Post/Author/DateTime	Post
FateSpinnerXXIII 09-13-06, 12:15 AM	I need some help trying to figure out what to play. We have been in a campaign for a year now. Im a 13th level ranger and there are 2 other members of the group same level. We are getting to the point to where we are going to make a Base of Operation. Are DM is giving a chance to make a character that follows are characters or a diffrent group members character. Now im often refeard to as "The Glory Hound". Not just as this character but most. Now im trying to fall back from this trait some and play somthing else. Any tips on how to avoid my trait? What character idea do you think I should go with? Once again trying to lean away from combat based character. Thank You.
Righter8 09-13-06, 12:28 AM	Go Healer. Miniatures Handbook. Sucky BAB, sucky armor choices, sucky weapon choices (relatively speaking). Excellent healing abikity so you would be helping those who want to be the new Glory Hound.
GDarius 09-13-06, 12:45 AM	If you wanna avoid being the center of attention, the best thing to do is play a support role. Bard, Beguiler or Rogue would work. So might a party-buffing Cleric, Druid or even Wizard. Hell the more I think about it, the more apparent it becomes that being the "Glory Hound" has nothing to do with character class at all. You could be a Fighter/Dwarven Defender whose entire job is to hang back and protect the casters. If you're dead-set on the non-combat thing, then yeah. Bard or Beguiler. Here, check this (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=140225) out. And this (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=635691). And this (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=655556). And probably this (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=175652). That last one will be the most instructive, but it's not exactly a "bard".
thadastardly1 09-13-06, 12:56 AM	I would recommend not going for a prestige class. There's a reason they call it 'prestige' class, not 'mundane' class, lol. These tend to have specifics.. I think a fighter who's a good follower, who would develop to be a friend/sidekick of another character. Ever see Land of the Dead? The character Charlie, the one who was burned in a fire but saved by the hero? He's very loyal, almost like a dog, always looking out for the hero. If the hero saves the people, who saves the hero. If I was in your situation, I would probably play a simple type sidekick. Just my two coppers.
Dolomite 09-13-06, 12:57 AM	Question: Do you believe that you are a Glory Hound or is it the fact that the others dont step up to the plate when the spotlight is shone on them? Cause if the others in your game dont step foward and act heroic, or at least something with a spine that goes for what they want, you could play a Ham sandwich and you still will be the center of attention.
FateSpinnerXXIII 09-13-06, 01:14 AM	ok maybe I should rephrase. Glory in "Combat". I guess it has alot to do with my group members to and the DM. NO ONE ever plays a Combat character but me and I try to choose first but somone always ends up not making one so either we are screwed in combat or somone needs to switch and no one will but me. Im not going to lie, Im not the best roleplayer, no one is perfect. But it also has to do alot with my dm never giving me any ops and my pt shutting me out I guess. I was talking with my DM tonight and he was noting party member motivations. He directly said "If I ever want you to get motivated I send a tough monster in there". Which I dont mind, but idk I dont want to be stuck as always having to being combat characters. Guess im looking for RP Ideas and a character that isnt combat based that would fit in well so i wont always be stuck as the combat character. I supose im needing to prove myself to get out of this hole? I just dont know =/
GaffeR 09-13-06, 04:16 AM	This is a fallacy a lot of people seem to make. There is NO reason why an optimized character (read: good in combat) cannot be roleplayed well. MOST of your roleplay should come from completely non-mechanical things like your characters personality, traits, mannerisms, dialects, etc. Also, although playing a character with more mechanics outside combat will give you more options, it does not, in and of itself, make for better roleplay. I'm sure people will disagree with my point of view, but I try to find balance between optimization and personality. I guess what I'm trying to tell you is, think up a personality before you think up the character class. Put more emphasis on developing your character's fluff side than crunch side. Hopefully they'll balance better. Good luck.
