| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| MuadDib |
Posted - 22 Dec 2003 : 10:46:53
Well, I have been going on and on about how I have no experience cause I never play etc. so here is a story for you all about how things work out sometimes.
So I recnetly got Yahoo chat or some such so that I could live stream audio with a friend in Canada. Maybe it was that which triggered it, or something else, but regardless, I was the recipient of an email invitation asking if I would like to become a part of some sort of IRC_DND group. Well I wasn't too keen on playing over IRC, but since I know it well, and I am 'desperately' trying to join a game, so basically I sent back a mail saying "Hell Yea".
Then I started receiving group mails about people having played for years and years and looking for this and that, none of which really applied to me and thus I bided my time and today received an email from a person saying they had lost a lot of players in a campaign and needed new blood. I replied and started chatting with this person.
3 hours later, I was accepted into the game and have now a brief outline of how to create my character. I had no dice or anything and said perhaps a useful skill I had was that I could code. The DM asked me how was that useful and I replied that while we had been playing I had coded a random number generator for all the dice one can use in D&D. So I now have electronic dice (im such a geek)
Anyway, Im currently in the process of creating a half-elven, half-drow, very angsty yet comical Ranger, and am playing around with the character sheet that our wonderful Bookwyrm (thank you x 1 million) sent to me, and just wanted to come tell you all about my little experience. I will be 'playing' for the first time tomorrow and meeting everyone else, and just wanted to inform you all that I have now joined the ranks of 'players' here at Candlekeep!
Woot  |
| 22 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| MuadDib |
Posted - 31 Mar 2004 : 07:43:09
For those of you who might be interested to know how the campaign is going, its going quite well thanks.
At the moment, im adventuring with 2 monks, one an orc, one a dwarf as far as I can glean. There is also a human fencing type character, a little girl, a thief although im having some trouble establishing who is NPC and who is PC since we're all using weirdo hotmail addresses. I will forge ahead however!! Never give up, never surrender...*cough*
I also found out we are playing a pure D&D setting thingymabob, called Return to Castle Caldwell or something to that effect. We've cleared out two room of goblins, and I've been indentured to some form of high elf who sent me on this adventure. So far, it's going great and I'm loving it! |
| Bookwyrm |
Posted - 24 Jan 2004 : 07:08:15
So? I actually was a DM for a short time, with the now-silent scribes Sadon and Elph. They wanted me to run a game for them over a chat program. I protested, saying I didn't know anything about the rules beyond what was shown in the old SSI FR games. Heck, I couldn't figure out how you made an attack roll in 2e until I played IWD and set the info bar to full display (so it showed the results of all rolls). They didn't care, because they didn't either, but trusted me to be objective.
It actually worked. I based it off an altered Undermountain modual I found in the main library here (how altered I don't know, I never checked), and just let them make choices while I did whatever seemed like it should come next.
Still, playing D&D without rules . . . how's that for pathetic?  |
| EcThelion |
Posted - 23 Jan 2004 : 22:08:01
Hmmmm... this might be a minor turning-point in my D&D-life! I might actually have to invent a, out of lack of a better term, 'proper' character! (Unlike the bizzare ones I've been playing with so far, on the comp, and in my mind*.)
How should I go about this? The newbie asks.
_____________________________________________________________________
in my mind*
I've played a... few... Solo D&D games with myself as a DM actually.
How lame is *that*, huh? Anyways; the only rules I've learnt are
BASIC D&D rules, not advanced ones, 'cept for what I've puzzled
together from forums, here and there.
I'm readign through the FR FAQ right now, but It seems not to answer
too many of my questions. (What do I care wich bonuses Elminster
has, or where some of the other choosen were born?) |
| MuadDib |
Posted - 22 Jan 2004 : 06:33:00
Ha, I would never make an offer like that if I was not backed up.
As it is, I'm also a newbie and this is my first game and I have made a total of one post in the game thus far. As well, I am not DM so I dont have to worry about anything. Moreover, I know how hard it was for me to find someone to roleplay with me, so why not? Come along, have some fun... |
| Shadowlord |
Posted - 22 Jan 2004 : 01:19:42
MaudDib, what have you gotten yourself into???  |
| EcThelion |
Posted - 21 Jan 2004 : 23:56:32
quote:
Originally posted by MuadDib
You can Forgotten One, there is an MSN D&D Mail group that not a day goes by that I don't receive another letter from somsone requesting for players or to join a game. Provide me with your mail adress (mail me at alexl@emirates.net.ae) and I will hook you up
Woah! You actually noticed me! That's rare! (Well... positive response is, anyway)
Haha! Woe you! I might just take you up on that offer. Oh, boy. You're stuck with me now. A AD&D-wannabe, who has never played a real game of (A)D&D in his life, but on his computer! |
| Lina |
Posted - 20 Jan 2004 : 13:24:05
quote:
Originally posted by MuadDib
Well, I have been going on and on about how I have no experience cause I never play etc. so here is a story for you all about how things work out sometimes.
