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Here is a good spot for talking OOCly during the game, to finish character creation and just for any questions you guys may have for me.
Also, if each of you can send me an email to felixcosima at gmail dot com it would be much appreciated. This is simply so I can share maps, images and a spreadsheet that I'll use as a battlemap with you so it doesn't have to be an email you keep up on.
The email address can be from any host to simply view the files, but I believe you need to have a gmail address to be able to edit files I give that permission to. This isn't a requirement since we can certainly get by with everyone just being able to see the files and the battlemat, but there is an advantage to people being able to edit them as well.
Email sent. I am very excited to get rolling!
I sent an email also. I'll be finishing up my character sheet over the next couple days hopefully.
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I've gotten both of your emails, along with one from Kiradia. Glad to have you all responding so quickly!
Below I am going to give each of you a rumor about the delve, something that you may have heard to add to your characters interest and give them some special bit of knowledge.
Jadd
Vanulf
Eric
Sigil
Kiradia
Zebulon
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I don't have any problem with that Kiradia, thats a pretty impressive weapon that I hadn't noticed before, but I don't see it as overpowered with the use of a feat to have real use of it. I hadn't noticed it before when I looked through the Adventurers Armory and I haven't gotten to reading the Horrors Revised yet.
It makes sense for your characters father to have specially picked up a somewhat rare weapon from his previous trip to the delve.
Great! Then I would like to present to you Kathrine Kanne. The stat block should be pretty easy to read, if you have any questions, please let me know. I will make my first post later in the day.
Female Human Fighter (Polearm Master) 1
NG Medium Humanoid (Human)
Init +3; Senses Perception +1
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DEFENSE
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AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14. . (+4 armor, +3 Dex)
HP 11 (1d10+1)
Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +0
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OFFENSE
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Spd 30 ft.
Melee Fauchard +4 (1d10+4/18-20/x2) and
Gauntlet +4 (1d3+3/20/x2) and
Unarmed Strike +4 (1d3+3/20/x2)
Ranged Shortbow +4 (1d6/20/x3)
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STATISTICS
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Str 16, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 12
Base Atk +1; CMB +4 (+6 Tripping); CMD 17 (19 vs. Trip)
Feats Combat Expertise +/-1, Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Fauchard, Improved Trip
Skills Acrobatics +2, Climb +1, Diplomacy +2, Escape Artist +1, Fly +1, Knowledge: Dungeoneering +6, Perception +1, Ride +1, Sense Motive +1, Stealth +1, Survival +4, Swim +1
Languages Common, Dwarven, Elven
Combat Gear Fauchard, Shortbow, Chain Shirt, Gauntlet; Other Gear Backpack (24 @ 61 lbs), Bedroll, Blanket, Case, map or scroll (4 @ 0 lbs), Crowbar, Flint and steel, Grappling hook, Ink (1 oz. vial, black), Inkpen, Lantern, hooded, Mirror, small steel, Oil (1-pint flask), Parchment (sheet) (4), Pot, iron, Pouch, belt (empty), Rations, trail (per day) (5), Rope, silk (50 ft.), Sealing wax, Sewing needle, Spade or shovel, Waterskin (3), Whetstone
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SPECIAL ABILITIES
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Combat Expertise +/-1 Bonus to AC in exchange for an equal penalty to attack.
Improved Trip You Trip at +2 and don't cause an attack of opportunity.
Sent my e-mail. I'm looking forward to this Google docs stuff - it had never occurred to me to use it as a tool for PbP, and seeing it in action will probably be easier than blundering around to learn it on my own.
I'll whip up a character and go about the always-painful process of finding an appropriate avatar asap (my perfectionism probably doesn't help with that last one).
Do you prefer first or third person posting?
Well, I'll assume that's an open question and say my preferred is third person.
Anyway since I'm incorrigibly lazy, I used Myth-Weavers for my sheet, if that's alright.
I haven't gotten to the brass tacks of buying ten-foot poles and such, but most of the rest is (theoretically, at least) complete.
