*PLEASE NOTE: I am a player, not a DM so please keep me spoiler free
I am working on a character concept for our next campaign after my current one ends (18 months in the running). It looks as if we have settled on Ironfang Invasion. Now because we are still busy playing Mummy's Mask I don't want to burden my DM with discussing this character.
Therefore I thought best to ask you guys for some simple pointers
Now as a group we always select one campaign trait for our characters to help further tie them into the world, and we can select a drawback to gain an extra one.
I am interested in selecting 'Ironfang Survivor', and would like your thoughts as to whether a backstory can be fashioned where it ties into the drawback 'Mark of slavery'?
Could that be made to work? How would you do it?
It ties in remarkably well, in fact. Former hobgoblin slave seems pretty apt here. Hobgoblins, out of all the monstrous humanoids, are all about slavery and domination. They are "fascism the species". They are superior, everyone else belongs under their heel.
More specifically, The Goblinblood Wars (which happened 30 years ago) are a big part of why the modern hobs have a chip on their shoulder in this AP. Perhaps your PC was captured back then. Otherwise, the Ironfang Legion has been active along the Molthuni-Nirmathi border for some years now as Molthune turns a blind eye to the depredations of their infamous mercenary monster legions. Any border settlement would be an ideal spot to be raided/captured by the Ironfangs.
The next question would be how did you escape, and make it to the town where the AP starts?
It ties in remarkably well, in fact. Former hobgoblin slave seems pretty apt here. Hobgoblins, out of all the monstrous humanoids, are all about slavery and domination. They are "fascism the species". They are superior, everyone else belongs under their heel.
More specifically, The Goblinblood Wars (which happened 30 years ago) are a big part of why the modern hobs have a chip on their shoulder in this AP. Perhaps your PC was captured back then. Otherwise, the Ironfang Legion has been active along the Molthuni-Nirmathi border for some years now as Molthune turns a blind eye to the depredations of their infamous mercenary monster legions. Any border settlement would be an ideal spot to be raided/captured by the Ironfangs.
That is good, I can work with that
The next question would be how did you escape, and make it to the town where the AP starts?
I was going to incorporate the Witchmarket, I stowed myself away. It is here where I learnt how to combine my profession (Wicker weaver) with planar energy
Assuming you have the Players Guide - it gives some ideas there on how to fit it into a backstory.
The Players Guide also gives tips on what skills and feats are useful. I'd add Profession (Soldier) to the list of useful skills to have in the party.
Your party make-up will determine how you should approach encounters, but there is enough scope for any class to shine (though some more than others - particularly in the early books).
A balanced party is best.
A couple of characters in my group have Ironfang Survivor and while I haven't asked for a detailed backstory, one has it from having survived when a group she was travelling with was hit by an Ironfang patrol and she spent time hiding from other groups until such time as she joined the party and was in a position to strike back.