Developing a rival character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Developing a rival character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Alneair
05-30-06, 09:36 PM I’m going to be DMing a game soon and one of my friends wishes to play a human Duskblade. I’ve never seen the class in action before, and I’m planning on setting him up with an Elven mentor who he will train under.
Here’s where maybe you can help me out, I want to set up a situation where the elf has two disciples, of which the player will be one. I want to establish them as friendly competitors, which may evolve into an interesting reoccurring conflict as their separate paths clash. They will initially train together, and then go off on their own to earn fame/fortune etc.
I’m hoping that someone could suggest the following for this duskblade rival:
1) An interesting race
2) An interesting melee weapon to use
3) An interesting character quirk or background
Cifer
05-31-06, 09:29 AM 1) An interesting race
Elf. The mentor is an elf, so he would probably train primarily elves. It also gives a reason for some jealousy since he is irked by the fact that the mentor trained a human at all.

2) An interesting melee weapon to use
He is an elf, so... longsword or rapier?

3) An interesting character quirk or background
He disdains to kill with magic. Softening his opponent up is fair game, but killing should be personal and melee, since you should always empathise with your opponent. Otherwise you would soon stop seeing the value of the lives you extinguish.
Alneair
05-31-06, 10:45 AM That makes sense, and an excellent personal trait as well. Thanks!
Northwest
05-31-06, 11:55 AM What about starting both as Duskblades, but the rival soon turns to Hexblade?

The hexblade would probably have been less disciplined and so grew out of favor w/the mentor...making him more bitter. Not sure how the power would match up.
Alneair
05-31-06, 12:29 PM Hmm, i wondered about that - but i feared powerbalance between the two might be thrown off then. I don't recall the progresson of the Hexblade off the top of my head, but i'm thinking a multiclass duskblade/hexblade character wouldn't stand against a straight PC character.
Maybe there is an equally sinister prestige class he could multiclass into.
Dipteran_Legacy
06-02-06, 01:01 PM you're the DM. the character doesnt actually have to be a multiclass duskblade/hexblade.

if you need to justify it, say they trained together pre-lvl 1, and even by the end of the training, the rival was showing a slightly different style of combat magic than the PC.

the key to using hexblades is knowing how they work, as they work quite a bit different than duskblades.

duskblades are all about high damage spells coupled with melee attacks, making for some high-damage hits.

hexblades are about a little bit of buffing, and a lot of debuffing. the duskblades high damage wont do much good if he cant hit the broad side of a barn. = )

even then, Imo, hexblades is a little lacking for a base class. = (

I think having it be an elf would be too cliche, but maybe that's just me.

then again, there is a significant lack of cool, interesting races that make good duskblades, and arent too cliche.....
Northwest
06-02-06, 02:07 PM After posting the first Duskblade/Hexblade thought...I took a bit more serious look at it last night.

If you multiclass (only level 1 of duskblade...any more hurts way too much), the advantages/disadvantages of the hexblade would be:

Pro:

Slightly more hitpoints
Familiar (or the spectral companion)
Curse
Better Saves vs spells (assuming the CHA bonus beats the Reflex save progression of the duskblade)

Con:

Worse AC
Much worse number of spells/power of spells
No Arcane channeling as part of melee
Slightly more MAD

For a conflict to be somewhat even, I think the curse would HAVE to succeed. Otherwise the duskblade would win. And the Duskblade gets a good will save.

I still like the idea, because I like the hexblade, but looks less like a good idea for you. About the only way to make it even in power would be to maybe give the hexblade a few extra levels (maybe the CHA spontaneous caster requires less work to advance) or the confrontations only occur where he knows the terrain/has some other advantage (minions, someone the PC has to save, etc)
club2bash
06-04-06, 08:17 PM Whats a duskblade? :confused: :confused:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Alneair 05-30-06, 09:36 PM	I’m going to be DMing a game soon and one of my friends wishes to play a human Duskblade. I’ve never seen the class in action before, and I’m planning on setting him up with an Elven mentor who he will train under. Here’s where maybe you can help me out, I want to set up a situation where the elf has two disciples, of which the player will be one. I want to establish them as friendly competitors, which may evolve into an interesting reoccurring conflict as their separate paths clash. They will initially train together, and then go off on their own to earn fame/fortune etc. I’m hoping that someone could suggest the following for this duskblade rival: 1) An interesting race 2) An interesting melee weapon to use 3) An interesting character quirk or background
Cifer 05-31-06, 09:29 AM	1) An interesting race Elf. The mentor is an elf, so he would probably train primarily elves. It also gives a reason for some jealousy since he is irked by the fact that the mentor trained a human at all. 2) An interesting melee weapon to use He is an elf, so... longsword or rapier? 3) An interesting character quirk or background He disdains to kill with magic. Softening his opponent up is fair game, but killing should be personal and melee, since you should always empathise with your opponent. Otherwise you would soon stop seeing the value of the lives you extinguish.
Alneair 05-31-06, 10:45 AM	That makes sense, and an excellent personal trait as well. Thanks!
Northwest 05-31-06, 11:55 AM	What about starting both as Duskblades, but the rival soon turns to Hexblade? The hexblade would probably have been less disciplined and so grew out of favor w/the mentor...making him more bitter. Not sure how the power would match up.
Alneair 05-31-06, 12:29 PM	Hmm, i wondered about that - but i feared powerbalance between the two might be thrown off then. I don't recall the progresson of the Hexblade off the top of my head, but i'm thinking a multiclass duskblade/hexblade character wouldn't stand against a straight PC character. Maybe there is an equally sinister prestige class he could multiclass into.
Dipteran_Legacy 06-02-06, 01:01 PM	you're the DM. the character doesnt actually have to be a multiclass duskblade/hexblade. if you need to justify it, say they trained together pre-lvl 1, and even by the end of the training, the rival was showing a slightly different style of combat magic than the PC. the key to using hexblades is knowing how they work, as they work quite a bit different than duskblades. duskblades are all about high damage spells coupled with melee attacks, making for some high-damage hits. hexblades are about a little bit of buffing, and a lot of debuffing. the duskblades high damage wont do much good if he cant hit the broad side of a barn. = ) even then, Imo, hexblades is a little lacking for a base class. = ( I think having it be an elf would be too cliche, but maybe that's just me. then again, there is a significant lack of cool, interesting races that make good duskblades, and arent too cliche.....
Northwest 06-02-06, 02:07 PM	After posting the first Duskblade/Hexblade thought...I took a bit more serious look at it last night. If you multiclass (only level 1 of duskblade...any more hurts way too much), the advantages/disadvantages of the hexblade would be: Pro: Slightly more hitpoints Familiar (or the spectral companion) Curse Better Saves vs spells (assuming the CHA bonus beats the Reflex save progression of the duskblade) Con: Worse AC Much worse number of spells/power of spells No Arcane channeling as part of melee Slightly more MAD For a conflict to be somewhat even, I think the curse would HAVE to succeed. Otherwise the duskblade would win. And the Duskblade gets a good will save. I still like the idea, because I like the hexblade, but looks less like a good idea for you. About the only way to make it even in power would be to maybe give the hexblade a few extra levels (maybe the CHA spontaneous caster requires less work to advance) or the confrontations only occur where he knows the terrain/has some other advantage (minions, someone the PC has to save, etc)
club2bash 06-04-06, 08:17 PM	Whats a duskblade? :confused: :confused: