[Martial Classes] To Anime, or Not to Anime? That is My Question.

[Tequila Sunrise]

"I'm a protector adept" or "I'm a great bear adept" both sound really confusing to me, unless those are recognised institutions in-game. "Great Bear Adept" is fine if it means something like "Adept of the Great Bear fighting style". As generic terms I think they're really poor. Personally I'd cut to the chase: "I'm a Defender!" Or if you like 'adept', how about "I'm a Guardian adept" vs "I'm a Greatweapon adept". Again, personally I would cut out the word 'adept', which I don't think adds any information and has unwelcome connotations in a Western-fantasy game. It makes me think of either sorcery or kung fu.

Yes, my goal is that these terms will represent in-game institutions. Not necessarily specific fighting academies or whatever, but specific training traditions. Somewhat like "enchanter," "illusionist," etc. I guess I wasn't as clear about that as I had thought.

 

[S'mon]

Yes, my goal is that these terms will represent in-game institutions. Not necessarily specific fighting academies or whatever, but specific training traditions. Somewhat like "enchanter," "illusionist," etc. I guess I wasn't as clear about that as I had thought.

Hm, ok then. Well I guess "Protector Adept" seems better for Fighter than "Great Bear Adept", more because the PHB Fighter wasn't really designed to be bear-like. AIR the designers wanted it to be a bit panther-like, though!

 

[Neonchameleon]

Hm, ok then. Well I guess "Protector Adept" seems better for Fighter than "Great Bear Adept", more because the PHB Fighter wasn't really designed to be bear-like. AIR the designers wanted it to be a bit panther-like, though!

I don't know about that. A Brawler Fighter can be pretty bear-like. Although that's in Martial Power II.

 

[GreyICE]

What sort of style are you trying to convey?

If these schools have a formal hierarchy, it's possible that they could even rise in the ranks within their school. For example, "I am a purple sash adept of the Striking Tiger Swordschool."

If that's the case, I suggest you check out the chapter on alternative rewards in the DMG 2. The part where you can gain magic-item like Daily/Encounter powers as boons from various pacts. Giving all Striking Tiger adepts the ability to once per day reroll an attack that misses, or a power that does an additional 2d6 damage and gives ongoing damage 5 (from bleeding) on a crit can help reinforce the flavor of it being a school, and teaching you unique combat abilities.

Otherwise, I'd suggest it be a loose affiliation with various groups. Like "I am a Mercenary of the Karshen company."

At the end of the day, the only right answer is: Players describe their characters how they like.

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

Hm, ok then. Well I guess "Protector Adept" seems better for Fighter than "Great Bear Adept", more because the PHB Fighter wasn't really designed to be bear-like. AIR the designers wanted it to be a bit panther-like, though!

Yeah the more I think about it, the more I like 'protector adept,' 'healer adept,' and 'striker adept.' (I've been trying to think of another word to broadly describe what rogues and rangers do, but 'striker' is the only word that really stands out. I guess that means the 4e guys named the roles well.)

What sort of style are you trying to convey?

I'm not really trying to convey any particular style. I'm trying to establish an easy-to-remember in-world vernacular that doesn't immediately flip on my brain's metagame switch. (Like "I'm Kyla the Warlord.")

 

[S'mon]

I'm not really trying to convey any particular style. I'm trying to establish an easy-to-remember in-world vernacular that doesn't immediately flip on my brain's metagame switch. (Like "I'm Kyla the Warlord.")

Replace Fighter with Fighting Man - apart from Warlord most of the other terms aren't too metagamey I think. Warlord is the big problem; Essentials Knight to some extent also. They could use rank "I'm Sergeant Kyla, formerly of the Varisian Guard".