Level 3! (Replies requested)

Welcome to level 3, everyone! I believe that every class selects its specialization at level 3, and it's a big choice that will influence your character for the rest of their life. Make sure you read ahead down each specialization's path and that you know for sure which one you want to play. When you decide on your specialization, please post it here so that I know what to expect for future sessions. Thanks, guys!

I plan on going with the Hunter Archetype, always loved animals, but Raynor is finally feeling like part of a real group, and that means a lot for him.  So he's not going to split off at this point to find a companion animal, when he's already surrounded by so many great people. Also for specifics within the Archetype, under my Hunter's Prey I went with Colossus Slayer. An additional note, just as a point of context and character development. When I was deciding on which spells to learn at level 2, I thought Raynor would think back to when Sigrun fell in battle in that first cave against the Goblins, and wished he could have helped more, so that's why he made a point to learn Cure Wounds. Additionally he learned Hunter's Mark at level 2, and Ensnaring Strike at level 3 on top of the additional bonus of being able to spend a spell slot on Primeval Awareness gained at level 3 without occupying one of the places for his "learned spells"

Y'know, if Naeris was truly petty, she'd might have made her shiny new sword into a pact weapon. As it is, she's content to leave the hacking and slashing to other people. For a Pact Boon, there's really only one obvious choice for Naeris: The Pact of the Tome. This gives her a Book of Shadows which contains 3 cantrips of any class, which she can cast at will as long as she has her book on her. For the cantrips, I'm thinking of Thaumaturgy just for funsies. Then maybe Vicious Mockery and Shocking Grasp or  Frostbite (If you'll allow spells not in the Player's Handbook). That is if the spell's damage increases like normal at higher levels, so that I'd be rolling 2 dice for damage instead of 1 at lvl 5 and so forth? I will also switch out her Agonizing Blast Invocation with the Book of Ancient Secrets Invocation, which allows her to add any spell marked as "Ritual" to her Book of Shadows and she'll be able to cast the spell as a ritual from that. For her first 2nd level spell, I'm kinda split between Phantasmal Force and Crown of Madness. So much fun to be had with either. In future, I plan on following a general theme of nightmarish horror and mind-fuckery spiced with bookish hoarding of all kinds of knowledge and secrets for Naeris.

RJ M. said: When I was deciding on which spells to learn at level 2, I thought Raynor would think back to when Sigrun fell in battle in that first cave against the Goblins, and wished he could have helped more, so that's why he made a point to learn Cure Wounds. Aw!!! I kinda like the idea of Sigrun maybe teaching it to him, because that time she fell shook her up too. Up to you, RJ, if we want to do that. :) Sigrun has already chosen the Life Domain so she doesn't have anything for level 3 to choose. 

Yeah I like that, it scared the crap out of both of us, and so when Raynor came to Sigrun asking to learn Cure Wounds to try to make sure that didn't happen again, Sigrun was the one to teach him.  I like it.

Shavix said: In future, I plan on following a general theme of nightmarish horror and mind-fuckery spiced with bookish hoarding of all kinds of knowledge and secrets for Naeris. Am I the only one really glad Naeris is a friend and not an enemy? So, for Elvalur, I think Thief would fit him better than Assassin, as he has a Smuggler background, and I see him fitting in more as an utility guy for the party. For the 3rd level stuff, as a Thief, I get Fast Hands, which let me use the bonus action from the Cunning Action to make a Sleight of Hand check, use my thieves’ tools to disarm a trap/open a lock (this kind of stuff) or use an object (like poisons and/or potions). Also, I get Second Story Work, which let me climb faster (and it doesn't cost an extra movement) and jump a little longer (the distance is equal to the Dexterity Mod, so it's really just a little), when making a running jump.

