Need help with Eberron character! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Need help with Eberron character! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
technodemon
09-11-04, 06:00 PM Hi all I am new to the campaign world and I have some ideas for several character concepts that I need to create.

Which race and class within the universe will be good for these concepts? A pirate (maybe smuggler type), security breaker/hacker (with the "magitech" aspect) and/or occult investigator like John Constaine, Dr Fate or a character similar to those.
Edymnion
09-11-04, 06:22 PM A pirate (maybe smuggler type)Half-Elf would be the race for this one, with their weather control dragonmark.security breaker/hacker (with the "magitech" aspect)Changling, obviously.occult investigator like John Constaine, Dr Fate or a character similar to those.Khalashtar.
MarkB
09-11-04, 06:31 PM Hi all I am new to the campaign world and I have some ideas for several character concepts that I need to create.

Which race and class within the universe will be good for these concepts? A pirate (maybe smuggler type),
Rogue's obviously a good choice here. You could consider being an illegitimate member of House Lyrandar (a Half-Elven trading family whose dragonmarks help them control the weather - very handy for a sailor), otherwise practically any race is good - perhaps you could be a Shifter (one of the new races, with animalistic traits) and take class features and feats that give you natural weapons and be more agile in the rigging.

security breaker/hacker (with the "magitech" aspect)
Don't get hung up on this concept. Eberron doesn't have "magic as technology", it has "magic as industry" - aside from the lightning rail, you won't find much in this setting that's more advanced than regular D&D - it's just more pervasive. There isn't really anything you could hook a 'hacker' angle onto.

However, there are entire Houses dedicated to various aspects of security, and you could certainly build a character dedicated to defeating those things. I'd suggest a Changeling Bard/Rogue - Changelings have a very useful ability to physically change their appearance to match anyone else, Bards have handy magic to help defeat magical protections, and Rogues get the important trap-and-lock-defeating skills. If you get a high INT, you can put double points into Disable Device and Open Locks when levelling as a Bard, and take only one or two Rogue levels.

and/or occult investigator like John Constaine, Dr Fate or a character similar to those.
Definitely some good possibilities here. You could play a Kalashtar (psychically-inclined human-variant) and take a few psionic levels, then take levels of Bard and/or Rogue aiming to get the skill and feat prerequisites to qualify for the Master Inquisitive PrC, which is a specialist detective class that gives you lots of useful investigative goodies.
technodemon
09-11-04, 07:19 PM Are there any other way for bards to do their magic/ special abilities without using music? Wish there was a class similar to the bard with out the music aspect.

Any others so I do dnot have have use the psioinic powers? I am getting the feeling the DM will not allow psionics.
technodemon
09-11-04, 07:43 PM Hmmm how about a Changeling pirate? Since I might do a smuggler type.
Edymnion
09-11-04, 08:09 PM Any others so I do dnot have have use the psioinic powers? I am getting the feeling the DM will not allow psionics.Has your DM actually read the Expanded Psionics Handbook? Its nowhere near as broken/crazy as the Psionics Handbook was.

I *HATED* Psionics. I wouldn't let them near my game because of how screwed up they were. But the XPH changed all that, I now let players pick psionics whenver they want. They're actually balanced and playable now.
MarkB
09-11-04, 08:28 PM Are there any other way for bards to do their magic/ special abilities without using music? Wish there was a class similar to the bard with out the music aspect.
Ask your DM. I'm sure you and he could come up with an alternative that keeps the functional aspects of the Bard but changes the flavour - perhaps instead of singing songs, he chants spell-phrases which resonate on a magical level and produce the same effects, from confidence boosting power emanations to actual spells.

Any others so I do dnot have have use the psioinic powers? I am getting the feeling the DM will not allow psionics.
I only threw in the psionics as an example, really - it seemed appropriate for a Dr. Strange-type character. You could just as easily use Wizard or Sorcerer levels to ge the 'occult' aspect, or even a Cleric. You'll need to either add a couple of Rogue levels or count on reaching the Master Inquisitive PrC later, as it has some skill prerequisites that are easiest for Bards and Rogues to meet.
Foxboy2000
09-11-04, 09:22 PM As a DM, I have a player with a halfling bard who plays the spoons. I kid you not.

