Jarric - Roll The Dice

[Jarric]

Roll The Dice

 

I've been away from the forums for a couple of challenges now, but I think it's high time I got back here. I've been struggling with my hip injury and it's hurting my general motivation to train, so I need to commit to doing the damn rehab exercises and getting strong again.

 

D&D

I've been thinking about D&D quite a bit (ok, a lot... for the past couple of years), and with the introduction of the 5 week challenges I was thinking about what a 5 session D&D campaign would look like. That varies wildly, but it could look something like this:

 

Session 0 - create characters, lay ground rules and set house rules for the game.

Session 1 - the player characters (PCs) get into some trouble, or start a job they were hired for, and eventually defeat an enemy which leads them to a wider plot. They progress to level 2.

Session 2 - the start of a two-part arc, in which the PCs must face the greater challenge they have uncovered.

Session 3 - the second part of that arc, at the end of which the PCs reach level 3, and discover some kind of plot twist which changes the nature of what they know so far.

Session 4 - the PCs investigate that plot twist, eventually uncovering the real truth behind the matter.

Session 5 - the PCs face off against the Big Bad Evil Guy in an epic boss battle.

 

I'm not entirely sure where I'm going with this, but I figure I could theme a challenge around the idea of a 5 session campaign, making each session up as I go along.

 

Goals

I want to keep this simple as my first challenge back, so 3 shalt be the number of the goals, and the number of the goals shalt be 3.

 

Rehab - 15XP

Do my stretching/exercising/rolling every damn day. I've got 10 things to do each day, so each day shall be scored out of 10.

 

Run - 10XP

Run as part my home-made running programme. That's 3 runs per week, 1 intervals, 1 tempo, 1 long.

 

Eat Real Food - 10XP

I'd like to lose a bit of my waistline, and hopefully I can do that just by being a bit more sensible with the type of food I eat. I know what real food is, so that's what I'm going to eat. I'll allow two variances from that per week. A variance can be a snack or a whole course, but not a multi-course meal.

 

Week 0

So I've set my ground rules, and what's left for session 0 is character creation. I'll score the above goals, and use those to generate my ability scores. Geeky bit of how that works:

Spoiler

Using D&D 5e point buy system, accumulate points to spend on point buy:

 

Score	Cost
8	0
9	1
10	2
11	3
12	4
13	5
14	7
15	9

 

Rehab = +1 point per day or decimal therefore for each activity. Total for the week x 2 for a max of 14.

Run = +1 point per mile, should be a max of about 22.

Eat real food = -1 point for every variance over 2

 

 

This is where I need your help.

I have no idea what kind of character I want to create. Or, rather, I have dozens of ideas, which is actually worse. So let me know what you think would be cool, what races and classes you like. You don't need to know anything about D&D, just tell me what you'd like to see me ramble about for 5 weeks  .

 

[doctorake]

Following along.

 

Been a very long time since I played D&D, if there really was a campaign like that with players that knew what they were doing, how long do you think the sessions would need to be to achieve those goals?

[Terra]

Characters???   You make me think of the OCRs and I see a fast, nimble character, who has some sneaky skills.  What type of character would that be???

[Charlie_Quinn]

I couldn't not follow my DM now could I? Who knows what kind of evil things would befall Erana if I didn't 

 

2 hours ago, Jarric said:

I want to keep this simple as my first challenge back, so 3 shalt be the number of the goals, and the number of the goals shalt be 3.

 

I see what you did there

 

2 hours ago, Jarric said:

I have no idea what kind of character I want to create. Or, rather, I have dozens of ideas, which is actually worse. So let me know what you think would be cool, what races and classes you like. You don't need to know anything about D&D, just tell me what you'd like to see me ramble about for 5 weeks  .

 

What Terra said. If you're basing you're challenge around the character (or this character in a campaign), maybe it'd be an idea to make your character's traits match your challenge goals, or things might get messy. But then again, messy is always fun!

