UltikanaRe

Forward Unto Eternity (D&D 5e, Starting at Level 4)

Got my OOC application done before I expected, yay me.

Why you are interested in the game?
I don't usually get a chance to play a PC, all of my friends are terrible DMs so I end up having to DM every single time we game. I also want a chance to play 5e as I have heard a lot of good things about it but I have yet to have any experience with it whatsoever.

What character(s) are you thinking of playing?
I would like to try and play a wizard, a pessimistic wizard who gets his best spell-book stolen locking him out of his tower along with making him lose all of his most powerful spells. He rushes off to hunt the thief, grumbling about how things are probably only going to get worse.

Why are you thinking of that(those) character(s)?
I like characters with a strong initial distinctive personality. Even if it is 2D in the beginning it gives a lot of direction for RP. I have yet to run across anyone who has done a pessimist character so I thought I should do one. In addition I think it can open up a lot of interesting party interactions and in-character decisions.

What is your ideal starting settlement?
Anything, the hunt for the thief has taken my character far and wide as unfortunate events keep the thief and spell book out of reach.

What general ideals and adventure archetypes do you enjoy?
I enjoy lots of out of NPC interaction and non-combat encounters. I feel like these are the aspects that are truely unique to tabletop RPGs and where they truly shine. When it comes to combat video games have long ago surpassed tabletop games however computers are never able to give NPCs and non-combat encounters the level of depth and complexity that a human can do easily.

What is your comfortability with the system?
I have extensive experience with 3.5e, Pathfinder and 4e and I imagine much of that experience will translate. Other than that I have yet to even open a single 5e sourcebook.

Are there any house rulings you would like to amend, add, or delete? If so, which ones and why?
See previous discussion.

What is your availability as far as meeting times?
I am on EST and I am solely available on the weekends and won't be available this weekend or the weekend after that. I would prefer to start towards noonish on Saturday or anytime Sunday as I have commitments Friday and Saturday night (typically starting at around 1700 or 1800 and going until 2300 or 0000.

@Mortalbean

Accepted. I will have to do some workarounds for the meeting times, since you are already an hour ahead of me. Noonish may be too early, but I will see what I can do. Now for one more person. Also, I have decided on doing solo session 0s for caracter development, so PM me as you are ready. @AceptablyPsycho, are you ready by chance?

Forward Unto Eternity (D&D 5e, Starting at Level 4)

@Mortalbean Well I actually own a giftable copy of Tabletop Sim (Woo for Kickstarter backing) so if you want a copy of it, just PM me your Steam name and I can send you one :)

Also what are your guy's time zones? I'm GMT so I dunno how that's gonna affect the live sessions? @UltikanaRe

@AceptablyPsycho

GMT+8 (Chicago)

Forward Unto Eternity (D&D 5e, Starting at Level 4)

<Snipped quote by Mortalbean>

Yeah, that's probably what I meant. Hence why it's always a good idea to have at least one copy of the PHB, DMG and MM around for reference. I agree though, I love thumbing through the guides just reading every little detail like Feats, Traits and all the Monsters. I'm especially bad with Pathfinder as there's the Core Book, then all of the Advanced Guides, the Ultimate Guides, the Adventure Modules and Paths, the Companion Guides......

Why is it when you described your character, I automatically thought of Rincewind from the Discworld? Also stolen spellbook huh? Well the Bastardly Bard also had something stolen from his noble family years ago which they spent most of their fortune (and his inheritance) trying to find. The Bard has since spent a portion of his life trying to find this thing, just so he can see what they thought was so damn important.

@AceptablyPsycho

Thief wizards. Say no more.

An Era of Devastation (2015 RP)

I am very interested. Is there any way I can claim multiple nations and form a union later in the RP? i kinda want an African Union, so I am wondering if I can claim multiple smaller nations. The largest would probably be Nigeria or South Africa, but not both. Thanks in advance for considering!