My personal favorite was going to be a bard who DANCES for the bardic music ability.
technodemon
09-11-04, 10:17 PM He may not allow Psionics in for his game in general and I do not want to asumue to much also.
technodemon
09-14-04, 07:16 PM Im back and I had a semi first game that everyone was not tinto the game much so they quit early. I found out what everyone was playing though, a warforged fighter, a psion, and artificer, a rogue and a cleric. Most were humans races and one was a warforged.

Any other race and class is open for choose from.
Edymnion
09-14-04, 07:26 PM Big party, try a Bard for all the backup boosting you could do.
More people in the party, the better the bard can be with his group abilities.

Gnomes have Favored Class: Bard, and are described as having a lust for obtaining obscure knowledge, so a Gnomish Bard that collects old stories, ancient songs, and all that could fit into the game quite well.
Gurv
09-14-04, 08:46 PM As a DM, I have a player with a halfling bard who plays the spoons. I kid you not.

Half-orc bard. Plays the wardrums.

Enough said?
Solarious
09-14-04, 09:10 PM Hmmn, looks like your party has all the basic bases covered. A nuker, healer/undead basher, the tank, the backstabbing trap-killer, and an all-purpose support unit.

The investigator/party face would be an ideal choice, because there is a lot of intruige and mystery, every other person can be pretending to be someone else, and, well, it seems like your party doesn't have social interaction skills :P The Master Inqusitive is an excellent prestige class in order to dig up the truth, with abilities like contacts/Zone of Truth/True Seeing, and believe me, the lies run deep in Eberron.

At least, Eberron is supposed to be that way.

*huggles all kobold Artificers*
jedi8187
09-14-04, 10:25 PM Half-orc bard. Plays the wardrums.

Enough said?

Warforged Bard, musical insturment: himself. I kid you not.

Um back on track, I say changeling, but I'm partial to them. I'm playing a Changeling Hexblade(Complete Warrior), and that combo could be reworked into a pirate type rather easily, that or the swashbuckler from the same book.
Save-vs-DM
09-14-04, 11:26 PM I'd suggest a changeling bard or rogue. It sounds like you don't like bards (a shame). Another option, if your DM allows you to use Unearthed Arcana, would be the variant Urban Ranger. A changeling Urban Ranger is perhaps a Master Inquisitive par-excellence. A changeling Bard going into mater inquisitive would help your party a lot and would also be a blast to play. Instead of music maybe your more of a "witty remark bard."

One bard I had used witty remarks for inspire courage: sort of a Bruce Willis in Die Hard bard.

"Hey, good evening folks. Ah, bugbears, that right? Tell me, do you all fight this bad or are you simply really ugly goblins? *inspire courage*
Hey, Joe, looking good. Follow through all figure out then? *striking down a hobgoblin while he continues to perform* Hey Scorch, them missiles sure are sparklie!"

This sort of bard can be a ton of fun. Just take ranks in Perform (Oratory).

Cheers and happy gaming
Save vs DM
technodemon
09-14-04, 11:39 PM I'd suggest a changeling bard or rogue. It sounds like you don't like bards (a shame). Another option, if your DM allows you to use Unearthed Arcana, would be the variant Urban Ranger. A changeling Urban Ranger is perhaps a Master Inquisitive par-excellence. A changeling Bard going into mater inquisitive would help your party a lot and would also be a blast to play. Instead of music maybe your more of a "witty remark bard."

One bard I had used witty remarks for inspire courage: sort of a Bruce Willis in Die Hard bard.

"Hey, good evening folks. Ah, bugbears, that right? Tell me, do you all fight this bad or are you simply really ugly goblins? *inspire courage*
Hey, Joe, looking good. Follow through all figure out then? *striking down a hobgoblin while he continues to perform* Hey Scorch, them missiles sure are sparklie!"

