DM Q&A - A Character Idea to float past the DMs
Apr 29, 2022 21:28:12 GMT -5
Animayhem, sightblinder, and 1 more like this
Post by delthrien on Apr 29, 2022 21:28:12 GMT -5
So... I've been tinkering with a character concept that I have played in the past in a PnP game. I suspect would require a bit of DM input at some point. Thought I'd post here and get opinions before building it in the event that it's deemed a bad fit for the server.
Hieronymous Higgins (a.k.a., Nogg)
Backstory: Higgins starts off as a member of an army or mercenary unit... a real "Fighter's fighter" — big (even huge), strong, tough, and intelligent. Not particularly religious, but decent enough. Progresses quickly through the ranks and is well liked by his comrades. Eventually receives a massive headwound during battle and is carried to the healers... who are certain he is dying and will not likely live. Persuaded by the pleas and threats of his men, the elder healer makes an attempt. In answer to his prayers, the gods heal the body... but Higgins's mind is not. While still as powerfully built as he ever was, his mind is reduced to that of a child. He adopts the name, "Nogg" partly because it's easy to remember, but mostly because he remembers the elder telling him to rest because he "took a heavy blow to his noggin." He also introduces himself as Nogg to everyone he meets... and everyone he's already met.
The healers take Nogg in and give him food and shelter and in return he performs menial tasks for them. It is during this time that he begins speaking to "Tom" (an imaginary friend). This "friendship" never seems to lead to poor decisions and is ultimately regarded as endearing. It isn't until an attack by Ork renegades that it is discovered there is more to Nogg than had been apparent.
Taking up a maul he'd been using to drive in a fence post, Nogg fights off the attackers, almost single handedly. After the attackers were driven back, it's discovered that a small child had been injured by one of the Orks. Without uttering a word, Nogg swept the child into his massive arms, closed his eyes and light enveloped both man and child. To the wonder of those gathered, the child's wounds had been healed. When asked how he was able to do this, Nogg answered, "Tom told me how."
---
As is likely evident, Torm manifests himself as "Tom" in Nogg's mind... It's likely that Nogg doesn't understand the full import of this... or maybe he does, but he calls him Tom due to a minor speech impediment.
Anyway, game-wise, Nogg starts out as a fighter. After his headwound, his intelligence drops significantly... I would estimate it at a 6 or 7. In the tabletop game, he became a paladin, though he was never much of a spell caster... Champion of Torm might be a better fit. That said, the thought of being able to summon a mount that would be smarter than Nogg would be a hoot... and would probably lend itself to some great comedic bits. I keep thinking of the movie, Blazing Saddles, and the ox that Mongo rode into town.
If any of this sounds halfway decent, I'd like to start the character as a fighter and then, with DM help, play it out in-game as he adopts the new class. I suspect it would require some way of finagling the change to his stats, perhaps by some sort of token or just a re-build (??). Would also be cool if there were some way to work in the maul as his primary weapon, but I don't know there's any way to make the Weapon Specialization feats work with CEP weapons yet. Perhaps cleverer minds than my own know the answer to that.
Thoughts? Questions? Smart remarks? Torches, Pitchforks, & angry villagers? (in the case of the last, I ask only a 10-minute head start...)
Delthrien
Hieronymous Higgins (a.k.a., Nogg)
Backstory: Higgins starts off as a member of an army or mercenary unit... a real "Fighter's fighter" — big (even huge), strong, tough, and intelligent. Not particularly religious, but decent enough. Progresses quickly through the ranks and is well liked by his comrades. Eventually receives a massive headwound during battle and is carried to the healers... who are certain he is dying and will not likely live. Persuaded by the pleas and threats of his men, the elder healer makes an attempt. In answer to his prayers, the gods heal the body... but Higgins's mind is not. While still as powerfully built as he ever was, his mind is reduced to that of a child. He adopts the name, "Nogg" partly because it's easy to remember, but mostly because he remembers the elder telling him to rest because he "took a heavy blow to his noggin." He also introduces himself as Nogg to everyone he meets... and everyone he's already met.
The healers take Nogg in and give him food and shelter and in return he performs menial tasks for them. It is during this time that he begins speaking to "Tom" (an imaginary friend). This "friendship" never seems to lead to poor decisions and is ultimately regarded as endearing. It isn't until an attack by Ork renegades that it is discovered there is more to Nogg than had been apparent.
Taking up a maul he'd been using to drive in a fence post, Nogg fights off the attackers, almost single handedly. After the attackers were driven back, it's discovered that a small child had been injured by one of the Orks. Without uttering a word, Nogg swept the child into his massive arms, closed his eyes and light enveloped both man and child. To the wonder of those gathered, the child's wounds had been healed. When asked how he was able to do this, Nogg answered, "Tom told me how."
---
As is likely evident, Torm manifests himself as "Tom" in Nogg's mind... It's likely that Nogg doesn't understand the full import of this... or maybe he does, but he calls him Tom due to a minor speech impediment.
Anyway, game-wise, Nogg starts out as a fighter. After his headwound, his intelligence drops significantly... I would estimate it at a 6 or 7. In the tabletop game, he became a paladin, though he was never much of a spell caster... Champion of Torm might be a better fit. That said, the thought of being able to summon a mount that would be smarter than Nogg would be a hoot... and would probably lend itself to some great comedic bits. I keep thinking of the movie, Blazing Saddles, and the ox that Mongo rode into town.
If any of this sounds halfway decent, I'd like to start the character as a fighter and then, with DM help, play it out in-game as he adopts the new class. I suspect it would require some way of finagling the change to his stats, perhaps by some sort of token or just a re-build (??). Would also be cool if there were some way to work in the maul as his primary weapon, but I don't know there's any way to make the Weapon Specialization feats work with CEP weapons yet. Perhaps cleverer minds than my own know the answer to that.
Thoughts? Questions? Smart remarks? Torches, Pitchforks, & angry villagers? (in the case of the last, I ask only a 10-minute head start...)
Delthrien