[Speech given to the assembled Royal Army and King's Guard, Month of the Boar, 1463]
I have been recalled to active duty because "retirement" from a life of service is as provisional as peace over the land. Most of you have not served under me before; to those, I will address a few comments before we begin preparations.
Those long-term veterans among you know there has been no battle I have yet fought that I have not won. To nip foolish rumors in the bud, I can say, with no ego, that my present age has not dimmed the clarity of my vision the slightest whit. This battle will therefore be no exception. When we march on South Province, it will be at such a time as the end result of our campaign is already without any possible doubt.
This campaign will be conducted with the utmost regard for the rules of tradition and chivalry. We are not fighting against our fellow citizens of Aviona; we are fighting against a foolish, tragic breach of the public welfare. All supplies will be received from military supply lines; looting will be treated as a felony and prosecuted vigorously under the code of military justice, protestations of "living off the land" notwithstanding. Surrender of South Province personnel will be received in all cases with courtesy, restraint, and goodwill. Until such a time as they are rendered hors de combat, all nobles, citizens, and yeomen of South Province retain their titles and status, and will be treated as befits their rank.
That said, our preparations prior to departure will be meticulous, careful, and conducted under absolute magical security against surveillance. There will be no information leaks to Sovalles; nor will any hot-headed would-be heroes sally into South Province except under my direct and absolute command. Any soldier disobeying any aspect of these orders will be met with court-martial. Any unit leader who fails to heed these preliminary statements will receive the maximum penalty, up to and possibly including a Morganti execution.
It may be that this disruption of the peace can still be resolved by His Majesty through diplomacy. Assuming that fails, you and I shall resolve it -- with maximal efficiency and minimal chaos -- through military means.
I have spoken.
Rim wasn't sure how much help he would be on a spy mission, but he was willing to go into the enemy camp in support of Sheraviel.
Historical Note: Sheraviel will have heard of General Kelth, who became a household name during the Great World Conflict.
Note that, even if you show up at d'Ansac's camp immediately, you'll have plenty of time to scribe scrolls while Monsieur le Marquis is assembling and organizing his army. Besides, Agun's a dwarf: if he tells the Maquis' men that he's "fabricating magical items," they'll probably assign him bodyguards and bring him any materials he wants (thus cutting his personal costs to near-zero).
That's not a bad point, but as far as I know, Agun can stay in Hylore and scribe a few scrolls commitment-free. Once he shows up at d'Ansac's camp, he'll have to see what happens.
That's not a bad point, but as far as I know, Agun can stay in Hylore and scribe a few scrolls commitment-free. Once he shows up at d'Ansac's camp, he'll have to see what happens.
True enough -- and this seems like one of those situations in which the rule of "don't split the party!!!" isn't quite as imperative.
If I recall correctly and Sheraviel has expressed a hesitation to enter the enemy camp as a spy, then I will support that decision. I do not like the idea behind spying, but have no problem torturing someone to get information. Weird, huh? I am afraid that I might let something slip that should not be said or done. If I must take a stand, then my stand is to not enter the enemy camp as a spy. If we must enter the camp, let it be done as a small unit operation to disrupt and harass their forces.
On the flip side, Sheraviel stands to do quite well if she joins the rebels: orders of nobility from d'Ansac if he wins, and she gets her job with the Guard back if he loses (possibly with a promotion, if d'Ansac gives her a higher rank). On the flip side, if she supports the Crown, she simply keeps her job if the royal army wins, and gets executed if they lose.
There's a reason the King's Guard isn't all that big...
No pressure, Sheraviel. But the choice falls to you. Do we go to spy, or stay and fight? Whatever we decide, I would like to see about getting my Glaive enhanced to at least a +1 while Agun is writing his scrolls.
Just a word of warning, regarding Pathfinder v. homebrew rules not yet addressed:
Any Large apes you might encounter later on will almost certainly have Strength scores higher than 15.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, we will join you on the 15th of March. Spring break for the both of us. :)
Awesome! March 15, if all goes according to plan, will involve "d'Ansac's Rebellion," in which the Marquis of your province declares war aginst the crown. We're hoping for some interesting small-tactics skirmishes, and/or cases of divided loyalties.
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Sheravial wants to spy - she doesn't care so much for her home, more for "civilized" elves as a country - and she wants to distinguish herself, which is hard to do when you'e doing what everyone else is doing - being unspeakably brave and gung-ho glory-seekers. So...spy in the enemy camp is different.
