[PF-1e] Parabellum Games

[Eviltedzies]

Originally Posted by Tempestfury

I'm thinking of playing a Spellforge Blacksmith with the Sword Shooter advanced talent... assuming Sword Shooter is acceptable, as it is an Advanced Talent.

The Sword Shooter legendary talent from the Equipment sphere is fine.

[namo]

1/ Would the Wunderkind be allowed? It's a variant Fey Adept, but the text at the top says to ask for DM permission.

2/ I'm considering investing in illusions, so a question about Advanced Illusion Talents:
Is Advanced Invisibility OK? (it's the equivalent of Invisibility + Greater Invisibility)

[Eviltedzies]

Originally Posted by namo

1/ Would the Wunderkind be allowed? It's a variant Fey Adept, but the text at the top says to ask for DM permission.

The Wild Magic portion seems risky, but otherwise the Wunderkind archetype looks ok.

Originally Posted by namo

Is Advanced Invisibility OK? (it's the equivalent of Invisibility + Greater Invisibility)

The Advanced Invisibility talent is ok.

[droobles]

I thought Legendary talents were pre approved and limited to 2, but since everyone is asking:

1- build idea going for Force Redirection Technique (equipment) and Sky Spider's Touch (athletics), or maybe Magic in the Spirits (barroom).

Are martial contracts available?

[Eviltedzies]

Originally Posted by droobles

I thought Legendary talents were pre approved and limited to 2

Per my first post under the "Limited Advance/Legendary talents":
Each PC can have a maximum of two Advanced or Legendary talents.

In order to take a Advanced/Legendary talent you must already possess the base sphere it belongs to and at least three additional talents from the related sphere.

For each additional Advanced/Legendary talent taken in the same Sphere you must take an additional three talents from the sphere.

All Advanced/Legendary talents must be approved by the DM.

Originally Posted by droobles

1- build idea going for Force Redirection Technique (equipment) and Sky Spider's Touch (athletics), or maybe Magic in the Spirits (barroom).

[Equipment Sphere] Force Redirection Technique - Allowed
[Athletics Sphere] Sky Spider's Touch - Allowed
[Barroom Sphere] Magic In the Spirits - Allowed

Originally Posted by droobles

Are martial contracts available?

While fun, Martial Contracts are not available.

[droobles]

Gotta say... I am itching to roll the dice and try this matrix method to choose ability scores.

[MundayKnight]

