Making a PF version of Taarna from the movie "Heavy Metal".

[DungeonmasterCal]

I saw this movie at the impressionable age of 17 or 18, and for years I've wanted to include Taarna, the avenging warrior woman at the end of the movie, in an adventure. Finally, at long last, I think I'll be able to create an adventure worthy of her inclusion.

But here is my quandary. Is she a Paladin or Inquisitor? According to the Wiki article she's from a race of extremely skilled martial warriors. So I see her as being a Paladin, an Inquisitor, a Justicar (the non spellcasting version of the Inquisitor from Rogue Genius Games), or perhaps even a Warlord from Dreamscarred Press' "Path of War".

Any ideas, Paizonians?

[lantzkev]

warpriest!

[sunbeam]

She has a flying mount.

Eh, I guess she is a Sable Company Marine or that Empyreal/Celestial whatever Paladin, the one that can get a flying mount.

Honestly Mounted Fury might be the best representation of her though.

[lantzkev]

Not really, near as I remember she mostly flies on the mount no real combat... it's not really her focus. all the cool combat and effective combat happens on her feet.

[DungeonmasterCal]

Yeah, the flying thingy is primarily transportation. In my conversion I'll probably give her a wyvern or riding drake of some sort.

[S'mon]

In the movie she's the last Tarakian (sp?) Defender, which is probably a Paladin-based prestige class. :)
I'd maker her a Paladin, though her lack of armour is a poor fit. She'd make a cool Avenger in 4e. Alterntive might be multiclass Paladin/Ranger.

[DungeonmasterCal]

S'mon wrote:

In the movie she's the last Tarakian (sp?) Defender, which is probably a Paladin-based prestige class. :)

I'd maker her a Paladin, though her lack of armour is a poor fit. She'd make a cool Avenger in 4e. Alterntive might be multiclass Paladin/Ranger.

The Armor would have to be magical, of course, to make up for the lack of actual, physical coverage. A multiclass P/R is a good idea, and that makes me think maybe a Paladin/Inquisitor combo might work (I love the Inquisitor class).

Thanks!

[Haladir]

I made a version of Taarna in AD&D 1st edition back when I was 18 or 19, but that was a long time ago. I think I made her a ranger.

[robert best 549]

I can't remember the page I got this from but it is an excelent rendition from what I can tell.

Taarakians are a race of beautiful, white-haired humanoids charged with defending humanity against evil. They are easily identified by the symbol of Taarak, a stylized red sword somewhere on their bodies (Spot10 to notice, Knowledge (arcane lore) 15 to identify it). Unfortunately, most of them have been wiped out, undoubtedly due to the frequent wars that plague mankind. There were presumably male Taarakians, but they have since become extinct.

A Taarakian can be summoned through a special ritual. This ritual calls the Taarakian from wherever she is at the moment to the defense of the weak. If the Taarakian is unable to reach her charges in time, her mission changes from defense to vengeance.

All Taarakians have a +2 bonus to Dexterity and Charisma and receive a +2 racial bonus to Handle Animal and Ride checks, but are otherwise similar to humans.

Taarakians are mute. They cannot speak, but can adequately convey their intentions using sign language (the Bluff skill, opposed by other characters' Sense Motive to understand her). A Taarakian can also sacrifice herself at will. This full-round action invokes a dictum spell centered on the Taarakian as a caster of her character level.

The entire race of Taarakians can never be reduced below just one soul – indeed, it's possible the entire race shares a soul. As a result, a Taarakian who dies is always reincarnated, as per the reincarnate spell. No matter what the Taarakian's new form, it becomes a Taarakian within 24 hours. During that time its hair turns white and it acquires the symbol of Taarak.

Taarna (CR 13, HD 3d10+10d10)
Female Occupation: Gladiator TaarakianTough Hero3/Sword of Justice10
LN Medium Humanoid
Init +5 Spd 30
Senses Low-light Vision (Ex), Listen +8, Spot +8

AC 20 (FF 19, Touch 11)
hp 76 (Disabled 0/Dying -10/Injury 10)
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +5, Will +7
Immunity: Sleep Effects (Ex); +2 Saves vs. Enchantment Spells and Effects;

Atk +15/+10/+5 base melee, +13/+8/+3 base ranged; Grapple +15;
+19/+14/+9 Melee (+3 Longsword 1d8+8/crit 19-20/x2)
SQ: Tough Talent (Qualifies for DR)
Tough Hero Features: Defense Bonus (Class/Natural) (+7), Tough Talents (2), Reputation Bonus +5, Action Points (Total): 92, Bonus Feat; Sword of Justice Features: Defense Bonus (Class/Natural) (+7), Urban Survival, Reputation Bonus +5, Action Points (Total): 92, Improvised Implements, Bonus Feat (3), Street Cred, Improved Streetfighting, Weapon Specialization, Improvised Weapon Damage, Turn undead (0+Cha.Mod/day), Advanced Streetfighting;

Abilities: STR 16, DEX 13, CON 10, INT 15, WIS 16, CHA 15
Feats: Alertness, Archaic Weapons Proficiency, Armor Proficiency (light), Brawl, Defensive Martial Arts, Divine Heritage, Elusive Target, Fight with Anything, Improved Initiative, Simple Weapon Proficiency, Streetfighting, Weapon Focus: Longsword.
Skills: Bluff +5, Climb +6, Diplomacy +4, Gather Information +6, Hide +5, Intimidate +7, Investigate +6, Jump +6, Knowledge (Streetwise) +8, Knowledge (Theology and Philosophy) +8, Listen +8, Move Silently +5, Ride +13, Search +5, Sense Motive +6, Spot +8, Survival +6, Swim +5, Treat Injury +6.

