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[DnD 4E PbP Recruiting CLOSED] Curse of the Black Pearls

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Posts

  • AegeriAegeri Tiny wee bacteriums Plateau of LengRegistered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Toxin01 wrote: »
    Also, reading the summary of Aegeri's Dark Sun maptools game puts my weekly get-together game to shame, I'm thinking about reskinning a couple of those fights.

    Sure, if you give me the encounters you want to redesign for your game I'll send you some DM specific notes on it. If there were any monsters I made myself I'll give you their stat blocks.

    I will address other questions and peoples characters later on. Having a bit of a weekend off so I may only be posting very sporadically for the next few days.

    Aegeri on
    The Roleplayer's Guild: My blog for roleplaying games, advice and adventuring.
  • srboyceboatsrboyceboat Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Well, for everybody involved while we await Aegeri's deliberations... it's a little ridiculous how many cool characters this spawned. And a handy list for anyone involved. Added per role chronologically.

    Strikers: Defenders: Controllers: Leaders: Hybrids:

    So, whoaholycrap. I’m going to follow this game even if I am at the bottom of the alternates list that doesn’t exist. There are some absolutely awesome character concepts in here, both mechanically and narratively. Also – look at all those submissions!

    srboyceboat on
    Picture is Dave Dorman's (http://www.davedorman.com/)
  • KayKay What we need... Is a little bit of PANIC.Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Tunos, if you're looking for a class that feels similar to the old Soulknife, check out the Essentials Hexblade. The Fey flavour has a good dexterity, and access to all the thiefy-skills, and the also manifest a weapon through their magic, and have a solid ranged attack to boot. And they teleport, a LOT.

    Nostuthamas, as written as a Rogue/Psion has a few problems, like Preparatory Shot and Nimble Strike both needing a ranged weapon to use, which you don't have, the Katar lacking proficiency (I know this is meant to be his soulknife, but you might be better off mechanically using a dagger to represent it until you get Katar proficiency).

    Kay on
    ew9y0DD.png
    3DS FCode: 1993-7512-8991
  • TunosTunos Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Good catch on the powers both being ranged - I don't know why I didn't catch that (actually, that's a lie - I saw the Prep Shot gave combat advantage and I got overly excited). I also don't know why I didn't know that rogues lacked katar proficiency. I feel really stupid now. I'll take a look at the hexblade - thanks for the tip.

    Edit: I've replaced the rogue/psion with the Hexblade build. It's much more...mechanically sound. And I'm gonna call him a Soulknife, bam!

    Tunos on
  • KayKay What we need... Is a little bit of PANIC.Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Rogues were a little bit of a botched class in some ways, I feel. Their 'weapon talent' feature points them towards using daggers, daggers, and more daggers. And nothing but daggers. There's nothing in there to take advantage of the superior versions (Katar and Kukri), as they lose an all-important +1 to hit. It even dissuades you from using a Short Sword or Rapier!

    I don't think any GM would have a problem with you manifesting a Katar-like weapon as a Hexblade, regardless of pact flavour - it'd just mechanically be the pact weapon, and cosmetically... well. As long as it's pretty close to the weapon type it's meant to represent, it should be good.

    Nimble Strike, however, would be an EXCELLENT Dilettante power for a Psion/Rogue, if you had a dagger to toss for it. :)

    Kay on
    ew9y0DD.png
    3DS FCode: 1993-7512-8991
  • b0b52000b0b52000 Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    So, whoaholycrap. I’m going to follow this game even if I am at the bottom of the alternates list that doesn’t exist. There are some absolutely awesome character concepts in here, both mechanically and narratively. Also – look at all those submissions!

    Woah! That is a lot of party. I did not realize there was that many. I wonder how many more there will be at the end of the 15th?

    b0b52000 on
  • TunosTunos Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Kay wrote: »
    Rogues were a little bit of a botched class in some ways, I feel. Their 'weapon talent' feature points them towards using daggers, daggers, and more daggers. And nothing but daggers. There's nothing in there to take advantage of the superior versions (Katar and Kukri), as they lose an all-important +1 to hit. It even dissuades you from using a Short Sword or Rapier!

    I don't think any GM would have a problem with you manifesting a Katar-like weapon as a Hexblade, regardless of pact flavour - it'd just mechanically be the pact weapon, and cosmetically... well. As long as it's pretty close to the weapon type it's meant to represent, it should be good.

    Nimble Strike, however, would be an EXCELLENT Dilettante power for a Psion/Rogue, if you had a dagger to toss for it. :)

    It's the exclusion of short swords that really threw me for a loop. By the gods there used to be an item called The Short Sword of Backstabbing!!!

    Tunos on
  • KayKay What we need... Is a little bit of PANIC.Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    There's nothing stopping a rogue from using shortswords, really. They just get an extra +1 to hit with daggers, making them the better choice! Then there's the Daggermaster paragon path which is just insane. And only works with Daggers.

    Kay on
    ew9y0DD.png
    3DS FCode: 1993-7512-8991
  • fadingathedgesfadingathedges Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
  • SkyCaptainSkyCaptain IndianaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2011

    The 9th of Aryth, 996 YK
    The ocean spray filled the air with the scent of salt and cooled off Clarissa, the first mate of the Lhazaarish privateer ship, the Mermaid's Guile, owned by Prince Koulton d'Lyrandar of the Wind Whisperers. She leaned against the railing near the prow of the wounded ship as smoke and steam wafted out of the hole in the port side, one deck below. She could hear the groans of the wounded even over the rhythymic slap of water on sodden wood as the ship plowed through wind chopped rollers. Fortunately it was the only damage to the seaworthiness of the ship and the fires had been extinguised quickly, but the elemental bound into the ballistae bolt that had created the hole left many of the crew dead or dying when it burst free and rampaged through the lower decks. The carnage was unimaginable.

