Castles & Crusades - Who interested in a PBEM?

[Dragonhelm]

I've both played and DM'd in a few PBeM's in my time, and I can say the best experiences are the free-form ones.

I've been itching to get into a C&C game of some sort, but there's none around these parts. With the rate you're describing, I think I'll give it a go.

I'd be interested in some sort of wizard or illusionist, possibly multiclassed with fighter or ranger.

How do you tackle multi-classing? You say that it's like 3e, so I'm assuming the BtH would stack. Would I be correct that, in order to mutliclass into a new class, I'd have to already have the prime for that class? For example, if I'm a wizard who wants to learn a few fighting skills, I'd have not only my prime in Int for wizard, but I'd need a prime in Str to take a level of fighter. If I'm off on this, let me know.

How do half-elves work in your game?

Also, if I might make a suggestion, I'd recommend starting a Yahoogroup. They work great for PBeM games. I use one for the Star Wars PBeM I play in.

Long post short, I'm interested and could play any number of things.

 

[Turanil]

This is great!! Five / six players! I think we are done.

Generation: Roll 4d6, discard the lowest.

Clerics: rules remain the same. I just wanted to point out that a cleric is before all a priest, someone with strong religious emphasis rather than just a guy with plate mail and mace that can give back hp. Of course, a cleric may wear plate mail, wield a mace, and give back hp, but hopefully you see what I mean. Clerics are all priests of the Holy Church; their religion is the True Faith, loosely based on the Christian faith and Helene Church of David Eddings. The main objective of the Holy Church is to save souls from damnation. The Holy Church is basically LN with Good tendancies; yet there are allegiances not alignments, so it is an approximation. All priests have allegiance to the Church and to the "Law of God", and it means most priests are LN, with many LG and NG ones, and a few LE fanatics. It is said that a few priests have betrayed the faith and get dark magical powers from one of the seven Demon-Princes of Dread.

I will start a Googlegroup soon. But some emails will be outside the group of course.

Houserules:

-- Each PC has a background profession. This could be whatever appropriate to medieval and your class you can think of. A wizard could be an alchemist or a sage or a noble for example. The result is to add level to attribute checks that would pertain to your profession, but not other professions. Obviously a cleric's background is something like: parish-priest or recluse-illuminist-scholar or witch-finder, etc.

-- I give feats at 3rd level, 6th, etc. Feats as found in various thread on the subject of C&C feats. An example: a rogue may have weapon finesse with the rapier, meaning he uses his Dex modifier to BtH (but not damage) instead of Strength when using the rapier.

-- PCs begin with a number of Sanity points equal to 5 times their wisdom. This is not CoC however, so these points will be used only in extreme circumstances. On the other hand, they are very difficult to get back, and it tends to involve a priest rather than a psychologist.

-- Allegiances instead of alignments. Typical allegiances are: to the King, to the liege (feudal lord), to the Church, to the Iron Brotherhood (dwarves / swiss mercenaries), to the Chivalry Code, etc.

-- Multiclassing is like in 3e, with a painful twist: you use the worst EPP of the two classes whether you take a level in wizard or fighter.

-- Half-elves are treated normally. However, fluff-wise, they are orphans. They were sired by an outcast elf (the wise spirit folk never mingle with humans) and abandoned. They are raised by their human parent (usually a mother) or in some orphanage (of the Church). People see them as cursed people at best, with suspicion of witchcraft at worst. Half-elves are raised as humans, don't speak elven, and with some appropriate clothing and make-up can reasonably pass as humans, which is generally better for not attracting trouble.

-- Wizards must find their spells. It's not so difficult, but means I give them, not the player choose. Anyway, you can tell me what spells you would like to have.

-- I will handle combat, but so you know: on a natural 20 one deals maximum weapon damage and is entitled an immediate additionnal attack against the same target.

-- Maximum hit-points at first level. Normal thereafter.

 

[Turanil]

Hakon Helm
Brother of the Order Militant of the Mother Church
i.e. 1st Level Half-Orc Paladin (LG)

Hakon Helm is okay. Make him 3rd level. The class is paladin for game mechanics, but Church Knight for name. Instead of LG alignment, he must have allegiance to "The Law of God" and to the Church Knights order. He can have allegiance to either "Good" or to the "Code of Chivalry" in addition to that.

