Dotting for interest.
Hey Jiggy, I'm just coming to grips with the system - I played 5e in two short lived PbP's during the playtests, a Gondsman Druid and Half-Orc Monk.
Thinking of a Water Elf Druid, though I'll only be using the SRD to draw from.
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@Alyksandrei - Jiggy said we could determine stats any way we liked - I'm going fairly standard 4d6 remove the lowest.
@Jiggy - I've read the recruitment post, but I don't see any mention of backgrounds. I seem to remember they are fairly integral to 5e, though they irk me personally as being too prescriptive.
Okay this is OSW's alias so far. Spoiler contains in-character text.
I have a few more questions:
* I'm not understanding how skills work - I get that I get some from my class (I chose Nature and Survival) but how do I progress in others?
* Do I add my proficiency bonus to skills I gain from my class?
* Do I get max hitpoints at first, and then average after that?
* Is encumbrance a big deal in 5e?
Apart from those questions, I think I'm getting it. I need to look over the spells a little more (the cantrip Druidcraft seems to have disappeared since the playtest...) and choose equipment.
"Well, that is interesting!"
Standing up from her crouched position, Naia scanned the mix of brush and sedge on the slope that in all seasons was the gathering place for many creatures, both big and small. The coincidence of sandstone and slope formed these natural wet areas known as hanging swamps, outgrowths of a multitude of plants that gave rise to a host of natural inter-relationships. Larger fauna came to drink, insects to pollinate, insectivorous plants to decompose the unwary aforementioned; lizards, invertebrates. Algae and fungis. A myriad of complex and ever-fascinating communities.
All now distinctly...gone. The plants soughed quietly in the light wind, as if hollowly calling to the memory of life now gone.
"Ayup - noticed it just t' other day when I cam to check on my..traps." The rough, if kindly trapper scratched himself with a hint of nervousness - calling the water spirit here was tricksy enough without having to admit to plundering her wellspring.
"Pardon, miss." he added by way of apology.
Naia's face betrayed a slight flicker of annoyance, but more at the man's lack of conviction than his honesty.
"Pay it no mind Karn. We each have our place in the spiralling eddies of life and death. The elf maid favored the human with her best appropriation of a smile before turning back to look upon what frankly unnerved her more than anything she had ever experienced.
"What matters here is the strangeness. I must ask the elder spirits what they make of this. It is unlike nature to be so...empty...
The trapper frowned, now even more worried that the spirit was troubled. Losing supper was one thing, but troubled spirits was another thing entirely...
I've based Naia more loosely on old 1e Oriental Adventures Spiritfolk, having a spirtitual connection to natural features.
Okay so I'm just using the Guide Background, only not using any tools. Nature spirit and all that.
I have my skills from Class: (changed from Nature to) Perception, and ( changed from Survival to) Insight.
I have my skills from my Background: Athletics, Nature and Survival.
Do these all gain Proficiency bonus?
***Also, I think I would prefer the Circle of the Moon, but I only have access on the SRD to Circle of the Land - now I just have to choose between Coast or Swamp....
= 15
= 11
= 14
= 16
= 10
16, 15, 15, 14, 11, 10
Naia, you apply your proficiency bonus to every skill you are proficient in. When your proficiency bonus increases, those skills also increase. You do not generally progress in skills you aren't proficient in. However, the DC for most skill checks is rarely higher than 20 so you should always have a chance at success.
Max hp at first level. Average after that.
Encumbrance is not a big deal.
@Naia Druidcraft cantrip is still in.
* I'm not understanding how skills work - I get that I get some from my class (I chose Nature and Survival) but how do I progress in others?
You don't "progress" in skills. For any given skill, you're either proficient or not. If you're not, it's a flat ability check. If you are, it's an ability check plus your proficiency bonus. This is the same math used for pretty much all d20 rolls in 5E.
* Do I add my proficiency bonus to skills I gain from my class?
What you're choosing from your class is which of those skills to be proficient in. See above.
* Do I get max hitpoints at first, and then average after that?
I did actually forget to specify this; I apologize. We'll go with max at 1st and static/average after that.
* Is encumbrance a big deal in 5e?
Until someone tries to do something dumb, I'm not interested in dealing with encumbrance.
OK, all done...I hope!!
@Naia Tam—I see your background granting three skill proficiencies, but backgrounds only grant two skills (plus two languages/tools). Where did you find that background?
Posting another updated list of character submissions, for my own easy reference later:
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Completed Character Submissions:
Teo Brisset (sorcerer)
Gwenifer White (fighter)
Shikyomaru Kuro (monk)
Finlogan (ranger/fighter)
Varis Liadon (fighter)
Wraith (rogue)
Naia Tam (druid)
Have I missed anyone in this tally?
