|
Below is an outline of how things will take place.
Character Generation
Introduction
This method of character creation is based on the scenarios Treasure Hunt and Under Illefarn. My idea was originally to help people without much experience produce a good background and then use it to grow into a more three-dimensional character. Those with much more experience in DnD usually get taken in directions that they may not have intended but generally they are all the more memorable for it.
Usually for a tabletop campaign, it would take three to four evenings play to get a completed zero level character. It is going to take much longer in a pbp, however everyone will be interacting and adventuring well before they are completed. Probably by August at the latest.
Below are the three steps that follow. The first two may only take a week or two to resolve, after those things become a little more freeform. This is where people can disappear off in their own directions, forgetting one day they will need reasons to adventure together.
Step 1
Each player makes a number of dice rolls on a variety of tables. These form the skeleton of your character. That means you will know that size of your family, number of parents, previous big events, etc. You put the bones on it. Look for ways to be linked to other characters, either as family or friends or colleagues or competitors. Go for it – I have every faith in you guys surprising me at this stage. Remember that I am very adaptable about this and if you really don’t like something, tell me. We can change this to suit, however I would rather find a story or reason that fits the dice and your concept.
Step 2
To put the bones on it, I will use your family backgrounds, if any, and your possible ties to each other to place you in the setting. If two of you want to play half-orcs and would like to be closely related then I’d sort that. Previously I ran an entire party of six siblings, Snow Barbarians whose mother was an exceptional warrior and father, a hopeless drunk. Most of you suggested humans or half-humans so the linkage could be very interesting.
Everyone needs to remember as well that the settings and the situations are as much yours as mine. I’d like to see all of you investing in the setting (and given everyone playing I reckon that shouldn't be a problem). Then when things happen, you will really care. The nature of this one is that your party may travel a bit but a good deal of the stuff will centre closer to home.
Step 3
Start roleplaying, finding mentors, learning new abilities and gradually trying to become that hero you always wanted to be. Other things happen at the end of end year but I’ll save that for later.
That takes place over three game years. Game years that will pass very quickly. Each year you all make choices of what you are doing with your time. The line between Discussion and Gaming can become a little blurred here. At the end of the year, you roll D20’s, modified by stat bonus, the quality of any mentors and maybe other factors. Success means you get closer to your goal, partial failure and you could try again, complete failure and well perhaps you should think about a new career.
That may sound a bit harsh, but unless you are rolling 1’s or 2’s, we can work something out. Also remember that 3.5 DnD makes multi-classing easy. Once you reach first level the game will be just like any other you have played in.
I shall do my best to get things going quickly but this week is a busy one.
Cheers
It seems likely doesn't it? But then all my characters tend to behave entirely unlike the way I originally envisaged them, so this is just a slightly more structured approach to the same result.
This will be a first for me...looking forward to it
I'm also a virgin.
Looking forward to the process FW, sounds like a lot of fun! :)
I'd like to request that my character start with musculature and skin, as well. Thanks. :)Step 1
Each player makes a number of dice rolls on a variety of tables. These form the skeleton of your character.
I'm going to be greedy and hope for clothes.
I'm going to be greedy and hope for clothes.
Powermunchkin! :)
Skin? clothes? Are you rpg-ers or mice?
|
|
Yeah, in my first flood of writing last night, I kind of mixed metaphors or descriptions. Makes me squirm to read a skeleton that you put the bones on.
Gawd.
Am working on the first step and it should go live sometime this evening UK time.
Also thanks again for joining this, I feel lucky with you guys.
For those that don't already know; I am a 42 year old house husband (gorgeous wife Helen) and father of a bouncing baby boy, Archie. I also work in my spare time as a maths teacher and in a local store called Tesco's
DnD is my one obsession (everyone is allowed one right), and while some of you have played longer than me, I call 27 years fairly respectable. In the last twelve years or so I've been involved with the UK Conventions and RPGA as a DM/Writer mainly for Living Greyhawk before that Ravenloft and Al-Qadim. Joined the PbP scene last May with Utak's game and I now play in Mothman's, SargonX's and Pat's.
Cheers
|
|
Step 1 - Dice Rolling
Let the games begin!
Dice rolling is by trust and honesty, roll those bones and tell me what you get.
Alternatively everyone can use Invisible Castle or one of the other web rollers, if they wish.
Let us know what you get in the open for things that the rest of the villagers would know and spoiler anything else.
Roll on the tables following. It used to be a percentage roll but now I have converted everything to D20 (or 2d10 in the case of Wealth).
Age
Starting age (Humans=15, Half-elves=20, Half-orcs=14, Elves=110, Gnomes=40, Dwarf=40, Halflings=20) and modify using the table below.
