The Horizon - An Epic Super Hero Playtest

Whatever the opposite of a railroaded adventure is, this open-world campaign is that. The rules are simple. The world is complicated. What happens to it is up to the players. You will hear rumors, discover locations, meet competing factions, and encounter problems, but the game will not tell you which direction you must take. Some things the players have chosen to do so far: Join the local mercenaries to learn the ways of the sword as a mage - Retrieve an old lady's purse - Become war chieftain of an orc village - Decapitate a wight with a cursed sword Also some new races that are crafted to play and feel very different: - Pixie - fly, perfect hiding, cast phantasmal forces at will, insults cause physical damage to you - Orc - infra-vision, can recruit monsters more easily Races and classes are kind of blended together. Multiple characters are encouraged. Each choice allows you to do something that appears to let you break the game, while saddling you with something else that seems debilitating. This is by design, and players have come up with a few ways of getting around and abusing these things to the betterment of the story and lore. - Fighting-Man - Doesn't have to actually be a guy, but is a human. Can use all weapons and armor. - Magic-User - Has one spell, one "shot". Can meet with magic learned peers to exchange knowledge. The most notorious spell in the game right now is Charm Person because it doesn't wear off like in later editions. - Cleric - The best of the two above, but must be Good, and by the Law. - Elf - Essentially a Magic-Use/Fighting-Man with extra perks and ties with elves and the ability to sense magic, enhanced senses, etc. but capped at a certain point - Hobbit - Capped early, but can hide flawlessly in urban areas and snipe REAL good with slings. No magic. - Dwarf -  Capped early, but high resistance, good with all axes and hammers, can sense what stone touches and its shape, and ties with and extensive knowledge of dwarven culture and holds. There are major events going on in the background but instead of shoving players in the middle of them, I showcase the developments of those events that come about, for good or ill. The players decide what to investigate, whom to trust, which dangers are worth confronting, and what their characters want to accomplish. How many hirelings do you need to bring with you? How much can you do successfully alone to maximize profit? Play alone, 1-on-1 with DM and player, or up to 10 others at once. The world continues to develop around the party. Factions pursue their own plans, NPCs remember your actions, enemies adapt, settlements can change, and neglected situations may grow better or worse. Player choices can permanently reshape the campaign world. Let me know if you are interested!

No politics of any kind: right, left, sexuality, real world religions, excessive feminism/whatever etc not allowed, if you have a need to make a fuss about that, you will be kicked out. It's perfectly fine to have those views, but don't bring them to the game (this is meant to be fun, social, intellectually challenging). If you have major psych problems that get in the way of simple social interaction (explosive outbursts etc) don't contact me. I do ask for telephone number just in case of you not showing up to game and you didn't tell me otherwise. Emergency stuff, like if you get sick or something. I do care about my players! 1 Give me warning 24 hours before the game if you are gonna cancel. I need the time to tell the others and cancel the game if I don't have enough people to play. This is non negotiable! 2 Play well with others. If you are too disruptive, I will boot you after several warnings. 3 Take a different role each new campaign. Try new things! 4 You have to show up to play 75% of the time. If you cancel too many times, there's no point to having you in the group. 5 Sometimes you will be required to take a role you don't really want because the rest of the group made their picks already, this is meant to help the group have versatility. If this happens, the next campaign I will make sure you get first pick as to your role/class. 