D&D 5E Literary Clones

[Sunseeker]

I made Indiana Jones-clone a few times, used a whip and a hand-crossbow. Depending on the edition he's been a Rogue, a Ranger, a Fighter and a multiclass of those.

Otherwise I try to be as creative as possible, but sometimes there's a concept that just really strikes me, and I want to play with it.

 

[Lanefan]

I've started with clones or quasi-clones (a bumbling low-wisdom Necro-Assassin for whose personality, mannerisms etc. I directly ripped off Jack Sparrow) or characters have become clones later (a long-standing mage of little personality became a nasty fire-mage once I'd seen Callisto fron Xena: W.P.), but I don't do it all the time by any means.

And I would never, ever clone Drizz't; not because of the Drow part, but because I cannot forgive how his existence ruined the Ranger class.

A few times, I've STARTED with a clone, but then watched them get a unique personality. For example, a few years back I was stumped for a second character to create in a 1e game where we each had to run 2 PCs (because 1e). So I rolled up a fighter, and named him "Ferris Vanson" or something like that, off a Tad Williams book I was reading at the time. At first, he was a shy guardsman type... but within a few sessions, he was much more swashbuckly. And then he died, and that was that.

Kit started as a clone too, didn't she? That seemed to work out quite well...

Lan-"ah, Ferris - he lived well, he died better"-efan

 

[MoonSong]

Don't know how to answer, I have copied characters from stories to make PCs, these stories just happen to be original stories I made for non-gaming, never a straight case of copying from an outside source for my PCs. nowadays I don't do it as often, going instead by my "type" or whatever personality fits with what I think is a cool race/class combo.

 

[Wik]

I've started with clones or quasi-clones (a bumbling low-wisdom Necro-Assassin for whose personality, mannerisms etc. I directly ripped off Jack Sparrow) or characters have become clones later (a long-standing mage of little personality became a nasty fire-mage once I'd seen Callisto fron Xena: W.P.), but I don't do it all the time by any means.

And I would never, ever clone Drizz't; not because of the Drow part, but because I cannot forgive how his existence ruined the Ranger class.
Kit started as a clone too, didn't she? That seemed to work out quite well...

Sort of? Kit was my attempt to make someone who was a cross between the female lead from Raiders of the Lost Ark and the only female Spartan from the Halo series. It, um, didn't turn out as planned... but yeah, Kit was awesome.

Lan-"ah, Ferris - he lived well, he died better"-efan

I don't exactly remember how he died, but I remember it was pretty epic.

 

[Fralex]

When I was really little and would make up pencil and paper adventures with my cousins and pretend it was D&D, one time I made a character that was literally Yoshi, but I haven't done that kind of thing in a regular D&D game.

 

[Salamandyr]

Yes and no; my namesake is basically just a less cheerful version of the Gray Mouser.

I've definitely been inspired by characters before; my fighters tend to have a dash of Conan. I can't help playing an elf a bit like Elric.

If somebody wants to play a drow ranger inspired by Drizzt, that's fine with me; they can even dual wield scimitars (I'm happy 5e finally lets Drizzt do this without violating any rules)--I'd prefer they get over the panther thing though. I've only ever had one person who wanted to play a full clone. But I've met quite a few players who took inspiration from him, and I think that's great.

 

[Eric V]

In Hoard of the Dragon Queen I basically played a clone (personality wise) of the protagonist of the Girl with the Dragon Tatoo series. Arcane Trickster with expertise in investigation and perception.

 

[Sacrosanct]

While I may have recieved inspiration from literary characters (even non-fantasy), each character I make is unique in personality, background, motivation, goals, etc. Even if I come from a similar starting point, I allow the character to grow based on his/her adventures, so they never come out the same.

Unless you're talking mechanics. If you're talking mechanics I've made dozens of elven wizards over the years that were similar mechanically, so could be considered clones of each other.

Pretty much this, but probably because on how I was introduced to the game in 1981. When I was told the basic concept of role-playing a PC, I was like, "Oh, like playing Menion Leah!" And the response was, "Sort of, but you make it your own character from your own imagination how you want to play."

From that day, all of my PCs are mostly from my own inspiration based on what type of character I want to play. I might pull bits and pieces from several different places, but never tried to clone a specific person from media. I want my PCs to be my own. Then again, I do a lot of creative writing, so I guess it's part of my nature

 

[GameOgre]

I created a clone of Elric who was a Drow way back in AD&D(1E) with the highly imaginative nickname of Dark. I was a youngish teenager at the time so I claim immunity from any prosecution.

 

[MechaPilot]

I was a youngish teenager at the time so I claim immunity from any prosecution.

I think you're in the clear.



On the subject of creating character clones in general:
I don't see any reason that cloning should be looked down upon, especially considering how many times I've seen DM books say that it's okay to steal plots from films and stories. If stealing a plot is fine for the DM, then cloning a character is fine for a player.