Posts
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Valeros the Fighter in Dungeon Fantasy
In this post I continue to write up the Pathfinder iconic characters for use in the Dungeon Fantasy Roleplaying Game. Links to all of them will appear in the project page, which also contains links to the GURPS Dungeon Fantasy versions.
Today’s template is the Knight, which means today’s character is Valeros the Fighter. Here he is:
By Wayne Reynolds, Copyright 2008 Paizo Publishing I’m kinda torn on Valeros, to be honest. His character design and bio are the blandest among all the Iconics I’ve seen, but his adaptation is very interesting mechanically. This is because the Knight template is the complete opposite of the d20 Fighter. It really is as good at fighting as advertised, which means its as valuable to the party as any wizard or cleric.
Anyway, from Valeros’ bio linked above and his official stats, we learn the following:
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Valeros is from the nation of Andoran, his world’s “18th century US” equivalent. He’s the typical farmboy who ran away from home and towards adventure.
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He wears medium armor and fights with paired swords. He likes making lots of attacks on vulnerable enemy locations. He has a bow as a backup for ranged combat.
There’s not much more to him. In the GURPS version we’ll give him paired broadswords because unlike d20 there’s no restriction on using them here. The Knight template didn’t change much between GURPS DF and the DFRPG, but there is one thing preventing me from just copying the original stats here: the DFRPG lacks the Dual-Weapon Attack technique, not even in the form of a simplified powerup. So here I replaced it with Ambidexterity and Sacrificial Parry, making him a bit worse at attacking multiple times per action but better at protecting his buddies.
If you have access to GURPS Dungeon Fantasy 11: Power-Ups, simply switch those two traits for the Two-Weapon Fighting (Broadsword) advantage, which would allow him to attack twice in a turn without penalties. His skills in this version are also slightly different, and once again the gear list uses the new armor table.
Valeros, 248-point Human Fighter
ST 16 {60}; DX 14 {80}; IQ 10 {0}; HT 13 {30}
Damage 1d+1/2d+2; BL 25,6kg; HP 16; Will 10; Per 10; FP 13; Basic Speed 6.75; Basic Move 6.
Dodge 9; Parry 14;
Advantages
- Born War Leader 2 {10}
- Combat Reflexes {15}
- High Pain Threshold {10}
- Weapon Master (Broadsword) {20}
- Ambidexterity {5}
- Sacrificial Parry {1}
Disadvantages
- Code of Honor (Outlaw’s) {-5}
- Compulsive Carousing (12) {-5}
- Lecherousness (12) {-15}
- Pacifism (Cannot Harm Innocents) {-10}
Skills
- Armory (Melee Weapons) (A) IQ {2} - 10
- Bow (A) DX+1 {4} - 15
- Brawling (E) DX+1 {2} - 15
- Broadsword (A) DX+6 {24} - 20
- Carousing (E) HT {1} - 13
- Climbing (A) DX-1 {1} - 13
- Connoisseur (Weapons) (A) IQ+2 {2}1 - 12
- Fast-Draw (Sword) (E) DX+1 {1}2 - 15
- Forced Entry (E) DX {1} - 14
- Knife (E) DX {1} - 14
- Leadership (A) IQ+2 {2}1 - 12
- Shield (E) DX+2 {4} - 16
- Stealth (A) DX-1 {1} - 13
- Strategy (H) IQ+1 {2}1 - 11
- Tactics (H) IQ+1 {2}1 - 11
- Wrestling (A) DX {2} - 14
Equipment
$2000.0, 31.48kg. Light encumbrance.
- Ordinary Clothing [Torso, Limbs]: Free, 1kg.
- Heavy Leather Armor Suit [Torso, Limbs, Head]: DR 2. $450, 18kg.
- Shoulder Quiver [Torso]: Holds 12 arrows. $10, 0.25kg.
- Arrows x12 [Quiver]: $24, 0.6kg.
- Regular Bow [Torso]: Damage 1d+2 imp; Range 240/320; $100, 1kg.
