The New Argonauts (OOC Thread)

[Blackrat]

Okay. I gave a look at the pdf and so far it looks good. I need to immerse myself to it better but I'd like in. I was first thinking something like Xena but decided to scale down the cheesyness. So how about a son of Ares who is on constant search of a glorious fight, destined to become a great hero and eventually slay Echidna, the mother of monsters. A barbarian/fighter I think. Named Aeaxeos. I have a view of something like the spartans in 300. And after extencive consideration I have decided that Aeaxeos will actually be a spartan who was sent forth in the world to learn and come back when he has become the greatest warrior in the world.

Stat rolls: 15, 13, 7, 16, 18, 10. It seems I rolled pretty high.

[sblock=In Progress]

Name: Aeaxeos
Class: Barbarian 1/ Fighter 2
Race: Human; Lesser Scion of Ares (Con)
Size: Medium
Gender: Male
Alignment: Chaotic?
Deity: Hellenic Pantheon/Ares
Age: 25
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 160lb
Eyes: Reddish Brown
Hair: Dark
Skin: Tanned

Str: 16 +3     Level: 3        XP: 3000
Dex: 18 +4     BAB: +3         HP: 35 (1d12+2d10+9+2)
Con: 17 +3     Grapple: +6     Dmg Red: XX
Int: 10 +0     Speed: 30'      
Wis:  7 -2     Init: +4        
Cha: 13 +1     ACP: -4         

                   Base  Armor Shld   Dex  Size   Nat  Misc  Total
Armor:              10    +5    +2    +4    +X    +X    +X    21
Touch: 14              Flatfooted: 17

                         Base   Mod  Misc  Total
Fort:                      5    +3    +1    +9
Ref:                       0    +4    +X    +4
Will:                      0    -2    +X    -2

Weapon                  Attack   Damage     Critical
MW Shortspear             +8     1d6+3         x2
Unarmed                   +6     1d3+3         x2
Shortsword                +6     1d6+3      19-20x2
MW Spear/thrown           +9     1d6+3         x2

Languages: Greece

Abilities: Fast Movement, [S]Illiteracy[/S], Rage 1/day.

Feats: Combat Expertice, 1=Touch of Immortality,
F1=Improved Unarmed, F2=Armor Defence Mastery,
3=Weapon Focus (shortspear)

Skill Points: 20       Max Ranks: 6/3
Skills                   Ranks  Mod  Misc  Total   Points
Tumble                     3    +4    -4    +3       6
Survival                   4    -2          +2       4
Intimidate                 6    +1          +7       6
Swim                       2    +3    -4    +1       2
Climb                      2    +3    -4    +1       2

Equipment:                                 Cost:    Weight:
MW Breastplate                             350gp      30lb
Spartan Aspis (MW Heavy Metal Shield)      170gp      15lb
Doru (MW Shortspear)                       301gp       3lb
Xiphos (Shortsword)                         10gp       2lb
Cestus (Gauntlet)                            2gp       1lb

Total                                      833gp      51lb

Background: Aeaxeos was like any other spartan boy. At the age of 7 he was taken to agoge and trained to become part of the "Spartan Wall". His provess in combat was apparent from early on and Aeaxeos was taken to his krypteia two years earlier than was usual. It was during that night when the bloodlust first hit him. He slaughtered without regard to allegiences and when the morning came, both Helots and Spartans lay on his feet. Only after this incident it became known that Aeaxeos father, who had been thought to be a dead warrior, was actually the god of slaughter himself. The counsil debated long but eventually the decicion was made. Aeaxeos was to be send away, his bloodlust was too dangerous in the disciplined warrior life of spartans. He was allowed to return only after he had mastered his bloodlust and become the greatest warrior in the world. The King ordered his ten most reliable guards to take Aeaxeos to Chiron, as he was the only one who could teach Aeaxeos to control his bloodlust. The Queen herself presented Aeaxeos with his shield with the formal greeting "With it, or upon it"

The years in the tutelage of Chiron has been succesfull. Aeaxeos is now in control of his inner slayer. But now he needs to fullfill the other condition for his return. He must become the greatest warrior in the world.
[/sblock]

 

[Fenris]

Character in Progress
[sblock]
Stat roll
4d6.takeHighest(3)=16, 4d6.takeHighest(3)=16, 4d6.takeHighest(3)=12, 4d6.takeHighest(3)=13, 4d6.takeHighest(3)=14, 4d6.takeHighest(3)=13

Going for an Odysseus feel here.

