Feral Dwarfs and Herman Mellville

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

Hey all, I have to have a new character for a Forgotten Realms game this Sunday.

The character is 5th level, and he has to be a dwarf. Ask no questions.

I like druids, but the only dwarf gawd who supports them is that jungle dwarf gawd.

I haven't played in a while and I would really like advice on the way to go with divine dwarven spell casters in FR who are at least a little nature friendly.

I thought about going the Quequegg route and having had him shipped from the jungles to the North where he became the dwarven the communities only tie to nature, but then I felt dirty, real dirty.

It's times like these I wish I spent more on Deities and Pantheons and less on textbooks.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

I've got to admit, I'm kind of curious as to what the problem is. I really like the character idea, as it's somewhat different than your typical dwarf. If it's that it's too far afield from the typical dwarf, I don't necessarily see why you couldn't be a druid of a non-dwarven god; as far as I know, it isn't disallowed, so that might solve your problem handily.

Of course, two things might explain why I like your idea for the Melvillean jungle dwarf:
1) I'm a grad student in English lit.
2) I'm sorely tempted to make a character for my next campaign (whenever that comes together and assuming that I'm playing) that's a elf (haven't picked a class, maybe a ranger or a paladin with a wickedly mystical/visionary flair) that follows a philosophy close to Emerson and Thoreau's transcendentalism (Can't you just see this in a tavern? Party walks in, settles down to listen to a bard, while my PC's transfixed by a snowstorm outside — "what the hell's wrong with your friend?" "Oh, I don't know, something about a 'transparent eyeball' and the Elf Thinking...damned if we can understand him").

Best,
tKL

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

ehh,

I guess I was hoping someone might have a suggestion for a nature dwarf who was more in tune with Dwarven culture.

Or suggestions on what sort of feats, prcs, skills, and animal companions would be in tune with a dwarf druid.

Or if it was acceptable to be a dwarf who didn't follow the Dwarven Pantheon.

If I did go with a jungle dwarf I could have a panther companion, a dark complexion, and a weird moment when I ran into Drizzt for the first time.

Transcendentalist elf, eh?

Maybe this thread should be retitled for people who want to fashion characters out of American literary figures.

Let's see, Jack Kerouac as a Halfling Bard?

 

[Kesh]

If you really want the Melville angle, pick up a copy of Typee, one of his earlier novels. That should give you some ideas of jungle-hunter characters.

 

[Rune]

Re: ehh,

Maybe this thread should be retitled for people who want to fashion characters out of American literary figures.

Let's see, Jack Kerouac as a Halfling Bard?

Funny, but for some reason, I've got him pegged as a gnome.

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

Accolades

Jack is absolutely a gnome. And Burroughs only more so.

I wonder why Gnomes don't have more of a drug culture?

Huck Finn is the halfling.

Deerslayer is so a Half-elf.

 

[Rune]

By the way, Dr. Strangemonkey, I love that name!

 

[Doppleganger]

I agree with Kesh, as long as you're going the Melville route, his first novel Typee gives alot of details that could help flesh out a south-sea jungle island type character. It's a fun novel of adventure.

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

well and aday

hmm, anyone know of the best feats for harpoons?

aaarrrggghhh, Druids can't use 'em, phooeeyy.

Guess I'll just have to stick to a dwarf carved warclub

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

Heroes of High Favor: Dwarves has a dwarven druid prestige class called a Rock Warden. Might give you some ideas on playing a dwarven fighter/druid or druid.



[edit - made URL more specific]