Similarly, can anyone recommend a similar class/PrC that might emulate the battle dancer, for those who could not get the material for it...
Similarly, can anyone recommend a similar class/PrC that might emulate the battle dancer, for those who could not get the material for it...
** spoiler omitted **
Hierophantasm,
Sure Nick. Stat her up. Especially since I will be definatly running Savage Tide in about a month or so.
Sure Nick. Stat her up. Especially since I will be definatly running Savage Tide in about a month or so.
Will do! I'll just wait and see if Hierophantasm has any special requests for her first, and then I'll jump right on her...er...jump right on...statting her up...YOU KNOW WHAT I MEANT!!! ;-)
~laughter~ You fiance will get upset if she is not invited. ~WEG~ I am just trying to warn you.
LOL!
Invited or not, she'd shank me with the awl she keeps under her car seat. My girl is not a woman to be trifled with...that's why I love her! :-)
~chuckles~ Good for you, Nick. Does she game and does she have a sister? ~winks~
~chuckles~ Good for you, Nick. Does she game and does she have a sister? ~winks~
Not so much, but she freaking listens to all my stories and even lets me read her stuff I write...how cool is that. She does have a sister. :-)
the awl she keeps under her car seat.
Ha! My girlfriend used to pack one of those. That was for portable defense. I think in the car she had a bat AND a crowbar.
Basically, if she was ever attacked by a robot army, I think she could have handled it.
the awl she keeps under her car seat.Ha! My girlfriend used to pack one of those. That was for portable defense. I think in the car she had a bat AND a crowbar.
Basically, if she was ever attacked by a robot army, I think she could have handled it.
Huzzah for heavily armed significant others!!! :-)
She sounds like a keeper Nick! I do hope to meet the both of you someday!
Wow! Thanks a million, Nic! One of the most fascinating elements of Sasserine--for me, at least--is the possibility of a "sandbox"-type of free-roaming D&D backdrop. (I'm currently putting the finishing touches on a three-encounter sidequest template, usable in any D&D setting. Had actually planned on submitting it to Dungeon, but...*sigh*) Anyway, as such, I've put all those villainous NPCs listed in the Sasserine backdrop on a hotlist of prospective sidequests, already planting the seeds for their involvement.
The seed of this sidequest will involve (much as in the movie) a young dancer having arrived in the Azure District (one of the two districts acting as my PC's stomping grounds, the other being Sunrise), only to find that she is shut out of the Telvanta Academy, under suspicious circumstances. (Likely) given refuge by one of my PCs, she is sure to become an amicable acquaintance. Fast forward to the aftermath of the "Kellani's Killers" encounter in The Bullywug Gambit (honestly, my favorite adventure title, ever), when the PCs are likely to piece together the source of Diamondback's assault--perhaps leading them to Heldrath, who in turn will likely lead them to the Telvanta Academy. Be it stealth or siege, my players never like to let their enemies escape justice.
The overall sidequest--at the level I anticipate it occuring (between 4th and 5th, erring on 5th, with a party of five characters, using Eberron-esque action points)--would likely have three encounters; the first encounter taking place sometime prior to the last two, which take place nearly back to back, with encounter levels of EL 6, EL 5, and EL 8 or 9, respectively. In short, Alma Telvanta would probably show up as a CR 8, perhaps with a few action points of her own, to kick it up a notch!
Gotta say, Sasserine's a stellar setting that I'm likely to use in future campaigns...if I don't find myself knee-deep in Pathfinder by that point! Thanks again for the offer, Nic!
I'm on it Hierophantasm! It'll be up tomorrow sometime.
I'm on it Hierophantasm! It'll be up tomorrow sometime.
Cool! I can just imagine what my players will think, knowing they've got an encounter coming their way, with a stat block made by one of D&D's leading published authors.
...one of D&D's leading published authors.
Ha! I wouldn't go that far! I'm a little guy in a big pond of talent to be honest. J.J. is my idol, Erik is my grandmaster/mentor, and the rest of the Paizo crew are like my big bros. I just do the best I can, and am happy they like my stuff enough to print it! I live a charm'd life!...
::Now I want to finish the Macbeth quote...but it makes no sense really here. Dang.::
Ouch. An awl! Reminds me of a John Lee Hooker song . . .
She's a mean, mean woman,
She sleeps with a icepick in her hand . . .
Ouch. An awl! Reminds me of a John Lee Hooker song . . .
She's a mean, mean woman,
She sleeps with a icepick in her hand . . .
That's awesome!!!
Speaking of dangerous womanfolk:
My stats for Alma, with a little shadowcaster flavor as per Hierophantasm's request...
