I’m looking for 3-5 players for an exploration-heavy campaign set in a generic medieval fantasy world. The story begins in Harthwaite, a village of around 700 people, surrounded by forested hills. Where it goes from there is up to you.
Character options are limited to the PHB. Ability scores can be randomly generated (4d6, drop lowest, no re-rolls), point buy, or standard array. If you roll, you must do so in the thread below, and you must keep the result. Play will begin at 1st level and will use XP advancement. Downtime training is also required to advance.
Posting will be one or two times a day. I’ll describe the environment, and you’ll describe what your character does in first or third person as you prefer. If a die roll is required to resolve your character’s action, I’ll ask for an ability check. I realize this departs from practices which are meant to speed up gameplay in PbP, but I feel that more is lost by this method than is gained. If you think that’s a problem, then this probably isn’t the game for you.
To apply, just let me know you’re interested in the thread below. You don’t need to make a character until you’re selected, at which point I’ll post a link to the campaign for you to join. You will be required to select personal characteristics for your character, including a bond, a flaw, and an ideal, because they will determine on what issues the game will focus. You won’t need to come up with an elaborate backstory, but you should have an idea of why your character is in Harthwaite. S/he can be from there or just passing through. You’ll also need to supply a reason why your character wants to leave.
If this sounds like something that interests you, just let me know in the thread below and say a few words about what you’re looking for in a game so I can tell if my game will be a good fit for you. If not, that’s okay. I know it isn’t for everyone, but thanks for reading this far.
This sounds like an interesting variation to the typical campaign--seems like a heavy role-play sand-box style, so the game could be amazing or terrible, depending on how we work together. Frequent posting is not an issue, and the open-ended possibilities are intriguing...
Let's have a bit of fun and roll some stats:
Ability scores: 17141613127
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Sounds like my type of game, but what exactly am I exploring for? Did something like mysterious ruins pop up over night? Did a messenger relay possibilities of treasure? Are we being sent out by a stereotypical adventurer guild?
Characteristics: Is driven by a warrior spirit and will fight for any noble cause. Discusses things out loud with his quori spirit. Has his own ideas about what is and is not food, and finds the eating habits of those around him wasteful.
Ideal:Suspicious. I must be careful, for I have no way of telling friend from foe here. (Any) Nihilistic. Nothing really matters. (Neutral)
Bond: Though I had no choice, I lament having to leave my loved one(s) behind. I hope to see them again one day. I’m fascinated by the beauty and wonder of this new land.
Flaw: I have a weakness for liquor and hard drink. I pretend not to understand the local language in order to avoid interactions I would rather not have. I have a weakness for the exotic beauty of the people of these lands.
Reason for being there: After being exiled, simply wandered long enough until he ended up there. Now, he considers the area home and stays there enjoying the "simple" life.
Sounds like my type of game, but what exactly am I exploring for? Did something like mysterious ruins pop up over night? Did a messenger relay possibilities of treasure? Are we being sent out by a stereotypical adventurer guild?
It could be any of these or none of the above. You don’t even need to be exploring for anything. It’s entirely up to you what motivates your character to leave the village. You don’t even need to tell me, although I think it might be interesting for myself and the other players to know. I’m asking for you to have a reason for leaving because the focus of the game will be on traveling out into the surrounding wilderness rather than staying in the village, if that makes sense.
Characteristics: Is driven by a warrior spirit and will fight for any noble cause. Discusses things out loud with his quori spirit. Has his own ideas about what is and is not food, and finds the eating habits of those around him wasteful.
Ideal:Suspicious. I must be careful, for I have no way of telling friend from foe here. (Any) Nihilistic. Nothing really matters. (Neutral)
Bond: Though I had no choice, I lament having to leave my loved one(s) behind. I hope to see them again one day. I’m fascinated by the beauty and wonder of this new land.
Flaw: I have a weakness for liquor and hard drink. I pretend not to understand the local language in order to avoid interactions I would rather not have. I have a weakness for the exotic beauty of the people of these lands.
Reason for being there: After being exiled, simply wandered long enough until he ended up there. Now, he considers the area home and stays there enjoying the "simple" life.
This is great, but can you please choose one ideal, one bond, and one flaw to limit yourself to? I feel like you’re giving me too much to work with. :)
Also, make sure you give your character a reason for joining up with other travelers to journey away from the village.
