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First Post: After passing through several hallways and antechambers, you come to a large room, maybe 40'x50' feet but irregular. It contains a contains a series of floating, glowing, translucent globes filled with strange filament and points of light like fireflies.
A variety of strange individuals are moving around the globes and lights. Cordelia points to a wan female, vaguely human or gith-like, but with two tentacle about her shoulders that seem to float with the filament in the globe.
"This is Bethia, she discovered the plane you will be visiting. Please show it to us Bethia"
The wan humanoid gives a distant, respectful nod and leads the group toward the center of the room. Pointing with a tentacle, she directs your attention to a fist sized globe of light floating in the large diagram of the multiverse that is the globe. The light of the globe is yellow, orange, brown and turquoise. It's glow seems hopefully, promising, fruitful, surprisingly so for just floating ball of light. But also a shadow seems to float around it, also surprisingly threatening and disturbing.
"this is you destiny. Let me show you the means you will use to reach it. Be cautious but not too afraid" She lead a short ways across the floor to a group of stone chairs with mithral chains, shackles and helmets attached.
"This is, unfortunately, is what we have to take you there. As an interdicted world, not ordinary spell will suffice. This entire room is the mechanism of transport. It will also perform some minor transformations, adjusting your mundane items, changing a bit even your hair color and the accent with which you speak common. It usually goes away but a true traveler is prepared for such things, am I right?" She smiles somewhat ruefully.
"What do they call the plane? I believe 'Between sky and earth', like many planes. The words always just mean home, am I right?"
Hi,
I'm looking for up to 3 new players for my ongoing PbP campaign. The campaign has been happening for about a month and half: (see game thread). We currently have 3 of the original 6 players who began so I am seeking another 3 players.
A Tiny Part Of The Dimension Wars
In a multiverse based on the Planescape setting, using PF1 rules, you will be agents of an ad-hoc group of wizards, priests and occultist aiming to stop plane-destroying effects unleashed by the mysterious and sinister Dark Traders. Your employers are sophisticated interdimensional operators who understand many kinds types of magics and technologies operating on a variety of planes (with their own personal agendas too? Of course!). The operation still resembles a group of gentlemen adventurers than a true bureaucracy and you will operate as your own cell, making your own choices on the ground though guided by your mentors/handlers.
Tone: Sometimes cynical but with light showing through, Sometimes very dark but with moments of comedy. Moments of tension but lots of times where your characters can relax and blow off steam (as long as you don’t give away secrets). You are here to literally save the world yet no one knows who you are and you’re OK with that. “Rated PG” - adult themes of all sorts are raised but we will speak elliptically about the details.
World: This is homebrew world based on the old D&D Planescape setting. By "based on" I mean the standard D&D and Pathfinder rule books describing magic, monsters and the Planescape setting actually exist somewhere in this world but they are often unreliable guide for how things really are. EI, all the parts of the Planescape setting are here, somewhere, in some form. Be used to the idea that nothing is guaranteed. The Factions are often talked about. Some groups claim to represent a given Faction and a some groups may actually do so (but neither implies the other).
Most action in this campaign will happen off-Sigil proper and you will likely switch worlds after some period – don’t make your character too terrain or circumstance dependent.
Inspirations: The Black Company series (especially Shadow Linger) by Glen Cooke, Nightwatch/Daywatch Sergie Lukyanenko, The Elder Isle series and other works by Jack Vance, The Dark Tower by Stephen King, The War Hound and The World’s Pain by Michael Moorecook and a number of others.
What will we be doing: Raids, investigation, a bit of exploration, some power-politics/negotiation. As a mix, combat, skills/investigation/exploration/etc and Role playing all going appear and be important (not saying an equal mix but maybe an equal). I will experimenting with a rule mechanic for raids – each character has "caper" they're responsible for. Roll a few skill check to move things forward but a given caper may become "pressing at a point, throwing you in raid/dungeon-crawl mode (which can last a bit 'cause Pathfiner rules but it's OK).
