Balickalthas Ro'Elenirm's page

I personally love elves. I think there is so much that can be done with them role-playing wise (as opposed to roll-playing) given that their longer lives provide for a much richer context in which to develop a personality.

However, I whole heartedly disagree with the assertion that elves can simply wait their enemies out (and watch them die) or that they can merely ignore the shorted lived races. While some may take this stance, I think they are the exception. With such a long lifespan which predominantly allows for and is trageted at lesiure time (in the Josef Pieper sense) creates a greater possibility for the elf to have an insight into those lesser races, allowing them to understand the need for "urgency" in their lives. Simply put, just because elves live longer does not necessarily make and elf apathetic or unable to have empathy for those around him or her, regardless of their respective lifespans.

Kobolds: 2nd editon kobolds rocked with the ability to be seen as the "least threat" in a PC party. Be nice if that had been a rule of thumb for 3rd.

Out of the same book (Heroes of Horror) you could play a Dread Necromancer. It has some very cool abilities, especially once you get a few levels into it. Spontaneous caster (though a limited spell list), ability to rebuke undead and a Charnel Touch which does d8 damage via negative energy. The only setback might be if you intended your Necromancer Specialist Wizard to fill the arcane "slot" in an adventuring party (i. e. able to use arcane wands and scrolls, and the like) as again, the spell list is limited to only Necromancy spells.

There is a local chapter of Wee Jas (or the appropriate deity for non-Greyhawk) worshippers that you could draw your charrie from, quite easily. You could also be Diamond Lake's coroner (thus obsessing over the dead and undead); perhaps one who has helped the militia in the past but is creepy and distant.

Good luck. My players have been having a good time with the AP so far. Enjoy!

Part of any problem with starting a new adventure is how can you get the PC's (in character) to feasibly go along with the adventure from the get go. In this case, Mr. Mona set up the very apropo motive of "getting the hell out of dodge." To really tie the PC's into Diamond Lake (or Daggerford from the FR, as I'm running it) we had a pre-session where we talked about characters, Diamond Lake, and what they may be doing there in the first place. To really encourage them, I gave them all a *free* level of one of the NPC classes to give them mundane reasons (besides adventuring) for them to exist and to tie them directly into Diamond Lake's economy/everyday life. This extra level is a bonus level and as I didn't want to penalize them for actually trying to go along with the story and develop peronsalities/wants/desires, etc., for their characters, they are still 1st level characters needing 1,000 exp. to advance to second level. While some used this extra level to avoid the ECL penalty for more powerful races (Aasimar and half-giant, respectively) I did get a drunken Dwarven Fighter/Expert Metallurgist, an Aristocrat/Sorceror apprenticed to Allustan (Delfen), and a lackey niece Moon-Elf Expert/Rogue "eavesdropper" working for Ellival. Luckily, the Aasimar went for a cleric (Lathander, whose temple is in town) and the half-giant went for a Druid (from the Bronzewood Lodge) who, while not proficient with an oversized great axe, is still capable of dropping it on a few Bombadier Beetles with splattering success.

Thanks to Mr. Mona, et al., for giving us a story to tell, rather than simply some dice to roll.

Check out Dragon issue # 313 (with the werewolf on the cover)from 2003. There's an article in there with a half-vampire template. Can't remember about Libris Mortis. And yes, the full vampire template is in the MM.