Recruitment Thread:
(5e Lost Lands Campaign)
Welcome all. This is a recruitment thread for a 5e campaign in the Lost Lands setting by Frog God Games.
The Lost Lands is a low to medium fantasy setting where adventurers such as yourselves look to carve out your own path and not follow in the folly left by past heroes.
One such word of warning came just over three hundred years ago when the Army of Light gathered to destroy the Army of Orcus. They failed and disappeared into the depths of Rappan Athuk. These days the only mention of the Army of Light can be found in the dusty tomes that sit molding in rarely visited libraries.
But the Lost Lands is more than Rappan Athuk. It is a world rebuilt on fallen empires many of which had treasures that were never found. The day to day life of the current political rulers would tell you that everything is in fine order, but common folk would tell you a different tale. They whisper of a kingdom on decline and of creatures that stalk the shadows and hunt once night has fallen. Where once doors were opened to greet weary travelers they now stand locked and windows shuddered for fear of what lies outside.
The Lost Lands is your home. Whether you choose to be a hero (or anti-hero) or an unsuspecting traveler that gets caught up in the web of adventure, learn what you can of this land and do what is necessary to survive and thrive. For those who do not will could find their names carved on the tombstones that surround Rappan Athuk, the Dungeon of Graves.
Campaign Expectations
I have 2 players already signed up. (Classes yet to be finalized although one has indicated they are leaning towards a bard.)
I am looking adding another 2-4 players (capping it at 6). Given this is pbp I do not mind going with this amount since there is still enough opportunity to allow for character development.
For maps and other notes I will be using Google slides and Google sheets. I am also toying around with using Scabard (it’s a free campaign organizer tool that I stumbled upon so this depends on how easy the interface is) but for now you will need to be able to use Google slides and Google sheets.
For combat I will roll all initiative (this speeds things up). During combat I am going to go by order of initiative. I will usually give you about half a day to make your action, but if I feel this is slowing the game down I will have your character delay and then bot if necessary.
I am not a stickler on posting once a day (but please do check the thread and keep updated). We each go through our ups and downs and I am lenient. Posting once a day is still a good number to strive for. During combat my expectations are a little higher and I would expect you to post at a minimum once per day (please see above). In general I would rather quality over quantity.
IF you disappear from the boards and there is no communication on your part please do not be offended if your character mysteriously disappears or dies in a less than dramatic fashion. If we agree upon your return a new character will have to be rerolled.
Here are my 5e creation guidelines.
All characters begin at 1st level. You must be lvl 3 before you can multiclass.
1. Roll for Ability Scores.
• Roll 4d6 drop the lowest number. For instance I roll 4d6 and get 4, 5, 2, 3. I would drop the ‘2’ since this is the lowest number leaving me with 4+5+3 = 12
• Repeat this 7 more times.
• This will give you a pool of 8 numbers. Use 6 of these to fill in your ability scores. No stat (even after adding your racial bonus) can be higher than 18.
Just so you are clear you will use 6 of these numbers to fill in your ability scores. So 2 will not be used at all.
• All rolls must be generated in your post on the recruitment thread.
2. Choose Race: PHB only (No Dragonborn. No Drow)
2a. Dragonborn: I view The Lost Lands as a throwback campaign setting. Dragonborn currently do not have a place in the lore and at this time I am not going to write them in.
2b. Tieflings: They are typically viewed with true suspicion if not outright fear/hatred. Demons are real in this setting and creatures that appear infernal will likely be treated as such in many civilized locations. Bard’s Gate would likely be the only place you would find some peace but even then you’ll likely have a hard time socializing with many if they know your true nature.
2c. Subraces: These are allowed minus Drow as indicated above.
2d. Humans PC are allowed to use the variant traits for humans HOWEVER they get (i) Any 2 attributes +1; (ii)Common tongue + 1 other language; (iii) 1 Feat
3. Choose Class: PHB only for classes. I have not reviewed the UA Ranger but I would likely allow it.
For archtypes (i.e.,paths/schools/ etc. which are chosen at level 3) from material outside of PHB (i.e., Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide, Unearthed Arcana, etc.) these are subject to my decision. So let me know ahead of time if you would like something outside of the PHB.
4. Choose Background: Background found outside of PHB are allowed just let me review it first. Follow the steps for choosing a background but your character needs to have a personality trait, an ideal, a bond and a flaw. Whether you choose randomly or pick from the list given is your decision.
**Please Note** I will be using a modified inspiration system (see House Rules below) which will be rewarded based on how true your character is to their personality traits, ideal, bond and flaw.
5. Choose Alignment: No Neutral Evil. No Chaotic Evil. Lawful Evil
I will allow but there should be a good reason why you’d see this character staying with the same group for years.
Regardless of what alignment you choose I am hopeful that your alignment will weigh in on the decisions that your character makes. Also to be transparent my view on alignment is that it is your moral compass. So there are greedy lawful good people (i.e., maybe they just might give a considerable amount of themselves to help strangers) and lawful evil people can think of others before themselves (i.e., their child or another loved one).
6. Choose Equipment: Equipment is determined by your Background and your Class. You will see a portion in each section of the PHB which describes what equipment your character begins with.
One small addendum:. Once your character is created you will only have 1d10 silver pieces left in your pouch (or lower if you use up the gold that your background provides you with). You can roll to determine how much you have left at the start of the campaign. No one said being an adventurer was waking up on soft feather down beds and eating 5 star meals.
7. Backstory Give me your backstory/description in a short paragraph. It should include:
a) What makes your character stand out in the crowd?
b) What event led you to wanting to become an adventurer?
c) What secret do you protect or hold?
I will be including some House Rules that I use in my face 2 face campaign as well as a Modified Inspiration System. I’ll post these once I’ve selected the players for the game.
When you arrived in Holscomb it was clear to see that the village was overcrowded for a place that consisted of a rickety dock, a few shops and several houses. Much of the overcrowding happened to be other merchants loaded with wagons ready to be sold in Eastwych or maybe as far as Eastgate. However, you also found other adventurers waiting to head upriver to head to Zelkor’s Ferry. It seemed they had also been spun the same tale as yourself about avoiding Renderby.
That was three days ago and now looking at your current surroundings this was not how you pictured the life of an adventurer. The pungent smell of fermenting ale mixed with days old sweat was enough to cause you to wrinkle your face. The common room had become your home where you slept, ate and entertained yourself since the last keelboat, the Lucky Oak, had crammed on as many as it could on board and casted off for Zelkor’s Ferry.
Feeling the pouch at your side you are reassured that it is still there, you wish the same could be said for the coins that once made this pouch a little heavier. Checking inside there was little hope you would have enough to pay for the next ferry heading upriver. You’d spoken with some others in the same situation as yourself. Maybe just maybe they could be convinced to set foot to Zelkor’s Ferry. All you’d need to do was follow the river east it would take you there.
With a keen eye you watch as people strewn about the floor, chairs and tables begin to stand and stretch to welcome in the new day. The proprietor of the River Ale had already started cooking something. Hopefully it was those rabbits you’d seen him skinning the night before. Yes today was a new day and you were going to make the most of it.
