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[D&D 4E - OOC] Keep on the Shadowfell: Electric Noobaloo
mightyspacepope
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Keep on the Shadowfell
Cast list:
Seragon Kylus, Dragonborn Warlord - flatline
Bjorn, Dwarf Paladin - Bok Choi
Gwen Sim'ei, Half-Elf Warlock - Rainfall
Erevo Lywwen, Eladrin Wizard - Jebu
Stigandr, Human Fighter - TheLawinator
Kirrim Terralt, Halfling Ranger - Last Son
Cast list:
Seragon Kylus, Dragonborn Warlord - flatline
Bjorn, Dwarf Paladin - Bok Choi
Gwen Sim'ei, Half-Elf Warlock - Rainfall
Erevo Lywwen, Eladrin Wizard - Jebu
Stigandr, Human Fighter - TheLawinator
Kirrim Terralt, Halfling Ranger - Last Son
Please repost your extended character info in this thread for easy reference.
More information to come.
For now, begin brainstorming reasons why your characters are together. The following questions from the FeartheBoot group template may be helpful with this.
1. In just a few words, what is this group supposed to be?
2. What common experiences has the party been through?
3. What's the current status of the group and its members? Where are they? What are they doing? What sorts of things are they interested in right now?
4. On a personal level, what keeps the characters together?
5. What goals are shared by all of the characters?
We'll be using the 22 point buy system, as described as "Method 2" in the PHB.
You have 100gp to use to buy starting gear.
mightyspacepope on
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Posts
1. Please disable your sig when you post in the IC thread.
2. Keep any non-IC stuff (such as rolls, clarifications, or questions) in spoiler tags.
3. We'll be using invisiblecastle for dice rolls. Put your character's first name in the "Name" field, and a short description of what you're doing in the "Note" field. After you roll, there is a handly BB code formatted link that you can just copy/paste into your post (under spoiler tags).
4. If you're in combat, please list your actions as such-
Minor Action: Draw weapon
Move action: 3 squares East, 2 squares North (ending at 3,2)
Standard: Basic Attack - Attack vs Dire Hamster (1d20+5=21, 1d8+3=10)
It doesn't have to be that exact format, or in that order, but just keep it easy to read.
5. In general, try to post a substantial update at least once every two days. I know this isn't always possible, but try your best.
6. Character interaction, especially among the party, is what's going to really get you guys involved. The more involved you are with each other, the more interesting it'll be for everyone involved. In other words, have conversations with each other IC. Have your characters get to know each other and form different kinds of relationships (maybe you're close friends with someone, have a friendly rivalry with another, etc).
7. When you fight enemies, I'll be posting their stats, so that you know if you hit them or not and you can describe it when you make an attack roll. If you kill (or choose to knock a monster unconscious, which you can do whenever you want), describe how you do so.
House Rules
In general, I like to stick with the book. However, if there's no clear ruling on something, I'll wing it as best I can and try to keep it as fair as possible. There are three house rules I want to put in place, though, and we'll see how they work out.
1. 1's and 20's in combat are critical misses and hits, respectively. I like the idea of 1's and 20's being a big deal, so we'll try carrying them over to skill/ability checks also. This means that if you roll a 20, you do something incredibly well. On the flip side, if you roll a 1, something really bad happens. In combat, this might mean that your sword swing carries your weapon into a tree and you need to spend a move action next turn dislodging it. For a skill check, it might mean that that lockpick you were using snaps. I'll describe what happens to your character and I won't make it so that it's incredibly awful. To make up for the bad thing happening, I'll award your character an extra action point. I liken this to an action movie where the good guy slips and falls off a ledge, but gets up, shakes if off, and does something badass afterward.
2. I may give slight bonuses to your character if they try to think out of the box. For example, you might want to bull rush an enemy so they slam into a table, or you want to pick up a bottle and smash it over an orc's head. I like the fact that these are more than just "I use the same At-Will powers that I've been using for the past 3 months", so I'll make these attempts worthwhile if they succeed.
3. I'll also give slight XP bonuses to characters who roleplay something really awesome. If your character does something cool while interacting with either a PC or an NPC, I'll toss you a little bit extra XP at my discretion. It won't be a huge amount, but it'll be a neat little gift.
Race: Half-Elf
Gender: F
Age: 22
Height: 5'7
Weight: 122
Born to a traveling circus, a bastard child loved by her sadly unimaginative mother, Gwen was named from the first names of her mother and father. Quick, charming, and quite likable, Gwen found herself inexorably drawn to the old fortune-teller, who told her dark secrets of the entities that lived among the stars.
