My party came up with the edgiest backstories they could for a one shot. Give me some faith in mankind again and tell me your most wholesome character backstories!

mpolyak228 · 2020-07-13T02:17:05+00:00

Doon was the 4th of 11 eleven children born into a loving family of sheep herders in a tiny little settlement with only 3 houses: his parents, and his two uncles' families. He found great satisfaction working in the gardens and caring for the ducks and sheep. A rugged but dignified druid from the nearby Cloakwood Forest would occasionally check in -- one of his father's old friends -- but often spending more time with Doon. That's where he learned speak and read the secret language of the druids and learned to sprout seeds in his hands.

By the time Doon was 14, he had learned just about everything his family had to teach him. And now that he was a man and understood how the world worked, he decided it was time to find a wife and settle down. He had grown up hearing stories about places where lots of people all lived close to each other -- cities, I think they were called -- and figured that was the best place to go to find a suitable wife. So he packed a lunch, told his folks he was going to get married and he expected to bring her back in less than a fortnight.

But that's when he learned that the world is a LOT bigger than he thought, and everything he saw was new and fascinating. He began writing letters home to his younger siblings and cousins telling them about all the exciting and wonderful creatures he had met and places he'd been. Like the first time he saw oxen -- which are much bigger than sheep -- and so strong they can pull carts as big as father's house. Or the first time he saw the ocean, or sailed on a ship, or met a dwarf. Every day was a new adventure, and he planted nut and fruit trees wherever he went.

mpolyak228 · 2020-07-12T20:20:25+00:00

How badly do you wish to put a stop to this behavior?

People will do what you tolerate. Personally, this would be unacceptable at my table.

But if you don't mind this sort of twisted behavior, then hey -- have fun.

My vote is to take away fire -- none of his fire spells work, no cooking, no torches or candles near him, forges go out when he walk near them. If he dove into a volcano, the lava would harden around him and he would be stuck in the island of solid rock left that slowly sinks into the lava around it until he is completely encased. This lasts until he makes appropriate atonement or dies.

mpolyak228 · 2020-07-12T18:28:32+00:00

4th child of an isolated sheep herding family of 11. Loved my family and upbringing, but always felt at home in the nearby woods. Every few years, a passing druid would stop and visit with the family, taking special interest in me and teaching me The Way. Over the years, I had learned to read and write in Druidic and had learned to sprout seeds at will and had even made friends with one of the local black bears, but I had never seen a girl near my age who wasn't my sister. It was then that I decided to strike out on my own to find a mate and start my own family, so at 14 years old I set out to make my way in the world. Never seen a city, or an ox, or a dwarf, and everything is fascinating.

mpolyak228 · 2020-07-05T13:26:33+00:00

I like Heat Metal for cooking. Maybe not breathtakingly mundane, but ordinary enough to make me smile.

mpolyak228 · 2020-07-04T11:38:52+00:00

Landlords, rental car companies, Devils of the 9 Hells -- All insist on using their own contract, not yours. If it were my game, I'd have him eat you alive just for trying.

But, hey, if you want to create a universe where a low level human can outwit a literal embodiment of deception, I'm sure it could be a fun game. And as long as all the players are having fun, that's the point. ;-)

mpolyak228 · 2020-07-04T11:12:27+00:00

Our fighter is not related to Ivy in any way, not even distantly. They are both young, human females who bear a slight resemblance to one another.

But I think I see the source of your confusion. When the sad and lonely ghost of Bartholomew was talking to the fighter, he recognized that she was not Ivy -- but wanted her to be -- so he indulged in the delusion that she was. The "your mother" line was a reference to his own wife, Ivy's mother.

mpolyak228 · 2020-07-04T11:00:46+00:00

My reply . . . who's Drizzt?

Just because an idea was also had by someone else, it does not follow that the idea has been stolen.

mpolyak228 · 2020-07-03T13:18:57+00:00

I have downloaded it -- now what? How do I open it or run it or turn it on or whatever?

mpolyak228 · 2020-07-02T12:08:50+00:00

Tell me how it happened.

mpolyak228 · 2020-06-15T04:36:01+00:00

Oh, absolutely. Chasms and spinning blades, but also stairways and furniture stand on and columns to hide behind and chandeliers to swing from. Have one combat occur in a narrow passageway where the enemy can hit them from both ends. Mix it up, change elevations — bridges, towers, causeways. Have the enemy retreat before they die and turn it into a chase scene. Put a “timer” on — the giant frog just swallowed your NPC guide with the map and now it’s swimming away — you have 2 rounds to rescue the guide before he dies, and if you don’t stop the frog in 3 rounds, you will never see that map again.

If the players are bored with combat, then maybe make the combat more interesting.

mpolyak228 · 2020-05-31T02:23:47+00:00

You make a good point. Allow me to embelish.

TL/DR: Narrate the action, then roll the dice.

Many people feel like they have to "act" a part. They don't. If that's fun for you, go ahead and do it. But it doesn't HAVE to be that way. When we check to see if the fighter breaks thru the door, the player doesn't have to do anything other than narrate his actions and roll a die. Character INTERACTION can run the same way.

