How would you stat the Grim Reaper as a PC?

[...Eh?]

Well, maybe not the big guy himself, who would probably be epic, but what about someone imitating everyone's favorite personification of death, or someone who thinks he really is everyone's favorite personification of death?

I'd he'd be at least a Medium, possibly larger creature, since he's usually being depicted as really tall. That seems likem a job for Goliath, or maybe even Half-Ogre. Undeadness would be optional, I guess, but toss on the Necropolitan template just for good measure. Classwise, I think he'd be either a spellcaster with a focus on Necromancy (more [Death] effects than reanimation spells), or a meleeist with a scythe, using drow poison and Death Blow, from Complete Adventurer, to kill foes curing combat. A scythe made out of Thinuan would also fit the flavor; Thinuan is a material from Complete Warrior that binds souls to the weapon when it strikes a killing blow. The third option would be assassin, but I don't think of the Grim Reaper as being evil. True or Lawful Neutral works better, I think, since I imagine him treating his killing as part of his job. Skillwise, he'd need massive Move Silently, Hide, and Intimidate scores; maybe a rogue with MWP: Scythe?

So, how do you think death would be statted as a PC?

There is a 100% chance that I will steal any and all good ideas from this thread.

[chiasaur11]

Ever read "Reaper Man"?

He definitely needs the ability to rage.

[Mando Knight]

In 3.5, go with a Cleric of a death god or a Necromancy specialist wizard. In 4e, take a Shadar-Kai or Revenant Avenger or Assassin.

[Roc Ness]

Make him a ghost. That way he can't be killed until he finishes his job, and he can't finish his job.

Maybe you could make a quest about releasing the ghost reaper from a soulcatching crystal or something?

[GoodbyeSoberDay]

You might be better off just homebrewing him as a monster, but for now let's look at what we can do with a PC.

Slay Living (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/slayLiving.htm) is pretty much the iconic death spell. Touch someone, and they die. The real death would use this at will with a ridiculous save, but a death-based PC might just have a few castings of it per day.

Certain mythos say Death is good at chess. I believe the only RAW skill that covers this is Profession: Chess Player.

He also carries that scythe around; you had good ideas about the scythe, but we'll say he took a proficiency and uses it well.

From this I say Death the PC is a Cleric.

The hardest ability to mimic IMO is that death is generally invisible to everyone but the dead and those who are about to die. If there is a spell like hide from living out there that I'm missing, someone should bring it up. Perhaps, as was mentioned, the ghost template could work here.

[The Dark Fiddler]

Give him a Scythe of Life Bane (a bane weapon versus anything living).

And if he dies, the next person has to take over.

And he has to be lawful. Death is a bureaucracy after all.

[Flickerdart]

Death would definitely have some Fatespinner levels. And Plane Shift, Etherealness, so on: he shepherds the dead to their destinations, not just kills people willy nilly.

[Dixieboy]

Planar shepherd? :smallredface:

[Sequinox]

Give him a Scythe of Life Bane (a bane weapon versus anything living).

And if he dies, the next person has to take over.

And he has to be lawful. Death is a bureaucracy after all.

That line that I bolded reminded me of a book by a certain Christopher Moore, entitled, 'A Dirty Job.' Great book with a great take on what it's like to be a Death. It's a little depressing at first, though. (Plus, Minty Fresh is the best name for a character ever.)

[arguskos]

This REALLY depends on what Death we're using: the Discworld DEATH, the Incarnations of Immortality Thanatos, ancient myth Death, the modern Western world vision of Death, or any of the hundreds of other varieties of Death each culture has. Each one will be different in nature.

My personal favorite would be Thanatos from the Incarnations of Immortality. He's Lawful to a T, has little choice in his direction, and when he gets sloppy and is killed, the mantle passes on. It'd be a great homebrewed creation, IMO.

[Mr. Mud]

It'd be a great homebrewed creation, IMO.

... Join me, lad, in my epic quest for homebrew glory!

Also, check your PM box. :smallredface:

[Lysander]

Make him a Soul Knife who can create a scythe instead of a sword. Then give him a level adjustment for a supernatural flying horse, and abilities like Ethereal Jaunt, Deathwatch, and Discern Location at will.