Finally, the oracle summoned a creature from far beyond to her tent, and Gwen pledged a compact to the Power Beyond. The creature tattooed the words of her oath onto her body with its own blood, and granted her power, in exchange for her destiny.
Emerging from the tent as something more, Gwen knew she had outgrown the circus. She packed her things, said goodbye to her mother, and started off to find the destiny she had so recently sold.
Gwen is slim compared to most humans, a touch stocky compared to most elves. Her green eyes shimmer strangely, matching the color of the tattoos that wind up across the pale skin of her body. She keeps her strawberry-blonde hair loose and shoulder-length, obscuring the tattoos that crawl up the sides of her neck and over her cheeks.
Gwen's greatest vice is most assuredly curiosity. She always has to know. She searches for the destiny she sold for power, she always looks behind the door, always pulls the lever. If someone says something she doesn't agree with, she'll always ask why. She's not afraid of hurting people, however, and will often push too hard to find the answers she looks for.
Gwen's sheet, via Mythweavers
Groupie stuff
1. Adventurers for hire? Fell in on the road together? Any interpersonal connections? My character is likely to go along with any group that forms near her just for the sake of exploring/adventuring/meeting new people/killing them.
2.As first-levels, probably not too much. Perhaps a couple of battles with goblin/kobold/orc bandits on the traveling road? Maybe they met in a barfight, and got along with each other?
3.Gwen's looking for something to do, and her tendency to poke into dark corners and open doors that say 'employees only' means that 'something to do' might end up being running for her life. She's probably hanging out in the inns/taverns of whatever city or village she's in, meeting new people and finding out about them.
4. Curiosity. Gwen loves meeting new people, and there's always more to find out about someone. Curiosity is a powerful driver.
5. I got nothin'.
Race: Dragonborn
Age: 25
Scale Color: Dark Brown
Gender: Male
Height: 5’10
Weight: 220
Physical Description:
You’re typical well built Dragonborn consisting of a more dark brownish hue in scale color. Though slightly more built when he was younger, he is still a bit on the shorter side for his race, a known and emotional problem that plagues his past. His eyes shimmer of a faint red and stand out quite a bit compared to his scale color, often making humans frightened of his appearance. His brow emotes a strong sense of emotion and curiosity as it shifts up and down based on the situation; he’s quite animated for his race some say.
Basic Personality Info:
His character is on a constant growth and always in a state of proving his abilities and self. Though sometimes he appears not quite spoken (silent), this generally means his brain is cranking its gears and assessing the situation to determine the best path to achieve success. He is an all around team player and enjoys the satisfaction of a good strategically chat. However, this Dragonborn is quite blunt and can often tell the truth to the point of being rude. He is certainly a person whom will remain behind in order to insure a team’s survivability.
Back-story:
Born in a noble family of champions, a single child and certainly not of the weight and strength his Dad had hoped for in his was to be champion son. Many moons had passed for the young Dragonborn as he felt he had done wrong and hadn’t belonged in the family he was born into. He knew due to his lack of bulk his father would be displeased in his only child as he was not in the weight class of his fathers previous generation of champions. Despite the depression and urge to give up, Seragon packed a small traveling satchel and headed out to gain and learn perhaps what would make his family proud and re-instate his honor in the Kylus Dragonborn family. Upon leaving his home he was pulled aside secretly by his mother, she had some interesting words of encouragement for the still young Dragonborn of 15. She explained to him that his father had failed the trials to become a Warlord thus losing his honor and hiding his shame since the event. This indeed happened prior to Seragon being born and his father certainly never told him of this “trail” she spoke of. This was his chance; his honor was to be fulfilled with the duty of becoming a strong intelligent Warlord, a tactical Warlord… due to his size of course.
Reasons for traveling together: I'll edit my post tomorrow and add them in, time to hit the bed.
Race: Dwarf
Gender: Male
Age: 27
Height: 4'9''
Weight: 180 lbs
Physical Description:
Bjorn wears his dark black hair long, and his beard matching, his lighter eyes shining from under the tangle of his beard and hair. His dark hair contains few decorations, but among them are ritual beads of stone with runes carved upon them. Like most dwarves he is stocky, though he would prefer "brawny." His face is well scarred and ruddy, usually colored by a few pints of ale. Bjorn carries a heavy mug on his belt at all times and claims that it is an ancient heirloom which only the mightiest of warriors are fit to drink from.
