[Conan/Call of Cthulhu d20]Shadow over Stygia Recruiting

[Prak]

I was pretty set on a sorcerer. Specifically a priest of Set. I suppose the difference is that my character will actually be working towards becoming an ordained priest of Set

[Whipstitch]

Between spell selection, attribute differences and the fact that Conan sorcery is relatively multi-class friendly, I wouldn't really be that worried about standing out from eachother.

Actually, here's a good tip for playing Conan in general: You can't really reasonably expect other players to not dip into scholar, noble or thief as their level 1 class--Scholars and thieves give a one time shot at max level 1 skill points and the former blesses you with a ridiculous "last resort" nuke ability. Meanwhile, nobles are something you either take at level 1, get a feat for or require MC permission (which is usually given, but still). There's simply too many incentives for dipping flying around to get too fussed about role protection.

[Nebuchadnezzar]

I think this amount of overlap should be ok specifically in a campaign like this. I'm not looking to take the actual Priest feat, but Neb would have served for a while as a part-time priest of Set and taken the first couple of initiations. Prak, you mentioned looking into demonic pacts and summoning, which would dovetail well with this character's attempts to get the sacrificial orgy recharge mechanics online. The Stygia book is worth looking at, if you hadn't already.

Let me know you think this is problematic, AH, and I'll make a high-Dex Khitan scholar that snags Gelid Bones instead.

[Ancient History]

Two Stygian scholars works for me. After all, Kasetshusept must have rivals...

[Korgan0]

So, I'm thinking Hyborean noble 1/soldier 2, a the ninth son of a minor lordling who tried and failed to be a mercenary captain, and now is just taking odd jobs and looking for work.

The problem is that formation combat doesn't fit too well into that scheme, and I was wondering if anyone knew of any ACF's that flat-out replace that feature, which isn't super useful in any case.

[Ancient History]

I haven't found any flat-out replacements, but you might consider the variants for the ability given in The Warrior's Compendium and maybe spend some money on a pair of slave-soldiers. Also The Free Companies (which is all about mercenaries) has a special multiclass Noble/Soldier variant called The Officer that might fit what you're trying for.

[Whipstitch]

The Officer doesn't actually have anything that swaps out a combat formation, sadly, it presumably takes up a Noble regional ability, which is unfortunate given that regional abilities can actually be good. Hyboria's Finest has two similar multiclass options--the Fop and the Knight--but of those two, only the Fop gives a replacement option that isn't actually just another formation. Here it is:

Multiple Identities: Instead of taking a Formation Combat style at 3 rd , 7 th or 11 th soldier level, he may take Multiple Identities. He must have the Rank Hath Its Privileges ability to take this in place of Formation Combat. The fop with this ability is able to maintain several alternate identities and aliases, each with separate Reputation scores (see Aliases in Conan the Roleplaying Game). Each alternate identity must be given a suitable background and distinctive appearance by the Player. The fop is so used to adopting each of these alternate personae that all Disguise and Bluff checks he makes relating to the persona have a +4 competence bonus

Which, you know, I guess I would probably take--my dude is Zingaran arming sword specialist, after all, and thus obliged to make at least one Zorro joke per campaign--but I'd also bet my nutsack that it wasn't really what Korgan was hoping for. Failing that, I guess we could both take Heavy Cavalry, Heavy Infantry or Advancing Infantry, since those are what my character will qualify for, but even that seriously only gets us two thirds of the way to our shitty bonus that nobody cares about.

[Prak]

I think this amount of overlap should be ok specifically in a campaign like this. I'm not looking to take the actual Priest feat, but Neb would have served for a while as a part-time priest of Set and taken the first couple of initiations. Prak, you mentioned looking into demonic pacts and summoning, which would dovetail well with this character's attempts to get the sacrificial orgy recharge mechanics online. The Stygia book is worth looking at, if you hadn't already.

Let me know you think this is problematic, AH, and I'll make a high-Dex Khitan scholar that snags Gelid Bones instead.

Well, as long as you don't start looking at my slaves for those sacrificial orgies (those are my power ritual flunkies! ), with the assurances of others, I feel better now. And I have looked at the Stygia book. I was impressed at how "This is literally Ancient Egypt, just with Set as the head of the Pantheon" they went with it.

Though I do wonder what the last-resort nuke that nobles get is...

[Korgan0]

]Karlus Rabbit-Hewer

Hyborian Barbarian 2/Soldier 3 [Brawler]

Favored classes: All.

