Session Zero

Here's where we'll create characters, discuss the setting and talk about optional rules.

Folks when you're ready to start building your character PM me and I'll send you the link to the D&D Beyond campaign I've set up for the game. I'll also share some files on Eberron in my Google Drive.

Our story will take place in Thrane, where the border touches Aundair and Breland, near the Imistil Forest. We're starting at fifth level, so your characters are already heroes of some reknown. I'd like some backstory that includes previous adventures and deeds please. Your characters do not have to know each other, although it does no harm if they do.

As we're building characters on D&D Beyond, you don't have to fill out a full sheet here on GP if you don't want to. Putting down a name and an avatar image are enough to get by. That way you can post as your character.

We will be using the die roller here on GP, so you can certainly fill out a full sheet to have the shortcuts if you like.

Are there any character restrictions that won't be obvious from D&D Beyond?

No restrictions, but if you choose a more exotic species we'll have to figure out where you come from.

I'm ready to build.
I plan to stick to the idea of the stealth artificer. I might sneak in a level of rogue. Don't know yet.

I understand we pick 2014 or 2024 rules right? Artificer isn't in 2014 yet but could I (don't know if I want yet) still go with species and origin feats and the like of the 2024 set?

Yes you can mix and match like that. I'll PM you the links you need.

Hey everyone, I see several of you are already making characters, which is cool. Let's get a little discussion going.

If the stuff on DDB is correct, it looks like we have 2 fighters, 1 sorcerer, 1 artficer, and 3 TBD (one being me)

I'm always up for rounding out a party with my character, and I don't have a concept yet. My first thought was "maybe a rogue", but I'm up for whatever.

Hi friends, I’m building a Warforged fighter. Soldier backgrounds seems a good fit.
Cheers everyone.

I think I'm ready to build as well. I'm thinking of going with something along the lines of the fighter idea I mentioned in the interest thread. Just maybe adapted to fit into eberon more.

@Seandiggersby Sounds great. I'll shoot you the links.

So far we have three fighters, which is cool, as this will probably be a little more combat heavy than the average GP game. It's a war after all. The one concern I have is if the party's too melee heavy, you may suffer in fights with enemies that attack from range.

I was going to go melee but I could change to a ranged fighter. Would the new firearms in the 2024 phb be allowed?

Got a first draft of a character set up now. Will fine tune her a bit more tomorrow and then be done.

She is a ranged artificer that actually acts more like a rogue :)

I have been thinking of a scout Sniper type - either rogue or ranger. Would help cover ranged combat. I need too read up on the 2024 options, as I haven't bought any of the new books yet.

I'm sorry, no firearms. They have a special place in my Eberron. They haven't been encountered by the world at large yet.

@annex, I see you're playing a yuan-ti. Keith Baker (the creator of Eberron) wrote at least two articles about their place in Eberron. I'm linking them here and here. If you have the time would you read them and tell me which of his ideas best fits your vision of your sorcerer? Then we have to figure out how you end up in Thrane.

I think I'll just hold off and let others pick, because it's sounding like too much overlap to be a good thing.

I'm liking...He's certainly a product of their society but he's Neutral/a moderate as opposed to a flavour of Evil... while still looking for greater power wherever he can find it. I thought about reskinning him as a Shulassakar but I like the more morally flexible Yuan-ti angle.
As for being in Thrane, could he be an agent/inquisitive of House Tharashk?

How is the armorer's lightning launcher in this?
If not, the it's back to square 1 :)

The lightning launcher is magical/arcane. It fits perfectly into Eberron.

@annex If you want to work for House Tharashk that's more than fine. I'm just wondering how you came to be on the continent.

In thinking of character personality, what sort of motivations will or won't work well with the campaign story? Like, is there an expectation that PCs will want to "do the right thing?" Or are they expected to be motivated by money or loyalty or something else?

Edit: Also, as someone with only a surface-level familiarity with Eberron, where are we starting geographically, and are there things that would be especially good to have in PC backstories?

Don't mind me, finishing up my first character in case it doesn't overlap too much.

