Hi, First Time [Archive] - Wizards Community

Hi, First Time [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
lilrodie
04-18-07, 05:55 PM Hello, eveyone. I recently tried this games but became frustrated and quit after, 1. Not being able to make a charater correctly, and 2. Not finding anyone to play with. Well, recently i have conjured up a group who is willing, but I want to create a character. I will probably need help and I was wondering if anyone was up to the task. I will post as questions arise.

Thanks ahead of time.
lilrodie
04-18-07, 06:18 PM O.K. Thus far I do not believe I have messed up but so far I have the following information. Feel free to advise or tho flat out say that's wrong:

Character name: Eruanno Nandor
Class & Level: Ranger (1)
Race: Elf
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Diety: Ehlonna
Size: Medium
Age: 127
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 3''
weight: 160 lb
Eyes: Green
Hair: Golden
Skin: Fair

Now for ability scores.....

Str: 15 (with a +2 ability modifier)
Dex: 17 (originally 15 but with Elf racial of +2 it bumped up to 17 right?(ability modifier +3))
Con: 11 (originally 13 but ditto the Elf racial thing(ability modifier 0))
Int: 10 (AB: 0
Wis:14 (AB +2)
Cha: 10 (AB: 0)

Saving throws:

Fortitude: Total: +2= (Base:+2)(ability:0)
Reflex: Total +5= (Base:+2)(ability:+3)
Will: Total: +2=(Base:0)(abilty:+2)

Base attack Bonus: +1

Am I right with the details so far?
lilrodie
04-18-07, 06:20 PM also how do you figure HP?
Pegasos989
04-18-07, 06:20 PM Looks good so far. (Just a note though that you might want to go archery route with constitution 11...)

EDIT: Your HP is 8. You get 1d8 (+con modifier) hp at each ranger level (hit die d8). At first level character gets maxium hp so 8 (+0 con modifier)
CryoSilver
04-18-07, 06:21 PM Yep.

Any background?
Magrus
04-18-07, 06:21 PM Details look fine.

Standard for HP at 1st level is full dice + Con mod.

For your character, you have 8 HP.

Personally, I do the following when I DM for HP. Full first level, 1/2 + 1 each level after. So, for your character, I would 5 + Con mod each level after that. Not everyone does that however, it's just my personal house rule. Makes it so my players don't play whiny, frightened characters regularly.
lilrodie
04-18-07, 06:24 PM lol wow, I feel swamped.... ugh... whats next? Skills? I will look through in the meantime... any suggestions? also Pegasos989 I planned to go with archery.
Pegasos989
04-18-07, 06:27 PM lol wow, I feel swamped.... ugh... whats next? Skills? I will look through in the meantime... any suggestions? also Pegasos989 I planned to go with archery.

Well, first level feat precise shot (as it is prequisite for so many other archery feat) would be a decent choice. And skill points... You have (4+int mod)*4, so 16 skill points. No skill with more points than 4... Just choose 4 class skills and 4 ranks to each. Spot, listen, hide and move silently if scout type. Survival, swim, etc. if wilderness ranger type...
lilrodie
04-18-07, 06:29 PM In my Player's guide Vol. 3.5 It says Rangers get (6+int)*4 so it would be 32 Am I wrong in thinking this?
CryoSilver
04-18-07, 06:30 PM Hide, Spot and Survival are gimmes, as is Knowledge (nature).
lilrodie
04-18-07, 06:39 PM I'm confused as to whether it is (4+int)*4 or (6+int)*4?
CryoSilver
04-18-07, 06:41 PM 6+
Droma
04-18-07, 06:43 PM In my Player's guide Vol. 3.5 It says Rangers get (6+int)*4 so it would be 32 Am I wrong in thinking this?

