Running a homebrew superspy: Need advice - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Running a homebrew superspy: Need advice

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
hanzo187
Jul 09, 2010 13:16:08 I'm in the process of creating my own espionage//thievery/stealth specialist (akin to a ninja) for Eberron (4E). This character is intended for my hombrew campaign, but I'm also transferring it to Eberron because...well, I want to. I'm debating whether to make him a PC or NPC, but he'll be level 18. Here's some info to help:

Rat-Man

   Ability Scores: +2 Dexterity, +2 Wisdom or Charisma
   7 square speed
   Low-Light Vision

   +2 Stealth, +2 Thievery

   Gains a +2 racial bonus to AC against area and ranged attacks.
   Has the elf's Wild Step
   Has an at-will racial power (no action) that functions in cover or concealment, increasing the
     attack penalty by 1 (2 at 21st)

Since it's an animal/human hybrid, I'm trying to figure out the origin (there's seven others, but we'll focus on just this one). I have it set for my campaign, but for Eberron, my best guess would be, over a thousand years ago, House Vadalis ran experiments on humans, bonding them with different animals, or perhaps a co-venture between them and House Cannith using a precursor to a creation forge, but advice to flesh this out is welcome. There's also the matter of how they covered it up or made them seem like a shifter variant, since this kind of experimentation would have serious consequences

I'm also trying to figure how he'll acquire his skills. At his current level, he'll be 40 years old (his life span is 220-240 years, so he's still very young), so there's time for him to train. And yes, I wanted him to pick up his skills through training. He'll be level 18 (if PC, rogue/daggermaster with ranger multiclass for Hunter's Quarry damage)

As it stands, I'd like him to have combat training from the khesh'dar (more the shaarat'khesh than the taarka'khesh), which would explain his affinity for daggers, intelligence gathering from the King's Citadel (more likely the Dark Lanterns), and maybe some schooling in House Phiarlan's Demesnes of Motion and Shadow, since they fit what I'm looking for. I was thinking the Shadow Network, too, but I don't think it'd work if you read below.

As of the start of the campaign, he's based in Sharn (though it's unknown what district he lives in), and he provided espionage services for Breland and Darguun (later in the Last War), and performed counterintelligence and sabotage operations against the Order of the Emerald Claw (which would explain why training under the Shadow Network may not be feasible, unless someone has a suggestion to make it work) and The Trust (odd, considering he worked for Breland, but allied nations don't always agree), all during the Last War. He works out of Sharn because he has numerous contacts for theft operations (gotta find work post-war), espionage, and intelligence. He refuses assassination, even though he's good at it.

Personality-wise, this guy is generally distrustful, tight-lipped, and careful how he deals with others (with only one exception), so he usually adopts a code name to throw off the City Watch (there's some of his race in Sharn, which is also why he lives here). He also expects people to not trust him, given his profession. There's more, but this'll get long.

I'm also considering giving this character a wife. Specifically, a changeling. It would make his life easier (many covers) and harder (his enemies, if aware of this, have a target), but I like this idea.

My big question is: How can I logically give this character training from all these factions? I don't think an outsider would be readily accepted into any of these groups (especially the khesh'dar) without some form of merit, a display of skill, or finding something of import to any of them, either by chance or choice. People always make exceptions for exemplars, but multiple exceptions require more than pure talent to make it work.
#2
dharmatel
Jul 12, 2010 16:33:41 He can be Magebred. Check out page 96-96 of the 4e Eberron Campaign Guide. House Vadalis had a secret facility of bioengineered peoples that escaped following the Mourning.
#3
hanzo187
Jul 13, 2010 8:14:02 I've been thinking about some offshoot of the magebred. Some kind of early expierment that ended in failure. Remember, though, that these animal/human races appeared over a thousand years ago (I need the time gap for these races to gain some numbers). He's also 40, so he'd be 36 (well into adulthood) by the Day of Mourning.

In addition, I forgot to mention this bit, but this character was born in Sharn. He believes he is, anyway, as his first memories are of the city.
#4
hanzo187
Jul 31, 2010 9:04:00 No suggestions? Guess I'm on my own.
#5
ellorin
Jul 31, 2010 9:19:37
a.

