Character Generation

[jemmus]

I rolled those correctly, so I'll stay with the rolls and post the revised final scores. Moving two of them around to preferred attributes, as I think you said.

[Marullus]

That could make a decent Gakusho. ALT is Alertness (perception). If you took this one as a Gakusho, I'd swap INT and DEX unless you really didn't want to be not-book smart (a big thing I haven't figured out yet is how non-combat skills work, I've never been really satisfied with them in Cold Iron), that low DEX would mean you wouldn't dodge so well... Optimizing for most effective caster would probably swap WIS and WIL.

...I'll do that and be a Gakusho, swapping INT/DEX. I won't swap more as I want to be true to the rolls, if possible, and embrace the OSR nature of an imperfect character. (If we can swap until optimized, we should really just have a point-buy.)

STR 12/17
DEX 9/14
CON 8/13
INT 5/9
WIS 11/16
WIL 16/21
CHA 9/14
ALT 15/17

Size: 15
MP: 26

...then what?

[ffilz]

[4d6k3]=15[4d6k3]=14[4d6k3]=10[4d6k3]=9[4d6k3]=11[4d6k3]=14[4d6k3]=15[4d6k3]=12
Does this look right? I'm new to this macro.

OK, so

STR 15+6=21
DEX 14+5=19
CON 10+3=13
INT 9+6=15
WIS 11+3=14
WIL 14+2=16
CHA 15+1=16
ALT 12+6=18

That's pretty good. For a Bushi, I'd amost take it as is, maybe trade WIS and CON or WIL and CON.

EDIT to add Experience and Augment (increasing attributes towards potential) suggestions.

I'd go with FL 3, EL 3 (and you get PML 1 for free, or it's 2 for 2000, 3 for 4000, but unless you want to trade skill off for magic saves, I'd stick with PML 1). Start with STR 21, then +2 to DEX (DEX is more important than CON). With Expertise Level 3, you could add 2 to INT, WIS, CHA, or ALT.

[ffilz]

That could make a decent Gakusho. ALT is Alertness (perception). If you took this one as a Gakusho, I'd swap INT and DEX unless you really didn't want to be not-book smart (a big thing I haven't figured out yet is how non-combat skills work, I've never been really satisfied with them in Cold Iron), that low DEX would mean you wouldn't dodge so well... Optimizing for most effective caster would probably swap WIS and WIL.

...I'll do that and be a Gakusho, swapping INT/DEX. I won't swap more as I want to be true to the rolls, if possible, and embrace the OSR nature of an imperfect character. (If we can swap until optimized, we should really just have a point-buy.)

STR 12/17
DEX 9/14
CON 8/13
INT 5/9
WIS 11/16
WIL 16/21
CHA 9/14
ALT 15/17

Size: 15
MP: 26

...then what?

Now you have 8000 XP to divide among levels.

Fighter Level: 1 0 XP, 2 2000 XP, 3 4000 XP, 4 8000 XP
Cleric (Gakusho) Level: 1 2000 XP, 2 4000 XP, 3 8000 XP
Expertise Level: 1 0 XP, 2 2000 XP, 3 4000 XP, 4 8000 XP

If you want some non-combat skills you should definitely take Expertise Level > 1st. If you want to be a bit of a fighter, take Fighter Level >1st. You could do 2nd level across the board, or FL 1, CL 2, EL 3 or FL 1, CL 3, EL 1, or FL 3, CL 2, EL 1.

You get to raise one attribute to potential OR spread 5 points (unless you have a well placed 5 or 6 potential of course spread 5...). For each Fighter Level > 1 you get to use one more point towards potential of STR, DEX, or CON. For each Cleric Level > 1, 1 point towards WIS, WIL, or +1 MP. For each Expertise Level > 1, you can put one point towards CHA or ALT (or INT).

If you want to be strongest as a Gakusho, I'd take WIS 16 to start, then increase WIL with your Cleric Levels. If you take FL 2, I'd toss the point at DEX to get rid of the penalty.

[ffilz]

And this evening I need to do some work on what Gakusho will be like... Buddhist or Shinto?

[Marullus]

Okay...

Cleric 2, Expertise 1, Fighter 1

STR 12/17
DEX 10/14
CON 8/13
INT 5/9
WIS 16/16
WIL 16/21
CHA 10/14
ALT 15/17

Size: 15
MP: 26

[ffilz]

You can look over the skills and equipment. Oh, and let's just do choice of social as:

Middle Samurai
High Ronin
High Merchant
High Artisan

Initial gear as Bushido for those classes (and also as per your profession). Everyone gets 4d3 Gold, 4d6 Silver, and 4d6x10 Copper.

Bushi get quality dai sho and the arrows from their inheritance are quality.

Hmm, I may not have the bow and arrow prices right yet... I also haven't thought about the different arrow types.

[ffilz]

Okay...

Cleric 2, Expertise 1, Fighter 1

STR 12/17
DEX 10/14
CON 8/13
INT 5/9
WIS 16/16
WIL 16/21
CHA 10/14
ALT 15/17

Size: 15
MP: 26

That only spends 4000 of your XP...

[Marullus]

That only spends 4000 of your XP...

Oh, thanks. I didn't realize the discrepancy between classes.

Cleric 2, Expertise 3, Fighter 1

STR 12/17
DEX 10/14
CON 8/13
INT 5/9
WIS 16/16
WIL 16/21
CHA 10/14
ALT 15/17

Size: 15
MP: 26

[ffilz]

That only spends 4000 of your XP...

Oh, thanks. I didn't realize the discrepancy between classes.

