Hello.

This will be a 1E Pathfinder game.

It will be semi-homebrew.  I am taking material from some old TSR modules and using some original material as well.  The players may go where they like within the Redtide Coast.  There is an overarching plot, but I am fine with the game meandering into sidequests and other plot lines created by players actions.  MY goal is to build out the world based on the PCs and not vice versa.

I do tend to be rules lit as a GM.  Also, I use some home rules that I find work better with a PbP campaign.  So please read this entire thread.

Just to manage expectations:  there will be a lot of NPC interactions in this game.  See below.  If you optimize your PC just for combat, expect to get in trouble.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:05, Fri 03 Sept 2021.

I will allow the following races:

Dwarf
Elf
Gnome
Half Elf
Half Orc
Halfling
Human
Aasimar
Catfolk
Ratfolk
Tengu
Tiefling
Undine
Nixie
Merfolk

I will not consider any RTJs with other races.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:57, Thu 08 June 2023.

I really dislike well balanced parties.  So I will be providing a heal bot:  basically an NPC who will advance with the party whose only real role will be providing healing magics.  This is not to discourage players taking on a healer character.  However, given the high rate of player attrition on RPoL, I want to insure this function is consistent for the party.

I will allow the following classes

Alchemist
Antipaladin
Barbarian
Bard
Cavalier
Cleric
Druid
Fighter
Gunslinger
Inquisitor
Magus
Monk
Ninja
Oracle
Paladin
Ranger
Rogue
Samurai
Sorcerer
Summoner
Witch
Wizard

Basically all the Core classes and the Base Classes less Vigilante and Vampire Hunter

I will consider the Hybrid and Prestige Classes as well on a case by case basis.

No Unchained Classes.  No Occult Classes.  No Psionics. No classes from a third party supplement.  This will not be a mythic game.  No gestalt.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:40, Wed 08 Sept 2021.

First, I expect all players to be polite on the OOC board and in any PMs to other players.  You can cuss me all you want.  You cannot cuss another player.  Period.

Second, I will check the boards at least once a day, five days a week.  I will take Wednesdays off.

Narrative should not be colored.  Dialogue should be in any color other than yellow or orange.  Whenever I post text in orange it should be considered OOC.  I ask players to also use orange text for any OOC comments in the game thread, die results, etc.

I have no requirements on post length, but I do require they have some substance.  Sometimes it is appropriate to only post a die roll result and tell me which manticore you want to kill.  But not the majority of the time.  I expect more than "I go to the door Perception check 16" or "I kill the manticore."

I do give consideration for players who try to give their posts some flavor.  The key word there is "try".  You don't have to write like Tolstoy.  Just attempt to give your PCs post some personality.  This is how I believe roleplay on PbP is accomplished.  I reward effort.

The "consideration" mentioned above could be a bonus to a roll or, in the case of a really valiant effort, a little extra XP.  I will not penalize someone for a bad post.

As mentioned, I will try to check boards at least five days a week.

I ask players post at least four times a week to stay active in the game.

My job does require me to travel at times, sometimes with little warning.  I will post an announcement on the OOC thread as soon as I can to let everyone know.

I do ask the same from players.  If you know you will be out for a while, just drop a not on the OOC thread.  Please don't PM me with it.  I have other games and it's easier for me to keep track if it's all in one place.

I will not stall combats or other situations waiting on a player to post.  I usually give a day or two and then NPC your character and take the action I think you would want them to take.  When (if) you return, I will release control of the character to you naturally.  You will not get XP for any actions I took on your behalf.

If a player has not posted in two weeks without any kind of notice, I will remove them from the game.  I will fade your PC out of the game unless you have given me permission to keep them as an NPC.

I do understand Real Life happens.  If you are absent without leave for a while and want to come back, just contact me via PM.  I tend to be pretty understanding.  If you're a good player, I want to keep you in the game.  We can work something out.

As mentioned before, there will be a lot of NPC interactions.  There will also be some mystery elements.

Social skill rolls will give you information. But you the player will have to interpret results.

As far as mystery elements, I take a Gumshoe approach.  You will be given the clues.  It will be up to your PC to determine what to make of them.

Knowledge checks will work in a similar manner.  You will get information.  Parsing answers from that information will be up to you.

PbP isn't really friendly to turn based combat in my opinion.  They can also bog down rather quickly and choke a game while we wait for someone to roll.  As such:

Players will roll Initiative once and only once at the start of each combat.  I will then just keep that order all throughout the combat.

Please try to post as often as you can during combat.

As mentioned previously, I will wait for players to post as long as is reasonable.  Then I will NPC your character and take the action I think you would have them take.  At the very least, they will go on defense.

I have never been a fan of the alignment system.  Unless you are playing a class where alignment matters, just tag yourself Chaotic Neutral.

IF you are playing an alignment restricted class, I consider it more a roleplay situation than an alignment.  You are a paladin.  You have a code of conduct.  Stay within that code or you lose your powers.  Simple as that.  We can discuss particulars in your RTJ.

Religion won't be a big deal with this game.  Honestly I would prefer religous based PCs to choose a sphere or a mystery (as in the Oracle class like Ancestors, War, Lunar, etc.) If you need to have a deity, pick one from the majoy mythologies of Earth (Zeus, Raven, Thor, etc.).  We can discuss specifics in your RTJ.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:37, Tue 31 Aug 2021.

To request to join, please send me a PM with the following:

-A statement saying you have read this thread and understand my rules.

-If you have questions, please ask them.  It is only fair that I give
 players a reasonable understanding of what to expect from my game
 before they join.  I cannot do that though if you do not ask me
 about what might confuse you.

-Your proposed PCs name.  Their race, gender, and class.

-A short (one to three sentence) bio.  What kind of family do they come from?
 Any goals they want to achieve? Etc.

 Please see the Redtide Coast thread and
 and the information on the town of Salt Lick.

 Currently, there are two story lines running in this game.

 The first involves the main group.  A bunch of land lubbers who are investigating
 mysterious occurances around the town of Salt Lick.

 The second game is an underwater game.  You may elect to play an undine, nixie, or merman
 PC.

 Please indicate which of the two games you would be interested in.

-Do not send me a completed PC.

That's it to start.

This will not be a first come, first serve.

Please PM me if there are questions.  Thanks.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:56, Thu 08 June 2023.

Please note: we are using milestone leveling for this game.
This message was last updated by the GM at 02:32, Tue 16 May 2023.