#melding barbarians and artificers !!!!!!!

[crunchycrystals]

i did not realize going into this season i would come out shipping gorgug with three different people i was coming into this with the biggest donospring mindset and yet here we are

[avantgardechild]

I love the journey Gorgug has gone on during junior year because two years ago I played in a campaign that was set in Elmville at a community college for failed adventurers. My character, Solei, was a wild magic sorcerer who multi-classed into artificer and she was very Seamus Finnigan coded where her wild magic surges worked like Pete's in USC and she had to roll on both artificer spells/actions and sorcerer spells, so her gadgets were always blowing up or not working quite right.

Ofc, this was pre-junior year but now I can't stop thinking about how the MCAT works and the fact that we were meant to only be a bit older than the BKs, so theoretically, Solei could have gone through similar struggles as Gorgug but instead of Porter being a dick to her it was Jace. Jace who often brings up the fact that his classes are so chill because his students are all innately magical. I'm really interested in seeing how he plays into the whole Ankarna plot (I personally think he and Porter are getting their kisses in) as this would make me rethink/further develop how/why Solei got booted from Aguefort. Her original backstory was that she was booted because she almost caused their Sophomore year quest to fail and so took the blame for all that went awry and was expelled while her party was allowed to continue at Aguefort on probation. (Ofc this doesn't really make a ton of sense with how Aguefort runs but who cares).

Anyway, I just love the idea of Solei being at the community college, hearing about the Bad Kids, and hearing about their Barbarian who proved that you can successfully meld classes that others think are incompatible. Below is a headshot I drew of her and a mini I made on heroforge

She's just an absolute eyesore to look at and is usually covered in some kind of colourful magical ash/residue.

[strangefable]

what d&d class is your oc?

tagged for this uquiz by the lovely @jillvalentinesday, @cassietrn, @inafieldofdaisies, @voidika, @josephseedismyfather, @direwombat, @poisonedtruth, and @theelderhazelnut, thank you all <3

Ranger

You are a Ranger, an explorer of dangerous territories. You are fearless and cunning, traits necessary on your travels, but you tend to be closed off from others and overly pragmatic. Your connection with nature and skill with weaponry will carry you through most battles, and your sneakiness will let you avoid the ones it will not.

There isn't any other class that suits her. She's not got the magic for druid, but her fighting style keeps her out of direct warrior/barbarian types. Archery and nature, exploration and knowing the lay of the land, and using it to advantage? That's Micah. She's at home alone in the woods, but with party members she's off her footing, unsure how to interact or engage. Trusts comes hard for her, but a fearless ability to throw herself into danger? Yeah, she's got that in spades.

Rogue

You are a Rogue, a skilled adventurer who uses guile and expertise to your advantage. You are often seen as stealthy and precise, aiming for your opponent's weakest points, but you can master various other skills to aid you on your journey. While you tend to be underhanded and greedy, you can also be daring, clever, insightful and charismatic.

Sneaky. Underhanded. Guile. Charm. Greed. Loose Morals. What else could Lil ever be but rogue?

Artificer

You are an Artificer, an adventurer who wields science in place of magic. While your foremost trait is intelligence, you're built tougher than most others who place their faith in their brains. You are inventive, curious and occasionally reckless, all traits that get you both into and out of trouble on your adventure.

I admit it, I took the quiz for her a few times until it returned the right result. Intellect and knowledge, melding science and magic, those are Bright's Things. No matter how much the quiz kept trying to make her a traditional magic user, she's just not. She's extremely reckless, but it's not out of malice or a drive for power; it's simple curiosity. And a love of shiny things. She's clever but not wise; she's quick but not strong or nimble.

Paladin

You are a Paladin, a warrior sworn to an Oath, whether it be to a god, a king, an ideology or oneself. As a divine soldier, you are well equipped to strike down evil, but must follow a code of your choosing to retain this power. While you are limited somewhat by these bonds, you are also the most driven and determined member of your group.

tbh i've never considered what would suit Lore, but honestly? yeah, she's very driven for good, for what she sees as moral and right, for the betterment of the people, though i don't know if she could be defined as a soldier or warrior. she's about practicality and function over form or style, but she'd balk at the idea of serving a god or a king. her goal is always to help people, especially those who have no voice and no power. she fights hard, but she prefers diplomacy and compromise whenever possible, to save as many lives as she can. she's one of my purest, most good characters.

i realize i'm kinda late on this one, but i'm passing on tags, anyway. (feel free to ignore me<3) @henbased, @adelaidedrubman, @v0idbuggy, @legally-a-bastard, @damejudyhench, @mars-colony, @strafethesesinners, @thisisrigged4, @mediocre-life-span, @harmonyowl, @marivenah, @socially-awkward-skeleton, @florbelles, @trench-rot, @wrathfulrook, @simplegenius042, @incognito-insomniac, @gayafsatan, @shallow-gravy, @turbo-virgins, @chazz-anova, @confidentandgood, @aceghosts, @jacobseed, @vampireninjabunnies-blog, @fourlittleseedlings, @clonesupport, @unholymilf, and anyone else who wants to do this, please say i tagged you <3

[honourablejester]

5e Homebrew Masterlist

A masterlist for most of my homebrew stuff so far.

Homebrew Subclasses

Artificer

Fleshweaver (Updated)

Barbarian

Path of the Whaler

Bard

College of Righteousness

Cleric

Darkness Domain

Fate Domain

Lunar Domain

Pelagic Domain

Druid

Circle of Ash, Blood and Bone

Circle of the City

Circle of the Ice

Circle of the Barrow

Paladin

Oath of the Outsider

Ranger

Stormborn

Rogue

Starsworn

Sorcerer

Astral Sorcery

Blood Sorcery

Ley Conduit

Warlock

Patron: Myconid Great Meld

Wizard

School of the Seeker

Homebrew Backgrounds

Gravedigger

Lighthouse Keeper

Herbalist

Functionary

Spelljammer Backgrounds

Spelljammer Lightkeeper of the Luminous Order

Homebrew Races/Lineages

Amalthean

Knocker

Racial Hybrids

Osh Derrinalina Subraces

Osh Derrinalina Weavers

Vitreous Remnants

Yves (Reincarnated Tree People)

