I need help refining or replacing my Bugbear Ranger for our Monsterous Race campaign - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

I need help refining or replacing my Bugbear Ranger for our Monsterous Race campaign

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
mkanderson
Jan 11, 2010 10:52:10 Hello everyone,

I havent posted in a very long time...

My group and I have been neck deep in a campaign for almost a year and a half. We are getting close to what may be the end of the initial story arc that our DM developed. And something happened that tends to happen to our group a lot, our DM got DM fatigue. He was ready for a break for a while. Because of this one of our other players said he had an idea for a small side game that he could run on weeks that our normal DM wasn’t ready. His idea involved all of us developing evil/monstrous level 1 characters. He described his campaign as low plot/ RP and high action. Because of this description and because I knew it was what I assumed was a “just for fun” game, I made a very 2 dimensional character. A Bugbear Bow ranger named Bugbug. At first he seemed like a great concept, but now he is way overshadowed by the great characters concepts my fellow players have created, and the game seems to have usurped our normal game as the primary campaign.

So I need help. My DM sees that I am struggling with my character concept and is allowing anyone to alter there character in anyway for the next few weeks. If I stick with Bubug I need to find a personality to him… something that is fun to RP. If I switch to a new character I need something that will work with the party. I will take any and all idea into consideration. Our game takes place 100% in the underdark also.

Here is our party make up.

Bugbug – Bugbear bow ranger

Others:

Minotaur fighter

Revenant Shaman

Bugbear monk

Half Orc rogue

Gnoll druid

So as you can see I really don’t need to stay a striker since we have 2 others in a 6 member party. Please help!
#2
mellored
Jan 11, 2010 11:28:23 What's bugbugs current personality?

Something you can do with a bow ranger is make him afraid of being close to people, have him always stand back away from everyone. Perhaps making him smell horrible, but constantly blames everyone else for smelling.
#3
mkanderson
Jan 11, 2010 12:55:37 personality-wise he is... uhm... lacking. haha.. the original concept was an incredibly dim witted bugbear beast master ranger named Bugbug with his bear named Bearbear. It got quite a few laughs and I think set the bar for others in the game to try to top the idea... and they did, by a lot... once in battle i found that my concept didn't work at all and I tossed it for a bow ranger and that meant losing his interesting hook. but even with that hook he had nothing to contribute to the RPing of the game, besides just playing with his bear while others talked.

I am leaning toward replacing him with an Assassin... but not sure.
#4
i_roll_ones
Jan 11, 2010 13:59:21 I'm kinda assuming that you don't really want to continue the guy. If you do, great, I'm just not sure how to accomplish that.

Is your shaman acting like a leader, and your druid acting like a controller? Not that there is anything wrong with doing them up as something else, but it is something to consider when making a new PC. If they are, it looks like they got every role covered.

If that is true...Do you want to STAY a striker? Do you have the most fun when your PC takes hits and is still standing, when you do lots of damage, shut down the opposition, or control the battlefield? I would not think there would be any problem of you continuing to be a striker if that is what you wish.

Is your problem that you are not contributing to the battle as much as others, or that you are not doing as much damage?

Why are these monsters hanging out together, anyway? Got any idea of what the other's characters are like?

Are they willing to help you with your build? It could be that they just optimized a touch more.
#5
kouk
Jan 13, 2010 3:34:58 Another thing with Bugbear is that they don't have anything really by way of official support, while the others do.

My first thought with that party was, "No Kobold?" but they also don't have support, at least not until the PHB3.

I don't know how much your DM is willing to homebrew and such, but an easy fix would be to just use a Halfling's stats, throw in Darkvision optionally, and call it a Kobold. You continue to use Halfling feats and such, and don't have that super broken-but-only-for-certain-builds Shifty power. Bard might be fun, though done before. Could call it a Goblin also, still using a Halfling's stats.

Similarly, you could probably use a Goliath reflavored somewhat, maybe swap Con for Dex, for a more rounded Bugbear, or leave it the same and call it an Orc. Maybe an ex leader or high ranked fighter of a tribe wiped out by another Underdark race. You were tricked and lured away while your group was killed off, or were just out hunting, and now you want revenge. Warlord or Barbarian.

Also, a Duergar (deep dwarf) might work. Could use a normal Dwarf's stats, replace the minor action Second Wind and maybe Stand Your Ground for the quill beard power (or not; Duergar didn't always have projectile facial hair). A mad priest might work. Cleric or Invoker, maybe Avenger or Paladin.

Drow of course. Could be some outcast that kind of feels superior to the others, but has to rely on them. Warlocks are kind of strikers and kind of controllers, but you won't stand out much. A charming Bard or Sorcerer perhaps could work.

And other races can be "monstrous" too of course, even humans. Maybe an Earth Genasi, always lived underground. Swordmage could work in that group, part defender part controller. Take Gnome, give it Darkvision and call it a Deep Gnome.

Doesn't have to be a native of the Underdark right? Could have been a slave and escaped or whatnot.

Being just an idiot character is kind of a one trick pony, so not surprising you're getting tired of it.
#6
noneedforaname
Jan 15, 2010 13:49:34 Being a bugbear it seems almost criminal not to give him a giant sized weapon, but a giant sized longbow is pretty ridiculous. What if he had a giant sized heavy crossbow and say it was a ballista he got during a battle with some human scum.

