Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lanoitakude 01-07-04, 07:09 PM	Hello, I am about to start using a 9th level Elven Druid(male), and I need a good name/background. My current name is "Ashitaka" from Princess Mononoke. He uses mostly fire-based spells, preferring to unleash nature's fury upon his enemies. In normal situations, he is calm, cool, and collected. In battle, he relentlessly attacks foes who would harm nature. He has a dire wolf animal companion named Moro(female) which he rides, and a trained hawk named Yakul(male). I have never used a druid before so I am just looking for some hints/tips on how to RP this sort of character well and some good background. THANKS *EDIT*- Str 7, Dex 18, Con 12, Wis 24(w/ items), Int 12, Cha 7
Elith E'Lyan 01-07-04, 08:47 PM	Well, it all depends on what kind of character you really looking to play. The only thing I can suggest to start you off, is asking yourself a few questions. Where does your character come from? Why/how did he become a Druid? As it stands you can go miles in any direction right now. Why is he so quick to get militant on someone who threatens nature? Is there an event in his past that causes him to react quickly and decisevely? Is it possible that he'd react to quickly, dealing out a punishment that is not necessarily deserved? Would he care if he realized he did? It's kind of hard to suggest something when it's so open at this point, without feeling like I'm stomping all over your creative choices. I'd be happy to be a sounding board for you to bounce ideas off of, and then make suggestions to expand on them if you like. I'm playing a Druid right now, and I chose him mainly cause the other two PC's were going to be fighters, so we needed a healer. And as an atheist, the Druid was more appealing than the cleric. Since then, I've grown to love the Druid and have a blast playing him. So I'm always to help with Druid questions...... yeah....I'm a dork.... I know.....
Lanoitakude 01-07-04, 10:40 PM	Thanks. I was thinking about what in his past would drive him to such anger, and I thought of something that works into his campaign world. When Ashitaka was very young, and just beginning to learn the ways of wild, his forest bordered a vast and technologically advanced city. Creatures of all walks of life lived there. Powerful wizards poured over magical tomes hoping to gain additional power. A powerful object was created, The Cube of Maddness. It had terrible power over people's minds, but could also greant vast power. While Ashitaka was out with his fellow druids exploring the nieghbering mountain range, the Cube went nuts. The wizards were unable to control the vast amount of magical energy they pumped into it upon creation. The Cube exploded, destroying everything within 50 miles. Ashitaka returned to find his once lush forest a deadland. No plants would grow there, and no animals would enter the area. Convinced of the evil's of advanced technology, Ashitaka swore to bring about the Second Wilding. The Wilding was a time when nature and humanoids lived in complete harmony, though this time has faded from the memories of all but the oldest sages. Ashitaka wants the forests to once again span the world, and will allow nothing to stand in nature's way. This explains Ashitaka's anger for those that would harm the wild. His forest and all he knew were destroyed because of "man's" (any humanoid) desire for progress. This parallels the whole Atomic Bomb deal. To respond to some of your other ideas: It is possible for him to react a little too quickly or too harshly. There is little chance he would leave anyone standing who defiles the wild. He would not care, death (of which he has seen much) is as constant as the rising sun (he will make that quote frequently). Don't worry about stomping over my creative choices, your character concepts might spark ideas for my own original design. My druid won't be throwing healing spells around very much, especially toward arcane people (he distrusts them) or townsy people (rogue).
Elith E'Lyan 01-08-04, 06:32 PM	Sounds like you've got a pretty solid character idea right there. Very cool, cause it's not the stereotypical Druid. God help your party wizard/sorcerer:) To go along with the favouring of fire spells, you could make the magical explosion cause devestating fires as well, that you and your Druid allies had to extinguish to protect areas that weren't killed so instantly. That way when you cast flame strike down on the defilers, there's an element of irony to your vengence. Are you leaning more towards the Neutral Evil side? Cause if you want to make sure he has redemption in the eyes of the do-gooders, perhaps he also lost loved ones in the explosion (druids that had stayed behind to look after the grove, relatives, love of your life, a trusted animal companion). Give it that added personal loss, as most non-druids can understand that destroying nature is a heinous crime in and of itself. Other good questions are, what has he done already (since the disaster) to bring about the 2nd Wilding? How far will he go? Is he willing to take out a city if he has too? Has he already? These could potentially lead to some conflict, unless the rest of your party is nature-favouring PC's, but personally I think that's always a good thing. As long as you're not trying to kill each other. Oh, and have you thought of an animal companion? I would certainly go for one that's rather agressive, and can do some damage in a melee....(wolf or bear as opposed to hawk or weasel). Something also to add to the potential ferocity of your character. Anyways, congratulations on coming up with a very cool, original concept for a Druid. Wish I'd have thought of that!