[1-4] -5
[5-8] -4
[9-12] -3
[13-16]-2
[17-19] -1
[20] +2
Father
[1] No Known Father
[2] Beggar
[3] Drunk – poor
[4] Sick and ill, fairly wealthy but old
[5] Animal Feed Merchant
[6] Gambler
[7-10] Animal farmer
[11-13] Woodsman or Hunter
[14-15] Ex-aristocrat (+2 on Wealth table)
[16] Ex-riverboatman
[17] Ex-soldier
[18] Martial character (+1 on Wealth table)
[19] Arcane character (+1 on Wealth table)
[20] Divine character (+2 on Wealth table)
Mother
[1] No Known Mother
[2] Died in childbirth (not necessarily yours)
[3] Victim of a fatal or non-fatal disease
[4] Now a nun
[5-6] Herbalist/apothecary
[7-9] Village Healer
[10-11] Forager/gatherer
[12] Brawny woodswoman
[13-16] Simple hardworking homemaker
[17] Well-to-do merchant
[18] Arcane character (+1 on Wealth table)
[19] Divine character (+1 on Wealth table)
[20] Town elder (+2 on Wealth table)
Siblings
[1-2] No family left alive, guardian (Roll again on Mother or Father table for a Guardian)
[3] One sister
[4] One brother
[5-8] One brother and one sister
[9-11] Two brothers
[12-14] Two sisters
[15-16] Two brothers and two sisters
[17] Half-orc brother missing and two brothers and one sister
[18] Five brothers and Two sisters
[19] Young cousin, child prodigy – sorcerer
[20] Six brothers and One sister
Early Events
Roll a D20 twice, each time if its 1-10 Roll on the Good Events Table
If its 11-20 Roll on the Bad Events Table
Good Events
[1-2] Recent upturn in family fortunes (+1 on Wealth Table).
[3-5] Found and drank from lost magical pool (+1 Strength and now maximum height for race, permanent).
[6] Tryst with a potent dryad (or male equivalent) ends but can now speak with plants 1/day.
[7-8] Helped local wizard, given a potion of invisibility in thanks.
[9] Whilst out playing in woods, befriended and trained a wild dog.
[10] Helped local woodland priest, given a silver holy symbol worth 25gp.
[11] Helped capture a crooked traveller, local sheriff offers a favour.
[12] Militia sergeant takes a shine, free training for anyone in your family.
[13] Local scholar needs a young pair of eyes, free rank in one Know (skill) of choice.
[14] Received a silver dagger by mail for no known reason.
[15] Local merchant needs a runner, (+1 on Wealth table).
[16] Gifted strange vision of clarity (+1 Wisdom permanent).
[17] Do well in schooling (+1 Intelligence permanent).
[18] Smithy offers work to you, if you take it your endurance and hardiness improves (+1 Con permanent).
[19] Help lost hunt, noble gives you 100 gold pieces later in thanks.
[20] Elf Archer in town befriends you, given masterwork shortbow.
Bad Events
[1] Childhood plagued by illness (-1 Con).
[2-3] Bad odours make other kids nickname you” Dwarf-pig”.
[4] Recent downturn in family fortunes (-2 on Wealth Table).
[5] Father runs off with mistress but returns after a few months.
[6] Elder forbids you to fraternise with his rich daughter
[7-8] Tax collector of Sobanwych claims all family wealth (No roll on wealth table).
[9-10] Tree falls on you laid up for months with badly damaged leg (-1 hit point max for first game year)
[11-12] Lightning storm during journey, lost in woods for days (choose a likely phobia).
[13] Immature, growth checked (-1 on all physical stat rolls for first game year, minimum 1)
[14] One eye missing due to accidental injury by another.
[15] Player may choose one bad event.
[16] DM may choose one bad event.
[17] Mad prophet in town of Sobanwych brands you a “child of evil” (-2 Cha checks in that town)
[18] Unusual Flan blood emerges in blond hair and blue eyes, look like a Barbarian of the north.
[19] Ravens nest nearby, ill-luck on family or friends as an accident (Pick one other PC, -1 on Wealth table for them).
[20] Family member or close friend murdered.
Ancestor History
Roll once on this table. This table applies to one of your relations, either recently or further back. In most cases that is entirely up to you and the DM to resolve. There is a good chance that more than one player will probably get the same result. So this may become a joint effort.
[1-5] No history of note, family yet to make its mark.
[6] Awarded for bravery at the Battle of Emridy Meadows.
[7] Hung for treason.
[8] Branded a robber and brigand.
[9] Lost at sea.
[10] Slew a dragon.
[11] Rode a unicorn.
[12] Member of the Silver Consortium (Powerful Wizards Guild of the city of Verbobonc)
[13] Druid of the Emerald Circle
[14] Soldier of Hextor rose high in the Great Kingdom before assassinated and raised as an undead.
[15] Led an evil cult of Iuz locally (-1 Wealth).
[16] Claimed friendship with the elves of Celene.
[17] Jailed for murder.
[18] Stole bodies from a graveyard.
[19] Heroic priest of Kelanen, the God of Swords.
[20] Demonspeaker.