I am interested in this style of game. I'm also interested in trying to play a completely randomly generated character (rolls for everything, from gender to flaws and the like). Edit: with stats that bad, I'll probably end up playing a rogue or a moon druid if I do this, so randomly generated within survivable parameters XD
Well let's have some questions for the DM first:
Edit: Does limited to PHB include the spell list and background choices as well, or can we use, say, spell choices that are included in D&D Beyond but not from the PHB (such as "create bonfire" or "shape water" from XGtE)?
What exactly is this "generic" world is Hartwaite set in? Does magic, racial relations, and society work in much the same way it does in Faerun? Is it a low-magic or high-magic world, basically - are the people there worrying daily about disease, serfdom, literacy, and the like, with only the upper crust adventurers having the access to magic, equipment, and education, or a more classic, comfortable, and broadly educated D&D world a-la Faerun? Is the majority of the population in Hartwaite human, other, or is it mixed? How about the role of women in your world, classic medieval or modern D&D?
I'm going to put out a brief description of me as a player using the Same Page Tool:
Good play isn't a win/lose kind of thing. I expect PCs to work together; conflicts for them are mostly for show. The GM's role is to prep a set of events - linear or branching; players run their characters through these events. The GM gives hints to provide direction. The players' roles are to set goals for their characters, and pursue them proactively. The smartest thing for my character's survival is sometimes not as important as other choices *(caveat: but with a wisdom/intelligence high enough, it will be their no. 1 choice most of the time). The GM's role to the rules is ignore them when they conflict with what would be good for the story. After many sessions of play, if a player decides to have their character side with an enemy, this is only going to last until the other PCs find out and do something about it. A fistfight breaks out in a bar! The details of where everything is - tables, chairs, where everyone is standing - is something that the GM will describe and you should ask questions to get more information. In order to really have fun with this game, the rulebook is something that ... everyone should at least know the basics of.The game runs best when the players take time to create characters that are... - built to face challenges using mechanics and stats - written with extensive backstories or histories - given strong motivations and an immediate problem or crisis - tied to other characters as allies
If you're interested in having me as a player, then have an ability roll set: Ability scores: 11128131510
Edit: Also, will there be content sharing? If not, if players don't won the content, are we allowing "homebrewed" standard PHB content if it's not available on the SRD?
I'm very interested! An exploration based, atypical campaign is exactly what I've been searching for, and I've actually never done a campaign with XP leveling (it's always been milestone). I haven't been able to stretch my RP and exploring muscles as much in other campaigns, so I think this would be really rewarding and motivating. I'd like to be a magic user of some sort - possibly a wizard, if that doesn't conflict with anyone else. He would be passing through the town for academic purposes - an information collecting venture, if you will.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Definitely interested. I've played a few open world games before, but wasn't able to get the most out of them since I was new to D&D as a whole. Now that I've gotten some experience, I'm excited to try my hand at this again.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
I'm interested!
Ability Rolls: Ability scores: 1171215916
Why she's there: Passing through, never heard of the town but was relieved to have come by for a much needed rest and resupply. Why she wants to leave: She's just passing through hoping to find some other adventurers to help her throughout her travels or help them!
I've never played a PBP campaign, but I'd love to give it a try. I'm looking for a game that is heavier on the RP side, and this sounds like it could be the one.
I think my character would either be a human with dwarfism, so they're looking to leave town because they're sick of all the jokes; or a dwarf with gigantism, who came to town to meet some humans, but found they still didn't accept him.
edit: Oof those rolls, but they'll go with human dwarf backstory.
Sounds like my type of game, but what exactly am I exploring for? Did something like mysterious ruins pop up over night? Did a messenger relay possibilities of treasure? Are we being sent out by a stereotypical adventurer guild?
It could be any of these or none of the above. You don’t even need to be exploring for anything. It’s entirely up to you what motivates your character to leave the village. You don’t even need to tell me, although I think it might be interesting for myself and the other players to know. I’m asking for you to have a reason for leaving because the focus of the game will be on traveling out into the surrounding wilderness rather than staying in the village, if that makes sense.
I have no context of the world. I can't make up a reason for leaving if I don't have any information whatsoever. Basically you gave me a blank slate, but don't realize that I'm not the gm. With this kind of response I could say that a bronze dragon swooped down and tailwhipped the village. That's why I'm asking, what is the reason for us leaving the village.