Str	17
Dex	14
Con	15
Int	13
Wis	13
Cha	13

Hit Points: 44 [35]
Fate Points: 4
Sanity:: 45 [max 64]

Initiative: +4
BAB: +5
Grapple: +7

Attacks:
Serrated Bardiche, +9, 2d10+1d6 SA+6, AP 7, x3
Battleaxe +8, 1d8+3+1d6 SA, AP 7, 19-20 x2
Hunting bow, +6, 1d8+1d6 SA, AP 1
Poniard, +8, 1d6+1+1d6 SA, AP 4

Saves
Fort: +6
Ref: +5
Will: +5 (+10 vs fear)

Dodge vs Melee: 13
Dodge vs Ranged: 14
Parry vs Melee: 15

Armor Damage Reduction:7
ACP: -5

Reputation: 4
Code of Honor: Civilized

Skills Situational bonuses in parentheses, final total bolded.
Survival 5 ranks 7[b/]
balance 3 rank 4[b/]
Jump 2 ranks 5[b/]
Climb 2 ranks 5[b/]
Ride 2 ranks 6[b/]
Sense Motive 4 ranks 7[b/]
Intimidate 5 ranks 6[b/]
spot 4 ranks 5[b/]
listen 2 ranks 3[b/]
6 ranks heal (+1 circumstance) 7[b/]
swim 2 ranks [b]5[b/]
cthulhu mythos 2 ranks [b]3[b/]



[b]Languages: Nemedian, Aquilonian, Cimmerian, Hyperborean, Shemite, Stygian.

Racial Features & Background Skills

• +2 ranks in Survival, Intimidate, Ride, Sense Motive
• Greatswords are martial weapons
• +1 FP
• Survival,
  
  Class Features
  Toughness
  Versatile (-2)
  Fearless (+2 to Will Saves vs Fear)
  1d6 SA
  Tough as Nails- immune non-environmental nonlethal damage
  
  Feats:
  WF (Bardiche)
  Fighting-Madness
  Disciple Of Infantry- while flanking ignore str bonus to Parry and dex bonus to Dodge
  Power Attack
  Improved Sunder
  
  Equipment
  Bardiche (serrated edge), Brigandine Coat w/ Steel cap (340) Hunting Bow, 40 arrows, Large Shield (strapped), Battleaxe, Riding Horse w/ saddle+bit, 1 week trail rations, work clothes, soap, torch, whetstone, bedroll, ink, quill, paper, triage kit, saddlebags, 1 bottle unforgiving wine, 1 gallon ghazan wine, 2 days feed
  
  
  9 silver pieces

Prak, I hope you don't mind that I nicked your format- I'll be fiddling with my character sheet here.

Yeah, Whipstitch is dead on the money- I'll keep looking around until I find something cool.

[Whipstitch]

When I said the former I still meant the scholar and defensive blast, an ability whose ridiculousness rather varies depending on how easily you can acquire PP for consistent overcharges.

[OgreBattle]

Consider Barbarian or Nomad instead of Soldier levels, they give you full BAB and useful abilities. Or just go soldier for 2 levels for the bonus feats and move on to something else.

Now, mind you, auto crits is a cute trick that I endorse as a way for Mr. Swordfirst monk to beat armor DR, but on some asshole Cimmerian Barbarian with a bardiche (2d10, x3 on crit) in a game where Massive saves kick in on 20 damage? I'd actually rather not let AH have access to that that one, thanks.

Yeah, the war gauntlet is a 1d6 x3 crit weapon. Full attack to deal 3d6 damage doesn't stand out when Bardiches are a weapon barbarians can be swinning around (with power attack bonuses too), or feint-sneak attack is doing [weapon]+2d8 to begin with.

[Korgan0]

Yeah, that's my plan. In all fairness, I like this character concept (inferiority complex, wants to return to his family's shitty little castle incredibly rich and powerful, spit in their faces, then walk out) but I am planning on going into something more useful as soon as I get the opportunity

[Whipstitch]

Also, Initiative is derived in part from your base Reflex save bonus, a fact which neatly annihilates the whole Favoured class thing as an effective carrot for melee types staying single classed--a feat every few levels doesn't hold up very well compared to going barb1/nomad1/borderer1/pirate1 and enjoying your jacked up Ref & Fort saves and ability to go first every battle.

[Korgan0]

If we end up in the wilderness I'm sure I'll be able to finagle a level of borderer in there. In any case, is it okay if I take Disciple of Infantry from The Free Companies- while flanking I deny the opponent Dex to dodge along with Strength to parry.

[OgreBattle]

Here's the character I might go with. I haven't put together the Khitai martial adept together yet.