Wealth – Roll 2d10 not 1d20
This is the initial personal wealth of the PC, from family, friends, work, etc. It can be spent on any items in the Players Handbook, however no special or masterwork items. Previous rolls may give a bonus (or penalty) to this one. If the result contradicts the other rolls, then the player can introduce a benefactor.
[1-2] No wealth.
[3-4] 10 gold pieces.
[5-6] 20 gold pieces.
[7-8] 30 gold pieces.
[9-10] 40 gold pieces.
[11-12] 45 gold pieces.
[13-14] 50 gold pieces.
[15-16] 55 gold pieces.
[17] 60 gold pieces.
[18] 70 gold pieces.
[19] 80 gold pieces.
[20] 100 gold pieces.
[21] 125 gold pieces.
[22+] 150 gold pieces plus a masterwork weapon of choice.
Next discuss amongst yourselves what all this means, what possible ties you may have with the other players (or not). Any questions or contradictions or advice I can give then just ask. Remember that the other players may have one or two good ideas to help you as well. This is the start of the collaborative bit.
For instance, if you get the same father but different results as mothers we may need to massage the results to suit but I’m sure we can work it out.
Anything that you particularly dislike or don’t feel fits then run it by me and we’ll see about re-rolls.
Well, that was interesting. Here's what I got. None of this is spoilered as I think it would all be pretty common knowledge.
Age - rolled 18 - therefore am 14
Father - rolled 9 - he's an animal farmer. It would be nice if he bred horses. Good ones.
Mother - rolled 17 - she's a well to do merchant. She's the brains of the operation then.
Siblings- rolled 6 - a brother and a sister.
Early events - well phooey. Rolled 15 and 19. Two bad ones. For which I rolled (8, 12). So I'm scared of trees and we have no money. Or at least none but the stuff we've made since the tax collectors removed it all. Maybe mother got a little too clever.
Ancient history - rolled 4 - We are utterly unremarkable.
Wealth - rolled 2, 3 - 20gp to call my own. A gift but who from?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----
age, father, mother, siblings, early events.
good luck or bad luck ()
I've had 2 bad events:
2 Bad Events.
good things are . . . (1d20=6, 1d20=10)
Ancestor History:
Ancestors.
Wealth:
Wealth.
STORY SO FAR
Vladimir is 11 years old, a Bastard having no father, and orphaned due to a fatal disease that took his mother in his 8th year, he has 2 older half brothers (different Father) that take amusment in beating him up for pleasure. Actually, all the kids in the orpahanage sibling or not take liberities on Vladimir, The headmaster just watches stating "it will only serve to make you stronger, if that fails, it will enforce the survival of the strong." Vladimir has had 2 bad events. The first is due to a foul odor he possess, the nickname "Dwarf-pig has been whispered in hushed tones, Luckily this may change in the future as Vladimir has been working at a horse farm to help make money for the orphanage, the job mainly includes removing piles of feces from the horse stalls. When Vladimir was younger he lost an eye trying to defned himself during a martial training excersize from a larger older boy, this just reinforced Vladimir to "take his lumps" its easier that way. One good item that has happened to Vladimir is he has heard wonderful stories about his Father's Father, it seems he was a hero at some fancy battle a while back. He was noticed for bravery at some battlefield known as Emridy Medows. Maybe Vladimir will take after his Grand pappy? Vladimir has stashed away 40gps hidden under a floorboard in the orphanage of Hextor
Having no Father and having lost his mother due to an illness has begun to harden Vladimir. He is one of the younger smaller residents at the Hextor orphanage, but unknowst to him, he is one growth spurt away from being very large. Teachings of might makes right and Order and Law are to be kept at any means, and Only the strong survive, are begining to mold young Vladimir's psyche.
|
Ok, here's what I got. I rolled 15 A LOT.
Background rolls
Age 12
Father
Sick and ill, fairly wealthy but old
Mother
Simple hardworking homemaker
Siblings
Two brothers and two sisters
Early Events
Good Events
Found and drank from lost magical pool (+1 Strength and now maximum height for race, permanent).
Bad Events
Player may choose one bad event.
Ancestor History
Heroic priest of Kelanen, the God of Swords
Wealth
55 gold pieces
Still grappling with how to fit all this together. Not quite as bad/difficult a background as I had been envisioning. Where's the prejudice, the hatred, the wards against the evil eye?
|
|
Well, that was interesting. Here's what I got. None of this is spoilered as I think it would all be pretty common knowledge.
Age - rolled 18 - therefore am 14
Father - rolled 9 - he's an animal farmer. It would be nice if he bred horses. Good ones.
Mother - rolled 17 - she's a well to do merchant. She's the brains of the operation then.
Siblings- rolled 6 - a brother and a sister.
Early events - well phooey. Rolled 15 and 19. Two bad ones. For which I rolled (8, 12). So I'm scared of trees and we have no money. Or at least none but the stuff we've made since the tax collectors removed it all. Maybe mother got a little too clever.
Ancient history - rolled 4 - We are utterly unremarkable.
Wealth - rolled 2, 3 - 20gp to call my own. A gift but who from?