    She reached down to a leather pouch on her belt that held the skull of an old friend. His skull had somehow bound itself to her and always returned no matter how diligently she tried to rid herself of the talkative old bastard of a druid, though she seemed to be the only one that could understand him. Fortunately he retained a bit of his skill from his former life and could still take the form of a raven. It kept the religious folks from asking too many questions. Usually.

    "Another prize won, Stephanos, but in no condition to make her my own," she said, tracing a pattern on the pouch holding her friends skill. The young human girl from Lhazaaar sighed. She had fought tooth and nail to climb the ranks of the Mermaid's Guilde after she ran away from her Lhazaarian father and Lyrandaren mother to sign up as a privateer in Lyrandar. This was the fourth ship they had taken in just the past two months alone. The first was sold to pay the crews wages. Better that than mutiny. The second and third sank while trying to shepherd them to safe harbor and now the fourth burned from the very elemental they had released on the Mermaid's Guile. One of the Guile's storm-wizards had blasted the infernal tool of war back to the other ship... clear across two dozen yards of open water between them.

    "The tides have turned against me. It's time I sought my fortune elsewhere." The captain wouldn't be happy, but rumors had spread like wildfire that the Last War was finally nearing an end which would mean an end to privateering for awhile and along with it, the chance to win her own ship and crew. Three days later, their letter of marque had become worth its weight in shit as the Treaty of Thronehold was signed and the announcement spread throughout Khorvaire by all means both mundane and magical.

    And so Clarissa left the Mermaid's Guile to seek her fortune elsewhere and found herself serving above the Crimson Wave nearly two years later. "C'mon Stephan, it's time for dinner." The sea-weathered wench strolled down the gangplank and laughed in amusement, muttering to herself, "As if that one would ever find berth on any ship with a reasonably sane captain. A pyromancer of all wizards." Clarissa decided to leave the sailors to their maudlin amusement and sought finer refreshment elsewhere near the docks.

    The 8th of Dravago, 997 YK
    Clarissa peered through the looking glass. For a brief moment, during a long pause at the crest of the wave, the ship was steady enough for her to spot three House Cannith ships of war escorting a galleon wallowing through the furious waves. A spatter of rain blurred the ships in her looking glass, but she'd had enough time to mark their position.

    "Three points off the starboard bow!" she cried out, her strong voice cutting through the howling gale Admiral Cutter had thrown them into. Jack Harrow the Cabin Boy perched atop the crow's nest and shouted the same thing a moment later. The crew roused from their routine battle against the storm and threw themselves into the rigging. A few began to chatter excitedly as the four other ships of their pirate fleet dropped sail and begain tacking to rake the warships with ballistae and sorcery.

    The Black Heart, Mermaid's Guile, and Umber's Goat tacked northwest, drawing away two of the House Cannith warships. Admiral Cutter, aboard the Kraken's Maw and Clarissa, skipper of the Iron Maiden, tacked northeast. The remaining Cannith warship stayed close to its ward. A blast of lightning shattered the jigger-mast, cutting Clarissa with a spray of splinters. The sodden and scorched wood smoldered. Clarissa growled and brought up the looking glass with practiced ease. Off the port amidships, two more House Cannith warships rolled out of the storm clouds and sea spray.

    "Heave to and prepare for boarders!" Clarissa leapt over the railing and tumbled to her feet on the deck below. The open sea between the Iron Maiden and the warships quickly vanished. The course of her ship would take them right between the two warships. A death trap for most vessels, but the Iron Maiden was heavily armored and an ironshod ram was the prow. Clarissa waited for the right moment. The warships continued on their courses, bracketing the Maiden.

    "NOW!" The crew leapt into action. The navigator spun the wheel hard to starboard as the starboard anchor dropped deep into the shallow ocean. A few breaths later and the anchor dug into the seabed and the Iron Maiden clubhalled right into the starboard midships of the Cannith warship. The ram punched through the wooden boards with a roaring crash. Beneath the waterline, a hidden hollow spike of iron and steel dealt a slow death to the warship. Water rushed into the lowest compartments, immediately slowing the momentum of the Stormwight. Cannith soldiers poured over the prow of the Maiden.

    The Maiden's crew with Clarissa at the forefront crashed into the soldiers. The din of battle almost drowned out the roar of the strengthening squall. The rising winds whipped the sea into a froth of whitecaps. Torrential rain poured down with a deafening crack of thunder, washing away the blood of the dying as quickly as it was spilled. Clarissa vaulted off the railing and into the rigging. She swiftly drew a handaxe and cut the line as the waves heaved the prow of the ship upwards. A small push off the railing and she swung around the battle to head aft.

    "Cut anchor and ship the oars!" Cannith soldiers continued to board the Iron Maiden, but the Maiden's crew was well versed with repelling boarders. Admiral Cutter often threw Clarissa and her ship right into the middle of the battle. Oarsmen in the decks below rushed to ship the oars and back the Maiden away from the sinking warship before it took them down with her. An explosion of fire and ice at the prow of the Maiden pulled Clarissa's attention back to the boarding action.

