Open-Minded Adventurers Wanted for Extravagant Planes-Hopping!

[rangerjohn]

Character with changes, up in the RG. Since I won't be going for guarded defense, I switched to 16 str, 12 int.

 

[Kelleris]

Okay, then. First off, I've managed (finally) to update the missing documents to the Rogue Gallery thread.

Second, I'm going to check out the format and character background of everyone who's posted completed characters to the Rogue's Gallery thread. Also, just in terms of blanket suggestions, you will need some manner of motivation to be in the city of Dromus when the campaign starts, preferably in a situation where being approached by a shady employer would be a good thing.

Yeah, I know, it's a cliche... On the other hand, Mr. Shady is actually DemonWolfZero's character, who's almost as ignorant as you are (and you haven't even started yet). You'll be picking up a plotline with two short-ish sessions already behind it, and Demon has the Plot Widget, and all the troubles that come with it. But I'll let him explain that himself once this starts.

If anyone has the time and Google-fu to manage it, it'd be nice if you could follow Jolmo's lead and dig up an image for your character. A good place to start would be WotC's character image gallery.

Also, before I post some more substantial rules, I need to check and make sure that 1 post every weekday is feasible for everyone. Speak now, or I'll probably be annoyed later! And nobody wants an annoyed DM...

@ Jolmo -

As far as your background goes, I like it. Bonus points if you name the Caelder capital for me. I trust you'll come up with specifics as the game calls for it?

@ rangerjohn -

I'd appreciate it if you used Jolmo's character sheet format, since having a uniform set-up will make it easier for me to parse the sheets. If it would be a major hassle for you, just tell me, and I'll take a few minutes to reformat it and post it here so you can just copy/paste it.

For your three (!) Planar Touchstone feats, just list them like so: Planar Touchstone (Plane [Sub-plane]). The long descriptions don't need to be there, since everyone should have the document they're from already. If you want them there for personal reference, just say so and one of us can cut it down to the salient points.

Your backstory is a bit sparse. Are you one of the players who like their story and personality to develop in-game from a minimal foundation?

And finally, I checked out your skill points and such after your stat change. Looks good.

@ Zerth -

Whoa. From a sparse backstory to an embarassment of riches!

...a notable monk/paladin, who in his time managed to defeat and imprison a powerful demon.

Consider being a little more specific in the demon in question - at least give me a name to drop! Most of the powerful outsiders and aberrations that attack the monasteries are associated with the Negative Energy Plane.

Also, given my cosmology, a demon would likely not be banished back to the Abyss. This cluster of planes is at the far edge of the multiverse, well away from the Outer Planes (which are, oddly, more Inner than Outer in this case). Plane Shift, banishment, and similar spells do not have the power to reach all the way to the Abyss from Tila'kun. It would actually take something like 50 well-done plane shifts to get there from here.

...a desolate monastery in Tila’kun he trusted...

Desolate? How so? In a desolate area (not many of those in Tila'kun), or is it a run-down monastery? Or something else?

She was taught meditation...

...and has max ranks in Concentration, I see. Good deal!

The "Desciption" section is good, but I did want to ask about one thing: most Tila'kun look Asian/Pacific Islander. Is this the case with Illira, or is she an exception due to her odd heritage?

 

[Zerth]

I can usually post at least once every weekday. I try to find a picture for the character as you suggested.

@ Zerth -
Consider being a little more specific in the demon in question - at least give me a name to drop! Most of the powerful outsiders and aberrations that attack the monasteries are associated with the Negative Energy Plane

I deliberately didn't mention many names in my background, because it's your homebrew world and I thought you wanted to control the naming policy. Illira doesn't even know the demon's name herself, so it's not that important to me as a player. So, if you don't mind, you name that big evil whatever you see fit.

Also, given my cosmology, a demon would likely not be banished back to the Abyss. This cluster of planes is at the far edge of the multiverse, well away from the Outer Planes (which are, oddly, more Inner than Outer in this case). Plane Shift, banishment, and similar spells do not have the power to reach all the way to the Abyss from Tila'kun. It would actually take something like 50 well-done plane shifts to get there from here.

I thought the Abyss might not be the proper choice, but I wasn't sure. Maybe it was a very powerful ritual, that actually did send the demon back to the Abyss. It took forever for the demon to return, so the fiend was really, really furious as a result. Or banished to the Negative Energy Plane like you hinted. Whatever works well with what you have in mind. You know better, because you're the DM!

Desolate? How so? In a desolate area (not many of those in Tila'kun), or is it a run-down monastery? Or something else?

Argh. I'm sorry, I meant to say remote, not desolate. This is what sometimes happens, because English is not my native language. Bear me. But the idea was basically, that the father wanted to hide her daughter, so the monastery in question is not well-known to the majority of people and probably far away from the more populated areas.

Was taught meditation ...and has max ranks in Concentration, I see. Good deal!

Dead on!

