The usual OOC Thread. Play Nice!

As an update on the RTJ status, there have been many Changeling, Tome of Battle, and Psionic applicants, and that is causing a slowdown of which characters are being accepted. If you would like to throw in another concept, please do, as I am looking for a diverse group of players.

I have selected the team for the Guild. Thank you for your applications, and I will keep yours in mind should I have player disappearances.

Welcome to the game for those selected! Please introduce yourselves, your characters, your thoughts on what roles they will play in this mercenary band.

As I mentioned, there will be a couple of interesting things that will augment your character creation, and I will speak of that after a good sleep.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:54, Wed 03 Aug 2022.

Greetings to all the fellows....

Yes my bio is lifted from the theme song of the Old TV series The Dukes of Hazzard......

A good hearted kid that likes to break a few too many rules along the way.
CG in alignment, unless that is breaking the rules to say so, but does not mean the other characters know.....

I am not sure if the picture is the right one or not....

"Sparky" is a Brelish Soldier who's existence was no longer required after the Last War. Alignment wise I'd say neutral good, good soldier overall follows orders but understands plans don't survive contact with the enemy and troops are people.

Glaive-lock swashbuckler for what that's worth, with no idea how their construction resulted in eldritch power. Like most Warforged "Sparky" is a squad given nickname.

Hey all! I took the "please fewer changeling Tome of Battle psykers" to heart and submitted this backup character which got picked. Radira Tuva is a Shifter Ranger / Druid. She comes from a shifter tribe and I want to bring their culture to life through this character.

Mechanically Radira can do a little bit of everything. I want her to fight in melee but she can also step back and do spellcasting. The ranger gives me a good number of skill points and I plan to be the nature/survival specialist of the group.

So I am your skill monkey as well, including trapfinder.

Duskblade / factotum gestalt
I use a longbow, guisarme, and spiked gauntlet.


I think that we can certainly synergize very well as a team then.

Wonder who else is going to show up?

My money is on a psionic changeling... ^^

The cast list: includes:

Jusepus DiBene Fist and Faith
Magnus d'Kundarak Craft and Skill


My wild guesses are....
Monk/cleric?  and Artificer/Psion?
This message was last edited by the player at 16:11, Wed 03 Aug 2022.

A Kundarak can't be a changeling (unless it's some honorary member). So it has to be..... YOU! Ya dirty factotum, I sniffed ya out! Can't fool this nose!

Well sure, and the combo that I am gestalting on means I am probably going to end up in the PRC Chameleon at some point in the future...and  only 3 races can even do that!!!

So that is the way it is...

Though a ranger druid has some synergy that really works great!  In a lot of ways mine will clash in many instances in terms of mechanics, but something I have wanted to play for a long while.....

I like warforged as well (I am currently playing a paladin warforged and love it)....
This message was last edited by the player at 16:19, Wed 03 Aug 2022.

Ehh, there are better synergies for the druid. But I'm not a min/maxer, hate doing it even. I just went with something thematically fitting and not too complex since I hate the spreadsheet part of the game. :D

Yes, cleric/monk.  Of the Silver Flame.

*KILL BILL SIREN*
This message was last edited by the player at 19:28, Wed 03 Aug 2022.

Someone needs to drag that darn artificer? out of his/her workshop to do introductions!


I think we got some real talent here.....

Greetings.  Just a Dwarf Noble here, nothing to see.  And no, class wise I am a Rogue Artificer.  But I am a member of the house.  So come to me with the parties banking and security needs, and the house will protect your loot long after you been devoured by some horrible monster in the Mournlands

Which is correct?

"Rogue  artificer"

"Artificer Rogue"

Alright, I have given some updates upon modified Racial abilities and Class features, so you should be good to update/create your characters.

I envision the group as thus:

Jack Springhill - Jack of all Trades, master of none, and arcane duelist. - Possible Face?

Jesepus DiBene - Healer, priest, and martial artist of the Silver Flame.

Magnus d'Kundarak - Trap expert, crafter extraordinaire, and all-around good guy to have around when things go down. - Negotiator?

Radira Tuva - Wilderness expert, and secondary healer, bit(e) of the wild in her.

Sparky - Duelist and channeler of something beyond the mortal world.


Prestige Classes and Multiclassing will be discussed in the OOC forum: I am currently not sold on any multiclassing, so the answer will probably be a no.

However, prestige classes will be using a different progression. They no longer override your character progression but are treated more as affiliation with the Prestige Class (similar to organizations in PHB2, Complete Champion, etc...) This also means you could have multiple prestige classes, if you can get the acceptance of the different organizations (ahem, DM) to teach you their talents. I am not saying go crazy, I am saying there will be options for abilities beyond your class progression without losing the core of your character.

Wouldn’t the face be the negotiator?  I figured I would be that “I know a guy” type character

Well, I'm not one to look too far ahead, but for Radira I was looking at the Shifter-specific PRC's if we would ever get there. On the druid side the Moonspeaker (Races of Eberron p. 143) fits what I imagine for Radira like a glove but that's level 9+ stuff normally. And on the Ranger side I was looking at the Weretouched Master (Eberron Campaign Setting p. 85) to tie into the lycanthrope aspect of the race.

As it has come up in prior games, I am trying to be preemptive by saying that traits and flaws will not be allowed in this game.

In reply to Radira Tuva (msg # 20):

Could prove interesting with a Silver Flame priest around....

Guild Master Renfold, do you have a preferred char sheet?
This message was last edited by the player at 12:02, Thu 04 Aug 2022.

