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I was thinking 5e, limited to core books and setting-specific rule modifications, set in the World of Xoth (read pdf for the setting-specific rule mods). A little something different from the typical high-magick stuff, more of a Cthulhu-meets-Conan thing.

It would be nice if we could get several players to agree on a starting location. I suggest the city of Belthaar in the kingdom of Susrah. Susrah is an iron-age kingdom somewhat like the Levant, with mountains, deserts, forests, and sea ports. Belthaar is central to Sushrah. Belthaar is an ancient small city of about 12,000 people, built over catacombs that predate the current age. It is a city filled with massive temples and ziggurats condemned to the worship of various demons and gods. It is kind of a crossroads for the northern kingdoms of Xoth. Here any sort of characters could meet up, and go anywhere.

Of course I have a starting adventure in mind ...

That setting looks good! Quite different, much grimmer than default 5e. I'd be interested in trying it out.

I am in as well, the setting looks interesting.

Great! Let's see can we get two more.

You've gathered in Belthaar for the obsequies of your mentor, the caravan merchant Akhtesh Behruz. You each knew a different facet of the old man's shining personality, but to all of you he was a trusted advisor, a benefactor, a good friend. The sort of man who's very hard to find in Susrah, and irreplaceable. In life he was a devotee of Yadar, the God of Death and Secrets. As he neared his end - as the illness began to eat him from inside - he asked to be interred in the ancient catacombs. It was your privilege to honor his wish. His cash estate barely covered the required donations. Although he already told you that his will was generous, his possessions are scattered in warehouses across Belthaar and indeed all of Susrah. Yourselves have few coins left to fund the effort of retrieving what he left you. You have established a headquarters at the Empty Cage, a disreputable hostel in a part of Susrah where the streets twist narrowly between two story mud brick buildings painted red. Today you are to attend a scribe's formal reading of Akhtesh's will in the royal court of the petty king Simashattar III.

I've been wanting to actually be a player in a 5e game here since, well, since I started playing 5e.

What is the expected posting frequency?

I'm interested.

I'm interested if there's still room.

I think five is a good number for play by post. So I'm closing the recruiting here.

As far as posting expectations, I have an extremely boring job that requires breaks in order to regain focus ... so I'm on here pretty often during the week, less often on weekends. I could probably handle daily posting, but I recognize that's not ideal for everyone. So let's have a poll on posting frequency. What seems reasonable to each of you?

Finally (in this post), or as a first step (toward the game), let's get some brief backstories / character pitches. Everybody pick a concept, a hometown, and a reason why your character was a protegé of Mr. Macguffin ... and another reason why your character is friendly with or owes a favor to at least one of the other characters.

tibbius wrote:What seems reasonable to each of you?

I'm probably only good for a post a week; especially with my starting up a second game. I'm fine to sit this one out if that's too slow for the rest.

For posting rate I can't post from work, but I work second shift and can usually post when I get home. I don't guarantee weekends. Lets say 3 times a week max.

Reading through everything and just learning 5e so advice is always welcome. I am thinking a civilized monk, maybe Bhangari for a race. Will need to see others concept before bringing things together.

tibbius wrote:I think five is a good number for play by post. So I'm closing the recruiting here.

As far as posting expectations, I have an extremely boring job that requires breaks in order to regain focus ... so I'm on here pretty often during the week, less often on weekends. I could probably handle daily posting, but I recognize that's not ideal for everyone. So let's have a poll on posting frequency. What seems reasonable to each of you?

Finally (in this post), or as a first step (toward the game), let's get some brief backstories / character pitches. Everybody pick a concept, a hometown, and a reason why your character was a protegé of Mr. Macguffin ... and another reason why your character is friendly with or owes a favor to at least one of the other characters.

I prefer a faster pace game, tbh, averaging a post per day, if possible.

My posting rate varies. I can usually do between every weekday and 3 times a week. Weekends much less frequently. So any posting rate is ok with me.

I'm thinking about a cultist. What are character creation rules? And what level characters are we making?

Good questions, if we are rolling (which I am fine with) I need to get at least fair rolls or a monk would be suicidal. Standard array or point buy (I prefer point buy between these 2) are fine too if that's how you want to go.

Monsieur Rose wrote:My posting rate varies. I can usually do between every weekday and 3 times a week. Weekends much less frequently. So any posting rate is ok with me.

I'm thinking about a cultist. What are character creation rules? And what level characters are we making?

First level characters. Cultures and classes are available per the setting rules linked at the top. Please keep in mind that different nations have different languages. Your character should be able to speak Susrahnite because that's the dominant language of the starting place. An eastern Monk might have picked up fractured Susrahnite from adventurous merchants whose exaggerated tales of wealth and adventure lured him west ... where he fell on hard times, got acquainted with the late Akhtesh Behruz, and managed to scrape out a living based on Akhtesh's kind words. Perhaps he's been working for the merchant as a warehouse guard? A cultist of Yadar could have acquainted Akhtesh through his dutiful oblations to the deity. A cultist of another deity, who knows?

For attributes,

Try the [4d6c1] x 6, and if you don't like the results then go with 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8. Either way, arrange to suit and make cultural adjustments.

For equipment, you're supposed to be impoverished looking forward to the payout from the will. So start with the trappings from your background and character class, plus [2d6] gp.

I generally can't post at work (unless it's slow) so 3x a week, maybe more on weekends works for me. Slower also works for me.

It looks like 3x a week is the consensus. I'll reopen recruiting on that basis.

tibbius wrote:It looks like 3x a week is the consensus.

Yeah, I definitely need to bow out at that rate.

When you've gelled your character concepts, please post character sheets in this thread:

Name
Culture, nationality, class (level) <xp>
Armor Class
Hit Points
Speed
STR (+/-)
DEX
CON
INT
WIS
CHA
Skills and Save Proficiencies
Languages
Spellcasting spells per day, known spells and cantrips - Warlocks don't have to prepare spells; Cultists and Druids do
Combat Actions including adds for Weapon Proficiencies, STR / DEX
===
Trappings
Coins / gems
===
Brief description of physique and personality
===
Brief history

Do we have a campaign # to assign our rolls to?

I'm interested if there's room.