TriciaOso
2023-12-06, 12:54 PM
I had to drop out of online DND a while ago when work hit me like a brick, but I'm trying to get back in the mix, recycling a concept that is big enough for more than one game/party. This was a fun idea and we had some good play until it fizzled last time. I'm going to try and provide a bit more rails in the form of a specific plot hook than last time.
Big 16
1. What game system are you running (D&D, Call of Cthulu, Palladium, GURPS, etc.), and if applicable what edition (Original, Classic, Revised, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 10th, etc.)?
5e
2. What 'type' or variant of game will it be (i.e. "Shadow Chasers" or "Agents of Psi" for d20 Modern)? What is the setting for the game (eg. historic period, published or homebrewed campaign setting, alternate reality, modern world, etc.)?
Homebrewed campaign setting, on a continent of scalykind races (https://pedicaboredde.obsidianportal.com/wikis/lssthp). In this world, the fundamental split between metallic and chromatic dragons is law vs. chaos. At the beginning of the campaign, you are privateers serving the Chromatic Empire.
At the center of the world lies Lssthp, a continent without sun or moon, a vast, well-ordered metropolis ruled by the Chromatic Empire. Only the stars are truly free in Lssthp, the spirit dragons dancing. Only the stars and the living ships. Around Lssthp lies the unmoving waters, the stilled tides of the Calm, that only a living ship can pass freely.
And beyond the Calm lie the Hic Sunt, the wild waters and isolated islands guarded by the Metallic Dragons and the confederation of the Flagless Fleet. These sailing ships don’t live but you could be fooled; the warlocks and clerics of Bahamut can surely make them dance.
They say you can’t navigate the same path through the Hic Sunt twice and you might come out anywhere; but there is a star you can follow, a star that will lead you, by-and-by, to Cape Sorcery and the coast of another world. A lighthouse, a miracle, a mystery.
They say if you steer hard against it, you’ll find the island where the sun is born, and beyond it, another path to the humanoid lands. But the path is harder, and the metallics have their most powerful alliances in that direction. Centuries of their raids have left humans wary of the scalykind. Easier by far to go toward the lighthouse than the volcano.
But why go toward either? Here, between the sun and moon, is the greatest civilization in history; here, ringing it and a-viking upon it, reaping the benefits without the labor, is the freest society on the plane. Inheritors of the Primordials, fearless of the upstart Humanoids, the draconic race dwells here, in the center of the world
Please don't make too many assumptions about the planes and the gods and other things being standard to Faerun; it's a kitchen-sink setting, but a personal one.
3. How many Players are you looking for? Will you be taking alternates, and if so, how many?
3-5.
4. What's the gaming medium (OOTS, chat, e-mail etc.)?
Forum PBP. I may make a Discord if it seems advisable.
I will use DNDBeyond for sheets and maps. There is a DNDBeyond Campaign here: https://www.dndbeyond.com/campaigns/join/4879993909285285
Once you join that campaign you will have access to all the books I have (which is pretty much all of them). You can also switch on UA content.
5. What is the characters' starting status (i.e. experience level)?
4th level. Milestone leveling.
6. How much gold or other starting funds will the characters begin with?
1st level wealth+equipment plus 500 gold.
7. Are there any particular character classes, professions, orders, etc. that you want... or do not want? What are your rules on 'prestige' and/or homebrewed classes?
Any classes/archetypes from published books. If you want to play a cleric or warlock we should talk about setting details.
These are all pretty much suitable for both--priesthood and warlocks are not strongly differentiated concepts among the scalykind, both involving taking on a patron for power. Their concept of divinity has always been either transactional or fear-based.
The Lawful/Chromatics worship five draconic gods; all of these gods are also worshipped by humanoids, who don't necessarily know they originated with the dragons.
