Recruiting: high scale Pathfinder, Taldor, aka Byzantium focused

Started by Kolbrandr, June 02, 2013, 03:46:12 AM

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Kolbrandr

Oh, okay, so, on cohorts and mounts as I've been asked. So obviously you can use a cohort for taking some kind of more special mount you might not otherwise be able to get, and considering that most such options top out at various equivalent levels, you would then indeed add levels to them, they would be gestalt levels, and yes, this is sort of the way around the no LA thing, so to note in the face of that:

1) other people do not play your mount

2) It's a mount. There are only so many places you can take, for instance, a dragonne, when bopping around.

3) to be in tune with the feats per level thing, give them a feat per hit die as far as their base state before levels, not every other (so basically double their base feats if they've been built with feat per every two hit dice and don't have some pile of bonus ones)

4) Don't go super crazy with this. A Pegasus or something? An awakened animal? That's fine. I can even live with something with the "half-whatever" templates, depending on the template and some kind of justification (half fiend is going to be a problem for you walking around openly with the thing unless you disguise it somehow). But like.. some kind of multi limb demonic atrocity with multi limb/multi weapon feat shenanigans that you like, stick a saddle on the back of or have shapeshift into a horse sometimes? The GM and Baby Jesus will both cry.

Ebb

Edited the wiki to make the section on Leadership and Cohorts clearer:

https://elliquiy.com/wiki/Taldor--Character_Creation#Cohorts_and_Leadership

Three things I'm still not 100% sure of. Please confirm:

1) If you have a Charisma bonus of +4, then you can take Extra Cohort 4 times, which means with your freebie from Leadership you can have 5 cohorts.
2) Your Leadership Cohort can be up to your level minus two. Your Extra Cohorts can be up to your level minus four.
3) Cohorts cannot take the Leadership feat.

Ebb

Quote from: Kolbrandr on June 17, 2013, 05:02:42 PM
Oh, okay, so, on cohorts and mounts as I've been asked. So obviously you can use a cohort for taking some kind of more special mount you might not otherwise be able to get, and considering that most such options top out at various equivalent levels, you would then indeed add levels to them, they would be gestalt levels, and yes, this is sort of the way around the no LA thing, so to note in the face of that:

1) other people do not play your mount

2) It's a mount. There are only so many places you can take, for instance, a dragonne, when bopping around.

3) to be in tune with the feats per level thing, give them a feat per hit die as far as their base state before levels, not every other (so basically double their base feats if they've been built with feat per every two hit dice and don't have some pile of bonus ones)

4) Don't go super crazy with this. A Pegasus or something? An awakened animal? That's fine. I can even live with something with the "half-whatever" templates, depending on the template and some kind of justification (half fiend is going to be a problem for you walking around openly with the thing unless you disguise it somehow). But like.. some kind of multi limb demonic atrocity with multi limb/multi weapon feat shenanigans that you like, stick a saddle on the back of or have shapeshift into a horse sometimes? The GM and Baby Jesus will both cry.

Okay, but can I take a Mimic as my mount, and then have it shapeshift to appear like a massive wig?

Wait -- that means I'm the mount, doesn't it?

Kolbrandr

Quote from: Ebb on June 17, 2013, 05:12:16 PM
Okay, but can I take a Mimic as my mount, and then have it shapeshift to appear like a massive wig?

Wait -- that means I'm the mount, doesn't it?

Hear that crying? That's the Baby Jesus.

Kolbrandr

Quote from: Ebb on June 17, 2013, 05:07:48 PM
Edited the wiki to make the section on Leadership and Cohorts clearer:

https://elliquiy.com/wiki/Taldor--Character_Creation#Cohorts_and_Leadership

Three things I'm still not 100% sure of. Please confirm:

1) If you have a Charisma bonus of +4, then you can take Extra Cohort 4 times, which means with your freebie from Leadership you can have 5 cohorts.
2) Your Leadership Cohort can be up to your level minus two. Your Extra Cohorts can be up to your level minus four.
3) Cohorts cannot take the Leadership feat.

