Character ideas you'll never play?

So. Over the weekend I had a sudden neat idea for a cool looking character, when I realized I'll never actually play said character. I do this a lot, actually, just make concepts that I don't actually want to play, I just want to 'work out' logistically. I'll start us off:

I had a great visual of my head, of this female samurai who wears what looks like a mix between samurai armor, and a prim proper Victorian dress, all rustic and skirts mixed with bamboo armor and slight Japanese aesthetic. And her katana would double as a parasol, when sheathed.

The only problem: I don't play female characters. Zero interest, never did anything for me, I'm always incredibly bored on the rare monsoon season when I even start to attempt one.

Alright, now you guys go.

Four armed catfolk that uses natural attacks and mutegens it's a pretty interestingkidea and does lots of damage I've always just found the image of a 4 armed catfolk too ridiculous to play.

My concept is more a conversion than a new idea. It was a "Skaven" globadier/jezzail. My idea was to take a ratfolk alchemist (plaguebringer) and either dip gunslinger or take the amateur gunslinger feat. Later when it becomes availiable (it's dangerous and expensive) I'd use viridium "warpstone" for ammo. 'till then a green crystal with an everburning torch would have to suffice as warpstone gadget.

From level 10 on a plague bringer is immune to disease and thus to the side effects of viridium, so from then on he can use and carry it without risking to get ill.

A gnoll bard. He's the kind of character that you hate before you even get to know him, just because of the way he looks. Then, when you interact with him, you find his personality to be absolutely revolting, and that's when you really start to hate him.

But the worst part of him is the taunting, schoolyard-style bullying songs he sings. The rhymes are stupid but somehow they get under your skin. And he won't be winning any awards for his musical talent, but that's part of what makes his shtick so effective.

Another comcept I'll most likely never play (except perhaps in an lowlevel oneshot game) is the crossblooded sorcerer specialized in damage cantrips. This idea uses a combination of bloodline abilities, feats, traits and equip to push his cantrip damage to 1d3+7 at 1st level.
The problem is that this damage is good for 1st leel but will not increase much as he levels up. And because of that it will not remain viable for long.
And for a backup weapon the investment is too big.

The vengeful paladin that won't admit to himself that he's become an anti-paladin.

An elf. Of any class.

Most of them. Simply because there's not time. It's not that I don't want to play them, I'll just never get the chance.

One of these days, though, I'm going to play the half-orc sorcerer with the fey bloodline who is still in touch with and has a very good relationship with both of his loving parents.

Cross Dressing Goblin Rogue that Fights with a Spoon as his weapon of Choice...

Player actually attempted this and got thrown in Jail and then rolled another same session... I used this critter to beat the party down good in an all goblin melee... Now that was funny!

I had a great visual of my head, of this female samurai who wears what looks like a mix between samurai armor, and a prim proper Victorian dress, all rustic and skirts mixed with bamboo armor and slight Japanese aesthetic. And her katana would double as a parasol, when sheathed.

The only problem: I don't play female characters. Zero interest, never did anything for me, I'm always incredibly bored on the rare monsoon season when I even start to attempt one.

How odd. You've come up with an idea that interests you, then discarded it based on a self-inflicted stricture that you would find it interesting.

Which side of your brain is correct in this?

How odd. You've come up with an idea that interests you, then discarded it based on a self-inflicted stricture that you would find it interesting.

Which side of your brain is correct in this?

The correct side.

A monk who bruises easily.

Druid, summoner, cleric (with animal domain), and ranger level 4. Tryin to max out that companion number.

I started an Dhamphir undead lord/synthesist summoner. He carried his dog in a bag that he could release to attack on command. The general idea (and it wasn't thought out) to have a character with undead power armour (maybe a level or two). the idea he could channel to heal both his sidekick and armour was cool.

I just enjoyed the flavour of him - he had one game in PFS before the rules came down two weeks later (no hard feelings, I understand why they changed).

