[OOC] Beginner's DnD 5e Game - Group 2

Current XP for Party: 3250/6500
New characters will start at Level 4 with 2700 XP. You have all starting gear in addition to rolling your gp per your class wealth.

[JBRam2002]

This game is intended to run parallel to Ermine's Beginner's Game. As such, it uses many of the same rules and formats as that group. For convenience, I'll copy most of that info here.

I'll put up the OOC here, I guess. Just so we have it. Most of the stuff is going to be based on the characters, so the rest of the info has to wait. I'll make a homebrewery "book" once we have some more information, since I can hold all we need on there AND make it pretty.

Homebrewery Article: All the public information I have collected about our world and characters.

If anyone wants to playtest the classes and stuff I converted/made: It's right here. I don't really expect anyone to do so. Obviously. And if you DO, expect lots of changes throughout. It doesn't have everything I've made for 5e so far (like the hexslinger fighter archetype, but I know that one's balanced just fine), just the stuff based on Dreamscarred Press' non-psionic stuffs for Pathfinder. (Also, that is what I mean by a "homebrewery book").

Character Creation Steps:
0. We will use Myth-Weavers for our sheets, since they're nice and clean, and don't have excess detail. I may even just copy sheets over to the homebrewery page for us and update as we go.
1. Choose a race for your character. If you don't like any of the races available to you, I'll help you find others, design you what you want, or just say "use the stats for this but it's really this other race." The last one's for if you want a new race, but it would share basically all the abilities of an existing race. Subraces are also an option, of course.
2. Choose a class you want for your character. See #1 for other stuffs related to that.
3. Allocate ability scores. We will be using the standard set instead of rolling (my favorite) or point-buy solely for simplicity. This means you will put these numbers in whichever ability score (strength, dexterity, etc) you wish: 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8. This step can be Step 1 if you prefer, but having the other two steps first makes it easier to decide where to put them, unless you have a clear idea in mind.
4. Choose a background for your character. Again, perfectly willing to work with you to make another, but they cover most of what you'd probably want just fine.
5. If there's anything you want to buy, you get some starting gold from both your background and class (the class gold is listed in the equipment chapter) with which to buy stuff. Both because of #7 instead of the usual "either."
6. I will roll a random trinket for you to start with. Go ahead and attach whatever meaning you want to it. If you end up with a silver raven statuette, for example, maybe you worship the Raven Queen (which is not listed in the book for some reason, but is an unaligned goddess of death, and seasonal goddess of winter), or killed someone who worshiped her, or maybe you were saved by a mysterious stranger who gave it to you. Maybe it has no meaning and it's just something fun you have (I personally like the square of fabric that unfolds into a stylish hat, which is even funnier because the person who has it in our group is the dragonborn). It may not even have meaning or be interesting at all to your character. I'd really prefer it wasn't this last one, so I'll reroll if it's something you absolutely do not want. Keep in mind, they're usually not particularly useful.
7. We're starting at 3rd level. Use your class's suggested HP (so for classes with a d10 hit die, this is 6) per level, adding Constitution as normal.

At any point during this list, feel free to describe your character. The minimum, of course, is an age, height, weight, hair/skin/scale/feather/whatever color, and sex. Can expand with gender, sexual orientation, notable scars, notable birthmarks, a picture, etc. We do want to know what your character looks and acts like. Thankfully, the "what your character acts like" part can potentially be covered with random rolls from your background.

Character Questionnaire

These questions are all directed toward your character to see their opinions and worldview - and what in the world they have seen! The more you say, the more I have to work with, but if you don't have much to say, that's okay, too. These are just to get you thinking about it, not to make you uncomfortable in any way.

1) Why do you adventure? If you weren't an adventurer, what would you do? Is this your first adventure? What do you think of the non-adventuring life of most people?
2) Do you have any nicknames? Did you have any while growing up? Why were you given these nicknames?
3) What inspires your choice of clothing?
4) Where were you born? Where did you grow up? Where do you live now? (keep in mind, you're making up places for this)
5) Who were your parents - do you even know? Are they still alive? If not, what became of them? If so, do you get along with them? Are you yourself a parent? Have you ever been? Are you married?
6) What training do you have? Were you an apprentice? A student? Self-taught? When and how did you first learn you could do what you do?
7) What other jobs have you had?
8) What are the important moments of your life? (As in like the "where were you when JFK was shot/the towers fell/whatever other major events there have been" type of moments, both good and bad)
9) Do you have any likes? Dislikes? Hobbies? Goals? Especially goals. Have they changed over the years?
10) Who/what is your most valued person? Possession? Concept? Have they changed over the years?
11) Why are you that alignment?
12) Is there a line you won't cross, no matter what? Things like "I'll kill people, but only if they deserve it" or "I'll never kill a child, even if they're responsible for the deaths of hundreds, or possessed by a demon."
13) What is your greatest fear? What would make you happiest?
14) What is your stance on the new technologies of clockwork and firearms?
15) Why do you care about the team? Do you even know all their names? (This question can wait until the group questions are answered)

