Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DeepwoodElvenArcher 07-01-04, 11:21 AM	My friend is starting a Forgotten Realms campiagn, and I for the love of all that's good and holy in this world, cannot think of a character. I've had hundreds of ideas and they've all fallen through. Does anyone have an idea for a 5th level character, whose unique enough to be fun yet not a half-dragon, half-fiend winged mind flayer? I know my partyalready has a rogue and most likely a cleric, but that's all I know for the moment.
Beamup 07-01-04, 11:55 AM	If your DM uses the rules for gradually progressing in a template, instead of taking it all at once, a lycanthrope can be very fun, and an outstanding tank (a role yet to be filled, you should note). Werebear or weretiger are great for this purpose. But, you can't have the entire template and all the animal HD at ECL 5, so those rules are necessary. For breakdowns of these templates as levelled progressions, do a search on the Wizards website for "savage progressions." This leads to a series of articles providing such breakdowns
Old_One 07-01-04, 12:28 PM	First of let me just say that a halfling barbarian is always fun ("Whoo you calin short!? ARRGHH!!"). But not very powerfull. Other than that maybe a darwen wizard? Since the Thunder Blessing there are quite a number of the beraded folk taking up magic as a calling and showing the elvs they don't hold the monopoly on powerfull spells anymore. Then there is the always lovable gnome ranger with a thing for foxes and a deep hatred for fey for molesting his great great greatuncle when he is inventing his new turnip growing machine. Or his long lost brother who grew up with squirles and became a druid, the only problem is he can't speek common but knows sylvian tought to him by a dryad. And never underestimate the human fighter with a dark side. Is that brimstone I smell? Why yes it is now go meet my great great great great greatmother the Succubus! (or any other denziens of the lower planes) And don't get me started on the asimar.... Ohh and the half-drow that grew up in slavery in the under dark. He recently escaped and is finding live on the surface a bit more like the one under it then he expected. So he takes up a shild of Helm and decides to end all injustice, prejudice be damed.
MetalGemini 07-01-04, 01:19 PM	Minotaurs can be fun. I've been thinking about running a minotaur cleric of Tempus recently. Use the progression on the WotC site with 4 levels minotaur and 1 cleric (ECL 5). You won't be the best cleric until you take more levels, but you'll have more to do than just kill stuff. Halfling rangers are fun too. Do with two-weapon fighting style but only use daggers or short swords. With weapon finesse, you'll be able to have a lower strength but good to hit and AC. The master thrower PrC is right up the same alley.
preacher of nothing 07-01-04, 02:25 PM	think druid shifter.....just...think druid shifter. I'm not sure i remember what lvl you have to be to take it but i think 8 or lower....so i'm thinking human druid soon to be shifter....
Ghostie Ghost 07-01-04, 03:19 PM	the half-orc wizard/barbarian is one of the funnest ever "who you callin stupid *****, FIREBALL, RAGE, CRITICAL HIT WITH AXE, FLAME ARROW, CRITICAL HIT WITH AXE, THUNDER BOLT" (believe me its true, this happened)
roll8dn 07-02-04, 12:10 AM	5th level, let me see........ Ah! Here it is! It is not the most original idea, but play the dwarven Battlerager. Barbarian1/Fighter4, take: Improved Unarmed Strike, Weapon Focus (Unarmed Strike), Improved Disarm, and Power Attack. Buy him a set of spiked full plate, along with enhancement bonuses to both the spikes and the armor, and put the rest into magic items (read: "potions"). He could be the penultimate dwarf, drinking and fighting all day long. You could play a Gold Dwarf Sorcerer (they take a -2 penalty to DEX instead of CHA). How about a Moon Elf Bard2/Urban Ranger3 (From UA)? You get the bard's knowledge and class skills, as well as a small selection of arcane spells, as well as the ranger's tracking skill in town. You could also make a Fire Genasi Wizard4 from Calimshan, and take the Bloodline of Fire feat as well as specializing in Evocation. You would be the ultimate battle platform. Just a couple of thoughts.
ussie 07-02-04, 05:49 AM	Id go with an telepath rogue miz, 3 levels or rogue to get a nice 2d6 sneak and take the rest on telepath max out bluff, take a lair psicrystal, skill focus bluff, +3cha 8+2+2+3=+15 bluff make a bluff check each time u attack and if they fail a sense motive check (usually DC 17 min to a max of 35 at level 5) a damage roll of 3d6, kinda nifty, then keep building up on the telepath so u can get some cool powers. Throw in a psionic feat here and there to increase dmaage im still working on this character if u ever read xmen youll know who im making this after ussie :angel:
smrtgmp 07-02-04, 08:56 AM	Those three levels of rogue will be a waste at higher character levels. If you want to be a spell caster, dont take anything that will detract from your caster level. It may help at first, but you'll be kicking your self later. I am currently playing a telepath, and I'm one of the only spell casters in the group that doesnt have an LA, so I get my new powers as soon as possible while the others have to wait. The sorcerer is an assimar, so he's two levels behind me as far as aquiring new spells is concerned. Next level I'll be getting 3rd level powers, and he'll just be getting second level spells.
