I'm posting this based on reaction from other players in
this thread who wanted to join but the game was full.
Crestfallin' is a project of mine I've been working with for a couple of years now, but I feel ready to get some PbP action going with it. What is
Crestfallin', you ask? Look below for the
Big 16.
1. What game system are you running (D&D, Call of Cthulu, Palladium, GURPS, etc.), and if applicable what edition (Original, Classic, Revised, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 10th, etc.)?
D&D 3.5 with Pathfinder class features improvements. If both v3.5 and PF present the same class feature (such as hit dice, save bonues, or abilities, then take whichever of the two is better). Skills have been improved (for the better, I feel) while your Feats are still the same as under the 3.5 chassis, with an exception to the Two-Weapon Fighting tree, see below.
2. What 'type' or variant of game will it be (i.e. "Shadow Chasers" or "Agents of Psi" for d20 Modern)? What is the setting for the game (eg. historic period, published or homebrewed campaign setting, alternate reality, modern world, etc.)?
"Homebrewed" campaign setting - Crestfallin'. Think Greyhawk but on a Planar Metropolis scale - it's a huge city, the kind of place where anyone can find anything or anybody, for the right amount of coin. It's a magical wonderland of adventure where dreams come true (think "Silvertown" from Joe Dirt) - and it's the focal point of the multiverse. Each class has more skill points now - for each class, increase it's listed skill points by two (so a Fighter or Wizard receives 4 + Int Mod, a Bard or Ranger receives 8 + Int Mod, and a Rogue receives 10 + Int Mod). These points are still multiplied by four at level one, and cross-class skill ranks still cost two points per rank desired. Max ranks in class & cross-class skills remain unchanged. Please make the following adjustments to your skills. If a class had proficiency in one of these skills, then they have proficiency in the new skill.
- Balance, Jump, & Tumble are now one skill - Acrobatics.
- Decipher Script, Forgery, & Speak Language are now one skill - Linguistics.
- Listen, Search, & Spot are now one skill - Perception.
- Hide & Move Silently are now one skill - Stealth.
- Gather Information is now covered under Diplomacy.
- Open Lock is now covered under Disable Device.
- Use Rope is now covered under Climb, or as part of the Grapple rules - depending on the use.
If a skill is not listed here, then assume it works as in the 3.5 PHB.
Two-Weapon Fighting is notoriously bad and under performing in conventional RAW play. So I am setting out to fix that. Rather than use the listed descriptions in the PHB, instead use this link: http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=3140.0 from the minmax boards. Additionally, this link also contains [much needed] improvements to the Weapon Focus/Specialization feats - these fixes are applicable to this campaign too.
3. How many Players are you looking for? Will you be taking alternates, and if so, how many?
Four or five players. Today is January 4th. I will keep this recruitment thread open until January 19th. That gives two weeks and a couple of hours or so to submit a character. This sounds like a reasonable timeframe. Oh, and I am on Pacific Standard Time. The only other timezones I am familiar with are Mountain, Central, and Eastern Standard Times. Therefore, please refer to times in one of these four formats.
4. What's the gaming medium?
Play-by-Post on these boards.
5. What is the characters' starting status (i.e. experience level)?
Players can start at 0 experience points - you're all just starting your career as we speak. If you choose to start as a Race with a Level Adjustment of +1, then you have only what your Race's Racial Hit Dice would offer you to start.
6. How much gold or other starting funds will the characters begin with?
Take maximum WBL for your class (i.e. a Fighter gets 6d4x10 so he will have 240 gold to start with; a Monk has 5d4 gold, so he will have 20 gold to start with). Players can start with one clothing outfit from Chapter Seven: Equipment in the PHB free of charge that costs five gold or less.
7. Are there any particular character classes, professions, orders, etc. that you want... or do not want? What are your rules on 'prestige' and/or homebrewed classes?
The Leadership feat, while allowed, is not available in the conventional method. Instead it is now a class feature for Lawful Good (and only Lawful Good) Paladins at eighth level. This is the only way to obtain this ability in this campaign.
