Carnival in Pathfinder

[Mortavius]

To learn or cast a spell, an oracle must have a Charisma score equal to at least 10 + the spell level.
.

So either it's cantrips only or give him higher CHA or an archetype to switch to WIS casting...

But his Charisma is 14? His base stats have a Cha of 10, but it's been increased by leveling, age, and racial modifiers. His actual ability scores are further down, under the combat section.

[The Giamarga]

Gah... Sorry. I must have only seen his base stats.

[Mortavius]

Well after a hiatus from the project, I did up the next Trouper tonight. Without further adieu I present for your entertainment,

Wood ’n-Head

Timeline

726 BC: Wood ‘n-Head born in Valachan
743 BC: Wood ‘n-Head’s master forces him to drink the Regeneration potion and then kills himself trying it afterwards. Wood ‘n-Head takes some time to come to terms with his new ability and then joins Carnival.
760 BC: Present Day.

Twisting: Wood ‘n-Head was always bullied; as a child all the way to an alchemists’ apprentice. He has a very people-pleasing disposition, and that weakness is reflected by the Twisting. Wood ‘n-Head’s bones gets weaker and weaker, but he’s found if he leaves metal spikes in his flesh, the minerals are leeched out of them and strengthen him. This is why Wood ‘n-Head always has spikes in his body, even when not performing. The metals spikes rust quickly though, and must be replaced regularly.

Base Stats
Str 11, Dex 12, Con 15, Int 11, Wis 12, Cha 13
Racial: +2 Int
Twisting: +4 Con
Leveling: +1 Int
Favored Class: + Skill ranks

760 BC (Current day stats)
CR 3; XP 800
Human Alchemist 4
CG Medium Humanoid (Human)
Init +5; Senses Perception +1

Defense
AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14 (+4 Armor, +1 Dex)
HP 36 (4d6+20)
Fort +8 (+10 vs. poison), Ref +5, Will +2
Immune: Piercing or slashing damage

Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee MW Silver Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20)
Ranged MW Silver Dagger +5 (1d4, 19-20) or Bomb +6 (2d6+2 fire, 4 splash damage Reflex 14 for half splash only)
Extracts Known (CL 4th, DC 12 + spell level)
2nd – (2/day of the following list) Bull’s Strength, Cure Moderate Wounds, Eagle’s Splendor (Love Potion), Lesser Restoration
1st – (4/day of the following list) Comprehend Languages, Cure Light Wounds, Disguise Self, Jump, Keen Senses, Polypurpose Panacea, Shield, Youthful Appearance

Statistics
Str 11, Dex 12, Con 19, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 13
Base Atk +3, CMB +3, CMD 11
Feats Brew Potion, Improved Initiative, Throw Anything, Toughness
Skills Craft (Alchemy) +14, Heal +8, Knowledge (Arcana) +9, Knowledge (Nature) +9, Preform (Act) +5, Spellcraft +9, Survival +8
Languages Vassi, Mordentish, Sithican
SQ: Create Bomb (6/day), Create Mutagen, Discoveries (Infusion, Smoke Bomb), Poison Use, Swift Alchemy

Equipment
MW Silver Dagger, Studded Leather armor +1, Potions (Cure Light Wounds x2, Disguise Self, Keen Senses, Polypurpose Panacea, Youthful Appearance), Portable Alchemists Lab (in Vardo), Alchemist Formula Book, Master’s Regeneration Formula

[Mortavius]

Mola Kravvan, the Living Skeleton

Timeline

724 BC: Mola is born in Hazlan.
747 BC: Mola & her brother Rasulid tag along with Carnival and are Twisted, becoming Troupers.
760 BC: Present day.

Twisting: Mola’s subservient nature to her brother and the way he feeds off her skills causes her to lose weight no matter how much she eats.

