Post/Author/DateTime	Post
SilentOne 01-30-05, 01:35 AM	I'm playing in a rogue camapign (yes, we're all rogues, hence the name) and so decided to stray from the typical assasin/scout rogue build and make someone with ranks in craft, alchemy, etc. I've already gone through creating a few new and neat devices he can use, but i'm flummoxed as to how he should behave/carry himself, etc. here's his stats, in case it helps str 8 dex 14 con 12 int 16 wis 14 cha 8 i'm thinking he's probably going to go with a reclusive personality except when he needs to speak or needs help... whaty do you guys think?
Trydan 01-31-05, 07:06 AM	One thing that inventors are apt to do, is to come up with better solutions. For example, the gropu goes into a cave, discovers some orcs and kills them. However, after the event, the gadgetmaster starts going on about how if they had have waited, he could have built a machine to roll into the room and drag the treasure out, without the group needing to go into the room themselves. The invention may, or may not, have worked, but the timescales are usually impractical. However, it indicates that the character is constantly thinking about things. Another idea, is to have the character hoard items. In other words, he is always digging a cache, or storing stuff away, and very rarely selling it. For example: "No, I don't wish to sell that 20th whetstone we've found... I might need it for something!". Additionally, the character could always buy (that is, waste money on), items of no immediate use. Things include: Spyglass Mirror A spare, spare flint & tinder Books Specialist's kits (thieves tools, climbing kits, etc.) Hope that helps...
Jiquepe 01-31-05, 07:36 PM	Im actually playing a character (and have been for a while now) who's a tinkerer (human caster- but still specialized just like you). You can always play him eccentrically- but there other options if you want to stray further from the steryopical "mad halfing inventor" kind of character. - One who doesnt carry a lot of possesions, just things he can use to build (tools, nuts, bolts, scrap iron, other thing usefull for little gizmos) - Not nessecaily someone who is withdrawn, but someone who interacts with people through his inventions. Someone who always wears a cetain set of weird/intimidating goggles, only shakes hands using the handshaker machine he made, talks into a machine that then talks to someone for him are all good examples that would still play out well with your 8 cha. - He could have a facination with a certain aspect of technology. Electricity, clockwork, certain metals, wires, door hinges, oil, anything really. (Im clockwork and electric mostly) - Maybe he has a quirk about magic? Maybe it killed his mother, maybe it gives him an allergic rash, maybe he just doesnt like the way it feels- and thats why hes an invetor instead of a caster. - Perhaps his main means of fighting/ protecting thinself are through his inventions. Gunpowder and bombs are always effective, but sring loaded traps, walking daggers and poison filled "spiders" are all very viable ways to bring down an enemy. These are just a bunch things that i had on my list when deciding on how i wanted to play my character. Theyre just suggestions though, just wanted to give you more options. I know thinking up gadgets alone makes it hard to flush out exact characteristics of a PC. Hope i helped :D
Trydan 02-01-05, 05:40 AM	- One who doesnt carry a lot of possesions, just things he can use to build (tools, nuts, bolts, scrap iron, other thing usefull for little gizmos) Great post, Jiquepe! The bit I quoted above gave me an idea... what you could do would be to have a backpack that opens up into a sort of tool chest. But, better than that, you open the back of it, and there is a timber box, with lots of little drawers, all labelled with things like "M4 Bolts", "1/4-inch Washers", etc. The inside of the back of the backpack (I hope you understand that!) has the tools (pliers, screwdrivers, hammer, etc.), but each in little pockets or with their outlines painted onto the leather. Also, when the character's companions go to do something, the character could always interrupt with things like: "What? Don't pick that lock with a tapered-prong! Are you mad? You'll wear the end out. Here... what you need is an right-angled long-pin. Here... borrow mine." (player hands imaginary right-angled long-pin across the gaming table.)
Jiquepe 02-01-05, 10:34 AM	Great post, Jiquepe! -thanks! My first post on WotC I actually already built one, but i hadnt thought of the painted pictures of the tools- i like that alot actually. Mind if i use it too? :D . I also designed a fold out table which serves as the back of the pack. You just fold down the little board, open its wings (gives you a little more room) and extend the legs out of the backpack- and you have a mini work station right there at camp. I built it becasue i was taking peneties for building in the woods without the proper set up (and my character was always pariniod that hed get dirt and such in his tinks and mess them up). Also- SilentOne- you might want to consider having some other means of seeing too. Instead of having to have a fire or torch to light your work, maybe invest in some dark vision goggles (my chracter wears 5 or 6 different pairs of goggles around his neck). That way you can make you gadgets preatty much anywhere you go. Ive got all sorts of toys if you want some ideas- but im guessing you already have at least a few that youre excited about trying out.
