Pathfinder Gothic - Recruiting [Fantasy, Supernatural, Horror]

[persephone325]

Don't know how I missed this in my search for Pathfinder games. Thank you for linking me, Fire! ^^

So, I usually like to play classes that aren't straight up humans. Like Elves, Halflings, etc. What's considered human? What's considered monster? What's considered metahuman? And what's off limits, race wise? (Sorry for so many questions.)

[firepyre]

@Indarkestknight: If you can pitch me a good enough concept, I'll allow it, but you'll have a far easier time with something lower magic.

@Ebadger: Nice write up. I'm a little concerned about the twins being a bit too pornographic, which is something I'd rather play down, but the concept is pretty good. The phantom probably falls more into the monster bracket than human though, and I can see it causing some tension, which isn't a bad thing, just something to take into consideration. Also, you'll be deciding a leader among yourselves, if at all, and it certainly wont be Odric. That's easy enough to fix later though.

@Miso: If you can find somebody willing to hold the leash, then you might have something, but it's definitely a concept you'll need to work closely with someone else on.

@Persephone: Humans are straight human. They'll be a good majority of what you encounter during the game. They're not exactly the nicest bunch. Metahumans are Elves, dwarves, drow, orcs, etc. They tend to keep to their own kind in the same way the humans do, and most humans have never seen one, but they're out there. Monsters are basically your traditional horror tropes, plus a few others(goblins, dhampirs, and tieflings would be considered monsters). They're pretty much universally disdained, and tend to evoke fear or hatred from the general populace.


On a more general note, I'd like to see a few more male concepts. Not forcing you, but if you're on the fence... Also, I'll aim to post the Character Creation details later today.

[persephone325]

I had an idea for a Dhampir Druid that I made for a campaign a few years ago that never started, but I doubt that would fit well in this idea. lol

Hmm. I like playing with magic, though.

[eBadger]

@Ebadger: Nice write up. I'm a little concerned about the twins being a bit too pornographic, which is something I'd rather play down, but the concept is pretty good. The phantom probably falls more into the monster bracket than human though, and I can see it causing some tension, which isn't a bad thing, just something to take into consideration. Also, you'll be deciding a leader among yourselves, if at all, and it certainly wont be Odric. That's easy enough to fix later though.

Thank you!  They're twins because I intend to play up the light v dark/compassion v hatred/Jekyll and Hyde angle.  They're virgins because nuns.  I can see where that hits some kink points and I suppose I'm open to where the game goes, but she's here to cleanse some evil, not for snu-snu (that would have been my sex cult paladin  )

The phantom mechanics give the option to have the ghost tucked away in her head, so while I definitely see some potential role play tension, she's not going to be walking through town casually with a spirit at her side. 

No worries who the leader is.  I don't see her as a blind follower, but neither would she feel the need to lead.  I pictured Odric as more of the organizer than the team captain from your description. 

[persephone325]

Possibly thinking of an Android that was created for the purpose of protecting her master against the creatures. But failed, and now seeks vengeance against them?

Or, my Dhampir idea; a woman who knows of the disdain humans have for her and seeks to prove herself to her companions and that not all monsters are bad. She actually likes humans, and tries to be friendly with them.

I have other ideas, but those two jumped out at me.

[1651Leviathan]

It seems like most of the interest is directed at monsters, so I'll be looking at humans, or perhaps a demi-human...

Currently, my thoughts are either an alchemist, a gunslinger, or perhaps some sort of arcanist if I end up with a demo-human. We'll see.

[persephone325]

The Discord invite doesn't work. At least not for me.

Also, leaning towards my Android idea. Would that be something feasible?

[firepyre]

Possibly thinking of an Android that was created for the purpose of protecting her master against the creatures. But failed, and now seeks vengeance against them?

Or, my Dhampir idea; a woman who knows of the disdain humans have for her and seeks to prove herself to her companions and that not all monsters are bad. She actually likes humans, and tries to be friendly with them.

I have other ideas, but those two jumped out at me.

