I made a dozen pregen characters for the game I will be running on Saturday. Levels range from 5 to 8 across a variety of character classes.
HERE is a PDF that gives the backgrounds and some notes on each character.
Based on these descriptions alone, which character would you be most interested in playing?
The Viking! Plus, I've never played a bard before, so that would be an attraction as well. BTW, nice writeups/pictures for each one...
The Viking! Plus, I've never played a bard before, so that would be an attraction as well. BTW, nice writeups/pictures for each one...
The viking is kind of a twist because he's supposed to be more of a storyteller than a performer. It just so happens that the Ulfen are good singers, so he does that too.
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Amazing artwork for some of those characters (Ivan, Anara and Krum, in particular)!
I'd be most interested in playing Anara or Krum, although Carmen, Rahn and Lien seem cool as well. Some of the disadvantages, such as Ivan not having a spellbook, or Damon's pesh addiction, seem a bit harsher than others.
I loved the art as well. The most unusual would be Anara I would think. Grakus would be fun so would the viking bard
Amazing artwork for some of those characters (Ivan, Anara and Krum, in particular)!
I'd be most interested in playing Anara or Krum, although Carmen, Rahn and Lien seem cool as well. Some of the disadvantages, such as Ivan not having a spellbook, or Damon's pesh addiction, seem a bit harsher than others.
Those are somewhat balanced by their levels. Ivan is 8th level compared to everyone else being 5th or 6th. He also has some great feats like Gifted Mesmerist and Experienced Vagabond, not to mention an 18 bluff score.
Damon is probably the most powerful combat character capable of doing upwards of doing 51 points of damage per round at range which is pretty good for 6th level with no magic items.
Granted, some characters will be more of a challenge than others, but I'm only allowing 5 players, so it's not like someone is going to get stuck with a difficult character.
I like the mysterious Lien Ni-Chang. Back in the hey days of the Forgotten Realms I wanted to play a Cleric of Leira goddess of illusions and deception. Anyway I can imagine her being a very duplicitous character and having a hidden agenda at all times. The art work really suits her. Do you have any stat roll ups on her
I have stats on all of the characters, but they're all hand written on character sheets so I didn't post them.
She has the Madness and Trickery domain, a 20 wisdom and I think a 16 Charisma. I particularly like the Vision of Madness ability from the Madness Domain.
I love the background on the former gundealer. Trying to play the straight game, but unable to quit drinking and wenching and getting dragged back into trouble. Absolutely.
Alura, Grakus or Ivan would be my short list; with leanings to Alura.
Love those conflicted personalities.
Looks like Damon (the drug addict), Carmen (the Paladin) and Marra (The Halfling) garnered the least interest.
Is it just coincidence that those are 3 of the 4 characters that have actual mechanics attached to their flaws?
I thought Damon might be fun to play because he's so conflicted. Forced to support evil acts, so he takes drugs to escape. I wonder if he'd be more attractive if I reduced the addiction requirements a bit.
As far as Carmen goes, I think she'd be great to play. A Paladin that has seen the true pace of evil and has been driven mad by it. Maybe she'd be more attractive if I'd pointed out that she wields a Holy Axiomatix Longsword +3 while everyone else has no magic items.
Marra I understand. She's my least favorite of all the characters and was thrown together last minute.
Looks like Damon (the drug addict), Carmen (the Paladin) and Marra (The Halfling) garnered the least interest.
Is it just coincidence that those are 3 of the 4 characters that have actual mechanics attached to their flaws?
I thought Damon might be fun to play because he's so conflicted. Forced to support evil acts, so he takes drugs to escape. I wonder if he'd be more attractive if I reduced the addiction requirements a bit.
As far as Carmen goes, I think she'd be great to play. A Paladin that has seen the true pace of evil and has been driven mad by it. Maybe she'd be more attractive if I'd pointed out that she wields a Holy Axiomatix Longsword +3 while everyone else has no magic items.
Marra I understand. She's my least favorite of all the characters and was thrown together last minute.
Damon was looking pretty awesome until the point of the drug mechanics. I would say that a good balance for a drug addict in the game would be that the character is normal (statistically) when getting a regular dose but essentially in a poisoned state without it.
RP wise it leaves lots of room but the GM still has a mechanic to enforce the drug addiction if the player tries to ignore it.
I never really looked at the other two but reading the paladin's background I think she is very interesting, she would be fun to play.
But the sense motive check mechanic does throw you off the understanding of her. It might make more sense if it was a Will save to make herself care enough.
I was leaning towards either Ivan or the Viking, then I came across this tidbit under Zehtna, "If you're hoping to cast the usual alotment of arcane spells like Magic Missile, Mage Armor or Fireball you will be dissapointed."
That was enough to sway my vote. I would play the Sorceress. I love coming up with interesting uses for less common spells - and I really dislike spells that just do damage...boring!
I was leaning towards either Ivan or the Viking, then I came across this tidbit under Zehtna, "If you're hoping to cast the usual alotment of arcane spells like Magic Missile, Mage Armor or Fireball you will be dissapointed."
That was enough to sway my vote. I would play the Sorceress. I love coming up with interesting uses for less common spells - and I really dislike spells that just do damage...boring!
Her spell list comprises of:
1 - Identify, Hypnotism, color spray, silent image and ventriloquism
2 - Hideous laughter, Invisibility and Mirror image
3 - Deep Slumber
I was just reading through the Guide to Korvosa and it turns out that there is already an NPC that is quite similar - I feel so unoriginal now. The owner of Pestico's Dolls & Figurines has animated dolls that substitute for daughters.
Zehtna has all teh feats to make her Marionettes into homonculi, but can't cast 4th level spells yet.
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Carmen was actually my second favorite character I love the backstory and how she is walking a fine line between sanity and going over the deep end. It makes kinda of sense for a child whose innocence has been brutalized and it is her strong belief that keeps her hanging on. The wizard too was kinda of cool I like his character style just the lack of spellbook is abit of pain in the butt
See I see that totally differently. To me a Paladin always feels their god's presence and is comforted by that even when evil happens. This isn't like a real-life priest that relies on total faith and minor signs, this a character in D&D who feels a connection, is granted powers and is a living conduit to their god's power. I just can't picture a paladin walking a fine line like that. If they want more power or something I could see them being bought by a different god, but I can't see a Pally going insane with the connect that goes with being a Pally.
See I see that totally differently. To me a Paladin always feels their god's presence and is comforted by that even when evil happens. This isn't like a real-life priest that relies on total faith and minor signs, this a character in D&D who feels a connection, is granted powers and is a living conduit to their god's power. I just can't picture a paladin walking a fine line like that. If they want more power or something I could see them being bought by a different god, but I can't see a Pally going insane with the connect that goes with being a Pally.
I kind of see your point, but I never saw a priest or paladin's connection with their god as a stabelizer for mental illness. What you are suggesting is that gods are like prozac. If that were the case, shouldn't paladins and cleric both be immune to fear? The non magical kind anyway.
Also Characters may have a direct connection with their god, but they also live in a world where gods can die, which in my opinion makes it more likely that Iomeada could ease their pain. One could also argue that the gods would allow such suffering to occur as a test of a paladin's devotion.
Haha! Lien Ni-Chang looks a lot like Jack Black!
On a more serious note: Great Job, they all look like a lot of fun!
I was leaning towards either Ivan or the Viking, then I came across this tidbit under Zehtna, "If you're hoping to cast the usual alotment of arcane spells like Magic Missile, Mage Armor or Fireball you will be dissapointed."
That was enough to sway my vote. I would play the Sorceress. I love coming up with interesting uses for less common spells - and I really dislike spells that just do damage...boring!
Her spell list comprises of:
1 - Identify, Hypnotism, color spray, silent image and ventriloquism
2 - Hideous laughter, Invisibility and Mirror image
3 - Deep SlumberI was just reading through the Guide to Korvosa and it turns out that there is already an NPC that is quite similar - I feel so unoriginal now. The owner of Pestico's Dolls & Figurines has animated dolls that substitute for daughters.
Zehtna has all teh feats to make her Marionettes into homonculi, but can't cast 4th level spells yet.
There are actually quite a few potent spells in there, though Deep Slumber doesn't level well (because of the HD limit), but at lower levels it can end a combat on round 1.
Color Spray is a great spell, and Silent Image is the best 1st level spell in the game.
Mirror Image is a far more potent defense than Mage Armor any day, you just need to worry about duration.
Although I have never played a paladin Lawful and I just dont see eye to eye I would love to play this one. By the way how old is she.
And I wanted to ask what is Zethna's Sorcs bloodline
Carmen is 15
Zethna's Bloodline is Arcane
The sorceress would be more appealing if she was a wizard.
I agree there. I intentionally made her a sorceress in case someone played Ivan. I didn't want to make it too easy on him to refill his spell book by simply taking spell from another player. Plus I'd never seen a sorcerer that wasn't anything more than an artillery battery.
I could see some major problems with players having Grakus in the party given that he refuses to do things that many would find de rigor for a healer especially if he's the only one in a group.
Well, my adventures/campaigns are a lot more roleplaying than combat, so hopefully it won't come up too often. And really that's the point of the character's background. The game is far more interesting when characters have issues with one another - just like real life. Plus he does heal, just not when you're below 0 which in my experience isn't terribly common.
