Mheallie Bieron has committed a grevious sin against Cariele. The evil guildmaster controls all policy making with in the realm and reduced the rightful heir to nothing more than a mere puppet. The oligarchy controls Cariele now.
You are a group of adventurers that has sworn that she has gone too far and you want to get rid of the oligarchy and restore order to the realm. This is your chance to challenge a king and usurp the throne for the greater good, while getting rid of a great evil.
This campaign requires seven "devious" players. Players who can think outside the box. You may come from around Cerilia, representing races far and away from Anuire, or you may all come from Anuire. Obviously, this campaign requires a bit of knowledge about Birthright. Players interested in playing may peruse the official Birthright wiki on Birthright.net. You may also buy the Birthright Campaign Setting off of Drivethrurpg or download it from the Trove.net. I'll be running the game on here.
You can be: A blooded Scion or an unblooded adventurer (remember, Wizardling types have to be blooded {except for magicians}, but Priest types don't have to be).
System: Pathfinder 1e.
Classes: Some classes are unsuitable for this campaign. The Campaign is set during the early Renaissance (about 1450 A.D.), so gunslingers are unsuitable. Remember to check with me as to what class you want to play.
Everyone is starting out as not the king. So this game isn't about the domain turn. In this campaign everyone is playing a "common" hero (meaning that you have to work to get a kingdom, and that kingdom is Cariele).
dotting for interest- going to have to look at my Birthright books and see what sparks.
Oh yeah.
5th level, 2 traits, background skills, 25 point buy. The campaign ends when you become the next rulers.
Ok, running this character idea past you because it's a complex and wonky build reliant on using multiple archetypes of two separate classes--
Monk (Scaled Fist and Weapon Adept Archetypes) 2
Magus (Eldritch Scion and Quarterstaff Master Archetypes) 3
The build mechanically centers on using the Spear Dancing Spiral feat chain- it's a DEX + CHA build.
Basically Scaled Fist and Eldritch Scion let me use CHA for Monk and Magus abilities respectively, so this lets me stack a higher Dex + CHA Armor bonus on an unarmored Magus and cast spells based on CHA.
Then Quarterstaff Master and Weapon Adept give me early access to the Quarterstaff Master and Perfect Strike feats, and Spear Dancing Spiral lets me use a Polearm one handed and use it for "any feat or ability requiring a quarterstaff" i.e. perfect strike, flurry of blows, weapon specialization (which quarterstaff master allows me to take).
5 levels is just enough to set up the basics of the fighting style- for feat progression past that point the next one up are weapon specialization, slashing grace, and then spear dancing reach.
This sets up a dragon themed, armorless, polearm using magus who uses a polearm in one hand for spell combat.
Background wise he would be a noble human with appropriate bloodline power.
(let me know, I understand this is a bizarre and unique request)
Dotting, unfamiliar with the setting, Is there a few pages on the wiki specifically we should read, or just browse it?
Huh, this seems interesting! Also not familiar with the setting, but I've been poking around the wiki and it looks like there's a lot to work with.
Your mention of magicians piqued my curiosity — I see the wiki has a magician class for 3.5, is there a Pathfinder equivalent or would the term just generally cover certain intermediate arcane casters like bards and summoners?
Huh, this seems interesting! Also not familiar with the setting, but I've been poking around the wiki and it looks like there's a lot to work with.
Your mention of magicians piqued my curiosity — I see the wiki has a magician class for 3.5, is there a Pathfinder equivalent or would the term just generally cover certain intermediate arcane casters like bards and summoners?
There is a conversion to Pathfinder of sorts called Seeds of Wars. But to answer your question
~ The Magician class is a watered down Wizard. You will be able to cast all first and second level spells but beyond that a magician casts only spells from the divination and illusion schools.
If I had Seeds of Wars, I'll be able to tell you that the Bard deals strictly with Culture. Aside from that I can tell you that ~
The holdings of a particular domain is divided into four categories: Law, Temple, Trade, and Source.
What your party is going to do is wrest these holdings from Cariele's true ruler = Mheallie Bieron. If you are planning on playing a summoner or a bard, they aren't magicians. They are summoners and bards. A summoner regent would control Sources, like a Wizard, a Sorcerer, or an Arcanist does (A druid theoretically can also control Source holdings). A bard regent maintains culture and does not control holdings except law.
Dotting, unfamiliar with the setting, Is there a few pages on the wiki specifically we should read, or just browse it?
You should check out character creation. You may also want to check out Cariele's entry in the wiki.