8. What races, subraces, species, etc. are allowed for your game? Will you allow homebrewed races or species? 'Prestige' races or species?
PHB I & II, the Dungeon Master's Guide, the "Complete" series splat books (Warrior, Arcane, Divine, Scoundrel, & Adventurer), Dungeonscape, and Tome of Battle are acceptable for Corre classes & Prestige Classes both, but check with Dungeon Master on a case-by-case basis. Monster Manual I is okay for races, but bear in mind there is no LA buyoff in this campaign. Monster Manual II, III, & IV may be acceptable on a case-by-case basis for Animal Companions or Special Mounts - as always, check with the Dungeon Master first. While I don't like a lot of 3.0 material because I feel it is very dated and not accurate, the Arms & Equipment Guide is one of the few books that is perfectly acceptable - namely because it does not have a 3.5 printing. I have a large amount of official printed material in PDF form, so if you have something you'd like to use from a printed source, ask me and give me page numbers and what book it is in so I can give it a good read. If it's not WotC printed material, then don't bother asking.
9. By what method should Players generate their attributes/ability scores and Hit Points?
For stats, use one of the following methods; choose wisely though as once you've selected a method, you cannot choose the other.
Roll 3d4+6 six times. Please make your stat rolls in this character submission thread.
Point-Buy, dependant on your starting Class;
- Archivist, Artificer, Cleric, Druid, or Wizard - 25 points
- Binder, Favored Soul, or Sorcerer - 28 points
- Bard, Beguiler, Crusader, Dread Necromancer, Duskblade, Factotum, Swordsage, or Warblade - 30 points
- Hexblade, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, Warlock, Warmage - 32 points
- Barbarian, Fighter, Knight, Monk, or Swashbuckler - 36 points
Alternatively, you may take the 'Elite Array' if you do not want to risk the potential of poor rolls. The 'Elite Array' is 15 14 13 12 10 8.
You may re-roll your entire stat pool only if your total ability modifiers before racial modifiers add up to less than +2, or your highest stat is a twelve. You may only re-roll your pool in this manner once (and once you do, it replaces your first pool of stats). If the re-rolled pool is unsatisfactory to you, you may take the 'Elite Array' in it's place.
For Hit Points, take the max at first level, then roll at additional levels. If you roll less than average hit points, just take the average. (i.e. if your Fighter rolls a 4 + Con on his hit point roll, just give yourself 5 + Con instead). All players receive the Toughness feat at first level in addition to any other class feature you would be entitled to. This one is free, enjoy it guys!
10. Does your game use alignment? What are your restrictions, if so?
Yes, alignment does matter. No evil. For example, if you decide to play a Paladin, be mindful of your Code of Conduct - the deity you serve won't hesitate to force you to Atone for your misdeeds!
11. Do you allow multi-classing, or have any particular rules in regards to it?
Sure, but if you multiclass, you will be required to take at least two levels in the class you're interested in. Experience point penalties for multi-classing do apply, as described in the PHB.
12. Will you be doing all of the die rolling during the course of the game? Will die rolls be altered, or left to the honor system? If players can make die rolls, which ones do they make, how should they make the rolls, and how should they report them?
Players and I both roll via the forum dice roller. Players roll in the in-character thread while I will roll there but also may make some rolls in secret that need to be hidden too.
13. Are there any homebrewed or optional/variant rules that your Players should know about? If so, list and explain them, or provide relevant links to learn about these new rules.
I love the "Generic Classes" and the alternate classes (such as Paladin of Freedom or Urban Ranger) from Unearthed Arcana, so if you want to use these, then go ahead - just check with me on certain features as Unearthed Arcana can be a very hit-or-miss book. The "Whirling Frenzy" alternate Barbarian class feature, for example, is not allowed (it's not near as balanced as the standard Rage).
14. Is a character background required? If so, how big? Are you looking for anything in particular (i.e. the backgrounds all ending up with the characters in the same city)?
