Dungeons & Dragons

[5FingerShuffle]

Well met Adventurers!!

Feel free to post any D&D related content here, such as;

- Campaign ideas
- Race/Class combinations
- Dungeon Master tips
- Player tips
- Backstories
- Description of your character
- Session highlights
- etc.

Please don’t use this thread as a space to bash Hasbro, WotC, 5e, 2024 editions, etc.

 

[SkyeGirl32]

Oh hey there fellow D&D lovers!

 

[BornNorCal]

Forever DM and pretty okay about it.

 

[5FingerShuffle]

A little about me…
I played throughout the 80s but was away from the game during the 90s and 00s. In the 10s I started collecting books from all editions (with a major focus on 1st edition stuff) and started playing again around 2019. I’ve DM’d since then.
Current campaign has been going steadily for two years with seven players and we’re working through Storm King’s Thunder right now.

 

[5FingerShuffle]

Current campaign players (all males)…

- Dragonborn Bard
- Half-Drow Ranger
- Human Barbarian
- Drow Paladin
- Mountain Dwarf Cleric
- Wood Elf Blood Hunter
- Tiefling Rogue

All 7th level

 

[Britva415]

I’ve played lots of pen-and-paper/tabletop RPGs but I’ve never actually played D&D.

Dungeon World was described once as “what you thought D&D was going to be when you first heard of D&D.”

I know it’s possible to play D&D in the style I like (RP-heavy, crunch-lite, no munchkins) but it seems like most groups don’t.

One of these years I’m sure I’ll play it with some like-minded people.

 

[lovecraft68]

Guess I'm an OG when it comes to D&D, played it back in 1981 and remember being so excited to get the Blue "expert" box set for Christmas. Back when I had my comic store in the early to mid 2000's a few of my regulars and I would play on Saturday nights, so much fun. The kids who only know this game in the online version don't know what they're missing.

 

[SkyeGirl32]

I'm a pretty new person to the game myself -- having only joined up to find a table to play at mid 2020. But I've really fallen in love with it. Took me awhile to find a table I wanted to actually stay at that didn't feel toxic though.

 

[BornNorCal]

It can be a challenge to find a good group. Toxicity is a factor and I really believe you can't trust a DM that doesn't believe in a solid Session 0 talk.

 

[5FingerShuffle]

It can be a challenge to find a good group. Toxicity is a factor and I really believe you can't trust a DM that doesn't believe in a solid Session 0 talk.

Totally ageee! A solid session zero, setting clear expectations is an absolute must.
It’s unfortunate that there are still plenty of toxic D&D players out there.

 

[SkyeGirl32]

Oh for sure! A proper session Zero is so important! Getting everyone on the same page with how things will go.
It also doesn’t help being a woman who plays is another factor against me.

I’ve also had a few who basically brush me off when I try to tell them what they’re doing is actively triggering me. He asked - I explained - briefly in private. And then he used that against me in our public group chat. I pulled out of a game earlier this year because the dm went off on us as players because we weren’t doing enough. “Why aren’t you more like the players on Critical Role!!” Blah blah blah. This was a game where in game we had only known each other as characters — for maybe a day and a half. And at the table for 3 weeks, or something like that. Excuse us that we were still getting to know one another and not gonna mesh instantly like a group who knew each other before they started playing and have been playing together for a decade!

Also he kept putting us in situations where we were way over powered. And getting mad when we didn’t use the area like he meant us to — sorry! We can’t read minds! Also! That creature one hit killed our wizard’s familiar. We’re all super squishy characters. We actually don’t want them to die unexpectedly. And he was shocked we actually cared about our characters.

That table didn’t deserve Niamh (my character) or me. So I pulled out - the next day so it didn’t feel rushed and gave me a bit more time to calm down.

So now I’m super picky about what tables I join.

 

[5FingerShuffle]

You should be picky!!
I consider myself a pretty good DM. My current table is all guys but previous table was two men and three women. They are all family members but anyone who plays must be treated with respect.
In the 80s DMs always seemed to want to actively kill the player characters. That’s no longer the way to play. We’re all at the table to have fun.
DMs who get into it thinking they’re going emulate Critical Role are definitely out to lunch. Matt Mercer and his players are professionals and, although great to watch and great to borrow from, they are in another league entirely out of most people’s reach.
A good DM doesn’t want to kill the characters and will adjust accordingly to bring tension but not disaster. All are meant to have fun. My goal is to have the players in my campaign eventually get to level 20 and retire thereafter.
Can you tell us a bit about Niamh?

 

[SkyeGirl32]

The table I'm at currently is 6 players (5 women and 1 guy) and our DM is a woman. The game I wrapped up earlier this year -- it was a table of all women (that one was the most unproblematic game I've had yet. lol. I was sad when that one ended. They were a good group.)

