Sharn PD (Eberron; Pathfinder; Recruiting)

Started by Dakkon, February 08, 2014, 11:53:11 AM

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Dakkon



“The threats to our city and our world are as insidious as they are diverse. Pirates, terrorists, monsters, fiends, anarchists and zealots are only of the dangers that Sharn must contend with in the wake of the Last War. Crime is on the rise, and more and more, the everyday watchman cannot contend with it, nor can we ask The King’s Citadel for any more aid than they already give. For this reason, a new, elite division of the Watch has been formed. You are part of that elite group.”

“Welcome to the Green Tower.”

“We have begun with three small cells in this division. You will report to your handler, Gerald ir’Tosk, at 2000 hours outside Morgrave Univeristy to attend a lecture on the city’s history. This will give you the time to get acquainted with your teammates before being given your first assignments. Gerald will have the details when you are ready. We turn now to you to crack our toughest cases.”

“I commend you. Good luck.“

- Lord Commander Iyan ir’Talan



Setting: Eberron. Sharn is the centrepiece of this adventure, but will also feature the Greater Breland area and possibly other nations.
Edition: Pathfinder
Starting Level: 2nd level (Fast EXP track)
Books: Pathfinder’s Core, WotC’s Eberron books, Dreamscarred Press’s Psioncs Unleashed & Path of War, and Abandoned Art’s Amazing Races & Class Acts.
Blogs: While its just starting off, anything that I post in my Eberron Blog is fair game.
Races:
*Core: Human, Elf, Dwarf, Halfling, Half-Orc, Half-Elf and Gnome (no subraces)
*Eberron: Shifter, Changeling, Kalashtar, Warforged and Daelkyr Half-Blood
*Monstrous: Goblin, Hobgoblin, Hagborn (Paizo's Changeling), Merfolk, Orc.
Classes: Any from the approved sources. Note that some of them (like the gunslingers and psionics) will require some discussion to find a way for them to fit in properly. Please note that while I allow gunslingers in Eberron, they are extremely rare, not at all organized and thought to be slightly crazy since magic is far more reliable than gunpowder from the average person’s POV.
Hit Points: Full at first level. Half or roll, which ever is better after that.
Alignment: While the Watch is looking to uphold the law, they don’t mind having members who break the mold. The Watch may be corrupt, but most people genuinely get into the business to help people. Ultimately, this is a heroic campaign, so PCs must be non-evil and may be lawful, neutral or chaotic.
Background:
*In order to apply to any section of the Watch, Green Tower included, an applicant’s primary residence must have been Sharn for at least the last twelve months. For that period, their record must be clear of major fines, and there must be no record of major arson or major theft in the last five years.
* All applicants must be of at least 23 years of age, or the equivalent for non-human races.
*Members of the Dragonmarked Houses are welcome to join, and the Watch pays a retainer fee directly to the House for the privilege of their service, although they cannot be placed in positions of power due to the Korth Edicts.
*The vast majority of applicants were obviously Brelanders, but citizens of other nations were allowed to apply, assuming they met all of the other requirements and could satisfy the Watch that they had Sharn’s best interest at heart. Cyrians, Karrns, Redrians and Zil were preferred, but all were allowed to apply. It’s an open secret that the Lord Mayor did not approve of allowing other nationalities to join the Watch, but the Lord Commander’s multicultural initiative won out due to King Boranel’s support.
* Consider how the Last War has impacted you. The post-war/cold war setting of Eberron will be a major theme in this game.
Traits: You must select two traits. One of these may be any published trait that reflects you background. The other must be selected from the campaign traits below to reflect the primary role your character will play on the team.
Wealth: 1000 galifers (gp).
Slots:  I will pick four characters when this timer in about two weeks time. I have a count down until that time expires here: http://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/generic?iso=20140222T12&p0=2



Campaign Traits and Character Roles:
Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide

Appraiser: A forensic expert who specializes in studying objects and detecting fraud.
Benefits: You earn a +1 trait bonus on Appraise checks, as Linguistics checks and Perception checks to detect forgeries. Choose one as these as a class skill.

