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11:27, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

The Tavern (OOC)

Posted by WorldFor group 0
World
GM, 2 posts
Thu 20 Jan 2022
at 08:04
  • msg #1

The Tavern (OOC)

Hey!  Welcome to the game Vydirexi!  Looking forward to building a good story together.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:55, Sat 22 Jan 2022.
Vydirexi
player, 1 post
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 01:36
  • msg #2

The Tavern (OOC)

Hellooooo! I sent you a PM, because it totally slipped my mind that this is a solo and I can use the OoC for all our chatting. XD
World
GM, 3 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 02:00
  • msg #3

The Tavern (OOC)

Yeah, this is my first solo game as well, so it may take some getting use to for the both of us.

As far your char sheet goes, a new hatchling's abilities are pretty set in stone, as you haven't had any time to learn or train in anything yet.  If you have any questions, you can go ahead and ask. However, if you want to move a few points around in your stats, I would be down with that.

Here are a few points to keep in mind when thinking about a dragon's stats:
-A dragon's AC is natural armor, so isn't influenced by Dex.
-Breath Weapon DC is set by Con.
-Any spells learned in the future would use Cha as your spellcasting stat.
Vydirexi
player, 2 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 02:06
  • msg #4

The Tavern (OOC)

Oh, I'm actually super experienced at solo games, I just haven't played one on RPoL in a while. Usually I end up running them on Discord.

All makes sense to me! Fortunately, the essentials of dragons haven't changed much since 3rd Edition.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:19, Sat 22 Jan 2022.
World
GM, 4 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 02:50
  • msg #5

The Tavern (OOC)

Well I'm glad you have some good experience with solo games. I'm mostly an irl DM myself.  Covid having forced me to make some adjustments and start doing more online games to help keep up my fix.

Well, unless you have any more questions, I figured we could get the ball rolling.  I'll be using your application sample as the starting point for us to dive into.

EDIT:
PS Oh yeah, to give you some basic idea of the setting, it should be fairly standard fantasy.  Think Forgotten Realms or Golarion.  I probably would have used an official setting, but the idea of trying to square massive time skips with a premade setting just sounded headache inducing.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:57, Sat 22 Jan 2022.
Vydirexi
player, 3 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 02:55
  • msg #6

The Tavern (OOC)

Yeah, kind of the same for me, actually. My IRL group has slowly moved away over the years, and the local pickup group I played with stopped meeting when Covid started. I still play with my old friends when they're in town or sometimes on Roll20 video chat, but mostly it's me and my two best buds on Discord doing PbP like this for our fixes. And since there's only the three of us, many solo games when someone can't keep up with things because of work or what-have-you.

You'll get the hang of it, though. It's not much different than running a game normally, and we both know as DMs that there's always a way to keep moving things forward. ^_^

Sounds great! Please tell me if there's anything I can do or help with.
Vydirexi
player, 7 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 06:04
  • msg #7

The Tavern (OOC)

Oh hey, if you'd be comfortable saying so, what time zone are you in? Figure it'd be good to know roughly what times of day I should keep an eye on RPoL to post!

I'm GMT -5, a little after 1am at the time I'm writing this.
World
GM, 9 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 06:22
  • msg #8

The Tavern (OOC)

Nice. I am in the same time zone.  However, be aware that I mostly work second shift.  So on days I'm working, I can mostly post like once in the morning, and a few times late night.  I can possibly do a small post or update on my break.


As far as my last post goes, Vydirexi effectively has access to her mother's lair action one time.  This lair action lets her telekinetically control all of the hoard as she wishes.  Have fun with it.  As usual just describe what you want it to do, and I'll adjudicate what happens.
If you have any questions, feel free.
Vydirexi
player, 8 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 06:31
  • msg #9

The Tavern (OOC)

Yay! And no worries; if you don't have time some days, you don't have time.

Hmm. Are the treasure mounds tall enough to cause a landslide effect on the adventurers or something like that? Bury some of them, knock others off-balance, get them hip-deep in stone and metal so they can't chase her quickly? Or could I literally control all of it at once and just smash them? XD
World
GM, 10 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 06:46
  • msg #10

The Tavern (OOC)

You pretty much have complete power over it.  So literally controlling it all at once and just smashing them is a valid option. XD.  However, OOC, you are a newborn wyrmling channeling the power of an ancient red.  There will be some (non-permanent) backlash.  How crazy you go with the power will effect that backlash to an extent.  Also, the duration of your control is only one round, so think 6-10 seconds.
Vydirexi
player, 9 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 06:47
  • msg #11

The Tavern (OOC)

Gotcha, okay. The backlash is an important element.
Vydirexi
player, 11 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 07:05
  • msg #12

The Tavern (OOC)

Random swerve, can Vydi eventually learn to polymorph into a humanoid so as to experience mortal culture? It just occurred to me that it's usually something only Metallic Dragons learn to do, although she could maybe become a powerful enough spellcaster to do it that way.
World
GM, 12 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 08:07
  • msg #13

The Tavern (OOC)

That is definitely an option.  Most options that any dragon has can be acquired as you level up.  However, only Red Dragon stuff will be automatically available- other require effort to get.  For example, you will have pretty much all fire spells available to learn as you level (Fire Bolt to Wall of Fire to Meteor Swarm), because you inherently know Fire.

