Character Design Help [Archive] - Wizards Community

Character Design Help [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Shiikeras
10-22-06, 03:13 PM Ok, I'm making a character for a campaign, and i have an idea, but don't know the best way to do it. The only non-core books I can use is Complete Divine.

Concept: He's chaotic neutral, bordering on evil. He doesn't do very many 'evil' things, but has little morals. This is due to his insanity. He is paritally sane, enough to make desicions, however. He is totally obsessed with necromancy, for some reason, though. The party won't really mind undead following them, or the fact that he needs to look fightening (Ragged, bloody robes, huge fancy scythe) , as they are true neutral, neutral evil, chaotic good (barely) and lawful neutral. None of them are really 'good' and there are no paladins or monks or things like that.

Main focus: Necromancy. I mean, totally obsessed. He goes into bloodlust fits, and is constantly trying to make the 'perfect' undead.

Other: He must be decent at combat, and weild a scythe. This is my major problem.
FRRC
10-22-06, 03:36 PM I had an idea for a Necromancer once, heres what I had:

You have a bloodied apron that you carry around. Every enemy you kill, you look at their insides and write various notes (After battle, unless its vital for some reason). You alibi is that defiling corpses will increase your knowledge on saving people when they have serious wounds; but you're really just furthering your knowledge on the dead.

In my opinon a Cleric/Fighter might be good. Be against healing spells since they prevent your research. Take spells that weaken opponents physically, leaving them victims to your surgery. You're going to need to persuade your DM to let you use Libris Mortis.
Shiikeras
10-22-06, 03:45 PM I can't use that book, no-one has it. We're poor. Fighter/cleric does sound good, but the alibi isn't needed. He has one, I see I forgot to mention it. He lived with a family of clerics, priests of Wee Jas. He ended up seeing so much death, that he went berserk and burned the temple. His parents had been collecting body parts for undead. And he doesn't like bloody disembowled corpes much, he likes intact ones :D

The only cleric/fighter problem I see is that he gets Animate Dead at a higher level, unless he does pure cleric until lvl 6. (Lvl 5 group)
FRRC
10-22-06, 03:54 PM Well you dont need to like take a load of Fighter levels, just the first couple to get you started off. You're going to need Martial Weapon Proficiency to use the Scythe and the Fighter is a good way to dip into that without wasting a feat.

Animate Dead is a level 3 Cleric spell. Level 3 spells, for clerics, come at level 5 :)
kelvinaw273
10-22-06, 03:55 PM Ok, I'm making a character for a campaign, and i have an idea, but don't know the best way to do it. The only non-core books I can use is Complete Divine.

Concept: He's chaotic neutral, bordering on evil. He doesn't do very many 'evil' things, but has little morals. This is due to his insanity. He is paritally sane, enough to make desicions, however. He is totally obsessed with necromancy, for some reason, though. The party won't really mind undead following them, or the fact that he needs to look fightening (Ragged, bloody robes, huge fancy scythe) , as they are true neutral, neutral evil, chaotic good (barely) and lawful neutral. None of them are really 'good' and there are no paladins or monks or things like that.

Main focus: Necromancy. I mean, totally obsessed. He goes into bloodlust fits, and is constantly trying to make the 'perfect' undead.

Other: He must be decent at combat, and weild a scythe. This is my major problem.

Suggestion: make him a death-focussed Favoured Soul. The FS is 'touched' anyway by the divine, the whole character concept of the class to me is that of somebody selected by forces beyond their ken, so being a bit crazy is OK. The high Charisma he'd need would be ideal for your concept of the character been visually impressive. FS gets their deity's weapon as a profficiency, and Death weilds a scythe so you won't have to waste a feat there.

Favoured Souls are OK at fighting, with 3/4 BAB, decent armour and d8 hit dice, plus they get the full gamut of clerical spells.