Ok, running this character idea past you because it's a complex and wonky build reliant on using multiple archetypes of two separate classes--
Monk (Scaled Fist and Weapon Adept Archetypes) 2
Magus (Eldritch Scion and Quarterstaff Master Archetypes) 3The build mechanically centers on using the Spear Dancing Spiral feat chain- it's a DEX + CHA build.
Basically Scaled Fist and Eldritch Scion let me use CHA for Monk and Magus abilities respectively, so this lets me stack a higher Dex + CHA Armor bonus on an unarmored Magus and cast spells based on CHA.
Then Quarterstaff Master and Weapon Adept give me early access to the Quarterstaff Master and Perfect Strike feats, and Spear Dancing Spiral lets me use a Polearm one handed and use it for "any feat or ability requiring a quarterstaff" i.e. perfect strike, flurry of blows, weapon specialization (which quarterstaff master allows me to take).
5 levels is just enough to set up the basics of the fighting style- for feat progression past that point the next one up are weapon specialization, slashing grace, and then spear dancing reach.
This sets up a dragon themed, armorless, polearm using magus who uses a polearm in one hand for spell combat.
Background wise he would be a noble human with appropriate bloodline power.
(let me know, I understand this is a bizarre and unique request)
You are going have to explain how he became a monk. hmm.
According to "Player's Secrets of Tuomen" (page 26) the Militant Order of Cuiraecen has monasteries which "more closely resemble a military installments far more than they do typical monasteries"--
I'd argue that it's possible a group of monks/warriors devoted to the god of battle (and with spear as one of his favored weapons) might develop a fighting style that would be represented by the Warrior Adept monk's abilities.
Moreover- the Book of Priestcraft has information for 2nd Ed for playing CG Paladins of Cuiraecen -- so the idea that Cuiraecen would have CG warrior-monk followers doesn't seem like a stretch to me, as far as the Lawful monk restriction.
Okay, I see your point. I'd expect you to establish a monastery in Cariele?
It would be a character goal, yes, to establish a monastery/training order and further the worship of Cuiraecen and development of the specific martial style that he uses.
I'll start working on the fleshed out version.
Where in the Birthright world is Cariele? My geography on the setting is basically reduced to zero currently.
Right here, right in the Northern Marches. It's a small realm, but what it lacks in size it makes up in economic power.
Two more quick questions-- starting gold and HP rules?
Oh yeah. 5th level starting gold (you get the gold you're supposed to earn by 5th level), and hps is 1st level max, subsequent levels average.
oh, you may want to spend your collective gold to raise an army at some point.
You can reflavor certain archetypes. A rondelero swashbuckler would come from somewhere in Brechtur, or where ever you can fit him.
Ok, I present Kerthack Cariele- distant relative to the rightful Count, returned from exile in disguise to join the rebellion against the usurper.
Still have some tinkering to do with spell selections, traits, and spending gold, but the core of the build is here.
Okay, looks good so far, can't wait to see the finished result.
~ The Magician class is a watered down Wizard. You will be able to cast all first and second level spells but beyond that a magician casts only spells from the divination and illusion schools.
Thanks for the clarification! I have an idea for a magician character that I'm excited to try out, I was just confused about how that would translate over to Pathfinder. So you're saying I should stat them up like a wizard but with the spell restrictions you described? Sounds great, I'll work on pulling that together.
So, I'm currently thinking about running the bored third son of a noble, the noble class seems interesting to me.
Ok, Kerthack is complete- going into game start with 622 gold left and a bunch of arrows/javelins I am unlikely to every use!
Main combat spell is going to be shocking grasp (great for magus, thematic for lightning god)
Ok, Kerthack is complete- going into game start with 622 gold left and a bunch of arrows/javelins I am unlikely to every use!
Main combat spell is going to be shocking grasp (great for magus, thematic for lightning god)
You forgot your divine bloodline and blood abilities.
What method for determining bloodline strength/powers were we using?
I believe as an Anuirean this puts me on common-- Anduiras.
minor
Without a hereditary one established, I'll roll one the minor chart:
And this gives me Heightened Ability (Strength)
Based on the location, is there a particular tribe/family I should be from?
Based on the location, is there a particular tribe/family I should be from?
No. Not really. I'm allowing you to be from one of the human nationalities, or an elf, a half-elf, a dwarf, or maybe a halfling. I can refer you to the map again in case you need some help.
Hello!
I was having a look... It seems Half-Orcs aren't a thing here in Birthright, if I'm not wrong.
So, I was thinking about a Rjurik Bloodrager or Barbarian, is that okay?
Also, from what I see, you just choose whether to have a bloodline or not. There's nothing you need to give up on exchange, or anything, right?
Thank you!