Beat Cop: Rugged and off the streets, these are the Watchmen who rose up through the ranks and are a cut above the rest.
Benefits: Choose two of the followings skills: Intimidate, Knowledge (Local), Perception or Sense Motive. You gain +1 on both of these skills and one of them becomes a class skill.

Coroner: Bone, organs and other organic evidence is their currency, be it living, dead or undead.
Benefit: You gain +1 to Heal and Knowledge (nature). Choose one of these as a class skill.

Counterspell: Arcane or Divine, magic can be devastating to crime scenes - until the specialists arrive.
Benefits: You gain a +2 trait bonus to attacks of opportunity against targets casting spells and to Spellcraft checks to counter spell. Choose Knowledge (Arcane), Knowledge (Divine) or Knowledge (Psionics) as a class skill. 

Detective: The street canvassers who track down the evidence.
Benefits: You gain a +1 trait bonus on Diplomacy when used to gather information, Knowledge (local), and Sense Motive. Choose one as these as a class skill. Criminals have a +1 bonus on any roll to learn about you, as your work precedes you.

Infiltrator: Busts up the criminal circuit by getting right into the middle of it.
Benefits: You gain a +2 trait bonus on Bluff and Disguise against members of the criminal underworld and choose one of these as a class skill.

Lawyer: Those who know how to use evidence and the law to keep criminals off the streets.
Benefits: You gain +2 to all Diplomacy, Knowledge (local), Knowledge (nobility) and Sense Motive while researching for or during a trial.

Public Relations: The face of the team, who hands out official statements and information.
Benefits: You gain +3 to all Bluff, Diplomacy or Knowledge (local) when speaking to someone who is not part of a law enforcement agency and has not committed a crime.

Researcher: The master of the esoteric and uncommon.
Benefits: Choose one Knowledge skill. That skill and Linguistics become class skills.

Sniper: Diffuses situations by taking out hostiles at range from the towers.
Benefits: Choose two of the following: Climb, Stealth or Perception. Both of those skills are class skills.

Special Unit: The cavalry, both the highly skilled and the large & in charge, making dangerous situations safer for their teammates.
Benefits: You gain +1 to Acrobatics and Use Magic Device. Choose one of these as a class skill.

Spy: Lives off of three things - shadows, thievery and paranoia fuel.
Benefits: You gain +1 to Stealth and Slight of Hand. Choose one of these as a class skill.

Tariff Officer: Money is the game that these guys play, mostly working in and around the docks.
Benefits: Choose Appraise, Knowledge (geography), or Swim as a class skill. You also learn to speak and read one additional language from your list of racial languages.

Tracker: You can run, but you can’t hide from him and his tracking squad of men and beasts.
Benefits: You gain a +1 trait bonus to Diplomacy check to gather information, Handle Animal and Survival checks to track an individual. Choose on of these skills as a class skill.

House Rules:
Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide
Goblins and Hobgoblins: While the Dhakaani have not ruled for millennia, their martial culture has left an indelible imprint upon all goblinoids of Khorvaire. These races treat regular and heavy flails a simple weapons. Goblins change their racial modifiers to -2 Str, +4 Dex.

Kobolds: Change racial adjustments to -2 Str, +2 Dex, +2 Int

Changelings and Kalashtar: These races gain +2 to one ability score of the player's choice at character creation.

Daelkyr Half-Blood
: Can be used unchanged without the level adjustment.

Shifters: See my blog. Long story short, use the skinchanger from Blood of the Moon.

Warforged: Ability modifiers become +2 Con, +2 Int, -2 Wis. Warforged are tough and swift learners,  but their quick maturation often means they lack common sense.

