|
I'm interested in attempting to GM a play by post once again, so I'm going to attempt to gauge interest, as I do not want to walk into the same trap I did last time of accepting the only people to submit characters and then not being satisfied with the result.
So, here's the idea, and I'm not entirely certain how to recruit for it so I am certainly up for advice on forming a successful group which I will be satisfied with. So in the interest of keeping things simple to start with, my plan is to recruit for a Five-Man Band (if you are unfamiliar with this term, go spend half a day or so on tvtroupes). This would mean recruiting a group that not only fits the mechanical requirements of the five man band, but also meshes well together, and it's the meshing I am having difficulty adding to the mix.
Potentially, I could design campaign traits which focus on how the characters work together and predefines their role in the party, but that may mean running homebrew and I was considering an AP group. Alternatively, I could create a GMPC of sorts which each of the roles would relate to (so I could play the tag a long kid or the team pet basically, if I don't intend to fill the role of one of the five man band) alternatively, I could recruit for one position (likely Leader) first and foremost before recruiting everyone else.
Thoughts, suggestions, or anything else its welcomed, or just ignore this thread and I'll move on from the idea for now.
I'd be interested, what's your take on 3rd party content? My current avatar is a gestalt built for wrath of the righteous. I'd love to play him in something, and he's a jovial master of alcohol/gear monkey. Given he's the friendly sort and helps lube the social wheels I think he'd do good. Though given his personality he'd be either the chick or the leader in my opinion. I am perfectly willng to rebuild but his 3rd party class is a large part of the character.
|
|
I'm not overly familiar with most 3pp stuff, so I would be reluctant to include it, however classes are usually easy enough to familiarize oneself with, so long as they are not spellcasters or psions or the like.
A note, if a drunkard was the leader, that would make the lancer fairly straight laced and stone cold sober. This does bring forth the idea of recruiting one role at a time, starting with the leader, though that would likely mean a longer recruitment.
I'm only speaking on the roles the character's personality would fit. He's friendly and would attempt to solve problems through discourse a a bit of good natured rough housing, that's either a charismatic and level headed leader, or the heart. Since he to a degree is a barbarian type, he may also fit the big guy.
The class mechanics are simple enough, I have a list of ingredients with which I can make alcohol, the way I make it adjusts things like alcohol content and special abilities like some healing, or a speed boost. When I drink it I can also trigger a rage like ability that depending on the alcohol content will last that number of rounds.
For instance, I can create one dose of alcohol that has 6 alcohol levels. I drink that, I gain six rounds of raging. Provided I'm level six or lower, if I took another drink right then and there I'd have to make a fortitude check not to be sickened. At least I think that's the right effect. I have to drink from special containers to activate the rage ability, I eventually get potion making. if I don't have access to the spells it costs 100 percent of the base cost of the potion.
interesting, if your looking for a broad selection to draw your five-man band from run an AP and define the parts, you will get plenty of applicants to draw from.
It will be interesting to see a recruitment where the five characters had to find each other themselves from the recruitment thread and sort out why they are a five-man band, It would be fun to see how they contrasted the leader to the lancer and then what classes each of the five would play.
It will be interesting to see a recruitment where the five characters had to find each other themselves from the recruitment thread and sort out why they are a five-man band, It would be fun to see how they contrasted the leader to the lancer and then what classes each of the five would play.
This has a lot of potential, letting potential players find their own five man band could form a cohesiveness that many groups lack.
Really, the Leader and the Lancer are the only roles that seem to depend a great deal on each other; the rest are going to look fairly similar no matter what the other characters look like. If you just ask everyone to define the role they're looking to play when they submit their character, the difficulty just becomes finding a Leader and Lancer that complement each other. It doesn't seem to preclude simultaneous recruitment to me.
It will be interesting to see a recruitment where the five characters had to find each other themselves from the recruitment thread and sort out why they are a five-man band, It would be fun to see how they contrasted the leader to the lancer and then what classes each of the five would play.This has a lot of potential, letting potential players find their own five man band could form a cohesiveness that many groups lack.
I could definitely see that. Having an idea of the campaign/AP/whatever could help too, since it gives a goal to organize around.
I have a smart guy that could work with Korak... (from the same WotR recruitment) I also have a Lancer type from a dead Giantslayer that would make good straight man.