Andre Hurkskarl Name: Andre Hurkskarl   Race: size: Large (7rp) Normal speed (0rp) Greqter Paragon (+4 str, -2 dex, -2 cha) (1rp) Standard language (0rp) Reach (1rp) Blindsense 30 feet (4rp) Fast x2 (3rp) Weapon Familiarity (whip and net) (1rp)Titan Blooded Classes: Conscript 10 with gear training (1sp) armor training (1sp) for 2 specialization points losing bonus feats from 1, 6, 10 and Adept Practitioner path. Archetype(s): None Alignment: True Neutral Primary Party Roles: Battlefield control combined with damage from trip rider effects. Character Sheet: Andre in his close to final form. Home Kingdom: Baalreisan Campaign Traits: In Memorium (whip), Gladiator Normal traits: Sharp Reflexes (combat), Prehensile whip (Equipment) Physical Description Andre stands at a towering eleven feet, five inches, a living colossus whose sheer size dwarfs all around him. His broad, muscular frame is like something carved from stone with arms as thick as tree trunks and hands capable of crushing steel. His skin is a deep, weathered bronze, marred with battle scars and the marks of a life spent in endless conflict. His face, rugged and chiseled, carries the weight of experience. High cheekbones, a strong jawline, and a prominent nose, all framed by dark, wild hair that cascades past his shoulders in looping curls. His golden eyes, fierce and unyielding, burn with the intensity of a warrior who has seen and survived horrors few could imagine. Despite his towering size, there is an eerie grace in his movements, his every step reverberating like the rumble of thunder while he ran faster than a warhorse. A deep scar runs across his left cheek, a souvenir from a long-forgotten battle, but his expression is often unreadable and unbothered by the fear he inspires with his mere existence. Wrapped around his waist lies his enchanted whip which seems too small for a man of his stature but when it cracks it’s the sound of his merciliss judgment. Andre's presence is a storm made flesh, a giant whose size is matched only by the fierce determination in his gaze. Personality Andre is a man defined by his unyielding will and deep sense of survival forged through a lifetime of conflict and the harsh reality of being an outsider. Despite his immense size and intimidating presence he is not a mindless brute. His intellect is sharp and his strategic mind is as dangerous as his raw physical strength. He values control above all else, driven by the desire to carve out a place for himself in a world that constantly seeks to use or discard him. He has little patience for fools or false bravado, and those who challenge him quickly learn that underestimating Andre is a fatal mistake. Though he is not one to easily show emotion, he carries a quiet pride in his abilities, and his actions often speak louder than words. He holds his honor close despite its form having shifted over the years. At his core Andre is not motivated by fame or fortune but by the need for respect and a fierce drive to forge his own destiny. His giant stature and formidable strength make him a force of nature but it's his calm, methodical approach to conflict that truly defines him. He values loyalty, though it is earned, not freely given. While he does not shy away from bloodshed when necessary Andre is not a man who ultimately fights for sport or glory he fights for survival, for control, and for the freedom to shape his own fate. Those who encounter him quickly realize that, for all his physical power, Andre is a man with a deeply personal code of conduct. A giant who walks the world not just as a weapon, but as a living testament to resilience and self-determination.   Backstory: Andre was born to a pair of warehouse workers who both stood comfortably over eight feet in height and by the age of fourteen he was already taller than either of them. His parents insist they are human but as Andre broke the ten foot mark even he began to question if maybe they just didn't know they weren't. Eight years ago his father tried to use his own hulking physique to further the family's fortunes in the Parabellum Games but was brought low in the second round by a stray quill from a manticore that caught him in the throat. His mother took the death of the love of her life as well as she could but taking care of a fourteen year old that ate enough for three grown men was difficult under the best of circumstances so ultimately the two came to the decision that Andre would also work. The young Hurkskarl saw how hard his mother worked for how little pay and instead decided to take up work as a member of the city guard. For three years Andre worked as a guardsman and made a minor name for himself for his unbelievable speed and strength as well as his ability to not lose track of his targets no matter how chaotic the situation. It was while busting up an underground fight ring that destiny found him in the form of a greasy elf in a three-copper three-piece suit. First RP sample: One rainy night "Three weeks in a row Vince! If that guard shows up again I am going to take the coin from your hide!" The old dwarf kept poking his sausage fingers into the greasy elf's chest to punctuate every line. "Relax Dimitrios I have a plan. The crowd tonight is going to be killers and mercs and every single bout is packed with heavy hitters." "So your big plan is to kill the guard's wunderkind? Your dad was right for not giving you the reigns Junior you absolute moron!" The elf slapped the dwarf's hand from his chest and put his own onto the dwarf's bulbous nose. "Don't you ever call me Junior again and if you don't like how I deal with risks to MY fights you can go right to hell! You couldn't draw a crowd if you promised handies at the door so shut your gob and tell your fighters to be in the crowd." The dwarf shook with rage but Vincent knew he had him by the short hairs and after only a few seconds the stout manager huffed out a strangled noise that Vince took as agreement. The babyface giant dies tonight... __________________________________________________ __________________________________________ Not for the first time tonight Andre regretted deciding to leave his armor in the barracks. Vincent really didn't hold back. Two dozen