RJ, sounds good. Really like and appreciate your attention to characterization in the picking of your powers, especially calling back specific moments where you felt "hey, that would be useful" and sought it out from your friend. Since Sigrun taught you the spell, you've picked up just a bit of her bonus power, and get an additional +1 to any healing done by the spell. You can call the ability "Sigrun's Touch," if you need something to put down on your sheet. :) Naeris, I'm okay with allowing Frostbite. As for the damage scaling, check and see if other cantrips scale in damage as well -- if they do, yes, go for it. If not, then the damage will stay where it is. I'm okay with allowing in material from splatbooks (and even wholly made-up spells or abilities), but if they end up warping the game power-wise, I reserve the right to rein them in somehow. This is just advice for the future, though; Frostbite as it is looks just fine. Again, I like your characterizations of Naeris a lot, and have some ideas for her future. *evil DM laugh*

MatB said: Shavix said: In future, I plan on following a general theme of nightmarish horror and mind-fuckery spiced with bookish hoarding of all kinds of knowledge and secrets for Naeris. Am I the only one really glad Naeris is a friend and not an enemy? So, for Elvalur, I think Thief would fit him better than Assassin, as he has a Smuggler background, and I see him fitting in more as an utility guy for the party. For the 3rd level stuff, as a Thief, I get Fast Hands, which let me use the bonus action from the Cunning Action to make a Sleight of Hand check, use your thieves’ tools to disarm a trap/open a lock (this kind of stuff) or use an object (like poisons and/or potions). Also, I get Second Story Work, which let me climb faster (and it doesn't cost an extra movement) and jump a little longer (the distance is equal to the Dexterity Mod, so it's really just a little), when making a running jump. I agree with you all around on this one, Matheus. I'm glad Naeris is your friend, Elvalur is definitely more Thief than Assassin, and Zaradur is going to be exceptionally jealous of your jumping bonuses. ;)

Fuzzus said: MatB said: Shavix said: In future, I plan on following a general theme of nightmarish horror and mind-fuckery spiced with bookish hoarding of all kinds of knowledge and secrets for Naeris. Am I the only one really glad Naeris is a friend and not an enemy? So, for Elvalur, I think Thief would fit him better than Assassin, as he has a Smuggler background, and I see him fitting in more as an utility guy for the party. For the 3rd level stuff, as a Thief, I get Fast Hands, which let me use the bonus action from the Cunning Action to make a Sleight of Hand check, use your thieves’ tools to disarm a trap/open a lock (this kind of stuff) or use an object (like poisons and/or potions). Also, I get Second Story Work, which let me climb faster (and it doesn't cost an extra movement) and jump a little longer (the distance is equal to the Dexterity Mod, so it's really just a little), when making a running jump. I agree with you all around on this one, Matheus. I'm glad Naeris is your friend, Elvalur is definitely more Thief than Assassin, and Zaradur is going to be exceptionally jealous of your jumping bonuses. ;) So jealous! 

Zaradur will take the berserker path since he likes to solve problems quickly and I feel like I can do some extraordinary feats with two attacks :3 I also don't see Zaradur having a spiritual journey with the totem barbarian path

Mystery box said: Zaradur will take the berserker path since he likes to solve problems quickly and I feel like I can do some extraordinary feats with two attacks :3 I also don't see Zaradur having a spiritual journey with the totem barbarian path Oh god. So many problems being solved so quickly.... And yes, I agree completely: spiritual journeys are not Zaradur's thing! He's more of a "carousing and fighting" barbarian, and that's just fine. :D

Fuzzus said: Naeris, I'm okay with allowing Frostbite. As for the damage scaling, check and see if other cantrips scale in damage as well -- if they do, yes, go for it. If not, then the damage will stay where it is. I'm okay with allowing in material from splatbooks (and even wholly made-up spells or abilities), but if they end up warping the game power-wise, I reserve the right to rein them in somehow. This is just advice for the future, though; Frostbite as it is looks just fine. Again, I like your characterizations of Naeris a lot, and have some ideas for her future. *evil DM laugh* Awesome. A lot of damaging cantrips have the damage scaling. Chill Touch, Vicious Mockery and Shocking Grasp do as well. I was just not sure if they would work completely as normal since she got them through her Pact Boon rather than as normal spells. The book didn't really specify and I didn't want to assume just in case. At level 5, Naeris is going to be a monster, let me tell you. Only thing that's gonna hold her back is that sad, sad spell slot number. Well, I'm glad you like my characterizations and that they can get your brain juices flowing. I'm sure your ideas will spell a great deal of fun for everyone involved! xD I'm definitely enjoying Naeris a great deal myself.

Decided to switch out Frostbite for Minor Illusion. Me thinks I can get more interesting uses out of that one.

Shavix said: Decided to switch out Frostbite for Minor Illusion. Me thinks I can get more interesting uses out of that one. Seems more in character for Naeris, too!

I am going for the Champion Archetype. For not it just means i crit on 19.