Undead Hunter [Archive] - Wizards Community

Undead Hunter [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Malcaor
02-21-08, 05:01 PM I'm working out the background for my new character. He's a Fighter2/Duelist4, using the Versatile Combatant feat to wield a rapier and hand crossbow. He took the figter levels as part of his military training, and the duelist are from after he left the military to do hsi own thing.

He's on the border between CG and CN. He does what he thinks is right, but he'll do it at all costs, and doesn't care who gets hurt as long as the ends justify the means. Since he is good, he will carry loyalties, and is not likely to betray his friends.

He is a very serious person, and hates to admit weakness. If he needs help, he will search for a way he can do it himself, or have someone else do it for him without knowing he needed it done.

He is also very superstitious towards magic. He won't accept healing until the person has earned his trust, and will target a magic user over other enemies. He often does odd things to keep away bad luck (such as kiss his symbol of Farlaghn when entering a building).

I need to explain his equipment, and skills. He has a 'mundane crystal' rapier, which is his prized possession. He named it Jade Fury becuase it is green in color. Psionics do exist in he campaign world.

He has learnt a fighting style typical of certain Drow, but he probably didn't learn it from them since his morals are from different (and he's human).

He also carries Drow poison for special situations. This could be worked in with the above.
CrimsonDeath
02-21-08, 05:57 PM How'd you qualify for Duelist (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/prestigeClasses/duelist.htm) at level 2? Or did you mean Swashbuckler?

You mentioned that he was in the military. It could be that his country has a history of conflict with the Drow, and the military incorporated into their training regimen certain Drow strategies, tactics, and techniques that they felt were effective.

Have you decided why he's so nervous about magic? Did a spy infiltrate his military unit and cast damaging spells instead of the healing spells he had promised? Or is it a more widespread belief in his home region? Or is it just his family, perhaps because of a notorious spellcaster among his ancestors, or a curse that was laid on a family member?

The crystal rapier is an interesting choice, especially for a nonpsionic character. Is iron scarce in his homeland? Or do there happen to be a large number of psionic characters in the area? Or is it a family tradition?
Terjon of the Blue Rose
02-22-08, 05:04 AM He's on the border between CG and CN. He does what he thinks is right, but he'll do it at all costs, and doesn't care who gets hurt as long as the ends justify the means. Since he is good, he will carry loyalties, and is not likely to betray his friends.

He is a very serious person, and hates to admit weakness. If he needs help, he will search for a way he can do it himself, or have someone else do it for him without knowing he needed it done.

Sounds like NG to me but I don't want to start an alignment debate so I'll conceed the point. Where did he inherit that stubborn streak from though. A common local trait where he was born, parents, or maybe the time in the military? Certainly the military could teach a man, especially someone intended for higher rank, to hide weakness in front of others. It's not that uncommon to believe that strength and ability mean the same thing as leadership.

He is also very superstitious towards magic. He won't accept healing until the person has earned his trust, and will target a magic user over other enemies. He often does odd things to keep away bad luck (such as kiss his symbol of Farlaghn when entering a building).

This is a very interesting contradiction and I'd like to see how he resolves it internally. How is it that the "common magic" of superstition is acceptable to him but the more powerful and direct magic of spellcasters is not. I think you'll need to focus, as CrimsonDeath suggested on the idea that it's spellcasters, and not magic, that he distrusts.
Terjon of the Blue Rose
02-22-08, 05:05 AM Oh, and I didn't see anything about undead hunting despite the title of the thread.:confused:
Drackthor
02-22-08, 04:05 PM Oh, and I didn't see anything about undead hunting despite the title of the thread.:confused:

I was just thinking the same thing. :rofl:
Malcaor
02-22-08, 10:50 PM DOH! I managed to completely forget the part in his background that involves undead. Mechanically speaking, me and the DM made a custom figther variant that trades heavy armor permanently (even from other classes) for Fav enemy Undead.

I haven't worked out the exact details of it, but he left his small village to join the military upon reaching adulthood. Something happened involving a vampire and his hometown/parents. He got word of this and skipped from the military who didn't want him to go. He was obviously too late being so far away and many people he knew died, and possibly turned into vampire spawn. It gave him a great hatred of undead as a whole and he dedicated himself to their removal from the earth his prime targets being vampires and necromancers.

This I've decided is where his main superstition of magic comes from. He's gotten a large exposure to its darkest side. I do like the idea of mostly being afraid of the casters and not the magic itself. So he thinks that magic can corrupt its users, and is therefore suspicious of them.

The Duelist class I'm using I got from a website. I thought it was from a complete book before, but I'm beginning to think it's a homebrew by someone. My DM's checked it out and says its balanced. Its essentially the Swashbuckler, with minor tweaking.

The crystal sword I've decided my character won in a duel against a psi warrior. He gave it to him after his defeat as a prize. Possibly a hook for the DM at some point.