bruisers and three mages all for little old me. Ohh well time to get to work... One of the mages Vincent had hired for the underground event was flying above it's enemy in the rainy night sky pelting the unfortunate orcish axe man with arrows that seemed mostly to just annoy him. "GET DOWN HERE KNIFE-EARS!!!" The orc's roar thundered over the torrent of rain and as if a spiteful genie had heard his wish it came true. Andre leaped from the edge of the building he was perched upon and his whip snaked around the wizard flying above him only to send the frail elf smashing into the orc with enough force to shatter most of the bones in both of their torsos. Andre stood in the heavy rain and darkness of the alleyway with only the nearest torch illuminating his golden eyes while still hiding most of his colossal frame. "You are all under arrest for engaging in unsanctioned combat sports and unsanctioned gambling. Surrender and you may even be able to get your men to a healer." Whatever response the fighters and promoters gave was drowned out by the deluge around them but the drawn weapons from the would be betters told him the brutes were not going to be so easily dissuaded. "Hope he paid you up front." The whip in his hand came alive as his foes came in for the kill. Andre's enormous reach combined with his choice of weapon left him plenty of time to respond before they reached him and the toll he exacted was immediate and devastating. The crowd of warriors got within reach of his whip and in an instant they were stacked like shattered cord wood, not a one without a limb shattered or the consciousness evicted from their body by force. The promoter had gotten away every time because Andre took his time trying not to hurt the fighters but he was done with the distraction. The whip flashed forward and tripped the abnormally tall elf to the ground with a slam. The tension in the air was thick, almost palpable, as Andre’s golden eyes scanned the alleyway, his massive form poised to strike. Then Vincent’s smug voice sliced through the dark. “No, no, no. Don’t be hasty, Andre. You haven’t even heard my offer.” Andre’s eyes locked onto the elf. Vincent’s smile was wide now and for the first time there was a hint of desperation behind it. He could see the elf knew he was walking a fine line, trying to control a situation that was slipping through his fingers like grains of sand in the wind. “What are you talking about?” Andre growled, his grip tightening around his whip. A broad-shouldered fighter was closing in on him, a gaunt man moving with deliberate precision around the other side, and that feeling in Andre’s gut—something cold and unsettling—was intensifying. Vincent stood calmly and wiped the dirt from his ratty suit. After a deep breath the elf took a slow, calculated step toward Andre, his eyes scanning the giant’s towering form. “I don’t want to fight you, Andre. Hell, I don’t think anyone here wants that. You’re not like these other idiots,” Vincent gestured toward the broad-shouldered fighter and the gaunt man. “You’ve got something I need. Something they don’t have. Strength, sure. But more than that. You’ve got discipline. You’ve got control.” The broad-shouldered fighter scowled at the comment, but Vincent didn’t even look his way. His eyes were locked onto Andre, calculating. “I don’t need you to kill for me.” Vincent continued. “I don’t need you to just play the muscle. What I need, Andre, is someone like you on my side. Someone who can help me take control of this city. Not as a thug, but as a leader. You’ve been working for the wrong people, Andre. But you could be working for the right one. For me. How much does the guard even pay you? A gold a month? You have seen what we make in a night and thats when you bust us up early and its not even the best season for it, when the Parabellum games are on the horizon we can clear five figures a night!” The words hung in the air, thick with a dangerous allure. Andre’s grip loosened slightly, but only slightly. He had heard the offers before from other conmen, from corrupt officials, from men who believed their wealth could buy him. He had never taken them up on it. But Vincent was different. The elf didn’t just offer wealth, he offered power. The kind of power that Andre had always dreamed of, the kind that could reshape the city, break the systems that made his father feel the need to give his life for the chance at coin in the pit. The gaunt man to the side said nothing but his presence was like a blade at Andre’s back, pressing him, making the air feel thinner. The fighter seemed to wait for something, a signal, perhaps, or maybe just an excuse to attack. Andre knew they were all waiting for him to make a move. The question was, what move? Vincent must have sensed the hesitation because his smile grew wider, more confident. “You’re strong, Andre. But you’ve been fighting for scraps. What if I told you that with me, you could own this city?” The elf stepped forward again, his voice low and persuasive. “I’m not just asking you to join the circus. I’m asking you to be the ring master. The real power behind everything. With your strength. With my mind. Together. We can take everything. The arena. The streets. The docks. And more…” For a long moment, Andre didn’t answer. His golden eyes flickered between Vincent, the gaunt man, and the fighter who had now stopped advancing. The offer was tempting, too tempting, and deep down Andre knew it. He had always wanted to change things, always wanted to own something bigger than himself. But he also knew the risks. Vincent wasn’t just a businessman. He was a manipulator. A power-hungry huckster who wouldn’t hesitate to discard anyone who outlived their usefulness. But something in Andre clicked. He was tired. Tired of the endless cycle of violence, of risking his life for nothing. He had never been a fool, but he also wasn’t blind. If he wanted to be something more than just another drunk washed out guard, if he wanted to truly take control of his own destiny, Vincent’s offer was the best, the only, opportunity. “You really think you can control me?” Andre’s voice was still low, but there was a hint of something in it now, a spark of interest, of