Session Zero and all OOC chat

Who's ready to rock!?!?

In reply to Lord Psynister (msg # 2):

if you want someone on drum or bass (if there even is a dnd equivalent to a bass lol) I got you

My current character concept is a Kenku Creations Bard.

Hi folks!

Although colleges are a little way off and this would delay that, I wonder if taking a level or two of another class along the way is ok? It affects what college to aim at.

Anyway, I'm considering playing a bit of a bruiser, a fighter in what would be a normal party.

As far as music goes, are we considering a pseudo-rock band or something more authentically mediaeval in theme?

In reply to Mandacaru (msg # 5):

As long as your character's base class is some form of bard starting out at level 3, I don't mind multiclassing, not every musical artist is known just for just their music after all.

Ah, character creation says level 1, but the original post in the ideas thread said level 3. We'll need to DM to clarify that.

As for taking other classes...the point is for everyone to be a bard, it's the foundation of the whole idea.

In reply to Lord Psynister (msg # 7):

That was my mistake, I'm used to starting games at level 1. I fixed it in character creation, all characters should start at level 3. That's intended to give you immediate access to your college of choice. Yes, I would prefer pure bards, but I won't strictly bar multiclassing if someone really wants to do it. I do ask however that anyone doing so considers how it will effect the group dynamic since the idea is to form a functioning band; Given if the intention is to take the majority of your levels in some non-bard class it probably isn't going to work for this games concept. I encourage any players to discuss multiclass ideas with me so that we can work it into the narrative of the game.

That said; this game is going to be more social than combat heavy with combat featuring as more of a plot point to move the story forward, to escape bad situations, or by unfortunate happenstance. Granted, sometimes one encounters bandits or monsters on the road, but even those encounters can often be swayed via good roleplay and mechanics beyond combat.

As for the style of music you wish to perform as a group I leave that entirely up to you as the players. If you want to be chamber musicians catering to the rich and nobility on a more traditional scale that is fine or go all out and try to be the realms first blues, rock, or pop band. Have fun with the idea and don't be afraid to brainstorm Band names in the process.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:27, Tue 15 Feb 2022.

I'm totally on board for doing something outside the box as far as a music group goes. We could do something as simple as an a cappella group up to a new age experimental rock group and everything in between. I suppose it matters if we want to be more grounded and serious or if something a little silly but played straight works for everyone.

There are six of us, so even something like a sentai band would also work where everyone has an archetype that helps determine style and musical instrument (if any).

Rolling ideas around in my head right now, nothing concrete just yet, but I also just got done with 5 days straight of terrible customer orders. Will chill and ponder.

Thanks for the replies. Yes, level 3 is a different prospect.

Re. multiclassing, I certainly wouldn't want to decharacterize the original idea and I am more than happy to operate within restrictions, those help define a character. I think if one player feels like it messes up the idea then it is best avoided.

That said, I feel it might add rather than subtract.

I can imagine a character who helped out with odd jobs (like a roadie) and took over the drums when the drummer exploded (as they do). Fighter 1 Bard 2. That's just an example off the top of my head.

Part of my idea for using the kenku is the whole imitating of sounds thing. It's applicable for basically any style we choose, but he's got the beatboxing covered if we go a cappella.

In reply to Mandacaru (msg # 10):



In your reference to Roadies.

Now this isn't concrete, but as the game progresses I may start adding in more characters to act as roadies, stagehands, assistants, ect. This would happen naturally as the initial characters rise in fame, gaining followers. These character could alternate between acting in the main thread when the pc's interact with them to having their own sub-thread for their "Offstage" events. These characters would not play a major events in the campaign, but could influence numerous background events around the main PC's. (Like finding a lost instrument or acting as security at larger events/venues.)

I agree that the tone is important and needs discussion. While making a fantasy prog rock group (or something similarly off the wall) might appeal, I think something more serious, or at least with a serious element, might have more legs.

A couple of examples come to mind. One is the original Occitain troubadors (from what is now the Languedoc in southern France). IIRC, they arose from and/or had a major role in the resistance to the very bloody Albigensian crusades.

