My first 4e game is going to be run by my fiancee. I've been the de facto GM for our group for a few years, so this is the first time in a while that I'll get to play a character.
This also may be the last time I will be able to for some time, as I don't know how often she will want to GM in the future.
As such, I'm attempting to make a memorable character. To do so, I find myself going back to prior memorable characters that I've played. Of all of them, two stand out, despite playing neither of them for more than 2 or 3 sessions.
They are memorable to the point that my website is named after one.
They have one thing in common.
They were both Gully Dwarves.
Now, for those of you who don't know Dragonlance, and don't know what a Gully Dwarf is, I give you the following description.
From http://kencyclopedia.com/kender/roleplaying/3EGullyDwarves.cfm
Gully Dwarves are among the most reviled races on Krynn. Of unknown origin (some say dwarves and gnomes, while others replace gnomes with humans), the Aghar are a dwarven subrace that has managed to eke out a meager existance wherever they can, mainly in refuse heaps and other places most civilized races would not care to touch. Due to this, they have a keen survival instinct and a foraging talent like no other. They may seem cowardly, running from most any danger, but corner a Gully and you will be in for a surprise. On the whole, though, Aghar are very stupid, with maybe 1 out of every 50 being able to count higher than 2. Nonetheless, Gullys are almost universally cheerful people.
In any case, a Gully Dwarf is one of my main choices for a character for this game. I loved my first two (a CN Paladin and a Druid) and am seriously considering making another Gully Dwarf Paladin for my first 4e character.
But WotC, in their foolishness, failed to include 4e stats for the Gully Dwarf! I know! It's incomprehensible!
Which means I need to make my own.
And so I come to you all.
----------------
Gully Dwarf (Aghar)
RACIAL TRAITS
Average Height: 3'6"-4'
Average Weight: 100-140 lb.
Ability Scores: +2 Constitution, +2 Dexterity
Size: Small
Speed: 6 squares
Vision: Low-light
Languages: Common, Gullytalk (a pidgin language, incomprehensible to all but Gully Dwarves)
Skill Bonuses: +2 Dungeoneering, +2 Stealth (One of these may be replaced with Endurance)
Dwarf Blood: Aghar are, in fact, Dwarves. Mostly. Technically. They count as Dwarves for all effects, at any rate.
Cast Iron Stomach: +5 racial bonus on saving throws against poison.
Sticks and Stones: Aghar gain a +2 proficiency bonus when wielding improvised weapons (both melee and ranged).
Cornered: Aghar gain a +1 racial bonus on attack rolls when adjacent to two or more enemies.
Cower: Aghar can use Cower as an encounter power.
Cower - Aghar Power
As you cower back, you look so piteous that even ruthless enemies have second thoughts of striking you
Encounter * Charm
Immediate Interrupt
Trigger: You are attacked by a creature.
Effect: The attacking creature takes a penalty on their attack roll equal to 3 + your Cha modifier. If the attack misses, you can shift one square.
----------------
Thoughts? Comments? Too powerful? Not powerful enough?
I am considering changing the Cornered bonus to damage, rather than attack. All the other racial bonuses (Dragonborn, Tieflings) are attack, but Cornered means that Aghar are especially effective against minions. Damage would show the viciousness of a cornered Gully Dwarf as well. What do you think? It does kinda make sense that Gully Dwarves are super effective at fighting off hordes of minions.
Cower is somewhat stolen from a combination of the Halfling's "Second Chance" and the Ranger 3 "Disruptive Strike". Should it have the Charm keyword?
Some of the ideas here were brutally ripped from:
http://dragonlanceforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17052&page=1
----------------
Alternative racial features:
Cornered: When flanked, Aghar gain a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls against the flanking creatures.
Is this better? Worse? Far more situational, for sure, hence getting the damage boost as well. Perhaps too situational for a racial ability.

