D&D General JMISBEST's questions. Most of them about campaign ideas that either he or A GM he knows has and wants to know what people think

[JMISBEST]

I've got a question that's a unplanned follow up to my earlier question of what kind of Magic User has A Ch that's higher then their INT

Yet again I was bored enough to generate another character and I've generated A Thief that has A Dex of 16 and A INT of 17 and before anyone asks why I didn't make him A Magic User its because in 1st edition ADnD Magic Users need a minimum Wis of 6 and his Wis roll was 2 1's and 1 3, meaning he has A Wis of 5

So my question is what kind of Thief has A Dex of 16 and A Int of 17

PS overall his stats are Str 10, Con 13, Dex 16, Int 17, Wis 5 and Ch 12

 

[pukunui]

@JMISBEST: I fed your latest post into ChatGPT just to see what it would say. Here's its response:

A Thief character with a Dexterity (Dex) of 16 and an Intelligence (Int) of 17 in 1st edition AD&D can be a very interesting and versatile character. This combination of high Dex and Int can make for a unique and effective Thief in the following ways:

1. Mastermind Thief: Your character can be a cunning and strategic thief who excels at planning and executing elaborate heists. With high intelligence, they can come up with intricate plans, decipher complex security systems, and anticipate potential obstacles. This Thief might be known for their ability to steal rare and valuable items that others deem impossible to acquire.
2. Infiltrator: This Thief could specialize in infiltration and espionage. With high Dexterity, they can move quietly and remain hidden in shadows, while their intelligence allows them to gather and analyze information effectively. They might be skilled at eavesdropping, lockpicking, and deciphering secret codes or messages.
3. Investigative Detective: With their intelligence, your character could be more of an investigator than a traditional thief. They might be hired to solve mysteries, uncover conspiracies, or locate missing persons. Their high Dexterity can help them navigate dangerous situations and escape from tight spots.
4. Artful Dodger: This Thief could focus on agility and acrobatics, using their high Dexterity to perform impressive feats of evasion and escape. They might be known for their ability to dodge traps and avoid attacks, making them a slippery target for adversaries.
5. Arcane Trickster: While your character cannot be a full-fledged Magic User due to their low Wisdom, they could dabble in arcane magic as an Arcane Trickster. Their high Intelligence can enable them to learn a few low-level spells or magical tricks that complement their thieving skills. This allows for a unique blend of magic and stealth.
6. Tactician: Your Thief might excel at battle strategy. They can use their high Intelligence to analyze enemy weaknesses and come up with tactical plans during combat. While not as physically strong as some other characters, their intelligence can make them a valuable asset in group battles.

Overall, a Thief with high Dex and Int can be a versatile and intellectually-driven character, capable of using their agility and intelligence to excel in a variety of roles within a fantasy world. It's important to consider the character's background, motivations, and personality to create a well-rounded and engaging character in your AD&D campaign.

 

[JMISBEST]

@JMISBEST: I fed your latest post into ChatGPT just to see what it would say. Here's its response:

Thanks

Does his other stats of Str 10, Con 13, Wis 5 and Ch 12 effect any of those 5 options in any way

 

[pukunui]

Thanks

Does his other stats of Str 10, Con 13, Wis 5 and Ch 12 effect any of those 5 options in any way

I fed your original question into ChatGPT again, and this time it gave me a full character concept:

Character Concept:

Name: Silvan Shadowcloak

Background: Silvan Shadowcloak hails from a family of skilled artisans, but he had different ambitions. From a young age, he displayed an uncanny knack for sleight of hand and a natural affinity for solving puzzles. Instead of following in his family's footsteps, he decided to pursue the life of a thief, putting his nimble fingers and sharp intellect to use in the criminal underworld.

Skills:

1. Lockpicking and Traps: With his high Dexterity, Silvan is incredibly adept at picking locks and disarming traps. His keen eye for detail, along with his intelligence, allows him to quickly assess and bypass complex security systems.
2. Infiltration and Stealth: Silvan excels at moving silently and remaining hidden in shadows. His Dex score aids him in slipping past guards and sneaking into heavily guarded places.
3. Intellectual Heists: Silvan's intelligence sets him apart from other thieves. He specializes in heists that require careful planning, research, and cunning. He can outsmart his rivals and devise intricate strategies to outmaneuver opponents.