calculation, and an edge of threat. His grip on the whip loosened entirely now, and the broad-shouldered fighter visibly stiffened as he looked for an opening in Andre's lax stance. Vincent’s smirk faltered, just for a moment, but he recovered quickly. “I don’t need to control you, Andre,” he said, his voice low and serious now. “I just need you to want the same thing I do. Power. Control. I can give you everything you ever wanted. But you need to let me lead.” For a heartbeat, the alleyway was unsettlingly quiet, other than the rain the only sound came from the distant crash of thunder from the storm raging above them. Andre could feel the weight of the choice in the pit of his stomach. But for the first time in a long time, it didn’t feel like a choice. It felt like a chance. He stepped forward, his massive footfalls heavy on the ground, making the broad-shouldered fighter twitch and take a half-step back. Andre ignored him. “You’ve got a deal,” he said, his voice dark and steady. The words were final. He wasn’t going to waste any more time. Not on hesitation. Not on pointless fighting. Vincent’s grin returned, wider than ever. “I knew you’d see things my way.” He turned to the gaunt man, who nodded once, almost imperceptibly, and then to the fighter. “Gentlemen, the giant is with us now.” As the gaunt man began to move forward, Andre’s whip lashed out one last time, wrapping around the fighter’s leg, pulling him off balance. “And don’t think I’ve forgotten you,” Andre muttered, before letting the man fall to the ground with a thud. Vincent raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed by the display, but said nothing. Instead, he led the way as the others followed, the promise of power hanging heavy in the air. Andre knew the path he had chosen would be dangerous, but it was the only one that could lead him to what he wanted. Power, control, and maybe, just maybe, the chance to redeem his family name in the arena. For now, he would play along. But somewhere deep inside, Andre knew, the real game was just beginning. Second RP sample: A shot at the games Vincent’s voice, slick as always, had rattled in Andre’s ears, smooth as honey but dripping with venom. “You’ve got the strength for it Andre,” he’d said, a sly smile curling at the edge of his mouth. “But do you have the guts to claim it? The Parabellum Games will force you to prove it. They separate the wheat from the chaff, the men from the boys. It’s your chance to rise above, to prove that you’re not just some muscle for hire. You’ve got a real chance to win” At first, Andre had thought it was another one of Vincent’s pipe dreams but when the letter arrived, sealed with the unmistakable mark of the Parabellum Games organizers, his gut had churned. It wasn’t just any fight or even any tournament. It was a death sentence with a golden laurel. The games were infamous, an arena where only the strongest survived. Where the fighters who entered had to sign their lives away. Where they could face multiple opponents in one day, or even a single monster bred in the deepest dungeons for the sole purpose of brutal, bloody combat. Only the strong, the ruthless, or the lucky left alive. Andre didn’t need Vincent to tell him the risks. He had seen the broken body of his father with the thumb width needle protruding from him but hearing it from Vincent, with that cold smile on his face, made it real. The danger wasn’t theoretical anymore. It wasn’t something he could walk away from. For the first time in years, Andre felt the weight of his own mortality. He stood there in the dimly lit backroom of Vincent’s office, the thunder of his heartbeat in his chest matching the rhythm of the storm outside. His hand, still clutching the letter, began to tremble. Not from fear, but from realization. This was bigger than any of the underground fights he’d been part of. This was a spectacle of blood and death. If he entered then there were only two options for leaving the arena, either as a champion, or not at all. "You don’t get to turn this down, Andre," Vincent had said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You’ll go in. You’ll fight. And you’ll win." But Andre wasn’t so sure. The Parabellum Games weren’t just about strength. They were about survival at any cost. You had to be clever. You had to outlast. You had to be willing to make sacrifices that went far beyond simply crushing an opponent’s skull. And that was where Andre hesitated. __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _______________________________ As he stood in the rain-soaked streets, the letter still in his grip, he let the weight of the decision settle over him. The city’s towering buildings loomed in the distance, their lights dim through the haze of the storm. He had spent his life fighting for survival, but this? This was something else entirely. This was about who could endure. Who could sacrifice their soul without blinking. “What am I getting myself into?” Andre muttered under his breath. He could hear Vincent’s voice in his head, as though the elf were standing beside him now. “You’re getting the chance to show the world who you really are.” But Andre wasn’t sure who that was anymore. He had never been one to back down from a challenge. But this? A fight where victory meant you were the last man standing, and everything around you, every shred of what you once believed in, would burn to ash. For the first time in years, Andre found himself standing still. Not because he was afraid, but because he needed to think. There were no easy choices here. No one who entered the Parabellum Games came out the same. Vincent wants me in this but this is on me. The thought hit him like a bolt of lightning. He wasn’t just a pawn in someone else’s game anymore. He was a part of it and if he was going to survive, he needed to find people who could stand beside him. With that, Andre turned his back on the docks, his silhouette merging with the night as the first raindrops hit his armor with a dull, steady rhythm. He would enter the games for himself and the ghost of his father. And when the day came, when he stood in the bloodstained arena, there would be no mercy. Only survival. There was no turning back now.

