GM WhtKnt's Castle Amber

Game Master WhtKnt

This is to alert those chosen among you, who know who they are, that I am ready to kick off my D&D Castle Amber adventure. This is an invitation-only game (sorry).

CHARACTER CREATION

• Characters begin at 3rd level.
  
• Begin with the standard equipment package for your class and background, and add 100 gp to your total (which may be spent as desired).
  
• Everyone receives one potion of healing.
  
• Maximum hit points at 1st level, roll thereafter.
  
• Use the deities of Greyhawk, found on page 293 of the Player's Handbook.
  
• Standard races and classes only (those found in the Player's Handbook and Tasha's Cauldron of Everything).
  
• This will be largely a theater-of-the-mind game. I may post a reference map, but by and large, you will be asked to use your imagination.

CAMPAIGN RULES

• In general, I will post as often as the players do, but I am imposing a three-day limit. If you go three days without posting, your characters will stand quietly and act only in self-defense.
  
• That said, I am taking care of my wife, who is blind, and I do pretty much everything for her. I should be able to keep pace, but there may be times that I am a little slow in posting.
  
• I am very much into role-playing over roll-playing. If the PCs are RPing well, I will wait for a natural break to continue. If you ever need to retro some RPing, feel free to attach a RETRO tag to it.
  
• If I am going to be out for an extended stretch, I will provide notice prior to it whenever possible. I expect the same courtesy in return.
  
• No politics or religious discussions. Regardless of your beliefs or platform, this is not the place for it.

Hey WhtKnt! Atlas2112 let me know that I'm on board with this. Its great to have another game with you!

How do you want us to do stats? Standard array, point buy, or real old school rolld 4d6?

Excellent!

Let's get this party started!

I presumed that we're doing point buy because it's totally double plus ungood to do dice rolling because then someone is goona rock and someone is gonna suck (probably me) because they're dice were hot/cold on one roll on one day. (Ugh, I've even seen good ability rolls just take over a character. Like a Ranger but you rolled an 18 strength! You'd better swing that sword because why not?)

Imma thinking about doing something very special for this game. I've never played a bard on these boards. =]

Hey all. Just checking in and saying thanks for the invite. I'm looking forward to it. Not sure exactly what I'll play yet. Some of the options in Tasha's are interesting and I haven't had a chance to actually play any of them yet.

I am definitely looking forward to it as well. I do have an idea percolating in the recesses of my brain, but I don’t know if it will work yet. Sometimes rolled ability scores open up new possibilities, and sometimes they make for poor party balance. I am okay either way.

Ability scores? Hmm. I'll defer to a vote on this one. I know that Atlas is in favor of point-buy. How do the rest of you feel?

While we're on the subject, do you prefer group initiative or individual initiative? I can do either.

My favorites?

Come up with some ability rolling scheme the DM likes, then let the players give it a whirl. If they get a result they don’t like, let them use point buy as a backup.

Roll individual initiatives, then make blocks for the PC’s between the monsters where anyone in the block can go in posting order.

I also like fixed Hp’s as it is less bookkeeping, but would appreciate having the option to take average on a level if the rolled hp’s are very low.

Still, I can roll with whatever.

Yes, definitely take the average if you roll less than that on hit points. Sorry, that should have been in the initial post.

Ability Scores: No real preference. Each has their perks and drawbacks, but point buy is probably the safest route for insuring some sense of balance.

Initiative: Guiness' suggestion works for me in the PbP format.

It looks like there are four of us. Do we want to try and work out the traditional roles, or just make what we like and see how it goes?

Did you want to throw out a dicing option with a point buy floor, or just go with points?

Let's just go with point buy, then. 27 points, initial stat buys must be between 15 and 8, inclusive, before racial modifiers.

I was thinking of a healer with some combat ability, but playing with an unusual build...Could have some interesting roleplay potential.

I could flex to something more traditional if someone else really wants to play the healer--with just four of us, we will need to make sure all the bases are covered.

It looks like there are four of us.

There are two more golden tickets out there. ;-} Imma give them a bit more, and poke with mah pokin' stick. They don't come quick I'll move down The List.

Right now I'm kind of looking at a Wildfire Druid or a Mercy Monk. Either seem like they might be a reasonable blend of combat and healer.

Mercy monk! They're awesome!!

I'm learning towards the iconic dwarven fighter or the truly old school Elf; the kind from back when Elf was your race and your class, effectively a fighter/magic-user.

