Bicentennial Warforged [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bicentennial Warforged [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
penchant
06-26-07, 08:19 AM I have realy come to love the whole concept of the warforged. The creation process and the idea that most strive for some form of identity. It brings to mind the Isaac Aazimov story "Bicentennial Man." If you haven't read it, then do. If you can't then pick up the decent adaptation with Robin Williams in it. It is also like Data from ST:TNG who only wants to be human.

A fantasy setting provides a far greater variety of identities for a warforged who is trying to define their own sentience. Generally a warforged is considered male as all gender neutral objects are, however what if a WF began to identify itself as female? What about clothing and the trappings of humanity? What if a warforged decided it was really meant to be a dwarf and tried to be everything dwarven? Just imagine: "Blood Axe Rust Beard, Paladin of Moradin, Son of... well he's actually a warforged."

Other ideas, WF scout who considers himself to be a halfling. A WF who thinks, talks and acts elven and is still trying to convince the elves that he would make a great Arcane Archer. Sure, warforged have penalties to Cha, but that doesn't stop them from trying to be anything they want to. A WF Errol Flynn wannabe would be cool.

Since WF can alter and enchant their bodies, can they take steps to make themselves appear more humanoid? Could a WF "female" pass with enough mods and then what happens when "her" betrothed finds out theres more than a chastity belt at work. There are so many RP possibilites with this that can really lead to alot of fun.

Next stop, WF scout "halfling" bard!
Edymnion
06-26-07, 08:24 AM I assume you are using the Warforged in a non-Eberron campaign?
As their roll in Eberron is pretty clearly defined, to the point they wouldn't *WANT* to be any other race, and would likely find the idea of someone emulating a race to be fairly silly.
Inyssius
06-26-07, 08:29 AM Isn't the "well-defined role" of Eberronian Warforged that they don't have a well-defined role?
foxtail
06-26-07, 08:36 AM If there happened to be a warforged who wanted to be more human/dwarven/elven/whatever, they might persue the Reforged PrC from Races of Eberron, a class that enhances their social and emotional awareness, and culminates in their armor plating sloughing off.

And warforged can decide to be "female" just as easily as "male", though there's no physical difference; I know there's more than one stat block in the Eberron books that lists a warforged as "female personality".
Inyssius
06-26-07, 08:37 AM I mean,
Although tireless creations, the warforged had long
ago become tired of war and chose to live among the
other races. Unlike other veterans of the Last War,
however, the warforged have never known peace and
have no homes to which to return. The warforged
thus live uneasily among the other races of the
world, seeking to create a place for themselves in
unwelcoming lands.
When the Last War ended and the Treaty of Thronehold
declared warforged to be free beings, warforged
lost the structure of their existence. Suddenly thousands
of warforged were left bereft of leadership or
purpose. This bewildering freedom led to a profusion
of lifestyle choices.
Many warforged adopt the culture of the area they
live in. A warforged might even dress in the clothes
common to folk in the area and emulate the speech patterns
and customs of his neighbors. Some warforged
take such efforts to great extremes, exploring their
living nature by engaging in eating, and “sleeping” by
remaining inactive during the night.
Anyway, it strikes me as a really cool idea. If my current Eberron character bites it, I think I might actually play as that "dwarven" warforged.
penchant
06-26-07, 09:32 AM Yeah, I don't have the Eberron CS and everything I have of them comes from the MMIII. However it sounds like they have some of the same ideas, esp since there is a PrC to do something similar. I wonder if you could make a PrC or a process that moves a warforged from their own race to something like "Dwarf(living constuct)". But I was just talking about non-mechanics, just pure RP value.

I like some of the Eberron stuff, but none of my players would play it if I put cash down for it. I bought D20 mod and Urban Arcana before I talked to the Players and they were... nonplussed.

