Character Creation Thread

Here is where we discuss characters. Ask questions and what not.

I'm interested in playing an Immolator, for a silly reason. Ever since "Crush, Crumble, and Chomp" featured immolation as a monster ability, I've always loved the idea. What does everyone else think?

I like it, assuming you are using the one from the SRD page. That's the only place I see it. There could be some interesting RP experiences with that class.

Ok, looks like we have a full boat as it were. Let's spaceseeker19 is looking at Immolator and Jabes.plays.RPG is thinking Bard. What about the two new players?

I'm thinking either Fighter or Arcane Duelist, not sure yet

Arcane duelist gives us three magic based classes. That might give the group an interesting direction. Nothing wrong with Fighter though.

I was thinking about either a Druid or a Ranger. I'm leaning toward Druid with the current set of magic wielders so we could have someone a bit more tanky.

Don't worry to much about "party balance" in the traditional sense. Dungeon world doesn't hold to that philosophy to much. A fighter only has, at most, two more HP than any other character. The Bard and the Arcane Duelist are decent melee combatants on their own. Play the character that speaks to you, that has the most story to tell in your mind. That's what we want.

Arcane Duelist it is!

And Druid it is for me!

So the roster is: Arcane Duelist(Naatkinson), Bard(Jabes.plays.RPG), Druid(JoHoover), and Immolator(spaceseeker19)

Cool. Let's start talking about the characters. Who are they? What are they? How do they fit into the world? Keep in mind, all we know about the world so far is that there used to be an Oracle but since she revealed that the time of peace would be ending, nothing has been heard form her. There are SAges who have interpreted the signs and claim this prophesy is coming true. There are seven realms and the first adventure will take place in one of them and it will deal with the Dark Wood and the dangers within it. The final part of the prophesy is that if champions answer the call, peace may be preserved.

Jabes.plays.RPG has already submitted Elestren the Bard. You can reference this character to see what a character sheet should more or less look like. I'm not a stickler on layout. If you need to change the order up for your own reasons, feel free, just have all the important stuff there. If I don't see something I will ask.

Once you have a basic idea in mind, introduce your character and some details. Think specifically about the Bonds. Maybe look at the other classes and see if you like one of those for your character and put it out there. Give us a few background details, like age, or how long you've been a {Whatever Class You Are}.

Don't be afraid to introduce world details either. As the GM, I am told to leave holes in the map and let players fill in the details, or wait until someone asks for those details specifically and work plot hooks in to make the details important to the story. If you make a detail about the world here I will post about it in the world thread and eventually collect things into an index of sorts for all of us to reference.

So...first questions form me.
What role does your character believe they play in the prophecy of the Oracle? Are they one of the foretold "Champions"?
What Realm is your character from? What is it like? (monarchy, oligarchy, republic) (swamps, forested, dessert, mountains) {note: these are suggestions, not absolute choices. make up whatever you want} You don't all have to be from different realms, if someone suggests a detail you like, run with it, just don't trample over their ideas and make them unusable.

Hmm. Noticed something, Arcane Duelist doesn't have options listed for alignment. Want me to pick one from fighter?

Fighter of Wizard work, or make up your own using the class intro as a guideline.

The Good alignment on the Bard also makes sense: "Perform your art to aid someone else."

Female elf. Knowing eyes. Sensuous smile. Close-cropped silver hair. Travelling clothes. Fit Body. Some call her "The Silver Fox."

Elestren is a real heartbreaker. There probably isn't a town from here to Arunshire that hasn't got some poor lass whose heart she's broken. But her love for the Queen is true!

Being a bard, Elestren knows of the Oracle's prophecy, of course. But she doesn't believe it has anything to do with her.

Omen Hotstepper, human Immolator
Chaotic pyromancy enthusiast with smoldering eyes, a manic attitude and crackling voice. His body is festooned with strange scars and brands.