Erathis, Lawful Good goddess of civilization and law (blue, good for a Celestial pact)
Tempus, Lawful neutral god of war and fatherhood (white, good for the hexblade)
Rukon, Lawful Evil god of tyranny and fire (red, good for fiendish pact)
Maebe, Neutral Good goddess of arts, tricks, lies and sex (green, good for fey pact)
Orcus, Neutral Evil god of undeath (black, good for undead pact)
There is also a cult of Tiamat which believes that these gods are all facets of the same overdeity, and through which she has manipulated the humanoid kingdoms.
On the Chaotic/Metallic side, the overgod is Bahamut, the platinum dragon. If Tiamat is a gem with five specific facets, the Bahamut is the sea, roiling, endlessly transforming, always new. Bahamut is one of the most popular manifestations of the Sea, but there are dozens of draconic sea gods of varying Chaotic or Neutral alignments.
Because they are less cowed by Draconic authority, the non-draconic scalykind also worship their own gods. There exists in the Sunhome Isles a yuan-ti priesthood worshipping primarily the snake god Apophis, and they have converted many lizardfolk and grung. The Tortles worship Xuanwu, the Black Warrior of the North, a primordial dragonturtle. Both of these gods are chaotic neutral. They also sometimes worship or encounter powerful primordial water or even occasionally earth spirits, as might be appropriate for a genie pact.
8. What races, subraces, species, etc. are allowed for your game? Will you allow homebrewed races or species? 'Prestige' races or species?
Lssthp is ruled by the Lawful (Chromatic) Dragons, but no dragon likes to be ruled and you can’t be a king without anyone to rule. Thus the small population of true dragons is outnumbered (which is not to say overpowered) by their servitor races.
Lssthp operates under a strict caste system--the Dragonfolk are rulers, warriors and priests, the Serpentfolk courtiers, artisans and artists, the Lizardfolk laborers. Kobolds occupy a unique role; as servants of the Dragonborn, they have low status but perhaps greater comfort than many. Few of the Turtlefolk dwell in Lssthp rather than the Hic Sunt, but the ones who do are usually merchants, plying their trade between Cape Sorcery and the port of Great Hoard on the Lssthp living ships. The Grung live only on the islands of the Hic Sunt and are not welcome in Lssthp.
On those anarchic islands and throughout the Flagless Fleet, all races are represented and caste distinctions are meaningless. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t still racism and factionalism, but it is not institutionalized because the vikings do not, in fact, have institutions. Chaotic (Metallic) Dragons live in these waters, but take little interest in and no responsibility for their descendants.
Privateers occupy a third position, nominally part of the Empire but away for long stretches, in wild waters where the law has no eyes. But it is still difficult for anyone but a Dragonborn to get a letter of marque, and the command structure on a Lssthp living ship is never ambiguous.
PCs should be one of the five Scalykind races--Dragonfolk (Dragonborn), Serpentfolk (Yuan-Ti or Naga), Lizardfolk, Kobolds, Turtlefolk (Tortle) -- or a Grung. Custom Lineage is not allowed. Racial stat reassignment (per Tasha’s) is allowed.
Note that the common tongue here is Draconic, so keep in mind you don't need to pick it when choosing languages.
9. By what method should Players generate their attributes/ability scores and Hit Points?
27 Point Buy. HP take your average rather than rolling (with max at 1st as normal).
10. Does your game use alignment? What are your restrictions, if so?
Culturally, the Scalykind tend to care much more about Chaos - Law than Good - Evil. A LG human might believe goodness is of paramount importance and lawful behavior is the best way to assure that, but able to respect a good man who values freedom over conformity. In the same way, a LG Dragonborn is more likely to believe that order is most important and that eusocial behavior is the best way to build an orderly society, but be able to work with a bastard as long as he's a bastard with principles.
That being said, these characters will be ones who are comfortable occupying a grey zone--at the beginning of the campaign, you are privateers serving the Empire, so you are working with/for the chromatic dragons but are already a bit of an outsider, in an environment where free-wheeling is more allowed. Choices along the way will let you continue in that role or go more fully chaotic.
