mirror-self alignment problem

[beaver]

hi... i've been running a DBF (duel by forum) for some time now (i don't know if advertising is prohibited and if this would be considered advertising so i will not supply link), and a new arena i created functions in a manner that when a duelist enters combat, a mirror-self is created (just like he entered a plane of mirrors) and of course, best one wins.
a problem occurs that when an alignment changes, barbarians cannot rage, clerics can't cast spells, i have no idea what would happen if a paladin would get in that situation...
so, my question is... how to create a mirror-self that doesn't have these disadvantages?

thanx

 

[AuraSeer]

By "mirror-self," you mean you're creating an exact duplicate of the character but with the opposite alignment? I can see how that would be a problem for some classes.

The easiest solution is simply to not flip the copy's alignment. A chaotic good barbarian will fight a chaotic good duplicate. They can still be aggressive and violent toward each other-- similar alignment doesn't mean they have to be friends.

The other option is to reverse the copy's alignment, along with all alignment requirements and effects for its abilities. The copy of a LG paladin becomes CE and smites/detects Good instead of Evil, but is still a "paladin." If the original is a LN cleric of a LE god and channels negative energy, the copy is a CN cleric of a CG god and channels positive energy. Spells with alignment descriptors would get flipped too-- order's wrath replaces chaos hammer, etc.

I prefer the second option because it feels more flavorful, and makes the duels more dramatic. It does require a bit more work from the DM, though.

Whichever you choose, make sure you pick one and stick with it. Player strategy for each option is very different.

 

[Deset Gled]

I also see a third option (in additin to AuraSeer's 2): change the alignment as much as possible without sacraficing class abilities. For example, a chaotic good barbarian would become a chaotic evil barbarian. A LN cleric of a LE god would become a NE cleric. This keeps a good chunk of the flavor, but makes things a lot easier on the DM.

The "mirror-self" of a Paladin should be a Blackguard. Unfortunately, the mechanics of the classes make changing between the two on the fly rather difficult.

 

[beaver]

yes, my first thought was a blackguard, but bguard has prerequisites, and i'm talking here about 1st, 2nd, 5th lvl characters max. but let's drop paladin, since he sucks in duels (and it was proven so).
first problem i encountered with creating a mirror-self was when i tried to copy a CG cleric of Kord (also CG). he has domains Strength and Luck (i don't need to tell you what this guy looks like in duels... frightening). so, i tried to figure out what to do... becoming a LE cleric, a copy could not worship Kord, but then again, he doesn't really need to because all spells are prepared before entering the fight, and the copy copies the character as he enters the arena (the spells prepared are only modified if they have alignment descriptor so that protection from evil becomes protection from good). another problem are domains... i was thinking... to add some flavor, i could say a copy worships Hoar (it's mainly a FR setting) and has domains Fate (as opposed to Luck) and, um... Retribution. but, why should a bad guy not be lucky? or be strong? so many questions...

 

[Cabral]

Well, you could just take the easy route: Your copy isn't the same class, but rather the mirror-equivelant.

A barbarian produces a mirror-barbarian (which can be any non-chaotic alignment)
A paladin produces a mirror-paladin (Which loses class abilities if he becomes non-CE)
etc ...

 

[melkorspawn]

Well, you could just take the easy route: Your copy isn't the same class, but rather the mirror-equivelant.

A barbarian produces a mirror-barbarian (which can be any non-chaotic alignment)
A paladin produces a mirror-paladin (Which loses class abilities if he becomes non-CE)
etc ...

I prefer the term Bizzaro-Barbarian.