Fighting Evil on my own terms [Archive] - Wizards Community

Fighting Evil on my own terms [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Coneyman88
07-20-07, 08:28 PM I'm running a Swordsage 5/Shadow Sun Ninja, I want him to be exactly what the book says he should be, a loner who fights evil on his own terms.

I don't want to play the cliche' "I'm so full of secrets I **** in private." Instead, I want to play the loner who hovers a little ways from the party but still wants to be social. An example situation:
If the party is tracking a wanted man through the city streets I would instead be leaping from ledge to ledge, running over rooftops, and springing on the man from the third story. After the man is taken into custody, I would give him over to the rest of the party and return to my rooftop, following the party back to the local jailhouse - but not going in to collect the bounty.

"If you arrive in a town beset by evil and drive out or slay the villians, you are likely to leave without saying a word or making any effort to gather acclaim or befriend those you saved." - Tome of Battle. That's what I want to be.
Apupunchau
07-20-07, 08:52 PM at early levels that's fine but as you progress being the anti social loner is no fun in a party. Well I guess it doesn't really matter if it's a hack and slash group but for any group that does a fair amount of Role Playing you'll be always on the outside and that gets pretty dull.

From an RP stand point I'd start out being anti social not because you have any secrets just because you're to used being screwed over by people and you aren't quite ready to form bonds with anyone else because of a few bad experiences. But as time goes by you'll learn to be more a part of the group and maybe even social with other people outside the group. As you are progressing toward this socialness maybe you have relapses when you feel you are being taken advantage of by the party or by NPCs and you withdraw again.
CrimsonDeath
07-20-07, 09:04 PM You could split the difference by being cryptic and unassuming. You can walk alongside the party, but stay quiet and don't draw attention to yourself unless something important is going on. You could also allow your actions to speak for you in the majority of situations.
Coneyman88
07-20-07, 10:52 PM at early levels that's fine but as you progress being the anti social loner is no fun in a party. Well I guess it doesn't really matter if it's a hack and slash group but for any group that does a fair amount of Role Playing you'll be always on the outside and that gets pretty dull.

I agree full heartedly with you!!! I am running a campaign right now where a PC is doing just that. IT IS EXTREMEMLY ANNOYING! Thank you for the second paragraph also. I like the idea of joining slowly as time goes on.

You could split the difference by being cryptic and unassuming. You can walk alongside the party, but stay quiet and don't draw attention to yourself unless something important is going on. You could also allow your actions to speak for you in the majority of situations.

Cryptic??? Thank you for your help with the subtlety of the loaner position.
CrimsonDeath
07-20-07, 11:18 PM Cryptic???
You know... Mysterious.
Terjon of the Blue Rose
07-20-07, 11:52 PM Just my :twocents: but, if it were me, I'd play set my story up (perhaps with DM help) to have a good reason to trust the others in the group. I'd play mistrusting of outsiders but fiercely loyal to the band I travel with. That way you get to be part of the group but still an outsider. You just are only an outsider to the NPCs... who the game really shouldn't focus on nearly as much.
Fithero
07-21-07, 08:35 AM Just my :twocents: but, if it were me, I'd play set my story up (perhaps with DM help) to have a good reason to trust the others in the group. I'd play mistrusting of outsiders but fiercely loyal to the band I travel with. That way you get to be part of the group but still an outsider. You just are only an outsider to the NPCs... who the game really shouldn't focus on nearly as much.

I agree with this, but instead i would have you form the bond during play. Ask the players and dm to allow you all to become closer and a tight night group as time goes by.

It has such a greater impact than just "we're were tight before the game began"
Coneyman88
07-21-07, 06:04 PM Just my :twocents: but, if it were me, I'd play set my story up (perhaps with DM help) to have a good reason to trust the others in the group. I'd play mistrusting of outsiders but fiercely loyal to the band I travel with. That way you get to be part of the group but still an outsider. You just are only an outsider to the NPCs... who the game really shouldn't focus on nearly as much.

I agree with this, but instead i would have you form the bond during play. Ask the players and dm to allow you all to become closer and a tight night group as time goes by.

It has such a greater impact than just "we're were tight before the game began"

Thank you to both of you! This puts a whole new spin on "The Outsider" perspective. One that I would not have been able to think of on my own. THANKS!!!
Terjon of the Blue Rose
07-22-07, 12:11 AM In game works better but is a little harder to pull off. If you want to put in the work though fither2 :P is right that it's a better way of going about it.
Karish
07-22-07, 12:45 PM I've played the loner/outsider type, and a good way to role play it while keeping a good standing with the party, in my opinion, is this:

I focus on one other PC who I have discussed with the player about. This person will really be the only one I trust in the party when the game starts out. Maybe the characters are childhood allies, maybe they're related or lovers. Who knows. But basically, all my character does with the group is through this person. If someone wants to talk to my character, they talk to his girlfriend and she sees if he'll have an audioence with them. If the party wants to know about my character in another game, maybe they have to ask his brother who spent his whole life by his side and is the more social of the pair.

