[LFP] Sundays 6-10pm EST - D&D 5E Level 1-20 LONG TERM

[HoloDarksbane]

A disturbance is felt with your next keystroke; something is amiss. As you flip through your open browser tabs, something catches your minds-eye as it certainly didn't catch your conscious thought. Your mouse clicks, and has brought you here...Indeed, another D&D game is searching for souls to harvest, to reap, and reward.

Current Running Roster: SEE POST BELOW

FG License: Standard
Game System: D&D 5E (The Shackled City Campaign Modified and Converted from 3.5)
Time Zone: EST (UTC -05:00)
Day Of Week: Sunday.
Start Time: 6pm or 7pm (6pm is the usual)
End Time: 10pm or 11pm (depending on start time)
Note 1: During the game we take a 15 minute break depending on how deep we are in combat or RP.
Note 2: There is a vote 1 hour before the scheduled end time, to potentially extend the game an additional hour if there is a boss fight, having too much fun, etc.
Planned Start Date: Session Zero Start Date April 1st 2018.
Planned Duration & Frequency: Weekly. We run for 4 Hours Minimum, 6 Hours Maximum.
Term: A FEW YEARS.

Text or Voice: Voice
Voice Software Used: Discord

Roleplay & Combat Mix: 50/50
Number of Players In Game & Needed: Currently Have 2. Need 3-4 More. Minimum to Start is 5, might go with 6 if the right player.
Character Starting Level & Equipment: Level 1. Basic Equipment. However, as part of applying, you must write a detailed, lengthy backstory. If you include a mysterious item, or a magical item in it, I'll consider letting you have it...
Character restrictions: PHB Races, PHB Classes. This is a heavily magical world, but sword-swingers aren't left out in the least. Spellcasters will want to see the notes I have below.

Details of your scenario:
"Set in the world of Oerth, the region of the Flanaess circa 596 CY; trouble is stirring atop an unimpressive mountain. What waits for you there? Why are you here? How did you get here? That is for another story; what you see before you in this city are tightly packed buildings built from volcanic rock and wood, lining the inner bowl of a nameless, dormant volcano. Cobblestone roads form concentric circles around a small but deep lake of cold water which fills the volcano's basin. A 50-foot-tall fortified wall of black malachite encircles the city, tracing the outer rim of the volcano. You’re finally here, finally, in Cauldron."

What I Expect From You/Notes About Game:

A. 21+. Sorry Younglings. Drinking whilst playing is encouraged. I usually call it an 'Elixir of Tongues' when I imbibe... Anyways, I emphasize an open-world, sandbox in my campaigns; so racism, sexual encounters, chauvinism, drug-use, is all acceptable and has happened multiple times in the campaigns I run. There are few things that cross-the-line, but we're adults, so let's not do stuff that might cause a Deva to rip your soul into a thousand pieces and have one of those pieces end up in a coffee cup that always makes it taste bad. Now that's out of the way...

B. You read correctly, this will run for YEARS. This is a Full Level 1-20 Campaign and it is full of content the entire way. I recently ended a campaign that was about a year long, and they were level 6-7. I have a lot of material prepared, and I will make all the tools available for you to succeed on your missions, quests...things. It just might not be right under your nose. Bottom line is, this is a commitment and a long one at that. DO NOT APPLY IF YOU CANNOT DEVOTE THIS TIME/EFFORT OVER AN EXTENDED MULTI-YEAR TIMEFRAME!!! I won't kick you for missing one or two sessions, but if you miss 3 in a row, unannounced, I will be looking for replacements, and that is always a pain-in-the-arse, especially once a campaign is in the middle of something. Don't be that guy/gal please.

C. To apply, you must send me a lengthy, detailed backstory of your character. The trials and tribulations he or she has gone through, how they got to this point in their life, their parents, do they know their parents?, what their goals are or were, some character flaws, boons, if they died and were brought back to life, if their mind is shattered, their soul lost, and of course any unresolved issues. The more meat you give me, the better chances you are to getting a play spot, and the more interesting your journey will be. You don't need to be as concerned with how you got to the starting area, as I will help out with that. You see, what you write me, I'll then write an addendum to it, linking you to the main story. Please be detailed. Less is not more here, more is more! It also might get you really cool items, so, give me the tools to make you a god.