6 If you have to make sacrifices for the group, like blowing feats on item crafting etc, I will try to send good things your way. Teamwork is important. I have been GMing since 1997 or so, cut my gaming teeth on AD&D first ed. I go above and beyond for my players. I am very adept at teaching, btw. This campaign is on Mondays at 6pm Central time Discord video chat, but we could change time/day if the other players are willing and able. Set in Chicago, I've added abilities to the NPCs to support their discipline powers, and set the whole timeline from Chicago 1 to 2 and beyond more gradually, changed who lives. Note that I have changed some of the clans a bit, like switched Gangrel and City Gangrel, turned certain Brujah into True Brujah, a Ventrue into a Nosferatu, that sort of thing. Vampire has characters that are difficult to create if you don't know how the numbers and discipline powers work (you distribute dots, there are no classes, so you need to make the character with my help so that you get the most potency possible for what you tell me you want to do). However the game play dice mechanics/rules are easy as heck. The hard part is that it demands more forethought to play, because there's a lot of deceptive NPCs, including your own. It is oddly more ethical/moral than medieval fantasy games by far, even though you don't play a hero normally, and even though you're a vampire feeding on humans and aren't human yourself. It's darker I suppose, lots of intrigue and figuring out what is really going on. Kinda like watching Babylon 5 or Dune, you have to take notes to recall everything that could be vital later. A LOT less combat than medieval fantasy games! It's rare, but nasty when it does occur. Maturity is advised. Note that I broke my campaign down in a timeline, it can be altered yes by PC actions, even down to the year and month.  VERY DETAILED homebrew campaign that can be changed given PC choices. RIght now they are in late 1990, you will get the PC's average xp to start with, along with a host of extra little benefits outside what the creation rules normally grant. You dictate the parameters, I figure out how to make the mechanics do what you want and tell you about potential problems, and I pick out flaws so as to give you your own story arc.  Official list of clans/bloodlines you can take in Chicago compatible with the group as it is: Nosferatu (must take Dark Fate flaw), Toreador, Ventrue, Brujah, Gangrel (Sabbat), Malkavian, City Gangrel (Camarilla), Tzimisce (must take the Dark Fate flaw), Gargoyle, Caitiff (Anarch typically), Assamite (Milwaukee Sabbat), True Brujah. The Dark Fate flaw means that your PC is destined to die by Antedilivuan during the end of the world. That doesn't mean you can't play, you can still run other characters even after your main one croaks. Obscure list (you can take them if you want, but you won't have support from fellow clan members in Chicago): Daughter of Cacophony, Nagarajah, Salubri (Warrior and very Camarilla), Lamia.  Got a Cappadocian (a hospital morgue doctor), Salubri (one healer(an FBI agent), one watcher (a homicide Chicago police detective), and Lasombra (an amateur boxer and criminal lawyer, he wants to go Camarilla). We have a Tzimisce plastic surgeon and medieval weapon enthusiast who sometimes does stunt work for Hollywood, the player is starting Monday Aug 31st. I have set up each pc to have fast growth, to have really good rolls for their disciplines right away. You gotta also pay for mentor ratings since you need a teacher to increase your disciplines outside of Celerity, Fortitude, Potence. If you pick from the obscure list, you can BUY up to 7th generation, but you blow 6 background dots to pull it off.  Caitiff are interesting, I made them able to teach ANY discipline they learn; normally the 13 clans can only teach their clan disciplines. A Tremere is possible, but you'd need to be a diehard Anarch (meaning the local Tremere want your keister dead, although good news for you that the Chicago ones are less than competent). At the moment, the only Discipline nobody has clan access to is Celerity, but there's a lot of clan proprietary powers that nobody has. There is a 5 pt merit that allows you to buy an additional clan discipline, by the way, and in my version of Celerity you need lots of Wits, but nowhere near as much vitae points. If you don't know the clans, I can give you information but you will need the V20 core rulebook (learning the setting and abilities but not the disciplines), the dark ages core rulebook (mostly just for the super powers/disciplines), tome of secrets (all forms of vampire magic, even obtenebration), and Erciyes Fragments (this will feature heavily in the campaign, its the Vampire bible of sorts including prophecies) books. Also a total of 20 d10's, basically two matched sets of 10 d10's, but the 2 sets cannot match each other. Preferably translucent dice, not solid. Chuck out any that have bubbles inside. Game always starts at 6pm central. The Guide to the Camarilla from the Revised edition might be handy, but not strictly necessary. Prince's Primer is nice for understanding elder vampires' mindset. This is a copy of an update I gave to a player that missed a session: Both Michael Payne and Son are dead, and Jay found another body in the basement, this time of a dead boy, a formerly months old vampire. His name was Neon, and