Author Topic: The Gray Citadel: interest and applications thread  (Read 29255 times)

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AndyJames

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Re: The Gray Citadel: interest and applications thread
« Reply #20 on: May 20, 2008, 10:21:27 PM »
True Dragon racial sub. Your HD becomes d10 instead of d12 (irrelevant for a DW Kobold), and you gain 2 levels of Sorcerer spellcasting. From Dragons of Eberron.

JanusJones

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Re: The Gray Citadel: interest and applications thread
« Reply #21 on: May 20, 2008, 11:09:27 PM »
Ho my.  Ho my oh my ho my . . .

How DID I miss that one?!?

But I remind you: no setting-specific stuff.

*Sigh!*

Still, let's me know there's something out there I need to pick up!

Also, technically, although kobolds with the Dragonwrought feat have the Dragon type, they are still not "true" dragons.  Annoys me ALL the time.
« Last Edit: May 20, 2008, 11:11:06 PM by JanusJones »

AndyJames

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Re: The Gray Citadel: interest and applications thread
« Reply #22 on: May 20, 2008, 11:13:27 PM »
I was hoping for the "case by case" clause :D

But according to RAW, the DW Kobold does qualify for True Dragon. Otherwise, I don't think the Venerable DW Kobold idea works either...

Correct me if I am wrong, please?

JanusJones

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Re: The Gray Citadel: interest and applications thread
« Reply #23 on: May 20, 2008, 11:37:40 PM »
Venerable works only because the business of age penalties is called out in Races of the Dragon in the kobold section (no penalties to Dragonwrought kobolds for aging).  "True Dragon" does not refer to all those of the dragon type; it's a semantic difference that CO'ers often conveniently ignore when they're in pursuit of a particular grail.  Check the Draconomicon - some feats are available to "dragons" (dragon type) and some only to "true dragons."  It's not well-detailed, but it's there.

AndyJames

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Re: The Gray Citadel: interest and applications thread
« Reply #24 on: May 20, 2008, 11:51:31 PM »
Oh, that's right :) I forgot about that footnote in the feat desc.

The logic of 12 age categories + Dragon type = True Dragon does hold true for Kobolds if you read the text. It may not be true for tables (i.e., the age table), text trumps tables and all that. Anyway, it is irrelevant since it is setting specific... :)

amalcon

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Re: The Gray Citadel: interest and applications thread
« Reply #25 on: May 21, 2008, 12:09:19 AM »
Interest here -- I love games where the characters need to investigate the plot.  I'm thinking of a Raptoran Spirit Shaman raised in an isolated, nomadic group.  The group rejoined the main Raptoran society, but he was unable to make the adjustment, being one of the few members young enough to not remember how it works.

So, he's on a bit of a soul-searching trek right now.  In which he might as well do some good things, and get rich along the way.

Spirit Shaman are pretty flexible, so I can tweak the power level as needed for the group.

edit:  More detailed example build, OK.

[spoiler]OK, optimization seems higher than I'd thought, so I'm tweaking this a bit. 
Extend Spell:  I never make an optimized spellcaster without it.
Invisible Spell:  Bloody awesome in too many ways to count.  If this is too much, I can take Energy Substitution or Cloudy Conjuration.
Spell Focus Conjuration:  Prereq.
Augment Summoning: The summoner's basic feat.

Abilities:  St 10/Dx 10/Cn 14/In 10/Ws 16/Ch 17(16+1)
Trait: Considering Slow (it has no effect on Fly speed, which is what I'll be using to move quickly anyway, so hey, free HP), but I'll probably just leave it alone.
Feats: Extend Spell (Flaw - Noncombatant), Spell Focus: Conjuration (Flaw - Murky-Eyed), Invisible Spell (1), Augment Summoning (3)
Skills: Focus on Concentration, Spot, Listen, and Diplomacy.  The last is subject to change, depending on the party:  if we have another diplomat, I might just take Spellcraft.  Optimally I'd drop Int to 8, and increase Dex, but I can never manage to RP low-Int characters properly.
Gear: Cloak of Charisma +2, basic survival kit (Vest of Resistance +1, a chain shirt, etc).  Maybe a Ring of Sustenance:  good Spot and Listen can make a good night watchman.  Very mutable.
Highlights: Pretty basic Spirit Shaman with summoning action.  It's hard to show what's good about a Spirit Shaman, just as it's hard to show what's good about a Cleric:  the wide variety of spells give lots of options.  The Shaman has the Druid list, so just like a Druid isn't only good in the wild, the Shaman is also good in cities.
Drawbacks:  A bit of MAD in the split casting stat.  I might be inclined to tweak the stats a bit if we have another good save-or-hosing caster, and just focus on no-save spells.
Direction: Skypledged would be the idea here:  the Spirit Shaman itself does have some good abilities, but they're nothing compared to Spellpool on a spontaneous caster.  It's like a Sorcerer/MotAO, but with a more versatile spell list (Druid + Cleric), without the fixed spell choices of a Sorcerer, and without bonus metamagic feats feats (but it makes up for this by not requiring the useless Arcane Preparation and Cooperative Spell feats).
[/spoiler]

