Character Creation

[Eris]

I'm not looking for completed PC's in this thread. Instead, let's use it to talk about the character concepts we're developing for the game.

Let's Make Characters!

To create a character with the Basic Rules only, take a look at the Javascript DDNext Character Generator. It walks you through the whole thing for the four classes and four races. There are a lot of options there, but only the ones with an arrow meaning they are part of the free Basic rules can be selected. You, can of course use other software or build a PC manually, but this is a fun program to play around with.

1. Abilities: 3d6 (or 4d6 best 3 if you really prefer), place as you like; if you don't have a 14, or better, you may re-roll; if you'd rather
2. Races: Human, Halfling, Elf, Dwarf. No variant Humans!
3. Gender: either
4. Background: Limited in Basic Rules, pick an appropriate one (we can talk if you want something else)
5. Alignment: Good or Neutral, no Evil PC, if you please!
6. Level: Go ahead and choose a 3rd Level
7. Classes: Fighter, Cleric, Rogue, Wizard. (if you want something else, we can talk)
8. Don't Multi-class! Pick a class and stick with it.
9. We aren't playing with Feats, so ignore them.
10. Skills: Choose your skills (I'll deal with how they are used)
11. Languages: you get Common and 1 or more from a list.
12. Weapons: pick some appropriate ones.
13. Equipment: there are some pre-packaged kits to make it easy
14. Description, Name and Personality to finish it off.
15. If you used the above software you can have it generate a printout for your character which you can save/cut and paste, etc.

[Eris]

An example of a Unseen Servant character sheet I used in a 5e game a while back:

If we use the Character Sheet from here, this is sort of what we'll be looking at.

The Notes Tab should be where the Skills go, I'd think. I squeezed too much into the Notes section on PC Basics, I think. IAC, it does work pretty well for most any D&D game regardless of edition.

[shaidar]

So here is Arram, human cleric.

Arram.pdf

(202.99 KiB) Downloaded 2 times

He was born to a poor family with many siblings. With little future he joined the army at 15. He was a good, but not exceptional, soldier.

He grew tired with the killing, and felt the call to join the church. I'm thinking Pelor is a good choice. He joined the church at 20, and I'm thinking he's around 25.

He is taciturn and can be direct, but underneath he is loyal and has a good heart.

He is haunted by some of the things he has seen and enjoys a drink and a good game of dice.

[Edeldhur]

1. Abilities: 3d6 (or 4d6 best 3 if you really prefer), place as you like; if you don't have a 14, or better, you may re-roll; if you'd rather

What if you have a 6 or lower?

[Marullus]

Tried out the program indicated. I introduce Hellebore Thistledown the Halfing Sage (Wizard).

Hellebore Thistledown the Sage (1).pdf

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download (1).jpeg (8.37 KiB) Viewed 236 times

Hellebore was a bright, nimble girl with an irrepressable love for books and knowledge of all things. She loved that books told her history and taught her magic. She loved that plants contained secret knowledge which she could coax into being medicine. She loved using knowledge to cure ailments and restore health.
...but she chafed at never, ever leaving Lakeside.

Now the call has gone out, and she knows it's for her! She cannot contain her excitement at joining with others and seeking an adventure.

Comments? Thoughts? If you allowed multiclass i was thinking of 1 rogue / 2 wizard, or rogue 3 arcane trickster archetype.

[hedgeknight]

Travok.jpg (18.58 KiB) Viewed 225 times

Getting started filling in the sheet.
Masonry was life, until war came to his hold. Then he took up the axe and never looked back.

