Never had to do this as a mandatory thing... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Never had to do this as a mandatory thing... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Talaisan
10-08-07, 02:16 PM There's a new campaign starting up this Friday after the disastrous end of the last one. The new DM has decreed that all characters must not only have a fairly in-depth backstory, but must also -not- be overly twinked out. I pride myself on being a consummate munchkin, and this... vexes me. Given that party already has its quota of tanks, healers, finger-twitchers, and comic relief, it's become apparent that I must play someone who opens locks, finds stuff, and disarms traps.

My last rogue died an ignominous death trying to outrun the Blue dragon the rest of the party was riding. This is not a good trend.

I'm out of rogue ideas. I'm out of backstory ideas. I'm suffering writers block, primarily because I thought I was going to be running the World's Largest Dungeon, not playing another campaign, but also because I just don't do rogues all that much.

Help, please?
olpolok
10-08-07, 02:40 PM Average rogue background: An orphan that grew up on the streets who survive by stealing, hideing in the shadows, etc. Now he has grown into a man and went off adventurig to change his destiny by a) becoming a "Enter Prc name here" b) Getting the "Enter expensive item name" c) Succeeding at "Enter random achivment name" d) All of the above

How about you talk us about the campaing setting first?
Master_Vega
10-08-07, 02:46 PM What type of rogue do you want to play? I personally find the stereotypical "I steal everything I can while no one is looking" rogue boring and disruptive, but you might enjoy that role. :P

Do you just want character advice, or do you want stat advice as well? If the latter is true, then could you define just how "twinked" "overly twinked" is?
CrimsonDeath
10-08-07, 04:15 PM What books are allowed? If you have Complete Adventurer, that opens the Ninja, Scout, and Spellthief as options. (Personally, I like the Scout.) If you have Dungeonscape, you can also use the Ranger, Factotum, or even Barbarian. If you can use the Races of the Dragon web enhancements, you could be a Cleric.

Personally, I don't like admonitions not to be "overly twinked out". It's a rather nebulous and poorly-defined concept, and it could easily result in a DM having carte-blanche to veto any character concept that rubs him the wrong way. Plus, rightly or not, I've come to associate that particular instruction with inexperienced DMs, who can easily be distracted by how something looks on paper, which can be very different from how they work out in play. (For example, DMs who ban Mystic Theurge in the mistaken belief that it's overpowered.) I also perceive it as a somewhat insulting implication that I'd intentionally destroy the game if I'm not artificially reigned in.
Talaisan
10-10-07, 10:24 AM I have access and allowance for pretty much every book out there. The campaign setting is a mystery to everyone (I have a feeling we'll be seeing Ravenloft at some point, but that's jsut a hunch). So far the best Idea I've had is something in Complete Scoundrel. I think aiming for the fortune's friend prestige class would be... interesting. I think a dwarf with one eye and a lot of scars called 'Lucky' would do it. Backstory's still kind of... bleh. I may just wind up coming up with it on the fly friday afternoon.
CrimsonDeath
10-10-07, 05:46 PM I'll go ahead and warn you that while Luck feats may pay off every once in a while, in general you're better off shoring up your total bonuses. It still sounds like fun, though, so don't shy away from it if that's what you'd like to do. If you do go for Fortune's Friend, you might consider a bit of multiclassing so you don't waste the spellcasting advancement. Or maybe just go in from Beguiler (PHB2). They get Trapfinding.
Talaisan
10-11-07, 11:19 AM I tend (aside from the aforementioned pile of ash) to have unusually resilient characters. If I can curb my tendency to try and tank inappropriately, I shouldn't need too much in the way of shoring up. Dwarves are pretty hardy on their own.

I'm not too worried about the crunchy bits. I want to get a good feel for a character. So here's what I'm thinking:

(insert name here) is a dwarf, probably chaotic good or neutral good. Lots of scars, ranging from cuts and impaled objects to at least one acid burn. Missing an eye, but wears an eyepatch rather than show off the impressive hole. Considered by other dwarves to be a little... touched in the head. And rightly outcast in dwarven culture. Someone who gets by on luck is pretty dangerous to be around in a mine. Fascinated by gadgets and gizmos, and loves to take them apart. Sometimes called a half-gnome by dwarves. Mmmm... generally jolly, usually at least slightly inebriated, shaved his beared off because 'it get's yanked too much, and it was all patchwork anyway'.