Campaign Parameters:
6th Level. 25 point buy. No dumping wisdom, intelligence or charisma below 9. Don’t maximize for initiative (I’m doing ad-hoc initiative for speed). Standard wealth by Core Rule Book. All Paizo books allowed, third party books might be OK but only psionics or other character-types not similar to Paizo book.
Campaign Traits (choose at least one of these and one standard trait):
Interplanar Travelers(s); knowledge planes is a class skill.
Minor magic awareness; Can cast detect magic once per day as a spell-like ability and spellcraft is class skill.
Minor technological knowledge; Can use knowledge engineering to determine the principles powering a given technological device. If you are trained in knowledge history, you can use it determine the sort of society which would produce such a device. You may make a Wisdom check to determine how to activate a given device (this does not imbue the character with any skills in the use of the device. It doesn’t teach to use firearms or welding machines, etc).
What's the post rate? One post per day on week day, post when you can on weekends. If your character is absent during combat on a week day, I may act for you. If you vanish, your character might become a regular NPC. Bonus points if you tell me your situation.
Posting approach: Most of the time, anyone can start posting after I’ve posted (In melee, anyone can take act first once I give the go-head, just don’t act twice). To a reasonable extent, you can post actions for the entire party takes part (we enter the room). Don’t be shy. Always be thinking about how you can post to move forward the action – and feel free to send me suggestions on that as well (I’ll required saving throw levels, AC the monster hits + potential damage etc. You will too).
Learn the narrative standard style – write in the third person present tense, etc. Don’t just name a game mechanic, narrate what you are doing. Don't ask whether you can roll a skill, just roll it. We creating are creating a story together. You will be helping shape the world.
Applying:: Describe your character concept and write something to indicate you've read these rules and are creating a character for this approach. I will be taking "fully complete and appropriate" characters as they appear. We're needing: glass cannons, magic specialist. Rogue-types.
Are you using Background Skills? VMC? Rolled HP or average?
This sounds really cool. Love Planescape. I'll work on pulling something together for it. Thinking sorcerer, but will have to see. Any general race restrictions, or just "within reason"? :)
Are you using Background Skills? VMC? Rolled HP or average?
Yes, Background skills from Pathfinder Unchained, average HP, I don't know what VMC means.
VMC=Variant Multiclass (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/character-advancement/#Variant_Multiclass ing)
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This sounds really cool. Love Planescape. I'll work on pulling something together for it. Thinking sorcerer, but will have to see. Any general race restrictions, or just "within reason"? :)
The race restrictions are should be able to pass as human, half-elf or dwarf or halfling. A hat of disguise or whatever special power is OK.
Limit 14 "racial points" for advanced races.
This sounds really cool. Love Planescape. I'll work on pulling something together for it. Thinking sorcerer, but will have to see. Any general race restrictions, or just "within reason"? :)The race restrictions are should be able to pass as human, half-elf or dwarf or halfling. A hat of disguise or whatever special power is OK.
Limit 14 "racial points" for advanced races.
Ah, drat. I as thinking a Fetchling, but they're 17 RP. Scratch that plan. On to Plan B! (When I figure out what that is).
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Sure, I'll allow unchained-style multi-classing.
But actual focus on character concept is the biggest thing.
A sorcerer would be good but definitely branch into skills. Just a blaster isn't as useful.
What are the current 3 characters? First thing to pop into my head is an UnRogue in the mold of a "man of a thousand faces."
A couple of Q's though
1) I notice that one of your players is using modern firearms. So what technology rules are you using? What technology is "Commercially" available?2) I notice you asked your PC's to level up to 7th. But this thread says 6th?
3) Do Item creation feats impact wealth? (how much downtime do we expect in-campaign, will there be time to use things like item creation feats?)
4) Do you mind a chaotic neutral alignment? (he's calistrian and a thieving rat...)
1) Modern firearms are available as initial items but primitive firearm are all that can purchased in the current world.
2) New Players will level-up soon (1-2 weeks). I'm giving continuing player a little cookie for sticking it out. A level difference shouldn't hobble anyone. Obviously, be prepared to level up every month, month and a half.
