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Paragon of the Day
gillrmn
Member Posts: 7,800 Arc User
Purple dragon night forth, it would be once a week because of too much work on each paragon class. Also would be redoing earlier paragon paths to put something "new" in it.
Recently I find myself defending the class system in 4e a lot. So I thought I will start a thread in which I will pick a paragon path each day to make you curious about the various(should be more than 100, though I didn't count) paragon paths.
The paragon paths will be specific to 4e and Forgotten Realm setting and not outside it. I will just post lore, sometimes spiced with my bad sense of humor, for that paragon path.
If you have any 3e build, post it here and I will find its closest paragon path in 4e.
If any 4e maestro wants to post a paragon he or she likes, they are welcome. I will skip that one and post another one next day, so as to avoid repetition. (There is a lot of choice in paragons).
EDIT:
Index
Day #1: Gray Guard
Day #2: Sorcerous Sword
Day #3: Death Arrow
Day #4: Silverstar
Day #5: Euphonic bow
Day #6: Unseen Mage
Day #7: Cloaked Sniper
Day #8: Mountain Devotee
Day #9: Dark Watcher
Day#10: Soul reaper
Day#11: Ancestral weapon
Day#12: Time Bender
Day#13: Purple Dragon Knight
Day#14:
~~~~~
Demand 1: Arcane archer
Demand 2: Mystic Theurge
Demand 3: The Invisible Man
Demand 4: <<waiting>>
Recently I find myself defending the class system in 4e a lot. So I thought I will start a thread in which I will pick a paragon path each day to make you curious about the various(should be more than 100, though I didn't count) paragon paths.
The paragon paths will be specific to 4e and Forgotten Realm setting and not outside it. I will just post lore, sometimes spiced with my bad sense of humor, for that paragon path.
If you have any 3e build, post it here and I will find its closest paragon path in 4e.
If any 4e maestro wants to post a paragon he or she likes, they are welcome. I will skip that one and post another one next day, so as to avoid repetition. (There is a lot of choice in paragons).
EDIT:
Index
Day #1: Gray Guard
Day #2: Sorcerous Sword
Day #3: Death Arrow
Day #4: Silverstar
Day #5: Euphonic bow
Day #6: Unseen Mage
Day #7: Cloaked Sniper
Day #8: Mountain Devotee
Day #9: Dark Watcher
Day#10: Soul reaper
Day#11: Ancestral weapon
Day#12: Time Bender
Day#13: Purple Dragon Knight
Day#14:
~~~~~
Demand 1: Arcane archer
Demand 2: Mystic Theurge
Demand 3: The Invisible Man
Demand 4: <<waiting>>
Post edited by gillrmn on
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Path of the Class: Paladin
Any Prerequisites: Initmidating and insightful
Lore: Gray Guards are gray in every sense. They are not popular with the clergy due to their ambigous tactics. They will often bend the rules, break them and will follow their objective with intellegence just like their enemy. Their enemy, however evil, will respect them for being a tough and unpredictable opponent. They may even steal, make morally ambigous choices and may sacrifice one for many.
They do not want any luxuries. Gray name comes from their armor which is not painted or decorated. It is just gray - plain and practical. So are their meathods - plain and practical.
They are jut too many to list, more than 100 i think. But if you already like a particular kind of character, I can refer a paragon which is closer to your ideal.
I will just refer the lore as mechanics can be changed to balance or to facilitate active combat, but lore will remain same.
For example, Grey(or Gray) guard is kind of neutral paladin which was absent from 3e. It is not blackguard so you do not turn to dark side, but are still not that dumb goody two shoe paladin.
It also brings forth the fact that lawful good is not lawful nice. In fact it can be your worst nightmare, depending on where you stand.
I think you said there's no truly similar Paragon Path but come up with the closest thing so we can link all those asking if they'll be included to it.
I'm really shocked there isn't something similar in 4e because tome it seems like players want it more than some of the more core classes like druids.
