With the light suddenly vanishing, Thurin stopped. Hammer in hand, he looked into the darkness searching for any threat.
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”Ach! I feel like shyt.” Thurin cursed. Standing up, he stretched his back and called upon the powers bestowed upon him. Cleanse:
This spell cures 4d8 points of damage + 1 point per caster level (maximum +25) and ends any and all of the following adverse conditions affecting you: ability damage, blinded, confused, dazzled, deafened, diseased, exhausted, fatigued, nauseated, poisoned, and sickened. In addition, cleanse functions as break enchantment upon a single additional effect of your choice that is affecting you and that can be legally affected by this effect. If used by undead or other creatures healed by negative energy, the spell cleanses with negative energy rather than positive.
He fully trusted Nasira to heal the others while he tended to his own wounds and ailments.
No apologies needed. Take care of you and yours.
Good to know! My profile has the numbers listed with and without it. Would it be helpful to post it in gameplay or is it clear enough on your end?
Finding himself stripped of his strength, even moving his hammer felt like a challenge. Another assault like that and he’d lack the ability to even stand up! But Thurin was a dwarf, who was bound by an oath and who was willing to die. Rather than take a step back he raised his hammer, which thanks to its enchantments, compensated for his lack of strength. His heart filled with pious prayer, he swung it with all of the determination he had. Something was going to die that day. And if it was going to be him then he was going to go down fighting.
Yup! Mythic vital strike is my favorite. Only one attack, but it hits like a truck. It’s the equivalent of precision mythic ability from champion (removing the iterative attack penalties). However I know some GMs don’t like mythic vital strike because of the huge damage numbers that are possible (this is Thurin without prebuffs!) On my end I plan to only use the extra standard option with dimension door, so to avoid hitting twice. And won’t take options like double damage from mythic legendary item. However, even with those limitations if my character is becoming unbalanced please tell me, and we can work out how to get him in line with your expectations. I would like to avoid having a character that is too underpowered or overpowered, as both extremes are bad for a game. Also i show my math on how numbers are reached in my profile. If anything seems wrong, please feel free to check them. I’m not immune to mistakes.
With a flash of light and a sound reminiscent of a hammer striking an anvil, the elderly dwarf vanished and reappeared adjacent to the beast. Without missing a beat he struck at it with his hammer, only to feel the familiar sensation of the impact ringing down his arm.
Component Freedom (Ex) When you cast an arcane spell, you can ignore one component of the spell: focus, material, somatic, or verbal. You can ignore a focus or material component only if its total value is equal to or less than 100 gp × your tier. You can select this ability more than once; each time you take this ability, the number of components you may ignore for each spell you cast increases by 1. That’s amazing! I can see why you’d rush to take it. I’d choose that in a heartbeat for a caster.
”Costs two hundred fifty gold, though.” Thurin said. ”Pricy. I’d hope
”Might as well.” Thurin said. ”A right rare relic this is.”
Thurin nodded. After two months of similar events, it seemed like standard operating procedure. Whatever they came across would die, just like everything else that had the misfortune of crossing their path. Any creature here couldn’t be that tough…
“Alright guys! Scouting is done.” “Great! What’d you see?” “Nothing. Shyt’s dark.”
Their time in the maze was almost pleasant. Outdoors treks through the mountains with the occasional monster? It was like being back in the Five Kings Mountains. Only they weren’t. They were in the abyss, and it was designed to lull the unwary into a false sense of security. Time and time again this was proven correct, as it took their mythically enhanced skills to survive. Thurin assumed that this would be no different than any other challenge they would face. ”Be careful, lad. Worse things that beasties out here, and we’d hate to lose ya.”
Despite the horrific predicament they were in, Thurin smiled. ”Did far better than anything I could have, lad. Why else do ye think I asked ye to do it?!” Slapping the other dwarf on the shoulder he waited to see if the ad hoc plan would bear fruit.
”Test it. See if it can give us information to get through these mountains.” Thurin offered.
”Not sure I’d trust any voices here. Even the friendly ones.” Thurin replied. He was in no way trained for outdoor survival, but he stood near his kinsman, helping in any way possible.
So long as you are happy with the decision.
”Good question.” Thurin said. He glanced back at the town. ”I don’t rightly know where the fook to go. It leaves us two options, well, two I can think of. We keep moving, hoping to break out of this place by skill or luck. Or we find a demon to interrogate. Maybe even trick or bribe one into being a guide.”
Thinking this over are we making a mistake? It seems like the town might have an NPC or two with info that is needed.
”And that, lad, is why an old man in a young man’s job is so dangerous.” The very obviously old dwarf said. ”And at least if, worst comes to worst, we are stuck here forever, we have found a town to conquer.”
