Secret Agent Man d~ [Archive] - Wizards Community

Secret Agent Man d~ [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi
12-02-07, 06:00 PM So, this new character concept came to me, and I like it. Admittedly, it's been done before. Some spoiled princess or whatever decided to run away for a short adventuring career. My character's the bodyguard assigned to her, so he's stuck going along with her. I guess they're long time friends, since he didn't try to dissuade her. Anyway, he's not the traditional hulking brute bodyguard. He's more of a finesse man, keeping her safe by a rogue's methods. His philosophy: "Sure, a pile of muscle could usually keep you safe. But it'll also tell the whole world you need to be kept safe. Suddenly the people the brute can't stop know just where to find you." He rose to his position by unorthodox but effective methods, so he's been allowed some slack. Still, I doubt he's loved for running off with the princess. If I wanted to go with the never-failing cliche, he's helping her because he's in love with her. But maybe they are just friends. Mechanically, my bodyguard is a lurk (CPsi) using the tracker variant. This way, should they be separated, he's got a psionic tag on her to find her again. I'm thinking of taking the Leadership feat, with my "cohort" being the adventuring princess. That's one thing I love about this concept: I feel like I'm using the mechanics in a novel way, representing my ward by a cohort. And of course all the followers represent my contacts quite nicely.

Well, I'm looking for feedback. First being: how do I explain him still having so many contacts when his unorthodox approach of not stopping the princess must have put a bounty on his head? Or is there any way to explain why going into hiding like this is actually the best option to keep her safe? And since I envision him as being on quite friendly terms with her, how is he reacting to her thirst for adventure? Clearly he's not the mindless government drone who just keeps insisting she really needs to get back to the palace. And I suppose the question most on my mind: are there any ideas for the type of character the princess is? (Personality-wise and class-wise? What would appeal to her?) And if I need to tone down the background to something a little less major than a princess, what equivalents can you all think of?
DM_Shonuff
12-04-07, 08:07 PM Awesome character concept. I love it. You could take this a few ways.

You could have his mother working in the palace as a seamstress or cook, and they essentially grew up together. When her mother was expelled from her duties for a slight she didn't do, He still hung around the castle, keeping friendly terms with the princess. One night, with mother bedridden and dying, he attempted to steal a potion or whathaveyou for his mother from a noble in the streets. Caught. about to lose a hand or his life, the princess stopped the punishment, vowing his life to her. They grew up, he joined the guardsmen and she 'hand picked" her guards....knowing it was him. THey became close. He owes her his life. He protects out of obligation and admiration. He doesn't know that lately, her father was attempting to marry her off to some neighboring Duke or warlord, and she caught wind of it. Her "decision" to go adventuring is a secret she keeps even from her best friend. As she left, he was ORDERED to bring her back alive and unharmed. So he sets off, and finds her. She doesn't tell him of the arranged marriage, but he sees something is up.

He keeps his thoughts to himself but promises to keep her safe until this "wild streak" is over with. He doesn't know that a rival in the castle put rumor into the king's ear, this was all your plan to run off with her. So now he is "unknowingly" hunted. Have him get caught by a solo bounty hunter, and runs him through. (make the BH a slimey curr, trying to cop feels on the princess while your rogue at swordpoint. etc etc).

As for the princess, need time to ponder.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi
12-05-07, 09:41 PM Wow. That's some awesome stuff. I'll definitely want to include all that. Or at least bring it up with the DM. It'll sure give lots of nice plot hooks.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi
12-16-07, 05:43 PM :bump: Only one idea? Am I really off to that good a start?
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi
12-26-07, 03:00 PM Ten days and nothing. DM_Shonuff, I was under the impression you were going to come back later with ideas on the princess, but I guess you're not. Oh well.
Terjon of the Blue Rose
12-28-07, 01:15 AM First being: how do I explain him still having so many contacts when his unorthodox approach of not stopping the princess must have put a bounty on his head? Or is there any way to explain why going into hiding like this is actually the best option to keep her safe? And since I envision him as being on quite friendly terms with her, how is he reacting to her thirst for adventure? Clearly he's not the mindless government drone who just keeps insisting she really needs to get back to the palace. And I suppose the question most on my mind: are there any ideas for the type of character the princess is? (Personality-wise and class-wise? What would appeal to her?) And if I need to tone down the background to something a little less major than a princess, what equivalents can you all think of?

Surely you are off to a good start. I would have given advice but there's not a lot that came to mind off the bat. Still since you want a critique and advise I'll see what I can do.

First why would you lose 'em? They likely weren't crown-approved contacts anyway as that's not gonna get you the kind of info you need.

Going into hiding? I guess yoy mean running away for her adventuring carreer. It's basically a case of "She's slippery enough she can get away on her own or with me. I'd prefer if she does run it be with me at her side." He probably understand her thirst for adventure since it may well be how he wound up in his own current position. He also is likely constantly upset with how green she is given that he's been through all she desires to go through and knows full well that the glamour is a glamer. As for lesser equivalents a wealthy noble's daughter works but in truth I think a princess is a better option. In this case bigger is probably better. Oh and in her case I'd probably go with sorceress or wizard. She should have access to magic and wealth if she's going to be able to ellude you for any amount of time.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi
12-30-07, 04:48 PM Thank you. I guess I'd expect the contacts to vanish just because I'm a wanted man. Getting caught helping me isn't exactly in their best interest, especially since I no longer have crown funds to be throwing their way as bribes. But I guess I've gotten a few friends. Looks like I've got a good enough start. Now to find a DM . . .

