[D&D-3.5e] Sands of fate

[Dieuoffire]

Btccg, that template is only usable on animals. It turns animals into people basically.

What animal base are you thinking? Also per the template it says that you may lose the large size (which would lose the stat bonuses with it.) So if you were a manimal ape your CR would be 3 and have some stat boosts and their natural attacks. (But you would also have the -8 int from the animal base that would cancel out the manimal bonus (so str+2, dex+6 con+0 int+0 wis +2 cha+0

Also monstrous humanoid in dnd 3.5 is d8 hd not d10 as it is in pf. So you would lose that. But it is not too far outside of bounds.

Which animal did you want?

[Ermine]

@Dieuoffire, is there a justification for profession (courier) as a skill? Because she does it and is good at it (it's part of the core concept and all).

Also, how free are we to define the culture of where we're from?

[Dieuoffire]

@ermine: Profession (courier) would be a possible I guess. The cultures in the campaign were left vague enough that you should be able to get a feel for it and at the same time have a lot of free room. So while you can't break the general theme too much there are variations that would make sense. Especially on a small scale; for example Stormbreak has a few mining villages in the little mountains and some of the Tribe lands are more civilized than others. I tried to leave lots of room in this setting. Also there are a few area of unclaimed lands those areas are just too hard to patrol for any given nation for some reason or another.

I guess I will update the map with national boundaries.

[orichulum]

Since paladin oaths in 3.5 are a bit more strict yet offering less guidance than what 5e has offered, would it be OK to create specific Tenets for Phoenix? For example, is he as much of a stickler for the law being a NG god?

[Crimson]

Originally Posted by orichulum

Dieuoffire: are you intending for the players to come together as a party, or are we each going to be meandering through the shared world on our own paths?

I had assumed that we would be adventuring together, though I suppose you should never assume anything.

I was wondering if our players would need to decide how we are acquainted, or if that will become clear as the story progresses

[Dieuoffire]

@Orichulum, he is a forgiving god, polite and patient, but he realizes that his mercy can be taken advantage of (he expects it sometimes) but he gives it anyway knowing that it will make his justice all the more deserved. however his choosing of when someone crosses the line is on a case by case basis. his tenants include forgiving up to a certain point, that anyone can change, (for the better or worse) and similar things. Which is good for you because since he is not lawful and decides on a case by case basis, your case may be different than another paladins. However this does not mean you get less duty etc. just that yours can be different, but fair. if you fail to try to fight your vices he would be less happy, if you try and fail he might be forgiving (Atonement is a standard spell for many of his more powerful priests at temples.)

@crimson: I told you it is sandbox style, although I prefer staying together (mostly); I will not stop someone who wants to side quest for something alone. you can decide to know someone previously, or I can put you together in play. I have seen groups write out adventuring contracts (Magically enforced once) and I have seen them be acquaintances who barely trust one another. It is up to you guys, again this game will really be A LOT of sandbox. (Play nice please, I actually want the game to continue and not have the party kill each other.)

[btccg]

Originally Posted by Dieuoffire

Btccg, that template is only usable on animals. It turns animals into people basically.

What animal base are you thinking? Also per the template it says that you may lose the large size (which would lose the stat bonuses with it.) So if you were a manimal ape your CR would be 3 and have some stat boosts and their natural attacks. (But you would also have the -8 int from the animal base that would cancel out the manimal bonus (so str+2, dex+6 con+0 int+0 wis +2 cha+0

Also monstrous humanoid in dnd 3.5 is d8 hd not d10 as it is in pf. So you would lose that. But it is not too far outside of bounds.

Which animal did you want?

I was thinking of bear (CR2 black or CR4 brown) or tiger (CR4) as the base animal. You have already approved a monster PC at CR7 so I am trying to keep my concepts with this in mind as a limit.

The PF Manimal template keeps the same size of the base creature, but gives the option to adjust the size if desired. It really only offsets to INT and CHA penalties the Animal type suffers.

To use your example of a 3.5 Ape: it is CR2, large size, +3 natural armor, +11 STR, +4 DEX, +4 CON, +2 WIS, -8 INT, -4 CHA. Applying the Manimal template changes INT to +0 and CHA to +0 and increases the CR by +1 - thats it.

Also: in regards to Class Tiers - are all druid variants considered Tier 1? I am looking at the totem druid variant for one of the concepts I am considering, and it loses the ability to wildshape into any other form except its totem animal, which is why the druid is considered T1 in the first place - so I am wondering if this variant is still considered T1 or not.

[orichulum]

So phoenix is more of a spirit of the law rather than letter of the law type of paladin patron? He wants people who are generally honorable to represent him but isn't going to blink an eye if you jaywalk.

