Forbidden Scriptures

[Dudu]

So, here are. Brand new campaign.


First, basic info:

Standard fantasy 3.5 D&D, as normal.

All 3.5 books allowed with restrictions (Tome of Magic is out). Widely know broken aspects (like polymorph and planar binding abuse) are out. Most broken 3.0 prestige classes also out.

32 point buy and only one flaw allowed. Only Unearthed Arcana flaws are allowed.


Some extra information writen at the FDP thread:

Spoiler

Show

First, it's more a combat driven campaign than a story driven, pretty much like Jalavia campaign. Not that I do not enjoy storytelling, but the aim of the campaign is to hon my skills with combats. So, it's more like a chalenge, a test.

The story is simple, for now. It happens in a world I conceived long ago and it's standard fantasy most of the time. Again, similar to Pedro's campaign. In short, it's mostly for fun, it's not like I'm aiming for an epic or something.

It's not a chalenge for me, only, but also for you. You'll begin as level 7 students of arcane arts. That means 4 of your 3 char levels must be an arcane caster. Wizards, sorcerors, bards, beguilers, beguilers. If it cast an arcane spell, it counts as arcane. I'm currently working in a semi-gestalt mechanics, like Cinco Pontas campaign, since it looks very flavourful to me.

There's only one concern. Your disponibility. There's already 3 campaigns going on, and I think another one could go just fine. It's all about checking each one of the four daily, and try to update at least daily. Eventually, some of us will be in a project or weeks away from PoA, or studying, and we give a pause as usual. But I really think there are some days we could manage to update the campaigns very fast.

So, it's up to you 3. If everyone is interested, I'll begin posting the campaign thread, with details and background and stuff. You could use your time to work in your characters. Some notes if you intend to do that, though.


>Remember that at least half of your character levels must be arcane.

>4 classes maximun plus one favored class.

>Prestige class count. For example. And abjurant champion count as an arcane, every prestige class that ends up giving you more arcane levels count. A mistique theurge gives you both divine and arcane levels, again, this counts as arcane despite it's duability. A deepwarden doesn't give you arcane spells, so it counts as a non arcane level.

>Most books are on. Everything must be presented so I can check if it's balanced or not. Core, Complete, Races and Tome of Battle are on, as usual. Faerum and Eberron are trickier, but a lot of their content are okay, mostly the ones that doesn't involve background (like the craven feat, for example).

>Psionics are rare. The only real psionics in this game are mindflayers and similar creatures. A player must have an heritage of some sort before get psionic powers. Psionic powers are subject to spell resistance.

Background

Spoiler

Show

For now, you're just students in the Minervean Arcane University. This College comprises 5 houses, each one focused in a different way to help society. The House of the Creators comprises conjurers that help by conjuring walls and help minor squads overcome the odds of a battle by summoning creatures. The House of the Keepers are the typical wizards; they organize libraries and help the cityfolk via a skilled use of transmutation spells. The House of the Destroyers are the evokers, necromancers and gishes that mish mashes enemy armies. The House of the Mesmers are speciallized in deception; they are enchanters, illusionists and transmuters that partakes in stealth and shady diplomatic missions.

And the fifth house, the Discoveres. Those are you. This House specializes in building dungeon dwellers. Divination, abjuration and transmutation are top schools in this house, even though the Discoveres don't despise any school in particular. In short, the House most prone to breed arcane adventures is this one. There are four basical aproaches for dungeon dwelling which the Discoveres teachs. The Seer, the Vanguard, the Lorekeeper and the Mediator. In a nutshell, the Seer is specialized in scouting and piercing illusions, the Vanguard in facing enemies toe to toe, the Lorekeeper in condensing knowledge about the dungeon, and the Mediator in aiding his team mates is sort of a leader.

Right now, you're in the in the Meteora Interhouse Tournament. There where a series of matches in the league, where the House of Keepers were eliminated. Your characters played in this league and reached 2nd place. The actual tournament is just semi finals and final. Your House, the Discoverers, are about to fight against the House of the Creators who reached 3rd place at the Stadium located outside the college, in Meteora (a city built around floating rocks next to the core of the mountain range). In this stadium, powerfull spells are cast and when a creature inside reaches 0HP, he's teleported outside the arena. There's still 2 days before the match begins and your characters start at the Discoverers training chamber, along with some of your teachers.

Other information found at the OOC thread.

