March 04, 2005
2nd-Level Expert
Medium Humanoid (Human)
Hit Dice: 2d6 (6 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 11 (+1 Dex), touch 11, flat-footed 10
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+1
Attack: Unarmed attack –1 melee (1d3–1, subdual)
Full Attack: Unarmed attack –1 melee (1d3–1, subdual)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Qualities: Hearing impaired, lucky
Saves: Fort +0, Ref +1, Will +3
Abilities: Str 8, Dex 12, Con 10 , Int 15, Wis 11, Cha 12
Skills: Bluff +5, Craft (Computer Game Design) +6, Craft (RPG Design) +7, Diplomacy +6, Knowledge (games) +9, Knowledge (geography) +4, Knowledge (literature) +5, Knowledge (local) +3, Knowledge (history) +4, Knowledge (religion) +3, Listen –4, Perform +3, Search +2, Sense Motive +5, Spot +3, Swim +1
Feats: Skill Focus: Knowledge (games), Negotiator
Environment: Any temperate
Organization: Solitary, or with mate
Challenge Rating: 2
Treasure: Low
Alignment: Usually lawful evil
David Eckelberry was born the youngest son of a large family of humans that resided somewhere in the realm called Pennsylvania. His father’s labor as a tradesman and metalworker dictated that his youth be spent on the move along what is known as the East Coast, with long stops in the realms of unpronounceable Connecticut, named for a tidal river, and a city in Georgia, named for a Greek runner who claimed to be a goddess. David largely ignored his surroundings, except for the growth of an incredible group of Braves who could throw balls particularly well. Instead, he focused on reading fiction better suited for landfill, rolling small Platonic solids on his garage floor with a circle of friends, and playing computer games on now-extinct consoles. He also wasted time writing imaginary scenarios set in fantasy worlds, during which players of a certain game would once again roll many of those Platonic solids.
After his parents bequeathed him an overpriced education ad ripas Potomaci, David languished in the nation’s capital for some time. As an editor on poorly written texts, his labors seemed to him not unlike cleaning the Aegean stables. Eventually, his interest in writing those make-believe adventures led him to secure employment with a guild of similar storytellers in the berg named for its small freshwater source, Lake Geneva. With this guild, that went by the name TSR, he spent a pair of years creating tales of both medieval lore and science fiction imagining. Soon, though, a rival guild of gamemakers seized control of TSR. Fortunately, these sorcerers turned out to be not half so evil as his former corporate masters led him to believe. So David went to work for those Wizards of the Coast in the rainy land of newer city, this one named for an aboriginal leader of the previous century. For the next five years he composed adventures of dungeons and dragons, told of the hidden ways of heroic empowerment, and on the side designed a game of cards or two.
Sadly, after seven years of such pursuits, David’s interest in such things began to wane. He was spending more and more of his time in the new fantasy worlds of Norrath, Brittania, and Hibernia. These new forms of fantasy life interested him greatly. He spent many a waking, or half-awake, hour within these online worlds. Even as his last book detailing the ability of heroes to play monsters was published, an opportunity arose to join a band of like-minded heroes in order to create a “MMORPG.” Though he couldn’t pronounce that magic word, David grabbed hold of the opportunity, leaving the land of rain behind for a return to the land of deep snows. Now he spends most of his conscious hours creating an electronic fantasy game set in the world of Eberron, on the continent of Xen'drik. He considers life sweet, and himself lucky to have found such an agreeable profession, with such excellent companions.
David speaks English and claims to have some memory of studying German and Latin.
COMBAT
David begins most attacks with a volley of well-targeted insults, but typically runs away if confronted with physical violence. In the outdoors, he prefers to attack from range with a rod of deadly munitions, but has yet to hit anything other than small yellow discs… and even those strikes are rarer than they should be.
Lucky (Ex): Whether his mother made a prayer to Bes, Tyche, or Saint Jude, David has been blessed with good fortune. When things go awry, he can re-roll any d20 roll before knowing the result. He must accept the result of the second roll. In especially trying times—such as during game four of the 2004 ALCS—his zeal for the well-being of others may allow him to affect the luck of others.
Hearing Impaired (Ex): David suffers a –4 on all Listen checks.
Stratics Central
