How do I portray the religion/motivation of a druid? [Archive] - Wizards Community

How do I portray the religion/motivation of a druid? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
raggerd
08-26-03, 09:02 AM I will be playing a a male youth (Spencer James) of the age of 16 in a small community who has an affinity for nature. The rest of the party will be my friends in the village.

Spencer loves walks in the nearby forests and helps the local healer with collecting herbs, he also helps the woodcutters. His affinity for nature got the best of him during a walk in the forest when he tried to befriend a wolf. The wolf didn't like Spencer and attack which resulted in a nasty scar and some ruined tendons which resulted in STR&DEX 8.

The scar now reminds Spencer that nature is both nurturing as ruthless and it was a lesson he will never forget (alignement TN).

As you can see I have some character background but what I lack is a sense of motivation for my druid. How do I incorparate the religion of a druid with my character?
crunchytroll
08-26-03, 02:34 PM Your background gives you a lot to work with. I find that it's a lot easier to OVER-do the motivational aspect of a character than it is to UNDER-do it.

Each player will only notice and remember a few major things that you do with your character. In a regular home game, this can be a lot of things, less so in more casual play. In any case, having a few catch-phrases and concepts is more memorable and impressive than being "all over the board" with character ideas.

I would suggest that one thing you do is plan on having him change his mind about woodcuting eventually. This is not to say that I don't like your character idea - it's just that it would be a great developmental aspect of your character after meeting a treant. He could then change his ideas on live cutting, and encourage woodcutters to do things differently. Other players would remember this, and it would define your character's growth during the story.

Another aspect of any divine caster is where/when/how he acquires spells. Meditation/prayer, ritual cleansing or sacrifice, and other aspects of this serve to define the character and his relationship with the divine (nature in this case).

Druids must use fire judiciously. They have many fire-based spells, and yet have the most to lose from fire getting out of control. Play this up in your group. Have your character see this juxtoposition as a "test" of the druid's faith and ability to harness nature for his use. Druids walk a fine line, and that is reflected in their spell list. Don't let ANYONE forget that.

Daily rituals are important. Is your druid a vegetarian? Will he eat "farmed" meat/veggies? Does he bury or eat the heart of a kill in order to put the animal's essence back into the Circle of Life?
Trydan
08-26-03, 04:37 PM The wolf attack gives the character a nasty lesson, but at the same time an inspiring one.

Like most youngsters, he starts off with a syrupy-sweet view of the world. The attack teaches him that brutality and pain are actually a part of the world too. He could realise the position of the wolf, and then strive to understand it, so that later he may actually befriend such creatures, rather than offending or antagonising them with his naive human (I assume) attitudes.

There is also the drive to tap into this natural power, and harness it for the purposes of maintaining the balance. He could see himself as a champion of nature, but as one who has yet a <i>lot</i> to learn.
danielinthewolvesden
08-29-03, 05:48 PM What world are you in? Several give you a God/dess who is worshipped by druids. This will give a lot of insight as to Dogma, etc.
stembolt
08-30-03, 11:15 PM First off vegetarian druids are just as big pansies as any other vegetarian. There is no reason why a druid would be a vegetarian or would hate fire or any other modern day hippy predilection.

Druids venerate nature, they eat meat that has been hunted. They eat plants and berries that have been gathered from the wild.

They are not opposed to people taking the bounty of the forest. They are opposed to people destroying the forest.

Fire is a useful tool, not a bane of the forest.

I would also like to comment that a horrible wound is a poor roleplaying aid. Remember any injury can eventually be healed, then what? That and what kind of wound could cause a Str and Dex of 8? I assume you have these stats because you used point buy and a druid who uses wildshape does not need a good str or dex. My advice is to just be a wimp (maybe vegetarianism is a good background idea).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
raggerd 08-26-03, 09:02 AM	I will be playing a a male youth (Spencer James) of the age of 16 in a small community who has an affinity for nature. The rest of the party will be my friends in the village. Spencer loves walks in the nearby forests and helps the local healer with collecting herbs, he also helps the woodcutters. His affinity for nature got the best of him during a walk in the forest when he tried to befriend a wolf. The wolf didn't like Spencer and attack which resulted in a nasty scar and some ruined tendons which resulted in STR&DEX 8. The scar now reminds Spencer that nature is both nurturing as ruthless and it was a lesson he will never forget (alignement TN). As you can see I have some character background but what I lack is a sense of motivation for my druid. How do I incorparate the religion of a druid with my character?
crunchytroll 08-26-03, 02:34 PM	Your background gives you a lot to work with. I find that it's a lot easier to OVER-do the motivational aspect of a character than it is to UNDER-do it. Each player will only notice and remember a few major things that you do with your character. In a regular home game, this can be a lot of things, less so in more casual play. In any case, having a few catch-phrases and concepts is more memorable and impressive than being "all over the board" with character ideas. I would suggest that one thing you do is plan on having him change his mind about woodcuting eventually. This is not to say that I don't like your character idea - it's just that it would be a great developmental aspect of your character after meeting a treant. He could then change his ideas on live cutting, and encourage woodcutters to do things differently. Other players would remember this, and it would define your character's growth during the story. Another aspect of any divine caster is where/when/how he acquires spells. Meditation/prayer, ritual cleansing or sacrifice, and other aspects of this serve to define the character and his relationship with the divine (nature in this case). Druids must use fire judiciously. They have many fire-based spells, and yet have the most to lose from fire getting out of control. Play this up in your group. Have your character see this juxtoposition as a "test" of the druid's faith and ability to harness nature for his use. Druids walk a fine line, and that is reflected in their spell list. Don't let ANYONE forget that. Daily rituals are important. Is your druid a vegetarian? Will he eat "farmed" meat/veggies? Does he bury or eat the heart of a kill in order to put the animal's essence back into the Circle of Life?
Trydan 08-26-03, 04:37 PM	The wolf attack gives the character a nasty lesson, but at the same time an inspiring one. Like most youngsters, he starts off with a syrupy-sweet view of the world. The attack teaches him that brutality and pain are actually a part of the world too. He could realise the position of the wolf, and then strive to understand it, so that later he may actually befriend such creatures, rather than offending or antagonising them with his naive human (I assume) attitudes. There is also the drive to tap into this natural power, and harness it for the purposes of maintaining the balance. He could see himself as a champion of nature, but as one who has yet a <i>lot</i> to learn.
danielinthewolvesden 08-29-03, 05:48 PM	What world are you in? Several give you a God/dess who is worshipped by druids. This will give a lot of insight as to Dogma, etc.
stembolt 08-30-03, 11:15 PM	First off vegetarian druids are just as big pansies as any other vegetarian. There is no reason why a druid would be a vegetarian or would hate fire or any other modern day hippy predilection. Druids venerate nature, they eat meat that has been hunted. They eat plants and berries that have been gathered from the wild. They are not opposed to people taking the bounty of the forest. They are opposed to people destroying the forest. Fire is a useful tool, not a bane of the forest. I would also like to comment that a horrible wound is a poor roleplaying aid. Remember any injury can eventually be healed, then what? That and what kind of wound could cause a Str and Dex of 8? I assume you have these stats because you used point buy and a druid who uses wildshape does not need a good str or dex. My advice is to just be a wimp (maybe vegetarianism is a good background idea).