This was initially an interest check post for the simple idea below. We got some traction, so we have transitioned into applications. For details, please read the paragraphs below and then jump to this post.
The idea: A series of combat heavy challenges. The party enters a chamber with no objective other than simply completing said challenge. No attempt at uncovering some unnecessarily complicated political plot, no pressure to over-RP your encounters. Just fights, hard ones, probably a bit unbalanced too. Power-gamers murder-hobos rejoice! You get to test out that killer character concept you were trying to find a game for and if it doesn't survive and you want to keep going, you can either comeback with the same character or a different concept altogether. It is up to you when to retire that character and try another one. With so many subclasses and combinations out there, this would give you a perfect chance to try them out and test which one fits your combat style the best. I am hardly the first person to try this out, but give it a shot I will nonetheless... if there is interest in it, that is.
The caveat: Fights will be difficult, maybe even a bit unfair, but should be their own reward if bested. Have you always wanted to try your best against that epic Tarrasque but keep only getting into 1st-5th level adventures? This might just be up your alley! The party can be whatever level we agree on, as long as we all feel comfortable with it. A 20th level party may have too many features and skills or spells for us to be able to give them all a fair spin, so we should give this some thought.
The rules: I have a standard set of rules I apply to my PbP games, but we can go over that if enough interest is built up. As for character creation, I think a generous roll would fit the concept above like a glove, so let's just say you can roll 8 sets of 4d6k3 and keep the best 6 out of those. If you don't like your rolls you can go with the standard array, but no point buy.
At any rate, think of this as a brainstorming session. If we get some interest in it and some good ideas, we'll move forward.
Definitely on board, if you would have me - I've been wondering what those kinds of fights would actually look like. Having DM'd before, I've always enjoyed setting up those kinds of encounters, but always been disappointed when the PC's don't pick up that they just walked into a battleground. In terms of levels, I've seen some pretty epic battles pulled off by level 10-ish characters, as that gives people a pretty decent hp base with a nice range of abilities to invoke in a variety of settings. Does that seem to fit what you all were thinking of?
It sounds like we'd have a few applications to this, so let's go ahead and transition into rolling characters. Here's how we do it:
CHARACTER CREATION:
Rolling Stats: You are free to create any character concept that you’d like as long as it is available for use in the D&DBeyond's character creator. In other words, all official content and recent Unearthed Arcana is acceptable, as is Critical Role, Eberron or Ravnica content. The only thing I am ruling out is homebrewed content, within or outside D&DBeyond. Stats will be rolled as 4d6k3 (x8) and you can keep the 6 highest out of those. You must roll your stats in this thread. If you do not like your stat rolls, you are welcome to use the standard array instead (i.e. 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8). No point-buy please.
Level: I like Jabthar's suggestion above. Please create your characters as 10th level to start. We can scale up or down once we have a selected party. This gives a solid base to start and would also give us room to level up as the party beats the challenges.
Mundane Equipment: You each start with 600gp to buy whatever equipment your want, as long as it is not magical. The exception is potion of healing; you can buy those. Please use the prices detailed in the PHB. If you can't find a price for it, let me know and we can agree on one.
Magic Items: You can each start with two magical items. You may pick whatever items you want, as long as one of them is a Common item and the other is an Uncommon item. You'll find more items as challenges are bested.
Other Details: This will be combat heavy, with some minimal story, if any. Therefore, I suggest you build your character for survival. Things like neatly crafted backstories and background features (e.g. the Sage's Researcher feature) are not likely to play a significant role in this game.
Before creating your character, please be sure you agree with the rules below.
GAME RULES:
Frequency of posts: Players and DM will be expected to post at least once a day. From what I’ve seen, however, it is not uncommon for posts to be made more frequently than that, so if you can only post once a day, make sure you are comfortable with others posting more frequently (see rule on plot advancement).
Plot advancement: The pace of plot advancement is determined by players’ posts. Once enough players (not necessarily all) indicate in their posts through characters’ actions or speech that they are ready for the next plot point and/or dungeon room, I’ll advance the plot. Extended periods of silence will also count as agreement to move the plot forward. In such cases, your PC will be assumed to be ‘out-of-shot’ or ‘in the background’, quietly following the party’s decisions.
Expedited rolls (into-and-in-combat): During combat, to keep things moving and to avoid having players' posts consist of only a die roll, I may elect to roll on behalf of the players for things like initiative and saving throws in response to an enemy's action.
