Spire's Shadow (OOC)

I am fully aware that a plain rogue or even a bard might be mechanically better suited for the character, but spellthief adds some flavour and decent abilities at the cost of dodge, +1d6 on sneack and 2 skills per level (when compared to the rogue...) but I think it would still be fun to play, since I am staying with assassin after 6th...besides even a scorching ray stollen from a mage of high enough level can pack quite a bit of punch, not to mention the look on the tanar'ri when I steal his fire resistance just before our Wu Jen gets him into his sights...

Duck, Dialexis,
Thanks for the tips. I just checked the ninja-ghost killer combo...it is compelling, but would mean that I actually get the PRC at 7th level and only the killing attack at 11th...also I think that the 3round wit for the assassin attack has a very nice feel of hunting to it that can make good use of the slower, more deliberate pace of board play...
Lets see how it turn out...
Cheers,

Duck, Dialexis,
Thanks for the tips. I just checked the ninja-ghost killer combo...it is compelling, but would mean that I actually get the PRC at 7th level and only the killing attack at 11th...also I think that the 3round wit for the assassin attack has a very nice feel of hunting to it that can make good use of the slower, more deliberate pace of board play...
Lets see how it turn out...
Cheers,

Hey guys. Sorry I haven't been around too much.

I'll have much more time now. If you want to know what was occupying my time, it was This. Vote for Han Solo!

Seriously. If you have a boards1.wizards.com account, vote for the best-optimized build. I would hope that would be me (hey, if I win, I get free stuff) - but the more votes, the better. If you don't have one, register. If you play D+D, it's one of the sites you have to have an account on.

Vote for Han Solo.

Han Solo.

Han Solo.

Han Solo.

This is not subliminal messaging.

I have much more time to work on my character for this now. It should be up tomorrow. I'm still up for suggestions, though - but I want something that can do damage.

Wrong link.

Vote For Han!

The entire purpose of the CO board is to prove the full extent of the rules so that you can actually adjucate a game. If you don't know how the rules are broken, you can't really understand the rules - in my opinion, at least.

While I would likely never *play*, say, Han, it's important to know what he does and how he does it so I can reference it in the future. If I don't know what the rules are, I shouldn't make House Rules, either.

(Interesting Tangent - this exact theory is what my name references. The "Oberoni Fallacy" is the belief that since a DM can ad-hoc balance something or create rules on the fly, a system is not in need of adjustment. The entire purpose of a rules system is that the DM should *not* have to balance things on the fly.)

Hi Duckluck, I can't remember if it's in the PSCS rules or not. Did the 2e rule of recording where your weapons were made for enhancement bonus purposes get carried across to 3/3.5e?

I hear you entirely, and I don't hate 3rd edition in the least. But there's a reason I didn't type that whole blob from the start: my MAIN problem with 3rd edition is the advent of the gigantic, needless sea of redundant base classes and prestige classes and races that've been added, both through the main SRD and supplemental books.

I'm the kind of person who likes condensed things. I'd be happy if D&D had Fighter, Mage, Rogue, Cleric, and multiclasses thereof. All the abilities of the other base classes could probably be converted to feats(Barbarian Rage/Bardic Music anyone? Improved Unarmed Strike and Stunning Fist are already there!)

That's all I'm really saying, other than that fix Armor, and make the feats required for dual wielding less ridiculous, and I'll tell you that 2nd edition is Archaic

Linji, once-is-Rinzai

Appearance:

"Welcome to the House of Paintings! You've always been here, even if you haven't always been -though nothing is been, all is becoming, and really nothing is becoming as well, but I digress (the *ollin* flows away)..."
We are all just Masks -Illusions of Teotl -but illusions that are real, so perhaps not really illusions, at all -but as I said, all are illusions. All masks conceal and reveal the Teotl; they present itself. Teotl, as all, *knows* this, but not all of teotl *knows* this. What you see is just an illusion, and all the masks of teotl reveal and conceal. Sometimes, Linji wishes certain masks concealed more, while other revealed more, but Linji doesn't always talk of Tanar'ri brothels in certain places...
So, how does Linji's mask look to you? What does it reveal, and what does it conceal? Remember, the eye does not see itself -it takes part of self to see itself, but not all of self (Linji *knows* there is no self, or nonself, but self-unself becoming)...
Look again, does Linji's mask change?
Or does your eye change?
Torpellin says, 'No, mind changes!'.
Linji says, 'Now, I *see*'".

