Hello everyone, this is a recruitment for 4-7 PCs to play a Kingmaker-style game set in Ustalav after being devastated by an 8-year Crusade of Reclamation against rampaging undead hordes. The land is in chaos, and the country of Ustalav no longer exists. Brave and bold heroes are needed to head into the wasteland to bring peace and civilization back to the land. Will you step forward to accept this challenge?
Recruitment will stay open until Thursday, Nov 8th 8am EST.
Campaign Overview:
This game is based on the Kingmaker AP campaign wherein the characters venture into a hostile land and carve out a realm of their own. At its core, this is a sandbox adventure, meaning the characters choose the direction they want to go, and how they get there. Combat, diplomacy, magic, subterfuge - all are valid choices, and all are potential means to deal with challenges the characters will face.
Though the immediate setting for this campaign is dark, I do not intend to delve too much into “grimdark” territory. I will throw all manner of creepy monsters at the characters, but I won't be going into gory or explicit detail.
Here are the deities and religions most likely to be encountered during this game: Pharasma, Iomedae, Milani, Desna, Urgathoa, Old Ones (Cthulhu & his clan)
I have also included additional background information in the Campaign Info tab.
General Guidance: Anything Paizo, no 3rd party materials.
Stats: Roll 4d6 drop lowest, order them as desired; roll 3 sets, then drop highest and lowest set totals; use 20-point buy if you don't like the results, or if your rolled results are lower than 20-point equivalent. Once characters are selected, we'll review to make sure everyone is on par with each other.
Race: More likely to accept standard & core races, but willing to entertain anything. Alternative racials and traits acceptable. For aasimar and tieflings, Variant Heritages are acceptable, but you must roll on the Variant Abilities and Physical Features table(s) if you want those.
Classes: Use Unchained versions instead of originals. All archetypes are acceptable. Ninjas, samurai, anti-paladins should have strong background. Emerging firearms.
Level: Start at 3rd level
Hit Points: Full @ 1st level, 1/2+1 @ 2nd and up
Skills: Using background skills optional rules (link)
Feats: Using feat tax optional rules (link)
Alignment: NE and CE not allowed. In addition, please provide three values that are important to your character (some examples are honor, wealth, power, compassion, pragmatism, logic, etc).
Traits: Choose two traits as normal. No drawbacks. In addition, choose one Campaign Trait from the following list:
* Worldwound Veteran: You spent time fighting against the demonic hordes of the Worldwound during which time you discovered untapped power to resist their evil. You get a permanent +1 to a single saving throw (For, Ref, Wil). This benefit stacks with all other bonuses/minuses.
* Belkzen Veteran: You spent time fighting against the orc hordes in the Hold of Belkzen. Brutal fighting is all the orcs understand, and you have trained long and hard in order to take the battle to them. You gain a permanent +1 to attack rolls made with edged weapons. This benefit stacks with all other bonuses/minuses.
* Crusade Veteran: You spend time fighting against undead in the recent Crusade of Reclamation. The hordes of undead shrugged off blows from sword and spear, so you became a master of the mace and flail. You gain a permanent +1 to attack rolls made with blunt weapons. This benefit stacks with all other bonuses/minuses.
* Noble Blood: Your house once held much power in Ustalav but has been outside the circles of influence for the past 100 years. Now is the time to reclaim your birthright. If and when you are in a position of power, you can use your influence to acquire greater resources and benefits for your realm.
* Foreigner: You are from a land located far away, and have no ties to Ustalav, Lastwall, or any of the other countries bordering this region. You gain a +1 to Perception and a +1 to AC. The benefit to AC is considered a dodge bonus that stacks with all others. Should you be surprised, incapacitated, or otherwise lose your AC bonus from dexterity, you will temporarily lose this benefit until you regain your bonus from dexterity.
Starting Wealth: Begin with 4,000 gp, no single item worth more than 2,500 gp. This is for real equipment, your character is 3rd level, so should already have clothes, bedroll, flint and steel, holy symbol, etc. Just buy the important stuff, weapons, armor, spells, potions, etc. Give your character mundane stuff for free.