You want the primary face, I am fine with that, I can be secondary!!

I like that someone has already figured out each side of their classes and how they are going to approach both the ranger side and the druid side.



We will see how it goes and what the rules are in regards to multiclassing and such as far as our good DM allows......

Obviously** I would not mind taking that one level in spell thief along with the Master spell thief feat....  It would be: sneak attack, steal your spell, channel it back against you via duskblade arcane channel.......
.....maybe that is not that obvious......



On the other side, jack still very much thinks of himself as a human, connected to his family and his community.....
This message was last edited by the player at 12:53, Thu 04 Aug 2022.

I like the "I know a guy" concept, but there is no saying the face will be needed.

I will consider the combination you mention for the future, Jack.

I have no preferred sheet, as long as it makes sense and has all the relevant sections for your character.

I will likely go the way my bio says, "Aw shucks sir, I guess we got a little out of hand, we meant no harm and we will gladly pay any restitution."

Thanks for the consideration.

I am planning to play Jesepe as a humble servant of The Flame.  He will fight evil, but will primarily try to live as an example of a good and virtuous life.  Most of his earnings will go to the poor.  I'm thinking more like Shepherd Book from Firefly/Serenity than the "fire and brimstone" type.

I am looking forward to the official launch.....

So the campaign setting year is 999 Yk. Are we using that or another starting year? I have "Sparky's" age based off of that assumption but can age up or down for a different starting year.

Your new nickname is timex b/c you take a licking and keep on ticking… yes a watch commercial

I considered chrome dome as well
Mostly bc my warforged is forge anvilhead

Did I mention this was my third concept? Between the psionic tome of battle changeling and the shifter you will all adore I also submitted a warforged fighter/artificer. :D

Good thing I submitted so many. Looks I wasn't that original on my first two attempts. :D

I think the feat a level will really customize all the characters well!!!

I hope you really enjoy the option that was selected!

Oh yeah, I don't put anything up I wouldn't want to play. I'm actually excited to give Eberron another shot. It's such a fun setting. A bit rougher mean than Forgotten Realms, know what I mean? With the Last War, shifter genocide, back-stabbing politics, nuclear fallout and simmering conflict. I love that.

Dunno, "Sparky" is adequately tanky but built like light infantry, eventually they should shine on reliable damage and mobility. I will eventually get to roll fist fills of d6s especially with a flanking buddy.

I feel like I should be reading the players guide to eberron or something right now......as a refresher.


I do like having a flank buddy for fighting!!!

Mah pet got u fam.

Awesome!   What kind of go getter critter have you got?

Not sure yet, but it can fight. :)

DM, what action point system do we use, the one from the Eberron book or from the SRD?

So put up a service record, fairly active hopefully pretty reasonable. "Sparky's" life has been short and brutal, also like all Warforged they only were emancipated 3 years ago.

Looked at "Sparky's" power curve for damage, and big step a 6th and 9th level, so let's live long enough to do that.

That’s a great plan!!!

I will be a bit more survivable once I get 2nd level spells for my duskblade

A ring of spell storing (minor) would be great I could use factotum and others to load 3 good first level spells, or 1,2; or just a 3rd
I cannot understand why that ring is 18k

What causes your big power shifts?

Trying to qualify for Daring Outlaw through ToB feats. 6th level hits Assassin's Stance (sneak attack +2d6) right when I hit iterative attacks. Right now it's a respectable 2d6+3, 5th level raises it to 3d6+3, but 6th raises it to 5d6+3 x2 or 10d6+6. 9th level I finally get Daring outlaw which raises sneak attack +5d6 for a eye-popping 24d6+6 if everything hits and the victim is vulnerable to precision damage and fails it's spell resistance, but at least they're touch attacks at full BAB.

I think that the chameleon is the only way to play as a mystic theurge.....

Meaning that once I have double aptitude focus one will be arcane, the other divine and the spellcasting will top out at 6th level spells (in each)...


As far as cheaper stuff goes...
Bracers of the entangling strike 2K are basically made for duskblades!!!
Forgo damage to entangle over rounds of combat...yes please!

Cloak of stone is my favorite one 8K
....


There is a dragonstone based magic sword that I want....it does an empowered vampiric touch........
This message was last edited by the player at 22:08, Fri 05 Aug 2022.

I think that Daring Outlaw only stacks things on one side of the gestalt build? So gestalt doesn't turn it into a 'I double my sneak attack dice' feat.

Eldritch Glaive similar damage progression but not the same. You could do very similar with Warlock Rogue, but this hits more often and is slightly tankier.

Also 8th level sneak attack like a 0th level rogue +2d6, 9th level get the feat hit like a 9th level rogue 5d6 still +2d6 from stance.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:28, Fri 05 Aug 2022.

Well as long as the DM makes sure we have a decently balanced party and we all meaningfully contribute I don't mind. But if there's another pc combatant who gets completely overshadowed I'd feel bad for them.

Personally I left min/maxing behind a long time ago. Playing superman just got boring. For me combat is more memorable if it's actually challenging, and playing a flawed, vulnerable character makes the danger more real. So I'm thinking of just taking 3 shifter feats and calling it a day. It's flavorful but pretty sub-optimal.

I agree no need for op characters

I am going for second,third, best all around

Best supporting actor role

OP characters???  Totally what I'm going for.  With all RP focused Feats that I'm looking at right now... totally gonna own things in combat....

I try to aim for effective enough to do your thing(s) well without pushing the power curve higher for the rest.