JoshRodriguez 07-02-04, 09:51 AM	Monk/Wizard (one of Azuth's followers) is a lot of fun at lower levels. Something kind of neat about a guy who would just as soon deck you as cast magic missle on you. Half-orc druid: This is a fun one, too. Play him as being a feral, smelly, antlers-and-hides wearing kind of guy. Definately not the tree-hugger stereotype. Halfling Hell-hurler: Straight fighter or maybe fighter/rogue. Specializes in ranged combat with daggers. Very effective if used right. Drow Ranger: There is no way that this kind of character would be fun or popular. Do not play. Gnomish Weremonkey: A naturally lycanthropic weremonky is a LA+4 with one HD of monkey under his belt. You could make a fun character with this. Wereeagle: +4 LA, one HD of animal and available to any medium-sized race. Flight and a relatively innocuous form is useful for scouting. Might be interesting for a ranger-type chracter. Bear: I do not recommend playing a bear as bears are antisocial and tend to explode under duress. Dwarven Brawler: Armor up a dwarf and have him fight with spiked guantlets. Fun tank character and intimidating when a mage casts "enlarge person" on him.
Larcen26 07-02-04, 09:53 AM	One word... BARDbarian
Zelphi 07-02-04, 10:36 AM	Have you considered being somethign normal - or is that too outlandish? Be a gnoll noble at least.
rabidmonkey201 07-02-04, 07:07 PM	Hokay, heres my genious idea 'bout making an evil evil character: Have a human/lich wizard, with the improved familliar feat, having a shadow as a familiar (check w/ your dm if that's too powerful for a familliar). whenever somthing is killed by a shadow, it becomes one itself under your control. pretty soon, you'l have an army of shadows! YAY! What fun. Or, even better, be a vampier, and hord an army of undead!
Shifting Master 07-02-04, 07:24 PM	Originally posted by JoshRodriguez Gnomish Weremonkey: A naturally lycanthropic weremonky is a LA+4 with one HD of monkey under his belt. You could make a fun character with this. Not bad. Try annoying the party paladin with this one. Or better yet, annoy the DM.
Telas 07-03-04, 03:45 AM	Human fighter: Chainmail, Longsword, and Shield. The kicker is, when you meet people, they'll go nuts trying to figure out what you are. I mean, what are the chances of someone playing that character? Telas, tongue firmly planted in cheek.
preacher of nothing 07-03-04, 09:18 AM	think druid shifter.....just...think druid shifter. I'm not sure i remember what lvl you have to be to take it but i think 8 or lower....so i'm thinking human druid soon to be shifter.... looked it up. You can become a shifter at 4th level. So again, i insist with druid4/shifter1. Hey look! a tree-hugger! No wait...he's turning into something....a...dragon..????????:OMG!
ninjarabbit 07-03-04, 05:10 PM	Gnome paladin with a war dog for a mount, fits into places big mounts can't so you can use your mounted attacks in cramped quarters and negate your mobility penalty.
Luminous Crayon 07-03-04, 05:20 PM	Human Weapon-Finesse fighter, specializing in the unarmed strike, the shortsword, and the holy union of the two: grappling. Gauntlets and weapon specialization give your punches some oomph, and that magic shortsword is just the ticket for foes who have DR, or are too big to fit in a headlock. Heck, take TWF and use two swords when the mood strikes you, or sword things with one hand and punch with the other. It's not as if you'll be low on feats. Grappling requires only a touch attack, so you can get at things with otherwise daunting ACs. You can hold an opponent immobile and pinned while your allies smash away, you can steer a battle by limiting an enemy's options, and you can finally show those damn mages who's the boss. The shortsword's a light weapon, so you can use it during a grapple.
Ruix 07-03-04, 08:08 PM	I've wanted to play a young, female barbarian for a while - just thought it would be cool to just be completely against the stereotype of the ugly half-orc barb. Kind of like the halfling barbarian, but without all the racial problems...
