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Truenames
If you have a truename, provide some background story as to why you chose it. Your truename may be in some way related to the feat you took which required it, as an option.
Spells
I will allow spells from The Complete Book of Eldritch Might in this game.
Tenebrian Seeds
While your character may have heard a little about Tenebrian Seeds, we will likely not encounter any until much later in the campaign.
Overpowering Items
It is entirely possible, if inprobable, that through the item creation system used in Arcana Evolved, you will create a magical item that is too powerful for our current campaign. I reserve the option to create a drawback from the use of such items.
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Ability Scores
Ability scores may either be rolled, as normal, or purchased with 20 points using the Ability Score purchase generation method from Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook. If you don't have this book, ask me or a fellow player for assistance.
Skill Ranks
The following rules will be used for Skill Ranks instead of standard Arcana Evolved rules:
Each level, your character gains a number of skill ranks dependent upon your class plus your Intelligence modifier. You can never have more ranks in a skill than your total number of Hit Dice. You also gain a +3 bonus on all class skills that you put ranks into.
Other than our Champion of Magic sidekick, have we got any definite classes/races?
While I would normally look at Akashic, as AE is so focused on high magic, I shouldn't pass up the chance to play a Magister, so I'll call dibs unless someone else is working on one? Perhaps a link to the Champion in some way?
I'll get back to you on the race
I was planning on Human Akashic.
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Lol, Adrian's father is a Magister, and a quite disappointed one too when Adrian didn't take up after him.
Is there anyone here who does not have access to the Pathfinder Rules. I was thinking of adapting some other things from Pathfinder that I think are working tremendously. Namely, Perception replacing Spot and Listen, and Acrobatics replacing Balance, Jump, and Escape Artist.
I also like the combat maneuver system from Pathfinder.
However, if you don't have access to the Pathfinder Rules, we'll keep the game closer to the original ruleset. :P
As far as I know, all of the things you mention should be in the Pathfinder SRD which is available free for reference from here:
http://www.pfsrd.com/
I'm good for Pathindered Arcana Evolved. Maybe Arcana Evolved Evolved?
James, forgive the threadjack, but I read that you are in Durham NC. Email me (millerhero at gmail) if you are interested in attending Pathfinder Society games in Apex on Monday or Tuesdays. thanks
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
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James, forgive the threadjack, but I read that you are in Durham NC. Email me (millerhero at gmail) if you are interested in attending Pathfinder Society games in Apex on Monday or Tuesdays. thanks
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Hey Set. Yep... room for one more. :P
More About Wealth
Note that your starting wealth does not necessarily indicate that you have that much money, just what equipment you start with. If you want to create a personal story behind any of your equipment, you are free to do so. Masterwork and magical items especially might deserve said treatment. If you spend all of your starting wealth on equipment, you will probably have 2d4 x 10 sp in coins remaining due to the kindness of strangers (discounts, gifts, etc).
Here's Adrian, as an example character for you all to look at.
And of course he spent all his money on equipment. So for coins: x 10= 30 silver pieces.
I think the character is ready to go. He might need some tweaking, but I used the Pathfinder skills. Let me know if he's missing anything or needs any changes.
Nice character.
I'm just off to make up my Giant Magister. Hey, wait a minute....you're wearing what!?
*shakes fist* You mean you hate my crippled, hunchback Giant wizard who was expelled from Magister school by Adrian's father, and while he isn't bitter enough to want to go back and burn the place to ashes, he wouldn't lose any sleep if De-Shamod was squished by a dragon tomorrow?
Dammit!
Seriously, I was only kicking around a few ideas and hadn't committed to anything. You're got yours posted first, and having you trying to stick me with that pointy thing doesn't sound too good, so I'll have a look at my other options.
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Character ideas;
Sekteth, Verrik Wood Witch
Sekteth, N Verrik male Wood Witch 1
Str 10 (+0), Dex 14 (+2), Con 14 (+2), Int 13 (+1), Wis 17 (+3), Cha 8 (-1)
(0 + 5 + 5 + 3 + 7 + 0 = 19, +2 Wis, -2 Cha)
HP: 8, AC: 18 (+4 armor, +2 shield, +2 Dex), Spd 20 ft., Init +2, Saves: Fort +2, Ref +2, Will +6, BAB +0, Grapple +0, Atk: +0 Halfspear (1d6 P, x3, 20 ft), +1 Dagger (1d4 P, 19-20/x2, 10 ft.)