[Dudu]

The Seer

Spoiler

Show

The seer is specializing in scouting the dungeon. Not by actually going everywhere, like a rogue, but via divination spells. He's also very strong in dispelling and piercing illusions, being the doom of illusionists.
They have Spot, Sense Motive and Search as class skills

1 +2 saves vs illusion (disbelief)
2 Piercing Illusion ability 4/day (check the Church Inquisitor, CD 27)
3 Spell Focus (Divination) or Greater
4
5 +4 saves vs illusion (disbelief)
6 Piercing Illusion ability 6/day
7 bonus wiz feat
8 +2 on dispell checks (max +12 on dispell magic and +22 on greater)
9
10 +6 saves vs illusion (disbelief)
11
12 Piercing Illusion ability 8/day
13
14
15 +8 saves vs illusion (disbelief)
16 +4 on dispell checks
17
18 Piercing Illusion ability 10/day
19
20 immunity to illusion (disbelief)

The Vanguard

Spoiler

Show

If the Seer is good at discovering what lies in the dungeon, the Vanguard is good at facing it. They not only develop a courage that rivals a barbarian, but also can mitigate slightly the damage they sustain in combat, thanks to intense studying trolls and werewolves.
They have intimidate, heal and survival as class skills.

1 +2 saves vs fear
2 DR 1/magic
3 +5 ft movement
4 DR 2/magic
5 +4 saves vs fear
6 DR 3/magic
7 bonus fighter feat
8 DR 4/magic
9
10 +6 saves vs fear; DR 5/magic
11 +10 ft movement
12 DR 6/magic
13
14 DR 7/magic
15 +8 saves vs fear
16 DR 8/magic
17
18 DR 9/magic
19
20 immunity to fear; DR 10/magic

The Lorekeeper

Spoiler

Show

Seers and Vanguards are proficient at discoverying facing the new. The Lorekeeper is there to make their effort worth. By Drawning maps, and holding whole catalogs of monsters, those guys are the group "memory".
All knowledge skills are class skills.

1 +2 save vs compulsion
2 Dark knowledge 3/day; Dark knowledge tactics (check Heroes of Horror pg. 83)
3
4
5 +4 save vs compulsion; Dark knowledge 4/day
6 Dark knowledge puissance
7 Bonus wiz feat
8 Dark knowledge 5/day
9 Dark knowledge foe
10 +6 save vs compulsion
11 Dark knowledge 6/day
12 Dark knowledge Dread Secret
13
14 Dark knowledge 7/day
15 +8 save vs compulsion; Dark knowledge 8/day
16
17 Dark knowledge 8/day
18
19
20 immunity to compulsion; Dark knowledge 9/day

The Mediator

Spoiler

Show

Sometimes the group reaches a vilage, or a shop. The mediator is the one between a bunch of battle hardened grunt mages and merchants afraid of dark. By studying mindflayers and telepathic creatures, they can develop telepathic comunications between team mates, and later, with anyone. When dwelling in dungeons, the Mediator makes the group working at it's full potential.
Bluff, sense motive and listen are class skills.

1 +2 save vs charm
2 50ft Telepathic communication with teammates
3 +4 aid another
4
5 +4 save vs charm
6 +1 language know
7 bonus feat
8 50 ft Telepathic communication with any intelligent creature
9
10 +6 save vs charm
11
12 100ft Telepathic communication with teammates; +6 aid another
13
14 +1 language know
15 +8 save vs charm
16 100 ft Telepathic communication with any intelligent creature
17
18
19
20 immunity to charm

[Chimaera]

I'm thinking in making or a diviner or a abjurer (probably a master of counterspells). BUt will make a little research before, so it may change.

[Beschoren]

since we are dungeon delvers provessionals, i might be going in the sneaky arcane stuff - lorekeeper rougue/wizard/spellwarp sniper/arcane trickser grey elf!.

does the suddenray strike counts as sneak attack dice to qualify for the arcane trikser?

[Dudu]

It qualifies. The arcane trickster was wrote before the sudden ray feature, that's why it doesn't specify.

[Chimaera]

I'm thinking in two options now:
focused abjurer and initiate of the sevenfold veil in the future
or
abjurant champion and argent savant wizard master of force spells

[Dudu]

And what about the gestalt, Rich?

[Chimaera]

I'm thinking in wizard 3/master specialist 4 seer
will be focused abjurer and master of counterspells.
will get some variants from unearthed arcana and will look for some more books also, ill see if i can get the domain as a cleric with some variant.

