DnD Campaign Handling

[Azan]

Well, as some of you know, I am working on a campaign setting for both NwN2, and DnD... this is focusing on new ideas for DMs to use.

Characters will start out around lvl 5 (at least). Basically your character can be from any where and any time (within DnD universe) all that your backstory must end with, is the character dieing in some way, why? Well, I will say one thing, the characters will find themselves in an unkown location. Now your characters can come from your own made up worlds, or DnD campaign settings such as Eberron, doesnt matter as long as your backstory is good. Also characters can come from any time, I will need interlinking backstories, but the characters do not need to know each other directly, for example, here are possible back stories...

John's parents were killed when he was 6, he vaguely remembers the whole thing, and he also remembers the man responsible being executed for his crimes... later John became a fighter and tried to kill the terrasque but died of a plague before he could get strong enough.

Mark has always been a decent person, occasionaly breaking the law for food, but his sister soon becomes imprisoned by some evil guy who demands that he must work for him, or his sister will die, Mark is forced to run drugs etc. etc. finally the man says he will let his sister go, if he kills two people for him, Mark has always been a person willing to break the law if it suits him, but murder? Later he does, but he is soon captured and hanged.

Mark was 30 years old when he killed Johns parents.
John was 6 when his parents died, but 30 when he died.

When they find each other, they would not recognize each other, and they would both be 30 years old. John would probably be willing to talk about his past, but Mark might refuse, but perhaps later he would open up.
(Note, this was a fairly cliche example, but it just shows the kinds of things capable)


Here are some things I probably will implement, but if any of you think its a bad idea let me know.

Huge RP/Story Experience - I will probably have everyone send their back stories to me a day before the session, and I will grade them, not based on how well it was written but content. Mainly
1: Detailed, unique, high depth.
2: Must have a characters personality shown through it, how they act/behave.
3: Must interlink with other characters backstories (not all, but some).

Another thing I will reward exp (probably only 100 at a time or so) is for remembering story plot/objectives... and I dont mind if you write it down, just as long as I dont have to re-explain things.

Ill also be rewarding more for in character actions and whatnot... and yes, with all these differences, eventually the players will have very different exp amounts, doesnt seem like a bad thing to me... on the wizards boards, people talk about lvl5s adventuring with lvl 9s... now I wouldnt let it get that extreme, but a large enough difference where a player might shape up and focus more...


Any thoughts? Comments?

[Vash]

I dunno, everything seems good (although starting equipment and how to decide stats would be a nice thing to add) except it seems as if it can be difficult to combine stories if we all have different times and worlds. I mean, I can probably come up with a good story, but combining it with others will be dificult.

[Azan]

Yeah.. starting equipment... nothing.

Might allow one story item.

[Vash]

What about stats? Point Buy or rolling or?...
Also, any benefits to finishing your character first? And once we're done should we post it the story here?

[Azan]

Its not for a long time, not worrying about that specific of stuff heh. Probably 28 PB though.
As for making characters now, feel free to start on ideas/progression, I will need to look over any non core class, so tell me before you make it. Still dont know starting lvl, but I will say this, you will get epic... as for character backstory, sure, feel free to work on it now... but like I said, I probably wont start it for a while, gotta do the NwN2 side of things first, but that shouldnt take long, maybe a couple weeks.

EDIT: Actually, ill set a starting lvl, 6.

But dont forget, Characters should be made in a group, so I wouldnt start making the character now... but meh, doesnt really matter if you are anxious.

[Azan]

Ok... heres what we got so far

Andrew - Shadowcaster
Blake - WuJen
Nick - Cleric
Paul - Roguetype
Michael - Dragon Shaman
Eli - Fighter

Lvl 6
28 PB
1st roll full
starting gold/equip = 0, but 1 story item worth 8000 gold... but your story item must be relavent to your story... thanks to Lobstrosity for this idea

1:30:27 PM) mr_mczap: in a campaign, you could start with a story item worth up to 8000 gold, but if you chose something worth less than that, you get the rest in XP
(1:30:41 PM) mr_mczap: or the rest divided by 2
(1:30:51 PM) Azan: yeah, otherwise it might be too much
(1:31:19 PM) Azan: would be fair, I like it... except im going to say that you have to at least buy something worth 2000 gold
(1:31:24 PM) mr_mczap: otherwise characters might try to get the most expensive thing they can, and not care about the story
(1:31:28 PM) mr_mczap: yeah

However, instead of the rest divided by 2, it will be by 4
So, lets say there is an item that makes more sense to have for your story item, but its only 2000 gold... that means you get 1500 exp...

thats 8000 gold max - 2000 gold = 6000 gold, 6000/4 is 1500 bonus exp.
Do not abuse this, dont forget I give out exp for good working character backstories.

