Congratulations to those selected! Let's try and have some fun. Please create a profile and complete your character, if you have not already done so, so I may review them. Any questions, let me know.
Cool! I'm really excited for this game -- looks like a very interesting group.
I'm also traveling today -- packing as we speak. I'm hoping to have a chance to finalize stuff tonight, if not it will be Monday afternoon. By Monday evening I will be on a normal schedule.
Hello all.
Thx for selecting me Lucendar. Here is the profile for Eudonius, if you need something changed please let me know. Looking forward to playing with you all.
Eudonius:
You can remove NLHP from your class/levels tab, I hardly ever use them; in its place, list bombs/day
Please list the modifiers to strike with your bombs and damage in your sheet
List bonuses for untrained skills as well (example: your bonus with Diplomacy is -1 (not -2) due to your trait)
List the mutagen you have prepared for the day on your sheet
Please list the Hero Point total in the Class/Levels tab
If you scroll to the top, I have put a link of a map to Varisia. You are all currently making your way East across the coast somewhere between Veldraine and Korvosa (SE portion of map).
Please follow Eudonius' example and list in the Class/levels of your profile: Current HPs/Max HPs, AC/Touch/FF, Saves, Init modifier, Perception modifier, and Hero Point(s).
I have found it saves me a great amount of time when I roll initiative or determine attacks if that information is easily accessible without having to click on your character. Obviously, as spells are cast, wounds taken, and buffs are applied, the values will change and I expect you to update your hps, ac, class abilities, etc. on your profile, as applicable.
As for my DMing style, I use Maptools but don't expect works of art. It will be sufficient for you to understand your tactical position on map. On your turn, please use the grid provided on the map if your character moves so I can update the map. I roll initiative and perception checks to determine surprise or activate a trap, etc.
Though I don't tell you your enemies' hit points, I use status bars so you can see how hurt they are and can make the appropriate decisions.
At the end of each round, I post a summary of the combat, listing important conditions, hp loss, etc.
My style: I like rping and I like combat. I tend to play my npcs in a realistic manner with common sense. Not all of them will blindly fight to the death. Not all of them will attack the party at random. If both players are within reach and the half-orc hits me for 10 damage and the ranger hits me for 3 damage, I do not roll randomly to see who the monster attacks (as a few DMs in my RL games have done in the past): if it stays to fight, it's going to attack the half-orc! If the enemy is alone and is outnumbered, he will surrender or try to flee. Obviously, there are exceptions: unthinking undead, zealots, etc. I hope the players play with common sense as well. If you are surrounded by a football team of ogres, and instead of parleying or thinking of some other way of escaping the situation, you attack, do not blame me later when the party gets TPKed.
Finally, I will be using the Hero Point mechanic in this game. You all start with one point. You may check here for details on what you can do with them: Hero Points
Any other questions you may have, let me know.
Updated.
Eudonius, sorry to be so picky, but could you put the damage and Reflex save DC for the splash damage? And list the effects of the mutagen? Thanks!
No problem.
Eudonius - Skills:
ACP applies to Disable Device and Stealth
DD: +4+2-2= +4
Stealth: +1+2-2=+1
Gyllan here with an alias. Take a look and let me know if everything is the way you like to see it organized.
One question: the Cosmopolitan feat gives me two extra languages. I've picked up Varisian, as his mother taught it to him before she died. What other language would be logical/beneficial for him to know?
Thanks
Gyllan looks good, just add -2 ACP penalty to Stealth, Climb, acrobatics, and rest of skills.
As for bonus language, let me get back to you on that one.
Lucendar, posted in game thread to move that along. Working on filling out my profile today.
Thanks Kun!
Cinnamon:
Your claws are considered natural attacks so there is no -5 penalty on the second claw attack so they are both at +1.
List save DCs for Daze and any other spell that will require me to make a save
In the class/levels tab, please put spells/day for your 1st level spells (easier for me to track)
Since the NPCs are all merchants, you fell into your natural roles in the caravan:
Gyllan as guide
Jun and Eudonious as muscle and guards
Cinnamon is an odd one so unless she's used her magic openly, they would regard her as simply another traveler
Please feel free to interact with each other as well in the gameplay thread while we complete this preliminary scene
Just for roleplay purposes - Gyllan is not very well-suited to serving as a guide anywhere outside of Korvosa. He's learned a thing or two during this trip, but he's really a city kid, much more suited to dark streets and the ways of humans than wild lands and wild beasts.
So he's happy to help, but may not have much to offer in the guide department.
Well, Gyllan, you are the only party member with a bow, I think, and the one with the highest perception score. So maybe scout would be a better choice but you'd still be leading the caravan. You don't put the guy with the sharpest eyes in the back, do you? ;) So guide/scout...whatever works for you.
