If anyone is willing, I'd like to run an Age of Worms campaign. I'm new to D&D and DMing, and haven't found a group to game with yet in the real world.
So, if anyone still has their 3.0/3.5 books, I like you to consider becoming a player in my game. Just don't be too hard on me if you think my DMing sucks.
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Character Creation Guidelines
- 1st level
- 32 Point Buy
- Random Starting Gold
- Characters must have a background that ties them to Diamond Lake
- No evil alignments
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I'm looking for 4 - 6 players. Savage Species rules and Unearthed Arcana LA Buyoff rules are okay to use.
I've always wanted to play this, gotten into several online versions and the furthest we ever got was about three encounters in. I find myself a little nervous about Savage Species and Unearthed Arcana with a new DM though, those rules messed up a great many games I played, my advice would be, be very sure you know them back to front, because they always seemed to be both broken, and frequently wrongly implemented in games.
How fast would you anticipate going? 1 post per day is probably the most common number, but even with that pace maintained - it rarely is - completing the AP would likely take 3-4 years. Is this something you feel you could realistically commit to as a DM?
Sorry if I sound negative, but I've wanted to play this for years and have been burned a number of times. I would love to lavish attention on a character and finally get to tackle it in grand style!
Sounds fun, and I always like to encourage new DMs! Is there anywhere you would recommend finding setting information on Diamond Lake suitable for players? I can't remember if Age of Worms takes place in the World of Greyhawk (which I'm a fan of from my earliest experiences with D&D) or not...
I've always wanted to play this, gotten into several online versions and the furthest we ever got was about three encounters in. I find myself a little nervous about Savage Species and Unearthed Arcana with a new DM though, those rules messed up a great many games I played, my advice would be, be very sure you know them back to front, because they always seemed to be both broken, and frequently wrongly implemented in games.
How fast would you anticipate going? 1 post per day is probably the most common number, but even with that pace maintained - it rarely is - completing the AP would likely take 3-4 years. Is this something you feel you could realistically commit to as a DM?
Sorry if I sound negative, but I've wanted to play this for years and have been burned a number of times. I would love to lavish attention on a character and finally get to tackle it in grand style!
How much should players post a day? Hmmm, I'd say at least 2 posts a day, with more being encouraged. There should be advance notice of any vacations you may go on, or real life issues, and such that would prevent you from posting.
Sounds fun, and I always like to encourage new DMs! Is there anywhere you would recommend finding setting information on Diamond Lake suitable for players? I can't remember if Age of Worms takes place in the World of Greyhawk (which I'm a fan of from my earliest experiences with D&D) or not...
Yes, the setting is Greyhawk.
For information about Diamond Lake, I recommend downloading Dungeon Magazine Issue #124 and reading Backdrop: Diamond Lake. I also recommend reading Age of Worms Overload.
Okay, I'll knock up a Paladin to submit, though if it looks more like 6 players I might be tempted towards bard. Might take me a few days though as I'll have to refamiliarize myself with a fair bit of 3.5 material.
This sounds interesting, only I don't own any D&D or pathfinder books. I assume this is D&D 3.5? Also what is Age of Worms? Anyway I can find free information Age of worms prebuilt campaign online, or would I be at a huge disadvantage for not owning the books?
I can help with the basics for now. If you need to ask something I'll try to help as much as someone who is a new DM and hasn't gamed with anyone else yet can.
If you like, I can make a character for you, to learn the game with?
Sounds good. I tried to avoid reading any of the material in those two documents that sounded like DM info to me. I'm having a difficult time trying to decide what character to make, though - a lot of possibilities popped into my mind as I read about Diamond Lake! Half-Orc or Dwarf Rogue or Fighter, Human Cleric or Wizard... I'll work on a couple of ideas and see which one ends up appealing most to me.
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This sounds interesting, only I don't own any D&D or pathfinder books. I assume this is D&D 3.5? Also what is Age of Worms? Anyway I can find free information Age of worms prebuilt campaign online, or would I be at a huge disadvantage for not owning the books?I can help with the basics for now. If you need to ask something I'll try to help as much as someone who is a new DM and hasn't gamed with anyone else yet can.
If you like, I can make a character for you, to learn the game with?
Thanks, but I didn't say I was in just yet, I'm busy checking out all the different campaigns and posting to the ones that seem interesting to me. I'll let you know if I'm in for sure.