I, however, didn't want to force the party into something that the other games don't have an interest in. :)
Then perhaps better armor would help all of us also. I mean, if we "might" encounter Apes that are truly apes and not just bull-headed Elves.
Sheravial wants to spy - she doesn't care so much for her home, more for "civilized" elves as a country - and she wants to distinguish herself, which is hard to do when you'e doing what everyone else is doing - being unspeakably brave and gung-ho glory-seekers. So...spy in the enemy camp is different.
I, however, didn't want to force the party into something that the other games don't have an interest in. :)
I personally want to go the spy route, also. I just had to do some thinking to get Agun to want to go the spy route.
I just had to do some thinking to get Agun to want to go the spy route.
You know you're role-playing successfully when you have arguments with your character.
I just had to do some thinking to get Agun to want to go the spy route.You know you're role-playing successfully when you have arguments with your character.
What's worrisome is when the character wins the argument.
Loyalties? I've heard about that concept somewhere...
One day we'll have to make Derek face the greatest roleplaying challenge of his life: running a character who is NOT amoral, without trying to kill him off at every opportunity. It'll be fun to watch!
I think that Cadogan has a shot at the Prestige Paladin, honestly.
I think that Cadogan has a shot at the Prestige Paladin, honestly.
With his rapier or his bow? And who's this paladin who's supposed to play victim?
It ain't me that's for sure!
I am glad I am playing a "strong, silent type". I think I lost my voice this weekend.
I think I lost my voice this weekend.
If it's contagious, go ahead and take a week off and get well soon -- better we miss you one week than all miss work for the rest of the week!
I didn't loose it from sickness, just from running two back to back scenarios. That and describing how to join the Pathfinder Society, or find Asgard Games for our Sunday game. I'll be there if I can wake up in time. I am just very tired.
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I didn't loose it from sickness, just from running two back to back scenarios. That and describing how to join the Pathfinder Society, or find Asgard Games for our Sunday game. I'll be there if I can wake up in time. I am just very tired.
Not only that but Jerry was explaining the paperwork to the organizationally challenged, explaining our Sunday group schedule, helping organize impromptu gaming tables in random corners of campus...
Hehe. :)
I"m just the opposite, I'm revved up from the fun weekend. I stayed up late last night and woke up early today!
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Given the turnin the story, Sheraviel's leveling plans have been wrenched rather sharply off track. Some of the changes disappoint me (I don't WANT to wait for power over shadow), but then again, the other capabilities are really very nice (I can get my disarm check up to +13).
and who would know I would spend the majority of my skill points as a fighter this level in perform(acting) and craft(fine art)?
Weird game. ^_-
Some of the changes disappoint me
Life is ever a disappointment, n'est-ce pas? But why wait for Power over Shadow? You're 5th level, you can grab the feat and stick a rank in it regardless of whether you go fighter or diviner. Is there something not working in the houserules, that's causing you to grumble (if so, let me know what!). Or is it just a case of "I want everything now"?
Hmmm... perform (acting) leads me to believe you'll be attempting some form of impersonation and/or disguise beyond a simple bluff. Fun! I can't wait to find out what!
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Life is ever a disappointment, n'est-ce pas? But why wait for Power over Shadow? You're 5th level, you can grab the feat and stick a rank in it regardless of whether you go fighter or diviner. Is there something not working in the houserules, that's causing you to grumble (if so, let me know what!). Or is it just a case of "I want everything now"?
Hmmm... perform (acting) leads me to believe you'll be attempting some impersonation and/or disguise. Fun!
I assumed Perform(acting) would be needed for the deception we're planning - or is that only for disguise checks? Augh!
Yeah, and I had no class skill bonus to perform and just +1 from stats, so to make it useful at all required half my points for the level.
As for power over shadow, considering I was spending half my skill points, I wouldn't be able to work on catching up Power over Shadow. The impetus for planes knowledge isn't as immediate as a need to fight well....but I thought it'd make good sense with the knowledge of evil sorceror guy hanging out in the back of Sheraviel's mind. Also, the combination of Deadly defense and Defensive dueling...mmmm.
I could maybe give up defensive dueling for a level, especially if the majority of "I want to join your rebellion, sir" is bluff, not perform(acting).
I could maybe give up defensive dueling for a level, especially if the majority of "I want to join your rebellion, sir" is bluff, not perform (acting).
I'd think so. A Bluff check is what you need to simply conceal your true motives. Perform (acting) would be needed if you intend to employ (a) a disguise of some kind; (b) an attempt to impersonate someone from another rank, social class, or place of origin; or (c) a "story-based" deception beyond simple concealment of motives: e.g., one involving a convoluted backstory or fictitious chain of events (actors are skilled at memorizing lines and remembering to remain "in character").
