[D&D-5e] Archmage's Gambit

[Seekr34]

ArcZero, a good character and a good one to have in a group.

[ArcZero]

Originally Posted by Seekr34

ArcZero, a good character and a good one to have in a group.

Haha thank you and true enough. I like your character too and getting paired up with a rogue would be ideal for my character. Who doesn't like extra sneak attacks?

It makes sense, but support characters don't seem to be popular on here. I have thought of some fun support builds over the years though and control is always fun to me.

[DiceGoblin]

Honestly my favorite kind of character to play is support. I hope your character gets accepted, every party needs a good support character. Not everyone can deal the most damage.

[GleefulNihilism]

To be honest, I rarely think of it in those terms anyway. Just a sucker for a good story.

[Seekr34]

Yeah, today's gaming is so different back then. Back in the 80's, the usual 6 pcs, were a thief, a cleric, a wizard, and at least 2 fighter types. The 6th pc was whatever and each had their uses, Fighters go fight, cleric fought if they had to, other wise, they just used a few spells and healing. The wizard did his magic thing, the thief scout for traps and such. Each class had their purpose and did what other classes couldn't do. 5e, everything is more balance.

[ArcZero]

Originally Posted by GleefulNihilism

To be honest, I rarely think of it in those terms anyway. Just a sucker for a good story.

I mean that depends on the dm. When I first started in 3.5, the four or so dm's I came across were largely a fan of the "one party member should die each session" approach of brutality. In that kind of environment, it makes sense that players would start trying to fight back and power game to make characters who can survive way above the intended power curve of the appropriate CR encounters, which only pushes the DM to throw more at them. In some games it was just a given that a big enemy would drop one player a round, otherwise it's not "hardcore" enough. Granted I do love Dark Souls brutal difficulty, but that was pretty wild.

The game can still be challenging, but designing encounters in a way to allow for a party with no healer or all ranged/casters makes for more dynamic games.

Originally Posted by DiceGoblin

Honestly my favorite kind of character to play is support. I hope your character gets accepted, every party needs a good support character. Not everyone can deal the most damage.

Oh that's cool, what's your favorite support character that you've played? Thank you, I hope so too, I love a good intrigue high fantasy game.

[Seekr34]

Yeah, had a few DMs that threw everything at you and if you die, oh well. It wasn't like that back in the old days. I enjoy a DM that balance things out, like you're at higher levels, so naturally, the enemies will be harder too, BUT, now and then you come across a town bully or your common bandits and were easy to take care of. It made you feel you're tough, someone to be reckon with. Having tough things thrown at you all the time, just makes me feel I'm barely making it.

[DiceGoblin]

I think my favorite support character I played was a Necromancer Wizard. He sort of stumbled into Necromancy by accident, he wasn't bad at all. But he had a lot of spells that were specifically to help others even at his own detriment. The coolest one was Life Transference, even if he was full health there was a chance that the spell would knock him out while he was healing others. He also ended up taking care of the baby that the party was tasked with taking halfway across the world.

I really miss him. I should play him again.

[ArcZero]

Originally Posted by Seekr34

Yeah, had a few DMs that threw everything at you and if you die, oh well. It wasn't like that back in the old days. I enjoy a DM that balance things out, like you're at higher levels, so naturally, the enemies will be harder too, BUT, now and then you come across a town bully or your common bandits and were easy to take care of. It made you feel you're tough, someone to be reckon with. Having tough things thrown at you all the time, just makes me feel I'm barely making it.

Agreed, the random "Adoring Fan" from Oblivion or talking Excalibur from Soul Eater type 'enemy' can be just as infuriating and doesn't require death saves. It's fun to still have wacky or easier encounters at a higher level!

Originally Posted by DiceGoblin

I think my favorite support character I played was a Necromancer Wizard. He sort of stumbled into Necromancy by accident, he wasn't bad at all. But he had a lot of spells that were specifically to help others even at his own detriment. The coolest one was Life Transference, even if he was full health there was a chance that the spell would knock him out while he was healing others. He also ended up taking care of the baby that the party was tasked with taking halfway across the world.

I really miss him. I should play him again.

Yiiiikes a Life Transference healing wizard is the boldest of moves. The only way I can really see that working out is with Vampiric Touch or something. Drain every turn and transfer it to allies. Sounds sick but still super dangerous.

[Drifter One]

I can heal you with Songs of Love!

Or a power Ballad.

