The Vigilant Church has a solid presence on the Arkship Destiny
When they first launched the arkship starting zones in beta there was one thing that REALLY stood out for me in my experience on the Arkship Destiny (Dominion). After a short tram ride, you are put through some very basic questing in order to both introduce you to some basic concepts like combat and your paths as well as some lore, which really roots you into the setting.
On the Arkship, you enter into a small chapel for the Vigilant Church, with six shrines each depicting one of the six Scions of the Luminai Houses and the aspect of the Vigilant Church that they represent. To me, this was very important and instantly evolved the way I viewed the Cassians and the Dominion as a whole. The aspects you find here are not evil, greedy or cruel. They are aspects that any noble and intelligent being can respect and get behind.
When you enter this area, you are asked to review and reflect upon the virtues and then select which you feel best suits your personal conviction. What do you believe in? It is an interesting question. Are you answering for your character, or do you answer for yourself? Does your character believe in something other than what you do?
From here, I knew that Agent Hawkens best represented the virtue of Justice, embodied by the Scion Bronos, fair judge to his fellow Luminai. This had a profound effect on his personality and story and it really got me thinking.
"Justice is dealt in the name of the Emperor. All who oppose the glory of the Dominion must repent and join or perish underfoot. However, there is still justice to dispense even among those considered infallible. For was not Bronos the judge of his own brothers and sisters? Perhaps Justice is merely the means to pursue and enforce the Truth of what should be. And what should not."
Each Scion had their own beautiful stained glass window looking down upon their alter, complete with an object of their faith and brilliantly colored candles. I recorded each one, their virtue and the weapon their image was wielding which I will post below.
Azrion: Scion of Strength
Name:Azrion: Scion of Strength Virtue: Strength. The force necessary to impose your will. Icon of Virtue: Sword of Strength Candle Flame Color: Blue Candle Flames Weapon wielded in image: Two-Handed Sword
Korol: Scion of Devotion
Name:Korol: Scion of Devotion Virtue: Devotion. The fusion of your being with a singular purpose. Icon of Virtue: Flowers of Devotion Candle Flame Color: White (Yellow?) Candle Flames Weapon wielded in image: Staff
Tristan: Scion of Courage
Name:Tristan: Scion of Courage Virtue: Courage.The clarity of mind to see past your fear. Icon of Virtue: Chalice of Courage Candle Flame Color: Green Candle Flames Weapon wielded in image: Two-Handed Mace
Galen: Scion of Knowledge
Name:Galen: Scion of Knowledge Virtue: Knowledge. Exploring the depths of reality and collecting its
marvels. Icon of Virtue: Tome of Knowledge Candle Flame Color: Red (Orange?) Candle Flames Weapon wielded in image: Spellcasting (?)
Bronos: Scion of Justice
Name:Bronos: Scion of Justice Virtue: Justice. Judging fairly and distributing consequence. Icon of Virtue: Judgement of Justice (skull) Candle Flame Color: Violet Candle Flames Weapon wielded in image: Sword
Evindra: Scion of Purity
Name:Evindra: Scion of Purity Virtue: Purity. Noble intentions guiding a flawlessly honest spirit Icon of Virtue: Orb of Purity Candle Flame Color: Pink Candle Flames Weapon wielded in image: No weapon displayed
Now that you've seen these, what would your Cassian choose if asked and even more importantly, WHY would they choose this? Or, what would your character choose if they were a member of the Dominion? Would you choose any differently?
It's some great food for thought in character development! And, since blogger is sometimes difficult, feel free to stop on by WSRP to my thread there with this same question to drop your answer. And be sure to check out all the other fantastic characters and articles there!
Just today, Carbine studios announced the news we've all been waiting for! WildStar will finally see its glorious launch this year on JUNE 3rd 2014. With pre-orders opening on March 19, players can earn some sick loot, including the Rocket House, a three day head-start and many other exciting bonuses.
On top of this, future Nexus adventurers can choose from both a regular and digital deluxe editions, which feature the following perks!
And, of course, the NDA has now been lifted which means the Scowling Cassian is finally free to share all the amazing things I've seen in beta thus far. (Heads up, it really is as fun as you've been hoping!) Vast, colorful zones, fun quests, nifty outfits, badass skills and amazing mounts are all in store as well as a whole treasure trove of exciting lore.
At the moment, I am patching back up the client so I can collect some beautiful, non-watermarked screens to show you guys some of the highlights of my adventures with Agent Hawkens, so keep your eyes peeled over these next few days for the last of our beta window prior to the March 16th alterations for some awesomeness.
You know, it's hard to believe that the Scowling Cassian is just over a year old and to look back at all the excitement we've been through and all the friends we've made. Thank you so much to all of you, dear readers, for your continued support. From all the emails, to the comments, from watching the views slowly grow and even the amazing generosity that repaired my poor computer, I have been utterly blown away by this fantastic community. And now I am even more excited to soon share some cyberspace with you guys too!
Until then, I'll leave you with these *to be updated soon*:
Hawkens with his beloved steed on his housing plot, complete with the Rocket Ship House and something burning in the background. I am using the aurora setting for the lighting on my plot here, which is by far my favorite.
"Leap of Faith" When Carbine added in a new mount selection, I fell instantly in love with the Velocirex. And so, of course, Hawkens and his pal ran instantly to Deradune to capture this photogenic wonder.
After lots of hard work and a lot of support from my fans, the Scowling Cassian Class Megapost is finally ready! Before I get started, I want to take a quick moment to give a brief introduction of what to expect, a nice organized set of links to all the articles and give acknowledgement and thank yous out to all of those who helped out with art and commentary for this project.
I would like to dedicate this entire Megapost to Sushi, who passed away just before I finished. His offer of art for each article came out of nowhere and was so very kind and he was probably the most enthusiastic with poking me almost each day to see the next article and urge me to finish it up. Thank you for all your help and enthusiasm Sushi, may you rest in peace <3
And without further ado, the Class Megapost:
While each article outlines the basics of each class for easy access and reference, the purpose of each article is to provide some ideas of what each of these classes represents at their core as well as some common stereotypes of character personalities. Each also comes with some generic ideas or some good examples found in popular media from books to movies and television shows.
Aside from these ideas, each article also contains some ideas to roleplay these classes specific to the races and lore of WildStar while also including a few “breaking the mold” ideas to help encourage more creative thought processes.
The articles also features commentary from one of WildStar-Roleplay.com’s fine inhabitants, using their character to showcase the particular class and add a bit of flavor and each will be thanked in their particular article. In addition, each article also contains a piece of fantastic artwork from either Sushi or Pyra of WSRP which shall be acknowledged at their post.
Here are the links to each article, in the order they were written, plus their core representation:
As always, feel free to comment on any or all posts and offer up you opinions or suggestions. And since blogger can sometimes be difficult, feel free to head on over to the WSRP forums to check out the Megapost thread there!
A thank you again to all my fans and friends for your support and patience in this long project and an extra thank you to those of you who helped me edit, commented and/or created art to help bring these posts to life!