    A runed warforge and three heavily armored soldiers had cut a path through the Maiden's crew. Clarissa lifted an oxhorn to her lips and blew a brazen note that rang out through the staccato beat of thunder and rain. The first mate and crew members and from belowdecks rallied to the call and rushed up the stairs, charging into the warforge and its guards. Clarissa sped swiftly across the deck to support her first mate, but the warforged artificer tossed a whirring sphere onto the deck between her and her crew. The contraption clicked and a blast of thunder shattered the main mast. The force of the explosion threw her off the deck into the sea below. The current quickly swept her away from the battle towards the fierce battle between the Cannith galleon, The Genesis, and the Kraken's Maw.

    She looked behind her and hope was dashed from her heart. The Maiden was unable to free itself from the sinking Cannith warship and would soon be in the hands of that warforged artificer. The admiral would never trust her to captain another ship. Better to let the sea take her than face that humiliation she thought briefly. Her morose reverie was interrupted by rough hands hauling her out of the water into a boat.

    "The Admiral sent us," one of the sailors said. She nodded wordlessly, watching the soldiers of House Cannith blast their dying warship. The warforged artificer took the helm of the Maiden and turned the ship from the battle. It's role in the coming battle was done.

    Behind her, the Genesis was battered by steel tipped ballistae bolts, platinum white bolts of lightning, and coruscating blasts of fire. The port side of the Genesis was shattered open and crates of unfinished warforged spilled into the sea. A dismantled creation forge splashed into the ocean and sunk, drifting into Adder's Rift, a black hole beneath the shallow waters of the Lhazaar Sea. Clarissa caught a fleeting sight of the Maiden, a moment before the storm swallowed it in black mist and angry thunderheads.

    "One day you iron bastard..." Clarissa vowed. "One day."

    The 13th of Therendor, 998 YK
    It happened just over twenty-five years ago my mother said. No, not the Rising. My birth. A squalling baby born during one of the worst storms to sweep across the Thunder Seas in generations. Not even my grandfather, captain of the Kraken and the ship upon which I was born, could remember a more fierce gale. Veteran sailors of the Last War were a superstitious old lot. It must have worried them endlessly with my mother aboard. How they must have fretted after I was born. To this day, I wonder how my grandfather kept the crew of the Kraken from tossing him and all his kin over the railings and dedicating our deaths to god of the briny deeps, hoping to appease the capricious deity.

    Fortunately for me, such superstitions have gone by the wayside. The Kraken, now rightfully mine and earned with blood and sweat, cuts through the waves of the Thunder Sea twenty-seven years to the day I was born. Gunmetal grey thunderclouds gather on the horizon, platinum white and virulent blue bolts of quicksilver lightning flicker between the rising thunderheads. The roll of thunder washes over the prow of the Kraken a few breaths after the flash of lightning fades from my eyes. I can feel the rumble deep within my chest and a shiver passes through me, though it is not the storm ahead that shakes my courage. It is the devils of the sea, the Sahuagin, that freeze the marrow of my bones.


    "Cut loose the anchor!" Clarissa shouted over the rising wind. "Drop everything overboard!" She then turned the captain's wheel three points to starboard, tacking into the wind. The keel bit into the furious Thunder Sea, gathering speed as the agile Kraken and her crew fled three Sahuagin war parties scything through the salty water astride mammoth beasts of war called Krytens. The beasts had the shape of a shark, but broader of back and if a shark had massive fins and flippers that propelled them through the oceans at impossible speeds. Geared for war, the krytens carried close to a dozen of the sea devils each.

    The heavy iron anchor of the Kraken slipped free of the ship, dragging the thick hemp rope overboard with it. Heavy splashes on both sides of the ship marked the loss of each cannon and its iron shot. Clarrisa ran both hands through her thick red hair, binding it expertly with a twist of her hand and a length of leather. A black leather booted foot on the captain's wheel kept the Kraken from straying off course. Her ship cut cleanly through the chop of the seas, a frothy cap on top of the waves spreading in her wake.

    Clarissa glanced behind the Kraken at the krytens and Sahuagin. The spiny sea devils were lashed to the back of the massive kryten with braided seaweed harnesses. Woven kelp armor was wrapped around each of the Sahuagin raiders. Heavy bronze tridents were grasped in three fingered claws and nets twisted over their shoulders. Clarissa knew from experience that the nets had shards of coral and shells woven into their fibers. The scars across her legs were a testament to the effectiveness of the Sahuagin nets.

    "We'll be lucky to see the next dawn," she murmured to herself. A flash of lightning and an immediate crack of thunder snapped her attention back to the Kraken. Jack Harrow, the cabin boy, twisted around in the wind, hanging from the rigging. The crows mast was shattered and smoldered. Smoke and steam were torn from the embers by the fierce storm winds as the sky-promised torrent of rain slashed into the sea. The Kraken knifed through the waves piling up in front of her and vanished into the fury and shadow of the winter sea storm.

    Atop the kryten, the Sahuagin handlers thrashed the massive beasts, flogging them with barbed whips to urge them to greater speed.

    Character Builder Summary
    ====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
    Clarissa Rousseau, level 1
    Human, Thief
    Animal Master Feature: Raven
    Human Power Selection: Bonus At-Will Power
    Background: Occupation - Mariner, Lyrandar Privateer (+2 to Athletics)

    FINAL ABILITY SCORES
    Str 14, Con 10, Dex 18, Int 9, Wis 14, Cha 12.

    STARTING ABILITY SCORES
    Str 14, Con 10, Dex 16, Int 9, Wis 14, Cha 12.


