[Re-Recruitment] When Journalists Attack!

[Argent Silvermage]

My character is a harassed copy-editor. He's the guy that knocks your stories into printable shape by a deadline He's also working on a telepathic printing system, although early trials have been less than successful...

I'll not make a firm decision on Suggestion until I see your spell list. Like I said, we don't want too much overlap in our spells/powers.

Unfortunatly there is way too much already. I'll change mine to something different so we don't have so many overlapping skills. give me a day to think.

 

[anonystu]

Re: Argent/ Jarval

You two may work this out any way you like, of course, and my suggestions should be taken as nothing more than ideas being tossed out.

I think that having a journalist/copy-editor dynamic is cool, and should be preserved in some fashion or another, but that both niche protection and creating an interesting dynamic are important.

I also think that a good way to preserve this, yet retain interesting powers goes something like this: Argent continues in his bard character, with I'm guessing, a fast, loose, fun character. Jarval, if it's interesting to you (I already know you spent some time grokking up stuff), consider going a cleric of Knowledge. There, you play the straight man to his playboy: it matters to you, stuff like getting the facts straight, you're detail oriented, maybe, a bit staid, serious, definitely over-stressed, definitely wondering why you're god chose to put you with this lot.

In addition, from a powers side, you get a raft of interesting things to do, (and since you took the knowledge domain, you get a bunch of interesting spy spells as domains) and you can fight pretty well to boot.

I like this, and I feel it's a good dynamic to set up. The final word rests with you, Jarval.

Sixchan, you get your own special post!

 

[anonystu]

Background first, mechanics later.

You should, as I've said before, take these as only suggestions: if my ideas take your character in directions you don't like, then please, tell me so. I don't take offense at people rejecting ideas. Revise, take, or ignore as you like, but these are my flights of fancy for the day.

Let's put your social class as fairly well-to-do/minor noble status: you've lived on the City all your life, and your parents are two well-meaning wizards for the Blues (currently the ruling party). You were, as you suspected, expected to be a great and noble wizard, but you never just got the hang of all those weird sounding words, and instead, spent more of your time running around and getting into trouble (rogue 1). You then developed your powers in your early teens (rog 1/sor 1), but while your parents were happy to hire you a tutor to learn how to control your powers better, it didn't quite interest you as much as your interest in crafting jewelry.

While crafting got you so far, your parents just couldn't afford (and really didn't want) to support your habit, and so, you used some of your other talents, to break into people's houses and some stores, and steal precious jewelry. You've picked your targets carefully: picking people only from the Reds, people who seemed like bad eggs etc. You were actually making quite a bit of a name for yourself: there's a few stories about you in the Daily Float, actually.

I'm thinking that your hook in could work something like this (and might be interesting to play as a flashback sometime): on one of your jobs, you were just about to get the jewlery, when the lights switched on, and a small team of journalists were there, asking if you would care to give an interview. Before you could so much as consider, the City Guard showed up in force. The battle was not pretty at all, but you and one of the journalists (DE's character, if he wishes to go along with this, and maybe the budding romance idea), escaped out, mainly thanks to you and your skills not only with breaking and entering, but with the very quick leaving as well, and convinced you, and his editor, to sign you up on the Float. You've only done some very minor work so far with this new team, and are very much the new girl.

I see a lot of other directions that look interesting: maybe you own (or want to own) your own jewelry store, etc.

Some of the segues in there are loose: I'll leave you to fill it in, personalize it, if you like it.

Mechanics: (again, this is just someone who likes to wonk with rules occasionally)

So, first, impeccable choice of magic items: anybody who takes an immovable rod just makes my day. So, in case you've never seen master-of-arms, let me note that there is an immovable-rod weapon master prestige class (which you'd be able to take at 6th level, if you took 8 ranks of balance now and also quick draw as a feat), which contains all sorts of cool tricks (like being able to use it as a free action, using it and acrobatics to basically move in any direction you like, sticking it into someone's armor, where they can't reach the button, then activating it, using it to trip people, and all sorts of cool things). If you're interested, then let me know and I can send you the write up. The immovable rod, as a weapon, is d6, simple bludgeoning, 20/x2, medium size, and can be enchanted as any normal weapon can. (just add 2000 for the 1st plus, and so on).

