D&D 5E (2014) [5e] Witcher: Mother of Monsters

[Axel]

I've no real preference. Playing without a magical healer in the party forces a different style of play. It's more gritty and realistic. And honestly, I won't miss the Revivify easy button.

If doghead wants to jump in though, it'd be hard to say no.

 

[doghead]

I've no real preference. Playing without a magical healer in the party forces a different style of play. It's more gritty and realistic. And honestly, I won't miss the Revivify easy button.

If doghead wants to jump in though, it'd be hard to say no.

Not a huge fan of the wounds and healing rules myself. But when in Rome ...

So, to Rael.

The original plan for L3 was a second level of cleric. Given her domain (life) that largely means more healing. I could take a second level of rogue, but the Turning and extra spell are nice to have. Open to suggestions on this.

On another note, does the "Uncommon wondrous magic item" include weapons. Given the setting, a magic weapon seems like a really good idea. But one the other hand, you seem to have covered off on the weapon option with the "Masterwork Weapon" option. If weapons is not an option, I was thinking a cloak of elven kind which goes nicely to her skill set.

I have drafted a quick updated background. Essentially it is along the lines as suggested, but I have chosen The Skellige Islands as her birthplace vice the Blue Mountain as a sort of nod to her origins in a dark ages Britain game. Fergus is also from Skellige Islands I think, which seemed potentially handy connection. Its not critical, if you have a reason for suggesting the Blue Mountains I can change it.

Background - Quick Outline

Rael was born on the Skellige Islands to a small clan of wood elves. They largely kept to themselves being outsides not only by race, but also belief. Rael's restless nature lead her to leave the islands. Eventually she arrived at Dol B. There she paid her respects to the Queen, as was proper. But the politics and protocol of the court were alien to her, and so she spent most of her time away from it preferring to use her skills as a scout and hunter along the boarders of the Dol B. On day she is summoned back to the court, and task with meeting a small group of travellers escorting a young woman to the Court. Uncertain as to why she was selected, but unable to refuse, she sets forth.

thotd

 

[Axel]

Now that I've finally read The Last Wish I have to say that playing any Demi-human race is a recipe for disaster. In human lands (I get the impression that's most of the time) every NPC would pretty much be trying to kill you.

Never mind the party as a whole is pretty pro-elf (that's 21st century "can't we all be nice" thinking). I'd say trying to play an elf could be a Witcher equivalent of a "normal" D&D game's Drow. Yeah, sounds cool and sometimes works mechanically. But every NPC (and probably most PCs) will should react along the lines of "There's a drow!! Let's kill the dirty bastard!!!"

 

[Shayuri]

Talashia has reasons to be more open in that regard...she has other prejudices.

 

[doghead]

Now that I've finally read The Last Wish I have to say that playing any Demi-human race is a recipe for disaster. In human lands (I get the impression that's most of the time) every NPC would pretty much be trying to kill you.

Never mind the party as a whole is pretty pro-elf (that's 21st century "can't we all be nice" thinking). I'd say trying to play an elf could be a Witcher equivalent of a "normal" D&D game's Drow. Yeah, sounds cool and sometimes works mechanically. But every NPC (and probably most PCs) will should react along the lines of "There's a drow!! Let's kill the dirty bastard!!!"

I haven't read the rest of the books but that sounds not likely.

In another thread somewhere (possibly about managing a drow character in a game) the suggestion was to shift the initial NPC Attitude down one step on the reactions table - so Friendly becomes Indifferent, or Indifferent becomes Unfriendly. I thought that it was an excellent idea. Simple to understand and manage, but it made the consequences real.

Of course, at the moment the PC's are elf lands. So flash lynch mobs are not as likely at least until the characters head back to human lands. Maybe.

I suppose the question is how Quickleaf sees things for his setting. [MENTION=20323]Quickleaf[/MENTION]?

[MENTION=93196]Axel[/MENTION], we have gamed together on occasions over the years and I have enjoyed doing so. If the character is going to a be a burr under your skin in the sense that she doesn't seem appropriate to the setting, let me know. I don't want to detract from your enjoyment of the game. I can generate another character. It not a big deal.

thotd

 

[Axel]

I haven't read the rest of the books but that sounds not likely.

In another thread somewhere (possibly about managing a drow character in a game) the suggestion was to shift the initial NPC Attitude down one step on the reactions table - so Friendly becomes Indifferent, or Indifferent becomes Unfriendly. I thought that it was an excellent idea. Simple to understand and manage, but it made the consequences real.

Of course, at the moment the PC's are elf lands. So flash lynch mobs are not as likely at least until the characters head back to human lands. Maybe.

I suppose the question is how Quickleaf sees things for his setting. [MENTION=20323]Quickleaf[/MENTION]?

[MENTION=93196]Axel[/MENTION], we have gamed together on occasions over the years and I have enjoyed doing so. If the character is going to a be a burr under your skin in the sense that she doesn't seem appropriate to the setting, let me know. I don't want to detract from your enjoyment of the game. I can generate another character. It not a big deal.

thotd

Honestly, your PC won't bother Kynee on the basis of race.

They may clash on issues of morality, money, monsters, gods, destiny and all the other issues that a priest and whicher might disagree. But not because your PC is an elf.

 

[doghead]

Honestly, your PC won't bother Kynee on the basis of race.

They may clash on issues of morality, money, monsters, gods, destiny and all the other issues that a priest and whicher might disagree. But not because your PC is an elf.

You are not likely to get much preaching from Rael. She is more spiritual (animistic?) than religious. More like a druid than cleric in terms of relationship to the divine. As proposed, she doesn't hold to the worship of a pantheon. Her clan believe the gods are themselves a kind of agency or medium created by the mortals as a way of making the unknown universal divine energy of the world knowable - or at least usable.

The idea is sort of a blend of the original concept and one of the setting's themes:

The ambiguity of whether religion is objectively true or merely spirits duping humanity.

Although Rael's view would be more that the gods are subjectively true, being themselves a form of spirit made manifest by the faith of those that worship them. Or something like that.

Of course, assuming Quickleaf is OK with the concept.

thotd

 

[Axel]

In the interests of not letting this die. Again...

It sounds as though Rael and Khmer will have "intense" discussions on the nature of gods and why, frankly, they're such bastards.

Other than the elf thing (and we have a pro-elf party) I don't have any problems. Let's get back to monster mashing!

 

[Shayuri]

I be ready.

 

[doghead]

In the interests of not letting this die. Again...

It sounds as though Rael and Khmer will have "intense" discussions on the nature of gods and why, frankly, they're such bastards.

Other than the elf thing (and we have a pro-elf party) I don't have any problems. Let's get back to monster mashing!

An interesting discussion indeed.

I be ready.

I too.

thotd