Let's talk chargen, post up your characters and initial impressions.

My fisrt:

QuoteHarald Barkman

Human, Male, Illuskan,  Spd 30',  Black Hair, Blue Eyes, Hgt 6'3, Wgt 195lbs, Age 18

Fighter (Prof.- Defense), Level 1(PB +2), AC 16 (18 w/shield),  HP 11, Exp 0

Str 16 (+3)  Dex 14 (+2)  Con 13 (+1)  Int 11  Wis 11  Cha 9 (-1) (Human (+1) all)

Alignment: Lawful neutral, Languages: Common, Elvish;

Background: Soldier, Specialty: Officer, Personality Trait: I face problems head-on. A simple, direct solution is the best path to success. Ideals: Responsibility. I do what I must, and obey just authority. (lawful)  Bonds: Those who fight beside me are worth dying for. Flaw: I obey the law, even if the law causes misery.

Skills: Athletics, Intimidation;  Tools: Gaming set, vehicles (land)

Bio - Third son of a northern peasant woodcutter's family, he was part of a levy for the Queen's army. After two years in a Pikeman's Square, he thought, "This is bull", and after discharge, sought adventure elsewhere; maybe to a mercenary company, or group of adventurers.

Wealth: 16gp (Starting wealth 11gp)

Equipment: (240lbs Carry Cap)
Longsword, Chain shirt, Shield, Light Crossbow & 20 bolts, Explorer's Pack, Pike
Rank Insignia (Lieutenant of the Queen's Pikes), Orc Dagger, Deck of Cards, Common clothes, Belt Pouch cont. 10gp, A shard of obsidian that always feels warm to the touch.

Saves:

Does this look right?

Overall I found it interesting, a bit fiddly, but not too much, maybe other classes might be worse. Impression is that I hope he lives for the time it took to make him.

Let's see what other people come up with.

So do I get two skills from class and two from background?

Quote from: dragoner;763999So do I get two skills from class and two from background?

I believe so.


And my first PC I posted in the other thread

If anyone wants a blank high res version, here you go, from my dropbox.

Thanks for the sheet. So do ftrs get +2 in anything to do with their str and dex, so his AC would be? ... huh, still only +2 max with the chain shirt though, I think.

Quote from: dragoner;764004Thanks for the sheet. So do ftrs get +2 in anything to do with their str and dex, so his AC would be? ... huh, still only +2 max with the chain shirt though, I think.

All that Saving throw for STR and CON mean is that whenever you are making a STR or CON saving throw, you add your prof bonus to your die roll (along with the appropriate ability mod)

For example, if you had 16 DEX and had to make a DEX save to avoid a trap, you'd roll 1d20+3 (dex mod).  If you had a dexterity saving throw as part of your class, you'd add your prof bonus to that as well.  That's my understanding anyway.

Quote from: Sacrosanct;764006All that Saving throw for STR and CON mean is that whenever you are making a STR or CON saving throw, you add your prof bonus to your die roll (along with the appropriate ability mod)

For example, if you had 16 DEX and had to make a DEX save to avoid a trap, you'd roll 1d20+3 (dex mod).  If you had a dexterity saving throw as part of your class, you'd add your prof bonus to that as well.  That's my understanding anyway.

Yep, thanks, that looks right, now it would be nice to lean the rules by playing, reinforce the muscle memory.

