Oh what's your module?
PM'd so as not to clutter the thread :)
So, another really bad background I just thought of. Not so much a background, but a character concept. The player chooses to play a rogue, but is playing it like and intimidating ruffian fighter... It's silly.
given one of the suggested play type for a non skilled rogue is thug or rufian, I don't see a problem with that.
given one of the suggested play type for a non skilled rogue is thug or rufian, I don't see a problem with that.
That would be fine, IF the used that archtype....
I don't honestly remember all the details, it's been a long time since I played with that character, but they were basically trying to do a front line fighter with a normal rogue (this is 3.5 not Pathfinder so Archtypes weren't much of a thing yet). Suffice it to say, he got slaughtered fast.
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considering I've seen the horror of the great sword rogue, I think I've got you beat.
A rogue. Wielding a Greatsword. This does not compute. Yeah, I'd say that beats the rogue-trying-to-be-a-fighter hands down.
A rogue. Wielding a Greatsword. This does not compute. Yeah, I'd say that beats the rogue-trying-to-be-a-fighter hands down.
How about a sorcerer trying to be a fighter? He made our real fighter really mad when he claimed the masterwork plate and +1 keen longsword from the loot.
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A rogue. Wielding a Greatsword. This does not compute. Yeah, I'd say that beats the rogue-trying-to-be-a-fighter hands down.How about a sorcerer trying to be a fighter? He made our real fighter really mad when he claimed the masterwork plate and +1 keen longsword from the loot.
Seriously? Plate always goes to the Paladin or Fighter before anyone else gets it. That sorcerer should be fired. We have a sorcerer who Melees on occasion but his character has a spear of hold person that no one else wanted and when he's out of spells he tries to employ that. It's usually a "my spells won't work on him so I'll try to help or I'm out of spells so I'll try to help" sort of thing. Not the go to attack.
Seriously? Plate always goes to the Paladin or Fighter before anyone else gets it. That sorcerer should be fired. We have a sorcerer who Melees on occasion but his character has a spear of hold person that no one else wanted and when he's out of spells he tries to employ that. It's usually a "my spells won't work on him so I'll try to help or I'm out of spells so I'll try to help" sort of thing. Not the go to attack.A rogue. Wielding a Greatsword. This does not compute. Yeah, I'd say that beats the rogue-trying-to-be-a-fighter hands down.How about a sorcerer trying to be a fighter? He made our real fighter really mad when he claimed the masterwork plate and +1 keen longsword from the loot.
Yeah, he also had a bad habit of leaving the party to explore on his own. That guy doesn't play with us anymore.
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Yeah, he also had a bad habit of leaving the party to explore on his own. That guy doesn't play with us anymore.
You and your party have redeemed yourselves in my sight. Good riddance. Obviously not a team player.
You and your party have redeemed yourselves in my sight. Good riddance. Obviously not a team player.
Yeah, he also had a bad habit of leaving the party to explore on his own. That guy doesn't play with us anymore.
First time in my 30 years as a GM I ever had to kick a player out. I felt bad about it but he was ruining the other players enjoyment of the game.
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First time in my 30 years as a GM I ever had to kick a player out. I felt bad about it but he was ruining the other players enjoyment of the game.You and your party have redeemed yourselves in my sight. Good riddance. Obviously not a team player.
Yeah, he also had a bad habit of leaving the party to explore on his own. That guy doesn't play with us anymore.
The purpose of a GM is to make the most players happy. If that means kicking one out of the game to keep him from ruining the others fun, then so be it. Maybe he'll learn not to be a dumbass someday if he gets kicked out of enough games.
A rogue. Wielding a Greatsword. This does not compute. Yeah, I'd say that beats the rogue-trying-to-be-a-fighter hands down.Greataxe wielding rogue has been a tradition since 1st edition!
Because it's so very easy to be sneaky while wielding a freaking great big ax?
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That is strange behaviour, enough so that most of my characters would suspect a lust aura, or something. Since that sounds like something people would do under the influence of drugs or something similiar. You know "Wow everything is REALLY colorful, and this carpet feels AMAZING!" sort of behavior.Sounds to me like male players who shouldn't be allowed to play female characters until they grow up - or ever if they're already adults.
