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Class Tiers: An ugly approach from fighting games and card games that has migrated into tabletop games.

RAW: Remember, there is no such thing as "Rules as Written". That's a fairly recent internet philosophy which really means "I believe my interpretation is correct, you should listen to me".
Reading is an interpretive activity. Two people can read the same passage and come to two entirely different conclusions. That alone should be strong enough evidence to show that "RAW" is a fallacy.

To lessen that chance of occurring, you not only need more text (which is difficult when you have a limited word count), but you need to have a firm grasp of the system itself and all its nuances and implied understandings (which is what GMs are for).

The first can be alleviated through FAQs. Imagine how thick the Core Rulebook would be if it included the entire FAQ. The second can be alleviated by not stubbornly limiting your understanding to a narrow viewpoint using limited resources.

Rules Issues: Step 1. Ask your DM.
Step 2. If you're a DM, make a decision.
The biggest problem is if you see the rules as iron clad and only by having the base rules changed for everyone can you be satisfied that things are working 'right'

Problem Player/DM: Step 1. Talk to the player like an adult.
Step 2. If the problem continues, kick out the player.
Step 3. If it is not within your power to remove the problem player, leave the group and find another.

Caster/Martial Disparity: Use Rule Zero, It is not up to the game creators to tailor their classes to your specific likes and dislikes. They present a setting and rule system that they like and think is creative and filled with opportunity and flavor.

Painlords guide to PbP Dming

Doomed Heros Guide to PbP gaming

Willmannators guide to recruiting

Tomb of Boorors

FAWTL

The funniest thing I have read on these boards

Oladon's Browser Extension(You need this)

