Idea for a plague-ridden character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Idea for a plague-ridden character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
mikelr
10-07-07, 12:43 AM So I rolled up some stats for my next character... and this is what I got.

14, 14, 8, 16, 6, 14

I think I'm just going to go ahead and go for it! Hoorah! So far I'm thinking I want to roll up a half-drow (I know! I know!) rogue who will later take levels in cleric (Olidammara). Where most people would probably put the good stats in the combat abilities I think I'd like to try something a bit different!

So I'm thinking: Str 8, Dex 16, Con 6, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 14.

Gasp! Str 8!? Con 6!? I recently watched Kingdom of Heaven and I was kind of inspired by the king fellow who had leprosy (the mask thing was freaking' sweet). So I used the 8 and 6 to represent the characters random chronic, contagious disease. Is this a good idea? It sounds fun but I also don't want the character to be completely worthless.

We're going to start play at lvl 4 so I'll probably bump up the Wis 15, for future clericy goodness.

What I've come up with:

Often hailed as the most eligible man in all Freeport, Derrim had it all: chiseled good looks, quick wit, and a dashing personality. All the women wanted him. All the men wanted to be him. Freeport was his for the taking.

That is...until a magical plague struck Freeport. The highly contagious disease wreaked havoc on the victim's immune system, and covered their bodies in grotesque pus-filled open sores. The disease killed most of its victims within weeks of contraction. The stink of death and decay filled the air. Though a cure was found, Freeport's population had been nearly wiped out within a month.

The cure was imperfect. It could stop the spread of the disease but did nothing to reverse the damages already sustained by the victim's body.

Had Derrim contracted the disease just days later, the only signs of the illness would have been some barely noticeable scars. He was not so lucky. Derrim is weak and frail where he was once strong and healthy. Unsightly and horrific sores cover his once flawless features. He is forced daily to take mood-affecting drugs to retain the functionality he still has.

I see Derrim as a person at his worst. He still retains some of his former charm and vanity but his looks are just short of monstrous. He constantly wears a beautifully carved mithril mask over his face (even diseased he must look attractive), and perfumed silk bandages over any bit of flesh left exposed by his armor. I'd play him as extremely ill-tempered and bitter. He only continues to adventure to find some way to restore his former health and good looks.

Thoughts? Suggestions? What sort of alignment do ya'll think?

Edit -- Crap I thought I was posting to the Character Development thread! Sorry! Can this be moved?
JulesCARV
10-07-07, 12:50 AM Str 8 and con 6 are symmetrical around the average to str 13 and con 15, so I'm not sure you really need some special explanation for why you character is so extraordinarily weak and unhealthy, unless one regards a str 13, con 15 character as being extraordinarily strong and healthy to require a special explanation.

Nonetheless, it's a reasonable conceit for a story, and definitely has some potential.
Prator_the_Legendary
10-07-07, 08:05 PM Str 8 and con 6 are symmetrical around the average to str 13 and con 15, so I'm not sure you really need some special explanation for why you character is so extraordinarily weak and unhealthy, unless one regards a str 13, con 15 character as being extraordinarily strong and healthy to require a special explanation.
Given that 10 is supposed to be the score that represents the average human's stats on all corners, an explanation for why a person is noticeably feebler than most of the people around him might actually be justified.

I say you go ahead and roll with it. You're a sick man, and that's why you'll have HP growth problems for your entire adventuring career. There might even be flaw feats you can give yourself to represent the illness...

As for alignment... Ill-tempered and bitter doesn't tell me much. Those are negative characteristics, I guess, and he is adventuring for wholly selfish reasons, but.... Some people would call Dr. House Lawful Good, and I don't know what you can describe him as besides ill-tempered and bitter.
JulesCARV
10-07-07, 09:17 PM Some people would call Dr. House Lawful Good, and I don't know what you can describe him as besides ill-tempered and bitter.

Really? I once started a thread on House's alignment (http://forums.gleemax.com/wotc_archive/index.php/t-740543.html), and LG was the only alignment no one on the thread ever ascribed to him (IIRC).
metalmayhem80110
10-08-07, 01:58 AM Well, the idea sounds really cool. Only problem is that a 6 con, at 4th level, playing a half drow rogue.... You will have about as many hit points as a level 2 elven wizard at the start of the game...

I would honestly just take a 14 and throw it into con. You will still have your weak strength score, and be survivable. Just role-play out being weak, or whatever.

Or you know, you could just be ravaged by some sort of disease that eats away at your muscle tissue, not your ummm..... constitutiony stuff....

