Simply put, Phaender will not participate. He doesn't care if anyone else plays along but he doesn't.
Just to be clear, this is purely an in character action.
Search Posts
A giant bear landing in front of him Phaender sighs. "The only reason I'll forgive you for abusing such a majestic animal is that he's fake." With that he gives a short whistle and a nod, upon which Dorffurd retreats. Phaender then follows him and stands next to him, trying to com fort Dorffurd and force him to face the other way. How could he ever be expected to treat these folks kindly if he saw what they did to his kin?
Phaender has been abused and then imprisoned for many, many years (you could say the imprisonment was voluntary but the alternative was a gruesome death as a sacrifice on some altar). He doesn't see this as a challenge but as someone abusing his power to imprison him and toy with him. If he feels this is in any way predictive of how the frog-elf will behave in the future he'll want to bail.
When Phaender turned to Lulubelle his eyes were cold and emotionless, "Except, miss Breitling, we're not eggs and I refuse to be treated like some plaything. If he treats us like things now he'll have no qualms sending us to our death. We're just toys after all, replaceable. If you are too blind to see that and want to throw away your life for some shiny coins you have my blessing but I'll have no part in it."
"If this is what he wants to do I'm out. This is complete nonsense. I did not come here to be deceived." He turned to Valence, "Do you hear me? Pull me and Dorffurd out of you fancy sideshow, we will have no part in this nonsense." His voice was calm, collected and monotonous as always and only the words themselves showed his annoyance.
After a mere moment but what to him felt like an eternity Phaender stand up, leaning on Dorffurd ever so slightly as he does. "Listen to me. All of this, all the things you see in front of you. It's all fake, an elaborate ruse. Frogface over there locked us all in this, admittedly impressive, illusion. The question is, why? What are you hiding Valence?" He looked up at the elf-thing when he uttered the last sentence.
Suddenly Phaender stops playing his music. It appears as if his eyes fill with what can only be described as abject terror. His knees appear to give out as he drops down on them. Dorffurd, noticing the fear in his otherwise calm friend nuzzles up to him and gently licks his face. When Phaender drops to his knees the bear uses his head to support him and tries to help him stand up again.
@Phaender - Oozemorph shifter hax I thought you'd appreciate since you've pulled heavily from that book. That is downright hilarious and makes it a fantastic dip for any martial character. Without that though, it's like they didn't even try. There also is another way to play it without it being horrible: Be a race that has it's own shapeshifting ability (as they also note), that fixes the ooze form issues.The thread they linked on the Treestrider Hunter archetype is also rather nice. The "as a free action, a Tree Strider must pick an ape as his animal companion" allowing you to instantly replace you current AC is rather silly, and fun. It allows you to just keep throwing apes at things until they die, just keep a massive collection of spare apes in a bag of holding (using the carry companion spell.) But that book is a weird one. There is plenty of fun stuff in there but also so much crap. All the animal companions are nice (though not all really good), as are the vermin and plant companions, the three races are ok (I love me some vine leshies), there are great new archetypes (Sylvan Trickster Rogue, which can select hexes instead of rogue talents and gets DR/cold iron comes, to mind) and it has some good fixes for existing archetypes (yay for making Viking Fighter get Rage at full lvl instead of -3).
Here brother 1 is with gear, so that's a +1 Earthbreaker and MW Full Plate. That leaves him with 1050 gp but I'm not sure what to spend it on. I've narrowed it down to 2 options: Cloak of Resistance +1, which is always good, or a MW Composite Longbow witha strength modifier of +4, as you need ranged option. The latter gives him 400 gp to spare to spend on arrows and raw materials for crafting projects.