In any case I love the thread. I'm looking forward to reading up on some of the Paragon Paths I hear so much about but know absolutely nothing about.
The Gray Guard sounds like my type of Paladin. I could definitely enjoy playing a character that did whatever it took to do what he felt was right even if it was wrong. Heck I don't think I can watch the news without somebody else, if not myself, saying we should do some audacious act to make the world a better place. I think it's just human nature to desire to be, yet never act like, a Gray Guard.
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Path of the Class: Bladesinger
Any Prerequisites: open to bladesingers
Lore: Bladesingers are those who mix and match might of steel with might of magic.
The bartender with fears in his eyes explains the bewildered guard, "But there was just one! A thin one with hood covering her body. At first we thought she was just a rogue rat but her sword was sheathed flamboyantly as if challenging others to steal it. Then Olaf the barbarian threw a mug of beer at her face to start the fight. But the mug stopped short in the air, it paused before falling down. Then she looked out of her cloak with her eyes burning in purple fire and heavy Olaf was magically lifted, hitting the roof violently and then falling to floor. That is when his friends the mage, the duelist and rogue attacked."
"One person? Was she a mage? Than must be better one than this one lying here."
"No! She was a master sword, the best I have seen. The duelist and fighter attacked her and the hit landed. But her skin was hard like a stone and they rebounded back. Then what happened was beyond my wildest imagination. As the wizard was preparing to attack, safe behind the two allies, she jumped and spectral wings appeared on her. She flew over the heights of both the warriors and was behind them. And then as she was standing next to the wizard preparing spell, she stabbed him in a flash. Even before the two warriors could act."
"So that is why wizard has a wound from sword. So have this warrior, but where is other one? Was she a swordsman with a little bit of magic? Did she kidnap him?"
"No! Thats what I am telling you. She didn't do anything. She raised her hand as if summoning magik, then she picked the fallen chair and sat down taking the beer and food which their party had ordered on their table. Meanwhile the fighter turned on the duelist. They started trying to kill each other. Duelist finally killed the fighter in that combat between allies. Then the duelist came and kneeled in front of her. That is when she finished eating and stood up, opening a magical door in front of her where there was nothing before. Then she looked back and green rays of emerald emanated from her fingertips - the duelist just dissappeared, first his flesh then bones too. A little bit of ash was left in his place which soon disappeared in wind."
"... Do you think I am a fool? Nice story you made up there. I am not recommending this as incident to insurance company. Looks like you planned it and now covering up with ridiculous story. I am taking you in as a suspect for murder and kidnapping."
I will put in arcane archer tomorrow morning. There exist closest approximations to all the class known in FR.
For now enjoy bladesinger(different than swordmage). Swordmage is a person specializing in magic of sword, but bladesinger mixes sword and magic.
p.s. Gray guard knows he is doing wrong thing, but still does it. Its like, "I am prepared to do evil and damn my soul for eternity. For I shall be happy that my suffering made the world a better place to live."
In any case that sounds like an extremely fun class to play. *nudges cryptic* add it please :-D
P.S. I guess I didn't make it clear I understood that. Basically the Gray Guard is a person willing to do harm for the better of the world in their own mind. I guess the best known fictional character that would fit that description would be Ras Al Ghul. He knows his actions hurt the innocent but doesn't care as long as long as it is done to benefit the world as a whole. He would never go out of his way to hurt an innocent person but won't hold back if it aided him in hurting the guilty.
The last spell was disintegration btw. There are magic missles also. You can attack the darkness
And other spell was fly. Sorcerous paragon of bladesinger is more into magic than sword, so I showed the use of spells more. But other paragon can be more into melee and less into magic.
