I thought everyone... [Archive] - Wizards Community

I thought everyone... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Epicuris
07-15-03, 09:51 PM ...was connected to the net.

I'm posting this for a friend. Unfortunately, tonight in our campaign we bid farwell to our female barbarian who... well, let's not lie, made a stupid mistake and paid for it. Now her player is looking for ideas for her new character. This is what she's come up with for story so far, but doesn't know what class to use.

Born a consumate showman and a sharp mind, her character was also had an independent streak a mile wild. This independance proved a curse as much as a blessing. It kept her isolated for other people, but also allowed her to avoid the dangers of conformity, something she felt was a very great threat. This also kept her from achieving recognition from her elders. They felt she was arrogant, questioning years of tradition, but could not deny her talent. She barely graduated from her academy, not because she was stupid, but because she never did the assignments given to her. She did just enough to get by while focusing on what she deemed important, not her elders. Only her talent and faith in herself allowed her to eke by enough to graduate. Now, out in the real world, she is finding her efforts have paid off, and is discovering that others find her an "oddball" amoung others of her class. Her force of personality usually wins them over, however.

Any advice would be welcomed and I'll pass them on. Thanks.
Dreamstryder
07-15-03, 10:54 PM Sorcerer? Have her think of abilities this character might have, and head in that direction as far as classes.
pawnman
07-16-03, 12:59 AM It really depends. I would shy away from both wizards and monks, as they tend to entail discipline. And paladins and clerics, since the character will have a hard time submitting to authority. I would go with a sorcerer, a bard, or a rogue.
Fox Lee
07-16-03, 02:10 AM If you have access/are allowed to use the Psionics book(s), I recommend PsiWarrior. It works fantastically for this kind of character, and her independence could be highlighted at the academy if she were a Psionically-awakened person in the midst of book-mages and such (this could work well for Sorcerors too, but they're too wimpy for my tastes).
Epicuris
07-16-03, 02:15 AM The Psionic Handbook is available, but what are some "flavors" (Shaper, Telepath, etc.) that you could suggest. I'm not very familiar with the material or anything that is viable at higher levels.
JusticeZero
07-16-03, 03:05 AM That sounds like the curse of the highly intelligent, if anything. Wizard thus stands out. Sure it takes disciopline to be truely great, but on the other hand, some people have enough natural talent that they can slack off for awhile.
Baron Phylos
07-16-03, 03:25 AM Well, what kind of Academy did she go to?

Because right off the bat, an academy teaching both Wizards and Sorcerors doesn't make much sense(much less a Psionic going to magic school). The two classes, even though similar on the exterior with their spells, are radically different "under the hood".

I'd imagine a sorceror stuck in a wizard school would go nuts with utter boredom.

But I probably assumed too much since I don't know what kind of academy it is.

A bard would work nicely if the said academy is a more general education-minded school. A bard amongst the typical snobbish aristocrat students of a tradition bound academy would likely act as the character in the backstory she wrote did.

And bards did get a big boost in 3.5, making them alot more interesting.
Fox Lee
07-16-03, 09:08 PM Originally posted by Epicuris
The Psionic Handbook is available, but what are some "flavors" (Shaper, Telepath, etc.) that you could suggest. I'm not very familiar with the material or anything that is viable at higher levels.

The good thing about PsiWarriors is that you can mix in just about all the flavours at once :p I mean, they already depend on all of their stats, so for a character like this (who doesn't seem to be lacking in many stats at all, though perhaps WIS or INT might be lower than average) it's probably a good option. Personally I'd suggest a STR-based specialisation, supplemented by Animal Affinity and all those luverly bonus feats ^__^
Fenmarel
07-17-03, 03:59 PM how about a bard?
Epicuris
07-17-03, 05:00 PM The more I read the description of this character, the more I'm thinking she would want to play a cleric. Before you role your eyes, hear me out. :D

She had to graduate from something, so whose to say it wasn't a temple of some god. Instead of listening to the church elders, she listened to the spirit of the god's words instead of what the church deems important. Not only does she have faith in her god, but also herself, due to the fact she believes what she is doing is write, despite what her superiors think. They grant her a place in the church, barely, but instead, she chooses to be a wandering cleric, relying on her wits, charisma, and faith.