This sort of bard can be a ton of fun. Just take ranks in Perform (Oratory).

Cheers and happy gaming
Save vs DM

It's not that, it's the music part for what I can see as part of the type of concept I am looking for. Or can see any type pf perform would fit what I am looking to do. For concpet were you thing to the bard as?
technodemon
09-19-04, 10:54 AM Ok How about which class and race would make a good smuggler/arms dealer? I can see a multiclasss character with some rogue and a mgic user using his spells to help him with this porfession. But which magic class?
Jinlong
10-07-04, 08:40 PM A bard can use any of the abilities from 'Perform' to use Bardic Music, despite his name. Acting, Comedy, Oratory, Music, etc.
MrFilthyIke
10-07-04, 09:32 PM As a DM, I have a player with a halfling bard who plays the spoons. I kid you not.

My personal favorite was going to be a bard who DANCES for the bardic music ability.

Well, I've had Bards with Perform (Comedy)... ;)

And there is Filthy Ike, the old Half-Orc character who played a Didgeridoo. :)
electrosis
10-07-04, 11:12 PM How about Changeling Swashbuckler (Complete Warrior) Roguish abilities coupled with fighting skill. Makes for a great smuggler type.
technodemon
10-08-04, 12:38 AM Ok how about this. What would be a good spellcaster concept (not class) that is not your typicalcaster role? Like instead of picking the standard speicalty wizard or you book-worm type spellcaster anything that different, strange, wierd or something that is not usally done for a caster concept.
Doctor X
10-08-04, 12:39 AM I wouldn't recommend using the Mark of Storm for the Pirate/Smuggler theme... House Lyrandar controls legitimate shipping throughout Khorvaire. They wouldn't want to be plundering their own ships. It'd be bad for business.