While I don’t think we have a reason to stop there, it is really atmospheric. I’m loving the otherworldly nature of the maze, and how everything seems fine on the surface but certainly isn’t. The only thing I’m lost (ha!) is on how we are supposed to find our target. But I think that is by design.
”Aye, looks filled with fookers. Good way to waste a lot of time in the inevitable bloodbath. If we need nothing from it we move on. And come back to it if we see reason for it.”
”Bones, ground up fine enough to become sand? Well. Points for creativity. Makes me wary at looking too closely at the trees.” He took a moment to nonetheless enjoy the weather, seeing his enjoyment as being a small victory in and of itself against the Lord of Mazes.
A benefit of being as old as dirt was that one had tended to have a plethora of experience to fall back on. Therefore it wasn’t exactly the last second that the group nearly walked off a ledge, but he did manage to find the danger far sooner than he had in his youth.
”Ha!” The dwarf laughed bitterly. ”Can’t even tell if this is the maze or if we were kicked out.” After days of walking followed by this, he had come to the conclusion that demon lords were, at the very least, inconsiderate hosts. ”Then again, this could all be an illusion as well.” He then went about doing what he could in assisting his kinsman…
”A damned good question.” Thurin responded. ”I thought we’d need to kill ‘em for sure. But now we know our enemy is wounded and is recuperating. Mayhaps we can convince a cultist or two that we are here to protect the outside of his chambers? Could get a guide that way. Or a body to stack.”
”Think.” The old dwarf said, a tired smile on his face. ”If we weren’t already welcome, then whether ye let us in or not we’d never leave. You’re welcome is pointless, as there are no visitors to the maze, aye? So step aside and let us pass. Or don’t, and we prove ourselves yet again. Your choice, on whether the fight is worth it to ye.” Hammer in hand, he waited for the response with an indifferent expression on his face.
”Sounds right useful.” Thurin said, relief in his voice. The entire situation had been incredibly tense, having it resolved was a huge relief. ”Pass it over, aye? I’ll see if I can get it to work. It will be of great use for when we need to rest and need a defensible position.”
Getting to his feet, Thurin walked between them. ”This is a bad spot to be in. Swore an oath to bring the lad back alive, and here is looks like the two of you are going to make it just one of you.” After a moment thought he said ”If we are going to let this world drown in a demon horde because we are all too stubborn even pretend to be civil.” He gave his kinsman a meaningful look. ”Then at least use fists instead of blades. That way this can be cleared up without anyone dying.” Probably, he thought to himself.
As the GM knows I’m traveling for 2 months. Will have eSIM and WiFi so I’ll still post. But just wanted to let everyone know. :)
Thurin almost shrugged, but he didn’t even bother with that. This was not the first time he had seen such arguments, and even if the last one had involved a human of noble birth. As far as he was concerned the younglings could work it out with each other, and it was on the whole a good thing for them to reach their own understanding now, before they saw combat. That, and in his experience shared bloodshed tended to bring warriors together. Instead his mind was elsewhere, for he was mentally communicating with his hammer. The task before them was momentous, and the holy weapon was singing with excitement. He couldn’t help but remember the corpse of the last dwarf who had held the hammer, and how the poor champion’s fate had done nothing to damper the weapon’s burning desire to combat the enemies of his God. As devout as he was, he knew that if he was going to survive longer he’d need to temper its enthusiasm with his own common sense.
Thurin almost laughed. That is, until he realized that his kinsman wasn’t joking. The fact that his hammer hummed excitedly in his head was a clear sign of that. Its demanding excitement was deafening. ”A worthy death for an old man.” He said.
”Ye knew him?” Thurin asked. ”We ran into him out in the wastes. Gave a sword to the tall lad here, named it Radiance.” The old dwarf said, thoughtfully. ”Said the same thing as your scout there. That he heard a calling from his God.” He let it hang there, as he looked quizzically at Damiel. ”If that blade wasn’t so obviously holy, I’d be right concerned.”
”Aye, aye. But the two of ye aren’t asking the real questions.” Thurin said, walking between the two warriors. ”We’ve been choking down sand for day upon day now. Where can we get something to bloody well drink?” Nodding at his own wisdom he added ”We’ve got a war to win, and we can’t do that on a parched throat. Wouldn’t be proper.”
Unable to stop himself from smiling, Thurin nodded respectfully at Ansha, acknowledging her answer, and then looked up at the half-orc. ”Well, best answer him. Lest I become seven hundred before the conversation ends.”
