Bi-Polar Ranger? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bi-Polar Ranger? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Rudigar Alabaster III
12-10-03, 10:14 PM Well, I rolled up a Neutral Good Elven Ranger. The DM has a new house rule where a PC picks his alignment, then rolls 2d8 for a sub-conscious/background persona. Mine came up as Cruel and Devious. Well, this doesn't really fit well with Neutral Good. Any ideas or suggestions? I have a few of my own, but I would like to hear what others would say. :rolleyes:
green_yawgmoth
12-11-03, 12:04 AM It doesn't work at all. Tell him you need either different psychoses or you'll have to get a new alignment, something ending in evil most likely. It would be like saying "my paladin likes to kick puppies in his spare time". It just couldn't happen.
TKEdoc225
12-11-03, 01:36 AM Sorry... i had a long rant typed out here explaining what bipolar is.. but i realized that it's pointless. One thing you could do is reason that when up against his favored enemy, his cruelty manifests. I know that favored enemy no longer means hatred, but maybe in your case it could. you are a NG character, except when confronted by evil and cruelty, you then inflict the same amount of violence and cruelty as the "perp" You are kind to animals, but maybe you have no patience for children. That's not to say you'll hit a kid, or "kick puppies," but that you just can't handle being around them fo long periods of time. I work in a toy store, and while I don't consider myself cruel, kids get on my nerves. I think, probably 10 times a day or more, "Please, get that little @!#%! out of here!" but it's just a patience thing, not that i hate kids. Maybe you are cruel to people who disrespect nature, whether verbally or physically. You can play it out, you just have to work it in creatively.

Devious, by definition, means "out of the common way or track; following circuitous or winding paths; rambling; erring; goingastray. You just don't follow normal logic, or you tend to take the indirect approach to situations. The devious trait isn't a problem, if you are using the same dictionary I am (Webster's Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English Language)

On the same note, Cruelty can mean one of a few things.
The most common is "disposed to give pain to others in body or mind." You could however, use the next definition, "destitute of pity, compassion, or kindness" you could switch alignments to neutral, not be evil, and just reflect on everything as nature's way. You don't feel sorry for the little lamb that gets eaten by the wolf.. it's nature's way. The little kid in town gets sick and the people need to find a cure. If it's a natural disease, "heh, it's nature's will." But, if someone goes against nature, in the forms of undead... well, god help them, for they have stirred you ire.

Do you see where I am going with this?

Edited for some spelling and stuff, i probably still missed some
green_yawgmoth
12-11-03, 02:14 AM I'll sum up bipolar disorder: varying periods of manic happiness, and extreme depression/violence. I guess you could have him be really cruel during one of his "down" episodes if you're dead set on the bipolar thing, but I don't think you are.
YaoiGoddess
12-11-03, 11:50 AM I think a ranger with OCD would be more fun to play....

Party: "SHOOT IT!"
Ranger:" SHUT UP! I WILL!" (proceeds to take 10 minutes aiming)"Damn! It moved! Now I have to aim all over again!"
the_heart
12-12-03, 06:37 AM cruel...well cruel is not synonymous with evil...you could just be brutally honest and that would cover it, 'yes, that dress does make you look fat'...which wouldn't require a great stretch for an uncultured and uncouth ranger type, who hasn't had much contact with civilisation.

it fit's the 'unconcious' part well too. you don't even reallise it is cruel, you are just being absolutely honest.

in this light the devious becomes harder. do you have to add both or is it an either/or situation.
Millennium
12-12-03, 10:15 AM The other thing you could try is RPing this as a ranger who is basically good, but finds himself plagued by dark urges that he has to constantly fight against. This could make for an excellent concept.
Raych
12-12-03, 10:24 AM I'm going to add a "me too" to most of what's been said already. A good person can be cruel. Maybe you don't pity the BBEG and fight to the death, knowing that his death means he will never have another chance to harm people. Maybe you are well meaning, but you aren't very tender to people's emotions (the dress comes up again).

Devious is far easier to add. You are a cunning, calculating person with a warped sense of humor. Maybe your like practical jokes. Things like that.

