Also, if you're looking for inspiration and advice, I've put together my 5 Tips Archive that covers dozens of base classes, fantasy races, and several other aspects of the game. Check it out, if you're of a mind!
October 27, 2024 The Beer Brewing Witch
Witches bent over their cauldrons are a common enough image, but what if we took the spellcasting class and combined it with the profession of the brewer? Whether drawing on a microbrew bro, or the wine connoisseur, consider this unique, blue collar take on a mystical class.
September 30, 2024 The Vault Breaker
Abadar keeps civilization safe behind his walls and laws. But there are those within the church whose job it is to find the weak places that an enemy might take advantage of. Places in the church's blind spot. These servants who utilize the skills of the thief, the rogue, and the infiltrator are known as Vault Breakers, and it's said nowhere is truly safe from them.
August 1, 2024 The Book Stalker
Nethys, the god of magic, has many servants who seek to follow in his path. One part of his clergy, though, attempts to find the forbidden and the lost in order to catalog it within their sprawling libraries. These grimoire hunters are known, at least within the church, as Book Stalkers.
July 28, 2024 The Gun Moll
Most of us think of the gun moll as an archetype from noir novels and old gangster movies... but what if you want to bring her into a traditional fantasy RPG? Well, that's the very thing this entry explores!
July 1, 2024 Godfather Death: A Warlock Character Concept
Many warlocks spend years digging through esoteric rituals to attempt to establish contact with a powerful patron... others, though, may simply find that they were asked to stand as their grandfather when they were born, and the patron accepted that offer.
June 2, 2024 The Fire and Brimstone Preacher (Cleric Concept)
Making your clerics really stand out can be tough, but if you're looking for something a little on the unique side you could do worse than the fire and brimstone preacher (in all its variations)!
May 1, 2024 The "Amateur" Adventurer
The words "amateur" and "professional" have very specific meanings now, but that has not always been the case. Not so long ago the idea of performing a task or following an interest for money, rather than for the sheer passion it stoked in you, was seen as low-brow, brutish, and less than admirable... so ask yourself what such an adventurer might look like!
March 24, 2024 The Counterspeller: Turning Off Your Enemy's Magic
Counterspelling is an often-overlooked mechanic, but due to the nature of escalation in Pathfinder it can effectively take the bullets out of your enemy's gun. So if you're going to have to deal with any kind of serious magical threat, this character is always going to be a valued party member.
February 24, 2024 Vox Mortis- Radiohead (A Geist: The Sin Eaters Character Concept)
Molly "Mouse" Madrigal was nearly a casualty of the modern world, and its disconnection from everything. Now a smoky voice on the wires of the Twilight Network, it's all thanks to the intervention of a particularly disturbing creatures known as Vox Mortis... or Radiohead, if Molly is particularly annoyed with him.
January 28, 2024 The Inspired Hero
The Orthodoxy of Heroes believes in no god, no afterlife, and no divine forces... immortality can only be achieved through the tales of your deeds being told. Those who wish to join the ranks of these legends often do so by the courage hearing their stories brings, even if the acts they take to emulate their heroes are rash at best, and foolhardy at worst.
2023
December 30, 2023 The Pilgrim
Our settings are full of characters with dark and troubled pasts. Those who attempt to rise above them, and to walk a higher road, are rare, though. When it does happen, and they try to resist the call of the darkness that still lives inside of them, they take on the role of The Pilgrim.
December 3, 2023 The Blessed
The gods move in mysterious ways, and while they may have obvious servants like clerics and paladins, they can give gifts to others. The strength of a barbarian, the voice of a bard, the bloodline of a sorcerer, all of these and more could be tied to a celestial source... should one wish.
November 3, 2023 The Chessboard Motley
When one escapes from Arcadia and returns to the real world, they have to re-discover who they are in many ways. If you wanted to form a motley of characters who all escaped the same realm, though, I'd recommend the Chessboard Motley for your next Changeling: the Lost chronicle.
October 6, 2023 Character Background: The Experiment
Our high fantasy characters possess all kinds of astonishing powers and unusual abilities. And while some of them might have been chosen by destiny, or inherited power from an unusual bloodline, there are others whose unique strengths and sorceries came out of a bottle, or a needle.