D. Magic/Spells/Feats/Items. You are allowed to source ANY spell, ANY scroll, ANY potion, ANY magical item, ANY item, ANY feat from ANYWHERE, but I have to approve it. I might modify it if its overpowered, but more times than not you'll get it. If the spell currently exists in 5E however, it keeps that form.

E. I expect everyone to be on time, including myself. I announce the start time, date, and a quick recap of the previous game in the Pins in Discord. We're adults, putting in hours of our demanding lives to enjoy tickling our imagination. Don't waste others time! I do not start the game if we are missing 2 players. If there is 1 missing, I will either play that character as a lobotomized zombie, or if in town, they will be at the tavern drinking all day. If you let me know ahead of time of an absence, you can give me a synopsis of what that character will do for next session, and I'll do my best to see it through, otherwise, they're a zombie or a drunkard.

F. You must SPEAK. Discord is required with voice. You can use voice-activated but if your background is too noisy, you'll have to use push-to-talk.

G. This is a HARD Campaign. Be prepared to do a lot of healing and take a lot of healing. Also prepare to be confused, stumped or unsure of where to go. TAKE NOTES. I will give you all the tools necessary to defeat, find, destroy, win, etc etc any issue I put in front of you. I'll also give you the benefit of the doubt, and hand you the solution from time-to-time for the sake of keeping the game running smoothly, but it will diminish the reward in XP and gold or value.

H. Experience in this campaign is different. The breakup is about: 40% RP. 25% Combat. 10% Journal. 10% Quests/Missions. 10% Feats/Impressive Solutions 5% On-Time. So, RP is a big part of your experience. It is also not rewarded to the group, but to the individual. You're progress of your character is only 35% based on group, (Combat/Quests/Missions). The other 65% is all your performance as a player. The more RP you put out, the more you're on time, the better and more often you submit your journal, and the more ingenuity you use in solving a task, the greater the reward will be for you, your level, and probably your fun. RP is comprised of speaking in character and conversing with the world. You eat and drink in real life, so do that! If all you do to buy a piece of armor is throw coins at the table and point to the plate on the wall, you're going to be level 5 when everyone else is level 10. Combat is bringing somethings HP to 0 or 1. Interrogation is a thing. Journal. So this is the barometer for the game, its your chance to tell me 2 things: How are you feeling about the game as a person in real-life, and how is your IN-GAME character doing, feeling, thinking, looking forward to. Essentially, tell me how the game went, tell me about the other players, any issues you are having, helpful hints, pointers, tips, this is your opportunity to get out gripes with myself or perhaps bring an issue to my attention about another player. I can be very overbearing when unchecked, so let me know when its too much, you have the opportunity for feedback here. I also want to know what your character is thinking so perhaps I can consider that as an option. Put your age in front of your private message subject line to me for your application. Making sure you're paying attention. Quests/Missions. Pretty straightforward, go do this, get that, resurrect this gal, kill this guy. Feats/Impressive Solutions. I love traps, I like putting you in traps and killing your characters, but fairly. If you do something ingenious that I never thought of, or do something absolutely amazing, then I will reward you with XP. On Time. Yes, you need to be on time and ready to play AT the start time. I will generally have the game up 15-30 minutes early, and you can log in and get ready. But at the designated start time, I'll do quick attendance, and that's when it counts. If you're not going to be there, let me know, and it won't count against you...again...adults.

I. I have a set of house rules. Such as for me, a natural 20 on an ABILITY check, is considered a success almost always, and a 1 is always a dismal failure. But this post is now huge, and if you're accepted I'll send you the house rules.

J. Have a Standard or Ultimate License in FG. Have some experience playing in Fantasy Grounds, and experience with 5E. This is not for newbies, as once we start, I expect 1 session of cob-web shaking but the next one should be glorious.