Another is that we could be attached to one or more patrons, like a travelling theatre company or a mix, with musicians and actors and jongleurs. That would allow for a variety of acts, not restricted to all playing music together.

With the sheer number of skills/instruments we will have available to us as a group of Bards, about how much of the game could we expect to be something outside of the musical performance yet still requiring skills (non-combat)? Are we going to have band antics off-stage and adventures between gigs?

I like the travelling troupe with a wagon full of performance goods to change things up and make use of our multitude of talents. Do we want to be 100% music at that point? Some minor plays or skits? Start stepping on the circus' toes and compete against the clowns in an all-out face-painted slapstick brawl of pies and juggling pins?

Lots of possibilities, lots of ideas to bounce around. I'm adaptable and not clinging tenaciously to any one thing right now. Brainstorming as the major crux of session zero.

That aside, I got the idea for a lizardfolk who found something that brings joy and they've really - REALLY - committed to it to the point of beginning to break their kind's "alien" mindset. Like the drummer who can get way too into it in a performance. With their ability to hold breath for 15 minutes I'd have to wonder how that would translate to lung capacity for wind/brass instruments...

In reply to MadAlpaca (msg # 14):



I am planning to have the shows/gigs be the major story points of the campaign, however there will be a significant amount of off stage time devoted to leading up to these performances, npcs to meet, problems to overcome, mysteries to solve, encounters on the road, and some of the standard adventuring fare interspersed as plot points to move the story along and to help build your reputations. Not everything here is about the big On-stage in the Glory moments, but as much about the Journey and what it takes to make those moments happen.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:15, Tue 15 Feb 2022.

Playing it (mostly) straight has my vote, too

Otherwise, in terms of tone, my thoughts went to either the struggling end of the scale or the well-to-do end, perhaps with one or two of us from the opposite side. Depends if we want something more 'dive' or 'court' flavoured, but both provide options for wide impact

For my own reference, common combos for a sextet include:

• All strings, typically two violins, two violas, and two cellos
• Vocalist, two guitars, bass, drummer, and piano*
• Clarinet, horn, and a string quartet
• All vocals

*Transporting a piano could well be amusing, but risks swiftly being less so I suspect

At the moment I'm leaning towards a Halfling fiddler, Dwarf horn-blower, or Goliath on oversized double bass

I think we should have at least one wagon. And props. Like puppets, make-up, costumes etc. Both give the GM things to mess about with.

I think we should have a serious-ish musical sextet of some sort, but also other things, like two of us playing a musical accompaniment to two others juggling. Some storytelling. A show for children and a rumbustious show for adults.

We should play to the rich and the poor alike. Okay in a dwarven hall, a Lizardfolk swamp village, grand palaces and slums.

We should be an integral part of the oral and musical tradition of the land. We are the thread that passes down from ages past and it is we who bring news of the wider world when we roll up.

When we show up in a village, we should be best by children.

And so on.

I suggest we name our troupe after a former master or mistress, who is now sadly departed and sorely missed.

A halfling woman. Ruby. Known across the land for her charm and her quick mind.

Ruby's Travelling Carnaval

Or something.

Mostly straight is fine with me. No one can be super serious all the time or they'll stress themselves out. And it kills the fun of a fantasy game; for me, anyway.

With our instrument picks, would everyone like to focus on a particular group (woodwinds, percussion, etc.)? Or dabble in a bit of everything to be able to change it up more? I have the Bard book from 2nd Ed that has a ton of musical instruments in it that would have been medieval appropriate if anyone wants more than what is given in the PHB.

I like the idea that everyone has something outside of musical performance for entertainment. It makes the show bigger and better for the audience. With that in mind, could we make a swap of one instrument for a different tool in a tweaked TGE option (since it normally pertained to races)?

Still like the idea of a Lizardfolk, but I am also rolling a human idea around, too.

I haven't given too much thought about race or subclass yet; waiting on our instrument decision before I get it all fleshed out.

I like the idea of us all having different instruments, but I'm open to anything.

Since we are all playing the same class, at least to start, I think differentiating ourselves in other ways is pretty important. The talons of a kenku aren't great for string instruments (saving those with a bow, of course), but wind and percussion should be fine. We'll all have at least 3 instruments that we can play, so we can hit multiple combinations of the things that have been suggested so far.

