[PnP] Possible one-shot/short-term/campaign plans?

[icnivad]

Awesome. I've read through most of the players guide, and it looks like a neat place. I second the like for having a players guide like this to help set the scenery, too. If you want to use it, my place is available for game nights. I have 3 large 5'x5' tables that might be good for laying out stuff.

I'm not solidified, yet, but I'm thinking of playing a character who was, until recently, a powerful lawful evil cleric. Who has been having moral problems with what his church has been doing, and ended up, eventually, disobeying an order he didn't believe in, resulting in his diety stripped him of all of his powers. This puts him back in a 'starting over' position with a new diety.

[Rabbit]

I have a few character concepts I am considering, but I'll wait until we all sit down to settle on anything since I tend to change my mind multiple times. Though I think it is a good idea to look at the Campaign Traits in the Players Guide while thinking about characters. Even if reefwood doesn't have us use them they can ensure our characters fit the setting.

One other thing I want to ask, first our DM then (depending on his answer) the other players.

With the setting I can see an adventure party shaping up two somewhat different ways.

Are we to be 'Evil-ish' characters who have subscribed to the Devil's Law social system but just not happy with our current place in it, or are we 'Good-ish' characters who feel that there is something inherently wrong with the devil worshiping status quo?

Reefwood, as the DM do you have a preference on how we approach this?

If our DM doesn't have an opinion then I ask the same to you other players. Even if your character doesn't adopt this specific world view how do you (as a person playing a character in a game) want to run with the setting? A robin hood type secretly worshiping a Good deity wont get along very well with the shamed necromancer determined to learn the secrets of Hell.

PS: sorry if I'm jumping the gun a little here, reefwood.

[icnivad]

After reading more of the players guide, a summoner in this world sounds interesting, too.

And Rabbit, depending on what Franco says, I could go either way on the evilish question. I like the idea of all players having a similar moral ground.

[reefwood]

Council of Thieves

Good questions! I'm still sorting out the answers in my head. I have today and tomorrow off, so I'll finish my necessary research to get things rolling and probably post something on Sunday when I get park in a wi-fi spot while working.

Also, there may be a couple different character creation options, so don't go rolling up anything yet.

[icnivad]

My third character thought is a straight fighter, which I'm curious to see how that works in Pathfinder, since it seems like they fixed a lot of the issues from 3.5. This could easily be the fallen cleric character, too. How I swing might depend on if we are playing evil-ish, restructure the social system characters, or good characters.

[reefwood]

Council of Thieves - Diabolism

Here are a couple blurbs about the ruling philosophy of the Chelaxian empire:

Veneration of the Nine Circles of Hell
Alignment: LE
Centers of Belief: Cheliax
Associated Religions: Asmodeus, archdevils

The philosophy of diabolism is often misunderstood by thsoe who do not adhere to its tenents. It is easy to misunderstand, as the religion of Asmodeus and the various cults of the other eight archdevils inexorably intertwine with and support the philosophy. Yet at its core, the primary difference between these religions and diabolism is the simple truth that a diabolist isn't particularlary interested in serving one of the Lords of Hell. His interests lie in the underlying structure of Hell itself as a model for which such a society must be based. There cannot be ruler without the ruled, pleasure without the existence of pain and suffering, light without darkness. The argument that good is defined by evil and that kindness could not exist wihout cruelty is a favorite point of debate among diabolists. Many don't view their interest and admiration of Hell as evil, but rather as an honest and open appreciation of the simple fact that Hell is a necessity, and its rulers are to be respected, not reviled.

Diabolism is a philosophical interest in understanding, serving, and promoting the organizational structure of Hell. Diabolists do not venerate Asmodeus or his Archdevils in particular, preferring to come to a greater understanding of the hierarchies, structures, and philosophies which are the underpinnings of their interactions. As such, this ideology does not grant its adherents divine power, although devotees of infernal powers often arise from such cults, making the philosophy something of a stepping stone to infernal worship.