Don't use an evil alignment as an excuse to be vile.
11. Do you allow multi-classing, or have any particular rules in regards to it?
Allowed.
12. Will you be doing all of the die rolling during the course of the game? Will die rolls be altered, or left to the honor system? If players can make die rolls, which ones do they make, how should they make the rolls, and how should they report them?
You can roll on here, on DNDBeyond, on your desk--I don't care. If you are the type of person who would cheat at PBP D&D please don't join. I decline to play dice cop.
If I make a Discord there will be a dice roller in that.
13. Are there any homebrewed or optional/variant rules that your Players should know about? If so, list and explain them, or provide relevant links to learn about these new rules.
Just the ol' potions as a bonus action.
14. Is a character background required? If so, how big? Are you looking for anything in particular (i.e. the backgrounds all ending up with the characters in the same city)?
At the beginning of the campaign, you are privateers serving on the living ship White Cliff, empowered to hunt pirates and vikings or escort ships by a letter of marque from the current Emperor, known as His Viridian Majesty. The White Cliff is a sort of massive leopluridon with a ship mounted on its back and shoulders, with a crew of thirty or so. You are officers; the Captain is a Dragonborn NPC, and the first mate was recently killed in a battle and will be replaced before setting out again.
Your background should explain why you are here and what you were doing before you got here; it doesn't have to be long if it covers the points and gives me some idea of who you are.
15. Does your game involve a lot of hack & slash, puzzle solving, roleplaying, or a combination of the above?
Not a lot of puzzle solving; as much roleplaying as the characters would like to do among themselves, but I don't expect you to have long philosophical discussions with my NPCs. (Which is not to say you can't use the social pillar of the game.) There will be some fighting and hopefully some meaningful choices.
16. Are your Players restricted to particular rulebooks and supplements, or will you be allowing access to non-standard material? What sources can Players use for their characters?
Anything from published books I have on DNDBeyond, which is most of them.
Timeframe:
Let's try to have characters built by the 15th. I expect things to drag over the holidays, but I will have lots of time in the next few weeks myself.
Big 16
1. What game system are you running (D&D, Call of Cthulu, Palladium, GURPS, etc.), and if applicable what edition (Original, Classic, Revised, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 10th, etc.)?
5e
2. What 'type' or variant of game will it be (i.e. "Shadow Chasers" or "Agents of Psi" for d20 Modern)? What is the setting for the game (eg. historic period, published or homebrewed campaign setting, alternate reality, modern world, etc.)?
Homebrewed campaign setting, on a continent of scalykind races (https://pedicaboredde.obsidianportal.com/wikis/lssthp). In this world, the fundamental split between metallic and chromatic dragons is law vs. chaos. At the beginning of the campaign, you are privateers serving the Chromatic Empire.
At the center of the world lies Lssthp, a continent without sun or moon, a vast, well-ordered metropolis ruled by the Chromatic Empire. Only the stars are truly free in Lssthp, the spirit dragons dancing. Only the stars and the living ships. Around Lssthp lies the unmoving waters, the stilled tides of the Calm, that only a living ship can pass freely.
And beyond the Calm lie the Hic Sunt, the wild waters and isolated islands guarded by the Metallic Dragons and the confederation of the Flagless Fleet. These sailing ships don’t live but you could be fooled; the warlocks and clerics of Bahamut can surely make them dance.
They say you can’t navigate the same path through the Hic Sunt twice and you might come out anywhere; but there is a star you can follow, a star that will lead you, by-and-by, to Cape Sorcery and the coast of another world. A lighthouse, a miracle, a mystery.
They say if you steer hard against it, you’ll find the island where the sun is born, and beyond it, another path to the humanoid lands. But the path is harder, and the metallics have their most powerful alliances in that direction. Centuries of their raids have left humans wary of the scalykind. Easier by far to go toward the lighthouse than the volcano.
