Kenku17, I noticed a couple things that need correction. A human cleric with 14 Int should start with 20 skill points, but I only counted 16. Another point regarding skills is Survival, which appears to be a class skill for you (whereas it is normally cross-class for clerics). The only way I can see that you might have acquired that is from the Weather domain. I'm not sure I've seen your write-up for the Weather domain. You note in your background that your character trained for six months; the cleric class adds 2 to 12 years (2d6) to your character's base age. So it takes a minimum of 2 years to train to be a cleric. Your character can still be 21 years old though. It just means he would have left the farm at age 19.
Info for Kenku17
I'd say that background is worth at least 500 XPs. After your clerical training is complete, Father Lisorra takes you aside and gives you your first assignment. Handing you a scroll case, he gives you very precise instructions. "Proceed to Narovan with all haste, my son, and seek out the Diviner, Sister Kara. She is in need of a Defender after her previous one was found thrown from the roof of a flat in the city. Give this to owner of the Crookside Inn in Narovan," he says, indicating the scroll case. "He is a friend and should be able to help you find her. And there is one other thing. Narovan can be a dangerous city. Take these to help protect you." He then produces a quiver within which are 10 silvered arrows, 5 sleep arrows, and 5 +1 arrows, handing it to you. "Use them well."
*Reads the info and chuckles*...Ah, I forgot to add the extra +4, and ill adjust training time.
Ah, I see. I was not aware that there was a weather domain there. None of the weather domains I had looked up granted Survival, they all had these strange mechanics instead. Thanks.
Hmm...interesting...Yea, the only Weather Domains I knew of was the one I found on the SRD, and the Pathfinder one which of course is a completly different system. I remeber there being one in Eberron, but I haven't looked in that book for forever, so I figured the SRD one would do.
GlassEye, hp are max at 1st as usual. I will use the fixed hp variant from the DMG for leveling up (hafrogman, that means you will have 24 hp, not 25; Deuce Traveler, you get max at 1st for your paladin as well). That does bring up another minor variant I am using regarding leveling up. Instead of the progression presented in the Player's Handbook, you gain a feat at each odd level and a bonus ability score boost every even level (hafrogman, that means you get +1 to one ability score since you are 2nd).
I do not care how you present your character as long as the information is organized or formatted to some degree. If I have to search for 5 minutes because I cannot find your Will save, I will let you know.
GlassEye, Deuce Traveler, and arcanaman, I will go through your backgrounds sometime this weekend or whenever you get them posted.
Ok, I've got some info posted below for a couple of you. Read it if it pertains to you. If I haven't given you any info yet, I'm giving you a little more time to work on your background if you wish. Feel free to begin posted in the IC thread whenever you wish. First post is first to arrive and so on.
hafrogman
Given his slave background I won't give Kylest any bonus equipment. However, as he is clearly exemplary, improve his Strength and Constitution by +2. Additionally, he gains Wild Talent as a bonus feat, giving him power points and the ability to learn psionic feats and use psionic items. You may choose to roleplay whether or not he is aware of this.
You have arrived in Narovan amid strange portents. Lately, you have had a recurring dream where you are chasing a nondescript person. Your dream ends with the person dead as you stare down at your bloodied hands. Odder still, when you entered the city gate this morning, you were struck by a vision of a young girl in a pure white gown sitting on the floor in the center of a room while a raven flew overhead. The vision ended as quickly as it had begun, but you are not used to such things and it has put you on edge.
Motivation: Whatever you wish it to be. As a freed slave, you are a wanderer who is probably seeking a purpose in life.
GlassEye
You receive 300 XPs for your background. In addition you gain some bonus equipment and abilities. Your psicrystal also acts a cognizance crystal capable of storing 1 pp. You begin play with psionic tattoos of the following powers: conceal thoughts, detect psionics, dissipating touch, empty mind, inertial armor, and skate. These are meant to supplement your power so that you have a few more options and flexibility with power points in the initial stages of the game.