No wealth roll, I'm afraid its part of the event you got. The tax collector has been visiting again. Otherwise yours is a pretty decent set of dice rolls to produce an adventurer. Your attitude to the authorities may be a touch anti-?
If anyone wishes to be part of this poor family then they can supplement the necessary dice rolls, just leaving an age roll, and early events and an ancestor. Of course you would be poor too.
Hey Sargon x I lost an eye I think Grummash blesses me more ;)!
Hey Guy Maybe the high ranking priest can be of Hextor and thus his money gets tithed away or provided to the "War" efforts...Its an idea for a tie in between you and I the Father has a connection to the Hextor orphanage (man a Hextor orphanage Oliver had it good compared to this!!!).
|
|
age, father, mother, siblings (1d20=8, 1d20=20, 1d20=5, 1d20=15)
he's an 11 year old who's the son of a powerful priest and his mother is an apothecary. He has two brothers and two sisters.good luck or bad luck (1d20=8, 1d20=5)
I've had 2 good events:
good things are . . . (1d20=6, 1d20=10)
he was raped by a dryad (seeing as my character is 11 and this is his background . . . suggesting that this happened well before he reached the wise old age of 11, this goes well beyond statutory rape!) and as a result he can now speak with plants, and he helped a local woodlands priest (I'm going to say he helped him track down a dangerous child molesting dryad) and now have a holy symbol as a reward.
Ancestor History:
Ancestor History (1d20=20)Demonspeaker . . . don't know what to make of that . . .
Wealth:
50 gp
I'm sort of poor, considering how powerful and wealthy my father is, but I'm guessing he sees my character as damaged goods . . .
Tryst is an old english word for tea and cakes. *cough* *cough* The dryad was just a little girl befriending a little boy. Let's avoid the ugly words like dwarf-pig until we get to Larcifer's character.
Otherwise how do you feel about these dice rolls? I like em! I should warn everyone that the likely setting is looking like the Gnarley Forest. Massive wood. Lots of dryads!
Hearing tales of child "befriending" dryads I think Vladimir is afraid of the woods!
|
|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----
age, father, mother, siblings, early events.
good luck or bad luck ()
I've had 2 bad events:
2 Bad Events.
good things are . . . (1d20=6, 1d20=10)Ancestor History:
Ancestors.Wealth:
Wealth.STORY SO FAR
Vladimir is 11 years old, a Bastard having no father, and orphaned due to a fatal disease that took his mother in his 8th year, he has 2 older half brothers (different Father) that take amusment in beating him up for pleasure. Actually, all the kids in the orpahanage sibling or not take liberities on Vladimir, The headmaster just watches stating "it will only serve to make you stronger, if that fails, it will enforce the survival of the strong." Vladimir has had 2 bad events. The first is due to a foul odor he possess, the nickname "Dwarf-pig has been whispered in hushed tones, Luckily this may change in the future as Vladimir has been working at a horse farm to help make money for the orphanage, the job mainly includes removing piles of feces from the horse stalls. When Vladimir was younger he lost an eye trying to defned himself during a martial training excersize from a larger older boy, this just reinforced Vladimir to "take his lumps" its easier that way. One good item that has happened to Vladimir is he has heard wonderful stories about his Father's Father, it seems he was a hero at some fancy battle a while back. He was noticed for bravery at some battlefield known as Emridy Medows. Maybe Vladimir will take after his Grand pappy? Vladimir has stashed away 40gps hidden under a floorboard in the...
It all fits. Great. One small point, its probably your Mother's father who was at Emridy Meadows. The battle took place about ten years before we start the adventure, not that far away.
Cheers for this, never used an orphanage before.
Lets just say its rumoured that my FATHER (who I do not know cause I am a bastard) is the hero of the battle cause I would have been 1 at the time and leaving to go for War is actually a decent excuse back in those days to abandon a family.....
|
|
Ok, here's what I got. I rolled 15 A LOT.
Background rolls
Age 12Father
Sick and ill, fairly wealthy but old
Mother
Simple hardworking homemaker
Siblings
Two brothers and two sisters
Early Events
Good Events
Found and drank from lost magical pool (+1 Strength and now maximum height for race, permanent).
Bad Events
Player may choose one bad event.
Ancestor History
Heroic priest of Kelanen, the God of SwordsWealth
55 gold piecesStill grappling with how to fit all this together. Not quite as bad/difficult a background as I had been envisioning. Where's the prejudice, the hatred, the wards against the evil eye?
Maybe you and Guy could work something out. His rolls kind of fit with yours. Same size family, father and mother could be tweaked a little. The priestly father could have taken pity on the poor brutalised mother but now is a brutal domineering "saint" who throws you in her face all the time, your brothers and sisters love it. Apart from Guy's character.
Another thought is that your family is an island of love and all the bigotry is outside the door. Maybe you fled here from your persecution?
Alternatively your parents could both be half-orcs. Or mother is a full orc, now that could be where the prejudice and bigotry lies, you defending her from all since father is too weak and siblings too young?
