Author Topic: Character planning  (Read 24941 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

PhaedrusXY

  • Moderator
  • Organ Grinder
  • *
  • Posts: 8022
  • Advanced Spambot
Character planning
« on: November 17, 2009, 01:24:46 AM »
If you guys want to discuss how to build your characters to work together, if they know each other, etc.
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

Agita

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 5465
  • SFT is mai waifu.
Re: Character planning
« Reply #1 on: November 17, 2009, 10:34:44 AM »
There are two things I'm currently contemlating for my character.
One, since a Tiefling's favored class is Rogue, I can take any sub levels I want. This opens up the Goliath Rogue's Mountain Mettle, which is basically Evasion for Fort, with a +4 tacked on. A good Fort save is always nice, but I'm wondering how useful MM would be compared to Evasion. There are many Ref half or partial effects that are good to avoid entirely. There are fewer Fort half/partial effects, and most aren't that impressive when you make the save (like 5d6 damage or whatever). Just randomly strolling through a Cloudkill, stabbing its caster in the gut, and being like "yo what's up" does sound appealing, though.
Two, there's Umbral Awn. Together, the nonlegacy item and first legacy ritual come out to about a lvl 8 item, which I could probably get PXY to let me have as one item. :flutter It does give some neat stuff, and the damage decrease from going from a shortsword to a dagger is negligible. I don't have Knowledge (History), though, nor do I particularly care to get it.
It's all about vision and making reality conform to your vision. By dropping a fucking house on it.

Agita's Awesome Poster Compilation
Lycanthromancer's Awesome Poster Compilation

PhaedrusXY

  • Moderator
  • Organ Grinder
  • *
  • Posts: 8022
  • Advanced Spambot
Re: Character planning
« Reply #2 on: November 17, 2009, 11:22:50 AM »
Knowledge (History) might be useful for this campaign, actually. You are going to be going digging around in the past, after all. :D And all of you should be old enough to remember quite a bit of it, too. So it would make sense. Actually... given that fact, how about I say it is a class skill for everyone?

Is Umbral Awn from Weapons of Legacy? I've hardly looked at the pre-made weapons from that book (or any other), to be honest.

Hmm... legacy items are interesting given the rules we're using, aren't they? They kind of straddle the fence as far as what level item they are. They start out minor, and climb right up the ladder, but they're pretty much by definition always going to be of an appropriate level. They're also supposed to be famous somehow, for the most part, right?

I think Umbral Awn should be fine. I'll have to think about how Legacy items are going to interact in the game world, though. They'll definitely draw more attention than a typical "minor" magic item, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

Agita

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 5465
  • SFT is mai waifu.
Re: Character planning
« Reply #3 on: November 17, 2009, 11:31:00 AM »
Umbral Awn is from ToB. It's one of the Nine Swords, the one keyed to the Shadow Hand discipline. I can provide a copypasta, if necessary.

I was thinking that she might have unlocked the first ritual mostly by accident and wasn't necessaril fully aware of what it is yet. Famous magic item+guy/gal who has no idea s/he has it=fun times. Maybe she stole it from that unnamed monastery in her background.

Now, how to become a few hundred years old... since I don't particularly feel like being venerable, maybe I'll just say she was trapped in temporal stasis or whatever.
Heck, if you don't want to worry about how everyone got to be hundreds of years old, you could give everyone Wedded to History (Dragon 354) as a bonus feat. Just a random thought.
It's all about vision and making reality conform to your vision. By dropping a fucking house on it.

Agita's Awesome Poster Compilation
Lycanthromancer's Awesome Poster Compilation

InnaBinder

  • Grape ape
  • *****
  • Posts: 1610
  • OnnaTable
    • Okay - - Your Turn: Monte Cook's Message Board
Re: Character planning
« Reply #4 on: November 17, 2009, 11:46:32 AM »
While I'm building a character from a very different starting point, Agita's character and mine will have some minor similarities; I'll be binding Malphas for the immediate future and using poison* with the Sudden Strikes and pounces I'll have, for a relatively solid damage dealer.  The Shadow Hands gloves from p150 of the ToB are almost certainly one of my 8 items, possibly modified with DM approval  :smirk.

*Anyone whose concept has serious problems with the LE alignment listed on the character sheet, or the poison use, should speak up ASAP.
Winning an argument on the internet is like winning in the Special Olympics.  You won, but you're still retarded.

I made a Handbook!?

