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Post by Rigil Kent on Jul 6, 2012 10:31:24 GMT -6
City of CrimsonA Proposal for a D&D Campaign using 3.5 Rules. Campaign Rules: - All Characters will use the following attribute array: 18, 16, 15, 14, 13, 10. This will provide characters with one exceptional ability and one average one and we don't have to deal with a single player rolling terribly and one rolling straight 18s.
- All Characters will begin at 2nd Level. This will allow for ECL 1 races (ala Aasimar or Tiefling)
- Characters should avoid all Evil alignments. Honestly, Chaotic Good is probably the best alignment for this game.
- Spellcasting in this game will be (initially) limited: Mages are tightly regulated and monitored, ala Dragon Age. The Chantry (which is the primary faith) has charged itself with protecting the world from mages. Anyone can seek Healing from them but will be tested for arcane ability and then forced into the Mages’ Guild.
Characters will be selected from the following list of Archetypes, at which point the Player can construct the character as desired: - The Noble: last scion of a dying House fallen into ill repute. He or she is obsessed with becoming the perfect blademaster. This character should be constructed as either a Swordsage or Warblade from “Tome of Battle.”
- The Trickster: sole surviving member of a Robin Hood-like Thieves Guild that was destroyed by the Cerulean Society (which is the city’s only thieves’ guild.) This character should be at least Rogue1 and can, at players' discretion be related to another PC (preferably Noble or Thief Taker.)
- Thief Taker: apprentice hunter of thieves and bandits. This character should use Urban Ranger (from Unearthed Arcana) with Non-Spellcasting option from Complete Warrior
- The Apostate: renegade arcane caster, this character specializes in low key spellcasting so as to avoid being identified as a mage. This character can use any spellcasting class.
- The Bender: a young commoner who is discovering newfound talents and abilities, hitherto unknown. This character can use any spellcasting class not in the PHB (so, wu jen or warlock or shujenga, etc.)
- The Blacksmith: an angry professional who has picked up an axe to seek vengeance against those who have wronged him. This character should (obviously) have Craft (Blacksmith) skill, but can be nearly any martial class within reason. Fighter, Barbarian, etc.
Not all classes need to be used and we can modify as needed. The city of Korvosa will be the central location of this adventure path. You may on occasion briefly leave the city, but you’ll always come back (unless you die tragically.) There are only two “Gods” in this pantheon: - The Creator. Exactly as you would expect. He built the cosmos and is the source of all things good and nifty. He’s also a distant god, not given to intervention.
- The Dark One. Imprisoned at the beginning of time by the Creator, he the source of all Evil and Chaos. And naturally, everyone fears he is getting loose. Those who follow him are called ‘Friends of the Dark’ (or Darkfriends.)
Healing Surges will be shamelessly stolen from 4E. Also will be shamelessly stealing Mike E's "Everyone has a single Legacy item to begin with." If weapon or armor, is Masterwork (you buy the weapon, the MW is added for free by GM.) If other, then we figure it out along the way. Let me know if you guys are interested...
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Post by WxMAN on Jul 6, 2012 11:06:32 GMT -6
Sounds good to me...
Thanks for using an array, as random rolls are a pain, I like everyone starting out at the same stat level (though I prefer Point Buy)...
A few questions:
How high a level are you expecting this to go? Are you expecting this to be a perm campaign feature or just to fill the gap?
What do you mean by "low key spellcasting"?
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Post by Rigil Kent on Jul 6, 2012 11:12:23 GMT -6
How high a level are you expecting this to go? Are you expecting this to be a perm campaign feature or just to fill the gap? It's an Adventure Path, so potentially up to 20th level. IMHO, it's also one of the better APs I've seen... For the Apostate? I mean spells that are ... low key. Not vulgar. Fireball and Lightning Bolt are not low key.
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Post by WxMAN on Jul 6, 2012 11:21:19 GMT -6
I mean spells that are ... low key. Not vulgar. Fireball and Lightning Bolt are not low key. I figured both the Apostate and the Bender would both have to go pretty low key... Is "Stinking Cloud" low-key? How about "Baleful Transposition"?
