My background, not fully serious, is that I got busted out of prison, by 2 Succubi, who, mostly for meme reason, run around as Jotaro and Polnareff from the Jojo series, and who want to spread the idea that Nocticula is redeemed by doing good, essentially by yoinking good aligned mortals with potential out of bad situations, telling them to worhship redeemed Nocticula and sending them to do good into increasingly suicidal situations. Just like Jotaro and Polnareff, they have only a limited idea at best as to what they are actually doing.
Mage armor and shield from Sorceror, CHA to AC from Scaled fist, CHA instead of dex from Oracle, CHA 19.
Which should be 10+4+4+4+4+3 (crane style and 3 ranks in acrobatics) 29 AC at level 3, possible 31 with shield of faith and shield up at the same time. Qlippoth spawn thiefling for claws and a bite and a prehensile tail, not really needing equipment means ring of prot or amulet of armor.
Some Draconic bloodline to open up Dragon disciple later.
The thing is, if one char has 10 more ac then the others, the gm either has this char run rings around things, or the other chars basically die.
Alternatively, I go dex tank, have a shield (Urban Skalds still can use and cast with shields), a spiked gauntlet (which is a light weapon and this would allow for spell casting). If I put my human ability increase in dex, and pump dex via ferocity, its 21 dex (22 at level 4), for a pretty reasonable 21 AC (10 base, 6 dex, 3 armor 2 shield) before modifiers. Melee damage would eventually be d4+6 (when agile is picked up)+2 via piranha strike.
Hmm, whats the highest AC I can manage?
I could have one dip in scaled fist, dip once in natures or luna oracle for cha instead of dex to AC, which would get me to 21 via crane style before extra mods, and is kind of cheesy
Lets try again with an actual buff bot! Mightypions next hero here!
At this point, I only give out pretty good SPirit slams to everyone, and +2 to Dex because I think we all want some extra AC right? In contrast to other skalds, urban skalds does not stop you from doing your things at all, so enjoy.
Spirits will be hitting at +6 for d4+4 negative energy damage.
Yes indeedDeadpans Setsuna
The Spirits I summon with my spirit totem are the souls of character ideas not taken in recruitment. A near endless supply indeed!
Interesting cast of characters is interested in this bizzarre adventure. Thinks Setsuna as she looks around.
A vigiliante not-Ninja, a dryadruid, some accustic competition, a temperature-wise-anti-adjusted-personage, a animal hugger and a me of course, now, on whom would I bet? she wonders.
Now, if this was the group, what would be its name? Aggressively suber buffed tree friends? Hmm, wouldnt gel with the fire kineticist. I am half betting the animal companion, improved by a skald and a bard and a druid, would probably wreck some serious face.
Now why do I break the 4th wall? Oh right, lobby between the planes rules.
How about some Karaoke? Setsuna challenges her accoustic competition to a little contest, and grabs a conveniently places wand of clarion call.
Character ready I think. Has some item money available, but pretty basic. MwK Cold Iron Bardiche, +1 armor, CLW wand.
Fairly typical bard skill list, can certainly adjust a bit if chosen.
@Mightypiin looks good! I’d recommend ranged. The Samurai/ninja is planning for reach though some overlap isn’t the end of things.
Strictly mechanically:
The unusual thing here is that ranged combat would be selfish, because urban skalds burn most of their feats on extra rage powers to further boost their allies. Reach just needs 2 feats, which I can both joink at level 1, and then go into mega buffbot mode who occassionally whacks someone for reasonable Bardiche damage.
Ranged combat needs 4ish for basic competence.
Sample turn:
Rage goes off at start of turn because Savage intuition extra rage power. If I go first, free action switch bardiche to one handed, interpose myself between likely targets and melee enemies as move action, draw Pilum as part of move action, standard action throw Pilum (20 feet range increment, AB is +4ish, hits for D8+2ish, debuffs shield users), free action grip Bardiche in both hands to AoO with it.
Urban Skald ultimate AoE buffbot:
Funny party boosting tricks I can do going from there at level 5/6/7/8/9:
Oh boy, Skalds can buff the party to the stratosphere:
Defensively:
--Level 8+ everyone gets to reroll a will save once per rage, note, at this point rage cycling is a thing because Urban skalds dont generate fatigue, and I can restart the performance as a move action.
--everyone gets a scaling morale bonus vs spells, spell like and supernatural, which starts at +2 and scales with levels, it does force you to roll saves vs. friendly spells, but I can stop performing to get around that.
--20% concealment vs everything that is not attacking from melee range (spirit totem tier 2)
Offensively:
--Scaling damage bonus vs things with spells, spell like abilities and supernaturals, starts at +1 and scales with skald levels/4, on any attacks, not limited to mellee
--I can go elemental rage, which starts at spend a swift for +d6 elemental damage to all attacks per round, and scales into +d6 elemental damage (I get to chose when starting combat) at level 8 for the entire rage, limited to mellee
--Free bite attack for everyone, I can stack this with either witch hunter or elemantal rage.
--On top of the negative energy spirit slam, which everyone also gets.
Would either the players or the GM mind me providing somewhat sassy history book style commentary in the discussion thread, roughly adventure log style?
Rhaneys puts herself in a comfortable position at the edge of the recruitment lodge.
Easy access to a door and to windows?
Check.
Nobody who could easily sneak up behind me?
Check.
Good vantage point?
Check.
Reasonably comfortable leather chair?
Double check.
Approriate distance from cigar smoker?
Check. Cigars and alchemical catridges dont really mix well, and if they do its often a one time thing.
That war was starting anyway, I was just manipulating the food supply situation.
Actually starting a war hmmm, false flag situations work surprisingly often, but without actual access to leadership positions, this is not as easily or profitably done.
Generally speaking, the worldwound, the Chelish/Andoran/Galtean border areas and some other placed offer plenty of opportunities for war based profiteering, but well, Cheliax never plays fair, Andoran at some point expects you to work for "freedom" which means "for free", and Galt is Galt so its the same as Andoran, only that they also try to kill you if you dont want to work for free, while Andorans would only hold a lecture.
Mendev is broke whenever it isnt peak paranoid (most of the time they are both broke and paranoid anyway), and directly supporting the demons, well, Nocticula is the only one of them who could maybe be a reasonable customer, and she isnt invading (at least as far as we know). Deskari just wants to eat everything, which would have deleterious effects on the long term customer base, and Baphomet thinks he is soooo super cunning and smart that he is above paying. I half predict he will get simultaneously smashed in the face, stabbed in the back, and get his heart ripped out by "something" while in the middle of some goatee twirling evil monologe about his most cunning greatness.
Now, the King however, from the admittedly sparse rumors which itself speaks of excellent control of his own informational security (implying high degrees of competence, a most desireable trade in a customer/employer), highly pragmatic, possibly extraplanar connections, solid revenue base, recruits, attracts and keeps talent utterly irrespective of the source.
Very very interesting indeed. I would almost wish I was physically attractive, but he may just be the man who is more interested in smarts.
Rhaneys is a completely ammoral arms merchant, she is not kicking random puppies on the streets, and generally upholds her bargains, but morals? Nah. Cant afford them vanity luxury items at this point.
Rhanys the red reporting for shooting and profits in Besmaras name, ideally first one then the other.
I have some leftover gold, which I would prefer to spend once I know if I and who else is chosen. I could also just splurge it on even more alchemical catrideges.
Turns out a level 3 Musket Master can actually rapid shot with a musket, if he/she invests alchemical catridges.
Will presumeably grab some special ammunition, or CLW potions. I do not have UMD, so wands would be of somewhat limited value.