September 8, 2023 Adventuring as a Mid-Life Crisis
We often think of adventuring as something done by only the young, and the desperate. However, we rarely stop and ask what someone experiencing a true need for danger, for thrills, and for excitement might be willing to do. Especially if they're old enough to feel like it's now or never!
August 12, 2023 The Holy Voice
Bards are often thought of as the party face men, and they're typically irresponsible rock stars, traveling minstrels, and tale tellers, with the occasional scholar or detective mixed in. However, we often don't consider the power a bard's voice would have if it turned to preaching... but we should. We really should.
July 15, 2023 The Cat Druid Viking
The Vikings (or more accurately, the Norse) have had a lasting impression on our TTRPG settings, and we're practically tripping over berserkers and raiders. However, a unique way to spin this archetype in your game is to look a little more closely at the role cats played among the Norse peoples, and how that might influence your character if you want a really unique druid.
June 18, 2023 The Cursed
Terrible curses often have unforeseen consequences. Whether one is warped into a powerful beast, infected with a lesser form of vampirism, or even saddled with the unpredictable blessing of fae sorceries, this curse can be wielded as a weapon, should one wish to.
June 5, 2023 The Mounted Mage
While this was written primarily as a Crunch topic, showing the benefits of a spellcaster with a mount, I like to think this also belongs over here in Unusual Character Concepts. So if you're looking for a unique spellcaster for your next game, consider one who rides around on a mount!
May 21, 2023 The Legacy Vigilante
Vigilantes lead double lives in pursuit of their personal causes... but when one dies, another may well take up their mantle. A unique solution for players who may want to change up what's expected, this can be an unexpected way to continue a deceased character's storyline, handing it to a sidekick, an admirer, or someone else entirely!
April 20, 2023 The Barbarian Rogue (A Not-So-Unusual Character Concept)
For some reason there are a lot of folks who will argue till they're blue in the face that barbarians and rogues aren't meant to go together, and can't work. But if you look at the mechanics in Pathfinder, and editions of DND going back for nearly 20 years, they were always meant to. The reason for that is simple... and his name, is Conan.
April 16, 2023 Consider Giving Your Loose Cannon Character a Minder
A paired concept piece, this is a handy way to build a background tie, and to put something of a leash onto a character who might be a little too extra for a particular table, game, or play style if left to their own devices. Highly recommended as a way for you to have your cake, but not cause undue tension at the table.
March 25, 2023 The Pugilist Swashbuckler
The swashbuckler is one of my favorite classes in Pathfinder, and I figured that I'd offer one of my favorite twists on the class this week. I've done various different takes and dips on the swashbuckler before now, but I think this version is one that a lot of people might be sleeping on.
February 24, 2023 The Ancestral Harbinger
There are some adventurers who never face dangers alone. Able to reach out and bond with the lineage of their family, they can draw the power of the world beyond into the here and now, filled with the strength of an entire army. These harbingers are rare, but they might be right at home in your next campaign!
January 28, 2023 The Black Blade Bastard
The bladebound magus is, perhaps, the most popular archetype for this unique character class. If you've been looking for a fun way to inject a little extra story into where your black blade came from, and why it's bound to you, consider this unique take on the class option!
2022
December 30, 2022 The Hype Man Bard
Bards are often thought of as the best dedicated support characters, but sometimes you need a bit of a twist to make them really stand out. And if you're looking for a way to reflect the spotlight onto your comrades and compatriots, then playing the Hype Man might be right up your alley!
December 3, 2022 The Savage Monk
Monks have made relatively few appearances on this page, so I thought it was time to give them a moment in the spotlight. Because while the class is often thought of as disciplined, wise, and civilized, there are philosophies that exist outside of the boundaries of common societies. Those who embrace these paths may be gifted with unique insights and unusual abilities, becoming masters of the primal, and the savage.
November 7, 2022 The Unsettling Sorcerer
We often think of sorcerers as beautiful because of their high Charisma score. However, when magic is flowing through your veins you may end up with an aura that is more akin to unnatural magnetism, the calm before a storm, or even the unsettling feeling that something is wrong... and that can often make for a far more interesting character!
October 3, 2022 The Scientist Wizard
We often think of wizards as a kind of arcane scientist, using their intellects and formulas to bend the natural forces of the cosmos to their will... but this concept takes that idea one step further. After all, lab protocols and academy training can add just a little bit of necessary flavor to this concept to make it feel new and different all over again!