*************
Sheesh, I'm having a hard time answering the questions. Not because they're hard to answer, but because it's hard for me to not write a huge amount of background for the character, his country, religions and stuff (I already drafted a bunch of these things before realizing I was doing it without the collaboration of the rest of the group!). So here's a general, high-level description of some concepts:
He is from a mountainous realm with lots of volcanic activity called Zannidros. It's a conservative plutocracy; the Grand Church of Nistil, an organized religion, has flourished there and has effectively become the state pantheon, but there is an underground/cult that claims to follow the "old ways:" ancient beliefs in human transcendence to existence on the elemental planes. A devotee of this cult, my character took part in a ritual held in the caldera of a volcano. He emerged as Omen, with the power to shape and use fire. I'd love to hear ideas from you and the other players about the nation, the religions, what the ritual involved, whether the ritual went wrong or as planned, etc.
I'm inclined to think that Zannidros is not one of the seven realms of the prophecy, or perhaps the seven realms of the prophecy are regions more than nations, and Zannidros is within a region but its people consider themselves separate, exempt. OR it could be that the Prime Direction (head of the Grand Church) is one of the seven sages, and Omen doesn't consider the "Nistilish prophecy" as anything to do with him, a follower of the Old Ways.

But the Old Ways have prophecies of their own, foretelling that a Force of Shadow will oppose the elements and plunge all into darkness unless the elements can be united. Omen participated in the volcanic ritual because it was the first ritual step toward uniting the elements. But the ritual was considered a failure, because he can only manipulate fire, not all the states of matter. Rejected by the practitioners of the Old Ways as "not the Chosen One," Omen has ventured forth into the world to see how he can further the worship of plasma in the world, gaining power and influence until such point that he may ascend to the Elemental Plane of fire.

I know what you mean spaceseeker19, I had to stop myself from diving in and building everything all at once. But don't throw it all out, it could come in handy later.

@Jasbes.plays.RPG well...really @Elestren, Why can't the Queen return your love, even though she wants too? Next, Someone in the town near the Dark Wood has recently gone missing. Who are they and what is their connection to the Queen? Why has she sent you to investigate?

@spaceseeker19...but actually @Omen...The flames have given you a sign. What secret does the Dark Wood hold that will lead to your ascension? and Why does the Grand Church of Nistil hold such power among the merchant kings of Zannidros?

As a mountainous region, I'm seeing thinking that Zannidros is highly Dwarven controlled. They mine gems and precious metals and the human merchants sell them to the other nations.

Elestren comes from the elven woodland Kingdom of Vaeniria (is it still called a kingdom if it's ruled by a queen regnant?) at the foot of the mighty Q'sulth mountains. In Vaeniria, queens remain celibate. The Queen cannot return Elestren's love because if she did she would be required to abdicate.
In the old days the Vaenirian elves crafted gems that channeled the power of the land to heal, to build, and to defend their borders. But now all but one of the gems of old are lost. The one gem is the Queen's Heart, a ruby pendant worn by the Queen of Vaeniria, and the symbol of her rule. Just as there is only one gem left, there is also only one remaining gem-crafter: a blind, ancient elf named Tisharu, who has gone missing. The Queen is afraid to send soldiers because she suspects one of their commanders of plotting to supplant her. Elestren is the only one she can trust...

In our real-world, male-dominant way of thinking, yes a 'kingdom' run by a queen is still a kingdom, though queendom is fine by me. Simply calling it a Monarchy is fine as well.

Good details. Adding them to the 'map' as it were.

Brentheli

A male elf with wild eyes, braided white hair of exceedingly large frame for an elf. He wears practical leathers from the far north.

Brentheli comes from an ancient royal linage that burned out over a millennia ago because of the then kings penchant for South Sea dust (similar to cocaine but more mind addling). As he became more deranged and erratic the elven council took it upon themselves to force him out of power and take control of the throne from Brentheli's family, to avoid any further "weakness" from sitting on the throne.

Because of the shame associate with his Great Grandfather Brentheli was always seen as an outcast by his peers which drove him to withdraw from the populated lands and seek seclusion in the Frozen North. He has spent the last 40 years meditating and communing with the animals of the north which has left their mark on him. His stature has increased to combat the frigid winters and his hair has turned permanently white and hollow from his everprecense as a polar bear during his wanderings.

Recently he has felt a calling from the dark woods. A distress call if you will, but he is unsure who would be trying to contact him since he hasn't had any contact with anyone in centuries. Though he has heard of the prophecy he doesn't have any belief that he is involved.

