OPEN - D&D Next (5th Edition) Sample game

[K Man]

Well, as voted by the people, the return game for K Man will be D&D 5th Edition, AKA D&D Next.

For those of older versions, I think you will either love or hate the streamlined rules in the new edition. No more AoO's for quite a bit of things, more core classes (Warlock etc) more core races (half-dragons!). The game seems to have shifted focus (taking a clue from the great Numenera!) in that it's more about doing good deeds and exploring versus Looting - in fact most monster stats don't include their gear as it's assumed it's of inferior quality and not worth taking to re sell. There are many changes and many ideas from other games you'll see integrated into this version - I made quite a deal of fun of it in my local gaming group, that may translate here and I'm sorry. Overall I get why they did it (money) and I have so much history with this game I hate to totally give it up...it's like a bad relationship.

For those new to D&D (or returning from something as far back as 2nd edition you Thac0 artifacts you!) it's the defacto standard fantasy setting for role-playing for a reason. They have a shit ton of money backing them. You can expect high quality artwork, play tested rules and a world wide fan base; which can also mean more mainstream adventures and a little less cerebral than what you might like in their produced adventure paths. Thankfully I doubt we'll be playing those here as this is a call for both players and the genre / feel of the first adventure(s).

So, that said, everyone interested in playing 5th edition please respond to this thread. You can PM me with questions and I'll do my best to answer as well. Please put in your commitment below with at least the following;

- experience level with 5th edition, or D&D in general
- what you would like to play (standard fantasy kill the bad guy, infiltrate \ rescue mission, exploration and discovery style etc)
- general character idea...and if you don't know or want to see a list first, that's ok too

Character collaboration is encouraged and I'll step in when I can to answer or address.

I'm looking for 5-6 players for now.

(Oh and if anyone has a line to a 5th Edition SRD, it would save me much trouble. If not, I'll hunt down a PDF and make available. )

---

Use a 32 Point buy for your character.

The simple rules are here: dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules

[at]

I'm interested, but i'm not going to take a spot from returning players so count me in if you need to make up the late numbers.

I played a single session of a very early beta of 5th, i'm familiar with the basics of 4th, and very familiar with 3rd and 2nd.

Any game type works for me, but most of the games i'm involved in with my local group tend to devolve into combat so a change of pace with exploration would be nice.

Probably a fighter or a rogue type, as my current board characters are primarily spell-casters and every party needs a sneaky stabby type or a big thickie damage sponge - of course for exploration the rogue-type gets more use.

[(George) 3.5./ ZEM ( 4.0)]

Im interested in playing a druid or barrbarion

[harknail]

I've GM'd the first D&D next beta (very different game than what was published), and I've read the free download for rules. I've played and GM'd AD&D extensively (long ago), played 2nd edition a couple of times, played and GM's 3rd edition extensively (including GMing Return to the Temple of Evil from start to finish), played and GM's 4th edition extensively. Other than AD&D I've been GMing more than playing.

I'm not much good with political intrigue, but any of the suggestions you listed sound great! I have no problems at all if the emphasis is on doing good. Now do I have any problems with assigned missions or specific goals. And exploration is fun to :-)

As for characters, when reading the free download, I came across this: "Or did the god choose you, impelling you into service with no regard for your wishes?" So I thought of an old dwarven solder, a follower of the dwarven god (if not especially pious), who was picked to be a cleric by a different god. Being lawful, the fellow does his best, but he's still a follower of the dwarven god.

Another intriguing concept that caught my eye is a Mountain Dwarf Wizard, a Wizard who can cast spells while wearing medium armor.

However, I'm already in several games (including all the currently active games on this forum, and 3 face to face games, and more by email), so I'm fine sitting out so that those in fewer games can play.

Basic rules for D&D 5th Edition can be downloaded here

These don't give you as many options as with the PHB, but it is enough to make characters and play the game.

[Jasmine]

I'd love to join. Haven't played 5e yet, but I've played 4e and 3.5, and I've read the PHB and I like what I've seen.

I'm a fan of standard fantasy style, especially when trying out a new system.

