How to RP a follower of Hoar?
Jagged
Member Posts: 105
Hi everyone, I'm looking for some insight in how you would RP a follower of Hoar.
Which class, race, weapons, attributes, etc, would you suggest?
I'm far from a D&D expert so I only know what I've been reading online. I'm thinking either a human or half-orc as a F/C or maybe F/T with lawful neutral as an alignment. I would then be out seeking revenge during the main plot. Would a dwarf or halfling ever be a follower of Hoar?
I would really appreciate any recommendations on how you would play this character. Would PC even know of Hoar having been stuck in Candlekeep?
Thanks!
Which class, race, weapons, attributes, etc, would you suggest?
I'm far from a D&D expert so I only know what I've been reading online. I'm thinking either a human or half-orc as a F/C or maybe F/T with lawful neutral as an alignment. I would then be out seeking revenge during the main plot. Would a dwarf or halfling ever be a follower of Hoar?
I would really appreciate any recommendations on how you would play this character. Would PC even know of Hoar having been stuck in Candlekeep?
Thanks!
0
Comments
Let's see...
Hoar's Dogma:
Uphold true and fitting justice and maintain the spirit of the law, not the letter of the law. Fitting recompense will always accrue for one's actions. Violence will meet violence and evil pay back evil, but good will also come to those who do good. Walk the line of the Doombringer's teachings, seeking retribution, but do not fall into the trap of pursuing evil acts for evil's sake, for that way is seductive and leads only to one's downfall. Vengeance must be sought for all injustices, and all punishments must fit the crime. Revenge is sweetest when it is sharpened with irony. All attacks must be avenged. Those who do not respond to attacks against their person or that which they hold dear only invite further attacks.
I'm getting a Batman vibe from this...so Fighter/Thief works well.
I don't see why a dwarf or halfling wouldn't be a follower, though Halflings are (in general) maybe too carefree to qualify. Dwarves have long memories and are notorious grudgebearers so that might work better.
As for class, you could easily justify a cleric, a paladin, or even a bard -- poetic justice is part of Hoar's portfolio, which could make for an interesting kitted bard.
Would you have always been a devout follower or would it be something that the PC would become more sympathetic towards as the plot unfolded (after Gorion's death, etc.)? Because a dual-classed human fighter/cleric could really work nicely for a concept like that.
I had never given thought to Hoar before, but after reading that passage above, I kind of like their philosophy. I might have to give it more consideration in future.
I imagine a paladin of Hoar would be kind of like a darker form of a paladin of Tyr -- the distinction between vengeance and justice can get a bit blurry anyway, especially when said vengeance is divinely mandated. I know Tyr was trying to pull Hoar up into more LG territory anyway by getting him to focus on poetic vengeance, so the theoretical paladin of Hoar would probably be big on seeking retribution for the wrongs done to other people, ensuring the punishment fit the crime, etc.
For a Bhaalspawn paladin, I kind of think that the conflicted nature of a god like Hoar might ultimately be a better fit than someone like Tyr.
A paladin of Hoar would be darker than a paladin of Tyr in the same way that a paladin of Helm would be. They'd have somewhat different, probably less compassionate motivations than someone dedicated to a kinder god. I mean, paladins of Helm canonically come across as rigid and uninterested in helping people because they're too busy cutting down villains. Pallies of Hoar would possibly be a bit along the same lines.
They probably wouldn't be the nicest of folk, but then nice does not always equal good.
When you start using terms like "the distinction between vengeance and justice can get a bit blurry anyway", in my play through, that would mean that the paladin is wavering in their steadfastness. Any Paladin that I play knows exactly where the line is between justice and vengeance. He may wish he could cross that line, but he never will.
Also, to say that Hoar can "Technically" have paladins, to me, there is no Technically about being a paladin. it is like being 'Sort of pregnant'. Either you are a stalwart beacon of virtue and a paragon of justice or you aren't a paladin.
They literally have to be the best of the best of the best. They have to hold themselves to the absolute highest possible degree, period. The difference between a Paladin and a lawful good fighter is that the fighter would consider doing evil in extreme situations; a paladin would never even consider doing evil under any circumstances. They might think about it, but then utterly reject the idea without a second thought.
but again, these are all merely my feelings on the subject. I expect no one to change their beliefs to fit my way of seeing it. And I claim no superiority of position. Your's is a perfectly valid view point. I personally would never play such a paladin, but then I don't have to play your game.
I say that Hoar can "technically" have paladins because it's mentioned that any god who is LN, LG, or NG is allowed to have paladins. I don't know whether or not he is specifically mentioned as a paladin deity in any sourcebook, which is why I say he can technically have them instead of that he canonically does. Now, Jergal's entry specifically names paladins as being amongst his worshippers, which is way weirder to me than Hoar is.
I agree that pallies have to be paragons of virtue (even the swaggering Mililan crowd). I also agree that any hypothetical paladin of Hoar who crossed that line would fall, so I suppose our difference of opinion is about whether or not vengeance is always evil (or at best, neutral). I personally see a significant amount of overlap between Hoar's doctrine and Tyr's (part of Tyr's dogma also says "Deliver vengeance to the guilty for those who cannot do it themselves," so a focus on retribution does seem acceptable).
Would a paladin of Hoar be able to get away with as much as a LN cleric of Hoar? No, definitely not, but that goes for any faith. I do think you could play one fairly close to the way you'd play a Tyrran and be true to both Hoar's dogma and the LG alignment.
I like the idea of a Hoar pally. Spyder is right thought in that he/she would occasionally commit an evil act in the pursuit of vengeance. I would have no problem making an Undead Hunter in that roll even if it doesn't fit perfectly.
However, I'm liking the F/C idea so far. I'm thinking multiclass as he learns more cleric spells the more vengeance he dispenses. For now I'm leaning toward a dwarf.
I also really like the idea of an untrained berserker who learns of Hoar while on his quest for vengeance. This would conveniently happen around lvl 7.
Fighters, clerics and thieves are most canon followers of Hoar so any single-/dual-/multi-class combination would work. You could also try a Stalker.
However, my problem is less with how close they would have to follow the path and more with the fact that Hoar is more about vengeance that happens to coincide with justice rather than Justice itself. It seems to me that the doctrine that they are pledging themselves to would be a bit askew from your average Paladin path. Not to say it couldn't be reached, just that it is a bit foreign to what I imagine a Paladin would follow. Again, a Lawful good might follow it, but a Paladin might have one to many restrictions and disagreements with the tenants of the faith to quite follow as closely as a Paladin would.
On the other side, I can absolutely see an Assassin following Hoar, striking with vengeance wherever possible.