1 is correct, your extra cohorts can be up to your level -2, and.. ugh, so I'm going to crash otherwise into "what if I want my cohort to have some special mount?" aren't I. Okay. Cohorts can take leadership, but /only/ for a mount of some kind, they don't get followers.

Phaia

well bah!!! I would have loved those feats could have worked up a whole history around them

anyway can you use a feat to get a non class ability ie sorcerer take extra HEX to gain the ability to use a  hex...normally you need to be able to cast hex for that but was curious

If i would take a lvl in witch [for one hex i wanted] as well as arcane bloodline for sorcerer how would that work with the famailar the witch gets...lol getting complicated here are nt...but looking at variuos combos since I now have 2 feats open I was gonna use for the 3rd party ones.

as for the non humans--- the capital city is something like 120k in size so even if 10% is non human that still leaves a lot ...my idea was that the house over the centuires has used thier influance to add to the estate till they have about a block or so [which could be 20 acres and a small town fits in 20 acres]...on that they have encouroage nonhuamns to set up shops, houses, etc keeping an area for themselves... if its their estate would be less taxes for the shops making them competitive [but careful to not be too competitive] offering a lot of exotic itesm from elven silk to drwaf ale... some taverns that actaully cater to non humans so visiting merchants, diplomats etc have a place to stay... think 'Little China' dinners that cater to halfings, drawfs etc....not looking at more then 1000-2000 maybe a few more depending on how you see it.

this allows two things ...from the breaded viewpoint it keeps those non humans  together and second it allows high quailty shoppes for non humans to exsist and be protected a bit better

Phaia

Kolbrandr

So one of the things about Taldor I find interesting as far as its nuances of being both terrible yet in some ways laudable (as opposed to a more one note society like, I don't know, Andoran. Me: "Remember, Andoran, when I promised to kill you last?" Andoran: "That's right Kolbrandr, you did!" Me: "I lied!" Really, I will stop with the Andoran bashing sometime, honest!) is that really, outside of things like the aristocracy, there's no bar or impediment to demihuman involvement and advancement. A gnome holds one of the most important positions in the structure of the Imperial Navy for instance (head shipwright or the like), that kind of stuff. Which is to say, it doesn't really feel like the bearded would overly care if the non humans of the city all clustered in one spot or not. They more care about keeping the poor the fuck away by contrast, regardless of race.

/With that said/, like I say, in terms of drift and migration of ethnicities where groups will settle in one place enough that you end up with something like a Chinatown anyway, some clustering of neighbourhoods where nonhumans have ended up conglomerating is fine. 1000-2000 is alright, sure.

Kolbrandr

Quoteanyway can you use a feat to get a non class ability ie sorcerer take extra HEX to gain the ability to use a  hex...normally you need to be able to cast hex for that but was curious

If i would take a lvl in witch [for one hex i wanted] as well as arcane bloodline for sorcerer how would that work with the famailar the witch gets...lol getting complicated here are nt...but looking at variuos combos since I now have 2 feats open I was gonna use for the 3rd party ones.

If there's a PF feat that lets you get a hex using ability that you meet the prereqs for, I would suppose you could take it, though there isn't one that comes to mind. And the level of witch wouldn't really help you with your overall familiar level, it would still be calc'd like the eldritch heritage says to calc it.

Meliai

Extra Hex and similar feats require you to have the class feature that's being effected as a prerequisite, so no you can't take them to get a class feature you don't have. That would be madness. MADNESS!!!

And the second paragraph on the page that explains the Witch's familiar states that it stacks with other class levels that grant a familiar when determining its abilities, so it would stack but you'd still have the -2 if you're using Eldritch Heritage.
    {{A/As updated 5/8}}           

Ebb

Quote from: Kolbrandr on June 17, 2013, 06:34:15 PM
If there's a PF feat that lets you get a hex using ability that you meet the prereqs for, I would suppose you could take it, though there isn't one that comes to mind. And the level of witch wouldn't really help you with your overall familiar level, it would still be calc'd like the eldritch heritage says to calc it.

