The Original Simon Belmont

[Thatwackyned]

We have tons of Whip builds out there. In Castlevania, the Belmonts are classic characters that used a whips. The Original Simon Belmont though used a Flail. How should this character be built?

 

[malcolm_n]

If you mean in Castlevania 1 for the NES, he used a whip that he eventually upgraded to a flail (which technically did the same thing, but hit harder). I'll go check out the storyline though and be sure I have the information I need to do this.

Interestingly enough, this'll go well with next week's character concepts, since I'm doing vampiric heroes.

 

[Roger]

However he's built, he'd better end up with the Pantsless feat.


Cheers,
Roger

 

[Thatwackyned]

No no, Flesh Coloured Plate. You can see the hinge bolt right there at the Knees.

 

[fba827]

Armor: a class/build that is functional in light armor.
Good choices based on armor: Ranger, Avenger, or that one Fighter build in Martial Power 1

Skill: I see him as a physical sort rather than mental or social skills. So stuff like Athletics (since NES game was very platformer, he did a lot of jumping) is a must have. Optional ones to consider would be Endurance, Perception, Heal, Religion, Intimidate, Dungeoneering, Nature.
Good Choices based on Skills: Ranger, or another class (like fighter, rogue, avenger, etc) with some devotion to skill training or background benefit that lets you swap in a skill.

Weapon Wise: needs proficiency with whip (which magically upgraded to the flail), throwing dagger. He also had some improvised weapons (the torch, the holy water, the holy symbol, the throwing axe), but those could be flavored as regular gear or as improvised weaponry....
All the above pretty much amounts to simple melee and military weapons and that is covered by almost all classes.


All that said, I'm inclined to lean towards a Avenger, light-armor Fighter build from MP1, or Ranger (in that order).

Note that the only reason ranger is so low on that list is because I don't really see Simon as a bow-built or a two-weapon build, or beast master build, thus, build mechanics wise I don't see a good fit (though theme/flavor wise, I think that may be the most appropriate). I'd argue that with some flavor/fluff push, the avenger or fighter would be the better choice mechanically.

 

[malcolm_n]

Here's my take on him.[sblock=Simon Belmont]====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Simon Belmont, level 26
Human, Avenger, Oathsworn, Champion of Prophecy
Build: Pursuing Avenger
Avenger's Censure: Censure of Pursuit
Prophetic Blessing: Prophetic Blessing Dexterity
Prophetic Blessing: Prophetic Blessing Wisdom
Background: Auspicious Birth, Touched by Darkness, Human - Ancestral Holdings, Society - Noble, Scion of an Ancient Bloodline (Auspicious Birth Benefit)

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 12, Con 13, Dex 27, Int 10, Wis 26, Cha 12.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 10, Con 11, Dex 16, Int 8, Wis 17, Cha 10.


AC: 47 Fort: 33 Reflex: 40 Will: 40
HP: 191 Surges: 8 Surge Value: 47

TRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +26, Religion +18, Athletics +19, Perception +26, Endurance +19

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +13, Bluff +14, Diplomacy +14, Dungeoneering +21, Heal +21, History +13, Insight +21, Intimidate +14, Nature +21, Stealth +21, Streetwise +14, Thievery +21

FEATS
Human: Whip Training
Level 1: Weapon Focus (Flail)
Level 2: Weapon Expertise (Flail)
Level 4: Weapon Master
Level 6: Weapon Proficiency (Xen'drik Boomerang)
Level 8: Alchemist
Level 10: Improved Armor of Faith
Level 11: Unarmored Agility
Level 12: Paragon Defenses
Level 14: Raven Queen's Scorn
Level 16: Whip Novice
Level 18: Whip Expert
Level 20: Whip Specialist
Level 21: Black Mantle
Level 22: Avenging Resolution
Level 24: Versatile Channeler
Level 26: Hand of Divine Guidance

POWERS
Avenger at-will 1: Bond of Pursuit
Avenger at-will 1: Radiant Vengeance
Bonus At-Will Power: Avenging Shackles
Versatile Channeler: Rebuke Undead
Avenger encounter 1: Day's First Light
Avenger daily 1: Aspect of Might
Avenger utility 2: Distracting Flare
Avenger encounter 3: Sequestering Strike (retrained to Whip Snare at Whip Novice)
Avenger daily 5: Bond of Foresight
Avenger utility 6: Harsh Lesson (retrained to Whip Crack at Whip Expert)
Avenger encounter 7: Chains of Censure
Avenger daily 9: Glyph of Agony
Avenger utility 10: Reactive Surge
Avenger encounter 13: Light of the Avenging Sun (replaces Day's First Light)
Avenger daily 15: Aspect of Fury (replaces Aspect of Might)
Avenger utility 16: Astral Cloak
Avenger encounter 17: Lethal Intercession (replaces Sequestering Strike)
Avenger daily 19: Flame Unquenchable (replaces Bond of Foresight)
Avenger utility 22: Indomitable Resolve
Avenger encounter 23: Chains of Fate (replaces Chains of Censure)
Avenger daily 25: Executioner's Justice (replaces Glyph of Agony)

ITEMS
Disrupting Whip +5, Holy Avenger Handaxe +5, Magic Starweave Armor +6, Deep-Pocket Cloak +6, Headband of Intellect (paragon tier), Rapidstrike Bracers (paragon tier), Acidic Fire (level 25) (2)
====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======
[/sblock]

 

[Roger]

No no, Flesh Coloured Plate. You can see the hinge bolt right there at the Knees.

That is seriously freaking me out now.

It's like he's a warforged... made out of MEAT.



Cheers,
Roger

 

[Thatwackyned]

Meatforged...lol