View unanswered posts | View active topics * FAQ    * Search
* Login 




Forum locked This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies.  [ 6 posts ] 
Faith
 
PostPosted: Mon, Jan 25 2016, 23:22 PM 

User avatar

Player

Joined: 08 Nov 2015
Location: idk

I've been toying around with a character concept for a while now, but I've had loads of trouble deciding on a suitable race. The character has to be able to study and practice wizardry, and come from a race that possesses a significantly lesser lifespan than humans/half-orcs. They would be an outcast from their people, and would be just beginning to mingle with longer-lived and more civilized populations. Consequently, they'd learn that most humanoids can lead much, much longer lives than the character could ever hope to, providing the character's central conflict and motivation. The obvious issue I'm having is that all of the candidates I can think of would have a particular 'special snowflake' factor that I'd rather trim down as much as possible, among other concerns.
The races that I've considered, and their pros/cons, are:

    Kobolds - Probably the most reasonable lore-wise, and further solidified by the Compiled Kobold Lore Thread's mention of kobold wizards attracting "ridicule and scorn." However, as far as I can tell, kobolds that heavily deviate from their cultural norm are already pretty heavily in the majority, so I'm hesitant to further contribute to that potential imbalance.

    Gnolls - They clearly live extremely short lives, but seem to have almost zero connection to magic and have the common issue of being unable to approach civilization without being slaughtered or instinctively slaughtering someone else. Additionally, if I'm not mistaken, even an extraordinary gnoll simply doesn't seem to have much chance of becoming educated, even in very favorable conditions.

    Lizardfolk - Their life-span seems to be just shy of that of a human, and they still have the former half of the problematic relationship with civilized settlements that gnolls possess. At the least, they seem to frequently have divine shamans, which is better than nothing. Also, similarly to kobolds, I'd be worried about diluting the dedicated but limited numbers of lizardfolk characters. However, I'm very interested in how their culture seems to very largely revolve around survival, which I figure very much fits into a fear of growing old and dying faster than anyone around them.

I'd appreciate it if anyone could recommend a sentient race (monstrous or otherwise) that fits my criteria, provide any input regarding the three races I've already mentioned, or offer advice/criticism for anything I've mentioned in this post.

(Sorry if this all is a bit silly!)

_________________
Faith Dias
Sigrin Sapple


 
      
Dark Immolation
 
PostPosted: Mon, Jan 25 2016, 23:46 PM 

User avatar

Tester

Joined: 20 Apr 2008
Location: The downeaster "Alexa"

I'm not sure of their maximum lifespan, but Kenku reach adulthood at 9 years, I believe.

Oh, and you have Goblin which wouldn't require a request. They live for, what, 30 years if they're lucky not to get squished by something earlier?

_________________
Image
You think Magic is your ally... but you merely adopted the Art. He was born in it. Molded by it.
Sometimes, an angel is simply a devil with better intentions.


 
      
Overneath
 
PostPosted: Mon, Jan 25 2016, 23:57 PM 

User avatar

Player

Joined: 08 Nov 2013
Location: Somewhere near the Atlantic (I hope)

I might be skeptical of a Kenku even being able to cast spells. They don't speak, they mimic, so that is entirely dependent on whether it needs to be YOUR voice performing the incantation. I've always assumed every wizard casts the same spells in a slightly different way - they're paranoid and egotistical like that.

A hobgoblin might work if you're a minimalist. They're already a playable race with no request, oddities because of being goblinoids but predisposed to a sharper mind than their cousins. I believe they age slower than goblins but faster than orcs, who are already at the bottom of the 'standard race' age pool. And, to top it all off, they hate elves, who you'd probably already envy due to their incredibly long natural lives.

_________________
Contents subject to change without warning, reason, necessity, or logical imperative.


 
      
Dark Immolation
 
PostPosted: Tue, Jan 26 2016, 0:05 AM 

User avatar

Tester

Joined: 20 Apr 2008
Location: The downeaster "Alexa"

Overneath wrote:
I might be skeptical of a Kenku even being able to cast spells. They don't speak, they mimic, so that is entirely dependent on whether it needs to be YOUR voice performing the incantation.


I'm not aware of anything that says it has to be "your" voice. The only thing is that you speak in a loud and clear enough voice. Tangentially related, something like UMD might actually require you mimicking a voice or two to get the magic to come out of an item/scroll/etc, something I'd see a Kenku as being pretty good at. Not to mention, that gives me the awesome idea of a Kenku who accidentally stumbles upon wizardry by imitating the voice and motions of a Wizard casting cantrips. >_>

And something I realized:

Quote:
They would be an outcast from their people, and would be just beginning to mingle with longer-lived and more civilized populations... The obvious issue I'm having is that all of the candidates I can think of would have a particular 'special snowflake' factor that I'd rather trim down as much as possible, among other concerns.


That's an interesting situation. By virtue of being an outcast to their own people, wouldn't there have to be a bit of a "special snowflake" factor as you call it? "Normal" individuals are seldom made outcasts, because, well, they fit in don't they? Seems weird that a society would make an outcast of an otherwise normal individual, unless they were framed for some sort of misdoing and banished; maybe that's a route you can go that avoids making them too far from the norm. They're normal by most standards of their race, but they caught a raw deal and can't go back to their homeland.

_________________
Image
You think Magic is your ally... but you merely adopted the Art. He was born in it. Molded by it.
Sometimes, an angel is simply a devil with better intentions.


 
      
Faith
 
PostPosted: Tue, Jan 26 2016, 0:29 AM 

User avatar

Player

Joined: 08 Nov 2015
Location: idk

Dark Immolation wrote:
That's an interesting situation. By virtue of being an outcast to their own people, wouldn't there have to be a bit of a "special snowflake" factor as you call it? "Normal" individuals are seldom made outcasts, because, well, they fit in don't yet? Seems weird that a society would make an outcast of an otherwise normal individual, unless they were framed for some sort of misdoing and banished; maybe that's a route you can go that avoids making them too far from the norm. They're normal by most standards of their race, but they caught a raw deal and can't go back to their homeland.

I'm not trying to completely eliminate that aspect, only "trim it down" enough to make a more believable character that doesn't detract from the overall tone of the setting. I'm fine with being the equivalent of a fallen druid or a ranger that talks to his pet hamster, I just don't want to be as lore-breaking and distracting as a gnoll having a tea-party over by the Dale- or, with less hyperbole, a gnoll attending arcane lessons at the Blue Skies Academy.
Your idea does sound interesting, however.

_________________
Faith Dias
Sigrin Sapple


 
      
Faith
 
PostPosted: Tue, Jan 26 2016, 4:05 AM 

User avatar

Player

Joined: 08 Nov 2015
Location: idk

Thanks a bunch for the input; I've decided to go along with hobgoblin.

_________________
Faith Dias
Sigrin Sapple


 
      
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Forum locked This topic is locked, you cannot edit posts or make further replies.  [ 6 posts ] 


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group