Kruelaid I am pretty certain I mentioned it or else I thought I had, but were are starting Constantinople.
You probably did and I probably forget.
Thank you!
=)
Modius' gig is that he has a diary of his former employer, and it contains names and information that he uses to leverage people in the government, with tactics ranging from name-dropping to implied blackmail. This is in addition to the ins and outs he learned while his boss still lived.
The book would not contain any ACTUAL blackmailable evidence, so it has limited value, but when the information is used properly it helps Modius get things done.
Kruelaid I am pretty certain I mentioned it or else I thought I had, but were are starting Constantinople
Not Istanbul? (Sorry couldn't resist gratuitous They Might Be Giants reference)
Just a few things I noticed while perusing your stats that I thought I would call to your attention. Isat still has 4 skill points left (24 spent out of 28) as well 2 feats which one must be from the ones I have created on page one. And Mordius’s attack bonus for his short bow should be +3 modified by his dexterity rather then his strength.
Aha. This was inevitable. Apologies for ineptitude.
Will go and take another look at feats and skills.
Can you just clarify something?
If I take Astrology and Divination, can I also take Medicine or not. If not, I'll go with Medicine for now (being as I'm a doctor) and try and add in the Astrology at a later date.
The skill sets will certainly cover both, especially with the Pupil of Learned feat. Night Eyes is to cover my Astrological bases and to be of slightly more use in fighting situations.
I would be happy to clarify for you, as I can be a little obtuse in my writing. Yeah only one sorcery style is allowed at first level, so you could pick medicine or astrology & divination. At forth level you gain your second sorcery style. Pupil of the learned would give you two of the talents rather one from the appropriate list (for example astrology & divination: read omen and personal horoscope)
The adept is going to get more support to throughout the campaign. Essentially I have posted the 1st and 2nd level spells. During the intermission when I award experiences I will reveal other options.
Any sign of my two barbarians out there?
Thanks for that. This being so, I will take the Medicine for now as it's likely to have more immediately practical applications and throw some more skills at healing and some other branch of Knowedge.
The astrological expertise will keep for now.
I need some clarification on point buy. I regretably don't have a PHB on me at the moment, and the SRD does not include character creation rules. Please give a short form summary of how I should proceed.
I am going str > dex > int > cha > con > wis
Invisible Castle has a points buy section. I used it to build Isat, as my maths is universally sucky (see skill point failure).
I will proceed tomorrow. It is 4:07 am here. Enjoy the daylight.
Just gone 8.10pm here. Dark, dank and rainy. Typical Yorkshire weather.
Dark Dank and rainy here in New England as well (also typical....they didn't call it New England for nothing). Posting up a little more stuff on Cornelius Papyrus (to give him his proper Roman-Style address) today/early tomorrow. Herald, if you could, take a look after I post and check my math. I had it in my mind that Cornelius was well-educated in the classical manner, but I was unsure of the skill points I needed to make it happen. I should have skills up within an hour.
EDIT: Found this little gem at the bookstore: The Day of the Barbarians
Mining it for backstory. Good quick read for info on Battle of Adrianople and its' long-term consequences.
I'd be very grateful if you could cast an eye over the revised version of Isat and see if I've got him right this time as well Herald.
Also been doing some reading. Realise I should have built St Jerome. Now he'd have been fun to play. He'd have been in Constantinople at that date, having just finished a stint in the wilderness.
Ok plus 3 to the shortbow that Modius does not yet have. Good eye.
A silent scarred man walked the roads of Constantinople. His gear was worn, but well cared for, and looked like it might have been legionary gear at one point. The man wandered slowly, taking care to stay in the background whenever soldiers walked by. He knew a young fighting man could be conscripted into the legions at any moment, and the new emperor Theodosius was frantic to replace the legions lost at Adrianople.
After that battle the Goths had camped in the suburbs of mighty Constantinople herself, but had gone away after standing futilely at her formidable defenses. Now peace had been declared, and the Goths had been given ‘honorable rewards’ and ‘amnesty’, which meant they got title to the lands they had ravaged. The scarred man frowned as his thoughts led him back to Adrianople, as they always seemed to do.
