The wagon rattles and creaks as it rolls along the old trade road. Traevus, the dwarf merchant beside you, guides a team of mules with a steady hand, more interested in the road ahead than in your attempts at conversation, but that's part of dwarven nature. Though the sun is low in the sky, you should reach the town of Fallcrest before nightfall.
To your left, the Moon Hills stretch off southward and reach up toward the darkening sky. The fall air grows colder with night's approach.
---
In this thread, I will be running the introductory adventure contained within the brand-spanking new
Dungeons & Dragons, Fantasy Roleplaying Game: Starter Kit released today, also affectionately referred to as "The Red Box". You see, the game Dungeons and Dragons (or D&D, for short), has been around for
quite a long time, and in its infancy the entire rules of the game were contained in a simple red box.
In a return to that eldritch of tomes, Wizards of the Coast has released a new "Red Box", one intended to bring the uninitiated and out-of-touch back into the fold with easy-to-learn rules and an introductory adventure that helps you create your first character then brings them together with other intrepid adventures to embark on your first journey together, all for fame, fortune, and the rescue of damsels-in-distress.
Getting in on this game is fairly easy, as all you will need to do is choose a name appropriate to a fantasy setting (be it the name of a favorite character in a novel or film, or one you've come up with on your own), as well as a gender (either male or female; also, dwarf women do not have beards, but they do have some pretty sexy mutton chops!). Finally, you should choose a race:
The so-called "baseline" race in D&D,
HUMANS are the most populous race. While dwarves are defined by their toughness, and elves by their grace and insight, humans are most notable for their great potential. Each human is unique, able to choose his or her own destiny and seize greatness by the scruff of the neck.
Ancient beings of the forest,
ELVES can live for hundreds, sometimes thousands, of years. Their lithe bodies grant them an almost otherworldly grace, and their long life spans have granted them great knowledge and wisdom. Usually content to live deep within their beloved forests, occasionally one will grow bored with the passing of years and venture out into the world, eager for new experiences.
The
DWARVES are as resilient and unmovable as the mountains they call their home. Living in great underground keeps, the dwarven clans pride themselves in their stoic determination in the face of adversity. Thousands of years of defending their homes have forged the dwarves into the toughest race in the world, and while they may not possess quite the longevity of the elves, they often live well over 200 years, granting them great insight into their surroundings.
Ah, the diminutive
HALFLINGS; small in stature but stout of heart, these wee folk have an adventuresome spirit which rivals that of the humans. Quick of hand and feet, these charming rascals always find themselves escaping some sort of trouble. The eternal optimists, nothing can ever get a halfling down for long. Their unwavering courage in the face of danger also bolsters their allies, for if the smallest among them can face unimaginable terror with a smile, why, so too can they.
---
"The Twisting Halls" will be starring:
Bosperan, as
Klopfer Falkenfelser, male dwarf fighter
Failsafe, as
Loni Basaltson, male dwarf cleric
bratr, as
Flipan Took, male halfling rogue
Warabit, as
Edendir Tellynnial, male elf wizard
The game starts
here.
A side adventure, "Ghost Tower of the Witchlight Fens", begins
here. This solo adventure is a free download for anyone who has purchased the Red Box.
Posts
If you for some reason don't get enough players, I'd be happy to join, but also a more experienced player here.
I'll be watching this closely, but I'm definitely not a new player. And I'm already in two other games. So I'll leave this to others I think.
They tried to bury us. They didn't know that we were seeds. 2018 Midterms. Get your shit together.
"It's NAHM. Damn humans think they own the language, too."
I have never played a post by post game so would appreciate a link to a rules/ettiquete post.
This Wiki kind of gives you a basic idea of how it works.
Rolls are usually made on Orokos and posted here.
Best idea is just to read some of the games currently in progress and get a feel how they work.
For those curious, DSA is the most popular RPG in Germany, moreso than D&D. It was released in the US as "The Dark Eye" and is the ruleset used in the computer game Drakensang.
"Go up, thou bald head." -2 Kings 2:23
I think we need to do this:
I would like a chance to play just so I can learn a bit about what I need to do better in my own games, but feel free to give my spot to someone else as I am already involved in enough.
I've played roughly four hours of 4th edition before threats of divorce made the DM change hobbies. I owned the original red box but never played it. The most RP I've done is an incredibly half assed WHFRP campaign in high school in the early 90's.
I'm hoping to get a RL game together now that I'm living in a new city and this would be a fun getting to know the game experience.
The halfling was a very thought out addition.