Oh, and I figured that this one would be Christoph as I feel that that name sounds gentler (the sound 'pops' less) and the metalworker needs to be gentler and more patient than the other guy. Hammer Bro 1 - Christoph Hömner:
Christoph Hömner
Male Half-Dwarf Fighter (Foehammer/Siegebreaker) 4 LN Medium Humanoid (Dwarf, Human) Init +1; Senses Darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +1 -------------------- Defense -------------------- AC 20, touch 11, flat-footed 19 (+1 Dex, +9 armor); +4 dodge vs Giants hp 40 (4d10+12) Fort +7, Ref +3, Will +2; +2 vs poison, spells and spell-like abilities -------------------- Offense -------------------- Speed 20 ft. Melee +1 Earthbreaker +9 (2d6+6/x3) Ranged Special Attacks +1 attack vs orcs and goblinoids -------------------- Statistics -------------------- Str 19, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8 Base Atk +4; CMB +8; CMD 19; +2 on bull rush and overrun while Christoph and target are standing on the ground, +2 bull rush, overrun, sunder and trip while wielding a hammer Feats Bulette Charge Style, Disruptive, Powerful Maneuvers Traits Grounded, Tight Bonds Skills Craft (Armor, Weapons) +7, Intimidate +6, Knowledge (Engineering) +7; +2 on Craft checks related to metal or stone Languages Common, Dwarven SQ Armored Vigor (6/day), Breaker Momentum, Breaker Rush, Rock Stepper, Sledge Hammer, Weapon Familiarity Other Gear MW Full Plate -------------------- Tracked Resources -------------------- Now for the other guy, who is a bit more work.
As Chalkou downs his annoying assailant Phaender nods as he lets out a short whistle, calling Dorffurd back to him. All the while he continues playing.
So this would be the Fighter Half Dwarf before adding gear. He traded away his bonus feats up to this point so his hammer tricks are limited. Basic idea is that he'll overrun and bull rush with the best of them and dole out damage while he does.
Hammer Bro 1: Hammer Bro 1
Male Half-Dwarf Fighter (Foehammer/Siegebreaker) 4 LN Medium Humanoid (Dwarf, Human) Init +1; Senses Darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +1 -------------------- Defense -------------------- AC 11, touch 11, flat-footed 10 (+1 Dex, + armor); +4 dodge vs Giants hp 12 (1d10+2) Fort +7, Ref +3, Will +2; +2 vs poison, spells and spell-like abilities -------------------- Offense -------------------- Speed 20 ft. Melee Ranged Special Attacks +1 attack vs orcs and goblinoids -------------------- Statistics -------------------- Str 19, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8 Base Atk +4; CMB +8; CMD 19; +2 on bull rush and overrun while XX and target are standing on the ground, +2 bull rush, overrun, sunder and trip while wielding a hammer Feats Bulette Charge Style, Disruptive, Powerful Maneuvers Traits Grounded, Tight Bonds Skills Craft (Armor, Weapons) +7, Intimidate +6, Knowledge (Engineering) +7; +2 on Craft checks related to metal or stone Languages Common, Dwarven SQ Armored Vigor (6/day), Breaker Momentum, Breaker Rush, Rock Stepper, Sledge Hammer, Weapon Familiarity Other Gear -------------------- Tracked Resources --------------------
I'd like to take a crack at the Dwarves. Looking at a Panoply Savant Occultist and a Fighter. Fighter with a two hander, Occultist with one hander and shield. EDIT: Hmm, would you be ok with me stacking the Foehammer and the Siege Breaker archetypes on the Fighter? By RAW they don't as they both touch Weapon Mastery (Foehammer says you must pick hammers, Siegbreaker says you don't get it).
"Tell me again. Why are you doing this?" Only the sigh that followed his monotonous voice betrayed Phaender's annoyance. He then turned towards his bear, "Dorffurd, be a dear and help our weasily friend over there." Once the bear starts making his way over to the dinosaur Phaender pulls out his mandolin and starts to play. Those hearing it can almost feel the music resonate within their body as they feel their senses somehow becomes more aware. The moment the music starts Dorffurd's step starts to sway a bit, as if the bear dances over to his mark. Once there he does his best to sink his teeth into the dinosaur.
I dare say that how many bears your missing depends on where this is. If it's when we are making camp you miss both but if we are moving away from the caravan you're only missing the medium sized one. Mother bear stays with the caravan.
As the discussion turned to wagons and he heard the mention of the word "Gnome" Phaender speaks up for the first time since his arrival, "I'm as much a gnome as you are human, so half at most. If you'd ask a gnome they'd say I'm either an abomination or a hero. Probably the former." His voice was odd, completely devoid of any emotion. He accepted the vial and stowed it away without even a second look at it's contents or asking what it was. "As for the wagons. I can drive. Personally I'd prefer to ride either Dorffurd or Maei but those broken aurochs lack the initiative to move of their own accord." As he speaks the two bears stand behind him, the youngest of the two prodding Phaneder gently with it's snout when his name is mentioned.
