I'll need to look at your profiles and build things in HL before we get too far here... That will have to happen tomorrow as I know I won't have time to yet tonight.
I have Talbert and Dutch built in my Hero Lab. I've saved the portfolio as well as PDF character sheets (and a PDF spellbook for Talbert) in a Google Drive folder that is linked at the top of the campaign.
Here it is as well. Whosawhatsis, please do me a favor and check out the character sheets and make sure everything is as you want it. Hero Lab checks everything against the rules, to make sure things are within "normal" ranges. I did remove one of the background skills from Talbert and replaced it with alchemical tool training.
Syrus, whenever you've got the particulars for your characters, I'll be ready to build them in HL, and then we can get things going. :)
Dutch's sheet looks good, except that (after I "sold back" a couple of items last night and bought some others), she should have 17.5gp
Talbert should only have 10gp. Also, there doesn't seem to be a place for spells that are in his spellbook but not memorized, but Find Familiar should be on that list. Otherwise, that looks good. I hadn't gotten around to figuring out the age/height/weight info for either, so I may still want to fiddle with those.
Edit: ah, there's a separate spellbook document.
Fellas --
I have been sitting still for the past hour, trying to get to the point where I can get this idea, these characters, *off the ground* in my head. And it's just not happening.
I am experiencing more frustration than fun in just trying to fit the bits and pieces together to finish the character builds. I don't know where the disconnect is (and I've been wracking my brain to identify it), but it *is* there, and it's seriously buzzkilling my enjoyment.
If I can find a way to get to that sweet spot, maybe I'll be able to get out of this snail's pace crawl. As it stands, though, I'm just f$$@ing lost in the woods.
I don't know that I'm gonna be able to make this happen, Mended.
It helped me a lot when we started bouncing ideas back and forth. Maybe if you share a little more of what you have in mind, we can come up with some ideas to fill in the cracks.
Okay, first, take a breath. This is not a life or death situation. Then, tell me, what is it you want the character sheet to say that you can't get it to say? Perhaps you're too close to the forest, and now you can't see anything but trees? I can already see your characters in my head, part of the reason for that is, there are only so many mechanical choices at first level. There are a lot more narrative choices at 1st level, background, ideals, bonds, flaws, personality... Let's start there. I know you've got a good idea of what those things look like for these characters? Right? So, let's start there, and then we can move organically into which mechanical options fit those ideas... That's how I usually build characters anyway, and I've actually found that 5e makes that process easier as opposed to harder.
I guess, putting it another way, maybe you need to take you out of your own way? Know what I mean? Stop focusing on the bits and pieces. Tell me what you want the end result to look like, and I can help you get that character on paper... Sound good?
Lastly, if there's anybody I know that can do this. It is you. That's why you two were my first choices.
We're telling a story, Highland mystic leaves self-imposed exile because he feels a thinning in the barrier between worlds, seeks the help of his clan elders who send with him one of their warriors who likes to spend most of his time in the attempt to sire children out of some twisted sense of duty to his ancestors... See it? I can see it already...
Another thing that sometimes helps me is digging through the avatar options. Paizo has a very limited selection, so once I have a general idea what I'm looking for (you seem to have at least enough of an idea for this), I start scrolling through the options and downloading the ones that might work (don't forget to write down what page you found them on, or you can just create an alias and change its avatar to the first one that looks like it will work, then continue through the list to see if there's a better option).
There often isn't a perfect fit (my human wizard's image is of a half-elf, and my half-elf rogue's image is a changeling), but getting those visual details can help inspire some of the details (plus the distraction can help if you're feeling blocked).
That discord link expired, but if Mended wants to post another, we could also jump on that, if you think it would help. I've never used discord, but I'm not opposed to trying it.
You need the alias profile in order to HL the character(s), Mended?
I don't need the profile, for who's characters I used the myth weavers sheet to build them.
If you guys want to jump on the discord, here's the link. I set it to never expire now. I won't be on there for a bit as family dinner is about to happen, but I'll jump on there as quick as I can. It's just text chat, but works well with mobile phones, and it also has the 5e rules built in as a "bot."
