Author Topic: Recruiting for a Viking-themed war campaign  (Read 71395 times)

Offline ksbsnowowl

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Re: Recruiting for a Viking-themed war campaign
« Reply #40 on: August 18, 2013, 02:34:15 PM »
You said half-elf is an allowed starting race. How exactly would that be fluffed to match your world? I don't know a lot about Norse mythology, and don't remember any elves at all. I'd been considering playing a half-elf, and am wondering what kind of RP repercussions that will have, and also how it can guide my character backstory development. I reread my original character's backstory, and could probably use some of it even with a half-elf (his mother was a "hedge witch", etc). I'm still very much wrestling with exactly where to go with this character... The original sorcerer/prestige bard//druid is far from set in stone. ;)
No worries.  Alfar (elves) live in Alfheim.  They have, occasionally, made their way to Midgard for short periods.  Sometimes they will have a tryst with a human (most likely elf father, human mother).  Viola.  Half-elves compose about 1% of the humanoid population.

A viola is a musical instrument. :P

You know, I once, in a hurry, accidentally called the Crusader's stance Marital Stance, and it got a bunch of laughs too.  'Twill edit my error, thank you.
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Oh, uh, I should mention that I'm not interested in joining; I would suck at making a useful character. The dragon question was just because of curiosity. -_-'
I assumed as much.  ;)

That I suck at casters and most mundane classes, or that it was curiosity? :O
I assumed you were just joining in the conversation, as you'd made no mention of wanting to join the game.

May I point you to the Domain Access ACF, complete champion pg 52? That does similar to what you're talking about -- it isn't an extra spell known, it's a replacement, but it also doesn't require a feat investment.
Hmmm.... indeed.  Everything invented has been invented before... (not really).

So thus far I have four additional people interested... It will be interesting to see what all is devised.
« Last Edit: August 18, 2013, 03:19:16 PM by ksbsnowowl »

Offline sirpercival

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Re: Recruiting for a Viking-themed war campaign
« Reply #41 on: August 18, 2013, 02:36:25 PM »
What's stat generation & hit points?
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Offline ksbsnowowl

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Re: Recruiting for a Viking-themed war campaign
« Reply #42 on: August 18, 2013, 03:05:28 PM »
What's stat generation & hit points?
Ah, good point.  I usually do 36 point buy for this setting as a back-up for bad rolls, so we'll probably just do that.
Edit: looking back at the character sheets from the last PbP game, it looks like I did 30 point buy.  So Nanshork and SDK, if you are running a leveled-up Thorgrim or Einar, up their point buy values.

For hit points, max at first (obviously), and for the other levels it will be roll twice, and take the better result (around the table I have my players roll one and I roll one, take the better of the two).  For the ease of things I'll probably just roll them all for you after characters are otherwise decided upon.
« Last Edit: August 18, 2013, 03:13:50 PM by ksbsnowowl »

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Recruiting for a Viking-themed war campaign
« Reply #43 on: August 18, 2013, 04:11:57 PM »
Would you let me use the +1CL from Master of the Yuirwood levels to progress my effective binder level, instead? I plan on going straight druid on one side, and binder (plus maybe some other dips) on the other, and thus probably won't be using them for anything. It could be based off of how the anima mage progresses binding:
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Soul Binding Bonus: At each anima mage level, your soul binding ability improves as if you had also gained a level in the binder class. Your anima mage levels and binder levels stack for the purpose of determining your bonus on binding checks, the effectiveness of your vestige-granted abilities, your ability to bind higher-level vestiges, and the number of vestiges you can bind. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a binder would have gained.
So I'd basically be getting that instead of a boost to a caster level progression. Since the meinheir circles are also used to bind souls, this kind of fits fluffwise, too. :P
« Last Edit: August 18, 2013, 04:14:18 PM by phaedrusxy »
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Offline Raineh Daze

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Re: Recruiting for a Viking-themed war campaign
« Reply #44 on: August 18, 2013, 04:14:47 PM »
What's stat generation & hit points?
Ah, good point.  I usually do 36 point buy for this setting as a back-up for bad rolls, so we'll probably just do that.

