Well got ninja'd by a new question. The answer to your question whosawhatsis is yes, all those things. In my head, there may be a whole series of posts that take place as nothing more than back and forth between the PCs and NPCs, social interaction that may not have any dice rolls whatsoever, but is simply the PCs carving out their social path to power and goal achievement. :D
Hopefully that doesn't scare anyone away. If it does, let me know, because I'd like players to join that have that same mindset.
On the contrary, I've been wanting to find a game that was more city-based. Not just talking to NPCs and buying stuff in the city, then going out to fight in the wilderness because that's where fights happen and where treasure is found. There's plenty of treasure in cities too, it's just guarded by characters you would find in the PHB rather than ones from the Monster Manual :)
I would like to actually having fights, chases, encounters that can be tackled by sneaking around without being noticed, etc., rather than going out looking for monsters to fight. Maybe the monsters are attacking the city, or maybe you're fighting other humanoids with similar abilities to your own. Maybe what looks like a situation where you're supposed to fight is actually something you can talk your way out of or use other skills for. I just think that a lot of games don't have enough of that type of encounter, especially for getting the most out of sneaky roguish characters (like the ones I prefer to play) or more social characters like the average bard (there's a reason most parties only have one "face" character...).
All of that interraction and roleplay can take place anywhere, not just in an urban setting. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe our GM envisions this across the board in the world we are building as we advance?
Yeah, no, sorry I explained that wrongly. When I'm building the Google site, I simply go to the editing portion of the page, click Insert>Drive>Image, and select the image that I've uploaded to be used on that page. Google actually creates the URL for it. Meaning, the URLs that Google links itself to, to embed the image, come from their own development. I'm just using their user interface to embed images. Which is why I find it so freaking ironic that Google Chrome would be the culprit. BTW what version of chrome are you using, because after you said that I went and checked my version of Chrome, in an incognito window so that it wasn't using my credentials, and all the images showed up for me, so I don't know why some people can't see it, and I don't really know what I can do to fix it, because I looked into the editing side, and there is no "embed" feature. Google sites has that insert feature, and that's how they want you to put in all images. So, I guess the TL;DR advice I'm giving everyone is, use Firefox. The Google site for Eafphqu works there.
Oh. Yeah, that is weird. My Chrome is up to date, but I am running a lot of extensions. I suppose it's possible that one of them is interfering, but I've tried it with the obvious possibilities disabled...
Gnomezrule, halflings are ingrained in every part of society, if you wanted to write up a halfling character and have him or her be one of the current senators of the Republic, and had a background that matched that narrative, I'd be fine with it. In fact, that would be a really cool way for the party to be "called to business," so to speak. There are not, however, halflings in any positions of power in the Highland realm, the nobility there is clan based, and ancient. Tradebay City, I'd say there are probably a few halfling merchants of skill and wealth. And thank you, this is exactly what I mean by the players helping me build the world. I hadn't really given where halflings fit in a good thought until just now, but thinking about the world I've imagined, they certainly have a strong place within it. :D
As far as urban/wilderness goes, the first arc of story that I have planned will have a fair bit of both, and there will certainly be opportunity in both the urban and rural settings to use the social role playing aspects of the game not only to gather information, but also as a means to achieving personal character goals. I imagine, pretty quickly actually, the NPCs portion of the Google site will far surpass the PCs portion. In fact... I have to fire up hero lab because I remembered I have a few notable NPCs that need to be made ready for the opening salvo. :D Not that that will happen any time soon. As I said, I won't close recruitment until probably Thursday or Friday next week.