Rangers in 3.5 do have 6+ int mod skill points. So at first level your ranger has (6+0)*4 skill points. So it would actually be 24 skill points at first level. I believe you accidentally added your wisdom modifier instead of your intelligence modifier.
Pegasos989
04-18-07, 06:50 PM Oh, right. My bad. Yeah, (6+int)*4 it is...
lilrodie
04-18-07, 06:57 PM O.K. i chose the following: format: Total=(Ability modifier)+(Ranks)+(Misc. modifier)

Climb: +4=(+2)+(+2)+(0)
Concentration: +4=(0)+(+4)+(0)
Heal: +6=(+2)+(+4)+(0)
Hide: +7=(+3)+(4)+(0)
Knowledge(nature): +3=(0)+(+3)+(0)
Listen: +7=(+2)+(+1)+(+4)
Search: +5=(0)+(+3)+(+2)
Spot: +7=(+2)+(+1)+(+4)
Survival: +5=(+2)+(+1)+(+2)

Is everything right?
red_scare87
04-18-07, 08:37 PM I counted only 23 skill points being spent instead of 24. I could've just counted wrong though.
PwnageLlama
04-18-07, 08:46 PM I counted 23, too.
Magrus
04-18-07, 08:50 PM Only 23. Add 1 more rank in something.

For feats, Point Blank Shot would be the suggestion I have. It's necessary to get the archery feats like Precise shot and all. Good for using a minor bonus when shooting a bow at targets within 30 feet too.
Kouk
04-18-07, 09:04 PM Just to make sure, did you generate those stats with the DM? Making them yourself can be a good exercise in character creation, but most DMs want to see you roll it just to avoid possible discrepancies.
jeffseadot
04-18-07, 09:13 PM Everything you've written so far is accurate. Point Blank Shot is 100% the first feat you should take, followed by Precise Shot at 3rd level. You've got some wiggle room with your skills, so I would hold off on those until you have a better idea of what the other players are doing.

A few skills you absolutely should put ranks into:

Survival
Spot
Listen
Knowledge (nature)
Knowledge (geography)
Knowledge (dungeoneering)
Hide
Move Silently
Tumble

All of those are class skills except tumble, but trust me when I say that you want at least one rank in tumble. I'm currently playing an elf archer-ranger, and the one rank I put into tumble is paying off immensely. Knowledge (nature) is probably going to come up more than the other two, but it's always nice to have one rank in whatever knowledges you have access to. In fact, a good rule of thumb for you to follow when picking skills is that you're better off having ranks in something and never using it than you are not having ranks in something and needing to use it. Especially keep an eye on skills you can't use untrained; if you've got a point or two to throw around you should absolutely open up those doors for yourself (like with the knowledge skills and tumble). I really don't think you need any ranks in concentration, so I would remove those to put one rank each into knowledge (dungeoneering), knowledge (geography), and tumble (which costs two points for one rank)

Also, you should spend the extra money for a composite bow when you get the chance, and you should also spend some money on a melee weapon (again, better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it). Buy more arrows than you think you'll need, because you never know how quickly you'll go through them or when you'll be able to buy more. Keep some bowstrings around; the DM might occasionally have them snap if you roll a natural 1 on an attack roll. Don't buy armor that will impose an armor check penalty on skill use.

Once you start getting spells, I highly recommend having hunter's mercy on hand at all times. It's in the Spell Compendium and probably one other book. It'll make crazy things happen.

That's about all the wisdom I can impart for now. Good luck and have fun!
_Jayne_Cobb_
04-19-07, 12:12 PM If you are unaware of basic informationsuch as calculating starting hit points I can only assume you have not fully read the PHB, or even the chapter on character creation, correct? My advice would be to do so. Don't feel you need to memorize the whole thing, just become familiar with the concepts and core mechanics.

If you wish for a simpler entry into the game, try the D&D Basic Game. It is a good intro to the rules and system…and it comes with miniatures! :)

You may also wish to look into D&D for Dummies. It does a very good job of explaining D&D and the concepts therein in a less technicaly overwhelming manner than the rules themselves.

Good luck.
Puca
04-19-07, 12:37 PM From a mechanical, "putting the character together" standpoint, you are doing great.

