Looking for character advice. (little long)

[Airwolf]

Greetings all,

It looks like I will be playing in John Semlak's new play by post game. If you are interested see this thread . We are still looking for a couple of more players.

Anyway, I want to play a cleric (haven't played a 3e cleric yet.) I am thinking about doing something a bit different and I would like input and/or advice on this concept, or if you have a different (unusual) concept please let me know.

I am creating a 1st level half orc cleric. His deity will probably be St. Cuthbert. The character creation is a 29 point buy system, with two extra points we can put into a stat or split between two stats. Here's a very short background:

The character grows up in a human city. There are several other H/Os in the city, since the city lies near an orc strong hold. There have been a few minor wars with the orcs, but there has also been some trading. Still most of the humans look down on the orcs and half orcs. My character was enticed by the justice that St. Cuthbert personifies. So, at a young age he entered the priesthood. Now he is being sent out to make new disciples and to learn about the greater world.

Okay, any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[guedo79]

Two Questions:

I don't know the phb gods all the well so I'm not sure who St. Cuthbert is. Is he a grayhawk god? FR? other?

Where is the twist? The only thing I see is your playing a half orc in a diety that may or may not be dominated by human worshipers. That doesn't even sound that odd becuase most dieties have a mix of some kind.

Its a good and simple background. I usually start with something like that before I play my charactor and end up expanding it as I grow into the pc.

 

[kengar]

I don't know the phb gods all the well so I'm not sure who St. Cuthbert is. Is he a grayhawk god? FR? other?

From the PHB description (Ch. 6):

St. Cuthbert
The god of retribution, St. Cuthbert (saint cuhth-burt), is lawful neutral. He is known as St. Cuthbert of the Cudgel. St. Cuthbert exacts revenge and just punishment on those who transgress the law. Because evil creatures more commonly and flagrantly violate laws than good creatures do, St. Cuthbert favors good over evil, though he is not good himself. (His clerics cannot be evil.) The domains he is associated with are Destruction, Law, Protection, and Strength. His favored weapon is the mace.

And yes, he is a Greyhawk god. His mace was a 1e artifact.

 

[kengar]

Airwolf, my suggestion would be have your character be Lawful Neutral and really "zealous" in his doling out of justice (the half-orc heritage coming through ). Nothing beats giving out a good smiting!

 

[Airwolf]

Two Questions:

I don't know the phb gods all the well so I'm not sure who St. Cuthbert is. Is he a grayhawk god? FR? other?

I hope kengar's response answered your question about St. Cuthbert. Thanks kengar!

Where is the twist? The only thing I see is your playing a half orc in a diety that may or may not be dominated by human worshipers. That doesn't even sound that odd becuase most dieties have a mix of some kind.

Its a good and simple background. I usually start with something like that before I play my charactor and end up expanding it as I grow into the pc.

Maybe that's not much of a twist. In the group I play with, we don't have a cleric. We have hired a few now and then, but they have all been human. Probably easier for the DM to make up.

I just didn't think that many people would take a half orc as a cleric with the -2 to Charisma.

If you have any ideas for a weird 'twist' for a cleric I'd love to hear it.

Airwolf, my suggestion would be have your character be Lawful Neutral and really "zealous" in his doling out of justice (the half-orc heritage coming through ). Nothing beats giving out a good smiting!

I have been looking at the domains since I first posted and I was thinking along those lines. Maybe going with strength and destruction.

I thought I might even model the character after some of the more militant civil rights leaders from the 1960's and 70's in the U.S.
Or maybe I'll switch and become a gnome ranger. .

 

[Kyramus]

I'd pick Strength and Law domains.

personality: Terminator (strength and brutality) with Judge Mathis (law, http://www.judgemathis.net/judgemathisstory.htm )

Kinda would picture the half-orc to be in and out of jail or trouble and over come it to become a cleric of St. Cuthbert.

as quoted from that web page "He's compassionate, yet street smart, and not about to tolerate disregard for the law. He runs his courtroom with a very no-nonsense style, often using himself as an example to those who appear before him."

I think this would make the half-orc fun.

 

[Airwolf]

I like that thought. I will have to incorporate it into my background. Thanks Kyramus.


Regards,
Airwolf

 

[Wippit Guud]

If memory serves (and I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't), clerics of St Cuthbert cannot choose to sponatneously cast healing spell, just inflict spells, so remember to take that into consideration when choosing your spells daily.

 

[Moe Ronalds]

If memory serves (and I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't), clerics of St Cuthbert cannot choose to sponatneously cast healing spell, just inflict spells, so remember to take that into consideration when choosing your spells daily.

Other way around.

 

[humble minion]

Perhaps the half-orc was persecuted due to his race in the past, and was attracted to the service of St Cuthbert because of the church's doctrine of justice and equal dealings to all, regardless of species, appearance, or race?