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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
Posted - 05 Nov 2010 : 15:50:54
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I am always looking for ways to add character to my PC's. Having a bad habit is one of those things that can really become memorable when played right through roleplay. So my question is: What bad habits do your (favorite) characters posses and can you provide some examples?
An example from FR fiction is Riven learning to smoke pipeweed from Jak; he is seen smoking from his given pipe in several scenes ever since their camp in the Shadowfell.
PS I wonder what region in Fearun is renowed for its quality pipeweed?
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My campaign sketches
Druidic Groves
Creature Feature: Giant Spiders |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 05 Nov 2010 : 16:52:21
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I heard Maztican Red was off-the-hook.
And in a world where a simple spell can cure you, why is smoking a bad habit (other then annoying those around you who don't)?
I ran a priest once who couldn't help but proselytize to everyone within listening range. Picture having a Jehovah Witness with you wherever you go (including into the heart of a dungeon when everyone is trying to be absolutely quiet).
My very first character was a Norseman who had to pick a fight wherever he went... which lead to my second character rather quickly. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
Posted - 05 Nov 2010 : 18:23:31
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Obsessive shopping is another cool one to roleplay.
My noble cleric Baron Zeke Strohm (whose lost in the dreaded realm of Ravenloft) has an obsession with fancy clothes and hats. He is constantly looking for new ways to impress with his wardrobe and has a large collection of hats, jewelry and robes. He was simply devastated when half his wardrobe got lost when he was forced to part with his horse (in the saddlebags locked behind a very difficult lock there are several of his wardrobe oddities both in clerical and tethirian styles). He refound his interest by obsessing over Barovian clothing and is renewing his wardrobe with Ravenloftian style hats, beltbuckles and other knick-knacks he comes across. |
My campaign sketches
Druidic Groves
Creature Feature: Giant Spiders |
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Artemel
Learned Scribe
USA
110 Posts |
Posted - 06 Nov 2010 : 13:53:20
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Maps. One of my favorite characters has what can only be called a map fetish. He is literally unable to pass a map without studying it in detail, or if possible, buying/acquiring it. His obsession has actually led to two fights within the party. Once he passed by a map carved in the dungeon wall and absolutely demanded they stop so he could get a rubbing. The argument was memorable, but the second event was better...
In the middle of a running battle (actually fleeing for their lives), he found a room with maps from all over the planes. His party actually rendered him unconscious to get him away from there. |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 08 Nov 2010 : 16:23:42
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Lots of Orcs? Fireball! Lots more orcs? Fireball! Priest of Talos (and minions)? Fireball! Zhent patrol? Fireball! Necromancer and Zombie horde? Fireball! 2 Kobolds? Fireball! |
[/Ayrik] |
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore
Netherlands
1280 Posts |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 08 Nov 2010 : 19:58:05
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I do like the map fetish.
One of my players had a swashbuckler named Gilligan, the Turquise Blade, with an utterly ridiculous flair for appearance, showmanship, and pinache. He routinely spent every copper on the latest styles of finely tailored (turqoise) outfits. Yes, outfits, as in multiple layers of ruffled peacock clothing and matching accessories. Not a single min/max thought in his head outside of his fencing skills, not a single piece of armour beyond a turqoise-dyed codpiece (don't ask), the first character I ever saw that dumped "important" stats to gain high Charisma for no reason other than the player just wanted it. The character was decidedly mediocre, perhaps even pitiful, at the powergamer table we played in, but was certainly one of the most fondly remembered. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Wenin
Senior Scribe
585 Posts |
Posted - 08 Nov 2010 : 21:15:13
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quote: Originally posted by Markustay And in a world where a simple spell can cure you, why is smoking a bad habit (other then annoying those around you who don't)?
Well that would only be available to those that have the coin or the connections. For those that have them, then the question of whether the god who is providing the divine energy would look kindly on the matter.
Though thinking of this issue it occurs to me that being an adventurer, doing the work of a god, certainly has it's nice fringe benefits of a nice healthcare system! LOL
A peasant coal miner decides to go out to become an adventurer, in order to have one those HEAL spells cast upon him. All to get his black lung taken care of!
That'd be pretty funny, playing a character with a Con of 16, but you play him as if he has a Con of 8, until that day you get that heal spell placed upon him. =) |
Session Reports posted at RPG Geek. Stem the Tide Takes place in Mistledale. Dark Curtains - Takes place in the Savage North, starting in Nesmé. I wrapped my campaign into the Hoard of the Dragon Queen, but it takes place in 1372 DR. |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 08 Nov 2010 : 22:19:37
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That nice healthcare system is needed to fix the problems caused by exposure to oozes, slimes, gellies, rot grubs, cerebral parasites, poisons, acids, burning, blasting, freezing, disintigrating, falling, crushing, suffocating, being drained and enervated, plus suffering any of a thousand other things ... and oh yeah, being clawed, bitten, chopped, bludgeoned, and beaten apart as well. Makes me wonder why these dead guys would even want to return. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 09 Nov 2010 : 04:24:36
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I played a 2E thief with the Swashbuckler kit... He spent extra money on clothes, carried a hammock with a collapsible frame so he wouldn't have to sleep on the ground, and slept with a stuff bear.
