Reflavoring Swordmage abilities & FR background check - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Reflavoring Swordmage abilities & FR background check

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
talex
Apr 01, 2009 23:23:45 Hoping I could get some help checking my background and making sure it fits in the Forgotten Realms setting, as my friends and I aren't incredibly familiar with it (especially 4E). I was also hoping someone could help me reflavor a couple of the Swordmage abilities.

Reflavoring

I vision Melchoir "Cloudcaller" Tyrum as teleporting around the battlefield, zipping from foe and ally alike. I'm fine with most of the Swordmage abilities, but was hoping for help reflavoring Lightning Lure and Aegis of Shielding. I vision Mel teleporting to an enemy, grabbing him, and teleporting back to his original spot, slashing the enemy with a flourish of his blade and lightning. Likewise, he teleports to his Aegis target and parries their blow, then teleports back.

I was hoping for help reflavoring them through planewalking or some other means, so that when "true" teleporting isn't allowed through a zone or something else, his abilities still function. I don't think that's too much to ask, seeing as mechanically nothing works differently. Any ideas?

Forgotten Realms help/background check

Melchoir (Mel) Tyrum was born to a Red Wizard couple in Thay. He inhereted and even exceeded his parent's intellect, but even from an early age grew tired of the endless cruelty and constant cunning and trichery of his parents, both to the "non-gifted" and fellow Wizards, even each other. He suffered a bit of ADD and his mastery of the Arcane was a bit sporadic, though he excelled in spontaneous/compulsory (short range) teleportation (see below). When he learned Mel was to be given to Szass Tam to curry favor and to be developed into a weapon, he fled from Thay (aided by his innate teleportation, which only seemed to be there when needed), heading to Aglarond. There he developed into merely an adequate swordfighter, settling into a decent life of patrolling the southern coasts and striking away pirate raids.

But his disappearance greatly embarassed the Red Wizards. Agents crept into Aglarond, making their way to Delthuntle hoping to capture Melchoir and present him to Tam as a gift, though this time as an undead trophy. Slipping their grasp in Delthuntle, Mel enlisted with a pirate company. It was while roaming the Melchoir's arcane potential began to be realized. During battle with other pirates, thunder and lightning would follow Melchoir, who seemed to blink through battle, leaving behind only a cloud of dust. It was through these maneuvers he earned the moniker Cloudcaller. When reports of fellow pirate's ships being burned to ash, Mel knew it was time to move on.

Melchoir stole away from the Pirate Isle and made north, ending up in Scardale. Shying away from the Red Wizard merchants in Scardale, he made his way west, to Myth Drannor. There, for the first time in his life, he saw people unified to fight against a power greater than themselves. Even more amazing, they were making strides due to their trust in each other. He quickly enlisted in the fight, pledging to combat the rising evils of the Spellplagued world. In Myth Drannor his intelligence and ability with a blade was combined and formed into a weapon, as the Thay wizards had hoped, though the target was slightly different...

Melchoir "Cloudcaller" Tyrum
Main Motivations - The preservation of Myth Drannor above all else; to be a guardian for the innocent in a world that has discarded them; to hone his abilities.

Does the above make sense in the Forgotten Realms world, and flow smoothly?

Thanks so much for any help!
#2
angelus_obscura
Apr 01, 2009 23:42:59 Check out my [thread=1112243]How do you SPELL your BLADE?[/thread] thread. It is packed with swordmage reflavoring ideas. My own took inspiration from Bleach/Naruto animes (Bleach for weapon/Aegis powers and Naruto for implement powers).
#3
lord_karsus
Apr 02, 2009 10:40:47
Does the above make sense in the Forgotten Realms world, and flow smoothly?

-Yes.
#4
canamrock
Apr 02, 2009 13:37:36 The only thing to keep in mind with the power reflavoring is that teleportation effects have a few interaction issues if you do anything more than visuals with it; pro - certain effects trigger on teleporting, con - some monsters or areas may make these powers fail. That's again assuming you treat it with a high level of translational realism. If it's just special effects, then it should be a-okay.
#5
RUMPLESTIX
Apr 06, 2009 16:28:42 About this:

I was hoping for help reflavoring them through planewalking or some other means, so that when "true" teleporting isn't allowed through a zone or something else, his abilities still function. I don't think that's too much to ask, seeing as mechanically nothing works differently. Any ideas?

I am not sure how often that teleporting won't work, but it is a game mechanics issue if it doesn't work. So, if you are changing you 'flavoring' in order to avoid a pitfall, you are gaining a mechanical advantage.

For it to be fair there should be a give and take. If changing the flavor allows you to avoid a problem what new but equal disadvantage will you gain?