Keep the questions and submissions coming! Speaking of which, if anyone has time and energy, and wants to earn magical, invisible, non-reproducible, arbitrary, DM brownie points, would you mind posting a post that contains the Character Names (with a link to that post or alias where the crunch/fluff are located) of all the submissions so far for me? Even if they are incomplete submissions? I want to try and get a grasp on everything, and, I could just scroll back through and do that myself, but... If anybody else would, I'd very much appreciate it. :D
Oh! I also wanted to mention, for no particular reason at all...
especially for getting the most out of sneaky roguish characters (like the ones I prefer to play)
the stealth/passive perception system of 5e makes running this particular side of things quick, painless, and easy. Roll a Dex stealth check, and in just about every normal situation I just have to check that against the NPCs' passive perception to see if you can sneak past a whole ramparts worth of Swordbrothers. In the case of a tie I'd just have the NPC actually roll a WIS perception check and see if their roll beats the existing stealth check. Like I said, quick, painless, easy, AND it makes stealth a much more viable and powerful skill, as it should be! :D
Edit: Plus, I can see myself handing out advantage very easily to players that well describe the manner in which they attempt their hiding movement... Waiting for a gust of breeze, hopping from shadow to shadow, etcetera. I daresay I'll be handing out advantage quite a bit more than the books actually say I should, to those that embrace the narrative side of their dice rolls. Like I said, heavy narrative focus. :D
I like this idea. A narrative focus game would be great to participate in. Pbp gives opportunity for a player to really get into their character.
... Pbp gives opportunity for a player to really get into their character.
Yes, and thus it hurts all the worse when the DM cancels the game ... Ahem, ahem, ... No I'm not talking to anyone in particular not at all! And if you believe that I have some beautiful beach front property in North Dakota to sell ya.
Speaking of which, if anyone has time and energy, and wants to earn magical, invisible, non-reproducible, arbitrary, DM brownie points, would you mind posting a post that contains the Character Names (with a link to that post or alias where the crunch/fluff are located) of all the submissions so far for me? Even if they are incomplete submissions? I want to try and get a grasp on everything, and, I could just scroll back through and do that myself, but... If anybody...
Shenkt "Hack" Corchran (barbarian)
Jun Valanthe (bard)Quint Rue (rogue)
Lindaer Elyrien (Paladin) (background)
Drun of Saxwyn (Paladin) (backgorund)
Gomdebo Blackbuster (rogue)
Ashrie VanShorn (wizard)
Boddynuck (wizard)
Baen "The Brave" Cobbleson (bard)
Tavir Nethuani (bard)
Nikeisha (warlock)
I think that's everyone so far. We actually haven't had any monks submitted. Grumbaki went pally instead, and Stormstrider hasn't submitted yet.
Speaking of which, if anyone has time and energy, and wants to earn magical, invisible, non-reproducible, arbitrary, DM brownie points, would you mind posting a post that contains the Character Names (with a link to that post or alias where the crunch/fluff are located) of all the submissions so far for me? Even if they are incomplete submissions? I want to try and get a grasp on everything, and, I could just scroll back through and do that myself, but... If anybody...Shenkt "Hack" Corchran (barbarian)
Jun Valanthe (bard)
Quint Rue (rogue)
Lindaer Elyrien (Paladin) (background)
Drun of Saxwyn (Paladin) (backgorund)
Gomdebo Blackbuster (rogue)
Ashrie VanShorn (wizard)
Boddynuck (wizard)
Baen "The Brave" Cobbleson (bard)
Tavir Nethuani (bard)I think that's everyone so far. We actually haven't had any monks submitted. Grumbaki went pally instead, and Stormstrider hasn't submitted yet.
Been lurking for a bit, but just wanted to add these are some awesome character designs! Been enjoying reading through them, great job by everyone! :)
Speaking of which, if anyone has time and energy, and wants to earn magical, invisible, non-reproducible, arbitrary, DM brownie points, would you mind posting a post that contains the Character Names (with a link to that post or alias where the crunch/fluff are located) of all the submissions so far for me? Even if they are incomplete submissions? I want to try and get a grasp on everything, and, I could just scroll back through and do that myself, but... If anybody...Shenkt "Hack" Corchran (barbarian)
Jun Valanthe (bard)
Quint Rue (rogue)
Lindaer Elyrien (Paladin) (background)
Drun of Saxwyn (Paladin) (backgorund)
Gomdebo Blackbuster (rogue)
Ashrie VanShorn (wizard)
Boddynuck (wizard)
Baen "The Brave" Cobbleson (bard)
Tavir Nethuani (bard)I think that's everyone so far. We actually haven't had any monks submitted. Grumbaki went pally instead, and Stormstrider hasn't submitted yet.
