Shackled City (Pathfinder) - GM_Chris

Game Master Chris Shannon 719

Welcome everyone!

I'm sure each of you is as anxious as me to get on with the adventure, but a few quick notes. For those of you who are new to play-by-post, this is the out of character discussion thread. This is where we can world build, rules lawyer, discuss the weather, etc, etc, without disturbing the flow of the story thread.

I covered numerous topics in the recruiting thread which have been inserted into my profile for easy reference. I will update it with any other information/rulings as needed. Just one note, please use quotes when appropriate. The bold helps, but the quotes are what really trigger the voices in my head. Only one other topic has been added regarding cheating, which I just don't get. I won't overload your brains with anything more for now. We can address things as needed. Feel free to email me directly.

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and will likely be posting morning, noon, and night. I don't expect everyone to keep pace with me, but please post once a day to the game thread and stop by this thread to see if anything is going on.

If you haven't completely finished your profile, please do so as soon as possible.

Finally, have fun! If your aren't having fun, let us know. Fun and camaraderie are the only real life rewards for playing here.

Just wanted to say how excited I am to be on this adventure. I think you did an awesome job with the introduction, and that has to be one of the best takes on "you meet in a bar" I've seen in a long time. Can't wait to get started.

Figured I'd post as myself and include my character name at the bottom, unless you'd like the opposite, that way we can keep each other straight between the threads.

Finneas

"**RAWR**"

I summon myself from the aether into this thread.

Fear my coming!

Nothing to do on the other thread, so I audited characters. Yes, I'm desperate to do anything associated with this. It also helps me learn the new classes. Here are my notes, most of which are in your favor. Of course, I can make mistakes too, so feel free to correct me.

ALL
- Please indicate in some way how you distribute your skill ranks.
Aeneas
- Saves. Your base is 0,2,0 with a +2 Ref from Dex. Should be 0,4,0.
- CMD. Should be 15. 3 DEX + 2 STR
Atol
- Saves. Your base is 2,0,2 with +1 to all from domain and +5 Will from WIS. Should be 3,1,8
- Channels. Should be 7. 3 base, 2 CHA, 2 Extra Channel feat.
Finneas
- Saves. Your base is 0,0,2. +1 to all from tattoo. +1 Fort from CON. Should be 2,1,3.
- Skills. 1 too many it appears. Oracle base is 4. No INT bonuse. Favored class went to HP.
Thierry
- CMB should be 2
- CMD should be 14
- You have bastard sword as +3 attack. +2 is STR, but I don't know where the other one is coming from.
- Languages. Pick two more since there are no regional languages.
Dryant
- You're not perfect. I just haven't found the mistakes yet.
Silfir
- Don't make me release the Elizalich on you.

Bah, stupid post monster ate my post from earlier.

Anyway, just saying how happy I am to be here and what a great job I think you did with that introduction.

In my skills I only spent 4 points, the 5 is a typo I noticed earlier but haven't corrected.

My Scarred Soul trait gives me a -1 to Will saves.

Dryant- You're not perfect.

Well duh.

I mean, if i were perfect, would I be hanging out in this thread?

Sheesh.

And would I be sobbing in my cups?

And giving away my most prized possessions?

No, I ain't perfect, but thanks for rubbing it in.

*sob*

GM_Chris wrote:

Dryant- You're not perfect.

Well duh.

I mean, if i were perfect, would I be hanging out in this thread?

Sheesh.

And would I be sobbing in my cups?

And giving away my most prized possessions?

No, I ain't perfect, but thanks for rubbing it in.

*sob*

Ok, I would never have guessed a Healing Witch of St. Cuthbert. Well done sir.

Working on it!

Also don't want to forget about this....

The blue gnome pipes up first, "If we wanted a philospher,"

The red gnome continues, "We would have called over the pile of refuse that traded in his life's work for a single night of drinks."

Who are they talking about? Oh yeah.... Dryant. The pile of refuse.

Insulted by gnomes.

Thanks again for the nod.
Now just need to figure out who the purple lady was.

Thanks for the CMD catch. I think we were both wrong on the saves.

