GMT, I'm okay with waiting another day or two if it means you have more time to carefully consider who to add to the mix. I like the role-players we have so far, and I hope that a sixth player will also be up to the task. That's worth taking a bit of time for, imo.
You're both right - I'll slow down a bit. Keep up the RP'ing. This is important time for your characters and their relationships with the NPCs.
Petry, Brin will be very effective at dealing damage in melee, but he's probably more of a skirmisher than a full-blown meatshield. He will probably have problems with relatively low AC for a while, so a complementary melee-oriented character would be best I think.
I'm not disagreeing! A psion is 1/2 BAB at best, so I'm going to be in the rear casting "spells" until level 8 or so. I need to think of a prestige class that will give me some more weapon proficiency and BAB. I'm aiming for Petry to aid in some utility and healing, but that will be Level 5 or so. He'll be slinging rays of electricity and fire until then.
We have two pretty solid submissions:
1. Former Jasper: Two-handed fighter
2. Former Nosh: Elven barbarian
We haven't heard from Crecy and Scranford bowed out of consideration. So, do either of these capture your imagination? I like both of their backstories and both seem to be solid RP'ers. Former Jasper has a lot of PBP experience, while I'm pretty sure Former Nosh is a newcomer to the medium.
Any feedback before I decide?
You guys are awesome, by the way. I love the RP'ing that's already happening. Can't wait to start slinging adersity at you to see how you handle it.
Talk about flipping a coin, both characters are that good. Given that no matter the "home field bonus" of the elven barbarian, we'll all be "outsiders" to whatever natives we come across, I'll go with the traditional two-handed (greatsword) fighter. And pray we don't get Sleep attacks.
Tough call indeed. I'd be ok with either.
I'm okay with either choice as well. But if I was forced to choose one, I think I'd take the barbarian, just because he would add some racial diversity to the group.
Yes, I can't really pick one or the other here either, they both sound interesting, and I think they both did a good job RPing their first characters.
Hmm, here's an idea: We lock them both in a big metal cage, and the winner gets to come with us.
"Two men enter, one man leaves!"
And Kalis it is.
Welcome, Kalis! Get your character sheet updated (please do add the Mwangi trait - or another campaign one) and head over to the game thread to start RP'ing.
Thanks for choosing me. I will fix the trait in a few. I did want to let you know that I am going to a wedding out of town this weekend. I will be posting as I can, but it will be from my phone. So I don't expect that the posts will be as often or as in depth as I would normally like. I get back on Sunday though, so it should be back to normal then.
Welcome Kalis.
I just realised I have a 3rd language to pick still.
From a metagaming point of view, Polyglot makes sense, but that doesn't mean it makes sense IC.
I don't think they even have really any meaningful trade relations to the neighboring countries, especially Katapesh or Rahadoum, so that polyglot would be known there.
From a background perspective, you could choose Elven, for the song and the trading.
From a background perspective, you could choose Elven, for the song and the trading.
I picked Kelish, being one of the languages spoken in Katapesh. But it's not the main language there I think, and she left it an early age, so I'm not deadset on it.
Elven... hmm, hadn't even considered that. What exactly made you think it fits?
Also, I finally got around and wrote up her history/background as well as her physical description. With the latter i'm not really happy yet, but I really suck at describing people :)
It's both in the profile, enjoy.
Everything's looking good - I'm not concerned with nitpicking every aspect of your character sheets (not that I could), so I'll only check on things that I think look suspect. The only thing I ask is that everyone post their port of origin, not just their boarding trait. It may (or not) come into play later in the AP.
We're about ready to get the show on the road. I hate to break up all the great character interaction that's happening, but there are baddies that need killing, goodies that need saving and treasures that need discovering.
The only thing I ask is that everyone post their port of origin, not just their boarding trait. It may (or not) come into play later in the AP.
Boarded in Azir.
Then traveled up to Magnimar, down to Eleder and back up again, and now on the way to Eleder again.Each journey takes about 4 months, so that's aproximately the 1 year, 2 months I mentioned in the game thread.
Maybe a bit longer, depending on how long the ship stays put in Magnimar or Eleder, but it's probably not more than a week or two.
Dragolan boarded in Pezzack, after making the overland trip from the family home in Westcrown. I put it on the character profile as well.