Psionic tattoos work slightly differently than described. A psionic tattoo does not fade when used, although they can be removed with certain methods. Rather, a psionic tattoo can be used once per day in the described method. You still have 20 tattoo slots on your body, however, higher-level psionic tattoos take up respectively higher-level slots. So a 2nd-level psionic tattoo is larger and more elaborate and takes up two slots. Only those with psionic power may actually use psionic tattoos however and they may not be transferred to another person. Psionic tattoos use the owner's manifester level, but they may not be augmented.
When Haerdal learned of your travel plans to Narovan, he was uncharacteristically excited. "What a marvelous idea, brilliant even! Of course, my dear girl, I always knew you were." This was a direct counterpoint to his usual barking tone and gruff demeanor, but then you had grown used to his bipolar personality after training under him for so many years.
"You will of course do me a favor while you are there." There it was, the stern, condescending tone that was more familiar. He retrieved a box into which were cut several holes in the top and shoved it into your arms. Something was moving around inside. You felt a lump form in your throat.
"I've already fed him today, but you'll need to sustain him along the way. He hasn't been himself lately and I was hoping you could take him to see a friend of mine in the city while you are there for his expert opinion; a man by the name of Kelper."
Haerdal's brain mole, Psycho, had easily been the least pleasant part of your entire training experience. Psycho was given free run of the hut, which essentially meant free license to pester you, and Haerdal often allowed Psycho to attempt to snatch his dinner from you, which meant invading your mind to leech that psychic power that you spent so much time diligently trying to focus at the beginning of each day. There was nothing more you would like than for Psycho to have an unfortunate "accident" along the way, but you knew Haerdal would find out if there was any duplicity behind it. He always knew.
Motivation: Having arrived in Narovan, your next objective is to find Kelper and deliver Psycho. Haerdal didn't tell you much about him, other than that he lived in the Banker's District and had an affinity for unusual creatures.
I was looking over hafrogman's character when I realized I had made a mistake up above on how I presented the change to level progression. I had accidentally said to give yourself both an ability score boost and a feat at every even level. What I meant to say was a feat every odd level and ability score boost every even level. Sorry about that.
I was looking over hafrogman's character when I realized I had made a mistake up above on how I presented the change to level progression. I had accidentally said to give yourself both an ability score boost and a feat at every even level. What I meant to say was a feat every odd level and ability score boost every even level. Sorry about that.
So that's to replace normal progression, or in addition?
i.e. feats 1,3,5,7,9 or 1,1,3,5,6,7,9,9?
edit: Never mind, your post says "Instead of".
Off to edit I go.
__________________
SOUL: Secret Organization for Underground Levity
You can't stop the laughter!
THE HIVE: One Mind, No Purpose. Public Member of the Secret Fraternal Order of the Hive.
You receive 200 XPs for your background (you may use this for scribing scrolls before we begin at the normal cost if you wish). In addition, you gain a wand of magic missiles with 30 charges at 1st caster level. You also possess the Book of the Hells. Though its title suggests something far more sinister, this tome has very little practical application other than allowing you to summon an imp once per day as through lesser planar ally. Unfortunately, it seems to always summon the same imp, a creature by the name of Funedor. Thus far, you have been unable to go more than a few days at a time without summoning him for some small task or other. Fortunately, he usually asks for little payment in return, often trinkets or baubles worth little in actual value, however you have yet to ask him to perform a truly dangerous task.
The last time you summoned Funedor, he had a task for you. "It is time for master to do a service for his servant," the pathetic creature whined in his nasally voice. You knew there was no denying him, but you were filled with trepidation at the thought of what he might ask. "A place called Narovan. There we shall go. At that time, summon me once more. I shall not heed your call again until you have arrived." At that, Funedor was gone with a puff of smoke leaving the scent of brimstone hanging in the air.
