Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Delfedd 01-11-08, 12:57 AM	I've begun playing a Lawful good Changeling Beguiler in my friends campaign, just for something different. He is a policeman from the capital, and has many social skills. I've been struggling to come up with a unique background for him. I don't think that he will have doppelganger heritage, but instead I'm thinking that he is more of a classical changeling, in that he is descended from fey. He also does not change shape often, as a lawful aspect of his nature. What I need now is tips on playing a "detective" type character without slowing down play, because I (out of character and in character) get interested by tiny details and want to solve the "mystery," slowing down things because of unnecissary search checks.
Terjon of the Blue Rose 01-11-08, 01:38 AM	Keep your search check up but the classic noir detective was more about gather information, sense motive, and intimidate than he was about finding actual clues. Focus the character towards the RP situations where you get to question minnions. For the fey heritage keep a few illusionary summon spells ready so you can fake callin up a pack of redcaps. I'd probably play the "I'm you game" a lot with bad guys. Lastly don't forget being LG doesn't mean getting along with other LGs. You have your own way of doing things and don't like it when the law (or at least its enforcement agencies) get in your way.
I_roll_ones 01-11-08, 04:25 PM	How much combat will be in the campaign? If it's 90%, Search, Spot and Listen will be handy for dungeon crawling. Survival to track will also be helpful, and I think suit the character, through that's cross-class and will eat up a feat. However, being the talk-monkey for a combat oriented group isn't necessarily bad, though you get your moments when you need to talk to people, they get their moments in combat or whatever. As for "unnecessary" checks, just use personal judgment and make a character who has motives that can be supported or used by the party so he doesn't run off and do his own thing. And if any party member objects, just tell them that you are looking for more mobs and treasure. As for back story, how has his fey heritage affected how people see him? Has he been the victim of prejudice while law enforcement has turned a blind eye, causing him to disrespect law enforcement often but he has a need to see justice done and done right(In your case, lawfully), becoming a vigilante. Or was he abandoned, raised as an orphan or on the streets, perhaps associating with the less then pleasant elements of a city, maybe doing some crimes(And jailtime) in his youth before he instead sought to do good, using the tools that he has learned(Bluff, intimidation, hiding, search, spot, disguise?) but then using it for good? Or because Beguilers(As far as I know, I haven't looked at the class much to be honest) disable people, he sought to take down baddies without violence, instead playing mindtricks(Without damaging it, mind you) to bring them to justice as a first option, then resorting to more violent means afterwards?
Delfedd 01-11-08, 10:02 PM	I like the idea that he was abandoned because of his fey heritage. Part of my concept is that his spells came to him naturally, rather like spell-like abilities. Perhaps he did get turned into the police more than once, and by like... 14 he was given a choice, the gallows or working with the watch. Hm. I really like that Idea.