I am almost ready to start running Expedition to the Demonweb Pits.
I had considered running this adventure on Sunday rather than Tuesday but I am concerned that it would take forever to finish and I am afraid that the players would become lost of bored. I also want to run my Champions game on Sunday so I think that I will stick with running on Tuesday.
This is a long D&D adventure that will take characters from 9th through 12th levels. This will be a commitment to run and to play. It is a long story with many facets. There are many encounters (sometimes as many as 12 per section) and there are at least 6 major sections of the adventure. Some encounters are combat and some are role playing but most combine the two.
That said, I need to have characters that will fit the story. It will be more enjoyable for all (GM and players) if the characters have a reason for getting involved other than it is the adventure that is currently being run. We will need to have characters that are on the Good side of the spectrum. There will be important alignment related story hooks and resources. There will be some non-combat related skills that will be useful. I guess what I am trying to say is that I am not sure that all or most of the characters from the Cliffport game will fit the adventure without major rework that I am not willing to make.
As I see it, we will have 4 players that will be the core (Randy, Dave, Bruce and Steve). We have 3 players that are hit and miss (Daren, Kara and Tess). We will need to have the basic needs of the party met by the 4 core players.
I am open to discussion on the topic. I want the story to be fun for you and I want it to be fun for me.
Keith
Are you talking about making up new characters for this adventure?
ReplyDelete(dibs on Velocibecky)
By 'core' do you mean:fighting type, stealthy type, healing/buffing type, and artillary type?
So they HAVE to be good? Cuz I really wanted to play Ned. He's an escaped Drow slave, after all.
ReplyDeleteOK
ReplyDeleteI really liked the assassin but I am so sick of arguing about my hobby right now that I flat do not care. I will do sneaky, hacky or artillery. I will not play a good priest against the Drow. So Dave, Bruce and Steve you pick I will take whatever is left over.
Keith, can you post a list of skills/domains/items/etc these characters should have?
ReplyDeleteI will post some skills and features that would be useful for this adventure later tonight.
ReplyDeleteI am not saying that all of the characters will not work but the story does pre-assume a certain level of opposition to the dark forces. The current group for the Cliffport game is trending toward the Neutral and Evil ends of the spectrum. Characters that can benefit from some of the cooler story elements are currently being played by players that are in infrequent attendance.
Well, Ned has a particular dislike of drow. Will that work?
ReplyDeleteBasically, Keith didn't want my assassin. The rest of you should have no trouble playing whatever you want.
ReplyDeleterace limitations?
ReplyDeleteI did not specifically call out any characters as not right. I am more concerned with the over all mix of the core characters. If I am not remembering correctly please advise.
ReplyDeleteTake a look:
Core:
Dave - Arcane caster. Neutral.
Brul - Barbarian. Chaotic Neutral
Randy - Assassin. Neutral Evil?
Bruce - Ape Lord. Chaotic Neutral?
Steve - Rogue. Neutral?
Others:
Daren - Cleric. Chaotic Good?
Kara - Barbarian. Chaotic Good?
Kelly - Paladin. Lawful Good (but insane)
As promised, some things that could prove useful for the adventure:
* An arcane spell caster
* a non-chaotic, non-evil character with Weapon Focus:longbow
* Diplomacy and/or Bluff skill
* Knowledge: Planes
* Knowledge: Local
* Knowledge: History
* Gather Information skill
* Bardic knowledge
There may be more things that I am missing but these are the big ones that I remember at the moment.
Again, this adventure is a mix of role-playing, subterfuge, investigation and combat. A party with a good mix will have an easier and more enjoyable time.
I think that I would rather stick to the standard Player’s Handbook races.
Brool is true neutral (cohorts have to match your alignment)and Kara is neutral as well I think, but I see your point.
ReplyDeleteBruce, are you really going to play Jennifred? If so, does she have the abilities that Keith is looking for? Im sure she has KS Arcana and Spellcraft (and the all-important Craft: Merriment) but she is a walking cannon and not much else (no Detects, Identify, buffs, etc).
If Bruce plays Jennifred, I will play the cleric.
I can totally get a make-over. I've allways wanted to go the sorceress route. But no worries, it'll still be my cheery self on the inside.
ReplyDeletettfn
JH
I really like playing someone that is cheerful, in case you didn't catch that. It's a positive thing in my life right now that I need to work with. Gaming is my therapy after all.
ReplyDeleteDave if you take the cleric. I think this might not be a bad team. Assuming of course that Steve doesn't mind the rogue spot. How do you feel about that Stevester?
ReplyDeleteBTW it might be helpful if you were a rogue/bard so that we get the bard knowledge and the buff. Maybe, Tess or Darren could play the trap buster?
OK, then I will be playing a Mystic Theurge. He will do everything Jennifred does not do.
ReplyDeleteUh, there's no reason Steve cant play the trap buster that does something else. There's plenty of skill points left over after you max out Spot, Search, Disable Device, and Open Lock. Hell he could even be the bow monkey that Keith is hinting at.
