Thinking of running again: D&D, or Maid? [Humanoid Bondage/Consensual]

[frost rose]

I feel bad how late I spotted this, and for both of them at that—I absolutely adore Maid as a system, and while I've never done much with IK, it's always looked fairly interesting. So, I'm not positive exactly where things stand on openness—it doesn't look as though things are full up, but I want to ask anyhow. I'd be interested in joining both or either if there's space and approval, and could have concepts and suchlike up quickly enough.

[Kunoichi]

Oh yes, there's definitely space for both at the moment. ^^

Ah, as far as the Iron Kingdoms game goes, though, here are a few quotes from earlier in the thread containing important information:

As for Iron Kingdoms, clearly there are a few people who will have to miss out. My method for player selection will be "which characters do I personally like the idea of?", which is totally biased and partial but let's face it:
A. The more I like the characters, the more I'll enjoy the game so the more effort I'll put into it
and B. The closer our tastes are, the more likely we'll mesh and you'll like the game anyway.

And yeah, I'm okay with discussing IK stuff here even while Maid is still getting worked out. Do people want, for the ability scores:
1. 32 point-buy?
2. Me to roll a few different arrays and let you pick one?
3. The alternate point-buy thing where you buy them up from zero, 1-for-1 (so a 10 costs 10, an 18 costs 18) - but minimum of 8 still - with 75 points?

Likewise, what region are you interested in starting in, who do you want to antagonise, and do you want a modest start (level 3-5) where you clamber up to the top, or a more "We're already just about in crazy land!" approach where you're level 10, considered generals, and can really make things happen? I want to be pretty flexible here, basically.

[frost rose]

Thank you! That's more or less what I thought, but after five pages of various chatting, I don't like to just guess. I have a track record of ditziness as far as that sort of thing goes.

I will have to wait till tomorrow about speculating and offering more, though, as I'm about to pass out under the influence of painkillers. But after that, I promise I'll get around to posting ideas for, auditioning? I can't think of a better word at the moment.

[Missy]

I'm also interested in the maid thing, though I'm very new to dice games and am completely unfamiliar with either of these concepts.

If you've got the patience and if Kylie and show me where he/she found the maids rulebook I'd love to join up.

[frost rose]

Whee! I had forgotten exactly how fun making Maid characters is. You start rolling and the hilarity just doesn't stop. For instance, this time I started and halfway through I realised that except for eye colour and one or two things that I kinda fudged, I was rolling very perky maid demon Reimu. (Link very NSFW.) Stats and thoughts below the fold.

Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide

Akemi Shiratori

Athletics 2
Affection 2
Skill 3
Cunning 2
Luck 0
Will 3


Maid types: Pure; Heroine
Uniform colours: Black & purple
Eye colour: Red-yellow
Hair colour: Purple
Age: Appears 17

Special Qualities:

• Succubus
• Takes 1D6 Stress when resisting seduction.
• Recovers 1D6 Stress when willingly seduced or seducing another.
• Gains 1 extra favour when performing a dangerous or stressful action in a sexy manner.
• Onmyouji Miko

Maid Roots: Bridal training
Maid Power: 4D Dress
Weapon: Katana
Stress Explosion: Crying
Starting Spirit: 30
Starting Favour: 4

Appearance
For a soul-devouring demon of lust, Akemi is only modestly well-endowed, without the dangerous curves of most of her sisters, nor the easy predatory demeanour that accentuates them, driving men and women mad with desire. What she does have, however, she displays well. She stands at about average height, with a well-proportioned and toned figure that she constantly shows off, if only rarely intentionally so, her tail lifting her skirt, or her stretching framing her chest. Ironically, while she has an unconscious knack for displaying her body, the knack is only unconscious, her attempts to intentionally act sexy usually coming off as more earnestly comical than vampish. She otherwise keeps herself tidy and attractive, her purple hair neatly combed and silky around polished horns, wings and tail gleaming behind a immaculately kept uniform.

