Character Creation and Rules Discussion

[tombowings]

In this thread we can talk about characters and rules. I'm happy to answer questions and will address rules discrepancies as they come up in play.

As you express interest in playing, I'll roll up ability scores and starting gold for you (as per Men and Magic) and post them here. After you've finished with your PC, post him or her in the Character Roster thread.


Basic Rules Clarifications:

EXPERIENCE POINTS: 100 XP per hit die for monsters killed (equal amongst combatants); 1 XP per gp value recovered, split at the adventurers see fit.

SORCEROUS RITUALS: Sorcerer characters with begin play with a single ritual, selected at random.

TWO-HANDED WEAPONS: Deal +1 damage to offset the absence of a shield.

FIRING INTO MELEE: On an even roll, the attack is directed at the intended target. On an odd roll, a random target is diced for.

DEATH: 0 hit points is dead. Period.

INITIATIVE: I'll hand based on common sense. Usually it will go: missiles, movement, then melee. Melee rounds are one minute long.

LANGUAGES: Most men speak the common tongue—which is an offshoot of the language brought to Carcosa by space aliens. In additional, each race (color) of men possesses their own language. These racial languages are often spoken is villages or parts of cities predominately inhabited by a single race.

Player characters automatically speak the common tongue and their racial tongue. One additional language is spoken for each point of intelligence above 10.

Many Old Ones are either mindless or communicate via psionic transmissions that transcend language. Finally, the true Language of the Old one is so diverse and cryptic that it is nearly impossible to master. The sheer uncountability in the number of inhuman dialects would require hundreds of years to master. When communicating with Old Ones that do not posses their own tongue, you will have a chance out of 10 for your meaning to be understood. His chance is equal to the number of language slots dedicated to the language of Old Ones. On a roll of 10, the meaning of your words is reversed.

There are others, however, that their own, unique language. Those are: Shoggoths, Mi-Go, The Great Race, The Deep Ones, B’Yakhee.

Finally, some men learn to speech ancient language of the space aliens. Ancient Space Alien represents the state of the pure language before it was adopted and corrupted by the men of Carcosa.

[tombowings]

Here are abilities score for crusssdaddy, sd, EdOWar, and cadriel.

Crusssdaddy
Str: 16
Int: 16
Wis: 11
Con: 8
Dex: 9
Cha: 11

Starting Gold: 90 gp


Sd
Str: 13
Int: 15
Wis: 11
Con: 10
Dex: 14
Cha: 8

Starting Gold: 90 gp


EdOWar
Str: 9
Int: 10
Wis: 10
Con: 13
Dex: 7
Cha: 15

Starting Gold: 140 gp


Cadriel
Str: 9
Int: 15
Wis: 7
Con: 15
Dex: 8
Cha: 9

Starting Gold: 110 gp

[crusssdaddy]

If any of us choose to go the Sorcerer route, do we receive any rituals at start?

[tombowings]

Aug 12, 2010 20:35:38 GMT -6 crusssdaddy said:

If any of us choose to go the Sorcerer route, do we receive any rituals at start?

Yeah, I think it would be more fun if you started out with a single ritual.



themattjon, here are your ability scores and starting gold:

Str: 8
Int: 14
Wis: 6
Con: 9
Dex: 10
Cha: 11

Starting Wealth: 120 gp

[sd]

Got the scores. Will get character genned tomorrow morning. Looking forward to gaming with everyone.

[tombowings]

Just do everyone knows, there is a lot of racism between different colors of men. If you want, some group unity could be created by creating characters of the same color. On the other hand, you may accepted in a greater number of cities by creating characters that are all different colors. There will be advantages and disadvantages to both.

Should anyone have some spending gold left over, beginning play with henchman is always an option we can talk about.

[crusssdaddy]

Does a high STR get any to hit or damage bonus? Anything besides a bonus to earned experience for Fighting-Men?

[tombowings]

Nope. I'm trying things without inspiration from Supplement I. If it doesn't work out or you guys all want it, I can work in more important ability bonuses and penalties.

[tombowings]

I curious whether you would like to begin play: in a town or at an adventure sight are two likely possibilities, but I'm up for suggestions. Since this is going to be a complete sandbox, I think it would be fun for you guys to set the location of the first scene. (I'm not using the basic Carcosa map though, so please don't just give a hex number.)

[tombowings]

I have added a section on languages to the opening post.

[EdOWar]

I'm all for jumping right in and starting at an adventure location.

[cadriel]

I agree, I'd like to start at the start of an adventure with the characters being virtual strangers to each other, it always struck me as classic.

Should we list our languages or is that secret as well?

[tombowings]

Yeah, secret languages could be fun. Strikes me a very Carcosian. Good idea, Cadriel.

[crusssdaddy]

I'm cool with starting at an adventure location. Let's meet some new people, and take their stuff!