September 10, 2022 The Enforcer Wizard
Some wizards seek to deepen their understanding of the cosmos, to master the mysteries of the arcane, and to leave behind purely mortal concerns... others, though, use their mastery of magic as a cudgel to enforce the will of their paymasters. That is where we find the idea of the Enforcer Wizard.
August 8, 2022 The Paladin Spymaster
Most paladin codes put them at odds with evil individuals. However, there is usually a contingency for working alongside lesser evils against greater ones. It is through this, and through the desire to turn evils against one another, that the Paladin Spymaster exists.
July 2, 2022 The Planar Expert
A great many adventures take place on the material plane... but not all of them do. If your story is going to step into realms unknown, it's best to take someone who understands the inherent risks of those other planes. So while the Planar Expert might not be ideal for every campaign, they can make an interesting addition to those games where their skills are necessary.
June 5, 2022 The Fey-Touched
Beyond good and evil, beyond mortal morality, are the fey. These ancient beings are alien in their logic and their codes, but they hold to bargains made. The fey touch everything they pass, and those who have walked alongside them often make for potent adventurers. Whether one was raised by their fey godparents, they swore an oath to a Lord or Lady, or they were changed by the fruit of the faerie lands, these people may have all kinds of bizarre tricks up their sleeves.
May 5, 2022 The Ascetic Wizard
There are dozens, if not hundreds, of traditions for those who wish to learn the arcane arts. However, some gain a greater understanding of the metaphysical through the denial of the physical. These ascetics may seem like monks or religious adepts, but their understanding of magic can be truly awe-inspiring.
April 9, 2022 The Adopted Adventurer
With so many characters that have tragic backstories, it's a safe bet to say a lot of PCs aren't raised by their own blood. In some cases, they may even be raised by unexpected families. Whether you're looking to play a traditionally monstrous creature brought up in a different culture, or a Tarzan-of-the-orcs setup, the Adopted Adventurer has all kinds of possibilities!
March 10, 2022 The Death Wish
There are some characters who desire to die, but who want some meaning in that death. So they pursue it, putting themselves in danger in the hopes that they will eventually find an opponent, or a cause, that is worthy of their life.
February 12, 2022 The Fylgja Warlock
While I don't do a lot of 5E character concept, this is one that really caught my imagination. Taking the Norse legend of the protector spirit of the Fylgja, and using it as the basis for a unique warlock setup, is something I figured other folks might enjoy as much as I did!
January 16, 2022 The Untouchable
In some societies there are those who are kept on the outside. People who may perform necessary functions but who are shunned due to the nature of their birth, acts they've committed, or some other reason. In a fantasy RPG, an Untouchable could be quite an unusual person... especially once they get out to see the world!
2021
December 18, 2021 The Wine Snob Cleric
Drunken clerics are a dime a dozen at most tables... but how often has wine been their entheogen of choice? If you've been sticking with ale and dark brews, consider changing things up!
November 19, 2021 The Possessed
Outsiders, liches, restless spirits, and more are commonplace throughout our fantasy games... so ask yourself what would happen if one of them decided to bond itself to someone to go on an adventure? Is it seeking vengeance? Knowledge? Just enjoying life as a mortal again? Or something else entirely?
October 20, 2021 The Anti-Party (One For The Game Masters)
The Anti-Party is just what it says on the tin; an entire group of individuals for your players to oppose rather than a singular BBEG who waits at the end of the game. It's something to consider, since action economy is often what decides just how things shake out in the end.
September 25, 2021 The True Alpha (Werewolf: The Apocalypse Concept)
In recent decades science has learned that the idea of an alpha wolf is a myth. In the wild, wolves are cooperative, working together to help achieve the best results for everyone. Carrying that over into a Werewolf: The Apocalypse game has a lot of interesting potential.
August 28, 2021 Examining The Fantasy Atheist
Sit at a table long enough and this character concept is going to show up. So I wanted to take some time to talk about it this week, and to offer some suggestions on how we could make it work if we truly felt compelled to play it one more time.
