Character Creation

Here is where you can roll up and create your PCs. 4d6 down the line; any race, class, and background combinations is allowed. Recall the stuff in the Session Zero thread about the party's starting level and the kind of protagonists I want to see in a story like this. However, don't let those suggestions limit you.

level
I am fine with either level. I wonder what we miss out when skipping the opening stary though?
If it is very plot related I rather play it. But if it is skippable I am fine to skip it :)

4d6 down the line
Are we rolling in actual stat order then? I might have missed that in the recruitment thread. It is a nice challenge on character design but my two suggested there are a warlock and wizard while my rolls scream cleric/druid in that case (Cleric works for me (I dislike druids/shapeshifting), but I'd like to be sure first before commiting to character design).

Also, would you be ok to open custom character sheets? The custom D&D one is so much better than the normal one especially for casters.

Level
I do like to develop from the start, and may give us time to build a beginning of a relationship between the characters.

4d6 down the line
Ok here we go. Shorty they are good solid rolls, I hope for something similar :)

Well that went well :)

Custom Character sheets? Where do you find those?

Oh wow. Those rolls are insane for a monk or such


Better sheets are here, but only if the dm allows custom sheets
https://gamersplane.com/forums/thread/21532/?p=1141454#p1141454

Thank you Shorty.

Yeah I know! The dice smiled on me, hopefully I haven’t used up all my good dice lol

Are we using we using Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything rules for Customising Origins, choosing abilities bonuses, etc ?

Alrighty... let's give this a go.

Knowing my luck, I feel like I should ask ahead of time if there's the option to re-roll (or at least default to point buy or stanard array) if my rolls go how they often do?

EDIT: NGL, I'm pleasantly surprised.

Wait... if all is to be in order down the line, we are the wisest group ever.

It's only a number.....it's only a number

Funny thing, I could still do my planned build even if stats truly are "straight down the line."

Almost forgot... starting at Level 1 vs. Level 3.

As much as I don't love the first few levels of the game, I would still advocate it in the case of Curse of Strahd, so that we get the full experience.

I haven't played it, but I recall hearing the "starter material" (for lack of a better term) is highly thematic amd does a solid job of setting the tone... so I feel like if there was ever a time to truly start at the beginning -- this is it.

That's a complete mistake on my part. I guess I've been playing too much OSR and I wrote "down the line" without thinking, lol. Rest assured, you can arrange your stats any way you like.

The starter dungeon doesn't have really anything to do with the plot, and its main purpose is to funnel the party to level 3, but MaJunior is right that it does set up the grim tone and atmosphere very well. It's also a good chance for the PCs to bond early through a terrifying life-or-death situation. It's a classic "escape the haunted house" setup if that sounds interesting. I personally recommend including it for the narrative reasons, but not everyone wants to start at level 1.
I have no problem with that, as long as you can narratively justify the changes you make. If it's something crazy like a gnome who speaks Abyssal, there should be a very good reason (that might even introduce narrative complications). That's not to shoot anyone down but to encourage creativity around the Custom Origin stuff.

I will consider the custom D&D sheets, but from a glance they look way cleaner than the default one.

That sounds great. Which means I can create either the celestial warlock or the wizard I suggested in the tavern post :)

Perfect, I will not be doing anything to wild just like to know for my build. I will definitely include reasons while building my back story :)

I have started my character on a custom sheet so if I am to submit it in this format, I need the DM to authorize or I can start another one.

Level

I vote for starting at 1st level as well from what MaJunior and our DM say about it helping to set up the tone and game, but I have no objections to starting at 3rd level if anyone really wants to get into the meat of the campaign right away.

Character

Still planning to keep my dwarf paladin with her backstory that I originally created for this game, but if someone else wants to be paladin and we want to avoid duplications, I can change the class so it still fits the character.

Roll away!

I am still going with my original plan of a Monk/Rouge.

Currently working on his history, character sheet and portrait.

I have created my own background called ‘Haunted Acolyte’, which combines the backgrounds of Acolyte and the haunted funny enough :)

You have spent your childhood in the service of a temple to a specific god or pantheon of gods. You act as an intermediary between the realm of the holy and the mortal world, performing sacred rites and offering sacrifices in order to conduct worshipers into the presence of the divine. You are not necessarily a cleric — performing sacred rites is not the same thing as channeling divine power.
But all changed upon witnessing something so terrible that you dare not speak of it. You’ve tried to bury it and run away from it, to no avail as it haunts and hunts you. Whatever this thing is that haunts you, it comes to you as a shadow on the wall, a bloodcurdling nightmare, a memory that refuses to die, or a demonic whisper in the dark. The burden has taken its toll, isolating you from most people and making you question your sanity. You must find a way to overcome it before it destroys you.