He also once used a scented candle to give a sleeping guard an aromatic hotfoot. The guard had some stinky feet, so my thief decided to take care of that. |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 09 Nov 2010 : 06:34:55
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Hmm... My drow bard is an incorrigible flirt- and a bit of a pervert at times. He once spied on the two females in the party while they were bathing- and almost got a shuriken in the head for it. He's also somewhat vain about his hair. If it gets so much as singed, he goes ballistic! Being from a noble house, he also will not wear anything less than the best. He's fond of silk, velvet, and anything form-fitting that shows off his legs. And he's an unrepentant prankster. Yup, the boy's full of odd habits. |
The Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot.
"Where Science ends, Magic begins" -Spiral, Uncanny X-Men #491
"You idiots! You've captured their STUNT doubles!" -Spaceballs
Lothir's character background/stats: http://forum.candlekeep.com/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=5469
My stories: http://z3.invisionfree.com/Mickeys_Comic_Tavern/index.php?showforum=188
Lothir, courtesy of Sylinde (Deviant Art)/Luaxena (Chosen of Eilistraee) http://sylinde.deviantart.com/#/d2z6e4u |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 09 Nov 2010 : 08:41:40
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Travelling the 'crimson road' is an utterly bad habit. I remember the warlock Japhet from the Abolethic Sovereignty trilogy. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Acolyte Thirteen
Seeker
93 Posts |
Posted - 09 Nov 2010 : 14:38:14
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I can concur re: Lothir's perversions! He once attempted to sexually assault an Imaskari archmage for the Year 4000 DR in the Candlekeep Inn! Luckily, this Archmage was under the effect of Srinshee's Spell Shift, and was able to escape Lothir's homosexual overtures!!
Sexual assault just *might* just cross the line from 'bad habit' to 'felonious behavior'!
quote: Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis
Hmm... My drow bard is an incorrigible flirt- and a bit of a pervert at times. He once spied on the two females in the party while they were bathing- and almost got a shuriken in the head for it. He's also somewhat vain about his hair. If it gets so much as singed, he goes ballistic! Being from a noble house, he also will not wear anything less than the best. He's fond of silk, velvet, and anything form-fitting that shows off his legs. And he's an unrepentant prankster. Yup, the boy's full of odd habits.
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Acolyte Thirteen
Seeker
93 Posts |
Posted - 09 Nov 2010 : 14:42:15
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What is 'the crimson road'?
quote: Originally posted by dennis
Travelling the 'crimson road' is an utterly bad habit. I remember the warlock Japhet from the Abolethic Sovereignty trilogy.
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 09 Nov 2010 : 15:30:02
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It is a path of blood and gore. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 09 Nov 2010 : 15:56:06
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quote: Originally posted by Acolyte Thirteen
What is 'the crimson road'?
quote: Originally posted by dennis
Travelling the 'crimson road' is an utterly bad habit. I remember the warlock Japhet from the Abolethic Sovereignty trilogy.
It's a 'condition' that one who uses 'traveler's dust' (the Realms version of drugs) suffers. Signs of the said dusts' users include trembling hands, sometimes slurred speech, and most telling, of course, eyes the color of blood. It was banned in most civilized places because all who used it died, sooner rather than later. Japhet on the other hand is one (actually the only one I know of) who survived the 'addiction' ---thanks to his 'pact' with the Lord of Bats. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 09 Nov 2010 : 17:08:33
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quote: Originally posted by Acolyte Thirteen
I can concur re: Lothir's perversions! He once attempted to sexually assault an Imaskari archmage for the Year 4000 DR in the Candlekeep Inn! Luckily, this Archmage was under the effect of Srinshee's Spell Shift, and was able to escape Lothir's homosexual overtures!!
Sexual assault just *might* just cross the line from 'bad habit' to 'felonious behavior'!
quote: Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis
Hmm... My drow bard is an incorrigible flirt- and a bit of a pervert at times. He once spied on the two females in the party while they were bathing- and almost got a shuriken in the head for it. He's also somewhat vain about his hair. If it gets so much as singed, he goes ballistic! Being from a noble house, he also will not wear anything less than the best. He's fond of silk, velvet, and anything form-fitting that shows off his legs. And he's an unrepentant prankster. Yup, the boy's full of odd habits.
A minor note (to clear up any misconceptions): 1: That incident was NOT an assault of any kind- simply an attempt at embarrassment to remove a percieved threat without resorting to violence. See # 2 for reasons. 2: It had nothing at all to do with his sexuality- sorry to disappoint anyone, but he does NOT swing that way. (And anyone who knows him and his background, or has read my bg story, would know WHY.) That particular incident was intended as a prank. A rather juvenile one, perhaps, but NOT any any way a "sexual assault/overture/etc."! He was simply annoyed by an obviously crazy person's continued rambling, and decided to use humiliation as a removal tactic. 9The lad abhors violance, and was in fact slightly angry at having said "mage" whip out a sword on him and wave it in his face, even going so far as to cut him when he attempted to push it aside. Perfectly understandable to want that person gone... 3: The so-called "assault" was nothing more than a clothes-removal spell, which he also occasionally uses against hard-to-hit- fighters in full armor in battle. (Great for reducing AC!!) He did this only AFTER said Imaskari had already pulled out a sword in violation of the inn's rules. Had no harmful or detrimental effect, and did not directly "attack" the person in question. So much for "assault".... More like "non-violent self-defense".