Racial Abilities: +2 Wis, -2 Cha, Medium sized, 30 ft. speed, Sensory Control, 1/day contact, lesser telekinesis, sense thoughts at character level, always have access to complex psionic spells
Class Abilities: Proficient in Simple Weapons, Light Armors and Shields, +1 luck bonus to AC if attacked by ranged weapons containing wood, Lifesong (full round action to heal 1d8+2 hp by touch, 3 / day), access to all Simple spells
Feats: Runecaster (if cast standard action spell as full round action, foe must use Int modifier instead of Con/Wis/Dex mod to save against the spell), Unique Spell?
Traits: TBA
Truename: Sfiri
Languages: Common, Verrik, Draconic
Skills (4 (class), +1 (Int) 5):
Bluff (Cha) 0 (+0),
Climb (Str) 0 (+0),
Concentration (Con) 0 (+2),
Craft (alchemy, Int) 0 (-)
Craft (woodworking, Int) 1 (+5),
Disguise (Cha) 0 (+0),
Heal (Wis) 1 (+7),
Knowledge (arcane, Int) 0 (-),
Knowledge (nature, Int) 0 (-),
Knowledge (runes, Int) 1 (+5),
Knowledge (Verrik, Int) 0 (-),
Perception (Wis) 1 (+8),
Sense Motive (Wis) 0 (+3),
Speak Language,
Spellcraft (Int) 1 (+5),
Survival (Wis) 0 (+3),
Use Magic Device (Cha) 0 (-)
Halfspear (1 gp, 3 lbs), 2 Daggers (2 gp, 2 lbs), Chain Shirt (+4 armor, 100 gp, 25 lbs, +4 MDB, -2 ACP, 20% ASF), heavy wooden shield (7 gp, +2 shield bonus, -2 ACP, 10 lbs), Backpack (2 gp, 2 lbs), Bedroll (1 sp, 5 lbs), Rations x5 (2.5 gp, 5 lbs), Waterskin (1 gp, 4 lbs), Flint & Steel (1 gp, -), Signal Whistle (8 sp, -), Belt Pouch (1 gp, ½ lb), Witchbag (5 gp, 3 lbs)
Alchemist’s Frost (20 gp, 1.25 lbs), Alchemist’s Fire (20 gp, 1.25 lbs)
Encumbrance (Lt 33 lbs, Med 34-66 lbs, Hvy 67-100 lbs): 60 lbs carried
Cash Spent: 163.4 gp, Cash Remaining: 36.6 gp
Spells
Cantrips 3/day – detect magic, lesser repair, unique spell
1st spells 1/day – mudball (sap instead of mud?)
Unique spell – Cantrip - Awaken Nature's Favor - use woodcarving to inscribe intricate carved script on large woody nuts (like walnuts) to create magical tokens that give a one-use +1 luck bonus to a single skill check, saving throw or attack roll, draining the potential life energy stored within the seed in the process, leaving it cracked and inedible. Like Guidance but takes him 10 minutes to ‘cast’ and no person can have more than one such trinket at a time. Can be used at any time in the next 24 hours. The trinket only works once, is activated as a free action as the roll that is to be modified is made, and only works for the person who was given the item by the caster. 0 level spell, no Diminished version. Heightened version gives a +2 luck bonus to the affected roll and can be used any time after it is created by the recipient, but still only once. Due to the limit on having one at a time, he cannot have one in his possession when casting the spell, or the old one will lose power and wither.
Sekteth is a scholar of the wilderness, sensing great power bound up within the living world, and wishing to find new ways to tap it. While his training focussed on doing so in ways that complement the living world, his own specific line of research has caused him to be regarded with wary eyes by his tutor, as he has drawn upon the potential life-force of a great tree, tapped from a simple nut, to enhance another's fortunes, at the cost of withering and blackening the seed, eradicating that great potential for a small temporary benefit. He does not see the harm in this simple act, as the trees produce many hundreds and thousands of nuts and seeds and fruit more than they need to reproduce themselves, but he is aware that he tread a dark path, and has turned his thinking to less perilous lines of study, shaken somewhat by the disappointment of his mentor.
