As I'm sure anyone who has read the forums may know, those of us who post often these forums often have crazy character ideas that few of us may ever be able to play. I myself have 3 'active' characters plus another half-dozen I've played on one-off games or have since retired.

As such, I invite people to post character sketches here for character ideas you may have had, but doubt that you'll ever get to play for whatever reasons. If nothing else, we can give ideas to new players who may find there way onto this forum.

Archetype - Arcane
Background - Templar
Race - Human or Val

This character was born into a highly religious family in either the conservative Orthodoxy of Milandir or in one of the more strict religious factions in the Coryani Empire. They were trained from birth to know that Mankind are the Children of Illiir, and that their life was meant to serve and glorify the Gods. This character was taught to honour the Gods above all things, and that--as stated in the Canticle of the Gods--all the Gods must be given their due. As such, this character is by all means a religious fanatic.

Then, while entering their adolescent years after having been taught in very strict religious schools, they begin to manifest Eldritch powers. While not in itself a sin, many of the factions of the Pantheon of Man (such as the Mother Church or the Milandric Orthodox) teach that to use such skills is an abomination before the Gods as you are taking their gifts and twisting them for your own power and glorification. Being from a highly religious background, you attempt to hide your powers, and dive into church schoolings and studying the Cants of the Gods in an attempt to ignore or remove this 'taint' from yourself, but none of the cants take hold. While your classmates find these easy to master, none feel 'right' to you, and even the most basic cants escape you.

Every now and again, you find that you lose control over the Eldritch powers you have tried so hard to deny. On one hand, you know that these powers are wrong as you have been taught since childhood, but unlike your attempts to learn the Cants of the Gods, they also feel so much more natural. You begin--surreptitiously--to explore these powers, learning to control them. You start by saying you are only doing it so that you can better hide them from others, but soon you start doing it because using them makes you feel good. Makes you feel powerful.

Alas, you lack of focus towards the cants and the teachings in semenary have you wash out of the priesthood, and instead you are transferred to the Holy Orders of the Templar within your chosen religious faction. With less magical oversight, you are better able to grow into your powers, but due to the admonishments against Eldritch Power, you still have to hide who you really are. Eventually, you are detached from your temple duties to travel the world as a pilgrim and as a defender of the faith. Free of the oversight of the Temples, you may now use your powers in such a way that you no longer have to fear immediate death or ostercism from your faith. However, outside of the protection of the Temple, you find that you are now hunted by another faction: The Harvesters of Ymandragore.

It seems that no matter where you go, you must continue to hide who you are. . .

ZEN NIERITE

Archetype: MARTIAL Background: TEMPLAR

FLUFF: What does it mean to strive in the name of Nier? How does a Nierite define thier personal excellence in a world where Nier has already chosen (a legendary) avatar? No matter what you do with your life you know you'll finish second to, and be inferior to, Leonydas in the eyes of Nier & his judgement.

So...you've decided to specialize. You want to become the "perfect soldier." The first step, if it's possible, is to understand all the various facets of violence & the battlefield. If you can get that then you'll be able to develop correct responses to any & all tactical challenges. You have a hard "pilgrimage" ahead of you as you'll need to go to and survive as many different kinds of violent conflicts as possible.

Like many of your Nierite peers you want to be the first through the door & into the fray. Many people might describe you as fearless...or even stupidly brave. You fit that part of the Nierite stereotype perfectly.

Unlike the stereotype you tend to be reflective outside of the heat of battle. You are not interested in blind dogma or an Argy-Bargy contest to see who shouts their beliefs the loudest. The bodies you leave on the battlefield speak loudly enough. You seek out new ideas either through reflection (staring into a campfire at night) or from examine the view points of others. Always looking for insights that have battlefield ramifications.

A few things to ponder: Do you think your Nierite brethren are sometimes bone heads? Or are you more envious of their effortless zeal? Do you dream of testing yourself in the Pillars? Does it bother you that one of the Pillars is in the hands of atheist/heretics on Ymandragore? What of Milandir's ridiculous assertion that Nier is a minor Diety...do they know who's Valinor judges each soul?!? How do you interact with Milandesian priests?

CRUNCH: Do you use a great sword...or a flamberge? Or neither? Maybe if you come from Milandir or Almeric you use a Bastard Sword (which many val'Emman did in the first campaign). If so then you can cast mid battle or even use a shield.

With the martial archetype you should concentrate on utility style spells. Your ranks in Arcanum won't go up 3 times each tier and eventually won't hit much in combat.

Skills should be straightforward. Melee is your bread and butter. You'll also want a lot of ranks in Mettle as an ultimate soldier who isn't fazed by anything, and Battle to represent a combination of your situational awareness on the battlefield & your effort to understand the ebb and flow of combat. You might even want a few ranks in either knowledge (history) or (engineering).

