Character brainstorming
Hi folks,
As y'all have started discussing character concepts by email (exciting!), I've started a thread here to chat about character ideas. Easy to access! All in one place!
Best,
Eric
Character brainstorming
Forum
» His Majesty the Worm / Adventurers and Adventuring
» Character brainstorming
Summary:
riders on the (brain)storm
Here's my preliminary character idea:
Vil Indigo
Gnome, Path of Wands
Swords 3, Pentacles 2, Cups 1, Wands 4
Trained Talents: Weird, Wise, Ancient; Dwimmercraft
Vil insists that he is not a gnome. Not one of those those decrepit, old-looking things, no. Instead, he is a Changeling. Taken from his human parents at birth, he was raised by a Dark Elf mortician mother (his Wood Elf father took one look at him and noped out) who did not understand him and kept trying to make him a proper elf (First Motif: Liminal Bastard). At the age of fifteen he ran away from home and tried to make a living as a stage magician, performing simple illusions for gawking human and dwarf audiences (Second Motif: Dishonest Illusionist). He tried living in denial, that seemed like a good plan, but when he noticed his voice changing and hair growing in places it shouldn't, he panicked. He headed to the underworld to find some way of staving off the aging process; magical cosmetics, a fountain of rejuvenation, anything. (Quest: Find a way to preserve his Elfin looks). His first adventure did not go well. He explored a few empty rooms and dusty corridors, and would have just left in disgust, when an obnoxious giant beetle blocked his path. It even had the gall to try to eat him! He fought back by creating an illusion of some rotting meat and the beetle went for it, giving Vil time to escape, though his dignity was badly battered (Final Motif: Feckless Trickster). He has grudgingly accepted that he won't be able to fulfill his quest on his own, and needs to join a guild. They'll be lucky to have him, honestly—just look at him. From a distance, Vil is the most beautiful elf you've ever seen. He's very, very good with blush and eyeliner. Yet close up, the wrinkles have started to show. Whatever you do, never, ever point this out.
EDIT: After reading the book a bit I've fine tuned this. I didn't exactly follow the rules on stat assignment but I think it's okay.
Dardalion Dawnlight
High Elf, Path of Pentacles
Swords 3, Pentacles 4, Cups 2, Wands 1
Trained Talents: Read the Past, Fight Dirty
Dardalion blazes brightly through life, shining sword in hand and open heart on his sleeve; swinging from chandeliers, sliding down rooftops, and crooning up to moonlit balconies. Like the golden dawn of his namesake, it can be painful when you stare right at it.
**Motif 1: Travelling Troubadour **
When Dardallion first took on his earthly form, his heart was captured by the music and grace of the mortal world. Inspired by the dancing grass and songs of the wind he took up the lute and began writing songs to woo the heart and sway the soul. While his hands were deft and true, something in his delivery was lost on the audience, and he found his trade was rarely welcomed in any one place for long.
Motif 2: Courtly Cavalier
In his youth, Dardalion showed valor for his liege, leading a company of liveried ostrich riders in (largely ceremonial) clashes against rival houses, cheered by crowds of the Seelie court. It is whispered that an affair gone wrong involving the Duchess Snowblossom (and her spinster sisters) led to the discharge of his commission.
Quest: Retrieve the lost jewels of his lady love’s house
During a dueling competition in the Barrows of the Dark Elves, Dardalion had the good fortune of finding love… from afar. A fellow duelist and his new best friend Salvarion Snakemouth showed him a portrait of the one who would capture his heart. His correspondence with the princess Marshrram Most Beautiful has reached a fevered cadence, but she is stranded across the sea. Tragically, her father's extraordinary debts have precluded the damsel from mounting a return voyage to seal their hearts together. If only Dandelion could recover the lost treasure of her house, their debts could be cleared and their hearts brought together.
Motif 3: Dandy Delver
Thanks to some handy pointers from his dear friend Salvarion Snakemouth (who made the introduction and handles all correspondence with Marsharram!), Dardalion was introduced to the nuanced and lucrative field of dungeoneering. This rare trade called to Dardalion’s noble nature and love for risk-taking. Snakemouth instructed Dardalion on some of the nuances need to bypass the traps and tricks of the Deep Dark, and in addition to passing correspondence to Marsharram, has provided Dardalion with tips, maps and insights to help procure the treasure required to maintain his lady’s many expenses.