“When all magic fails, rely on three feet of steel and a strong arm…” -Diablo I Manual
Gaius Caster: Warrior (Art by Sushi)
THE WARRIOR: Featuring guest commentary from Gaius Caster (OC for Evion of WSRP and awesome artist!)
The warrior has long been a beloved figure in both our past and in the gaming world. From the annals of history to the stories of today and from tabletop to cyberspace, the idea of the strong, indomitable individual has long charmed the hearts of the people.
As a stereotype that has appeared again and again, why is it that we still love the “simple” idea of the warrior? Because the warrior represents an avatar of self-empowerment. Whether they are a young individual learning the art of the blade or an old veteran striking out on a quest of revenge, the warrior represents an individual who relies on their own personal strength and will to see things through. In a crazy world where our lives may often time be plagued by uncertainty and chaos, the concept of the warrior who heads into the fray with confidence and the strength to back it up is an attractive pull.
With one fell swoop, a warrior can completely change the favor of the battlefield.
WildStar has certainly not overlooked this old favorite, adding some unique and interesting sci-fi touches to this class. Before I delve into some roleplaying ideas and food for thought for the warrior, let’s take a quick look at this powerful class!
First of all, if you haven’t seen the official warrior class video, check it out here! As well as this link to the official class page.
The Warrior is one of the two heavy armor classes who runs on a resource known as kinetic energy. This energy is built up by the warrior’s basic attacks and depletes over time. Many of the warrior’s more powerful moves consume this energy, taking all that stored rage and focus into a terrible weapon of mass destruction. Wielding a formidable power sword which is the loving and deadly union of the traditional blade and a fusion accelerator, this class proves that it isn’t about to be left behind in the technological arms race for the control of Nexus.
Gaius: "Ya ain’t wantin’ to neglect proper care’f yer sword. A bad fusion core usually results in stories gettin’ told ‘bout ya that begin with “So, I used t’ know this warrior…”
But the warrior isn’t limited to just their sword. A powerful and versatile arm cannon lies as their disposal, adding a variety of lethal skills to their arsenal. Pissed that your opponent is out of your grasp? Why not shoot them with a shot of pure plasma and take them down from afar?
Or maybe yank them in with your 40M retractable battle harpoon and pull them into your welcoming embrace?
Or pull them into your welcoming...buzzsaw of death? Awww yeah!
Gaius: "The best part is the look on their faces when they see ya whip out those blades!"
And these aren’t your only tools of the trade! In the end the warrior is, themselves, a powerful engine of vengeance. Slap foes aside with your mighty fist. Kick them to the curb with your ferocious feet! You didn’t get this far by having tea parties and picking flowers, oh no! You got here through blood and sweat and tears and a little bit of TLC. Tender Loving Carnage.
Gaius: "Kickin’ ain’t just for Dominion goons neither! It works on all sorts ‘f stuff like turrets, rock monsters, vendin’ machines…."
Use these strengths to wade through your enemies or protect your allies. Set yourself up for massive damage as DPS and use your innate ability for a burst of frenzied strength, or play as an impenetrable fortress as a TANK and use your innate ability to give yourself a surge of threat and reduce your energy drain. Or mix and match your favorite skills on the fly and play however you like.
Remember, you are the Warrior. Nexus is your battlefield. YOU are in charge. Everyone else is just. In. Your. Way.
Examples of some Warrior-like RP personalities: Master Piandao: Avatar, Space Marine: StarCraft, Donnel and Lon'qu from Fire Emblem Awakening
So now that we have an idea of what the warrior is in terms of gameplay, let’s explore what the warrior means in terms of roleplaying. To start, I’ll share a couple of stereotypical personalities that I have found through my years of reading and roleplaying, talk about some ideas for character building specific to the WildStar universe and share some food for thought, for some more unusual personality/background ideas.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to be 120% unique in order to have a good character. Stereotypes are there for a reason and sometimes that can be a good thing! What is truly unique is the way you play your character. There can be hundreds of people playing the dumb as nails, strong as an ox type but no one out there will play them quite like you will. So choose what is fun, take a little time to explore and round out your character and maybe even do a little research to add some more plausibility to the mix and you will be the most beloved of the battlefield in no time!
In my opinion, there are six main stereotypes to the personality of the Warrior: The Loyal Brick, The Scarred Veteran, The Path of Vengeance, The Noble Knight, The Wise One and Dog Eats Dog. Keep in mind that these are not exclusively all there is and can certainly be mixed and matched. They’re simply the most common stereotypes that I can think of.
The Loyal Brick- This stereotype is not that bright, but that doesn’t take away from their strength of character. While not necessarily as dumb as rock, intelligence was most likely their dump stat, cast aside in favor of their impressive strength. But even more important than their physical strength, is their strength of character. The Loyal Brick is loyal to a fault, coming to the defense of their allies and loved ones without hesitation and always willing to defend what they believe in. Sometimes this can result in a narrow minded view that can get them into trouble when more complex politics and situations arise then simple black and white. While gentle to their companions, their rage can be terrible to behold when you hurt that which they care about. Easily contented with good drink, hot meals and good company, they can teach other characters to respect the simple things and to enjoy life to the fullest. Their simple minded goodness often inspires and humbles those around them.
Examples- Country Born Fighter, Simple Soldier, Gentle Giant
The Scarred Veteran-This stereotype, while not necessarily exclusive to the warrior, is certainly commonly seen with this class. The Scarred Veteran is a survivor of many battles, who has grown world weary and hardened. Perhaps they are a higher rank in the military, teaching the fresh-eyed recruits about the reality of war, smacking those stupid grins off their faces in the hopes that they might actually listen and that they might save a few of them with their wisdom through experience. Perhaps they are simply an old tough warrior, who’s traveled and fought their way through their entire life. Many times this veteran started as a wide-eyed soldier of fortune and has become hardened by the struggle of survival. While not necessarily humorless or a total killjoy, the scarred veteran tends to be overly practical, dry and often times is difficult to get close to. They tend to carry about a mysterious air that invites others to ask them about their past experiences and stories of their former glory.
Examples- War Commander, Guard Captain, Ex-Soldier
The Path of Vengeance-While many characters may have a reason to seek vengeance for a past wrong, this character is entirely consumed by this. They will never forget that tragic event that happened long ago, whether it be the death of a loved one, humiliation at the hands of a rival, the loss of their squad or even simply the history of their faction and they will not rest until they have defeated this enemy. Often time their goal is difficult, or even impossible and they are weighed down with bitterness and restlessness. Sometimes they defeat their tragedy, only to find a sudden lack of purpose in their lives. Sometimes they realise their goals are simply part of their driving force and while they never forget their calling, they use that energy to aid others on the way.
