Started over here, this is a continuation of that thread, since we are moving into the character concept stage.
Chris Parker
Luke Evans
A Welsh navigator who speaks a smattering of Spanish.
scranford
Aquim the Black
An Arabic Alchemist, who choose being captured over death at an accidentally scorched enemies hands.
Davi The Eccentric
Jack Ceniarc
English deck hand and former street urchin, is out for revenge against the man who made him a street urchin in the first place.
I do not know why one would chose to be captured, but seems reasonable.
Just dropping my crumb of bread so I can find my way back.
Also just posting for the dot.
Cast of characters this far…
Chris Parker
Luke Evans
A Welsh navigator who speaks a smattering of Spanish.
scranford
Aquim the Black
An Arabic Alchemist, who choose being captured over death at an accidentally scorched enemies hands.
Davi The Eccentric
Jack Ceniarc
English deck hand and former street urchin, is out for revenge against the man who made him a street urchin in the first place.
catman123456
unnamed
An African shaman who chose to be captured.
James Martin
unnamed
A defrocked Catholic priest caught having relations with a nobleman's wife.
Lord_Viper_69
unnamed
A mercenary who sacrificed himself so that his family could escape capture when slavers came to town.
Great concepts, guys. Now to expand a little further, what do each of your characters bring to the story? Why would I want to read about them? What niche do they fill and how would they all fit together?
Notice I am not looking for what they bring to the group. This is not, "Who is going to play the cleric?" What makes the character different than the others? This will give me an idea of what sort of challenges you want your character to face. This will also give me an idea of what kind of elements you want to see brought into the campaign.
For example, we have a defrocked Catholic priest. Does his player want to see religion play a large role in the campaign as he tries to bring the word of his Lord and Savoir to the heathen masses? Or would he rather focus on the fact his character can not keep his thing in his pants and how that keeps getting him into trouble?
Interesting characters are not perfect. No one wants to read about Mary Sue. Interesting characters are flawed. They interest us because we see our own flaws in them and we see how those flaws can be overcome.
I am not looking for a dissertation here. I do not want you to think of this as 'work'. It can be as brief or long as you are comfortable with.
Jean brings a strong belief in the redemptive power of God and an equally weak resistance to temptations of all kinds.
Excellent. Exactly what I am looking for.
Get saved and be merry. ;)
Aquim the Black was the third son of a minor noble in his home country. He was raised to be a warrior, and trained in fighting both afoot, and horseback, but always had a fascination with how things worked, and with what happened when you mixed these two things together.
Eventually this encouraged him to run away from home, and take up as apprentice / guard for a traveling alchemist. One thing led to another, and Aquim got to see a lot of the world...finally he decided he knew enough, and set out on his own, despite warnings from his master.
Which is how the French Duke's eyebrows, wig, and fine waxed goatee were burnt off, and Aquim's fortunes turned in one day..."I just couldn't remember if I'd added the salt peter or not...well a little more couldn't hurt...
Aquim is impetuous, and greedy, but doesn't actually set out to harm anyone it just happens. He is a skilled fighter but would much rather figure out gadgets, and mixtures to do things than go hand to hand...Sometimes they even work.
Which is how Claude's, Duke of Chevreuse and peer of France, Grand Chamberlain of France, Grand Falconer of France and a Knight in the Order of the Garter, eyebrows, wig, and fine waxed goatee were burnt off...
Corrected for you. (evil grin)
Luke Evans was a navigator on an English privateer ship.
Great background, but what makes Luke special? Is it his relationship, or lack thereof, with God?
Well...OK...so...maybe it wasn't really a minor noble...you know how they are over there, everybody without a snotty nose, has a title...and...well that explains how quickly I fell anyway
Yeah, Duke != minor. It would certainly explain why you have no desire to return to Europe…ever.
Jack Ceniarc has not lived a charmed life by any definition of the term, but most of the problems of his life can be traced back to thirteen years ago. You see, his father died that year, and Ms Ceniarc was somewhat desperate for companionship. When a dashing young sailor came along and showed some interest in the poor widow, well, she was swept off her feet. A few months later, the sailor succeeded in gambling away what little money they still had and left, leaving only an assortment of venereal diseases. The house was seized, his mother died, and Jack was turned out into the streets.
Jack managed to survive out in the streets for eleven years, and he needed to get some more honest employment. After all, a ten-year-old who steals your money is just a poor orphan, a fifteen-year-old who steals your money is a thief and he should be punished. Finally, a priest took pity on him and allowed him to work in the priory, help keep it clean. This continues for another year when someone quite interesting stepped into the priory to confess his sins. This man, Captain Alexander Flint, was rumored to have been dangerous to be around to say the least, and judging by the time he spent in confession it seems the rumors were true. Still, Jack couldn't help but feel like he has seen the man before he's been over in the Americas doing who-knows-what for years. The next day, it hit him; he saw him twelve years earlier, when he seduced his mother. Swearing vengeance, Jack signed on to the next boat over...
