How can Aerie be a cleric/mage being an elf?
ifupauline
Member Posts: 405
Everything is in the title.
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Nonetheless, there're indeed cases when NPCs have extras if compared to charname.
For me, they reflect the speciality of a certain character, make them special and unique.
Also, they somehow compensate for not having Bhaalspawn abilities.
Aerie's illegal multi-class combo - for an elf.
Edwin's extra spells (not available for a specialist mage).
Minsc's beserk ability (not available for a ranger). Also, his Illegally low WIS for a ranger. And with such WIS he still can cast Priest spells in BG2.
Coran's extra bow proficiency (not available for a multiclass fighter/thief) + 20 Dexterity
Dorn's 19 STR coming from a half-orc (not possible for a half-orc to choose a blackguard kit).
Haer'Dalis's 2 pips in Short Swords (not available for a bard)
Kagain's 20 Constitution (and thus regeneration)
Quayle's (pre-EE) Illegally low DEX for an Illusionist (fixed with the EE)
Anomen's Illegal dual-class with only 12 WIS
But take a note, @ifupauline , that Aerie is a winged elf, not a simple elf. Winged elves are allowed that combo.
As a DM in PnP I'll often allow special characters if the player can give me a good story behind it. Class/race rules are more of a starting point.
Its a little more problematic in a CRPG, the computer is less flexible. But I see the many variations among NPCs as acknowledging the game's eclectic origins.
We can milk this for all its worth.
I'll keep you abreast of any other puns I come across.
"No, winged characters will unbalance the adventure."
"Can I be an elven cleric/mage?"
"You can be a half elf c/m"
"Oh... alright. But Avariels can be cleric/mages, right? What If I'm an Avariel who had lost her wings . That way I can be a non flying elven cleric/mage!"
"Um...you got me this time."
Doomguard
Benefits. The Doomguard is very military in organization and outlook. All members are trained to fight with a sword, gaining a +1 to attack rolls when wielding one. Those bashers normally denied the use of swords can use one without penalty, but they must abide by all other restrictions of their class.
Source: Planescape Campaign Setting
Everything decays.
We're just here to help it along.
- Factol Pentar of the Doomguard
Fiction writers , on the other hand, follow a few steps in order to make their characters interesting, and one of those steps is "what my character wants more than anything else" and "what my character fears more than anything else" .
Aerie could have been just a cool cleric/mage , but instead she wants to have her wings back more than anything else in the world, and at the same she fears that the fact that she'll have to accept her life the way it is today. That's surely good writing, and that's why I compared her to a book character.
I probably read too much into it though. Sorry. Pardon the rant. ^_^;;
Safana can charm
Tiax can summon ghast
Faldorn can summon wolves
Eldoth can create poison arrows
Yeslick can dispel
Quayle has an extra invisibility
Baeloth has extra spells in his book
Imoen is awesome
Alora is lucky
Garrick can ...suck?
Anyway, bg1 npcs have a lot of these little bonus abilities. Feels like they used players's option:skills and powers rulebook that is aptly dubbed 2,5th edition