Roleplay:  The background isn't quite full yet, so I'll provide a journal entry.  I find that those are a good way to explore a character.  I've made some assumptions that might turn out to be false, but this is just to give an idea.

Other potential players should probably not read this -- most of it will probably come out in character interactions, but it's probably more fun that way.
[spoiler]
Maldarin's Journal -- Year X - Month Y - Day Z
My kinsmen had never told me that there was an entire city concealed within these mists.  More cities.  These are what I've run from.  I've never been entirely comfortable being so close to so many:  I am unsettled that I walk past so many that I do not recognize, or that I may recognize someone with whom I have never spoken.  Still, if I'm ever to rejoin my kinsmen, I will need to face my discomfort.

If I'm going to be spending time in a city, it should just as soon be one in a perpetual cloud on the ground.  Kaervyl [ed. note: name of spirit guide] thinks I want to use the mist to hide from the others, but the truth is that I like mist in the air.  Most of my kinsmen will not enter a cloud, as it comes with a sort of blindness.  I like nothing more than to leap from a mountain-top and glide through the celestial darkness.  It is soothing to me.  I long for the day that I gain the strength to fly into the clouds on my own.

My current companions seem to agree that this is a good place to stop.  We will at least take a few days here to gather supplies.  If nothing takes our interest, we may move on.  If I want to ease into civilized life, remaining here is in by best interest, but my companions have shown themselves reliable.  I suppose I will have to cross that bridge when I come to it.[/spoiler]

edit:  Build modified, because there's more optimization going around here than I thought.
« Last Edit: May 23, 2008, 03:29:31 PM by amalcon »

Akula

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Re: The Gray Citadel: interest and applications thread
« Reply #26 on: May 21, 2008, 02:19:23 AM »
Oh man, lots of people :scared...This just sprung up overnight.

Interest here. Human Binder 1/Sorc 4 is one possible idea; going for Anima Mage next level. This seems to be towards the upper end of the power spectrum though. I have some ideas for a background but I want to hear a bit more about the campaign world. I would like to make a background that fits it...Because if I have some sort of cliche thing where the Order of the Seropaenes is hunting me, I would not like to find out later that they don't exist in the setting.

Crusader 5 is another, less powerful idea. No clue what to do with flavor though. Well that's a lie but it seems more generic.

Ieniemienie

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Re: The Gray Citadel: interest and applications thread
« Reply #27 on: May 21, 2008, 04:44:39 AM »
I should definitely join to ensure a TPK  :lol
I always wanted to play a low level archivist (was HoH on the allowed books list?)
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Re: The Gray Citadel: interest and applications thread
« Reply #28 on: May 21, 2008, 12:41:55 PM »
Let's see if I can handle all the questions, in something like reverse order.

Archivist is fine - HoH is allowed. Archivists CAN learn spells from clerical domains/rangers/druids, etc. The world DOES have some divine bards, but not all bards are divine bards. You CANNOT simply convert a spell from arcane to divine using Artificer/Warlock jiggery-pokery, you have to actually find the divine scroll (best bet is to get a good diplomacy and convince the appropriate divine caster to collaborate with you on a scroll).

I do use multiclass XP penalties, for the record, so keep that in mind as you work out your character builds. Other than that, all the stuff I've seen so far looks reasonable, although I'd be cautious about being a venerable kobold - those guys only have about two years to live, if I recall the aging table from RoD correctly.

Beguilers are not illusion specialists, so they have to take Spell Focus: Illusion to qualify for that other feat.

By and large, I try to stick to the RAIRI - rules as I read it. As an epistemologist and a constructivist, I realize that RAW is a figment of our collective imagination. But I try to stick to RAW as much as possible.

