Before you all give fleshed out full characters, I'd like to ensure that all of your concepts synch well. In the goal of doing that, I'd like each of you to post your basic concept.
An idea might be:
Name: Bob
Class: Fighter
General build idea: Charge in swordsman
General narrative concept: Spunky young rascal.
The idea is that you can spot holes earlier rather than later and discuss supporting each other.
Dracos
I have a number of concepts... being the mentor type, it'd be cool to have someone to, well, mentor, though. Still, that can take many forms!
In honour of the concept of wit, they will all be named 'Sharpe', and all are middle-aged. >_>
-Mystic Theurge, worships (God.)
-A Cleric/Wizard, one of the few spellcasters who melds both forms into a single, seamless whole. In the village, he serves as the local 'wise man', and is usually the first person the village would go to help to if something strange was afoot. Could easily be a teacher for either character, either in magic, or merely general lore. Naturally has some insight into PROPHECY.
-Build Idea: Duh. Class says it all.
-Swashbuckler/Rogue
-Former duelist, who is out at the village because the queen told him specifically to come here (the culmination of a clandestine affair). Lives in the village as an outsider, but a well-liked 'city slicker'. Incredibly practical, the sort that doesn't believe in fate or destiny... even though the queen told him that it was imperitive to guard two children there.
-Build Idea: On the surface? Spring attack duelist w/sneak attack! Acts all ninja-like.
-Swordsage
-This retired man appeared mysteriously in the village the same day the children were born, carrying nothing but exhausted rations, a sword, and a strange box that he has never opened. Though he has never drawn his blade, he has taught interested villagers the way of fighting through words and riddles alone. After announcing his presence there, he resided in a small cottage on a nearby mountain, only venturing down for food and supplies.
-Build Idea: Swordsage, armed with a wide variety of cool techniques. A sort of martial toolbox. Think your typical anime-inspired supernatural-technique wielding swordsman.
I forget, am I playing the male lead and Rez the female lead, or the other way around?
You're the man, Merc!
Hi-larity.
Heh. Well, I'm still thinking on concepts. I was originally just thinking of adapting the knight character I built for Usagi's game in case an opening made itself available, though I'm also trying to think of other possible characters, as I like the background I had for that knight and would rather not modify it to fit into this story.
I do know that I want someone that's primarily a melee combatant though, as that's what pops into mind when I think "heroic main character youth boy". I'd also rather not play a straight out fighter though.
Primary problem I'm having is that my mind tends to think up 'support' characters, or characters that don't really fit in with a 'rural village' background. Whenever I do try to think 'rural village', I seem to always go back to Fighter. >.<;
Edit: Well, fighter or swashbuckler, but I'm already playing a swashbuckler, so.... >_>;
Feel free to toss some of those out Merc. Maybe we can work with one. Never know.
Dracos
QuoteFeel free to toss some of those out Merc. Maybe we can work with one. Never know.
Uh, okay... off the top of my head since I don't have books at work...
Class: Barbarian with possibly some levels of fighter or rogue
Build: A defensively tank built barbarian (using the whirling frenzy variant on rage) with a 'get in your face and stay there till you're dead' mentality.
Class: Ranger
Build: Archer with the Distracting Attack variant replacing Animal Companion that causes flanking status for hit enemies, even if they're not flanked. Keep distance and assist primary damage dealer with arrows and occassionally spells.
Class: Beguiler/Rogue (or possibly Sorcerer/Rogue)
Build: opportunist/annoyance, mainly keeping opponents from attacking effectively rather than necessarily dealing out damage. Example, rogue would probably have the Disruptive Attack variant that allows you to deal out -5AC penalty for a round in place of sneak attack damage.
Well, the creature types I've been considering for Magical Monster Sidekick are Pseudodragon, Blink Dog and Bearhound, though Bearhound is a bit large, and might not make the "fits inside a house" requirement.
As for the class level, I thought about Wizard or Sorcerer for the Pseudodragon and Blink Dog, but that would cause problems with somatic components of spells... The idea would be a support character, not a damage dealer.
For the Bearhound, it would most likely be Barbarian, keeping enemies' attention away fro the leads with brute strength and toughness.
You could always go cleric and be the healing/buffs specialist if you want to provide support.
And you still have limbs as a magical creature, so I doubt somatic would be -that- troublesome.
