Welcome one, welcome all, ye travellers on the Roads To Madness!
Basics: We'll be trying out a Paragon Tier PbP adventure - if it goes well enough for all involved, we'll continue our explorations.
Specifics: I'd like 5 - 6 characters, starting at level 11. I'd strongly prefer Heroic types, with Races/Classes from PHB/PHB2. Paragon Paths/Feats/Powers from other canonical sources are open for discussion.
Pitch me a concept first, and we'll attempt to get a balanced selection of Roles before we start tossing numbers about.
Pacing: I am a stay-at-home dad to a 5-month old, so my free time is nothing close to regularly scheduled. Due to this priority, I shall proceed as fast as is feasible, but if you're looking for a multiple post-per-day game, I do not think this is it.
Most of this is memory now
I've gone too far to turn back now
I'm not quite what I thought I was but
Then again I'm maybe more
The blood-words promised, I've spoken
Releasing the names from the circle
Maybe I can leave here now and, O
Transcend the boundaries
For now I'm standing here
I'm awaiting this grand transition
The future is but past forgotten
On the road to madness
Times measure rusts as it crawls
I see its face in the looking glass - stop
This screaming laughter hides the pain of its reality
Black, the door was locked I opened
And now I've paid that price ten-fold over
Knowledge - was it worth such torment, oh
To see the far side of shadow?
~Queensryche: The Road To Madness
I've got a huge fondness for warlocks. My home game gal is on hold for the moment though.
If you're willing, I'd love to recreate Edie. She's a ruthlessly practical star pact warlock with no mental problems at all. Learned all she knows from the stars due to spending long nights outside on the family farm with sheep. She spent most of her level 1-3 career pounding along at the rear of the party, puffing slightly (she's quite fat) and demanding better armour. She sees no reason why the demolition of evil should send you mad. That's why the gods made doughnuts.
It's absolutely your call and I'm not at all worried about building someone completely new if you'd rather.
Shouldn't this be in Gamer Connection? Still, I'm interested. I'm looking at a Deva Shaman, although I can easily come up with an idea of some kind for any role that needs filling.
Shouldn't this be in Gamer Connection? Still, I'm interested. I'm looking at a Deva Shaman, although I can easily come up with an idea of some kind for any role that needs filling.
Davi:It will be announced there tomorrow evening. It got placed here today to give a few folks who already have game spots the opportunity to get started early. :)
Rev Rosey: I have no problem with Edie as described. I've a soft spot for heroes who are ordinary people.
Stuff I Forgot:
Stats: Standard 22 point buy.
Magic Items: 1x Level-1, 1x Level, 1x Level+1 (subject to DM approval).
Coin: 4000gp to spend as you see fit (subject again to DM approval).
Alignment: No Evil!
Backstory: Would help me out if y'all could have a vested interest of some sort in the northern frontier town of Wellspring:
Wellspring nestles in a valley, astride a river known as the Chill and between two arms of the Kadagast Mountains. The town’s folk are farmers and fishers. Cultivated farmland surrounds the community. Less
than two miles away is Kord’s Tankard, a deep lake fed by runoff from the mountains. A Nerathi road winds down from a northern pass, heading south and splitting into a westward arm. Paved with cut stone, the roads still see caravans from the north.
The most common travelers, though, are pilgrims devoted to the deity Ioun and her saint, Estered. Each year brings another band of devout to the town’s center square. They pay their respects at the Mindspire - Ioun's temple - or under an ancient statue of Estered, under which the mystic’s tomb is said to be hidden.
Wellspringers, famous skeptics, can’t help but wonder if the statue actually marks the grave. They keep their doubts to themselves, since the pilgrims play an important part in Wellspring’s economy. To the pious, Wellspringers are gracious hosts quick to doff their caps to the statue.
Rev Rosey
Fabes
Ah. Yes. It does make a difference. Thanks.
Grumpysauce - a change of mind is a-coming. Not sure what yet. Inspiration has yet to strike. Character change that is, not change of mind about playing.
Looking at a human druid. Adroit Explorer paragon path. Wellspring is her hometown and she can be found being a useful sheepdog (a favourite wild shape form and her first) when not exploring the further reaches of the universe.
Think happy pony girl will the abilty to eviscerate her foes when she gets grumpy. Always comes home to mum with a bag of filthy washing and a lot of souvenirs nobody can find a use for.
"Look mum! It's an amazing skull with fourteen eye sockets and you can see the claw marks where I killed it!"
"Yes dear. Now give me the laundry and go and help your father with the sheep."
