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Hello! I’m planning to run Kingmaker 2e in a pbem (play by email) format, and I’m going to need one new player, but with a possible need for one or two more, depending on my existing players’ availability. I’m looking for friendly, well-adjusted, and creative writers-who-are-gamers who haven’t played Kingmaker in any shape or form before (though I’ll make an exception if your character really wows me).
- The game is NOT on the forums, it is pbem (play by email) based out of groups.io (where we also handle things like combat maps – we don’t use Roll20). You will need to sign up with your chosen gaming email; it is free. They will not spam you or sell your address. (Link sent on selection)
- We roll dice on a Discord server. You will need a Discord account; it is free. (Link sent on selection)
- Like any online game, you need to be prepared to play this game for years. Because of this, it’s also important that you fit into our gaming group well. We’ll judge this based on your written description and background, so make it count!
- Posting rate is relaxed – we all have jobs and are busy people. But if you can’t post at least once or twice a week, please don’t apply.
- We use a Word doc for a character sheet. It’s standardized and detailed copypasta, but a huge help to me (the GM); I make notes and look up rules for easy access on it. Please do not apply if you’re just going to throw a Pathbuilder or Herolab pdf at me. (If you want one of those for your own use, go nuts, but please send me the filled-out Word doc if you’re selected.)
- You haven’t played Kingmaker 1e, 2e or the Owlcat game before. (Preference)
- You enjoy writing descriptive stories (avoiding the dreaded one-line reply), and are not opposed to using punctuation. (Mandatory)
- You won't ghost us.
- Don’t make a whole sheet – all we need is a concept (including intended class/ancestry), a description, and a background – not just a mechanical background (though that’s also cool), but an actual descriptive background of your character’s life. Basically, mostly fluff, very little crunch.
- PF2 Level 1
- World: Golarion. Nation: Brevoy (to begin with)
- Some 3pp may be possible, judged on a case-by-case basis.
- No evil characters (yes, I’m using alignments), heroes only
- You must have a reason to be in Brevoy at the start of the game, and you must have a reason to join and stay with the party. We’re talking internal motivation, here. I recommend looking at the Kingmaker’s Player’s Guide – the more connected to the story, the better. (There’s of course leeway to make connections with the existing characters if your character is selected.)
The full character generation rules are on the support site I built for the game, which I’ll send you the link to if you’re selected.
- Human barbarian (Brevic Outcast)
- Human ranger (scout)
- (ancestry unknown) (celestial) sorceror
Possibly also (depending on availability):
- Half-elf witch (fervor patron, Borderlands Pioneer)
- Half-orc swashbuckler (bard)
I’ve been gaming since the late 80s (Chiefly DnD 2e/3.5e/Pathfinder 1e, some CoC, V:tM, GURPS), and running pbems since 2003. I’m a longtime PF1 GM, but PF2 is new to me (and most of my current players), so be kind! I live in Europe, so my time zone probably won’t sync with yours – if I don’t reply to a PM quickly, that’s why.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
I hope to make a selection within a week, or two at the most.
Well, I'm interested. While I have played Kingmaker on these boards before, the campaigns never got terribly far (by not very far, I mean a certain tree with unpleasant inhabitants is really the farthest).
Off the cuff, I have two possible character ideas, either an Ustalavic Goblin Gunslinger (Sniper), or an Elf Rogue (Thief), though It does look as though you might could use a more support caster.
To assuage my own curiosity, is the Human Barbarian going the 'lost son of the lost king' route? It's a classic for a reason, after all.
I'm definitely interested! A bit about me: I've been playing pathfinder for around 10-13 years, growing up playing it with friends. I started playing pf2 pretty close to its official release, and I'm even in the midst of running my own pf2 campaign with a handful of friends. Admittedly, I have played a pbp of kingmaker 4 years ago, but we didn't get very far and hadn't even built a kingdom yet, only knowing of 5 settlements/groups:
character: halfling thaumaturge (mirror/amulet) amnesiac or nomad background
With his newfound friend, Valhorn's luck only seemed to grow: where he walked, a coin had fallen; when he gambled, he won; when he prayed, Desna answered; and the people he met in the streets, turned out to be nobles and kings. His wealth and status grew like this for years, all going to his head.
By his 30s, Valhorn Brambleshadow was now an arrogant man: he took what he wanted and boasted of his many supposed birthrights. He traveled to the river kingdoms to stake out a plot for his grand palace, with all it's land, he'd have ample space for luxurious gardens, personal quarries, and his own forests to hunt rare and imported game; and it was all unoccupied too! Unoccupied, save for the "savages", which he thought could surely find some new shrubbery to defecate in. As he sent his extraplanar friend to survey the lands, it came across some of these "savages", curious as to how they went about thir lives, they spoke in great detail. Through conversation, it felt as though the outsider lived a second lifetime, where freedom, happiness, and hard work were paramount, and coin held no value. The entity returned to Valhorn, upset that both of them had strayed so far from the path of Desna. Wishing for freedom and purpose, the outsider longed for the way things were, but The Halfling scoffed, reminding them of how their backs ached and feet blistered from their old travels. "But if you want your freedom so badly, fine. I don't need you anymore. You've outlived your usefulness." Taken aback, and already hurting, the entity left, saying they would return to the outer planes and make things right.