~4th side of the Triangle, excerpts from the Unformed Circle of Linji

Due to Linji's Slaad influence as a Chaond, Linji's physical appearance varies according to his whim and environment, and although's Linji exact physical appearance changes in varying degrees and frequency, some things have remained relatively stable since arriving in the City of Doors.

Linji dresses in the somber gray cloak of the Zerth Cenobites; however, his cloak's inside has a rough patchwork of multitudes of colors, like a jumbled rainbow. Around his neck, he wears a string of Limbo Lotus, harvested from the fields surrounding Xaos, from which Linji makes a special tea, bruning the rest, in a ritual that he claims extends his senses beyond himself, and greater awareness of teotl. Regardless, he treasures, the beautiful white blossoms, each of which seem to constantly fold and fold their petals, revealing and concealing their inner nectar, that swirls like a microcosm of Limbo itself.
Underneath his Githzerai cloak, Linji wears his old monastic robes, which are a muted black, tied with a white sash, its inner side stitched with the Circles runes of Gith, reciting the entire Unbroken Circle of Zerthimon. He often has a well worn-if not-decrepit-satchel (supposedly made from ghoul-hide) slung over one shoulder, in which he keeps all kinds of knick-knacks and trinkets).
Unlike many monks, Linji does not wrap his hands or feet. Instead, he wears a pair of soft leather moccassins -one a faded blue, stitched with patterns of cats and mice, and the other a muddy brown (Linji claims that his feet are different sizes, and so the mis-matched pair are more comfortable). Around each of his hands is an amazingly complex tangle of thread ('looking like Linji somehow caught each hand in Cat's Cradle from Hell'). The knotted patterns do not seem to restrict the movement of his fingers or wrist, and close scrutiny reveals that each thread-pattern is different. However, each thread-pattern holds a strange seal made of Karach on the back of Linji's hands. Its exact shape shifts, usually in a lanquid motion -the one vaguely looking like an intertwined snake devouring its own tail, and the other looking either like a sun, or a lion's head and mane, each with extruding snake-like bodies. Those who have closely studied these Karach seals notice that occasionally writting of some kind appears on them, though shifting and fading.
Usually orbiting around his head are two dull gray iouns, that drift lazily about in a haphazard motion.

Linji himself is also a strange, dynamic amalgram. Like most Githzerai, Linji's skin is a pale yellow; however, upon the back of his arms, shoulder, back, and neck, his skin is spotted. These vague spots constantly shift, warping their shape, color, and location, almost like liquid drops of paint that refuses to dry. Linji calls these splotches of color, "Flowers", or *Xochitl* in the Slaad tongue. On top of these ever-shifting skin-markings, Linji has had applied several tatoos (some of which are of his own doings). Upon his arms and left leg are spiraling tatoos of swimming blue fish. On his left side of his chest (which is partially visible due to the cute of his robes), Linji has a red and orange tatoo of a Lotus of Fire. The most amazing tatoo of Linji's is one he claims was penned by Fell, and is located upon his right shoulder, and is a chaotic pattern of black and white waves, which seems to dance and splash across his skin -the swarms of blue fish seeming to swim into their shifting waves. Upon Linji's left check is another tatoo, depicting some strange creature looking like a near-translucent Slaadi and tadpole hybrid -which he calls *Anxihitl*. Various other tatoos mark his skin, but are more obscure -which he claims are markations of his *Tonalli* -or temporal essence.

Linji stands 6 feet tall, though his arms seem a little too long for his frame. And while Linji's arms and legs are well toned and sinewy, Linji has a large pot-belly. Likewise, Linji's movements appear either exceedingly graceful or are jarringly adrupt (made all the more disturbing as Linji often "walks" on his hands).
Linji lacks any fingernails whatsoever, as well as seeming to have the ability to bend his limbs in different directions.

Linji's face is rather typical of most Githerzerai (which means, thin and sharp angled, and yellow), except for his hair and eyes and teeth, which betray his Chaond nature. Although his yellow irises are very common among the Githzerai, his pupils resemble that of Slaadi -being horizontal black ellipses. Linji's hair is a full shock of white wispy hair, that seems to move on its own -Linji is constantly shaving sections, or braiding his hair -though it always unties itself or grows back, though it never seems to grow longer than a foot or two. Unlike other male Githzerai of his age, Linji has no facial hair at all. Linji's teeth are a unbecoming match of flat Zerth-like teeth, and Sharp Slaad teeth. Luckily, Linji's long flexible tongue allows him to pronouce most languages without difficulty, despite his strange jaw-line (though when in deep thought, he does have an unsettling habit of tapping his nose with the tip of his tongue).

