RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
aka Tarren Dei
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As Clark Peterson and Roguerouge pointed out...
Mechanics issues:
He lacks the caster level to create flesh golem manuals, incidentally.He lacks the character level to qualify for Brew Fleshcrafting Poison.
I find myself torn. This is the second submission where I really liked the writing, but have trouble getting past the nuts and bolts of the submission.
All of the judges reccomended you for advancement, but I think you've "painted yourself into a corner." If you are limited by the rules to using or referencing the Pathfinder Beta, 3.5 SRD, and published Pathfinder Chronicles material, then I don't see how you are going to get past the next round without breaking the contest rules. You are OK this round because no mechanics were required. I think next round, mechanics-wise, you are screwed. I hope you prove me wrong, and I am really looking forward to seeing your Rules-Fu. If you somehow pull this off without violating the rules, I may just vote for you on principle all the way to the end.
I really wish I could see the stat block now.
Then I can count on your vote for this round at least?
The contest rules do say they can introduce new rules in your stat-block. I think this entry is going to do just that.
The press release does indeed say that.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
aka Tarren Dei
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I am not as taken by the flesh-warping concept as some of my fellow spectators, but this is a far-above-solid entry that shows a lot of promise for next round.
Despite my highly personal (and likely unfounded) reservations, I can't deny that this entry just deserved it. Sooo...you have my vote.
Thanks, Christine.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
aka Tarren Dei
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Depending on what else I see, I may end up voting for 4 of the also-rans instead of what to me are the two clear best villains I've read so far, since you two are going through to Round 3 no matter what, or I may just vote my conscience for you guys and 2 others and let the chips fall where they may.lol
if everyone thinks like this they mightnot pass actually :P
Yeah.
lol.
Ahem.
Jason, if your conscience is telling you to vote for my entry, I think you'd better listen to it.
;-)
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This is the best entry of the round. It simply oozes Pathfinder villainy but remains flexible and well-imagined enough to be placed in nearly any campaign. This is the only entry that I feel comfortable enough voting for without referring to the first round item to help me gauge the writer's potential. I am certain you will be be going on to the next round.
I want to work this guy into my AoW campaign somehow, grafting necrotic worms into the flesh of his deranged customers...
Actually, they specifically say you can't.
"Q12: Can I create new abilities, feats, spells, powers, items, or rules for my villain?
No. This stage of the contest is about story, not about mechanics. Resist the urge."
I do like this guy, and will vote for him. He's got more mojo than a bag full of Austin Powers. I just hope round 3 is not a violation, or I am seriously gonna feel let down.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
aka Tarren Dei
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Hi guys,
I'm not really allowed to expand upon anything here, so I'll just say this: from what I read in this thread and elsewhere, I understood the rules correctly and have not violated them in any way.
I encourage you to vote for my entry in 'Round 2 -- Create a villain concept' based on the villain concept that I created.
If I advance, I will encourage you to vote for my entry in 'Round 3 -- Create a villain stat block' based upon the stat block and, as implied in the press release, additional rules that I create.
That's fair, right?
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
aka Tarren Dei
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The press release does indeed say that.
The contest rules do say they can introduce new rules in your stat-block. I think this entry is going to do just that.(edited)
Hmm. Except Jason Bulmahn is on the judging panel for the next round, and you can be certain he will tell you if he thinks any mechanic you come up with or ability/power is broken or level inappropriate and would be a problem in PF RPG.
The safest bet might be an item which 'dreams' had guided Bracht to, or maybe giving him a few more sorcerer levels. Except safe might not get you further in the contest.I do not like Bracht as depicted. In my opinion he is more a madman than a villain, and in a city like Katapesh, could be viewed as 'just another crazy local' by PCs - and possibly end up even being treated as a valuable NPC ally.
BUT, Christine Schneider has commented favourably on this entry, and given the shortage of villains who seem to me to stand out above the others, I am reconsidering whether or not to give you a 'free pass' vote.
Thanks for your advice. I look forward to your decision.
Hi guys,
I'm not really allowed to expand upon anything here, so I'll just say this: from what I read in this thread and elsewhere, I understood the rules correctly and have not violated them in any way.
I encourage you to vote for my entry in 'Round 2 -- Create a villain concept' based on the villain concept that I created.
Yep. He's right.
Bracht Darkhouse, The Flesh Peddler
[i]
EXCELLENT work, Tarren. Creepy good fun.
Great job. Now I want this type of villain (and his fleshwarped minions) in an AP.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
aka Tarren Dei
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EXCELLENT work, Tarren. Creepy good fun.
Thanks, Jade.
Great job. Now I want this type of villain (and his fleshwarped minions) in an AP.
That's the spirit. ;-D
I do not consider Bracht Darkhouse a villain, but in this case on the strength of the judgement of last year's RPGSuperstar winner and the concept you came up with for the first round, I am prepared to recommend you to the hilt (and put one of my votes behind you) for the next round.
Thanks, Charles.
