Fellow Pathfinders,
I'm sending out feelers for a very strange foray into Dark Sun. Here's the basic idea:
The current players are a party of caravan guards for House Vordon of Tyr that have been accosted on their way to the abandoned settlement of Kelmarane, which the House wishes to retake from gnoll occupiers and restore to its former glory (i.e., a conversion of the first part of the Legacy of Fire adventure path).
While passing by the ruins of Kalidnay, they observe strange phenomena and are then accosted by an enormous barge under the direction of Faalcuun the Lawkeeper, a former apprentice of Dregoth who wants to recruit the PCs for some unknown task in the ruins.
Here's where you fit in -- if anyone's interested, I'm recruiting a group of 6-8 characters who have been cast onto Athas from the planet of Monte Cook's Arcana Evolved by the power of the Great Orrery, a trans-world gate controlled by the spirit of Kalid-Ma.
They are now stuck there. There is a party under the guidance of the giants and one connected with the dragons (you'd all have to chose which one of the two you want to come from). There are also other parties in the ruins, it's quite complicated.
We'd use some conversions of Arcana Evolved classes and races released in a pdf on pfrd.com publishing, and it's a high powered campaign with gestalt, mythic, and beginning at 3rd level, along with a bunch of other rules from Unchained and Ultimate Combat.
You can check out the current gameplay thread here if you're potentially interested, and I'll post some more info if a decent number of people are interested. The recruitment thread also has a lot of the rules.
Recruitment will run at least a few weeks since the current party is still negotiating their way into the ruins, and the idea is eventually you'll encounter them.
Yes, please! I love Dark Sun and all the other stuff sounds interesting.
I have never played a Dark Sun game but I'd be interested. What do I need to do?
Sounds cool....interested
interested! what do you want from potentials at this point?
A character concept.
Which Arcana Evolved race do you want to be, which faction do you want to belong to, etc.
The Pathfinder conversion I have does all the races including racial feats to progress draconic species like the mojh, and has the rune warrior and akashic converted (the others like unfettered and greenbond etc., are already covered by existing pathfinder classes, so I guess they didn't both converting them).
Remember, you are Arcana Evolved characters stuck in Dark Sun, not natives. How long you hang around after the situation in the ruined city of Kalidnay is resolved is your own decision. This could be as short as module length or the characters could end up attaching themselves to the main story for a longer campaign, it would depend how the story played out.
Overall, I'm trying to see if I can get enough people to actually make characters to see if this will work.
here is an overview of the races and setting if you're not familiar; remember, we're using PF conversions of a lot of this material, but it tells you what the 3.5 version looked like. You are a character from the world of the Diamond Throne that has turned up on Athas (in my version of the setting, the Diamond Throne is on another planet in the same crystal sphere as Athas).
Admittedly I am not familiar with the setting but will read the source material you linked...
at first sight I have the beginnings of an idea for a Dracha with the Dragon faction naturally
Okay, let's see what other interest there is -- if most people want to play 'giant faction' races you can be an ambassador or something to explain your presence.
Considering a giant druid or cleric.
A mythic gestalt Dark Sun / Arcana Evolved crossover?
You have my attention.
Okay, if people want to get me their race/class combos, I will PM you the conversion info for the Arcana Evolved Races and the other house rules.
The basics: 5th level gestalt with 2 mythic tiers; 35pt. buy OR 5d6, take highest 3 (you can try both and choose best); ABP as two levels higher (for low-magic item games), Wounds/Vigor, background skills, and we're using the feat chains from Elephant in the Corner. Check out the link to the campaign above to see all the details, I have a bunch of links there.
The most important thing is a gestalt and non-gestalt build option (which involves 1 feat vs. 3 per level), and how multiclassing works (VMC or multi-class archetypes or prestige classes, no normal multi-classing, and no multi-classing on each 'side' of the gestalt -- no sorcerer/barbarian//thief/cleric etc.)
Considering a giant druid or cleric.
Sorry I forgot to mention -- no clerics because there are no gods in this crystal sphere, and no clerics in Arcana Evolved. You can be a druid as an equivalent for a greenbond and worship nature.
Arcana Evolved uses the same mana-based magic system for 'greenbonds'/druids and magic users, so I need to figure out what magic system we can use to represent that.
Ooooooo a Spryte character would be so much fun! And a fish out of water game too? Count me in.
