D&D 5e--Lost Mines of Phandelver

[thinkslogically]

There's an app I really like on my phone called "Fifth Edition Character Sheet" with a green d20 icon. The free version gets you a character creator for level 1, but the paid version is like two bucks and guides you through levelling up if you need it. It's also got all the official material in it. The only real issue is that because its 3rd party, some of the names of feats and class features aren't the official ones, but it's not enough to really be a problem. They incorporate point buy in the app if it's of interest for a trial.

Or, this is the first result on Google
http://chicken-dinner.com/5e/5e-point-buy.html

[Rodgeir]

Too late to hop in? I am in pretty much every DnD game on the forum, why break the streak and miss this one?

Oh and I am familiar with the Mines through the Adventure Zone but I am guessing they followed it VERY loosely.

[SamWiser]

I'd be happy to have you, Rodgeir! Itll be good to have another experienced player to call me out if I make any mistakes.

Right now we have 2 clerics and a bard. No word on what Quarg is making yet.

[Rodgeir]

Great! I was looking at a rogue. Or a warlock.

What are our background choices? Can we use Xanathar's guide?

[Rodgeir]

Aimee Glade'ver
Half elf warlock
5'7"

Str: 8
Dex: 13 + 1
Con: 14 + 1
Int: 10
Wis: 12
Cha: 15 + 2

Racial traits: Darkvision and more!

Background: Cloistered scholar (library access)

Skill proficiencies: Arcana, deception, history, religion
Saves: Wisdom, charisma

I have a pair of daggers, light crossbow, leather armor, arcane focus

Spells:
Cantrips: Eldritch blast, prestidigitation
Level 1 spells: Hex, charm person

Patron: Great Old One
Ability: Awaked mind

Languages: Common, Elf, Dwarf, Orc

[SamWiser]

A warlock would be cool. As for backgrounds, I would prefer if you would stick to the ones in the handbook, but if you find one you really like in another source, give me the info, let me know what it is and I'll give final approval.

[thinkslogically]

Just as a minor point of note, but keeping your stats as even numbers is generally a good idea because even numbers is when the modifiers go up. it depends how far you're planning ahead a bit, but in Rodgeir's case for example, adding the +2 to CON and +1 to CHA would give you one extra HP and wouldnt affect your CHA because there's functionally no difference between a 16 and a 17

[Rodgeir]

Thinks is generally correct, except in this case I can't choose where the +2 goes without changing my race (half elf gets +2 to Cha and +1 to two other stats). That said I could move my standard array 15 from Charisma to constitution and the 14 to Charisma and get that extra HP.

In my case I was planning for the level 4 Ability Score Improvement where I can increase any stat by two or two stats by one. I am going to drop a point in my odd scores then. With the fiendish vigor invocation (2nd level) the missing HP probably won't be as big of a deal. Hopefully .

What is worth considering is that I am planning for something, that given the pace of forum games, is likely not going to happen for a year or so at the earliest .

[thinkslogically]

Yes, you're right - I got the numbers backwards! You'd need to adjust the standard array distribution rather than where the +2 goes

Anyway, not that you specifically need or want that advice, just thought it was worth a mention as other folk build their characters.

[Rodgeir]

Never built a warlock before and I am always open to advice!

[Lurks_In_Shadows]

Sam, do you want me to convert Balin to standard array or just nerf his numbers? Your game, your call.

[SamWiser]

Uh...

Let's just do standard array. It makes sense for everybody to use the same system.

[Lurks_In_Shadows]

► Show Spoiler

Name: Balin Stonefist Age: 50
Race: Mountain Dwarf (Racial modifiers: Strength+2, Constitution: +2)
Class: Cleric Background: Acolyte
Level: 1
Patron Diety: Moradin
Alignment: Lawful Good

Physical description: height: 5'3", Weight: 185 lbs, Hair: Deep red, Eyes: Green and piercing, Skin: Ruddy, Facial features: Rather blunt, with bushy mustache and eyebrows, beard down to mid chest (neatly combed and braided), hair is neatly combed and braided into a two warbraids that are shoulder length.

Languages: Common, Dwarven, Elvish, Orcish

HP: (Default) 8 Modifiers:

Str: 15+2: (17) +3
Int:13 +1
Wis:14 +2
Con: 12+2: (14) +2
Dex:10 +0
Cha:8 -1

Domain: Life
Proficiency Bonus: +2
Porfiecient in: Light, Medium, Heavy Armor, Shields, simple weapons, battleaxe, handaxe, throwing hammer, and warhammer

Armor Class: Chain mail: 16 Shield: 2

Initiative: 1d20
Attack Rolls
Warhammer: 1d20+3+2
damage:1d8+3+2 (1d10+3+2 if two handed)
Light Crossbow: 1d20
damage:1d8