Oh, sorry, I forgot to mention before, I'd be potentially interested in throwing my hat into the ring. I could put together someone as The Chick if you like.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I have a smart guy that could work with Korak...
In which case I would definitely take the role of the big man... despite being a dwarf.
Dwarves are the perfect Big Guys, haha.
Dwarves are the perfect Big Guys, haha.
I think anybody taller than 4 foot five might disagree with that.
What they lack in height, they make up for in concentrated mass.
Exactly. They may not be tall, but they're burly.
Dammit stop over-complicating my self depreciating humor!
What I've always thought to be a good campaign idea is a one race group. In my gaming group, we have been kicking around the idea of an all-goblin group. I've also thought an all-dwarf campaign might be great, especially with all the examples of an all-dwarven group, like The Hobbit or Snow White.
Whew, made my save and only lost a couple hours to TVTropes.
@Rennavix, no a five man band has specific roles. The smart guy and the big guy are linked. They may be friends, they may be enemies, they may be frenemies, but there's a bond between them.
The leader, the lancer and the chick are in a love triangle. That's what drives the relationship.
I have some ideas, but I think I need a little more context to put them in.
|
|
The choice of AP/Campaign would definitely be an important one, Kingmaker would work nicely with a five man band as it makes defining the roles easier. Skull and shackles could also work nicely, however if one ignores that the PCs in that one are explicitly chosen by someone else, not each other. Reign of Winter might work, but focuses too much on other themes. Wrath of the Righteous is essentially written for a party of six, but could work, though I'd rather not complicate things with mythic, at least not so soon. Other APs could likely work too, Iron Gods gives the players a nice tag along kid to tie into, and Rise of the Runelords and Giantslayer would both be easy enough.
Then of course there's Hell's Rebels, which although we don't even have a player's guide yet would make an interesting option.
What are people's thoughts on AP choice?
Oh, a five man band is often chosen from outside sources.
I'm most interested in Kingmaker, Gianstlayer and Skull & Shackles.
I agree on Kingmaker for a five man band. It's all about a cohesive group vibe
What I've always thought to be a good campaign idea is a one race group. In my gaming group, we have been kicking around the idea of an all-goblin group. I've also thought an all-dwarf campaign might be great, especially with all the examples of an all-dwarven group, like The Hobbit or Snow White.
All goblins... hope your GM isn't planning on a structured story, and is patient. Very patient. Right, Korak?
Ya need atleast one hobgob to keep the little guys in line.
...and the big guy would have to be a bugbear.
Oh, as for AP's - we could do Way of the Wicked! That would give us an interesting group. :)
Good lord, this sounds truly awesome. Think I'd have to make a character for every role, to get my bases covered for whichever free spot in the group there is. Being optimistic on my chances here, of course.
AP-wise... Love the sound of Kingmaker, Way of the Wicked, Giantslayer, and Curse of the Crimson Throne.
I've got absolutely no knowledge of Way of the Wicked, so that'd also be good. I'm fond of the Lancer and big guy parts of the band
Honestly, I would play any AP if we had good group synergy. That's the kind of game that would most likely make it to the end.
Which means making good use of teamwork feats. And yes,keeping goblins in check is a little like herding cats.
Which means making good use of teamwork feats. And yes,keeping goblins in check is a little like herding cats.
Stealth synergy and outflank. My two favorites.
It would also be nice not having to deal with Hey LOOK AT ME types for once.
It would also be nice not having to deal with Hey LOOK AT ME types for once.
With the five man band, it'd be Hey, look at US!
It would also be nice not having to deal with Hey LOOK AT ME types for once.With the five man band, it'd be Hey, look at US!
Let heaven and hell tremble...
Does anybody know this, I swear there was a feat that allowed flanking from being next to each other.
It requires an animal companion, I believe.
|
Does anybody know this, I swear there was a feat that allowed flanking from being next to each other.
I think you may be thinking of Gang-up
Does anybody know this, I swear there was a feat that allowed flanking from being next to each other.I think you may be thinking of Gang-up
Huh coulda swore it was a teamwork, but still a good choice
From what I see, there may already be a five man band in the making from this thread alone, with Korak as the leader....or the big guy, being a dwarf and all.
Perhaps you were thinking of this: Pack Flanking
It's good for the Hunters and Cavaliers, not much else unless you are playing a gestalt game.