Phaender had arrived at Brinwall several days ago. He was a strange sight. He looked like a Gnome but both his skin and his hair where the color of white ashes. The white and grey tones of his clothing only made him stand out more. His behaviour was also very much unlike other Gnomes. He was quiet and reserved and tended to avoid others when he could.
The three of them would sleep outside in the castle's courtyard, caring more about shelter from wind and rain than an actual roof. They were generally very unobtrusive and the only sound coming from their direction, other than the bears' nightly snoring, was the playing of a mandolin. --------- When they were called before the weird frog-elf and told about what was coming Phaender just nodded. He waited while the others made their purchases, casting a simple spell on himself to help his negotiating.
Phaender also has a decent Handle Animal, has Wild Empathy and Speak with Animals at will as a spell-like ability. EDIT: I haven't bought repair gear, Phaender will do that next time he comes into some funds
Click "Campaign Info" at the top. Ah yes, I was looking at the caravan section of the PG. Thank you.
The cold weather gear is also to defrost the wheels and get the wagon through snow. Where did you get the linked wagons thing from? That might actually alter what I want to do. Without that I'd be stuck with training an auroch to be able to work without a driver. EDIT: Oh, and due to my archetype all allies within 60 ft. of me automatically get a +2 on skill check to avoid natural hazards, difficult terrain and rough winds or water as well as a +2 on saves vs natural hazards. Bring on the avalanches!
I was just too late to edit and add another question, but how do the caravan enhancements work? For instance, according to the player's guide 1 set of cold-weather gear covers the entire caravan yet we already have multiple sets. Or how, per the player's guide, 'Lo not buying an enhanced under carriage for each of her wagons basically turns all the enhanced undercarriages purchased by other to waste, as they only enhance caravan speed if all wagons have them.
Would you be ok with me implementing some changes as well?
In addition I'd like to swap out Lingering Performance for Spell Focus (Conjuration)
Slight adjustments to your skill summary: I do have Diplomacy and Bluff, I get it through Versatile Performance (Strings). He'll survive both the sky and rough water through Wildshape. Oh, and anyone can ride a horse. No need to be trained in Ride to ride. I do notice we are very heavy on the nature classes. EDIT: As for barding, it may be a little cheesy but most animals don't need proficiency to wear barding. All quadrupeds start with the armor slot available (just like how a snake can never wear armor, even if it has proficiency). You take the non-proficiency penalty, so double the armor check penalty and apply it to a lot of stuff.
At 7 when his companion grows large it'll get grab. I'd like to build on that and eventually head for Pinning Rend, making it so the bear can properly maul things to shreds. Before then the grappling would mostly be about controlling casters and other soft targets. I'd need Improved Grapple and Greater Grapple for that but both require Improved Unarmed Strike, which is a completely dead feat on a bear. As for the Filidh insight bonus, it's just a bonus to AC and Reflex saves.
Build things:
Phaender actually is a Bard but due to the Filidh archetype he is a divine caster. It also means he doesn't have Inspire Courage but instead provides a +1 insight bonus to AC and Reflex saves. At later levels he will also provide some divination through bardic music.
On the Druid side of things he focuses on casting. Skill wise he does very well on Perception, Sense Motive and Survival, is trained in Handle Animal, Knowledge (Nature) and UMD can can use his Perform (String) bonus on Diplomacy and Bluff. He also speaks a fair share of language and can use Speak with Animals at will. As far as defenses go, he has good saves, low-ish AC and horrid CMD. He will have a casting focus though he could use Wild Shape to be a bit of a combatant instead of using it defensively. That said, he does bring a grizzly bear companion to help out in melee and that companion is quite capable and will be even more capable when it grows large at 7 and gets grab. It's just too bad the feat tax fixes don't pull Improved Grapple from behind IUS. I'm not sure how the wagon will work with Phaender's bears as I suspect horses would be less than pleased to be close to them. That said, mother grizzly could probably also pull a wagon though the load would have to be kept on the low side if she is to keep up with the horses then.
Phaender and the two bears reporting in! |