Last War Veterans with Disabilities [Archive] - Wizards Community

Last War Veterans with Disabilities [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Rechan
09-14-05, 07:59 PM Has anyone played a veteran? What's their story?

While sitting in class, I started kicking around ideas about the Last War. Primarily that I rarely hear about veteran ideas that don't go beyond "I fought in the last war".

First of all, that rangers would most likely have been employed during many excursions. Most people see rangers as woodsmen, but really if you look at the ranger, they make perfect special forces ops; they have skills, are trained for special combat techniques, and are overall harder (free endurance feat) than your standard soldier, and trained to fight specific enemies (construct siege engines, undead units, humanoid/monstros humanoid mercenaries). They can even use wands of healing (Divine caster spell list).

Second, the mental results of war. About 30% of Iraq soldiers coming back are suffering from PTSD and other mental problems associated with warzones. And in a medieval style war, you're going to have a lot of horrors. So why not have some veteran characters who have disorders? All the more for roleplaying.

A google search for the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder pulls up: Many people with PTSD repeatedly re-experience the ordeal in the form of flashback episodes, memories, nightmares, or frightening thoughts, especially when they are exposed to events or objects reminiscent of the trauma. Anniversaries of the event can also trigger symptoms. People with PTSD also experience emotional numbness and sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, and irritability or outbursts of anger. Feelings of intense guilt are also common. Most people with PTSD try to avoid any reminders or thoughts of the ordeal. PTSD is diagnosed when symptoms last more than one month.

That is ripe for roleplaying. Your character could take a level of barbarian to reflect PTSD - the rages could be flashbacks or a resurfacing of repressed anger, fear or panic. Triggers could range from combat to shouts, the sounds of metal banging metal or the sight of various nationalities/races (warforged, undead). The Frenzed Berzerker class could even be an option to fully reflect PTSD increasing in severity. But I only toss that out to make the suggestion; I know how many dislike the PrC.

Your character could have an aversion or open fear to open spaces (snipers), a fear of garbage (traps), areas with lots of cover/hiding spaces (foilage, trees, urban centers) or strangers. He could obsessively keep his back to the wall, or repeatedly get up and "case the joint". High strung, paranoid, or alcoholic is possible too.

But realize also that just because the character is any of these things, he should be the chain-smoking, talks-to-himself stereotype; very clean cut, "Normal" individuals can have PTSD and aside from what I've stated above, can act as normal people do.
Majorafire77
09-14-05, 08:10 PM The real problem is that we really don't know much about the Last War. We know of general things, but nothing really in-depth. We're not sure if there was trench warfare, shell-shock, or anything like that, so a detailed Last War character might be kind of tough to pull off. Plus, I don't really feel like playing grumpy old man Warrior 3 as my character anyway. Younger veterans wouldn't be that bad to play though. Look how Daine turned out.
Rechan
09-14-05, 08:15 PM The real problem is that we really don't know much about the Last War. We know of general things, but nothing really in-depth. We're not sure if there was trench warfare, shell-shock, or anything like that, so a detailed Last War character might be kind of tough to pull off. Plus, I don't really feel like playing grumpy old man Warrior 3 as my character anyway. Younger veterans wouldn't be that bad to play though. Look how Daine turned out.

The same can apply to lots of modern things. Like the Day of Mourning, going intot he Mournlands, etc - they still can develop the same as I said.

Besides, because we don't know a lot about the Last War, that offers the opportunity to make things up. There are lots of vague things that can be accomplished - ambushes from warforged, undead or Valenar could accomplish the same thing.
Splendide
09-14-05, 08:21 PM I can't remember the name of the class, but it was from Masters of the Wild - the prestige class where the character hates magic and actively destroys magical items. It seems to me a great PrC for a veteran that fought Aundair - the surviving foot soldier would have been burned, frozen, deafened...all sorts of horrible stuff.
Charles Phipps
09-14-05, 08:43 PM I have played two characters who are veterans of the Last War.

The first one was an unusual choice in the fact that he was a medic in the war rather than a active participant. The man was a Priest of Arawai that his religious background was secondary to his role as a healer.

The character had a rather extreme resentment towards the government of Aundair when the acting officer's on duty declared that the medics were being drafted or declared prisoners of war to end their healing of enemy soldiers.