Just so everyone understands the circumstances.... |
The Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot.
"Where Science ends, Magic begins" -Spiral, Uncanny X-Men #491
"You idiots! You've captured their STUNT doubles!" -Spaceballs
Lothir's character background/stats: http://forum.candlekeep.com/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=5469
My stories: http://z3.invisionfree.com/Mickeys_Comic_Tavern/index.php?showforum=188
Lothir, courtesy of Sylinde (Deviant Art)/Luaxena (Chosen of Eilistraee) http://sylinde.deviantart.com/#/d2z6e4u |
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Acolyte Thirteen
Seeker
93 Posts |
Posted - 09 Nov 2010 : 20:50:01
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(Hey dudes, writing this post from a jail-cell. Managed to sneak my blackberry in!! )
On the way home I attempted to strip the clothing off an attractive lady on the way home! I thought it would be a hilarious, *perhaps* juvenile, prank!! I had just managed to toss her skirt into the street when a policeman tackled me! Can you believe that! Why in the world would the police arrest me!?
Anyway, I'm sure my lawyer will get it worked out! (For a 8k retainer, she'd better!) I'll keep you guys posted, as details emerge! As long as my battery holds, that! |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2010 : 00:54:21
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Hmm, does a dwarf battlerager in spiked armor who sleeps beside his war boar mount count? Who likes to launch himslef from the saddle at opponents? Not bad in itself, except that hes' VERY protective of the pig, and never cleans his armor afterwards! He's a bit nuts, obviously. and usually drunk. One of my hubby's PC's.
We also had a party member who was a ghost elf, and kept glowing at inopportune moments. We called him the night-light... |
The Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot.
"Where Science ends, Magic begins" -Spiral, Uncanny X-Men #491
"You idiots! You've captured their STUNT doubles!" -Spaceballs
Lothir's character background/stats: http://forum.candlekeep.com/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=5469
My stories: http://z3.invisionfree.com/Mickeys_Comic_Tavern/index.php?showforum=188
Lothir, courtesy of Sylinde (Deviant Art)/Luaxena (Chosen of Eilistraee) http://sylinde.deviantart.com/#/d2z6e4u |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2010 : 04:31:16
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I think Kiril's habit is bad. Drinking is fine. But to have a self-refilling wine bottle so you could drink almost anywhere and anytime? Hmm, that's kinda prone to abuse. Ergo, bad. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2010 : 07:02:00
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He needs Bucknard's Everful Beer Keg. I'm not sure if the item exists but I did once travel onboard a ship equipped with Bucknard's Barrel of Endless Salted Herring (and a gnarled pirate chef who claimed to possess an equally endless supply of salted herring recipes). I still have nightmares about it. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2010 : 20:03:03
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A drunken dwarven battlerager being saddle-pulted into the fray off his war boar is indeed a nasty addication I'd want to avoid. And I thought all those weed-smoking halflings were bad. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2010 : 20:22:17
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Well, my other half is a little nuts himself, go figure. He uttered the best in-game line I ever heard once when an NPC was describing a group of Spelljamming gun smugglers to the party, and he scratched his head and said "Orcs don't come in blue!" (They were Arcanes, and he thought any bad thing that happened was caused by orcs.) Not the brightest crayon in the box, but loads of fun! |
The Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot.
"Where Science ends, Magic begins" -Spiral, Uncanny X-Men #491
"You idiots! You've captured their STUNT doubles!" -Spaceballs
Lothir's character background/stats: http://forum.candlekeep.com/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=5469
My stories: http://z3.invisionfree.com/Mickeys_Comic_Tavern/index.php?showforum=188
Lothir, courtesy of Sylinde (Deviant Art)/Luaxena (Chosen of Eilistraee) http://sylinde.deviantart.com/#/d2z6e4u |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2010 : 20:40:36
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In my old (rather silly) GH campaign, my 'High' Elves were literally that. Sylvan Silver was one of the finest... errr ... 'Pipeweeds'... one could buy (if one could find some, and then convince the Elf in question to actually part with a parcel).
My Halflings weren't dopeheads though... they were... ummm... something else...
I ran with another player (in a C&S campaign, not D&D) that portrayed her werewolf character as 'always in-heat', if you catch my drift. It lead to some VERY funny situations.
Until she tried to seduce my Volja (Virgin Priestess of Odin). The other players couldn't stop laughing as she chased me around and around a table at the Inn.
We never did make it out of the Inn during that session....
I REALLY miss that group. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 10 Nov 2010 20:41:56 |
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