So I recnetly got Yahoo chat or some such so that I could live stream audio with a friend in Canada. Maybe it was that which triggered it, or something else, but regardless, I was the recipient of an email invitation asking if I would like to become a part of some sort of IRC_DND group. Well I wasn't too keen on playing over IRC, but since I know it well, and I am 'desperately' trying to join a game, so basically I sent back a mail saying "Hell Yea".
Then I started receiving group mails about people having played for years and years and looking for this and that, none of which really applied to me and thus I bided my time and today received an email from a person saying they had lost a lot of players in a campaign and needed new blood. I replied and started chatting with this person.
3 hours later, I was accepted into the game and have now a brief outline of how to create my character. I had no dice or anything and said perhaps a useful skill I had was that I could code. The DM asked me how was that useful and I replied that while we had been playing I had coded a random number generator for all the dice one can use in D&D. So I now have electronic dice (im such a geek)
Anyway, Im currently in the process of creating a half-elven, half-drow, very angsty yet comical Ranger, and am playing around with the character sheet that our wonderful Bookwyrm (thank you x 1 million) sent to me, and just wanted to come tell you all about my little experience. I will be 'playing' for the first time tomorrow and meeting everyone else, and just wanted to inform you all that I have now joined the ranks of 'players' here at Candlekeep!
Woot
Well done MaudDib. Half-drow... sounds familiar... I think I mentioned that I was half-drow back a while ago. Well you know what they say, "Brilliant minds think alike." |
| MuadDib |
Posted - 20 Jan 2004 : 09:58:41
You can Forgotten One, there is an MSN D&D Mail group that not a day goes by that I don't receive another letter from somsone requesting for players or to join a game. Provide me with your mail adress (mail me at alexl@emirates.net.ae) and I will hook you up |
| EcThelion |
Posted - 19 Jan 2004 : 18:19:44
I wish I could join something like this... |
| Shadowlord |
Posted - 09 Jan 2004 : 05:25:24
as always, Sage has an answer... |
| The Sage |
Posted - 09 Jan 2004 : 05:16:11
quote:
Originally posted by DMShinobi
whoa...
i started playing on 3e rules so that character sheet is alien to me. how do u get 19s on the first roll? and what are the saving throws? and ive never heard of ring mail... should i be buying 2e stuff as well?
Well, MuadDib already explained and illustrated how he gained a '19' for some ability scores in his character profile post above.
The saving throws are in abbreviated format, and actually stand for -
PPDM – Save vs. Paralyzation, Poison, and Death Magic
RSW – Save vs. Rod, Staff, or Wand:
PP - Save vs. Petrification or Polymorph
BW - Save vs. Breath Weapon
S – Save vs. Spell
They represent the save against the method of attack or action directed against the PC. These were replaced by the now standard three saving throws we are all familiar with in D&D 3e.
As for the 'Ring Mail', here's a small excerpt from the 2e PHB -
quote:
Ring mail: This armor is an early (and less effective) form of chain mail in which metal rings are sewn directly to a leather backing instead of being interlaced. (Historians still debate whether this armor ever existed.)
And finally, as for purchasing 2e materials, well that's not really necessary unless you intend to play D&D in 2e. 2e is now the older version of the game, and is no longer supported with new-release materials. All current gaming materials subscribe to 3.0/3.5e rules.
|
| DMShinobi |
Posted - 08 Jan 2004 : 21:16:43
whoa...
i started playing on 3e rules so that character sheet is alien to me. how do u get 19s on the first roll? and what are the saving throws? and ive never heard of ring mail... should i be buying 2e stuff as well? |
| The Cardinal |
Posted - 24 Dec 2003 : 23:48:25
Bravo! A well told background full of pain, hate, dispair! MuadDib, your talents are wasted in the Inn as simple Brew Master (BM)! A Bard I say. Well done!