I figure. Fort +0 class +1 con 13. Ref +2 class +2 dex 15.
Will +0 class +1 Wiz 13.

So +1/+4/+1 corect?

Skill ranks are indicated by the roman nurmal following the skill name. For example Perception I means one rank in perception. Is this cook or do you wand a per level breakdown? EX: lvl1. perception, kn nobles, climb ..... lvl 2. stealth......

Also did not mail myself the gear list I made last night. >facepalm<

What would be a good language for a tutor / researcher in this area? What would rich parents want their kids in addition to common?

Silfr knows common & elven, and would have picked up celestial in his own studies.

What language would old carvings on the ruins of the area sport? Aklo?

I think we were both worng on the saves.

So +1/+4/+1 correct?

Yes. Don't know how I flubbed that one.

Ok, I would never have guessed a Healing Witch of St. Cuthbert. Well done sir.

And thank you, sir.

Alas, I lack the divine spark.

To note: I will never, ever refer to myself or what I can do as a witchy/warlocky or whatever. The witch is nothing but a skeleton, Dyrant is who I am.

Let's rock this PbP.

What would be a good language for a tutor / researcher in this area? What would rich parents want their kids in addition to common?

Silfr knows common & elven, and would have picked up celestial in his own studies.

What language would old carvings on the ruins of the area sport? Aklo?

Giant? Draconic?

D30 wrote:

What would be a good language for a tutor / researcher in this area? What would rich parents want their kids in addition to common?

Silfr knows common & elven, and would have picked up celestial in his own studies.

What language would old carvings on the ruins of the area sport? Aklo?

Giant? Draconic?

Also Halfling Gnome and Dwarf based on the background of the settlers of this city.

To note: I will never, ever refer to myself or what I can do as a witchy/warlocky or whatever. The witch is nothing but a skeleton, Dyrant is who I am.

A player in my Serpent Skull game insists the others refer to his ninja as a fighter, so I can totally understand that.

For his part Finneas doesn't even think of himself as an Oracle, but a follower of Kord with a mix of martial and divine skills.

What would be a good language for a tutor / researcher in this area? What would rich parents want their kids in addition to common?

Silfr knows common & elven, and would have picked up celestial in his own studies.

What language would old carvings on the ruins of the area sport? Aklo?

Hard to say on the tutoring and research, but stick to the languages in the Core rulebook. In regards to your more specific question of ruins, the lands were occupied by demons before Surribar drove them out. Dragons have also roamed the lands as recently as a few human generations ago. Finally, there are known underground ruins, catacombs, etc. Without giving too much away, you can extrapolate possibilities from there.

I'm a courier or a factor if you want to really nail me down.

@ Finneas
How attached are you to your hauntings? I plan to hijack them frequently. If this is going to ruin your experience, please let me know now.

Also, how long ago was it that you left Cauldron and "traveled south to learn with the tribe of his father?" When did you return?

I'm a courier or a factor if you want to really nail me down.

Is your character an investigator or are you just using the class as a shell for your character?

Which house are you a courier/factor for? Anyone of note? You can pick one from the Cauldron background or work for a lesser known family. Either way I can work you into the story without revealing plot.

@ Finneas

How attached are you to your hauntings? I plan to hijack them frequently. If this is going to ruin your experience, please let me know now.

Go for it. Originally I was going to go with Tongues for my curse because I don't really like the game effects of Haunted, but when I started playing out the character it made more sense for him to be Haunted.

Anything that helps the roleplaying experience is good with me, so by all means. If there would be mechanical effects to the hijacking I would like to know, but as a story tool they are all yours.

If there would be mechanical effects to the hijacking I would like to know, but as a story tool they are all yours.

Nothing during combat except for the already existing penalties. Thanks.

Also, look above. Just added another question.

Finneas Glenn wrote:

If there would be mechanical effects to the hijacking I would like to know, but as a story tool they are all yours.

Nothing during combat except for the already existing penalties. Thanks.

Ok sounds great.

Also, look above. Just added another question.

Also, how long ago was it that you left Cauldron and "traveled south to learn with the tribe of his father?" When did you return?

