If you've found your way here you're an adventurer in search of their next quest. In these pages you'll find all of the resources needed for character creation in a Brighthall Tavern game. Do not let these resources overwhelm you. There are alot - they have been compiled over a few years and we will go over all of this together during Session 0. If you're experienced with A5e character creation you know that it can be overwhelming, and that's okay. The Foundry System will do a great job of helping us out with the process and I will be there to guide you the whole way of course!
Level Up: Advanced 5e (A5e) is a supplement for the Original 5e (O5e) that adds some additional options and complexity to the game. When you're at the table A5e runs nearly the same as O5e, with some additional options added on. The majority of the differences come in Character Creation. The design intent behind A5e was to fix the following:
In O5e martial classes tend to get outshined by casting classes pretty quickly. Casters continually get new and interesting options in combat, while Martial Classes are doing the same attack (just more times) every turn. A5e attempted to fix this using Maneuvers, similar to the Battlemaster in O5e all Martial Classes gain access to Maneuvers that give them special options in combat that otherwise wouldn't be available to them.
O5e was designed with 3 pillars of play in mind: Combat, Exploration, and Roleplay. Combat got fleshed out heavily in the O5e rules, but Exploration and Roleplay didn't really get expanded upon very well. While Roleplay doesn't need rules to make it work, some additional abilities tied to roleplay could be nice. To that end, A5e reworked the Exploration system entirely and now players get Roleplaying abilities that give them unique things they have access to like contacts and resources that are built into the character via character creation and progression. Obviously even in O5e, a GM could give these resources to their players, but it's nice that it is built in and actually helps to fix the third thing they set out to resolve.
O5e has an issue where some classes have levels where nothing interesting happens for their character. Level 2 is a dead level for most classes. So in A5e, they have replaced those dead levels with levels that give more abilities related to the Social Interaction pillar and the Exploration pillar of DnD that give your character new and interesting things to do.
As I said the main differences between A5e and O5e come from Character Creation and the options available to characters. Due to these differences, unfortunately, DnDBeyond is not available. The Foundry system we use does a great job of making this easier by just allowing you to drag and drop the document you need and it automatically applies all effects it should. For instance a Dwarf will be automatically given it's darkvision and 25ft. movement speed.
Follow the links below to check out the different character creation options. Everything is a work in progress so please, don't mind the dirt as we finish populating the wiki and getting it all in tip top shape.
The system says to start with Heritages when thinking about your character - I think that's a fools errand. The better place to start is with choosing your class. This will help inform you what might synergize with heritage, culture, and background abilities! See more.
Characters in the world belong to a heritage which includes certain biological characteristics and defines some aspects of their physical appearance. Other things, such as a character’s speed and size, are also derived from their heritage. While a heritage may be a factor in your character’s story, that’s just the beginning. Who they are is defined by the experiences and the actions that lead them to where they are now. See more.
Your character’s culture details the society and circumstances that helped shape who they are. This provides a number of traits including proficiencies, languages, and other benefits related to the culture that influenced their development. One of the key things to keep in mind during character creation is that culture options are universal and aren’t limited to specific heritages. This opens up a number of fun and interesting options and opportunities for your creativity to color outside of the lines! See more.
What did you do before you took up your adventuring career? Were you a mercenary? A weaver? A street performer? Although you no longer follow your old trade, your background provides you with ability score bonuses, skills, and other benefits that will serve you in your coming adventures. If your background provides a skill or tool proficiency you already have from another source, you can instead gain a different proficiency of the same type. Also be sure to inform your Narrator of your connection (the person from your backstory provided by your background). Your past may not be done with you yet! See more.
A wizard pores over arcane texts to unearth funda mental truths of the universe. A rogue pursues the allure of glittering gold, determined to live wealthy or die trying. A herald undertakes an impossible charge, resolute in defending their king and country from threats of unimaginable scale. Every hero has something that drives them forward, an inner spark or outward goal that compels them to risk everything for a life of adventure. Choosing a destiny provides important roleplaying cues and features that help shape your character’s identity. Why are they an adventurer? What drives them into a life of danger? Is destiny thrust upon them by circumstance, or do they have a burning desire for a future they wish to claim for their own? See more.