Friendship is Dragons
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Page 1198 - Necessary Banality
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Story time! Tell a story about how you made a human/your setting's equivalent and made it interesting.
Well, I like to think most of my characters were interesting on some level, either because of their personalities or their backstories. :-P But if we're talking MECHANICALLY interesting...
Does playing a human in Macross campaign counts? Probably not, because we all chose to play humans. Maybe one was a half-alien and I didn't pay enough attention, but no more then that. No one just wanted to play any aliens for some reason.
Edit: Not just an earth pony, a brown earth pony with no magic tricks. She had a charisma of 7, but I *still* ended up being the face most of the time, because the other players had no charisma in real life, so they all roleplayed as stiff jerks. :p
To me, that sounds about right. To me it feels like way too many special snowflake characters try to be different with managing to be interesting. Or at least helpful.
I had a chef earth pony named Reuben Rye who was comical but really adventurous and often took chances. Seemed like the dice liked it when he did. Plus, he had some ideas on weaponizing food.
I can't...I've always been something other than human in my games. It has to do with the fact that if I'm going to play a fantasy game, i want to be something as far away from myself as I can. So, non-human, non male usually too.
This was a primarily naval campaign - Age of Sail + magic - so I made him a carpenter, vital for wooden ships. But he was a ki wielder - think Ryu & Ken from Street Fighter - and did his carpentry with his bare hands. (No splinters!) The campaign did not last long, but for what it did, he was the stoic & practical one. (Not that different from Applejack, come to think of it.)
Honestly, I've had the opposite problem where other races became uninteresting. At least to play.
Every time I was a dwarf, or gnome, or elf. I was -THE- dwarf, or gnome, or elf. I was thrust into situations where DMs and other players expected to play tropes off of me and I just kind... wanted to let my character be themselves? I tried human and it was kind of liberating to not be expected to be the "dour and honorbound dwarf" or the "lol randumb" gnome.
Every time I was a dwarf, or gnome, or elf. I was -THE- dwarf, or gnome, or elf. I was thrust into situations where DMs and other players expected to play tropes off of me and I just kind... wanted to let my character be themselves? I tried human and it was kind of liberating to not be expected to be the "dour and honorbound dwarf" or the "lol randumb" gnome.
I'm sadly no help to that One-Hat race problem, even when I subvert it... one of my longest standing characters is a (now that it's actually legit to do) lawful good halfling rogue... and boy, is he mostly a thief's thief. Open up the big bad's castle? He's probably already got a set of picks best designed for their doors. Disarm an entire kobold's den's trap system? He's on his third tee-shirt from being there and doing that. Convince someone they're getting the better end of the deal by giving him everything for nothing? He's got a couple of those already signed on the OUT box on his desk.
But, by the same tokens, he typically is dual-wielding saps because you never know who you might need to ask questions of later (and it paints him bad to commit wanton murder when he's out and about), and his guild when I'm DMing (and he is, therefor, a DMPC) is a given town's equivalent of WoW-style guards (helpful to point you in the right direction, and are half competent at combat)... so yeah. He's definitely a sneaky rogue, like halflings are expected to be. But he's also more than just the stereotype.
But, by the same tokens, he typically is dual-wielding saps because you never know who you might need to ask questions of later (and it paints him bad to commit wanton murder when he's out and about), and his guild when I'm DMing (and he is, therefor, a DMPC) is a given town's equivalent of WoW-style guards (helpful to point you in the right direction, and are half competent at combat)... so yeah. He's definitely a sneaky rogue, like halflings are expected to be. But he's also more than just the stereotype.
My current Pathfinder character, Brenna Sloane, would probably count as the "boring" one of the party, mechanically, but I'd like to think I make up for that by investing deeply in her character and background.
The rest of the Hell's Rebels group are a homeless oracle, a vishkanya brawler, and a Gorumite warpriest who can shift into a half-man/half-boar at will. By comparison, Brenna is a LG ex-cop cavalier using the Constable archetype.
As mentioned above, I kind of went a little overboard with her background. Raised by a grifter who was the big fish in the small pond that was her neighborhood until she was twelve, she was taught to follow in his footsteps until a gang decided to take over the neighborhood. Her father figure fled as soon as things got dangerous, but Brenna insisted on staying to fight, only to get caught by the gang when she tried to set a trap because she was a child and didn't actually know what she was doing.
At that point, she was rescued by a police officer who ended up adopting her, and Brenna grew up to join the police and use her knack for deceit to go undercover. Then, when the campaign villain took over her city, she decided that her oath to protect the people was more important than her badge.
Mechanically speaking, I also differentiated myself from the rest of the group by putting a lot of focus into grappling. Combined with the cavalier's "challenge" ability, she's undefeated in sparring matches with the other party members thanks to being able to hog-tie them in two rounds with decent rolls.
The rest of the Hell's Rebels group are a homeless oracle, a vishkanya brawler, and a Gorumite warpriest who can shift into a half-man/half-boar at will. By comparison, Brenna is a LG ex-cop cavalier using the Constable archetype.