But if you study the basics the Arcane, you could unlock things like Detect Magic or Counterspell.  If you spend a lot of time sneaking around, maybe you learn to cast Invisibility.

If you want to Shape Change, you could possibly learn it by studying other shifters, or learning how to enhance your own powers with transmutation and slowly increasing that power.
Vydirexi
player, 13 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 08:13
  • msg #14

The Tavern (OOC)

Very cool, good to know!

So I take it you're giving me more magical options than the Innate Spellcasting variant dragons get in the Monster Manual, if Meteor Swarm is on that list? I believe the variant caps out at 6th level spells (which is great, but quite a far cry from that particular party-killer!).

I'm pretty excited about that; I never particularly liked that they took away dragons being powerful sorcerers. They probably shouldn't have the total, uninhibited casting power of a level 20 spellcaster, but I appreciate the future options.
World
GM, 14 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 15:41
  • msg #15

The Tavern (OOC)

I mean, I wholeheartedly agree that ninth level spells are bonkers in power, but it's not like you will be able to just cherry pick whatever spells you want, and you are still limited by the spell level < 1/3 Dragon CR.

So we are talking about a 1000+ year old, CR 27 Greatywyrm being able to 1/day Meteor Swarm.  That honestly seems just about right to me.

Also, 5e monsters are rather simple by design.  Your dragon will have a lot more options- more akin to a PC.  So by default, you'll be stronger than a lot of the MM equivalent dragons.  However, that will mostly be expressed in versatility rather than just straight up raw power.
Vydirexi
player, 14 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 15:57
  • msg #16

The Tavern (OOC)

Oh snap, CR 27? Right, I forgot that the power of Great Wyrms became dimensional instead of simply being the biggest dragons.

Well, still very excited!
Vydirexi
player, 15 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 16:00
  • msg #17

The Tavern (OOC)

Are the cracks big enough for me to pass through? I'm wondering if I can ride the heat updrafts to the ceiling and scramble out.
World
GM, 15 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 17:16
  • msg #18

The Tavern (OOC)

Hrmm. Let's say that there is one open vent that is just large enough for you to make it through.

However, because of difficulty of navigating the updraft in your exhausted state, I will have you give me a a DC 12 Athletics check.  If you succeed, you can quickly escape before the tiefling can cast his spell.  If you fail, you will move slower, and the tiefling will get his spell off just before you can make it into the crack.
Vydirexi
player, 16 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 17:26
  • msg #19

The Tavern (OOC)

Don't suppose fire immunity still makes you immune to lava in 5e? XD
World
GM, 16 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 17:27
  • msg #20

The Tavern (OOC)

It does indeed.  Lava only does fire damage.
Vydirexi
player, 17 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 17:34
  • msg #21

The Tavern (OOC)

Oh cool, so at least I won't die on contact. Just might run the risk of drowning if it's loose enough to go under.

Any penalties to the check before I roll and post?
World
GM, 17 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 17:40
  • msg #22

The Tavern (OOC)

No, you can go ahead and roll straight.
World
GM, 18 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 17:50
  • msg #23

The Tavern (OOC)

Ooof.  What an auspicious roll to start the campaign.  I was letting you use Athletics to power through instead of Acrobatics, since Str was your better stat, but with a 1 it wouldn't make any difference.
Vydirexi
player, 19 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 17:54
  • msg #24

The Tavern (OOC)

Oh right, totally forgot about that! Yeah, no difference at all. Hey, at least it happened on a roll that doesn't necessarily have any special penalties for a 1. Unless 5e added critical failure to skills and I'm forgetting about it, anyway.
Vydirexi
player, 20 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 18:20
  • msg #25

The Tavern (OOC)

I goofed and forgot to tell it to record each die separately, but if I got a 31 then it's a mathematical certainty at least one roll was equal to or greater than 15.

Sorry about that!
This message was last edited by the player at 18:21, Sat 22 Jan 2022.
World
GM, 20 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 18:24
  • msg #26

The Tavern (OOC)

All good.  And I agree with you that at least one was high enough to make the save.

PS.  The next post will be my last before work.
Vydirexi
player, 22 posts
Sat 22 Jan 2022
at 18:28
  • msg #27

The Tavern (OOC)

Yay, making saves means not dying as a wyrmling!

I hope you have a chill day at work! Sorry you've got a Saturday shift, though.
Vydirexi
player, 24 posts
Sun 23 Jan 2022
at 05:30
  • msg #28

The Tavern (OOC)

Welcome back! I hope you had a good day. =)

I believe the foremost thing she needs to do is try to hunt/forage! I think that's a Survival roll?
World
GM, 23 posts
Sun 23 Jan 2022
at 05:41
  • msg #29

The Tavern (OOC)

Yep.  Sadly, you will have to make the roll with Disadvantage due to your exhaustion.