Keep in mind that I'd like to see rough character ideas (JanusJones's recent post is a good example). If they change between now and when you actually create the characters, that's fine with me. I'd also like to see some example RP writing, either a paragraph backstory to your character or links to stuff you've written on other boards.

I'm not sure if there will be actual competition: with 8 slots to fill, the game could maybe encompass all applicants. I'll have to look through the thread. But if there are too many people, I'll be judging based mainly on party fit and RP writing.

I'm VERY happy to bring in people who are new to PbP. You'll get the hang of it right away, I'm sure. I find that it's just like normal D&D, just a little slower-paced, but with a lot more opportunities to actually roleplay. When you're playing tabletop, everyone else is so anxious to get their turn to roll d20 and hit the baddie, that you have to just say "I hit AC 25 for 14 damage", or "I fireball those three guys, 34 damage, Reflex 21 for half". In PbP, you can actually get more into the description and roleplaying aspects, which is great.

I'm going to hold off on actually selecting people until this weekend. Either Saturday afternoon or Sunday afternoon, depending on the weather (I'm going to be going hiking one day too). I'm going to pick out the group mainly with an eye toward party balance, to fill most roles (healer, trapfinder, face, ranged combat, melee combat, and utility caster are the roles I'm thinking about). People will probably cross-specialize, I don't require that there be a dedicated healer, for example, as they can be boring to a lot of people, especially in an optimized party that doesn't take much damage.

I guess I should forewarn you: there are not a lot of undead in this campaign. Some, but not too many. So a turning-centric cleric will be bored. There are a number of outsiders, though, so maybe a turning cleric who casts Turn Anathema a lot. Also, there's not much nature-boy stuff going on, it's almost all in the city and underground, so don't focus on tree-huggery unless you want to be out of your element all the time.

AlisAtAn

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Re: The Gray Citadel: interest and applications thread
« Reply #29 on: May 21, 2008, 12:56:50 PM »

Beguilers are not illusion specialists, so they have to take Spell Focus: Illusion to qualify for that other feat.


Is this aimed at my build? If so, it has SF[Illusion] at lvl 1... =) Not sure what your`e answering\correcting here.


I'm going to hold off on actually selecting people until this weekend. Either Saturday afternoon or Sunday afternoon, depending on the weather (I'm going to be going hiking one day too). I'm going to pick out the group mainly with an eye toward party balance, to fill most roles (healer, trapfinder, face, ranged combat, melee combat, and utility caster are the roles I'm thinking about). People will probably cross-specialize, I don't require that there be a dedicated healer, for example, as they can be boring to a lot of people, especially in an optimized party that doesn't take much damage.


I can cover trapfinding if noone else steps up. Will need some skill redistribution but I have it covered. Also some badass UMD`ing with a wand of lesser vigor after combat. (healing)

Guess I`ll edit it in with my build.
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Stratovarius

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Re: The Gray Citadel: interest and applications thread
« Reply #30 on: May 21, 2008, 01:01:30 PM »
It was aimed at a question I posted some time earlier in the thread, in regards to the school-specific feats from Complete Mage. I'm currently working (very hard, as you can tell), and will have the background written up this evening. I've got other samples of my writing flitting around if you'd like to see them as well.

And yup, jot me down as one of the PbP newbies here.
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pfooti

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Re: The Gray Citadel: interest and applications thread
« Reply #31 on: May 21, 2008, 01:07:45 PM »
Yeah, it was Strat's question I was answering. Also, beguilers make good trapfinders. The party definitely needs at least one, there are a LOT of VERY DANGEROUS traps laying around.

Also, in regards to Dave and Janus's Goliath Dungeoncrasher builds, and Melee builds in general:

This campaign will have a fair amount of dungeoncrawling / combat in it. There's going to be a lot of investigation, because you need to know (a) where to find the dungeons and (b) what to expect once you get there. If you do (a) without (b), you will all die. If you don't do (a) at all, you will get bored. But once you do (a) and (b), there will be plenty of need for Melee combatants.

And I can attest: that kind of character is uber-awesome. I'm playing one at ECL8 right now in a PbP game, without even any ToB stuff, just the pounce - knockback - AoO while they slide away - damage when they hit a wall routine. It's Very Satisfying.

