[DnD 4E] The Temple of Elemental Evil (Recruiting Closed)

thymidine

Taarkoth wrote: »

I'll probably submit a wizard in a bit. Would it be acceptable to use material from the Essentials book?

I'd prefer PHB 1 and 2 classes/races but the Essentials stuff is all compatible with the rest of 4E so it should be ok. Again, to me the most important thing is that you submit a character concept that you really want to get into. I only get wary when people want to pull stuff in for pure mechanical advantage.

Kid Presentable

Excited to see a new PbP starting up, I've been waiting for an opportunity to get involved in one from the ground floor.

Here's some personal background about me as a player, if that's something that we care about.

I am relatively new to D&D but have been a voracious learner for the past 3-4 months. My interest had been brewing for years, starting with the first Penny Arcade podcasts, and the release of the Essentials line gave me a good excuse to jump on board. I've been picking up all those releases, as well as some older Core books, and I've actually just recently gotten a regular group together with me as the DM. This would be my first chance to actually run a character, though I am hopefully joining a new RL game as a player in December, too. (fingers crossed that comes together)

Anyway, here's my character submission!

Rogden Murtaugh, Human Warlord

Character Background:

In case the name didn't tip you off, Rogden Murtaugh is at least loosely based off Danny Glover's character in the Lethal Weapon movies. The catch phrase from the movie and the impetus for the character idea was "I'm too old for this shit!" I really like the idea of an adventurer who really did not specifically go off looking for adventure, a character who has lived his life already and lived it in a traditional way.

I see Rogden Murtaugh as a 50 year old Sergeant or other high ranking member (but not the leader) of a town guard. He's put in his time on "the force" and is approaching retirement and a more settled down lifestyle. (I haven't decided if I want to add the complication of a family to this character just yet) He's always been a by-the-books type of guard who is well respected by his peers and fellow townspeople. I think the Warlord class and its mechanics fit in nicely with this theme.

Depending on how much information we get about the setting, if there's a town central to the story I'd like Murtaugh to maybe be stationed there, or somewhere nearby. I imagine the character getting dragged into adventure by the situation and his sense of duty, but certainly not by any desire for glory or riches or power. Getting back to the movie reference, I feel like the default attitude of most D&D characters includes the type of eagerness that Danny Glover's character has to put up with from his loose canon partner, Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson). Adventurers often love to rush into battle, they love to shoot first and ask questions later, they love to go off on crazy half-suicidal adventures, and Murtaugh is reluctantly stuck along for the ride. I should mention here that the character isn't going to be a downer in any way; I'm not going to actively try and stop everybody from doing the fun crazy stuff. If you've seen the movies, you know that it all still happens, whether Murtaugh is happy about how its happening or not.

Description:

Imagine this guy, but with a sword and a suit of armor instead of a gun and a suit.

Summary:

Rogden Murtaugh, level 1
Human, Warlord
Build: Tactical Warlord
Warlord: Combat Leader
Commanding Presence: Tactical Presence
Human Power Selection: Bonus At-Will Power

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 18, Con 11, Dex 8, Int 16, Wis 11, Cha 12.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 16, Con 11, Dex 8, Int 16, Wis 11, Cha 12.


AC: 17 Fort: 16 Reflex: 15 Will: 13
HP: 28 Surges: 7 Surge Value: 7

TRAINED SKILLS
Intimidate +6, Endurance +4, History +8, Athletics +8, Diplomacy +6

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics -2, Arcana +3, Bluff +1, Dungeoneering, Heal, Insight, Nature, Perception, Religion +3, Stealth -2, Streetwise +1, Thievery -2

FEATS
Human: Weapon Expertise (Heavy Blade)
Level 1: Toughness

POWERS
Bonus At-Will Power: Opening Shove
Warlord at-will 1: Commander's Strike
Warlord at-will 1: Wolf Pack Tactics
Warlord encounter 1: Warlord's Favor
Warlord daily 1: Concentrated Attack

ITEMS
Chainmail, Adventurer's Kit, Longsword, Light Shield, Hand Crossbow

Thanks for the opportunity and for volunteering to run the game! Whether I get to participate or not, its fun to follow these things and it was fun to put my character together. Hopefully its not too weird for everybody, it seems like something that me and my friends would have a lot of fun with but I could see how it could clash with other people's ideas so I won't be offended!

thymidine

Thanks for the opportunity and for volunteering to run the game! Whether I get to participate or not, its fun to follow these things and it was fun to put my character together. Hopefully its not too weird for everybody, it seems like something that me and my friends would have a lot of fun with but I could see how it could clash with other people's ideas so I won't be offended!