I've been in a high school band, but not an actual band, so I don't have strong feelings one way or another on instrument combinations.

Settling on a Longhorn, Lute, and - if the GM will permit - Harmonica

In reply to Jhaelan (msg # 22):



Harmonica is okay with me; the instrument has been around in some form or another for over a thousand years, so is not beyond what would be available in a pseudo-medieval setting.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 07:20, Wed 16 Feb 2022.

I like the variety of different instruments.

Back to the multiclassing question, is that a definite forever for anyone? If so, as I said upthread, I think that should count as a veto, without any stress.

I'd only plan on taking one level anyway, in discussion. At least for the foreseeable.

In reply to Mandacaru (msg # 24):

No specific objection from me, though I suspect you could achieve it thematically with something as simpler as a Gladiator background - and from what the DM has said, this will be very combat-light

In reply to DM (msg # 23):

Great, thanks

In reply to Lord Psynister (msg # 21):

Consider this same thing with a Lizardfolk: file one nail dull and use it as a natural pick.

I know there was mention of a double-necked bass above, but there were some double-necked lutes from the Renaissance era if those wouldn't be too modern. There is also the hurdy gurdy if someone wants a crank-violin.

I'm on board to be primarily a percussionist (drums, dulcimer, bells, etc.) unless someone else would really like that. For something not percussion I do like bagpipes, but I know a lot of people don't; largely the British. =o

In reply to MadAlpaca (msg # 27):



I'm fairly open about what kind of instruments are available as long as they have some historical connection from the medieval, renaissance, or earlier. (The technology level in recent editions is starting to border on the late renaissance/early-industrial era of technology.) Even acoustic guitars are not out of the question as the earliest versions of them started to appear during the renaissance period with their predecessors, like the gittern and lute, dating back to the medieval period.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:40, Wed 16 Feb 2022.

First time I've seen that said. I'm British and I love the bagpipes.

Ditto on being British and a fan of bagpipes :)

At the moment we have, I think:

• aguy777 rolling around ideas
• Lord Psynister as a Kenku from the College of Creation, with his mimicry talent
• MadAlpaca as a Lizardfolk on percussion or bagpipes
• Mandacaru as an ex-fighter (class or background) on drums
• thattripletguy on drums or bass
• me as a Dwarf from the College of Eloquence, on longhorn, lute or harmonica

Historically, both percussion ensembles and drum circles are "a thing" and happy to shift one or two of my instrument choices around to fit... or to be the counterpoint sound

For my concept, I'm leaning towards the Feylost background and making him an atypical dwarf

OK. This looks good so far, I'm hoping to get the game itself rolling by 2/25.

Ready, in some semblance: Kharrum Stonesinger, a Feylost Dwarf with a penchant for thievery and sleight of hand, but with a bit of a temper

I think we'll be good having multiple percussionists with some deviation into other instruments for variety. We're we okay with everyone being trained by the same teacher and thus have some history already? I haven't seen any other suggestions unless I glossed over it.

Works for me - some semi-retired legend that takes on the students everyone else won’t teach?

I'm good with a Mr. Finn character in the shared background.

In reply to Jhaelan (msg # 34):



If you guys want to go this way I have a good NPC in mind as the groups former teacher and mentor.

Sorry for the delay, will get my guy up tomorrow - took a tech test today for a potential job interview. (Backend Engineer)

Still a few things to tweak or add, but what I have:

Mirik is eternally curious, but not the brightest crayon in the box. He has dabbled in multiple areas of study (College of Lore), though what actually stuck remains to be seen. Having been reeled in with a penchant for playing the drums, he learned several other instruments along with the others and displays hints that his mind works differently from the rest of his kind, but still different from the rest of the world.

I think I should jump in and say I am taking longer than usual, a bit of analysis paralysis. I am making some headway though, and I should finish things off once I have actually made some decisions

@DM, have you a plan for when to start.

D'oh! I had seen that too. Thanks!