I was thinking of a healer with some combat ability, but playing with an unusual build...Could have some interesting roleplay potential.

I could flex to something more traditional if someone else really wants to play the healer--with just four of us, we will need to make sure all the bases are covered.

Combat Healer concept sent to our illustrious DM in PM...If it works out, I will make an alias here on the boards.

So it seems we have a cleric, a monk, a bard, and a fighter? I'm down to play a wizard - I am not the most tactically-minded player, however, so I'm absolutely open to advice on how to execute this concept.

Probably a human wizard. Probably an edgy human wizard. I've been feeling nostalgic for Dragonlance.

Here is the alias for my mercy monk. Still have some equipment and background touches to put together, but overall he's close to ready to go. I did use the alternate ability score rule in Tasha's. For Half Elf, instead of +2 CHA, I did +2 WIS. Then +1 DEX and +1 CHA for the other two choices. I did pick up the thieves tools proficiency, so we've got that covered in case we end up not having a rogue.

Wait we're using the alternative ability scores?

I had thought the community rejected that optional rule as OP.

Oh! Didn't realize that or hadn't heard anything about it. I can switch it out. That's fine by me. It'll drop my WIS by 1 and bump CHA. I can live with that.

Yeah, the alternate rules are horribly OP. Let's not use them. Sorry.

Change has been made. I need to double check math, but it should be okay now.

Here's what I'm thinking for my dwarven fighter. He's almost done; I need to finish gear and check my numbers.

Hit points 2d10 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5 Gah. Looks like it is average hit points.

Rolling hit points...

2d8 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5

Looks like average for me as well.

I did pick up the thieves tools proficiency, so we've got that covered in case we end up not having a rogue.

And if we don't have a rogue, I have sturdy boots to open locked doors and a lot of hit points to disarm traps.

I've finished buying stuff, so I think Eamch is ready to go.

No alternate ability scores? Understood, that means I will need to rework things a bit, but still planning to play a healer with some combat capability.

Greetings all. Atlas PM's me with an invitation to this game. I trust he was acting on permission from the DM. Please confirm and I will put together a character - thinking Ranger.

Alright, starting to build and changed my mind. Going with Tiefling Eldritch Knight. Should I assume that only rules published in the two source you originally cited are in bounds, or can we reference variations in supplements such as SCAG as long as the race and class are in PHB?

Welcome! I'd prefer to keep it to the two that I cited, and we are not using alternate ability scores. Keep in mind that your characters are originally from Greyhawk, though that will matter less once the adventure begins.

DM, do you require that we keep track of material spell components? For example, will I need to be thinking about where to get my makeup supplies before casting the Friends spell?

I don't have that much experience with Greyhawk - I look forward to doing my reading on it, but if someone's really passionate about the series, where would you suggest I start to get a real feel for the flavor?

No alternate ability scores? Understood, that means I will need to rework things a bit, but still planning to play a healer with some combat capability.

Rolling for hp:

Level 2: 1d8 ⇒ 7
Level 3: 1d8 ⇒ 1 ==> 5

(Alias of Therenger)

Finishing up my Tiefling Eldritch Knight. Background: Outlander...

Origin: 1d10 ⇒ 6 Bounty Hunter
Personality: 1d8 ⇒ 1 I'm driven by wanderlust that led me away from home.
Ideal: 1d6 ⇒ 6 I must earn glory in battle, for myself and my clan.
Bond: 1d6 ⇒ 2 An injury to the unspoiled wilderness of my home is an injury to me.
Flaw: 1d6 ⇒ 2 There's no room for caution in a life lived to the fullest.
Birthplace Table
Birthplace: 1d100 ⇒ 22 Nope. Birthplace: 1d100 ⇒ 69 Keoland
Hit Points: 1d10 ⇒ 81d10 ⇒ 9

I don't have that much experience with Greyhawk - I look forward to doing my reading on it, but if someone's really passionate about the series, where would you suggest I start to get a real feel for the flavor?

I'm not a Greyhawk expert, but I'd kind of describe the flavor as the original D&D sandbox fantasy world. The original boxed set is little more than a map and a series of short (2-3 paragraph) descriptions of nations, places, and deities. So not a ton of fluff. Mostly "good" nations on the defensive or struggling against rising "evil" nations. Certainly more has been added over the years, but it doesn't seem as fleshed out as Forgotten Realms or Middle Earth. Some areas certainly are because so many of the classic adventures originally set in Greyhawk have been done and redone a bunch of times, but there's also a lot of other 'open' territory. Overall its very much a setting built for dungeon and wilderness adventuring. If you can find a pdf of that original boxed set guide that would be the quickest and easiest way to get a good overview.