Because he was an Aundarian citizen and refused to only heal soldiers on his side, he was sent away to military prison as a "diversive element" for five years of the war.
Majorafire77
09-14-05, 09:04 PM I can't remember the name of the class, but it was from Masters of the Wild - the prestige class where the character hates magic and actively destroys magical items. It seems to me a great PrC for a veteran that fought Aundair - the surviving foot soldier would have been burned, frozen, deafened...all sorts of horrible stuff.
Bah. No prestige classes for common soldiers please. Spellthief (CAdv) all the way.
Splendide
09-14-05, 10:22 PM Bah. No prestige classes for common soldiers please.Quite clearly he would not be a common soldier, so there's no problem.
rig
09-14-05, 10:23 PM I can't remember the name of the class, but it was from Masters of the Wild - the prestige class where the character hates magic and actively destroys magical items. It seems to me a great PrC for a veteran that fought Aundair - the surviving foot soldier would have been burned, frozen, deafened...all sorts of horrible stuff.
The class you are referring to is called The Forsaker( because they forsake magic). This happen to be my favorite prestige class. the only problem with it is that as the class advances it gets damage reduction(3.0) and I'm not quite sure how one would update it and keep it balanced.
yossarius
09-14-05, 10:49 PM Check out the discontinued (but still available) RPG Underground by Mayfair Games. It takes place on Earth the year 2021. The PCs are genetically-enhanced veterans, just back from corporate military service. the problem is, genetic re-engineering is very unstable, and every enhanced (or boosted) person is some varying degree of nuts. Each PC must select a psychosis, such as paranoia, multiple personality disorder, schizophrenia, etc. Very fun, but very hard to keep a PC alive.

I'm sure this is much beyond what you are looking for, but it's not a bad place to look for inspiration.
Rechan
09-14-05, 10:57 PM I'm sure this is much beyond what you are looking for, but it's not a bad place to look for inspiration.

Actually, I was looking to give inspiration to others. :)
Edymnion
09-14-05, 10:59 PM Reminds me of my High School JROTC leader, Colonel Penny.
Nice guy, but he wasn't 100% right in the head because of Vietnam.

Its sad, but funny at the same time. We were sitting in class going over the rank structure when a car in the parking lot backfires. Next thing we know, Colonel Penny is doing a commando roll out the classroom door, and NOBODY sees him for about the next 20 minutes.
Sucros
09-14-05, 11:19 PM I played a valenar elf who fought through a much of the last end of the last war. Of course, being a valenar, he preferred to look upon the war as his chance for glory rather than some sort of ordeal. I roleplayed his veteran attitude by having a strong distaste for Karrnath, and halflings as inferior, and undead and dinosaurs as detestable and unhonorable.

He was fun to play, especially as he was the type to barely controll his anger at almost all times.
Rechan
09-14-05, 11:32 PM It occurs to me this should be in the People and Places board.
Fordel
09-15-05, 03:28 AM The real problem is that we really don't know much about the Last War. We know of general things, but nothing really in-depth. We're not sure if there was trench warfare, shell-shock, or anything like that, so a detailed Last War character might be kind of tough to pull off. Plus, I don't really feel like playing grumpy old man Warrior 3 as my character anyway. Younger veterans wouldn't be that bad to play though. Look how Daine turned out.

Roughly 100 years of war, I'm sure they've fought in every which way and style you or I or anyone else could think of ;)
AlDaRoN Arg
09-15-05, 08:14 AM Use the sanity sistem (UA), it's great for stuff like this. In UA there's even a big list with disorders.
gotan
09-15-05, 11:40 AM Hi,
First time posting, as i'm new to this whole DMing thing.

Anyway, wierdly enough i have used veterans as the reason my players get together. This is what i came up with. And because the ink isnt even dry on the treaty yet, this is an organisation that is good to support. Its a kind of politicaly neutral ajunct to law enforcement.

----
The Last War Veterans Association (The Vets)
--------
When the treaty of Thronehold was signed, the five nations rejoiced.
But the joy was tinged with much sadness. Everyone had lost
something or someone they treasured. For those on the front line, many
remember how hollow the taste of glory is, when a friend lies gutted at
your feet.

