Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ericSHINRA 05-01-07, 01:12 AM	Alright then. I'm going to be playing in an asian pseudo-homebrew setting soon where the players represent their respective clans. I'm currently looking for a half-decent idea for a creative character type for an asian setting. While I have a few ideas, none of them seem very original and are based off fictional characters from Japanese or Chinese pop-culture. While this may be better suited for the CharDev boards, I never got a single reply with a similar thread and since I'm going for an asian-themed character... Now then... this DM has been a player in each of my campaigns and is fairly open to new and interesting character ideas. Character class aside, though any suggestions would be appreciated, I'm trying to come up with a character idea worthy of 'Avatar/Paragon' status. This is an odd request I know but anyone with an idea or two would be a big help. Unfortunately my ideas keep returning towards a stereotypical samurai swordsman type or a blatant ripoff of the Monkey King... -ericShinra
Lord Gwydion 05-01-07, 07:16 AM	Okay, I think pretty much everyone around here knows I don't play Rokugan, so I'm not 100% certain all the connotations of a "clan avatar/paragon" within the Rokugan context. But I think what I've got to say should likely apply no matter what. Okay, assuming (correct me if I'm wrong) that the avatar/paragon is supposed to be the epitome of that clan's fighting style/outlook on the world, then that's likely your problem with coming up with an original character. If your character design is to have the character already be the "ultimate Clan X samurai" then it's likely going to feel fairly generic, rather than special. It's great to have a character who wants to be the "ultimate Clan samurai" but has some quirks, shortcomings or complications that prevent it at the moment and must be overcome to reach that status. If I've missed the mark with regards to the terms "avatar" and "paragon" meaning something specific within Rokugan (and then presumably within this apparently Rokugan-based homebrew) like official positions or whatnot, then here's a bit more general character advice. 1. As above, conflicting traits are what make a character well rounded, not 18 single spaced lines of backstory that never get used by anyone but you (nothing wrong with having those 18 pages, just that knowing the names of every childhood pet or exactly what age he/she was when chicken pox struck isn't the core of good character). So give your character a few habits or goals that conflict with each other, even if it's minor stuff. If you can bring out these conflicts in play--and get the DM to help put you in those situations where you have to decide which of the conflicting goals is more important at the moment, you'll have a more entertaining and memorable character (and they shouldn't be anything as grave as the typical "paladin must choose between lesser of two chaotic evils and will lose his status either way" thing that gets thrown around here on the D&D boards so much. It could be as simple as "should I present the head of my enemy to my lord as it was my duty to kill this enemy, or to my family shrine as the enemy was a member of our rival family?" 2. Give your character a hobby. Bring it up in play. Maybe he's a wandering Toshiro Mifune rip-off ronin, but he's also a calligrapher and spends his free time trying to write the perfect calligraphied version of a haiku he heard. Or maybe he's trying to write that wonderful haiku. Or maybe he's a devout follower of a certain temple and always tithes and carries around good luck charms from there. It's often these little things about our characters that other players remember, not that you were able to pull off that 300+ point critical hit power attack iaijutsu strike that one time. 3. If all else fails, find a minor character to emulate, rather than a more well known character. Rather than Monkey King, try one of the hundreds of characters from Outlaws of the Marsh or Three Kingdoms (preferably not one of the 3 Oath Brothers, Lu Bu, Cao Cao, Sun Quan, Kongming, or one of the other prominent ones either). Or some cool but minor character from a movie. Remember that monk guy with the oversized mace in the inn in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon? Sure, he was only on screen long enough for Zhang Ziyi to kick his butt, but there's enough shown of him to get a basic idea for a PC. Hope this helps!
ericSHINRA 05-01-07, 11:38 AM	Thanks for the help, Gwydion. I haven't played Rokugan/OA before so I don't think I'm using the proper context either. Anyway~ As combat heavy as I imagine this campaign to be, my group is normally into roleplaying but for the life of me I can't come up with a single interesting character idea and it's driving me crazy. Mt problem isn't coming up with traits but rather an overall idea... I'm toying with a character absolutely opposed to 'evil' but will use vicious and downright sickening methods in his crusade.
