[D&D-5e] Lost Mines of Phandelver

[Alemar]

Part 1: The Player What do you like or dislike in a game? This might sound odd, but I like to be railroaded to an extent. I like to have specific goals to achieve, or plot targets to pursue, and to feel like we as a team are getting somewhere with them. Openworld sandbox games are fine, but getting bogged down by trying to agree on what to do next when there are five or ten different ways to proceed and each PC wants to do a different thing? It just drains all the energy and momentum out of a game for me... I don't play DnD to have to try and convince the party to stay on topic, I play to tell a story and 'hopefully' kill some baddies before they kill me. How did you get started gaming? My older cousin used to babysit me until I was 14(ish) and that involved a lot of playing NES together and talking/strategizing about RPGs like Final Fantasy. Are there any books/movies/shows that particularly inspire your style? I'm going to assume you mean writing style here. No not really, I mean I enjoy movies, books, and shows, but aside from a general appreciation for fantasy I don't think it has influenced my style so to speak? What has your experience been like here on RPGX? Mixed bag really. Lots of really interesting and fun games that died out before I got to really sink my teeth into them. A few bad games that I didn't enjoy being a part of (no I won't talk about that... better to leave them in the past) and a LARGE majority of games I just didn't get selected for. So you take the good, you take the bad, you take what's left, and there you have... my RPGX-perience

Part 2: The Application Name: Alestair Goldleaf Character concept: Half-elf Warlock (Pact of Chain) Age 22 Alestair tries to buy his friends and purpose in life (WaterDhavian Noble: SCAG Pg.154) Backstory (keep to ~500 words please):Born youngest son to a minor house of Waterdeep, Alestair grew up feeling inadequate. He was not the firstborn to take over the family's holdings, nor was he overly smart, religious, or of note in any way against his siblings. Late one night as he lay in bed, he heard a voice speaking into his mind from the darkness. This voice promised him power, glory, the chance to be exceptional, in exchange for something that Alestair would "gladly give". Willing to take this voice at it's word, Alestair agreed to this exchange and eagerly fell fast asleep. When he awoke, his skin had lost most of it's color, and his hair, a once golden sheen was now black as coal Personality: Generally jovial, Alestair's optimism is a hope that one day he will find someone who likes him for him, not for his money, or his strange appearance. Character Relationship: Celia Strong is Barmaid who Alestair is smitten with. While her lowborn status would normally be a problem for his family, the fact that he really isn't in line for anything important means that minor indiscretions could be overlooked... And, if Alestair manages to grab hold of power, then it really wont matter what his family thinks anyways... Example post: "You a Drow?" The barkeep looked up nervously as a new patron sauntered up to his station and planted himself on a stool with weightless ease. "No... But you'd be surprised how often I get that. Or, maybe you wouldn't?" The stranger replied before removing his ring and placing it on the countertop in front of him. "A round for me, and one for that table over there" Alestair ordered, pointing to a rowdy group of Half-Orc mercenaries who had heard the dreaded description, and were now eyeing the interaction with intense interest. "I'm celebrating, just got a new job. Check the book, you'll see I'm good for it." "Begging your pardon, Sir. But what kind of Noble brags about having to find work? Respectfully, Milord?" The barkeep stammered, bowing his head out of habitual respect, and noting the signet ring in his ledger for later payment. "One that has every material possession in this world, but no place or purpose within it...." came the pained reply.

Additional Information: While Alestair thinks his outward appearance was the cost of his contract, I was using it as more of a binding mark (XGE: Pg.54) and would be open to having a further cost be extracted from him as long as it falls under the "you'll happily pay it" guise. If anyone would like to forge a relationship with Alestair? I would he happy to oblige.

[RossN]

Originally Posted by Jennifer

A couple things:

1 - If you are heavy on rogue applicants I can easily swap her into sword/board fighter. Just let me know. I don't even have to change anything about Mayve's personality except replace some of her natural cowardice in combat into cavalier/recklessness in combat.

2 - Competition looks good out there! Liking some of the other submissions, will be rereading some of them for hooks that interface well with Mayve, maybe use those hooks to better entrench her with potential party mates.


PS: Until applications are locked, I reserve the privilege to make wild alterations to the character as she forms in the ether. :P lol. No seriously, I've had characters go from dark shadowy gruff types when I first post, to dancing brilliances of insanity (like Spike's girlfriend Drusilla, only less sane and way more crazy.)