There are a couple questions about your skills:

Listen: +7=(+2)+(+1)+(+4)
Spot: +7=(+2)+(+1)+(+4)
Survival: +5=(+2)+(+1)+(+2)You have +4 miscellaneous modifiers to Listen and Spot. A +2 to Survival.

Elves get a +2 racial to Listen and Spot, so for each of those skills, you seem to be adding a +2 and I dont know where it is coming from.

I suspect you are adding your “Favored Enemy Bonus.”

This bonus only works for favored enemies. For example, if your favored enemy was orcs, and a goblin was hiding in the woods, your modifier to the Spot check would be +5. If it was an orc, it would be +7 because you know a lot about them (i.e., you apply the Favored Enemy Bonus.)

When preparing the sheet with all your skills, do not include special conditional bonuses like this. Make a note of it somewhere, and keep your DM advised of the conditions under which they apply.

Like I said before, you are doing great.
Get some weapons and armor and post your AC and all that so we can check it out.
lilrodie
04-19-07, 06:06 PM the total +4 thing is the +2 for elves overlaping with +2 for rangers.... Am I wrong in doing this? I have read the PHB but it is so mixed up and explain one thing here where it shouldn't be ect. that I am completely lost I think I might have things together for the most part. I will scan the page and put it on photo bucket or something and you tell me if I have any mistakes or should add anything. Thanks.....
lilrodie
04-19-07, 06:19 PM http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/lilrodie/FEATSGEARPC.gif

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/lilrodie/CHARAaERNAMEPL.gif
Zankue
04-19-07, 06:38 PM I can't see it too well, but I think you forgot to put the attack bonus for your weapons on it, just in case you don't know how to calculate it, it's (for melee weapons) strength mod + base attack bonus (and for ranged it's) Dexterity mod + base attack bonus. This is used for determining weather or not you hit your enemy, you calculate that by rolling 1d20 and adding the attack bonus of the weapon, man I remember the days when I was making my first character... good times, good times
Puca
04-20-07, 09:56 AM the total +4 thing is the +2 for elves overlaping with +2 for rangers.... Am I wrong in doing this? I have read the PHB but it is so mixed up and explain one thing here where it shouldn't be ect. that I am completely lost I think I might have things together for the most part. I will scan the page and put it on photo bucket or something and you tell me if I have any mistakes or should add anything. Thanks.....Elves get +2 to Listen and Spot. As long as they are an elf, they get it.

Rangers get +2 to certain, specific Spot and Listen checks, as well as to certain Bluff, Sense Motive, and Survival checks, but they only get this extra +2, which stacks* with the +2 for being an elf, but it only applies when the ranger is dealing with his favored enemy.

*Quick D&D vocab lesson: Stacking and overlapping.
Stacking means adding together.
Overlapping means not adding together.

D&D is filled with bonuses. Like look at AC: You can get an Armor Bonus, a Shield Bonus, a Dex Bonus, a Deflection Bonus, a Natural Armor Bonus, a Dodge Bonus, and a Size Modifier.

All of these bonus stack, meaning I get to add them together to derive my AC.

As a general rule, and with a couple of exceptions, bonuses with different names stack.

An armor bonus is different than a shield bonus. If I were wearing leather armor and carrying a buckler, my AC would be 13 (10 + 2 Armor Bonus for the Leather +1 Shield Bonus for the buckler.) Stacked.

Now, lets say the party sorcerer cast Mage Armor on me. This spell provides a +4 Armor Bonus. My AC would be 15.

10 + 4 Armor Bonus + 1 Shield Bonus.
But what about the +2 from my leather armor?
The Armor Bonus from the spell and the Armor Bonus from the armor overlap. They are both still there, but only the higher number counts.

P.S. I tried to read your posted character sheet, but, and maybe I just dont have a good resolution, but I couldnt read the pencil marks.