Now, all that aside, I'm bothered that the DM decides for you what personality traits you have and not leaving it up to you.
Nisaulin
12-12-03, 12:10 PM Originally posted by Rudigar Alabaster III
Well, I rolled up a Neutral Good Elven Ranger. The DM has a new house rule where a PC picks his alignment, then rolls 2d8 for a sub-conscious/background persona. Mine came up as Cruel and Devious. Well, this doesn't really fit well with Neutral Good. Any ideas or suggestions?

Cruel and Devious are not necessarily counter to being Neutral Good. It all depends on how you imploy your cruel and devious nature.

Cruel - could be as simple as being a bully, and "punishing" those who get ion your way. As you view yourself as the greatest force for "good" in the room, you are "entitled" to special treatment. Those who do not give you the treatment you so rightly deserve are subject to your wrath, ridicule, and mistreatment. Others may not like you very much, but that doesn't necessarily make you evil.

Devious - This could be a lawyer. You are gifted with your speach and able to get people to do thing for you, and they will feel honored in doing so. Think Tom Sawyer and painting the fence. This also builds into the cruel dtreak as that you can talk people into doing things they wouldn't normally do, or to cover your mistratment of others. It also means that you may have a long term plan in mind, thus you are doing things to advance some larger plan.

There is a description of a "lawful good" character which I read somewhere. But based on some of his actions you would think that the character was definately evil. But all of his efforts and actions were for the benefit of his lord or church. You can cover a great many evil acts if they are done in the name of advancing "good". The acts may be evil, but the individual feels they are justified to advance his cause. If that cause is "good", then the character can be classified as "good".

Remember, D&D classifies allignment in terms of Black and White. Your are this, or you are that. In reality, there are 1000 shades of grey in between.
Rudigar Alabaster III
12-12-03, 05:28 PM A Lot of these are excellent. I hope to see more, but I am thinking on a few of them, thats for sure! ;)

