In reply to Davtehprophet (msg # 2):

Yeah level 1 and a drawback is fine.

I'm perhaps as new to the Spheres as BoD, having played alongside them in games with more traditional PCs on my part.  I'm quite partial to full-progression casters, but want to make sure as a duo we're able to cover many of our gaps.  Still, that greatly depends on how tailored the game will be.  I'm leaning to a human Sphere Arcanist, though Sphere Hunter or Shifter of yet-to-be-determined archetype would be fun to play if we'd like to keep our magic level down a bit.

How often are we expecting our game to update?  Daily, more, less?

I could definitely do daily, maybe twice a day sometimes?  But I don't think that I'd like to go slower than once every other day/three times a week.

I've never actually looked at the sphere arcanist before, but having seen it, moldable talents is a fantastic ability for keeping our bases covered, and if I go with either support option the only thing we'd be seriously lacking in is full BAB, which is easily remedied in any number of ways anyway.

Agreed.  I do prefer active posting rates, but want to respect other folk's availability.

Do we have a preferred character sheet?  I know there are a number of them available, but perhaps BoD has a preferred one.

I haven't even looked at the sheets yet. I am still figuring out the site.

In reply to Book of Days (msg # 8):

Ah ... not a worry.  Here's one I've used before with other games that's posted in an RPoL library for such things.  Maybe it'll do.


Pathfinder


PATHFINDER Character Sheet
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name  : xxxxx               | Race  : xxxxx            | Height: x'x"
Player: xxx                 | Gender: xxxx             | Weight: xxxlbs
Update:                     | Age   : xx               | Eyes  : xxx
Align : xxxxx               | Size  : xxxxx            | Hair  : xxx
Deity : xxxxx               | Speed : xxft             | Hand  : xxx
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Ability    |   Temporary   | Class                 Level
     Score   Mod  |  Score   Mod  |  xxxxx                  x
STR   xx      +x  |               |  xxxxx                  x
DEX   xx      +x  |               |
CON   xx      +x  |               |
INT   xx      +x  |               |
WIS   xx      +x  |               |Total Level: x         Extra Feats: 0
CHA   xx      +x  |               |XP  :    xxxxx         Next:   xxxxxx
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total   Current   Subdual |         Total   Dex   Misc
HP    :   xx       xx             | Init  :   +x  =  x  +
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Total        Armr  Shld   Dex  Misc
Full    :   10  =  10 +     +     +     +
AC      :   10  =  10 +     +     +     +
Touch   :   10  =  10 + xxx + xxx +     +
FlatFoot:   10  =  10 +     +     + xxx +
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
SAVES                          Ability
            Bonus    Base   Mod  Magic
Fort (Con):   +x    =     +     +     +
Ref  (Dex):   +x    =     +     +     +
Will (Wis):   +x    =     +     +     +
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Base    Total   Base   Str   Misc | Base    Total   Base   Dex   Misc
Melee :   +x  =      +     +      | Range :   +x  =      +     +
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Combat  Total  Base  Str  Misc    | Mnvr   Total  Base   Str   Dex  Misc
Mnvr   : +x  =  0  +  0  +  0     | Defense: +x  =  0  +  0  +  0  +  0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Weapon: xxxxxx         Weight: x lbs
Move Name    Type    Atk   Damage    Crit      Range   Type    Special
Attack      |Melee | +xx | xdx+x  | xx-20/x2 |   -   |   x   |
Charge      |Melee | +xx | xdx+x  | xx-20/x2 |   -   |   x   |

Weapon: xxxxxx         Weight: x lbs
Move Name    Type    Atk   Damage    Crit      Range   Type    Special
Attack      |Range | +xx | xdx+x  | xx-20/x2 |   -   |   x   |

Armor: xxxxxx           Weight: xx lbs
 AC  MaxDex Pen. SplFail Speed  Special
 +x |  +x  | -x |  xx%  | xxft | None

Armor: xxxxxx           Weight: xx lbs
 AC  MaxDex Pen. SplFail Speed  Special
 +x |  --  | -x |  xx%  | xxft | None

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABILITIES/FEATS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPELLBOOK:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPELLS KNOWN/PREPARED:
0:
1:
2:
x:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPELLS PER DAY / SAVE DC (Spell Level + Ability Mod + 10)
1:  / DC xx
2:  / DC xx
x:  / DC xx

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
SKILLS (Max Rank = Level, Class Skills get +3 bonus with at least 1 Rank)