ReplyDeleteCourse, if you throw a couple levels of bard into that, youre just begging to be a Shadowdancer...
Didn't you read, I said i'd remake jennifred as a real mage, or would you prefer i made her as a cleric?
ReplyDeletealthough two mages would kick ass.
ReplyDeleteLeave Jennifred as a warmage if you want. Mystic Theurges get divine AND arcane spells every level. My caster level will take a hit but I'll have an insane amount of spells to pick from.
ReplyDeleteI'll leave Kill-O-Zapp off my options and we'll compliment each other nicely.
All goodness and light, sweetie.
ReplyDeletettfn
JH
Dave,
ReplyDeleteThere is a feat called practiced spell caster (I took it in your game). It allows you to raise your caster level when multi-classed by up to 4. I will look up which book when I get home.
You guys let me know when you sort it out. I still plan to run the Cliffport game for a while. If you want to play you existing characters, that is fine. I just wanted to point out that it might more fun if the characters alinged to the adventure both from an outlook and skill set.
Does anyone plan to have Leadership and be running more than one character? There are potentially some NPC that you will encounter during the adventure that might hang with you. I am just trying to factor party size.
Lets not open the leadership can o worms, please. If someone wants to run two or more characters they can wait till Kara or Daren retires for the evening.
ReplyDeleteWow, you said something about playing another character and I started a whole rant that will have to be a separate post.
ReplyDeleteAnyway.
Keith:
I havent hashed out his build yet (current frontrunner: sor4/clr3/MT2) but he'll have Practiced Spellcaster at least once.
er, i guess i'm a bowlock monkey
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking fighter2/rogue7 lotsa bow monkey fighter feats lotsa thief skills
ReplyDeleteProvided that you're human (and if you wanna powergame it you should be) youll get plenty O skills, plus feats:
ReplyDeleteHuman: 1
Ftr bonus1:2
Ftr bonus2: 3
3rd lvl: 4
6th lvl: 5
That's a lot of feats, but you still have to make a decision on whether you want to be a full-on bowmonkey or a shadowdancer with weapon focus.
Bowmonkey:
Weapon Focus; Longbow
Weapon Specialization: Longbow (ftr bonus only)
Point Blank Shot
Precise Shot
Rapid Shot
and at 9th: Manyshot or Shot on the Run
Shadowdancer:
Dodge
Mobility
Combat Reflexes (ouch)
Spring Attack (which isnt a requisite, but if you already have Dodge and Mobility...)
Weapon Focus: Longbow
Rapid Shot (9th lvl)
The Bowmonkey option lets you focus on more traditional thiefy stuff and still be effective in a fight.
The Shadowdancer option concentrates on stealth and requires more skill point juggling to be the Trap Negator of the Basic Four.
I am playing Percival J Binkle. He is wiz3/clr3/MT3, the upshot of which is he gets spells of a 6th lvl wizard AND a 6th lvl cleric.
ReplyDeletePercival is just one of many spellcasting Binkles throughout history. His clerical domains (Nobility and Luck) and spells are derived from ancestor worship, and as such has no patron deity (aka Church of His Own Shit).
The special ability of the Nobility domain is an ability similar to bardsong at a +2 bonus.
You forgot the feat that every 1st level character gets. A human fighter starts with 3 feats.
ReplyDeleteDid you look at Magic as a domain? I believe that allows you to cast Arcane spells as well. Worth a look.
Your character sounds fine. I can work with that.
The Magic domain would be useless to me:
ReplyDeleteUse scrolls, wands, and other devices as a wizard of one-half your cleric level (at least 1st level).
I been debating weather to play Jenny as a warmage9, or warmage7/cleric2, or total respec as a sorcerer9.
ReplyDeleteAny thoughts?
Why the interest in cleric?
ReplyDeleteI say leave her as a warmage
My bad. I did not look it up but I remembered that is gave some kind of cool Arcane spell ability for a Cleric.
ReplyDeleteDave,
Which book is Mystic Theurge in? Complete Arcane? Complete Mage?
Randy,
Which books are Samuai and Kensai in? Complete Warrior?
7 is the last cool thing for a warmage for a while, and i thought the healing/buffing would come in handy.
ReplyDeletebut i defer to padwan dave.
Randy dear,
ReplyDeleteCan I get a quest or something that as a reward I could get a familar?
I was thinking a butterfly, a large one, with a 1 to 1.5 foot wingspan, with stats like an owl or hawk.
Please think about it.
ttfn
JH
When would we like to start playing this game?
ReplyDeleteI still need to read and digest the last two sections of the adventure. That makes up about half the book. I have read the first 4 sections and I have the gist of what the total adventure is about. I should be able to start running before I finish reading.
As this is a long adventure, do we want to set a schedule for play? I should plan to run for 3 or 4 weeks and someone else runs for a while or I run something else? I do not want to monopolize the night with this game every week. I know that we like variety.
Are you ready now?
ReplyDeleteI think we are pretty much set on the main characters. I don't know about Daren & Kara.
How many sessions will it take? Months and months?
I think we can give you breaks when you require them.