It reminds me a of a Tale I heard a few years back. Of a character for ...what was that game... Elf... no Everquest. That's it! Anyways, appearently the player wanted to play a Female dark Elf, who had killed her mentor (after abuse which was similar of a sort... Note: I have no Idea the Dark Elf culture of Everquest. Never got into it...). Anyways, because this history was (while a little grimmer, again I wasn't able to read history in question because of not being of that world. I've heard it was no more darker than a King novel)posted, said player was summarily Banned and character, background and all was cast into the void. There was a big thing (appearently) kicked up by the true roleplayers of the realm. Said player was not returned to the Realm of Everquest. Again this is only based on hearsay. A tragic tale in it's own right as the background was rather ingenious (killed the mentor with poisoned fingernails, which she scraped into mentor's back while... umm  you get the idea).
Anyways, i just brought it up cause it reminded me of the Tale. It sound's somewhat similar in someways. Maybe... Right, Great background though! Love the story! and I am sure we are all anxios to hear exploits of your ranger, MuadDib... Also, If any one has further details on the exile of that Player (whose name escapes me), please let me know. Again it seems as if great role playing was punished because of some weak minded fools. Well I ramble, Once again, MuadDib, Love the background.
May you always play the game, and never the game play you |
| The Sage |
Posted - 24 Dec 2003 : 08:15:05
Ah yes, that is correct...silly old Sage...
Thanks for that Yasraena. It's been several years now since my last 2e game, I guess all the knowledge necessary to 'play' 3e simply pushed the older 2e rules out of my brain...
|
| MuadDib |
Posted - 24 Dec 2003 : 06:23:26
Thanks Yasreana!
Ok, some more explanation of why Dastel is what he is...
I wanted to roleplay something different, something better than just pitching up with a human fighter from a normal family. So i went for half-drow, cause everyone is interested in the drow and it makes for an interestinf concept, ie halfp-drow.
I kinda had to go for ranger class, since im highly susceptible to the advances of duel wielding and 2e gives me to immediate proficiencies. More importantly, its the only character kit i had a source book on (im lame) and thus I had to go for ranger. Rangers can only be good though.
I thought once we start playing though, I would rely more on the chaotic nature, and blame any acts of 'evil' on his past. His heart might be good, although he will be prone to 'slipups'.
The other reason of course, as mentioned in other threads, is that I find it bery hard, even in PC games, to roleplay evil characters. Makes for a very dull playing experience, but im trying... |
| Yasraena |
Posted - 24 Dec 2003 : 04:28:34
Nice! You really lucked out with your stat rolls. Two 19's!
Cool background, although I have a hard time believing this guy is good after reading it. I think I'd be one bitter, angry, selfish SOB after living through those 68 years! Ouch!
Good luck with the new group. I hope all goes well!
Sage - You forget, Thac0's are automatic in 2E. All start out at 20 at 1st lvl and are modified by their Str (for melee) or Dex (for missile) and any magic weapons/items. They then lower by class and level.
Being a first lvl PC and assuming he has no magic weapons/items, Dastel's base melee Thac0 should be 17 w/his Str of 19. His missile Thac0 should be the same w/ his Dex of 19. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 23 Dec 2003 : 14:17:23
This is rather interesting actually...I've toyed with the idea of Half-Drow within my campaign from time to time, just for something different. However, I just ended up replacing most of my Half-Drow occurences with the Shadow Fey from Ravenloft...it works quite nicely and they bring to the table what I am looking for in a subtype of Drow.
Although I must point out MuadDib, that since these are 2e stats there appears to be no THAC0 for your Ranger character.
|
| MuadDib |
Posted - 23 Dec 2003 : 11:55:03
Thanks Sage, I appreciate it
Character: Dastel Amreth
Race: Half-Drow
Gender: Male
Age: 72
Class: Ranger
Statistics Rolls Totals
Roll 1 1 6 6 6
19
Roll 2 1 2 3 5
11
Roll 3 2 4 4 4
14
Roll 4 5 6 6 2
19
Roll 5 6 1 3 5
15
Roll 6 5 5 3 4
17
Roll 7 3 5 1 1
10
Roll 8 6 1 3 4
14
· All number were gained from www.random.org (I read about Munchkinism, and that making stats too high etc, ruins a game. I can only give you my promise and word that these stats were the first I got – if however, they are balanced, please feel free to edit them as required)
Final Statistics:
Strength: 19
Dexterity: 19
Constitution: 17
Wisdom: 15
Intelligence: 14
Charisma: 14
* The lowest two scores were discarded as per the DM's instructions.