RPG Superstar 2013
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Steven T. Helt
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I think this entry looks okay in comparison to the others, but I am not so strongly moved by the fleshwarping villian. I think the hooks are weak. I just don't buy the guy without a higher power level and more info about this vision he has.
I don't mind the assertion of abilities that don't exist in the game. A good idea can have mechanics added to it. A poor idea doesn't benefit from mechanics. Darkhouse can't do what the text says in this round, but that can change next round. A magic first aid kit, or a version of the graft rules suitable for Pathfinder.So long as he didn't present rules for that stuff in this round, I don't mind that abilities being mentioned. It stands to reason a lot of contestants had ideas about rules they want to describe a great feature that isn't in this version of the game yet. I had that same quandry choosing my second round contestants.
Not bothered by the subject matter or the hint of new mechanics. Just not inspired by the villain.
This gets my vote. While the Gulga Sench was along similar lines, I thoguht this was a bit more interesting in the ultimate goal and had a little more flexibility in what could be done minion-wise. Perhaps a touch Warhammer Chaos-y in places, but I can live with that.
I think my biggest critisim is that Bracht is wasted as a mere CR 8 challenge. Without access to higher-level stuff, he and his minions are stunted in some of the more entertaining areas of spells - by extension special abilities. I think he'd be much better as a higher-level adversary so the PCs could have a good run at him.
I find low-level villains - by their very nature - tend not to be very good villains as they're not around in playing-time long enough. At CR 8, I'd expect the PCs to deal with him between about 5th and 6th level; not much time to get know loathe him unless you started at level 1 and didn't do much else, really.
This is a great character, that I'd love to see more of. He made it a long way through my deliberations, and would have been in serious contention for my fifth vote, if I had one. I can't really think of a criticism that would discount him from consideration, but we have to get tough at some point. As it is, there are other villains I just like marginally more, and he got edged out at virtually the last minute. So, no vote from me, but a definite hope to see you in the next round!
RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka JoelF847
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This entry is great, awesome job. I'd have rather seen those expert levels boost his sorcerer level instead. Especially in PRPG rules, you don't realy need expert to be more skilled, you can invest in skills a lot easier than in 3.5. I think he'd be even better at CR 10-12, where he can have more twisted, grafted minions in play at a time without overpowering the PCs.
Other than that, great job, this bumps a previous entry that would have gotten my vote!
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
aka Tarren Dei
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This entry is great, awesome job. I'd have rather seen those expert levels boost his sorcerer level instead. Especially in PRPG rules, you don't realy need expert to be more skilled, you can invest in skills a lot easier than in 3.5. I think he'd be even better at CR 10-12, where he can have more twisted, grafted minions in play at a time without overpowering the PCs.
Other than that, great job, this bumps a previous entry that would have gotten my vote!
Thanks Joel. I've been waiting for you to get this far down the list. When I saw your post about Gulga, I thought you'd like this one too.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
aka Tarren Dei
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Thanks for voting everyone. And if you voted for Bracht, thanks very, very much!
The voting is closed so I can talk about Bracht to some degree. I still should avoid discussing how things would look in the stat block and, I assume, discuss anything to do with his lair. I'll try to respond to other comments or questions though.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
aka Tarren Dei
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This entry was #5 for me (and we can only vote for four). In the end, the name kept throwing me and I imagined my players making fun of "Darkhouse" repeatedly during the campaign. This is a solid entry, though, and I would be happy to see it advance.
Because of the music genre? I thought it was fairly fringe enough not to be a problem.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
aka Tarren Dei
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It is disturbing to know you have a young son, though. Hrrm.
You should have seen the earlier drafts! Bracht came to me pretty quickly; I wrote him up the morning after I made the top 32, and then spent two days trying to tone it down enough so that I wouldn't be disqualified for excessive gore. When I finally got him to a point where I wouldn't be ashamed of showing him to my son, I knew he was ready.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
aka Tarren Dei
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That said, I was a little disappointed with the plot hooks. The guy wants to reduce the world into a quivering lump of flesh, and he's hiring adventurers to capture monsters for him? Come on!
Well, the quivering lump of flesh is a long-term plan. In the short-term, he thinks you've got nice eyes. ;-)
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
aka Tarren Dei
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Idea for Plot Hook: What if someone notices a scar on a PC's back that he/she has never noticed? It could be a character that is shy or doesn't go topless often in other company. What if they couldn't remember if they ever had that scar before? What if they had been one of this guy's first experiments a long time ago, perhaps when they were just kids...
Violence towards kids is a bit of a no-no in this contest but I can see Bracht being a go-to guy for some parties and a more straight-up villain for others.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
aka Tarren Dei
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Quibble: How do you need to be observant to notice a cat's eye in a human? That would jump out in any brightly lit area.
More significant: definitely lacks the level to meet his aims.
But those concerns aside, this guy grabs me. I love the idea of recrafting a city in insane, quivering flesh.
Probable vote.
Yes, he currently lacks the level to turn the world into a mass of quivering flesh, but this is a long-term plan.
