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So my question is...how exactly do you go about playing a skittermander in general? It mentions they have no real recognition of authority, a tendency to wander off if they aren't kept on a short leash, and "all of the manic energy of a goblin with a flair for the ridiculous but none of the malice", but also an instinctual need to help others.
I have absolutely no idea how to play any of that since that's very far from my own personality.
Was planning on giving a Witchwarper Skittermander a try in 2e depending on how the class changes, and wondering how that might affect it.
Playing a Skittermander in Starfinder (or potentially in a Pathfinder 2e adaptation) can be a lot of fun, especially with their unique personality traits. Here's a breakdown of how you might embody these characteristics and how they might affect your gameplay:
Key Traits of Skittermanders:
1. No Real Recognition of Authority:
- Interpretation: Skittermanders don't inherently respect titles, ranks, or commands simply because they come from a place of authority. They view everyone as equals and make decisions based on their own judgments.
- Roleplaying Tip: When dealing with authority figures, you might treat them as you would anyone else. This can lead to humorous misunderstandings or clashes with more hierarchical cultures.
2. Tendency to Wander Off:
- Interpretation: Skittermanders are curious and easily distracted, often following their interests or whims without warning.
- Roleplaying Tip: Embrace spontaneity. Your character might often chase after something shiny, interesting, or seemingly inconsequential in the middle of serious situations. This doesn't mean being disruptive, but rather adding a layer of unpredictability to your actions.
3. Manic Energy with a Flair for the Ridiculous:
- Interpretation: Skittermanders are energetic, enthusiastic, and enjoy absurd or silly things.
- Roleplaying Tip: Be lively and animated in your interactions. Your character might crack jokes, play pranks, or find joy in the silliest of things. Channel a light-hearted and playful attitude.
4. Instinctual Need to Help Others:
- Interpretation: Skittermanders have an innate drive to assist those around them, often without thinking of the consequences.
- Roleplaying Tip: Look for opportunities to help, even if it's not the most practical or sensible course of action. Your character might rush to aid someone in need, even in dangerous or inconvenient circumstances.
Combining Traits with a Witchwarper Class:
A Witchwarper in Starfinder is a spellcaster who manipulates reality by drawing from alternate possibilities. Here’s how you can blend the class features with Skittermander traits:
1. Reality-Bending Enthusiasm:
Use your Witchwarper abilities with the same energy and curiosity as your Skittermander traits. Your character might experiment with reality alterations in playful or unconventional ways, reflecting their manic energy.
2. Unconventional Problem Solving:
As a Skittermander Witchwarper, you might solve problems in unexpected ways. Your spells and abilities can reflect your tendency to wander off the beaten path, finding creative solutions others might not consider.
3. Helping Instinct through Magic:
Leverage your spells and class abilities to assist others. Whether it's healing, providing buffs, or using your abilities to change the environment for the better, your need to help can be fulfilled through your magic.
4. Disregard for Authority in Spellcasting:
Your character might not adhere strictly to traditional spellcasting norms or advice from more experienced spellcasters, preferring to experiment and innovate on their own terms.
Practical Roleplaying Tips:
1. Character Voice and Mannerisms:
Give your Skittermander a distinctive voice or mannerisms that reflect their enthusiasm and curiosity. Speak quickly, use expressive body language, and show excitement in your tone.
2. Backstory Integration:
Create a backstory that explains why your character became a Witchwarper. Perhaps they discovered their abilities while trying to help others in unusual ways or during one of their wandering adventures.
3. Interactions with the Party:
Show your desire to assist your party members constantly. Be the first to volunteer for tasks, offer help even when it’s not needed, and bring an upbeat attitude to group dynamics.
4. Balance and Boundaries:
While embracing the Skittermander traits, remember to balance them to avoid overshadowing the group or causing disruptions. Use your quirks to enhance the story and interactions rather than derail them.
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By combining these elements, you can create a unique and memorable Skittermander Witchwarper who brings joy, unpredictability, and valuable assistance to your adventuring party.
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The one skittermander witchwarper I've met is played by a 10-year-old, so the manic energy and wandering attention came naturally to him. :D
On a more serious note, my own skittermander is more on the, well, serious side. He's a soldier who was trained as a gladiator, Fighting is largely a game or sport to him, but he also has a strong instinct to help and protect weaker characters. This often manifests as gloryhounding while acting as a living wall between enemies and the rest of his party. For example, in one recent adventure, he started combat by sprinting up to the nasty-looking giant robot, and kept its attention on him while the rest of the party dealt with the weaker foes. He was helping by keeping his companions safe, while also having an exciting and challenging duel, so he's rarely been happier!
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While I have never played a skittermander myself, I have GM'd, or played alongside, lots of other people playing skittermanders. My big take-away from that, is - don't confuse "friendly" and "helpful" with "idiot" or "oblivious, to the point of self harm." Especially in ways that disrupt play.
For example, I have played with skittermanders who, upon witnessing a slavering, 45 ft tall, wild dinosaur-analogue eat an NPC, will walk up and say "hi me want be friend?" (...without any of the ways to talk to dinosaurs, to be clear.) I have seen skittermanders, on assignment deep behind enemy lines, confronted with the Big Bad Evil Person during a high-stakes, end-of-storyline mission, spend the first round of combat saying "Hemlo nufriend can I be of any help?"
Don't be that skittermander :D
It's fine to have a tendency to see the best in people, but it's not fine to disrupt play by acting suicidally naïve :)
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So, one thing I would talk about the energy and distractability with your party. You can inform things rather than perform them to keep from derailing. Maybe you have a running joke with the party Soldier that you are often on a literal leash to avoid wandering off, so you describe just walking against your leash, without even realize you're held back.
Also, as to the helpful not stupid thing
Let's remember that there is a REASON Vesk view assignment to the Skittermander world as a punishment, despite it being a paradise. Furthermore, there used to be a Vesk resort set up at a Skittermander holy site. It has been abandoned. The Vesk have NEVER been able to prove the Skittermander did anything, but everyone knows The skittermander intended for both of these things to be true.
So my question is...how exactly do you go about playing a skittermander in general? It mentions they have no real recognition of authority, a tendency to wander off if they aren't kept on a short leash, and "all of the manic energy of a goblin with a flair for the ridiculous but none of the malice", but also an instinctual need to help others.
I have absolutely no idea how to play any of that since that's very far from my own personality.
Was planning on giving a Witchwarper Skittermander a try in 2e depending on how the class changes, and wondering how that might affect it.
A lot of being a skittermander is being almost pathologically helpful. You want to help people.
It is not that they don't recognize authority but that if they encounter somebody who needs help they try to help so whatever order they were given doesn't really stick past the first person they encounter who needs assistance.
The wandering off again they are not just wandering they saw somebody who needed help or something they could help with and they helped.
This is also why in general they put up being treated kind of bad by the vesk. Their inner drive to be helpful mostly lets them push past bad treatment to help get a job done. But as the vesk have found in some parts there are limits to this. If you voilate a skittermanders trust to much/often they will ignore you. That is the worst punishment any skittermander can imagine that you are so bad you are not worthy of receiving help. It takes a lot to get to that point but once it is reached skittermanders will just walk away from you. I think this is where a lot of the perceived wandering off comes in as well vesk who bullied to hard and are basically ignored as being unworthy of assistance.