Swearing vengeance, Jack signed on to the next boat over...
This all sounds so terribly familiar. Are you sure the rake's name is not Colin Meloy? (grin)
Swearing vengeance, Jack signed on to the next boat over...This all sounds so terribly familiar. Are you sure the rake's name is not Colin Meloy? (grin)
Hey, if you're going to copy your background from a song, you might as well be obvious with it.
Has anyone had a chance to review PDQ#?
Has anyone had a chance to review PDQ#?
Yes I have. So, I assume we start character creation now?
Yes I have. So, I assume we start character creation now?
Yes, I will accept character stats now.
Yes I have. So, I assume we start character creation now?Yes, I will accept character stats now.
Good, I'll get started now. Also, for those people who don't feel like going back to the recruitment thread to find the rules, Here's the link again.
Well, I should be done with the mechanics portion of my sheet now. Just need to add the various bits of miscellany to flesh him out as a character.
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
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Here goes my shot at PDQ#'ing a character:
Name: Jean Sebastien
Foible: Defrocked priest with inability to resist temptation
Motivation: Good [+2] Redemption
Past: Good [+2] Former Seminarian
Swashbuckling Forte: Expert [+4] Repartee
Fortes: Good [+2] Aristocrat, Good [+2] Fencing, Good [+2] Attractive
Techniques: [With Repartee] Idiom: Regretful; Location: After being discovered in a vice; Maneuver: Dodge Offended Party; vs.: Jealous Husbands; Tool: Found objects
Style Dice: 1
Miscellany: Repeatedly caught with women in violations of his vows, twice caught giving confession while drunk and thrice slept through Holy Days due to wanton behavior the night before, Father Jean Sebastien was stripped of his priesthood and handed over to authorities for trial on charges of adultery and licentious behavior. Facing the choice of prison or slavery, he chose slavery, praying that a life of hard labor among the poor and destitute would save his soul. As in most things in Jean’s life, intentions and fact did not bear the slightest resemblance.
Jean is five foot four, thin and shaven-headed. He has a black goatee and dark eyes and smiles more than is considered seemly for a man of God. He wears a medallion of St. Augustine ("Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet" (da mihi castitatem et continentiam, sed noli modo)
Here goes my shot at PDQ#'ing a character:
** spoiler omitted **
How do you use found objects with Repartee? "No, I'm not here to sleep with your wife! I'm here to, uh, take my apple back! Yes, that's it, now that I've found it I'll just be on my way..."
Now, the rest of them make sense, but I still have no idea how you're supposed to actually use it...
All of your techniques are chained to Repartee. That is not going to help you slip out of windows, hide under beds or behind other objects…unless you are really creative.
Regretful makes sense. I think the others need to be chained to Fencing or unchained.
Having gone over the rules several times, I still do not understand the point of the bowl of style dice vs. the box of style dice. So, for my purposes, there is simply an unlimited amount of style dice.
I would like to remind everyone that players can award each other style dice subject to GM veto, of course.
Also, some of the things considered bad form are very fitting for a boatload of cutthroats. For example, taking undue advantage of one’s momentary situation, or acting cravenly, villainously, deceiving the innocent, creating needless mayhem or suffering, breaking a truce, rubbing salt in a wound, flaunting one’s power, killing a helpless enemy. I will not punish characters for these sorts of actions as long as they are in keeping with the story.
Courtfool
Concept: Fight with Scimitar, but not passionate about it; Brawler that takes advantage of what is around him; "Know it all" tends to try and tell everybody how to do things; Mad Scientist, True passion is inventing alchemical things, and tricky gadgets; Lazy; Curios to the point of not caring who gets hurt due to his curiosity; surprisingly pious to his Muslim faith, Probably picked up a bit of knowledge from his Noble upbringing, but also known as the blacksheep of the family, and no family friends will accept, embrace, or assist him.
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A mercenary who sacrificed himself so that his family could escape capture when slavers came to town.
He has no compunctions with doing what must be done but regrets it at times.
For Courtfool, background
His early childhood was difficult; parents were distant and not around much, they were quite secretive about their activities. Edward had to take care of himself, doing whatever came his way to survive. From a young boy to adolescence, Edward had seen glimpses and heard tales of troops that were well paid and cared for, though they sometimes did terrible things. At about age 17, Edward was known in his community as willing to do most anything; Edward refuses to murder in cold blood or destroy family ties, as best he can.
An offer came his way, from his parents, who apparently were tied to this troop, called mercenaries in slang, for jobs. Edward discovered his parents were financial backers of these mercenaries, and they made their fortune through slavery and prostitution. Edward was appalled by this information. Edward left immediately, determined to make a life of his own, free of the deviants that had surrounded him.
