DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Hall of Fame - Latest Top 10 completed games LMP: Lost Mines of Phandelver Introduction and PC building thread

I'll harken back to 1st edition. The Paladin had more "stat" requirements than any other class - including a 17 charisma! The only stat that they didn't have a requirement for was dex. So, conceptually, I understand why you would dump dex. But Dex also is needed for range attacks, initiative rolls and armor class - all of them important for a fighter type. Intelligence might be a better dump because it's primarily about knowledge and arcane/wizard type magic. Paladins draw magical power from wisdom.

As much as a PC loves to have Stealth, and as a Knight of the Wood, or something like that, he would need that skill. I can't take all that he has to be at 1st level. So some spots will have holes.

The trick is what numerically (because I am a math head and that is how I roll) works out most advantageous. I like the two 16s but that forces an 8 someplace as well as giving up the 12.

I know that the character will level given time but it isn't likely to be too fast and attribute bumps are far apart.

Haven't got to the skill section in the PHB yet. It seems a different sort of organization, no "here is the summary" section. Maybe I just haven't found it yet. But no matter I will work through it.

Honestly if I looked at 4 skills without regard to the backgrounds etc... I think Athletics, Survival (both given by Outlander, why I picked it), Stealth and Insight. Though someplace I would love to see Nature in his mix. Instead of Medicine. But I can live without Stealth, heavy armor and all that. Insight and the first two he can have. So all I have to figure out is Nature at some point.

How does one get other skills, at level 1 or higher?

Part of background, class or race.

Since I'll be playing too, I should say what it is I'm playing. I'll be playing a halfling rogue (arcane trickster).

The roster as I think it is so far....

AJ: Fighter (Eldritch Knight) Dragonborn
Nivek: Cleric Dwarf
Gypsy: Rogue Human
MikeD: Ranger Human
Zeim: Warlock Tiefling
Pande: Paladin Dragonborn
Kenseg: Bard/Wizard
Mina: TBD
Exeter: Cleric Human
Neptune: Rogue (Arcane Trickster) Halfling

I'm taking a -8 in Dex, wearing Heavy armor though and going to make so much noise that there will be no stealth

I am going in the other party <weg>

LOL. -8 dex means that surprise will be rare. He might as well wear a helmet that glows and put bells on his toes

if they add to wisdom or strength, I'll take them

All in all looks like it'll be pretty easy to put two balanced parties together. Especially if Mina likes Wizards.

I posted my character sheet in the gallery as the text for the picture. The format I used was stolen from Nivek's. I thought it was simple and clear. There's no reason to hide your sheets. Remove anything you think is "private" for your DM and PM him (when you find out who it is).

If you have a more elaborate format, like a filled in PDF, post that instead. No problem-o.

I posted a text version of my character sheet in the gallery. Please people with more familiarity take a look and see if it is done correctly. As always with a first foray things might go awry.
Thanks

I just eyeballed mine on notepad. I'll append to the gallery.

Okay, put me in the non LE group please

Leave the evil buggers to kill each other off.

Don't worry, backstabbing other party members is clearly and explicitly banned. I suspect the LE folk are just going to be greedy, unscrupulous, willing to kill every being outside of civilised areas that try to get in the party's way. You know, adventurers.

Wow I didn't even look at the algnments. I created a Paladin you know LG. This particular one is a encourager of the light, believe in life and goodness. He is so going to die a short death if in the LE party, even if they do agree on Law.

As per the Adventurer's League rules:



You'll be fine. The same thing that prevents your guy smiting my guy prevents my guy stabbing yours: We're in this together come what may despite any personal misgivings.

Yeah except unless they have changed the rules a Paladin can't associate with an evil character. Haven't really read up on that recently but that is definitely how I would play a LG paladin.

"Don't worry Pally, you can hang out with my wizard

OK. Here's a fact. Zeim and I are both <ahem> Zhentarim so there's no "evil" party and no party devoid of an "evil" presence. I know that my PC leans to the criminal side of neutral. Is he going to commit murder? Will he rape and pillage? Is he going to torture innocent children? No. Will he feel guilty about lying to a guard to get past him? Maybe, but he'll get over it. Will he roll loaded dice in a game of chance? Yes, because the ends justifies the means, until he gets caught.

The ultra good (read goody two-shoes paladins and clerics) might find it a particular challenge to try and help him and other lost souls like him repent for his sins and show him the way. While they're doing that he might be palming the coin from their collection plates.

In Adventurer League play the 5 factions (including the mostly evil Zhentarim) are unifying to keep the Cult of the Dragon from succeeding. Consider it a roleplaying challenge to work with those who have lesser morals.

Ken,

Paladins are not prohibited from associating with evil people. The fact that you (metagaming) know a PC's alignment does not trigger your PC's Divine Sense (detect evil). That's reserved for demons, devils, desecrated areas and undead.

Also from the Adventure's League
Allowed Alignments

D&D Adventurers League play focuses on creating a welcoming, fun environment. Though we recognize that most players are able to portray characters who run a wide range of motivations, we’ve decided to restrict alignment choices to keep groups from becoming too self-destructive. The following alignments are not allowed in the D&D Adventurers League:

• Neutral evil
• Chaotic evil

In addition, the following alignment is restricted to Lords’ Alliance or Zhentarim faction characters only:

• Lawful evil

What can I say, old school here.

Yeah I saw all those Zentarim's. Will be fun, especially with some of the background traits I have.

There is a reason why most of my games, DnD or otherwise don't have alignments anymore.

Depends on your view of the 'lawful' part of LE Nep <weg>

As for LG 'consorting' with LE, how are you supposed to help them see the error of the path they have chosen, and so get them onto the correct one Ken? Why you have to lead by example <weg>

In the end, alignment plays a part in giving your character direction ... just like the 'ideal', the 'bond' and the 'flaw' that you select as part of your background help with that sort of thing.

Hey, that is the paladin and cleric's problem. I am a wizard. As long as they don't mess with my spell book or any scrolls or wands we find, I am cool. If they do, they are toast