But why go toward either? Here, between the sun and moon, is the greatest civilization in history; here, ringing it and a-viking upon it, reaping the benefits without the labor, is the freest society on the plane. Inheritors of the Primordials, fearless of the upstart Humanoids, the draconic race dwells here, in the center of the world
Please don't make too many assumptions about the planes and the gods and other things being standard to Faerun; it's a kitchen-sink setting, but a personal one.
3. How many Players are you looking for? Will you be taking alternates, and if so, how many?
3-5.
4. What's the gaming medium (OOTS, chat, e-mail etc.)?
Forum PBP. I may make a Discord if it seems advisable.
I will use DNDBeyond for sheets and maps. There is a DNDBeyond Campaign here: https://www.dndbeyond.com/campaigns/join/4879993909285285
Once you join that campaign you will have access to all the books I have (which is pretty much all of them). You can also switch on UA content.
5. What is the characters' starting status (i.e. experience level)?
4th level. Milestone leveling.
6. How much gold or other starting funds will the characters begin with?
1st level wealth+equipment plus 500 gold.
7. Are there any particular character classes, professions, orders, etc. that you want... or do not want? What are your rules on 'prestige' and/or homebrewed classes?
Any classes/archetypes from published books. If you want to play a cleric or warlock we should talk about setting details.
These are all pretty much suitable for both--priesthood and warlocks are not strongly differentiated concepts among the scalykind, both involving taking on a patron for power. Their concept of divinity has always been either transactional or fear-based.
The Lawful/Chromatics worship five draconic gods; all of these gods are also worshipped by humanoids, who don't necessarily know they originated with the dragons.
Erathis, Lawful Good goddess of civilization and law (blue, good for a Celestial pact)
Tempus, Lawful neutral god of war and fatherhood (white, good for the hexblade)
Rukon, Lawful Evil god of tyranny and fire (red, good for fiendish pact)
Maebe, Neutral Good goddess of arts, tricks, lies and sex (green, good for fey pact)
Orcus, Neutral Evil god of undeath (black, good for undead pact)
There is also a cult of Tiamat which believes that these gods are all facets of the same overdeity, and through which she has manipulated the humanoid kingdoms.
On the Chaotic/Metallic side, the overgod is Bahamut, the platinum dragon. If Tiamat is a gem with five specific facets, the Bahamut is the sea, roiling, endlessly transforming, always new. Bahamut is one of the most popular manifestations of the Sea, but there are dozens of draconic sea gods of varying Chaotic or Neutral alignments.
Because they are less cowed by Draconic authority, the non-draconic scalykind also worship their own gods. There exists in the Sunhome Isles a yuan-ti priesthood worshipping primarily the snake god Apophis, and they have converted many lizardfolk and grung. The Tortles worship Xuanwu, the Black Warrior of the North, a primordial dragonturtle. Both of these gods are chaotic neutral. They also sometimes worship or encounter powerful primordial water or even occasionally earth spirits, as might be appropriate for a genie pact.
8. What races, subraces, species, etc. are allowed for your game? Will you allow homebrewed races or species? 'Prestige' races or species?
Lssthp is ruled by the Lawful (Chromatic) Dragons, but no dragon likes to be ruled and you can’t be a king without anyone to rule. Thus the small population of true dragons is outnumbered (which is not to say overpowered) by their servitor races.
Lssthp operates under a strict caste system--the Dragonfolk are rulers, warriors and priests, the Serpentfolk courtiers, artisans and artists, the Lizardfolk laborers. Kobolds occupy a unique role; as servants of the Dragonborn, they have low status but perhaps greater comfort than many. Few of the Turtlefolk dwell in Lssthp rather than the Hic Sunt, but the ones who do are usually merchants, plying their trade between Cape Sorcery and the port of Great Hoard on the Lssthp living ships. The Grung live only on the islands of the Hic Sunt and are not welcome in Lssthp.
