Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Add Reply
Saubon Truesilver
Topic Started: Aug 22 2009, 02:19 PM (1,460 Views)
cptahubb
Member Avatar
Beholder
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
So there is maybe two or three Shields of Cormyr active at any time? A very unique group. I like it much better than what I had originally thought when I made up the class. I was initially worried that my power gamer bs would taint the class since I was making it, but after further review, it seems okay. Giving up the heavy armor and access to weapon specialization a fighter would have is signifigant. And although it is cool, the ancestral weapon feat, especially since it takes the place of a bonus feat at first level, is not overpowered. It won't even take effect until 4th level. So the Shields of Cormyr are a very rarefied organization. Will I be the only one active?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Zerka Badu
Member Avatar
Death Sladd
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
How's this?

Truesilver

The most active of the three royal families, the Truesilvers have had a long military tradition. For generations, Truesilvers have distinguished themselves by their loyalty to the king and by their military exploits. Several times in history, Truesilvers have commanded the Purple Dragons. The current head of the family, Ayesunder Truesilver, is warden of the port of Marsember, heading the largest part of the Imperial Navy. Other family members hold command positions in several units of Purple Dragons stationed throughout Cormyr.

As strong as the military tradition is the practice of letting a retired family member represent the Truesilvers at the Royal Court. The practical effect of this (1) makes this family most dependably loyal to the king, and (2) ensures that its representative usually lacks the youthful vigor to give the Truesilvers much political clout.

Being one of the older families of Cormyr, there are several clans with their own distinct role in the country. Your clan, the Arabel Clan, holds the secrets of ancestral weaponry. (The other Truesilver clans specialize in strategy, logistics, and seafaring.)

Arabel Clan

Here is what I have for your family. Your father is Gahlaerd Truesilver lives in a modest citadel outside of Arabel. Once considered the “frontier”, the family chose the location away from the main populations to focus on their training. While Arabel has grown considerably, the family has remained true to its civic duty. Most often they defend crown interests, and occasionally act as royal bodyguards. In more serious conflict, they may lead deep cover missions, or as officers directly in the Royal entourage. Gahlaerd has even acted as Azoun’s personal bodyguard a few occasions.

Gahlaerd’s first wife, Amra, was an elf from Semberholme. This act alientated him some from his relatives, however the “Arabel Clan” has always been obscure and often mis-understood by their kin. They bore one child a Daughter named Azla. Amra died in 1336 defending Daggerdale from a Zhentarim concurring force. He remarried in 3142 to [your mother] and has born three children.You, your old brother Pharaxes and your younger sister Tessele. Azla, Gahlaerd’s champion, trained all of you – being much older and experienced.

Your direct families history has been plagued with hard times. In 1360, Pharaxes fell against the Tuigan Horde while fighting beside Gahlaerd and Azla. Several years later another blow was struck to the family. In 1364 a small skirmish erupted in Tilverton between the Purple Dragons and Zhentarim forces. Azla was sent to get one of the Queens sisters and bring her safely to Suzail. Shortly after leaving the city, she was ambushed by a small force of Zhentish troops. Tragically, arrows killed the scion right away and Azla was forced to run. In this failure, she vowed she would never fail the King or her family again – and with that she exiled herself and has never been heard from since.

This was a huge blow to your father, Azla was his first and most revered child. She was furthest along in the traning of the Shield, and a mentor to you. Now years have gone by, and your father is looking to you to step out and learn the ways of the world. You are his last son, and time has come for you to gain wealth and honor for your family. If your stay your ancestral path, you would likely travel the realms between appointments of duty, and come to return to the family citadel in ten or so years to begin training your younger sister, who is now still only six years old.

Your family is old, so there are allot of you. You are apart of a small clan which specializes in your art. As far as other Shields of Cormyr, I think it would be unique to your sect of the Truesilver line. Your character will be the "most" active shield during the game (though technically your Father is active as well). Your younger sister will someday be active, and through your heirs, the tradition continues. In the case were children are not born, the Shield finds an apprentice (must be of Truesilver decent) and integrates them into the house. There have been up to twenty active Shield at a time in periods where the family was large. Currently however it is just you and your father.

