Awesome character concepts (3.5)

[Silus]

So, basically, post a short bio/description on some pretty pimp character concepts (or actual characters) that you have or have encountered.

Here's a few of mine.

Name: Amalee Piks
Race: Tiefling (+1 LA)
Class: Swashbuckler 2 (ECL 3)
Alignment: Neutral (Profit gaining tendencies)
Progression Path: Swashbuckler => Dervish => Dread Pirate
Character History: Amalee's mother was a cultist devoted to, well, Devil worship. Her father was a Half-Fiend and the leader of the cult that was ultimately devoted to Bel, Lord of the First, who was also Amalee's father's father (Amalee's grandfather is Bel). There was a raid on the cult by a group of adventurers, and her father escaped back to Hell (probably on the run from both the Devils and adventurers. For all I know he's a recurring villain for someone out there), but her mother was killed just after giving birth to Amalee. One cultist escaped, taking Ama with them, only to die a short while later (I've not put much thought into HOW they die. Bandits maybe?). Being left on the side of a major road, Ama was quickly found and adopted by a prosperous merchant couple that, due to some biological issues, could not conceive. They knew that Ama was touched by Fiends (her short horns, hooves and red skin were kind of a give-away), but reasoned that with proper parenting, they could raise her to reject her Fiendish heritage. And so they did. She grew up in a loving, caring, and fairly accepting family, who's home was located in the major metropolitan center of the world. She was tutored under both humanoid and benevolent monster teachers (her history teacher was a local Silver Dragon for example, hence her knowledge of Draconic). She eventually took up the family business and debuted into society as one of the first socially accepted Tieflings in the city.

She maintains a close relationship with her adopted parents, and has never met her biological father. However, she also has a very close relationship with her grandfather, Bel. Despite him being a Pit Fiend, the Lord of the First, and the head general of the Fiends in the Blood War, he dotes on his "favorite" grandchild. Ama's relationship with the various other Lords of Hell (except of Asmodeus) is that is a favored daughter or niece. Her relation with Asmodeus is almost non-existant, but she figures that she holds a small place in his black heart (as in if things really, REALLY come down to it, Asmodeus will step in under the claim of him protecting his investments, though Ama's probably be in like Deity level trouble). Her two favorite "relatives" are "Gran'pa Bel" and "Uncle Mephistopheles", Mephistopheles mostly because she thinks he's "soooooo cool" and she looks up to him in a way.

However, Ama's not evil, and constantly (though politely) rejects any offers of serving the Lords or for any Fiendish favors, with the exception of the rare Fiendish intervention on behalf of Bel (often a contingent of Devils sent under the orders to keep Amalee safe from various bad things (Anti-DM-douchbag countermeasures)).

Quick doodle of Amalee as a child

Name: Jillian
Race: Human
Class: Paladin 6/Rogue 4
Alignment: Lawful Good (Formerly Lawful Neutral)
Progression Path: Unsure
Character History: Firstly, Jillian started as a character at age 12. She was a member of the militant wing of the world's Law religion, and her job was to uphold the law with brutal efficiency. Like most of those taken in by the militant wing, she was an orphan, and trained in a Spartan-esque setting. She was, in a word, a killing machine. The general plot for the initial campaign was that the party was to fight this Half-Dragon demi-god who was more or less pulling a Sauron thing. We ended up just clearing out dungeons and getting levels, up until a magical accident that sent the party into an alternate world (apparently the size of Jupiter and with more portals than Sigil). This is where the real story gets started.

Upon arriving in the new world, Jillian gets in contact with the wing of the church on the world. She rejoins, explains her situation, and retakes her role in the militant wing of the church. However, this church on this world is far more militant, often conducting raids on supposed "unlawful" towns, either arresting or killing those they deem as "lawbreakers" for violating, at times, very obscure laws (This wing is the kind that would uphold the "no whale hunting law" in Wyoming for example). Jillian goes along with the church for a while, until one of her former party members (the party was split upon entering the initial portal and Jill's been alone up until now) is arrested for jaywalking. He's an anthro/were-dodo with very, very poor observation skill, but even still, upon seeing Jill with her Greatsword (Medium Sized, Masterwork Blue Ice Greatsword), something clicked and he remembered her (mostly because of that the safest place to be is next to the Paladin that's wrecking face through a dungeon). Seeing that the church was corrupt and did not follow the true rule of law (in that Laws exist to protect the people), Jillian excommunicated herself from the church. In the ensuing escape and fight, she lost her sword, and escaped with her companion into the wild. It was there that she reevaluated her morals and did a bit of self-searching, and eventually became a force of good, almost akin with Robin Hood, bot of a now Lawful Good bend (mostly thwarting the apparent evil/uncaring nature of the Church).

