The Campaign Builder's Guild

You could notice something was wrong right away. They moved a little strangely at first, as if their minds hadn't gotten used to that crooked, monstrous step. Sickly ooze and bloody discharge poured from their orifices, and you didn't want to get too close - if you got it in your eyes or mouth or a wound, you'd become one - just like in the movies. They got into our homes and trapped many of us, infecting them with their bites before moving on to the next living person. This close to the border people thought we'd be safe, that the outbreak wouldn't make it here - but they were wrong. It hit the quiet little town sometime late in the night, and by morning hundreds were dead, some were fleeing aimlessly with terror in their vehicles, only to run into more of the infected, meet roadblocks or simply crash in hysteria. Now the town is quieter, except for the occasional scream of a new victim, or the odd moans and snarls the infected let out, amplified by the buildings nearby. There are posses forming briefly at times, and undoubtedly there are survivors closer to the border or in the hills eastward.

It doesn't look like there's help coming. The food is running out; there are houses stashed full by old couples and the paranoid, and the grocery stores have likely not been emptied yet, but it is hard to get to them. Safe places are hard to find - but luckily there are homes and shelters with ready supplies to be fortified and lived in. We don't know if there's help coming. The group will have to try and relocate soon. They're getting closer. Some idiots off closer to the border fired a few rounds, it carried down to the river and now half the town's infected are in the hills. We need to find a safer place - and guns. Someone nearby has to have some rifles or handguns...

The Outbreak

So for the next weekly game, I decided we'd do a zombie outbreak. This'll be a loose game about survival (by getting to a few different prime locations and gathering important tools/resources). For such a game, I have chosen to use the nWoD core rules; if you're interested in playing (and I hope you are :D), stat up an ordinary human being between the ages of 18-35, who can come from a brief background that shouldn't include more than hometown, current place of living, occupation and a physical description. You can list pretty much any occupation you want, including military - but don't choose any ranks higher than Captain (Army) or equivalent for any occupation with such a system. The area will be rural, and I will be running under the assumption your characters were all traveling in Canada, near the US border, unless you want to play a local.

If you are not familiar with the system, hop on the IRC channel sometime between now and then or send me a PM and I'll help you build a character. :)


---

To avoid making a new thread each time I'm just going to rename the thread title each time a new game idea has been announced. This should be the only thread I ever post called "The Weekly Game" so it hopefully won't get too confusing.

What time of day is it going to be?

What's the premise of the game? What will the PCs be doing?

Quote from: Ghostman
What time of day is it going to be?

What's the premise of the game? What will the PCs be doing?

Probably wouldn't start earlier than 6pm Eastern, although I haven't set an exact time yet. As it's a one-shot I want to keep it fairly simple but the premise is that, as either a knight on a mission, simple traveller or native of the forest country you've found yourself drawn into some mysterious circumstances. The Countess of Viln who presides over that region of Aath (the one you're in) is offering a hefty sum for mercenaries who are willing to investigate the disappearances. The presence of some military orders is noticed as some Knights of Gilbany and Knights of Wodigan are in the area and many of them have taken up personal oaths to the Countess until the problems are no more. Some think the disappearance is at the hand of monsters in the woods or perhaps a covenant of sorcerers and that's likely what the game will end up focusing on.

The region itself lends itself somewhat well to the classic "you meet in a tavern" starting scenario (but the group may be brought together in other ways) as there are a lot of lone inns and hamlets along the road where a group might converge before beginning their mission. There's also lots of room to be a native of Aath if you'd like. Spellcasters are not banned but there are some you may meet in the game that will be less friendly to sorcery (Aath is known for its legends of witches in the forest).

Looks like it'll be too late for me to join then :/

I would like to join.

Quote from: The Horse(Aath is known for its legends of witches in the forest).

I plan on lending these legends some credibility with my character!
I haven't totally decided but I'm looking at a Druid, Sorcerer, or of course an actual Witch the most strongly. If any of those would work better (or worse) with your planned game, let me know.

Quote from: sparkletwist
I would like to join.

Quote from: The Horse(Aath is known for its legends of witches in the forest).

I plan on lending these legends some credibility with my character!
I haven't totally decided but I'm looking at a Druid, Sorcerer, or of course an actual Witch the most strongly. If any of those would work better (or worse) with your planned game, let me know.