@_@

Vikings are abnormally competent, then? :p

Offline ksbsnowowl

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Re: Recruiting for a Viking-themed war campaign
« Reply #45 on: August 18, 2013, 05:37:32 PM »
Would you let me use the +1CL from Master of the Yuirwood levels to progress my effective binder level, instead? I plan on going straight druid on one side, and binder (plus maybe some other dips) on the other, and thus probably won't be using them for anything. It could be based off of how the anima mage progresses binding:
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Soul Binding Bonus: At each anima mage level, your soul binding ability improves as if you had also gained a level in the binder class. Your anima mage levels and binder levels stack for the purpose of determining your bonus on binding checks, the effectiveness of your vestige-granted abilities, your ability to bind higher-level vestiges, and the number of vestiges you can bind. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a binder would have gained.
So I'd basically be getting that instead of a boost to a caster level progression. Since the meinheir circles are also used to bind souls, this kind of fits fluffwise, too. :P
Since MotYW could be used to advance Warlock invocations... sure, why not?

@_@

Vikings are abnormally competent, then? :p
Hel yes, they are!  :lol

It's going to be a hard campaign.  It's also gestalt, so it helps with the MAD that is bound to come up.
I've used 4d6, drop lowest, no 1's for a while, and looking at the average stats that a lot of my players end up with, it's usually higher than 36 point buy, but about 20% of the time it ends up lower. (One of my current table-top PC's ended up with something like a 29 point buy.)

Offline X-Codes

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Re: Recruiting for a Viking-themed war campaign
« Reply #46 on: August 18, 2013, 05:46:59 PM »
I was planning on using it for Magelord, but that's LATE game type stuff and probably won't do anything notable between levels 5 and 12.  My second idea was to use Uncanny Forethought, but then I realized... I don't really know how Uncanny Forethought would work.  Since you leave the slot empty, would that mean that the rune isn't there? If the rune isn't there, then how do you tap it for the power to cast spontaneously?

I'm still thinking up ideas...

Offline dna1

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Re: Recruiting for a Viking-themed war campaign
« Reply #47 on: August 18, 2013, 05:48:56 PM »
Ok so then I can choose 4d6 drop lowest, or 36 point buy?


 
I'm thinking of a few different directions I could take my Bard.. I will probably have something posted today or tomorrow at the latest. I just have a few questions.
*Is Factotum allowed?

*Whats your stance on Dragonfire Inspiration? Could we re-flavor it from dragons to jotun, or something, and use it?

*Are we starting with standard wealth? Do I have access to buying Bard enhancing items, such as a horn of valor or like a crystal blade or something? edit: I meant in character creation, not in-game.

*For you gestalt, how are we handling skills. Lets pretend I have like 3 or 4 different classes, when I level up can I spend skill points in a previous classes skill at normal cost, that would be considered a cross-class for the current most class I'm leveling?      -Did that make sense?

*Are you allowing leadership?

*Are you allowing templates? Bloodlines? I know you said humans, or half-elfs. and no flaws...  But I was thinking of doing something to reflect the jotun or vanir blood in my characters past. Like take Jotunbrud feat, but its only for Damaran or Illuskan human's.... So that lead me to think of other possible routes.. like a template or bloodline.


Thanks  :D
« Last Edit: August 18, 2013, 06:10:02 PM by dna1 »
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Offline ksbsnowowl

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Re: Recruiting for a Viking-themed war campaign
« Reply #48 on: August 18, 2013, 07:05:56 PM »
I was planning on using it for Magelord, but that's LATE game type stuff and probably won't do anything notable between levels 5 and 12.  My second idea was to use Uncanny Forethought, but then I realized... I don't really know how Uncanny Forethought would work.  Since you leave the slot empty, would that mean that the rune isn't there? If the rune isn't there, then how do you tap it for the power to cast spontaneously?

I'm still thinking up ideas...
I'm thinking basically treat it as a spontaneously converted rune (ala a Hathran or having the Spontaneous Healer feat).  Just assume there is a rune for "open" or somesuch, that you would then destroy upon using Uncanny Forethought. (The rune for "Magic/Destiny" is actually a blank space, so maybe a rectangle outlining the blank space).

You would actually have to take the feat Spell Mastery to qualify for Uncanny Forethought, but all the illusion spells from Illusion Mastery would also qualify for use with Uncanny Forethought, in addition to the spells chosen when you took Spell Mastery.