No worries! If you want to bounce some ideas about, happy to provide some colour from Kharrum or be a sounding board

Shall we list off the instruments we intend to be proficient in? And perhaps the skills we intend to take for Expertise? I know I picked some when I first made the character, which was the day I saw the concept post, and I haven't made any updates to it since. We've talked a lot about instruments, but I don't know how many people solidified choices.

Gone for longhorn, lute, harmonica and drums; expertise in performance and sleight of hand, but solid in survival, intimidation and deception too; and then brewing, disguise, tinkers tools and thieves tools

Thanks.

So far I have a goblin called Crackle. She's either (a) very personable but slightly dodgy  (probably Eloquence, high Dex with Dex & Cha skills) or (b) a bit of a romantic with her head in the clouda (probably Lore, high INT with Int & Cha skills).

Kharrum is Cha/Dex, from Eloquence and Feylost ... so there's an opportunity for him to "big brother" Crackle in the college, a familiar-but-unfamiliar reminder of the Feywild?

Mirik is high Con/low Int College of Lore. Expertise went to Investigation and Nature (might change this one) and the instruments are: bagpipes, drum, dulcimer, and hand drum. Personality stuff is in the previous post.

Status Update

So far we have:

MadAlpaca: Mirik, Lizardfolk, College of Lore. On Bagpipes, Drum, Dulcimer, and Handrum.

Jhaelan: Kharrum, Dwarf, College of Elegance. On Longhorn, Lute, and Harmonica.

Mandacaru: Crackle, Goblin, ?. On Drums?

thattripletguy: ? on Drums possibly.

Aguy777: Undecided (Has not posted since 2/16) Reaching out to them today to see if I need to find a replacement.

Lord Psynister: Fritz, Kenku, College of Creation. On Birdpipes, Lute, and Longhorn and using Mimicry.

Have you decided on having a shared mentor? Knowing how you know each other/first got together will help me tailor the intro to the game and future events.

Everything looks good so far though. On schedule to wrap up Session 0 by 2/25. Thank you everyone for your efforts so far.

Crackle plays the fiddle, shawm (oboe), tabla and is trying out the lyre.

I'm happy with there being a shared mentor, though Crackle may have come along later.bI like the connection to Kharrum but I'm leaning more towards Lore at the minute.

I'm happy with a shared mentor; I think our atypical racial choices is something we could lean into with them, someone who is tired of the same ballads and medieval lute arrangements played by bored-looking half-elves but has embraced each of us because we're really into the music itself. We still play that, sometimes, but with more passion. We're from different colleges, so perhaps them finding us as we're bumming around as freshly minted bards and with the good gigs going to the prettier, more courtly, types?

My expertise is apparently in Deception and Insight, thought I can't remember now why I chose those two.

Almost have everything done (had to spend a day or so doing some IRL stuff). Are we using starting gold? Or equipment?

In reply to aguy777 (msg # 52):

What's the concept?

Kughar is an Orc flutist (he also has pan flutes and bird pipes) from the College of Swords. He was exiled from his tribe for not playing something Orcish (like the drums), and has made his way as an entertainer ever since. I'd imagine it was when he was freshly exiled that he ran into the shared mentor, and everything went from there.

Sweet.

Given we have a Dwarf, an Orc and a Goblin - traditionally enemies - we should probably understand how (much) they reconciled their differences, and how they typically respond to folks who challenge that relationship?

Assuming such racial animosity exists in this setting.

Kughar would have no quarrels with anyone. So long as they're all kind, he is too.

I was assuming such animosity didn't exist. That seems to be the norm these days.

Ok, very happy to roll with that!

In reply to Mandacaru (msg # 58):



This campaign is taking place in the Forgotten Realms. There are of course always people who will be individually intolerant, but as for overall racial tensions they seem to have been abandoned within the mainline settings.

That said, how you decide to handle interpersonal tensions amongst the group is up to you. You all were students under the same master, who, for personal reasons, chose each of you for your talents and sympathizing with you as outliers of your communities.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:55, Thu 24 Feb 2022.

I was going to finish my character off today but the news has thrown me (not just me I suspect) somewhat off kilter.

In reply to Crackle (msg # 61):

Totally understandable.