[B]Name:[/B] XXXX
[B]Class:[/B] Rogue 1/ Fighter 2
[B]Race:[/B] Human 
[B]Size:[/B] Medium
[B]Gender:[/B] XXXX
[B]Alignment:[/B] XXXX
[B]Deity:[/B] Lesser Bloodline Apollo (Dex)

[B]Str:[/B] 16 +3 (XXp.)     [B]Level:[/B] 3        [B]XP:[/B] XXXX
[B]Dex:[/B] 18 +4 (XXp.)     [B]BAB:[/B] +2         [B]HP:[/B] XXX (1d6 +2d10+3)
[B]Con:[/B] 13 +1 (XXp.)     [B]Grapple:[/B] +6     [B]Dmg Red:[/B] XX/XXXX
[B]Int:[/B] 14 +2 (XXp.)     [B]Speed:[/B] 20'      [B]Spell Res:[/B] XX
[B]Wis:[/B] 12 +1 (XXp.)     [B]Init:[/B] +4        [B]Spell Save:[/B] +X
[B]Cha:[/B] 13 +1 (XXp.)     [B]ACP:[/B] -3         [B]Spell Fail:[/B] XX%

                   [B]Base  Armor Shld   Dex  Size   Nat  Misc  Total[/B]
[B]Armor:[/B]              10    +5    +2    +4    +X    +X    +X    21
[B]Touch:[/B] XX              [B]Flatfooted:[/B] XX

                         [B]Base   Mod  Misc  Total[/B]
[B]Fort:[/B]                      3    +1    +1    +5
[B]Ref:[/B]                       2    +4    +1    +7
[B]Will:[/B]                      0    +1     +1   +2

[B]Weapon                  Attack   Damage     Critical[/B]
XXXX                      +X     XdXX+X     XX-XXxX
XXXX                      +X     XdXX+X     XX-XXxX
XXXX                      +X     XdXX+X     XX-XXxX
XXXX                      +X     XdXX+X     XX-XXxX

[B]Languages:[/B] XXXX

[B]Abilities:[/B] Sneak Attack +1d6, Trapfinding

[B]Feats:[/B] Combat Expertise, Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, Armor Defense Mastery, Weapon Focus X, Luck of the Gods

[B]Skill Points:[/B] 54       [B]Max Ranks:[/B] 6/3
[B]Skills                   Ranks  Mod  Misc  Total[/B]
Appraise                   X    +X          +X
Balance                    X    +X          +X
Bluff                      5    +X          +X
Climb                      4    +X          +X
Concentration              X    +X          +X
Craft                      X    +X          +X
Decipher Script            X    +X          +X
Diplomacy                  4    +X          +X
Disable Device             X    +X          +X
Disguise                   X    +X          +X
Escape Artist              X    +X          +X
Forgery                    X    +X          +X
Gather Information         X    +X          +X
Handle Animal              X    +X          +X
Heal                       5    +X          +X
Hide                       2    +X          +X
Intimidate                 3    +X          +X
Jump                       5    +X          +X
Knowledge                  X    +X          +X
Listen                     X    +X          +X
Move Silently              4    +X          +X
Open Lock                  X    +X          +X
Perform                    3    +X          +X
Profession Sailor       3    +X          +X
Ride                       x    +X          +X
Search                     X    +X          +X
Sense Motive               X    +X          +X
Sleight Of Hand            X    +X          +X
Speak Language             X    +X          +X
Spellcraft                 X    +X          +X
Spot                       4    +X          +X
Survival                   4    +X          +X
Swim                       3    +X          +X
Tumble                     5    +X          +X
Use Magic Device           X    +X          +X
Use Rope                   X    +X          +X

[B]Equipment:               Cost  Weight[/B]
MW Breastplate
MW Heavy Metal shield
XXXX                     XXcp   XXlb
XXXX                     XXsp   XXlb
XXXX                     XXgp   XXlb
XXXX                     XXgp   XXlb
[B]Total Weight:[/B]XXlb      [B]Money:[/B] XXgp XXsp XXcp

                           [B]Lgt   Med   Hvy  Lift  Push[/B]
[B]Max Weight:[/B]               XXX   XXX   XXX   XXX   XXX

[B]Age:[/B] XX
[B]Height:[/B] X'XX"
[B]Weight:[/B] XXXlb
[B]Eyes:[/B] XXXX
[B]Hair:[/B] XXXX
[B]Skin:[/B] XXXX

Appearance: XXXX

Background: XXXX

[/sblock]

 

[GMVictory]

Character in progress

Gradian, Messenger and Negotiator

[sblock]

[B]Name:[/B] Gradian
[B]Class:[/B] Rogue 2/ Fighter 1
[B]Race:[/B] Human 
[B]Size:[/B] Medium
[B]Gender:[/B] Male
[B]Alignment:[/B] CG
[B]Deity:[/B] Lesser Bloodline Hermes (Dex)