There are a bunch of those 'Extra' Feats (Extra Hex, Extra Discovery, Extra Lay on Hands, Extra Performance, etc.) which are pretty explicitly just there to power up classes that already have that ability. You can't take them to get the feature if you don't have it in the first place. Expanded Arcana is pretty good feat for a Sorcerer, though.

I love the idea of "Little Oppara", a district in Oppara where Gnomes and Halflings have gathered to take advantage of favorable tax rates imposed by a local noble in order to draw business interests to a quarter of the city that might otherwise be undesirable.

"Hey Frobo, why'd you set up shop way out here in the slums?"
"Low overhead."


Kolbrandr

Right, the extra (various) feats I'm aware of, but I'm not really aware of anything that otherwise gives you the class feature you need for them in the first place as far as something like the hex throwing.

Phaia

guess i will just have to manage without hexs or the lovely imbue token feats

:'( :'(

**does her pouty face**

anyway so far it's good...I do not see a limit on the Eldritch Heritage feat...is it okay to take it twice...?

so I can take extra cohort several times? lucky for me I do not need a mount...that is why there carriages silly boys?

well I am sure the nobles wont let the "ladies' reside in Senate's Hill, Imperail sqaure [though the House may have an office there], The Seven Towers district, and since Westpark is almost all royality Really not there eitehr...dont want those non humans fowling the water you know

looking at westport, aroden's veiw or canal row

Kolbrandr- one idea i have for the House is that bard is the major class for them...and almost all The Ladies have graduated from either Kitharodian Academy or Rhapsodic College is that okay?

Phaia

RubySlippers

Quote from: Ebb on June 17, 2013, 06:50:40 PM
There are a bunch of those 'Extra' Feats (Extra Hex, Extra Discovery, Extra Lay on Hands, Extra Performance, etc.) which are pretty explicitly just there to power up classes that already have that ability. You can't take them to get the feature if you don't have it in the first place. Expanded Arcana is pretty good feat for a Sorcerer, though.

I love the idea of "Little Oppara", a district in Oppara where Gnomes and Halflings have gathered to take advantage of favorable tax rates imposed by a local noble in order to draw business interests to a quarter of the city that might otherwise be undesirable.

"Hey Frobo, why'd you set up shop way out here in the slums?"
"Low overhead."

My character would support such a district especially young couples just starting out. For shares of businesses say 6% for a expert Halfling craftsman or professional its a good investment. ^_^

Phaia

Quote from: RubySlippers on June 17, 2013, 07:23:54 PM
My character would support such a district especially young couples just starting out. For shares of businesses say 6% for a expert Halfling craftsman or professional its a good investment. ^_^

HA!!

The House of the Setting Sun is the one supporting them  ;) ;) but if they need extra well I suppose money lenders have a purpose  :P

I can see we may have an interesting 'relationship' Ruby

I mean was not your character a failed courtesan...just couldnt hack it huh ...we hear she likes to give it away and the only reason House Varian has not just bought her out is cause she puts out so easy

  :P :P

This should be fun!!

Phaia

RubySlippers

No she did that while working on another area, now can use her sexual skills for other purposes.

And she makes nice money she created a version of the payday loan, find desperate people and give them loans and let the debt rack up until they default kick in the bond penalty and sell the indenture for a markdown of the new amount and she makes a fat profit.  ;D 

Then there is the more traditional deals with those that are good risks.

Kolbrandr

Quotedont want those non humans fowling the water you know

Once again, as long as the nonhumans aren't trying to become hereditary nobility, they don't likely care ;p Now if they're /poor/..

Quoteanyway so far it's good...I do not see a limit on the Eldritch Heritage feat...is it okay to take it twice...?

If you really want to, though you're better off just taking the tree of eldritch, improved eldritch, greater. If you end up some kind of ludicrous multi heritage mess though, I will be sad. Try to keep them thematic if you're going to truck in that.

Quotelooking at westport, aroden's veiw or canal row

Those are fine.

