Character's Name:  Sawbone
Class and Level:  Artificer (artillerist) 1
Background: Soldier
Player's Name: RLS
Race: Warforged, Envoy (original UA)
Alignment: Lawful Nuetral
Experience Points: 

Strength: 10 modifier:  0
Dexterity: 14 modifier:  +2.  +1race
Constitution: 16 modifier: +3.  +1race
Intelligence: 16 modifier: +3.  +1race
Wisdom: 10 modifier: 0
Charisma: 8  modifier: -1

Saving Throws: Str- 0 |Dex- +2 |*Con- 2+3=+5 |*Int- 2+3=+5 |Wis- 0 |Cha- -1
Inspiration: 
Armor Class: 13 AC Chain Shirt +2 Dex.Mod. +2 Shield +1 racial= 18 AC
Initiative: +2
Speed: 30

Hit Dice: 1d8+3   
Hit Points:  11
Temporary Hit Points: 
Death Saves- Successes __ __ __/failures __ __ __ 

Personality Traits: 1) War has stolen friends of both flesh and steel from me, why should I give you time when you might die tomorrow?  2) I can create a device to deal with any of life’s situations, just give me a few moments.
Ideals: You do you, I do me; no need to fight about it.
Bonds: Any being who fights at my side deserves my eventual respect, and maybe a gadget that’ll help me test them.
Flaws: Distracted easily, sometimes it lives in it's head when it is supposed to be keeping an eye out.  It's quirk of muttering to itself and working mentally on projects is a sign that Sawbone needs to be returned to the here and now.

Acrobatics: (dex)  +2 
Animal Handling (wis) 0
Arcana (int)  2+3=+5 
Athletics (str) 2+0=+2 
Deception (cha)  -1 
History (int)  +3
Insight (wis)  0       
Intimidation (cha) 2-1=+1 
Investigation (int) 2+3=+5   
Medicine (wis) 0 
Nature (int)  +3       
Perception (wis)  2+0=+2 
Performance (cha)  -1 
Persuasion (cha) -1 
Religion (int)  +3     
Sleight of Hand (dex)  +2 
Stealth (dex)  +2     
Survival (wis)  0 
Passive Perception:  13 

Proficiencies and Languages: +2 Proficiency Bonus.  (race) read, write, and speak Common.
Specialized Design- gain 1 skill Proficiency (Investigation (int)), 1 tool set Proficiency (Woodcarver's tools), and 1 language (Sedaran).  Integrated Tool= I have woodcarver’s tools integrated into my body, I double my proficiency bonus for any ability checks I use with these tools.
(class) Proficient with light armor, medium armor, and shield.  Proficient with simple weapons.  Proficient with thieves tools, tinker’s tools, and armorer’s tools.  Saving Throw Proficiencies= Constitution and Intelligence.  2Skills= Arcana, Perception.  (background) Skills- Athletics, and Intimidation.  Tool Proficiency Healer’s kit ???(instead of game set proficiency) Proficiency with land vehicle (wagon). 

Attacks and Spell casting: 
Weapon-  Attack bonus- Damage, damage type.
Spear- +2- 1d6, Piercing; versatile(1d8), Natatorial, Thrown (20/60)

Copper Pieces: 9
Silver Pieces: 3
Electrum Pieces:
Gold Pieces: 1
Platinum Pieces:
Gems and Jewels:

Equipment:
Item-  Price-  Weight-  Properties-  ||  Item- Price-  Weight-  Properties-
Arcanist Pack- 35gp- 8#- backpack 5#, 5candles 0#, tinderbox 1#, ^scroll case w/arcane diagrams 1#, ^wand 1#, ^and arcana lore book 5#.- |
Shield- 10gp- 6#- +2AC ||
Spear- 1gp- 3#- || Thieves’ Tools- 25gp- 1#- ||
Chain Shirt- 50gp- 20#- ||  ^Smith’s Tools- 20gp- 8#- ||
Smock/Apron- 1gp- 4#- || Chalk- 1cp- _ - ||
Candle Lantern- 2gp- 1#- || 50’ string- 1sp- 1#- ||
Mule- 8gp- self propelled cargo hauler (Items with ^ symbol are on mule- || ^Bit and Bridle- 2gp- 0.5#- ||
^Saddle Bags- 4gp- 8#- || Bottle of Ink- 10gp- - - ||
Parchment x5- 5sp- - - ||

Total cost_150gp__.  Total Weight Carried_42#_.  Carrying Capacity_150#_.  Push/drag_300#_.