Settings/Setting Elements

Osh Derrinalina: Land of the Lightless Sea

Domain of Dread: Harrow’s Rock

Domain of Dread: Erdelaur

Homebrew Deity Masterlist

Walking the Dark Road: Temple of Nuissas

The Legend of Miirikjilinth: The Bone Mother

The Kraken Brides of Ketan Point

Dragons of the Scholomance

Spelljammer Faction: The Telleril Conclave

Spelljammer Concepts: Here, Here

Faction: The Iron Carillon

Mysterious Junk Peddler NPCs

Thoughts for a Green Dragon Accidental City Planner

Villainous Druids

Dead Gods: Spelljammer Campaign Idea

Thought for a Draconic Ravenloft Darklord

Homebrew Monsters

Aigul

Astral Lepidopteran

Celestial Ooze

Iceheart

Jubbuko

Languorlon

Wake Dragon

Witness

Yllora the Starmaiden

Atmar, the Nuclear Angels

Homebrew Magic Items

Homebrew Deity Artefacts: Iletal’s Ring, Assorted Artefacts, The Silent Toll, Salt Marks of Iskuur, Moon Door Handle, Khitim’s Tooth, Light of Truth, Green Flame Chalice

Other Items: Crimson Crozier, Moss Cloak, Gleamkey & Gloamshield, Bells & Lanterns, Irish Mythology Items, Spelleater/Sword of Leah, Symbiotic Tendril, Magical Junk,  Doorkeeper’s Chatelaine, Moonfire Crown, Star of Selune, Animal Items, Lodestone Boots, Ranged Weapons, Cursed Gems, Judgement, Magical Instruments, Potions, Obsidian Items, Penitent Shield, Magical Clothing, Faerun Deity Items, Three Weapons, Marrowmire Kit, Troublesome Teapot, The Viscous Rings, Grave Knight’s Regalia, 3 Magic Books, Some Nautical Items, Faerun Sacred Tattoos, Illusory Pet, Rimelord’s Bite

Homebrew Spells

Poison & Acid Spells, Bouncing Bubble, Soporific Sphere, Ice Spells, Divine Rebuke, 3 Damage Cantrips, Cosmic Halo, Acid Slick & Thunderstone, Cold Gate & Illusion

[rebelcourtesan]

My D&D 5e Build for Hordak

@firapolemos05​  requested Hordak, I did some digging and thinking and came up with a build for this character.  My judgement is based on what we’ve seen in the show and what I think suits his character best.  Feel free to agree or disagree with this build or come up with one of your own.  

Hordak, a member of a clone army that was rejected by his creator for having a defect in his cloning.  He was sent on a suicide mission only to find himself taken through a portal and crash landing on Etheria.  With the remains of a broken ship, he launched an Empire, taking over lands and territory and building his own army in the hopes of proving himself to Horde Prime.  He serves as the main antagonist for most of the series before Horde Prime takes his place.  

Long Post Below

***Stats***

Intelligence:  Top stat.  Hordak has a technological mind.  He’s built machines, weapons, and portals and is one of the most intelligence characters in the series.

Strength:  Second Highest.  Reason being that we’ve seen him life heavy machinery in building the portal and throwing a slab of metal across the room.  And he managed to push a huge beam off himself when it fell on him.  

Constitution: Third Highest. I had thought of putting this lower on the list due to his chronic illness, but he did survive was having a crane fall on him and is managing to fight despite the illness.  

Dexterity: Fourth Highest. Hordak can be quick when the needs aride.

Wisdom:   Fifth Place.  Hordak needed Double Trouble’s help to see through Catra’s lies about what happened to Entrapta.  

Charisma: Dump state.  Get. out!  Hordak isn’t the most charming character in the series.      

***Race***

I considered going with Variant Human again, but I just discovered the Gith- Githyanki race which I believe would suit Hordak better.  

He automatically gets +1 to Intelligence and +2 to Strength.    

Choose Arcana to be Proficiency skill.  Hey, he must have taken time to study Etheria’s magic at one point and he has Entrapta helping him out.

Also, Hordak starts off knowing the Mage Hand cantrip.   

Choose the Soldier background:  This nets Hordak a Proficiency in Athletics and Intimidation.  

Okay, after some thought and consideration, I’ve decided to start Hordak off as a Barbarian.

The reason for this when Hordak get’s angry, he can become quite dangerous and resilient to damage.

***Barbarian Level 1***

Hordak gets the Rage ability: 

- advantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws. - A melee weapon attack using Strength, gains a bonus to the damage roll  - resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.

Unarmored Defense -  armor class equals 10 + Dexterity + Constitution.  His suit is more of an exo-skeleton for his health condition.  And his dress is a bit revealing.

 For Skills choose Perception and Survival.  The first few years after crashing on Etheria must have been rough at the start.

***Barbarian Level 2***

Hordak receives Danger Sense : Has advantage on Dex saves against effects he can see such as traps and spells.  He’s been fighting magical princesses for years, however he can’t use this ability if he is blinded, incapacitated, or deafened.

Reckless Attack: For the first attack on his turn, he can choose to attack with advantage with melee weapons using Strength, but attack rolls against him will be at an advantage until his next turn.

***Barbarian Level 3***

Barbarians can choose a Primal Path.  For Hordak, reveres Horde Prime and conquers Etheria in his name, the Primal Path for him would be Path of the Zealot.  

Divine Fury: when Raging the first creature Hordak hits on each of his turns with a weapon takes extra damage equal to 1d6 + half Barbarian level.  Choose Necrotic damage he is fighting in the name of an evil cult leader.    

Warrior of the Gods: Hordak is easier to raise from the dead.  If any spell cast to restore life to Hordak doesn’t need any components.  That’s the advantage of a having a devoted hi-tech wife.

***Barbarian Level 4*** 

Ability Score Improvement: Put the points into Intelligence to max it out.  I know Strength is important for a Barbarian class, but there is a method to my madness. 

***Barbarian Level 5***

Extra Attack: Hordak can make two attacks when he takes the attack action.

Fast Movement:  His speed increases by +10 feet when he isn’t wearing heavy armor.

