rpgventurer Character Discussions

Since I need a city for Brindel to hail from, I'm naming it Reniuhm. It is located in the tallest mountain in the Sunset Mountains range (unless you want it elsewhere).

I am good with that name -- I would have been good with most any name ;) -- but also letting me know what and/or if that name has significance is always good -- as then I will look into a bit closer

So is that in the Northern or Southern section of the Sunset Mountains?

Also I could not find a reference to Reniuhm do you have a URL link to it -- or was it presented in some module or other source material?

I made up the city name so it can be in the north or south, wherever you prefer and wherever the orcs and giants hang out. I'm assuming the Sunset Mountains in this world are different than in the Forgotten Realms.

No they can be the same because they are not located where the game is taking place nor does it mention any of the places I have used -- so you choose -- The Sunset Mountains is described so if you have not seen that you might want to look it up you might find it of interest.

I've done a little research of the Forgotten Realms areas. The descriptions I have seen in wikis online of the history and inhabitants of the Sunset Mountains don't match my conception of the character's homeland. I need to dig up my Sword Coasts book and see what it says in there.

Separate question: Is Brindel literate or possibly semi-literate? He is a spell-caster (technically). I understand literacy is no hindrance to every day life.

All spell-casters are literate they have to be

Would like me to wander through my stuff and maybe make some suggestions if yes -- please give me a better idea of what you feel your home mountain range was like

Okay let us say that Brindel came from Citadel Adbar -- you can look that up their predominate enemies were Orcs as well other Monsters but I think you will like that city.

Also I would like to make a tweak to your backstory changing the following to:
Thearden returned home and even though he could not find a way to remove the unusually powerful curse, he once again was called forth to battle evil in Gorm's name this would prove his last excursion. Still he was awarded a heroes death and his axe was returned to his family per his wishes where it hung upon the mantle for several generations awaiting the one that Gorm would call to wield it once more.

Also please go back and check your armor as I do not have Splint Mail listed and the heavy armors a bit pricer than they were before as such for just go with the Paladins base of Chain Mail and consider the extra money a wash considering the below.

Next I just fully realized that your Axe is made of Adamantium -- and my guidelines for those are different and I think I am going to stick with mine other wise they make such weapons rather over powered (IMO). My guidelines are this -- an adamantite weapon does an additional +2 damage and increases the critical range by 1 so the base critical for the weapon (as of right now) would be 19-20 if combined with other abilities that further reduce the critical range these would stack. Once I have adjusted my guidelines for weapons your critical range might increase but not sure.

Also just so you know an Adamantite weapon costs x25 its base cost but again you are getting you are heirloom masterwork +1 weapon at a major discount ;) and everyone else will be getting something "special" as well based on their character profiles -- it is something I like to do since special things are fun but often in normal play take forever to acquire -- I prefer to give one up front so that characters have something special to play and grow into.

I'm OK with all the above.

1. Armor. Updated on character sheet.

2. Citadel Adbar -- Two paragraphs of Brindel's back story updated on the character sheet.

Background: Brindel hails from the dwarven city of Citadel Adbar. It is a tradition of Brindel's church to send a contingent of warriors to other lands to fight evil wherever it rears its ugly head. Brindel's great-grandfather, Thearden the Shining, was part of one such army that helped defeat an evil priest who was building golems to attack a neighboring city. With his dying breath, the priest cursed Thearden, pronouncing great misfortune would befall him, his sons, and his son's sons if they ventured out of the mountains again.

Thearden returned home, never leaving and not finding a way to remove the unusually powerful curse. He continued to devote his life to teaching Gorm's ways and helping others in any way he could. Thearden died while repelling one of the many orc invasions of Citadel Adbar. He was awarded a hero's death and his axe was returned to his family per his wishes, where it hung upon the mantle for several generations awaiting the one that Gorm would call to wield it once more.

2. Adamantite battleaxe -- So the axe is +1 to hit, +2 to damage, with a critical hit on a natural 19 or 20 (exact critical hit numbers pending). Does this count as a magical weapon? Are all adamantite weapons magical weapons?

