
GM_Solspiral RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 |

The high council of Mivon, after watching their city be overrun by a crime wave, has both loosened the restrictions on entering the watch and raised pay by 50% including an attractive seizure spoils system. In order to get more watchmen on the street for what has become a very dangerous job.
This has enticed all manner of oddball adventurers to enlist to join the force.'
You are those oddball characters, and yes that description is a rip off of Police Academy.
Basically if there's enough interest I'm considering running a buddy cop urban campaign. Taking inspiration from Police Academy, Lethal Weapon, Turner and Hooch, Bad Boyz, Rush Hour ect.
Make a badass but leave room for levity. In other words I want an appreciable flaw or flaws. I might very well make a character creation rules set up that includes a list of flaws (not the trait ones that barely come up) which everyone would have to take 1. I might very well base them off of oracle curses TBH because I liekt he idea that the flaws eventually turn into assets.
As a GM I've flamed out before (partly because I suck at mapping and got crazy busy.) This time around something lighter with a group of fast and loose RPers that don't mind a bit of humor in their game would eb excellent.
I'll open a recruitment thread if there's enough interest.

GM_Solspiral RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 |

Assuming that over the course of the week I see enough interest (I like a pool of about 12-15 quality players to pick from and I also like to choose alternates in case someone bows out.) I'd be looking to start with 5 players and prolly run from about level 3 to about 9th or 10th level by then we'll evaluate where the characters want to go next or end the game as I have trouble seeing adventurers of that level content to remain on a city watch.
Okay, so for sure your early quest giver is going to be based on Commandant Lassard and there will be a wacky cast of NPCs to work with some of which would be hilariously incompetent.
There would be some training style missions where a more experience office supervises the party. Things like chasing off a goblin gang of vandals, shutting down a prankster style protest on a high society party, and maybe arresting a drug dealer built around chases and escape.
Things would escalate to increasing confrontations with organized crime, possibly a big riot.
The police chassis actually adds a bunch of elements I see very rarely in these games. Like having an actual career track is going to be a thing if we do this with a rank system I'll play test. As you rise through the ranks the game slowly gets more serious as it becomes clear there are some sinister political elements to deal with.
I have a plot in mind and it will mix in fighting, investigation work, politics, chases, and above all clever roleplay to unravel. There's going to be some super villain types and I am a fan of Venture Brothers.
This would be a great game for Investigators, Rogues, Vigilantes, Cavaliers, Fighters, Inquisitors, and Clerics in particular.
To those that are unaware, I'm one of the two founder/owners of Flying Pincushion Games and it is more than likely you'll see some FPG content and possibly be able to playtest some. For example we made a dwarf wizard archetype that I'm sort of itching to see in action and I've been trying to tweak a more balanced version of our Warlock for some time so that will defiantly be an option.

GM_Solspiral RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 |

Is sounds interesting, would this be a 'classic fantasy' setting or something more modern?
It's going to be set in Mivon but like Mivon about 50 years forward of present day Goloran with several homebrew twists. If you need an area's history progressed ask.
Guns are no longer under as strict as we'll send a death squad to kill you level of control, but they have not advanced much either. Brevoy splintered into a Civil War between Rostland and Issia until Choral the Conqueror rose again to put it down allying with House Orlovsky.
The Stolen Lands ended up settled with House Surtova's youngest scion marrying a minor Lord named Magnar Varn's daughter and an entirely new dynasty arising as a peace with Choral required the Surtova regent to change his name. Varnhold is actually an interesting kingdowm allied with various wild fey.
Pitax actually was run well in this variant and has been a thorn in the side of nearby Numeria. Their aged king Ivoretti still holds the throne but seems unnaturally young for his age and still a cunning political force. He is credited for nearly as many plots as Daggermark, it hardly matters if it's true.
Mivon picked up some population with the civil war and just in general has been a fairly stable nation in comparison to it's neighbors. Mivon City has a mayor, magistrates, and a council of lords ruling both the city and the nation as a whole.