And my day went pretty well.  However, I had a pretty major disappointment after I purchased a bunch of DnD minis off Amazon that were 90% off, only to see my order get canceled because of a "pricing mistake."  :(

But how was yours?
Vydirexi
player, 25 posts
Sun 23 Jan 2022
at 05:46
  • msg #30

The Tavern (OOC)

I'm sorry to hear that, that's a bummer. I hope you can find some of them at a good price, still, even if it's not quite so amazing.

It wasn't bad, thank you for asking. Pretty mellow, all told. Watched some One Piece with by best bud (he's a long-time fan and we're going through the series together), pet my cats, got some new glasses. Nice enough day, all told.
Vydirexi
player, 29 posts
Sun 23 Jan 2022
at 18:55
  • msg #31

The Tavern (OOC)

I picked up Fizban's guide to learn more about roleplaying a dragon convincingly and their cultural/territorial dynamics, and I am so damn EXCITED. I hadn't even realized it added Great Wyrms officially.

Although, and do please forgive the question, I'm wondering a little bit about the ability score situation. Obviously you don't need to explain anything to me or change your plans; that's your prerogative as the Dungeon Master, and I respect it. But I couldn't help noticing that Vydi is going to get a (very snazzy) 26 ability increases from her CR going up, but the difference between her and each standardized age category is a good bit larger than what the advancement says it will provide.

For instance, she'll get 3 points between now and officially becoming a Challenge 4 Red Wyrmling, but she would need 7 ability increases to catch up to the stat block.

Anyway, I was wondering if I might me misunderstanding how it works, or if you have plans I don't yet know about to catch her up with her vanilla stat block cousins. ^_^
This message was last edited by the player at 18:58, Sun 23 Jan 2022.
World
GM, 27 posts
Sun 23 Jan 2022
at 20:35
  • msg #32

The Tavern (OOC)

So I advanced us forward a bit, so we can get you out of that exhausted condition. :)

And I agree Fizban is a really fun book.  Although I personally found the Great Wyrms to be a little disappointing.  Like the fact that the Great Wyrm breath weapon does less damage than Ancient's just seems baffling to me. Granted, the Great Wyrm has massive range on it's breath... but still.  Other than that I am really enjoying it, and have already been putting some of it to use in this game.

As far as advancement is concerned, I want to first say that nothing is set in stone.  Especially since this is a solo game, we can tweak things as we go without having to worry about being unfair or unbalanced to others.

My idea was to try to give you a smooth advancement, using the premade stat blocks as points on a line of best fit.  So power levels may vary at time, but they should be close.  Also, you will likely have an advantage over MM dragons because you will gain more versatility and unique abilities.

In particular, when talking about abilities scores, you are right that 1 per level is not enough to keep you on par with MM dragons.  I realize now that I didn't clarify this in the Advancement post. Initially I was going to give out 2/level, and that would have worked out to be pretty close.  However, all dragons have a predisposition towards certain stats. So when you advance in size/age category you will get some preset ability boosts that are in line with your species (primarily Str, Con, Cha).  I'll update the Advancement post with more info.  So those 1/level ability points are more free points to distinguish your dragon from others.

TLDR: Your stats will be a little lower than a MM wyrmling when at CR 4, but when you advance to young dragon at CR 5 your stats will shoot up.
World
GM, 28 posts
Sun 23 Jan 2022
at 20:44
  • msg #33

The Tavern (OOC)

Actually, I can give you an two options for ability score improvement.

1. How it is now.  1/CR up, with a large boost on size/age category change.

2. 1/CR, plus 1/CR that can only be spent on Str/Con/Cha, with a minor boost on size/category change.
Vydirexi
player, 31 posts
Sun 23 Jan 2022
at 21:06
  • msg #34

The Tavern (OOC)

Ha, I noticed the breath weapon too, but I figured it was a small price to pay to become a mythic god-eater! And yeah, that 300' cone is a city burner and army-killer, even if the damage potential is a whole 1-12 lower. And they get force damage to their attacks instead of elemental; when the dragon can eat a ghost and virtually nobody in existence has resistance to its most common attack, that's a strong dragon.

I won't be averse if you want to amp some things up, of course, but that ball is entirely in your court. Having 9th level spells is a pretty major ace in the hole, as is the ambiguously unkillable nature of dragons in general, so I'm not going to start banging pots and pans while I chant "Maaaaaat, I'm not godly enooooough!"

And yeah, both the methods you mention make a lot of sense! Either 2/Challenge or a major uptick when she hibernates and wakes up in the next age category and let my 26 points be personal flair (and of course I won't complain that it might make Vydi stronger on-average than a dragon of similar age!). I hoped you were planning to do one or the other, in fact, but it felt unnecessary to start suggesting things myself when you probably had a plan.

The one other possibility that I had thought of is a slight spin on the 2/level idea, which would be that I choose where to put 1 (Vydi's unique style) and then you decide where to put 1 (the natural growth that's normal for a Red). But truly, any way we do it, I am stoked as can be.