"Go up, thou bald head." -2 Kings 2:23
I'm curious as to why they call him "Copper Nose". Does he have a knack for finding copper veins? Is his nose darker than the rest of his face? Or did he literally get his nose sliced off and replaced with a copper one?
"Go up, thou bald head." -2 Kings 2:23
How does he smell you might ask?
He doesn't...it's a copper nose...why haven't you been paying attention?
Awful. He's a dwarf, after all.
I wouldnt think so. Dwarves mostly live in nice dry stone cities. Elves are the ones that normally spend a few thousand years living in the middle of the woods with no running water.
I've played DnD off and on for as long as I can remember (early 90's), but only recently have been able to play more regularly. I haven't had any experience being a player in 4E as I am currently DMing for my group. This would also be my first PbP experience, but I've looked around on here and on other forums so I think I have the gist of how it would work. Thanks for the consideration!
A couple basic points I want to bring up:
1) There are four spots available for the game.
2) The first half of the adventure is solo, even though I will be running all four of you through it simultaneously. I know it messes slightly with the suspension of disbelief, but that is how it is intended to be run. Heck, you don't even need a DM for the first half, and the book ends with the suggestion that you find four friends and run them through it so that you can DM the second half for them.
In other words, just go with it. Your characters will not meet until the first half is concluded.
"Go up, thou bald head." -2 Kings 2:23
"Go up, thou bald head." -2 Kings 2:23
Bosperan, as Klopfer Falkenfelser, male dwarf
Failsafe, as Loni Basaltson, male dwarf
bratr, as Flipan Took, male halfling
Warabit, as Edendir Tellynnial, male elf
The three of you who did not get in may be able to get into a second game if you can find one more player.
"Go up, thou bald head." -2 Kings 2:23
What now? Should we start trying to fill in those sheets or will you be taking us through that?
"Go up, thou bald head." -2 Kings 2:23
Test: 1d20+5 11
test roll: 1d20+5 22
It had been several years since Edendir had left the woods him and his people called home. Fallcrest was one of his favorite places to go when he needed a change in scenery. He spent months at a time watching people interact in the tavern or listening to children reenact wars while resting in the bows of a tree. He would meet adventurers passing through once in a while. and more than once he went along with them on their quest. Edendir loves the rush of a great adventure.
(Not sure what we are doing for OOC, but..) Hey guys, this should be fun. This is my first taste of D&D and PBP. Thanks for the pick Delroland
From the first post:
The wagon rattles and creaks as it rolls along the old trade road. Traevus, the dwarf merchant beside you, guides a team of mules with a steady hand, more interested in the road ahead than in your attempts at conversation, but that's part of dwarven nature. Though the sun is low in the sky, you should reach the town of Fallcrest before nightfall.
To your left, the Moon Hills stretch off southward and reach up toward the darkening sky. The fall air grows colder with night's approach.
Suddenly, a noise shakes you from your reverie--the twang of a bowstring, coming from the shadows beside the road. Traevus cries out as an arrow sinks into his shoulder. With a shrill cry, a pack of goblins--short, ugly creatures with green skin and fang-filled mouths--run toward the wagon, brandishing weapons. You see another goblin pulling an arrow from a quiver on its back. It's clear these creatures mean to steal the wagon--and that probably means eliminating both you and the merchant first!
It's time to leap into action, but that can mean different things for different kinds of fantasy heroes. How do you imagine the hero in your mind reacting to this situation?
Do you imagine pulling a weapon from the back of the wagon and leaping down to fight the goblins?
Do you imagine casting a magic spell to blast the goblins?
Do you imagine drawing a dagger, using the wagon for cover, and sneaking around to pick off the goblins without putting yourself in too much danger?
Do you imagine tending to the merchant's wound, perhaps uttering a divine prayer to restore his health?
Plain white text represents rules descriptions or explanations of the situation.
Bold text in Lime represents a possible choice for your characer. You may only choose one option at any time, though sometimes you will find yourself redirected back to a previous decision.
"Go up, thou bald head." -2 Kings 2:23
<Goblins Attack>
GOBLINS, Flipan jumped up up onto his feet. Lots of them.
Flipan jumped of the edge of the cart away from the goblins, not to run away, oh no. He moved quickly around the cart then while the goblins swarmed the dwarf merchant holdign the reigns, Flipan leaped from behind the cart, a dagger flashing faintly in the evening light.
"Hey you big buffoon, if you like shiny stuff so much take this"
Well that was terrible, my father would be turning in his grave if he were dead.
Do you imagine drawing a dagger, using the wagon for cover, and sneaking around to pick off the goblins without putting yourself in too much danger?