It's been a while since I've run the Phandelver adventure, or run anything at all on Roll20. So in order to make sure everyone is well prepared I figured it'd be good to start this game on the 25th. Given that my daughter goes back to school this week, which means getting used to getting up earlier (5:30am) again, I don't regret that. But now that we have a full group, I'm itching to get going. I wasn't planning on doing much of an 'intro' sequence - I figured I'd gloss over it as a quick intro before getting you guys on the road to start the adventure. But given that we have an "inn" for you to play around in, and that you're supposed to be in/around Neverwinter, I figured we could use this extended pre-adventure time more productively by using it to give some more meat to the introduction of the adventure and give you guys a chance to introduce your characters to the group. I'm thinking along the lines of doing a 'play by mail' style back and forth - whether here in the forums or in the in game chat. No consequences or experience to be had, just plain RP to get introduced. Whoever's available and willing can talk or ask questions - whoever's not can catch up later. The setup being that you've heard from Gundren and he's asked you to meet him at this inn to discuss business. Gundren's running behind, so you'll spend a day or two just hanging around, meeting others that Gundren invited and just waiting for him to show up. Later in the week (in the real world) I'll have Gundren actually show up so you can interrogate him and get a good idea of where the scenario starts, rather than the rather cliched "so you're on the road protecting a caravan...". Another hope of mine with this is to keep us frosty. Two weeks of waiting can seem interminable so I don't want you guys to get bored before we even start! Let me know what you think - I'll work on getting an actual intro written up beyond the starter set's paragraph of flavor text. Also, inherent in all this, think about how your character knows Gundren and I'll try to incorporate those facts into the game. He could just know you by reputation and brought you on as a hired hand or he could be your third cousin twice removed - I just want to know who's who. Oh, and do any of you know about Factions in 5e? I think they're mostly used in the Adventurer's League, if you've played any of those events. If not, here's the info on them: <a href="http://dnd.wizards.com/dungeons-and-dragons/story/" rel="nofollow">http://dnd.wizards.com/dungeons-and-dragons/story/</a>... . In AL play I think you are expected to be a part of one of them? Anyway, it adds some RP value in having people you can contact for things or just an "in" with NPCs that are in the same faction or share goals with, etc. If you're interested, let me know. I'm ambivalent on it.