Age 17 now. Let's say 13 or so for puberty and the voices, one year in the church to get them under control, south to the tribe and 6 months to a year there, back to Cauldron around age 15 so 2 years working on the Gate and living in Cauldron again?

Stupid forum lost a huge character update. I'll have time to retype it all later tonight.

Stupid forum lost a huge character update. I'll have time to retype it all later tonight.

Yep. Ctrl-C prior to "Submit Post" or "Preview" is your friend. I think we've all learned that one the hard way. I think the postmonster is related to gremlins.

Aeneas wrote:

I'm a courier or a factor if you want to really nail me down.

Is your character an investigator or are you just using the class as a shell for your character?

Which house are you a courier/factor for? Anyone of note? You can pick one from the Cauldron background or work for a lesser known family. Either way I can work you into the story without revealing plot.

Aeneas worked as a courier/problem solver for the construction project. Think junior project manager and you will not be far off. I suppose he could have worked for other nobles/business before this. Given his blue blood background he would pick a merchant to work for if he could, Arlintal and Garthum leap out of the background info as possabilities. In fact he could still be working for one of them and just been loaned to the project.

I like that idea Aeneas works for Arlintal Maavu but was loaned to the gate project both our of civic feeling and to keep an eye on his employers interests.

Can you work with that?

Can you work with that?

Yes, Arlintal Maavu will work. Now walk out of the Inn. *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* 8-)

Aeneas wrote:

Can you work with that?

Yes, now walk out of the Inn. *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* 8-)

lol, I am so raring to go on this adventure it's crazy!

This is going to be great! :D

...the cloth is not empty, it contains my wooden holy symbol to St. Cuthbert instead of your much finer one which is visible around my neck.

Lol. I'm sure St. Cuthbert won't mind. :)

...the cloth is not empty, it contains my wooden holy symbol to St. Cuthbert instead of your much finer one which is visible around my neck.

What? I gave the barkeep my wooden holy symbol, the only one I had. Tis weird that it turned metal and more valuable the moment I gave it away. Mayhaps this is an omen?

hahahah! My bad. I thought yours was metal.

OK then, you have my wooden instead of yours. :D

Dice Rolls

Feel free to roll dice for a skill, attack, etc, anytime you think is appropriate. I appreciate it if you explain any situational modifiers that alter what the roll would be from your profile. Including at least situational modifiers keeps things like cover from being counted twice or not at all. I go overboard, but understand if it's too much. For example:

+1 BAB, +4 Dex, +1 Point Blank, -4 cover
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Aside from initiative, I will typically not make rolls for you unless it is necessary to keep things moving. I will also frequently let you make rolls that are supposed to be done by the GM. I trust people to not metagame around it and find it helps with my sense of immersion. If you're the opposite and knowing you rolled a 1 is going to distract you on searches, traps, etc, just let me know.

Dice Rolls blahblah blahblah blahblah blahblah blahblah blahblah blahblah blahblah blahblah blahblah blahblah blahblah blahblah blahblah blahblah words words worms wordswords words worms wordswords words worms words blahblah blahblah blahblah blahblah blahblah blahblah blahblah blahblah blahblah words words worms wordswords words worms wordswords words worms words blahblah blahblah blahblah blahblah blahblah blahblah blahblah words words worms words blahblah blahblah blahblah blahblah

/me ::makes the 'blahblah' hand gesture with accompanying mouth and facial movements::

Yeah, great GM Chris, but when do we see what's happening in the alley??!?!?!

Soon as Thierry acts I reckon.

Yeah, great GM Chris, but when do we see what's happening in the alley??!?!?!

As soon as Thierry posts. I'm dying here, too. "Help! Help! *oooff*"

Painlord wrote:

Yeah, great GM Chris, but when do we see what's happening in the alley??!?!?!

As soon as Thierry posts. I'm dying here, too. "Help! Help! *oooff*"

While we're waiting, do you feel it would be reasonable for Finneas to have his hand axe? I would think so, but I can't see why he would have his greatsword with him.