Motivation: Silvan doesn't steal for mere greed. Instead, he sees himself as a modern-day Robin Hood, stealing from the rich and corrupt to help the poor and downtrodden. His intelligence allows him to identify corrupt officials and merchants who exploit the less fortunate.

Equipment:

1. Thieves' Tools: Silvan carries a set of high-quality thieves' tools, which he uses to pick locks and disarm traps.
2. Dagger: He keeps a concealed dagger on his person for self-defense or for those moments when stealth fails.
3. Disguise Kit: Silvan uses his intelligence to create convincing disguises, which help him blend into different social circles when necessary.
4. Notebook and Quill: His intelligence-driven planning involves keeping meticulous notes and sketches of target locations, security measures, and potential escape routes.
5. Stolen Wealth: Over the years, Silvan has amassed a small fortune, but he uses most of it to aid the less fortunate, secretly distributing his ill-gotten gains among the needy.

Weakness: Silvan's low Wisdom (Wis) means he's not very perceptive when it comes to detecting magical effects or reading people's intentions. This makes him vulnerable to magical traps and manipulation by others.

Overall, Silvan Shadowcloak is a clever and resourceful thief who uses his high Dexterity and Intelligence to excel in the art of theft and espionage. His motivation to help the less fortunate adds depth to his character, making him more than just a common criminal. His adventures may involve intricate heists, outwitting adversaries, and ultimately striving to make his world a fairer place through his unconventional means.

I then followed that up with your additional question and got:

Certainly, the other stats of Strength (Str), Constitution (Con), Wisdom (Wis), and Charisma (Cha) can indeed have an impact on the character's abilities and options in the five aspects mentioned earlier:

1. Lockpicking and Traps (Dexterity): Silvan's Dexterity score of 16 is a significant advantage in lockpicking and trap disarming. However, his average Strength (Str) of 10 might slightly affect his ability to force open doors or containers if he can't pick the locks. It's not a major hindrance, but he might need to rely more on finesse than brute force.
2. Infiltration and Stealth (Dexterity): Silvan's high Dexterity is a primary factor in his ability to move stealthily and remain hidden. His average Constitution (Con) of 13 gives him decent endurance, but he may not be as resilient as some other characters when it comes to withstanding physical challenges or taking damage.
3. Intellectual Heists (Intelligence): Silvan's Intelligence score of 17 is excellent for planning and executing intricate heists. However, his low Wisdom (Wis) of 5 means he may not be very perceptive or wise in certain situations. He might overlook subtle magical traps or misjudge people's intentions, which could lead to complications.
4. Motivation (Role-Playing): His Charisma (Cha) of 12 can be an asset when trying to persuade or interact with others. It might help him gather information, recruit allies, or rally support for his cause. However, his low Wisdom (Wis) could sometimes result in social missteps or gullibility, as he might struggle to read people accurately.
5. Equipment and Weaknesses: Silvan's stats don't significantly affect his equipment choices, but his low Wisdom (Wis) could make him more susceptible to magical traps and manipulation. He might need to rely on magical detection items or companions with higher Wisdom to compensate for this weakness.

In summary, while Silvan's primary strengths lie in his Dexterity and Intelligence, his other stats do have some impact on his capabilities and potential weaknesses. However, a well-played character can find creative ways to overcome these challenges, and the limitations imposed by his stats can add depth and complexity to the role-playing experience.

Does that help?

You might want to try out ChatGPT for yourself!

