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IngoDjan
Learned Scribe
Brazil
146 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Feb 2008 : 05:17:56
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Hi FR fans!
My party is mixed with several kinds of characters.
A Female Human Black Raven Barbarian;
A Female Wood Elf Fighter;
A FeyīRi Paladin;
A Shade Wizard;
A Hound Archon;
A Human Half-Celestial Privileged;
A Avariel Druid;
A Rock Gnome Bard;
A Tiefling Rogue.
When I tell others FR players, they put they hands on the heads a scream. They say this is almost impossible in this scenario. But, I explain that my campaigns is, actually, for different kinds of characters. Like the movies, I like to make my campaigns with theme thatīs a moral lesson. The main theme here is that how different kinds of people can work together to make a better world. Beside, show how prejudice is silly.
Well, I think with the experience I have in this scenario, I can make this different kind of character work together, without harming each other.
So, what do you think of this kind of game? Do you free all races to you players to choose? And if a player ask to play with a Orog Fighter Character?
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Ingo Djan
DUNGEON MASTER AO OF THE DIAMONDS!"I see the future repeat the past. It all is a museum of great news. The Time do not stop." |
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tauster
Senior Scribe
Germany
399 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2008 : 11:02:19
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It is not so important what kind of classes, races and combinations of both you allow in your game. More important is that you can come up with a believable(!) reason for the PC to do not harm each other and stay together to solve a problem (in other words: to have adventures). The reasons why other FR players scream is that your combination is unlikely, at least in the Forgotten Realms. VERY unlikely.
In that light, the mix of your party is indeed very difficult. On the top of my hand, I don't see a reason why a hound archon should work together with a fey'ri character. Mixing races with opposing alignments is one problem, and allowing powerful creatures like hound archons as placer characters is another (even though I don't know anything about the levels of your party; maybe the archon fits in well...).
The only thing I could imagine that would make these characters work together is a common goal, some greater evil they have to prevent. A bunch of crazy cultists that want to free an imprisoned demon lord (example: Turaglas, the Eternal Hunger, see Dragon Magazine #312) would be a good reason for them to work together without killing each other (at least for the time of the threat). But after the threat is over, not much would be able to keep them together.
Without much doubt, even if such a mix of characters works together temporarily, there would be a VERY tense mood among the party. Even though they have a common goal, some of them would not like others, and I imagine there would be a constant bickering and arguing. In some groups this can lead to a negative mood on the table, sometimes even among friends, as the in-character feelings spill over to the subconscious of the players themselves without them wanting to. I don't say it happens everytime, but the possibility is there. Watch out for this among your players. |
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crazedventurers
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1073 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2008 : 13:55:19
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Are you having fun running for the group?
are the players having fun playing the game?
if so, I see no problem with this? RP is about having fun, if folks want to play half-elf/half-ogre paladin bards of Sune then why not?
Just my thoughts
Damian |
So saith Ed. I've never said he was sane, have I?
Gods, all this writing and he's running a constant fantasy version of Coronation Street in his head, too. .
shudder,
love to all,
THO
Candlekeep Forum 7 May 2005 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36803 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2008 : 14:24:43
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quote:
Originally posted by crazedventurers
Are you having fun running for the group?
are the players having fun playing the game?
if so, I see no problem with this? RP is about having fun, if folks want to play half-elf/half-ogre paladin bards of Sune then why not?
Just my thoughts
Damian
For one or two PCs, it's not a problem. When you have several rather exotic characters in one group, though, it becomes unbelievable. Even with identical alignments, I can't see any reason for a human, an elf, an archon, a fey'ri, a shade, an avariel, a half-celestial, a gnome, and a tiefling all to be in one group. That's not an adventuring party, it's a traveling circus.