Welcome Laz, thanks for coming!
Just to reiterate before things pick up steam: This is my first attempt at DMing 4e, and it's been a long while since I have DMed via Post, so please be patient with me. There might be a few bumps in the road, but I'll do my best to make sure we all have fun!
In the interest of full disclosure, we'll be trying out the Touch of Madness, the first of the "Madness" trilogy of adventures from Dungeon magazine - they look interesting, are moderately compact and apparently involve tentacles, which is win.
As a side note, I was not overly impressed with the other Paragon offerings that I could get my hands on. Here's hoping the new GSL opens things up for some new blood.
With Laz, Davi, Rev and Radavel, I am minded to go with only one more player, since you're starting out a bit ahead of the game, level-wise. I have offered my lovely wife the opportunity to fill the spot, but I think she will decline - if she does, the final spot shouldn't take long to fill on the Gamer Connection forum.
Radavel: Backgrounds are definitely in - feel free to select from PHB2 or the SoW options, as we're gonna keep this setting-neutral.
Well, here's what I have so far. Just checking, we do have all the standard stat advances for an 11th level character, right?
Well, here's what I have so far. Just checking, we do have all the standard stat advances for an 11th level character, right?
Indeed. You have everything that 11th level and a Paragon Path entitles you to, save a bit of coin.
Galad looks like he'll fill the Leader archetype admirably, and the Ioun tie-in will be a boon. How does he reconcile his more primal, primitive shamanistic practices with the more scholarly, academic practices of a cleric of Ioun?
So far it looks as if we have:
Controller: Rev Rosey (Druid)
Leader: Davi (Shaman)
Striker: Radavel (Barbarian)
Striker: Laz (Unknown)
Defender: ??
Lets hope our 5th is interested in something defender-ish, otherwise things might get painful sooner rather than later.
The area map is up, in case anyone needs it for reference, ideas, what-have-you.
Galad looks like he'll fill the Leader archetype admirably, and the Ioun tie-in will be a boon. How does he reconcile his more primal, primitive shamanistic practices with the more scholarly, academic practices of a cleric of Ioun?
Well, I was planning on refluffing the powers to have him summoning forth previous incarnations of himself. So, there really isn't much conflict between them, as he's just seeking out the knowledge that his previous incarnations held. (Of course, his previous incarnation, the one that functions as his spirit companion, was one burnt-down orphanage away from reincarnating as a rakshasa, this may not be a good thing.)
Well so far I've narrowed the choice to either the Warden(MC'd Barbarian), or Sorcerer (MC'd Rogue) either way i'll be meleeing with both. Sorcerer+melee=funny and scary.
<Nods> So far we're running melee-heavy, a scenario that will not change with the addition of a 5th, since that spot should ideally be a Defender role.
We'll see how it turns out!
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Well so far I've narrowed the choice to either the Warden(MC'd Barbarian), or Sorcerer (MC'd Rogue) either way i'll be meleeing with both. Sorcerer+melee=funny and scary.<Nods> So far we're running melee-heavy, a scenario that will not change with the addition of a 5th, since that spot should ideally be a Defender role.
We'll see how it turns out!
Well if I go the sorcerer path i can melee and do ranged
Madda has a reasonable mixture of ranged and area attacks as well. Mostly aimed at slowing enemies down and knocking them prone. She's sensible and mostly works alone, so while she can do nasty melee damage, she's also pretty darned good at making sure nobody can get to her.
Bare bones going up now, more in the next hour or so.
I posted in the gamer connection thread, then I saw this so...
Here's the idea for my character, Setil, the deva swordmage:
Setil has spent an eternity defined by a fighting style as ancient as his soul is. As a swordmage, he combines magic with steel to defeat the enemies of the deity he once served personally, Pelor. So long ago, Setil bound himself to the mortal world as a sacrifice he never second guessed. Proudly becoming his god's champion on this plane, Setil defended those most succeptible to the forces of evil.
So many lifetimes passed, and Setil never lost sight of why he made his choice. He watched the other mortals around him question the will of the deities during every minor inconvenience of their pitiably short lives, and he didn't question why he had become mortal. He lived and died, always content that his was the only path.
Then, something changed. Setil was slain deep beneath the earth's surface by an abomination known as a mind flayer. The creatures were intent to block out all of Pelor's radiance on this plane. Setil and his companions stopped their foul machinations, but Setil was lost, his brain consumed by the mind flayer. And once again Setil was reborn and set on the path to fight the enemies of Pelor, only now something was missing.
