Quickleaf
Legend
QL, thanks for the clarification about the mechanics. ("does replace?" OK)
Re: For example, you could be a Warlock bonded to an "Archfey" with the Ship Mage subclass, no problem. "Archfey" would need some creative reinterpretation in the setting, possibly something along the lines of a loa from Voodoo faith. --
At this point, I'm going to have to do some research into the loa of the Voodoo faith, then.
I did purchse a copy of "Skull & Bones" in anticipation that there might be an opening here; but I haven't read it. However, just looking at it, the book seems not to go into Voodoo much. I seem to recall a mention many pages back to the effect that Cozumel (was it?) had an emphasis on devotion to the loa of the moon. That's the kind of intelligence that I'll need to acquire, I think, if I'm to create a character that fits the setting.
In the mean time, while I'm flailing about like this*, I hope other interested parties aren't waiting for me to get it together before submitting their own characters. I think the intention here was (yes, I'm guessing) that the early bird gets the first crack at getting a character approved; and that's supposed to be the one who gets a character done first, not started first. (Again: that is guesswork on my part.)
* Re: flailing -- Warlock 3 / Sorcerer 1? No, wait: Warlock 4? Maybe Sorcerer 4, so Ship Mage doesn't displace Patron? No, don't do it that way: start as Warlock but choose your Patron first, because that defines your mix of 'lock and 'tron motivations. That kind of flailing. . . .
Skull & Bones is a terrific resource. Yeah, when it comes to learning about the loa, it's a crap shoot online. I'll see if I can dig up some links that I use, but the Wikipedia article does give a good overview of the nanchons (nations/groupings) of various loa. I tend to think of them as "hot and aggressive" (Petro Loa), "cool, watery, and ancient" (Rada Loa), and "underworld" (Ghede Loa).
As for making a PC, I can only speak to my process, but for more story-based games (like this one), I like to craft story for my character before thinking about mechanics, classes, feats, fortunes, etc. Then once I have that, I like to select things that fit the character. However, not everyone thinks that way.