Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Chained World: Mapmaking & Character Creation

Like I detailed in my background post, I wanted to loot the best bits of Beyond the Wall's character creation for my new 5E campaign. With two character creation sessions done, I think it was a success. Here's the map we made—ink basis by me, pencil additions by two groups of five players each:
("Carrowmere," as a name, stolen from Patrick Stuart's Deep Carbon Observatory.)

I originally intended on turning the classes document into a post, but I deleted my original documents, and converting a PDF into a blog post is horrible so instead, here are the PDFs to download:
(And as noted, I accidentally deleted my original files, so please excuse any typos.)

Each document has charts that link starting stats and proficiencies to map locations, trinkets, or NPCs that the players get to create. In my opinion, it really increases how invested they are in the setting. As an example, here's the Sorcerer class:

Sorcerer
1d6
What is the origin of the magical blood in your veins?
Gain
1
A reptilian god blessed your ancestors at the beginning of time.
+2 Cha, +1 Con, Draconic Bloodline
2
You have an internal organ that acts as a hole into an unknown universe.
+2 Con, +1 Wis, Wild Magic
3
You are the spawn of a dragon and a mortal.
+2 Str, +1 Cha, Draconic Bloodline
4
A fae princeling cursed you with uncontrollable power.
+2 Int, +1 Con, Wild Magic
5
You were something greater until forced into a lesser form.
+2 Str, +1 Dex, Draconic Bloodline
6
You are wild magic disguised in a fleshy body, but you’ve forgotten how to change back.
+2 Dex, +1 Cha, Wild Magic


1d6
How did your magic first manifest?
Gain
1
It drove out from inside you, coating you in scales.
+2 Con, Skill: Athletics
2
You woke up in the night to find yourself floating 20 feet in the air.
+2 Dex, Skill: Acrobatics
3
Your tongue grew and forked for a day, and you spoke in an unknown language.
+2 Int Skill: Arcana
4
Cats and crows called you names in the streets.
+2 Wis, Skill: Animal Handling
5
For a single drunken night, people did anything you asked.
+2 Cha, Skill: Performance
6
You were lost in the wilderness for weeks, but you never got thirsty.
+2 Con, Skill: Survival

1d6
Once you understood your magic, how did you use it to get by? The player to your right helped.
Gain
1
You reinforce your body so that you can work harder for others. Your friend was relieved by your work and gains +1 Con.
+2 Con
2
You amaze and astound with public performances. Your friend has helped you collect money from the audience and gains +1 Cha.
+2 Cha
3
You are a font of endless energy that was harvested for a strange device. Your friend helped connect you to the device and gains +1 Int.
+2 Int
4
You distract marks for a thieves’ guild. Your friend was a fence or contact for the guild and gains +1 Dex.
+2 Dex
5
You were a living, glowing standard for the army or
guards to rally to. Your friend was in the same battalion and gains +1 Cha.
+2 Cha
6
You snuck into a wizard conference to steal their secrets. Your friend helped you disseminate the forbidden knowledge and gains +1 Int.
+2 Int

1d6
Magic speaks to the world, and the world speaks back. How has it spoken to you?
Gain
1
Coins rained and thundered from a small cloud above your bed while you dreamed of wealth.
+2 Wis, 6d6 gold
2
A dragon came to you in the guise of a human and gifted you one of their scales.
+2 Cha,
a dragon scale token
3
A seed you planted grew into a staff topped by a crystal roiling with a tiny storm.
+2 Wis,
a crazy staff
4
Your stomach is a colony of tiny fungi that whisper to you and keep you healthy.
+2 Con,
a belly full of secrets
5
A mugger stopped you, but their weapon was made edible and you chewed it to pieces.
+2 Str,
an edible knife hilt
6
You have one item of clothing that changes fashion and color each morning.
+2 Cha,
said clothing item


Proficiencies (+2 to rolls involving these)
  • Choose one from Arcana and Religion
  • Daggers, darts, slings, quarterstaffs, light crossbows
  • Constitution & Charisma saves