Basic Personality Info:
Bjorn is quick to anger and always ready to cleave a foe in two, but still good natured and would willing to defend those in need-presuming he doesn't have anything better to attend to and it provides a good fight.
Though he has no particular qualms against his clan, Bjorn longs to see and combat all that the vast world has to offer and he feels only grudgingly bound to uphold his clan honor. He would rather make a name for himself than see the exploits of his clan be broadened, not for any ill will, but out of martial pride and bull headed stubbornness.
Character Biography:
Bjorn began his adventuring career with a good old fashioned bar brawl; nothing too spectacular, drunken men boasting, taking things too far, spilling blood and ale with glee. Bjorn left his ancestral mountain keep in order to prove himself in combat to his patron deity against any and all foes; he prefers to travel in solitude despite his eagerness for a good ale and a challenging fight. Bjorn's induction into the church of Kord was rather unorthodox, yet still, he is recognized as a devote of the god of battles. His entrance was marked by a night of alcohol fueled brawling with the priestship of Kord, notedly he also employed his flagon-for multiple uses-that night.
Character Sheet:
http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheets/view.php?id=58219
Group:
1. I think so far Rainfall's character and mine would pretty much be pretty likley to just fall into an adeventuring company just for exploration/combat. Bjorn would probably not just fall in with a group of adventurers unless he had some specific challenge that mandated having companions.
2. At this point it seems that all of our characters are pretty diverse in terms of backgrounds.
3. Bjorn is probably drinking and getting into brawls somewhere.
4. Probably honor/loyalty, Bjorn is a paladin after all.
5. Exploration?
<ProfMoriarty> oh yeah. one time I PMed a picture of my penis to a forumer, and then I got a PM from Thanatos saying "nice girth"
Race: Eladrin
Gender: Male
Age: 25
Height: 5'10''
Weight: 140 lbs
Physical Description:
His clothes are weathered from the long wanderings he has been on since he left home, and he has had little money and even less desire to improve his clothing, though he is still somewhat self-conscious about his appearance.
Basic Personality Info:
His overarching goal is to discover what, if anything, Corellon has planned for him, and so he shows a strong interest in talking to those who strongly worship the gods like clerics and paladins, and he hopes that in his travels he will meet a devotee of Corellon who can help him. Otherwise, he strives to increase his own mastery of the arcane and seeks out the darkest places of the map in search of lost scrolls and ancient knowledge. He greatly misses his home, but he has learned to be wary of fellow Eladrin after a few close calls with those who had been sent by his parents to bring him home.
Short Character Biography:
While he was content, he eventually grew weary of the life that had been laid out for him and wished for a grander purpose. One night, a vision of the fey god Corellon holding a gleaming longsword appeared in Erevo's dreams, and though when he woke he could not remember exactly what the apparition told him, Erevo knew that the god had told him to travel to the lands beyond the Feywild. He attempted to persuade his parents to allow him to leave, but they dismissed his vision as a ridiculous fantasy and forbade him from leaving his duties as their son. Soon after, Erevo sneaked away from his family, his only regret being forced to leave almost all of his wealth and possessions behind in his haste. He has not seen Corellon since, and a small part of him wonders if his parents had been right all along and the divine mission he thought he had been sent on was all just a dream.
Erevo's sheet on mythweavers
Reasons for traveling together:
1. A mercenary group with a common purpose of exploring dungeons? Most of us seem more interested in a personal mission or a troubled past rather than just money.
2. Probably none of us have known each other that long, although most likely we have been on a few missions together already either in pairs or all together. So we've at least fought together and know each other's capabilities.
3. I'd imagine the group itself is pretty recently formed, although some of us may know each other from longer than the group's founding. We would either be out exploring or waiting in a town for a new job. We're probably willing to take on any job since none of us seem to have too much direction in terms of what we want to do, and some of us just want to have a good fight. Otherwise I'd probably be studying and practicing my magic.
4. For my part, my character is homesick and needs companions as a way to take his mind off his worries, even though he may not be willing to admit it. He's also learned to respect the people he's with based off of seeing them in combat, even though he may have some reservations about some of their motives.
5. Most of us seem to feel we have some kind of destiny laid out for us, so we probably have a common sense of purpose that leads us to go delving into the most dangerous dungeons. We also need enough money to survive, and adventuring is the best way we know how.