I like the idea of the military he joined of adopting drow tactics. I think it will be that the his captain was a war vet and had encountered a lot of drow and learnt their tactics. The poison is unrelated and just got picked up on the black market.
The_Shaman
02-26-08, 01:00 PM If he's mostly an undead hunter, I think he'd prefer different weapons. Piercing weapons are not a good choice against the living dead.
Malcaor
02-26-08, 04:03 PM Well they're only not good against skeletons and zombies which aren't his main focus. Plus I really like the idea of the weapon combo.
Neveroth
03-01-08, 02:01 PM I'm suspecting you're not here for build advice, but have you considered the undead stalker class presented in the DMG? If you're planning on playing an undead-heavy campaign, it could be a nice option to consider.

The pride fits well with his military background, and the superstition to magic is fine as well. What really poked my eye out when I read it was the drow tactics part, and to a lesser extent his choice of weapons. (Crystal!) rapier and hand crossbow? ...What made you pick that of all things?

Generally it's very hard (and often messy and cliche in the worst possible ways) to explain why a human would use drow combat techniques and poisons. Just say that it's a style he has developed over the years, and that he knows a shady dealer / pharmacist / spec ops military contact who provides him with those less-than-legal substances. Why poisons would be a major tool in the arsenal of an undead hunter to begin with, or why he would focus exclusively on piercing damage, however, is beyond me.

But back to the point, could you write down some more facts about his background? Maybe it will make more sense once we've dug a little deeper.
Malcaor
03-01-08, 07:13 PM We played our first game, and while RPing with the other players I told them my character was part of a small band of undead hunters, the leader of which was a drow. He didn't really like her attitude, but he liked her style and mimiced it.

The sword he gambled off a psion.

The poison he keeps for the living he has to fight but doesn't want to kill. He ended up using it already, and completely failed. We're pretty far from civilization, so i could have picked them up from practically anyone.
Drackthor
03-01-08, 07:30 PM have you considered the undead stalker class presented in the DMG?

Any idea what page it's on?
Neveroth
03-01-08, 08:21 PM Any idea what page it's on? 175/176. It's a ranger variant, briefly described as an example of class customization. Only good for undead-centered campaigns though.

EDIT: On a side note, I loved your Krorsh's diary thread. Always fun to read.
Drackthor
03-01-08, 08:34 PM 175/176. It's a ranger variant, briefly described as an example of class customization. Only good for undead-centered campaigns though.

EDIT: On a side note, I loved your Krorsh's diary thread. Always fun to read.

Thanks.