Damien of the Brujah one of 2 anarch leaders was caring/teaching for Neon, Damien will have to be told. Neon was chained via manacles to the basement floor in Son's Skokie residence, his throat ripped out and his face gnawed upon. Evidence was found that Son was blackmailing Horatio Ballard into insane and demeaning acts. You could get a major boon from Ballard using this. Ballard apparently has been naughty. Michael accidentally killed Son, and Michael is dead thanks to the party knocking him into torpor, and the elders ending him. recall, Michael was suicidal, and homicidal plus had a rep for being a thug who used to cause chaos your character just rescued the young couple that Son was psychologically torturing, and you shot michael (bashing damage, just reduced him to torpor) as he tried to use Ben as a shield

PF1e tends to be combat focused, lots of teamwork, but there's puzzles, riddles, investigation too. I don't charge money, game time is Fridays at 6pm central. I have been GMing weekly since 1997 or so, cut my gaming teeth on AD&D first ed. I go above and beyond for my players. This campaign is Discord video chat, but we could change time/day if the other players are willing and able. Don't worry about the mechanics, they are a lot easier than most believe, I am a good teacher (or so I have been told repeatedly over decades). I do not use a VTT. Tried. So I draw it out on a wet erase board, and if there's few enemies, I don't bother and keep it in my head (I have the IQ to be able to do so, and then some). NO FURRIES! If you go into this expecting to create your character without regard to the setting or the group composition, you can kiss your entitled butt goodbye. Even if I did nothing different, the group would suffer and your PC might not make it. Each new campaign, you can pick out a new role/class, and you get first pick if you took one for the team. Lots of stupid puns and jokes. My campaigns tend to be accidentally lethal, and my NPC's react within the bounds of their Intelligence scores. I poke players into beefing up their defenses in the low levels (in between game sessions), I value intelligence and wisdom in a player. I have no problem with potent PC's, so long as they play well with others and make sense. I tend to be very helpful in between game sessions, giving as much relevant info as possible without spoiling the plot, with less info for veteran players. Quite military friendly, as my NPCs tend to react realistically and tactically. I am extremely good at teaching, not just game mechanics but also tactics, even interaction with fellow players. During game sessions, I play all my NPC's to the hilt, so if they are actively trying to kill your PC, that's how it is. I rarely fudge dice results, when I do it's for drama's sake, trying to make the game exciting and interesting. With Iron Gods you gotta make the characters WITH MY DIRECT ASSISTANCE as I make sure they fit with the group and campaigns, plus I give out extra benefits (like gear). We currently have a female aasimar Cleric, a female unchained sylph Rogue, and an Alchemist, working on a melee Fighter. They are now 2nd level, and we could use a Gunslinger (probably Techslinger archetype is best given the campaign), a Wizard magic and tech item crafter/Technomancer (who gets assistance from the Cleric and Alchemist). Iron Gods is all about alien technology meets medieval types. The campaign seems to have robots, undead, aberrations running around, so having alternatives to mind affecting stuff is a good idea. That isn't to say you can't, it just means have more than one way to mess with the tactics of the enemy. I have a giant list of races available, some of which are androgynous, others exclusively male, others exclusively female, all of which are official save for 2 (Sylvan elves and Trollans). I instituted sexual dimorphism attribute modifiers to get players running more female characters, right now for example in Iron Gods we will have 3 female characters, but played by players of either biological sex. Subtract 5 points from Strength for female characters, and add 2 points of Constitution, 2 points of Charisma, and 1 point of Wisdom. Please note that Elves, Drow, Trollans (based on Orko from masters of the universe cartoon from the 80s), Gathlain, Ghoran, and Wyrwood are not subject to this ruling, so there is no difference mechanically between male or female characters for them. Interestingly, female characters are mathematically better for Oracles, Clerics (so long as you stay away from melee combat), Sorcerers, Psychics, Mesmerists, Gunslingers, Mediums, basically anyone that doesn’t need a high Strength score, and could use the increased Constitution, Charisma, and a little bit of Wisdom. Yes, there are cheap ways to dramatically