AMIA ARCHIVE • View topic - Fairly crazy character ideas that will get you killed

I was thinking up character ideas and realised that - due to IC reasons - they'd either be terrible in combat, or have no allies. But is that really enough reason not to try them?

For example, I'd love to play a Cleric of Eldath. The main problem being, Eldath's followers (like She herself) are completely pacifist. When attacked, they retreat until the enemy is overextended and the character's friends turn up.

But you COULD make it work: if they only ever summoned creatures, never ordered those creatures to attack (but didn't stop them defending themselves), and only parried in combat. Never attacked or cast offensive spells, merely buffed, healed and conjured pets. Turned invis or hid in an emergency. (Interesting arguments over whether 'turn undead' could be used.)

Has anyone done this? Is it possible to survive long enough to level following a code like that?

I'm only really worried about rp, not ever hitting level 30, but I'm assuming you have to be a certain level just to travel around monster-filled zones safely.

Another idea was for a Chaotic-Good Wizard who is investigating the Necromantic school, and treating it as a branch of study like any other so as to be better prepared when the next Undead Army rolls in. But this is the World's first Ethical Necromancer, who doesn't mind flinging Negative planar energy about but won't intrude on the departed souls or bodies of the dead. (Even if he eventually gets corrupted and plays with summoned armies, he's got no friends in the Good aligned OR Evil camps, and "detect alignment" could be fatal in many parts of the Amia). So... probably wouldn't work.

Anyone else got ideas which would be fun rp but TERRIBLE combat, or just make everyone want to kill you?

a "ninja" that casts spells would earn my ooc hate. but little off the topic... hmmm...
oh I know: druid/shifter who is fine in transforming into undead shapes!

I know an Eldath follower who does the first already, along with taking a vow of poverty. It was a pleasant surprise seeing them at 0 gold at level 30.

Tero, that sort of druid shifter is already all over the place. I've seen at least eight in the past two months.

Yes it's possible... if you go crazy on parry bonus feats you can slap away almost every attack directed at you... a dex/wis based Monk with parry-to-bits would be almost impossible to hit. I, for a short time, had a Parry based Monk PC at level 30 and the only thing that'll get you a are bugs and lag.

Non-evil and non-undead creating Necromancers aren't that odd, they are discussed in PnP quite often, in PnP many Serve Kelemvor, Necromancy is no more good or evil then any other school of magic can be. Its just an easy target for people hence the hate.

Last edited by Gunz on Tue, Nov 23 2010, 23:42 PM, edited 1 time in total.

That's only one style of Eldathian. Being Eldathian doesn't have to equate to never fighting. But in order to play a loyal Eldathian, you should at least use violence as a last resort, of course.

As for the anti-undead Necro, see Jergal and Kelemvor for examples of that. They exist.

Alternatively you could play Gorthod.

I have found that as long as you can heal your friends and pay attention to it, no one will mind if you can't do any thing else. Some times they even give you healing supplies. I think that you could make any character concept work at all just cause of this.

Parryers are fun. Especially if you make them with epic dodge, 80+ Parry and at least 50 AC. Melee people go insane over it.

On topic for the wizard thing:
I have 2 necromancers. One sorcerer and one wizard. Both of them do just fine without using undead, and being seen as more "white" mancers. (Not using undead, focused on destroying them). You don't get OOC or IC hate for that one..

Then again one of them also convinced several paladins that Shadow of the Void is NOT an undead.. so.. it's all about how you do it ICly I guess?

sea-breez wrote:

I have found that as long as you can heal your friends and pay attention to it, no one will mind if you can't do any thing else. Some times they even give you healing supplies. I think that you could make any character concept work at all just cause of this.

Yes, a character with max ranks in heal plus +5 heal mythalled on all gear could be a great benefit to a team, and any character class can do that.

Axl Leigh players a very decent Eldath.

Course I always use the Eldath character has bait to lure monsters.

Playing a Straight human fighter will likely get you killed.

Good to know the Eldath works, I'm very tempted.

And nice to see that Necros have a chance to say "But...!" before they're summarily executed for wearing black and looking dodgy

I know there's the Kelemvor options etc, it's more whether they'd actually survive 2 seconds of conversation with an over-eager Paladin. ("Your smite evil does nothing, but your two-handed sword is surprisingly effective at turning him into mush all on its own.")