And just to piggy back on Javell...sneak attack can really add up. Trickster can push that damage up even further with: "Fickle Attack (Ex)
7d6 has an average damage of 24.5. Taking fickle attack 3 times? 38.5. Huge damage spike. And of course, the more dice you can add to it, the better. So yeah, number of attacks, weapon choices, etc. So pretty conservative...1d6 (base) + 24 (Dex 30 for +10, mythic power attack for +9, enchantment for +5), 7d6 (sneak attack) and 2d6 (holy) = 10d6+24. 79 damage per hit. The one thing that trickster seems to lack in my opinion is a good way to get lots of attacks off. But path dabbling can get you "Fleet Warrior (Ex)
That really helps get off attacks reliably. And from there? It's just maximizing your to-hit rolls, so the attacks can reliably land. But there are a plethora of options there.
Welcome! Yeah, my “trickster” build was not normal at all. But for disable device? +15 (skill points) +3 (level) +11 (stat) +7 (Trapfinding) +2 (masterwork tools) = +38. No idea what is needed, but that’s what I got when playing around. Given that we are mythic 7 there are a lot of fun options. And you have so many different ways to build a character. For example, one mythic ability is “Trap Taker (Ex) You can use the Use Magic Device skill instead of Disable Device to disable magical traps. If your Use Magic Device check overcomes the DC to disable the trap by 5 or more, you can instead leave the trap in place, but change it so that you and your allies can bypass it. You can also alter the trap so the original creator and any creatures he might have designated as safe instead set off the trap. If you expend one use of mythic power when altering a trap in this way, you can move the trap to any point within 100 feet that is in line of sight.” Throw in “Unwavering Skill” which always lets you take 20… And given that disable device can be gained via a trait, you can make a trickster out of anything and aren’t even forced into one of the usual rogue classes. So yeah…lots of options open. Very much looking forward to seeing what you go with!
”Ye think me a liche, boy? Barely four hundred.” He said, a smile growing on his face. ”Got plenty of years left in these bones.” He looked Morgrym up and down, his smile fading. ”Look just like your father.” He said, realizing that the last mental image he had of Mogrym had been when he was but a beardling. ”Angradd’s axe, ye’ve grown! To think, I swore an oath to bring back either ye or your body to your Clan, and what do I bloody well find? That ye lot retook Drezen, and if the bards are to be believed it was by shooting boots of divine fire out ye arses.” A smile coming back to his face. It felt strange, as it was near two centuries ago that he and Morgrym’s father stood together on a hill not too different than the one they currently were on, armed and armored. Only back then it was with a battle against orcs on the horizon. And now? Now he and the dwarf’s son stood side by side with a half-orc, an elf and a human, with an all together more dangerous foe to face. Pushing aside the memories, he said in a booming voice: ”Well, introduce us to your friends.” He said, motioning to Dranok and then the others. ”Bards be fooking liars at the best of times, so we can’t rightly go by tales alone, aye?”
Awesome. Looking forward to seeing what he comes up with (whomever he is and whatever he makes)
Can’t be too careful in the World Wound! —— Pixie Rogue: Two characters are hard to play, especially at this level. If you’d like to just focus on one, I pretty much have a mythic trickster worked up. Still wears Mithril Plate. Has a hammer and a big shield. Hits like a truck. Has +37 perception to find traps and +39 disable device to include magical ones. Has less survivability than the guardian (which makes sense…) but it still all works out in the end. So I’ll leave it up to you. If you’d like to keep running the archer then I’ll stick with Warpriest. If you’d like to focus on just one character then I’ll go inquisitor
Stomping forward up the hill, Thurin called out in a clear and authoritative voice. "We approach in peace! This is Dranok, Paladin of Gorum! Wielder of radiance, as bestowed upon him by Sir Arigoder." Pausing, he added "And I am Thurin, of Clan Ironfist. I have traveled from the Mindspin Mountains in search of my kinsman, Morgrym Ironfist. In Torag's name, I am oathbound to avenge his death should he have fallen, or to support his quest if he still lives. If any here know his fate, step forth and speak." As he did this, he lifted his hammer up high for all to see. The liquid steel was clearly visible in the sunlight, as was the holy symbol of Torag, the Forge Father.
Thurin was about to respond when he looked up and saw that they were not alone. All they had to do was climb a hill and this part of their journey would be done. ”Youth. Making us climb to reach them.” He grumbled, more for show than anything else.”[/b] He tried to keep his voice level and his eyes from showing any excitement. Even at his age, the passage of years still stirred him. One step at a time he walked towards the awaiting group, which to his joy included his kinsman.