Sounds good. I tried to avoid reading any of the material in those two documents that sounded like DM info to me. I'm having a difficult time trying to decide what character to make, though - a lot of possibilities popped into my mind as I read about Diamond Lake! Half-Orc or Dwarf Rogue or Fighter, Human Cleric or Wizard... I'll work on a couple of ideas and see which one ends up appealing most to me.
I didn't ruin your fun by allowing you to read the Age of Worms Overload and Dungeon #124, did I? :(
Sounds good. I tried to avoid reading any of the material in those two documents that sounded like DM info to me. I'm having a difficult time trying to decide what character to make, though - a lot of possibilities popped into my mind as I read about Diamond Lake! Half-Orc or Dwarf Rogue or Fighter, Human Cleric or Wizard... I'll work on a couple of ideas and see which one ends up appealing most to me.I didn't ruin your fun by allowing you to read the Age of Worms Overload and Dungeon #124, did I? :(
No, no, not at all! I kinda wish they'd separated player info from DM info better, but I think I avoided Dungeon Mastery stuff well enough that I didn't catch anything too world-shattering. Besides, I'm used to separating player knowledge from character knowledge.
If you had the time, would you be willing to copy/paste or type up a brief summary of the info relevant to players from those sources? I think I got the important stuff, but I don't know if I missed something that I should have read in an effort to avoid DM stuff.
The description of Diamond Lake at the beginning of the Backdrop article was especially evocative. I think I'm leaning toward a Half-Orc Fighter or Rogue at this point...
interesting.
Noticed you're allowing Savage Species...any guidelines you want followed?
Here's a link to an Age of Worms player's guide guide link
interesting.
Noticed you're allowing Savage Species...any guidelines you want followed?Here's a link to an Age of Worms player's guide guide link
Excellent! Thanks for posting that.
How about Psionics Elizabeth, are you happy with that ruleset?
How about Psionics Elizabeth, are you happy with that ruleset?
Sure. If it's not against the Character Creation Guidelines, it can go.
Hmm, Goliath barbarian wielding a Goliath Greathammer...I hope I crit again with it lol
Here's the character I came up with:
Bloody Heck
Half-Orc Male Rogue 1
Alignment: Chaotic Good
STR 14, DEX 16, CON 10, INT 10, WIS 12, CHA 13.
Skills: Appraise +2, Bluff +7, Diplomacy +5, Disable Device +2, Gather Information +5, Intimidate +7, Knowledge (local) +4, Open Lock +5, Search +2, Sense Motive +5.
Feats: Persuasive.
"Bloody" Heck is a thug who works for mine manager Balabar Smenk primarily as a debt collector. However, he hates his job and his boss, and does what he can to help the people who end up owing Smenk money, even going so far as to rob from the rich to make their payments. In return, he asks them to spread rumors about his bloodthirsty ruthlessness, so he can maintain his reputation.
When people in Diamond Lake speak of the thug known as Bloody Heck, they say a lot of things. It is said that he once had a man drawn and quartered by minecarts; that he drained a man's entire body of blood and had it delivered to his surviving family in a wine barrel; that he's the one who cut out Old Mute Whill's tongue, had it sautéed, and ate it while he watched. They say all of these things and worse. And not a blessed one of them is true.
Heck's mother, Phyrene, was a Human woman from Elredd who was abducted by Orc pirates from the Pomarj. She was made a concubine to an Orc chieftain - one of many - and gave birth to a son by him, Heck. However, an adventuring party breached the village and rescued Phyrene. She insisted on being allowed to bring her child, and the adventurers grudgingly agreed. By wounds, disease, curses, treachery, and other means incurred through their misadventure, by the time their ship sailed into port at Hardby, all but one of the adventurers were dead. This last man, Bernac the Lucky, who had originally been hired on as a simple bearer, married Phyrene and moved to the Free City of Greyhawk to enjoy the riches they had recovered from the Orc pirates.
Unfortunately, the god Norebo scorned Bernac; it was said he had burned all of his life's allotment of luck escaping from the Orcs. Before long, he had spent his entire fortune on lavish food and drink and endless gambling in the pleasure dens and smoky taverns of the River Quarter. Bernac, Phyrene and Heck moved from one squalid flat to another, and soon were reduced to squatting in the Slum Quarter. Eventually, the man whom Heck barely knew as "father" was slain in a midnight tavern brawl. Even though he could barely stand to look at Heck, apparently his adopted son was good enough for Bernac to list him as next of kin in order to stand for his outstanding debts. Bereft of money, Heck was sentenced to debtor's prison, but his sentence was commuted to hard labor in the mines of Diamond Lake.
