Favorite Character

[River]

I too am an unrepetant power gamer, however my favorite character was decided non-powergamerish...

My favorite character of all time was dervicevly called "Unicorn Boy" and boy was he ever fun to play.

The backstory of the campaign was basicly a chunk of Limbo invading the material world. The effects were devestating to the local populace who were being horribly mutated, or outright reduced to puddles of goo by the effects. The whole world was going to heck.

My old character got gooed at the start of the session, so I quickly rolled up a replacement. The setting was helping to evacuate an Elf city, under fire from some chaos boggits, so I generated an Elven cleric. and he was introduced to the game in the middle of combat. By the end of the combat his fight against the chaos creatures had mutated him horribly. On the DM's chart he had scored "Unicorn horn grows out of forehead" and the more disasterous "Dramaticly Mentally impaired."

Having a brief conference with My DM we decided that his impairment was only being able to say three things.

"Heal the sick"
"Evacuate the wounded"
"Nobody dies on my watch"

That was it. He never got to introduce himself, nobody ever learned his name. I played maybe a dozen sessions, many of them combat light, roleplaying intensive, with a character with just three phrases. Thats all. He couldn't write either. No charades, no pantomime. Thee phrases said expressively as possible. Other than that he was just fine.

If you've never tried something like that I can't recomend it strongly enough. Stick by it, don't cheat, don't relay desires or thoughts out of character. Wave your arms in the air, say things emphaticly, and have fun with it. Its a strangely rewarding frustration.

River

 

[tburdett]

Rurik Silverwolf

Rurik started out as an orphan. He learned to do what he needed to do to stay alive.

He learned that society had rules, but people didn't always obey the rules.

He learned that the strong prey on the weak.

He learned that the world was a cold and ugly place.

He learned that 'monsters' were just as numerous within the cities as they were deep underground in dungeons and caves, and that these 'monsters' looked just like him.

Rurik was sickened by all of these things and decided to do what he could to change things, even if that change only helped a few.

The last and most important lesson that he learned was that people didn't look as big from behind, preferably from behind and in the dark, and that if you hit them just right the first time, you didn't have to worry about there being a second time.

Rurik Silverwolf was a 1st edition Ranger / Assassin. Yes, yes, I know, that wasn't allowed, but the DM allowed it and I loved it.

My original concept for the character was for him to be a bounty hunter. Somebody breaks the law and Rurik and friends hunt them down and bring them to justice.

Later, after a few of those very close friends were killed bringing people back to justice, he decided that sometimes it was easier to just bring justice to them. Judge, Jury and Executioner.

The DM liked this setup because it allowed him to basically create the same adventure over and over again. This was an important factor at the time because were in high school and we played every single day after school.

EVERY FREAKING DAY! Gaming club in Mr. Martin's classroom from 3pm until around 6pm (when the school janitor would tell us to go home). Listen kids, it's never going to be that good again once you finish school. Never. Well, unless you and all of your friends are single, unattached, and unemployed.

Wait, that does describe quite a few of you doesn't it...

Some bad guy does something to break the law (insert crime here). The City Guard calls in Rurik and Co. because it's out of their jurisdiction. Rurik and Co. track the bad guy down (figure out where the bad guy is at and map the route, throwing in a couple of random encounters along the way) and either capture or kill him (map out the final encounter site and run the battle). Head back to the city and collect the reward.

I can't believe we played this same basic scenario out for the better part of three and a half years without getting tired of it.

It's sad to say but I've been feeling a little bit of that same excitement as I typed this out. Bounty Hunting was FUN!

He's still out there somewhere, a broken character trying to fit into a world that's gone through a lot of changes.

I think I'm going to convert him over to 3E and see what he'd look like.

 

[ladyofdragons]

I have two favorite characters in the 15+ years I've been playing D&D. and they're both from the last 6 years.

First is Carnimirie (aka Red), a wild elf bladesinger (now fi5/wi5/blade knight 1) with a 7 charisma. She's growly and surly and tells you exactly how she feels and thinks. She acts more like a dwarf than an elf, and her best friend is indeed a dwarf. Behind her gruff mannerisms is a fierce loyalty to her friends, and a thirst for honor and truth. Red is just so growly and snarly and fun to play, and she's a wicked kick-butt fighter.