It's my pleasure. I was looking here for a PbP game as well and realized there seemed to be a lot more people looking for games than those running them, so I figured I'd start one up.

I'm just glad there have been so many great character ideas. It's been really inspiring to read what everyone has come up with. I'm already getting ideas of how the campaign might be tweaked to incorporate the different backgrounds, etc.

Lezta

Ulgoth, Goliath Warden

Background:

Ulgoth was born to be the champion of his people - nestled high in the mountains in the land known as Hammercrag Fell. Learning the ancient ways, he became a warden; sacred guardian of his tribes mountain lands. He discovered how to channel the very strength of the mountain spirits themselves. He loved his people and were it not for circumstance, they may have loved him in return. Harsh winter had followed harsh winter and food was scarce. Ulgoth searched for food and he asked the spirits each night for salvation. It was not enough.

He realised that the only way for his people to survive would be to search for a less harsh land; they would have to leave the Fell. The night he proposed this to his people was the last night he ever spent amongst them; they would not leave and, furthermore, his suggestion proved he was not worthy to leave the tribe. A rival emerged and challenged Ulgoth. Ulgoth accepted the challenge eagerly but had not counted on his rivals dishonourable ways; the meal Ulgoth had eaten only hours before had been poisened and Ulgoth found himself terribly weakened. He was swiftly defeated.

And so it came to be that Ulgoth left his beloved people and headed into civilised lands.

Description:

Ulgoth is the very image of a goliath - strong and tall as a mountain, his grey skin is marked with blue ritual tattoos. He wears simple hide armours that make him seem primative indeed to more civilised peoples. However, his beautifully forged warhammer seems strangely in odds with this. Indeed, even Ulgoth cannot say where such an item came from, only that it was given to him by his father.

Character Builder Summary:

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Ulgoth, level 1
Goliath, Warden
Build: Earth Warden
Guardian Might: Earthstrength
Background: Geography - Mountains (+2 to Athletics)

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 18, Con 15, Dex 13, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 10.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 16, Con 13, Dex 13, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 10.


AC: 17 Fort: 15 Reflex: 13 Will: 14
HP: 32 Surges: 11 Surge Value: 8

TRAINED SKILLS
Nature +9, Perception +7, Endurance +4, Athletics +10

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics -2, Arcana, Bluff, Diplomacy, Dungeoneering +2, Heal +2, History, Insight +2, Intimidate, Religion, Stealth -2, Streetwise, Thievery -2

FEATS
Level 1: Crushing Earthstrength

POWERS
Warden at-will 1: Strength of Stone
Warden at-will 1: Earth Shield Strike
Warden encounter 1: Roots of Stone
Warden daily 1: Form of Mountain's Thunder

ITEMS
Adventurer's Kit, Hide Armor, Heavy Shield, Warhammer, Pitons (10)
====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======

thymidine

Oh, anyone looking for specific feedback from me on a character idea, how it fits into the setting, etc. please just PM me. I think that PMs are a better medium for that kind of discussion than this thread.

I've been skimming the characters as they come in, but I haven't started any in-depth reading or selection process.

squishy-blob

thymidine wrote: »

Yeeseh, I'm never disappointed in how much the people here love fighters, let's see if we can hit 5 subs this time.

You have to admit, it's a pretty cool class with the 4E rules. I'm pretty shocked wizard isn't getting much love though. They were pretty much the backbone of most parties back in the day. No Jim Darkmagick fans?

(insert disclaimer about how I'm not biased towards any class and will select people on the merits of their submission here)

I'm still a wizard fan, even if they don't get as much love from WoTC as the fighters this edition. I've been looking to join a second PbP so I'll probably submit one a today.

delroland

thymidine wrote: »

Taarkoth wrote: »

I'll probably submit a wizard in a bit. Would it be acceptable to use material from the Essentials book?

I'd prefer PHB 1 and 2 classes/races but the Essentials stuff is all compatible with the rest of 4E so it should be ok. Again, to me the most important thing is that you submit a character concept that you really want to get into. I only get wary when people want to pull stuff in for pure mechanical advantage.