The sun had passed noon that day while the Romans waited in the hot sun outside Adrianople. Cornelius looked over at his legion mates, sweltering under their mail coats in the ferocious heat of a Thracian Augustus day. The Goths had their immense train of wagons circled, and their cavalry danced back and forth in the shimmering heat. Papyrus has smiled at his squad mate Aurelius Faber and slapped him on the back. “It’s just barbarians, “He quipped. “We’ll roll over them, we’re Romans.”
As he turned back he heard a sudden surge of noise from the distant wagons. The battle had started.
The scarred man shook his head again, trying to think of anything else then that day. He saw a rhetorician on a raised marble podium in the marketplace dressed in a Greek chiton of a formal style that reminded him of his old tutor Theokrities. He wandered over.
The Greek thundered in classic style, jabbing his points home to the crowd with trembling hands.
”Let them come and tell us that the generals were bunglers or the soldiers cowardly; we should rather celebrate the memory of their struggle, the courage with which they shed their blood and died at their posts. Their valor was equal to that of their forbears, and for love of glory they put up with heat and thirst, fire and sword, and preferred death to dishonor. If the enemy defeated them I am convinced that the cause was the gods’ anger against us.”
The scarred man walked on. It seemed he was not the only one in Constantinople with that battle on his mind. Against his will he flashed back again.
The battle has seemed well balanced at first. Papyrus’ legion faced off against a wall of snarling Goths, their flaxen hair flying about their heads as they swung their axes and swords against the Roman line. Papyrus’ legion, the Lanciarii, had actually made good progress moving towards the wagons of the Gothic horde. A shout cut through the din of battle. “Regroup! The flank is failing!” Papyrus could not believe it. The auxiliary cavalry, being traitorous mercenary German barbarians, had decided to run for it, leaving the infantry flank exposed like a snail out of its’ shell. The next sound Papyrus heard was the war scream of thousands of Goths, smelling victory.
Hey Patrick I just looked over your skills and they are looking good until I get to the languages. You have spent 16 skill point out of 18 available including the 2 from the pupil of the learned (koine or latin I am taking as your native language, then the other +1 rank to speak language, +1 rank to speak language syraic and then 4 for literacy in 2 languages). So that is 4 over.
I don’t think is that big of a problem, unless someone feels I am being unfair. Even if I instituted the rule I don’t mind letting it by, since it fits your background concept so well.
Oh I forgot my 3 languages: that should be Koine, Latin, and hmmmm....?
His people are from Hispania and he entered service of the Senator while he was traveling, as a very young man. I am not aware of old langugaes in that region, what would his parents speak?
Mosty likely latin as spain has been part of rome for over 300 years now. Or maybe Basque, but that might be kind of unusual as the basque kept their identity only by their isolation
And I am digging your love of back story.
Sorry for not getting back earlier Rosey. Isat is shaping up well.
Just a couple more corrections and things that should be added.
Firstly I goofed, you have the correct number of skill points based on what I said but I forgot to include the ones you gain as being a human so you have 4 more skill points to distribute (32 total).
As well I think your consitution and dexterity are reversed which would means your Armour class is 9, flat footed 10, touch 9
I have computed your saving throws for you too fortitude +0, reflex –1, will +5
That leaves only your 2 talents from the medicine school with 4 heal ranks or less, to role your gold3d6 (-1 for the dagger) and a choice of one of the following and you will be all ready.
Valuable commodity- Your knowledge is highly esteemed by aristocrats and those that fancy themselves nobility to enhance there reputations among their peers by patronizing your skills and arts. By talking for at least minutes and make a successful diplomacy check opposed be the targets sense motive you may produce an affect similar to charm person. This only works on people of the upper class and has no effect intelligent or people of a lower social station. This attitude does not extend to companion and the affected individual may become unduly possessive of you as a consequence. Prophet of doom- You may infuse your words with prophetic overtones promising disaster for your foes. All enemies able to hear you and provide they are able to understand must make a sense motive check opposed by your intimidation skill or be shaken for a number of rds equal to your level. Logic of success- You can offer brilliant rationalization why any said act must succeed, even if you yourself don’t be that is the case. If you succeed an opposed bluff check opposed by the target’s sense motive check they gain a bonus equal to your charisma modifier or one which ever is higher one skill check or + 1 moral bonus to their armour and saving throws for a number of minitues equal to your level.
