beowulf [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

beowulf [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
hoodGamer
01-06-08, 11:41 PM what class is beowulf straight fighter?? any one got a beowulf character build?
Bhaelfur
01-07-08, 01:10 AM From the movie, I picture him more as a Barbarian than a Fighter. I don't remember any specifics, but he just feels like he'd be more of a Barbarian.
Silverthumb
01-07-08, 01:12 AM From the movie

Wait wait, this is important: WHICH movie? Lambert Beowulf's easily a Ranger/Rogue.
Bhaelfur
01-07-08, 01:16 AM Wait wait, this is important: WHICH movie? Lambert Beowulf's easily a Ranger/Rogue.
Whoops, sorry. The newest one.
Silverthumb
01-07-08, 02:47 AM Whoops, sorry. The newest one.

Oh I'm just screwin' around, no need to apologize.
hoodGamer
01-07-08, 04:01 AM you think he has pr class
Mindolin
01-07-08, 11:05 AM I haven't seen the movie, but Dragon magazine has statted out Beowulf from the epic. He's a 14th level fighter.
Legdiwena
01-07-08, 05:31 PM Never saw the movie, how close was it to the book?
Jackpot_James
01-07-08, 08:21 PM I heard the movie was somewhat similar to the Epic, but not the Book. I would put Beowulf at/around, a level 25 Justicar or Fighter.
Legdiwena
01-07-08, 08:26 PM I read the old version with the original Old English on the facing page. Would that be the epic or the book?
Jackpot_James
01-07-08, 08:46 PM The book would be "Grendel" by John Gardner, what you're reading is the Epic.
Legdiwena
01-07-08, 08:58 PM Think he could have been Bar with a level or 2 of Pal?
hoodGamer
01-08-08, 04:19 AM no one saw the movie it was good
herceg
01-08-08, 10:16 AM The way Beowulf thirsted fame and battle in the movie just says warblade to me. :)

(/me swiftly tries to close the can of worms he just opened...
Atri
01-08-08, 04:55 PM I think Beowulf deserves a new, homebrew class rather than Figher/Barbarian/Rouge. A PC who lives to hunt down huge, scary monsters like sea serpents and other nasties...A monsterhunter class would be really cool.

(This post operates under the assumption that there is no monster-hunting class).
Silverthumb
01-08-08, 05:21 PM A monsterhunter class would be really cool.

Honestly, that sounds like a Ranger, with Favored Enemies Giant, Dragon, and Monstrous Humanoid, among possible others. Taking out the spells, Animal Companion, and fighting style feats in favor of a higher HD or Sneak Attack.
Quarterstaff
01-08-08, 06:30 PM The real question is if you want to get really into this.

In the epic poem I place Beowulf as a high end fighter-barbarian (maybe a breakdown of something like 10/5)

In the movie I saw him more of a straight barbarian. He displayed little or no finesse or learned abilities just a lot of anger and power attacking. So possibly a 15th level barbarian.

But if you really want to get into into it there is the story of Hrolf Kraki. A very similiar epic story of a man whose name essentially means bear like beowulf. Now in part of this epic Kraki transforms into a bear and fights in a giant battle. Now this echoes bear warrior (so my break down is 4th fighter 4th barbarian 10 bear warrior).

But that is just my interpretation.
GeeBee
01-08-08, 11:49 PM Just to build on what Quarterstaff said, Beowulf is a composite name meaning "Bee Wolf" - a turn of phrase for a bear (because they go after bees and their honey like a wolf). Some of his accomplishments in the epic testify to his bear-like nature:

- He preferred to fight unarmed when possible and loved wrestling matches.
- He had incredible stamina, and could hold his breath for hours (as he did when he went after Grendel's mother in the fen).
- He was very resistant to disease and poison, which helped him finish off the dragon before succumbing to its poison.
- He was a huge man, easily towering over his companions.

Honestly, I would start statting Beowulf by making a custom race or template for him. Most of the famous things that he did had nothing to do with his profession, but with his inborn gifts. Once I did this, I would give him levels as a fighter, not a barbarian. The epic describes him as a warrior well versed in the martial ways of his people, and the tactics that he uses through the tale are those of a trained soldier: fighting in formation in Heorot, using teamwork when facing the dragon, etc. That sounds like a fighter to me, though your mileage may vary.
hoodGamer
01-09-08, 12:00 AM mabe he should be human paragon . insted of a custom race
Tempest Stormwind
01-09-08, 12:21 AM Ahem.

Warblade.

Whether you're dealing with the original epic or any of the adaptations, you can build him nigh-perfectly with a straight-classed warblade of varying level. The rest (including your specific maneuvers!) are up to personal taste and which version you're using as source material (the recent movie, more Tiger Claw*, the original epic, more White Raven and Iron Heart; all versions should have a splash of Stone Dragon), but that's all the guidance you need. There's more than enough freedom in that class to construct any version of Beowulf you care to recall and remain effective in the game while having fun playing him.