The Noble Knight-This character is strong of heart and noble in deed. They use their strength to defeat evil and defend their comrades. Similar to the Loyal Brick, they tend to be slightly more intellectual but not always so. Brave to a fault, they may often rush into overwhelming odds without thinking and are prone to attempting to solve the problems of others. While some people may be in awe of the Noble Knight, others may often find them annoying and overly bothersome. While the Loyal Brick tends to contain a simple and gentle strength, the Noble Knight can often be boisterous and chivalric to a fault. Even so, their intentions are good and their heart is set in the right place. While the companions of the Noble Knight may occasionally roll their eyes at their presence, they certainly appreciate their strength and dedication.
Examples- White Knight, The Noble Noble, The “Hero”
The Wise One-This warrior tends to be more a warrior of virtue then of pure power. Often depicted as a wise old hermit, hiding away in the wilds to meditate on the wisdom of the sword, this character tends to draw their weapon only as a last resort. They can be spiritual and meditative, often focusing on art like poetry, paint or music to calm their temper and gain tranquility. In roleplay these characters might offer up their wisdom to fellow warriors or a new generation, attempting to teach balance and peace in a world of war and chaos. Sometimes they may be eccentric and might even be viewed with a bit of suspicion or even fear from their people or they can be viewed with awe and respect for their well honed skills.
Examples- Holy Warrior, Wise Hermit, Warrior-Poet
Dog Eats Dog-This warrior is not noble, gentle, simple or kind. They are ruthless and greedy and put their own personal gain and survival over any other’s. Perhaps they had a rough upbringing that taught them to fend for themselves or they simply prefered to look out for Number One, but these warriors tend to inspire fear and unease wherever they tread. They use their strength to bully, extort and savage those who oppose them, perhaps squeezing protection money out of small villages for protection or waylaying travelers on their journey. Or maybe they run a small gang who run frequent raids on anyone they can steal supplies from. Maybe they are ruthless bounty hunters who care not who they are hired to kill. While these characters are not always evil, they are typically resigned to their life. Those that are not necessarily mean or cruel, may still be coarse and selfish, such as a neutral hunter-for-hire or a wandering fighter who takes care of themselves before any others.
Examples- Selfish Mercenary, Highwayman, The Bully
These are just a couple ideas that could be used with the warrior class, but they are not the only ones! WildStar alone has an incredible pool of lore to pull from. Instead of something more generic, why not try something straight from the world of Wildstar?
-Perhaps your Granok Warrior still seeks to uphold the “Way of Stone” the best they can, even as an exile from their home planet.
-Maybe your Mechari Warrior constantly seeks to improve themselves into the perfect weapon that ever existed.
-Your Cassian Warrior wishes to keep the tradition of the legendary Sword-maiden Tresayne Toria in honor of her sacrifice for her people
-Maybe your Exile Warrior is a loyal soldier who signed up to fight the Dominion and protect their people so they can finally find a place to call home.
-Perhaps your Mordesh Warrior uses their strength as a way to prove that they are still a force to reckon with despite their crippling fear of the Contagion stealing their mind away once and for all.
-Your Draken Warrior loves the thrill of the Hunt! Swinging around a massive sword and beating their foes to a pulp is the only way to truly live!
And how about some additional food for thought that breaks the mold a bit?
-Your warrior is actually a very intelligence scientist. They just preferred to rely on their own might rather then hire some foolish bodyguard who would only get themselves killed.
-Your warrior has picked up a sword and cannon more so because every hand is needed in the war for Nexus. They are really more at home busing tables at their faction’s restaurants or mucking the stables.
Gaius: "We're more'n just a bunch'a meat-heads. Well, yeah, our heads are made'f meat an’ stuff... Unless y'er a Granok or Mechari... But I mean, there's thinkin' involved in our fightin'! Just some folks do more’f the thinkin’ than others."
The Warrior is as versatile and moldable as they are powerful, lending a wide variety of personality types and career paths to consider when building your very own character. However, as with all classes, remember that your class choice does not have to strictly influence every single part of your character. If you just plain enjoy warrior, but you rather focus on your character’s path, or even something else entirely, that’s okay!
Otherwise get out there, have fun and kick some ass!
THE SPELLSLINGER: Featuring guest commentary from Pax (OC for Packetdancer of WSRP and talented fan mod builder for WildStar)
The spellslinger is a unique take on the traditional gunslinger trope, combining the free-spirited individual with the sorcerous ability of a powerful spellcaster. Like the warrior, this figure has been seen again and again in stories and games. So what is the pull of this character?
Personal Freedom.
Pax: An’ guns.
The figure of the cowboy from the Wild West comes to mind. A rugged individual who roams at will, blown along on the winds of fate, answerable to no one but themselves. In our lives, we are often tied to our jobs, homes, families or other responsibilities that we dedicate much of our time and effort to. So it comes as no wonder that we romanticise the individual who is held down by nothing, who is free to choose their own path and walk whichever roads suit their fancy. The gunslinger is truly a representative of personal freedom with the strength and skills to back their path. With their trusty guns at their sides, deadeye aim and in this case, powerful manipulation of the void at their disposal, these individuals are sure to garner the respect, if not the fear, of those whose paths they cross.
The fatal last sight of many foolish enough to stand in the way of a spellslinger...
I especially love the addition of magic to this classic trope, adding a very interesting bit of mysticism and an occult vibe. To me, this creates a much more interesting skillset at the player’s disposal as well as opening up so many more imaginative ideas for roleplaying. But before I get to those, let’s take a look at this versatile class!
First of all, if you haven’t seen the official spellslinger class video, check it out here! As well as this link to the official class page.
The Spellslinger is one of the two light armor classes who runs on two different resources: Focus, which replenishes over time and is consumed by most abilities and Spell Power, which is consumed to give certain abilities additional bonuses when Spell Surge is activated such as making your skillsets more efficient while prolonging the hurt you bring to those who dare cross your sights. Two deadly mag pistols, powered by magic from “The Void” ensures you never run out of ammo and never have to reload.
Pax: Which doesn’ mean y’ can’t end up in a tight corner sometimes. Infinite ammo ain’t th’ solution t’ ev’ry problem, jus’ most of ‘em.
And those double barrels of love are not your only tools of destruction, the spellslinger also has the mysterious powers of The Void at their fingertips, utilizing a variety of magic sigils to make sure they always have the edge in every fight. Magical bullets not enough for you? How about a fireball!
Pax: Gotta admit they’re useful.
Your mastery of the occult doesn’t just stop there! Amaze friends and foes alike by tearing holes in the fabric of time and space, teleporting yourself through the air with ease or use it to yank your opponent through The Void, switching places with them to leave you in the optimal position to lay down the hurt on their confused existence.
Pax: An’ th’ best part is, shootin’ holes in th’ fabric a’ space an’ time doesn’ even violate th’ galaxy’s warranty! Leastwise, Ah don’t think so...
You can use these tools to mow down your enemies and bolster and heal your allies. Tweak your skills for maximum damage as a DPS, utilizing your range and ability to kite enemies to cut them down from afar or take on the role of a sorcerous HEALER and use your uncanny aim to focus your regenerative and empowering skills to keep them in the fight. Or mix and match your favorite skills on the fly and play however suits your fancy.