Objectives are as follows. Gather a force to oppose the church. Lead a rebellion against the Lawful Neutral church to overthrow the corrupt, power mad church leaders and bring about change for the better. And lastly, get her sword back ("It's a good sword, and I miss it.".)

Jillian, age 12
Jillian, age 19

[Prime32]

The first seems a little... Mary-Sue-ish. What with "everyone loves her, and the greatest manipulators in the universe refuse to manipulate her for some reason". While they make more gracious hosts than demons, devils are still made out of evil and should act in ways atrocious to a Neutral character. ("Your seat comfy? I can ask the butler to stuff it with more decapitated-but-still-living babies.")

And you're telling me that her parents and silver dragon teacher devoted to destroying evil are fine with her skipping off to Hell for a cup of tea made from the souls of the innocent? Family reunions must be interesting.

[Rowsen]

Descendant of Bel.
Loves and revers Bel.
Friendly with the Lords of the Nine.
Not Evil.
Does not compute.
Sorry if I sound mean, but my Sue-ometer is going wild here.

[Tytalus]

The first seems a little... Mary-Sue-ish. What with "everyone loves her, and the greatest manipulators in the universe refuse to manipulate her for some reason". While they make more gracious hosts than demons, devils are still made out of evil and should act in ways atrocious to a Neutral character.

+1.

It's a tiefling that isn't shunned by society who also has several super high-powered contact/friends (a silver dragon, two lords of hell), at least two of which would go out of their way to protect her (Bel sending a contingent of devils to save her? Seriously?).

All the while her fiendish contacts - who are the epitome of evil - refuse to be, well, evil to to her.

Why hello there, Mary Sue!

[MarkusWolfe]

An awakened St.Bernard who takes levels in paladin.

Around his neck, there is a small keg of limitless bourbon.

Instead of summoning a mount, he summons a halfling paladin 3 levels lower than him.

When he's not adventuring, he's a guard dog for an orphanage for children from war-torn countries.

I have never seen this character before, but I intend to play it sometime.

[Rowsen]

An awakened St.Bernard who takes levels in paladin.

I love it!

[Tytalus]

An awakened St.Bernard who takes levels in paladin.

[...]

Instead of summoning a mount, he summons a halfling paladin 3 levels lower than him.

Now that is awesome.

Around his neck, there is a small keg of limitless bourbon.

Could be a keg of healing potions...

... or a means to dispense his Lay on Hands healing.

[Silus]

*Laughs* Well, she was my first D&D character. I've toned it down quite a bit, though DM intervention tends to get in the way (Like my Ork Tinkerer that ended up becoming a time traveling Owlbear Tinker/Binder wielding a long-rifle).

As for the whole family'o'fiends, it's mostly fluff if anything. And an attempt to discourage the DM from being a jerk with excessive stuff (Like a Mind Flayer and his minions against a party of four lvl 3's for example). And the dragon, again, fluff to explain her knowing Draconic ('cause in the session I used her, everyone else knew the other basic languages, but nobody knew Draconic, and I had a slot open, so I needed the fluff to support it).

To be honest, she kinda sucks in play, being (currently) only a lvl 2 Swashbuckler.

*Feels the need to defend his characters*

[freebiewitz]

Warforged.
Book of vile darkness.

Get spell from book of vile darkness that allows you to shoot your hand off to hit the enemy, considered an evil spell since it's all gory.

Have a warforged use it and you have a rocket punch mech!!!!

Next step.

Warforged.
Bag of holding.
Several mechanical peices of whatever.
A ballista.
One small construct.

Put bang of holding on chest, have the little mechanical pieces have the ability to hold/open said bag.
Put ballista and small construct inside.
When the construct see's the bag open have it instructed to fire the ballista.

You now have a chest cannon.

Next step.

Make sure your warforged is unarmored.
Then get a suit of armor, pimp said piece of armor as much as you want.
Then use a series of spells to make armor sentient.
Then make it so that the warforged and the armor can combine.

You now have two robots that combine.

So lets sum things up.

A rocket punching, chest blasting, combining robot!
Don't forget to add those mechanical wings from races of Ebberon.
Wrist mounted magic auto reloading crossbows.
And last of all perhaps laser eyes (Can't rememeber which book)

All I can say is.