Yes, I can understand. I will be making the introductory post for the game tomorrow 2/25/22, I know not everyone has their character done, but we shouldn't need anything mechanically immediately, so feel free to join in as you are able.

I reckon I'm going with College of Lore for Crackle. Expertise in History and Religion. I could swap Religion out for Arcana.

That leans into the idea that she is in love with old stories. I think that gives her something different from the others?

It means I'm good to go with non-mechanical stuff.

I'm good to go.

Good to start, too. Assuming starting equipment, but I might have a peek over some extras.

Any change from the starting coin?

Could you roll for three Feywild trinkets for me, GM? I can't see the table

Sorry, I'm having a minor delay, severe car issues. I will catch up on everything today 2/26/22

Just a few personality things to fill in on the sheet, but I think I'm good to go.

Mirik is inquisitive and likes to fiddle with things to learn how they work. He likes to know the how and the why, but not so great with complicated matters that are made by people (i.e. politics & law).

Hopefully everything goes well, DM. Car troubles are never fun.

As Mirik said, hope them car woes weren't too "fun"

Kharrum has a strong wanderlust in him, his curiosity driven by new faces and new places. Given he has, as they say, twitchy fingers, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. His lust for gold has translated to a minor lust for other folk's gold

I am very sorry for the delay, this weekend didn't go at all as I had planned. The first posting of the main game thread will be up shortly. Thank you everyone for being patient.

No worries. I think Crackle is ready apart from gear. I meant to ask what we start with, or go through the threads.

You can see our sheets, right?

Yes I can see your sheets, no problems.

1. Yes use starting equipment although go ahead and add any instruments to your inventory that you are proficient with as these have been provided as part of your apprenticeship. (For any instrument not actually listed on D&D Beyond just add it under other possessions.)

2. Yes, use starting coin, although you are level 3 you are also students and most of what you have needed has been provided for you over the course of your tutelage.

3. Feywild Trinkets for Kharrum (Rolled randomly): Pixie plushie that sings when you squeeze it, Tiny wooden lute with cat hairs for strings, Thimble that helps you daydream when worn.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:40, Tue 01 Mar 2022.

I think Fritz is good to go.

Okay, I think I have everything on Mirik's sheet ready to go? I actually haven't used D&D Beyond more than once before this.

Will set up a basic description for reference soon.

Done, here and on DnD Beyond

Can you turn my character sheet on so I can drop a D&DB link in there for easy reference?

It should be on now, let me know if you have any trouble. I can do this for anyone else that wants it as well.

Sorry for the delay. Introductory post is up!

In reply to DM (msg # 77):

I've popped mine as a private line in my description but the character sheet would be easier

Character sheet is open.

In reply to DM (msg # 80):

Appreciated!

Geh, weekends are not as restful or free for me for the time being. I work a second job as a barista and our staff is around half of what it should be, so everyone is stretched pretty thin. Add on to that the people getting their drink ideas off of TikTok and it gets really draining really quick.

That said, I will actually be able to post more during the week than the weekend.

That's not a problem. I understand being busy on weekends.

How's everyone doing?

I'm doing good. How about you?

Not too bad myself, thanks. I think we're about to have to start working from the office every day again here before too long. Can't say I'm thrilled about going back to having a daily commute, but it'll get me out of the house more, I guess.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:26, Mon 14 Mar 2022.

Still avoiding the commute, but since I moved four hundred miles away…

I've been working in an office for the entirety of it, so not too much of a change for me. They might try to bring some people back from home, though, which will make everything noisier around here...

i'm doing alright

Work #1 is 5 minutes up the road, but I've been able to work from home since March 2020. They just started the plan to have people go back on site 2 days a week and I am not liking that idea.

Work #2 is 15 minutes by bypass and has been an increasingly terrible hellscape. Love the people I work with, but upper management hates us and the customers are worse than ever and they don't even realize they are.

So, yeah, doing fan-ta-stic. ='D

Everyone still here?

I am, but it looks like our DM might have disappeared.

The DM hasn't logged in for 2 weeks and half the players haven't logged in for 1 week, so probably not.

Still here

Oh dear.

Hopefully nothing bad has happened.