I may revisit him as an NPC - but not as a big bad, he wasn't evil just not a good fit for the pathfinder society. I like to think he and 'Blinky' are exploring Golrian.

I had a great visual of my head, of this female samurai who wears what looks like a mix between samurai armor, and a prim proper Victorian dress, all rustic and skirts mixed with bamboo armor and slight Japanese aesthetic. And her katana would double as a parasol, when sheathed.

If it hasn't already been done, I now want to see this as the heroine of an action series or anime.

Alright, now you guys go.

I don't know if there's a concept I'll NEVER play but I've always got ideas floating in my head that I've not had a chance to realize... like my half-orc bard who is a wardrummer.

Or my acrobat who got called to be a paladin--actually did sort of play version of her in 3.x but not really as I properly envisioned her, would actually be a rogue/paladin multiclass... she would be a paladin with showmanship and a sense of humor. ;)

Also, it's not MY character idea, but I've always wanted to play Annah from Planescape: Torment in a tabletop game. Sadly, I can't imagine a situation where I'd be allowed to/the opportunity would pop up.

Half-Drow Archer Bard...

Just can't play anything close to drow due to Drizz't

Thri-kreen ranger.

Rarely have a campaign where it will fit. Mantis warriors don't really belong in urban campaigns, or in any campaign where you will talk to people, go into damp places (chitin rot, can't swim), go into mountains (can't climb), and if you follow the RP rules too strictly they aren't allowed to shop properly (and likely won't know enough about civilization to do so anyway, they'll probably randomly eat farmer's sheep because they don't understand the concept of owning animals), will probably try to take over the party and insist on an unarmed combat duel in order to settle the issue, etc. (I'd be nice about it, and assume the battle took place in the prologue. Incidentally, if the kreen loses, it usually won't try again.)

Have to start at least at 4th-level (and probably 6th) due to ECL issues. Most campaigns still seem to start at 1st-level.

I got to play one, once, for one session in 3rd Edition, before it broke down. (We all ended up playing weird characters, which was half of the problem.)

While I love 4e, the 4e kreen bears little mechanical resemblance to the original. Obviously the multiple arms were asking for trouble, but couldn't they have gotten venomous bite as an encounter ability?

For the 3.0 wheel of time setting, I planned a guy cross dressing and pretending to be a female channeler. Then he starts to go mad.

Halfling Bard Rodney Dangerfield

A non-magical character with aging penalties. It's pretty much impossible in Pathfinder. Middle-aged can work, but even then it's a stretch. Once you reach old, you're doomed. That -3 to all physical stats is just too damaging.

A non-magical character with aging penalties. It's pretty much impossible in Pathfinder. Middle-aged can work, but even then it's a stretch. Once you reach old, you're doomed. That -3 to all physical stats is just too damaging.

I always felt like age penalties were a bit too harsh. Especially since in a world where even the lowest level adept can help keep the food supply clean with purify food and drink, and generally low level healing magics and alchemy abound... the quality of life should be good, and a person aging will not lose fortitude so notably---there should be age penalties, but just not so that playing an older character would be nigh impossible. Maybe there should be a "heroic" and "non-heroic" tier for age penalties, just like there are for ability scores to divvy out to NPCs.

Is it really nigh impossible? -3 to physical stats is a lot, but what that really means is a -1 or a -2 penalty. It will hurt, but it's not crippling. Unless you're in a game where everybody is an optimizer and the GM is assuming that everybody is an optimizer, you can deal with it. It's similar to not having the right belt to go along with your character's top stat at higher levels. Or, to not having chosen an optimized stat array to start with. Now, granted, the age penalties stack with not optimizing your character, but it would provide a good RP reason for having sought out the best possible belt.

It also opens up RP opportunities to play your character somewhat against type. "When I was a young'un and had to walk around Taldor during the summer barefoot in the snow, I'd've bashed them faeries left and right with my greatsword just like you kids on my lawn!" The more canny fighter, who perhaps has started taking levels in something else and starts looking for devious and/or diplomatic solutions more often, etc.