Secondly, if you like this sort of revision of the concept, then rog4/sor1 probably makes a little more sense, you don't really get much with sor until 4th level, which is a while off, and you still get cool spells at 1st. If you're thinking of going into a prestige class soon like Immovable Rod Master, or Thief-Acrobat, then it's probably better to do rog3 (1st)/sor1/ftr1 (which could get you shot on the run now). If you decide to keep the dodge/mobility feat chain, since we're not going to be using battlemaps (and so those feats becomes less valuable), I'll give you the spycraft version of dodge: +2 AC to any one enemy, or +1 AC to all enemies. Or you might consider other feat chains, or just a random mix of stuff, like improved init, quick draw, weapon finesse (immovable rod), dodge or some of the stealthy feats from song and silence.

Spells: Ventriloquism is a good choice, but alarm is something that can easily be shunted off to a scroll or two, or a wand. Maybe, if you like this character revision, something like sleep, or feather fall, or spider climb (slippers of spider climb are also a good magic item to consider)? I'd also probably sub out ray of frost for daze, fits more with character, and more useful.

If you would like a ring of invisibility, but just can't pay the 20,000 gp, consider a x/per day ring of invisibility: 4,000 for 1/day, 8,000 for 2/day and so on.


Hmm. What do you think of all this? (remember, honesty first)

 

[anonystu]

Note, finally, from your character's point of view, journalism may just be a good excuse to have access to even more fine jewelry.

Anyway, I think we're building up a good sort of dynamic between DE and Sixchan, and Argent and Jarval will have a strong tie, so we need to link these two groups together: this will become more clear with more characters around, but this is something to keep in mind.

Kal, you still there? I think we've still kept the straight wizard niche open for you.

 

[Sixchan]

Background first, mechanics later.

You should, as I've said before, take these as only suggestions: if my ideas take your character in directions you don't like, then please, tell me so. I don't take offense at people rejecting ideas. Revise, take, or ignore as you like, but these are my flights of fancy for the day.

Okay, sure.

Note: Anytime the word 'cool' pops up, it means I'm using the idea.

Let's put your social class as fairly well-to-do/minor noble status: you've lived on the City all your life, and your parents are two well-meaning wizards for the Blues (currently the ruling party).

Cool.

You were, as you suspected, expected to be a great and noble wizard, but you never just got the hang of all those weird sounding words, and instead, spent more of your time running around and getting into trouble (rogue 1).

Hmm...I had her down as a sorceror to start, and Rogue second...it would give me more skill points, though...

You then developed your powers in your early teens (rog 1/sor 1), but while your parents were happy to hire you a tutor to learn how to control your powers better, it didn't quite interest you as much as your interest in crafting jewelry.

As I recall, Sorcerors don't benefit so much from other sorcerors, but its certainly possible...

While crafting got you so far, your parents just couldn't afford (and really didn't want) to support your habit, and so, you used some of your other talents, to break into people's houses and some stores, and steal precious jewelry.

Ooo...don't like this bit. Seems a little too...low for the personality I had in mind.

You've picked your targets carefully: picking people only from the Reds, people who seemed like bad eggs etc. You were actually making quite a bit of a name for yourself: there's a few stories about you in the Daily Float, actually.

Although this bit appeals.

I'm thinking that your hook in could work something like this (and might be interesting to play as a flashback sometime): on one of your jobs, you were just about to get the jewlery, when the lights switched on, and a small team of journalists were there, asking if you would care to give an interview.

Well, if I go with the above idea, definitely cool.

