Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Arkhain 07-13-04, 11:59 PM	So, I had a really cool idea for our 15th level campaign. My character is a human level 3 ranger multi'd into level 3 samurai into level 4 fighter into level 2 ronin into level 3 Paladin of Freedom, UA variant. That's Ranger 3 Samurai 3 Fighter 4 Ronin 2 Paladin 3 total. Now, I've got the basic backstory of him starting as a NG ranger, patrolling the frontier for the general greater good, until it is civilized by a feudal lord who institutes a lawful system. The character signs up for his army, and is inducted as a samurai. The character progresses as samurai for a while, but then something snaps and he ditches. What could cause him to ditch? I have very few clues, and any ideas would be awesome. His actions after that include training alone as a hermit in swordsmanship (four fighter levels) then actively rebelling against the samurai lord, who by then had become lawful evil. That's where the Ronin levels come in. His first level of Paladin of Freedom comes when he defeats the LE lord and is thus freed from his tyrranical rule. His other two Pal levels come by during his quest to finish freeing the land. That's basically all I have for backstory. Any help would be great. Timeline: Ranger, NG 3 levels -- patrols lands as a 2E ranger would do Samurai, LG 3 levels -- joins new samurai lord and advances in army Fighter, LG -> NG -> CG 4 levels -- trains in swordsmanship after leaving samurai army Ronin, CG 2 levels -- fights against samurai lord Paladin of Freedom, CG 3 levels -- defeats lord and frees land Now, the fighter levels can be switched out easily to be before or after the samurai -> ronin time. I'd like to keep Ranger and Paladin as first and last, respectively, but it's possible to change it. Anyways, that's all I have, thanks for any ideas.
Mr. VanderMeer 07-14-04, 05:56 AM	a woman
SoulLord 07-14-04, 10:41 AM	Something that could happen is perhaps his lord is defeated after rebelling against the goverment and all of his followers are ordered to commit seppukku. if the samuray disobeys this order i think it merits the change if not from lawful to chaotic at least from lawful to neutral. SoulLord
Tha Sage 07-14-04, 04:02 PM	Originally posted by Mr. VanderMeer a woman :rofl: His lord could prove to be dishonorable and not worthy of his devotion. He could become disillusioned with the order and grow to resent them.
Aki Warren 07-14-04, 08:28 PM	Actually, the women thing sounds the most reasonable. Movies and anime have convinced the world that, if somebody does something they wouldn't nomally do, it's the women's fault
trance_fu 07-18-04, 11:03 PM	samurai historically never questioned their lord. now, while this is all very broad view that has been romanticized, there *were* bad apples, and this *is* D&D. samurai, because of their lawful alignment, have a very strong degree of roleplay built in: to follow their lord to the end. even if your lord kills helpless peasants, rapes virgins, eat babies, you are pledged to defend that lord. that is samurai. if a samurai breaks with his lord, then if he would face the ultimate disgrace. if not seppeku, then there can be a few possibilities. 1. you were not true samurai, or not a very good one. perhaps a country "bumpkin" samurai, one who lives far away from the traditional seat of power, holding documentation of lineage and service. 2. the lord is revealed to be false. looking at #2, let us say that your "lord" is actually an imposter. by machination or blood, this villian could have been a jealous blood relative or power hungry general that achieves lordship through a coup. history and literature presents plenty of examples. if evidence is presented that your "lord" is not the proper successor, and a true successor is revealed, then you are free of your obligations. fu!
doublesquirrel 07-22-04, 01:00 AM	It usually comes down to morals. The feudal lord commands your character to do something that your character would never find acceptable and is illegal. He defies his lord, goes to the higher lords and petitions for his removal, but it turns out they are the same. So he decides that he is the only on who would be able to stop the crazy feudal lords and goes Ronin.:D
doublesquirrel 07-22-04, 01:00 AM	It usually comes down to morals. The feudal lord commands your character to do something that your character would never find acceptable and is illegal. He defies his lord, goes to the higher lords and petitions for his removal, but it turns out they are the same. So he decides that he is the only one who would be able to stop the crazy feudal lords and goes Ronin.:D
CaoSlayer 07-22-04, 06:24 AM	an helmet of oposite aligment... just 4000gp. :embarrass of course, he cant buy it itself... so must be a plot with an enemy or the lord (or a woman, of course) changing this normal helmet to the cursed one. Party "friends" tired of the do-gooder samurai also can try to do it.
samoosa691 07-27-04, 11:15 PM	Originally posted by Tha Sage :rofl: His lord could prove to be dishonorable and not worthy of his devotion. He could become disillusioned with the order and grow to resent them. damnit man you beat me to the punch, fooling around with the lord's daughter!!!! woot woot
Kitt-su 07-27-04, 11:25 PM	Even though there are many viable options to become a ronin heres a few I've used and I like. 1.) Your lord has your family slaughtered(It was just my chars brother, but I got that fuedal lord back :smirk: ) 2.) After committing so many evil acts under your lord, you look at your blood covered hands and think to yourself "What have I become?" (Happened twice) 3.) After a small mis-communication you are asked to seppeku, you refuse and tell them what happened. They try to kill you, and you run. (It would be fun...)