[Edeldhur]

Ellith, the Two Weapon Fighter (and sometimes archer) Elf

Ellith the Elf
Male High Elf Soldier Fighter 3
Chaotic Good
Representing Edeldhur

Strength 14 (+2)
Dexterity 17 (+3)
Constitution 13 (+1)
Intelligence 12 (+1)
Wisdom 9 (-1)
Charisma 6 (-2)
Size: Medium
Height: 5' 8"
Weight: 140 lb
Skin: Pale
Eyes: Hazel
Hair: Light Brown Wavy; Beardless
Maximum Hit Points: 25

Speed: 30 feet

Inspiration:

Armor Class: 16 = 10 + 1 [leather] + 2 [steel shield] + 3 [dexterity]

Proficiency bonus: +2
Initiative modifier: + 3 = + 3 [dexterity]
Attack (handheld / thrown): + 4 = + 2 [strength] + 2 [proficiency]
Attack (missile / finesse): + 5 = + 3 [dexterity] + 2 [proficiency]
Strength save: + 4 = + 2 [strength] + 2 [proficiency]
Dexterity save: + 3 = + 3 [dexterity]
Constitution save: + 3 = + 1 [constitution] + 2 [proficiency]
Intelligence save: + 1 = + 1 [intelligence]
Wisdom save: -1 = -1 [wisdom]
Charisma save: -2 = -2 [charisma]
Insight (passive): 9 (14 with advantage)
Investigation (passive): 11 (16 with advantage)
Perception (passive): 11 (16 with advantage)

Carry: 210 lb maximum

For groups using the optional encumberance rules:
If carrying more than 70 lb, encumbered -- -10 on speed
If carrying more than 140 lb, heavily encumbered -- -20 on speed, disadvantage on ability checks, attack rolls, and saves involving strength, constitution, and/or dexterity

Languages: Common Elvish Sylvan

Unarmed strike [+4 to hit; 1+2 bludgeoning]

2 Daggers [+5 to hit; 1d4+3 piercing, 1 lb, finesse, light, thrown (range 20/60)]

Crossbow, light [+5 to hit; 1d8+3 piercing, 6 lb, ammunition (range 80/320), loading, two-handed]

Short Bow [+5 to hit; 1d6+3 piercing, 2 lb, ammunition (range 80, 320), two-handed]

Rapier [+5 to hit; 1d8+3 piercing, 2 lb, finesse]

2 Short Swords [+5 to hit; 1d6+3 piercing, 2 lb, finesse, light]

Longbow, heavy [+5 to hit; 1d8+3 piercing, 2 lb, ammunition (range 150/600), heavy, two-handed]

Leather armor [light; + 1 AC; 10 lb.]

Steel Shield [+2 AC; 6 lb.]

Feats:

Skill Name
Key
Ability
Skill
Modifier
Ability
Modifier
Trained?
Misc.
Modifier
Acrobatics Dex 5 =
+3
+ 2
Animal Handling Wis 1 =
-1
+ 2
Arcana Int 1 =
+1
Athletics Str 4 =
+2
+ 2
Deception Cha -2 =
-2
History Int 1 =
+1
Insight Wis -1 =
-1
Intimidation Cha -2 =
-2
Investigation Int 1 =
+1
Medicine Wis -1 =
-1
Nature Int 1 =
+1
Perception Wis 1 =
-1
+ 2
Performance Cha -2 =
-2
Persuasion Cha -2 =
-2
Religion Int 1 =
+1
Sleight of Hand Dex 3 =
+3
Stealth Dex 3 =
+3
Survival Wis 1 =
-1
+ 2
Mark Ellith's High Elf Cantrip here:

Acid Splash
Blade Ward
Chill Touch
Dancing Lights
Fire Bolt
Friends
Light
Mage Hand
Mending
Message
Minor Illusion
Poison Spray
Prestidigitation
Ray of Frost
Shocking Grasp
True Strike




Check any artisan tools with which Ellith is proficient:

Alchemist's supplies
Boyer / fletcher tools
Brewer's supplies
Calligrapher's supplies
Carpenter's tools
Cartographer's tools
Cobbler's tools
Cook's utensils
Glassblower's tools
Goldsmith / silversmith's tools
Jeweler's tools
Leatherworker's tools
Mason's tools
Painter's supplies
Potter's tools
Smith's tools
Tinker's tools
Weaver's tools
Woodcarver's tools




Check any instruments with which Ellith is proficient:

