Russian Thief themed PrC [Archive] - Wizards Community

Russian Thief themed PrC [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Duedaine
09-13-07, 06:11 PM I was listening to national National Public Radio (NPR) and they interviewed Viggo Mortensen a.k.a Aragorn about this new movie (can't remember the name of it). Any ways, they referenced certain Russian thiefs thast existed at the time of the Czars. They were pro thieves. They didn't hide it either.

In fact, these thieves had tattoos covering their bodies that depicted their accomplishments. Anyone who saw them knew their profession, what they stole, which jails they had been in, how long they'd been in jail, etc... Some/all of these tats were in code so that not just anyone could read them, but if you could, their body was like a book.

Any ways, I thought it'd be a good assassain/thief hybrid PrC. Anyone wanna roll with it its up to you. I'm just an idea man, you won't get any numbers outta me.
The_Shaman
09-13-07, 07:08 PM It sounds like a specialized form of secret code. It's interesting and definitely worthy of having in the game, but I'm not sure you need a separate class or PrC for that.
Duedaine
09-14-07, 10:32 PM As I said, I'm just passing along info. You all can decide for yourselves what to do with it...
BadCatMan
09-15-07, 12:47 AM If Lawful and Monk works for you, try the Tattooed Monk from Complete Warrior.
The_Shaman
09-15-07, 04:10 PM Apart from that, there are always the psionic tattoos, and a psychic rogue or a lurk can use/scribe them well enough. Though I still think it's a matter of RP, not mechanics.
BadCatMan
09-15-07, 11:51 PM But this is fantasy, so everything funky and cool just has to have powers. :)

If the character has wizard levels, he could get a tattooed spell-book.
MarkusTay63
09-16-07, 01:39 AM Hey BCM, we shopuld borrow this for the Ue thread... :devil:

If the Thaaga (Kali worshippers) had tats like these, most people would never see them under their attire (something akin to a Ninja outfit), but when amongst equals they could proudly display them. Perhaps in Mar-only areas they would walk around in public showing them off, and even if they wee seen by others most wouldnot know how to read the 'secret language' of the tattoes.

Just seems like a waste not to se this somewhere.... :cool:
Sidslick
09-24-07, 04:27 AM Sounds like less of an opportunity for a Prestige Class, and more of an opportunity for a themed "Vory v Zakone"-type thief's guild in one of the russian-esque regions. Halruaa, Narfell, Rasheman, Murghom, and Damara strike me as possible locations in which to set it. Thoughts?
captaincarot
09-24-07, 06:57 AM one of the original tatoo inceptions, the rw polynesian tattoos, are built up throughout one's life and tells your life story.

maori face tatoos for example.
Suin Bahhar
10-03-07, 01:22 PM I can see this type of tattooed thief guilds in the more permanent settlements of Rashemen, or the more remote areas of Thay. Very physical type of thief guild for sure, with initiation tattooing or scarring, sacrifices of ears for failures et cetera. Mechanicly make a rogue barbarian runescarred beserker or modify the prc slightly to be more rogue friendly.
gaerfindel
10-06-07, 02:24 PM ...In fact, these thieves had tattoos covering their bodies that depicted their accomplishments. Anyone who saw them knew their profession, what they stole, which jails they had been in, how long they'd been in jail, etc... Some/all of these tats were in code so that not just anyone could read them, but if you could, thAny ways, I thought it'd be a good assassain/thief hybrid PrC.