9th level you figure an unoptimized high damage moves are spells doing 9d6 to everyone in a large area with a specialist being able to do that 11 times a day.

What I'm doing is minus area. minus because it needs a successful attack, minus because it needs special setup, plus because it is at will, plus 33% damage, and plus it can be stacked on a single target twice.

On the balance it's slightly less effective than a straight non-gestalt wizard deciding to do the job that day without any feats, items or combos dedicated to the task.

Dunno is that leaving people in the dust? I don't see how it would with an artificer cleric and druid in the mix.

Just because there is a cleric, doesn't mean he has to use divine metamagic. Just because there is an artificer, doesn't mean he will have a hundred scrolls for every situation. Just because I am a druid, doesn't mean I am going to use some cheesy wild shape/spell combo.

For reference, my current primary mode of combat is looking to be casting shillelelalauagh and bonking things on the head, maybe with a shifter's bite attack added into the mix.

And this is all before I have a chance to say yes or no to the feat/build in question!

Ahem. Breath deep, seek peace! Now to answer questions in order of post.

Action point system to be used will be in the Eberron Campaign Setting, adjusted by the house rule listed.

Current year is 999 Yk.

DMM has been given the DM whack stick, if used to be abused.

Because damage potential has the chance to be overwhelming, discussion will be held in PM about Daring Outlaw. Gestalt games make Gestalt Feats more difficult to balance in such a setting.

I think I may be the person who has too many scrolls in initial gear!!!!

But good old duskblade's arcane attunement list includes read magic and it takes nothing away from my spells/day......they are only 1st level scrolls, but just an assortment.....  After buying the things I needed and the chronocharm, I stocked up on scrolls.....

I am looking forward to getting into our game...who knows it might actually be better for me to turn the scrolls over to someone else for the best use of resources.....
It usually would be better to get myself close to the bad guys and lay into them as a duskblade than to try to buff with scrolls...

To be clear I didn't compare the damage to an equal level cleric cheesing divine metamagic, I said just basic straight forward cleric or wizard with no particular optimization.

Consider druid, a druid making a minimal effort to deal damage sticking to core sources. Cursory glance at core using a big cat theme I'll show you the Dire Lion (wild shape form) and Tiger (animal companion), using greater magic fang single casting because it's a common 9-hr buff two spell levels under what a 9th level cleric can cast.

That's 3d6+1d8+24 (39) damage from the druid plus 2d6+3d8+25 (45.5) damage from the companion (Slight str bump from animal companion) which mean 84.5 damage on average, compared to 24d6+6 which does 90 damage on average.

This is why I'm confused, but maybe it's a people are bad at math thing. 24d6 is a large number of d6s it's pretty normal damage for a 9th level character to be putting out just weirdly more dice.

Ok lets go with me at that level....

I will expect to be channeling in addition to the weapon damage
In order to make it land I will true strike it.
Vampiric touch, if empowered via the shard will be going for
10d6, and will give me temp hit points.....if i go for combat effectiveness
I will probably take power attack....with cunning strike I can add d6's in sneak
attack damage......with spell thief I can steal spells, with entangling bracers
I can cause them to be entangled.....

So without sneak attack mine drops to 10d6+6 total over two attacks with no ability to power attack to raise the damage and no healing. This kind of supports my feeling like this is normal 9th level stuff, and you have some cool tricks in your bag which feel like reasonable different choices rather than either overshadowing the other.

But if rebuilding is needed I'll figure something out.

I haven't even thought about damage output.  I thought about playing a character as far from myself as possible without going demi-human or swapping gender (I'm not good at female characters...).

Trying to do warforged as they appear in lore at the upgrade of gestalt. I avoided paladin because according to the lore that's extremely rare for Warforged. I'm aiming for a personality closer to what the lore says is normal and have a detailed character where background, personality and appearance inform each other in an organic lore aware way. Also I think the purpose built war construct who doesn't even get bonus languages because House Canneth thought that would be a distraction from their intended function as soldiers aught to fight at least as well as a non-combay oriented member of clergy.

If you have bonus languages from intelligence, you could make up something with the DM like Warforged battle cant or battle sign language or something like that.

I'm not overly worried about the missing languages I'm pointing it out as the game supporting the lore I'm following "Sparky" is 10 years old and has been in more battles than restaurants so is more comfortable in the former than the latter. "Sparky" for being all that stoicly focused on a purpose is kind of horribly tragic for it. Worse when you consider having watched the closest thing to family die in basically a nuclear blast unable to do anything but run away as fast as you can. Great RP potential but mechanically "Sparky" is good at warfare. There was room for a hobby, warforged favor tedious time consuming hobbies, we have a craftsman so I went with scholarship (knowledge Arcana/Religion/Planes.) It says something to watch the Day of Mourning study the gods, and decide the gods aren't worthy of worship.

But those attacks you mention indicate higher rates of possible failure than what you are suggesting as well. There is also the set-up time for those abilities, 1 to 2 rounds before those can go into effect in a normal battle set up.

This is also operating under the assumption that the Druid in question chooses those options, which is not always the case.

I have given you my response in PM. I am pretty lenient when it comes to making sure characters fulfill a niche part of a party. This isn't a Roll Playing Game, it is a Role Playing Game. Gestalt can make some combinations quite powerful, but, as in the character creation thread, everything has to be approved by the DM, an extension of Rule Zero.

I expect to start on Monday, so for those of you who haven't filled your character sheet section, please do.

In process.

Looking forward to the "cheap" items that really help

Ring of piercing spells 2K adds 2d6

I don't know that one. Where is it from?