As mentioned above, I kind of went a little overboard with her background. Raised by a grifter who was the big fish in the small pond that was her neighborhood until she was twelve, she was taught to follow in his footsteps until a gang decided to take over the neighborhood. Her father figure fled as soon as things got dangerous, but Brenna insisted on staying to fight, only to get caught by the gang when she tried to set a trap because she was a child and didn't actually know what she was doing.
At that point, she was rescued by a police officer who ended up adopting her, and Brenna grew up to join the police and use her knack for deceit to go undercover. Then, when the campaign villain took over her city, she decided that her oath to protect the people was more important than her badge.
Mechanically speaking, I also differentiated myself from the rest of the group by putting a lot of focus into grappling. Combined with the cavalier's "challenge" ability, she's undefeated in sparring matches with the other party members thanks to being able to hog-tie them in two rounds with decent rolls.
The most interesting Human character I've ever made was Geist, a 16-year-old mute sniper, who lived alone in a post-apocalyptic city before the party found her. Playing her was tons of fun, considering she didn't know any form of sign language, and just had to get by on gestures and shooting things.
"Brave enough to be borin'". Anyone else flashing back to that one episode of Home Improvement where Tim stands up to the Binford executive for Al Boreland, the man who "dares to be dull"?
But I get some folks want to play what they want. I am that way with anything that generally offers flight, even if its not optimal.
I just note the fact of directly opposing the gm here by attacking rather than redirecting. Not a bad tactic, as it works here.
Also, a certain Webcomic did that in epic form. So it's definitely possible.
It's weird that that's the common perception, because the way I see it most support classes actually have pretty great roleplaying hooks. Most Clerics are inextricably tied to a deity, and consequently a worldview likely at odds with the rest of the party. Played properly, a Cleric can act as the moral center of the party, a source of knowledge and wisdom to guide them on their quest; much like priests in real life. And, of course, their existence in the campaign world poses some interesting questions for philosophically and theologically inclined players and gamemasters to chew on. Druids get all that, plus a cool Miyazaki aesthetic, and as this comic has already pointed out, Bards are just so flexible! I'm 90% sure my next character will be an Elven Loremaster, a Bard cast as an Elrond type who focuses more on knowledge and healing than performance and social checks.
Honestly, to me, the Fighter is the most boring class in terms of playstyle. They mostly just hit things, get like two skills, have the highest AC thanks to armor proficiency, and that's the entire class. 4e made tanks more interesting with the Mark mechanic and various powers to choose from, but honestly even then in my games the Fighter was usually someone more content to sit back and watch, occasionally rolling dice on their turn than someone who would actively engage in the tactical or roleplaying aspects. Or, at worst, just a DMPC to shore up the party in combat. Which is ALSO weird, because Fighters are perhaps the most ubiquitous in the fantasy genre of literature and film, with infinitely varied backstories and archetypes. It's kind of a shame that the oversimplified mechanics seem like such a turn-off; there's a lot of unrealized RP potential there.
Honestly, to me, the Fighter is the most boring class in terms of playstyle. They mostly just hit things, get like two skills, have the highest AC thanks to armor proficiency, and that's the entire class. 4e made tanks more interesting with the Mark mechanic and various powers to choose from, but honestly even then in my games the Fighter was usually someone more content to sit back and watch, occasionally rolling dice on their turn than someone who would actively engage in the tactical or roleplaying aspects. Or, at worst, just a DMPC to shore up the party in combat. Which is ALSO weird, because Fighters are perhaps the most ubiquitous in the fantasy genre of literature and film, with infinitely varied backstories and archetypes. It's kind of a shame that the oversimplified mechanics seem like such a turn-off; there's a lot of unrealized RP potential there.
And so far, is the parties only full caster. 11th level atm. (Started 5th) And the only other person with any magic at all.
The rest of the party is Barb, Rogue, Fighter, Paladin, Monk. And not one interest in that. They are happy to hit things.
The character had saved the fighter, helped save the kobolds whole tribe, renegotiate a place for them to live. Has usurped the barbs family attentions on one person in a grand ceremony. Actually had the ceremony spell cast on them in game and purely dynamically by another pc. (Look around to how rare this is.)
And is the parties current transportation, safety, and the only person with an intelligence above 10.
Its been fun to play. Without question. And I just wish I wasn't so frustrated on other items with that game.
I haven't heard people call them *dispensible*… it's just that giving buffs and healing people is boring.
If you're talking about buffing yourself up and taking an active part in combat... well, if I'm playing a cleric and do that I get yelled at. "You're the healer! Don't take risks!"
Bards have it just as bad. Our bard complains about being useless despite giving us +5/+5 in most fights.
If you're talking about buffing yourself up and taking an active part in combat... well, if I'm playing a cleric and do that I get yelled at. "You're the healer! Don't take risks!"
Bards have it just as bad. Our bard complains about being useless despite giving us +5/+5 in most fights.