TL;DR: 21+. Multi-year game. Can use any spell, item, feat, etc if I approve. Send me a long backstory to be considered. Make it cool. Be on time. Participate. You have to speak. Don't be an arse. Tell me when I am an arse. This game will be hard, but enjoyable...giggity.

Hope to hear from you soon and enjoy an adventure together! Good Luck!

-Holo:)

[HoloDarksbane]

Post Character Limit Exceeded. BAH!

I will post here the current roster and some information on how I run my games/rules etc when I have a free moment.

Total Players Needed: 5 (Perhaps 6)

CURRENT CONFIRMED PLAYERS:

Half-Elf Female Sorcerer
Dwarf Male Fighter
Human Male Cleric
Half-Orc Male Barbarian
Tiefling Female Paladin
Human Male Wizard

Some Tips for the Game And Deciding Your Character Design:

Greyhawk Pantheon. The Gods are powerful. Worshiping them 'Properly' can make you powerful as well. However, equal punishment for their followers that do not pray every once and a while, or exhibit blatant disregard for the teachings of them.

My last campaign, the one that had the lowest stats ended up being arguably the most powerful of the party. Stats are not everything, but they help in saving throws.

After level 5, death is more a more permanent thing in my games and not to be taken lightly. Revivify and even Raise Dead won't be your bread-and-butter 'Save The Day' spells as you're used to. Too much death taxes the soul and its link to the physical form. The link can be severed, and lost forever if not taken care of...

I like to custom make magical items. I often make them absurdly powerful, and have to either make it at a great personal cost, or simply nerf them. So although a Necklace of Fireballs is pretty awesome to have, its nothing compared to say...Bow of the Windless Plane.


Some Of My House Rules:

• No Flanking. There may be exceptions if you or the target is completely surrounded. Ask.

• Moving Through Other Creatures Space: You can move through a non-hostile creature’s space. In contrast, you can move through a hostile creature’s space only if the creature is at least two sizes larger or smaller than you. Remember that another creature’s space is difficult terrain for you. Whether a creature is a friend or an enemy, you can’t willingly end your move in its space. You can however, spend your turn shoving a hostile creature a la Bullrush.

• Using a Healer’s Kit in Combat and Within Range of a Hostile Creature, Provokes OA from that Creature.

• Similar to Attack Rolls; Skill Checks that Roll a 1 or a 20, are automatic failures or automatic successes, except in rare circumstances, at the DM’s discretion.

• PHB classes, PHB races. You may multiclass into ONE additional class, provided you meet the requirements.

• You can choose ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: the standard array 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8. Point buy, or you can choose to roll stats. Roll 4d6, remove the lowest roll, add together to get a stat. Do this 6 times. You can arrange the rolled scores to correspond with any stat you wish. You keep what you roll. EXCEPT if you roll ALL 6 stats under 10’s, I will give you one 18 to replace any stat you choose.

• 3 Short Rests and 1 Long Rest per 24 hour period.

• No using Persuasion/Intimidation on other PC’s without effort. Use Comms (Discord) for that, or type it out. RP it out. THEN if you've put enough into it, you can roll.

• Standing Up from Prone is Half of your Movement

• UNARMED DAMAGE: Without Tavern Brawler Feat. The attack roll is d20 + your Strength OR Dexterity Modifier. The damage is your strength modifier (minimum 1). Damage is considered non-lethal.

• UNARMED DAMAGE: With Tavern Brawler, unarmed attacks are considered to be used with the finesse aspect. Your fists are not considered weapons for the purposes of spells. Damage is 1d4 + Strength OR Dexterity Modifier. If your modifier is a negative, simply roll a 1d4. So if your strength is 9 (-1), and you have Tavern Brawler, you do 1d4. If your strength is 14(+2), you do 1d4 + 2. Damage is considered non-lethal.