During each of his lifetimes, the one thing that kept Setil going was the memory of the divine presence. Always there in the back of his mind like a beacon guiding him. This birth, he remembered feeling "it", but couldn't remember what "it" felt like. Setil was lost. He continued fighting for Pelor's cause. Always hoping at the next rebirth he would feel "it" again, but at each subsequent rebirth he would swear "it" was sliding further away.
Now Setir is a creature torn. He still puts Pelor's cause first, on the off chance, but now he becomes easily frustrated by things. The biggest change has been an active effort to hunt down mind flayers, on the belief that the one that consumed his brain yet lives and slaying it is the key.
Hopefully, that works. And I'm open to any suggestions.
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Sundered Heart, level 11
Dragonborn, Barbarian, Fearbringer Thane
Build: Thaneborn Barbarian
Feral Might: Thaneborn Triumph
Background: Wandering Duelist
FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 18, Con 16, Dex 14, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 18.
Starting Ability Scores
Str 13, Con 15, Dex 13, Int 11, Wis 13, Cha 13.
AC: 25 Fort: 21 Reflex: 19 Will: 19
HP: 101 Surges: 11 Surge Value: 28
TRAINED SKILLS
Perception +12, Intimidate +19, Athletics +13.
FEATS
1: Rising Fury
2: Weapon Expertise (Polearm)
4: Weapon Focus (Polearm)
6: Toughness
8: Powerful Charge
10: Deadly Rage
11: Danger Sense
POWERS
1, At-Will: Howling Strike
1, At-Will: Pressing Strike
1, Encounter: Vault the Fallen
1, Daily: Macetail's Rage
2, Utility: Tiger's Leap
3, Encounter: Shatterbone Strike
5, Daily: Silver Phoenix Rage
6, Utility: Instinctive Charge
7, Encounter: Curtain of Steel
9, Daily: Oak Hammer Rage
10, Utility: Heart Strike
ITEMS
Adventurer's Kit, Summoned Hide Armor +3, Pinning Longspear +3
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A little background
Hence, began a quest that took Sundered Heart all corners of this continent. Sundered Heart followed every lead to find the Shadow, blood and slaughter the only reward to his efforts. Years pass, and Sundered Heart despaired of ever finishing his quest until out of the mist-shrouded night a dark rider appeared… it is the Shadow. Sundered Heart took his stance summoning all his anger, rage, frustration for the end of his quest was near. As rider drew close, Sundered Heart struck piercing the Shadow’s heart.
When he removed the Shadow’s mask, the look of calm and peace on the Shadow’s face shows that Sundered Heart that he has replaced the Shadow as the supreme warrior. But why did he not feel any joy or sense of accomplishment? Why?
So he wandered many more years trying to find the answer until one day he found that he was again walking the same mountain that he and Misha used to walk then Sundered Heart knew he must see Misha.
He asked about Misha in the village but none will talk to the fearsome stranger. A youngling braver than his parents pointed Sundered Heart to the meadow where years before he witnessed the Shadow’s crime.
Intrigued, Sundered Heart did as he was bid. There he saw a marker with the name Misha. Having no more place in the village, Sundered Heart removed himself and went to reside in a place called Wellspring.
I posted in the gamer connection thread, then I saw this so...
Here's the idea for my character, Setil, the deva swordmage...
Ghettowedge: You're in, idea looks great! See the first few posts for official creation info etc.
Radavel: I LOVE Barbarians, and am excited to see Sundered Heart in action.
Lazaro: This being the first time I have DMed a 4e game, I am afraid I have little advice to give you, other than my own gaming motto: The best defense is a big-arse fireball to the face. ;)
Seriously though, this is supposed to be fun, so play what you think will be the most fun for you to play.
All of you lot: I'll also be wanting a minor wish list from each of you... 2-3 items of level 10-16 or so that you'd be really keen on acquiring at some nebulous point in the future. Not promising that you'll get them, but it never hurts to let me know... :D
I'll try to have more starter info up tomorrow, had minor baby trouble today.
Well, if we end up without much ranged options, I could always summon my mobile buff factory next to them and hit them a few times. Still can't think of any other items I'd want, though. Just give me what a shaman would logically need.
On a side note, will Ravadel please go to the white courtesy thread.
EDIT: Equipment should be done.
I'm still down one magic item, and what to spend the 4000 gp on.
I have no problem with using excess cash for something larger-scale, such as a cabin/house/business, etc. as opposed to magic items or loads of normal gear.
