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pyro_cat 06-27-06, 09:53 PM

So I'm making a new character, with a very specific and interesting concept in mind. We (my occasional gaming group and I) were discussing characters based as much on ourselves as possible. We started with stats; assigning each other what we thought best, using both benchmarks and guesswork. D&D isn't really something I have a lot of interest or experience in actually playing, but playing yourself might be cool, and my friends suggested it, so... here goes. By the end of the process the stats I had to work with were as follows: Human (Forlorn and Short Attention Span Flaws) 10 12 10 18 10 12 My predilection for academics (and interest in a powerful character) led me to start with the Wizard class. However, I also LOVE the concept of Binding, and thought it was somewhat cohesive with my personality. This led me to the Anima Mage. My planned build is as roughly as follows: Wiz 1 (Scribe Scroll, Precocious Apprentice, Extend Spell, Improved Initiative, Iron Will) Wiz 2 Binder 1 (Improved Binding) Anima Mage 1 AM 2 AM 3 (Spell Penetration) AM 4 AM 5 AM 6 (Persistent Spell) AM 7 AM 8 AM 9 (Greater Spell Penetration) AM 10 Incantatar 1 (Empower Spell) Incantatar 2 (Arcane Thesis ???) Incantatar 3 Incantatar 4 (Easy Metamagic: Empower Spell) Incantatar 5 (Arcane Mastery) Incantatar 6 Incantatar 7 (Quicken Spell) I'll use the retraining option in the PHB II to retrain out Precocious Apprentice and Improved Binding for something more useful. Maybe some Spell Foci. Either way, the build is still very rough, but it gives the main impression of where I'm interested in going. I didn't want to just write out a traditional backstory, I find they all sound contrived and don't leave much to the imagination. Instead, I opted for a "snapshot" of an important moment in his life that gives an overall impression of the character and allows for some leeway on the DM's behalf. It's based as closely on events in my real life, paralleled in fantasy, as possible. The real story is pretty interesting, and, as a highschool student, I thought it was a good fit. Obviously, writing isn't my thing, but I scratched this out and it's good enough for a start. I brought it here hoping people could offer suggestions, advice, and opinion. The sblock destroyed my attempts at proper paragraphing, just bear with it. Finally... I make no promises for my spelling; I've become entirely too reliant on a spellchecker. He was sitting out on the seawall by the academy docks, gazing out towards the deep swells, thin shoulders hunched, arms back, supporting his slender frame. His long legs, dangling a few feet above the waterline, slowly kicked back and forth like an absentminded swimmer's. He must have heard me approaching, for he turned, his coppery hair falling slowly into his eyes. Blue eyes... a shade greener, I would guess, than the sea he had just been contemplating. He turned on his seat, stood with an almost forced grace, and for a moment his cocky grin flashed away, replaced by a gently self-mocking smile. He was tall, and only seemed more so for his thiness. With a flick of his finger across his forehead he swept the hair from his eyes, and when his hand lowered, the charade of confidence had returned. As he walked towards me I was again struck by his gait; a walk somewhat more selfassured than you would expect from someone who spent so much time alone in thought. I knew he was popular amongst the other students, but always seemed to prefer his own company; often climbing the verdant oak tree under the Western Tower. I had seen him there, absorbed in himself, many afternoons. He grew nearer, and I looked again to his face. He was of his father's look, and posessed that same flat gaze that had often confused me when speaking with the professor, but also a touch of his mother's piercing stare. As soon as he noticed my attention he extended his smile to the rest of his face, crinkling his eyelids. He had a thin face and a long straight nose that sat above nearly-full lips. His high cheekbones were freckled and windburned, and his high forehead was neatly covered by the sweep of hair that always threatened to tumble down across his face. He kept his chin neatly shaved, though in years to come I suspected he would grow a beard to strenghten his narrow jaw - his preoccupation with appearance had not gone unnoticed by the teaching staff. As he closed the last few metres between us, his mobile face shifted again, to a semblance of apology. He looked me straight in the eye, and when he said he was sorry, I almost believed him, despite myself. He was that good. * * * The bells were chiming midday when he entered my office. I had just returned from my noonday prayers, and when two abrupt knocks had signaled his presence, I called him in. The doors of my office creaked open; my predescessor was a careless headmaster, and had facilitated a certain decay, both moral and physical, that hung over the school like an unclean robe. "I suppose, Daniel, that you know why you're here" His eyes narrowed, and I couldn't help but wonder if his refusal to play games would get him in trouble one day, or if it keep him out of it in a way I would never manage. "The tunnels, I would imagine." "Yes, the