House Rules and Boundaries

Salutations, all!

In addition to the source book and low magic setting, there are a couple extra rules.

1. A nat 1 or 20 is an auto-crit, even on skill checks, though you can't bend reality.
2. If a crit success or failure is confirmed, the gods get involved.
3. Stats matter, but Rule of Cool will get you bonuses.
4. Religion has a greater impact on this setting, even though there's less magic. I'll outline that in another comment.

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Lines and Veils

I personally am comfortable with PG-13 tops, with a heavy dose of fade-to-black for anything sexual. I'm not game with on-screen permanent physical or emotional harm to mothers and children. If there are any other restrictions you want to mention off the bat, please do, otherwise, assume the "X card" is in play - if something crosses a line, let me know, and we'll circumvent it full stop.

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Here's the main game page so I don't lose it.

Religion and the Pantheon

For a frame of reference, please choose a tier of belief for your character.

1. Hostile: The gods exist and eff those guys.
2. Indifferent: I don't know or care whether the gods exist or not.
3. Cultural: The gods may or may not exist, but the rituals are important to me.
4. Transactional: The gods exist, and their favor is like a bank.
5. Aspiring: The gods exist, but I'm only human.
6. Devout: The gods exist, and I always do my best.
7. Zealous: The gods exist, and woe be unto the nonbeilever.

You will not be able to take any sort of divine perk, even from the limited setting, unless your character has at least "Transactional" belief. I don't mind which deity you pick, as long as they're actually part of the pantheon.

I will do my best to take a properly-rounded view of the pantheon, but please bear with me. This isn't my degree. To alleviate a little incest, I am going to say that the children of Rhea and Kronos (Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus) were born early enough in everything that their genesis wasn't quite as humans would understand. So they're siblings in terms of all honorifics, expectations, etc, but not biologically. After that, gods start messing with mortals, so most of it'll stay unless there's something that really bothers folks.

Last but certainly not least, names matter. There are some amazingly metal pseudonyms for various gods because using their true names attracts their attention. So just know that's something I'll be keeping an eye on.

Something I'm wondering is about the feats and whatnot I the source book. It's pretty clear they were made for 3.5e, and as such some of their prerequisites are impossible or difficult to obtain in Pathfinder.

Say for instance when they require 8 ranks in a skill but are clearly meant to be taken at level 5. In pathfinder you would only have 5 ranks in a skill at level 5.

If it's a class skill, you get a bonus +3 the first time you place a rank, so at level 5 you could indeed have a bonus of 8.

Just to confirm, are we still doing this:
I quite like this - allows more flexibility for characters while (as you mentioned) not completely stifling magic.

The second point, yes, we're still doing.

As for the first 3 classes required to be martial, I'm less bent on that due to our agreement to use the low-magic setting and the "New Argonauts" source book, but if you guys agree that you like the flavor, we can keep it.

Ooh, I remember this system that might be of use to replace magic items!

https://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/other-rules/unchained-rules/automatic-bonus-progression/

Perfect! Thank you! So half 5th level wealth, which should still get y'all some nice masterwork kits, and treat this chart as if you're level + 2, so 7 to start.

Please discuss any deviations from the gear outlined in the supplement with me before confirming it. As usual, you get one normal set of clothing for free. For magic items from the book, no hydra, thunderbolt, or boar-tooth soldiers right now. Please check regarding potions.

I have allowed custom sheets so you can use one of the community-designed Pathfinder sheets instead if you prefer. I haven't had a chance to use them myself, but I've heard good things.

Quick note because I definitely forgot about this due to mental system merge.

At 4th level the ability score increase is +1, not +2 as it is in, for instance, D&D3.5.

Here's the map of Troy. I'm really excited about it because it's based on the generally accepted archaeological site.



North is the top. It's mostly water.
X - You are here.
* - The Palace
1 - Temple and ceremonial location
2 - wells
3 - rich houses
4 - other houses
5 - ceremonial ramp
6 - courtyard
7 - gate to Upper Troy
8 - Guard House of the upper city
9 - sealed gates
10 - towers
11 - "New" barracks
12 - army stores
13 - political "office" space
14 - craftsman space
15 - lower city ruins, major battlegrounds

Your allies wait on a peninsula to the north and some islands to the east / southeast. They'll start filling in when they see flames.

Here's the website I found if you're curious. I only used the versions of the city that weren't built over and were relevant for the period.

That map is really cool... just... growing city, growing city, growing city... brand new city completely unlike anything before.

On the way to the next level, which will happen when you guys are actually successfully out of Troy, you have a right to 2750 in valuables. You probably won't find such things in the middle of the ocean, so I'm willing to let you loot that much a bit early.

I'm willing to discuss nonmagical alternate materials or adaptations to weapons and armor, and of course if you just want a pile of random art and coin I'd be happy to write that up for you as well. Do please approve your loot with me first just so I know what I'm getting in to.