Deity: Name of the deity, and what aspect do you venerate?
Submission Requirements:
- No alias required
- Please indicate your expected posting rate (every day, every other day, etc)*
- Character name, race, class
- Alignment with 3 values
- All 3 traits
- Background Summary - where is your character from, what drives them to do the things they do, why do they want to undertake this adventure? Expecting a paragraph or two, happy to read more if it's available.
- One experience you would like your character to have (allying with an intelligent weapon, defeating a powerful foe, becoming a renown bard, etc)
Feel free to include full character stats with your submission, but I'm only basing my decision on the requirements above. (*Posting rate will not affect my decision - it's only so I have the information)
Decision Basis:
Here are some of the criteria I'll use to decide on which characters to choose:
- Well-rounded, interesting characters, must be appropriate for and grounded in the setting.
- Does the background give me a good understanding of the character, motivations, biases, etc? Do I get an idea about how they will react in a stressful situation?
- Party makeup & balance
Posting Rate:
Looking for players who can post at least once 3-4 times a week. I'll generally post EST evenings. I will occasionally be able to post during the workday, especially if I’m just answering questions or providing feedback (i.e. whatever I can do from my phone).
Combat:
I'll use group initiative, and I plan to use maps only for the major or tactically complicated fights.
I’ve been gaming for decades, though I've had something of an extended break with moving to a new state, then welcoming twins to the family. I’m getting back into gaming, and while I don't have time for playing in-person, I do have time for PbP games. I've lurked on the forums for a while, and participated in a few short games on other sites, so while this is my first time running, I think I have a good idea what to expect. Looking forward to getting started!
Thanks for looking over this post, let me know if there are any questions.
17/17/12/11/10/8
Race: Dwarf
* Barrow Scholar: Dwarves with this racial trait gain a +2 racial bonus on Knowledge (religion) checks to identify undead and can attempt them untrained. This racial trait replaces stonecunning.
* Barrow Warden: Dwarves with this racial trait gain a +1 bonus on attack rolls and a +1 dodge bonus to their AC against undead. This racial trait replaces defensive training and hatred.
Class: Gloomblade Fighter VMC Void Wizard
Dot
No third-party makes me sad, since a Wraith might've been a lot of fun. Oh well. XD I'll see if I can come up with any other ideas.
Before I roll, I want to clarify something: "roll 3 sets, then drop highest and lowest set totals" I'm a bit confused by what you mean here. We're throwing out two of the three sets, keeping the middle one?
A marker placed for ponderment and consideration.
Dot dot dot dot
“Once characters are selected, we'll review to make sure everyone is on par with each other.”
By the way, love this line. Makes the stat roll much less stressful. :)
No for one obvious reason.
Looking good.
So dropping the highest set of stats, and the lowest leaves me with set 3.
I'll think it over and see what pops up.
Before I roll, I want to clarify something: "roll 3 sets, then drop highest and lowest set totals" I'm a bit confused by what you mean here. We're throwing out two of the three sets, keeping the middle one?
Yes, exactly. Just trying to give an option for rolling stats while doijg something to minimize really high and/or low rolls.
“Once characters are selected, we'll review to make sure everyone is on par with each other.”
By the way, love this line. Makes the stat roll much less stressful. :)
Thanks, that was definitely the intent. :)
Gravedigger. It invokes a very specific image. One that does not always hold for dwarves. Thorek was a Dwarven mason who specialized in the construction of tombs. Skilled with hammer and chisel, he spent many a year hewing stone into final resting places for the Small Dwarven community of Kazad Gravr in the Hungry Mountains. The mountains were largely untouched and unworked, making them an attractive opportunity for intrepid Dwarven miners.
That might well have been his entire story, were it not for the night of the living dead. When Ustalav fell necromatic energies were unleashed far and wide, and
Deep underground the dead rose, and in a horrifying night Thorek put down the bodies of his ancestors. While the Ustalav died, Thorek fought his own war. As he fought he prayed. He prayed to Magrim for the strength to put this wrong to right. He prayed to his ancestors for guidance. He prayed and he prayed. And they answered.
