I'm recruiting players for a campaign I plan to run that is inspired by the old Troika Games PC RPG Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura. If you aren't familiar, its basically a fantasy world that has just undergone its own Industrial Revolution, where technology and magic coexist and often come into conflict.
Stats are standard array or point buy, starting level is 1. Post your character name, race/class, and backstory below. I'll leave this up for two or three days assuming I get adequate interest and then close it off, after letting successful characters know. One note though -- given the nature of the campaign (more below), anyone who chooses to play a wizard, sorcerer, warlock and (some) clerics are placing themselves at a disadvantage, at least in the early parts of the campaign, as you will be starting in a kingdom where magic isn't exactly outlawed, but its not precisely welcomed either. Eberron is okay (I'm drawing a lot from it, too), but no UA or CR content. Homebrew may be allowed -- PM me first to explain your rationale.
The setting is the kingdom of Languedoc, fifteen years after the War of Magick and Machines, where the Gnome King Brocc Nackle and his amazing machine legions fought off an invasion from the neighboring kingdom of Granholm, while at the same time crushing an insurrection from the magical cult The Followers of the Knife. In the years since, as worship of The Great Engineer has been instituted as the state religion, and many magickal practitioners have been driven underground, Languedoc has become more and more powerful, while Granholm and the other magic-focused nation-states surrounding it have looked on enviously. King Brocc for his part, has turned inward, deeply affected by the war, the loss of his eldest son and heir Kellen, and the apparent betrayal of his closest friend, Count Felix, the court physician. It has been at least three years since the king has been seen in public.
Now, a new and insidous sickness is sweeping Languedoc's capital of Valance, affecting those who work most closely with machines and the new technology. There are whispers that the King himself is ill, and that the plague is some sort of germ warfare sent from Granholm. The king's two surviving children, Prince Neskor and Princess Folna, have sent out a call for adventurers for a secret mission, asking them to gather at the Diplomat's Hearth, a tavern in the administrative district of Valance. Will you answer the call?
Backstory: Nevlav is the son of a Knight in King Nackle's army. His father died serving the crown and Nevlav has vowed to follow in his mother's footsteps. He grew up devoted to his nation and has found a deep connection to it. He has made his way through training as a warrior and found easy entrance into an order devoted to the king and country.
A bit unconventional stats for a paladin yes but I am hoping to gain firearms if it is a thing in this world. Also while a paladin, I imagine his magical type abilities come from his devotion to the crown rather than a god.
He grew up in a distant land practicing his art to honor his temple. During a demonstration with another temple, he went to far with a fellow newcomer and killed them. He was now alone and forgotten, needing to make atonement for his dishonorable action. The temple told him that his path now lay in what they called the "The Way of Wandering", where by practice and doing good he would either find redemption and atonement or die dishonorably. Powerless to change the past, he now works as a travelling help for hire. By doing so, he hopes to find answers to the events of the past and atone for his mistake.
Yoric plays instruments, sings songs, and weaves magic like few can. That said, it often means he has to hide that fact. He was taught magic by his first love, Claudia. She showed him the music that changes the world, and turned his heart towards her eternally.
Unfortunately, this is Languedoc. And Claudia was found out. Yoric hasn’t seen her since. He now finds any opportunity to change the distrust of people. And this time, that seems to mean jumping in with adventurous types.
Backstory: Orphaned from the the half elf child was placed in a state run orphanage till he came of age. Named Alden Lostchild, a surname placed on him by one of the nuns, he spent his early years getting into too much trouble with local authorities. Finally an Officer Creager took an interest in young Alden and mentored the young half elf until Alden grew of age and was inducted into the local police force. Alden proved a shrewd investigator and capable officer, gaining the rank of Detective. Now there is this "virus" in the city taking hold and people are dying. Alden has been put on special assignment to go to the Diplomat's Hearth, make contact with the liaison there and find out what is taking hold of the city.
Michael lives mostly in the wilds, serving as a guide and protector of the wilder places. He uses his own inventions to help with this work. when he heard that a sickness was pervading the kingdom, he traveled to answer the call for adventurers.