Or

Custom sheets are now allowed in this game, so feel free to use either the default 5e one or the repository one :)

That background looks great, and I'm super excited to see what happens to your character! Hopefully we find out what terrible burden they have. One thing I will add, based on the pictures, is that the people of Barovia are extremely isolated and fearful of outsiders, especially if they're clearly not human. The module mentions that they would react to orcs and elves the same way we would in real life. Seems like you're down to roleplay that, but just letting you know that your race would be a more prominent feature that usual.

I have decided to go with Tiefling, can hide under an hood if needed. Written a back story . . .

The Shrine of Eldath had been all he knew. His mother heavily pregnant had been sheltered there from a danger she never spoke of, and there he had been born under the watchful eyes of the Monks.
It was here he learnt of their ways. Taught to be a member of the order. Taught to work with leather. Taught about discipline and respect. Taught about family. Their way was peaceful and persuasive, yet their ways hardened his body and mind. All the while his Mother was there with pride in her eyes and love in her heart, touch, and words. It was a peaceful time.
He never saw the evil building in the shadows. Why would he, how could he, for he was just a boy. An innocent looking upon the world with rose tinted glasses. How could he have seen or understood the lust of men, as their hungry eyes watched his mother’s supple body. How could he know of the dark whispering that went on in their heads, as dark influences wormed their way deeper and deeper into their souls. He knew not of darkness, he had learnt of Life and Healing, and the language of the angelic. His innocence had disguised the looks of mistrust. The whispered tones of hatred. The destruction of gossip.
It had not taken long after the death of Abbot for the rot to show. Without her love the black foulness ate faster at their souls. In a moonless night the claws, blades and flames had come. They hide behind the shadows, they hide behind the flicker light. Distorted, melted and ravenous. Wood splints filled the room, as noises assaulted his ears. Their bodies fell upon his mother ripping at cloth and flesh a like. Her cries breaking through the roaring madness, "Run Darling, Don’t let him have you, Run!"
And he did. Claws snatched at him, and flames leaped at him. But he ran, all the time his mother’s screams pushing him on. His legs ached, his lungs burnt, and he was drenched in sweat. Yet he was not fast enough and the claws started pulling him down. His mother’s screams turning to a deep frightening laugh . . .

Taniwha wakes with a jerk and sweating profusely despite the chill. Four years it had been since that night and still the same nightmare, which he never escapes from. Four years since the gods left him alone in the world. Four years since the destruction of his home. Yet the dream found him again and the feeling of unease, it was time to move on again. Take what he can and run.

Looking good! Your character has been approved.

Is it safe to assume we're starting at level 1 then?

I have a lot of my character worked out. I hope to finalize her today. Starting gear is based on background and class I assume?

My guy is a Monk and a hobo, so not much gear to sort out lol

Sweet

Submitted my character.

Between my two pitched ideas of the Celestial Warlock and the Wizard, it turned out to be the Wizard.

The Celestial Warlock had gone through too much story to justify a Level 1 character and was too goody-goody.
The wizard has a bit of a darker tone to her.

Just approved MaJunior's character. Since we're finishing our characters, I'd like to discuss the adventure hook. This module assumes that the party is traveling together in the Forgotten Realms (or some other established D&D setting), but Avalyn's (Shorty's PC) backstory gave me a better idea. Perhaps you guys are all from different worlds, and for different reasons each of you get spirited away to Barovia. The adventure would start with you guys bumping into each other at the Death House, a group of perfect strangers forced to work together when it becomes clear that the house won't let you leave so easily. This could also be cool if we decide to segue into Vecna: Eve of Ruin. Since the PCs already have ties all over Multiverse, the cosmic stakes of that module would be more personal.

The other hooks see the party approached by a mysterious stranger in a tavern ("Plea for Help"), asked to remove a group of rowdy strangers from their camp outside Daggerford ("Mysterious Visitors"), or sent on a werewolf hunt by some factions of the Sword Coast ("Werewolves in the Mist"). In my opinion, the best of these three is "Mysterious Visitors," since it's more epic and establishes Strahd as a villain immediately, but "Plea for Help" is cool for being the hook of the original Ravenloft module. "Werewolves in the Mist" is a little weaker since it only deals with pretty minor characters, but it may be fun if you like (hunting) werewolves.