GM_Solspiral RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 |

10 possible applicants. Okay some of the character creation stuff because I know that can very much matter.
3rd level
Core, Standard (except Triaxian), Featured (except Drow), Duergar, Grippli, Vanara, Vishkanya
Generation Stats:
You can take a 20pt or a 15 pt buy if you take the 15pts you get an automatic 18 and an automatic 8 the 15pts are for the other 4 stats (yes this is a good deal mechanically.)
No stat lower than 6 after racial adjustments or higher than 20.
You can have another 5pts on your point buy by taking an Oracle Curse. You do not need to be an Oracle and this curse will not advance (I'll allow a homebrew feat to advance to 5th, 10th ect at appropriate levels.) This option is subject to approval, basically I'm going to be more involved in character creation to make sure that these are taken for RP purposes not just mechanics. I like merit/flaw mechanics but if this just becomes a min/max power grab I'll likely say no.
2 traits and you can take 2 flaws to add 2 more.
Any paizo classes and archetypes. I'm willing to look at 3PP archetypes but they are subject to approval, Flying Pincushion Games Archetypes are of course pre-approved since I'm already familiar with it.
Since someone is going to ask: no to Spheres of might/magic or Paths of War or Psionics. I have nothing against this content I just don't feel like dealing with it as a GM.

alexgndl |

So is the gun level still roughly the same as normal Golarion? I'm thinking of making a Gun Smuggler Rogue, with your approval of course-I get that some of the wording (especially the Black Market Connections) could be slightly problematic for a cop.

GM_Solspiral RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 |

@alexgndl archetype looksfine, yes roughly same gun level just not as restricted. Bascially most major armies have a contingent of riflemen at this point guns have not advanced technologically but have come to musketeer levels of social prominence.
@Ganorok we have a custom class for our gameworld based on the Mousewolf I suspect you'd like though they are rather fierce and might not work if you're looking for a coward.
@Critzible bear in mind when we get to recruitment if I have 3 rogues and a large variety of other choices I'm less likely to take more than one rogue unless they are all mechanically different enough.
@Oceanshieldwolf newer version still a WIP but less revelations is a big one they only get 1,2 and every even level. I never agreed with the whinging about damage output (looking at Kineticist and the scaling is rather close) but making blasts a standard action reduces a bunch of those complaints, going to tweak the melee because I still like glaive but it needs a damage cap0 if it gets to utilize attack actions.
I did some work on it last weekend and after I finish some work on our Monk release I'm going to revist Warlock some more.
@All Going to look at sub systems or Story feats as a basis for Career Pathing and possibly a rank system for this. Also Starting Police Issue Equipment is going to be a thing.

Noiraigue Muveran |

I'm really interested to play this!
I'd play Noiraigue here, oread ranger. Having been chased from his village and other settlements, he failed to fit in a job. He's compelled to shout everytime he's talking (as per the "song-bound" oracle curse). As a fervent follower of Desna, he's convinced there is a meaning and a purpose to his life.

Master Han Del of the Web |

Would you be willing to let me play an ogre character or one with the ogrekin template with a level adjustment?
I really like the idea of playing an ogre/ogrekin Investigator who likes it when people 'Tink I is jus' a big dumb ogre an' pay me no nevermind'
The idea would probably work with a full-blooded orc as well.