As for the eye, I'm not sure how easy it would be to detect. I don't think many people sit around staring deeply into Bracht's eyes ... At least, not without being restrained in some way.
I have a very clear image of his igor. His igor is truly beautiful.Where's his Igor? Every good mad scientist has an assistant. A description of a fleshy minion would be just the thing...
So that's a yes, on the Leslie Cohen angle. (c.f. Venture Brothers.)
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
aka Tarren Dei
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If he sees his sculptures as beautiful, why hide his work? (survival instinct, yes I know, but it might be more interesting if he thinks that "Joe Sixpack" can't appreciate true art, so he hides it from unappreciative masses and only shows what he's done to the few he thinks highly of...)
He exhibits his work to select patrons who will appreciate it and to people who he has captured and is about to borrow parts out of. He also releases some of his creations into Katapesh so that the whole population can enjoy them. But, really, he's quite upset that he hasn't achieved the artistic breakthrough he's been pursuing his whole life.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
aka Tarren Dei
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I do not like Bracht as depicted. In my opinion he is more a madman than a villain, and in a city like Katapesh, could be viewed as 'just another crazy local' by PCs - and possibly end up even being treated as a valuable NPC ally.
You know, it's funny. I never thought of Bracht as a madman. When I read that he was a madman, the Bracht inside of me objected strenuously. I mean, I know he is, but I tried to write him the way he saw himself. He sees himself as an artist and he sees the world as boring, symmetrical, and constrained. He wants to free the flesh from its constraints. ...
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
aka Tarren Dei
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I think my biggest critisim is that Bracht is wasted as a mere CR 8 challenge. Without access to higher-level stuff, he and his minions are stunted in some of the more entertaining areas of spells - by extension special abilities. I think he'd be much better as a higher-level adversary so the PCs could have a good run at him.
I wanted to create Bracht at the point where he's just beginning to come into his own. This is a very exciting point in Bracht's life. If he can just keep those nasty PCs at bay long enough, he'll shake things up a little. Portrait of the (flesh-)artist as a young (mad-)man
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
aka Tarren Dei
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Other than the many thanks I owe, I think I've said all that I can say. The rest of the comments will need to be answered in his stat block, in a lair description (if I make it that far), or be left unanswered. This will all depend on what the rules are for the next round. Now, back to the studio!
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
aka Tarren Dei
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Well from a couple of planes away, at any rate, but you did seem to sort of say something on this subject yourself....I do? Can you read my mind? At what range? :-)It had better be a carefully crafted stat block if you make it to round three, since you already seem to have some work underway for a lair.
...The experiments that will enable him to unleash the chaotic promise of abundant flesh upon the world require an enormous, sterile ‘gallery’ and a large supply of arcanely enhanced vats, vials, and basins in which to grow and intensify the inherent powers of the harvested tissue and organs. He performs his mundane organ grafts for wealthy clients to fund his more creative endeavours....I read that as being a description of his current lair, though I could be in error and that is a laboratory which he is still working to get funding for...
Oh, okay. I thought you meant actually mapping it out. I do have some ideas but I'm not going to get ahead of myself. One round at a time. ;-)
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
aka Tarren Dei
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I do like this guy, and will vote for him. He's got more mojo than a bag full of Austin Powers. I just hope round 3 is not a violation, or I am seriously gonna feel let down.
I don't know what all the concerns were about statting this guy up.
The feat he needs is right here in the PHB:
Craft Magic Arms ...
See! He can craft magic arms.
*peels raisin off of page*
... and Armor.
...
Uh-oh.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
aka Tarren Dei
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Congratulations on making the finals... well the top 16 so far, but I am confident and looking forward to seeing what the Tarren/Nerrat team come up with to give the Otyugh a run for its money once you get to the last round.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Charles.
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I love this guy, very flavorful.... especially with a nice quiante'. But it just hit me, there was a guy in Bauldar's Gate 2 kinda like this. Of course he was more buffalo bill than your guy. making suites out of people and all, i beleive there was even a flesh golem. Granted it has been a LONG time since i played BG2.
All in all a though, great concept. I dig him, and would love to use him as a villan. imagine. a pc dies, and this guy gets caught kulling out some parts.major awkward.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
aka Tarren Dei
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I love this guy, very flavorful.... especially with a nice quiante'. But it just hit me, there was a guy in Bauldar's Gate 2 kinda like this. Of course he was more buffalo bill than your guy. making suites out of people and all, i beleive there was even a flesh golem. Granted it has been a LONG time since i played BG2.
All in all a though, great concept. I dig him, and would love to use him as a villan. imagine. a pc dies, and this guy gets caught kulling out some parts.major awkward.
Thanks Daniel. I haven't played Baldur's Gate but it doesn't surprise me that you have seen similar villains, after all ...
... An old concept (the monster-transforming mad scientist) presented in a fresh, vivid way. I’m interested.
Bracht isn't even the only monster-maker in this contest. ;-)