Speaking of mechanics... Some few simple feats could be nice. Something like:

Soul of the Dwarf (Heritage Feat)
Prerequisite: Warforged
Though you were made and not born and are of wood and steel rather than flesh, in your true heart you are a dwarf. For all Feats and Prestige Classes you qualify as a dwarf, though you gain none of the racial abilities of one. You gain none of the racial weapon proficiencies or ability adjustments. You cannot take this and any other heritage feat at the same time.

This would allow you to take dwarven racial feats and go up in Dwarven Defender. You could make a version for any race, so you actually could be a warforged Arcane Archer. Strangely enough you can (I think) already take the other heritage feats like Fey Heritage, or Fiendish, etc.
bigsnarf
06-26-07, 09:35 AM I see what penchant is getting at, a few warforged may try and "reforge" a new identity. Medium warfoged that lived around elves in the desert would try and join the tribe, learn the customs, and in the end see themselves as a elf. A small may do the same with gnomes, as they would find being in a village of small folk is better than the "big" city. Again he/she would pick up the customs.
Lionhearted
06-26-07, 09:39 AM Fiendish heritage aight?
how about a warforged with actual demonic essence bound to it's core
now that's the half-fiend warforged
the warforged with the uncontrollable wild energy bound to it's core
the half-fey warforged
The warforged who carries the essence of a maimed celestial
the half-celestial warforged
the warforged infused with draconic blood
the half-dragon warforged

Using the web enhancement's half fiend variant (or something similar for half-celestials) you don't have to worry that you walk around with a living golem with glowing angel wings sticking out the back
foxtail
06-26-07, 09:48 AM A small may do the same with gnomes, as they would find being in a village of small folk is better than the "big" city.

There's small warforged? :D ASMIO, anyone?
penchant
06-26-07, 10:15 AM There's small warforged? :D ASMIO, anyone?

That would be the WF scout. Its small sized, has a dex bonus plus the other WF goodies. Favored class rogue. Its in the MM3 after the Charger. Don't know about Eberron books. Player in my game is currently a WF Scout Beguiler. INT spontaneous casting is da bomb!

ASMIO looks more like an astronaut to me. But I guess that's the size we're talking about.
AAB
06-26-07, 10:15 AM Yeah, I don't have the Eberron CS and everything I have of them comes from the MMIII. However it sounds like they have some of the same ideas, esp since there is a PrC to do something similar. I wonder if you could make a PrC or a process that moves a warforged from their own race to something like "Dwarf(living constuct)". But I was just talking about non-mechanics, just pure RP value.

I like some of the Eberron stuff, but none of my players would play it if I put cash down for it. I bought D20 mod and Urban Arcana before I talked to the Players and they were... nonplussed.

Speaking of mechanics... Some few simple feats could be nice. Something like:

Soul of the Dwarf (Heritage Feat)
Prerequisite: Warforged
Though you were made and not born and are of wood and steel rather than flesh, in your true heart you are a dwarf. For all Feats and Prestige Classes you qualify as a dwarf, though you gain none of the racial abilities of one. You gain none of the racial weapon proficiencies or ability adjustments. You cannot take this and any other heritage feat at the same time.

This would allow you to take dwarven racial feats and go up in Dwarven Defender. You could make a version for any race, so you actually could be a warforged Arcane Archer. Strangely enough you can (I think) already take the other heritage feats like Fey Heritage, or Fiendish, etc.

there are actually short PrCs in the Races of _____ books that end up so that you are considered that race for other prestige classes and feats and whatnot. just have your warforged take one of those PrCs and it'll be clear that he's "trying to be dwarfy".
Weirgreif
07-02-07, 03:41 AM there are actually short PrCs in the Races of _____ books that end up so that you are considered that race for other prestige classes and feats and whatnot. just have your warforged take one of those PrCs and it'll be clear that he's "trying to be dwarfy".

Specifically:

Races of Stone has the Stoneblessed, which provides the traits of dwarves, gnomes and goliaths.
Races of the Wild has the Ruathar, which adds elf traits.