EDIT: Last D&D game I played was 2nd edition, so it's been a while since I've played. I've done an occasional Vampire or Exalted game in the meantime, but usually don't do PbP games.
Also, when you guys get a chance, let me know how much experience you have with roleplaying games, PbP games, and D&D, so that I know what I'm working with and how much extra help I should be giving.
I'm really digging everyone's character stuff so far!
Name: Kirrim Terralt
Race: Halfling
Gender: Male
Age: 19
Height: 4’ 1”
Weight: 72lbs
Background:
One day, in his late teens, while exploring in the deeper sections of the caves the stones gave way beneath the halfling’s feet and he plummeted down into the depths below. Quickly reigniting his torch he soon wished he hadn’t, for as soon as the light spread throughout the cavern he began to hear whispers from the remaining shadows. The whispers followed Kirrim back into the upper levels, promising him everything if only he would come back down into the depths. It was only when he spotted the sunlight coming through the cave’s mouth that the voices retreated.
Hurrying to tell his tale to the rest of the town he was distraught when none believed him, when he persisted that his tale was true he quickly found that the other townsfolk were not listening and were avoiding his company. Left alone with his thoughts the memory of the whispering voices gnawed at his mind and soon Kirrim could take it no longer. Packing his belongings he left the town and set out to find those who might help him discover what lies beneath his home.
I'm still working out the specifics of my character sheet but Kirrim will be an archer ranger. My past experience with RPGs is limited to acting as a DM in 2e ~11 years ago, though I don't think I ever got to be a player. I was also in an Exalted PbP game on this forum that ended after two months.
Personally I see Gwen and Bjorn meeting up in a tavern brawl, together they kick/explode the crap out of everything, Seragon sees them, and since he wants to be a Warlord of course he needs allies to support him in his quest, while Erevo and Kirrim and both hired by the guy who wants to check out the Keep, and either they run into each other inside the city and beat up some thugs, or get hit on the road by kobolds/goblins/bandits/something.
Anyone else have any ideas?
Yeah, I like the idea that we all just sort of ran into each other by chance, and stuck together just because we needed some backup. I could see how Gwen, Bjorn, and Seragon (and maybe Stigandr, since he's frequently in taverns?) get together in a brawl, while Kirrim happens to run across Erevo being attacked by bandits or something outside of town, and all of us happen to meet up for a common job request that starts off the adventure. Or we could swap people into different scenarios as necessary; the point is that the group is barely organized and we have some level of trust without knowing everything about each other.
<ProfMoriarty> oh yeah. one time I PMed a picture of my penis to a forumer, and then I got a PM from Thanatos saying "nice girth"
When it comes to the story, I'm quite cool with whatever. My character isn't huge on bar brawls so I dont think that one would quite fit in with him. I'm more convinced with the simple story of 3 or so of us being conveniently hired to go there...with 3 others doing the same and ultimately us teaming up or something along those lines. Or go with something like...the Paladin must retrieve some sort of artifact from the keep and obviously requires the assistance of additional help etc, thus bribing us with whatever else we find is ours to keep.... *shrugs* Just an idea.
Oh that could be great. I haven't really read any of the threads running KotSf, but if you want to work in some sort of booze related or head bashing artifact in there, it could be a good hook for Bjorn; otherwise I think we could just go for a spiced up "adventuring band". Having some character connections before we start out should help get the whole thing rolling I reckon.
<ProfMoriarty> oh yeah. one time I PMed a picture of my penis to a forumer, and then I got a PM from Thanatos saying "nice girth"
As for background and character associations, I've no problem with Kirrim meeting the others during an ambush on the road but hes also the sort that would likely hire himself out to act as an guide into subterranean locals. Or heck, to just join a group to see whats down there. I could see him hearing of a group of adventurers heading down into some caves and seeking them out to join them.
Otherwise, if Kirrim was friends with one of you previously he'd follow along just on general principle. Since he'd follow his friends to... well maybe not the end of the world but pretty close.
The above is my char sheet, still adding the finishing touches and details though.
-Seragon (flatline's Dragonborn Warlord) has been in the employ of a local lord as a soldier. Through exemplary performance in his duties, he's been rising in the ranks a bit and has become one of the lord's go-to-guys for odd tasks that need to be done. This lord has a special interest in old dungeons and occult artifacts, so he keeps Kirrim (Last Son's Halfling Ranger) on retainer as an explorer/scout. Kirrim gets word that there's been reports of something weird going on in some old ruins near the town of Winterhaven. Stigandr (Lawinator's Human Fighter) has recently joined on as a soldier in the lord's guard, mostly because of lack of coin. Seragon learns enough of Stigandr to know that he's a good warrior, he's just had some tough times. The lord hires Seragon to lead an expedition to Winterhaven to learn more about what's going on in there and tells him to form a small team. Seragon chooses Kirrim because of his experience in dungeons and Stigandr because he's good in a fight.
