Here's the Sources for Character Creation:
Core Rules/SRD
Alternate Class features from Players Handbook 2
Complete Warrior, Divine, Arcane, Adventurer
Races of Destiny, Wild, Stone
Spell Compendium
28 point buy character generation. 125gp starting cash.
Anything else run it buy me first.
Few 'No Nos' from the off:
- The campaign works best with a party of Heroes out to do good so Evil alignments just ain't gonna work.
- No races with Level adjustments (Can't wait till 4th Ed makes this obsolete).
Create a character profile and post it using it. Once we've 'done the math' I'll post some campaign overview and history info and we can look at backgrounds.
Just to give you a taste (if you weren't aware already) the campaign is set in or around the City of Cauldron which is built in a extinct volcano in a sub-tropical jungle.
When we do background you'll get a free background trait which will have minor positive and negative effects.
My advice would be to try and create a balanced party but err on the side of creating characters you want to play. I'll try and cope with any issues a weirdly built party may throw up.
So, just to double check - we are allowed the alternate class features in the supplements, but not the classes? I had a hankering for a duskblade, but if that's a no-no, then a druid with the shapeshifter alternate class feature.
Although if anyone has a real urge to play the 'healer' role I'm happy with whatever.
Sorry, my first (and definately not last) mistake. The classes in the PHB2 are also allowed.
Sorry, my first (and definately not last) mistake. The classes in the PHB2 are also allowed.
No worries; thanks for that! Awesome (rubs hands in glee)...
No worries; thanks for that! Awesome (rubs hands in glee)...
Oh no, what have I done..............;)
Great. Got to get some sleep. I'll post again at lunch tomorrow.
Here's the Sources for Character Creation:
Core Rules/SRD
Alternate Class features from Players Handbook 2
Complete Warrior, Divine, Arcane, Adventurer
Races of Destiny, Wild, Stone
Spell Compendium28 point buy character generation. 125gp starting cash.
I don't have the Complete Series (except for Adventurer), so I may have to work from the older series (Tome & Blood, Sword & Fist, etc.). Any good?
Also, I am assuming that 125 gp starting is what we have to work from for buying gear to get us started (armor, weapons, etc.)
Each of the Complete books has a Trio of new character classes. As far as prestige classes and other options in the older books are concerned if you put somethig forward I'll let you know the updated rules for it.
The 125gp is for buying equipment, yes.
Hello. Are there slots left open?
Hi Radavel. I don't have a problem with a 6 man party if the other five players don't - the upside is encounters get slightly easier, the downside is the xp pile gets a bit 'skinny'.
If none of the others raise an objection within the next 24 hours assume your on board.
Running tally of people and their classes:
FabesMinis (?) - Duskblade?
PsionicFox (?) - Beguiler?
thereal thom (?) - ?
Eichendar (?) - ?
Alex Martin (?) - ?I'm tossing up the idea of a beguiler, but I'm still undecided. I'm usually pretty happy with conforming to the needs of the party.
Hmmmn...I wonder if anyone'll play a boring old class from the PHB ?
Only joking - remember, I'd much rather have a little in-balance in the party with you guys playing classes you want to rather than playing characters you feel you have to. That said if you can cover all the bases party survivability goes way up ! :)
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Hmmmn...I wonder if anyone'll play a boring old class from the PHB ?
That's so yesterday, daddio - we want the hot, phat leet classes ;) to which end... I've got a couple statted up - a duskblade (Valan) or a druid (Jessa) (to fit in with what other people have, and in case my first PC snuffs it)
Posting three hours ago? (Its 8:17 AM East Coast (US) time for me.) I know Flamifur's in the UK. Where are the rest of you guys?
I'm fine with Radavel. ALso Nerak the Numb expressed interest in the first thread.
I am "so yesterday" :) (Read bibliographically challenged) I'll be playing straight out of the SRD. Back in the AD&D days I was a ranger junkie, but haven't played one in 3.x at all. That would be my first choice. Also willing to fill any holes in the party.
Eichendar expressed interest in rogue type. Alex in fighter or maybe a caster.
I'd be willing to take the cleric role too.
I'm in the UK too, so +1 GMT at the moment.
If there are 6 of us, we should all get to play what we want pretty much. I will be happy to play either character that I've created.
Valan - melee/secondary caster
Jessa- caster (healer)/secondary melee (when shapechanged) or ranged
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I'm in Australia, on the East coast, so I'm on GMT +10.
Oh, and I'm cool with six people, it gives people more chances of playing what they want.
On the subject of classes, If I play the beguiler (and fabes goes the Duskblade path), we've got most arcane spellcasting covered, and a divine caster can thrown in some of those utility spells that are always handy. We'd also be able to fill in most of the combat roles (with me probably more ranged).
