circus troop [Archive] - Wizards Community

circus troop [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
smilingcat
07-22-06, 03:06 AM If you read the optimzation board you know the question i am going to ask. I want characters like in a circus. I want them to perform tricks and attack foes as if part of the show. I need levels and skills i 'll fill in the blanks. :help:
Devlonir
07-22-06, 07:45 AM Most any class fills in the circus needs. Though some classes are more fit then others probably. Fighters have the feats to do special things, while Barbarians, Rangers and Paladins are too specialized in my opinion. Sorcerers have the number of spells per day to do special tricks more often then Wizards, although those can know a lot more spells. Rogues, Bards and Monks are perfect for the circus, while Clerics don't really have a place there.

Because Psionic classes can hide using their powers, they are probably even more fit to be in the circus then other classes.

I don't have a complete list and view of the classes in the complete books, all i can say is that the swashbuckler might also be a nice option.

Well, this is my start here.
TeediousPrime
07-22-06, 04:43 PM A rogue can make a good acrobat with a simple bit of fine-tuning. I had one in the last game I DM'ed and she made a rather good one. Pump the good stats into dex, and give them good ranks in climb, jump, tumble, use rope, and something along the lines of perform: acrobatics. There are a number of simple feats that will assist the character: acrobatic, agile, athletic, deft hands, just to name a few.
In a world as infused with magic as D&D is, a circus wouldn't exactly thrive on things like fire-breathers and such, but if your circus is in a low-magic area, a wizard or sorceror would be a good asset to have along. A wizard packing a number of spells from the Divinity school (and possibly a low level of professional pride) could make good fortune tellers as well. A ranger or druid would make an excellent animal trainer.
Syltorian
07-23-06, 08:03 AM Several classes spring to mind - if you got the Player's Handbook II, check out the Beguiler. If you have the Complete Adventurer, the Thief Acrobat might fit. While Clerics in general might not fit, perhaps one with the Trickery Domain would. And there is no end to the trouble you can do with bardic music and the fascinate and suggestions ability to lure your victims away.

Some ideas, most if not all of which assume that the troupe is one of villains. If your idea is one to use acrobats and performers as adventurers with a unique style of dealing with villains, not all of this might work.

The Knife Thrower: This is a pretty obvious way of murdering, and it will be difficult to get yourself out again. Anyway, it revolves around feats such as Quick Draw and Flick of the Hand, to attack without warning. Some variants might include using a dagger on which you cast invisibility (or greater invisibility) first, and if you can, one that is returning too. No weapon of crime. If you're good at bluffing, nobody even saw the movement.
Skills: Bluff, Sleight of Hand
Classes: Rogue, Assassin.

Swords in a Box: There is this magic trick, where you imprison someone in a box, then put assert blades in there. Get a volunteer over (using suggestion to make the volunteer). Then stage a cruel show where you slowly kill them with your blades. After the audience has finished gasping at the blood, throw a cloth over them, delay a bit, use the magic words and voila! the victim lives again. Except that it is now a changeling or other disguised person, which calmly takes the seat of the volunteer after agknowledging the applause.
Skills: Bluff, Perform (Act)
Classes: Replacement Killer (Dragon Magazine PrC)
Others: Cloak of Khyber spell (Dragon Magazine PrC), keeps True Seeing out.

Poisoned Juggler: Throw a ball (or bucket of water, or a cake, or whatever) at a member of the audience. Use delayed-action poison on it, and preferably one that does not result in spasms and jerks, although I do not know how to delay poison in D&D.
Skills: Bluff
Classes: Any with the Poison Use ability (ninja, assassin)

