Reskinning Class Fluff

[Kzach]

In recent threads we've seen arguments about social obligation, character effectiveness and, dare I say it, refluffing.

All of these gave me the idea for this thread. Part of the reasoning being that if a player wants to play a low-intelligence, but high strength wizard, for instance, they could instead play a strength-based sorcerer, reskinned to be a bookworm. That way they can play an effective character and contribute success to the group, whilst still fulfilling the player's roleplaying desires.

An example I'm reminded of was in a group new to 4e. They were... very resistant to 4e's style. The ranger player, for instance, refused to scout ahead because "that's what rogues do, I don't care if my Perception is twice his, I'm a ranger!" Now, he could've easily played a twin-weapon barbarian or fighter, reskinned to have more of a ranger feel to it, and he probably would've been happy. It was simply that in his mind, rangers did 'X', no matter what the system or stats in front of him said.

So basically, I'd like to hear about your creative reskinning of class fluff. Keeping all the mechanics the same, but changing their description to give the class a completely different style.

 

[Rechan]

I've seen some really great suggestions for fluffing. The easiest way is just to change the Power Source (or at least, the origin of the powers).

Shaman

A necromancer who has a bound ghost, or claims the spirits of his slain enemies, bending them to his will.

A Kalasthar Nightmare - the Shaman is actually a manifestation of Fear itself, appearing as the enemy's worst fears. Or snatching elements of their psyche. This is especially supported by the Shaman class act powers.

Paladin

Knight of the Faerie Courts. No true God, but a representative of one of the Courts, endowed by their powers. (Just look at the Eladrin Fey Knight, MM 102; it IS a paladin).

Seeker: Arcane Archer. Nuff said.

 

[Ruined]

I just started playing in a friend's campaign based off of the [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Revenge-Witch-Apprentice-Joseph-Delaney/dp/B001O9CBWG/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_5"]Last Apprentice[/ame] books by Joseph Delaney. He wanted someone to play the Spook class, which are essentially witch hunters and those who bind angry spirits. So we took the Avenger and changed its flavor. Instead of holding out a holy symbol for my ranged attacks, I'm hurling handfuls of iron and salt at my enemies. We replaced an encounter power with one that restrained a bloody target. To match the books, I use a silver chain to bind witches in this manner.

It still has the fun mechanics of being a Pursuing Avenger, but instead of the holy hit man feel, I can truly envision it as being a Spook from the novels.

 

[Barastrondo]

Lessee, what's been done in games I've seen...

Fey pact warlock: "Mage/thief." A continuation of an old sneaky spellcaster, with a little bit of rogue multiclass, reskinned as new innovations in his craft.

Shifter druid: "Werewolf." Fairly self-explanatory; been done by others, I'm sure. (For that matter, I've seen plenty of instances of the druid multiclass feat being reskinned as "you can turn into a humanoid animal-person, or that animal form, but not into any animal you want" to make low-grade were-bloods.)

Vestige pact warlock: "Necromancer." The powers are those of conjured spirits, and the vestiges are those spirits bound into the necromancer's own body.

Artificer: "Puppeteer." Black suit, long wires, all that. More mysticism than alchemy.

Wild magic sorcerer: "Cartomancer." Derived power from a deck of cards, each major power a specific trump (such as "the Maelstrom"), and most powers with variable effects a result of drawing a random suited card. The wild magic energy affinity that changes daily was a result of a morning divination ritual, with the ruling card drawn determining the energy (you roll "fire," you drew the Dragon; you roll "poison," you drew the Assassin, etc.).


Things that have been tossed around but not actually implemented in play: warforged storm warden (a lightning-powered "Frankenstein" golem), dhampyr assassin (vampire), swordmage (necromancer with spirits defending his allies), bard (Zhuge Liang-style strategist), seeker ("shrine maiden" sacred archer), summoner wizard (Culdcept-style cartomancer) probably some others I'm forgetting.

 

[Kzach]

Nice stuff so far!

I just thought of one.

GURPS had a setting called The Shadow War which was based around Voduon. It was a very cool setting which I never got to actually play in or DM. But the thought of a psychic warrior type based around Voduon mythology, as a reskin of the shaman, would be awesome.

Basically, a practitioner summons spirits and commands them to do their bidding. Blood, bones, and all sorts of witchcraft items are used. They also have a sort of spirit guide who possesses the warrior and gives them super human powers to fight the In-betweeners, which are basically powerful entities that are neither of this realm nor have they passed fully over to the spirit realm, and tend towards killing things to maintain their power in either.

 

[Garthanos]

seeker ("shrine maiden" sacred archer), .

Avenger with with focused fury and a great bow was how I was considering doing this one...

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Nothing wrong with refluffing, as long as you don´t want to exploit the rules...

A friend of mine always played a barbarian, because he wanted to be conan (who in the book reallyisn´t a barbarian.... i have latter seen his stats in conan RPG and i was right)

I just told him to be a rogue/barbarian but he refused...

So from the examples the most unfitting would be the str/cha bookworm... as i think Strength and charisma from books is a bit strange but hey, i could really see a cosmic sorcerer reading a lot of books... i just would make sure int is his 3rd best attribute...

@ranger not scouting ahead??? I always thought rangers were the best scouts... it´s not the rogues job to do this... Rangers are guides and scouts...

 

[avin]

Now that you mention, this could be a very interesting monthly Dragon article...

 

[Kzach]

Now that you mention, this could be a very interesting monthly Dragon article...

Yeah, it could replace Shelly's column and would be something I'd actually read.

 

[avin]

We could go to Wotc and suggest it or have hope they are reading this

But, seriously, the idea of a monthly article for reskinning class is something I find very inspiring/useful.

If they could add the resking to Character Builder, changing the name and description of the powers... endless joy for me and a lot of reskinners I know...