I tried this once, a while ago, and though it seemed to go well, in the end, it did not work out the way I had hoped.
Essentially, what I am here to ask is this -
Is there a player here who would like to take on the role of a second level character of a specific campaign created race within the Woodbridge Campaign Setting at
This recruitment is specifically for the purpose of discovering if anyone would be up to the challenge of playing a “Lyph”*
In this adventure, three young heroes, Alomar (a Maetaur Druid), Brother Phineas (a Human Cleric), and Poseus (A Gymnagaophthian, (Gymnaga) commoner/ranger) have braved the dangers of the Green Wood in order to find the good folk ( a mysterious, fey type race of small winged folk) in order to seek their help in dealing with several problems that plague the tiny village of Woodbridge.
*A Lyph is one of five types of creatures divided into two groups, the Ibbenlyph (or insect-winged lyphs of which there are three kinds) and the Sybbenlyph (or bird-winged lyphs of which there are two kinds).
In the first attempt at this recruitment I had hoped to keep the theme of “world building” among all the participants by offering a basic framework (what lyphs look like and how they are part of this world) and asking for interested players to help create the race using the standard race building rules of the Pathfinder Advance Race Guide.
One of the themes of this adventure is the idea that what each small community of different kinds of people of this world thought was stable and acceptable, is being disturbed by the growing realization that everyone that has been living in isolation must now find a way to work together to combat a growing threat to the way of life of all good people everywhere. To further build upon this theme it would be nice to include a lyph character in the party.
Anyone interested can simply post here and let me know what you think and we can work out the details
(Also, I am not limiting this recruitment to only one player, or only a lyph character, but that requirement must be fulfilled before I consider any other new characters)
Thanks, and may pleasant adventures be awaiting all of you!
This actually strikes me as a really unique and interesting concept to play in. Is there any more information you could give me about the story thus far? Or the role that I would be filling as well? I would be more than willing to try and fill the spot for you, seeing as I am looking for another game to join and am caught by the concept you have. How frequent do you all post?
I'd be interested. How much race points do we get to work with? Also, what other information can you give about the Lyphs and the other races mentioned?
Right now I am thinking of a small or tiny creature, +Dex and Cha, -Con or Wis. Fly speed. Affinity to the Fey sorceror bloodline. A few spell like abilities to round it out (invisibility).
Race (or at least that type) tends to be very curious and mischievous. Often to their detriment.
What is the posting pace? (I really don't like the incredibly slow rate of many PbP.)
What level are the PC's starting at? (I'll be honest. I'm getting tired of playing 1st level PC's in a campaign that dies out before I advance.)
Thanks, all of you
(JonGarrett - you realize that I am a pretty terrible DM when it comes to keeping a game moving, right?)
(Ky'Deem - slow, but I'm trying to get better, the current character level is 2nd)
Let me try to answer those other questions
The Story, so far, is that a group of young people of the village of Woodbridge rescued a young man from a pack of creatures called Fulogh’Mogobbh (Grindylow). It turned out that in addition to the young man’s injuries, at the hands of the Grindylow he was also poisoned. At the same time this happened a pair of soldiers from the city of Castletown visited the village, but before they could leave both men fell ill. The young heroes decided to split up into two groups, with two of them going to Castletown to get help from a doctor there, while three decided to try and find the Lyphs that live east of Woodbridge to see if they could help with a remedy for the poison (the two sick men are not poisoned, but the illness is beyond the skill of the three primary healers of Woodbridge community).
Now Woodbridge is a human village in the land of Urandoma that includes some recently settled people (humans, elves, and Halflings) of the empire of Alodoa. Castletown is a large city (by Urandoma measure) of mostly Aladoan settlers (the game’s various threads can give more information about the Aladoan invasion of Urandoma). The community of Woodbridge is actually three parts, the village of Woodbridge, which is located both on an island in a oxbow lake and on the western fields adjacent to the lake, as well as a Maetaur community just a little less than a mile to the north of Woodbridge, and a Gymnaga community just about 3 miles south of Woodbridge (all of these people, human, Maetaur and Gymnaga consider themselves people of Woodbridge).
As to the role this new character would be playing, the current player character races are an Elf (Alodoan) Ranger (Slayer) - Dieredon, a Human (Alodoan) Wizard - Calex, A Human (Urandoman) Cleric – Brother Phineas, A Maetaur Druid – Alomar, and a Gymnaga Ranger – Poseus. I feel this group needs a skill based character, a rogue or bard perhaps, or a core fighting type. Once this role is fulfilled, other character types (if there are more interested players) are negotiable.