We're about ready to get the show on the road. I hate to break up all the great character interaction that's happening, but there are baddies that need killing, goodies that need saving and treasures that need discovering.
Hear, hear. Don't forget the gold pieces. And the time/place/opportunity to spend them. :)
Boarded in Corentyn, Cheliax; I took the trait specifically for the map and the gold. Serpent's Skull is an unique AP with traits that give you 200 or 300 gp. Combined with the Rich Family trait of the APG, you could start the game with 1,100-1,200 gp. Pick up a Heirloom masterwork weapon and...well, you get the idea. A fully decked-out player with treasure appropriate to a Level 2 or 3 character at 0th level.
Brin also boarded in Corentyn, having made his way across Cheliax after crossing the border from Andoran. Likely, he and Petry would recognize each other as having boarded at the same time.
Yah, sure. You probably remember seeing the young man in explorer's clothes doing the "duffel bag drag" with three overweighted backpacks at the ship's muster desk on the docks. It took Petry two trips to get all of his stuff onboard into the hold. Whatever else, the Chelaxian is loaded for bear. The mature sailors didn't lift a finger to help the passenger.
I'm glad one of us decided to avail himself of the material benefits of the trait. I declined for Brin, because it didn't fit his background very well.
We're about ready to get the show on the road. I hate to break up all the great character interaction that's happening, but there are baddies that need killing, goodies that need saving and treasures that need discovering.
Awesome, I'm ready when you are! I'm sure we'll all strive to maintain a high role-playing standard no matter what you throw at us!
[suck up]You've done a great job with the game so far, GMT. [/suck up]
No, seriously, it's great.
Go ahead and add a level or two, Brin.
Seriously, thanks. You guys are making it easy so far. Other than Petry, of course. :)
Oh, and I was joking about the levels. Sorry.
Oh, and I was joking about the levels. Sorry.
In that case, I take it all back.
I was last to board in Magnimar, Varisia.
I figure I boarded in Magnimar returning back home from Kyonin.
All right everyone. I will be gone most of the day today and so I won't be posting any IC or in game updates. It's possible that I will post an update and get the game started tonight, but most likely it will be tomorrow morning.
That said, any final character tweaks need to be made by tonight and you need to drop any pregame hints your character wants to share before the game really kicks off.
If you have any questions, I will have my phone on me, so I will be checking the thread periodically. Or you can email me at the address below.
thetoddblog at g mail dot com
Have a fun, relaxing Saturday everyone!
There's one thing that we should probably sort out before the game hits the road, about Allia's status as a slave.
This train of thought might hint at where the game is going in the near future. I don't actually know anything, but I'm speculating a bit.
In case anyone is uncomfortable with that, I'll spoiler that part, and ask anyone answering to it to do the same. But really, it's just some minor speculations.
The second half of the post isn't really speculating anymore, and can be done either way, no matter if the speculation will come true or not, so leaving that part unspoilered.
I'm not looking for actual spoilers into the game either.
Obviously that removes me from the AP, so that's not really an option :)
Since "being a slave on the ship" is actually one of the examples given for the Jenivere Crew trait, I assume something will happen that will sever all such ties. If thats the case, then it's been taken care of and that's it, I don't need to know more.
However the things below can still happen if you want.
But in case it's not, that the AP has us go off the ship and into a tavern or other such things, there needs to be a solution. "She just runs off" is not really one, would be completely out of character for her.
One possibility would be that one of the other PCs buys her from the captain (just assume that he'd have that kind of money, and afterwards is left with the normal starting money).
If he does that so he can have her for himself, or to set her free, or something in between, like working the debt off, doesn't really matter. I would be ok playing the slave of another PC, as long as that one does understand he's not remote controlling me, and playing my character as well.
As for freeing her: That might seem noble and good, but remember she knows nothing else. For her it probably wouldn't be a dream come true, it would be terrifying. The world been turned upside down, noone to take care of her, tossed into the uncertainity.
She had tons of chances to simply run away in the past, and didn't. So she might not thank you the way you think.
On the flipside she wouldn't hate you for buying her either, as long as you don't go and abuse and beat her all the time. It's just the way it is. Would perhaps be happy to get off the ship, because she really doesn't like the water that much.
Maybe there are other options, I'll be happy to hear them.