[starpuck]

I can't love this enough.   My D&D floon is hitting ever higher levels, and I thought for sure I'd be taming down a bit on it, but nope.  I too was planning to do more D&D themed challenges.   Especially because of what happened at Ren Faire yesterday.  (See my soon to come post for details.)   Also, extra points for Monty Python reference.   Also, I am just happier here when you are here!   So glad to see you back!

 

Would you mind if I stole/borrowed/merged into your idea here, and made a party member to travel along with you on this challenge?   I'll do a very similar setup, and we can end up being party members.    If not, I'll just stalk you from the shadows and be ... a protagonist?  Supporting character?  An unknown?  Mwuahaha!

 

As for your character deets...  it screams monk to me.

 

The discipline to rehab.

The running because monks get alllll those movement increases.

Eat real food straight up can translate to 'wholeness of body'. 

 

Also ... I've decided to start working on a Beau cosplay, so monks are on my mind.

 

 

[Wild Wolf]

Exciting challenge, Jarric! Looking forward to you being back on the boards! I like the idea of a bard. If (and when) I can get into my own D&D campaign, I wanna make a warrior-bard type character. Nothing like strumming the loot and party buffing your teammates while also mowing down enemies with a bladed weapon  

 

 

Wolf

[Jarric]

2 hours ago, doctorake said:

Following along.

 

Been a very long time since I played D&D, if there really was a campaign like that with players that knew what they were doing, how long do you think the sessions would need to be to achieve those goals?

 

 

Good to have you!

 

I was imagining 3 hour sessions maybe. It depends on a lot of things, like how much combat there is (a 2 minute battle could take a 3 hour session on its own), how much content there is in the story, how many things there are to get sidetracked with, and how much the players like to roleplay interactions. You could probably do the same amount of content as above over 20 sessions without it dragging to much.

 

2 hours ago, Terra said:

Characters???   You make me think of the OCRs and I see a fast, nimble character, who has some sneaky skills.  What type of character would that be???

 

Oo, well sneaky makes me think rogue at first. Monks are fast and nimble too, or you can make a dexterous ranger or fighter fairly easily.

 

Race wise halflings (hobbits) are pretty nimble, as are tabaxi (catfolk). And elves I suppose, come to think of it.

 

Good to see you Terra!

 

1 hour ago, Charlie_Quinn said:

I couldn't not follow my DM now could I? Who knows what kind of evil things would befall Erana if I didn't 

 

 

I see what you did there

 

 

What Terra said. If you're basing you're challenge around the character (or this character in a campaign), maybe it'd be an idea to make your character's traits match your challenge goals, or things might get messy. But then again, messy is always fun!

 

Would I threaten your poor defenceless sorcerer? *laughs maniacally*

 

Yeah, I didn't have much of a plan for how this would work past week 1! A character that suits the goals could be good, on the other hand one I'm sure I can crowbar in anything with a bit of thought!

 

1 hour ago, Starpuck said:

I can't love this enough.   My D&D floon is hitting ever higher levels, and I thought for sure I'd be taming down a bit on it, but nope.  I too was planning to do more D&D themed challenges.   Especially because of what happened at Ren Faire yesterday.  (See my soon to come post for details.)   Also, extra points for Monty Python reference.   Also, I am just happier here when you are here!   So glad to see you back!

 

Would you mind if I stole/borrowed/merged into your idea here, and made a party member to travel along with you on this challenge?   I'll do a very similar setup, and we can end up being party members.    If not, I'll just stalk you from the shadows and be ... a protagonist?  Supporting character?  An unknown?  Mwuahaha!

 

As for your character deets...  it screams monk to me.

 

The discipline to rehab.

The running because monks get alllll those movement increases.

Eat real food straight up can translate to 'wholeness of body'. 

 

Also ... I've decided to start working on a Beau cosplay, so monks are on my mind.

 

 

 

Oo, I wanna see your Beau cosplay, that sounds awesome!

 

Yeah, you can definitely join in with this, that sounds fun. Have you got any character ideas for yourself yet?

 

Monks are fun. I like the "I can do magic, but my punch is more powerful than a fireball" thing.