I'm sorely tempted to give him a light crossbow with a pump action just to be goofy. Rogues with axes don't seem all that... smart, to me. Although, come to think of it, finding an axe protruding from your back would be kind of surprising, really. Maybe a small axe...

Anyway... I need a bit of backstory still, but are there any gaping inconsistencies in this concept?
Terjon of the Blue Rose
10-12-07, 02:26 AM Group's initial interview with Vart, your new dwarven rogue.

Now, me brother Thrax loved fightin'. He gets respect cause he's good at it too. An Burk is one hell ov'ah smith. So he gets treated great by everyone. Even my little sister Tress is considered "on a da good ones" what with her time training as a mid-wife at the temples. But me... I get nuthin from my family. I'm a "bad vein o' ore" as they say. Always telling me that I'm wastin me time playin wit these toys. Well these "toys" are jus as deadly as Thrax's axe and a good bit wors'en those goblins he's always killin. After all if it weren't fer my slidin' walls that drow spy woulda got away. And they ave the nerve to get peeved just cause the team that got sent out to chase him got lost fer a week. As if that's somehow worsen them comin back a day an a half later sayin they lost im. He was lost in that same maze I set up fer even longer en they were after all.

Now doen get me wrong I miss me clan but I hadda leave em. They didn't see the value I possesed. An I figure, heck if they can't apreciate a dwarf what knows how to trick a drow they don't need im around. But that's ok cause I gots me an idea on how I can show em all up. I'm gonna go out adventurin and when I get back I'm gonna be flat out rich. That'll get me a little respect finally. Nothin gets to them dwarves like good old fashion gold. So I go out lookin fer a team what need a man who can handle locks and traps and what's willin ta work with a dwarf who don't much care fer standing in a hallway in front of charging orcs like a dope. And I heard about you guys. Seems like you could use my talents and I don't see much reason why I shouldn't wanta work with you so whatdaya say.

I'd look for simple traps you can port around with you. It'll help you pull away from the tank role you're used to taking if you spend your time trying to draw enemies into traps. Grab a portable hole at the first available opportunity for example. Don't be afraid to put ranks into sleight of hand and grab just a little over your fair share of the treasure. Also I think Complete Scoundrel has a prestige class for trapmakers that would fit the role you take on quite nicely.
Terjon of the Blue Rose
10-12-07, 02:30 AM For roleplaying show a minor contempt for other dwarves and a slight need to prove yourself on top of what you already have and its a solid character.

Though personally I try not to force players into a heavy role-playing if they don't want it. I, despite my personal preferences for how to play the game, am on your side when it comes to how a dm should treat his players. Let each person have their own kind of fun at the table I say. Hell I even let the rules lawyer do his thing at our table... most of the time... well at least once a session then.
Talaisan
10-12-07, 12:46 PM I like the interview idea, though it'll have to be slightly altered to fit closer to the character. There is a combat trapmaker class in the Scoundrel, and I might pick that up too in the future, but what I've been aiming at is Fortune's Friend. Not so much the best at anything, but the luckiest damn bastard around.

Probably going both routes would be best, since a versatile, lucky rogue is such a great boon to any party.
Crebain
10-17-07, 10:13 PM Anyway... I need a bit of backstory still, but are there any gaping inconsistencies in this concept?
okay, main inconsistancy, DWARF ROGUE!!!
CrimsonDeath
10-18-07, 02:52 AM okay, main inconsistancy, DWARF ROGUE!!!

