Character discussion

[Balgin Stondraeg]

Perhaps make a variant of one of the Extend Spell type feats that's a bit cheaper (doesn't push the spell up as many levels)

Extend's only up one. I never liekd all that Forgotten Realms wild magic and dead magic crud* anyway.

BTW Balgin, have you any thoughts on my Rogue/Druid idea?

My thoughts? Take rogue first, you'll get a lot more skill points that way :p.

If you actualy looked at the 1st ed spell components seriously they all implied that there was no magic involved (the components for the charisma boost spell were basicaly a simple makeup kit, fireball was a lot of flammable stuff that included one of the components of gunpowder etc).

So "mechanical" magic could work if that's the way you want to view it (but just expect everyone else who practices magic differently to be just as good as you if they're of the same level :p).

[Mr Teufel]

I meant the other ones. "Extend Spell type feats" = ambiguous blather meaning magic user feats in general. Sorry.

[Balgin Stondraeg]

Ah those. They work, just don't overdo it. Use them selectively. Personaly I've often used feats to push certain spelsl up a few levels (let's say I've maxed out on second level slots and want to prepare bull's strength to boost up the fighter later, so I extend it to make it 3rd level where I've got a less neccessary slot).

If our spellcaster's going for the gadget approach then I trust he'll focus on the kind of spells you could expect gadgets to do (acid splash, foggy clouds, ventriloquism etc, not unseen servant or Tenser's Floating Disc although that could be a hovercraft kind of device that only functions for short periods of time before venting steam and making very unhealthy sounds, and then crashing to the ground).

[Mr Teufel]

And could you look at the Druid class with an eye to modifying it for an ocean-based druid? Woodland Stride, Trackless Step, and possibly my Animal Companion might need work to fit the theme. I think there may be rules out there for sea druids, but I'll have to search my stuff. And you've made it clear that just because it's in a splat book doesn't mean it automatically meets with your approval. Which is fair enough.

[Balgin Stondraeg]

Sea gull? I'd be wary of allowing a water based familiar (like a fish) purely because of all the times you'd need it on land (I could see it "drowning" on pure air at certain points of the adventure).

[Mr Teufel]

I could just go for a hawk and call it a seahawk or something. So yeah, that's not really a problem. (Tho I have a silly yen for a land-squid! :icon_razz:) It's the other class abilities that might need some adjustment.

[Alex]

Yeah, I don't think it'd be entirely mechanical (when you get up a few levels, it'd be a hell of a lot for the little guy to carry around!) but magic-enhanced mechanics, if that makes sense. You couldn't necessarily replicate the spells with modern technology, but the spell components etc would be some sort of gadgetry.

For example, he 'casts' mirror image by activating a whirring device covered in mirrors and prisms above his head, which project the illusion of multiple images around him, as opposed to waving his hands in the air and muttering in pig latin.

(Just had an amusing thought- his familiar could be a rat or something in a hamster wheel which would be attached to a battery to power a shocking grasp spell :icon_silly: )

I'd come across this in a quick google search: http://www.nightwasp.com/daggerdale/wildmage.htm

I know it's 'that Forgotten Realms wild magic and dead magic crud*' but I thought that maybe you could use the mechanics in a 'counts as' fashion without actually touching the FR background attached to it- the 'wild surge' is an attempt to jury-rig a contraption on the hoof which may or may not prove successful. I doubt I'd take the prestige class,  but the wild magic mechanomagic student feat could be fun. It wouldn't be the sort of thing that'd come into play hugely often- only if inspiration struck during the game.

But then again, I'm a long way from actually sitting down and writing up a character sheet, so it's a bit pointless coming up with all sorts of assorted feats and stuff that I may never end up taking. (Can you tell I'm supposed to be working?!)

In regard to Mr Teufel's character, maybe some sort of swim speed could work instead, +/- a bonus on holding breath? I've no real idea about balancing those sorts of things, but with spending lots of time in and around the sea it might make sense. A sea eagle might make a slightly more impressive familiar, depending on whether that's appropriate, or maybe a rat/dire rat if he's more of a ship-based pirate type?

[Mr Teufel]

By the way, I reckon Erasmus of the Heresy line would make a surprisingly good mini for my character. Wild hair and robes - perfect!

[Balgin Stondraeg]

See, I don't see it as a need to change the class so much as aneed to change the way you look at it. I mean, you can always put skill points into swimming and stuff like that (the same goes for the feats you choose and the way you use your class features). That being said 'though, sometimes things do need changing (but not often).

[Fabian]

May I suggest the following?

Woodland Stride - replace with "Water Breathing" - you can breathe water as easily as air

Trackless Step -replace with "Sea Brother" - gain a base swimming speed of 30ft. You do not need to make Swim checks to swim normally. Gain a +4 class bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. You can always choose to take 10 on these checks, even if rushed or threatened when swimming. You can use the run action when swimming provided you swim in a straight line.

adapted from the River and Sea Spirit Folk in Oriental Adventures. Just some ideas. You may feel they take away from the Druid's wild shape ability.

[Balgin Stondraeg]

I'm not sure about that but I could see those breaking something else. I'm pretty sure you could have access to spells for water breathing (and for swimming you just need water breathing, fly and freedom of mvoement......).

I can see them breaking something later on 'though so I'd rather leave them as is.

Anyway, basicaly I'll try to get you two guys started on character creation sometime late on monday night or early on teusday and keep you both going slow so the rest can catch up with you.

[Keeper]

I pretty much settled on a straight Fighter/Rouge this weekend, Balgin.  So am I in, then?  So I go ahead and roll up a level 4 character, using the character sheet you pointed us to in the other thread?

[Balgin Stondraeg]

Yep, your in. For now I'd like everyone to simply choose race and then assign ability scores (I'm going to give everyone a 30 point buy due to the current lack of dice at the moment). Once most of the players have got that far we can move on to class stuff.

[Alex]

I've had a bit of a think, and I'd like one of you rogueish types to maybe have some sort of common background with my space-cadet type wizard. I picture him needing someone with a bit of charisma to explain to the nice innkeeper why he no longer has a roof on the guest bedroom, or gently remind him that now perhaps isn't a good time to get a sketch of the mechanism of action of a dragon's wings, and that running like hell is a better use of time. That sort of thing. Someone who'll remind him that it's easier to do things the simple way, like just manually buttering bread, instead of trying to come up with a gadget to do it.

If anyone wants to work on this sort of idea, that'd be great- could lead to some interesting IC chats!

EDIT: Balgin, how does the point buy system your using work? I take it we're starting at 8. Is it a straight buy or do higher scores cost more points? I'm interested in putting my guy's intelligence through the roof (20+) at the expense of Wis and Cha.

[Keeper]

I'd be happy to link our characters in this way, Alex, but I'm only pitching for an average level of charisma.