[OOC Thread] Delving the Mists (seeking recruits!)

[Cerebus13]

Was digging through some of my old books and happened across a dusty old copy of a 2nd edition Ravenloft book…which led me to look for updated rules and I’ve found quite a lot of new material released for this expansion under the 3 and 3.5 rule sets.

I’m aiming for a party of 4, possibly as much as 5 or 6 if the last two are VERY avid posters. Some quick rules:

- 3.5 rules set
- Level 6 characters
- Books to be used include the 3.5 PHB, DMG and MM. From Ravenloft I would like to use their PHB and DMG, Denizens of the Dark, Heroes of the Light, Champions of Darkness, and Van Richten’s Arsenal. The last three books are mainly in for some added equipment and prestige classes, Denizens is a monster gallery, and the new Ravenloft PHB and DMG rules can mostly be paraphrased by me so don’t worry if you can’t get your hands on any of these books.
- Some races have changed, Half-Orcs are now “Caliban”, and a few more have been added (Half-Vistani). I will also allow one character to make a Dhampir (half-vampire) character if they want with some altered rules…basically you will have to level 3 times before you get out of your “monster levels” (like in the book Savage Species) and can start picking up character levels.
- Any prestige classes are a go as long as you meet the pre-reqs and such.
- 32 point buy. 1st level maxed hps, rest of levels are 75% of hps rounded up.
- Starting cash will either be less than what the DMG recommends, or magic item buys will be limited because Ravenloft in general has less magic in it.

I’m planning to make the party a group of detectives or law enforcement that spends their time investigating crimes and such. They will all know each other initially because I don’t want to take the time to roleplay through meeting each other. I also want to point out that even though the characters are involved with the law it doesn’t mean that cannot perform evil acts sometimes. Dark Powers, Madness, Fear, and Horror checks can all be the results of acts of evil and can easily keep a diabolical PC in line…so tread carefully on that.

If you are interested please post in this thread with an idea of how often you can post (once a day is nice), any questions, and character ideas.

Rogue's Gallery Thread

IC Thread

Edit: We've recently lost 2 players and a third one hasn't posted in a long time...so I'm fishing for any interested parties. Just post a message in this thread and we'll see if we can fit you in.

 

[Telsar]

I'd be very interested. I don't own the ravenloft books, but I know someone who has them that I can borrow them from. I'd like to look over them before I finalize my ideas on my character, but my idea right now is: a female human, 3rd level Rogue, 3rd level Wizard, who kind of skates the edge between good and evil. Her mother had been thought of as a witch in the small town she grew up in, so my character, while growing up, kind of got off on the fear that produced in people, and still does to some extent. She likes to go undercover, with Disguise, and "scare" people straight. But her mother died when she was a teen, and she was taken in by someone in law-enforcement, so she tries to do what's right to please him. This father-figure could be working in the same law-enforcement set-up that she is now; he could be an NPC, or a PC. Anyway, it's just an idea. I can adapt it to fit in with anything you have planned or with other PCs.

I should be able to post at least once a day.

 

[Cerebus13]

You'll mainly want to concentrate on how magic has changed in the Ravenloft setting if you'll be planning on playing a wizard. I don't have the books on hand with me right now because I'm at work...but I might be able to find a summary somewhere and post it if you like. Otherwise this evening I could write up what some of the changes are and give some brief descriptions of any new spells that come up.

A rogue with a high Disguise skill, and access to magic to boot, would make a very handy investigator. Being able to infliltrate criminal groups, gather information from seedy establishments by looking like one of the locals, or even disguise yourself as nobility to sneak into an expensive costume ball...the possibilities are endless.

I really want to encourage one post a day so people don't get impatient or bored with the game, which is probably one of the biggest reasons for a PbP campaign to die that I can see. I'll always try to be quick with my responses to people's posts and if I become busy or have to miss a few days for any reason I'll let you all know ahead of time.

 

[Pyrex]

I'd definately be interested in giving it a shot.

I don't have any of the ravenloft material though (I may have some 2e stuff, I'm not sure).

I'm thinking something along the lines of Rgr or Rgr/Ftr town guard.

Cerebus, have you seen the urban ranger variant (in MotW and mabye CW)? It fits my vision a little better.

 

[Salzorin]

I'd love to get in on this! I have the necessary Ravenloft materials, although I've never played in the setting before. I can post at least once a day... more often than not I can get 2 or 3 posts in a day.

My character idea:
A bounty hunter that has had to deal quite a bit with the supernatural as well. He works with the law enforcement as a free agent, willing to take on any and all work. You need somebody or something hunted? I'm your man.

5 levels ranger (heavy tracking skills/bows)/1 level monster hunter ... from there I would go 1 more level of monster hunter and then probably take some Arcane Archer levels. The guy will be a pure bows specialist and all of his skills will concentrate on finding his prey. I'm eager to try an all bows guy with the new feats and changes they made in 3.5

 

[Cerebus13]

Holy ranger-fest Batman!

Pyrex:
I believe I have read it briefly at some point, but wasn't hugely interested in it myself because I feel they didn't get enough of a boost to make up for the loss of magic. Do you have full access to the rules for them? I would be a lot more likely to let them in if I didn't have to summarize the rules for them .

Salzorin:
Character concept should work out just fine. Just remember to let me know what your favored enemies are, using the descriptions from the PHB, so I can make note of the bonuses you get.

Please don't hestitate to post anymore questions or ideas and I'll try to comment on them as needed.

 

[Pyrex]

I think you're thinking of the spell-less ranger variant which is not what I'm aiming at (and I agree, the spell-less ranger is pretty lame).

The urban ranger variant has a slightly different skill-list (ex: loses Survival but gains Sense Motive) and has a couple other minor tweaks. I'll take a look when I get home and post a summary.

 

[Cerebus13]

I've got lunch in 10 minutes so I'll check when I get home. What book was it in for sure? (I dunno what MotW is, and I'm assuming CW is Complete Warrior which I can check in a little bit)

 

[Gramcrackered]

MotW: Masters of the Wild. I think. Splat-book for Barbarians, Rangers, Druids for Edition 3.0.

I'd be interested in playing. Afraid I don't have the 3.5 Ravenloft DMG and PHB though - only the 3.0. I do, however, have all the extra books you mentioned along with the traditional 3.5 PHB and DMG, and I've heard that the differences in Ravenloft from 3.0 to 3.5 are only minor. Largely why I didn't bother to get them, actually.

Let's see...Telsar wants a Rogue/Wizard...Pyrex wants an Urban Ranger...Salzorian also wants a Ranger...hmmmmm...
I'd like to be a Cleric(5)/Guardian Seeker(1). If the city you're planning on having things take place is large enough or it's simply had problems there before, it's reasonable to think that a Guardian Seeker might have been assigned there by the Order to help out the city guard in the matter of..."unusual" artifacts.

 

[Cerebus13]

I'm thinking of hosting the campaign in the Darkon domain because it is the largest geographically and population-wise. Several different cities large enough to boast some guardian seekers, so you'll fit in fine.