Have you enjoyed this so far? Is there any way I could improve or act differently to make sure it stays fun for you?

OH HELLO NEW REPLY!

That second one is very similar to the idea I described above, so that'd be cool with me. If you'd prefer Vydi be more of a scrappy underdog for a given age category, though, that's fine with me, too!

I will say, I'm very accustomed to 3.5 and Pathfinder where getting bigger increases Strength and Con significantly, so keeping it to method 1 still appeals to me in that way (a nice big chunk of power after she's spent a year or a decade growing larger in her sleep).
This message was last edited by the player at 21:10, Sun 23 Jan 2022.
World
GM, 30 posts
Mon 24 Jan 2022
at 00:55
  • msg #35

The Tavern (OOC)

Hey Zoot, I'm having a blast so far as well.  Being able to put Fizban's to good use feels pretty rewarding.


I think I am going to go with your suggestion of you do 1 ability, and I do 1 ability point.  It will help smooth out the power curve a little bit more.  You will still get a bigger boost when you official grow in size, but it will be a smaller gain.
Vydirexi
player, 33 posts
Mon 24 Jan 2022
at 01:03
  • msg #36

The Tavern (OOC)

I'm really glad you're enjoying it, too. =)

That sounds good to me! I like the idea of you/nature controlling part of her development, it gives things a splash of pleasant unpredictability.

Now she just has to survive that long!
World
GM, 32 posts
Mon 24 Jan 2022
at 02:33
  • msg #37

The Tavern (OOC)

Question:  Would you like to give your mother a name?  It's very likely to come up pretty soon, given the fact that everyone in the area would pretty much know who she is.

I will obviously be naming all the NPCs in this world, but give how she is your mother, I wondered if you wanted to be the one to name her.

If not, I can easily think one up.
Vydirexi
player, 35 posts
Mon 24 Jan 2022
at 02:41
  • msg #38

The Tavern (OOC)

Please go ahead and name her! I've been having Vydi only call her Mother and only referring to her as that because Vydi has no idea what her name is. I doubt an ancient dragon would introduce herself by name to a wyrmling still in the egg, after all!

I've also been deliberately ambiguous about if there might have been more eggs in the clutch (already hatched or otherwise) because I'm not sure if you're going with one of the unusual means of procreation from Fizban's or a more traditional 3-4 egg clutch, and because Vydirexi just wouldn't have that information.
World
GM, 37 posts
Mon 24 Jan 2022
at 06:38
  • msg #39

The Tavern (OOC)

In case it wasn't obvious, Vythrantra is your mother's name.  She passed on the Vy- part of her name down to you.

Also, I rolled a 14 for init.  If you beat it go ahead and react + take your action in your post.  If you get lower, just react and I'll go first
Vydirexi
player, 40 posts
Mon 24 Jan 2022
at 06:53
  • msg #40

The Tavern (OOC)

Aw, that's a sweet touch!

COOK THE FISHY! COOK THE FISHY!
Vydirexi
player, 42 posts
Mon 24 Jan 2022
at 07:18
  • msg #41

The Tavern (OOC)

Dang, I saw that chomp in the roller. Grumpy bitey fish, doesn't want to get cooked. >=(
World
GM, 42 posts
Mon 24 Jan 2022
at 08:14
  • msg #42

The Tavern (OOC)

I'm glad you enjoyed the fight.  And now Vydirexi has her own little hoard to start building from.

Also, my last post of the night.  Goodnight.
Vydirexi
player, 45 posts
Mon 24 Jan 2022
at 08:16
  • msg #43

The Tavern (OOC)

Good night! I've enjoyed the whole thing; thank you for making so many posts today and for guiding this experience for us. ^_^
World
GM, 45 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 00:30
  • msg #44

The Tavern (OOC)

Yeah almiraj are classified as small creatures.  So that's the same category as halflings and large dogs.  Probably on the smaller side of small, but still pretty chunky.
Vydirexi
player, 49 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 00:34
  • msg #45

The Tavern (OOC)

Yeah, I saw their horn is a foot long and it's clearly not that large relative to their bodies, so... Big ol' bunbun. ^_^

Hi! How's the day?
World
GM, 47 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 03:32
  • msg #46

The Tavern (OOC)



Maybe that size?

My day went pretty well, I just got off work, so I have time to make a few posts. How about yourself?


Also, your current situation is rather secure at the moment.  Vythrantra had scared away the large majority of bigger creatures and predators from her domain, so there aren't any threats remaining in your immediate vicinity (for now).  So if you want, you can make your next post like a week long montage of her getting more accustomed to flying / hunting / searching the ruins for treasure / etc.  And then we can get you on to your first little bit of growth, and go from there.

Since we are going to cover 1,000+ years of your life, these little skips are going to be important to actually have the story move forward.  They also serve to let you tell me what sort of advancements you want for Vydirexi.  For example if you spend a year studying magic, you'll unlock more magic based advancements.  If you instead spend a year reading about the history of the world, you could unlock History proficiency and language options.
Vydirexi
player, 50 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 03:45
  • msg #47

The Tavern (OOC)

GIGABUN! I love him.

