DwD Studios
Dragon's Fire SIGN-UP (PBP 2-6 Players)
Tue, 03/19/2013 - 4:48pm | 
Ascent
A BareBones Fantasy PBP adventure for 2-6 players
GAME BEGINS: Monday, March 25th.
It is a land full of dragons and the beginning of the age of dragon riders. For years Öchrich Führ stands as lord of the dragonriders and guardian of the realm. But when he and his dragon topple to the ground in a great arc of flame and black smoke, the rest of his riders soon fall to the demon onslaught. Now the skies belong to Khul the Manslayer. Your band of dragon rider apprentices has been tasked with seeking out dragon eggs to regain the skies and reclaim the kingdom from above.
GM's Note to Players: I want to provide as much of a sandbox as possible for this particular adventure, but there is still an overarching story that the players are expected to participate in to the fullest of their character's ability. The characters are fully invested in the politics and are loyal to their kingdom and its ideals.
Signing Up
This is a sign-up thread. You simply indicate your desire to play and roll up a character and post it here. I will then post it in a Google doc and share a link to the doc in a wiki page in the Dragon's Fire Campaign Folder and in this post.
Character Creation Rules
Characters start with either "somewhat loyal" or "totally loyal" in their moral code.
Players may choose to use the optional size rules in the Dragon's Fire Campaign Folder for their characters or not. (Their choice.) The GM will be using the Size Categories and subsizes for dragon creation and combat.
See the Dragon Rider Classifications on The Dragon Riders of Vörn page to choose a character concept or make one of your own. (Subject to GM approval.)
You can have any skill you want as long as one of your skills has a level in an offensive capability.
I have provided new weapons in the Dragon's Fire Campaign Folder. You may have one of those weapons for free.
I also provided an optional Elite Flier skill, but you can't use it until you are flying a beast (dragon), which will not be right away. You do not need the skill to be a dragon rider. You only need it if you want to excel as a rider.
You cannot wear metal armors while riding a dragon without incurring a 1/2 MOV penalty on the dragon. I have a specific concept of physics concerning dragons that prohibits heft. Dragons are light, hollow-boned creatures like pterodactyls and birds. Dragon riders are lean and do not wear heavy armor. They usually wear a wool fire suit which protects them from the full effects of dragon fire. (Provided in the Dragon's Fire Campaign Folder.)
Provide a back story up to but not including the events described in the opening post.
Expectations and Posting
The first players roll up their characters, but with the understanding that if they don't show in time to keep the story moving, someone else can step into their character's role as a stand-in.
Whenever a character's turn is up in the battle order, I will prompt the player by posting their character's name in all caps (example: "ULRICH"). If the player has not posted in 2 days, I will post their PC's name in the thread to show who is due to participate, linked to the PC's character sheet in the Campaign Folder in the BBF wiki for someone to stand in for the missing player. (If the name is not linked, it is not available for stand-ins.) I will then advertise the campaign in the BBF forums here when participation is slow.
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I assume races etc. are all BBF standard?
What is the expected turnaround time for posts? IE. How many per week?
I have amended the original post with the information. I am open to adjusting the participation rules if you have a suggestion.
I've never used this sign-up system so I don't know how to initiate it. Is there a 'sign-up' button somewhere that I'm missing? Anyway, I'll play I just don't know how to use this system so some pointers would be nice. :)
No system. This is a sign-up thread. You simply indicate your desire to play and roll up a character and post it here. I will then post it in a Google doc and share a link to the doc in a wiki page in the Dragon's Fire Campaign Folder and in the original post above.
You can have any skill you want as long as one of your skills has a level in an offensive capability.
I provided new weapons in the Dragon's Fire Campaign Folder. You may have one of those weapons for free.
I also provided an optional Elite Flier skill, but you can't use it until you're flying a beast (dragon), which will not be right away. You do not need the skill to be a dragon rider. You only need it if you want to excel as a rider.
Also, you cannot wear metal armors while riding a dragon. I have a specific concept of physics concerning dragons that prohibits heft. Dragons are light, hollow-boned creatures like pterodactyls and birds. Dragon riders are lean and do not wear heavy armor. They usually wear a wool fire suit which protects them from the full effects of dragon fire. (Provided in the Dragon's Fire Campaign Folder.)