The Answer to all your alignment questions

Cool Places

Magic Item Guide

1.Never split the party. Just don't do it.
2. Doing ANYTHING in a dungeon can get you killed. This includes doing nothing. Therefore, act. Tis better to die daring awesomely.
3. The easy way is trapped. The hard way is an ambush. The right way is hidden.
4. Levers are placed to be pulled.
5. Evil henchmen are often more potent combatants than their bosses. Be ready.
6. If the wizard dies with an uncast Fireball, he deserved it.
7. There is NEVER enough curative power.
8. Doors without traps lead to doors with them.
9. A fountain in a dungeon is a crapshoot.
10. Never trust a dead end.
11. Kill it first. That's what Raise Dead is for
12. When in a dungeon, NEVER let the DM think you're bored.
13. Whenever possible, do not have the slowest movement rate.
14. Posting a strong rear guard can deter the DM from attacking from the rear. This is not a waste. This is proper. If you don’t get attacked from behind, it was 100% worth it.
15. Always know which skill no one has, and be ready to depend on that skill.
16. When turned to stone, don’t panic. Monsters with petrification abilities come with Stone to Flesh items nine times out of ten.
17. Try to look unimportant, it might be low on ammo.
18. Murphy was a fighter.
19. You’re playing D&D, not Marvel.
20. If it’s stupid and it works, it isn’t stupid.
21. The first time you drop your guard, the DM will teach you a lesson.
22. So what if you met in a bar 10 minutes ago, and now you’re already hired. Learn about your comrades’ strengths and weaknesses ASAP.
23. A comrade that stutters, hems, or haws trying to pinpoint their weaknesses can add “Doesn’t know when they’re screwed” to the list.
24. A character with no weaknesses isn’t really good at anything either.
25. The thief doesn’t complain when the fighter doesn’t help pick the lock, the fighter shouldn’t complain when the thief doesn’t enter melee.
26. HP and damage potential are independent attributes. Four giants at 3/4 HP do WAY more damage than 3 fully healthy giants. Gang up on bad guys, do not make it a fight from Big Trouble In Little China.
27. Trust your experts. Don’t get mad at the thief if he misses a trap, and he won’t get made when the demon saves against your spell or the fighter gets mowed down.
28. You don’t need a body for resurrection, so don’t worry about leaving it behind.
29. Someone who ditches a group plan has signed up for whatever happens to them. Pay to have them raised, but don’t risk your neck for them.
30. When someone is getting themselves killed for something you screwed up on, suck it up and risk yours to get them out of it.
31. Never EVER EVER spend an action saying, “Go Team.” Watching for the impending second wave of baddies is a perfectly reasonable way to spend your time.
32. When the cleric says it’s time to stop, it’s time to stop. If the fighter says it’s time to stop, look at the healer for confirmation.
33. Communism and democracy gets a party killed. Situational Meritocracy gets you fortune and glory.
34. What the paladin doesn’t know can’t hurt him.
35. What the thief doesn’t know CAN hurt you.
36. Fighters get first dibs on tactical placement.
37. Never lie during triage.
38. If you decide to rest after you’ve run out of spells, you’re too late.
39. When the fighter yells for you to cast the fireball, listen. When the wizard tells you you’re going to get yourself killed, you listen. When the cleric flees you follow. When the thief gets killed by a trap, go get another thief before continuing.
40. Fighters are a wizard’s second best armor. Clerics are the best.
41. Spells should neither be whored nor hoarded.
42. What good is the reward if you aren’t around to use it?
43. Just because your cover is blown, charging isn’t plan B.
44. You’ll only ruin the game by turning in the thief for contacting the guild.
45. Listen when you’re not in charge, and lead when you are.
46. Portable Hole plus ballista equals success. See #20.
47. Always know which side the hinges are on.
48. ALWAYS listen after tampering with the door.
49. People can miss obvious sights, or shrug off noise, but scent is never missed.
50. The Atreides had a battle language, so should you.
51. Treasure can be used right away.
52. It costs five copper pieces to shoot an exploratory arrow into the darkness, and five hundred thousand copper pieces to get your Troubleshooter raised from the dead.
53. Know who your DM’s favorite D&D writer is and plan accordingly.
54. Female NPCs with names are suspect. Never score on a named NPC.
55. It’s always an inside job. When it’s not, the BBEG is a higher level than you.
56. Nine times out of ten when the DM wants to know your HP total, he’ll pull his punches. When he never asks, he doesn’t care if your character dies, act accordingly.
57. “Rush In and Act Accordingly” only works when you trust your teammates.
58. Dicing for mutually desired items leads to semi-content parties with less than optimal power. Voting to place the items leads to optimally powered, temporarily less than happy members (minus one). Pick one.
59. Always have enough to get your sorry butt raised, and make sure your party-mates know where that stash is.
60. Always know how many charges are left in the wand of curing, even if you’re not the cleric.
61. If the thief introduces himself with an alias, go along with it!
62. Unless you’re a paladin, when the thief introduces YOU with an alias, go along with it.
63. It’s okay to get screwed for not knowing the game setting, but keep your complaints to yourself starting the with the second offense.
64. When stocking up, assume every dungeon has a rust monster, a troll, a doppelganger, an incorporeal creature, and SWARMS.
65. It doesn’t matter what edition you’re playing, going down stairs ups the ante.
66. Double doors guard things with more HP than single doors. As a corollary, the square footage of a door is directly proportional to the XP value of the thing behind the door.
67. The player who can name the campaign specific names for various coins gets first dibs on being the bard.
68. Two bards is a waste. I don’t care how different their feat selection is.
69. Two fighters are never a waste, but always use different primary weapons.
70. All other things being equal, enhance your character’s strengths before plugging up your weaknesses.
71. Just because rogues no longer get bonus XP for liberating treasure, and fighters per HD, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to stop playing that way.
72. Assuming people are basically good is asking for it. People by default are neutral.
73. Read the description for Diplomacy. Nowhere does it describe the powers of Bluff, Charm Person, Suggestion, Savoir-Faire, or Fast-talking. Don’t complain when the DM doesn’t let you get away with it.
74. Dragons are dangerous from the day they hatch.
75. A wizard who resorts to melee does so because that’s how they want people to remember how they died.
76. Assuming that every monster in the dungeon was meant for you to kill it is suicide. Sometimes you’re supposed to run away.
77. The party’s strategist may not be the party’s tactician. Any class can handle these jobs, don’t be cliché about this.
78. Even the A-Team accepted the reward. Take it.
79. Don’t make a pacifist character. It’s D&D. Fighting happens. Pacifism is for NPCs.
80. The time to fall back for healing is never lower than 1/3 power. Don’t wait until you’re almost dead, as it’ll become a cycle; heal, get hit, heal, get hit.
81. It’s only worth missing a round to get healed if you’re going to get healed for more damage than you take in 1 round.
82. If the wizard needs to fall back, it’s because everyone else is dead, or the wizard is executing #75.
83. No matter your class, always have a light slashing weapon ready for use.
84. Captain Kirk used red shirts, so should you.
85. If you can’t sum up your character in a single paragraph, he’s too complicated.
86. Everyone in the party should have a common language beyond simply Common.
87. Know your DM. Learn to tell when he’s throwing you a bone, and run with it.