Otherwise, as I said, I'm all cool with taking on a role that is needed, although I'm playing a fair few divine casters at the moment, so I'd rather not go that path. Otherwise, its all basically free reign.
Tell you what, re-reading the posts in this and the original thread, it seems folks are luke-warm towards playing the divine caster/healer role, so I'll play Jessa the druid.
How decisive of me! If no-one minds that is... :/
Cool. I'm on the ranger then. Thanks, Fabesminis.
TWo weapon fighting. Oh, I've some questions for Flamifur....
Not a problem, thom; she's gonna be a lot of fun to play.
Still working on making some characters, but I'll probably be playing "old skool". Right now, I'm leaning towards a fighter, with a paladin (figuring we need some back-up healing)or a wizard type as my other choices.
Leaning towards the fighting types. Any thoughts folks?
On a seperate note, I just got called for an emergency project that will take me on the road starting next Friday (10/12). For the 10 days after Friday, I should have access to email and the board easily - but will probably be only able to post early morning or late evening every day.
If this is a concern for gameflow, etc, please let me know. I don't want to muck things up for everyone else.
Two fighting types is a good idea for a 6 person party - so a ranger (thom) and a fighter/paladin would work well.
I was going by the DMG system of starting at 8; it costs 1 for 1 up until 15 (which costs 8), 16 (costs 10), 17 (13), 18 (16).
Did I do wrong, boss? <:-/
Hi Guys. I pulled a 12 hour shift at work so I'm a bit late posting at a crucial time. Apologies.
He's some answers:
Alex: No problem with the slower pace of posting over the next week or two - it'll be cool to start off at a gentle pace.
Looks like Radavel is in- welcome aboard !
Eichendar: Alex has it right we're using the points buy system from the DMG which is he said it is.
For some reason Nerak's post didn't appear on the thread until ofter I had given the tentative go ahead to Radavel. I'll put Nerak at the top of my 'subs' list if he's still interested. I don't know what happened there.
So as of now we have the following:
Jessa Ventris (FabesMinis) - Druid
No Name (thereal thom) - Ranger
No Name (Eichendar)- Rogue
No Name (Alex Martin)- Fighter or Paladin ?
No Name (PsionicFox) - Beguiler or 'gap filler' ?
No Name (Radavel) - No preference yet stated
Looks like I'm gonna have to beef up an encounter or three ! ;)
What questions did you need answering thom ?
If anyone want to contact me without posting you can get me at Flamifur@googlemail.com.
If your having problems sorting yourself a character profile have a look at FabesMinis's one for Jessa (without spoiler peeking obviously), it's pretty much all there.
I've got another monster shift tomorrow so I might seem to be ignoring the thread for most of the day but I'm simply working my fingers to the bone to afford for books !! I'll be on line for the next few hours anyway so post any questions.
I'll post some background info on Sunday and those of you with access to the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer feel free to diseminate information from that as others need it.
Don't worry, you can look at spoilers on the profile - I did them like that just because otherwise it would be an info overload.
I've got the LGG and the Player's Guide to Greyhawk (for 2E), so if anyone has background questions on gods, countries, factions, races etc then feel free to ask. (Yes, I am tres geek).
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Still talking about classes:
We don't have a blaster yet I see, So I'll jump into that role. I'm thinking a warlock, and multiclass into Wizard or Sorc levels, and take up the Eldritch Theurge Prestige Class (its in Complete Mage). I can use the Warlock levels for blasting, and the sorcerer levels for utility and extra blasting!
Flamifur,
Not 100% sure yet, but I think I'd like to go with short spear as my weapon of choice, but wielded almost like a quarterstaff using the two weapon fighting to get the penalties down. Damage would run 1d8/1d6 which would be comparable to a longsword/shortsword combo. What's your take on it?
Also, I should have a chance to post Sunday night I'll have the character statted up by then and can finalize details then per your ruling.
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So as of now we have the following:
No Name (Radavel) - No preference yet stated
Looks like I'm in... I'd like to play a fighter but would it be alright if I used the alternative class features presented in Dragon, i.e. Eldritch Warriors article?
Also, can I use flaws? I need the extra feats in the event you allow the alternative class feats option...
Not 100% sure yet, but I think I'd like to go with short spear as my weapon of choice, but wielded almost like a quarterstaff using the two weapon fighting to get the penalties down. Damage would run 1d8/1d6 which would be comparable to a longsword/shortsword combo. What's your take on it?
That's fine if you want to use it. (If I were playing I'd go for the longsword/shortsword instead but only because you'd have to disarm me twice, the shortsword counts as a light weapon and the chances of critting goes up by 300% ! - just felt I should point that out.)
Looks like I'm in... I'd like to play a fighter but would it be alright if I used the alternative class features presented in Dragon, i.e. Eldritch Warriors article?
