Recruitment Thread @ ENWorld

[Wonder Waffles!!!]

Here it 'tis:
www.enworld.org/forum/gamers-seeking-gamers/329410-now-recruiting-dark-sun-maptool-d-d-4th-edition-game-needs-player-s.html

[salmonmax]

Hello all!

I'm from Enworld, attracted by this very recruiting thread. Hoping to join the Dark Sun game.

Not sure who to talk to or where to go, but hopefully the GM will notice this.

[Hussar]

I believe the GM (Awayfarer) is on holiday at this exact moment, but, he'll be back soon. Welcome aboard.

[salmonmax]

Ah, that'd explain it. Thanks!

I spose while I'm waiting I could start some character concept blather.

Right now I'm looking at a Protector Druid, which is a lot like a regular 'wild shape' druid, except they don't get wild shape, instead getting daily uses of a versatile summoning power. That, plus some feats, and I should be able to do a good controller with an other-than-psion utility, and get some backup healing/leadering in there too.

[Raunalyn]

And I would be the other recruitee. I normally DM Dark Sun, and I've been dying to play it...so here I am.

I'm willing to play just about anything, so it's up to you guys on what role you want me in.

[raunalyn]

Ok, so it looks like salmonmax is going to play a leader-type. So, I was thinking either more defendery goodness, or a wild sorcerer (never played one, nor seen one played).

[salmonmax]

Controller/leader, really..
But yeah. Significant summoning as well.

[Wonder Waffles!!!]

Hey, guys, this is KM!

When Monday comes, Away will start a server, and you can log in via MapTool as a player. We use a password: "mass3" (no quotation marks). Try to whip up your token beforehand - we use DeviantNull's 4e framework (a quick Google search should get you a campaign file with it). I can't remember the version of MapTool we use...I believe it's b86? Maybe b87? (I'll check when I get home tonight) You'll need the right one of those, too.

The moar stuff folks have done before we start, the less time we'll spend getting up to speed! We also use a voice chat program, tinychat, that I also don't have the link to currently. It helps things flow smoothly if you've got a well-calibrated microphone.

See you dudes Monday!

[raunalyn]

Standard character creation rules? What about magic items? By the book?

[Hussar]

AFAIK, everything is standard. Probably make 8th level characters. How conversant are you with Maptools and the framework?

[raunalyn]

Maptools-very. I actually built my own framework. This particular framework? First time messing with it, so there's a little bit of a learning curve for me. Not too difficult to figure out, though.

Would you guys prefer another striker, or would you like another defender?

[Wonder Waffles!!!]

The maptool version is b86!

A few dark-sun specific rules we use: We use inherent bonuses (you can find them in one of the threads in the Dark Sun forum, I believe, if you don't have the Dark Sun book). You can also have items, but the treasure is a slow trickle, so inherent bonuses are pretty necessary to keep the math tight.

We also use a breakage rule and a wound rule. If you roll a 1 on an attack roll, you can re-roll the attack if you want, and break the weapon in the process. If you get reduced to 0 hp, Away will inflict some lasting damage on you that works like a disease.

The voice chat room is: tinychat.com/s5w9wjusttryingrandomstuffnow#

It's weird and flash-heavy and not exactly ideal, so don't be too surprised if you have a few issues with it.

ALSO: It is so weird that even with two extra players we cannot get anyone to play a full on leader. Jimminy jackrabbit, there's still a "someone must play a cleric" problem.

Anyway, welcome!

[awayfarer]

Hi all! Merk and I just returned from vacation tonight.

For now, yeah, make level 8 characters. We're going with the inherent bonus system so pluses on weapons and armor won't really mean much. I'm trying to run this campaign as being fairly bereft of magic items, so if you have access to any info on boons be sure to whip that out.

The party is a small remnant of a much larger mercenary group named the Stonefaces, who were almost completely wiped out a little less than a year ago. They're currently wanted in Urik and Nibenay. I'd like to lump any new PCs in with this group just to have a quick and easy reason for you all to go traveling together.

This party runs neutral with some evil (or at least amoral) tendencies. I'd strongly discourage good characters.

Looks like Wonderwaffles already covered the current party on Enworld. I'll give a quick campaign-so-far rundown tomorrow. Sorry for the delay but we were camping and didn't have a reliable source of internet.

[salmonmax]

I'm open to making a leader. I thought there was already a full-time leader in the group.

I can just as easily make a Sentinel Druid (leader) as a Protector Druid (controller/leader).

One question I have is vis a vis the voice chat. Do you guys use it for the OOC chatter and table talk only, or is it for in-character as well?

I think I can deal with an 'unaligned' character who has a fairly 'survival of the fittest' mindset, who can work with evil characters. At least up to a point.

I'm not too good with actually playing evil characters though. Don't have an objection to it...just not very good at it.

[raunalyn]

Well, I went ahead and made 2 characters so that you guys can give a vote on which one you want more.