- Large Knife [Torso]: Damage 2d cut, Reach C-1; or 1d+1 imp, Reach C; $40, 0.5kg.
- 2 x Broadsword [Torso]: Damage 2d+7 cut or 1d+6 imp; Reach 1. $1200, 3kg.
- Backpack, Small [Torso]: Holds 20kg of gear. $60, 1.5kg.
- First Aid Kit [Backpack]: +1 to First Aid. $50, 1kg.
- Blanket [Backpack]: $20, 2kg.
- Rations x4 [Backpack]: $4, 1kg.
- Personal Basics [Backpack]: $5, 0.5kg.
- Waterskin [Backpack]: Holds 4L of liquid (4kg if water). $10, 0.13kg.
- Tankard [Backpack]: Holds 0.5L of liquid. $5, 0.25kg.
- Rope, 3/8” [Backpack]: Length: 10m. Supports 150kg. $5, 0.75kg.
- $17 in coin.
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Dungeon Fantasy RPG available in PDF!
I find myself struggling with minor writer’s block1, but while I deal with it you can rejoice with the fact that the Dungeon Fantasy RPG is finally available in PDF form!. At forty dollars it’s not exactly cheap, but it’s still considerably less expensive than the physical box and you don’t need to spend double its price on shipping if you live abroad!
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Writing Valeros is like eating a big lump of raw bread dough. It tastes super bland and takes forever to get out of your system. ↩
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My Review of Rick and Morty
This blog is supposed to be only about roleplaying games, but if I don’t get this out my mood will forever be ruined. In any case, please note that this article only represents my own opinion.
I’ve seen people rave about Rick and Morty for a while now, but until my brother decided to show it to me I had never actually watched it, save for the first minute or so of the pilot. The show’s fans, my brother included, always say it’s very smart and funny. Based on those first thirty seconds, I had the suspicion it would be “smart” and “funny” in the same way South Park and Family Guy were.
My brother showed me what he considers the most iconic episode of Rick and Morty, the one with the nested artificial universes. And based on that episode and on the others I watched that day I must say I was wrong. Rick and Morty is not as bad as South Park and Family Guy. It’s worse.
You see, when you watch this show you closely follow the antics of a sociopathic buffoon with the power to destroy the world. You see every horrible thing he does in lurid detail. And he always gets away with it, whatever “it” might be this episode. This is in turns horrifying and depressing. It’s too much like reading the news in real life. In short, it’s not funny.
But is it “smart”? Well, a lot of the show’s episodes use pretty nifty science fiction ideas as a starting point, and have Rick twist them into some sort of nightmare scenario. So yeah, this show is smart in the same way My Little Pony porn is cute. Both make me die a little inside.
And yes, I watched the Pickle Rick fight scene. It’s very well animated and coreographed, and its whole purpose seems to be making Rick look good. It’s the Fox News of fight scenes.
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Seelah the Paladin in Dungeon Fantasy
In this post I continue to write up the Pathfinder iconic characters for use in the Dungeon Fantasy Roleplaying Game. Links to all of them will appear in the project page, which also contains links to the GURPS Dungeon Fantasy versions.
Today’s template is the Holy Warrior, which means today’s character is Seelah the Paladin. Here she is:
By Wayne Reynolds, Copyright 2008 Paizo Publishing Cool, huh? She’s my second favorite design so far, losing only to Kyra (Lini is a close third). Her bio, however, is by far the best. It’s quite tragic, but seems to hit a good balance between “biblical” and “Arthurian”. Her official stats are here. From these we can learn the following:
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Seelah is a paladin of Iomedae the Inheritor, a Lawful Good deity of justice and protection. She wears heavy armor and fights with sword and shield, with a bow kept in reserve.
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She has the usual varied suite of paladin powers, the ones most emphasized are her fearlessness, her ability to smite evil, and her healing hands, in that order.
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While Seelah goes after all manner of evil foes, she fights fiends and evil dragons with particular fervor.