***Barbarian Level 6***

Path of the Zealots gives Hordak Fanatical Focus which allows to reroll a failed saving throw while Raging, but must take the new roll.  Ability can only be used once per Rage.

Now you’ll see the method in my madness with a high intelligence score.

We’re going into Artificier, a class the melds magic and technology, which he learned from Entrapta and from studying Etherian magic and First Ones Tech.

***Artificer Level 1***

Talk to your DM about the Optional Firearm Proficiency.  If they agree, then Hordak has a proficiency in firearms, such as laser cannons! 

Being an Artificer gives Hordak Magical Tinkering: Hordak’s Tinker Tools come into play which allows him to create a spark of magic in a Tiny nonmagical object with a magic effect such as giving off light, playing a recorded message (Like the Imp), etc.

Hordak is able to use his Intelligence to create magical effects in objects through spellcasting, but use his tools to do so.  So choose plenty of offensive spells for Hordak to use against Princesses.  I would recommend for cantrips:

Acid Splash:  You hurl a bubble of acid. Choose one creature within range, or choose two creatures within range that are within 5 feet of each other. A target must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take 1d6 acid damage.  

Fire Bolt:  You hurl a mote of fire at a creature or object within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 1d10 fire damage. A flammable object hit by this spell ignites if it isn’t being worn or carried.  

For 1st level spells:

Absorb Elements: The spell captures some of the incoming energy, lessening its effect on you and storing it for your next melee attack. You have resistance to the triggering damage type until the start of your next turn. Also, the first time you hit with a melee attack on your next turn, the target takes an extra 1d6 damage of the triggering type, and the spell ends. (Good for when he goes into melee against elemental Princesses).

***Artificer Level 2***

Infuse Item:  Hordak can Imbue mundane items with magical infusions.  At this level you can choose up to 4 infusions to know, but can replace one of them at each level. 

Choose:  

Enhanced Defense: Needs a suiit of armor or shield to grant  a +1 bonus to Armor Class while wearing (armor) or wielding (shield) the infused item. 

Enhanced Weapon: Needs a simple or martial weapon to grant  +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it. 

Enhanced Arcane Focus: Needs rod, wand, or staff (requires attuning)  a creature gains +1 bonus to spell attack rolls. 

Replicate Magic Item :  Any item of your choice to replicate.

***Artificer Level 3***    

The Right Tool for the Job :  with tinker's tools in hand, Hordak can magically create one set of artisan's tools when needed.

Now Hordak can receive an Artificer Specialist.  Take Artillerist.

Tool Proficiency: Gain proficiency with Wood Carver tools, but to better fit Hordak’s character, I would go with Smith’s Tools if the DM allows it.

Hordak gains 2 additional spells.

Shield:  An invisible barrier of magical force appears and protects you. Until the start of your next turn, you have a +5 bonus to AC    

Thunderwave:  A wave of thunderous force sweeps out from you. Each creature in a 15-foot cube originating from you must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 2d8 thunder damage and is pushed 10 feet away from you. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and isn’t pushed.

The golden part of this level is Eldritch Cannon.  Hordak can create small or tiny canons.  Think Horde Robots.  They can have one of three effects: Flame Thrower, Force Ballista, and Protector.  

***Artificer Level 4***

Ability Score Improvement: Max out Intelligence to attain more spells and make them more powerful.  If Intelligence is already maxed out, you can put them into Strength so Hordak can hit harder when in melee or you can round out the other ability scores. 

***Artificer Level 5***

Arcane Firearm:  Hordak can turn a rod, wand, or staff into an Arcane Firearm (such as an Arm Cannon) to case offensive spells.  Doing so gives a 1d8 bonus damage to spells.  If the spell hits multiple targets, choose one to take the bonus damage.  

Hordak can now use 2nd level Artificer spells.  I recommend:

Heat Metal :  Hordak can cause a metal object (armor for example) to glow red-hot. Any creature in physical contact with the object takes 2d8 fire damage when you cast the spell. Until the spell ends, you can use a bonus action on each of your subsequent turns to cause this damage again.

Also Artillerist gains two additional spells.

Scorching Ray:  You create three rays of fire and hurl them at targets within range. You can hurl them at one target or several. Make a ranged spell attack for each ray. On a hit, the target takes 2d6 fire damage. 

Shatter :  A sudden loud ringing noise, painfully intense, erupts from a point of your choice within range. Each creature in a 10-foot-radius sphere centered on that point must make a Constitution saving throw. A creature takes 3d8 thunder damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. A creature made of inorganic material such as stone, crystal, or metal has disadvantage on this saving throw.   

***Artificer Level 6***

Tool Expertise: proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses your proficiency with a tool. 

Also, Hordak gains two additional Infusions.  

Pick Homunculus Servant so Hordak can create his own Imp, a tiny construct that obeys commands.        Repulsion Shield : grants a +1 bonus to AC when using this shield.  Also has 5 charges to push an attacker back 15 feet as a reaction to being hit by melee weapon.    

***Artificer Level 7***

Flash of Genius: As a reaction, Hordak can add his intelligence modifier to an ability check or saving throw of a ceature within 30 feet of him.  

***Artificer Level 8***

Ability Score Improvement: By now Intelligence should be maxed.  Put points into Strength if you are having Hordak wade into melee battle.  And/Or, you could get the War Caster feat which will make it easier for Hordak to cast and maintain spells in battle. 

***Artificer Level 9***

Explosive Cannon: Eldritch Cannons now cause more damage with additional 1d8 damage and Hordak can have them self-detonate for 3d8 force damage on a failed Dex save.  

Hordak can now use 3rd level spells. 

Dispel Magic:  Choose any creature, object, or magical effect within range. Any spell of 3rd level or lower on the target ends. For each spell of 4th level or higher on the target, make an ability check using your spellcasting ability. The DC equals 10 + the spell’s level. On a successful check, the spell ends. (Hordak must have been studying a means to remove magical effects, plus this spell is super useful).

Plus being an Artillerist grants two additional spells.

Fireball:  A bright streak flashes from your pointing finger to a point you choose within range then blossoms with a low roar into an explosion of flame. Each creature in a 20-foot radius must make a Dexterity saving throw. A target takes 8d6 fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The fire spreads around corners. It ignites flammable objects in the area that aren’t being worn or carried.

