In reply to jamat (for now) (msg # 12):

Nah, why?
That would seem like quite a huge change to the system.
Hmm, but admittedly I have not yet seen how you gain focuses...

Edit: found it, p.32... so I can pick one on gaining Level 2
This message was last edited by the player at 15:04, Sat 14 Mar 2020.

See  page 32 for gaining levels you get a focus on each even level on a primary ability and on odd levels one for a secondary ability
This message was last edited by the player at 15:05, Sat 14 Mar 2020.

Boy, you folks were active last night.

FYI, I'm in UTC-7 (we've already hit our Daylight Savings Time), or, as we used to say in the Navy, Tango-minus-7. :)

I'll look at the rules on weapon groups vs. focuses to clarify, but expect that I will stick with RAW whenever there's confusion.

I'm in London so GMT +0

So, yes, p.77 states that using a weapon without proficiency in its group imposes a penalty of -2 attack rolls, half damage (round down after adding in Strength), and, for missile weapons, half range (round down). Also note that if your Strength is less than the minimum strength of the weapon, the weapon's damage becomes 1d6-1.

I've posted in the Wanted - Players forum. We'll see if there's any interest.

I'm working on a couple of things and will put out the first post later today or tomorrow.

In the meantime, do you gents have any questions or thoughts?

Still busy reading up.
Very nice weather here will likely force me to postpone ^^.

Hello there, everyone. New guy here, time zone GMT -7.
Debating between playing a Force Mage or a Spirit Warrior. Would love to hear your thoughts on this. I'm definitely feeling a stronger pull to the Force Mage, but I also kind of want to know if you are looking for anything in particular.

I want to welcome christopherscottc and dragonrider912 to the game.

dragonrider will be playing a character named Mikhail, though he's deciding between his original mage concept or a warrior concept. I told him both will work for the campaign.

christopher will be playing a rogue archer who has yet to be named.

Glad to have you both aboard!

So, I would like the four characters to have known each other for a bit, and be on friendly terms (if not friends); friendships based on rivalry would also be acceptable, as long as the friends part is stronger than the rivals part. Feel free to discuss among yourselves the dynamics.

And, please share tidbits of public knowledge about your character here. :)

My characters name will be Richard. I am PST time Zone. Live in Washington State in the USA.

Cool. Three of us on the Left Coast (tm). :) I'll get your character name updated.

Welcome on board.
I'm a faithful servant-to-be of the chantry and the Templar still looks the most interesting of those warrior specializations. The Magic 3 is a bit of a problem I guess, still... then again, this might clash too much with the mages?

Mikhail, regardless of my concept, I think- without previous experience in DA - that two warriors might be a better choice than two mages, but I'm perfectly fine with everybody playing what they want.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:56, Mon 16 Mar 2020.

Well, it would be two rouges, and two mages by the sound of things. If you're going to be a Templar, the Spirit Warrior would complicate things, seeing as the Chantry does sort of view them similarly to apostates. It also is sounding like the other mage is leaning towards healing, so it might be nice to have one of us not doing that.

I have two rules questions at the moment.

1. Does the DEX Penalty from Armour apply to Defense ?
   E.g. a Rogue in Light Mail will suffer -2 to Speed, Defense and to any and all DEX tests (which includes his attacks with Brawling).
   I would say yes but am not 100% sure
   
2. On Dual Wielder Style, can the secondary weapon just be a Shield ? Or is the Shield not considered a weapon (shield bashing Comes to mind, hence my question).
   I would say no but again am not 100% sure

I guess I'm ready to go, sheet is set up, background (well, a basic one) has been added, goals have been outlined.

The only thing that is missing is connections to you guys.

Regarding the mage vs. warrior question, I think 1 warrior, 2 rogues, and 2 wizards will work as a party. 2 warriors, 2 rogues, and 1 wizard will do well, too.

Regarding the spirit warrior, yes, that can cause problems for the party as a whole. I won't disallow it, as it won't be any more trouble than you could already get into by having an apostate with you, but, it could exponentially increase your chances of detection by someone who might care.

Onto Fost's questions.

1. Looking at the Armor Training talent text on p.58, it explicitly states that the penalty applies to "all Dexterity-based tests and calculations (including Speed)." While the Armor Penalty entry description on p.76 only states that Dexterity is penalized if you aren't trained in the use of your armor, it doesn't contradict the p.58 entry.

So, yes, you give up Defense to get a reduction in damage. (Heavy mail, though, provides 2 extra AR vs. -1 penalty over light mail, and heavy plate does the same over light plate.)

2. No, a shield isn't a weapon, especially given that there's a separate Weapon & Shield Style talent.

Goals
Yes, please develop your character's Goals, as per p.44. Three are sufficient.

Hello all! As Yet Unnamed Surface Dwarf here! I'm building out my character today, but I'll be playing a Rogue (more melee-focused, as I think I saw we have an Archer Rogue already.) I'm in EST time zone, but I'm around throughout the day and evening.

Looking forward to joining everyone!

Welcome


This message was last edited by the player at 15:32, Mon 16 Mar 2020.

Oh, Brother Loren is an Apostate already. Well then, I just didn't want to have two Circle Mages in the party. In that case, I will definitely be playing the Force Mage.

Yes brother Loran is an apostate but he doesn't really know it he believes his abilities to heal are given to him by the maker

Okay, the dwarf has a name: Orlin.

Looking at character sheets we have the following completed:

Character Sheet
Brother Loran
Fost
Mikhail Loren
Richard

Goals
Brother Loran
Fost
Mikhail Loren
Richard

We're not in a major hurry (it's giving me time to script out a couple ideas), but I'm looking forward to the finished character sheets and seeing what goals you each pick.

That said, if you want to start making connections between your characters, you don't have to wait 'til all sheets & goals are done. As I stated before, I think, all of the characters are either friends, or on friendly terms (which could mean friendly rivals).
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:25, Tue 17 Mar 2020.

Regarding how we know each other, is anyone else from Redcliffe? Orlin is a scout (among other things) there in town, so if anyone else is local, that's an easy connection to make.

Brother Loran has been in the village for three years he was sent there by the chantry to be their spiritual guide and bring the words of the maker to them

I just finished up my character!

I am playing a ranged, stereotypical rogue style character. Wants to be rich, and live lavishly. He is very ambitious and is always looking for the next score, the opportunity to make money, make a name for himself, and start something to leave behind a legacy.

Because of that, I can see him liking Brother Loran, wanting to be part of his journey hoping it will bring him fame as well.

He would also like traveling with Fost, a big man like that can get things done, and makes for a great "meat shield" and traveling companion... of course.

I think I would see Orlin as a rival, friendly about it, and not necessarily open about it but in his mind, he wants to be a better thief them Orlin, and also secretly enjoys the competition, he needs friends like that to build his dreams.

Mikhail has recently completed his Harrowing and is taking every opportunity he can, now that he's a full mage and proper member of the Circle, to leave the tower and learn by helping others. Also, it's expensive to visit family, so any kind of money he can make to make those trips the better.

He's likely staying in the local Chantry; praying at the shrine, trying to make Templars laugh again and generally being a very inquisitive guy, poring over the books there. He's the son of a Bann, but being a mage means he can't hold a title. So, while his last name might draw some recognition, it's not that important.

He's definitely got that new face in town vibe, and he's a very visible mage, so he's also got all the common misconceptions that comes with the territory.

I didn't realize what Mikhail was... with that knowledge Richard is interested in him. A brand new mage, perfect, *smiles mischievously*