What I'm saying, @Morgantha, if you like something or dislike something or just want to alter something, just let me know. This is your world, I just want to fit my character into it somehow.

Actually I'm also open to changing around Tavaro/Tavara's class and species if needed - the charlatan background and Reincarnation are more the essence of the character. I very nearly made them a Wizard and could definitely go in a different direction if needed.

(The ultimate First World problem - only one D&D character to make and so many ideas you want to try!)

[Jennifer]

Originally Posted by RossN

(The ultimate First World problem - only one D&D character to make and so many ideas you want to try!)

Aint that the truth! Though if that is the first, the second is molding your idea into what others have posted so that they're a team, not a grab bag of individuals thrown together in a room and forced to figure out how to forge a team.


@Alemar -

I toyed with going drow myself. If you want I could rework Mayve from Wood Elf to Drow and they could both be sort of on the run from the underdark; which could be especially fun if they were maybe brother/sister both lower ends of the family (hey elves live for freaking ever okay, not hard to assume they have dozens of older brothers and sisters if that's what the story needs, right?)

[Alemar]

Originally Posted by Jennifer

@Alemar -

I toyed with going drow myself. If you want I could rework Mayve from Wood Elf to Drow and they could both be sort of on the run from the underdark; which could be especially fun if they were maybe brother/sister both lower ends of the family (hey elves live for freaking ever okay, not hard to assume they have dozens of older brothers and sisters if that's what the story needs, right?)

He's mechanically a Half-Elf not a Drow, he just get's mistaken for one as his appearance was altered by his Patron... However If you wanted to make Mayve a Drow that thinks she found another one of her kind, that might be fun? Or Alestair could be a half-brother to her if you really wanted a familial connection... but light sensitivity is quite the hurdle to overcome, and I dont want to cripple your character in such a way when mine doesn't have those same drawbacks *shrug*

[morgantha]

@Blackdragon Great sword is fine with me.

@Jennifer Sounds good! I will keep in mind that Mayve's class is flexible.

@Drifter Interesting character! Can Hammer communicate with Sheeba? Is she conscious in the sword?

@Alemar Thanks for the app! Do you have an idea who or what is Alestair's patron or are you looking for me to surprise you?

@AllI'll be doing a final read through before I pick to make sure I catch changes, so feel free to make adjustments even for "complete" characters. Right now I'm not too concerned about overlapping classes--I'm more interested in who your characters are and we can cross the bridge of mechanics and party skill makeup when we come to it.

Also I am trying to respond to everyone who posts, but I didn't anticipate so much interest. Thank you all so much! Feel free to prod me if I miss a question or an edit.

[BlackDragon0]

Updated app and ch sheet.

[Alemar]

Originally Posted by morgantha

@Alemar Thanks for the app! Do you have an idea who or what is Alestair's patron or are you looking for me to surprise you?

I prefer the benefits granted by Fiend, but as it was communicating telepathically, it could likely be a Great Old One. Then again, the fact it altered Alestair's appearance to look like a Drow means it could even be Lolth. As I don't think there's a rule saying a God can't become a Warlock Patron... Since this is planned to stay a low level game, it doesn't really matter quite as much. So surprise me with whatever your DM mind gets the most excited by

[girlplay]

Character connections:

@ElderOblex: I replied to your PM. But in reply to this point, that they are something of social outsiders, or raciall outliers, as you put it, that makes sense to me. They're often misunderstood and have things assumed of them that aren't true. Maybe they even did that to each other, then realized that they were being judgmental when that don't like when people do that to them. So, it's kind of a... mutual interest in learning about each other with a bit of trying to be better about accepting somebody for who they are.

@Onward: Okay. Good! I think we can work with that. Tia would definitely want to hear about strange magics and witches and whatever other tales the twins want to share. And I think that Tia would likely respond well to be flirted with by somebody so unique. She's attracted to the exotic.

@Jennifer: Smelly Dwarves? Yes, Tia agrees. Dwarves are disgusting. It seems to me that Tia would want somebody like Mayve to call Tia out any time that she starts acting too Dwarfy. Mayve seems like somebody who is just about the opposite of how a Dwarf would act, so emulating some of Mayve's behaviors would be good for Tia, in her view. They seem like they could offset each other's faults and be good foils for each other. Tia reminds Mayve not to be so reckless, and she reminds Tia to live a little.