Wind Wall:  A wall of strong wind rises from the ground at a point you choose within range.  When the wall appears, each creature within its area must make a Strength saving throw. A creature takes 3d8 bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.   

***Artificer Level 10***  

With Entrapta’s help, Hordak can become a Magic Item Adept: he can attune up to four items at once instead of just two.  And it takes a quarter of the time to craft a common or uncommon magical item and doing so costs half the gold.   

And Hordak can learn two more Infusions.

Spell-Refueling Ring (Unearthed Arcana) - A ring that can recover expended spell slots. (Hordak can keep throwing spells back at Princesses)

Mind Sharpener (Unearthed Arcana) - Robes (or armor) that can allow the wearer to maintain a spell as a reaction if they failed a constitution check.      

***Artificer Level 11***  

Spell-Storing Item: Hordak can store a 1st or 2nd level spell inside an item for a creature to use

***Artificer Level 12*** Ability Score Improvement: Intelligence should be maxed.  Strength should be maxed.  Also round out any Ability Scores.  Or you can get the War Caster feat.

***Artificer Level 13***   4th level spells are now available.  I recommend:

Arcane Eye:  You create an invisible, magical eye within range that hovers in the air for the duration. You mentally receive visual information from the eye, which has normal vision and darkvision out to 30 feet. The eye can look in every direction. 

***Artificer Level 14***   With the help of his beloved Entratpa, Hordak becomes a Magic Item Savant.  He can attune up to five items with magic and he can ignore all class, race, spell and level requirements to use any magical items.         

And there you have it.  My version of Hordak in D&D 5e.  With the Barbarian levels he can deal decent melee damage and withstand receiving damage and gaining extra strength while Raging.  

As part of his background and his close relationship to Entrapta, he can infused magic into items and use offensive spells against the Princesses in his conquest of Etheria.   

[tabletop-rpgs]

My latest DMs Guild purchase:

Champions from Beyond!

From the DMs Guild page:

A supplement for fifth edition that brings new character subclasses and DM rules to your game!

Featuring:

Two races adapted from v4, the Shardmind and the Wilden!

A new subclass for every class option, including the new Arborist for the Artificer class from the Eberron setting!

DM rules for Lycanthropy characters and new racial ability rules!

Random tables for conjuration spells!

Rules for running an apocalypse, adapted from v3.5!

Come and see what lies beyond!

**** **** **** ****

The page doesn’t share the full list of subclasses so I have included them below.

Artificer - Arborist (magical engineering meets nature)

Barbarian - Path of the Mariner (The fury and might of the sea)

Bard - College of the Piper (Beasts and swarms)

Cleric - Adoration Domain (What the Love Domain should have been like)

Druid - Circle of Spirits (Shamanic type dealing with Spirits of the Land)

Fighter - Green Warden (Protectors of nature)

Monk - Way of the Great Tree (Yggdrasil themed with a heal)

Paladin - Oath of Wonder (Magic and the Multiverse)

Ranger - Ocean Master (Not only useful if in the Ocean)

Rogue - Planar Proxy (Agent for a planar being)

Sorcerer - Cosmic Herald (Influenced by the sun, moon and stars)

Warlock - Living Star Patron (Chance, fate madness and curses)

Wizard - School of Astronomancy (Space and Time magic, should meld well with Dunamancy)

Note: This is not my product, it’s something I purchased after the author linked it in a group chat. I have not had a chance to play any of it’s content yet but I like what I have read and thought I’d share for anyone else who is interested.

[vulpixelates]

Another round of my TTRPG gals in this picrew; now featuring my neglected D&D characters! Boy do I have a lot of green and blue characters, oops. These are just a few.

Top left: Lodden Rhithron (sea nymph pirate, rogue turned cleric, 1/3rd of the world’s hottest throuple, frequent destroyer of ships). Top right: Gadget Qirie (orc/gnome/elf artificer, but a humble muscle dyke, inventor of fully sentient constructs and specialist of melding together nature, body, and technology). Bottom left: Ryla Anzar (tiefling of the Morrigan (she’s more of a calico-like pattern to blend into the wilderness but this was the best I could get!), witch and barbarian of Rashemen, sunshine gay who loves hugs, sparkly jewelry, talking to ghosts, and her big bear of a wife). Bottom right: Zion Cogwright (tiefling bard, top of her class until she got kicked out of college (for no good reason!), anthropologist who specializes in orc culture, somehow became the champion of an orcish devil who really likes battle despite barely being able to pick up her family longsword).

[sorcererinthestars]

Okay but @shadeofazmeinya​ just posed a dnd au and I know a lot of other folks have too, but I’ve been now playing dnd for over a year consistently and I finally feel confident enough to truly throw my hat into the ring. I wanna hear your thoughts!! (Note: this is using the traditional 5e classes - I’m not getting deep into Xandars or any others, too much to focus on.) Note: None of you are going to believe me, but I didn’t set out on this quest to make everyone a different class. I was going to be totally fine with repeats. However, going through the list, it somewhat organically landed with people being different classes. Even at the end, what I was left with fit the characters surprisingly well. I’d really like to see what you have to say and if you think some of the boys&girls should share classes instead of it overlapping. Ryan: At first I was always going to say Ryan was a Warlock. He’s magical - in his character arc I feel he first would have started as a Wizard who has had the traditional training in the schools and then... something went wrong. He started meddling in what he shouldn’t have, started pushing the boundaries of right and wrong and summoning creatures he couldn’t. When he bites off something he can’t chew... well... he gets his magic from a deal struck with an extraplanar being. Too bad he can’t always control it. HOWEVER.... the new DnD 5e class, Artificer, is too perfect for Haywood to pass up. A mad scientist who “melds magic with technology, imbuing their inventions with a powerful arcane essence”? Truly the most Ryan of all DnD characters. TDLR: Artificer.

Gavin: I was influenced by Ranger for Gavin, but I can’t help but feel Bard is more fitting for him. Gavin - FAHC or not - is a man that gets people to do things through the sheer power of his Charisma. Just watch him manipulate the boys in any Between the Games! He’s a true master of the word. I picture him with a lute thrown over his shoulder, a brilliant smile on his face, ready to wrap you up with his pretty words and spit you out. Vicious Mockery? He’ll rip you apart with that tongue of his and you won’t know what hit you. TDLR: Bard.