K - thanx. I'll roll up a character when I get a chance, sometime tonight I'd guess.
Edit: Alright - the character is attached. I used the 'Fillable Character Sheet' to create it. Unfortunately I was unable to attach that sheet to this forum. That is why it is in an rtf format in a zipped folder.
I just posted an update to The Dragon Riders of Vörn.
Here are the current classifications of Dragon Riders that you may choose:
The Dragon Riders of Vörn
[Sign up for the Dragon's Fire campaign.]
Dragon Riders, the Verjendur Ríki, (Defenders of the Realm,) while noble in spirit, are not often born of nobility. They do not have the calling of knighthood, but are recruited from among the people. They are sturdy men who are tested as to stability and fortitude. They must be able to endure bitter cold and scorching heat and charge into the face of certain death.
Any immediate family they possess, wives, mothers, sisters and children, are kept well taken care of by the kingdom. But they themselves are not permitted to stray far from their dragons. They are to patrol for many hours and sometimes days. When they return home, they stable their dragons in a large loft attached to their home, paid for out of the king's coffers. This freedom has inspired the dragon nights to be fiercely loyal to the kingdom.
Dragon Rider Classifications
Dragon Hopper
These nimble rogues specialize in falling on their target, taking advantage of the opportunity to jump from one dragon to another in order to fell its rider. If the rider is seated, then the dragon will attempt to shake the foe. But if the dragon is quite large, the rider may stand to fight, then the dragon will attempt to fly as steady as possible. If the dragon hopper misses their target, then their own dragon will fly down and swoop the hopper up on its back. Dragon hoppers generally carry bladed melee weapons. Their favorite weapon is the javelin, as it acts as both a throwing weapon and a personal blade. Slings are also preferred for a similar reason. Dragon hopper requires DEX 65+.
Dragon Infuser, Dragon Mage and Dragon Priest
A dragon rider with spellcasting, enchanter or cleric spells can provide additional benefits to the dragon itself and their own ability to ride the dragon. Following are specific benefits they can get from spells.
SPELL USES
Aid/Hinder. Improve your dragon's abilities. Hinder on another dragon is not likely to work.
Charm. Improve your ability to control or calm your dragon. Due to the high WIL of dragons, it is not likely you will be able to use it on any dragon but your own.
Cleanse or Heal. These spells can help you to keep your dragon healthy in combat, removing damage and conditions.
Control Weather. Use this spell to improve the wind conditions for your dragon to give it a boost or help it fly through a tempest. Tornadoes and lightning can be useful against a crowd of dragons.
Dispel. Use dispel to protect your dragon or remove a benefit to an opponent's dragon.
Entangle. Encumber your opponent's dragon with load-bearing ice, bind its wings with saddle leather, muzzle its maw, or bind the rider and his mouth to render him useless.
Illusion. Make your dragon look more impressive, deceive your opponent and their dragon into believing your dragon is a creature it isn't or that you and your dragon are a known ally, and make it look like there are more dragons than there really are.
Offensive Strike. This is a deadly tool against dragons and even allows you to affect the dragon's fire breath.
Protection. Improve your dragon's armor.
Repel. Dragons can be repelled. This can be used to knock one dragon into another, possibly toppling a rider or two, or it could be used to thrust a dragon back into a lancer's sky lance.
Summon. Summon your dragon from afar to come to your aid or summon an enemy's dragon in order to isolate it and gang up on it. (It must fly the distance.)
Telekinesis. Cause your opponent to lose equipment or cause parchment to cover a dragon's eyes.
Transform. Transform a dragon into a whale and test it against the speed of a falling bowl of petunias.
Transport. Double the dragon's speed by removing gravity resistance. At 4th level, triple the dragon's speed instead. At 6th level, open a portal in the air through which you and your dragon may pass. (GM's adjustment: At 6th level, you may open a temporary portal 1D turns without having to spend permanent STR.)
DRAGON INFUSER
The infuser's special abilities provide additional uses for dragons as well.
