Character Thread

Any ideas about your character should go here. Characters should start off at level 5 or 6500xp. Well thought out background nets 1000xp. Preferably something with substance, not just a wall of text.

I've got several ideas for a Monk, but knowing a bit more about the setting would help a bit here. :-) Is Agartha from a published setting, or is it homebrew? In any case, what's going on in the world at large? How much can we add details, organisations etc to the setting as we create our characters?

Agartha is a homebrew city of my friend's design. I'll start a thread with its info and the world at large here: http://gamersplane.com/forums/thread/666/

The basics are Agartha is a merchant city where money is law and the world at large is in upheaval due to a recent consolidation of power by the Mountain Dwarf Abjuration specialist, Grigori. Him and his Crow Rider enforcers flit about the world in full plate on the backs of giant crows. Not everyone loves him but very few find it easy to oppose him or his informants.

I would use those walls of text as an inspiration for ideas but anything and everything fits. In terms of what is possible, I would say not much is sacred. If you want to be something from outside of Agartha's purview, I would just make up a neighboring town or countryside. As long as your adjustments to the fabric of reality are not game breaking or give your person too much of an advantage, I'd say go for it. I play a monk in this world who's clan was wiped out by a Blackwheel mercenery who stole my wood elf clan's ninjitsu style and now, between adventures, I hunt that person down to avenge the Nightbreeze Ninjas. If you wanted to make a Lucha monk or a pankration monk or a man of Tai Chi, it's really up to you.

Shimazu and the hobgoblins are based more around Japanese culture replete with samurai and ninja elements. If you want, they oppress a city of goblins that are more based around Chinese culture and a folk hero from their ranks would surely have some insider knowledge. I don't want to give too much away about what you'll be walking into but it has a high Eastern Asia feel mixed with unbalanced race relations. Watch something like 13 Assassins, When the Last Sword is Drawn, or Seven Samurai if you want to get a feel for where you're going.

That's really helpful - I'll let my various "monk" ideas mix themselves around with what you've said, and see what pops out. Also really excited about a Japanese theme, with potential for Chinese elements if desired.

One further thing to check:
Do you mean in your friend's game, or are you going to be playing a GM PC?

In my friend's game. No DMPC for me. I get enough of the little nobbins running around in the adventure.

Sorry one more question: Is the tone of the game light or serious or anything goes? I have two different monk concepts pushing themselves forwards: A gnome monk way of shadows (lighthearted) and an earth genasi monk one of the other two ways (more serious and badass).

I don't want to dictate your tone. I'm sure that light hearted folk exist somewhere in the world but I would say that the game is probably more serious. It will ask you what type of hero you really are.

I've read the setting materials more carefully now. I think to start with I misunderstood - our initial mission is against a Japanese-themed set of hobgoblins, but Agartha is more of a typical (ie "European") D&D city, right? So if I were to be a monk, I would be an outsider in Agartha - maybe hired as a guide, or someone who knows the culture of the place we're going to? Perhaps from a rival monastery to the Daimyo's hobgoblins? Or would that give too much of the plot away to start with?

I'm wondering if it might not be better for me to go with the plot hooks from the Agartha text, and forget about a monk idea for now...

I was also looking forward to playing an Oriental-flavored character. I also wanted to play a monk but Harlandski beat me to it hehe!

I don't know - we could still both play monks. Either two very different ones, or two travelling together in a pair from a distant land. For some reason I'm thinking we came by sea. (Maybe I just like the sailor background). Maybe we could be more Chinese style as opposed to the Japanese style hobgoblins. More graceful and unpredictable.

Imagination running wild: From a monastery ship which is currently harboured in Agartha. Sent on this mission to prove worth (and maybe do a bit of spying).

You can be whatever you want from wherever you want. Looks like we're getting a bit physical since I had another player submit an off site character sheet for a glaive fighter.

You are correct about Agartha being your more prototypical European port city in appearance. The party is heading towards a more East Asian influenced mission. I love monks and won't dictate that you can't be one. The Blackwheel Co., amoral as it is, brings fighters in from everywhere if that's the background hook you're looking for. You are right thinking that it is a port city and that leads to having many different types even if the town is mostly human. You could play a Mousefolk Shaman if you wanted (rules for both were found via reddit/r/dndnext/) and it would still make sense. Don't burden yourselves too much by trying to stay within constraints. Be what you want to be.