I'm glad you had a nice day! Mine was good, too. It's really snowy here, so I went on a little run for essentials and finished a slow-cooker recipe I've never done before, which was yummy.

That works great! I assumed time-skips would be inevitable, and I figured you would tell me how you'd like to tackle that when it came up. Here we are!

I expect they'll make me more and more emotional as Vydi grows up and becomes more social, too. I'm imagining a lot of moments where she's sitting in human form at the bedside of a gray haired mortal who she became friends with a century prior, her eyes welling with angry tears that she can't stop the wheel of time from turning.
World
GM, 48 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 04:22
  • msg #48

The Tavern (OOC)

Hrm... go ahead and give me a percentile roll, looking for high.  Let's see if you were lucky enough to find anything worthwhile in your looting.
Vydirexi
player, 52 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 04:32
  • msg #49

The Tavern (OOC)

31! I find some seaweed and find out that saltwater in your nose hurts like hell, I suspect.
World
GM, 51 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 05:15
  • msg #50

The Tavern (OOC)

Heh.  Not quite so bad as that.

Also 100+ posts in, and we got our first CR up.  Woot!
Vydirexi
player, 53 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 05:16
  • msg #51

The Tavern (OOC)

Woot woot, indeed! And it only took the weekend, we're absolutely smoking! It's been a delight so far. =)
Vydirexi
player, 54 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 05:19
  • msg #52

The Tavern (OOC)

Also! Should I roll my HD? Do you want me to take average? Take max? Alternate between the two?
World
GM, 52 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 05:23
  • msg #53

The Tavern (OOC)

I think we are going to stay with average, just for my sanity's sake.  All your HD are going to increase in size every time you get to a new age category, so rolling would be too awkward.
Vydirexi
player, 55 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 05:25
  • msg #54

The Tavern (OOC)

Oh, true, that's a pretty big factor of improvement and complication, alike. and that's not including the Constitution increases!

Additional question: Does the cantrip function as if she were a spellcaster, able to cast it as much as she likes, or is it 1/day?
World
GM, 53 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 05:27
  • msg #55

The Tavern (OOC)

Because it is a cantrip, it will be at will.  Spells with actual spell levels will be 1/day unless you spend other advancements to improve them.
Vydirexi
player, 56 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 05:34
  • msg #56

The Tavern (OOC)

Cool, thank you! I would like to put my ability increase in Con, because she's been training endurance a great deal and her body is toughening up. Then I'd like to select the Bonfire cantrip and Survival proficiency, please!

5d8 (22.5), Con +3 (15), puts her new HP at 37, I believe! That's a juicy bump.
Vydirexi
player, 57 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 05:37
  • msg #57

The Tavern (OOC)

Huh, that brings another question to mind, now that I think of it! Is the power of a spell she casts based on her Challenge or her HD? If the latter, her Bonfire is already up to a very impressive 2d8!
World
GM, 54 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 05:43
  • msg #58

The Tavern (OOC)

Good question.  Dragon's HD scaling is so weird.  They get lots of HD early on, then slow down later.

For now, we'll say that it can scale off your HD.
Vydirexi
player, 58 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 05:47
  • msg #59

The Tavern (OOC)

I actually went digging online in case there was wisdom on the subject (I can be a little bit of a busybody in that way, hope you don't mind too much), and found a firm answer for us if you'd like to use it!

For Innate Spellcasting, which I assume this counts as, either use a spellcaster level that's specifically given for the ability or go by CR.

I'm happy with my choice whichever way you rule, but I'd feel like a cheater if I didn't tell you about the semi-official way that would be less powerful.
World
GM, 55 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 05:59
  • msg #60

The Tavern (OOC)

Just stay with HD for cantrips.  That will keep them at least mildly relevant as you scale.

1/day spells will be cast at max level based on 1/3 CR.  So a CR 6 dragon would cast all known spells at 2nd level.
Vydirexi
player, 60 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 06:03
  • msg #61

The Tavern (OOC)

Okay, works for me! Cantrips are the only ones that care about character level over spell level, I suppose, so it all works out nicely.

Gotta find someone to teach me Green Flame Blade and then the world is doomed.
Vydirexi
player, 61 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 06:04
  • msg #62

The Tavern (OOC)

I can also handle editing my sheet if it would be a bit less work for you. =)
World
GM, 56 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 06:14
  • msg #63

The Tavern (OOC)

Usually I do just hand over full management of character sheets to players.  But this situation is a little strange.

Let's be honest here, I am slightly flying by the seat of my pants on this.  There isn't any precise reference or guidelines for advancement.  So me telling you what abilities to add where, instead of me just adding them myself could lead to some confusion or miscomunication.

I have no problem opening up the sheet for you if you want to track things like HP, treasure, and resource expenditure.

Also, go ahead and post what options you selected in Draconic Advancement. That way we will have a running record of your advancement we can both reference.


