Okay, so our GM is getting pretty close to finishing the campaign (or at least getting to a point where we can start playing it). All he needs is our characters' backstories, and then we can start. It took me a while, but I think I finally came up with something.
My character is a Chelaxian human male Fighter. He's relatively tall, around 5'10"-6', in his mid-20's, has hazel eyes, and either dusty blonde or black hair (I was probably going to settle on black, as the dusty blonde was leftover from when I was considering a Paladin, and Chelaxians typically have black hair, as far as I know). Fed up with the way things were in Cheliax, he decided to leave and settle down in Andoran, eking out a living as a mercenary, armed with a Bastard Sword in one hand, a Heavy Steel Shield in the other, a Composite Longbow for ranged attacks, and protected by Medium Armor. He had a mind for tactics (having the Tactician Fighter archetype), enjoyed a drink or two every so often, and appreciated the company of women. Throughout the campaign, he was going to start as True Neutral, and slowly gravitate towards Neutral Good, and while he wasn't particularly cynical, his time in Cheliax left him a little world-weary. If you asked him if he worshiped any gods, he'd likely respond with something along the lines of, "I've never been much for worship, though I wouldn't mind having a drink with Cayden Cailean." I figured that after this, I would've had a relatively decent character planned out.
Then I read up a bit on Valeros.
To those of you who know what I'm talking about, you can probably see why this would be a problem.
So, now that you understand my plight, I don't suppose anyone could possibly help me tweak my story a bit so that it isn't a carbon copy of Valeros'?
Play him like Doc Holliday.
Play him like Doc Holliday.
Had to look him up. MMMMMMAYBEEEEEEEE if I play a Gunslinger in a future campaign. I kind of already have a sort of Brawler/Gunslinger hybrid in mind. Like the star of a blaxploitation film. Afro, martial arts, pistols, bell bottoms, platform shoes, jacket (GM permitting for the clothing items, of course), fights against "The Man" (so Chaotic alignment), jive turkey-manner of speech, the works. Think Black Dynamite in Tabletop RPG character form. ...Is that racist? It sounds fun as hell, but I don't want to be perceived as racist.
Anyone?
You could add further explain your character left Cheliax. For example he could have had a rival or a falling out with the local clergy/government.
Another way would be to put another spin on it. As described your character sounds like a Byronic hero. Instead he could talk all about truth and justice but only be in it for the money
You could add further explain your character left Cheliax. For example he could have had a rival or a falling out with the local clergy/government.
Another way would be to put another spin on it. As described your character sounds like a Byronic hero. Instead he could talk all about truth and justice but only be in it for the money
Hm. Well, from what I understand, Cheliax is Chaotic Evil, or at least some form of Evil. I honestly don't know what the place is like, what goes on there, how the people act, or what, so at this point, all I can say is that he got sick of all the bullcrap that (presumably, on my part) happened on a daily basis. When he learned of what Andoran was like, he decided it would be a great opportunity to make a new beginning for himself.
Now, this is probably going to confuse people who know more about these locations than I do, most likely questioning just what it was specifically about these places that made him gravitate more towards one than the other. I'd probably be able to flesh this out more if I knew where I could read up on what they're like.
Cheliax is LE. Big on Diabolism and Asmodeus worship. Lots of slavery, the strong rule the weak, and you color within the lines.
As for the carbon-copy-archetype, I wouldn't worry too much. Is this a character you've played before? If not, then why not try playing Valeros?
If you have fun with it, then it's totally fine, if you don't, change character.
As to the "Black Dynamite" character, ask your table if they think it's offensive. It honestly doesn't matter what I or anyone on the message-boards think, it's the people you're playing with who will be affected.
I make Asian jokes to my Asian wife and daughter all the time, and black jokes to my black friends. Nobody gets offended because I don't actually think white people are superior, and they all know that.
In the private of your own home (or your friend's home) you can be as racist as you like as long as you make sure it's not going to offend anyone present.
It's a good idea to ask in advance for something like that, because if you spring it on the group they might feel obliged to let you play the character to avoid disrupting the game.
If it's for PFS or something, maybe not a good idea, but otherwise, most topics are fine as long as everyone at the table is on board.
*(sorry for rambling)
If you want to go full bore Black Dynamite, go Halfling or Tiefling Dynamite; It's much more setting appropriate for Cheliax.
Not too many Mwangi, but TONS of Halfling slaves and Tiefling second-class-citizens.
Hm. I'd have to read more into Cheliax.
Well, not this character specifically, as I tend to try to make a new character entirely with every game I play. However, I tend to gravitate towards physically-oriented, board-and-sword characters, particularly if I can also make them intelligent (more often than not, a tactician or strategist of some sort). This is actually my first time playing a Tabletop RPG, ever (with the exception of a couple of sessions I played with a friend's homebrew, before he scrapped it in favor of just straight-up Pathfinder).
As for why I'd rather not do that, eh...I'm very particular about my originality. I get really self-conscious if a character I create has any similarities to other characters, even if the similarities are something as minor as similar personality traits or physical appearances. I even feel this way if my character was created BEFORE the one I project the similarities onto. Not so much, "they ripped me off," but more, "well, it's not such an original idea anymore." I don't want a ground-breaking super character that's got such an awesome story and concept that he gets added to the official Pathfinder canon, but I DO want some semblance of originality, of making it my own.
Yeah, I guess that's true concerning the Brawler/Gunner. I have my doubts anyone will be offended, it was just sort of a musing, I guess. What's...PFS?
If you want to go full bore Black Dynamite, go Halfling or Tiefling Dynamite; It's much more setting appropriate for Cheliax.
Not too many Mwangi, but TONS of Halfling slaves and Tiefling second-class-citizens.
Oh, the blaxploitation character was more of a joke concept for any future campaigns we do. I'm gonna see if I can't get the GM to make different campaigns. I have a few character concepts. The aforementioned blaxploitation hero, an Alchemist with a sentient tumor who speaks with a New York accent and has a bit of a perverted streak (the tumor, not the Alchemist), a forlorn Elf who reluctantly rejects contact with creatures of a shorter lifespan due to outliving their friends, but secretly longs for the companionship of the ones they reject, and a Trox Barbarian who's as totally overpowered as I can make him (GM permitting, I'm kind of hoping for a campaign where everyone is a min-maxing munchkin just to see how insane everything can get).
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Every backstory is going to be similar to another story, somewhere.
There is just too many stories, throughout the world, throughout time, for anything to be truly original.
Hell, my first piece of advice is STEAL.
This is exactly the place to have your favorite characters play out.
Don't be ashamed, but rather, be proud.
This is your chance to have fun with it.
By the way, Valeros is more or less, a copy of Mad Martigan. It's even been confirmed by Paizo.