Features and Traits: (race) ASI +1constitution.  Warforged Resilience- I have advantage on saving throws against being poisoned, and I have resistance to poison damage* I am immune to disease* I do not need to eat, drink, or breath* I don’t need to sleep and don’t suffer the effects of exhaustion due to lack of rest, and magic can’t put me to sleep.
Sentry’s Rest- When I take a long rest, I must spend at least six hours in an inactive motionless state, rather than sleeping.  In this state, I appear inert, but I am not rendered unconscious, and I can see and hear as normal.
Integrated Protection- (House Rule) Integrated Armor follows Ebberon Rising From the Ashes rules for integrated armor instead of UA rules (all other racial features follow UA guidelines)  +1 to AC.  Armor takes an hour to integrate and I have to be proficient with that armor, doffing that armor also takes an hour.
Subrace= Envoy- ASI= two ability scores of my choice each increase by +1 (Int and Dex)
(Class) HD= 1d8 + con.mod.  Magical Tinkering- (pg 12 TCE) make small items that can((1) snow globe) shed 5’+5’ light*((2) velvet ring box) emits a 6 second long recorded message that can be heard 10’ away* continuously emits a sound*((3) a small hand mirror that has Cora's face) a static visual effect; can indefinitely imbue a number of items equal to my intelligence modifier (3).  Spell casting- Tools Required= Use woodcarver’s tools as spell focus. Cantrips= 2 cantrips from artificer spell list.  Prep and casting of spells= can memorize a number of spells equal to Int. mod. (+3) plus ½ of my artificer level (minimum of 1, round down) (1) (3+1=4 spells.)  Can renew or change spell list after a long rest.  Spell Casting Ability= Intelligence is artificer spell ability.  Spells save DC= 8+ Proficiency bonus (+2) +Int.mod. (+3) 8+2+3=13.  Spell Attack Modifier= Proficiency bonus (+2) + Int.mod. (+3) 2+3=+5 to hit.  Ritual Casting= If I have a spell with the ritual tag memorized, I can cast that as a ritual spell without expending a spell slot (additional 10 minute casting time).
Warforged Quirk= Always muttering to itself and taking notes, seems confused or unhinged while talking about “her”.
(background)- Soldier- specialty = Healer/support staff (Sawbone was designated a special combat medic when they were not sure how to heal Warforged troops.).  Feature is Military rank- Master Sergeant! 

Description: A shallow brow ridge makes it look especially artificial, the glowing blue eyes look large and alien.  Sawbone has a slender build for a Warforged, but is not skinny.  It’s mass is brick red in tone, but the joints and highlights, even the sigils and magic symbols it sports, are bronze in color; somehow Sawbone’s color coordination looks off, the red and bronze clash.  Long creepy fingers seem to always be in motion, with spidery movements.  It may clean itself before resting, but within a few minutes of rising, it is tinkering and getting greasy and dirty.
Age: 5.5 (this model was an early design constructed while the siege was ongoing)
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 280#
Eye Color: Electric Blue
Skin: Red with bronze highlights.
Hair color: No hair
Looks: Sawbone’s oval face lacks so much definition that it seems alien to most living creatures.  It’s eyes dim or brighten to express emotions, but other than opening or closing it’s mouth, Sawbone cannot offer expressive cues as to it’s state of mind.

Infusions Known- 0
Infused items- 0
Spell Casting Class(es): Artificer (artillerist)
Spell Save DC: 8+2+3=13
Spell Attack Bonus:  2+3=+5
Spell Slots- 1st=2
Spell-  pg.- Concentration or ritual ||  Spell- pg.-concentration or ritual ||
(0) Fire Bolt- pg222 PHB- - ||(0) shocking Grasp- pg253 PHB- - ||
(1) Tasha’s Caustic Brew- pg115 TCE- C- ||
(1)Expeditious Retreat- pg218PHB- C- || (1) Detect Magic- pg212PHB- C,R-
(1)Alarm- pg192 PHB- R- ||

   

In other iterations of D&D polearm weapons had reach as well as an inability to attack foes within 5'. In 5E I see that the lance is the only reach weapon that has a disadvantage on adjacent (5') creatures. No other polearm states that in their information blocks, so does that mean they can be used at both 10' and 5' attack ranges? Thank you in advance for your time.

