Hi everyone
I've been a player in a long-running game of Ruins of Azlant that has been proceeding in fits and starts since October 2017. Plague-related issues caused the game to grind to a halt once again, and I've decided to try my hand at GMing the game myself. We also need new players!
The party is currently in book 3 of Ruins of Azlant, but if you want to submit a character you should still reference the Ruins of Azlant Player's Guide, available from Paizo for free.
Character Creation Rules:
* Attributes: - 25 point buy
* Races: technically any Paizo, but I'll admit a preference for Core races. Among non-core races, Undines and Gillmen have an advantage since I'm trying to hew closely to the original recruitment guidelines and they were allowed there. We also have an Undine in the remaining party. The original recruitment said that Undines had to take the 'Mostly Human' racial trait, but I can't even find that.
* Classes: any Paizo, use Unchained versions if they exist.
* Starting Level: 7
* Wealth: for now, just get starting equipment. I'm still debating how to handle treasure as it applies to new recruits. Don't buy stuff using Wealth by Level, although that's still an option on the table as we start moving the game again.
* HP: Max first level, half die-size +1 for other levels
* Traits: 2 traits, no drawbacks, one of the two traits should be a campaign trait
* Optional Rules: – background skills & hero points are in effect
We have two PCs remaining in the party:
Aurelian Fache – human swashbuckler
Zay – undine druid (does a lot of wildshaping)
Those players might show up here to introduce themselves.
I'll be looking for two or (probably) three more players to fill out the rest of the party.
The story has progressed some since Book 1, but it would still be a really good idea for your character to be a colonist. If they aren't willing to become one at a minimum, they aren't going to fit in well.
Aurelian lifts his sword in a flourish and salute, welcoming any who would like to join him.
"Ah, yes, all are welcome with Aurelian Fache. Come, it is more than safe, as long as you do not have your body snatched. But you do not need to worry about this, because Aurelian Fache is here to keep you safe!"
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Welcome all. We had a very fun group here (and Aurelian's a blast to play), so I'm hoping we can get going here. Looking forward to seeing what people have to offer for characters!
Wow, what good fortune on my part. I was in a Ruins of Azlant game that died before reaching the conclusion on the second book.
She was a ranger with disable device. I changed her stats a bit when the campaign died, but she was able to successfully disable the spider mechanical spy. She named it Scuttles. You can check out her posts.
Abiding by all the Character Creation rules, would you let her keep Scuttles from her previous campaign?
Interested and will put something together soon.
Is there still room available for this?
I'm 99% sure there is. I don't think we were going with first-come, first served, so should still be two or three spots available.
Dotting!
Gonna try and get something up in this one.
Edit: So what is your take on another Undine? Would core be preferable? I've got an Undine but if that's really not preferred I can roll with something else.
And here it is:
Mostly Human: A few undines have appearances much closer to those of their human ancestors; in fact, they may not even realize their true race. Such geniekin appear to be human, save perhaps minor features like unusual eye color, and they count as humanoid (human) as well as outsider (native) for all purposes (such as humanoid-affecting spells such as charm person or enlarge person). These geniekin do not automatically gain their associated elemental language (but may select it as a bonus language if their Intelligence is high enough). This ability alters the geniekin’s type, subtype, and languages.
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Momo Duline: I'll take a look at Scuttles if you join the campaign. I don't expect it will be a problem, but I'd like to look at what is going on before making any decision.
Silbeg: I'm avoiding saying what has happened so far here because there's no point spoiling two books of an AP for anyone that comes in the recruitment thread. If you join the game, we'll definitely give a recap. Plus there will be the (very large) Gameplay thread to read through if anyone feels like punishing themselves.
Pad300: I was sure that I had put a deadline in my original post, but I don't see it now. I must have lost that version. I'm planning for recruitment to run through February 19, 2021, inclusive.
Corey Narsted: as Aurelian stated, this is a process of allowing everyone to put their characters forward. Then I'll have to pick who will join the campaign out of the applicants. So there is definitely room, but no one (other than the existing players) is getting a spot yet.
Javel DeLeon: applying with an Undine won't kill your chances. I do have a preference for Core races, but Undine/Gillmen have an advantage among non-Core. Broadly speaking, I'd recommend that everyone apply with what they really want to play, even if you think it might lower your chances of getting in. Being unsatisfied with your character for a long campaign is very likely worse than not being chosen to be in the game.
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Javel DeLeon: applying with an Undine won't kill your chances. I do have a preference for Core races, but Undine/Gillmen have an advantage among non-Core. Broadly speaking, I'd recommend that everyone apply with what they really want to play, even if you think it might lower your chances of getting in. Being unsatisfied with your character for a long campaign is very likely worse than not being chosen to be in the game.
You know, that's a good point. I cannot argue that. Okay then, will get to work on it.
Dotting for interest.....
GM: May I use an aquatic elf? They're pretty much elves but, as the name says, more adapted to the water environment. I'm considering a sort of alchemist :)
Archlich:
I'd consider aquatic elves to be a different race than normal elves for the purpose of my Race section in the initial recruitment post. They'd be a non-Core, non-Gillmen/Undine race. That isn't to say that you can't submit one.
