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Bob Goat
09-29-2004, 11:22 AM
Hi,

I just worked up a character for a game I will be joining in the next few weeks. It is the Burning Midnight (http://burningwheel.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=508) game that is posted here. Since this is my first real Burning Wheel character, I was hoping to get a little feedback.

Let me tell you of the early days of Skeld the Joyous. He was bought screaming into this world a bastard in the city of Davindale. His mother was a small boned camp girl, who died while giving birth. His father was one of the many nameless soldiers and glory hounds that pass through the city on their way North to fight at the wall.

His early life was one of hardship. For twelve long years he was raised by his maternal aunt, alongside five of her own bastards. He was the youngest and the smallest among them, so of course was beat on the most. In fact his aunt, who held no love for her own children, seemed to take a special pleasure in beating the son of her sister.

Relief came on his 12th name day. A troupe of traveling performers where leaving the city and he slipped into one of their wagons. Later that evening, when he was finally discovered, he became the pupil of Herger the Wise, the leader of this troupe of gleemen.

For seven years he traveled with the troupe, entertaining towns and villages all across the north. He was small and had light fingers, so was taught how to steal from others by the band of performers. At the foot of his master he learned the art of the Skald. He was taught the "old ways," learned the ancient epics and became skilled in the retelling of these tales. He adopted as his own the wise man's philosophy and learned to put a smile on his face. For the first time in his life he was happy.

However, among the knowledge Herger imparted to him, he also learned of the Shadow and the evil it wrought on the land. When he was of age, he left his mentor and sought out a warband riding north beyond the Wall. He came full circle and found one in Davindale.

For nine years, the warband of Buliwyf the Bold hunted the Shadowkin on the other side of the Wall. During that time, the young boy of nineteen grew into man. He gained new skills and saw many horrors, but he never let the smile slip from his face. The old man's teachings rang true in him. He knew that his fate was written.

Skeld's ride with the warband ended a few months ago. They stumbled across a great Host of Shadowkin traveling south. Severly outnumbered they fled until they found a small, but defensible keep north of the Wall. The thirty men set themselves to sell their lives dearly, for it was directly in the path of the coming Host.

With the setting sun, the Host arrived. It swarmed over the walls of the keep like a mass of ants. For hours they battled the Shadowkin, slowly falling, one by one. In the end, only the coming dawn and the desireof the Host to move on to its true destination spared the lives of a few. Since that time, they have traveled south, seeking to bring more men to face the horrors from beyond the wall.

Lifepaths:
City Born (Leads to Outcast)
Initernant Performer (Leads to City)
Composer (Leads to Outcast)
Ranger (Leads to Soldier)
Foot Soldier

Age:
28 Years Old

Stats:
PER (4)
WILL (4)
AGL (5)
SPD (4)
PWR (3)
FOR (4)

Beliefs:
1) Always account for what you can't see.
2) Why fear death, your fate is writtten.
3) Every challenge should be met with a smile.

Instincts:
1) Remote (from Composer)
2) Esoteric (from Composer)
3) Broken Man (From Initernant Performer)
4) Booming Voice
5) Resigned (to Death)
6) Charismatic
7) Sense of Humor

Skills:
Cooking (2)
Poet (4)
Forestwise (3)
Sleight of Hand (3)
Sword (4)
Bow (3)
Stealthy (4)
Foraging (2)
Firebuilding (2)
Oratory (4)

Gear
Sword (RotM)
Hunting Knife (RotM)
Bow (RotM)
Leather Armor
Clothes & Boots
Traveling Gear

Contacts
Herger the Wise (Mentor/Loyal/Minor)
Rethel the Dour (Survivor/Loyal/Insignificant)
Haltaf the Silent (Survivor/Loyal/Insignificant)
Edgtho the Fat (Survivor/Loyal/Insignificant)
Hyglak the Musician (Survivor/Loyal/Insignificant)

luke
09-29-2004, 11:29 AM
hi keith,

cool character.

you've got your instincts mixed up with your traits.


Instincts:
1) Remote (from Composer)
2) Esoteric (from Composer)
3) Broken Man (From Initernant Performer)
4) Booming Voice
5) Resigned (to Death)
6) Charismatic
7) Sense of Humor
These are traits.