» Familiar. A flying familiar could be used to assist in confounding foes.
» Runecraft. You can mark runes directly on your dragon's scales, allowing you to imbue the dragon with enchantments directly.
DRAGON MAGE
Low wizardry spells permitted in the Dragon's Fire campaign include: dancing lights to confuse or distract an opponent or their dragon, emanation of power from the spellcaster, or causing power to pass through a target so that they feel your power (without damage), which causes them to react normally. (Such as a natural fear response.)
DRAGON PRIEST
A dragon priest may worship one of the following gods.
Eldur. The greater god of fire. He particularly favors the use of fire as a weapon and any weapon that can be set aflame. He also grants the offensive strike spell in the form of fire.
Blármóðir (Himni). (Or Blár [Blair] for short) The blue greater goddess of the sky. She favors the bow of any sort. She also grants the offensive stike spell in the form of a focused tempestual blast of wind that also pushes your opponent back 1D/2 spaces and can be used to shape and increase the range of your dragon's fire breath.
Dragon Lancer
Dragon riders with a lance are known as "dragon lancers". The lance is not for striking the opponent, but for striking the opponent's mount. Dragon lancers are essentially the elite heavy weapons division. They take on the dragons themselves, man to beast. The sky lances they carry are reinforced for combat with heavily armored foes, unlike competition lances which are designed to shatter on contact with armor. The sky lance is longer than traditional lances and is designed to flex and compress, allowing it to assure its strike as well as extricate itself quickly. A dragon lancer requires the Elite Flyer skill in order to make their shots as well as STR 65+.
Flame Rider
These dragon riders specialize in maximizing flame damage. With slings, they throw flammable gel packs (no damage) that stick to the opponent's dragon and then target the burst gel pack with their dragon's fire. This causes continuous fire damage to the mount until extinguished. They also carry a longbow, shortbow, crossbow or spear with flammable gel-tips designed to also do continuous fire damage.
Rider's Bane
These dragon riders have earned their name by ripping riders from their mounts, sending them plummeting to their doom by hooking them with a sky billhook (twice the length of a normal billhook) and tearing them from their saddle's restraints, de-belting the saddle to cause it to fall off, or tearing the restraints themselves so that the rider's maneuvering becomes limited. Among this, they can also choose to cause slicing (tearing) or piercing damage.
Weyr Commander
Use your leader skills to enhance the capabilities of the entire weyr of dragons and their riders in your party as long as they are in earshot of your commanding shouts. The dragons must be told by their riders to obey your commands. Weyr commanders that are also dragon mages can be particularly effective on account of being able to make a booming voice with low wizardry, increasing the range of their voice.
The weyr commander's special abilities provide additional uses for dragons.
» Assault is ideal in dragon combat for helping dragon lancers to find their target on the dragon.
» Guardian allows you to put your dragon in the way to protect an adjacent rider from damage.
» Leader will be ideal for attracting more dragon riders apprentices.
Apprenticeship
An apprentice trains in the hope to one day have a dragon of their own to fly free high among the kingdom and gain glory in its defense. Until then, they are required to train, to assist in stabling the dragons and serve the dragon riders.
When a dragon rider dies, the apprentice is charged with taking care of the dragon until it dies of its afflicted heart. But occasionally, a dragon will survive the affliction and transfer its allegiance to the apprentice. This, however, is not the case for the PC's. The remaining dragons and apprentices of the old kingdom have been hunted down by Khul.
I have also updated the sky lance.
Okay, BMG. Seraphina gets a free weapon from the list in the Dragon's Fire Campaign Folder. Which weapon do you want?
Also, what is her back story up to but not including the events described in the opening post.
I also need Seraphina's moral code. Don't forget to include either "somewhat loyal" or "totally loyal".
Aw bugger - sorry, completely forgot to include the moral code in my manually-typed character sheet. I'll update that .zip with the info, including the weapon and back story.
Alright - the .zip file has been updated.
GAME BEGINS: Monday, March 25th.
Have your characters and backgrounds ready HERE.
I have updated the Dragon Rider Classifications above.
