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I have a slightly related conundrum.

I want to play a character who is a conjoined twin. As I am apt to use such things as literary device, I am using the character to represent the duality of man. One of the twins is Atroxius. He is an extremely dominant type A personality. Bitronius is more passive and generally obsequious. Atroxius is blustering, bold and sees himself as unique, a true individual above the indistinct multitudes. He is arrogant, overbearing and confident. Bitronius is very much the opposite. He is more neurotic, passive, timid. He is shy and bitter that he is so obviously different than most people. The less of a spectacle he makes of himself the better. Bitronius is the brains, but Atroxius' magnetic personality makes him the one people talk to. Atroxius is atrocius and barbaric to the core, but Bitronius counters that with patience and courage. Both Atroxius and Bitronius complement each other, a good thing since they share a body. But they don't always agree on the best course of action.

How do I handle this character mechanically without making it overpowered? I play in v. 3.5e, but I'm not looking for specifics so much as a guideline for how to handle such things as will saves and one character being blinded while the other is not, initiative, attacks of opportunity. I want to treat Atroxius and Bitronius as two distinct characters as much as possible, but two who are (literally) inseperable.

Since the character in some ways has Gestalt benefits but I'm not in a gestalt campaign... does a 50% XP penalty sound like a good way to balance it out? Or should I even keep their XP separate?

Nov 7, 2012 -- 3:42AM, svendj wrote:

Nov 6, 2012 -- 1:52PM, Sir_Joseph_the_Crowe wrote:

How do I handle this character mechanically without making it overpowered? I play in v. 3.5e, but I'm not looking for specifics so much as a guideline for how to handle such things as will saves and one character being blinded while the other is not, initiative, attacks of opportunity. I want to treat Atroxius and Bitronius as two distinct characters as much as possible, but two who are (literally) inseperable.

Since you have just one body, I would keep it simple and have all effects apply normally. Stuff like blinding spells targets the body, not one head. I can see why you want to get fancy, but it'd be easier on yourself, your DM and your group if you just don't.

After some thought, I have a system to make it work, within the rules. I will essentially treat

Atroxius (A) is the dominant character. He controls both legs and the right arm. A. is a barbarian; he moves faster than normal and can rage, but the rage benefits only attacks made with the right arm and A's will saves. The AC penalty, however applies to both characters, since most of the movement belongs to A who rushes headlong into danger.

A. is illiterate, pretty much expecting B. to do all the boring stuff such as that.

Bitronius (B.) controls the left arm only, but that is his main arm.

They take separate initiatives... B is generally quicker to respond (neurotic and jumpy), but B often must wait for A to move. And tumble is out of the question for B, even though it is a class skill. But... on his initiative he can make an attack with (but not re-load) a crossbow... at his rogue base attack... even getting sneak-attack if the opponent is flat-footed. Since they effectively share a space, they can't use the other to flank, but if A manages a one-armed grapple, B could get sneak attack. They can aid one another, however.

Each has a separate list of skills, some of which are limited by the physical condition. I rolled completely separate stats for the two individuals. A is extroverted and will let nothing stop him. B is more intellectual, less charismatic and introspective. As long as he is left alone, he is actually quite happy. B's bitterness leads people to say things to A such as "Atroxius, why don't you let me cut that thing off you once and for all?" But Atroxius kind of likes Bitronius being there, he would be just another big brute fighter without B. B's not sure what he'd do if given the opportunity to be free from his brother...

As far as hp... being one body, they share the hp. I am thinking of letting them use whoever's hp is higher... but keep up with them separately. If the hp drops below what Bitronius has... Bitronius is subdued. Atroxius can then keep fighting, but he's fighting with only one arm, as it were...

Not intending to derail the thread... I just see some similarities between these two character concepts... Both have the potential to be really great character ideas and both have the potential to complicate the game table.

Nov 3, 2012 -- 4:28PM, Emirikol wrote:

One of my players thinks that he should be able to act two times per round because the character has two personalities.

Whats up with that!??!

jh

Simple: he's trying to cheat. Don't allow it.

Seriously the idea of Mutiple personalities is fun as a literary device, but a player should never ever get additional advantages from it.

Of course if there is a feat that allows certain things or class powers that fit with the concept you should always use them but never ever allow a player to do broken stuff like this.

The same with the poster above with the two initiative counts. it could be like the avenger power where you roll two dice and use the highest result, but it should always be something within the rules. Once one character becomes more powerful than the others games start becoming less fun. There are plenty of solutions possible within the rules, just find them and find a flavorful way to fit it in.