I really like everyone's characters so far. I'll look them over carefully for intersting tidbits and hooks and try to get my starting post composed and posted tonight.
Jeslara "Jessa" Eventide, Human Wizard (Diviner) (Cyphermage?) - NSpicerCyphermage? No. Not unless they come out with a prestige class for it that looks appealing. More likely, Jessa will see the cyphermages of Riddleport as her competition. So, for now, she's simply a specialist diviner, heavy on the knowledge skills, and making a bee-line for the Loremaster PrC down the road.
--Neil
Sean must have some kind of aura about him that attracts people wanting to play diviners heading for the Loremaster PrC, as the character I made for his Age of Worms campaign is in many ways similar to Jessa (except for being a dwarf, obviously). :-)
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I might pick up a proficiency a bit later or multiclass fighter 1 level depending how the roleplaying goes.I thought it was an interesting choice to go with weapons you're not proficient with...and just assumed you must be planning on multi-classing as a fighter/rogue down the road somewhere. In fact, I'd encourage you to do that. I think it would help out greatly from a combat perspective.
Has anyone else noticed that this group of heroes is founded on a host of ironies? We've got a pacifist-wannabe barbarian who struggles to contain his rage. We've got a priest of the archery/hunting god who can't shoot a bow to save his life. A city-born halfling who falls in love with the wilderness and becomes a druid. A dwarven rogue who fights with axes he doesn't really know how to use all that well in combat. A ranger that carries a heavy crossbow and a rapier. Heck, I even went with the non-traditional diviner rather than a shock-and-awe wizard. Just call us the Order of Stereotypical Misfits and we'll be ready to roll... ;-)
--Neil
I've been seeing this as a cartoon since yesterday. Heehehhee. Don't suppose any of you can draw.
:-)
Sean must have some kind of aura about him that attracts people wanting to play diviners heading for the Loremaster PrC, as the character I made for his Age of Worms campaign is in many ways similar to Jessa (except for being a dwarf, obviously). :-)
Not that I mind. It's a fun choice for a hero, and academics always need to get out and do more field work anyway.
One additional observation I noticed while looking over our group. From an interaction standpoint, we're going to have some challenges.
For instance, only Kinmorn (the cleric) and I (Jessa the wizard) have Diplomacy skills (+8 and +3 respectively). Since it's a cross-class skill for me, I think Kinmorn will eventually excel as the primary spokesperson for the group. I intend on beefing up Jessa's Knowledge (nobility) skills enough to eventually get the synergy bonus on Diplomacy, too. So she can still serve as backup or co-pilot, if necessary, in that role.
In terms of the Bluff skill, only Grengar has that ability...and only at +2...so, pulling one over on anybody might prove difficult for awhile.
Lastly, I believe only Mitnal has the ability to Intimidate anyone...with 4 ranks in that skill.
Also, just as FYI, many of Jessa's enchantment spells may come into play as interrogation/interaction fill-in's. If we can't win someone over with diplomacy, trickery, or intimidation...there's always magical compulsion on our side.
Something to keep in mind, I guess.
--Neil
I took City Born (Magnimar), so I get a +2 bonus on diplomacy.
For a total of +2.
Which will never, ever change.
Nevermind.
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The ranger is a "wee little fellow"...? Do you mean the druid? Looks like our ranger is human with decent hit points, AC, and attacks. So that ought to help out the front-line barbarian.
But I am a little worried at how many of us defined our combat tactics as "stays out of melee." If we all try to stay back and do ranged attacks, that's going to be a pretty sparse front-line....
I confused the druid and the ranger. Still only two "front-line" types.
Actually the cleric has decent hitpoints and though he can't well dodge a lot of attacks, he can probably go toe to toe with a lone goblin. Without precise shot, its not easy being an archer in a melee so in combat I'll probably be a second string front line fighter half the time.
Mitnal has two-weapon fighting and two-weapon defense. With 14 hit points and an 18 AC (even when he is using his klar to fight two handed) he should be a bit of a damage sponge.
This is gonna be fun.
Guys, relax...don't over analyze! Diplomacy schlomacy. It's all good.
Hey, who dropped this coin purse?
Guys, relax...don't over analyze! Diplomacy schlomacy. It's all good.
I'm analytical by nature (so it's a good thing I'm playing the wizard, I guess?)...but I'm not a rules-lawyer in terms of my playing style. So don't worry. That's as far as my "analysis" of our group will go. Promise!
