Elder PCs

[Byrons_Ghost]

During the Known World Rules Cyclopedia game, I wanted to play a Shadow Elf. I decided that the most reasonable way he would be on the surface by himself (as opposed to part of an infiltration team) was to make him a Wanderer- an 800 year old elf who has been forced to leave society due to ancient tradition.

Once we got past the inevitable Grampa Simpson jokes he was a pretty cool character. I used the Gazetteer proficiencies to make him more stealthy and skilled than combative. He still charged into combat a lot, though- first adventure B3, I found a cursed necklace that sent me into a berserk fury every time combat was started. I found it even before I met up with the other PCs, so none of us had any idea about the curse for several levels. They just assumed that I was crazy.

 

[sckeener]

I've played a few elder pcs. Most of them were in Vampire, but a couple were in D&D.

I prefer them in Vampire 'cause I just like the style of having this decrepit looking old man with a cane, looking so weak that he might just pass away any moment, dropping his cane and kicking some hoodlums bums when he gets jumped on for walking in the park at night...

warms my heart (with their blood)

The few D&D ones I've played were the cloistered types who knew nothing about the real world, but had plenty of book smarts from their years of study.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

I once ran a game where the half orc barbarian go into his 70s and dwarf character hit middle age and the human wizard was venerable also.
The half orc still kick ass though, hard not to when you're epic level.

 

[Kaodi]

The problem with age modifiers, as written, is that the penalties to physical ability scores are just bloody ridiculous. Yes, we all can picture some old, decrepit folks, but then we also can think of Bob Barker. There is no way on God's green Earth that Bob Barker has a total of -6 to his strength, dexterity and consitution versus when he was young! Physical penalties should be errata'd to be be only -1 cumulative per age category.