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Manifest Destiny -- Weird 1840s DnD3e Idea. (FULL!)

dave_o

Explorer
Hey, ladies and gents. :D

I've decided to run another PbP. My game, Troupe of the Painted Soul, sorta fell through -- but I really, really like DMing. So, here's round two. I've thought about this game for a while, and I don't want it to be another Deadlands. Deadlands is cool and all, and I actually love it as a game, but it's not what I'm looking for right now. So, without further adieu...

MANIFEST DESTINY
DnD3e in 1840s America

Foreword- Don't bother applying to this game if you're looking for something you can, more or less, blow off. While I'm not going to be a post-Nazi, I do want engaged players who're into the game. So if this doesn't sound like totally your bag, skip me. I want players who will plot and think outside the hooks, and create hooks of their own. I want Oscar winners! :D

What's Different- This is a world in which the War of 1812 didn't go very well, at all. In fact, the United States goes only up to the Mississippi River. Beyond that? It's all Spain's. But there isn't a lot of overt tension. Sure, the Americans think "Those damn Spaniards!" and the Spanish think "Sucio Americano perros!", but trade is possible, and does occur over the Mississippi. Guns aren't as prominent as they were, as well. China is still part of the American west, however, in a China-Spain alliance of sorts. And there's still talk and progress toward building a transcontinental railroad.

Samuel Colt didn't invent his gun until 1848, but I'm going a step beyond that, and making guns not be much better than what they were during the early Civil War. What's that mean? Sabres, swords, and big f'in' rocks are still valid.

Oh, and perhaps the largest difference -- the Euro-American races are composed of Humans and Halflings. Asian races are Elves. Gnomes, Dwarves, and the like? We don't got no stinkin' room for 'em. There will be a few other races too, but that's what I like to call a surprise. :D

Rules and Crunchy Bits- I'll be using the classes from DnD3e with no changes. Stuff from splatbooks, other campaign settings, or your third grade notebook are totally cool as long as you let me have a look, first. My biggest want is that you keep your choices flavorful, stylistic, and non-munchkin. Maximizing your character is one thing, having them afraid of monkeys with wings to get a few stat points is quite another.

Unless, of course, their family was murdered by bird-monkeys.

Character Creation- All right, standard 4d6 drop the lowest, all your buddies and cheer at 18s deal here. Fourth level characters, with standard wealth as per the Dungeon Master's Guide. Magic items are cool, but do try and make them fitting to the setting. An example? Well, a Hat of Disguise works easily with no changes. But something like a Potion of Glibness could become Snake Oil, or something. Same stats, great new taste.

Here's an example statblock (from my defunct Troupe of the Painted Soul PbP, actually):

Falmari - Male Elven Fighter 8; CR 8; Medium-size humanoid; HD 8d10+8; HP 50; Init +9 (+5 Dex, +4 Imp Init); Spd 60ft; AC 17 (touch 17, flat-footed 12); Atk +15/+10 Melee (1d6+5 14-20/x2, +1 keen wounding rapier) or +13/+8 Ranged; SA Bonus Feats; SQ Immune to Sleep, +2 vs. Enchantments, Low-Light Vision, Proficient with longsword and bows, +2 to Listen, Search and Spot, Auto-Search; AL CG; SV Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2; Str 12 Dex 20 Con 12 Int 13 Wis 10 Cha 12.

Skills: Ride +16, Climb +12, Handle Animal +12, Jump +11, Hide +15.

Feats: Improved Initative, Expertise, Weapon Finesse (Rapier), Combat Reflexes, Improved Critical (Rapier), Quick Draw, Weapon Focus (Rapier), Weapon Specialization (Rapier).

Languages: Common, Elven, Sylvan.

Spells Per Day: N/A

Posessions: +1 keen wounding rapier, Boots of Striding and Springing, Bracers of Armor +2, Cloak of Elvenkind, 300gp.

XP: 28,000.

