I assume that everyone will have their character ready and all relevant information recorded on their character sheet by Sunday. If you’re anything like me you’ll have all of your weapons listed, including relevant hit and damage modifiers.
One detail that you might have overlooked is unarmed combat. Since we’ve already been told that the game will start as we arrive to work early one morning, it’s reasonable to assume that if combat breaks out we’ll be unarmed.
I have added Fists to my list of weapons and know exactly what my hit and damage modifiers are, should it come to that. I encourage everyone else to do the same before Sunday. Let’s do what we can to avoid slowing the game down to look up numbers that we can (and probably should) already have recorded on our character sheets.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Dwarf Name: Torak Nor / Human Name: Jonathon Piston
Human Cleric - Level 1
Init +0
Speed: 5
STR 18 +4
CON 12 +1
DEX 11 +0
INT 8 -1
WIS 14 +2
CHA 14 +2
Hit Points = 24
Bloodied = 12
Healing Surge = 6
Surges/Day = 8
AC = 20 = 10 +8[Plate] +2[Shield]
Fort = 15 = 10 +4[Str] +1[Human]
Ref = 13 = 10 +0[Dex] +1[Human] +2[Shield]
Will = 15 = 10 +2[Wis] +1[Human] +2[Class]
Senses: Passive Insight: +17 Passive Perception: +0
Skills: Arcana +4 Diplomacy +7 Heal +7 Insight +7 Religion +4
Class Features: Channel Divinity, Healer’s Lore, Healing Word
Ritual Book: Gentle Repose, Make Whole
Feats: Armor Proficiency Scale, Armor Proficiency Plate
At Will Powers: Priest Shield, Righteous Brand, Sacred Flame
Encounter Powers: Wrathful Thunder
Daily Powers: Avenging Flame
Attack: Mace +6 (+4 STR, +2 Prof)Damage: 1d8 +4, Versatile
Equipment:
Plate Armor, 50 gp
Heavy Shield , 10 gp
Mace, 5 gp
Standard Adventurer’s Kit, 15 gp
Lantern, 7 gp
Money Left: 13 gp
Background:
My father Benjomin Odonald was a popular adventurer and a very capable fighter. He was well liked in the area and adventured often with Kathra Korranor, niece of the late Shekkal Korranor, who established the guild for explorers and wanderers.
My father joined by dwarven priest Shekkal for many raids against members of the dark Six. Twenties years ago, he retired from adventuring to settle down with a new wife. However, a few members of the dark six were plotting their revenge and made plans to kill my father, slay his wife and sacrifice their unborn child to their gods to make an example of those that disrupt there evil plans.
One evening more than 19 years ago a number of Dark Six clerics were able to sneak into town and murder both my parents. Cutting me from the womb of my mother, miraculously, I survived. Just as the clerics thought they were getting away the guards arrived and thwarted their plans. After a short skirmish with the guards the surviving clerics fled leaving me behind. A short time later good friend Shekkal arrived. Realizing that Benjomin’s child may still be in jeopardy she secretly called in favors among the local politicians. They spread rumours of the child’s death and sent me to live with relatives from a Dwarven clan, where I would be safe.
Fast forward 19 years…. My character has both a human and dwarven name. Torak Nor and Jonathon Piston. He has dropped his last name to keep his past secret for now. One day when he is powerful enough he’ll have his revenge on the dark six and reclaim his family name.I speak a number of dwarven dialects with absolutely no accent. It is noticeable and very rare for a human to master the dwarf’s language so well, so it is obvious to most that I grew up among them.
For the past few years Kathra has been helping by hooking me up with odd jobs at the guild for explorers and wanderers. She says that I’ll be experienced enough one day to become a member. She is careful not too give lots of space to learn, grow and make mistakes on my own.
I don’t know if this will work as a background but it’s the best I could come up with since I still don’t know eberron that well.