After working the mines for a time, Heck's cleverness was noted by Embrel, a Human thug who worked for one of the mining managers in town, Balabar Smenk. Embrel enticed him with an offer of better work, and Heck, no fool, accepted. Embrel convinced Smenk to hire the half-orc on, and Heck quickly proved his effectiveness as a persuasive enforcer. Heck didn't care for Smenk to begin with, and quickly grew to despise him. However, Smenk was aware of Heck's debt and that he cared for his mother, who also lived in Diamond Lake, so Heck felt he had no choice but to continue working for the man. Still, Heck subverted his master in numerous ways.
First and foremost, Heck felt sympathy for many of the poor wretches who ended up in debt to Smenk. Instead of behaving like most brutes, Heck tried to negotiate amicable solutions with the people he was sent to collect from. Occasionally in the past, Heck has joined Embrel and a small band of thieves to rob houses north of the Vein; much of the coin he made from these hauls were given to Smenk on behalf of debtors who had no way of making their payment. In exchange for his aid, Heck made a simple request to Smenk's debtors: spread rumors about how terribly they suffered under Heck's tender mercies. The more awful and sadistic the tale, the better. This way, "Bloody Heck" became known as an effective thug that no one wanted to tangle with; Smenk was satisfied that he was doing good work, and they would continue to deal with Heck instead of another thug who really would do something terrible to them.
To offset his disgust at helping to fill Smenk's coffers, Heck has anonymously sold inside information to Smenk's competitors - most notably gambling house owner Lazare.
Heck knows this delicate house of cards he's constructed can't stand forever, and when the cards fall, he'll most likely end up stretched out on a rack or scattered across the bottom of a quarry. But this is the only way he can live with himself, and he figures if he's going to die in this wretched pit anyway, it may as well be while helping other people to climb out of it.
Okay going with a Psion Shaper, I should be able to contribute with good knowledge scores, decent hp and a none horrendous AC. He is essentially analogous to a first level wizard, with only 4 power points to see him through the adventuring day.
Raised in a mining family, with little opportunity to employ his obvious intellect Tristan Beltahn was a frustrated child. He lived for his father's stories where he could escape from their dour existence and poverty and encounter magical beasts, powerful magics, and wondrous places.
When Tristan was eleven his father died, in a mine collapse, two of Balabar Smenk's henchman dumped his body on the doorstep of their hovel and left his sobbing widow and child bereft and hopeless. A few of his father's friends helped as well as they could, preventing Tristan and his mother starving, but like all miners they griped and the thing they griped about most was the odious owner Balabar Smenk whose lust for profit overrode safety at every turn.
Tristan nursed a hatred for Smenk, and seeing the bloated fat mine owner strutting down the street he tried to destroy the man with his mind... To Tristan's surprise it worked, the fat mine owner suddenly screaming as his skin began to redden and then burn, until he was rolling on the floor squealing like a pig as his flesh bubbled.
With no outward sign of his manifesting none of Smenk's guards or cronies identified the scrawny starring boy as Smenk's attacker, and things nearly went very ill for the greedy mine owner. But instead Tristan was rapped smartly on the head by a staff, breaking his furious concentration and scowled up to see the wisest man in Diamond Lake the Wizard Allustran looming over him. Smenk survived his ordeal, and to this day suffers from fears of spontaneous combustion, and roast pig jokes.
Allustran simply took him by the ear and dragged him through the streets to his, to Tristan, palatial residence.
"I do not know how you were doing that lad, but I recognize a person concentrating on a spell when I see one. Why did you attack Smenk, toad that he is, and what magic was that?"
After Tristan's stammered, baffled replies, and hearing about his father's death Allustan took in both the boy and his mother. His mother Magda, soon became Allustan's cook, while Tristan spent his days studying with the wizard, or in his library. To both of their frustration Tristan proved unable to master the meanest of conventional magics, but through experimentation they discovered that he could produces magical effects simply by focusing his mind.
He could make things heat, as he had Smenk, he could produce a white malleable substance for a few seconds and manipulate its movements, and he could attack minds creating a piercing agony akin to a terrible migraine. Allustan had him take up sculpting, which he proved extremely talented at, in order to help him master his control of the white substance, which they eventually identified as ectoplasm.
Tristan spent the next six years earning a modest, but comfortable living as a sculptor, and trying to perfect his mental powers with Allustan's aid. He came to love the wizard as a second father, and life was good. But Balabar Smenk continued to make the lives of his miners a misery and Tristan retains his hatred of the man, though he now believes simply killing the man would be wrong - mostly.