Spoiler

Show

GAI GAO GAR

[hamishspence]

As for the whole family'o'fiends, it's mostly fluff if anything. And an attempt to discourage the DM from being a jerk with excessive stuff (Like a Mind Flayer and his minions against a party of four lvl 3's for example). And the dragon, again, fluff to explain her knowing Draconic ('cause in the session I used her, everyone else knew the other basic languages, but nobody knew Draconic, and I had a slot open, so I needed the fluff to support it).

One answer could be that the high level devils tend to be well behaved around her because they are playing the long game with her soul:

a "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar" thing.

Being subtle and charming, and avoiding "pushing" evil deeds on her, helps acclimatize her to it:


That said, if her soul's that important to them that they are going to such lengths to ensure she hands it over of her own accord, that might be even more Sue-ish

[Silus]

Well the inevitable outcome I'm looking for her is to turn her into a high ranking soldier for the Fiends in the Blood War.

Ama's dad was supposed to take the spot, but the adventurers happened, and Bel was like "Well, a heavy handed approach didn't work with him, so let's try a more subtle try with his kid".

But yes, what you suggested Hamishspence would probably be the best course. Only problem is that the guys that DM the games I play have this.....complex about people playing evil characters. They think we're going to burn down an orphanage and eat babies or something. Like with this new campaign, we get to be pirates, but we're not allowed to pillage, kill, and torch port towns and stuff. Just pillage and rough people up, but no massacres . Not sure how they'd take the granddaughter of an Arch Fiend's slow descent into evil...

That said, if her soul's that important to them that they are going to such lengths to ensure she hands it over of her own accord, that might be even more Sue-ish

Well that's a recent addition (originally she was just the adopted daughter of a merchant family in a world that was heavily influenced by the Discworld books), added after our now current main DM began killing our characters off with disturbing regularity (3 characters, 6 sessions). Kind of like a "Haha, screw you" if/when he pulls off something dickish. Hasn't called the bluff yet, so I suppose it works.

Edit: Though I suppose she's not as bad as my now-deity Dwarf Fighter who's patron to Crafting, War and Progress who, if he wasn't currently a vestige, could systematically destroy layer upon layer of the Abyss from his mobile domain that is essentially a floating island the size of Long Island, festooned with more weapons than are practical and enough ammo to fight both sides of the Blood War for a good few years.

[Aidan305]

One of my favourite characters that I ever created was an Arcanoloth named Shirketh the Apostate. Essentially, he was an outcast among the Yugoloths, but he may, or may not, have also been an agent of theirs, with the whole outcast thing being a disguise. I built up layers and layers of subterfuge in to his background to the point where even I couldn't tell what his true goal was.

I had fun with that guy.

[true_shinken]

They think we're going to burn down an orphanage and eat babies or something. Like with this new campaign, we get to be pirates, but we're not allowed to pillage, kill, and torch port towns and stuff. Just pillage and rough people up, but no massacres

Well, the fact you frown upon not doing that means they are just right.
Also, a pirate torching a port town is just stupid. What would they pillage next week?

[Quietus]

I've just come up with a brand new character idea - a bullfighter-type, meant for single combat, possibly arena-style. I still haven't determined exactly how I'm going to represent this mechanically, I'm leaning toward a Knight basis (to force things into melee with him, so that he can "bullfight" a wyvern), but the more that I think about it, the more I'd like to add Improved Feint and some sneak attack in there, possibly with some spring attack to force a charge every round. I'd have to find a way to avoid damage, though, outside of just a high AC.. Elusive Target would certainly help, particularly if I started "bullfighting" an ubercharger of some sort, but .. well, we'll see. It needs a lot of work XD

[Silus]

Well, the fact you frown upon not doing that means they are just right.
Also, a pirate torching a port town is just stupid. What would they pillage next week?

Oh no no no, I'd not do random acts of evil unless I could gain something from it. Like if I torched the orphanage in such a way as to frame someone else for the crime, then somehow lie/swindle my way into his property (maybe become the orphanage owner before the torching or something and demand compensation from the accused).

As for the pirate bit, I'd at least like the option to do so without the DM penalizing me for it. I do so love my options.

[Silus]

I've just come up with a brand new character idea - a bullfighter-type, meant for single combat, possibly arena-style. I still haven't determined exactly how I'm going to represent this mechanically, I'm leaning toward a Knight basis (to force things into melee with him, so that he can "bullfight" a wyvern), but the more that I think about it, the more I'd like to add Improved Feint and some sneak attack in there, possibly with some spring attack to force a charge every round. I'd have to find a way to avoid damage, though, outside of just a high AC.. Elusive Target would certainly help, particularly if I started "bullfighting" an ubercharger of some sort, but .. well, we'll see. It needs a lot of work XD

Perhaps a level or two of Swashbuckler? Maybe take the Duelist prestige class or something?