QuoteKolbrandr- one idea i have for the House is that bard is the major class for them...and almost all The Ladies have graduated from either Kitharodian Academy or Rhapsodic College is that okay?

That's just fine.

kckolbe

Phaia, I would go Westport or Canal Row, but definitely leaning Westport.  Between a militia that would leave them alone and possibly support them, plus the huge amount of traffic, it seems friendly to them.  Also, immigrants tend to end up in port areas.
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Intro Thread

avorae

Quote from: Kolbrandr on June 17, 2013, 02:27:50 AM
Alright, you're going to want to cover then how your parents ended up in Avistan from Tian Xia, and how you ended up with the druids. It's not that I'm saying the concept is impossible, it's just that it's a bit of a stretch, so I need some work here to make it go.

Alright it took a while for me to find out some information to make the concept semi-work.  So here we go.

When the murmurs of civil war broke her parents worried about their safety left with one of the caravans heading for Avistan. Unfortunately the caravan they where with was raided by bandits. Their rare and exotic looks caught the eye of one of the raiders who decided to take them as slaves.

They ended up being bought by a noble from Taldor who used them as servants (After all what noble wouldn't want to have something no one else has.)  Eventually they escaped with their newborn child but during the escape both parents where mortally injured but they made it as far as the Verduran forest before succumbing to the wounds. A passing druid found them just before they died and he agreed to care for the child as if it was their own.
Life is a hard game but the rewards are sweet if you know where to look.

Phaia

okay here is the start for House of the Setting Sun!!

Let me know what ya all think!


House of the Setting Sun
House of the Setting Sun: The Royal Order of Companions

Over all House Alignment: Lawful Neutral [neutral good tendencies]

Favoured Deity: None

House Blazon: Taldor Shield with red Sunset in place of White Lion

House Motto: Honour from Service

Common Classes: Bard, Rogue, Fighter, Courtesan, Expert

Uncommon Classes: Sorcerer, Cleric

Rare: Wizard, Ranger

Never: Monk, Druid

House Structure: The Order’s chain of Command is clear and well defined. Only one wears the title of High Domina gifted by the Grand Prince in 4080 after 13 members of the House of the Setting Sun, one of the best Brothels in Oppara, died protecting the Royal family. The High Domina is chosen by ballot from the senior ‘Ladies’ of the order and then has to be confirmed by the Grand Prince. This Confirmation is oft times marred by Senatorial maneuvering and Noble posturing, often out of spite that the Order even dares claim ties to the Bearded ones.

The current High Domina, Ahrainna ndu'Aran was recently approved in a very quick almost effortless fashion. This was after the former Domina Faerlena and 5 others died trying to protect Princess Eutropia.

The full members of the order are called "Ladies" and when ready to be a full member [through testing and gradutating from one of the Bard Academies] they are presented to the current Grand Prince for approval. This often takes the form of intense questioning over night. Normally out of tradition the order has 30 Full members but after the upheavals of the past year or so and with several deaths from the actions of Grand Duke Maxentian of House Branas, the order stands at 20 members.

Grand Prince Stavian has of late been asking when the next Lady or Ladies would be ready for approval. He disapproves of the order not being fully staffed as tradition allows and has mentioned considering a Royal Command to fill their ranks, which the new Domina has quietly and very effectively been able to side step.

Phaia

-edit- -made some changes-

Kolbrandr

Obviously it's in rough form, so just some initial notes;

It would be better to lean closer to the House being a sponsored Imperial Order as we went over earlier, so you wouldn't probably have a title like Contessa so much as something like High Domina of the House or something like that. I mean, the nobility being hacked off otherwise would fly in the face of your order being sought after companions by the nobility, which seemed to be part of your shtick you were going for. Basically you're more thereby viewed as the social oriented imperial order, as opposed to, say, the Ulfen Guard, who are the step on your face until you die imperial order, and in that sense, acceptable and even admirable in your place to the aristocracy.