DBH |

DBH here with a prospective character:
MILO HANSE
Male Human (Ulfen) arcanist 3. NG medium humanoid (human)
Init +3; Senses Perception +6,
Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Draconic, Elven, Infernal, Orc, Skald, Sylvan, Taldane
AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 10
hp 20. Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +2
Base Atk +1; CMB +2; CMD 14
Abilities Str 13, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 20, Wis 8, Cha 14
Special Qualities Arcane Reservoir, Arcanist Spells Prepared, Bonus Feat, Dimensional Slide, Lightning Lance, Skilled, Weapon and Armor Proficiency,
Feats Fast Learner, Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot
Arcanist: Spells per Day: (5/3/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/ DC:15+spell level) Known:
0th - Acid Splash, Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Disrupt Undead, Mage Hand
1st - Burning Disarm, Ears of the City, Grease, Mage Armor, Magic Missile
Skills
Appraise +10,
Craft (Alchemy) +10,
Knowledge (Arcana) +10,
Knowledge (Dungeoneering) +9,
Knowledge (Engineering) +9,
Knowledge (Geography) +9,
Knowledge (History) +9,
Knowledge (Local) +9,
Knowledge (Nature) +9,
Knowledge (Nobility) +9,
Knowledge (Planes) +9,
Knowledge (Religion) +9,
Linguistics(Celestial, Orc, Sylvan) +11,
Perception +6,
Spellcraft +11,
Use Magic Device +8,
Possessions spellbook (arcanist's/blank);
Arcane Reservoir (Su) You have an innate pool of magical energy that you can draw upon to fuel your arcanist exploits and enhance your spells. The arcane reservoir can hold a maximum of 6 points of magical energy. Each day, when preparing spells, your arcane reservoir fills with raw magical energy, gaining a number of points equal to 4. Any points you had from the previous day are lost. You can also regain these points through the consume spells class feature and some arcanist exploits. The arcane reservoir can never hold more points than the maximum amount noted above; points gained in excess of this total are lost. Points from the arcane reservoir are used to fuel many of your arcanist powers. In addition, you can expend 1 point from your arcane reservoir as a free action whenever you cast an arcanist spell. If you do, you can choose to increase the caster level by 1 or increase the spell's DC by 1. You can expend no more than 1 point from your reservoir on a given spell in this way.
Arcane Temper You have quick reactions and fierce concentration. You gain a +1 trait bonus on concentration and initiative checks.
Arcanist Exploits By bending and sometimes even breaking the rules of magic, you learn to exploit gaps and exceptions in the laws of magic. Some of these exploits allow you to break down various forms of magic, adding their essence to your arcane reservoir. At 1st level and every 2 levels thereafter, you learn a new Arcanist Exploit. An arcanist exploit cannot be selected more than once. Once an arcanist exploit has been selected, it cannot be changed. Most arcanist exploits require you to expend points from your arcane reservoir to function. Unless otherwise noted, the saving throw DC for an arcanist exploit is equal to 13
Arcanist Spells Prepared Spell slots per day - 1st = 6, 2nd = 0, 3rd = 0, 4th = 0, 5th = 0, 6th = 0, 7th = 0, 8th = 0, 9th = 0
Cantrips You can prepare 5 cantrips, or 0-level spells, each day. These spells are cast like any other spell, but they do not consume spell slots. As with her other spells, these spells are not expended when cast.
Consume Spells (Su) You can expend an available arcanist spell slot as a move action, making it unavailable for the rest of the day, just as if you had used it to cast a spell. She can use this ability a number of times per day equal to her Charisma modifier (minimum 1). Doing this adds a number of points to your arcane reservoir equal to the level of the spell slot consumed. You cannot consume cantrips (0 level spells) in this way. Points gained in excess of the reservoir's maximum are lost.
Dimensional Slide (Su) You can expend one point from your arcane reservoir to create a dimensional crack that you can step through to reach another location. This ability is used as part of a move action or withdraw action, allowing you to move up to 30 feet to any location you can see. This counts as 5 feet of movement. You can only use this ability once per round. You do not provoke attacks of opportunity when moving in this way, caused by this ability, but any other movement you attempt as part of your move action provokes as normal.
Lightning Lance (Su) You can unleash a lance of lightning by expending one point from your arcane reservoir and making a ranged touch attack against any one target within 30 feet. If the attack hits, it deals 2d6+2 points of electricity damage. The target's vision is also impaired, causing the target to treat all creatures as if they had concealment (20%) for 1 round. The target can attempt a DC 0 Fortitude saving throw to negate the impaired vision.
Seeker You are always on the lookout for reward and danger. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Perception checks, and Perception is always a class skill for you.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency Arcanists are proficient with all simple weapons. They are not proficient with any type of armor or shield. Armor interferes with an arcanist's gestures, which can cause her spells with somatic components to fail
Milo took the 15pt buy, and so lacks commonsense, he's very intelligent, and well educated. It's just that things tend to blow up or catch fire if he's around.
He means well, just easily distracted.