Base Stats
Str 11, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 9, Cha 14
Racial: +2 Dex
Leveling: +1 Dex
Aging: Middle-aged
Favored Class: + Skill Ranks

760 BC (Current day stats)
CR 5; XP 1,600
Human Rogue (Cutpurse) 6
N Medium Humanoid (Human)
Init +8; Senses Perception +9

Defense
AC 16, touch 15, flat-footed 16 (+4 Dex, +1 Dodge, +1 Armor)
HP 23 (6d8)
Fort +3, Ref +11 (Evasion), Will +2

Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee Dagger +5 (1d4+1, 19-20)
Ranged Dagger +9 (1d4+1, 19-20)
Special Attacks Slow Reactions, Sneak Attack +3d6, Stab and Grab

Statistics
Str 10, Dex 18, Con 11, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 15
Base Atk +4, CMB +4, CMD 14
Feats Dodge, Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Mobility
Skills Bluff +11, Climb +9, Diplomacy +11, Disguise +11, Escape Artist +13, Perception +9, Preform (Act) +11, Sense Motive +9, Sleight of Hand +13, Stealth +13
Languages Vassi, Balok
SQ Fast Fingers (2/day), Fast Getaway, Measure the Mark

Equipment
Dagger +1, Bracers of Armor +1, Potions (Cure Light Wounds, Eagle’s Splendor, Guidance x2, Sanctuary)


Resident battered woman of Carnival, her timidness and willingness to acquiesce to her brother is demonstrated by her low Wisdom score. Interestingly, her Wisdom increases as she gets older, which I think is a nice analogue to show her growing out of her shell as she gets older.

[DeepShadow of FoS]

Wow, I just read through the thread, and these are great conversions! I always loved Carnival, and now that I've switched to PF it's gratifying to see how much better the "square pegs" fit into that system.

[Mortavius]

Thanks Deepshadow! You've given me the drive to get back to working on these!

[The Giamarga]

I'm looking forward to Raja Singh. I wonder what class you give him...

[Mortavius]

As requested,

Raja Singh, the Hideous Man-Beast

Timeline

720 BC: Raja Singh is born in Sri Raji into the vaishya caste, son of a merchant.
740 BC: Raja Singh and others leave Sri Raji to explore the new Wildlands where they are attacked and infected with lycanthropy.
743 BC: Carnival journeys through the Wildlands and is attacked by wereleopards. Isolde defends the Troupers and Raja is captured and thus joins Carnival.
760 BC: Present day.

Twisting: Raja always had a desire to move beyond his caste, to that of the warriors and nobles. Even though such a thing was forbidden by Rajian society, he aspired to become a soldier anyways. His fierce dedication to this cause is manifest in his lycanthropy. The Twisting makes Raja’s affliction permanent.

Base Stats
Str 13, Dex 12, Con 11, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 13
Racial: +2 Str
Aging: Middle-Aged
Favored Class: +HP

760 BC (Current day stats, values in parenthesis reflect Raja in his hybrid form)
CR 3; XP 800
Human Afflicted Wereleopard War1/Moonchild2
NG (LE) Medium Humanoid (Human, Shapechanger)
Init +0 (+4); Senses Low-Light Vision, Scent, Perception +8

Defense
AC 10 (17), touch 10 (14), flat-footed 10 (13) (+4 Dex, +3 Natural in Hybrid only)
HP 20 (29) (1d10+2d8+1)
Fort +3 (+6), Ref +1 (+5), Will +6
(DR 5/silver)
Weakness: Astraphobia, Chemical Bane (Mercury)

Offense
Speed 35 ft. (35 ft., climb 20 ft.)
Melee MW Scimitar +6 (1d6+2, 18-20) or (Bite +5 (1d6+3 plus grab), 2 claws +5 (1d6+3))
Special Attacks (Pounce, Rake (2 claws +5, 1d3+3))

Statistics
Str 14 (17), Dex 11 (18), Con 10 (16), Int 13, Wis 17, Cha 12
Base Atk +2, CMB +4 (+5), CMD 14 (19)
Feats Fleet, Improved Iron Will, Iron Will, Weapon Focus (Scimitar)
Skills Craft (Pottery) +5, Handle Animal +7, Intimidate +6, Knowledge (Local) +4, Knowledge (Nobility) +2, Perception +8 (+16 vs. scents), Swim +6 (+7)
Languages Rajian, Mordentish
SQ (Bloodlust), Change Shape (+4 bonus to check), Human Heart (Will save DC 22, +4 bonus to check), (Lycanthropic Empathy), The Hunger

Equipment (kept in Vardo and usually only has access to during the full moon)
MW Scimitar, Potions of Guidance (x3, used to aid in making Will saves vs. changing shape)