88. “The natural cavern leads off into darkness” is typically DM-speak for, “This cavern isn’t part of the adventure, but is there in case I want to build on it later. Please don’t go down there, because I’ll have to wing it.”
89. Your cohort is never more valuable than another PC. Your followers are never more important than a comrade’s cohort.
90. It is, in fact, possible to “win” at D&D. A character who is the subject of nostalgic gaming stories long after a campaign has ended has “won” D&D.
91. If your DM uses plastic minis, but slaps down a hand-painted metal mini, treat it with suspicion and caution.
92. If you tell the party to “trust you”, then don’t let them down. If you do let them down, don’t be surprised if they don’t go with it next time you ask.
93. The DM’s love of the campaign world is directly proportionate to the level of motivation he has for a campaign with in it, and inversely proportional to the patience he has for people being ignorant of it.
94. The more proper nouns that appear in your character’s back-story, the more permission you’re giving the DM to mess with it during the campaign.
95. There’s nothing childish about a character whose motivations include power, riches, and fame. In fact, be honest with yourself, at some level isn’t that your own motivation with your character?
96. Multiple wizards in a party are like a sports team (or the X-Men arcade game). You need to “call the ball”. Don’t both of you waste your best spells at the same time. Alternate so as to maintain your level of firepower (See #41).
97. You might think it’s cool to keep your prepared spells a secret until the party sees you cast them, but it’s even cooler if they can plan around your selection. If there are two casters in the party, talk to each other when planning the day’s spells so as to not create a surplus or scarcity of certain effects.
98. If your DM wants to know which party member is carrying the map, the answer is always plural. (And it’s a good bet he’s the kind of dungeon master that will keep track of food, so be ready.)
99. The player that still uses the level titles (e.g. Veteran, Cutpurse, Deacon, etc.) gets first dibs on playing the thief (and trust me, they’ll call it thief not rogue.) They’re by far the most paranoid player in a dungeon, and likely the one most highly trained at recognizing highly probable places for traps.
100. It’s okay to let the DM know you’re bored when in town (See #4). But before you do, make sure you’re armed and ready.
101. If the DM asks you if you say or read something out loud, the answer is always no.
102. If you meet an NPC in a session with a proper name, be courteous and learn it.
103. If the same NPC appears in another adventure, be smart and learn as much as you can about them.
104. If the same NPC appears in another story arc, be wise and prepare to fight him to the death.
105. Don’t name your character after a famous person/character within the game, it’s distracting and will lead to jokes that break the suspension of disbelieve, which in turn will garner you less sympathy from the DM when you mess up.
106. Never cite The Lord of the Rings as justification for an argument for why something should work, and maybe, just maybe, the DM won’t cite Alien for the same reason.
107. Female NPCs exhibit a parabolic relationship with their comeliness score and their importance. If comeliness is 3 or 18, then pay attention to what she says.
108. If you’re the paladin, don’t b#~~!, you signed up for this.
109. Assume every dungeon has an underground lake and a river of lava. Trust me, it’s better that way.
110. Unless you’re pressed for time, look for its lair, even if it’s a wandering monster.
111. Sometimes treasure is hidden in the stomach, the tauntaun treasure chest must not be overlooked.
112. You know what psych majors learn in college? Stereotypes are usually true.
113. There’s no such thing as an underground lake without a carnivorous creature in it. See #109
114. No it’s not good role-playing to run an evil character in a group with a paladin. It’s asking for angst that D&D is designed to provide escape from.
115. Never argue physics with the DM. It’s not worth the retribution, and you can never win an argument when the rebuttal can justifiably be “Magic!”
116. Plan C should never be “Every man for himself.”
117. Don’t freak out if the party rogue is neutral. Remember #72.
118. Never assume the BBEG is like a James Bond BBEG. Assume you’ll be killed quickly, efficiently and without warning.
119. Before play begins, find out what skill the DM says is relevant to determining success in the Indiana Jones, “gold idol – bag of sand” switch.
120. Never ever complain your way out of character death. It’s unmanly and you’ll embarrass yourself. If you’ve got a solid logical reason, give it. Once.
121. It’s D&D, “Because he’s evil” is always acceptable.
122. Before you draw from that Deck of Many Things, decide your drawing limit and stick to it.
123. If you’re playing 3rd edition, and you find a lone kobold, it’s obviously a high level sorcerer. If someone laughs at you for making that assumption, let them make theirs next time. If you’re playing older editions, that kobold is bait.
124. If you can’t solve the puzzle in 5 minutes of real game time, break it.
125. If attacked by ninjas, remember the power of a ninja is inversely proportionate to the number of ninjas involved in the fight. Ten ninjas are fodder, but a lone ninja will kick your butt.
126. Playing a character of the exact opposite of the stereotype is also a stereotype.
127. Unless the DM forbids it, during character creation talk to the other players, otherwise don’t complain when the characters are hopelessly incompatible or everyone’s a fighter.
128. Default template for single file marching order is, in order of front to back, Troubleshooter, fighter, wizard, cleric. Always leave 5' of space between
129. There’s nothing wrong with making requests of the spell-casters for what spells to prepare for the day. Just like there’s nothing wrong with saying “no” to those requests.
130. Always carry a missile weapon. Unless your class prohibits you from using it, use it.
131. Before you do something REALLY stupid, make sure you know the DM’s policy on Atonement.
132. Burned out Ioun Stone + Continual Flame = best torch ever.
133. If you’re a middle level fighting class (cleric, druid, etc.) don’t rush in on round 1. Doing so will annoy the fighters trying to execute #36, and you’ll end up needing to use more curative magic. Round 1 is a buffing and assessment round for you.
134. Monk + Silence = premier anti-caster tactic.
135. Know when to retreat, and know which characters in the party would rather die than do so.
136. Once fireballs are added to the mix, the city watch doesn’t care who started it.
137. Behold the power of the Cantrip: Ghost Sound can save your butt against dumb giants, and Mending can redo the seal on the royal letter you stole.
138. If the reward seems too good to be true, be prepared for a double cross. This doesn’t mean don’t take the contract, it just means be ready to fight the person who gave it to you.
139. Whenever possible, use cover and concealment.
140. Flanking is key. Do it, and don’t let it happen to you. When moving to flank, the melee-tank-anchor should arrive before the sneak-attacker.
141. Decide to be aggressive enough, quickly enough. Better to have overkill than be killed.
142. Unless the details of your class require you to honor last requests, don’t.
143. After having finally slain the BBEG, take the precautions necessary, using whatever books the DM allows, to ensure that he cannot be True Resurrected.
144. When entering combat with a truly dangerous foe, don’t save your most powerful spells for “just in case”. Use them first.
145. Unless you have some kind of trump card, resist any and all urges to do melee battle with anyone on a ledge.
146. If you wipe the floor with the first wave of baddies, assume the next wave is going to be the toughest. The instant you have determined the level of toughness, first hand, of the next wave, be ready with #144.
