Epic-Level Commoner

[HoboGod]

[MENTION=6673175]xigbar[/MENTION]
Ehhh, Vow Of Poverty is a bit too specialized for commoners to take, really. They don't tend to pick flavorful combat benefiting feats, they are supposed to be taking things like Skill Focus, Alertness, and Endurance.

[MENTION=89537]Jacob Marley[/MENTION]
I like to think of it as what jobs have they done. If they are farmers, they might have gotten so good that they can harvest 20 acres in a single night. If they are house cleaners, they might have gotten so good that they can make moldy tombs look brand new. These tasks can be just as difficult as fighting dragons, just difficult in another kind of way.

 

[Dandu]

And really, how are you supposed to craft baskets if you've taken a Vow of Poverty?

 

[Michael Silverbane]

And really, how are you supposed to craft baskets if you've taken a Vow of Poverty?

Cheaply.

 

[ideasmith]

What sort of experiences would a VoP Commoner have that would let them achieve 210,000+ experience? What sort of challenges would these medicants have faced?

The rules do not say how commoners and such gain levels/experience. Since epic commoners would not exist if it were the same way PC's gain levels/experience, I assume that it is something else.

 

[Dandu]

Evil henchman?

 

[Jacob Marley]

The rules do not say how commoners and such gain levels/experience. Since epic commoners would not exist if it were the same way PC's gain levels/experience, I assume that it is something else.

I agree. What I am looking for is ideas on role-playing these NPCs. Who are they? What do they do? How did they reach the position they have? I could go with the option that they are just quite adept at their particular profession or craft, but I feel that there is more opportunity there for a truly unique set of NPCs.

I have decided to build one based on Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici and another based on Paul Bunyon. Thanks to SHARK and HoboGod for the inspiration.

 

[Tomn]

I once ran across the same problem. The PCs loved my solution. The 21st level commoner in question owned the finest tavern in the entire continent. It was called "the Golden Pitchfork", and was named after an actual golden pitchfork hung over the bar. The pitchfork had a magic aura so strong, even noncasters could sense it (though just barely). It was a gift to the commoner from Wee Jas, in return for serving her in a war between the gods (hence the epic level). Among other things, the pitchfork allowed the casting of Miracle once per year.

The commoner was actually one of the power centers of the city, what with the influence he had over anyone at the tavern, and what with all the commoners looking up to him, and he was married to the head of the Wizard Guild.

If anyone broke the rules of his tavern (no fighting, no stealing, no mind magic, etc.), he would toss them out himself. If things got really rowdy, he'd take down his pitchfork. At one point during the campaign, he caught a vampire trying to dominate someone. The vampire was out on the streets before he knew what hit him. On the other hand, his bar is somewhat like a sanctuary, since not even the High Noble's soldiers are brave enough to start anything in his tavern. As long as you don't break the rules, you can stay. If you do break the rules, even if you're a Paladin attacking a Balor (assuming the Balor hasn't broken any rules), you're thrown out before it can amount to anything.

 

[gwyllgi]

Hobogod's comment actually made me notice something, so far i've played 3 epic level campaigns but the cities never really got epic, however if epic level commoners exist this means they should have a major impact on whatever city they live in, even a epic level chef should be able to end small wars with his cooking. In theory a epic level commoner would be rarer than a epic level fighter on the basis that not too many people want to be the greatest farmer ever despite the fact this would grant him super human powers while remaining relatively safe.