Our Expedition to Castle Ravenloft
I like creating new PC’s for new campaigns. It can be a lot of fun, especially if it’s higher than level 1.
Though sometimes that fun ends when you actually play the PC and find out that it just plain blows.
But that’s ok because we’re going through the Expedition to Castle Ravenloft soon.
If that module is as tough as Dale claims it is, then having a crappy PC won’t be an issue because you’ll be handing over your character sheet to the DM so he can convert it to a zombie, or a skeleton, or maybe even a vampire. Or I guess you could just rip up the character sheet, but what kind of fun is that?
To put a positive spin on that, you’ll have plenty of chances to try out new PC concepts.
Dale has given us a list of books we’re allowed to use and what base classes are allowed, and all of the other usual character creation guidelines.
Obviously the core books are allowed, the “Complete” series of books, the Book Exalted Deeds, the Spell Compendium, the Forgotten Realms books (the campaign world), and a few feats from the Heroes of Horror and Ravenloft books. That gives us a large list of options for feats, spells, and prestige classes.
We’ll all be starting as your standard level 6 PC’s. Dale has only allowed the core base classes plus the duskblade, warmage, and knight. I believe he’s allowing those because he’s seen them in play and they probably will “work” in the module.
Our alignment options are no evil and no chaotic neutral. That just means the backstabbing people will all be controlled by the DM.
Stat generation is the standard 25 point buy with the standard level four stat boost. That’s low powered compared to what we’ve done recently, but certainly fair.
Starting money is standard level 6 money, which means 13,000gp. If I remember the rules correctly you can only spend 6500gp on any one item and can’t spend any more than 3250gp on all temporary items (scrolls potions). It’s enough money to make you say “Arg! It’s still not enough!” but it’s enough to buy your PC the basics.
As a group we’re going to be creating multiple PC’s a piece and then decide which ones we’re going to play.
What we might possibly create, listed in order of what is most likely to get played first according to the most recent e-mails:
Aaron is going to choose between a druid, a wizard, or a bard.
Allen will be going with a bard or a ranger.
Brian has been inspired by watching the movie 300, so he wants a defensive fighter type, with a cleric of Kelemvor as his backup.
Joy is giving a cleric another try, and I believe a paladin as her backup.
Justin is going to do a rogue/ranger. No backup option as of yet.
I’ve already half created four PC’s a lucky wild mage sorcerer (might change to a wizard version though), a cookie-cutter half-orc barbarian, an elf warmage, and a halfling cleric of Brandobaris.
The first three of my PC’s I expect to have a short lifespan, the fourth I believe may live a little longer. But who knows?
Speaking of life spans, Dale has made it clear that this module has a huge potential to be a meat-grinder.
Now let’s make one thing clear, I love it when Dale runs published modules. He does a much better job a bringing them to life than anyone else I’ve seen.
Plus this whole gothic horror thing is something Dale just can’t get enough of. Outside of this particular campaign I have always begged him not to use undead because he consistently overuses them. Not this time.
As far as I’m concerned, he can go to town with undead.
And from what little he’s told us, he’s going to. He might even mean literally.
He has also laid out some options, ground rules, and advice for this campaign:
- A balanced party is vital. A backup cleric is suggested.
- He’s running this module as is. No extra little gifts from the DM as magic items and such.
- He usually tries to avoid a potential TPK, but not this time.
- He will be using the taint rules. I don’t care for those particular rules, but for this campaign I don’t see a problem with it so long as he “let’s the dice fall where they may” and doesn’t pull the punches.
- Don’t expect access to Raise Dead and the like.
- No cohorts due to party size.
- The monsters might not be what you’re expecting. Meta-gaming might not work.
- Notes to and from the DM are to be kept secret.
- If you’ve played the original Ravenloft module, keep it to yourself. (I actually own at least two copies of the original I6 – one on loan to Dale – but I have never looked through it more than just skimming.)
- (Dale got this helpful suggestion from WotC’s D&D podcast.) Since this is supposed to be a horror campaign, once the game starts no jokes or side-stories. Nothing kills the mood of a horror game quicker than a joke. So smartass remarks, TV and movie quotes, jokes, and anything else that breaks the mood is forbidden.
Except for that part about not joking around, I welcome the challenge. (That humor thing I’m screwed on.)
I want Dale to not pull any punches.
If he gets a lucky crit and takes out my favorite character, so be it. I’ll just make another PC and dare him to try it again.
If he throws an EL15 encounter at us and we don’t run, and we die because of it, oh well. That would be our fault for not running.
