JellyPooga
2007-07-13, 07:59 PM
I've created a character, crunch-wise, but need some help on his personality/background (given that I've got his crunch down pat, I didn't think it belonged in the "character builder" thread). I've got some ideas, but I need to know if people think that they work and I also need a bit of inspiration on some specifics.
So anyways, here's the crunch I've got:
Race: Aasimar
Class (Level): Rogue (1)/ Bard (2)/ Paladin (4)/ Shadowbane Inquisitor (2)
Str: 16
Dex: 16
Con: 14
Int: 12
Wis: 14
Cha: 20 (22 w. Cloak of Charisma)
(These are from rolled stats btw, and yes, I realise that they're very good)
Feats: TWF (1), Oversized TWF (3), Power Attack (6), Sacred Healing (9)
Weapons: +1 Battle Axe, +1 Longsword, MW Whip, MW Dagger, MW Light Crossbow (50 +1 Bane bolts of various types, 50 mundane bolts)
Armour: +1 Mithral Full Plate
Equipment: Various bits and pieces of the adventuring persuasion (Survival Pouch, tent, rope, lantern, etc.)
Combat Style: Goes in with Crossbow. When in Whip range, draw and start disarming/tripping, fires off last crossbow bolt loaded (then drops Xbow). Draws Axe + Sword and lays into tripped/disarmed foes, with liberal use of Smite if neccesary.
Spells: Casts Bard spells (Undetectable Alignment and Healthful Rest...both 24 hour duration) before donning armour in morning. Only 1 Paladin spell, typically prepares Protection from Evil or Bless Weapon (Endure Elements if only expecting to travel that day).
Special Stuff: Lay on Hands + Sacred Healing + High Charisma means that he's got a fair amount of healing love to spread (for someone with only 3 level 1 spells per day). Daylight SLA + Pierce Shadows ability means that light creation isn't a problem, Darkvision covers emergencies.
As you can see, I've got the crunch-side down pat, no help needed there (I'm aware it's not "optimal" or whatever, that's not what I'm here for advice on). What I need now is a personality, appearance and background. Here's what I've got so far:
Personality
Name: Kyle Damarre (sir-name pronounced "dam-are-ray")
Alignment: Lawful Good (obviously)
Kyle is all business when 'on the job', seemingly cold-hearted, merciless, stubborn, arrogant and all those other traits that are typical of Paladins the world over. He uses intimidation as much as his blades to bring evil-doers to justice. When he takes off his armour and puts aside his weapons and gets a chance to relax, he becomes a completely different person; he laughs, he drinks, he smokes, he gambles and he...partakes of the pleasures of the flesh...in short, when 'off duty' he's not what you'd asociate with typical Paladin behaviour. A passing acquaintance would certainly not associate the man he saw earlier, clad in plate mail, bringing criminals to justice was the same man as the one in front of him, dressed in fine velvet and silks, sharing a bawdy joke with the tavern minstrel.
As far as Personality goes, that's all I've got so far. I feel it needs fleshing out somewhat and I need opinions on whether having a Paladin drink, etc. is viable...i.e. does it go completely against the grain of being a Paladin to actually enjoy the finer things in life (when he has the chance)? Also, is it unreasonable to have such a dual-natured character still be Lawful?
I would also like to put something into his personality about his use of the various weapons he uses...I mean, it's fairly unusual to make use of such a variety (sword, axe, dagger, whip and xbow) and I plan to have him make extensive use of 'tactical' fighting; trip, disarm, bull rush, grapple and the like, rather than simply bashing away with sword and axe. As such, I felt it neccesary to make a point of it in his personality and/or background, but I'm not entirely sure how to. Any help with that would be greatly appreciated.
Appearance
1) 6'8" tall
2) 210lb.
3) Golden Orbs for eyes that glow slightly when he's angry/fighting
4) Short Golden-Blonde Hair
5) Fair Skin
6)Bone-White Plate Mail (see Shadowbane pic in Complete Adventurer) when "on duty"
7)Colourful, yet tasteful, velvet and silk clothing to relax in (no jewellery, except his holy symbol)
The only thing I need regarding his appearance is whether he is Aasimar-like enough. Is glowing golden orbs for eyes and somewhat abnormal height distinctive enough? Or should he have some other distinguishing feature? When 'on duty' his Plate Mail will cover anything other than more intangible qualities (like an "air of calm" or whatever), so I didn't think it particularly relevant to have them, but I need some opinions.
Background
- Started off in life as a Rogue and a Scoundrel (Rogue/Bard Class).
- Enjoyed a successful career as a pick-pocket, petty thief and con-man.
- One day, heard his "Call" to take up the life of a Paladin (Paladin Class)
- Fell out of favour with his Church because of his reluctance to give up his old way of life.
- Through sheer force of will and his celestial heritage, maintained his Paladin-powers, but uses them as he sees fit, not as a church or god thinks he should use them (Shadowbane Inquisitor PrC).
This is the part where I need most help/suggestions.
1)Is his heritage reason enough to keep his powers, despite defecting from actual worship of his patron deity (it's not that he's renounced the deity he used to worship, he just doesn't believe that he should be subject to that diety and its ideals)?
2)I need some suggestions for details on his life before his 'Call', how he got his 'Call' and quite how he fell out of favour with his Church. I also need a deity for him to have used to have worshipped, because I just can't decide which one might be appropriate.
Any help/criticism/comments are welcome, it'll all go into one big melting-pot and come out all shiny and new and (more than likely) completely different to the ideas I had when I first started creating this character. Thanks.
