Character Problem

delericho · Jan 15, 2013

Greenfield said:
We had some new players join our group this week. Whenever this happens there's a "fitting in" period, a time when the player gets to see what works with the group, and the group evaluates the new players.

In our game, because practically everyone's a DM at some point or another, it can be even rougher to manage. Things I find acceptable might ruffle the feathers of someone else.

If you have multiple DMs running the same campaign, then those DMs really need to get together and come to a consensus on what is and is not acceptable. Otherwise, you're storing up problems for later down the road... as in fact you are now seeing.

As regards the particular PC: yeah, it's not rules-legal for many reasons. And there's no way that character would get anywhere near my game. However, whether or not it's acceptable in your game is really one for you and your co-DMs to sort out.

delericho · Jan 15, 2013

double post. sorry.

S'mon · Jan 15, 2013

I'm seeing red flashing lights and hearing klaxons blaring. WARNING BAD PLAYER WARNING WARNING!!!!

This guy sounds like REALLY BAD NEWS.

Manbearcat · Jan 15, 2013

Greenfield said:
One of the PCs is a Half Vampire Cleric/Sorcerer/True Necromancer who has taken a Vow of Poverty, and has a Ghostly Visage (Fiend Folio, I think) as his familiar.

I noticed immediately that his weapon was a Lucern Hammer, Adamantine and Dark Metal alloy. His clothing is silk. I think that violates the Vow of Poverty. He said it was okay. I looked it up and he's allowed simple weapons, non-magic and non-masterworked. Clothing should be simple, such as home spun robes. So I think we need to talk.

Wait. Wait. Guarantee he also wears sunglasses indoors, yes?

RUMBLETiGER · Jan 15, 2013

I'd like to add, on a more positive note, than it seems your player has a really neat character concept, but it's poorly executed. I want to second what [MENTION=78958]Empirate[/MENTION] said about sitting with him about his character concept, and find out if there's a smoother way to build what he wants.

Empirate · Jan 15, 2013

Neat character concept? More like ripped off character concept...

Jacob Marley · Jan 15, 2013

I agree with [MENTION=22424]delericho[/MENTION] in post #11 (not post #12

). The peculiarities of your group require this be a group discussion.

Personally, I think I'd look to reflavoring Vow of Poverty. Perhaps his character made a deal with a kami that offered him this power in return for other, more fitting restrictions on his character?

Empirate said:
Neat character concept? More like ripped off character concept (Hellsing? Was that the one?)...

Can any character concept be considered unique anymore?

Ryujin · Jan 15, 2013

Given some of the other things that I've seen done in 3.0, the Vow of Poverty isn't all that bad. With that said the Book of Exalted Deeds is a 3.0 book, not a 3.5 book, so toss it right out if you're playing 3.5. I briefly played a fighter with Vow of Poverty and if you don't stick to the letter of the law with it, it has big potential to be abused. That's the trick though; sticking to the letter. It is a vow, after all, and it's gone if broken. If he's using something much more complex/expensive than a quarterstaff, then he's likely already broken his vow.

Playing that sort of character takes someone who really wants to play that sort of character. Think Kwai Chang Caine from the original "Kung Fu" TV show, back in the '70s. He wandered the American Old West with some simple clothes, a hat, a bedroll, and a bamboo flute. Forget the rest of this character's build. If he doesn't fit that basic feel, then the character shouldn't be.

Mathew_Freeman · Jan 15, 2013

I would say that if you, as a GM, don't have access to a rulebook that a player is using then you don't allow them to use it without them bring an actual physical copy to the table to show you. This will allow you to go through their character (as you need to do) and check this kind of thing.

Personally, if someone brought something like this to a game I was running I would think quite poorly of them. I cannot see this as anything other than rabid powergaming, although I'm not sure to what end.

And yes, the Lucern Hammer is not a simple weapon. It cannot be used with the Vow of Poverty.

Jackinthegreen · Jan 15, 2013

The Book of Exalted Deeds is 3.5. You're probably thinking of its sister splat, the Book of Vile Darkness, which is 3.0. That said, 3.0 stuff can explicitly be grandfathered into 3.5 if it hasn't been updated in 3.5, but it's still up to the DM.

Character Problem

delericho

Legend

delericho

Legend

S'mon

Legend

Manbearcat

Legend

RUMBLETiGER

Adventurer

Empirate

First Post

Jacob Marley

Adventurer

Ryujin

Legend

Mathew_Freeman

First Post

Jackinthegreen

Explorer

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