That makes perfect sense - just mentioned it for character personality purposes. Gyllan is happy to sneak and scout a bit if need be.
I really like the start we're off to, looking forward to where this game goes.
Lucendar, posted in game thread to move that along. Working on filling out my profile today.
Jun, I know you're still working on profile, but in case you finished the equipment, as it is, max gold for oracle is 180 gp and your equipment is way over the limit. Also missing 2 traits and correct background. I'm not a fan of Rich Parents trait (too much possible abuse to let players start with 900 gp).
One question: the Cosmopolitan feat gives me two extra languages. I've picked up Varisian, as his mother taught it to him before she died. What other language would be logical/beneficial for him to know? Thanks
By the way, as a native of Varisia, you get Varisian for free.
Any of these would serve you well: any of the racial languages (Dwarven, Elven, etc.), Giant, Goblin, Korvosan, Shoanti
Corrected my skills and changed the display format for an easier reading. I picked my languages more based in my backstory, hope its alright.
Jun, I know you're still working on profile, but in case you finished the equipment, as it is, max gold for oracle is 180 gp and your equipment is way over the limit. Also missing 2 traits and correct background. I'm not a fan of Rich Parents trait (too much possible abuse to let players start with 900 gp).Lucendar, posted in game thread to move that along. Working on filling out my profile today.
OK, so with equipment I saw oracle had 3d6x10gp to start and saw it as 360 not 180gp (spaced out a second there I guess)
For Traits I was thinking about the following:
Fast-Talker: You had a knack at getting yourself into trouble as a child, and as a result developed a silver tongue at an early age. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Bluff checks, and Bluff is always a class skill for you.
Well-Informed: You make it a point to know everyone and to be connected to everything around you. You frequent the best taverns, attend all of the right events, and graciously help anyone who needs it. Because of this, you gain a +1 trait bonus on Diplomacy checks to gather information and Knowledge (local) checks. One of these skills (your choice) is always a class skill for you.
Hopefully I will be finished with the profile soon
Lucendar, I want to take the follow revelation from my dual cursed archetype.. You ok with me using it to stop criticals or make an enemy re-roll a save?
Misfortune (Ex): At 1st level, as an immediate action, you can force a creature within 30 feet to reroll any one d20 roll that it has just made before the results of the roll are revealed. The creature must take the result of the reroll, even if it’s worse than the original roll. Once a creature has suffered from your misfortune, it cannot be the target of this revelation again for 1 day.
Both traits are fine as well as the revelation.
I believe Jun should be finished with the exception of whatever you would like me to tweak or add
Jun, just update the AC on the class/levels tab and include the save DC of your Channel ability in your profile.
@Lucendar - just want to say thanks for the great-looking maps. They add to the feeling nicely (dashing about in the snow!), in addition to making tactics, and combat in general, easier and more fun.
Thanks, I try to make the combat easier. Have you seen GM Blood's maps in his Way of the Wicked campaign that I'm playing? Now that's detail, way more than I could ever put on a prison level.
I agree, the maps are great! I can't even imagine getting those set up.
I'm just starting to get the basic hang of maptools to make those. Maybe someday. It is nice for the grid/co-ordinates!
Hey all - in other PbPs I'm in, I've put together a spreadsheet to help track treasure. It keeps track of what we've found, divides the gold and proceeds from sold items among the party, and helps keep a balance as far as value of magic items and such that different characters get.
As elaborate as that sounds, it's pretty simple, and it's here: Treasure Sheet
If it would be helpful, I'll put the link to it on my stats tab and we can use it going forward. For demonstration, I just put the stuff we got from the tengu, and figured we'd sell it at half the list price, per common practice.
Now, isn't that a better hook than the original hook to this AP: "Let's have the ghost gather you to go kill the drug dealer who abused/addicted you as kids?"
It is a better hook in several ways. Personally, I like the fact that it's based on the characters deciding to do something heroic, since that's one of the great things about RPGs - you can be a big damn hero (anyone a Firefly fan?). I don't know this AP at all, but from your description and the player's guide, the original version does not sound so heroic.
In this version, we are literally being asked to rescue a damsel in distress and eventually rescue a kingdom. Works for me.
Couldn't have said it better myself and I am a Firefly fan. People think because you're 1st level you can't do heroic stuff, got to stick to fedex quests or take out a tribe of kobolds/undead or whatever the generic 1st level adventure is. Here your actions can affect the kingdom and save some very important NPC's daughter and maybe even save the King's life.
Now, isn't that a better hook than the original hook to this AP: "Let's have the ghost gather you to go kill the drug dealer who abused/addicted you as kids?"
