Ranger Hal Posted September 9 Report Share Posted September 9 The Veridian Forest - Ranger Level 1 Hal paused at the edge of the Veridian Forest. If the rumors she’d heard in the nearby town of Kelton Junction were true, something had caused an infestation of Needle Blights to take up residence deep in the wood. The townsfolk wouldn’t trust a wandering ranger, of course. They’d barely tolerated her presence in the tavern last night. But something had to be done about the Blights. If they weren’t dealt with, the infestation would spread and attract other dangerous creatures. With a sigh, Hal shouldered her pack and stepped into forest. Welcome everyone! I’m Ranger Hal. Normally I would say that I hike, snowshoe, scramble, climb, and do search and rescue, but aside from the occasional hike and SAR, I haven't been doing much of that for most of a year and I'm still working on how to get myself in good enough shape to feel comfortable joining more of those activities again, especially the ones that require being able to hike uphill at a decent pace, because I feel pretty slow right now (slow being relative, but a lot of climbers tend to be fast hikers). My current nerdy thing is Critical Role (as in, I pretty much quit watching all other TV shows shortly after discovering it last year). I'm at about Campaign 2, Episode 108. Also, anything by Brandon Sanderson. I don't have much actual RPG experience (only a couple of short one-shots at comic con), but thanks to @Artemis Prime's awesome recent challenges (which I've borrowed from extensively), I've decided to try a DnD challenge! Starting Out I'm starting as a Level 1 Human Ranger. My favored enemy is Plants (due to the blackberries currently trying to swallow one corner of my house) and my favored terrain is the Forest. I have leather armor, two short swords, an explorer's pack, and a longbow. I decided to roll for stats and they are Strength 12, Dexterity 17, Constitution 13, Intelligence 12, Wisdom 17, Charisma 11 (filling out a character sheet from scratch by yourself is kind of confusing, y'all, but I think I made something that should work). My AC is 14 and I have 11 hit points. Combat Combat consists of workouts. I get 10 xp per workout and get to attack an enemy. If I skip a workout, the enemy gets to attack me. If I skip a workout due to SAR and do some exercise, it counts as a workout. If I skip a workout due to SAR and don't get any exercise, the enemy gets to attack, but I get to dodge. I plan to do 3-4 workouts per week. Maybe I'll look at my schedule at the beginning of the week and determine which days get workouts. If it's a gym cardio workout, I get a ranged attack. For a pack workout (hiking, stairs, step-ups), I get a melee attack. If the pack workout is an hour or more, I can do a two-weapon attack (using my bonus action, see I'm learning DnD stuff!). In my favored terrain (forest), i.e. hiking, I get an extra 5 xp per workout. Exploration I get 1 xp for each mile I walk outdoors (so gym cardio doesn't count). If the distance is part of a workout, this is in addition to the workout xp. In my favored terrain (forest), I get 2 xp per mile. For each bouldering session I do, I get 3 xp and for each new V3 or higher route that I complete (or V2 that I've really struggled with), I get another 2 xp. Also, as Plants are my favored enemy, I get 10 xp if I remove some of the blackberries around my house. Social Encounters Because I've been feeling out of shape and unable to keep up, I've been a lot less social in my outdoor (for fun) activities, so I get 20 xp per outing I plan or go on with other people. Long Rest Long rests occur at the end of every week, so on Monday morning my hit points reset to full. If I die during the week, I regenerate on Monday morning, but earn no experience points for the week in which I died. Short Rest I will have taken a short rest and can roll hit dice if I have done candles for morning and evening prayers and brushed my teeth. (Yes, I know, I technically only have one hit die right now to use between long rests, but I'm going to allow myself to roll it every day if necessary if it gets me to do candles and brush teeth.) Enemies As implied in the story, I'm fighting Needle Blights. I thought it would be nice to start out with one of my favored enemies. There don't seem to be too many options for plants, so maybe in future challenges I'll go for some other types of creatures, but this seemed like a nice 1/4 CR enemy to start with. I get 50 xp for each one I kill (this seems like a lot at Level 1, but maybe it will work out better at higher levels). They have an AC of 12 and I think I'll give them the max hit points instead of average, so that's 18 hit points. Their attacks will depend on which type of workout I missed. Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, 2d4+1 piercing damage Needles. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, 2d6+1 piercing damage Finishing Notes and XP Cap I will level up at the end of the challenge if I have gained more than 300 xp. I don't think I've really balanced my challenge and expect that I have too much possible xp for the lower levels, so I'm putting a weekly cap of 100 xp so that I can't entirely bypass Level 2 (and I also don't want to deal with leveling up in the middle of a challenge). I will still tally up the total xp for the week because I want to see how much I'm getting, but I will only carry 100 xp over to the next week. Well, here goes! 6 2 Quote Challenges: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23, #24, #25, #26, #27, #28, #29, #30, #31, #32, #33, #34, #35, Current Walk to Mordor: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Adventures: Adventurers Wanted: A West-Marches Campaign Link to comment