Memepires: Age of Grimdankness (Parody NPR of Epic Stupidity)

In. So much in.

Forward Unto Eternity (D&D 5e, Starting at Level 4)

<Snipped quote by UltikanaRe>

I think that's a bit unrealistic though, reading EVERY little rule. Over time sure, getting to know them is OK, but just starting out you should stick to the fundamentals. I think that's what scares a lot of people off is when they see the size of the PHB, not realizing that the majority of it is only going to be used once for picking classes or rolling abilities.

@AceptablyPsycho

<Snipped quote by AceptablyPsycho>

I would say reading every rule is a good idea, MEMORIZING every rule isn't. The rules that are important will come up a lot and you will either remember them from when you read them the first time or begin to memorize them as you look them up over and over again. This is slow going at first but I find it tends to work well enough.

I haven't had a chance to do any specifics however I think that for my character I might try and do something of a pessimistic wizard who gets his best spell-book stolen locking him out of his tower along with making him lose all of his most powerful spells. He rushes off to hunt the thief, grumbling about how things are probably only going to get worse.

@Mortalbean

Pretty much Mortalbean's comment, but I also enjoy that type of thing.

Forward Unto Eternity (D&D 5e, Starting at Level 4)

Added a Calendar.

Forward Unto Eternity (D&D 5e, Starting at Level 4)

@UltikanaRe As a DM myself, I would definitely recommend you start with a group of 4 at most, 3 would be just fine. As for me, I'm comfortable in any group size, I've played long term, short term and one-shots with groups ranging from 2 to 6 players.

Also, I won't be backseat DMing or trying to invade your space or won't be a rules lawyer, but if you need resources or copies of manuals or anything (I've got an 8GB folder of stuff collected from DMs, websites, homebrews etc etc), just shoot me a PM or something.

@AceptablyPsycho

That sounds amazing. I am one of those people that freak out whenever they try something new and have to read ALL the instructions before they play something new. And also, I am a hardy person. If you want a certain direction for the adventure or your character, just say. Also, seeing as you are OK with it, I would like one more confirmed attendee so we can start with 2-3 players (depending on Mortalbean).

Forward Unto Eternity (D&D 5e, Starting at Level 4)

<Snipped quote by UltikanaRe>

I've already gone through the point buy and made up a rough CS, however, could you clarify that 300 please? I assume that is a mistake, otherwise that's going in my Cha Score and I'm gonna be able to talk lichs into doing the hokey pokey for me just because I said please. I've jumped ahead of the curve.

If that's your decision on dual wielding that's fine. Won't affect me too much and tbh, I find dual wielding more flashy than practical but to each their own.

I wouldn't say it'll blow up in your face, I'd just say that between the levels where spells require sticks, cloth and feathers and the levels where spells require demon's blood, diamonds and jewel encrusted bowls, there won't be much tracking done with a bag of holding full of components. I do see the use of it for higher level spells however, where 1000s of gold pieces are used.

As for my classes, I'm leaning heavily in the direction of the Bard (I just love a smooth talker). Just to clarify though, the homebrew class is not a Witchdoctor, but a Witchhunter. He does not do the witching, he stops the witching. More on that and the News at 10 here

@AceptablyPsycho

Haha, the 300 was just a joke. I will take a look at the witch hunter when I can, just for reference. All sounds great. A smooth talker would be wonderful, as I find charisma to be the most useful stat. Now, how many players do you want? I am only really comfortable with four (I am still relatively new to DMing) but anything below is fine. Just try to let me know so I can plan ahead for when to start Session 0.

Forward Unto Eternity (D&D 5e, Starting at Level 4)

Hi there. Please ignore the post count to the left of the your screen, just pretend it's not there. Yes I'm relatively new to the site itself but, while not a veteran, I'm certainly well adept at Tabletop style RPGs for the last 8-10 years. I was ingrained in Pathfinder as a player and made the move to DM in 5e since getting a group together in my area was a pain in the...well you get the idea.

