Pathfinder 1
en
English
Iron Gods campaign Pathfinder 1e, some homebrew
PF1e tends to be combat focused, lots of teamwork, but there's puzzles, riddles, investigation too. I don't charge money, game time is Fridays at 6pm central. I have been GMing weekly since 1997 or so, cut my gaming teeth on AD&D first ed. I go above and beyond for my players! This campaign is Discord video chat, but we could change time/day if the other players are willing and able. Don't worry about the mechanics, they are a lot easier than most believe, I am a good teacher (or so I have been told repeatedly over decades). I do not use a VTT. Tried. So I draw it out on a wet erase board, and if there's only one or two enemies, I don't bother and keep it in my head (I have the IQ to be able to do so, and then some). NO FURRIES! If you go into this expecting to create your character without regard to the setting or the group composition, you can kiss your entitled butt goodbye. Even if I did nothing different as GM, the group would suffer and your PC might not make it. I do get your back when I get the chance if you are willing to try a class you don't normally.
Lots of stupid puns and jokes. My campaigns tend to be accidentally lethal, and my NPC's react within the bounds of their Intelligence scores. I poke players into beefing up their defenses in the low levels (in between game sessions), I value intelligence and wisdom in a player. I have no problem with potent PC's, so long as they play well with others and make sense. I tend to be very helpful in between game sessions, giving as much relevant info as possible without spoiling the plot, with less info for veteran players. Quite military friendly, as my NPCs tend to react realistically and tactically. I am extremely good at teaching, not just game mechanics but also tactics, even interaction with fellow players. During game sessions, I play all my NPC's to the hilt, so if they are actively trying to kill your PC, that's how it is. I rarely fudge dice results, when I do it's for drama's sake, trying to make the game exciting and interesting.
With Iron Gods (this takes you all the way to 17th level) you gotta make the characters WITH MY DIRECT ASSISTANCE in a video or audio chat as I make sure they fit with the group and campaigns, plus I give out extra benefits (like gear). We currently have a female aasimar Cleric, a female unchained sylph Rogue, a male elf Alchemist, and a male angelkin aasimar melee Fighter. They are now 2nd level, and we could use a Gunslinger (probably Techslinger archetype is best given the campaign), and a Wizard magic and tech item crafter/Technomancer (who gets assistance from the Cleric and Alchemist, and I came up with a Wizard build that grants additional 3 feats for item crafting so you can have more freedom), or another high int spellcaster of some sort, who could supplement the wizard in magic item crafting feats, spread the load more so to speak. It's for the Iron Gods campaign, it has science fiction alien tech in it, not just medieval fantasy. Iron Gods is all about alien technology meets medieval types, sorta might and magic vs science fiction tech, people say it has a lot of Conan the Cimmerian vibe to it. The campaign seems to have robots, undead, aberrations running around, so having alternatives to mind affecting stuff is a good idea. That isn't to say you can't, it just means have more than one way to mess with the tactics of the enemy. Also, since real world firearms tech was really bad at this point in technology, you probably won't be using black powder firearms much if at all. Also, there's an area in the campaign where you can't use summoning spells, might want some alternatives.
Because the Cleric and Alchemist are taking 2 tech crafting feats each, and a feat that lets them pitch in with the magic item speed crafting, all that's left is the magic items and the levels in Technomancer for anyone taking over the Wizard, plus the build I came up with gives 3 bonus feats on top of the normal general ones you get every odd numbered level. I can reduce this required amount of magic item crafting feats still further if a 6th player takes another spellcaster of some sort, like a Bard/Magus/Witch. They might take a Gunslinger instead, dunno. I sure hope the group can find someone to take the Wizard over, I am sending some good stuff that character's way in the campaign. Plus, any spell that the Alchemist and Wizard spell lists is shared with the other for repertoire (a little house rule of mine to help out).
I have a giant list of races available, some of which are androgynous, others exclusively male, others exclusively female, all of which are official save for 2 (Sylvan elves, basically archer and Ranger types, and Trollans). I instituted sexual dimorphism attribute modifiers to get players running more female characters, right now for example in Iron Gods we will have 3 female characters and one male (but played by a woman and 3 men but not the classes you'd think). Subtract 5 points from Strength for female characters, and add 2 points of Constitution, 2 points of Charisma, and 1 point of Wisdom. Please note that Elves,Sylvan elves, Drow, Trollans (based on Orko from masters of the universe cartoon from the 80s), Gathlain, Ghoran, and Wyrwood are not subject to this ruling, so there is no difference mechanically between male or female characters for them. Interestingly, female characters are mathematically better for Oracles, Clerics (so long as you stay away from melee combat), Sorcerers, Psychics, Mesmerists, Mediums, basically anyone that doesn’t need a high Strength score, and could use the increased Constitution, Charisma, and a little bit of Wisdom. Yes, there are cheap ways to dramatically increase your carrying limits, I can show you. Skill based classes like the Unchained Rogue and Bard tend to be a mixed result since a low Strength impacts carrying limits, Climb, Swim, and sometimes Intimidate. Male characters make better warrior types, so Fighters (melee and bows but not crossbows), Paladins, Samurai, Unchained Barbarians, Unchained Monks, Cavaliers, Inquisitors, Rangers tend to be male. Basically it pokes men into running characters that think in a more indirect, feminine way, and women into thinking in a more masculine, direct way by poking them into classes that have the right mindset/tactics. I really enjoy variety, and the prewritten campaigns tend to have a lot of different activities, not just "dungeon crawls".