Or some Hard Rock if that gets the blood pumping.

Can't do Death metal though, save that for the Necros

[Onward]

App Name: Goibh Moltenhammer Race: Human Class: Artificer (Battle Smith) Background: Folk Hero Personality: Goibh has a personality similar to that of a dwarf, with the mannerisms and love for ale included. She's bold in her approach to people and will probably be the first one to swing their weapon in a bar fight, particularly on the people she doesn't like, like that bartender that charged her absurd ale prices. If there's anything Goibh loves most, it's tinkering with new inventions and tempering her metal as she activates her forge. It always felt natural to her, and she can't help but place her pride at the things she makes. You better be grateful and show appreciation to her work, for her temper is as much heated as her passion for her hobbies. It will be a bloodbath. Backstory: Goibh doesn't remember much of her parents, she was just a child. Yet, according to her father, they were just a couple of adventurers that married and decided to settle for life and raise their kid who was Goibh. Unfortunately, something happened and they went missing, they couldn't tell if they were alive or dead. All that was left was their daughter, so one of her parent's adventuring buddies, a dwarf by the name of Heward Moltenhammer, decides to take care of her. He became her father, despite the fact that he was a dwarf and she was a human. Heward always wanted to have children, he could never find a wife or even bore a child. Goibh learned everything about blacksmithing from him, and she was a natural at it. Though to the dwarves utter amusement and surprise, this human girl was also an aspiring inventor. The many mechanical marvel's she created during their time together were numerous and extravagant, he was impressed. Goibh even became famous in her hometown when a rat infestation took over the town. She invented several advanced traps to kill off the rodent population without trying the use of alchemical poisons in order to avoid damage to the crops. She was hailed as a local hero and renowned among rat hunters everywhere, a reputation that she doesn't want to be apart. Though she did appreciate the slight reputation on her inventions. After that event, she couldn't help but aspire to be an adventurer like her father and biological parents, and she was encouraged by her father to pursue such a career.

[Seekr34]

Back in tabletop days, my support pc was a cleric. Fought only when he needed to, but mostly , let the thieves scout and deal wit traps, let the fighters fight, let the mage use his spells when he needed to. Because of my cleric, the group stayed alive.

[Kragart]

Concept art or Description: {will post a pic when I figure out how to}

Name: Kragart

Race: Elf

Class: Wizard

Background: Scholar, Mercenary,

Personality: Kragart is obsessed with harnessing the power of fire. His chaotic personality shifts from quiet and smoldering to a flare of anger seemingly at random. He cares for his close friends, as few as they are, and will defend them with reckless abandon.

Backstory: Kragart was born of fire. His peaceful elven village was ravaged and burned by a raiding party of orcs when he was just a baby. Left for dead in the ruins of his home, his infant cries were heard by a group of scavengers looting the ruins of the camp. He was taken in and raised by a kindhearted but firm town wizard, who needed a servant and raised Kragart to learn the ways of magic.

Kragart toiled for years with his adopted father, all the while learning the basics of manipulating and taming fire. As he grew up, his desire for revenge grew, and he longs to burn the orcs who orphaned him so long ago. When it was time for him to set out on his own, he took any job he could as a mercenary, guard, or even circus trickster. Anywhere he could hone his magical talents, earn a meager living, and grow in power. He now is setting out looking for adventure, to grow in strength, assemble allies, and eventually return to the hills above his ancestral forest to right wrongs and prevent the orc tribe from ever destroying another innocent village.

[ChunxiRavenclaw]

Character Application "The stars align." (Picture courtesy of Picrew) Name: Tankemaat Linjenstig Race: Firbolg Class: Druid (Circle of the Stars) Background: Sage (in the field of Astronomy and Cosmology) Alignment: LN Personality: Soft-spoken and quite an introvert, although he is not particularly good in social situations, he is a curious individual and loves mysteries and puzzles. He is quite shy, but his friendship will last a long time once established. He views knowledge above all else, even of his own life sometimes, and that sometimes had landed him in drastic situations. This also means that he can and will ignore rules that he deemed an obstacle to his quest, and his determination is next to none. Backstory: Tankemaat was born in a forest that is a bit far south of Moril. Since he was young, he was viewed as an eccentric being in their clan; whilst many of his clan looked towards the earth, speaking to plants and animals, Tankemaat instead turned towards the sky, fascinated by stars and the universe. Although their clan was respectful towards him, they can offer little help to him when he asked for knowledge of the stars. As such, he bid his clan goodbye and went to the Moril in search for knowledge. He did not look as a person who would be patient and intelligent enough to understand the intricacies of the stars, so he had a rough time finding a place in the academies of Moril. But throughout his journey, he charted many star maps and pondered about the stars; he recorded all his pondering in parchment and wood bark that he found along the way, and eventually, the quality of said star maps earned him a place at an academy. He flourished in the academic fields and later graduated from the academy with flying colours. He now works as a researcher of astronomy, cosmology and astromancy in Moril.