Looking to the future, and the APG, for that matter, I noticed a couple of archetypes I was interested in.
First, from a purely 'oh that's neat' standpoint, Infiltrator. Then, for a myriad of reasons (dislike animal companions, really dislike the alternate hunter's bond, gives a fluff explanation for spells), Spirit Ranger. I can also see Spirit Ranger giving some fluff rationale for the Infiltrator's ability.
I'm mainly just stating my intent here; if there's an issue with that, lemme know, Tarlane.
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Looks like I've gotten an email from all six of you, so thanks a lot for the quick responses.
Giving a skimmed look over each of the characters that appear to be finished(or close to it) they are looking good to me so far. I'll be putting everyone into herolab today(and then as characters finish) to make my life easier where keeping track of combat, treasure and status effects are concerned so I'll have more detailed feedback for characters as I do that.
Zebulon, I'll look at those archetypes to make sure I don't see any issues, but assuming they don't overlap on abilities they swap out I don't predict any problems.
As for posing, I tend to post in the first person by default, separating myself from my character just with OOC tags, but I am comfortable using either. Since reading through the thread will be much more cohesive if we all use the same 'voice', I would suggest going with whatever the majority of the group prefers.
I am afraid I made a small mistake with my character sheet. I forgot to take my two traits, the stat block in this post has corrected that, along with a few small things in my equipment.
Female Human Fighter (Polearm Master) 1
NG Medium Humanoid (Human)
Init +5; Senses Perception +1
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DEFENSE
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AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14. . (+4 armor, +3 Dex)
hp 11 (1d10+1)
Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +0
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OFFENSE
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Spd 30 ft.
Melee Fauchard +4 (1d10+4/18-20/x2 plus Reach and Trip) and
. . Gauntlet +4 (1d3+3/20/x2) and
. . Unarmed Strike +4 (1d3+3/20/x2)
Ranged Shortbow +4 (1d6/20/x3)
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STATISTICS
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Str 16, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 12
Base Atk +1; CMB +4 (+6 Tripping); CMD 17 (20 vs. Trip)
Feats Combat Expertise +/-1, Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Fauchard, Improved Trip
Traits Log Roller (forest), Reactionary
Skills Climb +1, Diplomacy +2, Escape Artist +1, Fly +1, Knowledge: Dungeoneering +6, Perception +1, Ride +1, Sense Motive +1, Stealth +1, Survival +4, Swim +1
Languages Common, Dwarven, Elven
Combat Gear Fauchard, Shortbow, Chain Shirt, Gauntlet; Other Gear Backpack (24 @ 61 lbs), Bedroll, Blanket, Case, map or scroll (4 @ 0 lbs), Crowbar, Flint and steel, Grappling hook, Ink (1 oz. vial, black), Inkpen, Lantern, hooded, Mirror, small steel, Oil (1-pint flask), Parchment (sheet) (4), Pot, iron, Pouch, belt (PP: 0 GP: 0 SP: 1 CP: 8), Rations, trail (per day) (5), Rope, silk (50 ft.), Sealing wax, Sewing needle, Spade or shovel, Waterskin (3), Whetstone
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SPECIAL ABILITIES
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Combat Expertise +/-1 Bonus to AC in exchange for an equal penalty to attack.
Improved Trip You Trip at +2 and don't cause an attack of opportunity.
Here is my intial character for review...
Male Human Barbarian (Superstitious) 1
N Medium Humanoid (Human)
Init +3; Senses Perception +4
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DEFENSE
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AC 18, touch 14, flat-footed 14
HP 15 (1d12+3)
Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +0
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OFFENSE
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Spd 40 ft.
Melee Greatsword +4(2d6/19-20/x2), Warhammer +4(1d8/20/x3), Dagger +4(1d4/19-20/x2)
Ranged Throwing Axe +4 (1d6/20/x2) Range 10 ft.