In fuure he'll be master specialist 7 and then initiate of the sevenfold veil 7
and then master specialist 10.
i gess that's it =D

Edit:
Eustacio is a young mage that always loved to disturb others. Even being young, he's sometimes worse than an old man, so he call himself Eustacio the Old. Since he always liked to meddle into other spellcasters work he aim to become the ultimate master of counterspells. He was raised by his uncle, an inquisitor of Cuthbert, who taught him about religion and the gods, as well some of the philosophies of the inquisitor.
But, as stubborn as it is, he decided to become a scholar of the arcane arts and not a cleric or inquisitor as his uncle wanted.
He's an abjurer 5/master specialist 2, human and neutral good.
He love to call people "young man" or "kid", even people lder than himself, and is always saying stuff like "Back in my days...", etc.
He banned evocation, necromancy and enchantment, since they're the main enemies of his "spirit of protection".

Edt2: also, since he's always annoying people, he is really pathetic at Charisma (6).

[Chimaera]

And, here is Eustacio and his loyal friend Archbald (his rat familiar):
http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetvie...sheetid=391650

Note: I'll buy equipment and choose spells later (probably tonight)

[Dudu]

Eustacio the Old... This is just priceless!


There are 2 another campaign exclusive aspects I most clarify.


First, the healing aspect. Without a full divine caster, you're stuck with bards or mystic theurges for cure spells. However, in this campaign there are med kits. Bags with medicinal herbs, oinments, bandages and other mundane means of healing.

There are 4 categories of med kits.

Small - 1d6 + heal check (max 10) - 25gp
Medium - 2d6 + heal check (max 15) - 150gp
Large - 3d6 + heal check (max 20) - 375gp
Masterwork - 4d6 + heal check (max 25) - 1000gp

For example, someone with 5 ranks in healing using a medium med kit could heal for:
(2d6)[11] + (1d20+5)[10] (max 15)
21 hp healed. Quite a chunk for 150 gp.

This healing takes a lot of concentration and 1d4 minutes to finish. Can't take 10 or 20. Aid another aplies.
Since it requires concentration and time, it cannot be used in combat. Bear in mind, this is very important. So you still might consider classic forms of cure, like cure potions and healing belts.



The second aspect are about the spelltouched creatures.
Those creatures count as arcane casters and are able to launch spell-like abilities. Those spell like abilities comes from Sorc/Wiz spells, up to lvl 3.

It's less a bless and more an sickness. Those spells carry no component and dismiss any caster level. So they can use them when silenced, grappled or even nauseated. However, they can't quite control those spells.

A lvl 1 spell cause 1d4 of raw arcane damage to who cast it. A lvl 2 goes for 4d4 and lvl 3 causes 9d4. In the end, such creatures can end up doing less damage to you than to thenselves. Casting lvl 3 spells is very rare, though.

Those spells cast by the spelltouched carry a DC equal to 10+spell level+creature HD/2. They are subject to Spell Resistance, as well counterspell or whatever would affect a normal spell. Those spells can be stolen by spellthieves as usual. The spelltouched are treated as arcane casters for ranger who have arcanists as favored enemies or magebane enchantments, for example. They carry much less spells than normal casters, though.

Of course. Along with the spelltouched will be enemies who are actually real casters.

[Chimaera]

One last question: standart gold?

[Dudu]

Standard equipment, yeah.

19000gp worth.

[Andrezitos]

i'll play with a gish:
Andros Magnojeba
http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetvie...sheetid=391716

i dont maked a background for him until now, i'll think in something later.

[Dudu]

Rich's char is finished.
While Pedro and Andre finish their character, I'll write the first part of the campaign.

===========================

You are the selected party to participate in the Meteora Interhouse Tournament, representing the fearsome house of the Discoverers. The name may not sound as terrifying as "Destroyers" or as omnipotent as "Creators", but no one of them are as specialized to the unknow dangers that lurks inside the Arcane Mountains, which lies just below your feet.

After tomorrow, you're about to face your biggest rivals in the Tournament, the "Creators". Both you and the "Creators" are tied as the houses with most titles in the tournament, so many spectators consider this match an anticipated final.

Right now, you're in the training chamber. A similar magic present in the arena are present here. Whenever you reach 0 HP, you're harmlessly teleported away, and the pain you feel from injuries are greatly diminished.

Except... today. Today you still will be teleported away without dying, but no one will diminish your pay. Your teacher want you to feel the heat of combat as most convincible as possible.

Kain Kopperscale, the headmaster of the house is an elder kobold. As his name sugests, his scales as copper collored. Along with him there's a female gnome conjurer, Tania Toblerone and an old looking transmuter dwarf Gobadin, also veteran teachers of your house.