[freebiewitz]

Perhaps a level or two of Swashbuckler? Maybe take the Duelist prestige class or something?

I'd say a level or two in gladiator for flavor if nothing else.
They work on intimidation and peform checks I think, can't rememebr.

[Silus]

I'd say a level or two in gladiator for flavor if nothing else.
They work on intimidation and peform checks I think, can't rememebr.

I'm pretty sure it's perform checks...

[the clumsy bard]

I'd say swordsage actually mixed with whatever class you are thinking works for you (maybe knight for the goading factor you mentioned)

swordsage has the counter maneuver feigned opening that replaces your ac with sense motive etc...

[true_shinken]

Oh no no no, I'd not do random acts of evil unless I could gain something from it. Like if I torched the orphanage in such a way as to frame someone else for the crime, then somehow lie/swindle my way into his property (maybe become the orphanage owner before the torching or something and demand compensation from the accused).

As for the pirate bit, I'd at least like the option to do so without the DM penalizing me for it. I do so love my options.

The problem with evil characters is not about their 'random acts of evil'. It's about their acts of evil. Do you realize your group probably does not want to play a game like that? Some people actually enjoy being the heroes. Sure, you can play an evil character in a group of good characters and even be heroic (Firefly had good examples), but there are two problems in this aproach:
1) You keep saying you 'want to do evil things'. This is not even something ingrained to a concept to anything, you want to be evil for evil's sake. That will cause trouble in a group, because you will need spotlight time for your 'evil deeds' and that means the other guys play less - or you will do it in front of them, eventually engaging in in-party conflict. Again, in-party conflict can be a good thing, bu this kind of in-party conflict is the bad one. It results in your character being killed.
2) Stories about evil guys in a group of good guys usually have one of two goals: redemption or the portrayal of 'unredeemable evil'. Only the first one actually plays well in a good party (and it's obviously not what they want) and the second one makes for good novels and movies... and awful roleplaying games.
TL;DR - You're complaining about your party style. Either fit in or drop out.

[Quietus]

I'd say swordsage actually mixed with whatever class you are thinking works for you (maybe knight for the goading factor you mentioned)

swordsage has the counter maneuver feigned opening that replaces your ac with sense motive etc...

I was considering Knight for that reason, but the more I think about it, the more I'm thinking that might not be a good idea. I'm leaning more toward swashbuckler3/rogue3 at this point, with the potential to either hit Invisible Blade (depending on feat availability) or continue with that one feat that I can't remember to combine Rogue and Swashbuckler levels. Improved Feint if I don't go Invisible Blade, high Bluff ranks for feinting, see where things go from there, I'm thinking.

[Myth]

*Laughs* Well, she was my first D&D character. I've toned it down quite a bit, though DM intervention tends to get in the way (Like my Ork Tinkerer that ended up becoming a time traveling Owlbear Tinker/Binder wielding a long-rifle).

As for the whole family'o'fiends, it's mostly fluff if anything. And an attempt to discourage the DM from being a jerk with excessive stuff (Like a Mind Flayer and his minions against a party of four lvl 3's for example). And the dragon, again, fluff to explain her knowing Draconic ('cause in the session I used her, everyone else knew the other basic languages, but nobody knew Draconic, and I had a slot open, so I needed the fluff to support it).

To be honest, she kinda sucks in play, being (currently) only a lvl 2 Swashbuckler.

*Feels the need to defend his characters*

This is so very wrong. First and foremost you can't use your back story to command or push your DM around. In-game, HE decides what Bel and every other NPC and printed monster do. Second of all, if your DM is throwing encounters that are too challanging for you, either talk to him/her or leave the game. You can never win an arms race versus your DM nor can you get them to do anything. Power Word: DM fiat trumps all.

The character is not one I'm impressed with from a writing perspective, nor from a mechanical one. How old were you when you wrote it?

[hamishspence]

But yes, what you suggested Hamishspence would probably be the best course. Only problem is that the guys that DM the games I play have this.....complex about people playing evil characters. They think we're going to burn down an orphanage and eat babies or something. Like with this new campaign, we get to be pirates, but we're not allowed to pillage, kill, and torch port towns and stuff. Just pillage and rough people up, but no massacres . Not sure how they'd take the granddaughter of an Arch Fiend's slow descent into evil...

One way might be "do evil things, to bad people".

If the character takes "Pay Evil Unto Evil" as

"Do REALLY horrible things to those who prey on the innocent" - and enjoys doing so, they might start sliding down the slippery slope.