The "Desciption" section is good, but I did want to ask about one thing: most Tila'kun look Asian/Pacific Islander. Is this the case with Illira, or is she an exception due to her odd heritage?

She does not look like Asian at all. It is partly because of her heritage, but also because her family is not originally from Tila'kun. She was only brought there to be safe from the demon's cultists. The father is a paladin and a templar of some righteous do-gooder Proxy from Kelluna. Looks like I forgot to mention that. Illira does not know her father, she was too young to remember him, when she was left to the monks.

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

Zerth, for your major demon bloodline, you have to take two bloodline leves (one at 3rd and one at 6th, the next one at 12th), or you can't continue to gain bloodline abilities beyond 2nd until you do. Check page 19-20 of UA. Just FYI.

 

[Argent Silvermage]

Dashan Khurz

Male Human
Ranger 7/ Wizard 1
Neutral Good

Size: M (5' 10”, 160 lb.)
HD: 7d8+7 + 1d4+1
HP: 58 (50 base)
Initiative: +3 (3 Dex)
Speed: 30 ft.
AC: 17 (+3 Dex, +2 bracers, +2 ring) Touch: 15, Flat footed: 14
BAB: +7/+2
XP: 28,000 / 36,000 for level 9


Attributes:
Str: 11 (+0) [3 pts]
Dex: 16 (+3) [10 pts]
Con: 14 (+2) base: 12 (+1) [4 pts]
Int: 19 (+4) [16 pts, +2 for levels]
Wis: 14 (+2) [6 pts]
Cha: 10 (+0) [0 pts]


Attacks:
Quarterstaff (One Handed): +9/+4 [7/2 BAB, +5 Dex, +1 MAGIC]
Short Bow: +9/+4 [7/2 BAB, +5 Dex, +1 MAGIC]

Saves:
Fort: +8 (6 base, +1 Con, +2 cloak)
Ref: +10 (8 base, +3 Dex, +2 cloak)
Will: +8 (6 base, +2 Wis, +2 cloak)


Skills:
Knowledge Nature: +17 (11, +4 Int)
Survival: +14 (10, +2 Wis, +2 Syn)
Knowledge Dungeoneering: +1 (10, +4 Int)
Handle Animal: +12 (10, +2 Syn)
Ride: +8 (3, +3 Dex, +2 Syn)
Knowledge Planes: +10 (6, +4 Int)
Spot: +12 (10, +2 Wis)
Listen: +12 (10, +2 Wis)
Appraise: +9 (+5, +4 Int)
Hide: +12 (10, +3 Dex)
Move Silently: +12 (10, +3 Dex)
Knowledge Arcana: +5 (+1, +4 Int)
Spellcraft: +5 (+1, +4 Int)
Concentration: +2 (+1, +1 Con)
Decipher Script: +5 (+1, +4 Int)

Feats:
Planar Touchstone (bonus)
Dodge (lvl1)
Animal Affinity (Human)
Weapon Focus Quarterstaff (Lvl3)
2 weapon Defense (lvl5)
Spell Mastery (Lvl8) (Magic Weapon, Detect Magic, Expeditious Retreat, Cause Fear)
Tracking (Ranger)
Scribe Scrolls (Wizard)
Endurance (Ranger)


Class Abilities:
Wild Empathy (+9 Normal/ +5 Magical) (+2 Syn)
Favored Enemies: Aberrations and Undead
Combat Style: 2 Weapons (2 weapon fighting and Improved 2 weapon fighting)
Animal Companion (Wolf)
Woodland Stride
Familiar (Hawk)
Cast Ranger and Wizard Spells



Racial Abilities:
Bonus feat at 1st level
4 extra skill points at 1st level
1 extra skill point every level after 1st
Planar Touchstone: Tila'kun

Languages:
Common
Elven
Goblin
Celestial
Draconic

Equipment:
+1/+1 Quarterstaff (4,600gp)
+1 Composite Short Bow (2375gp)
+2 Bracers of defense (4000gp)
+2 Amulet of Health (4000gp)
+2 Cloak of Resistance (4000gp)
+2 Ring of Protection (4000gp)
Heward’s Handy Haversack (2000gp)
Scrolls:
Charm person [4] (100gp)
1st level Magic Missile [4] (100gp)
Cure Light Wounds [8] (200gp)
Calm Animals [4] (100gp)
Endure Elements [4] (100gp)
Resist Energy [4] (100gp)
Entangle [4] (100gp)
Speak with Animals [4] (100gp)
Summon Natures Ally 1[4] (100gp)
Bag of tricks [gray] (900gp)

Left over: 125 to spend on incidentals.



Description:
Dashan is a tall lanky human. He has blue eyes and straw colored hair swept back in ribbons of different colors. He prefers to dress in a sort of “updated” explorers outfit that is as good in the field as it is on the streets. He can be a bit vain about his appearance. He sports a full beard and mustache and has a number of tattoos on his back and shoulders.