[Azan]

Ok last important thing... about backstories...

I do not want your characters to directly know each other (unless you have good reason) basically I dont want any "Uhh, yeah, we were friends, and be both got eated by the trasqr!"... the whole time thing allows for some really cool ideas and I dont want them wasted on something simple...

Basically I will reward thinking outside the box, as long as it is intelligent, and with depth.
Also I do not want really long character backstory typeups, a couple paragraphs should be enough... but basically, I should be able to see how your character would act in a certain circumstance from it, I dont want a life story, but just the important parts of your characters life, personality, etc. etc. also parts having to interlink with other players.

Ok, so depth, personality, unique outside the box ideas... last main thing would be... linking with characters, dont make your character by yourself, nor your story, I had hoped to do this one session, but a lot of people have jumped in, which I do not mind, but do not leave this part out. Ok, basically you should almost develop your own lore, and I would prefer that its not just 2 people linked, but 3 at least... you dont have to be directly linked... you could have influence through story etc. etc. as dont forget, I do not want you guys to be on the same timeline... im fine with one character be anothers father and having them recognize each other right away, but what I dont want is two people who were friends and had adventured together and died together or anything like that. Here are some examples of character interaction I would like to see...

A: A has hear tales of B, his grandfather, while growing up, and he had always hoped he could be just like him, unfortunatly, his father, was nothing but a story teller, but he would be better known for story exxageration... as a result he had always resented his father.

B: B lived and died by the sword, he never wanted fame, but only to protect his village from harm, C was the first threat the village encountered, B was very young, about 13 - 15 when C came to the village and started causing harm, he didnt do much, but observed how a criminal could be held to justice, as such it changed his life forever.

C: ... dont feel like doing, your smart, you get the idea.

Any questions? Any ideas?
The biggest thing I must emphisize is to not make your character backstory by yourself, make it with the people you will link with. If you make it by yourself, there is a good chance that it will turn out like oh so many other backstories (and according to many DMs from WotC, this is a good thing to do to prevent such things from happening).

Last thing, please do post general outlines before you make the fullblown thing (like 1-2 sentences), I want to see where it goes first. Thanks!

[Niccolo]

My character (name's still pending, maybe Lago?) was a fairly powrful mage, and though he had an ancestral vow to help those in need, he was a little too cowardly and self-centered to lend a hand in anything that put his life at risk, unless of course, magical power and knowledge was involved. He got shanked in rabbit form while running away from a band of trolls by (probably Paul's character, unless some complications in his backstory comes up), who thought he was just some tasty meal.

As for starting equipment, I have just a few questions. First off, by nothing, do you mean absolutely nothing, (no clothes, no backpack, etc) or just nothing very useful (no weapons, no skill tools, no armor, etc). Also, does this mean I really can't have a spellbook? Beause without that, I'm essentially a commoner.

[Vash]

"You start off with one story item, simple clothing, and I guess spellcasters can have a spellbook." - Azan

[Kagome]

Ok I'm gonna try. Well Amallae was the daughter of a celestial ambassador (mother) from Bytopia and a Gray Elf (father) in a nearby Citadel (on the material plane). She was raised in both the Material Plane and Bytopia. She always had a natural knack for music and dance and was trained to be a bard by the Gnomes in Bytopia. She was raised knowing both worlds/planes and as a child she was told stories by her father. One being when he was a teenager there was a young adult who with some others in the Citadel went off to fight some creature. Only one came back. The others were very happy to see him alive. Though when they watched closely they noticed that he had changed and become very. . . dark. A few days later there was a murder in the Citadel. My father claiming he saw the young man kill the victim. He was then banished from the Citadel where no one saw him again. This intrigued Amallae so that she started to study some of the dark magic. Knowing she was not much of a spell caster or fighter she could not be a Shadowcaster or Shadowblade. Nor was she evil or had a mean spirit so that she could not do anything that would make her act that way. And so Amallae decided to do what would best suit her skills. . . Dancing. And thus she started to study the ways of the Shadowdancer. As she got older she became more and more beautiful . . . and powerful. Many men in the citadel and nearby towns/villages tried to win her heart but none could. Despite her lack of commitment she took on lovers. The closest thing devotion she ever gave anyone was when she told one of her lovers after much coaxing and persuasion that she'd marry him. The reason for that was she'd found out she was pregnant previously. Before she had the chance to tell her lover, he went off to fight a minor battle and was killed. Shocked and depressed Amallae stopped caring for herself and only went out to train in shadowdancing and to get herbs to keep the baby healthy. After some time had passed Amallae realized that her muscles had grown weak and her wings useless and she could no longer fly which only made her more depressed. By the time she gave birth she was so weak that she could not survive the process. When her son was born. She was weak and dying. She took her last few breaths and with little thought named her son after her legendary muse, Ki'Ruir Firavain. Then she took her last breaths, smiling at her son and whispering her love for him. Then finally she died.
Personality: Happy and naive and overall likes everyone. Has a strange curiosity for everything (pretty much) and loves most creatures. Has a strong will, is generally loved (or at least not hated) by all (except demon like creatures). And has trouble bluffing. Tends to let vanity get in the way of first impressions.
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Religion: Pelor
Character Traits:Plucky and easy-going
Character Flaws: Vulnerable (due to useless wings )
Story Item/Weapon: I don't know yet (pm me if you have an idea)