I've already turned down one android. They're just a little too out there for this particular setting. After some thought, however, a Dhampir might be ok. You're probably better off downplaying the vampire aspect, and having her pass for almost human(kind of like Blade, I suppose). You could also contend for one of the monster spots, and have her more or less captive if you prefer, but there's a fair bit of interest in playing monsters, and I'd prefer something a tad more insidious for those role, rather than just misunderstood.


Forgot to set the discord link not to expire. Try this one:
https://discord.gg/DJzuD5V

[persephone325]

I've already turned down one android. They're just a little too out there for this particular setting. After some thought, however, a Dhampir might be ok. You're probably better off downplaying the vampire aspect, and having her pass for almost human(kind of like Blade, I suppose). You could also contend for one of the monster spots, and have her more or less captive if you prefer, but there's a fair bit of interest in playing monsters, and I'd prefer something a tad more insidious for those role, rather than just misunderstood.


Forgot to set the discord link not to expire. Try this one:
https://discord.gg/DJzuD5V

Oh, I apologize. I must have missed that.

Perhaps I'll think on it, and come up with a different idea.

Thank you for the link! ^^

[firepyre]

Character creation guidelines:

Starting level: 10
HP: Max hp first level, and rolled thereafter.
Stats: 12pt buy
Starting wealth: Start with all relevant gear, as well as any other possessions relevant to backstory. Gold will not be being tracked. No magic items except by GM approval.
Allowed sources: All paizo, 3rd party by GM approval
Races: Any. Races that cannot pass for human will experience social prejudice. Monsters may be subject to open hatred, and even violence.
Classes: Humans may not select arcane classes with 2/3 or better spell progression(lvl 6+ spells), with the exception of alchemist. Meta-humans may not select full progression casters, or paladins. Monsters may select any class except cleric, warpriest, or paladin. Magic users not related to the church may face persecution for witchcraft. Psychic classes accepted on a case by case basis only.


Let me know if I've missed, or need to clarify anything. I've tweaked the class restrictions a little since the opening post. The point buy is intentionally low, to keep stats relatively balanced in comparison to other options. Allocate wisely.

[eBadger]

Clara and Melanie
Human Spiritualist (and Phantom)
Character Sheet

Appearance:
Clara is a human spiritualist, dark haired and pale skinned.  She is in her mid twenties, tall, lithe, and strong, scarred and battle hardened.  The ghost of her twin sister Melanie seems almost identical, if darker and disquieting, outlined with an aura of shadow. 

Personality:
While both are driven, Clara has always been the calmer of the two; soft spoken, contemplative and polite, even friendly despite her distrust.  Melanie is more emotional, usually suspicious, angry and mean spirited. 

Background:
Hate the demon.  Hate the cursed.  But most of all, hate the betrayer. 

Clara and Melanie, twin sisters, were left as children on the steps of the Black Abbey; taken as wards of the church, they were trained as Vestal Virgins of the Midnight Order, sworn to find and destroy heresy against the One Church.  They served faithfully, dedicating their bodies, minds and souls to the greater good.  With quiet pride they helped burn witches, eradicate the cursed and break heretics into conversion. 

Their dedication was not unnoticed.  They were approached by one of the elders, on behalf of the Abbess herself, to join a cabal within the Order.  The Twilight Circle was dedicated to the legacy of the Order's martyrs; not only to honor them, but to resurrect champions to annihilate the forces of darkness.  Firm in their righteousness and armored with their faith, these chosen Sisters delved into knowledge that might corrupt weaker souls. 

However, their own weakness was not their undoing.  As the cabal grew in power, the Abbess became jealous; even paranoid.  Finally in reach of their goal, the Circle gathered together in the abbey crypts on the Longest Night beneath the eclipsed twin moons, and were betrayed.  Most were killed in the battle with the rest of their own Order; those who surrendered were executed brutally.  Only a few survived the slaughter, fleeing through the catacombs as Melanie stayed behind to guard the tunnel. 

