| Brett Caldwell |
So recently I started playing in a Pathfinder game, and figured I'd try out the Druid (Lion Shaman.)
The party consists of a Paladin noble heir and Inquisitor of Iomadae, the Paladin's herald a not-kinder Cleric of Shelyn. A pair of essentially arabic fellows, one a Noble Sorcerer (poorly designed blaster) and the other his "cultural advisor" also known as a minmaxed (incorrectly) rogue with massive social skills.
The GM has said that Druids are well respected within the ruling structure of both PC factions, but has not given me any advise or explanation beyond saying something along the lines of "Actually Jason, your culture strongly supports Druids"
So far I had to: Decide that the not-kender had a unique scent to get me to approach the party, decide I was homesick to then have a reason to follow them to their next destination, and then, when finally presented with a good reason to follow the group, it was cut short before any issue could come up. The PC's had to fetch an army for the Paladin's uncle, so when they started traveling I tagged along to make sure they didn't hunt out the countryside. By the time they were ready to eat something other than the food they had prepared we got to a city with a portal we could use to waltz the troops home painlessly...
Now he's optioned to time progress to the summer (from spring.) I figured this was the opportune time to inquire as to my purpose within his homebrew world. I sited my uncertainty with his world for advice on how to mesh with the party, the first reply was:
"You ARE a diplomat, not to the miserable things that crawl about on the earth squabbling for power, but to the land itself. You may be focused on combat, and have a specific affinity for cats, but you are no less a Druid."
Ok, good stuff and all, but we're dealing with humanoid politics and actions, there's been no need to play nature diplomat.
This was the point I mentioned how I was having to develop on the fly reasons to keep following these people. the GM reply?
"My GM style favors opt-in play. I try, time permitting, to throw out hooks for each player individually if they have difficulty tying into the main storyline. Generally, this works as long as no one player tries to take on each situation themselves *cough Jason cough cough* :)
I think we're doing well integrating the group as an effective unit, but marrying their interests is a task that ultimately must fall upon the players. So, if you find you have difficulty imagining reasons to stay with the group, say only that as a cat, you reserve the right to be enigmatic. That should work until you can come up with something more plausible. "
Be enigmatic? Just follow them because I'm mysterious? For the other players you've provided being arrested, having your betrothed run off with a stableboy, having prophetic dreams that make you doubt your very path in life. And for me? Be mysterious until you come up with something...
So far the other players comments have been:
1 - what about scouring the city and seeing something done about the cat population in town. :-)
You have a lot of political friends right now, why not try and start a following amongst the upper crust? Upper crusts often fall for cool fads, the latest fads could be cats! Now you have rich influential women in slinky suits and cat ears!
2 - Cat totems for home. Cat fetishes to give someone their agility or speed or ferocity. Promote cats for low-income neighborhoods as vermin control. Promote cats for high-income fads as pets with a charming independence. Ask for grants of land as rewards and seed them with cat populations, explaining that by restricting hunting on your lands, you provide a recharge point for prey species.
3 - he follows us, he helps in combat, he is very helpful, but we have no clue 'who' he is or what he likes. ((This one is extra awesome as so far I've made like, one grapple check for combats so far, and in the last fight I made a few move actions. Never ever got attacked or provided flanking))
4 - But I think brett's druid is interesting and I can't wait to see more. ((All you've seen is a guy walk around with a cat... I'm sad that that has your interest piqued))
Any advice to help me find my own reason to stay with these people? Should i just reroll something now that I know what's going on? I've seen little need for the greater scope I feel my shaman represents. Perhaps if I'd had an extra background RP session like the other half the party I wouldn't be as lost as I am right now.