[OOC] Bifyrd-Feron Adventure [Iron Gauntlets] 3 of 4

[doghead]

Working on Forisa here, and DrZ, if we want her to be a casting priestess, I think she might indeed need a protector

doghead - should I focus on making her a believable village priestess (with enough points in benediction to deliver reasonable sermons to the congregation, for example) or throw in some adventuring type skills for survivability?

Ian

Yeah, casters suffer a bit from MAD. I'm thinking f reworking the system a bit along the lines of three base abilities Mind, Body and Spirit. Divinity and Nostracarnum would be composits of the base abilities; Divinity equals Spirit and Body average, Nostracarnum Mind and Body average. Something like that. But I will restrain myself until we have had some time with the RAW.

I'm not sure wwhat you mean by adventuring type skills exactly. But I don't think dungeons and monster bashing are going to play a major part of the game. Persoanlly I would focus on building whatever concept you have in mind. We can rework if things go south. What combinations were you thinking of?

thotd

 

[doghead]

Doghead, have you read 'songs of ice and fire' by Martin (and if not, shame on you)? I'm thinking about playing a 'dornish' kinda knight, meaning someone from far off, considered strange and untrustworthy because of their different ways.They're a sort of desert people, honourbound and very prickly about it, easily offended.
I don't know about the combat system, if it's feasible to wear a breastplate and be more agile, manoevrable, less likely to get hit then when wearing cumbersome full plate.
I'd like him to fight with a spear and shield, staying away from his opponent and trying to use the reach to an advantage.
As for backstory, the sister of the priestess father could have maried a dornish noble, and he could have travelled back to his family to see what they were about.
I don't know if there's an order of 'knight protectors', vowing to keep the priests safe, some kind of tempeliers, so he could be sworn to protect her.

If not, he could be from the north, with a big axe

Sorry, haven't read them. But this Wikipedia entry suggests that they are fairly close to the style I'm aiming for:

[sblock=Wikipedia]The books are known for a genre-defying willingness to unflinchingly depict patriarchal and feudal systems, extremely detailed and complex characters, sudden and often violent plot twists, and intricate political intrigue. In a genre where magic usually takes center stage, this series has a reputation for its limited and subtle use of magic, employing it as an ambiguous and often sinister background force.[/sblock]

This is the background noted for Guarin from Forissa's entry. It looks like a fairly good match to what you were looking for. Something like a Arminian or Serbian knight in Western europe. A christian, but one who's way and customs would probably be viewed with some suspicion by 'ordinary folk'.

[sblock=Guarin]Guarin is a mystery to most of the villagers. He does
not speak Hârnic well, and generally keeps to himself.
One of Drosta’s children peeked into his open door
one day, and spotted pieces of kurbul armour sitting in a
corner, and a spear and roundshield propped against one
wall. This further fuelled the rumours surrounding the
“foreign” man. Some have speculated about the nature of
the relationship between Forissa and Guarin, but most of
these rumours are, of course, absurd.[/sblock]

Armour doesn't seem to have any effect on movement. Shield and spear would be fine. Not sure whether there is any reach equivalent in the game. But I'm sure we can find a way to incorporate the concept of point defence if there isn't anything in the RAW.

Do you want me to draft something up along those lines? Do want Divine skills (ie, the ability to use Divine powers?)

thotd

 

[Maerdwyn]

I'm not sure wwhat you mean by adventuring type skills exactly. But I don't think dungeons and monster bashing are going to play a major part of the game. Persoanlly I would focus on building whatever concept you have in mind. We can rework if things go south. What combinations were you thinking of?

thotd

That was the basic question - so long as we won't be doing a ton of monster bashing, I'm happy to play write her up as a relative noncombatant whose personal conviction is making her go out beyond the manor walls to help the girl anyway.

I had meant things like weapon skills - She'll need relatively higher mental ability scores and she'll also need to devote points to the divinity ability. That means there's probably only, at most, about 2 points left for Fitness, maybe 1. I was considering the High Priest vocation, which would make all weapons skills non-vocational, and as I did the skills out for her as a HP, it didn't look like there would be four points left over to get up to the 2 ranks in a weapon. I could carve them out if they were necessary - but I'm actually happier not to based on character concept, so long as we won't be doing a ton of monster bashing. If we were looking at more melee combat going forward, I'd probably aim for giving her better odds than needing to roll a 1 for success on only 1D or 2D(assuming I've got the system right at this point )

 

[DrZombie]

This is the background noted for Guarin from Forissa's entry. It looks like a fairly good match to what you were looking for. Something like a Arminian or Serbian knight in Western europe. A christian, but one who's way and customs would probably be viewed with some suspicion by 'ordinary folk'.

thotd

Nice one, doghead, yes, serbian or armanian would fit quite nicely in the concept I'm aiming for.

As for the magic, I'd go for combat first, with a bit of divine magic, something that boosts strength, ore can make you fight beyond your hitpoints , or sumpthing. No preaching or anything like that, he'll convert with his sword, and let the priestess do the talking.

BTW, you really really should try to read 'Song of Ice and Fire', it's one of the best series in the last decade.

