rpgventurer Character Discussions

This is mainly for rpgventurer to discuss their character in detail. Please restrict posts to this thread to only things related to rpgventurer's character. Yes this can include specific collaboration posts but general posts should be made to the Discussion thread.

I copied posts and responses from the original version of this thread and will post them below.

Original post 1

When creating my character, Brindel Truehand. originally, I kept many facts vague to better fit into the GM's world as I learned it and to make improvising with the other players easier. I'll put some quick notes down, then expand on them when I have more time:
* Brindel Truehand is a 5th level mountain dwarf Paladin, devoted to the Gorm Gulthun, dwarven god of vigilance.
* He and Egret (FlyingSucculent's character) served in the same military unit under a Commander Grun.
* After his military service, he guarded the temple of Gorm Gulthun in his home town. He great grandfather was also a Paladin, trainer, and temple guard for Gorm Gulthun, but never left the city under the mountains.
* He has an adamantine battleaxe that belonged to his great grandfather.

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DeJoker's response

Note if you supply me a more specific and detailed background on your character I will work with you to fine tune it to fit into the world at large -- although if you use Oreth as your base from names and such you should be just fine -- as the current map even uses 4 place names for the world -- granted some of the details have been changed to fit this setting

So basically all the place names will exit -- just some of the facts may have changed about them now.

Okay that little ditty makes me ask one big question -- why did he leave home -- it sounds like what he is doing is semi-traditional (tradition being a big thing with dwarves in general) and it seems to me Gorm would follow very closely in his great grandfathers footsteps (aka never leave the city under the mountain) -- So why did Grom leave?

Original post 2

Quick note: Gorm is the deity; Brindel is the name of the PC.

For the record, I am not that familiar with Forgotten Realms or World of Greyhawk; I have mostly played in or GM'd home brew worlds. I am happy to make Brindel's home city under any mountain range that fits with the new adventure setting and with the other characters.

I'm going to do a little retcon from what I wrote above. It is a tradition of the Brindel's home city 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.

Defying the curse, Brindel's grandfather, Rillik Ironclaw (fighter), almost died a couple of times in Underdark battles far from home. He returned and became part of the mountain guard, as did his two sons. His youngest son, Otor Blackhammer (fighter) is Brindel's father. Brindel inherited the battleaxe since he was called by the gods and took the same oath as his great-grandfather.

The curse ended with Otor's generation, so Brindel joined an experimental company that mixed warriors and spellcasters. That is where he met Egret. One of the company's members, a half-orc nicknamed Howler, was mortally wounded protecting Brindel and others crossing a bridge. Brindel vowed never to let any traditional dwarven prejudices interfere with his judgement of others.

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DeJoker's response

Okay that sounds interestingly good -- and just to be clear it really does make any real difference where you state you are form as if I have an issue with it I will just let you know and give an alternative. However the more detail you provide in your character's story the more potential I have for hooks and such.

Still the place the characters will be at does not actually exist within the Forgotten Realms I will just be using that setting as a vague backdrop to the current situation. The entire adventure should take place within Far Reach (the region where you will be) and beyond without ever returning to the world from whence you came.

Original post 3 of 3

I'm happy with stating the outpost our characters reached was deserted (except for McDunno's character if he joins the new adventure) and the PCs returned for another assignment elsewhere.

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DeJoker's response

No we are going to roll time back to where you all started by having the group volunteer to help the garrison and they send you to investigate an outpost. Although I am still rolling those details around in my head -- do I want to put a previous group there that you need to rescue or will you be the initial group to check it out -- or some hybrid of that. I am sorting through some of the information and finalizing a few items.

Still I do want to get the adventure started sooner than later so once I have the complete character creation rules you all used to create your characters then I can post my version of them and get those new players started with their creation process. So I need those guidelines asap because without them we have to leave the new players behind as I would like to start by this next weekend if at all possible.

Brindel has the additional languages of Orc and Giant as I considered those to be the local enemies of his dwarven clan. Looking at a map of Faerun, I see the Sunset Mountains are the nearest mountains to the designated location of Far Reach. Do you want to put Brindel's home city somewhere in there?