Remember, you are the Spellslinger. Nexus is your new frontier. YOU are in charge of your own destiny! Everyone who tries to tell you otherwise will be left behind six feet under.
Examples of some Gun(Spell)Slinger-like RP personalities: Jigen: Lupin the Third, Clint Eastwood as the Man with No Name, Vash the Stampede and Wolfwood: Trigun, The Sniper: Team Fortress 2
So now that we have an idea of what the spellslinger is in terms of gameplay, let’s explore what the spellslinger means in terms of roleplaying. To start, I’ll share a couple of stereotypical personalities that I have found through my years of reading and roleplaying, talk about some ideas for character building specific to the WildStar universe and share some food for thought, for some more unusual personality/background ideas.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to be 120% unique in order to have a good character. Stereotypes are there for a reason and sometimes that can be a good thing! What is truly unique is the way you play your character. There can be hundreds of people playing the rugged cowboy type but no one out there will play them quite like you will. So choose what is fun, take a little time to explore and round out your character and maybe even do a little research to add some more plausibility to the mix and you will be the most beloved of the battlefield in no time!
In my opinion, there are six stereotypes to the personality of the “gunslinger” trope: The Desperado, The Sharpshooter, The Gun for Hire, The Thrillseeker, The Sheriff and The Vigilante. Keep in mind that these are not exclusively all there is and can certainly be mixed and matched. They’re simply the most common stereotypes that I can think of.
The Desperado- This stereotype represents the baddest of the bad, and not just in the “cool” way. These notorious scoundrels are mean and they have no qualms with using brute force and deadly aim to get what they want, even if that means leaving body bags in their wake. The Desperado always looks out for number one, whether operating in a group or on their own and will often manipulate the battlefield to suit their needs. Crafty and resourceful, this desperate individual will do almost anything to ensure they see their next sunrise.
Examples- Scoundrel, Train Robber, “Respectable Businessman”(with ties in the community)
The Sharpshooter- This eagle-eyed stereotype eats, sleeps and breathes their guns. Their entire lives have revolved around honing their aim and their skills at wielding their firearm, whether for show or for their own personal perfectionism. The Sharpshooter is rarely, if ever, seen without their trusty ballistic sidekick and they tend to spend a lot of their time, effort and money on their weapon, sometimes to the detriment of their other needs. Some Sharpshooters may be garrulous and cannot resist any opportunity to show off their amazing skills and talk about their guns. They may enjoy entering into competitions for the pleasure of showing up all their opponents while winning fame and fortune. Or other Sharpshooters may be quieter and more reserved. The magic of the gun is a personal passion and they keep it to themselves or even use their skills to help others. Still others can be military or warlike by nature, using their skills to drive fear into the hearts of their enemies while boosting the morale of their comrades. Many times this stereotype tends to mix and match the qualities of their most common iterations, but each time their lives revolve around their guns.
Examples- The Sniper, The Gunsmith, The Competitor
The Gun for Hire- While the Sharpshooter focuses solely around the art of the gun, the Gun for Hire tends to use these skills as a means to an end, utilizing their talents specifically for affluence. While they may be very skilled at shooting, their only focus is to be good enough to keep up with the competition, or eliminate them from the picture, to ensure a steady stream of business. They may be outspoken and advertise themselves freely either with charm or with bombastic posturing. Or they can be deadly and forceful, burying their competition and pressuring their services on others. Though the Gun for Hire is often a free agent, they may carry with them a set of morals that they adhere to, refusing to work for certain factions or races that have wronged their people or that they just simply don’t like.
The Thrillseeker- The Thrillseeker is exactly as their name describes. These characters are constantly seeking out new adventures and will do anything to find that next thrill and get their blood pumping. Whether climbing tall mountains, searching for secret caves, fighting new foes or seeing how far they can fall before chickening out and tearing through The Void to keep from becoming the newest Nexus pancake, these characters are...well, quite the character and tend to infect energy in those around them. The Thrillseeker is usually cheerful and motivated while in the field but can become restless and easily bored when stuck in one place for any length of time. This personality tends to use their guns as more of a convenient weapon for a lifestyle of mobility and exploration, allowing for easy storage unlike the bulk of a Power Sword or a Launcher. The combination of occult magic with their usual skills only opens up even more opportunities for these individuals.
Examples- The Daredevil, The Explorer, The Scout
Pax: Hey, that’s me!
The Sheriff- This stereotype is a protector of others who operates by the law and is driven by a sense of duty. They tend to settle in one place, or tie themselves to a particular community which they dedicate their services to. The Sheriff might best be described as a “paladin with guns” upholding the code of the people and defending them against all opposing forces. Often times they are found in a position of leadership either of a small party or even of a large group of armed forces or civilians. They can be polite and friendly, becoming a force of inspiration for those around them to take courage and reassurance from. Or they can be gruff and irritable, showing themselves as a tough and stoic force of indomitability.
Examples- Mercenary Chief, Party Leader, Town Sheriff
The Vigilante- While the Sheriff operates under the Law of the People, the Vigilante operates by their own sense of personal justice, often times outside of the confines of the law. They carry no official legal authority and are not tied to any particular group, but tend to seek out perpetrators and ne’er do wells and bring them to justice. They may occasionally find themselves at odds with those of the law, but are often viewed with respect and sometimes fear or awe by the people as hunters of evil who refuse to turn a blind eye to injustice in the favor or protocols and due process. The only jurisdiction they need are the twin guns at their side. They aren’t the Spellslingers that Nexus deserves, they are the Spellslingers that Nexus needs.
Examples- The Crusader, The Lone Rider, The Judge without a Badge
These are just a couple ideas that could be used with the spellslinger class, but they are not the only ones! WildStar alone has an incredible pool of lore to pull from. Instead of something more generic, why not try something straight from the world of Wildstar?
-Perhaps your Exile Spellslinger has just finally received their first set of mag pistols and can’t wait to prove their mettle on the battlefield
-Maybe your Aurin Spellslinger doesn’t draw their energy from The Void, but from their belief in The Weave
-Your Chua Spellslinger is a Tester for DREDD. As the lowest mook on the totem pole, you get all the latest and greatest in experimental technology. Hopefully they don’t blow up in your face…
-Your Mordesh Spellslinger loves trying out all their newest and deadly concoctions as experimental ammo for their mag pistols
-Perhaps your Draken Spellslinger is a professional game hunter. They don’t look down upon technology so long as it makes them the biggest and the baddest hunter on Nexus.
-Maybe your Cassian Spellinger is a sharpshooter for the Dominion military, proudly supporting their squad with their keen eye and fast draw
Now you may have noticed that I didn’t touch terribly much on the more sorcerous side of the Spellslinger when going through the stereotypes. In this section I wanted to talk more about ideas that break the mold for the more traditional concepts of the class. But honestly, I think that the magical addition to the Spellslinger itself /is/ a “breaking the mold” concept to the more traditional gunslinger class concept. Not only does this help alleviate the issues with sorting out what is usually an ammo reliant class, this also opens up a wealth of additional roleplaying opportunities!