I think Randy is ready for a break. Although I'd like to finish this story arc in his game. In fear we would not go back to it for a long time. And I'm enjoying it a lot.
Do you have a plan for starting equipment for the new game?
ReplyDeleteI could start soon. Once the characters are created, we would likely run a shakedown adventure or two to make sure everyone likes their character and that they are tweaked properly.
ReplyDeleteI am still thinking about starting equipment. You will definitely have some I just need to figure out what to give you and how much. I think that I will likely give you some things and then money to buy the rest.
The adventure itself is long. There are over 50 encounters listed and their is potential for a bunch of off the path stuff depending on how you all get into the story and setting. Best case, I could see it taking 6 months to run to completion assuming that I run it every Tuesday. Realistically, that will likely mean a year before we are done. I could be wrong, I could go faster. It is a 200+ page adventure.
I am all for a few weeks on, a few weeks off schedule assuming there are other games we want to play. Back in the day, Christian and I switched off every week. Whatever people want.
Keith: Mystic Theurge is one of the original prestige classes in the DMG. Quite possibly the most overlooked prestige class of all time.
ReplyDeleteJennifred: If you take the Improved Familiar feat you could get a faerie dragon. They have butterfly wings and are oh, so much cooler.
Bruce: You still get a widening array of spells past 7th lvl right? One of the reasons I suggested to stay a warmage is to keep your caster level high. I would expect to run into lots of bad guys with spell resistance (those pesky dark elves, you know). You might want to consider Spell Penetration too. This goes for staying a warmage or if you spec into sorcerer
Dave,
ReplyDeleteThanks, I will look it over. I have not really paid that much attention to prestige classes. Ususally by the time we get to a point where they start to come up, the game ends.
Bruce,
I agree with Dave, Caster Level will be a factor for Magic Resistance. Spell Penetration is not a bad idea.
Keith
That's why I was asking Randy, I can't get that feat according to "the rules", and we know he doesn't follow them, he follows his heart.
ReplyDeleteTo get the 'improved familar' feat you have to have the 'aquire familar' ability, and as a warmage I don't. slash cry.
You are correct Keith, both Samurai and Kensai are in the Complete Warrior.
ReplyDeleteIf you are considering revamping Jennifred at all Bruce why not do it in reverse order. Start her out with two levels of Sorcerer and then switch to Warmage they are both Arcane casters and you would then be eligible for your familiar and later your improved familiar. Just a thought from the hearty one.
Kentai Kuzone
is an LG Human
1lvl Fighter
5lvl Samurai
3lvl Kensai
Keith the thing about Kensai's is they have a strong weapon focus which their level adds to. Hence if we are not being given $ and a buy you will need to give me a fairly nice katana/bastard sword.
Randy
i can pick locks with my arrows
ReplyDeleteBruce,
ReplyDeleteRandy's suggestion makes sense if you are looking for a true familiar. That along with Dave's suggetion could get you a very cool critter.
If you are looking for a cosmetic or special effect, I think that we could work something out say using the Handle Animal skill. Jennifred could be a butterfly rancher or some such.
Keith
The thing about getting a familar was directed at Randy because I was asking for 'his' game not Keiths new one...
ReplyDeleteI know this might get a little confusing for everyone because from now on ALL my characters will be Jennifred. Jennifred the warrior/rogue etc. Jennifred the Savage species troll/cleric, etc.
Butterfly rabcher sounds fun..
ReplyDeleteIf only I could get a Butterfly Rookery Of Holding....
No more confusing than Daren playing Anson, Storm Mage in every game. They had the same name, powers, skills and disads.
ReplyDeleteFunny, I don't remeber that...
ReplyDeleteHe played the character in Christian's Fantasy Hero, Christian's Champions Plague game and at least once in a D&D game but I do not remember which one.
ReplyDeleteIs'nt this a better alternative to a slew of emails?
ReplyDeleteAhem..
ReplyDeleteJennifred I assure you that there will be a special package available to you in our next game but you will have to look for it. And of course t will require you to look a bit outside of standard play. And Dave you should also be aware of some of my flavor text, both in this game and in last week's, as it will benefit your current predicament.
RUN JENNY! HE'S BRANDISHING HIS 'SPECIAL PACKAGE' AND HE WANTS ME TO SAMPLE HIS 'FLAVOR TEXT!' AHHHHHH RUN AHHHHH!
ReplyDeletei bet the package is chaotic in alignment
ReplyDelete{poke}
ReplyDeleteGear? Starting cash? Fluffy bunnies?
{poke, poke}
I will get to it on Friday night.
ReplyDeleteYou will wait and you will like it!
dont make the fluffy bunny angry
ReplyDeleteI posted elsewhere that I had done write-ups for Kyuzo, Darren and Tessa. Now we are all going to sleep to wait and see what Santa will bring us.
ReplyDeleteDreaming of sugarplums and shiny swords,
Randy
Dave,
ReplyDeleteThe only feat that I can find that raises your turning level is Improved Turning from the PHB. It only raises your level for turning by one and can only be taken once.