Also, I assume if we don't post in 24 hours during non-combat you'll skip us, what is the time limit during combat? The same?

While we're waiting, do you feel it would be reasonable for Finneas to have his hand axe? I would think so, but I can't see why he would have his greatsword with him.

Dang. I'd like to get inside and get my (really Atol Lem's) freakin' holy symbol so I could be useful in this fight, but that's not how it's going to be is it?

Finneas Glenn wrote:

While we're waiting, do you feel it would be reasonable for Finneas to have his hand axe? I would think so, but I can't see why he would have his greatsword with him.

Dang. I'd like to get inside and get my (really Atol Lem's) freakin' holy symbol so I could be useful in this fight, but that's not how it's going to be is it?

If I understand it correctly you took the white cloth you gave the bartender? In which case you have his holy symbol, and since you're the same religion does that work for you?

If I understand it correctly you took the white cloth you gave the bartender? In which case you have his holy symbol, and since you're the same religion does that work for you?

Nope, don't have it. In my drunken/pitiful stupor, I ran out of the bar without it. I did, however, manage to get my book back.

Silly me. We'll see what happens.

Finneas Glenn wrote:

If I understand it correctly you took the white cloth you gave the bartender? In which case you have his holy symbol, and since you're the same religion does that work for you?

Nope, don't have it. In my drunken/pitiful stupor, I ran out of the bar without it. I did, however, manage to get my book back.

Silly me. We'll see what happens.

Well crap. I guess you can always hit them with the book? ;P

Well crap. I guess you can always hit them with the book? ;P

I assume you mean to hit GM Chris and Thierry?

Yes. Definitely.

While we're waiting, do you feel it would be reasonable for Finneas to have his hand axe? I would think so, but I can't see why he would have his greatsword with him.

Hand axe, yes. Greatsword no unless it's his security blanket like Thierry.

Also, I assume if we don't post in 24 hours during non-combat you'll skip us, what is the time limit during combat? The same?

24 hours definitely, but I might try for 12 or 18 hours for combat. I'll probably post an 18 hour timer the first time and go with that.

Opinions people?

Finneas Glenn wrote:

Also, I assume if we don't post in 24 hours during non-combat you'll skip us, what is the time limit during combat? The same?

24 hours definitely, but I might try for 12 or 18 hours for combat. I'll probably post an 18 hour timer the first time and go with that.

Opinions people?

18 sounds good to me.

As I apparently held up the party, (sorry!) I wanted to make sure to let everyone know that I do the vast majority of posting from work and I am off on Thursday and Sunday nights. This means that I rarely post after 7 am Thursday until sometime Friday and the same again 7 am Sunday.

Please GM_Chris, feel free to move Thierry if I don't respond quickly enough for the needs of the game. He is a gallant, but old enough not to just rush into the unknown without at least a first glance.

As I apparently held up the party, (sorry!) I wanted to make sure to let everyone know that I do the vast majority of posting from work and I am off on Thursday and Sunday nights. This means that I rarely post after 7 am Thursday until sometime Friday and the same again 7 am Sunday.

Please GM_Chris, feel free to move Thierry if I don't respond quickly enough for the needs of the game. He is a gallant, but old enough not to just rush into the unknown without at least a first glance.

7am in ??? And, always rush forward and tackle the biggest, meanest looking thing out there. Check.

First combat post up, hopefully I got all the format the way you like. My virtual dice are on fire, I hope that doesn't turn on me now.

While I belive this is a potentially powerful party, I find it amusing that there isn't a single BAB amongst you until the Eidolon is out.

He has my symbol. How did he get it?

And it works for him. 8-P

I didn't even notice that. Well, that has to be a first, given the number of full BAB progression classes that exist, I think it's pretty cool that a party without one of them can do well (I hope).

I didn't note it in my post but I'm hoping the Intimidate gives them the Shaken result to account for most of us not wearing armor.

/nod Totally cool with that, since we're not at a table I wanted to make sure you knew that's what I was hoping for.

As noted in your Game Notes I'll not play out what I think will happen but just note what I'm trying to make happen, unless/until you tell me otherwise.