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for Friday.
Though sometimes that fun ends when you actually play the PC and find out that it just plain blows.
But that’s ok because we’re going through the Expedition to Castle Ravenloft soon.
If that module is as tough as Dale claims it is, then having a crappy PC won’t be an issue because you’ll be handing over your character sheet to the DM so he can convert it to a zombie, or a skeleton, or maybe even a vampire. Or I guess you could just rip up the character sheet, but what kind of fun is that?
To put a positive spin on that, you’ll have plenty of chances to try out new PC concepts.
Dale has given us a list of books we’re allowed to use and what base classes are allowed, and all of the other usual character creation guidelines.
Obviously the core books are allowed, the “Complete” series of books, the Book Exalted Deeds, the Spell Compendium, the Forgotten Realms books (the campaign world), and a few feats from the Heroes of Horror and Ravenloft books. That gives us a large list of options for feats, spells, and prestige classes.
We’ll all be starting as your standard level 6 PC’s. Dale has only allowed the core base classes plus the duskblade, warmage, and knight. I believe he’s allowing those because he’s seen them in play and they probably will “work” in the module.
Our alignment options are no evil and no chaotic neutral. That just means the backstabbing people will all be controlled by the DM.
Stat generation is the standard 25 point buy with the standard level four stat boost. That’s low powered compared to what we’ve done recently, but certainly fair.
Starting money is standard level 6 money, which means 13,000gp. If I remember the rules correctly you can only spend 6500gp on any one item and can’t spend any more than 3250gp on all temporary items (scrolls potions). It’s enough money to make you say “Arg! It’s still not enough!” but it’s enough to buy your PC the basics.
As a group we’re going to be creating multiple PC’s a piece and then decide which ones we’re going to play.
What we might possibly create, listed in order of what is most likely to get played first according to the most recent e-mails:
Aaron is going to choose between a druid, a wizard, or a bard.
Allen will be going with a bard or a ranger.
Brian has been inspired by watching the movie 300, so he wants a defensive fighter type, with a cleric of Kelemvor as his backup.
Joy is giving a cleric another try, and I believe a paladin as her backup.
Justin is going to do a rogue/ranger. No backup option as of yet.
I’ve already half created four PC’s a lucky wild mage sorcerer (might change to a wizard version though), a cookie-cutter half-orc barbarian, an elf warmage, and a halfling cleric of Brandobaris.
The first three of my PC’s I expect to have a short lifespan, the fourth I believe may live a little longer. But who knows?
Speaking of life spans, Dale has made it clear that this module has a huge potential to be a meat-grinder.
Now let’s make one thing clear, I love it when Dale runs published modules. He does a much better job a bringing them to life than anyone else I’ve seen.
Plus this whole gothic horror thing is something Dale just can’t get enough of. Outside of this particular campaign I have always begged him not to use undead because he consistently overuses them. Not this time.
As far as I’m concerned, he can go to town with undead.
And from what little he’s told us, he’s going to. He might even mean literally.
He has also laid out some options, ground rules, and advice for this campaign:
- A balanced party is vital. A backup cleric is suggested.
- He’s running this module as is. No extra little gifts from the DM as magic items and such.
- He usually tries to avoid a potential TPK, but not this time.
- He will be using the taint rules. I don’t care for those particular rules, but for this campaign I don’t see a problem with it so long as he “let’s the dice fall where they may” and doesn’t pull the punches.
- Don’t expect access to Raise Dead and the like.
- No cohorts due to party size.
- The monsters might not be what you’re expecting. Meta-gaming might not work.
- Notes to and from the DM are to be kept secret.
- If you’ve played the original Ravenloft module, keep it to yourself. (I actually own at least two copies of the original I6 – one on loan to Dale – but I have never looked through it more than just skimming.)
- (Dale got this helpful suggestion from WotC’s D&D podcast.) Since this is supposed to be a horror campaign, once the game starts no jokes or side-stories. Nothing kills the mood of a horror game quicker than a joke. So smartass remarks, TV and movie quotes, jokes, and anything else that breaks the mood is forbidden.
Except for that part about not joking around, I welcome the challenge. (That humor thing I’m screwed on.)
I want Dale to not pull any punches.
If he gets a lucky crit and takes out my favorite character, so be it. I’ll just make another PC and dare him to try it again.
If he throws an EL15 encounter at us and we don’t run, and we die because of it, oh well. That would be our fault for not running.
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for Friday.
posted by BlueBlackRed at 8:48 PM
1 Comments:
Sweet!
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