Starting 1/10/2021, we will be using Fantasy Grounds Unity (FGU) for our VTT. I was going to create a tutorial for installing FG Unity, but discovered that it would be reinventing the wheel...

Please download from the official site: https://www.fantasygrounds.com/home/home.php

There's an official tutorial video at https://www.fantasygrounds.com/home/QuickStartGuide.php, and install instructions at https://fantasygroundsunity.atlassian.ne...unds+Unity

Disregard the license key section of the instructions (since I will be hosting using available guest licenses), and skip to the Windows PC, Mac, or Linux Users instructions (depending on your OS).

When installing Unity, you'll want to install to a separate folder than your previous Fantasy Grounds directory.

For example, instead of the default folder C:\Program Files\SmiteWorks\Fantasy Grounds\, you'd want C:\Program Files\SmiteWorks\Fantasy Grounds Unity\

You'll want to do the same with the path for the data directory because changes caused by FGU may break the files for Fantasy Grounds Classic (FGC)

For example:
\[your user account]\AppData\Roaming\SmiteWorks\Fantasy Grounds Unity\

System Requirements

• OS: Windows 8+ (64-bit only), macOS 10.13+ (64-bit only), Ubuntu 16.04+ (64-bit only)
  
• Memory: 4GB min, 8GB recommended
  
• Disk: 2GB-20GB (depending on DLC purchases) - won't take much storage because I will be hosting the content.
  
• Graphics: DX10 support, Video memory (2GB min, 4GB recommended)
  

Among the treasure our party found were two lumps of lapis lazuli, Both Leiya Tevorova and Enkili Harbhamit Pesar Al Madii claim to have the origin story of these semi precious stones.  Here is the Mandagan version of the tale, with the Onastian version forthcoming from our young priestess.

This dark blue, gold flecked stone known as lapis lazuli is called the Tears of Ahme in Mandagar.  The tale as I learned it is thus:  Hamaam, who was made pure, in his long span had seven sons in the spring of his life, another seven sons in the summer, and finally seven sons when age began to slow the pure one, though he had no sons at all in his winter century.  Great nations did his children make, and Hamaam rejoiced as Makhim's promise came to be.

Of Hamaam's first seven sons there was one born who did not give onto Makhim and Ahme the devotion they were due.  This one was greedy and spiteful, robbing his brothers and sneering at the gods.  Makhim made for himself a human form and he came to the deserts to challenge this unrighteous son of Hamaam.  Having wrath towards all, this evil son smote Makhim with a weapon rather than listen to words of redemption.  Makhim feigned to fall before the earthly blow, but laid a curse upon the child of his creation to humble and teach him.

Not knowing her husbands plan, Ahme felt the sun falter where she resided in the mountains.  Word reached her that her great husband had been slain by the mortal son of Hamaam, and her anguish was great.  She, who is the best of wives wept, and her tears froze into the stone lapis lazuli and filled her chambers.  She took up her husbands sword, she took up her husbands shield, and she set upon the gates of the underworld to free Makhim from death.  Ahme refused to let her dead husband reside on the other side of the dark gates that lurk beneath the earth.

Makhim, who was watching the painful lessons of his curse upon the dark seventh son of Hamaam, learned of his dearest wife's intent, for all knowledge can be found by he whose bright eye and dim eye both watch all upon Erath.  Rather than let his beloved divine wife face that which lies under Erath, Makhim had to reveal his ruse in order to prevent Ahme her plan from being enacted.

Afterword, Mahkim was forced to directly smite the trespassing seventh son, and the devastation was such that many widows wailed to the heavens.  Ahme, who had just went through her own lamentation felt for these women and children, and she forbade her loving husband from laying them low.  The other sons of Hamaam the pure adopted these women into their own tribes, for their devotion to Makhim's wise laws were strong in the way they lived.  Seeing that the seed of the one they had made were righteous in heart and deed, Ahme bestowed her tears upon the face of the world.  By her word, lapis lazuli should be a mineral that can be used for all things beautiful.  So it is that all the peoples of Erath use lapis lazuli in their statues, in their inlays, in their jewelry, in paint and ink, and in the cosmetics that add allure to a woman's features.

