Kale-who-walks-alone

[exile]

WORK IN PROGRESS

Player Email: [e-mail]
Name: Kale, Kale-who-walks-alone
Race: Githzerai
Faction: Fated, Namer
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Class and Level: Fighter/Abjurer(1), Gladiator (1)
Home Plane: Limbo
Sex: Male
Eyes: Yellow
Hair: White
Height: 5’11
Weight: 189
Age: 53

Ability	Modifier
Strength: 16	+3
Dexterity: 17	+3
Constitution: 14	+2
Intelligence: 17	+3
Wisdom: 10	0
Charisma: 9	-1

Max HP: 25
Injuries: None
Reputation: -2?
Honor: +1?

AC: 17 (Dex +3, Mage Armor +4)
DC: None(?)
DR: None
Speed: 33
Initiative: +3
Base Attack Bonus: +2

Fortitude Save: +6 (+4 Base, +2 Con)
Reflex Save: +3 +0 Base, +3 Dex)
Will Save: +2 (+2 Base, 0 Wis)

Class Skill	Skill	Ranks	Ability Modifier	Other Modifiers/ Notes
X	Climb		+3
X	Jump		+3
X	Swim		+3
X	Balance		+3
	Escape Artist		+3
	Hide		+3
	Move Silently		+3
	Open Lock		+3
X	Ride		+3
	Sleight of Hand		+3
X	Tumble		+3
	Use Rope		+3
X	Concentration	4	+2
	Appraise		+3
X	Craft (Alchemy)	3	+3
X	Craft (Gun Smithing)	3	+3
X	Decipher Script		+3
	Disable Device		+3
	Forgery		+3
X	Knowledge (Arcana)	4	+3
X	Knowledge (Factions)	1	+3
X	Knowledge (Local)	2	+3
X	Knowledge (the Planes)	1	+3
X	Language		+3	Common, Githzerai
X	Literacy		NA	Common, Githzerai
	Search		+3
X	Spellcraft	4	+3
X	Control	1	+0	+2 Racial Bonus
	Heal		+0
	Listen		+0
X	Planar Expertise	1	+0
X	Profession ( )		+0
X	Sense Motive	3	+0
	Spot		+0
	Survival		+0
X	Bluff	2	-1
	Diplomacy		-1
	Disguise		-1
	Gather Information		-1
	Handle Animal		-1
X	Intimidate		-1
X	Perform		-1
	Use Magic Device		-1

Weapon and Armor Proficiencies
Simple Weapons
Axes
Exotic Weapons
Firearms
Heavy Blades
Maces and Clubs
Picks and Hammers
Light Armor
Medium Armor
Shields

Progression
1: Gestalt (Fighter/Mage) 1
2: Gladiator 1
3: Gestalt 2
4: Gestalt 3
5: Abjurant Champion 1
6: Abjurant Champion 2
7: Abjurant Champion 3
8: Abjurant Champion 4
9: Abjurant Champion 5
10-20: Gestalt 4-14
TBD: Requirements for Weapons Master

Feats (Current and prospective)
Level 1: Flurry
Level 1: Power Attack
Level 1 / Fighter 1: Weapon Focus (Gladiator)
Level 1 / Mage 1: Scribe Scroll
Gladiator Level 2: Improved Unarmed Strike
Level 3: Combat Casting
Level 3 / Fighter 2: Weapon Specialization (Gladiator)
Level 6 (BAB 4): Greater Flurry
Level 9 (BAB 6): Improved Critical (Gladiator)
Level 10 / Fighter 4: Quick Draw?
Level 11 / Mage 5: Bonus Feat
Level 12: Greater Weapon Focus
Level 12 / Fighter 6: Legendary Weapon Focus (Gladiator)
Level 14 / Fighter 8: Greater Weapon Specialization (Gladiator)
Level 15: Legendary Weapon Specialization (Gladiator)
Level 16 / Mage 10: Bonus Feat
Level 16 / Fighter 10: Bonus Feat


Racial Abilities
Darkvision, 60'
Spell Resistance: 5+CL; 7
+2 Racial bonus to Control

Class Abilities
Weapon Aptitude: Can redefine Weapon-Group specific feats after training.
Arcane Spell Casting; Forbidden Schools: Enchantment/Charm, Necromancy
Summon Familiar


Currency
25gp
10sp
2cp

Quest Related

Weapons (68gp, 19lbs; cost of firearms not yet factored in)
- Dagger (1d4/19-20x2; 10')
- Great Scimitar (1d10/18-20x2)
- Warhammer (1d8/x3)
- Wheel-lock Horse Pistol (2d6/19x2/20x3); 1X Shot

Equipment (38g, 1sp; 25.2 lbs)

Backpack, Deluxe (2lbs)
- Glass Flask (0.1lbs)
- Large Sack (0.5lbs)
- Bed Roll (5lbs)
- Flint and Steel (neg)
- Hempen Rope (50') (10lbs)
- Waterskin (0.1lbs)
- Chalk, 10 pieces (neg)
- Soap (1lb)
- Map Case (0.5lbs)
- Inkpen
- Paper (10 sheets)
- Spellbook (3lbs)

Spell component pouch (2lbs)

Large Belt Pouch (1lbs)
- Coin

Large Belt Pouch (1lbs)
- Powder and shot

Total weight carried: 44.2 lbs (Light Load =< 76 lbs)

Clothing (14gp, 1sp)
Baladrana, charcoal gray (6sp)
Bandoleer (7gp)
Boots, dark leather mid-calf (1gp)
Braies, black cloth (6sp)
Steel Buckle (1gp), Etched with Taker's symbol
Cap, black wool (1sp)
Chemise, white linen (1gp)
Doublet, red wool (1sp)
Drawers (4sp)
Gamash (3sp)
Girdle (1gp)
Gloves, dark leather (1gp)

Spell per day:
Level 0: 3+1, DC 13
Level 1: 2+1, DC 14

Spells Known

Cantrips (16):
* Acid Splash: Orb deals 1d3 acid damage.
* Arcane Mark: Inscribes a personal rune (visible or invisible).
* Dancing Lights: Creates torches or other lights.
* Detect Poison: Detects poison in one creature or small object.
* Detect Magic: Detects spells and magic items within 60 ft.
* Flare: Dazzles one creature (-1 on attack rolls).
* Ghost Sound: Figment sounds.
* Light: Object shines like a torch.
* Mage Hand: 5-pound telekinesis.
* Mending: Makes minor repairs on an object.
* Message: Whispered conversation at distance.
* Open/Close: Opens or closes small or light things.
* Prestidigitation: Performs minor tricks.
* Ray of Frost: Ray deals 1d3 cold damage.
* Read Magic: Read scrolls and spellbooks.
* Resistance: Subject gains +1 on saving throws.

1st House (8/15):
* Disguise Self: Changes your appearance.
* Endure Elements: Exist comfortably in hot or cold environments.
* Enlarge Person: Humanoid creature doubles in size.
* Mage Armor: Gives subject +4 armor bonus.
* Magic Weapon: Weapon gains +1 bonus.
* Protection from Law: +2 to AC and saves, counter mind control, hedge out elementals and outsiders.
* Shield: Invisible disc gives +4 to AC, blocks magic missiles.
* True Strike: +20 on your next attack roll.

Physical Description:

Measuring just shy of six-feet tall and weighing some thirteen and a half stone, Kale possesses a lean, sinewy frame that belies a strength more befitting a larger man. Cold, golden eyes stare out at the planes from amidst an otherwise entirely forgettable Githzerai countenance, and his white shoulder length hair is worn in a high top knot. Kale's step is agile, and his voice quiet though a canny listener will detect a note of steel behind his sparing words.

Attired in simple garb of common quality, Kale's dress is practical more than it is colorful excepting a bright red woolen doublet. His chief luxury is a sturdy pair of calf-height boots, and his legs are wrapped against the elements in coarse gamash. While out in the streets of Sigil, Kale often wears a black-woolen cap, thin leather gloves and perhaps a charcoal colored baladrana if the weather is particularly foul.

As a man without a place to call kip for more than a few nights at a time, Kale can often be found bearing the bulk of his possessions on his back. The leather wrapped hilt of a well crafted heavy scimitar rises above his shoulder and a brutish looking warhammer rests at his hip. Perhaps most interesting amongst his armaments is the wheel lock pistol hung from his heavy leather bandoleer, a rarity even in Sigil. The only testament to his allegiances is an etching of the Takers' arms on the face of his steel belt buckle.