Backstory: In the works...so far - being an outlander he grew up outside of large cities and his owner moved frequently. He owner used Oxi for protection and to do mundane task he was "too great to manage". His owner programmed and trained Oxi with his father's greataxe that has seen its time through battles. After his owner died suddenly, Oxi had no programming of what to do next. He traveled aimlessly through the wilderness looking for purpose. Upon hearing a call for adventurers...Oxi checked his probability of being an adventurer. With 74.35753% chance, he travels to Valance with his greataxe and supply of miracle cleaner to help fight the plague.
Personality: Quirk - Will randomly blurt out parts of a advertisement he heard on his travels about a miracle cleaning solution hosted by Billy Maize. In the works...
Backstory: Thalion Strongbow is an elf of pride and glory, yet also great humility. Feeling the call of wanderlust at a young age, he left the comfort of his forest home to learn of the outside world. To his bemusement the humans and gnomes had seemingly abandoned their usual quaint countryside homes in favor of the machine-driven cities. He watched from afar, helping those who still clung to the old ways by feeding them and clothing them with the game he hunted. But befuddlement turned to horror as the population of the great city Valance began to fall ill. He would stop at nothing to keep the plague from reaching the innocent folk that still lived off the land, including infiltrating the city and hiding his elven identity to search for clues about the plague's origin. Thalion was one of first to associate the sickness with the rise of the gnomes' engineering marvels, seeing them as abominations that destroyed nature wherever they went. Whether or not he was right, he was determined to find the root of the plague. And if you asked Thalion, it was King Brocc himself. So, naturally, when the king's children came calling, he answered.
Backstory: Grinhilla was raised by her grandma and taught the lessons of voodoo and a little witchcraft. She's confident in her abilities and is responding to the request for adventures.
Thanks to everyone who submitted such cool concepts. I have my players. For those of you not selected, I hope I have the opportunity to adventure with you soon elsewhere on the forums!
We have one opening for this game, as we had one of our primary casters take a hiatus. You can check out the thread to see how the adventure is progressing here:
Same requirements as before -- stats are point buy or standard array, and if you're interested, post character name, race, class/sub-class and backstory. Casters and people who demonstrate that they've at least looked at the PbP thread will receive priority. UA, CR, and Homebrew content need final approval. Starting level will be 3 (the party is currently at 2 but about to level up). Current party makeup is Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, and Bard.
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions about the game or your character concept. Thank you!
Name: Wat Firedreamer Race:Human Variant (war caster feat) Class: Sorcerer (dragonic bloodline) Backstory: Wat Firedreamer has been obsessed with fire his whole life. When he was a grown man, he felt a fiery power building in him. He discovered is magic ability while trying to make a fire in his wilderness hut. From that day, he knew he was special and quested to find his origin. He discovered he had odd resistance to fire when attacked by a fire snake while traveling in the wilderness. He is confident he has been touch by dragon blood...but he cannot determine from where.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM - A Quest for the Shunned City (Groups 1 and 2)
Name: Berdor Burrowfound Race: Hill Dwarf Class: Druid - Circle of the Shepherd Backstory: Berdor was exiled by his clan due to his obsession with nature. He would house all sorts of animals in his home as a young boy, which drove his parents crazy. Butterflies, rabbits, even larger beasts such as boar and once a owlbear wondered into town to greet Berdor. He lived most of his young adult live in the wilderness, which was fine by Berdor! He was able to hone his skills and learn his druidic powers all the while enjoying nature at it's finest. Berdor also grew a love for cooking and discovered many usable plants, wild fruits, and minerals mixed well into a fine meal. After hearing word from a traveling merchant of a sickness, Berdor felt it a duty to inspect further. Maybe his famous-to-him barley stew is the cure to this illness?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM - A Quest for the Shunned City (Groups 1 and 2)
Enid grew up as part of a group of child thieves led by a sinister adult master, a Fagin from Oliver Twist type. She learned how to operate as a pickpocket, perform petty acts of burglary and scams and grifting. As she grew older her role shifted from thief to protector for the gang. She learned the halfling language from halfling gang members who could pass for children.
In her mid-teens she became more aware of her explosive temper, and a shaman, a druid passing through her city on unknown business, told her to find her totem spirit in order to channel her rage. She ignored the stranger's advice initially, but after having troubling dreams of a mother bear defending her young, one day when she saw the thief gang ringleader abusing a child the way she had grown up abused, she snapped. She slew the man in an act of rage, which was the end of the gang, and the beginning of her career as an adventurer.