 

[JMISBEST]

Can you ask ChatGPT what it says about the character that out of the 357 assorted Dnd and Adnd characters I've made he's the most powerful by far

Those 357 assorted Dnd and Adnd Characters I've made consist of 18 characters I've made and used, 56 characters I've made with the intent to use but didn't use and 283 characters I made when bored to pass some time

His stats were Str 2 6's and A 5 or 17, Con 2 5's and 1 6 or 16, Dex again 2 6's and A 5 or 17, Int 2 4's and 1 3, Wis 1 5, 1 4 and 1 1 and Ch 2 3's and 1 5 or 11

So he's rocking Str 17, Con 16, Dex 17, Int 11, Wis 10 and Ch 11

As this was 1st edition Adnd he could have been A Cavalier, which was to those that don't know was A Class back then rather then the sub-class it was in 2nd edition, and he'd have been A very Powerful 1 at that, but A Cavalier as powerful as him would have made the campaign so easy it would have been boring

That's why he was A Fighter, his 1D8+2 roll for Hp came up as 9Hp

He started with 3 5's or 15 x10 or 150 Gold Coins

His Social Class is Middle-Upper

On his mothers side he's the legitimate heir of A Earless, meaning he'll 1 day be A Earl

On his fathers side he's both the oldest child of A King and the bastard child of the same King, sadly being A Kings bastard child means that despite being his fathers oldest child he'll never be A King

 

[JMISBEST]

I fed your original question into ChatGPT again, and this time it gave me a full character concept:



I then followed that up with your additional question and got:



Does that help?

You might want to try out ChatGPT for yourself!

I'm assuming by the combination of his name of Silvan Shadowcloak, his families career, the quality of some of his equipment and the lack of stat modifiers that he's A Half Elf that was raised by both parents in A City whose population is mostly Human and most of its none human residents are either Elves or Half Elves

 

[pukunui]

what it says about the character that out of the 357 assorted Dnd and Adnd characters I've made he's the most powerful by far

Those 357 assorted Dnd and Adnd Characters I've made consist of 18 characters I've made and used, 56 characters I've made with the intent to use but didn't use and 283 characters I made when bored to pass some time

His stats were Str 2 6's and A 5 or 17, Con 2 5's and 1 6 or 16, Dex again 2 6's and A 5 or 17, Int 2 4's and 1 3, Wis 1 5, 1 4 and 1 1 and Ch 2 3's and 1 5 or 11

So he's rocking Str 17, Con 16, Dex 17, Int 11, Wis 10 and Ch 11

As this was 1st edition Adnd he could have been A Cavalier, which was to those that don't know was A Class back then rather then the sub-class it was in 2nd edition, and he'd have been A very Powerful 1 at that, but A Cavalier as powerful as him would have made the campaign so easy it would have been boring

That's why he was A Fighter, his 1D8+2 roll for Hp came up as 9Hp

He started with 3 5's or 15 x10 or 150 Gold Coins

His Social Class is Middle-Upper

On his mothers side he's the legitimate heir of A Earless, meaning he'll 1 day be A Earl

On his fathers side he's both the oldest child of A King and the bastard child of the same King, sadly being A Kings bastard child means that despite being his fathers oldest child he'll never be A King

Here you go:

Silvan Shadowcloak's exceptional power in your collection of 357 assorted Dnd and Adnd characters can be attributed to a combination of his impressive stat rolls and his well-crafted character concept. Let's break down some of the factors that contribute to his standout status:

1. High Attribute Scores: Silvan's impressive attribute scores, particularly in Strength (17), Dexterity (17), and Constitution (16), make him physically capable and nimble. These high scores would certainly set him apart from other characters.
2. Balanced Abilities: While he excels in physical attributes like Strength and Dexterity, he still possesses respectable Intelligence (11) and Charisma (11). This balance allows him to be a versatile character, both in combat and in role-playing situations.
3. Class Choice: Choosing the Fighter class with 9 HP from a 1D8+2 roll gave Silvan a robust amount of hit points, making him a durable and formidable character. This choice aligns well with his character concept of a skilled thief who can also hold his own in combat.
4. Background and Motivation: Silvan's rich background as the legitimate heir of an earldom and the oldest child of a king (albeit a bastard) adds depth to his character. His motivation to help the less fortunate aligns with a strong personal drive, making him a compelling protagonist.
5. Social Class: Being of middle-upper social class further adds to his character's complexity and provides opportunities for engaging role-playing interactions.
6. Unique Character Concept: Silvan's character concept as a modern-day Robin Hood who uses his intelligence for heists and aiding the needy sets him apart. It provides a strong foundation for storytelling and character development.

