- We meet Saturday nights once a month for the next year. I would prefer to use my place since we can get started a little earlier that way. I'm thinking about starting the first weekend in December.
- Standard races and classes. 3.5 rules
- bonus feat for all characters at first level: Sea Legs - +2 bonus on Shipboard Balance and Tumble Checks and +1 Bonus to Shipboard Initiative.
- To roll up characters we will be using a standard point buy system (pg 169 DMG)
- Maximum HP at first level and half max at each level afterwards. so... at level 2, a D6 class will automatically be 3+ Cha modifier. This rule and the last will help avoid unbalanced characters.
- We will be using the Stormwrack book, which, while out of print, can be easily downloaded here. Focus primarily on the rules associated with combat on board a sailing vessel. Please steer clear of reading up on the monsters, I may be using a few of those and would prefer to keep some surprises.
- Table rules to include: No electronic devices aloud at the table during play. This includes iPods, iPhones, laptops, etc. We use real dice and paper character sheets, and of course, books. Between the lot of us we have two copies of Stormwrack, so we shouldn't need more. No Television. Background music is aloud for mood. Courtesy should be payed to characters taking actions. Sidebar conversations are fine, but should not be disruptive. I may use a computer strictly as a DM screen and a source for the game, but will try to keep that to a minimum.
- XP bonuses will be awarded for back stories, strong character role play, (especially among the PCs.), cooperative gameplay strategies and even good table etiquette. For example of that, if we are all focused on the game and run into confusion on a rule, a cooperative resolution amongst all players will be rewarded.
- The story begins a month into a long voyage over the great sea. You will all be members of a crew that is on the verge of mutiny as weather is getting progressively erratic and the labor is severe. Crew members have been promised a handsome sum at the end of the voyage, but the harsh treatment by the second in command has led most to conclude that no reward is enough. It is known that the ship is transporting something rare and magical in addition to its usual cargo. A special task force of the king is aboard to guard the artifact. No one on the ship seems to know what the object is or what it is worth, but at least 2 attempts by crew to steal the item have ended in violent bloodshed. The guards know what they are guarding and won't be easily distracted from their mission. Your back story should include a reason why you have chosen to serve aboard this ship.
So, who's game? I'm open to thoughts on the above.
23 comments:
I'm in, as long as schedule allows. I am interviewing for a new job today, so it depends, but since the hours are 10:30-7:30 it shouldn't be a problem to stay late and play, it just depends which weekend day they want me to work so if I work Saturday, I may not be able to get there until 8ish. But we will see.
satordam - Realizing it's actually Sunday.
What are you setting for a player cap? Also, just PHB classes/races or can we look into other official 3.5 source material? This applies to both race/class as well as feats or flaws.
number of players? Let's try and start with 4-5 players.
I've been mulling to see if I have any questions, comments, or negotiations and think something might be coming, but nothing yet. I'll commit to playing, though, and the first weekend of December should be good for me. I strongly prefer Saturday nights to Friday or any other.
I'm not getting an overwhelming sense of interest here.
agbari - middle eastern farmer cuisine
Well, I'm interested, but don't feel I'm in a place where I could commit to anything right now. (I don't know where I'm going to be, I'm not sure how much time I'll have, I'm too broke to drive up just for a game, etc.etc.). As far as everyone else, I'd hazard a guess that December is not a good time for anyone-- you know, holiday stress.
Well, we could always start something small scale with 2-3 players and build from there as availability changes.
Well I'm still game, and have pretty well worked out the details of my back story, just need to commit it to digital paper and confirm my stats with the point-buy system.
Looking at at lvl 1 (believe you said) human rogue
Wondering if as a back story reward I might be able to have a special trait called Silverhands, which is also the characters nickname? He was part of a special covert unit for a king and they were identified by the silver sheen to their palms, visible by moonlight; an alchemical treatment that had a beneficial side effect of roughening their palms to a texture like a cats tongue, giving him a +1 to climb check and resistance to being disarmed.
Well I'm still game, and have pretty well worked out the details of my back story, just need to commit it to digital paper and confirm my stats with the point-buy system.
Looking at at lvl 1 (believe you said) human rogue
Wondering if as a back story reward I might be able to have a special trait called Silverhands, which is also the characters nickname? He was part of a special covert unit for a king and they were identified by the silver sheen to their palms, visible by moonlight; an alchemical treatment that had a beneficial side effect of roughening their palms to a texture like a cats tongue, giving him a +1 to climb check and resistance to being disarmed.
I was thinking of a bard, traveling to a new land for inspiration as he has had writer's block for so long and is bored and tired of the stories and songs he knows and feels like he is in a rut. He wants some new experiences.
Not even sure if Rachel has thought about it, but I'm sure if I'm in, she probably is. That makes 4. :D
Aww, I was thinking of a bard, servant of a deity of cooking/food, on pilgrimage to find new recipes. Would have been working on ship for passage. Or something like that.
And you could call your character "The Iron Chef." That would be awesome.
If I were in, which I still might be, maybe,... well, I'd go with a sorcerer or rogue.
That is one definite advantage to 4E over 3rd, is there is less emphasis on the need for a cleric, which is often an unpopular choice. Though for anyone considering, this might be a prime chance to play a water-based druid, rather than a foresty one
Or a cleric who follows an ocean god. So you're saying a party of bards wouldn't work. I haven't really pondered this fully yet, but my first instinct was rogue or sorcerer as well. I guess ships just don't lend themselves to armored tank fighter types. Maybe I'll have to delve into the books a bit for some other alternatives . . .
If Nate will allow it, you might look at the Swashbuckler base class in Complete Warrior I think it is...a fighter particularly suited to the style of fighting, what with the swashing and buckling, and getting an intelligence bonus to AC when wearing light armor.
Oh, do remember that bards can do the cure spells and some basic healing, so maybe two of them sharing the load might work as well as a pure cleric.
True, especially if they had a wand to provide some extra cures/day.
Hey, another bard works for me. Especially since mine is mostly a musician/playwrite. A chef would be a handy addition, but when would he find time to cook while adventuring? I know! He can cook what we kill. Like the Indians!!!
You want to kill and cook Indians?
Too spicy!
Sounds like it's going to be an interesting group. I've never done an adventure with a group of Bards/rogues. It will be interesting to see how that pans out against the usual type monsters. But maybe this adventure is less about the monsters, and more about the skills. I could choose to lean it that way if you like.
I have a basic story in mind for this adventure. I'm taking a long trip to MN next week and should be able to iron out some details along the way to be ready for our game sessions. In the meantime, let's start pulling together some back stories.
dethorg - getting all the greek gods out of your carpeting.
Back story in progress. Not on paper (or word processor) but definitely in process. :D
leest - Opposite of moest.
But maybe this adventure is less about the monsters, and more about the skills.
So is most of the adventure going to take place on the water in ships? When I think of "the usual type monsters," I think dungeons or wilderness. For this I was imagining something else.
I still need to look through the books and commit to something. Nate, did you have any response to the suggestion of Swashbuckler? If going with a fighter type, I was also wondering if there's such a thing as an ocean/ship-based Paladin--alignment, code of honor and all of that, but not a knight on a horse so something more setting appropriate instead. Of I could see doing a water-focused Druid. Assuming the bard(s) will fill the role of arcane caster. Let me think on it, but if you have any input to sway me . . .
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