Character Creation and House Rules

In the game you will be playing as stated before the era is one in which the gods have turned their backs on mortals.  At least that is the common belief.  All characters are start at 1st level with zero experience.  No race that has level adjustments will be allowed as a choice for player characters. Dark Dwarves are not allowed. Players are not to reveal their character’s alignment, EVER!  While I place no restrictions on alignment.  All characters must be characters that others would want to look partner with and must continue to provide more benefit as an associate than problems. Divine Spells and Divine abilities granted by deities do not function.  As the gods are man made or not even revered. The game will begin on the continent of Ansalon.  I will I’ll post my house rules later, I call it the “Hidden Gaming System.”  Stay tunes.

This is going to be a lot of fun! Will one of the players have the possibility to change into cleric later? Feel free to delete this, if this is too much of a spoiler. I am a little concerned with game balance though. If certain items and spells aren't available, it can make it much more difficult to play certain classes. Hopefully this has been thought out. I don't mind real gritty *count your hps gained from sleeping* sort of games, it's just that the normal high pace of play (multiple encounters per day) becomes MUCH more lethal for certain classes if downtime healing isn't available.

All I will say is in this game the players are the heroes, and as in the Chronicles they will bear the burden of “bringing” the gods back to the world.  Just as their was the Blue Crystal Staff, there will be an opportunity for a player of either a Cleric or Druidic class (which they can change to later; multi-class) to be the groups equivalent to a Goldmoon. 😊

I can use the dragonlance 3.5 core book to make my character, and I'm still new to 3.5 so I will need help, well maybe.

Okay, just let me know.  The only books a player should ever need for this campaign is the Player Handbook, the Dragonlance Setting Book (it is purple), the War of the Lance Book, all 3.5 edition books.  Other books that some players may find useful are the Heroes Builder Guide and the Arms and Equipment Guide.

Do you have any particular hangups about Bards with this game setting? I have an idea for a character I've always wanted to try, and I feel as though this campaign would be perfect 

Cristian M. said: Do you have any particular hangups about Bards with this game setting? I have an idea for a character I've always wanted to try, and I feel as though this campaign would be perfect  Concerning bards: Since there are no sorcerers bards are in this age have no access to spells (nor do they have access to lore that specifically deals with magical knowledge only known by those of the Tower of High Sorcery.  If you can deal with the restrictions to magic for the bard, then you are welcome to create a bard.  Subject to approval.  (Certain races I will not allow as PC bards).

Inspirations would still work as would music? Sorry, I'm accustomed to 3.5e bards which I know were magic music based, wheras 5e bards seem to be more of a mental affect. I just want to understand before I delve into heavy character creation. 

No problem on the questions that is how you can be informed:  I am going to change a bit of what I said earlier, but hope I cover your questions as well. (Disregard what I wrote previously and go by the following instead): The only ability restricted to bards in the Age of Despair is Arcane Sorcery (yes, as I stated earlier), but they will have access to Wizard Arcane spells (cast like a wizard, must prepare in advance, and study from a book/ scrolls).  These spells must come from the Bard Spell List, and they are limited to spells of the 2nd level or lower; as to not completely take bards away from casting spells).  The character will use the Bard Spells Known Table 5-3 & Spells per day table 3-4 (pages 27 and 28 of the PHB).  Spells must be taught, they will not come by new spells automatically (usually learned from another bard).  To learn spells of 3rd level or higher would require the bard to take the test of High Sorcery or be labelled a renegade.  If any renegade bards exists and rather or not they are willing to teach another their spells is unknown,  Though there may be the rare rumor.  Most bards pass on taking the test (in fact it is unheard of a bard ever taking the test, let alone passing it). I decided to allow the bard in this way after reading up on a few more things (researching).  So basically as written now the only real restrictions are concerning how they learn/ cast spells and to what level they can freely learn spells, without difficulty or risk. All other abilities follow the PHB exactly, this includes Bardic Knowledge and Bardic Music abilities.   Hope that answers your question(s) or thoughts in full.

It absolutely does! So the bard has the restriction to arcane sorcery in that instant spell casting is switched out for prepared and ritual casting, and even then only under 2nd level. That doesn't sound too bad at all! I'll pm you with an idea of the character to see what you think, and do rolls accordingly!

Okay thanks for the reply (that was quick).  The rest of what you wrote sounds good.