Hi, Pathfinder PbP forums. I'm thinking of running a PbP version of an old campaign idea of mine—a party of generally villainous monsters from the depths of the underdark, where people could play liches or mindflayers and still fit into the party/campaign alignment.
This would be shifted to Golarion (or something close to it), and start in the Darklands, but otherwise generally follow the same principle.
A campaign for people to play characters of unacceptable alignment or strange and monstrous race, with a rather open-ended scope in which players can play around with whatever weird build or personality they've always wanted to try.
The Premise:
Every evil society, no matter how cruel and alien their morals, has its outcasts—Drow who study magic outside their caste, Liches suffering from wanderlust, haunted Tieflings and fallen Aasimars, Mindflayers who care more about the mysteries of the world than eating brains, Werewolves who prefer to hunt with non-lycanthropes.
A wanderer moves through the Darklands, unseen by most, clad in the garb of a simple human traveler—and, somehow, she is gathering an army. There are rumors spoken in the dark places and undertaverns of an ancient queen a fallen god, a demon lord of trickery risen from the Abyss. All you know is that, when you heard her summons, you came. She has assembled a team of you, the strangest collection of outcasts and exiles Golarion has to offer, and she has a few tasks for which she is willing to pay you your heart's desires.
This would be a relatively high-powered campaign. If anyone is really excited by the premise and wants to think about some character ideas, here's what I was thinking of going with:
-All characters must start knowing Undercommon
-All characters must have a Humanoid disguise, magical or otherwise, although it does not have to be a *good* disguise
-No good alignments; but also no rampant party-murdering
-3pp content generally acceptable for content conversions (races, traits, psionics). 3pp feats and classes might be possible with DM permission, as long as it's not one of the really broken ones.
-Homebrew stuff acceptable for things like Mindflayers, as long as it's balanced.
-25 point buy
-2 traits + 1 per flaw (3 flaws max, flaws cannot have a negated effect)
-Starting level 6, plus two "bonus levels" that can be spent on races or templates
-All races are fine
+10-30 RP races costing one bonus level
+30-50 RP races costing two bonus levels, etc.
-Templates or advanced monster races cost one bonus level (or real level) per CR
-Characters can acquire templates later at the cost of levels gained or unspent bonus levels
Some things that might be fun to play:
+Drow Noble/Drider
+Phasm
+Fleshwarped Creature
+Alchemically-Invisible
+Vampire
+Lich
+Half-Fiend
+Lycanthrope
+Worm that Walks
+Devil-Bound/Demon-Possessed (would require roleplaying the actual possessing demon as well)
This is the sort of campaign where it would be totally okay to play a character disguised as something entirely different who manages to keep the whole party guessing and just tell the DM.
I'm interested in running a PbP because I think it might be a slower and more flexible time commitment than a standard tabletop campaign.
Unfortunately, I am a busy graduate student, and thus sometimes have tons of free time to post while occasionally having no free time for days in a row. The campaign would thus be somewhat player-driven and character interaction-heavy, and I'd let players queue up multiple actions (this round plus potential next round options, etc.) if they wish to do so.
I'm a seasoned LARP writer, so expect to see a fair amount of NPCs, both colorful and ordinary, at least *attempting* peaceful interactions with the party. This would be a campaign where skills will be quite useful, especially if they're applied creatively.
Evil stuff, mostly, but rather freeform—assassinating rulers, stealing relics, maybe some guerrilla warfare against the Drow kingdoms.
I'm not sure exactly how many players a game like this could accommodate, but I'm thinking probably around 6-8. Let me know your thoughts!
Dot for interest. Will post more when I can.
What level will the game start at do you think? That will play into character decisions. I've never played a lich, but it requires a higher level of play. What are your thoughts?
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I would LOVE to play this, I could use my character for the module I'm doing or a similar concept.
Or I could play a goblin o.o *fangirls* I don't think you understand, I love monsters. They're awesome.
Like, this seems extremely fun. I have the ARG too so that gives me access to quite a few oddities I'd love to play...
If you actually do this, please let me know (: I would definitely enjoy playing.
Also thanks for letting me know about this thread. :-)
I'm interested. This could get pretty crazy.
Dot dot dot.
Dotting for interest. I like the evol.
Note that some of the options you mention in the fluff require a higher level, specifically the Lich, which requires a caster level of 11 to create one's phylactery. I do notice you mention acquiring templates later, but I wanted to point this particular one out, so that you can replace it with "wannabe lich" or explicitly waive such requirements in the official ad.
