Hello everyone! It's been a while since I picked up my solo games a while back. Since those games are running as smooth as butter on Discord, I am ready to start the Next Big Thing (tm)!
What is this Next Big Thing (tm), you ask? It's a solo Kingmaker game. I know there will be much salivating over that as it is. The game will also be gestalt and the PC will be able to recruit characters Fire Emblem-style to accompany him and serve as a party.
The PC will have complete freedom within the campaign. Redeeming the Stag Lord, engaging in a political marriage, hunting down the nine-headed Königsmacher for a legendary crown that gives the wearer a mystical connection to the land itself, turning heel and going full-on tyrant, making deals with rogue elements from Numeria to acquire the blueprints for magitech facilities, bartering with dark beings at the crossroads at midnight, and annexing other kingdoms is just a few of the things that your PC can do in this campaign that he or she would not be able to do in a regular campaign. I also have this beauty that I will mine for ideas on future expansions.
There is, however, a catch. I would like for the campaign to have several posts per day, as in the 5-10 range at bare minimum. I am perfectly willing to run the game on Discord and transcribe posts from there to here. I want a faster-paced PBP game because I don't want to my attention to wane after two or three weeks into a single combat. I am really enjoying the games I am running on Discord because of their brisk pace and want every PBP experience to be like that.
And now we come down to the real question: is there anyone interested in this sort of game or is this the pipe dream of an overenthusiastic roleplaying deviant? Please note that I would not require an exchange game for this unless you would like to be exceedingly generous.
kingmaker will usually attract interest, its one of the super popular ap's. Making it solo is an interesting choice, would speed things up though.
I'm in! I usually post at least 3-4 times per day for my normal campaigns, so bumping it up to 5 wouldn't be a problem at all! Plus, I've always wanted to play a Kingmaker game!
I'll have a character made and ready to play in an hour or so. You mentioned gestalt- would we be starting at lvl 1 still? Any other rules I (and other potential applicants) need to know?
Not only would Kingmaker run smoother as a solo game, but it would also give the PC ruler much more agency. No longer would the game have to be done OOC like an Arthurian round table conference. Instead, the PC could feel that sense of gravitas in being the regent of a kingdom by having each decision, and the resulting consequences, be their choice alone.
I got inspired to ask about this due to all the solo threads lately, my own success with that type of game, and someone's thread from about a month ago where he was suggesting running Kingmaker with a twist. Not to toot my own horn too much, but I think the idea that I came up with is pretty nifty and could produce an entirely different feel to the AP.
well im interested, im usually skirtting about the forums anyway.
id end up doing and eldritch knight type myself some kind of magic spell sword type.
I seem to have been reply ninja'd! No matter, here is post number two to amend that.
I haven't committed to this yet, since I want to see how much interest this would get in an actual recruitment, so don't go building a PC just yet! I love the enthusiasm though.
The PC would begin the game at level 4. The GM-controlled NPCs that can be recruited will be one level lower than the usual PC level, with a minimum of 1. This means that, if the PC were to be at the point where there were 4 level 2 characters, he would be level 5 and the other 3 would be level 1. This is to preserve the Big Damn Hero King effect that I am looking to convey. I am for the PC to finish the 'Continuing the Campaign' material at 20th level, possibly with a mythic rank, with his followers around level 18-ish.
My friends and I always use Feat Tax Removal in our home games, so you can count on that being a houserule.
I might be willing to use a Spellpoint system to replace Vancian Casting if a PC is willing. I might also be persuaded to replace traditional spellcasting with Spherecasting.
No Leadership, since the PC will already be getting a better version in-game anyway.
I will possibly use a variant system where I allow PCs and friendly NPCs to survive deadly attacks by making a save and, if successful, rolling on a table to take permanent wounds, such as severed fingers, a damaged eye, et cetera. Not sure if I will go with that, but it's an option for people who like Game of Thrones level grit.
The PC will be able to direct crafters in the kingdom during Kingdom-Building phases, translating to them being able to buy most any gear at production cost between adventures. PCs can also visit the markets of the First World via an occult ritual to buy things not normally available, although they need to be aware that most fey have little to no need or desire for gold or other trinkets.
The PC will be able to tame mounts, which will make the beast so tamed function as per the Mount feature. Only one mount may be tamed at a time, as the mount requires a very special sort of bond to function that way. Characters with the Mount option already gain bonuses when riding their mount. Exotic options like Griffins and Wyverns would be available further into the campaign.
I might be willing to allow PCs to roleplay important conversations out without the need for skills being involved. Things like Intimidate or Bluff could still be useful in combat, but wouldn't be strictly necessary. Again, this is an option that I am willing to allow, not a strict necessity.
The PC could cultivate trade routes with certain nearby nations, such as Daggermark. These would give the PC's kingdom certain boons and benefits. Opening a trade route with Daggermark by trading rare alchemical reagents could provide sizable buffs to the economy, make purchasing poisons cheaper during downtime, and enable the PC to hire Daggermark assassin units on retainer to either place in their kingdom, reducing corruption by slaying crooked nobles, or in their kingdom's military, gaining a powerful unit for use in the mass-combat sections of Kingmaker.