I'm liking the look of a lot of the classes. I think I'm leaning towards something beefy. Maybe a Human Fighter with a Sailor background. Or something with a Folk Hero background.

Edit: Actually, I wonder what happens if I roll randomly?

Class: gHk8Jx7sp_1-12Cleric
Race: p_1-9Elf
Background: p_1-12Entertainer

Hmm. I can work with this. 1-12�1-9�1-12

[Wizard]

I'd love to play!

---lots of experience w/D&D, none w/5th, reading the PHB right now.
---as for adventure/campaign type---something plot-driven as opposed to sandbox. That's the strength of this kind of play, I think.
---character ideas:

---A "perfect" elven cleric whose hubris is his fatal flaw
---A reluctant-adventurer human wizard, much more concerned his with research and creature comforts than "outings." High Int/low Wis/Cha
---A skilled kobold fighter, who fights with surprising tactical acuity out of loyalty/debt to one of the characters in the party, but will eventually make his way back to the warren to drive away those pesky gnomes.
---A tiefling rogue trying desperately to go straight---and yet, just this time...
---A monk obsessed with finding the lost texts detailing the techniques of alrathe psil, believed to be the fighting style from which all others are descended. But this is merely cover for the monastery's real aim for him...
---A (relatively) famous adventurer bard, who is a bit too famous, as only half the deeds attributed to him actually happened, and only half of those were done by him.
---A homespun druid named Darwin with some...interesting...philosophical perspectives on what exactly constitutes Nature, and how the sentient races should fit in it.
---A half-orc barbarian. Because every party needs one.

[Jasmine]

Oct 28, 2014 17:13:29 GMT -5 Wizard said:

---A "perfect" elven cleric whose hubris is his fatal flaw

I may have to steal that one.

[harknail]

Since someone else wants to play a cleric, and I'm playing that cleric in a 4th Ed game, I'll go with the Dwarven Wizard instead. Still an usual combination. Since I don't have the PHB (yet), I'm limited to the basic races and classes.

Assuming there's room for everyone that is. As I've said, I'm already in many games, so I want to make sure all those with little gaming opportunities get first crack at the limited slots.

[harknail]

How do you want us to handle rolling stats and HP? Roll them on this forum, use point buy and average HP, or something else?

[at]

Speaking of rolling - for those returning to the forum the old dice command didn't survive the forum upgrade, you'll want to be using the new preview-able dice roller which is the icon on the far right of the reply toolbar (with the eye).

You'll be able to see the result of your dice roll in the preview mode of the reply box. The other dice icon should be ignored.

[K Man]

Oct 29, 2014 1:45:11 GMT -5 harknail said:

How do you want us to handle rolling stats and HP? Roll them on this forum, use point buy and average HP, or something else?

I think a point buy is the best for the PbP arena. Let's go with a 35 point buy, a little higher but once we get into the setting, I think you'll enjoy it.

I have been thinking of a way to get both exploration and purpose driven; plus a little modern with touches the likes of Hunger Games and Maze Runner so you'll have to pardon me if you see similarities. I'll try to have a background post up soon.

So I'm counting 5 players so far. I'll give it another day or so to settle into the players that for sure want to play. I'll try to get the background post up before final cut as well in case it doesn't interest some people.

I'll see about removing that die roller button that doesn't work too At. Thanks!

[at]

Oct 29, 2014 9:04:14 GMT -5 K Man said:

I'll see about removing that die roller button that doesn't work too At. Thanks!

It's the VDice plugin, the old script doesn't work with the new board code. I've tweaked some of the settings already but at the time I was just trying to get a working roller asap.

It's got a few benefits over the old one though, notably you can't cheat the dice in the same way as the old one by making multiple replies and you can't edit the random dice value in your post (other than to set a different high/low which is visible to anyone).

[harknail]

A 35 point point-buy is quite generous! Are you also going to allow stats higher than 15 to be bought? The free D&D 5th rules put a max of 15 on point buy.

[K Man]

Oct 29, 2014 11:29:36 GMT -5 harknail said:

A 35 point point-buy is quite generous! Are you also going to allow stats higher than 15 to be bought? The free D&D 5th rules put a max of 15 on point buy.