Dwarves make awesome rogues. Remember how Stonecunning lets them search for traps in stone as though they had Trapfinding? Perhaps that's how he got into the rogue-ing game-- he found a trap in a tunnel or a stone building, and decided he'd like to know how to find traps in more exotic places, like in a forest or a wooden building.
Talaisan
10-18-07, 11:28 AM Errr... he's playing more like a gnome than a dwarf. But I'm okay with that. It's fun. And sly fortune has already saved my butt once.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Talaisan 10-08-07, 02:16 PM	There's a new campaign starting up this Friday after the disastrous end of the last one. The new DM has decreed that all characters must not only have a fairly in-depth backstory, but must also -not- be overly twinked out. I pride myself on being a consummate munchkin, and this... vexes me. Given that party already has its quota of tanks, healers, finger-twitchers, and comic relief, it's become apparent that I must play someone who opens locks, finds stuff, and disarms traps. My last rogue died an ignominous death trying to outrun the Blue dragon the rest of the party was riding. This is not a good trend. I'm out of rogue ideas. I'm out of backstory ideas. I'm suffering writers block, primarily because I thought I was going to be running the World's Largest Dungeon, not playing another campaign, but also because I just don't do rogues all that much. Help, please?
olpolok 10-08-07, 02:40 PM	Average rogue background: An orphan that grew up on the streets who survive by stealing, hideing in the shadows, etc. Now he has grown into a man and went off adventurig to change his destiny by a) becoming a "Enter Prc name here" b) Getting the "Enter expensive item name" c) Succeeding at "Enter random achivment name" d) All of the above How about you talk us about the campaing setting first?
Master_Vega 10-08-07, 02:46 PM	What type of rogue do you want to play? I personally find the stereotypical "I steal everything I can while no one is looking" rogue boring and disruptive, but you might enjoy that role. :P Do you just want character advice, or do you want stat advice as well? If the latter is true, then could you define just how "twinked" "overly twinked" is?
CrimsonDeath 10-08-07, 04:15 PM	What books are allowed? If you have Complete Adventurer, that opens the Ninja, Scout, and Spellthief as options. (Personally, I like the Scout.) If you have Dungeonscape, you can also use the Ranger, Factotum, or even Barbarian. If you can use the Races of the Dragon web enhancements, you could be a Cleric. Personally, I don't like admonitions not to be "overly twinked out". It's a rather nebulous and poorly-defined concept, and it could easily result in a DM having carte-blanche to veto any character concept that rubs him the wrong way. Plus, rightly or not, I've come to associate that particular instruction with inexperienced DMs, who can easily be distracted by how something looks on paper, which can be very different from how they work out in play. (For example, DMs who ban Mystic Theurge in the mistaken belief that it's overpowered.) I also perceive it as a somewhat insulting implication that I'd intentionally destroy the game if I'm not artificially reigned in.
Talaisan 10-10-07, 10:24 AM	I have access and allowance for pretty much every book out there. The campaign setting is a mystery to everyone (I have a feeling we'll be seeing Ravenloft at some point, but that's jsut a hunch). So far the best Idea I've had is something in Complete Scoundrel. I think aiming for the fortune's friend prestige class would be... interesting. I think a dwarf with one eye and a lot of scars called 'Lucky' would do it. Backstory's still kind of... bleh. I may just wind up coming up with it on the fly friday afternoon.
CrimsonDeath 10-10-07, 05:46 PM	I'll go ahead and warn you that while Luck feats may pay off every once in a while, in general you're better off shoring up your total bonuses. It still sounds like fun, though, so don't shy away from it if that's what you'd like to do. If you do go for Fortune's Friend, you might consider a bit of multiclassing so you don't waste the spellcasting advancement. Or maybe just go in from Beguiler (PHB2). They get Trapfinding.