• Grappling: When within range (5ft), you can use your Action to grapple the target. If you are able to make multiple attacks with the Attack action, this attack replaces one of them. You can attempt to grapple more than once per round in this way. You make a Strength (Athletics) check contested by the target’s Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check. If you succeed, the target is considered grappled. Grappling a target makes it not be able to run away. It gives no advantage or disadvantage to either target. You can move/drag a grappled target at half speed, unless the target is 2 or more sizes smaller than you, you can move at normal speed. Escaping a grapple is a full action, but allows a bonus action and movement. While grappling a target, you cannot cast spells with the somatic(S) component, unless you have the Warcaster feat. Releasing a grapple is a FREE action. You can only grapple a target up to one size larger than you.

• Passive Perception: Passive perception is not used for finding secret doors.

• Items must be placed into a container in Fantasy Grounds. When buying/selling/looting, be sure to denote in your inventory which container it goes into. Otherwise, if a bag or item is removed, i.e. acid, I will assume those items are in the DESTROYED bag and are lost, or if someone is stealing from you, I assume they are in the easiest accessible areas. Protect your gear! Specify!

• Will be using the PHB (Page 146-147) rules on ammunition.

• For a Surprise Round: If you or your party is simply sneaking around, and you open a door, and its assumed they would notice the door opening, and both parties are surprised, there is no surprise round regardless of if you were stealthing. The door opened. However, if you come up in a hallway for example, and their Passive Perception did not defeat any of your stealth rolls, then they are surprised, should you choose to attack. The party doing the surprising takes a FULL Round of Action which replaces Round 0. You may take movement, action, and bonus action, but no reaction (unless you have the ‘Alert’ feat). The party being surprised cannot react (unless they have the ‘Alert’ feat). After all have acted, the next round is considered Round 1, and reactions may be taken from then on.

• Round 0. Unless you have taken a turn in combat, you do not have a reaction. So if a creature is in your space at the start of turn 0, and moves out of your reach, you CANNOT attack it, as you have not yet had a turn in combat yet. This is part of why having high initiative is good. If you have the ‘Alert’ feat, you can take your reaction on Round 0, but you do not get your reaction back until the start of your turn on Round 1.

[johnshep]

Would love to play in the game, please let me know if you still have room.

John

[JasonRazCalZevr]

Hello,

This is showing as updated recently, but the posts are from 2016, and 2015.
Either way, the only thing I am good at is telling stories, and I would love a long term campaign if this is still open?
Anyway, I would like to do 2 levels of cleric, and the rest wizard. I will be choosing a find familiar spell once I get started, and I would like to be a back up healer, especially when I get my owl as a familiar, which can hopefully drop a touch spell here and there.
So, my backstory is written more like the beginning of a novel, rather than a standard backstory. I hope you enjoy it.

22105

[allenedg]

Looks fun! When are you making final decisions on applicants?

[ultimakuja129]

This is the kind of campaign I've been dreaming of, but it clashes with the only other campaign commitment that I have in terms of date. I hope you find the people you need, and I hope to join in the future down the road if you make another campaign like this.

[HoloDarksbane]

Would love to play in the game, please let me know if you still have room.

John

Absolutely still have room. Game is starting in a little less than 2 months, but the prep is always worth it in my experience. Please, send me a PM with your character idea, background, race, age, etc. A synopsis of what you want to do with the character, or just let the chips fall where they may =)

[HoloDarksbane]

Looks fun! When are you making final decisions on applicants?

If someone writes me something that is too good to pass up! Its not going to be a compare and contrast situation, if you fit, you fit, I wouldn't want to take someone along this multi-year adventure if they outwardly show no exceptional traits that would add to the value of the story and the party as a whole. I've already put a few hundred hours into this campaign, I want players with similar passions. If I read the app and say "Oooooohhh" in my mind, its pretty much a guaranteed spot after speaking to you in Discord and making sure everything works out =)

[HoloDarksbane]

This is the kind of campaign I've been dreaming of, but it clashes with the only other campaign commitment that I have in terms of date. I hope you find the people you need, and I hope to join in the future down the road if you make another campaign like this.

=(. Life happens, so sometimes you lose players, I will necro this post if/when a player must part from the family of sorts we're creating due to a real-life need.