[tombowings]

A Note On Encumbrance

Enmerkar is lightly encumbered (nearly heavily encumbered) and will move at a slightly reduced speed. His plate mail, shield, and rope are the 3 heaviest items he is carrying right now.

Tas is heavily encumbered (barely) and will move at half speed. His plate mail and shield are his heaviest items. Discarding any of his item or exchanging his plate mail for chain mail will reduce him to being only being lightly encumbered.

Due to his impressively high strength score, The Penultimate Ecstasy is unencumbered. He is also carrying the least amount of equipment.

At this point is may be worth while to invest in a beast of burden, such as a Yarin, a giant carnivorous sand lizard favored by desert nomads for their immense stamina and heightened sense of small. Typically, male Yarin sell for 20 gold coins. Female are slightly more expensive ranging from 25 to 30 gold coins.

[tombowings]

Emerald Blade of All Challenges has bought a Yarin. Now, themattjon, you'll need to name him and decide what Emerald Blade of All Challenges is carrying and what the Yarin is carrying.

Yarin come in the following colors: Jade, Brown, Dolm, Orange, and Yellow. They have 2 hit dice and can carry the weight of four men, but will only attack creatures smaller than it when cornered. Yarin are also no especial quick or agile.

[tombowings]

Ability Score for Picador:

Str: 14
Int: 13
Wis: 9
Dex: 15
Con: 8
Cha: 9

Staring Gold: 50 gp

[murquhart72]

I didn't even think of colors. Emerald Blade's Yarin is named Jade (as well as being jade, I guess) ;D
He's wearing his mail with his dagger at his hip. His two-handed sword is strapped between his back and back pack (which holds all his stuff, except the yarin and saddle bags of course), or else at his waist, whichever looks cooler
He carries his spear and will use his sack and saddle bags for carrying any loot.

[tombowings]

Well, it looks like the Emerald Blade of All Challenges will be heavily encumbered. The heaviest items he is carry is his plate mail, two-handed sword, and rope.

He will either need to throw four of these one Tarin to get down to being lightly encumbered, if you so desire:

Two-handed sword (counts as two)
50’ of Rope (counts as two)
Spear
Iron Spikes
Water Skin
Torches
3 Flasks of Oil
Rations

[murquhart72]

I have chain, not plate actually.
How are you recording encumbrance? According to Men & Magic my move should be at 9". 50' of rope is one of the things lumped into the 80 Gold Piece miscellaneous equipment.

[tombowings]

I'm handling encumberance the same way we have been in waysoftheearth's Hinterlands game. Each piece of equipment is assigned a number of stone weight (usually 1/2). Plate Mail is 4 stones, for example. A character can carry a number of stone equal to half their strength score. A light load is up to a character's strength score in stones. a heavy load is up to twice a character's strength score in stones. It is assumed that most character will be lightly encumbered.

With chain mail armor, you are heavily encumbered, but one stone away from lightly so.

[murquhart72]

I see. I'll lighten up considerably and both post and PM you the new and improved sheet (probably tomorrow). I do kind of want him to travel a bit light as it were.

[EdOWar]

Aug 13, 2010 13:28:19 GMT -6 tombowings said:

A Note On Encumbrance

Tas is heavily encumbered (barely) and will move at half speed. His plate mail and shield are his heaviest items. Discarding any of his item or exchanging his plate mail for chain mail will reduce him to being only being lightly encumbered.

Tas will give up his 2 flasks of oil, giving 4 more GP in his coin purse, iirc.

[tombowings]

Tas is, actually still heavily encumbered to the light weight of the oil flasks.

Giving up his helmet, flail, short bow, arrows, 12 iron spikes, torches, ratoins or waterskin would lessen him to a light load. It may be wise to discuss with the other members of the party who is taking what. There are two characters lugging around sets of 12 iron spikes, for instance. Otherwise, some items (such as rations) you may want to be carried by the Emerald Blade of All Challenges' Yarin, Jade who is burdened only by a set of saddle bags.

On another note, I am ready to begin play as soon as character are finalized.

[EdOWar]

All right, I'll keep the oil and dump the spikes then, since someone else also has a dozen of them.

[murquhart72]

Finalized my character sheet and PMed the full version. I should be lighter now

[tombowings]

Emerald Blade of All Challenges is much lighter now and only lightly encumbered.

[tombowings]

waysoftheearth, here are you're ability scores:

Str: 13
Int: 13
Wis: 17
Dex: 12
Con: 11
Cha 9

Staring Wealth: 110 gp

[murquhart72]

Just noticed: There are 24 torches (no lanterns) in the party! Guess we don't mind being in the dark
Plus: Bone Women are hawt

[tombowings]

So, I'm planning on getting things rolling along Monday. So make sure to get your characters finalized by then.