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Post by Rabbit on Dec 14, 2010 11:55:44 GMT -5
Vibe/ Character Creation:
As you build your characters consider the tone of this series. The game will have distinct adventures with (usually) clear beginnings and ends, and often have mission type objectives. And while I always encourage good roleplaying and allowing character motivations to steer the game I am using premade adventures, and as you know, they can be a bit formulaic. It will be helpful to play a character that wants to be a ‘hero-for-hire.’ Perhaps you are a do-gooder and live to help your fellow humanoids. Perhaps you only know how to make a living with your sword, and after the war you turned to professional adventuring to pay the bills. Either way you are up for aiding “damsels in distress” and “your fellow country men” (which will make the game more fun for everyone.)
The game begins in Sharn and you will spend a fair amount of time coming and going from there. I would like characters to have a positive or at least nuetral opinion of Sharn, and the greater Breland nation. Again, this will make for a better setting. For example; maybe you are an ex-soldier of Crye who fought against Breland during The Last War, but after the Day of Mourning you fled with other refugees to Sharn. The Brelish took you in, kept you from starving, and provided you with a safe haven. So they can’t be all bad, can they?
One final note; there will be some homemade adventures spread through the series. Hopefully these will focus on the characters’ lives within the world, and explore areas that interest the players. So feel encouraged to give your character a background with some potential plot hooks (I cannot guarantee I will use them all, but the more I have to work with the better.)
[Edit: Players have access to the D&D 3.5 core book and most Eberron (3.5) expansion books. If you want to use anything (feats, classes, equipment, etc) from resources other than the 3.5 core book or the Eberron "Campaign Setting" book please reference them with books and page numbers. This is for GM review and to save time at the table.]
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Litmus Test for Your Potential Characters: Often a game’s success or failure can depend heavily on if character concepts mesh with the adventures presented in a campaign. Trying to keep this in mind I wanted to pose this litmus test for your characters. It is a fine line I am trying to walk. I want to allow the players freedom to make characters they are drawn towards, but I also want to make sure that the characters will work in the adventures ahead.
Your character wont need to fit exactly into any particular mold, but if you can not answer YES to some of these questions your character might not be a good fit for this game.
Would your character be interested in solving a mystery linked to one of the Dragon Marked Houses?
Would your character strive to help someone in need; even if they had nothing to personally gain?
Would your character want to join a group or organization meant to protect the good people of Khorvaire from "evil" factions?
Would your character be interested in the dealings and intrigue of political and semi-political matters; provided they lead to adventure and a greater good?
And remember that we can be as creative as we want to be. As long as you have a character concept you think you can make work I am willing to roll with it.
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Post by reefwood on Dec 14, 2010 13:41:55 GMT -5
I would like to play a member of a Dragonmark House. Not sure which House or even which race yet, but I have my aim set on the Dragonmark Heir prestige class. One prerequisite is the Favored in House feat. This is a regular Eberron feat, but kind of like Leadership, the DM should be aware of it to make sure it will be okay for this game. Basically, it lets the PC attempt to gain favors from his House to help the adventure but nothing that would beat the adventure.
Also, I don't know about class either. I would need to put at least 7 ranks into 2 skills before taking the prestige class, but I can do that even with a class that only grants 2 skill points per level as long as my Int is at least +0.
And looking at the numbers, a character can meet the prerequisites at 4th level, so I could start taking the prestige class at 5th level.
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Post by michael on Dec 17, 2010 12:08:56 GMT -5
I've got a few character concepts in mind, but right now I'm leaning towards a warforged bard. I like the idea of his instrument is built into himself, so his entire body is a pipe organ he plays just by thinking about it. I imagine this making him super bulky and unwieldy, so I'd also go with the adamantine body feat, and only use spells that don't have somatic components.
He probably wouldn't be the most effective character, but he'd be really fun to play.
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Post by Rabbit on Dec 17, 2010 13:17:08 GMT -5
I've got a few character concepts in mind, but right now I'm leaning towards a warforged bard. I like the idea of his instrument is built into himself, so his entire body is a pipe organ he plays just by thinking about it. I imagine this making him super bulky and unwieldy, so I'd also go with the adamantine body feat, and only use spells that don't have somatic components. He probably wouldn't be the most effective character, but he'd be really fun to play. Like a musical version of [url= Tik-Tok from Return to Oz?  |
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Post by Rabbit on Jan 4, 2011 19:42:07 GMT -5
Since players have already mentioned some interest in playing Eberron races (michael mentioned warforged and sil mentioned shifters) I wanted to bring up the Races of Eberron book. It adds some extra depth to the Eberron specific races including some feats and class variations.