You will not need to roll or roleplay for setting-appropriate mundane adventuring gear, weapons, or armor. There are also plenty of trinkets and coin, which I'll assign as appropriate to fill in any value gaps. Do recall this city has been under seige for a decade, so there's wine, but probably not much.

If there is not an in-character reason for you to have come across a given item (such as Polites' sword), I will have you make a few rolls just to see how hard they are to find, if you get stabbed along the way, etc. The following objects and modifications are in this category. This list isn't necessarily extensive, but know that I am going to limit variations.

* Standard or ornate masterwork weapons and armor

* The following weapon modifications:
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/weapons/weapon-modifications/tactically-adapted/
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/weapons/weapon-modifications/versatile-design/
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/weapons/weapon-modifications/razor-sharp/

* The following armor modifications:
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/armor/armor-modifications/
Note "Vitalguard" doesn't really fit our house rules.

* The following special materials:
(Note the costs listed are in addition to the base item.)
Adamantine (ammunition only due to cost)
Aquatic - Chitin and Clamshell
Bone
Eel Hide
Gold (ceremonial or plated)
Mithral
Obsidian (pierce/slash only)
Silversheen (pierce/slash only)
Singing
Stone
Whipwood
Black Seaweed
Copper Plated
Lead-Lined (poison risk in clothing or regular contact)
Shark Skin
Waterwood
Full descriptions here
This game assumes that everything is bronze and leather by default, so "Bronze" as a special material is not available unless you want something intentionally breakable. We can use the values for steel/iron when all the weapons and armor are the same material.

Captured of the Temple in Troy

King Priam
Queen Hecuba
Princess Cassandra (one of the servants of Athena)
Prince Hellenus (the priest of Apollo)

Temples with major features, one priest or priestess and 2 servants each
Zeus
Poseidon
Ares
Athena

Temples with minor features, one priest or priestess each
Hades
Demeter
Aphrodite
Apollo

Checking in on level loot: Remember you won't level up before you leave Troy, but you won't have a good source of loot on the first stretch of the ocean. Available alternate materials are on a previous post in this thread. Anything else I'll fill in with random gold and trinkets of the appropriate value.

Kouru: 2750 gold available

Iantha: 2750 gold available

Nikias: 2750 gold available

Tiwaz: 2355 gold available (Polites' mwk longsword: 315, 1st month up front for Kurush: 40, 2nd month on standby: 40) Recall if you'd like me to upgrade Kurush's supplies, I can do so out of your loot.

Chryseis will maintain a proportionate power level, since she's technically been with Iantha since level 1 and thus gets a cut of the war spoils. At future levels, she and Kurush will both have this mechanic, but special upgrades will need to come out of the primary PC's treasure.

So to summarize companion NPC's:
First level as companion - PC can upgrade out of their loot.
Following levels - DM will upgrade as appropriate to keep proportionate.
Any materials beyond "masterwork" come out of PC treasure.

Beyond one story-appropriate companion NPC (one who gets a turn in combat or similar), we will use the leadership/diplomacy rules where relevant.

I have been reminded that Darkwood is a valid alternate material.

So far only Iantha had reasonable access to Elysian Bronze since it's a specifically monster-hunting lore, but that will become available to everyone else as y'all travel.

*raised hand* portion for Ajax the Douchebag?

You can pick your specifics. Mechanically it's the same value, so I'll let you choose what's most useful for you.

Kouru: 2750 gold available

Iantha: All loot claimed. (darkwood shield: 257, elysian bronze armor: 2200, both for Chryseis upgrade. ~ 2 jeweled arm cuffs worth 100 gold each, 93 gold in coins)

Nikias: 2750 gold available

Tiwaz: 1821 gold available (see above, and 2 darkwood shields: 514)

There was a previous question about how much meta knowledge folks have. Let's say roll for it, but there are difficulty levels.

Hydra
No roll: It's a beeg boi
10: It's big enough that others have failed to kill it.
15: It's big and weird enough that going in spears blazing might not work.

In this case, I'll give you up to 15 without a roll needed.

Using the appropriate knowledge skill, I assume?

Or survival, or profession: hunter if you have it

On loot, I was having a hard time thinking of 'new' things I'd like to find. I'd be overall much more interested in improving what I already have but that doesn't play well with the idea that we are looting the city and finding this stuff.

Any chance you'd be alright with a Greek helmet version of this: https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/c-d/cap-buffering
?

That could easily be reskinned as a "Helmet of Glancing Blows", so sure. Total cost 2005gp instead of 2k because it's metal, not cloth.

Kouru: 2750 gold available

Iantha: All loot claimed. (darkwood shield: 257, elysian bronze armor: 2200, both for Chryseis upgrade. ~ 2 jeweled arm cuffs worth 100 gold each, 93 gold in coins)

Nikias: 745 gold available (Helm of Glancing Blows: 2005)

What are your thoughts on THIS, as a clever piece of ingenuity versus anything magical? Say, the scabbard is designed to fit a longsword is lined with steel in such a way that the act of sheathing/unsheathing it runs the blade along a track of honing material inside the scabbard itself.

