[D&D 3.5] War of the Burning Sky [OOC] [Closed]

[pneumatik]

Recently I think I read a comment somewhere on ENworld about how WotBS had no presence on either the storyhour or PbP boards here. I was looking to get some 3.5ed PbP going, so I thought, “Why not?”

I'm going to run WotBS, from start to finish, or fail gloriously while trying (hey, it's a lot of material to cover). I'm looking for at four players, maybe five. I'd like to have multiple Knights of the Aquiline Cross (KotAC), but that doesn't mean every PC needs to be one. I'm expanding on the KotAC material based on some material from the Living Greyhawk campaign. More details are in the next post.

Given the amount of material in the campaign, please app only if you can post 1/day mon-fri.

See the third post for details on the deities in the setting (WotBS-land?).

Character Building
PCs start at 2nd level. 28 point buy for stats. 3.5 material only – nothing from 3.0. Wealth by level. You can spend your money on anything the PHB, DMG, or the WotBS Player's Guide (WotBSPG).

What's In?

• No homebrewed anything from the players. I'm sure there's plenty of non-broken homebrewed stuff out there, but I want PCs to have stuff I'm already at least somewhat familiar with.
• Anything from the WotBSPG is in. If you're affiliated with one of the organizations in Gate Pass, you can get their feat for free.
• Psionics exist in the world, though they're uncommon. Classes from XPH, CPsi, etc. are in.
• Otherwise, pretty much anything from any non-setting-specific WotC book is okay. I have some guidance below, but there's so much 3.5 stuff out there ultimately I can't put together a concise list of what I don't like.

Feats
Almost any feat from a WotC book is okay. Feats that aren't okay include Leap Attack and Divine Spell Power.

Races
Any PC race should be okay. By PC race, I mean something that was written with the intention that PCs play it. If you want to play something out of setting with the WotBS, you need an explanation in your backstory.

Classes
Almost any Classes and PClasses from any WotC setting-independent book (Completes and Races of, plus one-offs like Draconomicon and the books about different types of monsters). Base classes that are right out include Spirit Shaman, Shugenja, and Wu-Jen. Let me know your tentative build and I'll tell you if I have any problems. PClasses I know I have problems with include Dervish, Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil, and Radiant Servant of Pelor. They're not banned, but if you want to take them we'll have to depower them.

Spells and Powers
Spells are WotBSPG and PHB only. The only exception is if you play a PClass with a non-PHB spell in your spell list, in which case you get it. Psionic powers from XPH, CPsi, and other WotC books are okay, but make sure you use the most recent version. CPsi versions supersede the XPH, and there are some time-travel-y ones in RDestiny (I think) that have been errataed to be more reasonable.

Attacker rolls all the dice
The heading pretty much explains it. When it's your turn, you roll all the dice necessary to resolve your actions. The only real change is in saving throws. If you do something that makes your target make a saving throw, instead you make an “attack throw”. As per Players Roll All The Dice :: d20srd.org, an “attack throw” is 1d20+all the modifiers that would normally apply to the save DC (caster level, relevant stat modifier, etc.) against 11 + the target's normal save modifier. This way we can resolve what happens on one player's turn faster. I figure we'll use InvisibleCastle, but I'm open to suggestions. I don't care what character sheet you use, but you need to use something that I either have access to or a copy of.

Backstory
Backstory should be at least a couple of paragraphs and explain what you're doing in Gate Pass. Seriously, read the WotBSPG – it's free, so you have no excuse. The setting's only partly defined, so feel free to make up stuff for your backstory.

[pneumatik]

Knights of the Aquiline Cross

The KotAC actually emerged out of Sindaire over twenty years ago. They have a small chapel in every city in the known world, and a larger chapterhouse in most countries. They are generally well received by the populace, who know they can count of the KotAC to heal them when they're hurt or sick. More significantly, people who know the knights know that they risk their lives to protect innocents. This activity can get them in a little bit of trouble when it comes to governments, because they can be more proactive at protecting innocents than local rulers who don't like being shown up.

Their membership is open to anyone with an alignment of LG, NG, CG, or LN. The organization, while not exactly militant, does have a hierarchy at is at least clear to its members. This structure allows the KotAC to easily direct resources to where they can do the most good – healers aid the injured while warriors dispatch foes.

Knights often speak of following a higher cause, or being driven by a greater purpose, though they never divulge details. Knights sometimes even claim that they were only able to accomplish some task because of some sort of power they were given by whatever teachings they follow. Game-mechanically, if these powers exist they'll be handled via feats open to knights with the appropriate knowledge.

Titling
Despite calling themselves a knighthood, their members are not actually ennobled, so they're careful to not assign any true titles of nobility – their knights are not sirs and dames. Junior members are titled squire. Full knights are titled staret, and have a post nominal title of adjective Vigil. As knights become more senior, they add adjectives and adverbs to their post nominal, and replace Vigil with the names of various monsters. Generally speaking, the longer and more fanciful the title the more senior the Knight.