I imagine an Eliza from Pygmalion style unrefined girl who grew up on the streets, likely the abandoned daughter of a prostitute who bears exotic features of the far east, the crude accent of a street urchin, and the temper of a beast when enraged.
Backstory: Galium was raised to be a part of the Church of the Engineer, which he loved to take part in. He loved tinkering with trinkets and toys, his favourite being a music box. Galium never really rose in the ranks, preferring his moderate accommodations. He reveres the clergy and trusts anybody who says they are part of the cult of engineering to a fault. He has never really got outside of the church that is until he started to show some signs of the plague surrounding those who work with machines. Now he's trying to find a way to solve the plague before his time is up.
Hi all,
I'm recruiting players for a campaign I plan to run that is inspired by the old Troika Games PC RPG Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura. If you aren't familiar, its basically a fantasy world that has just undergone its own Industrial Revolution, where technology and magic coexist and often come into conflict.
Stats are standard array or point buy, starting level is 1. Post your character name, race/class, and backstory below. I'll leave this up for two or three days assuming I get adequate interest and then close it off, after letting successful characters know. One note though -- given the nature of the campaign (more below), anyone who chooses to play a wizard, sorcerer, warlock and (some) clerics are placing themselves at a disadvantage, at least in the early parts of the campaign, as you will be starting in a kingdom where magic isn't exactly outlawed, but its not precisely welcomed either. Eberron is okay (I'm drawing a lot from it, too), but no UA or CR content. Homebrew may be allowed -- PM me first to explain your rationale.
The setting is the kingdom of Languedoc, fifteen years after the War of Magick and Machines, where the Gnome King Brocc Nackle and his amazing machine legions fought off an invasion from the neighboring kingdom of Granholm, while at the same time crushing an insurrection from the magical cult The Followers of the Knife. In the years since, as worship of The Great Engineer has been instituted as the state religion, and many magickal practitioners have been driven underground, Languedoc has become more and more powerful, while Granholm and the other magic-focused nation-states surrounding it have looked on enviously. King Brocc for his part, has turned inward, deeply affected by the war, the loss of his eldest son and heir Kellen, and the apparent betrayal of his closest friend, Count Felix, the court physician. It has been at least three years since the king has been seen in public.
Now, a new and insidous sickness is sweeping Languedoc's capital of Valance, affecting those who work most closely with machines and the new technology. There are whispers that the King himself is ill, and that the plague is some sort of germ warfare sent from Granholm. The king's two surviving children, Prince Neskor and Princess Folna, have sent out a call for adventurers for a secret mission, asking them to gather at the Diplomat's Hearth, a tavern in the administrative district of Valance. Will you answer the call?
Name: Nevlav Inimeg
Race/Class: Rock Gnome/ Paladin
Backstory: Nevlav is the son of a Knight in King Nackle's army. His father died serving the crown and Nevlav has vowed to follow in his mother's footsteps. He grew up devoted to his nation and has found a deep connection to it. He has made his way through training as a warrior and found easy entrance into an order devoted to the king and country.
Sheet: https://ddb.ac/characters/23358861/aREFCx
A bit unconventional stats for a paladin yes but I am hoping to gain firearms if it is a thing in this world. Also while a paladin, I imagine his magical type abilities come from his devotion to the crown rather than a god.
Character Name: Swift Rain (Rain)
Race: Tabaxi (Tiger based)
Class: Monk
Backstory:
He grew up in a distant land practicing his art to honor his temple. During a demonstration with another temple, he went to far with a fellow newcomer and killed them. He was now alone and forgotten, needing to make atonement for his dishonorable action. The temple told him that his path now lay in what they called the "The Way of Wandering", where by practice and doing good he would either find redemption and atonement or die dishonorably. Powerless to change the past, he now works as a travelling help for hire. By doing so, he hopes to find answers to the events of the past and atone for his mistake.
