Great stuff. I'll take a look at it. Thanks!
Hey Mittean, I just wanted to give you a heads up that I'm leaning more towards fighter than magus for my class.
There are some awesome looking applications out there, this recruitment has definitely reignited my interest in the Eberron setting!
Just as a note for you mittean Vinexa will be a tiefling, not vishkanya. I haven't gotten the character rebuilt yet.
What rules are you curious about?
Rules like traits and drawbacks which affect how to role play the character, and if you are using any of the variant rules like retraining, downtime, etc. Will there be downtime for stuff like Leadership to amass followers and other such?
Things.
I don't find it as offensive at all. I'm up for any feedback and appreciate your thoughts.
I totally understand what it is that makes Changelings an iffy race. For me, it's because it's a relatively easy race for some players to make a Mary-Sue character out of, something I take great strides to avoid in all of my characters. What is it for you?Actually, I never intended for Jesse to be a loner. I like character interactions too much for it. Rather, the idea was for him to be a bit socially awkward when not masked, but when he adopts his alias, he grows confidence.
Any more thoughts?
You could amass followers, theoretically. Leadership works slightly different in my game, but I won't fuss with explaining the difference until we actually get there. :)
Down time, sure, I can't say we won't have it, but I will say I will likely drive story instead. But we'll have to see.
I do allow drawbacks AND flaws, if you want. I forget the retraining one, but I do work with players wanting some retraining normally, so I expect yes.
Things.I don't find it as offensive at all. I'm up for any feedback and appreciate your thoughts.
I totally understand what it is that makes Changelings an iffy race. For me, it's because it's a relatively easy race for some players to make a Mary-Sue character out of, something I take great strides to avoid in all of my characters. What is it for you?
Actually, I never intended for Jesse to be a loner. I like character interactions too much for it. Rather, the idea was for him to be a bit socially awkward when not masked, but when he adopts his alias, he grows confidence.Any more thoughts?
I agree playing a changeling can be a challenge. I play one at the moment, and as the story moved to dungeon crawling, I have put the personalities to the side for the moment. At the beginning though, I managed to make use of the race's talent for disguise. It depends a lot on the style of play of the party, as well as the type of story being told.
In any case, it's not necessarily a big issue. I've had more issues with elves that just sound and feel like humans.
I've been adding game mechanics to this character as I've had time to do so, but don't mind putting in the effort, as I really had no idea what the game mechanics were when I picked it. So it's a learning experience.
This is Adrian Grimm:
Background: Ferus was born in a small village far on the outskirts of civilization, that was outside of any kingdom whose laws would ever reach. Without the direct presence of the kingdom policing the smaller villages, chaos and pain went unbidden. His parents were struggling with poverty and when they had him they knew that they wouldn't be able to keep him and still manage to survive with all the troubles they suffer.
They knew they had to do something about Ferus, but they could not bring themselves to kill him, not their own child. They tried to take him to the edge of the forest nearby and abandon him, hope that the dark creatures of the forest would grant their babe a quick and painless death, even as it broke their hearts to have to be forced to abandon him. Better to be eaten by something than the slow inexorible starve towards death.
A shifter crone that lived on the edge of the forest as a hermit happened to be gathering herbs when she heard the soft cry of the babe and came to the source of the noise. She found him, wrapped in a simple cloth, crying, and sat her herb basket down nearby. She watched him for a time, his crying having stopped when he saw her. She thought wryly that it was typical that another human child had been abandoned by parents that were too poor to keep them and too cowardly to do them in themselves.
She spat into the woods and at first she thought to leave him. Afterall it wasn't her place to take pity on every babe thrown to the wilderness, her own cottage would be chock full of infants at that rate. She noticed that he quieted some when she approached watching him, and as she turned to leave his crying once more picked up. Turning back to face him she looked at him puzzled, his crying had ceased once more as he looked up at her.
She grit her teeth, thinking the little brat had just imprinted himself onto her. Bitterly she picked up the babe and her basket of herbs and took both of them back to her secluded cottage. She did manage to live comfortably off the land taking a few things here and there from cultivating plants or the minor amount of hunting she had to do.