147. It’s D&D, the moral implications concerning bribery are relevant to the mark, not the PC. Bribery is as valid a tactic as intimidation.
148. Magic items in which the word “of” appears two or more times will invariably become either a plot device or a homing beacon for trouble. Be prepared.
149. Monks will never be as good at melee as fighters or as sneaky as rogues. Monks are a “variable support class” They make excellent wing man melee fighters, and wing man rogues.
150. If you have a familiar, keep it in mind at all times. Otherwise you’ll have no recourse when it’s time to rely on it and the DM says Fido’s still back in town.
151. If you suspect a character has been replaced by a doppelganger, ask them to let you cast sleep on them. If it doesn’t work, they’re either an elf-blooded PC or a doppelganger.
152. If the DM asks if you’re setting watch, the answer is always yes.
153. Whenever reasonable, make the baddies come to you as you rain missile fire on them.
154. If you prepare spells, it’s worth it to have a “default non-adventuring day” list of prepared spells, so when the DM springs the adventure hook on you, you’re not caught with your pants down.
155. You should always know how each person in the party would answer the question, “You’re lost in the desert and the water supply is dwindling, how should you split it?”
156. If the DM forgets to include a penalty you’re suffering from, point it out. If he doesn’t return the favor, then stop. Immediately.
157. Take notes at the table. If you recall the name, race, and nationality of an NPC, it shows the DM that you care about the hours he put in on making the adventure. It may come up in rewarding you later. It’s also good gaming.
158. If your character can’t swim because of encumbrance, then you need a solution that will protect you from drowning. You need this before you approach anything wet.
159. If the DM takes the time to describe a new pattern of floor tiling, do not advance until the troubleshooter gives the go ahead.
160. Everyone in the party should know who the fastest talker is, the best diplomat, and the most intimating member. Don’t use numbers at the table, but know who each is.
161. The order of operations is always Diplomacy, Bluff, then intimidate. Never reverse these.
162. There should never be any excess space in an extra-dimensional storage container. If you’re successful enough to have one, you’re wealthy enough to fill remaining space with food and water (and ammo). As space is needed, ditch the ammo, food, and water.
163. Scouts should always return to the group for planning, never should the group advance to the scout.
164. The place to plan is never close enough that a double move will bring the enemy within their striking distance.
165. If the DM ever needs to vividly describe the specific actions of a trap, you must assume that they are using something more than the core rulebook for their traps. This brings a requirement of checking for traps immediately after disabling the obvious trap. If you see a "Grimtooth" trap book, GET A THIEF.
166. Choose your attacks wisely. It might seem like a good idea to hit a melee monster with a physically devastating spell, but it likely won’t work. Blast the slow tanks, manipulate the weak willed, and debilitate the weak bodied.
167. The fact that Undectable Alignment is still a Paladin spell should give a clue as to what a Paladin is actually allowed to do. Nowhere does it say that the Code requires you to wear a neon sign that says, “I’m a paladin and I will judge you!”
168. Defense will only protect you, for a time, from defeat. It takes offense to actually conquer a foe.
169. The cheapest item in the PHB is a mundane item with the following abilities: potential circumstance bonus when used for nose plugs or earplugs, works as a timer for anything up to an hour, can check for air currents, can be a minor decoy, can make subtle markings on a wall to indicate exploration progress, and sheds a weak light. It weighs virtually nothing, so even the wizard can carry some. It’s called a “candle.”
170. Just because it’s gone from the game, doesn’t mean there’s no longer a need for bending bars and lifting gates. Make sure you have this covered. It’ll make your DM happy if you know what the best result a party can muster is on taking 20 for a STR check.
171. Always know how you’re going to spend a turn before your name is called to act. It keeps the game smooth, and encourages others to do the same. Your DM will thank you, and you’ll come off as having a more confident character.
172. Never share a hiding spot with someone more foolish than thyself.
173. If you are paired up. Never leave your wingman. Do Not Leave Your Wingman.
174. Know the escape route.
175. Every party should have a policy on when it's time to make a last stand.
176. If you can pull off an ambush, hold the line until the enemy is within melee range. Shooting a target from far way isn't an ambush.
177. Never ford a river at the ford.
178. When the plan goes wrong, go back to the beginning (or some other clearly designated point.
179. Never return from the dungeon the way you went in. Foolish is the bandit who attacks the party prepped to kill them all and let Heironeous sort them out. Wise is the bandit who attacks the resource depleted, treasure laden party.
180. Attack HVTs first. These are the blasters and characters with Save or Die abilities. (piles of easily fireballed minions not withstanding.)
181. If your character has a schtick, know they rules. Expect to be called upon to show the sourcebook. Have page numbers ready.
182. Thou shall not sunder treasure. If you're playing in an organized game, this does not apply.
183. Do not look down upon mundane equipment. Keep pitons, flour, and empty sacks on hand.
184. It is okay to tease someone at the table. It is not okay to tease them such that their fun is lessened.
185. Read the fluff first, and the crunch second. It's poor gaming to take a class, especially a prestige class based solely on crunch.
186. Pay attention even to trifles. This includes casting times, numbers of targets you can affect.
187. Even if the DM doesn't do it, pay attention to ammo.
188. Roll all your dice at once. Miss chances, attack and damage. This is more efficient. If you miss due to concealment, you can save time on the math.
189. Do NOT roll all of your attacks on a full attack at once. Your 5' step could be life and death. Use it appropriately, redirect your attacks as the situation demands.
190. Know which rules are often misapplied. You don't need to memorize them (though you should) but you do need to know where to find them.
191. Remember, in a no holds barred contest Batman bested Superman.
192. It is okay to think in terms of aggro, DPS, Uber. It is not okay to use these at the table. Ever.
193. Never keep a side mission a secret from your party unless ordered to do so.
194. Know thyself. Inside and out. Be familiar with your abilities, equipment, and spells. Prepare. Use note cards. The player with an entirely different sheet for their raging barbarian knows what's up.
195. Embrace the abstraction. An unexpected plan can surprise the DM forcing him to wing it. You have the advantage. Here is where you reap the rewards from #87 and most definitely #93.
196. Immerse yourself ahead of time. Playing a primitive fighter? Read some Robert Howard. Thief? Read Gord the Rogue. This will give you the language, attitude and aura of the character you're playing. Your newfound adjectives will increase everyone's enjoyment.
197. Beware of symmetrical dungeon levels. These contain Very Bad Things.
198. Beware of almost symmetrical dungeon levels. There's a secret door.
199. When expecting trouble it is not a waste to buff ahead of time. A 10 Round Bless cast 4 rounds too early is still 7 rounds of benefit. Six with the spell, and one where you didn't have to cast it.
200. Knowledge is power. Invest and use knowledge skills. If you have a regular party, spread the wealth. Ignorance is a choice. Don't make it.