There is no rush, it will take me days to produce the village setting and all its NPC's so take your time.
Cheers
Was wondering if Guy's Father (High Priest) could be the head of the church and subsequently the "reformed school for boys spiked guantlet edition" That Vladimir attends...
That could put the begining of links between Rev (the farm) Guy(the priest) and myself. Additionally if Sargon X is part of the proest fmaily that adds him... just thoughts what do all the players think?
For Age, rolled a 6. Making me 11
Father (14) an Ex-Aristocrat - +2 on Wealth (but see Bad Events)
Mother (17) Well-to-do Merchant
Siblings (3) 1 sister
Early Events:
(4) Good Event - (4) Drank from Magical Pool - +1 Strenght & max Height.
(15) Bad Event - (7) Tax Collector = no wealth
Ancestor History (18) Stole bodies from a graveyard.
Wealth - no wealth, see Bad Events.
I have a few things in common with Rev Rosey. Might be able to make something work there.
Give me some time to process and think. Work was a bear and my mind is a bit tired at the moment for anything creative.
Any thoughts are appreciated.
Cheers
Age: 11
Father: None
Mother: Simple hardworking homemaker
Siblings: One brother
Early events: one good, one bad
Bad event: Tax collector claims all family wealth
Good event: Drank from magic pool (+1STR, max height)
Ancestor: Lost at sea
No wealth
I'll work on patching that together, put perhaps I could yield mother/father/brother results and join Rosey's impoverished family?
Looks like Pat, Utak and I have enough in common to be family. Happy horse-breeders with a strong dislike of authority. And grave-robbing sailors in the background. Would work for me if Utak and Pat are happy with it and FW approves.
Utak - are you human? (There is probably nowhere else you'd see a sentence like that asked in all seriousness).
Gnarly Forest? That sounds bad for a tree phobic. Because they'll be out to get her. She knows this.
|
Age roll: 10. Starting as a human, that makes me age 12.
Father: 7 – Animal Farmer
Mother: 11 – Forager/Gatherer
Siblings: 10 – 2 brothers
Early Events: 11 (bad), 2 (good)
Good Event: 18 – Smithy (+1 Con)
Bad Event: 17 – Mad Prophet in Sobanwych brands character a “child of evil” (-2 cha checks in town)
Ancient History: 3 – no history of note.
Wealth: 8+5 = 13 – 50gp
Alright, I haven’t had a chance to do more than skim everyone else’s so far. Got some thoughts developing on mine … will let them percolate a bit and try to post something later in the day.
Utak - are you human?
lol. My wife sometimes asks me the same question. Only she doesn't call me Utak.
Although, I would like her to.
Yes, my character will be human. And some type of family connection would work fine with me.
Busy day today. Will try to refresh for tomorrow and put some more thought into it.
|
|
Alright, so my guy is the son of an animal farmer and a forager/gatherer. Now a farmer might run the gamut from dirt poor to relatively wealthy (although an animal farmer suggests towards the upper end of the spectrum – you need a reasonable amount of land and initial capital to keep animals, and animal products probably tend to fetch better prices than vegetable products).
On the other hand, gatherer/forager suggests either a poor or ‘barbaric’ background … so;
Maybe daddy is a moderately well off farmer who married a poor girl, or a girl from a barbarian tribe (or perhaps did not marry her, but merely fathered a child to her).
OR
The farmer has fallen on hard times and his wife has had to resort to foraging to feed the family.
Two brothers. Given that I’m (potentially) apprenticed to a smith, at least one of the brothers is likely older and expecting to inherit the family farm. Suggests my character as a younger brother or a bastard.
He’s apprenticed to (or at least working for) a Smithy. Given his age, and the fact that the work is improving his Con not his Str, I’d say that his duties include things like keeping the fire hot and going (requiring him to be vigilant for long periods of time, and work in proximity to great heat – that sort of thing should improve his Constitution).
A career as a smith is probably a good deal, so we’ll need to come up with some reason that this work or apprenticeship does not continue, leading to an adventuring life.
He’s branded as a child of evil in Sobanwych. Not sure if that’s where we start or if it’s another town… why is he branded as such? Because he’s a bastard, or because his mother is a barbarian, or because all his father’s livestock died and it is somehow his fault? Not sure yet, need to think about this. Is it because of this curse that his apprenticeship with the smith is terminated?
He’s got no family history of note. Probably his parents are of fairly humble or un-noteworthy origins (which is what you might expect of a farmer and a forager).
He’s got 50gp, which would be a fairly large inheritance if his parents are poor and he has two brothers to share it with. So maybe his father is reasonably well off? Maybe most of the 50gp is made up of a gift of an item from the smith, who regretfully needs to let him go (he doesn’t believe the mad prophet, but other villagers do, and it is hurting his business). Maybe he stumbled upon a small cache of gold or items.
|
|
Just reading everyone else’s results. Wow, the tax collectors are brutal in this town, and magic pools are a dime a dozen!