Geoff: I see Geoff as a cleric, one that roams and tries to spread The Good Word while being able to get in there and break some skulls if needed. However, he’s not often liked - despite not being a Rogue himself, Geoff is a Cleric of the Trickery Domain.  Noted as a cleric who follows the god of “thieves, scoundrels, gamblers, rebels, and liberators”, he latches onto his fellow scoundrels and lets the Good Word lead him into some shit. Holding up a mace and a wild grin, Ramsey may be a Man of God, just don’t expect him to behave. TDLR: Cleric of the Trickery Domain. Jack: Jack’s really a no-brainer. I considered putting him as a Tempest Cleric, which is one of the subdomains, but he truly fits easily as a Druid. Almost a cleric of his own and a trickster in his own heart - which explains why he gets along so well with Geoff despite not quite sharing his faith - Jack is a true shapeshifter who can change into any animal he’d like (I see him favoring a tiger or other big cat). He’s also one with nature - a true craftsman and survivalist. Plants spring into life in his care, animals do whatever he asks, and woe betide those who make him mad. TDLR: Druid.

Michael: While Michael played a Paladin in Heroes and Halfwits, I don’t think that fits him. Paladins are more code-following than any of our lovely adventurers could ever hope to be, let’s not kid ourselves about that. In the end, I think Michael is a true-and-true Fighter, likely focusing on Protection. He’s a demon with the blade, aggressive and antagonistic, but will do whatever it takes to keep those he loves safe. But dear god to anyone who decides to get between him and something he decides is His to protect! He doesn’t need magic, nor want any - Michael is a man of simplicity, but that doesn’t mean he’s dull... his fury and finesse with a blade is entirely unmatched. TDLR: Fighter. Jeremy: Blood mage Jeremy was really something that caught my eye. I considered the idea of making Jeremy a rogue, but he’s too much of a Loud Boi to really be that sneaky. I see him instead as the Warlock Ryan was going to be. A man who dabbled too much with his magical knowledge, read too many forbidden books, that lead to an unholy union with some entity. Now he may aim somewhat necromantic, but Jeremy is a laughing soul who weighs lives like weights in his hands and who isn’t afraid to grin while blood is dripping down his hands. TDLR: Warlock.  And now for B-Team... Alfredo: Ranger. Alfredo’s always been a sneaky man, one who hovers on the background. It’s only natural that he’d be the shadow-walker, the man who hovers on the outskirts, ready to snipe an enemy with an arrow from a vast distance. He’s the man who can always find the path, a true survivalist who is an overwhelmingly amazing shot. TDLR: Ranger.  Lindsay: The mistress of Chaos herself, I see Lindsay as the Barbarian. Summoning up her battle rage, nothing will stop her from defending those who matter to her. Her fighting prowess is sheer strength and power and her rages have turned the tide of a battle more than once. Pushing up her shirt sleeves and entering into battle, they know no one has a chance. Truly, I don’t see many other races as quite embodying the sheer CHAOS of the Mistress Jones (except, perhaps, the Madness Cleric). TDLR: Barbarian.  Fiona: Full of mischief, I see our lovely Fiona as the Rogue of the party. Except, I see her more as the Swashbuckler subclass instead of a stereotypical rogue. Instead of lurking too much in the shadows, her tongue is her truest defense. She relies, as the book says, on “speed, elegance, and charm in equal parts”. Sauntering around with a rapier in her hand and a grin on her face, Fiona will steal both your heart and your wallet in one interaction. TDLR: Swashbuckler. Trevor: Trevor’s our traditionalist Wizard. He’s a smart, smart boy, leading AH the way he does, and it’s not a far leap for me to think that he would have studied magic almost feverishly to figure out how to become the most powerful. This boy was an engineer, for crying out loud, and in the DnD world he likely would have put the same furver into learning spells. An extremely powerful magician, Trevor can beguile you and harm you in the same breath. TDLR: Wizard.  Matt: While I think Matt fits the new Artificer class similar to Ryan, I can see Matt as a Monk. Matt is a man who is peaceful unless engaged. He’s more or less willing to do his own thing unless the others torment him. But when they do, watch out - he’s an intimidating man in his own right with the charisma and brains to dismantle an enemy. Matt would walk the Way of Shadow, which is a Monk class that allows him to cast spells such as darkness, pass without trace, etc. He’s a man that doesn’t necessarily want to engage, but if you press his buttons, he’ll come back at you ten-fold with a fury. TDLR: Monk. I’d love to hear what you have to say. I don’t think I’ve missed anyone from the main crew, but if you have anyone you’d like to add to this, please do. As I said before, I didn’t mean to make them all different, it just sort of happened that way! 

[jamiekturner]

Best iPhone adventure games with epic stories behind them

If you are searching for iPhone adventure games, take a tour of this article with really interesting and engaging apps.

They are a good fit for those times when you want to live an adventure in your iPhone’s small screen.

You will also find many interesting stories in these apps. Some are focused on travel, some on horror and some on mysteries. From old-school to more modern iPhone apps with great graphics, take a look at some of the best adventure games for iPhone and iPad.

iPhone adventure games to check out

The Walking Dead: A New Frontier

If you thrilled to the first two versions of Telltale Games’s take on The Walking Dead, you’ll enjoy this latest installment, too.

But even if you’re new to the mobile series, there’s plenty to enjoy with this zombie apocalypse game, which places an emphasis on character interaction and the emotional burden of decisions made.

Batman: The Telltale Series

Telltale Games brings its unique brand of narrative adventure to the Dark Knight in Batman: The Telltale Series. Telltale’s more story-based approach lends itself well to an aspect of the Batman character that is rarely so well-explored in more action-oriented titles: the dual identity and constant tension between Batman and Bruce Wayne.

The first episode of the game comes free, with subsequent episodes available as in-app purchases. With the release of episode 5: City of Light, you can now play through the story in its entirety in one go.

Her Story

Are you a fan of true crime shows such as Serial and Making a Murderer? Here’s a similarly themed game for you budding Sherlocks out there. Sam Barlow’s Her Story has you doing the detective work and piecing together a mystery surrounding a woman being interviewed about her missing husband.

