Character Challenge 2023: 21/31OSE Centaur Druid

During the last few posts, I really started to think about character generation a bit more tangentially to just the mechanics and background. Wondering even why I've been doing this challenge. And there are a number of reasons. And then I start spiraling around why do we do anything at all? The whole thing about life, the universe and everything. I will admit to some seasonal depression: between the lack of natural light (why I make sure I walk my dog every day at lunch!) and more holidays behind me than in front, plus the buildup and then the inevitable post-season depression, the winter months are not always enjoyed.

Which sort of brings me back to the original question? Why do this at all? A few people read this (hello my 21 followers and anyone else who has wandered in!) but it is mostly for me. I just like games and gaming. Though like a lot of my hobbies, I fear that I think I like more thinking about them than actually doing them. Just like the holidays: sometimes the buildup and anticipation eclipse the actual thing itself. And this is pretty much human nature I believe. And the mechanics of making up characters is a fun pastime for me. One of the reasons I love Traveller so much: so much solo-gaming in that system. While all RPGs have some sort of system to generate characters, maybe dungeons, Traveller creates universes. Anyway, enough of the inept introspection and armchair philosophy, on towards a character.

First, as my challenge in the challenge is to create a character for a mini I have, I need to find another mini. I've always loved centaurs. I have a lot from the 80s in pewter (and probably some lead), and one of the islands in my college days was Triplanar Isle that had Centaur Peak. Most of those maps were built around miniatures I had just bought. I seemed to have bought a lot back then - guess that job at the library was just there to feed my miniature habit! While playing a game a bit ago, we all had anthropomorphic characters or something similar. I chose a centaur as I've never managed to play one. And in fact, I may bring them into the OSE game I'll be running sometime soon.  The Fantasy Trip actually allows them as a character, but OSE they are only statted as a monster (and in OSE, monsters are just those things you encounter: the monster list includes merchants and things like that. Though depending on your view of capitalism, I suppose a merchant can be quite monstrous). I bought a few more centaur minis from Krakenships from this KS campaign. I had a bard Centaur and this set had a bard Centaur. It also has some druidic looking ones and a well-armored standard bearer. We'll work on a Druid Centaur, which will be a possible NPC in the upcoming game. Perhaps as a guide to where they need to go, once I sort of figure out where they need to go!

Thiseas of the Gallantos Herds of the Western Fields is a Druid Centaur. He has since left those fields of his youth and is far east in lands near the Puddlejumpers. He is tending the woods south of Windemere, an ancient tree at the heart of the woods in a sylvan glade. He rarely goes into town, preferring the solitude of the wooded mountainside to the sound of people. There are Fey all about this area, a small and ancient temple long-since abandoned by its builders and worshipers is his home. Quiet, and quite large, Thiseas guards the woods, protecting the dryads of the trees, and the naiad of the small river. Though they also help protect him.

A 4th level Druid, he has +2 for saving rolls against electrical and fire attacks. He has animal friendship and speak with animals (level 1 spells), cure light wounds and create water (2nd level). He carries a large staff and being a good bit larger and stronger than most people wielding a staff, it does 1d4 + 2 damage.

Nudging the monster stats into character stats, we'll leave the AC and movement as-is and roll stats. But I will manually adjust his STR score to 17 to give him that +2 bonus, the rest of the rolls will be straight what I rolled. 

• STR 17 +2 on melee attacks & damage, 4 in 6 chance of opening doors
• INT 10 Literate, speaks Common, a spoken Druid language Kyvliev, a minor nature god
• WIS 12
• DEX 13 +1 on ranged, initiative and AC
• CON 10
• CHA 15 +1 on NPC reactions

Those rolls came out pretty well - Thiseas is a beautiful painted Centaur, with classical Greek features and a well-muscled human torso complete with a six pack. Now, how a Centaur gets that sort of definition is an interesting question, but hey, fantasy world here! I also wonder how they get enough calories, and if they eat meat. In my world at least, Centaurs are vegetarians. And they eat a lot and constantly. 

Thiseas starting on his journey away from the Western Fields of Triplaner Island. He was level 2 when he started this trip a year ago.

original hand drawn map from early 80s

updating with Campaign Cartographer

Day 1: Classic Traveller Scientist                   Day 2: OSE Gnome Illusionist  

Day 3: Mongoose 2e Navy Commander         Day 4: The Fantasy Trip Spy

Day 5: Aslan Outcast                                       Day 6: Traveller Army Commando

Day 7: OSE 4th Level Cleric                           Day 8: Mongoose Traveller Journalist

Day 9: Delve Goblin                                        Day 10: Space Gits Military Intelligence

Day 11: Traveller 5.10 ex-student                   Day 12: Traveller Assassin Aslan

Day 13: TFT Elf Mage                                   Day 14: Classic Traveller Pirate

Day 15: OSE Mycelian                                   Day 16: The Gravedigger

Day 17: Delve Witch                                       Day 18: OSE Fighter

Day 19: Traveller Belter                                  Day 20: TFT Halfling

Day 21: OSE Centaur Druid