We are Incarnate

Good and evil, law and chaos, are not merely abstract concepts. They are as real, as tangible, as fire and sea, storm and stone. Incarnates draw on the power of past heroes, slain celestials, and great champions, and shape that power into physical forms. Incarnates are not clerics, drawing power from divinity and belief, nor wizards, using knowledge to command great power. Rather, they create, from the essence of alignment and their own souls, items to be used to further serve their cause. Proud to be an official member of the We are Adventurers Collective.

[fullofbugs84uy894ujui9]

reminder that this blog, while not politically focused, supports BLM. bootlickers and racists aren’t welcome here, and never will be.

[weareadventurers]

If the members of the collective had to be any other class, what would they be?

[weareincarnate]

This is a rough one, but I'm gonna go bard. Followed by paladin.

[weareincarnate]

I remembered (again) that Incarnum soulmelds can be used to make arms and such, which works with some JoJo Stands, which got me wondering about more. Is there a way of turning a soulmeld temporarily into a summoned creature/using a chakra to summon something made out of essentia?

There is one official soulmeld which creates a soulspark familiar, the strength of which depends on which chakra it is bound to. If I remember correctly, the soulspark familiar is between CR 1/2 and 3, so it isn't a terribly strong creature. Depending on the campaign, I could definitely see a reskin of that ability getting used to create something like that.

If it was a larger focus of the character or campaign, though, I might do it as a prestige class, perhaps by having a special ability that allows you to create a creature with one soulmeld and give it the benefits of others. I haven't watched the show, though, so that might not be the best fit.

[weareincarnate]

After thinking about it a little bit more, I think the best way to do this, mechanically, in 3.5, would be to play a psion with the metacreativity focus. You could take the low level power to create constructs and enhance them in various ways. I think there was even a subclass with further customization, but I wasn't very big on psionics.

@wearepsion probably knows more than I do.

[feyariel]

Oh, I’m an avid fan of psionics, so I figured an Astral Construct could (to an extent) replicate a Stand. I’m just looking at alternatives.

I shall investigate this Soulspark Familiar. (Tents fingers evilly.)

Also, I thought @wearepsion was inactive.

[weareincarnate]

It's possible they are. I haven't been on much for a while due to some major life changes (all good, just busy) and doubtless missed several developments. I'll message you some more info on it when I get home. I answered this during some lulls at work.

[weareincarnate]

I remembered (again) that Incarnum soulmelds can be used to make arms and such, which works with some JoJo Stands, which got me wondering about more. Is there a way of turning a soulmeld temporarily into a summoned creature/using a chakra to summon something made out of essentia?

There is one official soulmeld which creates a soulspark familiar, the strength of which depends on which chakra it is bound to. If I remember correctly, the soulspark familiar is between CR 1/2 and 3, so it isn't a terribly strong creature. Depending on the campaign, I could definitely see a reskin of that ability getting used to create something like that.

If it was a larger focus of the character or campaign, though, I might do it as a prestige class, perhaps by having a special ability that allows you to create a creature with one soulmeld and give it the benefits of others. I haven't watched the show, though, so that might not be the best fit.

[weareincarnate]

After thinking about it a little bit more, I think the best way to do this, mechanically, in 3.5, would be to play a psion with the metacreativity focus. You could take the low level power to create constructs and enhance them in various ways. I think there was even a subclass with further customization, but I wasn't very big on psionics.

@wearepsion probably knows more than I do.

[weareincarnate]

I remembered (again) that Incarnum soulmelds can be used to make arms and such, which works with some JoJo Stands, which got me wondering about more. Is there a way of turning a soulmeld temporarily into a summoned creature/using a chakra to summon something made out of essentia?

There is one official soulmeld which creates a soulspark familiar, the strength of which depends on which chakra it is bound to. If I remember correctly, the soulspark familiar is between CR 1/2 and 3, so it isn't a terribly strong creature. Depending on the campaign, I could definitely see a reskin of that ability getting used to create something like that.

If it was a larger focus of the character or campaign, though, I might do it as a prestige class, perhaps by having a special ability that allows you to create a creature with one soulmeld and give it the benefits of others. I haven't watched the show, though, so that might not be the best fit.

[wearebard]

5e continues to disappoint me... 😫 i guess someone at Wizards decided that bard ONLY means music now? where’s my theatre performing bard content? my scribes and my writers and my poets? huh???

[weareincarnate]

I don't think I understand what you mean. Sure, bards are all proficient in instruments, but they're also all proficient in performance, which is where those other categories fall under. And all the mechanical benefits list several examples, normally including something nonmusical, for how they can be invoked.

Most of the other skills you'd want a bard to be proficient in would be gained through backgrounds, and the jack of all trades feature means that they always have at least some ability (and thus likely experience) in any given field you choose.