All of those are fine; it just depends really which flavor you like better. You can take pretty much whatever bloodline you'd like (even though human is the only available race), just keep in mind that orc bloodline or oni bloodline and a couple of others such as rakshasa may be reallocated. Common witch patrons in the area are Ancestors, Animals, Enchantment, Healing, Portents, Spirits and Stars.

Quote from: Ghostman
Looks like it'll be too late for me to join then :/

That sucks. I'll let you know if it ends up moving to an earlier slot or anything.

Just realized I didn't have a link to the setting in this thread yet. Added it to first post.

Lisette

[ic=Elemental Fury]
Lisette would tell people that she grew up in a fairy tale castle. In a way, that's true, because she did-- at least, the long-abandoned ruins of one, partially reclaimed by the forest, around which her small hometown was founded. Life was rather bland in the village, and her family really only wanted to see her married off to the crude and fat blacksmith's crude and fat son. The tomboyish Lisette preferred not thinking of such matters, and instead adventuring in the castle ruins and the surrounding woods.

One day, hidden behind a stone that had come loose, she found badly decayed rusty key. She managed to charm the town's locksmith into making a copy; with this copy in hand, she managed to unlock a rusty grate deep within a forgotten portion of the castle ruins. Bravely, she ventured into the darkened subterrane. The area had not been touched for many years, and was blocked off with rocks and overgrown with various plants. This would be expected, of course, but perhaps not to this degree. Still, the curious Lisette made her way through the twisting, narrow passages, her petite body able to fit areas where a more stout adventurer could not.

Deep within the lower ruins, she came upon a powerful source of pure Earth elemental power. She tried to escape, but she was inexorably drawn in, and its power merged with her. She lost consciousness. When she awoke, she was changed. She felt a primal elemental fury within her. Her hair had changed to an odd shade of green, her eyes to a vibrant deep red. Strange coloration also appeared elsewhere on her face and body. When she emerged from the lower ruins, she ran into some of the villagers that had been sent to look for her. They tried to take her home, but life was not the same. She was still vivacious, but her mind seemed elsewhere much of the time. Strange, dark thoughts often gripped her, especially in the dark of night. Truthfully, the villagers were quite wary of her in her changed state.

One night, she simply got up and left. Perhaps it was the explorer in her wanting to set out again. Perhaps it was because she knew this place was no longer home. Perhaps it was because she wanted to find some answers about the strange powers she was now manifesting, yet could not control.

The only people from her homeland to have seen her since and report back were a pair of brigands, and they were too traumatized by the encounter to say much of note.
[/ic]

Human Sorcerer (Wildblooded) 1

STR 8 -1
DEX 14 +2
CON 13 +1
INT 12 +1
WIS 10 +0
CHA 20 +5

Max HP: 8

BAB +0
AC 13 (+2 dexterity, +1 destiny)

Init +2
CMB -1
CMD 11

FORT +3
REF +3
WILL +3

Speed: 30ft.
Carrying capacity: 26/27-52/53-80

Skills (5 points):
Intimidate 9 (1 + cha 5 + class)
Linguistics 5 (1 + int 1 + class)
Perception 4 (1 + wis 0 + class)
Spellcraft 5 (1 + int 1 + class)
Use Magic Device 9 (1 + cha 5 + class)

Caste: Shepherd (+1 to fort save)
Lineage: Destiny (+1 AC, +1 to saves)

Class Features:
Primal (Earth) Bloodline
- All spells dealing Earth/Acid damage do +1 damage
- Acid Ranged Touch attack 8x day (+3, d6+2)
Eschew Materials

Feats:
Point Blank Shot (+1 attack and damage to ranged spells at less than 30')
Spell Focus: Illusion

Spells Per Day: Cantrips, 5x level 1
Spells Known:
(0) Detect Magic, Ghost Sound, Haunted Fey Aspect, Prestidigitation
(1) Color Spray, Silent Image

Equipment:
Basic supplies, nothing really

Languages: West Hawlian, Kalcarian, Ghosmian

[spoiler=Flavorful Modifications]
Acid Attack
As written, it's some kind of ray. Lisette spits something nasty at you instead.
[/spoiler]

Bam! Prep's looking good so far. I'll be posting a map of the area soon.