And it is both, not a choice of either.
pawsplay
12-17-03, 09:13 PM The cruel and devious NG person lies to his best friend to steal his girl, but ends up dying saving some pilgrims from orcs.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rudigar Alabaster III 12-10-03, 10:14 PM	Well, I rolled up a Neutral Good Elven Ranger. The DM has a new house rule where a PC picks his alignment, then rolls 2d8 for a sub-conscious/background persona. Mine came up as Cruel and Devious. Well, this doesn't really fit well with Neutral Good. Any ideas or suggestions? I have a few of my own, but I would like to hear what others would say. :rolleyes:
green_yawgmoth 12-11-03, 12:04 AM	It doesn't work at all. Tell him you need either different psychoses or you'll have to get a new alignment, something ending in evil most likely. It would be like saying "my paladin likes to kick puppies in his spare time". It just couldn't happen.
TKEdoc225 12-11-03, 01:36 AM	Sorry... i had a long rant typed out here explaining what bipolar is.. but i realized that it's pointless. One thing you could do is reason that when up against his favored enemy, his cruelty manifests. I know that favored enemy no longer means hatred, but maybe in your case it could. you are a NG character, except when confronted by evil and cruelty, you then inflict the same amount of violence and cruelty as the "perp" You are kind to animals, but maybe you have no patience for children. That's not to say you'll hit a kid, or "kick puppies," but that you just can't handle being around them fo long periods of time. I work in a toy store, and while I don't consider myself cruel, kids get on my nerves. I think, probably 10 times a day or more, "Please, get that little @!#%! out of here!" but it's just a patience thing, not that i hate kids. Maybe you are cruel to people who disrespect nature, whether verbally or physically. You can play it out, you just have to work it in creatively. Devious, by definition, means "out of the common way or track; following circuitous or winding paths; rambling; erring; goingastray. You just don't follow normal logic, or you tend to take the indirect approach to situations. The devious trait isn't a problem, if you are using the same dictionary I am (Webster's Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English Language) On the same note, Cruelty can mean one of a few things. The most common is "disposed to give pain to others in body or mind." You could however, use the next definition, "destitute of pity, compassion, or kindness" you could switch alignments to neutral, not be evil, and just reflect on everything as nature's way. You don't feel sorry for the little lamb that gets eaten by the wolf.. it's nature's way. The little kid in town gets sick and the people need to find a cure. If it's a natural disease, "heh, it's nature's will." But, if someone goes against nature, in the forms of undead... well, god help them, for they have stirred you ire. Do you see where I am going with this? Edited for some spelling and stuff, i probably still missed some
green_yawgmoth 12-11-03, 02:14 AM	I'll sum up bipolar disorder: varying periods of manic happiness, and extreme depression/violence. I guess you could have him be really cruel during one of his "down" episodes if you're dead set on the bipolar thing, but I don't think you are.
YaoiGoddess 12-11-03, 11:50 AM	I think a ranger with OCD would be more fun to play.... Party: "SHOOT IT!" Ranger:" SHUT UP! I WILL!" (proceeds to take 10 minutes aiming)"Damn! It moved! Now I have to aim all over again!"
the_heart 12-12-03, 06:37 AM	cruel...well cruel is not synonymous with evil...you could just be brutally honest and that would cover it, 'yes, that dress does make you look fat'...which wouldn't require a great stretch for an uncultured and uncouth ranger type, who hasn't had much contact with civilisation. it fit's the 'unconcious' part well too. you don't even reallise it is cruel, you are just being absolutely honest. in this light the devious becomes harder. do you have to add both or is it an either/or situation.
Millennium 12-12-03, 10:15 AM	The other thing you could try is RPing this as a ranger who is basically good, but finds himself plagued by dark urges that he has to constantly fight against. This could make for an excellent concept.
Raych 12-12-03, 10:24 AM	I'm going to add a "me too" to most of what's been said already. A good person can be cruel. Maybe you don't pity the BBEG and fight to the death, knowing that his death means he will never have another chance to harm people. Maybe you are well meaning, but you aren't very tender to people's emotions (the dress comes up again). Devious is far easier to add. You are a cunning, calculating person with a warped sense of humor. Maybe your like practical jokes. Things like that. Now, all that aside, I'm bothered that the DM decides for you what personality traits you have and not leaving it up to you.
Nisaulin 12-12-03, 12:10 PM	Originally posted by Rudigar Alabaster III Well, I rolled up a Neutral Good Elven Ranger. The DM has a new house rule where a PC picks his alignment, then rolls 2d8 for a sub-conscious/background persona. Mine came up as Cruel and Devious. Well, this doesn't really fit well with Neutral Good. Any ideas or suggestions? Cruel and Devious are not necessarily counter to being Neutral Good. It all depends on how you imploy your cruel and devious nature. Cruel - could be as simple as being a bully, and "punishing" those who get ion your way. As you view yourself as the greatest force for "good" in the room, you are "entitled" to special treatment. Those who do not give you the treatment you so rightly deserve are subject to your wrath, ridicule, and mistreatment. Others may not like you very much, but that doesn't necessarily make you evil. Devious - This could be a lawyer. You are gifted with your speach and able to get people to do thing for you, and they will feel honored in doing so. Think Tom Sawyer and painting the fence. This also builds into the cruel dtreak as that you can talk people into doing things they wouldn't normally do, or to cover your mistratment of others. It also means that you may have a long term plan in mind, thus you are doing things to advance some larger plan. There is a description of a "lawful good" character which I read somewhere. But based on some of his actions you would think that the character was definately evil. But all of his efforts and actions were for the benefit of his lord or church. You can cover a great many evil acts if they are done in the name of advancing "good". The acts may be evil, but the individual feels they are justified to advance his cause. If that cause is "good", then the character can be classified as "good". Remember, D&D classifies allignment in terms of Black and White. Your are this, or you are that. In reality, there are 1000 shades of grey in between.
Rudigar Alabaster III 12-12-03, 05:28 PM	A Lot of these are excellent. I hope to see more, but I am thinking on a few of them, thats for sure! ;) And it is both, not a choice of either.
pawsplay 12-17-03, 09:13 PM	The cruel and devious NG person lies to his best friend to steal his girl, but ends up dying saving some pilgrims from orcs.