Proposed character is Ai Shan, a human(variant) barbarian. He hails from an archipelago in the northern(or southern?) polar region and spent his youth fishing and hunting the sea's bounty. His people are hardy, self-reliant, seafaring warriors used to living off the sea with a few groups engaging in outright piracy on the sea and the occasional coastal raid. He visited Agartha numerous times over the years selling skins, furs, meat, blubber and some ill-gotten merchandise. The attraction of the city and it's opportunities outside the tribe drew him in, so he took his giant sabre and javelins and started taking jobs in the city. Ai Shan has spent the last several years as an adventurer and mercenary for a number of groups who have a presence in Agartha, not all of which are, strictly speaking, legal.

He has no quarrel with this Shimazu, but attacking a mountain fortress like his is too attractive a target to pass up...

I love your monastery ship idea! But I can't let go of my image of a mountain monastery monk (even though it's super cliché). Chinese style for sure! Way of the Open Hand.

The monastery ship does sound cool, but always a place in my heart for super cliche Shaolin Monk stuff.

Southern region. The land down there is mostly controlled by frost giant clerics of Wee Jas so they are definitely hardy self reliant peoples.

Also does this mean you are taking the Sailor background?

Also, and I don't mean to sway your decision one way or another since the extra feat from human is on the awesome side, but the Goliath character race from the Elemental Evil Player's Companion fits this character very well. Something to consider.

Over all though, this is pretty solid. If you wanna draft a character sheet, flesh out the background with some personality traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws (you can pick some straight from the book or come up with your own), and then send that my way for approval, we'll get Ai Shan on his way.

I'll start a different thread for the Backgrounds and we can keep this thread to character ideas and parameters.

Yes, sailor background. I don't know much about Goliaths, I just downloaded the EE players companion a little while ago. Maybe the race description will change my mind. I've always preferred human characters, though.

Do you know what - go for it - play the Shaolin monk! :-) I couldn't quite get the right combo of monkishness for this particular game, but I've come up with another idea I like more...

I used to always play the healer in D&D, and I've spent too long avoiding that cliche - playing everything but the healer, that I think it's now ok for me to return to that familiar role!

However, I'm going to mix things up a bit, especially as EE has got the green light.

So now I'm looking at a Water Genasi, a druid with the sailor background. I'll admit that I stole the the druid/sailor from therpgacademy.com, but I'm putting my own spin on it - rather than land near water, I want water itself to be his domain, hooking up with the elemental parentage thing. But for rules purposes: Circle of the Land (Coast): I'll work things up a bit more then post my character and background.

Hey gang, checking in for the first time. I'm really liking what has been discussed so far. I had a bit of paralisis of choice when I first sat down to make a character, but I think I've settled on a race/class/feel but I'm open to suggestions still.

My concept is Kildrak Staken, a Mountain Dwarf Warlock. He is a member of a typical dwarven clan that controls a mining operation that supplies ore and precious metals. They are respectable and reasonably wealthy as a clan, but not particularly powerful in the political realm because the patriarch just doesn't care to be more involved with the outside world than the clan's needs demand. My character is a nobody in the clan, he has ambition but no means to acheive those ambitions, until he meets his patron. Digging deep in the mines a nearly perfect round shaft that had been sealed off. Some worried it was a lava tube and that the mountain might actually be a volcano that had not erupted yet. Chosen by the foreman to be part of the team that investigated the tunnel, Kildrak and three others descended. At the bottom they found a wall that spoke. The voice in the darkness drove the rest of the party insane with its promises of death and foul acts it swore to visit upon the people responsible for its imprisonment. When it realized Kildrak was there it offered a deal. The thing behind the wall would give Kildrak all the power he desired, eventually making him king of Montebanc, or even the world if Kildrak had the stomach for it. Kildrak was reluctant, what could the being do trapped in the deep mountain? The being made a deal with Kildrak and infused him with dark powers.Now Kildrak is getting his desires. He still had to work to achieve what he has gained, but the advise his patron has supplied him has made life much easier.

So obviously I'm looking at Infernal pact here. The exact nature if the thing in the mountain is open to interpretation, call it a demon, devil, or oni, its fine. But it is trapped under the mountain until Kildrak is king (or whatever works for the story!) So...that's what I've got. If anybody has input it is welcome.

Kildrak looks pretty good. It seemed more like a pact with The Great Old One (driving everyone insane) but I can dig a deal with the devil. Did the encounter leave you with any quirks? I would say you may want to flesh out your infernal benefactor a bit. Also, what Pact did you select? Also, why are you in Agartha?

Funny story, the kingdom of Mountebanc is presently without an acting king (some murderhobos came through and killed him) so perhaps he can actually help you secure the throne.