Armed only with a mothballed computer and an antique police database, you must search through the files for short video clips of the woman’s seven police interviews to unravel the whole story. To say more would spoil the experience.

Game of Thrones

Enter the world of Westeros in Telltale Games’ adventure game based on the hit fantasy TV series Game of Thrones. Players take control of the scions of House Forrester, minor bannermen of House Stark, in the great struggle for the throne of the Seven Kingdoms.

Telltale Games’ signature high-stakes, timed decision-making is particularly apt for the Game of Thrones episodic game, with players having to think on their feet as they make tough choices in the battlefield and within the murky politics of the court. With the release of the sixth episode, “The Ice Dragon,” users can play the entire game in one go.

République

Watch your step! République is an episodic stealth adventure by Camoflaj that immerses you in a fictional surveillance state. Armed only with backdoor access to surveillance cameras and security systems, you must help the young girl Hope escape and evade a gauntlet of guards.

Intuitive touch controls allow players to easily hack objects and switch among cameras, giving you quick one-tap control for helping Hope evade guards and pick up mission objects and collectibles. With the release of the fifth chapter, Terminus, players can finally play through the entire story, as Hope takes on the repressive Overseer.

Mr. Robot: 1.51exfiltrati0n.apk

This tie-in game for the popular TV series takes the same slow-burning formula pioneered by Lifeline and pushes it in interesting directions, even as it intertwines with the events of Mr. Robot’s first season. The game masks itself as a messaging app from in-show corporate titan, E-Corp, sitting in a lost phone that you found and picked up.

From there, you start receiving messages from a mysterious hacker’s collective that wants your help to “reset the world.” It’s a slowly unfurling technothriller story that plays out from your smartphone screen.

Day of the Tentacle: Remastered

Turn back the clock and experience a point-and-click classic with Double Fine Production’s remastered edition of Day of the Tentacle. This sequel to the original Maniac Mansion, Day of the Tentacle has players guiding a lovable bunch of misfits through a comedic time travel odyssey as they work together to keep a purple mutant tentacle from taking over the world.

The new edition features remastered graphics and sound effects (as well as the option to play through in the original low-res mode). You also get commentary from some of the game’s original creators such as Tim Schafer and Dave Grossman.

Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP

Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP is an audiovisual experience wrapped around an adventure game. You take control of the Scythian as she explores a pixel-art fantasy world, doing battle against strange creatures with her sword and using the magic of “sworcery” to solve arcane puzzles.

The gorgeously rendered world and soundtrack are accompanied by some fun writing for Archetype, the narrator, who is best described as a silly, hipster Conan the Barbarian. This game doesn’t break through the fourth wall, because it never bothers to build one in the first place.

Grim Fandango Remastered

Step into the shoes of Manny Calavera, travel agent to the dead in the remastered version of the classic adventure game Grim Fandango. First released in 1998, Grim Fandango melds Mexican folklore, film noir sensitivities, and a healthy dose of humor to create a fun and memorable adventure game.

Double Fine’s remastered version features improved graphics, an orchestral score, and a wealth of extras like developer commentary and concept art. About the only thing that hasn’t translated well is the obscure 90s adventure game puzzle design, which can be counterintuitive to modern gamers.

80 Days

Inkle Studios’ latest piece of interactive fiction is the remarkable 80 Days, a steampunk adventure based on Jules Verne’s classic novel “Around the World in 80 Days.” As the loyal valet Passepartout, you accompany your master Phileas Fogg in his globe-trotting journey through an alternate Earth filled with automata, artificers and airships.

Players must race through the world’s great cities, discovering new routes and stumbling across mysteries while exploring each city through a “choose your path” interface. Discover the fastest routes, balance your finances, pack the right inventory in your limited luggage space, and you just might win Fogg’s epic wager and circumnavigate the world in 80 days.

Broken Age

Double Fine’s adventure Broken Age, the game that helped start gaming’s crowdfunding revolution, goes mobile with the release of Act 1 on the App Store. The first act of Broken Age tells the story of two teens, each struggling against traditions that bind them.

Deep in the bowels of a starship, Shay Volta is trying to escape the clutches of a stiflingly maternal AI, while Vella Tartine has been chosen to be sacrificed to a mysterious monster in order to save her village. Gorgeously rendered 2D graphics, a neat soundtrack and a genuinely well-built adventure make Broken Age Act 1 a keeper, and we’re sure many gamers eagerly await the release of Act 2.

The Silent Age

Armed with a time travel device and stuck between a dead future and a present that ignores him, it’s up to Joe to save the world in The Silent Age. It’s 1972, an age of free love, Cold War and the blowing winds of social change. Of course, all that seems to have passed by Joe, an average guy scraping by as a janitor living a life of soul-crushing tedium.

His life changes, however, when he’s suddenly confronted by a dying man who seemingly appears out of nowhere to hand Joe a time travel device and a dire warning: Unless Joe acts now, humanity will be extinct in 40 years.

The Wolf Among Us

The developers behind the wildly successful Walking Dead game have released a new narrative adventure with The Wolf Among Us, based on the critically acclaimed “Fables” comics by Bill Willingham.

As Bigby (as in Big Bad) Wolf, the Sheriff of Fabletown, it’s up to you to investigate a bloody murder that has set the hidden fairytale creatures of Fabletown on edge. Hard choices and dark secrets await in the first episode, “Faith,” with further episodes available as in-app purchases or through a Season Pass.

Ryan North’s To Be Or Not To Be

Imagine William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” as a choose-your-path gamebook, and you get Ryan North’s “To Be or Not To Be”, which has you playing the part of Hamlet, Ophelia or Hamlet Senior on their insane adventures.

Powered by Tin Man Games’ Gamebook Adventures engine, the app takes full advantage of the digital format by accompanying the text with music, sound effects, hilarious achievements and an end-game “Haml-o-Meter” and a statistics page that compares your choices with the Bard’s.

A particular delight is the wealth of illustrations by a variety of webcomic greats such as Kate Beaton (Hark, A Vagrant), Zach Weinersmith (SMBC), and Matthew Inman (Oatmeal). Incredibly hilarious and brilliantly executed, “To Be or Not To Be” will make sure you’ll never look at Shakespeare the same way again.

