Author Topic: Pathfinder Interest Check: Crimson Throne (Read 12984 times)

kckolbe · « **on:** December 10, 2014, 08:31:30 pm »

I'm considering GMing a Pathfinder game for a small group (3-5 players). The adventure would be the Crimson Throne adventure path from paizo, which I have never run but have read through a couple of times. There are a couple of things you should know about me as a potential GM.

1) I'm not a particularly great GM. I am still working on describing scenes with more detail and just generally lacking when it comes to the "fluff" that really sets the mood.

2) I am not particularly in tune with Golarion (the Pathfinder world).

If still interested, I am looking for a small group of players to run an adventure path with, starting at 2nd level. I know 1st is recommended, but I encourage non-standard groups and character concepts and don't like seeing tedious, inspect every room type of quests, so there's a free head start.

I am thinking of the group working for a "service-based" organization in a major city (Korvosa, most likely), that also dabbles in mercenary work.

25 point buy, anything paizo for rules.

I would want all of the characters to have at least one skill point invested in some kind of service-oriented skill, like perform or profession, which would be a form of cover.

I'd like to stay away from any concepts (including races) that might scare off potential customers. Exotic is fine, just not unnecessarily intimidating or unsettling. A half-orc guard, for example, would need a fair bit of diplomacy to make people feel comfortable.

For alignment, I'd like an overall neutral group. I should point out that the city of Korvosa has an extremely lawful bent.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Jaded · « **Reply #1 on:** December 10, 2014, 11:29:55 pm »

Potentially interested, though I'll have to think of a character concept that includes a profession.

Black Howling · « **Reply #2 on:** December 10, 2014, 11:55:48 pm »

Potentially interested as well. I have a concept, and one that includes both a profession and performance bent. >_> What can I say, mine generally lean toward that style as it's good background material anyhow.

I'll see if I can work something up.

One question, by neutral do you mean true neutral or are all of the 'neutral' alignments okay?

Pumpkin Seeds · « **Reply #3 on:** December 10, 2014, 11:57:06 pm »

Interested as well if time allows.

Chulanowa · « **Reply #4 on:** December 11, 2014, 12:33:07 am »

Always interested!

indarkestknight · « **Reply #5 on:** December 11, 2014, 12:48:50 am »

Shoot. I'm not sure I have a character concept off-hand that would fit a service-based occupation.

Hm. Would Knowledge skills qualify, perhaps, for a character that is a tutor?

I'm starting to coalesce something, so I'll go ahead and ask - feelings on synthesist summoners? Feelings on, say, LE PCs? Or at least LN PCs that have no issues with devils?

... Well, first I'd better download the Crimson Throne Player's guide to get a better idea of what would and wouldn't fit, shouldn't I.

Thorne · « **Reply #6 on:** December 11, 2014, 12:58:49 am »

Interested.

Not sure what I would play, precisely, but definitely interested.

kckolbe · « **Reply #7 on:** December 11, 2014, 03:08:28 am »

Glad to see all of the interest so far!

To answer some questions:

Appraise, Craft, Perform, Knowledge, Profession, Handle Animal, Heal, and Linguistics all have commercial value as skills. Hell, spellcasting by itself has value. Prostitution requires little training or a certain class. I *hate* saying this, but I am going to be completely arbitrary when it comes to judging whether or not the character is "commercially viable." Basically, I want a group of characters that make sense as part of one company, and I want to see some effort toward making the character fun as opposed to powerful.

Korvosa is LN, with the lawful being the most important. I'd like to see some variance in alignment, but no zealots or overly chaotic types as neither really fit.

As for classes, I'm not crazy about summoners, but I don't feel like saying no to them. If you can be patient with an inexperienced GM lacking a bit of natural talent, I can at least not be a dick about published, playtested rules.

Teo Torriatte · « **Reply #8 on:** December 11, 2014, 03:54:31 am »

I'm interested if there is still room.

Muse · « **Reply #9 on:** December 11, 2014, 03:55:59 am »

As am I.

So, we're all trying to be part of the same buisness ?

Perhaps we're performers of some sort? Even run a theater?