    AC: 16 Fort: 13 Reflex: 17 Will: 13
    HP: 22 Surges: 6 Surge Value: 5

    TRAINED SKILLS
    Streetwise +6, Stealth +9, Thievery +9, Insight +7, Perception +7, Acrobatics +9, Athletics +9

    UNTRAINED SKILLS
    Arcana -1, Bluff +1, Diplomacy +1, Dungeoneering +2, Endurance +2, Heal +2, History -1, Intimidate +1, Nature +2, Religion -1

    FEATS
    Human: Foamgather Heritage
    Level 1: Weapon Proficiency (Rapier)

    POWERS
    Bonus At-Will Power: Piercing Strike
    Thief utility 1: Ambush Trick
    Thief utility 1: Unbalancing Trick

    ITEMS
    Adventurer's Kit, Leather Armor, Rapier, Dagger (5), Identification Papers with Portrait, Thieves' Tools

    SkyCaptain on
    The RPG Bestiary - Dangerous foes and legendary monsters for D&D 4th Edition
  • AegeriAegeri Tiny wee bacteriums Plateau of LengRegistered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Hegantas Bloon: Good character concept and I am intrigued how a seeker/ranger hybrid would work out (possibly pretty well). The main problem will be competing for both the striker and controller role (EG 5th man). Have to consider that carefully.

    Nostu Majeryn: I like the hexblade build the most of the two you presented. You can flavor your powers however you want and manifest your pact weapon as a scythe or anything else - so long as the mechanics are the same I don't mind. The background was really interesting, though I do find it curious that he wouldn't have been alive during the last war: It ended only 2 years ago from where the game begins :P He'd have to be... young to have missed it. Otherwise I like the background a lot and provides some interesting ideas for potential plot threads.

    srboyceboat: Very handy post. You can tell that I have much to go through and consider! Hence why I've given myself almost 5 days to do it :O

    Clarissa Rousseau: Having seen a thief in play I already know it's a really effective striker - the heritage feat is especially useful in this context. Like the background as well.

    Hmmm, much to consider over the next few days.

    Aegeri on
    The Roleplayer's Guild: My blog for roleplaying games, advice and adventuring.
  • TunosTunos Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Sorry - I don't know where but I got in my head that the war ended 100 years ago or so. I'll redraft the relevant portions therein.

    Tunos on
  • SkyCaptainSkyCaptain IndianaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Another short story about Clarissa. Got inspired when I was perusing some Eberron wikia stuff and listening to Guild Wars 2 soundtracks on YouTube. This music was playing in my head as I wrote it:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trAzl6aF8J4
    One Day


    The 8th of Dravago, 997 YK
    Clarissa peered through the looking glass. For a brief moment, during a long pause at the crest of the wave, the ship was steady enough for her to spot three House Cannith ships of war escorting a galleon wallowing through the furious waves. A spatter of rain blurred the ships in her looking glass, but she'd had enough time to mark their position.

    "Three points off the starboard bow!" she cried out, her strong voice cutting through the howling gale Admiral Cutter had thrown them into. Jack Harrow, perched atop the crow's nest, shouted the same thing a moment later. The crew roused from their routine battle against the storm and threw themselves into the rigging. A few began to chatter excitedly as the four other ships of their pirate fleet dropped sail and begain tacking to rake the warships with ballistae and sorcery.

    The Black Heart, Mermaid's Guile, and Umber's Goat tacked northwest, drawing away two of the House Cannith warships. Admiral Cutter, aboard the Kraken's Maw and Clarissa, skipper of the Iron Maiden, tacked northeast. The remaining Cannith warship stayed close to its ward. A blast of lightning shattered the jigger-mast, cutting Clarissa with a spray of splinters. The sodden and scorched wood smoldered. Clarissa growled and brought up the looking glass with practiced ease. Off the port amidships, two more House Cannith warships rolled out of the storm clouds and sea spray.

    "Heave to and prepare for boarders!" Clarissa leapt over the railing and tumbled to her feet on the deck below. The open sea between the Iron Maiden and the warships quickly vanished. The course of her ship would take them right between the two warships. A death trap for most vessels, but the Iron Maiden was heavily armored and an ironshod ram was the prow. Clarissa waited for the right moment. The warships continued on their courses, bracketing the Maiden.

    "NOW!" The crew leapt into action. The navigator spun the wheel hard to starboard as the starboard anchor dropped deep into the shallow ocean. A few breaths later and the anchor dug into the seabed and the Iron Maiden clubhalled right into the starboard midships of the Cannith warship. The ram punched through the wooden boards with a roaring crash. Beneath the waterline, a hidden hollow spike of iron and steel dealt a slow death to the warship. Water rushed into the lowest compartments, immediately slowing the momentum of the Stormwight. Cannith soldiers poured over the prow of the Maiden.

    The Maiden's crew with Clarissa at the forefront crashed into the soldiers. The din of battle almost drowned out the roar of the strengthening squall. The rising winds whipped the sea into a froth of whitecaps. Torrential rain poured down with a deafening crack of thunder, washing away the blood of the dying as quickly as it was spilled. Clarissa vaulted off the railing and into the rigging. She swiftly drew a handaxe and cut the line as the waves heaved the prow of the ship upwards. A small push off the railing and she swung around the battle to head aft.

    "Cut anchor and ship the oars!" Cannith soldiers continued to board the Iron Maiden, but the Maiden's crew was well versed with repelling boarders. Admiral Cutter often threw Clarissa and her ship right into the middle of the battle. Oarsmen in the decks below rushed to ship the oars and back the Maiden away from the sinking warship before it took them down with her. An explosion of fire and ice at the prow of the Maiden pulled Clarissa's attention back to the boarding action.