Loose initiative (in-combat): During combat, players can post/take their turns as long as it comes up before that of the next enemy. For example, if initiative looks like this: PC1, PC2, Enemy, PC3; then, PC2 is welcome to take their turn without having to wait for PC1 to post, but PC3 would have to wait until the Enemy takes its turn. I’ll then make sense of the posts the next time I make my own post. Making your post flexible and/or conditional on others’ is quite helpful. This should help decrease the amount of downtime during a fight.
The 24-hour rule (in-combat): If 24 hours have elapsed since the DM has asked for your input in combat, then I’ll take control of your PC for that turn. I'll elect to run your PC for that turn as you have been running it beforehand, or in a manner that seems useful for the party overall. I dislike doing this, but it is a necessary last resort to keep the action moving forward in a daily-post game. To help smooth out this process, you are always welcome to let me know beforehand if you think you can't post for an extended period of time; we all have busy lives after all.
Be patient and forgiving: PbP games require some patience and flexibility. Also, everyone makes mistakes, including the DM (I’m always learning from each new game). I like to think I’m quite accommodating so if you see something you don’t like, reach out and we’ll find a solution. A sense of humor also goes a long way.
Finally, here's what I need from you.
APPLICATION:
Name you like to go by (player): Character name: Race: Class/Subclass: Background: Common Magic Item: Uncommon Magic Item: D&D Beyond Character Sheet Link:
The size of the party is still up in the air at this point. If we get enough cool applications, maybe even more than one party can get started.
SO if I am reading this right we roll 4d6, keep the 3 highest, 8 times and keep the 6 best rolls?
Also if this is survival oriented do we (all those applying) want to maybe try to arrange a workable team comp?
In the spirit of this I am ok playing:
Paladin of Conquest - Tank/DPR Gunslinger Fighter (CR) - DPR/ Some CC Lore Bard - HEAVY CC Trickery Cleric - Support/ CC Circle of the Sheperd Druid Support/ CC
For some reason it didnt drop the lowest, but even so I still ended up with: 10 15 14 12 15 14
Name you like to go by (player): Elite is fine. Character name: Lot Race: Human (V.) (Lucky Feat) Class/Subclass: Cleric/ Trickery Domain Background: Charlatan Common Magic Item: Charlatan's Die Uncommon Magic Item: Cloak of Protection D&D Beyond Character Sheet Link: https://ddb.ac/characters/5811216/Twsr6P
Mundane Equipment: do we include the class/background starting items with it or not?
Ability scores: 91215813121315
Name you like to go by (player): Palfatreos Character name: Nox Race: Wood elf Class/Subclass:rogue 5/assasin, ranger 5/gloom stalker Background: Soldier (changed it to 2skills/2 tool although i doubt it gonna effect much) Common Magic Item: Revenant Double-Bladed Scimitar Uncommon Magic Item: Cloak of Protection D&D Beyond Character Sheet Link: https://ddb.ac/characters/5812012/UD4PYU
Name you like to go by (player): Grx Character name: Grixx Race: Variant Human Class/Subclass: Barbarian/Zealot Background:Outlander Common Magic Item: [magicitem]Moon-Touched Sword, Greatsword[/item] Uncommon Magic Item: [magicitem]Cloak of Protection[/item] D&D Beyond Character Sheet Link: https://ddb.ac/characters/5815144/BxP7yN
This was initially an interest check post for the simple idea below. We got some traction, so we have transitioned into applications. For details, please read the paragraphs below and then jump to this post.
The idea: A series of combat heavy challenges. The party enters a chamber with no objective other than simply completing said challenge. No attempt at uncovering some unnecessarily complicated political plot, no pressure to over-RP your encounters. Just fights, hard ones, probably a bit unbalanced too. Power-gamers murder-hobos rejoice! You get to test out that killer character concept you were trying to find a game for and if it doesn't survive and you want to keep going, you can either comeback with the same character or a different concept altogether. It is up to you when to retire that character and try another one. With so many subclasses and combinations out there, this would give you a perfect chance to try them out and test which one fits your combat style the best. I am hardly the first person to try this out, but give it a shot I will nonetheless... if there is interest in it, that is.
The caveat: Fights will be difficult, maybe even a bit unfair, but should be their own reward if bested. Have you always wanted to try your best against that epic Tarrasque but keep only getting into 1st-5th level adventures? This might just be up your alley! The party can be whatever level we agree on, as long as we all feel comfortable with it. A 20th level party may have too many features and skills or spells for us to be able to give them all a fair spin, so we should give this some thought.
The rules: I have a standard set of rules I apply to my PbP games, but we can go over that if enough interest is built up. As for character creation, I think a generous roll would fit the concept above like a glove, so let's just say you can roll 8 sets of 4d6k3 and keep the best 6 out of those. If you don't like your rolls you can go with the standard array, but no point buy.