Indeed, I haven't seen that in any of my books, but I may have missed it. It feels like it is too cheap in price compared to some other items that grant sneak attack or bonus damage.

Magic item compendium
It only adds to sneak attack and only functions 3/day
So not permanent on every attack

Ah yes. And it works only on melee touch spells that do damage, you need to be flanking the target, and it takes a swift action to activate. Nice for a Duskblade I guess.

Exactly correct it fits
I think there are lots of nice items for everyone to want, buy, find, make….

Ring of the dark hidden is really odd
Makes you invisible to darkvision
So facing drow underground everyone would want one


I do eventually want to forge a custom ring combining several effects

Well, as your resident Artificer, I would be happy to take on commissions for custom items.  After all, I am a crafter, and magical items are my specialty.  Only reason I haven't done my equipment yet is I am going over in my head what I want, and how I can make it within my budget :)

Well if your taking suggestions
An eternal wand of shield … we have lots of benefit to that
No matter whom it is put on

Well, two players still need to finish their characters, but hopefully I should be able to post tonight so that we can begin. *ahem, last chance to update*

So here is something for you to think about as we go along, and see if it would be something you would allow or would you call "chicanery" upon my designs....
In other words, you can just say no to my efforts.....


Here it goes.....

I believe I found an interesting version of the pearl of power, that is not destroyed in the process!!!!

The glyph seal in the magic item compendium
Charge it up inside a locket with say the shield spell
Break the ward myself (not say the command word)
Obtain spell benefits….recharge it later

Or make a double sided locket, with one side the glyph seal and the other side a greater glyph seal and use it to take the place of basically the very expensive item

Ring of spell storing, minor holds 3 spell levels for $18K

How do you feel about that?

Sorry about the delay, my sheet should be done now.

I feel like it is a little ways, away, and I will consider it until then.

Not trying to slow anyone's roll...just thought it would be an interesting brain teaser.....

I mean 2K (two glyph seals) for the same benefit of an 18K ring is a pretty big difference.....Action wise it might be like drinking a potion, whereas the ring is faster.....(I think).

Just fyi the greater one says any spell of 5th level or  higher (I believe it should read 5th level or lower).....

First post in the IC thread.....waiting for others to show up....

I was trying to remember if we ever said whether or not the  PCs already have met each other before, (gone on other missions, etc)....

I was just about to ask if this would be our first time together or not.

I would like it to be.

I am fine either way, if you or I have crossed paths before or not, it is totally cool with me....

Might be easier to assume that perhaps the guild intentionally put people together who do not know each other....interesting idea....



Where did everyone go????????  I'm scared!
This message was last edited by the player at 00:08, Thu 11 Aug 2022.

First time meeting makes the most sense then :)  I like how it is playing out so far.  I dress much more humbly on the road, don't worry.

I had a theme song in mind when you described your entry!!!

oh waht was that?

Wiggle

Second one was fancy
This message was last edited by the player at 20:16, Thu 11 Aug 2022.

Please let me know if anything in my story makes no sense
I had written it as small farming based community
Near woods and mountains
Went to serve “local lord”

I had nothing Ebberron specific in mind at the time of writing a generic history
So the town fits and serving a great house temporarily made sense at the time

Well Eldeen Reaches are the ancestral home of House Vadalis, but their influence extends everywhere. The Eldeen Reaches are odd, they're kind of Theocratic, the Ruler is an awakened tree and powerful druid. A secular farming town is reasonable. As for the War mostly the Reaches got beat up by Aundair who took exception to a Tree declaring independence. Would be reasonable to be on either side of that conflict.

From Sparky's point of view not a fight they were involved in, but depending on position might influence how you and Radira interact, presumably she supports the Grand Druid, the tree.

House Vadalis produces magebred animal, magebred light horses are a reasonable analog for a really fast car. These and crops are the main exports of the Eldeen Reaches

Sparky had speculated he was from the Shadowmarches which are a swampy region with many goblins who had an advanced acient civilization. The marches have rich dragonshard fields so things worth smuggling. Both seem reasonable, and other options might also make sense.

The Last War is fairly inescapable it's basically a magical world war I with the Day of Mourning looking suspiciously like an arcane Nuke only worse.

Yes but you said my house was from Karnath.  We are From the Dwarven Holds of Mror

Brelish bias. Karnath historically held Mror Holds. The Mror Holds backed Karnath against Breland. The weapons wielded by the Zombies attacking Sharn would have been forged in the Mror Holds.

Sparky is wrong, but not without reason.

It seems that three places including greenblade have a pact of mutual defense and a military that trains together at times;
Since sometime around 959, the three areas
Sylbaran, Greenblade, and Erlaskar have agreed to have mutual defense and a volunteer militia.  Sometimes the locals go into larger skirmishes.






The Last War proved to be the undoing of the old order. As the conflict intensified, Aundair pulled its forces back to protect its heartland and eastern borders, leaving the Eldeen Reaches to fend for themselves. Bandit lords sponsored by Karrnath and the Lhazaar Principalities harried the farms west of the Wynarn River, using the forest as a base and staging ground. In the south, Brelish troops crossed the Silver Lake to occupy Sylbaran, Greenblade, and Erlaskar. As things went from bad to worse, an army of druids and rangers emerged from the forest. In 956 YK, the Wardens of the Wood rallied the farmers and peasants, crushing the bandit army before it knew what was happening. With order restored in the north, the Wardens turned their attention to the south. In 959 YK, they finally succeeded in driving the Brelish forces back across the lake.
Angry at the Aundairian crown for abandoning them, the people swore allegiance to the Great Druid, breaking all ties with the lords of Aundair and resisting several Aundair attempts to regain control. Since 958 YK, the people of the Eldeen Reaches have considered themselves to be part of an independent nation, and they were finally recognized as such with the signing of the Treaty of Thronehold.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:31, Fri 12 Aug 2022.