[HoloDarksbane]

Hello,

This is showing as updated recently, but the posts are from 2016, and 2015.
Either way, the only thing I am good at is telling stories, and I would love a long term campaign if this is still open?
Anyway, I would like to do 2 levels of cleric, and the rest wizard. I will be choosing a find familiar spell once I get started, and I would like to be a back up healer, especially when I get my owl as a familiar, which can hopefully drop a touch spell here and there.
So, my backstory is written more like the beginning of a novel, rather than a standard backstory. I hope you enjoy it.

22105

This is a fine example of what I am seeking! Well done sir!

[HoloDarksbane]

2-3 spots potentially still available. A human cleric has joined the ranks!

[HoloDarksbane]

Could use ONE more exceptional player!

[HoloDarksbane]

One player hasn't gotten back to me on some things, so potentially 2 spots now open. 5 needed to play, have 4, would consider running with 6.

[JBagky]

I am a fairly newer player to fantasy grounds, but I would be interested in talking to you about it. I'll send you my application in just a moment.

[cosmic_pariah]

Greetings!

This set-up is exactly what I have been hoping to find. I am free for the time slot stated and may only need to take one Sunday off at some point in June (work travel) but I might even be able to make that one.
I would very much like to join you folks in this adventure.
I will have a character bio to you by this evening.
Thank you for your consideration.
cosmic

[HoloDarksbane]

Still looking for a few exceptional players!

[cosmic_pariah]

Testing to see if I can upload my character's back story here

[HoloDarksbane]

Just finalizing a few things, but looks like we have everyone we need.

[HoloDarksbane]

FULL (actually OVER-capacity)

Thank you for all your applications. Been some interesting ones for sure!

[HoloDarksbane]

Due to Real-Life issues, a player had to drop out. Currently looking for one worthy player! Starting level would be 2 at this point. No monks please.

[HoloDarksbane]

That was fast. Group Filled. Thank you for all your applications =)

[Ahoggya]

I would have applied but I wasn't sure what type of degree I get at level 20.

[JasonRazCalZevr]

I would have applied but I wasn't sure what type of degree I get at level 20.

You might have gotten XP for that comment.

[Kevlyn]

Lol

[CJNewYork11]

If anything opens up, I’d love to throw my hat into the ring for this group. Sounds like a good one!

[HoloDarksbane]

PROMOTION! Our resident wizard received a long-due promotion, and his wake-up schedule would make playing in the game more of a burden than an enjoyable pass-time as a result. Thus, we are currently looking for ONE (1) potential replacement. We need either a paladin, wizard or warlock. =)

You will be starting at level 2. Again, please read the first and second posts in entirety on this thread before submitting an application, and this is a multi-year commitment, 1-20...please make sure you can handle it.

[HarleyJane]

Would you be willing to take a monk?

[HoloDarksbane]

Would you be willing to take a monk?

Nope.

Paladin, Warlock, Wizard or MAYBE an Artificer if you can convince me =)

[bgray21]

I'd be interested in playing. I have an idea for a warlock and a paladin build. I can go into more detail on them.

[Salamandar]

Greetings Holo!

I read and re-read your initial post and it seems an ideal fit for the type of campaign I am looking for, both in duration and content. I'm sure you can imagine my discouragement after further reading to see you were full.

Yet now I see there is an opening (if it's still open that is), and in the hopes that I would make a good match for your campaign I wish to submit my idea of playing a Warlock with a dark back story seeking redemption (family and sibling related) which motivates his current rise to power and directly relates to his fiendish pact involvement. My Sundays are always free and I am looking for a long term campaign I can sink my teeth into!

Attached is a PDF (Hero Lab) example of the Warlock in question. The idea of a story line and character history directly related the the campaign has me intrigued, please feel free to run with the outlined history I provided and make it your own to match your campaign if I prove to be a good match.

Thank you for your consideration and time.

-Salamandar

[Salamandar]

Good Morning Holo,

Has the slot been filled?