Init +0
Speed: 5
STR 18 +4
CON 12 +1
DEX 11 +0
INT 8 -1
WIS 14 +2
CHA 14 +2
Hit Points = 24
Bloodied = 12
Healing Surge = 6
Surges/Day = 8
AC = 20 = 10 +8[Plate] +2[Shield]
Fort = 15 = 10 +4[Str] +1[Human]
Ref = 13 = 10 +0[Dex] +1[Human] +2[Shield]
Will = 15 = 10 +2[Wis] +1[Human] +2[Class]
Senses: Passive Insight: +17 Passive Perception: +0
Skills: Arcana +4 Diplomacy +7 Heal +7 Insight +7 Religion +4
Class Features: Channel Divinity, Healer’s Lore, Healing Word
Ritual Book: Gentle Repose, Make Whole
Feats: Armor Proficiency Scale, Armor Proficiency Plate
At Will Powers: Priest Shield, Righteous Brand, Sacred Flame
Encounter Powers: Wrathful Thunder
Daily Powers: Avenging Flame
Attack: Mace +6 (+4 STR, +2 Prof)Damage: 1d8 +4, Versatile
Equipment:
Plate Armor, 50 gp
Heavy Shield , 10 gp
Mace, 5 gp
Standard Adventurer’s Kit, 15 gp
Lantern, 7 gp
Money Left: 13 gp
Background:
My father Benjomin Odonald was a popular adventurer and a very capable fighter. He was well liked in the area and adventured often with Kathra Korranor, niece of the late Shekkal Korranor, who established the guild for explorers and wanderers.
My father joined by dwarven priest Shekkal for many raids against members of the dark Six. Twenties years ago, he retired from adventuring to settle down with a new wife. However, a few members of the dark six were plotting their revenge and made plans to kill my father, slay his wife and sacrifice their unborn child to their gods to make an example of those that disrupt there evil plans.
One evening more than 19 years ago a number of Dark Six clerics were able to sneak into town and murder both my parents. Cutting me from the womb of my mother, miraculously, I survived. Just as the clerics thought they were getting away the guards arrived and thwarted their plans. After a short skirmish with the guards the surviving clerics fled leaving me behind. A short time later good friend Shekkal arrived. Realizing that Benjomin’s child may still be in jeopardy she secretly called in favors among the local politicians. They spread rumours of the child’s death and sent me to live with relatives from a Dwarven clan, where I would be safe.
Fast forward 19 years…. My character has both a human and dwarven name. Torak Nor and Jonathon Piston. He has dropped his last name to keep his past secret for now. One day when he is powerful enough he’ll have his revenge on the dark six and reclaim his family name.I speak a number of dwarven dialects with absolutely no accent. It is noticeable and very rare for a human to master the dwarf’s language so well, so it is obvious to most that I grew up among them.
For the past few years Kathra has been helping by hooking me up with odd jobs at the guild for explorers and wanderers. She says that I’ll be experienced enough one day to become a member. She is careful not too give lots of space to learn, grow and make mistakes on my own.
I don’t know if this will work as a background but it’s the best I could come up with since I still don’t know eberron that well.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Delian Tra'dal – A brief history in his own words
My Mantra
Some people see the world as black and white. Others see it as shades of gray. What most people don’t realize is that the shades of gray are actually shades of silver. And all those shades are found in the Silver Flame.
My Father
My father, Zhaff (called Jeff by most), is the owner and proprietor of the Drowsy Sage Teahouse in Sigilstar. My father is a people-person in every sense imaginable. He has a positive attitude, a boyish face, and a memorable smile. He knows how to relate to people and he knows how to tell a good story (even though many of the facts continue to get exaggerated in the retelling).
In a city and country predominantly Human, it made perfect sense that my father would have many half-elven friends. The half-elves of Sigilstar took great pride in their heritage and often did things as a collective. So it puzzled me for many years that a few of my father’s closest friends, men and women who visited often, did what they could to keep their identities and even their presence shrouded from the half-elves of my community. It wasn’t until recently that I learned what dragonmarks looked like that I remembered seeing these magical tattoos on the arms, necks, and legs of many of these mystery guests. I know for certain that my father has no such mark on his body, and I often wonder about the exact nature of his relationship with House Medani.
My Mother
My mother, Drianna, was a great warrior who defended Thrane during the war. She wasn’t originally from Thrane, but settled down in Sigilstar when here injuries forced her to take some down-time. I’ve often wondered if her decision to settle down and have a family should be seen as the noble sacrifice or an act of cowardice. She deprived Thrane of her sword when it needed strong warriors, but by settling down and bearing a son, Thrane has me to defender her through the next generation. My opinion on this is clearly not a black and white issue. I never knew my mother as she died during child-birth. But I know that she was from Breland (Wroat, so I’m told) and that she was a fierce warrior. I learned to use the hand-and-a-half sword as a tribute to her legacy.