PhaedrusXY

  • Moderator
  • Organ Grinder
  • *
  • Posts: 8022
  • Advanced Spambot
Re: Character planning
« Reply #5 on: November 17, 2009, 12:25:21 PM »
Umbral Awn is from ToB. It's one of the Nine Swords, the one keyed to the Shadow Hand discipline. I can provide a copypasta, if necessary.

I was thinking that she might have unlocked the first ritual mostly by accident and wasn't necessaril fully aware of what it is yet. Famous magic item+guy/gal who has no idea s/he has it=fun times. Maybe she stole it from that unnamed monastery in her background.
Sounds like fun, I agree. If it is one of THE 9 swords... it should be pretty spectacularly famous, at least in certain circles, right?

Quote
Now, how to become a few hundred years old... since I don't particularly feel like being venerable, maybe I'll just say she was trapped in temporal stasis or whatever.
Heck, if you don't want to worry about how everyone got to be hundreds of years old, you could give everyone Wedded to History (Dragon 354) as a bonus feat. Just a random thought.
Nah, I don't want it to be the same for everyone. If you're a tiefling, aren't they effectively immortal? If not, a dip into True Fiend for a level (or two, for Telepathy) would fix that...

Although... saying you were petrified (or something) for a few hundred years, and then released somehow during the current craziness could be fun. Maybe that sword wasn't even all that famous back in your time, but has since become so and has thought to have been "lost". Of course... with all the current craziness in the world, perhaps no one will care much about a lost sword that's been rediscovered, no matter how famous historically it is. :D

Or... LOL, how about this! You were petrified and stuck in a museum displaying the sword!  :lmao


I don't really care. You could be immortal (since you're an outsider), and have fought off and on in the blood war for the last several hundred years. Or maybe you've been on retainer as the hired bodyguard/assassin for some wizard, etc. Or were petrified. Just pick one.
« Last Edit: November 17, 2009, 12:27:42 PM by PhaedrusXY »
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

PhaedrusXY

  • Moderator
  • Organ Grinder
  • *
  • Posts: 8022
  • Advanced Spambot
Re: Character planning
« Reply #6 on: November 17, 2009, 12:29:06 PM »
While I'm building a character from a very different starting point, Agita's character and mine will have some minor similarities; I'll be binding Malphas for the immediate future and using poison* with the Sudden Strikes and pounces I'll have, for a relatively solid damage dealer.  The Shadow Hands gloves from p150 of the ToB are almost certainly one of my 8 items, possibly modified with DM approval  :smirk.

*Anyone whose concept has serious problems with the LE alignment listed on the character sheet, or the poison use, should speak up ASAP.
I'd have to look that item up to even know what it does. I am not all that ToB savvy. Combining magic items is fine, as long as the total comes out to around an appropriate level. Other than that, what else did you have in mind?

It would make my life a bit easier if some or all of you know each other, but it certainly isn't a requirement or anything.


Hey, how about you and Agita know each other, and recently went and looted the monastery where she grew up in? There could have been an opportunity due to the current chaos. You could have gotten both the gloves and sword from there.

Or maybe you went to loot the monastery, and wound up freeing her from petrification while there for some reason (thought she was cute? :P ).

I think it would be kind of funny if Agita's character had tried to steal the sword and been caught and petrified by the monk's and put on display holding it as a punishment. :D
« Last Edit: November 17, 2009, 12:35:58 PM by PhaedrusXY »
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

Agita

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 5465
  • SFT is mai waifu.
Re: Character planning
« Reply #7 on: November 17, 2009, 12:41:19 PM »
While I'm building a character from a very different starting point, Agita's character and mine will have some minor similarities; I'll be binding Malphas for the immediate future and using poison* with the Sudden Strikes and pounces I'll have, for a relatively solid damage dealer.  The Shadow Hands gloves from p150 of the ToB are almost certainly one of my 8 items, possibly modified with DM approval  :smirk.

*Anyone whose concept has serious problems with the LE alignment listed on the character sheet, or the poison use, should speak up ASAP.
I'd have to look that item up to even know what it does. I am not all that ToB savvy. Combining magic items is fine, as long as the total comes out to around an appropriate level. Other than that, what else did you have in mind?
I don't know it by heart either, I think it's one of the items that gives you a meneuver of the chosen discipline for use 1/encounter. I like using Rings of the Diamond Mind on my Wizards to substitutes Concentration checks for saves. :D

My idea was that maybe she was actually present at the original siege of the Temple of the Nine (where she was possibly also trained) and swiped Umbral Awn in the aftermath, thinking it was just some imitation. Then at some point she got petrified or Stasis'd and wound up in a museum, perhaps with a label "Wielder of Umbral Awn one of the Nine Swords, in life-size; artist's rendition (artist unkown)".

