Tide of Shadows (D&D)

[Academia Nut]

Which ones are you wanting to research?

Also, is there anyone besides rhoenix, Nitram, and Tevar interested? I can probably work with one or two more players, but you know, roleplaying forum and all, I would figure a few more nibbles, but whatever.

[rhoenix]

Which ones are you wanting to research?

Honestly, I'd have to look them up again - basically, spells that would be useful as a Duskblade. I just want to have the option open.

[Academia Nut]

Cool. If you want to post a short character story or a character sheet, I think you can at any time now. It sounds like you have your character well in hand.

[Academia Nut]

Okay, so I talked to rhonenix last night and his character looked mostly good, he just needed to make a few changes to his ability scores, total feat and skill point distribution if he was going to be a half-elf rather than a human, and up his level from 1 to 6 while upgrading his gear appropriately.

Since Nit and Tevar have also expressed interest, have either of you got your character ideas ready for review? Or are you still bandying about ideas?

[LadyTevar]

still bandying

[Academia Nut]

So far I haven't seen any suggestions for a cleric. *hint* *hint*

Paladin should be fine though. It's just that with the campaign being stated to be undead heavy, you might want someone who can "Kick ass for the Lord!" standing by.

What are the ideas you are bandying about though? As the DM it is one of my jobs to help my PCs properly establish their ideas.

[LadyTevar]

Paladin/Cleric of Bahumet, tasked with watching over a runty Silver Vassal of Bahumet.

[Academia Nut]

Nice. Although at this level I'm fairly certain the little guy (little? Silvers are medium at the smallest!) would be too low to qualify for the majority prerequsites for VoB and the requirement to singlehandedly slay a juvenile (I think) red dragon is probably still a little ways away. Still, an aspiring VoB would be good.

[rhoenix]

Name: Fehl Inzeti
Align: Chaotic Good
Class: Duskblade
Levels: Duskblade 6

:: Combat Summary ::
AC: 18 (10base +1dex +7armor)
HP: 41

Base Attack Bonus: +6/+1
With +1 Greatsword:
(attack: +4str+6bab+1gsword) +11/+6 to attack
(damage: +6str+1gsword) 2d6+7 to damage

Initiative: +1(dex12)
+5 - Will Save: +5(dusk6)
+3 - Reflex Save: +2(dusk6) +1(dex12)
+7 - Fortitude Save: +5(dusk6) +2(con14)

:: Attributes ::
STR: 16 (18 with armbands of Might) (+4 bonus)
DEX: 12 (+1)
CON: 14 (+2)
INT: 15 (+2)
WIS: 11 (no bonus)
CHA: 11 (no bonus)

:: Skills ::
Class Skills: (Climb[str], Concentration[con], Craft[int], Decipher Script[int], Jump[str], Knowledge (any)[int], Ride[dex], Sense Motive[wis], Spellcraft[int], Swim[str])
Climb [Str] 1
Concentration [Con] 3
Craft [Int]: Gemcutting 1
Craft [Int]: Trapmaking 1
Decipher Script [Int] 1
Jump [Str] 8
Knowledge [Int]: Arcana 2
Ride [Dex] 1
Sense Motive [Wis] 2
Spellcraft [Int] 3
Swim [Str] 1

Cross-class skills:
Tumble [Dex] 1
Balance [Dex] 1
Listen [Wis] 1
Search [Int] 1
Spot [Wis] 1
Gather Information [Cha] 1

:: Special Abilities ::
- (Dusk1) Arcane Attunement (can use spell-like powers dancing lights, detect magic, flare, ghost sound, and read magic a combined total of (3+Int Modifier = 5) 5 times per day. These do not count against the total spells known or cast per day)
- (Dusk3) Arcane Channeling (Can cast any touch spell known as a melee attack. Spell must take one standard action or less to cast)
- (Dusk4) Armored Mage: Medium (can wear up through medium armor/shield with no arcane spell failure chance)
- (Dusk5) Quick Cast 1/day (Can cast one spell per day as a swift action, as long as the standard casting time of the spell is one standard action or less)
- (Dusk6) Spell Power +2 (When attempting to overcome spell resistance, the Duskblade gains +2 on the caster level check to overcome spell resistance)

