Princes of the Apocalypse 5E

Game Master JKassand

I've been meaning to run Princes of the Apocalypse and now is the time. This game will be play by post. Check in to find what is going on, Monday to Friday. I post during business hours on the east coast.

Characters will be third level and based out of Waterdeep. I will allow all printed sources as well as Unearthed Arcana. I will consider homebrew and third-party material but tend to err on the side of caution.

Characters should have a common connection to a temple. I'll let you decide of which god. You don't have to be a cleric or paladin, so long as you have some reason to be called upon by a temple to lend a hand, maybe a debt of gratitude or something.

Use the standard array for statgen (15,14,13,12,10,8). Base equipment and gold. Roll a trinket from either the player's handbook of the Elemental Evil table.

I use an ancient but serviceable mapping service called Ditzie. It can be a pain, but mostly on my end. I'll go over the details once we get going.

I will accept a large group of players, once we get going you'll be broken down into smaller more manageable parties. The sad fact of play by post is that attrition will reduce the number of players. This large starting group creates a buffer against that as parties become consolidated as people drift away.

Anything else just ask.

More details as they come to me.

Can you give us a bit of information about yourself? How long have you been DMing? Have you done play by post before? If so, where? Etc.

oh my yes please.

I'm feeling a dwarven cleric... or paladin, not sure just yet.

The last time I joined the campaign of someone with no previous posts, it was a train wreck, and quite possibly intentionally so. Your opening post seems a bit less suspicious than his, but I'm still a bit leery. I second The Pale King's request to let us get to know you a bit.

Sure I get it.

I ran a play by post based in Ravenloft for some friends few years back on Obsidian Portal using 3e, that lasted about a year.

After that petered out I ran a one-on-one via email with a friend for a year in 4e. It was in the outskirts of the new Imaskari empire, there were some time-travel shenanigans and a modest amount of demonic possession. That lasted almost a year

Then I got ambitious and set up a large campaign for about thirty people by play by post that ran for just over a year. It was a sandboxy kind of campaign using home-brewed Pathfinder for this old campaign setting I used to be involved with called Arcanis. That's where I got most of the experience I'll be using in this campaign. One of those players told me the boards here were a decent place to get potentially large numbers of players interested.

Last summer I started playing Princes of the Apocalypse at my flgs but it fell apart after a few months when the GM went back to school in September. I started running Out of the Abyss and it's been going well but then the store closed down.

I plan on running Curse of Strahd from home when it comes out but for now I've got that itch to get behind the screen again and thought I'd give this a shot. Pbp suits my schedule well. I'll be honest I have a lot of downtime throughout most days, so I'm usually posting from work.

That's why I have no posts, because I literally just started this profile yesterday, for the express purpose of running this campaign. I'm ready and eager to run this for anyone who wants to venture in to the Desserin valley. I have some ideas for gently altering the Princes storyline, mostly at the front.

I think the Desserin valley is an interesting place, but I think the players need to get out of Red Larch and have the opportunity to explore the area. That's why I like the idea of having multiple parties exploring the area in a persistent game world.

I'm eager to try 5e in pbp since it's less beholden to combat mapping. I'll be honest after playing 5e for a year I don't think I could even play Pathfinder any more. there's no need to fight over that, it's just my opinion. With the arrival of the DM's guild and opening of Adventurer's League to all I'm curious to see what the next year will bring in home gaming.

It may seem paradoxical that I'm looking for players for 5e on the Paizo boards, but you have to go where the players are.

TLDR; I is a real GM. :]

oh my yes please.

I'm feeling a dwarven cleric... or paladin, not sure just yet.

Sounds great the Dessarin valley has deep dwarven roots.

"The realm of Besilmer was something rare: a
dwarven kingdom built on the surface, with its strength
measured in fields and pastures. It prospered for a time
but was plagued by trolls and giants. Unfortunately for
the dwarves, the realm collapsed after its king and
founder died in battle. Most of the surviving dwarves sought
safer lands."

Dwarven ruins and history dot the area to this day. It's a great place to play a dwarf who wants to serve his god, or maybe wants to rediscover the history of his people.

I'll stat up a Dwarven Wizard, with a zealous attachment to Dugmaren Brightmantle for some reason, to see how this progresses.

Dwarves great, wizards great. Bring them on in.

Bwahaha! Tha's the spirit laddie!

Sounds like might have a dwarven campaign brewing.

I am going to roll for a trinket though I am only in preliminary stages for character ideas. They often give good hooks.

Rolling on the Elemental Evil table btw.

1d100 ⇒ 43

A small vial of black sand that glows slightly in the moonlight.