@BlackDragon0: Every caravan needs a guide unless it's the most safe route in the world. I like the idea of them having been drinking buddies. What if they got themselves into trouble while intoxicated, getting up to some light-hearted mischief that landed them in hot water for a bit. Maybe it's not resolved and part of leaving town to do a job is to avoid the law catching up with them.

@RossN: Hey! Care to get involved in Beast (BlackDragon0) and Tia's night of causing trouble? Also, I noticed that both of our character are trying to figure out a way to permanently change themselves, physically. That seems like a goal that they might agree to work on together. Thoughts?

@Alemar: Hmm... your character strikes me as being a bit like Arronax the Mind Flayer (ElderOblex) in that they're shunned by first impressions and aren't readily accepted. So, that's kind of close to how Tia might know him as well - they started off on the wrong foot and then have been trying to make it up to each other.

[ElderOblex]

@girlplay Yes, exactly! Like how you called Arronax a 'mind flayer' when that's such a derogatory slur! He hasn't flayed a sentient mind in SOOO long!

[Onward]

@girlplay: So Evelyn's got a chance, nice.

@RossN: I can certainly see a blossoming friendship between our character's, especially since the topic of a witch might prove interesting to them, at least that's what Ed thinks. Eve just really wants to be friendly with Tavara, cause she's so cute.

[BlackDragon0]

@ girlplay I think you got that backwards my ch don't drink at all. Was hoping that was something they had in common.

As to mischief it's possible... but other than scaring someone well he's not the mischief type.

And anything to do with getting chased out of town is kinda the opposite of who he was trying to be. As he's had plenty try to kill him just fir how scary he looks. I mean he's a 7ft tall red fire breathing dragon.... just his color looks evil not to mention the horns teeth and did I mention he breathes fire....


"FIRE! FIRRRREEEE!!! FIRE BADDDD!" sorry ( Frank from transylvania)

[ElderOblex]

Originally Posted by Onward

@girlplay: So Evelyn's got a chance, nice.

@RossN: I can certainly see a blossoming friendship between our character's, especially since the topic of a witch might prove interesting to them, at least that's what Ed thinks. Eve just really wants to be friendly with Tavara, cause she's so cute.

What, are you saying Arronax isn't cute???

[Zangul]

About you as a player? I like all aspects of gaming, combat, puzzle solving and most of all roleplay and character development with other players. I got started back as a teenager in 1993, ad&d we didn't know what we were doing but had fun trying. 2003 I'm in the navy ran across some gamers and learned 3.0 and 3.5. skip a few years learned 5e. I joined Rpgx in 2018 or 19. Played about 5 games that all died out never finished. Last year I tried to run one, but players dropped out so I quit it. I am hoping to find a group and game to actually finish if not continue on past into many settings or adventures. My inspiration comes from all sorts of books and movies. This character is inspired by the movie Terminator 2. A unstoppable protector.


NAME: T-101 (series model)

Side note on name it will go with whatever the group of friends decide to give it.

CONCEPT: Juggernaut Warforged Paladin eventually Oath of Conquest.

BACKSTORY: T-101 was the first of its kind built by the temple. Created by a priest and artificer to protect the temple. After a successful defense of the temple other Warforged were created by the temple. By the end of the war the temple fell.the Warforgeds that survived protected the priest and monks to safety. Then we're eventually abandoned by the priests and monks. T-101 was a lucky one, a half-elf named Alestair had purchased me from the priest before the abandonment.

PERSONALITY: T-101 has very little experience with the world around him. Doesn't know how to act or at least it's a little awkward. Doesn't understand the emotions but tries. He tells the odds of the danger before standing in front of its companions to protect them.

CHARACTER CONNECTION: Alestair had purchased T-101 from the priest and was handed it's papers. T-101 now has a new task and that's to be a protector of Alestair. While also trying to find an identity other than T-101.

Anyone else T-101 would most likely get along with as well as try and protect. For protecting people is his Drive or feel of purpose.

[Onward]

Originally Posted by ElderOblex

What, are you saying Arronax isn't cute???

Evelyn gives Arronax a 2/5, the monocle is mostly the reason why it's lower. It's Eve's personal preference to not date folks with monocles, she just doesn't like the look.

[Drifter One]

@Morgantha - yes Hammer can communicate with the sword. Her soul is fully conscious and aware, but no-one else can hear her. For this reason, Hammer is dubbed "mad" as he mutters to himself (Sheeba) constantly.