Developing a non-heroic character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Developing a non-heroic character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
SWOne
02-14-06, 12:08 PM So, my DM, being a rather jaded old-hat at this Dungeons and Dragons thing, has decided on an Eberron campaign idea that I, for one, believe to be absolute genius - none of the PCs are heroes. We're not adventurers, we haven't asked for any of this, we haven't even been marked out from birth as having a special destiny. Theoretically, at least, we're thrust into the adventurer's life with no warning or training. Which is where the character development gets interesting.

We've been asked to come up with City Workers for an Eberron camapaign - specifically, to make a player level 6 template which could represent an uber-blue-collar worker or labourer from an Eberron city firm (dustman, production-line worker, librarian, clerk etc.) which the DM will then take away, tone down to fit the city worker description, and give back to us as our character sheet. This means that the better our template, the less toning the DM will feel is necessary, and the more powerful a character I'll be able to enjoy. So...

I've never played a rogue before - I invariably go straight for the powerhouse templates, the fighter, barbarian or mage, even though I tend to not actually powerhouse them. I figured this would be as good a chance as any to start out as a rogue. The question then becomes, how do I take a rogue, and fit it into the City Worker template - and the answer appears, as if by magic. I shall be an Alarm Engineer! A specialist in creating and coordinating security systems, someone who's daily toil is to prevent the very sort of shenanigans that your average rogue is destined for - how much more ironically perfect can it get?

Game: D&D 3.5ed
Campaign Setting: Eberron
Template name: Alarm Engineer
Template basis: Rogue and (Wizard[Sorcerer?] or Artificer)
Primary Statistics: Wis for Search and Spot Checks, Int for skills and Knowledge, Dex for wiring/rune manipulation.
Primary Skills: Spot, Search, Disable Device, Knowledge (Stealth), Profession (security engineer), Craft (many), Use Magic Device, Profession (thief)
Race: Any

I've chosen to go Half-elf for the extra vision capabilities. That was a personal thing. So, basically, I want advice on this as a general character template. I was thinking of only taking one level in rogue, and the rest in either Wizard or Artificer (which would probably make more sense). Any suggestions on which class I should choose, any particular feats you would reccomend, or the like?

nB1: I'm asking this in the Development thread rather than the Optimisation thread becuase I do NOT want an optimum character for this - any optimum characters would just be toned down - I want a low-powered character to fit into the desired background.

nB2: Only the core rulebooks and Eberron supplements will be avaialble for this campaign.

nB3: Sorcerer is thrown in there but not really an option due to the lack of emphasis on Cha. There again, if I was a customer liaison within the comapny, I might have a decent Cha anyway, so possibly...

nB4: Sorry. I have a bad habit of rambling.
Shaggy_Shaggs
02-14-06, 03:22 PM If you really want to be Joe Average, you're looking in the wrong book. Drop the PHB and pick up the DMG, look up an NPC class called "Expert". It actually has more flexibility than the rogue, since it can pick any 10 skills to be its class skills. Load up on the skills relevant to your profession that might also be useful elsewhere.
SWOne
02-14-06, 05:35 PM Annoyingly, that's actually a rather good idea that I hadn't thought of.

I want the level in rogue for the trapsense, and I also see an Eberron systems engineer (which is another way of putting it) as really needing some magical abiltiy but I would appreciate some help on thinking whether it should be Wizard or Artificer. Might cross-class again into Expert, having had a look. I'll see what other advice I get here.
Shaggy_Shaggs
02-14-06, 06:12 PM For this I'd go with Expert/Artificer. You won't get trap sense, but you will get the ability to find and disable traps. You could put Use Magic Device on your Expert skill list so you have it in both, and you can keep your ability to 'fake it' with magic items up (and more versatile than a wizard doing it to boot).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
SWOne 02-14-06, 12:08 PM	So, my DM, being a rather jaded old-hat at this Dungeons and Dragons thing, has decided on an Eberron campaign idea that I, for one, believe to be absolute genius - none of the PCs are heroes. We're not adventurers, we haven't asked for any of this, we haven't even been marked out from birth as having a special destiny. Theoretically, at least, we're thrust into the adventurer's life with no warning or training. Which is where the character development gets interesting. We've been asked to come up with City Workers for an Eberron camapaign - specifically, to make a player level 6 template which could represent an uber-blue-collar worker or labourer from an Eberron city firm (dustman, production-line worker, librarian, clerk etc.) which the DM will then take away, tone down to fit the city worker description, and give back to us as our character sheet. This means that the better our template, the less toning the DM will feel is necessary, and the more powerful a character I'll be able to enjoy. So... I've never played a rogue before - I invariably go straight for the powerhouse templates, the fighter, barbarian or mage, even though I tend to not actually powerhouse them. I figured this would be as good a chance as any to start out as a rogue. The question then becomes, how do I take a rogue, and fit it into the City Worker template - and the answer appears, as if by magic. I shall be an Alarm Engineer! A specialist in creating and coordinating security systems, someone who's daily toil is to prevent the very sort of shenanigans that your average rogue is destined for - how much more ironically perfect can it get? Game: D&D 3.5ed Campaign Setting: Eberron Template name: Alarm Engineer Template basis: Rogue and (Wizard[Sorcerer?] or Artificer) Primary Statistics: Wis for Search and Spot Checks, Int for skills and Knowledge, Dex for wiring/rune manipulation. Primary Skills: Spot, Search, Disable Device, Knowledge (Stealth), Profession (security engineer), Craft (many), Use Magic Device, Profession (thief) Race: Any I've chosen to go Half-elf for the extra vision capabilities. That was a personal thing. So, basically, I want advice on this as a general character template. I was thinking of only taking one level in rogue, and the rest in either Wizard or Artificer (which would probably make more sense). Any suggestions on which class I should choose, any particular feats you would reccomend, or the like? nB1: I'm asking this in the Development thread rather than the Optimisation thread becuase I do NOT want an optimum character for this - any optimum characters would just be toned down - I want a low-powered character to fit into the desired background. nB2: Only the core rulebooks and Eberron supplements will be avaialble for this campaign. nB3: Sorcerer is thrown in there but not really an option due to the lack of emphasis on Cha. There again, if I was a customer liaison within the comapny, I might have a decent Cha anyway, so possibly... nB4: Sorry. I have a bad habit of rambling.
Shaggy_Shaggs 02-14-06, 03:22 PM	If you really want to be Joe Average, you're looking in the wrong book. Drop the PHB and pick up the DMG, look up an NPC class called "Expert". It actually has more flexibility than the rogue, since it can pick any 10 skills to be its class skills. Load up on the skills relevant to your profession that might also be useful elsewhere.
SWOne 02-14-06, 05:35 PM	Annoyingly, that's actually a rather good idea that I hadn't thought of. I want the level in rogue for the trapsense, and I also see an Eberron systems engineer (which is another way of putting it) as really needing some magical abiltiy but I would appreciate some help on thinking whether it should be Wizard or Artificer. Might cross-class again into Expert, having had a look. I'll see what other advice I get here.
Shaggy_Shaggs 02-14-06, 06:12 PM	For this I'd go with Expert/Artificer. You won't get trap sense, but you will get the ability to find and disable traps. You could put Use Magic Device on your Expert skill list so you have it in both, and you can keep your ability to 'fake it' with magic items up (and more versatile than a wizard doing it to boot).