Sweeeeet.

how should we determine starting items? like, when you say base is that what we would get starting as level 1 of our class?

@Pale King. Love that moon sand.

@GM Rorek. Yeah, the level 1 gear. Pg. 38 of the dmg suggests that characters of level 1-4 start with just the normal starting gear. The temple will make sure you are properly equipped for your expedition. If you want ot take any 'valueless' flavour items feel free.

Other than Dugmaren Brightmantle, exarch of Moradin and patron of invention and exploration (great choice), does anyone have a favorite deity?

Oooo. Another 5e. Yes please.

I suppose I'll stick with the dwarven theme. Hmmm.. Then again, maybe a human or elf... Decisions decisions...

Speaking of diety, are we using the 5e pantheon or another? (IE, Moradin and his pantheon compatriots)

I'm flexible on the matter. If everyone likes, say, the Raven Queen, then we can slide her in as a minor aspect or exarch of an existing deity. I know I'm not making it easier to choose, but just because you have a link to one temple does not mean strictly mean you you worship that deity primarily.

I think I'll throw in....maybe a bard..

Welcome to the party!

Here is Thorin, I decided to just go fighter. Just something more noble about a man doing what he can, even without the aid of the divine. (or, well, a dwarf I suppose)

He is an ex-soldier that after his time took to adventuring. "civilian" life never felt right to him. He takes on problems head on, and while slow to really trust, holds firm in the companions he does find. He doesn't serve one particular deity, but finds that he values what many different ones value. Oddly enough, while he believes structure is key, he doesn't like complete obedience, and believes a man(or dwarf) should think for himself before blindly following orders or laws. He also has a love of history, particularly dwarven history.

hey, How would you feel about a warlock, who, at a time where he almost died made a pact with a devil for power and now seeks knowledge for a way to under that pact, or a power strong enough to vanquish the devil he made said pact with. (and how would you handle that? with him losing his powers, or, because he already had some of the devil's powers, upon death the rest flowing into him, (allowing him to keep progressing as a warlock)?

if that doesn't work I can go with a seeker of secrets type who draws on the power of a great old one. (without the great old one really noticing, at least at first)

Here is Thorin, I decided to just go fighter. Just something more noble about a man doing what he can, even without the aid of the divine. (or, well, a dwarf I suppose)

He is an ex-soldier that after his time took to adventuring. "civilian" life never felt right to him. He takes on problems head on, and while slow to really trust, holds firm in the companions he does find. He doesn't serve one particular deity, but finds that he values what many different ones value. Oddly enough, while he believes structure is key, he doesn't like complete obedience, and believes a man(or dwarf) should think for himself before blindly following orders or laws. He also has a love of history, particularly dwarven history.

Simple, rustic, flavourful. I like it. Does Thorin hire himself out a temple? Or maybe he has family involved with a certain temple?

hmmm. I hadn't thought about that. Not sure. I've almost finished his sheet fully and will have it in an alias in a bit. I'll add that last bit in then.

Okay, most things should be done here.

@JKassand What are your expectations regarding posting rate (per day) and posting times? It seems as though you have a specific and set schedule for posting (As it happens I do too). I'd hate for you to take a party that posts from 5-10PM when you do your posting from 9A-2P.

Are you taking in everyone who applies? If so, are you planning on running more than one table?

Also, I'm interested in Princes of the Apocalypse as its one of the few 5E AP's I've not gotten to experience at least a little bit. I don't mind that you don't have a bunch of posts, I recycle my Profiles here so its nothing lost if the GM disappears (Which happens ALOT on these boards.)

I am thinking possibly an Earth Genasi (Oath of the Crown) Paladin who is basically taken in by his Genie father to be his perfectly loyal soldier. The sand trinket is from the part of the Plane of Earth where his Lord Father resides.

Though I expect I will come up with other ideas before settling on one.

@Thorin. Looks great Thorin.

I would like one post per day. I know at the start there's a lot of enthusiasm and people often post quite quickly, but once that dies down I would appreciate it if all players posted once a day Monday to Friday some time before 5 pm EST.

I will take every player who deigns to show up. I will run as many tables as necessary.

@GM Niles. We're glad to have you aboard Niles.

@Pale King. Sounds good I love Genasi. Was this character raised on the plane of earth? What brought them to Waterdeep?

Thanks for answering my questions!

I'll put a character together but first, a trinket

Trinket: 1d100 ⇒ 90 An ancient arrow of elven design

Okay! So, I'm thinking a Sorceror who venerates Mystra, goddess of magic!

Stormborn Origin from UA is allowed?

Did you miss my question?