Given Iomedae’s description as the goddess of justice and valor, the Holy Warrior template fits her quite well. This Seelah has almost all of the abilities of a standard D&D Paladin. She lacks a “Lay on Hands” ability because its DFRPG equivalent, Faith Healing, is quite expensive. However, she’s still absolutely fearless, supernaturally resistant to disease, can channel divine might to enhance her strength, and is particularly adept at fighting demons.
Seelah, 248-point Holy Warrior
ST 13 {30}; DX 13 {60}; IQ 12 {40}; HT 13 {30}.
Damage 1d/2d-1; BL 16.9kg; HP 13; Will 14 {10}; Per 12; FP 13; Basic Speed 6.00 {-10}; Basic Move 6.
Dodge 7 (9); Parry (Broadsword) 11 (13); Block 11 (13).
Advantages
- Born War Leader 1 {5}
- Detect Evil {18}
- Enhanced Parry (Broadsword) 1 {5}
- Heroic Might 1 {9}
- Higher Purpose (Slay Demons) 1 {5}
- Holiness 2 {10}
- Resistant to Disease 3 {3}
- Rest in Pieces {1}
- Unfazeable {15}
Disadvantages
- Charitable (12) {-15}
- Compulsive Generosity (12) {-5}
- Honesty (12) {-10}
- Selfless (12) {-5}
- Sense of Duty (Adventuring Companions) {-5}
Skills
- Bow (A) DX+1 {4} - 14
- Brawling (E) DX+1 {2} - 14
- Broadsword (A) DX+3 {12} - 16
- Climbing (A) DX-1 {1} - 12
- Diplomacy (H) IQ {4} - 12
- Esoteric Medicine (Holy) (H) Per-2 {1} - 10
- Exorcism (H) Will {4} - 14
- Fast-Draw (Sword) (E) DX {1} - 13
- First Aid (E) IQ {1} - 12
- Hidden Lore (Demons) (A) IQ {2} - 12
- Intimidation (A) Will-1 {1} - 13
- Leadership (A) IQ {1}1 - 12
- Medidation (H) Will-2 {1} - 12
- Physiology (Demons) (H) IQ-1 {2} - 11
- Religious Ritual (H) IQ {1} - 10
- Riding (Horse) (A) DX-1 {1} - 12
- Shield (E) DX+3 {8} - 16
- Stealth (A) DX-1 {1} - 12
- Strategy (H) IQ {2}1 - 12
- Tactics (H) IQ {2}1 - 12
- Theology (H) IQ-2 {1} - 10
- Wrestling (A) DX+1 {4} - 14
Equipment
$1698, 40.78kg. Medium Encumbrance.
- Ordinary Clothing [Torso, Limbs]: Free, 1kg.
- Light Scale Armor [Torso]: DR 3/2. $336, 8.4kg
- Heavy Cloth Leggings [Legs]: DR 2. $112, 4.5kg.
- Heavy Cloth Sleeves [Arms]: DR 2. $75, 3kg.
- Heavy Leather Boots [Feet]: DR 2. $52, 2.1kg.
- Light Leather Gloves [Hands]: DR 1. $5, 0.3kg.
- Segmented Plate Helmet [Head]: DR 4. $225, 3kg.
- Shoulder Quiver [Torso]: Holds up to 12 arrows. $10, 0.25kg.
- Arrows x 12 [Quiver]: $24, 0.6kg.
- Medium Shield [Torso]: DB 2. $60, 7.5kg.
- Regular Bow [Torso]: Damage 1d+1 imp; Acc 2; Range 195/260. $100,
- Broadsword [Torso]: Damage 2d cut or 1d+2 imp; Reach 1. $600, 1,5kg.
- Backpack, Small [Torso]: Holds 20kg of gear. $60, 1.5kg.
- Blanket [Backpack]: $20, 2kg.
- Rations x4 [Backpack]: $4, 1kg.
- Personal Basics [Backpack]: $5, 0.5kg.