The only other way I see this as a single class would be if you took an Ardent with the Death/combat concept, but you don't have that sourcebook.
Shiikeras
10-22-06, 04:08 PM Hmm, one level in fighter or favored soul both sound good. And you're right about the charisma. Is intimidate a FS class skill?
FRRC
10-22-06, 04:09 PM Hmm, one level in fighter or favored soul both sound good. And you're right about the charisma. Is intimidate a FS class skill?

No.
Shiikeras
10-22-06, 06:03 PM Crap. Then I might as well go with ftr1clr5. It's simpler anyway, and I get a free feat.
Dragonsblood
10-22-06, 11:13 PM I'd much rather use a feat for a weapon proficiancy than push back spell progression. Straight cleric is the way to go. I struggle to find worthwhile feats for clerics anyway.
Cherubaddon
10-22-06, 11:21 PM I know you'll hate this suggestion, but seriously...consider getting Heroes of Horror and, specifically, the Dread Necromancer: You have one martial weapon proficiency (which you can take the scythe for), have a host of necromancy spells, disgusting class features, and ultimately become a lich!
I am sorry I can't really help you with divine necromancers, as mine are always arcane.
Good luck anyway!
kelvinaw273
10-23-06, 01:15 AM Hmm, one level in fighter or favored soul both sound good. And you're right about the charisma. Is intimidate a FS class skill?

No, but if you want skills take a level of rogue. It may cut your spell abilities by 1 level, but you gain +1d6 sneak attack, and I think you are aiming at a more dangerous melee adversery than a spell caster.

Besides, there are a hundred and one ways of getting Intimidate, from feats to multiclassing to cross-class skills. I still think FS is the way to go for this character for sheer flavour ...
Reversefigure4
10-24-06, 08:30 PM If he's CN/CE anyway, and partially insane, a 1 level dip in Barbarian might be the one to go for (particularly if it's your first level... starting with max intimidate and 12 HP). Rage, Fast Movement, both good for those insane fits, and it gives you the Weapon Prof to use the Scythe.