One of them was actually female.
And I have seen things this bad in person. A random guy at the game shop we used to game at made a bunch of sexual comments at a thirteen year old girl (who was a regular in our group and who was clearly thirteen playing a young character).
People are just creepy sometimes in person and online, male or female.
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Because it's so very easy to be sneaky while wielding a freaking great big ax?A rogue. Wielding a Greatsword. This does not compute. Yeah, I'd say that beats the rogue-trying-to-be-a-fighter hands down.Greataxe wielding rogue has been a tradition since 1st edition!
Do you know how much more a greataxe hurts when you don't see it coming?
Do you know how much more a greataxe hurts when you don't see it coming?Because it's so very easy to be sneaky while wielding a freaking great big ax?A rogue. Wielding a Greatsword. This does not compute. Yeah, I'd say that beats the rogue-trying-to-be-a-fighter hands down.Greataxe wielding rogue has been a tradition since 1st edition!
Oh, I bet, but I can't get my head around someone sneaking up and whacking someone else with a great big ax.. Just like sneak attacking with a ballista...
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Oh, I bet, but I can't get my head around someone sneaking up and whacking someone else with a great big ax.. Just like sneak attacking with a ballista...Do you know how much more a greataxe hurts when you don't see it coming?Because it's so very easy to be sneaky while wielding a freaking great big ax?A rogue. Wielding a Greatsword. This does not compute. Yeah, I'd say that beats the rogue-trying-to-be-a-fighter hands down.Greataxe wielding rogue has been a tradition since 1st edition!
The target either has to be within 30' or you need a LOT of Deadly Accuracy.
On second thought, that could be a very humorous character for a 1-shot.
Oh, I bet, but I can't get my head around someone sneaking up and whacking someone else with a great big ax.. Just like sneak attacking with a ballista...Do you know how much more a greataxe hurts when you don't see it coming?Because it's so very easy to be sneaky while wielding a freaking great big ax?A rogue. Wielding a Greatsword. This does not compute. Yeah, I'd say that beats the rogue-trying-to-be-a-fighter hands down.Greataxe wielding rogue has been a tradition since 1st edition!The target either has to be within 30' or you need a LOT of Deadly Accuracy.
On second thought, that could be a very humorous character for a 1-shot.
That is the sickest thing I can think of to do to pcs. *makes a note*
That is the sickest thing I can think of to do to pcs. *makes a note*Oh, I bet, but I can't get my head around someone sneaking up and whacking someone else with a great big ax.. Just like sneak attacking with a ballista...Do you know how much more a greataxe hurts when you don't see it coming?Because it's so very easy to be sneaky while wielding a freaking great big ax?A rogue. Wielding a Greatsword. This does not compute. Yeah, I'd say that beats the rogue-trying-to-be-a-fighter hands down.Greataxe wielding rogue has been a tradition since 1st edition!The target either has to be within 30' or you need a LOT of Deadly Accuracy.
On second thought, that could be a very humorous character for a 1-shot.
... I'm reminded of a halfling I have yet to be able to play. I can't remember all the details of the theory craft, lost the laptop that had my folder of character builds ( ;( )... But as I recall, he could hit something like 1000 or so feet without a penalty, and sneak attack within 120ft or so... With a sling (staff).... With very little stealth sniping penalty...
Really need to go rebuild that guy. It was a fun thought experiment.
Edit: Skimming over the Sniper archetype and the deadly trick talent... it was 190ft... unless "Extra Rogue Talent" feat was taken. 30 + 90 (18th, archetype) + 10 per Deadly Range via Ninja Trick + Extra Rogue Talent.
considering I've seen the horror of the great sword rogue, I think I've got you beat.
Wasn't one of the R&D guys from 4e D&D playing a greatsword rogue? Of course he admitted he was cheating when he did it... apparently a greatsword is illegal for sneak attacks in 4e.
This was the original Xcrawl setting run with pathfinder rules. So it has nothing to do with 4E. And I have no clue about what the R&D guys did.
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considering I've seen the horror of the great sword rogue, I think I've got you beat.Wasn't one of the R&D guys from 4e D&D playing a greatsword rogue? Of course he admitted he was cheating when he did it... apparently a greatsword is illegal for sneak attacks in 4e.