- Waterskin [Backpack]: Holds 4L of liquid (4kg if water). $10, 0.13kg.
- $302 in coin.
What Changed From Last Iteration
Seelah was almost the opposite of Lini, in that pretty much nothing changed point-wise between the GURPS Dungeon Fantasy and DFRPG versions. All the skills and abilities she has exist in the boxed set and work pretty much the same. The skills of this version are slightly different, but that was a personal decision rather than having to work around something that was missing from the books.
Her gear is the biggest change here, but even this was generally for the better. While her armor has a bit less DR than in the first version, the overall loadout is much lighter, leaving her at Medium Encumbrance instead of Heavy.
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Lini the Druid in Dungeon Fantasy
In this post I continue to write up the Pathfinder iconic characters for use in the Dungeon Fantasy Roleplaying Game. Links to all of them will appear in the project page, which also contains links to the GURPS Dungeon Fantasy versions. Also, I wish the names of the two versions were a bit less similar.
Today’s the template is the Druid, which means today’s subject is Lini. Here she is:
By Wayne Reynolds, Copyright 2008 Paizo Publishing You can find her full bio here, and her original Pathfinder stats here. From looking at these, we see the following:
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Lini is a Golarion gnome, which is different from the Dungeon Fantasy gnome.
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She is a druid and hails from the Land of the Linnorm Kings, home of the Not-Vikings. She was always good with animals, and left the place shortly after meeting her snow leopard animal companion.
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She wields a sickle and a sling, but prefers to send her animal companion to fight for her. Her magic is more or less even mix of terrain-affecting, support and attack spells. She is also described as having a knack for handling animals, particularly large mammals.
Lini is the first character that presents us with some real difficulties in adaptation. Not because of her “exotic” race, since I’ve statted that one up in its own article, but because the DFRPG boxed set doesn’t have rules for animal companions! In fact, it doesn’t even have the Ally advantage, which they’re based on.
This lines up with their goals of presenting a “streamlined” set of rules, since Allies can bring a surprising amount of complexity to a game. They’re the only NPCs whose points you have to keep track of, and you need to remember to give them points in the correct ratio to keep them at the same percentage as the PC. Still, their lack prevents us from being truly faithful to Lini’s Pathfinder version.
This is what she ended up like:
Lini, 250-point Fey Gnome Druid.
ST 8 {-20}1; DX 12 {40}; IQ 15 {100}1; HT 13 {30}1
Damage 1d-3/1d-2; BL 6.4kg; HP 9 {2} 1; Will 16 {5}; Per 16 {5}; FP 13; Basic Speed 6.00 {-5}; Basic Move 5 {-5}1.
SM -2; Dodge 9; Parry 10 (Sickle).
Advantages
- Animal Empathy {5}
- Gnome Magic (Light Jet, Sound and Apportation) {3}1
- Green Thumb 1 {5}
- Magery 0 {5}1
- Night Vision 5 {5}1
- Power Investiture (Druidic) 4 {40}
- Resistant to Disease 2 {2}
- Speak with Animals {23}
Disadvantages
- Chummy {-5}
- Curious (12) {-5}
- Impulsiveness (12) {-10}1
- Odious Personal Habit (“Dirty Hippy”) {-5}
- Sense of Duty (Adventuring Companions) {-5}
- Vow (Never Sleep Indoors) {-10}
- Weirdness Magnet {-15}
Skills
- Animal Handling (Big Cats) (A) IQ-1 {1} - 14
- Axe/Mace (A) DX+2 {8} - 14
- Camouflage (E) IQ {1} - 15
- Climbing (A) DX {2} - 12
- Diagnosis (H) IQ-2 {1} - 13
- Disguise (Animals) (A) IQ-1 {1} - 14
- Esoteric Medicine (Druidic) (H) Per {4} - 16
- Herb Lore (VH) IQ {4}2 - 15
- Hidden Lore (Faeries) (A) IQ-1 {1} - 14
- Hidden Lore (Nature Spirits) (A) IQ-1 {1} - 14
- Hiking (A) HT-1 {1} - 12
- Innate Attack (Projectile) (E) DX+2 {4} - 14
- Mimicry (Animal Sounds) (H) IQ-2 {1} - 13
- Naturalist (H) IQ {2}2 - 15
- Observation (A) Per-1 {1} - 15
- Pharmacy (H) IQ-1 {1}2 - 14
- Religious Ritual (Druidic) (H) IQ-2 {1} - 13
- Shield (E) DX+2 {4} - 14
- Stealth (A) DX {2} - 12
- Survival (Forest) (A) Per-1 {1} - 15
- Theology (Druidic) (H) IQ-2 {1} - 13
- Veterinary (H) IQ-2 {1} - 13
- Weather Sense (A) IQ-1 {1} - 14
Spells
All have +4 from Power Investiture.