I'll throw in a potentially important note though: your question caused me to do some rummaging around, and I found this bit in the AP Player's Guide:
Some races might make more sense later in the
campaign rather than at the beginning. Since the
expedition to Talmandor’s Bounty begins in Almas,
it’s not as likely that exotic races would be a part of
the initial expedition (of course, exceptions to this are
always possible as PCs are exceptional among their
kind). For example, a half-elf from the Mordant Spire
could be a thematically appropriate race selection for
this campaign, but it’s unlikely that such a character
would be hanging out in Almas applying for the
expedition. An option for exploring a more exotic race
later in the campaign is to change characters, having
your original character fade into the background of the
colony while your new character (such as a merfolk or
Mordant Spire elf ) enters the scene and joins up with
the fledgling colonists or the rest of the party.
For the purposes of that quote, the party is not yet 'later' in the campaign. When they do arrive at 'later' however, I may take the quote quite seriously. Changing characters to play a more heavily aquatic race may be an option, and if we go that direction aquatic elves would definitely qualify. (Most of the 'may' is that I'm not sure how the party will feel about it. I quite like the idea.)
I'll briefly note about alchemists that bomb-throwing may be (very) difficult in underwater encounters. Arrow-shooting & gun-toting would face similar difficulties.
Thanks! My idea for the alchemist is actually to use breath weapon bombs of acid or similar :) I was building it more like a melee (in combat) type of character, but actually more focused in skills, RP and out of combat stuff. I just don’t want to gimp my chances by picking a race you don’t feel to be too normal, even though you might be approaching the point in the adventure where it could make sense to be found.
Please consider Adney the wizard for this game. Thank you
I would like to submit Zilybar for the expedition...I will adjust soon
Our tradition in this game has been to have new players arrive on the next boat arriving at Talmandor's Bounty. There is no reason that has to have been the case though. Your character could have arrived on the original boat of PCs (second boat of colonists) and the character could be stepping up to a larger role, perhaps.
There have been developments since book 1 that I'm not mentioning due to spoiler concerns. Don't try to take that into account, except to know that there may be more to your character's story.
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I'd be fine with that.
I am considering the as of yet not fully fledged half-elven (or maybe human, not 100% sure) wizard/cleric/mystic theurge. Still working on the exact deity that I'd like... likely one that would sponsor exploration and adventure.
Got some solid ideas for the build right now... though the character may be a little interesting to play for a few levels.
Will be able to do healing, but their channels will be pathetic, as I am looking at Eccliesietheurge (sp?) archetype.
Likely will be a support caster, given that there is druid in the group will not probably go with a lot of conjuration/summoning.
Several ideas still bouncing around my head... I am guessing that an Andoran background would still be best.
Hi GM! It's Archlich here. I decided to abandon the Aquatic Elf Alchemist idea, and instead I built Amon :) Amon is an Undine as well (with the Mostly Human trait), and a Spiritualist with the Drowned Channeler archetype. He works as a healer and buffer, and I just feel he thematically hits all the right keys (hence why I wanted to submit him!). Please feel free to send me any questions or concerns. Cheers!
I think I can fit one more game onto my roster. Let's see what I can come up with.
I'm going to assume that based on your earlier post, you're not quite ready for Spiresworn Elves?
That's correct. Spire elves wouldn't fit in well right now.
Gotcha. I'll try to figure something else out, then.
Dotting for interest. Thinking of applying with an occultist archeologist type.
List as I know it so far:
Characters
Momo Duline - Human Ranger
Amon Toph - Undine Spiritualist
Adney de Monchele - Human Wizard
Zilybar Gnaz - Halfling Unchained Rogue
Interest but no character yet
Jovich
Silbeg
pad300
Corey Narsted
Javell Deleon
Laird_Thorne
rdknight
Hrothdane
Sensen
Fighting Chicken
If you are in the no character yet section, don't stress it at all yet. We still have more than a week before cutoff.
If I've made an error in the list above, feel free to let me know but there shouldn't be any ramifications to a slipup this early.
As you said it's too early for Spireborn elves, but how would you feel about a Spire Half Elf?
They are used quite often as spies or other agents to work outside the Spire itself. The idea for the character would be a Spire Half Elf, who obviously keeps the Spire part a secret, and who was sent by the Mordant Spire to join the colony via regular means in order to keep an eye on what was happening and report on them so they know if things interfere with the Spire's agenda.
As such the character would do it's very best to work with everyone, not blowing their cover. He'd pay very close attention to any Azlanti knowledge uncovered by the colonists, cataloguing it and sending that information onward.
Cuan: A Spire half-elf (or Spire elf, really) background like that could work as far as it goes. There probably isn't a good reason to restrict them until the thread's non-definition of 'later' in the first place.
After thinking about it more, though, I'm not sure why the Player's Guide thinks that Spire elves of any sort are a fit for the campaign. I'm not a big fan of party members working against the party's ultimate interests covertly (or otherwise) and especially not for long periods of time. Maybe that's just personal taste on my part.
