[GAMES] Pathfinder Update

[jordangreywolf]

Rise of the Runelords
Learning the ropes of Fantasy Grounds is still a challenge, but I'm still impressed at all the features. I don't know how many of them will translate over as I try to run Savage Worlds online at some point, but I think it's much smoother than when we were doing things with MapTools/RPTools. I confess, however, that I don't know exactly how much is thanks to the game tools (I'm sure it has SOMETHING to do with it), and how much is due to our employment of Teamspeak for another "channel" of communication.

Having everyone speak at once on Teamspeak leads to cacophony, and I'm a fast typist, so I still tend to type an awful lot into the chat bar when I want to do little roleplay "emotes" and such without distracting too much from the action. Die-rolling exercises are fairly "drag-and-drop." E.g., if you want to whack a goblin with your sword, then when your character is highlighted, you go to your character sheet, "grab" a die icon next to your attack roll value on your sheet, then drag and drop it onto the icon for the goblin. The result will display in the chat window. Was it a hit? Then go "grab" the damage dice from your weapon on the character sheet and drop them on the goblin's icon; if it was a critical hit, the system automatically factors that in. If you have some situational modifier to include (I get a +2 damage vs. goblins!) but it isn't programmed into your character sheet, you can type "+2" onto a modifier window that will apply it to your next die roll (after which the modifier box goes back to "zero").

If someone has a spell or special ability (e.g., a bard's "Inspire Competence" power) that might affect someone else's rolls, that can be handled by pulling up an "Effects" window, finding the effect (paralyzed, stunned, sleeping, heightene-- AHA! Inspire Competence!) and then drag-and-dropping it onto the target. Such effects can even be set with a number of rounds before it expires automatically.

So, yeah, the COMBAT part can go remarkably quickly. I dare say that once we are up to speed, it might go AT LEAST as quickly as a tabletop session -- maybe even faster. It's the non-combat role-play stuff that might be a little awkward, as we're either relying on a shared voice channel (we can hear each other, but we can't look to SEE if someone is raising a hand or opening his mouth to speak), or scrolling text in the chat window. But then, that's no more awkward than going entirely text-based on a MUCK. Plus, here, if I prep ahead of time, I can pop up little "player handout" windows (pictures, maps, sections of text) that individual players are free to minimize, close, move to the side, etc., as they see fit.

So, I'm still very optimistic about the potential here.


Kingmaker
So, Goober_Chris is going to run Pathfinder -- specifically, the "Kingmaker" campaign, which is focused upon a premise wherein the PCs have been commissioned to venture into a wilderness territory and establish some homesteads and build a settlement, eventually building it out over the course of the campaign into a trading outpost, then a city, and maybe eventually a minor kingdom (with one of the PCs or some choice NPC as its leader). When I was trying to cobble together a system for Digital_Rampage's Unleashed campaign wherein we could build up a settlement we were trying to improve and reinforce as the core of the campaign, "Kingmaker" was brought up for comparison, so I guess it's only fitting that we actually get to play it now.

I've been working on painting some PC minis for it.

Rook the Warden:


I felt like playing another bard would be overkill, since I'm doing that in Digital_Rampage's campaign. So what else? Paladin or rogue? Well, Digital_Rampage is playing a paladin, and JHZ expressed interest in a rogue. Hmm. I like playing skill-focused characters, preferably in some sort of support role. How about a ranger? Well, yes, but there's something goofy about the way they just suddenly start casting spells. I mean, seriously, every hunter and woodsman in this setting just starts casting spells upon a certain level of competence? Really? Goober_Chris found a third-party variant called the "Spell-less Ranger" that takes a Ranger, removes the spellcasting, and gives it a few new abilities at higher levels. (At level 1, it's largely indistinguishable from a normal Ranger, save for swapping "Spellcraft" skill with "Acrobatics.")

"Spell-less Ranger" doesn't have much of a ring to it, so I'm calling my character a "Warden." Specifically, my character worked as the warden for a preserve dedicated to the deity Erastil, capturing poachers. (As such, my "favored enemy" is HUMANS, and I've got a trait focus on dealing non-lethal damage with blunt arrows, so I can take prisoners rather than killing on sight. I'm a warden, not an executioner.)