My Childhood
My father raised me and in many ways I am just like him. If the Silver Flame hadn’t called to me, I have no doubt that I would still be working right beside him. I get along very well with people and thrive in public settings. Working in my father’s Teahouse gave me plenty of opportunities to meet and interact with a wide variety of people over the years. Although I’m small, even by half-elven standards, people quickly look past that and focus on my smile and charm.
My Calling
I was 14 when I first felt the presence of the Silver Flame. It was the same day that a group of teenagers from Flamekeep taunted and teased me for no other reason than I was not human. Up until that day I had unknowingly lead a somewhat sheltered existence, thanks mostly to the fact that my father was known and well liked by many in the community. But these kids beat me and ridiculed me for being impure and none of the passers-by felt the need to stop it. Eventually my tormentors stopped, but it was that day that I learned of the bigotry in the hearts of my fellow countrymen. That evening I dreamt of the Silver Flame becoming part of me and giving me the strength and understanding to forgive those who bade me such ill will. When I awoke, much to my surprise, the warmth of the Silver Flame was still inside of me. Form that day it has been a part of me.
I explained to my father that the Silver Flame had become a part of me and he encouraged me to travel to Flamekeep and learn more about it. During my time in Flamekeep I was taught about the history of the Silver Flame and its place in the world. I was taught to fight and become a warrior in the name of the Silver Flame.
On the Day of Mourning, mere days before I was to be sent to Cyre to fight for Thrane, I had another dream of the Silver Flame. It opened my eyes to the true meaning behind my original vision. The Silver Flame was not trying to teach me to forgive my tormentors. It was not teaching me to be passive. It was helping me understand that victory comes through patience, planning, and thinking. If I had tried to take revenge on those bullies when I was 14, I would have failed. But by learning how to fight and how to think, I was now better prepared to succeed in future conflicts.
This revelation forced me to reexamine my outlook on many things. I was no longer willing to accept anything on blind faith. And it was in the months to come that I witnessed first-hand the corruption within Flamekeep covered behind the veil of the Church of the Silver Flame. It was also during this time that being half-elven in a nation predominantly human taught me a lot about tolerance and prejudice. The world was changing quickly and I felt the need to change with it.
My Current Situation
I left Flamekeep determined to go where real change was happening every day. I traveled by lightning rail to Sharn and arrived with only a few coins in my pocket. I needed to learn about this city, this country, and the many different people who call Sharn home. The best way to do this was to rely on the skills I learned from my father. I looked for a place where people gathered to eat, drink, and trade stories. But I needed more than just a tavern. I needed a place where the seeds of adventure can grow and where I feel the Silver Flame can let me do the most good.
I've met a dwarf named Shekkal Korranor who seems impressed with my knowledge of rare teas. He's offered me a job waiting tables in the Clifftop Adventurer’s Guildhouse. I've never seen or met such a wide variety of people. This seems to be as good a place as any to get to know what the world is really like.
Character Sheet
Some people see the world as black and white. Others see it as shades of gray. What most people don’t realize is that the shades of gray are actually shades of silver. And all those shades are found in the Silver Flame.
My Father
My father, Zhaff (called Jeff by most), is the owner and proprietor of the Drowsy Sage Teahouse in Sigilstar. My father is a people-person in every sense imaginable. He has a positive attitude, a boyish face, and a memorable smile. He knows how to relate to people and he knows how to tell a good story (even though many of the facts continue to get exaggerated in the retelling).
In a city and country predominantly Human, it made perfect sense that my father would have many half-elven friends. The half-elves of Sigilstar took great pride in their heritage and often did things as a collective. So it puzzled me for many years that a few of my father’s closest friends, men and women who visited often, did what they could to keep their identities and even their presence shrouded from the half-elves of my community. It wasn’t until recently that I learned what dragonmarks looked like that I remembered seeing these magical tattoos on the arms, necks, and legs of many of these mystery guests. I know for certain that my father has no such mark on his body, and I often wonder about the exact nature of his relationship with House Medani.