PS, I added a simple game map that outlines your path, and known world at the moment.
Vydirexi
player, 62 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 06:30
  • msg #64

The Tavern (OOC)

Ooh, map!

And yeah, I know this is an unusual experience. I've got a lot of GMing under my own belt, and sometimes you just want to handle certain elements yourself. I'm fine leaving the major changes to you, but I'd be happy to track resources, HP, my hoard, and the busywork of advancement (like incrementing all of the bonuses up when my Proficiency Bonus increases).

I also have a few third-party sources from across the systems: Monster Class: True Dragon from Dreamscarred Press for Pathfinder, and In the Company of Dragons from Rite Publishing for Pathfinder and 5e, which all cover ways to do dragons as a race and 1-20 class.

The ItCoD books aren't ACTUALLY dragons, they're a planar race called the Taninim who reflect dragons (so they can get stronger with XP), and all of them are tailored to trying to balance playing a dragon with playing in a party, so the end result is weaker. Your way of doing advancement is really similar to how they do it though, providing a suite of Draconic Weapons, Defenses, and Gifts that are selected as the character levels up (although yours are more potent and I love the idea of things becoming available because of the things Vydi does).

If you like, I could try to distill them into advancement guidelines for a full-power dragon that may make the experience less stressful for you, give you a more rigid structure to build your way of doing things on top of.

That's really the most important thing: I feel like you're doing me a huge kindness running a game experience like this, very much one my dream games (probably my biggest dream game, in fact), so I would like to do anything and everything I can to take some of the weight off your shoulders and keep it fun for us both.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:10, Tue 25 Jan 2022.
Vydirexi
player, 63 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 06:31
  • msg #65

The Tavern (OOC)

Also, the Advancement thread is still locked. ^_^
World
GM, 57 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 06:33
  • msg #66

The Tavern (OOC)

Oops.  I don't know why I thought you had access to public.  :(
Vydirexi
player, 64 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 06:36
  • msg #67

The Tavern (OOC)

I think I do have access to it, since I could read it, it was just closed. No worries and no frowns! It's just a thread. =)

EDIT: Anywho! If you decide you'd be interested in me fussing around and helping build us a tool box to help ease some of your pressure, just say the word.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:37, Tue 25 Jan 2022.
World
GM, 59 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 08:32
  • msg #68

The Tavern (OOC)

Well, the character sheet should be updated, and unlocked now.

Also, this my last post of the night, so goodnight!
Vydirexi
player, 66 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 14:32
  • msg #69

The Tavern (OOC)

And good morning! I zonked out.

I don't know if you saw the great big OOC post I made before mentioning the locked thread. No big deal, though. ^_^
This message was last edited by the player at 14:35, Tue 25 Jan 2022.
World
GM, 60 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 21:19
  • msg #70

The Tavern (OOC)

Yeah, I did miss it, sorries.  Late night and all that.

I don't have any of those books, so I may have to check them out.

But if you have any specific ideas or inspirations from the books, I am definitely willing to hear them.  Especially when talking about creative ideas for things like special abilities, legendary and lair actions, or draconic gifts.


Also, I'm still at work at the moment, so it'll be about 6 hours until I can post again.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:19, Tue 25 Jan 2022.
Vydirexi
player, 68 posts
Tue 25 Jan 2022
at 21:49
  • msg #71

The Tavern (OOC)

No hurries and no worries! The game is not meant to be pressure, and weekend posting is not weekday posting. We'll get back into it when it's convenient for ya. =)

I could potentially provide those books to you in a...

>_>

<_<

Way that I shan't go into detail about. Wink wink, nudge nudge, PDFs are bae.

Alternately, I can give you a write-up distilling the valuable parts. In the Company of Dragons for 5e is obviously the best point-of-reference (it's the correct system while the other two books are for Pathfinder and a better-written book than Monster Class: True Dragon on top of that), although it operates on a basis of Small Size and the final product is most definitely not the equal of an Ancient Dragon (it's Gargantuan at level 20, but it has nowhere near the sheer, awesome might, because it's meant to function in a normal adventuring party and have magic items).

There's also not much about Lair Actions and Legendary Actions because, again, adventuring party. But truth be told, I don't think we need to go too crazy adding those. There are a nice variety of both already present in the Monster Manual and Fizban's, and we can extrapolate together on which of those might be appropriate for Vydi as she grows and claims territory.

The text I think we could squeeze out of those books is the so-called Draconic Gifts, AKA the unique abilities of a given breed of dragon and dragons at-large (which the race of that book, the Taninim, echo but are not exact copies of - they don't adhere strictly to the color-coding so that they can be player characters, and that means there's a lot of nice guidelines that may help). The Gift system allows for a level of customization for a Taninim player character to slowly approach the level of a real dragon, although they won't ever quite make it.