But in this version how are you going to sell Harrow decks? :)
But seriously, my other experience with CotCT was in a PbP game which broke up immediately after taking out Lamm. There's nothing wrong with that scenario in and of itself, except that it has absolutely nothing to do with anything else in the story -- once Lamm is taken care of, there's no reason for the party to keep working together. It's an interesting one-shot.
So yes, this is a much better hook.
I will be gone until Sunday night at GaryCon. DMPC me if needed!
I will be gone until Sunday night at GaryCon. DMPC me if needed!
Have fun!
Hey all - in other PbPs I'm in, I've put together a spreadsheet to help track treasure. It keeps track of what we've found, divides the gold and proceeds from sold items among the party, and helps keep a balance as far as value of magic items and such that different characters get.
As elaborate as that sounds, it's pretty simple, and it's here: Treasure Sheet
If it would be helpful, I'll put the link to it on my stats tab and we can use it going forward. For demonstration, I just put the stuff we got from the tengu, and figured we'd sell it at half the list price, per common practice.
Looks great. If you're willing to track treasure, that would be very helpful, thanks.
By the way, as a native of Varisia, you get Varisian for free.
Any of these would serve you well: any of the racial languages (Dwarven, Elven, etc.), Giant, Goblin, Korvosan, Shoanti
Just noticed I have not yet picked Gyllan's additional languages, so I went back and looked at your post about it. Does this mean that I get Varisian free, but not Korvosan? I'm guessing I get one of them free, but can't take both free? I don't mean to nitpick - if I can get them both free, I'll pick two other languages with Cosmopolitan. If I can only get Varisian or Korvosan free, I'll pick up the other and one more from your list with Cosmopolitan. Thanks.
@Cinnamon - wow, what a great post! The way you introduced the nature of different birds, and then made yourself the cuckoo and used the fact that they make other birds raise their young, and wrapped it all so neatly into Cinnamon's story. Really cool. And then the empty cup. Great touch.
Just noticed I have not yet picked Gyllan's additional languages, so I went back and looked at your post about it. Does this mean that I get Varisian free, but not Korvosan? I'm guessing I get one of them free, but can't take both free? I don't mean to nitpick - if I can get them both free, I'll pick two other languages with Cosmopolitan. If I can only get Varisian or Korvosan free, I'll pick up the other and one more from your list with Cosmopolitan. Thanks.
Correct, you get Common and Varisian for free. If you want Korvosan, you need to pick it as one of your bonus languages.
Languages picked, thanks.
Glad the treasure sheet looks good. Now to find some stuff to put on it!
Well, gang, head out into the storm or wait til morning? We've all talked about going right away, but we did just get a reminder of a raging storm. (Perhaps he's trying to tell us something.)
Charging into the teeth of the storm does seem like the more heroic option, and we have little reason to think the bad guys are going to wait around until we can surprise them. But we could all freeze to death or otherwise get killed in the storm before we ever find the cave.
I'm inclined to go for it, but wanted to hear what Luc and y'all think.
@Everyone - how do you all want to play in-combat strategy? I have an idea for what one of the other characters could do in this surprise round that could be very useful. But the PCs haven't talked about it, and Gyllan doesn't even necessarily know that the other PC can do this.
So, I can read character sheets and come up with ideas, and Gyllan could even believably whisper the idea quickly to the other PC, but it breaks down the realism if he doesn't know about this ability.
In short, do we want to pursue OOC discussions about strategy and such while we're in combat, or just see how it plays out? And as a related question, do we assume we know all of each other abilities, or have to learn about them over time?
I hope it's clear that I'm asking all this not to be nitpicky. I'm really enjoying this game, and having a pretty small party and not really knowing what we're up against here has a gritty, dangerous feel. I want us to survive and triumph (which argues for OOC combat discussion) but I also really want to keep the realism and gritty feel intact (which argues against OOC combat discussion).
/wordyquestion
I dont mind discussing some strategy in the ooc. Its kind of how my rl group do in our table games. But since this is a pbp I will follow the lead of the DM and the rest of the group on the matter.
I dont mind discussing some strategy in the ooc. Its kind of how my rl group do in our table games. But since this is a pbp I will follow the lead of the DM and the rest of the group on the matter.
This is pretty much my attitude as well. Long, involved strategy conversations are probably better in the Discussion thread (unless they're in character, of course), but really I just try and follow the lead of those around me.
Cinnamon has discussed the spells she can cast during the trip, if asked. I don't think she would ever talk about her bloodline powers, though. (Not that her current one hasn't been made completely obvious.) OOC, you can suggest anything you want, though.
I don't have a problem with it, as long as it's not too convoluted and the players agree that they have shared the knowledge referenced to in game (spells, abilities, etc.).