I just thought it was worth examining our group from all of the possible angles within the game. I think we'll do well in all phases. I was just sort of identifying who's likely to shine in which roles. If we need someone to talk our way out of a mess, send in Kinmorn. If we need to back someone down with a little intimidation, call in Mitnal. And so on...
--Neil
P.S. Jessa would like her coin purse back, please. "Yes, I know it's mine. I'm a diviner...remember?" ;-)
I really like everyone's characters so far. I'll look them over carefully for intersting tidbits and hooks and try to get my starting post composed and posted tonight.
No starting post yet, I take it? Or did I miss the thread somewhere?
--Neil
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I really like everyone's characters so far. I'll look them over carefully for intersting tidbits and hooks and try to get my starting post composed and posted tonight.No starting post yet, I take it? Or did I miss the thread somewhere?
--Neil
Not yet unless I missed it too. Cheers, :-)
Patience, tallfolk. All things will come in time.
Patience, tallfolk. All things will come in time.
I like tha the sound o' that!
Oh, and here's yo' coin purse, Jeesa. You oughta be a might more careful or someone less honest may find it first.
I can only plead NYE. Working now on a first post.
Nye? You mean Bill Nye, the Science Guy?
*sigh*
*Jessa casts comprehend languages*
"NYE...?" she muses, "Oh...New Year's Eve. Well then, I suppose that explains things..." :-)
The play thread is open.
I can only plead NYE. Working now on a first post.Nye? You mean Bill Nye, the Science Guy?
Yep. I was delayed by a tall man armed with science. Not an easy encounter, let me tell you.
Yep. I was delayed by a tall man armed with science. Not an easy encounter, let me tell you.
I assume he "blinded you with science" then? ;-)
*sigh*
I find it thoroughly entertaining that Blackwing has managed to upstage Jessa so early in the game already. ;-)
And kudos to Paizo for having the perfect avatar for him!
--Neil
I like the little birdbrain already. Too bad there's no avatar for Spot. All the dog avatars look too angry.
Also, I thought that dwarven women didn't have beards anymore?
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I like the little birdbrain already. Too bad there's no avatar for Spot. All the dog avatars look too angry.
Yeah, I have druid with a donkey rat - no avatar for Gloam either.
Also, I thought that dwarven women didn't have beards anymore?
Might explain why Gengar is single.
Also, I thought that dwarven women didn't have beards anymore?Might explain why Gengar is single.
That...
Or maybe he just likes playing the field? ;-)
Might explain why Gengar is single.
Ah. He's not a bright man, then, is he?
My character sheet has been linkified.
Ah heck, I thought today was Swallowtail Day...
I played around with Invisible Castle tonight...just to see if I could simulate the die rolls for Jessa's sucker-punch on Torrick. Let's see if this works...
To hit roll with true strike bonus and unarmed damage roll (1d20+20=32, 1d3=3)
Looks like you worked it right, Neil.
Really, I'm fine with the honor system, if your dice are handier and your honor is true. My other PbP has players doing either/or/both.
Also, that Torrick Vey guy is a real jackhole. I'm glad you punched him. He really deserved it.
Also, that Torrick Vey guy is a real jackhole. I'm glad you punched him. He really deserved it.
LOL...
Well, it took that last comment to push Jessa's button hard enough to summon the sin of wrath, I guess. But it was more of a virtuous righteous anger, I think. ;-)
Once I decided to have her go with a punch, I just wanted to make sure she didn't whiff and ruin the whole justice of the moment. Looks like being a diviner and having true strike paid off earlier than expected.
--Neil
Also, so far, I've been all over the map as far as POV and verb tense goes.
I like the immediacy of second person (you run), as it mimics how I would describe things at an actual game table, but that doesn't always seem to fit right with other people's third person omniscient posts. Plus, all those "you"s can get confusing after a while, even if I'm addressing specific characters in my posts.
Should I try to unify with you guys, or are y'all okay with my changing tense willy nilly, however things strike my fancy when I post?
This is only my second PbP i've run, so I have no real attachment to any particular style. And I have no need for anyone else to change their posting style to suit me, if we're all okay with chaotic tense changes.
I was trying to do first person, but I switched to third person to match everyone else, but it doesn't really matter to me as long as its not ambiguous.
My good sense is telling me to run too, but I want to know, and halflings supposed to be brave, even if foolishly.
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I tend to think of PbP as narrative and so gravitate towards the third person.
But I'm fine with either way.
I'm having a bigger problem trying to decide which is better, past or present tense.
Present feels right when dealing with other PCs but past tense feels more natural when dealing with story details.
