Ronule's page

Am I the only one who sees an evil-looking Papa Smurf?

@Rod Millard
No worries bud, it wasn't your fault at all. I tripped that landmine when I mentioned that this was going to be a GMPC. Funny thing is, I pointed that out only in hopes that it would explain that I wasn't particularly trying to make a powerful character, and would also deter the min-maxers. I play all games for fun and flavor. I don't care about things like which weapon is technically better for this character, or what the most effective spell choice will be. I'm usually pretty good at getting my character concepts in games to be viable.

@Nate Lange
Thanks for taking the time to explain everything so well. After reading your post I've concluded that you are right in this regard. I can understand some of the supporting arguments when they bring up how limited some aspects of the archetype are, however, that isn't the problem of the game. I made a choice to go for a weapon that isn't necessarily meant to be in the Kensai arsenal, and as such, have to deal with the consequences.

Thanks again to everybody who posted in this thread. While I've RP'ed since around '05ish, I rarely have a chance to play, so despite how many years it has been, I have only gotten to play a handful of times, and balancing issues are something I'm still not entirely sure on.

@The Shaman
I'm planning on using the free 1st level module with the Blackscour taint. I figured it would be a good way to have multiple elements to a game and see what my friends like and don't like, as well as give me a general setting that I can attach to anything I'd do later.

*edit*
As for the issue of armor proficiency, I remember reading that it can be a little harsh at first where you don't get much help to you AC aside from a (maybe) 1 point bonus from Canny Defense and whatever bonus Dex you may have. That being said, I'm not a min-maxer, never have been, never will be. This character is actually mainly flavor. I wanted a lightly to no armored warrior that used magic and might around equally. I happened across the Kensai and was happy as happy could be. :p

@Rod Millard & Nate Lange

Thank you both for answering my question. I was hoping for a unanimous yes or no, so I would know whether to skip it or give it more thought, but I suppose the idea having conflicting opinions from others is a good sign that I was right to inquire about the balance of the option.

If either of you don't mind, would you care to elaborate further as to why you feel as you do? If I don't get an answer I'll just take the safe route and not make the change (GMPC or regular PC if somebody else takes up the GM mantle for a while).

I will, of course, appreciate any more feed back from anybody here, but I ask that we drop the GMPC debate. To clarify on my own opinions, I'm actually wary of GMPC's as well, but since I haven't gotten to tabletop RP since probably '06-'07ish, I felt it wasn't too unfair to be able to make a character to tag along as well. But that's not the point of this thread, I just wanted to know what others felt about that change, and I will probably just ignore any further GMPC debate unless there is a legitimate point made that I would want to point out.

Again, thank you in advance. :)

Thank you for the advice Alexander. I'll actually take that into consideration.

However, to get off the topic of the morality of GMPCs, would anybody be willing to give me any advice on whether taking out Spell Combat in order to remove the Diminished Spellcasting restriction is a fair deal? Even if I save this character for use when somebody else (hopefully) does some GMing, I'd like to know going in that it sounds fair.

@Rynjin
Honestly a flavor thing, though I was going to drop whatever character I wanted and make a Cleric if nobody else made some healer, but I think one of my friends is interested in trying a Cleric.

@Blakmane
I am well aware of the negative outlook many have on GMPCs, hell the main reason I haven't gotten around to GMing until now despite wanting wanting to play is because as much as I love world building and the like, I prefer to be the player so I can make a character and level them up.

However, it would appear that the only way I'll be able to play is if I GM myself, and honestly, I just one day a short while ago said, "**** it, I'm just going to make a character too, everybody that will be in the group is a novice player at best, so it shouldn't be too bad if I join in as well."

I'm wanting to make a Kensai that uses a halberd as her weapon of choice. Seeing as how this kinda of makes Spell Combat kinda useless, I was wondering if it would be fair to remove Spell Combat to get rid of the Diminished Spellcasting restriction (which was honestly the only thing that I didn't like about the Kensai)?

I'm especially worried about the fairness as this will actually be my GMPC and I don't want her to be overpowered to where she overshadows the actual PCs. Thanks for any feedback. :)