The energies of the necromantic ritual were not dispersed, however, and they found a focus in Melanie's hatred.  When she finally fell, pierced and bloody, she seemed to rise again rimed in darkness and half transparent to begin fighting anew.  It took the Abbess herself, armed with an ancient relic blade, to finally dispel the apparition.  Even then, the martyred Melanie fled through the ether to her sister, tethered in a state of undeath. 

Her faith shattered, life destroyed and mind haunted by the ghost of her sister, Clara struggled to survive.  Even destitute and starving, though, she was drawn to hunt down every rumor of a vile thing.   Encountering Odric was inevitable, and joining his group was natural.  The Abbess hasn't attempted to hunt down Clara since.  The Circle's power was already broken and public condemnation could easily lead to scandal and accusations.  Clara and Melanie have sworn to take vengeance, but their hatred burns deep and quiet; for now, they continue the crusade against evil which they have been dedicated to since childhood.

[Chulanowa]

Definitely going human; I just have to decide on whether I want to go hunter /ranger, or cleric / inquisitor. Basic backstory will be the same; she's a survivor of a destroyed village who's taken up her class as a method to "get back," while striving to prevent others from suffering hte fate of her own people.

Question on religion mechanics; since there's only the one faith in the setting, are domains super-restricted, or are they free for all?

[firepyre]

I won't be restricting domains. I'll leave it to you to tell what's appropriate and what's not for yourself.

[Ixy]

Here is an application for a human monk character for your review.  While exotic for the flavor of the world setting, I feel that an outsider monk's detached calm and foreign ways could add a new perspective to a group of monster-hunters; despite not being a creature of the night, she represents an old world that no longer exists and is equally dedicated to arresting the corruption in this world as any other.

 

Background: Sha'Eth came squalling into in the world in the belly of a privateer's ship during a night-time storm somewhere in The Shackles, as the ship groaned and pitched with surges and wind.  Her mother wept that her child should be born out into chains, the child of an unknown and unwilling father, the child of violence and hatred owned by some Chelaxian Lord who would counted hands of his workers, not faces, not souls.  Bound for a sugar plantation, she was raised in scorching suns and fields until she could walk, and then she worked, and grew by labor.

She came to know the ways of peoples strange to her birth mother, came to speak the strange tongues of masters and fellow workers with no school, no home but a bunkhouse, no rest but shade and a well from the noon-day sun, learning in secret the strange dances, rituals, lores, and myths of these motley people who shared common chains.  They were her family, and they imparted upon her secrets... secrets of focus, of self-discipline, and of arts they had brought from their homelands.  The speech of dragons rolled from her tongue, though she could not imagine a beast so large, old, and wise as the rock-mountains themselves.

One grandfatherly worker taught her and her fellow children what he knew and developed with his legs tethered by chain of a new form of play... a sort of stick-dancing he was working on to pass the long hours between dusk and sleep.  He taught them this new method of bodily movement using percussive poles to beat a rhythm, as they had only their voices and crude drums to keep time.  Sha'eth mimicked the man's stances and motions in the sands by bonfire-light, learning better than any other child, seeming to find peace and freedom in that chanting and dancing and the clacking of sticks.

Her Chelaxian masters tolerated the harmless entertainment of their slaves... what harm could come from this?  They were singing, they were dancing-- it was entertaining to see these primitive people perform their crude ritual of dance, something beautiful and passionate and soothing about it... but they realized too late that the youths were being trained.  Disciplined.  That the bamboo poles that clacked so rhythmically and prettily were more effective than a blade in capable hands, and that despite the chains linking their feet, they had learned mobility in combat... and so when the Chelaxian masters cracked their whips and sought to divide the family-- to sell some, to ship some to other labors, to have fun with some of the budding, healthy beauties, there was an uprising-- and these primitives fought back like a militia.

She knew freedom, and it was weeks before reinforcements arrived-- by then they had bartered with the pirates of the Shackles with reclaimed goods, wealth, sugar, and even service to navigate passage throughout the realm.  They found the old cloisters where monks were trained, and the Chelaxians had to write off this loss as a lesson in humility.  Sha'el and her mother lived in such a temple, studying and improving the ways as the darkness outside grew, and defending their temple's grounds against the horrors that spilled more, each autumn, upon the land.  She came to know the hell of the dark waters, the night beasts-- the sinking of the ships and the cries of the damned.