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 12-02-07, 06:00 PM	So, this new character concept came to me, and I like it. Admittedly, it's been done before. Some spoiled princess or whatever decided to run away for a short adventuring career. My character's the bodyguard assigned to her, so he's stuck going along with her. I guess they're long time friends, since he didn't try to dissuade her. Anyway, he's not the traditional hulking brute bodyguard. He's more of a finesse man, keeping her safe by a rogue's methods. His philosophy: "Sure, a pile of muscle could usually keep you safe. But it'll also tell the whole world you need to be kept safe. Suddenly the people the brute can't stop know just where to find you." He rose to his position by unorthodox but effective methods, so he's been allowed some slack. Still, I doubt he's loved for running off with the princess. If I wanted to go with the never-failing cliche, he's helping her because he's in love with her. But maybe they are just friends. Mechanically, my bodyguard is a lurk (CPsi) using the tracker variant. This way, should they be separated, he's got a psionic tag on her to find her again. I'm thinking of taking the Leadership feat, with my "cohort" being the adventuring princess. That's one thing I love about this concept: I feel like I'm using the mechanics in a novel way, representing my ward by a cohort. And of course all the followers represent my contacts quite nicely. Well, I'm looking for feedback. First being: how do I explain him still having so many contacts when his unorthodox approach of not stopping the princess must have put a bounty on his head? Or is there any way to explain why going into hiding like this is actually the best option to keep her safe? And since I envision him as being on quite friendly terms with her, how is he reacting to her thirst for adventure? Clearly he's not the mindless government drone who just keeps insisting she really needs to get back to the palace. And I suppose the question most on my mind: are there any ideas for the type of character the princess is? (Personality-wise and class-wise? What would appeal to her?) And if I need to tone down the background to something a little less major than a princess, what equivalents can you all think of?
DM_Shonuff 12-04-07, 08:07 PM	Awesome character concept. I love it. You could take this a few ways. You could have his mother working in the palace as a seamstress or cook, and they essentially grew up together. When her mother was expelled from her duties for a slight she didn't do, He still hung around the castle, keeping friendly terms with the princess. One night, with mother bedridden and dying, he attempted to steal a potion or whathaveyou for his mother from a noble in the streets. Caught. about to lose a hand or his life, the princess stopped the punishment, vowing his life to her. They grew up, he joined the guardsmen and she 'hand picked" her guards....knowing it was him. THey became close. He owes her his life. He protects out of obligation and admiration. He doesn't know that lately, her father was attempting to marry her off to some neighboring Duke or warlord, and she caught wind of it. Her "decision" to go adventuring is a secret she keeps even from her best friend. As she left, he was ORDERED to bring her back alive and unharmed. So he sets off, and finds her. She doesn't tell him of the arranged marriage, but he sees something is up. He keeps his thoughts to himself but promises to keep her safe until this "wild streak" is over with. He doesn't know that a rival in the castle put rumor into the king's ear, this was all your plan to run off with her. So now he is "unknowingly" hunted. Have him get caught by a solo bounty hunter, and runs him through. (make the BH a slimey curr, trying to cop feels on the princess while your rogue at swordpoint. etc etc). As for the princess, need time to ponder.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 12-05-07, 09:41 PM	Wow. That's some awesome stuff. I'll definitely want to include all that. Or at least bring it up with the DM. It'll sure give lots of nice plot hooks.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 12-16-07, 05:43 PM	:bump: Only one idea? Am I really off to that good a start?
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 12-26-07, 03:00 PM	Ten days and nothing. DM_Shonuff, I was under the impression you were going to come back later with ideas on the princess, but I guess you're not. Oh well.
Terjon of the Blue Rose 12-28-07, 01:15 AM	First being: how do I explain him still having so many contacts when his unorthodox approach of not stopping the princess must have put a bounty on his head? Or is there any way to explain why going into hiding like this is actually the best option to keep her safe? And since I envision him as being on quite friendly terms with her, how is he reacting to her thirst for adventure? Clearly he's not the mindless government drone who just keeps insisting she really needs to get back to the palace. And I suppose the question most on my mind: are there any ideas for the type of character the princess is? (Personality-wise and class-wise? What would appeal to her?) And if I need to tone down the background to something a little less major than a princess, what equivalents can you all think of? Surely you are off to a good start. I would have given advice but there's not a lot that came to mind off the bat. Still since you want a critique and advise I'll see what I can do. First why would you lose 'em? They likely weren't crown-approved contacts anyway as that's not gonna get you the kind of info you need. Going into hiding? I guess yoy mean running away for her adventuring carreer. It's basically a case of "She's slippery enough she can get away on her own or with me. I'd prefer if she does run it be with me at her side." He probably understand her thirst for adventure since it may well be how he wound up in his own current position. He also is likely constantly upset with how green she is given that he's been through all she desires to go through and knows full well that the glamour is a glamer. As for lesser equivalents a wealthy noble's daughter works but in truth I think a princess is a better option. In this case bigger is probably better. Oh and in her case I'd probably go with sorceress or wizard. She should have access to magic and wealth if she's going to be able to ellude you for any amount of time.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 12-30-07, 04:48 PM	Thank you. I guess I'd expect the contacts to vanish just because I'm a wanted man. Getting caught helping me isn't exactly in their best interest, especially since I no longer have crown funds to be throwing their way as bribes. But I guess I've gotten a few friends. Looks like I've got a good enough start. Now to find a DM . . .