Surely not for my sake, but if you plan on posting a lot of character sheets on-line, you could try using something like this: http://www.thetangledweb.net/profiler/

You can link people to a Read Only version of your character sheet.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
lilrodie 04-18-07, 05:55 PM	Hello, eveyone. I recently tried this games but became frustrated and quit after, 1. Not being able to make a charater correctly, and 2. Not finding anyone to play with. Well, recently i have conjured up a group who is willing, but I want to create a character. I will probably need help and I was wondering if anyone was up to the task. I will post as questions arise. Thanks ahead of time.
lilrodie 04-18-07, 06:18 PM	O.K. Thus far I do not believe I have messed up but so far I have the following information. Feel free to advise or tho flat out say that's wrong: Character name: Eruanno Nandor Class & Level: Ranger (1) Race: Elf Alignment: Chaotic Good Diety: Ehlonna Size: Medium Age: 127 Gender: Male Height: 5' 3'' weight: 160 lb Eyes: Green Hair: Golden Skin: Fair Now for ability scores..... Str: 15 (with a +2 ability modifier) Dex: 17 (originally 15 but with Elf racial of +2 it bumped up to 17 right?(ability modifier +3)) Con: 11 (originally 13 but ditto the Elf racial thing(ability modifier 0)) Int: 10 (AB: 0 Wis:14 (AB +2) Cha: 10 (AB: 0) Saving throws: Fortitude: Total: +2= (Base:+2)(ability:0) Reflex: Total +5= (Base:+2)(ability:+3) Will: Total: +2=(Base:0)(abilty:+2) Base attack Bonus: +1 Am I right with the details so far?
lilrodie 04-18-07, 06:20 PM	also how do you figure HP?
Pegasos989 04-18-07, 06:20 PM	Looks good so far. (Just a note though that you might want to go archery route with constitution 11...) EDIT: Your HP is 8. You get 1d8 (+con modifier) hp at each ranger level (hit die d8). At first level character gets maxium hp so 8 (+0 con modifier)
CryoSilver 04-18-07, 06:21 PM	Yep. Any background?
Magrus 04-18-07, 06:21 PM	Details look fine. Standard for HP at 1st level is full dice + Con mod. For your character, you have 8 HP. Personally, I do the following when I DM for HP. Full first level, 1/2 + 1 each level after. So, for your character, I would 5 + Con mod each level after that. Not everyone does that however, it's just my personal house rule. Makes it so my players don't play whiny, frightened characters regularly.
lilrodie 04-18-07, 06:24 PM	lol wow, I feel swamped.... ugh... whats next? Skills? I will look through in the meantime... any suggestions? also Pegasos989 I planned to go with archery.
Pegasos989 04-18-07, 06:27 PM	lol wow, I feel swamped.... ugh... whats next? Skills? I will look through in the meantime... any suggestions? also Pegasos989 I planned to go with archery. Well, first level feat precise shot (as it is prequisite for so many other archery feat) would be a decent choice. And skill points... You have (4+int mod)*4, so 16 skill points. No skill with more points than 4... Just choose 4 class skills and 4 ranks to each. Spot, listen, hide and move silently if scout type. Survival, swim, etc. if wilderness ranger type...
lilrodie 04-18-07, 06:29 PM	In my Player's guide Vol. 3.5 It says Rangers get (6+int)*4 so it would be 32 Am I wrong in thinking this?
CryoSilver 04-18-07, 06:30 PM	Hide, Spot and Survival are gimmes, as is Knowledge (nature).
lilrodie 04-18-07, 06:39 PM	I'm confused as to whether it is (4+int)4 or (6+int)4?
CryoSilver 04-18-07, 06:41 PM	6+
Droma 04-18-07, 06:43 PM	In my Player's guide Vol. 3.5 It says Rangers get (6+int)4 so it would be 32 Am I wrong in thinking this? Rangers in 3.5 do have 6+ int mod skill points. So at first level your ranger has (6+0)4 skill points. So it would actually be 24 skill points at first level. I believe you accidentally added your wisdom modifier instead of your intelligence modifier.
Pegasos989 04-18-07, 06:50 PM	Oh, right. My bad. Yeah, (6+int)*4 it is...