When the temple fell, it was from within; corruption reached their order, and the monks who had not been tainted sought to preserve their ways as they had a generation before... they would be seeds, seek their destinies in the world, and found new temples where they could.  Perhaps, one day, they would return to the old lands and return the balance, but this is not that day.  The land writhes with beasts beyond understanding, and Sha'el, placeless, without her people, set out to wander the cold world, fighting back whatever evils she found, seeking The Way in a world of monsters.

Appearance: Sha'el is human, but her heritage is unclear-- her olive-hued skin is a shade less fair than her hazel eyes, a contrast made more stark by her extraordinarily long, thick, and surprisingly silvery-white hair.  Her features are pretty, though she accentuates them without the traditional powders and rouges of the land's common women, instead marking her face, hands, and feet in the traditional fashion of her people-- with a thick paint of natural plant and berry oils staining her with red henna that crisscrosses her forehead, her hands, and her thighs in bold, primal lines.  She carries herself with easy grace, treading barefoot or bare-armed when weather permits, and her figure is chiseled with lean muscle under complementing feminine curves, making her seem almost alien in her predatory beauty.

Personality: Unaccustomed, still, to the mores of social custom, she may strike others as 'aloof', perhaps even hostile in that she tends to square up to everyone she meets.  The exception, one learns with observation, is among those of positional authority or regal bearing; among these people, she habitually withdraws, yielding the way carefully and deferring with her lack of gaze.  However, should she be challenged or threatened by authority, a dangerous reaction takes place-- her placid face hardens, her jaw tenses, and her eyes narrow.  Clearly, her mastery of her negative emotions is most challenged when someone thinking himself, or herself, "her better" attempts to bully or confront her, even in trivial matters. 

Aside from this potentially hazardous flaw, she is genial-- grasping for humor where it can be found, and finding joy in simple amusements and the company of others.  She longs for the company of others, knowing that The Way is a path that must be walked alone for many miles, but that the company one finds along the way can make the journey more vivid and enlightening.  She is open to new experiences, but does not stray from her code; order must be maintained, peace comes at a price, and the way to one's self is through service, not consumption.

[firepyre]

Golgarion references aside, it's a good backstory. I'd like to see a short description of her personality, and maybe appearance to supplement the picture, but otherwise she's just the sort of thing I'm looking for.

[Ixy]

Golgarion references aside, it's a good backstory. I'd like to see a short description of her personality, and maybe appearance to supplement the picture, but otherwise she's just the sort of thing I'm looking for.

I really appreciate that feedback!  Hopefully the references to Golarion are relatable enough to serve as reference points prior to learning the intricacies of your designed setting; they're, of course, open for edits for whatever you consider appropriate.

I've added some physical description and personality/behavior depiction via edit above, and will continue to add as possible.  Thanks for extending the opportunity to apply, and I hope this game works out.

[persephone325]

Anything else I need to do for my sheet? (Aside from the obvious backstory bit.)

[Ixy]

Character creation guidelines:

Starting level: 10
HP: Max hp first level, and rolled thereafter.
Stats: 12pt buy
Starting wealth: Start with all relevant gear, as well as any other possessions relevant to backstory. Gold will not be being tracked. No magic items except by GM approval.
Allowed sources: All paizo, 3rd party by GM approval
Races: Any. Races that cannot pass for human will experience social prejudice. Monsters may be subject to open hatred, and even violence.
Classes: Humans may not select arcane classes with 2/3 or better spell progression(lvl 6+ spells), with the exception of alchemist. Meta-humans may not select full progression casters, or paladins. Monsters may select any class except cleric, warpriest, or paladin. Magic users not related to the church may face persecution for witchcraft. Psychic classes accepted on a case by case basis only.