If you don't want to use the discord, give me some specific problems Syrus, so I can try and help address them.
Won't be able to Discord this evening --got some things to do.
whosa -- thanks for the recommendations. I think the avatar image bit may help quite a lot.
Mended -- I may just feed you what I've got by tomorrow, then let you HL 'em up, and then get the aliases finalized from there. I'm beginning to think *part* of the issue is second-guessing myself -- not from a metagame standpoint, but because some of what I'm supposed to pick (or is mandated by background and such) doesn't quite feel right. Sorta . . . "extraneous". Relevant, sure, at some point, but seemingly . . . disparate in the now.
More tomorrow, gents.
Till then, good evening! :)
I hadn't gotten around to figuring out the age/height/weight info for either, so I may still want to fiddle with those.
Talbert's story indicates that he was at least 20 before he joined the academy, and that he was in his third year there, so let's call him 23 years old. He's also tall and gangly, so let's say 5'11", maybe 130lb.
Dutch was still a teenager when she left Tradebay, and has been kicking around Rydwyrna for a couple of years since then. Let's call her 19 years old. Half elves are taller and thinner on average than their human counterparts, but I still picture her as shorter than Talbert. Probably about 5'7" and just shy of 100lb... let's say 98. That would be underweight for a human female, but for a half-elf, it would probably be just a little on the thin side. Not well-muscled (STR: 7), and it gives her room to add padding to look thicker for disguise purposes.
Btw, this is a useful tool for figuring out what different height/weight combinations would look like (for medium-sized humanoids, anyway). Also, these sites let you search for photos of men and women by height and weight, as well as body shape.
The personality traits, flaws, etc. that they suggest are just that: suggestions. I find there's usually something appropriate on the list, but if you don't, you can always make up your own along the same lines. You can even, with GM approval, customize the backgrounds with options that aren't there (like I did with trading a skill for proficiency with alchemist's tools).
The personality traits, flaws, etc. that they suggest are just that: suggestions. I find there's usually something appropriate on the list, but if you don't, you can always make up your own along the same lines. You can even, with GM approval, customize the backgrounds with options that aren't there (like I did with trading a skill for proficiency with alchemist's tools).
This! 100% You know me Syrus, you know that if there's something we both want to do, we'll find a way to get it done, and, as I mentioned before, I do believe 5e encourages that very thing. Exactly like with Talbert. We exchanged one of his skill proficiencies with a tool proficiency because it made sense for his character... Don't let the bits and pieces tell you what to do. We'll make the bits and pieces fit with your ideas. For personality, ideals, bonds, flaws, all that, we'll adjust all that however, including making it all up from scratch if you want to. :)
Who, everything is adjusted as you said. At least I think it is, take a look and let me know if anything else needs tweaking.
Syrus, hit me with whatever you've got whenever you've got it. :)
Talk later gents. :)
I assigned those images as the character images in HL, and saved them in the shared Google Folder. I then updated the PDF character sheets with the new images. Everything else look good, whos?
Okay, let's go at this again:
Brash McReckless
-- variant Human Outlander Barbarian (Ancestral Guardian)
Alignment: Neutral
Str 16
Dex 12
Con 16
Int 8
Wis 14
Cha 15
Gear: 6 gp, traveler's clothes, explorer's pack, hunting trap, shield, longsword, javelin (x4)
Encumbrance: 105 lbs/240
Skills: Athletics, Animal Handling, Intimidation, Perception, Performance (man-whore), Survival
Languages: Common, three others*
Tools: musical instrument**, one other***
Expertise: ?****
------------
* - I'm not sure what languages would make sense here. Perhaps Dwarven, Orcish, and a regional/national variant?
** - I don't know what I'd want to do here. A horn or drum might make sense, but I don't see Brash as a musician. Maybe swap over to one of the gambling items?
*** - And I have an extra tool proficiency . . . .
**** - Where to put the Expertise bonus . . . . Performance (man-whore) just for kicks? From a metagame perspective, I was thinking Perception, above all, but that's just . . . boring.