 

[Maerdwyn]

Forissa stats:
[sblock]
Name: Forissa of Alban
Race: Female Human.
Background: Faithful (May Allocate points to the Divinity Attribute)
Gimmicks: Irrational Fear of Snakes
Vocation: (High) Priestess
Abilities: Fitness +1, Creativity +2, Awareness +3, Reasoning +3, Influence +4, Divinity +4.
Luck: 5
Skills: [Style - Preaching the True Word: Benediction +5, Blessing +4, Gospel +4, Performance +4], Leadership +4, Literacy +3, Consecration +2, Legends +2, Sacrement +2
Equipment: (100 gp)
Notes: [/sblock]

Comments/advice appreciated - everything is flexible. I'm thinking of dropping Sacrement, since it's a two person skill that requires someone else to perform a successful Benediction first, but it seemed a little silly for her not to have some training in asking for divine assistance (unless that is duplicated/superceded by her Div skills like Gospel or Blessing?) Also, the Gimmick ("irrantional fear of snakes") is a little generic - I'd love to come up with something a little more interesting to pay for that extra point of Div ability, but still working on that. If you have any ideas, let me know

 

[doghead]

Maerdwyn, there isn't going to be a great deal of monster bashing, so you should be fine with limited combat skills. And you're right, Target of 1 with 1D is going to be tough. Especially if you need several steps. Down the track, you can pick up skills at a one to one basis, the one for 2 only applies during creation.

DrZ, OK, a rough draft. Let me know what you think.

Race: Human.
Abilities: Awareness 3, Creativity 2, Fitness 5, Influence 2, Reasoning 1, Divinity 3
Luck: 4
Gimmicks:
Background: Faithful (may put points in Divinity)
Vocation: Holy Knight
Skills: Brawling 4 (FIT), Dueling 5 (FIT), Melee 5 (FIT), Riding 3 (FIT), Sacrement 3 (AWA), Literacy 3 (CRE), Leadership 3 (INF), Composure (-).
* Divinity Skills: Gospel 4

I've taken Sacrement. In conjuntion with Benediction from Forissa, the Knight can make an oath to gain an endownment for the duration of quest

 

[doghead]

Forissa stats:
[sblock]
Name: Forissa of Alban
Race: Female Human.
Background: Faithful (May Allocate points to the Divinity Attribute)
Gimmicks: Irrational Fear of Snakes
Vocation: (High) Priestess
Abilities: Fitness +1, Creativity +2, Awareness +3, Reasoning +3, Influence +4, Divinity +4.
Luck: 5
Skills: [Style - Preaching the True Word: Benediction +5, Blessing +4, Gospel +4, Performance +4], Leadership +4, Literacy +3, Consecration +2, Legends +2, Sacrement +2
Equipment: (100 gp)
Notes: [/sblock]

Comments/advice appreciated - everything is flexible. I'm thinking of dropping Sacrement, since it's a two person skill that requires someone else to perform a successful Benediction first, but it seemed a little silly for her not to have some training in asking for divine assistance (unless that is duplicated/superceded by her Div skills like Gospel or Blessing?) Also, the Gimmick ("irrantional fear of snakes") is a little generic - I'd love to come up with something a little more interesting to pay for that extra point of Div ability, but still working on that. If you have any ideas, let me know

I threw in Benediction because it seemed like a good story device, the knights taking a oath before a quest or battle in return for divine favour. Blessing seems like pretty useful endowment. It all looks pretty good from what I can see. You probably have as good a grasp of the rules as I do.

I'm not sure how this is all going to work in practice, but I'm going to play to the spirit of the game rather than the rules. If something isn't working, we can rework characters between chapters.

DrZ, I'll keep a look out for it. Have you read Deadhouse Gates : Book Two of The Malazan Book of the Fallen (Malazan Book of the Fallen). Its one of the best fantasy books I have read in a while. That and The Amber Spyglass series.


thotd

 

[Maerdwyn]

Down the track, you can pick up skills at a one to one basis, the one for 2 only applies during creation.

Cool - didn't realize this. Makes more sense for her anyway, as she hasn't really seen a need for such training until now.



BTW, Looks like DrZ's knight may be missing a reason ability score.

 

[DrZombie]

DrZ, I'll keep a look out for it. Have you read Deadhouse Gates : Book Two of The Malazan Book of the Fallen (Malazan Book of the Fallen). Its one of the best fantasy books I have read in a while. That and The Amber Spyglass series.


thotd

I love the malleazan book of the fallen, but I'm addicted to 'song of fire and ice' (addicted meaning coughing up 100$ for a deluxe limited edition 'Game of Thrones RPG' , knowing full well that I'll never play or DM it)

Who writes the amber spyglaas thingies?

On the character : Maerdwyn, I never play a character with a reasoning score
Looks good. What's a gimmick?

 

[doghead]

I love the malleazan book of the fallen, but I'm addicted to 'song of fire and ice' (addicted meaning coughing up 100$ for a deluxe limited edition 'Game of Thrones RPG' , knowing full well that I'll never play or DM it)

Who writes the amber spyglaas thingies?

On the character : Maerdwyn, I never play a character with a reasoning score
Looks good. What's a gimmick?

Corrrect. So I added only one point to Reason.

Gimmicks are ... um, Gimmicks. For example; Dark Sight (can see in the dark), Mans Best Friend (you have a dog), Frail (-1D to tasks involving strength). Positive Gimmicks cost one ability point or 3 skill points. Negative Gimmicks add one ability point or 3 skill points.

Phillip Pullman wrote it. Actually, its the Dark Materials trilogy; The Subtle Knife, The Golden Compass and The Amber Spyglass.