And thank you, I just added a new entry, matter of fact! :D

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Malcaor 02-21-08, 05:01 PM	I'm working out the background for my new character. He's a Fighter2/Duelist4, using the Versatile Combatant feat to wield a rapier and hand crossbow. He took the figter levels as part of his military training, and the duelist are from after he left the military to do hsi own thing. He's on the border between CG and CN. He does what he thinks is right, but he'll do it at all costs, and doesn't care who gets hurt as long as the ends justify the means. Since he is good, he will carry loyalties, and is not likely to betray his friends. He is a very serious person, and hates to admit weakness. If he needs help, he will search for a way he can do it himself, or have someone else do it for him without knowing he needed it done. He is also very superstitious towards magic. He won't accept healing until the person has earned his trust, and will target a magic user over other enemies. He often does odd things to keep away bad luck (such as kiss his symbol of Farlaghn when entering a building). I need to explain his equipment, and skills. He has a 'mundane crystal' rapier, which is his prized possession. He named it Jade Fury becuase it is green in color. Psionics do exist in he campaign world. He has learnt a fighting style typical of certain Drow, but he probably didn't learn it from them since his morals are from different (and he's human). He also carries Drow poison for special situations. This could be worked in with the above.
CrimsonDeath 02-21-08, 05:57 PM	How'd you qualify for Duelist (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/prestigeClasses/duelist.htm) at level 2? Or did you mean Swashbuckler? You mentioned that he was in the military. It could be that his country has a history of conflict with the Drow, and the military incorporated into their training regimen certain Drow strategies, tactics, and techniques that they felt were effective. Have you decided why he's so nervous about magic? Did a spy infiltrate his military unit and cast damaging spells instead of the healing spells he had promised? Or is it a more widespread belief in his home region? Or is it just his family, perhaps because of a notorious spellcaster among his ancestors, or a curse that was laid on a family member? The crystal rapier is an interesting choice, especially for a nonpsionic character. Is iron scarce in his homeland? Or do there happen to be a large number of psionic characters in the area? Or is it a family tradition?
Terjon of the Blue Rose 02-22-08, 05:04 AM	He's on the border between CG and CN. He does what he thinks is right, but he'll do it at all costs, and doesn't care who gets hurt as long as the ends justify the means. Since he is good, he will carry loyalties, and is not likely to betray his friends. He is a very serious person, and hates to admit weakness. If he needs help, he will search for a way he can do it himself, or have someone else do it for him without knowing he needed it done. Sounds like NG to me but I don't want to start an alignment debate so I'll conceed the point. Where did he inherit that stubborn streak from though. A common local trait where he was born, parents, or maybe the time in the military? Certainly the military could teach a man, especially someone intended for higher rank, to hide weakness in front of others. It's not that uncommon to believe that strength and ability mean the same thing as leadership. He is also very superstitious towards magic. He won't accept healing until the person has earned his trust, and will target a magic user over other enemies. He often does odd things to keep away bad luck (such as kiss his symbol of Farlaghn when entering a building). This is a very interesting contradiction and I'd like to see how he resolves it internally. How is it that the "common magic" of superstition is acceptable to him but the more powerful and direct magic of spellcasters is not. I think you'll need to focus, as CrimsonDeath suggested on the idea that it's spellcasters, and not magic, that he distrusts.
Terjon of the Blue Rose 02-22-08, 05:05 AM	Oh, and I didn't see anything about undead hunting despite the title of the thread.:confused:
Drackthor 02-22-08, 04:05 PM	Oh, and I didn't see anything about undead hunting despite the title of the thread.:confused: I was just thinking the same thing. :rofl:
Malcaor 02-22-08, 10:50 PM	DOH! I managed to completely forget the part in his background that involves undead. Mechanically speaking, me and the DM made a custom figther variant that trades heavy armor permanently (even from other classes) for Fav enemy Undead. I haven't worked out the exact details of it, but he left his small village to join the military upon reaching adulthood. Something happened involving a vampire and his hometown/parents. He got word of this and skipped from the military who didn't want him to go. He was obviously too late being so far away and many people he knew died, and possibly turned into vampire spawn. It gave him a great hatred of undead as a whole and he dedicated himself to their removal from the earth his prime targets being vampires and necromancers. This I've decided is where his main superstition of magic comes from. He's gotten a large exposure to its darkest side. I do like the idea of mostly being afraid of the casters and not the magic itself. So he thinks that magic can corrupt its users, and is therefore suspicious of them. The Duelist class I'm using I got from a website. I thought it was from a complete book before, but I'm beginning to think it's a homebrew by someone. My DM's checked it out and says its balanced. Its essentially the Swashbuckler, with minor tweaking. The crystal sword I've decided my character won in a duel against a psi warrior. He gave it to him after his defeat as a prize. Possibly a hook for the DM at some point. I like the idea of the military he joined of adopting drow tactics. I think it will be that the his captain was a war vet and had encountered a lot of drow and learnt their tactics. The poison is unrelated and just got picked up on the black market.
The_Shaman 02-26-08, 01:00 PM	If he's mostly an undead hunter, I think he'd prefer different weapons. Piercing weapons are not a good choice against the living dead.
Malcaor 02-26-08, 04:03 PM	Well they're only not good against skeletons and zombies which aren't his main focus. Plus I really like the idea of the weapon combo.
Neveroth 03-01-08, 02:01 PM	I'm suspecting you're not here for build advice, but have you considered the undead stalker class presented in the DMG? If you're planning on playing an undead-heavy campaign, it could be a nice option to consider. The pride fits well with his military background, and the superstition to magic is fine as well. What really poked my eye out when I read it was the drow tactics part, and to a lesser extent his choice of weapons. (Crystal!) rapier and hand crossbow? ...What made you pick that of all things? Generally it's very hard (and often messy and cliche in the worst possible ways) to explain why a human would use drow combat techniques and poisons. Just say that it's a style he has developed over the years, and that he knows a shady dealer / pharmacist / spec ops military contact who provides him with those less-than-legal substances. Why poisons would be a major tool in the arsenal of an undead hunter to begin with, or why he would focus exclusively on piercing damage, however, is beyond me. But back to the point, could you write down some more facts about his background? Maybe it will make more sense once we've dug a little deeper.
Malcaor 03-01-08, 07:13 PM	We played our first game, and while RPing with the other players I told them my character was part of a small band of undead hunters, the leader of which was a drow. He didn't really like her attitude, but he liked her style and mimiced it. The sword he gambled off a psion. The poison he keeps for the living he has to fight but doesn't want to kill. He ended up using it already, and completely failed. We're pretty far from civilization, so i could have picked them up from practically anyone.
Drackthor 03-01-08, 07:30 PM	have you considered the undead stalker class presented in the DMG? Any idea what page it's on?
Neveroth 03-01-08, 08:21 PM	Any idea what page it's on? 175/176. It's a ranger variant, briefly described as an example of class customization. Only good for undead-centered campaigns though. EDIT: On a side note, I loved your Krorsh's diary thread. Always fun to read.
Drackthor 03-01-08, 08:34 PM	175/176. It's a ranger variant, briefly described as an example of class customization. Only good for undead-centered campaigns though. EDIT: On a side note, I loved your Krorsh's diary thread. Always fun to read. Thanks. And thank you, I just added a new entry, matter of fact! :D