Also something that can be explained nonmagically. That's fine.

Do you want your last 245 gold as coin and trinkets? If there was something else, let me know!

Yup, that works for me! Thanks

Kouru: 2750 gold available

Iantha: All loot claimed. (darkwood shield: 257, elysian bronze armor: 2200, both for Chryseis upgrade. ~ 2 jeweled arm cuffs worth 100 gold each, 93 gold in coins)

Nikias: All loot claimed. (Helm of Glancing Blows: 2005, whetstone scabbard: 500, gold chain with a jeweled butterfly pendant: 120, thin rigid gold necklace with a knot motif: 60, 65 gold in coins)

Kouru is a simple man, he'd be after masterwork weapons and armour:
Masterwork Composite Longbow (+1), 500g
Masterwork Longspear with Razor Sharp modification, 1305g
Masterwork Breastplate, 350g

leaving just under 600g remaining. For that, he'd have looked for the prettiest piece of women's jewelry he could find for his wife and a small statue, plaque, pendant, etc. depicting a horse. If that's ok, please let me know what he manages to snag, and any remaining he'll take in cash.

A +1 composite shortbow would also be 500gp. I'll allow that one since the earliest longbow I can find is still 1000 years too late for the Trojan War (3300bc vs 12th or 13th century bc)

Kouru: All loot claimed. (MWK C shortbow: 500, mwk razor sharp longspear: 1305, mwk breastplate: 350, a palm-sized horse carved of marble: 30, a pair of ornate pearl and gold earrings with a motif referencing Aphrodite: 100, with matching necklace: 300, 165 in gold coins)

Iantha: All loot claimed. (darkwood shield: 257, elysian bronze armor: 2200, both for Chryseis upgrade. ~ 2 jeweled arm cuffs worth 100 gold each, 93 gold in coins)

Nikias: All loot claimed. (Helm of Glancing Blows: 2005, whetstone scabbard: 500, gold chain with a jeweled butterfly pendant: 120, thin rigid gold necklace with a knot motif: 60, 65 gold in coins

And it looks like we're set!

So, for funsies, here's how Survival checks will be adapted for high-duress situations like, you know, the wrath of the gods.

Note that normal Survival and navigation will be, well, normal.

But! During chaos, every point someone fails by will knock you one compass point (out of 8) off-course. Each point someone succeeds by will go toward correcting course. With some slight occasional modifications, so I don't make up too many nonexistent islands and such. Like, this time y'all were specifically looking for an island, so I chose one that wasn't basically back the way you came.

Should keep things interesting. Or at least ensure y'all don't get back to Sparta and Ithaca on time ;)

Loot update! Everyone has an allowance of 3000gp.

You are still in the same world, so the availability of stuff is pretty much the same as in Troy. This does not account for what your men were allocated, but rest assured they were. Allocate yours as you wish. You're all the same "rank" for purposes of value split. Mundane gear, trinkets, art, and gold are available, just no food.

Here are some of the noteworthy items:

The Trojan Ship will be "bought" by your leaders and the funds split among your crew, unless you have another plan for it. If you do, just let me know. It's worth 10k gold in prime condition. Probably 5k now

The Fishing Boat in its current state is worth about 600 gold. One of you can claim it, or you can assume it will be sold and the money split three ways.

Masterwork Snag Net, 330gp

2 sets of Vicious Caltrops, worth 50gp each.


Key of Lock Jamming, 400gpYou have not leveled up yet, but for future reference
here's the automatic progression
Recall you get half the usual gold in this system, but it works out because you don't have access to many magic items.

Thanks! Is this to account for things we find amongst the ship's contents?

Indeed

Nikias finds and claims a spyglass and a set of mithril manacles. 3015gp removed from his pool

Anyone need treasure help?

Sorry, I know I need to post.

Though yeah also slightly blanking on the treasure but not sure she needs much :P.

I am happy to just give her a pile of intriguing shinies and coins!

And no problem. I had quite the hiatus

That is like the sort of thing she would like!

All right, LOM, here's treasure for Iantha!
A golden comb in the shape of a sea serpent, with garnet eyes (1050gp)
An ivory pan flute with onyx inlays (350gp)
A silver-plated dagger (masterwork) with coral inlays in the hilt (600gp)
Eight white pearls worth 100gp each (800gp)
200gp in gold
Total: 3000gp


And Yeo, here's general loot for Kouru. If he takes any of the specific items from the list in a previous comment, subtract an equivalent value from the list here.
A harp carved of exotic wood with ivory and coral inlay (900gp)
15 pieces of quartz in a variety of colors, worth 50gp each (750gp)
2 pieces of amber worth 100gp each (200gp)
A silver chalice with moonstone gems (150gp)
A masterwork dagger with moss agate pommel. It is found with a matching leather sheath and thin belt, both with moss agate and silver-wire decorations (450gp)
550gp
total: 3000gp