Second would be Rahne, my cleric of the goddess of the Dawn (sort of like Lathander). Rahne was created back with the 2E Cleric's handbook, and had some fun special abilities that I created. Rahne's nightly ritual prayer to her goddess involved stripping naked and dancing in a bonfire (she was immune to its flames). This earned her the title of "naked fire lady" from the party's barbarian. She also was completely into the concept of free love. While she never dallied with party members, she did more than her fair share of making friends on the road. The best thing about Rahne is that she was Neutral Good taken to its furthest extent. She was good to the core. Good like lollypops. Good like rock candy. She and Piffany (from Dork Tower) would have gotten along great. Rahne truly believed that nobody in the world was inherently evil (except icky-bad undead things). She'd walk out from where the party was in hiding to say hello to the riders approaching across the field, without knowing who they were. She'd give the thief of the party her share of the treasure to hold. Every word out of her mouth was just so full of sugary goodness that the group would sometimes stop in their tracks and look over at me as though I'd just started coughing up bunnies. Sometimes I'd stop after saying something and shudder that something so sickly-sweet could possibly have come out of my mouth. I loved playing Rahne.

 

[novyet]

I think my favorite character is the one I'm playing now, Everett Morrissey (Ftr 4/Rog 6/Shd 11)

Everett Morrissey was a young rogue on the run from a thieves guild because of a "dispute" over some untithed profits. He joined up with a company of adventurers because he figured he could use them as a shield against the guild. His cowardly traits were not overlooked by the group, and for a long while Everett was not well liked by his companions, but after a long talk with a wandering priest about the value of friends and companions, Everett slowly began to change. This culminated in him acting as a rear guard while the party escaped a terrible ambush that cost the lives of two other party members. Everett's actions cost him his life, but he was later resurrected by his more than surprised companions.

While Everett may still be a coward at heart, his skills give him a definite edge in intelligence gathering. Which helped avert a plot to assassinate a prominent member of the church of Heironeus, framing the church of Hextor and plunging the state into civil war. After attracting the services of the talented Vilia Reioso (Ftr 4/Exp 3/Lsh 10), an intrepid young explorer and archaeologist, he rapidly fell in love with her and married her soon after. Together they found the legendary sword Faithhealer, and Everett was promptly dominated by the powerful intelligence of the weapon. Due to some extraordinary luck and fast talking they were able to reach an "agreement", Everett enhances the weapon from time to time, and slays the undead in the name of Pelor, and the sword doesn't order him around.

Everett's cowardly streak in still visible in his hit and fade tactics which keep people confused and off balance until help arrives.

 

[ashockney]

Kevlin Ecklinvor

Kevlin was a character from a Stormbringer game (circa 1987 or 1988), which wouldn't have really made a good 1st or 2nd ed character. In third edition, he'd be a high str, dex, cha human fighter (4), rogue (probably 16).

He was great because of his variety. He could hold his own in combat, he dabbled in the rare "arcane" magic of that world, and still found himself capable of mastering the relevant "scouting" skills he used. He could definitely hold his own in combat, even killing a demon with a single thrown dagger (nearly impossible) at one point.

 

[Quickbeam]

It's a close call, so I'm gonna list two characters:

1) My current PC, a gnome Cleric 3/Illusionist 3 who's on the path to becoming a Geomancer beginning next level. This character is the first gnome I've ever played in 20 years of gaming, and I'm having a ball!! He's a compulsive liar named Torri Scuttlebutt, who enjoys making a bit of trouble then trying to extricate himself from the tempest around him. Torri is a wicked marksman with the light crossbow, and finds endlessly clever ways to use his spells and Domain powers (Trickery & Magic) and skills. Overall though, the best part about my gnomish PC is that he's managed to acquire a Rod of Wonder (which has a modified & expanded list of functions) which he uses ALL the time!! His reckless abandon has saved the party's collective rear on no less than three occasions to date...but it's also helped lay waste to the group once or twice .

