Help my Gnome's Background [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help my Gnome's Background [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Gargarios
08-01-07, 01:20 AM I need help with the background of my NE or LE Male Rock Gnome Artificer.

Im playing in Faerun, and I want to be from Lantan. I want him to be evil, but Im not sure why he would be evil...

He likes devices and is evil, thats pretty much all I have for a background. Please help me...
Free1983
08-01-07, 02:23 PM This guy may be sadistic or just very greedy. So greedy that he'll risk other people's lives to become richer. Perhaps he had a troublesome youth and didn't want to go through that again, thus turning to crime to avoid poverty.
Gargarios
08-01-07, 09:23 PM Well, theres probably not very many greedy evil gnomes in Lantan. Maybe his traps went wrong, and a family member was killed by it, so he devoted himself to perfecting his trapmaking and would kill people to have them at there best?
Free1983
08-02-07, 04:37 AM Perhaps he noticed that the traps of his mentor harmed intruders, but never stopped any of them (in the end we know that adventurers almost always overcome traps).

His teacher/mentor might have done the security on a temple of Gnarl Glittergold, but two years later, the temple-treasure was stolen by a cunning thief and although the investigation made clear that several traps were set off and that the thief was actually wounded by the traps, the theft itself made clear that the traps weren't succesful of stopping the thief.

So, he decided to improve the work of his teacher and invented some diabolical trap designs. These trap designs could have been very painful or even torturing (sp?) and his master wouldn't deal with his pupil anymore. The gnome is exiled from his community and now has nothing to loose. He decides to bring his trap designs on the market and sell & build them for the highest bidder.

This way he's contacted by a lot of evil masterminds that cloud his judgement even more. Eh voila, you have an evil gnome with evil traps and a grudge against his former mentor, and the connections to get help.

Hope this helps :schemes:,

Cheers
Gargarios
08-02-07, 02:20 PM Thanks alot Free1983!

Do you think he would sign up with a mastermind to sell his poducts, then kill him to get more money, so he can make better traps?
Free1983
08-02-07, 02:46 PM I don't think he would do that. It seems like your gnome won't be a hillbilly boy or something. With his brains he should realize that he might get a lot of money by betraying his employer, but he should also realize that in the long run, he will loose money by betraying the employer. Normally, betrayal is something that is rumored and rumors spread. Soon, no-one will be willing to hire the gnome because they fear to become the victim of his treason.

Of course your gnome could pull it off. He might plan for another person to take the blame, but still it's risky. Even the best plan may run awry and that's just something your gnome can't risk. He's kind of stuck into the black circuit and it shouldn't be easy to come clean again. So I think he's better of if he just does his job and don't betray his employer.

This gnome should however know who he's dealing with. I suggest he only deals with LE & NE or LN & TN aligned bosses. The chaotic evil types are too likely to betray the gnome. I guess that looking for the right employer is a 24/7 occupation.

There is of course an exeption. If your gnome joins a good party that offers him a chance to "atone" himself (by giving him a way to sell his products on the white market) and that's able to protect him from its former employers, your gnome could sell out his former employers, and so making it a lot easier to sneak up on the BBEG.

Hope this helps,

Cheers
Gargarios
08-02-07, 05:26 PM Yes it does help, I have decided to be a Techsmith/Wizard or Effigy Master/Wizard... that might complicate my background
Free1983
08-02-07, 06:26 PM I'm not sure what the class features of those classes are, but in my opinion you can make most background stories work with different classes. If your original idea about a trapmaking gnome is left standing of course.
Gargarios
08-02-07, 11:50 PM Well... thats the problem. I was going to be a rogue who used traps, but now I think Im going to be a Wizard.
Terjon of the Blue Rose
08-03-07, 02:38 AM Dunno if you've considered it but evil can simply be amoral... that is lacking any real morals whatsoever. Maybe he is simply interesting in perfecting his skills as an artificer and doesn't much care about who or what his test subjects are. He'll happily wipe out an orc encampment to test and effigy but he's also more than willing to send that same effigy on a rampage in town to see how long it takes the guards to stop it. He may even be willing to use the distraction to steal materials for later versions.
Free1983
08-03-07, 04:15 AM Just change traps into spells. Your master used spells, but wasn't succesful in getting the job done. So, your gnome decides to step in and use somewhat darker magic to do the job. He steals some books his master has kept away from him and starts learning about necromancy. He decides the use of undead would be ideally suited for the job and goes through with his plans.

Of course the undead are discovered and the creator of the undead, your gnome, is punished for his vile and evil deeds. His spellbook is taken away from him and he's condemned doing community service. Your gnome feels that he's misjudged (after all, he was doing this for the greater good) and steals back his spellbook and leaves the town. Or you could just go for exile like I suggested in a previous post.