[Inhuman Bot]

Simple!

44 STR
44 CON
44 DEX
44 INT
44 WIS
44 CHA

444 HP

4- Yeah, that's gone on long enough.

Also, depends on "version" of Death you want.

[The Dark Fiddler]

I forgot to mention that he must play chess.

[Hadrian_Emrys]

Give me the ECL and character creation rules used for the game and I'll throw up a concept.

[mabriss lethe]

some levels of shadowhand focused swordsage? He can do teleports, invisibility, death effects, negative levels, attribute damage.

better yet. ruby knight vindicator.

[Hadrian_Emrys]

My default Death build involves is a Cloistered Cleric with the Ghost, (Sagacious Ghost too if free to convert Lore for a Cleric version of Bardic Knack), and Evolved templates.

[chiasaur11]

I forgot to mention that he must play chess.

REMIND ME AGAIN HOW THE LITTLE HORSE SHAPED ONES MOVE.

[Inhuman Bot]

I forgot to mention that he must play chess.

Or better yet.... (http://xkcd.com/393/) :smalltongue:

[The Dark Fiddler]

REMIND ME AGAIN HOW THE LITTLE HORSE SHAPED ONES MOVE.

Sorry, don't read Discworld(?).

Maybe I should though.

[Inhuman Bot]

Sorry, don't read Discworld(?).

Maybe I should though.

First, that's where it's from.

And secondaly,definitely

[Thurbane]

Necropolitan Dread Necromancer with the Willing Deformity (Tall) feat.

[Thajocoth]

Revenant Assassin with a Scythe

[arguskos]

Heads up folks, Mr. Mud and I are collaborating on something special in this vein, so keep your eyes peeled in the Homebrew area in the next week or so for something reapery. :smallwink:

[Grynning]

First, that's where it's from.

And secondally, defineately.

Well, people should definitely read Discworld. However, death playing chess pre-dates Pratchett by a good long while. As in, the Renaissance medieval times (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Taby_kyrka_Death_playing_chess.jpg). The other Ur-example is probably in The Seventh Seal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_7th_seal).

Edit: I'm pretty sure that the Seventh Seal inspired a lot of Pratchett's portrayal of Death. It certainly inspired his appearance in Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey, another landmark film on the subject :smalltongue:

[Flayerman]

Necropolitan Warblade, possibly with Bloodstorm Blade for the supernatural "whirling scythe", specializing in Iron Heart?

[aje8]

It does seriously depend on which death we're talking about here...... I'd probably go with a SoD focused Wizard who pumps his DCs to atronomical levels with reflavored spells. (Flesh to Stone is instead take the soul or some such)

Terry Prachet's death would be nigh impossible to stat. He remembers everything that ever was or every will be and is basically all powerful. The inability to be stated does not diminish his awesomeness in any way.

[Inhuman Bot]

Well, people should definitely read Discworld. However, death playing chess pre-dates Pratchett by a good long while. As in, the Renaissance medieval times (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Taby_kyrka_Death_playing_chess.jpg). The other Ur-example is probably in The Seventh Seal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_7th_seal).

Edit: I'm pretty sure that the Seventh Seal inspired a lot of Pratchett's portrayal of Death. It certainly inspired his appearance in Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey, another landmark film on the subject :smalltongue:

I was refering to the "Remind me again how the little horse shaped ones move." as opposed to the idea in general.

[RandomLunatic]

He has to have a fondness for cats.

[Trodon]

He would probably have some variant of the Reaper of Nerull (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6248489#post6248489) PRC.

[Ravens_cry]

He would probably have some variant of the Reaper of Nerull (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6248489#post6248489) PRC.
He is Nerull, only not evil, and likes cats.

[Trodon]

He is Nerull, only not evil, and likes cats.

That's why I said some variant of that class.

[Harperfan7]

The last two posts already said it, but yeah, Nerull IS the grim reaper. Be a cleric of his with death (and trickery? does he have that?) domain and a vorpal poisoned scythe.

[chiasaur11]

The last two posts already said it, but yeah, Nerull IS the grim reaper. Be a cleric of his with death (and trickery? does he have that?) domain and a vorpal poisoned scythe.

It's kind of interesting how far apart Nerull and DEATH are what with both being text perfect Grim Reapers.