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STATISTICS
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Str 16, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 10
Base Atk +1; CMB +4 ;CMD +16
Feats Combat Reflexes and Dodge
Skills 1 Rank in Stealth, Acrobatics, Perception, and Intimidate
Languages Common
Combat Gear Great Sword, Warhammer, 2x Throwing Axes, 2x Daggers, Armored Coat (39lbs) Other Gear Backpack(2), Bedroll(5), 6 days rations(6), 2 Waterskins(8), Whetstone(1), 50 ft of Twine(.5), Flint and Steel, 1 Sunrod(1), Pint of Oil(1), and Smelling Salts
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SPECIAL ABILITIES
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Rage
Fast Movement
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Traits
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Highlander (Regional) +1 Stealth or +2 in hills or mountains, it is a class skill)
Suspicious (Social) +1 Sense Motive, it is a class Skill
Heart of the Fields (Alternate Racial): A bonus equal to half his character level to Craft(Weapons) skill checks, and once per day they may ignore an effect that would cause him to become fatigued or exhausted. This racial trait replaces the skilled racial trait.
Remaining Currency: 32g 7s 7c
Total weight: 63.5
I believe everything should be ready to go.
As regards posting style, it would be nice if everything was cohesive, but I know that I, personally, just get awkward and stuck if I try to use the 'wrong', uh, voice/view/style/whatever-it's-called. I don't mind switching between them reading as much as I mind trying to write the other way.
I'm gonna pencil in (well, metaphorically speaking) the archetypes. I checked the handy matrix I had bookmarked and they don't overlap. The only weirdness is that Spirit Ranger has an ability that relates to favored terrain, which Infiltrator removes... but that persists even if you have a straight Infiltrator (you still get Camouflage from 'regular' Ranger abilities, which is useless without favored terrain).
I'm gonna add some miscellaneous adventure gear then I should be all done. Should also get around to postin'.
Hmm... Looking at the party makeup, perhaps I should go ahead and focus more on archery, assuming Eric Tilleman's character is a melee type. I was already starting to reconsider my plan and I'm an archer at heart anyway.
It's a matter of switching STR and DEX and picking up a different feat. (and a quick equipment re-jigger) If there's no problem with that, I think I'm gonna do it.
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Thats no problem for me, Zebulon, it will definitely do more to spread out the parties capabilities and that is a good thing. I believe Eric's plan is to use the scorpion whip, so unless that has changed he is going to be melee-ish as well.
Also, I have inputed everyone into herolab now except for buckwell and eric(and I'll be getting buckwell in as soon as I post in the other thread). All the characters are well built, I'm putting the questions I have below.
Jadd
Kiradia
Zebulon
Sigil
Well, after several desperate (and successful) bids to prove I am, in fact, incapable of basic addition/subtraction, I recalculated the costs from scratch. All the equipment I was after is there, and the actual combat gear has been set up for my new role. Still, Karth'll probably be swingin' that greatsword a time or two; such is life before Precise Shot.
As for your question, Brute is the one from the APG - Karth's previous incarnation actually had Bully, but they do the same thing and the fluff text for Brute fits so perfectly, I couldn't really pass it up, now could I? I do find it amusing a Brute trait has shown up in three different books, though.
Your right, I took the 1/3 bonus to superstitious.
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Eric, I added your character from your profile.
Eric
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By log roller(trait), did you mean Bellis Log Roller from Andoran or is there another version floating around I am not finding? Also, I am not sure what you chose as your favored class bonus(or if you forgot to choose one). Because of your higher CMD vs tripping, I am thinking you may have selected the human fighter favored class bonus, but if that is the case you get to select 2 different combat manuevers that get a +1. If that isn't what you selected, where did your extra +1 come from?
Actually, the Log Roller (forest) trait is a Regional trait from the APG. You can find it on page 332. I put my favored class bonus into one extra Skill Point actually. Not the most efficient use of a Fighter's FCB but I want to make a well rounded character that can interact with the world, not just be a beat stick for the party (that's Jadd's job ;) joking) and so I needed the extra skill point for that to work.
I get the +2 vs trip on my CMD because of the Improved Trip feat I took, which affects both my CMB and CMD while tripping or being tripped, and allows me to ignore the AoO from attempting the maneuver.
