Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Blackrazorblade 04-20-06, 11:33 AM	I've been formulating a background for mid-level character for an upcoming campaign. He grew up as a street urchin in a medium city and was one of a group of "tough guys", now when a large war with some hobgoblin tribes. He and all his friends decided to sign up for the army, all the glory and being in uniform etc... My character gets picked by the regiments scout (a ranger) to be his "apprentice" due to his natural talents in the neccessary skills. Now after a while of this training the regiments ranger moved to another to train a new scout. One day the PC was returning from scouting ahead and he saw to his horror that the hobgoblins had attacked and were massacereing his regiment. He was captured by the hobgoblins who kept him as the only prisoner and tried to get information out of him (they thought his different uniform designated him as a leader, not as a scout). He was eventually rescued by the human army but was greatly scarred mentally and physically. After returng to his home city, he wa alone, all his firends had been killed and he spent some time doing nothing but existing on his compenation from the army. Then he fell in with a new thieves guild. The skills that had made him a skilled ranger also made him a talented thief. In truth he did not care for the money or even the thrill of stealing, merely it was a way to use his skills, which he saw as all he had left. Eventually he was promoted to assassin, but after a year of this he became disillusioned, he did not enjoy the work, and he was beginning to overcome his problems from being a prisoner, so he felt the need for a change. he decided to become an adventurer. Now he seeks only to increase his skills and doesn't much care how. In terms of a build i was thinking a rogue 1/ranger 1/ rogue 3/ assassin X since i don't know the exact level we will start at. I think that after 5 levels of assassin i will take the exemplar PrC after that. What do people think of the background?
Need_A_Life 04-20-06, 02:33 PM	He grew up as a street urchin in a medium city and was one of a group of "tough guys", now when a large war with some hobgoblin tribes. He and all his friends decided to sign up for the army, all the glory and being in uniform etc... So far so good. My character gets picked by the regiments scout (a ranger) to be his "apprentice" due to his natural talents in the neccessary skills. Now after a while of this training the regiments ranger moved to another to train a new scout. One day the PC was returning from scouting ahead and he saw to his horror that the hobgoblins had attacked and were massacereing his regiment. He was captured by the hobgoblins who kept him as the only prisoner and tried to get information out of him (they thought his different uniform designated him as a leader, not as a scout). He was eventually rescued by the human army but was greatly scarred mentally and physically. As bizzare as this might sound, I'd like a little description of his torture. Did they poison him, flail him, pummel him, did they use the "Gestapo torture technique" (put the targets head in a bucket that slowly fills with water, when it reaches your nose small tubes let out water, preventing you from drowning. Primarily a psycological torture technique)? After returng to his home city, he wa alone, all his firends had been killed and he spent some time doing nothing but existing on his compenation from the army. Then he fell in with a new thieves guild. Why? I could see him becoming an alcoholic, become a bum or beggar. How did you figure that the thieves guild would be the easy way? Besides, what place have an actual thieves guild? It's not called Freelance Wealth Redistributionist for nothing, ya know. The skills that had made him a skilled ranger also made him a talented thief. In truth he did not care for the money or even the thrill of stealing, merely it was a way to use his skills, which he saw as all he had left. Eventually he was promoted to assassin, but after a year of this he became disillusioned, he did not enjoy the work, and he was beginning to overcome his problems from being a prisoner, so he felt the need for a change. he decided to become an adventurer. This is where I think you're letting your build control your background, why would a person who volunteered for the army decide "Hey, I could be a great pickpocket, though it'd mean that I'd betray all I had left during my time in torture, but what the heck? Let's throw in a burglary now we're getting started" then change it to "Now that I am a failed soldier, failed thief and a failed assassin, I could be a drifter who kills random things" Now he seeks only to increase his skills and doesn't much care how. No comment. I am trying not to laugh. In terms of a build i was thinking a rogue 1/ranger 1/ rogue 3/ assassin X since i don't know the exact level we will start at. I think that after 5 levels of assassin i will take the exemplar PrC after that. What do people think of the background? Seems like a Rogue3/Ranger2/Assassin[X] will be the optimal here (for rangers combat style), I don't like exemplar myself so I won't get into that.
Blackrazorblade 04-20-06, 03:44 PM	Well i haven't put lots of thought into the background yet, mostly i just outline dit and plan to add supporting charcters, maybe some slimy guy who decides to take advantage of an apathetic tortured ex-soldier who sees his only worth as being able to sneak scout, steal, kill. I think maybe the cliche guilt of not being able to protect his buddies. Actually i may decide he thinks of himself as a coward and tries to prove himself to himself by doing dangerous jobs...... yeah..... i think their is even some feat that does soemthing for cowardly characters...craven or something
Need_A_Life 04-20-06, 04:10 PM	You do realize that you don't need a feat to be a coward, right? Paladins have immunity to fear, yet they can easily be played as cowards. Wizards bend the laws of physics to their will with ease, yet they run from the guy wielding a big honking sword. That's cowardly too... Just be sure not to be caught by an enemy force (and if you do, have him break down totally, reliving his time being tortured)
Blackrazorblade 04-20-06, 07:12 PM	Ye si do realize the fea tis not neccessary, it just fits in well, i may or may not take it, i haven't really thought much about fighting style or feats. Also as a clarification whne i say his "skills" the character thinks of them as skills or talents not just his open lock or move silently or spot