For everybody: once you have finished your character idea and are ready to sumbit a character sheet please do. Then feel free to post in the background forum, no more than 500 words.

I'm thinking if we can get everything locked down this week, we can start the adventure by Monday. Sound good? Conversely, if you want to start sooner, than everyone can get their character sheets and backgrounds in by tomorrow and we can start Thursday. What works best?

So sorry, but I'm swamped with work the next couple of days so I won't be able to submit anything before Friday :-(

Well, I'm still ironing a few details. I did flirt with the thing in the cave being a great old one, but I want Command to be on my spell list. If the spell list were adjusted that would work for me...but I'm happy with what I've got. I think demons could drive someone insane too...like the other guys were just not mentally strong enough. Kildrak's Wisdom will be decent. But I'm sure he will have a quirk or three because he's talking to a demon. As for Pact I'm leaning toward Book of Shadows, for the extra spell access, but Pact of the Blade would be cool to.

As for what he's doing in Agartha...he left because his patron told him he needed to. Kildrak is in search of something that will make him a true hero among his people it is unclear what the thing is, hiss patron claims the future is still clouded. And yes I did pick up on the lack of a king, but didn't want write to much. But glad we are on the same page.

I got the character sheet done on paper but I'm out of time tonight and will do the entry into the GP char sheet tomorrow along with background

edit: submitted

Hello guys! I'm totally ok changing to a different character than a monk if you want it Harlandski. :D Or we could be twin brothers. I have a Half-Orc Monk who loves fine clothing and shiny/fancy things. He needs some work but I'm willing to work with everyone. :) I mean I could also be an Aarakocra Barbarian with a gambling problem or a Half-ling fighter who loves cheap shots and low blows. I have no shortage of ideas.

@mikelzap - I'm not going to play a monk any more, but I think heirophant is.

Cassandra Waveborn, Water Genasi Druid (background tbc: sailor? folk hero? hermit? outlander?) - Hit points for levels 2-5 (Constitution 16/+3)

I am working up an air genasi monk. Putting the character sheet together today :-)

So right now we have:
Dwarf Warlock Urchin
Water Genasi Druid
Human Barbarian Sailor
Air Genasi Monk
Half Orc Monk Outlander that may be something else.

Very cool assortment of PCs. I'm liking this.

I have a couple of equipment questions. I am a fan of "flavoring" the basics when appropriate to give the right image, to my own mind at least. To this end, I was wondering if I could have a mount that uses the stats of one of the standard animals in the mounts & vehicles, but is described differently. My character is going to be the type who likes to show off his money, but he won't give it away...somewhat of a miser, but not as penny pinching as Scrounge in "A Christmas Carol". To that end, I am considering purchasing a chariot and an animal to pull it. What I would like to describe is some kind of ram, a species domesticated by the mountain dwarves that serves as pack animals mostly, mounts in a pinch. Basically the real world an analog would be a llama or alpaca...but with a shorter neck and ram horns. I'm thinking the pony makes the most sense, or mastiff. Its stats wouldn't change but it would (hopefully) add a little flavor to the mountain dwarf culture. Is that OK?

Also...I'm going to roll a random trinket for the "memento of my parents"

For everyone if I haven't mentioned it to you directly yet:
I may have misspoke and said it was 700 in your notes foolsmask so you may have just lost 100gp. :/ Mea culpa.

Also, they have stats for a goat in the MM that I messaged you. We could give it an extra hit die for oomph.

Your right about the money...I missed that too, I will double check my spending And the goat stats work for me if your OK with that use of the animal. I don't have the MM yet and didn't think to ask about that.

Cassandra Waveborn, Water Genasi Druid Sailor (True Neutral) backstory. I'll try to finish the rest of her stats tomorrow (it's late evening for me now).

Abandoned by her human mother on a tiny island in a distant sea, the infant Cassandra was picked up by some pirates with a soft heart. From the pirates she learnt foul language, how to swab a deck, and some detachment towards life and death. When she was a young teenager, her ship was taken by the Prince's Health, a ship of Agartha's Merchant Fleet, but her age and sex spared her the gallows. The ship's chaplain saw spiritual promise in the young genasi, and in between her working the galley and (yes) swabbing the deck of that ship, he tried to excite her interest and devotion for the Lord Bahamut. But Cassandra couldn't make the jump from cutthroat pirate to lawful good devotee, always feeling more of a connection to the sea itself and all the varied life it contained. At port in the distant town of Bluehaven, the ever pragmatic brother Campbell went ashore and found a more suitable tutor for the girl - a half elf coastal druid by the name of Atharia. Brother Campbell gave Cassandra leave to train with Atharia, on the proviso that she would serve the Fleet in the future as a healer. Atharia and Cassandra honoured the promise, though Atharia sees Cassandra's role more as a protector of the seas and its creatures. Cassandra has fulfilled both roles and more, her unusual abilities as a genasi leading her to perform as anything from a lifeguard to a diplomat to aquatic creatures. However, there are those in the Merchant Fleet who feel uncomfortable about having someone of elemental parentage and piratical background on board, and Cassandra suspects it may be this party which has pushed her forward to represent the Merchant Fleet on the current mission - to leave the sea and venture into the mountains of all places. However, Cassandra is ever philosophical about the turns of life, and sees she may yet be able to fulfill some of her interests on this mission: Mountain streams and lakes to tend to, not to mention her adventuring companions who by the look of them will soon need her healing ministrations.