Campaigns:
Wildemount: The Felderwin Irregulars (2020) - Balassar Silverstone - Dragonborn Fighter (Rune Knight) Lv. 5 | Rise of TIamat - Aiwin Aralana - Wood Elf Fighter/Ranger (Arcane Archer/Gloom Stalker) Lv. 9
Yoric - Lightfoot Halfling - Bard - Entertainer
Yoric plays instruments, sings songs, and weaves magic like few can. That said, it often means he has to hide that fact. He was taught magic by his first love, Claudia. She showed him the music that changes the world, and turned his heart towards her eternally.
Unfortunately, this is Languedoc. And Claudia was found out. Yoric hasn’t seen her since. He now finds any opportunity to change the distrust of people. And this time, that seems to mean jumping in with adventurous types.
Paladin - warforged - orange
Name: Alden Lostchild
Race: Half Elf
Class: Rogue
Backstory: Orphaned from the the half elf child was placed in a state run orphanage till he came of age. Named Alden Lostchild, a surname placed on him by one of the nuns, he spent his early years getting into too much trouble with local authorities. Finally an Officer Creager took an interest in young Alden and mentored the young half elf until Alden grew of age and was inducted into the local police force. Alden proved a shrewd investigator and capable officer, gaining the rank of Detective. Now there is this "virus" in the city taking hold and people are dying. Alden has been put on special assignment to go to the Diplomat's Hearth, make contact with the liaison there and find out what is taking hold of the city.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/profile/leapingmountain/characters/23375685
Name: Michael Dawn
Race: Variant Human
Class: Artificer
Background: Custom Outlander
Backstory:
Michael lives mostly in the wilds, serving as a guide and protector of the wilder places. He uses his own inventions to help with this work. when he heard that a sickness was pervading the kingdom, he traveled to answer the call for adventurers.
Name: Oxi Kleen
Race: Warforge (not UA variant)
Class: Barbarian
Background: Outlander
Backstory: In the works...so far - being an outlander he grew up outside of large cities and his owner moved frequently. He owner used Oxi for protection and to do mundane task he was "too great to manage". His owner programmed and trained Oxi with his father's greataxe that has seen its time through battles. After his owner died suddenly, Oxi had no programming of what to do next. He traveled aimlessly through the wilderness looking for purpose. Upon hearing a call for adventurers...Oxi checked his probability of being an adventurer. With 74.35753% chance, he travels to Valance with his greataxe and supply of miracle cleaner to help fight the plague.
Personality: Quirk - Will randomly blurt out parts of a advertisement he heard on his travels about a miracle cleaning solution hosted by Billy Maize.
In the works...
https://ddb.ac/characters/23378598/Wieq24
DM - A Quest for the Shunned City (Groups 1 and 2)
Dragonborn monk soldier background
character sheet: https://ddb.ac/characters/23360257/BXPBoU
Name: Thalion Strongbow
Race/Class: Wood Elf Ranger
Background: Folk Hero
Backstory: Thalion Strongbow is an elf of pride and glory, yet also great humility. Feeling the call of wanderlust at a young age, he left the comfort of his forest home to learn of the outside world. To his bemusement the humans and gnomes had seemingly abandoned their usual quaint countryside homes in favor of the machine-driven cities. He watched from afar, helping those who still clung to the old ways by feeding them and clothing them with the game he hunted. But befuddlement turned to horror as the population of the great city Valance began to fall ill. He would stop at nothing to keep the plague from reaching the innocent folk that still lived off the land, including infiltrating the city and hiding his elven identity to search for clues about the plague's origin. Thalion was one of first to associate the sickness with the rise of the gnomes' engineering marvels, seeing them as abominations that destroyed nature wherever they went. Whether or not he was right, he was determined to find the root of the plague. And if you asked Thalion, it was King Brocc himself. So, naturally, when the king's children came calling, he answered.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/profile/stronglyworded/characters/23415170
Is it ok if I just pop in and watch sometimes making comments?
Name: Grinhilla Bristletoes
Race: Halfling (Lightfoot)
Class: Warlock
Backstory: Grinhilla was raised by her grandma and taught the lessons of voodoo and a little witchcraft. She's confident in her abilities and is responding to the request for adventures.
Thanks to everyone who submitted such cool concepts. I have my players. For those of you not selected, I hope I have the opportunity to adventure with you soon elsewhere on the forums!