This game was begun as a combination of a standard adventure game (campaign) and a world building activity. Each of the players has contributed something (so far) to the development of the game setting.
The posting frequency is sporadic (and at times slow) so that will be a problem for at least one person above expressing interest. I try to post every day, but lately I have been way off that mark (I am omitted to trying to improve and get bact to a better schedule on this game). I am running a few games, maybe too many, but one thing I can almost guarantee is that I don’t plan on ending any games soon. I love this game (I love all my games) and I don’t see anything taking me away from this site soon.
As for me, I am a Dungeon Master who ran my first game at the age of 13 (and tha0t game was Palace of the Vampire Queen). I am 50 years old, and think of myself as a pretty relaxed DM and open to a lot of alternative interpretations of the rules.
As to building the race of Lyhs. Lyphs (as a fully established race) occur on my regular campaign setting of Hamth, but for this campaign setting I was looking for a new interpretation of the race mainly to allow the interested player to have a say in how the race works within the frame of the Pathfinder rules. I went through the process with another player (here) but due to unseen delays that player was not able to join the game in a timely fashion, and eventually that player lost interest in joing us. So, I’d like to go through the whole process again, with a new player, so that we build a race you will enjoy playing and have some investment in.
I feel that 12 race points would be a good starting place for the race. As to their “background and behavior” I’ll post this
Lyphs:
Ibbenlyph types
Altilyph are nine to fourteen inches in height. They have dark tan skin and tend to be thick but not obese. They are found in high mountain/plateau regions. They are farmers and herders of long haired rodents (similar to the guinea pig). They are shy and aloof. Their wings resemble beetle wings (some with hard shells). They resemble Dwarves in many ways.
Nuonalyph are eleven to nineteen inches in height. They are often described as gangly, and tend to have slender arms and legs. Their skin color is ruddy and can sometimes be as dark as an Altilyph. They have very fine hair, and also tend to have pronounced receding hairlines. They are the most gregarious of the fairy folk. Their wings resemble dragonfly wings. They resemble Alodoan Elves. Nuanolyphs are found in forests and grasslands near fresh, clear running water.
Dakalyph are ten to eighteen inches in height. They have fair to tawny skin color and among the winged fey folk they have the widest variety of wing shape/size/color. Dakalyphs are haughty and proud and tend to segregate themselves by wing size with those with the largest wings acting morally and intellectually superior to all other fairy folk. They are often the most seductive and alluring of the winged fairies, with only the Sakalyphs being markedly more attractive. Their wings resemble butterfly wings. There is a strong animosity between Sakalyphs and Dakalyphs. They resemble Fair, somewhat “Elven” humans. Dakalyph can be found in nearly any location in Urandoma.
Sybbenlyph types
Sahilyph are seven to twelve inches in height and are the rarest of the winged fey folk. They are fair skinned and have very light colored hair (They are the only fey known to have naturally platinum blonde colored hair). Sahilyphs tend to be nocturnal and are rarely seen in the full light of day. It has been said that they are the most perfectly proportioned of the winged fairy folk. They are extremely suspicious of strangers, but not easily provoked to anger. Their wings resemble hummingbird wings. They resemble Alodoan Halflings. Sahilyphs can be found in deep forests or hilltop glades.
Sakalyph are twelve to twenty inches in height. Rare Sakalyphs have been known to grow to almost thirty inches in height (along the far southern coast of Urandoma). They have tan to dark chocolate brown skin and dark hair. They are among the most beautiful of the humanoid creatures known. They are a curious and an easily agitated people and have even been described as barbaric by other Fay folk. They can be very dangerous opponents when angered as the wingspan/strength of an Enlarged Sakalyph is formidable indeed. They are strong flyers and are adept at spear fishing from great heights. They are usually found along the southwestern and southern coast of Urandoma.
And This is going to be included:
Size control:
Once per day (24 hours) a Lyph may cast upon itself an Enlarge Person spell as if cast by a wizard of the same level as the lyph’s hit die. This is a supernatural ability and its use is a standard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. The duration is as per the spell but can be dismissed by the Lyph at will. When ended the Lyph is fatigued for a period of time equal to 10 minutes, minus her constitution bonus in minutes. If dismissed before the natural end of the duration the fatigue effect is doubled. (Note that Lyphs do not perceive this ability to be a magical one, but instead a quite ordinary and natural one, although it is magical in nature, and when Enlarged a Lyph will have a detectable magic aura).
So just playing around with the race creation rules a bit, here are a few samples I came up with.