July 31, 2021 The Flaw-Maker (World/Chronicles of Darkness Concept)
There are a thousand little evils that live in the world, but sometimes people slip through the cracks and find out about the truly awful things that lurk beneath the world. When that happens, it can lead to them taking bizarre actions to try to cope with this knowledge... the Flaw-Maker is one such character, who actively ruins beauty and perfection in hopes that dousing someone else's light means that it won't draw the darkness to them.
July 3, 2021 The Dime Novelist (Character Concept)
We're all familiar with bards who tell tales in bars, or who compose songs out of the signs they've seen... but what about those who publish books about their adventures? Well, that's where this character concept comes in!
The idea of being able to shift and change your spellcasting tradition, mixing and merging as whim and necessity dictates, is a difficult one to really embody in a Vancian magic system. Difficult isn't impossible, though, which is where the idea of the Chaos Magician comes in.
May 8, 2021 Embracing "The Tiffany Problem" in Vampire
Most of us don't actually know a lot about history, and what we think has been informed by selective texts, movies, and cultural myths. You want a character that actually stands out in Vampire? Look at some of the very real nonsense humanity has done over the centuries, and embrace that as part of your character concept!
April 10, 2021 The Farm Boy Paladin
We always tend to think of knights in shining armor atop fiery destriers whenever we think of paladins. But that's not the only way to play the character, as this week's Unusual Character Concept points out, giving us a paladin who is very much the opposite of that ideal in nearly every way.
March 13, 2021 Wolverine is a Case Study For Elven Barbarians
One of the easiest ways to overcome the failure of imagination (when someone simply cannot conceive of a particular notion, character, plot, etc.) is to point them toward a pop culture example to use as a foundation. If you know someone who can't wrap their mind around an elven barbarian, ask if they're familiar with one of the Marvel Universe's most famous mutants.
February 13, 2021 The Chosen (A Cleric Character Concept)
I've had clerics on the brain for a bit, and this is one that I found particularly interesting. Because if a god chooses someone because they are a suitable tool, rather than because they are a faithful member of their clergy, what would that character look like?
January 16, 2021 The Convert (A Cleric Concept)
Too often we associate clerics as one with their deity... but what happens when they have a crisis of faith? Or when they leave their old god for a new one? This is when they become a Convert.
2020
December 19, 2020 Exploring The Class-Confused Character
Of all the joke characters who turn up at tables, this is one I see time and time again. So I thought I'd take this week to talk about it, and to offer some alternative takes that will go down a lot more smoothly than yet another sorcerer convinced they're a wizard, or another barbarian who claims to be a bard.
November 21, 2020 The Reincarnated
Reincarnation is often seen as a cheaper, lower-level way to bring a character back from the dead... but incorporating it into your backstory can allow you to play all sorts of odd, strange, and offbeat concepts that would be difficult to achieve without this particular element.
October 24, 2020 The Onion of Secrets (A Character Concept With Layers)
We've all played characters who've got a skeleton in their closet, but the Onion of Layers has an entire boneyard. It can be tough to pull off, but consider this the next time you agree to a game of intrigue.
September 26, 2020 The Infernal Grandchild (Wizard Concept)
We all have those family members we don't like to talk about... for this character concept, it's the ones you only call in an emergency using planar binding.
August 30, 2020 The Cowboy Wizard
Too often we tend to think of wizards as a career, when it's actually more a skill set. Stepping back from that idea can lead to some interesting, and particularly unusual, character concepts when we ask how wizards would apply their powers to more mundane professions.
August 1, 2020 The Man Out of Time
Long-lived characters are far from uncommon in our fantasy games, but the Man Out of Time is the other side of the coin. If your character was plucked out of their time, and brought forward into the far future, how would they make their way in the world? What would be the same? What would be different? And do their old enemies yet haunt the dark corners of this setting?
July 4, 2020 The Drill Sergeant Bard
Bards are often thought of as weak, squishy, and totally out of their depth when it comes to danger in the field. However, bards can also be hard, steely-eyed and leather-lunged... and if you want to try that character style out, I highly recommend something I've come to call the drill sergeant bard. June 6, 2020 The Righteous Barbarian
Often barbarians are thought of as warriors who rely only on their own strength, eschewing the higher powers of the world. The Righteous Barbarian, though, serves those powers... and may draw some of their strength from them!