Kain Kopperscale:


The floor is plane, without any features. This chamber is a big hemisphere. The light is weaker than daylight, but enough to get used and see normally.
The kobold is not just a master, but also a friend of you and was heavilly supporting your progress so far in the tournament. He stands in your front and start talking:


"Buenas, my kids (you're also a kid, Eustacio). Today we're gonna try something spicier. Just some waves of enemies, and I believe three waves are okay" - he signals to both Tania and Gobadin.


The three teacher suddenly lift in the air, supported by floating plataforms conjured from nowhere, aparently. He then continues.

"Today we won't diminish the pain. You can't afford dwelving inside dungeons without feeling the fear it consists. It doesn't matter if you won't feel this pain at the tournament, you're not being trained to be atletes anyway. Remember: Don't panic! Never panic. A prepared Discoverer has always a trick in his sleeve."

"Position yourselves, the training is about to start."

[Chimaera]

One thing about Eustacio: he always cast Antecipate Teleport upon him(24h duration). Also, he have the Energy Abjuration feat, which allow him to gain energy resistance to the first energy attack he suffer.

Spoiler

Show

ENERGY ABJURATION
Casting an abjuration spell grants you protection from
energy damage.
Prerequisite: Spell Focus (abjuration) or abjurer level
1st.
Benefit: When you cast an abjuration spell, you can choose
to gain a special energy resistance equal to (1 + the spell's
level) x 5. This energy resistance lasts for the duration of the
abjuration spell you cast or until you are struck by any type
of energy damage (acid, cold, fire, electricity, or sonic). The
resistance applies to the first energy damage to which you
are exposed, and thereafter you lose the energy resistance
until you cast another abjuration spell.
Special: An abjurer can select this feat as a wizard bonus
feat.

Since he have always Antecipate Teleport active, he have Energy Resistance 20 for the first attack each day.

[Dudu]

So, everybody else is ready?
All you have to do is finish the char and I'll draw the map with the first wave of enemies.

[Andrezitos]

Andros Magnojeba is one of the most dedicated students of the academy and therefore less sociable too. Used to spend all his time between libraries and training camps, saw the Vanguard as an opportunity to achieve the respect and admiration of the others. However, his individualistic nature prevents him from getting along with other students and his arrogance makes him undesirable among teachers.

Andros Magnojeba, the Grey Knight (now as the librarian too), is ready for combat.

[Dudu]

Tania, the gnome conjurer, says:

"Okay boys, let's begin with an easy encounter, to warm up."

Before I post the monsters, first I need Pedro's sheet.


Now, for the fluff.
Each of the Avatars:

Andre, the Grey Vanguard:


Rich, the Swift Seer:


And finally; Pedro, the Shady Lorekeeper


Supercool, uh?

And here's the map format:

Instead of a grid, there's a checkerboard pattern.

edit: That's a flame coming out of the elf's finger.

[Beschoren]

i forgot to subscribe....

Spoiler

Show

http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=391825

(sicne andré took the lore path, i will take the vanguard)

Tanstafaal is an extremely arrogant grey elf

His arrogance is even more annoying as he ahs a lack of nerve and sometimes of skill. he keep such a high nose sometimes he trips on the ground...

He specializes in precise ray spells - in fact he says "specilizes" because that is almost the only thing he can do. Scares to death forem the horrible traps of the dungeons (but of course pretending he is not afraid) he took some learing into the shady path of the arcane trickster. he's still far from it, but too the first steps already

i still need to allocate skills points!

edit: dudu could you remove that small glitch of red pixels and add elven ears? the hooded figure kind of looks like a prostitute

[Dudu]

Andre took Vanguard. You can keep being the lorekeeper you intended to be.

[Dudu]

Pedro.

I didn't understand. The "remove that small glitch of red pixels and add elven ears?" is for the hooded figure or for the one you provided? Because the one you provided already have the pointy ears. And weren't you a gray elf, like gray colored skin?


But it's one shady cool looking prostitute uh? Now that you said it, it can't be unseen. It looks -sorta- like a prostitute. Thank you, Pedro, you ruined those pixels. I'll keep this avatar for later (I can't be the only one who found it pretty cool) and change yours for this new one. Just didn't get the elf ears stuff (already there) and the colour of the skin.

[Dudu]

ANd before we start, one last check up:

Andre:A human Wizard (conjurer)/Duskblade/Abjurant Champion//Vanguard

Rich: A human Wizard (abjurer)/Master Specialist//Seer

and Pedro: A grey elf Wizard (conjurer)/Rogue/Spellward Sniper//Lorekeeper(?)

is that right?

[Andrezitos]

okey donkey!