I'm afraid you missed Nikeisha off that list.
I'm afraid you missed...
Added. Some of these submissions are easier to miss than others...
Yeah, sorry. I was trying not to take up too much space, or to make a post with the alias since the chance of getting in is reasonably slim, but it did make it less noticeable than others...
I was trying not to take up too much space...
That's what spoiler tags are for ;)
In most games characters are discouraged from having backgrounds that have potential great political power. But looking at your goal of fleshing out the world is it your intention for the players to be closely connected to power.
I'm working on my Monk, just RL getting in the way.
In most games characters are discouraged from having backgrounds that have potential great political power. But looking at your goal of fleshing out the world is it your intention for the players to be closely connected to power.
I would not be opposed at all to a player's character starting with a situation of political power in any of the realms. Realizing, though, that if you are a senator, or a noble in one of the other realms, it would be extremely difficult to come up with an excuse to go adventuring. Perhaps the brother/sister or son/daughter of a person in political power would be better, so as to allow for adventuring. That way the power is still very tangible and accessible, but wouldn't prevent the PC from joining up with a group of "commoners." :D Sorry, didn't really think about the whole, "I'm off to fight monsters and seek for hidden treasure" bit when I posted my earlier comment. So, attached to power, yes, very much so, but keep in mind that the PC also needs the freedom to go out galavanting around the countryside.
Thank you very much whosawhatsis for the post collecting all the submissions so far. I do greatly appreciate it, and I clearly see two parties in there. Could probably even keep Drun and Hack in the same party... Hmmmm interesting. Still going to keep this open for more submissions though, so no rush on anyone that has not submitted yet.
Do you any thought on Dragonborn?
I noticed a Draketooth Isle on the map.
Do you any thought on Dragonborn?
I noticed a Draketooth Isle on the map.
Specifically disallowed in the original post. Only "humans" of various sizes and various degrees of ear-pointiness.
Specifically disallowed in the original post. Only "humans" of various sizes and various degrees of ear-pointiness.Do you any thought on Dragonborn?
I noticed a Draketooth Isle on the map.
Thank you. I missed that.
Yes, thanks whosawhatsis. No dragonborn allowed. I do have an idea in mind, one that would not take place until the PCs are much higher level and have carved out a significant place in the world. We'll see how the story unfolds, but I'll just say, it's entirely possible that dragonborn will be part of Eafphqu, just not right now. No tiefling either. I also completely ignored talking about drow in any of the world's lore, mostly because, in my own head, drow would never look for recognition by any surface dwelling "human" nation. They are absolutely an organized nation of their own, operating in the Shadowland, somewhere, and I think there will be a time and place in the story for drow to make a significant introduction/complication, but I'd like the world to be much more fleshed out before that happens. For now the drow nation are operating so secretly that only the dwarves and duergar have any realistic information about them, and even that is ethereal at best. At this moment in Eafphqu's history, drow are nothing more than a rumor to all the other civilized nations. Their surface raids never leave survivors, and always leave behind "evidence" of the raid being done by orcs and goblins.
Also, I just wanted to say that I am much looking forward to Stormstrider and Gnomezrule's submissions, whenever they arrive. Looking at the existing submissions, I can actually see three groups in there. I am extremely wishy-washy about putting forth the effort involved for GMing three separate groups, but I will not outright dismiss the chance. Part of the reason I'm doing this is to gain much needed experience DMing with the 5e system. DMing for three groups would certainly provide me the most diverse experience.
So, I'll pose a few questions to everyone.