He has learned the song of life, in part as penance for his earlier offense, and feels a strong connection with the Green when he invokes it's power, which he considers a sign that the Green, at least, has forgiven him, and even accepts his works, unlike his flesh-and-blood peers.
He veers dangerously between justifying questionable actions, and having the best of intentions, and his mentor hopes that the acorn of insight and perception he has displayed someday unfurls into the tree of wisdom.
Samastran the Steeltooth, Sibbecai Warmain (with another Sibbecai in the party, perhaps not)
Sibeccai Warmain 1, N
Str 15 (+2), Dex 12 (+1), Con 18 (+4), Int 8 (-1), Wis 10 (+0), Cha 10 (+0)
(7 + 3 + 10 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 19, +2 Con, -2 Int)
HP: 24 (1d12 +4 +8), AC: 19 (+4 armor, +2 shield, +1 Dex), Spd 30 ft., Init +1, Saves: Fort +6, Ref +1, Will +0, BAB +1, Grapple +4, Atk: +3 Morningstar (1d8+2 B/P, x2), +2 Throwing Axe (1d6+2 S, x2, 10 ft.)
Racial Abilities: +2 Con, -2 Int, Low-light vision, +2 racial bonus to Gather Information, Handle Animal, Innuendo? and Stealth checks
Class Abilities: Proficient in all Simple/Martial Weapons, all Light/Medium/Heavy Armors and all Shields (including Tower Shields), free Sturdy (+ hit points equal to 2x Con mod) feat.
Feats: Sturdy (B), Weapon Focus (morning star)
Traits: TBA
Truename: Beletoth 'the Whisperer'
Languages: Common, Giant
Skills (2 (class), -1 (Int)):
Climb (Str) 0 (+3),
Craft (any, Int) 0 (-),
Handle Animal 0 (Cha, 0),
Intimidate (Cha) 1 (+4),
Knowledge (architecture & engineering, Int) 0 (-),
Knowledge (history, Int) 0 (-),
Knowledge (nobility & royalty, Int) 0 (-),
Ride (Dex) 0 (+1),
Swim (Str) 0 (+3)
Morningstar (8 gp, 8 lbs), 2 Throwing Axes (16 gp, 8 lbs), Chain Shirt (+4 armor, 100 gp, 25 lbs, +4 MDB, -2 ACP, 20% ASF), heavy wooden shield (7 gp, +2 shield bonus, -2 ACP, 10 lbs), Backpack (2 gp, 2 lbs), Bedroll (1 sp, 5 lbs), Rations x5 (2.5 gp, 5 lbs), Waterskin (1 gp, 4 lbs), Flint & Steel (1 gp, -), Signal Whistle (8 sp, -), Belt Pouch (1 gp, ½ lb),
Encumbrance (Lt 66 lbs, Med 67-133 lbs, Hvy 134-200 lbs): 65.5 lbs carried
Cash Spent: 139.4 gp, Cash Remaining: 60.6 gp
Favored Class: Warmain
The 'Steeltooth' chose her name after a morningstar to the face during training loosened one of her canine teeth (and scarred the side of her face and throat), which has been replaced with one of shining steel. She speaks in a guttural whisper, due to damage to her larynx from the same incident, which would have been fatal, had not a skilled healer managed to stop the bleeding from her wounded neck.
She is aware that her scarring, as well as her rough voice, tends to be off-putting to others, and has turned her disadvantage to a strength, using these features to intimidate and cow others. Privately, she worries that her disfigurement could lead to others avoiding her, but hides these concerns under a facade of not caring of others avoid her, acting the gruff and moody loner, as she fears that the sight of her face will drive off any potential friend or mate.
She is aware that some fighting companions have made assumptions regarding her head-wound and some sort of trauma to her brain, but she's all-too-aware that she was never the smartest soldier on the field, and, if anything, she sometimes encourages the notion that she has suffered some sort of mental damage, rather than admit that she's never been much for scholarly pursuits...
Two questions;
1) Are we using Traits?
2) Are we using the Pathfinder version of Favored Class? (Hope so, 'cause both of my character concepts could use an extra skill point!)
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Nice character.
I'm just off to make up my Giant Magister. Hey, wait a minute....you're wearing what!?