On those anarchic islands and throughout the Flagless Fleet, all races are represented and caste distinctions are meaningless. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t still racism and factionalism, but it is not institutionalized because the vikings do not, in fact, have institutions. Chaotic (Metallic) Dragons live in these waters, but take little interest in and no responsibility for their descendants.
Privateers occupy a third position, nominally part of the Empire but away for long stretches, in wild waters where the law has no eyes. But it is still difficult for anyone but a Dragonborn to get a letter of marque, and the command structure on a Lssthp living ship is never ambiguous.
PCs should be one of the five Scalykind races--Dragonfolk (Dragonborn), Serpentfolk (Yuan-Ti or Naga), Lizardfolk, Kobolds, Turtlefolk (Tortle) -- or a Grung. Custom Lineage is not allowed. Racial stat reassignment (per Tasha’s) is allowed.
Note that the common tongue here is Draconic, so keep in mind you don't need to pick it when choosing languages.
9. By what method should Players generate their attributes/ability scores and Hit Points?
27 Point Buy. HP take your average rather than rolling (with max at 1st as normal).
10. Does your game use alignment? What are your restrictions, if so?
Culturally, the Scalykind tend to care much more about Chaos - Law than Good - Evil. A LG human might believe goodness is of paramount importance and lawful behavior is the best way to assure that, but able to respect a good man who values freedom over conformity. In the same way, a LG Dragonborn is more likely to believe that order is most important and that eusocial behavior is the best way to build an orderly society, but be able to work with a bastard as long as he's a bastard with principles.
That being said, these characters will be ones who are comfortable occupying a grey zone--at the beginning of the campaign, you are privateers serving the Empire, so you are working with/for the chromatic dragons but are already a bit of an outsider, in an environment where free-wheeling is more allowed. Choices along the way will let you continue in that role or go more fully chaotic.
Don't use an evil alignment as an excuse to be vile.
11. Do you allow multi-classing, or have any particular rules in regards to it?
Allowed.
12. Will you be doing all of the die rolling during the course of the game? Will die rolls be altered, or left to the honor system? If players can make die rolls, which ones do they make, how should they make the rolls, and how should they report them?
You can roll on here, on DNDBeyond, on your desk--I don't care. If you are the type of person who would cheat at PBP D&D please don't join. I decline to play dice cop.
If I make a Discord there will be a dice roller in that.
13. Are there any homebrewed or optional/variant rules that your Players should know about? If so, list and explain them, or provide relevant links to learn about these new rules.
Just the ol' potions as a bonus action.
14. Is a character background required? If so, how big? Are you looking for anything in particular (i.e. the backgrounds all ending up with the characters in the same city)?
At the beginning of the campaign, you are privateers serving on the living ship White Cliff, empowered to hunt pirates and vikings or escort ships by a letter of marque from the current Emperor, known as His Viridian Majesty. The White Cliff is a sort of massive leopluridon with a ship mounted on its back and shoulders, with a crew of thirty or so. You are officers; the Captain is a Dragonborn NPC, and the first mate was recently killed in a battle and will be replaced before setting out again.
Your background should explain why you are here and what you were doing before you got here; it doesn't have to be long if it covers the points and gives me some idea of who you are.
15. Does your game involve a lot of hack & slash, puzzle solving, roleplaying, or a combination of the above?
Not a lot of puzzle solving; as much roleplaying as the characters would like to do among themselves, but I don't expect you to have long philosophical discussions with my NPCs. (Which is not to say you can't use the social pillar of the game.) There will be some fighting and hopefully some meaningful choices.
16. Are your Players restricted to particular rulebooks and supplements, or will you be allowing access to non-standard material? What sources can Players use for their characters?
Anything from published books I have on DNDBeyond, which is most of them.
Timeframe:
Let's try to have characters built by the 15th. I expect things to drag over the holidays, but I will have lots of time in the next few weeks myself.