”Ye rat-faced boot-licker! Grow a spine and put me body down. Why when I was your age I killed seven times this amount of zombies and ye didn’t hear me whining about it. Beardlings these days! I-...”
He soon came to regret this.
——-
Thorek survived that horrific night and became one of the refugees that fled to Lastwall. Kazad Gravr was no longer a profitable venture. All of the ore in the mountains could not buy back one’s life. The flight from Ustalav was not an easy one, and if was enough to turn the humble craftsman into a warrior. The ensuing years also gave him time to learn how to use his curse. The powerful necromancy which had risen the dead in Carrion Hill had the unintended side of effect of binding Thorek’s soul to Magrim’s halls.
He is now the recipient of much unwanted advice from the ghosts of his ancestors. Which is as useful as it is infuriating. He also has the ability to summon ghostly weapons. Each is the manifestation of Dwarven anger and vengeance. A useful skill, for it means that he always has the right tool for the job.
Now that it is time to reclaim Ustalav, Thorek has signed up. While a foreigner, he had begun to make Ustalav into his home, and he will not let something as mundane as an undead apocalypse keep him from returning it to its former glory.
** spoiler omitted **
So, as I understand the given rules, I get either the 19 point buy roll or a 20 point purchase?
I will have to consider the setting and what I want to try within it.
Yes, but we will balance all the PC stat lines once selections are made. This will likely end up with all PCs having higher than a 20-point build (assuming I did my math correctly).
Love the idea of a Lastwall Crusader breaking off on his own (er, with a group). Dotting for sure.
I think I'll try a Human Grave Warden Slayer.
Orphaned by Undead and raised in a temple of Pharasma. Never of the right mindset to become a Cleric or Inquisitor, instead they channeled his hatred into becoming a Slayer of Undead.
Can I take the Trap finder Trait? A Grave Warden Slayer's 2nd level talent is taken so he couldn't cover Rogue until 4th level otherwise.
Doting for interest, but a little too busy right now. I'll have a look more closely this evening.
Can I take the Trap finder Trait? A Grave Warden Slayer's 2nd level talent is taken so he couldn't cover Rogue until 4th level otherwise.
Sure, not a problem.
And for everyone else, I'm happy to permit minor changes like this if it helps a concept come to life. Just keep them relatively minor please.
14
13
10
12
11
15
18 point buy
12
7
14
7
13
10
2 Point buy...
9
7
15
15
14
9
13 Point buy
I'll be going 20 point buy... those dice rolls weren't just sad they were mournful.
I'll submit a fun character. Might be time to delve into the occult adventures!
edit: My initial plan is to try a medium, which I have never seen anyone do before. Each day he will be possessed by a different PC, all the different characters I have played over the years. I'll post all of your requirements when I get the chance!
Dotting.
Will use 20 pt buy
@ Atorhal, I'm interested in the Crusade of Reclamation but am having a hard time finding it in the wiki stuff on Ustalav. Can you point me somewhere helpful or give a paragraph as to what that war was about?
going with set 2 then
13
12
11
14
13
10
12
8
12
14
11
10
12
9
7
13
12
12
Don't suppose I could get a do-over? Those are all atrocious.
I already have an unused character I'd really like to throw in the ring. Basic crunch is in the alias, and here are the dice rolls. Later today I'll update crunch to meet the creation rules and redo background and such.
Wow I've never seen a negative point buy value before...Anyways I'm willing to take the first roll even though by the rules I should take the second which is a PB value of 9.
GM - pls let me know if the first roll is OK or if I should just do the 20 point buy. It might be fun to work around a 6.
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RNG demons are out in force. Let's see what I get:
=15
=17
=14
=11
=15
=15
Everyone can use that set (still roll on your own, you might do better!). Can also move 2 points around, but 18 and 10 are upper and lower limits (before racial adjs).
Hopefully this option works for everyone.
Dot. Kingmaker is one of those APs that I've started once and again and somehow the games ended before the first combat.
I'll look for something flashy that fits in Ustalav.
Can we move 1 point and 1 point, or the 2 points must be from the same stat?