So here's my thoughts. Brash is the typical warrior poet. A man who attempts to suck all the marrow out of life because he knows how fleeting it is, has watched countless friends and loved ones die. His performance is oratory. He woos women with poetic words, and bests men with them while gaming (I definitely see a gaming set of some kind being his "instrument"). Brash knows that the only way a man leaves behind a legacy is through his children (ancestors...). Yet, he also sees the security in something well built, and has built more than a few things himself out of the plentiful wood that grows in the mountain valleys (tools: carpentry). He speaks Common, obviously, and learned to speak dwarf to deal with traders, and orc and goblin so that he could ferret out the holes and nests of their most common enemies, for he is often one to volunteer for border patrol (expertise in Survival).
Do all those fit with your ideas of Brash's character?
Thinking about this further, it made me realize that a man who understands the power words can wield would find it easy to be the traveling companion of a warlock and a wizard, especially two such who are bent on finding the meaning and impact of ancient words that have since lost all meaning...
Sure. Survival gets the Expertise benefit . . . . Well . . . . Hang on. Does the Wanderer feature make that a bit redundant?
In the now, "Brash" can hear the whispers of his ancestors. He *knows* their strength will be at his beck and call before long; and that *definitely* ties in with his urge to procreate -- he wants to be an ancestor spirit once his life has ended gloriously.
Dwarven, Orc, Goblin approved for linguistics.
"Murrlinn" forthcoming.
Ooooh, changed my mind. A hunting horn, a la Boromir of Gondor... Instead of a gaming set, for his performance tool. Obviously, these are all your choices, I just saw Brash carrying a hunting horn at his side...
Wanderer feature? You mean for his origin?
Brash is looking good, I'll still need two personality traits, ideal, bond, flaw, and outlander origin. That and any image you want associated with it. :) Otherwise I think he's all set. Oh, gaming set? Which one, dice, three dragon ante, dragon chess?
Here's the biggest question regarding the warlock: what feat to choose?
War Caster seems good, if rather counter to his stats and origin, in a way. Ritual Caster could be good . . . . Any recommendations?
The wanderer feature for outlander background: essentially, auto-hunt/gather for up to six in terrain with plants, wild game, water sources, etc.
Okay, looking at the Wanderer feature of your background, I do think that makes putting expertise in Survival somewhat redundant. Though survival could be used to find your way in unfamiliar territory and to follow tracks... Would you prefer Expertise be put somewhere else then?
I like War Caster purely for the ability to use spells in place of melee attacks for OAs, and for advantage on all Con checks to maintain concentration. A highlander warlock, even a hermit would have used magic at war more so than any other way...
We'll just run with Survival for Expertise.
Bond: Barbabyans for the horde!!
Ideal: Glory!!
Flaw:
Trait: Caution is for the weak
Trait:
Origin: tribal marauder
Flaw: Lust, I never met the woman I didn't want to bed, attached or otherwise. (Point being his cuckolding has probably landed him in hot water of a time, and may do so again?)
Trait: Moody, My moods are as capricious and unpredictable as the weather, you never know which *me* you're going to get. Edit: this fits with a man whose literal name is brash - impulsive.
Brash may serve as a nickname -- still trying to figure out where I want to go with those.
For the instrument, I can picture him with a flute or recorder that he would play by the fire at night. You could also really play up the highlander angle and go with bagpipes. Trading out the instrument for a gaming set would work, too.
For the tool, how about an herbalism kit? You could, of course, also trade this one for a gaming set.
War Caster is definitely a good choice for a warlock. Ritual caster would be a flavorful option. If you go with Ritual Caster, you'll have to decide which spell list to use. Obviously, you wouldn't want to go with Warlock. Wizard is probably mechanically the best, and it would give you access to Find Familiar, but it would be a little redundant with a wizard in the party, and probably not the most fitting character-wise. I think druid is probably the best option flavor-wise, given what we know of his background.
If you do go with "Brash" as the character's name (not just a nickname that was given to him because it was descriptive), I would come up with something that it is short for, like Brashton, Brashengar, Haellenbrash, etc.
Here's one.
And another.
Great! How about physical descriptions? Brash looks like a Khal Drogo type. Maybe early thirties, 6'4", 230ish lb?