Anyone else interested in playing? There's still room.

Jack

[ic=They never see it coming...]
Jack is a short, lean man. Though perhaps boy would better fit his features. His round face and lithe body don't exactly speak to his age nor claims of descent from long dead knights of old. His nimble fingers, protruding from fingerless gloves, ever fidgeting with blade or whatever else he has on hand. His black hair is trimmed very short, revealing cold eyes and a near-emotionless demeanor. When those eyes show anything it is most often the look of a predator sizing up its target. He does not seem overly attached to any particular dress style though most often he adorns himself in the plain leather and fur typical of most sell-swords, carrying little else beyond his long dagger and a few odds and ends he imagines useful.

Jack is not the most forthcoming person when it comes to his past and will admit little. What little he does reveal only begs even more questions about his past. A dead parent, claims of nobility, some unscrupulous people looking for him, and a deep desire to see said scum face down in the gutter and his inheritance back in his hands. On the other hand Jack is quite forward about his present situation. As a sword for hire specializing in some of the more subtle and nefarious aspects of blood shed he could almost be said to take pride in his work. While he would never take the credit for any job done he assures you that he is well versed in the arts of poison and hidden blade. Of course this all seems suspect. Jack seems awfully short and scrawny to be the son of some noble and little to show saying otherwise. Furthermore his young features and lanky body don't lend themselves to the idea of a cold blooded killer. Indeed you would almost take him for some stripling runt if not for the cold fire in his eyes and that sure way his hand grasps his dagger. What, you might wonder, have those eyes seen?
[/ic]

Human Assassin (Ninja) 1

STR: 10 (+0)
DEX: 16 (+3)
CON: 12 (+1)
WIS: 12 (+1)
INT: 11 (+0)
CHA: 18 (+4)

Hitpoints: 9

BAB +0
AC 15 (+3 dexterity, +2 armor)

Attack:
Sica Dagger +3 (1d6) 18-20/x2 [Deadly: +4 to DC on Coup de Grace]
Shortbow +3 (1d6) 20/x3 [Ranged: 60ft]

Init: +8
CMB: 0
CMD: 13

Will: +1
Ref: +5
Fort: +1

Speed: 30ft.
Carrying capacity: 33/34-66/67-100

Skills (9 points):
Acrobatics: +7 (1+class+dex)
Bluff: +8 (1+class+cha)
Disguise: +8 (1+class+cha)
Escape Artist: +7 (1+class+dex)
Heal: +3 (lineage+wis)
Know (Noble): +4 (1+class+int)
Perception: +5 (1+class+wis)
Sense Motive: +5 (1+class+wis)
Sleight of Hand: +7 (1+class+dex)
Stealth: +7 (1+class+dex)

Caste: Warrior King (+1 to init, +1 to hit vs foes with lower init)
Lineage: Veins of Silver (Count as Native Outsider, +2 to heal checks, darkvision 60ft)

Class Features:
Sneak Attack (1d6)
Poison Use

Feats:
Improved Initiative
Weapon Finesse

Languages:
Ghosmian

Money:	26gp
Backpack	2 lbs
Explorer's Outfit	8 lbs (worn)
Leather Armor	15 lbs (worn)
Sica Dagger	2 lbs
Shortbow	2 lbs
Grappling Arrow	1/2 lb
Arrows x20	3 lbs
Silk Rope 50'	5 lbs
Waterskin	4 lbs
Flint and Steel	0 lbs
Paper Candle Firework x5	0 lbs
Small Steel Mirror	1/2 lb
Holy Symbol/Charm Necklace	0 lbs
Total Weight	39 lbs

Dorrel

[ic=Forest Guide]Dorrel is a lean, athletic looking man with dark brown hair and chestnut eyes.  He wears a guardsman's raiment with an outdoorsman's edge - a studded leather jack, mud-stained boots, a leather cloak, and a kettle hat with a band of dark green cloth around it and a sprig of pine set jauntily in the headband.