So 959 (40 years ago) you have the battle of Silver Lake which led to Breland Abandoning the idea of occupying Silver Lake's north shore. King Boranex ir'Wynarn nearly died in that battle and Breland didn't have much will to cross the lake again after that. His son King Boranel ir'Wynarn long may he reign assumed the Brelish throne in 961 YK, he was a peacemaker and instrumental in the signing of the Treaty of Thronehold. Not sure that north shore of Silver Lake saw much conflict at that point. Possibly Brelish privateers might have raided but no regular action take for the past 40 years or so.

Sparky would qualify this as 40 years of peace brought about by Breland's good nature. Greenblade might qualify this and winning their independence by kicking out the occupying Brelish army. Sparky will have to feel bad for the poor colonial trapped under the rule of the overly religious tree rather than enjoying the benefits of Democracy. Basically the equivalence of how Britain or the US describe their own history when they're feeling patriotic.

I think being a group of small border towns they have no real impact of being under the larger government

The analogy is like how Texas views California
With Cali being under the thumb of rules and Texans seeing individuals as the ultimate intersectionality of people who want freedom

Probably getting too political for fantasy discourse

Wow.  This getting very detailed.  I don't think I've gotten that in depth into my copies of the campaign setting and The Five Nations.

I started with very vague idea, and then looked at the map and selected a location.
I was thinking along the lines of something like a family farm near Oleg's Trading Post (if you are familiar with the kingmaker AP)......


I then googled the area, and found that block of information quoted above....

Really came together quickly....
I decided my family farm still has my mother, father, and younger sibling at home.



Did you want to see if we can help you on your background info?

Started with a race which guarantees an occupation, picked the #2 most likely nationality decided how old she was and constructed a service record based on what is common and what one could survive.

Jusepus seems like he'd be from Thrane given that's where the actual silver flame is. Early in the 100 year world war, Thrane and Breland fought bitterly, but the settling of that conflict is what led to Breland being able to recover enough to consider purchasing Sparky and her generation of Brelish Warforged. Thrane and Breland were fast allies in the battles Sparky fought.

It's all very game of thrones except they decided to divvy up the empire.

Human you'd be 17-33 years old to start typically meaning you'd have been recruiting age 4 to 20 years ago (give or take depending on local customs)

So 976 23 years ago Thrane's crusade into Breland was pushed back thanks to the new Warforged Breland was an early adopter of. 979 20 years ago Cyre took advantage of Thranes miscalculation to sack Arythawn Keep.

983 16 years ago Thrane invaded Cyre.
988 11 years ago Thrane and Breland made peace later that year the Erivon blood Regent of Thrane died of a stroke. His daughter Dianni took the throne.
989 Me.
992 7 years ago the Silver Flame decided Warforged could follow the Silver Flame which might have been motivated by the need for soldiers but makes Warforged souls canon in that Church.
993 6 years ago Saran became Keeper of the Silver Flame, she tried to diplomacy, Cyre rejected, Breland and Thrane teamed up on Cyre.
994 5 years ago Cyre was wiped off the face of the planet in a arcane holocaust never seen before or since.
996 3 years ago a treaty officially ended the War.

Oooooh…
Timeline
Me likey

Are we still waiting on something?

Anyone I would have crossed paths with, mostly been in those 3 towns, on Silver lake, the mountains and the woods near my home.

Thrane, as the only Theocracy, could not keep allies.  Many nations considered them upstarts, and a possible threat to their own crowns.  Many also believe there to be corruption at the heart of the Church (they are not entirely wrong).  The hierarchy of the Church is primarily human, and there is some racism/human supremacy, and religious zealotry that the Church is trying to stamp out.
Sorry.  My character is mostly finished.  I'm trying to get his equipment completed, but work and family like to interrupt.  We're shorthanded, and things just started getting busy.

I was only waiting on the others.  I suppose I can make a post to you uf the others dont have anything to say

Well highlights of Thrane for the span of a human of standard starting age.

Sparky decided to stand here and wait, and will probably do that for 3 hours unless someone asks a question or Renfold arrives. Unfortunately Warforged are supposed to be stupid patient. I'll probably post something soon but not much for Sparky to respond to given the apparent briefing that isn't quite happening yet.

Alright looks like we are nearly there....


Good times in ye olde Eberron!

I did it now.  I have double posted!  I know that is sometimes not acceptable, but I went ahead.......


Renfold might show up before our final person, that seems as likely as anything else, when you summon a gaggle of scoundrels to one place.....

If only IC was as active as ooc!

*Neurotic thumb twidding intensifies*

You could always have your dog sniff us all out, and roll sense motive checks.....

Fine....

So anyone else want to talk some crazy ideas here.....
Like having a feat a level seems like it opens some avenues that might be unique.


I found a feat for 9th level!
Which will really be fun for me!

Vatic Gaze
( Player's Handbook II, p. 85)

[General]

Your arcane studies have brought forth your nascent talent to sense magical auras and the power that others are capable of wielding.