I have no problem with letting players choose exotic races -- just not all of them. Even two exotic characters is really pushing the bounds of believability. |
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SiCK_Boy
Acolyte
Canada
40 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2008 : 16:13:41
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Well... maybe that's just the explanation: they are an adventuring band passing off as a traveling circus 
Personnaly, I'd allow any combination of races and/or class, and let the player figure out how the characters met and all the backstory. |
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Lady Fellshot
Senior Scribe
USA
379 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2008 : 17:44:02
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I would agree that it's all in the backstory for how these people met. I've played in agroup that had the following:
Dwarf/orc psychic warrior/monk
tiefling monk/sorceress
human werecat psychic warrior/fighter
male human/nymph rogue/cleric
It was by far the most fun I have ever had for both DMing and as a player. The explination everyone came up with and agreed upon was that all our characters were from the same small remote village that hosted an open magic festival every year. A few times the local population of pixies got offended by someone for whatever reason and in retailiation doctored everything drinkable with a very powerful love potion during the annual festival for that year.
Annoyed pixies + extra strength love potion + diverse gathering of peoples + nine months = lots of strange cross breeds in the same spot 
We mostly ran wilderness exploration games to avoid the mess of having to deal with other people frequently. |
Rants and reviews that interest no one may be found here. |
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tauster
Senior Scribe
Germany
399 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2008 : 19:01:26
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I said i my first answer (or wanted to say) that it all depends on story & background, or in other words: how to "justify" such a strange mix. As we have seen, it is probably no problem to come up with an explanation: a travelling circus, a pixiepotion-induced orgy,... I guess we can come up with hunnerds o' reasons. ...and there are surely as well enough reasons why these guys don't kill each other on sight. the question is whether the players and the dm like these stories or find them believable, or whether they fit into the concept of the campaign in question.
That being said, there's something else I'd like to add: It also depends on the roleplaying style that the group in question has. For "deep roleplaying" with heavy emphasis on the characters and their backgrounds, a group like this might be too hard to "explain" or come up with a good story. On the other hand, if the group consists of a bunch of people who like more dungeon-looting and hack&slash, it probably doesn't matter one bit if there's a weird character combination in the party.
caveat: I absolutely DONT say that roleplaying is "better" than hack&slash, just in case someone misinterpretes me.
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Edited by - tauster on 17 Feb 2008 19:01:58 |
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crazedventurers
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1073 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2008 : 20:59:24
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
For one or two PCs, it's not a problem. When you have several rather exotic characters in one group, though, it becomes unbelievable.
Unbelieveable? its a fantasy roleplaying game 
What is the difference between what was posted and having a party made up of core races as a group? (an elf, dwarf, gnome, half orc,half-elf, halfing and human)
Or maybe just humans? except one is thayan, another from Suzail, one from Nimbral, a Moonshae northman and an Uthgardt? not possible? from my perspective it depends on where they meet and why (Waterdeep Guard Dungeons? on a Slave ship of Calisham? abducted by Neogi?), you can easily fix a reason why such diverse groups get together.
If you are asking if I would allow the characters mentioned in the first post? No, but I don't play 3.x, I generally play/run for core races only, but we have had one or two weird races in the 25+ years I have been playing. But if people want to play them, and everyone in the game is happy with it, then go for it (why spoil the fun?)
Just my thoughts
Damian |
So saith Ed. I've never said he was sane, have I?
Gods, all this writing and he's running a constant fantasy version of Coronation Street in his head, too. .
shudder,
love to all,
THO
Candlekeep Forum 7 May 2005 |
Edited by - crazedventurers on 17 Feb 2008 21:01:07 |
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IngoDjan
Learned Scribe
Brazil
146 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2008 : 21:24:50
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quote:
For one or two PCs, it's not a problem. When you have several rather exotic characters in one group, though, it becomes unbelievable.
I donīt think this is unbelievable. Itīs really a notorious group and this is not another adventure group, is the group taht saves the world. They are the real heroes of my story. Not helping heroes.
This helps make the campaign epic, not a group of mercenaries doing what they doing for money and glory.
I think that way.
I think the players is having great fun, better than if they roleplaying core. This is why I allow ALL KIND OF RACES. And the players choose between then. |
Ingo Djan
DUNGEON MASTER AO OF THE DIAMONDS!"I see the future repeat the past. It all is a museum of great news. The Time do not stop." |
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IngoDjan
Learned Scribe
Brazil
146 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2008 : 21:25:56
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quote:
For one or two PCs, it's not a problem. When you have several rather exotic characters in one group, though, it becomes unbelievable.
I donīt think this is unbelievable. Itīs really a notorious group and this is not another adventure group, is the group taht saves the world. They are the real heroes of my story. Not helping heroes.