lilrodie 04-18-07, 06:57 PM	O.K. i chose the following: format: Total=(Ability modifier)+(Ranks)+(Misc. modifier) Climb: +4=(+2)+(+2)+(0) Concentration: +4=(0)+(+4)+(0) Heal: +6=(+2)+(+4)+(0) Hide: +7=(+3)+(4)+(0) Knowledge(nature): +3=(0)+(+3)+(0) Listen: +7=(+2)+(+1)+(+4) Search: +5=(0)+(+3)+(+2) Spot: +7=(+2)+(+1)+(+4) Survival: +5=(+2)+(+1)+(+2) Is everything right?
red_scare87 04-18-07, 08:37 PM	I counted only 23 skill points being spent instead of 24. I could've just counted wrong though.
PwnageLlama 04-18-07, 08:46 PM	I counted 23, too.
Magrus 04-18-07, 08:50 PM	Only 23. Add 1 more rank in something. For feats, Point Blank Shot would be the suggestion I have. It's necessary to get the archery feats like Precise shot and all. Good for using a minor bonus when shooting a bow at targets within 30 feet too.
Kouk 04-18-07, 09:04 PM	Just to make sure, did you generate those stats with the DM? Making them yourself can be a good exercise in character creation, but most DMs want to see you roll it just to avoid possible discrepancies.
jeffseadot 04-18-07, 09:13 PM	Everything you've written so far is accurate. Point Blank Shot is 100% the first feat you should take, followed by Precise Shot at 3rd level. You've got some wiggle room with your skills, so I would hold off on those until you have a better idea of what the other players are doing. A few skills you absolutely should put ranks into: Survival Spot Listen Knowledge (nature) Knowledge (geography) Knowledge (dungeoneering) Hide Move Silently Tumble All of those are class skills except tumble, but trust me when I say that you want at least one rank in tumble. I'm currently playing an elf archer-ranger, and the one rank I put into tumble is paying off immensely. Knowledge (nature) is probably going to come up more than the other two, but it's always nice to have one rank in whatever knowledges you have access to. In fact, a good rule of thumb for you to follow when picking skills is that you're better off having ranks in something and never using it than you are not having ranks in something and needing to use it. Especially keep an eye on skills you can't use untrained; if you've got a point or two to throw around you should absolutely open up those doors for yourself (like with the knowledge skills and tumble). I really don't think you need any ranks in concentration, so I would remove those to put one rank each into knowledge (dungeoneering), knowledge (geography), and tumble (which costs two points for one rank) Also, you should spend the extra money for a composite bow when you get the chance, and you should also spend some money on a melee weapon (again, better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it). Buy more arrows than you think you'll need, because you never know how quickly you'll go through them or when you'll be able to buy more. Keep some bowstrings around; the DM might occasionally have them snap if you roll a natural 1 on an attack roll. Don't buy armor that will impose an armor check penalty on skill use. Once you start getting spells, I highly recommend having hunter's mercy on hand at all times. It's in the Spell Compendium and probably one other book. It'll make crazy things happen. That's about all the wisdom I can impart for now. Good luck and have fun!
_Jayne_Cobb_ 04-19-07, 12:12 PM	If you are unaware of basic informationsuch as calculating starting hit points I can only assume you have not fully read the PHB, or even the chapter on character creation, correct? My advice would be to do so. Don't feel you need to memorize the whole thing, just become familiar with the concepts and core mechanics. If you wish for a simpler entry into the game, try the D&D Basic Game. It is a good intro to the rules and system…and it comes with miniatures! :) You may also wish to look into D&D for Dummies. It does a very good job of explaining D&D and the concepts therein in a less technicaly overwhelming manner than the rules themselves. Good luck.