Prerequisite
arcane caster level 9,

Benefit
You can use detect magic at will. Also, as a swift action, you can attempt to determine an opponent's spellcasting ability. You make a Sense Motive check (DC 5 + target's caster level). If this check succeeds, you learn the highest-level spells the target is capable of casting. This benefit grants you no insight into spell-like or supernatural abilities.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:14, Tue 16 Aug 2022.

Sorry.  I had intended  to write that Jusepus had already been there when everyone else arrived.  Was in a hurry when I typed it.

That makes some sense, except I was first!!!!


You would think there is some thing that keeps us mercs in order some sort of a code or something.... I think the John Wick idea works, that your a pro and you need a contract, not sure how the "marker" thing would work?

At least something like
Dark Vader: "No disintegrations!" Points finger....

Retconning an entire RP to time travel yourself into a scene is generally frowned upon when it would invalidate other character actions and deny them basic agency.

Or more bluntly don't god-mode it's rude.

Silver Flame guy bad!

*bite*

Thankfully, I have a Wisdom bonus to AC....  Look, if you want to play tug-of-war, let's use one of my sashes, not my sleeve.

I will be waiting in the hallway....

read through the particulars of those two groups and it seems they have a history for sure....

So apparently I never actually posted this but regarding mechanics:

Well flaws and traits are off the table...

Anyone know any mechanics to support making a character with PTSD? Trying to not over act it and chew the scenery with it but it makes sense for "Sparky" to have PTSD. And I was sort of playing it out.

That is probably a difficult thing to pull off without it having an impact on the game play.  Maybe something that is roleplay that does not effect rolls...

The closest I have come is having the oracles curse of being pranked...which is a -4 to iniaitive checks, and gives me a chance to say what they fey are doing to derail my turn.....

Not sure what works, maybe sparks shoot out of the top of your head when you are stressed?

I don't think there is really anything mechanical.  5th edition has Inspiration, but nothing I can think of in 3/3.5.

Eh probably just have them run away from cloudkill, green dragon breath and similar effects. That shouldn't come up often enough to be a problem and if it does, it's reasonable to desensitizes to the trigger. Warforged are immmune to poison in 3.5 so just straight trauma response. Hopefully no need to abandon allies in the Mournlands to certain doom.

After a crazy weekend of work+hard drive failure, computer is back up. Will update asap.

When Rooney gets here both Ferris and Bueller will be in trouble!!!!

One of my favorite witch hexes for mid level is a passive one called
Aura of purity (EX) which is awesome when it comes up, because until that very moment no one knew you had it....

(Su) and pathfinder, but a solid ability. Not sure it'd help "Sparky" since the Day of Mourning effect was probably an epic level spell gone wrong. To really conquer it the fear you'd need that at Epic or Divine level, reasonably sure isn't going to happen. It's like being unable to eat or look at Mushrooms because you were the sole survivor of your squad from Hiroshima. Being immune to poison Mushrooms doesn't really address the trauma, but a really good fallout shelter might give you mild solace.

I guess the idea is maybe solid in terms of sorting out what it means in game terms, how it is clear in role-play and or roll-play (game mechanics) and that it is not a hinderance....

Maybe like lost in space, you focus on one person and frequently tell them that they are potentially in danger.....I once had a ranger named Will Robinson, so that I could introduce myself as "Ranger, Will Robinson"


Your concern for another party member would not impact any game mechanics, but would give a mutual roleplay opportunity...
This message was last edited by the player at 15:02, Wed 17 Aug 2022.

My interpretation of Warforged is more Alphonse Elric (Full Metal Alchemist), than a B-9 Class M-3 robot (Lost in Space). The lore gives Warforged emotions there's just two problems. They are physically limited in how they express them, because their faces lack articulation not being designed to be expressive. They lack experience processing emotions being born into boot camp and then immediately shoved into basically WWI as far as how much of a meat grinder it was.

Warforged tend to be able to explain in detail how a Couteau De Breche and Naginata are distinct from each other with different techniques employed with each but wouldn't have a clue what a standing harp was. Young or less intelligent Warforged might not know words like music, joy or sadness, because they had no childhood and no one sat them down and taught them these words. Pretty much the only way they learned about that stuff was in the trenches in the middle of the war or the 3 years afterwards. The result is someone sort of emotionally stunted in their ability to describe their own experience.

By the way during the Age of Demons Couatle as a species sacrificed themselves to imprison the Rakshasa Rajahs aka Overlords in Khyber, this produced the Silver Flame which is a thing that exists. Rakshasa, Demons and Nighthags serve the Overlords. Rakshasa are evil outsiders who can shapeshift into humans who look like human-tiger hybrids normally.

Rakshasa are an important villain for the Church of the Silver Flame. They're evil outsiders who shapeshift from human to human-tiger hybrids. What happens when a paladin with a lowish Int and no relevant knowledge sees a were-tiger turn from human to a human-tiger hybrid. Add fuel to the flame by having many people able to detect evil and Wolf and Rat lycanthropy turn you evil. That's how you got a large scale moral panic about demonic-lycanthropy.

"Sparky" is 10 years old, intellectually gifted and had access to tomes of religious history and planar research, with the benefit of hindsight.

Like a kid today reading about the Black Death and going but it's so obvious it was the rats, they were so stupid for killing cats.

I think eberron was prior to full metal alchemist.....not by much, someone check my math,,,,I should probably watch/read that at some point....

So the question remains, and I look forward to seeing how you play out whatever the thing is that is ptsd like for your character...
This message was last edited by the player at 23:33, Wed 17 Aug 2022.