Background:
Dashan grew up the son of merchants who live in Dormus. His parents were always off looking for antiquities or artifacts from the planes surrounding Dormus. He would be taken with them as a child and later as a bodyguard. He has a great love for both the out doors and the city life.
He spent years working for his parents until he had saved up enough money to pay for magic school. He now thinks of himself as a mage about town but his wild side shows through none-the-less.

 

[Kelleris]

From my house rules:

Base Attack Bonus Progression: As Cleric.
Hit Dice: d8s.

Droman Sorcerers are in touch with their heritage to a much greater degree than usual. Because of this, the class is significantly different from that presented in the Player’s Handbook. They do not gain a familiar at first level, as listed, and they have two fewer spell slots available per day at every spell level they can cast. Their class spell list and spells known at every level is as listed, however.

In exchange for these drawbacks, Droman Sorcerers enjoy the benefits of a major bloodline for free, counting their Sorcerer level as their character level for the purpose of determining what benefits they gain. Taking levels in any other class does not increase the bonuses from this special bloodline access, as it is a class feature of the Sorcerer class and not a standard bloodline.

The short version is that Sorcerers are less like the all-day artillery platform and more like arcane Clerics. This also explains why Zerth only has the first 4 levels of bloodline benefit - by multiclassing into Fighter and prestige classing into Spellsword you lose access to the bloodline, which is essentially a Sorcerer class ability now.

As I mentioned before, I should probably rename the class the "Templar" to clear up the confusion.

If the balance bothers you, I can explain my reasoning and we can talk it over. I know I hate it when the DM lets something I consider broken into the game for another character's use.

 

[Kelleris]

Argh. I'm sorry, I meant to say remote, not desolate. This is what sometimes happens, because English is not my native language. Bear me.

Heh. Don't worry, I thought that's what it was. Considering that I spent a good 10 minutes today rocking back and forth and whispering the German words for "potato" and "roll" to myself, I have precious little room to talk. I'm just impressed that you and Jolmo (assuming he isn't an expatriate, of course) have as much facility with English as you do. I've always had trouble with anything but my native language, anyway.

Hmm... Actually, I should ask: how good is your English? I can get rather prolix at times, and I've been told native speakers get lost in my sentences occasionally. Just tell me at any time if it's a struggle for you to read one of my posts, and I'll try to pay more attention to my style in the future.

I wasn't sure if you were avoiding names for my sake or because you want them to remain deep dark secrets (tm) for now.

@ Isida Kep'Tukari - I'll go ahead and check your background now.

That appearance and 6' 3"? My, you do stand out in a crowd!

Everything looks good, except the whole Kelluna > Dromus question. Also, as a practical matter, what kind of triggers/time periods should I expect a change of faith to occur at?

One of us should probably write up Assyria's doctrine briefly so we know what your current enthusiasm is, exactly.

...she fills the need for relationships with a wide range of lovers of all shapes, sizes, ages, genders, kinks, and races...

Am I to understand that this is the source of all of your contacts above?

 

[Zerth]

Zerth, for your major demon bloodline, you have to take two bloodline leves (one at 3rd and one at 6th, the next one at 12th), or you can't continue to gain bloodline abilities beyond 2nd until you do. Check page 19-20 of UA. Just FYI.

I know, but we're not using the bloodline rules entirely as written in the UA. In this game Sorcerers get two less spells for each level per day, but receive a major bloodline power for every class level. This is explained in the "Classes" document by Kelleris.

Edit: Ah, Kelleris had already explained this...

 

[Zerth]

Hmm... Actually, I should ask: how good is your English? I can get rather prolix at times, and I've been told native speakers get lost in my sentences occasionally. Just tell me at any time if it's a struggle for you to read one of my posts, and I'll try to pay more attention to my style in the future.

Don't worry, I understand English much better than I can write myself. I haven't had a single problem with anything you've written so far. Keep on posting like you always do, PbP's are a good and fun way to improve my English.

 

[Kelleris]

Yeah, that's gotta be better than the ol' flashcards!

I'm jealous...

Hmmm... Have to justify this post now. I know! I'll go over Argent Silvermage's character:

• You have one too many feats, since you have the progression a little off. Feats go 1, 3, 6, 9...
• You'll need to stat out the wolf and the hawk all proper-like before we get started.
• No spellbook or Ranger spells prepared. Guess you aren't quite done.
• Your base saves should be +5/+5/+4, for total saves of +9/+10/+8.
• A Charisma of 10 costs 2 stat points, not 0. 16 points for Int gives you an 18, +2 for levels should be a 20. This puts you at 41, three points over. I'm assuming that you meant to have a 17 base in Int, which gives you the actual stats listed and keeps you where you should be with regard to stat points spent.
• I count 99 skill points spent (though I'm not sure this is right), and you should have 117 by my count: 11 maxed-out skills for Ranger 7 (6 base + 4 Int + 1 human) plus one maxed-out Wizard skill (2 base + 4 Int + 1 human), for a total of 110 + 7 = 117 skill points.