Or you could just go straight Cleric and take MWP: Scythe. Cleric's don't need a huge amount of feats, and are good enough to stand in combat on their own.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Shiikeras 10-22-06, 03:13 PM	Ok, I'm making a character for a campaign, and i have an idea, but don't know the best way to do it. The only non-core books I can use is Complete Divine. Concept: He's chaotic neutral, bordering on evil. He doesn't do very many 'evil' things, but has little morals. This is due to his insanity. He is paritally sane, enough to make desicions, however. He is totally obsessed with necromancy, for some reason, though. The party won't really mind undead following them, or the fact that he needs to look fightening (Ragged, bloody robes, huge fancy scythe) , as they are true neutral, neutral evil, chaotic good (barely) and lawful neutral. None of them are really 'good' and there are no paladins or monks or things like that. Main focus: Necromancy. I mean, totally obsessed. He goes into bloodlust fits, and is constantly trying to make the 'perfect' undead. Other: He must be decent at combat, and weild a scythe. This is my major problem.
FRRC 10-22-06, 03:36 PM	I had an idea for a Necromancer once, heres what I had: You have a bloodied apron that you carry around. Every enemy you kill, you look at their insides and write various notes (After battle, unless its vital for some reason). You alibi is that defiling corpses will increase your knowledge on saving people when they have serious wounds; but you're really just furthering your knowledge on the dead. In my opinon a Cleric/Fighter might be good. Be against healing spells since they prevent your research. Take spells that weaken opponents physically, leaving them victims to your surgery. You're going to need to persuade your DM to let you use Libris Mortis.
Shiikeras 10-22-06, 03:45 PM	I can't use that book, no-one has it. We're poor. Fighter/cleric does sound good, but the alibi isn't needed. He has one, I see I forgot to mention it. He lived with a family of clerics, priests of Wee Jas. He ended up seeing so much death, that he went berserk and burned the temple. His parents had been collecting body parts for undead. And he doesn't like bloody disembowled corpes much, he likes intact ones :D The only cleric/fighter problem I see is that he gets Animate Dead at a higher level, unless he does pure cleric until lvl 6. (Lvl 5 group)
FRRC 10-22-06, 03:54 PM	Well you dont need to like take a load of Fighter levels, just the first couple to get you started off. You're going to need Martial Weapon Proficiency to use the Scythe and the Fighter is a good way to dip into that without wasting a feat. Animate Dead is a level 3 Cleric spell. Level 3 spells, for clerics, come at level 5 :)
kelvinaw273 10-22-06, 03:55 PM	Ok, I'm making a character for a campaign, and i have an idea, but don't know the best way to do it. The only non-core books I can use is Complete Divine. Concept: He's chaotic neutral, bordering on evil. He doesn't do very many 'evil' things, but has little morals. This is due to his insanity. He is paritally sane, enough to make desicions, however. He is totally obsessed with necromancy, for some reason, though. The party won't really mind undead following them, or the fact that he needs to look fightening (Ragged, bloody robes, huge fancy scythe) , as they are true neutral, neutral evil, chaotic good (barely) and lawful neutral. None of them are really 'good' and there are no paladins or monks or things like that. Main focus: Necromancy. I mean, totally obsessed. He goes into bloodlust fits, and is constantly trying to make the 'perfect' undead. Other: He must be decent at combat, and weild a scythe. This is my major problem. Suggestion: make him a death-focussed Favoured Soul. The FS is 'touched' anyway by the divine, the whole character concept of the class to me is that of somebody selected by forces beyond their ken, so being a bit crazy is OK. The high Charisma he'd need would be ideal for your concept of the character been visually impressive. FS gets their deity's weapon as a profficiency, and Death weilds a scythe so you won't have to waste a feat there. Favoured Souls are OK at fighting, with 3/4 BAB, decent armour and d8 hit dice, plus they get the full gamut of clerical spells. The only other way I see this as a single class would be if you took an Ardent with the Death/combat concept, but you don't have that sourcebook.
Shiikeras 10-22-06, 04:08 PM	Hmm, one level in fighter or favored soul both sound good. And you're right about the charisma. Is intimidate a FS class skill?
FRRC 10-22-06, 04:09 PM	Hmm, one level in fighter or favored soul both sound good. And you're right about the charisma. Is intimidate a FS class skill? No.
Shiikeras 10-22-06, 06:03 PM	Crap. Then I might as well go with ftr1clr5. It's simpler anyway, and I get a free feat.
Dragonsblood 10-22-06, 11:13 PM	I'd much rather use a feat for a weapon proficiancy than push back spell progression. Straight cleric is the way to go. I struggle to find worthwhile feats for clerics anyway.
Cherubaddon 10-22-06, 11:21 PM	I know you'll hate this suggestion, but seriously...consider getting Heroes of Horror and, specifically, the Dread Necromancer: You have one martial weapon proficiency (which you can take the scythe for), have a host of necromancy spells, disgusting class features, and ultimately become a lich! I am sorry I can't really help you with divine necromancers, as mine are always arcane. Good luck anyway!
kelvinaw273 10-23-06, 01:15 AM	Hmm, one level in fighter or favored soul both sound good. And you're right about the charisma. Is intimidate a FS class skill? No, but if you want skills take a level of rogue. It may cut your spell abilities by 1 level, but you gain +1d6 sneak attack, and I think you are aiming at a more dangerous melee adversery than a spell caster. Besides, there are a hundred and one ways of getting Intimidate, from feats to multiclassing to cross-class skills. I still think FS is the way to go for this character for sheer flavour ...
Reversefigure4 10-24-06, 08:30 PM	If he's CN/CE anyway, and partially insane, a 1 level dip in Barbarian might be the one to go for (particularly if it's your first level... starting with max intimidate and 12 HP). Rage, Fast Movement, both good for those insane fits, and it gives you the Weapon Prof to use the Scythe. Or you could just go straight Cleric and take MWP: Scythe. Cleric's don't need a huge amount of feats, and are good enough to stand in combat on their own.