    A runed warforge and three heavily armored soldiers had cut a path through the Maiden's crew. Clarissa lifted an oxhorn to her lips and blew a brazen note that rang out through the staccato beat of thunder and rain. The first mate and crew members and from belowdecks rallied to the call and rushed up the stairs, charging into the warforge and its guards. Clarissa sped swiftly across the deck to support her first mate, but the warforged artificer tossed a whirring sphere onto the deck between her and her crew. The contraption clicked and a blast of thunder shattered the main mast. The force of the explosion threw her off the deck into the sea below. The current quickly swept her away from the battle towards the fierce battle between the Cannith galleon, The Genesis, and the Kraken's Maw.

    She looked behind her and hope was dashed from her heart. The Maiden was unable to free itself from the sinking Cannith warship and would soon be in the hands of that warforged artificer. The admiral would never trust her to captain another ship. Better to let the sea take her than face that humiliation she thought briefly. Her morose reverie was interrupted by rough hands hauling her out of the water into a boat.

    "The Admiral sent us," one of the sailors said. She nodded wordlessly, watching the soldiers of House Cannith blast their dying warship. The warforged artificer took the helm of the Maiden and turned the ship from the battle. It's role in the coming battle was done.

    Behind her, the Genesis was battered by steel tipped ballistae bolts, platinum white bolts of lightning, and coruscating blasts of fire. The port side of the Genesis was shattered open and crates of unfinished warforged spilled into the sea. A dismantled creation forge splashed into the ocean and sunk, drifting into Adder's Rift, a black hole beneath the shallow waters of the Lhazaar Sea. Clarissa caught a fleeting sight of the Maiden, a moment before the storm swallowed it in black mist and angry thunderheads.

    "One day you iron bastard..." Clarissa vowed. "One day."

    SkyCaptain on
    The RPG Bestiary - Dangerous foes and legendary monsters for D&D 4th Edition
  • b0b52000b0b52000 Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    SkyCaptain wrote: »
    Another short story about Clarissa. Got inspired when I was perusing some Eberron wikia stuff and listening to Guild Wars 2 soundtracks on YouTube. This music was playing in my head as I wrote it:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trAzl6aF8J4

    That's funny, I was watching this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDDUJnYdGmo

    When writing up Steven seagull. His backstory should include more ninjas I think. Are there any ninja clans in the LP? Steven Seagull escaped from one.

    Edit: Well, I assume the entire game will involve things like that now that I think about it, maybe I don't need it in the backstory if someone throws ninjas into the game?

    b0b52000 on
  • Anon the FelonAnon the Felon In bat country.Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    I'm sorry to do a second submission to this campaign, but I recently had a fantastic character idea I'd like to play.
    Cruven Eternal
    Portrait
    d6b7c800f596cc4eb32ff252ae173690.jpg

    Background
    Curven stood on the deck of the Crimson Wave as the rain poured down. Steam boiled up from him were the tropical storm that spilled down from a black sky touched his bare skin. His face was a picture of stoicism as he stared out over the rolling waves, almost oblivious to the heaving of the deck. 'Cruven, what are you doing out here?' A lithe elf worked her way across the deck, her hooded face hidden in shadow and darkness, only the slight glimmer of a smile was visible below the soaked cowl that shielded her from the storm. 'Marrion, you should go back below deck, this is no weather for some one as frail as you fey folk.' Cruven chuckled as he spoke, slightly turning his head as the elf finally stood beside him gripping the deck railing. Ignoring the comment Marrion looked out over the sea, 'Can you see the province? Captain says we're lost till the storm lifts, says he's lost our position in the storm.' 'I never had much confidence in him, I firmly believe he keeps me around only because I'm able to stand out here...in this.' Cruven raised his head up to the cloud covered sky, his face smiling as the rain pounded down. 'Marrion, tell the captain we have company. I've spotted a trailing vessel to our stern.' Marrion slapped Cruven on the shoulder and grinned 'Our faithful night watchman, I'll go find him below deck. I've had enough of this any way.'

    Cruven watched the elf stumble across the deck as she left, the smile still upon his face. It melted away as he looked back out across the black sea, the flames that surrounded him heightened and intensified as he squinted his eyes. 'Black sails, always after something...Did they not learn their lesson the last time I sent their ships down with sails aflame?' Curven spoke quietly to himself as he drew his blades and loosened his muscles. He always hated fighting in storms like this, the only advantage was the fear it struck into these folks of the mortal plane. His fiery form and magic causing them to shake in their boots.
    ***

    Cruven was given life in the Brass City. During his youth his fire-soul was much his bane, as he was never content to do just one thing. As soon as the opportunity presented itself, Cruven took his leave of the Brass City and descended to the mortal plane. Finding no real home for himself, Cruven eventually signed on as a privateer out of the Lhazaar Principalities. Being able to use the only gifts he always possessed, magic and a certain unspeakable martial prowess. The life of a mercenary suited him well, having to answer to no one put his soul at ease.

    Recently messengers of Kossuth had found their way into his dreams, requesting his presence in the court of fire. Cruven continued to ignore them, knowing that one day he would not be able to, not wanting to deal with his ancestral father's wrath for ignoring his responsibilities to his people. He has sworn that until that day comes, he would continue to sail the seas, and live his life as he saw fit. Not as some elemental power demanded.

