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As the title asks. Can you have a character who is from one of the named Chelish noble houses? Or another named noble house of another nation? Could you have a character with say the last name Thrune/from house Thrune or any of the other noble houses such as Jeggare, Leroung etc.. as long as they where not directly related in a big way to any of the big NPCs of those houses? Is it ok/not against the rules to have a character with a high profile last name like that as long as they have a legitimate reason to be a pathfinder and adventurer instead of staying back and living out their life as a normal noble?
If somebody could clear all this up I would be grateful.
I don't know if you if you can, but if so Imma' be the long lost king of Cheliax!
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Nothing can really stop you from using material in published canon in your backstory, but your backstory can't grant you any special in-game benefits.
You could claim to be from House Thrune, but no one would give you special treatment because of the name alone. Without some build mechanic (class feature, feat, trait, vanity, etc) that grants one. If by some chance you run across your backstory parents or brother in a scenario they won't treat you any different than any other PFS character.
The only way you will be treated as a noble by any NPC is by representing Taldor, and buying the noble title vanity.
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Nothing can really stop you from using material in published canon in your backstory, but your backstory can't grant you any special in-game benefits.
I wouldn't describe the running around, cleaning up after my dear cousin's various failed liasons, much of a benefit. If she only knew how much her antics are frowned on by the rest of the family...
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(player of Damien Dralneen)
I think as long as a player is just using it for role-play fodder, and not expecting special in-game treatment, it is ok to leverage the lore of the game world this way. Let's not stifle creativity when it is not harming the game, the other players' experiences or causing in-game issues.
Venture-Captain, Germany—Hamburg
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The only way you will be treated as a noble by any NPC is by representing Taldor, and buying the noble title vanity.
There's also the 'Noble Scion' feat, which also gives you a small bonus in Knowledge (nobility) and another bonus based on what kind of noble house you belong to.
Having a good modifier in Knowledge (nobility) is never a bad idea for someone who claims to be from a noble house...Of course, having both the 'Noble Scion' feat and the 'Noble Title' vanity is even better :)
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Jeggare at the moment is a Noble House of One, so that's pretty much out.
You may be missing the Korvosan branch of the Jeggare family, which controls over a quarter of the land in Korvosa and extends a line of credit for the monarchy.
On topic for the OP, Linda has her infernal sorceress Aspexia Thrune, a minor Thrune cousin. She has managed to gather a series of stacking social boons for Aspexia, including a Mark of Thrune that gives a large bonus with Chelaxians and Hellknights, so that fits the flavor of being a Thrune really well.
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Interesting idea, Timothy. I hope the campaign leadership take you up on that idea. Some minor boon (like many of the con boons), dunno what, but I am sure they can find something (specialized in Know: Nobility, perhaps?)
But, i would also like to things like this other than from noble houses. Perhaps a boon for having been a Korvosan dock worker, or stuff like that.
In fact, a chronicle with three choces for a city would be really near. You choose the background and it's associated boon
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Nothing can really stop you from using material in published canon in your backstory, but your backstory can't grant you any special in-game benefits.
You could claim to be from House Thrune, but no one would give you special treatment because of the name alone. Without some build mechanic (class feature, feat, trait, vanity, etc) that grants one. If by some chance you run across your backstory parents or brother in a scenario they won't treat you any different than any other PFS character.
The only way you will be treated as a noble by any NPC is by representing Taldor, and buying the noble title vanity.
LONG LIVE THE EMPIRE!!!
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Can you have a character who is from one of the named ... noble houses of another nation? Is it ok/not against the rules to have a character with a high profile last name like that as long as they have a legitimate reason to be a pathfinder and adventurer instead of staying back and living out their life as a normal noble?
If somebody could clear all this up I would be grateful.
Let me clear it up right now. There is absolutely nothing illegitimate about my application to the Pathfinder Society. Everything is quite in order- nothing was forged as I'm sure you are implying.
And I assure you 'normal noble life' can certainly include dangerous adventures that can result in gruesome deaths. My family even encouraged it!
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Jeggare at the moment is a Noble House of One, so that's pretty much out.
Well two. We've a gunslinger in our PFS with that name. Which led to this amusing bit of coversation with Ksenia.
"How dare you call me a peseant! Do you know what the name Jeggare means?"
"Is it Chelaxian for 'peseant'?"
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I'm in favor of people getting more invested in the setting.
Also thought it would have been a good idea for there to be boons that allow for PCs to be from noble houses (or important trade families) instead of the steady stream of expanded racial options and mechanical benefits.
I really like this idea. I am always a fan of vanity boons. Mechanical boons are a great bonus, but simple titles, vanities, and role play boons are some of my all time favorites.
I have a couple players who absolutely love their "Snow-mask Brothers" boons, not for the mechanical benefit but because of the experience. One of them will actively favor his snowmask "brother" in game more than others. They quite often forget it comes with a mechanical benefit.
Nothing is stopping you from giving your players some kind of memorable "vanity". In Voice in the Voice:
In Quest for Perfection Part 2:
In Shades of Ice Part 2:
So nonfuntional vanities are quite possible and fun. Official ones are even more fun.
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Also thought it would have been a good idea for there to be boons that allow for PCs to be from noble houses (or important trade families) instead of the steady stream of expanded racial options and mechanical benefits.
Not to pooh-pooh on the idea, but after thinking about this, I don't believe that this is a good idea. Con boons tend to open up new character concepts, but a boon allowing a PCs from a noble house would have the opposite effect. It would end up closing off character concepts which are available now but would become restricted to those who have the boon. If your PC does not have the noble boon, then your PC would not be a noble.
-Matt