 

Low Monster fight Encounter Name: Light up the night Difficulty Rating: Low Monster(s): Modified shocker lizard as noted belowStorm Lizard Monster Strategy: The storm lizards are of lizard intelligence and tend to swarm one enemy at a time. Monster Statblocks/Link: Shocker lizard with mod: The storm lizard loses the Shocker Lizard's shock ability and gains the following abilities: Rising storm: at the end of a round increase the precipitation or wind level in a medium range around the central point of a group or individual storm lizard by 1+1 per 4 storm lizards present in the group. Maximum precipitation and wind in the area of effect is 1+1 per Shocker lizard present. Lighting tag: via a ranged touch attack or as a rider effect on a bite apply a lightning tag. At the start of the storm lizard's turn any storm in the area automatically strikes any creatures it applied a lightning tag to on the previous round.

Mid Monster Fight Encounter Name: Jackle Flight Difficulty Rating: Medium Monsters: 6 manticores, 6 Jackleweres. Monster Strategy: The first round the manticore's fly into the sky and if they are able to attack with their quills they do. The jackalwares will be riding the manticores looking for what enemies have ranged options before directing their manticores to all pile onto those targets. The jackalwares will jump off the manticores and defend their flanks while the manticores try to grapple the target if the target doesn't appear to have flight. When a grapple is successful the jackalwares will remount their manticores and have them all fly to the top of the arena before the grappling manticore drops the target while the others claw bite and slash as them on the way down. If all enemies have flight they will instead have the manticores grapple the weakest looking target and have the other manticores attack it while the jackalwares try to fend off the enemies above or around them. Monster statblocks linked to the monster names.

High Monster Fight Encounter Name: Willard Difficulty rating: High Monsters: 10 Rat Kings 100 Ratlings Monster Strategy: Round 1 only the Ratkings are above the sand as all 100 ratlins have burrow speeds. On their turn in the initiative the Ratkings are going to only move if the rag swarms have been summoned or they are directly endanger. After the ratlings have summoned the swarms the rat kings will try to stay within 100 feet of PC's but avoiding engaging in direct combat. This fight requires massive aoe and probably flight to succeed so it isn't great for all team makeups but Willard.

[triedtherest]

I've completed the first draft of my application for Brewmaster Borkin, subject to feedback.

I might take Journeymen operative progression for his free sphere talent progression, taking heavily from the Faction Sphere. If so, then I will try to expand a bit more on the Brewmasters of Dysus as his chosen Faction.

[Eviltedzies]

Update: I have created a public dice thread for potential applicants who want to use the Crossdice Puzzle method to generate their ability scores. Remember, once you roll you are locked out of using 36 point buy. Lastly, please make sure to preview your post before rolling so you can ensure your formatting is correct.