And so it was that in the officers mess in Thronehold, that The Last War
Veterans Association was born. Distancing themselves from the merriment,
five old soldiers, officers all, found themselves eying each other warily
while they sat around a roaring fire.

It was the man from Cyre, Jaril that broke the uneasy silence. He was
upset about his prince being excluded from the treaty signing. When he
heard the leaders of the other nations reject his prince with the argument
'Cyre no longer exists', he could not stop the tears from rolling down his
face.

He said: 'I was there you know. When it happened. I was in Cyre.'

He closed his eyes, and continued: 'It is something I can never forget. I
had been visiting my wife and son in Metrol and was taking the lightning
rail back to the front. The train had just left Maker when I knew
something was wrong.'

He paused then, and drained his cup and filled it from the ale jug with an unsteady hand.

'It was the birds. Flocks of birds of every type suddenly blackened the
sky. The corn fields turned into churning masses of animals with no fear
of the predators fleeing alongside them. The train started to fill up as
people used every means, magical or mundane get onto it, as it was the
only thing outrunning the fog.'
'That situation did not last long. As the train filled up it started to
slow down. The fog started gaining ground on us. I took charge of what I
could. I tried to evacuate as much of the rear of the train as possible.
But the more space i made, the more it filled with people trying to
escape. Anyone who could did, their best to help us move faster. Mages
tried to make the train lighter, Artificers tried to enervate it to go
faster, people threw out their belongings, soldiers their armor.'

In the flickering of the fire his face took on a pained expression. His
free hand involuntary clenched into a fist so hard his knuckles turned
white.
'It caught us at the border, when the track just ran out. We crashed, and
the fog took half of us for its own. It stopped not four feet from where I
was thrown, I will never forget that sickly green light'

And then in head in hands 'I ordered those tracks pulled up myself to
help stall any Thrane advance. How could I have known?' , in a
strangled whisper repeated, 'How could I have known?'

And so started a flood of bitter stories of the war. Stories of pointless
bloodshed, of tears and of grief. The sun was rising, at the start of a
new day, and a new era they swore an oath.

Never again.

The next day they met again in the officers mess, but this time they
talked of the old days of peace and prosperity before the kingdom of
Galifar became split. They decided to create an organization that
would be somewhere for the veterans to find work. A way of healing old
grudges and helping co-operation by mixing vets from all nations
together. Spreading peace and prosperity for all, as In the old days,
and helping the local governments enforce the old laws of Galifar.

The Vets now have chapters in every major city in Kovaire, they find work
for veterans, but are willing to accept new members if they have talent,
and are looking for adventure. They recruit mainly by invitation. As one
Vet joins the organization, he may write to his old friends who would
share their vision, and spread the word of their cause.

A Vet cadre would normally have at least one person from each nation,
but that is not a requirement. You received a letter of invitation to join the chapter-house in Sharn.

This is because you were in the war or related to someone who was. You
have decided to accept, for whatever reasons.
----
A disabled person can still do research, or teach. Where are they going to
find work? So the old soldiers staff the chapterhouses whole or unwhole.
The doorkeeper in the sharn chapterhouse has half of his face burned off
and a mishapen claw for his left hand for example.
GimliGloinson
09-15-05, 01:21 PM Plus, I don't really feel like playing grumpy old man Warrior 3 as my character anyway. Younger veterans wouldn't be that bad to play though. Look how Daine turned out.

HEY! What's that supposed to mean? ;)
So my character is 53 years old and a Marshal 2 that graduated from Rekkenmark in '67. Well, guess what: He's got a 20 Charisma and an 18 Intelligence. Admittedly his physicals are just above average or below, but his Minor Auras will add +5 to whatever the aura does for all of his companions. Presently he has Watchful Eye (Cha bonus to Reflex saves) as his minor aura. Hmm, hmm good! Basically he's about support and direction of the gang. Oh and with his Diplomacy and Undead Empathy he can convince skeletons and zombies to leave or help out (not that he would do the latter, as he has philosophical issues with undead -- he is from Karrnath and one of his older brothers was "reassigned" to his unit after his death) with relative ease. I expect Marius ir'Alewar to give the Emerald Claw and Blood of Vol some serious issues when we run into them.
AlDaRoN Arg
09-15-05, 02:29 PM HEY! What's that supposed to mean? ;)
So my character is 53 years old and a Marshal 2 that graduated from Rekkenmark in '67. Well, guess what: He's got a 20 Charisma and an 18 Intelligence. Admittedly his physicals are just above average or below, but his Minor Auras will add +5 to whatever the aura does for all of his companions. Presently he has Watchful Eye (Cha bonus to Reflex saves) as his minor aura. Hmm, hmm good! Basically he's about support and direction of the gang. Oh and with his Diplomacy and Undead Empathy he can convince skeletons and zombies to leave or help out (not that he would do the latter, as he has philosophical issues with undead -- he is from Karrnath and one of his older brothers was "reassigned" to his unit after his death) with relative ease. I expect Marius ir'Alewar to give the Emerald Claw and Blood of Vol some serious issues when we run into them.