Sovalis Posted September 9 Report Share Posted September 9 This is a fantastic set up! I look forward to following along! ❤️ 1 1 Quote Past Challenges: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16 Current Challenge: #17 “Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson Link to comment
Artemis Prime Posted September 9 Report Share Posted September 9 Heck yeah, very nice! Definitely here to cheer you on! 1 1 Quote "For God did not give us a spirit of fear; but a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline". - 2 Timothy 1:7 "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." -Gandalf Link to comment
Mistr Posted September 9 Report Share Posted September 9 I love your DnD theme for your goals! 1 1 Quote Level 80 Viking paladin My current challenge Battle log Link to comment
Ranger Hal Posted September 9 Author Report Share Posted September 9 1 hour ago, Sovalis said: This is a fantastic set up! I look forward to following along! ❤️ Welcome! 1 hour ago, Artemis Prime said: Heck yeah, very nice! Definitely here to cheer you on! I had a great example! This would have been so much harder to set up without it. Thank you! 42 minutes ago, Mistr said: I love your DnD theme for your goals! I'm excited for this one! 1 1 Quote Challenges: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23, #24, #25, #26, #27, #28, #29, #30, #31, #32, #33, #34, #35, Current Walk to Mordor: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Adventures: Adventurers Wanted: A West-Marches Campaign Link to comment
Ranger Hal Posted September 9 Author Report Share Posted September 9 Week 1 Plan I have some extra church stuff on Friday and Saturday, so I was thinking I'd get two gym cardio and one stairs workouts across the first part of the week, but I don't think the stairs will get me enough uphill movement steps for the West-Marches Campaign, so I'd better try to fit another somewhere over the weekend. So the plan is two gym cardios and one pack workout between Monday and Thursday and another pack workout before the week is over. 4 Quote Challenges: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23, #24, #25, #26, #27, #28, #29, #30, #31, #32, #33, #34, #35, Current Walk to Mordor: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Adventures: Adventurers Wanted: A West-Marches Campaign Link to comment
Laghail Posted September 9 Report Share Posted September 9 Perhaps the wrong veridian forest, but I CHOSE YOU (to follow)! 4 Quote Level 38 [Raveling Bard] Link to comment
Ranger Hal Posted September 9 Author Report Share Posted September 9 17 minutes ago, Laghail said: Perhaps the wrong veridian forest, but I CHOSE YOU (to follow)! Looks like maybe I've missed a reference, but that's not unusual. (Is it Pokemon? CHOSE YOU sounds like something I've heard in relation to Pokemon.) Welcome anyway! 1 Quote Challenges: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23, #24, #25, #26, #27, #28, #29, #30, #31, #32, #33, #34, #35, Current Walk to Mordor: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Adventures: Adventurers Wanted: A West-Marches Campaign Link to comment
Heidi Posted September 9 Report Share Posted September 9 13 hours ago, Ranger Hal said: I've decided to try a DnD challenge! Woohoo for D&D challenges! Also, way to go for embracing it. It's fun, but it can feel like a whole new language. Glad you just jumped in, as this is pretty authentic to D&D. Your write-up shows that you really have a handle on the D&D world! I would never have guessed you weren't a seasoned veteran. Nicely done! 13 hours ago, Ranger Hal said: They have an AC of 12 and I think I'll give them the max hit points instead of average, so that's 18 hit points. Having battled Blackberries of Doom, I can confirm that max hitpoints is an accurate assessment. Looking forward to cheering you on! You're inspiring me. ? 2 Quote ♥ & ☮, Heidi West-Marches Campaign Herb-Gatherer Spoiler Gypsy Druid Level 12 Philosopher and level 11 Librarian (built on the Monk class, with a training path in The Way of the Cobalt Soul) Ranger: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 :: Druid: 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |:: 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |:: 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |:: 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |:: 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |:: 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53| 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 |:: 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | :: 70 | Paladin: 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | :: 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | Shaman: 82 | 83 | 84 Philosopher-Librarian 85 |:: 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | Heidi Chronicles NF Character Sheet | @theheidifeed| MySlashdotKarmaIsExcellent Walk to Mordor - (spreadsheet) Let's catch up: https://calendly.com/loveandpeace Link to comment