increase your carrying limits, I can show you. Skill based classes like the Unchained Rogue and Bard tend to be a mixed result, since a low Strength impacts carrying limits, Climb, Swim, and sometimes Intimidate. Male characters make better warrior types, so Fighters (melee and bows but not crossbows), Paladins, Samurai, Unchained Barbarians, Unchained Monks, Cavaliers, Inquisitors, Rangers tend to be male. Basically it pokes men into running characters that think in a more indirect, feminine way, and women into thinking in a more masculine, direct way by poking them into classes that have the right mindset/tactics. Banned Classes/Races Summoner (and Unchained version), Arcanist, Bloodrager, Brawler, Hunter, Investigator, Shaman, Skald, Slayer, Swashbuckler, Warpriest (this is all of the Advanced Class Guide), Vigilante, Shifter, all mythic paths are banned permanently (broken ruleset). Half-elves, Half-orcs are banned permanently; they are too mechanically similar to humans and don’t make sense genetically. Note that I never allow 3rd party (non Paizo) material (unless I honestly think they are balanced and appropriate but you gotta ask first), and I do not allow material that I don’t have access to personally. I am willing to get new material, however. I am the same way about the Gunslinger (need advanced tech available), Ninja (very culture centric), Samurai (very culture centric), Antipaladin (evil aligned only), Assassin (evil aligned only) classes. For example, we are playing Iron Gods, and you get access to alien guns so the Gunslinger is welcome. I won't run Rise of the Runelords, Carrion Crown, Giantslayer since I already did them.  These are the Pathfinder campaigns I have: Rise of the Runelords, Jade Regent, Shattered Star, Return of the Runelords, Reign of Winter, Mummy's Mask, Iron Gods, Curse of the Crimson Throne, Skull & Shackles, Hell's Rebels, Ruins of Azlant, Carrion Crown, Tyrant's Grasp, Strange Aeons. The difficult campaigns I have access to are Council of Thieves (3.5 have to adjust it), Giantslayer (kinda boring starting book 4 for the GM), Goblin adventure series (very short), Hell's Vengeance (evil aligned PCs), Kingmaker (3.5 have to adjust it), Second Darkness (3.5 have to adjust it). Only a few APs exist that I won't run period.  That’s not even counting the dungeon crawl classics adventure modules. Reign of Winter will let you see 18th level since I tacked on a module at the end, Carrion Crown only 15th, all other PF campaigns 17th. No gestalt classes, nothing outside the list below. Each new campaign, take a different class and role.  These are the Pathfinder classes I use: Warriors: Unchained Barbarian, Unchained Monk (very culture centric, but there are rare outside examples), Paladin, Fighter, Ranger (and possibly Gunslinger if I run Iron Gods or Reign of Winter, Samurai if running Jade Regent), Cavalier Skill Monkeys: Bard, Ranger, Unchained Rogue, possibly Ninja if running Jade Regent Divine casters: Druid, Cleric, Oracle, Inquisitor Arcane casters: Sorcerer, Wizard, Witch, Alchemist, Magus Psychics: Kineticist, Medium, Mesmerist, Occultist, Psychic, Spiritualist No politics of any kind: right, left, sexuality, real world religions, excessive feminism/whatever etc not allowed, if you have a need to make a fuss about that, you will be kicked out (all sorts tend to be in my groups). It's perfectly fine to have those views, but don't bring them to the game (this is meant to be fun, social, intellectually challenging). If you have major psych problems that get in the way of simple social interaction (explosive outbursts etc) don't contact me. I eventually ask for telephone number just in case of you not showing up to game and you didn't tell me otherwise. It's for emergency stuff, like if someone gets sick or something and I gotta cancel the game. I do care about my players! And yes, I am meticulous about not calling for funsies.  listen, I have some rules for players. 1 Give me warning 24 hours before the game if you are gonna cancel. I need the time to tell the others and cancel the game if I don't have enough people to play. This is non negotiable! 2 Play well with others. If you are too disruptive, I will boot you after several warnings. 3 Take a different role each new campaign. Try new things! 4 You have to show up to play 75% of the time. If you cancel too many times, there's no point to having you in the group. 5 Sometimes you will be required to take a role you don't really want because the rest of the group made their picks already. If this happens, the next campaign I will make sure you get first pick as to your role/class. 6 If you have to make sacrifices for the group, like blowing feats on item crafting etc, I will try to send good things your way. Teamwork is important.