It was sunset. Rogard looked out over the town square from the front porch of his wife's tavern. It was quieter out here than inside the busy tavern. It was nearing the end of the main dinner hour, and the homey smells of his son's cooking tickled at his nostrils. He heard a bard tuning up, ready to perform for those who were here for the night's entertainment.
Some children played in the square, unable to keep ignoring the calls of their mother, they jumped down off the large crystal that had forced it way up through the earth in recent months and ran home. As Rogard smoked his pipe and gazed over the crystal, seeing the way it sparkled in the waning sunlight, he pondered how it was such a big deal when it showed up but now it was just part of the scenery. Except, was that a crack? That's new. Rogard thought he'd have to alert the council about that.
I want to run a campaign here on D&D Beyond. I just have those two little paragraphs to inspire me and I'd like some brave souls to come up with character ideas and other things while I create the world and incorporate them into things.
Basically, post if you are interested in joining my homebrew game, it will start at level 3, no restrictions on characters yet, but I'm not looking for fleshed out characters, I'm looking for character ideas I can build a world around and have some interesting synergies form. I'm not sure it'll even be done enough to start before the D&D 2024 PH releases.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards. DM - The Old Keep
so one character idea I had been working out in my mind was for a plasmid creature but flavored as though he were some sort of mud monster / golem. Perhaps there are more crystals being pushed up through the earth and as they crack they release some kind of corrupting magic that results in a sentient mud ooze or something that could be my character?
I have other character ideas but that one is my most abstract idea that could be the result of some crazy dnd plot hooks or something.
Cassian, Variant Human, Oath of Devotion Paladin. Basically he just wanders from place to place, where the gods/winds take him, helping whoever he can along the way. He was born in a really isolated village of mostly humans, so when they saw he had one "devilish" black and white eye everyone was scared of him/avoided him. His parents reluctantly kept him but they were never close and were glad when a wandering paladin took him on as a squire.
I have this idea that he has a curse that can make him relive the dying moments of a person related to an object or even another person he touches (only deaths that have already happened and only non-peaceful deaths). While stuck in a vision he freezes or collapses and is unaware of the present. This is why he wanted to be a paladin, to protect people and prevent more horrible deaths. So he is scared of touching people unless it is necessary for combat/healing. Using channel divinity charges can make him avoid a vision and touching someone to use abilities like Lay on Hands also bypasses visions.
Personality wise he is generally a shy/happy sort and won't tell others about his curse unless absolutely necessary and/or he trusts them. Has trouble standing up for himself but will confidently do so for others. Neutral good alignment, I think; protecting people and spreading hope is more important than following every rule to the letter.
I'm thinking maybe his curse is related to the Shadar-kai in some way, like one of them cursed his family line or one of his ancestors was one. Unlike how they collect objects for memories attached to them, he absorbs the memories into himself (which is probably unhealthy as humans aren't built for that).
I'm super open to suggestions/changes for anything though!
I cut out a mini rant I forgot about from my first draft. I'd like characters that aren't to weird or stray to far from "standard" D&D. I know that limits things, but its just an aesthetic preference. That predisposes me against mud golems, although I appreciate the reflavoring of the plasmoid. I also have a virulent hatred of Blood Hunters and most CR derived content. (Not dissing on Matt Mercer or the show in general, just not a fan of the feel of many of the character options when used outside of their context.)
I like Cassian, the curse is a good idea, but aside from the emotional reaction to it, the curse is a power. It's the ability to touch the dead and see how they died, basically a super investigative power. My instinct is to give it a little more kick and make it a feat.
The warlock idea seems solid.
I'm not making snap decisions on who is in and out right away, just cause I've commented on specific characters doesn't mean they are in or out.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards. DM - The Old Keep
How about Cassian gets Proficiency and/or Advantage for Investigation, but when he gets a vision he is stunned for 1 or 2 (or 1d4 but his party members might hate him lol) rounds?
Better idea (I think): When a vision is triggered, I roll an investigation check to determine how clear/informative it is (ranging from just pain to seeing all the details). Then roll 1d4 to see how many turns he is stunned for.
