While some classes have a good deal of background hardcoded into the class, Monks, Cavaliers, mostly advanced classes; the Rogue, Fighter, Bards, Clerics, ect. don't really. Rogue is such a broad term, one time the entire party just assumed I was a thief, when in reality I had a job as a dancer. Rogue is more of a mindset usually than a descriptor.
Paladins are an excellent example of a typecast class. They are obviously more exact than the Fighter, but /tg/ archives are filled with threads of Paladins that play up different characteristics or traits. A Paladin can be a Lawful Stupid Knight or just as easily be a gunslinger with a sense of truth and justice. The Holy Gun archetype is an obvious allusion to, er, Paladin.
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Urban Barbarian archetype is an easy way to make a more subtle rager.
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I'v been convincing people all the time that class has little to do with a character you wish to make. It simply helps you make a character that you envisioned during gameplay.
One of the less stereotypical characters that I made so far was Urban Barbarian whose persona is completely different. He's seen a lot of wars between the tribes of his people, and after so many blood shed, he looked at the battlefield and notice many young people in it. The scene changed his heart and he is always trying to avoid unnecessary bloodshed (has ranks in Diplomacy) especially against young and naive people itching for a fight. He will use non-lethal damage if possible and to further go away from 2h Power Attacking barbarians, he is using TWF with battleaxe and a dagger (I kinda got sick and tierd of seeing 2h wielders all the time).
Adam
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A good trick is not thinking about the claws first, but the concept.
I want to make a halfling angry dude with a small rapier that has Arya Stark personslity and a desire to revenge his family. That's a concept.
Which class or classes should she have?
Could be rogue, or swashbuckler, or fighter, or magus, or inquisitor, or slayer or maybe investigador, or a mix of those. Or maybe an unchained urban barbarian with dex bonus when raging.
Her personality, concept and background doesn't change because of her class. Justo the combat options she has: instead of panache, she could have spell combat, or judgements, or rage
You probably chose the absolutely worst class to stereotype. rogue=/=thief. Rogues cover a multitude of sins - They are quite easily the most versatile class concept wise.
[rogues train] themselves to be adept manipulators, agile acrobats, shadowy stalkers, or masters of any of dozens of other professions or talents. Thieves and gamblers, fast talkers and diplomats, bandits and bounty hunters, and explorers and investigators all might be considered rogues, as well as countless other professions that rely upon wits, prowess, or luck.
Silver Crusade rogues:
Policeman/investigator, crook seeking redemption, self appointed ambassador, tradesman put out of business by Aspis, wannabe Paladin (call your sneak attack your smite!) who can't quite always stay on the straight and narrow...
I'm all the time using classes to represent all kinds of character concepts; I even started a thread for ideas, once.
I love concepts that are different, I get all down in the weeds when designing characters. My group is running a Core+APG only campaign right now, and while it has been fun, it's been kinda a bummer for me as well cause I have literally dozens of character ideas in my head and couldn't make any of them.
Also cause I hate most of the core classes and races. I'm a huge fan of variety. Maybe next campaign I'll get my way and we can open up the possibilities more!
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A recent idea of mine involves a paladin mathematician. Max ranks in knowledge (engineering) and a passion for archery as an expression of geometry. He worships Irori and donates a percentage of his adventuring earnings towards the construction and improvement of schools.
He also believes that abstract concepts such as righteousness and mercy have real numerical values that are part of some kind of grand equation, citing the Paladin's Code as proof that such a "balance of the books" exists. His ultimate goal is to properly chart out Morality itself in the same way one might chart a sea.
His favored tools are is his Sextant of Kinship and this Holiness Abacus.
A good trick is not thinking about the claws first, but the concept.
Totally agree on this! I just finished creating a character based on Heindall from Norse mythology/Marvel comics. I think I spent a week just deciding what class and race best fit the concept. Ended up with a Dwarf Inquisitor of Abadar who focuses on divination and abjuration spells.
To me, this is the best part of character creation. It's all about finding the best way to bring this character in your head to life and telling their story.