This helps too ;)?

Cheers
Gargarios
08-03-07, 10:16 AM Yes it does help, thanks.

Do you know about the Island Lantan in the Realms?

Where would he go after his exile?
Pole4life
08-03-07, 12:47 PM The closest, and most interesting place would be Calimport in Calimshan. Around 400 miles away, he could hop on a trading boat and go to a place where crime lords rule the city, and fire-magic and harems are in heavy supply.

Sounds like his type of city, maybe.
Gargarios
08-03-07, 05:06 PM Would there be any Gnome's who could show him around in Calimport?

I want him to have a passion for hating Kobolds like the rest of his race, where could he pick this up?
Pole4life
08-03-07, 05:29 PM You could make up gnomes in Calimport. They have a certain dislike of evocation magic, but they admire conventional magic such as alchemical goods, gnomish tinkering projects, etc...

As for Kobolds... I was reminded of a time where my Mystic Theurge fought desert kobold in the Calim desert.

Here's an SRD sneak peak at them:

http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/unearthedEnvironmentalVariants.html#dese rt-kobolds
Gargarios
08-03-07, 05:48 PM So would I give him the Calimport (human) region or the Lantan (gnome) region?

If I am from Calimport, Im definately getting a flying carpet and I will dress like Aladdin.
Free1983
08-04-07, 07:35 PM I'm not acqainted (sp?) with Faerun, but his enemity with kobolds could originate from the gnome community before he was exiled. Remember that he had some kind of mentor to teach him magic and wizardry. That teacher could have learned him about the evil kobolds.

If you wish you could even have the mentor trying to kill those kobolds (and it's exactly that what he fails to do).

Cheers
Gargarios
08-05-07, 10:12 AM I know I want him to be some type of wizard... but I dont know about future prestige classes... please help me. Cuz then I could better understand my background.

Here is my thread about my problem:
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=897561

Thanks in advance
Free1983
08-05-07, 02:02 PM If you're thinking about a roguish wizard, you'll have to step away from the artificer idea. I don't know any classes that combine both themes.

At a glance I'd say you'd have to look into the:

Arcane trickster (DM guide)
Fate spinner (3.0 Tome and Blood) - A prc that gives you insight in the laws of probability and that gives you the power to change this probabilities to your advantage.
Earth dreamer (Races of stone) - A prc that is closely connected to the earth, and thus be able to look through walls, move through earth)
Luckstealer (Races of the wild) - A prc that is actually built around halflings, but with your DM's approval, you can easily convert it to gnomes. You're able to curse your opponents an steal their luck.

I'm not familiar with any classes that are adapted to this artificer theme. Only one I can think of is the runesmith (Races of stone), but I'm not quite sure if that's your cup of tea.

I've read that you don't have all these books available, but perhaps if you ask around (or surf the internet for bad people who don't like copyright rules) you might get a hold on the stats. Or you could buy the books ;).

Cheers
Gargarios
08-05-07, 03:49 PM If you're thinking about a roguish wizard, you'll have to step away from the artificer idea. I don't know any classes that combine both themes.

At a glance I'd say you'd have to look into the:

Arcane trickster (DM guide)
Fate spinner (3.0 Tome and Blood) - A prc that gives you insight in the laws of probability and that gives you the power to change this probabilities to your advantage.
Earth dreamer (Races of stone) - A prc that is closely connected to the earth, and thus be able to look through walls, move through earth)
Luckstealer (Races of the wild) - A prc that is actually built around halflings, but with your DM's approval, you can easily convert it to gnomes. You're able to curse your opponents an steal their luck.

I'm not familiar with any classes that are adapted to this artificer theme. Only one I can think of is the runesmith (Races of stone), but I'm not quite sure if that's your cup of tea.

I've read that you don't have all these books available, but perhaps if you ask around (or surf the internet for bad people who don't like copyright rules) you might get a hold on the stats. Or you could buy the books ;).

Cheers

My options are:

Assasin (DMG)
Arcane Trickster (DMG)
Gnome Artificer (Magic of Faerun)
Master Alchemist (Magic of Faerun)
Techsmith (Faiths and Pantheons)
Nightmare Spinner (Complete Mage)

Im still unsure on what I should do...
Free1983
08-06-07, 08:58 AM You should pick the one that you like the most. Which class attracts you the most. What will be the most fun to play to you. I really don't think I can help you with that ;).

Happy gaming
Gargarios
08-06-07, 09:26 AM You should pick the one that you like the most. Which class attracts you the most. What will be the most fun to play to you. I really don't think I can help you with that ;).

Happy gaming

Thats true... I just don't know which one to do. Ill figure it out and get back to this thread for more help on his background.