Another thing that would be nice at some point is character art. Head on over to deviantart.com and see if you can find something. It's not required right away, but I use MapTool and TokenTool to generate maps when the party is out exploring things when location is important (pit traps, locked doors, etc), and I post jpegs of the maps in the thread. Having a nice character picture means you aren't represented by a silly-looking token.

ksbsnowowl

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Re: The Gray Citadel: interest and applications thread
« Reply #32 on: May 21, 2008, 03:17:24 PM »
I currently don't have a 3rd level feat chosen.  Would the Investigate feat from the Eberron Campaign Setting be ok/a good idea?
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Re: The Gray Citadel: interest and applications thread
« Reply #33 on: May 21, 2008, 03:47:59 PM »
Investigate would be an excellent choice.

Stratovarius

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Re: The Gray Citadel: interest and applications thread
« Reply #34 on: May 21, 2008, 03:48:38 PM »
DM approval, of course, but judging by all the descriptions of the campaign, gathering more information is going to be of a primary nature, especially as the lethality of the situation seems to be high if the players don't.
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JanusJones

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Re: The Gray Citadel: interest and applications thread
« Reply #35 on: May 21, 2008, 04:49:46 PM »
Yeah, it was Strat's question I was answering. Also, beguilers make good trapfinders. The party definitely needs at least one, there are a LOT of VERY DANGEROUS traps laying around.

Also, in regards to Dave and Janus's Goliath Dungeoncrasher builds, and Melee builds in general:

This campaign will have a fair amount of dungeoncrawling / combat in it. There's going to be a lot of investigation, because you need to know (a) where to find the dungeons and (b) what to expect once you get there. If you do (a) without (b), you will all die. If you don't do (a) at all, you will get bored. But once you do (a) and (b), there will be plenty of need for Melee combatants.

And I can attest: that kind of character is uber-awesome. I'm playing one at ECL8 right now in a PbP game, without even any ToB stuff, just the pounce - knockback - AoO while they slide away - damage when they hit a wall routine. It's Very Satisfying.

Another thing that would be nice at some point is character art. Head on over to deviantart.com and see if you can find something. It's not required right away, but I use MapTool and TokenTool to generate maps when the party is out exploring things when location is important (pit traps, locked doors, etc), and I post jpegs of the maps in the thread. Having a nice character picture means you aren't represented by a silly-looking token.

I was the first to post the Knockback Dungeoncrasher idea, in fact, so I'm a bit attached.

Thinking I'll go ahead with the Factotum, tho, even tho' it's sub-optimal.  Might be fun!

Smudgy

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Re: The Gray Citadel: interest and applications thread
« Reply #36 on: May 21, 2008, 07:52:16 PM »
I'm nervous, as this'll be the first time I've done anything like this, but I'll express my interest. :scared

The group I play with never lets me be anything that's optimized a good deal(They sort of fear me). So this seems like a good chance to actually try and optimize something for once!

I have an idea for a changeling, some sort of progression being Rogue1/ Wizard5/ Unseen SeerX /RecasterX. Maybe some Divine Oracle if there's room.If I get chosen, I'll probably make a post in Min/Max It! to get some help, because I'm ok at optimizing, but nowhere near the level that some of the regulars are.

So yeah, that should be it for now I guess. I'll fill out the character if I get chosen in the initial plucking. It's odd, since I've moved to this board, I seem to have become less of a lurker than I once was. Time's are changing I guess. :D

edit: I'll post a character background here tomorrow, schoolwork demands my attention.

edit#2: Will you allow Changelings to take Able Learner? Secondly, will you allow Spontaneous Divination and Abrupt Jaunt?

edit#3: Thirdly (and lastly I think) will you let me take Collegiate Wizard at second level when I become a wizard? It fits into my background ok, but permission is obviously required.
« Last Edit: May 22, 2008, 12:10:25 AM by Smudgyhandsman »

Stratovarius

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Re: The Gray Citadel: interest and applications thread
« Reply #37 on: May 21, 2008, 08:55:16 PM »
Bombs away. Look in the spoiler block for a mostly complete character sheet and background. Let me know if there is anything that needs tweaking. If not, I'll start poking away at the items.