*shakes fist* You mean you hate my crippled, hunchback Giant wizard who was expelled from Magister school by Adrian's father, and while he isn't bitter enough to want to go back and burn the place to ashes, he wouldn't lose any sleep if De-Shamod was squished by a dragon tomorrow?
Dammit!
Seriously, I was only kicking around a few ideas and hadn't committed to anything. You're got yours posted first, and having you trying to stick me with that pointy thing doesn't sound too good, so I'll have a look at my other options.
Go with the concept that appeals to you the most. A little interpersonal conflict always makes a questing group of characters interesting. Are you willing to put aside personal differences for the sake of the quest?
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No traits. The extra feat or talent at first level replaces that. :)
Pathfinder favored class it is!
Both concepts look good, so whatever you want to go with.
Cool, going with Sekteth, then. The other two posted (Champion and Unfettered) seem more warrior-ish, so I'll go the other direction and be caster-y.
Nice character.
I'm just off to make up my Giant Magister. Hey, wait a minute....you're wearing what!?
*shakes fist* You mean you hate my crippled, hunchback Giant wizard who was expelled from Magister school by Adrian's father, and while he isn't bitter enough to want to go back and burn the place to ashes, he wouldn't lose any sleep if De-Shamod was squished by a dragon tomorrow?
Dammit!
Seriously, I was only kicking around a few ideas and hadn't committed to anything. You're got yours posted first, and having you trying to stick me with that pointy thing doesn't sound too good, so I'll have a look at my other options.
Feel free to make a Giant. Just because I hate the giants, doesn't mean I have to hate you. We could have a shared background, or somesuch. Maybe you saved my life, making you the giant I actually respect instead of blindly loathe, forcing me to have to rethink my prejudices. Or maybe we grew up together, my having been your playmate since our fathers were companions from way back. You're the one snag in my genocidal plans.
Feel free to make a Giant. Just because I hate the giants, doesn't mean I have to hate you. We could have a shared background, or somesuch. Maybe you saved my life, making you the giant I actually respect instead of blindly loathe, forcing me to have to rethink my prejudices. Or maybe we grew up together, my having been your playmate since our fathers were companions from way back. You're the one snag in my genocidal plans.
OK, sounds like fun. I'll have a think on a backstory or maybe we can just play it off in game.
I need to have a proper look at the Magic section in the rules before I post my PC but let's go with the Giant Magister idea then. Should have at least an outline done before the end of the weekend.
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Yes, please provide some nice backstories for your characters. This is a campaign oozing with flavor. No alignment, so it will feel more natural and thought-awakening. If you take a ceremony feat, for example, you can write a little story about who you performed it with. You will be rewarded for good storytelling!
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** spoiler omitted **
No idea. It was one of the sample names in Arcana Evolved for Verrik (listed as a female name, but also stated that Verrik don't have any distinction between male and female names anyway). I was feeling uncreative, and liked the sound of it.
It's pronounced sihfeery, in my head.
Really, the only reason I even remembered to give the character a Truename is because he's got the Runecaster feat, which requires one.
I have the rulebooks, but know nothing about what the lands of the Diamond Throne look like, or where Verrik traditionally live, or whatever, so any backstory will be light on place-names and stuff.
I have Unearthed, Lands of the Diamond Throne and Legacy of the Dragons. I'm thinking of a human Akashic from Khorl (those of you from my late, lamented game set there will know my liking for the city).
Yeah, that Khorl game is why I'm not playing a Magister. Wow, for all that the UA magic systems rocks on toast at 4th+, it's painful at level 1! (Hence the Witch, who has some side-powers, in addition to spells.)
Maybe a slightly radical suggestion, but as you are lifting a couple of bits from Pathfinder, how would you react to allowing us to use the same rules for 0 level spells ie you learn a certain number per day as determined by class (which seems to be pretty similar between the 2 games) but rather than use AE's no of spells per day limit, they are not expended after being cast?
This would add a bit of flexibility, and hopefully get round the issue that Set alludes to, namely that after you've cast your one spell for the day, unless you have any other class abilites to fall back on you're kind of a spare wheel. In the Pathfinder games I've played so far it has made low level wizards (and clerics) much more fun/useful.