I like present tense. The story is unfolding currently.
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Hey, something weird. I posted this in the game thread but it isn't there now. Or, if it is, it has disappeared and come back because it isn't there when I look:
Gengar Whittlewood wrote:
Gengar looks at Mitnal's hand full of coins for a moment and then laughs. "I've got it this time, my friend." The dwarf hands the odiferous merchant 4 coppers. "You can pick up my next snack! Let's go see what's going on up by tha' new fancy church. Maybe some of the new comers need help carrying their wares or what naught."
Mitnal puts his coins back in his pouch a little embarrassed. He assumes the dwarf's laughter is not at his expense but isn't quite sure.
"Carrying bags, unpacking caravans ... I've unloaded boats in Galduria and Wolf's Ear. Better exercise and better pay than selling baskets," Mitnal says. "Let's see what we can find."
Gengar Whittlewood wrote:
Gengar holds a piece of fish up for the bird. "You know, yo' pet is really something. Where did you get him?"
"Pet?" Mitnal asks puzzled. Then, seeing Gengar offer some fish to the magnificent black bird realizes what was meant. Quietly, he says to the dwarf "This is a raven. I'm not sure why he has come but please be respectful."
I started out using third-person, past tense. And then I noticed some others were using present tense (and occasionally a different POV). I started to change as well. Then I saw others were using third-person, past tense, too. So, I decided to stay consistent with how I started the game until you indicated you wanted something different.
I definitely feel like third-person is the POV to use. Present or past tense is okay either way. But I do wish we all used it consistently. Otherwise, I may find myself responding in different ways throughout the game...shifting back and forth. And, from a readability perspective it's a bit jarring to do that. Not terribly so, of course. The story's still there for all to see.
So, third-person POV...and an established tense consistently used...gets my vote.
--Neil
edit - weird I posted to two threads and my game post ended up in the wrong thread and my other post appears to be deleted.
3rd person, present tense is fine with me.
I only used past tense because its the tense I normally write fiction in and old habits die hard.
3rd person, present tense is fine with me.
If everyone's okay with that, I'll switch over to present tense and continue from there. If I could go back and edit my older posts, I'd fix them as well. But oh well...
--Neil
edit - weird I posted to two threads and my game post ended up in the wrong thread and my other post appears to be deleted.
3rd person, present tense is fine with me.
I only used past tense because its the tense I normally write fiction in and old habits die hard.
That would be the 'invisible post' bug. The Eye has said it has something to do with the threading of the database, and it'll happen that others will still see your post. I believe the fix that may or may not work is to log out, close your browser, then log back in and see if it appears again.
Player Request: I was reviewing Jessa's spells and was wondering if you'd mind terribly much if I changed out sleep and selected color spray instead?
I plan on having her focus on three primary schools of magic across her adventuring career...divination, obviously...enchantment (represented well enough by charm person and hypnotism already on top of sleep at the moment)...and illusion (which is only represented by silent image right now).
So I'd like to even things out a bit more by removing sleep and taking color spray. Is it still early enough to make that change? Or would you rather keep things the way they are now that the game has begun?
--Neil
Player Request: I was reviewing Jessa's spells and was wondering if you'd mind terribly much if I changed out sleep and selected color spray instead?
I plan on having her focus on three primary schools of magic across her adventuring career...divination, obviously...enchantment (represented well enough by charm person and hypnotism already on top of sleep at the moment)...and illusion (which is only represented by silent image right now).
So I'd like to even things out a bit more by removing sleep and taking color spray. Is it still early enough to make that change? Or would you rather keep things the way they are now that the game has begun?
--Neil
Please, feel free to swap out the spells. They haven't really come up in game yet, so no harm no foul.
To be clear with my position on the tense/viewpoint issue -- I'm fine with willy nilly chaos. Quite comfortable with in, in fact. And I understand literary/writing inclinations toward third person, past tense (Jessa walked down the street), since that's how most novels are written.
I probably keep using second person, present tense (you walk down the street). Second person (you) is very immediate, and mimics the way most DMs talk to their players. I'll either reply to a specific post, which will indicate I am only speaking to character I'm responding to, or, if I am replying to multiple characters in a single post, I will start each individual character section with their name in bold (as I have just done in the play thread).
I like present tense (Jessa walks, you walk) as it also gives immediacy to the game. As Ross pointed out, it reads as if the story is unfolding right now.
Anybody else can compose their posts however they want, as it really doesn't matter to me. I was mostly just checking to see if everybody else had a preference for how I posted.