Right!! Like it's okay to enjoy shows like CR and whatnot. But to expect your players to be like them, or to expect your DM to be like Matt Mercer is asking WAY too much.

That makes sense, like sure. A good challenge is fun and necessary, but to make them worry constantly about characters dying -- or always being in danger... no thanks. lol.

Niamh (she/they) is a gender fluid demisexual lesbian changling swarmkeeper ranger who's swarm is a flock of bluebirds who're all sassy as fuck. But one would usually find her as a half elf. That's what her current party knows her as - they do know she's a changling, a recent development. Though I'm shocked none of them figured it out sooner as I've had to get creative with figuring out light sources when in dark places as changlings have no dark vision while half elves do. lol.

What her half elf form looks like: What you see is a half elf who stands at around 5’10” and who is wearing mostly all brown. They are wearing a dark brown shirt under a brown tightly laced corset black pants, knee high brown leather boots, a brown jacket, and a light brown cloak with a big hood tied around their shoulders. The hood of the cloak is sitting loosely on their head, but isn’t pulled up super close to their face, so some of their hair is visible from under it. There’s a longbow in one hand and a quiver of arrows over their left shoulder and two short swords strapped on either side of them, their hilts showing out from under the cloak. Their hair is what makes them stand out though. While it is tied back in a bun that sits at the base of their neck (which isn’t visible while wearing the hood, but it is obvious that it's somehow restrained and tied back in some way), it is a teal blue giant mess of curls but the front that frames their face goes from the teal blue to a strip of an off white cream color, to an auburn red-brown strip that frames their face on both sides. You also see bluebirds peeking out from the inside of the hood, not really sure where they’re coming from, but there seems to be quite a few. There is also a pretty visible scar that runs from one cheek to the other, that runs over their nose. (My profile pic is one of the pieces of art I commissioned for them -- but the hair is more like Alex Kingston's hair in terms of level of curliness but the artist got the colors correct so I didn't ask them to change it. lol.)

She's definitely my baby - she was the first character I ever created and there's been a lot of changes that have happened since then, but the more I flesh her out, the more she feels like a real person and it's easier to get into her head when I play her.

 

[Rob_Royale]

I've played off and on since '82. Even met my wife at a game. Raised both sons as gamers. My youngest is one of the best DMs I've ever played with. So yeah, the game has had an impact on my life.

 

[5FingerShuffle]

I've played off and on since '82. Even met my wife at a game. Raised both sons as gamers. My youngest is one of the best DMs I've ever played with. So yeah, the game has had an impact on my life.

That’s awesome! My eldest is also a good DM and seems to have memorized every 5e monster and spell.

 

[BornNorCal]

I'm glad you've had some good experiences, Skye. Just keep trusting your gut.

 

[SkyeGirl32]

I'm glad you've had some good experiences, Skye. Just keep trusting your gut.

Oh, I always go with my gut - it's usually not wrong.
And if I ignore it, I always regret it. lol.
As a woman in this community, trusting my gut is what keeps me from getting stuck at toxic tables.

I had a campaign that ended earlier this year that was a level 1-14 going through the Radiant Citadel - my DM turned it into a multi level campaign that went through all the worlds. That was a super fun campaign. Our DM commissioned an art piece for all of us when that wrapped up of our whole party sitting together. Super cool.

One funny story about that campaign was I was playing a rogue and at one point I was rolling - I can't remember what it was but I rolled a nat 1 -- but because of reliable talent, it automatically became like a 23 or something like that ( can't 100% remember what my mod was for that one but it was in the mid 20s if I'm remembering correctly). lol. Our DM was like "I've never seen a red 23 before" , because we played online and Nat 1s showed up on there as red. lol.

 

[5FingerShuffle]

The table I'm at currently is 6 players (5 women and 1 guy) and our DM is a woman. The game I wrapped up earlier this year -- it was a table of all women (that one was the most unproblematic game I've had yet. lol. I was sad when that one ended. They were a good group.)

Right!! Like it's okay to enjoy shows like CR and whatnot. But to expect your players to be like them, or to expect your DM to be like Matt Mercer is asking WAY too much.

That makes sense, like sure. A good challenge is fun and necessary, but to make them worry constantly about characters dying -- or always being in danger... no thanks. lol.

Niamh (she/they) is a gender fluid demisexual lesbian changling swarmkeeper ranger who's swarm is a flock of bluebirds who're all sassy as fuck. But one would usually find her as a half elf. That's what her current party knows her as - they do know she's a changling, a recent development. Though I'm shocked none of them figured it out sooner as I've had to get creative with figuring out light sources when in dark places as changlings have no dark vision while half elves do. lol.