Another common sight around Linji is his "pet" Aoskian Hound named Wu (although somtimes he will call it Mu, or Mu and Wu).
Although Linji has diferent stories about Wu, his most common (and reasonable) story is that Wu was once a animal companion to a planewalking ranger named Zhaozhou. Zhaozhou supposedly had traveled to Limbo, being force to leave behind Wu, but in Limbo met Linji, who overtime became fast friends. It was through Zhaozhou that Linji heard of the stories about the fabled City of Doors. Unfortunately, their time together was brought adruptly to an end when Zhao and Linji were attacked by a group of Hezrou (or was it Slaadi? -Linji doesn't recall). Linji escaped the turmoil, only to later find the torn remains of Zhao's bloodstained cloak and shattered bow (which would have soon been consumed in the chaos matter of the plane). Mourning his loss, Linji took his friend's cloak, and therein found a map and a port-key to Sigil, as well as a scribbled address. It was only a matter of time, before Linji arrived in the City of Doors. At the address, Linji claims to have found Wu, waiting for Zhou to return. Linji and Wu took a liking to each other, and it was not too long thereafter that Wu would follow Linji wherever he went (though sometimes it is Linji following Wu).

Wu is rather normal in build and size for Aoskian Hounds, but he is atypical in the "color" of his hair. Suffice to say that Linji and Wu once traveled with the Painter for a period of time, and that Wu became a "canvas" -thus, Wu's pelt is painted with a splash of colors, circles, and spirals and vague shapes and stripes.

Well, that's all for now, next time, I'll post Linji's backgorund/history.

Hopefully helpful observations:

Well, I reviewed the character sheets and here is what I came up with (of ocurse I could be making a mistake too, so take comments with a grain of salt).

Kadar,

All good to go.

Cortek,

Adamantine Longsword has to be MW (as all adamantine weapons are, thus price should be 3,315, not current listed price of 3,015 gp) -MW bonus already incorporated into attack bonus.

Skill points have not had armor penalties applied.

Skills currently do not have Acrobatic house-rule applied (climb has 8 ranks, but none in jump -apply both, but also remember the armor penalty ).

Skills currently have Awareness, instead of seperate Listen and Spot.

Besides those minor issues, everything else was fixed in the interum.

Hope that helps.

I figured I'd do that dynamically, but whatever, they're all negative or darn close anyway

Forgot about that one, but I do remember someone saying that Climb and Jump don't really match together as well as the other house-ruled pairs.

I thought we combined them?

Also, if I'm going to put in Armor Check penalties on the skill section of the sheet, what are ALL the skills that get check penalties? Anything physical(Riding?)

Perro- Intriguing

Oberoni_Fallacy- I like the sound of the Bladeling Wu Jen myself, but I've always liked Bladelings and I'm interested to see a Wu Jen in action. btw if there's the wood element (I think there is but I don't have the book here) that would also be appropriate.

Oh, and while I remember- two weapons aren't that hard to wield simultaneously, especially if they're relatively light. The reductions in D&D are pretty accurate - if you're not trained in doing it then it does your head in, if you use heavy weapons it's a struggle (although I can see how people'd make it work) but using light weapons isn't that much harder than using a single weapon (or your hands for that matter).
For real-world examples look at most Filipino martial arts and the sword & dirk style which was relatively popular for a couple of centuries in Europe (although the exact weapons changed a bit in this time. The off-hand weapon is often used defensively and can replace a shield quite effectively because of it's agility.

Perro,

I really like the intro -as Azriael said, it is definately intriguing -and makes me anxious to hear more. But great intro!

Also, thanks for the pm -I'm not that familiar with Incarnum, so I wasn't sure. Admittedly, even if Linji does the Sacred Fist, his healing capability will be nowhere near a cleric of his level (but perhaps with your later healing abilities/options, our combined healing abilities might be at least decent enough).

Regardless, he seems very cool.

Oberoni_Fallacy,

Kudos on the adamantine correction. Also, even though I don't want to spin off on too big of a tangent, your Han build was a great read, and I also really agree with your premises on 2nd vs. 3rd edition. Like Duckluck said, (and as a gamer who has played in all three editions), 3rd is definately the best -is it perfect for all in all situations -no. However, it (to me) has done the best, holistically. I don't want to bog down in specifics due to the nature of this thread (as well as not wanting to cause rifts between the group), but I did want to say that your ideas were well put, and are harmonious with mine.