That night, the halfling awoke in a daze, setting about his morning routine in the camp, he found that the pocket mirror he had beside his bed no longer showed his reflection. Fearing vampirism, he left the tent in a panic, hoping to ask someone to check him for a bite mark, but nobody was there. In fact, he didn't remember coming out here with anyone. Where was he anyways? Who was he anyways?? a million questions raced through his head, none of which he could remember the answers to. Wandering in a direction he hoped was civilization, he discovered both Brevoy and the fact that nobody recognized him. All he had left was the mundane gear he took out camping and a dozen scraps of a former life, many with new and strange properties. The memory of his existence was seemingly wiped from the records. He took up the name Marwan Forrestep to set out to find out who did this, and the best place to start was where he had woken up, wherever that was.
note: without his friend and memories, Marwan will not wind up like his past-self, so you can rest assured they will remain a hero.
Well, I have played the first book through the Owlcat game, but gave up after that because I didn't really like how frustrating the rules of the game turned out to be when translated faithfully to video game form lmao. So, everything after the first book is a mystery to me.
Hmm, thinking about investigator at the moment. Given Brevoy's proximity to Numeria, would Android be an acceptable ancestry?
To assuage my own curiosity, is the Human Barbarian going the 'lost son of the lost king' route? It's a classic for a reason, after all.
No, though she is a scion of House Surtova. However, if you want to go that route, even if someone else also does, no reason not to! That could be quite interesting!
***backstory***
Interesting!
Given Brevoy's proximity to Numeria, would Android be an acceptable ancestry?
That would be fine.
Current characters in the pot:
Finished:
- Arcane Clockwork - Valhorn Brambleshadow/Marwan Forrestep, male halfling thaumaturge, amnesiac or nomad background
Proposed:
- Irnk, Dead-Eye's Prodigal - Ustalavic goblin gunslinger (sniper) or elf rogue (thief)
- K3D - possibly an android?
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I have not played in a pbem game for a very long time! I have tried to get involved with several games, but they mostly die somewhere in the first book.
As for a character, I was thinking of a dwarf. She would be either a cleric or paladin. She will have left her home after her husband died and she was going to be forced to marry his brother (a common thing among her tribe), but she felt the calling to serve her god more strongly. She was forced to sneak out of her home, leaving her people behind to do "the greater good" for all people.
I have not played in a pbem game for a very long time! I have tried to get involved with several games, but they mostly die somewhere in the first book.
Ah, the curse of the online game. We have a solid group though, and have been playing games online for years - good core, less dropout.
I was thinking of a dwarf. She would be either a cleric or paladin. She will have left her home after her husband died and she was going to be forced to marry his brother (a common thing among her tribe), but she felt the calling to serve her god more strongly. She was forced to sneak out of her home, leaving her people behind to do "the greater good" for all people.
Added to the list!
Current character concepts in the pot:
Finished:
- Arcane Clockwork - Valhorn Brambleshadow/Marwan Forrestep, male halfling thaumaturge, amnesiac or nomad background
Proposed:
- Irnk, Dead-Eye's Prodigal - Ustalavic goblin gunslinger (sniper) or elf rogue (thief)
- K3D - possibly an android?
- Daniel Stewart - dwarf cleric or paladin
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OK, here is a beginning background for my submission...hope it is ok!
Dagna Ironforge was born into a noble clan of dwarves in the Five Kings Mountains. She grew up learning the traditions and values of her people, especially their devotion to Torag, the god of the forge and protection. Showing a natural talent for combat and leadership and was trained as a paladin by her clan’s elders.
She married a fellow paladin named Borin Firemane, who was her childhood friend and love. They were happy and devoted to each other and dreamed of having a large family. They also shared a passion for exploring the hidden secrets of their ancestral lands, and often went on expeditions together.
One day, they stumbled upon an ancient ruin that was sealed by a massive stone door. They managed to open it and found a dark corridor leading to a chamber filled with treasure and artifacts. They were overjoyed by their discovery, but their joy turned to horror when they realized that the chamber was also home to a shadow dragon, who had been sleeping for centuries.
The dragon woke up and attacked them, furious at their intrusion. Borin bravely fought the beast, while Dagna tried to find a way out. She saw a lever on the wall that seemed to control the door, and pulled it, hoping to escape. But instead of opening the door, the lever triggered a trap that caused the ceiling to collapse.
