Post/Author/DateTime	Post
kntshade 10-14-04, 06:23 PM	So I need ideas for a background story for a human Monk1/Druid5/Shifter4* (Might decide to go Druid5/Shifter5 instead but not sure yet...) I haven’t fully decided on the race yet either so that can change too. We are playing straight Forgotten Realms… so does anyone have any good RPing tips? Unique background ideas? Or anything I could use? I’ve never really played a druid much less a shifter… Would this character have some sort of identity problem like Mystique from X-Men? ANY ideas will help me! Thank you! The more developed his personality and such the better I think, since we are starting at 10th level...
Rathis Darkwielder 10-15-04, 01:20 PM	You should decide first which region you come from. FR druids can come from the Jungles of Chult, the frozen wastes of the North, the mighty forests of the elven civilisations, etc. This will also give your character a specific focus for animal companions/wildshape forms and might also give you an idea for a background story. Also, don't try to be a too overly nature-loving druid. You simply can't stop your party from using any fire at all or such things, so you'd better be prepared to allow some of those actions. The same goes for lumberjacks etc, don't attack them because they 'destroy' the forest. You would be better off by fighting the people that mistreat nature for their own gains (evil characters, most of the time). That's all I can think of now, Rathis
kntshade 10-15-04, 02:00 PM	You know, I find the cliché of the Nature Loving Druid who attacks lumberjacks and people who are careless with fire kind of distasteful. I started thinking, and I think this Druid was a Druid because he decided to go out into the woods and explore and see what was out there and he’s just really curious about creatures, of all sorts, not just animals, but aberrations and everything… (kind of like the Crocodile Hunter on animal planet?) “Look at the SIZE of em!!! If I get TOO close to this Cave Troll he will try to Rend me!!! Notice that red tinge to his eyes, that means he’s REALLY agitated! WOW! What a beaute!!!” Also he’s starting at 10th level, so I should probably decide where he was born and raised and all that, BUT, I want him to have explored the world quite a bit already. ANOTHER idea would be to have a druid shifter be kind of like a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde where in his normal form he’s an unassuming human of mild manner, but when he’s angered he turns into some beast (SUCH AS the above mentioned cave troll, which by the way is just sick if you have the MM3 have a look!)
Jeefit the meephit 10-15-04, 05:24 PM	There are sevreal options One as you've mentioned is multimple personalities, someone who when they shift adopt a whole new identity. Another one is whorshipping nature in a different way; you're more freal, where we regularly picture druids tending to a forset and helping seedlings grow, you whorship in blood rites and "pagan festivals" turning into a wolfpack at sundown and running across the forestland, or another pack animal. But as time passed, you found an even deeper connection, an even deeper love for the jow that are forms, you began to experiement with the nature of life, you spend time as other animals and developed a such a close bond to earth and earth magic you began to be able to turn into even creatures that the other druids couldn't. You exult in the power, splendor and beauty of what you become, because as the gods made the universe, everything has a purpose and when you become them and fulfill that purpose you are one step closer to the gods than you were before. Your reason for adventuring into the world is to "go where no man has gone before, to seek out new life" (ST) Becuse nothing brings the thrill of an animal living it's life, ebing the wolf on the hunt, the cave troll in his lair, the dragon on his hoard. Your "god-given" job is to expiriemtn with all the shapes of life and through the undertsnading of being them ascend to that divine realm where the creators live. In otherwords you want to try the myriad of creation to be like god and have the knowledge of a god, so you can become god... It's a psuedo cleric reason for it though you character wouldnt be nutty at all, just enjoy spending time as anything you saw, even traveling you could be a fly on a backpack, this character however would be very non-verbal because of his shifts. I hope you like it, or that it sparked some ideas for you to build off of.