   

   

   

Class Archetype:  Enkili/ Battle Master
3rd Level-  Hit Dice/ Hit Die Type- / 3 / 1d10+2
Hit Points gained= Hit Point Total ?
Proficiency Bonus=  +2
Features:  Martial Archetype (Battle Master), Student of War- choose an artisan tool set to become proficient in. (Caligrapher's Tools), Combat Superiority: (pg.68) Maneuvers 1) Precision attack, when I make a weapon attack roll against a creature, I can expend one superiority die to add it to the roll.  I can use this maneuver before or after making the attack roll, but before any effects of the attack are applied 2) Feinting attack, I can expend one superiority die and use a bonus action on my turn to feint, choosing one creature within 5 feet of me as my target.  I have advantage on my next attack roll against that creature.  If that attack hits, add the superiority die to the attacks damage roll. 3) Maneuvering Attack, When I hit a creature with a weapon attack, I can expend one superiority die to maneuver one of my comrades into a more advantageous position.  I add the superiority die roll to the weapon attack’s damage, and I choose one friendly creature who can see or hear me.  The creature can use it’s reaction to move up to half its speed without provoking attacks of opportunity from the target of my attack.
Superiority Dice: 4d8's plus 1d6 superiority die due to fighting style retcon.  Maneuver save DC = 8+2(proficiency bonus)+3(strength bonus)=13

Superior Technique gave Enkili the Distracting Attack Maneuver (retcon) as his 1st level fighting style.  Here is the text: Distracting Attack, When I hit a creature with a weapon attack, I can expend one superiority die to distract the creature, giving my allies an opening.  I add the superiority die to the attack’s damage roll.  The next attack roll against the target by an attacker other than me has advantage if the attack is made before the start of my next turn.

Downtime activity:1)Purchase a calligrapher's tool kit, if it is reasonably priced.  (Grrr.  Enkili Harbhamit Pesar Al Madii misses the days when money didn't seem to be an issue).  Price 10gp.  Weight 5#.  Purchase a chest to ride in the wagon, 5gp. 25#.  Purchase a lock for the chest, 10gp. 2#.  Training consumes 20 gold.
2) Research on "Darsta".  What was Darsta, where was Darsta, is our map real?  There are techniques from the calligrapher's tool proficiency that should give my investigations a boost.

   

I want to thank everyone for their patience with the hiatus we’ve taken from playing. The family and I are settling into our home well.

I’ll be using the final weekend of November to wrap up the moving and cleaning, and time permitting will working on some of our campaign projects.

As you know, Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything has come out and I purchased it in Fantasy Grounds and hardcopy form. After we wrap up our scenario in the Skulker’s Hideout, I would like to discuss some of the options available in the new supplement to see if there are any we collectively want to adopt.

Although the next scheduled game will be Sunday, December 13th at noon, I would like to offer an extra session on Saturday, December 5th for those interested.



Please post a reply or text whether you will be able to participate in either or both sessions.

I want to thank everyone for their patience with the hiatus we’ve taken from playing. The family and I are settling into our home well.

I’ll be using the final weekend of November to wrap up the moving and cleaning, and time permitting will working on some of our campaign projects.

As you know, Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything has come out and I purchased it in Fantasy Grounds and hardcopy form. After we wrap up our scenario in the Skulker’s Hideout, I would like to discuss some of the options available in the new supplement to see if there are any we collectively want to adopt.

The next scheduled game will be Sunday, December 6th at noon. Please post a reply or text whether you will be able to participate or not.


Please feel free to give suggestions or comments in the thread titled "The Care and Feeding of Your Game Session," located in the House Rules forum. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Please feel free to give suggestions or comments for improving the flow of our game sessions in this thread.

Since abandoning the unsuccessful Journals, I have decided that I would use my gaming notes to provide a highlight reel of our group's adventures.  This may help my fellows remember our place in the game now that we have transitioned to an every other week schedule.  Too my fellow players, please feel free to point out important details that I will, no doubt, leave out.  You guys will have a frame of reference and different focus than I have, and I would love knowing the game through your eyes... and so would the people who check out our forum sight.