[StormFront] PbP Character Thread

[dougbass68]

Reply to Xyffor

Hi Doug/Xyffor-

You had a couple of questions about eTools and my character sheet. I did use eTools to do it.

Basically, to export to HTML with a picture you need to do a couple of things:

1. In the Bio section of your character, choose an image. There are different types of images you can choose from - see the dropdown with these choices: MM (monster manual), PC (player character), User (your own images).

2. Once you have chosen an image, you then export your character to HTML format. Once you specify a filename, you can then pick an output style. Choose CharacterSheet.xsl for your output style and that will add the image you chose.

Chris will probably have to upload the HTML (and the image file) to his webhost for you. Ask him about it. You can probably just send them to him in an email. To know where the image file resides on your harddrive, right click on the image on the HTML page, and choose properties. That will show you the path. My apologies if I'm telling you stuff you already know, I'm just not sure how "savvy" you are

The other question you had was about equipping your character. I just stumbled onto this myself. Here's how I did it: Choose the Equip section from the listbox on the left side of the screen. Then, from the top dropdown list, choose Armor/Shields. Then highlight your armor (and shield?) and press the "Equip in New Group" button. That's all there is to it

BTW, I liked your character story. Where did you come up with all those names - were they invented by you, or did you get them from some book you read?

Oh, the last thing. You asked about how I got the image in my signature. I did that using the

tags. Between them, you put the URL of the image for your character. Unless you have a personal website of your own, you'll have to wait until Chris uploads your character sheet to his website. Then you can use that URL. Here's the an example of the code you might use in your signature (assuming the picture has been uploaded to Chris' site using the path below):

let me know if you have any more ?'s!

 

[dougbass68]

2nd Reply to Xyffor

D'oh, the site tried to interpret my example code.

The tags you need to use are ["img"] and [/"img"]. Remove the quotes and put the URL of your image file in between them.

An example path you might use in your signature is: ["img"]http://www.luisalejandro.net/stormfront/assests/xyffor.jpg[/"img"]. Once again, remove the quotes.

 

[dougbass68]

? for DM and Kajhin

I have YASQ (yet another stupid question) for you guys:

Should I sell my composite shortbow +1 and studded leather and get a chain shirt? That would make my armor bonus +4 (instead of +3) though it would make my armor check penalty -2 (instead of -1). Also it would reduce my dexterity bonus from +5 to +4. Also, I wouldn't have a composite shortbow +1. I'm guessing it wouldn't be a good idea, but I thought I'd ask

Kajhin posed a question that needs to be answered by our omnipotent DM. Are you going to enforce the skill penalties for having medium encumberance? Should I shed some of my gear?

And Kajhin, I believe you are right about the b00bies. D'oh! I'll have to find a new pitcher soon. I'm not going to give up that damn mirror no matter what you say. Who knows, it may save your @$$ at some point!! But thanks for posting the melee and skill examples! Very helpful!

 

[Bulsarra]

Encumbrance and other things

Message From On High:

I won't worry about encumbrance unless it starts getting out of hand. And the PHB takes much of this into account by not stacking encumbrance of gear and treasure, etc. on top of armor penalities. (See pages 142-143 and Chapter 9 of the PHB for more detail.)

I WILL count armor penalities and that will probably make adventuring challenging enough (in that regard) but beyond that I'll rule on a case-by-case basis. For example:

If you have wiped out every orc in the dungeon and secured your route back to camp or town then I'll assume that you can carry everything out that you want (minus items that would take a some enginnering to move).

Should you be in a similar situation except you still may face a wandering monster or other hazard (like mud) then you may face a penality until you can drop what you're carrying.

Trying to get out of combat or a similar hazardous spot, I'll probably look at penalizing you if you go over you max load by half or more.

These are guidelines....stuff to keep in mind should such events take place. If I ask you how much loot you're carrying that won't signal an incoming attack but should keep you on your guard.

Remember that certain skills are more directly affected by weight (mostly due to armor) so be sure to review those on the pages I listed above.

 

[Bulsarra]

Sort of Answer to Ranstaar's Question

Doug/Ranstaar,

The PHB has a quote in Chapter 9 (I think) that goes something like: "better to be slow and alive than quick and dead." But I don't think that applies to you. Here's why:

After reviewing some of the tables it really becomes personal choice. There will be instances where adding +1 to your AC may save your ass but I imagine, and for a Ranger particularly, that giving up dex bonuses, esp. when coupled with losing your bow, that it would be a bad idea.