QuoteAlora
"I don't think you are happy enough! I'll teach you to be happy!"
Small Halfling (Lightfoot) Rogue (Thief)
Armour Class 15 (Leather)
Hit Points 9 (1d8+1)
Speed 25 ft.
STR 8 (-1) DEX 19 (+4) CON 12 (+1) INT 14 (+2) WIS 7 (-2) CHA 10 (+0)
Saving Throws Dex +6, Int +4
Skills Acrobatics +6, Deception +2, Investigation +4, Performance +2, Persuasion* +4, Stealth +6
Senses passive Perception 8
Languages Common, Halfling

Alignment Chaotic Good
Proficiencies Light Armour, Simple Weapons, Hand Crossbows, Longswords, Rapiers, Shortswords, Dice, Playing Cards, Thieves' Tools* +
Background. Criminal (Burgler)
Feature. Criminal Contact (in Baldur's Gate)
Personality Trait. I don't pay attention to the risks in a situation.
Personality Trait. I would rather make a new friend than a new enemy.
Ideal. Freedom – Chains are made to be broken
Bond. I will become the greatest thief who ever lived.
Flaw. If there is a plan, I will forget it.

Lucky. Re-roll 1s on attacks, skills and saving throws
Brave. Advantage on saving throws versus fear
Expertise. Double Proficiency Bonus on Investigation and Thieves' Tools (already included in skills)
Halfling Nimbleness. Move through squares occupied by creatures bigger than small
Naturally Stealthy. Can hide behind creatures bigger than small
Sneak Attack. Deal extra d6 damage on first finesse attack that hits if have advantage or target within 5 foot of ally.
Thieves' Cant. Can secretly communicate with other rogues.

Equipment Shortsword [1d6 Piercing, Finesse, Light] (x2), Dagger [1d4 Piercing, Finesse, Light, Thrown (20/60)] (x2), Leather Armour, dark Clothing, Hood, Burgler's pack, Crowbar, Thieves' Tools, A four-leaf clover pressed inside a book on etiquette, 15 sp

Actions
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit 8 (1d6+4) piercing damage.

Thoughts.

• Character looks playable and the only thing i cheated on was taking her pre-existing Ability Scores.
• It was a lot fiddlier than I anticipated, but still nowhere near as bad a 3.5 would have been.
• Not being able to cut and paste special ability text from the .pdf is really annoying.

Quote from: jadrax;764031Thoughts.

• Character looks playable and the only thing i cheated on was taking her pre-existing Ability Scores.
• It was a lot fiddlier than I anticipated, but still nowhere near as bad a 3.5 would have been.
• Not being able to cut and paste special ability text from the .pdf is really annoying.

I chose only a few things, like soldier background, pretty meaningless anyways. Dex 19 ...schweet.

The lack of cut and paste is highly annoying; yes, it did seem fiddlier.

Quote from: dragoner;764004Thanks for the sheet. So do ftrs get +2 in anything to do with their str and dex, so his AC would be? ... huh, still only +2 max with the chain shirt though, I think.

Correct. And whatever skills your race or background is profiencent in.

Quote from: dragoner;764009Yep, thanks, that looks right, now it would be nice to lean the rules by playing, reinforce the muscle memory.

Always the best way in my opinion. You really can skip skills once you have it down and just do ability checks + your total because only your profiencency ever really changes unless you're a Rogue. And everyone has every skill anyway.

Quote from: Marleycat;764037Always the best way in my opinion. You really can skip skills once you have it down and just do ability checks + your total because only your profiencency ever really changes unless you're a Rogue. And everyone has every skill anyway.

I threw my rusty nickel in on a pbp on the geek, we'll see how it goes. I should go hunt up a pic.

Thought I'd sign up for this.  Here is my first character using only the book on a first read through without any real figure checking. Only took a half an hour, which would be almost impossible on a first run through in 3.x.  I'm pretty happy so far.