tunnels... the tunnels and the dretch, to be specific." He had, yesterday morning, found his way into the tunnels that ran below the student's wing of the Academy. There, after coaxing a number of first years down with him, he had proceeded to use a stolen scroll to somehow conjure up a minor demon. It was a procedure of no more difficulty than anything studied in one of the Advanced Thaumaturgy classes, but the location and his lack of preparation had turned the situation to one of nearly deadly concequences. The girl had been almost killed. "I have to say, young man, I am impressed by your aptitude, if not your common sense. To kill that dretch after it mauled her was commendable. It's a shame you were you so idiotic in the first place." The muscles in his neck stiffened, his face full of deluded self-righteous anger. "I NEVER, never intended for that to happen to anyone. I would never want her hurt, of all people." "I'm quite aware of your... relationship... with the girl, Daniel, and I have my opinions on the matter. Don't expect to garner sympathy with that. You have no place with one so young. Now, to your punishement. I have to say, if the year, and with it your time at this Academy, wasn't nearly over, I would throw you out. Your choice to not even attend your own graduation hasn't won you many allies amongst the staff here, not to mention your problems with the magical aspects of your studies." The boy, after his father had secured him a spot at the Academy, had taken quickly to the more mundane subjects. His father's employment had allowed him a glimpse of a noble education - the best in the kingdom, and he initially made the best of his opportunity. Rhetoric, arts, literature and histories had been his forte, and we all had thought he would be destined for a position in the King's service, but in his third year, he had expressed a sudden interest in increasing his magical aptitude. His instructors were first thrilled by his interest, but when he didn't immediately achieve the successes he was used to, his studies became reckless and dangerous. Questionable techniques and forbidden knowledge had kept him abreast of the other students; propping him up where his questionable work ethic failed him, but eventually his professors began to question his methods. "My magical studies are progressing fine, sir, I think I may join the Explorer's Guild as a Service Mage next year." "Hah... and adventure? You? You're too soft and too reckless to succeed. You're no hero, Daniel, and you have a long way to go before you're magically prepared to deal with real foes. Your performance in that tunnel was impressive, but lucky. Don't expect to be able to perform that feat again." Upon reflection, I don't know why I was being so hard on him. He left the office, offended and vocal with promises of power in years to come. He seemed so sure that he had some source, some knowledge, that I did not know about, so I sent little Thirphix with a message to him. Perhaps meeting me down in one of his favourite haunts would inspire more openness in him. We were to meet by the seawall in an hour's time, and my familiar carried my apology to him as well. * * * "Your apology is accepted, Daniel, I too was rash in my words. I am, however, curious about your confidence in your magical abilities. You're a capable apprentice, and your brilliance surprises even me sometimes, but we can both agree that your capabilities could hardly be considered consistent." His face remained open, but I could sense a guarded caution in his words as he spoke. "I just think that the Academy isn't the best place for me... It's an excellent institution, sir, but I need to look into, ah, other things." "Other things? I'm not entirely sure that 'other things' are what you need. Why don't you tell me ex-" "Sir!" I turned to see the boy's father, one of my best professors, striding towards me, stiff grin on his face. "Archmage Fost, I've been looking for you all afternoon, I have a matter that requires your immediate attention. His eyes darted towards his son, and he took me by the shoulder. "There's a problem in the Department of Alchemy. Seems someone got in there and accidentally rediscovered the formula for alchemical tangleweed. It's a mess." I looked back to see his son walking briskly back to the student wing. It's the last I ever saw of him. I hope, for the sake of this school and this country, that does not change. The girl left, to go after him, three days later when she got out of the Medical Wing. I found the products of his private reseach just before the Witchhunters did, and turned it over to the Archbishop at the Temple of Pelor, and wish to never hear of "binding" again. If someone is curious and feels like telling me how, I can include a picture of what "he" looks like. Since the character is me, they're just some candids with my friends cropped out. Maybe not flattering, but they'll give you the general impression of what the character would look like. I threw it together on a very shoddy Photoshop collage, because that's all I'm willing to learn to do at this point. Anyways... if you actually took the time to read all this, congrats, and thanks. Any advice would me much appreciated; as you can see, it is definately a work in progress.