Lanoitakude 01-08-04, 07:12 PM	I've been throwing around another name for the druid, Greven the Wild. I think his favored wild shape should be the dire lion. It is ferocious and enrelenting in its attacks (with a pounce, it can get in like 5 attacks). I will have him take Natural Spell feat as well, so he can keep casting. His animal companion is Moro, a female dire wolf. She is just as ferocious as him. I am not sure about his alignment, he would protect innocence, but he is also vengeful. I will try to think about what is actual alignment is (except that it would be partially neutral). I have the character's mindset already thought out, I can't seem to make it stick to a certain alignment. He has destroyed a small Wizardry Guild in areas to the east of where he will make his appearance to the campaign. He basically set fire to the place and overran it with plants+etc. None of the wizards survived. He is extremely distrustful of arcane spell casters. There will be some interesting clash between him and the resident sorcerer (an extremely cocky, self worshiping one at that!). About setting fire to the forests, most druid spells allow you to exclude plant life from the damage. Even though he is reckless, he wouldn't do anything that would harm natural life (buildings, and other unnatural things are another story!). I really need help with a name. My two ideas are Ashitaka; and Greven the Wild. Any suggestions on the names would be greatly appreciated
Elith E'Lyan 01-08-04, 08:49 PM	I never meant to imply that your Druid would ever start a forest fire, sorry I wasn't clear! Of course it's a big bad. I just meant fire was his enemy's weapon to destroy what he cared about, so he uses it against his enemies to destroy what they cared about. If you have access to Complete Warrior, there's a pretty decent PRC in there called Nature's Warrior for Druid's who embrace the power of their wild shape. The best part is, you only lose minimal casting levels I was considering it for my character, cause he also leans more towards the warrior versus the healer. And isn't Natural Spell just about the best feat a Druid could ask for? Thinking about the alignment, he sort of fits into a Lawful category really. Except his laws aren't necessarily laws of a government, but the laws of nature. Just a thought. I find you can pretty much rationalize any alignment in the end without it have a crippling affect on your character. As for names, I always have a hard time with that, at least for non-human characters. So I use the random name generator from the Neverwinter Nights computer game to compe up with names that I like, and then choose two that seem to make a proper sounding first and last name. Also I try and make the word fit his personality.... like my guy is quite young, and naive to the world and Elith has an almost childish quality to it. Here are a bunch of names that came out of the generator that seemed to have some strength like your guy seems to posses: (although I must add that your names certainly seem to fit) Rydralla, Lantonen, Isendur, Lomelduil, Delor, Dedralamne, Calundel, Vilo, Belandur, Ferein, Neluril, Aniril, Rasheren, Siriwyn, Te'tner, Dranei, Teglen, Galdur, Siolad, Dy'nei, Gweth, Tir'ein, Unen, Desh, Galin, Diren, Caluldur. Maybe something in there will appeal or cause the creative juices to flow. But again.... first instincts normally good ones.
Lanoitakude 01-08-04, 09:47 PM	Oh, sorry for misunderstanding what you meant. Now that I realize what you mean, it is ironic, using the tool of his enemies against them. I do have the Complete Warrior handy, but I don't think I will take that PrC, because I want to focus more on spellcasting than wild shape. Natural Spell is also just B-E-A-utiful! Thought of some great flavor for him at work today, thought this might make him have more depth. He has a shalm (obad-hai's instrument), and he plays it frequently. He plays a song that was commonly sung amongst his family, especially his mother (all he knew perished in the fire, except for a few druids). The original song was upbeat and fast paced, but he plays an extremeley slow and sad version of this song. He plays it softly, so it cannot be heard farther than 15 feet away. He would never play it for entertainment or for money, he only plays it to remember those that were lost, and to remember the sins of technology. He most often plays at dusk, never at dawn. *wipes tear from eye*. I think the above will give him more depth than just a vengeful druid. -Of the names, I liked Caluldur the best, but I think I will alter it to Caladar. "Caladar, Bringer of the Second Wilding" sounds pretty hardcore. Hhmmmm...aligntment, always a problem. I think he might be CN, because of his tendencies toward fire, which is a chaotic energy source. Just thought of a cool quote: "You will burn, as the forests have burned.". This quote goes along side the one I mentioned earlier: "Death is as constant as the rising sun.". *edit* Quote 3: "We are all autumn leaves looking for the best place to fall." *edit* Name: Caladar Autumleaf
Elith E'Lyan 01-11-04, 11:28 AM	:weep: Really nice touch with the song man. That'll be awesome the first time someone in your party overhears that. I hope for roleplaying sake it's the Sorceror....now that could be an interesting momemnt! I also really like you're title, Bringer of the Second Wilding.... Vey epic and very purposeful. Now I want to make a new character.....
Lanoitakude 01-11-04, 08:18 PM	I played as Caladar over this past weekend, and he was a great success. The other PC's were suprised at Caladar's approach to combat. There is a Sorcerer in the group who likes to throw around fireballs, but after watching Caladar bite the head off of a Blood Ape and then Flamestrike some others, he asks before using fireballs near plants! (the answer is always "no!") The character is a success, and fun to roleplay, thanks Elith for helping me design him.
Trydan 01-12-04, 05:28 AM	Nice thread. One thing that always puzzles me, is the "catastrophic event when the character was very young", which causes the adulthood motivations. When someone is very young, then they tend to be more accepting than when they are, say, teenagers or young adults. People who lose a parent when they are a baby are more likely to be wistful than resentful or traumatised. Also, a child's anger is often short-lived. One needs to be older, or be subjected to something over a longer period of time, in order to build up lasting hatred/anger.
Lanoitakude 01-13-04, 06:23 PM	When I said "very young", I didn't mean childhood. More like...early teenager. Remember, elves live for a very long time. Also, this thread is kinda useless now, I have already begun playing as Caladar Autumleaf, Bringer of the Second Wilding (and he rocks!).
SmiloDan 01-13-04, 06:46 PM	I play an elf druid archer named Rook MacCobrood. He escaped from the Unseelie Court and rescued a wardog from the fighting pits. Gorsedd became his animal companion. Rook became a druid because he saw the evil his family commited and wants to make amends for the damage they have done to the world.