[Dieuoffire]

btccg: ahh it says 'no reason that a manimal needs to be the same size' my bad. Ok so it looks fine but it does say you lose the rake of tiger. (read it a little better, not so tired.) I think the black bear would be best as you are only Level 3 right now.

@orichulum: less a spirit of law and more of just doing what feels/is right. As he is neutral he looks at laws as more of guidelines. A good law helps people be good; a bad law helps people be bad. Law matters less than good and bad.

[smeowlin]

I've got a random question I can't find the answer to. I know that if I increase my INT, I'll retroactively gain any skill points from my previous levels that I would have gotten. If at that point I'm in a class that doesn't have those skills, do those skill points go towards skills that I was proficient in during those earlier levels or only in my current class' skills?

If that's a little confusing, I'll give an example.
Wizards have proficiency in all knowledge skills. If I bumped my INT to 22 by leveling up to 8 while I was in Swiftblade and gained 10 or whatever skill points just from the INT increase, would some of those 10 be able to increase knowledge skills as a Wizard? Or are all 10 of those extra skill points Swiftblade only?

[btccg]

Originally Posted by smeowlin

I've got a random question I can't find the answer to. I know that if I increase my INT, I'll retroactively gain any skill points from my previous levels that I would have gotten. If at that point I'm in a class that doesn't have those skills, do those skill points go towards skills that I was proficient in during those earlier levels or only in my current class' skills?

If that's a little confusing, I'll give an example.
Wizards have proficiency in all knowledge skills. If I bumped my INT to 22 by leveling up to 8 while I was in Swiftblade and gained 10 or whatever skill points just from the INT increase, would some of those 10 be able to increase knowledge skills as a Wizard? Or are all 10 of those extra skill points Swiftblade only?

I believe you do not get retroactive skill points - as per the SRD:
When an ability score changes, all attributes associated with that score change accordingly. A character does not retroactively get additional skill points for previous levels if she increases her intelligence.

So, when you increase your Intelligence ability, you would get the additional skill point in whatever class you are advancing in at that point.

[smeowlin]

Oh, whoops! Some Pathfinder leaked into my 3.5 knowledge, my mistake.

[arkerpay]

Name: Kirk Bodnar
Homeland: Nost-Amos
Class: Generic Warrior 3
Race: Human

Description: Kirk is a young man of average height and looks, but wiry and strong. Black curly hair hangs down to his shoulders, and his eyes are pale blue. His chain shirt is of elvish make, and his dark wooden shield is engraved with Elvish runes. He looks ready for combat, in his hands and strapped to his body you see a half dozen weapons; a javelin, spear, flail, axe, dagger, and a strange curved blade.

His attire and gear are colored with earth tones, mostly green and brown. Except for weaponry, Kirk travels light. The warrior looks a little high-strung; if he sprung into action in an instant, you would not be surprised.

Personality: Kirk is often impatient and eager to contribute his opinion. He quips half-witty remarks without thinking. A rebuke, however, reduces him to silence while he thinks over what just occurred. While not being intentionally cruel, he does not typically think to be kind.

The young man is still sorting out what he wants in life. He likes achievement, but has difficulty accepting there are things that he cannot do.

Background:

A Brief History of the War of the Mushrooms

Many kinds of produce defy cultivation and must be gathered wild. Many of these grow in the land between the Iron Mountains, Warrior’s Fields, and the Havenwoods. These include the pale orange mallowberry, which grows in the fields of the south and ripens in midsummer. Its both sweet and tart flavor make it prized for pies and jams, and its juice resists spoiling, making it a useful food preservative. The denderite, a yellow flowering plant, which only grows on the south side of low hills, has a spicy green leaf. It is delicious in soups and salads and rumored to be an aphrodisiac. In the Havenwoods and surrounding forests can be found the swollnut tree. The jet-black swollnut has a flavor beyond compare, and food fried in its oil is considered a delicacy.

Most prized are two mushrooms, which grow in forests and often in the shade of the swollnut tree. The large subterranean spudcup, properly cooked, has a flavor like the finest meats, and it fetches a high price. The red and white polka-dotted bonmerd mushroom, however, is the rarest and most greatly sought. A single mushroom, eaten raw, provides pleasant sensations for several hours, yet does not impair the user like strong drink. In some cases, though, the bonmerd produces divine visions and life-altering insights.

The gastronomically-focused Nost-Anos and mercantile powerhouse Azure Shield had long disputed the border between their territories and the rights to harvest the wild produce. Treaty negotiations concerning border enforcement and quotas were not successful. In the year 2142, Azure Shield dispatched their goblinoid mercenaries to expel encroaching Nost-Anos merchants. When a platoon of bugbears “exceeded their mandate” after encountering a group of maidens harvesting mallowberries well within Nost-Anos territory, the result was war.

The Nost-Anos forces (men, gnomes, and halflings) had initial success until Azure Shield hired more forces from Bloodcrown. Nost-Anos fought bitterly during their retreat. The goblinoid armies sensed victory when their foes were trapped at Zephyr Lake. However, Bador en-Cânë’s territory had been violated by goblin incursions many times during the war, and the Elven Kingdom came to Nost-Anos's aid. Bador en-Cânë’s surprise entry into the war struck Azure Shield like a hammerblow. The elves, their sylvan allies, and Nost-Anos advisors whipsawed the goblins at the river and elven strike teams penetrated Azure Shield territory and raided their trade routes.

Azure Shield pressed for a truce, but negotiations ultimately failed over the winter months. In late spring, fighting resumed. The Battle of Zapad-Fetyok resulted in a draw, with heavy losses for Azure Shield. Subsequently, Bloodcrown informed Azure Shield that they were suspending mercenary support, which left them no choice but to accept unfavorable peace terms. This ended the War of the Mushrooms.

About Kirk Bodnar:

Kirk grew up the 4th of 6 children in a merchant family in Delights, the capitol city of Nost-Anos. The Bodnars had produced cider and fermented vegetables for three generations. Kirk’s education consisted of a succession of tutors and wandering the city. His wit was often not appreciated by his peers, but his speed and strength disproportionate to his size, often allowed his fists to end arguments.

Kirk enjoyed the study of mathematics, geography, and history. Business and the craft of fermentation, however, offered no allure. Kirk dreamed of exploring the world he had studied. He convinced his mother to pay for a weapon’s tutor, so that his energy could be ‘directed in a controlled manner.’ A succession of martial tutors followed and Kirk composed his own style of fighting.

Kirk and his father clashed often about his ‘sloth’, and lack of direction. Feeling confident about his ability to defend himself, Kirk planned to begin his adventures and never return home. About the time the Bodnars were about to confront their dilettante son about learning the family business, news of the bugbear outrage spread and Nost-Anos went to war. Over the objections of his parents, Kirk volunteered for the army.

Kirk was assigned to a scouting unit and acquitted himself well in many skirmishes. At Zephyr Lake he held the line until elvish forces smashed the goblins’ flank. After that battle, his unit wintered with the elves, intending to perform joint scouting and raiding operations if negotiations fell through.

This was Kirk’s first trip outside of Nost-Anos, and he made the most of the opportunity. Eagerly engaging with his hosts, he improved his Elvish language skills, learned some of their culture, trained with their fighters and rangers, conversed with old, well-traveled elves who were eyewitness to events hundreds of years ago, and was given access to their library of maps and chronicles.

The chief export of Bador en-Cânë is lumber and master carpenters are plentiful. An old elvish carpenter humored Kirk with simple lessons at first, which become more complex as Kirk showed a genuine flair for working with his hands.

The joint raids of Spring slew many a goblin and disrupted supply lines; some of it pointless as news of the truce reached Kirk in the field two weeks after the fact. Having survived the war, he bade farewell to his Elven friends and headed home.

Positive sentiment towards the army and supporting the war had grown in Nost-Anos, and Kirk received a hero’s welcome by his family and friends. There was also a hero’s feast, which in Nost-Anos is no joke. The variety and quality of dishes were beyond anything Kirk had experienced. He was urged to tell tales of the war. His parents and siblings showed him great deference, which began to vex him. Many toasts were given at dessert, praising Nost-Anos, their ruler, the army, and Kirk.

When the guests cleared, Kirk softly put his hand on his father’s. He apologized for his behavior prior to joining the army and that men like his father were the life blood of Nost-Anos. He told his father that the life of a merchant was just not for him, that he was not constituted for it. Kirk continued that what he could do, was make the world a better place for men like his father and brothers. And so he was consoled to his family and became just another one of their sons again.

Despite the late night, Kirk rose early, as army life had accustomed him. Finding one of his father’s workshops, he found oak planks and hand tools. In a few hours’ time, he fabricated a masterwork, engraved, oaken barrel, destined to ferment his father’s famous hard cider.

[arkerpay]

@Dieuoffire I will post link to character sheet once completed. I ended up building some of your world - if anything is very wrong, I will change it.

FYI, the curved blade is actually a sickle, but will look more sword-like. It is just a back-up tripping weapon.

@All if anyone know a website that will generate player illustrations, let me know and I will try it out.

[Crimson]

Originally Posted by arkerpay

@All if anyone know a website that will generate player illustrations, let me know and I will try it out.

Probably not what you're looking for, but mine was made using Hero Forge. I'm sure there are better options out there, though.