I always saw Vampirism as more of a medical condition than a race or ethnicity.
I agree in that it is more of a condition than a race, but it results in such a distinct transformation that vampires would no longer be considered members of their original race.
I am super-into this idea, and would probably want to participate. However, my idea is not only in the same line as Dead Cruiser in that I would like to play an (ex)villain, but I was also considering the vampire stuff (curse you for pre-empting me, etc~). Therefore, I think I'd better hold off unless people want a crazy amount of semi-evil going around.
@The New Yorker Do you mean arcanist or do you actually mean alchemist? I don't see how alchemy would be immediately useful in combat but our people would probably have useful side hobbies. Additionally, is a drow elf just another word for dark elf? @Dead Cruiser If vampirism is a "relatively" new (disease? Condition?) I'd be okay with it. I'll trust your abilities to come up with a little lore in that department. Also, are you okay with having another vampire around? @McHaggis Beastmaster is cool, half races are cool, female and mid forties is cool XD
@Enzayne So long as the party isn't majority evil, I'd be fine with you hopping in as another vampire. But you both need to come up with a reason about why you're both going to represent such a small (race?) group of people.
I have a scheming, spellcasting noble in mind. I have no problem playing second fiddle to a progenitor, if that is the way it goes. Willing to hash it out any way it goes!
A bit more lore. A balance against overpowered magic.
The Universe created the gods, and not the other way around. This means that the universe can continue to grant power if it so chooses. The Primary ways to gain a piece of this power are greatness, partnership, and grants. These are not mutually exclusive. Also, when we are discussing divinity in humans we are discussing a fraction of it, not suddenly being a god.
Greatness can come from renown, accomplishing tasks, or being badass. Typical heroes like knights gradually gain this type of divinity. This is the most reliable form of divinity around, and those who wield it tend to be familiar with the benefits they receive.
You can also partner up with a divine or partially divine beings in order to gain their strength. Extremely powerful beings like gods will grant you power based on faith and an understanding of their philosophy. Paladins and Bishops strive to understand the greater beings of the universe. Lesser beings like dragons may join up with a person for any reason, and over time they will lend each-other both their divinity and some of their characteristics.
The last way to achieve some divinity is by being born or granted it by the universe. People with particularly prestigious or powerful bloodlines, gods, vampires, dragons, and other mythical creatures simply have some divinity upon being created. This type of divinity tends to interfere the least with magic. However, it also has the most weaknesses since the condition can be removed.
The only real cost of divinity is that it is hard to use with magic. No one knows why, but it just is that way. However, here are some benefits you could possibly have. -Respect of great beasts. Things like dragons may decide to talk to you. -Faster and stronger -Legendary weapons tend to synchronize themselves with divinity, amplifying their effects -Rage can become strength, unlike magic where a constant calm is required. -Simple luck
My thought was that vampirism is only somewhere in the area of seven or eight thousand years old. My character really wouldn't be a "more powerful vampire" than any others; he would mostly benefit from age and experience.
I can start drafting up lore or a character as needed, just tell me what you need from me.
Another vampire I'm neutral towards. I'm not opposed to it, but I feel like we could benefit from some more diversity in that department. Perhaps some other horror trope that we can play up? A lich? A mummy? Perhaps a witch or a werewolf, or something taking off in that direction?
@Dead CruiserHonestly, I think a character like that would fall into the realm of a minor god simply because of the amount of time he'd have to accrue power/artifacts. Also, he'd probably be too busy trying to manage the apocalypse.
I know this role-play is about the accomplished, but I'm afraid that's a bit too high on what I'd see as the power scale. You'd have to deliver a very convincing character sheet/lore. I wouldn't mind you being a vampire lord, but 8000 years old is strong.
Also, this is supposed to be about characters who've already had their (mostly) happy endings. He's probably gone through eight events of this scale before, so for him this isn't "getting called back from retirement" but rather "that annoying chore I have every few centuries."
Here's the idea at its core: he's essentially an immortal bon vivant. He literally created the condition of vampirism so that he could live luxuriously forever. He's a debaucherous hedonist, with horrifically sadistic tastes and pleasures. Like Dorian Gray turned up to eleven. The complexity of the character draws from his perspective from having lived for so long; the world is his playground, and he doesn't want anyone mucking it up. Anyone who would rule over or destroy the world is in direct opposition of his goals, and he finds himself compelled to stand against them. He doesn't really care about good or evil, or right or wrong. He just wants to get loaded and have a good time. That aside, he's also an exceptional swordsman and a powerful magician who specializes in a strange, arcane art known as "sangromancy."
EDIT: I do see your point, and I would agree that this sort of thing would become routine to him after so long. Perhaps we can reach a compromise here in some way, maybe just toning him down to be more or less the same character, only younger, and this is the first of his "chores."
@Dead Cruiser Yeah. If he was let's say 700 years old I'd consider that just to be very powerful, and I'd be okay with that. He'd be one of the oldest living beings alive, outside of actual gods. Put up a CS and define his magic to me and I'll see what I think.
Also, I think that this is enough people, so I'm going to put the OOC up either later today or tomorrow.
@The New Yorker Do you mean arcanist or do you actually mean alchemist? I don't see how alchemy would be immediately useful in combat but our people would probably have useful side hobbies. Additionally, is a drow elf just another word for dark elf? @Dead Cruiser If vampirism is a "relatively" new (disease? Condition?) I'd be okay with it. I'll trust your abilities to come up with a little lore in that department. Also, are you okay with having another vampire around? @McHaggis Beastmaster is cool, half races are cool, female and mid forties is cool XD
Have you ever played Pathfinder? Well it would be a little bit like that. As an alchemist, he would be able to combine natural and magical elements in order to create potions, poisons, and bombs of varying attributes. This could allow him to change his physical appearance in combat, create a barricade of ice, or inoculate his enemies. There are a myriad of options for in-combat alchemy, not to mention all the use he could be in ordinary pursuits, as well. So yes, I do mean an alchemist.
As for the Drow question: yes, essentially. The term Drow was made famous by D&D campaigns where the adventurers would encounter mean looking elves. They began as simply a sinister subrace, but evolved over time with fan outcry; which provided the hack writer R.A Salvatore with a pathetically profitable venture to exploit. Anyway, my character would be a former Prince from the underdark, banished from his home after his royal line was usurped. During his time in the underdark he became incredibly confident with the sciences of biology and herbalism (generally considered a psuedoscience in our world), leading him down the road of master alchemist. I would, of course, elucidate more on this in my CS if you find this to be a viable option.
