Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ithilorien 02-23-04, 02:15 AM	I think it is an interesting concept that people believe they can create a D&D character before assigning a race or class to them. So here is my attempt at creating a character without a class or race in mind, and then I'd like everyone to suggest which they think best fits and why, so here goes. Conflicted is a key theme of this character. The youngest of several children in a middle-class family the parents were loving yet distant and had little time for the child. The odd-man out, they were much maligned and mistreated by other children, to the point of serious physical abuse and ostracization. Repeated episodes of extreme trauma. Not to get too graphic as this is not an adults-only board, but the kid had a rough time at the hands of someone older and more powerful, let your imagination work with that. The experience left them emotionally scarred, distrustful of others, and extremely vulnerable when confronted by the suffering of others. Finally found a path, group, set of friends, et cetera to which they were accepted and found themself capable, if not even extremely so with. They cling to this as if it is a saving grace, their sense of self is defined in part by it. Needy yet independent. They hate to rely on others and seek to be an impervious fortress of solitude, and yet their is a driving hunger for acceptance and appreciation from others. Shy and kind of withdrawn, a very socially reactive person, they actually love to talk to, befriend, and help others, but find it almost impossible to approach them or make the first move. Yet they also create an appearance of flightiness, vanity, and high spirits because they think it makes them more attractive. Melancholy/Brooding/Moody, in the extreme. The thought is infinitely more important than the deed to this character, in part because they will often spend more time in the analysis of their thoughts and motives than in actually carrying them out. On the other hand, because action is such a novelty it is a kind of cathartic experience and they thoroughly enjoy accomplishing things when they do. Compassionate, yet self-centered. The character is mortified by the pain of innocents, they think no one should ever have to experience pain and if they didn't there could be no evil in the world, but they still put themselves first. They avoid attachments which they believe will cause them pain and sometimes find it easier to just give up than suffer themselves for a cause they feel is hopeless. Iconoclast. Will sometimes be contrary for the sake of argument, exults in making others "cheerfully exasperated" with them. Ha, tricky little bugger, isn't he? Okay - have a go!
Alterwind 02-23-04, 03:45 AM	I would say Human/Half orc/Half elf Fighter/rouge or Ranger Chaotic Good or True Nuetral Human makes the most sence to because of the discription of the partents. Half-orc or Half-elf raised in a human domonated area seem to fit some what. Kinda sound like an urban setting thats why I have the Ftr/rog but ranger works just as well
the_heart 02-23-04, 06:58 AM	some of that sounds a little like me :D problem i have is that i can rationalise nearly any class (bard/sorc i'd struggle with) from that description. still my best attempt would be: human or halfling wizard(or possibly rogue) ng with neutral tendancies. caters to his need for independance, but doesn't exclude him from society as much as say a ranger would. magic is often seen as a path to power that would stop people from hurting you, moreso than fighter types especially as this archtype may try to avoid interpersonal conflict. personal trauma can work to catalyse faith or drive you from it. i'll go with driving from it in this instance- and add the trait, he tends to distrust deities. go rogue if he prefers to run from trouble rather than protect himself from it.
Joe Khol 02-23-04, 07:47 AM	Interesting back-story which sounds to me you could fit pretty much any race/class combination you wanted to. The first thing which jumps to mind of Half-Orc Barbarian. Maybe there was a bit of Half-Orc blood in the family which came to the fore in the character (hence the ostracization bit) and the rage as a kind of uncontrolled anger at the world in general could be interesting. A Ranger, Rogue or combination of the two could fit too. A loner forced to fend for themselves, learns to be observant and defensive. Another option would be Paladin with the idea to protect other innocents like himself, maybe after some kind of divine revelation. Admittedly a bit harder to fit the concept but it could work, maybe starting with something else (fighter, ranger etc) and moving towards Paladin later. Incidentally, this is kind of the way I usually develop characters. I come up with a core concept and general background first, then work out which race/class etc fits best before developing it further.
lantzer 02-23-04, 09:16 AM	He sounds like a 16th level human Goth. No, wait... A 16 -year old human Goth. :)
Nature-boy 02-23-04, 11:47 PM	Originally posted by lantzer He sounds like a 16th level human Goth. No, wait... A 16 -year old human Goth. :) Hey, this isn't the story of your life, is it, Itilorien?
PhaedrusXY 02-24-04, 02:25 AM	Chaotic good half-elven ranger/bard/master of the yuirwood*. The character is actually quite charismatic (bard), but also somewhat reclusive (ranger), and flighty (elven heritage). He/she took up with the guardians of the Yuir forest, and has taken to learning their ways with a passion, to gain approval from them. This lifestyle also leads to quite a bit of isolation, which suits him/her just fine. Heck, I think this would be a fun character to play. I might have to try it out in a game sometime! :D *From the Unapproachable East supplement for Forgotten Realms.