Personality
There was a time when the creature now called Akemi was a very good succubus, with all that entailed. Now sealed away and tamed, she was allowed to grow up a second time under the watchful eyes of the devout caretakers of the shrine where she had met her end. Under their care, she has developed into a dedicated and pious young woman, forthright and earnest, and always careful as well, as she is fully aware of her heritage and history, and not eager to return to her previous way of life. Underneath her dutiful exterior, she is as irritatingly perky at her core, a determined optimist who at least attempts to be friendly to those around her. A sometimes trying task that wears on even her, as despite her dedicated competence Akemi seems to attract the misfortune of everyone around her, and secretly she has even begun to despair that she'll end up endlessly an immortal shrine maiden, kept carefully away from public to avoid frightening or harming them between her lineage and her luck.

History
Nearly a decade ago, Akemi, known then by a different name, was a terror. Seducing men and women alike, dragging people into infernal compacts, and in general sowing chaos in her wake. Those that faced her openly fell to her wiles, and even those who attempted to struggle with her more esoterically found themselves weighed against a strong spiritual power. She was only finally defeated after having been lured into a shrine, where the head of the shrine attempted not to simply overpower her, but instead to use the heart of the shrine to purify her corrupted infernal essence, and to seal away her name.

Akemi thus cleansed was adopted by the shrine, serving and training as a miko. She still possessed a strong spiritual force, but she was now barely in control of it, her previous skills not suited towards the new flavour her spirit possessed, and mostly wiped from her mind besides. While she took ably to her new duties and practise, outside her studies she was not so fortunate. She was encouraged to make friends, and to extend herself beyond the shrine, eventually even to leave and follow her own path in life, but between her obvious demonic heritage, unable to be hidden even from those who didn't know of her history, and the way misfortune followed her like a malicious bird, her efforts brought mixed results. Especially as she developed into a young woman, her true nature leaking around the edges of the seals that kept it contained.

When people overlooked her inhuman nature, it was always with a hint of suspicion and reluctance, and she never did quite find a perfect fit. And being befriended because of her nature was no better. There were plenty to try sleeping with a mostly domesticated succubus, but no one considered her to be ideal girlfriend material. Worse still, very few even realised that was even important to her, assuming that she was just like any other succubus.

Hurt and a little despairing, Akemi did the only thing that came naturally to her. She finished crying, picked herself up, vowed to try harder. And so she had the head of the shrine arrange for her service as a maid, to train to be an ideal girlfriend. She was somewhat perturbed when she discovered that the only place that would have her that the shrine approved of involved a dungeon filled with undead, but Akemi is not going to let small details like that get in the way of proving all her peers wrong. 

As for the IK game, I've given it some thought, and I would propose a rogue/illusionist, with so far a backstory sketched out like so:

Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide

Ainsley has a dozen last names that she'll admit to. None of them are the one she was born with, but that's always seemed like a minor detail, and certainly not one important enough to bring up with most people she meets. It's not like she's all that hard to miss to begin with. She's short, barely scraping five feet, and she has the palest complexion most people have ever seen, her skin nearly transluscent. Her hair matches, white as snow and kept short, and her eyes are a sharp, clear blue, that gives way to grey or even a tinged violet colour depending on the light.

Her dress is as noticeable, her clothing worn and patched, a clashing mix of once-bright colours that have long since haded, topped by a battered hat that was fashionable a few years ago and in a city not anywhere close to here, the feather stuck in the band the only thing that doesn't look like it's older than she is. Occasionally she pulls a battered greatcoat about a size too large for her over the entire wardrobe, either when she's trying to conceal herself, or simply avoid the chill or rain.

She says to whoever's willing to listen that she's just about to replace the entire thing, she just needs to wait a little longer to scrape together the money for it, and if the person looks amiable enough, she'll add with a smile that she's taking donations. She's been saying the same for years, and she's convinced herself she actually means it too, if only she could hang on to the money for long enough to make it to a reputable tailor.

So far, she hasn't managed it. Even if she had any talent with holding on to her money, most of what she makes from the assorted entertainment, short cons, gambling, and prostitution she deals in goes to simply getting by. That which doesn't usually ends up vanishing while spending time with the friends she picks up as she wanders between cities.

And those she makes readily enough, her company god enough and her purse loose enough that there's always someone willing to share her table with her, even if she does attract trouble like a dog does fleas, and she makes angry victims or creditors just as easily, making sure she keeps moving despite her adeptness at finding a spot to fit in.