Not seeing too many obvious connections so far … although I’ve already suggested that my guy might be an illegitimate son to the animal farmer. Perhaps that animal farmer is the same guy as Rev Rosey’s father, he had an affair with a poor/rustic/barbarian woman and fathered my character (need to tweak number of siblings). It seems like some of the others are onto the same thing, so it sounds like this guy really got around! Hey, maybe he slept with the tax collectors wife too … explains why the guy has it in for him.
If the randy animal farmer being everyone’s father is too much of a stretch, I’m willing to look for other connections.
Hmmm.
Looking like we have a very fertile animal farmer round these parts. Mind you, if he's a horse breeder, he'd be interested in genetics. Or that could be his excuse.
"But sweetie, I just had to find out if my aquiline nose would pass true through orc blood... it wasn't anything personal... Why are you looking at me like that?"
|
|
...I'm pretty sure Hextor is very much outlawed in most lands, I'm thinking of a more open and accessible deity . . . although I'm not so sure about Wee Jas anymore . . . I'm pretty sure I still want to be Suloise. I'll pick a god from that pantheon.
I have chosen the village of Tricaster in the edge of the Gnarley Forest as your home. Guy raises a point that I have mulled over alot. Hextor is mostly outlawed (there are one or two regions where this isn't the case) but it does make a very good adversary for you guys.
So here is how this will fit together.
Tricaster has an orphanage, Saul's Refuge. Its run by a very strict and tyrannical person who could be a follower of Hextor, no-one knows for sure and its pretty much a nightmare for everyone who comes into contact with it.
The landowner of Tricaster is a grasping, flint-hearted man that extracts every last copper he can. Cue the tax collectors. The money goes to the Free City to support the war and militia. One of the landowner's cronies is the owner of Saul's refuge. Whether or not Hextor is strong in the area will be something that you may find out in your adventures.
Unless a priest has recently come to the area, he is unlikely to be very powerful, especially as Tricaster only has about 140 people living there.
Cheers
|
|
Just reading everyone else’s results. Wow, the tax collectors are brutal in this town, and magic pools are a dime a dozen!
Not seeing too many obvious connections so far … although I’ve already suggested that my guy might be an illegitimate son to the animal farmer. Perhaps that animal farmer is the same guy as Rev Rosey’s father, he had an affair with a poor/rustic/barbarian woman and fathered my character (need to tweak number of siblings). It seems like some of the others are onto the same thing, so it sounds like this guy really got around! Hey, maybe he slept with the tax collectors wife too … explains why the guy has it in for him.
If the randy animal farmer being everyone’s father is too much of a stretch, I’m willing to look for other connections.
I was raised in a farming community and I was once introduced to a farmer that had a similar reputation. He wasn't very tall but word had got around about his ability in bed. He was regarded at a "ram" (still remember my cousin describing him as a ram).
Maybe Mothman your guy has a cloud over him, he possibly could be illegitimate, but no one knows for sure. You could be one of many such kids that people gossip about. I'd prefer not to dwell too much on that because like you say, it is stretching things a little.
The smithy thing is very good. We do need a reason for you getting that great job. And leaving it.
Lastly you wanted to be a ranger so maybe your heart wasn't in fire and metal. Maybe you looked for a better offer. I shall outline the village and the next stage soon.
|
|
OK - the three who managed to get the best event of all, and find the long lost pool of magic were definitely all out together when it happened. Since they were lost they have no idea where they were or where to find that pool now. (it could be a minor quest?)
Also I am going to set up an alias for this game so that I can detail Tricaster on it and everyone will be able to easily access that info.
The alias will be Zagyg or something like that.
My alias for this game.
Fiddling around with ideas.
If so many of those close to her had a mystical experience, it could be that whatever she's called has felt left out. She seems like one of the oldest as well. Overly burdened with feelings of responsibility maybe and wanting to have some kind of specialness to herself.
She's very hampered by that tree phobia - she could have been with the pool finding group, got separated. They find mystic goodies, she's only gets this lousy phobia. So now she can't even bring herself to go and look. And of course it's partly self-created in case she doesn't find anything ever because she's not as worthwhile as the others who did.
At 14 she's going to have some idea of her father's behaviour. She'll have heard a lot of gossip, seen the side-long glances. Can see a couple of ways of going with that one. Fierce protection of sibs and half-sibs feels right though.
Just typing aloud here.
Fiddling around with ideas.
She's very hampered by that tree phobia - she could have been with the pool finding group, got separated. They find mystic goodies, she's only gets this lousy phobia. So now she can't even bring herself to go and look. And of course it's partly self-created in case she doesn't find anything ever because she's not as worthwhile as the others who did.
It could have been a game of hide and seek that went badly wrong. She became trapped in a hollowed tree, for instance.
I have developed sorcerers into a more natural breed in this area for my tabletop group. Their sorcerer is powered by ley lines, rivers of magic that flow under the woods and region. There are nexus, where various lines meet and these are maintained by druids and sorcerers. These groves often have collossus stones marking the site.