She decided after a brief time that she should name the nameless child, calling him Ferus out of irony. She knew that he wasn't birthed from the wild, but she found it fitting for her new little wild child that she grew attached to despite herself. As he grew up he called her Mother Fortuna, and she taught him a deep reverence of the wild, that one can live in harmony with nature and that it always provides. You never take greedily from it what you don't need.
As time went on, they would come across poachers, bandits, thieves, other ruffians that would pass through their part of the forest and they would bring a swift and powerful justice to them if they harmed the forest or its inhabitants that could not defend themselves. Mother Fortuna was growing venerable, she would not be able to continue to be a ward for the forest for much longer. She was growing sick and aged and nothing the herbs and medicines she had taught Ferus to make or any teas brewed could spare her from the wracking cough she had developed.
When it finally grew time for her to pass, she was on her bed. She was laying there weak, voice cracking some as she bid Ferus to come closer. She knew that he only taught Ferus so much of the ways of nature and wished she had taught him more. She knew that she had given him the seed of knowledge that he would need to grow into a strong adult that would carry on her tradition of reverence and protection of the wild. She pleaded that once she had finally passed on, that he would go, far from here, and grow into the man that she had hoped to raise him into.
She passed breathing her final breath and Ferus grieved for some time before he could bring himself to perform funerary rites for her. He prayed that the forest would take her spirit into it in order to send it forth once more, reborn in another form to return to us once more. Once he had finished his rites, he sought the spirit of the forest to grant him guidance, what would be his purpose? Would he continue in Mother Fortuna's stead once again?
He packed up his meager belongings and some keepsakes to remind him of Mother Fortuna and her teachings, and decided to set off and find his own way, his own path, leaving the cottage and his former teacher behind him. He would make his way around the world as a ceaseless wanderer and help out others the way he was helped, and continue to help nature flourish.
Appearance: He appears to be a gruff young man with dusty brown hair and fairly thick beard. He has rough calloused hands from working hard, his skin tanned from long periods of working and cultivating herbs in the sun. He has deep green eyes, that give him an exaggerated expression whenever he smiles or frowns. He is muscular, well-built and wears simple cloth and hide to cover himself with.
Personality: He is slow to trust, but he knows that others have strong beliefs. He knows that fate exists and he reveres nature for sparing him what would have been certain a death had Mother Fortuna smiled upon him. He gives others the benefit insofar as they give him just as much in return.
Good stuff, Ferus!
I got your PM and I can say I am interested and willing to alter Sigmund a bit to fit into Eberron. I've never had a chance to play in Eberron but I have read several novels and some splatbooks and the setting sounds super cool. How closely will you be following RotRL? Is Sandpoint still basically the same village, are gobilins still their main worry? Oh, and do you have any interest in using background skills? They are probably my favorite part of unchained.
Background skills are fine. Don't worry about any changes I make, if I spot something different (as I messaged you), I will privately inform people. I do want to keep them under the hood for now, so the changes might be discovered by the heroes. :)
I got some of the info in my alias changed over but without the exact build rules I've done about all that I can. I very much look forward to this game so I hope I get selected.
Thanks, Vinexa!
Things.I don't find it as offensive at all. I'm up for any feedback and appreciate your thoughts.
I totally understand what it is that makes Changelings an iffy race. For me, it's because it's a relatively easy race for some players to make a Mary-Sue character out of, something I take great strides to avoid in all of my characters. What is it for you?
Actually, I never intended for Jesse to be a loner. I like character interactions too much for it. Rather, the idea was for him to be a bit socially awkward when not masked, but when he adopts his alias, he grows confidence.Any more thoughts?
I agree playing a changeling can be a challenge. I play one at the moment, and as the story moved to dungeon crawling, I have put the personalities to the side for the moment. At the beginning though, I managed to make use of the race's talent for disguise. It depends a lot on the style of play of the party, as well as the type of story being told.
In any case, it's not necessarily a big issue. I've had more issues with elves that just sound and feel like humans.