Attention Detainee:
Are you a convicted and currently incarcerated criminal? Are you a psychiatric patient previously found not criminally responsible for criminal actions, but required to remain within a designated psychiatric facility for non-voluntary treatment?
Do you regret your criminal actions and wish to make a positive contribution to society? Do you have special skills or abilities that might be used to benefit your country? Are you dissatisfied with your present accommodations or incarceration? If so, this might be the opportunity for you!
By volunteering for this project, you may be eligible for benefits or improvements to your circumstances, based on the details of your present confinement. These include:
•••Improved Conditions/Privileges at your place of incarceration.
•••Reduced or Commuted Sentence
•••Full Pardon (Murder Convictions are not eligible for this benefit)
•••Induction into long term service as a diversion from traditional incarceration
While it is possible that you will be called upon to make use of specialized skills you previously used in your criminal endeavours, the uses to which you will put them as part of this program will be for the benefit of society as a whole. Should any unfortunate “violent actions” be required as part of your duties, rest assured that appropriate counselling will be made available to assist you with the emotional ramifications of such actions, and that these actions will be channeled in societally beneficial directions.
Be advised that compliance with the guidelines of the program will be strictly monitored and enforced, and failure to comply could not only jeopardize your entitlement to program benefits, but endanger the safety of your fellow program participants, as well as your own. As a result, deviation from program parameters will not be tolerated, and may result in immediate sanction.

