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[D&D 5E] Recruiting: The Spiral Star
The Zombie Penguin
Eternal Hungry CorpseRegistered User regular
Eternal Hungry CorpseRegistered User regular
Across the multiverse, tails are told of the Spiral Star - a colossal structure outside the bounds of normal reality. Many enter, but few ever return. But those precious few who do return? They are mantled in power, draped in wealth, wielding fell artifacts of terrible power, bearers of pacts and deals with strange gods and ruinous powers. They will reshape their homes, their countries, their very worlds for good or ill
Well, that's an ominous introduction. I'm sure it's fine! Hi! I'm The Zombie Penguin, and i'll be your DM for this mega dungeon - the titular Spiral Star.
This is the recruiting thread for a Mega-Dungeon i'm planning - The Spiral Star. We'll be using D&D 5e for this, with all content from PHB, Xanthar's and (When it's published) Tasha's available for creating pcs. I'm open to being convinced on Ravnica, Eberron (Artificers and non-dragonmarked pc options are already cool with me!), Theros and Volo's content as well! Also, preemptively: You can be a tortle if you want. Live your turtletorise-man dreams.
Players will start off at level 3 at the central nexus of The Spiral Star - A safe, grassy area with the odd stone, surrounded by inky viscous black. Plus the odd shop built into said inky viscous black void. Once you're inside the Spiral Star, it'll let you out when it chooses, and not before. In addition to the shops are stairs heading off into the inky black, going up, down, curling, and otherwise - these lead to the various branches of the dungeon. Each will have a theme to it, which you'll know before entering - giving you time to stock up in the shops and prepare.
Or not and have that much More Fun TM.
It'll be up to you and your party to navigate these sub-branches of the dungeon, dealing with fights, traps, encounters and who knows what else. Chances to rest will be limited, and i'll be calling out when you're in places you can safely short rest, or long rest - attempting to long rest in unsafe places WILL carry consequences, and they wont be fun.
I'll be aiming to run this over discord, in addition to using something like Owlbear Rodeo for when we need maps. My timezone is GMT+12, and i'm pretty flexible other than mondays my time on when i'll run a session - hopefully, we can find a happy medium for everyone.
If you want some flavourful inspiration, consider looking up both Dungeon Meshi by Ryōko Kui (also known as Delicious in Dungeon), and Naomi Novik's A Deadly Education. The former is hugely my jam and i will totally let you cook and eat monsters. The latter's depiction of scholomance provides plenty of dnd dungeon fodder, despite being set in a magic school. While this is going to start pretty story light, i'm hoping we can get cool emergent narratives from people's characters and their reasons for risking it all in an extra-dimensional mega dungeon. Rougelikes are also a big inspiration for this dungeon.
I'd like to get between 4-6 players for this. If there's more interest than that, we'll figure it out! We can always adopt a drop in-drop out style of play. I don't have a firm kick-off time in mind right now, other than "Probably after Tasha's is out". But i'm open to starting earlier if no one's waiting on Tasha's stuff, or if it's already been released (Such as the Genie Warlock or Wild Magic barbarian)
Interested in playing? Post here and roll up some characters! Yes, plural. I'm not going to go out of my way to kill pcs, but this is a mega dungeon and i'm not going to play it safe and easy either. Character deaths are something i do expect to happen, and having a backup character or two will help in the advent you get bisected by a sawblade, fall in a pit of acid, kicked off the side of the dungeon into the inky hungry void. Or just get eaten by an Ithilid or something else that's hungry.
To create a character for this Mega-Dungeon, you'll need to:
Additionally, and this is super important...
You cannot start with more than 17 in a stat. So don't get clever and put 15 in a stat, stick your radical +2 in it, and then stack a feat to get an 18 - i will reject the character sheet and tell you to do it again. This is simply so everyone starts on a reasonably level mechanical playing field.