Let me know if I've missed, or need to clarify anything. I've tweaked the class restrictions a little since the opening post. The point buy is intentionally low, to keep stats relatively balanced in comparison to other options. Allocate wisely.

Do you want us to select any traits or drawbacks?  And for my PC, is Unchained Monk okay, or should I go with standard monk?

[Ixy]

Sorry for double-posting.  Here's draft 1.

https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/7/7a/Sha%27El_%2810th_UC_Monk%29.pdf

[firepyre]

Do you want us to select any traits or drawbacks?  And for my PC, is Unchained Monk okay, or should I go with standard monk?

Standard 2 traits allowed, and 1 optional drawback for a bonus trait


Important:

At present, the only applications I have received that are satisfactorily completed are Ixy's and Ebadger's. I intend to start the game in 4 days. If I don't have at least 2 more characters completed by then to a satisfactory degree, the game won't be able to go ahead. If there is anyone who isn't clear what I expect from them, send me a PM and we can discuss it.

[persephone325]

This is all I have so far. I've never made a level 10 character, so I'm going to need help.

https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1359399

[Ixy]

This is all I have so far. I've never made a level 10 character, so I'm going to need help.

https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1359399

I can help with this, if you'd like to give me an idea of your goals

[eBadger]

firepyre - I suggest changing the thread name to Recruiting rather than Interest Thread, and putting the character requirements in the first post.  Unless people are following along, they probably don't realize you're looking for finished characters yet. 

This is all I have so far. I've never made a level 10 character, so I'm going to need help.

https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1359399

It looks like a good start.  If you're comfortable making a first level character you have most of it down; start with that, then add in a few more points.  Equipment is often the toughest part of high levels, but not much of an issue here. 

-Read through the class benefits, and make simple notes on your sheet.
-Advancements will give you 4 more feats, and +2 to ability scores since first level.  Discordant Voice, Harmonic Spell and Lingering Performance are very solid feats.  Bards aren't super at combat, but a couple feats to help there never hurt. 
-Skills just involve more points.  Max out your key skills (at 10 ranks) and you'll never go wrong putting a point into every class skill.  You'll probably end up being the group Face, so I suggest some attention to social skills: diplomacy, bluff, intimidate.  Pay attention to which skills are already covered by your Versatile Performance, though.  You'll get to pick 3 types, which should cover a lot.  You'll also want at least one rank in every knowledge for Lore Master. 
-Picking spells can be tough, but if you feel lost just scroll down the lists, add the ones that sound really neat and let us know how many other slots you've got to fill in. 

And yay traits!  Those actually free up a feat for me, then...am stifling the urge to work in Raven Form for flavor 

[persephone325]

firepyre - I suggest changing the thread name to Recruiting rather than Interest Thread, and putting the character requirements in the first post.  Unless people are following along, they probably don't realize you're looking for finished characters yet. 

It looks like a good start.  If you're comfortable making a first level character you have most of it down; start with that, then add in a few more points.  Equipment is often the toughest part of high levels, but not much of an issue here. 

-Read through the class benefits, and make simple notes on your sheet.
-Advancements will give you 4 more feats, and +2 to ability scores since first level.  Discordant Voice and Lingering Performance are very solid feats.  Bards aren't super at combat, but a couple feats to help there never hurt. 
-Skills just involve more points.  Max out your key skills (at 10 ranks) and you'll never go wrong putting a point into every class skill.  You'll probably end up being the group Face, so I suggest some attention to social skills: diplomacy, bluff, intimidate.  Pay attention to which skills are already covered by your Versatile Performance, though.  You'll get to pick 3 types, which should cover a lot.  You'll also want at least one rank in every knowledge for Lore Master. 
-Picking spells can be tough, but if you feel lost just scroll down the lists, add the ones that sound really neat and let us know how many other slots you've got to fill in. 

Thank you. I'll do some editing and post again to see if I've missed anything, or if something needs to be changed.

[eBadger]

Added Harmonic Spell to the feats, and I'd also suggest Arcane Strike; the damage boost isn't huge, but the access to an on-demand quasi-magic weapon could be pretty awesome in this campaign.