:: Feats :: (3 feats to choose from lvls 1, 3, 6)
Combat Casting (+4 to Concentration checks when casting a spell defensively, while grappled, or while pinned)
Power Attack (take -1 to -5 from attack, add that amount to damage)
Improved Bull Rush
Leap Attack (if a leap is included with a charge at opponent, add +100% to power attack damage)
(At level 9: Shock Trooper)

:: Spells ::
0-Level
Disrupt Undead
Acid Splash

1st-Level
Burning Hands
Chill Touch
True Strike
Blade of Blood
Shocking Grasp
Kelgore's fire bolt

2nd-Level
See Invisibility
Animalistic Power
Ghoul Touch
Seeking Ray

:: Weapons ::
+1 Greatsword

:: Armor ::
+2 Breastplate

:: Items ::
Bag of Holding
Ring of Sustenance (only needs 2 hours sleep a night, does not need food or water)
Armbands of Might (+2 Str, grants an additional +2 to damage when using Power Strike for +2 or greater damage)

:: Funds ::
400 gp


==================
XP History
==================
Begin: lvl6 (15000xp)
+50xp (surviving Garxon, approved by Academia Nut 11/18/08)
+1050xp for abandoned town encounters (allip, ghost, carytid column, 11/18/08)

==================
Character Creation History
==================

:: Brief Major Item History ::
- Received Armband of Might after saving a village from an overrated Necromancer
- Received Breastplate +2 in a major city with the money he got from a pirateer gang deciding to pick on the wrong traveler
- the Greatsword +1 he found at the top floor of the ruins of an old & run-down fighter's academy 2 days from where he grew up

:: Character Creation Math ::
Stat Point Buying
(32 pt. buy, 8 per stat to start, lvl 6 to start, 13k gp)
STR: 8(base)+8 +1(4th lvl attrib bonus) = 16 (+3 bonus)
DEX: 8(base)+4 = 12 (+1 bonus)
CON: 8(base)+6 = 14 (+2 bonus)
INT: 8(base)+8 = 15 (+2 bonus)
WIS: 8(base)+3 = 11 (+0 bonus)
CHA: 8(base)+3 = 11 (+0 bonus)

Initial Gold Buying Spree
16000
-2250 greatsword +1
-4250 breastplate +2
-2500 bag of holding
-4100 armbands of might
-2500 ring of sustenance
-------
400 remaining

:: Version History ::
(version 0.1 - partial character sheet completed)
(version 0.2 - added and fixed consistent formatting)
(version 0.3 - added feats, items, spells)
(version 0.4 - edited formatting, created math and combat sections, edited character)
(version 1.0 - fixed errors, final draft)
(version 1.1 - changed "precocious apprentice" feat to "improved bull rush")
(version 1.2 - fixed typo in combat section; greatsword is +1, not +2)
(version 1.3 - forgot HP totals, used forum dice feature to roll, and added total for lvl 6)
(version 1.4 - forgot saving throws and initiative)

[Rogue 9]

Wait, so Tevar's taking my job?

I can go cleric, then; too many paladins gets redundant fast.

[Charon]

Hmmm. I am tempted to join.

Fair warning, I pretty much know jack-shit about D&D (It involves d20, there are a bunch of classes, there's a stupid leveling system, dragons are pansies).

My initial thought involves playing a warforged (or whatever the equivalent is here if Warforged are from something else). Is this allowable?

[Rogue 9]

Hmmm. I am tempted to join.

Fair warning, I pretty much know jack-shit about D&D (It involves d20, there are a bunch of classes, there's a stupid leveling system, dragons are pansies).

My initial thought involves playing a warforged (or whatever the equivalent is here if Warforged are from something else). Is this allowable?

Fair warning, I pretty much know jack-shit about D&D (It involves d20, there are a bunch of classes, there's a stupid leveling system, dragons are pansies).

dragons are pansies).

Yes, apparently you do indeed know jack shit about D&D.

[Charon]

Yes, apparently you do indeed know jack shit about D&D.

They are pansies. It's actually possible for a PC to play a dragon ever. That makes them pansies.

See, the way I see dragons, you'd need a prestige class of "Dragonslayer" and need to be level 20, with much of that being in "Dragonslayer" in order to be able to fight a yearling on an even playing ground.

Adult dragons would just plain fuck your shit up badly, I don't care what level you are.

