A player in my wuxia game Romance of the Borderlands seems to have dropped off the site lately. He's a good player and I'm hoping he'll be back soon but I figure I can handle another player so I'm going to start looking to re-recruit now and if he comes back so much the better.
What I had in mind was having someone join the game by taking over his character, then if he comes back that person would make a new character of their own after having gotten a sense of the game and the world.
The setting is sort of like Legend of the Condor Heroes crossed with Journey to the West. Lots of kung fu sects, secret societies and a wilderness full of spirits and demons. It's a relatively low-magic setting but the PCs see a large percentage of what little there is.
The character in question is Flying Sword. He's a 10th level Wudang (it's one of two monk-replacement classes I built for the game; it's basically a more mobile and less-armored fighter with a few magic tricks). He's one of the two strongest martial artists in the party since he doesn't multiclass. He fights with a powerful magic weapon called Black Metal Sword that was once used by a legendary swordsman (and which the PCs are learning just now may be part of a set).
'Flying Sword', his real name unknown, is a calligrapher and a swordsman with a violent and arrogant past. His calligraphy has helped ease his spirit, and his swordplay has benefited from it. In finding peace, he has gained some measure of enlightenment, and changed sword styles from an external style to an internal style.
He has an intense sense of honor, and pride in his homeland, and he will sacrifice his life for what is right. Unlike his past self, he is relatively jovial and easygoing - rarely taking insult and rarely giving it. Though he was not always this way, and his past has earned him many enemies.
If you join I expect you to read the campaign info and the gameplay thread (it's not that long). The discussion I don't care but you should check the last few posts so you recognize when there's a new one. If you like kung fu movies/books (especially books) mention it because it's a huge plus.
If you want to check out the game to see if it interests you, here's what's going on now: http://paizo.com/campaigns/RomanceOfTheBorderlands/gameplay&page=last
Please post here if this sounds like something you're up for. If I get a lot of interest I may ask for a short writing sample (more like a sample post) but I will want something specific so please do not post your novel here.
The idea is really awesome but i wouldn't play another's character, it's kinda weird. I know that isn't really what you are looking for, but if you have another spot open one day, I'd be happy to give it a shot.
I too im interested, but playing someone else s character, or even a pre-gen character, has little appeal to me, aesthetically and mechanically :P. If I am allowed my own character creation I could blow you away :D.
Well you can both feel free to post concepts if you think you have something that will fit the game; if nobody wants to play Flying Sword I might just write him out and take on a new player. Just keep in mind your pitch will have to be something above and beyond because now instead of making things easier on me introducing you is going to be a hassle. You're going to have to bring something to the table beyond another warm body.
Also make sure you can commit to posting at least once every weekday and then at a minimum once again over the weekend.
But, forewarned of these caveats, I'd love to see some character pitches. Not stats, I'm not interested in stats yet.
Actual Shaolin kung fu practitioner here. Well versed in school vs school drama and student/teacher betrayals also.
I'll give the game a read. Im not so worried about taking over another's character for a time while theyre gone. But what if the other player doesn't return? Are we then stuck with their character or will we have the option of rolling up our own concept?
But what if the other player doesn't return?
What I'd like to do at this point is have the new player create their own character, and then play Flying Sword long enough for us to get to a point where we can write him out without killing him (I have some ideas). All the while I've had time to manufacture a plausible scenario to have the new character join at roughly the same time. At that point the new player would be playing their own character whether genjuro was back or not and Flying Sword would be safely off-screen ready to show back up whenever.
Of course if they decided they liked playing Flying Sword that works too.
Actual Shaolin kung fu practitioner here.
Ha, well I hope you're okay with a DM who has never been in a fight in his life and doesn't speak Chinese.
No worries there Captain! We say 'if you have to fight then you've already lost'
I just mean in terms of using correct terminology.
Also I should definitely point out that we're using real-world religions, but goofy fantasy versions of them. They're not meant to represent any actual belief systems, more a superficial version of their portrayal in Journey to the West and kung fu movies. It was a gradual decision that was arrived to in the recruitment thread and I don't want anyone coming late to the game to get the wrong impression.
