Exploratory Thread: Mercenaries (3.5e)

[Chaotic Void]

I've been building my Gray Guard so that he's basically a bodyguard and information extractor (via friendly or not-so-friendly means). He's required to act honorably at all times (ie, protect the innocent, take prisoners, etc), though he's permitted to do underhanded stuff as long as he has a darn good reason to do so (ie, Evil cultist plans to sacrifice doe-eyed orphans to a dark god within the week? Punk's gotta die, even if it means he's getting stabbed in his sleep). That being said, those violations of the Paladin's Code are exceptions and not the rule. And some things he's still not allowed to do, period (ie, he's not allowed to off some drunk guy, even if the sot accused his mother of being a member of the oldest of professions).

[Ben Zwycky]

Yeah, I figured you'd have the diplomacy/interrogation side of things covered, as well as some capacity to deal with undead/ability damage/energy drain, Chrs' wizard should have more advanced bookish knowledge about most things covered, I have the gathering info about threats and city activity covered (which should help us to know what jobs need doing) as well as very basic bookish knowledge if Chrs's Wizard comes up empty. Spart's Horizon walker should have activity on the planes covered, a cleric would be nice for more advanced healing, but I think we can manage.

[Ben Zwycky]

Chrs, would you consider going for a Wizard 7/Cleric 3/ Mystic Theurge 10? You'd still have access to level 9 arcane spells that way (Wiz lvl 17), as well as up to level 7 cleric spells. Or do you have something else in mind for your Wizardly wiz, e.g. an archmage?

[Pinoy]

Chrs, would you consider going for a Wizard 7/Cleric 3/ Mystic Theurge 10? You'd still have access to level 9 arcane spells that way (Wiz lvl 17), as well as up to level 7 cleric spells. Or do you have something else in mind for your Wizardly wiz, e.g. an archmage?

can i make my level 7, a planar ranger

[Carrikature]

can i make my level 7, a planar ranger

This was answered in the shoutbox.

[Pinoy]

can someone check out what i got

Male Human Barbarian 1 / Ranger 6
Chaotic Good

Strength 12 (+1)
Dexterity 16 (+3)
Constitution 12 (+1)
Intelligence 12 (+1)
Wisdom 14 (+2)
Charisma 9 (-1)
Size: Medium
Height: 5' 5"
Weight: 170 lb
Eyes:
Hair:
Skin:
Total Hit Points: 45

Speed: 40 feet [barbarian]

Armor Class: 13 = 10 + 3 [dexterity]

Touch AC: 13
Flat-footed: 10
Initiative modifier: + 3 = + 3 [dexterity]
Fortitude save: + 8 = 7 [base] + 1 [constitution]
Reflex save: + 8 = 5 [base] + 3 [dexterity]
Will save: + 4 = 2 [base] + 2 [wisdom]
Attack (handheld): + 8/ + 3 = 7 [base] + 1 [strength]
Attack (missile): + 10/ + 5 = 7 [base] + 3 [dexterity]
Grapple check: + 8/ + 3 = 7 [base] + 1 [strength]

Light load:
Medium load:
Heavy load:
Lift over head:
Lift off ground:
Push or drag:
43 lb. or less
44-86 lb.
87-130 lb.
130 lb.
260 lb.
650 lb.

Languages: Common, orc

Feats:

Alertness
Endurance [free to rangers]
Point Blank Shot
Precise Shot
Rapid Shot [ranger archery track]
Many Shot [ranger archery track]
Skill Focus (Heal)
Track [free to rangers]
Skill Name
Key
Ability
Skill
Modifier
Ability
Modifier
Ranks
Misc.
Modifier
Appraise Int 1 =
+1
Balance Dex* 3 =
+3
Bluff Cha -1 =
-1
Climb Str* 6 =
+1
+ 5
Concentration Con 1 =
+1
Craft_1 Int 1 =
+1
Craft_2 Int 1 =
+1
Craft_3 Int 1 =
+1
Diplomacy Cha -1 =
-1
Disguise Cha -1 =
-1
Escape Artist Dex* 3 =
+3
Forgery Int 1 =
+1
Gather Information Cha -1 =
-1
Handle Animal Cha 1 =
-1
+ 2
Heal Wis 5 =
+2
+ 3 [skill focus] i will change this
Hide Dex* 3 =
+3
Intimidate Cha -1 =
-1
Jump Str* 10 =
+1
+ 5 + 4 [speed 40]
Knowledge (dungeoneering) Int 6 =
+1
+ 5
Knowledge (geography) Int 6 =
+1
+ 5
Knowledge (nature) Int 8 =
+1
+ 5 + 2 [survival]
Listen Wis 14 =
+2
+ 10 + 2 [alertness]
Move Silently Dex* 6 =
+3
+ 3
Perform_1 Cha -1 =
-1
Perform_2 Cha -1 =
-1
Perform_3 Cha -1 =
-1
Perform_4 Cha -1 =
-1
Perform_5 Cha -1 =
-1
Ride Dex 3 =
+3
Search Int 10 =
+1
+ 9
Sense Motive Wis 2 =
+2
Spot Wis 14 =
+2
+ 10 + 2 [alertness]
Survival Wis 7 =
+2
+ 5
Swim Str** 4 =
+1
+ 3
Use Rope Dex 8 =
+3
+ 5
* = check penalty for wearing armor

Know Dungeoneering >=5 ranks gives + 2 on survival checks underground.
Know Geography >=5 ranks gives + 2 on checks to avoid getting lost or into hazards.
Know Nature >=5 ranks gives + 2 on survival checks above ground.
Search >=5 ranks gives + 2 on survival checks while tracking.
Use Rope >=5 ranks gives + 2 on climb checks involving ropes.
Use Rope >=5 ranks gives + 2 on escape artist checks involving ropes.

