Background for a "Not Quite Paladin" Neutral Good human [Archive] - Wizards Community

Background for a "Not Quite Paladin" Neutral Good human [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Circon
12-11-04, 11:18 AM I'm making a new character at 7th level to be entered in an ongoing campaign, here's what I was thinking...

He grew up fairly poor, close to a "street kid" but with a family who tried to care for him, with the ideal of becoming a paladin. This was his childhood dream. Unfortunately, he never received the call. Upon adulthood, he joined the clergy and became a cleric of Kord, due to the nature of his upbringing (Strength, Luck as domains). He still didn't see himself as favored in any way, so during the next few years, he marched out to battle evil. (Gained 3 fighter levels)
He left his home behind him, and sought further initiation into holy orders. (2nd cleric level.) After this period, Kord saw fit to grant him divine power in the form of a Champion (http://www.giantitp.com/Func0007.html). Right now he has taken his second level in this class and is trying to come properly to terms with it, but is overjoyed due to being granted divine favor at last.

Thoughts on the story?

Stats:
13 STR (+1 to 14 at lvl 4)
16 CON
12 CHR
14 WIS
11 DEX (may boost next level)
13 INT

Skill set:
Knowledge (Religion) 7
Diplomacy 7
Concentration 4
Jump 3
Spellcraft 2
Climb 2
Intimidate 4
Craft 1
Handle Animal 1
Disguise 4
Knowledge (planes) 2
Sense Motive 2

Feats are under consideration. I don't want to post a near-duplicate thread, so is there a kind someone with a level of Optimizer who can suggest two feats in addition to the following? :
Athletic (suitable for Kord)
Dihard (ditto)
Weapon Focus (Morningstar)
Weapon Specialization (Morningstar)
Lightning Reflexes (Since I have a 1 base reflex save)

Also, I'm having trouble coming up with a NAME! I've thought of 20 and they all ring false.
nihility
12-11-04, 01:54 PM Feats are under consideration. I don't want to post a near-duplicate thread, so is there a kind someone with a level of Optimizer who can suggest two feats in addition to the following? :
Athletic (suitable for Kord)
Dihard (ditto)
Weapon Focus (Morningstar)
Weapon Specialization (Morningstar)
Lightning Reflexes (Since I have a 1 base reflex save)
Regarding optimization, check out these handy documents:
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=207643
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=213480

I would suggest posting that duplicate thead on the CO boards.

Some initial comments:
1) You need four levels of fighter to qualify for weapon specialization
2) Fighter 3 is an awful, awful place to stop fighter. Go fighter 2 or 4.
3) Consider Improved Toughness from Complete Warrior in place of Athletic. Its flavor is similar, and it's much more useful.
4) Power Attack is the single most efficient damage-dealing feat in 3.5. Grab it.
5) Why a morningstar? Isn't the greatsword Kord's favored weapon?
6) Reflex saves are generally the least dangerous of the three saves, since they usually just do damage (as opposed to killing you instantly or turning you against your allies). Plus, a static +2 bonus won't help you much in the long run if you keep multiclassing into classes with poor REF save progression.
7) Several of the tactical feats in Complete Warrior are simply wonderful, and can do a lot to add to the flavor of your fighting style. Look at Combat Brute and Shock Trooper in particular.
Circon
12-11-04, 04:32 PM You're just trying to get this thread moved by optimizing, aren't you?

1. Oops. Good catch, somehow I was thinking "a Fighter level, 4th level" as the pre-req.
2. http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=64 :P
3. Athletic wasn't much good, agreed. +7hp will be a bit better.
4. Ok... Replaces Weapon Spec, then.
5. No special reason. Greatsword it is.
6. Champion is intended as the final class here. "The long run" will likely lead to my totalt reflex save being around 4. The static +2 bonus will be a 50% improvement.
7. Prerequisites. This is not really a big fighter-type. (But the avatar...)

Feats aren't supposed to be purely combat-oriented, remember, this guy wanted to be a paladin. I'm also considering Extra/Improved Turning, Endurance, and Negotiator. (Sense Motive for detect evil on the last)
I think maybe I should fish around for roleplaying XP rather than optimize too much.
Right now I'm considering why my character didn't become a straight cleric of Kord, since they are still fairly effective at bashing evil. The "divine favor" angle will prolly have to figure here.

The avatar... Big. Intimidating. Radiant, not shining.

Will talk with some other people at the local community and ask for more opinions.

Here's hoping that I don't look too stupid in my first posting here.
Morka
12-12-04, 12:00 PM Your background is not so bad. But I wonder why he "left his home behind him, and sought further initiation into holy orders", if he was raised "with a family who tried to care for him"? An evil or neutral character could easily leave weak family member behind him, but a Neutral Good?

Perhaps does he comes back home to eat some turkey at Thanksgiving, or something like that... Unless his family have been killed? (not very original...)