After all those possible houserules, alterations, and miscellaneous things, is interest still there?
yup, id have to see what the change in spell system does but otherwise all seems cool
I'm still sold! Nothing too cray, I don't think- and as a big fan of the feat tax rules, thanks!
I have this character that was a part of a kingmaker game where the GM ghosted. It'd need a little rework but the core concept would remain the same.
I would not be opposed to this either if possible. I am a Medically retired Marine so I have nothing but time on my hands to post aggressively.
As far as What I'd have in mind....Probably a Bard/Paladin of Erastil. I have played a very minute portion of this particular AP and I have been such a fan that I'd love to really actually have a GM who is excited about the game and interested in seeing it to the end.
(Of course if that's too cheesy, I'd be willing to do some other combination. Though, I'd likely do a Grey Paladin Archetype and be NG instead of LG and Duettist for the Bard Archetype. I think those two along with the concept of being the Big Hero would play wonderfully.)
Other notes to help decide with. I post between around Noon to 2am my time (It's currently 3 am for me, CST GMT-6).
I do try to at least offer a GM warning if there will be a pause in posting (I work some conventions and the like so there is the rare busy moment in my life.) Sundays might be a bit slow for me, though I will still try to post out one or two as I have an at table game with friends. (We take several breaks so I can always post during those times as well if needed.)
I love the concept of doing a bit more grittiness via GoTs esk themes and severe wounds. That sounds wonderful as well as political marriages and intrigue. I prefer a mix of rollplay and roleplay myself (I like to think a good argument and bit of roleplay can offer modifiers to dice rolls over just replacing them and saying the wrong thing of course could offer negatives.)
I saw that this will be Gestalt, but I didn't see any other character creation details...which is fine if you're looking to pick your person before going full in. I'm pretty good with any concept between Focus, Foilable / roll for stats / or point buy (I'm assuming in this, it would be 20 to 25 pt buy over 15 given the Big Hero concept). All of which I'm cool with and enjoy. (Though, I do love throwing in a bit of chaos with random rolling.)
I'd be more than happy to speak further if you want either in PMs, Discord, or here if you want.
I would be interested and would be happy to submit a character for this.
Would this game concentrate on Politics and such? Or would it still involve combats like a normal pathfinder game?
I would love this for a political game, as I enjoy that side of the game, and feel its underserved. Who really tries to diplomancy out of most things? I'd like to try it
You have my interest as well. I have always wanted to play KM and the idea of running it solo is really cool. the main thing for me that draws me to KM is the exploration and kingdom building aspects. As for posting frequency I am pretty good about posting, especially since I do a lot of work behind a computer. I've never used discord before but I've heard that it is a good way to run a game. I'll have to check it out.
Since there is a ton of interest, I will work on an actual recruitment soon! I am snowed in my house today, so I should have it finished unless the unthinkable occurs and power somehow gets knocked out.
This Kingmaker game would run on the chassis of the original AP, so combat would be inevitable. Unlike the base AP though, there will be many different ways to solve certain problems. Hill giants causing problems eating the sheep of farmers? Well you could just kill them, either personally or by sending the militia. You could also try talking them down or intimidating them. You might even be able to bribe them into taking on jobs in exchange for a steady supply of food, gaining a new unit for your military, a buff for your kingdom, or even a new party member. I have actually accounted for this specific example when reviewing the AP and doing logistics on the feasibility of certain PC actions, if that tells people anything.
The game would include as much politics as the PC wished, but it would still have the heroic adventuring elements to the game as well, as those are pretty much a necessity in my eyes. I like fictional rulers like Aragorn, Danaerys Targaeryn, and Emperor Palpatine who are not just leaders, but also capable individuals in their own right who believe in getting stuff done. If you want to get into intense political games though, that is fine with me. Heck, if you want, you can even try to get involved in Fey politics! Just remember to do some research on all those obscure little rules in the latter though or else there may be some... unfortunate misunderstandings.
I plan on allowing the PC to be able to use political connections to gain help in the actual adventuring and kingdom sections and vice versa. Book 6, the book in every AP when all hell breaks loose? Call in all the favors and have entire armies marching at your command, Lord of the Rings style! Troublesome elements in your kingdom? Use your connections to Daggermark to acquire some unsavory individuals to root out the problem and silence those who dare defy your rule. Need help with crop failure on the kingdom rolls? Why not request the aid of the fey you saved last season, who can surely use their ancient magics to rapidly grow crops and help avoid the mass hysteria caused by food shortages? Are you single and in need of political clout, a nice dowry, and a battery of troops for your militia? There are plenty of single nobles available for marriages of convenience!
An additional thing to consider for the game is that I will be using the Factions rules to represent relations between the PCs kingdom and other nations and organizations. Some factions that will be included are: Daggermark, The Green Circle (the druids), Brevoy, The Exiles (Numerian technomancer expatriates), The River Rats (Hanspur worshippers and riversman), The Shadow Court (nocturnal fey), Pitax, and the Silken (silkgoyle hive). Actions that you take throughout the campaign will influence your standing with these groups and can result in any number of consequences, good or bad, for your kingdom. Generally speaking, most have very nice boons if you are held in high enough regard by them.