Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 08-23-07, 05:01 PM	That's right. A dwarven surfer. If you think about it, dwarves could actually make pretty good surfers. They'd find it easier to balance (less mass above their center of gravity), and their racial bonus against bull rushes should prevent them from getting knocked down by waves. Anyway, onto the concept. He's a little fuzzy on his own past. He was found clutching to a piece of driftwood in the River Styx. The amnesia effect of the water had wiped his memory. So he was rescued by a new group of adventurers and brought to Sigil. He now works there as a part-time mercenary. Mostly he waits for word on killer waves in the various planes (Water Elemental being most common, of course). Mercenary work only supplements what he can't make as a professional surfer. He usually ends up working with his rescuers. He still doesn't remember much, but he doesn't concern himself with it usually. He's got a new life now, and it's pretty good. He's even got an opportunity to found a new clan. The Surfbreakers. He's chosen to adopt the name Tides Surfbreaker as he can't remember his real one. I'm thinking that maybe in his past life he was one of the Pirates of the River Styx. Either way, some monstrosity definitely sunk the ship he was on. He survived clinging onto one piece of the ship. He kept that piece of driftwood. It's now his surfboard and his shield. I'm not sure what he wields as his primary weapon. He probably does use shield bash. He's a psychic warrior. (Expansion's handy for the bigger waves). Any suggestions? I particularly want ideas on his particular style. Especially when he can't ride some wave up and slap somebody silly with his board. Catchphrases would also be appreciated.
Fithero 08-23-07, 11:14 PM	"Surfs up!" *smack them with your board* Sounds like an interesting background, a dwarven surfer is a really unique character idea, good work! Does he shave his beard and hair? I imagine it would get rather soaked and heavy in the surf.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 08-24-07, 03:41 PM	"Surfs up!" *smack them with your board* Sounds like an interesting background, a dwarven surfer is a really unique character idea, good work! Does he shave his beard and hair? I imagine it would get rather soaked and heavy in the surf. Do regular surfers shave their hair? Nope, I'm thinking he keeps it. Though I may make him look Aleithian (iirc). Short beard, ridiculous mustache.
ArgulFraster 08-24-07, 04:34 PM	Give him a diver's weapon-either a gaffsword, a diver's knife, or a handaxe. Something he could easily carry as a surfer. Perhaps for catchphrases: "TIDAL SURGE!" When making a bull rush or psychic attack.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 08-24-07, 05:26 PM	Tidal surge. I like it. I've never heard of a gaffsword or a diver's knife. The latter I presume would just be a dagger. But what of a gaffsword? What weapon with stats best approximates it? A short sword? Or maybe, since he's a psychic warrior, I could invest in the claws of the beast power and other claw powers.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 08-28-07, 10:37 AM	:bump: I still laugh at this idea.
ArgulFraster 08-28-07, 10:43 AM	Tidal surge. I like it. I've never heard of a gaffsword or a diver's knife. The latter I presume would just be a dagger. But what of a gaffsword? What weapon with stats best approximates it? A short sword? Or maybe, since he's a psychic warrior, I could invest in the claws of the beast power and other claw powers. A Gaffsword is from World of Aden Thunderscape. It's a sword with a hooked blade used by fishermen (and one of the main characters.)
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 08-28-07, 12:49 PM	A Gaffsword is from World of Aden Thunderscape. It's a sword with a hooked blade used by fishermen (and one of the main characters.) Ah. Thanks.
Iczer 08-29-07, 09:42 PM	looking at the players guide I notive that the racial bonuses to resist bull rushes' and trips apply only when standing on solid ground. Ostensibly, a dwarf is by no means standing on solid ground when riding a piece of driftwood atop of moving water. And I'd argue that they have no intrinsicly superior balance issues, as if they did, they would posess an actual class bonus to balance.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 08-30-07, 05:51 PM	looking at the players guide I notive that the racial bonuses to resist bull rushes' and trips apply only when standing on solid ground. Ostensibly, a dwarf is by no means standing on solid ground when riding a piece of driftwood atop of moving water. And I'd argue that they have no intrinsicly superior balance issues, as if they did, they would posess an actual class bonus to balance. So very right. Dang. I wish I had continued to overlook that. Ah well. But what about wading back into the surf? Until the water gets deep enough to swim, he's still running in water. It was a fun idea. I'm gonna still work on it, even if it turns out the inspiration isn't rules legal.
Sol_Aedh_Avoth 09-02-07, 01:03 PM	Legends say Dwarves hate Water, Horses and any other thing that brings their feet far from the solid ground... That's why they hate Giants...
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 09-03-07, 09:17 AM	Legends say Dwarves hate Water, Horses and any other thing that brings their feet far from the solid ground... That's why they hate Giants... Your point? I don't have to limit myself to dwarven stereotypes. Nor do I have to try to create a perfect anti stereotype. There's a lot of room in this world for variety, and the close-minded had better make way, or else Tides will run them over like a tsunami. Ooh, that was good. I'll have to remember that for IC if anyone ever questions a surfing dwarf.
Sol_Aedh_Avoth 09-03-07, 09:45 AM	Never heard about irony? :P
Fithero 09-03-07, 09:52 AM	Your point? I don't have to limit myself to dwarven stereotypes. Instead of discarding the stereotype, why not make your character an exception to it? Perhaps dwarves *do* hate water and horses, but more importantly water. Why is your dwarf different from the others? -Is he still scared of water but loves the rush? -Did he nearly drown as a child and loose all fear/or feel that he has to constantly face it? -Did he (for some reason) grown up near the water and is just fine in it? It could be interesting to be a character who goes against the norms and survives.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 09-03-07, 02:21 PM	Instead of discarding the stereotype, why not make your character an exception to it? Perhaps dwarves *do* hate water and horses, but more importantly water. Why is your dwarf different from the others? -Is he still scared of water but loves the rush? -Did he nearly drown as a child and loose all fear/or feel that he has to constantly face it? -Did he (for some reason) grown up near the water and is just fine in it? It could be interesting to be a character who goes against the norms and survives. Well, Tides definitely loves the rush. That's why he tries to be a professional surfer. (Could anyone imagine a dwarf in a bathing suit? Ew. Craft Disturbing Image). I suppose it may be because he spent so long on the River Styx. Due to the memory wipe effect, the first thing he remembers is surviving on the water. Maybe he even thinks it holds a clue to his past. It took his memory from him, so it must still have it. And I suppose after surviving the River Styx for so long, regular water doesn't seem so scary any more.
Terjon of the Blue Rose 09-06-07, 12:11 AM	Before I joined the boards I had come up with an idea for a sea-faring community of dwarves. Lived their whole lives on boats and even went so far as to design their ships so that they could be interlocked to form floating cities. In times of danger a few pulled in bridges (really little more than long wooden planks), and a few cut ropes would turn a city into and armada. They were a unique dwarven community more for their willingness to seperate than their chosen local though. There were flat bottom ships that would travel far inland on rivers and shallow keels who prefered coastlines. Only the largest, heaviest ships remained forever on the ocean and which ship you were born onto determined where you would travel during your life. If your world isn't defined too heavily you may even come from such a community and have chosen a life as a scout for the coastliners. Even if it isn't perhaps your people tryed and failed to form such a community and you are one of those who refuses to accept such failure.
ArgulFraster 09-09-07, 09:10 PM	Pity he's not a gnome-then I could make bad "surfeneblin" jokes.