EXP will be handed out milestone style - expect to go up a level every sub-branch of the dungeon you clear. If you loose a pc, you'll get to rejoin at the same level as everyone else - Just assume said character was already in the dungeon and has lost their party/been separated, or similar.
Which reminds me: Hats are mandatory inside the dungeon. Mad Margaret's Miters (She sells every type of hat except miters, of course) has already seen your party outfitted with a fine set of flatcaps! Do keep them on, or at least on your person. Team identity is important in a dungeon!
Have questions? Interested? sing out!
Otherwise, i look forward to playing with you all!
Well, that's an ominous introduction. I'm sure it's fine! Hi! I'm The Zombie Penguin, and i'll be your DM for this mega dungeon - the titular Spiral Star.
This is the recruiting thread for a Mega-Dungeon i'm planning - The Spiral Star. We'll be using D&D 5e for this, with all content from PHB, Xanthar's and (When it's published) Tasha's available for creating pcs. I'm open to being convinced on Ravnica, Eberron (Artificers and non-dragonmarked pc options are already cool with me!), Theros and Volo's content as well! Also, preemptively: You can be a tortle if you want. Live your turtletorise-man dreams.
Players will start off at level 3 at the central nexus of The Spiral Star - A safe, grassy area with the odd stone, surrounded by inky viscous black. Plus the odd shop built into said inky viscous black void. Once you're inside the Spiral Star, it'll let you out when it chooses, and not before. In addition to the shops are stairs heading off into the inky black, going up, down, curling, and otherwise - these lead to the various branches of the dungeon. Each will have a theme to it, which you'll know before entering - giving you time to stock up in the shops and prepare.
Or not and have that much More Fun TM.
It'll be up to you and your party to navigate these sub-branches of the dungeon, dealing with fights, traps, encounters and who knows what else. Chances to rest will be limited, and i'll be calling out when you're in places you can safely short rest, or long rest - attempting to long rest in unsafe places WILL carry consequences, and they wont be fun.
I'll be aiming to run this over discord, in addition to using something like Owlbear Rodeo for when we need maps. My timezone is GMT+12, and i'm pretty flexible other than mondays my time on when i'll run a session - hopefully, we can find a happy medium for everyone.
If you want some flavourful inspiration, consider looking up both Dungeon Meshi by Ryōko Kui (also known as Delicious in Dungeon), and Naomi Novik's A Deadly Education. The former is hugely my jam and i will totally let you cook and eat monsters. The latter's depiction of scholomance provides plenty of dnd dungeon fodder, despite being set in a magic school. While this is going to start pretty story light, i'm hoping we can get cool emergent narratives from people's characters and their reasons for risking it all in an extra-dimensional mega dungeon. Rougelikes are also a big inspiration for this dungeon.
I'd like to get between 4-6 players for this. If there's more interest than that, we'll figure it out! We can always adopt a drop in-drop out style of play. I don't have a firm kick-off time in mind right now, other than "Probably after Tasha's is out". But i'm open to starting earlier if no one's waiting on Tasha's stuff, or if it's already been released (Such as the Genie Warlock or Wild Magic barbarian)
Interested in playing? Post here and roll up some characters! Yes, plural. I'm not going to go out of my way to kill pcs, but this is a mega dungeon and i'm not going to play it safe and easy either. Character deaths are something i do expect to happen, and having a backup character or two will help in the advent you get bisected by a sawblade, fall in a pit of acid, kicked off the side of the dungeon into the inky hungry void. Or just get eaten by an Ithilid or something else that's hungry.
To create a character for this Mega-Dungeon, you'll need to:
- Start them at level 3.
- Use either the standard array or point buy as provided in the PHB. Tasha's/Adventure league rules are in effect here for racial stats - you may freely shuffle your racial modifiers around. Wanna be a Goblin with +2 str and +1 charisma? Please, do so! I want that goblin in my dungeon. Wanna be a dexterous and wise goliath? Do it!