-Perhaps your Spellslinger is obsessed with The Void and everything pertaining to it. They are constantly studying it and testing their limits, trying to figure out just how well they can manipulate it to serve their needs
-Maybe your Spellslinger is an adventurer who is constantly on the prowl for artifacts that might contain the knowledge of ancient magics
-You Spellslinger belongs to a cult of the occult, worshipping The Void
Pax: ‘r mebbe y’ jus’ really like explorin’ things. Hard t’ go wrong with teleportin’ and dimension-hoppin’ fer any’a y’all who’re a mite curious ‘bout everything. ...not that Ah’d know anything ‘bout that ‘r nothing.
The Spellslinger is as versatile and moldable as they are powerful, lending a wide variety of personality types and career paths to consider when building your very own character. However, as with all classes, remember that your class choice does not have to strictly influence every single part of your character. If you just plain enjoy spellslingers, but you rather focus on your character’s path, or even something else entirely, that’s okay!
Otherwise get out there, have fun and make them Eat Lead! Or magical hell bolts...you know, whichever.
“Dance, puppets! Dance!” -Dominic Deegan: Oracle for Hire
Fawn: Esper (Art by Sushi)
THE ESPER: Featuring guest commentary from Fawn (OC for Ender, co-creater of WSRP and talented artist)
“Mind over Matter” is a phrase you may have heard many times before. It was originally used as a means to explain the evolution of the minds of mankind and some animals over Earth’s history, the concept of higher thought processes leading to growth and success even where genetics might fail. However it has become a strong link to psychokinesis as well, which is the psychic ability of a person to influence a physical system without actual physical interaction. We’ve seen it in tricks and illusions, of individuals moving objects with their minds, but there is another relation that we commonly spread. We talk about the influence of strong willpower on our own physical well-being. People who are positive and confident in their strength have seemingly pulled themselves from terrible injuries while those caught in depression and madness only sink deeper into sickness. The concept of the powers of our mysterious minds has led to a romanticising of one’s personal power on the perception of our reality and we have both loved it and feared it for what it could represent.
Fawn: "It really isn’t all that mysterious when you get down to it you know, but of course, we don’t need to mention that to anyone, do we?"
Espers can bring terror to their enemies through the sheer power of their will.
The Esper is the figure who can see beyond the veil of reality and truly perceive the world around them. The stereotype that they represent is one of “True Sight”, one who can see the hopes and fears and dreams of those around them, who can see the things that live beyond our naked eye, and who have learned how to harness the power of their perception into a powerful tool. Sometimes they suffer with madness and the fear and distrust of those around them, an example of our fear of such capabilities. But we revere their ability to mold and shape their will power, their ability to see the truth in all things. We write them as products of experiments, super soldiers, religious figures and even as simple every-day people who find themselves alone in a struggle with forces beyond their imagining. Though we romanticize them as beings coming into their own power, learning their strengths and using the power of their will to overcome all obstacles, it is truly the wonderment and awe of their perceptions of the world that draw us in to their stories.
Fawn: "Oh, yes, you can’t imagine just how much better a story gets with just a little “visual” aid. Many of the Exiles do seem to prefer stories when they have pictures in them, haha."
WildStar has aptly captured this stereotype in the Esper as a powerful psychic combatant, able to harness the powers of their minds to cripple their enemies and soothe their allies. They can pull manifestations of horror from beyond the veil or even transform themselves into spiritual entities through sheer strength of will. They operate on a level beyond the understanding of many, inspiring respect and fear in friend and foe alike.
The Esper has an amazing arsenal of tools and abilities at their disposal, providing some fantastic visual effects to their powerful psychic projections. The roleplaying potential is as rich as their combative prowess, but before we delve into that, let’s take a look at this eccentric class!
Fawn: “Eccentric”, well, aren’t you being polite? It certainly beats “freak”.
ESPER Weapon- Psy-Blade Resource- Psi-Point and Focus Innate Ability- Spectral Form Armor Class- Light Roles- Healer/DPS Tools- Illusions
The Esper is one of the two light armor classes who runs on a resource of psi-points which are generated by casting “builder” abilities and consumed by “finisher” abilities, while focus is consumed with healing abilities and regenerates slowly in combat and swiftly out of combat. There are different ranks of power for your finisher abilities based on how many Psi-Points you have available. The more you have, the more hurt or healing you can dish out.
With your trusty Psi-Blade at your back, you can use your formidable weapon as a foci for your mental prowess, manifesting hyper-sharp spectral projections that can cut mind and matter with the deadliest of ease.
But why hamper your creative and psychotic mind with such a mundane concept of a weapon? Use your keen perception to find your enemies deepest and most darkest fears, bringing them to their knees with horrifying malignant illusions that will leave them shivering with terror or stop their hearts cold.
Or harness your powers of perception to soothe your allies, giving them peaceful daydreams of serene paper lanterns and shiny little fishies that will ease their pain. Or give them visions of grandeur, inspiring them to acts of heroism and bolstering their courage on the battlefield.
Fawn: "While the latter is more my scene, I have to admit, there is a certain something about a bandit cornering your poor, defenseless little self, all smug about his inevitable payday. And then watch his expressions as five swords raise behind up you."
And harness these same powers for your own personal benefit, shifting into a spectral form to aid yourself in the middle of combat and generate Psi-Points quickly for a strong comeback or shift your form into a spirit beast, leaping through the veil of reality as easily as the air around you.
Use these abilities to send your foes fleeing in terror or empower your forces. Prep yourself with dangerous psychic tools that can cut down your foes to whimpering fools as a DPS or use your powers to calm the mind and restore the body as a HEALER and watch your friends grow in number. And always, you can mix and match as you like, healing and hurting with wanton abandon as much as you could ever want.
Remember, you are the Esper. All of reality is your playground. YOU are in control. Everyone else is just a fine-tuned instrument, waiting to be played.
Examples of some Esper-like RP personalities: The Mesmer: Guild Wars 2, Mysterio: Spider Man, The Shaman: World of Warcraft
So now that we have an idea of what the esper is in terms of gameplay, let’s explore what the esper means in terms of roleplaying. To start, I’ll share a couple of stereotypical personalities that I have found through my years of reading and roleplaying, talk about some ideas for character building specific to the WildStar universe and share some food for thought, for some more unusual personality/background ideas.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to be 120% unique in order to have a good character. Stereotypes are there for a reason and sometimes that can be a good thing! What is truly unique is the way you play your character. There can be hundreds of people playing the psychic prodigy type but no one out there will play them quite like you will. So choose what is fun, take a little time to explore and round out your character and maybe even do a little research to add some more plausibility to the mix and you will be the most beloved of the battlefield in no time!