Looking to get Ahead

Notes on Hydra physiology
* Your body is about 18' long, discounting necks and tail. You definitely weigh over a ton, probably more like two tons.
* All of your throats connect to the same (large) stomach and lungs. This should make talking complicated but somehow doesn't (it's magic).
* You share the same circulatory system, too, but the incredible fortitude of your body as a whole means that poisons and diseases generally only affect a single head (it's also magic).
* If you absolutely cram yourselves to the point of your stomach visibly bulging outwards, you can eat about 800 lbs of food in one sitting, which is slightly less than one troll, or about half a fat cow.
* In spite of being fairly reptilian, you're endothermic and have a rather fast metabolism. That half a cow would be digested in about half a day.
* While you'd love to eat two 800-lb meals a day, you can live off about one deer a day, unless you need to regrow a bunch of heads.

Hydra Battle Rules:

Your body will move at initiative 0 every round. You can place your head wherever you wish within 15' of your body--when it moves, you will retain your relative position to it. You provoke attacks of opportunity as normal when moving, though you are always assumed to move your head to your new position by whatever means provokes the fewest attacks of opportunity.

On Being A Hydra:

Well, not a hydra exactly... it might be more accurate to say you're some sort of hydra-like creature. After all, hydras generally can't talk, don't have a separate personality for each head, and don't have nearly so heavily-armored a body as you do. But you're still a big, reptilian, multi-headed monstrosity, so 'hydra' will do.

Whatever you really are, the first thing to note about yourself is that you only move by majority vote. This has a couple of consequences: first, if a majority agree on where you're going, I'll go ahead and update the thread without having to wait for a straggler or two. Second, if you cannot come to an agreement, time will pass while you keep arguing with each other, and your body will keep doing whatever it was doing before you started arguing.

The next thing you'll notice is that... well, sometimes your head will get chopped off. But don't despair! You sensibly store your brain at the base of your neck, leaving more room in your head for things like teeth. So you'll grow back in time (1d4 minutes, to be exact), good as new. Your odd mutant heritage does mean that you'll regrow your head even if fire or acid is applied, though it will make it take longer.

While you and your sibling heads cannot share your thoughts, you can sense one another's feelings to some degree. So feel free to think angry thoughts at your traitorous other heads when they bite you off after one too many jokes about their preferences for slug meat. More importantly, you can still vote on which way your body should move... even when you lack the eyes to see where you're going and any way to discuss your decision with your sibling heads. You can always sense which way they want to go, at least.

The Rules

Create a 6th-level character (Pathfinder rules, to be clear), using 20 pt. buy for stat generation. You can gain a +2 racial bonus to a stat of your choice and a free feat at first level, to represent your bizarrely varied mutant nature. As a hydra head you... can't really have much in the way of equipment, so instead you get Automatic Bonus Progression bonuses. Each head also has a bite attack that does 1d8 + Str damage, with a 15' reach. You don't get iterative attacks with your bite. You also have a +5 Natural Armor bonus. You can take either average rolls or roll your hit dice. You have no money or equipment. You do have Low-Light vision and Darkvision 60'.

Oh, and please explain how you're going to cope if you're playing a class that requires things generally anatomically impossible for a hydra, like, say, Alchemist. I'll generally work with you to make it happen, particularly if it's funny and leaves opportunity for mayhem to happen.

To make that a little easier, spellcasting classes automatically get Eschew Materials. Wizards (and anyone else book-dependent, like Alchemists or Magi) have a "Summon/Dismiss Spellbook" cantrip. I suggest you don't forget it while your spellbook is dismissed. I might also point out that you don't have hands and that slobber and teeth marks aren't good for spellbooks. So someone should definitely play a wizard.

