[Closed] Chronicles of Averancia (ACKS: HFH)

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Sep 8, 2024 2:34 pm
Avraham says:
Shadowknight says:
Nice rolls. You got an 18! Miracle of miracles... So you could, if you wanted to, be a Chosen. It's one of the rarer classes in the game with the ability to be just about anything you wanted with it. Of course, very few Chosen are neutral in alignment, they usually choose to champion either Law or Chaos, so if you want to stick to something morally neutral (like a Freebooter) that works too.
I am tempted due to the 18. If you don't mind, I'd like to think about it over the weekend (and read the rule books more closely). I'll get back to you Saturday Night/Sunday Morning if that's OK.
[statistician]Given the possibility of rolling a chosen, even under heroic, is less than 5.6%*, I think the dice gods require me to pick it.[/statistician] Given this is my first experience with ACKS, I'm going to ask for your help in running it.
[ +- ] *
The way I understand the Chosen is that it starts as a somewhat weaker fighter with the ability to add powers from across the class spectrum. Also, the chosen need not choose the gifts right away, correct? This would allow the character to "develop" as the adventure progresses. So, for the time being, especially as I am new to ACKS, I figure I should start simple and put the highest attributes in STR/CON/DEX. Does that make sense? @Shadowknight and @Lash especially, you both have ACKS experience. May I ask for your guidance and advice, please?
Sep 8, 2024 3:42 pm
Chosen Schematics

1. You start with 3 gifts and gain an additional gift at each additional level. So a max level Chosen (14) would have 16 gifts.
2. Other than that small correction, what you want to do with the character is what determines everything else.
a. You could be a thief-type character.
b. You could be a ceremonial caster. (Roll to Cast)
c. You could be an eldritch caster. (Spellslots)
d. You could focus entirely on combat, but you would need to specify what type.
e. You could be some combination of two or three of these.

Whatever inkling you got when you first decided to become a Chosen, follow that inkling in the imagination and see where it takes you. (Feel free to share if you want, as this can let me know what inspiration you are moving forward with.) If you see yourself as a warrior type, definitely put the highest ability score in Str, Con, or Dex. If you see yourself as a Caster or some supernaturally fated being, put it into Int or Wis. If you see yourself as a war leader, put it into Cha. If you like, I can put together some examples based on your preferred play style.
Last edited September 8, 2024 3:46 pm
Sep 9, 2024 3:51 am
OK. Thanks.

I'd need to know a bit more about the deities, but the character (Human Male Chosen) Ængus/Angus de na Tréada was born to a family of herdsmen who had tended flocks since time immemorial (thus his surname). Young Ængus followed in the family footsteps, and as a lad of nineteen was as far from nobility, politics, or even adventure as possible. Content with watching the flocks, he led a simple, pastoral life with few cares.

Until the day he received a vision/epiphany. While the exact details are hazy to him (allowing for future gifts or missions to be "revealed"), [Deity to be determined] appeared and lamented the ever-growing dangers to Averancia, and stating that there would be a group of "heroes" who would be charged with restoring Truth, Justice, and Prosperity to the Duchy. As such, [Deity to be determined] placed their hands on Ængus's head and proclaimed them "chosen" for this mission, and no other.

Ængus went straight home, kissed his father and mother, and headed in the direction of Averancia as directed by [Deity to be determined] .

Attributes
AttributeValueMod
STR183
INT90
WIS90
DEX151
CON162
CHA131


I'll fill out the rest in some form of character sheet, if that's acceptable, @Shadowknight.
Sep 9, 2024 4:17 am
You can feel free to come up with a deity as I don't really have the whole world information set in stone yet. The Church of Elion is perhaps the most influential among the humans who worship the Holy Father Elion as the Creator of the World. The Elves have two primary deities, associated with the Sun and the Moon and a few lesser deities associated with the stars, which have fairly difficult names to pronounce for humans: Fair approximations that are accepted would be: Sulrora, Elunara, and Luthariel as one of the primary star deities. Some associated with more sylvan beliefs worship the deity Tivarus, but nearly everyone who does so views Tivarus as something different. The Nobirans were descended from deities that departed the world completely but are presumed to still be "watching" the world as their children take up the mantle that they left behind. Dwarves worship the Stone and have rarely attempted to anthropomorphize the pure essence of rock and earth. Thrassians have a few serpent and/or draconic deities, most of which are fairly Chaotic. Zaharans worship demons, some of which have significant names that are recognized across the Zaharan Dominion.

