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Author Topic: (Interest) 5e Semi-Basic Game  (Read 2554 times)

Snowman0147

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(Interest) 5e Semi-Basic Game
« on: June 25, 2015, 01:29:11 AM »
Just the basic four classes and basic four races.  Though I will allow the stuff being offered in the Player's Guide and Dungeon Master's Guide for additional character options.  

Will not allow a drow, but I will make a none drow dark elf subrace option as the setting idea I have in mind would have no drow in it.  I think I will make these dark elves more like sea elves.

Now the region you are in is a large continent that is mostly desert, but there are tropical regions and some tropical islands nearby.  Elves, halflings, and dwarves are considered to be mutated humans.  Humans are just pure strains that manage to survive the fall of the ancient long dead civilization that manage transhumanism.

Dwarves were created to do work, or do battle (depending which subrace you go with).  Their short, but massive frame allowed them to fit into tight spaces.  Great for living under the ground.  The race is dying out as they suffer from horrible reproductive parts due to the fact that scientists never thought about letting them breed.  They never counted on the down fall of civilization.

Hill and mountain dwarf subraces do not look different from one another.  In fact they are born in the same clans deep under the earth.  It is the mannerism that makes them different.  It is kinda like a gender as they are born with it.  It is literally in their genes.  The hill subrace wants to work and find joy through that.  The mountain subrace wants to battle and are happy with that.

Elves are created as diplomates to some alien race that use to visit this world.  Being the most friendly and common of the mutant races elves had been living side by side with humans for a long time.  Their thousand earth year life span means they last for a long time.  The race is stable, but they do have long reproductive cycles.  Elves are also connected to what they call the world spirit and tend to be the best wizards and clerics.  

High elves subrace are those that are deeply connected with the aliens when they used to visit the world.  Because of this they take up aspects of the celestrial bodies that can be seen from the naked eye.  Sun elves have dark skin, golden blonde hair, and golden eyes.  Moon elves have pale skin, silver blonde hair, and silver eyes.  World elves have the same colors of their world which are Courtis (red), Linius (purple), and Thantos (blue).  Thantos elves are often the strangest as their eyes have two different colors and their skin are shades of blue.  Linius elves have normal human skin color, hair could be any color, and the iris is white with black outlines to show their is a iris.  Courtis elves are often describe as blood elves due to their deep red skin, deeper red hair, and black iris eyes.

Wood elves tend to look like normal people with no special characteristic.  They have normal human skin tone, normal hair color, and normal eye color.  It is only when they blend to their environment does that even change.  They take up the same coloration and texture of their environment.

Opaopajr

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« Reply #1 on: June 26, 2015, 05:14:24 AM »
What's the premise (what's the place like, why should it interest players)?
What's the scope (how large is the area slice of when and where we play)?
What's the pitch (what're we first expected do in the setting, our motivation)?
What's our PC limits, besides Basic .pdf 4 races & 4 classes, (are there probability demographics for race, class, background, let alone other cohesive expectations)?
Just make your fuckin' guy and roll the dice, you pricks. Focus on what's interesting, not what gives you the biggest randomly generated virtual penis.  -- J Arcane
 
You know, people keep comparing non-TSR D&D to deck-building in Magic: the Gathering. But maybe it's more like Katamari Damacy. You keep sticking shit on your characters until they are big enough to be a star.
-- talysman

Snowman0147

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« Reply #2 on: June 26, 2015, 12:39:33 PM »
Yeah sorry about that.  My monitor just died on me and yet some how the tower is completely on as I got into the middle of that.  I don't know if that was a one in a million chance fluke, my 8 week kitten playing with wires which I am trying to train it to not do (wish me luck on that), or a real computer issue.  

Well for starters I am planning to take you guys to a world that went savage after ancient human civilization had fallen.  It had been so long ago that even the eldest elves only heard stories of it from their grand parents.

The alien world that your on has only four continents within two land masses with several islands beyond that point.  

The biggest mountain range known as the Rain Destroyers keep the continent known as the Salts dry.  In fact other than the eastern coast which is not block out by mountains most of the Salts is a barren waste land with only city states to offer civilization.