3). NO ITEM CREATION FEATS. I should have specified that.
4) Basically No, "Chaotic thieving rat" would not be acceptable as character. All characters need to idealistically committed to saving threatened planes. Some of characters might be a little "rough around the edges", have some vices but they'd basically always choose mission over their indulgences. The current characters are all lawful good but the organization would be willing to send other alignment IF they fit the commitment criteria.
Group: Moira (Brawler/Monk/Paladin, LG), Lady Lyra (Investigator/Gunslinger LG), and Arlo Brighthammer (Paladin Tortured Crusader, LG)
I'm still more interested in character concept than mechanics, lest any answer give the impression otherwise.
I have a character almost ready, but in reading through the story so far to finalize my background, it looks like membership in a discord group is required.
So, sorry I didn't realize that before. It looks like fun, but I am going to drop out. I have to be permanently invisible on Discord for my RL job, and honestly a lot of the reason I play PbP is so that I can play when I have time, which doesn't play well with the immediacy of chat. Have fun though... looks like a great game.
I have a character almost ready, but in reading through the story so far to finalize my background, it looks like membership in a discord group is required.
So, sorry I didn't realize that before. It looks like fun, but I am going to drop out. I have to be permanently invisible on Discord for my RL job, and honestly a lot of the reason I play PbP is so that I can play when I have time, which doesn't play well with the immediacy of chat. Have fun though... looks like a great game.
Honestly, the current players have been mostly ignoring the Discord and I'm only using Discord for maps. I could cut it out entirely and post maps/documents on Google Documents.
<-- Okay, here Zanbabe's submission, in case you want to do that... but absolutely understand if the group prefers to continue the way that you've been doing it. It looks like you have other people interested that likely don't have the same limitations that I do.
I went with a half-elf bard with disable device, so she has some magic, lots of skills, and can act as the rogue if needed. Let me know if you have any questions.
Also, happy to tweak things, if you don't allow the extra trait feat, or if you need more specialization in a certain skill, or whatever. :)
The background is in the profile, but putting it here as well, so you can review it and tell me if I need to change it at all.
Anzarra, born to a noble elven couple and unfortunate proof of infidelity (or at least impure blood from somewhere), ended up in an orphanage because she was a symbol both of impurity and the death of a relationship.
Her childhood was not troubled because of this choice, but it did change the potential trajectory of her life. Because of the potential embarrassment to the influential family, the child was offered without the normal background checks to travelers that would take her far away. These travelers in turn offered her on the black market to people desperate enough to pay for a child.
Fortunately, she ended up through this process with a happy couple (Half-Orc and Aasimar) who were wealthy because of their criminal history. They rejoiced in their new child and brought her up in a fairly overindulgent way, having contacts who could train her in anything she wanted to learn. She was taught a moral code that had very little to do with legality (other than to avoid incarceration), but everything to do with good and evil.
As she grew up, she saw more clearly than her parents the unintentional harm that often resulted from criminal activity, and became dedicated to righting the wrongs that she saw in the world around her, trying unlike her parents to work from within the system rather than from outside it.
Still, she knows the ways around the system, and when necessary, she doesn't hesitate to do the right thing, whether or not it is exactly according to the rules or not. Because of her expertise at getting things done, she moved up the ranks quickly, until she was recruited to fight the Dark Traders.
<-- Okay, here Zanbabe's submission, in case you want to do that... but absolutely understand if the group prefers to continue the way that you've been doing it.
The only limitation we're talking about is not using discord, right?.
I think I was the only one in the group who actually "pushed" it much and for the purpose of simplification, discarding is something I have no problem doing. In fact it seems like it's time to do that regardless.
The only limitation we're talking about is not using discord, right?.
Right. No other limitations. :)
For further reference, the original recruiting thread is here where a variety of questions get answered - hopefully can read this thread despite Paizo giving these weird warnings to me before showing the thread.