TO COMPLETE:
- History and Motivations

[exile]

[dice=12][rand=6927764215037951361331583398947052566754668573957794992207322368]

[Stix]

May 18, 2008 23:15:25 GMT -5 exile said:

I didn't see that feat before, I'll have to take a look. I had more or less assumed what you are saying to be the case though; I liked the idea of Kale going entirely against the grain. I had even anticipated he would be shunned and selected his name accordingly.

I hadn't thought about it in terms of slavery though, because I don't think Kale sees himself as enslaved. But I don't think any other Gith would trust him if they knew the truth about him.

That being said, I like the concept enough to go through whatever hoops I have to inorder to see it come to light. I'll adjust my feats accordingly.

In the githzerai mindset, freedom from bondage is the only thing that makes existence worthwhile. However, I could see a desperate githzerai rationalizing the sacrifice of his freedom in the afterlife (since it still leaves him his freedom in life, and what's he really going to do with his soul anyway?) for the ability to protect his people, or to visit destruction on the illithids and githyanki.

May 18, 2008 23:22:26 GMT -5 exile said:

Oh, and a quick addendum actually, which relates to your point as well as to part of the character’s background I haven’t yet worked out. The ‘fluff’ behind warlocks usually implies that warlocks themselves seldom make deals with infernal creatures, at level 1 they’re just not notable enough; they lack the power and finesse to survive any attempt at such dealings. The implication is that the demon pact runs in a family, which is why you can have good warlocks on occasion since they weren’t the ones to initially make the pact, they simply benefit from it. There’s a parallel here to how sorcerers derive their magic from a distant association with dragons and so on.

The consequence of this of course, is that Kale wouldn’t be unique, or at least, he wouldn’t be the first. One of his ancestors would have had to make the pact.

The Warlock class, for DotD purposes, represents an individual who has bargained away his soul to harness the destructive power of the Lower Planes. Since the baatezu and tanar'ri able to make these pacts are basically approachable on the streets of Sigil, there's no required power level or status of any kind to forge the agreement -- another soul in the hands of a fiend is a future soldier in the Blood War, maybe the one that finally tips the balance for victory.

Are you still offering bonus experience for novel race/class/faction/alignment combinations? Kale would be the first Gith I know of, although I think most of the rest has been done.

In lieu of that, I'm offering the mentioned 1000 XP for characters made before the end of this month. Once that's over, I may go back to offering a lesser XP award for playing something unrepresented, but it'll be a fraction of that.

Can I have a little leeway with selecting Invocations? There haven't been many published to date, and none in the open source. The books that I am aware of are: Complete Mage, Dragon Magic, Cityscape, Magic of Incarnum, and Drow of the Underdark. Is it alright if I just pull together all the source books that have Invocations?

In particular I was hoping I could take a Blast Shape invocation called Eldritch Glaive from the book Dragon Magic. It essentially turns the eldritch blast into a polearm that can be used in melee. I'd be happy to submit the text in full if you want.

It's really difficult for me to try to keep track of different options from all the source material out there, and I'm way behind on keeping the system up to date as it is. Over time, I will probably include the gamut of things from the various "Complete Splat" books, but right now I'd just like to stick to everything as it's originally written, before trying to play catch-up gets even more out of hand.

Could I suggest Hideous Blow instead?

[exile]

Hideous Blow is a brute force warlock invocation, which doesn’t really fit with the character concept I have in mind. It relies on delivering one devastating strike over the course of a round, and it’s heavily dependant on Strength to become worth while. I was hoping for something with more elegance and finesse. The Eldritch Glaive allows for full round attacks and isn’t dependant at all on Strength to deliver damage. Rather it rewards a character with a high dexterity.

That being said, I understand your reluctance to add new material at the moment, and my preconceptions of a warlock certainly differ from what is being presented in the setting. I think I might step away from it and take sorcerer on that half of my gestalt instead, along with a mix of gladiator and fighter on the other. It’s not exactly what I was hoping for, but I think in the end it will better approximate.

[Stix]

Fair enough.

Also, I don't know if you've factored in the Fated advantage yet, but Takers get an extra two skill points at every level (not multiplied at 1st level, though).

[exile]

Ok, I've been doing some thinking and this will work out fine. A few quick notes:

1) Can you sticky this thread in my forum? (Or is that something I have the power to do?)

2) I'm going to give Kale proficiency in firearms. I see that they are on the list of available gear, although their numbers have yet to be incorporated. This is just a heads up.