Strangely the Salts is home to the Nega Desert which is at the center of the continent.  Strange properties, horrible mutants, metallic fiends, and man eating monsters can be found in that desert.  The only good thing about it is that one of its strange properties can keep the surrounding deserts cool in the day and warm in the night.  Temperature spans from 65F to 85F degrees on average.  

The reason I bring up the Salts is that it is a good starting point.  Mainly that is the one continent that has the most work done into it.  The starting city is the City of Snakes which is a massive mountain that is carved into a hollow snake statue with its mouth gaping open.   Its ruling class are priests of the Eternal Snake (true neutral) (domains are Life, Nature, and Death for clerics).  They rule the city with firm, but fair hand.  Their main purpose is to summon rain during the start of spring by offering up a human sacrifice.  They don't enjoy it, but the sacrifice ensures that rain comes and the city as a whole gets to live.  When it doesn't rain the city will die and the population will have to move which the desert will be more happy to claim many of their lives.

The scope I plan on being in the City of Snakes till we get to a high enough level to journey beyond that point.  You would be doing jobs, solving mysteries, and generally earning fortune.

The premise is that there is a lot of mysteries in the world.  Too many questions that need answers.  Sure on the surface it appears to be a Conan rip off with a touch of Dark Sun thrown in, but that is on the surface.  Why does it require a human sacrifice to start the rain in the City of Snakes?  What cause the fall of the ancient civilization?  Why do the high elves match the colors of their matching celestrial planets?  You want to discover and explore things.

The pitch at the start is to earn a name and some fortune for yourself.  Eventually though you will want to explore the world and start getting into things.  Solving mysteries will eventually be the main pitch.

What you can start off with.  Well no armor that is made of metal.  Good durable metal is rare.  Not Dark Sun rare, but rare enough you won't start out with it.  Though precious metals are so common that even the low classes of society has a golden ring.  If you want to show off wealth you show them a ring made of iron.

Given you starting the City of Snakes you won't have access to noble and outlander background.  Same goes for local hero as you are just starting out.  Yeah I want some natives of that city.

Demographics would be 60% human, 30% elves, and 10% other.  So if you want to roll for that I can net you some bonus xp.

Clerics can take the death domain and be of any alignment that is okay with their god.  So we could have a neutral good cleric of the Eternal Snake with death domain.  A lawful good cleric of the Reaping Swarm is impossible due to the fact that is a chaotic evil god that happens to have a death domain.  You can find the death domain in the Dungeon Masters book.  I think page 92, or 96.

Opaopajr

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« Reply #3 on: June 27, 2015, 06:23:27 AM »
OK, I offer to be your quest feeder: a Human Rogue Sage researcher, taking commissions from different factions who want to get at the bottom of mysteries.

How much will languages matter, given Sage's +2 languages, and have you pared down which are the predominant everyday ones and the esoteric classical ones?

Can you tighten your pitch? Are we mission-based with a patron? Archaeological freelancers? Scandalmongers? Scrounging grave robbers?

If you were to guesstimate how much % put of 100% of each combat, explore, and social, what would it be? (It is understood it can migrate from our actions, but this helps ground a sense of play style.
Just make your fuckin' guy and roll the dice, you pricks. Focus on what's interesting, not what gives you the biggest randomly generated virtual penis.  -- J Arcane
 
You know, people keep comparing non-TSR D&D to deck-building in Magic: the Gathering. But maybe it's more like Katamari Damacy. You keep sticking shit on your characters until they are big enough to be a star.
-- talysman

Snowman0147

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« Reply #4 on: June 27, 2015, 11:17:46 AM »
Well given your level one and new I would imagine your freelance for now.  You could some day get a patron.  I mean your basicly a nobody right now so you need to prove yourself worthy of getting a patron.

Languages would be important.  Yes there is common which is used by merchants.  You also get City State (City of Snakes) to replace your racial language since you are born from that city.  Most surrounding settlements use that language.  However, if you go to another city state it may have its own language.  The only good thing is that they share the same alphabet so at least you can read and write.  

The more scholarly languages are Macii and Ebo.  Macii is a large continent size empire to the south that once almost took over the entire Salts.  Ebo is a alliance of countries in the north of the Salts who also almost took over the entire Salts.  Ebo and Macii had been against each other for quite some time, but the Salts had proven to be a buffer zone between the two.