Looking back at the last couple games, I've actually been playing to "Laid back combat monster."
Not all that great in social situations, though they honestly try, and when a combat is thrown our way they try to get it over with as quickly as the game system allows.
Not all that great in social situations, though they honestly try, and when a combat is thrown our way they try to get it over with as quickly as the game system allows.
I've had my healers thwart TPKs. Doc one time broke the rails in a fight where our party was supposed to lose and get captured because he was able to keep healing/buffing party members so they could keep fighting the monster.
Always remember to give your party healer/cleric props. Be their friend and they will buff you long time. :3
I will never completely understand why some people say that healing/buffing is boring - like, I don't put too much stock into the tier systems regarding Pathfinder/DnD (been curb-stomped too much playing as a wizard or other spellcaster classes to think they're Gods among Men or whatever, especially given a lot of people I've played with favored martial classes over spellcasters and the games I was in tended to reflect that), but the whole reason Clerics/Buffers/Wizard type characters are generally highest-tier in those ratings is that their magic makes them versatile at, well, making everyone else more awesome and able to do their things even better than they already could, whether that be by utility magic that lets the party get to the big bad(s) (ex: Fly or other movement options to get up to higher elevations where big bad(s) are at the moment) or classic buffs that are bread and butter for a good reason (ex: Haste, Heroism, Protection from X and its variants, Summoning to aid the party as meat shields/flankers, most options of which make the party more efficient at killing things or not dying). Not to mention that it's entirely possible to build in a way that lets one buff and do other things (ex: Bards in 3.5 if built right can do anything a player puts their mind to, and quite a few options lead to being good at buffing as well.).
The primary reason I can think of as to why some people would describe support/buff/healing-type characters and what they do as boring is if those people simply weren't interested in trying to do buffs in the first place - like, that's fair if someone as a player doesn't want to do that, but that doesn't mean it's not an interesting or engaging playstyle that can save people's bacons and act as force multipliers when done well... (Hell, while specializing in healing spells isn't considered "optimal" iirc, healing spells still are recommended through magic items and keep people alive, so they're nothing to scoff at either).
(Tl;Dr - Support Characters are the backbone of the party imo, never ever take them for granted ever.)
The primary reason I can think of as to why some people would describe support/buff/healing-type characters and what they do as boring is if those people simply weren't interested in trying to do buffs in the first place - like, that's fair if someone as a player doesn't want to do that, but that doesn't mean it's not an interesting or engaging playstyle that can save people's bacons and act as force multipliers when done well... (Hell, while specializing in healing spells isn't considered "optimal" iirc, healing spells still are recommended through magic items and keep people alive, so they're nothing to scoff at either).
(Tl;Dr - Support Characters are the backbone of the party imo, never ever take them for granted ever.)
terry, is that 5e? because if so, tell your bard friend to take another look at their possible spells... There is serious potential for OP in the 5e bard...
It's easy to slam baseline humans; After all, it's a roleplay. You can be whatever, whomever you want. So why not be an alien or elf or whatever?
But, at the end of the day, when you need to infiltrate the Imperial Base for the secret plans to the army's new ground vehicle, or to infiltrate the cult of the guise, or whatever, sometimes that bland pick pays dividends in so many useful ways. Sure, the other superheroes are able to break out of their handcuffs, but it's not like the mooks ever searched the 'normal guy' for lockpicking tools, or paid him attention for picking their keys.
And, if you're literally the token bland person, you literally are not bland anymore, because your use will come up in unexpected ways.
But, at the end of the day, when you need to infiltrate the Imperial Base for the secret plans to the army's new ground vehicle, or to infiltrate the cult of the guise, or whatever, sometimes that bland pick pays dividends in so many useful ways. Sure, the other superheroes are able to break out of their handcuffs, but it's not like the mooks ever searched the 'normal guy' for lockpicking tools, or paid him attention for picking their keys.
And, if you're literally the token bland person, you literally are not bland anymore, because your use will come up in unexpected ways.
Well... you DO need a grounding element in a cast of crazies.
I've just realized you're getting into parts that I haven't seen. Guess I have to catch up on the show finally.
ok so we have
AJ as Sandbar the Earth Pony
TS Ocellus the Changedling
Pinkie as Silverstream the Hippogriff/Seapony
Dash as Gallus the Griffon
Rarity as Smolder the Dragon
and Fluttery as YAK DISPLEASED
AJ as Sandbar the Earth Pony
TS Ocellus the Changedling
Pinkie as Silverstream the Hippogriff/Seapony
Dash as Gallus the Griffon
Rarity as Smolder the Dragon
and Fluttery as YAK DISPLEASED
I haven't played enough of... well, anything really. To have a "normal". But I can say at least that when I play something "different" it's because I want to, not because it is different from everybody else.
I used to be the guy who was all "give me the standard Human / Earth Pony just to spite all you Donut Steels," but lately evidence has shown that my new pattern is "windmill-slam Bugbear PC."