My Mother
My mother, Drianna, was a great warrior who defended Thrane during the war. She wasn’t originally from Thrane, but settled down in Sigilstar when here injuries forced her to take some down-time. I’ve often wondered if her decision to settle down and have a family should be seen as the noble sacrifice or an act of cowardice. She deprived Thrane of her sword when it needed strong warriors, but by settling down and bearing a son, Thrane has me to defender her through the next generation. My opinion on this is clearly not a black and white issue. I never knew my mother as she died during child-birth. But I know that she was from Breland (Wroat, so I’m told) and that she was a fierce warrior. I learned to use the hand-and-a-half sword as a tribute to her legacy.
My Childhood
My father raised me and in many ways I am just like him. If the Silver Flame hadn’t called to me, I have no doubt that I would still be working right beside him. I get along very well with people and thrive in public settings. Working in my father’s Teahouse gave me plenty of opportunities to meet and interact with a wide variety of people over the years. Although I’m small, even by half-elven standards, people quickly look past that and focus on my smile and charm.
My Calling
I was 14 when I first felt the presence of the Silver Flame. It was the same day that a group of teenagers from Flamekeep taunted and teased me for no other reason than I was not human. Up until that day I had unknowingly lead a somewhat sheltered existence, thanks mostly to the fact that my father was known and well liked by many in the community. But these kids beat me and ridiculed me for being impure and none of the passers-by felt the need to stop it. Eventually my tormentors stopped, but it was that day that I learned of the bigotry in the hearts of my fellow countrymen. That evening I dreamt of the Silver Flame becoming part of me and giving me the strength and understanding to forgive those who bade me such ill will. When I awoke, much to my surprise, the warmth of the Silver Flame was still inside of me. Form that day it has been a part of me.
I explained to my father that the Silver Flame had become a part of me and he encouraged me to travel to Flamekeep and learn more about it. During my time in Flamekeep I was taught about the history of the Silver Flame and its place in the world. I was taught to fight and become a warrior in the name of the Silver Flame.
On the Day of Mourning, mere days before I was to be sent to Cyre to fight for Thrane, I had another dream of the Silver Flame. It opened my eyes to the true meaning behind my original vision. The Silver Flame was not trying to teach me to forgive my tormentors. It was not teaching me to be passive. It was helping me understand that victory comes through patience, planning, and thinking. If I had tried to take revenge on those bullies when I was 14, I would have failed. But by learning how to fight and how to think, I was now better prepared to succeed in future conflicts.
This revelation forced me to reexamine my outlook on many things. I was no longer willing to accept anything on blind faith. And it was in the months to come that I witnessed first-hand the corruption within Flamekeep covered behind the veil of the Church of the Silver Flame. It was also during this time that being half-elven in a nation predominantly human taught me a lot about tolerance and prejudice. The world was changing quickly and I felt the need to change with it.
My Current Situation
I left Flamekeep determined to go where real change was happening every day. I traveled by lightning rail to Sharn and arrived with only a few coins in my pocket. I needed to learn about this city, this country, and the many different people who call Sharn home. The best way to do this was to rely on the skills I learned from my father. I looked for a place where people gathered to eat, drink, and trade stories. But I needed more than just a tavern. I needed a place where the seeds of adventure can grow and where I feel the Silver Flame can let me do the most good.
I've met a dwarf named Shekkal Korranor who seems impressed with my knowledge of rare teas. He's offered me a job waiting tables in the Clifftop Adventurer’s Guildhouse. I've never seen or met such a wide variety of people. This seems to be as good a place as any to get to know what the world is really like.
Character Sheet
Critical Hits
Neil had a (good) question about critical hits and sneak attack damage. He wished to clarify if the sneak dice were maximized on a successful crit. After doing some digging in the books and online I have deduced that it is indeed maximized. Here is my take on it:
- Pg 117 of the PHB describes Sneak Attack damage as extra damage caused by a successful attack under the proper conditions. (under S.A. description).
- Pg 278 of the PHB talks about crit damage and states:
Extra Damage:
Magic weapons and implements, as well as high crit weapons, can increase the damage you deal when you score a critical hit. If this extra damage is a die roll, it's not automatically maximum damage; you add the result of the roll.
The only damage not maximized is extra damage that are caused by actually scoring a critical hit. Sneak Attack, Hunter's Quarry, and Warlock's Curse are not caused by critical hits. Thus, they are maximized.
There you go! Of course.. this works both ways! Mwahahah!
