Starter Set, Starter Players, Starter Characters: Session 0

[SPOILERS AHEAD]

If you plan to play the Starter Set, do not read.

This is your only warning; this blog is meant for DMs only.

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As none of us had played 5e, and only 1 player felt comfortable with character creation even in 3.5, I asked if we could use just pre-generated characters.  Everyone agreed, but when looking at the choices that come with the Starter Set, nobody was impressed.

Wizards to the rescue!

http://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/character_sheets

A healthy selection of 16 additional possible characters was plenty for our fledgling troop to get started.

After selection, I took the original pre-generated Starter Set characters’ backgrounds and story hooks and integrated them into the new selections, as best I could fit.

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Our players are as follows:

(For the sake of internet anonymity, real names will be omitted.)
(The pictures were generated using HeroForge.com and colored in Photoshop.)

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Raven, female human, a former sailor (pirate?), and Tempest Cleric of Thor.

Looking for work after her ship went down, eventually wishes to earn enough to return to the sea.  Has heard of Daran Edermath in Phandalin, who wants someone to take out the Redbrand ruffians.

(Played by my wife; begging and trickery got her in, and now she's addicted.  One of us, one of us!)

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Eva Ironleaf, female human, former resident of Thundertree, Circle of the Moon Druid taught by Reidoth.

She intends to return to her former home and quell the undead that destroyed the town, and confront the dragon that she has heard rumor of.

(She was part of the old gaming group, and is one of my wife's best friends; made it easier to convince my wife to play.)

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Lana Kantri, female dragonborn sorcerer, led by visions from the god of knowledge, Oghma, to consecrate the altar in what is now Cragmaw Castle.
(My wife's sister, a proper fantasy book nerd that fits right in and has been watching far too much YouTube D&D as of late.)

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Lemon, female human barbarian, former Redbrand who was run off by a rival who tried to have her killed.

(Another friend from former gaming days, and friend of my wife.  She's married to the final player at our table.)

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Durial, male drow rogue, with high ambitions and grand plans.  His former mentor was a drow assassin, who taught him everything he knows; when Durial defected and left the Underdark, he left his master behind and betrayed.  (3 guess who the master is... ;)  )

(Our most experienced player, the veteran at the table is also new to 5e, so we're learning it together.  He's married to Lemon's player.)

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With our players ready, papers and dice in hand, we begin as classically cliche as possible...

...in a Tavern.