Scary Performance: Start a very, very scary show. Wait till everyone is screaming at its climax. Including the victim of your Phantasmal Killer. Since everyone is afraid, nobody will notice for a while. Maybe even use animate spells or abilities to have the victim walk home and appear to die there.
Skills required: Bluff, Intimidate, Perform (Act)
Good classes: Dread Witch (Heroes of Horror) can kill even creatures immune to fear.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
smilingcat 07-22-06, 03:06 AM	If you read the optimzation board you know the question i am going to ask. I want characters like in a circus. I want them to perform tricks and attack foes as if part of the show. I need levels and skills i 'll fill in the blanks. :help:
Devlonir 07-22-06, 07:45 AM	Most any class fills in the circus needs. Though some classes are more fit then others probably. Fighters have the feats to do special things, while Barbarians, Rangers and Paladins are too specialized in my opinion. Sorcerers have the number of spells per day to do special tricks more often then Wizards, although those can know a lot more spells. Rogues, Bards and Monks are perfect for the circus, while Clerics don't really have a place there. Because Psionic classes can hide using their powers, they are probably even more fit to be in the circus then other classes. I don't have a complete list and view of the classes in the complete books, all i can say is that the swashbuckler might also be a nice option. Well, this is my start here.
TeediousPrime 07-22-06, 04:43 PM	A rogue can make a good acrobat with a simple bit of fine-tuning. I had one in the last game I DM'ed and she made a rather good one. Pump the good stats into dex, and give them good ranks in climb, jump, tumble, use rope, and something along the lines of perform: acrobatics. There are a number of simple feats that will assist the character: acrobatic, agile, athletic, deft hands, just to name a few. In a world as infused with magic as D&D is, a circus wouldn't exactly thrive on things like fire-breathers and such, but if your circus is in a low-magic area, a wizard or sorceror would be a good asset to have along. A wizard packing a number of spells from the Divinity school (and possibly a low level of professional pride) could make good fortune tellers as well. A ranger or druid would make an excellent animal trainer.
Syltorian 07-23-06, 08:03 AM	Several classes spring to mind - if you got the Player's Handbook II, check out the Beguiler. If you have the Complete Adventurer, the Thief Acrobat might fit. While Clerics in general might not fit, perhaps one with the Trickery Domain would. And there is no end to the trouble you can do with bardic music and the fascinate and suggestions ability to lure your victims away. Some ideas, most if not all of which assume that the troupe is one of villains. If your idea is one to use acrobats and performers as adventurers with a unique style of dealing with villains, not all of this might work. The Knife Thrower: This is a pretty obvious way of murdering, and it will be difficult to get yourself out again. Anyway, it revolves around feats such as Quick Draw and Flick of the Hand, to attack without warning. Some variants might include using a dagger on which you cast invisibility (or greater invisibility) first, and if you can, one that is returning too. No weapon of crime. If you're good at bluffing, nobody even saw the movement. Skills: Bluff, Sleight of Hand Classes: Rogue, Assassin. Swords in a Box: There is this magic trick, where you imprison someone in a box, then put assert blades in there. Get a volunteer over (using suggestion to make the volunteer). Then stage a cruel show where you slowly kill them with your blades. After the audience has finished gasping at the blood, throw a cloth over them, delay a bit, use the magic words and voila! the victim lives again. Except that it is now a changeling or other disguised person, which calmly takes the seat of the volunteer after agknowledging the applause. Skills: Bluff, Perform (Act) Classes: Replacement Killer (Dragon Magazine PrC) Others: Cloak of Khyber spell (Dragon Magazine PrC), keeps True Seeing out. Poisoned Juggler: Throw a ball (or bucket of water, or a cake, or whatever) at a member of the audience. Use delayed-action poison on it, and preferably one that does not result in spasms and jerks, although I do not know how to delay poison in D&D. Skills: Bluff Classes: Any with the Poison Use ability (ninja, assassin) Scary Performance: Start a very, very scary show. Wait till everyone is screaming at its climax. Including the victim of your Phantasmal Killer. Since everyone is afraid, nobody will notice for a while. Maybe even use animate spells or abilities to have the victim walk home and appear to die there. Skills required: Bluff, Intimidate, Perform (Act) Good classes: Dread Witch (Heroes of Horror) can kill even creatures immune to fear.