 

47 minutes ago, SheriffWolfpool said:

Exciting challenge, Jarric! Looking forward to you being back on the boards! I like the idea of a bard. If (and when) I can get into my own D&D campaign, I wanna make a warrior-bard type character. Nothing like strumming the loot and party buffing your teammates while also mowing down enemies with a bladed weapon  

 

 

Wolf

 

Cheers Wolfman, good to see you! I do like the fighter-bard thing. Or Bardbarian. Or Skald, who were viking warrior-poets (and are the barbarian/bard hybrid class in pathfinder).

[foxinthenorth]

Love the D&D theme! D&D has a fond spot in my heart even though I only played one campaign before moving on to different RPG systems.

[deftona]

Hi there Jarric! I'll be lurking in the shadows seeing what you choose to ramble on about for five weeks  

[JuiceeTarget]

This is a great challenge theme and write-up. I will watch closely to see what ideas I can steal borrow for my own challenges in the future. 

 

Given the rehab and all of that, maybe a cleric? Given the focus on running and real food, maybe a Ranger or Druid? As far as races go, what do you see yourself as? I identify on these forums as a half-ogre, large, smelly, and pudgy but trying to not be so smelly and pudgy. Do you have a stubborn streak? Dwarf. Do you laugh and joke at everything? Gnome. Are you filled with rage? Half-orc. Do you feel like you don't belong anywhere? Half-elf. Do you want to be strong and awesome and really sexy? Half-ogre.

 

I haven't done my next challenge write up yet, but mine will also be focussed on healing and getting better. So looking forward to your challenge for a lot of reasons.

[Jarric]

2 hours ago, foxinthenorth said:

Love the D&D theme! D&D has a fond spot in my heart even though I only played one campaign before moving on to different RPG systems.

 

Thanks! What systems do you play now? I actually play Pathfinder in my two regular games, but I'm running a D&D 5e campaign for a few fellow Rangers and I've played in 5e games run by some folks on here too.

 

1 hour ago, deftona said:

Hi there Jarric! I'll be lurking in the shadows seeing what you choose to ramble on about for five weeks  

 

Glad to have you lurking!

 

1 hour ago, GoodDoug said:

This is a great challenge theme and write-up. I will watch closely to see what ideas I can steal borrow for my own challenges in the future. 

 

Given the rehab and all of that, maybe a cleric? Given the focus on running and real food, maybe a Ranger or Druid? As far as races go, what do you see yourself as? I identify on these forums as a half-ogre, large, smelly, and pudgy but trying to not be so smelly and pudgy. Do you have a stubborn streak? Dwarf. Do you laugh and joke at everything? Gnome. Are you filled with rage? Half-orc. Do you feel like you don't belong anywhere? Half-elf. Do you want to be strong and awesome and really sexy? Half-ogre.

 

I haven't done my next challenge write up yet, but mine will also be focussed on healing and getting better. So looking forward to your challenge for a lot of reasons.

 

Feel free to steal away!

 

I hadn't even considered cleric, I quite like that though. Something different.

 

Race wise I think of my self as elf/half elf. When I joined the forums I said wood elf ranger - that was before I'd ever played D&D and I was thinking of elves as described in The Hobbit. That said, I don't necessarily need a character that represents the real me; just something that's fun to play.

 

Let me know when your challenge is up and I shall seek it out.

[foxinthenorth]

19 minutes ago, Jarric said:

Thanks! What systems do you play now? I actually play Pathfinder in my two regular games, but I'm running a D&D 5e campaign for a few fellow Rangers and I've played in 5e games run by some folks on here too.

 

I've played Masks (which is Powered By the Apocalypse as far as base system goes, I think) and Burning Wheel, and a collection of one-shots including Firebrands, In Dreaming Avalon, and Skeletons. Right now I'm just doing one-shots as I'm trying to spend majority of my free time writing, but my husband is currently in a group playing a Burning Wheel mod and a D&D group, so it's in the house.  

[Salinger]

Hey Jarric, good to see you back! 

 

Will be supporting you when i can x

[Jarric]

5 hours ago, Salinger said:

Hey Jarric, good to see you back! 