Looking at the current submissions, how would you divide the characters up? Two groups? If so which characters in each party? Three groups? If so, who parties with whom? Let me know how you all see these characters meshing. Your feedback will very much influence my decision going forward. :)
Thank you!
|
Its all about the ethics in heroic adventuring
Lindaer Elyrien (Paladin)
Drun of Saxwyn (Paladin)
Baen "The Brave" Cobbleson (bard)
Nikeisha (warlock)
Stormstrider’s (monk)
Boddynuck (wizard)
If they didn’t want us to rob them they shouldn’t have shown off their loot
Shank "Hack" Corchran (barbarian)
Quint Rue (rogue)
Gomdebo Blackbuster (rogue)
Tavir Nethuani (bard)
Ashrie VanShorn (wizard)
Jun Valanthe (bard)
I dunno, some of the Archfey are a little on the terrifying side, and Nikeisha didn't really look too hard at the deal she made since it was the Pact or death. But yeah, if we're going for 'the Super Ethical Steve Rogers Remembrance Force' or 'It has shinies!? WILL IT BLEND!?!?' she's probably more on Team Ethics.
Speaking of which, if anyone has time and energy, and wants to earn magical, invisible, non-reproducible, arbitrary, DM brownie points, would you mind posting a post that contains the Character Names (with a link to that post or alias where the crunch/fluff are located) of all the submissions so far for me? Even if they are incomplete submissions? I want to try and get a grasp on everything, and, I could just scroll back through and do that myself, but... If anybody...Shenkt "Hack" Corchran (barbarian)- Human
Jun Valanthe (bard)- Half-elf
Quint Rue (rogue)- Forest Gnome
Lindaer Elyrien (Paladin) Half-elf(background)
Drun of Saxwyn (Paladin)- Half-orc (backgorund)
Gomdebo Blackbuster (rogue)- Hill Dwarf
Ashrie VanShorn (wizard)- High Elf
Boddynuck (wizard) Forest Gnome
Baen "The Brave" Cobbleson (bard)- Human
Tavir Nethuani (bard)- Half-elf
Nikeisha (warlock)- HumanI think that's everyone so far. We actually haven't had any monks submitted. Grumbaki went pally instead, and Stormstrider hasn't submitted yet.
I was still deliberating race helps me at this stage of the game. So I added.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
If you're looking at three groups, that would be three groups of four (with no additional submissions, and Stormsrider creating a character).
My suggestion for three groups would be:
First Group:
Jun Valanthe
Lindaer Elyrien
Ashrie Vanshorn
Second Group:
Baen "The Brave" Cobbleston
Shenkt "Hack" Corchran
Boddynuck
Third Group:
Tavir Nethuani
Drun of Saxwyn
Nikeisha
That just leaves our two stout rogues and Stormstrider's submission. I tried to balance each group based on both backstory and what part of the world the come from.
|
|
Split the pallies? Are you crazy?
The best group possible would be...
(1) Half-Elf Devotion Paladin (Rogue Skills, dex based)
(2) Dwarven Vengeance Paladin (Str based, heavy armor, two handed weapons)
(3) Human Ancient Paladin multiclass Hexblade Warlock (Cha To Hit To Dmg and spell casting. Used Eldritch Blast To Throw Holy Fire around and summons his celestial sword)
(4) An exasperated gnomish cleric
(5) A bard of any type to egg the paladins on whenever they argue with each other
I am not being dismissive, but you could literally pull names from a hat. In 5e, the class and race make-up of a party need not be traditional, nor need it have any rhyme or reason. That is one of the advantageous quirks of the system.
IMHO, paladins are not as good as fighters or barbarians. I'm not saying they're bad, but Barbarians are one of the most durable classes in the game, and Fighters are just all around really good.
Shenkt, you are right. You could pull names out of a hat, but I was trying to balance people based on either the part of the world they were from or similar backstories.
If you're looking at three groups, that would be three groups of four (with no additional submissions, and Stormsrider creating a character).