One is a halfling wild sorcerer. He's unaligned, with some good tendencies. He's also slightly twisted from dealing with the primordial chaos.

The second is a Half-Giant Battlemind. A mercenary. He's the type to leap in front, mark a bunch of mobs, and then punish them. He's also unaligned, but that's because his loyalty is easily bought with wealth and fame.

I used standard rules for creating a higher level character, so they both have some minor magic items. Would you like me to remove those?

[raunalyn]

This is my Defender for your approval.

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Kiras, level 8
Goliath, Battlemind
Psionic Study Option: Persistent Harrier
Dark Sun, Inherent Bonuses
Ringing Mountains - Mountain Tribe (+2 to Athletics)
Theme: Mercenary

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 14, CON 20, DEX 12, INT 10, WIS 18, CHA 8

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 12, CON 16, DEX 12, INT 10, WIS 16, CHA 8


AC: 22 Fort: 21 Ref: 17 Will: 23
HP: 77 Surges: 14 Surge Value: 19

TRAINED SKILLS
Athletics +15, Endurance +14, Insight +13, Perception +13

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +5, Arcana +4, Bluff +3, Diplomacy +3, Dungeoneering +8, Heal +8, History +4, Intimidate +5, Nature +10, Religion +4, Stealth +5, Streetwise +5, Thievery +5

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Mercenary Attack: Takedown Strike
Goliath Racial Power: Stone's Endurance
Battlemind Feature: Battlemind's Demand
Battlemind Feature: Blurred Step
Battlemind Feature: Mind Spike
Battlemind Feature: Persistent Harrier
Wild Talent Cantrip: Telekinetic Grasp
Battlemind Attack 1: Conductive Defense
Battlemind Attack 1: Vicious Cobra Strike
Battlemind Attack 1: Accelerating Strike
Battlemind Utility 2: Telepathic Challenge
Battlemind Attack 5: Nightmare Vortex
Battlemind Utility 6: Psionic Ambush
Battlemind Attack 7: Forceful Reversal

FEATS
Level 1: Melee Training (Constitution)
Level 2: Goliath Greatweapon Prowess
Level 4: Defender of the Wild
Level 6: Guard of Stone
Level 8: Markings of the Victor

ITEMS
Avalanche Hammer Maul +2 x1
Bracers of Mighty Striking (heroic tier) x1
Gauntlets of Blood (heroic tier) x1
Horned Helm (heroic tier) x1
Veteran's Scale Armor +1 x1
Acrobat Boots
Badge of the Berserker +2 x1
====== End ======

[raunalyn]

And here is my Sorcerer.

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Adular, level 8
Halfling, Sorcerer
Spell Source Option: Wild Magic
Proficiency: Implement Proficiency (Wand)
Dark Sun, Inherent Bonuses
Forest Ridge - Spirit Guided (Perception class skill)
Theme: Elemental Initiate

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 12, CON 12, DEX 20, INT 10, WIS 8, CHA 20

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 12, CON 12, DEX 16, INT 10, WIS 8, CHA 16


AC: 24 Fort: 17 Ref: 22 Will: 23
HP: 59 Surges: 7 Surge Value: 14

TRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +9, Bluff +14, Intimidate +14, Nature +8, Perception +8

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +12, Athletics +5, Diplomacy +9, Dungeoneering +3, Endurance +5, Heal +3, History +4, Insight +3, Religion +4, Stealth +9, Streetwise +9, Thievery +11

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Elemental Initiate Attack: Disciplined Counter
Halfling Racial Power: Second Chance
Wild Talent Cantrip: Sensing Eye
: Arcane Defiling
Sorcerer Attack 1: Chaos Bolt
Sorcerer Attack 1: Acid Orb
Sorcerer Attack 1: Mists of Disarray
Sorcerer Attack 1: Dazzling Ray
Sorcerer Utility 2: Focused Chaos
Sorcerer Attack 3: Lightning Cuts
Sorcerer Attack 5: Thunder Leap
Sorcerer Utility 6: Swift Escape
Sorcerer Attack 7: Spark Form

FEATS
Level 1: Sorcerous Blade Channeling
Level 2: White Lotus Dueling Expertise
Level 4: Dual Implement Spellcaster
Level 6: Unarmored Agility
Level 8: Superior Implement Training (Lancing dagger)

ITEMS
Lucky Halfling's Lancing dagger +2 x1
Rhythm Blade Lancing dagger +2 x1
Vigorous Resolve Vestments Cloth Armor (Basic Clothing) +2 x1
Amulet of Protection +2 x1
Acrobat Boots x1
Potion of Vigor (heroic tier)
Potion of Healing
====== End ======

[Wonder Waffles!!!]

We've got a DMPC bard, and had a DMPC Warlord, but I think that was more out of Away's generosity than anything. A PC Leader is something this party's never had -- the closest is a few ranger healing abilities I've picked up, and my mediocre Heal bonus (that I'm playing an invertebrate who is not the best at healing is why I've been reminded a bit of Dr. Zoidberg).