Thank you for the welcome! Oh, we are losing the archer? Huh… …would it be appropriate then for one of us to take over trickster? I could, I suppose, change from Warpriest to inquisitor? Could have a similar feel while taking over trickster duties. It could actually be pretty fun. With 0 ACP armor, and Wis to disable device…
Always fear an old man in a young man’s job. This was especially true when the profession was war. Two old men walked out of the wastelands. One was a half-orc in his forties, his hair graying and his scars old. A slight limp likewise was evidence of old battles fought. He was a Paladin of Gorum, forged upon the brutal anvil that was Belkzen. The other was a dwarf, his skin weathered and his beard white. He was two and a half centuries old. Despite his advanced age he still wore his plate armor and carried a tower shield, though the Mithril and Darkwood made the task easier. Some would say that dwarves such as he were too stubborn to die. He put it differently. He had more important things to do. Such as fulfilling his oath to Torag. Little did he know that such was the weight of his oath that his deity would not allow the weight of years to crush him, leaving him stuck as a living ancestor. Both old men carried weapons of power. The half-orc carried the blade, Radiance. The dwarf, a hammer of liquid steel that directly bound him to the Forge Father. ”We’ve made it.” The dwarf said to his companion. They had arrived at the Riftwardens, propelled by the divine so as to join up with Golarion’s last hope at closing the World Wound. But to Thurin it was more personal. He had spent years tracking down his kinsman Morgrym. Despite all of the hardships, despite all of the comrades lost, and the rivers of blood shed, he knew that this was the easy part. He didn’t rush. He had waited years, so what did a few minutes matter. ”Excited lad?” He looked up at his companion. ”We will be waging war on Baphomet’s realm directly. I cannot remember a time when mortals dared such.”
We could modify the backstory somewhat. Have the two of them be survivors of the same crusading force. Thurin survived because he came across his hammer during the expedition, which gave him mythic power. Dranok survived because he came across radiance, which did the same. It would mean that we reach the party at the same time and why they know each other. And yeah, Thurin is just old, not grumpy. With +17 diplomacy, he is beyond things such as looking down on half-orcs or the like. If anything I’d say that he’d look fondly on Dranok, as the paladin would remind him of a friend he had in his youth. Thus being around the half-orc would simultaneously make him feel younger, while reminding him of how old he really is.
Quick test before I jump in. I find doing this helps ensure that the numbers are right and that the character works as intended. It also helps me find the voice for the character. Decided to hold off on Blessed Hammer. It feels like a good feat to build into as his mythic power grows. Playtest:
Driven by visions, the old dwarf trudged forward through the wasteland that was once Sakoris. His weathered face was frozen in a grimace as the wind blew against it, forcing his long white beard to trail behind him. Once he was a single crusader among many. Four dozen strong, the crusaders had marched out into what was once a vibrant kingdom, a land blessed by the Stag God. Now all that remained were the burn out wreckages of the civilization, strewn about like corpses. The crusaders, who had sung songs of piety and victory as they marched out under streaming banners now all lay dead. Their bodies, like the ruins they had fought and bled in, were physical evidence of the downfall of man. All had died, except Thurin. And the paladin Dranok. Though he knew not where the half-orc was, as they had become separated in the storm. Thurin knew that he only lived because of his hammer. It was blessed by the Forge Father, and just holding it filled his body with strength. Even in the flower of his youth he had never felt so full of vitality. Even in the great temples of High Helm he had never felt so close to his deity, for the hammer whispered to him. It was alive, in its own way. Watching. Judging. Demanding that he take one step after another. It held him to his oaths. With his hammer in hand he knew that he did not have permission to die. He had to find his kinsman. He had to find the Ivory Labyrinth. He had to fight. He had given his word, and to turn his back on it was akin to deciding not to breath. Looking up he saw a demon blocking his way. Smaller ones chittered in the shadows, watching. Waiting. He knew that they would attack either him, their lord, or each other. It all depended on what happened. What stood in the open, before him, was a Balor.
Round 1
The Balor walked forward, as confident as their kind could be. It pointed a finger and chanted words so blasphemous that merely hearing them would have destroyed a platoon of mortal crusaders. Thurin felt his muscles seize, as his very being recoiled against the words. But his God stood with him, and the enchantments on his equipment sufficed to block that which otherwise would have incapacitated him. His hammer glowed with a holy light. When he swung it, it hit the demon with enough force to shatter the gates of a fortress. It staggered backwards, horribly wounded. The demonic horde grew agitated, surprised at the turn of events. But they waited, sensing weakness, and thus personal opportunity. Round 2 +1 vorpal unholy longsword +31/+26/+21/+16 (2d6+13),
+1 vorpal flaming whip +30/+25/+20 (1d4+7 plus 1d6 fire and entangle)
Sensing the danger it was in, the Balor lashed out with sword and whip. Ancient as he was, the dwarf merely raised his shield and weathered the assault.