Weapons: +3 Longsword: Lawful, Keen. Armor: Leather Armor. (Spell Failure 0%).

[DungeonmasterCal]

robert best 549 wrote:

I can't remember the page I got this from but it is an excelent rendition from what I can tell.

That is a really good work up! Thanks!!

[LazarX]

For her, quite frankly she's either obviously a form of battle monk or perhaps something from the Tome of Battle would serve.

Or perhaps the mythic Champion path might be a suitable route as well.

[robert best 549]

DungeonmasterCal wrote:

robert best 549 wrote:

I can't remember the page I got this from but it is an excelent rendition from what I can tell.

That is a really good work up! Thanks!!

Agreed though in the movie I question her skill as a actual combatant. She repeatedly gets whooped, and saved by her chickendactl. The whole the reincarnation thing is actually a really well thought out thing for the Taarakian race though.

edit: I personally would never allow a player to play this race, but I could see it as a prime enemy in a evil campaign or as a NPC that is story centric.

[DungeonmasterCal]

robert best 549 wrote:

DungeonmasterCal wrote:

robert best 549 wrote:

I can't remember the page I got this from but it is an excelent rendition from what I can tell.

That is a really good work up! Thanks!!

Agreed though in the movie I question her skill as a actual combatant. She repeatedly gets whooped, and saved by her chickendactl. The whole the reincarnation thing is actually a really well thought out thing for the Taarakian race though.

edit: I personally would never allow a player to play this race, but I could see it as a prime enemy in a evil campaign or as a NPC that is story centric.

I wasn't going to allow her as a PC race, but as an NPC (if I ever used her at all. I saw HM recently and it just sparked the idea). The idea was that the PCs had to step in when the people summoning the Taarakian failed to successfully do so, for whatever reason. Perhaps there are no more reincarnation phases, or maybe she gets bad cell reception. Or she's through being cool. Of find out where she is and let her know she's needed. Or something. But the PCs have to be the ones to take her job and save the day.

[LazarX]

robert best 549 wrote:

That is a really good work up! Thanks!!

Agreed though in the movie I question her skill as a actual combatant. She repeatedly gets whooped, and saved by her chickendactl. The whole the reincarnation thing is actually a really well thought out thing for the Taarakian race though.

This was a Heavy Metal production, mind. Not exactly a publication known for treating women as much more than pinup subjects. At least not at the time the film was made. It is however a watermark of quality for American animation, though, although I think Heavy Metal 2000 kind of missed the mark on it.

[robert best 549]

DungeonmasterCal wrote:

robert best 549 wrote:

DungeonmasterCal wrote:

robert best 549 wrote:

I can't remember the page I got this from but it is an excelent rendition from what I can tell.

That is a really good work up! Thanks!!

Agreed though in the movie I question her skill as a actual combatant. She repeatedly gets whooped, and saved by her chickendactl. The whole the reincarnation thing is actually a really well thought out thing for the Taarakian race though.

edit: I personally would never allow a player to play this race, but I could see it as a prime enemy in a evil campaign or as a NPC that is story centric.

I wasn't going to allow her as a PC race, but as an NPC (if I ever used her at all. I saw HM recently and it just sparked the idea). The idea was that the PCs had to step in when the people summoning the Taarakian failed to successfully do so, for whatever reason. Perhaps there are no more reincarnation phases, or maybe she gets bad cell reception. Or she's through being cool. Of find out where she is and let her know she's needed. Or something. But the PCs have to be the ones to take her job and save the day.

Cool idea and it kind of matches the whole she was too late thing from the movie as well.

[Lord Fyre]

robert best 549 wrote:

Cool idea and it kind of matches the whole she was too late thing from the movie as well.

That is a problem with the character.

Taarna wasn't very good at her job. :(

[DungeonmasterCal]

Face it. She was just an excuse to rotoscope another naked model and play a kick ass Black Sabbath song.

[robert best 549]

DungeonmasterCal wrote:

Face it. She was just an excuse to rotoscope another naked model and play a kick ass Black Sabbath song.

Indeed but I have to say that maybe the next Taarakian will actually be good at her job. I mean she is young enough to learn to fight(movie of course).

[DungeonmasterCal]

Maybe thats' why she was the last one. They all stank on ice when it came to fighting.....

[Kryzbyn]

Mob Rules, by Sabbath..

Kick ass.

I'm building a space campaign based on the Veteran of a 1000 Psychic Wars song by Blue Oyster Cult, that I heard in HM.

Great source of inspiration, that movie is.

[robert best 549]

DungeonmasterCal wrote:

Maybe thats' why she was the last one. They all stank on ice when it came to fighting.....

I kinda thought that it was because they are always playing super hero with only moderately better than peak human abilities. Fighting insurmountable odds frequently is also kinda implied, so I bet a lot of them won by Pyrrhic victory.

[Bwang]

A friend's 3.0 campaign uses Taarakians as the primo 'paladin' class/race. They have 15/20 BAB like Clerics, but also get feats like Fighters, mostly focused on turning their Smites into 'Ultimate Weapons'. They have many features in common with Monks as well, so 'no armor' was less a hindrance. Dex and Wis were the two big Stats, too. And ALL blows against evil did more damage as the bad guy got more powerful (Maybe +1 or 2 against an Orc to adding a few dice to a hit on a devil.).

It must be pointed out that magic items in his game are few and weak for the most part. I run a L9 Ranger and have 3 magic arrows and a +2 dagger. And no problems in combat as the critters are a bit 'de-fanged' (very little DR, etc). The Taarakian (L7) has something that helps her see through illusions and a very helpful Ring of Featherfall. He's looking for his plucked chicken now (quest).