As for esoteric languages?  Not much in that department.  Oh sure you got your common ones in all DnD, but there is no great wheel of outer planes that the forgotten realms have.  The best you got is astral realm which have floating worlds that serve as their own plane.  Some of these worlds had never even seen humanity.

So yeah no racial languages, stick with normal esoteric languages, and just take in the fact that city states have their own languages.  So that is common, Macii, Ebo, city states (specific), and esoteric languages.

As for the game.  I am planning on a balance.  If your in a city state the last thing you want to do is combat.  In fact I would go with other means to solve your problems.  Now beyond the city state walls things switch around and being able to defend yourself is a must.  So prepare to defend yourself when out of town, but be at your best manners when inside town is my suggestion.

Of course this isn't all combat, or social.  You are in the middle of a desert after all so being good at survival is a must.  Not to mention if you do explore ancient tombs and ruins your going to want your smarts.  Tombs could contain traps so being alert is a good thing.  Ruins could have ancient technology so being a sage is very good thing for you.

To tighten things up for you I will use your sage background.  One of the priests of the Eternal Snake is looking for a small group to explore some recently discovered ruin that had been found inside the city.  If you help him you might get good with the priesthood.

Opaopajr

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« Reply #5 on: June 28, 2015, 11:06:47 PM »
What are the desired ranges for party cohesion (how glued to the hip), coherence (how motley crew), and cooperation (how care bears)?
Just make your fuckin' guy and roll the dice, you pricks. Focus on what's interesting, not what gives you the biggest randomly generated virtual penis.  -- J Arcane
 
You know, people keep comparing non-TSR D&D to deck-building in Magic: the Gathering. But maybe it's more like Katamari Damacy. You keep sticking shit on your characters until they are big enough to be a star.
-- talysman

Snowman0147

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« Reply #6 on: July 02, 2015, 11:01:17 AM »
Well I do expect you guys to be natives of the city of the snake.  Beyond that all you really need is a simple reason as to why you want to be part of the group.

As for cooperation I expect them to work like a time and don't do any back stabbing.  Not going to prevent it, but lets just say losing a member is a bad thing that makes dealing with worst things even harder.  Team work will be necessary.

Opaopajr

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« Reply #7 on: July 02, 2015, 11:22:59 AM »
Fair enough, Point Buy standard Human Rogue with Sage background coming up. I'm avoiding Feats, keeping it closest to Basic .pdf as possible. Any other restrictions, like equipment, that I should know about before I proceed?
Just make your fuckin' guy and roll the dice, you pricks. Focus on what's interesting, not what gives you the biggest randomly generated virtual penis.  -- J Arcane
 
You know, people keep comparing non-TSR D&D to deck-building in Magic: the Gathering. But maybe it's more like Katamari Damacy. You keep sticking shit on your characters until they are big enough to be a star.
-- talysman

Snowman0147

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« Reply #8 on: July 02, 2015, 02:22:46 PM »
Roll your stats man, but I go with 4d6 drop lowest.

As for equipment just don't start out with any armor that is metallic.  This would be one of those games that dexterity is the best armor you can get.  While iron is not rare as it is in Dark Sun it is still rare enough that starting pcs shouldn't have any.

Metal weapons are fine, but keep it cheap.

You can also take feats that are in the player's book.

Opaopajr

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« Reply #9 on: July 02, 2015, 07:28:45 PM »
Are you sure about Feats and 4d6H chargen? As you wish.

Do you have a favorite dice roller program and game room? I currently use rolz.org, though I've had it conflict with my player's computer setups (seems to work best with tablets and smart phones).

I already rolled up stats: 7, 18, 11, 14, 14, 15.
Let me know if you want me to wait for an online dice room.
Just make your fuckin' guy and roll the dice, you pricks. Focus on what's interesting, not what gives you the biggest randomly generated virtual penis.  -- J Arcane
 
You know, people keep comparing non-TSR D&D to deck-building in Magic: the Gathering. But maybe it's more like Katamari Damacy. You keep sticking shit on your characters until they are big enough to be a star.
-- talysman

Snowman0147

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« Reply #10 on: July 02, 2015, 07:34:41 PM »
I personally only stick with the wizard of the coast dice roller as I don't question if people are cheating, or not.  I don't think people will be cheating in a game played in a forum.