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Post by Rigil Kent on Jul 6, 2012 11:45:01 GMT -6
Well, as long as you don't care about dodging Templars, having explosive vulgar magic is fine. Just watch out for those guys...
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Post by thedefiantbudah on Jul 6, 2012 12:57:52 GMT -6
I'm down for this...and as usual...i'm leaning toward either the trickster...or taker
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Post by Gigermann on Jul 6, 2012 13:38:27 GMT -6
"The Bender" is a response to my most-recent idea, but now I'm of the opinion that a dual-classed Monk/Shujenga will end up too weak as either one to be particularly "satisfying" for me. now I'm leaning toward resurrecting my Half-Drow Ninja (maybe not Half-Drow in this case?)
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Post by Rigil Kent on Jul 6, 2012 13:40:18 GMT -6
The ninja would work and would likely also be a surviving member of the destroyed Guild that the Trickster is referenced. Unsure on the Half-Drow: does that have an ECL?
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Post by Gigermann on Jul 6, 2012 13:48:28 GMT -6
The ninja would work and would likely also be a surviving member of the destroyed Guild that the Trickster is referenced. Unsure on the Half-Drow: does that have an ECL? FR Campaign book, no ECL—apparently, the only difference from regular Half-Elf is he has Dark Vision instead of Low-Light Vision
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Post by Rigil Kent on Jul 6, 2012 14:12:12 GMT -6
Ah. I'll allow it.
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Post by Mike E. on Jul 6, 2012 14:22:38 GMT -6
I call the blacksmith.
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Post by LabRat on Jul 6, 2012 14:49:05 GMT -6
Tentatively putting in my bid for The Noble
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Post by Mike E. on Jul 6, 2012 14:57:40 GMT -6
Also...there is no Craft (blacksmith). I think it should be profession (blacksmith). But also have craft skills.
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Post by WxMAN on Jul 6, 2012 15:02:53 GMT -6
I guess that leaves me as the outcast caster........ great.....
I couldn't convince you to allow the Bender to be a Sorcerer could I?
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Post by Rigil Kent on Jul 6, 2012 15:07:28 GMT -6
I guess that leaves me as the outcast caster........ great..... Like I said, these don't have to be the final option. If you want to do something else, you might be able to convince me. If you want to do something someone else is playing, we can do that as well. For example, if you want to do a Sorceror, we can use elements of the Bender archetype - you can be like a mutant just manifesting. It's also not out of the realm of feasibility that you could develop arcane abilities later (within reason, of course.)
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Post by LabRat on Jul 6, 2012 15:37:16 GMT -6
If I ask really nicely would you let me play a crusader?
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Post by Gigermann on Jul 6, 2012 15:49:16 GMT -6
I guess that leaves me as the outcast caster........ great..... I couldn't convince you to allow the Bender to be a Sorcerer could I? We could really use a Bard Shujenga is basically a Sorceror, specialized in elemental magic
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Post by Rigil Kent on Jul 6, 2012 15:50:50 GMT -6
If I ask really nicely would you let me play a crusader? The Crusader would be hard to work in as that's kind of how I envision the "Templars" - it might be easier to enter the Crusader class at a later date, like you get recruited into the Chantry or something. I'm not disallowing it, but if that's what you really, really want to play, we can find a way to do it.
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Post by LabRat on Jul 6, 2012 16:07:26 GMT -6
Okie dokie, then I will stick with the either the Swordsage or Warblade for the time being and see where that goes.
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Post by Mike E. on Jul 6, 2012 16:36:04 GMT -6
Why do we have 7 stats in the array?
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Post by Rigil Kent on Jul 6, 2012 16:37:03 GMT -6
Because I'm an idiot. Fixed.
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Post by Rigil Kent on Jul 6, 2012 20:33:44 GMT -6
Even before campaign begins, you and the other PCs have a shared trait—you’ve all been wronged, in some manner, by the despicable Gaedren Lamm. The campaign you are about to begin starts as you and several other promising young heroes are brought together to do what the city guards cannot (or will not) do—to see that Gaedren Lamm answers for his crimes, be that in a court of law or at the edge of a vengeful blade.