As far as I could determine, that's the DMG's idea of the sum of the spoils you've accumulated in your career thus far. I may, of course, be plumb wrong, in which case I'd be happy to be corrected! :D
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Just a quick mock up of Karnn
Male Medium natural humanoid
Initiative + Senses Passive Perception ; Passive Insight ; Perception +; low-light vision
HP (+ +10), Currently , Temp ; Bloodied
Healing Surges /day, Currently ; Regain hit points
AC ; Fortitude , Reflex , Will
Speed 6
Action Points 1, Currently 1
Dragonfrost At-Will * Arcane, Cold, Implement
Melee or Ranged 10; Charisma vs. Fortitude; 1d8 + Charisma modifier cold damage, and you push the target 1 square.
Special: This power can be used as a melee basic and ranged basic attack.
Repeating crossbow (At-Will) * Weapon
Range 10/20; +7 vs. AC; 1d8 + 2
Twin Strike At-Will * Martial, Weapon
Melee or Ranged ?/?
Requirement: You must be wielding two melee weapons or a
ranged weapon.
One or two creatures; Strength vs. AC (melee; main weapon and off-hand
weapon) or Dexterity vs. AC (ranged), two attacks; 1[W] damage per attack.
Critical Opportunity Encounter, Minor Action * Martial,Weapon
Requirement: You must be wielding a dagger and have scored
a critical hit with a dagger against an enemy during this turn.
Target: The same creature you hit with a critical hit
Dexterity vs. AC; 3[W] + Dexterity modifier damage.
Second Wind (standard; encounter) * Healing Spend a healing surge and regains ? hit points. Gain a +2 bonus to all defenses until the start of its next turn.
Daggermaster’s Action
You can spend an action point to reroll one attack roll or
damage roll you made using a dagger, instead of taking
an extra action.
Dagger Precision
You can score critical hits with daggers on a roll of 18–20.
Dilettante (Twin Strike)
At 1st level, you choose an at-will power
from a class different from yours.
Dual Heritage
You can take feats that have either elf
or human as a prerequisite (as well as those specifically
for half-elves), as long as you meet any other
requirements.
Group Diplomacy
You grant allies within 10 squares of
you a +1 racial bonus to Diplomacy checks.
Feats armor proficiency (leather), implement expertise, reaper's touch, sorcerous blade channeling, toughness, sneak of shadows
[multiclass rogue] , versatile master
Alignment ? Languages Common, Elven, +1
Skills arcana +12, athletics +11, endurance +9, history +12
Str 13 Dex 19 Wis 11
Con 15 Int 9 Cha 21
Equipment
Thanks to sorcerous blade channeling I can use my ranged powers as a melee attack. With reaper's touch acid orb (descided against taking it) and dragonfrost not only gain melee touch in addition to their range, but they all become melee basic attacks aswell.
Used versatile master to make twin Strike an at-will.
I can see that Madda is going to be the voice of normality amidst the tortured angst here.
Grumpysauce, she's picked up a variety of kits (thieves tools, climber's kit, herbs, residuum, etc) on her travels and a selection of handy-dandy rituals acquired from who knows where. Can you cast an eye and let me know if there's anything on there you hate.
Wellspring is her home town and she tends to come back there between ventures into the wild. She'll know a lot of folks, but won't be up to speed on local news.
I think the Clannen's are the prosperous (comparatively speaking) yeoman type. They're proud of her, but don't really know enough about her life to discuss it with her. Home is where she recharges the batteries, minds a few sheep and sleeps til noon.
Ghettowedge: You're in, idea looks great! See the first few posts for official creation info etc.
Thanks! Now for the (kinda) bad news: Wednesdays are my only "probably can't post day. I work all day and then head to my f2f game right afterwards and then pretty much straight to bed. This would delay getting my character posted until Thursday. Is that still ok?
Hi Ghetto. Good to see you :D
Thanks! Now for the (kinda) bad news: Wednesdays are my only "probably can't post day. I work all day and then head to my f2f game right afterwards and then pretty much straight to bed. This would delay getting my character posted until Thursday. Is that still ok?Ghettowedge: You're in, idea looks great! See the first few posts for official creation info etc.
No problem at all! The boards are giving me fits, and have been for several days now - this happening to anyone else?
Y'all are gonna be an absolute handful! Talk about a trial by fire for a rusty GM! :D
All of you lot: I know it's a pain in the rump, but please stat out all of your abilities (with bonuses) in your Profile, to minimize my need to look things up. Thanks!!!
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Did you see the spear fight link above? My inspiration for picking Sundered Heart's main weapon.