Starting as multiverse adventurers at the Death House sounds amazing, but all the other ideas sound like great starting points as well. I would put the Death House as #1, #2 Mysterious Visitors, and then the rest as #3. Plan to submit my character today.

I always kinda thought that Ravenloft takes people from everywhere. So I took a homeworld of my liking. I like meeting at death house as strangers. Otherwise I can adjust my backstory a bit.

I feel a multiverse start would suit Taniwha as well, and throwing strangers together also adds well to discovering our back stories. There is so much we can work through and crate interpersonal relationships.

I can see Taniwha breaking into the wrong house, or turning down the wrong alley and poof.

My list reflects directly with quilltid: Death House as #1, #2 Mysterious Visitors, and then the rest as #3.

Sorry, forgot to reply to this. Yes, since it seems we're all pretty much agreed on starting from the top and getting the full experience.
No problem with your backstory. I like the setting of a plot hook to be more collaborative than just me telling you where your PCs start the game and why. That way, the stakes are more personal because you set some of them yourself. I'm also being coy with the worldbuilding so you can go in as blind as your character if you want to, but yeah the Mists of Ravenloft have a way of spiriting away the unluckiest of mortals.

We'll see what MaJunior and CherokeeWind have to say, but the party meeting at the Death House seems like the way to go.

If that's what the others want to do, I'm perfectly fine with it.

Who am I to stand in the way of a good time? Let's meet as strangers at the Death House.

I hope to finish up my character and get it submitted today for approval. I feel like I had to revamp my character after a friend told me my original concept didn't fit into lore so that's the reason for the switcheroo.

Clomp, clomp, clomp. Obedience's hooves were steadily reverberating down the path mostly obscured by a rolling mist that had turned the vibrant greens of the forest to a murky grey. Usually Drina didn't appreciate the less aesthetically pleasing livestock that pulled her family's Vardo but then there were times like these. While many travelers had hardy mountain ponies with long manes that could be braided with ribbons, Drina had a cantankerous, snaggle tooth mule that would give that twitch in his right ear if he even thought a ribbon was getting too close. But what was lacking in charm and charm was important to gypsies or why else would they boldly cover every surface of their wagon homes, was in times that would spook a horse, Obedience was solid.

"Vai, a little more light up front, if you please." Drina's pleasing tones gave no indication to the alarm enclosing the woman as surely as the mist but her younger brother would take his cues from her. Eyes as green as hers paused to take in Drina's face as the dark haired boy swung the brass lantern away from back where he was trying to spy if something was following them.

"It doesn't feel right," was whispered by the youth.

Drina opened her mouth to quickly refute the claim but reconsidered. No. It would be a disservice to speak against those instincts that would keep one alive. Better than anyone, the two of them knew that not only were there monsters in the night but everything that died didn't stay dead. "You're right. Tis something unnatural for sure."

The direction I was headed if approved and how I arrived in the area.

I do realize I took liberties so if I need to lose the Vardo, mule or brother then I certainly can but I do my best work when I have items and people to rant about

That was nicely written. Looking forward to meeting your character.

Thanks! I kinda have the philosophy of why use two words when you can use twenty! 😉

Lol

@CherokeeWind, I've been reviewing the homebrew class your character is using, and it seems a bit overpowered. I'm basing this off the fact that its low-level features seem pretty strong compared to the core classes. Maybe you could pick another class to satisfy your character concept?

Just checking, it's this one on D&D Wiki, right?

You are absolutely correct. I will look for another solution.

I just read over it a bit... wow.

There are enough abilities in the first two levels to spread out over almost an entire class.

Is Gloom Stalker Conclave from Xanagar's guide acceptable?

Sure, the Gloom Stalker from Xanathar's is acceptable. I'll reexamine your sheet when you update it.

@DragonDweller62, I am ready to have you review my character sheet for approval. I did switch out a tool proficiency if it meets approval so instead of an instrument, I would like to be proficient in reading tea leaves.

No problem; your character is approved. I couldn't find the divination tool in the rules, but it's easy enough to just add your proficiency bonus to certain checks when the need arises.

With that, the intro post for the gameplay thread is coming soon. I'm excited to meet your characters!

Rolling stats

@DragonDweller62, Character submitted.Let me know if there's anything I need to change.

Are you still at level one?

Yes, we are at super squishy level one

Yes, we are all still level 1.

Narissa has been approved. The party is resting on the first floor of Death House before going into the dungeon below it. Before you start, you can check out the Lines and Veils if there's something you'd like to add.

@DragonDweller62 everything sounds good to me.