Bagpipes
Drum
Dulcimer
Flute
Lute
Lyre
Horn
Pan flute
Shawm
Viol



Ellith is proficient with at least 1 game(s). Check any games with which Ellith is proficient:

Dragon Chess
Three Dragon Ante
Board Game:
Card Game:
Dice game:




Check any other tools with which Ellith is proficient:

Climber's kit
Disguise kit
Drive a truck
Fly a plane
Forgery kit
Healer's kit
Herbalism kit
Navigator tools
Ride a mount
Sail a ship
Poisoner kit
Thieves' tools

Elf

Elves receive +2 dexterity (already included).

Darkvision (see 60 feet black-and-white in pitch-dark)

Advantage on saving throws against being charmed; immune to magical sleep

All elves have a bonus proficiency in perception

Trance: Instead of sleeping, spend four hours in a sleep-like state but remain fully aware of surroundings.

High Elf (subrace)

High Elves receive +1 intelligence (already included).

High elves learn a single wizard cantrip, with intelligence as the ability.

High elves are proficient with longsword, short sword, longbow & shortbow.

High elves learn an extra language of their choice.

Soldier

Other military folks will defer to your rank.

You know how to ride a horse.

You are proficient with at least one kind of gaming set, mounts and land vehicles.

Fighter

Most fighters are proficient in riding a mount.

This fighter selected the two-weapon fighting style, and can add the ability modifier to the damage of the second attack.

Second Wind: As an action, regain hit points equal to 1d10 + your fighter level. Once per period between short rests.

Level 2: Action surge -- use it to take an extra action on a turn. Must take a short rest before using again.

Level 5: Extra attack on any round that includes an attack.

Level 9: Indomitable -- once between long rests, can reroll a failed saving throw.

Level 11: Two extra attacks per round.

Level 13: Indomitable -- twice between long rests, can reroll a failed saving throw.

Level 17: Two action surges between rests, but not on the same turn.

Level 17: Indomitable -- three times between long rests, can reroll a failed saving throw.

Level 20: Three extra attacks per round.

Champion Fighter (martial archetype)

Level 3: Improved critical -- score in 19 or 20.

Level 7: Remarkable athlete -- add half your proficiency bonus, rounded UP, to any strength, dexterity, or constitution check that does not already use your proficiency bonus. Running long jump adds your strength modifier number of feet to distance. If applicable, these show as ability modifiers.

Level 10: You will choose an additional fighting style.
Level 15: Superior critical -- 18-20.

Level 18: Survivor -- at start of each turn, if at half hit points or below, regain 5 + constitution modifier hit points.

Class HP rolled
Level 1: Fighter 10
Level 2: Fighter 6
Level 3: Fighter 6

Hit Dice For Healing
Regain half with each long rest. Use as needed during long or short rests.


Death Saving Throws:

Successes
Failures
Ellith's Equipment:

34 lb

1 lb
2 lb

5 lb
7 lb
5 lb


3 lb
3 lb
20 lb
10 lb
1 lb
10 lb

5 lb

Weapons / Armor / Shield (from above)

Arrows (quiver of 20) x 1
Crossbow bolts (quiver of 20) x 1

Backpack
Bedroll
Crowbar
Gaming set (cards) (proficient)
Gaming set (dice) (proficient)
Hammer
Pitons (bag of 4) x 10
Rations (1 day) x 10
Rope (50', hempen) x 1
Tinderbox
Torches x 10

Waterskins x 1

_____
106 lb
Total

Ellith's Personality Traits:
Ellith's Ideal(s):

Ellith's Bond(s):

Ellith's Flaw(s):

More about Ellith:

Need to get a better grasp on two weapon fighting rules in 5e

[Marullus]

It's real easy.

5e is based on a strict action economy - each turn you get an Action, Bonus Action, Move, one free object interaction, and then one off-turn Reaction.

• Normally, attacking is an action.
• An off-hand weapon allows using the bonus action for a second attack, but the bonus damage from your attribute score isn't applied. (Anyone can do it.)
• You took the two-weapon style as a fighter, which removes that penalty. (E.g. you do the same damage with both).