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Skills: All scores calculated as if lvl 1 Character
Proficiencies: 2 x Scimitar
2 x Katana
2 x Duel Wield (class bonus)
Alertness
Blind fighting
Saving Throws: PPDM – 14
RSW – 16
PP - 15
BW - 15
S – 17
Priest Spells: None
Armour: Ring Mail
Weapon: Main Hand – Scimitar
Off Hand – Short Sword
Attacks: 2/round (duel wielding)
Primary Terrain: Arctic (rolled a 5)
Racial Enemy: Frost Giant (rolled a 2)
Thief Skills: Hide in Shadows: 0%
Move Silently: -10%
Personality: Dastel is a frim believer in the philosophy of living his life his won way. He is a spiritual Elf, although, having lived a largely solitary life, he has had little exposure to Deities and although he feels he is being guided, he know not by whom or what. He believes that the end justifies the means although he easily acknowledges that such a coda does not apply to every situation. He is easy going and light-hearted when at peace, although around others [people] he may become taciturn and withdrawn, mistrusting their intentions. He is sceptical and highly analytical, studying from afar and examine all the evidence before committing to a course of action, although he can be spontaneous and oft times rash when roused. Dastel is often stirred emotionally, especially in regards to nature and the mistreatment thereof. He has no friends to speak of, but being a pragmatic sort, realises the needs to meet other people and broaden his world view if he is to survive. Above all else, Dastel has a need to persevere and survive, ultimately winning or completing his task. His task for the latter half of this century of life, is to join an adventuring band and see the world that he might find acceptance, not only from others, but also from himself.
Appearance: Dastel stands tall for an elf at 6 foot 1 inches, and has a slightly larger build. He has attributed this to the human blood which has mingled with the drow blood poisoning his veins. His hair is jet black (a rarity for one of drow lineage) and is a feature he is proud to display. His body is scrawny and mal-nourished owing to his having to survive for over 2 decades on his own in the arctic blizzards. His skin is an off colour ash, once more a result of his mingled heritage. His eyes are of particular interest, being keen and remarkably narrow, casting his face into a constant distrusting scowl. He often finds his face struggles to reflect his actual mood. Perhaps his most distinguishing feature he carries is a thorn-studded earring in his left ear. It is a constant source of pain, so much that blood can often be seen trickling down his neck, but something he refuses to part with.
Background: Dastel was born of the unholy union of a Drow female and a hapless human their raiding party decided to have sport with. Why this particular Drow priestess decided to rape her victim instead of killing him as stated in their mission orders, is knowledge that most likely resides only with her, yet regardless, the drow priestess Haduthemril mothered an illegitimate and ultimately illegal baby in the caverns of the underdark. When her pregnancy became so visible as to not be concealable anymore, she was cast out of the Drow society having lost the favour of the drow deity. As punishment, she was sent into the caverns with no food, water or supplies of any nature. Naked, freezing and unable to do almost anything by lie moaning on the heated floor, she gave birth to her abomination. The pregnancy consumed her, but such was the commotion of the 13-hour labour that a troop of Grey Dwarves braved the noises and came upon the child. Believing the baby could be used as a lever against the drow city in that particular area of the underdark, Dastel was ‘rescued’ and retired to the Deurger city where he was fostered. A blind fold was kept over his eyes at all times. The blind fold was adhered with a permanent bonding spell and was fashioned to contain two glowing gemstones such that Dastel’s eyes were bombarded with light and ultra violet for his first 25 years of age. Being robbed of vision, Dastel was forced to heighten his other senses in compensation and became adept at moving without the aid of vision although he was never allowed to wield a weapon. He was also forbidden from assisting the dwarves in the constructions for fear of their knowledge passing from their realm. After 25 years of development, it was decided by the council of dwarves, that this half breed would be killed in the drow society and that he was not the tool they needed. The suggestion was to kill him outright, but it was contested with the fact that he had caused harm to noone in his life, had never spoken so much as a word, although his actions clearly showed comprehension of the dwarven and drow tongues, and had never showed any ambition other than to exist and survive. It was thus decided that he would be provided with a coat of poorly crafted ring mail, a rusted short sword and a scimitar. These items were only given to him when he was cast from their halls, far away from their entrances, so that he would not present a threat. To this day Dastel does not know who the dwarves are who kept him for those 25 years. Dastel, having very limited capacity to access his latent drow abilities, had little infred spectrum vision and thus could not navigate the endless winding tunnels without a light. The gemstones served to guide him well, although they drew the attention of unscrupulous eyes within the first 12 hours of his release. An outcast mage, Ilthor Dreadmast, looked on slightly bemused as a large and ungainly person of unknown lineage came moseying on into his private estate. Appearing before him, and immediately restraining Dastel, his name and history were torn from his mind magically. Ilthor imprisoned Dastel in his mage tower for the subsequent 43 years, and it was during this time he was marked with the thorn earring. While it may have seemed a long time to the passing world, it was but one extended torturous affair for Dastel. He was forced to walk and serve on his master, and had restrictions placed on him that were of such a nature as to get him continually punished. Ilthor was a perverted and evil mage, being consumed by his own conscience and his own revulsion at his lusts and greed. Being cast out of his Mage order for indecent behaviour with other male members, he fled to the underdark and began might works of construction under the earth, finding incredible power in the magic stirrings of the underdark. For 43 years, Dastel was abused and taken advantage of by his ‘master’ and once more denied the simple pleasures of study or learning. Ilthor did not limit his trainging in the martial arts though, and allowed Dastel to fiddle with his weapons. Dastel found that he particularly liked Scimitars and Katanas, although his limited life experiences afforded him little knowledge as to what one did with those weapons. Never having been allowed to touch a book, he also spent his life unable to read. In the one memorable evening of his young life, Dastel was commanded to enter his master’s room and tend to his needs. Once his master passed out, a rare occurrence to be sure, a barrier was finally crossed that had before been an unacceptable action to Dastel. His inner sense of right and wrong had stopped him from ever wanting to harm another being. This night though, his need for survival outweighed his need for being good, and he murdered his former master in cold blood. As a rationalisation, he took nothing but the items that belonged to him. Escaping the underdark proved easy as Ilroth had been wise enough to build his tower near an escape that he had often taunted Dastel with. Dastel emerged into the arctic tundra and immediately sought shelter in some nearby caves. It was fortunate for him that he had emerged in the warmest season of the year, as opposed to Winter where he surely would have frozen. He prepared for the winter season, having felt the moving currents of the weather close to the entrance to the underdark. For three years he lived with the animals and nature of the arctic tundra, maintaining a stern vigil on the entrance to his abysmal memories, partly in fear of reprisal for his actions, and partly because he could not bear to be torn away from the only life he knew. Though as they years passed, and he learnt the ways of nature, he saw the migrations of birds, the procreation and interaction of the animals he so loved and decided it was time for him to move out and seek a new and better life, and more importantly, to discover if there were others like him, and if not, if others would accept him and indeed, if he could learnt to accept himself.
Notes:
There are prolly a lot of mistakes so bear with me. And i guess its impossible to not see many similarities with a certain other famous drow ranger, what can I say? It's my first time, cut me some slack  |
| The Sage |
Posted - 23 Dec 2003 : 08:51:24
Well MuadDib, I wouldn't mind reading through Dastel Amreth's character sheet...so post away .
|
| MuadDib |
Posted - 23 Dec 2003 : 06:46:28
I have a character sheet thingy worked out, with some stats and so on. I didn't have a clue what to do, and the DM said I should read through a TSR (or some such book) on Rangers. From the text it would seem he is using 2edition rules/material although he said he was fimiliar with the newer stuff.
I read through and created my character based on that information, and when I sent it through, he said there were some errors, but nothing he could not fix. I would really appreciate it if anyone would read through my character and let me know where the mistakes are for future reference and for my own learning.
I was extrememly lucky on www.random.org with my stats and he had some difficulty believeing i got the rolled scores I did, I even offered to lower my stats cause I did not want to come into a campaign and be called a Munchkin (is that it?) but he said no it was ok. Hope I dont irritate anyone.
so anyway, I would like to post regular updates and so on, cause well....im just so damned excited about finally playing and I want to share that with you all, if noone minds. So does anyone want me to post the character sheet for Dastel Amreth (thanks Everchanging book of names) the half-human/half-drow? |
| Bayne |
Posted - 22 Dec 2003 : 18:16:52
Very very interesting, half-elven/half-drow...
Please inform us of what happens in your adventures.
Congratulations on you joining the ranks of us Players. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 22 Dec 2003 : 12:53:57
I'm very happy for you MuadDib...
Be sure to let us know occassionally about your adventures, and your experiences in this form of game-play.
|
|
|