- your starting hp should be the max you can roll per level, + 3x your con modifier. So a barbarian with +3 con would start at 45 hp.
- Choose a Feat to start off with. If you're playing a Variant Human, this means you get to start with 2 feats. Be nice about this. The Lucky feat is banned for character creation. The goal is to give people some extra flavor and options to character creation, not set you all up to power game!
- Pick a background. I will try and integrate stuff like background features, tool profs, etc into the dungeon - so pick things you think are going to be cool and flavorful! Make a delicious meal of your pc.
- Figure out why you've come to the Spiral star. Did you flee to escape a crime? Sent by your nation in the hope you'll return a power to bolster them? Come seeking power for your own ends? Driven by tales of wealth? Interested in studying the mystical underpinings of the dungeon?
- You start with 300 GP ontop of what your background and class give you. You may use this to buy armor, additional weapons, various knick knacks from the PHB (Such as crafting tools), or spell components - like the pearl for Identify, or the diamond for Chromatic Orb.
- Dont make a character who's a jackass or unwilling to work in a team. The dungeon is lethal enough without any backstabbery.
Additionally, and this is super important...
You cannot start with more than 17 in a stat. So don't get clever and put 15 in a stat, stick your radical +2 in it, and then stack a feat to get an 18 - i will reject the character sheet and tell you to do it again. This is simply so everyone starts on a reasonably level mechanical playing field.
EXP will be handed out milestone style - expect to go up a level every sub-branch of the dungeon you clear. If you loose a pc, you'll get to rejoin at the same level as everyone else - Just assume said character was already in the dungeon and has lost their party/been separated, or similar.
Which reminds me: Hats are mandatory inside the dungeon. Mad Margaret's Miters (She sells every type of hat except miters, of course) has already seen your party outfitted with a fine set of flatcaps! Do keep them on, or at least on your person. Team identity is important in a dungeon!
Have questions? Interested? sing out!
Otherwise, i look forward to playing with you all!
Ideas hate it when you anthropomorphize them
Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/id/TheZombiePenguin
Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/thezombiepenguin/
Switch: 0293 6817 9891
Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/id/TheZombiePenguin
Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/thezombiepenguin/
Switch: 0293 6817 9891
The Zombie Penguin on
+4
Posts
Should I still roll up a character just in case?
Go for it! I am very flexible in my hours overall. LIke worse case, i'm getting up at 6 am to gm, or something, or starting a session at 10 in the evening or - ethier's pretty cool with me. We'll find out!
Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/id/TheZombiePenguin
Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/thezombiepenguin/
Switch: 0293 6817 9891
Fantastic!
Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/id/TheZombiePenguin
Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/thezombiepenguin/
Switch: 0293 6817 9891
Lets say
Warforged Conjuration Wizard: Sent by "the wizard guild of x" in order to acquire power and knowledge and return it to them as Warforged as seen as more expendable than other living mages.
Valenar Elf Hunter Ranger: The place is unnatural, there are surely aberrations inside, they need to be eliminated
Human Lore Bard: Looking for inspiration for his epic DnD campaign
Water Genasi Way of the Four Elements Monk: Perfection requires tempering, and what better temper is this?
PSN: Wstfgl | GamerTag: An Evil Plan | Battle.net: FallenIdle#1970
Hit me up on BoardGameArena! User: Loaded D1
Your wife would be welcome to join you, of that's something you can make work!
Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/id/TheZombiePenguin
Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/thezombiepenguin/
Switch: 0293 6817 9891
This week be a chance to introduce everyone's characters, figure out why hooks and more importantly: talk over a Veto system, as well as negotiate any triggers. Just so I don't body horror anyone's character without their consent or similar!
I will note here and now: you will be able to invoke your veto for any reason. Don't need to explain it or justify (I may ask for clarification later so I can avoid similar content)
On a brighter note, I've updated the op with a couple more notes on character creation - you get some gold and hp to play with.
You'll need it.
Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/id/TheZombiePenguin
Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/thezombiepenguin/
Switch: 0293 6817 9891
How silly/memetastic are they allowed to be? ;D
We already have a hillbilly Wizard-hunting sorcerer, so I think that's about the right level. Basically I don't mind comedy characters as long as you're willing to commit to the joke/it's not a one note poop joke or similar
Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/id/TheZombiePenguin
Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/thezombiepenguin/
Switch: 0293 6817 9891
I haven't thought this one through entirely but how about a tabaxi warlock except instead of being a anthropomorphised cat my char is an actual house cat. Thinking maybe something like Salem from Sabrina the teenage witch, i.e. I got a little lippy with my patron and now I'm a cat until I fetch a mcguffin from the dungeon?
I assume you'll use the tabaxi racials etc? But that concept sounds great and also hilarious. I look forward to watching you attempt to deal with loot
Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/id/TheZombiePenguin
Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/thezombiepenguin/
Switch: 0293 6817 9891
I'm open to suggestions, the tabaxi racials work though.
I wasn't really planning on wearing too many garments, but depending on how you rule the spell focus/tome I might need a necklace or something like that. Or a floating book ala yuumi (LoL champ).
I'm thinking either old one or celestial pact wise but can wait to see what the party is looking like.
Re: loot: maybe I can pay someone to carry my stuff for me ;P
I'd want you to have to do something for the soul focus, just because challenges to over come are more interesting!
But the image of a cat in a flatcap flinging Eldritch blast is just too good
Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/id/TheZombiePenguin
Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/thezombiepenguin/
Switch: 0293 6817 9891
Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/id/TheZombiePenguin
Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/thezombiepenguin/
Switch: 0293 6817 9891
hex blades are fun but the temptation to multiclass out at 2 is just too great!
Oh right,i should probably ban or make a "Justify to me why you're multiclassing" clause, so as to avoid that sort of shennagin. (I have an irrational dislike of multiclassing!)
But that's totally fair. Eldritch laser kitty is 110% approved, though i'd still argue you should go genie lock (As then you get to have a tiny receptacle you can wear on a collar that acts as a spellcasting focus, you can go inside and stash loot in it, AND genies seem like exactly the sort of shits to turn someone into a cat.) but do whatever's the most fun for you!
Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/id/TheZombiePenguin
Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/thezombiepenguin/
Switch: 0293 6817 9891
I'll look into this genie subclass, I assume it's UA?
Multiclassing is awesome imo, it let's people customise their PCs more, I can understand questioning a person going cleric/hexblade/paladin/sorc without any sort of explanation how all of that is interacting.
I'm not going multi class though. I just haven't played a warlock in 5th edition (normally stuck as DM)
It's UA but the preview for the tasha's version has been released. They seem to have taken it down form teh dnd celebrations website, but i think you should be able to find it online elsewhere - it was basically identical to the last time it was released as UA anyway.
The big thing is you get to choose one of four elemental genie patrons which give you extra spells and some ways to do extra elemental damage. Additionally, you get your own person itty bitty living space you can hide inside as an action - which means you can do fun stunts like start off hidden in it and have someone carry it to go SURPRISE WALOCAT
And yeah, i think i'll be fine with multiclassing as long as someone can make a solid argument for why and it's not just powergamery bullshit.
Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/id/TheZombiePenguin
Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/thezombiepenguin/
Switch: 0293 6817 9891
So right now we have 3 charisma casters, 2 warlocks and a sorcerer. Clearly this should just be the theme - other people should go paladin! bard! etcera!
Then i'll make it all int checks all the time and laugh and laugh and laugh... *cough*
Seriously though, i love this and it's hilarious.
Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/id/TheZombiePenguin
Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/thezombiepenguin/
Switch: 0293 6817 9891
Hmm.
How allergic are you to power gaming?
I wouldn't say I'm the sort to squeeze every last drop out buuut I do tend to optimise.