3) I'm not entirely sure how penalties for multiclassing apply in gestalt. If I were to go Wizard // Fighter/Gladiator/Swashbuckler, and kept the Gladiator and Swashbuckler levels within 1 rank of each other, am I breaking any rules?

[Stix]

May 21, 2008 12:56:16 GMT -5 exile said:

2) I'm going to give Kale proficiency in firearms. I see that they are on the list of available gear, although their numbers have yet to be incorporated. This is just a heads up.

No problem at all. I should warn: firearms are a new and imperfect development, so hangfires, fouled barrels, and (in the case of matchlocks or hand match guns) even exploding weapons are concerns with their use. They require an alchemical reagent known as "smokepowder" to fire their shots -- 25 GP for each dose -- so prohibitive costs stop them from becoming too widespread at this time; the average Cager has never seen a gun.

May 21, 2008 12:56:16 GMT -5 exile said:

3) I'm not entirely sure how penalties for multiclassing apply in gestalt. If I were to go Wizard // Fighter/Gladiator/Swashbuckler, and kept the Gladiator and Swashbuckler levels within 1 rank of each other, am I breaking any rules?

If Fighter is part of your gestalt, then it's treated as your favored class. The non-gestalt levels of Gladiator and Swashbuckler should be no more than one apart to avoid the XP penalty.

[exile]

Ok, so far I’m happy with everything. I’ve got some new questions for you concerning entry into prestige classes down the road though, as it will impact on some early choices:

1) Can you take levels in more than one prestige class as long as you qualify for all of them?

2) If you can take levels in multiple prestige classes, do you have to complete one class before you start the other? Or can you alternate levels?

3a) One of the acceptable prestige classes you have mentioned in the guide is called Weapon’s Master. Is that more or less the same as Exotic Weapon’s Master from Complete Warrior? Or is it a different class altogether?

3b) If we are talking about the same class, one of the abilities available to that class is called Uncanny Blow. It normally specifies that it applies to exotic weapons that may be held in one hand which are instead held in two. Can I assume from the name change that the base weapon is immaterial (i.e. does not have to be exotic)? Could I apply it to lets say a long sword, or scimitar instead? What about a Great Scimitar?

Thats all for now,
Exile

[Stix]

May 21, 2008 19:25:21 GMT -5 exile said:

1) Can you take levels in more than one prestige class as long as you qualify for all of them?

Yes.

May 21, 2008 19:25:21 GMT -5 exile said:

2) If you can take levels in multiple prestige classes, do you have to complete one class before you start the other? Or can you alternate levels?

When you gain a level, it can be used toward any of the options for which you are qualified without restriction.

May 21, 2008 19:25:21 GMT -5 exile said:

3a) One of the acceptable prestige classes you have mentioned in the guide is called Weapon’s Master. Is that more or less the same as Exotic Weapon’s Master from Complete Warrior? Or is it a different class altogether?

Yes. Instead of exotic weapons, the Weapon Master focuses on a single proficiency group (heavy blades, for example). I'm probably going to soup it up a little and throw in some more skills and a couple of bonus feats to keep it competitive with gestalt classes.

May 21, 2008 19:25:21 GMT -5 exile said:

3b) If we are talking about the same class, one of the abilities available to that class is called Uncanny Blow. It normally specifies that it applies to exotic weapons that may be held in one hand which are instead held in two. Can I assume from the name change that the base weapon is immaterial (i.e. does not have to be exotic)? Could I apply it to lets say a long sword, or scimitar instead? What about a Great Scimitar?

The weapon doesn't have to be exotic, but must be one-handed.

And one from me: would you have any interest in making the non-warrior half of his gestalt a specialist wizard or elementalist of some kind?

[exile]

Thanks for the quick answers again, Stix. I thought I should let you know what I was thinking at this stage; I'm getting close to finalizing the character concept.

My current build is Fighter/Gladiator//Mage/Rogue

I intend to make use of the Abjurant Champion in this build after I campaigned so vehemently for its inclusion while designing Hadrian. I also plan to take Weapons Master (Heavy Blades).

In response to your question, I hadn’t considered making a specialist or elementalist, although I am completely open to the possibility. Was there something in particular you had in mind?

Furthermore, an interesting situation crops up when Gladiator and Weapons Master are included in the same build. One of the Gladiator’s signature abilities is the capability to retrain weapon specific feats on an ongoing basis. Would that extend to the weapon specific prestige class in this case?