@TCG and Netwerk: If you read the RAW very, very closely, it's possible to become a Lich at level 5, as long as your Spellcraft is high enough.
Here's how it gets interesting. Becoming a Lich requires crafting a phylactery, which is a wondrous item that takes a caster level of 11, and would thus require a Spellcraft check of 16. But according to the Magic Item Creation rules, a character can ignore the caster level requirement by increasing the Spellcraft DC to 21—which a very intelligent lower-level character could certainly make.
That said, a Phylactery costs 120k gp, which is above the starting gold for anyone under level 13. My way around this would be to either suggest:
1. Players start in a "Lich-like" class like Agent of the Grave (or some lesser type of casting undead)
2. Start out with a (homebrew) "Inferior Phylactery" which must be carried by the lich, doesn't grant any damage resistance, and can be upgraded to a proper phylactery with 100k or so gold and some crafting time.
Either way, acquiring the wealth and knowledge to become a more powerful lich could be a good character motivation.
Also, I should point out: there's no reason a lich has to be a Wizard, Sorcerer, or Cleric. Bard, variant Druid, Magus, Ranger, Antipaladin, and most of the Psionic classes are all surprisingly valid Lich choices.
EDIT: Turns out you need to have caster level 5 to craft wondrous items, which means a ranger/antipaladin would need to be at least level 7 to become a lich.
Dooot
I always do enjoy playing monster. Especially ones that break the mold even for their own kind. Miiiight toss in this one, but I'll be thinking on it.
Antipaladin and other melee-types may want to consider the Graveknight which can be popped onto anything with 5+ HD.
If you rule that the CL for the phylactery is CL with necromancy spells, folks can mitigate some of the caster level requirements for Lich with things like Bloatmage Initiate, Varisian Tattoo, and the dhampir favored class bonus (+1/4 CL necromancy). So 8th level would have CL 12. The Agent of the Grave does mention how the process of becoming a lich is largely up to the GM, so you could easily house rule something of the sort. My earlier point was that you'll want to specify whichever option you devise in the ad.
Raises hand "Present"
:)
Graveknight's certainly interesting, although the super powerful aura could make disguise/interaction difficult with the wrong folks.
You're right—the bit on crafting items getting around caster level turns out to be a bit vague and probably contradictory/not possible. So I'd probably think of some lesser lich option available at whatever starting level I go with, and mention that in the crunch.
Annnd it sounds like there's enough interest to run this campaign, so I'll be posting a recruitment thread in the next day or two, and let you guys know.
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Dotting. Quite interested. I might consider a medusa--they are rather good archers, among other things. I think that would work...
There are two ways to make a succubus work. One (a bit of a home-brew) would have you start as a regular old succubus—they're CR 7, which is around the appropriate starting power—then, at level up, replacing a level of outsider with a class level until the party catches up with you and leveling normally from there on.
The other option would be to play a Demon-Possessed Creature. The succubus would be, either willingly or unwillingly, trapped inside the body of some mortal creature, whose motivations may or may not align with its own. This would be a more interesting and challenging option, and probably involve speaking with two voices (one in italics or something like that).
Alright everybody! I got a bit bored this morning and now there is a recruitment thread. Full details are up at
http://paizo.com/campaigns/v5748p75hojc2/recruiting
I'll keep in mind everyone who dotted this thread as well, although hopefully people will start posting on the other one.
That sounds hilarious and reasonable, although then you'd follow a progression that lets you occasionally swap out some of your outsider levels for class levels if you so choose, to avoid being *underpowered* at high levels. Or I could home-brew a feat that lets your outsider levels stack for a specific class ability, etc.
Alternately, if you're possessing an animal (since the template gives +int) and grow too attached to it, when you break free you could just keep it as an animal companion or special mount.
EDIT: Actually, Succubi have some amazing abilities compared to other monsters of their CR, so just dropping some class levels on top of that would probably be pretty reasonable.
I'll play this campaign in a heartbeat. I've always wanted to play a Mind Flayer. Not that there is any such thing in Pathfinder.
I'll play this campaign in a heartbeat. I've always wanted to play a Mind Flayer. Not that there is any such thing in Pathfinder.
Pfffffffft. There is as far as I'm concerned. Ripping the stat block straight from MM1 works extremely well.
They live deep in the darklands, have many bizarrely organized societies bored into the rock deep underground, not unlike those described in Complete Psionics, have a pension for Drow brains, and sit a wee bit on the crazy and vindictive side, for the same reason as the Drow. (Earthfall, Rovagug)
Are you doing a second one like this Thunderbeard?