But if anyone is interested in buying Allia, now would be a good time to sound off :)
Allia - that's a really good point. I do think that your slave situation creates some unique challenges for the story that I haven't considered until now. I think I just kind of assumed that you would run off with the rest, but that clearly won't work based on the story you've created.
That's perfectly fine - don't change a thing.
You guys can make some plans and I'll see if I can work it into the story. If I foresee any problems, I'll be sure to let you know. You'll have to act fast though, as we're getting nearer to Eleder!
Yes, I honestly hadn't given it much thought till earlier today.
The easiest would probably really be if one of the others players buys her, then she got a good enough reason to come along.
But that means one of them has to volunteer to be a mean, evil slaver :) (j/k)
Brin probably hasn't really given much thought to Allia's status as a slave, thus far. In fact, he is probably in a bit of denial about the fact that slavery even exists, coming from a part of Golarion where it isn't practiced. The thought that one human being can own another would be abhorrent to him, as an Andoren. So, he would never consider trying to buy Allia. He would consider trying to help her earn her freedom (expecially since he may be developing a bit of crush on her), but probably only if she initiated such talk. He's much too shy with her for now to propose such a thing on his own.
Well, it's part of my fault, I should have realised this problem earlier and asked, and maybe changed the character a bit, to make it work.
If none of the players wants to do it (yes, I know, maybe not everyone has read it yet, so there might be some) - and remember, you don't have to keep her as a slave, you could buy her with the intent to release her into freedom as soon as you leave the ship for example, if slavery doesn't fit your character.
Also we have some Cheliax people, don't we? Have you guys problems with slavery? Oh one more thing... I refuse being used as a ritual sacrifice to apeace your demonic master.
Anyway here's two more ideas that might work:
a) If one of the many NPCs accompany the party, or the party accompanies one of them, that one might be the buyer.
b) this might require a slight retcon: Her story before the Jenivere stays the same, but make the captain a more evil and abusive owner and/or some of the crew. You know, she's not just sent to dance for them for example... (However I'm not sure whats in store for the captain along the line, so making him an evil bastard might be out of character - however she's a slave, he might be real nice to "normal" people, while treating slaves really bad) That way she could get motivated to take her chance and run away. Or ask Brin or someone else to get her out.
It's not a huge retcon, if one at all, because really not much about how the captain treats her has been said.
Also we have some Cheliax people, don't we? Have you guys problems with slavery? Oh one more thing... I refuse being used as a ritual sacrifice to apeace your demonic master.
So much for Plan A.
Outlining Plan B! Keeping your origin as-is but letting you grow as a character. You could be bought by a passenger and then freed by the person at Eleder. Not that any of us is carrying a ton of gold pieces right now (*cough, cough*, Meraxes!) so it might take some bargaining. You could roleplay your new freedom as a bard instead of a slave as the story progresses.
Also we have some Cheliax people, don't we? Have you guys problems with slavery? Oh one more thing... I refuse being used as a ritual sacrifice to apeace your demonic master.So much for Plan A.
Outlining Plan B! Keeping your origin as-is but letting you grow as a character. You could be bought by a passenger and then freed by the person at Eleder. Not that any of us is carrying a ton of gold pieces right now (*cough, cough*, Meraxes!) so it might take some bargaining. You could roleplay your new freedom as a bard instead of a slave as the story progresses.
Oh! I have absolutely no problem being free either, if thats how it ends. It will definitely mean learning some new thing for Allia.
If the one buying her wants to keep her as a slave thats fine too. I mean I wouldn't have made the character like that if it was any problem.Yes, being bought by an NPC, who then frees her and leaves her in Eledar, probably thinking he made her the best gift ever would work too. She'd not know what to do, and probably search out the few people she knows.
Guess that could be the plan to use if all else fails.
As for the money: I guess it could be explained by GM fiat that whoever ends up buying her had more money than the 100 odd gp starter money.
As an example:
You start with 75 gp. You haggle the captain down to 825 gp from his original 1000 gp. (obviously you don't have that kind of money)
So now the GM says "Ok, you started with 900 gp instead of 75, had spend 60 on your equipment, and then 825 on the slave. Now you have 15 left. Same as before". In other words, the price you would pay doesn't really matter.
