ToastyTobasco
2018-10-01, 08:36 PM
So, I'm playing a Conquest Pally in Curse of Strahd. Having a blast, just hit level 5. I'm learning how to use my class a little better.This is my first bit of trouble
Prelude: When starting to play a character, I typically start with a loose structure with the bonds, flaws and ideals from the books and whatnot but build the personality as I react to my companions and the world. It's lead to some hilarious characters to blossom and one to be rather memorable for me. Also, I enjoy giving the DM a PC that they can tinker and make plot hooks with.
Backstory:
This guy is basically an adventurer that previously died in the Death House and was brought back/reincarnated in Barovia by the dark powers. He still thinks he is on a mission to hunt down his power crazed father who annihilated several towns after bargaining with an evil power (Tiamat). The DM has suggested playing him as a man with two sets of memories, which can lead to some fun down the line. He got to the end of the Death House and bit the big one and went through it again, having visions of his previous run and eventually his death. He doesnt know what it means
(He did a small chunk of adventuring before as DH was a one-off for fun but kept all loot/consequences) He had friends, his ruined family, enemies, a party member who nearly got him killed on several occasions and lead to his death in DH.
The Party:
Human Ranger who seems to be playing a very Lawful Good/Neutral. Elf Rogue playing a bitter bitch* Chaotic Neutral? and one Neutral Good Gnome Druid.
Ranger plays as a voice of reason but occasionally is impulsive. (Tried to collect rent from a witch since we owned the deed to her home. Punched her in the face and she nearly kills him with a backhand. We were very worse for wear when we had gotten there anyway.)
Rogue plays as a woman embittered by the world and its cruelty. She keeps a closeful eye on me at all times due to my profession **(Player is playing the polar opposite of her personality and we all have a good time with it.)
Gnome is a precious childlike cinnamon role who became instantaneous friends with my Paladin and he will protect her with his life. She is incredibly helpful but naive. (She damn near solo-ed the Wizard of Wines encounter using Flaming Sphere and chokepoints. Which is where we stopped last game.)
The Moral Dilemma:
I went in trying to go all Edgy Conqueror but that fell apart as I wound up being the party face again. I dont mind being the face but I also dont want to turn this into Curse of Strahd: The Paladin's Story. I find it hard to use vinegar instead of honey in our social encounters, particularly since the world is already drab and pretty conquered. And I'm not sure how to intimidate effectively with Charisma. And I know certain NPCs could hand our collective asses to us on a gilded platter. (Being level 5 now makes me a little more comfortable about doing something in the future. 7 is going to be sweeeet)
I love the Conquest kit but I'm a little conflicted with role-playing his usage of fear as I seem to be rolling Good instead of Lawful Evil as I intended. Apparently my DM and the Rogue think I am Lawful Good, which I hate. (Yup, they assumed my alignment, the bastards.) I dont care about the Rogue looting like she does as thats what Rogues do and her skillset is too valuable to let something petty like a sudden missing jewelry box from a place we went to bother my Paladin. I really want to pull something that will surprise them both that isnt evil as the DM's goal is to eventually tempt us into evil
I really follow through with my ideal of it someone injures me or my allies, I will break them, body and spirit. Douse the Flame of Hope. Example: The witch from the mill, destroy her coven, all of the things they use to make the dream pastries, burn down the windmill while she watches and then break her hands to prevent her from casting magic easily. Using my healing to keep her at 1hp to make sure she experiences the whole thing.) I think a evil drug dealer who is using children to make her pastries, literally
could warrant a reaction such as that from a Paladin and not take an Evil shift, right?
Also, trying to pinpoint my motivation for taking on Strahd. Everyone else is focused on finding the wizard that they chased into Barovia (The hook). And I am hunting for my deranged father. The two are not the same person.
TL;DR
Went in trying to be Conquest Pally Sauron, came out Ned Flanders. How do I bring my fear flail to the neighborino's while being a hero?
Prelude: When starting to play a character, I typically start with a loose structure with the bonds, flaws and ideals from the books and whatnot but build the personality as I react to my companions and the world. It's lead to some hilarious characters to blossom and one to be rather memorable for me. Also, I enjoy giving the DM a PC that they can tinker and make plot hooks with.
Backstory:
This guy is basically an adventurer that previously died in the Death House and was brought back/reincarnated in Barovia by the dark powers. He still thinks he is on a mission to hunt down his power crazed father who annihilated several towns after bargaining with an evil power (Tiamat). The DM has suggested playing him as a man with two sets of memories, which can lead to some fun down the line. He got to the end of the Death House and bit the big one and went through it again, having visions of his previous run and eventually his death. He doesnt know what it means
(He did a small chunk of adventuring before as DH was a one-off for fun but kept all loot/consequences) He had friends, his ruined family, enemies, a party member who nearly got him killed on several occasions and lead to his death in DH.
The Party:
Human Ranger who seems to be playing a very Lawful Good/Neutral. Elf Rogue playing a bitter bitch* Chaotic Neutral? and one Neutral Good Gnome Druid.
Ranger plays as a voice of reason but occasionally is impulsive. (Tried to collect rent from a witch since we owned the deed to her home. Punched her in the face and she nearly kills him with a backhand. We were very worse for wear when we had gotten there anyway.)
Rogue plays as a woman embittered by the world and its cruelty. She keeps a closeful eye on me at all times due to my profession **(Player is playing the polar opposite of her personality and we all have a good time with it.)
Gnome is a precious childlike cinnamon role who became instantaneous friends with my Paladin and he will protect her with his life. She is incredibly helpful but naive. (She damn near solo-ed the Wizard of Wines encounter using Flaming Sphere and chokepoints. Which is where we stopped last game.)
The Moral Dilemma:
I went in trying to go all Edgy Conqueror but that fell apart as I wound up being the party face again. I dont mind being the face but I also dont want to turn this into Curse of Strahd: The Paladin's Story. I find it hard to use vinegar instead of honey in our social encounters, particularly since the world is already drab and pretty conquered. And I'm not sure how to intimidate effectively with Charisma. And I know certain NPCs could hand our collective asses to us on a gilded platter. (Being level 5 now makes me a little more comfortable about doing something in the future. 7 is going to be sweeeet)
I love the Conquest kit but I'm a little conflicted with role-playing his usage of fear as I seem to be rolling Good instead of Lawful Evil as I intended. Apparently my DM and the Rogue think I am Lawful Good, which I hate. (Yup, they assumed my alignment, the bastards.) I dont care about the Rogue looting like she does as thats what Rogues do and her skillset is too valuable to let something petty like a sudden missing jewelry box from a place we went to bother my Paladin. I really want to pull something that will surprise them both that isnt evil as the DM's goal is to eventually tempt us into evil
I really follow through with my ideal of it someone injures me or my allies, I will break them, body and spirit. Douse the Flame of Hope. Example: The witch from the mill, destroy her coven, all of the things they use to make the dream pastries, burn down the windmill while she watches and then break her hands to prevent her from casting magic easily. Using my healing to keep her at 1hp to make sure she experiences the whole thing.) I think a evil drug dealer who is using children to make her pastries, literally
could warrant a reaction such as that from a Paladin and not take an Evil shift, right?
Also, trying to pinpoint my motivation for taking on Strahd. Everyone else is focused on finding the wizard that they chased into Barovia (The hook). And I am hunting for my deranged father. The two are not the same person.
TL;DR
Went in trying to be Conquest Pally Sauron, came out Ned Flanders. How do I bring my fear flail to the neighborino's while being a hero?