[Pathfinder] Burnt Offerings

[CanadienneBacon]

[sblock=Ambrus]

Seeing as how you're deferring to my judgement on the issue (and since you've voiced some concern over my character stealing the limelight overmuch) I feel the need to give you my honest opinion about the draconic alternate form special ability. In brief, it's just too versatile and effective at low levels.

You're right. I'm already feeling some trepidation regarding whether I'll be able to effectively handle a PC dragon as a DM. My chief concerns are how to balance your character against the others--the dragon has 40+ HP at first level, the ability to fly, and a breath weapon, all just at 1st level. The other characters have no such abilities. Plus, I know from past experience DMing you that you're well-versed in the rules and will push for every possible in-character use of ability whenever feasible. That's not intended as a knock against you, just a statement of fact--you can be a delight to play with but also a challenge. I simultaneously want to see a dragon in play, particularly in a game I run, but don't want the adventure spoiled due to the ease with which even a wyrmling might circumvent what is intended to be a challenge for a "normal" party. What I do know from past experience playing with you is that you can be counted on to maintain an active posting interest in the game and that you'll keep me honest as DM, both of which are selling points in your favor.

. . .limiting a dragon PC to using a hat of disguise to pass unnoticed is altogether more bearable (emphasis mine). The dragon is at least limited to assuming the form of a quadrupedal animal of the same size with none of the animal's racial benefits.

Goodness, thank you for your honest opinion. Shall we call it bronze dragon with a Hat of Disguise, then?
[/sblock]

 

[CanadienneBacon]

I see that Ambrus has staked out a spot in the character repository thread over in Plots and Places. I encourage each of you to stake your own area over there as well.

renau1g, are you around of late, and are you working on your magic user?

 

[renau1g]

renau1g, are you around of late, and are you working on your magic user?

yup, just working on my PC now, I am trying to read over the downloaded player's guide and come up with an idea.

 

[Ambrus]

Aside from the dragon (who already has a whopping mass of HP)

Uhm. A first level dragon get one hit die's worth of hit points same as any character, albeit it is a d12.

[sblock=CanadienneBacon]

My chief concerns are how to balance your character against the others--the dragon has 40+ HP at first level, the ability to fly, and a breath weapon, all just at 1st level.

Whoa whoa whoa! Slow down there cowgirl! I think you missed a few things I mentioned a while back. A 1st level dragon doesn't have 40+ hit points, can't fly and has no breath weapon aside from a possible case of halitosis.

A 1st level bronze dragon has 1d12 hit points (plus Con), just like a barbarian character. It only gains the ability to fly at 4th level; until then it has to hoof it just like any ol' halfling (at a speed of 20) They do have a swim speed of 20 for whatever that's worth though. They gain their first breath weapon (a 1d6 line of lightning, Reflex save for half) at 5th level. In turn their repulsion breath is only gained at 9th level.

There. Feel better now?

Shall we call it bronze dragon with a Hat of Disguise, then?

Yes please. At the moment I'm trying to decide whether my dragon should have been entrusted to a humanoid mentor in Sandpoint by a late draconic parent (the likeliest candidate being Ameiko Kaijitsu at the Rusty Dragon Inn) or have simply been left to hatch alone for unknown reasons in a chamber somewhere beneath the Old Light. The former means that my dragon would have a mentor and friend amongst the populace while the latter leaves me free of anyone in town knowing about my presence there. What do you think?[/sblock]
I see that you've included Unearthed Arcana amongst the campaign's sourcebooks. I'm wondering which optional rules, if any, we'll be using from that book. Are traits and flaws permitted? For that matter, are we gaining any campaign specific traits from the adventure?

Also, you'll have to assign my character his starting gold, if any. Monster classes never have it listed for some odd reason.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

[sblock=Ambrus]

A 1st level dragon doesn't have 40+ hit points, can't fly and has no breath weapon aside from a possible case of halitosis.

I'm obviously missing a critical section in a rulebook, then...in looking at the standard entry for a bronze dragon in the 3.5 MM, I'm seeing 6d12 as the HP for a bronze wyrmling. Having been out of D&D for 18 months, I'm now drawing a blank as to where I should be looking for stats on a dragon PC. Let me know.

There. Feel better now?

Indeed.

At the moment I'm trying to decide whether my dragon should have been entrusted to a humanoid mentor in Sandpoint by a late draconic parent (the likeliest candidate being Ameiko Kaijitsu at the Rusty Dragon Inn) or have simply been left to hatch alone for unknown reasons in a chamber somewhere beneath the Old Light. The former means that my dragon would have a mentor and friend amongst the populace while the latter leaves me free of anyone in town knowing about my presence there. What do you think?

A relationship with Ameiko Kaijitsu requires more work on my end than your idea to be born in the Old Light but is probably better for both you and the adventure. What happened to your idea to lair at the Sandpoint Theatre? [/sblock]

I see that you've included Unearthed Arcana amongst the campaign's sourcebooks. I'm wondering which optional rules, if any, we'll be using from that book. Are traits and flaws permitted? For that matter, are we gaining any campaign specific traits from the adventure?