Endword- Basically, that's it. Any questions you may have should be directed at me via e-mail, or AIM. AIM actually works a lot better, since I have broadband and just leave it up, but either one is a-okay. Once again, only express interest if you're way interested. I really want this thing to hang on. :D

Cast of Characters-
1. NICHOLAS AMBROSE CARLYLE IV; Former dandy who, beset upon by illness, lost his status as a golden child and now rides the waves of chance through the dusty West. (Male Human Rogue 3/Fighter 1; played by morrolan)
2. HONG WEN; Exile from his homeland, escaping the terrible Manchu dynasty there. (Male Elf Evoker 4; played by Sollir Furryfoot)
3. SANTIAGO DE LA ROSA; A Spanish army deserter who has found purchase in God and follows His way. (Male Human Paladin 4; played by Argent Silvermage)
4. FATHER SEAMUS MCKINNEY; Righteous and evangelistic Father who has come to America to help spread the Holy Word, while offering an equally proportinate amount of Holy Wrath. (Male Human Bard 4; played by Corinthi)
5. ELIAS CORREA; Spanish Army deserter and a wanted man, living with the guilt of an Aztec love lost. (Male Human Barbarian 4; played by Jarval)
6. PIERRE BLACKWOLF; An French-Indian halfbreed recently fleeing his tribe in search of an evil prophesized in his dreams. (Male Halfling Rogue 1/Ranger 3; played by ferretguy.)
 
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Sounds very exciting, I'm interested in playing an elf or similar if you'll let me join

If so, what sort of gun rules are you using? (pardon me if I missed it)
 
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Sollir Furryfoot said:
Sounds very exciting, I'm interested in playing an elf or similar if you'll let me join

If so, what sort of gun rules are you using? (pardon me if I missed it)

You're the second Chinese/Elf that's expressed interest. w00t. :D

Gun rules? Well, guns are supposed to be crappy, so I'll be rocking the Renaissance firearms rules from the 3.0 Dungeon Master's Guide.

Try to keep your character in that sort of statblock above, too. It makes it easy on poor Dave.
 

Revising

Base Scores- 9, 10, 10, 14, 15, 17

Hong Wen - Male Elven Wizard (Evoker) 4; CR 4; Medium-size humanoid (elf); HD 4d4+4; HP 14; Init +5 (+5 Dex); Spd 30ft; AC 15 (touch 15, flat-footed 10); Atk +1 Melee (1d3-1 20/x2, unarmed strike) or +9 Ranged (1d10, 20/x3, MW Pistol, MW bullets); SA Spells; SQ Immune to Sleep, +2 vs. Enchantments, Low-Light Vision, Proficient with longsword and bows, +2 to Listen, Search and Spot, Auto-Search; AL LN; SV Fort +2, Ref +6, Will +4; Str 9 Dex 20 Con 12 Int 15 Wis 10 Cha 10.

Skills: Concentration +8, Knowledge (Arcana) +9, Knowledge (American Law) +9, Spellcraft +9

Feats: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Firearms), Point Blank Shot, Scribe Scroll (Bonus).

Languages: English, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish.

Wizard Spells Prepared (4/4+1/3+1): (Conjuration Prohibited)
0-Arcane Mark (x2), Open/Close (x2)
1-Magic Missile, Shield (x2), Sleep (x2)
2-Cat's Grace, Protection from Bullets (As PfA), Shatter (x2)

Spellbook (All/6/4)
1-Magic Missile, Shield, Silent Illusion, Sleep, Tenser's Floating Disk, True Strike
2-Cat's Grace, Flaming Sphere, Protection from Bullets, Shatter

Possessions: MW Pistol x2 (1,100 gold), 100 MW bullets (100 gold), Hat of Disguise (2,000 gold), Feather Token Tanglefoot Bags x5 (250 gold), Scroll Organizer (5 gold, FRCS) containing: Scroll of Shield x2 (50 gold), Scroll of Cat's Grace x2 (300 gold), Scroll of Invisibility x2 (300 gold), Scroll of Mirror Image x2 (300 gold), Scroll of Rope Trick x2 (300 gold), Scroll of Web x2 (300 gold), 395 gold remaining.

XP: 6000

Background: Hong Wen left China before the Manchu dynasty took over (this event happened in 1841, I'm not sure if this has happened in game yet), leaving his wife behind on a boat to America's west, in search of promise. What he found instead was an outrage to his personal code, his own people being treated as slaves-their occupations mainly being of cooks, miners, and being used for other forms menial labor. Although loyal to his family, he eschewed their name until he could find himself worthy in this new land. He took up learning the ways of the Americans by himself, specifically on their use of guns, and combined it with the mystical arts he learned in the East. So far he's spent most of his time wandering around, finding and testing himself against other gunslingers, and trying to promote equality for his people.