Dice Thread Link Here

[namo]

1/ By the way, you did mean Pathfinder Point Buy? 36 (and 32) is generally associated with 3.5E's Point Buy in my mind (vs 20-25-30-35 for PF), hence why I'm checking.

2/ Also, will the team be formed ahead of the first battle? Specifically, I'm wondering if it'd be allowed to form the squadron from Squadron Commander which as written can only be done when regaining spell points.

3/ When picking up an extra magic talent progression on top of a full caster base, all magic sphere effects are at full caster level, like in gestalt? We don't have to keep track of 2 talent tracks, the 2nd one with mid-caster level?

4/ May we use Retraining (e.g. to pick up a feat that can only be taken at level 10)?

[Ermine]

Monsters can use spheres, correct? Obviously not Conjuration, Leadership, etc. And likely none of the banned or requiring-GM-permission ones.

[droobles]

Each set of rolls need to be in order rolled, but could we shuffle the sets when making the matrix?

Example:

Columns could be set 1, set 3, set 2, set 4, set 5, set 6, instead of 1 through 6 in order.

[Eviltedzies]

Originally Posted by namo

1/ By the way, you did mean Pathfinder Point Buy? 36 (and 32) is generally associated with 3.5E's Point Buy in my mind (vs 20-25-30-35 for PF), hence why I'm checking.

We will be using the Pathfinder point buy system (IE: Where your ability scores start at 10); however, due to the nature of this game I'm allowing 36pt buy to be used to represent the higher than average strength of the characters. There are plenty of online point buy calculators you can use. Otherwise you can reference the PFSRD site Ability Score section here.

Originally Posted by namo

2/ Also, will the team be formed ahead of the first battle? Specifically, I'm wondering if it'd be allowed to form the squadron from Squadron Commander which as written can only be done when regaining spell points.

Teams will be formed well in advance of the battle. You can safely assume all of the PCs will have had multiple days to get to know each other prior to the 1st fight day. Squadron Commander and similair abilities will work fine.

Originally Posted by namo

3/ When picking up an extra magic talent progression on top of a full caster base, all magic sphere effects are at full caster level, like in gestalt? We don't have to keep track of 2 talent tracks, the 2nd one with mid-caster level?

You are correct. If you are already a high-caster sphere class and you take the mid-caster progression you simply gain 7 bonus magic talents and a second spell pool that stacks with your existing one. You will use your full high-caster level when casting. (Similar to gestalt)

Originally Posted by namo

4/ May we use Retraining (e.g. to pick up a feat that can only be taken at level 10)?

You may as long as you pay the appropriate costs and list the retraining in your purchases.

Originally Posted by Ermine

Monsters can use spheres, correct? Obviously not Conjuration, Leadership, etc. And likely none of the banned or requiring-GM-permission ones.

Monsters can indeed use sphere abilities within reason. Things like Leadership and Faction spheres are obviously no go, but most everything else (including Conjuration sphere) is fair game. Again, I can always adjust an encounter if I feel it is too potent.

Originally Posted by droobles

Each set of rolls need to be in order rolled, but could we shuffle the sets when making the matrix?

Unfortunately no. You must create your matrix in the same order your ability scores were rolled.

In your case, your current best set looks like the 1st vertical row. 12,13,13,13,14,15.

Hmmm.... I think I'm going to make one tweak to the Crossdice Puzzle method and allow rerolls of 1s. This way the bare minimum ability score you can start with will be an 6 which while still a penalty is FAR more workable than if you have a 3 in a score.

@droobles - You may reroll the 1s in each 4d6 roll before dropping the lowest. Please don't reroll the entire set, simply reroll the 1s in your set and then drop the new lowest of the 4 numbers in each roll.

[droobles]

Do I keep rerolling 1s until there are no more ones, or is it a single reroll?

PS: I got an elite array in the end, so my concept is fine, it is just the power gamer in me trying to play with the crossdice puzzle haha

[Eviltedzies]

Originally Posted by droobles

Do I keep rerolling 1s until there are no more ones, or is it a single reroll?

Reroll 1s until you have no more left.