Edward traveled far, eventually finding his way to the port cities. There he met a woman, Eileen, with whom he fathered two children (boy and girl) at the age of 19. Edward lived a peaceful life, learning the way of the ports, working with merchants, mostly manual labor jobs but he did get out on the sea occasionally as an extra hand(these sojourns sometimes became mercenary jobs, Edward did what he had to but held to his code).
7 years later: A notorious slavery group(not affiliated with his parents, that he knows) has come to town by ship, and by force has started rounding up various townsfolk. Eventually, his home is accosted. Edward has his family(Eileen, Delilah age 5 and Edward Jr. age 7) escape through an escape hatch Edward had specially built(Edward being paranoid from earlier events) while Edward fought against the slavers when they caught him(they were lead away, as best he could). Now captured and out to sea, but his family safe; Edward bides his time and wonders what will come of these events.
I will review the PDQ more thoroughly and have something to you soon, 1 or 2 days tops.
Life is clearing up, finally.
...if you could maybe throw something together for me...
How is this…
Name: Aquim the Black
Foible: Hunted by Duke of Chevreuse
Motivation: Curious
Past: Disowned Son of Emir Mohammed Baqir Mirza
Swashbuckling Forte: Expert [+4] Mad Scientist
Other Fortes
Good [+2] Faithful to Islam
Good [+2] Qizilbash Warrior
Good [+2] World Traveler
Techniques
Mad Scientist - Happy Accident
Qizilbash Warrior - with Scimitar
World Traveler - Know It All
...if you could maybe throw something together for me...How is this…
Name: Aquim the Black
Foible: Hunted by Duke of Chevreuse
Motivation: Curious
Past: Disowned Son of Emir Mohammed Baqir Mirza
Swashbuckling Forte: Expert [+4] Mad ScientistOther Fortes
Good [+2] Faithful to Islam
Good [+2] Qizilbash Warrior
Good [+2] World TravelerTechniques
Mad Scientist - Happy Accident
Qizilbash Warrior - with Scimitar
World Traveler - Know It All
Thats great. Just what I was looking for. Now I can just digest the rules, and will be ready to run. I think this character might be fun, saving the day one minute, and messing everything up the next.
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I am looking through the PDQ and am confuzzled. I'm not seeing what I need I suppose. A basic idea of what to add mechanically would be appreciated.
A foible seems apparent: removed from family
A forte could be: doing anything to survive, dirty fighting, etc
Honorable also works, not sure what it applies to
Name: Edward Stanton
Foible: Left homeland in search of better people
Motivation: Survival
Past: Sacrificed himself to ensure families survival
Swashbuckling Forte: Acrobatics
Other Fortes
Good [+2] Fencing
Good [+2]
Good [+2]
Techniques
This is what I have thus far, I like the acrobatics(do it all when needed, definitely fits)
Is this still happening?
I apologize, I have been home with a sick child so I have not been online much. This is still, very much, happening.
I assume so. At least, I'm still here.
EDIT: Hey, I assumed right!
Offerin' an' Elf o' th' sea t' fill out th' roster! ^_^
lookin'forw'd t' seein' if'n I make th' cut!
Cheery-O!
Sorry, no elves allowed. This is an historical fiction.
Sorry, no elves allowed. This is an historical fiction.
*Nods* Okeys, best o' luck t' ye all. ^_^
I have, what, two characters?
I have, what, two characters?
Yes, and we're enthusiastic!
Yes, and we're enthusiastic!
:)
Yes, and we're enthusiastic!:)
Sure are. I think the rules might have scared some people off. They seem to me to be more suited to playing around a table hollering at each other, but I'm sure ready to give them a try online.
I could have never made the character without your help, though, now that I see what you've done, it makes sense. Maybe if you offered to help others with the rules you might get more response...After all who doesn't want to be a pirate.
With some assistance, I'd be all for it.
How about this…
Name: Edward Stanton
Foible: Haunted by Past
Motivation: Survival
Past: Sacrificed Himself To Save Family
Swashbuckling Forte: Expert [+4] Acrobatics
Other Fortes
Good [+2] Knife Fighter
Expert [+4] Street Smarts
Techniques
Unchained - Always Have an Exit Strategy
Knife Fighter - Knife In Each Hand
I think the rules might have scared some people off.
It is quite possible. After seeing some of the optimization builds, I am scared to even try and run Pathfinder. Not to mention the branding if I said, "Core only." But, meh.
They seem to me to be more suited to playing around a table hollering at each other, but I'm sure ready to give them a try online.
Really? They seem perfect for this medium to me. Free, so everyone has access to them. Rules light so people can get their head around them quickly. A built in mechanism for creative narration.
I guess we will see.
So I have Aquim the Black, Edward Stanton and Jean Sebastien.