May 9, 2020 Examining The "Doubting Thomas" Character Archetype in Fantasy RPGs
The "Doubting Thomas" character archetype is really common for a lot of players, but when you do it poorly it comes across more like a fantasy flat earther than an interesting character. Here's some thoughts on how to adjust accordingly.
April 11, 2020 The Antipaladin of Pride
Antipaladins are often thought of as arch archetypes, but there are many shades and veins within the realms of corruption that one can follow. Pride, and what ends it can drive one to follow, is one of those examples.
March 14, 2020 Making The Lone Evil Character in a Good Party Work
This month's post is a little unusual, and quite a bit broader than most, but it's a concept I've seen a lot of folks say can't be done. So, here's how I'd advise doing it.
February 17, 2020 The Field Commander Conjurer
Most wizards are thought of as aging scholars or seekers of knowledge. Some conjurers, though, take their command of strategy and summoning into the field of war, calling upon troops the likes of which no one else could field.
January 19, 2020 The Champion Barbarian
All barbarians can fight, but many of them take up arms in the service of causes, faiths, and organizations. Many of these champions even manifest powers derived from this service, shaping their Rage to better suit them toward their role and responsibilities. These are the champion barbarians.
2019
December 21, 2019 The Taskmaster Necromancer
Necromancers are often seen as callous or cruel, taking the bodies of the dead and treating them as tools. For the Taskmaster, though, sacrifices must be made, and appropriate compensation offered their servants.
November 23, 2019 The God Squad (Party Concept)
It's been said that every party should have a cleric, but what about an entire party made up of divinely backed warriors and adventurers? That's where things can get dangerous... particularly for all the demons out there.
October 26, 2019 The Magic Item Collector
Collectors are obsessive over the subjects of their interest... and someone who knows the ins and outs of magic items new and old alike can be an invaluable ally on any dungeon delve.
September 28, 2019 The Living Weapon
This character archetype is one we've seen time and time again in pop culture, but bringing it to life at your gaming table can be tough. Here's some advice for how to make it work in your next campaign!
August 31, 2019 The Self-Taught Wizard
If you've been looking for a new twist on this traditional arcane caster, then why not get rid of the university and see what happens?
August 3, 2019 The Returned
Death has a tighter hold over some than it does others. The Returned are individuals who have slipped through the Reaper's fingers, often with a little help from outside forces. What did you see on the other side of death, and what did it turn you into?
July 14, 2019 5 Barbarian Multiclass Concepts Your Table Won't See Coming
People have this image of the barbarian as a very specific archetype. However, there are all sorts of ways you can mix that character up, and add in some unexpected abilities to really change up the game.
July 6, 2019 The Plague: An Antipaladin Concept
Antipaladins are known for using dishonorable methods and brutal tactics... but some few have weaponized disease on a scale that makes them a threat to any civilized place. They are the Plague.
June 7, 2019 The Fallen Hero
Some of our characters used to be great heroes... then something happened. Getting back up isn't easy... but it's what heroes do!
May 13, 2019 The Mutant Sorcerer
Sorcerers are often thought of as the children of powerful bloodlines... but what if you are the first of your line, changed by strange events or exposure to potent essences that have altered who and what you are? Mutated you, in other words.
April 13, 2019 Have Spells, Will Travel (The Spellslinger)
Masters of the magic arts are often thought of as high-minded practitioners with convoluted goals. The spellslinger, though, is a down-and-dirty magic user whose goals are much more down-to-earth.
March 15, 2019 The Veterinarian Necromancer
Violating the bodily autonomy of sentient creatures is one reason necromancers are often loathed... but that line may seem blurry when they are served by beasts of burden. Especially if the necromancer also cares for the beasts while they're living, before raising them from the dead.
February 18, 2019 The Frat Boy Wizard
If your wizard wen to college, did they join a fraternity or a sorority? And if so, what adventures did they have, and what lessons did they learn?
January 19, 2019 The Bearer of Legacy
We've all seen legacy characters before... but there are certain elements that really make them pop. Here are some tips for really making them memorable.
2018
December 21, 2018 The Reluctant Barbarian
Some barbarians will let loose their fury at the slightest provocation. Others, though, will hold it tightly as long as they can. This is about the latter kind.
