OOC Discussion thread

[dna1]

Go ahead and strategize, bullshit, talk about builds or what ever here.

[Nanshork]

I was thinking of a Dwarven Werebadger Lord (Were Dire Badger, 3 animal HD, +3 LA) which is my 3.5 version of the 2nd edition Ravenloft Werebagder.

If this is a possibility with tinkering I can totally go through my 2nd Edition Ravenloft sourcebooks and find a reason why he wants out.

Or I guess I could be an afflicted lycanthrope who got transported to Ravenloft but then I'd have to make Control Shape checks...

Ohh, or a natural lycanthrope who got transported to Raveloft akin to Azrael from Knight of the Black Rose...

Yeah, I'm plagiarizing too much now.

Nice to see a bit of ravenloft knowledge. Go ahead and put something together

I'm going to go with a Shifter who's getting persecuted as a lycanthrope, that should satisfy everything that I need without A) trying to rewrite lycanthrope rules and B) plagiarizing all over the place.  (However I did create a homebrew Werebadger class for Oslecamo's Monster Classes just because of the Ravenloft Werebadgers + badgers are my favorite animal).

I'm not sure what kind of role I'll want to play, probably some sort of beatstick.

dna1, I assume you'll be fine with my normal board character sheets?  I've been slowly moving away from myth-weavers.

[zook1shoe]

If the char selection could be held of until Sat I def can make one when I get home.

the basic idea was a Planar Sparrow Hengeyokai Scout, that flies ahead easily.

it mentions in the Alternate Foem, that the forms listed are some of the possible.ones. Could I see if I could be a non-listed moderately powered animal?

[linklord231]

This is what I have so far.

Azurin Barbarian 1/Totemist 5

(click to show/hide)

Str 15 (+2)
Dex 12 (+1)
Con 18 (+4)
Int 12 (+1)
Wis 10 (+0)
Cha 8  (-1)

B: Expanded Soulmeld Capacity
F: Cobalt Charge
F: Multiattack
1: INA: Claw
3: Improved Multiattack
6: Bonus Essentia

Shaped[Invested]:Girallon Arms (Arms)[4], Blink Shirt (Heart)[0], Wormtail Belt (Waist)[2], Kruthik Claws (Hands)[0]
Bound: Girallon Arms (Totem)
Feats[Invested]: Cobalt Charge [1]

Essentia Capacity: 2 (4 for Girallon Arms)
Total Essentia: 7

WBL: 9,000

BAB/Grapple: +4/+14

Full Attack: Claw + 10 (1d6 + 6)  and 3 Claws +10 (1d6 + 5)

Skills (5/level): Concentration, Climb, Craft, Handle Animal, Intimidate (9), Jump(8), Knowledge (arcana)(1), Knowledge (Dungeoneering)(1), Knowledge (nature) (9), Knowledge (the planes)(1), Knowledge (Religion)(1), Listen(9), Profession, Ride, Spellcraft, Spot, Survival(5), Swim, Use Magic Device (1).

Basic concept was that he was abducted at a young age, and had to fend for himself in the hostile lands of Ravenloft.  He didn't have much contact with people who didn't want to eat his face until his mid teens, so he's still very mistrustful and cynical.  He believes in the "natural order" of things and that it is the right of the strong to take from the weak, so alignment wise he's probably in the lower right (but not CE).  That's... really as far as I've gotten, fluff-wise.  Still need to decide what plane he was from originally. 

[dna1]

Hey all!  I just wanted to say everyone please read the Ravenloft FAQ. Just so everyone knows the basics. I updated the FAQ and the Rules from the other version I posted in the interest Thread.

I was thinking of a Dwarven Werebadger Lord (Were Dire Badger, 3 animal HD, +3 LA) which is my 3.5 version of the 2nd edition Ravenloft Werebagder.

If this is a possibility with tinkering I can totally go through my 2nd Edition Ravenloft sourcebooks and find a reason why he wants out.

Or I guess I could be an afflicted lycanthrope who got transported to Ravenloft but then I'd have to make Control Shape checks...

Ohh, or a natural lycanthrope who got transported to Raveloft akin to Azrael from Knight of the Black Rose...

Yeah, I'm plagiarizing too much now.

Nice to see a bit of ravenloft knowledge. Go ahead and put something together

I'm going to go with a Shifter who's getting persecuted as a lycanthrope, that should satisfy everything that I need without A) trying to rewrite lycanthrope rules and B) plagiarizing all over the place.  (However I did create a homebrew Werebadger class for Oslecamo's Monster Classes just because of the Ravenloft Werebadgers + badgers are my favorite animal).

I'm not sure what kind of role I'll want to play, probably some sort of beatstick.

dna1, I assume you'll be fine with my normal board character sheets?  I've been slowly moving away from myth-weavers.

Umm ya that should be fine, But I would still like a smaller stat-block as well please.