Also, can I use flaws? I need the extra feats in the event you allow the alternative class feats option...
Slight issue or two:
I don't have access to my Dragon stash at the moment so you'll have to explain in painful detail the alternate features before I can decide - might be easier just to say no out of hand but I'm eager to please.
I'm not into the Flaws thing simply because The Shackled City Campaign uses it's own which I'll decide based on background just before we start - so that one is a no I'm afraid. Sorry.
Speaking of disarming... do we have a "traps and sneaking guy" yet?
EDIT: Oh yeah,we do, a rogue. Carry on. Nothing to see here...
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Slight issue or two:I don't have access to my Dragon stash at the moment so you'll have to explain in painful detail the alternate features before I can decide - might be easier just to say no out of hand but I'm eager to please.
Thanks to the guys at Paizo, the Eldritch Warriors article in Dragon 355 provides the following:
Armored Savant - replacing 1st level fighter bonus feat; you ignore weight of your armor for purposes of calculating encumberance; and your armor slows you as if it were one category lighter than it is. This is a supernatural ability.
Bonded Armor - replacing 8th level fighter bonus feat; you bond with a specific suit of armor through a ritual; allows you to don or remove the said armor as a full-round action; also, as long as you are awake and can move freely, the armor grants you a +1 insight bonus to AC; insight bonus increase to +2 at 14th level; +3 at 20th. This is a supernatural ability.
Eldritch Grace - replacing 4th level fighter bonus feat; you gain evasion against spells and magical effects as long as you are unencumbered or lightly encumbered. This is a supernatural ability.
Eldritch Juggernaut - replacing 18th level fighter bonus feat; while wearing medium or heavy armor, you gain spell resistance equal to 11 + your hit dice. This is a supernatural effect that does not stack with any other spell resistance you have.
Fortification - replacing fighter bonus feats at 10th, 14th and 18th levels; beginning at 10th level, when wearing heavy armor there is 25% chance that any critical hit or sneak attack scored against you is negated and damage is instead rolled normally. The negation chance increases to 75% at 14th level and 100t% at 18th level. This is a supernatural effect that does not stack with any other fortification you have.
Warrior of Air (as this option I plan on taking, I'll not be posting the others, i.e. Warrior of Earth, Fire and Water) - replacing figther bonus feats at levels 2, 6, 12 and 20; at 2nd level gain electrical resistance 5, which increases to 10 and 20 at levels 12 and 20, respectively.
Starting at level 6 gain ability to cast featherfall as a spell-like ability three (3) times per day. Caster level equals fighter level. In addition, you deal electrical damage on a successful critical hit with an unarmed strike or melee weapon. You deal +1d6 at 6th, +2d6 at 12 and +3d6 at 20th.
Starting at 12th level, you may cast freedom of movement as a spell-like ability once per day. Caster level equals fighter level. At 20th level, you may cast it 3 times per day.
Note that you can't TAKE both fortification and eldritch juggernaut as they both replace the 18th level slot. (I suspect that this is typo as the 16th level slot is still open, but with no official errata on the matter, we'll just have to play them as is. Perhaps, I'll ask the guys at PAIZO.)
These alternative class features makes for a more self-reliant fighter.
Whichever way you decide on the issue (please, please say yes), I plan on playing a half-orc.
I'm not into the Flaws thing simply because The Shackled City Campaign uses it's own which I'll decide based on background just before we start - so that one is a no I'm afraid. Sorry.
No problem regarding the flaws.
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Well then, It looks like I'm going to be badly needed to fill the arcane caster gap. That's cool, I'll just need to play something closer to the PHB - at least to begin with.
Flamifur, what is your ruling on spells from books other than the PHB? I've often played under the ruling that the spells in the core PHB need very little research to add to a spellbook, but the spells from other sources ('Races of', 'Complete', and so on) need additional research as those spells are not as well known (requiring usually a few days of solid research in a sizable library), obviously if you wish to use this rule, thats cool, and also cool if not (Personally, I think its a cool concept).
At this stage I'm thinking of playing an Elven Wizard, with the appropriate racial substitution level. Hooray for having more spells! Later on I'm thinking of multiclassing into some sorcerer levels, and then Prestige-ing into Ultimate Magus (Complete Mage). I may not be able to cast the most powerful spell right away, but I'll certainly be able to cast more of them than anyone else!
Here we are!
Erion Gilor, Elven mage at your sevice!
By the by, is it alright if I run Erion as a Grey Elf? The bonus to Int will rock hard for me. Having +2 Dex and +2 to Int is far more valuable to me than good Con and Str scores...
Seeing Iggwilv and Raistlin avatars for an adventuring party makes me chuckle (love it!) - The Ultimate Magus looks like fun from the excerpt on the WOTC website
Hah, yeah. This is the mage-style pic I liked the best and it can be an elf cause you can't see his ears!