GM_Solspiral RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 |

@Noiraigue sounds neat
@Master Han Del of the Web I will think about it, I might have a half ogre kicking around somewhere. Large comes with problems and I warn you if approved I'm going to make that a PITA at times. I get what you're going for and I'm not against it.
@DBH nice to see an arcane character in the mix of ideas.

GM_Solspiral RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 |

Considering that the other game failed to launch I'd be willing to consider it mainly because I know how much work you put into that and it is an interesting character concept. I think at this point there's adequate interest to move forward with a recruitment thread which I will open Wed.
If I approve as a heads up it's need some serious alteration as I am nowhere near that generous as a GM mainly because if you let things go too loose combats become trivialities.
@Master Han Del I gave more thought to the Ogre or the template, hard pass on both as a 1 level adjustment for that throws things off. That said I'm willing to allow for a non magical permanent "enlarge person" on you for the cost of 5 points from your point buy. You can offset this with an oracle curse if desired.

Andy Brown |
1 a day shouldn't be a problem, more will depend on how timezones mesh.
I've got a couple of ideas:
A Vanara Gunslinger (Bolt Ace) who's possibly a bit too attached to her crossbow. She says her name translates to Common as "She Who Always Tries"
A Human Alchemist (Chirugeon), who used to be a taxidermist. Extremely knowledgeable, but just slightly weird.

![]() |

Human oracle(heavens spirit, spirit guide). Probably emulating her Dad's last wish on her joining the police force, but totally clueless about it. Has lots of fancy toys(her spell compnent pouch), and generally misplaced things, is rather absent minded...
Taking 15 point buy, 18 Cha, 8 wis. Will have NO ranks in perception.
Str 10
Dex 14
Con 14
Int 14
Wis 8
Cha 20
Hp 25
Fort +3, Ref+3,Will +7
Oracle Spells known (CL 3rd, concentration +8)
. . 1st (7/day) — Remove Fear, Ant haul, Colourspray, Shadow trap, CLW
. . 0 (at will)—Detect magic, Light, Create Water, Stabilize, Ghost sound, Mage hand, Guidance, Mending
Alternate racial traits:Dimdweller
Traits:Varisan tattoo(bladed scarf and starknife proficiency), Paragon of speed
Feats: Divine fighting technique (Desna's shooting star), Extra Revelation(Moonlight bridge), Steadfast Personality
Revelation
Awesome display
Skills
Diplomacy +11
Bluff +7
Spellcraft +7
Knowledge Local +8
Knowledge Religion +6
Knowledge Arcana +6
Knowledge Engineering +6
Knowledge Dungeoneering +6
Knowledge Nature +6
Knowledge History +6
Knowledge Geography +6
Knowledge Planes +6
Gear:Cold iron starknife, Silver starknife, Starknife Backpack, leaf armor, 50ft silk rope, grappling hook, water skin, spellcomponent pouch (2),2 silver holy symbols of Desna, 1 wand of CLW, 2 days rations, smelling salts, 2 Scrolls of magic weapon, 1 scroll of obscuring mist, MW studded leather armor, Light shield, the rest TBD
Curse:Haunted
Alignment: Probably NG.

Robert Henry |

OK, thinking a tengu ranger, either urban ranger, guild breaker or Sentinel.
He grew up on the wrong side of the tracks but always wanted to be a cop. inspired by 'George Stone' from the untouchables
Would you permit 'eastern weapons' that his family would have brought with them when they made the trip?

GM_Solspiral RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 |

@Robert Henry
That's rather not a problem. It's become fashionable for Mivon nobility to hire Tian tutors particularly for the martial arts. Started about 20 years ago the Mivon fencing houses wanted to find a new edge over the swordlords in fencing academies.
There's a regional festival called Rushlight that is typically hosted in Pitax (but every 5 years participation ramps up to a higher degree and is hosted elsewhere in the region.)