He is 53 years old, he fought who knows how many years and now in a couple of weeks of adventure he will be level 4 or 5... that makes no sense.
Kolvin
09-15-05, 03:30 PM He is 53 years old, he fought who knows how many years and now in a couple of weeks of adventure he will be level 4 or 5... that makes no sense.

Of course it makes sense. In the past he was a soldier. He was limited by that experience and never explored his full potential. Now he's an adventurer. He's finding out more about himself than he ever could as a soldier, hence now he goes up character levels.

In Eberron levels don't indicate how old you are or what your prior experiences in combat are. You can have Last War veterans that are 1st lvl Fighters. You can have an NPC that never saw a fight but trained at home and is a 7th lvl Warriors.
AlDaRoN Arg
09-15-05, 03:48 PM Of course it makes sense. In the past he was a soldier. He was limited by that experience and never explored his full potential. Now he's an adventurer. He's finding out more about himself than he ever could as a soldier, hence now he goes up character levels.

In Eberron levels don't indicate how old you are or what your prior experiences in combat are. You can have Last War veterans that are 1st lvl Fighters. You can have an NPC that never saw a fight but trained at home and is a 7th lvl Warriors.

He is a PC, any PC that fights 2 rats goes up a level, imagine one that fought 30 years in a war...

If he was an NPC he should always be one.
Kolvin
09-15-05, 05:05 PM He is a PC, any PC that fights 2 rats goes up a level, imagine one that fought 30 years in a war...

That's incorrect.

He's a PC now that the game has started. Anything that happened to him as a backstory happened out of play so he was an NPC then.
Just another user
09-15-05, 05:42 PM He is a PC, any PC that fights 2 rats goes up a level, imagine one that fought 30 years in a war...

If he was an NPC he should always be one.

NOW, at the begin of the campaign, is a PC.
Before he was just a NPC.

Pctude is not a ... genetic condition or something.
One become a PC, is not born into it, else all 1st level characters should start at 16 years old (or the non-human equivalent.) :)
AlDaRoN Arg
09-16-05, 07:40 AM NOW, at the begin of the campaign, is a PC.
Before he was just a NPC.

Pctude is not a ... genetic condition or something.
One become a PC, is not born into it, else all 1st level characters should start at 16 years old (or the non-human equivalent.) :)

I disagree, but it's just my point of view. And yes all 1st level chars should start around the starting age table in the PHB, that's why there is a table with starting ages for every class. And yes you are born into it from the moment a PC made the char he made it a PC, he won't probably be a NPC class, he'll have action points and his life before starting the game will be decided by a player, so he was always a PC.
Kolvin
09-16-05, 10:53 AM Please explain to me how you play a character retroactively? ;-)
yrogerg
09-17-05, 11:49 AM I disagree, but it's just my point of view. And yes all 1st level chars should start around the starting age table in the PHB, that's why there is a table with starting ages for every class. And yes you are born into it from the moment a PC made the char he made it a PC, he won't probably be a NPC class, he'll have action points and his life before starting the game will be decided by a player, so he was always a PC.

You know, this actually sets a pretty strong limit on the amount of backstory your 1st level fighter or ranger could actually have. Since he's, like, a teenager.

Rather, I think I'd take the SRD's advice that you can choose *or* randomly generate your ages, but it must still be of the minimum set in the starting age table.

Is there any reason your Rogue/Fighter/Extreme Explorer Dwarf can't be 100 years old and a professor at Morgrave if that's your character concept?

