The Four Lands Forum

[Maidhc O Casain]

Also, JA - I posted some questions about Nico's rolls (must've done so in the IC thread, as I don't find them here). I really need those answered so I can clean up the character . . .

Found them - they're in post 318 of the Intelligence Service thread.

 

[Dragonwriter]

I dropped out? I must have forgotten I did that during the lapse, as I've been one of the regular posters since we picked back up . . . Dang Old Timers' Disease!

Heck, I could've forgotten your return, also. Old Timers' Disease affects more than just Old Timers, these days.

I just remembered your little proclamation of dropping most/all 3.X games in favor of PF.

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

Heck, I could've forgotten your return, also. Old Timers' Disease affects more than just Old Timers, these days.

I just remembered your little proclamation of dropping most/all 3.X games in favor of PF.

Oh, yeah! Ironically, that was in HolyMan's Underdark game . . . I'm still in a few 3.5 games. I don't think I dropped this one, and I'm hanging in there in two or three others.

 

[HolyMan]

Thanks DW I see we have all the healing we may ever need. Does your Binder take up the wizards role? Frigin has the Tank with legs part covered.

HM

 

[Dragonwriter]

Binder is... complicated, yet simple.

I suppose the best way to describe the Binder is basically a jack of all trades. They make bargains with supernatural beings and gain various powers (depends on the spirit he binds). Binders can change their pacts on a day-to-day basis, and the more levels a Binder has, the more spirits he can bind (up to 4, at 20th level).

Orion himself is set up more to be a face-man, and can only bind one vestige. His favorite is generally called "Naberius" and makes him an even better speaker. But there are several others he can use... Eurynome is the one active right now, because Orion is a little paranoid and wants to be sure he has a nasty trick up his sleeve, just in case (Eurynome grants you the ability to summon a Large magic Warhammer as a Swift action). There are also vestiges for defense (one lets you summon magic full plate) and trickery (one allows Major Image at-will, another gives +16 Hide/MS, another gives Invisibility at-will) and there are a few for blasting (one grants Fire Breath, another grants Call Lightning)... Binders are basically super-versatile, and can change from one day to another.
All it takes is a Binding check to make the deal with the spirit. And you actually can't fail it... If you roll under the DC, you just have to deal with the spirit's personality along with your own. It can make for some very interesting RP stuff.

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

I played a Binder (who also favored Naberius) in another game. I wasn't very good at playing him, I think. He never seemed to have the right Vestige bonded for the situation in which he ended up. Or maybe the DMs were messing with me . . . Either way I found the idea incredibly rich and interesting, but the actual play quite frustrating.

Hopefully you'll find it more rewarding!

 

[Dragonwriter]

The only trouble I see with favoring Naberius is that most situations PCs get into involve combat, rather than negotiation. Hence me getting stuff like Expel Vestige, so I can swap to something more useful for the moment.

I set Orion for Naberius since Intelligence Service seemed more like an espionage-oriented game, rather than combat-oriented. But I definitely dabble with other vestiges... Tenebrous is nice for a speedy, cloaked getaway, thanks to Deeper Darkness at-will. Malphas, too, with his invisibility.

Even if I end up scrapping Orion, I do have a do-it-all Binder set up for a Savage Tide game that should be starting up soon. That one will probably be a bit crazier (especially since his race is Spellscale, so eccentricity is born and bred), but also better in a fight (currently, I expect him to favor Haures, so he can Phantasmal Killer anyone he wants and set up elaborate illusions, just for kicks). Well, if not "better," then "rather have him with us than with them."

 

[Leif]

I played a Binder (who also favored Naberius) in another game. I wasn't very good at playing him, I think. He never seemed to have the right Vestige bonded for the situation in which he ended up. Or maybe the DMs were messing with me . . . Either way I found the idea incredibly rich and interesting, but the actual play quite frustrating.

Hopefully you'll find it more rewarding!

Sorry to hear about your disappointment. Do you not still play SoulFetter? And would Scotley and I ever mess with our players??

 

[Scott DeWar]

And would Scotley and I ever mess with our players??

does that even need to be answered? I mean, come on. Scotley is running the 'kill the players' module aka tomb o f horrors. an you, well you are just you!

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

Sorry to hear about your disappointment. Do you not still play SoulFetter? And would Scotley and I ever mess with our players??

I do still play him - that would be one of the 3.5 games I stuck with. We put him through that obscure ritual with his tribal shaman to rid him of the Binder taint. He's now a straight up butt-kicking Mountain Raging Barbarian (well, he's got one level of fighter).

And my disappointment had nothing to do with you or the game - as I said, while the Binder class looks really cool it didn't turn out to be a good match for me. I'm hoping Dragonwriter can do it justice here.