I mean, one's an evil zombie making machine with a proactive approach to death...

And the other one's a nice enough guy with a somewhat live and let live approach to his job, a fondness for cats, and a "World's best Grandpa" mug.

(Who would probably beat Nerull to death in a flurry of pure righteous rage if he met him. )

[Kallisti]

WHy not just use the Entropic Reaper from Libris Mortis?

[Ravens_cry]

That's why I said some variant of that class.
I am just saying the servent ain't got a card on the MASTER.

[chiasaur11]

I am just saying the servent ain't got a card on the MASTER.

A CROWN? I NEVER WORE A CROWN!
NO CROWN. NO CROWN. ONLY THE HARVEST.

(Besides, even DEATH has a boss.)

[Aurion]

I dunno, I think the grim reaper would be good as a LE Dread Necromancer from Heroes of horror. Lots of touch attacks, you become a lich which gives you the skeletal look. In addition you get tons of necromancy spells, and you could take profeciency in scythe for fluff reasons. RP Wise you could say that you are becoming the grim reaper because you killed the last one, and as you level up in dread necro you begin to look more and more like him.

[Jayabalard]

Maybe I should though.Yes... that's absolutely true.

[woodenbandman]

I think that the grim reaper would have to be epic, because he is immortal, unkillable, and you're pretty much screwed should you ever see him, because everything he touches dies.

The problem is I can't figure out how to get Innate Spell (Slay Living) without making an epic spellcaster. Which is really what he needs, is an Innate Spell (Slay Living) effect.

He could use this though:

Duskblade3/Fighter2/Ur-Priest10/Soul Eater5(that BoVD class). This way his touch bestows negative levels and he can channel Slay Living through his scythe.

[Lysander]

I think that the grim reaper would have to be epic, because he is immortal, unkillable, and you're pretty much screwed should you ever see him, because everything he touches dies.


The other way of looking at it is that the Grim Reaper doesn't kill anyone, he just happens to be there when you die. HELLO.

If that's the case maybe he doesn't kill the living, the scythe might be used to "kill" ghosts and send them to the afterlife.

[Bagelz]

hes a level 1 aristocrat with the reaper template and a keen vorpal scythe.

reaper template:
undead
+8 wis +8 int (he's gotta win at those games afterall).
+char deflection bonus to AC
25SR
Deathtouch (SU)- as a standard action a reaper may make a melee touch attack. If succeeds the target must make a fortitude save (DC the target's HD+20). if the subject fails it dies, if the subject passes, it is unconsious.
Improved critical scythe - increases crit range on scythes by 1.
Truestrike with scythes - +20 to attack rolls with scythes
normal attack: +(21+str) +1 keen vorpal ghosttouch scythe 2d4+str x4(18-20)
flyspeed 20ft
hover

[Ravens_cry]

A CROWN? I NEVER WORE A CROWN!
NO CROWN. NO CROWN. ONLY THE HARVEST.

(Besides, even DEATH has a boss.)
The Death of Discworld, yes. But not the Death of Universes. I have no idea on his feelings for cats, but Azrael seemed decent enough.

[DarknessLord]

Screw the undead bit, be a hot pale goth chick.
In fact, a whole party based off the Endless would be pretty cool.

[Rhiannon87]

Forget being a ghost or being invisible. People can see him, most just don't notice he's a skellington underneath those robes. Kids can have a percent chance to notice that fact, though. ;)

(Man, this thread is reminding me how much I love Reaper Man. Need to re-read that, it has been a while.)

[Jack Zander]

If anyone ever plays Death as a PC, they need to give him a Jamacan accent and he needs two little children as cohorts (one super-retarded boy, and one girl that is more evil and vile than he is).

[AslanCross]

The Entropic Reaper from Libris Mortis is pretty much this, although Entropic Reapers aren't unique. Give him cleric levels with the Death domain and something else.

Entropic Reapers wield a Large scythe with no penalty and inflict a chaotic corruption state on living creatures they hit.

[Thurbane]

You could throw levels of Dread Necromancer on an Entropic Reaper. I would call it a non-associated class (since the ER is primarily a melee monster, not a caster), so you could pile on 16 levels of DN by CR20. :smalltongue: