hey everyone! so i am really really brand new to dungeons & dragons i have never played, i havent read any lore yet, i just got the manual yesterday from a friend. i've always been interested in the game, but never had a way to really get involved.
my main questions are just about character creation: - can i have an elf who is half of another race? - if i want a tiefling character, do they have to have a tail? (i just really don't like it) - can i make up places (specifically a monastery and its lore), items, important NPCs for my character's background?
these are just my main concerns lmao i'm sure i will have more later. send help. i just wanna make my character.
hey everyone! so i am really really brand new to dungeons & dragons i have never played, i havent read any lore yet, i just got the manual yesterday from a friend. i've always been interested in the game, but never had a way to really get involved.
my main questions are just about character creation: - can i have an elf who is half of another race?
Talk to your DM if you want that other race to be anything other than human. If you want a half-elf, half-human, that's just called a half-elf.
- if i want a tiefling character, do they have to have a tail? (i just really don't like it)
Generally speaking, no, but check with your DM just in case.
- can i make up places (specifically a monastery and its lore), items, important NPCs for my character's background?
Generally speaking, yes, but check with your DM just in case. I can't come up with any reason for a DM to object--most DMs I know love it when their players put that much effort into their characters' backstories--but that doesn't mean that yours won't object.
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"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Most of those questions should be discussed with (and answered by) your DM.
I'll go with my version of things here, but keep in mind your own DM will likely have his own ideas about anything you ask for.
1. A Half-Elf is typically the offspring of elf and human. The book Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide has some variants (page 116), such as half-human/half-drow, or half-human/half-aquatic-elf. Alternatively, you can change the flavor in any way your DM agrees with, if you don't change the mechanics (for example, being half-elf/half-githzerai, as long as you only utilize the rules for the standard (or a variant) half elf.) Another alternative is to homebrew a race to your liking, but I'd advise against this for just-starting players. :p
2. Like above, you can change the flavor on most things to your liking, as long as your DM agrees. If I recall correctly, Tieflings don't have any mechanics based on their tails anyway, so I wouldn't blink twice about a request like that.
3. This, again, is up to the DM. Most DMs not only allow this, but they welcome and endorse it, as long as it remains within the realm of the plausible. The more work players do on lore and their character, the less of a workload for the DM. It also provides interesting plot hooks the DM can later use for their own purposes (and amusement. Be careful what you put in there :p ). It's entirely likely you make up a specific place and story and characters and items, and you'll work with the DM to attach it to the existing map and setting, geography and lore wise.
hey everyone! so i am really really brand new to dungeons & dragons i have never played, i havent read any lore yet, i just got the manual yesterday from a friend. i've always been interested in the game, but never had a way to really get involved.
my main questions are just about character creation: - can i have an elf who is half of another race?
Talk to your DM if you want that other race to be anything other than human. If you want a half-elf, half-human, that's just called a half-elf.
- if i want a tiefling character, do they have to have a tail? (i just really don't like it)
Generally speaking, no, but check with your DM just in case.
- can i make up places (specifically a monastery and its lore), items, important NPCs for my character's background?
Generally speaking, yes, but check with your DM just in case. I can't come up with any reason for a DM to object--most DMs I know love it when their players put that much effort into their characters' backstories--but that doesn't mean that yours won't object.
Anything can be half of anything if your DM approves. As for elf, that's even easier with half-elves already existing. What sort of breed were you planning? And is it strictly for flavor or were you looking for any mechanical benefits like additional abilities to what elves already have?
- can i make up places (specifically a monastery and its lore), items, important NPCs for my character's background?
The less work a DM has to do the better usually but I'd make sure to not go too overboard, such as making your NPC King level important. Though if your DM is down, there is no reason not to.
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hey everyone! so i am really really brand new to dungeons & dragons
i have never played, i havent read any lore yet, i just got the manual yesterday from a friend.
i've always been interested in the game, but never had a way to really get involved.
my main questions are just about character creation:
- can i have an elf who is half of another race?
- if i want a tiefling character, do they have to have a tail? (i just really don't like it)
- can i make up places (specifically a monastery and its lore), items, important NPCs for my character's background?
these are just my main concerns lmao i'm sure i will have more later.
send help. i just wanna make my character.
Talk to your DM if you want that other race to be anything other than human. If you want a half-elf, half-human, that's just called a half-elf.
Generally speaking, no, but check with your DM just in case.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
Welcome to the game! :)
Most of those questions should be discussed with (and answered by) your DM.
I'll go with my version of things here, but keep in mind your own DM will likely have his own ideas about anything you ask for.
1. A Half-Elf is typically the offspring of elf and human. The book Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide has some variants (page 116), such as half-human/half-drow, or half-human/half-aquatic-elf.
Alternatively, you can change the flavor in any way your DM agrees with, if you don't change the mechanics (for example, being half-elf/half-githzerai, as long as you only utilize the rules for the standard (or a variant) half elf.)
Another alternative is to homebrew a race to your liking, but I'd advise against this for just-starting players. :p
2. Like above, you can change the flavor on most things to your liking, as long as your DM agrees. If I recall correctly, Tieflings don't have any mechanics based on their tails anyway, so I wouldn't blink twice about a request like that.
3. This, again, is up to the DM. Most DMs not only allow this, but they welcome and endorse it, as long as it remains within the realm of the plausible. The more work players do on lore and their character, the less of a workload for the DM. It also provides interesting plot hooks the DM can later use for their own purposes (and amusement. Be careful what you put in there :p ). It's entirely likely you make up a specific place and story and characters and items, and you'll work with the DM to attach it to the existing map and setting, geography and lore wise.
I hope this helps.
And remember to have fun! :D
Thank you so much for all of the answers & information!!!