Initiative:
I use a version of initiative where everyone roles Init, but then the first person to post each round acts at the highest Init rolled, the second at the next highest and so on. I find this speeds up combat considerably.

Skill Challenges:
I use a skill challenge system created by Mystic Theurge Publications. As opposed to most tests a single roll of the dice, I'd like to try portraying most of them as skill challenges. The idea is to try and create some role playing opportunities while not locking anyone out of a particular scene because they don't have a certain skill advance.

Each challenge will have degrees of success and failure. You may not succeed at everything completely, but you should be able to to succeed enough to keep things moving. Additionally, you'll get opportunities to improve your success. I call these complication tasks.If the Traveller screws with your dice so that a roll does not go your way, I'll give the opportunity to make another roll, although that opportunity would come at some sort of a cost that could complicate things down the road and the number of retries you get will be limited. Costs could include damage, loss of wealth, extra enemies, penalties to other checks or whatever else I can think up of that would make your life harder.

I’ll give you a variety of actions that you can pick from, although you are always free to make up your own action or decide you’ve done well enough. Each time you make another roll, you gain a cumulative +2 bonus to the check, both for the current roll and the previous result. While I know that may seem a bit counterintuitive, it is predicated on the assumptions that previous actions have a positive impact on the situation, so things are becoming easier.

When determining how successful the check is, I will first see if it is better than a previous check. If it is, that becomes our new result. If not, I add +2 to the current highest check. I then compare the result to the DC

I've used this in a couple of PbP games so far, including one here, and the response has been positive. I want to try and create as many RP opportunities as possible, both in and out of combat, as well as encourage and reward creativity.

Other notes:
I’ve had this campaign planned out for a long time. It will begin with the Forgotten Forge, then will be a mixture of original plots and published adventures. Part of my stated goal is to feature every power group from the original Campaign Setting, so feel free to go nut with your backgrounds, because in the City of Towers, anything can happen and I want to keep you guessing.

Florence

O/O: I was going to make a barebones F-list as a rough summary, but then it logged me out and I lost my progress, so I made a VERY barebones F-list instead: Here.

Dakkon


Muse

Ooooh! 

ooh ooh ooh! 

I'll play. 

I'll send an aplication shortly.  Does anyone have a prefernce between a human female witch (Rhinda the Kissing Wind) and a shifter male wilder?  (Arslan.) 
A link for all of us who ever had a shouting match with our muse: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

How to set this Muse ablaze (O/Os)

When the little angel won't appear no matter how many plum blossoms you swirl:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=135346.msg16474321#msg16474321 (Major update 5/10/2023)

Thorne

Ooh. One of my favorite settings. I might have to see if I have anything in the character folder that would be useful.
Writer of horrors, artist of mayhem.

Currently available, frequently lurking.
Ons and Offs
Absences and Apologies
Ideas and inspirations: small groups

ManyMindsManyVoices

My first idea off the top of my head is a 'newborn' Warforged (or newly awakened), since I'm no longer familiar with Eberron (I know enough to be considered basic knowledge, and I know I've enjoyed the setting). I often prefer, upon playing new settings, to play characters with a lack of knowledge so I can explore the world in character.
My O/Os * Everyone should read 1/0

This is the Oath of the Drake. You should take it.

Empyrean

I'm not too familiar with Pathfinder, but I did read up on Eberron a while back and liked the setting. I'd be interested in playing. Would a Changeling psioncist work? I'm thinking a telepath off the top of my head. I could see him/her working undercover to help bust up the gangs. :)

Muse

  At the risk of abeting the competition, Empyrean--and anyone else--if you need some help with pathfinder send me a PM or IM. 
A link for all of us who ever had a shouting match with our muse: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

How to set this Muse ablaze (O/Os)

When the little angel won't appear no matter how many plum blossoms you swirl:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=135346.msg16474321#msg16474321 (Major update 5/10/2023)

ManyMindsManyVoices

My O/Os * Everyone should read 1/0

This is the Oath of the Drake. You should take it.

