Whenever we get around to finishing one or more of our current campaigns, I would like to run a game. I am posting this now so that people can get ideas rollin' around in their heads. So here's what I've come up with so far.

-I would like 3-5 players

-Characters will start at ECL 10

-Level Adjustment Buyoff WILL be used

-FULL gestalt (yes folks, any two classes)

-Circus themed (see below)

-Any races and classes are welcomed and encouraged! Because of the circus theme, even trolls, lizardfolk, orcs, etc etc won't be shunned or frowned upon! If you have a race or class that isn't normally societally accepted... THIS IS YOUR CHANCE.

-35 point buy for stats (this may be adjusted at a later point, but for now plan for 35)

-Standard wealth as per DMG for a 10th level character

-The VAST majority of this campaign will be taking place in a terrestrial (ground based) environment Flight and swim speeds may be beneficial, but only moderately so. This will be a semi-urban campaign, with much of the content happening in bustling cities.

-Coinage WILL have weight: (50 coins per pound) This campaign will be using copper, silver, gold, platinum, and potentially one more metal for coinage, but the vast majority of high end trading will be done with gems, art pieces, etc so depending on who you talk to on what day, prices may vary (which, depending on how convincing you are, could work out very much for or against the party!)

-If there is a special theme or race or concept that you would like me to work with you to make happen, I am more than willing to bend some rules in order to make a character work! I want this to be a fun game where everyone gets to play a character they will have a lot of fun with.

-Story trumps mechanics: I plan on running this with the optional suggestions of "Sometimes things that should be nearly impossible should be given bonuses instead of penalties for sheer awesome factor" coming into play occasionally. I'd like to make this clear from the very beginning to avoid any extended arguments of "but the mechanics say this that or the other"

-I will be looking at the powerscale the party decides to roll with significantly prior to the campaign's beginning and planning encounters accordingly: You will be a 10th level full gestalt character... this leaves a TON of room open for power building, game breaking, and other random shenanigans if you want. I wholeheartedly encourage this if it's what you will have the most fun doing, but keep in mind that I plan on designing encounters that will challenge your characters even with their extensive power. (AKA I fully expect to be using some of my past power build concepts at some point or another in this campaign)

-I know it's still being discussed, but there WILL be some sort of an "Item repair/regeneration" enchantment available (price and effect TBD)

-Dragon Magazine's 3.5 material is acceptable

-Any 3.0 material please check with me so we can see if there is an update for a 3.5 version and/or check for scaling/balance with the rest of 3.5

-Players will be encouraged to help design future encounters if they would like, as well as give active feedback about what is and isn't working so we can work to refine all of the systems currently in place.

-HAVE SOME MOTHERFUCKING FUN

The Campaign Concept: You are part of The Carnival de Laranke: An elite order of assassins, mercenaries, "tax collectors," and information traders. The local kingdoms employ you in eliminating high threat targets, problems, etc etc etc. You are the best at what you do, and all of the royals know it. The general population, on the other hand, knows nothing more than the fact that a travelling circus comes to town seemingly at random, usually stays for about a week, then packs up and moves on its way.

I will come up with an "Oath of the Brotherhood" type thing for The Carnival and post it in this thread so you guys get a general feel for the intended atmosphere.

Any or all of this is subject to change at any time. I will try to do my best to keep a fresh post with the most recent list of edits whenever i edit the original.

Any question, comments, or concerns, feel free to post here, PM me, or call or text. Also feel free to use this thread to discuss character concepts if you're looking for a sounding board for ideas. Thanks

-Zalon

 Edit: - Flaws and Traits will also be usable, should you so desire up to two flaws may be taken, and up to one trait may be taken. 

My character will probably be a T5 and a T1 or 2. While I like the full gestalt option, I will only use it in part, because of the shenanagins of playing a sorc/wiz or cleric/druid. Expect the T1or2 to be arcane.

What will be the recharge mechanic for Tomb of Battle classes?