Almost any race could make a good pirate, however... just as long as your character is from the Lhazaar Principalities. That place is Pirate Central. Humans would be the most common, of course. But if you want to do something more interesting, a changeling pirate could be interesting, though disguise isn't really a pirate kind of thing to do... They usually tend to simply board and cut throats and whatnot.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
technodemon 09-11-04, 06:00 PM	Hi all I am new to the campaign world and I have some ideas for several character concepts that I need to create. Which race and class within the universe will be good for these concepts? A pirate (maybe smuggler type), security breaker/hacker (with the "magitech" aspect) and/or occult investigator like John Constaine, Dr Fate or a character similar to those.
Edymnion 09-11-04, 06:22 PM	A pirate (maybe smuggler type)Half-Elf would be the race for this one, with their weather control dragonmark.security breaker/hacker (with the "magitech" aspect)Changling, obviously.occult investigator like John Constaine, Dr Fate or a character similar to those.Khalashtar.
MarkB 09-11-04, 06:31 PM	Hi all I am new to the campaign world and I have some ideas for several character concepts that I need to create. Which race and class within the universe will be good for these concepts? A pirate (maybe smuggler type), Rogue's obviously a good choice here. You could consider being an illegitimate member of House Lyrandar (a Half-Elven trading family whose dragonmarks help them control the weather - very handy for a sailor), otherwise practically any race is good - perhaps you could be a Shifter (one of the new races, with animalistic traits) and take class features and feats that give you natural weapons and be more agile in the rigging. security breaker/hacker (with the "magitech" aspect) Don't get hung up on this concept. Eberron doesn't have "magic as technology", it has "magic as industry" - aside from the lightning rail, you won't find much in this setting that's more advanced than regular D&D - it's just more pervasive. There isn't really anything you could hook a 'hacker' angle onto. However, there are entire Houses dedicated to various aspects of security, and you could certainly build a character dedicated to defeating those things. I'd suggest a Changeling Bard/Rogue - Changelings have a very useful ability to physically change their appearance to match anyone else, Bards have handy magic to help defeat magical protections, and Rogues get the important trap-and-lock-defeating skills. If you get a high INT, you can put double points into Disable Device and Open Locks when levelling as a Bard, and take only one or two Rogue levels. and/or occult investigator like John Constaine, Dr Fate or a character similar to those. Definitely some good possibilities here. You could play a Kalashtar (psychically-inclined human-variant) and take a few psionic levels, then take levels of Bard and/or Rogue aiming to get the skill and feat prerequisites to qualify for the Master Inquisitive PrC, which is a specialist detective class that gives you lots of useful investigative goodies.
technodemon 09-11-04, 07:19 PM	Are there any other way for bards to do their magic/ special abilities without using music? Wish there was a class similar to the bard with out the music aspect. Any others so I do dnot have have use the psioinic powers? I am getting the feeling the DM will not allow psionics.
technodemon 09-11-04, 07:43 PM	Hmmm how about a Changeling pirate? Since I might do a smuggler type.
Edymnion 09-11-04, 08:09 PM	Any others so I do dnot have have use the psioinic powers? I am getting the feeling the DM will not allow psionics.Has your DM actually read the Expanded Psionics Handbook? Its nowhere near as broken/crazy as the Psionics Handbook was. I HATED Psionics. I wouldn't let them near my game because of how screwed up they were. But the XPH changed all that, I now let players pick psionics whenver they want. They're actually balanced and playable now.
MarkB 09-11-04, 08:28 PM	Are there any other way for bards to do their magic/ special abilities without using music? Wish there was a class similar to the bard with out the music aspect. Ask your DM. I'm sure you and he could come up with an alternative that keeps the functional aspects of the Bard but changes the flavour - perhaps instead of singing songs, he chants spell-phrases which resonate on a magical level and produce the same effects, from confidence boosting power emanations to actual spells. Any others so I do dnot have have use the psioinic powers? I am getting the feeling the DM will not allow psionics. I only threw in the psionics as an example, really - it seemed appropriate for a Dr. Strange-type character. You could just as easily use Wizard or Sorcerer levels to ge the 'occult' aspect, or even a Cleric. You'll need to either add a couple of Rogue levels or count on reaching the Master Inquisitive PrC later, as it has some skill prerequisites that are easiest for Bards and Rogues to meet.
Foxboy2000 09-11-04, 09:22 PM	As a DM, I have a player with a halfling bard who plays the spoons. I kid you not. My personal favorite was going to be a bard who DANCES for the bardic music ability.
technodemon 09-11-04, 10:17 PM	He may not allow Psionics in for his game in general and I do not want to asumue to much also.
technodemon 09-14-04, 07:16 PM	Im back and I had a semi first game that everyone was not tinto the game much so they quit early. I found out what everyone was playing though, a warforged fighter, a psion, and artificer, a rogue and a cleric. Most were humans races and one was a warforged. Any other race and class is open for choose from.