I felt after reading Raja's background that the Moonchild was a perfect fit for him. I used Ryan's version of the prestige class, as well as his lycanthropic template info from the Pathfinder in the Mists thread. I believe he was a Warrior before being infected, as his background said he was part of a group of explorers sent to the Wildlands. I like that Ryan's Moonchild can be taken at any level and it fits well here. Raja spends most of his time in a cage, so he doesn't get much opportunity to earn XP, thus the low level. I also went with the idea that Raja really was an explorer from Sri Raji; Carnival is (probably intentionally) ambiguous on this point. I felt it was true though, as it says his memory was improving with time, and I figured someone who didn't know who they were wouldn't necessarily give themselves a last name, especially if they travelled with a Carnival.

[The Giamarga]

I love the synergy between this thread and Ryan's! Great stats Mortavius. My only minor quibble soul be his low level before taking moonchild. But that's a very personal one as IMHO 1st level NPCs are adolescents at best and he should have reached lvl2 at age 20 IMO. But you could still explain it by having him retrain a level. At age 40 his overall level is low bit that's nicely explained by his lycanthropy and isolationI'd maybe advance him another lvl at most.

I wasn't even aware that Ryans moonchild can be taken at any level, the prc is of course perfect for him. As for the explorer part I'd also have gone with it but it kept drawing my mind to ranger archetypes. Warrior works very well though and is probably the better choice here. Did he have pottery in 2e? Where are his merchant skills?

[Mortavius]

Thanks Giamarga!

Raja's levels are pretty much judgement calls on my part. I'll walk you through my thought processes.

In Sri Raji, everyone is born into castes. It says there are many, but the campaign setting only details four: priests, nobles & soldiers, merchants & craftsmen, and farmers. Raja was part of an expedition to the Wildlands. The Priest & farmer caste didn't fit with him. That left the other two. A noble wouldn't have gone on a dangerous expedition, and I felt that soldiers were more of career soldiers, the people who police Sri Raji and guard as a full time job; I didn't feel that they would necessarily go on one of the first expeditions to the Wildlands either.

I figured that Sri Raji would send expendable folks into the Wildlands. And Merchants have a vested interest in expanding, so I figured Raja to be the son of a merchant. In this case I chose his skills at 1st level from the recommended ones for Sri Raji characters; that's why he has 1 rank in Pottery, I figured he learned it from his father. I chose Warrior as a class for him because it seemed "easy." I imagined him not following precisely in his father's footsteps; maybe he always wanted to be a soldier, but couldn't get any training, and changing castes is forbidden. His father saw his (limited) martial skill, and sent him along with the expedition to the Wildlands. I did consider Ranger for a class; it makes a good explorer class after all, but Rangers aren't listed as a common class in Sri Raji, where Fighters are. Ultimately, that's what made me go with it.

I used the formula that you shared earlier for his XP. Starting at age 20 is when they start earning 1000 XP/year, or 500 XP/year for PC classes. But I didn't count the three years he was a wereleopard (although maybe I should have?). So that was 17 years left over, and I figured that a PrC was close enough to a PC class to warrant 500 XP/year. Thus, he is actually very close to his third level in Moonchild. I figured this worked well, what with him spending 90% of his time in a cage.

A lot of this is just based on my own interpretation. Raja Singh is one of those NPCs with very little actual backstory; it would be very easy to alter some details and come up with a different work-up of the character based on different background choices.

[The Giamarga]

Well now he has some excellent backstory. Being Vaisya certainly fits very well. Wikipedia says that the caste was known for exploring new regions: Indian traders were widely credited for the spread of Indian culture to regions as far as southeast Asia.

[Mortavius]

I was not aware of that; it works even better now! Thanks for sharing.

[The Giamarga]

I just reread the Moonchild. The third level is the one that changes everything. He'd become a true lycanthrope, gain a hybrid form and would not be affected by the trigger anymore. OTOH he is depicted in hybrid form in The Carnival already. But hybrid forms are always a problem with 2e conversion. Personally I'm torn between giving him one more level in an NPC class to reflect his experience pre-infection, or to increase his moonchild level to 3 to get the hybrid form.