Changeling characters suffer a lot of times from having many personalities I feel. I think that a better way to play one is with a very distinct personality, which kind of pushes through all of the disguises he/she puts on, and sometimes gets the character into trouble, it is a flaw of sorts, makes roleplaying enjoyable, and makes the changeling feel more real if that makes sense. I love when my character will fail at something because of their personality making them do things that are either really illogical or dangerous, because they just have to.
Yeah I played a changeling in another game the DM wouldn't let me take the time to develop multiple personas in Sharn. What was even more annoying is that I was playing a changeling beguiler, a class that's all about illusions and tricking people. No surprise that group didn't last very long.
Yeah I played a changeling in another game the DM wouldn't let me take the time to develop multiple personas in Sharn. What was even more annoying is that I was playing a changeling beguiler, a class that's all about illusions and tricking people. No surprise that group didn't last very long.
it does take a lot of time from the rest of the group for a changeling to develop seven personalities...
I wasn't trying to monopolize, I was the only rogue/face/infiltrator in the group and it was an evil group. I figured one way to do that was to create personas that would allow me to hide in plain site so we could waltz in anywhere we wanted and rob anyone at anytime. Best way to stir up trouble against the city guard was to look like one of them while murdering/stealing our way to infamy.
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If you want good references for playing a character like that, watch Burn Notice (Michael Weston has to 'be' dozens of different roles over the series) and the talented Mr. Ripley.
Great examples of a character that adapts, morphs and blends, but has key traits of personality throughout.
My issue with changelings (which I love) is that most people struggle to have ONE distinct character, that is layered and nuanced. Having one with a half dozen personalities? Not likely to happen. Which means at that point it becomes just a face shifter with one personality and a parlor trick.
If you can pull it off, brilliant. If you can't...:/
Received your invite, I will have a background up soon!
I'd like to get some feedback on some things I'm considering.
Caught between this and his devout father's adherence to the Sovereign Host, ______'s upbringing was contradictory at best. Predisposed, as he was, ______ grew bitter and Machiavellian, concluding that religion only led to madness. Unwilling to heed either parent's dreams for his future, ______ left to pursue his own agenda.
From his native Breland, he traveled unto Karrnath, seeking the necromancers there to further understand his connection the Endless Night, and occasionally falling in with the cultists of the Blood of Vol. Still, each group only saw in _____ a means to their own power.
Rejecting, again, the machinations of others, he returned to Breland. His father, long awaiting his return, arranged work for his prodigal son in Sharn. _____, having no other prospects, begrudgingly accepted his father's proposal.
______ spends his labor as a lesser clerk and guardian for House Medani. Off duty, ______ delves the City of the Dead and the University district in equal measure, hoping to uncover some inherent meaning in a universe without any.
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Alright this is for everyone who has posted with interest, with a character, a background...anything. If you have already answered this question in a background that's fine.... Answer it again.
You can put it behind a spoiler, to keep the knowledge contained for any other potential players (so they discover it through role-playing) or not, that's up to you.
But answer me these questions: (Do you trust it, love it, proud to live here, etc.)
I plan on asking questions at least twice a week, even through the play-through, meant to prompt deeper backgrounds, and more decisive character behaviors and choices. I will award experience for those who answer in game promptly, and add it into their character description. For a bit of more detailed reading on Breland, go to page 271 of this guide, if you are interested.
Mittean, thank you for your feedback. I don't think I would be a good fit for the game. Good luck to you, and to everyone who submitted a character.
Thanks, Mar. :) Good luck.
Good answers, Nightdeath. :)
Can't wait to see your submission Usk the Tusk.
He moved to Sandpoint from Sharn recently and has been in Breland for about 1 year.
He perceives Breland as a neutral kingdom, its Dark Lanterns stray too far towards questionable tactics to be "good" for Reth's taste.
Part of the move to Sandpoint is to guard the new Cathedral about to be sanctified.
He does believe that Breland is a good place to be in to determine his own destiny and will continue to stay there until the Silver Flame calls him to action elsewhere.
Great answers. Does he believe the "propaganda" about the Dark lanterns?
Who sent him to the Cathedral?