I will have a pdf on my laptop for the 11th and I will try to bring some discs to copy it (and other pdfs) for players. Or players can try to find the pdfs on their own. Should not be too hard.
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Post by icnivad on Jan 4, 2011 20:07:33 GMT -5
Well, since the other players are thinking of going with eberron races, I might go the direction of changeling. Either a rogue, or illusionist sorcerer.
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Post by reefwood on Jan 10, 2011 12:35:29 GMT -5
An idea I had over the weekend is a dino-riding halfling druid from the healing house. I know that Sil is thinking about playing a druid, so I would have this one be different than hers. Maybe in part by having him be part of a different druid sect. Also, if there is no cleric, he could fill the healer role and provide some ranged combat support.
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Post by Rabbit on Jan 10, 2011 14:09:22 GMT -5
Litmus Test for Your Potential Characters:
Often a game’s success or failure can depend heavily on if character concepts mesh with the adventures presented in a campaign. Trying to keep this in mind I wanted to pose this litmus test for your characters. It is a fine line I am trying to walk. I want to allow the players freedom to make characters they are drawn towards, but I also want to make sure that the characters will work in the adventures ahead.
Your character wont need to fit exactly into any particular mold, but if you can not answer YES to some of these questions your character might not be a good fit for this game.
Would your character be interested in solving a mystery linked to one of the Dragon Marked Houses?
Would your character strive to help someone in need; even if they had nothing to personally gain?
Would your character want to join a group or organization meant to protect the good people of Khorvaire from "evil" factions?
Would your character be interested in the dealings and intrigue of political and semi-political matters; provided they lead to adventure and a greater good?
And remember that we can be as creative as we want to be. As long as you have a character concept you think you can make work I am willing to roll with it.
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Post by reefwood on Jan 10, 2011 20:26:13 GMT -5
Litmus Test for Your Potential Characters:Often a game’s success or failure can depend heavily on if character concepts mesh with the adventures presented in a campaign. Trying to keep this in mind I wanted to pose this litmus test for your characters. It is a fine line I am trying to walk. I want to allow the players freedom to make characters they are drawn towards, but I also want to make sure that the characters will work in the adventures ahead. Your character wont need to fit exactly into any particular mold, but if you can not answer YES to some of these questions your character might not be a good fit for this game. I haven't given too much thought to my character's personality yet, but... Would your character be interested in solving a mystery linked to one of the Dragon Marked Houses?I believe the houses are generally neutral (at least outwardly/officially) when it comes to the major nations, but I know some of them compete and probably even fight with each other (i.e. the two sneaky elven houses or the two mercenary houses), but I think the Healing House would have at least decent relations with all the houses, and a mystery linked to one house could be of interest to the others. Would your character strive to help someone in need; even if they had nothing to personally gain?If the person deserved it. Although, I'm not yet sure what my character would consider deserving. Perhaps he would heal people who fought valiantly in combat or for a good cause but wouldn't heal someone who got into a petty or greedy fight or got hurt doing something else foolish. Would your character want to join a group or organization meant to protect the good people of Khorvaire from "evil" factions?Possibly. Would your character be interested in the dealings and intrigue of political and semi-political matters; provided they lead to adventure and a greater good?Definitely if it involved the Healing House or the Talenta Plains, and perhaps if it involved one of the other Houses. |
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Post by Rabbit on Jan 11, 2011 0:58:49 GMT -5
Would your character be interested in solving a mystery linked to one of the Dragon Marked Houses?I believe the houses are generally neutral (at least outwardly/officially) when it comes to the major nations, but I know some of them compete and probably even fight with each other (i.e. the two sneaky elven houses or the two mercenary houses), but I think the Healing House would have at least decent relations with all the houses, and a mystery linked to one house could be of interest to the others. This is an accurate portrayal of the Dragon Mark houses. "The War of the Mark" was an extended war were the dragon marked factions battled for power, control, and for some, their very lives. But that war was over five hundred years ago and each House has mostly found their niche in Khorvaire's dealings. In the modern age the Houses work more like Guilds with economic and political interests. Open warfare just does not make sense or even interests the Houses. |
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Post by Rabbit on Jan 12, 2011 12:44:09 GMT -5
Great Character Creation Session everyone! I wrote a blurb about each of your characters and what we discussed about their backgrounds. Please correct anything you want to change and elaborate as much as you want.