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Most people will think of Lycanthropes and Skinwalkers as bloodthirsty monsters, but their is room for mixing myth and faith together in fun ways.
Is it stereotypical for a Werewolf to worship the moon? Yes. But what about when that very worship gives the Werewolf power of something the moon itself controls?
And thus a cabal of Werewolf Hydrokineticists rise each night to practice their art with the moon. :)
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Fun-loving and trickstery paladin (Camwyna or sometimes Paks from the most excellent Deed of Paksennarion) or monk (Bulletproof Monk).
Disciplined warrior, done via Barbarian, rage flavored as some sort of martial hyperfocus.
A peace-seeking wanderer who uses grappling and unarmed techniques to pacify threats non-lethally. Barbarian/fighter.
A badass general, natural leader of men, master of strategic warfare. Bard, of course, inspire courage is a competence bonus deliverable through oratory of good tactical orders, no music fluff required.
Drug-addled charming scoundrel and musician, knowledgeable jack of all trades. Investigator (probably with student of philosophy trait, empiricist for more cha->int skills or psychic detective for charm spells).
Doctor and scientist, leaving behind their legitamite practice and lab after a tragedy, using their knowledge of anatomy and physics to make viscious debilitating strikes, with pockets full of interesting alchemical or Magical devices. Unchained Rogue.
Disciplined warrior, done via Barbarian, rage flavored as some sort of martial hyperfocus.
I think the invulnerable urban barbarian is a great template for Achilles
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Imagine a small child, a runaway, dressed in rags and carrying a worn-out but surprisingly sturdy ragdoll or teddy animal. When threatened or frightened, the child will toss the doll at his/her nemesis - and the doll tears them to shreds.
The child is (unbeknownst to him/herself) a summoner, and the ragdoll is their eidolon.
Imagine a small child, a runaway, dressed in rags and carrying a worn-out but surprisingly sturdy ragdoll or teddy animal. When threatened or frightened, the child will toss the doll at his/her nemesis - and the doll tears them to shreds.
The child is (unbeknownst to him/herself) a summoner, and the ragdoll is their eidolon.
Bad fluff/mechanics matchup, though.
I have a concept waiting in the wings that I may end up using as the main character of a book series. It's actually quite simple too. A man with a strong case of OCD, who's a telekineticist. He shifts everything to be in perfect position. The salt shaker 3 booths down, the truck who parked slanted, etc... I think it's going to be both fun to play, and interesting to rp, since OCD isn't something to anyone wants to actually be stuck with.
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I made Randoff Scott, as I am posting as him.
He is the result of the one liner in a movie "You would do it for Randolph Scott."
RANDOLPH SCOTT!!
(angelic singing) Raaaandooolph Scoooooott!!!
I also wanted to make a mind blade, so having someone pompus and full of himself with only two daggers should be fun.
Ninja is part of a shadowy assassin cult from a Middle Eastern area.
Rogue is a spy in Her Majesty's Secret Service.
Monk is a Greco-Roman wrestler.
Samurai is a mafia enforcer with a sense of honor.
Sorcerer is just an incredibly lucky guy who has no idea how magical things happen around him.
Summoner is "cursed" to have his id physically manifest as an eidolon.
Barbarian is just a normal peasant but with anger issues.
Sleuth archetype investigator is a clever noble whose royal blood gives him an edge.
Paladin is an insane archer who hears voices of deities nobody else can hear.
Bard's abilities don't actually come from her, but from an invisible fairy who has fallen in love with her.
Inquisitor is such a nice and gentle person that people are afraid to upset him.
Bad fluff/mechanics matchup, though.Imagine a small child, a runaway, dressed in rags and carrying a worn-out but surprisingly sturdy ragdoll or teddy animal. When threatened or frightened, the child will toss the doll at his/her nemesis - and the doll tears them to shreds.
The child is (unbeknownst to him/herself) a summoner, and the ragdoll is their eidolon.
Not a bad visual though.