Races of Eberron has the warforged-specific class called Reforged, which is a mechanical way for the living constructs to fully embrace their living nature. This is a rather human-centric class.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
penchant 06-26-07, 08:19 AM	I have realy come to love the whole concept of the warforged. The creation process and the idea that most strive for some form of identity. It brings to mind the Isaac Aazimov story "Bicentennial Man." If you haven't read it, then do. If you can't then pick up the decent adaptation with Robin Williams in it. It is also like Data from ST:TNG who only wants to be human. A fantasy setting provides a far greater variety of identities for a warforged who is trying to define their own sentience. Generally a warforged is considered male as all gender neutral objects are, however what if a WF began to identify itself as female? What about clothing and the trappings of humanity? What if a warforged decided it was really meant to be a dwarf and tried to be everything dwarven? Just imagine: "Blood Axe Rust Beard, Paladin of Moradin, Son of... well he's actually a warforged." Other ideas, WF scout who considers himself to be a halfling. A WF who thinks, talks and acts elven and is still trying to convince the elves that he would make a great Arcane Archer. Sure, warforged have penalties to Cha, but that doesn't stop them from trying to be anything they want to. A WF Errol Flynn wannabe would be cool. Since WF can alter and enchant their bodies, can they take steps to make themselves appear more humanoid? Could a WF "female" pass with enough mods and then what happens when "her" betrothed finds out theres more than a chastity belt at work. There are so many RP possibilites with this that can really lead to alot of fun. Next stop, WF scout "halfling" bard!
Edymnion 06-26-07, 08:24 AM	I assume you are using the Warforged in a non-Eberron campaign? As their roll in Eberron is pretty clearly defined, to the point they wouldn't WANT to be any other race, and would likely find the idea of someone emulating a race to be fairly silly.
Inyssius 06-26-07, 08:29 AM	Isn't the "well-defined role" of Eberronian Warforged that they don't have a well-defined role?
foxtail 06-26-07, 08:36 AM	If there happened to be a warforged who wanted to be more human/dwarven/elven/whatever, they might persue the Reforged PrC from Races of Eberron, a class that enhances their social and emotional awareness, and culminates in their armor plating sloughing off. And warforged can decide to be "female" just as easily as "male", though there's no physical difference; I know there's more than one stat block in the Eberron books that lists a warforged as "female personality".
Inyssius 06-26-07, 08:37 AM	I mean, Although tireless creations, the warforged had long ago become tired of war and chose to live among the other races. Unlike other veterans of the Last War, however, the warforged have never known peace and have no homes to which to return. The warforged thus live uneasily among the other races of the world, seeking to create a place for themselves in unwelcoming lands. When the Last War ended and the Treaty of Thronehold declared warforged to be free beings, warforged lost the structure of their existence. Suddenly thousands of warforged were left bereft of leadership or purpose. This bewildering freedom led to a profusion of lifestyle choices. Many warforged adopt the culture of the area they live in. A warforged might even dress in the clothes common to folk in the area and emulate the speech patterns and customs of his neighbors. Some warforged take such efforts to great extremes, exploring their living nature by engaging in eating, and “sleeping” by remaining inactive during the night. Anyway, it strikes me as a really cool idea. If my current Eberron character bites it, I think I might actually play as that "dwarven" warforged.
penchant 06-26-07, 09:32 AM	Yeah, I don't have the Eberron CS and everything I have of them comes from the MMIII. However it sounds like they have some of the same ideas, esp since there is a PrC to do something similar. I wonder if you could make a PrC or a process that moves a warforged from their own race to something like "Dwarf(living constuct)". But I was just talking about non-mechanics, just pure RP value. I like some of the Eberron stuff, but none of my players would play it if I put cash down for it. I bought D20 mod and Urban Arcana before I talked to the Players and they were... nonplussed. Speaking of mechanics... Some few simple feats could be nice. Something like: Soul of the Dwarf (Heritage Feat) Prerequisite: Warforged Though you were made and not born and are of wood and steel rather than flesh, in your true heart you are a dwarf. For all Feats and Prestige Classes you qualify as a dwarf, though you gain none of the racial abilities of one. You gain none of the racial weapon proficiencies or ability adjustments. You cannot take this and any other heritage feat at the same time. This would allow you to take dwarven racial feats and go up in Dwarven Defender. You could make a version for any race, so you actually could be a warforged Arcane Archer. Strangely enough you can (I think) already take the other heritage feats like Fey Heritage, or Fiendish, etc.