Credit where credit's due: The material I'm adding to the KotAC is based on the Knights of the Watch from the Living Greyhawk campaign. That material was developed for the Living Greyhawk Campaign by Jeff Kahrs, Nick Perch, and Pete Winz, and is based on material published by Wizards of the Coast. Just so no one thinks I came up with it.

[pneumatik]

Deities
The WotBS player's guide and DM's guide don't really talk about deities much, if at all. Since I'm most familiar with deities from Greyhawk (detecting a theme in my inspirational sources?), PCs can worship any deities in the Living Greyhawk Deities document. The document's at http://www.wizards.com/rpga/downloads/LG_Deities.zip. Note that as per the document, deities that don't list humans or a human ethnicity (Suel, Oeridian, Touv, Flan) in the “Origin of Worship” or “Core Worshipers” fields can only be worshiped by the races that are listed. Deities that do list humans or a human ethnicity can be worshiped by anyone. For example, anyone can worship Allitur, because his entry for both fields is “Flan”. Only dwarves can worship Abbathor, because his entry only lists dwarves.

The eight main temples in Gate Pass are to:

• Pelor
• Beory
• Istus
• Heironious
• Boccob
• Farlangan
• Daern
• St. Cuthbert

The other minor temples cover most of the appropriate (non-evil, worshippable by a PC race).

[Arkhandus]

I'm interested!

Would an elven Crusader heading for Eternal Blade be acceptable? He would fill the frontline fighter position.

Both classes are from Tome of Battle: Book of Nine Swords; Crusaders are essentially paladins for any alignment but neutral, receiving martial maneuvers from divine insight instead of spells, mounts, and such; Eternal Blade is an elf-only prestige class from that book, only available after 10th-level (BAB +10 as a requirement).

The only complication I can see with it from a roleplay standpoint is that as an Eternal Blade, he'd be expected to serve the defense of elvenkind, but I figure that War of the Burning Sky probably gets some elven nation or community involved, or at least puts them in potential danger, warranting an Eternal Blade's proactive defense of their kin? I need to read the player's guide, but I do have it on my computer at least.

I assume an elven Knight of the Aquilline Cross would be fine, and that devotion to Corellon Larethian wouldn't interfere? Eternal Blades aren't required to have that patron god, but he is the one their order originally served until its decline.

[pneumatik]

I had completely forgotten about Bo9S. I think it's balanced, though. Your skeleton build looks fine.

[magic_gathering2001]

Hm... I'm thinking a Commander, Knights of the Aquiline Cross maybe, with the resistance region.

If you could PM me more about the knights, that would help, especially because I'm not really familiar with the setting (yet) or Greyhawk.

[Lucien505]

i'm very interested in this game. i would play (if possible) a CN air goblin warlock1/binder1 eventually going into hellfire warlock and maybe enlightened soul. i don't think i would be in the Knights, but could easily be someone who is willing to assist in missions (for a cut of the loot). i'm not sure how goblin's would fit with the knights, if necessary there are a few other races i'm interested in.

[renau1g]

I'd be interested in perhaps jumping in this, especially as I'd love to run this for my PC's. I'd like to try a rogue/swordsage, an infiltrator of the Knights tasked with hunting down those who either can't be caught by traditional means or live beneath 'the radar' and require some specialization to bring in.

[pneumatik]

I should probably add a little more about the KotAC, so:

The KotAC teach their beliefs at small chapels scattered around the known world (the map in the Player's Guide). They teach the value of sentient and good life. Its defense and protection is the greatest thing a person can do. Not everyone has the same abilities, so while some heal directly, others attack threads before they can do any damage.

The Knights invite anyone who is especially receptive to their message to Squire. Squiring requires an oath to always heal those in need, to dispatch threats to people, to obey their superiors in the knighthood, and to keep the trust of the knighthood.

Those who talk to Knights find that knighthood is the same on the inside as what it looks like from the outside. While there is a certain amount of military regimen, the knighthood's rapid growth requires serious organization. Knights also sometimes talk about preparing to undertake a quest for the Aquiline Heart. The Heart is a healing relic said to have been removed from a mighty eagle from a fierce dragon.

[pneumatik]

Any PCs who play KotAC will start as Squires.

Arkhandus: I looked up Eternal Blade. The flavortext for them is that they used to be dedicated protectors of elvenkind. Now their abilities are taught by all sorts of elves to all sorts of elves. In this game, Eternal Blade's used to protect the Shining Land of Shahalesti. Otherwise, keep the flavortext.

magic_: I'll PM you a little more info. Your idea sounds good, though.

Lucien505: Your build is okay. My only concern is that air goblins might be too powerful for +0 ECL. They're too weak for a +1 ECL, though, so I'll let them in. The only thing you might want to be concerned about is multi-class penalties. If you're just taking one level of binder to get Naberius so that you can use hellfire blast freely, you'll start taking xp penalties once you're Warlock3/Binder1.