CaptKillern 05-01-07, 10:30 PM	Now by clan do you mean the Rokigan/OA clans? Or are you referring to clan on a more general term? If the majority are using Japanese/chinese concepts why not go for another asian theme. How about an Indonesian Kesatria (warrior) who practices harimau (tiger style) pencak silat. He is from a noble family (think samurai) who owns several padi (rice farms) and Protects the petani (rice farmers). Due to his fanatical devotion to Islam he is sakti (powerful) ala ToB. He developed his skill fighting the Dutch opressors or Ma lampir (supernatural witch...thing Annis or Hag). He is equiped with his Koran which can keep demons at bay, and with his Keris, named Pendawa. for more inspiration... http://www.geocities.com/omimachifuri/clothes2.htm
ericSHINRA 05-01-07, 10:46 PM	Now by clan do you mean the Rokigan/OA clans? Or are you referring to clan on a more general term? If the majority are using Japanese/chinese concepts why not go for another asian theme. How about an Indonesian Kesatria (warrior) who practices harimau (tiger style) pencak silat. He is from a noble family (think samurai) who owns several padi (rice farms) and Protects the petani (rice farmers). Due to his fanatical devotion to Islam he is sakti (powerful) ala ToB. He developed his skill fighting the Dutch opressors or Ma lampir (supernatural witch...thing Annis or Hag). He is equiped with his Koran which can keep demons at bay, and with his Keris, named Pendawa. for more inspiration... http://www.geocities.com/omimachifuri/clothes2.htm I'm refering to 'clans' in a more general term, as I've no idea what the OA/Rokugan Clans are like apart from being represented by Animals(?). Anyway~ I've no idea what a Keris or Pendawa means but I'd rather not play a religious fanatic.
CaptKillern 05-02-07, 12:30 AM	I'm refering to 'clans' in a more general term, as I've no idea what the OA/Rokugan Clans are like apart from being represented by Animals(?). Anyway~ I've no idea what a Keris or Pendawa means but I'd rather not play a religious fanatic. Keris is the Indonesian version of the Kris a kind of wavy dagger. If you follow the link on my first post they have a picture. The Keris are supposed to have mythical properties that help combat spirits and witches etc... As far as religious fanatic, I just meant the devotion to islam gives him benefits/abilities. Much like a paladin or cleric in D&D. If I said play an Elven cleric of Corellon I dont think it would conjure fanatical religious images in most peoples heads. But, because I said Islam... anyway again I mean more along the lines of the Crusader from ToB. Or maybe even play him as a cleric or a favored soul. Or if you don't like religion take it out, but I hope you are not thinking negatively just because its Islam. Anyway I was just giving one example of other asian cultures.
ericSHINRA 05-02-07, 12:57 AM	Keris is the Indonesian version of the Kris a kind of wavy dagger. If you follow the link on my first post they have a picture. The Keris are supposed to have mythical properties that help combat spirits and witches etc... As far as religious fanatic, I just meant the devotion to islam gives him benefits/abilities. Much like a paladin or cleric in D&D. If I said play an Elven cleric of Corellon I dont think it would conjure fanatical religious images in most peoples heads. But, because I said Islam... anyway again I mean more along the lines of the Crusader from ToB. Or maybe even play him as a cleric or a favored soul. Or if you don't like religion take it out, but I hope you are not thinking negatively just because its Islam. Anyway I was just giving one example of other asian cultures. I can assure you I'm above such generalizations and you're the one who first mentioned 'fanatical devotion'. Regarding your Elvish Cleric comment, no I dont seem them as fanatical. Why? Oh, maybe because their god, Corellon Larethian is Chaotic Good and unlike in real life, a fanatical Cleric-type who goes against his or her dieties teachings looses the powers and authority granted by their respective diety. We don't think of Elvish Clerics as fanatics because they just dont do that sort of thing, and if they do, they're no longer clerics. Fictional religions aside, you can't compare the two.