SKILLS: Skill Proficiency Total
ACROBATICS (DEX) +0 +0
ANIMAL HANDLING (WIS) +2 +2
ARCANA (INT) +1 +1
ATHLETICS (STR) +3 +3
DECEPTION (CHA) -1 -1
HISTORY (INT) +1 +1
INSIGHT (WIS) +2 +2 +4
INTIMIDATION (CHA) -1 -1
INVESTIGATION (INT) +1 +1
MEDICINE (WIS) +2 +2 +4
NATURE(INT) +1 +1
PERCEPTION (WIS) +2 +2
PERFORMANCE (CHA) -1 -1
PERSUASION (CHA) -1 +2 +1
RELIGION (INT) +1 +2 +3
SLEIGHT OF HAND (DEX) +0 +0
STEALTH (DEX) +0 +0
SURVIVAL (WIS) +2 +2

Equipment:
Chain mail: earthtone
Helm: Silver tone
Warhammer
light crossbow with 20 bolts
Shield
Holy symbol
Prayer book
Vestments
Street clothes
5 sticks incense
Purse
Explorer's pack

Wealth: 15 gp



Spells:
Cantrips: Mending, Sacred Flame, Spare the dying
1st level: Cure wounds, Guiding Bolt.



Background: Acolyte

Personality: A giant among his kind, Balin learned at an early age to be careful with his great strength. He earned a reputation as a firm friend, trustworthy and valiant. He is a bit naive still, only being a young 50 years of age. In particular he is still idealistic, believing that if only everyone would just do the "right thing", the world would be a wonderful place.
A scion of the Stonefist clan, a lineage heavy with Priests of Moradin and more than a few Hammers of Moradin, Balin's duty was clear from the beginning: To go forth and make things right. And if any stinking orc is so foolish as to get in his way....

Ideal: Faith. I trust that my deity will guide my actions, I have faith that if I work hard, things will go well. (Lawful)
Bond: Everything I do is for the common people.
Flaw: My piety sometimes leads me to blindly trust those that profess faith in my god.

Here's the redo using standard array.

[Rodgeir]

I updated above, not as detailed as Lurks though. What would you like before we start Sam? Will there be a Google sheet with everyone's stats?

Also my background is from Xanathar's, but I can switch it to sage instead for more or less the same stuff.

[SamWiser]

Before we start, I'm wanting characters from everybody. I'll try to look for a google doc sheet or something similar that will allow us to easily look at and edit our characters. (Any suggestions would be nice).

Right now we have a completed character from Lurks, and Rodegier and Thinks are about 90% done. Gathers mentioned they were using the premade cleric, though might want to look at the different focuses to see what kind of cleric they want. Quarg has been pretty quiet lately. I'll give him some time to build a character before moving on. I'm hoping we can start before this time next week.

[Rodgeir]

I can throw up a Google sheet based on what is used in my, Thinks and Spider's games if you'd like?

Here is a direct copy of what I use in Tests and Trials.

I changed the name of the tabs so people can just update the content and it will automatically update the first page, which is a time saver as it shows all the saves etc.

Lurks and Thinks are familiar with it and I can help put things in, but it is really pretty easy!

[SamWiser]

Yeah, that will work. Thanks Rodgeir!

I'll double check everybody's characters later today to make sure nothing is missing from the ones who have made them.

[Rodgeir]

How much background do you need on the characters before we get started?

I can drop in the stats that are up tonight. Gathers wanted the cleric pre-built?

[Lurks_In_Shadows]

I would say that depends on whether Sam wants a quick module run or if he's going for full campaign like Spider did. Spider got a full background out of me (and I'm guessing the others) before we started and incorporated it into his world. But it sounds like Sam is just wanting to get his feet wet, so I don't think we'll need quite that level.

[SamWiser]

Yeah. Don't need a full backstory. I will post a kind of "beginning adventure hook" later tonight, and hopefully you can fit your backstory in to make sense as to why you are going on this adventure.

I know that's kind of railroad-y, and I'll try to avoid that kind of thing in the game, but I'm realizing I should have given you that info much earlier.

[Rodgeir]

I have added the basic stats for Thinks, Lurks and my characters. Lurks you will need to update the inventory, same for you Thinks. Kryz also needs some more details as well as some information on armor weapons. Aimee should be a go...ish.

I will add Gathers character when I get confirmation on her character stats, no need to do double work!

[Lurks_In_Shadows]

I've updated the Google sheets for Balin. Are we just using max HP as a default? I was originally using the default HP of 5+con (which with standard array would actually be 7). I could re-roll the HP otherwise.

[Rodgeir]

Starting HP in 5e is the max on your HD+con. So for a cleric it would be 8+con modifier, in Balin's case it's 8+2 =10. No rolls needed!

[Lurks_In_Shadows]

Ah, I missed that. Thanks!

[SamWiser]

Adventure Hook:

Help Wanted

Looking for help moving a cart of supplies from Neverwinter to the border town of Phandalin. Will be responsible for fast and secure transport of all goods. Everybody involved in transport and protection of goods will earn 10 Gold Pieces each when the cart is delivered to Barthen's Provisions in Phandalin. Equipment will be inventoried before payment.

Interested parties meet me at The Philosopher Inn in Neverwinter tomorrow evening for approval and handover of goods. I will be leaving as soon as the meeting is over with my bodyguard. You will be expected to leave the next morning. Lodging for the night will be provided at the inn.

---Gundren Rockseeker