 

Will be supporting you when i can x

 

Thanks Sal! It's good to be back  

[Jarric]

So far so good - day 1 of week zero I did all 10 of my hip rehab things and ate real food with no variances. Lunch was lamb, couscous and chickpeas, dinner was homemade beef pie with greens, and much fruit was consumed. WW did offer me an ice lolly, which I declined. I only remembered this morning that I have frozen grapes which I can have instead of ice lollies, must eat those!

 

No running yet, first run will be Wednesday morning.

 

This morning I had crossfit. We did 100' farmers carries, and I got to 126kg (~277#) total before my hip started to really hurt, so I backed off at that point for a couple of sets of 106kg (~233#). That was followed by many many deadlifts and burpees over bar, and some skipping.

 

I've been thinking some more about how to structure this challenge past week 0, and I'd welcome any thoughts to improve this (as well as more suggestions on characters to play). Before I expand on that, spoilered is the most basic description of how D&D and other d20 games work for those who don't play.

 

Spoiler

• You decide to try and do something
• Your dungeon master tells you what ability to roll, and sets the Difficulty Class (DC), which is a number you are aiming for.
• (The dungeon master often keeps the exact DC secret from the players until after the roll is made)
• You roll a 20 sided dice (d20), and your number for that ability, and compare that number to the DC.
• If you meet or exceed the DC you are successful.
• Example: You want to swim across a rapidly running river. The Dungeon Master asks you to roll an athletics check. You roll a d20 and get a 12. You look at your character sheet and see you have a +4 in athletics. Your total athletics check is 16. The Dungeon Master declares that you succeed in crossing the river, as the DC was 15.
• A variant is degrees of success, where you might be extra successful or fail extra hard on a particularly high or low roll.

 

And here's one idea I have for this challenge:

• Boil every session down to one key encounter (a combat, a skill challenge, a social situation) which has an effect on the direction the story takes. I can narrate up to that point with other things, but this is the climax and the point where the story direction can be influenced.
• Boil that encounter down to one or two key skill checks (which are a d20 roll plus a skill modifier).
• My skills will be determined at character creation in session 0.
• My d20 roll(s) will be determined by my goal progress. For a single roll I could add all of my goals up, score them out of 20, and use that as my roll. Or I could have a roll for each goal.
• At the end of the week that roll, modified by my skill modifier, will determine success or failure. Regardless of whether I succeed or fail the story continues, but in a different way.
• Possible examples for my goals: Number of points earned from rehab, times 3, minus 1 (gives a number between 2 and 20)
•                                                            Number of miles run minus 5 (should give numbers up to 19 in week 1, ranging to 23 in week 3)

Another idea, which I might combine with the first:

• For my food goal, rather than counting this towards my skill check I instead take HP damage for every variance I eat over 2.
• The amount of HP damage could depend on my level, or on the kind of monsters or traps I am currently facing.
• If I hit 0 HP I fall unconscious, and this alters the course of the story.

 

If any of that makes sense, I would love to have your thoughts!

 

 

[DarK_RaideR]

I'll have to agree with @Starpuck, your goals sound pretty monk-ish. Also, since @foxinthenorth brought it up, Powered by the Apocalypse games tend to work around narration boiling down to a single roll, so that's a solid mechanic to use for your challenge. I think you can calculate the percentage of success as far as your goals go and then divide that number by 5 to get the equivalent of a d20 roll.

[Jarric]

17 hours ago, foxinthenorth said:

 

I've played Masks (which is Powered By the Apocalypse as far as base system goes, I think) and Burning Wheel, and a collection of one-shots including Firebrands, In Dreaming Avalon, and Skeletons. Right now I'm just doing one-shots as I'm trying to spend majority of my free time writing, but my husband is currently in a group playing a Burning Wheel mod and a D&D group, so it's in the house.  

 

Missed your post earlier somehow, that's quite a list! I'll confess to not being familiar with any of them, but yours sounds like a pretty cool household nonetheless!

 

1 hour ago, DarK_RaideR said:

I'll have to agree with @Starpuck, your goals sound pretty monk-ish. Also, since @foxinthenorth brought it up, Powered by the Apocalypse games tend to work around narration boiling down to a single roll, so that's a solid mechanic to use for your challenge. I think you can calculate the percentage of success as far as your goals go and then divide that number by 5 to get the equivalent of a d20 roll.