If you have any more questions, please let me know, I'll be posting up my next response in the IC thread soonish.
Alright, Buckwell has been added to herolab too.
Vanulf
** spoiler omitted **
Fixed
Eric, I added your character from your profile.
Eric
** spoiler omitted **
Yes, sorry. I updated my armor (it's studded leather) and my remaining coins on my character sheet.
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Kiradia, with that being the case I actually think you have one more skill point to spend. You should have 6 total to spend(2 class, 2 int, 1 favored, 1 human) and I believe you have only spent 5.
Vanulf and Eric, thanks for the updates, everything looks good now.
I'm enjoying the social RP picking up in the other thread. Its nice to see everyone participating even with the holiday and the quality of the posts. I think this is going to be a very good game.
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Kiradia, with that being the case I actually think you have one more skill point to spend. You should have 6 total to spend(2 class, 2 int, 1 favored, 1 human) and I believe you have only spent 5.
Skill expenditure (1 into each obviously): Acrobatics, Diplomacy, Know: Dungeon, Perception, Sense Motive, and Survival
So, I have in fact spent 6 points. All good? :)
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Kiradia, with that being the case I actually think you have one more skill point to spend. You should have 6 total to spend(2 class, 2 int, 1 favored, 1 human) and I believe you have only spent 5.Skill expenditure (1 into each obviously): Acrobatics, Diplomacy, Know: Dungeon, Perception, Sense Motive, and Survival
So, I have in fact spent 6 points. All good? :)
It is, that means your Acrobatics is actually 1 point higher than you have it(3 instead of 2). Log roller adds one to it as well, so I hadn't been putting a skill point there in my calculations.
There is not a really an avatar that matches what my character looks like in my head so I just decided to go with generic hood-up guy here.
Yeah, avatar selection can be a real pain. Especially if you aren't a human or a male dwarf (I'm surprised how many dwarves, or at least passably bearded folks, there are).
Come on Mr. Buckwell. I wanna post again. So many interesting conversations to have. :p
Sorry about the lack of posting, had a family wedding to go to and my wife would have been...upset if I pulled out my phone and started typing on it.
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Come on Mr. Buckwell. I wanna post again. So many interesting conversations to have. :pSorry about the lack of posting, had a family wedding to go to and my wife would have been...upset if I pulled out my phone and started typing on it.
Oh, it's alright. I figured you were dealing with real life just like the rest of us this week. My post was entirely in jest. :)
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Yeah, avatar selection can be a real pain. Especially if you aren't a human or a male dwarf (I'm surprised how many dwarves, or at least passably bearded folks, there are).
Speaking as a passably bearded person, aren't we all dwarves at heart?
On a more serious note, I'm enjoying all the interaction. I'm quiet on the other thread as there isn't much call for the NPCs at the moment or any new descriptions, but I'm following along and ready to hop in when needed.
Speaking as a passably bearded person, aren't we all dwarves at heart?
Being the same, I would have to agree with that sentiment. This sentence would be something pithy about societies disdain for facial hair, but I am unable to think of anything this early in the morning.
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I just wanted to put up a post to give some of the mechanical idea behind Felgar as it could color future character decisions.
Effectively beyond simply being an NPC and a source of dialog and information, Felgar can serve as a merchant for you without actually being a shop-front. Rather than carrying a supply of items upon him, he uses his network of connections to acquire or sell goods and can fence nearly anything given some time.
He currently has a set budget for purchasing that will increase as you do more business with him(and your reputation improves) and so can quickly come to have more purchasing power than the buy limit of a small town(really needed when you are fishing out magic items from a dungeon).
You also can purchase nearly any item from him, paying up front and then waiting for delivery. Delivery is based on the time it would likely take for the item to be crafted if you built it yourself. Crafting has the benefit of only being half cost, but will not be strictly necessary.
Items that I deem to be particularly rare, unusual or unique are subject to either being plainly unavailable or having additional time put on them of course.