It looks like you're going for a militant build for your Chosen, so I'll put together a few examples of what that might look like, and you can maybe bring something up from there. It's also possible that you were Chosen by one of the messengers of Elion who appear as powerful angelic beings.

Examples to Follow.
Sep 9, 2024 4:42 am
Chosen Examples for Militant Build (not including Proficiencies)
[ +- ] Build One
[ +- ] Build Two
[ +- ] Build Three
[ +- ] Build Four
If you are going for a militant build, I would choose a build that provides both Defensive and Offensive abilities, giving the shepherd the skill and ability to win against monstrous foes.
Last edited September 9, 2024 4:44 am
Sep 9, 2024 4:45 am
Thanks, that helps a lot.

Will you be using Fate points, and if so, how are you allocating the initial pool?
Sep 9, 2024 4:53 am
We will be using Fate points. PCs get fate points equal to 4 plus Wisdom modifier. All of the rules for Fate Points from the HFH are in play. And we will be looking at the rules next once Recruitment is complete, just to make sure they make sense to everyone.
Sep 9, 2024 5:29 am
Great. Rolling for initial HP and starting gold.

Rolls

Initial HP - (1d6)

(3) = 3

Starting Gold - (3d6)

(362) = 11

Sep 9, 2024 6:08 am
@Shadowknight, correct me if I am wrong, but my reading of the rules implies that ranged weapons use the DEX bonus on the attack throw, but still use the STR bonus on the damage roll (compare page 103 with 104). That's how I'm coding the sheet for now.
Sep 9, 2024 6:27 am
Also, can my character have a dog (makes sense that a shepherd has a sheep dog) 10gp hunting dog, I reckon?
Sep 9, 2024 6:49 am
Here is what I have so far. Loosely based on @Lash sheet, but has a bunch of calculations which may be helpful and others which are Chosen-specific but can be modified for other classes. I still need to generate a character portrait and maybe flesh out the equipment a bit. This is what it looks like fleshed out. Thanks!
[ +- ] ACKS Chosen
Last edited September 9, 2024 2:51 pm
Sep 9, 2024 7:12 am
How does the revised saving throws translate from ACKS? ACKS breaks savings throws into five separate groups. Each class has different strengths and weaknesses across the different saving throw groups.

Petrification & Paralysis
Poison & Death
Blast & Breath
Staffs & Wands
Spells

Slumber spell is a Petrification & Paralysis save, while Ensorcellement spell is a save versus Spells. Both have very similar effects and might translate to Will saves in the revised system for this game, removing the saving throw distinction between the two spells. Or maybe it's that P&P saves are Fort saves in the revised system?

I've been reading through the Heroic Fantasy Handbook, digesting the ceremonial magic. I've got a picture in my mind now of what spells I think I want and will be fleshing out proficiencies, equipment, and the rest.
Last edited September 9, 2024 8:09 am
Sep 9, 2024 11:44 am
Blast and Breath is obviously a Reflex save. Petrification, Paralysis, Poison, Death are Fortitude saves, Staves and Wands will be based on their effect (so something that creates a fireball-effect would be a Reflex save; if its a mental effect would be a Will save, and if its some other bodily effectw ould be a Fortitude save). Spells are the same way.
Sep 9, 2024 1:56 pm
Avraham says:
@Shadowknight, correct me if I am wrong, but my reading of the rules implies that ranged weapons use the DEX bonus on the attack throw, but still use the STR bonus on the damage roll (compare page 103 with 104). That's how I'm coding the sheet for now.
This is what happens when there aren't enough editors for large documents, lol. I believe (if I am interpreting the rules correctly), that the Strength modifier for damage is intended only for melee and thrown weapons, not slings or arrows, except those fired from composite bows. I feel like the description of Attack damage is a little bit too generic and ranged damage was not specifically excluded from the Strength modifier when it should have been in the rules. (see Strength entry, p 17) That being said, I'm almost certain a composite bow is supposed to allow the Strength modifier for damage (though it is not explicitly stated anywhere in the rules; this is something that was cleared up a little in the 2nd edition, which is still in development).