I think I share the other 2's issues with your home rules, particularly the rolling vs point buy. I'm not that concerned with the spell components as I feel that's quite a low level issue. I mean, once your players get high enough level to create/buy a bag of holding I and just raid the apothecaries with gold...but I digress. I much prefer the roll up stats opposed to the point buy, mainly because I find it informs more about your characters looks, personality, ideals etc etc well past the mechanical aspects. But that's me as a DM. As a player...I can make it work.

As for my OOC application:
Why you are interested in the game? Because I've been DMing for 2 years now, and while I love it, I miss being the character in the world rather than world for the characters

What character(s) are you thinking of playing? Ok, so I've been drawing up characters for my other players (who were all newbies) for 2 years and making up classes using homebrews just toying around so I'm down to 3 ideas, 1 subject you the DMs approval. The first is a Bard styled around the build of being a con artist, spell choices and all reflecting that. The 2nd is a Warlock with an interesting character quirk who owes patronage to the Great Old Ones or equivalent in your world if their are any (Worldbuilders?). The 3rd would be a homebrewed, cliche-filled Witchhunter class (from the Geek and Sundry show Critical Role, love that show). This is the one needing your approval so if it is a straight no, no questions please that is fine.

Why are you thinking of that(those) character(s)? I like trying to play characters that are unique to a point of not hogging the spotlight. I don't enjoy Mary Sue characters, preferring to balance out (as much as possible) any skills in one area with a flaw in another area.

What is your ideal starting settlement? Depends on the character. The bard would probably start out in a relatively small city/large village, probably in a jail cell for some minor transgression. The Warlock in some backwards, superstitious village/hovel that "don't like them there witches!" and the Witchhunter in whatever settlement is on his route.

What general ideals and adventure archetypes do you enjoy? Again, depends on character, but I personally am a big fan of the urban based, investigation style adventures, using skills outside combat in new and interesting ways (Played a semi-one shot of Thieves World in college and loved the setting)
What is your comfortability with the system? I've got all the current source books of 5e and am currently running my own campaign in it. I'm still learning all the intricate rules myself but overall, I'm very comfortable with it, more than I was with PF.

Are there any house rulings you would like to amend, add, or delete? If so, which ones and why? I think my piece above covers the criticisms I had. I do like the food/water rations, I used that in my campaign as well. The reputation idea makes sense and the other suggestion above on notoriety affecting it is good too. Makes sense at higher levels anyway. Not too sure on the dual-wielding myself. I never have and never would but I generally follow the mantra of "can you/should you?" Can you dual wield 2 bastard swords? No, of course not. Even with an 18 Str. Two shortswords? Maybe but there would be penalties for doing so. But DM's word is final on matters (as I've learned).

What is your availability as far as meeting times? Pretty much the same as yours. Weekends/Friday night. Although while school related, I don't believe it would be for the same reasons XD unless I assume too much.

Any questions/beat-downs, shoot me a mention. Peace. AC.

@AceptablyPsycho

Accepted beyond accepted. As far as your house rule concerns go:
Seeing as everybody says they want to roll, I will do 3d6 down the line for everybody who opts in. If anybody does not, up to them to use point buy or standard array. You can opt in for rolling an array (I gave you a 10, 9, 8, 300, 6, and 13, place these how you will) or for rolling down the line (Stats announced regardless of character plans). I have done both, although I haven't done this a ton so I am not sure if one is underpowered or overpowered or whatever.
No dual wielding is going to stay, except maybe for daggers and knifes. Maybe.
If spell casting component tracking blows up in my face, I'll stop it.
As far as your characters go, I am craving a tyrant RP where you start in a dungeon, but that can really happen with all of your classes. If you provide a link for witchdoctor, I will look into it. I have a habit of saying yes to these things, but knowing what you will be doing would be nice.

Kind Regards,
Your new Dungeon Master.