My suggestion for three groups would be:
First Group:
Jun Valanthe
Lindaer Elyrien
Ashrie VanshornSecond Group:
Baen "The Brave" Cobbleston
Shenkt "Hack" Corchran
BoddynuckThird Group:
Tavir Nethuani
Drun of Saxwyn
NikeishaThat just leaves our two stout rogues and Stormstrider's submission. I tried to balance each group based on both backstory and what part of the world the come from.
Thank you for this Vrog. Each group here listed has a distinct personality already. The first group are all seeking for the intangible rewards the road of adventure has to offer. The second group all represent commoners that rose to the occasion and now feel the call to help the world in greater and more powerful ways. Each member of the last group is harboring a secret from their past that will drive their goals for the future. Very narrative friendly, each in their own way, and they all provide significant personal goals for each to try and achieve while working with a team of like-mined folks.
Its all about the ethics in heroic adventuring
Lindaer Elyrien (Paladin)
Drun of Saxwyn (Paladin)
Baen "The Brave" Cobbleson (bard)
Nikeisha (warlock)
Stormstrider’s (monk)
Boddynuck (wizard)If they didn’t want us to rob them they shouldn’t have shown off their loot
Shank "Hack" Corchran (barbarian)
Quint Rue (rogue)
Gomdebo Blackbuster (rogue)
Tavir Nethuani (bard)
Ashrie VanShorn (wizard)
Jun Valanthe (bard)
This is not a bad idea in my opinion, depending on the DM's desired party size of course. Two groups such as this would definitely let you develop Eafphqu from two different vantage points. Also lends itself well to interweaving the two parties narratives. Perhaps the "moral" group ends up coming behind the other, and having to clean up their mess. Likewise, the second group may find themselves breaking into a vault constructed by the first, and so on....
Lots of fun possibilities. :)
This is not a bad idea in my opinion, depending on the DM's desired party size of course. Two groups such as this would definitely let you develop Eafphqu from two different vantage points. Also lends itself well to interweaving the two parties narratives. Perhaps the "moral" group ends up coming behind the other, and having to clean up their mess. Likewise, the second group may find themselves breaking into a vault constructed by the first, and so on....
Lots of fun possibilities. :)
Yeah, I think two parties that are on the large side makes more sense than three parties with 3-4 characters. It will also be able to handle when a few players eventually have to drop out, as usually happens on PBPs in my experience...
|
|
Yeah, I think two parties that are on the large side makes more sense than three parties with 3-4 characters. It will also be able to handle when a few players eventually have to drop out, as usually happens on PBPs in my experience...This is not a bad idea in my opinion, depending on the DM's desired party size of course. Two groups such as this would definitely let you develop Eafphqu from two different vantage points. Also lends itself well to interweaving the two parties narratives. Perhaps the "moral" group ends up coming behind the other, and having to clean up their mess. Likewise, the second group may find themselves breaking into a vault constructed by the first, and so on....
Lots of fun possibilities. :)
That was my thought process. A 6 man party dropping to 4? It’s doable.
A 3 man party losing 1? Much harder.
Obviously its up to the GM how much work he wants to handle. But keeping even 2 games running (and keeping track of what is happening in each) is a LOT of work. It seems to me that trying to run 3 would very possibly lead to GM burnout down the line. Heck, running 2 may well do so as well :-).
If it was me, I'd start with just the one group and see how it was going a month or three down the line. Then add another group if you can think you can handle it.
Obviously its up to the GM how much work he wants to handle. But keeping even 2 games running (and keeping track of what is happening in each) is a LOT of work. It seems to me that trying to run 3 would very possibly lead to GM burnout down the line. Heck, running 2 may well do so as well :-).
If it was me, I'd start with just the one group and see how it was going a month or three down the line. Then add another group if you can think you can handle it.
Really excellent points all around, and like I said, I'm actively using everyone's feedback as I go forward with making my decision here. Thanks for giving me the spark to think about both attrition and my own personal burnout. That last, burnout, will have to be given special consideration now, as I just today got word from a couple people about starting an actual face to face game in the new year. I'd be the DM of that game as well. I'd hate to cull this group of submissions down to just one group, especially because the more characters the more fleshed out our world becomes. I'll be thinking about all these things in the coming days. Thanks again to everyone for their constructive feedback, and sage advice.