I wanted to wait till tomorrow to comment on this, as today belongs to bladesinger, but tomorrow may die. So I thought I would rather comment now:)
p.s. Please keep focus for today on the bladesinger. Bladesinger sad, because its his day. XD
Ranger is martial class - no magic at all. The seekers are almost the next extension to arcane archer with much more options. But it is tough to use them though. They use primal power instead of arcane power but work almost the same way. For me arcane archer of 3e was awesome because of DC 20 fort or die arrows.
EDIT: Also as I am not going into mechanics, but it will be nice to know if the game has any "save or die" power? I don't think so as it will topple 4e mechanics, but would be nice if we get confirmation.
There was no primal source in 3e btw, but if anyone is still adamant about "arcane power source" there is a bard specializing in bow. I choose what I thought was 'sounds cool' arcane archer(so I have interesting story), but there are many way to have an arcane archer you want in 4e.
EDIT: Again I am not going into mechanics to discuss about effectiveness of a class in pnp as that would be independent of mechanics in game(as powers here are a bit different). But I am exploring those only lorewise.
Also you can be a martial source with ranger and still have striker arrow shot (not just controller). Even a rogue sniper. But one archer class is enough for now. We sill next shift to something else, a different demand please. (Something challenging please
I happened to like Mystic Theurge and am adding it to the queue request. The "balancing" of 4E made this go as extinct as Arcane Archer. But if I'm wrong, do show me its $e...I mean 4e equivalent!
Oh! A challenging one!. It caught me unaware but lets lay the groundwork for this.
What I assume is:-
- No use for armor
- Divine spells like basic heal or primal soothing spell
- Arcane/damaging primal/psionic damaginging spells
- At least two kind of sources
- Basically a Red Mage who doesn't hit a lot/doesn't uses the sword.
Also, as game does not allow(at least for now):-
- no multiclassing
-no hybrid
Although it would be easier to do this with hybrid perhaps, but I have something in mind which is close to it. But I guess that will be debatable
Will post it next.
Feel free to defend it but I don't see a single game mechanic that couldn't be done in a classless system.
Just sayin. :P
If you want an Arcane Archer then the closest feel of it you can get from the Seeker class. Seeker is a primal class, but it's a controller with defender or striker as secondary roles. It basically enchants its arrows to do magic. An example of low level power would be Fungal Bloom that hits an enemy with an arrow, immobilizes him and fungal blossoms appear around the enemy that might attack him. A high level power: Bones of Earth - average weapon damage, but the enemy takes 10 damage whenever it moves (save ends).
Mystic Theurge would be only possible with hybrid system.
I don't know... maybe using spellscarred on cleric(multiclass), or... Day#4 may come close to a Mystic Theurge when sticking to pure classes, apart from hybrid.
Regading AA, yes seeker is a best way to go (if you see Day #3 in first post it is seeker) but it uses primal power. So there are other options like going Selderine-godess paragon path(Selderine Devoute or Selderine Adept it was called I think) or going that bard which specializes in bow(forgot that paragon) or even a warlock.
EDIT: Spellplague is arcane btw, coming out of the weave.
Path of the Class: Seeker
Any Prerequisites: BloodPact seeker only
Lore: The group of human warriors lost near the Eladrin territory in NW woods, were in a pinch. They could see no enemy, hear no enemy but they can feel the chilling presence. It seems more of a deathly chill unlike the tree-huggers and long-ears they were familiar with.
Suddenly ethereal wolves appeared in spirit form and they started chasing any human who tried to step out for cover in trees away from the group in open. This was an attack. Suddenly and arrow came flying towards commander who ducked. But unthinkable happend. The arrow while changing trajectory in the air pierced another soldier. Commander felt fear and guilty for having his subordinate killed. His armor might have taken the attack but the soldiers with him were just mercenaries. The scums of the streets he was training to become soldiers "to construct the world for greater good and reclaiming it from uncivilized wilds".