Fēng
Aarakocra Monk (Level 5, Way of the Open Talon: Wild Wind Fighting Style)

The tribe of aarakocra who build their eyries high in the mist-shrouded Q’sulth Mountains spend simple lives of peaceful isolation from the outside world. But the tribal elders understand that isolation and ignorance are very different things. To pretend that the outside world does not exist is folly because evil from the outside is constantly threatening the peace of their mountain enclave. That is why the best among them are trained from youth to become warrior monks and are sent out into the world to learn of its dangers before returning to the mountains as true guardians of their home.

Fēng was raised in the Golden Talon Sanctuary where the days are spent in quiet contemplation and the perfection of the art of Kuang Fong ("wild wind"), an aggressive fighting style centered around the flow of personal energy, using the aarakocra’s natural speed & agility and their flying ability to deliver whirling attacks, and strikes from above with talons and weapons.

Fēng is a young aarakocra, truly devoted to his people and his order. All his young life he has trained to fight, but is yet untried in real combat. He is quick of both body and mind. Perhaps a little distracted at times because of his newness to things outside his cloistered experience. His curiosity sometimes gets the better of him, something that the Sanctuary Masters have always reprimanded him for. His sense of wonder and his fierce loyalty are his best personality traits.

---------------------------------------------------
I'm still working out some of the details, particularly his alignment (are we even using alignment here at all?)

I put the level 4 ability boost in Dex.

I'd also like to add some kung fu flavor to Fēng's gear. The monk starting equipment package specifies 10 darts but I'd like to go with 1 rope dart instead (How would you stat this? Same as a regular dart?). His primary weapon is a spear and his unarmed strikes of course.

We've all seen kung fu movies so we know what that's like. Kuang Fong, ("wild wind") Style taught at Golden Talon Sanctuary is distinct in that it utilizes the aarakocra's flight. Ever seen a cockfight? I know, I know, I agree that animal fighting is cruel, but if you've ever seen one (I have) then there's a bit of that mixed in: intense bursts of flight to get the "high ground" and deal death from above.

What about hitting opponents with a grapple, hoisting them 60ft into the air and dropping them? Legal? Nothing in RAW against it but I know that some GM's disallow it. But I am actually contemplating making it so Fēng's monastic order sees such tactics as dishonorable. What do you guys think?

I love that the item I rolled on the Trinkets table is a fan that, when unfolded, shows a sleeping cat. Wind-themed character...fan...get it? I'm going to say it's a bladed war fan. Fēng would probably never use it in actual combat but he uses it during his meditative practice early in the morning.

I've never had the opportunity to play this race nor this class and the two just seem to work so well thematically that I just had to give it a go! I hope I RP it well :-)

Ok I am working on Urki Clearspirit he's a former guild cleric. Hired for nothing more than healing and he's tired of being used as a one trick pony. He's left the guild where he picked up calligraphy and tinkering and is setting out to work on new adventures. He wants to be more than just a healing bot with nice handwriting. He has forged a few letters of recommendation's saying he is a good listener and follower but Urki is out to prove himself and knows Agartha is dangerous!

Gnome cleric guild artisan. I think this will be a flavorful and balanced addition to the group.

I'm a huge fan of reflavoring/reskinning :-)

Great stories, guys! I like the party already! :-) You may have noticed my character intro post above has been edited a bunch of times. I thought it better to add to the post whenever I have a new idea rather doing a new short post every time something new occurs to me. Mikelzap's post reminded me that I've not said anything about Fēng's familial ties nor how he joined Ouroboros. Will add those in a bit :-)

Can't wait to see a finished toon Jabes. I'm going to bed though. it's 4am I don't need to focus on this any longer. TheMightKobold you want to look over my character? I think it is complete but I'm not 100% sure. Will research tomorrow if I want to do the multiclass we talked about but lvl4 and lvl1. See ya!