Cailen Marsh
Half-Elf Ranger 3
Lawful Good (Honor, Vengeance, Courage)
Deity: Pharasma
Traits: Crusade Veteran (+1 on attack rolls with blunt weapons)
Elven Reflexes (+2 trait bonus to initiative)
Grief-Filled (+2 vs emotion effects)
I would have to use Set 3, which is 19, so I will use 20 instead :)
Edit: Just saw your set, so I'll use that!
Set 1
Set 2
Set 3
[spoiler=Background]
Cailen Marsh served as a scout in the Crusade of Reclamation. A young man who often felt alienated by the circumstances of his birth, he joined the Crusade to make a difference, alongside his older half-sister Ilyana, a budding Elven Transmutation specialist. He enjoyed military life, slipping easily into a system where everyone had a place and everyone’s contributions were welcomed.
On a scouting expedition at sunrise, Cailen turned back to his encampment to see a rising column of smoke. Hurrying to base, he found that undead soldiers had set upon his comrades while he was out, taking them by surprise and decimating them. Ilyana lay with her guts in her hands, having perished while trying to hold herself together.
Cailen set out immediately to track and punish the creatures responsible. In legends and fairy tales, he would have stalked them and taken them down one by one. And he did get a few. But it wasn’t long before he made a mistake and was surrounded. He fought as hard as he could, but they outnumbered him so severely that there was no chance. Darkness closed in on him, and he gripped his knife in his free hand, preparing to take his own life so that he did not have to feel their teeth tearing him apart.
Then the horn came, the sound of swords and axes hewing flesh from bone. Through blood-coated eyelids, he saw reinforcements chopping through the undead scourge. A hand reached out to help him up, and they brought him for medical attention. After he recovered, he served in his position for the remainder of the Crusade, until the undead had been driven back and the call went out for those brave enough to reestablish civilization.
For his sister, he has answered that call - she died too young. For his mother - Ilyana’s death broke her, and she wasted away thereafter, isolating herself and refusing to speak to anyone. And for himself - to expunge the feeling of failure by destroying every last unliving abomination.
Posting availability: at least daily
It does! Making changes now
Dotting for interest..... I have a couple of ideas, but will have to see how the rolls turn out....
Looks like I’ll go with the slightly rearranged roll from you:
17 / 17 / 15 / 14 / 13 / 11
Definitely potential there, hmmmmmmm...
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My official submission. Per directions, the alias and crunch is not made yet but look forward to doing it if accepted!
Submission Requirements:
Please indicate your expected posting rate: Usually once a day or more.
Character name, race, class Finnick Glumpgog, male gnome, class: Medium
Alignment with 3 values: While Finnick is a true neutral character, I would like to play that his possessing spirits change his alignment depending on the spirit type. If the possessing spirit was evil, I still would not be a PVP type evil, maybe more of a jerk or insane type evil. Finnick’s core values are open-mindedness, service to others, and compassion.
Traits
Campaign trait: Crusade Veteran.
Undead Slayer: Instructed at a young age in the tenets of the faith of Pharasma, you view the undead as abominations that must be destroyed so their souls can journey beyond to be judged. You gain a +1 trait bonus on weapon damage rolls against undead.
Friend of the Dead: You gain a +2 trait bonus on Diplomacy checks against sentient undead.
(Yes these two traits are awesomely opposite of each other but it makes total sense for this character.)
Background Summary
Gnomes never sit still. Once, that was the case for Finnick Glumpgog, who was an extremely feisty acolyte of Pharasma, and served his superiors in the Ustalav’s Crusade of Reclamation. Strong and sturdy for a gnome, young Finnick was a shield bearer and accompanied the high priest into the thick of battle against the hordes of the undead. However, a ghoul’s slam to the head left him unconscious on the field of battle, and Finnick lay there as his army retreated in failure. Spirits and undead creatures swirled and crawled about him, feeling his life force, but for some reason that Pharasma only knows, they allowed him to survive. Eventually, Finnick regained consciousness but was left seriously injured. The Pharasma clerics healed his external wounds but could not heal his soul. From that point forward he was unable to get away from the spirits of the battle, who would enter his body and control his actions. Such a thing was a disgrace for a cleric of Pharasma, and Finnick was forced by the upper clergy to abandon his post. He was never right in the head again either, alternating between confusion and senility and bouts of sanity. Eventually, Finnick learned to gain some measure of control of the spirits swirling about him by séances and other methods… by allowing one spirit in, he could keep the others at bay.