As per Races of Destiny, Tieflings live for 90+3d20 years.
« Last Edit: November 17, 2009, 01:48:01 PM by Agita »
It's all about vision and making reality conform to your vision. By dropping a fucking house on it.

Agita's Awesome Poster Compilation
Lycanthromancer's Awesome Poster Compilation

InnaBinder

  • Grape ape
  • *****
  • Posts: 1610
  • OnnaTable
    • Okay - - Your Turn: Monte Cook's Message Board
Re: Character planning
« Reply #8 on: November 17, 2009, 12:41:42 PM »
Quote
I think it would be kind of funny if Agita's character had tried to steal the sword and been caught and petrified by the monk's and put on display holding it as a punishment.
As a 350 year old Elan, it's conceivable that I was there to help him try to steal it, and managed to avoid capture.  :)
Winning an argument on the internet is like winning in the Special Olympics.  You won, but you're still retarded.

I made a Handbook!?

Bozwevial

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 4497
  • Developing a relaxed attitude to danger.
Re: Character planning
« Reply #9 on: November 17, 2009, 06:44:46 PM »
Hmm. Pity so few of the Tome's light armors are finished. Since a lot of them share properties, would you mind if I were to slap the properties of Silk Steel armor onto Grey Armor instead?

Also, here's a possible backstory for Marlowe: He was a clerk.

...for MYSTRA.

It was a nice little job, too--pension, health care, the chance to nip out of a flowing time realm for a holiday once a decade or so--up until Pun-Pun toppled the pantheon and left Marlowe walking around unemployed back on the Prime without so much as a severance package. Armed with a passing familiarity with magic, a quiet demeanor, an uncanny ability to read people, and the alarming tendency to stick sharp objects in places they were never meant to go, Marlowe is much more threatening than he appears, though no one would know it to watch the man cut his food into precisely equal pieces.

PhaedrusXY

  • Moderator
  • Organ Grinder
  • *
  • Posts: 8022
  • Advanced Spambot
Re: Character planning
« Reply #10 on: November 17, 2009, 07:58:10 PM »
Hmm. Pity so few of the Tome's light armors are finished. Since a lot of them share properties, would you mind if I were to slap the properties of Silk Steel armor onto Grey Armor instead?
Yeah, that kind of stuff is fine.

Quote
Also, here's a possible backstory for Marlowe: He was a clerk.

...for MYSTRA.

It was a nice little job, too--pension, health care, the chance to nip out of a flowing time realm for a holiday once a decade or so--up until Pun-Pun toppled the pantheon and left Marlowe walking around unemployed back on the Prime without so much as a severance package. Armed with a passing familiarity with magic, a quiet demeanor, an uncanny ability to read people, and the alarming tendency to stick sharp objects in places they were never meant to go, Marlowe is much more threatening than he appears, though no one would know it to watch the man cut his food into precisely equal pieces.
:lol :lmao :clap

Ok...let me think about this... While it is absolutely hilarious, believe it or not I don't want this campaign to be a total farce (despite its somewhat ludicrous main theme(s)). :D

It would make my job somewhat easier in some ways, though. Marlowe would have a strong motivation to try and seek Pun-Pun's downfall, probably know enough about things to perhaps be able to formulate a plan to attempt it, and the kind of OCD personality to actually try it... all the while seeming harmless enough that Pun-Pun might not just destroy him out of paranoia. It kind of reminds me of the seemingly harmless guy in Office Space who complains about his stapler being stolen... and then burns the building down.... and I loved that guy.  :lol


Yeah... I think we can go with that. It will probably kind of push him into at least a pseudo-leader role, though, which I don't want to force on the rest of the party. Although... he could also be kind of like the guy in office space in that they tend to not take him as seriously as perhaps they should. :D


I should probably ask: Anyone else have a problem with this?
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

InnaBinder

  • Grape ape
  • *****
  • Posts: 1610
  • OnnaTable
    • Okay - - Your Turn: Monte Cook's Message Board
Re: Character planning
« Reply #11 on: November 17, 2009, 08:19:16 PM »
I thoroughly approve of Milton the Assassin.  :P
Winning an argument on the internet is like winning in the Special Olympics.  You won, but you're still retarded.