But the spirits hounding them were gone so soldiers scrambled for cover in trees. That was a mistake. Thorns came out blinding one instantly, piercing another one's hand making him useless in combat as he threw the sword because of pain. But something even strange happened. The wounded hand as if possesed, moved to grab the sword while the soldier was desperately trying to hold his own hand with the other one. He cried out in pain. But he then starated attacking his companions, no rather his wounded hand started to attack. He was also dead soon, from the blade of allies.
Two more soldiers were left. They couldn't see anyone and in fear, they had already threw their weapons down. They were dead too and the commander couldn't see anything. Suddenly he saw... eyes with snister smile, an elf licking his lips. He had a scroll in his hands - the recruitment list they had dropped someway back.
"You name should be here. Only one with armor huh? This one..." A chilling voice was heard. The commander tried to attack elf but missed because of the fear he felt. Were there more of them? And then he could see him no more. Then he heard his name whispered behind him - just before he he was lying on ground writhing in pain, with an arrow in his neck hissing his name.
"Your fear makes this so much enjoyable! Kukukuku..."
And the whole party of human raiders was lost.
Also note, "they had already thrown their weapons down".
Himmelville - Are you easily frightened?
Click Here
On one side of the mountain, there were bones...
It doesn't, right? I should have gone with my earlier choice of archer bard, it feels more arcane. But the seeker art and the chick with arrow distracted me very quickly and...
Well, I could have put more arcane archer like abilities here like AoE effect of arrows with magic, but I again got distracted to make it look cool and evil kind of seeker which breaks the norms. But if it interested you, then I am satisfied with that mistake.
Although it doesn't seem like, there are spell like abilities involved. Think of a mage using "Fear" etc. like mind spells with arrows.
Hehe. True but what if they are also storing 200Proof alcohol in bar illegally? I mean its a shady tavern after all...
Truth to be told, I found that I used just one stabbing and a lot of spells So I thought, ok lets put less spells.
p.s. If anyone hasn't noticed, if I have decided what to post already, I put it in black text in first post. It is kind of like a spoiler tag.
This written however, the entries so far are excellent and I look forward to future entries inc my future thuerge one(s)
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Yes, those are arcane, even though ranger is martial class. This may perhaps be due to faerun being high magic setting, or because of influence of portals to eladrin lands (as their lands are full of arcane energy).
Lol, come on cut me some slack. There was no primal before 4e (at least not explicitly). But ok.
One example of arcane+archer as zeb has dug out just above. Other one I will put after the red mage tomorrow.
I'm with him. Almost sounds like a ranged assassin.
Even though it doesn't sound very much like an Arcane Archer it definitely could fill part of the void left in the AA's absence.
I'd love to see this implemented at some point in time into NWO if for no other reason than the fact the game seems to display a lack of love for archery as far as we've seen thus far.
I'm really enjoying the stories though gillrmn. It's one thing to be told what classes do and what their concepts are but it's another thing completely to be shown what their capabilities are. Keep them coming!
Path of the Class: Wizard(Illusionist)
Any Prerequisites: Any arcane or divine worshipper of Selune(must use implements)
Lore: Tim the Enchanter was travelling with a group of knights through the neverwinter woods. He was quite frail and always neglected his health. "Why were we not provided with a carriage?" Tim who used his cane for support to walk the treacherous trail exclaimed.
The party was escorting little Robin through the Woods to a secret location. Little Robin had witnessed some devil worshippers in the holy monastery of Helm so Lord Neverember had put him into witness protection program.
One of the knights then offered to piggy-back the mage. Other knights were looking in disdain, but Tim climbed the back of the Sir knight very quickly. Another of the knight offered little Robin to piggyback him, however little Robin refused in a sense as he was offended by the offer. Other knights looked approvingly at little Robin.
"So Tim, the story you told me about the dragon..."
"Yes, yes. So you see, Rhespen decieved by Winterflower was killed by his own master. But he still loved winterflower. However they were able to escape with one and only one of the Tome."