Edymnion 09-14-04, 07:26 PM	Big party, try a Bard for all the backup boosting you could do. More people in the party, the better the bard can be with his group abilities. Gnomes have Favored Class: Bard, and are described as having a lust for obtaining obscure knowledge, so a Gnomish Bard that collects old stories, ancient songs, and all that could fit into the game quite well.
Gurv 09-14-04, 08:46 PM	As a DM, I have a player with a halfling bard who plays the spoons. I kid you not. Half-orc bard. Plays the wardrums. Enough said?
Solarious 09-14-04, 09:10 PM	Hmmn, looks like your party has all the basic bases covered. A nuker, healer/undead basher, the tank, the backstabbing trap-killer, and an all-purpose support unit. The investigator/party face would be an ideal choice, because there is a lot of intruige and mystery, every other person can be pretending to be someone else, and, well, it seems like your party doesn't have social interaction skills :P The Master Inqusitive is an excellent prestige class in order to dig up the truth, with abilities like contacts/Zone of Truth/True Seeing, and believe me, the lies run deep in Eberron. At least, Eberron is supposed to be that way. huggles all kobold Artificers
jedi8187 09-14-04, 10:25 PM	Half-orc bard. Plays the wardrums. Enough said? Warforged Bard, musical insturment: himself. I kid you not. Um back on track, I say changeling, but I'm partial to them. I'm playing a Changeling Hexblade(Complete Warrior), and that combo could be reworked into a pirate type rather easily, that or the swashbuckler from the same book.
Save-vs-DM 09-14-04, 11:26 PM	I'd suggest a changeling bard or rogue. It sounds like you don't like bards (a shame). Another option, if your DM allows you to use Unearthed Arcana, would be the variant Urban Ranger. A changeling Urban Ranger is perhaps a Master Inquisitive par-excellence. A changeling Bard going into mater inquisitive would help your party a lot and would also be a blast to play. Instead of music maybe your more of a "witty remark bard." One bard I had used witty remarks for inspire courage: sort of a Bruce Willis in Die Hard bard. "Hey, good evening folks. Ah, bugbears, that right? Tell me, do you all fight this bad or are you simply really ugly goblins? inspire courage Hey, Joe, looking good. Follow through all figure out then? striking down a hobgoblin while he continues to perform Hey Scorch, them missiles sure are sparklie!" This sort of bard can be a ton of fun. Just take ranks in Perform (Oratory). Cheers and happy gaming Save vs DM
technodemon 09-14-04, 11:39 PM	I'd suggest a changeling bard or rogue. It sounds like you don't like bards (a shame). Another option, if your DM allows you to use Unearthed Arcana, would be the variant Urban Ranger. A changeling Urban Ranger is perhaps a Master Inquisitive par-excellence. A changeling Bard going into mater inquisitive would help your party a lot and would also be a blast to play. Instead of music maybe your more of a "witty remark bard." One bard I had used witty remarks for inspire courage: sort of a Bruce Willis in Die Hard bard. "Hey, good evening folks. Ah, bugbears, that right? Tell me, do you all fight this bad or are you simply really ugly goblins? inspire courage Hey, Joe, looking good. Follow through all figure out then? striking down a hobgoblin while he continues to perform Hey Scorch, them missiles sure are sparklie!" This sort of bard can be a ton of fun. Just take ranks in Perform (Oratory). Cheers and happy gaming Save vs DM It's not that, it's the music part for what I can see as part of the type of concept I am looking for. Or can see any type pf perform would fit what I am looking to do. For concpet were you thing to the bard as?
technodemon 09-19-04, 10:54 AM	Ok How about which class and race would make a good smuggler/arms dealer? I can see a multiclasss character with some rogue and a mgic user using his spells to help him with this porfession. But which magic class?
Jinlong 10-07-04, 08:40 PM	A bard can use any of the abilities from 'Perform' to use Bardic Music, despite his name. Acting, Comedy, Oratory, Music, etc.
MrFilthyIke 10-07-04, 09:32 PM	As a DM, I have a player with a halfling bard who plays the spoons. I kid you not. My personal favorite was going to be a bard who DANCES for the bardic music ability. Well, I've had Bards with Perform (Comedy)... ;) And there is Filthy Ike, the old Half-Orc character who played a Didgeridoo. :)
electrosis 10-07-04, 11:12 PM	How about Changeling Swashbuckler (Complete Warrior) Roguish abilities coupled with fighting skill. Makes for a great smuggler type.
technodemon 10-08-04, 12:38 AM	Ok how about this. What would be a good spellcaster concept (not class) that is not your typicalcaster role? Like instead of picking the standard speicalty wizard or you book-worm type spellcaster anything that different, strange, wierd or something that is not usally done for a caster concept.
Doctor X 10-08-04, 12:39 AM	I wouldn't recommend using the Mark of Storm for the Pirate/Smuggler theme... House Lyrandar controls legitimate shipping throughout Khorvaire. They wouldn't want to be plundering their own ships. It'd be bad for business. Almost any race could make a good pirate, however... just as long as your character is from the Lhazaar Principalities. That place is Pirate Central. Humans would be the most common, of course. But if you want to do something more interesting, a changeling pirate could be interesting, though disguise isn't really a pirate kind of thing to do... They usually tend to simply board and cut throats and whatnot.