Is there any reason you can't throw out the *above* guidelines regarding minimum ages for your illegally produced Warforged Psychic Warrior?

I don't really feel like such concrete rules in this case add to the game all that much.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rechan 09-14-05, 07:59 PM	Has anyone played a veteran? What's their story? While sitting in class, I started kicking around ideas about the Last War. Primarily that I rarely hear about veteran ideas that don't go beyond "I fought in the last war". First of all, that rangers would most likely have been employed during many excursions. Most people see rangers as woodsmen, but really if you look at the ranger, they make perfect special forces ops; they have skills, are trained for special combat techniques, and are overall harder (free endurance feat) than your standard soldier, and trained to fight specific enemies (construct siege engines, undead units, humanoid/monstros humanoid mercenaries). They can even use wands of healing (Divine caster spell list). Second, the mental results of war. About 30% of Iraq soldiers coming back are suffering from PTSD and other mental problems associated with warzones. And in a medieval style war, you're going to have a lot of horrors. So why not have some veteran characters who have disorders? All the more for roleplaying. A google search for the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder pulls up: Many people with PTSD repeatedly re-experience the ordeal in the form of flashback episodes, memories, nightmares, or frightening thoughts, especially when they are exposed to events or objects reminiscent of the trauma. Anniversaries of the event can also trigger symptoms. People with PTSD also experience emotional numbness and sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, and irritability or outbursts of anger. Feelings of intense guilt are also common. Most people with PTSD try to avoid any reminders or thoughts of the ordeal. PTSD is diagnosed when symptoms last more than one month. That is ripe for roleplaying. Your character could take a level of barbarian to reflect PTSD - the rages could be flashbacks or a resurfacing of repressed anger, fear or panic. Triggers could range from combat to shouts, the sounds of metal banging metal or the sight of various nationalities/races (warforged, undead). The Frenzed Berzerker class could even be an option to fully reflect PTSD increasing in severity. But I only toss that out to make the suggestion; I know how many dislike the PrC. Your character could have an aversion or open fear to open spaces (snipers), a fear of garbage (traps), areas with lots of cover/hiding spaces (foilage, trees, urban centers) or strangers. He could obsessively keep his back to the wall, or repeatedly get up and "case the joint". High strung, paranoid, or alcoholic is possible too. But realize also that just because the character is any of these things, he should be the chain-smoking, talks-to-himself stereotype; very clean cut, "Normal" individuals can have PTSD and aside from what I've stated above, can act as normal people do.
Majorafire77 09-14-05, 08:10 PM	The real problem is that we really don't know much about the Last War. We know of general things, but nothing really in-depth. We're not sure if there was trench warfare, shell-shock, or anything like that, so a detailed Last War character might be kind of tough to pull off. Plus, I don't really feel like playing grumpy old man Warrior 3 as my character anyway. Younger veterans wouldn't be that bad to play though. Look how Daine turned out.
Rechan 09-14-05, 08:15 PM	The real problem is that we really don't know much about the Last War. We know of general things, but nothing really in-depth. We're not sure if there was trench warfare, shell-shock, or anything like that, so a detailed Last War character might be kind of tough to pull off. Plus, I don't really feel like playing grumpy old man Warrior 3 as my character anyway. Younger veterans wouldn't be that bad to play though. Look how Daine turned out. The same can apply to lots of modern things. Like the Day of Mourning, going intot he Mournlands, etc - they still can develop the same as I said. Besides, because we don't know a lot about the Last War, that offers the opportunity to make things up. There are lots of vague things that can be accomplished - ambushes from warforged, undead or Valenar could accomplish the same thing.
Splendide 09-14-05, 08:21 PM	I can't remember the name of the class, but it was from Masters of the Wild - the prestige class where the character hates magic and actively destroys magical items. It seems to me a great PrC for a veteran that fought Aundair - the surviving foot soldier would have been burned, frozen, deafened...all sorts of horrible stuff.
