Calling for fun rp builds

[xf1313]

Hi, do we have a post on fun rp build ideas? I am a bit tired with optimum builds, need a bit of inspiration because I am not creative at all...

Edit: I want to discuss characters that maybe flawed, but feeling special compared to optimum build. If I want powerbuild I’ll just make clerics...

The only one I pulled off is a str swash/wm/loremaster, had map explore, mining bonuses and crafting, sacrifices epic dodge and ab. Not able to solo at all, but very interesting (in group)

Would consider races that require upto normal awards but nothing beyond that. Fun Genasi ideas very welcome

[Ork]

25 fighter / 5 wm

[xf1313]

That is a shiny example of...just another wm?
What is the stat distribution that make this one interesting? Do you do your wm with disability? Anything good or bad at?

If I just want any build there’s cookie cutters...

[Eyeliner]

It would be easier for me to talk character concepts or even just what you consider fun. I play some less than optimal builds but what I think is fun may not be your idea of fun.

[Preserver]

I suppose it largely depends on what you consider fun.
Any build (in theory) can be more or less tailored to what you want to roleplay, if you are creative enough to present them in unusual ways.

What I think you are looking for is some ludonarrative coherence (the neat fitting of mechanics and narrative) that is... let's say odd on Arelith. Given that there is little oversight (DMs correct me if I am wrong) over how your stats, skills, and mechanical features are roleplayed, you usually have a lot of freedom in what you do, and adherence to your mechanical build is most often just a matter of intellectual honesty. Whether that is bad or good is not really the point of this: people should have fun in the way they feel more fitting, provided it is within the server rules.

Now onto more relevant and practical answers.
Do you want a build with lots of nice variety and odd functions?
Add 5 levels of Loremaster to any build: it gives access to a lot of Lore, which can be useful for RP purposes and to use scrolls, and can give you access to the Loremaster secrets which can be very fun both mechanically and narrative.

Do you want just an effective build with some RP variety behind it?
Honestly build whatever you want and flavour your features in ways that are unusual. In my experience it is very rare for Arelith players not to go along with your odd narrative, provided it isn't lore-breaking or too snowflakey.

In my personal opinion, the classes with more RP variety that is also mechanically integrated in the way of selectable features are just, well... the new ones: Paladins with their different subclasses, Warlocks with the different Pacts and special feats, Clerics with their own subclasses, Spellsword with its paths, Bard and Dirgesinger because they're just... cool. It has been more or less proven that Arelith is shifting to a class design heavily based around explicit path choices within a class (which I love and approve).
Take any of these, add 5 Loremaster levels, maybe 3 Specialist levels if you want to have lots of different skills, and you probably have a fun RP build.

But keep in mind: it will VERY LIKELY be ineffective on a mechanical standpoint and make you reliant on the help of others for several chunks of content (high level PvE and PvP).

[xf1313]

It would be easier for me to talk character concepts or even just what you consider fun. I play some less than optimal builds but what I think is fun may not be your idea of fun.

I am very interested in them actually, what are the little things other people consider interesting. That exactly what I am looking for, inspirations!

[xf1313]

I suppose it largely depends on what you consider fun.
Any build (in theory) can be more or less tailored to what you want to roleplay, if you are creative enough to present them in unusual ways.

But keep in mind: it will VERY LIKELY be ineffective on a mechanical standpoint and make you reliant on the help of others for several chunks of content (high level PvE and PvP).

Thanks for the suggestion, my question is overly general, I really want to know what others made and the thought processes behind the build, if possible. I have a few characters already, and those can be used to explore high end areas. Now I am strongly inclined to consider something else, but not sure what. Hence I want to hear other’s experience and how they portrayed their characters.

A friend of mine want to play a genasi, and we might make characters together. It would be great if I can come up with a few concepts.

When I play in the modules and campaigns, I always pick a single class and random feat...use debug to help survive the battles. Only until Arelith I started to understand the feats and skills. You’d be very surprised that I had no idea what ab is, because when I could not hit in the campaigns, make str 50 or get a +8 weapon took care of it. Keep getting hit? dm_god... more often than not such character is a wizard who turned out to be legendary fighter...

[toftdal]

I've done the angry axe thrower shaman - shaman 24/ranger (archer) 3/barb 3. Due to the synergies, you basically end up with a 28/29 shaman, 19 ranger, 19 barb with a lot of room for flair.

Important attributes:
Wis > str > con

Important feats:
Zen archery, WF:thrown

Basically, you rage -> throw a ton of throw axes and let the summons act as a wall

[xanrael]

I tend to view these questions more as requests for unusual playstyles/pairings that can spark some RP as opposed to specifically avoiding "the meta" just cause, so I'll answer it that way.