As far as the personality, just make sure you have a reason to care about the same things a KotAC would care about. I'll do what I can to tempt you with loot, but I don't know the details of how the campaign plays out.

renau1g: Your idea sounds great. I'm assuming you mean your PC will be a member of the Knights who then goes an infiltrates other organizations, not someone who infiltrated the Knights. Which would be cool, too, just not what I'm expecting.

It looks like we've got a pretty good party shaping up. No traditional magic, but that should actually make things more interesting at higher levels. The onyl thing we really seem to need is a cleric.

[Arkhandus]

Yeah......little utility magic for us, and no healing beyond my occasional use of Martial Spirit, Crusader's Strike, etc. (and later, Vital Recovery for myself), which will only slightly help me stay alive and maybe help someone else in a pinch (it'll only be a little bit of healing......of course I'll be doing my level best to keep enemies trained on me....).

I won't be a major damage-dealer, though, most of the time. I'll be focusing on maneuvers, stances, and feats that let me catch enemies in melee, interfere witih them bugging anyone else in melee, and keeping myself alive while I dish out minor or decent beats. And a few maneuvers that help allies beat on stuff. So basically encouraging any support warriors to stand up front with me and wail on stuff. I am tank, here me roar! j/k

I still have to look over the player's guide, but I'll have at least some stats and basic description up sometime on Tuesday or early Wednesday. Sleep now, sheet later.

[renau1g]

Originally Posted by pneumatik

Any PCs who play KotAC will start as Squires.

renau1g: Your idea sounds great. I'm assuming you mean your PC will be a member of the Knights who then goes an infiltrates other organizations, not someone who infiltrated the Knights. Which would be cool, too, just not what I'm expecting.

It looks like we've got a pretty good party shaping up. No traditional magic, but that should actually make things more interesting at higher levels. The onyl thing we really seem to need is a cleric.

My PC would infiltrate other groups for the knights, he'd be a face-type character with some martial training.Without a magic-type PC maybe he'd need to pick up some UMD skills

[pneumatik]

If the party doesn't have any significant healing, I'd probably allow wands of ___ Vigor, since they're such a cost-effective way to provide out-of-combat healing. It still won't cover things like the defensive buffing and in-combat castings of Heal, though.

[concerro]

I would like to play a psion and then go into the prestige class from ComPsi that allows me to have more power over constructs. I will be posting my character sheet on http://www.thetangledweb.net. If you don't want to make an account to be able to view it I can just use a standard word format and email it to you unless you know another site that hosts character sheet.

I have yet to read the players guide. I pretty much have to find an old character sheet to have this character again. After I read the guide I will do the background story. I will play the mid-level(power wise) version. If that is to much I can still power it down.

[Jemal]

Got room for a druid or favoured soul?

[pneumatik]

concerro: Your build idea is fine. Note that I'm using all of the errata in CPsi except for the ridiculous DR-effecting-powers stuff. I'm not sure what you mean by picking a power level. Every PC starts at 2nd level with wealth appropriate for 2nd level characters, if that's what you mean. Putting your character sheet up on thetangledweb should be fine

Jemal: Some divine spellcasting would certainly help the party.


Right now it looks like we have the following:
Arkhandus - elven crusader
magic_gathering2001 - (something) commander (WotBSPG)
Lucien505 - air goblin warlock/binder
renau1g - (something) rogue/swordsage
concerro - (something) psion (summoner)
Jemal - druid or divine soul

Since PbP's can lose people over time, I wouldn't mind starting with 6 PCs, or maybe even 7 if someone else is interested. If everyone is not already doing so, start building your characters. It definitely looks like we have enough interest to get started soon.

[Jemal]

- Double Post -

[Jemal]

your original post says spells are core only, but later you mentioned vigor. Could I take Lesser Vigor as a spell or not? OR maybe a wand of it to help out with between-fight healing?

[concerro]

Originally Posted by pneumatik

concerro: Your build idea is fine. Note that I'm using all of the errata in CPsi except for the ridiculous DR-effecting-powers stuff. I'm not sure what you mean by picking a power level. Every PC starts at 2nd level with wealth appropriate for 2nd level characters, if that's what you mean. Putting your character sheet up on thetangledweb should be fine

What DR affecting powers? I guess I have some homework to do.

Power level is basically optimization level. In other words how well the PC is built, but if you are telling me about DR powers that I don't know about I guess I might need to step my game up instead of stepping down.

PS: I want to play an Elan. If that is not ok I will go human.

[Rhun]

Originally Posted by renau1g

I'd like to try a rogue/swordsage

Just because you've seen how cool my rogue/swordsage is in your RHoD game doesn't mean you can steal my build! LOL.

To pneumatik:

I'd be interested in playing an arcane caster of some sort, likely a wizard. Complete Mage and Complete Arcane are acceptable sources, correct? Also, please note, I have limited access the next few days, so I likely wouldn't have a complete build until next week. I'd hate to miss out on this game, though.

If you place any emphasis on reliability of players, you can look at my track record. I've never dropped a game in the 4+ years I've been a member here, I'm a frequent poster, and I'm running two long-term games of my own.