Charles Phipps 09-14-05, 08:43 PM	I have played two characters who are veterans of the Last War. The first one was an unusual choice in the fact that he was a medic in the war rather than a active participant. The man was a Priest of Arawai that his religious background was secondary to his role as a healer. The character had a rather extreme resentment towards the government of Aundair when the acting officer's on duty declared that the medics were being drafted or declared prisoners of war to end their healing of enemy soldiers. Because he was an Aundarian citizen and refused to only heal soldiers on his side, he was sent away to military prison as a "diversive element" for five years of the war.
Majorafire77 09-14-05, 09:04 PM	I can't remember the name of the class, but it was from Masters of the Wild - the prestige class where the character hates magic and actively destroys magical items. It seems to me a great PrC for a veteran that fought Aundair - the surviving foot soldier would have been burned, frozen, deafened...all sorts of horrible stuff. Bah. No prestige classes for common soldiers please. Spellthief (CAdv) all the way.
Splendide 09-14-05, 10:22 PM	Bah. No prestige classes for common soldiers please.Quite clearly he would not be a common soldier, so there's no problem.
rig 09-14-05, 10:23 PM	I can't remember the name of the class, but it was from Masters of the Wild - the prestige class where the character hates magic and actively destroys magical items. It seems to me a great PrC for a veteran that fought Aundair - the surviving foot soldier would have been burned, frozen, deafened...all sorts of horrible stuff. The class you are referring to is called The Forsaker( because they forsake magic). This happen to be my favorite prestige class. the only problem with it is that as the class advances it gets damage reduction(3.0) and I'm not quite sure how one would update it and keep it balanced.
yossarius 09-14-05, 10:49 PM	Check out the discontinued (but still available) RPG Underground by Mayfair Games. It takes place on Earth the year 2021. The PCs are genetically-enhanced veterans, just back from corporate military service. the problem is, genetic re-engineering is very unstable, and every enhanced (or boosted) person is some varying degree of nuts. Each PC must select a psychosis, such as paranoia, multiple personality disorder, schizophrenia, etc. Very fun, but very hard to keep a PC alive. I'm sure this is much beyond what you are looking for, but it's not a bad place to look for inspiration.
Rechan 09-14-05, 10:57 PM	I'm sure this is much beyond what you are looking for, but it's not a bad place to look for inspiration. Actually, I was looking to give inspiration to others. :)
Edymnion 09-14-05, 10:59 PM	Reminds me of my High School JROTC leader, Colonel Penny. Nice guy, but he wasn't 100% right in the head because of Vietnam. Its sad, but funny at the same time. We were sitting in class going over the rank structure when a car in the parking lot backfires. Next thing we know, Colonel Penny is doing a commando roll out the classroom door, and NOBODY sees him for about the next 20 minutes.
Sucros 09-14-05, 11:19 PM	I played a valenar elf who fought through a much of the last end of the last war. Of course, being a valenar, he preferred to look upon the war as his chance for glory rather than some sort of ordeal. I roleplayed his veteran attitude by having a strong distaste for Karrnath, and halflings as inferior, and undead and dinosaurs as detestable and unhonorable. He was fun to play, especially as he was the type to barely controll his anger at almost all times.
Rechan 09-14-05, 11:32 PM	It occurs to me this should be in the People and Places board.
Fordel 09-15-05, 03:28 AM	The real problem is that we really don't know much about the Last War. We know of general things, but nothing really in-depth. We're not sure if there was trench warfare, shell-shock, or anything like that, so a detailed Last War character might be kind of tough to pull off. Plus, I don't really feel like playing grumpy old man Warrior 3 as my character anyway. Younger veterans wouldn't be that bad to play though. Look how Daine turned out. Roughly 100 years of war, I'm sure they've fought in every which way and style you or I or anyone else could think of ;)
AlDaRoN Arg 09-15-05, 08:14 AM	Use the sanity sistem (UA), it's great for stuff like this. In UA there's even a big list with disorders.
