Creating a Character

1. Generating Characters – Phase 1

a) Characters are generated using the point buy system from the PHB, but with 29 points before racial adjustments. (Same costs and max values.) See e.g., http://1-dot-encounter-planner.appspot.com/point-buy-calculator.html. If people want, we can set up a chat to discuss how to do that, or if you want, you can come up with a concept and one of us can draft something up for your review.

b) See the house rules below for limitations, and email me any other questions. Feel free to discuss your characters ahead of time or just develop what you want. I’ll publish the characters Pete-style, but feel free to rework until we’re set up. Eleanor and I are both happy to offer character advice.

c) If you take the Faction Agent background, there are some additional Factions available in Waterdeep. Any other background from the major published books is probably fine. If you need more detail on Waterdeep-specific Nobility, Guilds, Military etc for your background, let me know. (If you don’t take the Faction Agent background, you may not start in a Faction, but might be able to join one or more during the campaign).

d) I’ll code the characters into Roll20 – feel free to send me their key stats by email or a formatter character sheet. http://www.orcpub2.com is a good generator, or pen and paper work well – let me know if you need advice on how to load the extra game materials into your version.

e) Once the characters are basically set up, we’ll work off-line to develop how you know each other, and some contacts you have in Waterdeep

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2. House Rules for Generating Characters

a) The game is set in the Forgotten Realms and uses any 5e Forgotten Realms info that I know. 🙂

b) Materials: All published materials except no Unearthed Arcana, no Eberron, Ravnica, or other materials from non-Forgotten Realms settings. (For example, no changelings or warforged).

c) No characters can start with unlimited flight (aakocra, variant tiefling), but if you take a naturally flying character, I’ll let you have 3 rounds of flight once per short rest, plus feather fall if your character is conscious and not restrained. Naturally flying characters may obtain flight by taking flight as a feat. Aasimar have their normal flight, if any, as does anyone who gains flight as a class feature or through a spell or magic item.

d) No evil player characters without clearing with me first to make sure your concept works with the party.

e) No fiend pact player character warlocks, but I’ll reskin the fiend pact to a fire elemental if you want the features.

f) I may add other limitations as they come up.

g) Rulings: I’ll generally follow published rules and Sage Advice. During games, I’ll make rulings to keep things moving, but if you want to discuss further between sessions, I’m happy to look at anything and consider adjusting in future. If any particular Sage Advice rulings or other issues are important to your character, feel free to email me ahead of time.

h) XP: I’ll grant XP at milestones, with a possible bonus for exceptional roleplay.

i) Nathan and Eleanor start with max gold for their characters as a birthday present

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3. Generating Characters – Phase 2

3.1 – Friendly Faces: At your convenience, pick one of the NPCs from the Friendly Faces handout as an acquaintance, and I’ll work with you to get it into your back story.

3.2 – Portrait and Token: If you want, feel free to Google for a likely portrait and token for your character. If you don’t have the time, don’t worry about it – I’ll pick something, and you can always change it up.

3.2.1 – Portraits are pretty much any image that you think reflects your character.

3.2.2 – Tokens are circular images with an overhead view that we will use on the battle maps. The easiest way to find them is to run a Google image search for “Roll20 token Elven cleric” or what have you