DnD 3.5 - Valley of the Dead

[Malachei]

my first DnD game

If this is your first D&D game, you will embark on a magical journey of excitement and inspiration, as well as a steep learning curve. I'd suggest for your first PC you might want to go for a non-exotic character.

I have seen many new players become interested in exotic concepts (such as drow, demons, undead, you name it), then work on the build and how they can create a powerful character able to survive (because they chose a self-sufficient, exotic, non-fitting character). Then, they often focus on a very small aspect of roleplaying (i.e. the exotic aspect of the character overshadows the rest of the personality -- and exotic characters tend to be more stereotype and limited). Finally, many get bored with or disappointed by their concept and drop it -- in turn seeking another thrill (a half-dragon undead whatever).

For new players, I find it very challenging to play a classic role, such as a human ranger. Actually, we could use a ranger.

Don't worry about the foodchain, worry about filling your character with life. If you manage to create and develop a character you really care about, you will have a blast.

By the way, if you end up playing a Drizzt-type, Myth will not need to kill you -- I'll do that first.

 

[Zerith]

This is my first DnD game, but by no means my first RP, nor my first time using a demonic Character (Then again the last time I used one he was a Pycho Prince who was commanding an army of undead/golems to "Squish!" things with mallets)

and as for Zinerath, you'll find he is a very nice guy, ... who revels in brutality once combat gets truly started and is completely none pout off by horrifying surroundings. In fact, if not for the ridicual that came from doing so, it would be common practie for him to stake a body or so after a battle, and then sit on said bodys while having a snake becomes its more comratable then most of the objects at a battlefield. that said, other then being complety imune to morbid things (and being rather brutal in combat after his taunting phase...) He would acutely he acts lik a hyper and exedingly good natured kid (who gos from jake the ripper and joyful shattering the still dying bodies of his foes to happy go lucky the instent somone expresses any interest in him. then again, he would also finish said foe off when he abruptly changes back to being happy go lucky)

And as I said before, if I wanted to have a strong character(worry about the food chain) I would make a wizard who turns ppl into newts! XD
I was backing off of using him before because I thought he might just make all the main NPCs go "Devil! kill it!"
And to tell the truth, one of the funnest characters I've ever RPed was a small Dragon, a Very small Dragon, maybe three or four feet long and very slime(sure, he could freeze stuff, as he was a silver, but in terms of raw blasting power he could not stand toe to toe with the mage that summoned him nor did he have the size needed to be a truly competent fighter. But he was fun, and he was one of my first characters in fact. (I'll stop the random details of a character I don't think we will be using now.)

The point I'm trying to make is, I thrive on odd balls: I like my characters to be far flung. Large, slow, and filled with brawn, or small fast and lithe; and in all cases, any thing but the norm. Fantasy RPs are to remove oneself from reality, and I take that towards it's full extent. Just ask Zuak, the Half Wyvern. Did not think of using here him before now, but even at his very most good, he is at best true neutral. (and he is flip-en huge (9'+ with a natural reach of over 10' with either arm, not to mention I would have to make a race for him as I don't think their is a real mach for him even in DnD)
Also... First one who asks how he got into the Vest gets branded upside the head with a toothbrush ^^;

I think I've been more then long winded enough for one OoC post, yesh, so I'll stop teh rants that can go on for pages here ^_^;

Also, this just hit me, is the damage bonus from Primordial Scion given with any weapon the character uses (as the weapon is considered Chaotic in the character's hands) or dos it need a real Chaotic weapon for the bonus?

 

[Fangor the Fierce]

So, in all that OOC content, what is your current view of what you are making? Is it a Dragon Shaman?

 

[Zerith]

No, I've went back to the Demonic one: while I admit it is worse forcombat overal (no aura, no healing ability, etc) the RP dynamic I think is better; most Adventuring characters can accept a heavly draconic character prity quickly while they go to smite evil. But most would have many ishues if there was a heavily demonic one in their mints (Yesh, fresh breath is a must!) and might have to reevaluate their core belief if they wore made spend a prolonged amount of time around said demonic character.

Also, and again, the WIP is up on the rogue's gallery and were can I find the EXP/gold value for a level 9 character?

 

[Myth and Legend]

The character Wealth by Level can be found on page 135 of the Dungeon Master's Guide. You get 27000 gp. to play with as the others just hit level 9 and have not gotten to the lvl 9 threshold yet.

You start at level 9 xp wise, which means you get 36 000 xp before Level Adjustment buyoff is applied. The XP to level table can be found in the Player's Handbook, page 22.

 

[Zerith]

so starting equipment is still the same? k :3

Addon: btw, Since I'm going to be using bloodline levels (2 now, one more latter) and my character's HP modifier will go positive when he levels, Since Bloodline levels give no HP/Skill points, are they treated as 1d0 hit dice (allowing the con mod to add to it as normal levels do) or 0d0 (more or less skipping a levels worth of HP modifiers each level of bloodline)
Like wise, are the skill points 0 + Int mode or just Zero flat?

Right now I'm going with flat Zeros on both counts. it's simpler.

 

[Myth and Legend]

Uhmm.. What are bloodline levels and which book are you getting them from?

 

[Zerith]

Their in unearthed arcana I think. I found them here, and that section(variant races) is under Unearthed so I'm assuming that is the case. ^^;

Addon: I think it's meant to be like a + LA over time, in which case I might have to ask if they can be payed off also XD

that said, if their trouble I can just ditch them. I'm not rely that attached to them. :3

 

[Dragonwriter]

Uhmm.. What are bloodline levels and which book are you getting them from?

They're essentially sacrificing a normal level for some benefits over time, usually over the entire adventuring career. And because of the benefits they convey, they are meant to occupy an entire level slot. And should not be subject to LA buyoff. There's a reason they are taken as Levels and not Level Adjustment.

Though I'll admit I'm a little surprised you hadn't heard of them, as big as you are on optimization. They're regularly used (or at least attempted) when working on a Hellfire Warlock build, due to a little clause boosting your "level-dependent benefits" (or something similar) for all classes equal to your Bloodline faux-levels.
For Hellfire Warlock, it supposedly increases both standard EB damage (boosting Warlock CL/EB) and the Hellfire damage (as that is effectively stated as +2d6/level).

 

[Zerith]

hmm, it was worded like they were taken as levels because it was a gain over time oh well. Also, I just looked over it again and there was attest two feats in it, and it's looking like the norm for a major blood line is 4ish.

Also, I would still like to know if the hate can be used to make a Demonic looking character look Draconic instead. :3