Character Build Collaboration.

[Phil]

With a +3 CHA and the bonus +4 from taking the NPC trait, I think I'd start as "Friendship" level.  I believe you get 400XP for that according to the guide, but if it makes more sense maybe we could wait until I get my first +1 with her (assuming that happens).

I'll probably also try and go for friendship with Shalelu, but probably rivalry with Sandru.  I could see Owen being jealous of their friendship and that he adventured with her before, at least at first.  Maybe down the road I'd flip it to the other path.

I'm not sure about Koya.  Could go either way.

[TheTick]

One thing I notice for SpamHead - You'd have two feats at 1st Level, one of which would be from the list of bonus feats.  No need to list the rest on your sheet, just the one you want to start with. :)

[Porteiro]

I don't follow what you're saying there.  Why would the bonus feat not be on the character sheet?

[SpamHead]

I think he means I don't get ALL the bonus feats. I was wondering about that. Thanks!

[TheTick]

Yes, that's it exactly.

[Porteiro]

So, I've made peace with the fact that I'm making yet *another* charismatic build.  I'm going to start putting together the character sheet now.

[Phil]

Cool.  Have you decided on your NPC connection yet?

[Porteiro]

Yeah.   Here's what I'm thinking:

After the plague that wiped out his family, and he basically gave up and waited to die, it was Shalelu that found him and dragged him back to civilization, where he was healed by Koya.  For the Trait, I'm picking Rescued by Koya.

I think that Ged (working name for my character) briefly met Koya and her mother when he and his young bride passed through this area, back before it was even called Sandpoint, when they were on their way to their eventual homestead.

--

Hey, I've got another question -- when looking for party balance, how much should we include these NPCs?  Should I possibly avoid taking the Healing mystery because we've already got a cleric in the party?

[TheTick]

I wouldn't count on them being directly involved at all times.  I think there are times when they'll be with you, but I wouldn't build to that.

[SteveRogers]

I do intend to post something for this in the next day or so.

[Lotofsnow]

For Faraway's history, I was thinking along these lines:

About 20 years ago, an attractive young woman arrived in town. Elegant and civilized, the woman, Merisa, stood out against the backdrop of the rustic small town. Regardless, her money was good, and she acquired one of the finer rooms at the Rusty Dragon for an extended stay. She befriended several townsfolk, and spent much of her time listening to the tales and boasts of the young adventurers who frequented the inn. A year later, she died during childbirth. Over the previous few months, she had become more reclusive. Until her cries brought the innkeeper to her room, no one had known that she was pregnant. The labor was long and arduous, and, in the end, only the baby could be saved.

No father stepped forward to claim the baby. Almost immediately, accusations were levied at the late Merisa, accusing of her of being a whore who shacked up with adventurers. No family wanted to foster a whorespawned son. Luckily, Father Tobyn of the Sandpoint Chapel was far kinder. Tobyn named the baby Faraway.

The child grew up in the chapel and deeply loved both his adopted father and his sister, Nualia, another of Tobyn's foundlings, an aassimar 5 years Faraway's senior. Sadly, when Faraway was 11, a disastrous fire burned down the chapel, killing both Father Tobyn and Nualia. Faraway, technically an acolyte at this age, was left in the care of the new leader of the church in Sandpoint, Father Abstalar Zantus.

Emotionally scarred, Faraway shrugged off any attempts at fatherly guidance from Zantus. Instead, shirking his studies and duties as an acolyte, the boy would wander the forests and hills around Sandpoint, attempting to discover every tree, cave and stream. He wished to venture further and learn more about the world, but he was still a child and knew there was much he did not understand.

He finally got his chance at the age of 16. The elven ranger, Shalelu Andosana, returned to Sandpoint in response recent goblin raids. Faraway had always been impressed by the woman, and he finally worked up the courage to approach her. Impressed by the young man, Shalelu took him on as an apprentice. And, when she left the village again, Faraway went with her.

[SteveRogers]

Alright, I'm trying to build this Dwarven Monk in PCGen and having more difficulty with it than I expected.

[Porteiro]

pcgen is tricky.

[SteveRogers]

I used it for my Bard character in TheTick's other game, but I'm not having so much luck with this Monk character.

[TheTick]

There's a definite learning curve, but I really like the 5.17.20 beta version.  Haven't tried the 6 beta yet.