Now at age seventeen, and with his mother safe, he wishes to explore the world and strengthen his abilities. Allustan is a great teacher, but simply does not understand his strange abilities well enough to advance them, so Tristan seeks to enhance them through usage putting them to use in adventures like those his father used to speak of.
Well, that was...background-appropriate. Best to get those bad rolls out now, I guess.
Sounds great so far! And to the Savage Species guidelines question from Spazmodeus: If you are playing a monster, it should start as 1st level in a Monster Class, taking into account the 3.5 rules that may have changed anything.
Well, that was...background-appropriate. Best to get those bad rolls out now, I guess.
Actually, the Random Starting Gold for a Rogue in the Player's Handbook is 5d4. And you x 10 the amount.
Well, that was...background-appropriate. Best to get those bad rolls out now, I guess.Actually, the Random Starting Gold for a Rogue in the Player's Handbook is 5d4. And you x 10 the amount.
Ah! So it is; I must have written it down wrong. Good thing about the multiplier, too, or else you would have seen a guy in sackcloth with a club and some rocks. But a character is more than the sum of his equipment, I say. I'll just get an opportunity to test that aphorism if you accept me to the game. ^_^
This is Broken Prince's Psion, still need to change the sheet up a bit, designed on herolab and I don't hav the 3.5 license so still some stuff to transpose.
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x 10 = 70 Starting Gold
I'ed like to submit a Sorcerer character for this game. I am quite interested in trying out an Age of Worms game in Greyhawk. I have used the Complete Arcane for some feats if that is ok as the 3.5 sorcerer is not a very good class unless you have access to the Dragon Heritage feats as there is no other bloodlines in 3.5.
Broken Prince: In 3.5 D&D I think you could have only have 3 feats at 1st-level, 1 for your level, a bonus for your race (human), and a bonus (psionic) for your class (psion). Quite a lot considering 1st-level character are only supposed to get 1 feat.
So for example you could have:
Wild Talent
Improved Initiative
Psicrystal Affinity
3d4 x 10 = 70 Starting Gold
I'ed like to submit a Sorcerer character for this game. I am quite interested in trying out an Age of Worms game in Greyhawk. I have used the Complete Arcane for some feats if that is ok as the 3.5 sorcerer is not a very good class unless you have access to the Dragon Heritage feats as there is no other bloodlines in 3.5.
Looks like a good character to me!
So far, we have
"Bloody" Heck, Half-Orc Rogue
Tristan Beldan, Human Psion (Shaper)
Tanya Veldon, Human Sorcerer
I would like to move into the actual game by the end of the week, so please, if anyone else wants to join, submit a character by Sunday.
Using flaws from Unearthed Arcana Elizabeth, not a problem to drop them but its a legal and in my experience common option for 3.5. You can find information on it on d20srd HERE, you basically take a penalty of some kind in order to gain a feat, I had taken noncombatant and murky eyed. They are a powerful option as players invariably pick those that disadvantage them the least, but with Age of Worms being renowned for its difficulty I thought I 'd go for broke!
Using flaws from Unearthed Arcana Elizabeth, not a problem to drop them but its a legal and in my experience common option for 3.5. You can find information on it on d20srd HERE, you basically take a penalty of some kind in order to gain a feat, I had taken noncombatant and murky eyed. They are a powerful option as players invariably pick those that disadvantage them the least, but with Age of Worms being renowned for its difficulty I thought I 'd go for broke!
Damn, I'd forgotten the flaws from Unearthed Arcana. I didn't have access to my copy when I made that post. Sorry bout that, you're good to go then.
Should be all ready to go. Swapped out Able Learner - though it pains me - to pick up a Psicrystal.
It has been forever since I have done 3.5 o.O
Are Goliath playable since they are Races of Stone book?
Just so I'm clear...if one chooses a monster , you take the 1st level as that monster class, then at 2nd level you take a regular class level.
So, one would have to choose a +1 level adjustment monster race.
I believe I can answer both of those from the information Elizabeth has already given - excuse my presumption!
@Gilthanis, yes should be fine since all official sources seem to be allowed. though since its available you might simply consider going Half Ogre if you wish to go that route.
@Spazmodeus, no not really it depends on the monster many are more complicated than that you really need to read and familiarize with the rules in Savage Species - at least regarding your particular monster preference. I do not believe we have been limited to level adjustment +1 races.
