I am new to these forums, but have been playing D&D for years now. I was looking to DM a 3.5 campaign based on a civil war.

To Break A Nation:

Mechanics:
Starting level 3rd
Max HP at 1st level, average HP for each level after.
PHB 1 and 2, DMG, MM1 and 2, and anything in the SRD (including the psionics there) are fine. No other classes or races, but ask me if you would like to use a feat from somewhere else.
Default D&D PHB gods.
Races: Humans are the most common, but by no means even a majority of the population, representing about 40%. The PHB races are the vast of people encountered, accounting for about 95% of members of civilized lands.
This game will not be combat centered, but the story revolves around a bloody civil war, so expect fighting.
Characters, I'm sorry to say, will not be promoted past Sgt. (free Leadership at 6th level, minus cohort) Because PC's tend to be among the most capable fighters in any given army, it will be important for commanders to keep them in the fight.

"Fluff" (Long so get a snack):
The continent of Avan is about the size of real life Austrailia, though in shape is more like the U.K. The country for which the continent is named is smaller, it's borders loosely defined by areas of gathering hordes of barbarians. The country has been akin to a bottle of alchemists fire for a hundred years now, ever since the country drove out a small invading force from an unknown nation beyond the oceans (sea travel is relatively primitive). The country has never fully recovered from the short but violent war. Since then, one of the Three Dukes tried to lead his armies into the Eastern Wastes (the area where the country was invaded) to destroy the barbarians there, in the hopes of re-establishing the country's former glory somewhat. Before he could do this, his army was set upon by a legion of the King's finest. Driven back before the assault, the duke turned and began his march on the capital in retaliation, knowing that with his best troops on the other side of unfriendly armies, King John would be unable to stop the numerous men and women of the Eastern Provincial army. He never thought to wonder why the best fighters of the Kings army were in a wasteland in the middle of nowhere in the first place, nor why he was attacked on sight by them. As the battles went on, the Red Duke won repeatedly, eventually pushing the King back to his own side of the River Melaya, a huge river dividing the Southern half of the country neatly in two. The Green Duke, however, had allied with the King, seeking to reform his family's former status as the most influential group of nobles in the country. The Blue Duke has yet to act.

The Characters:
The characters will be in B company of a battalion in the 7th division of the Red Duke (they don't have names, for reasons unknown at the moment, even to them) that is assigned to holding the defense of a bridge across the River Melaya, while reinforcements from the 8th and 9th division move accross in a few days. It seemed peaceful enough...

Characters will be organize into a team under one Sgt. Rivendell, a hardened battle veteran. After I have 4 or more characters, I will close submissions and we can work on making the characters stories involve each other, but for now, make your characters as you would, but make sure they join the army at some point, or are forced to somehow. Ask any questions you would like, but here his some information on the Eastern Province, where the Red Duke rules.

The Eastern Province:
Roughly shaped like an oval, with the wild men of the Wastes on the Eastern border, the primitive but huge fishing ports of the North shore on another side, the River Melaya and the Hellspike moutains to the West, and (assumed) uninhabited dense jungles to the south, the province itself is mostly plains, with patches of hills and light forest. Rivers and lakes are small, but numerous. The capital, and largest city, of the province, is the city of Harris, a sprawling network of canals and boardwalks on a marsh at the center of the province. The landscape beyond is dotted with small towns, with the size of the towns increasing to the North, closer to the great fishing cities, and decreasing towards the South and East. More information on individual towns and cities will be posted, but for now, any character background can be made in the various places in the province.

EDIT: I should also mention that the story is extreemely long, and characters can expect to be lv 20 by the time it ends. Most everything that will show up, including why the dukes have no names, will be explained along the way.

Hello

I'd like to play a scout from complete adventurers.

Name Kelan Windstrife
age 20
height 5'7
weight 145lbs
lvl 3
eye color brown
hair color brown (shaved)
hp 26; AC 15; hit die d8; str 12; dex 17; con 17; int 15; wis 16; cha 10;
fort- 4=1+3; ref- 6=3+3; will- 4=1+3
bab- +2; grapple- 3=2+1
weapon shortbow- 1d6 range x3 crit 80ft 40 arrows
weapon shortsword- 1d6 19-20 crit/x2
Armor- studded leather +2 armor -1 check penalty
Skills: spot 9; listen 9; search 8; hide 9; climb 7; survival 9; knowledge nature 8; move silently 9; swim 7; balance 9 (note I put 6 ranks in each)

feat- track, improved init, Improved swimming
special- skirmish (1d6, +1 AC); trapfinding; battle fortitude +1; uncanny dodge; fast movement +10 ft; trackless step

Kelan is the son of a potter. Trying to follow in his father's footsteps was a disaster. He did however show aptitude in being a guide, but since they don't get paid well Kelan joined the military.

I don't know why I put the "only feats from other books" thing up. For everyone else's future reference, anything in the books I mentioned is ok, anything else might be, but don't rely completely on it.

Isabel, mechanics look fine. After the characters are all set, I'll help with the story as to how they joined the army and ended up in the same squad.

I'd like to join as a sorcerer if I may. Don't have the stats yet and I might change it into a fighter, but I think a spellcaster might come in handy (specially for backup, defenses or, later on, mass destruction).

Other than that, I think Isabel forgot one feat. If memory serves, you get one feat on 1st level and another on 3rd level. But if you want to change it it is your call.