Elastigirl Posted September 9 Report Share Posted September 9 Fun challenge! Quote Wisdom 22.5 Dexterity 13 Charisma 15 Strength 21 Constitution-13 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind' Luke 10; 27 Link to comment
Ranger Hal Posted September 9 Author Report Share Posted September 9 1 minute ago, Heidi said: Woohoo for D&D challenges! Also, way to go for embracing it. It's fun, but it can feel like a whole new language. Glad you just jumped in, as this is pretty authentic to D&D. Your write-up shows that you really have a handle on the D&D world! I would never have guessed you weren't a seasoned veteran. Nicely done! With the amount of Critical Role that I've watched (likely 900+ hours at this point), I have picked up a few (ok, a lot of) things. And I did get a Player's Handbook a while back so I could follow along better with what they were doing on the show. I like to know how things work. But I don't usually dig deep into the numbers like actually calculating AC, skill check modifiers, and damage modifiers. It was an interesting exercise and I found lots of little details that I hadn't come across before. 13 minutes ago, Heidi said: Having battled Blackberries of Doom, I can confirm that max hitpoints is an accurate assessment. And I'm pretty sure they have some variation of undead fortitude so that they can pop back up after you think you've killed them. 16 minutes ago, Heidi said: Looking forward to cheering you on! You're inspiring me. ? Glad to have you! 5 minutes ago, Elastigirl said: Fun challenge! Thanks! 2 Quote Challenges: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23, #24, #25, #26, #27, #28, #29, #30, #31, #32, #33, #34, #35, Current Walk to Mordor: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Adventures: Adventurers Wanted: A West-Marches Campaign Link to comment
Laghail Posted September 9 Report Share Posted September 9 2 hours ago, Ranger Hal said: Looks like maybe I've missed a reference, but that's not unusual. (Is it Pokemon? CHOSE YOU sounds like something I've heard in relation to Pokemon.) Welcome anyway! It is but viridian is just a shade of vibrant green, so a lot of fictional properties have viridian forest. Anything in particular for your followers to bug you about? 1 Quote Level 38 [Raveling Bard] Link to comment
DarK_RaideR Posted September 9 Report Share Posted September 9 Open the pod bay door, Ranger Hal. 1 2 Quote Lvl 65 Multitasker Link to comment
Ranger Hal Posted September 9 Author Report Share Posted September 9 15 minutes ago, Laghail said: Anything in particular for your followers to bug you about? That's an excellent question. I don't have an answer to it. I'm just excited to have an actual reason to roll dice! 4 minutes ago, DarK_RaideR said: Open the pod bay door, Ranger Hal. (Seriously, I miss so many references that this scene really resonates with me.) 5 1 Quote Challenges: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23, #24, #25, #26, #27, #28, #29, #30, #31, #32, #33, #34, #35, Current Walk to Mordor: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Adventures: Adventurers Wanted: A West-Marches Campaign Link to comment
Snarkyfishguts Posted September 9 Report Share Posted September 9 FOLLOWING! I am not familiar with DnD but it’s nicely organized and adventurous and I am here to cheer you on from a safe distance from those blight thingies. ? 4 Quote Link to comment
Qnobi Posted September 10 Report Share Posted September 10 Came for the forest. Stayed for the Sanderson (and the Ranger!). 2 Quote Link to comment
Ranger Hal Posted September 10 Author Report Share Posted September 10 11 hours ago, Snarkyfishguts said: FOLLOWING! I am not familiar with DnD but it’s nicely organized and adventurous and I am here to cheer you on from a safe distance from those blight thingies. ? Welcome! 5 minutes ago, Qnobi said: Came for the forest. Stayed for the Sanderson (and the Ranger!). Glad to have you! Week 1 Monday I went to the gym and did some bouldering (+3 xp), but no new V3s completed. I also did a cardio workout (+10 xp), so that's a ranged attack against the first Needle Blight. The arrow just barely hit (12 to hit) for 8 damage. I also got a short rest, not that I need it yet, but better to have it and not need it. Needle Blight 1: 10 hp Week 1: 13 xp Hal hadn't gotten very far into the woods when she heard some twigs snap and a Needle Blight stepped from behind a tree. Quickly pulling out her bow, the first shot was a little rushed but still managed to find its mark. 5 Quote Challenges: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23, #24, #25, #26, #27, #28, #29, #30, #31, #32, #33, #34, #35, Current Walk to Mordor: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Adventures: Adventurers Wanted: A West-Marches Campaign Link to comment
Ranger Hal Posted September 10 Author Report Share Posted September 10 I tried making some 3-ingredient oatmeal breakfast cookies (oatmeal, bananas, peanut butter). They were not a success. I was really hopeful that they'd work out because they were really easy to make, but I'm having to force myself to eat them and today I gave up after a couple of bites. Oh well. 1 3 Quote Challenges: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23, #24, #25, #26, #27, #28, #29, #30, #31, #32, #33, #34, #35, Current Walk to Mordor: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Adventures: Adventurers Wanted: A West-Marches Campaign Link to comment
Laghail Posted September 11 Report Share Posted September 11 6 hours ago, Ranger Hal said: I tried making some 3-ingredient oatmeal breakfast cookies (oatmeal, bananas, peanut butter). They were not a success. I was really hopeful that they'd work out because they were really easy to make, but I'm having to force myself to eat them and today I gave up after a couple of bites. Oh well. Sounds delicious tbf. 1 Quote Level 38 [Raveling Bard] Link to comment
Ranger Hal Posted September 11 Author Report Share Posted September 11 9 minutes ago, Laghail said: Sounds delicious tbf. I know, right? They sound like they should be fairly decent, but I found them to be bland and dense, the sort of thing you only eat when there's nothing else and you know you need calories. I feel like they either need a whole bunch of sugar (which would turn them into real cookies instead of something relatively healthy) or some combination of spices that would give them a good flavor. Probably some raisins or dried cranberries as well. 4 Quote Challenges: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23, #24, #25, #26, #27, #28, #29, #30, #31, #32, #33, #34, #35, Current Walk to Mordor: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Adventures: Adventurers Wanted: A West-Marches Campaign Link to comment
Yuen Posted September 11 Report Share Posted September 11 Ooh bouldering and climbing.... your challenge is automatically awesome! Good luck conquering new V3s (or higher!) 1 1 Quote Current Challenge Battle Log Link to comment
Ranger Hal Posted September 11 Author Report Share Posted September 11 4 hours ago, Yuen said: Ooh bouldering and climbing.... your challenge is automatically awesome! Good luck conquering new V3s (or higher!) Welcome! Week 1 Tuesday Got in a workout climbing stairs in my office (+10 xp). My pack wasn't very heavy, but I have plans to gradually work up to a bigger one. So that's an attack against the Needle Blight with my shortsword. 13 to hit and 9 points of damage. I also did candles and teeth brushing, so that's another short rest. Needle Blight 1: 1 hp Week 1: 23 xp After a powerful stab from one of her shortswords, the Needle Blight was clearly on its last legs, but still standing. 6 Quote Challenges: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23, #24, #25, #26, #27, #28, #29, #30, #31, #32, #33, #34, #35, Current Walk to Mordor: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Adventures: Adventurers Wanted: A West-Marches Campaign Link to comment
Mistr Posted September 11 Report Share Posted September 11 I love the awards and narrative after each day's encounters. 2 1 Quote Level 80 Viking paladin My current challenge Battle log Link to comment
Ranger Hal Posted September 11 Author Report Share Posted September 11 1 hour ago, Mistr said: I love the awards and narrative after each day's encounters. I'm having fun rolling an attack after each of my workouts! (We'll see how I feel after an attack misses. It's been pretty close both times so far and these guys have pretty low AC.) I struggle a bit with writing the narrative, both here and in the West-Marshes Adventure. It's hard not to compare myself to the folks who seem to be able to put out paragraphs easily (although I guess I don't know how long they stared blankly at the screen before hitting Submit Reply). But I'm trying. Maybe it will become easier with time. 3 Quote Challenges: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23, #24, #25, #26, #27, #28, #29, #30, #31, #32, #33, #34, #35, Current Walk to Mordor: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Adventures: Adventurers Wanted: A West-Marches Campaign Link to comment
Elastigirl Posted September 11 Report Share Posted September 11 29 minutes ago, Ranger Hal said: I'm having fun rolling an attack after each of my workouts! (We'll see how I feel after an attack misses. It's been pretty close both times so far and these guys have pretty low AC.) I struggle a bit with writing the narrative, both here and in the West-Marshes Adventure. It's hard not to compare myself to the folks who seem to be able to put out paragraphs easily (although I guess I don't know how long they stared blankly at the screen before hitting Submit Reply). But I'm trying. Maybe it will become easier with time. I stared at the screen blankly for a bit, then decided to go with a few quick sentences. 2 Quote Wisdom 22.5 Dexterity 13 Charisma 15 Strength 21 Constitution-13 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind' Luke 10; 27 Link to comment
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