Robert Henry |

... Also Starting Police Issue Equipment is going to be a thing.
With that in mind, are we following the "Character Wealth by Level" chart? i.e. 3,000 gp.
Are Background Skills a possibility?
How long are we keep recruiting open for?

Ralphrius |

Ralphrius wrote:This looks like a lot of fun, I'm thinking of a Living Grimoire inquisitor who's essentially just a prosecutor who bonded with a book containing all of the country's laws.You're going to throw the book at them?
I may have been looking up how to make my book a feasible throwing weapon with the return property, not gonna lie.
Also, this is the first I heard about a barrister temple, can I find that in a sourcebook somewhere?

Eluvias the Grim |

Character Elven Feytouched (Tiefling) Bloodrager (Verdant Bloodline)
To the northeast of Mivon is the Narlmarches. And it is from within there that Eluvias was born, within a band of https://pathfinderwiki.com/wiki/Mivon. Growing up within the woods, there was always one place that spoke to the young elf. http://pathfinder.wikia.com/wiki/Candlemere. For in the summer nights, willow-wisps could be seen upon the island within the middle of the lake. He was warned, time and time again to never go there. If he had been wise enough to listen, his entire life might have been different. For Eluvias snuck off, unable to refuse his curiosity. He made it all the way to the crumbling tower on the island before everything went black.
He woke up on the shores of the island several days later. All he remembered were a series of colors and sights which always faded from memory when he tries to recall them. However, the changes were easily seen.
Most damning to his kin was that when he woke, his shadow was gone. Stolen by the fey of the island. That, and there were changes within him. The world seemed dull...listless. The memory of what he had seen on the island called to him. The only thing that felt 'real' anymore were the waters of the Candlemere. In spring and summer, it would be vibrant green, speckled with bursts of color. In autumn, it became orange, yellow, and fiery red, and come winter the frozen surface obscured a deep black that mirrored the inky sky above the lake.
Time and time again he returned to the lake, always looking to *feel* real again. And as he grew, the mutterings of his clan became louder. That he had been changed. That he was not one of them. That his lack of a shadow was a tell-tale sign of weakness. That he had grown taller, and far more muscular, than any elf had a right to be. That there was something unnatural within his eyes. That he would bring ruin and disaster.
Eventually, the mutterings and whispers became more than hushed conversations. They became impossible to ignore. No longer feeling welcome within his own home, he came to the conclusion that it could no longer be called a home.
Leaving the forest behind him, and in truth, fleeing from the lake, he wandered. And what he came to was Mivon. The great city of man. He had never seen anything like it, for within his short life the greatest structure had ever seen was the ruined tower in Candlemere. To see the great walls, the towers, the uncountable homes, it was breath taking.
But...he had no skills. He had no contacts. He had no money. He freely wandered the streets, spending all day gawking at the sights. He spent his first night huddling in a gutter, wondering what he was supposed to do with himself.
Fortunately for him, his parents had believed in an education. And while he was quite slow by elven standards, he still learned how to read and write, both human and common. And because of that, he could read the signs on the street. And by fate or fortune, he read that the watch was hiring. And the rest, as they say, is history...
Fey/Nature Touched
* I used the tiefling chasis to make Eluvias. The resistances felt right for someone infused with nature, and the stats are much better for making a bloodrager.
* As per his background, he has a number of fey related choices. These include two drawbacks.
(1) Umbral Unmasking (You cast no shadow whatsoever, or the shadow you do have is monstrous. Under normal lighted conditions, this is not hard to observe—but uncommon to notice. Creatures that succeed at a DC 15 Wisdom check notice it plainly (an additional Perception check may be required based on environmental conditions). This telltale sign of wickedness cannot be concealed by misdirection, nondetection, or illusions, except those that also affect shadows (such as invisibility).)
(2) Fey Taken (As a child, you were whisked away by mischievous fey for a time. When you returned, you were ever after considered odd and distant. You long to return there, and find the mortal world dull and at times revolting, so you do not eat as you should and do not question strange visions. Effect: You take a –2 penalty on saving throws against disease, illusions, and poison of all kinds, as well as against the spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural abilities of fey.)
While Umbral Unmasking does not have any mechanical downsides, it can have some very serious social consequences. I took it because I liked the idea of the fey stealing his shadow, and thus a part of him. And Fey Taken is just plain nasty. -2 to disease, illusion and poison? Ouch. And being extra susceptible to fey is just a kick in the teeth.
In return though, I took (1) Fey Foundling (Whenever you receive magical healing, you heal an additional 2 points per die rolled. You gain a +2 bonus on all saving throws against death effects.
I'll admit that this does have a very strong bonus with his verdant bloodline. When he bloodrages he will have Fast Healing 3. Which is just downright great for keeping him in a fight.
* And finally, I chose the oracle curse 'deep one' to reflect that it was from the Candlemere lake that he became who he was. As I don't expect any swimming in this campaign, it comes down to being -5ft movement speed.
Equipment
He's got a +1 chain shirt and a +1 cloak of resistance. Both which are what he has brought with him from his elven clan. He also has a weapon which is his heirloom, a silver quarterstaff. This is in no way a good choice mechanically (an earthbreaker for example would be 2d6 damage and x3 crit, while he using a 1d6 x2 crit weapon instead). But it just felt right thematically. Plus as a watchman, he'd be carrying around a weapon which could be deadly, but which isn't designed to outright kill anyone.
Watchman
Diplomacy, Intimidate, Bluff, Sense Motive, Knowledge Local. They all seem like they would be good abilities for a watchman to have.
He will also have the personality of being very aloof. Of someone who looks down (without realizing it) on the city and all within it. While polite and very knowledgeable about the law, he will certainly have earned the moniker of 'the grim' based on his personality. The straight

