When it comes to my games and settings, I have no scruples. I'll steal just about anything. History, neat places, plots from everything from Germanic epic poetry to Shakespeare to
Moonlighting, items, names.. If I like it, it's in.
Which is why I'm considering at Dwarf Slayers to my prospective
Pathfinder game. Drawn from the classic
Warhammer Fantasy Role-Play, the Slayers are dwarves who have so dishonored themselves that death in combat is their only path to redemption.
Here's the cover of the classic edition of the game. The heavily-tattooed dwarf with the orange mohawk is a Slayer. They do that, tattoos, extreme hair-styles, piercings, to proclaim that they are unclean, crazy, and off to die. Slayers seek out bigger and badder prey in their quest for death. Trolls, giants, dragons and finally infernal creatures are all met in single combat with the dwarf eschewing defensive measures in favor of frenzied attacks. The Slayer wants to die, but must die fighting to the best of his ability.
Now picture a successful Slayer. He's killed dozens of trolls and dragons. He is a monster of pure violence. And he's completely out of his little dwarven mind because he's denied the one thing he wants - to die gloriously. So he just keeps going and going. Amassing a pile of enchanted goodies to allow him to combat bigger and bigger baddies.
Not only would they rock as a character class for a player into the crazy berserker rage, but picture what happens when a Slayer sets out and
fails to come back. Enchanted arms and armor. Rings, amulets, and souvenirs from a hundred victories. But beyond that, assume that the Slayers' death ends his shame with his clan. Think of the gratitude of a Dwarven clan who return whatever is left for internment in the family vaults. They might claim some of the goodies, but having a Dwarf Lord owing you one big freaking favor can be quite the campaign boost.
Of course, one of the stupidest things you could do is cast
Raise Dead on a dead Slayer. He will
not be happy with the party.