Verbal component on the other hand, considering you're not allowed to be heard when someone besides the hero/heroine is around... >_>
You're almost guaranteed to need the Silent Spell metamagic feat.
Well, if I was the Blink Dog, I'd be needing those limbs to stand on...
Bah! Just prop your back against a tree or a wall, and wave those stumpy little limbs! =p
Quote from: MercForHireQuoteFeel free to toss some of those out Merc. Maybe we can work with one. Never know.
Uh, okay... off the top of my head since I don't have books at work...
Class: Barbarian with possibly some levels of fighter or rogue
Build: A defensively tank built barbarian (using the whirling frenzy variant on rage) with a 'get in your face and stay there till you're dead' mentality.
How not? if you tie this in with some fighting training, some background of being a wildcat, and your HOME being burned to the ground, you have plenty of reasons to really play up a real berserker barbarian style. I could totally see the young kid being enraged at such things. Assuming you want to go that way.
Quote
Class: Ranger
Build: Archer with the Distracting Attack variant replacing Animal Companion that causes flanking status for hit enemies, even if they're not flanked. Keep distance and assist primary damage dealer with arrows and occassionally spells.
Mmmm, I can work with that. It'd be a little more of a supporting role story and tie you and the other lead closer in such assuming she's playing the primary damage dealer.
Quote
Class: Beguiler/Rogue (or possibly Sorcerer/Rogue)
Build: opportunist/annoyance, mainly keeping opponents from attacking effectively rather than necessarily dealing out damage. Example, rogue would probably have the Disruptive Attack variant that allows you to deal out -5AC penalty for a round in place of sneak attack damage.
Hum. Yeah, an annoyance type build isn't really in the right theme here.
Dracos
Re: Spellcasting as an odd monster:
If there's not a feat to handle that, we'll see about making one.
Dracos
Well, there are the still and silent spell feats, and eschew materials, but each of those makes the spell use a slot one level higher than the spell's normal level. If it's needed for every spell cast, that's quite a handicap. Might be possible to overcome if I had more than one class level. That could be reasonable with the Pseudodragon, as it's only 2 HD.
Rawr. I have a couple of concepts bouncing around in my head, they kinda depend on what you decide to go with, Merc; I'll key mine off of yours.
I was thinking of running with a cleric if you were going to be the frontline one. If you're going more of a support class then I'll do something different.
Baka:
Concept up a build and pitch it at me and we'll see.
And check Savage Species. I'd be surprised if they didn't have some rules for spellcasters with odd builds.
Dracos
Rez, I'll play some melee class, probably either the knight, barbarian or if Drac allows it, the warblade.
I think I'll make a rough sheet for each of them today or tomorrow and a rough background. I'll post all three of them and you can comment which one you'd rather play alongside, and then I'll clean stuff up.
A question for Drac though: You mentioned barbarian was playable off the fact that village is burned down. Does this mean we start the game quite some time after the village is burned down and not immidiately after or as it happens?
You misunderstand. I'm going to let you guys decide your background as a team as regards the the start. So, if you wanted to play a barabarian, you could easily have your village burned down.
You could also be chased by dark knights. Foreseen in a prophecy. Or just out to see the world.
Dracos
Please keep it short on that, merc. I don't want you to write a lot and have me say no =)
I'll try (emphasis on try) to get rules, gold, and other stuff up today.
There's a lot in my way.
Dracos
I did say 'rough'!
I know you like it rough, Drac, and I always strive to please!
=p
=P
=P
Yes! Warblade! If you play it, you can be my pupil!
Win win win win win. >_>
I'm intending on running with a Favoured Soul; basically a cleric who casts like a sorcerer (and has more spells per day) and gets weapon specialisation; in return she doesn't get clerical domains, can't turn undead, learns spells slower and has a very limited spell selection.
Ideally I'm looking at a neutral good character and a deity who matches that alignment; less the law and justice and judgement type of good though.
Um . . . I guess her deity's favoured weapon is up in the airdon't really mind what her deity's favoured weapon is, as long as it's not two-handed melee. Ranged or one-handed melee is fine.
Statbuild and equipment can wait until I know a little more.
Oh, and her name is Islen.
Favored Souls also save like monks, which is neat. I do dislike that their spells are based on both CHA and WIS though, since they use CHA to cast, but WIS for DC, rather than just one of the two stats for the purpose of both. They're still not bad though.