I hoped to tie in my character background with Digital_Rampage's, but we just haven't had a chance to confer on the details. (The holidays, my company meeting, and my subsequent GETTING SICK upon getting back conspired to get in the way.)

If I get an animal companion, I think I might try for an elk. Elks are holy to Erastil, and they're also just cool. I managed to land an elk mini (Iron Kingdoms/Hordes) in an Ebay auction at the minimum bid (which is still a good price even with shipping/handling), and while once upon a time I would have painted it up as a companion for my Nyss character in Digital_Rampage's Unleashed campaign, now I might paint it up (on a cavalry base) as a companion for my ranger in Goober_Chris's game.



Paladin of Erastil:


Next up, we have Digital_Rampage's character. He's a paladin with a greatsword, and Digital_Rampage wanted a white-and-red paint scheme. The symbol on the shield is that of Erastil -- a bow and arrow turned up in such a way that it's almost cross-like (since the faith of Erastil seems to be the closest "European Medieval Church Equivalent" we have for this fantasy setting, albeit with more of a woodsy focus for Erastil).

I haven't heard a peep on his background -- not even his name. I'll have to get on that.

Kitsune Magus:


NinjaTheWolf's character is a kitsune and a magus (a "spellsword" type). He picked this mini out of the Reaper box, and I added a bit of putty to the blade to give it a "I'm doing MAGIC to this!" sort of look. I don't know the name or any other particulars; I just was given a basic scheme (blue iwth gold trim, fox with grey fur) to work with.


Grippli Adventurer:


Now this was more of a challenge to kitbash. New Guy's character is a "grippli," or frog-guy, about halfling sized, and in this case, he's actually raised by halflings. So I was challenged to have a frog-man, but to make him "civilized" looking (i.e., clothed, preferably like a halfling). Then, there was the crossbow. I used a halfling mini, chopped off the head, used putty and some Instant Mold to copy a frog-head from another mini, then attached it, used putty to bulk up the hood/drape, feet, and hands, added on a mini crossbow, and then used some wire and putty to add a pipe (since I thought that seemed very "civilized" and halfling-like).

Selana, Frost Mage


SV has written up a character -- an elf ice sorceress with a royal background. I suppose if we're establishing some sort of kingdom, she'll be the shoo-in as its ruler. SV actually grabbed a mini I'd already kitbashed as a generic civilian and said that'd be perfect for his character. I just swapped bases (I was using 30mm bases for Iron Kingdoms, but I've been putting the Pathfinder minis on pennies), and did some touch-up work on the paint to try to suggest a snow-frosted base and some icy blue tones to the character.

The Rogue
So, that's five so far, right? Well, we've got six players, and the sixth would be JHZ. I hear he's playing a rogue. Trouble is, I haven't SEEN him since we came to the agreement that our next campaign would be Pathfinder, so I've never been able to get particulars on his rogue character. His dad, JZ, has expressed interest in playing, but Goober_Chris is hesitant to try tackling a SEVEN-player group. I offered to bow out and just be a "filler" player (someone who will only jump in when we're short a player), but Goober_Chris doesn't feel comfortable with that. I think for now we need to find out whether JHZ is still on board, or whether the announcement killed his interest.

(I may revisit the "filler player" option to see if I can persuade Goober_Chris. JZ has been gone a while, and I feel bad that if he's expressed interest again, we'd end up turning him away. I mean, since I'm the host, I'll be here for sure. And it's pretty frequent that we're missing at least one person. Even if we have a full house, I will have plenty to do, and I don't mind watching and chronicling the events, helping with minis and scenery, etc. Also, truth be told, I'm a HORRIBLE player. I'm a borderline meta-gamer at the very least, I take every setback personally ... AUGH. It's like as soon as I get to play, my IQ and my sanity go right out the window. I'm also horrible when it comes to board games or card games, as I get frustrated and angry far too easily. And if I'm sufficiently "detached," somehow it's not really that much fun. I wish I could find the right balance, but I don't really enjoy subjecting everyone to my bad behavior while I try to sort it out.)