I don't think it's a requirement -- certainly WE all decided to play what we wanted, and you dudes probably should, too. I just found it a bit of a humorous observation, is all!

The chatter in voicechat is a combo. We don't have a real strict OOC/IC division, but we'll do funny voices.

[awayfarer]

Sept 23, 2012 15:32:44 GMT -5 Wonder Waffles!!! said:

We've got a DMPC bard, and had a DMPC Warlord, but I think that was more out of Away's generosity than anything.

The leader NPCs have been around mostly due to the party's lack of healing, yeah. If someone wants to make a leader I'd more than likely shelve the NPCs since that'd bring us to seven party members.

[awayfarer]

Sept 23, 2012 10:08:34 GMT -5 raunalyn said:

And here is my Sorcerer.

ITEMS
Lucky Halfling's Lancing dagger +2 x1
Rhythm Blade Lancing dagger +2 x1

Took a quick glance and they look fine, although aren't Rhythm Blade, Lucky Halfling and Lancing all discrete qualities? As in, you can't have more than one in a single weapon?

You may have to explain some of the Battlemind stuff as we go along. I'm not up on the psionic classes.

[awayfarer]

Oh, by the way, no divine classes for now. There may come a time when they're allowed, but for now pretty much all godly magic has been wiped from the face of Athas and is unknown.

[raunalyn]

Lancing is a superior implement quality, so it stacks.

Not even sure I'm going to run him. I'm thinking of the Battlemind...

Though, I'm seeing people wanting a Leader. A leader is certainly something I can do as well.

What time is the game tomorrow, btw?

[awayfarer]

Game is at 8:00 EST. It looks like Salmonmax is going to go with an artificer, so you'll be better off with the battlemind I think.

[awayfarer]

A bit of super rough history.

The party began as members of the mercenary company known as the Stonefaces, and were carrying out a mission to the village of Makla, northwest of Urik, while the remainder of the company went west with the Urik army to lay siege to the city of Yaramuke.

They completed their business in Makla, but on returning to Urik to claim their reward saw a massive storm far off to the east. The client for whom they'd undertaken the Makla mission quietly informed them that the Stonefaces were to be put to death for making an attempt on the life of Hamanu, Urik's sorcerer king. Said client also wound up paralyzed in an unsuccessful attempt to capture them.

They now had a price on their heads. The worst was probably for Annander, whose title and lands in Urik had been stripped from him and his family. Facing certain death if they were found, the party wound their way gradually through Makla, through a hidden village known as Freedom, and finally to relative safety in Tyr.

After a profitable if not entirely comfortable stay in Tyr (turns out the ruins under the city are home to a massive nest of ghouls, as well as the animated remains of the city's former sorcerer king), Chuka-tet received word from her mistress, Lalali-puy, sorcerer queen of Gulg, to return to Gulg for orders. Lalali-puy ordered Chuka-tet to investigate the ruins of Yaramuke for some clue as to exactly what had happened there. The rest of the party followed along having been promised a rich reward for helping complete the task.

They traveled through Nibenay, stumbling upon Annandar's mother who had fled from Urik and was now a slave belonging to one of the city's most prominent nobles. A botched rescue attempt ended with Ch'aa riding a kank through the noble's home, and the capture and torture of Phagn Hargo, the party's resident Sargent and drunk. As a result, they are now also wanted in Nibenay and unlikely to return there in the near future.

The party made a brief pit stop in Raam before heading north to Yaramuke. The area around Yaramuke was in ruins for miles around, with thousands of shambling undead marring the ruined countryside. But stranger still was... the rain. A storm was centered over the now-flooded city. After nearly being swarmed to death on their first attempt, the party eventually broke through the hordes of mutants and undead and found a secret area beneath the ruins of Yaramuke's royal palace, where the city's sorcerer queen, Sielba, was apparently still alive though clearly nearing death.

Apparently Sielba had found the secret of how to wield divine magic (and create water!), but had poor control of it. She could make Athas green again if she could be trained by a priest of the Green Age. It just so happens that she has the corpse of a priest of that era, but the ritual to revive him would require souls with a divine spark.

Hence, armed with Sielba's own soul-eating crown, the party traveled far to the north, through windswept wastes and freezing storms to find a temple to Blashrykh, the god of death, where a few angels were still rumored to wander aimlessly, the gods they once served having long since disappeared from the world.

And that's where they are now. Man, even greatly abbreviated that was longer than I thought!

[Merkuri]

Yay, new blood! Welcome to the game, guys!

[salmonmax]

Thanks!

It'll be weird with voice chat. Never done a chatroom game that uses that.

I actually prefer just typing, but I'll give it a try. My in-character speech will probably be mostly typed at least to start with.

Hope that's okay. There's a big psychological divide between 'online' game and 'tabletop' game in my head, and a voice chat messes with it a bit.