Talaisan 10-11-07, 11:19 AM	I tend (aside from the aforementioned pile of ash) to have unusually resilient characters. If I can curb my tendency to try and tank inappropriately, I shouldn't need too much in the way of shoring up. Dwarves are pretty hardy on their own. I'm not too worried about the crunchy bits. I want to get a good feel for a character. So here's what I'm thinking: (insert name here) is a dwarf, probably chaotic good or neutral good. Lots of scars, ranging from cuts and impaled objects to at least one acid burn. Missing an eye, but wears an eyepatch rather than show off the impressive hole. Considered by other dwarves to be a little... touched in the head. And rightly outcast in dwarven culture. Someone who gets by on luck is pretty dangerous to be around in a mine. Fascinated by gadgets and gizmos, and loves to take them apart. Sometimes called a half-gnome by dwarves. Mmmm... generally jolly, usually at least slightly inebriated, shaved his beared off because 'it get's yanked too much, and it was all patchwork anyway'. I'm sorely tempted to give him a light crossbow with a pump action just to be goofy. Rogues with axes don't seem all that... smart, to me. Although, come to think of it, finding an axe protruding from your back would be kind of surprising, really. Maybe a small axe... Anyway... I need a bit of backstory still, but are there any gaping inconsistencies in this concept?
Terjon of the Blue Rose 10-12-07, 02:26 AM	Group's initial interview with Vart, your new dwarven rogue. Now, me brother Thrax loved fightin'. He gets respect cause he's good at it too. An Burk is one hell ov'ah smith. So he gets treated great by everyone. Even my little sister Tress is considered "on a da good ones" what with her time training as a mid-wife at the temples. But me... I get nuthin from my family. I'm a "bad vein o' ore" as they say. Always telling me that I'm wastin me time playin wit these toys. Well these "toys" are jus as deadly as Thrax's axe and a good bit wors'en those goblins he's always killin. After all if it weren't fer my slidin' walls that drow spy woulda got away. And they ave the nerve to get peeved just cause the team that got sent out to chase him got lost fer a week. As if that's somehow worsen them comin back a day an a half later sayin they lost im. He was lost in that same maze I set up fer even longer en they were after all. Now doen get me wrong I miss me clan but I hadda leave em. They didn't see the value I possesed. An I figure, heck if they can't apreciate a dwarf what knows how to trick a drow they don't need im around. But that's ok cause I gots me an idea on how I can show em all up. I'm gonna go out adventurin and when I get back I'm gonna be flat out rich. That'll get me a little respect finally. Nothin gets to them dwarves like good old fashion gold. So I go out lookin fer a team what need a man who can handle locks and traps and what's willin ta work with a dwarf who don't much care fer standing in a hallway in front of charging orcs like a dope. And I heard about you guys. Seems like you could use my talents and I don't see much reason why I shouldn't wanta work with you so whatdaya say. I'd look for simple traps you can port around with you. It'll help you pull away from the tank role you're used to taking if you spend your time trying to draw enemies into traps. Grab a portable hole at the first available opportunity for example. Don't be afraid to put ranks into sleight of hand and grab just a little over your fair share of the treasure. Also I think Complete Scoundrel has a prestige class for trapmakers that would fit the role you take on quite nicely.
Terjon of the Blue Rose 10-12-07, 02:30 AM	For roleplaying show a minor contempt for other dwarves and a slight need to prove yourself on top of what you already have and its a solid character. Though personally I try not to force players into a heavy role-playing if they don't want it. I, despite my personal preferences for how to play the game, am on your side when it comes to how a dm should treat his players. Let each person have their own kind of fun at the table I say. Hell I even let the rules lawyer do his thing at our table... most of the time... well at least once a session then.
Talaisan 10-12-07, 12:46 PM	I like the interview idea, though it'll have to be slightly altered to fit closer to the character. There is a combat trapmaker class in the Scoundrel, and I might pick that up too in the future, but what I've been aiming at is Fortune's Friend. Not so much the best at anything, but the luckiest damn bastard around. Probably going both routes would be best, since a versatile, lucky rogue is such a great boon to any party.
Crebain 10-17-07, 10:13 PM	Anyway... I need a bit of backstory still, but are there any gaping inconsistencies in this concept? okay, main inconsistancy, DWARF ROGUE!!!
CrimsonDeath 10-18-07, 02:52 AM	okay, main inconsistancy, DWARF ROGUE!!! Dwarves make awesome rogues. Remember how Stonecunning lets them search for traps in stone as though they had Trapfinding? Perhaps that's how he got into the rogue-ing game-- he found a trap in a tunnel or a stone building, and decided he'd like to know how to find traps in more exotic places, like in a forest or a wooden building.
Talaisan 10-18-07, 11:28 AM	Errr... he's playing more like a gnome than a dwarf. But I'm okay with that. It's fun. And sly fortune has already saved my butt once.