Battleground Games Forum
Role-Playing Games => Dungeons & Dragons / Pathfinder RPG => Torland Campaign => Topic started by: jbkilroy on March 30, 2013, 08:05:45 PM
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Basically, anything players should know about the way Pathfinder works when it differs from 3.5 will go here. For PC classes, the rule of thumb is that your number of class abilities go up, and sometimes you get an option to choose between two 'sub-classes' rather than being forced down a single path. This works the same way that a 3.5 ranger specializes in ranged or 2-weapon fighting.
The paths are:
Paladin-Can either have a bond with a magic mount or one with a magic weapon
Wizard-Can either have a familiar or a bonded magic item (you cast a spell 'into' the item and can use the item to cast it later without memorizing it)
Sorcerer-Chooses a 'bloodline' that gives various powers when you level (they can only have a familiar with the arcane bloodline, it is no longer a default class ability)
Ranger-Either gets an animal companion or can share their bonuses with party members (this is in addition to the ranged/2-weapon choice)
Cleric-Chooses a domain that gives special abilities/bonuses in additional to extra spells; domain choices are limited by deity same as 3.5 If anyone wants to be a cleric let me know your alignment and I can give you descriptions of possible deities.
Druid-Can either have an animal companion or can choose certain cleric domains
Barbarian-Chooses different effects that apply only when they rage
Wizard-Chooses a spell school to specialize in for special abilities (or the 'universalist' school for non-specialists)
Your favored class is the class you start as, regardless of race. Every time you take another level in that class you can get +1 hit point, +1 skill point or a bonus dependent on your race/class combination. These are from the advanced race guide but I am allowing them because they help flesh out a character and make them more unique. There are too many to just list here but if you tell me the combination you are interested in I will let you know.
Lastly, skill points. You always get 1 rank whenever you spend a skill point: half ranks for cross-class skills no longer exist. However, you have a +3 bonus in any class skill so long as you spent at least 1 point in it. Your ranks in a skill cannot exceed your level.
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Looks like quite a few of them are on this cheaty link:
http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/advanced/advancedRaces.html
I'm starting to think you can get MOST of pathfinder online if you just tool around...must be that the fans choose to support it for the bitchin' production quality and the love.
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Well there you go. Any additional resources are always good.
That website doesn't list all of the possible combinations. Every PHB class and race has an optional bonus. Let me know if the one you wanted to know about isn't listed here.
Also, if you're a human there are different 'races' you can pick from if you want. They don't change any of your stats, but add additional RP options.
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OK, so the setting for the campaign will be the nation of Lastwall, part of Pathfinder's default Inner Sea world. Lastwall is bordered by the Orc nation of Belkzen to the Northwest and the fractured scheming nation of Ustalav to the Northeast. Lastwall is also responsible for guarding Gallowspire, the haunted tomb of the Lich Tar-Baphon, 'The Whispering Tyrant' who ruled the region for centuries before being defeated by an army of crusaders.
The government of Lastwall is a LG military dictatorship that takes security very seriously. The party consists of individuals believed to have great potential by Lastwall's leadership. By sending you guys on missions, it is hoped that you will evolve into an elite unit capable of taking independent action anywhere in Lastwall's sphere of influence should a crisis arise. Whether is ends up being the case is anyone's guess.
In this campaign orcs and undead will feature as prominent antagonists. Most adventuring will be in the countryside or in various caves/ruins: since the populace is very law-abiding there will be little action in urban settings. There will be various RP/diplomatic options available, so don't ignore non-combat skills.
While in Lastwall, NPCs will be wary of CG PCs and distrustful of N/CN ones. In the Inner Sea setting in general, NPCs give considerable weight to the deity you worship, especially if you openly display their holy symbol (whether you are a divine class or not). Unfortunately I do not see the deity list on that website, so if you don't have access to a Pathfinder book let me know what you are looking for and I will list the possibilities for you.
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I like fighting undead. Usually.
Pretty good campaign info. Does everyone need to worship a deity?
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Most people do, since deities are more active in this setting than DnD. 3 of the current ones are actually formerly mortals (as was Aroden, the world's most popular god before he... died somehow a few centuries ago).
If you find one's temple and restore it, they might bless you. If you find one and desecrate it, they WILL find you... :)
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hmmm still dont know if i want animal companion or help group with skills as a ranger. they seem both to be good
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I don't have the book in front of me, but I believe a ranger doesn't have to make that choice until 4th level, so you'll have some time to think about it.
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I'm going to be a buffing/support wizard most likely, so the animal companion may give you some more unique options.
I really enjoyed my druid's bear in any case.
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As a wizard are you going for the 'bound magic item' or the familiar?
It would be funny if the wizard had a cat and the ranger had a tiger or something similar.
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hey i am planning on playing a dwarf cleric of Gorum with emphasis on close combat. Probably war and/or destruction domains. I appreciate any input. Stats will be posted within a week rick.
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Gorum is the chaotic neutral god of impulsive violence. He is much more likely to be worshipped by orcs than dwarves. No one in Lastwall would stop staring at you until you were out of sight, much less send you out on quests.
I'm going to have to veto that choice. Please come up with something less provocative.
In Pathfinder, clerics do not get heavy armor proficiency by default but are automatically proficient in their god's favored weapon (if that helps).