All have tiny (4RP), fey (2 RP), and Flight(4RP), leaving each 2 rp to play with.
Altiplyphs would be natural armor bonuses or hardy. +2 Con and Wis, -2 Cha.
Nuonalyphs: +2Dex and Cha, -2 Con. Skill Bonus (Diplomacy)
Dakalyphs: +2Dex/Int, -2 Con. Not Sure what else to five them
Sahilyph. Not sure what bonuses to give them , but since the have humingbird wings, Upgraded Filght to 40 (poor)
Sakalyph +2 str/Cha no weaknesses. Or Give them uprgraded flight as well with +2 str/Cha -2 Wis
that's a great start, but I think it is worth considering that they may not need to spend 2 points on the Fey sub type (in the campaign they are treated like fairies, but I don't think that means they need to be actually related to the game's ideas of the fey race, do you know what I mean, maybe I'm being cryptic.)
edit: Ah, I see, looking at my tablet's race builder PRD. It seems that in order to be tiny (4 points), you must waste 2 points on fey (or some other type) seems silly.
Well as the GM you could waive that requirement. Or simply give fey for free essentially giving me 14 points to work with. It would allow for a little more individuality among the subraces with the extra two points.
For the actual character, a female Nuonalyph or a Sahilyph Bard. Uses a very tiny violin. Focuses on skill/spells over combat. Spells focused on stopping power.
This race gets the Fey Type (quality) for free (in order to meet the requirements of other qualities that require the Type as a prerequisite.
Size is tiny (4) like you said. (Keeping track of the changes from the normal size(tiny) to the enlarged size (Small) on the character sheet will be important.
Base Speed 20' (walking and flying) (-1)
Flight* (4) this is a modified Flight Trait, being 20' and manuverability of average, for 2 additional points manuverability can be increased (as it should for the saha, and nuano, who i can see as having the ability to hover)
Here is the race build for Sahilyph
+2Dex/Cha, -2 Str
Flight 4 +2 for good maneuverability (does this increase speed as well?)
Tiny 4
Skill Focus Stealth
Fey Damage Resist (5/cold iron) OR Nimble Attacks (Weapon Finesse for free)
Players will have the choice of either rolling their ability scores using the following method
Roll 4d6, a total of 4 times, dropping the lowest rolled number from each roll to generate four ability scores. Roll 5d6, a total of three times, dropping the two lowest rolled numbers from each roll and then selecting from the three rolls the two best scores to generate two ability scores. Characters that choose this method receive a bonus of +10% starting wealth.
Or arranging their scores using a point buy system with the following restrictions
Your characters ability scores begin at 10 and you have 20 points to purchase ability score increases per the standard Pathfinder rules. No ability score can be lowered to less than 7 AFTER the application of racial modifiers. No ability score can be raised to greater than 17 BEFORE the application of racial modifiers. Characters that choose this method will be given one BONUS trait selected from the Basic Traits list.
All Characters begin at first level
All Characters begin with Maximum Hit Points
All Characters begin with One (1) trait selected from the Basic traits list
The Character’s of Woodbribge started the game with limited access to some goods, such as armor and weapons, I will not impose this restriction on any Lyph character, or any Character joining the Game from Castletown.
The following Races are available to Players for creating characters
Human
Elf
Halfling
Maetaur
Gymnaga
Lyph
The following Classes are available to Players creating characters (of any race)
Bard
Cleric
Fighter
Ranger
Rogue
Sorcerer
Wizard
The following Classes are available with Race restrictions
Alchemist: a Character that is an Elf or Halfling may be an Alchemist
Cavalier: a Character that is an Elf or Maetaur may be a Cavalier. Maetaur Cavaliers may only belong to the Order of the Lion (in this setting known as the Companions of Haeur) – they begin the game with an animal companion that is a Bobcat or Fox instead of a mount. Any Cavalier ability related to the use of a “Mount” is always available to the Maetaur Cavalier. Elven Cavaliers may belong to the Orders of; Shield, Sword, Seal, or Blue Rose
Druid a Character that is an Elf or Halfling may not be a Druid
Inquisitor: a Character that is an Elf or Gymnaga may be an Inquisitor
Magus: a Character that is an Elf or Halfling may be a Magus
Oracle: a Character that is a Halfling may not be an Oracle
Paladin: a Character that is an Elf may be a Paladin
Witch: a Character that is a Human, Maetaur, or Gymnaga may be a Witch
I am writing up details of the various Races and their relationships to each other. Basically the campaign setting involves Humans, Maetaur and Gymnaga who are indigenous populations, and Humans, Elves and Halflings who constitute “Invaders”. However, the indigenous population is not antagonistic to the “Invaders” as it will be shown that the invader groups have recently overthrown a third population of indigenous Humans and Snake-people who have had a tyrannical and unstable government for several generations.