 

iiiiinteresting... I ight have to look up the Powered by the Apocalypse system now for inspiration.

[Teros]

On 7/29/2019 at 8:05 AM, Jarric said:

So let me know what you think would be cool, what races and classes you like. You don't need to know anything about D&D, just tell me what you'd like to see me ramble about for 5 weeks

Satyr if possible, but I'm extremely biased in this regard.

[Jarric]

2 hours ago, Teros said:

Satyr if possible, but I'm extremely biased in this regard.

 

That sounds really fun, I do love satyrs. No official rules for it, but I could find something pretty easily, and that makes it a bit more unusual too.

[Jarric]

Yesterday was all good challenge wise - 10/10 for rehab work and no variances.

 

This morning I went out for a run and clocked 6.13 miles before work as planned. My hip was variously annoying and painful throughout, which is a bit of a worry, but I think I just need to trust the process and keep working through it. I hope anyway.

 

Planning my 2 variances for this week; I think I'll have one tomorrow as we have a "bake-off" at work and I'm getting WW to bake a pineapple upside down cake for me. The second will be at the weekend as I'm seeing the Captain, Ariel and their new baby girl (who I need a forum code-name for, hmm...).

 

On the theme front, the more I think about it the more I'm liking the idea of Satyr as a race (thanks @Teros). Class wise monk makes sense with my goals but not so well with a satyr, and also I don't want to copy @Starpuck! So I'm currently erring towards @GoodDoug's idea of a cleric, as this challenge is about healing, and maybe making him a cleric of Pan as that fits really will with Satyr mythology (and pan pipes). Or,  @SheriffWolfpool's idea of a bard/fighter multiclass sounds like heaps of fun to play with, and satyrs make good bards. Either way I could make it a dex-y nimble fighter, fitting in with @Terra's idea and with my running/OCR type goals in general.

 

Nothing's decided yet, but can you tell I'm excited to make a character?

[Salinger]

Im excited that you are excited xx

[doctorake]

If you are a Satyr may I suggest the name Torgo?

 

[starpuck]

I JUST bought little horns at the Ren Faire on Sunday that would work great for a Satyr.  I'll have to do a pic for you!   

 

6 hours ago, Jarric said:

Captain, Ariel and their new baby girl (who I need a forum code-name for, hmm...).

Um, 'their lil' Flounder?' hehe!   Because newborns flounder around?

 

Nice job on the doings of things.  I might have missed it along the way, but did you ever get diagnosed on the hip thing?

 

PS. I've already sketched your thing, and holy crap I am SO excited by how it's looking so far.  Going to ink it tonight!

 

[Jarric]

6 hours ago, Salinger said:

Im excited that you are excited xx

 

 

4 hours ago, doctorake said:

If you are a Satyr may I suggest the name Torgo?

 

 

 

3 minutes ago, Starpuck said:

I JUST bought little horns at the Ren Faire on Sunday that would work great for a Satyr.  I'll have to do a pic for you!   

 

Um, 'their lil' Flounder?' hehe!   Because newborns flounder around?

 

Nice job on the doings of things.  I might have missed it along the way, but did you ever get diagnosed on the hip thing?

 

PS. I've already sketched your thing, and holy crap I am SO excited by how it's looking so far.  Going to ink it tonight!

 

 

Oo yeah, lets see a pic. Were you thinking satyr when yoh bought them?

 

Yes! That's it, Flounder it is

 

The hip thing the physio thought was a tear in the joint, the MRI scan didn't show anything so the surgeon said it was likely IT band syndrome, and referred me to a different physio who said it presents more like a tear in the joint! So not really, but I do definitely have weak glutes, tight IT band and tight hamstrings, so I'm just working on all of that in the hope it will solve the problem.

 

Already? That's fast! I'm excited to see it!

[doctorake]

3 minutes ago, Jarric said:

 

 

Torgo is a character in the worst movie ever made, he appears to be a half ass Satyr but is hilarious.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manos:_The_Hands_of_Fate