Also I considered the alignment change thing from the prc. It would be interesting to what alignment he had originally. He's N in the Carnival. As Wereleopard's are LE, if he was not N originally he could have been NG or CN or CG. And if we advance him from the supplement the big question is will he pass his saving throw or will he not and become a step closer to LE, which could be NE or LN.

Also he should be noted as a Degenerative Lycanthrope, i.e. he's a Human Afflicted Degenerative Wereleopard War1/Moonchild2. (Apparently with Ryans rules you can have normal wereleopards that only change to beast form on their trigger).

[The Giamarga]

Rereading Raja's sidebar in The Carnival, I note that he "has studied lycanthropy at every opportunity". This could be reflected in a few more ranks in knowledge local (which covers humanoids) or maybe even knowledge arcana (for the magical curse part?). Also apparently the lightning phobia is missing in Ryan's rules.

I havn't checked the last NPCs but i think they're all missing an explicit Twisting effect.

That said, I'm looking forward to The Vampiress, Mister ? and then one of my favorites: the Amazing Soulless Man - Tindal! (though that one will be very complicated to stat, a high level caster, and then the fetch part)

[Mortavius]

I just reread the Moonchild. The third level is the one that changes everything. He'd become a true lycanthrope, gain a hybrid form and would not be affected by the trigger anymore. OTOH he is depicted in hybrid form in The Carnival already. But hybrid forms are always a problem with 2e conversion. Personally I'm torn between giving him one more level in an NPC class to reflect his experience pre-infection, or to increase his moonchild level to 3 to get the hybrid form.

I made his stats assuming a hybrid form, since that's what Carnival shows. Wereleopards actually only have one form, a hybrid one, and they change into human form during the full moon (I thought that was unique to Raja, but it's actually true of all afflicted wereleopards). Did I make a mistake somewhere on the stats that you can see?

Also I considered the alignment change thing from the prc. It would be interesting to what alignment he had originally. He's N in the Carnival. As Wereleopard's are LE, if he was not N originally he could have been NG or CN or CG. And if we advance him from the supplement the big question is will he pass his saving throw or will he not and become a step closer to LE, which could be NE or LN.

Actually Carnival has him as NG when in human form and LE in hybrid form. I did consider him changing alignment with the levels in PrC, but the check was a Will save DC 15, and he started with a base +5 to his Will saves, resulting in a 50% chance of success. And the next check he would have had to make was base +6 to Will saves, so I just assumed he made them. But you could certainly go the other way with it.

Also he should be noted as a Degenerative Lycanthrope, i.e. he's a Human Afflicted Degenerative Wereleopard War1/Moonchild2. (Apparently with Ryans rules you can have normal wereleopards that only change to beast form on their trigger).

You are correct, I read it wrong. I only read the first part, where it says they change once and stay locked in that form. I missed the second part; that fits perfectly. Thanks for spotting it!

Rereading Raja's sidebar in The Carnival, I note that he "has studied lycanthropy at every opportunity". This could be reflected in a few more ranks in knowledge local (which covers humanoids) or maybe even knowledge arcana (for the magical curse part?). Also apparently the lightning phobia is missing in Ryan's rules.

His study of lycanthropy is actually what inspired me to give him levels in Moonchild. I thought it was reflected in his ranks in Knowledge (Nature) but I didn't look to see if it actually covered lycanthropes. I believe it's one of the few or only knowledge class skills for the Moonchild though, so that seems like it might have been what Ryan was going for. But perhaps Knowledge (Local) or (Arcana) is a better choice, although his bonus won't be as high as they aren't class skills for him.

His lightning phobia is on the sheet, under Weakness. I used the actual term for it, Astraphobia, although I didn't include any rules for it. I figured it could be simplified to something like whenever he's in the presence of thunder or lightning he has to make a Fear save, and has to make a new one every round he remains.

I havn't checked the last NPCs but i think they're all missing an explicit Twisting effect.

A lot of them are; that's because I have trouble adjudicating how strong a game mechanic of an effect the Twisting should have. It seems for some NPCs that it's front and centre (the next Trouper, Amelia is a good example) and for others it's almost non-existent (Raja, for example). If you or anyone else has any suggestions on some guidelines, I'd love to hear them.