- Air:
- Lightning (H) IQ+2 {1} - 17
- Resist Lighning (H) IQ+2 {1} - 17
- Animal:
- Beast-Soother (H) IQ+2 {1} - 17
- Beast-Rouser (H) IQ+2 {1} - 17
- Beast Link (H) IQ+2 {1} - 17
- Mammal Control (H) IQ+2 {1} - 17
- Master (H) IQ+2 {1} - 17
- Protect Animal (H) IQ+2 {1} - 17
- Fire:
- Resist Cold (H) IQ+2 {1} - 17
- Food:
- Seek Food (H) IQ+2 {1} - 17
- Healing:
- Cure Disease (H) IQ+2 {1} - 17
- Instant Neutralize Poison (VH) IQ+2 {1} - 16
- Recover Energy (H) IQ+2 {1} - 17
- Knowledge:
- Pathfinder (H) IQ+2 {1} - 17
- Plant:
- Create Plant (H) IQ+2 {1} - 17
- Shape Plant (H) IQ+2 {1} - 17
- Tangle Growth (H) IQ+2 {1} - 17
- Walk Through Plants (H) IQ+2 {1} - 17
- Water:
- Frostbite (H) IQ+2 {1} - 17
- Hail (H) IQ+2 {1} - 17
Equipment
$225.0, 9.28kg. Light Encumbrance.
- Ordinary Clothes [Torso, Limbs]: Free, 1kg.
- Sickle [Torso]: Damage 1d-2 cut or imp, Reach 1. May get stuck if doing impaling damage. $40, 1kg.
- Sling [Torso]: Damage 1d-2 pi, Acc 0, Range 48/80. $20, 0.25kg.
- Small Pouch [Torso]: Holds 1.5kg. $10, 0.1kg.
- 10 x Sling Bullets [Pouch]: $1, 0.3kg.
- Backpack, Small [Torso]: Holds 20kg of gear. $60, 3kg.
- 2 x Glow Vial [Backpack]: Sheds light in a 2m radius for 12 hours. $60, 0.5kg.
- Wineskin [Backpack]: Holds 4L of liquid. $10, 0.13kg.
- Blanket [Backpack]: $20, 2kg.
- 2 x Rations [Backpack]: $4, 1kg.
- $775 in coin.
Design Notes and What Changed
This version of Lini lacks her snow leopard animal companion, as there are no rules for them in the boxed set. She has the Speak with Animals power instead.
If you have access to the full GURPS rules and to GURPS Dungeon Fantasy 5: Allies, then you can replace the Speak with Animals power with a 18-point Panther natural ally, 1 point in the Beast-Speech spell, and another 4 elsewhere.
If you don’t, a rough approximation is to use the Lion from DF: Monsters. It would cost 12 points to have that beast always be by your side, and it would gain 1 character point to improve itself for every 2 points you gained. Buying it would again involve replacing the Speak with Animals power and redistributing the left-over points as above.
Aside from that, the other big change is once again her gear, which is costlier and heavier. Though her weapons do a bit more damage, Lini is still better off using spells or talking animals into fighting for her.
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