Equipment:
Belt: Lamellar Armor + Helm, Buckler, Saber
Pack: Correspondence Kit (L), Elvish Lute, 5 Torches, 10 Rations, Mirror, Cologne, Grooming Kit, Wineskin, Breath Mints, 2 Candles, Flint & Steel
(maybe too much stuff, not sure what stacks)
I'll probably expand on this at our first session, but I was thinking…
Filbert Dogrope
Halfling, Path of Cups
Swords 1, Pentacles 3, Cups 4, Wands 2
Trained Talents: Hale & Hearty, Alchemy
Filbert serves as the grumbling but loyal butler to an ancient but critically diminished halfling house.
Motif 1: Curious Explorer
Born into the Dogropes, a penniless branch family to the proud Bearbelt halfling house, Filbert's childhood was one of being sent alone into the nearby forest to forage for roots and berries. He thinks back fondly on those carefree days of wandering into caves and sleeping in tree-branches.
Motif 2: Silent Vagrant
Once his parents were brought into the employ of the Bearbelt, Filbert found his presence distasteful to members of the main house. He spent many long days hidden away in corners of the manor's unused and ancient library.
Motif 3: Stoic Butler
Once he became old enough to be used, Filbert quickly proved himself reliable. He works now as the Bearbelt's most loyal (and only) houseman, unquestioningly working to fulfil their erratic whims.
Quest: Procure a live [insert appropriate bear monster here], the family symbol of the Bearbelt house.
These look like solid character concepts! The sheer Red Box energy they're giving off brings tears of joy.
I do have a few quibbles — frex, "Vagrant" doesn't really match the description of Filbert's library time, "bookworm" or "bibliophile" might be better? But we can resolve such details along the way.
Y'all probably want to get a head start on choosing your starting items. You can adjust your selection before entering the dungeon, but picking out gear is typically the most time-consuming part of character creation, so it might help to get a rough list together before the first session.
This is what I have so far:
Jack Blacksmith
Troll, Path of Swords
Swords 4, Pentacles 1, Cups 2, Wands 3
Trained Talents: Giant's Strength, Reaver
Jack is an accomplished blacksmith. He is often composed and quiet, but he is given to outbursts of passion and rage under the right circumstances.
Thoughtful Butcher - As all new trolls do, he started off with nothing. His underfolk kin thought it best that he learn a trade, and helped him on his way to becoming a butcher. This challenged young Jack, but slowly he eventually learned through patience and hard work how to carve, slice, and butcher.
Fanatical Blacksmith - His kin thought it best that he try another trade, that of the blacksmith. He got very good at it. So good, that he wouldn't stop talking about it. He eventually alienated everyone with his incessant chatting and boasting.
Boisterous Berserker - Having nowhere else to turn to, he thought he would try his hand at adventuring in the Underworld. His adventuring party was beset by what seemed to be an overwhelming number of foes. He realized the only way to win was to scare them off. He took full advantage of his size and burst into a rage slaying several foes with such zeal that he scared the rest of them off.
Quest - Do one unbelievably good deed to prove himself so he will be welcomed by human society.
Solid troll concept, but note that a personal quest must be a specific, discrete task. That way, achieving it is unequivocal; there's no question of, "Yes, this is a good deed, but is it good enough?"
Your quest also needs to be something that you can only fulfill by adventuring in the Underworld, which is a horrible place full of peril that people only visit if they feel they have no choice.
Also, it's okay if fulfilling your quest doesn't necessarily fulfill your character's goals. You can just say, "Jack's personal quest is to do [specific thing in the Underworld], and he really really hopes that all of the humans will welcome him as a result." And because fulfilling your quest means your character retires unless he finds a new quest, this gives you an easy option to pick up a new quest and keep playing him because not all of the humans welcomed him. surprisedpikachu.gif
Thanks for the clarification!
So here's my new idea for a quest: Defeat the golem that's been plaguing the town.
I would also then change my talent mastery from Reaver to Monster Hunter. I would choose Witch Hunter with a specialization in golems.
How does that all sound?
Also, one other question. In the rulebook it says that any equipment that's required for any of your talents counts as impoverished equipment at the beginning of the game. So, since I have Aegis and Heavy Metal Machine, do I understand that correctly to mean that any shield or iron/steel armor count as impoverished items right now?
/forum/t-17030336/character-brainstorming#post-