Copying from earlier recruitment thread further:
Questions IF you have your character outlined:
1. What was your world of origin like
__A. Technology-level?
__B. "Values"? (honorable? Corrupt? Trading oriented?)
__C. What was geography of the world?
__D. What races existed and how did they relate?
(you don't have to answer all questions, just whatever gives a good story)
2. How does your character manage to keep a low profile in a mostly human plane? What would your *cover* occupation be?
3A. If you were in the orgnization for a while, what was the last world you were in like? How did it end?
3B. If you have NOT been in the organization long, how to you find your way to Sigil or where you were recruited?
I have a cool idea. But since it is Golarion lore-specific, I'll use this as my starting place.
I have a cool idea. But since it is Golarion lore-specific, I'll use this as my starting place.
Golarian Lore is fine as you understand you'll be outside Golarian.
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Hi all, if you have a look at gameplay, I have put in a segway that could be a good hook for anyone seeking a background into game.
"Specialists Agents"
I present Paritosh Jumbal.
A gentlegnome from the world of Allavor.
Librarian, adventurer, and acquisitions specialist. Paritosh has an in depth knowledge on a number of topics, and accompanied by his sturdy companion (and mount), Moonbeam, he can be a force to reckon with when angered.
I believe I answered the questions requested, as well as provided a bit of a prose background for Paritosh. He's a Ranger with Urban as his favored terrain, and the Mounted Combat fighting style. Being small, he can ride a Medium bat.
He knows a ton of languages, but per my question above on languages, I'd like to know more about how they work across the planes. On his world, "Common" isn't what it would be on say Golarion, or Cerilia, so how are we working that? Given the chance, and a list of more useful languages across the multiverse, Paritosh would rather choose many of those, although perhaps the racial languages he has now are universal to the races?
Paritosh can stealth and do the thiefy/roguey stuff as needed, or fight in the frontlines.
Hmm, I also wasn't sure on good Favored Enemy choices and would welcome a chance to hone those choices, if permitted.
Hi all, if you have a look at gameplay, I have put in a segway that could be a good hook for anyone seeking a background into game.
"Specialists Agents"
Interesting... I kind of built my character as a generalist as well, but I'll go back and tweak her so that her skill points are more focused (and helpful).
I'll also answer those questions from the previous recruitment thread. Might be a few hours because I am still at work, but soon.
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Hi all, if you have a look at gameplay, I have put in a segway that could be a good hook for anyone seeking a background into game.
"Specialists Agents"
Interesting... I kind of built my character as a generalist as well, but I'll go back and tweak her so that her skill points are more focused (and helpful).
I'll also answer those questions from the previous recruitment thread. Might be a few hours because I am still at work, but soon.
Well, Lady Lyra has her ideas but the organization has it's ideas.
Assume that either is appropriate. The most important thing is a character interested in being part of the project. Next comes a character that you enjoy and that motivates you. Then comes fitting the character in with the group.
As the Gm Said, Idea is, it's just a segway as needed not a requirement :) Sorry if it came over like that.
GM will new players come in at 6th or 7th level?
asking as we have gone up a level.
As the Gm Said, Idea is, it's just a segway as needed not a requirement :) Sorry if it came over like that.
Discussion is good, nothing is a problem. We can put Lady Lyra on the selection committee along with the others (see earlier recruiting thread).
Okay, some updates... crunch in the profile, but pulled these out so they are easier to get to:
Anzarra, born to a noble elven couple on Golarion and unfortunate proof of infidelity (or at least impure blood from somewhere), ended up in an orphanage because she was a symbol both of impurity and the death of a relationship.
Her childhood was not troubled because of this choice, but it did change the potential trajectory of her life. Because of the potential embarrassment to the influential family, the child was offered without the normal background checks to travelers that would take her far away. These travelers in turn offered her on the black market to people desperate enough to pay for a child.
Fortunately, she ended up through this process with a happy couple (Half-Orc and Aasimar) living in Sigil, who were wealthy because of their criminal history, which was extensive moving across different worlds. They rejoiced in their new child and brought her up in a fairly overindulgent way, having contacts who could train her in anything she wanted to learn. She was taught a moral code that had very little to do with legality (other than to avoid incarceration), but everything to do with good and evil.
