The Forge of War OOC

[Escheton]

I don't think my character actually has the freedom to inquire. Nor was I planning for his psionic gift to be planned. But more of a spark that came from many hours of being stuck inside his own head.
But I'll see what I can do.

[Madara]

Speaking of craft, I hope we either get enough loot or pay for me to make some cool Alchemic Items while they're still useful. Or perhaps I could recieve a loan or funding from my House or the Military?

[Ghost49X]

Originally Posted by Escheton

I don't think my character actually has the freedom to inquire. Nor was I planning for his psionic gift to be planned. But more of a spark that came from many hours of being stuck inside his own head.But I'll see what I can do.

The only psionic class you could learn yourself is Wilder, After spending several years trying to teach yourself you might be able to take levels in another class though.

Originally Posted by Madara

Speaking of craft, I hope we either get enough loot or pay for me to make some cool Alchemic Items while they're still useful. Or perhaps I could recieve a loan or funding from my House or the Military?

You can always ask, the military is probably going ask for service time in return or maybe that you let them share your discoveries, House Kundarak is another potential loaner, though they would more than likely just give you a private loan that you would have to pay back with interest. Your house could give you a grant, providing you convince them that your work is worthwhile, all of these and maybe a few "private" investors are probably willing to lend you some money, for a price

[Ghost49X]

btw for those of you who seem to forget,
The ground troops are marching, you guys are on the ship, none of you are considered ground troops.

Also Vale what did you decide to do with your mount?

[Ghost49X]

Also about the headsets, though the concept is a good idear. The form (a radio headset) doesn't really fit into the setting, consider a more mystical approach, Talking stones, talking cards, a message book and so on.

So same application but different look, though some things from our world have a crossover like the lightning rails or the airships. They have been adapted to a more mystical feel with the ring of fire and the lightning (not just electricity)

[Escheton]

So whats your take on banking levels? Because I doubt I'd hear of such a psion, let alone find one before we hit level 5 or so. Especially if we have sped up xp till we hit level 3.

[Ghost49X]

Chances of you meeting a Psion before level 2 -> Non-existant unless he's on the otherside of the battlefield, in this case he might be hard to convince.

Chances of you meeting a Psion before level 3 -> decent, depending on the groups priorities.

Though once you meet him you'll have to convince him to teach you or point out someone who might be willing.

Does it really matter if your 2nd level is not a psion?

[hoverfrog]

Originally Posted by Ghost49X

Please describe the flaw and what you're getting out of it.

Noncombatant is in the d20srd

Noncombatant
You are relatively inept at melee combat.

Effect
You take a -2 penalty on all melee attack rolls.

I would take the feat Melodic casting to compensate:

Melodic Casting (Complete Mage, p. 44) [General]

You can weave your music and magic together into a single perfect voice.
Prerequisite
Perform 4 ranks, Spellcraft 4 ranks, bardic music class feature,
Benefit
Whenever a Concentration check would be required to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability (such as when you cast defensively or are distracted or injured while casting), you can make a Perform check instead. In addition, you can cast spells and activate magic items by command word or spell completion while using a bardic music ability. Bardic music abilities that require concentration still take a standard action to perform.
Normal
A bard can't cast spells or activate magic items by command word or spell completion while using bardic music.

[hoverfrog]

Knowledge (History) (1d20+8)[15]
Knowledge (Nobility and royalty) (1d20+5)[19] I figure that it's a castle and that means a lord or other noble is in charge of it. What do we know of his family and loyalties?
Bardic Knowledge (1d20+5)[14]
Gather Information (1d20+8)[26] I'm going to ask among the crew and mercenaries. Someone may have been here before or know something about the area. Mercenaries and ship crew are typically well travelled.
Knowledge (Arcana) (1d20+5)[25]

I'll discuss this information with the others and try to fill in any blanks that might be of use.

[Ghost49X]

Knowledge check resaults
Arcana: Force fields, Magical Artillery
History: a southern Cyrian fortress, Darren's keep was built as a fall back point for troops deployed to fight on the Brelish front and later to keep an eye on Lhesh Haruuc and his trechery.