Also, thanks for the compliment of Linji. Admittedly, I want each of our characters to give something to each other (metagame-wise, complimenting crunch abilities, and metagame-wise, facets of flavor/fluff that are enjoyable) -its one of the reasons why the dialectic of D&D is so enjoyable to me. Thus, I am glad you like his concept.

I am also really excited about all the other PCs as well -those finished and those still on the proposal table.

Personally (thus, do what you like, I'm just throwing in my two cents), I'd say go for the Wu Jen -we need the "arcane artillery", and the Beguiler lacks in that measure with their more limited magical focus.

Like Azriael said, Wood might be interesting with the Hriste-tie in, but as you said, Metal is the most obvious choice, as well (in my observation) has the better spell selection.

If you do Bladeling, that will be interesting as Perro's PC is (unless he has changed it) a Bladeling as well). Not to step on anyone's toes (especially not Duckluck's), but perhaps the two of your characters could have some mutual background -(it would help initial party solidarity and identity, as well as explain the confluence of the two). That said, the two Bladelings might also know to some degree or another Cortek -as he has been on Archeron as a new "home". Of course, the plane is infinite, but stories are built from interconnectedness. Just my two cents.

Regardless, I look forward to seeing your PC.

Cortek,

As said, I was just pointing out minor blips still there. Applying the penalties dynamically could get a little tedious, but that is up to you and Duckluck.

And, Duckluck, correct me if I speak incorrectly, but Awareness was ultimately decided against, and Acrobatics was retained.

As for which skills take penalties, they are:

Balance, Climb, Escape Artist, Jump, Hide, Move Silently, Swim, and Tumble.

*remember that for Swim checks, the penalty is doubled.

Oh, and one last question, is Cortek a member of any faction? (I'm not advocating that we all need to be -Linji is really a floater, but what can you expect from a Chaond?)

JOR,

M'rek looks great -really powerful build you have there -puts all of our sneaking thus far to shame (which is fine by me). I noticed you decided against the lightning genasi; I'm curious as to the reason (not saying it is a bad choice, just interested).

As for the 1,000 gp, you could enchant your armor, or get a +1 cloak. Or, why not get a wand of cure light wounds (please).

Curious also with the "alignment" section -is Ethereal an option (I mean all the Outer have corresponding ethical/moral ethos and belief -wherewas the Ethereal is a Transitive and lacks is amoral and without any ethical attachment). Nathri have an amoral, chaotic bent -I have no clue what Fiendish anscestry M'rek has, so that influence is unknown.

I'll be very curious to hear his background. (and what to make sure Linji doesn't get on his bad side).

~and Duckluck -well M'rek has a 16 Con, so lol, Linji remains the squishiest -oh well.

Well that does it for me now (I'll be posting Linji's background later tonight).

He's a former Harmonium of course, but right now he has no faction affliation.

He'd probably fit in with the Sodkillers, it's almost a perfect fit. He also has some things in common with the Transcendent Order: when "negotiating", intimidation is all he knows, and he tends to back up his words before he says them. Despite being a staunch opponent of wealth and those who abuse it, he could probably be a member of the Fated(I probably would've made him a Khaasta if it weren't for their crazy level adjustment).

All in all, he doesn't completely agree with anyone, and he NEVER changes his mind due to outside influence, so he'll probably never be in a faction.

I tried to make Cortek Ethereal attuned(as violent as he is, he tends to belive in nothing). Duckluck denied me that choice earlier in this thread, he said only Outer Planes were valid, though I think the whole Nathri thing brings a compelling argument, I guess I just registered "ideal plane" as the Plane that that character considers paradise, and that we were just going to judge their dispositions from that: if we just stick to the alignment planes then we may as well be using the standard Alignment system pretty much. But it's all up to Duckluck, I don't really care either way..

Heh, I just noticed, Dialexis has an Astraloth named after him
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=153032&
Nice work on the standard Astraloth stats btw

Duckluck, could you please outline what sort of information is common knowledge for planars in your campaign? A list of sources that we are allowed to read and use would be ideal but general parameters would be fine too. I'm just re-reading chapters 6 & 7 of PSCS at the moment as that seemed pretty safe. What about the 2e stuff like "In the cage" and "The Factols manifesto"?

(Armor Check Penalties - Strength and Dexterity based skills. Swim gets a double penalty.)

In any case, I won the CO Contest! This means I will have way more free time (and free stuff.)