Traits and flaws are allowable on a limited basis, yup. Which interest you? Regarding whether characters gain campaign-specific traits from the adventure, I certainly wouldn't rule it out. I usually wind up handing out all kinds of goodies (which delight both me and the players at the time, though sometimes I later regret my decision!) during adventuring for the simple reason that when things are dull I compensate by giving out new "toys." Probably not the best approach to DMing, but it's an honest assessment.

Also, you'll have to assign my character his starting gold, if any. Monster classes never have it listed for some odd reason.

Can do. Let me read up on a few things, and I'll get back to you. I'll be at work this afternoon and have plans to go out this evening (a once in a blue moon occasion!), so it may be Saturday late morning before I get back to you. We do a community pancake breakfast every Saturday morning here at this seminary, which is a terrific impromptu gathering, but what with cooking, chatting up friends, and clean-up duties, we're frequently busy until 10:30 am.

 

[jkason]

D'oh! I gotta read the full boards more regularly instead of just hitting my subscriptions. I'm still sad at the two abortive attempts with my other group trying to play Pathfinder and this adventure path. *sigh*

Ah, well, if you find you have an opening, I'd love a shot. If not, have much fun, folks!

jason

 

[renau1g]

I'm assuming max HP at first level?

 

[CanadienneBacon]

Ah, well, if you find you have an opening, I'd love a shot.

I'll keep you in mind in case a player drops out.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

I'm assuming max HP at first level?

Yup, max HP + Con modifier at 1st level. Including the dragon.

 

[Ambrus]

in looking at the standard entry for a bronze dragon in the 3.5 MM, I'm seeing 6d12 as the HP for a bronze wyrmling. I'm now drawing a blank as to where I should be looking for stats on a dragon PC. Let me know.

The MM bronze wyrmling has 6 hit dice and an ECL of +4, which makes it equivalent to a 10th level PC. What you're missing is the article in Dragon Magazine 320 that I mentioned in my original post. It introduces Savage Species style monster classes for each metallic dragon, which in turn scales back their power so as to make them playable as 1st level PCs. I'll eventually get everything listed in the MM, but only by 10th level; so there's no need to worry.
[sblock=CanadienneBacon]

A relationship with Ameiko Kaijitsu requires more work on my end than your idea to be born in the Old Light but is probably better for both you and the adventure. What happened to your idea to lair at the Sandpoint Theatre?

I'd mentioned that haunting the theater was most appropriate for a curious and gregarious brass or copper dragon. Bronzes are a bit more aloof and scholarly and so less inclined to appreciate the theater I imagine. I've typed up a tentative background in the Rogue's Gallery. Please take a look and let me know if it works for you.

My thinking is that the events surrounding the Late Unpleasantness (which I believe occurred roughly five years earlier) coincided with Taran's egg being abandoned in the sea cave for whatever reason. A bronze dragon egg incubates for approximately 600 days, a bit less than two full years later. Taran would thus have been skulking around town for the past three to four years or so. I think it'd be great fun to discover if/how its being in Sandpoint ties into the town's mysterious past. So what do you think?[/sblock]

Traits and flaws are allowable on a limited basis, yup. Which interest you?

Dunno. Hadn't thought about it until now. I'll let you know.

Edit: A bit of reading brought two possible flaws to mind: Shaky or Wild
[sblock=Wild]WILD [Flaw]
Accustomed only to a free life in the wild, you
panic when captured or restrained.
Prerequisite: Survival 1 rank.
Effect: Whenever you are entangled,
pinned, or bound, you immediately become
panicked. Your fear is alleviated 1 round after
you are free of all bonds. Spells and effects
that remove fear do not prevent this effect.
(Dragon Magazine 329, pg. 95)[/sblock]

Regarding whether characters gain campaign-specific traits from the adventure, I certainly wouldn't rule it out.

In case you're not familiar with them specifically, character traits were introduced in later Paizo adventure paths, some being tied to a particular adventures' back story, known as campaign traits. Perhaps they weren't yet conceived of when Burnt Offerings was first published. Regardless, a free PDF detailing character traits is available for download. They could be used in addition, in tandem or instead of Unearthed Arcana's traits. Take a look.

Please ask if there is something you're in love with that is not on the list.

I found an interesting feat that might work for my character.[sblock=Dragon Tail]DRAGON TAIL
Your draconic ancestry manifests as a muscular tail you
can use in combat.
Prerequisite: Dragonblood subtype, 1st level only.
Benefit: You have a tail that you can use to make a
secondary natural attack in combat. This attack deals
bludgeoning damage according to your size (Small = 1d6)
Special: Unlike most feats, this feat must be taken at
1st level, during character creation.
(Races of the Dragon, pg. 98)[/sblock]Have fun at your community breakfast. Pancakes. Mmm...