Fighter is a coward but his smart mouth keeps getting people to attack him (Antogonize feat and everything else optimized for defense).
Druid actually hates nature but annoyingly, animals and plants follow him around anyway. Occasionally, he even turns into one of the smelly things.
Alchemist is a runecaster who draws runes on little chits instead of mixing extracts.
In the vein of slightly off characters:
A kind and joking prankster paladin of saranrae, kitsune
An armored and mounted knight of the realm, actually a wizard with still spell.
A dwarven zen archer/inquisitor "cursed" with terrible animal companions and druidic duties from a poorly considered oath.
A very militant Desnan, determined to retake the night and bring freedom to all.
A "wizard" who is actually a half elven sorcerer with an inferiority complex
The "very militant Desnan determined to retake the night" is exactly the character I'm playing now; a human Varisian Inquisitor of Desna. I'm having great fun with the concept.
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An alchemist who smokes his extracts and has a stoner vibe.
Half orc arcanist raised in part by the Order of the Godclaw i.e. Asmodean Nuns. I reimagined the alternate traits. For example, Skilled was taken with the idea that a light was always cast her room so she wouldn't develop darkvision. However, she became a habitual reader. Sacred tatoo which can be defined as deliberate scarring was the whippings the nuns gave her.
Basically, think of your characters traits (racial and otherwise) and use them. Doesn't matter if the traits match the background exactly.
Use skills:
My cleric of Groteus has profession: begger. Í once used bluff to pass as a psychologist.
Use Class abilities and Vanities: My Summoners Eidolon is his wife. I have the Scholar and herald vanities definex as thier adolescent daughters.
Use Race: My pit borne tiefling fighter has inborn desire to destroy. But her parents were clerics of Sheyln. How does nature vs nurture play out?
A heretical worshipper of Desna who thanks beauty is only for the deserving, and takes it from those who aren't.
By any means necessary.
Wouldn't that make more sense for a heretic of Shelyn?
I see I've mixed up my diety names again. Oops!
The wizard denies he uses magic. He insists that it's all perfectly logical science and makes up pseudo-scientific reasons for how his spells work.
Don't leave the box! It's warm and comfy inside!
Don't leave the box! It's warm and comfy inside!
This is all I could think about when I read that haha.
Witch character is just an assistant to the real witch, an intelligent cat. Which witch is which?
RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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The wizard denies he uses magic. He insists that it's all perfectly logical science and makes up pseudo-scientific reasons for how his spells work.
That's... actually kind of how wizard casting works in Pathfinder.
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I'm cheerful, I'm pleasant, I readily make sacrifices for others (even for the so-called "bad guys" on certain occasions), and would rather make friends than fight. I'll give you every opportunity to choose something other than violence to resolve whatever conflicts you might have with me and my friends. I'm good-aligned, and that alignment is more than just a "Team Celestial" jersey; I'm actually a good person.
I'm a bloodrager.
I'm cheerful, I'm pleasant, I readily make sacrifices for others (even for the so-called "bad guys" on certain occasions), and would rather make friends than fight. I'll give you every opportunity to choose something other than violence to resolve whatever conflicts you might have with me and my friends. I'm good-aligned, and that alignment is more than just a "Team Celestial" jersey; I'm actually a good person.
I'm a bloodrager.
I don't know why, but that sounds terrifying to me.
I love drinking, no seriously I dedicated large sum of copper and time drinking the best ales the world has to offer.
I have tasted the best Eleven wines and the worst Gnomish brandy.
My passion is brewing the best beer and I hope one day to open my own tavern.
Years of drinking in various establishment thought me some of the funniest stories man can know! Over the years I started this little one man show to get coins to live by. Sadly knowing funny stories and telling them is two completely different skill sets!
I have hanged up with a lot of people actually. Powerful magicians! Athletic warriors! Courageous knights! Learned a lot from them too... like how to wield a sword and to cast a bit of magic and I must say I am kind of good at both of them! Now onward for some hard earned coins, my tavern will not buy itself!