—-Sacred Weapon Bonuses —— Keen and Holy, good damage to attack above
Round 3 +1 vorpal unholy longsword +31/+26/+21/+16 (2d6+13),
+1 vorpal flaming whip +30/+25/+20 (1d4+7 plus 1d6 fire and entangle)
Heavily wounded, the demon attacked again and again. Sword struck shield. Whip wrapped around limb after limb. Flames snaked around the dwarf. And yet threw it all he stood, withstanding damage that should have killed him several times over. Before he had found the hammer it would have easily killed him, that he knew. But he was oathbound, and it would not let him die. There was strength yet within him, it could tell. Telepathically it filled his head with a command. It was as simple as it was emphatic. Kill. Kill all that stand in your way. Fulfill your oath.
—-Sacred Weapon Bonuses —— Keen and Holy, good damage to attack above
All around him the demons began to move. They sensed blood. They were certain that their lord was to win, for who could survive such an assault? Surely not a mortal. Dozens upon dozens of lesser demons came in, their claws extended. Each wanted a piece. Each wanted to claim part of him, to rise up in their twisted hierarchy. The Balor roared in victory. But in doing so, it leaned in too close. Thurin had waited for just that opportunity. Once. He swung once with his hammer. The liquid steel swam, its currents exhilarating in what was to come. With a *crack* of holy power the hammer met forehead. Divine and unholy energies met in that moment. And then, like the roll of thunder the demon broke. Blinding light filled the air as reality itself seemed to buckler. The Balor exploded. It’s army screamed. Each demon screamed. Some in rage. Some in fear. Some in pain. The fire immolated them, the lessor ones vanishing, naught remaining but their shadows burnt into the ground. Thurin groaned as he rose from the ground. He was not alone. Where there had been dozens of demons, now only a handful remained. None had been left unscathed by the explosion. His old body likewise groaned under the weight of years and wounds. But the hammer? The insistent command rung in his head like the ringing of a church bell. Kill. Kill then all. He was oathbound to obey. Hammer and shield raised, Thurin continued the grisly task. A few mistakes here and there in quickly running the fight. But Thurin beat the Balor, such as it was. Could have died (a single crit with vorpal would have done it, and even then he was down to 64 wounds. Freedom of movement was the biggest part of this win). But he lived up to the Guardian build I had planned. I think he is good to go. Hopefully what was shown above is the ‘right’ power for this level with mythic. ——— As for ranged weapons…perhaps cold iron javelins? Cheapest way to get some decent damage in at range. You won’t need to put away your sword to use them. Plus they look cool.
Very glad to be here! I see that we are about to assault the Ivory Labyrinth? While in PbP I seen Drezen retaken twice I’ve never gotten past that. But I’ve played the computer game so I’m not totally lost. Thurin is ready to be thrown in. By whatever way makes the most sense for the story. The only question I have left to make is whether to replace furious focus with Blessed Hammer…
Ah adventuring pajamas. I went for the most expensive kind. Mithral double-plated comfort glamered plate with steelbone frame. Weighs 60lbs. +10 AC +1 Max Dex -0 ACP and “ Armor of comfort sheds dirt and sweat as they accumulate, and remains as comfortable as weather-appropriate clothing regardless of environmental conditions. A suit of armor with this enhancement always looks immaculately clean, can be slept in as though it were light armor, and does not cause a penalty to the wearer’s saving throws to resist the effects of extreme heat. In cold weather, it counts as cold-weather clothing. In addition, the armor’s armor check penalty is reduced by 1 (to a minimum of 0).” glamered just lets it look like pajamas.
Hi everyone. I’ve got my build pretty much up, and in doing so I’ve been trying to tone it down. Decided to give the dwarf a tower shield and thus to go one handed, without shenanigans such as Unhindering Shield. Each round he can do about 140 damage or so (160ish with sacred weapon). That seemed respectable enough, while fitting the feel of the mythic guardian (ie: heavily armored with a huge shield). I’m still tinkering with it… With that said…I’m open to changes, and would shoot to make a character that fits into the feel and numbers for the party. Feedback is always appreciated. (Also, as for a character outside of just numbers. This is an old dwarf. Strength 13, Dex 10. Him being able to hit these numbers is because he holds a hammer that gave him mythic powers. And ironically it stops him from aging, but does nothing to reverse his current age. This should make him be different than our resident dwarven barbarian) Figarace has not participated in any online campaigns. |