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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ravenheart" data-source="post: 5452321" data-attributes="member: 72088">NOTE! NO SPOILERS IN THIS THREAD, PLEASE! Thanks in advance!-----------------------------------------------------Hi all,I'm currently playing a character in HS1: The Slaying Stone, as opposed to my usual role as resident DM (I own 90% of the books and minis we use, and we mostly play at my place anyway). I've encouraged one of my regular players to step up to the job and he's been doing fairly well. We've breached Kiris Dahn and explored parts of the city (noticeably the Library and the Temple), aswell as had a couple of frays on the side. Our group is currently split, as we are taking a sandbox-approach to the adventure to accomodate regular game nights without worrying about juggling everyone's scheduele too much. It's worked out fine so far, but there's some concern that absent players/characters might get a bit left on the side, so we're trying to give them an opportunity to "catch up" so to speak (XP is not really measured as such, after at least one character reaches level 2 they all do) and also let them participate in the story.Here I (as the more "experienced" and helping DM) identified an issue: Two characters are in need of such spotlight, an elven archer slayer left behind (storywise to keep an eye on a goblin we took as prisoner during one of the frays, currently leading it back to a "safehouse" we established earlier) and the other one, a halfling acrobatic thief, not completely introduced to the group (has been present in one encounter, killing some goblins, but as not spotted by the rest of the group). So we have two isolated strikers in need of some form of encounter, preferably combat related (to play at their strengths) and a presenting thme with a common cause (although they are on the same quest, known only to the halfling) - perhaps an ambush at the presumed "safehouse"?. But a combat encounter for only two strikers seems sort of risky - no healing, no tank, little control. So it becomes hit and miss really, a cakewalk or a slaughter.Here's where I volunteered to help come up with a solution, as well as find an evocative use of the current goblin prisoner: by making him a companion character. Buddy, as the goblin is called*, would be reflavored as some form of renegade that joins the party for whatever reason. Seeing as he was quite a blank character to begin with, there's no reson this couldn't work. So I made a couple of statblocks which I sent to the DM, and now I would also appreciate your opinion of them!NOTE: I took a more comical (albeit deceitful) approach to the minion version, to show of his desperation aswell as his resourcefulness. For the CC version, I went a bit liberal with the rules, and he ended up sort of a hybrid defender/striker, with a small dash of control. Couldn't really justify a leaderish touch with all else that was going on. I also made his real name Budhe to better fit the setting.Storywise, I gave him a couple of suggestions on how to weave it into the plot: - He's been inspired by the heroics of the party and idolizes them/one of them. He appoints himself their protector and follows them wherever they might go. (more comical)- His family has been killed and he's been dishonoured by the other goblins. He sks the assistance of the party to exact his revenge on them all and everything. (more dramatic)- He spots a career opportunity by overthrowing the current goblin boss. He promisese to empty the city of goblins if they help him become the new boss. (also dramatic, but could be comical)- He is actually a trained assassin sent to infiltrate the goblin tribe. He joins the party because he believes they could help him reach his target. (very dramatic)Finally, I want to say that I'm NOT trying to run this game. I'm just trying to spawn ideas (I'm full of them!) to the DM, who in my opinion seems to struggle sometimes with coming up ones of his own. Hopefully I can spark his creativity by lending some of mine, and see his hesitation grow into greater storytelling. I sincerely hope not to overrun him with my playstyle and bear a grudge if he rejects my conecpts, but I hope I can be helpful in teaching him to become a better, more confident DM.Having said that, comments would be appreciated!----------------------------------------------------tl;dr - I made a minion that becomes a companion character for the Slaying Stone adventure, any good?Cheers!* Fun story about the name; the DM hadn't prepared for us taking a  prisoner and he had a hard time coming up with a name, so he asked us  what this goblins name was, someone referenced the "I'm not your Buddy, pal!"  routine from South Park, and voilá - his name was Buddy!</blockquote>

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