Gravemaskin wrote:

Parryers are fun. Especially if you make them with epic dodge, 80+ Parry and at least 50 AC. Melee people go insane over it.

1. Check
2. Over-Check
2. Oh yeah, Over-Check.

Jack's set. -nods-

I'm proud to say my Sally has never attacked a single thing.

Healers rock.

That parry thing...can you parry dev crits?

Selvec Darkon wrote:

That parry thing...can you parry dev crits?

What do you mean? You can parry an attack that would have rolled a critical, yes.

Or do you mean can you score a dev in Parry Mode? Yeah, you can score a dev through Reposite Attack, IIRC. In fact, that's supposed to be the whole point of building for parry in some cases.

Meant could you parry a critical. Since you know, Criticals generally always hit.

I thought the Parry was rolled before the threat rolls, etc. Could be wrong though.

Actually, what am I thinking. Threat Rolls only get rolled after the Attack's been successful. Attack has to go through Parry and then AC to be seen if it's effective.

So, yeah, Parry can and does deflect Devs, but the attacks deflected never really get a chance to be "Devs". They're just attacks that were snuffed out to begin with.

MoshingChris wrote:

Playing a Straight human fighter will likely get you killed.

Hey! oh wait no, that's perfectly accurate.
If you want to go for the high score make the fighter have a 10 con, and then use all your ability points to pump Cha.

Selvec Darkon wrote:

Axl Leigh players a very decent Eldath.

Course I always use the Eldath character has bait to lure monsters.

Figures. Someone likes my RP buuuut....

I don't have any Eldathans. Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Willis?

AxlLeigh wrote:

Selvec Darkon wrote:

Axl Leigh players a very decent Eldath.

Course I always use the Eldath character has bait to lure monsters.

Figures. Someone likes my RP buuuut....

I don't have any Eldathans. Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Willis?

Okay, so your character just likes to get hit by things. Nevermind then <_<.

Which char?

I had a cleric who leveled up completely from the back lines. She wasn't a pacifist, just a weakling.

AxlLeigh wrote:

Which char?

Maybe I'm thinking of someone else. Could of sworn they had Rowa as their last name. Eh.

Bobo_Underhill wrote:

I had a cleric who leveled up completely from the back lines. She wasn't a pacifist, just a weakling.

I remember those days. Back when Lyle used to wear that pink petticoat.

Could be Elrien. She prefers nonviolence, unless there are greatly extenuating circumstances. However, if someone else is in danger from her inaction, she'll fight.

o0GuNz_N_RoSeZ0o wrote:

That's only one style of Eldathian. Being Eldathian doesn't have to equate to never fighting. But in order to play a loyal Eldathian, you should at least use violence as a last resort, of course.

Yeah. I don't know where this idea of Eldathans bound to total non-violence and pacifism comes from. How many here have even read her entry in the books? It is stressed (like literally, in italics) that they may defend themselves or things under their protection with violence. They take life only in the direst need, which means they do take life and probably practice a lot of non-lethal force. There's specific references to the "militant wings" of her church in F&A too (though I didn't bother to flip the page to check what those are, right now).

That's not to say a complete pacifist isn't a cool character concept. Eldath is a viable patron for that, but she doesn't automatically expect that and more importantly, there's no reason a large variety of faiths and ideologies couldn't support pacifism. It doesn't need to be in service to the goddess of peaceful life.

As a parody to the charisma=hawtness you could go for a horribly mutilied sorceror meaning a negative charisma score. You can try to hide behind your familiar and safe up for wands.

steveb_uk wrote:

investigating the Necromantic school, and treating it as a branch of study like any other so as to be better prepared when the next Undead Army rolls in.... who doesn't mind flinging Negative planar energy about but won't intrude on the departed souls or bodies of the dead...

The Chapter Master of the Eternal Order fills these definitions.

Nuff said.

Good stuff re: Eldath, I'd been going from online descriptions only and they sounded much less flexible than that.