It's just random people trying to apply some "logic" or "reality" to the game mechanics. Often based on the newest name.....
Oh it's called back stab so only.piercing or slashing weapons....not blunt...
It's precision damage so "must" be a precise weapon, so not big/clunky....
There's got to be a rule against that!.....aka your doing it wrong (having badwrongfun).
Verisimilitude gets shattered, apparently. Not sure why people's suspension of disbelief can't be suspended for precision-based attacks with huge weapons.
Aerith certainly didn't see Sephiroth coming, after all....
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There was this one kid who was all, like "Wah-wah-wah!"
Congratulations, my friend!
May all his hits be crits. : )
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Does no one recognize the "sneak attack with a ballista" reference? lol
It's from the same bit as "I shoot magic missile. At the darkness!" and "I steal his pants."
Name the movie!
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Does no one recognize the "sneak attack with a ballista" reference? lol
It's from the same bit as "I shoot magic missile. At the darkness!" and "I steal his pants."
Name the movie!
From the same series, the most succinct description I've ever heard of a typical D&D session:
"Where did you even get a tomato?!"
(Like a boss)"I'm a Bard."
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considering I've seen the horror of the great sword rogue, I think I've got you beat.Wasn't one of the R&D guys from 4e D&D playing a greatsword rogue? Of course he admitted he was cheating when he did it... apparently a greatsword is illegal for sneak attacks in 4e.It's just random people trying to apply some "logic" or "reality" to the game mechanics. Often based on the newest name.....
Oh it's called back stab so only.piercing or slashing weapons....not blunt...
It's precision damage so "must" be a precise weapon, so not big/clunky....
There's got to be a rule against that!.....aka your doing it wrong (having badwrongfun).
Verisimilitude gets shattered, apparently. Not sure why people's suspension of disbelief can't be suspended for precision-based attacks with huge weapons.
Aerith certainly didn't see Sephiroth coming, after all....
First off, *slow clap*
Second off, while I agree in concept, as far as the 4E rules go - based on my fairly-limited playing of a 4E Rogue on the weekend it came out and not touching the system since - I seem to recall the pool of weapons that one could make sneak attacks with being extremely, extremely limited. I think it was basically short blades (dagger, shortsword, kukri, rapier, etc.) plus crossbows, shortbows, and a very small array of throwing weapons (I think throwing knives, darts, and shuriken).
The actual game rules straight up said that using anything else - any blunt weapon, any bigger weapon, etc. etc. etc. - simply made sneak attack fail. You did normal weapon damage and nothing more. Apparently according to 4E's designers, any weapon other than that very exclusive pool just wasn't sneaky enough to hit the tender bits.
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It’s a shame we never got to meet Sir Helmut Schultz, mundane Spanish farmer with a gleaming mithral breastplate… or Sir Helmut Schultz, the only Italian priest who can’t speak Italian or Latin….
Yeah.. I think that's another for the "I want to play a spy, so I'm picking a fighter and making him distinctive and giving him shiny armor" I don't know what the hell I'm doing, category.
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Back to bad character backstories….
In a 7th Sea game (think Renaissance Europe), one player made up a character the from the gameworld-equivalent of Germany. (Let’s just call the nations by their real-world versions for now.) He lovingly described his character’s blonde hair, blue eyes, noble Aryan features, and in particular his special, near-indestructible armor available only to German nobility: a rare, closely guarded national treasure that nobody but German nobility can ever own, and darn few of them.
The game started in “England,” where the PCs met in the usual tavern. So the player declares that his character is a Man of a Hundred Faces, with a different identity and name for every nation on the continent. He explains that nobody ever suspects he’s not one of the natives, just blending in everywhere he goes.
Since he’s all secretive and suspicious, he drifts closer to where the other PCs are meeting in order to overhear important things but not reveal himself. Yes, the tall, blonde, German guy proudly displaying his German-nobility-only armor is going to unobtrusively spy on the PCs. Finally, one directly addresses him. The player ignores it.
GM: “Uhh, you -do- speak English, right?”
Player: “Nope. Just German.”