I dont mind going higher than 15 at creation but keep in mind you cannot get higher than 20 racially or with bonuses to stats as you level, so plan accordingly.

[K Man]

Oct 29, 2014 10:12:09 GMT -5 at said:

It's the VDice plugin, the old script doesn't work with the new board code.

We can just delete the old plugin, it should remove the offending button. I just didn't want to delete it if it would affect the existing dice function. Is the new one independent of the vdice function?

[at]

Oct 29, 2014 12:08:20 GMT -5 K Man said:

Is the new one independent of the vdice function?

They are both created by the same vdice plugin. I'm pretty sure the old dice code is gone entirely from the site.

I did a quick test and both buttons seem to give the same result, I must have copied the same code to both buttons when I got the previewable one working (the other was supposed to be hidden but IIRC it would give erratic results when posts were edited.

[Jasmine]

Eh, actually, tossing the mechanics around a bit, I'm not really sold on the Dex-based Cleric. I'll just go with a Fighter. Human (Variant) Fighter, Sailor background, Neutral alignment.

[harknail]

Oct 29, 2014 12:05:44 GMT -5 K Man said:

Oct 29, 2014 11:29:36 GMT -5 harknail said:

A 35 point point-buy is quite generous! Are you also going to allow stats higher than 15 to be bought? The free D&D 5th rules put a max of 15 on point buy.

I dont mind going higher than 15 at creation but keep in mind you cannot get higher than 20 racially or with bonuses to stats as you level, so plan accordingly.

No problems with 20 max, I won't be getting close to that. But a primary stat higher than 15 would be nice. But to buy stats higher than 15 we need a cost. Just using the 3.5 cost chart would make 14 and 15 stats cheaper. Not pushing for anything specific, just trying to make the character right.

My character is shaping up to a competent front line fighter, though not an outstanding one. He'd easily be able to multiclass into fighter once I get a PHB. Strong, tough, armored, and wielding a warhamer, this is not your typical mage! His day job was a smith, and he's competent but not an outstanding one (the weapons and armor he made himself). But his love is books, so he spends all his free time as a sage, and eventually even a mage. Since Wizard is a hobby, he's considerably older than most starting wizard, he's middle aged, about 200 years old. He's exploring because he's exhausted the resources of his home, he's read every scrap he could get his hand on there. Now he's looking for more. A new book is his most sought after treasure. Not that he's not also looking for gold, but knowledge is his primary goal. Being lawful good, he join in any quest to help others, so it should be easy to get him involved.

Back home he's considered odd, and perhaps occasionally useful. But as a smith he's a worthy member of dwarven society, so he is in no way ostracized.

[Jasmine]

Oct 29, 2014 14:26:42 GMT -5 harknail said:

Oct 29, 2014 12:05:44 GMT -5 K Man said:

I dont mind going higher than 15 at creation but keep in mind you cannot get higher than 20 racially or with bonuses to stats as you level, so plan accordingly.

No problems with 20 max, I won't be getting close to that. But a primary stat higher than 15 would be nice. But to buy stats higher than 15 we need a cost. Just using the 3.5 cost chart would make 14 and 15 stats cheaper. Not pushing for anything specific, just trying to make the character right.

The way the math lines up in this edition, it seems very intentional that players can't point-buy higher than 15. I think it's meant to keep the floor and the ceiling close together from a power level standpoint. DCs are lower and don't scale as much, so an extra +1 is a bigger advantage than in previous editions.

[K Man]

Oct 29, 2014 14:47:13 GMT -5 Jasmine said:

The way the math lines up in this edition, it seems very intentional that players can't point-buy higher than 15. I think it's meant to keep the floor and the ceiling close together from a power level standpoint. DCs are lower and don't scale as much, so an extra +1 is a bigger advantage than in previous editions.

Indeed it is. And magic is much harder to come by so having the plus is a bigger advantage too. Magic weapons are more like those you have seen in the Hobbit and other movies, they are named, have backstories, side effects etc. It's a different world than what it used to be and the math certainly backs that up - you're right. I'm still fine with the points doled out for purchase, you guys will likely need it.