It's worth noting that in 1st edition AD&D, characters could vary greatly in power due to the randomness of attribute rolls, and Silvan's high stats certainly contribute to his exceptional capabilities. Additionally, his character concept, motivations, and background make him an intriguing and multidimensional character, which can greatly enhance his role in the campaign and make him stand out among your other creations.

I'm assuming by the combination of his name of Silvan Shadowcloak, his families career, the quality of some of his equipment and the lack of stat modifiers that he's A Half Elf that was raised by both parents in A City whose population is mostly Human and most of its none human residents are either Elves or Half Elves

Sure. Why not?

You should really try it yourself! chat.openai.com

 

[JMISBEST]

Here you go:




Sure. Why not?

You should really try it yourself! chat.openai.com

Thanks but you seem to be referring to him as A Robin Hood style Fighter that achieves his goals by Thievery rather then the regular Fighter he was. Can you get chat.openai.com to do 1 of him as A regular Fighter?

PS before you ask why I don't do it myself my laptops got a lot of security features and it won't let me use sights that it isn't 100% certain are safe and for some reason its isn't 100% certain that chat.openai.com is safe

PPS does the fact that its possible that this character isn't his mothers 1st born child but any older siblings he once had are no longer alive make a difference

 

[pukunui]

Thanks but you seem to be referring to him as A Robin Hood style Fighter that achieves his goals by Thievery rather then the regular Fighter he was. Can you get chat.openai.com do 1 of him as A regular Fighter?

I (and therefore ChatGPT) thought you were still talking about the thief. I've reconfigured your question, and here is the response:

It appears that the character you've created in your Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) and Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D) campaigns stands out as the most powerful among the 357 characters you've made. Several aspects of his character, including his stats, background, and potential class, contribute to his exceptional power. Let's break down what this says about his character:

1. Exceptional Stats: His attribute scores, particularly in Strength (17), Constitution (16), and Dexterity (17), are notably high. These stats indicate that he is physically strong, resilient, and agile, making him a formidable combatant.
2. Intellect and Wisdom: While his Intelligence (11) and Wisdom (10) are not as remarkable as his physical attributes, they suggest that he possesses a reasonable level of knowledge and common sense. He's not a genius, but he's not lacking in intellect either.
3. Charisma: His Charisma (11) indicates that he has average social skills. He's not exceptionally charismatic, but he's not unlikable either.
4. Class Selection: You mention that he could have been a Cavalier, which was a powerful class in 1st edition AD&D. However, you decided to make him a Fighter, which may indicate a desire for a more challenging and balanced gameplay experience. This choice suggests that you value a fair and balanced game rather than overpowering your character.
5. Hit Points: His starting hit points of 9 suggest that he can withstand a reasonable amount of damage, adding to his survivability in combat.
6. Wealth and Social Class: He starts with 150 gold coins and falls under the Middle-Upper social class, indicating that he comes from a relatively privileged background. This could influence his role-playing interactions and access to resources.
7. Heritage: His complex family background, being the legitimate heir of an Earless on his mother's side and both the oldest child and a bastard child of a King on his father's side, adds depth and potential storylines to his character. It suggests that he might have a complex relationship with his family and the potential for political intrigue.

In summary, your character's exceptional stats and family background make him a formidable and intriguing character in the context of your D&D and AD&D campaigns. The fact that you chose to make him a Fighter instead of a more overpowered class like Cavalier suggests a desire for a more balanced and challenging gameplay experience, which can lead to more engaging storytelling and role-playing opportunities.

PS before you ask why I don't do it myself my laptops got a lot of security features and it won't let me use sights that it isn't 100% certain are safe and for some reason its isn't 100% certain that chat.openai.com is safe

That's a shame. You could also try Google's Bard AI. You don't even need an account for that one.

Here's Bard AI's answer to the same question:

The fact that your character with the highest stats is a fighter with a noble background suggests that he is a very ambitious and driven individual. He is also likely to be very loyal to his family and his people, as he is the legitimate heir to an earldom on his mother's side.