Ok so then I can choose 4d6 drop lowest, or 36 point buy?
No, for a PbP game, we'll just do 36 point buy.  I was just expounding upon what I do in a live table game.

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I'm thinking of a few different directions I could take my Bard.. I will probably have something posted today or tomorrow at the latest. I just have a few questions.
*Is Factotum allowed?
I'd prefer not.  I have the PDF, but not the book, and I've never really looked at it.  If you really want it, I can try to familiarize myself with it.

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*Whats your stance on Dragonfire Inspiration? Could we re-flavor it from dragons to jotun, or something, and use it?
This is another book that I was never able to pick up near the end of 3.5's run.  Let me look into it. ...

I could see making it tied to fire giants, and instead of the dragonblood subtype, you'd need the Jotunbrud feat (from Races of Faerun).  I'll have to think on it some more.

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*Are we starting with standard wealth? Do I have access to buying Bard enhancing items, such as a horn of valor or like a crystal blade or something? edit: I meant in character creation, not in-game.
Yeah, you guys will have something around 12,000 gp to start out with.  That's between 5th and 6th WBL, because it won't be long before you level up to 6th.  I don't know what those two items are, but that should be fine.  You guys will be pretty close to appropriate WBL throughout the game, you just won't have opportunities to just sell everything off and buy whatever you want.  So sure, make use of the starting "free for all" while you can.  Keep it to ~3,000 gp at most per individual item.

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*For [your] gestalt, how are we handling skills. Lets pretend I have like 3 or 4 different classes, when I level up can I spend skill points in a previous classes skill at normal cost, that would be considered a cross-class for the current most class I'm leveling?      -Did that make sense?
All that matters is what the class skills of your two classes that level are.  So if you are normally a Rogue//Wizard, thus getting nearly every skill in the game, then you take a level of Fighter//Wiz PrC that has limited skills, then for that level, you've got severely limited class skills, as far as spending your skill points.  Just like normal, but you've just got extra skills to choose from.

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*Are you allowing leadership?
Sure.

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*Are you allowing templates? Bloodlines? I know you said humans, or half-elfs. and no flaws...  But I was thinking of doing something to reflect the jotun or vanir blood in my characters past. Like take Jotunbrud feat, but its only for Damaran or Illuskan human's.... So that lead me to think of other possible routes.. like a template or bloodline.
Jotunbrud is perfectly fine.  Yeah, the fluff requirements of feats are malleable, especially when we're talking a homebrewed setting.  Probably no templates at the moment.

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Recruiting for a Viking-themed war campaign
« Reply #49 on: August 18, 2013, 07:19:36 PM »
A jotun-blooded bard with jotunfire inspiration? Sounds awesome! :D

And I do have a question: for the vestiges which grant access to magic item crafting feats (Astaroth is the only one I recall offhand), is the EBL also doubled, per the CL requirement doubling?

Here is the ability's text:
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Master Craftsman: While bound to Astaroth, you gain a +4 competence bonus on all Craft checks. In addition, each time you bind with Astaroth, you may select one item creation feat as a temporary bonus feat. So long as you continue to bind with Astaroth, you may use that feat as though you possessed it normally; you must still spend all standard gold and XP for any item you create, and you must still provide all necessary spells for a given item.

If your effective binder level is not at least as high as the necessary caster level to take a specific item creation feat, you cannot choose that feat. For instance, a 4th-level binder could not choose any item creation feat with a prerequisite of caster level 5th or higher.

And while I'm at it, I guess I should ask if online vestiges are allowed. :D Link to Astaroth.
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Offline ksbsnowowl

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Re: Recruiting for a Viking-themed war campaign
« Reply #50 on: August 18, 2013, 07:25:45 PM »
I was planning on using it for Magelord...
Oh, Magelord is sort of an oddball case.  In a normal game you can't qualify for it in order to finish the class pre-epic.  It was likely an error, and it should have required 4th level spells, but thus is as it is.  That said, unlike all other classes, which can't be taken any earlier than the earliest you could do so in a non-gestalt game, for Magelord, just meet the prereq's, and you're good.  You could take the first level at 10th character level.

Its sneak attack progression is low enough, it is treated as a normal PrC, not dual-progression.