@GMJ - good catch - it was a c+p error from my playtest druid. ;) I'll drop Athletics.
* Also I see you specified that Water Elves were inland so I'll go with Swamp.
I'm thinking a fish-leather clad elfin, who isn't completely primitive, but neither is she particularly urbane. Sent by her elders to the "village" to gather information on what might have cuased a sudden biological anomaly in her catchment.
- Ok, I now need to update HP, gather equipment (and determine AC) and then read up on spells.
@Shikyomaru and Peachbottom - thanks for all the help!
D'oh, I thought I would be able to get a character together but alas, I have not. This looks like a really good game but I won't be able to put forth a viable character. Maybe next time.
My character is pretty much done mechanically. I have a background and will post my proper application in a little bit. It's late here and I've run out of creative energy for tonight..
I had a query about languages. I'd quite like a historical/ancient language besides common, dwarvish and orcish - any suggestions? Goblin or something similar would work as well if there isnt an obvious candidate.
Character looks good Steve - right down to the macros!
Can you tell me how your attack calculations were arrived at - you have +4 to each attack across melee and ranged weapons?!?!
I see you have (among other things) -1 to Str, +2 to Dex, +2 Proficiency....is there a war cleric feature I'm missing? Other things?
* I'm currently digesting bookrat's 5e Advice for Pathfinder Players - I see Steve and Jiggy are in there...
Can you tell me how your attack calculations were arrived at - you have +4 to each attack across melee and ranged weapons?!?!
I see you have (among other things) -1 to Str, +2 to Dex, +2 Proficiency....is there a war cleric feature I'm missing? Other things?
Both the short sword and the scimitar have the finesse tag, which means that you can calculate to hit and damage using either strength or dexterity. It is similar to the throw (I think that's what it's called) tag which allows you to make ranged attacks with either strength or dexterity.
Thanks Patrik! I've now checked the relevant Weapons page on the SRD - it seems I had vaguely remembered the Versatile property for spears...
Moving through the forest, Timias slowed as he heard noises up ahead. Instinctively reaching for his crossbow, he held it ready as the newcomers approached. As they came into view, he put up his weapon as he saw they were obviously uniformed guards. The armed men stiffened as they saw the heavily armed cleric but relaxed slightly as the crossbow was unloaded.
"State your business, old man!" ordered the lead guard.
"I'm seeking Linhaus," answered Timias. "Even a wandering priest of battle needs somewhere safe to rest" And a good, stiff drink he thought to himself.
The leader of the squad took in Timias's holy symbol and well maintained weapons and armor. Nodding to himself he indicated back the way they'd been travelling. "Follow that path a few hundred yards," he explained. "You'll meet the main road into the city."
Nodding in reply, Timias moved past the patrol and headed towards Linhaus. Would he find the redemption he sought here? Or would this be yet another in the ever growing list of towns happy to see him but happier to see him go?
In terms of my final language, would Ancient Hilvan be acceptable?
I haven't yet put in the spell details (I figured I'd wait to see if I'm accepted first as it's a little tedious) but I'll post those as appropriate.
In terms of my final language, would Ancient Hilvan be acceptable?
Though I've recycled some names and such, this isn't actually the same setting as that other campaign you were in, so Ancient Hilvan isn't a thing.
Ah, no worries. Any suggestions for a good 'ancient language' or is it best I just pick a racial language from the PH?
Ah, no worries. Any suggestions for a good 'ancient language' or is it best I just pick a racial language from the PH?
Personally, my go-to for an "ancient" language is usually draconic, or maybe sylvan.
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Alright, recruitment is closed. Looks like we've got eight good characters, and it unfortunately falls to me to cut a few of you. :( I'll post my decision later today.
Alright, this was not an easy decision, and eventually I had to base it only partly on the quality of the characters (I liked them all) and also on what I thought might give me more experience as a GM. If I thought I could handle eight PCs, I think I'd have included you all, but alas, I'm not that good yet.
So! Here's the party for this campaign:
Teo Brisset
Gwenifer White
Finlogan
Wraith
Naia Tam
Reasonably well-rounded, and includes a healthy chunk of stuff I'm not familiar with yet, so I can stretch and grow a bit. :)
My apologies to the other three of you; maybe next time. For the five listed above, please go ahead and dot the gameplay and discussion threads with your character alias. I'll be posting in there soon, as well. :)
Thanks everyone!
Cool. I'll complete the new alias and dot as soon as I can.
have fun everyone!!
Congratulations those who made it. Jiggy's an awesome PBP GM - I'm sure I'll be reading along.
Enjoy. :)
Ok, will do.
Ach...was hoping to see you here Steve. Maybe we can do a 5e down the track when I get a better handle on the system.
Me too. Missing out on games from time to time is part of life in PBP-world, unfortunately. :)