I recently started a campaign playing a Bleached Gnome, a gnome with a frequently fatal condition that causes depression-like symptoms. This was briefly a fun gimmick playing this depressed character and I was excited about the chance/challenge to RP something new.
It does have some early successes, the other players seem to enjoy it and it solves the classic question of what sane person would become an adventurer (and on the micro scale gives the group a character that is always willing to enter the dark unknown first).
But this concept has some pitfalls I failed to plan ahead for: A depressed character does not lend itself easily to being proactive and pursuing plot hooks, acting on the world. Our campaign is 90% dungeon crawl which helps but it is already a noticeable problem in the remaining 10%. As a player I want to explore the GMs world but am having trouble coming up with in character reasons to leave the house.
Get a familiar that perpetually nags you into getting out and doing things.
Perhaps you could find something that he used to be passionate about, enough so that he will continue adventuring for it, maybe a dead loved one that inspires you despite being bleached or something like that
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Get a familiar that perpetually nags you into getting out and doing things.
Void kineticist - Elemental whispers: A shadow rabbit/scorpion that wants to see the world die... Just needs to whisper dark promises to it's host...
Perhaps you could find something that he used to be passionate about, enough so that he will continue adventuring for it, maybe a dead loved one that inspires you despite being bleached or something like that
Using the background of a freed drow slave; the monotony of slavery caused the early onset bleaching. So ya, can rally against the bleaching to fight slavery.
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Get a familiar that perpetually nags you into getting out and doing things.Void kineticist - Elemental whispers: A shadow rabbit/scorpion that wants to see the world die... Just needs to whisper dark promises to it's host...
I had in mind something a little less nihilistic... you know, a contrast to the gnome's depression. But whatever gets you out of the house is good :-)
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I have a character that is doing this same thing he less frenetic than other gnomes. Have had to be still as a result of being captured he has learned to focus his wanderlust. He must know and experience everything but now knows how to take the time to do so. Planing and focus are his strong suits.
He is a mesmerist. Learn peoples deepest thoughts, plan a battle before it starts.
This is more of a "I have learned that you can get more from an experience of you are patient take on surviving the bleaching."
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The Martian?
The Android.
Ahh okay, nice
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Play up the depression part.
Depressed people are often very observant, after all, they are ALWAYS waiting for the other shoe to fall. As to getting involved, by this time he has certainly figured out that once things are taken care of, people leave him alone again, so it is far less irritating to take care of things quickly. It is all so unfair, but what can you do?
I wonder if it is canon for a gnome to find his way back to the living through the back door.
Most gnomes are well aware that bleaching is a step towards death. They're likely to try anything to avoid it worsening, at least once. Depression isn't necessarily suicidal.
Does the name "Marvin" mean anything to you? :[
That is one of the first places I looked for inspiration. Its been a while before I've read the books or saw the movie, but does he ever do anything proactive or is he always just reacting the the world?
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Does the name "Marvin" mean anything to you? :[That is one of the first places I looked for inspiration. Its been a while before I've read the books or saw the movie, but does he ever do anything proactive or is he always just reacting the the world?
He proactively plunges his head into a bucket of water which he proactively procured for that purpose.
Most gnomes are well aware that bleaching is a step towards death. They're likely to try anything to avoid it worsening, at least once. Depression isn't necessarily suicidal.
I only started looking into gnomes recently, but as I understand it it is a downward cycle. The bleaching dampens their natural curiosity, which means they see less new things, which makes the bleaching worse, which further dampens their gnome curiosity.
my friend has an mindchemist/bard that plays his gnome off a "bleached" for the sake of speaking like Ben Stein as he points out how to take down an enemy.
"Bulette... bulette... bulette..."
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That is one of the first places I looked for inspiration. Its been a while before I've read the books or saw the movie, but does he ever do anything proactive or is he always just reacting the the world?
Screw that movie, get the BBC miniseries!
As to your question, I don't remember; I sort of feel like he does something like that at one point, but I could be totally wrong. He justifies a lot of things with a kind of fatalistic "why not?" shrug.
He's super-intelligent, of course, so maybe he sees a grand scheme of things that justify/motivate his actions in ways others don't understand.
Also, he was originally supposed to be "Your Plastic Pal Who's Fun To Be With(TM)," so perhaps there's still a deeply-embedded desire for others to like him (not to mention this bit of evidence).
Most gnomes are well aware that bleaching is a step towards death. They're likely to try anything to avoid it worsening, at least once. Depression isn't necessarily suicidal.
One question is whether the gnome is still suffering from the worsening effects of the Bleaching or has actually become a Bleachling. In the latter case, the gnome is effectively immortal and nothing worse can happen to him.
One question is whether the gnome is still suffering from the worsening effects of the Bleaching or has actually become a Bleachling. In the latter case, the gnome is effectively immortal and nothing worse can happen to him.
Still suffering, if he survives the campaign becoming a bleachling would be a nice end credits ride into the sunset.
Honestly, ask a friend for help.
See if someone else at the table would be willing to take on the extra responsibility of always dragging you into things, sure you may not proactively do things on your own but there is no reason you cant say yes to someone else asking you to do something, besides death defying traps and stupid ideas are a good way to pass the time until the bleaching takes over :3