I have 2001 for the Manga 2004 for the campaign setting and monster manual 3. I suppose Frankenstein is also appropriate 1818, as is Terminator 1984, and I-robot 1950 and I'm pretty sure The Simpson's Already Did It.

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pm...php/Main/ItsBeenDone
This message was last edited by the player at 23:43, Wed 17 Aug 2022.

Looking forward to whatever unorginal content you add to our game!!!!

Sparky you light up my life....
This message was last updated by the player at 01:32, Thu 18 Aug 2022.

Yes I posted a post and I said nothing.....and I have a big mouth, so that is saying something,  by saying nothing........

I still hope to hear about the esoteric feats that people are going to use to make their characters....

Font of inspiration is not that interesting........

Don't expect anything from me. I just have a pile of shifter feats. :D

That’s because there is a pile of shifter feats!!
Not a plethora though

Was planning on short haft soon. Vaguely eyeing Melee Evasion + Elusive Combatant, for a tankier build they each let you cancel an enemy's melee hit once a round. But I was also looking at the combat focus line. Which I suppose is me instinctively heading towards the big guy of the 5 man band, which is all about being reliable. Which begs the question who's the Leader, Lancer, Smart Guy and Heart?

Am I the only one who wants to copy/paste the letter from the Breakfast Club  here?

You are who you think we are.....


As far as a fighter feat, the only one I have been thinking  about  is
Combat Panache.....

I think that second one is elusive target for the feat......


For reference from the big guy....

https://hero.fandom.com/wiki/Five-Man_Band
This message was last edited by the player at 17:22, Fri 19 Aug 2022.

Where did everyone go?

*Reclines on top of the bookcase like a cat*

in other words lurking like a cat...... : )


Note to self, prepare feather fall, just in case the transport derails......
Confirmed that is a spell I have in the old prepared area of my factotum side....


Still looking forward to see if anyone else has questions and moving forward....
This message was last edited by the player at 23:03, Mon 22 Aug 2022.

Well can't really personally follow up Jacks questions with further questions without making it weird. Also was waiting on the indirectly asking is it undead, because can't rule out vampires.

Just plugging away at it, hoping we get a few more answers and all before getting the old heave ho into the mission.....


I think it might have to be the two of us asking...
I say we swap off and that way there are at least two annoying kids asking questions when everyone else wants to leave the room
This message was last edited by the player at 23:24, Mon 22 Aug 2022.

Sorry for my delay.  My geandma just dies this week so i have been dealing with that. I might post sometime in the next few hours or tomorrow

My deepest condolences in your time of grief.  I lost my maternal grandmother just a couple of months after returning from the Persian Gulf back in 1991, and my paternal back in 2008, so I understand it too well.
Take yhe time you need.  We will be here.

Sorry to hear that.

My condolences as well, Magnus.

And so the first week of college begins...again. Will update ASAP. Sorry about the delay, did not expect to be hit by 60+ pages of dense reading before my school year even began!

Quick question before i post.

Did they repair the White Arc bridge between Thaliost and Rekkenmark?  Because it was destroyed during the war and at least as Canonical, was not rebuilt.

My character would being this up, but I figure I would check first before i make the guild master look uninformed.

Also currently there is no lightning rail connection from Breland to Karrnath since the track in Cyre was destroyed.  Again.. Canonically.  Why House Lysander got more powerful because its airships CAN connect the teo half of the country
This message was last edited by the player at 23:55, Thu 25 Aug 2022.

Eh I have multiple modules saying the mournland lightning rail is theoretically operational but dangerous haunted and few trains will attempt it. Those that do sometimes disappear. The Cyre-1313 is basically the train of the damned trope, but nobles can buy stupid things.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:08, Fri 26 Aug 2022.

Yes, it was repaired. House Orien may not want to go through the Mournland, but lightning rail is a good way to send trade goods, so I would imagine it was a priority after the Last War. Takes longer than it used to, but if time isn't a huge issue, it makes sense to take the rail.

So outta curiousity..  it the bridge owned by thrane or Karrnath?

The bridge is owned by House Orien. Thrane and Karrnath may have guard posts on each side, but House Orien's involvement has made it neutral ground for both nations. If either side sends troops over it or attempt to seize control, they will face the wrath of no few Dragonmarked Houses.

Trans-siberian railroad, here we come!

Updating ASAP

Well, I was going to update to the next, but damn, go for it if you want to continue this conversation, that is fine as well.

LOL.  The drama

Soon to be followed by multi-generational trauma

So decided to look up the Religious demography where we are, Wroat, the Capital of Breland. I wasn't able to find specific numbers but two churches are listed as most common the Silver Flame and the Sovreign Host. Both have massive temples in the city. Nationally the Silver Flame is said to have slightly more followers. All religion are said to mingle here though overtly evil ones only in secret. I don't have actual numbers but I'd guess both major Churches represent about 1/3rd of the people living here.

It's a pretty tolerant country and most aren't terribly religious, but yelling a baring teeth at a faith leader who's faith represents about third of the population is exceedingly brazen. Radira should probably know she's severely outnumbered in this town. "Sparky" would be more sympathetic if Radira's behavior wasn't overtly dangerous and potentially going to get the guards attacking us.

Like if this read like dialectics and slam poetry "Sparky" would be way more sympathetic might even open up about the plight of the Warforged. "Sparky" is literally a former slave from recent memory, and a commonly hated minority. Radira is reading a violent and unstable, because of the baring fangs. She's reading as a liability who might start a fight randomly at a sensitive part of the mission and get the whole group in trouble or even killed. Any sympathy she might otherwise get is being lost in the overriding threat assessment.

