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Active Games => Beneath the Red Sun => Dungeons and Dragons 4e => Games Games Games? => The Praetorium => : iceemaker August 22, 2010, 03:43:53 PM
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Level 1, same stipulations as before. Use the premise described in the recruitment thread (http://slangdesign.com/forums/index.php?topic=919) to help inform your character. You may also use this topic to hash out any more specifics among each another.
Post your character in the Templar Archives in a separate thread, with his/her name, level, and class in the title.
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Trying to see what role each of us are taking from the recruitment thread:
Ryo - Striker leaning towards Rogue, or Defender.
Mckma - Druid as more Striker than Controller, or Defender.
infiniteJesting - Leader, possibly Bard.
siriq- Rogue or Ranger.
Dom - Possibly Thri-Kreen and/or martial class.
So if we go with first choices, we have two strikers, a leader and a controller that leans towards striker. In my opinion, a striker-heavy party might not be too well balanced. I could take defender or controller, but then someone might want to take a slightly more defensive role, or one that could provide some extra healing.
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Yeah, I agree with you Dom, it might not be too well-balanced.
Also, I'm thinking of playing a warlord instead of a bard. Seems to make more sense with the setting. That good with everyone?
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I don't see a big problem with a lot of strikers as long as they are hardy. As such I can go, Barbarian, Fighter, Warden and maybe battle mind are possible too.
A barb or fighter is good if we are shooting for fast and furious. A warden would work with a lot of range types. A battlemind works for control support. It just depends what everyone wants to do.
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I'm probably going to go defender after all. Maybe a second leader for the heals. I'll look through classes and figure it out sometime early in the week...
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Friday will be the deadline for finalization of your characters. I will then make the first "offical" post the following day. Obviously, if you guys finish your characters prior to the deadline, we will begin sooner.
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Great!
Just as a general question, is there any good D&D character creation software for the mac? I've been trying to find some, but so far, no luck. I'm a first time player, and I only have Player's Handbook 1 and the Dark Sun Campaign Guide, so I don't want to miss out on any cool options.
Thanks in advance.
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Great!
Just as a general question, is there any good D&D character creation software for the mac? I've been trying to find some, but so far, no luck. I'm a first time player, and I only have Player's Handbook 1 and the Dark Sun Campaign Guide, so I don't want to miss out on any cool options.
Thanks in advance.
If you have Excel (or I think OpenOffice works), this spreadsheet is AMAZING for making sure you don't screw up anything too bad...
http://dnd4.com/dd-4th-edition-character-sheet
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Additionally, Wizards has a character builder on their [html=http://www.wizards.com/dnd]web site[/html]. You need to subscribe to D&D Insider to access all of the features, but it a good walkthrough for the basics of character creation.
You can post your character as presented in the Character Builder, a PDF of the character sheet, an Excel spreadsheet, whatever. As long as all of the necessary information is present.
Oh, and I can begin rolling Wild Talents for anybody that would like one.
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Oh, and I can begin rolling Wild Talents for anybody that would like one.
I don't have the campaign setting book yet (not sure when I might get it). Could you possibly go over the themes and/or what the Wild Talents are?
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If you have Excel (or I think OpenOffice works), this spreadsheet is AMAZING for making sure you don't screw up anything too bad...
http://dnd4.com/dd-4th-edition-character-sheet
Thanks, that's a huge help
Oh, and I can begin rolling Wild Talents for anybody that would like one.
I'd love a Wild Talent, thanks.
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My primary choice right now is a Brawling Fighter. I've never played one, and the concept looks interesting with a Gladiator theme.
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@infinitejesting I am at school atm, so I don't have the reference table for Wild Talents. I rolled a 3, though. So you gain whatever that is.
@Mckma Themes are applied to your character during creation. You do not need to spend ANYTHING - no feats, class features, skills, etc. - to gain a theme. Themes give you an encounter power that scales with your level: Gladiators get a heavy melee attack with a push, Athasian Minstrels get a poison attack, etc.
