We recently started a long awaited campaign run by bobhir. It was supposed to fill in for our 3.5 campaign during ToddSmith's absence but life happened and it got started a little late. These things happen :).

We expected some unique ideas and unusual visions from Bob, as he is described by both of those phrases well. It started even before we began to play the game.

Here is the email he sent out for instructions for creating our characters.

Alright folks, it’s about time for me to take over the DM reigns for a while, and to get things rolling, I’m going to need everyone to do a little homework.(should take less than 1 hr)
 
The first module is going be a lvl 1-3 affair (and I’m not calculating XP, I will simply raise users levels as it seems natural), and the only thing I will say at this point is it’s set in Ravenloft. Some of you have heard about what I had planned, know that it’s going to be more than what was previously mentioned.
 
I need you all to create 1st level characters, using Standard Point Buy from DMG page 169..
 
Before you go all poo-poo on standard point buy, know that there is going to be 2 opportunities to get additional points on ability scores..
 
Here’s the catch.
 
#1, I need you to write a short backstory that you will be reading to everyone at gamenight, it must be able to be read in under 5 minutes, and the end of the story must include your characters death, due to water immersion, and nothing beyond your death. I will pick it up from there.
 
I don’t care if you drown, walk the plank, are caught in a flood, drown in a well, have your head held under water in a horse trough, of have someone cast create water on your lungs, you have to die, and die due to water immersion in some way.
 
Obviously, given this, I wouldn’t spend a bunch of starting money on things like a horse, or bags of rations, given you are going to start the adventure by drowning, so do yourself a favor, and maybe buy stuff that can be held on your body, and not be ruined due to water, and turn the rest into coins or gems. There will be no shortage of anything in the adventure, for the creative, except where it furthers the story.
 
For your putting together this story, I offer you.. 2 ability points.. Note, this isn’t two crappy points to tack into point buy, but two full ability points. Ex: create character, do point buy, choose race, tack on race score bonues or subtractions, then add two points to whatever ability you please, or split them.
 
#2 IF, and ONLY IF, you ONLY use the Players Hand Book to create your character ENTIRELY, and USE NO OTHER BOOKS, I offer you 4 ability points, like the ones above from the story. Full, add where you please points, not crappy tacked into point buy points. BUT YOU HAVE TO STICK TO PHB (and PHB #1) ONLY. NOT A RACE, NOT A CLASS, NOT A FEAT, NOT A SKILL, OR EVEN EQUIPMENT FROM ANOTHER BOOK. NOTHING FROM ANY OTHER BOOKS OTHER THAN PHB #1
 
This restriction to  get the 4 points will only apply to character creation. You want to use other books for 2nd lvl and above, your choice.
 
Note, I’m not banning other books, if you want to use other books, its standard point buy, and the two points from the story you come up with (no extra 4 point bonus on top of it).
 
If you create a character from another book, of another race, or whatever, it will be on you to understand what you have created, and be able to assist me in any calculations, rules, etc, for what you come up with.
 
Now comes the fun part. I don’t want to know what you make. I don’t care, I’m just going to improv on the fly anything I need to, in reaction to whatever characters show up…. If 12,  point buy, air genasi, or demons show up, I don’t care. Villagers in the module may not be so tolerant, but that’s between you and them, so make a first level character of your choosing, given the above, and keep it to yourself until game night.
 
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, BOB ONLY DOES DnD 3.5. THIS WILL BE A 3.5 ADVENTURE.
 
Bob

So basically you use standard point buy and you can do anything you want from any book published. But if you stick to just the Player's Handbook you get 4 full ability points to add to your scores. In addition you get 2 ability points for creating the backstory as he described. This is going to lead to some fun and interesting characters. If you don't stick to the basics you are going to have to really hog wild with stuff to max out your character without those extra 6 full ability points.

What did the Lords and Ladies of Tyr decide to do? Come listen to the podcast live tonight or download in a few days to here about some of our characters and their backgrounds! I'll encourage everyone to post a little something about their character creation on the website as articles as well.