Panmorphia

An impressive first entry from Indie developer Lydia Kovalenko, Panmorphia straddles the divide between traditional and casual adventure, providing a leisurely, dream-like journey through a puzzle-dazzled world.

A Short Tale

Although it wastes most of its narrative potential, for anyone who just wants to play a game chock-full of fun and unusual puzzles while exploring a charming and nostalgia-inducing environment, A Short Tale provides plenty of entertainment for a few hours.

Dead Synchronicity: Tomorrow Comes Today

Even with a few rough edges, Dead Synchronicity stands as a modern adventure classic, telling a dark, sad and brutal tale that will leave you wanting more, but equally satisfied.

The Trace

The Trace is a brief and easy but fun exploration-filled murder mystery that will have you engaged from beginning to end.

Contradiction

Whilst a lack of gameplay variety and a slightly lacklustre ending limit its appeal, Contradiction manages to provide solid FMV production values and an interesting mystery to solve.

  Dream Revenant

A pleasant surprise that is both chilling and moving, Dream Revenant is an immersive, surreal narrative experience, although it’s currently marred by its many technical issues.

Tengami

This pop-up book isn’t just for children; if you’re looking for a peaceful interlude to while an afternoon away, check Tengami out.

Detective Grimoire

Detective Grimoire breathes some new life into the investigation/visual novel sub-genre with its compelling setting, characters and humour, undermined only by puzzles that are nowhere as enjoyable as the rest of the game.

DEVICE 6

If you’re looking for some absurdly fun puzzles and a truly unique storytelling experience, you’ll want to check out DEVICE 6 on iOS, but you’ll wish for a gameplay integration upgrade.

Blackbar

The unique Mad Libs-style text presentation of Blackbar’s sci-fi social commentary is certainly engaging, but it works better as an innovative reading experience rather than a fully-realized adventure game.

Lost Echo

A richly defined, innovative experience, Lost Echo is exactly what an iOS adventure should be, capturing the spirit of traditional adventure gaming with all the potential the platform has to offer.

Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery: Episode 1 – A Bump in the Night

While the first episode is a little uneven in its story and puzzle pacing at times, Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery is a delightfully stylish debut that makes me want to come back for more.

The Next BIG Thing

(Known as Hollywood Monsters on iOS.) Whatever its title, in the hands of Pendulo, the studio behind the popular Runaway series, you could almost call this game “the next sure bet”. As expected, the offbeat comic adventure set in a 1940s Tinseltown filled with real-monster movie stars is creative, bizarre, and superbly produced, though it does get a little hairy at times.

The Journey Down: Chapter One

Yo, listen mon! Dis HD remake of a delightful point-and-click freeware adventcha is all kinds of island fun. With a reggae and jazz-infused soundtrack, Jamaican accents and character models based on African tribal masks, this first of four parts has a distinctive style all its own, and it’s entertaining as well, patterned after the classic LucasArts titles of old.

In other words, somewhere between Elaine Marley and Bob Marley!

It gets better with these iPhone adventure games.

BlindSide

Who says great adventures need good graphics? In fact, who says they need graphics at all? Certainly not indie developer epicycle, who have created a unique audio horror adventure that’s not to be missed. Awakened in the middle of crisis with no eyesight at all, with monsters now lurking in the all-encompassing shadows, can you listen and feel your way to safety?

MacGuffin’s Curse

Two words: crate puzzles. Still here? If that prospect doesn’t scare you off, then you should enjoy this lighthearted comic puzzler, which blends an entertaining story about a man cursed to become a werewolf in moonlight with a series of progressively difficult obstacles to overcome, one locked room at a time.

You’ll activate switches, operate control panels, and shove lots and lots of crates to make a path in both human and lycanthrope form alike, chuckling all the way.

Broken Sword: Director’s Cut

One of the best adventure games from the 90s comes to the iPad in style with Broken Sword: Director’s Cut.

And Broken Sword does retro gaming right, redesigning the interface for the touchscreen in a way that actually adds to the game. In addition to the classic story, the iPad gets some exclusive content, so even if you are just hoping to relieve the good old days, you’ll find something new. And for those that didn’t play the original, this is a must-have download.

Swordigo

On the more hack-and-slash side of things, there is Swordigo. This platformed adventure has fun puzzles, nice action and epic boss battles. You’ll start out with a sword, but you’ll soon add spells to your bag of tricks, which are used both for fighting and interacting with your environment.

Swordigo is one of those iPhone adventure games that gets the interface right, so you spend your time fighting enemies in the game rather than the control you have over it. If you love iPhone adventure games like Zelda, you’ll love this one. Perhaps a bit too light on the story side of things, but it is a fun romp.

Mirror’s Edge

Mirror’s Edge may have the name and story of the console version, but it’s turned the original on its side. Rather than simply port a watered-down version of the game to the iPad, EA redesigned the first-person experience of the console game into a third-person side-scroller and somehow managed to do so without losing the action and excitement of the original.

As Faith, you will run and jump your way across the rooftops of the city, all the while evading authorities as she completes her mission. It’s a fun (if somewhat short) thrill ride.

The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition

The Secret of Monkey Island is one of the most famous and beloved classic adventure games ever released. It was developed and published by Lucasfilm Games in 1990, featuring a young man named Guybrush Threepwood, who has a dream to become a fearsome pirate.

Back in the day, The Secret of Monkey Island was one of the first adventure games to completely avoid death as a gameplay mechanic, instead encouraging exploration. And you can be sure that there’s a lot to explore in The Secret of Monkey Island. The game takes place on Mêlée Island, where Guybrush encounters many memorable characters and humorous situations.

The lost fountain

An exciting journey in which you will visit an abandoned island in order to find a healing fountain. Explore ruins of the ancient civilization. Complete tasks, apply the found objects. Break temple gates, find secret passes and other secret places.

Distraint: Pocket pixel horror

Play as a young man who has stolen all properties of a poor old woman. He was punished. He got into a gloomy mansion full of traps and weird inhabitants. Explore a strange house, interact with the objects you find and try to escape!