Naru comes from a village (DM source). Sheep farmers and fishermen predominated the village and surrounding lands. Naru’s mother worked for Old Hadley in the freestanding stone tower he made his home. He was told his father died at sea when he was a baby. The ship he was on was caught in a storm and flotsam from this ship washed ashore. His mother talked about how kind he was to her and how he sang like a choir of angels. She never married again. Old Hadley was viewed as an eccentric old man. He had many strange visitors from out of town including elves and dwarves. Many nights there were strange lights seen through the windows of the upper level of his tower. Orc raiders attacked pre-dawn when Naru was 10. His mother was on her way to Hadley’s when they attacked. Hadley assisted the militia and drove off the attacking raiders with lightning bolts and clouds of toxic vapors. He found Naru’s mother with orc arrows in her back just outside his tower. She survived this attack with Hadley’s care. Following this, Hadley became a father figure to Naru. He discovered Naru’s keen mind and taught him many things. Naru learned languages and history. Hadley also arranged for him to spend time with the fisherman. He grew up comfortable on and about boats and ships. As he grew, he showed an aptitude for magic. Hadley trained him as his apprentice, but he knew that Naru wanted to see other things so he taught him to call a Familiar. Naru would always have a companion. Tika answered his call. She is fierce and seemingly fearless, to a fault. All who come under her gaze can’t help but think that the bird is trying to determine if she can eat them.
OTHER
Naru did not know his father. His mother told him that he was a sailor. She told him of his beautiful eyes, just like Naru's. He was kind and generous and could sing like a choir of angels. She loved him very much. His ship did not return one trip when it was due. It was storm season and no one talked about what could have happened. A few months after he left wreckage from the ship he was on, The Acolyte, washed into shore. All were presumed lost....
Alec's life was one of relative comfort and education. His mother was a scholar, and his father, a skilled blacksmith, provided him with the opportunity to learn both the art of the pen and the craft of the forge. However, it wouldn't be long before he discovered his innate talent for magic. Soon he would end up with gambling debts due to his inability to walk away from the card table. He would leave his quiet upbringing behind to play off those debts for a life as an adventurer, even joining a mercenary. Company for a time.
Nogard Noegnud stood in the shadows between two smaller structures. A half-drow sent by to check on this strange crystal by his masters, he wore his hood low over his face, not wanting attract attention. Drow were not trusted here. He watched as the children left, staring at the crystal. The square was silent now. He noticed the red light of a pipe followed by the clear smoke ring coming from outside the tavern across the street. Why were his masters interested in this thing? his hand absently tapped the hilt of is blade. Maybe he would find out.
Well, you've got a tavern facing a town square revealing a mystery. If you were writing a book, the tavern keeper, maybe, would be the protagonist and whatever the crack represents would initiate his action.
As a game, the question is, what exactly do you want to do with the crystal? I could imagine:
- It's the tip of the iceberg. Some epic, transformative event is taking place as crystals rise everywhere and crack and... what? release baddies, or magical ether, or a forcefield against some other even worse baddie, this at the bidding of a protector god, or... The point being it's a cropped view of a world-shattering epic event. In that case, characters could be nobility facing end-times decisions, or little folk making big decisions.
- This particular crystal is the one-and-only. The whole shebang. But still not good. This village has become subject to some curse or localized phenomenon. Maybe something terrible happened after the two paragraphs above, there was a zombie apocalypse, or a Dao is released after centuries of captivity. Characters are adventurers who band together to defeat the bad guy.
- It's actually a boon. After the crack, pieces chip off. It's valuable. Local battle over land rights, etc. Characters are dispatched by the local noble to either claim it, or if it's not that valuable, ensure orderly sharing of the spoils, or? Characters could be swords & spells for hire who get pulled into the local politics.
One character type that seems to straddle all possibilities is a wizard or bard or artificer with a scientific or technical interest in gems, crystals, etc. Pure curiosity would drive them toward involvement. The mad scientist trope where one person alone actually knows what's happening but no one listens to them.
Crystals can be frequency generators... once enough 'erupt', it sends out a strong enough signal to call to...? Great Old Ones? or rips space time and forms a rift in the fabric of the world so other planar / dimensional / starjammer things come through?
My first impulse was a character that stumbled upon a crystal in an area... and tried to chip off a piece. Instead, they got a sliver lodged in their hand. Before they knew it, their hand.. then their forearm are -- either encased in crystal or have transformed into crystal. Basically an excuse for a sorcerer or warlock background. Powers being 'crystal based' or 'crystal powered'. (standard spell set but described in some crystalline twist)
Another twist on 'crystal infection' -- what if someone ended up having a lost eye with a 'crystal sphere'... and the person can 'see' beyond the seeable -- or into another dimension OR sees spirits most even know (( reason to become a cleric or ghost hunter?)) Character wears an eyepatch of leather and an odd metal... which stops him from going insane from continous views of these 'other' or the 'other world superimposed on our world' at any given time.
If this is the only crystal ... and it IS cracking, is that the birthing of... crystal dragon / crystal demon / crystal angel?
If one of many erupting across the realm, it is an invasion of unknown origin -or- a wall forming to block.... something that is coming and yet unknown.
The old 5e SRD referenced Crystal Golems. Are these erupted crystals 'eggs'? it also said crystal golems can be possessed. Breeding ground for an 'invasion' of alien spirits/souls?