bigsnarf 06-26-07, 09:35 AM	I see what penchant is getting at, a few warforged may try and "reforge" a new identity. Medium warfoged that lived around elves in the desert would try and join the tribe, learn the customs, and in the end see themselves as a elf. A small may do the same with gnomes, as they would find being in a village of small folk is better than the "big" city. Again he/she would pick up the customs.
Lionhearted 06-26-07, 09:39 AM	Fiendish heritage aight? how about a warforged with actual demonic essence bound to it's core now that's the half-fiend warforged the warforged with the uncontrollable wild energy bound to it's core the half-fey warforged The warforged who carries the essence of a maimed celestial the half-celestial warforged the warforged infused with draconic blood the half-dragon warforged Using the web enhancement's half fiend variant (or something similar for half-celestials) you don't have to worry that you walk around with a living golem with glowing angel wings sticking out the back
foxtail 06-26-07, 09:48 AM	A small may do the same with gnomes, as they would find being in a village of small folk is better than the "big" city. There's small warforged? :D ASMIO, anyone?
penchant 06-26-07, 10:15 AM	There's small warforged? :D ASMIO, anyone? That would be the WF scout. Its small sized, has a dex bonus plus the other WF goodies. Favored class rogue. Its in the MM3 after the Charger. Don't know about Eberron books. Player in my game is currently a WF Scout Beguiler. INT spontaneous casting is da bomb! ASMIO looks more like an astronaut to me. But I guess that's the size we're talking about.
AAB 06-26-07, 10:15 AM	Yeah, I don't have the Eberron CS and everything I have of them comes from the MMIII. However it sounds like they have some of the same ideas, esp since there is a PrC to do something similar. I wonder if you could make a PrC or a process that moves a warforged from their own race to something like "Dwarf(living constuct)". But I was just talking about non-mechanics, just pure RP value. I like some of the Eberron stuff, but none of my players would play it if I put cash down for it. I bought D20 mod and Urban Arcana before I talked to the Players and they were... nonplussed. Speaking of mechanics... Some few simple feats could be nice. Something like: Soul of the Dwarf (Heritage Feat) Prerequisite: Warforged Though you were made and not born and are of wood and steel rather than flesh, in your true heart you are a dwarf. For all Feats and Prestige Classes you qualify as a dwarf, though you gain none of the racial abilities of one. You gain none of the racial weapon proficiencies or ability adjustments. You cannot take this and any other heritage feat at the same time. This would allow you to take dwarven racial feats and go up in Dwarven Defender. You could make a version for any race, so you actually could be a warforged Arcane Archer. Strangely enough you can (I think) already take the other heritage feats like Fey Heritage, or Fiendish, etc. there are actually short PrCs in the Races of _____ books that end up so that you are considered that race for other prestige classes and feats and whatnot. just have your warforged take one of those PrCs and it'll be clear that he's "trying to be dwarfy".
Weirgreif 07-02-07, 03:41 AM	there are actually short PrCs in the Races of _____ books that end up so that you are considered that race for other prestige classes and feats and whatnot. just have your warforged take one of those PrCs and it'll be clear that he's "trying to be dwarfy". Specifically: Races of Stone has the Stoneblessed, which provides the traits of dwarves, gnomes and goliaths. Races of the Wild has the Ruathar, which adds elf traits. Races of Eberron has the warforged-specific class called Reforged, which is a mechanical way for the living constructs to fully embrace their living nature. This is a rather human-centric class.