Geography: The fort is surrounded by grassy plains for the most part, to the south on the horizon one can see the large forest known as the Khraal. To the north and east are the grassy hills of southern Cyr, mixed with light woodlands. To the west and south lays the nation of Darguun.

Nature: The Khraal is native to several poisonous species but on the plains the only danger of note are large poisonous spiders. These arachnids will infests atticts and other seldom visited places. They start small but never really stop growing as they live. the largest usually don't get much bigger than a dog, however there are stories of rare ones spotted larger than horses!

[hoverfrog]

Spiders! Can our resident artificer brew up some antitoxin? If not do we have any in the ship's stores?

How about scrolls of delay poison (Ranger 1 spell)?

[Escheton]

Well yes. As I do not intend to take more ranger levels, ever. My next 4 levels planned are psion.

I might have solved most issues with my character though. With an elemental envoy. Which are said to be trained all their lives to assist psions. I am considering the electric kind.

What if my favored enemy is elementalists?
That is to say, all those that cast spells with the elemental descriptors actively.
Warmages and spontaneous casters that know the spells. As well as prepared casters that have/had it specifically prepared for the day.

This drew the attention of a precocious envoy, that chose to make a psion instead of vie endlessly with his peers to be assigned one.

Say, I got hit with lightning (from clear sky maybe, 3d6 dmg) when doing my jump, which forged the telepathic link with my to be elemental envoy. Who then started teaching me to hone my mind in the hours of the night that the others where sleeping.

[Madara]

Originally Posted by Ghost49X

Also about the headsets, though the concept is a good idear. The form (a radio headset) doesn't really fit into the setting, consider a more mystical approach, Talking stones, talking cards, a message book and so on.

So same application but different look, though some things from our world have a crossover like the lightning rails or the airships. They have been adapted to a more mystical feel with the ring of fire and the lightning (not just electricity)

I understand completely, I would much rather have you making descisions based on what would fit the setting than power(Not that its OP). Perhaps a Torc?

Spoiler

Originally Posted by hoverfrog

Spiders! Can our resident artificer brew up some antitoxin? If not do we have any in the ship's stores?

How about scrolls of delay poison (Ranger 1 spell)?

I would love to, but I'll need materials, and I only have 11gp. Right now, that DC is 25. I have a +10 bonus, and since I can't take 20, I'd like to take 10. Taking 10 would allow me to meet a 20 DC. So, now I need to wrack up a +5 more to alchemy. So perhaps two people aid other on me, and what would I do for a Masterwork Alchemist's lab right now. Granted, I didn't know we'd be on an airship, so I didn't buy it because its 40lbs.

Originally Posted by Escheton

Snip

I could maybe use my connections and the fact that Sivis is the best House to find Psionic users.

We'll see. In the mean time, look to see if there's another class you could go into, since you don't want multiple ranger levels.

[Madara]

Post not updating on main page

[Postmodernist]

I'm pretty sure Darguun wasn't established until after Cyre fell, anyway.

[Madara]

I just meant in terms of the map, since it'll give us a better idea of where we are.

[hoverfrog]

Is this the keep between Zarrthec and Rheklor?

[Escheton]

Did you count the spell/infusion magecraft? Should add +5 to craft

[Hazzardevil]

Originally Posted by Ghost49X

no, you land here, sleep the night, the post I'm righting now, is the next morning when well rested then you're assaulting the keep Airborne style.
for flaws please state what they do and what you get out of it. It saves me alot of research and insures that we agree on the specifics instead of arguing on rules and their interpretation. same with feats state what they do.

I lose all competency at unarmed combat in exchange for bladebearer of valenar, proficency in my double-bladed scimitar and weapon focus in it.
Simple and (I hope) balanced.

[Ghost49X]

Originally Posted by Escheton

Well yes. As I do not intend to take more ranger levels, ever. My next 4 levels planned are psion.

Worse comes to worse, pick another class or go 2nd level of ranger and I'll allow you to retrain that level should you have sufficient time on your hands which I can probably put in after the war.