Otherwise, not too much else to say right now. Maxentian Branas apparently having had to fight a lot of courtesan duelists that day put me in an amused reminder of an internet gag no one will get unless they are familiar with both Penny Arcade and the recent Battlestar Galactica series mind you.

Phaia

Quote from: Kolbrandr on June 18, 2013, 12:13:26 AM
Obviously it's in rough form, so just some initial notes;

It would be better to lean closer to the House being a sponsored Imperial Order as we went over earlier, so you wouldn't probably have a title like Contessa so much as something like High Domina of the House or something like that. I mean, the nobility being hacked off otherwise would fly in the face of your order being sought after companions by the nobility, which seemed to be part of your shtick you were going for. Basically you're more thereby viewed as the social oriented imperial order, as opposed to, say, the Ulfen Guard, who are the step on your face until you die imperial order, and in that sense, acceptable and even admirable in your place to the aristocracy.

Otherwise, not too much else to say right now. Maxentian Branas apparently having had to fight a lot of courtesan duelists that day put me in an amused reminder of an internet gag no one will get unless they are familiar with both Penny Arcade and the recent Battlestar Galactica series mind you.

wasnt sure what title would work, if any, High Domina works find officaly ...

as for the fight...I would have to guess Maxentian Branas was not all alone after all the princess would have guards I was thinking they fought whoever he brought with him and to add a bit of tragic aspect The former Domina and Max Branas were old friends after all they did both want the same thing [though The Domina did unoffically support the Princess' position]

oh and not all of the courtesans are duelists but all are bards...though many of the duelists died [save one that was ordered not to help and is currently the Orders Enforcer -think Lvl 8 gesalt fighter/bard-- Lvl 4 duelist}

By the way is the duelist sword [exotic prof] the same as the Falcata and considered a light weapon for purposes of weapon finesse?

Phaia

Kolbrandr

Quote from: Phaia on June 18, 2013, 12:30:28 AM
wasnt sure what title would work, if any, High Domina works find officaly ...

as for the fight...I would have to guess Maxentian Branas was not all alone after all the princess would have guards I was thinking they fought whoever he brought with him and to add a bit of tragic aspect The former Domina and Max Branas were old friends after all they did both want the same thing [though The Domina did unoffically support the Princess' position]

oh and not all of the courtesans are duelists but all are bards...though many of the duelists died [save one that was ordered not to help and is currently the Orders Enforcer -think Lvl 8 gesalt fighter/bard-- Lvl 4 duelist}

By the way is the duelist sword [exotic prof] the same as the Falcata and considered a light weapon for purposes of weapon finesse?

Phaia

So, if the princess had some of the members of the House with her, you're going with they were supporting her in the coup? I'm presuming the Order endured by everyone left managing to claim they had nothing to do with any of that or the like?

Beyond that, the Falcata isn't considered a light weapon, no, it's exotic prof (falcata). On the plus side, it has a longsword's crit range, but a x3 multiplier.

Kolbrandr

Quote from: avorae on June 17, 2013, 10:44:08 PM
Alright it took a while for me to find out some information to make the concept semi-work.  So here we go.

When the murmurs of civil war broke her parents worried about their safety left with one of the caravans heading for Avistan. Unfortunately the caravan they where with was raided by bandits. Their rare and exotic looks caught the eye of one of the raiders who decided to take them as slaves.

They ended up being bought by a noble from Taldor who used them as servants (After all what noble wouldn't want to have something no one else has.)  Eventually they escaped with their newborn child but during the escape both parents where mortally injured but they made it as far as the Verduran forest before succumbing to the wounds. A passing druid found them just before they died and he agreed to care for the child as if it was their own.

I'm guessing you mean her parents were originally from Minkai and left the troubles there?

avorae

Quote from: Kolbrandr on June 18, 2013, 02:07:40 PM
I'm guessing you mean her parents were originally from Minkai and left the troubles there?

yes
Life is a hard game but the rewards are sweet if you know where to look.

RubySlippers

I figure I needed a noble title its due to marriage and likely Baroness.