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Milkmaid of the Milky Way

Adventures of a milkmaid who becomes a member of a galaxy spaceship crew. Travelling among stars the main heroine will face evil alien empress taking energy from people. Cope with aliens and bring back stolen energy!

Corpse party: Blood drive

Take a girl along gloomy corridors of an abandoned school. Help her avoid traps, hide from evil spirits and other supernatural creatures. Interact with the characters you meet on your way, look for the clues to find and rescue friends. Pick up batteries for a flashlight, medicines and other useful objects in order to survive in that horrible place.

Nelly Cootalot: The fowl fleet

Exciting adventures of a pirate whose name is Nelly. Help the heroine rescue birds stolen by insidious baron called Widebeard. Start a dangerous journey, interact with characters you meet on the way, solve puzzles and find a villain. Don’t leave feathered friends in trouble!

The secret of Chimera labs

Find out what a secret research laboratory deals with. Move along the corridors carefully, complete tasks and look for evidence. Clear out what kind of research and experiments are done here. Stop a crazy scientist!

Mysterium: The board game

Explore a mysterious mansion and find a murderer together with a group of psychics who called a ghost to help them. Play as a ghost living in a mansion and give hints to other players or play as a psychist and decode the messages of the ghost. Special cards will help to examine the scene of murder and find evidence.

Beneath a Steel Sky

Beneath a Steel Sky offers a very different world: a dystopian vision of an industrial future, where civilisation is confined to skyscraper cities and segregated by class. Abducted by armed police from his home in the wastelands, you play Robert Foster as he attempts to navigate around the dark metropolis and escape back to the wilderness.

Despite the fact that death is around every corner (save often), the game has a healthy sense of humour, partly embodied in your robot sidekick, who’s none too pleased at having to make do with a vacuum-cleaner chassis for half the game.

Sadly, this ‘remastered edition’ hasn’t had the same love as Monkey Island, keeping its 1994 artwork, with only minor improvements to sound and cutscenes.

Flight of the Amazon Queen

As LucasArts has yet to bring its Indiana Jones games to iOS, Flight of the Amazon Queen will have to do: the globetrotting adventure Pepsi to Indie’s Coke. Joe King (yes, really) is the star here, and his adventures take him to jungles, ancient tombs and all the fun holiday locales you could hope for.

Sadly, like Simon the Sorcerer, this hasn’t been properly optimised for iOS and also like that game it’s affected by bugs and crashes. That’s a shame, because the action underneath is a fun romp that never takes itself too seriously.

Machinarium

A beautifully drawn adventure about an adorable robot in search of his metallic other half. It breaks convention by not featuring a single line of dialogue, but that’s not to say it’s without humour; and the puzzles are tough enough to keep the grey matter engaged.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

More like an interactive story than a game, this anime adventure first found Western success on the Nintendo DS. You spend an awful lot of time tapping through dialogue, but it’s all so charming and silly that it doesn’t seem to matter. Besides that, the memorable characters and satisfaction of pinning the right piece of evidence on a slippery murder suspect make this something everyone should try.

Puzzle Agent

Another Telltale game, but moving away from the ‘use hammer on nail’ style of the past towards traditional maths, logic and lateral-thinking brain teasers. The story concerns Nelson Tethers, sole employee of the FBI’s underused Puzzle Solving Division, who is dispatched to investigate missing erasers at the White House. Wonderfully silly.

McPixel

Concerned all these adventures may be too time-consuming? McPixel has a novel take for you: each scenario gives you 15 seconds before something explodes. You have that brief time to avert disaster. Whether you succeed or blow up the world, you’re presented with another puzzle straight away.

To The Moon

To The Moon [$4.99] is an experience that depends almost entirely on the way its story unravels, and the exceptional music backing it. Spoiling the story, any bit of it, beyond the premise would be doing any potential player a tremendous disservice.

And while I can offer up all kinds of praise for the audio, it’s not as though that’s easy to convey through text. So what should I write here?

Let’s start with this: To The Moon is an amazing journey through the memories of a man who has reached the end of his life, and as long as you don’t mind the fact that the gameplay doesn’t involve much more than walking around and clicking on things, you really ought to play this…

Faraway

It’s hard to hear the word Faraway and not think of Eliss [$2.99] developer Steph Thirion’s forever-in-development constellation creating game, but while I’m not sure if that one will ever actually see the light of day in the meantime there’s a new Faraway in town that’s stolen my heart.

Officially titled Faraway: Puzzle Escape [Free], the game makes no bones about being a “modern tribute” to the all-time classic Myst. You’ll explore 18 different temple ruins solving various types of puzzles in order to open the path ahead and continue marching onward.

There’s also quite a bit to discover, too, including hidden pages from your father’s diary which will help flesh out the story and explain why you’re doing what you’re doing. Or you can just solve puzzles, it’s up to you!

Year Walk

Hello, gentle readers, and welcome to the Classic Reload, the monthly feature where we wander out into the snow to look for horses. Each month, we take a look at a classic game from the App Store’s past to see how it holds up in the here and now.

It’s a chance to revisit old favorites, reflect on their place in the overall iOS library, or simply to take a deeper dive than our reviews typically allow. I try to pick a varied selection from month to month, but if there’s a game you’d really like to see featured, don’t be shy.

You can let me know by posting a comment below. Since the schedule is planned well in advance, you might not see your suggested game soon, but it will be added to the master list for future consideration

Red’s Kingdom

As was hinted at last month, our little pal Red has gone to the casino in a new update for Red’s Kingdom [$2.99] which just arrived this morning.

Similar to the huge update the game received in early March, this latest update includes two new areas to explore, the fishing port called Roth Ennis and an area called Rath Crom which is home of the famous The Golden Nut casino, and more than 50 new levels to explore and solve. You can also expect to run into several new types of enemies and even some new puzzle mechanics.

The Forgotten Room

The last of these iPhone adventure games is The Forgotten Room. Play as a detective and find a girl who disappeared in the abandoned mansion. You are going to deal with paranormal phenomena. Reveal gloomy secrets and prove that there is something supernatural in this mysterious house.

If you liked this article with iPhone adventure games, you should check out these articles as well:

Best Sports Apps for iPhone

Best Arcade Games for iPhone and iPad

Best iPhone apps of the year

Best iPhone Action Games To Pass Time

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