Banned Classes/Races
Summoner (and Unchained version), Arcanist, Bloodrager, Brawler, Hunter, Investigator, Shaman, Skald, Slayer, Swashbuckler, Warpriest (this is all of the Advanced Class Guide), Vigilante, Shifter, all mythic paths are banned permanently (broken ruleset).
Half-elves, Half-orcs are banned permanently; they are too mechanically similar to humans and don’t make sense genetically.
Note that I never allow 3rd party (non Paizo) material (unless I honestly think they are balanced and appropriate but you gotta ask first), and I do not allow material that I don’t have access to personally. I am willing to get new material, however.
I am the same way about the Gunslinger (need advanced tech available), Ninja (very culture centric), Samurai (very culture centric), Antipaladin (evil aligned only), Assassin (evil aligned only) classes. For example, we are playing Iron Gods, and you get access to alien guns so the Gunslinger is welcome.
I won't run Rise of the Runelords, Carrion Crown, Giantslayer since I already did them.
These are the Pathfinder campaigns I have: Rise of the Runelords, Jade Regent, Shattered Star, Return of the Runelords, Reign of Winter, Mummy's Mask, Iron Gods, Curse of the Crimson Throne, Skull & Shackles, Hell's Rebels, Ruins of Azlant, Carrion Crown, Tyrant's Grasp, Strange Aeons. The difficult campaigns I have access to are Council of Thieves (3.5 have to adjust it), Giantslayer (kinda boring starting book 4 for the GM), Goblin adventure series (very short), Hell's Vengeance (evil aligned PCs), Kingmaker (3.5 have to adjust it), Second Darkness (3.5 have to adjust it). Only a few APs exist that I won't run period.
That’s not even counting the dungeon crawl classics adventure modules. Reign of Winter will let you see 18th level since I tacked on a module at the end, Carrion Crown only 15th, all other PF campaigns 17th. No gestalt classes, nothing outside the list below. Each new campaign, take a different class and role. My groups last for years, not weeks like so many others do, in multiple campaigns.
These are the Pathfinder classes I use:
Warriors: Unchained Barbarian, Unchained Monk (very SE Asian culture centric), Paladin, Fighter, Ranger (and possibly Gunslinger if I run Iron Gods or Reign of Winter, Samurai if running Jade Regent), Cavalier
Skill Monkeys: Bard, Ranger, Unchained Rogue, possibly Ninja if running Jade Regent
Divine casters: Druid, Cleric, Oracle, Inquisitor
Arcane casters: Sorcerer, Wizard, Witch, Alchemist, Magus
Psychics: Kineticist, Medium, Mesmerist, Occultist, Psychic, Spiritualist
No politics of any kind: right, left, sexuality, real world religions, excessive feminism/whatever etc not allowed, if you have a need to make a fuss about that, you will be kicked out (all sorts tend to be in my groups). It's perfectly fine to have those views, but don't bring them to the game (this is meant to be fun, social, intellectually challenging). If you have major psych problems that get in the way of simple social interaction (explosive outbursts etc) don't contact me. I eventually ask for telephone number just in case of you not showing up to game and you didn't tell me otherwise. It's for emergency stuff, like if someone gets sick or something and I gotta cancel the game. I do care about my players! And yes, I am meticulous about not calling for funsies.
Listen, I have some rules for players. 1 Give me warning 24 hours before the game if you are gonna cancel. I need the time to tell the others and cancel the game if I don't have enough people to play. This is non negotiable! 2 Play well with others. If you are too disruptive, I will boot you after several private warnings. 3 Take a different role each new campaign. Try new things! 4 You have to show up to play 75% of the time. If you cancel too many times, there's no point to having you in the group. 5 Sometimes you will be required to take a role you don't really want because the rest of the group made their picks already. If this happens, the next campaign I will make sure you get first pick as to your role/class. 6 If you have to make sacrifices for the group, like blowing feats on item crafting etc, I will try to send good things your way. Teamwork is important.