@Dom A player in my Revenge of the Giants campaign is running a brawler and he loves it. It is a pain in the ass to keep track of grabs and having a hand free and all that jazz, though. There is an actual gladiator build for fighters in the Campaign Setting, but you can play whatever you want.
Wild Talents is a ORE game. I have no idea what you are talking about. Seriously, though, Wild Talents are little psionic powers akin to the Wizard's cantrips that allow you to perform some minor effect. Engulf a small object in flames, listen in as if you were standing in the designated location, telekinesis, etc. They are minor, but are cool little extras that really emphasize the prevalence of psionics in Dark Sun.
As mentioned before, I am at school at the moment, so I cannot list all of these features in exacting detail. But once I get home (6:00PM ish EST) I can give you more detail.
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awesome, I have Known Direction, which fits my Dune Trader themed Warlord perfectly. Thanks.
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Im sorry i cant see to find what the starting lvl is. Is it 1 or different? Im going to role a rogue w/ a pickpocket type background.
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Yes it is level 1. Looking for input: Shaman or Battlemind?
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Hmmm, I'd suggest shaman with an emphasis on controlling. It would probably balance the party better. Then again, having someone with psionic power would make sense in dark sun. But yeah, I'd probably go with shaman.
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@Dom A player in my Revenge of the Giants campaign is running a brawler and he loves it. It is a pain in the ass to keep track of grabs and having a hand free and all that jazz, though. There is an actual gladiator build for fighters in the Campaign Setting, but you can play whatever you want.
It's probably much easier to keep track of things like that in a PBP game, and I really like the idea of a Thri-Kreen that use it's extra arms to grab enemies (In fluff)
Just a question, the character builder allows me to take a spiked gauntlet on the "unarmed" hand without any penalties. However, the Dark Sun equivalent of a spiked gauntlet, the Talid, says in the description that "When enchanted as a magic weapon, it does not occupy a character's hand slot." So, that would probably mean that when not enchanted, the Talid does occupy the hand slot. Which seems strange, since the spiked gauntlet does not have those limitations in the character builder.
So, I'm not sure if I can or cannot use it as a Brawling Fighter in my unarmed hand. I'll leave it up to the DM's call.
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Well, the talid is in the "Unarmed" weapon group, and you do need to have a hand free to use an unarmed weapon. That caveat you mentioned basically emphasizes that the Talid augments your unarmed attack and nothing else. So you should be able to use it and still have a "free hand". Though I don't understand the point of Brawler Style augmenting your base unarmed attack if you can just use a spiked gauntlet/talid :/ Whatever.
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Well, it augments the attacks, but not the damage rolls. It would still be a 1d4, compared to the spiked gauntlet's 1d6 damage.
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Battlemind is very controllerish. Its a question of do you like pet management and back line, or being a defender using control?
I have a half-orc barbarian. Half-orcs are in dark sun I assume? Although I guess I could be a bug man if it came down to it.
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[/quote]
I have a half-orc barbarian. Half-orcs are in dark sun I assume? Although I guess I could be a bug man if it came down to it.
[/quote]
I actually don't think they are. The closest equivalent is the half-giant, which is just a re-skinned goliath.
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Yeah, orcs died out a long time ago, I think. So without an influx of orcish blood, the half-orc bloodline would steadily become more diluted until it no longer exists. Unless you're really wedded to the idea and can devise a good justification, I will have to fiat that and ask you choose another race.
Oh and SOMEBODY PLEASE PLAY A PSIONIC CHARACTER PLEASE GOD HAVE YOU SEEN PSIONIC POWER GOD SO AWESOME SOMEBODY PLEEEEEEASE ;) Just living vicariously, as I love all of the psionic classes and would relish the opportunity to play one. But once again, you guys can play whatever you want.
Speaking of which, anybody else want a Wild Talent? Infinitejesting got a power that fits his character perfectly. Not guaranteeing the same will happen to you, but hey, it's fun.