If you want your character to be world famous, with all their history well-known, I guess you can share the answers publicly, but I don't expect that. PMing lets it be a surprise to the group, and trust me, the answers I've gotten so far are AMAZING, and will be so much fun. Even when they didn't have much in them, and didn't answer all the questions, the answers added SO MUCH to the story. Seriously, you can answer one question with one sentence and still help out a lot. The more you have, the more I have to work with to make this more fun for you and get a feel for what you want in the game.

Answers to the character questions are going to come up in the story at some point as subplots, or just added texture to a main plot (like if we end up in Ainford for Evyrless, or meet a huntress with a certain link to Lorenthar).

Group Questionnaire

These questions assume we are a group that has adventured together at least once, and determine the overarching plot. These are for after all but #15 of the character questions have been submitted because, face it, it would be weird answering them without any of the world information available.
1) You defeated a dangerous enemy, though they are still out there somewhere, gathering strength or forces. They hate or fear you now, at least to some degree, or at least you've got their attention. Who or what was it?
2) During this event, you destroyed something important, or valuable to us. What was it?
3) You paid a high cost for this victory. What was it?
4) You found signs that this incident was just the start of something bigger. What were the signs?
5) All things considered, you impressed a powerful entity or organization, and they now fund your endeavors. Who was it?
6) Why do you all trust each other? Was there ever any mistrust between members? Why do you remain together?
7) Why did you join the party in the first place?

@Ermine

I am also fine with using Unearthed Arcana and third-party information. Please be aware that anything that is not explicitly in the PHB is subject to potential balance changes. As of right now, there are 4 people in the party. I am comfortable running with at least 6 PCs.

Similar to Ermine's plans, I will run all combat in a DM post. Please PM me (here or on Discord) or post on the Discord channel with any rolls I request. Also, please request a roll prior to making it (unless it's in combat and your turn, in which case, please finish your turn as soon as you are able).

Thanks, and I hope to make this a fun and engaging campaign!

[Ermine]

(I should probably post something in here. Dun wanna ruin a spoiler with my character, but I'll probably be coming in later anyway. Just wanted the little line next to this so I know to watch for it instead of just checking all my RP links)

[Mistiel]

Erm, yet another noob question, but when are we expected to answer that group questionnaire? Also, did @JBRam2002 also see the charrie questionnaire I sent to @Ermine a couple days ago before my laptop crashed? If not, I can delve into my sent box if needed. :)

Sidenote: I just figured out how to copy/paste from a smartphone. I am in a much better mood than I ought to be lol.

[JBRam2002]

@Mistiel She sent it along to me, so all's well!

[Ermine]

The group one can actually probably be answered now.
But we only need it if we're already all together. If we haven't met yet...

[JBRam2002]

It would be nice if the majority of the group were together. Orchestrating a meet up is unnecessarily time-consuming. Yes, relationships are an important part of D&D and any RP. But D&D is about creating a story together on an adventure, not sitting in a tavern waiting for exactly the right party members to walk by in the correct order and somehow everyone overhears something different at the same time that piques their interest. That's for mid-story.

So I guess I should add a Question 7: "Why did you join the party in the first place?" Talk with your teammates and come up with an interesting reason why each of you joined up. Perhaps they stumbled upon you while fighting off some goblins. Or perhaps you thought one of them was cute and introduced yourself in a local tavern. As long as both (or all) sides agree, I'm fine with pretty much any catalyst for the group's forming.

[Mistiel]

@Turbowraith Is there any way Lex might have agreed to be Ceria's partner in a hunt of some sort? If Lex's mentor was female, Ceria would be DEEPLY moved and probably come out of her own shell to help. The question that remains is what would it take for Lex to team up with Ceria? I.D.K the male perspective that well, but would it help if Ceria flashed her mad archery skills? Perhaps Lex was dealing with a mob of angry (insert D&D monsters here) and Ceria came in with level 3 Horde Breaker and lent a hand?

If either Harbinger or @Oraculum have any other ideas as to how y'all met Ceria, my ears are wide open and pointy! ^.^

[Ermine]

Who could tolerate someone nonstop singing to them, describing their actions and goals~?

[The Harbinger of Ferocity]

@Mistiel's Ceria is the most likely one for Arthera to encounter, given they share a few story similarities. I could imagine them encountering @Ermine from there or @Turbowraith, then crossing paths with the warlock of @Oraculum.