My second character is a paladin*
Optimizing is fine! I tend to optimize stuff myself. It's only really full on "And now i'm going to abuse multiclassing to become a coffelock" or similar stuff that's going to get my hackles up.
I guess a better way to put it is: I want you to be playing a character you have fun playing and to make sure everyone gets their chance to shine. Does that make more sense?
Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/id/TheZombiePenguin
Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/thezombiepenguin/
Switch: 0293 6817 9891
I have a
Kobold rogue thief : 8-17-14-10-14-10 observant
Human variant fighter : 16-13-15-10-12-8 dual wielder
Goliath Forge Cleric : 17-10-14-8-14-12 tough
Githzerai celestial warlock PoB : 12-16-13-10-8-16 war caster
Also, if people can post what would be good times for them. For me, anything on my saturday or sunday would be great for now (Friday and Saturday for people who dont live in the future). I'm pretty flexible on time - i'd prefer after 10am my time, and before 10pm my time. (Or in GMT - between 10pm and 10am.)
Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/id/TheZombiePenguin
Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/thezombiepenguin/
Switch: 0293 6817 9891
So it's about 11 am for you at time of this post? That's pretty handy.
I run a couple of restaurants so my normal schedule is fluid, but we're going into a slower season so I'll be more available, barring some unfortunate circumstances. Outside of Saturday, Sunday nights which I tend to have to work, I can find times to be available any weeknight.
You posted right on 12pm my time (daylight savings) but yeah. It's a pretty flexible timezone.
I'm happy to like start a session at 10pm my time and finish at midnight, but that's about my limit
Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/id/TheZombiePenguin
Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/thezombiepenguin/
Switch: 0293 6817 9891
Raglan Jhaerod
Patron: Unknown
Human (Variant: +1 Feat/Language)
Background: Failed Merchant (Supply Chain, Investigation/Persuasion)
Feats: Alert, Observant
HP: 30
Stats:
Str 10
Dex 14
Con 14
Int 12
Wis 8
Cha 16
Blurb: Why can't I just go home?!
Reinholdt Beltayn
God: Khorne
Human: Variant (+1 Feat/Language)
Background: Gladiator (Contacts, Athletics/Intimidation)
Feats: Dual Wielder, Mobile
HP: 37
Stats
Str 16
Dex 14
Con 12
Int 8
Wis 10
Cha 14
Blurb: Blood for the Blood God!
Vytharion Gilbret Mendalish III
Human: Variant (+1 Feat/Language)
Background: Entertainer
Feats: Actor, Prodigy (Deception Expertise, Persuasion Added, +1 Language)
HP: 27
Stats
Str: 10
Dex: 16
Con: 12
Int: 13
Wis: 8
Cha: 16
Blurb: Toss a Coin to your Witcher
And yes I tend to play a lot of humans. I just can't give up those sweet sweet feats.
could my cat have 9 lives?
How much gold do you have for Revivify? 9 is pauper league
I could make a necromancer and give you infinite lives
You can have as many lives as you want!
As long as you keep making your death saves~
Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/id/TheZombiePenguin
Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/thezombiepenguin/
Switch: 0293 6817 9891
mmmh I'll have to roll up a few more chars then
edit:
ok, found some time to create the cat, will do another 2 randos tomorrow!
Warlock (genie pact)
stats: 8, 14, 15, 10, 12, 17
feat: resilient (con)
blurb: got a bit lippy with his patron and is now a cat, unable to polymorph into humanoid form! Has been sent into the spire to retrieve a secret of grave consequence!
Lost his top hat to a denizen of the spire.
Do we have a planed start date?
@JusticeforPluto Not yet. Right now our playlist appears to be you, @evilthecat @Darmak @Moridin889 @MagnusxThexRed - I'd like to find one or two more people, perhaps. Goumindong will not be joining us. Then we just need to find a time that fits everyone.
Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/id/TheZombiePenguin
Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/thezombiepenguin/
Switch: 0293 6817 9891