Originally Posted by Escheton

I might have solved most issues with my character though. With an elemental envoy. Which are said to be trained all their lives to assist psions. I am considering the electric kind.

Psions aren't that hard to find, try looking around in the Kalashtar district in Sharn.

Originally Posted by Escheton

What if my favored enemy is elementalists?
That is to say, all those that cast spells with the elemental descriptors actively.
Warmages and spontaneous casters that know the spells. As well as prepared casters that have/had it specifically prepared for the day.

Umm that could work, however keep in mind that it's not because a mage has a fireball memorized that he's an elementalist, an elementalist (which I called blaster in my previous post) is someone who focuses on said spells, ether in general or for that day's spell list. No I'm not going to cheat you of your class ability but it doesn't make sense for you to receive the full bonus when fighting an illusionist who happens to have 1 lightning bolt memorized.
[/quote]

Originally Posted by Madara

I understand completely, I would much rather have you making descisions based on what would fit the setting than power(Not that its OP). Perhaps a Torc?

Spoiler

I'm not sure what this is but sure, if you intend it to provide visual on top of audio feed back it might be a little harder for you to do (cause it be more polyvalent) but otherwise I'm assuming you hold it up and talk into it?

Originally Posted by Madara

I would love to, but I'll need materials, and I only have 11gp. Right now, that DC is 25. I have a +10 bonus, and since I can't take 20, I'd like to take 10. Taking 10 would allow me to meet a 20 DC. So, now I need to wrack up a +5 more to alchemy. So perhaps two people aid other on me, and what would I do for a Masterwork Alchemist's lab right now. Granted, I didn't know we'd be on an airship, so I didn't buy it because its 40lbs.

No one says you can't borrow from other people including your friends, especially if they requested the item. That being said even if you had the gold you need access to magical components worth that amount of gold. You don't hammer gold coins into a scroll to make it magical...

Originally Posted by Madara

I could maybe use my connections and the fact that Sivis is the best House to find Psionic users.

This could work, I really don't mind you being a psion however you have to do the leg work for it.

Originally Posted by Postmodernist

I'm pretty sure Darguun wasn't established until after Cyre fell, anyway.

Darguun wasn't recognized as an independent country until the treaty of Thronehold yes, how ever the timeline is past the point where Lhesh Haruuc has gone through with his rebellion and grabbed the land that will eventually be recognized as Darguun

Spoiler

Originally Posted by hoverfrog

Is this the keep between Zarrthec and Rheklor?

If you must know it is the Keep called Barren Keep on the mournland map, except this is pre-mourning

[Escheton]

Originally Posted by Ghost49X

This could work, I really don't mind you being a psion however you have to do the leg work for it.

See, that's kinda the problem. As I consider the psionic gift a deeply personal gift gained from intense soul-searching and meditation.
To further hone this power, knowledge and peer-review and such is great, but not for how it develops initially.
I think it goes against the character if it's something he seeks externally.

I'll reconsider the build to better work with how level progression works.

[Madara]

Did you count the spell/infusion magecraft? Should add +5 to craft

Magecraft is not an infusion, just a Wizard/Sorcerer spell.

Originally Posted by Ghost49X

I'm not sure what this is but sure, if you intend it to provide visual on top of audio feed back it might be a little harder for you to do (cause it be more polyvalent) but otherwise I'm assuming you hold it up and talk into it?
A Torc is essentially a neclace, there are already a few magical torcs in RAW, as for the video, that's the problem. I felt that it would make sense to have a lense over one eye which gave the visual information.Perhaps I could use the Shaders for a glasses base and have it appear on the glass?

No one says you can't borrow from other people including your friends, especially if they requested the item. That being said even if you had the gold you need access to magical components worth that amount of gold. You don't hammer gold coins into a scroll to make it magical...
True. But I figure that my party will be requesting combat items and such, this is more of a general party benefit.

This could work, I really don't mind you being a psion however you have to do the leg work for it.
Not me, him.

Answers in the quote, in bold.

[Escheton]

Right, so...eternal wand of magecraft and few umd rolls.