All of that being said, when I'm GMing and a character wants to play an older character just for RP reasons, I allow them to not take the aging penalties/bonuses and make the age a "special effect". They can tune the stats to match the character they're trying to play.

Summoner - A disgraced sea captain who is magically tied to the spirit of his sunken vessel (his eidolon), which takes the shape of the wooden maiden figurehead the ship once displayed. She trails brine and broken planks behind her as she moves, her features long worn away by sun and surf. The captain simply wants to drown in a bottle. The Maiden is determined to make sure he sets aside his guilt at the loss of his ship and crew through penance and redemption. (I currently GM Skull & Shackles, so getting to play my own piratey character is probably never going to happen)

Wizard - A Forlorn elf who is so broken by the consistent loss of loved ones to the ravages of time that he desperately turns to studying necromancy. Those he cares about may die, but he will never have to be without them again. Ever. (This concept just isn't going to mesh with PFS or a potentially non-evil campaign, so I'll just sit on it until something very open-ended comes along.)

Bard - An Ulfen Savage Skald, sworn by a life debt to follow the adventures of his Chieftain's daughter (Titan Mauler Barbarian) and record them. (Love this concept for a paired team with my wife, but we're already playing barbarians in another game and have a few concepts ahead of this one...someday.)

Gunslinger - A old (age penalty) Musket Master who has lost a leg. (Pegleg trait from Skull & Shackles) He has come out of a very well-deserved retirement filled with tinkering and experimenting with black powder, to find out what happened to his granddaughter, a Pathfinder who has gone missing. Perhaps he will even find a new leg in the process...or restore his youth?(Want to do this one, but just have so many PFS characters as-is. Plus, getting a character ready for BoneKeep #2, GMing, etc. Too much ahead of this one...)

I once had an idea for a Halfling Barbarian Titan Mauler, then discovered the archetype is basically non-functioning.

In protest I made this:

He was basically the worst debuffer in the history of Pathfinder and a really stupid concept to start with. :P

EDIT: And no, I didn't play this character.

An idea I've been kicking around for some time now is based around a fighter; I hate playing fighters, so that's already one strike against him.

Anywho, he would be sort of jack of all trades; his only combat ability would be from his bonus fighter feats. The other feats he gets from leveling up would go towards thinks like skill focus, alertness, and eventually, magic item crafting (Master Craftsman, then magic arms and armor, and then wondrous items).

In addition, he wouldn't go down any of the hyper specialized feat chains; no weapon focus, specialization, etc. I envision this guy as the type of warrior who picks up any old weapon he sees and uses it proficiently, but not like a weapon master.

Obviously, Pathfinder rewards specialization, so this generalist fighter probably wouldn't play well.

A non-magical character with aging penalties. It's pretty much impossible in Pathfinder. Middle-aged can work, but even then it's a stretch. Once you reach old, you're doomed. That -3 to all physical stats is just too damaging.

I agree with this, as my favorite Batman is Dark Knight Returns Batman.

Also, glad you like the visual, DQ.

Simply because I have never met a DungeonMaster that was keen on it: 50 Centaur.

Is it really nigh impossible? -3 to physical stats is a lot, but what that really means is a -1 or a -2 penalty. It will hurt, but it's not crippling.

Yes it is. With a point buy, you're going to be spending 10 points for a mere 13 in one of your stats. That +2 bonus to mental stats doesn't really matter if you can't hit anything.

It also opens up RP opportunities to play your character somewhat against type.

I want to play a veteran soldier that can actually keep up with the younger adventurers. You can't do that by the rules. I don't want to sacrifice everything for flavor.

Also, when did "optimizing" become such a dirty word? That's what this game is about--you pick a character and optimize around the concept. In many cases, this means "I want to be a melee character". There's a huge difference between optimizing and min/maxing. In case of the former, there's no rules exploiting or stat dumping... it's all about potential. An older character can, at their very best, reach NPC levels of power (15 in your best stat). For a PC, that's not really going to work. CR equivalent and higher monsters will destroy you. I mean, really--you can have 15 Str, but only 13 Con. Even if you can sometimes hit, and deal some damage, you are a glass cannon (without the gunpowder).