Your body is, for all intents and purposes, indestructible. So don't worry about it. Worry about your own neck. It does, however, have a move speed of only 20' base, though it can also swim 20' a round like a normal hydra. It's also very heavy and strong if you want to just plow through some things. It is, as you might guess, size Huge,and can either single or double move, or run. It will attempt (and probably succeed at) Overrun or Bull Rush maneuvers against anything in its way when it moves.

Because you're a tangle of heads and necks attacking something, rolling a one might have interesting consequences...

Hydra Feats

In addition to normal feats, you also have the following feats available to you:

Swift Regrowth
Prerequisites: Hydra Head, Con 13
Effect: It only takes you 1d4 rounds instead of 1d4 minutes to regrow your head if it is chopped off. Regrowing swiftly like this causes one point of Constitution damage.

Split Regrowth
Prerequisites: Swift Regrowth, Con 17
Effect: When your head regrows, you regrow an extra head. This grants you an extra bite attack on a full attack, but no other bonuses. This head falls off after one hour. However, you take a point of Constitution drain whenever you regrow an extra head that cannot be healed while the head is still alive. This replaces the normal Constitution damage. When the head drops off or dies, this drain becomes damage, instead.

Pyrohead
Prerequisites: Hydra Head
Effect: You are immune to fire, take 50% extra damage from cold, and have a breath weapon. This breath weapon is a 15-foot cone (starting from any point within your reach) that deals 3d6 points of fire damage (Reflex 10 + 1/2 level + Con modifier for half). It is usable once every 1d4 rounds.

Cryohead
Prerequisites: Hydra Head
Effect: You are immune to cold, take 50% extra damage from fire, and have a breath weapon. This breath weapon is a 15-foot cone (starting from any point within your reach) that deals 3d6 points of cold damage (Reflex 10 + 1/2 level + Con modifier for half). It is usable once every 1d4 rounds.
If you take both this and Pyrohead, you have both breath weapons, neither immunity, and both vulnerabilities.

Poison Sspit
Prerequisites: Your head musst be more sserpentine, sso you musst sspeak like thiss in order to maintain the benefitss of the feat.
Effect: You can sspit a mildly assidic venom. Thiss venom is a ranged touch attack with a range increment of 30' (maxs 5 range incrementss) and deals 1 point of assid damage per level on a ssucssesssful hit. Additionally, the target musst make a Fortitude ssave (DC 10 + 1/2 level + Con modifier) or be affected by assp venom.

Gameplay Expectations
I'm hoping to keep things going fairly quickly for this game. I will post, one way or another, every day except Sunday. This post may not always move the story forward, but whenever there's a majority agreeing on something, it will happen, so do try to not get left behind. Any head that is inactive without explanation for more than a week risks withering away and falling off to be replaced by a new head.

I'll be playing kind of fast and loose with the rules, since they weren't really designed to be used like this. I will hue as close to the spirit of the rules as I can, but there may be times I cut corners to keep things fun, crazy, and moving. There may also be times I just plain forget about a rule. Please tell me if a ruling bothers you or if I missed something.

I may occasionally hand out bizarre bonuses for doing especially amusing things.

The Lords of the Dungeon or Reverse Dungeon Crawl
Being co-dungeon-lords has its ups and downs, but until today, it'd been a pretty nice job. Sure, every now and again you had to pretend to die to get some 'heroes' off the backs of your clients, but usually you could get paid for killing would-be adventurers and taking their gear.

Sometimes things were slow, of course, like they had been until just a few minutes ago. You'd been minding your own business in your lounge with your co-lords, enjoying a game of poker (which, in your version, involves more poking of goblins with hot irons than usual), when suddenly one of your minions burst in, gabbled something about 'Humans Everywhere!', and then collapsed on the floor, bleeding all over an expensive rug you'd looted from a village way back in the day.

Even worse, he was followed by some 'rogue'-type adventurer. He was delicious, of course, but he wasn't supposed to be able to get into the employee sections of the dungeons. Just what was going on out there...?

We've all played heroes bravely delving into dungeons, fighting their way through bizarre monsters and crazy traps to reach the bottom of the dungeon. But what if we inverted that paradigm?

In this adventure, you and your fellow PC's will be co-lords of a four-level dungeon complex. You had an agreement between yourselves on sharing the 'pretend to get killed' duties, with all the expensive clean-up it entailed, as well as various deals with more active dark lords in the area where you'd pretend to be at the root of a threat to draw heat off of them. It was a pretty lucrative deal, but now, your dungeon has been completely overrun by adventurers, from the top all the way down to your lounge.