My big question is: How can I logically give this character training from all these factions? I don't think an outsider would be readily accepted into any of these groups (especially the khesh'dar) without some form of merit, a display of skill, or finding something of import to any of them, either by chance or choice. People always make exceptions for exemplars, but multiple exceptions require more than pure talent to make it work.

How about a double agent who infiltrated the enemy faction at a young age and has been performing missions for both sides ever since?

Alternatively, you could always turn the experiment into a kesh'dar one(perhaps even a rat-hobgoblin)...or have your character on a mission in Cure on the day of Mourning, where his mutaion took place.

#6
Gilo
Jul 31, 2010 12:54:30 Maybe as part of the magebreed experiment he was implemented with the memories of 3-4 different dead agents (Phiarlan spy, Dhakaani Goblin, Gnome Trust agent etc..).
#7
hanzo187
Jul 31, 2010 14:49:28
a.
My big question is: How can I logically give this character training from all these factions? I don't think an outsider would be readily accepted into any of these groups (especially the khesh'dar) without some form of merit, a display of skill, or finding something of import to any of them, either by chance or choice. People always make exceptions for exemplars, but multiple exceptions require more than pure talent to make it work.

How about a double agent who infiltrated the enemy faction at a young age and has been performing missions for both sides ever since?

Alternatively, you could always turn the experiment into a kesh'dar one(perhaps even a rat-hobgoblin)...or have your character on a mission in Cure on the day of Mourning, where his mutaion took place.

Ooh, I like the idea of a double agent. He could be someone passing info to both sides. I don't intend for this character to be too interested in war itself (he's no pacifist, but killing doesn't really appeal to him), so he could be revealed as working both sides to prevent a conflict, giving each enough to be happy so he can go about his business. His level's high enough to make him able to actually pull it off, so yeah, I like that.

Maybe as part of the magebreed experiment he was implemented with the memories of 3-4 different dead agents (Phiarlan spy, Dhakaani Goblin, Gnome Trust agent etc..).

That sounds neat, just that it wouldn't be him, per se, as the race itself is a thousand years ago, but yeah, that would make the general predisposition for subterfuge easier to implement, and then an overarching part of the avdenture could be this revelation.