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Maybe a slightly radical suggestion, but as you are lifting a couple of bits from Pathfinder, how would you react to allowing us to use the same rules for 0 level spells ie you learn a certain number per day as determined by class (which seems to be pretty similar between the 2 games) but rather than use AE's no of spells per day limit, they are not expended after being cast?
This could work with the explicit understanding that cantrips used at a heightened effect count as 1st level spells, and use 1st level slots. I'm sure that having people casting heightened cantrips (effectively 1st level spells) all day long would break the spirit of the rule here.
Does there happen to be a feat anywhere that lets a Witch take an extra manifestation? Having to wait for 5th level before being able to take an attack or defense manipulation (since she chose utility in Lifesong) sounds painful. I'm so jaded by Pathfinder...
This could work with the explicit understanding that cantrips used at a heightened effect count as 1st level spells, and use 1st level slots. I'm sure that having people casting heightened cantrips (effectively 1st level spells) all day long would break the spirit of the rule here.
Absolutely. I don't want any possibility of weaselling more 1st level spells out by doing this. If it's heightened to a 1st level spell it has to come out of the 1st level spell allocation. Oh, and no weaving those 3 0 level slots into a 1st level slot either!
Now as I've never played it before for all intents and purposes, can you just check I'm reading this right. By the AE book, a 1st level Magister 'knows' 5 x 0 level spells and 3 x 1st; he/she can normally cast (assuming INT bonus) 3 x 0 and 2 x 1. If you are happy to adopt the PF cantrips rule, I would have my choice of any 3 of those 0 level spells AND the diminished version of any of the 1st level spells ie 8 total, of which I select 3 and can cast them at any time?
Compare with a PF wizard who has access to any 0 level spell, chooses any 4 and has them available all day. On the face of it, it seems fairly similar.
And both a PF wizard and an AE Magister would have 2 x 1st level (the PF wizard could have a bonus if specialist, plus potentially another if they choose a bonded Arcane item instead of a familiar) with the PF wizard having 3 + INT bonus known, while the Magister has 3 known plus the heightened version of any of their 0 level spells. So slightly more but again fairly similar.
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If you feel it is balanced, please go ahead and make whatever changs you think are necessary.
The one thing I had was that I'm not sure I want exotic 0-level spells available as a spam. (:P) So, I am thinking the following.
Prepare three 0-level spells that can be cast at will (excluding exotic 0-level spells), and 2 0-level spells that can be used up to three times per day. It's a mixture of both. Of course, this might be too convoluted and difficult to manage, so I may just rule that you can prepare 4 0-level spells to be used at will. It seems to be a middle ground. So that'll work for me if it works for everyone else.
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If you feel it is balanced, please go ahead and make whatever changs you think are necessary.
The one thing I had was that I'm not sure I want exotic 0-level spells available as a spam. (:P) So, I am thinking the following.
Prepare three 0-level spells that can be cast at will (excluding exotic 0-level spells), and 2 0-level spells that can be used up to three times per day. It's a mixture of both. Of course, this might be too convoluted and difficult to manage, so I may just rule that you can prepare 4 0-level spells to be used at will. It seems to be a middle ground. So that'll work for me if it works for everyone else.
Perhaps have it based on what spells you can cast. If you allow a person to cast at will only cantrips that are one complexity level below their current, that might be a decent compromise.
My witch, with Simple Access to all, and Complex access to Psionic, may only cast at will Simple Psionic cantrips. At 9th level, he gains Complex access to all Plant spells, and would also be able to cast Simple Plant cantrips at will.
A Magister, with Complex Access to all, could cast all prepared Simple Cantrips at will, but have to use his slots to prepare any Complex cantrips usable once / preparation, normally (and he'd almost always prefer to prepare unlimited use Simple cantrips in those slots!).
How that tweaks with racial spells or spell-likes (such as those that come with Faen or Verrik race/racial levels) or with Unique spells, who knows...
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Nah, the complex spells are on par with most 0-level spells, so if you have access to them, its obvious you have access because of your familiarity with the magic. It's just the exotic ones I'm worried about.
Since you have to take a feat to get the exotic spells anyway, exotic spells seem rare enough to be a little more difficult to cast repeatedly. So I'm just going to rule that you can prepare 4 0-level spells, and cast them at will, unless you have access to exotic spells, which may have some drawback if you cast them too often. }:)
So unless you have exotic spells, don't worry about it. If there's another 0-level spell that's overpowering as a spam, I may have to add something to it like a material component or an additional arcane focus. Or perhaps something as generic as a concentration check.
