I told everyone that we would fully build the characters in Session 0, particularly because we were all pretty new to D&D (excluding my husband) and a few people have work schedules that don’t really give time for research. This idea actually ended up being pretty great, because everyone was able to experience using D&D Beyond and I was able to look at their characters in my own time and assess how I wanted to incorporate them. I also got to make sure they included the elements I needed them to include, and I could carefully watch my husband and make sure he didn’t build an outrageous character that was overpowered 😂
For Session 0, I gave everyone an introduction to the campaign, a quick rundown of my plans as a DM, and the information I wanted them to include while they built their character. I also made a quick rundown of 5 factions they could choose between and just made it a requirement that they belong to a faction. Here’s the characters that they came up with:
Falywn - Eladrin Warlock
Faction - Zhentarim
Motivation - Her patron (Felurian) is bound to the Feywild. Falwyn is tasked with finding a way to release her.
Fear - Being trapped or enslaved (physically or emotionally)
Key Characters - Lady Seraphina (ally) & Rennick Blackthorn (enemy)
Skotizo - High Elf Ranger
Faction - Emerald Enclave
Motivation - Protect nature at all costs and wreak havoc on those who have harmed it.
Fear - Snakes
Key Characters - Elder Elf Leader John Wick (ally) & Drogg (enemy)
Pocahontas - Wood Elf Druid
Faction - Emerald Enclave
Motivation - same as Skotizo
Fear - Frogs
Key Characters - “The Messenger” (ally) & [no enemy chosen]
Durnir - Dwarf Cleric
Faction - Order of the Gauntlet
Motivations - Wipe out evil and preserve the lives of innocent people that are being harmed.
Fear - Claustrophobic
Key Characters - Branor Stoneforge (ally) & Karnath the Soulflayer (enemy)
Can we stop for a second and talk about how they essentially picked 3 elves and a dwarf? Their creativity knows no bounds.