I would suggest though that essentials characters stick to choosing powers from the Essentials books. Things get weird when you start selecting powers from other sources. Admittedly, the wizard is least affected by this issue, but I'd still steer clear of taking wizard powers from other sources.

squishy-blob

Ok, Here's a brief summary of my submission.

Introducing Erica Sariel, the eladrin wizard:

Background

Born and raised in the feywild, Erica was apprenticed to an ageing magician of limited knowledge. Frustrated by the study of magic without the chance to use it she left her master soon after learning the basics and took up the life of a wandering scholar. With limited experience and resources, she left the dangerous feywild and began exploring the prime material plane. Full of life and youthful enthusiasm, Erica now travels the world seeking to dig up ancient magical knowledge and study strange creatures from across the planes.

Appearance:

Erica is an excitable, joyous scholar who enjoys meeting all manner of strange creature, be they friend or foe. She has straight pale gold hair, and her eyes are opaque lavender orbs. She wears loose fitting wizards robes with practical leather boots suitable for travelling.

Sorry, no CB summary as I don't have DDI. Here's a Mythweaver's sheet though: http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=250645

thymidine

If anyone posted an app but doesn't see their name in the main post, please let me know. I may have missed a few that went back and edited posts.

Zomro

thymidine wrote: »

If anyone posted an app but doesn't see their name in the main post, please let me know. I may have missed a few that went back and edited posts.

I updated one of my posts on page 2 with a second submission.

thymidine

Sorry for missing that. Seems like a cool character.

thymidine

Narrowing down this group is going to be a lot harder than I anticipated. I'll PM everyone before the end of the day Friday. Thanks again for all of the submissions.

Taarkoth

In just under the deadline, I believe. Regardless, thanks for offering to run something. I don't get to play nearly enough and this would be my first pbp game. I asked about essentials mostly due to that's the only place with the enchantment spells.

Katla, Human Wizard

Background

The daughter of a moderately wealthy stonemason, Katla managed to gain admittance to the White Lotus Academy to study wizardry. While not showing a strong affinity to any particular school of magic, her ability to grasp the workings of most types of spells and her easygoing personality saw Katla well through her schooling. Having recently graduated from her apprenticeship, Journeywoman Katla sets out to follow up on lead to hopefully find more arcane knowledge.

Appearance

Katla is a tall, willowy, decently attractive young woman with blue eyes in a heart shaped face, dark brunette hair twisted into a bun, and dressed in sturdy traveller's clothes. A metal-bound book inscribed with several sigils hangs from her belt.

CB Summary

Katla, level 1
Human, Wizard
Arcane Implement Mastery: Tome of Readiness
Human Power Selection: Bonus At-Will Power
Background: Occupation - Scholar (+2 to Arcana)

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 8, Con 16, Dex 12, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 12.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 8, Con 16, Dex 12, Int 16, Wis 10, Cha 12.


AC: 16 Fort: 14 Reflex: 15 Will: 14
HP: 26 Surges: 9 Surge Value: 6

TRAINED SKILLS
Religion +9, Arcana +11, History +9, Dungeoneering +5, Diplomacy +6

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +1, Bluff +1, Endurance +3, Heal, Insight, Intimidate +1, Nature, Perception, Stealth +1, Streetwise +1, Thievery +1, Athletics -1

FEATS
Wizard: Ritual Caster
Human: Unarmored Agility
Level 1: Implement Expertise (Tome)

POWERS
Bonus At-Will Power: Beguiling Strands
Tome of Readiness: Grasping Shadows
Wizard at-will 1: Freezing Burst
Wizard at-will 1: Hypnotism
Wizard encounter 1: Charm of Misplaced Wrath
Wizard daily 1: Phantom Chasm
Wizard daily 1 Spellbook: Sleep

ITEMS
Spellbook, Adventurer's Kit, Cloth Armor (Basic Clothing), Tome Implement, Dagger, Alchemical Reagents (Arcana) (50), 26 gp
RITUALS
Comprehend Language, Fastidiousness, Unseen Servant
====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======

thymidine

Ok, recruiting is closed. I've PM'd everyone who's in the game. If you'd like to follow along, you're free to do so over at the game thread:

http://www.myth-weavers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=17591

Thanks so much for all of the positive comments and awesome character submissions. Hopefully a new game will crop up soon for those that didn't make it into this one. I wish I could've invited everyone who submitted a character.