ALMA TALVENTA CR 8
Female Human battle dancer 5/shadowcaster 3
CN Medium humanoid
Dragon Compendium 26, Tome of Magic 111
Init +3; Senses darkvision 30ft., Listen +4, Spot +4
Languages Common, Elven
____________________________________________
AC 28*, touch 20, flat-footed 15; Dodge
* = includes bonuses from caul of shadows and empowered steel shadows.
hp 33 (8 HD)
Fort +5, Ref +8, Will +5
____________________________________________
Speed 40ft. (8 squares)
Melee unarmed +13/+8 (1d8+4)
Ranged +2 frost dart +11/+6 (1d4+3 and 1d6 cold)
Base Atk +6; Grp +7
Atk Options dance of reckless bravery, dance of the vexing serpent, Empower Mystery, mysteries, Still Mystery, Weapon Finesse
Combat Gear potion of displacement, potion of cure serious wounds
Mysteries Known Spells Known (CL 3rd):
Apprentice Paths
2nd—sight eclipsed (1/day)
1st—life fades, steel shadows (1/day)
Fundamentals
0—arrow of dusk, caul of shadows, sight obscured (3/day)
_________________________________________________________________
Abilities Str 12, Dex 16, Con 10, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 20
SQ dance of reckless bravery
Feats Empower Mystery, Extend Mystery, Dodge, Improved Unarmed StrikeB, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (unarmed)
Skills Balance +7, Climb +3, Concentration +6, Escape Artist +11, Hide +13, Jump +8, Listen +4, Move Silently +11, Perform (dance) +11, Spot +4, Tumble +13
Dance of Reckless Bravery (Su): A 2nd level battle dancer with 5 ranks in Tumble gains the ability to inspire bravery in her allies. All of the battle dancer’s allies within 30 feet of her gain a +4 bonus on saves against fear effects for a number of round equal to 5 + the battle dancer’s Charisma modifier (10 for Alma). A battle dancer can use this ability only when she is within an opponent’s threatened area. It requires a move action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity.
Dance of the Vexing Snake (Su): A 5th level battle dancer with 8 ranks in Tumble gains the ability to dodge her opponent’s blows with her sudden, unpredictable maneuvers. She can use the Tumble skill to move at her normal speed without penalty, and she can Tumble a distance up to her current speed.
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Possessions: Combat Gear and six +2 frost darts cleverly crafted to appear as beautiful sapphire and silver hair ornaments, +3 amulet of mighty fists,+2 cloak of charisma, ring of nullification (ToM page 157), stylish black dress made of several layers of black lace and nylon veils whose wispy tendrils seem to dance in the wind with a life of their own, and a set of jade inlaid silver anklets and bracelets in the likeness of long-legged cranes.
It was pretty late when I worked this up Hiero, so if you have any questions/concerns shoot em my way. Good gaming to you and yours sir!!!
The Spolier looks Good, Think H" will like it...
The Spolier looks Good, Think H" will like it...
Good, good! I did it after an 8 hour Chinese Opera rehearsal, so I'm just impressed it came out in English. ;-)
Quick question. As a member of the Scarlet Brotherhood, shouldn't her alignment be evil? The Sasserine backdrop listed her as LE, which isn't doable for a battle-dancer, but what about CE?
Quick question. As a member of the Scarlet Brotherhood, shouldn't her alignment be evil? The Sasserine backdrop listed her as LE, which isn't doable for a battle-dancer, but what about CE?
Good catch Guru!
She is henceforth CE...or we could make her an ex-battle dancer and say she gave it up for shadowcaster when she joined the Brotherhood and went Lawful. The choice is yours!
Alma is just right. She seems as though you had my STAP party in mind!
I'm guessing Still Mystery was meant to be included as one of her feats, instead of Extend Mystery. (What an amazing feat for shadowcasters at large, looking to sneak in the dark.) I can already see the battle scene...
The dim ballroom--resembling a pagoda, but spiraling upward like a conch--was strewn with the fallen troupe of "Dragon Dancers" (battle dancers), their scarlet and jade veils fluttering in the salty breeze that poured in through the ripped shoji screens. Our heroes breathed a sigh of relief at the conclusion of the deadly dance, yet their moment of recuperation would be brief, indeed. Silent as a descending feather, a shadowy figure, lithe and graceful--yet cool and methodical--in her movements, was upon them in a heartbeat. With an outstretched hand, she seemed to invite them to a dance; yet just as swiftly, a pair of beautiful hairpins stabbed into the disoriented heroes, chilling them deeply. Slipping in and out of the deadly umbra, the rhythmic steps and precise movements--and all of the gliding and turning, punctuated by throat jabs and elbow strikes--assured the heroes that should they even survive such a test of their mettle, they might never accept another dance from even the prettiest maiden in Sasserine, again.
Well, you've sold me, Nic! Looks like I'll be hunting that Dragon Compendium down, if only to do such a scene justice.
Alma is just right. She seems as though you had my STAP party in mind!