[Rogue 9]

They do. To play an adult dragon you need to be well into the epic levels. Elder dragons eat you alive well past level twenty.

[Charon]

You're still not getting where I'm coming from. Adult dragons wouldn't be playable period. And Elder dragons are likened to gods themselves. Any PC playing a yearling dragon would pretty much be starting at level 20. Not at level 6.

[Rogue 9]

If wyrmlings were well out of reach of everyone to fight, then they'd have to change the title of the game, since they'd never come into play.

[Charon]

If wyrmlings were well out of reach of everyone to fight, then they'd have to change the title of the game, since they'd never come into play.

True enough. Wasn't saying that's how they should be for D&D, just saying that's how I see them.

[Comrade Tortoise]

I will probably end up playing a wizard of some kind (yeah, I know you saw this coming) but other than that, still thinking it over.

[Rogue 9]

Bartel Conaghan, cleric of St. Cuthbert.

The only non-core thing on there is the Extra Smiting feat from Complete Warrior, which allows him to use his Smite domain power an additional two times per day, for a total of 3/day.

[Academia Nut]

My did my inbox fill up fast. Anyway, my replies will be a little bit slow over the next few days due to the fact that my grandparents are in town and thus I do not have quite as much free time as I did a few days ago. Worry not though, by the time the campaign actually starts their visit will be over.

Let's see here. Looking over the character sheets submitted:

rhoenix, you have four out of three feats listed. So you'll have to fix that and any related things related to switching them out. Also, I presume you mean Power Attack rather than Power Strike, otherwise please provide a source. Similarly, Rogue 9, you have one less feat than you should if you're human.

Skills wise, you look good rhoenix, except for the fact that your max skill rank is 9 at level 6 and your jump is at 10, so find some place to put that point. As a suggestion, although this would require you to take a point out of somewhere, perhaps Gather Information would be useful to you for your character background. Just a suggestion though.

Rogue, you're good skills-wise.

Ability wise, Rogue, you forgot to account for the increasing price after 14 for abilities, so you spent 2 points too many. You'll have to adjust your abilities somewhere to account for that then.

Also, both of you forgot the ability increase at level 4. I'm guessing that because you assigned a 15 to Int rhoenix you intended to use that on Int, which would also give you three more skill points.

Gear wise, you both look good, although a few points:
1) rhoenix, you have less extra gold than you think you do as you forgot the base cost of the masterwork sword and breast plate. I'm not going to cp and sp you to death, but you're going to need to knock about 450-500gp off your stash
2) rhoenix, you list a +2 greatsword a couple of times, when clearly you only have a +1 greatsword. Make sure that is fixed on your final character sheet
3) Rogue, and to anyone else, if you could include a price breakdown for your gear like rhoenix did, that would be greatly appreciated as it minimizes the amount of hunting about for prices I have to do. Considering the fact that you obviously already did the work and the math, it shouldn't be too much of a burden

Also, as a general thing, if you're taking a feat, spell, or piece of gear from anywhere but core please provide a source for it so I can look up the exact rules.

Finally, on characters, while I don't exactly expect you to give names to Right Boot Dagger and Left Boot Dagger (and that would in fact be rather annoying, so don't do it) how you acquired your big ticket gear would be appreciated for RP purposes. If you recieved your primary magical weapon or armour as a reward for long service to an organization or for helping someone out, you found it in the ruins of an old castle, or if you just bought it at a sufficiently large city, that says something about who you are. It also gives me plot hooks later and helps for the generation of NPCs you would know.

Off the topic of characters, I do not feel comfortable running a group larger than 5. So far rhoenix and Rogue have given me character sheets, so they're in. LadyTevar has done some discussion with me, so she gets preference. So has Nitram, a bit, but I'm still not entirely sure what he plans on doing, so a post here or a PM to me would be greatly appreciated. I have recieved interest from Jason_Firewalker, Comrade Tortoise, and Charon, which puts me over five.

*throws bowie knife in nearest table, smiles broadly*

I think you can work it out yourselves. By which I mean giving me decent character ideas that I would want to allow you to play and/or working out amongst yourselves whether or not you are interested in this group. And Charon, I can help you work out a character if you wish.

[Rogue 9]

I did not forget to adjust for increasing ability scores above 14. I set my Wisdom to 15, and then applied the normal ability score increase at level 4.

