Player Handout
Welcome to the game!
The Bismarck Community D&D Game is very open, drop in/drop out, low stakes, and meant to be a place to gather. If you can make it to the store, you can join the game! While in this community you will be asked to follow our community rules. If the rules are frequently broken you may be asked to leave the game. The biggest thing to keep in mind here is that this is a public game. While we try to provide a fun experience, this is meant to be a very casual game. We want you to feel comfortable dropping in and out as you wish, and not worry about missing a game. The intent of this game is to give people an option for play when a home game can't be found. If you want a rich plot that explores your character's backstory while building connection between characters in a party, you're looking for a home game. We do expect everyone to respect the other players and DM's including their unconventional builds and characters.
Digital resources
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A digital version of this sheet can be found at: https://www.gmbinder.com/share/-LwB9UAqstxlQi3OOlv8
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The facebook group is: D&D in Bismarck, ND - https://www.facebook.com/groups/DnDBismarck
Getting into the game
This is a great place to learn the game, and learn what makes a good character, or bad character. Remember that just because you have a character this does not guarantee they will survive, or that you can dictate how they enter the world without consequence. Here's things to keep in mind as you come up with how to introduce your character.
- Due to the nature of the game the bar for acceptance is pretty low. If you show up, and your character is "just there" and you're not posing any threat. That's more than enough in most contexts.
- Counter to this, the level of caring about your character that will be done in the first minutes is also low. If you look like the bad guy, or an enemy, you will be attacked, though the DM can and probably should intervene.
- Don't be "That Guy" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdC_uHqXQzs&feature=youtu.be&t=848
- Don't be a "Mary Sue" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Sue
Donation Policy
At the game there should be a box for donations. All donations to the public game go to the store. We don't require anyone to pay to play, but it is appreciated. We wouldn't have somewhere to play if it wasn't for the store!
The Community Rules
- Respect your DM.
Remember that everyone running this game is volunteering their time, effort and patience for you. No one is paid to DM, or create content and their effort can not be overstated. Your DM's rulings are final and we trust their judgement. - Respect your fellow Players.
You are not the only player at the table, try to have patience for others or help them when they need it. We want to build a community, and that means getting along. If a player is uncomfortable with a play style or action, do not push them. - Respect the game.
You cannot help others unless you help yourself. We accept new players and want to be as helpful as possible, however it is still your responsibility to learn this game. If you need help, the DMs have plenty of resources to guide you on your way. - Respect the community.
Part of keeping this game going is keeping the community strong. Each of you has an effect on this group as a whole. Help set up before the game, help tear down after the game, have good manners, have good hygiene (if we can smell you, it's a problem, no excuses), clean up after your self, take care of the store. Be a benefit or at the very least don't be a burden to the community. - Know your character.
As important as knowing the rules of the game, you should know how your character works, what their abilities are, what your spells are, and how all of those pieces work, to the best of your ability. It is not the DM's job to know how your character works. There are too many people to keep track of who is playing what.
- Be a part of your party.
Your character should not be actively making problems for the party. Fun rivalries are fine, but remember that not everyone can perfectly remove themselves from their characters. This game is a team effort, support your team. - Be attentive.
Just because it is not your turn does not mean you shouldn't be present. A large part of being in a party is knowing what they are doing. You cannot act in a fight or interact with a puzzle if you don't pay attention. - Be efficient.
This ties everything together. If you know the rules, know your character, and have been paying attention, you should be able to act quickly. This means that more game can be played and the game runs smoothly. - Remember where you are.
This is the public game, here for casual fun, and to fill the gaps between your other games. Find players for your home game here and make friends. Feel free to miss games for important events, and home games. We appreciate everyone who comes regularly but want no one to feel guilty for missing. - Have fun!
This is more important than winning D&D. It's important to remember this game is everyone's enjoyment.
Allowances and Homerules
These rules are firm and will be enforced on a warning basis. If you bring a character who is not in line with these, it's understandable, and you'll be given this sheet and asked to make the appropriate changes. However if we know you have this and continue to not follow the rules you'll not be allowed to join the table until the changes are fixed. There's plenty here for a creative person to make 99% of what you need.
Note these creation rules are only for the event and game titled "Bi-Weekly Community D&D" and should not be assumed to be the rules for any other games posted in the facebook group. Always check with your DM what the allowances are.
Character Creation
The Guidelines for making a character is the following:
- Start at level 1
- Use Point Buy with 27 points, or the Standard Array [8,10,12,13,14,15] from the book (PHB page 13) to generate your stats.
- Background for money, and Class for equipment.
- On level up roll your health die. If you roll below the printed average, you may take average.
- Generally, you will level up to the table's level after this point.
Allowed Resources
- Allowed Wizards Books:
- CORE: Player Handbook
- CORE: Dungeon Master's Guide
- CORE: Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
- CORE: Volo's Guide to Monsters (Except the "Monstrous Adventurers" section)
- CORE: Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
- CORE: Xanathar's Guide to Everything
- Unearthed Arcana: Revised Ranger
- Unearthed Arcana: Ranger section of "UA: Class Features"
- The Tortle Package
- DM's can use optional rules (flanking, cleave, etc) as approved.
- Minor homebrew items written by, or approved by the Admin are fine. This is a rarity, do not default assume approval.
- Exceptions are very very rare.
Banned Things
- The Lucky feat.
- Evil player characters.
- Rolling stats, do not do this, period.
- Anything off of D&D Wiki. Seriously. None of it is allowed.
- "Monsterous Adventures" races from Volo's (goblin, bugbear, etc). This does not disallow Kenku, Tabaxi, etc. from the races section of Volo's.
- Unearthed Arcana not specifically mentioned above.
- Characters under 18 (human equivalent) years of age. Use your best judgement, but we want to avoid awkward situations.
- Eberron: Rising From The Last War
- Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica
- Anything that does not fit the above allowed criteria.
- If a resource is not in the allowed section, that means it's not allowed.
Gameplay rulings
These will be updated as needed. If something isn't on this list and should be please PM the admin to update.
Combat
- Creatures do not provide cover. ( c.d. )
- Druids use the printed average beast health when wildshaping.
Non-Combat
- Items sell for half their total shop cost
Decisions resulting from a Facebook posted community poll are noted with a ( c.d. )