I've been considering this for a while. I want to GM a Pathfinder game (Initially I was tempted to do a one shot like 'We be Goblins' first) but figured that I'd go whole hog instead.
Skull & Shackles
There's adventure to be had on the high seas when a group of press-ganged strangers seizes a ship and becomes embroiled in the plots and politics of the Shackles—an infamous island chain dominated by pirate warlords. But as these new swashbucklers make names for themselves, rival scalawags, enemy navies, legendary sea monsters, and the infamous Hurricane King himself seek to see them walk the plank. Who will survive when there's glory to plunder?
Setup:
Character Creation: 25 Point Buy, starting out as 1st level PCs. Max Hp for 1st level. Starting Wealth: Random.
Advancement: Medium
Character Races: Any of the Core Races, MOST of the Featured Races and talk to me about the Uncommon. (Drow, Fetchling, Goblins/Hobgoblins are out). Racial Abilities/Traits/Archetypes will be discussed on a case by case basis.
Alignments: No Evil alignments and given the players will be pirates Lawful types will have a very very hard time justifying.
Classes: Most are allowed, no summoners please. Ask about Archetypes.
Traits: 2, look into the Skull & Shackle's Player Guide for campaign setting specific types.
Skills to Consider:
Profession (Sailor), Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate. (All good 'piratey' skills). Knowledge (Engineering), Craft (sails), (ships), (siege weapons), Knowledge (local), Profession (Cook), (Siege Engineer) and Swim (are all good choices).
Suggested Sources:
Pathfinder SRD, Skull & Shackle's Player's Guide (It's free on the paizo site)
NO 3rd PARTY Sources.I'm looking for 5 to 6 players, and would like some characters that could mesh and no SILLY types. Feel free to add in a backstory on the players wound up in Port Peril in the Shackle Isles.
Skull & Shackles Characters
Characters of almost any race or class can be found in the melting pot of the Shackles, so long as they have a reason to embrace a life of piracy. In fact, the only class that is probably not a good fit for the Skull & Shackles Adventure Path is the paladin, whose alignment restriction and code of conduct are in direct opposition to the themes of piracy and plunder in this campaign.
Archetypes: A number of archetypes are especially suitable for use in the Skull & Shackles Adventure Path. The following archetypes from the Pathfinder RPG Advanced Player’s Guide are all good choices: aquatic druid (druid); rake, swashbuckler, thug (rogue); sea singer (bard); and water elementalist (wizard). The tempest druid archetype from Pathfinder Player Companion: Inner Sea Magic is also a good fit, while Pathfinder Player Companion: Pirates of the Inner Sea offers the buccaneer (bard), corsair (fighter), freebooter (ranger), and smuggler (rogue) archetypes. From Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Combat, the cad (fighter), daredevil (bard), pirate (rogue), and sea reaver (barbarian) archetypes all complement the themes of this Adventure Path, as do the sea witch (witch), shark shaman (druid), and storm druid (druid) archetypes from Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Magic.
Bloodlines: The elemental (water) bloodline is a solid choice for a sorcerer in the Skull & Shackles Adventure Path, as is the aquatic bloodline or stormborn bloodline from the Advanced Player’s Guide.
Domains: Clerics, druids, and inquisitors that have some connection to the sea make a perfect fit for the Skull & Shackles Adventure Path. Details on Besmara—goddess of piracy, strife, and sea monsters—can be found in Pathfinder Adventure Path #55. Good domain choices include Charm, Liberation, Luck, Travel, Trickery, Water,and Weather, and useful subdomains include Curse, Deception, Oceans, Revolution, Storms, and Thievery. In addition, druids might be interested in the aquatic terrain domain from Ultimate Magic.
Favored Enemies and Terrains: Good favored enemy choices for rangers in the Skull & Shackles Adventure Path include aberration, humanoid (giant), monstrous humanoid, and in particular, humanoid (human). For favored terrains, water would be the obvious choice.
Additional Rules:
Firearms: We are at the Emerging Guns level. That is.. Early Firearms are available but advanced firearms are rare.
Party:
Players:
-Katherine Hayes (apostateCourier): Human(Chelaxian) Female, Alchemist 1, Job:
-Ionnia Tivalt (Muse): Human (Taldan) Female, Wizard(Evoker) 1, Job:
-Berianna Brown (vim26m): Half Orc Male, Monk 1, Job:
-Jacob Howl (Isengard): Human (Chelaxian) Female, Gunslinger(Buccaneer) 1, Job:
-Lantis Everleaf (Blinkin): Half-Elf Male, Rogue (Swashbuckler)
-Umiko (Katina Tarask): Kitsune Female, Witch (Hedge Witch) 1, Job:
-Mahle Odhiel (Ixy): Half Orc Female, Druid (Aquatic) 1, Job:
Game Threads:
Character ThreadSkull & Shackles: OOCSkull & Shackles: Book 1