*facepalm*
Bending over backwards to be charitable, the other PCs try to address him in various languages, eventually hitting on the right one. (“But they still don’t know who I really am! As far as they know, I’m just another English sailor!”)
“So what’s your name, friend?” the PC asks the smooth-talking superspy who has a different identity everywhere he goes.
“Helmut Schultz. SIR Helmut to you.”
It’s a shame we never got to meet Sir Helmut Schultz, mundane Spanish farmer with a gleaming mithral breastplate… or Sir Helmut Schultz, the only Italian priest who can’t speak Italian or Latin….
....*slow clap* that is the most epically awesome bad backstory I have ever encountered.
Because it's so very easy to be sneaky while wielding a freaking great big ax?A rogue. Wielding a Greatsword. This does not compute. Yeah, I'd say that beats the rogue-trying-to-be-a-fighter hands down.Greataxe wielding rogue has been a tradition since 1st edition!
Jason Voorhees can do it. So can half-orc rogues =P
Jason Voorhees can do it. So can half-orc rogues =PBecause it's so very easy to be sneaky while wielding a freaking great big ax?A rogue. Wielding a Greatsword. This does not compute. Yeah, I'd say that beats the rogue-trying-to-be-a-fighter hands down.Greataxe wielding rogue has been a tradition since 1st edition!
Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it can't be done, I'm saying it would just look ridiculous. ;)
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A rogue. Wielding a Greatsword. This does not compute. Yeah, I'd say that beats the rogue-trying-to-be-a-fighter hands down.How about a sorcerer trying to be a fighter? He made our real fighter really mad when he claimed the masterwork plate and +1 keen longsword from the loot.
That would be bad unless his intention is to present the fighter with plate +1 and a +2 keen longsword made from those items a few days later.
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....*slow clap* that is the most epically awesome bad backstory I have ever encountered.Back to bad character backstories….
In a 7th Sea game (think Renaissance Europe), one player made up a character the from the gameworld-equivalent of Germany. (Let’s just call the nations by their real-world versions for now.) He lovingly described his character’s blonde hair, blue eyes, noble Aryan features, and in particular his special, near-indestructible armor available only to German nobility: a rare, closely guarded national treasure that nobody but German nobility can ever own, and darn few of them.
The game started in “England,” where the PCs met in the usual tavern. So the player declares that his character is a Man of a Hundred Faces, with a different identity and name for every nation on the continent. He explains that nobody ever suspects he’s not one of the natives, just blending in everywhere he goes.
Since he’s all secretive and suspicious, he drifts closer to where the other PCs are meeting in order to overhear important things but not reveal himself. Yes, the tall, blonde, German guy proudly displaying his German-nobility-only armor is going to unobtrusively spy on the PCs. Finally, one directly addresses him. The player ignores it.
GM: “Uhh, you -do- speak English, right?”
Player: “Nope. Just German.”
*facepalm*
Bending over backwards to be charitable, the other PCs try to address him in various languages, eventually hitting on the right one. (“But they still don’t know who I really am! As far as they know, I’m just another English sailor!”)
“So what’s your name, friend?” the PC asks the smooth-talking superspy who has a different identity everywhere he goes.
“Helmut Schultz. SIR Helmut to you.”
It’s a shame we never got to meet Sir Helmut Schultz, mundane Spanish farmer with a gleaming mithral breastplate… or Sir Helmut Schultz, the only Italian priest who can’t speak Italian or Latin….
The worst part? That character concept is perfectly acceptable in 7th Sea. Eisenfaust Swordsman school costs 25 build points, a dracheneisen breastplate costs another 20, Noble Advantage another 5 (Dracheneisen gives a discount), Linguist costs 2, and the Spy Skill costs 5 to get Disguise at 1 (2 for the Skill, 3 for the Disguise Advanced Knack). That's 57 points right there, leaving 43 to increase Traits, buy Languages, pick up some other Advantages, buy some appropriate Backgrounds, etc. Heck, if that's not enough, take a Hubris for an additional 10 points.