In game terms they do not get access to necromancy (a throwback to the wars between the ur-flan necromancers and the druids but you could gain some other benefit. I'll discuss this more when appropriate.
Wow, behind the curve here. OK
1d20=16, 1d20=9, 1d20=3, 1d20=13, 1d20=4, 1d20=7, 1d20=15, 1d20=9, 1d20=1
Age
Starting age (Humans=15, Half-elves=20, Half-orcs=14, Elves=110, Gnomes=40, Dwarf=40, Halflings=20) and modify using the table below.
[1-4] -5
[5-8] -4
[9-12] -3
[13-16]-2
[17-19] -1
[20] +2
roll of 16 gets me 13 yrs
Father
[1] No Known Father
[2] Beggar
[3] Drunk – poor
[4] Sick and ill, fairly wealthy but old
[5] Animal Feed Merchant
[6] Gambler
[7-10] Animal farmer
[11-13] Woodsman or Hunter
[14-15] Ex-aristocrat (+2 on Wealth table)
[16] Ex-riverboatman
[17] Ex-soldier
[18] Martial character (+1 on Wealth table)
[19] Arcane character (+1 on Wealth table)
[20] Divine character (+2 on Wealth table)
9=Pops raised sheep
Mother
[1] No Known Mother
[2] Died in childbirth (not necessarily yours)
[3] Victim of a fatal or non-fatal disease
[4] Now a nun
[5-6] Herbalist/apothecary
[7-9] Village Healer
[10-11] Forager/gatherer
[12] Brawny woodswoman
[13-16] Simple hardworking homemaker
[17] Well-to-do merchant
[18] Arcane character (+1 on Wealth table)
[19] Divine character (+1 on Wealth table)
[20] Town elder (+2 on Wealth table)
3=Mom is sick
Siblings
[1-2] No family left alive, guardian (Roll again on Mother or Father table for a Guardian)
[3] One sister
[4] One brother
[5-8] One brother and one sister
[9-11] Two brothers
[12-14] Two sisters
[15-16] Two brothers and two sisters
[17] Half-orc brother missing and two brothers and one sister
[18] Five brothers and Two sisters
[19] Young cousin, child prodigy – sorcerer
[20] Six brothers and One sister
13= two sisters
Early Events
Roll a D20 twice, each time if its 1-10 Roll on the Good Events Table
If its 11-20 Roll on the Bad Events Table
Good Events
[1-2] Recent upturn in family fortunes (+1 on Wealth Table).
[3-5] Found and drank from lost magical pool (+1 Strength and now maximum height for race, permanent).
[6] Tryst with a potent dryad (or male equivalent) ends but can now speak with plants 1/day.
[7-8] Helped local wizard, given a potion of invisibility in thanks.
[9] Whilst out playing in woods, befriended and trained a wild dog.
[10] Helped local woodland priest, given a silver holy symbol worth 25gp.
[11] Helped capture a crooked traveller, local sheriff offers a favour.
[12] Militia sergeant takes a shine, free training for anyone in your family.
[13] Local scholar needs a young pair of eyes, free rank in one Know (skill) of choice.
[14] Received a silver dagger by mail for no known reason.
[15] Local merchant needs a runner, (+1 on Wealth table).
[16] Gifted strange vision of clarity (+1 Wisdom permanent).
[17] Do well in schooling (+1 Intelligence permanent).
[18] Smithy offers work to you, if you take it your endurance and hardiness improves (+1 Con permanent).
[19] Help lost hunt, noble gives you 100 gold pieces later in thanks.
[20] Elf Archer in town befriends you, given masterwork shortbow.
Bad Events
[1] Childhood plagued by illness (-1 Con).
[2-3] Bad odours make other kids nickname you” Dwarf-pig”.
[4] Recent downturn in family fortunes (-2 on Wealth Table).
[5] Father runs off with mistress but returns after a few months.
[6] Elder forbids you to fraternise with his rich daughter
[7-8] Tax collector of Sobanwych claims all family wealth (No roll on wealth table).
[9-10] Tree falls on you laid up for months with badly damaged leg (-1 hit point max for first game year)
[11-12] Lightning storm during journey, lost in woods for days (choose a likely phobia).
[13] Immature, growth checked (-1 on all physical stat rolls for first game year, minimum 1)
[14] One eye missing due to accidental injury by another.
[15] Player may choose one bad event.
[16] DM may choose one bad event.
[17] Mad prophet in town of Sobanwych brands you a “child of evil” (-2 Cha checks in that town)
[18] Unusual Flan blood emerges in blond hair and blue eyes, look like a Barbarian of the north.
[19] Ravens nest nearby, ill-luck on family or friends as an accident (Pick one other PC, -1 on Wealth table for them).
[20] Family member or close friend murdered.
4&7 means we're real poor.
Ancestor History
Roll once on this table. This table applies to one of your relations, either recently or further back. In most cases that is entirely up to you and the DM to resolve. There is a good chance that more than one player will probably get the same result. So this may become a joint effort.