The story of the young man is gonna be Andrews back story and he can post the full thing himself. I haven't quite figured out my story item/weapon thing yet. I'm a half celestial but on my sheet my stats and stuff are gonna be like an Aasimars.

[Azan]

Ok, a new update to the character creation...

I will allow character traits, and character flaws from Unearthed Arcana... in fact im forcing you all to take at least 1 character trait, but limit of 2.

Also as far as character flaws go, they must make sense for your character, explain them in your backstory.
(for those who dont know, traits are like minor minor feats with weaknesses based upon your personality... and flaws give you penalties but you get a free feat for each one you take (max 1))


EDIT: Also eli, in the case of bloodlines, you can start off with all the traits, but you can start with an item worth 2000 gold (no exp bonus as you get the bonus traits starting off). This item should be pertinent to your story, so basically a story item that wont really be upgraded. (but you can upgrade it yourself if you want in game).

[Azan]

UPDATE

Im only allowing 1 character flaw

Also, you are all entitled to one free feat, this feat must be one of the following...
A skill Focus
Toughness

(as no one ever takes these feats anyways, unless you need it for a pre-req, but thats just lame)

[Vash]

Well, everyone keeps telling me to post my character story, so I might as well. (It's not gonna be much at all, just to warn everyone.)

Where to begin...well, first, let's get my classes down. I'mma be a Rogue2/Swashbuckler3/Master of Masks 1 when we start. My death will be in a fire of sorts. Hence why I'll wear a mask and my characters clothes will cover all of his body in order to hide the scars from the fire. Also, I've already talked with Blake and I'll be the one who kills him. Just have to figure out why I was stuck in a forest and had to hunt rabbits to survive. I'm almost thinking maybe exiled from the city for some reason? I dunno. Also, I know I want both of my parents to be alive, just want to avoid the cliche "man, both my parents are dead..." thing for once and see how it works out. I also have the skill Perform (act) and during my characters life he was an actor.

As for name, I was originally thinking Nikolai, but maybe Vladimir, I really don't know yet. I'm human. And my stats so far are: STR:10, DEX:16, CON:10, INT:16, WIS:8, CHA:14. As for traits I was thinking maybe Plucky and maybe Easygoing. And for a flaw either Meager Fortitude or Shaky.

Well, for now that's all, sorry it's not very detialed and so short.


Edit: Alright, I've got some other things figured out. First, my family was fairly wealthy and had high social status, hence why I became an actor. As to why I have experience in rogue/swashbuckler, I'd play those type of characters while acting. And during the acting, we'd use nonlethal weapons. However, at one point there was a mishap and I had accidently killed the other actor. Because of this, my family had felt they would be disgraced because of me and thus I was exiled. At this point I would have had to turn to theivery and eventually would have killed Blake for food.

Alright, if anyone sees anything and thinks "Wow, I could probably link with that part!" please bring it up. I'm particularly interested to hear if anyone has ideas as to how/why I would have died in a fire and how you could link to it.


Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Religion: Olidammara (sp?...)
Personality:
Character Traits: Dishonest, Plucky
Character Flaws: Shaky
Story Item: Cloak of Charisma. (Maybe not a cloak...)

[Azan]

Alright, thanks to all those who have their characters posted up! (Yet still only 3 )...

Anyways, some things to add to your character outlines...
Alignment:
Religion: (Dont forget gods are real! Religion plays an important role)
Personality:
Character Traits:
Character Flaws (if any):
Story Item (dont need to decide now though):

[Niccolo]

Oh, fine...

Alignment: N (maybe NG)
Religion: What gods are in the setting?
Personality: An amiable guy who tries to help those in need, but has a severely over-reactive self-preservation instinct.
Character Traits: Cautious (maybe Quick as well)
Character Flaws (if any): Not sure yet.
Story Item (dont need to decide now though): Straw Hat of Intelligence, baybee!