    I'm really digging this character concept, more so then my Dragonborn rogue. I feel like he could be a lot of fun, and to me the idea of a "Planar Problem-Child" opens up limitless RP options. Oh: I also should note that I started up a campaign here as a 4e PbP, called "War in Mal'Dun", so I'll be DMing that and still looking for a D&D PbP to play in (hopefully this one).

    Anon the Felon on
  • NealnealNealneal Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Pyrite- Warforged Artificer, Alchemist

    *Note- The Character Builder won't have the ability to choose Intelligence for Warforged as a Racial Ability bonus until the 21st. So I built him with the scores it allows for now and will adjust them when I am able to use the right ones.

    *Note 2.0- Aegeri, if you think using the Alchemist theme with an artificer would be too much, I would be more than happy to alter him.

    Background
    Pyrite is an experimental Warforged, one created to assist in the forges and laboratories of House Cannith, not on the front lines of the war. Created in the final decade of the war, he has spent most of his life learning the art of arcane artifice and alchemy from his House Cannith masters. When the war ended he set out to forge his own path in the world, for the walls of the laboratory were closing in around him and he felt stifled by his masters' refusal to allow him to work independently.

    During the last two years, he has traveled from one end of Khorvaire to the other. Most recently he has hired on as a medic on the Crimson Wave. Needing no sustenance and little rest, he has proven himself to be valuable in ways even he hadn't considered before signing on. The wide open ocean, the freedom to invent and work on what he'd like and a feeling of being useful have lead him to consider staying on for quite a while longer.

    Nealneal on
  • godmodegodmode Southeast JapanRegistered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Kept forgetting to finish my character to submit for this...will have one tomorrow, I promise!

    godmode on
  • IlliantharIllianthar GMT -0700Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Aegeri - I just got selected to be in Farangu's "Fantastical Contraption" game. That means I'm DM'ing 1 game and playing in 2. I'm still very excited about the possibilities of playing either of the two characters I've listed in this thread, but given your thought about taking people who aren't really in any other games, I think it's only fair if I retract my two character applications, Persecutus and Hegantas.

    Good luck to all the applicants. I'll be watching your exploits closely!

    Illianthar on
  • AegeriAegeri Tiny wee bacteriums Plateau of LengRegistered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Yeah, I have to say that people already playing in games are going to have a very difficult chance compared with the numerous submissions from people who haven't got any DnD at all.

    Aegeri on
    The Roleplayer's Guild: My blog for roleplaying games, advice and adventuring.
  • Toxin01Toxin01 Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Aegeri, is it possible to retract a character in place of another? My submission for a leader was a bard, which we have two others applying for. I'd like to change his class, if possible. If not that's perfectly fine though.

    Toxin01 on
    Aiden Baail: Level 1 Swordmage: 19 AC 14 Fort 15 Ref 13 Will (Curse Of The Black Pearls)
    GM: Rusty Chains (DH Ongoing)
  • AegeriAegeri Tiny wee bacteriums Plateau of LengRegistered User regular
    edited June 2011
    I would be fine with that, so long as you only have three submissions and they are all different classes I don't have a problem there.

    Aegeri on
    The Roleplayer's Guild: My blog for roleplaying games, advice and adventuring.
  • Toxin01Toxin01 Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Actually, I think Bards are the only Leaders that get a lot of talky bonuses, which is something I think would be fun to be, I'll just hope that if any bards get picked it's little Gremnsar.

    Toxin01 on
    Aiden Baail: Level 1 Swordmage: 19 AC 14 Fort 15 Ref 13 Will (Curse Of The Black Pearls)
    GM: Rusty Chains (DH Ongoing)
  • godmodegodmode Southeast JapanRegistered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Okay, got a character ready just for this game.

    Krist Malorne, Human Thief

    Appearance
    Krist is about six feet tall, lean and muscular. He has longish dark hair and bright, attentive eyes. He is missing his left ear, where now only a gnarled tangle of scars remains. He bears scars about his arms as signs of his past as a fighter, and his hands are heavily callused from years of hard work, the left missing the third finger. His clothing is plain and unadorned, and though his weapons are as well, he keeps them incredibly sharp. He wears a plain silver chain with a small pendant around his neck.
    Personality
    Krist is easy-going and talkative, quick to smile and joke, especially if it distracts you enough for him to relieve you of your gold purse. He is suspicious and slightly disdainful of the upper class, but he recognizes the value of money, and will not turn down a paying job on principle. He knows the value of self-sustainment, and will not rely on others when he can help it. When not ponderously sharpening his weapons, he can often be seen idly fiddling with the pendant around his neck.
    Background
    Krist Malorne calls the city of Sharn his home. He was orphaned in his youth following his mother’s illness five years after giving birth to his younger sister, Brienna, and his father was killed fighting for Breland in The Last War. At the age of twelve, he and his sister took refuge in the streets of Grayflood, learning to beg, borrow, and steal in order to survive. He took on odd jobs at the docks and inns, where he met numerous sailors and captains and became fascinated with the seafaring life. He learned to fight from pirates and lawful sailors alike, taking to their style of nimble attacks and light weapons.
    At the age of eighteen, Krist left Sharn for good, trusting his sister to the clerics to develop her skill for the healing arts. He became a hired sword for the merchant ship Star of Sharn where he sailed around the continent delivering trade goods between the cities. He served on the Star for several years, seeing many ports around Korvaire, until the captain caught him pocketing some small trinkets that he lifted as souvenirs from the hold. The price he paid for the items - an earring and ring - were his left ear and the ring finger from his left hand, and he was cast from the ship in disgrace. He served on several smaller ships for a few years, even mixing with pirates when legitimate business was scarce, and eventually ended up in the Lhazaar Principalities.
    He met the captain of The Crimson Wave on the dock, as Krist was looking for work. Krist impressed the captain with his experience combating pirates, and was hired on as an extra guard.