** spoiler omitted **
Well, you've sold me, Nic! Looks like...
Hierophantasm! Your descriptive text ROCKS!!! Now I have to use Alma too thanks to your inspirational paragraph of flavor goodness!
Yeah, I love how jacked her AC gets!!! She doesn't have a load of hp, but good luck tagging her!!! :-)
Tell us all about it if the PCs clash with her my man!
You won't be disappointed with DC, at least I wasn't. Chocked full of awesomeness...the new magic items section alone is worth the price...or the new monsters section (A TON of them are by James J. himself!!! The Monster Master!!!).
Good gaming my man!
Now, better stop doing such nice things or you'll lose your rep as an evil mastermind...
Once, my village was in need of having a character statted up. Nic appeared. To us, he seemed like our savior. The character he created was amazing, and we were able to play our game. There was much rejoicing.
Then, soon after, our crops began to fail. The rain would not come. Our kittens would no longer purr, even when we gave them tuna.
Today, my village is gone, and I alone am left to tell the tale.
...
Can't let Nic lose his flava.
Wow. You're a cool guy Nic, you know that?
Now, better stop doing such nice things or you'll lose your rep as an evil mastermind...
Damnit!
::Goes back to dismembering puppies::
Whew...that feels better...thanks Moth! ;-)
Now, better stop doing such nice things or you'll lose your rep as an evil mastermind...Once, my village was in need of having a character statted up. Nic appeared. To us, he seemed like our savior. The character he created was amazing, and we were able to play our game. There was much rejoicing.
Then, soon after, our crops began to fail. The rain would not come. Our kittens would no longer purr, even when we gave them tuna.
Today, my village is gone, and I alone am left to tell the tale.
...
Can't let Nic lose his flava.
LOL!!! ROFL!!!
This made my night! Thanks Trey!
I might need to steal that for my Age of Darkness campaign
Seeing as how most of it was already stolen, that seems somehow... fitting.
And Nic, anytime. I agree with the others, that was an amazing display of megacoolness.
Now if only you would get your ravens to stop plucking at my eyes.
::shoos ravens away, puts a couple of coppers over Trey's eyes::
To pay the boatman...sorry about your village.
::Feels a little bad. Then looks at the desolated village, and is filled with sick demented giddiness::
;-)
No, really guys happy to help. I love statting up baddies! Good gaming to you and yours!
... and make Nic Logue the BBEG ....
Aye, 'tis true...
A svelte and shadowy figure has haunted my room.
Amidst the darkness creeps an indiscernible doom,
Glinting predatory eyes are my only light.
Since I've read Miss Talventa's stat block,
I've kept my room under key and lock.
Let it never be said no assassins were sent,
For the dancer of death came with my assent.
More concealed and silent than the deadliest rogue,
Miss Alma Talventa stalks with panther-like cunning.
My fate is sealed. There's no use running,
I've been done in good; a hit commissioned by Nicolas Logue.
...small price to pay for a "killer" NPC!
... and make Nic Logue the BBEG ....Aye, 'tis true...
** spoiler omitted **
...small price to pay for a "killer" NPC!
That's awesome Hierophantasm! Lovely!
Now you got me all hooked on the shadowcaster...reading it like mad (I hadn't really looked at it before you mentioned it). Fun flavor. I love the idea of a really high level shadowcaster who wears heavy armor and s&~$, cause a lot of his abilities are spell-like or supernatural by then. Shadow Overlord of DOOOOM!
Well, my party finally threw down with Alma Talventa last night, and the battle went quite well. Though I used her stealth to obscure her from sight almost entirely prior to her introduction into the Shadow Whelk Pagoda--my name for her arena/dance hall--she put on an impressive display. Her astronomical AC became the high point of the fight, in particular, as the party had to rely on summoning monsters to aid, flank, and desperately attempt to corner/surround the agile "shadowy-dancer".
In retrospect, I should have spent her first round using the empowered life fades mystery--though her battle dancer strike was admirably administered--but her dance of the vexing snake immediately sent chills down our tumble-savvy players, noting how much distance she could clear, even when moving through an opponents space!
I preceeded this fight directly with a set of nine battle dancers, boosted with drugged potions of aid; another combat that preceded this one--with some distance between the two--was between them and a half-giant psychic warrior using fear/ability damaging/expansion powers. All together, the side quest that featured Alma was very memorable, and my players had a great time.
Thanks again for the great introduction to the battle dancer, and I look forward to having them rear their heads in the campaign to give my PCs headaches in the future!
Sounds like good times were had Hiero! Hope your campaign continues to rock out! :-)
Sounds like good times were had Hiero! Hope your campaign continues to rock out! :-)
Thanks! Next Friday, they make a play to trounce Errix Vorn, his diabolical Shrouded Children, and his Eye of Vecna golem! Hahahaha!