In my opinion, there are six main stereotypes to the personality of the Esper: The (Psychic) Prodigy, The (Psychic) Super Soldier, The Illusionist, The Trickster, The Shaman and The Mad One. Keep in mind that these are not exclusively all there is and can certainly be mixed and matched. They’re simply the most common stereotypes that I can think of.
The (Psychic) Prodigy- The Prodigy trope is a character who has found in themselves a rare and powerful talent that they never knew they had. Typically they begin as an average person, going about their daily lives until their powers suddenly materialize or some fantastical event happens to them that brings them into their new strengths. Sometimes they find themselves applying to a school or learning or an experimental facility and discover that they learn at an accelerated rate that puts their peers to shame. Much of their story might be spent on their adjustment to such powers, which can bring feelings of elation, terror, self-importance or even madness. Some of them adapt well and do their best to make use of their abilities for the power of good while others find their egos inflated, looking down on their fellow peers as common chattel to their newfound brilliance. Still others are plagued by nightmares and visions, sometimes barely hanging on to their own sanity while they just try to get by. Much depends on the reaction of others around them, whether their unique gifts are accepted with respect and concern or with fear and mistrust. While the Prodigy is usually quite gifted with their psychic prowess, they may take some time to truly develop their formidable powers.
Examples- The Mutant, Jean Grey
The (Psychic) Super Soldier- There are two facets to this trope, one being the super soldier bolstered by genetic engineering, augmentation and other means to bolster their physical or tech related abilities. The Psychic Super Soldier, however, operates on a more mystical level. Usually tampered with genetically, through experimental bioaugmentation or through specialized training programs, this Super Soldier was built as a Psy Ops specialist, using the powers of their mind to augment their military know-how and turn them into a fierce opponent. Sometimes they are proud of their abilities, sometimes they resent them and still others barely give them a second thought. Typically they are already adjusted to their roles and their story revolves more about utilizing their skills then learning how to cope with them. Psychic Super Soldiers are often mistrusted but valued for their unique skillsets and sometimes they are even envied by their fellow “normal” soldiers even if the job description comes with a daily migraine.
Examples- Psy Ops, The Psyker, The Psychic Warrior, River Tam from Firefly
The Illusionist- The Illusionist is a master of manifestations of the mind. They are essentially a mage who specializes in mental magic, using their own will power and their strengths to influence others to use their abilities rather than calling on the powers of the arcane or the elements. Some may scoff at the other schools of magic, finding the reliance on powers other than the Self as a sign of weakness, while others may respect their fellow casters or have no opinion on them at all. The Illusionist dedicates most of their time and energy to their practice, delving into studies of the mind to further their understanding and strength of this mystical art. They are often quite willing to share their knowledge...or at least talk about it, as they typically believe that no other can quite comprehend the intricacies of their particular talents.
Examples- The Mesmer, The Psionic, The Adept
The Trickster- While the Illusionist focuses on the understanding and application of mental magics, the Trickster uses these abilities for their own personal gain, usually by manipulating others. Their ideas of personal gain, however, are not necessarily only about money. Often times they may consider being made exempt from the consequences of their actions, getting someone else to perform their responsibilities or even just their own personal amusement reward enough to continue their actions. Their antics maybe be relatively harmless or malignant and can cause amusement, irritation or even the downfall of their unfortunate subjects. The Trickster enjoys an inherent skill at their psychic powers and rarely spends that much time practicing. They are satisfied so long as they remain with the upper hand on those at their mercy. Some Tricksters can be friendly and silly, often received with good-humored tolerance by others, while others can be devious and thoughtless, inviting scorn and even hatred or fear from others. Typically the Trickster possess a clever mind that allows them to come up with new, exciting and creative ways to torment friend and foe alike.
Examples- The “Loki”, The Prankster, The Lazy Psychic
The Shaman- While the Illusionist uses their magics to further knowledge and power and the Trickster uses their powers for their self gain, the Shaman uses their psychic skills to satisfy a religious need for themselves and/or their community. With their ability to see the truth of the universe around them and to peel back the veil of reality, these psychics can’t help but find faith in their beliefs and use these powers to communicate with otherworldly forces for both themselves and for those around them. The Shaman might be a loner by nature, content to keep the company of the spirits over the living or they may tie themselves to a group or collective, offering support and spiritually healing to those in need. Perhaps your Shaman uses their minds to communicate with the animal totem spirits of Nexus, adapting to the beneficial entities of a new world and spreading their peace and aspects to others, or perhaps your Shaman uses tricks of illusion to bring wonderment and faith to the people, much like the Bodhisattvas. The Shaman typically uses their powers to benefit themselves and others, though they may also be in the contact of darker forces, using their abilities to hold others in their sway with fear and awe.
Examples- The Spirit Guide, The Medium, Spiritwalker
The Mad One- While the Wise One is a meditative figure of peace and self-reflection, the Mad One is an individual who has been pushed over the brink of sanity, embracing the madness of their powers entirely. They may be an eccentric hermit, who is visited only when others have need of their skills and is often viewed with mistrust and nervousness for their crazy countenance. And there are those that delves into the mental magics like a mad scientist, experimenting on both themselves as well as others to test the limits in the capabilities of the mind. Otherwise may be a loose cannon, a powerful but feared unit on the battlefield who is merely a convenient weapon to point in the direction of the enemy and hope that they don’t forget who’s on their side. Sometimes the Mad One may be a crazy but cunning fool, similar to the Trickster, while others might be quite sane so long as they are not exercising their mental powers.
Examples- The Ice King from Adventure Time, Asura from Soul Eater, Kefka from Final Fantasy 6
These are just a couple ideas that could be used with the esper class, but they are not the only ones! WildStar alone has an incredible pool of lore to pull from. Instead of something more generic, why not try something straight from the world of Wildstar?
-Your Exile Esper uses their hatred of the Dominion and their desire to set their people free as a driving force to help them hone their psychic skills. The catch? They can only use them while angry!
-Perhaps Chua Esper is another experimental prototype amongst their kind, only recently accepted as another useful tool of war, and is constantly trying out new serums, injections and foci to hone their mental magics into a super weapon. So long as they don’t go mad first.
-Maybe Aurin Esper draws upon the spirits of The Weave to call upon for help or vengeance on others.
-Your Cassian Esper is enjoying the newfound prestige that has grown along with their mental prowess, using the respect and awe they inspire in others to get them anything they want.
And how about some additional food for thought that breaks the mold a bit?
-Your Esper isn’t necessarily brilliant, in fact some might find them quite simple, but they seem to have a knack for calling on their psychic talents without really knowing how. Perhaps a certain emotion gets them rolling or maybe only when their friends are in danger.
-Perhaps your Esper is a complete and total klutz in everything they do. They just can’t seem to get anything right. Maybe they are just inherently clumsy or perhaps their manifestations occasionally trip them up or distract them. However, put them in the heat of battle and your character is transformed into a deadly and graceful weapon who can slip into “the zone” with the greatest of ease. Just don’t ask them to pass the butter!