Could start out as devilish temptation "Surely it violates justice that this horrible evildoer that preys on the innocent gets a relatively painless execution"- and carry on from there.

That's a big part of devils- punishing the souls of the wicked, but in a disproportionate fashion.

[Coidzor]

An awakened St.Bernard who takes levels in paladin.

Around his neck, there is a small keg of limitless bourbon.

Instead of summoning a mount, he summons a halfling paladin 3 levels lower than him.

When he's not adventuring, he's a guard dog for an orphanage for children from war-torn countries.

I have never seen this character before, but I intend to play it sometime.

Rawsome. Though I'd make it go via leadership myself.


Currently one of my favorite concepts is a Necromancer who is also a gardener/landscaping specialist. Inspired by a campaign story where the Dread Necromancer posed as a gardener to explain away all of the dirt and digging implements and such on his person.

Something about the idea of mobile skeletal flower-pots really appeals to me. Where they've had a bit of soil rigged up inside of their rib cages or pelvises and flowers and vines grow out and intertwine and overlay the bones in a resplendent display of color. Also, help make the place smell better and add a bit of color. Potentially would mess with druids and clerics who might mistake them for plant creatures after the plants are fully grown and covering them. Use 'em as sculpture when not needing them as lackeys/muscle....

[mootoall]

My favorite concept, build wise, works one of two ways. Either a first level wizard, using a fell drain sonic snap for a first level wightocolypse, or a higher level (at least sixth), high CHA dread necromancer, using Leadership to get, wait for it, a ridiculous number of 1st level wizards to fell drain sonic snap the world into a wightocolypse. And then rebuke/command undead for my own personal army of level draining folk. Season with Necropolitan to taste.

[true_shinken]

One way might be "do evil things, to bad people".

If the character takes "Pay Evil Unto Evil" as

"Do REALLY horrible things to those who prey on the innocent" - and enjoys doing so, they might start sliding down the slippery slope.

Could start out as devilish temptation "Surely it violates justice that this horrible evildoer that preys on the innocent gets a relatively painless execution"- and carry on from there.

That's a big part of devils- punishing the souls of the wicked, but in a disproportionate fashion.

Now that would be an interesting character.

[hamishspence]

Taken to its logical extreme, you might have a character who is willing to commit any act against those who prey on the innocent, in order to punish them, no matter how vile- and revel in these acts.

Yet at the same time, retain compassion for the innocent, and a willingness to defend them and never harm them.

Such a character might be fully aware that torturing people for pleasure is seen as evil by most of the people in his world, and respond with "Then I'm evil and proud of it."

Definitely an unusual take on the "card-carrying evildoer".

[Silus]

This is so very wrong. First and foremost you can't use your back story to command or push your DM around. In-game, HE decides what Bel and every other NPC and printed monster do. Second of all, if your DM is throwing encounters that are too challanging for you, either talk to him/her or leave the game. You can never win an arms race versus your DM nor can you get them to do anything. Power Word: DM fiat trumps all.

The character is not one I'm impressed with from a writing perspective, nor from a mechanical one. How old were you when you wrote it?

Firstly, I'm going to say that I do understand where you are coming from with the "don't fight the DM" bit. However, this DM has stated, quite plainly, that he runs a DM vs PC game.

As for how old I was, what does it matter? If you take out the bit about the fiends and Bel, it's a perfectly fine character.

[true_shinken]

Taken to its logical extreme, you might have a character who is willing to commit any act against those who prey on the innocent, in order to punish them, no matter how vile- and revel in these acts.

Yet at the same time, retain compassion for the innocent, and a willingness to defend them and never harm them.

Such a character might be fully aware that torturing people for pleasure is seen as evil by most of the people in his world, and respond with "Then I'm evil and proud of it."

Definitely an unusual take on the "card-carrying evildoer".

My country's most popular fantasy setting has one of those as a main villain. An ex-paladin that simply thinks everyone else is 'just wrong'. He warps the god of justice's teaching to fit his purposes and is deviously dangerous.
Of course he is a fan-favorite.

[Silus]

Taken to its logical extreme, you might have a character who is willing to commit any act against those who prey on the innocent, in order to punish them, no matter how vile- and revel in these acts.

Yet at the same time, retain compassion for the innocent, and a willingness to defend them and never harm them.

Such a character might be fully aware that torturing people for pleasure is seen as evil by most of the people in his world, and respond with "Then I'm evil and proud of it."

Definitely an unusual take on the "card-carrying evildoer".

*Laughs* Lawful Evil with Good tendencies?