November 25, 2018 The Toothpick Rogue
How many characters are so feared, so dangerous, that you're afraid to give them anything, lest they kill you with it? That is the basis of the Toothpick Rogue.
October 28, 2018 The Aging Badass
If you're sick of playing farm boys just off the harvest season, or wizard's apprentices so green their robes crinkle, here's a concept you can really sink your teeth into. Someone who's seen it all, done a lot of it twice, and who isn't afraid to bust heads despite their arthritis.
September 28, 2018 The Sudden Wizard
Some wizards take years of concentrated study to unlock the secrets of magic. Others, though, may find that a single event opens their minds, and makes them receptive to things they would never have grasped before.
September 1, 2018 The Noble Druid
Most of us think of druids as filthy holy men in ragged bearskins... but they could just as easily be the Lord of Lady of the manor with a little adjustment to your concept.
August 3, 2018 The Noir Investigator
Lots of people look at the investigator and think of Sherlock Holmes... but there's just as much potential for Sam Spade and Phil Marlowe in there, too.
July 7, 2018 The False Noble
Noble characters aren't all that unusual... but someone lying about being noble born? Well, that's a balancing act all on its own, isn't it?
June 9, 2017 Alistair "Lefty" Rockhammer
I get the urge once a year or so to write up a specific character. So here's a dwarven conjurer with the mind of a grifter, and an acid-green rabbit that has a colossal chip on its shoulder.
May 11, 2018 The Failed Wizard's Apprentice
Wizards may take on a number of apprentices, and even those who can't hack it as wizards still take away knowledge and skill. What do they do with it, and what does it make them into?
April 18, 2018 The Fossegrim Bard
We tend to think of bards as people who just woke up one day to find that magic had blossomed inside them... but what about characters who weren't born with that music? Who, or what, did they have to go to in order to master that gift?
March 17, 2018 The Reluctant Cleric
Clerics tend to be priests, but even when they're not we tend to think of them as persons of faith. However, what happens when the cleric might be the best person to wield this power... they just wish they didn't have to?
February 19, 2018 The Unexpected Ninja
Ninjas, and rogues as well, are known for stealth and guile. However, it takes truly masterful craft to live a lie long enough to get close, and do what has to be done.
January 21, 2018 The Draugr's Bastard (An Unexpected Dhampir)
No one knows how he came to be, but the legend of the Draugr's Bastard has teeth. Enough to bite, and enough that none enter the Broken Hills without a tithe to give, in case he finds them in the darkness.
2017
December 22, 2107 The Fur-Clad Fighter
They say clothes make the man, but too often we see someone dressed in furs or leathers, and we immediately assume they're a barbarian. But their martial skill might be derived from the same long hours of practice that any other soldier has put in, even if they look different than your traditional image of a fighter.
November 25, 2017 The Big Name
Sometimes a big reputation comes with a lot of muscle to back it up. Other times, though, it's just an illusion. Illusions can be just as terrifying as the real thing, though... especially when your opponent can't tell which is which.
October 29, 2017 The Sacred Sorcerer
When you picture a priest, you tend to picture a servant of the divine. However, who's to say those born with power don't choose to serve as well... if in their own, unique capacity.
September 29, 2017 The Farmer Ranger
Most of the time we think of rangers as being, well, far-ranging. They don't have to be, though. In fact, a lot of them would be ideal for raising crops, animals, and kids right in your local community as friendly (or not so friendly) farmers.
September 1, 2017 The Avatar Summoner
Summoners are one of the most powerful masters of the arcane arts out there, but what about their eidolons? Are they growing with the summoner... or does the summoner's growth merely allow more of that entity to manifest on the material plane?
August 4, 2017 The Defending Blade
When most people think of a swordsman, they think of someone who rushes in and fights toe-to-toe. The defending blade, though, is concerned with protecting their allies. Even better, it's often possible for them to do it using nothing but their attacks of opportunity.
July 8, 2017 For Want of a Nail
For want of a nail, a horse was lamed. The lame horse prevented the knight from coming to the battle. The lost battle was key to the war. A lost war destroyed a throne. The Nail is a character who knows that, even if they aren't important, they're still necessary. And that shows in their outlook on life, and adventure.