gotan 09-15-05, 11:40 AM	Hi, First time posting, as i'm new to this whole DMing thing. Anyway, wierdly enough i have used veterans as the reason my players get together. This is what i came up with. And because the ink isnt even dry on the treaty yet, this is an organisation that is good to support. Its a kind of politicaly neutral ajunct to law enforcement. ---- The Last War Veterans Association (The Vets) -------- When the treaty of Thronehold was signed, the five nations rejoiced. But the joy was tinged with much sadness. Everyone had lost something or someone they treasured. For those on the front line, many remember how hollow the taste of glory is, when a friend lies gutted at your feet. And so it was that in the officers mess in Thronehold, that The Last War Veterans Association was born. Distancing themselves from the merriment, five old soldiers, officers all, found themselves eying each other warily while they sat around a roaring fire. It was the man from Cyre, Jaril that broke the uneasy silence. He was upset about his prince being excluded from the treaty signing. When he heard the leaders of the other nations reject his prince with the argument 'Cyre no longer exists', he could not stop the tears from rolling down his face. He said: 'I was there you know. When it happened. I was in Cyre.' He closed his eyes, and continued: 'It is something I can never forget. I had been visiting my wife and son in Metrol and was taking the lightning rail back to the front. The train had just left Maker when I knew something was wrong.' He paused then, and drained his cup and filled it from the ale jug with an unsteady hand. 'It was the birds. Flocks of birds of every type suddenly blackened the sky. The corn fields turned into churning masses of animals with no fear of the predators fleeing alongside them. The train started to fill up as people used every means, magical or mundane get onto it, as it was the only thing outrunning the fog.' 'That situation did not last long. As the train filled up it started to slow down. The fog started gaining ground on us. I took charge of what I could. I tried to evacuate as much of the rear of the train as possible. But the more space i made, the more it filled with people trying to escape. Anyone who could did, their best to help us move faster. Mages tried to make the train lighter, Artificers tried to enervate it to go faster, people threw out their belongings, soldiers their armor.' In the flickering of the fire his face took on a pained expression. His free hand involuntary clenched into a fist so hard his knuckles turned white. 'It caught us at the border, when the track just ran out. We crashed, and the fog took half of us for its own. It stopped not four feet from where I was thrown, I will never forget that sickly green light' And then in head in hands 'I ordered those tracks pulled up myself to help stall any Thrane advance. How could I have known?' , in a strangled whisper repeated, 'How could I have known?' And so started a flood of bitter stories of the war. Stories of pointless bloodshed, of tears and of grief. The sun was rising, at the start of a new day, and a new era they swore an oath. Never again. The next day they met again in the officers mess, but this time they talked of the old days of peace and prosperity before the kingdom of Galifar became split. They decided to create an organization that would be somewhere for the veterans to find work. A way of healing old grudges and helping co-operation by mixing vets from all nations together. Spreading peace and prosperity for all, as In the old days, and helping the local governments enforce the old laws of Galifar. The Vets now have chapters in every major city in Kovaire, they find work for veterans, but are willing to accept new members if they have talent, and are looking for adventure. They recruit mainly by invitation. As one Vet joins the organization, he may write to his old friends who would share their vision, and spread the word of their cause. A Vet cadre would normally have at least one person from each nation, but that is not a requirement. You received a letter of invitation to join the chapter-house in Sharn. This is because you were in the war or related to someone who was. You have decided to accept, for whatever reasons. ---- A disabled person can still do research, or teach. Where are they going to find work? So the old soldiers staff the chapterhouses whole or unwhole. The doorkeeper in the sharn chapterhouse has half of his face burned off and a mishapen claw for his left hand for example.
GimliGloinson 09-15-05, 01:21 PM	Plus, I don't really feel like playing grumpy old man Warrior 3 as my character anyway. Younger veterans wouldn't be that bad to play though. Look how Daine turned out. HEY! What's that supposed to mean? ;) So my character is 53 years old and a Marshal 2 that graduated from Rekkenmark in '67. Well, guess what: He's got a 20 Charisma and an 18 Intelligence. Admittedly his physicals are just above average or below, but his Minor Auras will add +5 to whatever the aura does for all of his companions. Presently he has Watchful Eye (Cha bonus to Reflex saves) as his minor aura. Hmm, hmm good! Basically he's about support and direction of the gang. Oh and with his Diplomacy and Undead Empathy he can convince skeletons and zombies to leave or help out (not that he would do the latter, as he has philosophical issues with undead -- he is from Karrnath and one of his older brothers was "reassigned" to his unit after his death) with relative ease. I expect Marius ir'Alewar to give the Emerald Claw and Blood of Vol some serious issues when we run into them.
