Get out your winter coats!

[The Ascendant]

Im about ready to roll out the intro stories for the Narfell campaign so start formulating ideas... know that you will be forced into slavery and that its going to be very cold up there... I dont mind what characters you want to consider playing or if I ought to roll out the same pre-made characters we had for the last game with a few additions... if not, then non-human races will be perfectly acceptable and realize that you are starting between 2nd and 3rd level... of course playing druids, rangers, and barbarians will be advantageous because of the environment, but anything will really go or work... I think that we would want to include pre-made characters for the campaign, but whatever works.

Start firing up the questions!

[DM Cyphus]

Pre-made characters isn't a bad idea...especially for a dual campaign setting/module such as this. The pre-made characters give DMs and Players alike an idea of what type of power setting this was all geared towards...Of course, if you do use pre-generated characters for the setting...you could just use ours as an example really...a way to show the characters that it was originally playtested towards...

Most settings are geared towards either a Standard or RPGA Standard character creation...that said, my first question would be what the creation rules were going to be for the characters?

What type of backstory is allowed to be generated for characters?

How long have we been in slavery?

What pre-generated character classes would you want to definitely make sure were included in the scenario?

I think that's all I got...tell me what to do and I'm there...I'm itching to be a player. Also, what source material are you wanting to use? Core books...Specific FR books...that sorta thing...

A Druid sounds fun I think...for this tabletop game I'm about to start up either this week or next, I'm trying to decide between a Prestige Druid build and a good old Monk...anyhow...keep me updated...

[delkar]

I'm pretty versitile in what I can play...I'm down to play a wiz, warmage, fighter, or cleric...really depends on what you need.

I'll most likely pick a traditional race...Human probably.

[The Ascendant]

Sourcebooks: This is the hard part for me because I absolutely LOVE Unearthed Arcana (I loved the first one too since it introduced the ridiculously over-powered Paladin/ Cavalier... which I cant seem to get away from even now), but the book isnt traditionally RPGA canon material. Some of the sub-races in there (the Artic ones especially are really good). I also am very inclined towards racial substitution levels (it allows for mini PrCs IMO). Players Guide to Faerun 3.5 and the Campaign Setting are also necessities in character creation, let alone the Core rule books and Complete Series.

As for pre-made characters, I would likely chose a Goblin Rogue, a Goliath Fighter, a Mountain Orc Barbarian, a Half Elf Druid, a Halfling Ranger, a Half Orc Monk, a Gnome Bard, a Stone Dwarven Fighter, an Sun Elf Wizard, and three Humans: an Untheric Cleric, a former Zhent Fighter, and a Shou Rogue. I feel that most pre-made characters should utilize the race's preferred class. Humans ought to make up at least 30% of most parties since they dominate the population of almost all regions. I usually go with the 32 point STAT buy as well, since it allows for well rounded characters and some 18- 20's when racial packages are applied. Gold wont be an issue since the characters will own almost nothing at the start. The characters have been slaves for just a little under 6 months and they know each other very well. Even some of the racial enmity is dilluted a bit since they have had to work together. They certainly hate their Red Wizard slave master much worse than they hate each other.

I will allow for pretty much any backstory as long as it ends up with: "That was all before I came to be a slave to Lord Cronabilis..." The characters can be young or old, ignorant or educated, and in various stages of acceptance as to their fate. Cronabilis is a capable enchanter and master summoner so the characters know running from him to be almost impossible; they have already seen one of their number devoured by his familiar. The story will begin in the Great Dale at an inn on the Cold Road where the characters will hear a terrifying story of the ancient Nar.

[delkar]

I'm aiming towards the cleric or fighter...probably more towards the cleric...but I know nothing about the god Unther...so I don't know if he is 'cool' enough to recieve my worship.

[DM Cyphus]

Hmmm...so just about any core source material, Unearthed Arcana and 3.5 FR stuff is applicable, right?

Also...are you hoping to get a larger group than what we can probly offer. At most, you're probably lookin' at four players or so. Will that be large enough for what you've got in mind?

[DM Cyphus]

Also...what of the "Complete" series...?

EDIT:

Doh! Damn my brain! Also...what of the ever-looming Alignment question? Will this be geared toward a good group? Neutral? Have we been branded by this Red Wizard bastard whom I already hate for enslaving my handsome yet-to-be-determined-racial self? Will I be doing his evil bidding against my will?

[delkar]

What is a "Goliath" ?

[DM Cyphus]

Strange race...their racial weakness seems to be stones slung directly at the center of their head.

Sorry...lame joke.

[delkar]

I know what they are generally. But what 'are' they in DnD terms...stats...size. That fuzzy stuff.

[The Ascendant]

In answer to your questions Luke, I think that there are two other players that I've been emailing that will play in the game as well... so we will prolly have 6 which is perfect IMO... Goliaths are found in the Races of Stone book; they are Large creatures with a 1 LA and are pretty tough-- kind of like the half giants from Darksun. Unther is a region in the FR that was ruled by a small pantheon of Gods who are now mostly dead or banished... Tiamat ruled there for awhile for example... I chose Unther because it allowed for some minor deities who wouldnt be bum rushing their followers all over the place, plus the Untherites have been almost decimated by the Mulhorondi and lots of them are being sold into slavery so it made sense.

As for books, Im sure the SRD based stuff and Core rule books, plus the Complete Series (Divine, Warrior, Arcane, and Adventurers), Races Series (Stone and Wild), FR Campaign Setting and Supplements (especially Oriental Adventures, Unapproachable East and Lost Empires), Players Guide to Faerun, and while I love UArcana, we will leave it out so it has a better chance of being published. Obviously, we will have to use 3.5.

As for the important stuff like Alignment, I like heroes. Neutral characters can be heroes too for differing reasons... like the Orc and Goblin... maybe they work with the group after freedom because they have nowhere to go or like the party better than being bashed around by their fellows... maybe there is some power around and they know that its only a matter of time before some comes their way... motivation is the key not alignment IMO. I like having alignment focused groups personally, but I want this adventure to have some pretty universal appeal. In our original campaign, two of the first party members went completely mad and evil in the ruins of Gyddsel... mmm Gyddsel... hehehe just wait until you fear that place like Keli does.

[The Ascendant]

I would also add that we will definately be using the Books of Vile and Exalted Deeds... those books will be instrumental in the campaign. Beyond that, Faiths and Pantheons, Champions of Ruin, Champions of Valor, and Magic of Faerun will also be used.

[delkar]

I'm going to read more about the goliath and the unther cleric. I will let you know today for sure once I get home.

What are the racial adjustment on stats (if you can remember) for the goliath?

[The Ascendant]

I think +4 STR/CON and -2 DEX/CHA ... with a 1 level adjustment... they can also use Huge weapons which is NASTY.

[delkar]

With monkey grip I assume...right?