But like the GM said, it won't matter too much once we get into the module.

Aletta is game-ready. I'll add physical description and a bit of backstory today or tomorrow.

This is to alert those chosen among you, who know who they are, that I am ready to kick off my D&D Castle Amber adventure. This is an invitation-only game (sorry). over roll-playing.

If they already know who they are why post this? This akward attempt at a flex is transparent for what it actually is. Very cringe.

I'm going to black list this 'GM' and others should too.

WhtKnt wrote:

This is to alert those chosen among you, who know who they are, that I am ready to kick off my D&D Castle Amber adventure. This is an invitation-only game (sorry). over roll-playing.

If they already know who they are why post this? This akward attempt at a flex is transparent for what it actually is. Very cringe.

I'm going to black list this 'GM' and others should too.

Nobody cares what you do.

WhtKnt wrote:

This is to alert those chosen among you, who know who they are, that I am ready to kick off my D&D Castle Amber adventure. This is an invitation-only game (sorry).

If they already know who they are why post this? This akward attempt at a flex is transparent for what it actually is. Very cringe.

I'm going to black list this 'GM' and others should too.

Because I didn't know who they all were at the time, as it was a special request from a friend, and he had specific people in mind. I am not the first to make a recruitment invitation only on these boards, but if I have done something wrong let the mods inform me and I will make apologies.

Blacklist me if you wish. It's your option.

johnnygeeksheek is a nobody with almost zero presence on Paizo. His blacklist threat is laughable. And now he's committed a very unattractive sin of telling a GM how to run a recruitment thread. Good luck to that guy ever getting into another competitively recruited game. You've got nothing to apologize for, WhtKnt.

Excellent!

Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, and children of all ages. Please direct your attention to the CENTER RING where, before your very eyes, in a feat NEVER ATTEMPTED upon these boards, the man the myth the legend Atlas2112 himself! is going to attempt to play a bard, yes you heard that a right a bard! Without a net without a harness without safety equipment of any kind in a death-defying feat no one ever in the history of ever thought they would ever see.
Can he do it? Can he bring this eternally-underpowered monstrosity to life? Only time will tell ladies and gentlemen....

hit points! 2nd lvl!: 1d8 ⇒ 6
hit points! 3rd lvl!: 1d8 ⇒ 3

johnnygeeksheek is a nobody with almost zero presence on Paizo. His blacklist threat is laughable. And now he's committed a very unattractive sin of telling a GM how to run a recruitment thread. Good luck to that guy ever getting into another competitively recruited game. You've got nothing to apologize for, WhtKnt.

HAHAHAHAHAHA! I am going to agree with my brother-in-arms on that one. Some teenager with less a thousand posts and not even the curtesy to have a picture on his main alias is something to be laughed at, mocked, and ridiculed. Not taken seriously. As they say, don't feed the troll. (You can feel sorry for them and the un-enviable lives they lead though. That's still allowed.)

Now that I am, ah, personally invested in this character good 'n' proper, who else are we waiting for? Just Zucale? Should we send her a PM so she feels properly pressured into doing what the rest of her peers want her to do? (I just peeked at social media and that seems to be all the rage these days.)

Yeah, but "Brian WhiteAngel?" Where does a name like that even come from?

You spelled 'hooded' wrong. You're welcome. Ahh, Charles Martel makes a crossover appearance! Cool.

Oooh! A blacklisted DM! Forbidden fruit is so much sweeter! I am really looking forward to it now!

I know I've got some character prep to do, but I've been pulling some long days this week - should have a character up soon!

I think Savas is pretty much ready to go at this point.

Does anyone want to start the campaign with their character already knowing another character? I am playing a Rude Elf Wizard, but I don't have much else of a backstory hook yet!

Here's Rakbura! All ready for roll-playing, although as far as role-playing, I have a mental image and a name, and not much else. I do usually build up a deeper understanding of my characters as I go - however, if there are particular story beats of my backstory I should have filled out ...

https://www.dndbeyond.com/profile/Rai/characters/53962218

I don't stand on backgrounds, as I usually develop mine as I go. If you have one, I may mine it for ideas, but otherwise, I'm not overly concerned.