Does that all make sense?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
cptahubb
Member Avatar
Beholder
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Sounds cool. You wrote that the Shields will be unique to my sect of the family. Does that include the other families like the Hornsilvers or the non-royal-blood houses? No one else has Shields? Or that my sect is the only one of the Truesilver line to have Shields?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Zerka Badu
Member Avatar
Death Sladd
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
I was thinking the Shields would be unique to your family and sect. Other sects and other families would have other secrets, such as hexblades or other classes like that.

That said, Ill leave it up to you. If you think it should be more widespread that is fine too.

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
cptahubb
Member Avatar
Beholder
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
I think there should be Shields of Cormyr in the other houses. Otherwise, it would just be Shields of Truesilver. I think each family should have a different flavor, but all should include the ancestral weapon. Like the Hexblade class, or a specific weapon style. That way, the Shields are an organization that exist outside other chains of command, and can go places and do things that other agents can't for politcal reasons.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Zerka Badu
Member Avatar
Death Sladd
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Is there ever ancestral armor?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
cptahubb
Member Avatar
Beholder
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Not that I know of, but the Ancestral Weapon feat could be adapted easily to armor. Cool idea, though. If you want ancestral armor a part of the Shields, I will gladly take it as a feat, if it would be too much to add into the Shields of Cormyr class.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
cptahubb
Member Avatar
Beholder
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Now that I think about it, The Shields of Cormyr should have ancestral Shields!!! That sounds right. I might actually take that feat first level.

1st and 2nd, no enhancement

3rd) +1 1000 GP
etc...

would be the same as ancestral weapon, but start a little sooner.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Zerka Badu
Member Avatar
Death Sladd
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
So you may have things mapped out, but you may like this PC I came across:

Noble Adventurer

requirement
Base Attack +4
Diplomacy 4 ranks
Knowledge nobility/royalty 4 ranks
Ride 4 ranks (negotiable)
Special: Must have equipment and treasure with a value greater than the starting equipment for a PC of their level as per DMG

D8

Skills: climb, jump, swim, ride, use rope, appraise, craft forgery, K Nobility/royal, Search, Intimidate, listen, Profession, read lips(?), sense motive, speak language, spot, bluff, diplomacy, disguise, gather info, and perform

Code:
 

Skills Points: 6+INT

LVL  Att  F   R   W   Sp
1     1   2   0   2     Courtier (+2 insight bluff,diplomacy, K nob, and sense motive)
2     2   3   0   3     Bonus Feat (any, pre recs met)
3     3   3   1   3     Valiant (+4 morale on will sv vs fear, and +2 to leadership)
4     4   4   2   4     Bonus Feat

_____________________


If you like it Ill bring you the article. Pretty much straight froward though, and the PC seems pretty good even as a fighter. You probably want to take this class as early as possible, as it will be harder to acquire the high amounts of treasure at higher levels - though not impossible. Considering your current "directive" from your family, this class would certainly be appropriate for you.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
cptahubb
Member Avatar
Beholder
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Looks good. Like fighter with one step down on hit die and some skill boosts.


I was thinking about the combination of ancestral weapon and signature weapon from the kensai Prestige class. Seems cool, but Signatire weapon i'm thinking should be the weapon you're known for using. Which, in Saubon's case, would be the ancestral blade Crimson Fate. I think it would work if I made Crimson Fate my Signature weapon, but weilding two weapons seems, upon further review, counter to the spirit of the Signature weapon special ability. I think I will go with the Annointed Knight PC first. I'll look into what to take after that, but it's a long way away. This decision will also free up some feats for me, since I won't have to take two weapon fighting or oversized off hand weapon.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
cptahubb
Member Avatar
Beholder
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
So, if I'm not going kensai and two weapon, then the Truesilver Clan secret style should be something else. The special thing could be the alchemy for the oils from the Annointed Knight prestige class. That seems pretty cool.