[Grouchy]

Character Concept Name: Grubash Race: Half Orc Class: Monk 3 (Way of the Open Hand) Background: Urchin Personality: To Grubash, joy is the most important thing in life. Everyone deserves to be happy and that happiness should be rooted in the simple things in life. He is a humble and modest man who finds helping others in need gives him a great sense of purpose. He laughs easily, sups heartily, sings loudly and is always quick with a kind word or a smile. He is intensely fascinated by nature and loves spending time outdoors, often conducting his training and meditations in nature no matter the weather. He possesses a steadfast resolve and undergoes his harsh training with a smile, as he knows the hotter the fire the stronger the metal when it is removed from the forge. He meditates in the morning and the evening, and during idle times he will perform a variety of different exercises in order to keep his body supple and ready for whatever the day asks of him. Though certainly no fool, Grubash struggles to read as he suffers from dyslexia and thus always performed poorly in his studies. Grubash prefers to avoid violence using words and kindness, but he does not shirk from a fight and is an aggressive and fearsome opponent when he has to be. His personal philosophy is to be nice, until it is time to not be nice. He has a strong dislike for bullies and tyrants, and he will stand up against them when he sees them. Description: Grubash is a tall, massively built grey skinned humanoid man with short black hair and a square jaw. He has a broad forehead and thick eyebrows, with light brown eyes that seem to sparkle with humor. His nose is wide and sharply defined, and a pair of white tusks protrude from his bottom jaw over his lips. His ears are slightly pointed and hairy, and his loose sleeveless robe shows off a powerfully muscled and hairy torso. Simple leather strips adorn his wrists and around his waist is a thick belt made of hemp from which hangs a small pouch. In his left hand he uses a stout looking walking stick of oak and on his back is a battered looking but serviceable backpack. His pants are loose and hemmed to just below his calves, and on his wide hairy feet he wears a simple pair of leather sandals. Backstory: Born to an alcoholic prostitute out of wedlock, his mother mistreated Grubash immensely as a child and as if beneath him, since he was a half blood and not worthy of her attention. She saw him as a crutch - no wealthy man would want to marry her now that she is shackled down with a half-blood bastard. She left him to fend for himself, and the young half orc practically lived on the streets alone for much of his young life. Grubash endured his abuse for years but one night she brutally beat the young Grubash for an act of defiance. At just seven years old Grubash fled out of town and into the dark and dangerous woods alone, running for what felt like hours until his sides ached. Fighting off a pack of wolves attempting to make him their next dinner, Grubash climbed a nearby tree and hopped to a ledge from which a small cavern protruded. Seeking shelter, Grubash struggled to make a small fire in the bitter wind of winter and almost froze to death if not for his fortune. Grubash had in fact found himself in the Cave of Whispered Wisdom, one of the primary meditation spots for the Falling Lotus Monastery. A wandering monk by the name of Brother Malivus found and rescued the young Grubash, who was quickly accepted into the monastery as one of their own and ready for spiritual training. Grubash was taken aback by the kindness shown to him, and for the first time in life he has found true happiness. The training was extremely demanding both physically and mentally, but Grubash exceeded at most of it and even welcomed the challenge. He found it deeply satisfying to seek mastery over not only his body but his mind. He struggled to read and understand the written word often (he is, in fact, dyslexic), but during the physical pursuits he had few equals. His impressive strength and constitution, combined with light feet and an observant mind, soon had him ranked among the top of his peers. Learning of his reading difficulties, his tutors began teaching him orally and soon Grubash was performing as well as the others in that regards. Upon completion of his training, word came that help was needed in the kingdom of Moril and the Grandmaster deemed it a worthy pursuit for the young Grubash. The half orc now eagerly seeks to prove himself, to bring honor to the Falling Lotus Monastery and, in his own way, show other half bloods that your birth alone does not set your destiny in stone.