Hello everyone.
I have recently created a male gnome sorcerer for PFS play, I should have used it in my very first PFS quest, but ended up rolling an half-elf investigator instead. Still, I would like to use this little fellow one day, but I can't come up with non-cliché ideas for its nature.
Some more details: it has the Eternal Hope variant racial trait, its bloodline is fey, and is using the Seeker archetype. The initial idea was that of a gnome heavily focused on pranks (it is a CN follower of the Lantern King) and the search of informations and knowledge about the First World and its fey ancestors. It wants to join the Pathfinder Society to get access to more informations and knowledge, and also to escape the Bleaching, the curse which claimed both his elderly parents recently.
As you can see there is at least an idea of what this character could be. The only problem is, I'm not sure about the prank part of his attitude. I 'm not sure I could play it effectively without becoming annoying to other players. I thought about changing it to become a CG follower of Desna to make it less mischievous, but can't really come up with decent role-play ideas fitting his build.
So, what I'm asking with this post is: can you help me brainstorming some role-play ideas for this funny little fellow?
Thank you in advance for your help.
I like the idea of grim optimists for fey characters
Always finding really grim silver linings, partly cause they think that way and partly because they enjoy watching people react.
Catch phrase typically “well at least X didn’t happen” or “that could have gone worse”.
I think it kinda fits with being a creepy fey enchanter to. At a certain point enchantment spells cans became just as creepy as necromancy.
“You mean you dominated that guys mind forever!?”
“At least I didn’t flay him alive though”
That kind of vibe.
Grim Optimism is an interesting trait. Sadly I don't have access to it though.
Prankster gnomes are a rather over-used trope. I'd personally much rather play with someone that makes a character motivation that isn't overused.
As an example, I once played a dwarf paladin of Torag. However, I claimed that his worship of Torag's holy symbol of the hammer representing the forge was paired with a sickle representing the fields, for all who toil at honest work bring honor to the gods. He constantly spouted rhetoric condemning the bourgeois and urged the proletariat to rise up and claim the means of production.
In your case, try to come up with a concept for your character that's identifiable but unique. For example, why not make him a politician or businessman?
"Why hello sir, pleased to make your acquaintance! The name's Boondoggle Filibuster, and I'd like a moment of your time to bend your ear. Have you ever thought that the rulers of your fair city aren't doing enough to support the common man? Do you yearn for safer streets, better wages, and more jobs? Yet instead, the elite all have their snouts in the trough, gobbling up your hard earned tax money! Let me share with you my five-step plan to revolutionize your city!"
Prankster gnomes are a rather over-used trope. I'd personally much rather play with someone that makes a character motivation that isn't overused.
That's exactly the point. I don't want to play a cliché, but the idea came to my mind almost immediately after deciding to play a gnome character, and it stuck.
I need to find ideas about possible way of acting for this character. The politician role doesn't really interest me though.
You don't need a trait with a particular name to be grimly optimistic. CD's idea is a different take on the hope racial trait you are already taking.
Alternately, consider a helpful teacher; "You should take better care of your weapons you know, a gnoll wouldn't give it back like I just did."
Or perhaps the pranks are a form of admiration. The more you like someone the more you both praise and prank them.
BTW, you've described your gnome as male but use the pronoun "it" exclusively. Intentional?
If you want to avoid cliches, start by avoiding stereotypes. Gnomes may be playful in general, but there's still a distribution of characteristics and a diversity to the race.
Being a prankster and not being taken seriously is cliche. Look for a role in which people are expected to be rule followers and serious. How about a history teacher who loves to spice up the classroom with wacky stories?
Being orphaned is cliche. How about his parents currently suffering from bleaching after being exiled from the First World? He's not trying to intellectually find out about his heritage, he's Profession (barrister) and trying to find a loophole in First World law - or a way to smuggle his parents back into the First World.
Or secret backstory - his claim of finding a way for his parents to get back to the First World is false; he was the one who was exiled (e.g. prank gone too far) and is trying to find a loophole in his own sentence!
You don't need a trait with a particular name to be grimly optimistic. CD's idea is a different take on the hope racial trait you are already taking.
Alternately, consider a helpful teacher; "You should take better care of your weapons you know, a gnoll wouldn't give it back like I just did."
Or perhaps the pranks are a form of admiration. The more you like someone the more you both praise and prank them.
BTW, you've described your gnome as male but use the pronoun "it" exclusively. Intentional?
Exactly thankyou, I don’t care about the trait, I’m talking about a fun twist on hope. That kinda makes sense for a fey creature specialised in enchanting who could be around for 100+ years and essentially just lost both parents to depression
Thank you for your answers guys, they're all very interesting.
@avr: I use "it" for no real reason, I just thought that since a character isn't a living being such pronoun fits it well enough.
@Watery Soup: the idea of its parents being still alive and cursed is intriguing, I'll take that into consideration.
@Chromantic Durgon <3: actually the character is pretty young, its parents were already pretty old when they had it.
Thank you for your answers guys, they're all very interesting.
@avr: I use "it" for no real reason, I just thought that since a character isn't a living being such pronoun fits it well enough.
@Watery Soup: the idea of its parents being still alive and cursed is intriguing, I'll take that into consideration.
@Chromantic Durgon <3: actually the character is pretty young, its parents were already pretty old when they had it.
Exactly my point he could be around for 100+ years and his family is gone
Grim optimism fits to me
Prankster concept I had: A PC who plays elaborate and humiliating pranks on himself, then tries to deduce who in the party is behind it, perhaps planting clues that point to a suitable suspect. (Requires some secret negotiations with the GM to keep the other players guessing what's really going on.)
That’s funny but to what end is the PC doing that?
To justify 'revenge'?
To screw with people's heads?
What purpose does any prank serve?
To amuse oneself or others normally or to create a prank based YouTube channel.
But this method seems a little bit more deep if it’s a characters consistent MO.
Prankster concept I had: A PC who plays elaborate and humiliating pranks on himself, then tries to deduce who in the party is behind it, perhaps planting clues that point to a suitable suspect. (Requires some secret negotiations with the GM to keep the other players guessing what's really going on.)
Interesting idea, but I don't think it will fit a CG character.
What about that character doesn’t fit chaotic good?
What about that character doesn’t fit chaotic good?
You mean changing its alignment?
You could be a really friendly gnome. Extremely friendly. Too friendly.
Take charm person. Anytime you can use it, attempt to charm a relatively weak enemy. Convince your new friend that the party is a bunch of powerful murder hobos (shouldn't be too difficult), and that the only way both of you are going to survive this is if you both give up and try to get on their good side. Make sure you physically stay between the party and your new friend. Make sure your buddy knows that you aren't on the party's side, its just circumstances that forces you to go along with their demands.
Don't attack the allies of the new friend. That would compromise your charm. Instead play up how powerful the party is and help your buddy come up with a way to appease the adventurers. Give them information, treasure, lead them around. Do odd jobs. Anything to keep those blood thirsty murder hoboes from killing your friend!
While it isn't super efficient to use a charm to take out a minor enemy and stay out of the combat, the information you can gain should be worth something. If nothing else, the other players should remember the odd antics.
Seems quite a complicated play to pull off, but I'll take that into consideration.