More background: As a child, Brindel endured taunting from some of the children of the temple clerics. He didn't catch on to the finer points of his religious studies classes as quickly as they did. He was appalled by the cruelty and lack of honor of some his fellow soldiers and got into many verbal battles with them. He joined the Harpers as a way to help and protect the oppressed when he could.

This is how I spent my GP. Let me know if I need to change anything. I am packing lots of rations for myself, our group, and others who may need help on the way.

Starting with 750 + 15 (my Faction background) + 37 (selling the chainmail from my Paladin armor allotment) + 5 (selling the battleaxe from my Paladin martial weapon allotment) for a total of 807 GP:

I bought:
Splint mail 200 GP
Adamantine battleaxe 510 GP
Cloak (leather-lined) 4 GP
Healer's kit 5 GP
Iron spikes 1 GP
Holy water 2 flasks for 50 GP
Steel mirror 5 GP
Another holy symbol 5 GP
Tent 2 GP
40 days of rations: 20 GP

Total 802 GP

Remaining GP 5

PHB Hit die rolls per level: 1d10 +2 (Dwarf bonus) +1 (Constitution bonus). First level is maximum: 13
House rules die roll each level: subtract 4 from max die number for additional bonus and then roll a 1d4 for each level after 1st, so Brindel gets 1d4+6+2+1

Post roll edit: 13 + 46 = 59

Thanks for adding the old posts back in -- btw would you mind doing that for the other threads that had posts in them -- I do not understand why you can see them and I cannot that just makes no sense

The old threads are showing on the page that appears when you click "Latest Posts" on the Gamer Plane home page. Can you get to the original version of Arina's thread using this link?

@DeJoker, if you can't see Arina's original thread, I can copy the posts tomorrow. FYI, I just thought of this, you may have emails with links to the original threads.

Okay thanks that link was all I needed

At some point before the adventure officially started, I was thinking of having Brindel cast "Find Steed." I don't think a dwarf would ride any animal, but I could Brindel conjuring up a mastiff as a fighting companion and watchdog. What do you think?

Oh I was initially thinking Mammoth not Mastiff -- as such I would pretty much allow any Large or Medium Creature that your Deity would be okay with although you being a Dwarf kind of means you need a Large Creature if you plan to ride it. Only Small Humanoids can ride Medium Creatures.

So looking through the list of creatures you might want to go Rhino as that is sort of more Protection oriented but keep in mind we can reskin something if you have a different creature in mind that is not currently covered -- the first thing that came to mind to me was Tortoise that moves faster than a normal Tortoise ;)

I was thinking the mastiff would not be a mount but something like a Ranger's companion, even thought the spell is "Find Steed." A closer reading of the spell description indicates its purpose is for a mount. As my request above is not in the spirit of the spell, I am going to withdraw it.

I don't see mountain dwarves as having a culture that includes cavalry, since they often dwell inside caverns and tunnels underground. I always think of dwarves as a race that always wants their feet on the ground. I'll have to consider if a steed fits into my conception for the character. I'll make my decision before we leave the village.

That said, the rhino is an excellent suggestion. A bison would be another good fit.

Separate question: In my initial adventure post, I gave Brindel a surcoat with my patron's symbol. Is that a common cultural tradition in this world? I think it fits a paladin. I tried to find surcoat in the catalog but I don't see it. Is the cost extra or can I include it as part of Brindel's common clothes?

Another question: Does Brindel know if any other Faction agents are in this village?