Magic There are high levels of both Arcane and Divine Magic present in this setting. Local populations have limited access to powerful Arcane Magic, and have a small Divine representation as far as organized religion is concerned, but have strong representation in the Divine as Druids and Witches (with some Oracles). The Invader populations have very high levels of Arcane and Divine magic but these are under strict controls. It is rumored that there is a movement among the Elves that is in opposition to the authority of their Divine casters. A very strange relationship exists between the Elves and the Halflings regarding Arcane Magic.
Lyph magic will follow the same patterns as that of the local populations.
A Character created to join this game will be Second (2nd) level. We are using the fast progression so let’s say you have 1400 experience points (I expect players to track their own experience).
Roll for hit points for level 2, but ignore and reroll any 1’s rolled.
I have edited the post a ;little to reflect how things have progressed in the game. Also, even though I have introduced Lyphs into the setting, I am still looking for a player who is interested in "building" the culture of this race and making it unique to the setting.
I think the group could really use a skill based character, Rogue would be good, but a well built Bard would be almost as good, with a Druid and a Cleric, the group you will be joining is already Divine magic heavy).
A Lyph Sorcerer could almost fill the same role, I'll leave it up to you.
Normal (+10% bonus if option 1 of the ability score system is selected).
And I'd like to try and avoid some of the more exotic items that are listed in the PRD (Tanglefoot bags, smoke sticks, basically everything "alchemic" in nature).
Oh, and if you are going to go with Sahalyph (the smaller of the bird winged Lyphs), then this is going to make it easy to work the character into the game right away. The three heroes, Alomar, Phineas, and Poseus, recently rescued two Nuanolyphs and a Sahalyph. The Nuanolyphs showed the three the way to the Dakalyph village, but the Sahalyph (a female) flew away as soon as she was free. I will assume that this one notified more of her kind that "Big Folk" were in the Green Wood, and your character has gone off to the Dakalyph village to find out what is going on.
Sounds good for me. Also, can I replace the Stealthy trait with Darkvision? Makes sense for a nocturnal creature (And she already gets a +8 size bonus)
Also would my size modifier apply before or after the max/min ability rules? Because in order to fit in with those, And Sahilyph would have to point 1 point into str.
I don't think I understand your question about the strength modifier, and to be clear, I am assuming you used the second method to determine your ability scores.
Basic traits, are traits from the PRD under the heading of "Basic Traits".
Damn. Well none of the traits I picked were in the basic traits. But they are no different in power level to any other trait. One of my traits gives me +1 to disable device and makes it a class skill. And the other simply adds 3 rounds to my performance. Would you allow either of those?
I can see the +1 to disable device, but adding three rounds to performances is on par with a pretty good feat. Maybe I will allow it, could you tell me where you pulled them from?
Also, it seems that you have three traits (Meastro, NImble Fingers, and, Keen Mind) and I thought I was limiting players to one (plus one for the point build option)?
Otherwise, your build looks good. When would you like to start? Do you need some time to read a few pages of the game thread to get the feel of where we are?
Nimble Fingers, keen mind is one trait. The source book is apparently Faiths of Balance, but there are similar traits from campaign settings and Ultimate Campaign.
And Maestro is precisely half a feat - the Extra performance feat is 6 rounds. It's a society trait.
There are a few others I could take.
I can start by the weekend. I'll have some time on thursday to read through things, but friday I am in and out of grad school interviews/recruitment events from 8 to 8. I'll also work on weaving my backstory into the world if possible on Thursday. It would help if I could get more information on Lyph society.
I am okay with a Ninja (but I admit I need to do some homework on the class!). We will probably have to reinvent to meaning of what a Ninja is in this setting, but I think that will be fine. So you are going with the dice rolled above for sure? I will allow Nimble Fingers.
I'm tempted, but with those stats, I'd be pretty damn powerful. As anything.
With these stats, I am thinking of writing her up as a rarity even among Sahilyphs, something thats sets her apart and above others, which pushes me toward a fey sorceror in my mind, or maybe some sort of royalty (if lyphs even have that). I'd be a stopper in that build, though with a high enough int I can get the social skills and some knowledges.
With the ninja, I'd be entirely skill based and take the ninja tricks that allow me to turn invisible, create shadow clones, etc.