Dagna barely dodged the falling rocks, but Borin was not so lucky. He was crushed by the debris and died instantly. Dagna screamed in anguish, and ran to his side, trying to free him from the rubble. She held his lifeless body in her arms and cursed the dragon, the ruin, and the gods.
She felt a cold breath on her neck and turned around to see the dragon looming over her. She expected it to kill her, but instead, it spoke to her in a raspy voice. It said that it was amused by her misfortune and that it would spare her life as a cruel joke. It said that she would have to live with the guilt and grief of losing her husband and that she would never find happiness again.
It also said that it had marked her with its shadow and that she would always be haunted by its presence. It said that it would watch her every move and wait for the right moment to strike again. It said that it would make her suffer more than death ever could.
Then it laughed, and flew away, leaving Dagna alone in the dark.
She eventually found her way out of the ruin and returned to her clan. She told them what had happened, and they mourned for Borin. They also told her that she had to follow the dwarven tradition of marrying her husband’s brother, who was next in line to inherit his position and property.
Dagna was shocked and disgusted by this idea. She did not love Borin’s brother, who was a cruel and greedy man. She did not want to be his wife or bear his children. She felt that it would be a betrayal of Borin’s memory and an insult to their love.
She refused to marry him and said that she would rather leave the clan than submit to such a fate. The clan elders were outraged by her defiance and said that she had no choice in the matter. They said that she had brought shame and dishonor upon herself and her family and that she had to obey their laws or face their wrath.
Dagna decided that she had enough of their tyranny and packed her belongings. She took Borin’s sword and shield, which he had given her as a wedding gift, and left the clan in the middle of the night. She vowed to never return or look back.
She wandered across the lands, looking for a new purpose in life. She felt lost and broken and wished for death to end her misery. But she also felt a spark of hope in her heart and a desire for revenge against the dragon that had ruined her life.
She heard about a group of adventurers who were seeking to establish their own kingdom in the Stolen Lands, a region of untamed wilderness plagued by bandits, monsters, and fey. She decided to join them, hoping to find a new home among them, or at least a worthy cause to fight for.
She also hoped to find the dragon again and kill it once and for all.
She introduced herself as a paladin of Torag, a holy warrior who serves the dwarven god of forge, protection, and strategy
OK, here is a beginning background for my submission...hope it is ok!
Looks great! My only note is that the party hasn't actually received their quest in the Stolen Lands yet, so Dagna might have to adjust her motivation slightly. Can you tell me what mechanical background you're thinking of taking?
K3D: As an update, some of my current players aren't comfortable with an android in the party, so I'll say no to that after all. Sorry!
Current character concepts in the pot:
Finished:
- Arcane Clockwork - Valhorn Brambleshadow/Marwan Forrestep, male halfling thaumaturge, amnesiac or nomad background
- Daniel Stewart - Dagna Ironforge, dwarf paladin
Proposed:
- Irnk, Dead-Eye's Prodigal - Ustalavic goblin gunslinger (sniper) or elf rogue (thief)
- K3D - possibly something other than an android?
K3D: As an update, some of my current players aren't comfortable with an android in the party, so I'll say no to that after all. Sorry!
Well, shoot. I can try and change course but it might take me a bit longer to come up with a new concept since I'm already pretty emotionally invested in this one.
Would tiefling be acceptable? My current story idea is a former Numerian slave who climbed relatively high in the Technic League, becoming personal assistant to a League captain for a number of years until having to flee as the guilt of becoming an active participant in the system that exploited him and so many others.
Tiefling isn't necessarily integral to the concept but I thought I could draw some interesting parallels given their especially demonized (heh) status in this region of Avistan.
Would tiefling be acceptable? My current story idea is a former Numerian slave who climbed relatively high in the Technic League, becoming personal assistant to a League captain for a number of years until having to flee as the guilt of becoming an active participant in the system that exploited him and so many others.
Definitely OK with the tiefling ancestry!
Current character concepts in the pot:
Finished:
- Arcane Clockwork - Valhorn Brambleshadow/Marwan Forrestep, male halfling thaumaturge, amnesiac or nomad background
- Daniel Stewart - Dagna Ironforge, dwarf paladin, possibly noble background
Proposed:
- Irnk, Dead-Eye's Prodigal - Ustalavic goblin gunslinger (sniper) or elf rogue (thief)
- K3D - tiefling
Well, there are two finished submissions and two slots open, so you're in, Arcane Clockwork and Daniel Stewart! I'll PM you our Discord invitation, a link to our email group, and a link to our support site, which has the actual character generation rules and house rules, as well as a cast page where you can see the other characters.
K3D, your proposal was interesting and you did show continued interest in joining, so if you'd like to join our Discord server and wait in case someone drops out or we start a new game, you're welcome to do that (we also sometimes need new people in our PF1 games, which are the bulk of what I run, and a handful of other games run by other GMs). Let me know, and I can drop you the invitation as well.
Thanks, folks!