Okay, his native language is Aquitanian, from the Basque family of languages. He was born in northern Spain near what is today the French-Spanish border. His parents, who were poor but knew their boy was clever, indentured their son into the service of Senator who was traveling across southern Europe to behold the grandeur of the Empire.
He was borne back to Constantinople and was tutored in Greek, Latin and subterfuge by the senior agents of the Senator. Such careers are often foreshortened, and Modius moved up quickly in seniority.
His career ended before it had truly begun, however, the night that men in soft sandals and black robes swept through the Senator's home killing everyone they found. Modius' fatally wounded tutor, Spurious Galla, handed Modius the Senator's political diary as his last act, and it is this book that has kept Modius alive.
And now he has friends.... sure, they're pagans, but that's because they don't know better, so Modius will pray for them.
"I keep telling you Hrothgar, if you don't look to Jesus, HE will let someone best you. Yes, yes, rashes, bugs, plagues, pray to Jesus, pray to Jesus."
"I keep telling you Hrothgar, if you don't look to Jesus, HE will let someone best you. Yes, yes, rashes, bugs, plagues, pray to Jesus, pray to Jesus."
"Why? He'll send his bodyguard or something?" Hrothgar picks his nose as he says this.
I love Gary. He put up the new avatars just in time for us. Thanks big G!
Valuable commodity- Your knowledge is highly esteemed by aristocrats and those that fancy themselves nobility to enhance there reputations among their peers by patronizing your skills and arts. By talking for at least minutes and make a successful diplomacy check opposed be the targets sense motive you may produce an affect similar to charm person. This only works on people of the upper class and has no effect intelligent or people of a lower social station. This attitude does not extend to companion and the affected individual may become unduly possessive of you as a consequence. Prophet of doom- You may infuse your words with prophetic overtones promising disaster for your foes. All enemies able to hear you and provide they are able to understand must make a sense motive check opposed by your intimidation skill or be shaken for a number of rds equal to your level. Logic of success- You can offer brilliant rationalization why any said act must succeed, even if you yourself don’t be that is the case. If you succeed an opposed bluff check opposed by the target’s sense motive check they gain a bonus equal to your charisma modifier or one which ever is higher one skill check or + 1 moral bonus to their armour and saving throws for a number of minitues equal to your level.
I seem to have inadvertantly built a motivational speaker. Yippee. Not sure which of these to go with.
Also realise I need to give the guy some languages. He needs them. I'm sure he's got to be literate in Greek at least and ideally would have some knowledge of Latin as well - or how else has he learnt all this stuff. Tinker tinker tinker.
"I keep telling you Hrothgar, if you don't look to Jesus, HE will let someone best you. Yes, yes, rashes, bugs, plagues, pray to Jesus, pray to Jesus.""Why? He'll send his bodyguard or something?" Hrothgar picks his nose as he says this.
"Modius, you have to keep an open mind. Your Jesus is like Hrothgar here, full of good intentions and not too much sense. Now, who's been messing with my scalpels?" Isat raises a quizzical eyebrow.
"Scalpels? What do they look like?"
"Scalpels? What do they look like?"
"Pointy. Sharp. Tell me you haven't been using them to carve your mark on bits of armour again."
Fixed Isat. He's going with Prophet of Doom for now. Valuable Commodity is also tempting - heck, they're all tempting, but melee considerations rule at 1st level.
Also re-jigged the skills so he is now literate in Greek, Latin and Persian.
Wondering just how Isat came to fall in with this crew and Modius or Paper seem the obvious links. Working on it.
Herald,
You mentioned defensive bonuses to offset the absence of heavy and magical armour, but I was wondering if a fighter build gets any compensation from losing his heavy armour proficiency. Do you think it would be fair to give a fighter some kind of feat that would be appropriate for a trained soldier, because I can look around for one if you want. Or maybe one of my compatriots has a suggestion.
I don’t foresee any problems in regards to not having heavy armour. Fighting sorts will procure the defence bonus pretty rapidly. Also on the flip side is that none of your foes will possess it either. I am not a dm that maximizes every foes potential, where appropriate yes, but the majority of them will have in part resources devoted to whatever there social role. So your characters will not need to worry about squeezing every last bonus out of everything. Though I promise things will be appropiately challenge when they should.
It might good to keep in mind that essentially +6 ac is going to be the pinnacle of armour, which will allow for ac 20 if you were to carry a tower shield.