I like these ideas, and may even stick them into my homebrew campaign.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 hanzo187 Jul 09, 2010 13:16:08	I'm in the process of creating my own espionage//thievery/stealth specialist (akin to a ninja) for Eberron (4E). This character is intended for my hombrew campaign, but I'm also transferring it to Eberron because...well, I want to. I'm debating whether to make him a PC or NPC, but he'll be level 18. Here's some info to help: Rat-Man Ability Scores: +2 Dexterity, +2 Wisdom or Charisma 7 square speed Low-Light Vision +2 Stealth, +2 Thievery Gains a +2 racial bonus to AC against area and ranged attacks. Has the elf's Wild Step Has an at-will racial power (no action) that functions in cover or concealment, increasing the attack penalty by 1 (2 at 21st) Since it's an animal/human hybrid, I'm trying to figure out the origin (there's seven others, but we'll focus on just this one). I have it set for my campaign, but for Eberron, my best guess would be, over a thousand years ago, House Vadalis ran experiments on humans, bonding them with different animals, or perhaps a co-venture between them and House Cannith using a precursor to a creation forge, but advice to flesh this out is welcome. There's also the matter of how they covered it up or made them seem like a shifter variant, since this kind of experimentation would have serious consequences I'm also trying to figure how he'll acquire his skills. At his current level, he'll be 40 years old (his life span is 220-240 years, so he's still very young), so there's time for him to train. And yes, I wanted him to pick up his skills through training. He'll be level 18 (if PC, rogue/daggermaster with ranger multiclass for Hunter's Quarry damage) As it stands, I'd like him to have combat training from the khesh'dar (more the shaarat'khesh than the taarka'khesh), which would explain his affinity for daggers, intelligence gathering from the King's Citadel (more likely the Dark Lanterns), and maybe some schooling in House Phiarlan's Demesnes of Motion and Shadow, since they fit what I'm looking for. I was thinking the Shadow Network, too, but I don't think it'd work if you read below. As of the start of the campaign, he's based in Sharn (though it's unknown what district he lives in), and he provided espionage services for Breland and Darguun (later in the Last War), and performed counterintelligence and sabotage operations against the Order of the Emerald Claw (which would explain why training under the Shadow Network may not be feasible, unless someone has a suggestion to make it work) and The Trust (odd, considering he worked for Breland, but allied nations don't always agree), all during the Last War. He works out of Sharn because he has numerous contacts for theft operations (gotta find work post-war), espionage, and intelligence. He refuses assassination, even though he's good at it. Personality-wise, this guy is generally distrustful, tight-lipped, and careful how he deals with others (with only one exception), so he usually adopts a code name to throw off the City Watch (there's some of his race in Sharn, which is also why he lives here). He also expects people to not trust him, given his profession. There's more, but this'll get long. I'm also considering giving this character a wife. Specifically, a changeling. It would make his life easier (many covers) and harder (his enemies, if aware of this, have a target), but I like this idea. My big question is: How can I logically give this character training from all these factions? I don't think an outsider would be readily accepted into any of these groups (especially the khesh'dar) without some form of merit, a display of skill, or finding something of import to any of them, either by chance or choice. People always make exceptions for exemplars, but multiple exceptions require more than pure talent to make it work.
#2 dharmatel Jul 12, 2010 16:33:41	He can be Magebred. Check out page 96-96 of the 4e Eberron Campaign Guide. House Vadalis had a secret facility of bioengineered peoples that escaped following the Mourning.
#3 hanzo187 Jul 13, 2010 8:14:02	I've been thinking about some offshoot of the magebred. Some kind of early expierment that ended in failure. Remember, though, that these animal/human races appeared over a thousand years ago (I need the time gap for these races to gain some numbers). He's also 40, so he'd be 36 (well into adulthood) by the Day of Mourning. In addition, I forgot to mention this bit, but this character was born in Sharn. He believes he is, anyway, as his first memories are of the city.
#4 hanzo187 Jul 31, 2010 9:04:00	No suggestions? Guess I'm on my own.
#5 ellorin Jul 31, 2010 9:19:37	a. My big question is: How can I logically give this character training from all these factions? I don't think an outsider would be readily accepted into any of these groups (especially the khesh'dar) without some form of merit, a display of skill, or finding something of import to any of them, either by chance or choice. People always make exceptions for exemplars, but multiple exceptions require more than pure talent to make it work. How about a double agent who infiltrated the enemy faction at a young age and has been performing missions for both sides ever since? Alternatively, you could always turn the experiment into a kesh'dar one(perhaps even a rat-hobgoblin)...or have your character on a mission in Cure on the day of Mourning, where his mutaion took place.
#6 Gilo Jul 31, 2010 12:54:30	Maybe as part of the magebreed experiment he was implemented with the memories of 3-4 different dead agents (Phiarlan spy, Dhakaani Goblin, Gnome Trust agent etc..).
#7 hanzo187 Jul 31, 2010 14:49:28	a. My big question is: How can I logically give this character training from all these factions? I don't think an outsider would be readily accepted into any of these groups (especially the khesh'dar) without some form of merit, a display of skill, or finding something of import to any of them, either by chance or choice. People always make exceptions for exemplars, but multiple exceptions require more than pure talent to make it work. How about a double agent who infiltrated the enemy faction at a young age and has been performing missions for both sides ever since? Alternatively, you could always turn the experiment into a kesh'dar one(perhaps even a rat-hobgoblin)...or have your character on a mission in Cure on the day of Mourning, where his mutaion took place. Ooh, I like the idea of a double agent. He could be someone passing info to both sides. I don't intend for this character to be too interested in war itself (he's no pacifist, but killing doesn't really appeal to him), so he could be revealed as working both sides to prevent a conflict, giving each enough to be happy so he can go about his business. His level's high enough to make him able to actually pull it off, so yeah, I like that. Maybe as part of the magebreed experiment he was implemented with the memories of 3-4 different dead agents (Phiarlan spy, Dhakaani Goblin, Gnome Trust agent etc..). That sounds neat, just that it wouldn't be him, per se, as the race itself is a thousand years ago, but yeah, that would make the general predisposition for subterfuge easier to implement, and then an overarching part of the avdenture could be this revelation. I like these ideas, and may even stick them into my homebrew campaign.