You get three instincts, which you choose like Beliefs. Read this for advice on creating Instincts:
http://burningwheel.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=700
-L

Bob Goat
09-29-2004, 11:35 AM
Hey,

Damn I screwed up.

Traits:
1) Remote (from Composer)
2) Esoteric (from Composer)
3) Broken Man (From Initernant Performer)
4) Booming Voice
5) Resigned (to Death)
6) Charismatic
7) Sense of Humor

Instincts:
1) Always smile in the face of death
2) Remember acts of glory
3) Never break your oath

By the way Luke, what the hell is Broken Man? Also, why must all composers have to be Remote and Esoteric?

Keith
You would think I would be playing my own game...

luke
09-29-2004, 11:42 AM
Broken Man is the trait of all idealistic, unsuccessful artists.

Remote and Esoteric describes composers, in my mind. Once they understand music to that depth, they begin to relate to it and people differently. Have you ever tried to talk about music with someone versed in music theory? It's aliennating for the uninitiated.

Least I think so.
-L

Bob Goat
09-29-2004, 11:57 AM
Luke,

Ahh, now I get Broken Man... I don't agree (I'm pretty unsuccessful and not broken, just angry and bitter...) okay maybe I do agree.

I took composer to mean musician or poet (since poet is the first one listed on the lifepath). See I'm trying to create a Skald, and a big part of that is reciting epic poems of the glory of heroes. Would there be a different lifepath that would make more sense?

Keith
Angry after listening about Power Trips (http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/congtravel/)

luke
09-29-2004, 12:02 PM
Some other options:

Outcast> Itinerant Performer
Noble Court> Minstrel
City Dweller> Performer
Outcast> Cultist

-L

foxandwarlock
09-29-2004, 12:09 PM
Congratulations, Goat.

You've just defined the cultural naming conventions for House Davin!

Cool contact names.

I feel kind of weird saying this "in front" of Abzu but don't be afraid to twist up what your definition of a Composer is to fit your needs. If you need it to be Poet, rename it - BAM! Done. Kemlin's use of Cultist is totally non-traditional in the sense of the word.

Also, if you don't like those Traits, don't play them. They'll get voted off at the end of the "Chapter" - alternatively, you mind find a way they fit you during play. Both Raemos and Kemlin had Traits that they got from Lifepaths that disappeared.

luke
09-29-2004, 12:20 PM
Also, if you don't like those Traits, don't play them.

Better than that, play against them. Use them as fodder for rp moments. Your character came from a life of being surrounded by musicians (for a while), it's in his nature now to play that role. As a player these traits give you something to fight against as the game progresses.

And they'll still get voted off if you want them to.

-L

Bob Goat
09-29-2004, 01:50 PM
Hey,

Well, that's what is all about right? You guys have a loose idea and in-game stuff fleshes it out. I just saw the Dorns as pre-Christian Rus so made it up to kind of match that. As Luke may already know, I'm all about creating historical analogs for games (ie CoS).

I think that I'm going to play against most of them. Remote just seems too far off for a Skald. If his social "responsibility" is to be a living memory of the history of his people he needs to be accessable. Unless his remoteness stems from his general outlook Go and hide if you will. You won't live one moment longer. The All Father has written the skein of your life.

I do have a game question. Since I have never played more than short demos with pre-generated characters please excuse my ignorance. But in the game is it common to swap in and out Traits? Also, it has been said that my Instincts are bordering on Beliefs. What can be done to them to bring them more in line?

Keith
Itching to play like no one's business!!!!

foxandwarlock
09-29-2004, 02:33 PM
I read this article a while back and it totally put in perspective how Trait giving and removing should go. Not to mention, its an enjoyable article.

Check it out at: http://www.burningwheel.org/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=77&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

Ubby
09-29-2004, 04:16 PM
Somebody has been watching The 13th Warrior lately. :wink:

Bob Goat
09-29-2004, 04:25 PM
Hey,

Actually no, but the DVD was sitting on my desk on top of the book the year 1000 (Covers Anglo-Saxon England) as I was coming up with the character. How could I resist? The movie screams Dorns. :D

Keith