Searchy no worky [Archive] - Wizards Community

Searchy no worky [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Max_Graeves
01-29-07, 05:40 PM So I'm pretty new to the WotC forums, and I was hoping to do some character dev research...Low and behold, the search is offline. So I was hoping you wonderful forumers could point me in the right direction, link-wise or thread-title-wise. I'm in the process of developing a neutral-evil urban-variant ranger (aiming for the master inquisitive prc from Eberhon), and I'm looking for tips on playing evil. I have Champions of Ruin, and I'm looking along the lines of an "end justifies the means" type of evil character...the kind who thinks "I could turn this villain over to the authorities, but chances are he'll just get free and commit more crimes; best I kill him now".

So, any suggestions? I have ideas, but I'd be interested in any insights or hints, no matter how slight or unrelated. Sorry for the few details character-wise, but he's still very much a work in progress.

Thanks in advance.
CaptainShar
01-29-07, 06:58 PM "Slight and Unrelated" might be what this advice is, but I'd look for the "Lessons from DMing for my GF" thread on "What's a DM to do?." Try sorting by number of replies and it should be on the first page. It's actually more of a DMing thread than a character thread, but there are a couple of great storylines on there...try checking out the halfling rogue in the Zombie campaign, or the super-evil guys in the next year's Halloween game...

Maybe not exactly what you're looking for, but a great (and long) read. It's inspired me to work on better characters in general.
Adrian_Crane
01-29-07, 09:48 PM What you're describing could also be True Neutral; it largely comes down to if you kill out of convenience (Evil), or if you kill because it seems necessary (Neutral).

Also, even if the character is a work in progress, what setting are you working with? You say you're going for an Eberron PrC, so is it set in Eberron or are you just borrowing the class for thematic flavor?
Max_Graeves
01-30-07, 01:10 PM Thanks for the advice, guys.

@CaptainShar; I'll check out that link, much appreciated.

@Adrian_Crane; killing out of convenience would probably be his thing...ie: it would be inconvenient to have to deal with trial, possible escape of the criminal, etc...perhaps I'll look into making him into a bounty hunter/contract killer amalgam.
I'm borrowing the class for flavour. The game will most likely be set in Greyhawk, but my DM allows for some overlap with prestige classes, certain feats, etc, as long as said overlap doesn't involve any major rule-changes (no magic of arcanum or dragon-marks; that kind of thing).
grasharm
01-30-07, 02:45 PM Also don't neglect popular culture when it comes to ideas for playing chars. I suggest going onto blockbuster.com com or netflix and getting several episodes of the shield. The whole show is about ends justifies the means type cops and could probally give you a couple of ideas.
Max_Graeves
01-30-07, 03:48 PM I'll check it out.

I'm slowly putting together a background (I'll expand it as I work out the finer points). I'm thinking probably human, maybe the shifter class from Eberhon, abused as a child (shifter may work better in that case). He was raised in a small village, where the ignorant and superstitious folk tended to blame him for anything odd or bad that happened (either because of he's a shifter, or maybe some other detail that singled him out) . After back-to-back crop failures, he taken far from the village and abandoned along a dirt road. A solitary ranger took pity on him and cared for him until he was in his early teens, but the ranger found it difficult to deal with the child's vicious nature (a result of his shifter nature, and/or abuse as a child). On a trip to the city (presumably Greyhawk), the child panicks and runs away from his ranger care-taker. He ends up in the slum quarter of Greyhawk, and discovers a different kind of wilderness, one where his vicious nature gives him an edge.

That seems to work particularly well with the shifter racial class, but with a little tweaking it should work well with human as well.

I welcome any suggestions or critiques.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Max_Graeves 01-29-07, 05:40 PM	So I'm pretty new to the WotC forums, and I was hoping to do some character dev research...Low and behold, the search is offline. So I was hoping you wonderful forumers could point me in the right direction, link-wise or thread-title-wise. I'm in the process of developing a neutral-evil urban-variant ranger (aiming for the master inquisitive prc from Eberhon), and I'm looking for tips on playing evil. I have Champions of Ruin, and I'm looking along the lines of an "end justifies the means" type of evil character...the kind who thinks "I could turn this villain over to the authorities, but chances are he'll just get free and commit more crimes; best I kill him now". So, any suggestions? I have ideas, but I'd be interested in any insights or hints, no matter how slight or unrelated. Sorry for the few details character-wise, but he's still very much a work in progress. Thanks in advance.
CaptainShar 01-29-07, 06:58 PM	"Slight and Unrelated" might be what this advice is, but I'd look for the "Lessons from DMing for my GF" thread on "What's a DM to do?." Try sorting by number of replies and it should be on the first page. It's actually more of a DMing thread than a character thread, but there are a couple of great storylines on there...try checking out the halfling rogue in the Zombie campaign, or the super-evil guys in the next year's Halloween game... Maybe not exactly what you're looking for, but a great (and long) read. It's inspired me to work on better characters in general.
Adrian_Crane 01-29-07, 09:48 PM	What you're describing could also be True Neutral; it largely comes down to if you kill out of convenience (Evil), or if you kill because it seems necessary (Neutral). Also, even if the character is a work in progress, what setting are you working with? You say you're going for an Eberron PrC, so is it set in Eberron or are you just borrowing the class for thematic flavor?
Max_Graeves 01-30-07, 01:10 PM	Thanks for the advice, guys. @CaptainShar; I'll check out that link, much appreciated. @Adrian_Crane; killing out of convenience would probably be his thing...ie: it would be inconvenient to have to deal with trial, possible escape of the criminal, etc...perhaps I'll look into making him into a bounty hunter/contract killer amalgam. I'm borrowing the class for flavour. The game will most likely be set in Greyhawk, but my DM allows for some overlap with prestige classes, certain feats, etc, as long as said overlap doesn't involve any major rule-changes (no magic of arcanum or dragon-marks; that kind of thing).
grasharm 01-30-07, 02:45 PM	Also don't neglect popular culture when it comes to ideas for playing chars. I suggest going onto blockbuster.com com or netflix and getting several episodes of the shield. The whole show is about ends justifies the means type cops and could probally give you a couple of ideas.
Max_Graeves 01-30-07, 03:48 PM	I'll check it out. I'm slowly putting together a background (I'll expand it as I work out the finer points). I'm thinking probably human, maybe the shifter class from Eberhon, abused as a child (shifter may work better in that case). He was raised in a small village, where the ignorant and superstitious folk tended to blame him for anything odd or bad that happened (either because of he's a shifter, or maybe some other detail that singled him out) . After back-to-back crop failures, he taken far from the village and abandoned along a dirt road. A solitary ranger took pity on him and cared for him until he was in his early teens, but the ranger found it difficult to deal with the child's vicious nature (a result of his shifter nature, and/or abuse as a child). On a trip to the city (presumably Greyhawk), the child panicks and runs away from his ranger care-taker. He ends up in the slum quarter of Greyhawk, and discovers a different kind of wilderness, one where his vicious nature gives him an edge. That seems to work particularly well with the shifter racial class, but with a little tweaking it should work well with human as well. I welcome any suggestions or critiques.