[B]Str:[/B] 9 -1       [B]Level:[/B] 3        [B]XP:[/B] 3000
[B]Dex:[/B] 17 +3      [B]BAB:[/B] +2         [B]HP:[/B] 22 (2d6 +1d10)
[B]Con:[/B] 11         [B]Grapple:[/B] +1     [B]Dmg Red:[/B] XX/XXXX
[B]Int:[/B] 14 +2      [B]Speed:[/B] 30'      [B]Spell Res:[/B] XX
[B]Wis:[/B] 12 +1      [B]Init:[/B] +7        [B]Spell Save:[/B] +X
[B]Cha:[/B] 13 +1      [B]ACP:[/B] 0          [B]Spell Fail:[/B] XX%

                   [B]Base  Armor Shld   Dex  Size   Nat  Misc  Total[/B]
[B]Armor:[/B]              10    +3    +X    +3    +X    +X    +X    16
[B]Touch:[/B] 13              [B]Flatfooted:[/B] 13

                         [B]Base   Mod  Misc  Total[/B]
[B]Fort:[/B]                      2    +X    +1    +3
[B]Ref:[/B]                       3    +3    +1    +7
[B]Will:[/B]                      0    +X     +1   +1

[B]Weapon                  Attack   Damage     Critical[/B]
Wit                         +6     1d4-1     19-20x2

[B]Languages:[/B] Common, Athenian, Theban

[B]Abilities:[/B] Sneak Attack +1d6, Trapfinding, Evasion

[B]Feats:[/B] Combat Expertise, Endurance, Improved Initiative, Run, Weapon Finesse

[B]Skills                   Ranks  Mod  Misc  Total[/B]
Bluff                      6    +1          +7
Climb                      X    -1          -1
Diplomacy                  6    +1    +4    +11
Gather Information         5    +1    +2    +8
Heal                       5    +X          +5
Hide                       4    +3          +7
Intimidate                 5    +1    +2    +8
Jump                       2    -1          +1
Knowledge (Local)          5    +2          +7
Move Silently              4    +3          +7
Search                     5    +2          +7
Sense Motive               5    +X          +5
Spot                       4    +X          +4
Survival                   2    +X          +2
Swim                       2    -1          +1

[B]Equipment:               Cost  Weight[/B]
MW Studded Leather Armor
Dagger, MW "Wit"
Messenger's Mantle (Cloak of Resistance +1)

XXXX                     XXsp   XXlb
XXXX                     XXgp   XXlb
XXXX                     XXgp   XXlb
[B]Total Weight:[/B]XXlb      [B]Money:[/B] XXgp XXsp XXcp

[B]Age:[/B] 20
[B]Height:[/B] 5'11"
[B]Weight:[/B] 132lb
[B]Eyes:[/B] brown
[B]Hair:[/B] black
[B]Skin:[/B] tan

Appearance: XXXX

Background: XXXX

[/sblock]

 

[Douane]

Mantikas is the son of the immortal Minos of Crete and a princess from the southern lands beyond the sea, Ankep-Sethra. However, much to the disappointment of his illstrious father, Mantikas turned out to be nothing like Minos had hoped for. With no interest in (or talent for) statesmanship or politics at all he was soon disqualified as potential heir to the Minoan throne. But even the lesser option of becoming one of Minos' generals was seemingly beyond Mantikas' abilities as he loved fighting too much and showed no patience for virtues of leadership. When Minos lamented to Ankep-Sethra that the great tradition of Minoan kings was wasted on her son, he only got the cold reply that Mantikas was "the heir to a tradition that was already old before your puny kingdom rose above the waves". Now more intent than ever to get off of Mantikas (and his mother), yet still honour-bound to provide for him as it befit the son of a great King, Minos enrolled him at Chiron's academy.

Far from being as simple-minded as this may sound, Mantikas has simply no interest in anything beyond combat and warfare. He enjoys physical contests of all kinds, but dislikes losing immensely. Some have said he shows himself to be a true son of Minos in such cases for he must have inherited some of his father's madness.



OoC: Mantikas will probably be a Barbarian 1/Fighter 2 with a focus on Power Attack and Sundering feats. Skills would include Weapon- and Armorsmithing plus some (CC) degree of tumble (to account for Minoan Bull-leaping). I would request having him use a weapon curiously absent from the "New Argonauts" - the axe. In his particular case I would like him to wield the Minoan iconic weapon: the Minoan Doubleaxe (aka Greataxe).

 

[newxpress]

Cool so far it looks as if we have four interested. No hurry on the character concepts.