First-level Ranger spells: 2 (1 + 1) per day



Human

Extra feat at first level (already included)
Four extra skill points at first level (already included)
One extra skill point at each additional level (already included)
Barbarian
Fast Movement (already included)

Illiteracy (2 skill points to learn to read)

Rage

Uncanny Dodge (level 2)

Trap Sense (level 3)

Improved Uncanny Dodge (level 5)

Damage Reduction (level 7)

Greater Rage (level 11)

Indominitable Will (level 14)

Tireless Rage (level 17)

Mighty Rage (level 20)

Ranger
Favored enemies

Track as bonus feat (already included)

Combat Style

Endurance

Wild empathy (roll level + charisma bonus)

Endurance (level 3)

Animal Companion (level 4)

Woodland Stride (level 7)

Swift Tracker (level 8)

Evasion (level 9)

Camouflage (level 13)

Hide in Plain Sight (level 17)

High wisdom gains bonus spells daily

Favored Enemies:

Giants + 2

Humanoids (orc) + 4

This ranger chose the archery track.
Class HP rolled
Level 1: Barbarian 12
Level 2: Ranger 7
Level 3: Ranger 6
Level 4: Ranger 4 + 1 to strength
Level 5: Ranger 2
Level 6: Ranger 3
Level 7: Ranger 4

Equipment:

12.5 lb Chain shirt (mirthal) 1100gp AC + 4 Dex +6 Penalty 0 Arcane failure 10% 30 ft speed 20ft
8 lb Explorer outfit 10gp
1.5 lb Composite Longbow + 1 (darkwood) 430gp 1d8(dmg) x3 crit 110ft (ranged) piercing
3 lb Arrowss (20) 1gp
2 lb Short sword 10gp 1d6 (dmg) 19-20/x2 Piercing
5 lb Climberskit 80gp +2 climb
5 lb Bedroll 1sp
1 lb Gloves of Dexterity 4000gp +2dex
4 lb Gaunlets of Ogre Power 4000gp +2strength
2 lb Backpack 2gp
4 lb Waterskin 1gp
2 lb spell component pouch 5gp
- ring - feather falling 2200gp feather fallspell
1 lb dagger 2gp 1d4 (dmg) 19-20/x2 (crit) 1oft ranged piercing/slashing

Animal Companion : Dog, Riding

[Pinoy]

Do we need loremaster?

[Spartacus]

Do we need loremaster?

We already have a high-level wizard in Chrs, so no.

[Ben Zwycky]

We could do with a high-level cleric if you're open to that.

[Pinoy]

[QUOTE=Carrikature

Your level 20 characters are the ones forming the guild. They don't have to be an intact adventuring party, but they need to know each other and have sufficient reason to work together. The details will be left up to you.
[/QUOTE]

So how did our characters meet.

[Ben Zwycky]

Well, my high-level character has a wide network of informants (explanation for his high 'gather info' skill) for identifying trouble spots that needed dealing with as he wandered from place to place, as well as for researching into a magic item he found. We could easily have met through that network, through his research efforts (maybe Chrs' wizard would be appropriate for that), or during one of the many missions he went on (make up a past mission in your character's local area). There are a lot of possibilities for our characters' backstory paths to cross, we don't all have to have met each other at the same time.

[Pinoy]

hello

[Ben Zwycky]

ok i will be a cleric (fighter cleric)

Right, in my character's backstory, after he completed his Dragon Disciple training (so when he's reached lvl 19 or 20), he goes back to his home village to face down a pit fiend and his undead horde that destroyed the village and forced him to flee into the desert years earlier. That would be a good point to join forces with at least a powerful cleric/paladin (and wizard, to prevent the pit fiend from escaping), if he hadn't already been working with them earlier. Destroying that pit fiend and his horde brought resolution to my character, but he now had no home and no long-term goal in life, together with him being a semi-outcast due to his half-dragon appearance, so could logically lead to them setting up the adventuring guild together.

I think that could work pretty well as a group backstory. What do you all think?

If you like the above, I can put together a basic timeline of the various stages in my character's backstory, including periods and types of activity where it would be logical for him to cross the paths of (and possibly join forces with) various types of characters. You guys can then pick one of those periods and create your own scenario for how we first crossed each others paths, worked together and eventually joined forces to destroy the pit fiend and his horde before setting up the guild. There'll be a lot of flexibility within that framework to fit your own origins in.

Sound good?

*edit - Pinoy - if you've changed your mind about being a cleric, that's fine, we can work around whatever you have in mind *

[Pinoy]

Have to stay with the old one.

Beginner have to stay with simple character

[Ben Zwycky]

I understand that