Muse

Quote from: Ryuka Tana on February 08, 2014, 04:18:54 PM
How do we determine our ability scores?

  :)  I second this question, though I'm already starting a history. 
A link for all of us who ever had a shouting match with our muse: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

How to set this Muse ablaze (O/Os)

When the little angel won't appear no matter how many plum blossoms you swirl:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=135346.msg16474321#msg16474321 (Major update 5/10/2023)

Dakkon


Dakkon

Quote from: Ryuka Tana on February 08, 2014, 02:54:41 PM
My first idea off the top of my head is a 'newborn' Warforged (or newly awakened), since I'm no longer familiar with Eberron (I know enough to be considered basic knowledge, and I know I've enjoyed the setting). I often prefer, upon playing new settings, to play characters with a lack of knowledge so I can explore the world in character.
That shouldn't actually be an issue, the only cannon I care about is 3.5, and the stuff Keith Baker's written about which is generally DM only anyhow. One of the newborns is a great idea though!

Quote from: Empyrean on February 08, 2014, 03:37:51 PM
I'm not too familiar with Pathfinder, but I did read up on Eberron a while back and liked the setting. I'd be interested in playing. Would a Changeling psioncist work? I'm thinking a telepath off the top of my head. I could see him/her working undercover to help bust up the gangs. :)
It could work, changelings do manifest telepathy occasionally, although they are rare. You'd likely need some sort of a tie to one of the plot hooks mentioned here.

Muse

#12
Rhidna the Wind's Kiss

   Rinda is the daughter of Rinaldi—a magewrite carpenter—and his wife Mili.  Her older brother, Donal, is her father's heir and shares his profession.  Her younger sister, Kimimi, is the darling of the family.  Like many middle children, Rinda was almost as ignored as she felt. 

   Around age 11, she brought home a pretty black cat—little more than a kitten—with sleek black fur and beautiful purple eyes.  Though her parents were sometimes concerned that she seemed to think the cat answered her when she talked to it, they were too pleased to see Rinda happy and occupied to worry.  They were doubly pleased to find she was studying—something?  Whatever it was, she was working hard—at both her private projects and her chores.  She gathered odd herbs, studied rare books,  and nursed wounded animals back to health.  They were a bit more concerned by some of her other projects.  After all, the practice of medicine was often a step away from the practice of alchemy at best!  Still, she managed not to start any major fires.  Tables could be replaced.  And really, the girl was so careful with her reagents, she probably just did it to get attention.  We shouldn't encourage that kind of behavior. 

   By the age of fifteen, Rinda was quietly in business for herself. She had found a patron in the House of Healing, from whom she acquired reagents and for whom she manufactured healing potions.  She also began acquiring clients for whom she made aphrodisiacs, love potions, medicines, and every other manner of convenient products of magic and alchemy.  Though she reinvested or saved most of her proceeds, she also began buying and making her own clothing.  Given that she had few friends beside her cat, and that her family largely ignored her—even when she caught fire to the dinner table!--and that she found herself suddenly developing an extremely pleasing physique, Rinda took to wearing the most outrageous and revealing fashions she could get away with! 

   This finally got her parent's attention, but it was a bit late.  Rinda was entirely too frustrated with her family to stay anywhere near them, and the scandalized looks and furious lectures she would have once savored now only angered her.  On her seventeenth birthday, she donned her most outragous outfit, packed a few bags, and walked calmly into the living room. 

   “I'm a witch,” she announced.  “I don't think anyone noticed.  If you ever miss me, I own my own shop, and I'll be living there from now on.” 

   Distinctly pleased with their slack jawed expressions, Rinda calmly walked out of the house and never looked back, her cat purring with pride as she followed. 