Presented here are five ties to Gaedren you can choose for your character, historical snippets that explain how this detestable crimelord has affected you in the past. Each trait presents an unfortunate event, painted in broad strokes so you can customize it to your needs, that helped shape your character. Once you’ve selected a trait, pick a benef it that matches your own concept for your character. Feel free to adapt and rework the particulars of your chosen trait to f it your history. So long as you have a reason to see Gaedren pay for his crimes, you’ll have a built-in reason to take up a life of adventuring and, more importantly, a reason to bond with your new companions.
Obviously, these background traits won’t work well for new characters brought into the campaign after Gaedren’s been taken care of, yet the flavor text can be easily changed. Talk with your GM, but it should be a simple matter for you to pick one of the following traits, change a few names, and have it focus on an entirely different set of circumstances. It’s up to your GM to decide if your new higher-level character has already addressed these issues or if he wants to work them into future events in the campaign. The game benef its of the selected trait remain unchanged, and persist even after Gaedren Lamm is taken care of.
Drug Addict Someone you know has become addicted to shiver, a drug distilled from the venom of dream spiders. The drug induces sleep filled with vivid dreams, during which the user’s body often shakes and shivers, giving the substance its street name. Shiver is particularly dangerous for the desperate, for its promises of dreams and oblivion are often viewed as the only alternative apart from suicide for escaping a dreary life. You’ve always thought of shiver as a problem of the lower class, but then someone you know overdosed on the stuff. You’ve done a bit of investigating and have learned that the one who got your friend addicted in the first place was a crimelord named Gaedren. Unfortunately, the guards seem to be more focused on the bigger dealers. They don’t have time to devote many resources to what they’ve called, “a bit player in a beggar’s problem.” It would seem that if his operation is to be stopped, it falls to you. Addicted Friend: The addict is a friend or lover who might or might not have survived the overdose. Your research into the drug scene and local politics has given you a respectable education in street knowledge. You gain a +2 bonus on Knowledge (local) checks or Gather Information checks (choose one when selecting this trait). Personal Addiction: You were the addict. You blame Gaedren for your brush with death and hate how his drugs are causing similar problems among other youths. Fortunately, your body recovers quickly from toxins, and you have a +1 bonus on Fortitude saving throws.
Framed Someone you know and love was accused of murder. A supposed eyewitness account from a local fisherman seemed to be enough to seal the case, but the accused had enough alibis that sentencing wasn’t immediate. Someone confronted the fisherman and discovered he was intimidated into providing false witness and forced into planting the murder weapon by the actual murderer—a local crimelord named Gaedren Lamm. Lamm’s thugs killed the fisherman before he could recant his testimony. Although this removed the key witness and resulted in the accused being set free, the stigma was enough to badly damage his reputation. If you can find Gaedren, you’re sure you can find evidence that ties him to the murder and can clear the accused’s name. Family Honor: The person framed was a family member, perhaps a father or brother. You managed to trick the fisherman into revealing the truth with your skilled tongue, and thus gain a +2 bonus on Bluff checks. Dropout: You were the one accused. Although you were eventually freed when a friend confronted the fisherman and got the truth, the damage had been done. You were forced to leave your school (perhaps the Acadamae) or church. As a result, you were forced to self-train and promised yourself you would become better at your chosen profession despite the spurning of your peers. You gain a +2 bonus on Spellcraft checks.
Love Lost Someone you loved was knifed to death in a dark alley one night. You were called to the scene by the Korvosan Guard to identify the body, and as rough as that was for you, you also noticed a ring was missing from the body. Whoever murdered your loved one stole that ring—you’re convinced of it. You’ve done some investigation on your own and recently found the ring for sale at a local merchant. Although, to your great frustration, you can’t afford yet to buy it back, the merchant did tell you from whom he purchased the ring: a man named Gaedren Lamm. It seems likely this criminal is the one who killed your loved one, or at the very least knows who did. The only problem is finding him. Orphaned: The murder victim was your only surviving parent. You had to grow up fast to take care of your siblings or to handle your family’s matters and were forced from an early age to support yourself. You gain a +2 bonus on one of the following skills: Craft, Perform, or Profession. Widowed: The murder victim was a lover. With your lover’s death, a part of you died as well, leaving you haunted, grim, and prone to dark musings. You gain a +2 bonus on Intimidate checks.