OK gang. I am liking what we have. Few more questions and we will start the actual adventure.

First another question for Jabes...Would it be alright to make Vaeniria a jungle swamp environment? We can still have the mountains of Q'sulth as a feature, but most of the land is covered by lush jungle marshland. A lot of fertile farmland also exists in the region as well. People from other realms often think the people of Vaeniria are soft and coddled because there are so many abundant natural resources, but there are many more predators to contend with. Additionally, the swamps seem to shift and change, making travel difficult as roads get swallowed up in the bogs and fens. I see a potential plot line if this doesnt ruin anything you were planning for your character.

@Alexander(Naatkinson) Seven tribes broke with the sultan and fled to the desert. Some still roam free, but others were captured and slaughtered until only one survivor remained. You formed a bond with one(or more) of the other survivors while you were held as a slave of the sultan.Who does the Sultan still hold that fuels your desire to end his rein? The Sultan relies on both martial and mystical power to hold your people. You have heard of a way to end him. What promise does the Dark Wood hold that will lead to the downfall of the Sultan?

@Brentheli(JoHoover)...Though you embraced the call of the Spirits Realm and welcomed the numerous spirits of the Far North, the great white bear spirit (i.e. polar bear) rejected you at first. How did you finally earn it's respect and gain it's sign? (I'm looking at your neutral alignment and the tell of white hair...but make it your own if you want) All elves have a connection to the Great Forest. What calamity drove your people north?

The Prime Direction (NPC) of the Grand Church of Nistil was originally a wandering prophet of Nistil. But his message that "Nistil helps those who help themselves" has found fertile ground in Zannidros, because greed is valued by the rulers and because one sign of Nistil's favor is greatly increased longevity. The Prime Direction's name has been forgotten in the mists of time; he is now known only by his title. The Prime Direction has lived for a very long time, and has served as spiritual adviser to generations of Zanndrian nobles. During the last few centuries, the Prime Direction has seen his teachings of Nistil grow into a following, then into a temple, and finally into the Grand Church. The actual Plutarchs of the ruling Council buy potions of preservation and longevity from the Grand Church, so they themselves have lived many times the normal human or dwarven lifespans.

As a devotee of the Old Ways, Omen has been raised in the faith and superstitions of the Ancients. He followed all the Ancient traditions, including the ritual scarification and branding of his body to proclaim his devotion to the elemental states of matter. Thus, for most of his life he has been able sometimes to see visions in the elements. With liquid, the ripples and bubbles create forms; with gas, the air ripples and warps; with solids, the materials bend, crack and warp into forms; and with fire, the flicker and whorls shape into images of things to come, things that are, or things that were. After the ritual in the volcano's caldera, Omen was named and then judged lacking, short of the command of all the elements foretold of the Chosen One. The shaman He Who Prepares The Way recognized Omen's power nonetheless, and offered him a position of honor as a Firekeeper (a sort of elite instrument of the faith), but in his shame at not being the Chosen One, Omen fled instead. This did not please the Elders, and hunters have been sent to retrieve Omen. His visions stopped then.

After a few close calls, Omen fled Zannidros completely. He wandered aimlessly for a while, not knowing what to do with his life now that his "purpose" had come to an end. One day quite recently, however, he had another vision. It was stronger than any he'd experienced before: a camp fire roared up and surrounded him, enveloping him completely in fire. The fire formed itself around him, and somehow his eyes were able to distinguish contrast of textures and shapes in the surrounding sameness of the Fire. It was a vision of the volcano, and then it receded away from him as if he was a bird taking flight. Soon he could see other mountains of Zannidros. His view then wheeled and turned southwest, drifting across the region down into the foothills. From there it traced a path across various nations, finally descending to the Dark Wood. It showed him that, deep in the Dark Wood, there resides a crystal gem of vast power. Though the vision ended there, the sight of that gem burned in his mind, and he was convicted that he must get the Gem, or at least go to it, in order to do the Fire's bidding.

In traveling across the nations to get to the Dark Wood, Omen has discovered what he can about that forest. It is known as the Dark Wood in part because roving bands of creatures called the Dark inhabit it. Rumors do not agree as to whether the Dark are vicious monstrous residents or intelligent guardians of the land.