A rogue. Wielding a Greatsword. This does not compute. Yeah, I'd say that beats the rogue-trying-to-be-a-fighter hands down.How about a sorcerer trying to be a fighter? He made our real fighter really mad when he claimed the masterwork plate and +1 keen longsword from the loot.That would be bad unless his intention is to present the fighter with plate +1 and a +2 keen longsword made from those items a few days later.
Nope he kept them and equipped them despite not being proficient in either. The guy playing the fighter was new to Pathfinder so he didn't want to raise a stink and press the issue the rest of the table argued for him but all our points fell on deaf ears. What gets me is the guy playing the sorcerer claimed to have gaming experience going all the way back to 1st edition but by far he has been the most horrible gamer I have ever encountered.
Because it's so very easy to be sneaky while wielding a freaking great big ax?A rogue. Wielding a Greatsword. This does not compute. Yeah, I'd say that beats the rogue-trying-to-be-a-fighter hands down.Greataxe wielding rogue has been a tradition since 1st edition!
You probably wouldn't like my friend's rogue wielding a guisarme then.
You probably wouldn't like my friend's rogue wielding a guisarme then.Because it's so very easy to be sneaky while wielding a freaking great big ax?A rogue. Wielding a Greatsword. This does not compute. Yeah, I'd say that beats the rogue-trying-to-be-a-fighter hands down.Greataxe wielding rogue has been a tradition since 1st edition!
As long as he's not trying to be sneaky with it. ;)
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You probably wouldn't like my friend's rogue wielding a guisarme then.Because it's so very easy to be sneaky while wielding a freaking great big ax?A rogue. Wielding a Greatsword. This does not compute. Yeah, I'd say that beats the rogue-trying-to-be-a-fighter hands down.Greataxe wielding rogue has been a tradition since 1st edition!
Sleight of Hand FTW!!! : )
Sleight of Hand FTW!!! : )
ROFL
That is some masterful slight of hand.
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You probably wouldn't like my friend's rogue wielding a guisarme then.Because it's so very easy to be sneaky while wielding a freaking great big ax?A rogue. Wielding a Greatsword. This does not compute. Yeah, I'd say that beats the rogue-trying-to-be-a-fighter hands down.Greataxe wielding rogue has been a tradition since 1st edition!
Reminds me of a time I was playing a 1 off game with a guy who had a dwarf rogue armed with a lucerne hammer. I was using my main character Devon who is an extremely cocky and arrogant ranger (no one is a better shot than me, no one is better at stealth than me) and I kept making fun of him for using such an unweildy weapon. That is until he did his first sneak attack and 1 shot the enemy due to the massive dmg from the weapon plus the sneak attack. Devon spent the rest of that game muttering angerly to himself.
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I wouldn't ban amnesia as a background, as it can be done in a good way. On the other hand, if you do it the wrong way it's as bad as "I'm an orphan". Here's what I did:
From a dark alley you hear a woman screaming. A shadowy humanoid figure stands between you and the frail woman, what do you do?
The frail woman is my character, a fetchling shadow calller with amnesia. She just woke up from whatever caused her amnesia and was spooked by her own eidolon. It might not seem like much, but it's a good way to introduce a new character and by adding the possessed trait I'm giving an experienced DM dozens of options for his campaign.
I've actually described a few more character ideas, but he really wanted me to play this one.
I have had several characters who were orphaned, but they still had family or at least someone who adopted them and raised them. And their parents had backgrounds even if they didn't know them well. It's not the Orphan thing that's bad, it's when they just say "I'm an Orphan, I grew up in Orphanage, I don't know who my parents are or anything about my family." That's when it's a bad background.
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Sneak attack.....check
Greataxe.....check
Acrobat......check...
The trick is to have the mass just right while doing cart wheels!
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I have had several characters who were orphaned, but they still had family or at least someone who adopted them and raised them. And their parents had backgrounds even if they didn't know them well. It's not the Orphan thing that's bad, it's when they just say "I'm an Orphan, I grew up in Orphanage, I don't know who my parents are or anything about my family." That's when it's a bad background.I'm an orphan with amnesia.....they call me bob.
...but do you like to fight, bob?
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...but do you like to fight, bob?
I'm an orphan with amnesia.....they call me bob.
No, I don't want to fight bob. I'd rather fight weave.