Okay, so one faen, one giant, and one dracha potentially -- my basic idea for the back story is they were on a ship that ended up going through the Great Orrery and landed in the Lake of Doom, a black, viscous pool of tremendous size at the center of the Kalidnay Ruins. They have been present for a week and are currently holed up in the former fortress of the High Templar Ankhun-Ahnpur, which sits on the shores of the Lake of Doom (they're learned this identification from decoded hieroglyphics in the ruins). The fort is surrounded by massive fortifications, and faces a square that has become a site of conflict with other parties in the city. Beneath are other dangers, for every evening through the massive portal which they have take to calling the Deathgate, opens in the dungeons below the fort, and leads into a maze that might connect to other parts of the ruins, and even offer a potential route of escape. Horrid beasts emerge from the depths, and thus far have been held back by secondary barriers, but may soon penetrate the upper reaches of the fort...
I apped to your original game, so I'll app to this one as well.
Arcana Evolved...wow, I haven't looked at that setting/stuff in a while. Let me take a look at it and I'll post a elevator pitch character concept.
Given the chance can't pass up getting to play a giant ;) still sifting through the available classes....
Just so everyone knows where my head's at, I'm thinking either a sibeccai oathsworn bodyguard type (perhaps sworn to protect one of the other party members?) or a human greenbond healer (if healer role needs to be filled).
Just to re-iterate -- we're using Pathfinder conversions of the races from pfrd.com, not the original book, and most of the classes have Pathfinder equivalents now -- unfettered can be modeled with swashbucker, brawler, or monk, for example.
Since there seems to be interest I'll get a post together today or tomorrow that get's all the necessary rules outlined -- I still need to find an alternative magic system that models the mana-pool system of Arcana Evolved.
For an interesting twist, you might consider Words of Power. I know it isn't an exact corollary, but it's an interesting system you don't see used all that much.
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Okay here are the rules,
Arcana Evolved Conversions. These blog posts are collected in a handy pdf available here.
Summary
-5th (Athasian races are at least +1 LA, so I'm giving you a slight boost over where they'll be (4th)). Pick Gestalt or Non-Gestalt.
-2 Mythic Tiers.
-My inclination is to say no clerics or inquisitors because there are no gods to worship. Any class that might involve a god needs to be reworked to it is worshiping an ideal or something else. There are no real gods in this crystal sphere.
-3rd party, including psionics, is mostly fine. The Spheres of Might classes and Path of War will be fine, but the Spheres of Might and Akashic Mysteries are going to mess up the assumed magic system of the Diamond Throne, so those are out.
-35pt. buy OR 5d6, drop the 2 lowest. You can try both and keep the best.
-ABP as 2 levels higher (i.e., setting for few magical items).
-1 feat per level if Gestalt. 3 if non Gestalt, or use the 'mastery' system in the links below which awards feat trees based on BAB.
-Wounds and Vigor instead of hit points.
-Elephant in the Corner feat chain rules.
-Background skills.
-Pick appropriate equipment, I'm not interested in doing the fantasy economy thing -- as long as it makes sense for the character, whatever.
-XP by DM fiat based on story awards, so I will just level you up when I feel like it.
The only multi-classing allowed is VMC or multi-class archetypes or prestige classes. No sorcerer/thief, and no silliness on 'both sides' of the gestalt like sorcerer/thief//wizard/fighter.
Magic:
I think this is a decent representation of the Unearthed Arcana spell point system in Pathfinder.
However, I've heard a vote for Words of Power too. I want there to be a different magic system that all casters, divine and arcane, use to represent some version of the concept in Arcana Evolved. Thoughts people?
Helpful Links
Alternative Feat Progression Rules for Single Class Characters
Also, just to tease things a bit more -- imagine the scenario being a bit like the Mazer Runner, if anyone's seen that trilogy. There's a weird maze /dungeon fort under the aforementioned fort you're stuck in that seems to operate according to an inscrutable mechanical routine, and regularly disgorges gibbous terrors. Part of the challenge will be exploration and figuring out how things work.
Also, you're far from the only foreign visitors in the ruins, so there's a good chance you can encounter some other amusing/intriguing/thrilling representatives from TSR's greatest hits, though I don't want to entirely spoil some of what I had have in mind :).
Yea...I'm pulling out. This is a bit too much for me. Good luck everyone!
@ Sebecloki: What is the availability for the Combat Stamina feat? Do all characters who want to use it have to take the feat, do fighters get it for free, does everyone get it for free?
@ Sebecloki: What is the availability for the Combat Stamina feat? Do all characters who want to use it have to take the feat, do fighters get it for free, does everyone get it for free?
All martial characters will have it for free
Can we aim to have characters made in 2 weeks for those who are interested?
It doesn't seem like we'll have a surplus of apps, so everyone who finishes a character should be able to play at this point.
Also, could everyone weigh in on the magic system issue if you have feelings?
Also, the Diamond Throne setting is extremely thinly sketched in available materials -- this isn't the equivalent of a TSR world.
The only info released on it was like a gazette with brief descriptions of a few important locales.