However, the most useful and hopefully the most streamlining thing that I could use these books for is to create a more codified progression for us to use so you don't have to come up with everything on the fly. Specific CRs where things which are archetypally dragon are applied to Vydi (the stuff that's in all the blocks of a given age category or a given color) mean things that you don't have to weigh as much when you lay out the advancement options. If there's a CR where her bite or claws are going to get a new die type no matter what, or she's going to unlock Multiattack, that means you don't have to worry about giving me access to something too early or too late, and you can plan for the future with more confidence about what Vydi will look like.

I have the luxury of spanning the entire range of Challenge between two ages, so the stuff that (for instance) an Adult Red has which a Young Red does not can be drip-fed in from CR 11-16, creating more of a power curve that reaches a crescendo at the new age category and also making it less work for you to come up with a list of advancement options. Likewise, it means that most 'levels,' I'll probably only get to pick one advancement while the other is occupied by a guaranteed change from growing more powerful (and then I probably wouldn't pick anything at all when she changes age category because it will pack in a bundle of improvements).

TL;DR: I think I can use these guides to make a rough draft of a full 1-27 class progression. Although a lot of it will be "Special Advance," (meaning the unique or Red-specific properties which Vydi only unlocks access to when she's done something specific with her time or achieved something in-game, as defined by you or plucked from other dragon types if there's a precedent), the fundamental crunch of a True Dragon? I can make a class out of that. I really think I can. Again, 1-27 (or 1-24 and make Great Wyrm a special final leap depending on how she becomes one) instead of 1-20, but definitely doable.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:54, Tue 25 Jan 2022.
Vydirexi
player, 70 posts
Wed 26 Jan 2022
at 04:29
  • msg #72

The Tavern (OOC)

Hey hey! Welcome home. Sorry to always leave you these big walls of text in the OOC, by the way. I get a little excited. ^^;
World
GM, 62 posts
Wed 26 Jan 2022
at 04:32
  • msg #73

The Tavern (OOC)

I, too, know of such ways to "acquire" pdfs... Lol.


As far as building a set "class" like advancement, I'm not really all that interested.  I have a pretty good idea of what's going to happen when, but I wanted to leave it open ended so you were in as much control of shaping your own dragon as possible.

The class escalator in 5e (where you make very few decisions as you level), is one of systems weaknesses.  It just doesn't emulate organically grown characters very well at all.  It does this for balance reasons, which I think is a very strong point for 5e.

But we don't have to care about balance.  Well, okay that's not entirely true.  But this isn't a standard 1-20 adventure path, and its not like there are other players that all have to be roughly equal power.  And I can easily make adjustments on the fly.


So, yeah, we can use those books as inspiration.  But otherwise, I'd prefer the more open approach, where we can build your dragon as she grows.
Vydirexi
player, 71 posts
Wed 26 Jan 2022
at 04:43
  • msg #74

The Tavern (OOC)

Ah, so... I probably shouldn't have started working on the class, huh? XD

I may finish it as a way to ballpark how I want Vydi to progress and for my own future uses, I suppose, but I understand your distaste for making things too... Class-y.

I'm in a slightly different frame of mind about it. Specifically, while I don't particularly like the lack of choice and character variety in 5e, I am the type of person who gets absolutely wracked by choice paralysis. When things I think of as essential character features (like a stronger bite, more natural armor or multiattack, as examples specific to Vydi) become things I choose off of a list, I start panicking that I'm taking the wrong thing at the wrong time, or that I'm going to miss the chance to take something essential because I chose something interesting (and vice versa). Having all of it boiled down into a class progression where the essentials are coming at specific 'levels,' whether I like it or not, takes the choice out of my hands and lets me focus on only picking out the interesting things.

I'll be fine, though. You're super helpful and accommodating, and hopefully the advances available to me at any given CR increase will stay available forever once I've done something or gotten strong enough to unlock them.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:44, Wed 26 Jan 2022.
World
GM, 64 posts
Wed 26 Jan 2022
at 05:01
  • msg #75

The Tavern (OOC)

I should make clear:  Anything on the available advancement list will stay there until you take it.

Also, you should have plenty of advancements to get all the "required" things with a ton left over.
Vydirexi
player, 73 posts
Wed 26 Jan 2022
at 05:10
  • msg #76

The Tavern (OOC)

Coolness. It was mostly the fear of losing options if I didn't take them that worried me a bit, honestly. And yeah, in the course of puzzling out a class progression, all the standard dragon changes fit in easily with a unique advance at every level. I've stopped that now, but if you ever want me to finish it or share it, please do tell (in particular, I figured out a pretty standardized HD increase curve; it really does almost totally flatten out during Adult, then shoot up more than ever at Ancient).

The stuff from the books honestly won't matter a ton without class elements, either. They're all Diet Dragon traits, designed to get the player close without totally upsetting party balance. Probably not really worth fussing with, not when we have all 15 dragon types and their unique features, the skill list, all kinds of proficiencies, and the entirety of arcane and divine magic which could be clipped onto Vydi like Lego. ^_^
World
GM, 67 posts
Wed 26 Jan 2022
at 07:14
  • msg #77

The Tavern (OOC)

Building like lego? My thoughts exactly.