This helps make the campaign epic, not a group of mercenaries doing what they doing for money and glory.
I think that way.
I think the players is having great fun, better than if they roleplaying core. This is why I allow ALL KIND OF RACES. And the players choose between then. |
Ingo Djan
DUNGEON MASTER AO OF THE DIAMONDS!"I see the future repeat the past. It all is a museum of great news. The Time do not stop." |
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Marquant Volker
Learned Scribe
Greece
273 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2008 : 21:36:29
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Well they could know each other from work at the local freakshow! ofcourse i am kidding! I dont see much of a problem with all those mixed races, a good prelude for the sake of party-bonding (it could take 1-2 sessions in that case) for the main campaign and the problem is solved after all we are playing a fantasy game.
My concern is about the large number of players! 9 is way too much for a DM to handle, considering that he must find motives, personal NPCs, personal time for RP, personal story etc etc. |
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crazedventurers
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1073 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2008 : 22:09:42
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quote:
Originally posted by Marquant Volker
My concern is about the large number of players! 9 is way too much for a DM to handle, considering that he must find motives, personal NPCs, personal time for RP, personal story etc etc.
9 is not that difficult, as long as the players pay attention (especially to initiative and when their action is due).
It also depends on the type of game you are playing, if the party are playing together then its easy, if they are wandering off then its more tricky, (but after a few fatalities they get the idea that it is best not to wander......)
Cheers
Damian
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So saith Ed. I've never said he was sane, have I?
Gods, all this writing and he's running a constant fantasy version of Coronation Street in his head, too. .
shudder,
love to all,
THO
Candlekeep Forum 7 May 2005 |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2008 : 23:13:02
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quote:
Originally posted by IngoDjan
[size=2]Hi FR fans!
My party is mixed with several kinds of characters.
A Female Human Black Raven Barbarian;
A Female Wood Elf Fighter;
A FeyīRi Paladin;
A Shade Wizard;
A Hound Archon;
A Human Half-Celestial Privileged;
A Avariel Druid;
A Rock Gnome Bard;
A Tiefling Rogue.
When I tell others FR players, they put they hands on the heads a scream. They say this is almost impossible in this scenario. But, I explain that my campaigns is, actually, for different kinds of characters. Like the movies, I like to make my campaigns with theme thatīs a moral lesson. The main theme here is that how different kinds of people can work together to make a better world. Beside, show how prejudice is silly.
Well, I think with the experience I have in this scenario, I can make this different kind of character work together, without harming each other.
So, what do you think of this kind of game?
What do I think? I say if it works well for the parties involved, go for it! It really doesn't matter what I think.
What would be a really interesting story, in my opinion, is how the heck this party come together. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
Edited by - Rinonalyrna Fathomlin on 17 Feb 2008 23:14:09 |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2008 : 23:18:06
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
For one or two PCs, it's not a problem. When you have several rather exotic characters in one group, though, it becomes unbelievable. Even with identical alignments, I can't see any reason for a human, an elf, an archon, a fey'ri, a shade, an avariel, a half-celestial, a gnome, and a tiefling all to be in one group. That's not an adventuring party, it's a traveling circus.
Hehe. I must admit, I tend to be biased against "bizarre" characters because I think a lot of people confuse "exotic" with "interesting" (that is, they think an "exotic" character is just inherently more interesting than a regular human character, or some other core, forefront player race).
But as I said above, I also believe that each gaming group should decide for themselves what works for them and what doesn't, so my personal preferences in this case don't mean a thing. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2008 : 02:14:05
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I wonder: how in the blazes did they actually survive when they first met??? The wood elf and avariel would have tried to tear the fey'ri apart... hell, in my own campaign the drow priestess of Eilistraee almost lost her head more than once to party members...all surface elven, mind you, and the svirfneblin who never trusted her, period.
But as Rino said, if you have fun...sure why not... |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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Purple Dragon Knight
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1796 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2008 : 06:06:15
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| If they all have good alignments, then they could be members of the Fangshields (see Champions of Valor). Fangshields are a coallition of beasts, were creatures and other rejects all united under the wonky banner of Lurue! |
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How to deal with mixed party