Hey I would like to join id play a tiefling bard who was kicked out of his travelling band of men and is looking for a group to adventure and get inspiration for songs from
Ooo, this sounds fun. I am thinking of a human wild magic sorcerer, the crystal appeared directly where they were stood, and as they fell down it, it caused a magical version of a static charge to build up, giving them some unpredictable magic.
Interested in joining - essentially Anleena is a DnD "ghost buster" come "investigator" into the para-normal.
Anlenna is an Eldarin. She's a member of the Harpers. Anlenna has an interest in the unexplainable, in events that suddenly happen without cause or reason. A natural investigator has made her stand out. Her passion and genuine curiosity in the bizarre has instilled a passion into exploring such events. While expecting nothing in return from those she assists has gained her to be a known trusted reputation in getting things done.
I want to run a campaign here on D&D Beyond. I just have those two little paragraphs to inspire me and I'd like some brave souls to come up with character ideas and other things while I create the world and incorporate them into things.
Basically, post if you are interested in joining my homebrew game, it will start at level 3, no restrictions on characters yet, but I'm not looking for fleshed out characters, I'm looking for character ideas I can build a world around and have some interesting synergies form. I'm not sure it'll even be done enough to start before the D&D 2024 PH releases.
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
I am definitely interested in this. do you want us to post rough character ideas here or message you directly?
I’m looking for an open discussion.
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
so one character idea I had been working out in my mind was for a plasmid creature but flavored as though he were some sort of mud monster / golem. Perhaps there are more crystals being pushed up through the earth and as they crack they release some kind of corrupting magic that results in a sentient mud ooze or something that could be my character?
I have other character ideas but that one is my most abstract idea that could be the result of some crazy dnd plot hooks or something.
WIP
https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/127187158/7xM8o1
Cassian, Variant Human, Oath of Devotion Paladin. Basically he just wanders from place to place, where the gods/winds take him, helping whoever he can along the way. He was born in a really isolated village of mostly humans, so when they saw he had one "devilish" black and white eye everyone was scared of him/avoided him. His parents reluctantly kept him but they were never close and were glad when a wandering paladin took him on as a squire.
I have this idea that he has a curse that can make him relive the dying moments of a person related to an object or even another person he touches (only deaths that have already happened and only non-peaceful deaths). While stuck in a vision he freezes or collapses and is unaware of the present. This is why he wanted to be a paladin, to protect people and prevent more horrible deaths. So he is scared of touching people unless it is necessary for combat/healing. Using channel divinity charges can make him avoid a vision and touching someone to use abilities like Lay on Hands also bypasses visions.
Personality wise he is generally a shy/happy sort and won't tell others about his curse unless absolutely necessary and/or he trusts them. Has trouble standing up for himself but will confidently do so for others. Neutral good alignment, I think; protecting people and spreading hope is more important than following every rule to the letter.
I'm thinking maybe his curse is related to the Shadar-kai in some way, like one of them cursed his family line or one of his ancestors was one. Unlike how they collect objects for memories attached to them, he absorbs the memories into himself (which is probably unhealthy as humans aren't built for that).
I'm super open to suggestions/changes for anything though!
I cut out a mini rant I forgot about from my first draft. I'd like characters that aren't to weird or stray to far from "standard" D&D. I know that limits things, but its just an aesthetic preference. That predisposes me against mud golems, although I appreciate the reflavoring of the plasmoid. I also have a virulent hatred of Blood Hunters and most CR derived content. (Not dissing on Matt Mercer or the show in general, just not a fan of the feel of many of the character options when used outside of their context.)
I like Cassian, the curse is a good idea, but aside from the emotional reaction to it, the curse is a power. It's the ability to touch the dead and see how they died, basically a super investigative power. My instinct is to give it a little more kick and make it a feat.
The warlock idea seems solid.
I'm not making snap decisions on who is in and out right away, just cause I've commented on specific characters doesn't mean they are in or out.
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
Good idea! I'm a newbie so never homebrewed a Feat before. Any suggestions?
How about Cassian gets Proficiency and/or Advantage for Investigation, but when he gets a vision he is stunned for 1 or 2 (or 1d4 but his party members might hate him lol) rounds?Better idea (I think): When a vision is triggered, I roll an investigation check to determine how clear/informative it is (ranging from just pain to seeing all the details). Then roll 1d4 to see how many turns he is stunned for.
Alec's life was one of relative comfort and education. His mother was a scholar, and his father, a skilled blacksmith, provided him with the opportunity to learn both the art of the pen and the craft of the forge. However, it wouldn't be long before he discovered his innate talent for magic. Soon he would end up with gambling debts due to his inability to walk away from the card table. He would leave his quiet upbringing behind to play off those debts for a life as an adventurer, even joining a mercenary. Company for a time.