For my personal recommendation, I'd ignore weapon feats (he didn't specialize in any particular form of weapon, and besides, your maneuvers apply to any weapon, including unarmed strikes), pick Jotunbrud as your human bonus feat (Races of Faerun; it's basically the opposed-check part of Powerful Build, and works perfectly for Beowulf's giant stature and prowess at wrestling), and grab a couple of the grapple-related manuevers and relevant Stone Dragon locks. Splash a bit of Iron Heart in there (especially Iron Heart Surge and Iron Heart Endurance), plus the either the Mind over Body or Diamond Defense maneuvers. Look to White Raven to round him out, or add in more Tiger Claw if you like what you saw in the movie. If you didn't prioritize Constitution (silly you, this is Beowulf), compensate with Stone Dragon DR strikes.

Hell, the warblade's default flavor is practically dripping Beowulf as it stands, plus it happens to be one of the few martial classes that can remain competitive without a weapon without forcing you to go unarmed. I've routinely cited Beowulf as the perfect example of a warblade, actually. (There's a few characters in the Ulster Cycle that fit it better, but more people know of Beowulf than Cúchulainn or Fergus mac Róich.)

Plus, warblade has all the relevant skills (including the knowledge and social skills!) and enough skill points to pick them all up. That's just icing on top of it all.

* If you haven't seen the movie, play God of War and imagine that with a more realistic weapon (usually a knife, a sword, or more often than not unarmed). That's basically how they show him fighting throughout the whole film. Nearly every setpiece battle looks like it was lifted directly from God of War, except that Kratos isn't depicted as a pathological nudist.
MacrossSD
01-09-08, 01:55 PM Never saw the movie, how close was it to the book?

I had the misfortune of seeing that abject lampoon on the poem, and it had almost nothing to do with it. I actually walked out on the film, I was so disgusted with it.

In the movie, Grendel is the son of Grendel's mother and Hrothgar, who's seen as a randy old goat who is trying to talk Queen Wealtheow into the sack (she doesn't want to sleep with him because she knows he slept with Grendel's Mother, and she has the hots for Beowulf anyway), Beowulf is a braggart and a liar who is known for "embellishing" his stories to the nth degree and who flat-out lied about killing Grendel's mother (he sleeps with her, siring the dragon), and in other ways did their best to "de-hero" the film, making every character into another post-modern anti-hero with severe nymphomania. Anonymous would be spinning in his grave.

