Craig's 3.5 D&D Campaign

[Duragar]

Hey guys. Craig's mentioned this to at least one person other than myself, but I'll post it up here for the sake of getting the word out, and giving people food for thought. Craig's planning on running a 3.5ed campaign, which he hopes to have ready to go in a few weeks. He plans on using psionics instead of magic, and in his usual fashion, it is meant to be a darker, grittier storyline (READ AS: probably will be low to low-mid level characters).

I post this because we're supposed to be a unit (sort of like the Twilight Watch), and we need to be a cohesive investigation unit. With that said, I'll pose a few questions for you guys to think about.

1) Who's going to be the party leader?
This question's the first and foremost step. If we have a set party leader, it will make things run that much smoother (if my HERO System game was any indication of how slow things go when there isn't a set leader character). Futhermore, Craig will have a specific "unit leader" for our group that he can communicate with regarding our missions and such. I would be willing to be in this role, but if someone REALLY wants to be leader, I would be willing to discuss it and figure it out.

2) What do people want to play?
Craig hasn't told me specifically which classes are good to go and which aren't, but he has at least specified that psionics is the name of the game, so my guess to the available classes would be as follows: Barbarian, Fighter, Rogue, Psion, Psychic Warrior, Soul Knife, Wilder. Though this list may also be cut down a little because Craig has also specified that we're part of a psychic "Secret Service" group, and would be inheritly psionic... so we might be limited to psionic classes only. I'll add more to this when I know more.
Either way, we'll want to plan the party out so that we'll work well together. While inter-party banter, and goofiness are always fun, having characters that will explicitly butt heads in-game to the point of near combat will slow the game down more than make it fun.

3) What days/times are good for people?
I can say that Friday and Saturday are probably my best bets as good playing days, as I have yet to have an OT day on Friday, and Saturday is less likely to be bogged down by OT (though we all know that this hasn't always been the case). Sunday's out, because I D&D with my Berkeley friends that day, and I would rather avoid setting any other weekday as our game day because of the distinct possibility of OT.

So there you have it. Thoughts on the matter?

[dyuman]

I would most likely play the rogue I've been mulling over for the past couple months - anything else (unless it just cant be applied to this game) would make me wish I was playing the rogue (or another general type of character that is a master of deception and stealth). Soul Knife looks interesting too though. .

Friday night or Saturdays work for me (at least till the end of this quarter).

Leader is a nayh for me, too new to the games still. I got no problem with Chip or anyone else doing it (if scott plays i sorta prefer not for him to lead at least since I'd end up butting heads with him).

Do our origins have to be from the same general story? Or can it be diverse and we came together years ago so work well as a team sort of thing? I had some scars and junk in mind that may not make sense to other peoples story.

Edit: After reading some about soulknifes, me thinks a stealth oriented character with a soul knife would work well.

Chip since you mentioned that you will be coming to help josh tonight with dominoes could you bring any books about soul knifes and go over some character basics between that and rogue. Could also figure out a general idea for a team as well.

[Duragar]

To my knowledge, Craig is actually leery about inviting Scott to this game because his schedule is still so whacked. He probably won't be able to make any day consistently, so to get a game going with him would already put the game on shaky ground.

As for giving you information on the soul-knife class, I have the 3.5 psionics book, but I'll need to see if Craig's using it this evening. He's using it to get used to the system again and studying up on psionics, himself. What I can do is give you a basic overview of the class.

Hit die: d8 or d10... think it's actually d10.
B.A.B.: Fair (like rogue BAB)
Fort Save: Low
Reflex: High
Will: Low
One of the low saves might be high, but my memory is failing me right at the moment.

Basically, the soul knife can summon a blade as a move equivalent action, and it functions as a short sword. Later on, he can improve the enhancements on it, change it into a bastard sword (or two short swords), Throw it like a throwing dagger, and perform unusual attacks, like creating a small whirlwind of blades (yay Tirvan!).

Also, any weapon specific feats can be taken with the summoned weapon, so you can take weapon focus, improved crit, and so on.

There's a multitude of psionic feats that you may want to take a look at as well, but those I don't have memorized. So yeah.... gonna need to get the book anyways.

Going back to domino's night... well, I guess I'll post that in the domino's section.

[feedback]

Standard questions from me.

1. Are we using only 3.5's rules or are we using a bastardization of 3.0 and 3.5?

2. What classes are and are not allowed? What races are and are not allowed? Is non-core material legal?

3. How are we determining stats?

4. Can we get a little more back story on the general world we are going to be playing in? Any significant history that we should be aware of? Social stigmas and general view of magic/psionics by the populace? Does magic even exist or is there only psionics?

5. What level are we starting at?

As for Chip's questions, I have no problem with you being the leader. I generally try to avoid leadership in all of its forms. Since I am still unemployed, any day of the week is ok for me. I suppose that weekends will be best for everyone though. I have no clue what I want to play, I'll figure that out once I know what is and isn't allowed.

For Dyuman, go here for the soul knife class description
www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/classes/soulknife.htm

Online srd which is basically all the core books in text format. A very useful resource for those of us without all of the core books.

Edit: Wow psionics got cool in 3.5. I like how they changed augmentations so low level spells remain useful and scale as you level.

[Duragar]

Craig's Game - I'll tell you details as soon as I know myself or can get Craig to post. >_<;

3.5 Psionics - I hear that. I'm totally ganking that for my own spell system.

So... just a reqal quick overview of what I know for your questions (with 90% certainty):

1) Pretty sure is 3.5ed all the way.
2) Think it's non-magical core classes and psionic classes for 3.5ed.
3) Dunno how starts are working. Will ask Craig when off work.
4) Only Psionics, but I'll have to ask him when I get off work.
5) Something low to low-mid (1-6).

[dyuman]

Question regarding mechanics...

So lets say I'm dual weilding with two hand fighting feat, what would the outcomes be with the following situation:

1. Feint and hit him with off hand (i assume flavor text of I draw his attention with main hand attack which i let him avoid/block, and strike them with off hand, thus no penalty? Or because I am using my main hand in the fight as a feint factor I would still have penalties?

[feedback]

Straight game mechanics would translate to the following:

Feint as move-equiv action; Roll Bluff check
Attack action; Swing with main hand

This situation requires that you have improved feint so you can feint as a move-equiv action and the fact you are actually wielding two weapons is mostly irrelevant since you are only using one of them to attack. Your feinting with your offhand would be flavor text.