Another quick question with regard to Exotic Weapons Proficiency from this thread: Does the player learn all exotic weapons in all categories he has access to? Or does he pick a specific exotic weapon to learn?

And finally (for now at any rate), my question concerning Great Scimitars was prompted because some third edition sources regard them as akin to Bastard Swords, where a user who takes an exotic weapon proficiency in their use can wield the traditionally two handed blade in one hand. I wasn’t sure if that was the case in your game or not.

Thanks,
Exile

[exile]

Die rolls:
Health (potentially)
[dice=10]

Spells Known
[dice=4]
[dice=4]
[dice=4][rand=37835319511609067879349282303544351021605099242642738026920190345]

[Stix]

May 22, 2008 15:58:26 GMT -5 exile said:

My current build is Fighter/Gladiator//Mage/Rogue

As in, Fighter-Gladiator gestalt, adding in levels of Mage and Rogue as you advance?

May 22, 2008 15:58:26 GMT -5 exile said:

In response to your question, I hadn’t considered making a specialist or elementalist, although I am completely open to the possibility. Was there something in particular you had in mind?

Well, if planning to go with Abjurant Champion, an Abjurer would be a natural fit. Just wanted to float the idea; I don't really have anything specific in mind.

May 22, 2008 15:58:26 GMT -5 exile said:

Furthermore, an interesting situation crops up when Gladiator and Weapons Master are included in the same build. One of the Gladiator’s signature abilities is the capability to retrain weapon specific feats on an ongoing basis. Would that extend to the weapon specific prestige class in this case?

Yes.

May 22, 2008 15:58:26 GMT -5 exile said:

Another quick question with regard to Exotic Weapons Proficiency from this thread: Does the player learn all exotic weapons in all categories he has access to? Or does he pick a specific exotic weapon to learn?

All exotic weapons in all proficient weapon categories.

May 22, 2008 15:58:26 GMT -5 exile said:

And finally (for now at any rate), my question concerning Great Scimitars was prompted because some third edition sources regard them as akin to Bastard Swords, where a user who takes an exotic weapon proficiency in their use can wield the traditionally two handed blade in one hand. I wasn’t sure if that was the case in your game or not.

The Great Scimitar is a two-handed martial weapon in DotD.

[exile]

I want to address the class progression I had in mind, just to be clear I understand what the rules will allow for (I've never played gestalt before, and Hadrian only has two classes all the way up).

I had been looking at a gestalt character as essentially leveling along two paths simultaneously which I'll call the left and right half for convenience. On the left half I was planning on primarily advancing Fighter, with a couple levels of Gladiator. On the right half I was going to simply alternate levels in rogue and mage. The character would never be an exceptional rogue or mage with this route, but I like the added versatility it offers.

On a side note, can I use craft (alchemy) to make black-powder for firearms?

Lastly, are starting funds the same as for a level 1 character?

[Stix]

May 24, 2008 20:04:25 GMT -5 exile said:

I had been looking at a gestalt character as essentially leveling along two paths simultaneously which I'll call the left and right half for convenience. On the left half I was planning on primarily advancing Fighter, with a couple levels of Gladiator. On the right half I was going to simply alternate levels in rogue and mage. The character would never be an exceptional rogue or mage with this route, but I like the added versatility it offers.

The gestalt is a single class fused from two. Outside it, multiclassing is as normal. He could be, for example, a Fighter-Mage 1, Gladiator 1, Rogue 1.

May 24, 2008 20:04:25 GMT -5 exile said:

On a side note, can I use craft (alchemy) to make black-powder for firearms?

To make smokepowder, yes. To invent black powder, possibly, though it would probably require developing the character specifically toward that end.

To maintain some realism, weapon-related craft skills are chosen for a specific weapon category: Bowyer/Fletcher, Heavy Bladesmith, Gunsmith, et cetera.

May 24, 2008 20:04:25 GMT -5 exile said:

Lastly, are starting funds the same as for a level 1 character?

Add 200 GP; remember training expenses.

[exile]

Ah gotcha, I was laboring under a false assumption then, I'll make the changes today. Kale’s Gestalt will be Fighter/Mage (likely abjurer), and I’ll take a level or two of Gladiator and possibly rogue but I'll keep all other base classes within 1 level of the others.

Thanks,
Exile