I wish to apologize for missing a post on friday, I had to work at the Roger Waters concert in Oakland. Normally I get everything I need to do on days that I work concerts done the day before and thursday was so hectic with all the extra running about, posting before I left for work slipped my mind. It was a pretty long day (check-in Noon and I didn't leave until 2:30 am) so when I got home I just went to bed and this was my first chance to post.
It has also been brought to my attention that "thought posts" are generally not the best of things to do since there are no actions for anyone else to respond to. I also wish to apologize for that, but I meant it more as a "I'm still here paying attention, but have no actions for the moment" post.
This is my first PBP so if anyone sees any areas for me to improve upon please feel free to point them out, I am always open to advice and constructive criticism.
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Jadd,
No need to apologize, real life can often times crop up unexpectedly and your posting has been quite timely before. I know there isn't always something that your character needs to express or be doing, so a post that lets us know you are still here and ready can be very helpful.
I'll make to let you know if I see anything crop up that I think would make things go more smoothly, but so far I think the introductory RP is going quite well. Letting you meet each other, gather some info, and meet some of the locals before setting out.
You're doing fine, thus far, and you seem to be more aware of what's necessary for a PbP than folks I've played with in the past. (Really, as long as someone doesn't disappear completely without warning, they're doing fine in my book. But my standards have been set quite low by repeat disappointment).
But yeah, most people are very understanding about real life stuff (after all, we all have it). And a 'yeah I'm here' post is better than none at all.
I don't know that you (or anybody here) needs it, but I always link to this post by an old GM of mine about PbP when the topic comes up. I'm guilty of not following some of it myself, but I try.
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The more detail the better from my perspective. As noted in the above link, even just posting that your character shifts uncomfortably while the more chatty types are conversing with an NPC gives other characters an 'in' to interact with you.
Also, some of his discussion on combat was very nice even if we haven't hit that hurdle yet. Contingencies are very helpful, posting possibilities for your character as you can rather than waiting for your specific turn in line allows me to put actions in order along with descriptive text to make things more cinematic. Posts along the lines of 'I'll attack guy 1 if he's standing, otherwise I'll attack guy 2' or 'If I can catch 3 of them in the area I'll use this spell, otherwise I hit the leader with this one' are great. You can also plan actions together by letting me know that you will charge whoever one of the earlier acting players will hit.
I'll pose throughout the day during combat to keep everyone as up to date as possible on the action, as soon as the next person in the initiative order has posted as well as anyone following them who has already stated their actions. Every time I post I'll put an updated initiative order as well so everyone can see how soon they will be coming up, as well as who still has actions before them.
Something that wasn't mentioned in the above linked post that can be helpful to keep combat moving is putting in your profile some sort of standard protocol for your character. In combat, this is something that I can use when one of you is away for a few days and I need to NPC you to keep things flowing. Knowing your character will generally stand off against the strongest foe or protect one of the other party members or power attack until you miss on a good swing all will let me keep your character as you would play them if you aren't able to for some reason.
This is also a good place to put any non-combat standard practices too. If you want it assumed that your character does something often enough that its easiest for it to go unsaid such as 'When away from town I walk 20 feet ahead of the party to scout' or 'I check any new dungeon door for traps'. Having things here will save us from needing to post the same thing frequently that can slow things down not to mention remind us of details that are easily forgotten. If a check is need I'll normally roll it behind the scenes and put up a spoiler post if it reveals any information.
The contingency thing was something that just seemed so natural to me. I used it in my very first (very ill-fated) PbP game, which was also my first real D&D combat.
I've heard of doing the profile thing a time or two, but it never comes to mind, for some reason. I'll work on a tactics section for Karth.
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It looks like you all are pretty much done with the chatting part of the introduction and are ready to begin in the morning. I'm going to wait til tomorrow just in case anyone else has something else they want to do or say and then I'll put up a post to begin the next day.
From what I can tell it looks like several of you have interest in visiting the sheriff before you set off for the dungeon. If any of you have anything that you wish to do individually before you head out this would be the place to let me know so we can play it out without slowing down the rest of the RP.
Karth's good to go too.