But that of course would need GM aproval, but would be the easiest to solve that problem, if anyone wants to do that :)
So just recapping what we have so far:
a) get bought by another player
b) NPC that accompanies the players buys her
c) slight retcon, and she decides to run or get one of the players to execute a)
d) random NPC buys her and sets her free
Also we have some Cheliax people, don't we? Have you guys problems with slavery? Oh one more thing... I refuse being used as a ritual sacrifice to apeace your demonic master.
Excuse me? That's diabolical masters, not demonic. Hmph.
(Semi-seriously, I was trying not to metagame wrt Allia's status; Dragolan thinks of her as tied to the ship, and he doesn't realize that she's a PC.)
(Semi-seriously, I was trying not to metagame wrt Allia's status; Dragolan thinks of her as tied to the ship, and he doesn't realize that she's a PC.)
Yeah, I understand that. There's no concept of NPC or PC for the characters anyway.
If its not IC for your character to buy her, then don't. I posted a couple sugestions already that the GM can use to bring Allia along, or he can think of something else.
Whoa. You're overvaluing yourself. I can get my own elephant for 1000 gp. :)
I think I like the idea of an NPC buying you better than a PC. I'm not sure which of the PCs would be bold enough to do so. I actually have a story idea that I think is kind of fun.
By the time you start adventuring in Eleder, you will be able to make a reasonable choice to remain a slave or be free. It's kind of up to you which you will choose - but should you choose slavery you may force me to look for another player again.
Whoa. You're overvaluing yourself. I can get my own elephant for 1000 gp. :)
You might, but an elephant on a ship is alot more risky and alot less useful than a beautiful girl :)
I think I like the idea of an NPC buying you better than a PC. I'm not sure which of the PCs would be bold enough to do so. I actually have a story idea that I think is kind of fun.
By the time you start adventuring in Eleder, you will be able to make a reasonable choice to remain a slave or be free. It's kind of up to you which you will choose - but should you choose slavery you may force me to look for another player again.
Sounds good. (that you have a plan, not that you look for another player)
Oh man Meraxes would never waste his money on a girl of her quality. lol. In all honesty Meraxes doesn't even have that much money on him unless he can trade his numerous scrolls! Why doesn't the heroic Chelaxian save the day? lol. He'd need a very convincing reason why he should buy you if you wanted a PC to buy you.
If an NPC bought you, which I also favor and like, could be also very interesting. The owner could be someone who links the backstories of all of us together somehow... or someone who is trying to tear us all apart.
Character wise, Meraxes also assumed she was a courtesan or indentured servant to the owner of the ship.. not necessarily a slave.
Regardless its a great concept that leaves the game open with plenty of roleplaying opportunities and development.
Nope, I do think having an NPC do it is probably best. Good/Neutral aligned characters have the tendency to view slavery as something bad, so I can a) understand why none of you really wants to do it and b) see that it might cause serious trouble for whoever would do it.
I'm sure what GMT comes up with will be great, and take care of this problem.
Hey guys, I know the timing isn't great (game wise), but I've had an unexpected opportunity to go out of town with some friends and I'm going to take them up on it. I'll be leaving this afternoon, and I'll be home on Tuesday night. I may have some sporadic internet access while away, but I wouldn't count on it.
GMT, please feel free to DMNPC Brin as you see fit during my absence. Talk to you all in a couple of days!
Have fun, Brin. I'll do my best to not get you killed before Tuesday.
Have fun, Brin. I'll do my best to not get you killed before Tuesday.
Much appreciated! :)
By the way Todd, I added my current currency (such as it is) to the bottom of my profile. Sorry I had forgotten before.
Where are you going to spend all that cash?!
No worries. Hopefully we'll be able to add to that number soon.
Sneaky GM, I knew something was gonna happen before we reach the destination. Well played ;)
One tiny thing, which might be an oversight on your part: Kalis is not on the map.
Also, nice map, what program did you use to make it?
No wonder Kalis is so desperate to get a job as a guide...
Whoops. My fault, Kalis. You've been added.
But, technically, you don't know this. You're still out.
EDIT: Also, I used Maptools for the map.
But, technically, you don't know this. You're still out.
Know what? I don't even know what you're talking about. :)
The barbarian gets the epic roll for the Fort save!