Hello!
I’m looking for 3-5 players for an exploration-heavy campaign set in a generic medieval fantasy world. The story begins in Harthwaite, a village of around 700 people, surrounded by forested hills. Where it goes from there is up to you.
Character options are limited to the PHB. Ability scores can be randomly generated (4d6, drop lowest, no re-rolls), point buy, or standard array. If you roll, you must do so in the thread below, and you must keep the result. Play will begin at 1st level and will use XP advancement. Downtime training is also required to advance.
Posting will be one or two times a day. I’ll describe the environment, and you’ll describe what your character does in first or third person as you prefer. If a die roll is required to resolve your character’s action, I’ll ask for an ability check. I realize this departs from practices which are meant to speed up gameplay in PbP, but I feel that more is lost by this method than is gained. If you think that’s a problem, then this probably isn’t the game for you.
To apply, just let me know you’re interested in the thread below. You don’t need to make a character until you’re selected, at which point I’ll post a link to the campaign for you to join. You will be required to select personal characteristics for your character, including a bond, a flaw, and an ideal, because they will determine on what issues the game will focus. You won’t need to come up with an elaborate backstory, but you should have an idea of why your character is in Harthwaite. S/he can be from there or just passing through. You’ll also need to supply a reason why your character wants to leave.
If this sounds like something that interests you, just let me know in the thread below and say a few words about what you’re looking for in a game so I can tell if my game will be a good fit for you. If not, that’s okay. I know it isn’t for everyone, but thanks for reading this far.
Cheers!
This sounds like an interesting variation to the typical campaign--seems like a heavy role-play sand-box style, so the game could be amazing or terrible, depending on how we work together. Frequent posting is not an issue, and the open-ended possibilities are intriguing...
Let's have a bit of fun and roll some stats:
Ability scores: 17 14 16 13 12 7
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Interested
Ability scores: 14 12 9 11 15 8
Ability scores: 10 15 11 11 8 10
Paladin - warforged - orange
Sounds like my type of game, but what exactly am I exploring for? Did something like mysterious ruins pop up over night? Did a messenger relay possibilities of treasure? Are we being sent out by a stereotypical adventurer guild?
Ability scores: 15 12 11 16 12 14
Characteristics: Is driven by a warrior spirit and will fight for any noble cause. Discusses things out loud with his quori spirit. Has his own ideas about what is and is not food, and finds the eating habits of those around him wasteful.
Ideal:Suspicious. I must be careful, for I have no way of telling friend from foe here. (Any) Nihilistic. Nothing really matters. (Neutral)
Bond: Though I had no choice, I lament having to leave my loved one(s) behind. I hope to see them again one day. I’m fascinated by the beauty and wonder of this new land.
Flaw: I have a weakness for liquor and hard drink. I pretend not to understand the local language in order to avoid interactions I would rather not have. I have a weakness for the exotic beauty of the people of these lands.
Reason for being there: After being exiled, simply wandered long enough until he ended up there. Now, he considers the area home and stays there enjoying the "simple" life.
Ability scores: 11 13 17 17 14 10
It could be any of these or none of the above. You don’t even need to be exploring for anything. It’s entirely up to you what motivates your character to leave the village. You don’t even need to tell me, although I think it might be interesting for myself and the other players to know. I’m asking for you to have a reason for leaving because the focus of the game will be on traveling out into the surrounding wilderness rather than staying in the village, if that makes sense.
This is great, but can you please choose one ideal, one bond, and one flaw to limit yourself to? I feel like you’re giving me too much to work with. :)
Also, make sure you give your character a reason for joining up with other travelers to journey away from the village.
Definitely interested. Would love to see how an exploration game plays out.
Ability scores: 14 17 8 14 13 12
.
I am interested in this style of game. I'm also interested in trying to play a
completelyrandomly generated character (rolls for everything, from gender to flaws and the like).Edit: with stats that bad, I'll probably end up playing a rogue or a moon druid if I do this, so randomly generated within survivable parameters XD
Well let's have some questions for the DM first:
Edit: Does limited to PHB include the spell list and background choices as well, or can we use, say, spell choices that are included in D&D Beyond but not from the PHB (such as "create bonfire" or "shape water" from XGtE)?