-On their way to Winterhaven, they stop in some small town, where Bjorn (Bok Choi's Dwarf Paladin) and Gwen (Rainfalls Half-Elf Warlock) are drinking in the tavern. A brawl erupts between them and a group of ______ over a disagreement about ________. (You two figure out who you're brawling with and what causes it). Bjorn and Gwen win. Seragon is impressed by their fighting abilities and hires them on. They join because of the possibility for adventure and exploring weird old ruins.
-On the road (again), they come upon Erevo (Jebu's Eladrin wizard, who is being robbed by a small band of (kobolds/goblins/redneck halflings). Jebu, you figure this out. The group steps in and helps to scare them off, or kill them. During the scuffle, Seragon sees that Erevo obviously has some magical talent and hires him on as well. Erevo joins for the companionship and for the possibility of discovering some weird mojo happening in the ruins.
Any thoughts?
Who doesn't want to bash halfling skull to defend some whacky tattoos.
I'm down for it.
We can also play off the entire protector/protected thing with Gwen and Bjorn as well as some sort of animosity because of where they draw their respective powers from.
<ProfMoriarty> oh yeah. one time I PMed a picture of my penis to a forumer, and then I got a PM from Thanatos saying "nice girth"
Otherwise I like that background plot.
I mean, come on, if you play a Star Wars RPG game that ends up on Endor, you know it's going to eventually erupt into an Ewok genocide.
If Flatline is ok with the background, that's what we'll use. If Lawinator has any objections, we can fudge things a bit to bring it to his liking.
Gameplay is going to begin with you guys being about an hour or so away from reaching Winterhaven. This will give you guys a little bit of time to post IC and have your characters interact with each other. We'll say it's been two days since the group encountered Erevo and helped him fend off the kobolds. I'm going to put up an IC thread in a few hours and you guys can start posting. I will probably have little ability to substantially update until either Wednesday afternoon or Thursday night (this is the busiest week of the year at work). I heartily encourage you guys to post IC in the meantime and have your characters interact with each other.
Homework: Find a picture online somewhere that fits your character. Preferably, it would be a color picture that is a shot of them from their torso to their head (or could easily be cropped to be so). This will essentially be your mini for situations where we need maps. I'm hoping that my Photoshop-fu is strong enough to have some decent maps we can use for combat situations. Post that picture here when you have it.
I'm game.
I just looked at our group line-up. We are pretty much the poster children for multicultural diversity.
Anyone have any questions so far?
but at least it's a dwarf with dark hair in plate
HAR!
<ProfMoriarty> oh yeah. one time I PMed a picture of my penis to a forumer, and then I got a PM from Thanatos saying "nice girth"
Looking for a picture too.
What size you want the mini version?
My photoshop skills suck, so just imagine this with a green robe and a blue cloak (and skin that's a lot less pale), and it would be about right.
If anyone wants to help on that front, 'twould be greatly appreciated.
Possible "disgruntled middle-aged man with an axe"
Possible halfling with dark ponytail:
Also, for the sake of convenience, everyone hit me up with an Initiative roll and let me know your current marching order. You don't have to be a straight line, but tell me who's in front, who you're walking next to, etc.
Also, my 'mini' for the board...
Like?
Anyway, my initiative roll! 1d20=4
I'm standing in the back of the group next to Erevo.
Initiative=1d20+(Dex. modifier) + (1/2 level) + misc bonuses
Generally, at this point the only bonuses you might have would be from feats that give you bonuses to Initiative.
On the myth-weavers sheet, Initiative is in the "Quick Look-up" box on the left hand side. To roll Initiative, go to invisiblecastle. Put your character name in the "Name" field. Keep # of rolls at 1. In the "Dice" field, put "1d20+(your bonus from dex and/or other modifiers)". In the "Note" field, put "Initiative". Hit "Roll the Dice" and it'll generate a roll for you. There's a BB code link that you can click on and it'll automatically copy it to your clipboard. From there, just paste it here and it'll autoformat for you.
Easy as pie.