June 10, 2017 The Artistic Wizard
We tend to think of wizards as old, stodgy, and with a set method of casting their magic. But as we know from looking at spells, magic is fluid. The language you use, the gestures you make, and how you focus your mind can vary from one wizard to another... so why not use art as a way to make magic happen?
May 14, 2017 The Heretic
We all associate clerics with churches... but nowhere does it say your cleric has to be a priest. Even if they used to be though, they can break off ties with the church, and worship their god in their own way. Doing so, though, might lead to repercussions on a purely mortal scale that present interesting story and RP opportunities.
April 16, 2017 Dweren Dragonsblood, The Goldsniffing Dwarf
And now, another specific concept for those looking for a clear direction. The Dragonsblood clan has a proud, and rich, tradition. No one embodies it more clearly that Dweren, and his ability to sniff out wealth.
March 17, 2017 The Lucky Bastard
Luck is a potent force in the world of Golarion, and some are able to tap into it... for good or ill. What would your character do if fate dealt them an especially lucky hand?
February 10, 2017 The Child Summoner
We tend to think of summoners as masters of the arcane, and learned in the art of conjuration. They have made a pact with a powerful outsider, and their power grows from that bond... but what if the outsider reached out to them? And what if it did so when the summoner was little more than a child in desperate need of help?
January 13, 2017 The Urbane Druid
Druids are always seen as fur-wearing nutbags, living out in the woods, or the tundra, or the desert. But where does it say you can't be a charming, witty urbanite there to protect the animals and the green? After all, nature really is everywhere.
2016
December 17, 2016 The Half-Elf, Half-Orc Arcane Archer
Arcane archers have to be elves or half-elves, according to the prestige class... or do they? Because, with the right rules, you could add those levels onto a different race. And that's when the fun begins.
November 19, 2016 The Pill-Popping Paladin
Paladins are one of the most stereotyped classes in fantasy RPGs, and one thing they're never associated with is drug use. But since they're immune to disease (including drug addiction), and they can heal the damage done to their attributes with a few simple spells, they're one of the only classes who could seriously benefit from shooting up.
October 21, 2016 The Gearhead Fighter
Fighters, as a class, are one of the classes tied most closely to their gear. So why shouldn't some fighters obsess over their gear, discussing every aspect from the type of steel used, to the sort of methods used to care for it in the field?
September 23, 2016 Gaspar Dell'Amore, The Black Rose of Edme
Gaspar Dell'Amore is many things. A hero to some, and a nightmare to others, but his fists and his spirit are dedicated to making his country, and his city, a better place. One bare-knuckle brawl at a time.
September 19, 2016 5 Paladin Multiclass Characters That Your Table Will Never Expect
The paladin is an iconic character, but when you multiclass, you may unlock hitherto unforeseen powers and abilities. These five combinations are sure to surprise your table.
August 26, 2016 The Calistrian Dom
If you want to flip the script on the typical elven dominatrix, popularized by older editions of the Drow, then the Calistrian Dom is what you've been waiting for. This is a bard the likes of which no one will forget, if you play it just right.
July 22, 2016 The Escaped Slave Wizard
Former slaves populate the ranks of our games, but we tend to think of them as martial characters. What happens when a slave is given lessons on reading, writing, and the arts arcana, though?
June 25, 2016 The Academic Sorcerer
Sorcerers have a great deal of raw power coursing through their veins, but we often forget they tend to be highly-educated and greatly knowledgeable about specific subjects. After all, if you spend your life learning about where your powers came from, then you might be the leading expert on the planes, the undead, dragons, or any of a dozen other subjects. Why wouldn't you be a tenured professor, with that knowledge base?
May 28, 2016 The Single-Handed Swordsman
Always beware the one-handed swordsman, wise trainers tell their young cadets. Because if you've only got one hand, then that hand is apt to do some serious damage when it's filled with steel.
April 30, 2016 The Social Bruiser
The World of Darkness is a classless RPG setting, but that doesn't mean it's free from assumption and stereotype. If you've wanted to do something eye-catchingly different, may I suggest the Social Bruiser? Good for ANY WoD setting!
April 2, 2016 The Savage Wizard
Wizards wield great power, but we often expect them to all look the same. If you really want to throw your table for a loop, then bring someone draped in skins and carrying an ax, instead of an academy graduate with his class ring.