Just so you all know, I'm gunning for the 'super-versatile' arcane caster, with the Generalist Wizard feature of the Elven Wizard Class feature, and Alacritous Cogitation (feat from Complete Mage), which allows me to keep a spell slot free in order to cast a spell of equal or lower level at any point, once per day, and a full-round action.
When I get in to my Sorcerer levels, watch out!
The Ultimate Magus basically just combines Wizard and Sorcerer levels (think Arcane Hierophant[Druid/Arcane] and Mystic Theurge[Cleric/Arcane]), and grants some cool tricks for using Metamagic feats to top it off.
For Flamifur:
Just on an RP standpoint, would you like to randomly determine at what level I will gain my Sorcerer level (I wanted to run with a whole 'holy crap, how the hell did I just cast that spell? I didn't prepare that!' idea)? Provided I take that Sorcerer level no later than level 5, I'll be egligable for Ultimate Magus at level 6!
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And just to keep things current:
Jessa Ventris (FabesMinis) - Druid
No Name (thereal thom) - Ranger
No Name (Eichendar)- Rogue
No Name (Alex Martin)- Fighter or Paladin ?
Erion Gilor (PsionicFox) - Wizard
No Name (Radavel) - Fighter (Eldritch Warrior)?
That look about right to everyone? We are so going to lay the smackdown.
That's fine if you want to use it. (If I were playing I'd go for the longsword/shortsword instead but only because you'd have to disarm me twice, the shortsword counts as a light weapon and the chances of critting goes up by 300% ! - just felt I should point that out.)
I know I'm seriously sub-optimizing. UNlike my rangers of long ago I am not going to try to recreate Aragorn. I see him as a young kid, scratching out a living as a hunter and guide. Completely untutored in combat, and without serious combat experience.
May as time goes by we can morph him into swords when he sees how effective they are and has a need to be combat-effective. Right now he doesn't have that need.
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And just to keep things current:
Jessa Ventris (FabesMinis) - Druid
No Name (thereal thom) - Ranger
No Name (Eichendar)- Rogue
No Name (Alex Martin)- Fighter or Paladin ?
Erion Gilor (PsionicFox) - Wizard
No Name (Radavel) - Fighter (Eldritch Warrior)?That look about right to everyone? We are so going to lay the smackdown.
A veritable wall of blades, indeed.
Flamifur, if it's alright with you, I'll withdraw the "eldritch warrior" option and just play a half-orc barbarian using the berserker strength alternative class feature in PHB II, with an eye on entering the "sanctified one" PrC, as per Complete Champion.
- chaos warp (su): 1/day ignore a successful critical hit; luck of battle (ex): 1/day you can choose to roll d20 twice and use the higher of the two results; sanctified strength (su): gain sacred bonus to Str equal to twice your level in the PrC for 1 round.
Blessing of Kord - at dawn every day, you can choose to gain either: +2 bonus to Str; +2 luck bonus on all saves; or +10 foot bonus to speed. You cannot change this blessing until the next day.
By the way, the Ultimate Magus PrC is cool. I'd like to play one someday.
A ranger, a barbarian and a fighter/paladin! Nice. Just wondering if I should move some ranks into Diplomacy... do we have a 'face' man?
I've got a good Charisma score, and I was planning on taking some Diplomacy ranks... So if you like, I can play the 'face'.
EDIT: Does anyone else see the irony in something like that coming from someone using a Raistlin pic?
Well I suppose Jessa isn't too bad at it - she currently has +3 to Dip checks.
Likewise!
Although you are a Half-Elf, yes? Have you added your racial bonus to your diplomacy checks?
EDIT: I've also got a +3 on sleight of hand checks. You'll understand why later.
Yep, that's including the racial bonus - its a class skill so I can always put ranks in it after 1st level should we find ourselves embroiled in social situations.
Yeah, its cross-class for me, but I don't mind burning a few points for it. I'm going to keep putting points in it when I can (Like save one point every level so that at every odd level I can stick another point in it or something). Its going to fit with my character, especially when I start taking class skill ranks in Bluff (from Sorc levels).
Sorry I have been quiet for so long - yesterday was a looong day for me at work.
Questions answered:
Radavel: I'm cool with the barbarian with the alternate features. And the prestige class option is cool.
Psionic Fox: I'm happy to go with your concept for spell learning. PHB Common and easy - other sources requiring days of research. As far as your 'spoiler' concept is concerned: it's a cool idea and you'll just have to leave the machinations up to me....... ;) You can use the Grey Elf adjustments, no problem.
TherealThom: Love the concept.
Alex: Looking at the Party - if you feel the urge to play a paladin that would be cool - I think the party will need the healing back-up !
Eichendar : How's the rogue coming along ?
I'll post some campaign background stuff later today.