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I'll take a Wild Talent.
And I finally decided on a Thri-Kreen Gladiator, Arena Fighter. I'll post the character sheet soon.
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I do want a wild talent. I think I'm going
Battlemind, but might hybrid with ardent or shaman Psion and Battlemind or Ardent hybrid (unless there is a problem with hybrids). I should have a character up by this afternoon...
EDIT: Do we select background benefits as well?
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I'm at school again, so I'm just rolling die here.
@Dom: 10
@Mckma: 8. Yes, you guys can select a background benefit as well as a theme. Just have at least a basic backstory, of course.
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So after some work on character concepts and looking at some numbers and stuff, I'm yet again thinking about a change (sorry about all of the waffling, I've rolled a few characters before and am trying to figure out something I haven't played that will help the party and go along with a character concept I've been developing). I'm assuming the Gladiator is built as a defender (or a defender variant)? If so, I'm just going to go straight Psion and not try to maximize a split between defending and controlling.
EDIT: And awesome on my wild talent. Was hoping for 8, 9, or 10.
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Psions get ritual caster for free and a choice of Sending or Tenser's Floating disc for free. What is the deal with rituals (since it basically says refer to your DM in the guide)? Do I still get them and have to hide them, or do they use psionic energy, or what?
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Rituals draw on your power source. You're a Psion, so you just close your eyes, think really hard for a bit, and a Disc pops into existence. People nearby would probably be all, "whoa that's weird" as they feel a strange surge of power, but that's about it.
Shame you're not a Wizard, as I would provide the option to Defile with rituals. Assuming you weren't caught and stoned to death, of course. Have I mentioned arcane power is way risky on Athas?
At any rate, though psionics is extremely common, the mastery required to cast rituals is pretty rare. Unless you are a templar or a noble, it is difficult to obtain training in The Way. Not to mention that you will draw undue attention without a formal endorsement from The Powers That Be.
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Rituals draw on your power source. You're a Psion, so you just close your eyes, think really hard for a bit, and a Disc pops into existence. People nearby would probably be all, "whoa that's weird" as they feel a strange surge of power, but that's about it.
Shame you're not a Wizard, as I would provide the option to Defile with rituals. Assuming you weren't caught and stoned to death, of course. Have I mentioned arcane power is way risky on Athas?
At any rate, though psionics is extremely common, the mastery required to cast rituals is pretty rare. Unless you are a templar or a noble, it is difficult to obtain training in The Way. Not to mention that you will draw undue attention without a formal endorsement from The Powers That Be.
Yeah, I want a bit of my character to be the "secret power away," stealing books and stuff and being a bit anarchist and just using rituals (and potentially multi-classing into arcane magic if the opportunity presents itself) just to screw with the order and entrenchment of the sorcerer kings...
So at character creation, I'll just take the two free rituals and go with that. Just so it makes more sense/is potentially more useful would it be potential to make a "psionics" skill that basically functions like arcana but for psionics (as the other power sources have their associated skill and it seems Wizards had left it out for the time being)? If not, I'll just train Arcana for rituals, but I was thinking it would be more interesting and theme appropriate (plus it might be fun later to cause massive destruction because I was trying to perform an arcane ritual while not trained :P). But it is your game, so whatever you want I'll roll with...
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Bleh, I would rather not create a whole new skill for psionics. Since it's so important in Dark Sun, I would argue that psionic power encompasses multiple fields: Arcana, Nature, Perception and even Endurance would factor in to using and understanding psionics.
1. It's naturally-occuring, IE, an inborn power. Namely, an adaptation by the organisms that possess it to the world around them. Understanding the natural environment helps understand how and why creatures, sentient and otherwise, have psionic powers.
2. Psionics manipulates reality, alters the underlying "weave" of existence. Obviously, specialized training in the form of Arcana helps contribute to an understanding of The Way.
3. You probably won't understand what the hell is going on, but people on Athas are familiar enough with psionics to recognize it as such when it is manifested.