March 4, 2016 The Unexpected Barbarian
When you hear the word "barbarian," what do you think of? Chances are good it isn't the crown prince of the realm... but if he's anything like Alvin Dragonborn, you might just be facing down a nobleman with a few barbarian levels on his sheet.
January 29, 2016 The Compassionate Antipaladin
Antipaladins, blackguards, or whatever other name they bear in your campaign, are all inhuman monsters. But what if the thing that made them monsters wasn't their sins, but their attempts at virtue and selflessness?
January 3, 2016 The "Paladin In Name Only"
We all have a definite image that comes to mind when we think of paladins. So what's the proper reaction when you realize the holy warrior with a strict honor code and regular prayer schedule doesn't have any levels of the class he so seems to embody?
2015
December 16, 2015 The Lawful Good Rogue
Because not all rogues are sneaky, skulky backstabbers. And even those who are might have a writ from the king, or a badge that gives them the authority to carry out their duties.
December 11, 2015 The Intimidating Wizard
Intimidate is usually thought of as something that fighters and barbarians, people with big swords and big muscles, rely on. But wizards can play that game, too. In fact, with the right mechanics, they might even be able to play it better.
November 8, 2015 The Military-Grade Evoker
Wizards are generally thought of as frail scholars, whose great power comes at the cost of physical robustness. However, what happens when an entire division of a nation's military is dedicated to creating war casters? And how devastating would they be as part of a party?
November 4, 2015 The Daredevil Paladin
For those who want to think outside the stompy, metal box that most people see when they think of paladins, here's an unusual way to play what many consider the most iconic (and boring) of classes. After all, who says paladins can't fight with a rapier and dueling cloak?
October 16, 2015 The Devil's Own
Tieflings and half-orcs struggle to find acceptance, and there are some who are able to rise above the prejudice that others put on them. Some, though, choose to take the fear they're regarded with and to turn it into a weapon.
October 10, 2015 The Chaplain (A Badass Bard You Might Mistake For A Cleric)
People always assume that clerics are automatically priests who are officially employed by a holy order. By the same token, they assume that anyone who is a priest must also have levels of cleric. The Chaplain defies those expectations, and gives you a new twist on the battle bard.
October 4, 2015: The Anti-Undead Necromancer
Not all necromancers wear black. If you want to cast a master of death magics as a hero, or even as a warrior who stands against the scourge of the undead, then here are some tips for realizing that concept. Pharasma approved!
September 14, 2015 The Swashbuckling Brute
Another unusual character concept, but this time published over at Kobold Quarterly. If you want a swashbuckler that's more of a heavy-shouldered thug like Porthos instead of Aramis, then this is the post you've been waiting for.
September 11, 2015 The Littlest Titan (Explaining Massive Weapons, and Massive Damage)
We've all had that itch to play the hulking brute who wields a greatsword like its weight barely matters. Here's an interesting way to take that concept, and inject some unexpected story into it.
August 14, 2015 The Barbarian Samurai
The third installment in my unusual character concept series is here. Should this become its own page, or should it remain a part of Table Talk?
July 4, 2015 The Risen Antipaladin (Or How You Can Play A Paladin In An Evil Campaign)
Sometimes you just want to go against the flow, and if your brain is being contrary why not take the challenge of playing a paladin in an evil campaign? This week's character concept is about how you can do just that, and make it compelling for everyone.
May 22, 2015 The Android Barbarian
This week I'm trying something different; throwing a character concept at you and seeing what you, the readers, think of it. We start with The Android Barbarian, and I explain how you can mechanically and thematically make it work... if you really want to.
Do the Gentle Giant
ReplyDeleteI had an idea for a Changeling who would join a game part way through. The changeling was part of a party who had WAY under leveled attempted to beat the BBEG and as punishment for losing, had the entire party merged into one character. The DM controls a stress trigger that causes the character to shift randomly between the 5 different party members. At first they're all unaware of each other and just think that their trauma is causing them to black out but the new party they join helps them figure out what's going on and they figure defeating the BBEG will separate them.
ReplyDeleteIf one of them gets knocked out they shift to another playable character, but if any character dies they all die. They all share the Changeling's stats and health which means the Barbarian might not be as strong as they're used to; not as charismatic or wise, etc. Etc.
Great way to use 5 characters at the same if you're like me and make characters like crazy.