Dotting with interest. Are you allowing psionics?
Thinking many ideas.
This has been closed for a while. They started their game a couple weeks ago I think
Oh. Fair enough.
Yeah been thinking of doing one similar myself since I was not selected for the primary
I would be in for sure Remnant. I was pretty bummed i didnt get into this one since it spawned from me wanting to play a mind flayer in another recruitment. But thunderbeard had like 30 awesome submissions to pick from so thats how it goes i suppose
Oh wow, didn't even see that this was still getting comments.
The game actually started a while ago, and yeah, unfortunately I managed to create a concept so popular it summoned forth the Great Old Ones of the PbP forums (e.g. I think I got at least three people from the original pathfinder playtest, as well as over a dozen submissions from players with several thousand posts).
I'd like to run another game like this, but I'm not sure if I have time. I'd be very happy to give my notes, tips, etc. to anyone who wants to run a second game.
Alternately, I might be willing to co-GM a second Darklands campaign (either as the lead, or just helping someone else) to make up for my lack of free time. Since I wound up without any mind-flayers or psionics in the first group, doing a second game more based around that could be kind of cool, and also cover the 3-4 players I really wanted to pick for this game but didn't have the space for.
(Really, the only reason I haven't pitched a second game for all the other players I liked is that I have a job that sometimes requires me to work 80+ hour weeks)
Hey thunderbeard if you would share some notes I would appreciate it.
Hi, Remnant. Do you want the short notes, the long notes, or something in between?
I can give you tips on generating cities/dungeons/NPCs, or all the details specific missions I'm actually sending the party on, or how I'm attempting to keep the party balanced, or anything in between.
(the short version: half the party is nearly unkillable, so instead I'm trying to come up with scenarios where the "lose" condition is things like "have to break out of jail, again" or "you only get away with half the treasure" or "have to fight a bunch of low-level extra enemies that you would've gotten XP for anyway for outsmarting")
Short notes would be a great starting point for me thanks
Besides jimibones83 anyone else interested in a game like this? Maybe 2 or 3 total (or multiples for a single player). Mostly I have only run 1-1 PBM and PBEM games in the past for online gaming.
I would love to play a weretiger, always dreamed of it.
Not sure what race yet.
Hey, sorry dude, I've been busy. I can mention a bunch of the other players who proposed things. Jimibones and Movin both had excellent concepts. I'll try to send you some thoughts and stuff when I have the time.
Besides jimibones83 anyone else interested in a game like this? Maybe 2 or 3 total (or multiples for a single player). Mostly I have only run 1-1 PBM and PBEM games in the past for online gaming.
crazy monster, being evil, got it :D count me in... If your still wanting another player
I'd be totally up for this. Might be a good opportunity to bring back a character from my first campaign. He was a gnome sorcerer who was the son of Asmodeus (don't ask how)...could be fun if I used the half-fiend template.
I'd certainly be interested in another recruitment like this.
Sign me up as interested should another recruitment open up
At work and only have my phone with me so update later but I think I just hijacked this thread
so far it looks like jimibones83 , movin, zain ashvale, jolly roger have really expressed interest. I also see notes fm Death_Keeper, alexgndl, Bobson and redbeardredeyed. Did I miss anyone so far.
Post or PM character ideas, essentially the same character creation items fm the other post (why reinvent a wheel) with a slightly different Patron (still enigmatic etc etc). More in a day or two.
Remnant,
If I may ask a few questions, would you be okay with a character that is basically a spider with a diaphanous web of nervelike wings that crawls onto the back of a person or creature and burrows the tendrils into its spine to hijack it's body?
(if we are allowed to actually make our own race)
if not, would a lich, or lich shade be acceptable?
I made the creature for a bodysnatcher campaign originally, and I didn't get selected, but I never lost the idea for him...
Ckkxxchtki was what I named the creepy crawler and he would need a little changes for the play-style of this role-play... But I think the idea is a pretty good one...
The high Ego item is more of a personality dominator... whereas mine is brute force body snatch... I literally take over the nerves and control the body... they are still alive within their body... struggling to control anything, but completely unable to...
Awesome. I'm glad to see this popping off again
So many options.
Dmg reductions for two sources (i.e. silver from lycanthropy and magic from half fiend) do not stack right? It will be silver or magic?
Currently thinking about a weretiger ninja. Possibly drow race, either noble or normal with another template.