Yeah, and Dragon did stat out Beowulf. I'd've given him a level or two of Legendary Leader (from HoB) to round out his abilitiies, though.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
hoodGamer 01-06-08, 11:41 PM	what class is beowulf straight fighter?? any one got a beowulf character build?
Bhaelfur 01-07-08, 01:10 AM	From the movie, I picture him more as a Barbarian than a Fighter. I don't remember any specifics, but he just feels like he'd be more of a Barbarian.
Silverthumb 01-07-08, 01:12 AM	From the movie Wait wait, this is important: WHICH movie? Lambert Beowulf's easily a Ranger/Rogue.
Bhaelfur 01-07-08, 01:16 AM	Wait wait, this is important: WHICH movie? Lambert Beowulf's easily a Ranger/Rogue. Whoops, sorry. The newest one.
Silverthumb 01-07-08, 02:47 AM	Whoops, sorry. The newest one. Oh I'm just screwin' around, no need to apologize.
hoodGamer 01-07-08, 04:01 AM	you think he has pr class
Mindolin 01-07-08, 11:05 AM	I haven't seen the movie, but Dragon magazine has statted out Beowulf from the epic. He's a 14th level fighter.
Legdiwena 01-07-08, 05:31 PM	Never saw the movie, how close was it to the book?
Jackpot_James 01-07-08, 08:21 PM	I heard the movie was somewhat similar to the Epic, but not the Book. I would put Beowulf at/around, a level 25 Justicar or Fighter.
Legdiwena 01-07-08, 08:26 PM	I read the old version with the original Old English on the facing page. Would that be the epic or the book?
Jackpot_James 01-07-08, 08:46 PM	The book would be "Grendel" by John Gardner, what you're reading is the Epic.
Legdiwena 01-07-08, 08:58 PM	Think he could have been Bar with a level or 2 of Pal?
hoodGamer 01-08-08, 04:19 AM	no one saw the movie it was good
herceg 01-08-08, 10:16 AM	The way Beowulf thirsted fame and battle in the movie just says warblade to me. :) (/me swiftly tries to close the can of worms he just opened...
Atri 01-08-08, 04:55 PM	I think Beowulf deserves a new, homebrew class rather than Figher/Barbarian/Rouge. A PC who lives to hunt down huge, scary monsters like sea serpents and other nasties...A monsterhunter class would be really cool. (This post operates under the assumption that there is no monster-hunting class).
Silverthumb 01-08-08, 05:21 PM	A monsterhunter class would be really cool. Honestly, that sounds like a Ranger, with Favored Enemies Giant, Dragon, and Monstrous Humanoid, among possible others. Taking out the spells, Animal Companion, and fighting style feats in favor of a higher HD or Sneak Attack.
Quarterstaff 01-08-08, 06:30 PM	The real question is if you want to get really into this. In the epic poem I place Beowulf as a high end fighter-barbarian (maybe a breakdown of something like 10/5) In the movie I saw him more of a straight barbarian. He displayed little or no finesse or learned abilities just a lot of anger and power attacking. So possibly a 15th level barbarian. But if you really want to get into into it there is the story of Hrolf Kraki. A very similiar epic story of a man whose name essentially means bear like beowulf. Now in part of this epic Kraki transforms into a bear and fights in a giant battle. Now this echoes bear warrior (so my break down is 4th fighter 4th barbarian 10 bear warrior). But that is just my interpretation.
GeeBee 01-08-08, 11:49 PM	Just to build on what Quarterstaff said, Beowulf is a composite name meaning "Bee Wolf" - a turn of phrase for a bear (because they go after bees and their honey like a wolf). Some of his accomplishments in the epic testify to his bear-like nature: - He preferred to fight unarmed when possible and loved wrestling matches. - He had incredible stamina, and could hold his breath for hours (as he did when he went after Grendel's mother in the fen). - He was very resistant to disease and poison, which helped him finish off the dragon before succumbing to its poison. - He was a huge man, easily towering over his companions. Honestly, I would start statting Beowulf by making a custom race or template for him. Most of the famous things that he did had nothing to do with his profession, but with his inborn gifts. Once I did this, I would give him levels as a fighter, not a barbarian. The epic describes him as a warrior well versed in the martial ways of his people, and the tactics that he uses through the tale are those of a trained soldier: fighting in formation in Heorot, using teamwork when facing the dragon, etc. That sounds like a fighter to me, though your mileage may vary.
hoodGamer 01-09-08, 12:00 AM	mabe he should be human paragon . insted of a custom race
Tempest Stormwind 01-09-08, 12:21 AM	Ahem. Warblade. Whether you're dealing with the original epic or any of the adaptations, you can build him nigh-perfectly with a straight-classed warblade of varying level. The rest (including your specific maneuvers!) are up to personal taste and which version you're using as source material (the recent movie, more Tiger Claw, the original epic, more White Raven and Iron Heart; all versions should have a splash of Stone Dragon), but that's all the guidance you need. There's more than enough freedom in that class to construct any version of Beowulf you care to recall and remain effective in the game while having fun playing him. For my personal recommendation, I'd ignore weapon feats (he didn't specialize in any particular form of weapon, and besides, your maneuvers apply to any weapon, including unarmed strikes), pick Jotunbrud as your human bonus feat (Races of Faerun; it's basically the opposed-check part of Powerful Build, and works perfectly for Beowulf's giant stature and prowess at wrestling), and grab a couple of the grapple-related manuevers and relevant Stone Dragon locks. Splash a bit of Iron Heart in there (especially Iron Heart Surge and Iron Heart Endurance), plus the either the Mind over Body or Diamond Defense maneuvers. Look to White Raven to round him out, or add in more Tiger Claw if you like what you saw in the movie. If you didn't prioritize Constitution (silly you, this is Beowulf), compensate with Stone Dragon DR strikes. Hell, the warblade's default flavor is practically dripping Beowulf as it stands, plus it happens to be one of the few martial classes that can remain competitive without a weapon without forcing you to go unarmed. I've routinely cited Beowulf as the perfect example of a warblade, actually. (There's a few characters in the Ulster Cycle that fit it better, but more people know of Beowulf than Cúchulainn or Fergus mac Róich.) Plus, warblade has all the relevant skills (including the knowledge and social skills!) and enough skill points to pick them all up. That's just icing on top of it all. If you haven't seen the movie, play God of War and imagine that with a more realistic weapon (usually a knife, a sword, or more often than not unarmed). That's basically how they show him fighting throughout the whole film. Nearly every setpiece battle looks like it was lifted directly from God of War, except that Kratos isn't depicted as a pathological nudist.
MacrossSD 01-09-08, 01:55 PM	Never saw the movie, how close was it to the book? I had the misfortune of seeing that abject lampoon on the poem, and it had almost nothing to do with it. I actually walked out on the film, I was so disgusted with it. In the movie, Grendel is the son of Grendel's mother and Hrothgar, who's seen as a randy old goat who is trying to talk Queen Wealtheow into the sack (she doesn't want to sleep with him because she knows he slept with Grendel's Mother, and she has the hots for Beowulf anyway), Beowulf is a braggart and a liar who is known for "embellishing" his stories to the nth degree and who flat-out lied about killing Grendel's mother (he sleeps with her, siring the dragon), and in other ways did their best to "de-hero" the film, making every character into another post-modern anti-hero with severe nymphomania. Anonymous would be spinning in his grave. Yeah, and Dragon did stat out Beowulf. I'd've given him a level or two of Legendary Leader (from HoB) to round out his abilitiies, though.