Serpentine
2010-03-15, 10:47 PM
Just want some thoughts on mechanics and the like for an idea I've had. First, background:
My character, Kariana Wyrnda, is a Lawful Good Dwarven Knight from the extremely cloistered xenophobic dwarven "homeland". She was exiled as a traitor for consorting with elves (and breaking economy-based quarantine). Her ultimate goal is just to wait out her exile so she can go home. She's more Good than Lawful, but is still devoted to Law and Order.
At one point, she was killed (by my own stupidity, as a DM and as a player). She happened to die at the same time as the Druid, so the party just took us both to the next Druid grove for "resurrection". One Reincarnation and a random die-roll later, and my Dwarf is now an Elf. See above for why this is Bad News for her.
So, next game the party's going to explore the half-abandoned Temple to a Chaotic Neutral Trickster God. Depending on how they behave while in the temple, the god will grant them a boon, a trick, or some mixture. Chaotic characters get a head start, Lawful ones a handicap. Kariana is unlikely to be liked.
Now, the crux of the problem: I was thinking about it, and if offered a "boon" by a powerful deity, the very first and only thing she would ask for is "I want to be a dwarf." The easiest and nastiest way this god could twist that would be to make her a dwarf... of the human variety. Midgetify her.
So, what would a Dwarf-come-midget be like? Small size and Strength reduction do it? Is there anything else that could work or should be done?
Probably worth pointing out that this is a DMPC, so nerfing isn't really an issue. I've been intending to remove her sort-of because she has more attacks per round than anyone else which extends combat a bit (everyone else are casters, though, so damage-wise she's in the shadows), but the longest-running player would rather her stay because she's his character's last link to the plot and/or party (but another player prefers no DMPCs... ionno). On the other hand, this character is the most Chaotic of them all, so the god will probably give her an extra boon: Permanent Tongues, which would deal with the language barrier problem.
Soooo... Thoughts?
My character, Kariana Wyrnda, is a Lawful Good Dwarven Knight from the extremely cloistered xenophobic dwarven "homeland". She was exiled as a traitor for consorting with elves (and breaking economy-based quarantine). Her ultimate goal is just to wait out her exile so she can go home. She's more Good than Lawful, but is still devoted to Law and Order.
At one point, she was killed (by my own stupidity, as a DM and as a player). She happened to die at the same time as the Druid, so the party just took us both to the next Druid grove for "resurrection". One Reincarnation and a random die-roll later, and my Dwarf is now an Elf. See above for why this is Bad News for her.
So, next game the party's going to explore the half-abandoned Temple to a Chaotic Neutral Trickster God. Depending on how they behave while in the temple, the god will grant them a boon, a trick, or some mixture. Chaotic characters get a head start, Lawful ones a handicap. Kariana is unlikely to be liked.
Now, the crux of the problem: I was thinking about it, and if offered a "boon" by a powerful deity, the very first and only thing she would ask for is "I want to be a dwarf." The easiest and nastiest way this god could twist that would be to make her a dwarf... of the human variety. Midgetify her.
So, what would a Dwarf-come-midget be like? Small size and Strength reduction do it? Is there anything else that could work or should be done?
Probably worth pointing out that this is a DMPC, so nerfing isn't really an issue. I've been intending to remove her sort-of because she has more attacks per round than anyone else which extends combat a bit (everyone else are casters, though, so damage-wise she's in the shadows), but the longest-running player would rather her stay because she's his character's last link to the plot and/or party (but another player prefers no DMPCs... ionno). On the other hand, this character is the most Chaotic of them all, so the god will probably give her an extra boon: Permanent Tongues, which would deal with the language barrier problem.
Soooo... Thoughts?