Awesome spear fight! I'll finish up on Karrn (again what I have posted is only rough draft) when I get home. Stuck in the middle orientation right now :(
Radavel
How would you feel about Sunder Heart picking up a "little brother" on his journey? either during or before his arrival in Wellspring? I'm thinking about writing Karrn up as an orphan.
No problem at all! The boards are giving me fits, and have been for several days now - this happening to anyone else?
Yes. Me. Driving me off my rocker.
Y'all are gonna be an absolute handful! Talk about a trial by fire for a rusty GM! :D
Heh. Most of us are either running or have run pbps and we know the pain. Empathy and lots of therapeutic splattage shall be the watchwords. Along with meaningful character developing conversations.
All of you lot: I know it's a pain in the rump, but please stat out all of your abilities (with bonuses) in your Profile, to minimize my need to look things up. Thanks!!!
Do you want more than I've put in for Madda? I know exactly how you feel about this one (it is a royal pain looking up a power in a hurry). Tell me if you want more detail and I'll put it in.
Laz/Radavel: The more of you that know each other, the better. Your choice, obviously, but I'd prefer it if we can work out a few connections before y'all begin tramping around splatting things in perfect unison.
Rev Rosey: What you've provided for Madda is ideal; you are a paragon of paragons. :D
Glad to know that I am not the only one cursing the boards atm - Mirth was going to spend an action point last turn to help poor dazed Leo, but after typing it 3x and watching it fizzle each time, I figured he was on his own. <sigh>
Glad to know that I am not the only one cursing the boards atm - Mirth was going to spend an action point last turn to help poor dazed Leo, but after typing it 3x and watching it fizzle each time, I figured he was on his own. <sigh>
For what it's worth, I have now taken to typing out any DM post longer than a line in Notepad and saving it. I learned the hard way just how much I hate losing a whole page of monster rolls. For "learned the hard way" please read, "explosive swearing in front of son exponentially increasing his vocabulary" way.
Ghetto/Davi - are either of you likely to have run across Madda in your travels? Davi might well have, given they're both woodsy wanderers of one sort of another. Fancy building some connections?
Agreed, Sundered Heart and Madda could well know each other. Or at the very least of each other. Go sleep.
Well, rumor has it the boards being slow on just about all the rpg messageboards I lurk at is because WotC revoked all pdf sales and the whole community is in an uproar. Maybe Paizo's being hard hit because of the shop being connected to the messageboards of something. Just idle speculation that has little basis in reality.
Ghetto/Davi - are either of you likely to have run across Madda in your travels? Davi might well have, given they're both woodsy wanderers of one sort of another. Fancy building some connections?
Sure, if you don't mind coming up with most of the ideas. I'm not really that good with this sort of thing.
The nerd-rage, it consumes all.
The nerd-rage, it consumes all.
Fabes, yer welcome to join us if ya wish. I'll just find more monsters somewhere! :D
I've already read the adventure, I'm afraid, quite extensively as I'd like to run it in the future. It just wouldn't be as much fun as I already know the surprises!
...if you don't mind coming up with most of the ideas. I'm not really that good with this sort of thing.
I never mind coming up with ideas. Think child in a sweetshop. Whether any of them are useful is another story entirely.
The simplest might be that they crossed paths when he spotted her as a shape-changer. They might possibly have adventured together briefly. Madda has no real agenda to pursue. She does things that interest her or pay reasonably well (she's bad at keeping money).
If you want to go more exotic than that, I can come up with something.
...if you don't mind coming up with most of the ideas. I'm not really that good with this sort of thing.I never mind coming up with ideas. Think child in a sweetshop. Whether any of them are useful is another story entirely.
The simplest might be that they crossed paths when he spotted her as a shape-changer. They might possibly have adventured together briefly. Madda has no real agenda to pursue. She does things that interest her or pay reasonably well (she's bad at keeping money).
If you want to go more exotic than that, I can come up with something.
Galad and Sertil, being Devas, will be hard to ignore in Wellspring - while it *is* a trade town, it is still growing, and Devas are not common enough to evade notice.
I can tie Galad into the adventure quite easily, regardless of connections.
Sundered Heart would be less conspicuous, save for the fact that he has just bought half share in the Spitting Cockerel, a dockside inn heretofore known only for a prominent lack of anything resembling edible grub or clean sheets.
Bad food and bedbugs? Why do you think Madda goes home to mum from time to time. She has enough sleeping on the ground and hedgehog porridge when she's at work.