Background is okay. Now, I prefer this one: both parents were human nobles. However, as Hakon was born with "the flaw" (i.e.: is a half-orc) it meant that one of the two noble parents had an orc among his distant ancestors. Of course such thing was innacceptable and a source of great shame for the noble family. Hence Hakon was put in a monastery to be raised far away. He would be raised as a Church Knight in the hope of redeeming the forgotten ancestors of that shame and letting such a disgrace not happening twice to the family; plus the secret hope that, as Church Knight, Hakon would quickly die. Hakon doesn't know who the noble parents are, and know of his noble ascendancy because of an indiscretion.

As a Church Knight, Hakon has a black plate mail.

 

[Akrasia]

This looks pretty cool, Turanil. If it is okay with you, I think I'll try a dwarf wizard. In terms of background, I imagine that he was raised to be a scribe, but his love of lore and magic compelled him to leave the family business.

I am not too familiar with the "Allegiance" system, but I envision this fellow as obsessed with acquiring lore and wealth -- and pretty self-centered but deeply loyal to his friends and family. He keeps his beard well trimmed, and has a weakness for human women and lager.

Anyway, if this is all okay, I will generate and post the PC tomorrow (tentative name: Nevahrk "Lager-licker").

 

[catenwolde]

Hakon Helm

Nice tweeks to the character! I haven't read Eddings in years, but from what I remember I think the concepts will mesh well. Now that I think of it, I might have been channeling Sparrowhawk anyway ... I'll rewrite things and post them for inspection.

Cheers,

Christopher

PS - I should mention that I'm in Helsinki (yes, the one in Finland), so I'm at +7 EST. However, I'm on-line pretty much 24/7, so communication is not a problem.

 

[Turanil]

Dwarf wizard is okay. Scribe background (in fact: clerk - public writer) is okay, it's just that his profession of scribe and his love for books and knowledge brought him to study arcane magic. As a scribe however, he is not a licensed wizard, as would be the case if he was an alchemist. But it won't pose too many problems however, just some added roleplaying hehe.

Allegiances are found in the D20 Modern SRD. They are not required, and generally it's to a faith, a nation, an ideal, or an organization. A dwarf would probably have an allegiance to his clan. Then, it's up to the individual dwarf. Lets say your character has an allegiance to "Knowledge", it means that it won't tolerate a book of knowledge being destroyed, even if it is dark knowledge that could be used for evil.

Dwarves by the way, are well accepted everywhere in the campaign, contrary to the other races. Dwarves are usually known to be fierce mercenaries.

Names: They are essential for a good flavor. As such, I think that Nevahrk "Lager-licker" is too much basic heroic-fantasy, and that I prefer something more Merovingian-like. Here are some appropriate names :

Merovingian Names
-- Male names: Achard, Adalbert, Adhemar, Aimery, Alberic, Amboise, Ambroise, Archibald Arnulf, Baldwyn, Balian, Basil, Benedict, Berenger, Bernard, Bertrand, Bervold, Bleys, Charles, Constantin, Corwyn, Crespin, Daimbert, Duncan, Dundald, Durnan, Eliand, Enguerrand, Eudes, Eustace, Evremar, Foulques, Frodoart, Gabriel, Gauffier, Ganelon, Geoffroy, Gervase, Gervold, Gilles, Godfrey, Guibert, Guillaume, Guy, Harparin, Hennequin, Holger, Hubert, Hugh, Humbert, Humphrey, Jacques, Joscelin, Junius, Kevin, Kyle, Komier, Laurois, Lauzun, Lothaire, Louis, Martel, Martin, Miles, Nestor, Odo, Ogier, Perraine, Pepin, Phillibert, Raimberge, Reynald, Robert, Roland, Süger, Tancred, Theoden, Thibault, Thoros, Turpin, Urien, Waleran, Waultier.
-- Female names: Adela, Alberada, Alianora, Alicia, Angela, Bertha, Blanche, Blancheflor, Catharina, Catherine, Constance, Daphné, Deirdre, Doda, Eléanor, Elvira, Eschiva, Eva, Eudocia, Godvere, Helen, Heloise, Helvis, Hodernia, Ida, Irmina, Isabella, Juliana, Lucia, Guenièvre, Maria, Mathilda, Mellisende, Morgana, Morphia, Plaisance, Richelda, Sybilla, Sigelgaita, Thamara, Theodora, Yolanda.
-- Family names: Aloric, Amaynar, Amisor, Avicenne, Barbençoit, Beaujeu, Châtillon, Commynes, Dardand, Dabour, Daillon, Dolmant, Dunois, Gilpin, Gladmar, Golin, Grindel, Guildemort, Jehan, Laugones, Luzarches, Malddon, Mondragon, Montferrand, Montmouth, Nerac, Poncor, Ronceaux, Segrel, Seigneley, Siebert, Tallemant, Valloric, Villon.
-- Scholar surnames: Agrippa, Amadeus, Augustinus, Basileus, Copernicus, Cornelius, Darrumus, Demetrius, Dionus, Eridanus, Ignatus, Marconius, Menenius, Nicolaus, Gustavus, Octavius, Otarius, Philarchius, Quirinus, Theophilus, Vitarius.

