You seem to have almost every class covered with the characters already in the game.
Hmmm...could you use another mage? And is my mage allowed a bow (to save on magic when a shot with an ordinary arrow would suffice).

I'll be whatever you want me to be though. If you need another cleric, that's cool. Because you can never have too many clerics when there's a tough battle haha.

Assassin sounds cool, too though.

There is room for whatever, although a third rougish player wouldn't be the best fit.  Then again, a mage makes three of those.  Best fit would be a fighter type, but whatever.  Honestly, you guys have to make it work.  The bases are covered, so I'll work with whatever.  When can you get it done by?

Are we headed into the Maw of the Blacktooth Ridge without a Ranger ???

Since there have been some questions about characters from sources outside the PH I want to comment on that briefly. 

First, I did say that most sources are available.  Just check with me first.  I said that and I'll stick by that even if D&D Beyond ends up with a few qeaknesses due to it.  We can work with it.

Second, the Blacktooth Ridge is technically set in a corner of the Forgotten Realms.  It is pretty traditional PH style D&D.  This means the world you are in will look a certain way and have certain expectations.

Third, these expectations may cause some issues for characters as they move through the world.  For example, in most worlds a Minotaur is a monstrous beast that attacks on sight.  But the Ravnica book allows minotaur characters.  If you tried to play one in the Forgotten Realms you could expect everyone to react to you as if you were a monstrous beast.  At least in some places.  This might be modified somewhat - we can work on adjustments if needed.  But I do want to point this out.  Standing out as different can be kinda cool and it can make life difficult. 

As an example, Tann's character of Steel is a warforged character from Eberron.  There are not a lot of those wandering around the Forgotten Realms.  He will likely get mistaken for a golem in some places.  Some people may not think he is a "person."  This is less likely to be an issue in bigger cites, but you are not starting in a city.  Who knows, maybe I'll make them more common in one area if the game goes long enough.  Still, this character isn't likely to be looked at as a monster - he won't get the minotaur treatment.  But people might think he belongs to the mage in the group. 

If you have questions, just ask.  In a world with 50 different intelligent races, a 51st wouldn't attract as much attention as one would in our world, but locals still expect their world to look a certain way.

In terms of party balance, we could definitely use another warrior. Somebody that's durable for the front lines. Since you've mentioned spells and bows, a Ranger could be a good fit. They make some of the best archers and you'll have access to some spellcasting as well. Depending on the race you select you might also be able to select/cast a cantrip. 

Thanks for clarifying the campaign details, Nomad. All good things to know. When do you need the final sheets ready? I basically am finished but need to add in the backstory details. Attending an academic conference this week, so would rather do that after it's done and I have mental power to spare. Thanks!

At this point the timeline is up to you guys - when do we have the characters done?

Hammer's Dok is almost done.  Most of those on D&D Beyond are done or close to it.  I guess my thought is this:

1.  I will make the first real post this weekend.  But it is just getting you guys into Botkinburg and, unless you decide to attack the town, doesn't require major action or character details.  But it allows us to start with the slightly slow intro and get things moving.

2.  Characters - if they can be done by this weekend, great.  But if not, that is fine.  Lets set a deadline of the following Saturday for the final details to be in. (July 4th, the birthday of our campaign!) 

The first posts you make will be some intro stuff and finding out about the town.  Not to worry if every details isn't worked out.  I am far more concerned about making sure your questions are answered and getting a good start then I am about hitting a specific dealine at this point.

 

I am researching the Spells to give you the Final List

Dok was on his way to Botkinburg via a Wagon Caravan of Merchants & Settlers as a Hired Healer & Protector after he was praying to Helm the God of Protection & he heard an audible voice say, "Botkinburg."

Looking forward to seeing how you write him into the Opening Post this weekend.

EDIT: Spell List sent to Nomad D2

Party could certainly use a second fighter of some form maybe even a paladin to get a second healer type as well but anything should work so choose a character you will enjoy playing.  

My character is set on AD&D Beyond so just waiting for a start at this point.  If it is OK I can post a little background as to how Hornet came to be in the town.  

Mischief and my character are ready to go except for adding gear so thats 3 1/2 characters ready  Once everyone whose in is in we can start.

So the party composition as far as combat/skills goes looks like:

2 Tanks (Steel and Dok... both high AC and a good deal of HP), one providing more consistent damage, one providing more healing/buffs. Neither one is super skillful (I'm using +5 as a benchmark. Steel has Athletics at +5 and a few more at +4, Dok has Insight and Medicine at +5)

2 Rogues (Silver and the Hornet), the swashbuckler focused around two-weapon fighting, the assassin focused around surprise. Either one, if they can set it up, dealing a good amount of damage. Both are a bit easier to hit and have about 2/3 the hit points of the tanks. Both more skillful than their tank buddies, both stealthy.

1 Wizard [Illusionist] (Soledad). I imagine the character will be mostly focused around battlefield control spells with ranged spell attacks. Not sure if her skills will focus mostly on knowledge/INT-based skills.

I'm probably going to land on a Warlock [Hexblade]... so spamming Eldritch Blast at range with decent damage, add a bit of utility spells and a bunch of face/social skills.

 

Other classes/subclasses that our party make-up would benefit from:

A Barbarian with either the Totem/Bear or Ancestral Guardian paths. The Ancestral Guardian path would play particularly well with the rogues in the group. The Bear path is super tanky. Play as a Human [Variant] and pick up either Polearm Master, Sentinel or Great Weapon Master (I'd go Sentinel probably). This would give us a tanky defender who makes sure that the enemies pay dearly if they decide to attack anyone but the Barbarian.

A Bard. Any of the subclasses would work. Mostly a support character (rather than direct damage), the bard has lots of buffs and debuffs. Lots of skills, especially if you want to mix social and stealth. Plus a little bit of extra healing between fights. Halfling [Lightfoot], Half-Elf or Human could all work.

A Paladin, especially with either the Conquest or Vengeance subclasses, would work great. Or you could multiclass it with Warlock [Hexblade] and keep it focused around Charisma... so Paladin 2 / Warlock 1 and pick up Eldritch Blast and Booming Blade, plus Hexblade's Curse and Hex and the paladin spell slots to smite would add a good amount of damage. Play as a Half-Elf, Human or maybe an Aasimar (any subrace, though Scourge has the best Warlock/Paladin attribute mix and Fallen has the best attribute mix for a straight Paladin.

A Ranger, especially the Gloom Stalker, would work well. The Gloom Stalker is invisible in darkness to those that use darkvision to see in the darkness. (Free invisibility in the dark, yes please!) The ambusher feature is similar to the Assassin's ability, making the party more likely to want to set you guys up to rain down pain on unsuspecting targets. The Hunter subclass could also work. 

I was going to suggest a direct damage sorcerer or wizard, especially one able to soft up multiple targets from range... but that doesn't really come online until 5th level.

Just some thoughts... . Really though, at 7 players, you could play anything.

Hope that helps dragon-soul92 reach an informed decision

Dragon-Soul,

I was mistaken... you could totally play a direct damage sorcerer. Sorcerer [Draconic bloodline] 3 and take the Quicken and/or Twinned Spell metamagic options. Either play as a human and grab Elemental Adept [Fire] as your feat, or play something else with a CHA/DEX bonus and get the feat at level 4.

Peace,

Ayrn

 

Sounds like some Exotic types of Warrior options to add to our Party!

Both characters ready to go. Mischief had a question.. If she joins D&D Beyond is there a way for me to transfer the character to her control? I personally don't know enough about the program to do so or at least I don't think I do 

I believe you can "unassign" the character from you in the campaign and then she can pick up it up.