Something she is surprisingly good at. Despite normally lurking in the seedier parts of town, her manners are as fit and polished as anyone most people might ever meet, and she cleans up surprisingly well with access to a real bath and finer wardrobe. How she learned the nuances of a noble's table is something she has as many explanations for as she does last names, and none of them agree with the others.

Her penmanship is just as inexplicable, neat and flowing in a practised hand that no gutter trash would have picked up, and half the time used to take notes on her thoughts on her dabbling in the arcane.

More honest about her past, if no more informative, are the burn scars that decorate her leg and side, normally hidden by her clothes, and her aversion to small enclosed spaces.

Despite her prevarication when certain subjects come up, Ainsley remains for the most part a sincere, generally good-natured, if entirely amoral and opportunistic person. Friendly, but unreliable, and apt to leave a person with plenty of good memories, but an empty purse before she moves on.

By contrast, Ainsley Ravensgate was the second daughter and youngest of five children of a well off court wizard. Ethnically a Thurian, her father the august Roran Ravensgate had relocated himself and his family to Highgate to pursue his career. While he was nominally attached to the guild there, he only occasionally had dealings with them, instead for the most part working commercially for the nobility and the government.

It was his governmental connexions that in the end heralded his end. When the Lion's Coup came, Roran waffled, as did many of the less fervent supporters of King Vinter IV. While in the end he did throw his lot in with the usurper, it was late in, and only after providing tacit support to the old king.

It was a blow to his prestige and credibility, and though it took years for his enemies to move, it did give them the cover to do so when they finally did. Evidence was found or fabricated, and the estate raided and burned to the ground under charges of treason and practising the dark arts.

Ainsley was at the time her father's apprentice, the most gifted of his children. She was never to complete her studies, and was rather lucky to escape that night with her life, hidden away in a cabinet by a servant while the doors were being broken in. She almost died anyhow, suffocated by the smoke, and burned as she finally did flee after the party had slain her family and let the house to crumble into ash.

At least, as far as she's concerned, the years have gotten easier since then. While she's certain she has family left alive somewhere, she's not been able to find it. But she's managed to finish her schooling, uneven as it's turned out to be, and she's picked up all sorts of things she never would have studying dutifully at home. If only she could get her finances in order, she's fairly certain that she'd be set.

[Kunoichi]

Ooh, interesting character concept. ^^ Have you given any thought to feats and/or prestige classes, yet?  There's this one prestige class in Complete Mage called Unseen Seer that was practically tailor-made for a Rogue/Wizard multiclass...

[SomeGuy]

This could be amusingly awkward with family disappearing for supporting Vinter and my own disappearing because of Vinter.

[frost rose]

Thank you! I'm critical of myself in the best of times, and things I think up while lying in bed half asleep on painkillers I'm more iffy on than usual, so it's very nice to be validated.

And I haven't given too much thought to feats/prestige classes. I had almost settled on "Maybe somewhere between 9/11 to 13/7" as a plan for leveling. I had only just decided on taking a specialist, albeit to represent not so much a focus, as an incomplete and patchy education that just leaves gaps in certain spots. I've heard of Unseen Seer before, but I've never actually had an opportunity to look at the details, so I hadn't planned on using it. I'll try to scrounge up a copy and investigate.

[Kunoichi]

Well, the typical entry for Unseen Seer is Rogue (or Spellthief) 1/Wizard 4, and then Unseen Seer itself is a ten-level, full-casting prestige class that gives you 6+int skill points, a few boosts to your sneak attack, and knowledge of a few extra divination spells.  The entry requirements are fairly easy, too.

[TheGlyphstone]

Fun concept indeed.

I really hope the GM comes back soon, it's depressing being in a holding pattern like this with so many great ideas ready to start cranking out.

[Ershin]

Hmm. I'm beginning to wonder if it would be more appropriate or make more sense to play a Satyxis in forced servitude to protect civilisation rather than join her kin in various raids and such, rather than my original idea of one raised in that way away from her native culture.

At the very least it would be easier than trying to figure out how a young girl managed to get away from an island nation and be raised elsewhere, and probably in solitude considering the negative connotations and prejudice her race might bring.