It is like the old Champions adage: a disadvantage that isn't really a disadvantage isn't worth any points.

There should be a tradeoff.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 talex Apr 01, 2009 23:23:45	Hoping I could get some help checking my background and making sure it fits in the Forgotten Realms setting, as my friends and I aren't incredibly familiar with it (especially 4E). I was also hoping someone could help me reflavor a couple of the Swordmage abilities. Reflavoring I vision Melchoir "Cloudcaller" Tyrum as teleporting around the battlefield, zipping from foe and ally alike. I'm fine with most of the Swordmage abilities, but was hoping for help reflavoring Lightning Lure and Aegis of Shielding. I vision Mel teleporting to an enemy, grabbing him, and teleporting back to his original spot, slashing the enemy with a flourish of his blade and lightning. Likewise, he teleports to his Aegis target and parries their blow, then teleports back. I was hoping for help reflavoring them through planewalking or some other means, so that when "true" teleporting isn't allowed through a zone or something else, his abilities still function. I don't think that's too much to ask, seeing as mechanically nothing works differently. Any ideas? Forgotten Realms help/background check Melchoir (Mel) Tyrum was born to a Red Wizard couple in Thay. He inhereted and even exceeded his parent's intellect, but even from an early age grew tired of the endless cruelty and constant cunning and trichery of his parents, both to the "non-gifted" and fellow Wizards, even each other. He suffered a bit of ADD and his mastery of the Arcane was a bit sporadic, though he excelled in spontaneous/compulsory (short range) teleportation (see below). When he learned Mel was to be given to Szass Tam to curry favor and to be developed into a weapon, he fled from Thay (aided by his innate teleportation, which only seemed to be there when needed), heading to Aglarond. There he developed into merely an adequate swordfighter, settling into a decent life of patrolling the southern coasts and striking away pirate raids. But his disappearance greatly embarassed the Red Wizards. Agents crept into Aglarond, making their way to Delthuntle hoping to capture Melchoir and present him to Tam as a gift, though this time as an undead trophy. Slipping their grasp in Delthuntle, Mel enlisted with a pirate company. It was while roaming the Melchoir's arcane potential began to be realized. During battle with other pirates, thunder and lightning would follow Melchoir, who seemed to blink through battle, leaving behind only a cloud of dust. It was through these maneuvers he earned the moniker Cloudcaller. When reports of fellow pirate's ships being burned to ash, Mel knew it was time to move on. Melchoir stole away from the Pirate Isle and made north, ending up in Scardale. Shying away from the Red Wizard merchants in Scardale, he made his way west, to Myth Drannor. There, for the first time in his life, he saw people unified to fight against a power greater than themselves. Even more amazing, they were making strides due to their trust in each other. He quickly enlisted in the fight, pledging to combat the rising evils of the Spellplagued world. In Myth Drannor his intelligence and ability with a blade was combined and formed into a weapon, as the Thay wizards had hoped, though the target was slightly different... Melchoir "Cloudcaller" Tyrum Main Motivations - The preservation of Myth Drannor above all else; to be a guardian for the innocent in a world that has discarded them; to hone his abilities. Does the above make sense in the Forgotten Realms world, and flow smoothly? Thanks so much for any help!
#2 angelus_obscura Apr 01, 2009 23:42:59	Check out my [thread=1112243]How do you SPELL your BLADE?[/thread] thread. It is packed with swordmage reflavoring ideas. My own took inspiration from Bleach/Naruto animes (Bleach for weapon/Aegis powers and Naruto for implement powers).
#3 lord_karsus Apr 02, 2009 10:40:47	Does the above make sense in the Forgotten Realms world, and flow smoothly? -Yes.
#4 canamrock Apr 02, 2009 13:37:36	The only thing to keep in mind with the power reflavoring is that teleportation effects have a few interaction issues if you do anything more than visuals with it; pro - certain effects trigger on teleporting, con - some monsters or areas may make these powers fail. That's again assuming you treat it with a high level of translational realism. If it's just special effects, then it should be a-okay.
#5 RUMPLESTIX Apr 06, 2009 16:28:42	About this: I was hoping for help reflavoring them through planewalking or some other means, so that when "true" teleporting isn't allowed through a zone or something else, his abilities still function. I don't think that's too much to ask, seeing as mechanically nothing works differently. Any ideas? I am not sure how often that teleporting won't work, but it is a game mechanics issue if it doesn't work. So, if you are changing you 'flavoring' in order to avoid a pitfall, you are gaining a mechanical advantage. For it to be fair there should be a give and take. If changing the flavor allows you to avoid a problem what new but equal disadvantage will you gain? It is like the old Champions adage: a disadvantage that isn't really a disadvantage isn't worth any points. There should be a tradeoff.