You should pretty much know everything you need to about the setting from the race fluff, so I don't want anyone to think that's going to be a big issue.
Oh, this sounds really cool. Been skimming the setting material for a bit (which I was previously pretty ignorant about).
A varrik barbarian/mesmerist is calling out to me with a focus on helping enemies realize their worst nightmares. I also think Runechild looks really interesting.
If you're still cool with people announcing their interest, I'll get to reading more closely and creating right away.
That's great -- I think if finish a character you can almost certainly play, I'm not seeing a huge surplus beyond what I can handle.
The setting for Arcana Evolved is really minimal, that won't be an issue.
You'll be initially stuck in one ruined city on Athas. I have links in the campaign thread for that setting, which is quite detailed, but you'd only start out interacting with a small part, so as long as you can deal with my house rules, please don't let setting issues detour you. This will also probably be kind of slow-going, so there will be time to get up to speed.
Awesome. I appreciate it! I am perusing the houserules mos. I just took a look at the races and Verrik would be pretty harmful to my character concept mechanically. Giant is definitely more my speed but, reading over the fluff, they aren't what I thought they were. I fell into the pitfall of thinking they were big dumb brutes. They sound really cool actually.
Also, while I'm thinking of it;
=17
=11
=16
=13
=13
=14
Probably going to go with point-buy so we'll see how it goes.
So 12, 10, 6, 10, and 6. That's 44. And I'll have 32 Wound points (40 if I'm in a rage).
Let me know if I'm doing any of this incorrectly.
@ Sebecloki: What is the availability for the Combat Stamina feat? Do all characters who want to use it have to take the feat, do fighters get it for free, does everyone get it for free?All martial characters will have it for free
Thanks for the clarification :)
As I've started to map out the crunch for my sibeccai monk bodyguard idea I see that many of his abilities are actions that trigger on other people's turns. Honestly this sounds exhausting for myself and the DM in a PbP format, so I'm probably going to scrap the idea and come up with something else.
Fortunately I rarely want for character ideas ;)
Not to be a nuisance but is there any conversions for the new races and favored class bonuses? No biggy if not but I tend to find the race specific ones more interesting than just a flat +1 hp (vigor point?) or skill point. Haha
@ Sebecloki: I'd like to make sure I understand the alternate Mastery feat tree system. I don't mean to barrage you with questions, and there's no rush on answers :)
Question #1: The basics. As an example, a human fighter 5 would normally have 7 feats and BAB +5. Under this system, does this mean he would have 7 feat trees, each with 2 feat "slots", for an effective total of 14 feats? And that upon becoming a human fighter 6 with BAB +6 he would gain an additional feat tree, and all his feat trees would gain a third feat slot, for a total of 24 feats?
Question #2: Feat selection. I understand that all feats within a given feat tree have the same restrictions as the base feat would under normal rules, i.e. the feat tree gained from a fighter's bonus combat feat can only be filled with combat feats. However, are the feats otherwise restricted? The example given is a 3 slot tree filled with feats that build on each other as prerequisites - I find this example misleading/confusing. Is this meant to imply that feats with other prerequisite feats must have those prerequisites present in the same tree? Or can I have power attack in one tree and then take cleave in a different tree? (If the former this limits how deep into a feat chain a character can go, and may result in the same feat being chosen multiple times in different trees to satisfy prerequisites. I'm not saying this would be unreasonable, I just don't know if it's the intention behind the rules or if I'm overthinking it due to the example.)
Question #3: Just to be sure, we'd only be using the alternate feat rules presented in the document, not the alternate skill rules or any of the miscellaneous rules presented on p. 44 under the "List of Changes" header?
Just to clarify, this is a system I appropriated from someone else, I didn't write this document.
@1 That's my understanding -- 7 feat trees, 2 deep, etc.
@2 My understanding is you're supposed to take the pre-reqs together -- the feats in the 'tree' have to be related somehow. I would rule if you've chosen it once, you don't have to do it again, but you have to have conceptually related feats in a tree, it's not just a grab bag.
@3 Yes, only the feat system, not anything else.
Let me check on this some more, but that's my current feeling about how to rule on it.
I looked at it again -- yes your numbers for the feat chains are correct -- you don't get a 'feat', but a 'feat chain' with slots, so it's however many feats you would get + how deep the 'mastery' is.
The other interpretations still stand -- as long as you have the pre-req in the earliest tree, you don't need to select it more than once.
Not to be a nuisance but is there any conversions for the new races and favored class bonuses? No biggy if not but I tend to find the race specific ones more interesting than just a flat +1 hp (vigor point?) or skill point. Haha
Sorry, I don't see anything. If you'd like propose something appropriate I'm game.