AlDaRoN Arg 09-15-05, 02:29 PM	HEY! What's that supposed to mean? ;) So my character is 53 years old and a Marshal 2 that graduated from Rekkenmark in '67. Well, guess what: He's got a 20 Charisma and an 18 Intelligence. Admittedly his physicals are just above average or below, but his Minor Auras will add +5 to whatever the aura does for all of his companions. Presently he has Watchful Eye (Cha bonus to Reflex saves) as his minor aura. Hmm, hmm good! Basically he's about support and direction of the gang. Oh and with his Diplomacy and Undead Empathy he can convince skeletons and zombies to leave or help out (not that he would do the latter, as he has philosophical issues with undead -- he is from Karrnath and one of his older brothers was "reassigned" to his unit after his death) with relative ease. I expect Marius ir'Alewar to give the Emerald Claw and Blood of Vol some serious issues when we run into them. He is 53 years old, he fought who knows how many years and now in a couple of weeks of adventure he will be level 4 or 5... that makes no sense.
Kolvin 09-15-05, 03:30 PM	He is 53 years old, he fought who knows how many years and now in a couple of weeks of adventure he will be level 4 or 5... that makes no sense. Of course it makes sense. In the past he was a soldier. He was limited by that experience and never explored his full potential. Now he's an adventurer. He's finding out more about himself than he ever could as a soldier, hence now he goes up character levels. In Eberron levels don't indicate how old you are or what your prior experiences in combat are. You can have Last War veterans that are 1st lvl Fighters. You can have an NPC that never saw a fight but trained at home and is a 7th lvl Warriors.
AlDaRoN Arg 09-15-05, 03:48 PM	Of course it makes sense. In the past he was a soldier. He was limited by that experience and never explored his full potential. Now he's an adventurer. He's finding out more about himself than he ever could as a soldier, hence now he goes up character levels. In Eberron levels don't indicate how old you are or what your prior experiences in combat are. You can have Last War veterans that are 1st lvl Fighters. You can have an NPC that never saw a fight but trained at home and is a 7th lvl Warriors. He is a PC, any PC that fights 2 rats goes up a level, imagine one that fought 30 years in a war... If he was an NPC he should always be one.
Kolvin 09-15-05, 05:05 PM	He is a PC, any PC that fights 2 rats goes up a level, imagine one that fought 30 years in a war... That's incorrect. He's a PC now that the game has started. Anything that happened to him as a backstory happened out of play so he was an NPC then.
Just another user 09-15-05, 05:42 PM	He is a PC, any PC that fights 2 rats goes up a level, imagine one that fought 30 years in a war... If he was an NPC he should always be one. NOW, at the begin of the campaign, is a PC. Before he was just a NPC. Pctude is not a ... genetic condition or something. One become a PC, is not born into it, else all 1st level characters should start at 16 years old (or the non-human equivalent.) :)
AlDaRoN Arg 09-16-05, 07:40 AM	NOW, at the begin of the campaign, is a PC. Before he was just a NPC. Pctude is not a ... genetic condition or something. One become a PC, is not born into it, else all 1st level characters should start at 16 years old (or the non-human equivalent.) :) I disagree, but it's just my point of view. And yes all 1st level chars should start around the starting age table in the PHB, that's why there is a table with starting ages for every class. And yes you are born into it from the moment a PC made the char he made it a PC, he won't probably be a NPC class, he'll have action points and his life before starting the game will be decided by a player, so he was always a PC.
Kolvin 09-16-05, 10:53 AM	Please explain to me how you play a character retroactively? ;-)
yrogerg 09-17-05, 11:49 AM	I disagree, but it's just my point of view. And yes all 1st level chars should start around the starting age table in the PHB, that's why there is a table with starting ages for every class. And yes you are born into it from the moment a PC made the char he made it a PC, he won't probably be a NPC class, he'll have action points and his life before starting the game will be decided by a player, so he was always a PC. You know, this actually sets a pretty strong limit on the amount of backstory your 1st level fighter or ranger could actually have. Since he's, like, a teenager. Rather, I think I'd take the SRD's advice that you can choose or randomly generate your ages, but it must still be of the minimum set in the starting age table. Is there any reason your Rogue/Fighter/Extreme Explorer Dwarf can't be 100 years old and a professor at Morgrave if that's your character concept? Is there any reason you can't throw out the above guidelines regarding minimum ages for your illegally produced Warforged Psychic Warrior? I don't really feel like such concrete rules in this case add to the game all that much.