Paths: while you probably want HC to secure your place as an "elite" warrior of the Temple of Nier you also want to go Grandmaster 1 & 2 before finishing Tier 3. Poach Weapon tricks like Juggernaughts Hammer that let you do things with your blade that other soldiers and Nierites can't. Myrmidon and War Priest might make good choices to round out your development.

ARCANE PUGILIST

MARTIAL archetype HUMAN* race PIRATE ISLES nation EXPATRIATE background

The Pirate Isles are not a place renown for "civilization" but you were the child or ward of an important ship's "officer" (surgeon, navigator or even captain) and enjoyed reasonable stability and freedom from poverty while growing up. You weren't pampered...it's always been clear to you that you have to stand on your own two feet. So as a result, early on you figured out how to throw (and take) a punch. You were talented enough that it seemed likely that with hard work and luck you'd have your own ship someday.

That changed when your arcane "gift" started manifesting. The Ymandrakes caught wind of you ... and that was pretty much the end of your dreams. You've fled to the mainlands as an "Expatriate" which is kinda funny in a black sort of way. Expatriates (aka exiles) usually flow the other way. You now owe the Sanctorum a debt for their help in resettling you in the one place lawless enough to feel a little like home - Almeric. You owe Ymandragore some payback, and if the fighting in Almeric doesn't get you killed by next week, maybe you can also repay the people in the Hawk & Shield who saved your life.

CRUNCH: Because you are a martial archetype you are never going to be a "full caster" ... but you don't need to be if you go Fighting Technique: Arcimious Primus (your spells will be delivered through the MT: Arcane Strike). At creation you'll start out with 4 ranks in melee (unarmed) from (archetype, race, pirate isles & electve). Take 3 ranks in Arcanum (race, expatriate & elective). Don't forget to take 3 ranks of Heal to qualify for the talent Prestidigitation.

Your advancement to 1.5 includes path (Arcane Apprentice), +1 to any 6 skills,any 2 talents (one of which is ASC 1) and finally Any 1 talent (for learn fighting technique: Arcimious Primus). Going forward your next three advancements are almost certainly the other 2 skill bumps and +2 to all defenses. Hone your fighting and casting skills in further Tiers by taking the paths grandmaster (fist) and maybe Talon of the Hawk

*mechanically (and thematically) the Human race works best. But Undir and Val work with minimal tweaking. You could build a dark-kin or gnome build as well though the fluff should change to reflect more challenges to survive in a hostile world.

Ss'ressen prostitute

Female Ss'ressen (Ghost Scale or Emerald Scale) Arcane Courtesan

After a fight with the matriarch, you have fled the clutch to explore the world. Finding that you are quite social, you cater to the... depraved elements of human society. As an agent of the Sanctorum, you hide from Harvesters in plain sight by being so obvious in your activities that even they are disgusted by them and avoid you.

CRUNCH: Only two ranks in Arcanum to start, however you have a broad range of social and stealth skills and fill party gaps as a 'secondary' caster. Lots of utility spells and Counterspells (ta) as well as being the party 'face'.

Secret Society: Sanctorum of the Arcane

Flaw: Heretic (Herka or Fire Dragon); As long as you avoid Old Coryan/Sulphur Marshes, the Matriarch Mother is unlikely to assassinate you...

Paths: Talon of the Hawk (Journeyman), Assassin, Talon of the Hawk (Master)

I'll try and just list off the concepts here that I have a skeleton or full build for:
Val'Tensen psionic general. Expert undisciplined psion going for Milandisian Warmind with a focus on party based talents and spells to augment himself and the party. He is seeking to be the one to unite Almeric, though not with himself in charge.
The wandering man. Val'Inares focused character that travels constantly to atune themselves to all the portals of Anshar. They wish to find any lost portals and be the first to see such places in generations.
Hand of Darkness. Cadic focused using Manipulation of Shadow and shadow weapons adaptation to provide armaments. Believes it is their duty to be the left hand of the gods and secretly impose their will.
Fezzik concept. A gentle but capable giant human based on the character from the Princess Bride.
Kortar. A dwarf worshiper of Beltine. Is trying to learn all about what exactly happens to dwarven souls, where they come from, and how to allow them to return to the cauldron. The name is Kortar is the ferryman of the damned from Klingon myth in Star Trek.
Ss'ressen shaman of Jeggal Sag. He is focusing on the beast master aspect. He is a trainer of beasts as well as seeks to be the perfect incarnation of the vision of Jeggal Sag. Heavily focuses on not needing equipment.

I have several more but they seem to be common ideas and nothing terribly interesting IMO. Hope these provide someone a starting point and/or inspiration.