[Kunoichi]

Well, there is the possibility that she's the daughter of someone who was rebelling against Satyxis tradition, but forced servitude could certainly also work.

Though, looking over their entry in the Monsternomicon, the first character idea that popped into my head was that of some wanderer who was out looking for a husband... ^^;

[Sethala]

Wish I had seen this thread sooner...

I'd love to join in on the Maid RPG, if there's still a slot.  I don't have access to my book at the moment, though, so I can't make up a character til tomorrow sometime.

[SomeGuy]

It's not first come first serve, and even if it was I think maid might still have a slot open.

Edit- Hey, Glyph. Warforged was brought up... but what about an awakened item? The Large Animated Object is only CR 3

[TheGlyphstone]

It's not first come first serve, and even if it was I think maid might still have a slot open.

Edit- Hey, Glyph. Warforged was brought up... but what about an awakened item? The Large Animated Object is only CR 3

It's also Mindless, which is against the entire point...

[kongming]

Sorry for delays - Mormons keep visiting, there's physiotherapy, other stuff etc.

Anyway, yes, the Warjack idea can work - my suggestion here is "Level == CR+1", and you don't spend your wealth on, well, yourself. That can go to extras.

So I will probably go with level 10, with you guys starting as major figures, 3 Minor Magic Items, 2 Moderate Magic Items.

Now, as for Maid: yes, there are certainly slots open. Akemi gets my approval, with the following optional Succubus traits:

• +1 Cunning (due to sexiness), -1 Luck (demons are known for being cursed with bad fortune)
• A succubus takes 1d6 Stress any time she attempts to resist Seduction - but by the same token, any time she seduces another or willingly goes along with a seduction attempt, she loses 1d6 Stress.
• A succubus may have sexy little horns or wings, or whiplike tail with a heart at the end. They don't particularly do much, though she could float in the air or use her body as a weapon in combat.
• When engaged in combat or other stressful/active/dangerous activity, if the Succubus does so in "a sexy, erotic manner" she automatically gains 1 extra Favour.

But yes. Once we get another finished character or two for Maid, I can start that game off.

[TheGlyphstone]

Sorry for delays - Mormons keep visiting, there's physiotherapy, other stuff etc.

Anyway, yes, the Warjack idea can work - my suggestion here is "Level == CR+1", and you don't spend your wealth on, well, yourself. That can go to extras.

Cool nuggets and sauce, though I'm uncertain if a top-grade cortex counts as an 'extra' (the way pneumatic vents, reflex boosts, or an improved engine/extra armor would) or if I can just start with it. Do we have standard WBL for level 10, plus the 3 minor magic and 2 moderate magic items? Or is that supposed to replace WBL?

[SomeGuy]

It's also Mindless, which is against the entire point...

It's a mindless construct though, which can be awakened.

[TheGlyphstone]

It's a mindless construct though, which can be awakened.

By a 9th level spell. Does the Iron Kingdoms setting even have any 17th-level clerics or wizards?

Also, I want to be a robot, not furniture.

[SomeGuy]

Yes, a fair few high level wizards actually. The head of the guild in Ceryl is 20th level and one of the people it quotes was over 20th, those two are just off the top of my head.

I bring it up because I remember seeing Warjacks with a good cortex described as more 'low-type intelligence' where they're good at following orders but not good at making any decisions.

[TheGlyphstone]

Yes, a fair few high level wizards actually. The head of the guild in Ceryl is 20th level and one of the people it quotes was over 20th, those two are just off the top of my head.

I bring it up because I remember seeing Warjacks with a good cortex described as more 'low-type intelligence' where they're good at following orders but not good at making any decisions.

Which is strange, because there are humans stupider than an Arcanum Cortex with its Int 10.

[SomeGuy]

Well, that's why I said 'low-type' intelligence instead of just 'stupid'

[TheGlyphstone]

The way Liber Mechanika describes them, high-grade cortex jacks aren't very creative and tend to lack initiative, but when given a command, they can be 'fiendishly clever' in figuring out a way to accomplish their instructions.