Also, info dump.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:15, Wed 26 Jan 2022.
Vydirexi
player, 76 posts
Wed 26 Jan 2022
at 07:56
  • msg #78

The Tavern (OOC)

I like info dumps! Didn't expect Eladrin, that's pretty dang cool.
World
GM, 71 posts
Fri 28 Jan 2022
at 05:48
  • msg #79

The Tavern (OOC)

Yeah, Eladrin are interesting with some fun mechanics in their personality.  I've never had a chance to use them before, so I thought we could play with them a little here.


Also, I'm off tomorrow, so it is one of the days I could post more frequently. :)
Vydirexi
player, 79 posts
Fri 28 Jan 2022
at 05:57
  • msg #80

The Tavern (OOC)

Ooh, yay! I don't have much going on myself, so I'll post as much as I can. ^_^

Since we're in an original setting and talking Fey stuff, I've been meaning to ask: Do you also want to do original planar locations/cosmology if they ever come up, or does original setting mean that we're on an original world in the Material Plane but most of the fundamentals are still the same?
This message was last edited by the player at 06:30, Fri 28 Jan 2022.
World
GM, 73 posts
Fri 28 Jan 2022
at 06:48
  • msg #81

The Tavern (OOC)

I've not really delved too much into cosmologies in my games, but we can just use the basics of Forgotten Realms.

In reality, if you just want to imagine this home brew as Forgotten Realms, but on some unknown new continent on Toril, that would be pretty close.

I usually prefer to use premade settings, and mold them to my will.  However, large time skips with premade settings seemed nightmare inducing to me.  How would Fearun change over the course of 10-50-100-1000 years?  Like if you stopped briefly in Waterdeep, I'd have to think about what's changed.  Is Xanathar still there?  If so, how?  If not, who took over the thieves guild?  Then answer 50 more questions in my mind about Waterdeep.  Now do this for each location you got to, and after every big time skip.

It would drive me crazy, especially if it was just a brief visit.  It would be easier just to come up with my own details as you discover them.  Then if you revisit something, I can build my own history for those places without having to worry about keeping any sort of identity in tact.
Vydirexi
player, 82 posts
Fri 28 Jan 2022
at 07:05
  • msg #82

The Tavern (OOC)

Well, here's the real sexy business: I don't know jack fucking shit about Faerun and the Realms, real surface level knowledge of names and places and lore, so I won't know even if you do use unmodified locations! I thought the planet was actually named Faerun until you just called it Toril.

The last time I deep-dived the setting I was 13, reading the 3rd/3.5 DMG and Monster Manuals, and I was waaaaay more fascinated with individual monster lore and planar shenanigans; that's the info that stuck. Not long after that, my childhood group switched fully to Pathfinder and I developed a dedicated GM's knowledge about Golarion, instead. The 5e games I've played in recent years have also either been in original settings, Barovia, or didn't last long enough for me to start committing wikiwalks to memory.

Point is, you have carte blanche about the Material setting. I just wanted to know if my preconceptions about the planes and monsters were going to need amended, yeah? And of course I love spinning my own ideas, so if we ever hit a city and you want me to start ad libbing details as I explore it or speculate about how something might change over a couple decades, I'm your girl.
Vydirexi
player, 85 posts
Fri 28 Jan 2022
at 19:01
  • msg #83

The Tavern (OOC)

I hope Vydi as an inquisitive little creature works alright. In my mind, a lot of the built-in haughtiness of red dragons was shaken out of her by the trauma of being in danger and fleeing during her first days hatched, so she's probably more humble and self-aware than the average hatchling.
World
GM, 77 posts
Fri 28 Jan 2022
at 23:46
  • msg #84

The Tavern (OOC)

I do love her inquisitive nature.  Also, it's your dragon, so you can develop her as you wish.

We will be doing some time skips with your education, though.  Back and forth conversations in pbp can already flow at glacial speeds.  That's not even taking in consideration a newborn asking, "But why?" or "What's that?" every other sentence.  Lol.
Vydirexi
player, 86 posts
Sat 29 Jan 2022
at 00:14
  • msg #85

The Tavern (OOC)

Yeaaaaah. Trying not to go overboard with that, I figure she'll have the intellect and base knowledge of an adult after a year or two.

And yay love! I know she's mine, but it's important she also be believable and that you like the main character in our story. =)
Vydirexi
player, 90 posts
Mon 31 Jan 2022
at 18:34
  • msg #86

The Tavern (OOC)

I hope all is well! =)
Vydirexi
player, 91 posts
Thu 3 Feb 2022
at 15:18
  • msg #87

The Tavern (OOC)

Getting a little worried about ya, Mat. I hope you're alright. ♥
This message was last edited by the player at 18:38, Thu 03 Feb 2022.
Vydirexi
player, 92 posts
Mon 7 Feb 2022
at 20:01
  • msg #88

The Tavern (OOC)

Well, it's been ten days. I really hope everything in your world is okay. If you want to come back to this game or talk or anything, please drop a line any time. It'll stay in my active game lists and I'll keep an eye out for the numbers to turn red. ♥
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