty directly, but for free. @hustonj or GM Elfriede, is there a ruling as to whether Crane Style can be used with Defensive Stance similar to Fighting Defensively? Specifically, would it reduce the penalty to attack rolls (to 0)? I'm not finding anything online but my sense is no, it would not.
@Bellinda, there's a possible relationship thread between us if you are willing. Merrick is a sailor by trade. It's possible he's heard rumors of a halfling-run ship that disappeared. He's also not particularly eloquent, and would not make anyone feel intimidated talking with him, and he's generally friendly but there's a sadness in his eyes, like every child whose life was affected by Gaedren Lamm. He spends most of his time in-city in Old Korvosa and would have developed a small amount of status for his modest but earnest philanthropy. Merrick is a pretty dull knife and you could have swindled him in the past, but he wouldn't hold it against you.
Merrick Talbar - Human Monk (Ki Mystic)
Profile nearly complete - just need to buy equipment, and this is a Monk, so that should be easy. Highlights below. Appearance:
Average height but muscular, "Merrick" was a late bloomer but works tirelessly on his conditioning. He is often caked with grime from manual labor and rarely bathes except in the river or the sea. His dark hair is usually tied in the back, revealing a determined face with an angular jaw and beset with blue-gray eyes. He wears the stain of a tormented youth and looks older than his nineteen years, perhaps wiser. Personality:
Despite his lengthy childhood trauma, Merrick is typically amenable and through his own experience he has learned to recognize pain in others. Going from wealth into poverty and having gained employment of his own merit, he values hard work and people who do it, but does not judge harshly those who do not, regardless of the reason. He is naturally pragmatic and doesn't think too much. He likes the company of others but is not quick-witted and when engaged he often considers his words overlong, making any conversation with him a stilted affair, but what he says is often well-intentioned if not reasonable. In general, he's agreeable except where prudence fails: his hatred for Gaedren Lamm. Combat Stats:
AC:16 T:16 FF:14
Hit Points: 9 Initiative: +8 Perception: +7 BAB: 0 Spd: 30 Fort:3 Ref:4 Will:5 Unarmed Strike: 1d6 Flurry of Blows: +3/+3, 1d6+4 Stunning Fist: 1x/day, Fort DC14 Bot Me!:
Rd 1: Win Initiative, move into melee vs biggest enemy, Stunning Fist attack
Rd 2: Swift action to activate Pummeling Style, Flurry of Blows attack Rd 3: 5' step as necessary, repeat Flurry of Blows attack Background in Brief: Merrick's father, Davos Falconbridge, was a wealthy merchant lord, cruel to his peers and workers alike. Davos craved only wealth and the power and influence he could buy with it. He was positioning himself to be a future King of Korvosa, and he had many enemies throughout the city. His son Merrick had all of those enemies but none of their fear. He was bullied mercilessly until one day a stranger named Gaedren Lamm lit a flame inside him with a simple notion: revenge.
He was taken on as a student by Master Ip-Xi Han, a Ki Mystic living in The Shingles. During this time he learned martial techniques and when to use them. He was generous to the poor and defended himself but the need for vengeance had drifted away. That is until Gaedren Lamm found him again. Lamm twisted Merrick's mind, throwing fuel on the fire of resentment for his father. That led to Lamm killing Merrick's parents while he unwittingly stood watch outside his home. With everything in his former life destroyed, Merrick returned to Master Ip-Xi and found solace in training. When Ip-Xi could no longer afford to care for the growing boy, Merrick found work at the docks and eventually aboard trade ships. He discovered balance in training and labor, but in the depths of his soul he allowed the flame of revenge to stay lit. One day he would kill Gaedren Lamm. |