Thanks for all your help

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Gargarios 08-01-07, 01:20 AM	I need help with the background of my NE or LE Male Rock Gnome Artificer. Im playing in Faerun, and I want to be from Lantan. I want him to be evil, but Im not sure why he would be evil... He likes devices and is evil, thats pretty much all I have for a background. Please help me...
Free1983 08-01-07, 02:23 PM	This guy may be sadistic or just very greedy. So greedy that he'll risk other people's lives to become richer. Perhaps he had a troublesome youth and didn't want to go through that again, thus turning to crime to avoid poverty.
Gargarios 08-01-07, 09:23 PM	Well, theres probably not very many greedy evil gnomes in Lantan. Maybe his traps went wrong, and a family member was killed by it, so he devoted himself to perfecting his trapmaking and would kill people to have them at there best?
Free1983 08-02-07, 04:37 AM	Perhaps he noticed that the traps of his mentor harmed intruders, but never stopped any of them (in the end we know that adventurers almost always overcome traps). His teacher/mentor might have done the security on a temple of Gnarl Glittergold, but two years later, the temple-treasure was stolen by a cunning thief and although the investigation made clear that several traps were set off and that the thief was actually wounded by the traps, the theft itself made clear that the traps weren't succesful of stopping the thief. So, he decided to improve the work of his teacher and invented some diabolical trap designs. These trap designs could have been very painful or even torturing (sp?) and his master wouldn't deal with his pupil anymore. The gnome is exiled from his community and now has nothing to loose. He decides to bring his trap designs on the market and sell & build them for the highest bidder. This way he's contacted by a lot of evil masterminds that cloud his judgement even more. Eh voila, you have an evil gnome with evil traps and a grudge against his former mentor, and the connections to get help. Hope this helps :schemes:, Cheers
Gargarios 08-02-07, 02:20 PM	Thanks alot Free1983! Do you think he would sign up with a mastermind to sell his poducts, then kill him to get more money, so he can make better traps?
Free1983 08-02-07, 02:46 PM	I don't think he would do that. It seems like your gnome won't be a hillbilly boy or something. With his brains he should realize that he might get a lot of money by betraying his employer, but he should also realize that in the long run, he will loose money by betraying the employer. Normally, betrayal is something that is rumored and rumors spread. Soon, no-one will be willing to hire the gnome because they fear to become the victim of his treason. Of course your gnome could pull it off. He might plan for another person to take the blame, but still it's risky. Even the best plan may run awry and that's just something your gnome can't risk. He's kind of stuck into the black circuit and it shouldn't be easy to come clean again. So I think he's better of if he just does his job and don't betray his employer. This gnome should however know who he's dealing with. I suggest he only deals with LE & NE or LN & TN aligned bosses. The chaotic evil types are too likely to betray the gnome. I guess that looking for the right employer is a 24/7 occupation. There is of course an exeption. If your gnome joins a good party that offers him a chance to "atone" himself (by giving him a way to sell his products on the white market) and that's able to protect him from its former employers, your gnome could sell out his former employers, and so making it a lot easier to sneak up on the BBEG. Hope this helps, Cheers
Gargarios 08-02-07, 05:26 PM	Yes it does help, I have decided to be a Techsmith/Wizard or Effigy Master/Wizard... that might complicate my background
Free1983 08-02-07, 06:26 PM	I'm not sure what the class features of those classes are, but in my opinion you can make most background stories work with different classes. If your original idea about a trapmaking gnome is left standing of course.
Gargarios 08-02-07, 11:50 PM	Well... thats the problem. I was going to be a rogue who used traps, but now I think Im going to be a Wizard.
Terjon of the Blue Rose 08-03-07, 02:38 AM	Dunno if you've considered it but evil can simply be amoral... that is lacking any real morals whatsoever. Maybe he is simply interesting in perfecting his skills as an artificer and doesn't much care about who or what his test subjects are. He'll happily wipe out an orc encampment to test and effigy but he's also more than willing to send that same effigy on a rampage in town to see how long it takes the guards to stop it. He may even be willing to use the distraction to steal materials for later versions.
Free1983 08-03-07, 04:15 AM	Just change traps into spells. Your master used spells, but wasn't succesful in getting the job done. So, your gnome decides to step in and use somewhat darker magic to do the job. He steals some books his master has kept away from him and starts learning about necromancy. He decides the use of undead would be ideally suited for the job and goes through with his plans. Of course the undead are discovered and the creator of the undead, your gnome, is punished for his vile and evil deeds. His spellbook is taken away from him and he's condemned doing community service. Your gnome feels that he's misjudged (after all, he was doing this for the greater good) and steals back his spellbook and leaves the town. Or you could just go for exile like I suggested in a previous post. This helps too ;)? Cheers