Dorrel was a watchman, born of a long line of watchmen who kept their village safe for generations.  Outside the village's palisade, however, was another story; travelers both common and high-born regularly vanished in the dark woods of Aath, prey to bandits or things even worse.  Keen on getting a bit of extra money, Dorrel hired himself out to travelers as a guard whenever he was free, escorting settlers, peddlers, merchants, and even the occasional nobleman to nearby towns for a modest fee.

Dorrel soon found that he felt more at home outside his town's walls than within them.  The woods that his friends found eerie and menacing were exciting to him.  The forest was like a tantalizing mystery, with every new path and hidden clearing he discovered unraveling a small part of it.  The forest was full of secrets and surprises, unlike the dreary routine of village life.

No, life on the road was nothing like village life.  He could meet new and interesting people, and they would respect him like people never respected a simple watchman.  Even a nobleman appreciated a lad who knew the quickest path to where he needed to go, how to spot a bandit ambuscade, which herbs could put a little vigor back into an old horse, and how to stick a wild boar from twenty paces.  It took a few years to learn these things and involved not a few brushes with danger, but it was a life of discovery that he enjoyed.

Dorrel stayed in his village until his father died; he felt it would have hurt the old man's feelings to leave the family business while he lived.  After the funeral, however, he packed up his bags, paid the guard for the price of his equipment, and left his old village for good to live as a guide-for-hire in the dark forests of Aath.[/ic]

Dorrel
Human Ranger (Guide/Skirmisher) 2
XP: 1000
Age 28

STR 14 (+2)
DEX 18 (+4)
CON 14 (+2)
INT 12 (+1)
WIS 13 (+1)
CHA 10 (+0)

Hit Points: 21

BAB +2
AC 19 (+4 Dex, +3 Armor, +2 Shield), AC 20 vs. crit confirm (helmet)

Melee Attacks:
Spear +6 (1d8+2) 20/x2
Handaxe +4 (1d6+2) 20/x3
Ranged Attacks:
Spear +8 (1d8+2) 20/x2 [Range 20 ft.] (+1 attack and damage within 30 ft.)

Init +4
CMB +4
CMD 18

Fort +5
Ref +7
Will +3

Speed: 30ft
Carrying capacity: 66/67-133/134-200

Skills (20 points):
Climb: +7 (2+class+Str)
Handle Animal: +5 (2+class+Cha)
Heal: +6 (2+class+Wis)
Knowledge (Geography): +6 (2+class+Int)
Knowledge (Nature): +6 (2+class+Int)
Perception: +6 (2+class+Wis) [+1 at night]
Stealth: +9 (2+class+Dex)
Sense Motive: +6 (2+class+Wis)
Survival: +6 (2+class+Wis) [+1 to track]
Swim: +7 (2+class+Str)

Caste: Watch (+1 to attacks with spears and polearms; +1 to Perception at night)
Lineage: Son of the Silver Lion (+2 Will, cannot become Shaken)

Class Features:
Ranger's Focus (+2 attack and damage vs. single target in line of sight as a swift action, 1/day)
Track (+1/2 Ranger level, minimum 1, to Survival checks for tracking)
Wild Empathy (1d20+2 [Ranger level + Cha modifier])

Feats:
Weapon Focus (Spear)
Quick Draw
Point Blank Shot
Precise Shot

Languages: West Hawlian, Ghosmian

Equipment (69 lbs)
Light Helmet
Studded Leather Armor 20lbs
Handaxe 3lbs
Torch Spear 4 lbs
Spear (4) 16 lbs
Shield, heavy wooden 10lbs
Masterwork backpack 4 lbs
Flint and Steel
Blanket 1 lb
Shovel 3 lbs
Torch (2) 2 lbs
Waterskin 4 lbs
Cooking Kit 2 lbs
Whistle, Signal

I think I'll join in the fun.

So you have a Sorcerer, a Ranger and a Rogue?

Quote from: Magnus Pym
I think I'll join in the fun.

So you have a Sorcerer, a Ranger and a Rogue?

And I think Xathan is playing a big buff smash things up fighter dude or something like that.

Map and legend are up. Also this is likely continuing past the single session due to lots of interest :P

I'm new to the boards and to the whole world of online IRC gaming, but I'd love to be involved if there's still room. I can't make this particular session (Friday the 24th) but if it turns into an ongoing thing then sign me up.