Cleric 2, Expertise 3, Fighter 1

STR 12/17
DEX 10/14
CON 8/13
INT 5/9
WIS 16/16
WIL 16/21
CHA 10/14
ALT 15/17

Size: 15
MP: 26

Not quite right on distribution of augments. You use your initial to raise WIS to 16.

You have 1 more to use on WIL or MP (you also add you CL to MP, so take it in WIL).

You have 2 more to use on INT, CHA, or ALT.

You don't have one for DEX. Oh, but actually you can... Use initial 5 to increase DEX 1 to 10, WIS 4 to 15, and then CL 2 raise WIS one more to 16. That could actually make sense. In that case, you still get 2 more augments to INT, CHA, or ALT.

And you need to choose Buddhist or Shinto Gakusho. And choose social class (unless you want to roll, in which case, roll on the Bushido table).

[ffilz]

See the OOC thread for my beginning thoughts on Gakusho magic.

[jemmus]

OK, with the corrected d6 rolls from above, and the other rolls from my initial post.

Kiyoshi - high ronin

STR 15+6=21
DEX 14+5=19
CON 10+3=13
INT 9+6=16
WIS 11+3=14
WIL 14+2=16
CHA 15+1=16
ALT 12+6=18

Moving the 18 for ALT to CON. Moving the 16 for CHA to ALT.
STR 21
DEX 19
CON 18
INT 16
WIS 14
WIL 16
CHA 13
ALT 16

SIZ =9-10= -1 (17+17)/2 = 17 -1+17=16 160 lbs

MP 17 Manna Points

Did I commit any fouls? Look pretty good for a bushi?

[ffilz]

OK, with the corrected d6 rolls from above, and the other rolls from my initial post.

Kiyoshi - high ronin

STR 15+6=21
DEX 14+5=19
CON 10+3=13
INT 9+6=16
WIS 11+3=14
WIL 14+2=16
CHA 15+1=16
ALT 12+6=18

Moving the 18 for ALT to CON. Moving the 16 for CHA to ALT.
STR 15+6=21
DEX 14+5=19
CON 12+6=18
INT 9+6=15 (oops)
WIS 11+3=14
WIL 14+2=16
CHA 10+3=13
ALT 15+1=16

SIZ =9-10= -1 (21+18)/2 = 19 or 20 -1 = 18 or 19 so 180 or 190 lbs

MP 17 Manna Points

Did I commit any fouls? Look pretty good for a bushi?

I fixed up things above, you need original plus potential... You did a 3 way rotate as opposed to a single swap, but I'm OK with that. Looks good.

Assuming you go with Fighter Level 3 and Expertise Level 3, you would get to max out STR at 1st level and get 2 augments for FL 3 to DEX. Expertise Level 3 gets you 2 augments to INT, WIS, CHA, or ALT.

[jemmus]

Sorry about that, I guess I misread and thought we got two swaps. For one swap, we can just switch CON (13) and CHA (16).

I haven't even looked at the rules yet, I'll do that. But what you mentioned sounds good.

[ffilz]

Sorry about that, I guess I misread and thought we got two swaps. For one swap, we can just switch CON (13) and CHA (16).

I haven't even looked at the rules yet, I'll do that. But what you mentioned sounds good.

Actually mechanically that's really better...

STR 15+6=21
DEX 14+5=19
CON 15+1=16
INT 9+6=15 (oops)
WIS 11+3=14
WIL 14+2=16
CHA 10+3=13
ALT 12+6=18

SIZ =9-10= -1 (21+16)/2 = 18 or 19 -1 = 17 or 18 so 170 or 180 lbs

You start with a higher CON and you won't run out of things to augment with Fighter Level until 7th level... With the 12/16 CON, you would have fighter augments for longer, but you wouldn't get a 16 CON until 9th level... Meanwhile, you can run ALT up with Expertise Level and eventually get to 18 at EL 7.

Lots of gamey stuff to play around with... Like a good 1980s game...

[Marullus]

It feels like giving up a lot to get that level of Expertise instead of Cleric... what will Expertise really do?

I looked at the spells file and... meh. The Shinto and Buddhist lists are kinda boring. Can I propose additional domains as greater/lesser? If so, I will go look at it.

[ffilz]

I just posted up Mini Cold Iron:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bp4Nl4 ... sp=sharing

This is an abbreviated set of rules that will give you the most relevant combat options and the first several levels of spells all in one document.

[ffilz]

I may get ambitious this evening and put together a character spreadsheet.

Does anyone need anything from me in order to finalize your character? I'm happy to run the numbers (or let the spreadsheet do them).

[jemmus]

I think I'm good to go.

[ffilz]

I think I'm good to go.

Actually both of you need to pick skills to go with your Fighter Level and Expertise Level. The points available let a Bushi take 5 skills at Fighter Level, 5 at Expertise Level (that can ALSO be combat skills) and 5 more at 1st level from each. Gakusho gets 4 combat skills at Fighter Level, 4 at 1st level, 5 skills at Expertise Level (of which 4 can be fighter skills but if FL < EL then it gets tricky) and 5 skills at 1st level. Of course you can play with the skill points to get more skills > 1st level if not all are at FL or EL.

marullus needs to decide between Buddhist and Shinto Gakusho and then we can nail down spells memorized.

I'm also debating whether to run clerics with Spell Points (which limit how many spells can be cast per day) per the original rules, or just run them more like magic users with a more limited spell list (but get some special spells and some spells at a lower level - still some work to be done here). In more standard Cold Iron, clerics wind up with more useful combat spells, so Gakusho are sort of more limited.