Seeing news article about the rebuilding being nearly complete he felt divinely inspired to go and offer himself as a guardian of the structure. Since being in Sandpoint he has never removed his cloak, gloves, or mask in front of others and claims to have been badly burned to hide his true identity.
In a sense, she cares more about personal interactions than anything relating to governmental policy or the problems which those in charge might face.
What country were you born in? Do you currently call Breland your home? Do you think Breland is a 'good' government? (Do you trust it, love it, proud to live here, etc.)
Nik'olo d'Orien was born in the Lhazaar Principalities. It is his very first time in Breland, though he has heard much from the other couriers about the marvels of Sharn. He is here on House business. As such, he has not made up his mind about the quality of its government or its people. Yet, Nik'olo has often found that it is a risky business to generalize, as he's met bad and good people in every place he's been.
That more or less what you're looking for mittean?
DM:
It's very conceivable, however to see nationalistic codes. Think about the U.S. in the 60's, in the midst of the Cold War. You didn't talk about socialism. Russia was bad. Communism, and the Red Army, were the enemies, though we had not actually fought them. Red White and Blue. One nation became one nation under God, to separate ourselves from the godless Russian's...these were all ideas, precepts and codes of the U.S., and Breland has the same thing. They've been at war for a hundred years...the war in Afghanistan has been about a dozen, and WWII was six years.
A hundred years. A new species (warforged) was created, and granted rights. The kingdom was broken. A dozen new countries arose from the ashes. Religious acts of terrorism were done in the name of the Silver Flame.
What would her code be? The reclaiming of Galifar for King Boranel? Save the refugees of Cyre? Diplomacy with the Aundairans? Sanctions on Kaarnath until they free their captive undead? Religious freedom, or religious policing of the Silver flame?
If she views herself as a citizen of the world, does she consider herself to be Brelish? Or Galifaran? :)
Reth, that last post I love. There is a good conflict. :)
Great answers Vinexa, Nik'olo, Morgan and Edelsmirge. :) Exactly what I'm looking for. Thank you.
But answer me these questions: (Do you trust it, love it, proud to live here, etc.)I plan on asking questions at least twice a week, even through the play-through, meant to prompt deeper backgrounds, and more decisive character behaviors and choices. I will award experience for those who answer in game promptly, and add it into their character description. For a bit of more detailed reading on Breland, go to page 271 of this guide, if you are interested.
Nice, Death_Keeper. :)
Politics aren't a major concern of his right now though, he is sill learning the ways of the world and as such is somewhat native
Response to the questions:
Ferus, I like it. Home in the Eldeen Reaches is always majestic in my mind, just off Lake Galifar and Niern.
That said, that's mainly because she was so focused on her family and their philanthropy. Helping those she encounters personally is all she has known in life and so would make that her code. If I may:
I am fair to others. I expect nothing for myself but that which I need to survive.
My community [Sandpoint] comes first, and I will contribute to it all that I can. If I don’t give something back, who will?
I will attempt to stay my hand in times of conflict, though will not hesitate protect myself or the innocent if need be.
There is good in everyone; I seek out this perfection and bring it to light whenever possible. Every life has the potential for redemption.
War is an unforgivable sin against the world. You shall uphold the Treaty of Thronehold as decreed by King Boranel and you shall destroy any who attempt to disrupt this peace.
EDIT: I truly do like the idea of following this, even though I am not a paladin. It gives Mylas a code of ethics and something to live by besides her need to find her master and wish to return her family's wealth.
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Mylas, I like it all. :) Especially the last two bits.
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** spoiler omitted **
EDIT: I truly do like the idea of following this, even though I am not a paladin. It gives Mylas a code of ethics and something to live by besides her need to find her master and wish to return her family's wealth.
** spoiler omitted **
"Ye all know that bein a paladin has a bad connotation around the parts fer not lettin people have ther fun by doin all of the evil deeds that be so much fun, but ye know in yer heart that it be the right thing to do. Even Miss Thorne agrees." Tordir raises his goblet in an informal salute.
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Morgan is going to be steady and easy going except around slavers, religious intolerance and rapists. Then she starts hitting something. Alot.