-hey, How would you feel about a warlock, who, at a time where he almost died made a pact with a devil for power and now seeks knowledge for a way to under that pact, or a power strong enough to vanquish the devil he made said pact with. (and how would you handle that? with him losing his powers, or, because he already had some of the devil's powers, upon death the rest flowing into him, (allowing him to keep progressing as a warlock)?

@GM Niles. Sounds great. Dragon, wild or storm sorc?

I'll go Stormborn.

Here is a level 4 Dwarf Moon Druid I made as a submission for another game, but I was not selected.

I would love to be a part of this. I will update the profile this weekend to alter his level to 3 and think up an alternate story to coincide with this game.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

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*edit* What about hit points? Shall we roll for HP for levels 2 and 3, or are we to take the average (1/2 x HD +1) ?

I'll get my dwarven wizard up this afternoon.

Let's do avg hp, so no one gets shafted.

@ Hedgerow. Looks good, remember to adjust your abilities to standard array please.

@Scranford. Can't wait.

Once your character is ready let's sound off in the gameplay thread.

1d100 ⇒ 94 Trinket

Mosaic Tile with a multicolored, glazed surface.

Trinket: 1d100 ⇒ 52

"A sealed envelope made of red leather that you haven’t been able to open. It smells of campfire"

Intriguing.

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GM-
Is it okay for me to assume that I've had time to create a healing potion and antitoxin with my herbalism kit? (each costs 25gp to create, for a total of 50gp cost.)
(In hindsight, I need to double check my starting equipment/gold. I know I didn't start with anything extraordinary in the character's previous incarnation, but without my PhB in front of me I can't figure out how or why I might have 50 gold to spare. I'll figure it out later at home.)

I still have to write out my backstory (I have a rough premise of like two sentences in my alias as an idea on where it'll go) but since I'm new to D&D 5 I wanted to get the crunch up first to make sure that I have put my character together correctly. Feedback would be lovely.

k , time to randomize.

triket, from elemental evil: 1d100 ⇒ 60 An eye-sized blue pearl that floats in salt water.
Background: 1d13 ⇒ 10 Sage
Gender, male:odd, female:even: 1d100 ⇒ 46 Female
Class: 1d12 ⇒ 1 Barbarian
Race: 1d9 ⇒ 5 Dragonborn

@ Spazmodeus - I love your trust in the dice gods, if you actually put together a character that way... I can only imagine what it's like playing with you at the table.

I'm gonna put together a character just to see what you do. lol.

Dang. Had the whole character typed up, and something happened with the Paizo site... and though I know better, I didn't type this one in word first, then cut and paste. I'll have to type all the information over again.

Hurry up Hero Lab, and become useful for 5E characters.

Looks great folks, I'm eager to see all your characters. Don't forget about that temple connection.

Hmmm, I've got a pre-existing character, currently level 4 so I'll have to rework.

Celephix Doranion,
LG Female Tiefling Wizard (abjurer) Soldier

First born daughter of a Noble House, who had the misfortune of being born a Tiefling. Despite many rumours by the common folk she never did find where her heritage came from and to prevent damage to her house renounced her lineage and entered servitude at the temple (have to go through my FR notes and work out which one - maybe Helm, not one typically associated with wizardry though).

Her talents where wasted as an acolyte, but the temple sponsored her education in the Arcane and she became an competent wizard, serving the temple as both Advisor in arcane matters and assisting in protection of temple assets against those that prepare to face purely divine means of protection.

Celephix holds herself to a higher standard than many Paladins, determined that her heritage and ties to nobility do not determine her attitude. Indeed she has close ties with Paladin Orders, both aiding in their training against magical threats and serving with them when they feel a wizard would be useful.

Current version is on a google doc but I need to adjust background/stats a little. May change background option from Soldier, but don't have access to my books here to poke at the build.

My I play? I already have a pre-existing character: Torith Norixin, Lvl 2 Barbarian/Lvl 1 Paladin

Also, my character is a dragonborn

Come on in Ultra, the more the better.

@Spinningdice. Sounds great, head on over to gameplay.

Thanks!

Okay folks, if your character has not yet been posted to gameplay it is not too late. We have not yet reached capacity there is still time to jump in.

We will be starting very soon, however, probably tomorrow. First I need to settle something. Please go to this link and vote in this survey.

Then roll a 1d12 and PM it to me.

Thank you.

ULTRAGEEK here! Managed to finish character

The campaign has begun, now, today. do not fret, it is not too late to jump in. If you want to join let me know and I'll find a way to get you involved.

This is gossamar4

Pretty much done with: tiefling warlock

trinket: 1d100 ⇒ 91

let me know when to come in