Yea, you just choose whether to have a bloodline or not. There is nothing to give up on exchange.
As for half-orcs, there is something in Birthright called an Orog, which is a more powerful orc. The orogs live primarily underground but sometimes an army of them will serve a powerful ruler or awnshegh. Half-orcs can be byblows from an orog-human mating.
Alright, so Half-Orog.
As for the Bloodline, I think Orogs don't have such. So I should roll on the table according to my human ascendant, right?
Then, for bloodline strength, somewhere it explains is usually the weakest of both parents' bloodlines, so I shouldn't roll and just assume it's a minor strength bloodline. Then roll for the specific power.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
I think one blooded parent + unblooded parent imparts the bloodline of the blooded parent so you'd still roll for strength, right?
But it seems weird that the maximum potential of you marry a non-blooded could be anything, whereas if you marry a minor blooded could only be minor. Mendel must be stirring in his tomb.
Perhaps I assumed too fast that Orogs can't have bloodlines. Let's see what the GM has to say about this.
Also, maybe Bloodragers cannot have another Bloodline, since they already have one?
Orogs fought on the side of Azrai at Mount Diesmaar. So a blooded Orog would have an Azrai bloodline. As for Bloodragers, they would have a God's bloodline. What you do is choose bloodline that would match your god's bloodline.
For instance: Andurias would be Air. Azrai would be Draconic.
Alright, so if I'm a Half-Orc Bloodrager, the Bloodrager Bloodline I would have to choose would be Draconic, then I would roll on the Azrai table, right? Or would my Human half have something to say?
The strongest bloodline would manifest itself. You would choose which ever bloodline is the strongest. If your Orog bloodline (most likely Azrai, I'd choose the goblinoid part of the table for your Orog parent to decide his bloodline) was strongest, that would be your bloodline. To figure out your derivation, I'd pick the goblinoid column on this table. It isn't fair, since Orogs aren't technically goblins.
Alright, I see. So I would roll on whichever column, then I would change my Bloodrager Bloodline to fit the Bloodline I rolled.
Potentially crippling if I roll a weak bloodline... I'll check all the possibilities and choose whether to roll or not.
Would it be the same for sorcerers or any other ones with a class feature called "bloodline"?
Would it be the same for sorcerers or any other ones with a class feature called "bloodline"?
I would be inclined to think yes on that question. It limits the bloodlines to be chosen somewhat, but it's easier that way mechanically.
Well, you're not choosing, actually, you're picking a class feature totally random, as if a Wizard chose his specialty school rolling 1d100. Only that Wizards don't get to choose randomly.
But well, no one said life in Cerilia was fair. I guess I can choose not to roll on the table (and thus get no benefit) and keep the Bloodrager Bloodline I want. I'll build and have the character ready through the weekend, hopefully.
Alrighty.
Is there a pathfinder version of the Noble favored skills? I'm not familiar with 3.5e skills and their pathfinder equivalents. Also, how do you want Born to Lead (leadership) to work? Should I make a Cohort or will you?
2 of my games just died. So I’ve time for another. Long time Birthright lover. Need to get up to speed on character creation.
Cheers
I managed to get the crunch done here. I'll try to have the fluff ready this evening.
Man, editing this from the mobile was such a pain in the arse. Anyone knows how to edit aliases also from the mobile?
Any hope of changing this game to 5e instead of pathfinder? My 2 games that just died were 5e, so it may generate more interest to fill the table. Character creation and game mechanics are so much simpler. And the birthright stuff should just sit on top like they do pathfinder.
Otherwise I suppose I’ll work on an investigator to drive the devious.
Cheers
I managed to get the crunch done here. I'll try to have the fluff ready this evening.
Man, editing this from the mobile was such a pain in the arse. Anyone knows how to edit aliases also from the mobile?
As someone who does this on mobile half the time, from what I know, there isn't a way to edit them. There used to be, but I haven't been able to find it recently.
Awww... Thanks anyway, Steffanio.
Is there a pathfinder version of the Noble favored skills? I'm not familiar with 3.5e skills and their pathfinder equivalents. Also, how do you want Born to Lead (leadership) to work? Should I make a Cohort or will you?
There are like three different noble classes, so I'm confused. Which noble class are you wanting to play?
Any hope of changing this game to 5e instead of pathfinder? My 2 games that just died were 5e, so it may generate more interest to fill the table. Character creation and game mechanics are so much simpler. And the birthright stuff should just sit on top like they do pathfinder.
Otherwise I suppose I’ll work on an investigator to drive the devious.
Cheers
No 5e. Although there has been work on a 5e version on the forums.