As she grew up, she saw more clearly than her parents the unintentional harm that often resulted from criminal activity, and became dedicated to righting the wrongs that she saw in the world around her, trying unlike her parents to work from within the system rather than from outside it.
It turned out that her knowledge of how to work outside the system is what became most valuable to her in her career though, as she was asked more and more to solve problems that couldn't be solved through normal channels. Thus she became a sort of "fixer," but of course, one with a conscience, working around the law sometimes, but always for the greater good.
During her career as a fixer, she learned of the group called the Dark Traders, and through her indirect encounters with them, and one personal tragedy where a friend of hers was killed... a friend that she had been just starting to build a romantic relationship with... she became determined to stop that group.
After being recruited by "The Organization," she at first just continued her work as a fixer, on behalf of this new group, but as she learned more and move about the corruption and pain that the Dark Traders were causing, the more incensed and focused she became, and after breaking open an investigation into an interdimensional slavery ring where Shabti were being rescued from Hell and thereafter made willing slaves (for to them, Slavery was a relief from an eternity of torture), she insisted on going along into the field to bust it.
Because of her outstanding performance in the field, she soon becoming an active operative, not just one of the people behind the scenes. Her goal is to right injustice in whatever way she can, and if possible to eradicate the Dark Traders entirely.
What was your world of origin like?
A. Technology level?
Anzarra was born on Golarion, but after she was abandoned and then sold/adopted on the black market, she actually grew up in Sigil, so she is familiar with varying levels of technology and also magic.
B. Values?
Anzarra is pretty flexible when it comes to legality, but adamant when it comes to good. Her adoptive parents were very successful criminals, but idealistic vigilante-types, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, righting perceived wrongs, etc. She has seen that they are blind to some of the unintentional harm that crime causes, and doesn't want to follow in their footsteps entirely, but she has learned from them a well developed sense of justice, and knows the ways around the system well enough that she is often successful in getting it.
How does your character manage to keep a low profile in a mostly human plane?
Anzarra doesn't usually have to hide, since half-elves are fairly common, but she is skilled in disguise when it is advantageous to not appear as herself.
What would your *cover* occupation be?
Anzarra usually has a cover working for a large banking / merchant institution (depending on technology level) that doesn't actually exist, but which sounds enough like real banks that people are convinced she is both rich and authoritative, which often gets people talking all by itself.
If you have been in the organization for a while, what was the last world you were in like? How did it end?
Anzarra recently was on a pre-industrial world where Shabti were being brought in as slaves to mine the very valuable minerals. The mission was successful and helped her to make a name for herself not just as a background fixer/functionary, but as a successful operative.
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Paritosh Jumbal and Anzarra,
Your applications look good, I'm slightly busy currentl, will reply soonish,
I love Planescape, Spelljammer, and all the weird stuff a lot of people don't like.
I'm submitting this character, who is both intelligent and skilled. An arcane trickster. I never really got to play him.
He'll be 6th level with 25 pts. tomorrow.
Paritosh Jumbal and Anzarra,
Your applications look good, I'm slightly busy currentl, will reply soonish,
"Very thankyouness!"
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@Flouncy for some reason your skill spoiler does not show anything. :)
Great PCs everyone, love the back stores.
Sorry. I was tweaking the profile and messed up a spoiler. It's back now, but I haven't made it 6th level yet.
Still working on it. Magic items will affect a lot of numbers.
will be submitting but the back story is in this alias.
disregard the character stats as this is level 16. so obviously will have to adjust.
the character has a basic back story, but there is a link to more fun story style history.
Anzarra, which part of Golarion?
Golarion is a patchwork every imaginable variant of realms one can imagine, keep in mind. If you want to say "typical magic-medieval", you're welcome just say that instead.
Anzarra, which part of Golarion?
Golarion is a patchwork every imaginable variant of realms one can imagine, keep in mind. If you want to say "typical magic-medieval", you're welcome just say that instead.
