[OOC] D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

[Ryonara]

With a combination of Corona Virus forcing me to work from home and recent protests preventing me from leaving home regularly, I'm pretty much up for anything.

[Hekazu]

Truth be told while I don’t mind doing this campaign again, I kind of want to use different characters. Orchid was fun but I got new ideas I wanna try out.

@Lucius Cypher

I don't know how well I could remove Orchid to put someone in his place, especially in the middle of a dungeon. One of the reasons why Zverda eventually left us too, it was taking much longer for her to get her own character to play than she would have liked. Which is understandable if not that good for the eventual workload it led to.

So, I ask of you, how would you personally see the changing of a character proceeding? Perhaps it can be worked around.

[The Harbinger of Ferocity]

I am all for us continuing forward and managing to do something. I would like to continue Brannor's portion of the story and character at the very least. While I have other games, namely for other editions, I much prefer not to leave something unfinished or a character and plot not still going forward. My presence is never truly far.

[Norschtalen]

I don't mind continuing on, especially since I now have a better grasp of how to build my characters. As for how we continue where we left off, I honestly don't know what will work best since we're in a very bad circumstance. We're pretty much depleted on all resources and I don't know how easily we'll be able to escape. As for introducing new characters, maybe we find them as prisoners here? I mean obviously they need to feed the drakes and this monster something. Maybe when we go look for fresh meat we'll find a new party member who has only recently recovered from their near death experience?

[Hekazu]

As for introducing new characters, maybe we find them as prisoners here? I mean obviously they need to feed the drakes and this monster something. Maybe when we go look for fresh meat we'll find a new party member who has only recently recovered from their near death experience?

@Norschtalen

While possible, it introduces the momentary party size increase and the need for people to play multiple characters at once. The new character also would be far from combat ready, especially if kept in a meat storage or something of the sort. This would introduce an escort mission that would have to be completed before the introduction of the next character, so while baking them in earlier it would only allow taking control of them at the same point as before. Any thoughts on the matter, @Lucius Cypher?

[Lucius Cypher]

I feel it really depends just how close to the end of this part of the campaign are we? Because this feels like a sufficiently close end since I’m guessing the big scary tentacle thing is more or less the final boss (though tbh I thought Cyanwrath was the big boss of this cave). So an old character like Orchid could sacrifice themselves so we create a vacancy for the new character to slide in. Or at least that’s how I figured we could do this.

[Hekazu]

How close are we to the end of this part? I loathe to give any exact numbers, but I won't say your are wrong with your assumption in the sense that you are far closer to the end than the beginning. As for sacrificing oneself, to offer himself as nourishment to this creature… it's a novel idea, though perhaps not truly necessary of him to do.

[Norschtalen]

Well regardless, I'm more than willing to pick up where we left off. I honestly don't see our chances being very good since I'm all out of spells and don't have anymore channel divinities, but I'm otherwise willing to see where the chips fall.

[Hekazu]

@Lucius Cypher What sort of a character do you have in the works?

[Lucius Cypher]

Well I was thinking of using a winged tiefling warlock, that way I can a mix up of social skills, combat ability, and utility.

[Hekazu]

Well I was thinking of using a winged tiefling warlock, that way I can a mix up of social skills, combat ability, and utility.

@Lucius Cypher

Honestly I'm not too sure about winged character races. Unlimited flight speed, especially on a spellcaster, is something that has the capability of making a right mess. I feel I would have to make a fair bit of adjustments to the module to make that function. Would you have any other prospective characters, or could this one function without the flight?

[Lucius Cypher]

It could function without flight though I simply prefer it for thematic reasons. I am pretty interested in the new Saytr Race, so I can go with that one instead.

[Hekazu]

It could function without flight though I simply prefer it for thematic reasons. I am pretty interested in the new Saytr Race, so I can go with that one instead.

@Lucius Cypher

I get that. Unfortunately I happen to prefer non-flying player characters from the mechanics viewpoint. For the satyr in turn, I'll have to have a look at that after work tomorrow. Could you provide me with the link to the source? I haven't been able to keep up much. I don't think there should be much stopping you in the mechanical sense unless there's something absolutely bonkers in there (doubt it), but I'd like to be in the know.

[Lucius Cypher]

@Hekazu

5e.tools/races.html#satyr_mot

For the Saytr. Suppose I ought to preface by saying one of the more unique and powerful aspects of the Saytr is that they have innate magic resistance, which means Advantage on any saving throw caused by spells or magic.

[The Harbinger of Ferocity]

In essence one of the notable benefits of the yaun-ti, just without the baggage of the serpentine race that comes with it, instead for that of a satyr. At least some number of the world knows not all the fey are evil creatures, so that is beneficial. I am just not too familiar myself with the reality of what that means in this setting specifically. I suspect it cannot be too much worse than the outcome of having a purported weretiger about.

[Hekazu]

No issues on the end of Magic Resistance, it's powerful for the reasons already laid out but not a pair of wings with their slew of issues. The sourcebook appears to be more MtG related, but it isn't anything we couldn't build around. I imagine the character to fit in the best as an agent introduced to the rest of the group by the Harpers though. Would that be acceptable @Lucius Cypher?

[Lucius Cypher]

Sorry for the late reply. Also I prefer Emerald Enclave myself. I'm sure they'd have a vested interest in the activities of the Dragon Cult.

[Hekazu]

Sorry for the late reply. Also I prefer Emerald Enclave myself. I'm sure they'd have a vested interest in the activities of the Dragon Cult.

@Lucius Cypher

Not a bad suggestion, but unfortunately the Enclave is not featured in the module any time soon. One of the disadvantages of running a premade scenario.

[Lucius Cypher]

Eh, I can't really say I'm a fan of the Harpers, but I suppose my guy would probably just sorta be working with them as a gig. Tbh I'm more of a Zhent fan myself, and not just because of the idea of being an edgy gangster type.

[Hekazu]

Eh, I can't really say I'm a fan of the Harpers, but I suppose my guy would probably just sorta be working with them as a gig. Tbh I'm more of a Zhent fan myself, and not just because of the idea of being an edgy gangster type.

@Lucius Cypher

I don't think I have good tie-ins for Zhentarim either… I've only got Harpers and one another faction available here, and the other definitely does not sound to be up your alley there.

Alternatively I have been thinking about either converting HotDQ for or running an original universe game of Lamentations of the Flame Princess (though with less "you die, no save" than most official modules). That would allow a fresh start with less restrictive stuff… but then again, you've already seen how this one begins.

FYI that other plans I have had available @Ryonara, @Norschtalen & @The Harbinger of Ferocity