[SomeGuy]

Ah, yeah. That's it. So, more or less what I said. Good at carrying out ideas, and coming up with clever ways to do so, but no good at coming up with the initial idea. But if you're okay with that then it's all good.

[Kunoichi]

Alright, I guess it's time to bring up my questions again... ^^;

So, having had some time now to familiarize myself with the Tomes' material (and liking quite a bit of what I've seen,) I'm finding myself thinking over the build I'll be using if kongming likes the character concept I've submitted to her.  Given the size and stat increases, I figure I'll wind up with more of a 'melee powerhouse with some extra options' type of character than anything else.  That said, I do have some questions...

First things first, I'm looking over the Knockback feat from Races of Stone.  Looking over its prerequisites, Juggernaut from the Tomes seems to have the same general effect on bull rush checks as Improved Bull Rush, but there isn't really any equivalent for the other prerequisite feat, Power Attack.  Would you allow me to use Juggernaut in place of Improved Bull Rush, kongming?  And also, did I somehow miss whichever feat was intended to replace Power Attack, or will I simply have to take both it and Knockback for my feats? (Have since been informed that Power Attack is an attack option.)

My third question involves a few feats found on the sidebar on page 15 of Dragons of Eberron, called Half-Dragon Form and Hidden Strength.  They allow a dragon with the alternate form ability to better defend itself while in disguise, though not in a way that would make it stronger while disguised than it would be while revealed.  However, they also have 'Sorcerer level 5th' as a prerequisite.  My question for these feats is, since the Silver Dragon monster class has no innate sorcerer casting, could I replace 'Sorcerer level 5th' with the 'Improved Alternate Form' ability gained at 9th level?

Though, having looked over the feats in the Tome of Awesome since first asking the third question, I think I've managed to combine the feats that I want together with a few extras to create a nice Tome-style feat for a dragon to have...

Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide

Alternate Form [Combat, Dragon]

You learn to hide your draconic nature without leaving yourself completely defenseless.

Prerequisites: Dragon monster class.

+0: You gain the Alternate Form supernatural ability (Medium or smaller humanoid only, hit dice of chosen form cannot exceed your own) and can use it three times per day.

If you already have the Alternate Form ability, you gain access to the alternate forms given in parentheses above and can use the ability three additional times per day.

+1: When you use your Alternate Form ability to take the form of a Medium or smaller humanoid, you also gain the following abilities:

- +4 natural armor.

- Natural weapon: one bite (1d6 for a Medium creature, 1d4 for Small).

- Breath weapon: You can use your usual breath weapon, if you have one.  However, the area of the effect is halved (round down).

- Physical ability scores are set to Strength 18, Dexterity 10, Constitution 12, or to your true form's physical ability scores, whichever is lower.  These are modified by the standard racial modifiers of the apparent race, but these bonuses cannot provide you with physical ability scores greater than what you possess in your true form.

+6: When using your Alternate Form ability to take the form of a Medium or smaller humanoid, you receive up to a +8 bonus to Strength and a +4 bonus to Constitution; these bonuses cannot provide you with a Strength or Constitution score greater than what you possess in your true form.  You also gain extra natural weapons: two claws (1d4 for a Medium creature, 1d3 for Small).

+11: When using your Alternate Form ability to take the form of a Medium or smaller humanoid, you receive up to a +8 bonus to Strength and a +4 bonus to Constitution that stacks with the bonuses granted above; these bonuses cannot provide you with a Strength or Constitution score greater than what you possess in your true form.  You also gain the ability to fly at twice your assumed form's base land speed (maximum 120 ft.) with average maneuverability, and extra natural weapons: two wing attacks (1d3 for a Medium creature, 1d2 for Small).

+16: When using your Alternate Form ability to take the form of a Medium or smaller humanoid, you receive up to a +8 bonus to Strength and a +4 bonus to Constitution that stacks with the bonuses granted above; these bonuses cannot provide you with a Strength or Constitution score greater than what you possess in your true form.  You also gain Spell Resistance equal to your Hit Dice + 11, and an extra natural weapon: one tail slap (1d6 for a Medium creature, 1d4 for Small).  You retain your Frightful Presence, if you have one, however the area of effect is halved (round down).