BMG, which would you prefer your character to be training for? Dragon Hopper or Dragon Mage?
Hopper seems to fit the character best - so Hopper it is.
Do you want a javelin or a sling?
I chose Javelin (at the bottom of the character sheet in the weapon section - it's listed as 'Free Weapon' in the notes) - I have it on that updated character folder (the above posted .zip). I think I have everything listed there now, let me know if I forgot anything else.
N/M. I just realized the computer was using a cached version from the zip access.
I have it now.
I enjoyed Seraphina's background. I am giving her 1 level in Scout for having lived in the wilderness a time. I hand out bonuses for good backgrounds, but I won't be granting that particular bonus to anyone else, because it's unique to your background. It's all about the creativity.
Seraphina Dawriel (BMG)
Alrighty then, I'll add it to the character sheet I have here at home. Incidentally, after turning the character sheet over to you, are you now the one to make updates to the sheet if needed? I ask because it seems like a possible outcome in this medium (since we have to make concessions as far as people not getting online in time to post, and thereby having their character played by someone else).
Yes, the official sheet to use is the one I linked above. The edits to that document are the edits that matter. I've already added the scout level.
Excellent, thanx. :)
I added padded leather to the armor list and reduced the cost of the fire suit to 100gp. (I had it set to 300 because I copied it from the Steamroller setting in which I was using a finer money system.)
BMG, could you provide information about how Serafina has developed thief primary? Perhaps she has developed a strong interest in it since being in the kingdom as an apprentice, because she would not have needed them in the village where she grew up, as it is described. Maybe she's curious about her environment and works at picking locks, which would also require her to have to cover her tracks with deception and stealth. Picking pockets could also be explained by a strong sense of curiosity.
I updated the Dragon Hopper with a little more information:
Dragon Hopper
These nimble rogues specialize in falling on their target, taking advantage of the opportunity to jump from one dragon to another in order to fell its rider. If the rider is seated, then the dragon will attempt to shake the foe. But if the dragon is quite large, the rider may stand to fight, then the dragon will attempt to fly as steady as possible. If the dragon hopper misses their target, then their own dragon will fly down and swoop the hopper up on its back. Dragon hoppers generally carry bladed melee weapons. Their favorite weapon is the javelin, as it acts as both a throwing weapon and a personal blade. Slings are also preferred for a similar reason. Dragon hopper requires DEX 65+.
I can certainly explain how she could have those skills - but I wanted her to be rustic and not knowledgeable in the ways of civilization.
My intention was to simply not use them until such time as I buy another rank in Thief and she has had some in-character exposure to city life. Now to explain the reason I took it - because I was grappling with taking it or the Scout skill as the primary. The whole reason was for the stealth ability. Picking locks and pockets weren't even a consideration during character creation. If stealth would have been a part of Scout I would have taken scout instead but due to the stat block I rolled, the Scout skill ended up being fairly high so I figured that stealth was more important to the character concept. In all actuality, it doesn't bother me to have to spend the DP at a future time in order to 'buy' lock picking and pocket picking because, as you point out, neither of those skills are particularly warranted when taken in context to the background.
If that's cool with you, then I'll make a note of that in the Abilities/Notes section - that she has no ability with lock or pocket picking as yet. Otherwise, I'll do some re-writing of the background to fix it.
Your solution works for me.
Alright, I've made the notation on the character sheet in the Abilities/Notes section as previously mentioned. I've attached my copy here so you can update the official document. :)
I'll edit it this time, but you do have permission to edit the main document. You just need a google account. (Sorry, I realize now that I didn't answer your question properly before. You can edit the document. I simply post it. I can see when it has been edited and by whom.)
Though remember that skills earn "levels", not "ranks". "Ranks" are like D20 character levels in this game.
I've been attempting to access that document on Google Docs now for hours without success. It shows up as having been shared in my Google Drive (which allows me to open it and view it), but that's the extent of the interaction I have with it.
hmm. Okay, let me see if I can change that. You can see it, but you can't edit it, correct?
Right.
Alright, I fixed it. Try editing it now.
That's got it - thanx!
Looks like it's all more or less fixed. Those crooked margins were bugging me. :)