Who did you chose for Urki to worship? I really like the story, but I'm hard pressed to come up with a deity that would grant spells to a "cleric for higher" that works as a calligrapher for a "dragon slayer guild". Also...what does that kid look like? Is he a gnomish looking elf or an elfish looking gnome, I wonder. Great details!

What is the deity situation? Are we using greyhawk, dragonlance, FR, etc? I think a deity may be the reason he is seeking something else. He is having trouble seeing eye to eye with his god so he is having trouble gaining more power/spells.

BTW, WOTC has released PHB errata. May or may not impact your characters.

Sorry I was out this weekend. I went through and approved everyone's characters and sent messages about necessary adjustments, if any. Make sure everyone posts their final backstories in the thread dedicated to that. I'm really impressed with what I've seen so far and really like the party composition. Also, please be sure that you have done as Harlandski and roll up or choose Personality Traits, Ideals, Bonds, and Flaws. I will post the first game post, a general rules forum, and a discussion forum for OOC rules questions tomorrow by 5pm CST and we will kick this thing off. I look forward to killing you all . . . I mean . . . playing with. Yeah. The second one. ;)

With regards,
TMK

Alright I fixed what you asked me to and what you missed! :D I still had 2 level 5 life domain spells. Now I'm all ready to kill my comrades. Oh wait, was that supposed to stay in our PMs?

TMK I went head and made the corrections. Fēng is good to go! :-)
Hahaha! Yes! :-D

I would think it easier to put Spells known in the Spells section and indicate Prepared spells in the notes or something. But one of the draws of the Warlock is that I don't have to worry about known vs. prepared ;D So much less paperwork when you have a demon as your personal assistant, am I right?!

Sure you're right. There has to be some drawback to giving your soul to an insane murderous subterranean being in exchange for a limited amount of arcane power, but I can't see one from here ;-)

Fēng would've been like this at the monastery when he was younger. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geIRmzhoVXM

So we have two more players and a spot open for Foolsmask if they see that we're back. CancerMan and Naatkinson, you should feel free to post your character info here once you have it all ready. 27 point buy, 5th level characters, starting gold of 600gp for any items that can be bought from the PHB. Once we have characters set up, the final chapter of the Daimyo's Gambit will conclude. Maybe it will even continue . . .

Nice :D this was one of my favorite PCS cleric turned rogue is back!!

Thanks for having me. Is there a particular class the party needs? I think you have a monk, a cleric, and a warlock?

Monk 5 and a Cleric 4 Rogue 1. Foolsmask is the warlock and we are still waiting for an appearance from them. Anything else goes.

Right on. I am thinking of rolling a rogue/assassin. I'd like to connect him/her in some way to the area the party is currently in, so if possible may I flavor the character as a ninja?

Sure, no problem. In my head, there were two characters already approaching as Crow Riders. They were supposed to be further antagonists and creating a sense of urgency but at this point I was going to use them to usher in reinforcements. If you want to be a ninja that has been there the whole time instead, that works too.

Thinking about making a fighter type (Samurai?)

It's an insane day at work, so hopefully it will slow down later and I can get started on my character!

You guys are on board! Awesome! Really looking forward to getting this going again. And I do hope we continue beyond this chapter! :-)

I could see my ninja as working for the samurai.

Want to work our backstories together? I plan on being a Ronin (lordless samurai). I figure my lord and his family were killed and I am now homeless and looking for a worthy lord to take me in.

EDIT: Rolling HP for levels 2-5

I think that will work. My character can be a kunoichi whose clan was sworn to service in your family. She acts as a spy and bodyguard.

I'm going to assume we've been homelessly traveling for some time now, if that's ok?

Yes.

Still trying to decide if I want to be the historically-accurate archer-samurai, or if I want to be the hollywood-fabricated Katana samurai...

Well, that's not entirely accurate. While Samurai started as an archer class at the turn of the 1st millenium, they definitely took up the sword by the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.

Fair enough :-)

Naatkinson and CancerMan, am I correct in assuming your characters are named in the Japanese fashion?

Therefore:
Nakada = family name, Utamuro = first name
Yotsuba = family name, Tonton = first name

You are correct

Speaking of Japanese fashion, is it customary to address someone they just met by their first name? I imagine these guys would be pretty formal. Then again, so far the PC's have been on a first-name basis.

I believe you address strangers by their family name, but I could be mistaken. So I would be Nakada-san (if you really want to go full Japanese)

Of course, it's a fantasy world. XD