The Realms' culture known most for tattoos is Thay. However, Rashemen could also support hero-thieves or hero-assassins who fight valiantly against the forces of the zulkirs by using the Red Wiards' magic against them. You needn't necessarily create a new PrC for it, there are numerous existing ones that could be adapted (the Tattooed Monk from Complete Warrior for example) either in part of wholesale. In any case, a character with such abilities ought to hail from the Unapproachable East.
Suin Bahhar
10-06-07, 04:46 PM I believe it was in Oriental Adventures you can find an interesting prc for this character archetype the Yakuza. Like the Czars, yakuza members intricatly tattoo their bodies with stories and inscriptions of their loyalty to the yakuza boss, the Gumi. These tattoos used be black rings around the arm for each crime one had commited.
Also to show their devotedness yakuza members give up the tops of their fingers everytime they screw up, starting with the pinky finger of their swordarm. It is said this practice was used as to bind the yakuza more fully to his gumi, as they increasingly lost their finesse to their swordplay if they screwed up too often as the ends of the fingers control the more intricate swordarcs used for wielding katanas and other ken (swords). I could see this practice being existant in Karaturan yakuza too.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Duedaine 09-13-07, 06:11 PM	I was listening to national National Public Radio (NPR) and they interviewed Viggo Mortensen a.k.a Aragorn about this new movie (can't remember the name of it). Any ways, they referenced certain Russian thiefs thast existed at the time of the Czars. They were pro thieves. They didn't hide it either. In fact, these thieves had tattoos covering their bodies that depicted their accomplishments. Anyone who saw them knew their profession, what they stole, which jails they had been in, how long they'd been in jail, etc... Some/all of these tats were in code so that not just anyone could read them, but if you could, their body was like a book. Any ways, I thought it'd be a good assassain/thief hybrid PrC. Anyone wanna roll with it its up to you. I'm just an idea man, you won't get any numbers outta me.
The_Shaman 09-13-07, 07:08 PM	It sounds like a specialized form of secret code. It's interesting and definitely worthy of having in the game, but I'm not sure you need a separate class or PrC for that.
Duedaine 09-14-07, 10:32 PM	As I said, I'm just passing along info. You all can decide for yourselves what to do with it...
BadCatMan 09-15-07, 12:47 AM	If Lawful and Monk works for you, try the Tattooed Monk from Complete Warrior.
The_Shaman 09-15-07, 04:10 PM	Apart from that, there are always the psionic tattoos, and a psychic rogue or a lurk can use/scribe them well enough. Though I still think it's a matter of RP, not mechanics.
BadCatMan 09-15-07, 11:51 PM	But this is fantasy, so everything funky and cool just has to have powers. :) If the character has wizard levels, he could get a tattooed spell-book.
MarkusTay63 09-16-07, 01:39 AM	Hey BCM, we shopuld borrow this for the Ue thread... :devil: If the Thaaga (Kali worshippers) had tats like these, most people would never see them under their attire (something akin to a Ninja outfit), but when amongst equals they could proudly display them. Perhaps in Mar-only areas they would walk around in public showing them off, and even if they wee seen by others most wouldnot know how to read the 'secret language' of the tattoes. Just seems like a waste not to se this somewhere.... :cool:
Sidslick 09-24-07, 04:27 AM	Sounds like less of an opportunity for a Prestige Class, and more of an opportunity for a themed "Vory v Zakone"-type thief's guild in one of the russian-esque regions. Halruaa, Narfell, Rasheman, Murghom, and Damara strike me as possible locations in which to set it. Thoughts?
captaincarot 09-24-07, 06:57 AM	one of the original tatoo inceptions, the rw polynesian tattoos, are built up throughout one's life and tells your life story. maori face tatoos for example.
Suin Bahhar 10-03-07, 01:22 PM	I can see this type of tattooed thief guilds in the more permanent settlements of Rashemen, or the more remote areas of Thay. Very physical type of thief guild for sure, with initiation tattooing or scarring, sacrifices of ears for failures et cetera. Mechanicly make a rogue barbarian runescarred beserker or modify the prc slightly to be more rogue friendly.
gaerfindel 10-06-07, 02:24 PM	...In fact, these thieves had tattoos covering their bodies that depicted their accomplishments. Anyone who saw them knew their profession, what they stole, which jails they had been in, how long they'd been in jail, etc... Some/all of these tats were in code so that not just anyone could read them, but if you could, thAny ways, I thought it'd be a good assassain/thief hybrid PrC. The Realms' culture known most for tattoos is Thay. However, Rashemen could also support hero-thieves or hero-assassins who fight valiantly against the forces of the zulkirs by using the Red Wiards' magic against them. You needn't necessarily create a new PrC for it, there are numerous existing ones that could be adapted (the Tattooed Monk from Complete Warrior for example) either in part of wholesale. In any case, a character with such abilities ought to hail from the Unapproachable East.
Suin Bahhar 10-06-07, 04:46 PM	I believe it was in Oriental Adventures you can find an interesting prc for this character archetype the Yakuza. Like the Czars, yakuza members intricatly tattoo their bodies with stories and inscriptions of their loyalty to the yakuza boss, the Gumi. These tattoos used be black rings around the arm for each crime one had commited. Also to show their devotedness yakuza members give up the tops of their fingers everytime they screw up, starting with the pinky finger of their swordarm. It is said this practice was used as to bind the yakuza more fully to his gumi, as they increasingly lost their finesse to their swordplay if they screwed up too often as the ends of the fingers control the more intricate swordarcs used for wielding katanas and other ken (swords). I could see this practice being existant in Karaturan yakuza too.