Offline ksbsnowowl

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Re: Recruiting for a Viking-themed war campaign
« Reply #51 on: August 18, 2013, 07:36:53 PM »
And I do have a question: for the vestiges which grant access to magic item crafting feats (Astaroth is the only one I recall offhand), is the EBL also doubled, per the CL requirement doubling?
Yes.  You have to meet the CL req with your binder level.  For all purposes, the requisite caster level for the feat is doubled.

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And while I'm at it, I guess I should ask if online vestiges are allowed. :D Link to Astaroth.
Point out any such vestiges you are interested in, but they should be fine.

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Recruiting for a Viking-themed war campaign
« Reply #52 on: August 18, 2013, 07:39:49 PM »
Point out any such vestiges you are interested in, but they should be fine.
The only one I ever found to be more powerful than the ToM ones was actually a homebrew one by one of the D&D authors (the Green Lady), which let you cast a 1st level sorc/wiz spell of your choice at will, as well as a few other minor abilities (one of which was Turn Undead).
« Last Edit: August 18, 2013, 07:57:24 PM by phaedrusxy »
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Offline dna1

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Re: Recruiting for a Viking-themed war campaign
« Reply #53 on: August 18, 2013, 08:05:14 PM »
A jotun-blooded bard with jotunfire inspiration? Sounds awesome! :D



Indeed! I'm actually really excited about this character now  :D 

No problems about the Factotum.

I will just go Bard-5/Druid-5, if thats alright. The build might head towards like a Sublime Chord / Spellthief / Barbarian... 
Now I saw your post on Wildshaping and what not. I didn't notice anything about Animal Companions. Do the base rules still apply?
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Offline Risada

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Re: Recruiting for a Viking-themed war campaign
« Reply #54 on: August 18, 2013, 08:05:38 PM »
I am kind of late, but here is what I am thinking on playing:

Human Ranger X/Fighter 2/Stalker of Kharash 5||Sorcerer Y/Abjurant Champion 5

Progression: Ranger 3/Fighter 1/Ranger +1/Stalker of Kharash 2/Ranger +2/Figher +1/SoK +3/Ranger +X||Sorcerer 5/Abjurant Champion 5/Sorcerer + Y

Feats:
H: Combat Casting
1: Favored of the Companions
R1: Track
R2: Two Weapon Fighting
R3: Endurance
3: Obtain Familiar (Alertness while Familiar is out)
F1: EWP (Valenar Double Scimitar; in case the weapon is not allowed I can go with Two-Bladed Sword)
6: Improved Familiar (Small Air Elemental)
9: Wise to Your Ways (Evil)
R9: Improved Two Weapon Fighting
10: Improved Critical
12: Arcane Strike
15: Nemesis

Favored Enemies: Arcanists (1), Evil (SoK 1), Undead [Bonus to FE: Evil], Outsider (evil) [Bonus to FE: Evil]

Alternate Class Features:

Ranger 1
Spiritual Connection ACF (speak with animals or speak to plants up to 3/day; CL = ranger levels- replaces Wild Empathy)

Sorcerer 1
Divine Companion ACF (gain divine spirit that can convert stored spell energy into healing or protection - replaces familiar)


Now, ksbsnowowl: Is there anyway to refluff Stalker of Kharash to some compatible deity from the Norse Mythology? Maybe use Heimdall or Tyr... What do you think?

Also, if you are not ok with Alertness coming from the familiar to meet the requirement for SoK, I am fine with swapping my feats around...

BG in progress
(click to show/hide)
[/s]

Updating build in another post...
« Last Edit: August 19, 2013, 08:47:33 AM by Risada »

Offline ksbsnowowl

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Re: Recruiting for a Viking-themed war campaign
« Reply #55 on: August 18, 2013, 08:09:37 PM »
Point out any such vestiges you are interested in, but they should be fine.
The only one I ever found to be more powerful than the ToM ones was actually a homebrew one by one of the D&D authors (the Green Lady), which let you cast a 1st level sorc/wiz spell of your choice at will, as well as a few other minor abilities (one of which was Turn Undead).
You mean this one;)

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Recruiting for a Viking-themed war campaign
« Reply #56 on: August 18, 2013, 08:29:54 PM »
Point out any such vestiges you are interested in, but they should be fine.
The only one I ever found to be more powerful than the ToM ones was actually a homebrew one by one of the D&D authors (the Green Lady), which let you cast a 1st level sorc/wiz spell of your choice at will, as well as a few other minor abilities (one of which was Turn Undead).
You mean this one;)
Ah yeah. You increased the level. It seems a lot more reasonable there. ;)
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Offline ksbsnowowl

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Re: Recruiting for a Viking-themed war campaign
« Reply #57 on: August 18, 2013, 08:36:24 PM »
No problems about the Factotum.