Description: Hong Wen wears his hair in braids and often dons a black hat and cloak when adventuring. Often however, he uses his hat's magic to disguise his appearance to that of an American's when moving about them to cause less trouble.
 
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Room for more?

Sounds like a pretty good setup! Would love to join if there is still room. Maybe a southern riverboat gambler/duellist type?

Cheers
Morrolan
 

Would love to give it a try, semi modern with fantasy elements would be alot of fun. Hafling explorer (read thief...) or Trapper (ranger type) I could try to have basics up tomorrow. Only one trouble I am leaving for a course in San Diego on Wednesday won't be back until Sat night. If is a prob, oh well, mucho sadness but understandable.
 

I'd like to snag a slot. The game has incredible potential for coolness. What about a fire and brimstone Irish catholic priest. A heavy drinkin' man o' god. Maybe a level of Monk to Represent the way Catholic priests were often displayed as fisticuffs types.

I'll try to work something up by tomorrow night.
 

Sollir Furryfoot said:
Base Scores- 9, 10, 10, 14, 15, 17

Hong Wen, male elf Evoker 4: CR 4; ECL 4; Medium-size Humanoid (elf); HD 4d4+4; hp 14; Init +5 (+5 Dex); Spd 30 ft; AC 15 (+5 Dex); Melee unarmed strike +1 (1d3-1), Ranged MW Pistol +8 (1d10/x3); SA spells; SQ elven traits, summon familiar; AL LN; SV Fort +2, Ref +6, Will +4; Str 9, Dex 20, Con 12, Int 15, Wis 10, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: X; Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Firearms), Point Blank Shot, Scribe Scroll.
SQ–Elven Traits (Ex): Sleep immunity, +2 save vs. Enchantment, low-light vision, proficient: longsword or rapier, proficient: longbows and shortbows.
Wizard Spells Prepared (4/4+1/3+1): (Conjuration Prohibited)
0-Arcane Mark (x2), Open/Close (x2)
1-Magic Missile, Shield (x2), Sleep (x2)
2-Cat's Grace, Protection from Bullets (As PfA), Shatter (x2)
Spellbook (All/6/4)
1-Magic Missile, Shield, Silent Illusion, Sleep, Tenser's Floating Disk, True Strike
2-Cat's Grace, Flaming Sphere, Protection from Bullets, Shatter
Equipment: MW Pistol x2 (1,100 gold), Hat of Disguise (2,000 gold), 2300 gold remaining.


Aiming for a PrC that's similar to the arcane archer but is for a gunslinger, I need to look for where I found it though.

Any chance elves can get exotic weapon prof: firearms instead of longbows/shortbows?

'Hong Wen' means something similar to great intellect/keeper of knowledge, I have to ask again for the complete meaning (it's my chinese name).

Rad. I'm gonna have to say no on the Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Firearms since Elves replace the Chinese, and the Chinese were said to use bows well into the 1800s. Also, if you could write a little description/personality that'd be righteous. :D

Also, it'd belp a lot if you could get Hong Wen in the exact format I use.

morrolan said:
Sounds like a pretty good setup! Would love to join if there is still room. Maybe a southern riverboat gambler/duellist type?

Cheers
Morrolan

Sounds rad. Just post a writeup. :D

ferretguy said:
Would love to give it a try, semi modern with fantasy elements would be alot of fun. Hafling explorer (read thief...) or Trapper (ranger type) I could try to have basics up tomorrow. Only one trouble I am leaving for a course in San Diego on Wednesday won't be back until Sat night. If is a prob, oh well, mucho sadness but understandable.

Also, rad. Write up! And being gone until Saturday night isn't a problem. I'm pretty sure it'll be a while before we start this puppy.

Corinthi said:
I'd like to snag a slot. The game has incredible potential for coolness. What about a fire and brimstone Irish catholic priest. A heavy drinkin' man o' god. Maybe a level of Monk to Represent the way Catholic priests were often displayed as fisticuffs types.

I'll try to work something up by tomorrow night.

Rad the third. :D

Totally.
 


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