I'll have to look into it, but I think it'll probably be the "once all maneuvers are expended, you get them all back" (i think its swordsage? i'll have to look again)

I'll make a final decision this week sometime and post

-Z

One more piece of useful information:

Alignments will be a factor in your character during non-"circus" activities. General day to day actions will still be dictated and directed by alignment. This will, however, be changed while on missions for the Brotherhood. Everyone who has made their pledge to the brotherhood has made a commitment (which has been acknowleded by the powers that be as a binding contract) that Brotherhood actions are not to be held against the person for any reason by anyone.  Paladins, if ordered by the Brotherhood, are free to torture or murder in cold blood... as long as it's part of a direct assignment. This means that this group can contain everything from CE to LG for alignments, and the group will still be able to function. 

While members of the party may clash when they aren't working on an important mission, it is very important that the players understand that the setup of this group is one where MISSIONS COME BEFORE PERSONAL GRUDGES... so please design your character mentalities accordingly... If a character DOES start to bring grudges or personal feelings into their "work" then they will either be removed from the brotherhood or killed off. 

O.o

What?

KITTEHS!!!

Sooooo are we going to be doing evil things? as a part of this Brotherhood thing?

The actions of the Brotherhood are beyond the spectrum of alignment. They are instructions that are to be followed. Some of the actions made would be considered evil were they committed by anone other than the Brotherhood or someone who is unaware of the Brotherhood.  The general population doesn't know of their existance, so generally just hears about attacks or assasinations of high ranking officials or important targets and assumes that they are unrelated. Anyone involved in high ranking politics recognizes that there are only a few mercenary bands and one or two military units capable of eliminating such prize targets as efficiently as they do.


Another issue that came up: Apparently I was a bit vague on ECL vs CL vs EXP of starting characters. You will all be starting with a base of 45k exp. what you choose to do with that (level adj buyoff, crafting, etc) is up to you, but your character creation starts with 45k exp. no more no less.

-Z

Will prolly run a Warblade/something else.  Favored notion at this point is Warmage to the Pale Master PrC.

Wizard/Swashbuckler/Fighter/Monk/Bladesinger/Duelist/ChampionCorellion/Master of Masks/Thief Acrobat.

Right Now I'm thinking Warblade/Baba....medium armor and hulk smash....also considering Warblade and Magic Class/Dragon Disc.

Since WB uses mostly active and activatable abilities, I'm looking for soemthing with passive buffs.

btw: we should roll stats... gives me a better chance of having more high stats. After all, I am a 4-5 stat build...

jkjk. but I am a 5 stat build, which i have never done b4

So, just to clarify how multiclassing is going to work with gestalt... each class will be factored individually, so if you're a monk(fighter)2, monk(wizard)1, wizard(fighter)7, you have 9 levels of fighter, 3 levels of monk, and 8 levels of wizard, and take exp penalties accordingly. EXP PENALTIES WILL BE FACTORED INTO CHARACTER CREATION... do not give yourself 45k exp if you have 5 base classes and 5 levels of a 6th base class, do the math and figure out how far behind you'll be and what your total exp penalty will be. 

-Z

So...

Swordsage (2)/Wizard(10)/Barbarian(10)/PRC's the rest is ok then?

(Assumes human, or favored class wizard or baba)

@ Paladin mhmmm

Nix last build, im playing a hardcore caster, who's middle name is mindfuck. Who am i gonna to fool, thinking i was gonna play a melee...

you could play Jim Darkmagic!

Ok guys, I have a question:

I have finally come down to 3 character concepts that I want to play, but cannot decide between them, so I want the party's input:

1) Volibear (armored bear) who dual wields falcions: High melee damage build

2) Kenshin: High mobility single attack a round build. Caps out on damage at level 14 though, and worried about late game power.

3) Annie, from LoL. Evocation/Conjurer. Interesting concept, basically a Arcane Heirophant.

Thoughts? I like the RP on all of them a lot, I just cant decide >.<