Let the "tanks" (to use an EQ term) take the hits while you pick em off from a safe distance with your arrows.

And just for clarification: you have a +1 bonus with your bow, NOT a +1 composite bow (i.e. a magic or masterwork item) correct? I'll review the thread but you may be able to answer that before I get a chnace to read back.

 

[Bulsarra]

Getting Ready to Get Started Part 1

All Ya'll:

Here's a couple of quick hits:

1. Review page 144 of the PHB. There's a side bar that lists some ways that players can help the campaign. What I'd like you all as a group to consider is mapping.

Historically I have dispised mapping. Nothing slows down an adventure than explaining and/or correcting room diminsions. So I propose a couple of ideas.

First: someone volunteers to map old skool. We do it by the book. If someone wants to, we will. (Obviously I think this is a bad idea but I don't want to deny anyone anything they really want to do in this game. Logistically we'll have to work something out so I can see what you're mapping but I'll worry about that only if I have to.)

Second: (and this is my preference) Someone volunteers to make a rough map as we go along that I'll review it periodically. There may be certain moments (you'll never know when) when having a map, particularly a really good or really bad one (relative to what I expect) could greatly affect the adventure.

Third: No mapping required. It will be assumed that someone's doing it and doing it passably well. It will rarely, if ever, be an issue.

2. Getting Started: I'll email the Background and General Info Sheet (as well as post it on the site and board) in the next day or two. If Jay, DougB and DougP are still the only ones ready by the time that info is processed then we'll get going and work Clayton and Vann in later. (You may be negatively effected by this but probably not for a short while.)

You may, as individuals, get emails from me manuevering your character into a certain time and place, so if you have a background story, now is the time to post/email it for me to read.

Without going into too much detail right now just keep in mind that you are, or soon will be, a recruit in the elite Vigil unit of the Eisleis City Watch. (Jay, your character excluded as we discussed.)

 

[Mirth]

Boo Maps! Boo!!!!!!

 

[dougbass68]

Composite Shortbow +1

The description of my bow is "Mighty Composite Shortbow +1". From that, I take it the item is a masterwork item. It cost me 150gp. Jay recommended it. Let me know if that's a problem...

 

[Mirth]

Re: Composite Shortbow +1

The description of my bow is "Mighty Composite Shortbow +1". From that, I take it the item is a masterwork item. It cost me 150gp. Jay recommended it. Let me know if that's a problem...

Here's the description from p113-114 of the PHB:

Mighty Composite Longbow: A mighty bow is a composite bow made with an especially heavy pull to allow a strong archer to take advantage of an above-average Strength. The mighty bow allows you to add your Strength bonus to damage up to the maximum bonus listed… With a regular composite shortbow, [you] get no modifier to damage. For 150 gp, [you] can buy a Mighty Composite Shortbow (+1 Strength Bonus), which lets [you] add +1 to the damage.

This IS NOT a Masterwork bow. A Masterwork Mighty Composite Shortbow (+1 Str) would cost 450 gp (150 gp for the bow + 300 gp for the masterwork = 450 gp), and would add +1 to the attack roll (from masterwork) as well as allowing +1 to the damage roll (from strength).

Hope this clears things up,

Jay

 

[Idsquare]

Re: Reply to Xyffor

BTW, I liked your character story. Where did you come up with all those names - were they invented by you, or did you get them from some book you read?

Thanks for the complement. All of the names were made up by me and I created the story as I went along. Actually, parts of the dwarven section was borrowed from my story line for a dwarf-character I created on Everquest. But to answer your question specifically, the story is of my own creation. Since I've never played D&D, I wasn't sure how you were suppose to do it. I'm looking forward to reading everyone else's stories. Clearly with the little bit (very little bit) of information we've received from god (DM), I've got to incorporate that, but I've already got an idea of how to introduce my character as a recruit into the Vigil unit of the Eisleis City Watch. Look for the edited version soon. I just have to work out some kinks in my mind and "get my game face on."

By the way, thanks for your help. I've been able to get a character face, but it doesn't appear on my Character Sheet (when I export as Character_sheet.html). And I can't get on this site when I'm home to email it to Chris, so I'll just have to do the best I can with it until this msg board becomes "saved" -- hey, god, whatyadoin' about this mess?