What exactly is this "generic" world is Hartwaite set in? Does magic, racial relations, and society work in much the same way it does in Faerun? Is it a low-magic or high-magic world, basically - are the people there worrying daily about disease, serfdom, literacy, and the like, with only the upper crust adventurers having the access to magic, equipment, and education, or a more classic, comfortable, and broadly educated D&D world a-la Faerun? Is the majority of the population in Hartwaite human, other, or is it mixed? How about the role of women in your world, classic medieval or modern D&D?
I'm going to put out a brief description of me as a player using the Same Page Tool:
Good play isn't a win/lose kind of thing.
I expect PCs to work together; conflicts for them are mostly for show.
The GM's role is to prep a set of events - linear or branching; players run their characters through these events. The GM gives hints to provide direction.
The players' roles are to set goals for their characters, and pursue them proactively.
The smartest thing for my character's survival is sometimes not as important as other choices *(caveat: but with a wisdom/intelligence high enough, it will be their no. 1 choice most of the time).
The GM's role to the rules is ignore them when they conflict with what would be good for the story.
After many sessions of play, if a player decides to have their character side with an enemy, this is only going to last until the other PCs find out and do something about it.
A fistfight breaks out in a bar! The details of where everything is - tables, chairs, where everyone is standing - is something that the GM will describe and you should ask questions to get more information.
In order to really have fun with this game, the rulebook is something that ... everyone should at least know the basics of.The game runs best when the players take time to create characters that are...
- built to face challenges using mechanics and stats
- written with extensive backstories or histories
- given strong motivations and an immediate problem or crisis
- tied to other characters as allies
If you're interested in having me as a player, then have an ability roll set:
Ability scores: 11 12 8 13 15 10
If you're interested in asking yourself the same questions and posting the answers here, the same page tool is here:
https://bankuei.wordpress.com/2010/03/27/the-same-page-tool/
Edit: oof, what a roll! XD
Edit: Also, will there be content sharing? If not, if players don't won the content, are we allowing "homebrewed" standard PHB content if it's not available on the SRD?
I am interested as well. This type of game is what I love!
Going to roll the dice for stats:
Ability scores: 16 13 12 10 10 7
Ability scores: 9 18 7 15 13 8
"Not all those who wander are lost." - J.R.R. Tolkien
I'm very interested! An exploration based, atypical campaign is exactly what I've been searching for, and I've actually never done a campaign with XP leveling (it's always been milestone). I haven't been able to stretch my RP and exploring muscles as much in other campaigns, so I think this would be really rewarding and motivating. I'd like to be a magic user of some sort - possibly a wizard, if that doesn't conflict with anyone else. He would be passing through the town for academic purposes - an information collecting venture, if you will.
Ability scores: 12 14 12 15 8 13
DM - Above & Below
Definitely interested. I've played a few open world games before, but wasn't able to get the most out of them since I was new to D&D as a whole. Now that I've gotten some experience, I'm excited to try my hand at this again.
Ability scores: 10 16 15 11 10 9
This got a lot of replies within 12 hours.
I'm interested as well. I'll use point buy for my character.
I'm interested!
Ability Rolls: Ability scores: 11 7 12 15 9 16
Why she's there: Passing through, never heard of the town but was relieved to have come by for a much needed rest and resupply.
Why she wants to leave: She's just passing through hoping to find some other adventurers to help her throughout her travels or help them!
I've never played a PBP campaign, but I'd love to give it a try. I'm looking for a game that is heavier on the RP side, and this sounds like it could be the one.
Ability score rolls: Ability scores: Ability scores: 5 14 11 7 9 6
I think my character would either be a human with dwarfism, so they're looking to leave town because they're sick of all the jokes; or a dwarf with gigantism, who came to town to meet some humans, but found they still didn't accept him.
edit: Oof those rolls, but they'll go with human dwarf backstory.
I have no context of the world. I can't make up a reason for leaving if I don't have any information whatsoever. Basically you gave me a blank slate, but don't realize that I'm not the gm. With this kind of response I could say that a bronze dragon swooped down and tailwhipped the village. That's why I'm asking, what is the reason for us leaving the village.
Checking my rolls: Ability scores: 10 15 14 11 17 13
Lot's of stuff ...