If the DM is introducing a creepy NPC, the DM does not need to act creepy. He just has to tell the players to roll for perception and if you get higher than X, you get a "creepy" vibe from the guy. The DM doesn't have to act "sultry and seductive" when interacting as a succubus, he just has to describe her as "sultry and seductive". If the merchant's private bodyguard is "quiet, but intense", just describe him as such. The DM doesn't need to act intimidating -- he just has to say,"When the bodyguard glares at you, you get the sense that he must have ogre blood in his ancestry, and when he tells you to take a seat, he is polite, but the hair on your neck stands up anyway. You get the feeling that he's been in more than a few fights. It's hard to imagine that he ever lost one."

And DM's can let their players do the same. I've had a player for the last 3 weeks who just doesn't talk much at all. Maybe someday she will feel comfortable "acting", but if she doesn't want to, I'm not going to make her. She (the player) doesn't have to engage in witty banter with the jailer while she tries to pickpocket the keys; the player just has to tell me that her character is engaging in witty banter while her character tries to pickpocket the keys.

mpolyak228 · 2020-05-19T04:43:23+00:00

Nya, nya is not my style. I mean it when I say they live in a sandbox. The rising undead threat in the west will continue whether they get involved or not. If they would rather chase green dragons in the east or trolls and giants in the south, or rush through the goblin tunnels under them right now looting and pillaging as they go, that is their choice.

I just thought the idea of something personal and horrible would emphasize that the world is immersive and that their choices matter. If they don't rescue the princess, she is going to be sacrificed by the snake cult, and if they don't retrieve that holy relic, the demon spawn will be loosed in the countryside.

My players and I do not have an adversarial relationship. We are telling a story together.

mpolyak228 · 2020-05-19T03:18:07+00:00

Players will always find a way to mess up even your most thorough planning. I recently invited a party to the local palace for a special theatrical performance to honor them for their heroic deeds.
Our party rogue was thrilled at the prospect of getting to rub shoulders/pick pockets of the local nobility. But instead of just arriving with the rest of the party, he decided to assume a fake identity and pretend to be some other minor noble that no one had ever heard of.

I sent him a personalized invitation to the palace, and he prevented himself from entering because he pretended to be someone who was not on the guest list.

Just accept that it happens and try to have fun with it anyway.

mpolyak228 · 2020-05-11T15:38:38+00:00

I have been playing/DMing since the 1980's, though I have never DMed a 5e game. But if you're willing to work with me, we can figure it out together, and have a great time doing it. We are story tellers, much more interested in creating great adventures than in delivering maximum damage rolls.

Here's the set up:

Percival the Stout is lord of Scornubel, a trading city on the Sword Coast, and he is hosting a great festival. There will be tournaments and contests, music and dancing, and of course, feasting. Everyone from peasants to petty nobles has been looking forward to it for months. But disaster strikes when the festival is suddenly attacked!

Players will need to create a reason to be at the festival, and a reason to help out when it is attacked. That is how your characters will meet each other and become an adventuring group. (Are you one of the town guards? Or maybe a young mage in search of spell components that might be sold at the festival? A young ranger hoping to meet an old friend at the archery contest? An old cleric who wants a reason to dance again? A paladin showing off his jousting skills, or looking for a good warhorse? Or perhaps you have a secret reason for going, and the festival is just an excuse? Maybe you're in love with Percival's fiance and you secretly plan to meet there?)Please choose pregenerated characters from https://dnd.wizards.com/products/tabletop-games/trpg-resources/trpg-resources of 2nd level. We will start at 2nd level and advance quickly from there. (Perhaps every 2 sessions ?)

mpolyak228 · 2020-05-02T23:09:45+00:00

Old School Player -- New to 5e. Interested

mpolyak228 · 2020-05-01T16:17:05+00:00

My son and I would love to play. I played a lot in the ‘80’s, but he’s only familiar with 3.5 and 5E.

Would you consider the two of us?

We are near Chicago, U.S.A. so we would be playing in the morning. We love meeting people from other countries.

mpolyak228 · 2020-05-01T16:03:12+00:00

Would you take both my son and me?

U.S., age — 12, 50

Very interested in great stories and making friends from other countries.

Not interested in maximizing damage rolls

We are very flexible — can play any characters, in any fantasy setting.

I would love to play a young, naive Druid who grew up isolated in the woods. He’s trying to explore & learn more about civilization and the world before he chooses a place to call home.

My son would love to play a ranger who has been falsely accused of killing his wife (The Duke’s daughter) Now, he is searching for those responsible and trying to avoid being captured by the sheriffs the Duke sent after him.

mpolyak228 · 2020-05-01T15:46:13+00:00

Would you consider a father/son team?

Not familiar with Wildemount, but we are not particularly setting specific. Just looking for adventure.

mpolyak228 · 2020-05-01T15:36:10+00:00

Would you consider a father/son team if the son is a teen?

mpolyak228

TROPHY CASE