That said, wizard levels are better than fighter ones for Craft (fine arts) and Walk in Shadow, since you get that nifty +3 bonus for class skills.
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That said, wizard levels are better than fighter ones for Craft (fine arts) and Walk in Shadow, since you get that nifty +3 bonus for class skills.
Whoo! Okay, that drives my max weapon maneuver cmb back down to +11, but opens up enough skill points to allow walk in shadow to be not insignificant.
Walk in Shadow's description doesn't mention if it's a class skill for any classes (it's not in the skills section either, that I see), so I assumed it just was a class skill when you gained access.
Why would wizard levels be better? Once it's a class skill, always a class skill...right? I get more skill points during fighter levels, they're by far my best skill point levels...unless I"m misunderstanding something. :) Totally possible.
Between me and Virac, we beat silverhair about the head and ears so he would wake up and be semi-coherent for tonight's game. We'll all be there.
Why would wizard levels be better? Once it's a class skill, always a class skill... right?
Interesting question! I sort of always assumed that if you spent only fighter skill points in Spellcraft, for example, it would be cross-class, even if you have wizard levels previously. Your interpretation makes perfect sense, though (and adds a benefit to multiclassing, which I'm certainly not against), so I'm inclined to go with your interpretation. All in favor?
Re: Walk in Shadow: this should be a class skill for Druids, Rangers, Sorcerers, and Wizards (Rangers get the feat and virtual ranks in the skill for free, once they hit a certain level). Clerics get plane shift at a lower level than the others, so they don't really need it (and it also raises uncomfortable theological possibilities for them, if you've read the Amber series!). Fighters and barbarians aren't known for having too extreme an interest in other planes.
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Why would wizard levels be better? Once it's a class skill, always a class skill... right?Interesting question! I sort of always assumed that if you spent only fighter skill points in Spellcraft, for example, it would be cross-class, even if you have wizard levels previously. Your interpretation makes perfect sense, though (and adds a benefit to multiclassing, which I'm certainly not against), so I'm inclined to go with your interpretation. All in favor?
Me!
As I have only one favored class (fighter), I look at the flat favored class bonus as a way to get a little extra oomph out of losing favored class skill points the majority of my career - it makes no sense to have a prestige class be a favored class - and it gives multiclass characters whose classes have little actual crossover (fighter and wizard) in abilities a benefit for spreading their skill points across quite disparate skill sets.
Taking my wooziness into account, I hardly saw any need to restrict where skill points were put in a multiclass character. That just seemed a little too nitpicky to me. Also, it would seem that a GM would have to constantly be looking over his players shoulders' to be sure they didn't "forget" that a certain skill was a class skill for one class but a cross-class skill for another. Since there essentially are no cross class skills any more why bother complicating things?
Just my 2 cp.
it makes no sense to have a prestige class be a favored class
Is this a dig at me, for putting in the Elf racial description, "Arcane Warrior/Eldritch Knight and Elven Paragon are always treated as favored classes for elves, in addition to the favored class selected at 1st level."
I hardly saw any need to restrict where skill points were put in a multiclass character.
Two in favor, and my vote actually counts in case of a tie, so... Motion carries! (None too soon, too -- because I was holding all the NPCs to my previous interpretation, and it was indeed getting REALLY nitpicky.)
Why would wizard levels be better? Once it's a class skill, always a class skill... right?Interesting question! I sort of always assumed that if you spent only fighter skill points in Spellcraft, for example, it would be cross-class, even if you have wizard levels previously. Your interpretation makes perfect sense, though (and adds a benefit to multiclassing, which I'm certainly not against), so I'm inclined to go with your interpretation. All in favor?
I'm also in favor. I can't think of any class combination that could exploit this too much, to be honest.
A possible role-playing benefit of not restricting where skill points go is that PC's can be a little more broad-minded and broad-skilled. I am not sure I said that right but I meant to say that the PC's could be tailored to more of the image the player has for that PC.
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it makes no sense to have a prestige class be a favored classIs this a dig at me, for putting in the Elf racial description, "Arcane Warrior/Eldritch Knight and Elven Paragon are always treated as favored classes for elves, in addition to the favored class selected at 1st level."
No! I didn't know it was! O.o Sorry. Guess I should check over racial descriptions. I always thought of prestige classes as giving up favored class bonuses for the bonus of getting the prestige powers.