Unless someone finds somethings very specific somewhere regarding this I plan on playing this way.Monday, July 7, 2008
Larien Felagund - Background
Background:
When I was born, the Keepers of the Past had proclaimed from the signs that my patron ancestor was Rolen Varalos, and that he would be my guide through life and beyond. Rolen Varalos, a legendary archer, was key in the Dhakaani-Tairn War as he singlehandedly turned the tide of a battle with his bow. His most renown battles were during the defense against the Dhakaani Kech Volaar clan. Rolen valiantly fought on the front lines, maiming and killing several hundred Dhakaani in defense of his homeland – up until the attack of the dragons. He fearlessly fought and was slain by a one-eyed dragon, a dragon which he had fought previously and had deftly shot in one of its two good eyes.
Through the years I have lived my life as a warrior. I know not where my blood family is. I vaguely remember their faces. My first charge is to my patron ancestor, and next to my warband. My blood family has almost been forgotten.
This is only a means to the end – glorious battles in the name of Rolen Varalos.
When I was born, the Keepers of the Past had proclaimed from the signs that my patron ancestor was Rolen Varalos, and that he would be my guide through life and beyond. Rolen Varalos, a legendary archer, was key in the Dhakaani-Tairn War as he singlehandedly turned the tide of a battle with his bow. His most renown battles were during the defense against the Dhakaani Kech Volaar clan. Rolen valiantly fought on the front lines, maiming and killing several hundred Dhakaani in defense of his homeland – up until the attack of the dragons. He fearlessly fought and was slain by a one-eyed dragon, a dragon which he had fought previously and had deftly shot in one of its two good eyes.
Through the years I have lived my life as a warrior. I know not where my blood family is. I vaguely remember their faces. My first charge is to my patron ancestor, and next to my warband. My blood family has almost been forgotten.
I am a warrior.I took leave of my military warband, Amap'Ceo, in order to follow my patron ancestor's guidance to achieve greatness in this world through battles and adventure. I find myself in Sharn at the Clifftop Adventurers' Guild, waking up for the early shift to bake bread and then to assist with meals in the Guildhouse at breakfast. I make acquaintances quickly and easily. Being a woman breaks down some barriers easily put up by the strongest and fiercest of men. I'm seen to all as a "pretty face" and the experienced Guild members take pride in trying to show me the ropes so to speak. At times I use this to my advantage where possible – my body serves its purpose, my mind always focused on combat.
The only friend on my journey is my bow.
I cannot heal.
I cannot cast spells.
I cannot pray to the gods and have them answered.
Death is my business.
Be it your death, or be it mine.
Should our weapons cross and our wills collide, may the better warrior win.
This is only a means to the end – glorious battles in the name of Rolen Varalos.
Larien Felagund - Ranger (level 2)
Female Elf Ranger
STR 12 +1
CON 10
DEX 20 +5
INT 10
WIS 14 +2
CHA 10
HP 27
Bloodied 13
Surges/Day 6
Surge Value 6
AC 19 = 10 +5[DEX] +2[Darkleaf Leather Armor +1]
FORT 13 = 10 +1[STR] +1[class] +1[1/2 lvl]
REF 17 = 10 +5[DEX] +1[class] +1[1/2 lvl]
WILL 13 = 10 +2[WIS] +1[1/2 lvl]
Initiative +6 = 5[DEX] +1[1/2 lvl]
Skills: Acrobatics +11, Athletics +1, Dungeoneering +2, Heal +8, Insight +2, Nature +10, Perception +10, Stealth +11, Thievery +8
Feats: Lethal Hunter, Elven Precision
Racial Features: Low-Light Vision, Longbow/Shortbow Proficiency, Fey Origin, Group Awareness, Wild Step
Class Features: Archer Fighting Style, Hunter’s Quarry, Prime Shot
At-Will Powers: Nimble Strike, Careful Attack
Encounter Power: Evasive Strike, Elven Accuracy
Daily Power: Split the Tree
Equipment:
Basic Adventurer's Kit, 15gp
Darkleaf Leather Armor +1
Dagger x1, 1gp
Longbow, 30gp
Shortbow, xxgp
Arrows 2x30, 2gp
4.0 Player's Handbook Online
So here's a link to a "preview" of the 4.0 PHB. It's a pretty good web-based rendering of the PHB. I've taken a quick look at it and most of the details seems to be correct. However, I have found a few things that are different in the actual book. So I'd recommend that you use this as a guideline only and not gospel.
http://dnd4.com/phb
http://dnd4.com/phb
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)