However, the fact that he is also the bastard child of a king means that he is unlikely to ever achieve his full potential. He will always be overshadowed by his legitimate siblings, and he will never be able to take the throne for himself. This may lead him to feel resentful and angry, and he may lash out in destructive ways.

On the other hand, his noble upbringing may have taught him to be disciplined and self-controlled. He may be able to use his ambition and drive to achieve great things, even if he can never be king. He may become a powerful general or a wealthy merchant, or he may even use his position to help others and make the world a better place.

Ultimately, the character's personality and motivations will be up to you to decide. But his high stats and noble background make him a very interesting and complex character with a lot of potential.

Here are some possible character traits and motivations for your character:

• Ambitious: He is determined to achieve great things, even if he can never be king. He may seek power, wealth, or glory.
• Driven: He is always working towards his goals, and he never gives up. He may be obsessed with his work, or he may be driven by a need to prove himself.
• Loyal: He is fiercely loyal to his family and his people. He would do anything to protect them.
• Resentful: He may resent the fact that he is a bastard and that he can never be king. This may lead him to be bitter and angry.
• Disciplined: He was taught to be disciplined and self-controlled from a young age. He is able to keep his emotions in check and think clearly under pressure.
• Noble: He believes in helping others and making the world a better place. He may use his position to help the poor and the oppressed.

How these traits and motivations play out in your character's story will be up to you. But I hope this gives you some ideas to get started.

As you can see, they have different styles in how they provide information. I quite like using Bard AI to help me with my work more than ChatGPT, which can be a little overly enthusiastic and wordy at times.

 

[JMISBEST]

I (and therefore ChatGPT) thought you were still talking about the thief. I've reconfigured your question, and here is the response:




That's a shame. You could also try Google's Bard AI. You don't even need an account for that one.

Here's Bard AI's answer to the same question:



As you can see, they have different styles in how they provide information. I quite like using Bard AI to help me with my work more than ChatGPT, which can be a little overly enthusiastic and wordy at times.

I initially forgot to mention that the main balancing issue I wanted to avoid is that in 1st edition Adnd Cavaliers start getting Men At Arms at a far lower level then Fighters, 4th rather then 9th. Does the following make a difference?

When they reach a certain number of 1st level Men At Arms they can get higher levels 1's, this is at the rate of for every 20 1st level Men At Arms you get 1 5th level Man At Arms and for every 60 1st level Men At Arms you get 1 5th level Man At Arms you get 1 3rd level Man At Arms and 1 6th level Man At Arms

By 10th level they can potentially have A Force of 192 1st level, 9 5th level, 3 3rd level and 3 6th level Men At Arms and that's not including Hirelings, Henchmen and Employees and in campaigns that use Slavery Slaves whose owner has enough faith in their loyalty to let him/her/them fight for him

9 examples of 1 or more Slaves whose owner has enough faith in his slave or slaves loyalty to let her or them fight for him that appeared in Anime's that came out many years after I made this character are Roxanna, Maria, Sherry and 2 others whose names I've forgot from Harem in The Labyrinth of Another World, Tama, Pochi and Liza from A Anime Series I've forgot the name of and Raphtalia from Rising of The Shield Hero

What's worse for campaign balance is that as long as the cavalier is benevolent, wise and kind every Man At Arms doesn't ask for or expect pay, but if offered pay they'll take it without hesitation, only asks to be treated, well, fairly and justly and to be given access to decent food, decent drink, decent clothing, decent accommodation and reasonable access to Healing Spells and Curing Spells

Good Aligned Cavaliers get 3 henchmen more then their Ch would normally allow and Evil and Neutral aligned Cavaliers get 1 more Henchmen then their Ch would normally allow

They also get retainers, by 7th level, they will have 6 assorted Retainers that are all either A Fighter, A Cavalier or very rarely A Cleric that every GM'd I've played with have placed at between 2nd and 5th level and at least 1 mounted Man At Arms that every GM'd I've played with have placed at 2nd level