If the char selection could be held of until Sat I def can make one when I get home.

the basic idea was a Planar Sparrow Hengeyokai Scout, that flies ahead easily.

it mentions in the Alternate Foem, that the forms listed are some of the possible.ones. Could I see if I could be a non-listed moderately powered animal?

Hengeyokai....  That's the one where you can change into the actual Animal right? They don't actually get a Hybrid form do they? I can't recall...  Are you meaning to use the bird just for scouting?
as a sparrow, you have: STR 1, DEX 23, CON 10; AC 24 (+8 size, +6 dex), 1 foot land speed; base fly speed of 50 feet (no maneuverability is given, but given what I've seen sparrows be able to do IRL, I'd say what ever the one before Perfect is.)
Oh, and you have no natural attacks whatsoever in sparrow form, according to the table.
Also, I don't need a completed build yet. Just a rough outline of what it will be, and some sort of backstory would be good as well.

This is what I have so far.

Azurin Barbarian 1/Totemist 5

(click to show/hide)

Str 15 (+2)
Dex 12 (+1)
Con 18 (+4)
Int 12 (+1)
Wis 10 (+0)
Cha 8  (-1)

B: Expanded Soulmeld Capacity
F: Cobalt Charge
F: Multiattack
1: INA: Claw
3: Improved Multiattack
6: Bonus Essentia

Shaped[Invested]:Girallon Arms (Arms)[4], Blink Shirt (Heart)[0], Wormtail Belt (Waist)[2], Kruthik Claws (Hands)[0]
Bound: Girallon Arms (Totem)
Feats[Invested]: Cobalt Charge [1]

Essentia Capacity: 2 (4 for Girallon Arms)
Total Essentia: 7

WBL: 9,000

BAB/Grapple: +4/+14

Full Attack: Claw + 10 (1d6 + 6)  and 3 Claws +10 (1d6 + 5)

Skills (5/level): Concentration, Climb, Craft, Handle Animal, Intimidate (9), Jump(8), Knowledge (arcana)(1), Knowledge (Dungeoneering)(1), Knowledge (nature) (9), Knowledge (the planes)(1), Knowledge (Religion)(1), Listen(9), Profession, Ride, Spellcraft, Spot, Survival(5), Swim, Use Magic Device (1).

Basic concept was that he was abducted at a young age, and had to fend for himself in the hostile lands of Ravenloft.  He didn't have much contact with people who didn't want to eat his face until his mid teens, so he's still very mistrustful and cynical.  He believes in the "natural order" of things and that it is the right of the strong to take from the weak, so alignment wise he's probably in the lower right (but not CE).  That's... really as far as I've gotten, fluff-wise.  Still need to decide what plane he was from originally. 

Seems good... I've never played a Totemist before.. so basically you just bind spells to your self? What party role are you looking to fill?
Of course for finalized versions we would add more to the backstory. That would probably be by collaborating with some of the other players though.

[dna1]

Also, I have decided to start the XP at half way between 6th and 7th level. For item crafting purposes etc.

[linklord231]

Seems good... I've never played a Totemist before.. so basically you just bind spells to your self? What party role are you looking to fill?
Of course for finalized versions we would add more to the backstory. That would probably be by collaborating with some of the other players though.

Totemists are found in Magic or Incarnum.  The fluff is that you shape soul-stuff into self buffs, which are then powered by your own pool of "essentia."  Once you shape a soulmeld, you can bind it to a chakra.  Binding unlocks more of the meld's power, but blocks the body slot associated with that chakra from being able to benefit from a magic item.  I'm not sure how this will interact with your houserule about 8-item attunement, so we'll have to work something out.  Both the number of soulmelds shaped and the number and location of binds are limited by your level.

Role-wise, I'm looking at mainly dealing HP damage.  Pounce + lots of attacks per round, etc.  But thanks to the mechanics of Incarnum, I can change roles pretty easily by swapping out which soulmelds I have shaped that day. 

Obviously the backstory needs work, but that'll come.  I always like to decide who a character is now before learning how he got there.  Where can I go to learn more about the setting than what you posted in the FAQ, and where should I post questions?

[zook1shoe]

Awesome, thanks!

good maneuverability and yes they get a hybrid form. But its dumb (+2 dex, 20ft land + 20ft fly average).

good thing the sparrow scout isn't a totemist w flyby attack 

oh, and should we post in the Characters, even before picked? Or just wait until afterwards

[dna1]

no post everything here until picked 

[zook1shoe]

There.. You mean

[brujon]

Well, appears that the alternate build i was planning has gotten to become a little redundant, since we already got a totemist going on. I was thinking about making a grappler, most likely Wildshape Ranger into MOMF + Nature's Warrior Dip + Black Blood Cultist, after i realized the over 9000 reasons why a Vermin focused Druid would suck major ass.

Do Psionics go well into Ravenloft? If so, would you consider allowing Untapped Potential and Hyperconscious (Third party) as valid sourcebooks?