    I am not currently in any games, nor have I played at all since '09, when my fledgling attempt at D&D ended when the DM disappeared.

    Any and all constructive criticism is welcome, as I'm sure I screwed up something in this process :P

    godmode on
  • AegeriAegeri Tiny wee bacteriums Plateau of LengRegistered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Anon the Felon, it was perfectly fine to do multiple submissions. I wanted a range of options to choose from so I could get the most interesting party game wise (and ensure I had all roles covered adequately).

    Cruven Eternal: I like the background you've given me, but your defenses seem very low and I'm wondering why you've taken the Kukri proficiency? Interesting character concept though.

    Pyrite: I have no problem combining artificer and alchemist together to be honest. Simple, but effective background and justification as well. Good build as well.

    Krist Malorne: Solid background and of course, it's pretty hard to go wrong with a thief (who is actually the best level 1 performer in the game as a striker). Using two weapons is nice flare and style for a piracy themed game as well.

    Aegeri on
    The Roleplayer's Guild: My blog for roleplaying games, advice and adventuring.
  • Anon the FelonAnon the Felon In bat country.Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Aegeri wrote: »
    Anon the Felon, it was perfectly fine to do multiple submissions. I wanted a range of options to choose from so I could get the most interesting party game wise (and ensure I had all roles covered adequately).

    Cruven Eternal: I like the background you've given me, but your defenses seem very low and I'm wondering why you've taken the Kukri proficiency? Interesting character concept though.

    Pyrite: I have no problem combining artificer and alchemist together to be honest. Simple, but effective background and justification as well. Good build as well.

    Krist Malorne: Solid background and of course, it's pretty hard to go wrong with a thief (who is actually the best level 1 performer in the game as a striker). Using two weapons is nice flare and style for a piracy themed game as well.

    You're right about my Gensai, I'm going to fix him a bit and republish the sheet. Kukri was for flavor but highly unnecessary.

    Made some minor changes: Character sheet

    Anon the Felon on
  • AegisAegis Fear My Dance Overshot Toronto, Landed in OttawaRegistered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Slight note: a Swordmage requires his off-hand be free in order to benefit from Swordmage Warding (what gives him a bonus to AC).

    And I don't believe there are any Swordmage powers that key off of two-weapons.

    Aegis on
    We'll see how long this blog lasts
    Currently DMing: None :(
    Characters
    [5e] Dural Melairkyn - AC 18 | HP 40 | Melee +5/1d8+3 | Spell +4/DC 12
  • Anon the FelonAnon the Felon In bat country.Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Wow, didn't see that! Feel kind of foolish for missing something so obvious. Fixed.

    Anon the Felon on
  • KayKay What we need... Is a little bit of PANIC.Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Yeah, Swordmages are really close to the old Elf-only Bladesinger from 2E, that got tons of bonuses for fighting one-handed with an empty off-hand. (So they could cast spells and benefit from Full Defense AT THE SAME TIIIIIME.)

    Kay on
    ew9y0DD.png
    3DS FCode: 1993-7512-8991
  • Anon the FelonAnon the Felon In bat country.Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Yeah, I've played a Pathfinder Magus, and they operate very similarly. You need 1 hand free so you can cast spells in combat. Unfortunately it didn't click in my head that a class with a very similar concept would have similar rules. One cool thing about the Gensai/Fire/Sword mage? So much fire stuff can go on.

    Anon the Felon on
  • squishy-blobsquishy-blob Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Holy Crap. You poor thing Aegeri. How in the world are you going to decide on a party from all these submissions?

    squishy-blob on
  • AegeriAegeri Tiny wee bacteriums Plateau of LengRegistered User regular
    edited June 2011
    I have a method actually and have been scoring the applications as I get them. I haven't made any final judgements yet, but I am getting an idea of what sort of party I would like to form.

    Aegeri on
    The Roleplayer's Guild: My blog for roleplaying games, advice and adventuring.
  • srboyceboatsrboyceboat Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Yeah, he hasn't got an easy job. I don't envy him at all. As partial as I am to my characters, I've mentally assembled about 6 builds of groups that would be patently awesome without any of my characters included. Which makes me a sad boyceboat. But it's still really cool.

    Kind of a commentary for General thread, but valid here as well: I still have a hard time wrapping my head around swordmages. I love Swordmage flavor, but i have a rough time with it mechanically for some reason. Seems that, like a lot of the Arcane power classes, it takes a rather lot of optimization to get it beefy enough. It's probably likely just me not thinking it through enough.

    srboyceboat on
    Picture is Dave Dorman's (http://www.davedorman.com/)
  • fadingathedgesfadingathedges Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Aegeri wrote: »
    I have a method actually and have been scoring the applications as I get them. I haven't made any final judgements yet, but I am getting an idea of what sort of party I would like to form.

    Similarly, I am preparing both an acceptance speech and a congratulations-to-the-winners speech.

    The latter goes something like: "Aegeri: Suck my walnut robot cock. My lady."

    fadingathedges on
  • PinfeldorfPinfeldorf Yeah ZestRegistered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Hey whoa whoa, don't call him lady.

    The only insult allowed in these here parts is silly goose.

    Pinfeldorf on
  • AegeriAegeri Tiny wee bacteriums Plateau of LengRegistered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Well, it's true that I look damn pretty in a dress.