You're going to be given a task by a figure of some authority. I don't expect you all to be from the same place or have the same political ties, so it's unlikely you'll be asked to accomplish it out of loyalty. Nor will you be expected to do it because it's the right thing. You will be offered payment, although that may take the form of something other than coin.

You're starting in Thrane, but I do not expect you to be from there. As far as backstory goes, you should be well known as someone who can accomplish difficult deeds, someone of some renown.

Once you've finished your character please submit at least a blank sheet with your characters name and avatar on it.

Out of curiosity, I assume this all happens after the Great War, since Warforged exist and all that. How long ago did that war end? Just so I have an idea on how old to make.my character.

The war ended two years ago with the treaty of Thronehold. The first warforged were created 33 years ago. The treaty forbids the creation of more.

...and no new Warforged were ever found to exist, ever. 🤣

Sounds good. Two years meshes with the Rising From The Last War setting, so I suspected that might be the case but figured it was safer to double check rather than assume.

Made a few last changes and submitted

@Heyde. Is Jyn from Sharn, the city we're starting in?

I hadn't really decided yet, but that will work bedt. So yes.

So, we've got a lot of offense, it seems. My initial idea of a rogue assassin sniper will further that trend. But do we want someone that's more support-focused, like a cleric or druid?

Nevermind. Looks like we do have a cleric now. Gonna stick with my rogue. Working up the backstory. Should be ready today.

Quick character background concept for DM approval:

I'm just learning the details of Eberron history, so I want to make sure this doesn't have some glaring problem.

My idea is that PC (name TBD) was trained by the Wardens of the Wood in his adolescence. He fought with them to free the Eldeen Reaches, but went on to become a mercenary later in the war. Since the end of the war, he's been a wandering bow-for-hire. All this makes him closer to middle-age (for a gnome) than a young adventurer (going for a world-weary, crotchety type).

Does this work? Any suggestions/requested changes?

I'm gonna say Acolyte is done on D&DB. I'll get a sheet put together here on GP in a little while.

I'd say he left Xen'drik because his people were more bloodthirsty than he cared for, plus he'd learned all he could from them. One long ship voyage later, he's selling his services in Khorvaire.

OR he's really a Shulassakar who left the Krezent ruins because his people were too fanatically Lawful Good and xenophobic for his Neutral liking. He wanted to see more of the world, experience more than the ascetic life, so he left. Perhaps he ended up in Thrane because he still has some respect for the Silver Flame.

I'm liking the Shulassakar angle more and more.

Looks like with the exception of some background work everyone's by and large done with their characters. Shall we begin?

Works for me!

Yes.

I'm ready to begin. I also decided to change to Illusionist Wizard last minute so we aren't going to have two eldritch knights.

Looks like we’ve a pretty well rounded group now.Rivet (Riv) could easily take up that role. His background’s as a guard, and he’s pretty devoted to that sort of thing.

I'm ready.

@JoshuaMabry - my background concept above is ok w/ you?

It is. Works just fine.

I am good to go

Started the first story thread here.

GOO warlock, Aberrant sorcerer, and Illusionist wizard? There's gonna be a whole lotta mind stuff going on! ^_^

Trying to get my fellow adventurers straight. Anything else that I should absolutely know that I missed (backgrounds, what class Aurora is)?

Rivet, Warforged Cleric (guard)
Charm, Human GOO Warlock (little kid)
Shem, Gnome Illusionist Wizard
Eryx Anguis, Yuan-Ti Aberrant Mind Sorcerer (Strixhaven Initiate, Silverquill)
Aurora, Elf
Jyn, Human Artificer
Acolyte, Warforged RK (Acolyte)

Acolyte is not a Cleric. He's a Fighter. (Eldritch Knight, to be specific.)

He has the background, Acolyte, stemming from being assigned to a group of Clerics during the last two years of The Great War.

Thanks.

Shem is a gnome rogue assassin. His guide background and gnome species give him his limited magic abilities.

So that makes Aurora the Illusionist, thanks.