The Esper is as versatile and moldable as they are powerful, lending a wide variety of personality types and career paths to consider when building your very own character. However, as with all classes, remember that your class choice does not have to strictly influence every single part of your character. If you just plain enjoy the Esper, but you rather focus on your character’s path, or even something else entirely, that’s okay!
Otherwise get out there, have fun and show all those non believers that those dreams might just be real after all...
“I told you people I don’t need a doctor, dammit- I AM a doctor!” -Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy
Doctor Himmel Wilhelm III: Medic (Art by Pyra)
THE MEDIC: Featuring guest commentary from Doctor Wilhelm (OC for Pyra of WSRP and amazing artist. Check out her other work here)
The Medic, despite their name, does not entirely represent things of a medical nature persay, but rather they represent the core concept that lies behind such professions. Though they themselves focus on knowledge relating to the care and harm of the living body, they use this wealth of personal knowledge to adapt to any and all situations that come before them.
Think of it this way: When a doctor enters a patient’s room they know very little, if anything, about what the patient is suffering from. They have a limited window of time in which to hear about the issues and pull from their knowledge to figure out the puzzle at hand. The cleric in your D&D party must figure out the best way to utilize their skills for the party without wasting their precious spell points needlessly and your priest in World of Warcraft may have had to figure out which party member to heal and which to let die to survive an encounter. While they certainly can function as “healers”, that is simply a convenient and powerful staging ground for what they represent. The core personality trait that the Medic displays is Adaptability, or the ability to use what they know and what they can do to conquer any situation that comes along.
Dr. Himmel: Any doctor worth his medical degree knows how to adapt and take control of a situation. The difference between a good doctor and a worthless doctor is how much blood is on the floor by the end of the day.
Medic can adapt to the field, or change the field to suit their own needs.
In WildStar lore, Medics were at the pinnacle of the healing arts, valued far and wide until the prowess of technology finally surpassed them. With simple, quick and far cheaper methods to tend to the galaxy’s citizens they found themselves struggling to find work and worth in the new world. It was in this crisis that they learned how to adapt with their tools. Many taught themselves how to fight and how to turn their tools of healing into ferocious and deadly weapons. In fact, in many ways, the Medic is one of the most frightening on the battlefield. They know the secrets of life and death and it is up to them to choose who they will save...and who they will end.
I personally like that Carbine added this into their lore. In part, I suppose it was to show that this isn’t just a class for healing, despite their name. I think it also accurately reflects the idea of what the class is really all about! Though before I continue to delve into roleplaying idea and food for thought for the Medic, let’s take a quick look at this flexible class!
First of all, if you haven’t seen the official medic class video, check it out here! As well as this link to the official class page.
The Medic is one of the two light armor classes who runs on a resource called Power Cores which are generated by casting their basic “builder” ability and consumed by “finisher” abilities and generate quickly out of combat. Focus is consumed with healing abilities and regenerates slowly in combat and swiftly out of combat. Dual Resonators function as miraculous multitools of medicine and mayhem, dealing out healing energies or deadly rays to friend and foe alike.
These tools are not the only technological wonders in your arsenal. Generate powerful fields of malignant or benign energies in the world around you, hampering your foes and creating protective zones for your allies. Place them where you wish or become the epicenter of these sci-fi wonders, making your placement on the battlefield a strategy all of its own.
Dr. Himmel: I can only place the Repair Stations in viable locations accessible to the group. But I cannot be held accountable if they do not wish to jump through and reap the benefits of such medical marvels. It’s their skin that’s melting off, not mine.
And let’s not forget your adorable probes! These little balls of tightly packed efficiency extend your soothing or searing reach to wherever you direct them, hovering protectively around your allies or circling like ill omens around your enemies. They can even be your friends if you find those in short supply…
Dr. Himmel: Probes are glorious little devices. However, I would not recommend trying to befriend one.
I intend to make friends with them anyway...
Use these abilities to restore your companions or wreck havoc on your enemies. Set yourself up as a powerful DPS and use your knowledge of science to deadly effect, or play as a HEALER and keep your allies unnaturally healthy to make sure that you’ll have all the minions you’ll ever need in the field. Or mix and match your favorite skills on the fly and play however you like!
Remember only you know the secrets of healing and harm. You hold the power of life and death in your hands. Exercise your better judgement or twisted moralities to decide how you will utilize your deadly arsenal.
Dr. Himmel: In all honesty, I prefer to stay at optimal range of Gaius when he goes about his sword-swinging path of destruction. In doing so, I can rest assure that brute of a warrior is chopping things to itty-bitty pieces instead of hitting one of our fellow comrades. But if a fellow Medic wants to get up close and personal with an opponent, by all means. Their face, not mine.
Examples of some Medic-like RP personalities: The Medic: Team Fortress 2, Doctor Stein: Soul Eater, Doctor Zed: Borderlands and Doctor House: House
So now that we have an idea of what the medic is in terms of gameplay, let’s explore what the medic means in terms of roleplaying. To start, I’ll share a couple of stereotypical personalities that I have found through my years of reading and roleplaying, talk about some ideas for character building specific to the WildStar universe and share some food for thought, for some more unusual personality/background ideas.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to be 120% unique in order to have a good character. Stereotypes are there for a reason and sometimes that can be a good thing! What is truly unique is the way you play your character. There can be hundreds of people playing the sly doctor with a hidden agenda but no one out there will play them quite like you will. So choose what is fun, take a little time to explore and round out your character and maybe even do a little research to add some more plausibility to the mix and you will be the most beloved of the battlefield in no time!
In my opinion, there are six main stereotypes to the personality of the Medic: The Helpful, The Cold Doctor, The Mad Doctor, The Martial Medic, The Back-Alley Doctor, The (Medical) Prodigy, and The Natural Healer. Keep in mind that these are not exclusively all there is and can certainly be mixed and matched. They’re simply the most common stereotypes that I can think of.
The Helpful- The Helpful is, well, exactly as their name states: Helpful. They are the first to the scene and the last to leave and tend to do anything in their power to help others. This stereotype is approachable and friendly and enjoys making others feel comfortable and happy. If they have an office, it will often be clean and warm, with lots of pretty decorations and maybe even treats such as coffee and sweets for adults or candy for kids. If they travel a lot, they may bring some of these effects with them. The Helpful is always open and caring, they take the time to get to know their patients and while their emotions may sometimes get in the way of the work they must perform, they will never resort to viewing others as tally counts or machines. The Helpful may function as a doctor and may also double as a psychiatrist and they tend to find that people will actively seek them for the comfort they can bring. They are most content when they are able to aid others and can become distraught when they are unable to help people. The Helpful makes a fantastic enabler character, allowing others a chance to share their own character’s personal stories, concerns and dreams. While working with others can be greatly rewarding, beware of those who refuse to show equal consideration for you.