    Aegeri on
    The Roleplayer's Guild: My blog for roleplaying games, advice and adventuring.
  • TheBogTheBog Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    You know, I was considering putting up a slayer, but after we just got done bashing them I don't think it's such a good idea haha. Working on my sentinel druid. Needs moar leaders.

    TheBog on
  • Toxin01Toxin01 Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    I enjoy Swordmages simply because they play differently than a regular defender, what with all the teleporting and sliding. All though, I've never seen one in action at my table so for all I know little Aiden might end up dying forever.

    Toxin01 on
    Aiden Baail: Level 1 Swordmage: 19 AC 14 Fort 15 Ref 13 Will (Curse Of The Black Pearls)
    GM: Rusty Chains (DH Ongoing)
  • TheBogTheBog Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Mr. Aegeri. If I were to build a sentinel druid outlaw (always has his animal companion, and most of the time trades his actions so his animal companion makes the attack), would you allow surprise strike to be used on the animal companion attacks as well? Or should I pick another theme.

    TheBog on
  • NightslyrNightslyr Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    I tweaked Vyer a little bit (swapped Int for Str, swapped Heal skill for Perception). I edited my original post to take this into account.

    Nightslyr on
  • TheBogTheBog Registered User regular
    edited June 2011
    Gerard "The Bastard", half elf Sentinel Druid
    Third and final application!

    Sheet Summary:
    Init +0 HP 30/30 Bloodied 15 Healing Surge 7 ( used /11)
    AC 17 Fort 16 Reflex 14 Will 14 Speed 6
    Str 10 (0) Con 18 (+4) Dex 11 (0) Int 10 (0) Wis 19 (+4) Cha 8 (-1)

    Wolf companion stats link

    Powers:
    tending strike
    combined attack
    healing word
    knack for success (racial)
    surprise strike (theme)
    summon pack wolf

    Skills:
    Acrobatics -1, Arcana +0, Athletics +4, Bluff -1, Diplomacy -1, Dungeoneering +4, Endurance +3, Heal +4, History +0, Insight +9, Intimidate -1, Nature +9, Perception +9, Religion +0, Stealth -1, Streetwise -1, Thievery -1

    Equipment/Feats/Etc:
    Spear, hide armor, adv. kit, 10 feet of chain
    Feats: Melee training expertise
    Theme: Outlaw

    Background/Mannerisms:
    Gerard likes to think of himself as a good man. On the plus side, he has no malevolent intentions. Said intentions are rarely revealed, of course, and Gerard maintains a veil of mystery about why he does the things he does. Business is kept between himself and other pirates. Sadism isn’t really his thing, so he doesn’t keep slaves or torture like many others do. Too much self-respect. Instead, if someone crosses him, he feeds them to the dogs. He has exemplary work ethic and does his best to see things to their end. He has no qualms about cheating the privileged out of wealth or power (taking what they haven’t earned), but holds outlaws to a higher standard. Everyone starts on the same peg; a dirty smelly nobody. The only way to make it up the ladder is through hard work. And being over a hundred years old, witnessing the Last War from beginning to end (albeit from the outside), definitely gave him ample time to climb up the chain of command and garner respect.

    On the minus side, Gerard isn’t very fond of elves and the eladrin. Born a bastard child of an elven mother on a slave ship and the human overseer in charge, he has all but wiped his elven name from his mind. Even forgotten what she looked like. Creatures of the feywild lack strength and spirit and rely too much on trickery and magic. They’re cowards. Yes, yes, he knows his human blood is mixed with elven. Gerard views himself as a human that has an illness; and, as with any disease, there are symptoms. It’s something that’s always in the back of his mind. A quest for a cure.

    Being a druid.. Gerard doesn’t consider himself one. His illness has made him more in tune with nature, yes. He’s been able to hear the thoughts of animals since he was a child and is very fond of dogs, but the trees and the grass give him an uneasy feeling as if they’re watching him. Living breathing things that want to communicate with him and get in his head. Gerard vastly prefers the sea. It calms him.

    Why the Crimson Wave?:
    Greed is a powerful motivator. Ever since the Day of Mourning, Gerard’s been salivating at the thought of the riches left behind in Cyre. An entire nation rendered lifeless in a single day?.. Well they sure as hell didn’t take the time to ship out their treasure! Unfortunately, former captain Gerard is currently without a ship or a crew after setting sail inland via Scions Sound towards the Mournland. The crew didn’t take kindly to the surprise, specifically not the recent gnoll hire. He won’t say it was a mistake, because it wasn’t. What he needed were some real adventurers, some real risk-takers, and what better place to find them than the Lhazaar Principalities? Case-in-point, the Crimson Wave. A surprisingly heavily armed merchant ship carrying dangerous cargo important to Prince Rygar? Not only will it line his pockets with gold, but may also turn up a like-minded crew that won’t run from opportunity. But how does an infamous pirate that’s been sailing for nearly the past century get on merchant ship trusted with royal cargo? Promise of riches makes quite a few look the other way.

    Appearance/Picture:
    The good captain likes to look the part. A spear in one hand used as a walking stick to lean on, while the other hand has leashes of several guard dogs wrapped around it (It’s amazing how agreeable folks can be!) The large brim hat keeps the fury of the storm out of his eyes, often casting a shadow over his whole face. Stolen riches paid for his silk shirt and the craftsmanship on his peg leg. The heavy leather overcoat is lined with the dried hides of his previous dogs.

    sentinel.jpg

    TheBog on
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