A paragraph or two should be more than sufficient. While I enjoy reading well-thought backgrounds, please don't write me a four-hundred page epic (it's quite likely I won't even read it if it's that long). In other words, moderation is key.
15. Does your game involve a lot of hack & slash, puzzle solving, roleplaying, or a combination of the above?
Mostly a mixture, if a bit heavier on the hack & slash. Hack & slash > Role-playing = Puzzle-solving. I like action, and don't be surprised to see a faster leveling rate in this campaign.
16. Are your Players restricted to particular rulebooks and supplements, or will you be allowing access to non-standard material? What sources can Players use for their characters?
Unearthed Arcana on a case-by-case basis. No Psionics, homebrew, templates, dragon magazine, flaws, or traits. No LA buyoff - if a race is powerful enough that you want to use it, you need to deal with the perceived higher level of the race.
Spoiler: Backstory of the Nations
Show
Crestfallin' - This is the 'star' of our story. A magical wonderland of adventure where anyone could find or learn about anything or any person - for the right coin, of course. This incredibly large metropolis is the trade centre of the multiverse, and has no specific demographic of race dominating over any other - you'll see just as many Half-Orcs as you would Elves, Humans, and Gnomes, for example. It's a rather peaceful town, reminiscent of Joe Dirt's Silvertown. It's odd, how in this one location, there is no racial strife or tension like there is in other parts of the world. It's almost like there's a spell of harmony cast on visitors of the town. This location is run by President Murphy.
Madrigan - Unfortunately for Madrigan, it has not had the fortune of Crestfallin's harmony over the years. Hundreds of years ago, during the "War of 112" Madrigan was involved in one of the bloodiest civil wars in the history of the multiverse. The scars of that war are seen even today; hence why we have both Madrigan, a Halfling nation, and it's [relatively] smaller portion, The Clovis Federation; a nation of Humans, Dwarves, Elves, and very small numbers of other non-Halfling races. Madrigan is still a large country though...but not near as big or prominent as Crestfallin' itself. This location is a monarchy run by King Wolvar Drakantal.
The Clovis Federation - Clovis, as just alluded to, is a much smaller nation. During the "War of 112", Clovis seceded from Madrigan, declaring itself as a new power of the world. It has managed to maintain it's independence for only a few hundred years. Clovis is run by a Republic of Elected Officials, much the same way as the United States Government.
Ostrich Bay Harbour - This is the primary trade partner of Crestfallin', they're known for their key export - Ostriches and Ostrich accessories. Ostrich meat, ostrich saddles, eggs, feathers, and even the big birds themselves. Ostrich Bay Harbour is not a military power in their own right, instead they rely on the much larger Crestfallin' for protection. Ostrich Bay Harbour is predominantly Human-run, but as is the case in most Human establishments, you're likely to find members of other races living here as well. Ostrich Bay is ran under the guidance of Crestfallin's own, President Murphy.
Zul'DrakRend - This is a very rough place. It's capitol is carved out of the side of a volcano, run by the cruel dictator Lord Maetheus Shadowhorn. His past times include torturing and enslaving persons for fun, sport, and profit. There is no real dedicated population demographic here as he does not care who he enslaves - only that he can have his enjoyment at the expense of others.
Characters Thus Far
{table=head]Player|Character|Description
Macros|
Rowan Arc|Human Paladin|
Bladehunter217|
Gren|Gnome Factotum|
Baitdoll|
Gun Kizan|Warblade|
Enyalius|
Reaven Umtracus|Human Swordsage|
OrchestraHc|
Badgerbeard|Dwarven Wizard|
TheLiquidSnake|
Cassie Morella|Dwarven Fighter (Dungeoncrasher)|
broodax|
Tenhelrim|Dread Necromancer|
Merellis|
Ophelia Wisewander|Human Beguiler|
Saskia|
Skye the Red|Human Sorcerer|
J-H|?|?|
Dexam|
Syviraux|Dragonborn (Gnome) Dragonfire Adept|
[/table]