Sure! I like the way you've described it. As long as it doesn't look like Dagobah. :-)

Well...maybe just in parts. ;-)

I formed a bond with Vashir, a young boy from another of the tribes. He became a sort of younger sibling to me, and I often took the brunt of the punishment rather than let him suffer it. I had to leave him behind when I broke out but I will return for him one day.
The Sultan is protected by mighty enchantments as I learned painfully in my first weeks of service. There is supposedly a tree that a powerful wizard name Margoth can work his spells on to make arrows that could potentially make it through his many layers of protection. I need to find the tree and convince Margoth to make me even a single arrow and I could remove him from power forever.

During Brentheli's 100th birthday celebration (an elfs transition to adulthood) one of his peers, Vaurl, thought to make some sport out of bringing Brentheli's Great Grandfathers transgressions up at the celebration table. Brentheli didn't take kindly to the smearing of his family name and inwardly was terrified that he might fall into the same addictions. So he lashed out and attacked Vaurl and would have easily won if Vaurl's troop of friends hadn't stepped in and joined the fight. Since Brentheli had no troop of his own he was badly beaten. That disgrace pilled on top of the shame associated with his family name was the final straw and Brentheli resolved to leave his homeland and seclude himself from the world.
When Brentheli arrived in the Frozen North he was almost immediately confronted by a male Polar Bear that was still young and hot headed who considered Brentheli's need for leathers a weakness that could not be tolerated in his realm. The Bear warned him that an interference with his sow or cubs would be seen as an act of aggression and would be dealt with accordingly. As the seasons turned from summer to fall, Brentheli had spent most of his time studying the smaller predators and prey of the area came across one of the cubs who had been cornered in a rock outcropping by a pack of wolves, who had already badly injured teh hind leg of the cub. Brentheli shifted into the best shape he could think of and attacked the wolves as a snow badger. Even though the badger is a force to be reckoned with he is no match for a full pack of blooded wolves and Brentheli was overpowered much like his fight against Vaurl. But his efforts prolonged the fight long enough for the sow to hear the cries of her cub and she beat off the attacking wolves who retreated almost instantly once the she bear arrived.

Brentheli shifted back into his elf form he was still badly injured and fell into unconsciousness. When he awakened he was very surprised to find himself in a snug cave surrounded by white fur. The sow had taken pity on him and licked his wounds clean and carried him to her den. While he recuperated he retold the story of his flight from his homeland and was invited to join their group for mutual protection, though the sow chastised him for using an inferior shape to attack the wolves.

OK, this is great. I wish I could show you the plot map I have worked up, but it is full of spoilers. Next thing is the Bonds. Somehow all of your characters have encountered each other in the past, looks like a meeting on the road to The Dark Wood makes sense as you all have a reason to head there.

So, let's see some ideas for Bonds. You each have at least four Bonds on your sheet. You do not have to assign a bond to each party member, but you have to pick one member to have a bond with. The do not need to be mutual either, Alexander can have a bond with Omen, but Omen does not have to have a bond with Alexander. For those new to Dungeon World or have't read up on all of the content, Bonds are another way to gain Experience. Any scene in which you feel like you have "resolved a bond" you will get one XP. Normally this is saved for the end of the session, when we are done playing for the night, but since we aren't sitting at a table as the game was written, I will leave it open to you guys to determine when a scene is over and a bond is resolved, although I will retain the final say on whether it counts or not and I may suggest when I think a bond may have been resolved also.

The term 'Resolved' doesn't necessarily mean 'ended'. As an example the Paladin has a Bond that says " X has stood by me in battle and can be trusted completely." So if X and the Paladin were in a fight and X stood by Paladin's side despite the odds being stacked against them, then the Paladin could say that the Bond was resolved because X proved trustworthy. This does not mean that Paladin no longer trusts X, just that their bond has grown and evolved. Alternatively, if X abandoned the Paladin while he was facing down a powerful group of foes, Paladin could also resolve the Bond because X proved untrustworthy. Then maybe their friendship would be over, but that's a role-play issue, not a rules function.

Once a Bond is resolved you get to write up a new one. They can be anything you want, but should be based on the character interactions in the game. But we can discuss it more once we are playing.