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
mikelr 10-07-07, 12:43 AM	So I rolled up some stats for my next character... and this is what I got. 14, 14, 8, 16, 6, 14 I think I'm just going to go ahead and go for it! Hoorah! So far I'm thinking I want to roll up a half-drow (I know! I know!) rogue who will later take levels in cleric (Olidammara). Where most people would probably put the good stats in the combat abilities I think I'd like to try something a bit different! So I'm thinking: Str 8, Dex 16, Con 6, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 14. Gasp! Str 8!? Con 6!? I recently watched Kingdom of Heaven and I was kind of inspired by the king fellow who had leprosy (the mask thing was freaking' sweet). So I used the 8 and 6 to represent the characters random chronic, contagious disease. Is this a good idea? It sounds fun but I also don't want the character to be completely worthless. We're going to start play at lvl 4 so I'll probably bump up the Wis 15, for future clericy goodness. What I've come up with: Often hailed as the most eligible man in all Freeport, Derrim had it all: chiseled good looks, quick wit, and a dashing personality. All the women wanted him. All the men wanted to be him. Freeport was his for the taking. That is...until a magical plague struck Freeport. The highly contagious disease wreaked havoc on the victim's immune system, and covered their bodies in grotesque pus-filled open sores. The disease killed most of its victims within weeks of contraction. The stink of death and decay filled the air. Though a cure was found, Freeport's population had been nearly wiped out within a month. The cure was imperfect. It could stop the spread of the disease but did nothing to reverse the damages already sustained by the victim's body. Had Derrim contracted the disease just days later, the only signs of the illness would have been some barely noticeable scars. He was not so lucky. Derrim is weak and frail where he was once strong and healthy. Unsightly and horrific sores cover his once flawless features. He is forced daily to take mood-affecting drugs to retain the functionality he still has. I see Derrim as a person at his worst. He still retains some of his former charm and vanity but his looks are just short of monstrous. He constantly wears a beautifully carved mithril mask over his face (even diseased he must look attractive), and perfumed silk bandages over any bit of flesh left exposed by his armor. I'd play him as extremely ill-tempered and bitter. He only continues to adventure to find some way to restore his former health and good looks. Thoughts? Suggestions? What sort of alignment do ya'll think? Edit -- Crap I thought I was posting to the Character Development thread! Sorry! Can this be moved?
JulesCARV 10-07-07, 12:50 AM	Str 8 and con 6 are symmetrical around the average to str 13 and con 15, so I'm not sure you really need some special explanation for why you character is so extraordinarily weak and unhealthy, unless one regards a str 13, con 15 character as being extraordinarily strong and healthy to require a special explanation. Nonetheless, it's a reasonable conceit for a story, and definitely has some potential.
Prator_the_Legendary 10-07-07, 08:05 PM	Str 8 and con 6 are symmetrical around the average to str 13 and con 15, so I'm not sure you really need some special explanation for why you character is so extraordinarily weak and unhealthy, unless one regards a str 13, con 15 character as being extraordinarily strong and healthy to require a special explanation. Given that 10 is supposed to be the score that represents the average human's stats on all corners, an explanation for why a person is noticeably feebler than most of the people around him might actually be justified. I say you go ahead and roll with it. You're a sick man, and that's why you'll have HP growth problems for your entire adventuring career. There might even be flaw feats you can give yourself to represent the illness... As for alignment... Ill-tempered and bitter doesn't tell me much. Those are negative characteristics, I guess, and he is adventuring for wholly selfish reasons, but.... Some people would call Dr. House Lawful Good, and I don't know what you can describe him as besides ill-tempered and bitter.
JulesCARV 10-07-07, 09:17 PM	Some people would call Dr. House Lawful Good, and I don't know what you can describe him as besides ill-tempered and bitter. Really? I once started a thread on House's alignment (http://forums.gleemax.com/wotc_archive/index.php/t-740543.html), and LG was the only alignment no one on the thread ever ascribed to him (IIRC).
metalmayhem80110 10-08-07, 01:58 AM	Well, the idea sounds really cool. Only problem is that a 6 con, at 4th level, playing a half drow rogue.... You will have about as many hit points as a level 2 elven wizard at the start of the game... I would honestly just take a 14 and throw it into con. You will still have your weak strength score, and be survivable. Just role-play out being weak, or whatever. Or you know, you could just be ravaged by some sort of disease that eats away at your muscle tissue, not your ummm..... constitutiony stuff....