Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 schizoided Aug 23, 2013 16:32:13	So I have no idea how to play DnD. But I want to jump in on a campaign with some friends of mine who know how to play very well. I've looked at one of the handbooks and understand how the basic race/class works, but i know that there's a lot of extended stuff, new races, other classes, that i know nothing about. So, in order to look like I at least know a little bit of how the game works, I'd like to ask if a character i want to make is even possible. Ideally, I would like to make a sneaky/nimble character who can steal lifeforce from his enemies, and then feed it to his familiar, who then can wreck things. What race/class/feats/things should i look at to try and make this possible?
#2 Centauri Aug 23, 2013 16:55:29	What race/class/feats/things should i look at to try and make this possible? The beauty of 4e is that it's easily reflavorable. "Stealing life force" can be described in a number of ways, as can making attacks through or with a familiar. I'd make a warlock or wizard with a familiar feat and then just make normal attacks, but flavor them as if it's the familiar flying out or growing in size, or splitting into several forms, or changing shape, or whatever. Quite doable, and now I sort of want to do it. Good luck.
#3 Mad_Jack Aug 25, 2013 14:51:32	Infernal Pact Warlock gains temporary hit points when the target of their warlock's curse dies, and there's even a warlock paragon Path called Lifestealer, if you really want some mechanics to go with the fluff...  Warlocks have Shadow Walk to gain concealment when they move more than 3 squares and get Theivery as a class skill, although DEX isn't one of the warlock's strong suites. They can also pick up Stealth as a class skill through a background or possibly a theme. You wouldn't be as stealthy as a rogue or thief, but it would fit thematically with the character you want.  For a familiar, as an Arcane character you could take the Arcane Familiar feat to get an actual physical familiar or you could just have a fluff-based non-physical "pet" that's described as a manifestation of your Pact and just naratively describe your powers as coming from the familiar even though it doesn't have any mechanical rules existence in the game.