Puca 04-19-07, 12:37 PM	From a mechanical, "putting the character together" standpoint, you are doing great. There are a couple questions about your skills: Listen: +7=(+2)+(+1)+(+4) Spot: +7=(+2)+(+1)+(+4) Survival: +5=(+2)+(+1)+(+2)You have +4 miscellaneous modifiers to Listen and Spot. A +2 to Survival. Elves get a +2 racial to Listen and Spot, so for each of those skills, you seem to be adding a +2 and I dont know where it is coming from. I suspect you are adding your “Favored Enemy Bonus.” This bonus only works for favored enemies. For example, if your favored enemy was orcs, and a goblin was hiding in the woods, your modifier to the Spot check would be +5. If it was an orc, it would be +7 because you know a lot about them (i.e., you apply the Favored Enemy Bonus.) When preparing the sheet with all your skills, do not include special conditional bonuses like this. Make a note of it somewhere, and keep your DM advised of the conditions under which they apply. Like I said before, you are doing great. Get some weapons and armor and post your AC and all that so we can check it out.
lilrodie 04-19-07, 06:06 PM	the total +4 thing is the +2 for elves overlaping with +2 for rangers.... Am I wrong in doing this? I have read the PHB but it is so mixed up and explain one thing here where it shouldn't be ect. that I am completely lost I think I might have things together for the most part. I will scan the page and put it on photo bucket or something and you tell me if I have any mistakes or should add anything. Thanks.....
lilrodie 04-19-07, 06:19 PM	http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/lilrodie/FEATSGEARPC.gif http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/lilrodie/CHARAaERNAMEPL.gif
Zankue 04-19-07, 06:38 PM	I can't see it too well, but I think you forgot to put the attack bonus for your weapons on it, just in case you don't know how to calculate it, it's (for melee weapons) strength mod + base attack bonus (and for ranged it's) Dexterity mod + base attack bonus. This is used for determining weather or not you hit your enemy, you calculate that by rolling 1d20 and adding the attack bonus of the weapon, man I remember the days when I was making my first character... good times, good times
Puca 04-20-07, 09:56 AM	the total +4 thing is the +2 for elves overlaping with +2 for rangers.... Am I wrong in doing this? I have read the PHB but it is so mixed up and explain one thing here where it shouldn't be ect. that I am completely lost I think I might have things together for the most part. I will scan the page and put it on photo bucket or something and you tell me if I have any mistakes or should add anything. Thanks.....Elves get +2 to Listen and Spot. As long as they are an elf, they get it. Rangers get +2 to certain, specific Spot and Listen checks, as well as to certain Bluff, Sense Motive, and Survival checks, but they only get this extra +2, which stacks* with the +2 for being an elf, but it only applies when the ranger is dealing with his favored enemy. *Quick D&D vocab lesson: Stacking and overlapping. Stacking means adding together. Overlapping means not adding together. D&D is filled with bonuses. Like look at AC: You can get an Armor Bonus, a Shield Bonus, a Dex Bonus, a Deflection Bonus, a Natural Armor Bonus, a Dodge Bonus, and a Size Modifier. All of these bonus stack, meaning I get to add them together to derive my AC. As a general rule, and with a couple of exceptions, bonuses with different names stack. An armor bonus is different than a shield bonus. If I were wearing leather armor and carrying a buckler, my AC would be 13 (10 + 2 Armor Bonus for the Leather +1 Shield Bonus for the buckler.) Stacked. Now, lets say the party sorcerer cast Mage Armor on me. This spell provides a +4 Armor Bonus. My AC would be 15. 10 + 4 Armor Bonus + 1 Shield Bonus. But what about the +2 from my leather armor? The Armor Bonus from the spell and the Armor Bonus from the armor overlap. They are both still there, but only the higher number counts. P.S. I tried to read your posted character sheet, but, and maybe I just dont have a good resolution, but I couldnt read the pencil marks. Surely not for my sake, but if you plan on posting a lot of character sheets on-line, you could try using something like this: http://www.thetangledweb.net/profiler/ You can link people to a Read Only version of your character sheet.