[1-5] No history of note, family yet to make its mark.
[6] Awarded for bravery at the Battle of Emridy Meadows.
[7] Hung for treason.
[8] Branded a robber and brigand.
[9] Lost at sea.
[10] Slew a dragon.
[11] Rode a unicorn.
[12] Member of the Silver Consortium (Powerful Wizards Guild of the city of Verbobonc)
[13] Druid of the Emerald Circle
[14] Soldier of Hextor rose high in the Great Kingdom before assassinated and raised as an undead.
[15] Led an evil cult of Iuz locally (-1 Wealth).
[16] Claimed friendship with the elves of Celene.
[17] Jailed for murder.
[18] Stole bodies from a graveyard.
[19] Heroic priest of Kelanen, the God of Swords.
[20] Demonspeaker.
15=Granpaw sure liked Iuz
Wealth – Roll 2d10 not 1d20
This is the initial personal wealth of the PC, from family, friends, work, etc. It can be spent on any items in the Players Handbook, however no special or masterwork items. Previous rolls may give a bonus (or penalty) to this one. If the result contradicts the other rolls, then the player can introduce a benefactor.
[1-2] No wealth.
[3-4] 10 gold pieces.
[5-6] 20 gold pieces.
[7-8] 30 gold pieces.
[9-10] 40 gold pieces.
[11-12] 45 gold pieces.
[13-14] 50 gold pieces.
[15-16] 55 gold pieces.
[17] 60 gold pieces.
[18] 70 gold pieces.
[19] 80 gold pieces.
[20] 100 gold pieces.
[21] 125 gold pieces.
[22+] 150 gold pieces plus a masterwork weapon of choice.
Previous rolls mean no wealth so N/A
Was wondering if Guy's Father (High Priest) could be the head of the church and subsequently the "reformed school for boys spiked guantlet edition" That Vladimir attends...
That could put the begining of links between Rev (the farm) Guy(the priest) and myself. Additionally if Sargon X is part of the proest fmaily that adds him... just thoughts what do all the players think?Actually I'm pretty sure Hexor is very much outlawed in most lands, I'm thinking of a more open and accessible deity . . . although I'm not so sure about Wee Jas anymore . . . I'm pretty sure I still want to be Suloise. I'll pick a god from that pantheon.
Seeing as the group already has a cyclops my character will keep both his eyes.
I see that many of us are the same age. That's a plus.
Let me know what you pick, I had already begun to sort you out but hadn't got very far.
I looked through my Greyhawk Gods document just and four Suel suggestions are;
1) Llerg - beasts and strength - CN
2) Lydia - Music and knowledge - NG
3) Norebo - Luck and risks - CN
4) Phaulkon - Air, wind, archery - CG
Cheers
OK,stream-of-predawn conciousness:
Horatio Darkhand is the scion of an old family fallen on hard times. In years past his grandfather (??) was a cult devotee of Iuz and feared by the locals. After his death the family was shunned. Dad tried to live simply, raising sheep in the outlands of Tricaster, but he never lived down the stain Grandfather had left on the family. Horatio has inherited a burning need to prove that he is nothing like his grandfather, and has dedicated his life to an appropriate LG Greyhawk god (Pelor??) to prove his worth. His family forfeited any wealth they once had when Grandfather died, and an outbreak of anthrax recently claimed both most of his father's sheep and his mother.
Thoughts?
Fiddling around with ideas.
She's very hampered by that tree phobia - she could have been with the pool finding group, got separated. They find mystic goodies, she's only gets this lousy phobia. So now she can't even bring herself to go and look. And of course it's partly self-created in case she doesn't find anything ever because she's not as worthwhile as the others who did.
It could have been a game of hide and seek that went badly wrong. She became trapped in a hollowed tree, for instance.
I have developed sorcerers into a more natural breed in this area for my tabletop group. Their sorcerer is powered by ley lines, rivers of magic that flow under the woods and region. There are nexus, where various lines meet and these are maintained by druids and sorcerers. These groves often have collossus stones marking the site.
In game terms they do not get access to necromancy (a throwback to the wars between the ur-flan necromancers and the druids but you could gain some other benefit. I'll discuss this more when appropriate.
Leylines works well. Also like the trapped in a tree idea. Phil got blamed as well maybe for not taking better care of the younger ones.
Try this. Phil might have a sort of natural dowsing feel for magic. The mystic pool/hide and seek thing might have been her idea - i.e. she was following her gut and trying to track a line she didn't even know she was tracking. Brought along the pool finders because she had to, calling it a game. They find pool, she gets stuck somewhere because she's not really looking after them - pride before fall yada yada - hello phobia and feeling that following dowsing instinct will only get her into trouble.
Following on from that, the tax collectors snarfing most the these folks money - we're really consistent on that roll as a group - oof, girl could really feel it's her fault too. Because young girls are reallly stupid like that. I know, I was one.