GM_Solspiral RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 |

Today effed me in the face, I'll post the actual recruitment thread with full on creation rules. I am a fan of background skills but I'm not using them because you're actually going to get some skill freebies from the training and career system I'm working on.
Needless to say one is going to be:
Detective (skill boosts)
Swat (extra melee punch)
Sniper (extra ranged punch)
Officer (team work boosts)
"Twinklefoots" the departments somewhat derogatory name for spell casters (Meta magic probably)
You graduate around 5th level. There will be a final test.
Official recruitment starts today just got to finish the write up for the thread going to close it around 2/9
For the record I really like what I'm seeing thus far

Robert Henry |

For my tengu ranger I'm going with the ‘guild breaker’ archetype. He will have the skills to infiltrate the Three different local gangs; the Fast Fallen, the River's Edge Cutters, and the Half-Deads.
My original plan was to go with the 18/8/15 point-buy: str. 18, dex. 16 (race mod.) con. 12 (race mod.) Int. 8, Wis. 15, (race mod.) cha, 12.
When I saw that you would consider an oracle curse for 5 pts. I started looking at them and found:
Covetous: You find yourself drawn to the luster of wealthy living. You must wear fine non-magical clothing and jewelry worth at least 50 gp + 100 gp per character level you have beyond 1st. If you do not have sufficient wealth to purchase this additional equipment, you feel a strong desire (but are not compelled) to sell existing items or steal from others to obtain it. You are sickened whenever you do not meet this requirement; you are also sickened for 24 hours after anything worth 25 gp . your character level or more is taken from you against your will. Use Magic Device becomes a class skill for you.
I think this will fit in well with a tengu character that wants to work undercover. going for a ‘Sonny Crocket’ vibe!
This will change his stats to: str. 18, dex. 16 (race mod.). con. 12 (race mod.), Int. 8, Wis. 16, (race mod.), cha. 14.
Is ‘covetous’ a curse you would consider?

GM_Solspiral RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 |
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Apologies, I've been delayed in getting up my official recruitment thread. Workload about quadrupled since Wed. Thread will have some setting building and full rules.
@Alma the Soulborn I have not forgotten that I still need to review that Deathless ghost bit.
@Robert that's about perfect for what you're going for so approved