Motivation: You just arrived in Narovan this morning and must summon Funedor. It may be wise to find a safe place to do so, as even the City of Assassins does not look kindly upon those who consort with the lower planes.
Deuce Traveler, I just thought I would point out that you get 16 skill points because you are a human, not 12.
So the final party:
hafrogman - Kylest, dwarf barbarian
Kenku17 - Michael, human cleric of Kredon
GlassEye - Arden, human psion (shaper)
Deuce Traveler - Kleb von Ludwig, human paladin of the Order of Luthes
arcanaman - Lestrivus, elf wizard
You are pretty well balanced. Though you lack a skillful character, most of you have pretty well-rounded skill sets. You have strong combat potential and several spellcasters so that should help offset any weaknesses. A strong group, I think.
So that's to replace normal progression, or in addition?
i.e. feats 1,3,5,7,9 or 1,1,3,5,6,7,9,9?
edit: Never mind, your post says "Instead of".
Off to edit I go.
Yea, you got it. It replaces the standard progression. This way you always have something to look forward to when you level, even if you don't get a class feature.
You're quite welcome. Everyone is getting something to start out with, based on the quality of their submissions for both the campaign and background.
Deuce Traveler
Excellent background. I'm awarding you 1,000 XPs. You've just leveled up! In addition, you inherit Born's axe, a unique item. The axe is inscribed with various sigils in an ancient language you do not understand, but you know he cherished it greatly. It is a masterwork battle axe with two special powers that may each be activated once per day. The first is a bless spell that may be called upon with a standard action. The second allows you to use your lay on hands ability on yourself as an immediate action if you fall to 0 or fewer hit points. Points healed in this manner have double the benefit. You also inherit Born's chainmail, which is masterwork chainmail.
There is a third item of Born's that you find on his person of particular interest. It is a golden locket he was wearing around his neck when he died. The outside of the locket is carved with an image of a raven. Inside the locket is only a name, Canestriel. The name sounds familiar immediately. When Born found you in Narovan, you recall a time when he took you to meet a woman named Canestriel. She was very receptive of Born and he showed you off like a proud peacock. It was a long time ago so the details of the meeting escape you; at any rate you are sure Born was conducting some business with her.
Motivation: Now that Born is dead, it seems only right to return the locket to Canestriel in Narovan, if you can find her. You have just arrived in Narovan this afternoon.
Deuce Traveler, note that I had to revise my earlier statement on the level progression. At 2nd level, you gain an ability score boost, but not a bonus feat. So you should have 2 feats, not 3. The Level-Dependent Benefits table now looks like this (this replaces the one in the PH).
Right now I am waiting on arcanaman to post Lestrivus. I will give him a couple days before moving things on, but feel free to continue IC conversations so that your characters have a chance to get to know each other. Chances are you each know things the others don't.
I've gone ahead and revised the map a little to add in some of the new things that have entered the world since our last map. If I missed, or misplaced your contribution, I'm terribly sorry, there's a lot to keep track of. Feel free to point it out.
__________________
SOUL: Secret Organization for Underground Levity
You can't stop the laughter!
THE HIVE: One Mind, No Purpose. Public Member of the Secret Fraternal Order of the Hive.
I've gone ahead and revised the map a little to add in some of the new things that have entered the world since our last map. If I missed, or misplaced your contribution, I'm terribly sorry, there's a lot to keep track of. Feel free to point it out.
Looks good, although I would say the Forest of the Bronze dragon shouldn't lead into the roadway or at the very least be interconnected to the others.
I like the connecting of the two forests, though we can say there is a thinning of the forests between the Vale and the Forest of Bronze. It could be more like the two woods grew separately and eventually met each other in the middle so they might be made up of entirely different kinds of trees even.
Arcanaman, any chance you'll be able to join us in the IC soon? Not trying to rush you. If need be you can always jump in at a later point so take your time. Just let me know where you are at.