I selected the additional feat, which I can't believe I forgot, and decided to switch Protection for Strength in the domain department. The feat is Spurn Death's Touch from Libris Mortis, and it lets me use turning attempts to heal ability damage, negative levels, and paralysis caused by undead (but by no other types of creatures, nor by spells or poisons).

Price list on items forthcoming.

[Academia Nut]

Double checking... you are correct sir. Apologies, although this is definitely why showing your math is always appreciated as it avoids such miscommunications.

Spurn Death's Touch is acceptable and highly useful.

[rhoenix]

rhoenix, you have four out of three feats listed. So you'll have to fix that and any related things related to switching them out. Also, I presume you mean Power Attack rather than Power Strike, otherwise please provide a source.

Ah, thank you - I have four feats instead of the usual three because Duskblades get Combat Casting for free at second level. I'll fix the Power Attack though.

Skills wise, you look good rhoenix, except for the fact that your max skill rank is 9 at level 6 and your jump is at 10, so find some place to put that point. As a suggestion, although this would require you to take a point out of somewhere, perhaps Gather Information would be useful to you for your character background. Just a suggestion though.

A good suggestion - skills edited.

Also, both of you forgot the ability increase at level 4. I'm guessing that because you assigned a 15 to Int rhoenix you intended to use that on Int, which would also give you three more skill points.

No, I put mine into Strength - mine was a 15 prior to level 4.

After recounting, it appears I'm good after all, though another pair of eyes to check my stat point math would be appreciated.

Gear wise, you both look good, although a few points:
1) rhoenix, you have less extra gold than you think you do as you forgot the base cost of the masterwork sword and breast plate. I'm not going to cp and sp you to death, but you're going to need to knock about 450-500gp off your stash

Ack, you're right. I subtracted 250 from each.

2) rhoenix, you list a +2 greatsword a couple of times, when clearly you only have a +1 greatsword. Make sure that is fixed on your final character sheet

Ah, fixed. It was originally a +2, but I realized I was much better served (with buying those armbands) with it as a +1.

Also, as a general thing, if you're taking a feat, spell, or piece of gear from anywhere but core please provide a source for it so I can look up the exact rules.

In that case - most of my spells will be coming from the 3.5 editions of the Player's Handbook and the Player's Handbook II. I'll give you descriptions of the more fun Duskblade-specific spells from the Player's Handbook II.

Finally, on characters, while I don't exactly expect you to give names to Right Boot Dagger and Left Boot Dagger (and that would in fact be rather annoying, so don't do it) how you acquired your big ticket gear would be appreciated for RP purposes. If you recieved your primary magical weapon or armour as a reward for long service to an organization or for helping someone out, you found it in the ruins of an old castle, or if you just bought it at a sufficiently large city, that says something about who you are. It also gives me plot hooks later and helps for the generation of NPCs you would know.

Huh, alright. I'll add in a major item history as well.

[Rogue 9]

Sheet updated with item prices. Working up a background now, in consultation with Dragon Magazine's Core Beliefs article on St. Cuthbert. If you have a different fluff for the religion in mind for some reason, let me know.

[Academia Nut]

Okay, good. I can see that my eyes slipped over a few important details for some people, but knowing where the little things come in is always good.

As for the history of the items, I don't expect anything grand, but let's say you had a piece of armour comissioned and then later got it enchanted. That's two NPCs you've interacted with in the past, the smith who probably put considerable effort into making a masterwork suit of armour, and the mage who did the work. It's possible you could meet up with them later and if you still have the same gear they might notice and ask how their work has been holding up, maybe even noting if you've had it enhanced or switched to something different. Same if you got your gear as a gift. Remember, a huge amount of work has to go into making even a simple +1 sword from the common person's perspective, so while it might be just another stat bonus to the players, they should be something more to the characters.

Also, B4UTrust has directed me to the Player's Handbook II so just listing where the spells and such come from will probably be sufficient for now.

And Rogue 9, while I do not have access to that article at the moment, I doubt it will be radically out of line with what I'm using. Just send me any pertinent details to your character and the structure of the church and I will work it out. The biggest differences I can see will simply be how the church interacts with the Eastwind Kingdom politically and how that reflects back on internal structure.