Hyrkanian Nomad 3

STR 16 +3
DEX 16 +3
CON 13 +1
INT 10 0
WIS 14 +2
CHA 11 0


SAVING THROWS
FORT +4
REF +6
WILL +3

-2 racial penalty to saves against hypnotism;

HIT POINTS 33
INITIATIVE +6
BAB +3

Attacks
Tulwar +6 2d8+3 AP3 18-20x2
Hyrkanian Bow +7* AP3 1d10+3 19-20x2 100ft
Battleaxe +6 1d10+3 AP4 x3
Poniard +6 1d6+3 AP

Circumstance bonuses: +1 racial bonus to attack rolls with all bows; +1 circumstance bonus to attack rolls with any bow if the target is at least six range increments away, rising to +2 if target is at least nine range increments away; +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls with ranged weapons at up to 30ft;


(Total: base/ability/misc)
PARRY 18 11 3 4
DODGE 19 11 3 5

*Mobility: +4 Dodge Defense vs OA

ARMOR
-Hyrkanian Hide
-Steel helmet
-Large Shield

DR: -7
Max Dex: +4
ACP: -3
Sorcery failure: 50%
Max speed: 25ft

FEATS:
-Dodge
-Mobility
-Point Blank Shot
-Rapid Shot

SKILLS:
Appraise (+0), Balance (+3), Bluff (+0), Climb (+3), Concentration (+1), Craft (Alchemy, +0), Craft (Armourer, +0), Craft (Bowyer, +2), Craft (Herbalism, +0), Craft (Weaponsmith, +0), Craft (any mundane, +0)
Decipher Script (+0), Diplomacy (+0), Disable Device (+0), Disguise (+0), Escape Artist (+3), Forgery (+0), Gather Info (+0), Handle Animal (+4), Heal (+7), Hide (+3), Intimidate (+0), Jump (+3)
Knowledge (Arcana, +0), Knowledge (Architecture, +0), Knowledge (Dungeoneering, +0), Knowledge (Geography, +0), Knowledge (History, +0), Knowledge (Local, +0), Knowledge (Nature, +0), Knowledge (Nobility, +0),
Listen (+8), Move Silently (+3), Open Lock (+3), Perform (+0), Perform (Ritual, +0), Perform (Dance, +0), Perform (Instrument, +0), Profession (+2), Profession (Armourer, +2), Profession (Farmer, +2),
Profession (Sailor, +2), Profession (Weaponsmith, +2), Ride (+8), Search (+0), Sense Motive (+2), Sleight of Hand (+3), Spot (+8), Survival (+4), Swim (+3), Tumble (+3), Use Rope (+3),

a feat every few levels doesn't hold up very well compared to going barb1/nomad1/borderer1/pirate1 and enjoying your jacked up Ref & Fort saves and ability to go first every battle.

That does explain Conan the Barbarian/Pirate/Thief always going first in every battle. Do you deal sneak attack damage to people on the first turn if you're faster than them?

[Korgan0]

As far as I can tell, yes.

[Prak]

Prak, I hope you don't mind that I nicked your format- I'll be fiddling with my character sheet here.

No worries, I nicked it from Whipstitch and reworked a bit.

@Whipstitch: Ah, ok. I was confused because Scholar has better skill points than noble. The reason to dip noble is the Wealth thing.

[Ancient History]

If we end up in the wilderness I'm sure I'll be able to finagle a level of borderer in there. In any case, is it okay if I take Disciple of Infantry from The Free Companies- while flanking I deny the opponent Dex to dodge along with Strength to parry.

Sure.

[Grek]

Aww, how'd I miss sign ups for this? Oh well, next time.

[Whipstitch]

Yeah, Whipstitch is dead on the money[/b]

actually, as it turns out, I was blinded a bit by my own personal emphasis on Noble/Soldier combos and neglected to notice that Soldier/Barbarian multiclasses using the Free Companies ruless--aka, brawlers--can replace Track with Toughness and get sneak attack dice as a combat formation. Which, is so much better than the alternatives that it is frankly kind of embarrassing. It makes me want to find room on my sheet for a Barbarian1/Soldier2 training assistant so my guy could feasibly qualify for Barbarian someday or claim having done a tour in the Pictish Wilds just in case.

[JigokuBosatsu]

This is going to be fun to read!

[Kurama314]

Sorry I haven't been here for the last day or so, work got kind of crazy.
I'm almost done with my character, I just have a few book keeping things and equipment and then I'll be ready to go. I'll have him posted before tomorrow morning hopefully.

[Korgan0]

Actually, it's in Hyboria's finest, but I missed that too. Honestly. I find Wealth somewhat underwhelming Basically it let me have an Akbitananainean greatsword, which doesn't really make up for the loss of BAB, and I can't see this campaign going for a year of in-game time.

There's also a Pirate/Soldier multi-class in the same book who can at-will daze on a successful intimidate check vs will instead of sneak subdual, which is just ridiculous. Master Archer (Soldier/Borderer) gets some nice stuff too.

[Whipstitch]

woops, brainfart.

But yeah, Nobles aren't really all that great unless the MC really cares about social skills. I went that route mostly for flavor reasons--my big parry stack is kind of a fool's gold thing given the terribad initiative score rendering him flat-footed to start fights anyway. If I was going to go for easy op I'd probably just be a Cimmerian sunder Barb.

[Korgan0]

So, I'm a bit confused with these multiclassing option things- do you have to take the classes in the order it says in the book, or can you move around with the GM meant to ad-hoc whether or not you get the variant thingies, or what?