CaptKillern 05-02-07, 10:28 PM	I can assure you I'm above such generalizations... ...in real life, a fanatical Cleric-type who goes against his or her dieties teachings looses the powers and authority granted by their respective diety. ... a person who is a fanatic for there religion does not generally "goes against his or her dieties teachings". Rather they preach and spread the word of their dieties teachings. If an elven cleric takes up a crusade and kills Orcs, enemies of the elves he would not be stripped of his powers unless he commited an evil act. I did not mention commiting evil acts or going against his religious teachings, i am quite sure you are not saying Islam is evil, so I dont understand what you mean here. The Faris in the Alqadim setting is a paladin (of sorts) for islam and is lawful good... Anyway I am not here to debate religion I was just trying (unsuccesfully it seems) to help create a unique concept...:) We don't think of Elvish Clerics as fanatics because they just dont do that sort of thing, and if they do, they're no longer clerics. Fictional religions aside, you can't compare the two. In the Forgotten Realms The elf wars had clerics on Both sides both thought theye were right, no mention of Correllon revoking clerical powers until he found out of the Gold elves association with demons. Again an evil act... not sure what evil acts have to due with the character concept i gave unless you mean "fanatical" is the same as evil. What ever politics, or religion you have or believe in real life I am referring to fictional d&d characters. The character concept I gave you is from an old Indonesian television show called Misteri Gunung Merapi... A fictional character I thought was cool. I also liek the character Percival from the Movie Excalibur who because of his religious focus (christianity) he was able to recover the Grail. I don't think Christianity as represented in the Movie Excalibur is any more or less true to life than the way Islam is presented in the TV show I mentioned. Since the OP was about an Asian concept I gave you one, you don't like it so I won't bother you with anymore details about it. It is interesting that the only part of the character that was discussed was religion though... :(
ericSHINRA 05-02-07, 10:46 PM	In the Forgotten Realms The elf wars had clerics on Both sides both thought theye were right, no mention of Correllon revoking clerical powers until he found out of the Gold elves association with demons. Again an evil act... not sure what evil acts have to due with the character concept i gave unless you mean "fanatical" is the same as evil. 'Fanticism' from any religion does conjure such thoughts as fanatics tend to push if not outright force their beliefs on others. Often, however, any sort of fanatics won't even bother trying to convert you and simply kill you where you stand. Since the OP was about an Asian concept I gave you one, you don't like it so I won't bother you with anymore details about it. It is interesting that the only part of the character that was discussed was religion though... :( Well, you took issue with my reluctance to play a character tied to a religion/faith... which in turn led to this debate so you can't pin this on me. :rolleyes: I just don't want to play a religious character(fanatical or not), which I mention now for the second time. The concept of a noble warrior who protects the local citizens is interesting but I'm not hot on the religious aspect.
CaptKillern 05-03-07, 12:26 AM	'Fanticism' from any religion does conjure such thoughts as fanatics tend to push if not outright force their beliefs on others. Often, however, any sort of fanatics won't even bother trying to convert you and simply kill you where you stand.. You said elves arent fanatics... just pointing out that they are just as capable as any religion. Well, you took issue with my reluctance to play a character tied to a religion/faith... which in turn led to this debate so you can't pin this on me. :rolleyes: Did I? Don't remember that. I elaborated more on what I meant by fanatical devotion, but dont recall taking issue or insulting you or even getting angry, all I did was elaborate more on the concept... I just don't want to play a religious character(fanatical or not), which I mention now for the second time. The concept of a noble warrior who protects the local citizens is interesting but I'm not hot on the religious aspect. yeah that was actually the core theme, the religious part was secondary. The Character in the TV show was super strong (as in picking up adult bulls) and could leap 50' in the air... Mostly he fought dutch soldiers and there bullets were the only things that really hurt him. He also fought ghosts and an evil witch, wo also was a top notch martial artist. Anyway , If I think of any other concepts I will post them, But most of the Indonesian heroes are either Muslim or Hindu...
ericSHINRA 05-03-07, 01:48 AM	You said elves arent fanatics... just pointing out that they are just as capable as any religion. No, I said Elvish Clerics aren't going to be fanatics in the DnD world and if they are, they should lose their powers as Clerics. Corellon may take kindly to non-elves who worship him but certainly not if they were forced to do so by the Clergy. ... a person who is a fanatic for there religion does not generally "goes against his or her dieties teachings". Rather they preach and spread the word of their dieties teachings. Yes, however usually they spread these teachings through questionable methods. Regardless of faith. Did I? Don't remember that. I elaborated more on what I meant by fanatical devotion, but dont recall taking issue or insulting you or even getting angry, all I did was elaborate more on the concept... ... You assumed that because I didn't want to play a religous character and just because he happens to be Muslim, I have something against that particular faith or any faith so long as they take no issue with my own beliefs. See below. Due to his fanatical devotion to Islam he is sakti (powerful) ala ToB. Mentioning 'fanatical devotion' certainly implies extreme measures to impose ones believes on others... At least in my mind. Or if you don't like religion take it out, but I hope you are not thinking negatively just because its Islam. Not the case. I've played 'Arabian-themed' characters before... I again just dont want to play a cleric-type. yeah that was actually the core theme, the religious part was secondary. The Character in the TV show was super strong (as in picking up adult bulls) and could leap 50' in the air... Mostly he fought dutch soldiers and there bullets were the only things that really hurt him. He also fought ghosts and an evil witch, wo also was a top notch martial artist. Anyway , If I think of any other concepts I will post them, But most of the Indonesian heroes are either Muslim or Hindu... I appreciate your help, really. I once again, just dont like the idea of playing a character tied down to a religion in any way, shape or form.