Changeling/ Rogue: grew up in Sharn in the hidden changeling community. Currently finding his way in the world and perusing an interest in teaching.
Shifter/ Barbarian: spent time during the Last War (and afterwards) as a guide and strong-arm for travelling Brelanders. Mainly working between Sharn and the western portions of Breland towards the monster nation of Droaam. Currently in Sharn to spend her earnings and (eventually) find more work.
Halfing/ Druid: from the Talenta Plains and brought up in the druidic tradition of the Mask Weavers. Gifted with the Mark of Healing he was taken under the wing of House Jorasco.* Currently learning to hone his healing gifts and experience the greater world beyond his homeland plains.
Warforged/ Bard: experienced the horrors of war on the front lines between Crye (used warforged) and Karnnath (used undead) forces. Currently in Sharn to contemplate his new life and freedom.**
* I would like to say that you have a distant cousin who was already in House Jorasco (as was most of his immediate family.) So when your character produced the Dragon Mark it was your cousin who was assigned to be your Mentor. Your cousin is based out of Sharn and that is, in part, why you are there. Does that work?
** Regarding the Lord of Blades: I would like to say that one night several months ago, the warforged bard had a unique discussion with a travelling warforged. The traveller gave the warforged bard a propaganda pamphlet from the Lord of Blades. The text had a twofold message. First, that the warforged were victims of persecution from all the living races. No matter what the Treaty of Throne Hold may declare humanoids will never respect warforged as more than tools of war, the most base type of slave. Secondly, that the warforged are in fact superior to the weak fleshed humanoids and destined to conquer all of Eberron. All true and worthy warforged should rally to Him in the Mournlands. This travelling warforged was on his way to the Mournlands and wanted the warforged bard to join, but your character refused. The travelling warforged was never seen by you again. That work?
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Post by reefwood on Jan 14, 2011 12:55:47 GMT -5
Great Character Creation Session everyone! I wrote a blurb about each of your characters and what we discussed about their backgrounds. Please correct anything you want to change and elaborate as much as you want. Halfing/ Druid: from the Talenta Plains and brought up in the druidic tradition of the Mask Weavers. Gifted with the Mark of Healing he was taken under the wing of House Jorasco.* Currently learning to hone his healing gifts and experience the greater world beyond his homeland plains. * I would like to say that you have a distant cousin who was already in House Jorasco (as was most of his immediate family.) So when your character produced the Dragon Mark it was your cousin who was assigned to be your Mentor. Your cousin is based out of Sharn and that is, in part, why you are there. Does that work? I'm actually a bit glad that we didn't start playing this week cos it gives me more time to figre out his background. I was thinking that maybe he has been working at one of the healing houses/stations in Sharn. Perhaps in the lower wards since he isn't the most presentable healer for wealthy and well-to-do types, and this could be how he met the shifter (if she ever came in for healing), and he would have been happy to heal a warrior type, and through her he could have met the rest of the group. And yeah, this particular healing house/station could be run by his distant relatives. Also, my guy doesn't have to be the only person in his tribe with a dragonmark. I wasn't trying to make him super unique. I just wanted him to have the higher level lesser restoration mark, and as a result, there could have been higher level situations that he was brought into - even though he is 1st level - because he has more powerful healing magic than maybe those of a higher level. So, I guess maybe I want his dragonmark spell to be a bit more unique/rare but not for him to be the only one in the tribe with a dragonmark. |
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Post by michael on Jan 14, 2011 17:52:56 GMT -5
Yeah, that works great!
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Post by reefwood on Jan 25, 2011 21:40:00 GMT -5
I have a name for my halfling and his fastieth companion.
Dee'noh and Rikr'ak
The halfling will use the Jorasco last name now that he is part of the house, but he probably had a different last name growing up. Not yet sure what that'll be.
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Post by Rabbit on Feb 2, 2011 13:33:23 GMT -5
Everyone advances to LEVEL 2!
Now that we have played through the first adventure players can re-tool their characters or start fresh with new ones. If you are using the same character you must keep the ability scores you rolled, but you can adjust skills/feats/equipment/etc.
If you are starting from scratch and making a whole new character please re-read the first post in this thread regarding the vibe of the game. New characters will not be allowed to share in the treasure gained from the first adventure, and any discarded characters will be 'walking away' with the share they earned.
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