I found this Savage Species character generator which should be useful and cut down on mistakes, but I'd strongly advise double checking everything as these rules are complex and wonky.
I believe I can answer both of those from the information Elizabeth has already given - excuse my presumption!
@Gilthanis, yes should be fine since all official sources seem to be allowed. though since its available you might simply consider going Half Ogre if you wish to go that route.
@Spazmodeus, no not really it depends on the monster many are more complicated than that you really need to read and familiarize with the rules in Savage Species - at least regarding your particular monster preference. I do not believe we have been limited to level adjustment +1 races.
I found this Savage Species character generator which should be useful and cut down on mistakes, but I'd strongly advise double checking everything as these rules are complex and wonky.
What he said. :)
Yeah its confusing but I think I've got it figured out.
And figuring it out means I'll be dropping those ideas :)
Back to the drawing board... at least I have till Sunday.
I would like to join the game with Aurora, priestess of Pelor.
Background: Aurora has been sent to Diamond Lake as a healer and to assist with mundane and/or supernatural threats.
Build: Aurora is a female human Cleric of Pelor, with the Healing and Sun domains, planning to become a Radiant Servant.
Wait, a Adventure Path that allows one to play a frickin' Drider?
I am completely unfamiliar with Age of Worms. But I can't pass up the chance to play a Drider. Will make an alias shortly.
Quick question. As Drider has 6HD and 4LA and 10 Savage Species Levels to represent this, would I be allowed to use LA buy-off as we go?
<-- Escheton Drider Alias, (WiP)
Chosen sorcerer spellcasting, so rolling sorcerer gold. Correct me if needed. x10gp
There should be no conflict between the sorcerers (on a crunch level), Kronzt is far from a full caster, and is more going the gishy route rather than the casty route.
On build note: would we be allowed to retrain feats at some point perhaps? I don't know how the character will progress in detail, but 2 of my 4 available feats over the first 10 levels I have to pick now. Getting the prereq's for possible prestiges might become an issue otherwise.
Kronzt you seem to have a 34 point buy by my count, and the generator appears to agree.
Maybe Str 18 Dex 16 Con 14 Int 18 Wis 8 Cha 10? Or Str 18 Dex 16 Con 14 Int 12 Wis 8 Cha 16 if you stuck with sorcerer?
18 strength costs 17 points, 16 costs 10.
Right now I have racial +2 dex, +2 int, +2 cha
Stats 16str(10bp), Dex14(5bp),con14(5bp), int12(2bp), wis10(0bp),cha16(10bp) totaling 32.
I went with sorcerer over wizard because the spell-like abilities are based off charisma. And I figured it would be nice.
A closer look tells me that won't be needed much.
But one of the benefits of wizard over sorcerer is bonus feats. Cleric has turning. Seeing as I as a drider only get the casting I figured the sorcerer would be nice. My skillpoints are also set. So it matters not which I pick for anything but casting.
I shall consider wizard casting though.
Unsolicited or not, thanks.
Making this character does strongly remind me why I favor Pathfinder skills though.
I stand corrected :)
Now, I have been looking around for ways to get certain skills in class. As the Drider is rather limited in that regard and it locks my next 10 levels. So no dipping for fun and profit...
So I was wondering if the Apprentice feat from DMG II would be viable. I would need a level 10-ish sorcerer npc to pay tithes to and do weekly errants or chores. Lest I get abandoned.
<-- Escheton Drider Alias, (WiP)
Chosen sorcerer spellcasting, so rolling sorcerer gold. Correct me if needed. 3d4x10gp
There should be no conflict between the sorcerers (on a crunch level), Kronzt is far from a full caster, and is more going the gishy route rather than the casty route.
On build note: would we be allowed to retrain feats at some point perhaps? I don't know how the character will progress in detail, but 2 of my 4 available feats over the first 10 levels I have to pick now. Getting the prereq's for possible prestiges might become an issue otherwise.
I think we'd be able to find time for you to retrain feats at some point.
Now, I have been looking around for ways to get certain skills in class. As the Drider is rather limited in that regard and it locks my next 10 levels. So no dipping for fun and profit...
So I was wondering if the Apprentice feat from DMG II would be viable. I would need a level 10-ish sorcerer npc to pay tithes to and do weekly errants or chores. Lest I get abandoned.
Hmmm. Perhaps.
Okay, it's Sunday, so everyone who wants to be considered should have their sheets completed by tonight.
Manasseh, "Bloody" Heck is already in.