PDA

View Full Version : DM Help 3 challenges for a cleric, 2 more for a paladin



Pinjata
2016-02-20, 06:26 AM
So we are starting a new campaign soon, it'll be a rather sort "introductory" one (perhaps 12 sessions) in which one of the players is currently a fighter but is aiming for a LG/NG cleric and eventually a paladin. We agreed for him to switch class in-game by overcoming a few minor quests that are still exceptional to a common man, but may attract the attention of a specific good god and bestow upon him clerical powers. I need three such challenges for him (best if party can cooperate) to get him to cleric. Then I'm thinking of two more to get him to paladinhood. (when he switches each time, he basically makes a new character as he see fit)

Do you guys have any plot ideas on how to shape them?

thanks

Berenger
2016-02-20, 07:03 AM
Can we have more info on the god?

When he rebuilds his character, will there be major changes (e.g. loss of certain "visible" feats, change of ability scores, re-allocation of skills) that need to be adressed by the story?

Pinjata
2016-02-20, 07:08 AM
Can we have more info on the god?

When he rebuilds his character, will there be major changes (e.g. loss of certain "visible" feats, change of ability scores, re-allocation of skills) that need to be adressed by the story?

Well it's Faerun so some nice smite-y guy from that pantheon. We were not very specific on a god. Player will be able to completely rebuild his character, "visible" feats, ability scores, skills, but NO, this does not need to be adressed by the story. I'm looking for the challenges a generic cleric and then paladin should surpass.

Gallade
2016-02-20, 09:48 AM
Here's some ideas just off the top of my hat. They all revolve around giving him temptations to resist...yeah, it's a bit clichè but at least it's easy to know what's the "right" thing to do, although the temptations get higher in magnitude.

-He ends up in a local tavern where drunk patrons challenge him to a brawl, increasingly insulting and belittling him. After a while the barman tosses them out.
-He has to escort a young girl to a temple where she is to become the new priestess in training. They're stopped by a young lad who is her fiancè and offers him a decent sum of money to let them elope.
-He comes across a broken wagon with a starving man, and he must give up half his rations and possibly go hungry before the next town over to save him

These would be "mundane" temptations and he would be a Cleric for resisting them. Then would come the trials of real selflessness to become a paladin, such as:

-A man is unjustly found guilty of a crime and is to be publicly whipped, unless there is someone who would volunteer to take the punishment in his stead.
-A small shrine has been sacked, there is a precious sacred symbol of whatever god is putting him up to the trials on the ground made of valuable materials (gold with gems or such). If he chooses to bring it to another shrine or temple to that god for them to keep instead of selling it, he's ready.

Pinjata
2016-02-20, 11:13 AM
Here's some ideas just off the top of my hat. They all revolve around giving him temptations to resist...yeah, it's a bit clichè but at least it's easy to know what's the "right" thing to do, although the temptations get higher in magnitude.

-He ends up in a local tavern where drunk patrons challenge him to a brawl, increasingly insulting and belittling him. After a while the barman tosses them out.
-He has to escort a young girl to a temple where she is to become the new priestess in training. They're stopped by a young lad who is her fiancè and offers him a decent sum of money to let them elope.
-He comes across a broken wagon with a starving man, and he must give up half his rations and possibly go hungry before the next town over to save him

These would be "mundane" temptations and he would be a Cleric for resisting them. Then would come the trials of real selflessness to become a paladin, such as:

-A man is unjustly found guilty of a crime and is to be publicly whipped, unless there is someone who would volunteer to take the punishment in his stead.
-A small shrine has been sacked, there is a precious sacred symbol of whatever god is putting him up to the trials on the ground made of valuable materials (gold with gems or such). If he chooses to bring it to another shrine or temple to that god for them to keep instead of selling it, he's ready.

This is gold. That's EXACTLY what I'm looking for. Nothing too complex, but still a statement. Great!

LokiRagnarok
2016-02-21, 04:38 AM
What if he makes the "wrong" choice?

I must say, in the second temptation, the only right action for me would be "let them elope if they want to, take the money, donate it to the temple". (It should be noted I am not Lawful ;)) What use to a deity is a priestess who resents them for robbing her of the "love of her life" (foolish as that notion may be)?

Now, I don't really want to argue about that particular situation. Just wanted to suggest you accept all solutions which exemplify a relevant aspect of the deity (and don't run counter to another), regardless if they were the solution you had in mind.

If the player still picks a "wrong" solution, why, there might be several deities watching him. If some course of action displeases one deity, another might just be delighted.

Pinjata
2016-02-21, 10:52 AM
What if he makes the "wrong" choice?

Good point. As long as the choice is made in a good spirit, it is "checked".

GrayDeath
2016-02-21, 01:33 PM
What if he makes the "wrong" choice?



You mean MORE wrong than changing from Cleric to Paladin?!? What crimes does he have to commit to be dropped 2-3 Tiers? ^^




Jokes aside: Then he stays a Cleric. Challenges that are automatically passed are no challenges.
If his faith and devotion are strong enough he`ll pass.
If not he wont.