Examples- The Tribal Spiritualist, Doctor Nice, The Happy Healer
The Cold Doctor- The Cold Doctor is almost the complete opposite of The Helpful on the outside. Cold, calculated, and clever, they have a tendency to be narcissistic and rude and may turn away any kind gesture sent their direction. These mavericks tend to look down on their patients and may often insult the intellectual prowess of those around them. While this Doctor Jerk is slow to make friends, when you get under that spiny shell they’ve covered themselves in you find out what makes them behave the way they do. Often times in order to become such a talented physician, the Cold Doctor has found it a necessity to never let emotions or feelings get in the way. Therefore they force themselves to see others as “less than human” allowing them to suffer through the pain and loss of their profession as efficiently as possible. They often find that such an attitude only covers up their problems and may admit that it never gets any easier. Usually they are found to be the horrible jerk with a heart of gold deep inside, as they really /do/ care and that is precisely why they try to hide away under that sneering, disapproving mask.
Examples- House, Doctor Jerk, Sarcastic Surgeon
The Mad Doctor- There is a reason only certain people can make it through the medical profession. On a daily basis they may have to witness and perform some of most disgusting and creepy things: digging inside bodies, messing with organs, blood and other unsightly fluids, and then they’re done and smiling and ready for the next patient. There is that creepy sense of something off, something just not quite right with a person who goes through that on a daily basis. The Mad Doctor takes all that wrongness and makes it real. In this being, something has already snapped and they use all that knowledge about life and the workings of the body to twist the science and perform strange, cruel and often disturbing experiments. They might be cackling and deranged or calm and pleasant, but they have definitely taken their arts about a thousand steps too far.
Examples- Hannibal, Doctor Stein, Doctor Kreiger
The Martial Medic- This stereotype takes their knowledge of healing to perform better on the battlefield, or sometimes vice versa, using their knowledge of death dealing as a means to heal. This is the person who knows exactly which muscle could incapacitate their enemy if severed, which toxin or poison would be the best to use in a given situation, or even the best way to heal such afflictions. In some stories they are a mystical teachers of martial arts who can heal with a perfectly placed punch, and in other they are a strong and stalwart combat medic, willing to brave the field of battle and fight their way to the side of their comrades to patch them up in the thick of the fight. Sometimes this character is just coming into their own strengths and may be nervous about actually stepping out into combat situations and their story may be largely about their training and growth. Others might be veteran field medics who have learned to not only help their fellow soldiers, but to use their unique skillset to make them a useful addition to the battle team.
Examples- Sakura(as a ninja medic), The Battlepriest, Field Medic
The Back-Alley Doctor- This doctor may not have the professional license you’d prefer to see in your surgeon, but they don’t ask you questions so long as you return the favor. These characters are the favorite of those who dodge the law, preferring the anonymity of the procedures and the lack of any official tracking that could root them out. You need a new face to cover up your identity? No problem! Want a black market kidney or replacement limb? I think I’ve got two in the back here...just don’t ask where they came from. However, this might also mean poor conditions for the medical field and a good bit of their patients may leave under more...ah...questionable circumstances. But that’s okay! With a cheerful smile and a fat wallet, this doctor brings hope to the downtrodden, the poor and the less reputable citizens of the galaxy.
Examples- Dr. Zed, Any Cyberpunk sawbones ever, Facelifters
The (Medical) Prodigy- The Prodigy trope is a character who has found in themselves a rare and powerful talent that they never knew they had. Typically they begin as an average person, going about their daily lives never truly realising their true potential until they finally get to the right school or environment that let’s them blossom into the genius they truly are. Sometimes their story might be about how they adjust to their new skills. Perhaps they are ostracised, perhaps they are viewed with envy or awe. They might be proud or arrogant of their talents or even nervous and uncertain after a lifetime of feeling inadequate. Or the story can deal with the aftermath with your character already having come into their power as a thing of the past and their story follows what they choose to do with these skills. Whether they use them to ridicule the lack of intelligence in their peers or to use them to become a formidable power is up to you.
Examples- Doogie Howser M.D., The Studious Recluse, Simon Tam
The Natural Healer- This healer believes strongly in the use of traditional and ancient medicines. Sometimes they use it to simply augment their technological arsenal, and sometimes they might shirk technology entirely, but they always spend a lot of their time, effort and money on their specialized remedies. I highly recommend doing a little reading on your own time if you want to play this stereotype. Take the time to learn a brief description of some useful herbal remedies. Learn about clay scrubs, tea, aromatherapy, hot springs, massage oils and heated stones. It’s really fascinating stuff and a little bit of information can add a lot of credibility to your roleplaying. Sometimes these characters might grow their own herbal remedies, mix their own salves, prepare their own teas or even host their own hot springs. A well-played natural healer is also a great enabler to other characters, opening up a lot of conversations ranging from information on the treatments to just offering a relaxed setting for casual chatter.
Examples- Tea Shop Owner, The Herbalist, The Mountain Mystic
Dr. Himmel: Hm, I wonder which one best describes me...
These are just a couple ideas that could be used with the medic class, but they are not the only ones! WildStar alone has an incredible pool of lore to pull from. Instead of something more generic, why not try something straight from the world of Wildstar?
-Perhaps your Exile medic is fairly squeamish about the idea of being a medic, but they really needed more on the Arkship and your character had a knack for connecting with the patients
-Your Chua medic keeps running out of test subjects for their work, so they’ve taken to sampling their experiments on themselves first. How thoughtful!
-Your Granok medic does their work where they know it is needed the most: out in the middle of the battlefield, and boy do they have some stories they could share. Just be prepared to offer up a few drinks to get them.
-Maybe your Cassian medic believes that a strong spirit goes a long way to healing physical wounds. They are a battlepriest from the Vigilant Church and preach their grand teachings while they patch up their patients
-You Mordesh specializes in poisons, both in their creation and their usage. They are their own personal assassin and their services fetch a high price on the right markets
-Perhaps your Mechari medic is a bit different from the others. They’ve learned so quickly that they’ve put their fellow classmates to shame. Now whether to use these skills to help the Dominion, or pursue goals of their own…
And how about some additional food for thought that breaks the mold a bit?
-Your medic is actually a resonator technician. While they may not understand the science of medicine themselves, they certainly know their tech. Their knowledge of the resonators and probes makes them a fairly decent fighter on the field if they apply themselves to learning it and the programs they download into the probes can help them perform the basics of first aid when needed
-Perhaps your medic’s resonators are not medical at all. Maybe they are actually omnitools meant for electronical manipulation or repair. They might make for a skilled hacker or bot technician similar to the engineer
Dr. Himmel: Personally, I find all of these to be good examples of potentially noteworthy doctors. Though, I’m not sure how I feel about any back-alley quacks doing anything worthwhile. But I suppose even those with a less than acceptable license to practice medicine still need a job...
The Medic is as versatile and moldable as they are powerful, lending a wide variety of personality types and career paths to consider when building your very own character. However, as with all classes, remember that your class choice does not have to strictly influence every single part of your character. If you just plain enjoy medic, but you rather focus on your character’s path, or even something else entirely, that’s okay!
Otherwise get out there, have fun and show them why your enemies should fear you. The Doctor is In.