I think almost any AP would work, the question is would you go with a 15, 20 or 25 point buy, I read some GM's using 15 to force more team work. Then, would you allow all traits? Especially ones that permit the character to be more independent like, berserker of the society
From what I see, there may already be a five man band in the making from this thread alone, with Korak as the leader....or the big guy, being a dwarf and all.
I support this.
I'd potentially be interested, especially since someone invoked Way of the Wicked. I've got an Antipaladin/Swashbuckler that would really LOVE to get into a WotW campaign. Kingmaker is also fun, although I would have to mention I have read through the whole campaign, as I'm running it myself. I'm not really one for meta-gaming, though. If we were doing Kingmaker, I'd probably run with a Slayer. And while I'm on the thought... what would be your stance on firearms?
EDIT: Just to clarify, my WotW character would be a definite Leader type, although he could also work as the Lancer. He'd have a very high charisma (obviously), so he'd be a good social character. My Kingmaker character would fit the Lancer pretty well.
If we play WOTW I'll need a different character. Which is cool as I have a concept I want to play. For any good though I would be honored to be the leader though I think Korak is better suited elsewhere.
|
|
For point buy, I'm thinking 20 point buy, plus a free 18 for a single stat depending on which role in the five man band one is shooting for.
The Leader is Str/Cha
The Lancer is Str/Dex
The Big Guy is Str/Con
The Smart Guy is Int/Wis
The Chick is Wis/Cha
I'm also considering giving a free feat for each of the roles as well, for example if we were doing Kingmaker it might look something like this:
The Leader gets the Noble Scion as a bonus feat.
The Lancer gets Weapon Finesse or Power Attack as a bonus feat.
The Big Guy gets Toughness or Tribal Scars as a bonus feat.
The Smart Guy gets Skill Focus (pick one) or Spell Focus (pick one) as a bonus feat.
The Chick gets something thematic...IDK.
Additionally, the game would be gestalt, but not the typical gestalt. Each character would have a free variant multiclass as per Pathfinder Unchained, plus the following:
The Leader is gestalted with the Warrior NPC class, additionally once he qualifies for any prestige class without using class abilities from his non-NPC class, he may take those prestige classes instead of warrior.
The Lancer is gestalted with the Warrior or Expert NPC class, additionally once he qualifies for any prestige class without using class abilities from his non-NPC class, he may take those prestige classes instead of Warrior/Expert.
The Big Guy is gestalted with the Warrior NPC class, additionally once he qualifies for any prestige class without using class abilities from his non-NPC class, he may take those prestige classes instead of warrior.
The Smart Guy is gestalted with the Expert NPC class, additionally once he qualifies for any prestige class without using class abilities from his non-NPC class, he may take those prestige classes instead of expert.
The Chick is gestalted with the Expert NPC class, additionally once he qualifies for any prestige class without using class abilities from his non-NPC class, he may take those prestige classes instead of expert.
Additionally, by choosing any spellcasting class as their variant multiclass, they get the option to have their NPC gestalt be Adept, and can use the class list of their variant multiclass as the Adept list, Characters may additionally utilize their variant multiclass' class abilities to qualify for prestige classes on the NPC side of their gestalt.
Yea, I realize that's a lot of house rule right there, but what do you guys think?
Minus the apparent requirement on the stats I like it. Will background skills be in play? Though I think NPC classes should count for prestige
|
|
Yes to background skills, but it wouldn't be the flat 2 background skills, it would be the base amount your npc class gives.
The restriction for prestige is so you can't go Cleric/Adept variant Sorcerer and then turn adept into mystic theurge or go Wizard/Expert variant Rogue and turn Expert into Arcane Trickster. You can use the variant multiclass and the gestalt npc to qualify for a prestige on the npc side however, if you need your pc classes to qualify then it's not a npc prestige.
And it's not really a requirement on stats, you have 20 points for the other five stats and then the free 18 to encourage you to play with your troupe, the leader is usually strong or charismatic, so they get an 18 in str or cha allowing them to play to that strength. It's essentially a 37 point buy with the assumption that you'll have an 18. I could consider making it your choice of three stats instead of two however.
The leader could also be gestalted with aristocrat.
I like the free VMC and the whole idea. I'm definitely coming with ideas. I'm trying not to get too invested until I hear which AP it will be.