I have another homebrew game that I'm running in-person that I've been doing a lot of prep for, and I recently decided to do a PBP version as well. It's still in recruitment, but so far I'm finding that a lot of the prep work only needs to be done once. I'm way ahead on prep because I've been having trouble scheduling sessions for the in-person group, so in both cases I'm mostly waiting for the players to catch up to what I have planned (while trying to allow enough freedom not to railroad them). Point is, at least I'm finding that running the same game twice (at least at this early stage) doesn't seem to be much more work than running it once. YMMV.
I fully agree that two large groups would be better than 3 small ones. As mentioned, the drop out rate in PBP, and also the 'burnout' rate of the DM.
I also agree with two groups instead of three.
Groups loose people so I would think 2 large groups might work well.
Working on my history write up now. Hopefully a bit later tonight will have my submission ready.
Hello.
This is Gnomezrule's submission.
Psalm Nackle of Ravenroost
My first thought was cleric but I am playing one in my table game. So I went for Druid assuming that between all the paladin's and bards I wouldn't be the only one with healing spells. So it blunts the call for a life Cleric.
Two groups I think would be much more manageable and reduce DM fatigue. As others have said, player attrition will also play a role and perhaps at some point further in the game the two groups could merge into one...if the numbers dropped.
I am fine with however our trusty GM chooses to go, and I trust his judgement.
My old Pathfinder excel sheet would make characters and even had an option to print with code for the boards. So it made my stat blok so nice. I don't have anything like that for 5e yet.
Is there a format you want our characters.
I'd prefer the a standard statblock output if possible, but as long as your alias has everything I need to access both crunch and fluff-wise, then I'm fine with it. Love the background Sprout Whymsle Bluetongue Psalm Nackle! Already adding depth, history, and a new locale to Eafphqu, excellent!
Looks like I'm just waiting on an elf monk submission from Stormstrider? Is that submission still coming, or have you decided to bow out Stormstrider? You still have time, but I think I'll close the recruitment thread Friday morning, so I can mull things over over the weekend, and let everyone know my decision on Monday next week.
Thanks again for all the interest, everyone. A lot of really great submissions here.
So mimic the monster stat blocks as close as possible would be ideal.
Just cut and paste a stat block from one of your Pathfinder alias' or one of the other submissions and change the values and text.
YES!!!! Stormy is still coming! Just ... RL stuff.
Just cut and paste a stat block from one of your Pathfinder alias' or one of the other submissions and change the values and text.
That's essentially what I did but skills and saves are different and so on.
All righty-roo everyone, time to enter into a new venture here.
First off, I am not closing recruitment, but it seems to me there aren't going to be any new submissions anyway. I do have a solid character concept from Stormstrider via PM, so still awaiting the crunch on that, but otherwise I'm pretty sure we're done getting submissions, and that's fine! There are too many great submissions here already.
I don't know if I let everyone know or not, but I am going to be keeping track of your characters including loot, XP, and for combat purposes in my Hero Lab software (it just makes everything easier for me, easiness keeps me happy, and everyone wants a happy DM). Which is one of the reasons I requested PHB, DMG, and MM options only, right now that's the most complete set of rules that the Hero Lab community service pack has. I started entering characters with Psalm Nackle, and in so doing noticed that there were a few things missing. I'll shoot you a PM Psalm, to address those things. I will also be sending you a link to a Google sheet that has the bbcode statblock you can simply copy and paste into your profile.
So everyone is aware, I will be trying to enter all of the submissions into my version of Hero Lab throughout the day today (light work day thank goodness), and may have to PM you with questions. Thank you all for helping me to gather all this information quickly! Looking forward to possibly starting this game next week already! :)
I can only imagine the mistakes I've made. This is my first 5th Ed character. So yeah, feel free to message me with any issues.