However, I also feel like a sling could be used in a more forceful (and thus damaging) manner by a physically strong adventurer. Unlike a bow or crossbow where the strength of the attack is built into the recurve and coil. So for anyone using a sling as a ranged weapon, I would allow Strength modifier to damage for ranged attacks made at short range.
Sep 9, 2024 2:01 pm
Avraham says:
Also, can my character have a dog (makes sense that a shepherd has a sheep dog) 10gp hunting dog, I reckon?
That should be fine, but it won't be as ferocious as Rafn's wolf Silver, and will almost certainly require morale checks if seriously injured.
Last edited September 9, 2024 2:03 pm
Sep 9, 2024 2:55 pm
Shadowknight says:
So for anyone using a sling as a ranged weapon, I would allow Strength modifier to damage for ranged attacks made at short range.
Thank you; built into sheet.
Shadowknight says:
Avraham says:
Also, can my character have a dog (makes sense that a shepherd has a sheep dog) 10gp hunting dog, I reckon?
That should be fine, but it won't be as ferocious as Rafn's wolf Silver, and will almost certainly require morale checks if seriously injured.
Of course. The dog is not meant as an attack dog in the slightest, more something that a simple herdsman would have as a companion on his divine path. He never had many friends so having someone who loves him helps him and reminds him of what is truly important. Also allows opportunities for roleplaying the Animal Husbandry skill (which any shepherd should have) ore naturally. If roleplay permits, maybe I'll use the tracking feature, but I'd play the dog to be sent away from combat unless perhaps Ængus is grievously wounded. Obviously, GM can "assume control" of the dog at any time. BTW, art updated so the character is ready for review. Thank you for all your suggestions!!
Sep 9, 2024 4:19 pm
Okay, that should be our Four Characters, once everyone is done creating/stocking/enspelling them:


Aundovald
The Nobiran Champion

https://i.imgur.com/90QNsTx.png

Rafn
The Beastmaster
& Silver

https://i.imgur.com/wU3MBEm.png

"The Count of Monte Cristo"
The Occultist

https://i.imgur.com/gSqRZBZ.png

Aengus
The Chosen of Elion

https://i.imgur.com/wDRlUWc.png


Or how I would imagine they might look like if they were in a pixel rpg game anyway. I'm not saying these are what the characters look like, just trying to get a feeling for the flair.
Last edited September 10, 2024 4:49 am
Sep 9, 2024 4:28 pm
Once you have a character profile set up, go ahead and submit them to the game. :) I have posted some things in the game's forums about world building as well. (I do need to add that information about the deities.) I'm not sure if I need to accept your characters in the game for you to have access to the forums, as I am still figuring out Gamers Plane.
Sep 9, 2024 4:43 pm
Shadowknight says:
Once you have a character profile set up, go ahead and submit them to the game. :) I have posted some things in the game's forums about world building as well. (I do need to add that information about the deities.) I'm not sure if I need to accept your characters in the game for you to have access to the forums, as I am still figuring out Gamers Plane.
Don't we need an invitation first?😊
Sep 9, 2024 5:25 pm
Avraham says:
Shadowknight says:
Once you have a character profile set up, go ahead and submit them to the game. :) I have posted some things in the game's forums about world building as well. (I do need to add that information about the deities.) I'm not sure if I need to accept your characters in the game for you to have access to the forums, as I am still figuring out Gamers Plane.
Don't we need an invitation first?😊
That would make sense, wouldn't it. :D Finally figured it out.
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