P.S. This entire character is based off of a REAPER miniature (http://www.reapermini.com/gallery/2600s/2683_G)I own (though you can't see it, he has a full backpack on, upon which is tied a crossbow. The rope-like thing tied to his belt on his right [just under the axe] is a whip. His left hand is resting on the grip of a longsword)
So anyways, here's the crunch I've got:
Race: Aasimar
Class (Level): Rogue (1)/ Bard (2)/ Paladin (4)/ Shadowbane Inquisitor (2)
Str: 16
Dex: 16
Con: 14
Int: 12
Wis: 14
Cha: 20 (22 w. Cloak of Charisma)
(These are from rolled stats btw, and yes, I realise that they're very good)
Feats: TWF (1), Oversized TWF (3), Power Attack (6), Sacred Healing (9)
Weapons: +1 Battle Axe, +1 Longsword, MW Whip, MW Dagger, MW Light Crossbow (50 +1 Bane bolts of various types, 50 mundane bolts)
Armour: +1 Mithral Full Plate
Equipment: Various bits and pieces of the adventuring persuasion (Survival Pouch, tent, rope, lantern, etc.)
Combat Style: Goes in with Crossbow. When in Whip range, draw and start disarming/tripping, fires off last crossbow bolt loaded (then drops Xbow). Draws Axe + Sword and lays into tripped/disarmed foes, with liberal use of Smite if neccesary.
Spells: Casts Bard spells (Undetectable Alignment and Healthful Rest...both 24 hour duration) before donning armour in morning. Only 1 Paladin spell, typically prepares Protection from Evil or Bless Weapon (Endure Elements if only expecting to travel that day).
Special Stuff: Lay on Hands + Sacred Healing + High Charisma means that he's got a fair amount of healing love to spread (for someone with only 3 level 1 spells per day). Daylight SLA + Pierce Shadows ability means that light creation isn't a problem, Darkvision covers emergencies.
As you can see, I've got the crunch-side down pat, no help needed there (I'm aware it's not "optimal" or whatever, that's not what I'm here for advice on). What I need now is a personality, appearance and background. Here's what I've got so far:
Personality
Name: Kyle Damarre (sir-name pronounced "dam-are-ray")
Alignment: Lawful Good (obviously)
Kyle is all business when 'on the job', seemingly cold-hearted, merciless, stubborn, arrogant and all those other traits that are typical of Paladins the world over. He uses intimidation as much as his blades to bring evil-doers to justice. When he takes off his armour and puts aside his weapons and gets a chance to relax, he becomes a completely different person; he laughs, he drinks, he smokes, he gambles and he...partakes of the pleasures of the flesh...in short, when 'off duty' he's not what you'd asociate with typical Paladin behaviour. A passing acquaintance would certainly not associate the man he saw earlier, clad in plate mail, bringing criminals to justice was the same man as the one in front of him, dressed in fine velvet and silks, sharing a bawdy joke with the tavern minstrel.
As far as Personality goes, that's all I've got so far. I feel it needs fleshing out somewhat and I need opinions on whether having a Paladin drink, etc. is viable...i.e. does it go completely against the grain of being a Paladin to actually enjoy the finer things in life (when he has the chance)? Also, is it unreasonable to have such a dual-natured character still be Lawful?
I would also like to put something into his personality about his use of the various weapons he uses...I mean, it's fairly unusual to make use of such a variety (sword, axe, dagger, whip and xbow) and I plan to have him make extensive use of 'tactical' fighting; trip, disarm, bull rush, grapple and the like, rather than simply bashing away with sword and axe. As such, I felt it neccesary to make a point of it in his personality and/or background, but I'm not entirely sure how to. Any help with that would be greatly appreciated.
Appearance
1) 6'8" tall
2) 210lb.
3) Golden Orbs for eyes that glow slightly when he's angry/fighting
4) Short Golden-Blonde Hair
5) Fair Skin
6)Bone-White Plate Mail (see Shadowbane pic in Complete Adventurer) when "on duty"
7)Colourful, yet tasteful, velvet and silk clothing to relax in (no jewellery, except his holy symbol)
The only thing I need regarding his appearance is whether he is Aasimar-like enough. Is glowing golden orbs for eyes and somewhat abnormal height distinctive enough? Or should he have some other distinguishing feature? When 'on duty' his Plate Mail will cover anything other than more intangible qualities (like an "air of calm" or whatever), so I didn't think it particularly relevant to have them, but I need some opinions.
Background
- Started off in life as a Rogue and a Scoundrel (Rogue/Bard Class).
- Enjoyed a successful career as a pick-pocket, petty thief and con-man.
- One day, heard his "Call" to take up the life of a Paladin (Paladin Class)
- Fell out of favour with his Church because of his reluctance to give up his old way of life.
- Through sheer force of will and his celestial heritage, maintained his Paladin-powers, but uses them as he sees fit, not as a church or god thinks he should use them (Shadowbane Inquisitor PrC).
This is the part where I need most help/suggestions.
1)Is his heritage reason enough to keep his powers, despite defecting from actual worship of his patron deity (it's not that he's renounced the deity he used to worship, he just doesn't believe that he should be subject to that diety and its ideals)?
2)I need some suggestions for details on his life before his 'Call', how he got his 'Call' and quite how he fell out of favour with his Church. I also need a deity for him to have used to have worshipped, because I just can't decide which one might be appropriate.
Any help/criticism/comments are welcome, it'll all go into one big melting-pot and come out all shiny and new and (more than likely) completely different to the ideas I had when I first started creating this character. Thanks.
P.S. This entire character is based off of a REAPER miniature (http://www.reapermini.com/gallery/2600s/2683_G)I own (though you can't see it, he has a full backpack on, upon which is tied a crossbow. The rope-like thing tied to his belt on his right [just under the axe] is a whip. His left hand is resting on the grip of a longsword)