Mind you, the wording suggests:

a) Her mode of avoidance is to 'retreat' or move, so I'd go dodge instead of parry, or stick to sanctuary/hide

b) She does this so that her enemies can see by her example that inner peace only comes from peace

BUT... if you're a mindless undead controlled by someone else, you *cannot* be convinced of the benefits of anything, so half the reason for non-violence isn't there. (The other half is presumably to foster peace within the worshipper's own mind). Same is arguably true of Elementals, who cannot ever go against their natures and so can't be convinced to change. I think followers of Eldath could definitely justify using violence/turning to stop the zombie army

I'm also wondering whether taking Water domain is even a good idea, since all the enhancements are attacking spells and "Healing" would make a lot more sense (and even be able to be tied in with water/groves/life symbolically).

I should say that my character has taken some vows from Exalted Deeds sourcebook in addition. I hope people do not take from my character that this is just the default way for Eldath worshipers. It's because I am a monk and not a druid or cleric, too. There is no reason why you have to refuse money or not fight if you are attacked.

Willow is right:

o0GuNz_N_RoSeZ0o wrote:

That's only one style of Eldathian. Being Eldathian doesn't have to equate to never fighting. But in order to play a loyal Eldathian, you should at least use violence as a last resort, of course.

It is quite fun though to take the vows.

Wolfking6116 wrote:

Tero, that sort of druid shifter is already all over the place. I've seen at least eight in the past two months.

exactly

Gravemaskin wrote:

Parryers are fun. Especially if you make them with epic dodge, 80+ Parry and at least 50 AC. Melee people go insane over it.

... and after an hour of trying to hit you, they will eventually say "Ok you win."

Janna Ogder wrote:

... and after an hour of trying to hit you, they will eventually say "Ok you win."

No, no, that sounds much too useful and viable for the "great rp which will get you killed" thread

How about half-orc Wizards with deliberately low Int? (We've had the ugly low-CHA Sorcs...)
A class which needs one alignement, who drops out of it and therefore can't level? Hmm.
Any prestige classes which are just nerfed and useless in terms of build, but fun rp?

A L30 half-orc with only cantrips would be funny as hell. Actually, there could be a lot of role-play in that. Maybe he takes himself very seriously and consorts with other mages in social gatherings, but he runs his a$$ off when he encounters monsters.

Or takes loads of heavy armour and toughness, and just sits there relatively unconcerned when he fails a few spell checks due to it

Go for the 1000+hp build and have him delighted when he finally gets a spell off

Howabout a gay paladin with pink armor who wields a dagger.

?

Or a character with the name Yirmami Zahoor. Guaranteed dead within 1 minute after most every introduction.

Janna Ogder wrote:

Or a character with the name Yirmami Zahoor. Guaranteed dead within 1 minute after most every introduction.

LOL!

Murex wrote:

Howabout a gay paladin with pink armor who wields a dagger?

Been done.

Also, Wow Janna... I want someone to do that now, just to see Anvil's reaction IC...

A blue halfdragon paladin of Bahamut.

DustSpray101 wrote:

A blue halfdragon paladin of Bahamut.

Dead as soon as s/he hit level 9 Dragon Disciple or showed her wings

Very_Svensk wrote:

DustSpray101 wrote:

A blue halfdragon paladin of Bahamut.

Dead as soon as s/he hit level 9 Dragon Disciple or showed her wings

Yup! But completely justified in fluff as there is that converted flight of Blues for Bahamut.

an italianlike white dressed rouge/assasin?

a Divine Archer? (rngr/cleric)

Character concepts that should get you killed:

A goblin with large lemur ears, wielding a wrench. And a homonculus familiar
An italian monk/ranger using his superjump to kill green turtle monsters and with UMD to use his fire ring and bunny ears
A narcist half-drider trying to perform friendly citizenship
An orange haired spiritist fighting death gods and vampires
An alchemist using polymorph potions to transform in a large umber hulk
Or a band of heroes: a blond ranger fighting the undead, her red haired wizard friend, an old loremaster-harper and a one-eyed comical relief character

Enigo Montoya's nemesis.

Dergaii wrote:

one-eyed comical relief character

black scottish cyclops!

dayfer wrote:

an italianlike white dressed rouge/assasin?

yeah and call him Ezio...

shifter who went crazy and cannot fully control his shapechanges, transforming himself into random creature in random time and forgetting that he's actually not that creature.

Follow my lead! We will kill those Yuan-Tis in a no tim....*PUFF* .....blaaaaaaaaarrggghhh!!!!!11

or a shifter who convinced himself that he is something he originally was not (but everyone else should know what he really is).

Fairly crazy character ideas that will get you killed

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