I made a Handbook!?

Bozwevial

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 4497
  • Developing a relaxed attitude to danger.
Re: Character planning
« Reply #12 on: November 17, 2009, 08:39:14 PM »
I don't really intend for Marlowe to have a leadership role. If anything, he's the quiet guy people forget is tagging along until he pipes up. Of course, we'll see how things turn out.

Kuroimaken

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 6733
Re: Character planning
« Reply #13 on: November 17, 2009, 09:16:34 PM »
I was considering my best options, actually. The fun thing about really old characters and time travel is going nuts with the background!

Don't think I can top the Clerk for Mystra, though.

I was mostly considering the FR version of Axl Low - helping Elminster clear up the shitstorm in Shadowdale, as it were, or something to that effect - and for some reason, he timeslipped. He gets sent, from a past shortly before Pun-Pun, to the future AFTER the fecal matter has hit rotating blades, without knowing how or why. Then he gets sent to the Day of Pun-Pun (any similarity with Chrono Trigger is a mere coincidence) and vows to return to the past to fix things up. Except he has no idea why he's time-slipping or if he has any way to trigger it of his own volition.

He spends several centuries randomly skipping between time periods, taking his time to make certain experiments along the way, which eventually leads to the creation of a myth around his persona - one that relates to a strange phantasm of sorts that comes, does as he pleases, and then vanishes, never to be found again*.

*Until he gets seen somewhere else, naturally.

This sound good to everyone?

This guy will probably be close to the CN side of things, but likely not Chaotic Stupid.
Gendou Ikari is basically Gregory House in Kaminashades. This is FACT.

For proof, look here:

http://www.layoutjelly.com/image_27/gendo_ikari/

[SPOILER]
Which Final Fantasy Character Are You?
Final Fantasy 7
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Katana of Enlightenment.
Get yours.[/SPOILER]

I HAVE BROKEN THE 69 INTERNETS BARRIER!


PhaedrusXY

  • Moderator
  • Organ Grinder
  • *
  • Posts: 8022
  • Advanced Spambot
Re: Character planning
« Reply #14 on: November 17, 2009, 09:31:14 PM »
Actually I plan to provide for the means to travel time, and have it be a fairly rare ability. I think I mentioned that in the recruiting thread, but I guess I should have been more explicit. Although I guess it wouldn't hurt anything to have someone who randomly jumps around with no control over it...
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

Kuroimaken

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 6733
Re: Character planning
« Reply #15 on: November 17, 2009, 09:36:42 PM »
Actually I plan to provide for the means to travel time, and have it be a fairly rare ability. I think I mentioned that in the recruiting thread, but I guess I should have been more explicit. Although I guess it wouldn't hurt anything to have someone who randomly jumps around with no control over it...

Aye, though bear in mind that would be mostly his background. Also, take heed of the fact he doesn't know why it happens (leaving a plot hook to be used, maybe?). Once the campaign starts, there's any number of ways that little piece of his background can be exploited. I just figured I might give the character ever-so-slightly more experience in time travel.
Gendou Ikari is basically Gregory House in Kaminashades. This is FACT.

For proof, look here:

http://www.layoutjelly.com/image_27/gendo_ikari/

[SPOILER]
Which Final Fantasy Character Are You?
Final Fantasy 7
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Katana of Enlightenment.
Get yours.[/SPOILER]

I HAVE BROKEN THE 69 INTERNETS BARRIER!


PhaedrusXY

  • Moderator
  • Organ Grinder
  • *
  • Posts: 8022
  • Advanced Spambot
Re: Character planning
« Reply #16 on: November 17, 2009, 11:46:29 PM »
Actually I plan to provide for the means to travel time, and have it be a fairly rare ability. I think I mentioned that in the recruiting thread, but I guess I should have been more explicit. Although I guess it wouldn't hurt anything to have someone who randomly jumps around with no control over it...

Aye, though bear in mind that would be mostly his background. Also, take heed of the fact he doesn't know why it happens (leaving a plot hook to be used, maybe?). Once the campaign starts, there's any number of ways that little piece of his background can be exploited. I just figured I might give the character ever-so-slightly more experience in time travel.
Yeah, I can work that in I think.

I think it will be related somehow to Myth Drannor, and something about the crazy magic/artifacts there that did something to you.
« Last Edit: November 18, 2009, 12:59:23 AM by PhaedrusXY »
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

Bozwevial

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 4497
  • Developing a relaxed attitude to danger.
Re: Character planning
« Reply #17 on: November 18, 2009, 12:56:27 AM »
I was mostly considering the FR version of Axl Low - helping Elminster clear up the shitstorm in Shadowdale, as it were, or something to that effect - and for some reason, he timeslipped.