It seems to fit.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Epicuris 07-15-03, 09:51 PM	...was connected to the net. I'm posting this for a friend. Unfortunately, tonight in our campaign we bid farwell to our female barbarian who... well, let's not lie, made a stupid mistake and paid for it. Now her player is looking for ideas for her new character. This is what she's come up with for story so far, but doesn't know what class to use. Born a consumate showman and a sharp mind, her character was also had an independent streak a mile wild. This independance proved a curse as much as a blessing. It kept her isolated for other people, but also allowed her to avoid the dangers of conformity, something she felt was a very great threat. This also kept her from achieving recognition from her elders. They felt she was arrogant, questioning years of tradition, but could not deny her talent. She barely graduated from her academy, not because she was stupid, but because she never did the assignments given to her. She did just enough to get by while focusing on what she deemed important, not her elders. Only her talent and faith in herself allowed her to eke by enough to graduate. Now, out in the real world, she is finding her efforts have paid off, and is discovering that others find her an "oddball" amoung others of her class. Her force of personality usually wins them over, however. Any advice would be welcomed and I'll pass them on. Thanks.
Dreamstryder 07-15-03, 10:54 PM	Sorcerer? Have her think of abilities this character might have, and head in that direction as far as classes.
pawnman 07-16-03, 12:59 AM	It really depends. I would shy away from both wizards and monks, as they tend to entail discipline. And paladins and clerics, since the character will have a hard time submitting to authority. I would go with a sorcerer, a bard, or a rogue.
Fox Lee 07-16-03, 02:10 AM	If you have access/are allowed to use the Psionics book(s), I recommend PsiWarrior. It works fantastically for this kind of character, and her independence could be highlighted at the academy if she were a Psionically-awakened person in the midst of book-mages and such (this could work well for Sorcerors too, but they're too wimpy for my tastes).
Epicuris 07-16-03, 02:15 AM	The Psionic Handbook is available, but what are some "flavors" (Shaper, Telepath, etc.) that you could suggest. I'm not very familiar with the material or anything that is viable at higher levels.
JusticeZero 07-16-03, 03:05 AM	That sounds like the curse of the highly intelligent, if anything. Wizard thus stands out. Sure it takes disciopline to be truely great, but on the other hand, some people have enough natural talent that they can slack off for awhile.
Baron Phylos 07-16-03, 03:25 AM	Well, what kind of Academy did she go to? Because right off the bat, an academy teaching both Wizards and Sorcerors doesn't make much sense(much less a Psionic going to magic school). The two classes, even though similar on the exterior with their spells, are radically different "under the hood". I'd imagine a sorceror stuck in a wizard school would go nuts with utter boredom. But I probably assumed too much since I don't know what kind of academy it is. A bard would work nicely if the said academy is a more general education-minded school. A bard amongst the typical snobbish aristocrat students of a tradition bound academy would likely act as the character in the backstory she wrote did. And bards did get a big boost in 3.5, making them alot more interesting.
Fox Lee 07-16-03, 09:08 PM	Originally posted by Epicuris The Psionic Handbook is available, but what are some "flavors" (Shaper, Telepath, etc.) that you could suggest. I'm not very familiar with the material or anything that is viable at higher levels. The good thing about PsiWarriors is that you can mix in just about all the flavours at once :p I mean, they already depend on all of their stats, so for a character like this (who doesn't seem to be lacking in many stats at all, though perhaps WIS or INT might be lower than average) it's probably a good option. Personally I'd suggest a STR-based specialisation, supplemented by Animal Affinity and all those luverly bonus feats ^__^
Fenmarel 07-17-03, 03:59 PM	how about a bard?
Epicuris 07-17-03, 05:00 PM	The more I read the description of this character, the more I'm thinking she would want to play a cleric. Before you role your eyes, hear me out. :D She had to graduate from something, so whose to say it wasn't a temple of some god. Instead of listening to the church elders, she listened to the spirit of the god's words instead of what the church deems important. Not only does she have faith in her god, but also herself, due to the fact she believes what she is doing is write, despite what her superiors think. They grant her a place in the church, barely, but instead, she chooses to be a wandering cleric, relying on her wits, charisma, and faith. It seems to fit.