   Over the next year, Rinda made a tidy profit offering spell casting services, healing, and alchemy.  By the time she was eighteen, the house of healing was starting to look at her askance for cutting into their profits. It was rather petty, in truth.  The business she took from them was as a drop of water in the ocean, but her patron received orders from higher up to stop doing business with her.  Understanding how the dragonmarked houses worked, he strongly cautioned Rinda against aggravating them.  After some weeks of defiance, the young witch finally decided that her pride wasn't worth the censure she was receiving.  Even if they never sent assassins after her, Rinda knew full well that her magic was still young, and being denied the services of the house could ultimately be just as lethal.  Untreated consumption could kill as surely as an assassin, and take longer to do it!

   So she closed the doors to her shop, putting up a sign that in the future she would only work on commission and would soon announce which three hours a week she would be open.  She took a job with the city watch to earn a living, and—though she did continue to supplement her income with her trade—the house of healing was satisfied and lifted their sanctions. 
A link for all of us who ever had a shouting match with our muse: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

How to set this Muse ablaze (O/Os)

When the little angel won't appear no matter how many plum blossoms you swirl:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=135346.msg16474321#msg16474321 (Major update 5/10/2023)

Dakkon

Looks cool Muse! I've added one small thing to the background requirements that I forgot earlier... applicants must be of at least 23 years of age or the racial equivalent. Hopefully that doesn't mess with anyone's ideas too much.

Muse

Oh, okay. 

I was going to make her eighteen, but I can stretch out the time she spent before the House of Healing got fed up with her. 

  Out of curiosity, why?  Or would that be giving away a spoiler? 

  For that matter, what sort of erotic content--if any--might show up in this game? 
A link for all of us who ever had a shouting match with our muse: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

How to set this Muse ablaze (O/Os)

When the little angel won't appear no matter how many plum blossoms you swirl:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=135346.msg16474321#msg16474321 (Major update 5/10/2023)

ManyMindsManyVoices

Oh no, 15 points is so little... Alright, Cha and Wisdom are gonna suck hard... My idea is a recently created warforged that's been built with some psionic crystalline structures so he can be a soul knife.
My O/Os * Everyone should read 1/0

This is the Oath of the Drake. You should take it.

Dakkon

#16
I also just added the Hagborn (Paizo's Changeling), Merfolk, and Orc to available "monstrous" races. You should also consider how the War has effected your background... those influences will end up being a plot point.

Quote from: Muse on February 08, 2014, 11:59:25 PM
Oh, okay. 

I was going to make her eighteen, but I can stretch out the time she spent before the House of Healing got fed up with her. 

  Out of curiosity, why?  Or would that be giving away a spoiler? 

  For that matter, what sort of erotic content--if any--might show up in this game?
Mostly for a semblance of realism, although once you start getting into sexual RP with people under 20, my skin starts to crawl a bit. It also makes sure that they were adult-ish during the closing days of the Last War and would have been involved in it somehow.

Erotic content will definitely show up, but it really depends on what people want. Green Tower will end up getting in everyone's metaphorical dirty laundry, which may include some literal dirty laundry. I won't be going out of my way to give it to everyone though, if you want it, you'll have to work for it, just like real cops do (although being a cop might help in that regard). Non-Con may show up, but its strictly off limits for PCs since we are playing a heroic game.

Quote from: Ryuka Tana on February 09, 2014, 12:02:51 AM
Oh no, 15 points is so little... Alright, Cha and Wisdom are gonna suck hard... My idea is a recently created warforged that's been built with some psionic crystalline structures so he can be a soul knife.
Sounds like fun! It will definitely be a cool idea for this campaign.

Chloe Milev

Aaaah, I love Eberron, and a police procedural in Sharn is fantastic, plus Pathfinder.  I want to join!  So many ideas I've been toying with to try...
Ons and Offs
Discord chloe milev
FFXIV Sargatanas

Dakkon

Quote from: Chloe Milev on February 09, 2014, 09:28:16 AM
Aaaah, I love Eberron, and a police procedural in Sharn is fantastic, plus Pathfinder.  I want to join!  So many ideas I've been toying with to try...