-Unknown half drunk magus charging into melee
A recent idea of mine involves a paladin mathematician. Max ranks in knowledge (engineering) and a passion for archery as an expression of geometry. He worships Irori and donates a percentage of his adventuring earnings towards the construction and improvement of schools.
He also believes that abstract concepts such as righteousness and mercy have real numerical values that are part of some kind of grand equation, citing the Paladin's Code as proof that such a "balance of the books" exists. His ultimate goal is to properly chart out Morality itself in the same way one might chart a sea.
His favored tools are is his Sextant of Kinship and this Holiness Abacus.
I am a mathematics major and I approve this.
Concept: A physician who's been trained at a college of medicine to treat patients via science rather than magic. He also has a deep hatred of the undead, seeing them as an unnatural mockery of the lives he tries to save. He has a second career as a hunter of the dead. He has turned his scientific mind to the study of the necromantic energies from which the undead draw their unlife, and seeks to use that knowledge against them to destroy them, thus ending a true plague on the living.
Concept: A simple man living in a violent area, he once saw a shining knight in armor defend his village from an onslaught of orcs. Joining in the fight, he became impressed with the knight's prowess at arms and her almost supernatural ability to hit hardest when calling down the power of her god to smite her foes. After victory, she said she was a "paladin of Iomedae," and traveled onward after that. Impressed by her ability to call down the power of her god, he decided to become a "paladin" of his god... Gorum.
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I don't know why, but that sounds terrifying to me.I'm cheerful, I'm pleasant, I readily make sacrifices for others (even for the so-called "bad guys" on certain occasions), and would rather make friends than fight. I'll give you every opportunity to choose something other than violence to resolve whatever conflicts you might have with me and my friends. I'm good-aligned, and that alignment is more than just a "Team Celestial" jersey; I'm actually a good person.
I'm a bloodrager.
“There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.”
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The single greatest character concept I've ever seen was taking levels of barbarian for foe hammer and the hurler line, and taking pack lord druid for pet crocodiles (As many as possible) so you can walk around the battlefield throwing crocodiles at people. The guy who did this played a skin walker crocodile.
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“There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.”I don't know why, but that sounds terrifying to me.I'm cheerful, I'm pleasant, I readily make sacrifices for others (even for the so-called "bad guys" on certain occasions), and would rather make friends than fight. I'll give you every opportunity to choose something other than violence to resolve whatever conflicts you might have with me and my friends. I'm good-aligned, and that alignment is more than just a "Team Celestial" jersey; I'm actually a good person.
I'm a bloodrager.
"Demons run when a good man goes to war." -- Doctor Who
For a gestalt game I'm playing a barbarian/oracle. His tribe as all killed except for him, and all of the spirits of the elders have taken up residence in his body. Of course, he's a haunted oracle. When he does something oracly or uses those skills he goes into a sort of fugue state where he doesn't remember afterwards.
Urban barbarian also works well with dervish concepts - somebody who is so taken by the passion that they go beyond their normal limits. I played a catfolk dawnflower dervish bard/urban barbarian to good effect.
I've been trying to play a monk/gunslinger idea I've had for a while. The character works fine-it's the games that end.
I made a chess rook - a wyrwood psion in mithral full plate armor (resembling a tower) that rides on a carpet of flying (that is a rigid chessboard square).
From the thread linked above:
My character Seth was obsessively devoted to honor, chivalry, and the protection of king and country. He was trained in a style of swordsmanship in which the practitioner fell into a meditative "battle-trance" that enabled him to temporarily ignore wounds and strike more powerful blows. Seth wore a hat with a big feather in it, and light armor, and he rode a warhorse that I devoted a lot of time to naming and statting out. Finally, he had a few other abilities bestowed by the gods to enable him to fulfill his sworn duty.
Class: Barbarian. His battle-trance is the rage ability. Light armor and a martial weapon? Check. Skill ranks in Ride and Diplomacy. "Rage powers" become minor divine gifts.