Pressgang Booth

All character creation type activities will happen here.

Current Character Creation Rules:
Stats - Point Buy
Level - 5
Allowed Sources - All published WotC material. UA on case-by-case approval.
Starting Equipment - Standard equipment, 500 gp/player
Magic Items - Everyone can start with either two Common Magic Items, or 1 Uncommon Magic Item. It will be a high magic setting, so expect plenty of opportunities to acquire things.
HP - Max first level, Roll or Average/Class for each level above that (whichever is highest).

There are 6 officer positions in the UA that need to have some kind of representation. The Captain will start as an NPC, but all the rest can be filled by NPCs or Players, I have no strong leanings either way. Multiple players can fill the same role (for example, there could be three people that can serve as a Bosun, though only one can make checks at a time).
Captain
First Mate
Bosun
Surgeon
Quartermaster
Cook

Consider if you want to have your character fill an Officer's role, or just a member of the crew.

I gave Zale the Sailor background. He has the Tavern Brawler feat for shenanigans.

Will have a look at magic items. I don't have the DMG. Is this document an acceptable source?

With his skills, I think Zale would make a good Cook.

I'm considering giving my Swashbuckler a level of Fighter to get either the Mariner or TWF fighting style. Is UA Waterborne acceptable?

That document is an acceptable source, though there are a number of common items in Xanathar's Guide that you could also choose if you don't find something on that list that strikes your fancy. I've approved Zale in the meantime. Zale would make a solid Cook I think.

Jabes, that UA is acceptable.

I'm putting together a wizard that should be a good candidate for either the captain or first mate positions. I know one of you is putting together a storm sorcerer, who I figured uses powerful AoE attacks, so I've gone with mostly control and single-target to avoid stepping on any toes.

Taking first level HP to be 8, plus 10 for levels above that, taking the 5 from rolls, and then average (4) for the other three makes for 35HP.

A question about UA, is Sea Sorcery off the table? I'm considering it.

I'm OK with that one!

Sweet!

I will be playing Srisa of the Eastern Reef, daughter of Triton royalty who is in exile from the deep as part of a ten year rite of passage. I figure she'll be a Redemption Paladin of Persana and a ship's surgeon. Her Lay on Hands ability can heal wounds and cure disease, and she herself is immune to all diseases.

She could also fulfill the role of a negotiator / diplomat. She'll be able to use her channel divinity to gain a total of +12 to a cha (persuasion) check (assuming 18 Cha).

Uncommon magic items ... Clearly we should all take immovable rods, chain them together, and then Srisa will just swim up to enemy ships, set the rods in front of them, and watch them destroy themselves. XD Just kidding.

What's the story on swimming in plate armor, Dramasailor? I believe RAW it doesn't have an impact, but I should probably check with you first. If not, I'll probably take +1 plate and play the role of battlefield medic.

So, Dramasailor, I've something to pass by you. I was hoping to do a 'gunslinger' using dual hand crossbows with an Arcane Archer fighter. To my dismay, Arcane Archer specifies a shortbow or longbow. Would you be okay with allowing it with crossbows or not?

Yeah, that's fine by me. It shouldn't throw anything out of whack in terms of economy. Plus, if it gets too out of hand, you may find that pirates have learned some arcane methods similar to that *devil grin*.

Since I was late to the party I will have to change a few ideas around.
Air Genasi, Storm Sorcerer, Quatermaster.
Grew up in the mountains and could only ever dream of the sea he saw everyday so far away and the freedom it represented.
Long story short he found way down and joined a ships crew not long after. His natural affinity to the weather and previous knowledge of its patterns made him suited for navigation.

Zephyranthes Ariti

A sea sorcerer and a storm sorcerer? You guys should team up and be a superhero duo!

How bloodthirsty are all of your characters going to be? Or perhaps a better question is what are your characters' alignments? I don't plan on playing Srisa as a squeaky clean paladin, but if we're making a pretty amoral or even an evil team here, I'll switch to be Oath of Conquest or something with a bit more sass. She will still have all the healing power and fulfill a similar role but with fewer moral quandaries.

I went for neutral. Not necessarily willing to kill, but has no qualms about self-defence.

I have Submitted Cecillia: aasimar sea witch. Orphaned as far as she can remember, she grew up learning to be a musician, not aware of her celestial heritage. On a job providing entertainment for sailors during a voyage a kraken tore the ship asunder, and pulled her down into the depths. Long story short some of her celestial abilities awakened, and it seems she was cursed (blessed?) by the kraken itself, giving her strange magic and blue skin (actually really glad I found a portrait with blue skin so that I could include the detail). She now acts as an adventurer/mercenary in addition to musician, feeling a need to protect others.

I just need to write up the backstory and pick out my items with the extra gold, my uncommon item will be the stone of good luck.

To answer lenpelletier I am playing neutral/chaotic good-ish. Nice and helpful to people on her side, but will tear up anyone who isn't.

Edit: Aw yeah 1 extra health point.

Roscoe is self-serving. Won't slit your throat without a very good reason. Won't help without something in return either, though he understands goodwill sometimes makes better currency than gold.

I will also roll for better than average hp! Nope! Average it is.

I'm going to switch Srisa to Oath of the Ancients. I will give all the nature-themed stuff an oceanic flavour - instead of vines, my channel divinity will ensnare people with anchor chains or kelp, for example.

I think the Oath of the Ancients is more applicable personality-wise for a pirate-themed adventure, given that the tenets are all about being jovial and delighting in song and such.

Okay, Srisa of the Easter Reef is submitted. D&D Beyond character sheet.

Hmm, I learned that +1 Armor is considered a rare magic item, but a +1 shield is uncommon. I suppose I'll go with that instead. Naw, Cloak of Protection is better. With 500gp, the best armour I can afford is Splint. Any penalty for swimming in heavy armour, Dramasailor?