What her half elf form looks like: What you see is a half elf who stands at around 5’10” and who is wearing mostly all brown. They are wearing a dark brown shirt under a brown tightly laced corset black pants, knee high brown leather boots, a brown jacket, and a light brown cloak with a big hood tied around their shoulders. The hood of the cloak is sitting loosely on their head, but isn’t pulled up super close to their face, so some of their hair is visible from under it. There’s a longbow in one hand and a quiver of arrows over their left shoulder and two short swords strapped on either side of them, their hilts showing out from under the cloak. Their hair is what makes them stand out though. While it is tied back in a bun that sits at the base of their neck (which isn’t visible while wearing the hood, but it is obvious that it's somehow restrained and tied back in some way), it is a teal blue giant mess of curls but the front that frames their face goes from the teal blue to a strip of an off white cream color, to an auburn red-brown strip that frames their face on both sides. You also see bluebirds peeking out from the inside of the hood, not really sure where they’re coming from, but there seems to be quite a few. There is also a pretty visible scar that runs from one cheek to the other, that runs over their nose. (My profile pic is one of the pieces of art I commissioned for them -- but the hair is more like Alex Kingston's hair in terms of level of curliness but the artist got the colors correct so I didn't ask them to change it. lol.)

She's definitely my baby - she was the first character I ever created and there's been a lot of changes that have happened since then, but the more I flesh her out, the more she feels like a real person and it's easier to get into her head when I play her.

That’s a GREAT description - they sound fantastic!!

 

[Wonderer67]

I have played D&D since the early 80s. Used to have the old box set.

I actually prefer other games: Melee/Wizard and The Fantasy Trip. Or the hero system or Call of Cthulhu.

System is less important to me. Role playing and fun is more important.

But I have played for 40+ years and still enjoy playing w my old high school buddies.

 

[SkyeGirl32]

That’s a GREAT description - they sound fantastic!!

Thanks! I’ve put a lot of thought into them. Just a little bit.
They’re a lot of fun to play.

 

[5FingerShuffle]

Bytor Snowdog (Male, Drow, Sorcerer)

Although seemingly in a constant state of brooding, Bytor is a kind and empathetic individual.

Bytor wears very nondescript dark blue and grey clothing, including a long, hooded grey cloak under which can be seen his piercing blue eyes, bluish grey skin and long, white hair.

On each wrist Bytor wears wide, silver bracelets each emblazoned with a crescent moon. These mark him as a follower of Eilistraee, the kind hearted Drow goddess.

Bytor was orphaned in Waterdeep at a very young age.

His Drow parents had fled the violence of their homeland to start anew in the City of Splendors, naively hoping that they would be welcomed as enthusiastic and entreprenurial newcomers. They were not and, shortly after their arrival, both were killed by members of the Bregan De'aerthe mercenary company simply because they refused to join their ranks.

The orphaned Bytor learned to survive on his own on the often mean streets of Waterdeep's Dock and Trades Wards.

Because he felt that no others should have to endure the hardships he had been through, Bytor always strove to be good and to help those in need. If other denizens on the streets needed help, he was the one to whom they'd reach out.

One frigid winter night Bytor came upon a despondent couple (a Drow female and Shadar-kai male) hiding in an alleyway. The female was in labour, about to deliver twins. Bytor supported and helped them through that night, finding food and shelter for them and assisting in the births of both babies.

Because of his selfless actions Eilstraee, the kind-hearted Drow goddess of beauty, song, dance, freedom, moonlight, swordwork, and hunting appeared to Bytor and bestowed a blessing upon him. This blessing imbued Bytor with Wild Magic which he now uses in service of the Silverhair Knights; the covert matriarchal community of followers and emissaries of Eilistraee who are bidden to aid and protect all folks in need, whether weak or strong, kind or rude, and to promote harmony and acceptance among all races.

 

[SmokingFap]

Well met Adventurers!!

Feel free to post any D&D related content here, such as;

- Campaign ideas
- Race/Class combinations
- Dungeon Master tips
- Player tips
- Backstories
- Description of your character
- Session highlights
- etc.

Please don’t use this thread as a space to bash Hasbro, WotC, 5e, 2024 editions, etc.

Oh, I don't think my Lit wife has discovered this thread yet. She'll be thrilled! I was in junior high when the original D& D came out. She only discovered it during covid. Now has two online/phone groups that she campaigns with, serves as a sexy Russian DM for one of them.

 

[ChasBozwell30]

I've watched plenty of D&D streams over the year, but never played, seems like a lot of fun

 

[LittleTitLover]

Used to play but it's been years. Cool game.

 

[5FingerShuffle]

Oh, I don't think my Lit wife has discovered this thread yet. She'll be thrilled! I was in junior high when the original D& D came out. She only discovered it during covid. Now has two online/phone groups that she campaigns with, serves as a sexy Russian DM for one of them.

Feel free to invite her @SmokingFap!