I actually had been considering what I'd play if I had ended up in the female lead position, and I'd probably have picked either a favored soul, or the ranger or beguiler/rogue builds I mentioned earlier.
Anyway, I do think I'll go with Warblade if Drac gets a chance to look through the book and says it's okay (I don't see why he -wouldn't- though, considering he tried to play the same class in Usagi's game though! =D).
I'd probably just try to make a fairly balanced build between offense/defense with the character being very reckless and confident though still very charismatic and intelligent. So personality-wise, he'll probably be somewhat similar to how Elaine used to be, decent/balanced stats everywhere except wisdom which'll be low, but capable of managing through despite his sheer recklessness.
If I have to have a really generic weapon I'd prefer the longsword to the mace.
If I don't then there's other fun stuff out there, like bastard swords (which I always liked) and spears (probably not thaaaat appropriate but still funz).
Weapon upgrades will mostly be quest given (mostly! nothing technically stopping you from stripping enemies) and thus depending on your natural inclination.
Hum.
Might as well add one more tidbit.
Fighter types can sacrifice proficiency in MARTIAL for '1' exotic weapon proficiency. Free. Effectively a straight trade of "Weapon Proficiency: Martial" feat (which there was at one point, don't think there is now) for "Weapon Profiency: Exotic"
Dracos
Concepty goodness!
Monster race: Bearhound (Modified to have lower stats than in the Monster Manual 3, since they're CRAZY high)
Class level: Monk
Alignment: Lawful good
Build: Big Bear Tank. Gets in close and beats whoever's threatening the kids with brute strength.
This is assuming that the bearhound's natural weapons will count as unarmed. if they don't, I might have to go with a different class.
General narrative concept: Slow to act outside of combat, almost lazy. Contemplative, with monk-like beliefs in the order and nature of things, and that it is inevitable that good will triumph. Economical with words.
Downloading MM3.5
I'll get back to you asap.
Dracos
I was just wondering whether I should still be waiting before putting a sheet together. If you need me to send you the appropriate Monster Manual, I can.
So, like, do we know how we know each other yet?
This is what I've got and we need to build stories off...
->Kenwall hung around in the village and thought swords were cool.
->Islen lived in the village, had funky clerical powers inherited from ancestor. Is friends with Kenwall.
->Sharpe shows up, armed with cryptic prophecy, legendary sword (in box), and awesome hurting-other-people skills.
->For reasons known mainly to him, he starts teaching Kenwall to fight.
->?????
->Baka is a DOG that's also a BEAR. Oh. My. God.
Where is the bearhound? Sorry for the delay but finally sitting down to resolve it a bit and couldn't find it in either MM3.5 or 4's TOC.
Dracos
Baka?
I can't approve something I don't see in the books.
Dracos
Merc sent it to me. That's a level 14 monster. It's no surprise that it's stats are absurd as they're reasonably on tier for something about twice as strong as what you probably should be aiming at. If you're really hankering on the concept though, this is what we can try...
Make a version of it that has:
Half the hit die
One size class lower
two less feat
Drop skills proportionately down about 5 notches
Drop stats to what you think they should be (More than size down)
Dracos
Sorry, I've been hugely busy over the last week.
I'll put together a build for the monster without the class level in the next day or two.
Fair enough. Try and touch base with Rez and talk character backstory too =P
Dracos
Okay, so this took longer than I thought. This isn't really a base for a monster type, but for my specific character, just lacking the character level.
Medium Magical Beast
HD: 5d10 + 18
Str: 17
Dex: 12
Con: 16
Int: 12
Wis: 16
Cha: 12
Natural Armour: 6
Skills: 24 points (haven't decided what yet)
Feats:
Alertness
Skill Focus (Survival)
Track
Special:
Enchanted natural weapons
Improved grab
Trip
Darkvision 60ft
Low-light vision
Scent
Trackless step
Wild empathy
I'm not sure what to do about attacks, partly because I don't know how the values in the Monster Manual are arrived at.
Edit: Strength set to 17. That's what I'd worked out at first, using 85 points split over the stats.
You can have 16 more points, thinks I.
And gold to be discussed later. Dependant a bit on others builds.
Baka? got a final or something?
Dracos