VonDoom · « **Reply #10 on:** December 11, 2014, 07:03:55 am »

I ... was just going to mention the same, a Swashbuckler is something I've been wanting to try for awhile. A witty speaker, banter and charm and fast swordplay make for a fine presentation anywhere!

VonDoom · « **Reply #11 on:** December 11, 2014, 07:36:53 am »

Aye, could be siblings, even, if they're a suitable racial combo. Though that would probably make it more difficult in regards to approval if they were set up like that in advance.

I was thinking of trying that rapier specialist archetype.

kckolbe · « **Reply #12 on:** December 11, 2014, 07:45:59 am »

All the characters will be part of the same business, yes. The nature of the business depends on char submissions.

Standard 2 for traits, no drawbacks. For HP, just take half+1 at all levels.

No issues with blind. I've had you in games before, Blinkin, and already knew that about you.

I like the idea of two swashbucklers. Good for flavor and not recommended for group dynamics, so sounds perfect to me!

kckolbe · « **Reply #13 on:** December 11, 2014, 08:58:20 am »

Not familiar with that trait, but as long as both fit Korvosa, they don't need to be campaign-specific.

Thorne · « **Reply #14 on:** December 11, 2014, 11:20:52 am »

Hrm. This might be a good place to test the Urban Druid I've had nibbling around the corners of my brain.
Pest control, animal trainer, or so. >.>

... actually, animal trainer might work well with a theatre setup, if that's what is being aimed for.

kckolbe · « **Reply #15 on:** December 11, 2014, 11:23:10 am »

It doesn't have to be performance-based at all. A professional animal trainer could be of use without that. Druids are rare in the city, but a druid that was comfortable in a crowded city and that could train exotic pets would be able to make money.

MiraMirror · « **Reply #16 on:** December 11, 2014, 11:27:15 am »

I kind of want to make a character with a pre-established link to someone else's...Blurgh.

kckolbe · « **Reply #17 on:** December 11, 2014, 11:28:54 am »

Definitely possible. Char concepts should be appearing here over the next couple of days. Feel free to toss out connection ideas.

Black Howling · « **Reply #18 on:** December 11, 2014, 11:33:29 am »

With the rush of interest I think I'll politely withdraw. I'm not as likely to be able to meaningfully participate as these others, especially considering the other projects I'm head deep in working on.

Best of luck everyone!

Thorne · « **Reply #19 on:** December 11, 2014, 11:40:13 am »

Train them - and calm them without harming them, if something nasty gets loose. A good trainer has a lot of flex that way. And sidejobs abound, in cities - rat problems? What rat problems? >.>

She gets hazard pay for quieting rampaging lions, right? ;p

VonDoom · « **Reply #20 on:** December 11, 2014, 02:41:30 pm »

Wasn't there an 'adopted' racial trait or some-such that let you take one from another race?

Andi · « **Reply #21 on:** December 11, 2014, 03:19:14 pm »

Interested. Need to think of a concept - have we interested parties settled on the theater company as angle for cover?

MiraMirror · « **Reply #22 on:** December 11, 2014, 04:29:44 pm »

Blinkin, pick up the Heirloom Weapon trait with Exotic Weapon: Bladed Scarf.

That can give you proficiency with it.

Ixy · « **Reply #23 on:** December 11, 2014, 05:02:03 pm »

Are we going to go with the concept of the group being professional performers? I rather like the idea of being a show-company-- a vaudeville type revue-- with a theater as their base, and acting as mercenaries or adventurers behind the scenes (literally).

I could imagine almost any class behind the scenes, and for a front being either: a) fortune teller, b) dancer, c) animal tamer, d) carpenter, and any combination of the above. Working on it.

MiraMirror · « **Reply #24 on:** December 11, 2014, 05:33:25 pm »

I asked about that before, Blinkin, and the common explanation is that it's a 5' weapon, still deals the damage upon being grappled, does 1d6 damage, and is exotic. It has the disarm/trip features, I believe, and does 1d6 slashing damage. It's also a two-handed weapon. I was going to use one, and I came across the same stuff.

It's up to the DM, but what I've typed is the more common, "up-to-date" version.