4. Moreso than any other magic, psionics is completely reliant on the physical and mental fortitude of the caster to properly wield it. It does originate solely from their minds, after all.
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So should I drop the ritual caster or make standard skill checks?
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Just keep Ritual Caster. I was just arguing against creating a new skill to encompass psionics. I will prohibit you from using religion-based rituals unless you learn them from a high-ranking templar or sorcerer king, though. And you probably won't get any of the more "benevolent" rituals (IE, Raise Dead) anyways.
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Can I take Wild Talent Master (Benefit: You gain three wild talent powers)? If so, do I only get two additional (since I already have one), and if you want to roll for the allowed number would you do so?
Thanks
EDIT: Character is basically done, just have to make few last minute adjustments based on your setting allowances (I'm assuming the "Purify Water" ritual is not allowed). Unfortunately/fortunately the great 4th Ed spreadsheet hasn't been updated for Dark Sun or Psionic Power (both of which I've pulled from), so I'll have to fill out one by hand, which I think I'll do tomorrow or much later this evening and then pass on...
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what he can't be serious
oh dear god it is a feat o_O
Looks like I gotta do some more reading. Let it never be said that I am infallible.
Fuck it, you get the following three additional Wild Talents:
4 - Mental Tools
9 - Telekinetic Grasp
7 - Psionic Spark (AWESOME)
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what he can't be serious
oh dear god it is a feat o_O
Looks like I gotta do some more reading. Let it never be said that I am infallible.
Fuck it, you get the following three additional Wild Talents:
4 - Mental Tools
9 - Telekinetic Grasp
7 - Psionic Spark (AWESOME)
Oh, I'm going to have to do some more work potentially since that gives me some abilities that I was banking on class abilities for (namely mental tools). But I'm tired right now, so I think I'll hold off until later. Character will be up for sure in finality tomorrow though (sorry it took longer than I thought it would)...
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Just posted the character on the Templar Archives. I will write up a back-story in the morning and post it there too.
I built the character by hand, but I double and triple checked the sheet to make sure it was legal. Either ways, you might want to give it a look to be sure that everything is correct.
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Just posted the character on the Templar Archives. I will write up a back-story in the morning and post it there too.
I built the character by hand, but I double and triple checked the sheet to make sure it was legal. Either ways, you might want to give it a look to be sure that everything is correct.
I saw the sheet you used, is that a template that you can fill in fields with? Or did you just do that yourself? I have mine actually filled in in handwriting, but I figured if I could type it up it might be clearer (though to be fair I think my handwriting isn't that bad)...
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I've decided to drop out of this game.
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Just posted the character on the Templar Archives. I will write up a back-story in the morning and post it there too.
I built the character by hand, but I double and triple checked the sheet to make sure it was legal. Either ways, you might want to give it a look to be sure that everything is correct.
I saw the sheet you used, is that a template that you can fill in fields with? Or did you just do that yourself? I have mine actually filled in in handwriting, but I figured if I could type it up it might be clearer (though to be fair I think my handwriting isn't that bad)...
I couldn't find a fill-in character sheet, so I printed out a character sheet as a PDF and edited the text. I used Foxit Phantom, which has a 30-day trial.
If anyone wants me to type up their character sheet in a similar fashion, you can email it to me.
nightraider0[at]gmail.com
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Sorry to hear that, Ryo.
I dig the characters, people. You all have given me tons of potential plot points... and ideas for antagonists >:) Once siriq posts his character, we'll get started.
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character will be up by the end of the day with backstory
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Siriq, if you're still up for this game, I need your character sheet by tomorrow night. Otherwise, I will have to attempt to find more players. Or maybe we can work with three, I dunno.
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So, will the game start soon? Siriq hasn't posted his character sheet yet and according to his profile he was last active August 27.
Maybe we could start, or get more players. But right now the game is looking stalled.
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Yeah, it does look that way. I'd still love to play, the game looks like it could be really fun.