[Ermine]

I suppose it's fair to post my new sheet (since now I have a warlock instead of a monk). Will do so when I'm back on my computer.

[Mistiel]

Vicious Mockery....ahahaha! That cracked me like an egg. :'D

BTW should JB roll a trinket for me or am I allowed to attempt to roll one from that list myself? I assume that's a GM thing to prevent "cheating"? (Not sure if the online list is the same as the physical book list though.)

Also, the meeting order as it were seems like it does make the most sense for Arthera and Ceria to meet up in the wild somewhere. Then they happen across Lex doing battle with a group of beasties he might not be wholly familiar with, and help him slay them all. They then go on a quest (perhaps in the actual RP?) that leads them to a small valley-enclosed village where Ermine's charrie happens to be performing (and perhaps Ulor is aloofly observing the enchanting performer at a distance). The trio pull up at the edge of the performance, next to Ulor, and for whatever reason, Ulor - who doesn't seem to be intrigued by much - is drawn to us as is the enchanting performer once she's finished and gotten through her new batch of adoring fans. It makes the most sense if she seeks us out for whatever reason though. Perhaps she already knows Ulor and is always trying to get him to laugh or say something? Or perhaps she knows someone else in our group? (I can imagine Ceria running into - and taking a lichen to - Daisy on one of her trading trips to a previous town.) What say you all?

EDIT: When you realize Arthera is a her and feel terrible for judging it male based on the avatar. D':

[JBRam2002]

@MistielI'll get a trinket for you. Our source isn't in the PHB. In all honesty, the PHB trinkets are rather boring.

[The Harbinger of Ferocity]

I am at a loss for which avatar could have led you astray, @Mistiel. I am indeed playing a female character as a male, but gender is not the deciding factor of her person. A core element, given her backstory, but she could easily have been a male with a slightly different story. This said, what was the source of the confusion?

[Ermine]

@The Harbinger of Ferocity To be fair, the pic you used in the CS tab looks kinda masculine. Plus Arthera doesn't sound particularly feminine. -says this as someone who has neither a feminine appearance nor feminine (legal) name, so credibility probably lost-

"taking a lichen to" She's a symbiote now?

(-has rolls to make-)

[The Harbinger of Ferocity]

The intent was indeed for a non-traditional female character, so that itself does make sense. She's a bit more robust, masculine and notably inhuman than what one would expect after all, given just how much she has adopted the mantle and identity of a primalist. Making body, mind, heart and soul more savage and true to natural form has... unusual consequence, but nothing to be unexpected. As for the name, that does surprise me some. Arthera sounds more feminine just by the ending suffix, which was the intent through design. Needless to say, it was all written with feminine pronouns.

I am sure that error would go over well given her personality.

[Ermine]

-knows more guys with feminine-sounding names than girls. Very masculine guys-
A name ending in "a" doesn't necessarily sound feminine to me. There are a couple cases where it does. "E" (and pronunciation) sounds more feminine to me. -shrug- Not that I'm complaining or anything. By all means, your character is your character, not mine, and I have no intent to change anything. ^~^ I was just explaining where the confusion could come from.

[JBRam2002]

Sounds like an honest mistake that she fixed for herself. I see no issues with Arthera.

For the original 4 PCs in this group, we are rerolling trinkets for you as we seem to have misplaced them. If you recall your trinket, I will give you the option of keeping your original one or the new one. It should show up somewhere in your backstory, but in the end, won't have a significant effect on your mechanics.

[Mistiel]

@The Harbinger of Ferocity

It was the picture you have as your cover photo in the character section. That person looks like a male to me. xD

Also, umm, when you say "back story", on Myth Weavers, did you mean like in the bottom-most character traits section? I looked but I don't see it. Would @Ermine be so kind as to put it in my inventory section? (Also do trinkets weigh anything or do y'all turn a blind eye to them in that regard?)

P.S.: Is JB's MythWeaver username the same as his RPGuild username? I'll add him (you - dunno why the 3rd person) as an editor of my sheet.

[Oraculum]

Altogether, I would say a scenario similar to the one suggested by @The Harbinger of Ferocity would succeed in gathering the party together quite plausibly - namely, Athera and @Mistiel's Ceria happening upon each other I the course of their travels, then encountering mine and @Turbowraith's characters, who, as I might have previously mentioned somewhere, had issued together from their shared region of origin, and banding together either for greater safety or against some better-defined common threat or obstacle. @Ermine's warlock could have then joined the group at some settlement or other resting-place, possibly deeming such a group to have the potential to entangle itself in some memorable adventure or the other.

[Mistiel]

Does that not look like a feline version of dark side Hayden Christiansen? :O