I recently had an epiphany while playing with the Haunted One background and got to thinking, what if this guy just snapped? The result was the Madman background. I've gotten most of the main attributes settled but have run into a block for adding the suggested Ideals and Bonds. I'm turning to my fellow forum users for some ideas and input. You can look over the current build here and then share your ideas. I think this can add quite a bit of fun to a character in the right hands. I'm mostly looking for help on the characteristics but if there's anything else you'd like to weigh in on go ahead and leave some feedback.
I'd say that this background should basically be a prestige background. You can't start the game as a Madman (unless DM approves); however if you do encounter a breaking point (which I suggest being a will save DC of Level+Con Mod) then you can roll your background into the Madman.
In addition I'd recommend the Shattered Mind feature be akin to DM's compel. What I mean is that upon the DM's suggestion the player would roll whatever appropriate dice to pick a reaction or action at random. It would make the character harder to RP but a bit more flavored beyond "I'm basically the Joker".
I could see this being a replacement background if you encounter something jarring in a campaign, thanks for the input. Also the intention here wasn't to make a Joker or Sheogorath-like character but maybe someone who's had a run in with one of the two. I agree wholeheartedly with you that this requires DM approval because something like this can easily break cohesive gameplay for a group and so should only be used by a player the DM can trust and is maybe a little more advanced. Not everyone can pull off being a madman without breaking the game for everyone else.
The original idea behind the Shattered Mind feature was to be more of a "You can read their mind but you can't get anything out of it" sort of deal. I tossed in the chance to go mad to reflect that any horrifying thing could be in there and scaled it based on how strong the madman's mind is. I think I'll remove the "Whatever insane tales you concoct you wholeheartedly believe to be true, and no amount of logic will convince you otherwise." line from the feature as that's more flavor text than really a concrete part of what I want to do with this background. something like that might have a better home in the characteristics section.
I know this wasn't a build for the joker but we all know the player that would make it the joker...that person would also Spartan Kick a kid out of a wagon for the lulz.
True enough, but in that case, it all comes down to the DM making sure they go over everything if they allow Homebrew in their campaigns. Like most things in D&D, in the hands of a bad player, this background can quickly become a dumpster fire.
I don't know... it kinda seems like you could RP in a more whimsical way IE: Mad hatter or Cheshire cat of Alice in wonderland, or Willy Wonka of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Not necessarily sinister, but still a bit bonkers and unpredictable. Looks like a lot of fun!
I don't know... it kinda seems like you could RP in a more whimsical way IE: Mad hatter or Cheshire cat of Alice in wonderland, or Willy Wonka of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Not necessarily sinister, but still a bit bonkers and unpredictable. Looks like a lot of fun!
Or if its a lawman of some sort that cracks, they could actually be Bonkers (TV show) bwahaha.
But I like the point that not all crazy is bad crazy. Though in the proper circumstances they might become violent (you consistently ignore them telling you the floor is lava), where they get so agitated by you not trusting them that they lash out. I think I would want two more options on the Madness table, Depression, and Reversion. Depression would probably be generally acting like Eeyore, and Reversion would be acting like a child again or believing they are a child again. Lost to whimsy or something comes to mind.
"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
I think I would want two more options on the Madness table, Depression, and Reversion. Depression would probably be generally acting like Eeyore, and Reversion would be acting like a child again or believing they are a child again. Lost to whimsy or something comes to mind.
I like the idea of expanding the Madness Table, I'm not sure if I'd classify Depression as a form of madness but the Reversion could be a fun one to play with. I may add that to the next revision of the background which will be later on when I have enough notes to warrant a full version update. Which leads me to a point of information, the link takes you to the old alpha build. I do have a full version 1.0 up.
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Bring me your finest warrior!
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I recently had an epiphany while playing with the Haunted One background and got to thinking, what if this guy just snapped? The result was the Madman background. I've gotten most of the main attributes settled but have run into a block for adding the suggested Ideals and Bonds. I'm turning to my fellow forum users for some ideas and input. You can look over the current build here and then share your ideas. I think this can add quite a bit of fun to a character in the right hands. I'm mostly looking for help on the characteristics but if there's anything else you'd like to weigh in on go ahead and leave some feedback.
Bring me your finest warrior!
I'd say that this background should basically be a prestige background. You can't start the game as a Madman (unless DM approves); however if you do encounter a breaking point (which I suggest being a will save DC of Level+Con Mod) then you can roll your background into the Madman.
In addition I'd recommend the Shattered Mind feature be akin to DM's compel. What I mean is that upon the DM's suggestion the player would roll whatever appropriate dice to pick a reaction or action at random. It would make the character harder to RP but a bit more flavored beyond "I'm basically the Joker".
I could see this being a replacement background if you encounter something jarring in a campaign, thanks for the input. Also the intention here wasn't to make a Joker or Sheogorath-like character but maybe someone who's had a run in with one of the two. I agree wholeheartedly with you that this requires DM approval because something like this can easily break cohesive gameplay for a group and so should only be used by a player the DM can trust and is maybe a little more advanced. Not everyone can pull off being a madman without breaking the game for everyone else.
The original idea behind the Shattered Mind feature was to be more of a "You can read their mind but you can't get anything out of it" sort of deal. I tossed in the chance to go mad to reflect that any horrifying thing could be in there and scaled it based on how strong the madman's mind is. I think I'll remove the "Whatever insane tales you concoct you wholeheartedly believe to be true, and no amount of logic will convince you otherwise." line from the feature as that's more flavor text than really a concrete part of what I want to do with this background. something like that might have a better home in the characteristics section.
Bring me your finest warrior!
I know this wasn't a build for the joker but we all know the player that would make it the joker...that person would also Spartan Kick a kid out of a wagon for the lulz.
True enough, but in that case, it all comes down to the DM making sure they go over everything if they allow Homebrew in their campaigns. Like most things in D&D, in the hands of a bad player, this background can quickly become a dumpster fire.
Bring me your finest warrior!
I don't know... it kinda seems like you could RP in a more whimsical way IE: Mad hatter or Cheshire cat of Alice in wonderland, or Willy Wonka of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Not necessarily sinister, but still a bit bonkers and unpredictable. Looks like a lot of fun!
"Where words fail, swords prevail. Where blood is spilled, my cup is filled" -Cartaphilus
"I have found the answer to the meaning of life. You ask me what the answer is? You already know what the answer to life is. You fear it more than the strike of a viper, the ravages of disease, the ire of a lover. The answer is always death. But death is a gentle mistress with a sweet embrace, and you owe her a debt of restitution. Life is not a gift, it is a loan."
Bring me your finest warrior!