I'm imagining Orwyll as older... late 40s at least, maybe older? From the stats you mentioned, I'm thinking short and scrawny, probably no more than 5'3" (if he stands up straight, but I would imagine him being sort of hunched-over most of the time), and 100lb soaking wet?
I'll have to get Orwyll better lined up tomorrow. Need to sleep.
Ooooooh, I love the avatars you picked!!! I feel like this party of four is destined for mighty deeds...
Can't wait to drop some Draconic lore on you all in Gameplay...
Whosawahtsis, I'm absolutely loving your continued backstory there. Much awesomeness! The developing "love/hate" relationship that exists between Dutch and Talbert, with the book as the focal point, is going to certainly lead to some great interactive roleplay later. I'm most excited now to see what happens with Brash the seducer when he meets Dutch!!! No doubt he'll be trying to woo her with his words and deeds until he's bedded her... So, yeah, probably going to be some adult content in this game, eh? XD
Even more excited now than I was when this was just an idea. :) Syrus, just wanted to say, take your time. We're in no rush.
I've actually envisioned both Brash *and* Orwyll as somewhat younger -- Brash about 26 (and maybe 6'2", 220 lbs -- inside linebacker build), and Orwyll . . . . Well, kinda like an "old soul, new-ish body" -- 22, maybe. And Orwyll was gonna be gangly -- 6'5" or so, but walks so hunched over that he *might* hit 5'10" or so. Though that might be too steep a stoop. Who knows? I may completely reimagine his physical characteristics between now and 4 PM . . . .
I've actually envisioned both Brash *and* Orwyll as somewhat younger -- Brash about 26 (and maybe 6'2", 220 lbs -- inside linebacker build), and Orwyll . . . . Well, kinda like an "old soul, new-ish body" -- 22, maybe. And Orwyll was gonna be gangly -- 6'5" or so, but walks so hunched over that he *might* hit 5'10" or so. Though that might be too steep a stoop. Who knows? I may completely reimagine his physical characteristics between now and 4 PM . . . .
So the young and the reckless versus the young and the wise... Except, isn't Charisma the warlock casting stat? :P
Not so much "old and wise" as "burdened with knowledge too terrible to utter". It seems to me that such a weight would age a man beyond his years -- and perhaps even account for his strange physical weakness. Part of the plan is to play him as though he's lost in thought nearly all the time, talking to himself and anyone in earshot about things that make little sense. But probably little louder than a whisper, usually. The occasional outburst will happen, and he'll likely perform "rituals" involving random items at odd times, but he's generally harmless . . . . Just freaky-weird.
The glowing eyes of the avatar I picked fit in with a flavor element that struck me while I was pondering a specific patron (still unsure about that, but no matter). Whether from his eyes, ears, nostrils, wherever, Orwyll will occasionally exude sparkling "starstuff", and he's always cold -- as though he is a conduit to his patron's dwelling in the void beyond.
Feedback?
Feedback???
Ummm... yeah. AWESOME! This game is already one of the best I've played in, and it has barely even started yet!!! Thanks to both of you for fulfilling all my wildest dreams about how excellent this game would be. :)
Talbert, Dutch, Caelbrash, and Orwyll will undoubtedly tell one of the great stories D&D has ever seen.
Edit: Do give some details about this specific patron you've been pondering...
Well.
I had the idea that my patron might be Hadar or Agathys (totally unfamiliar with their particular lore, but Hadar seems *hungry*, and Agathys *frosty*), or a combination of the two. This was going to tie in with Orwyll's spell selections and random mutterings. Part of the angle for Hadar was that he/it was, in part, responsible for the breaking of the (orange?) moon, so he/it could eat it up (and gain power, increase darkness, etc.). Orwyll *dreads* looking into the sky, particularly at night -- fearing he'll see something he knows is there, but doesn't want to admit. Agathys, on the other hand, would be the source of Orwyll's constant chills, and the root of his propensity to wake rimed in frost (and likely layered in ice once his tome is delivered to him). I'm not yet sure where his daily oddities would be colored by the tie to Agathys . . . though the constant chills he feels could be played up in various ways.
Ah. Agathys is a *place-name*. Hmmmmmm.