[Chimaera]

Everything right

[Beschoren]

ANd before we start, one last check up:

Andre:A human Wizard (conjurer)/Duskblade/Abjurant Champion//Vanguard

Rich: A human Wizard (abjurer)/Master Specialist//Seer

and Pedro: A grey elf Wizard (conjurer)/Rogue/Spellward Sniper//Lorekeeper(?)

is that right?

comes out I'll not have the rnought knowledge skills points to make the loremaster workable. I changed my 1º level to rougue so I can have huge amounts of skill points (48!) at 1º level. now I have all the lockpick/disarm/acrobatics all rougues should have, but at the expense of those precious wizzarddly skills.

I'll take the mediator path then, so we avoid having 2 vanguards on the same team. silent comunication will be helpfull!

ready to go!

In the start of each day I cast restribuitive kelgore's fire bolt. If i get struck in melle, the creature that attacked me is hit by kelgore's fire bolt (only once)

edit: work the avatar as you see fit. but please, don't make him look like a prostitute.

[Dudu]

All right.

So, standard procedures.

In every counter, along with the initiative check (roll your initiatives btw) you should roll a knowledge arcana, since you're trained to pinpoint spelltouched creatures. The knowledge DC is 10+creature's HD, supereasy in this case. This knowledge is always at the beginning of the combat, free action, and the same check you would use for something else you also use for this one.

Or, to make matters fast, you can leave those standard checks to me. It's not like I will cheat or anything. Your choice.

Passing the check and you know who's affected by spelltouch sickness. Pass by 10 more than the DC and you know the highest level of spell the subject has. Pass by 25 more and you know which spells are.

============================

The dwarf transmuter says: "All right buddies, a simple terrain of plain dirt for now, no tricks, no advantages".

The ground is plane and it's just dirt without any notable features. The ceiling simulates a sunny day.


The gnome conjurer says: "A typical arcane mountains squad of goblins, be ready".



Monster's init:
(1d20+2)[20]

[Chimaera]

Just to be sure: you're going to make the Init and Knowledge check, right?

(if not, here goes mine:
Init: (1d20+1)[13]
Knowledge: (1d20+15)[28] )


I prefer you making the checks.

[Dudu]

By your inits, you're all after the goblins.

Everyone knows which ones are spelltouched and Eustacio knows that it's up to one level 1 spell for each. Since there's a mediator in the group, everyone knows what Eustacio knows via telephaty (I'm starting to think you'll find this ability bloody useful in the long run).

They wield longspears and knives. The one in the middle is a shaman. The shaman casts a spell (spellcraft 15) and you can see a lot of images ((1d4+1)[4]images) of himself (like you need a spellcraft check for that...).

The spelltouched rogue fires a spell (spell craft 11) at the Vanguard, dealing damage to himself in the process.

Spoiler

Show

ranged touch (1d20+3)[14] (1d6)[3]strenght penalty if hits.
the goblin takes (1d4)[3] as result

The others seem to get ready for a charge.




I believe the ray hit, Andre. Lucky goblin.

edit: The ones in red circles are the spelltouched discussed earlier (see post #10).
Rich: Yes, I decided to roll those checks. I'll do that every combat, to make matters faster.

Now your turn!

[Dudu]

I noticed that the maps doesn't appear sometimes.

If that's the case, try clicking the with the right button on the icon where the map was supposed to be and select "open image in another tab" (abrir imagem em uma nova guia). If this still doesn't work just contact me. I'll try to use the same method Pedro is using, since his method is working for sure.

[Andrezitos]

Andros get hit: How dare you?! You're no match for me, flee while you can!

By the shape of the enemies, I believe they are humanoids. As a result, I will use my knowledge to try to earn extra points on attack and damage. (Knowledge Devotion) (1d20+11)[19] -> +2 insight bonus agaist humanoid, this is a extraordinary effect (does not acumulate with supernatural ability).

Move to I7I9 and cast Shield (+5 AC, 12min) on hinself.

Spoiler

Show

Status:
HP 75/75
- 3 str
+5 AC
+2 insight bonus agaist humanoids

Wiz spells:
0) Acid Splash 3/3, Caltrops 4/4
1) Benign Transposition 1/1, Corrosive Grasp 1/1, Grease 1/1, Wall of Smoke 1/1, Protection from Evil 1/1, Shield 1/2

Dusk spells:0:6, 1:7, 2:3
0) Acid Splash , Disrupt Undead, Ray of Frost, Touch of Fatigue.
1) Chill Touch, Expeditious Retreat, Swift, Ray of Enfeeblement, Shocking Grasp, Stand, True Strike.
2) Dimension Hop.