Do you go to the dungeon?

**This is an old revision of the document!**

Starting info

Game Premise

The city of Hawa on an island off the northwestern shore of Zakhara is ruled by a corsair council. (A "corsair" is a type of pirate.) You might play a character already on the council, or someone who dreams of being on the council, or someone who works against the council. We'll work out the details in the first session.

Character rules

New players

You'll use this character sheet: Search the Hills. Two pages. Don't worry if it looks complicated, we'll explain everything in there and help you. I'll print out a couple of copies so you don't have to bring anything.

Experienced players

  • Hillfolk character sheet; we'll fill in that together during the first session
  • D&D character sheet (also has pregens — don't use "Dragonborn" or "Draconic sorcerer")
  • We're starting at level 5.
  • D&D basic rules — and I'll also give you a copy of Dungeonesque which is a 3rd party printing of the basic rules.
  • Instead of AC, put in "Defense", which is AC - 12. E.g. if you have AC 15, put in +3.
  • Backgrounds are optional; the Hillfolk stuff replaces a lot of that (but if you want both, go for it).
  • Casters might find a slot grid a useful tool, I'll try to remember to print one out.
  • There is no point-buy. Standard array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) in any order, or get witnesses and you have one chance at 4d6-drop-the-lowest that you can arrange in any order. (A.k.a. AD&D 1e method I, 2e method V, 3e-4e-5e method I.) If those rolls are low, you can't then switch back to the standard array, you're stuck with the low rolls.

Beyond This Point There Are Only Nerds

  • See above re Defense, starting level, backgrounds, and Hillfolk sheet.
  • Full PHB is fine, including feats and multiclassing.
  • But, no Dragonborn or Draconic bloodline
  • UA Waternborne Adventures is OK
  • Elemental Evil Player's Companion is OK
  • Forget what I said earlier about starting from a kit from 2e book, that's overkill
  • Likewise, that old EN-world-thread, they never got done. But the first two posts, djinn patron and various background ideas, are good and usable!
  • All six of the "monstrous" beings from page 119-120 on Volo's guide are available (Bugbear, Goblin, Hobgoblin, Kobold, Orc, Yuan-Ti) are available as are Kenku and Lizardfolk from earlier in that book. Can probably be convinced to put in some of the others too. However, the rest of this book has some spoilers. Here's a (not completely legal) PDF that only has that chapter.