Survivalist: Never visits a city (immediately leave upon creation) and survive outdoors just on what you can scavenge and trades you can make with others you come across. Changes your values entirely (no NPC merchant access, bank access, writs, even things like healing kits are rare) which can create a strong desire to RP with random people you encounter in the wilds. Build wise you probably want something in the middle for difficulty. Personally I did it on druid (way too easy) and rogue (significantly harder but doable). Ranger would be thematic as would something like a nature-witch etc.

Trap User/Ambusher: Bit more PvP focused but would setup ambush points with traps/monsters/friends or similar in some very out to the way spots and then lead people into them. Intentionally fail a pickpocket (1 point in it) and get people to chase you, setup a "deathhouse" for catching a scry-gank party, convince a group to help you and betray them, intentionally use a Summon Monster 1-3 scroll to appear to be far weaker than you are when you're actually on par with them, etc. It's not that this will always go off without a hitch (or even most of the time) but you can feel like a mastermind when it does. Lots of character builds can fit this from an assassin build to even something with ESF: divination (get reports if someone is scrying on you as well as scry powers yourself).

Bait and switch: Pretend to be a different character class/concept, often with different outfits and mimics and not using iconic abilities. The dex based rogue/fighter wants to fool some evil people and pretends to be a strength blackguard using mimic/fullplate+tower/scroll of planar binding. A warlock/bard pretends to be a pure bard when adventuring with goodly types by only using the bardic toolkit or portions from the warlock one that bards also have. Personally I find this more fun to play if you have several "personas" with their own playstyles for some light infiltration/information gathering/rumor mongering. As you don't strictly need disguise for this it can work while leveling up well, actually people are less likely to catch onto why you never use stuff like divine shield when you're under level 30 etc.

[xf1313]

both wild survival and the con-man ideas are something I have never thought of. Totally worth considering.

The first one may even turn into a wild shop npc in time, as reputations grow, very interesting. Thou no bank and shop at all would be very extreme. But it can work for the nature casters, they get everything they need from loot.

I guess it is impossible to catch a bard warlock when it just sings and fire some arrow..that’s what bard do all the time.

[satan]

One of the most fun chars I've played was a SD/f/r...16/6/8

I know..pretty standard.

But he's a firbolg

[AstralUniverse]

Every build is an RP build when you RP the build.
Every build is also a PVP build when someone turns you hostile.

[xf1313]

Every build is an RP build when you RP the build.
Every build is also a PVP build when someone turns you hostile.

Please read my posts before reply, these words sounds true but very unhelpful to someone without imagination...

[xf1313]

One of the most fun chars I've played was a SD/f/r...16/6/8

I know..pretty standard.

But he's a firbolg

I am laughing already, the biggest rogue in the island lol

[AstralUniverse]

Every build is an RP build when you RP the build.
Every build is also a PVP build when someone turns you hostile.

Please read my posts before reply, these words sounds true but very unhelpful to someone without imagination...

I was memeing around on discord and suggested a joke build that you might actually like (and it's also very potent in pve).

27 warlock 3 bard.
Warlock levels scale with bard song so you can be epic undying warlock with strong undead summons with bardsong and curse song to add on top, and if you take the polymorph spell you can get extra style points for hanging around as a singing zombie.

Enjoy!

[Roofshadow]

I enjoy weird/unoptimal race/class combos, which I'm sure is a result of some kind of terrible contradictory personality flaw of mine. When I'm considering a new character it'll be things like, "Oh, I never see orog druids, maybe I'll make an orog druid, that could be fun to figure out the RP for!"

...then look at the -4 wisdom statblock of orogs and say "Ohhhh, right, that's why."

Then do it anyway.

It can also be fun to look at skills outside of the class you want to play, and find a dip that incorporates them. Maybe you want a sneaky barbarian, a rabid fighter still as slinky and soft of foot as a wildcat, and just as fierce. Maybe you dip ranger or rogue, give yourself H/MS armor, and while you won't be reaching Shadowdancer levels of stealth, you can still have a respectable and flavorful skill in it. Maybe you have a paladin with a taste for setting down holy traps in a tomb full of the undead: give him a little rogue dip for it. Skills overall are great for characterization, and skills that might be unusual for a class can make for interesting niches.

[God_In_Action]

Hi, do we have a post on fun rp build ideas? I am a bit tired with optimum builds, need a bit of inspiration because I am not creative at all...

Edit: I want to discuss characters that maybe flawed, but feeling special compared to optimum build. If I want powerbuild I’ll just make clerics...