Hi all,
We have one opening for this game, as we had one of our primary casters take a hiatus. You can check out the thread to see how the adventure is progressing here:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/58017-a-clockwork-plague
Same requirements as before -- stats are point buy or standard array, and if you're interested, post character name, race, class/sub-class and backstory. Casters and people who demonstrate that they've at least looked at the PbP thread will receive priority. UA, CR, and Homebrew content need final approval. Starting level will be 3 (the party is currently at 2 but about to level up). Current party makeup is Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, and Bard.
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions about the game or your character concept. Thank you!
Reading through the thread now. I posted in the original recruitment thread as well :)
https://ddb.ac/characters/28242264/5kTl6c
Name: Wat Firedreamer
Race:Human Variant (war caster feat)
Class: Sorcerer (dragonic bloodline)
Backstory: Wat Firedreamer has been obsessed with fire his whole life. When he was a grown man, he felt a fiery power building in him. He discovered is magic ability while trying to make a fire in his wilderness hut. From that day, he knew he was special and quested to find his origin. He discovered he had odd resistance to fire when attacked by a fire snake while traveling in the wilderness. He is confident he has been touch by dragon blood...but he cannot determine from where.
DM - A Quest for the Shunned City (Groups 1 and 2)
I also have a druid circle of the shepherd.
https://ddb.ac/characters/28265234/tSjLU5
Name: Berdor Burrowfound
Race: Hill Dwarf
Class: Druid - Circle of the Shepherd
Backstory: Berdor was exiled by his clan due to his obsession with nature. He would house all sorts of animals in his home as a young boy, which drove his parents crazy. Butterflies, rabbits, even larger beasts such as boar and once a owlbear wondered into town to greet Berdor. He lived most of his young adult live in the wilderness, which was fine by Berdor! He was able to hone his skills and learn his druidic powers all the while enjoying nature at it's finest. Berdor also grew a love for cooking and discovered many usable plants, wild fruits, and minerals mixed well into a fine meal. After hearing word from a traveling merchant of a sickness, Berdor felt it a duty to inspect further. Maybe his famous-to-him barley stew is the cure to this illness?
DM - A Quest for the Shunned City (Groups 1 and 2)
I loved Arcanum! Cult classic, for sure.
https://ddb.ac/characters/28576322/vxfpDe
Name: Enid Vance
Race: Human
Background: Urchin
Class: Barbarian
Enid grew up as part of a group of child thieves led by a sinister adult master, a Fagin from Oliver Twist type. She learned how to operate as a pickpocket, perform petty acts of burglary and scams and grifting. As she grew older her role shifted from thief to protector for the gang. She learned the halfling language from halfling gang members who could pass for children.
In her mid-teens she became more aware of her explosive temper, and a shaman, a druid passing through her city on unknown business, told her to find her totem spirit in order to channel her rage. She ignored the stranger's advice initially, but after having troubling dreams of a mother bear defending her young, one day when she saw the thief gang ringleader abusing a child the way she had grown up abused, she snapped. She slew the man in an act of rage, which was the end of the gang, and the beginning of her career as an adventurer.
I imagine an Eliza from Pygmalion style unrefined girl who grew up on the streets, likely the abandoned daughter of a prostitute who bears exotic features of the far east, the crude accent of a street urchin, and the temper of a beast when enraged.
I am interested
https://ddb.ac/characters/7277910/ZgRcvH
Dragonborn Barb
Level 5
Name: Glaium Stroham
Race: Rock gnome
Background: acolyte
Class: Artificer (Battlesmith)
Backstory: Galium was raised to be a part of the Church of the Engineer, which he loved to take part in. He loved tinkering with trinkets and toys, his favourite being a music box. Galium never really rose in the ranks, preferring his moderate accommodations. He reveres the clergy and trusts anybody who says they are part of the cult of engineering to a fault. He has never really got outside of the church that is until he started to show some signs of the plague surrounding those who work with machines. Now he's trying to find a way to solve the plague before his time is up.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/profile/DeadOnes/characters/70292373
Please mark this thread as closed
Name: Morazur
Race: Githyanki
Class: Wizard (Necromancer)
https://ddb.ac/characters/73393214/HEmk3x