All of that being said, when I'm GMing and a character wants to play an older character just for RP reasons, I allow them to not take the aging penalties/bonuses and make the age a "special effect". They can tune the stats to match the character they're trying to play.

This is exactly what I've been doing.

An idea I've been kicking around for some time now is based around a fighter; I hate playing fighters, so that's already one strike against him.

Anywho, he would be sort of jack of all trades; his only combat ability would be from his bonus fighter feats. The other feats he gets from leveling up would go towards thinks like skill focus, alertness, and eventually, magic item crafting (Master Craftsman, then magic arms and armor, and then wondrous items).

In addition, he wouldn't go down any of the hyper specialized feat chains; no weapon focus, specialization, etc. I envision this guy as the type of warrior who picks up any old weapon he sees and uses it proficiently, but not like a weapon master.

Obviously, Pathfinder rewards specialization, so this generalist fighter probably wouldn't play well.

New faq says you can qualify for item creation feats if you have a racial spell-like ability with caster level = character level.

Since forever ago, I had the character concept of a man who came from "somewhere far away" that people in the current setting would not really have heard about, where the character was a king.

But he didn't like being a king, so he travelled to the current setting and became a run-of-the-mill fighter making his way doing street duels and the like. He would only be known as "Drake", not by his real name (part of his self-cover-up so he wouldn't be recognised).

Nobody would know he was a king, but he was a king.

Avatar, that idea is pretty dopetastic.

So, my least favorite class is the fighter (too dull), and my least favorite weapon is the crossbow (takes way too many feats just to be useable). In strict defiance of the part of me that has to optimize, I took the character I knew I would least want to play ever (the Crossbowman fighter archetype) and did my damnedest to make him playable. I fooled myself with a cool looking build that I thought would work and now really wish that I'd left him as an idea I would never play.

As a note: a Vital Striking Double Crossbow wielding fighter who applies double Dex and double Int to a crap ton of dice seems awesome and is totally doable, but falls spectacularly short in actual play. Not to mention requiring a feat tree that has pretty much all of your feat choices dictated from levels 1-20.

So, my least favorite class is the fighter (too dull), and my least favorite weapon is the crossbow (takes way too many feats just to be useable). In strict defiance of the part of me that has to optimize, I took the character I knew I would least want to play ever (the Crossbowman fighter archetype) and did my damnedest to make him playable. I fooled myself with a cool looking build that I thought would work and now really wish that I'd left him as an idea I would never play.

As a note: a Vital Striking Double Crossbow wielding fighter who applies double Dex and double Int to a crap ton of dice seems awesome and is totally doable, but falls spectacularly short in actual play. Not to mention requiring a feat tree that has pretty much all of your feat choices dictated from levels 1-20.

There should be a Crossbow specialist sort of class that is a vampire hunter.

Wookie linguist. With chronic halitosis.

Really?! Can you link it please?

I'll sometimes jot down just weird character ideas, not out of any real desire to play them but more to spur on creative juices. Sometimes these end up fully fleshed out and become a character I'll present when we start a new campaign, just for the shock value.

One example is an animated backpack wizard based on the backpack from Dora, and that idea was actually started thinking how much better the sorting hat from harry potter would be if it could do other things like the wizards hat from the D&D cartoon. It ended up as a backpack since I figured focusing on Conjuration spells would fit better as a backpack.

One of my worst ideas involved a gnomish summoner where the eidolon was based on a certain adult oriented Japanese animation genre*. My friend reviewed the gnome and was on the fence about the summoner. The eidolon pretty much finished that character off, leaving me to play I believe it was an oracle. But the reaction when he realized what he was looking at was pretty priceless.

*Just wanted to mention that this was a joke character and not something I was actually wanting to play.

