Deuce Traveler's Six Nights to Yearsend (Ptolus one-shot)

[Lorthanoth]

Well, I trust our DM will find a creative way to play to our strengths and weaknesses... (not sure what Skrymer's weaknesses are... but...)

I'm not sure Verosh is all that tough; highly skilled yes (and I'll need luck to pull his best moves off), but if he's up against high-damage (which at Level 10 we probably will be) monsters his HPs will go down very quickly... I can see his weaknesses and I can see how I would fight against him if I were an enemy... now to avoid those situations haha.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Edit: Since Ptolus is considered unusual, what would you think of me playing as an Awakened creature? Maybe something standard and unassuming, like a cat or dog or wolf, some type of animal.

It's an interesting idea, but you might be adding more work for yourself trying to figure out your intelligence, wisdome, and charisma vs your physical stats. Would this be an arcane caster, and if so how would you propose having a spellbook with no opposable thumbs? I suppose it could be a sorcerer... maybe with a human familiar that pretends you are the familiar... I did that once with a pseudo-dragon and picked a hobo for my familiar. The fun part was making him disappear and reappear. I take it the character wouldn't be a barbarian, although maybe those claws could do damage in a rage.

 

[OnlytheStrong]

How about a celestial monk? lol Some kind of angel? I'd be able to stand up to the bear then, maybe.

 

[ethandrew]

It's an interesting idea, but you might be adding more work for yourself trying to figure out your intelligence, wisdome, and charisma vs your physical stats. Would this be an arcane caster, and if so how would you propose having a spellbook with no opposable thumbs? I suppose it could be a sorcerer... maybe with a human familiar that pretends you are the familiar... I did that once with a pseudo-dragon and picked a hobo for my familiar. The fun part was making him disappear and reappear. I take it the character wouldn't be a barbarian, although maybe those claws could do damage in a rage.

I'd probably stay rogue, which is why a lithe, stealthy animal would be more prudent. It's just an idea that I was throwing around, doesn't necessarily have to be awakened. Maybe the character was cursed and its essence was transferred to an animal of some sort.

 

[wysiwyg]

I'm back. Sorry for the late reply, I'm just more limited on this vacation than I thought.
Things will get back to normal when I return on Thursday night.

Anyways, I see I'm in group A which suits me fine as I've been reading the Ptous Players Guide in the meantime. My contact Ippicus (see below) will be useful in the purchases of weapons.

I've come up with a basic background for my PC (posted also on my PC sheet):

Kareus was born in Ptolus to an socially upcoming family. His father, a successful trading guild councillor, always dreamed that his son will one day pursue a career similar to his own. Unfortunetaly, in a city flooded by adventureres and their exotic dreams (and more often nightmares) a restless boy such as Kareus could not see himself sitting behind a desk for a living, no matter how lavish.
Since he always had a good relationship with his parents, and not wanting to disappoint his father, he completed his studies in merchantile law in the local university of Ptolus. During this time, he made several good friends who also graduated albeit from different faculties and are now contributung members in prominent guilds/societies in Ptolus.
His friend Ippicus (and contact), joined Shuul, and is now a senior engineer in that guild. He has an ex-girlfriend, Loraine, with whom he is still on good terms, who is very involved in the local law enforcement.
Kareus does parttime work as a negotiator for wealthy merchants in the traders guild in between adventures.

 

[Lorthanoth]

This is shaping up to be an exciting group!

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Lorthanoth: Thanks!

OnlytheStrong: You can always purchase some useless, but decorative wings for Tagret.

ethandrew: It's not a bad idea, but I'm not sure what class would help make it work. Most creatures don't have the thumbs to do what rogue's are good at, such as picking locks and disarming traps. If you played a blink dog and specialized as a fighter with a bite attack then you would still have to find armor and would be unable to wear a shield. Basically that would make you a lightly armed fighter. A sorcerer or wizard needs components and to be able to move their bodies and hands in certain manners. A warlock might work, as well as a psionic character.

wysiwyg: Ok, here are your contacts:

Ippicus (Rogue 2/Expert 8), is a member of the Shuul and an important engineer in their organization. The contact is able to get Kareus a 5% discount on technological equipment, weapons, and ammunition and also likes to show off several of his own theoretical designs. Ippicus has a twisted sense of humor, and enjoys watching Kareus try out some of his latest prototypes, sometimes to Kareus' dismay hence Ippicus' discount that he offers in order to make up for any embarrassments. Although both Ippicus and Kareus have joined Shuul, Kareus has not moved as far up in the organization due to his focus on adventure (or as Ippicus likes to call it, field work) rather than scientific application.

Loraine (Bard 3/Knight of the Chord 2), is a member of the Knights of the Chord, and used to adventure with Kareus back when they were younger and, in her stories wilder. The break up was not on the best of terms, although they remain friends despite Loraine's disturbing habit of bringing up the reasons for their separation at the most awkward times and in the most awkward fashion. The knights sometimes patrol Oldtown with other Orders or along with the City Watch and are a respected organization of Ptolus. Loraine is a solid source of information when it comes to the happenings in the local law enforcement.

Marcad Shever (Aristocrat 3/Fighter 4) of House Shever is a friend and sometimes business partner of Kareus. Marcad has helped foster business contact among his more technologically interested family members and the Shuul, often using Kareus as a negotiator between the two well-to-do factions. Although a solid businessman, Marcad is more interested in mundane trade rather than in technology, which he finds surprisingly boring. Through working with Marcad's non-technological business partners, Kareus has formed a network that allows him to enjoy a 5% discount on non-magical, non-weapon, non-armor equipment.

 

[Ilium]

I'm still here. A little slower getting things together than I thought, but I've made good progress on Kantris. My concept has morphed a bit into an Indiana Jones-style academic specializing in the exploration and study of the various ruins and relics in and beneath Ptolus. Still sticking with the Initate of the Sevenfold Veil concept, but I was a little disappointed with how many feats I had to take to qualify. Oh, well.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Ilium: No worries. I am hitting the tail end of checking everyone's sheets, but have just a little more to go.

Do firearms qualify for my racial craft bonuses?

For that group of dwarves, I would say yes. It's late for me since I work the nightshift, so bear with me when I ask what CAdv stands for. MoF is Magic of Faerun, right?

Reflex should be 13 instead of 12 because of the magically enhanced Dex, or am I crazy?

I will do your contacts tomorrow... sorry, I have to get up for work in a few hours...

 

[Scotley]

Just a guess, but I'd say CAdv is 'Complete Adventurer'.

I'm still working on the Duskblade. I'm in a quandary about race. I was thinking human, but after doing some reading I'm tempted by Mojh. Do you have any objections to my playing one? I expect they are a good fit with the Duskblade. I know mechanically they are advantageous, but I'm not sure I can do justice to the role-play aspects of such an exotic race.