The only one I pulled off is a str swash/wm/loremaster, had map explore, mining bonuses and crafting, sacrifices epic dodge and ab. Not able to solo at all, but very interesting (in group)

Would consider races that require upto normal awards but nothing beyond that. Fun Genasi ideas very welcome

What are your interests outside of NWN or D&D? If you want to enjoy RP without thinking at all about the mechanics of powerful build, the I suggest that you play a character which let's you fulfil your other long standing interests.

[xf1313]

My interest outside ... like Druid, had one and love her, like sneaking and a morally neutral character, got a SD, played my first WM and that is not bad. Think back on that I had fulfilled quite a few roles. Time to explore something I have never tried.

I have wondered briefly if I can make a ‘Oriental’ character working? Thou that would require master of the nine or something along the line to work? Or maybe I can do it with monk or Pal. Time to do some background reading

Usually I play archers, but had enough of that when solo the modules. Haven’t done much zen archery thou, that might work.

Thank you guys, I have a rough direction now I think, just need to draft them out and test XD.

[MRFTW]

My personal hell was levelling a wisdom based star/fathomless dual pact spotlock. 125 Spot, 114ish sail, 0 damage capability and I was just over 240hp. I deliberately kept her at 8 AC, just for fun.

Party play was essentially an escort quest for my teammates, with me being the VIP that could do almost anything... Just as long as it wasn't fighting.

My other favourite is "commoner that doesn't know they are a commoner". Heavy armour, shield, spear. Don't ever tell anyone you're a commoner, just pretend both IC and OOC you're a pure ftr. Unbelievably, this was actually the easier of the two to level, although new freelancer writs might make the spotlock a bit easier nowadays.

[satan]

I enjoy weird/unoptimal race/class combos, which I'm sure is a result of some kind of terrible contradictory personality flaw of mine. When I'm considering a new character it'll be things like, "Oh, I never see orog druids, maybe I'll make an orog druid, that could be fun to figure out the RP for!"

...then look at the -4 wisdom statblock of orogs and say "Ohhhh, right, that's why."

Then do it anyway.

It can also be fun to look at skills outside of the class you want to play, and find a dip that incorporates them. Maybe you want a sneaky barbarian, a rabid fighter still as slinky and soft of foot as a wildcat, and just as fierce. Maybe you dip ranger or rogue, give yourself H/MS armor, and while you won't be reaching Shadowdancer levels of stealth, you can still have a respectable and flavorful skill in it. Maybe you have a paladin with a taste for setting down holy traps in a tomb full of the undead: give him a little rogue dip for it. Skills overall are great for characterization, and skills that might be unusual for a class can make for interesting niches.

In my case the whole concept was based on how hard I giggled picturing an 11 foot giant popping out of hips behind someone

[Waldo52]

30 rogue for absolutely maximized grenades.

I suspect it would be terrible in terms of optimization (and I'd love to hear what you guys think in that regard) but the fire bombs would be pretty epic. Literally just a Molotov cocktail lobbing cultist.

There are also some more subtle advantages. The lightly armored mechanic is a little too numbery for me to figure out but I figure you'll have another point of AC or so in leathers. You're also out of luck with discipline so you're likely not even gonna bother with the ESF discipline feat tax so you get another feat, and then ANOTHER at 28, which most rogues never reach.

TL;DR

30 rogue
Amazing grenades, Epic skill focus x 4 or 5, insane skill points, maybe an extra point of AC.

[Good Character]

10 Fighter / 16 EKD / 4 Loremaster with Banner 3 and Magebane. I would play it as a duergar, but could easily play it as another earthkin race.

Duergar could play it as an aspiring warlord/conqueror who works to soldify lands taken.

Other earthkin races could play it as either maintaining exist lands, trying to resecure stolen lands, or you could forgo all of that for a career in sailing.

[perseid]

Fighter 30 and then constantly harp on about how the problem with warriors today is a lack of diverse fundamentals.

[xf1313]

Fighter 30 and then constantly harp on about how the problem with warriors today is a lack of diverse fundamentals.

I got to reply to this, I can feel the list of feats leaking out of screen, truly.

Thou I wonder if going fighter/divine champion is going to net a bit more ac?

[perseid]

Fighter 30 and then constantly harp on about how the problem with warriors today is a lack of diverse fundamentals.

I got to reply to this, I can feel the list of feats leaking out of screen, truly.

Thou I wonder if going fighter/divine champion is going to net a bit more ac?

There's certainly ways to jazz it up but imo Fighter 30 is a nice "Not optimal but still reasonably effective" build. You can definitely optimize it w/ multiclassing to see gains in different directions though.