[spoiler]Swyno Gwyddion
Silverbrow Human Wizard 3/Master Specialist 2

Medium Humanoid (Dragonblood)
Hit Dice: 5d4 + 10
Initiative: +2
Speed: 30ft.
Armor Class: 12  Touch: 12  Flat-footed: 10
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+2
Attack: No Items Yet
Full Attack: No Items Yet
Space/Reach: 5ft./5ft.
Special Qualities: Spellgifted Trait (+1 Enchantment CL, -1 other schools), Murky-Eyed, Noncombatant
Saves: Fort 3/Reflex 3/Will 6 (+3 vs Enchantments)
Abilities:Str 10/Dex 14/Con 14/Int 19/Wis 10/Cha 10
Skills: Concentration 10 (8 + 2), Spellcraft 12 (8 + 4), Knowledge (Arcana) 10 (6 + 4), Knowledge (Nature) 8 (4 + 4), Knowledge (The Planes) 5 (1 + 4), Knowledge (Local) 5 (1 + 4), Knowledge (History) 5 (1 + 4)
Feats: Snowcasting, Eschew Materials, Fey Heritage (Flaw), Spell Focus: Enchantment (Flaw), Draconic Aura (Energy, Cold) (Level 3)
Alignment: NG
Languages Spoken: Common, Draconic, Elven, Sylvan
Level Adjustment: None
 

Possessions: TBD

Spells prepared:
0: TBD
1: TBD
2: TBD
3:
4:
5:
6:
7:
8:
9:

Spells known:
0: Acid Splash, Arcane Mark, Daze, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Mage Hand, Mending, Message, Open/Close, Prestidigitation, Read Magic, Resistance
1: Charm Person, Enlarge Person, Grease, Obscuring Mist, Power Word: Pain, Power Word: Fatigue, Inhibit
2: Glitterdust, Fox's Cunning, Entice Gift, Torrent of Tears
3: Deep Slumber, Stinking Cloud, Suggestion
4:
5:
6:
7:
8:
9:

Character background:
Swyno grew up as an absentee child, his rich merchant parents often gone on long journeys and searches for new and profitable dealings. It was not that he was neglected when they were there, or that he disliked them, but more than he wandered out of the door of their northern home on far too many occasions, finding solace in the blustering and chill environment in which they lived.
   There was always the child's desire to escape from the tutors that his parents brought forth for him, for Swyno was certainly not above wandering outside to avoid their presence, but it was more a love of the cold and crisp woods and streams, dells and valleys, that called to him. Days roaming through the forests would often be spent with his naturally curious mind poking and prodding under rocks, in tree wells, and through streams, finding delightful animals and strange plants. Some of those found their way into Swyno's stomach, often to his displeasure, but with the insatiable desire to search, he would merely make a note of what not to eat, and continue to try new things.
   Swyno's father was possessed of some minor magical talents, that Swyno knew, for in those times when his parent was home, the elder man would often show the boy a neat little trick of one sort or another, or, if Swyno was particularly lucky, take him out for walks through the snow and ice, explaining the natures of that terrain, or this plant, or even the little quirks that cold weather allowed. Soon enough, the young boy began experimenting on his own with the magical spells, sneaking peaks at his father's books when the older man was gone on one of his trips.
   The fascination with magic soon grew to even displace his love of nature as the primary objective within Swyno's heart. He would still travel out into the woods, but often it was to a secluded spot that allowed for safe casting, free from the distraction and noise of the town in which he lived. Sometimes, Swyno would attempt a harmless spell on a small animal, perhaps a jackrabbit, to see what would happen. Most often the creature would fall asleep, or stare at him with eyes wide open, and a few times he even managed to make the skittish creature come close and eat from his hands.
   Eventually, his father decided that rather than this unschooled experimenting with spells and wizardry, that Swyno had to spend time at a college for mages, learning the dangers and the advantages of magic in a controlled environment. Some years later, Swyno emerged with a passion for enchanting spells, and returned to the family seat. He spent a pleasant winter there with his family, renewing the bonds of love, and then, as the spring thawed and with his parent's blessing, setting out upon a journey in order to discover the world around him.[/spoiler]
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JanusJones

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Re: The Gray Citadel: interest and applications thread
« Reply #38 on: May 21, 2008, 09:20:45 PM »
That just made me wanna break out bigger CO gunz . . .  :smirk

Stratovarius

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Re: The Gray Citadel: interest and applications thread
« Reply #39 on: May 21, 2008, 09:39:22 PM »
I'm about 99% certain you're a far better tactical player than I am though. I'm one of those unlucky sods who lives in rural areas with no local gaming group. Call the Enchantment DC hunting compensation for being a lousy player  :wink
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