Finnick was rejected by his church, forced to wander, and continually rejected by every town and village he walked through. And thus he continues to search for acceptance, and perhaps… even a place to once again to contribute to society and have people who can learn to love him.
Fun note: When a spirit enters Finnick, he has half of himself there and half of a long dead hero. Per the rules, when they fully influence him, he loses himself entirely until the next day. I would like the spirits around Finnick to be other PCs I have played over the years. They of course would follow the rules for each spirit type, the names and classes and alignment here would be for flavor and RP.
Archmage: Fyzzle Spellfailure: Elf neutral evil sorceror.
Champion: Jax Two-Blades. Halfling chaotic evil rogue.
Guardian: Johann Kaltgeboren: Skinchanger lawful good shifter
Hierophant: Patrick Robertstone: Dwarf neutral good inquisitor.
Marshal: Mustachio Marino. Human chaotic good self absorbed bard.
Trickster: Saul Gibson. Human chaotic good gumshoe investigator.
One experience you would like your character to have Spirits remaining on earth are a perversion to Pharasma, and their presence in Finnick spiritually separates him from his former goddess. He searches for a cure to his condition and eventual restored communication with the goddess that he thinks has abandoned him.
Can we move 1 point and 1 point, or the 2 points must be from the same stat?
You can certainly do the 1 and 1. Sorry for not making that clearer.
Although an alias was not required, this alias already existed and has a basic idea of my proposed character so I'll use it here. It hasn't been updated for these guidelines yet. That will be done after selection if he's invited to join.
Please indicate your expected posting rate: Daily, often several times daily if appropriate based on rest of group post rate
Name, race, class: Rau Vanator, Human Inquisitor of Pharasma (Royal Accuser archetype, Repose domain)
Alignment and Values:True Neutral, core values are selflessness, balance, service to Pharasma (last one is kinda obvious lol). One thing to note is similar to many other inquisitors he believes the ends justify the means and will make decisions that might seem in opposition to his (or Pharasma's) values if he foresees an end result that is in line.
Traits:Crusade Veteran, Reactionary, Undead Slayer
Background Summary: Rau was a member of the Royal Accusers, a group of Inquisitors serving the prince of Ustalav, before the land was torn apart. His dedication to Pharasma and the purging of the undead was always as strong, if not stronger, than his dedication to Ustalav, so after the nation fell and the remaining Accusers disbanded he continued to fight on his own. He joined in the Crusade of Reclamation in order to continue to fight the undead and stop the Whispering Tyrant. Now that the attempt to settle the former Ustalav has begun, he is ready to head into the wasteland, not as much to bring glory to himself as to serve Pharasma through the continued eradication of the despised undead, and to strengthen the region through the restoral of her temples and the return of her faithful. (I like to write out detailed backgrounds, so there will be more to follow. This is just an initial summary)
One experience you would like your character to have: Rau would be ecstatic to find a desecrated/occupied Pharasman temple as opposed to just an abandoned one and clear it out, reclaiming it for Her. Ideally there would already be a group of Pharasmans available to occupy and restore it afterwards.
An additional note of interest: Although Rau is not averse to being famous, power is low on his list of priorities. He would be more interested in supporting someone else (as long as they are sympathetic to Pharasma) and then founding a new group of Inquisitors and other believers that were loyal to Her in the region. He believes one of the flaws of the previous Accusers was that they were bound to a prince instead of a deity and would want to correct that in a new incarnation of the group. The founding of such a group would also fit well into the "experience I would like my character to have" category
I will also be taking the roll Atorhal provided us, as it's much more manageable than the rolls I did earlier.