Before you could so much as consider, the City Guard showed up in force. The battle was not pretty at all, but you and one of the journalists (DE's character, if he wishes to go along with this, and maybe the budding romance idea), escaped out, mainly thanks to you and your skills not only with breaking and entering, but with the very quick leaving as well, and convinced you, and his editor, to sign you up on the Float.

Also conditionally cool.

You've only done some very minor work so far with this new team, and are very much the new girl.

Cool, but what I was thinking was that she had been around a few years and picked up her levels in Rogue working for the Float.

I see a lot of other directions that look interesting: maybe you own (or want to own) your own jewelry store, etc.

Hmm...I was thinking along the lines of helping to run the store, since she is a little young to have her own shop...

Some of the segues in there are loose: I'll leave you to fill it in, personalize it, if you like it.

Well, I'll consider everything.

Mechanics: (again, this is just someone who likes to wonk with rules occasionally)

So, first, impeccable choice of magic items: anybody who takes an immovable rod just makes my day. So, in case you've never seen master-of-arms, let me note that there is an immovable-rod weapon master prestige class (which you'd be able to take at 6th level, if you took 8 ranks of balance now and also quick draw as a feat), which contains all sorts of cool tricks (like being able to use it as a free action, using it and acrobatics to basically move in any direction you like, sticking it into someone's armor, where they can't reach the button, then activating it, using it to trip people, and all sorts of cool things). If you're interested, then let me know and I can send you the write up. The immovable rod, as a weapon, is d6, simple bludgeoning, 20/x2, medium size, and can be enchanted as any normal weapon can. (just add 2000 for the 1st plus, and so on).

I personally was planning to use it with the ring of jumping to hide in mid-air. Jump as high as possible, activate the rod, and as long as the guards don't look up...
But, it sounds cool. I'll think about it. Sed me the writeup and I'll look at it. My E-Mail should be in my profile.

Secondly, if you like this sort of revision of the concept, then rog4/sor1 probably makes a little more sense, you don't really get much with sor until 4th level, which is a while off, and you still get cool spells at 1st.

I was planning on going sor2/rog3, and then putting my next two levels in sorceror to get 2nd level spells, but maybe you're right...cool.

If you're thinking of going into a prestige class soon like Immovable Rod Master, or Thief-Acrobat, then it's probably better to do rog3 (1st)/sor1/ftr1 (which could get you shot on the run now).

Don't like the fighter level. Even less with an 8 strength. I was considering Arcane Trickster as a future PrC.

If you decide to keep the dodge/mobility feat chain, since we're not going to be using battlemaps (and so those feats becomes less valuable), I'll give you the spycraft version of dodge: +2 AC to any one enemy, or +1 AC to all enemies. Or you might consider other feat chains, or just a random mix of stuff, like improved init, quick draw, weapon finesse (immovable rod), dodge or some of the stealthy feats from song and silence.

I'll change them. I'm sure I can find something.

Spells: Ventriloquism is a good choice, but alarm is something that can easily be shunted off to a scroll or two, or a wand. Maybe, if you like this character revision, something like sleep, or feather fall, or spider climb (slippers of spider climb are also a good magic item to consider)? I'd also probably sub out ray of frost for daze, fits more with character, and more useful.

Yeah, a wand of Alarm might be better, I was planning on putting alarms in the corridors of the rooms we'd be in for some time...

If you would like a ring of invisibility, but just can't pay the 20,000 gp, consider a x/per day ring of invisibility: 4,000 for 1/day, 8,000 for 2/day and so on.

Might do this. I'm sure I can drop something else to get the money...

Hmm. What do you think of all this? (remember, honesty first)

Some good, some bad.

 

[anonystu]

Work is busy, so brief is the word of the day.

