The return of the D&D campaign: This time it's potatoes

[Mantis]

One of the newer books added in the option to have sidekicks that each player controls in fights. They're like mini characters that level up alongside you but don't get full fledged class features. Maybe we could try that and save Wrath the pain of having to manage another Truss. Depends really on what plans he has and how he'd like to run the next campaign.

[Sly Boots]

One of the newer books added in the option to have sidekicks that each player controls in fights. They're like mini characters that level up alongside you but don't get full fledged class features. Maybe we could try that and save Wrath the pain of having to manage another Truss. Depends really on what plans he has and how he'd like to run the next campaign.

Ooh, I quite like the idea of that

[Wrathbone]

Yeah, I like the sidekicks option as they can cover any shortfalls the party might have without stealing the limelight. They’re much more basic than full characters but do level up and get new abilities. I also like the idea of having a guild or similar which offers a pool of hirelings to choose from, so you’re not always lumped with the same one.

[Raid]

I've been thinking about that. We've needed Truss because we're a very ranged-heavy party, we otherwise lack the traditional meat shield, but I hope I don't offend Wrath by saying that having a party member controlled by the DM feels a little odd. I'm not for a minute saying that anything improper is happening, but it's almost as if there should be... a conflict of interest, perhaps. It also feels like it should be our job to manage the party while the DM manages the encounter.

I'm already planning my next full character; I have a basic outline done, and there's a fairly obvious way I think we could work in the sidekick idea around it, but I wouldn't want to talk about it just yet as it would spoil a surprise.

[Mantis]

I've got my next character planned already, assuming we don't have too big a time skip between campaigns. In fact I'm so keen to play him I've been half tempted to sack off DMing my little campaign.

I envision my effort running for 10-20 sessions or so and going from maybe levels 5-10, so I would save your well thought out and highly involved backstories for the next time Wrath is in charge.

Glad we kept up with this after our shaky start trying to do it over the forum with other players. It makes for a nice little highlight to each week.

[Sly Boots]

Glad we kept up with this after our shaky start trying to do it over the forum with other players. It makes for a nice little highlight to each week.

Yes, this, absolutely. Works really, really well over Discord and Roll20 imho.

I wouldn't mind knowing (even over DM) which classes you guys are intending to play for the next campaign. I haven't given it much consideration as yet, but I'd like to avoid accidentally doubling up on what someone else is doing.

[Raid]

Wait, you did the first part of the campaign over the forum? Not on voice chat?

[Wrathbone]

I've been thinking about that. We've needed Truss because we're a very ranged-heavy party, we otherwise lack the traditional meat shield, but I hope I don't offend Wrath by saying that having a party member controlled by the DM feels a little odd. I'm not for a minute saying that anything improper is happening, but it's almost as if there should be... a conflict of interest, perhaps. It also feels like it should be our job to manage the party while the DM manages the encounter.

I completely agree. I’d never envisaged Truss lasting the whole campaign, but it was kind of necessary to have a meat shield due to the party dynamic. I don’t see it as a conflict of interest as such because I treat him as any other NPC who happens to be fighting on your side, but a sidekick controlled by you guys would make much more sense.

In terms of the new party, I’d suggest coordinating classes in advance and then we’ll have a proper session zero to actually create characters, roll stats, etc.

Wait, you did the first part of the campaign over the forum? Not on voice chat?

Yep - it was an experiment of sorts, as I I’d no idea about roll20 or anything similar and I thought it might hook more people if it was informal posting on the forum. In retrospect it was an insane way to do it. I’m surprised it worked as well as it did, but it was slow and sometimes confusing and nowhere near as good as with chat and maps.

[Sly Boots]

Wait, you did the first part of the campaign over the forum? Not on voice chat?

Yeah, it was ok but not quite as flowing as it obviously is out-loud.

[Mantis]

Yeah it was fun but quite clearly not suited to it and was very clunky. DJ and Vampyr took part and decided it wasn't for them when we reached Cragmaw castle so we put a pin in it. It fit together nicely with us slotting Sage and Charr in as prisoners in the castle when we decided to pick it back up. I just couldn't continue with Ellis.

As much of a backseat he takes I feel like Truss is an integral member of the Unmentionables now, it wouldn't be the same without him. His replacement didn't quite have the same charm.

[Mantis]

In terms of the new party, I’d suggest coordinating classes in advance and then we’ll have a proper session zero to actually create characters, roll stats, etc.

Sound plan to me. Might do something similar for you guys before we start the next one too.

Though I rolled my guy just to put it together in DnD Beyond and see how his sheet would look and I'll be a little bit heartbroken to reroll those stats as I used the new dice system they added that lets you do it all on the creation screen and I rolled obscenely high for everything. I think it was something like 18, 16, 14, 13, 11, 11.

For info I was hoping to go for a melee focused wizard/assassin type character.

[Sly Boots]

I've spent some time this morning working on a character for the new full campaign (as a more entertaining activity than starting D&D Dark Alliance ), and think I've hit on one I like the sound of.

I did the stat dice rolls in DnD Beyond mainly out of curiosity, but after a few tries I hit on a combination of dice that I really like, so like Mantis would be hopeful of keeping these attributes.

I took a screenshot so you can see the process:

Spoiler

[Wrathbone]

Yeah, I've no problem with using the stats you've rolled. If it's a character you're going to be playing for potentially a couple of years or more, the last thing you want is duff stats!

One thing's just occurred to me. In terms of worldbuilding for the new campaign, I have a map and a lot of loose ideas, but I haven't started thinking yet about all the different races and how they fit into the world and its societies, cultures, etc. I don't want to restrict any race choices for characters, and don't feel like you have to decide until the session zero, but if you're wanting to go outside of the standard races (humans, halflings, elves, half-elves, dwarves, half-orcs and dragonborn) then it'd be handy to know in advance so that I can figure out how that fits into the world. e.g. If you were to go for something like a tabaxi (cat person), I'd expect that to be extremely rare or foreign to the continent we're on, so it would need some extra consideration.

[Mantis]

I think there's a certain charm to having really crappy stats and trying to work around them, although it would be frustrating to consistently fail at stuff that you're supposed to be good at.

I was only joking about keeping them if you wanted to roll them all in a session zero, but more than happy to keep these.

Spoiler

First roll too.

It's funny how we've got a good chunk of Campaign 1 and a short mini adventure in the wings and probably won't get around to the next big campaign until likely some time next year and we've all already got characters we're eager to bring out.

[Sly Boots]

Yeah, I've no problem with using the stats you've rolled. If it's a character you're going to be playing for potentially a couple of years or more, the last thing you want is duff stats!

One thing's just occurred to me. In terms of worldbuilding for the new campaign, I have a map and a lot of loose ideas, but I haven't started thinking yet about all the different races and how they fit into the world and its societies, cultures, etc. I don't want to restrict any race choices for characters, and don't feel like you have to decide until the session zero, but if you're wanting to go outside of the standard races (humans, halflings, elves, half-elves, dwarves, half-orcs and dragonborn) then it'd be handy to know in advance so that I can figure out how that fits into the world. e.g. If you were to go for something like a tabaxi (cat person), I'd expect that to be extremely rare or foreign to the continent we're on, so it would need some extra consideration.

Cheers dude, and actually even pre the edit, I was going to ask if you could give my new char the once-over, any feedback or suggestions gratefully appreciated!

It should be available to view on DnD Beyond.