You will also build a 9th Level PC in which we will take on each others dungeon level

This campaign will consist of playing with the tropes of the dungeon crawl by having you be the monsters, defending your dungeon level through hordes of heroes. As such, it's going to be rather tongue-in-cheek--don't expect any detailed simulations of dungeon life, but do expect to have to fight heroes that are investigating the dubious fare in your behind-the-scenes employee cafeteria.

So! You may be wondering by now just how you're supposed to make a character. The answer? Don't yet. At least, not all the way. What I'd like to see right now are outlines of the character you will build. Specifically, I would like to see:

1) What kind of dungeon lord are you? Aim for something in the CR 9 range, whether that be a level 10 goblin shaman or a young blue dragon, or something in between.
2) What kind of dungeon floor did you lord over? (Those chosen will have to actually build this floor)
3) A sketch of your character's personality and goals.
4) Some discussion of what you, as a player, would like to do/see in this campaign.

Here are but a few of the things that have been said about the World's Most Interesting GM:

He doesn't believe in game balance.
He can speak Osiriani... in Skald.
He has won the lifetime RP achievement award… twice.
His signature is what the spell arcane mark is based upon.
He once taught a Nessian Warhound how to bark in Celestial.
His TPKs end game lines.
The city guard often question him, just because they find him interesting.
His blood cures moderate wounds.
As a feat, he has Exotic Weapon Proficiency (beard).
Gandalf always lets him pass.
He once punched a flumph. Yes, you heard me.
He remembers TORG.
His dice only roll 20s... even the d6s.
His dice bag is woven out of tarrasque leather.
He belongs to a prestige class whose sole requirement for entry is being him.
"Stay thirsty my friends."

Host: "So you're..."
AFWAS: "I'm a fighter with a sword."
Host: Uhhh...yeah...do you have any special qualities?"
AFWAS: "I'm a fighter with a sword."
Host: "How did you come to be in the area?"
AFWAS: "I was born here. Exciting, huh?"
Host: "Well what sort of horrible dramatic trauma led you to picking up a sword?"
AFWAS: "Well my parents named me A Fighter With A Sword...so we all figured it was logical that I take it up...so I practiced and got good enough to apply for adventures, I guess."
Host: You're diction is, well..."
AFWAS: It's just normal talk-no flowery Ren Fest BS...when I charge into battle, I yell, "I Am A Fighter With A Sword! And as you are the "(insert basic name of said monster of the encounter here)" I will attack you with the intention of killing you"...no words like "Slay" or "Smite Thee Foul Beast" nothing like that...I'm A Fighter With A Sword, and that's my function, it's who I am now, and it's who I'm gonna be. It's what I do."
Host: "Do you work well with..."
AFWAS: "You know, it doesn't really matter if you work well with others if you never get to play. I see a lot of these GMs saying how they love creativity, but then shoot down any effort to make an interesting character...or they Private Message you telling you they loved your backstory and then not put you on the list. It's tough when you just started online gaming...when you have no huge record of posts...seeing the same damned people get picked...winning a spot on one campaign, and then dotting another with an alias with their huge flowery posting backgrounds and Vanilla-flavored crybaby dramatic backstories...which if you analyzed one from another...really aren't that unique anyways. YES I work well with others...I could create the most Chaotic Neutralist uncaring asshat of a dude and still work well with others and the campaign story...IT"S THE POINT ISN"T IT?"
Host: "Well...ok...ummmm...What First level fea..."
AFWAS: "Toughness...because...well, you know, Hit Points!"
Host: "What about trai..."
AFWAS: "Traits...well that's the tricky part! Any trait I pick would have to add flavor to me...I guess I would have to consider them a necessary bit of tasty sprinkles on an otherwise Plain Yogurt type of guy. BUT NO DRAWBACKS! I'LL BE DAMNED IF I"M GONNA ADD ANYTHING I DON"T HAVE TO IN THAT AREA!"

General Tips; A Well-Played Dragon . . .
ALWAYS looks out for number one and
NEVER loses a game of chess.
ALWAYS uses the home field advantage and
NEVER knowingly shows weakness.
ALWAYS acts like royalty and
NEVER wastes its breath weapon.
ALWAYS has an ace up its sleeve and
NEVER makes stupid decisions.
ALWAYS speaks many languages and
NEVER trusts anyone.
ALWAYS uses its wings and
NEVER forgets a slight.
ALWAYS looks for the hidden meaning and
NEVER acts predictably.
ALWAYS overestimates itself and
NEVER fears a human threat.
ALWAYS has an escape route and
NEVER takes meaningless tasks.
ALWAYS is awesome to behold and
NEVER acts on a whim.