Since you mentioned the assassin class, I've been wanting to play a changling assassin since the class preview came out but haven't had the chance. That has the potential to be all kinds of evil fun.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 mkanderson Jan 11, 2010 10:52:10	Hello everyone, I havent posted in a very long time... My group and I have been neck deep in a campaign for almost a year and a half. We are getting close to what may be the end of the initial story arc that our DM developed. And something happened that tends to happen to our group a lot, our DM got DM fatigue. He was ready for a break for a while. Because of this one of our other players said he had an idea for a small side game that he could run on weeks that our normal DM wasn’t ready. His idea involved all of us developing evil/monstrous level 1 characters. He described his campaign as low plot/ RP and high action. Because of this description and because I knew it was what I assumed was a “just for fun” game, I made a very 2 dimensional character. A Bugbear Bow ranger named Bugbug. At first he seemed like a great concept, but now he is way overshadowed by the great characters concepts my fellow players have created, and the game seems to have usurped our normal game as the primary campaign. So I need help. My DM sees that I am struggling with my character concept and is allowing anyone to alter there character in anyway for the next few weeks. If I stick with Bubug I need to find a personality to him… something that is fun to RP. If I switch to a new character I need something that will work with the party. I will take any and all idea into consideration. Our game takes place 100% in the underdark also. Here is our party make up. Bugbug – Bugbear bow ranger Others: Minotaur fighter Revenant Shaman Bugbear monk Half Orc rogue Gnoll druid So as you can see I really don’t need to stay a striker since we have 2 others in a 6 member party. Please help!
#2 mellored Jan 11, 2010 11:28:23	What's bugbugs current personality? Something you can do with a bow ranger is make him afraid of being close to people, have him always stand back away from everyone. Perhaps making him smell horrible, but constantly blames everyone else for smelling.
#3 mkanderson Jan 11, 2010 12:55:37	personality-wise he is... uhm... lacking. haha.. the original concept was an incredibly dim witted bugbear beast master ranger named Bugbug with his bear named Bearbear. It got quite a few laughs and I think set the bar for others in the game to try to top the idea... and they did, by a lot... once in battle i found that my concept didn't work at all and I tossed it for a bow ranger and that meant losing his interesting hook. but even with that hook he had nothing to contribute to the RPing of the game, besides just playing with his bear while others talked. I am leaning toward replacing him with an Assassin... but not sure.
#4 i_roll_ones Jan 11, 2010 13:59:21	I'm kinda assuming that you don't really want to continue the guy. If you do, great, I'm just not sure how to accomplish that. Is your shaman acting like a leader, and your druid acting like a controller? Not that there is anything wrong with doing them up as something else, but it is something to consider when making a new PC. If they are, it looks like they got every role covered. If that is true...Do you want to STAY a striker? Do you have the most fun when your PC takes hits and is still standing, when you do lots of damage, shut down the opposition, or control the battlefield? I would not think there would be any problem of you continuing to be a striker if that is what you wish. Is your problem that you are not contributing to the battle as much as others, or that you are not doing as much damage? Why are these monsters hanging out together, anyway? Got any idea of what the other's characters are like? Are they willing to help you with your build? It could be that they just optimized a touch more.
#5 kouk Jan 13, 2010 3:34:58	Another thing with Bugbear is that they don't have anything really by way of official support, while the others do. My first thought with that party was, "No Kobold?" but they also don't have support, at least not until the PHB3. I don't know how much your DM is willing to homebrew and such, but an easy fix would be to just use a Halfling's stats, throw in Darkvision optionally, and call it a Kobold. You continue to use Halfling feats and such, and don't have that super broken-but-only-for-certain-builds Shifty power. Bard might be fun, though done before. Could call it a Goblin also, still using a Halfling's stats. Similarly, you could probably use a Goliath reflavored somewhat, maybe swap Con for Dex, for a more rounded Bugbear, or leave it the same and call it an Orc. Maybe an ex leader or high ranked fighter of a tribe wiped out by another Underdark race. You were tricked and lured away while your group was killed off, or were just out hunting, and now you want revenge. Warlord or Barbarian. Also, a Duergar (deep dwarf) might work. Could use a normal Dwarf's stats, replace the minor action Second Wind and maybe Stand Your Ground for the quill beard power (or not; Duergar didn't always have projectile facial hair). A mad priest might work. Cleric or Invoker, maybe Avenger or Paladin. Drow of course. Could be some outcast that kind of feels superior to the others, but has to rely on them. Warlocks are kind of strikers and kind of controllers, but you won't stand out much. A charming Bard or Sorcerer perhaps could work. And other races can be "monstrous" too of course, even humans. Maybe an Earth Genasi, always lived underground. Swordmage could work in that group, part defender part controller. Take Gnome, give it Darkvision and call it a Deep Gnome. Doesn't have to be a native of the Underdark right? Could have been a slave and escaped or whatnot. Being just an idiot character is kind of a one trick pony, so not surprising you're getting tired of it.
#6 noneedforaname Jan 15, 2010 13:49:34	Being a bugbear it seems almost criminal not to give him a giant sized weapon, but a giant sized longbow is pretty ridiculous. What if he had a giant sized heavy crossbow and say it was a ballista he got during a battle with some human scum. Since you mentioned the assassin class, I've been wanting to play a changling assassin since the class preview came out but haven't had the chance. That has the potential to be all kinds of evil fun.