I had a great visual of my head, of this female samurai who wears what looks like a mix between samurai armor, and a prim proper Victorian dress, all rustic and skirts mixed with bamboo armor and slight Japanese aesthetic. And her katana would double as a parasol, when sheathed.

i would love to play this in your place. if i can find a DM whom approves. for bonus points, i will make her a D&D-wiki half nymph if i can. it will most likely be a multiclassed abomination using 6-7 or more classes by 13th level.

Another character I will probably never play is a monk, of any type. I *want* to like one, but I'm simply not brave enough to risk playing such an ineffective class; even when my DM allows a 25 point buy, I still can't get the nerve, which is kinda sad.

I don't know about never, but that aberrant-sorcerer/heavens-oracle "gets more alien and celestial as he goes along" character really needs a certain kind of campaign to fit in.

If anyone here has played Skyrim, during a Dark Brotherhood quest do you remember Lurbuk the terrible orc bard? I've been toying with an orc bard just like him.

NPC: "Sing me a song of death, bard."

Me: "Shadows creep... And, and phantoms leap. And a man... He... He got scared! And the demons... Dared?"

DM: "Umm... Roll Initiative."

Part of me really wants to play a super spy type character with a pile of different, well established cover identities.

Then I realize how exhausting that would be to make/play

Still the idea is cool.

- Torger

I don't think such a thing exists for me, and the question of whether or not I play the character occurs because I change my mind about it too quickly, but then rebuild it later when I do feel like it.

That being said, though I could come up with fun fluff for it, I don't think I'll ever play a Fighter. Even in 4e when they're balanced they seem boring in comparison. I just like magic too much...

Darigaaz the Igniter wrote:

New faq says you can qualify for item creation feats if you have a racial spell-like ability with caster level = character level.

Really?! Can you link it please?

Here Ya Go!

I had a character in mind called Jenny Dippy. She's an extreme multi-tasker with a short attention span. She never takes a second level in any class. So by level 11 she's a Chaotic Good Human Fighter-Monk-Barbarian-Alchemist-Oracle-Wizard-Cleric-Ranger-Bard-Duellist- Ninja. Good strength, all other stats 12.

Any druid.
I would like to play one, but have no desire to have an animal companion or wild shape. If they make an archetype that gets rid of both, then I'll make one.

A goblin bard becoming a court jester in a Kingmaker game.

@ Nawtyit: Guess there's always the oracle (nature mystery) or cleric (any combination of elemental, plant, and/or weather domains).

@Nawtyit - Play a druid who selects a domain instead of a companion - and if it fits your theme talk to your GM about switching Wild Shape for Favored Terrain - to represent a closer bond to your natural surroundings then to the animal folk.

A concept that I may never get to play is an elven Barbarian/Brightness Seeker. He's for a campaign thats very 'intrigue' focused and is actually spying on the Humans as a visiting librarian. (He's a Serene barbarian with an agile elven curve blade that is glamered to appear as a cane, and armor glamered to appear as a suit) He has a love for books, but doesn't read them as much as he just enjoys organizing them.

I tried to play her many time, but my DM hated Rogue and enjoyed killing us with unappropriate monster...(so I took the DM role)

A kitsune Rogue/Witch/Arcane Trickster (with the two-world magic (mage hand) trait). By the day, she would play as a human mystic, selling potion/scroll and helping the poor. But in the night, she would assume her real apparence (a kitsune) and become the leader of a small group of thieves that would call her ''greyfox''.

I tried to play her many time, but my DM hated Rogue and enjoyed killing us with unappropriate monster...(so I took the DM role)

A kitsune Rogue/Witch/Arcane Trickster (with the two-world magic (mage hand) trait). By the day, she would play as a human mystic, selling potion/scroll and helping the poor. But in the night, she would assume her real apparence (a kitsune) and become the leader of a small group of thieves that would call her ''greyfox''.

That's a pretty sweet character. Shame about the GM though.