2) A dwarven battlerager from 2E named Grimm Runestone. Grimm had an 18/87 STR and a 19 CON, but sadly his INT and WIS scores were 7 and 8 respectively. The reason Grimm stands out for me (since many people played similar characters) revolves around one particular encounter. Our party (all roughly 3rd level at this point in time)had delved into an underground system of caves which housed various fouls creatures ranging from giant spiders to orcs, and troglodytes to stirges. A small collection of orcs and trogs had recently slain one of Grimm's companions and then run off to escape the party's wrath. An hour or so later (game time) our group stumbled upon some of the murderous wretches, and the dwarf launched himself down the passage at the beasts. With each approaching step, the battlerager's fury grew until his vision was a hazy blur of red and black -- there were no thoughts left in Grimm's mind save those focused on slaying the creatures before him...hopefully in one fell swoop. At this point initiative was rolled (Grimm's charge began as a surprise action) and the dwarf had second position overall, behind the party rogue. On the rogue's action, he lobbed an alchemist fire over the dwarf's head and which landed at the feet of the orcs and trogs. As the alchemist fire exploded, Grimm arrived at the monsters and swung his battleaxe in a mighty arc attempting to cleave everything in his path. The splash radius of the fiery chemicals included our fearless hero and set his garments and beard ablaze...while his attack and the flames killed several monsters. When the brief battle was complete, Grimm dropped to one knee and said a prayer of thanks to Moradin for granting him the power of fire. You see, our dimwitted dwarf believed that his pure anger, unmitigated hatred for these foul creatures, and blood oath to seek vengeance for his fallen comrade caused Moradin to channel cleansing flames through Grimm's axeblade. From that day forward, Grimm steadfastly believed he could summon holy fire through his weapons if his fury reached high enough levels in combat. And while the dwarf's companions knew what had really transpired that day, none of them dared tell him the truth. It was safer, not to mention funnier, leaving Grimm believing his version of events, despite the fact he was never again able to summon or channel Moradin's holy fire .

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Silas Wyrmslayer, Paladin of Lathander.

He managed to irritate most of the rest of the party, being somewhat useless in combat. He was a 2e character, weilding a twohanded sword, and so mostly went last in the round, and not hitting nearly often enough.

But he stands out for me for two reasons. We were attacked in the Old Skull Inn in Shadowdale in the FR. The enemies were a bunch of dragonkin, a black dragon with a rider, and three smaller red dragons. Silas was a Red Wyrmslayer.

Whilst the rest of the party were busy battling the dragonkin, Silas ran out the back, jumped on his hippogriff steed (eventually) and managed to fly out of the stables, charge the three red dragons, and kill one in a single blow. It was a moment.

Secondly, when we got to the end of Dragon Mountain, started to fight the incredibly powerful dragon at the end. It breathed on Silas and he just shrugged it off and kept going. He died anyway (claw/claw/bite death), but he always believed he could win.

A very enjoyable campaign, and a great character, even though against anything except red dragons he sucked.

 

[Henry]

Oh, what the heck.

My favorite character does not have as expressive a history as Isirga Eth's, but he was amazingly fun to play way back when.

His name was Baxian, and he was a 2nd edition Fighter with the Swashbuckler Kit. He is my favorite because of two things.

1)He was the only character I ever had who EARNED his weapon skill. The DM at the time had come up with a house-ruled weapon specialization system. After you had vanquished a certain number of XP's worth of foes, you gained better proficiency with your weapon. My fighter attained 9th level by using primarily his shortbow, and his rapier, and he was the most proficient member fo the whole party. I steadily advanced my skill in that weapon, and by 9th level, I was cutting things to pieces with deadly skill. I loved watching the slow yet steady progression, even though the DM later admitted it to be a pain tracking the XP's for EACH and EVERY party member's weapon. (He didn't let us do it - he did it.)

2) Baxian had two hallmarks - he wanted to be the best swordsman in the realms (not Faerun), and he loved carving a big "X" symbol into all his foes. (This was as per the 'initials' rules in the 2nd edition Complete Fighters' Handbook.) At 6th level, he discovered Xyler, a supremely egotistical +3 rapier with an intelligence and ego almost as high as my character's ability to control him. Any time I was damaged for more than (I recall) 10 hit points, Xyler could take control of my actions. The little twerp.

I was loath to part with Xyler, but Xyler had two themes: He wanted to be wielded by only the best swordsman in the world, and he had a special attack: on a critical, he would carve a huge "X" in the opponent and do extra damage. Xyler, however, didn't care about Baxian's health - he just wanted to find the best. Once, while the entire party was severely wounded in hostile territory, the darned sword kept casting light spells so that opponents could find us faster!!!

Baxian had to cry and plead with his own sword to turn the &$^&*$ing lights off.

(For some reason, another incident sticks out in my mind of the whole party battered and unconscious in the middle of hostile territory - except for the party mage, completely out of spells, with his sling at the ready, and holding a Scroll of Light in hand, ready to fling it in the eyes of any opponent who came near. )

I thoroughly enjoyed that PC, right until we ended the game at 9th level.

 

[Henry]

Y'know, I think I need to add a new title to my .sig -

Henry the Threadslayer!

 

[Quickbeam]

Y'know, I think I need to add a new title to my .sig -

Henry the Threadslayer!

LOL.

If it makes you feel better, I'll assume the burden this time .