Unique Character Creation.

AlkalineMass76 · Post by **AlkalineMass76** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:42 am

I'm new to the D&D experience and me and my friends were wanting to start a game. So we've been throwing ideas around and stuff and one idea that keeps coming up is making characters based on like Comic book heros such as Batman Green Arrow I personally would like to keep it just DC or just Marvel. But to see these characters in a D&D type world with Minotaurs and Orcs and stuff. I was wondering if you guys could help me come up with some fun character concepts based on comic book superheros. But try to keep it simple because Im new to all this I still have to do my homework on some stuff about the character creation. But i just want Concepts and simple designs. Hope you guys can help and have fun trying to help. I'll post later on some concepts ive done up myself. And if you know the background history of the character itd be cool to see a little bio on the character. Ive already done one up for Batman and i'll post that later on today. Thanks.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:18 am

Since most Comic book heroes are very good fighters, as far as I know (I don't have that much knowledge about them), I suggest you search for a copy of the Tome of Battle/Book of Nine Swords. It makes meleecombat fun, varied and opens a lot more options. Above all, it makes it a bit more viable.
It should really help you with making superheroes.

Zem · Post by **Zem** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 4:08 pm

I think leveling will be a big mechanic to work out. You can just make it relatively simple with a fairly normal party, and then hand out special abilities. The questin is how the special abilities vary with level. Are they constant, or do they grow? To me, comic book heroes don't keep getting better, but the characters in D&D do.

Wolverine could be treated just like a fighter with bladed gauntlets. Batman can be a ninja with toys.

I don't know whether you're doing 3.5 or 4th... and I don't know anything about 4th. But if you are playing 3.5 you will probably want to check out the psionics books. That might help you out with a bunch of characters. I think I would throw out the wizard class altogether since it doesn't really fit, just use psionicists instead.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 1:28 am

The Wizard is in fact one of your better bets: just re-imagine the whole spellbook-memorizing system. Keep the rules, but change the description. Wizards can do pretty much anything they want, including being Batman.

AS for Wolverine, a plain Fighter a) is a near-useless character, especially when dualwielding, and b) he lacks the necessary skills, like Tumble and Balance. A Warblade (Tome of Battle) would be much better suited.
I'd definitly let special abilities grow with the characters, otherwise they'll be obsolete after a few levels.

Demortis · Post by **Demortis** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 2:52 am

Zem wrote:Wolverine could be treated just like a fighter with bladed gauntlets. Batman can be a ninja with toys.

Well, Batman is more a Pali/rogue. You can use the rules in the Unearthed Arcane to make him Chaotic good instead of Lawful.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 5:36 am

I agree, he's more of a Paladin/Rogue. Again, the Paladinpart can be replaced with Crusader from Tome of Battle, which is more representative and more viable as a character. Besides, isn't he known as the Caped Crusader?

I don't want to turn it into an alignment-debate, but isn't Batman Lawful Good? He has a very strict personal code of honour. Lawful can mean many other things, besides "following societies laws very carefully."

Zem · Post by **Zem** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 10:26 am

Tough call. I would consider Batman CG. Robin Hood was always the archetype of CG in... err.. 1st or 2nd edition, and I think of Batman the same way. I think the disagreement is in the obvious flaw that has always existed in the alignment table.

I'm not really seeing the wizard class being useful. Yes, in one aspect a wizard can simulate a lot of the effects, but most superheros only have a couple abilities. What sort of superhero could blink between dimensions, throw a fireball, fly, turn himself invisible, open locked doors, enlarge himself, turn himself in a newt, summon a celestial badger, AND detect magic?

Some of those things, sure, but not all of them. I could see starting with a sorcerer with a very specific list of known spells.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 11:00 am

Just use those abilities that suit you best then.

Demortis · Post by **Demortis** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 2:10 am

Zem wrote:I'm not really seeing the wizard class being useful.

Ah, your not trying hard enough? Not to be rude or anything. Iron man, enough said on that one

:laugh:

And your right Gawain, Lawful doesnt always mean the rules of society. And Cap could easily be made with the Paragon template from the epic book. Just take Sheild spec, Improved sheild bash, and throw anything. I had seen some house ruled feats featuring armor and shield specs. When I find them I can post them here to help out.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 3:57 am

Good thing you brought up Iron Man, Demortis. It reminded me about [url="http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/modern/smack/srdhome.html"]d20 Modern[/url], which might be useful if you want to incorporate things like guns and Mechasuits.

Demortis · Post by **Demortis** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:01 pm

Didnt see any piece on mechasuits, but i could have missed it... T_T And the idea was so cool!

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 5:53 am

Oops, posted the wrong d20 Modern link.
[url="http://ca.geocities.com/spike_fightwicky/d20modernsrd/future.html"]This[/url]one should have Mechasuits.

Demortis · Post by **Demortis** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 1:01 pm

Well, I just got broken

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 1:10 pm

Glad you like it.

Demortis · Post by **Demortis** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 1:11 pm

Oh yea, thank you!!!!!!! So many new ideas to use to gank players with

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 1:23 pm

Be a good sport and give them the link too. Should result in awesome mechacombat.