Character Creation . DnD 5E

OOC

From 2018-2023, we used Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition for Edgewar. This page is from that era.

Please confer with the DM on a character concept before starting creation.

Character Choices

If anything is in the Approved Sources, you don't need the DM's permission to use it.

See Rules Changes for the "House Rules."

• We use:
  • Variant: Customizing Ability Scores (PHB 13) ("point buy"). You can have one ability between 8-9. All other abilities must be 10 or higher.
  • Variant Human Traits (PHB 31)
  • Feats
  • Optional class features in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything.
• We add two skills:
  • Governing (WIS)
  • Sci/Tech (INT)
• When you choose skills based on you background, class, or other source, you can choose others skills instead, with my permission. 5E has always included custom backgrounds. The backgrounds in the PHB are "sample backgrounds" (p. 125). Any background gives:
  • 2 skill proficiencies
  • 2 language proficiencies OR 2 tool proficiencies OR 1 of each
  • Background feature
• You have 1 professional specialty. See Rules Changes.

(optional) Ancestry & Culture

• This is a 3rd party supplement that creates two categories for racial traits: Ancestry (essentially DNA) and Culture (essentially cultural/normative influences). The creators apply their categories to the PHB races, plus orcs.
• For example, for an elf, Darkvision is part of Ancestry while Elven Weapon Training is part of Culture. So you can mix and match. The child of an elf and an orc might have Elf Ancestry traits but was raised in an orc settlement and thus have Orc Culture traits, like gaining Powerful Attack instead of Elven Weapon Training.
• There are also rules for even more granularity. That same child might have picked up some traits from each Ancestry and/or Culture.
• This eliminates the need for Half-Elf, Half-Orc, etc., and I've removed such species from Edgewar. (Instead, you might hear an NPC identify as "elf-kin" or "orc-ish," if they have diverse ancestry or culture but closely identify with one.)
• I use "species" in place of "race."
• You don't need to use the supplement. You can create a character using the vanilla PHB rules. However, please consider a backstory that is coherent in both Ancestry and Culture.
• You don't need to buy the supplement. Rather, I can loan my PDF copy to you, or simply help you with the categories during character creation. Of course, if you want to buy the supplement to support the creators, I encourage it. (I even have a one-time discount code for a friend. Just ask!) See: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/314622/Ancestry--Culture-An-Alternative-to-Race-in-5e?term=ancestry+culture

Misc

• After the first session, you have the option to make changes to your PC.
• Periodically throughout the campaign, there are opportunities to respec or change characters. If you're interested, talk with the DM.
• You'll probably start with the R3M Trooper Standard Kit. You can add or remove gear from it.
• We don't track experience. We use story milestones for leveling up.