I got you. I only know the Chinese terms for strikes and forms with their translations.
Which religions? Im guessing Buddhism at least.
Also, do we need to have our submissions complete before taking over Flying Sword or can we work on that while we wait to see if his player returns?
I'd like to have an idea of what you want to play so I can evaluate whether it would fit and start planning to integrate the character, but I could live with a more rough than usual character sketch.
I cant open the Shaolin & Wudang files at work so I'll check them out when I get home this afternoon. Otherwise are there any class or prestige class restrictions to consider?
Ive been toying with a Monk/Sorceror/Dragon Disciple build but could go any direction.
Finally got a good look at the monk equivalent classes and you can scratch the idea above.
Both Wudang and Shaolin look cool. Question - Are the styles from the CB available as well as the ones created?
Both Wudang and Shaolin look cool. Question - Are the styles from the CB available as well as the ones created?
If you're talking about what I think you are, those are feats that can still be taken as feats. The styles are unique class features of the two martial artist classes. If you want to make up your own style that's totally cool too. Also, as you can see by the rules, it's pretty open how many styles you can learn and at what level, so you can start knowing two or three and switch between them in battle (most of the PCs know at least two).
The PCs we have right now is a Wudang/Sorcerer with a snake theme, a Wudang/Druid Taoist priestess who is actually from the Wudang sect, and a Shaolin palm user who is also an actual Shaolin (who has a very high wisdom and lots of feats that take advantage of it). Obviously you can play whatever you want, but I think the best fit would be someone with an external style and a weapon (although with the loss of Flying Sword we won't have a high-level internal stylist either).
I don't know if you're caught up with the game, but if you want to be a swordsman I have a floating sword from the same set as Black Metal Sword, Golden Celestial Aura and White Hot Light that could easily be your sword.
Play what makes you happy, though.
Edit:
Also, the most important section to look at when brainstorming for your character is here http://paizo.com/campaigns/RomanceOfTheBorderlands (campaign info)
Scroll down to the Shifu tree. Dashes denote rank. Zero dashes is the highest, one dash the next highest, two dashes the next highest, and so on. The PCs are at two dashes, which means any of the one dash characters could potentially have trained your character. You can also create a new character to be your shifu but it would be good to be from one of those sects. The PCs have a good relationship with the Beggar's sect, in addition to their own sects the Wudang, Shaolin, and the secret kung-fu rulers of the hidden snake village. They are also allies, but explicitly not members, of the Star Lotus Society, a conspiracy to restore the descendants of the old imperial dynasty to the throne (so they are pro-Xing, anti-Weili).
They made perhaps not the greatest impression of all time with a man who at least claimed to be the son of Heretic Plague God, and while they haven't made any open plays against the PCs yet the Kunlun are in general up to no good so those are the two sects that I would describe as the most 'hostile' towards the PCs. Although in general they're very diplomatic.
You can be from a sect they don't like and I'm sure still get along, but being a firm imperialist at this point would be like playing the Paladin in a group of evil clerics. Although the PCs themselves were all pretty pro-empire until they heard the Star Lotus Society's pitch.
Edit Edit: Also, you could be related to Flying Sword in some way, either by blood (like a cousin or something) or by martial lineage. Either might have a reason to want to take his place in his famous band of sworn siblings, and as a bonus he never established a name so you could still pick whatever you want.
Also: If you want to make an alias (the picture is I think on page three of the most used avatars, around there) you can start playing Flying Sword as soon as you've read all the gameplay posts. They're in a fight with a pretty powerful demon right now so a great way to endear yourself to the other players might be to show up in the middle of it and take one of the stronger melee fighters out of my nefarious hands.
His stats are here:
http://paizo.com/people/FlyingSword
Lots of great Flying Sword stuff coming up soon too; I specifically had the one player's plot hook lead them to a place relevant to his sub plot. Then when they're finished in the sword tomb they'll probably head over to Mt. Wudang and that's when we can switch you out.
Cool!