I don't know about Radira's player, but I'm actually having fun arguing as the religious adherant.  Mainly because I am totally non-religious IRL.

Oh yeah. I'm atheist myself. Plus from the perspective of many Shifters the Silver Flame are practically Nazi's.

I was raised Catholic, dabbled in Wicca and Shamanism.

I think someone might have to do a knowledge:history roll before spouting encyclopedic knowledge. :D

Nazis isn't a great comparison for the reasons given IC without mentioning RL comparisons. Pretty much that comparison begins and ends with attempted genocide.

"Sparky" has a +14 in Knowledge Religion as well as Arcana and Planes (+15). A plurality of this is the Otherworldly Whispers invocation. "Sparky", an anti-theist, doesn't like to acknowledge the existence of a patron, so claims the skill as their own. Never claimed "Sparky" was humble. I figure it's usually a whisper in the ear about what book to read next and a reminder of passages from books already read.

In answer to the I should roll. I can if that's desired but it has very little in game effect and rolls would slow things down for a non-campaign related debate, in a situation with no stress. Given that the details given are from the nearest city to "home" that's an advantageous circumstance, also the topic is war which is the only thing Cannnith cared to teach the warforged about so another advantageous circumstance. Basically thought about it decide it was silly to roll about (not relevant to the mission at all) looked about where "Sparky" should be on detail saw it should be about 26-28 (depending on if both bonuses were given) and concluded "Sparky" would know the major theories about the arcane and religious reasons behind events but not which mix of the three theories is correct and that "Sparky" should pretty much sound ready to drop a doctoral thesis on the subject. You'll note the more historic points like Some shifter tribes fought along side Lycanthropes, and Wererats marched out of Sharn are fairly sparse and would qualify as common knowledge.

I was hoping to get into a bit of mischief, but not seen our friendly DM.

He might feel on the spot, if he responds to me, but doesn't move the overall game forward that could be problematic.

I am mostly hoping to work a new point of contact, and hear the local gossip....

I suspect the plan was to move to morning. "Sparky" won't be eager to go to a pub as they don't eat and can't get drunk. They'll probably go read since there's not intentional mischief to manage.

Seems like Radira and Jusepus are still doing a back and forth. Dunno not going to solve the issue in one night.

I'm waiting for the DM to rule on encyclopedic knowledge.

I was thinking it more presented like perhaps a "lecture" on a researched topic of interest...

I guess that the idea of taking 10 could apply in such a knowledge check...
I will have to think more about it myself....

Most of my knowledges are at 5 or 6; but with cunning knowledge I can bump up another 3 points.........


Maybe no rolls are needed for roleplay?  I certainly have no idea......
This message was last edited by the player at 12:45, Mon 03 Oct 2022.

Where did everyone go?

Life has been a bit hectic.  I will try yo make a post after work tonight, or if im too tired when I wake up tomorrow.

Well, I'm still waiting for the DM, but it's been quite a while since he logged on. Also in his other game, same date. Hope he's OK.

'Twould be a shame for the game to die off.  I am enjoying the back-and-forth between our characters.

Ok something happened....anyone know whats Up dog?

Alrighty......

Anyone have any words of wisdom to share?

"Wax on, Wax off."
-Kesuke Miyagi, The Karate Kid

"Don't forget side-to-side." ~ also Miyagi-san

Old school is "sand the floor"

Newer one sounds dirty "Jacket on, jacket off"

"Kill Buddha" (Ancient Buddhist philosophy)
"Eat the strawberries" (Ancient Daoist philosophy)
"Feed my sheep" (Jesus's instruction on what to do while he's away traveling)
"The blood of the oath is thicker than the water of the womb" (Often misunderstood English saying)
"People assume that time is a strict progression from cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint, it's more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff." (Doctor)
"You gotta globetrotter that explosion up a little, Farnsy. Make it an implosion." (Clyde Dixon)

"Yeah, that one got away from you." ~ Sally Sparrow

Bob's your uncle

Two sheets to the wind

"klaatu barada nikto."

"Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn."

"Tor lorek san, bor nakka mur,
Natromo faan tornek wot ur,
Ter lantern ker lo Abin Sur,
Taan lek lek nok — Formorrow Sur!"

"Nwûl tash.
Dzwol shâsotkun.
Shâsotjontû châtsatul nu tyûk.
Tyûkjontû châtsatul nu midwan.
Midwanjontû châtsatul nu asha.
Ashajontû kotswinot itsu nuyak.
Wonoksh Qyâsik nun."

I used that one recently on Twitch chat during a horror game and the streamer didn't know what it was about. Youth these days..

At Tanagra. Darmok and Jalad on the ocean.


Maybe we can figure out where it all went wrong....
This message was last edited by the player at 20:35, Sun 06 Nov 2022.

Man what have i been missing?

The DM.

That is so true.
You don't think it is because......dramatic dun dun dun....

So you guys just RPing but no DM to speak of?

Not even RPing right now.

I would keep RPing DM free for a good long time,

Personally It might be worth advertising under the DM wanted thread, and if we find one, move ourselves as a group over to a new DM.....even if that makes the mission radically alter to something else......

I'm up for that.

Sounds workable to me.  Just drop me a line here if we get one.

Same

Is there anyone who actually  has time to compose such a  request and post it?

Bumpity bump bump

Doin' the Bump.....
https://www.google.com/search?...7232,vid:haAduyUNQN0
This message was last edited by the player at 16:07, Sun 05 Mar 2023.