Oh dear, Elminster. Do you have any idea how much paperwork he causes? The magical discrepancies alone...

VennDygrem

  • Member
  • Grape ape
  • *
  • Posts: 1689
    • Email
Re: Character planning
« Reply #18 on: November 18, 2009, 01:50:26 AM »
Reserved for Cade, lower-planes-descended Aasimar monk.

-----
Background/history soon as well as character sheet
So you're going to use the Tiefling stats? To open up the Fiend feats? I think that's exactly what I'd do with a Tome monk. :P If you wanted to use Aasimar stats, that's fine also. If you read the fluff for the Tome version, it says that they can be descended from "beautiful" creatures from the lower planes, also. The main difference between them and the tiefling is that the latter's ancestors were "ugly".  :lmao

There is also the thing about there being no upper plane equivalent to the Fiend feats, which is probably because they never got around to it before they quit cranking out sourcebooks. So if you guys want to change the fluff on things like that, that's more than ok. It's almost required to turn this into a complete ruleset.

Actually I was hoping to use the Aasimar stats and the tome flavoring for a succubus or other demon-spawn ancestry, thus "lower-planes-descended Aasimar." The stat boosts work better for what I hope to accomplish. Also, I plan on dipping at least one level of True Fiend, probably only up to 3 at max to take the most advantage of the tome Monk class.

Cade, Aasimar Monk
"Go beyond the impossible and kick reason to the curb, and if there is a wall, we'll knock it down!"

Cade was abandoned by his Tanar'ri parent, and was found on the doorstep of a young Human couple. He was a normal enough child, but as he grew it rapidly became clear what he was. First it was apparent that he was unnaturally attractive; Then his skin darkened to a ruddy hue; Then, as his parents began growing older, he simply didn't. His parents became distant, fearing that the son that they took in was a tiefling or other foul fiend; and then one day his father took him from their home early one morning. Long story short, Cade was sold into slavery while his parents told their friends that he had been kidnapped, killed, who knows. The young Cade managed to escape after a time, having honed his strength and combat abilities and his determination. Rather than return home where he knew he would only face further persecution, Cade went "off the grid," surviving through apt application of charm and grace, talents which seemed to come naturally to him. Eventually, he was taken in by a charitable monastery. These were no simple monks, however. They specialized in infiltration, assassination, and other gray-areas, making Cade's initiation particularly appropriate. Over these many years, Cade's sheer determination and iron will kept him going, and this fact leads him to believe that through conviction, courae, and a little luck, one can achieve just about anything.

Background-
Monastic Training:
You have undergone intense training under the steady tutelage of an order of monks. They grilled you every day, but you persevered, and you are better for it. You'll still probably carry the scars for the rest of your life, though.
Benefit: Choose one skill as a bonus class skill. You gain a +2 bonus to this skill. You also gain one bonus language of your choice, which does not need to be one of your racially-derived bonus languages. While you likely learned at least some combat ability from your masters, they also made damn sure to teach you several other skills which would help make sure you wouldn't need to resort to combat in the first place.
---------------------------------
I was going to do two skills, but going with just one seemed less like going overboard.

Alternatively, I could go with:

Fiend-tongued:
You are the descendant of one of the more devious, socially-keyed members of the fiendish races. You have inherited their silver tongue, which most likely has gotten you out of, and into, plenty of trouble.
Benefit: Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate are class skills for you, no matter what classes you take. You gain a +2 bonus to one of these, your choice at character creation. When using this skill against a member of the opposite gender, the bonus improves to +4.
--------------------------------

Any thoughts, anyone? Would anyone already know Cade?

PhaedrusXY

  • Moderator
  • Organ Grinder
  • *
  • Posts: 8022
  • Advanced Spambot
Re: Character planning
« Reply #19 on: November 18, 2009, 02:01:24 AM »
I think it would be more likely that he'd be abandoned by his human parent. The male version of a succubus is called an incubus, and they are known to be less... subtle... in their methodology. It's not a big deal either way, though.

Either of those backgrounds seems fine.

It would simplify things to say you wound up in the same monastery that Agita's character was abandoned at as a child (bunch of freakin' orphans :P ). That potentially gives us a way for two or three of you guys to know each other, at least.
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]