You know. That basic concept. Since these days a usually play with a good friend, her and my characters are usually played together, and I tend to use her as the lover/sister/friend/etc for my games.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Coneyman88 07-20-07, 08:28 PM	I'm running a Swordsage 5/Shadow Sun Ninja, I want him to be exactly what the book says he should be, a loner who fights evil on his own terms. I don't want to play the cliche' "I'm so full of secrets I **** in private." Instead, I want to play the loner who hovers a little ways from the party but still wants to be social. An example situation: If the party is tracking a wanted man through the city streets I would instead be leaping from ledge to ledge, running over rooftops, and springing on the man from the third story. After the man is taken into custody, I would give him over to the rest of the party and return to my rooftop, following the party back to the local jailhouse - but not going in to collect the bounty. "If you arrive in a town beset by evil and drive out or slay the villians, you are likely to leave without saying a word or making any effort to gather acclaim or befriend those you saved." - Tome of Battle. That's what I want to be.
Apupunchau 07-20-07, 08:52 PM	at early levels that's fine but as you progress being the anti social loner is no fun in a party. Well I guess it doesn't really matter if it's a hack and slash group but for any group that does a fair amount of Role Playing you'll be always on the outside and that gets pretty dull. From an RP stand point I'd start out being anti social not because you have any secrets just because you're to used being screwed over by people and you aren't quite ready to form bonds with anyone else because of a few bad experiences. But as time goes by you'll learn to be more a part of the group and maybe even social with other people outside the group. As you are progressing toward this socialness maybe you have relapses when you feel you are being taken advantage of by the party or by NPCs and you withdraw again.
CrimsonDeath 07-20-07, 09:04 PM	You could split the difference by being cryptic and unassuming. You can walk alongside the party, but stay quiet and don't draw attention to yourself unless something important is going on. You could also allow your actions to speak for you in the majority of situations.
Coneyman88 07-20-07, 10:52 PM	at early levels that's fine but as you progress being the anti social loner is no fun in a party. Well I guess it doesn't really matter if it's a hack and slash group but for any group that does a fair amount of Role Playing you'll be always on the outside and that gets pretty dull. I agree full heartedly with you!!! I am running a campaign right now where a PC is doing just that. IT IS EXTREMEMLY ANNOYING! Thank you for the second paragraph also. I like the idea of joining slowly as time goes on. You could split the difference by being cryptic and unassuming. You can walk alongside the party, but stay quiet and don't draw attention to yourself unless something important is going on. You could also allow your actions to speak for you in the majority of situations. Cryptic??? Thank you for your help with the subtlety of the loaner position.
CrimsonDeath 07-20-07, 11:18 PM	Cryptic??? You know... Mysterious.
Terjon of the Blue Rose 07-20-07, 11:52 PM	Just my :twocents: but, if it were me, I'd play set my story up (perhaps with DM help) to have a good reason to trust the others in the group. I'd play mistrusting of outsiders but fiercely loyal to the band I travel with. That way you get to be part of the group but still an outsider. You just are only an outsider to the NPCs... who the game really shouldn't focus on nearly as much.
Fithero 07-21-07, 08:35 AM	Just my :twocents: but, if it were me, I'd play set my story up (perhaps with DM help) to have a good reason to trust the others in the group. I'd play mistrusting of outsiders but fiercely loyal to the band I travel with. That way you get to be part of the group but still an outsider. You just are only an outsider to the NPCs... who the game really shouldn't focus on nearly as much. I agree with this, but instead i would have you form the bond during play. Ask the players and dm to allow you all to become closer and a tight night group as time goes by. It has such a greater impact than just "we're were tight before the game began"
Coneyman88 07-21-07, 06:04 PM	Just my :twocents: but, if it were me, I'd play set my story up (perhaps with DM help) to have a good reason to trust the others in the group. I'd play mistrusting of outsiders but fiercely loyal to the band I travel with. That way you get to be part of the group but still an outsider. You just are only an outsider to the NPCs... who the game really shouldn't focus on nearly as much. I agree with this, but instead i would have you form the bond during play. Ask the players and dm to allow you all to become closer and a tight night group as time goes by. It has such a greater impact than just "we're were tight before the game began" Thank you to both of you! This puts a whole new spin on "The Outsider" perspective. One that I would not have been able to think of on my own. THANKS!!!
Terjon of the Blue Rose 07-22-07, 12:11 AM	In game works better but is a little harder to pull off. If you want to put in the work though fither2 :P is right that it's a better way of going about it.
Karish 07-22-07, 12:45 PM	I've played the loner/outsider type, and a good way to role play it while keeping a good standing with the party, in my opinion, is this: I focus on one other PC who I have discussed with the player about. This person will really be the only one I trust in the party when the game starts out. Maybe the characters are childhood allies, maybe they're related or lovers. Who knows. But basically, all my character does with the group is through this person. If someone wants to talk to my character, they talk to his girlfriend and she sees if he'll have an audioence with them. If the party wants to know about my character in another game, maybe they have to ask his brother who spent his whole life by his side and is the more social of the pair. You know. That basic concept. Since these days a usually play with a good friend, her and my characters are usually played together, and I tend to use her as the lover/sister/friend/etc for my games.