                 Key     Total Ability     Class  Misc
                 Ability  Mod   Mod  Ranks Skill  Mod
Acrobatics         (Dex) +    =    +    +    +
Appraise           (Int) +    =    +    +    +
Bluff              (Cha) +    =    +    +    +
Climb              (Str) +    =    +    +    +
Craft:_____        (Int) +    =    +    +    +
Diplomacy          (Cha) +    =    +    +    +
Disable Device^    (Dex) +    =    +    +    +
Disguise           (Cha) +    =    +    +    +
Escape Artist      (Dex) +    =    +    +    +
Fly                (Dex) +    =    +    +    +
Handle Animal^     (Cha) +    =    +    +    +
Heal               (Wis) +    =    +    +    +
Intimidate         (Cha) +    =    +    +    +
Knowledge:_____^   (Int) +    =    +    +    +
Knowledge:_____^   (Int) +    =    +    +    +
Knowledge:_____^   (Int) +    =    +    +    +
Linguistics        (Int) +    =    +    +    +
Perception         (Wis) +    =    +    +    +
Perform:_____      (Cha) +    =    +    +    +
Profession:_____^  (Wis) +    =    +    +    +
Ride               (Dex) +    =    +    +    +
Sense Motive       (Wis) +    =    +    +    +
Sleight of Hand^   (Dex) +    =    +    +    +
Spellcraft^        (Int) +    =    +    +    +
Stealth            (Dex) +    =    +    +    +
Survival           (Wis) +    =    +    +    +
Swim               (Str) +    =    +    +    +
Use Magic Device^  (Cha) +    =    +    +    +

^Trained only
Languages:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MONEY:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
GEAR (Weight):



TOTAL WEIGHT:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOAD:  Light   Medium (-3) Heavy/Max (-6)  Lift (x 2)  Push/Drag (x 5)
          lb         lb           lb             lb            lb
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MAGIC ITEMS

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BACKGROUND


----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yeah that'll do fine.

So, do we have any options if our stat rolls were just abysmal?  Like, 11 point buy abysmal?

Yup.  Me, too.  11 whole points. :)

Oh dear...yeah that's...not usable. Just redo them.

That did it!

So, I've settled on a Lawbringer Aasimar Custodian Warden.  My magic spheres are Divination (senses only, no read magic, 3/4 casting), Light (glows only, roving glows only, 3/4 casting), and Life (3/4 casting).  I can improve any one of those to full casting by fifth level.  My combat spheres are warleader, gladiator, and guardian.

So,how is it coming along_

Also, I have another application, someone who wants to play a psion scion (haha) of a private mercenary company. It would fit in well with this game because each of you can help shape the empire. But it is up to you.

Question about posting frequency- how do you want to handle it,especially in regards to reply time and posting for players who can't post in time? I have some ideas but I always ask first.

Working on it.  I'm a little confused about how background and consolidated skills work when taken together.  Once the skill list is collapsed to 12, it doesn't seem to play well with background skills as written.  Could you clarify here?  Thanks!

phorcys and I had a discussion about posting rates upthread; were both looking for a fairly active game.

WRT character completion, I've got most of my character on a Google sheet waiting to transfer it.  We're going to need you to make our sheets (in character details) user-editable.

This has really significant implications for "Sphere" versions of core and hybrid classes accessing sphere magic via archetypes.  Have we thought this one through fully or should I take it as written?

In reply to phorcys (msg # 16):

In short,if it is an adventuring skill for your class, it is not a background skill. Everything else, even skillsyou make up, is a background skill. So as in the example,Perform is an adventuring skill for the bard, so bard can put no background skills in Performance, and bards don't need to specify which instruments they play or what tricks they can show, it is up to the player to specify this. If you are a soldier who can sing and plays drums, it is a background skill and you'd need to specify which performs you have taken up, in this case drums and singing (to lead the marching band or some such). Drums and singing each would need a skill point, as they are different performing skills. When the soldier rolls their performance, it is still grouped with the Performance skill list, but unlike a bard who has trained intensively in the arts, the soldier has a more limited perform option. You may of course also put a skill point in regular Performance,which may lead to the soldier being the better drummer in the end if you keep updating both those skills. In every other aspect the bard will still be a lot better.

If you take Handle Animal,it comes down to a similar set up. A farmer by trade would be able to handle animals related to farming,a soldier horses and pack animals (which may include camels, goats etc if it makes sense)While a druid or ranger can be expected to have learned about all sort of animals and communicate with them.

Sleight of Hand is a must for any rogue,but if the soldier can play tricks with cards for example, or every now and then steals from people, it must be a background skill.

Does that clear it up?

Background skills I get.  The rules're simple enough and I've used them a few times.  When you say "consolidated skills" in your original post, are you referring to these rules (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/skill...ills-optional-rules/)?

Yes

I read over it and you are right, this does notwork for Sphere versions. My bad.

Bringing attention to this, I don'tmind either way, it is up to you.

re: Other player - I'm flexible.  As long as we have a good group groove and are able to move the plot forward, I'm OK with adding another, though I'll wait to hear from Davtehprophet.  This was his call for a game, after all.

re: Feats & archetypes - Thanks!  It seemed pretty silly that I could pick up regular PF spells for the cost of a feat.  That was a bit over the top.

re: Combining Background skills and Consolidated skills: I'll do my best, but the rules as written seem pretty incompatible, since there are adventuring skills and background skills that get crushed down into a single consolidated skill.  I can't admit to understanding how to reconcile that, but I'll give it a whack.

OK...I think I've puzzled this out.  Map the skill points onto the "consolidated" list.  Any skills not in the standard conversion list are "extra", basically background skills that can be added to the standard list of 12.  Is that it?

Exactly.

Not sure if this worked, not figured out all the functions yet - can you edit/import sheets now?