The knight carrying him cried out "Can you stop telling lies to little kids? As if you know of any stories, you can hardly travel a mile's distance by yourself."
"Oh! My bed for today does not want me to talk close to his ears. Why don't you climb up too, little Robin?" Tim was completely shameless and had quite a nasty mouth.
But then suddenly they were surrounded by bandits. The bandits demanded little Robin. Somehow they were doing bidding of devil worshippers. But how? Tim was thinking. He tried to parley with the bandits but they were in no mood to listen. With mage and child in center, knights started to fight bandits. It was a tough fight. "Don't interfere but protect the child." Knights had told Tim. Tim nodded.
But soon the knights were kneeling after being tired. The bandits were relentless and the chief had not yet entered the fray. Then Tim told little Robin.
"See, the spell doesn't have to be very complicated. This is the first spell I learned, but it is most powerful than most powerful of spells here. Those who are afraid of parley and refuse are always lacking in will power. Watch!"
The enchanter enchanted some word in air and all the bandits held their head and started screaming, as if they were facing the fears worse than death. The opening was all the knights wanted. They slayed the bandits even when tired and wounded.
One of the bandits strayed to the chief for help. Chief punched a hole in the chest of his own men. Then he howled and turned into a werewolf. The knights who could barely support their own weight were in trouble.
"And always remember, you must have friends in high places which can send beam of lights to help you. Like this." Tim raised his hand up towards the canopy of trees and mumbled something which sounded like, "Beam me up, Selune!"
Radiant lights emerged from sky and hit the werewolf on head making him bow. Then from that light, emerged sparkles which touched the knights who were wounded and tired, healing them and closing their wounds. Knights were fresh again and ready.
A terrible fight occurred. Knights were winning but they were not able to bring the werewolf down with their weapons. Time told them to trip the wounded wolf and hold him down. As soon as they did that, he climbed on the chest of the chief. Then with the wooden stick, he stabbed him. The werewolf cried and pushed all of them away. A wooden staff can't wound a werewolf. Any wound will close as long as not caused by silver. The werewolf took the staff out of his chest... the wound was not closing. Infact it was bleeding as if stabbed with silver.
"Howww..." Nobody knows if it was a howl or a question that beast asked before his death.
As the knights were collecting supplies with new found respect for Tim, his bed (I mean knight who carried him) came to hi quietly, "About the Tome, was it of any use to kill the dragon emperor?"
Tim smiled. "It is a story related to our savior Selune. What better time to retell it again!". That day, Tim was able to raise his status in the clergy by recruiting knights as new faithfuls.
Next day I will retry arcane archer. Zeb already gave an excellent take on it, so I will take bard class with archer paragon path to make it look arcane.
The wooden stick killed him as all implements and weapons of silverstars are regarded as silver for attack. It is better to have a sorcerer for more power, but I wanted to make him look frail (to compensate for low base attack), so I took a mage.
References (in case someone didn't get the joke):-
Little robin
Tim the enchanter
Beam me up
Traitors story in FR novel "Realm of the elves"
p.s. Story was long to show the peaceful nature of Mystic Theurge. Also he tells story because Mystic Theurge have high knowledge of arcane and religion (from memory, I am not sure if I am correct on this but I think their religion and arcane knowledge were supposed to be high)
Yes, my mistake. I will make a better attempt at AA tomorrow.
And thank you for words of encouragement.
Path of the Class: Bard
Any Prerequisites: Any Bard
Lore: Leeroy the swordmage was walking through neverwinter woods to meet someone. Elminster had pointed the location in map to him in his madness. He was not sure if he was just on a wild goose chase. He was looking for 'A dragon who sings an archer with no wings'. How was the dragon to help him in his search for Mystra's remnants.
Suddenly an arrow pierced in front of his feet as a warning shot. He looked at the shot's direction and immediately understood the meanings of the mad-mage's verse. It was a dragonborn bard. A large string instrument slung on his back with many strings, a bow in his hands and dragon's look in his eyes.