Dei 09-13-06, 04:51 AM	I agree with GaffeR on this one. I regularly see very powerful characters in my group who are roleplayed well. Also, if you're the only combat effective member of your group you won't be doing anyone any favours at all by taking a weakling onto the field. I think you should talk to the group as a whole and say: "If you guys won't I'll have to". But make it clear that you don't want to. That way they know it's their choice that you've taken a powerful character and if they complain later simply remind them of this fact. As for RPing opportunities that relies almost entirely on the thought you put into the character during creation. A good idea is to come up with a kind of FAQ for the character with his motivations, history, outlook, personality, etc, etc as this will ingrain in you how he will react to certain situations and make RP much easier as you'll see ques where before there weren't any chances. Even small things can make a difference: Battle starting: Let em hear your warcry Battle Ended: This was a good fight/ A pity blood was shed without cause/ etc/etc NPC giving exposition or plothook: I don't trust this elf/dwarf/half-dragon ilithid their kind are always tricky. Things like this can get you into the habit of reacting to situations in character and gradually will build into more complete RPing. Hope this helps
FateSpinnerXXIII 09-13-06, 08:19 AM	Guess it has alot to do with my group as well, including DM. I start out with all of these personality ideas and traits. But as we go along because of the groups RPin habits it makes it to where I could give a :censored: less. The DM's wife is a greedy hard to work with person. Rejects any idea accept her own and the 1 other party members because they are like buddy, buddy. So any input I have is always rejected which makes it hard. And her idea like somone noted is... Brusier = Retard = No RP Ops at all. Now im not saying she is the best but she can make games fun somtimes. Idk guess ill just have to deal. And btw, Ive never Crossed Classed or taken a Prestige Class....
Deathstalker 09-13-06, 11:57 AM	Play an abjurer or a defensive/buff sorc. Take improved init, improved counterspell, reactive counterspell, dampen spell, elven spell lore. Use duel ward, globes of invulnerability, etc. Grab a ring of spell battle (originally from magic of faerun, but it got reprinted somewhere, maybe complete arcane). And load up on buff spells. Enemy spell casters will tear their hair out trying to be effective and your party will love you. And you'll never even have to go into combat.
thadastardly1 09-13-06, 12:34 PM	Groups with just spell casters could be doomed without a meatshield (except for, like, 4 wizards each specializing in something, in which case they're damn near invincible). If they don't like someone wading in there with a sword, well, I say they're missing half the freakin' fun of D&D. In the three campaigns I have been in, I have been a rogue, sorcerer, and druid... not exactly personal combat classes, while arguements could be made for druid and rogue. In the next campaign, I greatly intend on being a fighter type, or barbarian. Whats better than cleaving through 4 opponents, I ask you? Well... destroying 20 by 20 feet of soldiers with an empowered fireball.... hmm... well, you get my point.
On_the_wings_of_TPK 09-13-06, 06:12 PM	Try making a character that focus on melee, but needs a mental stat to do it. Such as say a rnaged base cleric with a low dex, (Zen Archery CW). Or maybe a swashbuckler CW (adds int to damage.) perhaps a Paladin with high Cha that adds his Cha to his saves, and uses the devin feats from the CW. There is also the elderich night, enlightened/sacred fists, dusk blades etc. nothing quiet liking swinging a sword and spells. What ever you do decide to play, RP the hell out of it. Prove her wrong.