They believe that Hell is the most ordered and rational society in the Great Beyond and they wish to transform themselves and their surroundings to model this perfect structure: hierarchical systems of power, virtue of strong leadership, suppression of free will and the value of slavery. Diabolists understand the necessity of opposing forces, and – more often than not – seek to respect the powers that govern one of the best established hierarchies of lawful order in all the planes. Most do not see this respect as evil, simply as a necessity to maintaining functional order.

---

As for character alignment, let's aim for Good or Neutral on the Good-Evil axis. Being ex-Evil would be fine too. Or if you really want to be Evil, don't be a diabolist... so, you're evil but not demon-revering evil.

[Rabbit]

So there is a character idea that is sticking in my mind (for now ) Gnomes in Pathfinder go through a "bleaching" process from time to time...

The Bleaching is a result of the gnomes' exodus from their home plane. It only serves to fuel their racial curiosity and whimsy. In essence the Bleaching is a sort of unnatural aging that gnomes have experienced since their migration to Golarion. While gnomes are still immortal, they now require regular wondrous or vivid experiences to sustain themselves otherwise they begin to fade, their entire body losing all its colour. The condition is eventually fatal.

What if a gnome in this process broke a serious law in Cheliax and found himself spending a long duration in a prison? How would this effect the gnome both physically and Spiritually.

Gnome humor is hard to translate and often comes across as malicious or senseless to other races.

I was thinking this gnomed then developed an even darker sense of humor, maybe a little bit crazy. Not sadistic, but perhaps more comfortable with bloodshed and creepy things than the usual gnome.

I am liking the idea of Rogue --> Shadow Dancer.

[michael]

I have a couple of ideas rattling around. The first belonged to a group of scholars that were rounded up for one reason or another. One of them wrote a treatise on the virtue human dignity, or something. Rather than execution, they were sentenced to live as slaves and fight gladiatorial combat. Basically the same thing, for a bunch of bookworms. My character, however, is an Alchemist, and won his fight by hulking out on Mutagen. He's been surviving in that life for a few months. I like idea of the slight-of-frame intellectual dominating in gladiatorial combat. René Descartes: Ruler of The Octagon. I'd eventually work towards the Master Chymist prestige class.

My other idea is a bit too similar to Talik's character concept, but I was also thinking of an Inquisitor working for the governing body in Cheliax, devoted to the ideal of Justice. He enlisted when he was very young, and now that he's grown, his ideas of what justice actually is have shifted.

[icnivad]

I like all of these ideas. Good character concepts here.

[reefwood]

Game Idea - Monstrous Humanoid NPCville

That may not be the best or most accurate game title, but it's an idea for a 3 chapter mini-campaign that I'm tinkering with, possibly for the winter. Probably 2-3 parts per chapter.

First off, this game may not be to everyone's liking. Or maybe no one. Your characters won't start out awesome, and the direction they take will be somewhat directed and random. Did you set up stats for a Wizard? Oops...looks like you're going to be a Barbarian...but at least a smart one. So yeah, expect things like this to happen unexpectedly. If you want to play a game where your stats and direction will change completely out of your control, then read on.

Players will start out with NPC levels. Probably 3rd level. Options are Adept, Aristocrat, Commoner, Expert, and Warrior.

This game would take place in a town composed primarily of non-core races. Nothing too fantastical - goblinoids, gnolls, kobolds, maybe some others. The town was established in the wild some time ago by a band of monstrous heroes and has become a place for outcasts willing to sever past allegiances and get a fresh start.

Players may not play a core race. The list of options is still in the works. This town is within a hostile region, but the immediate area is not too dangerous. Town members with great skill are sent to the front line. This is not you. You are a notable member of the town who is linked to a person of power but as an underling of some sort. Your role may have some influence over your stats.

Players will gain PC levels, eventually, but won't have much say in the classes of the PC levels gained.

Other stats will change too, and players won't have any control over those.

[reefwood]

Downtime

I looked at the Ultimate Campaign book for Pathfinder and came across this somewhat involved but interesting system. Seems like way too much to do at the table, but it could give players something to do between sessions, or to keep a campaign alive and slowly growing during the summer.

paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/ultimateCampaign/downtime.html