Character concepts/PrClasses that just GRAB you!

[Klaus]

It happened to me twice in the past month...

First, when reading the Dragonshards article on the Valenar Elves, I just couldn't stop thinking of playing a Valenar ranger/wizard with a hawk familiar and a warhorse animal companion. I even had to make a sketch of one just to get it off my system!

Then it happened again, when WotC posted the Master of Radiance PrClass from Libris Mortis. I don't know if it was the Steve Prescott illustration, or the cool concept, or the fact that this was a 5-level class that could be finishable in a short campaign, but I can't stop thinking of playing a druid/master of radiance!

And I am doubly-cursed, 'cause not only do I get to play once a year or so, I always DM! ::waaaaa!::

What do you think of these?

And did anything of the sort happen to you? Any character concept/class that you just HAD to use?

 

[Crothian]

My Ooze Gensai, Oozemaster/Cleric with the ooze domain...I wanted to get an Ooze familar as well but there wasn't a good way to do it at the time like there is now.

 

[Piratecat]

Alienist. I love the class. For bad guys I'm also a big fan of the Keeper of Forbidden Lore in Mearls's Planes & Portals.

 

[Psion]

I generally only play NPCs, being always the DM, never the player, but I always see concepts I have to pepper the game with:

Dragon Mages (from Spells & Magic) - The concept: all things that are coveted aquire magical power. So if you horde treasure, you can exploit its magical power. A great way to give bonus powers without stripping a caster of precious spellcasting levels. Further, the idea that your powers can change depending upon what is in your horde is really cool. For a campaign, I want to run an adventurer in which there is actual a point to looting treasure beyond getting rich.
Jewel Mages (from Spells & Magic) - Gems that capture creatures has always been an interesting concept that has been underplayed in D&D.
Chakra Savants (from Hyperconsious/Mindscapes)
Astral Zealots (from Hyperconscious/Mindcapes) - Think of a character whose magic mirrors not only don't pop like soap bubbles, but can behave like summoned monsters. And better, you can "wear" one of them to gain the powers of the summoned monsters.
Lifeweaver (from Bow & Blade)
Raveller (from Arsenal: Spiked Chain) - The class is almost like a "theme" for your spell list. I might have to contemplate other ways in which I can apply this concept.
Bone Archer (Libram Equitis Compiled) - Your spells are arrows carved of bone.
Crystal Master (from The Mind's Eye feature) - Crystals merge with your body - the more you add, the better they all get
Shadow Mind (from The Mind's Eye feature)

and so on...

 

[The_Gneech]

That's how I felt when I saw the 20-level astral deva build in Savage Species -- "Gotta! Wanna! Can't-a! WAAAH!"

-The Gneech

 

[Arcane Runes Press]

Well, I'm sure this is far from a complete list, but:

The Kensai from Oriental Adventures - the instant I saw it, I knew I had to play it. To date, my Kensai is one of my favorite characters ever, and satisfying on every level (mechanical, flavour, etc)

The Candle Caster from Tome of Magic - yeah, it's not all that mighty, but it's neat. I tend to like more lyrical, ethereal fantasy than sword & sorcery, and the Candle Caster appeals to me on that level.

The Elemental Savant from Tome of Magic - Elementalists are fantastic, and I've played a modified ES several times now (always one specializing in electricity).


There have also been self imagined concepts I've really wanted to play, like the Half-ogre witch hunter who dresses in puritan garb and carries around two small cannons as pistols - but I doubt I'll ever get the chance to play him.

 

[shilsen]

No PrCs, but character concepts for the two PCs I'm playing right now:

1) Orc barbarian with 6 in all mental stats and a greataxe. All Power Attack all the time, baby! Nothing original at all, but since I usually run smart PCs, this is a nice change and roleplaying challenge.

2) Here's the opening lines of the background I wrote for the other PC: "Legends and historical records speak of mighty heroes who became adventurers because they were chosen by the gods, who traveled into the deepest dungeons and did the most heroic deeds because destiny and their own powerful will drove them on to the pinnacles of glory. Granny Nackle, on the other hand, became an adventurer because she was 180 years old, post-menopausal, tired of babysitting and sick of her daughter-in-law."

 

[Koewn]

Alienist. I love the class. For bad guys I'm also a big fan of the Keeper of Forbidden Lore in Mearls's Planes & Portals.

Yeay! Tentacles.

My current favorite, which is what I'm currently playing, is/will be a Wizard/Alienist/Thaumaturgist. (20 levels!)

It may be cheesy, but we did this to allow for an Arcane-based Thaumaturgist:

Be able to cast Lesser Planar Binding, and through Diplomacy or what-have-you, get a creature you've Bound to 'Helpful'. At that point, treat a Planar Binding casting for that specific creature as the Planar Ally of the same type.

Technically I'm a Diviner, I think of the Thaumaturgist levels as a secondary Conjuration specialization. "Find It, and Bring It Here" is what it's about.

As my first Wizard, I'm not terribly impressed with the Summon Monster lists, but I've only gotten up to SM IV, so.

Koewn

 

[DMH]

The orcish Fiendbinder from Dragon. A great way to spice up orc communities.

The Dragon mage from Spells and Magic.

Verdent Lord from MotW. Plant people are never a bad idea.

Synergy class concept from Enchiridion of Elided Enduements of the Expanse (ST Cooley). Esp the Zephyrkith.

The Alchemist and Hedge Wizard (Mongoose's Power Class series)

Red Alchemist from Alchemy & Herbalists (Bastion)

Adept of the Awakened Eye and Totemist from Magic (AEG)

Symbiotic Champion from Wilds (AEG)- an immortal warrior that defends nature, what can't you love about it?

Ghast from Penumbra Fantasy Bestiary. I would like to see more of these kinds of PrCs for undead.

 

[Herremann the Wise]

Alienist. I love the class. For bad guys I'm also a big fan of the Keeper of Forbidden Lore in Mearls's Planes & Portals.

I have to agree with the alienist. Even though I have only played one for a single session (He's a Conjurer 10/ Alienist 3), the whole ethos behind them is fantastic. I have to also say that Mostin the Metagnostic remains one of the most memorable characters from any story hour I've read.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

Oh... and by the way, if you wish to read about my Alienist, I started my very first story hour here:
The Happenings of Lucifus Cray: Warlock