Just to say it while I'm thinking about it...there are two other ways to get XP. The first is Alignment, another "End of Session" thing that we will just deal with when it comes up. But basically, when you fulfill the condition of your Alignment move you gain an XP.

The final way to get XP is to simply fail a roll. That is a 6 or less result on any roll. The idea is that you will learn something from your failure. It isn't important what you learn, usually it is "don't let people stab or bite you.", but you will gain an XP whenever you get a 6 or below.

This concept of "failing forward" is one of the reasons I love Dungeon World so much!

There's another way to go about forming bonds, but it requires everyone to show everyone else their character sheet (just put it in the library and leave a link up there in your character intro post). So instead of "hey, this bond on my sheet, I'll put your character's name in," we could do the reverse: "hey that 2nd bond on your sheet, I volunteer to be that guy." Of course the sheet's owner can accept or decline.

I linked to my character earlier in on this thread (or tather, foolsmask did) but here it is again.

And here are Elestren's bonds:
This is not my first adventure with _______________.
I sang stories of _______________ long before I ever met them in person.
_______________ is often the butt of my jokes.
I am writing a ballad about the adventures of _______________.
_______________ trusted me with a secret.
_______________ does not trust me, and with good reason.

These were simply taken from the Bard in the CRB maybe I can come up with something original. I'm also very open to suggestions :-)

I'm fine with showing everyone my character sheet.

I'm also looking for a really cool nickname for my character. After he escaped he earned quite the reputation and is kind of a beacon of hope for the people who are being oppressed by the Sultan.

Bonds:
_______________ broke up a fight I was involved in. I was probably going to lose, but they dont need to know that part.

_______________ and I are regular training partners.

I may have killed a relative of _______________ at some point in the past.

_______________ seems like they would fold at the first sign of trouble. I dont trust them.

I'm also fine with people seeing my character sheet

And here are my bonds:

Bonds:
____________________ smells more like prey than a hunter.

The spirits spoke to me of a great danger that follows ______________.

I have showed ________________ a secret rite of the Land.

___________ has tasted my blood and I theirs. We are bound by it.

I volunteer Elestren for either one of these. :-)

I would be ok with any of the ones Jabes has.
I could certainly be that one. I have the Sultan's hunters following me, after all.

I agree that this fits you quite well.
I think this one works well for you and it coincides with yours:

Cool, Elestren and Brentheli have traded secrets, and Brentheli knows Alexander is hunted by the Sultan's Assassins. we just need a couple more.

Also, don't be shy about filling in multiples. It gives you more chances to develop story and gain XP. It isn't metagaming, I am looking for these types of plot hooks to weave into the adventures.

@Spaceseeker19 I kind of want this one to be your Immolator since my character has spent ~half a century away from anything to do with fire.

You cool with that?

I'm looking forward to hearing your description of the rite that Brentheli has shared with Elestren. :-) Even more excited about how we might "resolve" this shared bond!
Alexander could say "Elestren seems like they would fold at the first sign of trouble. I dont trust them." and then "Alexander does not trust me, and for good reason." But the "good reason" isn't what Alexander thinks! ;-)

Let's see, with whom don't I have a bond yet? Omen.

Sure, that's fine. Sorry for the delay in responding: I was at DunDraCon and then sick for days.

Omen Hotstepper's character sheet, and his bonds are:

___________ has felt the hellish touch of fire, now they know my strength.

I will teach ____________ the true meaning of sacrifice.

I cast something into the fire for ___________ and still owe them their due.

Want this one, Omen?
I could take this one:

Looking at Omen's Moves and I saw this. Awesome Metallica reference

I like this one. I'll try to think about what service Elestren might have asked of Omen and what she offered as sacrifice in return.
Yeah! And Zuko Style is an Avatar reference. I didn't know what Ogdru Jahad was but apparently it's a Bellboy reference.

Alright so all of my bonds are filled now over to the game forum.

I just realized that I hadn't responded to this. Yes, and yes.

Naatkinson, did you come up with a nickname for Alexander, by the way? I've been calling him Alex, myself, but that seems pretty pedestrian. I keep thinking something like "Darkseer" or "Darkshaper," given your story background.

No, I never came up with one :(

Darkseer is not bad, especially given the prophetic dreams he had that led him here.