No adamantite weapons do not count as magic weapons unless magic has been imbued into them -- note magic will no longer add pluses to hit or damage they will instead add magic to the weapon -- Masterwork will add the pluses To Hit and Damage and further magic weapons need be masterwork to be magical

And thus as stated your weapon is a Masterwork +1 which means +1 To Hit and +1 Damage and +2 Damage because its Adamantite so the Axe is +1 To Hit +3 To Damage naturally without magic

I am assuming the clue mentioned above is referencing the symbols on the axe. My questions are:
1. How many symbols are there?
2. Do I recognize any of the symbols?
3. Brindel would divulge his great-grandfather's history to his companions and probably already has (if not everyone, then definitely Lex and Egret). Do you want me to create more background on Thearden the Shining?

Okay I am going to go real easy on you here but no it is not the symbols -- the clue I am talking to you about has to do with the great-grandfather and with something Kustaa said in regards to giving aid so go back and re-read what was said carefully and think about it a bit and then give me another guess ;)

There are 8 symbols total and no Brindel does not recognize them

Summary of my thought process so far regarding the battleaxe.

I wrote this for Brindel to explain why he had no idea why his main weapon was magical:
Kustaa replied:
Kustaa added later:
So, in that last sentence, is Kustaa asking for more information about Brindel's great-grandfather? That didn't register before but that's the way I read it now.

If not, I can't get any clues from what was said above. If Brindel's great-grandfather didn't want the axe used again and didn't tell anyone before he died, then it probably was a personal preference and not important, because I think dwarves take both their family and weapons seriously.

If it is a test of worthiness and no one told Brindel, then all I can do is play him as I would anyway and he would try be aware of any weapon effects triggered by his actions.

Also, Brindel didn't specifically ask Kustaa what the symbols meant, but if they're important, I am assuming he would've said something when I wrote:
If that's not the case, I will add a specific question about the symbols in the "Arrival" thread.

Okay and if that is the way you read it now how might Brindel have responded to that line of "questioning"

I mean I thought this line was fairly self-evident but I am on this side of the screen so I know the view is different for you.
Basically is there any thing more about your great-grandfather that might play into this situation?

Can you show me the symbols or at least tell me if they look like any well-known objects or creatures, e.g. a star, a bone, or a bear?

To Brindel they look like nonsensical squiggles and I am pretty sure if I gave you an image you would agree basically nonsensical squiggles -- however this does not mean that is what they are it is just what they look like to you and I and Brindel ;-) maybe they are a language of some sort

rpgventurer I have updated the Agent Background and I have added to your character sheet. Please look it over and let me know if you have any questions. Oh and I have given you the brass brazier you will need as well.

I like the changes to Brindel's background. Soon -- I hope -- my days and evenings will be less busy and will have time to think more about this. Could Feliani be a contact in Far Reach?

Glad you like them -- trying to maintain the basic theme along with adding viable features can be a bit tricky.

Well I would have to change her background some as her concept was replaced by Haelga but yeah I could add Feliani as an NPC to the village.

I would prefer a different background than Faction Agent for Brindel. I picked it as the only way I could find at the time to get proficiency in Arcana, which I really wanted for this character. Since then, I found that the background "Knight of the Order" from the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide seems a better fit to my conception (link). If we keep the second language instead of the tool proficiency, we would only have to change the background feature and some equipment on the character sheet.

Okay first and foremost -- Backgrounds only suggest 2 Skills and 2 Tools and/or Languages -- so as long as the skills that you choose are appropriate to the Background and the Tools and/or Languages are as well I have no issues with whatever you choose.

That being said how are you explaining the knowledge of Arcana as a Knight of an Order? Further which Order are you considering there are several denoted ones for the Forgotten Realms but we could make one up as well if the ones that exist do not fit the concept you are wishing -- as for the Background Features -- belonging to an Order will simply mean you are still an Agent as that is what I did with ALL the various Backgrounds that had someone be a Member of some Political Organization

Some of the Suggested Orders associated with the Background: Knight of the Order and keep in mind not all of them are purely fighter oriented for instance those of the Mystic Fire all have the ability to use magic to some degree.

Knights of the Eternal Order (mostly followers of Kelemvor)
Knights of the Mystic Fire (mostly followers of Mystra)
Knights of the Unicorn (mostly followers of Hanali)
Knights of Myth Drannor (good oriented folk who are valiant and honest)
Knights of the Silver Chalice (mostly lawful and mostly followers of Torm)

In total there are at least 37 recorded Knightly Orders (and there might be more) each with their own focus and dictum (or purpose) so it really is going to depend on the Order to which you belong.