All the rules related to it:

Two-Weapon Fighting
When you take the Attack action and attack with a light melee weapon that you're holding in one hand, you can use a bonus action to attack with a different light melee weapon that you're holding in the other hand. You don't add your ability modifier to the damage of the bonus attack, unless that modifier is negative.

If either weapon has the thrown property, you can throw the weapon, instead of making a melee attack with it.

....

This fighter selected the two-weapon fighting style, and can add the ability modifier to the damage of the second attack.

...

2 Daggers [+5 to hit; 1d4+3 piercing, 1 lb, finesse, light, thrown (range 20/60)]

Rapier [+5 to hit; 1d8+3 piercing, 2 lb, finesse]

2 Short Swords [+5 to hit; 1d6+3 piercing, 2 lb, finesse, light]

Steel Shield [+2 AC; 6 lb.]

For you specifically:

• Your Rapier has finesse but not light. It does 1d8+3 and doesn't allow an off-hand weapon (so you use it with a shield for +2 AC)
• Your two shortswords are both finesse and light and you can use one in each hand doing 1d6+3 each.
• Swapping one or both for a dagger does 1d4+3, but allows you to make either action a throw if you need to. (Drawing a new dagger is a free object interaction. You need a full action to draw two.)

For comparison, my high-dex hobbit is also proficient with daggers (and has the same dex bonus as you). She can make a main-hand attack with the same +5, 1d4+3, but her off-hand attack would only be +5, 1d4+0. Without being a fighter, she can't overcome the penalty.
If she tried to use the shortswords (or rapier), she's non-proficient. She would be +3, 1d6+3 and +3, 1d6+0. (With hardmore rules in this game removing all bonuses for non-proficiency, it will be +0, 1d6+3 and +0, 1d6+0.)

[Eris]

1. Abilities: 3d6 (or 4d6 best 3 if you really prefer), place as you like; if you don't have a 14, or better, you may re-roll; if you'd rather

What if you have a 6 or lower?

Well, that's easy! You're a battle scared veteran with a limp and a bad shoulder.

[Edeldhur]

It's real easy.

5e is based on a strict action economy - each turn you get an Action, Bonus Action, Move, one free object interaction, and then one off-turn Reaction.

• Normally, attacking is an action.
• An off-hand weapon allows using the bonus action for a second attack, but the bonus damage from your attribute score isn't applied. (Anyone can do it.)
• You took the two-weapon style as a fighter, which removes that penalty. (E.g. you do the same damage with both).

All the rules related to it:

Two-Weapon Fighting
When you take the Attack action and attack with a light melee weapon that you're holding in one hand, you can use a bonus action to attack with a different light melee weapon that you're holding in the other hand. You don't add your ability modifier to the damage of the bonus attack, unless that modifier is negative.

If either weapon has the thrown property, you can throw the weapon, instead of making a melee attack with it.

....

This fighter selected the two-weapon fighting style, and can add the ability modifier to the damage of the second attack.

...

2 Daggers [+5 to hit; 1d4+3 piercing, 1 lb, finesse, light, thrown (range 20/60)]

Rapier [+5 to hit; 1d8+3 piercing, 2 lb, finesse]

2 Short Swords [+5 to hit; 1d6+3 piercing, 2 lb, finesse, light]

Steel Shield [+2 AC; 6 lb.]

For you specifically:

• Your Rapier has finesse but not light. It does 1d8+3 and doesn't allow an off-hand weapon (so you use it with a shield for +2 AC)
• Your two shortswords are both finesse and light and you can use one in each hand doing 1d6+3 each.
• Swapping one or both for a dagger does 1d4+3, but allows you to make either action a throw if you need to. (Drawing a new dagger is a free object interaction. You need a full action to draw two.)