Note to self: Read carefully.

Thank you for pointing that out. Isabel, just add another feat when you get the chance.

As for a sorc/fighter, either would be welcome. And yes, I will read the character and do it before my eyes glaze over late at night. Heh.

Oops sorry it was getting late and i was getting lazy so i only took the starting package feat. Anyway I took improved init.

We have one finished character, and one to be made. Hopefully the other two slots will be taken, and we can get started on stories fairly soon. No rush. Real life gives a lot of crap, I learned that the hard way. Twice.

This campaign sounds interesting, how would an human Fighter/psion work?

Don't want to bother anyone or anything but unless Isabel is playing something else than human she forgot yet another bonus feat which humans get at 1st level. Just wanted to point that out for you.

what system are we using for ability scores?

32 point system. Your character looks good to me, but it's late at night and I may have overlooked something. Tommorow I'll make sure the mechanics are all fine, in which case we'll have 2 characters and 1 slot taken.

Isabel, sorry to make another change, but people keep proving themselves more aware than I am. Specify race and adjust as needed. Now, off to bed with me.

Back, and it looks fine. So far we have a psion/fighter, a scout, and eiter a fighter or a sorcerer. All that's left is some kind of healer.

Saiden Harques
Fighter 1/Psion 2
Human
Hit Dice: 1d10+2d4+6 (21hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 20ft.
Armor Class: 23 (+8 armor, +1 dex, +4 shield)
Base Attack: +2
Attack: +6 Warhammer (1d8+3)
Special Abilities: Discipline (Psychokinesis)
Saves: +4/ +1/ +3
Abilities: Str 16 Dex 12 Con 14 Int 16 Wis 10 Cha 8
Skills: Climb +3, Concentration +9, Jump +3, Knowledge (Psionics) +7, Knowledge (History) +7, Psicraft +7.
Feats: Skill Focus (Concentration), Combat Manifestation, Psionic weapon, Power Attack, Cleave.
Alignment: Lawful Good.
Equipment:
Mwk Warhammer
Full Plate
Tower Shield

Powers:
1st level: Energy ray, vigor, control object, disable, offensive prescience.

Power Points: 9

Description:
Eyes: Hazel
Hair: Medium length brown
Age: 26
Height: 6’4’’
Weight: 190
Beard: very short

Born with a brilliant mind, Saiden dreamt of spellcasting for most of his life. His instructors were bewildered by his intellect and praised him as a prodigy. After graduating, he went to pursue is life goal and began to study arcane magic. To his great dismay, he discovered that he had no talent for it whatsoever. For whatever reasons he was not able to cast arcane spells. Disapointed, but by no means beaten, he tried his luck at divine magic. This received the same results. For the first time, he decided to move on. Not wanting to show his face in his hometown, letting them know how he failed, he left and joined the army. Fortunately for him, he was a quite skilled combatant and fit in well with the other soldiers. It wasn't until then that he realized his true potential. During battle, Saiden was knocked down to the floor by a tremendous blow delivered from an opposing soldier. His squad had been taken out. With no hope left, a strange power lept forth from his mind. In a sudden, unexpected event a bolt of lightning lept from his finger's and blew straight through the enemies chest. The few remaining enemies fled in shock. Surprised, yet exhilirated, Saiden embraced this new power finally having found his calling

Curses Skari's right. Next time i'll read the players handbook instead of trying todo everything by memory. Any way my human feat i chose is improved swimming.

Around the same time that someone (anyone?) posts a 4th character, I should have enough information detailed to start the Q&A thread. Teh w00tzor, all your campaigns are soon to belong to us.

I think I did all the calculations correctly.

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Arrowhawk
Human Sorcerer 3

Abilities:
Str 10 (0)
Dex 14 (+2)
Con 13 (+1)
Int 12 (+1)
Wis 13 (+1)
Cha 16 (+3)

Saves:
Fort +2
Refl +3
Will +4

Hit points: 4+2+3+(Con x3) = 12
AC: 12 (+2 Dex)
Initiative: +2
Base Attack: +1
Melee: +1
Ranged: +3

Skills:
Concentration 7 (6 ranks + 1 Con)
Knowledge (arcana) 7 (6 ranks + 1 Int)
Spellcraft 7 (6 ranks + 1 Int)

Feats:
Combat Casting
Weapon Finesse
Eschew Materials

Attacks:
Shortspear +3 (1d6, crit x2)
Light crossbow +3 (1d8, crit 19-20/x2, range inc. 80 ft.)

Gear: Backpack with waterskin, one day’s trail rations, bedroll, sack, and flint and steel. Hooded lantern, five pints of oil. Spell compound pouch. Case with 10 crossbow bolts.
5gp.

Spells per day:
0 – 6
1 – 5+1
2 – 0
3 – 0
4 – 0
5 – 0
6 – 0
7 – 0
8 – 0
9 – 0

Spells known:
Cantrips (5): Light, Message, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Acid Splash
1st (3): Shield, Mage Armor, Magic Missile

Born and raised in a fishing village, Arrowhawk soon changed his name after his arcane abilities appeared. After seeing how most villagers avoided contact with him, Arrowhawk left the village and joined the army of the Red Duke. His primary motivation in life is to edge his name on the stone that is history, preferably in large letters.

(I was hoping to be allowed to play a non-familiar variant presented in PHB II. It basically gives me the ability to cast metamagic spells without making them full-round instead of the familiar)