If not i'd like to do some shameless lobbying on my part. I am a 20+ year vet of RPG's and have been going to Gencon and local Con's since the 90's. I am a fan of Oerth due to it's originality and gritty nature (much less polished and shiny for mass consumption like FG). I used to play with a group of local friends but a nasty "Delayed Blast Life Happens" spell trap took us all out in a TPK. I've been reeling ever since looking for a quality campaign I can really get into. Hopefully it will be this one!

Wow! look at me jonesing for some good ole fashioned quality role playing! Guess that shows my dedication!?

-Salamandar

[HoloDarksbane]

Spot filled, but looking for a standby which may become a permanent player.

[Salamandar]

Thank you Holo,

Understood, yes please consider me very interested as an alt and potential additional player. I would be humbly honored.

My thanks,
- Salamandar - Steve

[HoloDarksbane]

Still looking for a potential player. May be an opening soon.

[HoloDarksbane]

Officially, looking for 1 more player. No monks please.

[Frunobulax]

Before you join this campaign, I'd like to give you some feedback from when I was playing in it. Some of this is my opinion, some of it is undeniable fact. I wish someone else would have let me know these things before I joined.

1) It is an *absurdly* difficulty campaign. The players referred to it as a "meat grinder". The DM allowed 3 deaths during 1st level.
2) Extra "homework" is required in the form of weekly "character journals". If you don't have time for that, be prepared to be penalized.
3) The DM asked me to play my character, and then censored me by giving me a (custom made by him) cursed magic item that prevented me from engaging a defining part of my character. He, in my opinion, wanted me to play the way he thought I should play, not how I wanted to.

Following text paraphrased by damned
This games style will not be for everyone. It was not enjoyable for this player.

[damned]

dglinder you have 5 mins to edit your post.
Tone it right down. **Everyone** has different styles of play and many are incompatible with others styles.
Please reword this to something not written out of frustration or remove.

[Frunobulax]

I'll try. It will take more than five minutes though.

[damned]

I'll try. It will take more than five minutes though.

Games dont always work out. Actually many games dont work out. Chalk it down to experience, breathe and find another game.

[HoloDarksbane]

Before you join this campaign, I'd like to give you some feedback from when I was playing in it. Some of this is my opinion, some of it is undeniable fact. I wish someone else would have let me know these things before I joined.

1) It is an *absurdly* difficulty campaign. The players referred to it as a "meat grinder". The DM allowed 3 deaths during 1st level.
2) Extra "homework" is required in the form of weekly "character journals". If you don't have time for that, be prepared to be penalized.
3) The DM asked me to play my character, and then censored me by giving me a (custom made by him) cursed magic item that prevented me from engaging a defining part of my character. He, in my opinion, wanted me to play the way he thought I should play, not how I wanted to.

Following text paraphrased by damned
This games style will not be for everyone. It was not enjoyable for this player.

Yes, it is a hard campaign, as stated in my post. I was as clear as I could possibly be. I used the term "Meat-Grinder" on my own accord and in jest. I have however, given you all the tools to succeed, and you all have. Ask any of the players, they're having tons of fun. We live-stream it as well now.

The journal was mentioned, again, its in the post. Its also your time to give feedback about how I am doing. You didn't take this opportunity.

You were making comments that were not tasteful, which is fine, but you did it constantly. The other players were mentioning their inappropriateness to me in private. I was fair and gave you a bunch of warnings, brought you aside and talked to you about it, and even wrote a huge thing for you on how to change things up, but it did not help. No change was made to your playstyle. I tried, you failed.

[damned]

You have both had a say now so lets move on now.

[HoloDarksbane]

Absolutely! Looking for 1 exceptional player. Preferably a Wizard, Barbarian, a good bard, ranger, or perhaps something tanky, no monks please.

[HoloDarksbane]

Spot filled. Thank you for all the applications!

[Salamandar]

Guess I was too late! Damn all delayed flight's & sleep deprivation! And I spent quite some time on that backstory too! What a shame. Guess I'll hope for another opening. In the meantime I'd appreciate a critique on my character and backstory. Hopefully you have enough now for a proper appraisal should a spot open.

Again my thanks for considering me,
- Steve
Characters:
Salamandar
Darimas
Nevyn