Trydan 02-01-05, 10:45 AM	Hey... here's an idea... Speak with the DM beforehand, and arrange the following "encounter". DM: Okay, so what do you do. Players: I think we'll make camp and get some sleep. DM: Okay fine. You make camp, and turn in for the night. Players: Okay, great. DM: Listen check everyone? Player1: 13 Player2: 12 Player3: 4 You: 7 DM: Okay... character1 wakes in the middle of the night to hear a strange noise. Player1: What is it! DM: It sounds like "zsjzsjzsjzsjzsjzsjzsjzsjzsjzsjzsj". It worries you... would you care to roll initiative? Player1: Ack! Wha...!!! Okay, I wake the others! DM: Fine. You scramble from bedroll, and shake characters 2 & 3 awake. But..., the "inventor" is not there. Player1: Oh no! Player2: He's been abducted. DM: "zsjzsjzsjzsjzsjzsjzsjzsjzsjzsjzsj" Player3: I race outside of the tent, drawing my sword. DM: Okay, spot check... and make it good. Player3: Oh no! (rolls die) 17! DM: Okay, you spot on the far side of the camp... Player3: Yes? DM: ... the "inventor", crouched over his workbench with what appears to be a small hand-drill... "zsjzsjzsjzsjzsjzsjzsjzsjzsjzsjzsj" You: Er... hi, character 3, you're up early. :)
Jiquepe 02-01-05, 11:17 AM	:heehee there are all sorts of good times to be had with other PCs who dont understand his inventions. Some good quotes from my game -ranger "Are they magic?" me "nope, i just make them" ranger "kind of like a fletcher then right?" me "um, if by fletcher you mean huge explosion then yes, just like a fletcher." -me "No no- i need to make some more powder first." the ranger spent the next 10 muinets in the market place showing me different powders he was sure would work in my "guns", including flour, salt, hair dye, glitter, and even some rash powder "Nothin' says lovin' like hot projetiles from the oven" -Clockwork Cowboy
SilentOne 02-01-05, 10:22 PM	nice ideas guys... i'll be sure to get him the right equipment now. it'll be easy to afford this stuff with the level 5 money, especially w/o buying any (ANY) magic weapons, etc. just bags of holding, darkvision goggles, crafting gloves, etc. I think, even though he's a human, he's definately going to have some gnomish heritage... somehow. maybe an uncle or something that raised him after his parents were killed in the uncles "demonstration" of his latest invention, but the old gnomes just decided to hide that fact... and now he's taught his trade to his nephew. interesting? special interests will be alchemy and clockwork...ism...yeah... if you guys want, i'll type up some of the unique devices i've come up with, like the alchemical webbing (excellent for making an escape, but not as good at stopping someone from escaping as it might sound, you'd want the cyroentangler for that) as well as come up with some clockwork thingamabobs. question: should he multiclass into the artificer class from eberron? (for anyone familiar with it)
Jiquepe 02-02-05, 12:46 AM	I like the backstory :) And i'd dig some invention and alch ideas- always love a good gizmo. Now the artificer question is a tricky one. You have to decide what the character would do. If he is trained in the art of his uncle- and loves the purely mechanical- then I'd say no. But if he takes his knowledge adventuring and decides he wants to dabble in arcane engeneering as well, then the answer is yes. It really is (IMO) a question of what would your character decide. You may be thinking of doing it to just give him some more fire power, a little more kick. But i think with the rogue's abilities and skill points you can be just as effective at crafting and using your non magical items as an artifacer would be at his crafting and using. Remember too- mostly what it will come down to is time. In game- will youre character have enough time to build a small machine? Maybe. Will he have enough time to craft a magic item? Usually, the answer is no. Before you decide on whether or not to multiclass artificer, talk to your DM and ask him if there will be time enough for you to craft tiems, or if the campaign will be a mostly traveling adventure. And make sure he is ok with you taking the class (I know some DMs really dont like, and in some cases dont even allow, the PCs to slow down in a campaign and do stuff that isn't really in the DM's story; especially if it means crafting something that could bring down their new BBG easyer). Also- check out the class Tinker from d20 War Craft. Its kind of a rogue/gadgetcraft class by itself. It might strike your fancy- i know at least the inventions in the War Craft books will :D (the main War Craft supplement and Magic and Mayhem have some awsome gadgets) Hope all this rambling helps :)