Okay, getting started with stat rolls:
Set 1:
set 2:
set 3:
I think I'll take set 2 and be happy with it (16, 17, 15, 14, 7, 12)
Okay, getting started with stat rolls:
** spoiler omitted **
I think I'll take set 2 and be happy with it (16, 17, 15, 14, 7, 12)
I think you took 'drop two lowest' as two lowest sets. I meant 5d6, drop the two lowest in that set for a score between 3-18, not that you roll three different sets of attributes with this method.
Since Vrog rolled three attribute sets, let's just have everyone do the same.
Oh, my bad. I can just use the first set and compare it to point buy. No need to make others change for my mistake.
Oh, my bad. I can just use the first set and compare it to point buy. No need to make others change for my mistake.
OK, then let's stick with the original scheme.
Is everyone think 2 weeks is enough to make a character? I was going to start working on the fort complex you're stuck in.
I was intending these characters to start at 5th level because the Athasian characters have effectively an additional level b/c of their RP (all the Athasian races are like 20RP).
Everyone seems to be rolling as if they were 4th for Vigor.
Okay, so here is my character:
NG Human Shifter 5 | Champion 2
STR 16
DEX 20
CON 14
INT 13
WIS 20
CHA 10
WP/VP 33/49
AC 24 (10 base +5 dex +6 wis +1 dodge +1 deflection +1 armor) T: 23; FF: 18
BAB: 5 CMB: +12 CMD: 26
Init +11
Fort +8
Ref +10
Will +8
Speed 30'
Claws: +12/11 to hit; 1d6+6/1d6+5 damage; 20/x2 crit
Bite: +12 to hit; 2d6+6 damage; 20/x2 crit
Skills:
Adventuring: Acrobatics r5 +13, Climb r5 +11, Knowledge (Nature) r5 +9, Perception r5 +13, Stealth r5 +16, Survival r5 +16/18 to track, Swim r5 +11
Background: Appraise r5 +6, Handle Animal r5 +8, Knowledge (History) r5 +6, Linguistics r5 +6
Languages: Common, Draconic, Giant, Faen, Litorian, Sylvan, Verrik, Druidic
Feats: Aspect of The Beast (Predator's Leap), Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Endurance, Extended Aspects, Fast Learner, Improved Natural Attack (Bite, Claw), Shifter's Edge, Shifter's Rush, Skill Focus (Survival, Stealth), Startling Shapechanger, Toughness, Voice of Beasts, Weapon Focus (Natural Weapons)
Traits: Indomitable Faith, Reactionary
Class Features: Shifter Aspect (Wolf, Mouse), Shifter's Claws (1d4; Magic, Cold Iron, and Silver), Wild Empathy, Defensive Instinct (Wisdom +1), Track, Woodland Stride, Wild Shape (10 hrs./day), Trackless Step
Automatic Bonus Progression: Resistance +1, Armor Attunement (Clothing) +1, Weapon Attunement (Claw) +1, Deflection +1, Mental Prowess (Wisdom) +2, Physical Prowess (Dex) +2
Mythic:
Path: Champion
Champion's Strike: Fleet Charge, (Sudden Attack)
Base Mythic Abilities: Hard to Kill, Mythic Power (), Surge +1d6, Amazing Initiative
Mythic Feats: Mythic Paragon, (Mythic Combat Reflexes)
Mythic Ability Scores: +2 Dex
Champion Path Abilities: Always a Chance, Impossible Speed, (Aerial Assault, Devastating Smash)
I wasn't sure if our Mythic abilities also benefitted from double feats and path abilities or not, so I added the ones I would take if it did in parentheses. I also chose to take the 3 feats/level option, instead of the alternate Feat Mastery. Let me know if you have questions.
How do you feel about pbp newcomers? I have plenty of experience with pathfinder, but I've recently moved and have no group to game with yet. Would you be happy for me to throw a submission in?
Withdrawing my interest, this does not seem like my type of game. I really love the Dark Sun setting, but I'm not so much into dungeon crawling.
Good luck with the game!
I'd love to make suggestions but I'm afraid I can't be unbiased (like giving giants what half-orcs get haha).
I knew we were 5th level but I assumed we got max vigor at level 1 which I now see was not actually stated. It's habit.
So that gives me 2 less than I'd originally calculated.
I'm going to have base 16 con. My mythic +2 will go to strength and my physical prowess 2 will go to con for 18 in con.
36 wound points (18 threshhold) and...
10+10+10+6+6=42 vigor +5 (favored class) +10 (2 mythic guardian tiers)=57 vigor.
Two weeks should be plenty of time for me to have all of this figured out and finalized as well.
Also, are you doing character traits? If so, the standard two? Are drawbacks permitted?