chava 09-13-06, 06:48 PM	So any input I have is always rejected which makes it hard. And her idea like somone noted is... Brusier = Retard = No RP Ops at all. Now im not saying she is the best but she can make games fun somtimes. Idk guess ill just have to deal. And btw, Ive never Crossed Classed or taken a Prestige Class.... Here's an option: Build a 'smart' fighter --> go with a high INT character and follow with feats that require intelligence (and yes their are fighter feats with a minimum int requirement, Combat Expertise being the one that comes to mind first) --> try one of the variant fighter classes that high INT bonus aids you in battle (swashbuckler [complete warrior] you get to add your INT bonus to damage, warblade [tome of battle] the INT bonus gets added to a scary amount of things, im sure their are others) --> Play a human fighter (so you get two feats at first level) and invest one of them in 'Able Learner' [Races of Destiny, human only, cross-class skills cost only one skill point] and invest skill points (which the shiny INT mod you'll have just as many as a wizard...) into Knowledge skills... Go into prestiges: They exist for a reason, the primary is they have good class abilities that let you tweak the mechanics of your character so that it fits better with the RP idea that you have. [hard step] Learn actual battle strategies and apply them in character... It'll be much harder for wifey to insult your 'dumb' fighter if you have better ideas than she does AND for inspiration I suggest you look at Order of the Stick's fighter Roy... They meet an illithid and whose brain is the tastiest (ie highest INT)? Not the wizard but the FIGHTER... hehe (plus it really pisses off the wizard when he finds out that illiterate savage has more know Knowledge skills than he does (yea for orally based traditions))
OravennasBrother 09-13-06, 07:04 PM	Build the character you want - then play him in a quiet conservative manner. I can take any character and dominate a game and try hard to avoid just that. Not by changing the character abilities, but by changing their personality.
FateSpinnerXXIII 09-13-06, 11:39 PM	Ya, Im kinda getting some ideas. It will still be difficult but I supose I might be able to work around it.
Shwepie 09-14-06, 01:42 AM	If you really REALLY wanna back away from combat, go Cleric -> Radiant Servant of Pelor, focus on healing and buffing your party members.
Righter8 09-14-06, 04:38 AM	NO ONE ever plays a Combat character but me and I try to choose first but somone always ends up not making one so either we are screwed in combat or somone needs to switch and no one will but me. I used to think like this before I DMed. "well we have a cleric, wizard, fighter, I guess I NEED to be the rogue." As I read the DMG and became more familiar with the control the DM has and his abilities, I realized a party need not consist of the "basic Four". If your group wants to play all fighters, then go for it. If they want to have everything but a rogue go ahead. The DM who sees what his party is comprised of, then pits them against something impossible to overcome, isn't, in my opinion, doing his "job" right. As an example, I am running a game with a fighter, a ranger/fighter, a monk, a healer, and a paladin. Traps? A few, but not ones the party needs to disable in order to survive or even get past. I also didn't put in anything that can't be overcome with what they have available. Sure some stuff is tough, but nothing is going to roadblock them because no one wants to play a particular class.
draco1119 09-14-06, 05:11 AM	Guess it has alot to do with my group as well, including DM. I start out with all of these personality ideas and traits. But as we go along because of the groups RPin habits it makes it to where I could give a :censored: less. The DM's wife is a greedy hard to work with person. Rejects any idea accept her own and the 1 other party members because they are like buddy, buddy. So any input I have is always rejected which makes it hard. And her idea like somone noted is... Brusier = Retard = No RP Ops at all. Now im not saying she is the best but she can make games fun somtimes. Idk guess ill just have to deal. And btw, Ive never Crossed Classed or taken a Prestige Class.... If you ever want to just tick them off, see the thread "1001 things to do IN CHARACTER to **** off your DM"... :evillaugh
FateSpinnerXXIII 09-14-06, 08:52 AM	I used to think like this before I DMed. "well we have a cleric, wizard, fighter, I guess I NEED to be the rogue." As I read the DMG and became more familiar with the control the DM has and his abilities, I realized a party need not consist of the "basic Four". If your group wants to play all fighters, then go for it. If they want to have everything but a rogue go ahead. The DM who sees what his party is comprised of, then pits them against something impossible to overcome, isn't, in my opinion, doing his "job" right. As an example, I am running a game with a fighter, a ranger/fighter, a monk, a healer, and a paladin. Traps? A few, but not ones the party needs to disable in order to survive or even get past. I also didn't put in anything that can't be overcome with what they have available. Sure some stuff is tough, but nothing is going to roadblock them because no one wants to play a particular class. Oh I understand, just are DM likes to do combat, he balances Combat and Rping out. So he prefers for one of us to have some combat ability.