EDIT: Reckon Hadar has a tiny stronghold/divine-ish influence somewhere on Agathys? He/It consumes the chilly power, and it, in turn, is channeled to Orwyll?
I'll look into both Hadar and Agathys a bit more. It is soooo funny that you mentioned the broken moon Thgol. I was having imaginings of Thgol actually being some sort of celestial egg for our version of Tiamat, and the destruction actually came from the inside out, rather than some cosmic collision... I imagined "Tiamat" or whatever we want to call her/him, escaping when the moon broke, and then being bound in some planar prison by Amren, sort of like a Zeus versus Chronos kind of a thing. It was all just nebulous imaginings, but there's definitely potential there, especially since we both had a narrative that involved Thgol. :D
I popped a bunch of stuff up in the discord, check it at your convenience. It will be easier to chat about significant new lore revolving around Orwyll there I think, than here. Less disjointed at least.
I dug into my books yesterday and found out that Carceri, the plane where the "sphere" Agathys is located is the prison plane of the Lower Planes. It is, specifically, where creatures of evil are imprisoned so that they can no longer directly influence the material plane. Don't remember where I read it, the DMG or the MM, but it specifically says, portals to Carceri only open one way, letting things in, never letting them out. Which would mean that a being would have to be powerful indeed to even thin the veil between worlds enough to allow their own power and influence to seep through. Which is fine with me. If we are blending Tiamat and Hadar into one ancient being, who is now imprisoned in the plane Carceri on level Agathys, whatever it/he/she is, it/he/she is extremely powerful, and would have been locked away for quite some time. If the destruction of the moon Thgol was somehow a result of that being's attempts to escape Agathys/Carceri, that would have happened sixty-three years ago by Republic reckoning. One could easily assume that hunks of that moon plummeted to Eafphqu and buried themselves in different locales. One could also assume that those hunks of meteorite would hold some kind of residual power left over from the being's attempt to break through its prison barriers. Further, one might reasonably expect that bringing all those objects together, and blending some kind of magical power into them, would be exactly what is needed to help said being finally break the seals of her prison and manifest in a physical form in the material plane. Interestingly... If one were going to try and prevent others from doing that, the very best way to do so would be to find all those objects first, and either collect them themselves to keep them out of the wrong hands, or collect them and then give them to various entities that could protect them. Either way, once a person who understood what was trying to be done, understood what was trying to be done, they might take it upon themselves to seek out these objects before anyone else could...
Sounds like a really great story, doesn't it?!
<.<
>.>
Sounds good to me! :D
Though I must confess that I would find it even better if there's that tension point between "Tiamat" and "Hadar", so far as Orwyll is concerned. Two separate monolithic entities vying for the means to be set loose on the "Prime Material" plane for the first time in eons. The sundering of Thgol could be spun as a 'first step' on this path to "resurrection" -- not that it was the prison itself, but the "Great Seal" locking them (and perhaps others) away . . . . "Tiamat" is able to make moves through her followers now becaue Hadar broke Thgol -- a massive expenditure of power, and the reason why Orwyll is one of *very few* recipients of Hadar's power.
And, IIRC, the orcs had a particular affinity for Thgol, correct? Perhaps their Gruumsh/"Odin"-esque analog sacrificed his eye to form the moon to complete the binding . . . . And orc warriors and 'medicine men' wear orange raiment to pay homage to the sacrifices required for war and knowledge . . . .
I'm fully on board for all of that. Zogus is the orc god, and orange is actually one of his sacred colors. Zogus also teaches that knowledge is the true power for victory.
So we're talking about a cult trying to bring back our version of Tiamat, but Orwyll's patron is actually going to be a "weakened" version of Hadar who expended a great deal of power breaking Thgol, which was a major sealing ward of Carceri. Orwyll's use of Hadar's power can help further his (Orwyll's) goals on Eafphqu, but at the same time, every ounce of power he uses helps to send power from the material plane back to Hadar, strengthening him. Anything fleshier than that we can make up as we go. It gives us a strong spine from which to work. Now we just need to come up with the names of these two dark beings... Suggestions gentlemen?