Sorceror training: you're right, that sorcerors generally don't have much to say to each other, but it's still possible to use others: wihle wizard school focuses on how you do each step to create desired effect X, sorceror tutors focus more on: well, that didn't quite come out right, try and curve the ray of frost next time to hat the target, not the cat. Sort of a combination motivator/art critic kind of deal. Also, tutors can be valuable in learning how to control and push larger amounts of energy around, although this is still hit or miss. It can be awfully frustrating, although it could be helpful, especially if someone will works with nearly the same paradigm, effort as you do.
--

Robber Robble: You're right, the cat burglar thing does seem sort of forced: I realized it didn't mesh well, but just threw it out in case it hit a different part of it.

You could, if you like this aspect:

You've picked your targets carefully: picking people only from the Reds, people who seemed like bad eggs etc. You were actually making quite a bit of a name for yourself: there's a few stories about you in the Daily Float, actually.

go more in the vigilante route (cape optional): it's got a good feel to it, it makes you quite newsworthy, and would make you a logical fit to be snatched up by the Float. You maybe edit your parents into wizard/adventurers, and you just wanted to do right by them. You haven't told them about your hobbies, and they're maybe a little bit worried by all the time you spend out and about.

Having a few years experience under your belt: sure, although few probably means 2-4. It's up to you whether you've been in this team long or not.

Run the store: maybe your parents have retired, and this is their business? It could easily be a cover operation for the Daily Float as well.

Immovable Rod Master: I'll send it tonight.

Arcane Trickster: I know. Such a tempting prestige class, but alas, it's 9th level minimum, and while advancement will be rapid, it'll be a while before you are 9th.

 

[anonystu]

More general logistics things:

Wands: When crafting, they come full at 50 charges, but if you're buying them, you can get them with roughly 10,20,30,40, or 50 charges (at 1/5,2/5,3/5,4/5,or full price). The roughly part means that it's unknown to you exactly how many charges are left.

This makes it more viable to buy wands here and there for spellcasters.

I'm also considering bumping everybody to sixth: while advancement, as mentioned just a sec ago, will be rapid, this is a PbP, and so the pace is naturally slow. I find it occasionally annoying that I play so many low-level characters, and not enough of the juicy mid-levels, so 6th level makes everything even juicier for all of you. This is however, your choice.

This is all, of course, just a flimsy excuse to get Sixchan to Immovable Rod Weapon Master, but I think all of you get interesting things at 6th

Everybody fine with how this is shaping up so far, the feel of it? How I'm handling character generation (I'm a bit hands-on with characters, as you might have told). If there's anything bothering you, let me know.

 

[Jarval]

I think that having a journalist/copy-editor dynamic is cool, and should be preserved in some fashion or another, but that both niche protection and creating an interesting dynamic are important.

I also think that a good way to preserve this, yet retain interesting powers goes something like this: Argent continues in his bard character, with I'm guessing, a fast, loose, fun character. Jarval, if it's interesting to you (I already know you spent some time grokking up stuff), consider going a cleric of Knowledge. There, you play the straight man to his playboy: it matters to you, stuff like getting the facts straight, you're detail oriented, maybe, a bit staid, serious, definitely over-stressed, definitely wondering why you're god chose to put you with this lot.

Hmm, seems like a good idea. It fits the character better, and throws in some healing magic, which is always handy. I'll take it I'll go work up some new stats, and change my background around a bit.

As far as levels go, I'd prefer 6th, just for the extra nifty widgets you get.

 

[Jarval]

Do you want to deal with the Leadership feat? I'd quite like to have a sub-editor (cohort) for my character to land last minute deadlines on

 

[anonystu]

Let's see how Argent's character progresses before we introduce a new character into the system. Also, it will be very possible to use background feats (waiting till everybody's got a character), to have contacts who can help you out.

As to actually having a cohort to trundle around with you: I'm fine roleplaying your cohort, although we'll have to work for a good dynamic.

Glad you like the cleric idea.

Argent, Kal, DE - can you get back with your current thoughts by tomorrow?