[wearebard]

yes, mechanically these concepts are allowed, but the flavor of the bard class (and specifically, all of its subclasses) is written solely and specifically for musicians. in the recent edition of Dragon+ they plug a homebrew “school of hard knocks” for bards, and i was excited to see if they flavor it as a slapstick comedian or what else they could do with it. but... it’s just a percussionist. i mean, i should be excited, because i play the drums and was a percussionist in marching band for 6 years, but please, WOTC, branch out just a little.

[weareincarnate]

I can understand being disappointed by that. Personally, since I had only really played 3.5 before 5e, I really appreciate the diversity it has given the class. The mechanics and, in my experience so far, most of the flavor text, leaves the purview of bards extremely wide. The only flavor text on the iconic bard ability, inspiration is “You can inspire others through stirring words or music.” Another shift that I personally appreciate is the change of focus. In 3.5, the bard class was entirely performative. All of the spells had a verbal component, most of the abilities were based on a performance check, and there were very few ways, other than as general support, that the class excelled. 5e bards, on the other hand, are defined by knowing things. Magical secrets, expertise, jack of all trades, the subclass specific abilities, are all about having knowledge. Sure, the class overall still seems to focus on music, but it feels to me to be more reminiscent, in its new focus, of different traditions of storytelling and collective memory than of solely performing.

Just my two cents.

[wearebard]

5e continues to disappoint me... 😫 i guess someone at Wizards decided that bard ONLY means music now? where’s my theatre performing bard content? my scribes and my writers and my poets? huh???

[weareincarnate]

I don't think I understand what you mean. Sure, bards are all proficient in instruments, but they're also all proficient in performance, which is where those other categories fall under. And all the mechanical benefits list several examples, normally including something nonmusical, for how they can be invoked.

Most of the other skills you'd want a bard to be proficient in would be gained through backgrounds, and the jack of all trades feature means that they always have at least some ability (and thus likely experience) in any given field you choose.

[thecooltrashcat]

ASK ME ABOUT VIDEO GAMES

Favorite video game?

First console you owned?

A game that holds a special place in your heart?

Favorite video game character?

Least favorite video game character?

Favorite genre?

Video game character you’ve had a crush on?

First video game you remember playing?

Age you started gaming?

Hardest video game you’ve played?

Video game you’ve spent the most time on?

Most embarrassing gaming moment?

Scariest video game you’ve played?

Most memorable gaming moment?

Video game character you wish you could meet in real life?

PC, Xbox, Playstation, or Nintendo?

Gaming company you’re most loyal to?

If you could only play one video game for the rest of your life, which would you choose?

 Do you use strategy guides?

How often do you use cheats?

Competitive or single player?

Video game character you want to/have cosplayed?

Ever go to a video game convention?

Hardest boss fight you’ve been in?

Video game you wish you could burn from your memory?

Favorite gaming series?

Do you skip tutorials, or find them useful?

Best online gaming experience?

Worst online gaming experience?

Why do you game?

FEEL FREE TO REBLOG/ADD EXTRA QUESTIONS AS WELL!

[weareinvestigator]

Ask away, as these are some mysteries I’m more than happy to solve for you!

[wearewatchman]

Hey, I like video games. (Don’t expect a punctual answer, so sorry)

[dnd-homebrew5e]

[mrdistracted]

5 wizards? Man you need to work on your party composition.

[slightlyfrumiousbandersnatch-de]

There’s no rule that says barbarians can’t wear robes and a pointy hat. :D It definitely doesn’t count as armor.

[mrdistracted]

concept, Barbarian who dresses as a wizard and carries a fake wizard staff, so everyone is expecting them to attack with magic. instead they just bash people over the head with the staff.

[slightlyfrumiousbandersnatch-de]

Concept: An entire party of non-wizards who all dress like wizards. Monks also have unarmored defense and a fondness for smashing people with sticks! Add in a druid, a cleric, and a warlock with leather armor under the robes and you have a pretty solid party. :D

[mrdistracted]

Or even just characters dressed as the wrong class. Barbarian disguised as a wizard. Wizard disguised as a fighter whose staff/ wand forms the handle of thier weapon.

Ooh, a warlock disguised as a cleric.

A fighter disguised as a bard. Who sings terribly to distract the opponent then just punches them.

[weareincarnate]

The warlock I'm playing right now probably looks a lot like a paladin, between the plate and the radiant greatsword. And the fact that he favors eldritch smite probably doesn't help that.

