Jabberwocking (OOC)

[Kelemyn]

Hello. Somebody told me I could come play in here. But I don't want to GM. Do I have to take a turn?

[itches]

No one wants to GM, that's the problem

[Gralhruk]

“

Originally Posted by Kelemyn Hello. Somebody told me I could come play in here. But I don't want to GM. Do I have to take a turn?

”

Yay! Just make a character for now and we'll go from there.

“

No one wants to GM, that's the problem

”

That's always the problem. But we'll figure it out, perhaps based on who has the best track record for running games.

[Kelemyn]

So we can start by kicking around some character ideas then. I am thinking about a halfling. Haven't played one in many years.

[Gralhruk]

Okay, so we have a halfling and we have a monk. I'm leaning toward a rogue or bard I think - 5e bard looks pretty cool, actually. Today was pretty crazy work wise though so I didn't get a lot of time to consider it further.

[Kelemyn]

My halfling will likely be a magic user. I tend to prefer sorcerers over wizards but I haven't decided for sure yet. Reading the sorcerers' section of the PHB I get the idea that it's gotten more complicated. Sorcery points?

I actually like the idea of choosing a background. But of course none of them seem to fit my character idea. 😕

[Gralhruk]

Luckily you can customize backgrounds - pretty much make up a name that describes the basic idea of your vision of the background. Then:

1) Choose two skills
2) Choose a total of two tool proficiencies or languages
3) Choose one of the features listed from one of the sample backgrounds or make one up that seems appropriate
4) Select a trait, an ideal, a flaw, and a bond from the lists within the other sample backgrounds or make something up
5) Pick an appropriate equipment package from one of the sample backgrounds or make something up

For one of my characters I made up the background "Drifter":

Background (Drifter)
Skills: Insight, Survival
Tools: Dice set, Thieves' Tools
Feature: You know how to take advantage of the loopholes in society.
You can always find the kind of place you are looking for in a settlement or city (if it exists), and you can usually scrounge food, lodging and transportation free of charge (or by bartering a small service) although it is often of dubious quality.

And the character had these traits, most of which I think I made up:

Personality: I always have a good story about that, even if I have to make it up.
Ideals: Independence: I don't need anyone wiping my nose or telling me what to do.
Bonds: One day I will start a family and clan of my own, free from hidebound tradition.
Flaws: My family is appalled at the things I've done and would be mortified if I returned home

[Tashalar]

All monks sounds like all bards. Hm. I'm not much further concept-wise, really. I think I'll go with human one way or another. Will be back when I've got more.

[Gralhruk]

Do you have a general feel for class? Fighting / Thieving / Holy / Blasting / Etc.?

I'm thinking half-elf for my bard - skills plus charisma seems to seriously fit the bill.

Also, I'm working on a template for a character sheet so there's that.

Also also, I don't think spellcasting is harder than it used to be but I haven't looked at sorcerer so I'll try to do that and give some feedback.

[Kelemyn]

Posting from my phone is such a pain in the butt... I just lost a post and I don't feel up to re typing it. So I'll be back later tonight on my kindle (which I stupidly forgot at home today).

[Tashalar]

Well, I'm thinking roguish, rangerish, druidish type. Maybe someone more at ease with animals than with people. So that he doesn't have to interact with your characters.

A ranger type I have played a lot but I also haven't played one in a long time. Maybe with a roguish background. Rogue gone ranger when breaking the law got him into too much trouble again and again. An outlaw. Hm. Not the RH type though.

[Gralhruk]

I put a thread in the Root Cellar for 5e rules stuff and added a post on Spellcasting as far as I understand it.

Edit: Generally speaking, I think single classed is a better choice in 5e rather than multi-classed. I would say look at the Archetypes (and associated abilities) for each class and use that to decide what class you'd like to be. In a pinch you can pretty much get the skills you want from background if you feel like you really need something.

[itches]

I disapprove of all this activity.

[Tashalar]

You just like to disapprove of things, itches. Which means you're actually happy.

[itches]

The new hosting only has 20mb of bandwidth a month! You're going to push us over the limit!

[Gralhruk]

Don't be frightened by the activity - your body just needs to get used to it. It's like going back to drinking rum after you've been away from alcohol for a year. It takes a little while to build up your tolerance again.

[Gralhruk]

Also, I had a look at the Sorcerer. Spellcasting for the sorcerer works like the other casters as I described it in the thread in The Root Cellar. As a bonus starting at 2nd level, the sorcerer gets a pool of Sorcery Points. He can spend these points to do a few different things and any spent points are refreshed with a long rest.

The most basic use for sorcery points is that they can be spent to gain another spell slot. So if your sorcerer normally has three 1st level slots available, he can spend 2 sorcery points and he will add one more, for a total of four 1st level slots available that day.

As the sorcerer gains levels he also gains other options to spend his sorcery points on. Mostly they can be used to power the Metamagic Options the sorcerer gains at 3rd level. There are options for each Sorcerous Origin that require spell points to use also.

[Kelemyn]

Thanks for the info, Gral. I re-read the entry in the PHB again and it made a lot more sense.

So for the record, I'm probably going to go with a halfling sorcerer with a custom background. Oh and the origin of her magic will be Dragon Bloodline (although she's not actually going to have a dragon ancestor).

Forgot my kindle again today. Sigh.

[itches]

Where in the book is the background stuff? I can't find it.

[Gralhruk]

Chapter 4: Personality and Background (page 121). Backgrounds are discussed on page 125, with the blurb about customizing a background on the bottom right of that same page.

[Tashalar]

I'm away from now until Sunday eve. Have a good weekend everyone!

[Gralhruk]

Have fun! I am getting closer on my character. I'm hoping to finish up next week and have that sheet template ready in that time frame also.

[itches]

So, just dropped the links to the basic rules free version

[Gralhruk]

That's been in the root cellar for nearly two years.

[itches]

It had gone off. This is a fresh link.