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As a wizard are you going for the 'bound magic item' or the familiar?
It would be funny if the wizard had a cat and the ranger had a tiger or something similar.
I'm choosing familiar and plan to start the game with a raven.
A raven that speaks common!
No one in Lastwall would stop staring at you until you were out of sight, much less send you out on quests.
It's a military dictatorship!
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Why pick common? Why not a really bizarre language?
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no prob rick ill come up with something else
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I plan to use the wizard as more of a straight man and use the raven as a foil to annoy my fellow party members.
The wizard is going to speak some pretty bizarre languages though.
Post Statement:
What are some martial-type cleric gods that would work for the campaign, Rick? The lists I've found online are mostly just partial, but once you know the name you can always get information about the gods at the pathfinder wiki (http://www.pathfinderwiki.com/wiki/Pathfinder_Wiki).
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Iomedae is the standard LG crusader god(dess). I think she was a paladin before she passed the Starfall test. (oh, that's a thing btw... there's a dungeon that makes you a major deity if you clear it).
Sarenrae is another good choice. She'd prefer you try to talk an enemy down, but doesn't ask you to pull any punches if they refuse.
Erastil is LG, but he's more a patron of farmers and peasants. The vast majority of his clerics are male, because he believes that all females should be married and submit to their husbands.
Torag would work for a dwarven cleric better than any other race.
Desna, Cayden Cailean (another veteran of Starfall, although he was drunk at the time) and Shelyn are possibilities if you don't mind being though of as too soft by some of the more conservative citizens.
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Cayden Cailean
I looked him over and yeah, love his story and ideals, so this is who i shall be worshiping
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I always thought he was pretty neat myself. Most of his 'temples' are actually taverns.
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Yup and hopefully jay picks the dwarf god torag. If he does, then their will be some goofy/friendly rp between us as my character is gonna challenge his every month on who can make the best ale
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Cayden is also the god of drunken challenges and boasts! I'm sensing some real synergy here...
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Im going barbarian havent decided if half orc or human though
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I would suggest human as a half-orc would have a harder time fitting in than usual. Still, it's up to you: just giving a heads up.
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Go half orc to experience maximum prejudice.
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It would actually be somewhat of an advantage if you should travel to Belkzen. Of course, if you go there you'll still have to deal with the prejudice that comes with being 'Half-Human'. :P
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going to go with Torag with earth and protection domains rick.
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Torag is the god I prefer.
...but I'm no Dwarf.
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It's down to a Rogue, Fighter or Monk for me.
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If anyone wants to tell me their race/class combination I can look up the level-up option (in place of the extra hit point or skill point you can choose by default).
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Elf/Conjurer (wizard)
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Elven wizard: Select one 1st level arcane school power that is normally usable 3 + Int mod times per day; you gain 1/2 uses per day of that power.
Human barbarian: Add 1/2 bonus to trap sense OR 1/3 bonus to the superstitious rage power.
Half-orc barbarian: Add 1 to your total number of rage rounds per day.
Any ability that increases by a fraction has no effect until you accumulate a whole number. Any ability that increases your speed has no effect until your speed increases by a multiple of 5 (5 feet, 10 feet etc)
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If anyone is planning on taking the leadership feat when it becomes available (level 7 I think) let me know sometime so I can plan some NPCs that might want to follow you.
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"No Dave, pathfinder is stupid", Now who's the fools around here? :P
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You.
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well, leadership feat doesnt suit my character, unless said NPC wouldnt stop following around my character, then i would take it just for fluff.
Besides, dont really know how cohorts work in pathfinder.
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First, let me say that I never opposed playing Pathfinder; just as the time there wasn't enough interest within the group to switch to it. Dave was in fact the person I first heard talk about it.
Cohorts are NPCs with class levels locked 2-3 levels behind yours and they do indeed follow you around everywhere. Basically I would give you the character sheet for them and you would run their character as well as your own in combat. In RP situations I would still control them as an NPC. Technically Leadership also allows you to recruit low level 'followers' but I don't think that part is very interesting/useful so we can ignore that part unless you really wanted them.
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Dave...DAVE WAS RIGHT ALL ALONG!
I've considered the leadership feat in this game (no joke) but I wasn't going to decide one way or the other until I lived to 5th level or so. My charisma isn't killer anyways.
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if leadership works like 3.5 then charisma only works for followers, not cohorts. Also, the only reason why i would take leadership feat with this character would be if said NPC forced themselves to either 1) to work for my character. 2) Wanted to become an apprentice. 3) Thought they owed their life to my character and wished to pay off a dept. 4) Just thought my character was a next to be mortal to god 8)
other than that, it doesnt make sense for my ranger who worships the free ways and drinking of cayden to want someone to follow him around unless they really wanted to or a very beautiful maiden.
Also josh, everyones charisma sucks in our group. Im at i think 12 and appearently thats just 1 point lower than the highest which is jay
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CHA only works to give a bonus or penalty to the level of your cohort. Other things like being known as a hero can cancel that out. Basically it's the difference between the cohort being 2 levels behind you or 3 levels behind.
The reason why I'm asking about it now is so I can come up with a character with reasons to follow your free-range ranger ass around.