Bear works as well you know ;) although the Bison and Bear are not as "protective" per-sae

Maybe a Small Ankylosaurous as follows might an interesting twist keep in mind its a mount and it weighs alot:

Ankylosaurus, Small
Large Beast, unaligned (7 feet long + 8 foot tail, 3 feet tall, weighs 6000 lbs)
Armor Class: 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 54 (4d12+12)
Speed: 30 ft

STR 15(+2) DEX 11(+0) CON 16(+3) INT 2(-4) WIS 12(+1) CHA 6(-2)

Senses : passive Perception 11
Languages : --
Actions
Tail: Melee Weapon Attack +4 to hit, reach 10 ft, one target
Hit: 11 (2d8+2) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature,
it must succeed on a DC 12 Strength save or be knocked prone

Stable : Cannot be knocked prone

Hmm yes Brindel is aware that there is (or will be) a Harper Agent in town because it is part of the reason he is here as he IS that agent ;) They have been hearing things and needed someone to investigate things a bit more closely

Also they are wanting you to set up some others as potential agents preferably more long term folks rather than the transient merchant population.

OK. I'll keep that in mind as the party meets people in the village. For future reference, was anyone in the caravan a villager returning home? Brindel may want to contact them in the future.

No previous residents in that caravan just a diverse group of merchants and the mercenaries they hired to protect them on the trip

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.

Changing the background to a knightly order is not as simple as I originally thought. I am happy to leave Brindel as is. Thanks.

Okay I am not understanding as I do not see the Knight of an Order to be much different than an Harper Agent --- the only real difference is to whom you report and such. There are many suitable Knightly Orders as well as we could fashion one if what you are envisioning for your Knightly Order to be different than those that currently exist. Can I ask what seems to be so complex that you would abandon the idea before fully exploring it?

It's more a matter of laziness on my part than complexity. I have no specific vision for a knightly order. I did just look at a list of knightly orders on a Forgotten Realms wiki page and Champions Vigilant order seems promising, although they are associated with the deity Helm. Do you recommend any other sources to check?

Okay well Gulthyn is simple the Dwarven version of Helm so when they say followers of Helm that would include any of the other Avatars they have within this world. Although, I would have to say that is a rather weak story-wise Order to belong to. There are better ones but -- even better instead of digging through all the various listed ones why not just describe what you feel might be the Order to which Brindel would belong that would be a strong story-wise kind of Order.

For instance, look at the Companions of the Noble Heart that is a good example of a strong story-wise Order to belong to.

Basically you do not have to construct the entire order in detail -- I just need some idea of the Order you feel Brindel would be in and kind of why --- along with why you want Brindel to have knowledge of Arcana since that is why you chose Agent.

Quick thought: an important tenet of this new order would be knowing the abilities of the enemy to provide the best possible defense against them. This information would include their skills, weapons, and tactics. Knowledge of spells and magic items, in both an offensive and defensive capacity, are vital. Brindel has had an interest in magic since he first started his training at the temple of Gorm Gulthyn.

And is "Gulthyn" the correct spelling of the last name? If so, I need to correct it on Brindel's character sheet.

Dwarven Patron : Gorm Gulthyn

So yes that is the correct spelling. Here are a couple of the Forgotten Realms articles on him which may not be 100% what I am using but they should be rather close.

https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Gorm_Gulthyn

https://frc.fandom.com/wiki/Gorm_Gulthyn

Okay I scoured through the current list of Knightly Orders and I think I found one that will work quite well.

Order of the Golden Lion
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Order_of_the_Golden_Lion

This order gives you a solid reason for being here in Far Reach as well as strong story base to work from -- look it over and let me know what you think -- oh and keep in mind Gulthyn is simply an aspect of Torm all of the aspects of Torm do ultimately work together in holy cooperation.

Note - I would have to alter the purpose of The Debt of Destruction but this one is the one that gives you ties to the Arcana skill so while I would change its purpose (as I do not adhere to the Spell Plague saga and thus do not have wide spread wild and/or dead magic zones) the new purpose would involve magic in some way.

I like the Order of the Golden Lion but I would want to hear its altered purpose before making a final decision. I know very little of Forgotten Realms history and lore so any divergence from FR canon is fine with me. I wrote Brindel's back story without any specific world in mind.

There is one conflict under Abilities. I wouldn't want Brindel to lose the power to turn undead. It was one of my reasons for selecting the Paladin class.

What was written here is interesting and might be incorporated: Discussion of code for followers of Torm.