Gargarios 08-03-07, 10:16 AM	Yes it does help, thanks. Do you know about the Island Lantan in the Realms? Where would he go after his exile?
Pole4life 08-03-07, 12:47 PM	The closest, and most interesting place would be Calimport in Calimshan. Around 400 miles away, he could hop on a trading boat and go to a place where crime lords rule the city, and fire-magic and harems are in heavy supply. Sounds like his type of city, maybe.
Gargarios 08-03-07, 05:06 PM	Would there be any Gnome's who could show him around in Calimport? I want him to have a passion for hating Kobolds like the rest of his race, where could he pick this up?
Pole4life 08-03-07, 05:29 PM	You could make up gnomes in Calimport. They have a certain dislike of evocation magic, but they admire conventional magic such as alchemical goods, gnomish tinkering projects, etc... As for Kobolds... I was reminded of a time where my Mystic Theurge fought desert kobold in the Calim desert. Here's an SRD sneak peak at them: http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/unearthedEnvironmentalVariants.html#dese rt-kobolds
Gargarios 08-03-07, 05:48 PM	So would I give him the Calimport (human) region or the Lantan (gnome) region? If I am from Calimport, Im definately getting a flying carpet and I will dress like Aladdin.
Free1983 08-04-07, 07:35 PM	I'm not acqainted (sp?) with Faerun, but his enemity with kobolds could originate from the gnome community before he was exiled. Remember that he had some kind of mentor to teach him magic and wizardry. That teacher could have learned him about the evil kobolds. If you wish you could even have the mentor trying to kill those kobolds (and it's exactly that what he fails to do). Cheers
Gargarios 08-05-07, 10:12 AM	I know I want him to be some type of wizard... but I dont know about future prestige classes... please help me. Cuz then I could better understand my background. Here is my thread about my problem: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=897561 Thanks in advance
Free1983 08-05-07, 02:02 PM	If you're thinking about a roguish wizard, you'll have to step away from the artificer idea. I don't know any classes that combine both themes. At a glance I'd say you'd have to look into the: Arcane trickster (DM guide) Fate spinner (3.0 Tome and Blood) - A prc that gives you insight in the laws of probability and that gives you the power to change this probabilities to your advantage. Earth dreamer (Races of stone) - A prc that is closely connected to the earth, and thus be able to look through walls, move through earth) Luckstealer (Races of the wild) - A prc that is actually built around halflings, but with your DM's approval, you can easily convert it to gnomes. You're able to curse your opponents an steal their luck. I'm not familiar with any classes that are adapted to this artificer theme. Only one I can think of is the runesmith (Races of stone), but I'm not quite sure if that's your cup of tea. I've read that you don't have all these books available, but perhaps if you ask around (or surf the internet for bad people who don't like copyright rules) you might get a hold on the stats. Or you could buy the books ;). Cheers
Gargarios 08-05-07, 03:49 PM	If you're thinking about a roguish wizard, you'll have to step away from the artificer idea. I don't know any classes that combine both themes. At a glance I'd say you'd have to look into the: Arcane trickster (DM guide) Fate spinner (3.0 Tome and Blood) - A prc that gives you insight in the laws of probability and that gives you the power to change this probabilities to your advantage. Earth dreamer (Races of stone) - A prc that is closely connected to the earth, and thus be able to look through walls, move through earth) Luckstealer (Races of the wild) - A prc that is actually built around halflings, but with your DM's approval, you can easily convert it to gnomes. You're able to curse your opponents an steal their luck. I'm not familiar with any classes that are adapted to this artificer theme. Only one I can think of is the runesmith (Races of stone), but I'm not quite sure if that's your cup of tea. I've read that you don't have all these books available, but perhaps if you ask around (or surf the internet for bad people who don't like copyright rules) you might get a hold on the stats. Or you could buy the books ;). Cheers My options are: Assasin (DMG) Arcane Trickster (DMG) Gnome Artificer (Magic of Faerun) Master Alchemist (Magic of Faerun) Techsmith (Faiths and Pantheons) Nightmare Spinner (Complete Mage) Im still unsure on what I should do...
Free1983 08-06-07, 08:58 AM	You should pick the one that you like the most. Which class attracts you the most. What will be the most fun to play to you. I really don't think I can help you with that ;). Happy gaming
Gargarios 08-06-07, 09:26 AM	You should pick the one that you like the most. Which class attracts you the most. What will be the most fun to play to you. I really don't think I can help you with that ;). Happy gaming Thats true... I just don't know which one to do. Ill figure it out and get back to this thread for more help on his background. Thanks for all your help