[Ghost49X]

Originally Posted by hoverfrog

Noncombatant is in the d20srd

Noncombatant
You are relatively inept at melee combat.

Effect
You take a -2 penalty on all melee attack rolls.

I would take the feat Melodic casting to compensate:

Melodic Casting (Complete Mage, p. 44) [General]

You can weave your music and magic together into a single perfect voice.
Prerequisite
Perform 4 ranks, Spellcraft 4 ranks, bardic music class feature,
Benefit
Whenever a Concentration check would be required to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability (such as when you cast defensively or are distracted or injured while casting), you can make a Perform check instead. In addition, you can cast spells and activate magic items by command word or spell completion while using a bardic music ability. Bardic music abilities that require concentration still take a standard action to perform.
Normal
A bard can't cast spells or activate magic items by command word or spell completion while using bardic music.

Well in theory a bard can fight while singing, so he should be able to cast spells without somatic components while playing a lute, I'm willing to work out something similar for woodwinds, in my opinion your choice of instrument shouldn't penalize you.
Or else the most OP bard instrument would be the deadly shaker! all it does is take up your off hand! (and quite a lot of your self-respect)
and as for the -2 to melee, I'll take a -2 to all attacks if you want a free feat out of it though.

[Madara]

Originally Posted by Escheton

Right, so...eternal wand of magecraft and few umd rolls.

level 1, no gold, and there is no magic mart on the battlefield. Perhaps when we get back. I suppose I could roll it and hope for an 11 or more...

[Escheton]

Originally Posted by Ghost49X

Well in theory a bard can fight while singing, so he should be able to cast spells without somatic components while playing a lute, I'm willing to work out something similar for woodwinds, in my opinion your choice of instrument shouldn't penalize you.
Or else the most OP bard instrument would be the deadly shaker! all it does is take up your off hand! (and quite a lot of your self-respect)
and as for the -2 to melee, I'll take a -2 to all attacks if you want a free feat out of it though.

Actually, Perform: Oratory would be what you seek.

[hoverfrog]

Originally Posted by Ghost49X

and as for the -2 to melee, I'll take a -2 to all attacks if you want a free feat out of it though.

Including missile attacks? A little too steep for me. I have to be reasonably good at some kind of combat even if it's just throwing things at people.

[Ghost49X]

by the way, for the battle I'm using the heroes of battle as a guideline, especially the part about victory points which will allow you to contribute meaningfully in a myriad of ways depending on your skills and choices. if anyone has access to it I recommend looking up some examples of possible side objectives. I am fully impartial and will allow battles to go ether way, your characters might even die. (if he's going to die I usually try to give him an awesome death, nothing sucks more than "you're dead because you took 1 damage over the threshold" No! characters should die like Jean Reno in the movie "The Professional" or King Leonidas in "300". No one likes their character dying, but if it's going to happen why not be with glory the character that rushes through a breach in the enemy lines and takes out the demon summoner before dying to the hands of his minions. Without his conjurer the general is defeated, if this character doesn't live at least it'll make a good story.

[Ghost49X]

Originally Posted by Madara

level 1, no gold, and there is no magic mart on the battlefield. Perhaps when we get back. I suppose I could roll it and hope for an 11 or more...

On the other hand if you wish to slap something together quick, I believe you could probably salvage something not that it'll be easy and if you screw with something someone actually needs there may be trouble.

Originally Posted by Escheton

Actually, Perform: Oratory would be what you seek.

My point is he shouldn't be forced into taking a perform skill his doesn't want just because playing woodwinds isn't min/maxed out

Originally Posted by hoverfrog

Including missile attacks? A little too steep for me. I have to be reasonably good at some kind of combat even if it's just throwing things at people.

Like I said in the post, do you have any ideas fluff wise what I could let you do while playing woodwinds (I believe you're a flute bard right?)

[hoverfrog]

Originally Posted by Ghost49X

Like I said in the post, do you have any ideas fluff wise what I could let you do while playing woodwinds (I believe you're a flute bard right?)

String, wind and song.