I will just go Bard-5/Druid-5, if thats alright. The build might head towards like a Sublime Chord / Spellthief / Barbarian... 
Now I saw your post on Wildshaping and what not. I didn't notice anything about Animal Companions. Do the base rules still apply?
Yes, standard 3.5 animal companion rules.

The main things I wanted reverted to 3.0 were shapechanging abilities, DR, and some specific classes.  It's really 95% 3.5.  Plus some flavorful tweaks to magic.

I am kind of late, but here is what I am thinking on playing:

Human Ranger X/Fighter 2/Stalker of Kharash 5||Sorcerer Y/Abjurant Champion 5

Progression: Ranger 3/Fighter 1/Ranger +1/Stalker of Kharash 2/Ranger +2/Figher +1/SoK +3/Ranger +X||Sorcerer 5/Abjurant Champion 5/Sorcerer + Y
A couple problems here.  One, you can't take two prestige classes at the same time.  Two, Abjurant Champion is Dual Progression, and would cost both classes at any level that you took it.

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Sorcerer 1
Divine Companion ACF (gain divine spirit that can convert stored spell energy into healing or protection - replaces familiar)
Cool ACF.  It would be like a Fylgja or Hamingja.

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Now, ksbsnowowl: Is there anyway to refluff Stalker of Kharash to some compatible deity from the Norse Mythology? Maybe use Heimdall or Tyr... What do you think?
That shouldn't be a problem.  I'll just have to give some thought to how exactly to adapt it.

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Also, if you are not ok with Alertness coming from the familiar to meet the requirement for SoK, I am fine with swapping my feats around...
I'm actually not seeing how the Divine Companion still grants Alertness like a familiar.  It isn't a familiar, and thus wouldn't gain or grant the normal abilities of one.  So far as I can tell.
(Which is really too bad, it would have been an interesting way to get a free feat.)

Offline Risada

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Re: Recruiting for a Viking-themed war campaign
« Reply #58 on: August 18, 2013, 08:55:33 PM »
Old stuff, ignore...

(click to show/hide)

Edit: Actually, considering your last post, I guess I will try to make things less complicated to me... How about this?

Human Fighter 1/Duskblade X/ Abjurant Champion 5||Sorc Y/Abjurant Champion 5

Progression: Fighter 1/Duskblade 5/Abjurant Champion 5/Duskblade +X||Sorc 6/Abjurant Champion 5/Sorc + Y

Abjurant Champion levels advance Sorcerer casting

Feats
H: Power Attack
1: Combat Expertise
F1: Improved Trip
D2: Combat Casting
3: Knowledge Devotion
6: Arcane Strike
9: Minor Shapeshift
12: Versatile Spellcaster

Sorc is still taking Divine Companion ACF but this time around no Obtain Familiar...

Question 1: Does the Duskblade's ability to cast without ASF in armor applies to Sorc casting? RAW it doesn't mention it's only to Duskblade arcane casting...

Question 2: And channeling Sorc spells through Arcane Channeling is fine?
« Last Edit: August 18, 2013, 09:17:04 PM by Risada »

Offline ksbsnowowl

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Re: Recruiting for a Viking-themed war campaign
« Reply #59 on: August 18, 2013, 09:14:57 PM »
Gotcha, sorry, didn't look it all over in depth.  That does work, but is quite risky.  If your familiar ever gets farther than 5 ft from you, then you lose access to the class abilities of Stalker of Kharash.

I can readily tell you that you will not come across any magical double-ended swords in the campaign.

The rest of it looks good.

Edit:  Just saw your edit.  That looks good too.

The sorcerer casting still suffers from Arcane Spell Failure.
Channeling Sorcerer spells through Duskblade channeling is perfectly fine.
« Last Edit: August 18, 2013, 09:21:59 PM by ksbsnowowl »