Opaopajr

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« Reply #11 on: July 03, 2015, 09:36:35 PM »
I'm going to Quickstart Equipment and collect Background Gear. I anticipate we'll be able to spend some money right before our first adventure? Or should I start buying gear now.

Barbabar Evil-Merodach
Human Rogue, Field Researcher Sage
Lvl 1, PB: +2. Saves: DEX, INT. Alg: NG
HD: d8. HP: 11. AC: 15. Spd: 40'.

STR 8 (-1), DEX 18 (4), CON 16 (3), INT 14 (2), WIS 14 (2), CHA 11 (0)

Lang: Merchant Common, Snake City State, Macii, Ebo

Race: Human variant, 2x +1 stat, +1 skill, +1 feat

Feat: Mobility - target of my melee attack roll cannot OA me, +10' Spd, no extra movement needed in difficult terrain?

Class Features
Armor: light.
Weapon: simple, hand xbow, l. swd, s. swd, rapier.
Tools: Thieves' (exp) (i.e. DEX +8)

Skills: Acrobatics +6, Arcana (bkrd) +4, History (bkrd) +4, Investigation +4, Perception (exp) +6, Sleight of Hand +6, Stealth +6.

Passive Perception: 16.

Expertise — double proficiency bonus.
Sneak Attack — if Adv, or ally w/in 5', +1d6 dmg on finesse or ranged weapon hits.
Thieves' Cant — secret language between thieves.

Background
Specialty: Field Researcher.  Feature: Researcher.
Pers: distant. Ideal: logic. Bond: field of lore. Flaw: tactless.
Gear: Ink, Quill, Knife, Dead Colleague's Letter, Common Clothes, pouch +10 gp.

Wealth: Start 10 gp. Spent 0 gp. Left 10 gp.

Armor: Leather, AC 11 +DEX.
Weapon:
S. Sword. +6 atk. 1d6+4. finesse.
2x Dagger. +6 atk. 1d4+4. finesse, light, thrown (rng 20/60)
S. Bow. +6 atk. 1d6+4. ammo (rng 80/320), two-hands.
20x Arrows

Gear: Explorer's Pack (backpack, bedroll, mess kit, tinderbox, 10x torches, 10x rations, water skin, rope hemp 50'), Thieves' Tools.

Bio: Middle aged adventurer seeking to catalog new treasures in an effort to decipher the past. More cerebral than social, unconsciously lectures people from his/her passion for history. Tired of teacher and textbook speculation, wants to see & touch evidence of the past for him/herself.
« Last Edit: July 10, 2015, 08:15:55 PM by Opaopajr »
Just make your fuckin' guy and roll the dice, you pricks. Focus on what's interesting, not what gives you the biggest randomly generated virtual penis.  -- J Arcane
 
You know, people keep comparing non-TSR D&D to deck-building in Magic: the Gathering. But maybe it's more like Katamari Damacy. You keep sticking shit on your characters until they are big enough to be a star.
-- talysman

Snowman0147

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« Reply #12 on: July 05, 2015, 11:03:05 AM »
You can spend gold any time since your in a city.

Okay you went middle aged?  Given this is more of a savage world setting I want you to roll 1d10 and then roll 1d5.  The first number is how many kids you brought into the world and the second one is how many of them survived to adult age.  Sadly life expectancy is 18 years of age and this is largely to do the fact that children often die.  That is why life expectancy is so short any way.

Snowman0147

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« Reply #13 on: July 05, 2015, 11:07:06 AM »
As for names?  Given this is actually a future game I could go with any future sounding name.  Simply because these names would have some value and would be pass down with each generation.  In other words you can't go wrong with a name, but you have to try.

Opaopajr

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« Reply #14 on: July 06, 2015, 04:13:38 AM »
... how zany?

like, Mr. Verizon Galaxy 4G? Ford Lincoln Mercury?

(rolled 2 kids, and 2.5 died. kids d10 rolled 2, died d10 divide by half rolled 5.)
Just make your fuckin' guy and roll the dice, you pricks. Focus on what's interesting, not what gives you the biggest randomly generated virtual penis.  -- J Arcane
 
You know, people keep comparing non-TSR D&D to deck-building in Magic: the Gathering. But maybe it's more like Katamari Damacy. You keep sticking shit on your characters until they are big enough to be a star.
-- talysman