Im leery about the Minaoan axe, but dang it Douane the axe fits so well with the character concept.

So, at the risk of being unbalancing I will allow the request for the (greataxe) with the caveat that since it was historically a ceremonial weapon and shrouded with religious meaning you must take the exotic weapon profeciency feat to use it.

Likewise I will allow the Gretaclub for Herculean types but with the same requirement since its so biiig-exotic weapon greatclub.

Also, and while Im putting this out a bit scattershot, and hope to consolidate this info later, there is no need to worry about alignment. Im assuming you are each good or neutral as befits heroes- the normal alignment structure doesnt fit in with the setting I think especially were society that exerts pressure to either be part of a community or exiled from it.

Also,also, per the pdf language skills arent too important. Our world is based on the mythic world of the Greeks. It is a Hellenic one, and the known world of Hellas, Asia, (north ) Africa, and Europe are all culturally Hellenized to some extent and speak Greek. This reflects the Heroic Age feel of the game, and real life places like Egypt and Persia are beyond our purview.

 

[Douane]

Deal!


I was doing a bit of background reading when I stumbled upon Minos and he just seemed like a perfect fit: The first one (I am going with the assumption that there was/is a number of Minoan Kings all named Minos - therefore the immortal Minos.) was a son of Zeus, thus fulfilling the lesser scion part, and the Minos of legend also had enough children that such an unruly one as Mantikas wouldn't be missed and could easily be sent away. And from Minos and Crete it's just a baby-step to the Doubleaxe.


" [...] it was historically a ceremonial weapon and shrouded with religious meaning [...] "

And this fits so well with what I had in mind. Mantikus hasn't been taught much respect for neither Minoan culture nor religion by his mother, so using a sacred symbol as a mere profane weapon adds even more to the disgrace he brought upon his father.

 

[Douane]

Just read your addition concerning languages.

I had planned on having Mantikas (Mantikos?) speak (Minoan) Greek and Egyptian, not because I expected to ever use it in-game, but simply because it matches the character's background. Still okay?

 

[Blackrat]

I added background to my character.

 

[Blackrat]

Read your consept Douane, nice. I'm predicting wrestling competitions between Mantikos and Aeaxeos . Maybe we should establish a friendly competition on who kills more beasts ?

 

[Fenris]

Newxpress,
Thought I'd toss an idea out there for you to consider.
In the tradition of Heracles' Nemian lion-skin armor that nothing could cut, Odysseus' bow no other man could string, the shield of Perseus, and the spear of Ajax, amazing equipment are a part of the myths. Below are some optional equipment rules from the Black Company Setting. They allow better equipment, that is still mundane, to be introduced, and often have really neat effects that would fit well in this type of campaign. Thought you might like to consider allowing or assigning us one special bit of equipment. But by all means feel free to say no, it isn't a big deal, it is just a cool idea I like in low-magic setttings.

[sblock]
Black Company Equipment Rules

• Accurate: +1 to hit (any weapon)
• Balanced: +1 to initiative when readied (any weapon or shield)
• Concealable: +4 to sleight of hand checks with this item (any item)
• Crushing: Inflicts an additional 2 points of non-lethal damage on successful hit (any blunt weapon)
• Deadly: Increases the threat range of any x2 weapon by 1 (any weapon)
• Decorative: Gain +1 to diplomacy checks while displaying item (any item)
• Fortified: 10% of any critical hit or sneak attack damage being negated (any armor)
• Guard: Wielder may reduce attack rolls by 1 for an entire round gains deflection bonus to AC of +1. This deflection bonus is doubled if the item is a shield. (any weapon or shield)
• Light: Item is 10% lighter than normal (any item)
• Mastercraft: Reduces armor check penalty by 1, to a minimum of 0 (armor or shield)
• Rugged: Item gains +2 to hardness and break DC (any item)
• Sharp: +1 to damage - bonus applied before multipliers (slashing/piercing weapons)
• Sturdy: 50% increase in item hit points (any item)
• Thick: A suit of medium or heavy armor provides damage reduction of 1/- against physical attacks - this DR is applied prior to any Damage Conversion (any armor)
• Threatening: Wielder gains +2 to intimidate checks when displaying item (any item)
• Well-Crafted: Provides a +1 bonus to a specific skill when used as intended (any item)

There are six levels of Masterwork items:
• Fine: 1 benefit
• Excellent: 2 benefits
• Exceptional: 3 benefits, may double once (ie, one double, one single benefit)
• Superior: 4 benefits, may double once
• Masterwork: 5 benefits, may double twice or triple once
• Masterpiece: 6 benefits, may double twice or double once/triple once
[/sblock]