Geez. Insert foot in mouth. >.<
I meant to be excited sharing my character choices - and evidently it sounded like I was first complaining, then taking potshots at the DM.
I"m going to shut up now....
I always thought of prestige classes as giving up favored class bonuses for the bonus of getting the prestige powers.
Interesting... I always looked at them as (a) an attempt to make multi-classing a caster not totally suck; and then (b) an attempt to sell more splatbooks. Because, really, most of the prestige powers just flat-out suck compared to another caster level. ;)
I"m going to shut up now....
Noooooooooo! Please don't! I value the discussion.
Today alone, you've already spared me umpteen million hours of skill point assignment-order tasks when building NPCs. From now on I can just tally up total ranks and assign them, instead of worrying about which class skill points bought which ranks.Yes, I am actually that detailed when I make NPCs... they all follow the same "natural laws" (game rules) as the PCs.
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I always thought of prestige classes as giving up favored class bonuses for the bonus of getting the prestige powers.Interesting... I always looked at them as (a) an attempt to make multi-classing a caster not totally suck; and then (b) an attempt to sell more splatbooks. Because, really, most of the prestige powers just flat-out suck compared to another caster level. ;)
But to accomplish goal (b), I don't understand why they didn't go the class talent route. it's the perfect expandable system, and scattering talents for classes throughout splatbooks seems like the perfect plan. Heck, it's what they're doing with Star Wars Saga, and honestly I think it works well.
I like d20 Modern and star wars saga quite a bit - having period appropriate talents really makes the system variable.
And yeah, I can't shut up. :) Will save failed.
I cast remove Will save bonus on Jess, just to make sure she cannot make a will save to be quiet.
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I"m going to shut up now....Noooooooooo! Please don't! I value the discussion.
Today alone, you've already spared me umpteen million hours of skill point assignment-order tasks when building NPCs. From now on I can just tally up total ranks and assign them, instead of worrying about which class skill points bought which ranks.Yes, I am actually that detailed when I make NPCs... they all follow the same "natural laws" (game rules) as the PCs.
Yeah, I am too, unless they're not important and therefore pretty much not statted out at all.
And it's a big advantage of the Pathfinder system. It's why I also like getting retroactive skill points on intelligence boosts - it just keeps things simple. With a skills system that follows pathfinder's statting up a high level PC/NPC is usually a matter of finding out the minimum level of skill points every level, maxing out that number of skills, getting any extra skill points and placing them, then rearranging as desired.
Example: Rogue/Cleric = 8 skill points / 2 skill points. So for a Rogue 4/Cleric 2 I'd max out two skills to 6, then I'd set 6 other skills to 4. From there I'd shuffle them as desired to make the character.
Much easier than going "Oh, they took cleric at level 2, so disable device was cross class then" rigamarole you had to go through in 3.5. Uuuuuuuugh.
But to accomplish goal (b), I don't understand why they didn't go the class talent route. it's the perfect expandable system, and scattering talents for classes throughout splatbooks seems like the perfect plan. Heck, it's what they're doing with Star Wars Saga, and honestly I think it works well.
I like d20 Modern and star wars saga quite a bit - having period appropriate talents really makes the system variable.
I agree! -- with respect to talents and d20 Modern, anyway; I've never played Star Wars.
Modularity was obviously a major goal in the Aviona class rewrites, so that new classes can be covered without multiclassing. Already, the cavalier can be built purely using fighter levels, and the witch class got swallowed by the wizard... not to mention that nearly every base and prestige class in the entire Complete Warrior supplement can now be simulated using feats and/or fighter talents.
Also, if people are feeling the squeeze for more skill points, then another of my design goals is working out: making all skills more valuable. In addition to making characters more interesting and lifelike, and allowing me to insert more non-combat challenges, it has the trickle-down effect of making rogue levels more valuable -- which makes me feel better, since rogue is basically the only non-full-caster class that didn't get a complete overhaul.
The dueling sword is a sword of dispelling, isn't it?
Yes. Yes, it is. I had wondered when that would "click."
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The dueling sword is a sword of dispelling, isn't it?Yes. Yes, it is. I had wondered when that would "click."
I know you've been telling me for a while to get it looked at. Heh. Like I said, though, frustrating as it was, Sheraviel wasn't interested in pursuing it further - it was a superior weapon, she was...for whatever reason...happy enough with that.
But I had a good reason to put a point in appraise finally - I'll try to figure out an in character way for Sheraviel to get off her butt and recognize the weapon for what it is. :P