I'm sure you'll find inspiration somewhere :)

As a complete and total aside, if anyone is looking for cool minis, I encourage you to back this Kickstarter: http://kck.st/19pSWEN

Zaer Darkwail

Nice! Eberron and Sharn are my favorite settings! I definitely roll a Cyran PoW who survived mourning thanks being in Sharn.

Dakkon

#20
Quote from: FallenDabus on February 09, 2014, 12:10:43 AM
Erotic content will definitely show up, but it really depends on what people want. Green Tower will end up getting in everyone's metaphorical dirty laundry, which may include some literal dirty laundry. I won't be going out of my way to give it to everyone though, if you want it, you'll have to work for it, just like real cops do (although being a cop might help in that regard). Non-Con may show up, but its strictly off limits for PCs since we are playing a heroic game.
Going to expand on this a little bit now that I'm not at work and have a little bit more time to think. Sexual content will definitely show up, as judged by people's interests. Sex and relationships are a huge part of the politics of every single Dragonmarked House, and that doesn't even scratch the surface of how the nobility acts. The key word there is relationships though. Erotic scenes will have their own consequences, just as surely as combat. There will some NPCs you pursue who won't give it up easily. There will be some who will be more than willing to. And there will be some who you won't want to if you're smart. Be careful who you take to bed  >:)

Also, when creating character, remember that you get action points. With that, I'm off to sleep due to my rather different time zone, so I'll get any questions in the morning  :-)

Roxy Rocket



      I'm kinda not clear on a couple of things.

      Is this game largely character / story driven or more plot / tactical combat scenarios?

      Is the point that we're a police procedural unit that goes the extra mile, or is that a frosting layer on the standard Dungeons and Dragons dynamic?

      Story flavor: What are the film or literary influences that you'd say define the game as you expect it to go?


Thorne

I'd be interested to hear the answer to Roxy's question myself.
In the meantime, it seems a good excuse to test the Inquisitor class, perhaps with a young Cannith, unmarked and a little bitter about it.. >.>
Writer of horrors, artist of mayhem.

Currently available, frequently lurking.
Ons and Offs
Absences and Apologies
Ideas and inspirations: small groups

Ghostwheel

Thinking of making a Warlord or Stalker--love me some interesting takes on martial characters, and they look great. Leaning towards Warlord at the moment, but I need to understand their various bits a bit more before I make a final decision.

Dakkon

Quote from: Roxy Rocket on February 09, 2014, 02:22:48 PM

      I'm kinda not clear on a couple of things.

      Is this game largely character / story driven or more plot / tactical combat scenarios?
Let's fix that then. I'd say more story driven, although there is a fair share of both. For the first two adventures, I'm adapting them out of the back of the original campaign setting and from Dungeon magazine, respectively so they may have a bit more combat, but I have a story I want to tell here so they will be adaptations.

      
Quote from: Roxy Rocket on February 09, 2014, 02:22:48 PM
Is the point that we're a police procedural unit that goes the extra mile, or is that a frosting layer on the standard Dungeons and Dragons dynamic?
The latter more than the former. You're a crime scene analysis/legal team that is designed to confront extraordinary (or in some cases sextraordinary) events. There will be adventuring, but the root of the story is a hybrid between private eyes and CSIs
      
Quote from: Roxy Rocket on February 09, 2014, 02:22:48 PM
Story flavor: What are the film or literary influences that you'd say define the game as you expect it to go?
I'll get to this one later today when I have a bit more time.

Hopefully that helps!

Quote from: Thorne on February 09, 2014, 02:55:41 PM
I'd be interested to hear the answer to Roxy's question myself.
In the meantime, it seems a good excuse to test the Inquisitor class, perhaps with a young Cannith, unmarked and a little bitter about it.. >.>
Hehehe... His/her life will get interesting pretty fast if you do that.