[dna1]

Seems good... I've never played a Totemist before.. so basically you just bind spells to your self? What party role are you looking to fill?
Of course for finalized versions we would add more to the backstory. That would probably be by collaborating with some of the other players though.

Totemists are found in Magic or Incarnum.  The fluff is that you shape soul-stuff into self buffs, which are then powered by your own pool of "essentia."  Once you shape a soulmeld, you can bind it to a chakra.  Binding unlocks more of the meld's power, but blocks the body slot associated with that chakra from being able to benefit from a magic item.  I'm not sure how this will interact with your houserule about 8-item attunement, so we'll have to work something out.  Both the number of soulmelds shaped and the number and location of binds are limited by your level.

Role-wise, I'm looking at mainly dealing HP damage.  Pounce + lots of attacks per round, etc.  But thanks to the mechanics of Incarnum, I can change roles pretty easily by swapping out which soulmelds I have shaped that day. 

Obviously the backstory needs work, but that'll come.  I always like to decide who a character is now before learning how he got there.  Where can I go to learn more about the setting than what you posted in the FAQ, and where should I post questions?

Mmmk well I suppose we will just use the rules as is, in conjunction with my own. I will bypass the bodyslot but keep the 8 limit attunement. Basically counting the soulmeld as a magic item attuned.
For learning more about the setting you can try to download some of the books but the resources are limited. There is a RAVENLOFT WIKI.. but unfortunately there isn't much out there. I happen to own 3 of the physical books.
You can post questions about the setting in the FAQ and I can probably answer it

Well, appears that the alternate build i was planning has gotten to become a little redundant, since we already got a totemist going on. I was thinking about making a grappler, most likely Wildshape Ranger into MOMF + Nature's Warrior Dip + Black Blood Cultist, after i realized the over 9000 reasons why a Vermin focused Druid would suck major ass.

Do Psionics go well into Ravenloft? If so, would you consider allowing Untapped Potential and Hyperconscious (Third party) as valid sourcebooks?

Truth be told I've never been to fond of the Psionics in D&D.. I am familiar with the basics, but I haven't read any of the 3rd party stuff. I actually don't have those books in my collection either.. sorry.

[linklord231]

Does that include melds bound to the Totem chakra, which doesn't have a corresponding body slot (and thus normally wouldn't block magic item access)?

[dna1]

Does that include melds bound to the Totem chakra, which doesn't have a corresponding body slot (and thus normally wouldn't block magic item access)?

If it doesn't normally take a slot then no. The 8 slots are supposed to be for constant effect items, or more powerful stuff. Little stuff doesn't count.. such as wands etc

[linklord231]

Cool.  I'm looking at traits and flaws that fit thematically, and found a few in Dragon 324 that could be cool and slightly more interesting than the usual Shaky/Murkey Eyed/Vulnerable.
Specifically: Love of Nature (requires a DC 12 Will save in order to attack Plant, Animal, and Vermin creatures) and Bestial Instinct (attacks made with weapons other than unarmed strike and natural attacks take -2 penalty). 

[brujon]

In line with everyone else, i think i'm going with a Shifter as well. A Shifter Wilder, going gish. Build to come later today. Question: The Mind's Eye web enhancements are 3.5, that means they are a go? I think the restriction is only for 3.0 web enhancements, but not sure.

EDIT: Is Chaos Monk from Dragon 335 allowed? Are you of the school of thought that Improved Natural Attack applies to a monk's fists?

[Risada]

I decided to go with the human Crusader with the Mark of Sentinel.

Should I aim for a standard LockSader (Thicket of Blades + AoO tripping) or sword and board focused on the healing maneuvers? I am pending on the first one...

[zook1shoe]

+1 on the reasonable Dragon magazine flaws and traits (no chicken infested tricks).

So I'm thinking a N/NG Sparrow Hengeyokai Scout 6 of the Wild Union sect.

I'm sooo tempted to go into the Believers of the Source reincarnation PrC, but it get super crazy n hard to RP

[phaedrusxy]

Although I haven't posted before, I am interested (as I was in the earlier 2 Ravenloft games you started, dna1  ). I do worry that I won't have enough time, though, as I'm a father of 2, am starting med school on Aug 1, and we're just closing on a new house... which means I'll be moving and our internet connection may be interrupted for a bit during the move...

I'm considering a bard, which would probably go along with much of what I'm hearing from the others.

Edit: Build stub

Glimmerfolk savage bard 4/warblade 1/spellsword 1
Feats: Requiem, Wild Cohort, Song of the Heart, Song of the White Raven

[Scout89]

Truth be told I've never been to fond of the Psionics in D&D.. I am familiar with the basics, but I haven't read any of the 3rd party stuff. I actually don't have those books in my collection either.. sorry.

But Soulbows are ok with you, right?
Sent you the first part of the backstory. Will post the first version of the sheet here tonight.