Dwarven Names Dwarves have names more like Swiss / German (Heinrich Strudlï for example). I will complete this list later.

 

[MonsterMash]

I'd be interested if there are still any vacancies.

 

[Turanil]

I'd be interested if there are still any vacancies.

So far we have:

Breakdaddy
Serleran
catenwolde
Akrasia
Fenris
Dragonhelm
Monstermash

Okay that will be it. I don't want to handle more than 7 players. Now, it could be that some of you finally don't join or abandon quickly (a normal feature of any PBEM, be it good or not). Monstermash, read the above posts and play what you want provided it fits the limits explained.

Now I am going to create a yahoogroup:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CnC_pbem
CnC_pbem@yahoogroups.com

 

[MonsterMash]

I think I'll go for a Dwarf Mercenary fighter - I'll try to write up the background today. I'l try and roll up the character tonight with my PHB.

Yahoo or Google groups are fine for me as I've got accounts for both.

 

[catenwolde]

Hakon Helm II

How does this look? I swapped Dex and Wis and made Wis Prime instead of Str, to emphasize the strength of will of a Paladin instead of the physical strength derived from his ancestory. I'm pretty sure this is a "bad" way to use these stat's and Primes, but it seems to fit the character. Since we have no Clercis per se, does his Turn Undead ability fit the campaign? Likewise, I wasn't quite sure what to do with his Feat.

Cheers,

Christopher


Hakon Helm


Church Knight
Allegiances to the Order Militant, The Law of God, and the Code of Chivalry
(i.e. 3rd Level Half-Orc Paladin, Lawful Good)

Str 18 (+3)
Dex 12
Con 18 (+3)
Int 10
Wis 15 (+1) *
Cha 5 (–2) *


* Prime Characteristics: Wisdom, Charisma

Cursed Race: born half-orc to human parents
Background Profession: Cantor (”Aye, he’s hideous, but he’s a beautiful tenor.”)
Sanity Points: 75
Feat: Unshakable Faith, +? to Wis and Cha Saves?

Detect Evil 60’
Darkvision 60’
Enhanced Smell 30’
Martial Prowess, +1 AC Unarmored
Divine Aura, +2 AC and Saves vs. Evil
Divine Health, Immune to Disease
Cure Disease, 1 / wk
Lay on Hands, Cure 2hp / lvl / day
Turn Undead, Wis @ lvl –2 to Turn, # Turned d12 / d6 / 1

HP 33
AC 17 (19 vs. Evil)


Black Plate Mail, +7 AC

Two-handed Sword, 2d6 +3 @ +5
Hand Axe, d6 +3 @ +5 (Thrown 10’ @ +2)
Dagger, d4 +3 @ +5 (Thrown 10’ @ +2)

Tunic
Trousers
Heavy Boots
Cloak
Leather Gloves
Silver Holy Symbol
Signet Ring
Coin: 115 gp

Large Pouch
Armor and Weapon Oil
Whetstone
Flint and Steel
Bandages (10)

Backpack
Bedroll
Trousers
Tunics (2)
Soft Boots
Rations (7 days)
Waterskin (1 gallon)



Background: In the seventh year after the crowning of the young king, a despairing young couple of noble blood placed their first-born child into the care of a remote monastery, desperate to hide the curse of its twisted form. Well-paid to ensure the boy’s comfort and their own silence, the brother monks cared for him in their own harsh and unforgiving way, seeking to turn the taint of past evil to future good. Under their tutelage, young Hakon grew in stature and promise beyond his curse. In time, he left the monastery and traveled the world, a champion to those oppressed by the evil that had shaped him. Hiding his course mien behind hood and armor, he earned the name Hakon Helm.