It's no problem for a long while. And hey, I doubt we'll see level ten... unless we keep this going for a few years.
<Upon waking up one morning, to his pagan comrades.>
"Jesus just told me in a dream he's going to deal you all some advance grace in hopes that you might reconsider you present affiliations. What do you think? Can you take the son of GOd into your hearts, brothers?"
Actually I was just looking over Valeros for comparison and if you exported him into my campaign built the same way his armour class works out slightly better at each of the levels I intend to see played.
I agree. I don't think you're going to have any problems.
Story awards for both Modius and Hrothgar the Red.
Everything seems to be coming together quite nicely. All things being equal we will open up to actually play tomorrow.
Hey Patrick I just looked over your skills and they are looking good until I get to the languages. You have spent 16 skill point out of 18 available including the 2 from the pupil of the learned (koine or latin I am taking as your native language, then the other +1 rank to speak language, +1 rank to speak language syraic and then 4 for literacy in 2 languages). So that is 4 over.
I don’t think is that big of a problem, unless someone feels I am being unfair. Even if I instituted the rule I don’t mind letting it by, since it fits your background concept so well.
Do humans get an extra 4 skill points starting? Or since we're all humans is this rule gone? I am kinda fuzzy on 3.5, I thought I had 22 points, but if that doesn't hold I will rejigger my stat scores.
"Jesus just told me in a dream he's going to deal you all some advance grace in hopes that you might reconsider you present affiliations. What do you think? Can you take the son of GOd into your hearts, brothers?"
Hrmf. I'd rather become a priest of Cybele, thanks.
Do humans get an extra 4 skill points starting? Or since we're all humans is this rule gone? I am kinda fuzzy on 3.5, I thought I had 22 points, but if that doesn't hold I will rejigger my stat scores.Hey Patrick I just looked over your skills and they are looking good until I get to the languages. You have spent 16 skill point out of 18 available including the 2 from the pupil of the learned (koine or latin I am taking as your native language, then the other +1 rank to speak language, +1 rank to speak language syraic and then 4 for literacy in 2 languages). So that is 4 over.
I don’t think is that big of a problem, unless someone feels I am being unfair. Even if I instituted the rule I don’t mind letting it by, since it fits your background concept so well.
base 2 +1 int bonus=3, 3x4=12, 12+4human bonus=16, 16 + non adept Pupil of the learned +2=18 points.
I believe this is correct.
Do humans get an extra 4 skill points starting? Or since we're all humans is this rule gone? I am kinda fuzzy on 3.5, I thought I had 22 points, but if that doesn't hold I will rejigger my stat scores.Hey Patrick I just looked over your skills and they are looking good until I get to the languages. You have spent 16 skill point out of 18 available including the 2 from the pupil of the learned (koine or latin I am taking as your native language, then the other +1 rank to speak language, +1 rank to speak language syraic and then 4 for literacy in 2 languages). So that is 4 over.
I don’t think is that big of a problem, unless someone feels I am being unfair. Even if I instituted the rule I don’t mind letting it by, since it fits your background concept so well.
base 2 +1 int bonus=3, 3x4=12, 12+4human bonus=16, 16 + non adept Pupil of the learned +2=18 points.
I believe this is correct.
Perhaps you were thinking fighters had a base of 4 skill points rather then 2.
<Upon waking up one morning, to his pagan comrades.>
"Jesus just told me in a dream he's going to deal you all some advance grace in hopes that you might reconsider you present affiliations. What do you think? Can you take the son of GOd into your hearts, brothers?"
"Your son of god is merely a manifestation of the great truth of Ahura Mazda. All will eventually come into his grace, however unsophisticated their approach."
I still need to know what kind of point buy we use. Please see my post above. I would like to get the stats out of the way.
base 2 +1 int bonus=3, 3x4=12, 12+4human bonus=16, 16 + non adept Pupil of the learned +2=18 points.
You are correct sir, I had thought my INT bonus was +2 for some God Forsaken reason. I have reconfigured skill points to rectify this
errorI still need to know what kind of point buy we use. Please see my post above. I would like to get the stats out of the way.
Herald had us doing a 26 pt buy + a random 1d6 (so 27-32 possible points) as per the Invisible Castle website.
All will eventually come into his grace, however unsophisticated their approach.
"I don't know.... I better ask a priest about that."