His Majesty 07-05-04, 06:03 AM	Behold! I have the ultimate solution for this problem! The Character Concept Compilation (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=228342) Huzzah!
Pyriel 07-05-04, 06:56 PM	ive been wanting to play a ranger or a pally that uses a flying mount and destroys you with his lance...simple but takes a while to get everything good
DeathMagus 07-06-04, 11:13 AM	Be a cleric, but keep that a secret and play him as a fighter. Clerics are just barely strong enough, you might get by, especially if you secretly cast combat bonus spells on yourself when no one's looking. If you can hide your true class until late game, imagine the look on your group's faces when you start whaling out the spells. The fun in this playing style is that you are always trying to keep a secret from the other players, and (trust me) it will keep you on your toes.
SmiloDan 07-06-04, 03:03 PM	I just had fun with a kender rogue 4 /fighter 2. I took Combat Reflexes, Weapon Finesse, Spiked Chain, Combat Expertise, and Improved Feint. I was able to get a sneak attack almost all the time. Until I faced 4 shadow wights. I hate incorporeal undead.
Tony Vargas 07-06-04, 07:27 PM	Well, that leaves you the warrior or arcanist positions for a standard party. That's actually a lot of room. A warrior type can be anything from an armored tank to a swashbuckler to a weapon master to a polearm-wielder to a tripmiester to a greatswording damage machine to an archer etc... Choices of weapons/armor and feats can result in a bewildering variety of character concepts. If you go archanist, and want to try something 'interesting' play a sorcerer, pick a tight theme or concept for your spells, and stick to it, even if it seems it'd make you a little ineffecient. You'd be surprised how effective you can turn out to be, and you get to play a very clearly-defined, fun, and often memorable character.
Telas 07-06-04, 07:42 PM	Originally posted by Tony Vargas If you go archanist, and want to try something 'interesting' play a sorcerer, pick a tight theme or concept for your spells, and stick to it, even if it seems it'd make you a little ineffecient. You'd be surprised how effective you can turn out to be, and you get to play a very clearly-defined, fun, and often memorable character. I had an absolute blast ('scuse the pun) playing a fire-oriented Magic-User in 1e AD&D. All he would learn were fire spells. It was specialization before there was specialization. Although I ticked off the party more than once, it was a fun character to play. Telas
diaboli 07-06-04, 07:47 PM	Originally posted by JoshRodriguez Gnomish Weremonkey: A naturally lycanthropic weremonky is a LA+4 with one HD of monkey under his belt. You could make a fun character with this. ROFLMAO, :heehee I'm so going to use this idea or something very close to it next character build I make in this level range.
SmiloDan 07-06-04, 07:59 PM	How about a Hit-and-Run barbarian/fighter with the Spring Attack tree? It would pretty much negate the AC penalty for raging since you would run in, hit, and run away in the same round. Maybe a barbarian 4/fighter 1 or Bar 3/fighter 2 or Bar 1/fighter 4? Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack Plus... Power Attack, Cleave? Combat Reflexes, Spiked Chain cheese? How about a Monk with the Spiked Chain and Spring Attack (eventually).
Zolgar 07-06-04, 09:06 PM	Hmm.. One of my favorites is the Halfling Outrider. For a slightly (just 'slightly') overpowering tank, IMHO it beats the heck out of lycanthropes. One of the following races with the Feral template: Half orc Orc Halfing Dwarf Barbarian. Feral anthro wolverine. ECL 5, no class levels yet. (you rage when hit, huzzah!) Anthro croc fighter with the prehensile tail feat. (wield a great sword in your hands, and a shortsword in your tail) Winged halfling fighter pursuing Deepwood Sniper. Bugbear barbarian (bugbear 3hd+1 ECL, first level barbarian) Savage progression centaur (at 7th level you take your class) pursuing rogue. Yes, I said centaur rogue :p Anthro tiger monk. Drawf fighter, make sure you get an 18 base con, so it's 20 total. First feat, toughness. And then all of your other feats (all 17 more) in to Roll With It, 20th level dwarven fighter, who takes 34 hp less damage from every attack! Halfing dual dagger wielding fighter pursuing tempest. Centaur (again, 5th level) pursuing the Devoted Defender PrC (How many devoted defenders can also act as steed for their charge, without looking like an idiot?) Griffon, after you finish Griffon levels, just take fighter, boost yourself to be 1337 (it's really good if you take the 'improved fly' feat from MotW).. Remember, you can't talk though. 2 headed human fighter: 2 headed grants you an extra 2 hd, 2 more con, the feat improved initative and combat reflexes free, and it's a level adjustment of +2. So first level fighter is level 4, you have 3 hd (1d10 and 2d8), with 4 feats on top of the 2 bonus feats, a +1 natural armor.. Oh, and the little detail of 'superior two weapon fighting'.... free. Let's see.. what else can I come up with? I think that's enough obscure and/or powerful ideas :)
Stardrake 07-06-04, 10:54 PM	Well, if you want to play with the party's heads a bit, try a human or half-elf Paladin of Sune--a paladin who definitely does NOT have the proverbial stick up the proverbial bottom. (If you REALLY want to play with their heads, substitute a Dwarf or Half-Orc for the Human....:smirk: )
Zelphi 07-08-04, 09:24 AM	Play a heavily level drained Elminster. He accidently trips into a gate oneday and only escapes as a 5th level version of himself - with all the memories and knowledge - but none of the ability.