Name: Alton Brushgather
Race: Halfling
Class: Fighter
Level: 1
AC: 20
Initiative: 13
Hit Points: 10
Proficiency: +2
STR:   13 (+1)
DEX:   13 (+1)
CON:   11 (+0)
INT:   18 (+4)
WIS:   11 (+0)
CHA:   18 (+4)
Size: Small
Speed: 25'
Halfling Traits: Lucky (reroll ones, use second roll), Brave (Advantage against being frightened), Nimble (Move through the space of larger creatures), Stout Resilience (Advantage & resistance vs poison)
Proficiencies:
Armor: All
Weapons: Simple, Martial
Tools: Cartographer's, Vehicle (land)
Saves: STR, CON
Skills: Animal Handling, History, Investigation, Survival
Class Features:
Fighting Style: Defensive (+1 AC while wearing armor)
Second Wind
Background: Folk Hero
Feature: Rustic Hospitality
Equipment: Chain Mail (AC 17, Stealth disadvantage), Morningstar (+3, 1d8/B), shield (+2 AC) Light Crossbow (+3,1d8/P, range 80/320) loading, two handed), Explorer’s pack, Cartography tools, Shovel, Iron Pot, common clothes, belt pouch, 10 GP
Alignment:   Neutral
Personality:   When I set my mind to something, I follow through no matter what gets in my way.
Ideals: Sincerity. There’s no good in pretending to be something I’m not.
Bonds:    I worked the land, I love the land, and I will protect the land.
Flaws:    The tyrant who rules my land will stop at nothing to see me killed.

I assigned attribute rolls in order, so he might not be an ideal fighter, but I am going to hope that my high AC and mobility will let me run around with advantages breaking kneecaps.

Looks good. Yes, it does look like his stats are assigned.

o.k., I'll make this gripe only once and I understand it applies to more or less all roleplaying games, but here it is: Any ST score over 8 or 9 is totally ridiculous for a halfling. They weigh 40 pounds! Do you have any idea what it would look like if a 3' tall, 40 pound person got in a cage fight with a grown man? It would look like the fastest and must disturbingly unfair murder you ever witnessed. They should have ST modifier of something like -6. Or worse. I understand no one wants to play a game that recognizes this sort of reality, but I just wanted to drop my tiny truth bomb before we carry on with this deranged exercise.

Quote from: Manic Modron;764053Thought I'd sign up for this.  Here is my first character using only the book on a first read through without any real figure checking. Only took a half an hour, which would be almost impossible on a first run through in 3.x.  I'm pretty happy so far.

Name: Alton Brushgather
Race: Halfling
Class: Fighter
Level: 1
AC: 20
Initiative: 13
Hit Points: 10
Proficiency: +2
STR:   13 (+1)
DEX:   13 (+1)
CON:   11 (+0)
INT:   18 (+4)
WIS:   11 (+0)
CHA:   18 (+4)
Size: Small
Speed: 25'
Halfling Traits: Lucky (reroll ones, use second roll), Brave (Advantage against being frightened), Nimble (Move through the space of larger creatures), Stout Resilience (Advantage & resistance vs poison)
Proficiencies:
Armor: All
Weapons: Simple, Martial
Tools: Cartographer's, Vehicle (land)
Saves: STR, CON
Skills: Animal Handling, History, Investigation, Survival
Class Features:
Fighting Style: Defensive (+1 AC while wearing armor)
Second Wind
Background: Folk Hero
Feature: Rustic Hospitality
Equipment: Chain Mail (AC 17, Stealth disadvantage), Morningstar (+3, 1d8/B), shield (+2 AC) Light Crossbow (+3,1d8/P, range 80/320) loading, two handed), Explorer's pack, Cartography tools, Shovel, Iron Pot, common clothes, belt pouch, 10 GP
Alignment:   Neutral
Personality:   When I set my mind to something, I follow through no matter what gets in my way.
Ideals: Sincerity. There's no good in pretending to be something I'm not.
Bonds:    I worked the land, I love the land, and I will protect the land.
Flaws:    The tyrant who rules my land will stop at nothing to see me killed.

I assigned attribute rolls in order, so he might not be an ideal fighter, but I am going to hope that my high AC and mobility will let me run around with advantages breaking kneecaps.

The only thing I can see is that you applied DEX mod to AC when you're in heavy armor and it doesn't apply.  So your AC should be 19.  Pretty darn good though for not looking at the rules in detail.  Lord knows I forget lots of stuff