For comparison, my high-dex hobbit is also proficient with daggers (and has the same dex bonus as you). She can make a main-hand attack with the same +5, 1d4+3, but her off-hand attack would only be +5, 1d4+0. Without being a fighter, she can't overcome the penalty.
If she tried to use the shortswords (or rapier), she's non-proficient. She would be +3, 1d6+3 and +3, 1d6+0. (With hardmore rules in this game removing all bonuses for non-proficiency, it will be +0, 1d6+3 and +0, 1d6+0.)

Thanks a lot for clarifying, and for the breakdown! I guess dual short swords it will be. I might keep the Rapier + Shield in case AC becomes more important.
Hmmmm, what about Scimitars (hey, if we are going back to Basic D&D, Drizzt is an old, admired friend )? They are basically like shortswords, right? And they match my pic

[Marullus]

Scimitars are also 1d6, Finesse, and Light. but they weigh 3lbs each instead of 2lbs and cost 25gp instead of 10gp due to them being that much cooler looking.

[shaidar]

So I'm slowly moving Arram over to a character sheet:

Mainly just equipment to copy and background to pin down.

[Rex]

I probably won't have time to wrap up my character until Sunday.

[ybn1197]

Working on moving the Javascript Character sheet to Unseen Servant.

[shaidar]

I've noticed that the spell list I got from the website contains spells not the basic rules, it also says I should have 2 uses of Channel Divinity when I think I should only have 1. Of course, this is all new so I could be wrong.

I was also wondering what gods are commonly worshipped? I noted in your other game forums that Pelor was Bahamut are listed. While I like the idea of Pelor I'm wondering it something just a little more martial might fit Arram better.

[ffilz]

For old school D&D, I'm a roll first, 3d6 down the line, work up concept later.

On my second try (to get at least one 14 or higher), I got:



Using the Unseen Servant Sheet, I've got this to start



So, from that, Human Fighter. With the decent CHA, I'm thinking a knightly/noble background.

Though on second thought, maybe Elf Fighter. I could go with either, whichever fits the party vetter.

Not sure what else to do to proceed.

[Eris]

Scimitars are also 1d6, Finesse, and Light. but they weigh 3lbs each instead of 2lbs and cost 25gp instead of 10gp due to them being that much cooler looking.

Yep, but I'm not being picky about weight or cost...right now anyway. If you want to call your Short Swords Scimitars, Cutlasses or Gladius (or Gladiī) , I'm cool with that!

I know some swords are primarily slashing and some are thrusting, but I'm not digging that deep into the differences in how damage is done. You can in your descriptions, though! In fact, you should be as descriptive as you can when you describe anything your PC does.

[Edeldhur]

Scimitars are also 1d6, Finesse, and Light. but they weigh 3lbs each instead of 2lbs and cost 25gp instead of 10gp due to them being that much cooler looking.

Yep, but I'm not being picky about weight or cost...right now anyway. If you want to call your Short Swords Scimitars, Cutlasses or Gladius (or Gladiī) , I'm cool with that!

I know some swords are primarily slashing and some are thrusting, but I'm not digging that deep into the differences in how damage is done. You can in your descriptions, though! In fact, you should be as descriptive as you can when you describe anything your PC does.

Cool is very important! So that settles it - scimitars it will be. Now I just need a Panther. Wait... No Rangers. But I can always BUY a Panther

----------

Just curious, how many players are we? Just setting up a roster:

Zennys: Halfling Thief
Arram: Human Cleric
Hellebore: Halfling Wizard
Travok: Dwarf Fighter
Ellith: Elf Fighter (pretending to be a Ranger)
Daerrin: Dwarf Cleric
(ffilz): Human Fighter (maybe knight) or Elf Fighter
Francesco: Fighter/Wizard
Vesper: Bard
Carsta: ?

Think that is all for now?

[Rex]

Are we splitting up into 2 groups?

[ybn1197]

Are we splitting up into 2 groups?

That's 11 players if everyone sticks. I can run with that many, but I'm going to close additions for now. If things get too crowded I might split the party

I'm guessing that Eris will have us start as one large group and see how it progresses.