I could imagine someone choosing to play a Spire elf (or half-elf) and have an intended character arc of growing to like and accept the colonists, deciding eventually to give up their opposition to them. But the whole reason the Spire elves work to keep others away from fallen Azlant is that they see humans (and others) as reckless lunatics likely to blow up the world again if they discover the secrets that Azlant lost. I'm not sure that they'll find much evidence that would reasonably dissuade them from that position over the course of the Adventure Path. They'd be hanging out with PCs, who tend to resemble reckless lunatics even on their best behavior. And besides, how much could people change in only ten thousand years, really?
Could someone come up with a cool character arc that handles all of that in a reasonable way? I can't say they couldn't. Or maybe they do want to play a character whose ultimate interests will never align with the party...an alliance of convenience sort of situation. Those are my concerns though. It feels like inviting Galtan revolutionaries into a Hell's Vengeance party.
I'm not sure that they'll find much evidence that would reasonably dissuade them from that position over the course of the Adventure Path. They'd be hanging out with PCs, who tend to resemble reckless lunatics even on their best behavior.
Hey! Aurelian Fache is reckless, but he is not a lunatic!
That is understandable.
How would you feel if I say Paizo has already written a way around this?
According to the Mordant Spire Elf article on Pathfinderwiki.com there is a faction within the Mordant Spire, the Veiled Lanterns, who seek to break with the isolationism and xenophobia of their kin so they can cooperate with outsiders against what the see as the real enemy.
That said, if you are just not comfortable with the whole thing I'll think of something else.
I wasn't aware of that article at all, actually. I can't take time to read it right now, but based on your description it sounds like a legitimate way around the issues I was talking about.
Edit: to borrow from my Galtan revolutionaries example upthread, it would perhaps be someone from Galt, but is disgusted by the Revolution. Such a character might fit nicely in Hell's Vengeance.
I'm not sure that they'll find much evidence that would reasonably dissuade them from that position over the course of the Adventure Path. They'd be hanging out with PCs, who tend to resemble reckless lunatics even on their best behavior.Hey! Aurelian Fache is reckless, but he is not a lunatic!
I'll agree that Aurelian isn't a normal variety of lunatic.
So, if we could do a Spiresworn Elf Veiled Lantern, I'd do that. Otherwise, I'm thinking of a human Sword-Binder Wizard or a Deep Shaman of some description.
I present to you Etune Greenwaithe, halfling Deep Shaman, sailor, and swimmer extraordinaire, and Hosetter, her blue-ringed octopus spirit animal.
Er, she just needs feats. Which I'm getting to.
Might also throw in a dot.
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Here's my application.
Kassiani is a half-elven Rogue 1 / Sanctified Slayer Inquisitor of Brigh 6. She's a Pathfinder Agent who needs a break from her old life.
I'm still working on details but the mechanics are mostly finished and her background is completed.
Ooh, Brigh. A rare deity, but interesting.
Bharnarol would also have worked well for the character, maybe even a tad better given the life mission she's taken on for herself. But he's extra obscure, and I'm still weighing going into Evangelist, which doesn't exist for Bharnarol.
This Jovich's submission...
I am almost finished adjusting.
I do have a question
since we are coming in at 7th Level and in Book 3
Do you want a background for the characters?
Bharnarol would also have worked well for the character, maybe even a tad better given the life mission she's taken on for herself. But he's extra obscure, and I'm still weighing going into Evangelist, which doesn't exist for Bharnarol.
Wow, you aren't kidding. I didn't even remember he was a thing.
Zilybar Gnaz: definitely include a background that would get your character into the AP. The approach we've used to bring in new characters in the past was to have them arrive on supply ships coming from Andoran as more colonists. You don't have to follow that model, of course, but it is an easy way to have your character make sense in the story.
In terms of handling how the AP is progressed, I'd have to give out a bunch of spoilers if I wanted you to include that material in your background now. So don't worry about it! Those who join the campaign will get a summary of what has happened so far and a chance to expand their backgrounds based on it.
Just out of curiosity, y'all aren't using Elephant in the Room Feat Taxes are you?
This is the updated version just in case: Updated
Anyway, I'm going to throw this guy in there: Sh'torek
I believe our first GM used the feat tax rules, but then the second didn't. I'm not sure what Netherpongo plans, since I don't think we've discussed that.
This is Fighting Chicken's submission. I ended up ditching the occultist build as an Archaeologist Bard really fit the backstory I wrote.
If selected, Taty will provide good support, with strong knowledges, two social skills, and UMD. She's got some spells to buff the party, and with a reach weapon and the ability to give herself and allies the Outflank feat through a bardic masterpiece, she can facilitate AoOs with flankers via crit fishing.
On the other hand, her AB and damage are middling without a lot of setup, and her AC is abysmal, so she's intended to be a second liner, or at least protected with a bit of reach.
Personality-wise, Taty is a fairly accomplished and - in some circles - minorly famous explorer. She's genial and culturally competent, but a bit full of herself, which I imagine would play well off of Aurelian's personality, where I could see them being friendly rivals.