Nogard Noegnud stood in the shadows between two smaller structures. A half-drow sent by to check on this strange crystal by his masters, he wore his hood low over his face, not wanting attract attention. Drow were not trusted here. He watched as the children left, staring at the crystal. The square was silent now. He noticed the red light of a pipe followed by the clear smoke ring coming from outside the tavern across the street. Why were his masters interested in this thing? his hand absently tapped the hilt of is blade. Maybe he would find out.
Half-Drow Fighter1 / Shadow Monk2.
Interesting...
Well, you've got a tavern facing a town square revealing a mystery. If you were writing a book, the tavern keeper, maybe, would be the protagonist and whatever the crack represents would initiate his action.
As a game, the question is, what exactly do you want to do with the crystal? I could imagine:
- It's the tip of the iceberg. Some epic, transformative event is taking place as crystals rise everywhere and crack and... what? release baddies, or magical ether, or a forcefield against some other even worse baddie, this at the bidding of a protector god, or... The point being it's a cropped view of a world-shattering epic event. In that case, characters could be nobility facing end-times decisions, or little folk making big decisions.
- This particular crystal is the one-and-only. The whole shebang. But still not good. This village has become subject to some curse or localized phenomenon. Maybe something terrible happened after the two paragraphs above, there was a zombie apocalypse, or a Dao is released after centuries of captivity. Characters are adventurers who band together to defeat the bad guy.
- It's actually a boon. After the crack, pieces chip off. It's valuable. Local battle over land rights, etc. Characters are dispatched by the local noble to either claim it, or if it's not that valuable, ensure orderly sharing of the spoils, or? Characters could be swords & spells for hire who get pulled into the local politics.
One character type that seems to straddle all possibilities is a wizard or bard or artificer with a scientific or technical interest in gems, crystals, etc. Pure curiosity would drive them toward involvement. The mad scientist trope where one person alone actually knows what's happening but no one listens to them.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
I have an idea for a cleric, probably Trickery, Knowledge or Arcana domain. I'll come back to this.
When you say
Could you elaborate a bit more on this? I'm a firm believer in "restrictions breed creativity" but that requires the limitations to be known.
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
Crystals can be frequency generators... once enough 'erupt', it sends out a strong enough signal to call to...? Great Old Ones? or rips space time and forms a rift in the fabric of the world so other planar / dimensional / starjammer things come through?
My first impulse was a character that stumbled upon a crystal in an area... and tried to chip off a piece. Instead, they got a sliver lodged in their hand. Before they knew it, their hand.. then their forearm are -- either encased in crystal or have transformed into crystal. Basically an excuse for a sorcerer or warlock background. Powers being 'crystal based' or 'crystal powered'. (standard spell set but described in some crystalline twist)
Another twist on 'crystal infection' -- what if someone ended up having a lost eye with a 'crystal sphere'... and the person can 'see' beyond the seeable -- or into another dimension OR sees spirits most even know (( reason to become a cleric or ghost hunter?)) Character wears an eyepatch of leather and an odd metal... which stops him from going insane from continous views of these 'other' or the 'other world superimposed on our world' at any given time.
If this is the only crystal ... and it IS cracking, is that the birthing of... crystal dragon / crystal demon / crystal angel?
If one of many erupting across the realm, it is an invasion of unknown origin -or- a wall forming to block.... something that is coming and yet unknown.
The old 5e SRD referenced Crystal Golems. Are these erupted crystals 'eggs'?
it also said crystal golems can be possessed. Breeding ground for an 'invasion' of alien spirits/souls?
Hey I would like to join id play a tiefling bard who was kicked out of his travelling band of men and is looking for a group to adventure and get inspiration for songs from
Ooo, this sounds fun. I am thinking of a human wild magic sorcerer, the crystal appeared directly where they were stood, and as they fell down it, it caused a magical version of a static charge to build up, giving them some unpredictable magic.
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
I’m thinking of doing an artificer that weaponises magical objects
Interested in joining - essentially Anleena is a DnD "ghost buster" come "investigator" into the para-normal.
Anlenna is an Eldarin. She's a member of the Harpers. Anlenna has an interest in the unexplainable, in events that suddenly happen without cause or reason. A natural investigator has made her stand out. Her passion and genuine curiosity in the bizarre has instilled a passion into exploring such events. While expecting nothing in return from those she assists has gained her to be a known trusted reputation in getting things done.
DDB Link | https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/129536217/NOPzss
I apologize, I haven't checked in and had the conversations I want to have. Probably have time tomorrow.
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep