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...
My understanding which may be flawed:The DM does not help bring a new character into the party. The player must find a way to be accepted into the party. Let me know if this is correct.
I am assuming there is some plot to the current adventure/campaign. I would have had my character tied into the plot somehow so I have a reason to stick around.
At the very worst you always have this for a fallback.
COnsider what a 1st level druid can do to preserve the woodlands.
Consider what a 20th level druids can do to preserve the woodlands.
You have every reason to gear and level. Consider it a training exercise.
Ideally, you're looking for some more depth.
If the Pally's uncle has an army , he has influence. If he has influence, he might be able to get your woods set up as a preserve.
Lions usually wind up hunting people and live stock. Try to find some way to settle the differences that don't involve pointy objects being inserted into the lions.
Shaman is essentially from the plains of Spain, and the Paladins uncle is in Germany.
That said, I do appreciate your advice as it is technically very solid.
Ok, good stuff and all, but we're dealing with humanoid politics and actions, there's been no need to play nature diplomat.
The things humanoids do ALWAYS mess up the woods.
-Perhaps shops in town are selling lion gall bladders to cure... ahem.. certain ailments affecting older men.
-War is always bad for the environment. People mine more, which means more trees cut for wood and mining braces, more runoff, more charcoal to forge weapons etc
-People that are starving because their taxes are too high start turning to poaching.
-pyromaniac Goblin infestations are denuding pristine mountains faster than you can say smokey the bear
Well, first of all, you are pretty lucky to have a GM who is willing to lay it all out for you like this guy did (in terms of his GM style). I see dozens of threads around here that could be completely avoided by this kind of communication.
Second: since you have communication, you are best served by talking about your PC to the GM. Just talk about what he'd like to do. Point out that you're different from the other players somehow, in that you're feeling less integrated, and you're willing to take your cues from him if he has any ideas.
If that doesn't go anywhere, try to be an "along for the ride" PC. I often find that too much backstory can ruin a PC, when the real meat of the game tends to happen during play. To that end, I encourage my players to start in with a vague background and let events shape them, and we can always fill in details later. It sounds like you expect to have a more in-depth backstory and to have it guide your actions.
Your best bet now is to focus on what has happened to your PC, and forget filling in more backstory. Be along for the ride, and focus on just making the decisions this character would make. Get swept up in events.
If you can't make that work, then yes, perhaps it is time to draft a new PC. There's nothing wrong with that.
I'm currently mulling over the ideas posed by BigNorseWolf, but the time and effort I've put into this has produced less results than the shower I just had and came up with two characters who fit in with the party that aren't the druid. It seems likely I've subconsciously determined I'm not a fan of this character, in which case all this heartache is for nothing.
Feel your pain. For some time I had committed to playing a rogue next time I actually got to play in a game as opposed to running one. However, my turn to play turned out to be Kingmaker. Three person group and I am not "feeling" my rogue at all. Still in the first AP and I have made four alts on the backburner.
Greg
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Alright I skimmed a lot of that and read most and have found myself confused...
So there is a War about to happen? I mean that's the reasoning for massing this army right?
Druids are well respected in this homebrew campaign. Got that part but i'm really wondering the WHY part? Seriously I would love to know that one!
Now if the War thing is what's coming and the destruction to the wilds that comes from such...well it's easy to get the Druid in the party. Well I think so:
The woods are strought with the fear of an upcoming war, the animals feel it, the plants feel it, and even the land groans with pain. All these things have fallen on deaf ears my child. You must venture to the men that reside in stones, that shun our ways, we must secure our lands and if possible establish peace in the land. The balance must be preserved.
Granted that's short, but that's what I would do as a GM for a druid PC in how i'm understanding the campaign. You would be there with the hopes to ally yourself with your neighbors (the paladins uncle) and establish the safety of your homelands. Perhaps by joining this group and helping to vanquish what foes they may have (that are causing the need for this army) you will be keeping the wilds safe.
I'm staunchly on the side that it's the player's responsibility to find reasons for his PC to fit in the party. If he can't find any reason, then there's no shame in coming up with a new character who can. It drives me crazy when I keep asking myself: "Why is PC X hanging around with us when he seemingly has no interest in anything we're doing?"
At a bare minimum, you could always go with the tried and true "These people are my good friends and I like spending time helping and protecting them".
So this party and this campaign seems to be politically oriented. As a druid you do have a vested influence in politics. The wars of men, elves and orcs affect nature in similar ways to how they affect farmsteads, cities etc (they destroy them).
My recommendation would be that you have been sent by your elders (or Druidic council or what have you) to establish a relationship with the Uncle, who has a new stronghold and a new army in the area. Strongholds need building materials, armys need firewood and food. You could be interested in establishing relations with the uncle in order to influence policy to limit the harm a new Castle/town and army might do to the surrounding wildlands. Perhaps you would like to negotiate which lands will be used for farmlands/woodcutting and which will be reserved for wildlife. If you do a bunch of favors for the uncle, or get in good with his nephew at least, you would have at least some standing to approach the matter.
I seem to have given off the wrong impression with the troops.
What happened was a company got together and seiged a mad wizards keep. In the period falling the Keep had moved hands to the Duke, who I believe is merely manning the place since his own troops were severely reduced recently.
I appreciate everyone's advice on this matter. The summary provided by Kolokotroni seems to have been written in a way that just clicked better than some of the others. Thanks all.
I'll be giving these ideas a try. Wish me luck.
If it helps someone have more fun with their game, then I and I am sure everyone else is happy to help. Good luck and happy gaming!
It's the correct quote from the Book of Lazy Dungeon Masters. However the Tome of Storytelling Excellence suggests that a DM who invests some time in giving a character a halfway decent entrance frame and background motivation gets much better play and story development in return.My understanding which may be flawed:The DM does not help bring a new character into the party. The player must find a way to be accepted into the party. Let me know if this is correct.
Right. And a druid's problems are by nature (sorry) environmental problems rather than personal ones. That is: they fall under the preview of the dm to implement.
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Druids are focused upon nature, but they are still people, maybe you can give him a personal reason for wanting to be with the other characters. Could one be a long lost relative, a half brother or the like? Or perhaps one of their enemies killed you love, parents, old animal companion and you have joined up to seek revenge.
It's the correct quote from the Book of Lazy Dungeon Masters. However the Tome of Storytelling Excellence suggests that a DM who invests some time in giving a character a halfway decent entrance frame and background motivation gets much better play and story development in return.My understanding which may be flawed:The DM does not help bring a new character into the party. The player must find a way to be accepted into the party. Let me know if this is correct.
I don't know how I missed this, but I agree. The DM does not have to write a background story for the PC, but only the DM knows what is going on or will go on in the story with respect to everyone's character and the world they are in. With that said it can't be too hard to say "this is how/why you will join" or say that the player's character can't fit it as envisioned. Of course he should be willing to help the player come up with something that will work.