In any case, I want to talk to you guys about a couple things.

First off, I'm playing the Wu Jen - Metal (which has the coolest spells). I'm going to get the rod that allows double element mastery as soon as I can and grab Wood or Fire, though.

Secondly, my planescape knowledge is really spotty. On the one hand, I have a fairly decent working knowledge of the Blood War and of other random things, and I know most of the setting stuff.

On the other hand, I can't speak in cant worth a damn, and I'll probably stumble if I try to name all the factions. Why does this apply? Because I will probably get things wrong. If I do, please attempt to correct me if it seems more of a player than character mistake - the beauty of Play-by-Post is that we get an Edit Post button.

In addition, I'd like to know a bit more about Bladelings. In all honesty, my knowledge of them is the half-page blurb in the Planescape campaign setting.

(Tangent - me trying to name all the factions)

Athar
Mind's Eye
Ring-Givers
Fated
Mercykillers
Sodkillers
Chaos/Xaosmen
Fraternity of Order
Doomguard
Bleak Cabal
Dustmen
Free League
Revolutionary League
_
I know I'm missing one or two.

Can't believe I missed the Senates and Ciphers. Must've said Mercykillers when I meant Sons of Mercy. I always confused the Sons of Mercy and Harmonium - I know they're very different, but the Harmonium... I dunno.

As far as the CR 47 monstrosity goes, what can I say?

Dialexis is epic. Normal rules don't apply to him.

Oberoni_Fallacy,

Congratulations on your well desired victory!

Oh man, that's going to haunt me isn't it?

Anyways, about normal rules, I do believe that Ride checks don't suffer amor check penalties (despite being a Dex based skill). Also, things like normal Strength checks would not be hampered by armor (though I can see Dex checks as being affected).

*as a armorless monk, I'm not directly involved, but I don't want to have Cortek miffed.

Regardless, I'm happy to hear you are going with the Wu Jen (metal). The idea of going with another element is interesting (I would suggest Wood due to their fervor of/for Hrist, or go with water, since Ocanthus is made of the frozen shards of Styx).

As for Bladeling info, I have some info I could give you (though it is quite extensive and long, and so it would be best if I sent it in several pms). If interested, let me know -I will give the caveat that some of it includes tie-ins to not only Planescape lore, but also to DF lore, and some of my own work (I want to be upfront with it, that's all).

As for Sigil cant -Linji doesn't use it all that much (his langauge use is too personal and eclectic to stay true to any one kind of dialect).

But yes, as has been said, Bladelings are very xenophobic, and thus, would not be likely (in most circumstances) to quickly adopt externally racial dialects -such as cant (despite learning terminology).

The degree to which DMs use Sigil cant (and expect/desire their player's PCs to do so) varies, and so I guess we really need Duckluck's opinion.

For instance, in Duckluck's version of Sigil, will all non-cant speakers be considered Clueless? (I hope not; I have to admit that if a Solar walks by Linji and says, "Move it berk, or ye might end yerself in the Dead Book!" that Dialexis will be a sad Dialexis indeed).

-Sects: I know that there are the sects of the Doomguard.

Otherwise, there is also the Gloryhounds.

Ok. as for the choice of thiefling over lightning:
Two considerations came into play -
role playing a half demon seemed to me more achievable than a genasi, especially since I would already be testing new waters with the Nathri...
mechanical - well it became clear that I was going to be the group`s skill monkey, so intelligence trumped charisma...which reminds me who will negotiate for the group? Kadar? Our Wu gen?

I included a CLW wand in my equipment but you all better pay M'rek for the privillege...or at least pat him well on the head...

Finally, as for the alchemicals I am interested in (from CA) flashpellet and catstink...also, maybe, the longspoon, if they are allowed...
cheers

As for languages, what should M`rek pick? What would make sense? Although a planar, I want to picture M'reck as coming from the planar boondocks, so to speak, as close to being a savage to the eyes of civilised Spire people as possible...in my clan, the little outside contact we have had would be with our raids on Githzeray slave traders (who would also raid our clan for slaves)...what would be other options? I do not think I should speak cant, but is there any other lingua franca for the planes?

Ah. one more poll for the group...I can learn TWO 1st level wizard spells from the abjuration, transmutation, illusion, divination and charm schools...one will be reduce person, because it will be so much fun to be tiny...what should be the other? Remember these will be the only spells I ever learn as a spellthief, and later I'll have a very limited access to spells as an assassin...
thanks, cheers