Right now, we're not going to worry about that. Use the pathfinder wizard progression for 0-level spells.
It's just in the back of my mind that these 0-level spells weren't designed to be cast all day, nor those from the Complete Book of Eldritch Might, so it could be overpowering. But we'll see. Right now it sounds like a good idea.
If it makes it any easier, I've had a bit of a change of mind as regards character. Try as I might, I couldn't get a good feel for the Giant Magister, so I'm working on a Giant Greenbond instead - details as far as I have them in the profile.
So other than access to some complex spells through feats, racial abilities etc, we'll all be restricted to simple spells so hopefully we should be less able to break the game with repeated castings. I noticed (remembered) that you can use multiple lower level spells to cast a higher level 1 - if it hasn't been specifically called out above we need to ban that for 0 level spells.
If it makes it any easier, I've had a bit of a change of mind as regards character. Try as I might, I couldn't get a good feel for the Giant Magister, so I'm working on a Giant Greenbond instead - details as far as I have them in the profile.
So other than access to some complex spells through feats, racial abilities etc, we'll all be restricted to simple spells so hopefully we should be less able to break the game with repeated castings. I noticed (remembered) that you can use multiple lower level spells to cast a higher level 1 - if it hasn't been specifically called out above we need to ban that for 0 level spells.
As soon as you've got an idea for your greenbond's background go ahead and throw out an idea or two. I'm pretty open to my background, so a shared connection ought not be too hard to create.
As soon as you've got an idea for your greenbond's background go ahead and throw out an idea or two. I'm pretty open to my background, so a shared connection ought not be too hard to create.
At the moment I'm going with an outcast. A crippled, hunchback giant, looked down on with pity (and sometimes disgust) by his fellow giants. He doesn't care, as he has a connection to the Green which accepts him for what he is. Not the most appealing individual (hence the low CHA) but maybe because he too has been treated badly by the giants, you feel some sort of bond with him? Or at least, can't find it in you to hate him like you hate the others!
At the moment I'm going with an outcast. A crippled, hunchback giant, looked down on with pity (and sometimes disgust) by his fellow giants. He doesn't care, as he has a connection to the Green which accepts him for what he is. Not the most appealing individual (hence the low CHA) but maybe because he too has been treated badly by the giants, you feel some sort of bond with him? Or at least, can't find it in you to hate him like you hate the others!
Sounds good to me. Hows about you saved my life, coming across me when I was beaten and thrown out of the last city I was in due to an attack on a giant who happened to be a official in that city. His guard, probably both sibbecai and giant, beat me to within an inch of my life and threw me into a ditch on the road out of town. You saved me, and I feel a debt to you, so I've been travelling with you, trying to figure out a way to repay that debt. Along the way I've come to respect you, and possibly like you, and found a common outcastness.
Works for me. He's a gentle soul really (took Peaceful Mage as it was the best fit I could find), so would definitely have helped you in those circumstances.
I'll change my bonus language to Sibbecai to reflect having spent a bit of time together.
That's my profile done. Backstory can be fleshed out more if you want but hopefully gives you the basic idea.
I didn't know what to do with all of money as he's a fairly simple (if not entirely simple-minded) soul with no need for a lot of gear. I thought about buying a dog, but I couldn't find guard dog and even if I did it doesn't really seem very in-character so I came up with idea of a stray dog to go with the Way with Animals feat. Do what you will with 'Scraps' - he can be comedy relief, maybe know a few tricks, or just have him pop in and out without doing anything, I'm easy.
Added a more flavorful backstory into my profile, along with the story of the giant and the sibbecai.
Going to have to drop out, I'm afraid. I'm really busy at the moment.
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P.S. Please create intriguing backstories for your characters. Without alignment its important to pin down as much as possible what motives and goals your character has. There will be *rewards* for good backstories. :P
I'll be thinking over backstory this week, but am hundreds of miles from home, using my mom's laptop with a spotty DSL connection on top of a mountain in Maine. Updating would be painful. :)
Should be able to post something Sat night, and I'm having some wonky notions about growing up in a Verrik 'wine-country' communal type village with some oddness about it...