Sorry, I didn't think that it mattered, since she was only on Golarion during the first month of her life, and grew up in Sigil, but if it matters let's say... Kyonin, and her birth mother's husband was a member of the Winter Council. Their anti-human sentiment would make the abandonment story fit. (She doesn't know her birth parents or their family at all.)
Anzarra,
Sorry missed that, PM'd you.
So Paritosh Jumbal,
The way languages function is more or less that the "racial languages" defined in Pathfinder are at least similar in most standard planes. But since that's a bit cheasy, I created a correspondence between earth language families and these "racial language families" and moreover, who speaks who family of language in what plane will be fluid. There will be planes where elves speak "orcish" and orcs speaks "elvish" but that's unusual.
Also, Paritosh Jumbal,
I think you've answered the "background questions" but not all the recruitment questions. Especially, how did you encounter "the organization". (and apologizes if I'm missing the place you say this).
I think I'm up to date on this now, feel free to say if there's something I missed.
Also, Paritosh Jumbal,
I think you've answered the "background questions" but not all the recruitment questions. Especially, how did you encounter "the organization". (and apologizes if I'm missing the place you say this).
“ Paritosh received a summons to come to the organization, as a scripted note on parchment, and it definitely made innuendo that the organization knew his origin story.”
So Paritosh Jumbal,
The way languages function is more or less that the "racial languages" defined in Pathfinder are at least similar in most standard planes. But since that's a bit cheasy, I created a correspondence between earth language families and these "racial language families" and moreover, who speaks who family of language in what plane will be fluid. There will be planes where elves speak "orcish" and orcs speaks "elvish" but that's unusual.
Sounds good on languages, and “Common?” For example, I believe common on my world is, in fact the standard elven language. That ok?
Applying:: [...] We're needing: glass cannons, magic specialist. Rogue-types.
It seems Lady Lyra has at one and three covered already?
Applying:: [...] We're needing: glass cannons, magic specialist. Rogue-types.It seems Lady Lyra has at one and three covered already?
Well, I haven't looked at stuff in great detail, I'll admit. The two characters that left were serving as the scouts/sneaky-types and the party has does not have strong damage doing abilities at the moment and they have a variety of arcane stuff to try and understand.
The main thing really is having a character varied enough that they can do something in every situation.
Oh, interesting campaign!
Let's see if I find a nice story to fit with it.
We are weak with pour magic and psionics. another hard hitter would help as well. But generalists are good as well. We did have two very good scout/sneak types so a good sneak would help.
The team as it stands.
Moira Monday Team leader, our most experienced agent. Knows planes like no other. The faces of the group, charming, attractive, and tough. Great Hand to hand combat specialist, with know-how in Tech, Faith and magic What this lady says goes, no ifs or buts.
Arlo Brighthammer is a veteran agent. The hard bolled dwarf who has seen things most agents would run screaming from. A weapons combat specialist, and good solid hitter, who keeps his cool when the going gets taught. He is the rock we stand around in a fight.
Lady Lyra Acts as second to Moira and is her admin. She is weak in combat, preferring long-range attacks with guns. She can come over as cold and insensitive. A facilitator with tech Know-how.
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Good.
And then you have:
Anzarra (Zanbabe) - Bard (Arrowsong Minstrel) (Girl, you surely do love bards... Shall I introduce you to Vrog? :P).
Talon Shadowblade (Edward Sobel) - Kineticist?
Paritosh Jumbal (Zahir ibn Mahmoud ibn Jothan) - Ranger (Mounted Combat).
Flouncy Magoo (Dave Young 992) - UnRogue/Sorcerer/Arcanist.
Ellioti has expressed interest.
Jereru has expressed interest.
Right now I'm working on a story, I don't know what to apply with in regards to mechanics. Maybe something Psionic. Which DSP books do you have access to, GM? Would you consider a Sage from SoM/SoP?
Girl, you surely do love bards... Shall I introduce you to Vrog? :P)
It's just that I love bows and cantrips, and this is one of the ways to do that without using up a bunch of traits/feats. :) I play rangers, rogues, and clerics fairly frequently too.
Is Vrog a bard fanatic as well? I know the name from tons of recruitments, but not sure if we've ever played together.