[nomorerealitys-blog]

Spellsmith by Manuel Castañón

[thewatchercleric]

D&D ask meme

1. A favorite character you have played.

2. Your favorite character that someone else has played.

3. Your favorite side quest.

4. Your current campaign.

5. Favorite NPC.

6. Favorite death (monster, player character, NPC, etc).

7. Your favorite downtime activity.

8. Your favorite fight/encounter.

9. Your favorite thing about D&D.

10. Your favorite enemy and the enemy you hate the most.

11. How often do you play and how often would you ideally like to play?

12. Your in game inside jokes/memes/catchphrases and where they came from.

13. Introduce your current party.

14. Introduce any other parties you have played in or DM-ed.

15. Do you have snacks during game times?

16. Do you play online or in person? Which do you prefer?

17. What are some house rules that your group has?

18. Does your party keep any pets?

19. Do you or your party have any dice superstitions?

20. How did you get into D&D? How long have you been playing?

21. Have you ever regretted something your character has done?

22. What color was your first dragon?

23. Do you use premade modules or original campaigns?

24. How much planning/preparation do you do for a game?

For DMs

25. What have your players done that you never could have planned for?

26. What was your favorite scene to write and show your characters.

27. Do you allow homebrew content?

28. How often do you use NPCs in a party?

29. Do you prefer RP heavy sessions or combat sessions?

30. Are your players diplomatic or murder hobos?

For Players

31. What is your favorite class? Favorite race?

32. What role do you like to play the most? (Tank/healer/etc?)

33. How do you write your backstory, or do you even write a backstory?

34. Do you tend pick weapons/spells for being useful or for flavor?

35. How much roleplay do you like to do?

[conceptvault]

Char

By Dzhovanna Sallama

[prokopetz]

Culture-specific armours in D&D

Elven chain

Dwarven plate

Gnomish PPE

Halfling tweed

Tiefling coat-of-buckles

Orcish battle lingerie

Human smarm

[weareincarnate]

And just to add the obvious:

Dragonborn scale

[cinderfell]

hot tip if you wanna play a warlock or another high charisma character but have an irl charisma of like 10:

there’s more than one kind of charisma. the default always seems to be “suave ladykiller/casanova who can and will knowingly manipulate people and do it with a sly smile”, but that’s not the only kind.

i play a 20 charisma warlock who is… none of those things. she’s kind of shy and easily flustered but she IS extremely good-hearted and kind, and she radiates a certain kind of aura that just makes people want to like her and trust her because they can tell she’s a good person.

don’t feel boxed in by traditional portrayals of charisma and let it scare you away from playing classes you’re interested in.

[tabletop-rpgs]

A great point.

[bardicknowledgeblogger]

There’s more than one way to play high/low scores for all stats, but i think people struggle the most with Charisma BECAUSE it is so frequently viewed as the “suave smooth talker” trope.

Charisma is literally just your ability to influence how others feel about you - and not just feelings of likability. So while being flirtatious definitely falls into that category, it’s way more broad than that.

Other High Charisma styles

Heart of Gold: This is the example OP mentioned

Class Clown: Just really funny. But actually funny, not mean funny or obnoxious or anything. Just jokes around, tries to get people to laugh, makes jokes and has a good time. People just like to hang out with you because you’re fun.

Intimidating Aura: High Charisma doesn’t always mean people fall over themselves to be with you. Being incredibly intimidating and confidant is its own kind of Charisma. This doesn’t mean you’re mean or overly aggressive - this means you command a respectful presence that makes people want to listen to you and believe you. 

Cute/A-dork-able: One of my characters has really high charisma because she’s just a really naive, cute cinnamon roll. She’s not great at talking to people, she’s just so damn cute you can’t help it. This is the appeal that puppies or kittens or other baby animals have - they’re not good at anything, they’re helpless and kinda dumb and it’s so fucking cute.

There’s obviously more than this, but that’s the point. High Charisma =/= High Seduction (or at least doesn’t have to)

I have a player who plays a high Charisma Warlock. He’s incredibly awkward and shy, but naturally imposing and at his core is a good person. So people don’t really argue with him, and as they get to know him more and more just begin to trust him more and more without really thinking about it - because he has high charisma, he doesn’t have to try and get them to trust him, he doesn’t convince them he’s trustworthy. They just end up that way.

[weareincarnate]

I play a dragonborn hexblade warlock and he's a mix of a heart of gold, an intimidating presence, and a politician. Mostly he's a kid who made a choice he didn't completely understand to emulate his brother and help how family and has been trying to do good with.

[wearepaladin]

Paladin by Dmitriy Below

[yvesey]

THE EMISSARY

[bikiniarmorbattledamage]

A great illustration of a powerful and intimidating knight. I love the armor, which is only sparingly adorned. A lot of the armor detail is actually damage, something that is also reflected in her scar. I feel like the storytelling potential of scars is often ignored when women are being designed, which is a shame. But this piece really communicates the kind of brutality this knight has seen.

Check out the artist’s blog for more cool designs!

-Icy

[weareincarnate]

I've been absent for a while, mostly due to work and my personal life. I have been working 50-60 hour weeks for the last four months while applying to medical school. I'm back to working more reasonable hours (36-40) and will be posting more regularly, though I won't promise much until July 7, as I will be busy with wedding preparations.