"I am Leeroy Jenkins, a follower of Mystra. I am looking for any information regarding her. Elminster sent me."
The bard summoned him to climb the tree and bring the arrow to him. When he climbed, they sat there in silence as if waiting for someone. As the noon changed to dusk, suddenly the dragonborn nudged the swordmage who had fallen asleep. For the first time he heard the deep voice of dragonborn, "For Mystryl, those drows must not meet netheril today."
The swordmage immediately understood, he was to fight the two drows and the armored merceneries with them. It would be four Vs one, but he was hoping for buffs from the bard. He immediately jumped and even though he heard the bard say 'wait!' he couldn't stop mid-air. When he jumped in between the other party, he realized his folly. They were prepared for many bandits in the journey, just one swordmage was not a big deal for them.
Swordmage took the initiative and tried to kill the drow, but the armored mercenary came between them. "Ah! I should have coated my sword in acid first..." thought Leeroy. But then an arrow came swiftly and disappeared, absorbed in the armor. It did nothing! "Useless." thought Leeroy. But then his sword shattered the armor without any resistance as if the armor was made of thin delicate glass.
But still, the four companions were too much for the swordmage with just two eyes. Then suddenly he heard the melody and his heart elated with joy. He could see nothing else, hear nothing else but feel the urge to dance. He quickly jumped in air as his heart fluttered with the sound of strings. The sword passed just under his feet. Then he felt the sudden need to slash five times quickly with the rising crescendo. Then suddenly a string changed the flow of music and he felt the need to jump back, just as he felt the nice breeze of axe touching his hairs...
The swordmage has been dancing for quite some time now. There were arrows flying near him, which would disappear near him causing a boom to be heard. Some of the arrows pierced him ephemerally and giving him vigor instead of piercing him. Some arrows hit the enemies and instead of killing them, they bound them momentarily with arcane ropes. All this, it appeared to Leeroy, was to assist his dancing. They all matched the timing so well with the melody which was moving his heart.
And then it struck to him. Ever since the combat started, he never used a single spell. His sword was a rusty sword, though ancient, durable and able to support arcane magic. But eve since the combat started, he never struck anyone even when he got so many chances... no infact, his vigor and stamina would have run out long ago, and he had been missing the blows of the opponents very very closely. In fact, whenever the opponents were to strike him, he would either dodge by himself guided by music, or they would be bound by arcane magic, or they would hold their heads as if someone had struck them with headache or sonic boom. Ever since the combat started, he was never the one fighting. Apart from the fact that it seemed that whoever was fightning the combat didn't want to hurt any of the four people. Suddenly and arrow flew in the combat covered in ice and struck the foot of the two bodyguards. Their feet froze and they were stuck to ground. Suddenly he heard the bard's voice behind him.
"Look! An Owlbear!" Leeroy turned his eyes along with everyone else to look for owlbear when he suddenly found he had been teleported far away. He looked at the bard. His fingers were bleeding, perhaps from pulling the strings of both arrow and the instrument very fast. He looked exhausted.
"Mission accomplished, though it would have gone better. Fate is fate however." Suddenly Leeroy remembered the reason he came to meet the dragonborn for.
"Ah! Do you know where Mystra's essence is? I came to find about it."
"If I tell you, I would have to kill you. And I don't want to be a murderer." Leeroy smiled at his joke while dragonborn turned his back and started walking in darkness. Just then Leeroy realized it was not a joke. The bard could have killed those four anytime, either with his arrows of magic, or from the magic of arrows. But why wouldn't he kill them? And then Leeroy felt what he had not felt for a long time - Fear!
I think this does the job of presenting arcane archer well.
And yes, he could have killed them with precision shots but I wanted to make an opposite of that "Evil Elf" death arrow I presented before.
Next I will be doing Invisible man, any other next demand is appreciated.