And what was his parents doing as profession? They were poor, but they should have had some job... Basket weaving, shoemaking... perhaps working in a mine? That's all hook that your DM might appreciate...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Circon 12-11-04, 11:18 AM	I'm making a new character at 7th level to be entered in an ongoing campaign, here's what I was thinking... He grew up fairly poor, close to a "street kid" but with a family who tried to care for him, with the ideal of becoming a paladin. This was his childhood dream. Unfortunately, he never received the call. Upon adulthood, he joined the clergy and became a cleric of Kord, due to the nature of his upbringing (Strength, Luck as domains). He still didn't see himself as favored in any way, so during the next few years, he marched out to battle evil. (Gained 3 fighter levels) He left his home behind him, and sought further initiation into holy orders. (2nd cleric level.) After this period, Kord saw fit to grant him divine power in the form of a Champion (http://www.giantitp.com/Func0007.html). Right now he has taken his second level in this class and is trying to come properly to terms with it, but is overjoyed due to being granted divine favor at last. Thoughts on the story? Stats: 13 STR (+1 to 14 at lvl 4) 16 CON 12 CHR 14 WIS 11 DEX (may boost next level) 13 INT Skill set: Knowledge (Religion) 7 Diplomacy 7 Concentration 4 Jump 3 Spellcraft 2 Climb 2 Intimidate 4 Craft 1 Handle Animal 1 Disguise 4 Knowledge (planes) 2 Sense Motive 2 Feats are under consideration. I don't want to post a near-duplicate thread, so is there a kind someone with a level of Optimizer who can suggest two feats in addition to the following? : Athletic (suitable for Kord) Dihard (ditto) Weapon Focus (Morningstar) Weapon Specialization (Morningstar) Lightning Reflexes (Since I have a 1 base reflex save) Also, I'm having trouble coming up with a NAME! I've thought of 20 and they all ring false.
nihility 12-11-04, 01:54 PM	Feats are under consideration. I don't want to post a near-duplicate thread, so is there a kind someone with a level of Optimizer who can suggest two feats in addition to the following? : Athletic (suitable for Kord) Dihard (ditto) Weapon Focus (Morningstar) Weapon Specialization (Morningstar) Lightning Reflexes (Since I have a 1 base reflex save) Regarding optimization, check out these handy documents: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=207643 http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=213480 I would suggest posting that duplicate thead on the CO boards. Some initial comments: 1) You need four levels of fighter to qualify for weapon specialization 2) Fighter 3 is an awful, awful place to stop fighter. Go fighter 2 or 4. 3) Consider Improved Toughness from Complete Warrior in place of Athletic. Its flavor is similar, and it's much more useful. 4) Power Attack is the single most efficient damage-dealing feat in 3.5. Grab it. 5) Why a morningstar? Isn't the greatsword Kord's favored weapon? 6) Reflex saves are generally the least dangerous of the three saves, since they usually just do damage (as opposed to killing you instantly or turning you against your allies). Plus, a static +2 bonus won't help you much in the long run if you keep multiclassing into classes with poor REF save progression. 7) Several of the tactical feats in Complete Warrior are simply wonderful, and can do a lot to add to the flavor of your fighting style. Look at Combat Brute and Shock Trooper in particular.
Circon 12-11-04, 04:32 PM	You're just trying to get this thread moved by optimizing, aren't you? 1. Oops. Good catch, somehow I was thinking "a Fighter level, 4th level" as the pre-req. 2. http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=64 :P 3. Athletic wasn't much good, agreed. +7hp will be a bit better. 4. Ok... Replaces Weapon Spec, then. 5. No special reason. Greatsword it is. 6. Champion is intended as the final class here. "The long run" will likely lead to my totalt reflex save being around 4. The static +2 bonus will be a 50% improvement. 7. Prerequisites. This is not really a big fighter-type. (But the avatar...) Feats aren't supposed to be purely combat-oriented, remember, this guy wanted to be a paladin. I'm also considering Extra/Improved Turning, Endurance, and Negotiator. (Sense Motive for detect evil on the last) I think maybe I should fish around for roleplaying XP rather than optimize too much. Right now I'm considering why my character didn't become a straight cleric of Kord, since they are still fairly effective at bashing evil. The "divine favor" angle will prolly have to figure here. The avatar... Big. Intimidating. Radiant, not shining. Will talk with some other people at the local community and ask for more opinions. Here's hoping that I don't look too stupid in my first posting here.
Morka 12-12-04, 12:00 PM	Your background is not so bad. But I wonder why he "left his home behind him, and sought further initiation into holy orders", if he was raised "with a family who tried to care for him"? An evil or neutral character could easily leave weak family member behind him, but a Neutral Good? Perhaps does he comes back home to eat some turkey at Thanksgiving, or something like that... Unless his family have been killed? (not very original...) And what was his parents doing as profession? They were poor, but they should have had some job... Basket weaving, shoemaking... perhaps working in a mine? That's all hook that your DM might appreciate...