Theocracity 07-08-04, 10:19 AM	I've always liked the idea of playing a goblin wolfrider. It would work well, because a wolf mount doesn't have to be given up when dungeon crawling like a horse would. Also, I've had a kobold knifefighter character named Tyrian bouncing around for a while that's been pretty cool. Really flashy and confident personality, an exiled general of a kobold army with good leadership skills. I've often liked gnolls as alternative character races. They're excellent roleplaying opportunities, as you get to act like a humanoid hyena, with the nasty personality and hideous laugh and everything. My gnoll ranged fighter Crosswise is still one of my favorite characters. As for non-monster races, I had a kind of goth bard idea. A bard who has a fascination with dead things, and rather than singing plays a violin in a creepy gypsy style. Has a tendency to whip out a sketchbook and draw what's happening (especially if it's combat). Fights with a spiked chain and has a really creepy, artsy personality. Kind of scrapped personally because I don't think I could play a goth with a straight face.
JoshRodriguez 07-08-04, 10:41 AM	I don't think I could play a goth with a straight face. You need a sad face covered in pancake makeup.
Zolgar 07-08-04, 02:03 PM	Human cleric > Apostle of Peace.... Everyone will hate you for it! ;) Nixie fae paladin > Anointed Knight. Weapon of choice? Bow. Make sure you get the Ranged Smite Evil feat :) Any race without much of an ECL fighter, pursuing the Weapon Master PrC. Build your Cha up real good! Half dragon psionisist (Egoist). Some speak against templated casters, but that one is a good one ;) A Gith (either kind) psion. Half dragon fighter pursuing Vassal of Bahamut. Any race, a feral dwarf could be fun though, barbarian, pursuing the Champion of Gwynharf PrC. Again, enough for now...
Theocracity 07-08-04, 02:48 PM	Originally posted by JoshRodriguez You need a sad face covered in pancake makeup. Mmmm...delicious, buttery pancakes.... Oh yeah.....
Ruix 07-08-04, 06:04 PM	Originally posted by Zelphi Play a heavily level drained Elminster. He accidently trips into a gate oneday and only escapes as a 5th level version of himself - with all the memories and knowledge - but none of the ability. Or you could utilize one of my favorite spells - Simalcrum - say Elminster decided to make a simalcrum of himself for some reason (thats you!) but for some reason the spell goes wrong and you are not under his control any longer...I think it would be kind of fun, but melting once you hit 0 hit points might be a bit of a problem...you would obviously had to say that you were an advanced simalcrum, much more human-like or something. You could have very interesting character issues - heck, it would be cool to see your character evolve into an evil version of elminster...and just dealing with the fact that you are basically a clone would make your character interesting.
Telas 07-08-04, 06:21 PM	You could have a Pinnocchio-like quest to be a "real person". That's a couple week's worth of adventure right there.... Telas
SmiloDan 07-08-04, 06:27 PM	Azure Bonds SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ** * * * * Heck, that's almost what Alias is!
Chasmodai 07-11-04, 12:58 PM	Play a half-orc monk. Take the Raging Monk variant from one of the Dragon issues (can't remember which, but it was shortly after 3.5 and it had all the warrior classes in it). Basically you give up your unarmored AC bonus and fast movement for Barbarian Rage and DR. For feats take Flying Kick, Headlong Rush and Battlejump. If you want, take levels in either Druid or Psychic Warrior for access to Lion's Charge. Really really fun to play.