Completed Characters
* Name: Thorek Bloodaxe
* Race: Dwarf
* Class: Gloomblade Fighter (Bound to the spirits of his ancestors)
* Deity: Magrim
* Name: Finnick Glumpgog
* Race: Gnome
* Class: Medium (Channels the spirits of long dead heroes)
* Deity: Pharasma
* Name: Rau Vanator
* Race: Human
* Class: Royal Inquisitor Inquisitor
* Deity: Pharasma
* Name: Cailen Marsh
* Race: Half-Elf
* Class: Ranger 3
* Deity: Pharasma
-------------------
Noticing a trend of following a god of death. For kingmaker it is thus far looking like the kingdom will have a theme.
Honestly that trend could have been predicted. A campaign based around reclaiming the land previously known as Ustalav from the undead? Who was one of the primary deities of Ustalav? Which deity is most opposed to undead and the creation of them? Anyone trying to tie a character thematically into this campaign is going to at least seriously consider Pharasma lol.
Addition to my character notes: Since Inquisitors can go multiple directions, for purposes of selecting a balanced party Rau primarily focuses on ranged combat.
Point well taken. :)
Also, to throw it out there. Thorek is a switch hitter. While he focuses on using two handed weapons to bash people's heads in, at lvl he can throw a sphinx hammer 40ft, and at lvl 9 that increases to 60ft. With quickdraw and a blinkback belt, he'll be able to lay down a decent amount of hurt at range as well as in melee.
He'll also be...fairly tanky. AC23 (24 vs undead) right now which isn't bad, and with the ability to summon magic weapons, he can focus on buying magic armor. He will also have rock solid saves as a VMC void school dwarf.
And finally due to his spirits, he will soon have ranks in all knowledge skills, so out of combat he can contribute to something.
Ugh. I think I'll be using the Gm rolls above. A pity.
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RNG demons are out in force. Let's see what I get:
** spoiler omitted **
4d6=15
4d6=17
4d6=14
4d6=11
4d6=15
4d6=15Everyone can use that set (still roll on your own, you might do better!). Can also move 2 points around, but 18 and 10 are upper and lower limits (before racial adjs).
Hopefully this option works for everyone.
This is a 40 pt buy... are you sure we can all use this?
Just means the challenges will be more epic!
Also - which set of kingdom-building rules will we be using? Core KM only, Ultimate Campaign, or 3rd Party Ultimate Rulership as well?
Alright, with 1000 gold to spare I've decided to buy a wayfinder (500 gold) with a cracked dusty rose prism ioun stone (500 gold). Now, to roll for the Resonant Power
Constant Endure Elements
Alright. Not bad. Not likely to come up, as I don't think that Ustalav has anything going on which will subject us to extreme heat or cold...but hey, at least it means that he can walk around in winter without worry.
And with that, the character is complete.
Here’s what I’m at so far:
Expected posting rate - every other day at least
Character Name, Race, Class - Atien Sepetdlav, Human, Class TBD
Alignment with 3 values - Neutral Good (Honor, Compassion, Loyalty)
Traits - Noble Blood, TBD, TBD
Diety - The Empyreal Lords (Ragathiel in particular)
Background Summary - (WIP) Born and raised in the Barstoi County Of Ustalav, Atien’s father and Grandfather were on the wrong side of the War Without Rivals and lost the lands that had been in their family for years. Nine years ago, his grandfather and father were killed by the undead hordes that spurred the Crusade of Reclamation. Fleeing with his mother and younger sister, Atien found himself in Numeria with only his father’s sword to remember him.The last few years have been one of training and learning all he could that would allow him to return and destroy those who had destroyed his family (and perhaps reclaim his family’s rightful lands and titles in the process).
One experience you would like your character to have - Reclaim Family Land/manor
Seems like there is a lot of muscle, almost want to take Atien in the direction of a Magus...
Yes, use the 40-point buy.
Question: Durable arrows are 1g each. Blunt arrows are 2g for 20. Would you allow the purchase of Durable Blunt arrows, and how would you price them? The easiest way is 22g for 20, but I'm unsure...
...or would 20 durable blunt arrows just count as mundane and skip the cost altogether?
Dotting