At any rate, think of this as a brainstorming session. If we get some interest in it and some good ideas, we'll move forward.
I am up for any games you DM my friend.
Now now... you are making me blush.
Im on board with this idea. If you are still looking
Eider, Level 13 Human Abjurer Wizard - Colosseum of Conquest (11W-3L) (Tougher than he looks)
I'd love to play! This sounds like a lot of fun!
Kandalou Dle'tan - Level 9 Githyanki Fighter (Champion) - Rrakkma PbP
Sup Superbad?!
Eider, Level 13 Human Abjurer Wizard - Colosseum of Conquest (11W-3L) (Tougher than he looks)
Not much, man! Lmao. Sucking it up at the coliseum lol
Kandalou Dle'tan - Level 9 Githyanki Fighter (Champion) - Rrakkma PbP
Sounds like a fun way to test out a specific play style, in certain parties
I'm interested as well.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Interested.
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
Im intrested to got bunch theorycrafted multiclass characters wonder how they effectivly work.
Nox - Adult Oblex - The Trials
Jartrin Ephok - Dragonborn - Zanoliv
Bunol - Grim Angel - The Floating Lands of Goriate
Definitely on board, if you would have me - I've been wondering what those kinds of fights would actually look like. Having DM'd before, I've always enjoyed setting up those kinds of encounters, but always been disappointed when the PC's don't pick up that they just walked into a battleground. In terms of levels, I've seen some pretty epic battles pulled off by level 10-ish characters, as that gives people a pretty decent hp base with a nice range of abilities to invoke in a variety of settings. Does that seem to fit what you all were thinking of?
I'd be interested .
It sounds like we'd have a few applications to this, so let's go ahead and transition into rolling characters. Here's how we do it:
CHARACTER CREATION:
Rolling Stats: You are free to create any character concept that you’d like as long as it is available for use in the D&DBeyond's character creator. In other words, all official content and recent Unearthed Arcana is acceptable, as is Critical Role, Eberron or Ravnica content. The only thing I am ruling out is homebrewed content, within or outside D&DBeyond. Stats will be rolled as 4d6k3 (x8) and you can keep the 6 highest out of those. You must roll your stats in this thread. If you do not like your stat rolls, you are welcome to use the standard array instead (i.e. 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8). No point-buy please.
Level: I like Jabthar's suggestion above. Please create your characters as 10th level to start. We can scale up or down once we have a selected party. This gives a solid base to start and would also give us room to level up as the party beats the challenges.
Mundane Equipment: You each start with 600gp to buy whatever equipment your want, as long as it is not magical. The exception is potion of healing; you can buy those. Please use the prices detailed in the PHB. If you can't find a price for it, let me know and we can agree on one.
Magic Items: You can each start with two magical items. You may pick whatever items you want, as long as one of them is a Common item and the other is an Uncommon item. You'll find more items as challenges are bested.
Other Details: This will be combat heavy, with some minimal story, if any. Therefore, I suggest you build your character for survival. Things like neatly crafted backstories and background features (e.g. the Sage's Researcher feature) are not likely to play a significant role in this game.
Before creating your character, please be sure you agree with the rules below.
GAME RULES:
Finally, here's what I need from you.
APPLICATION:
The size of the party is still up in the air at this point. If we get enough cool applications, maybe even more than one party can get started.
Let the d6s roll!
SO if I am reading this right we roll 4d6, keep the 3 highest, 8 times and keep the 6 best rolls?
Also if this is survival oriented do we (all those applying) want to maybe try to arrange a workable team comp?
In the spirit of this I am ok playing:
Paladin of Conquest - Tank/DPR
Gunslinger Fighter (CR) - DPR/ Some CC
Lore Bard - HEAVY CC
Trickery Cleric - Support/ CC
Circle of the Sheperd Druid Support/ CC
(I think we see a pattern here lol)
Eider, Level 13 Human Abjurer Wizard - Colosseum of Conquest (11W-3L) (Tougher than he looks)
To get the ball rolling:
16
15
13
12
11
16
16
6
For some reason it didnt drop the lowest, but even so I still ended up with:
10
15
14
12
15
14
Eider, Level 13 Human Abjurer Wizard - Colosseum of Conquest (11W-3L) (Tougher than he looks)
This is correct.
Mundane Equipment: do we include the class/background starting items with it or not?
Ability scores: 9 12 15 8 13 12 13 15
Nox - Adult Oblex - The Trials
Jartrin Ephok - Dragonborn - Zanoliv
Bunol - Grim Angel - The Floating Lands of Goriate
11121112141011No standard starting equipment. 600gp to buy whatever you want.