Missing Child You suspect that a child you know has been abducted by Gaedren. Whatever the relationship, you’ve heard rumors about Gaedren’s “Little Lamms,” and of how the old man uses children as pickpockets and agents for his crimes. You’ve even heard rumors that the child you’re looking for has been spotted in the marketplaces in the company of other known to be cutpurses and pickpockets. Although the Korvosan Guard has been understanding of your plight, yet it has its hands full with “more important” matters these days, it seems, and has not yet been able to learn anything more about Gaedren. No one else is interested in bringing Gaedren down and rescuing his victims—that task falls to you. Yet where could the old scoundrel be hiding? Missing Sibling: The missing child is a brother or sister. Although everyone else has given up hope, you believe your sibling still lives out there. Your constant search for the missing sibling has developed into great skill at rumor mongering and finding information from others. Gather Information and Sense Motive are always class skills for you. Missing Son or Daughter: The missing child is your own son or daughter, a niece or nephew, or the son or daughter of your superior or employer and one you had been charged with protecting. The child was abducted during a trip to the market or some other daily event. Long hours spent searching for rumors and your stubborn will to continue grant you a +1 bonus on Will saves.
Unhappy Childhood You spent a period of time as one of Gaedren’s enslaved orphans. Maybe you were abducted from your parent’s home or during a trip to the market. Perhaps the irresponsible matron who ruled your orphanage traded you to him in return for a desperately needed loan of money. Or perhaps you, like most of Gaedren’s slaves, were merely a child of the street who succumbed to his promise of regular meals and a roof in return for what he said would be “a little light work.” Whatever the case, you spent several years of your life as one of his “Little Lamms” before escaping. You’ve nursed a grudge for the old man ever since. Tortured: Gaedren tortured you and left you for dead on a garbage heap after you made one too many errors. Your scars and memories have honed your reaction speed and make you rather jumpy. You gain a +1 bonus on Reflex saves. Religious: You found a holy symbol today while on a job for Gaedren and, intrigued by it, you snuck off to attend services. When Gaedren found out, he beat you to within an inch of your life and broke your holy symbol. Your faith let you block out the pain, and you escaped his control and took shelter in the church, where you spent the rest of your youth. You gain a +2 bonus on Concentration checks.
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Post by WxMAN on Jul 6, 2012 21:58:10 GMT -6
Giger, is the Rogue/Ninja going to be social man or not?
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Post by Gigermann on Jul 6, 2012 22:01:28 GMT -6
Giger, is the Rogue/Ninja going to be social man or not? Ninja don't make good face-men—being visible is counter to their typical mission
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Post by WxMAN on Jul 7, 2012 11:28:45 GMT -6
Ninja don't make good face-men—being visible is counter to their typical mission How about other rogue-y things, like trapfinding, opening locks, etc... any good at that?
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Post by Gigermann on Jul 7, 2012 11:30:13 GMT -6
How about other rogue-y things, like trapfinding, opening locks, etc... any good at that? Should be good for B&E
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Post by thedefiantbudah on Jul 7, 2012 20:04:00 GMT -6
giger, will the ninja be ranged at all, or up close and personal...just realized with me doing the two-weapon thing...we seem to be lacking in the "ranged" dept...
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Post by Gigermann on Jul 8, 2012 0:15:45 GMT -6
giger, will the ninja be ranged at all, or up close and personal...just realized with me doing the two-weapon thing...we seem to be lacking in the "ranged" dept... Previous version was mixed—long spear & shuriken
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Post by thedefiantbudah on Jul 8, 2012 13:32:11 GMT -6
Well i do have a long bow..might have to balance my feats for both up close and ranged combat
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Post by Rigil Kent on Jul 8, 2012 18:43:03 GMT -6
Could everyone add in their respective Character threads which link to the despicable Gaedren Lamm your character possesses? Thanks!
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