Also, I was thinking, in the absence of two weapon damage, I need something else. i don't want to be just a vanilla sword and board fighter. Any suggestions? Toast aren't there feats that give you a maneuver from Nine Swords? Or I was thinking maybe making the sword throwing and returning, and taking the brutal throw feat that lets you use STR for thrown weapon attacks. Then maybe look at the ranged trip/ pin/ disarm/ sunder feats.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
cptahubb
Member Avatar
Beholder
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Nick, how bad would it mess up your plans if I went with a different character? Many of my other character ideas could still work in the Truesilver setting. Toast suggested I take a weapon with 18-20 threat range and put a bunch of burst special abilities on it. That's one option that won't change my character background. Monk with the feat that lets you use the longsword as a monk weapon would still fit the background too. I'm also considering going Monk and taking Zen Archery. I could also still take ancestral weapon and monk longsword feat. Also, there is still my desire to play Duskblade into Green Star Adept Prestige Class. That would still fit in Truesilver, and give me great motive for adventuring.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Zerka Badu
Member Avatar
Death Sladd
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Why? Dont overthink your PC! And no it wont screw up my plans - though I have put somework into your truesilver BG. If you change it too much I might not have that much depth for your PC in the game. Which is OK too - its up to you.

Dont rush into any changes though. I liked where you were going - and I hate to see a PC dropped due to a minor mechanical bug (or the perception that there is one). There are alot of ways to be effective as a PC - and while obviously the more "power" a PC has the easier time a Player has of it... you wont need a super PC to feel like you are accomplishing things. Lets have a good talk about it before you commit to serious changes.

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
cptahubb
Member Avatar
Beholder
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
of course, I'm not making any decisions, just looking at all my options. And I don't really think it's a mechanical bug, just a flavor conflict between the ancestral weapon and the signature weapon. Also, the two weapon thing is covered in our group. Another opion is Kevin could make our front line warrior, and I could come up with a rogue, or a Dragon Shaman who worships the Purple Dragon of Cormyr, or some other support character. A while back, my first choice of character was Duskblade into Green Star Adept. Nick, I remember you didn't seem too thrilled about it. Yet it would still work in the Truesilver setting. The Arabel branch of the Truesilvers, being more woodsy, would have plenty of oportunity to learn the class from the elves. And I could still do the ancestral weapon. And like I said, searching for pieces of the Meteor is great motivation for adventuring. There is even that huge meteor strike the made the great rift valley or something, right? Anyway, that or I really like the idea of the monk with the longsword and Zen Archery. I really like the flavor of that one. I really think you would enjoy the Green Star Adept. It's a ten level pc. Spell casting every other, and you slowly gain construct traits, till at the end you are a living mind inside a construct. So you could still be effectedby mind affecting effects and fear and whatnot, but immune to poison, ability damage, fatigue, aging, etc. Skills required to get into it are things like Knowledge History, Knowledge Geography, Knowledge Architecture and Engineering, Craft Alchemy, etc. The idea is that you are hunting the shards of this meteor.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Zerka Badu
Member Avatar
Death Sladd
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Quote:
 
A while back, my first choice of character was Duskblade into Green Star Adept. Nick, I remember you didn't seem too thrilled about it.


I dont really remember that - but if anything I was probably just feeling overwhelmed by the endless possibilities in 3E, which I still haven't completely figured out. You fear what you dont understand, right? The main reason I seem to resit alot of these alternative classes and PCs is my desire to have a relatively balanced party. I also want to avoid too much world building to justify weird stuff in the setting and my DM style. There is a ton of stuff between all of the books that create all sorts of wacky stuff. Most of it is not un-balanced if not just a little quirky. Still between you toast and phil, there is all kinds of bananas shit being thrown at me. I just want the game to start is a place that is easy for all of us to understand and believe in - relative to the setting.

All that aside, I have no problem with the character path you described above. The Duskblade knowledge is a good substitute for the "shields pf cormyr", and I have some thought on why elven knowledge would be presesnt in that house. I also have a few basic ideas for how to work in the Green Star Adept too.

But - if you do decide to go that route and change your mind again I will murder you. lol Seriously though thats absolutely cool. You might even consider ditching the whole ancestral weapon thing. I also think giving Kevin the option to play a tank, or more than just a tech thief, is a bonus for him too.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Nicks Game · Next Topic »
Add Reply


Inspiration created by Arianna of Zathyus Networks Resources