Shadow Hunters

[Aphetoros]

It makes more sense for a hunter to be a shadow hunter, imo...

Simply because of what they do, y'know? Shadow hunters are like a combination of shaman and shadow hunters. Also, Bovel are you just assuming that when they don their mask they become a cheval? I know that is from Vodoun, but I don't know any source that says that in WoW.

Also, unrelated, why would you say lwa, instead of loa? In WoW I've never seen them referred to as the former.

[Jonoth]

I recently read this story about how Vol'jin becomes a Shadow Hunter. It gives a wonderful narrative about Shadow Hunters before the arrival of the Orcs, and should provide some solid inspiration for yours.

[Kage]

That it did. That'll help quite a bit, it explains the trials themselves. So.. \o/ all my <3 to Jonoth!

-Edit-

Oh, and I'm looking for more information on how troll life was 54ish years ago, and how the birth ritual -would- go. (Mind you if you read Daichi's original birthing process, well I like writting story's, expect something similar to that)

[Beltharean]

Honestly, if its your first time rolling a Troll, I -really- wouldn't suggest playing a Shadow Hunter. Or even a Shaman/Priest/Witch Doctor, at that. Voodoo has so much lore behind it, and people end up RPing it terribly if they don't even have a really firm grasp on the basics of Troll lore. Something much less experience-heavy like a Primal, Barbarian, warrior, or hunter would be a much more suitable route. That's not to say you shouldn't play what you wan't to play, its just... Y'know, experience comes with time, like anything. If you want to learn a programming language, you don't dive head first into making a game engine, you try and make a 'Hello World' program on your own, and slowly work your way up. As for 54 years ago, if you're a Darkspear, not much. Just typical Troll life. Sacrifices, maybe the occasional small murloc raid, or a squabble between clans within a tribe.

[Jonoth]

Oh, and I'm looking for more information on how troll life was 54ish years ago, and how the birth ritual -would- go. (Mind you if you read Daichi's original birthing process, well I like writting story's, expect something similar to that)

I haven't found much on birthing, but their is this tidbit from the RPG that someone linked me to when I was writing my love guide. Just remember that the RPG is not canon, so take it with a grain of salt.

Traditional jungle troll rites of passage include suitors battling to the death for the object of their affection (either gender would do this), fights with blunt weapons during a marriage ceremony to establish dominance in the marriage. Many jungle trolls consider their wives as both trophies to be proud of and lowly slaves who have no rights. The more wives a warrior has, the more ties he shares within the tribe and the more allies he has. Though the warrior must have the means to care for all of his wives, it is a matter of prestige but also of political and social interest to own as many wives as possible. Only a willing father or brother agrees to give a female to a husband; unless, of course, a husband decides to hand out one of his own wives to another jungle troll to show his appreciation. Such a valuable gift shows a mark of respect and mutual friendship between the giver and the recipient. This ancient tradition allows jungle trolls to cut deals and alliances with other tribes. It is not rare to see the members of a weaker jungle troll tribe offer wives as tributes or peace offerings to the warriors of a bigger or more organized tribe. Among the members of the Darkspear tribe — who suffer the influence of the Horde some are beginning to question this outdated way of life.

As for general Troll info relating to your Shadow Hunter, make sure you read up on voodoo as a whole, particularly dealing with the Loa. I find that often the thing most people devite on is how the Loa work, which is the same concern I share about Shaman in general. When I first played Shaman, I tended to play them as I would a mage, but with both Shadow Hunters and Shaman, there is that relationship between warrior and spirit that exists where there is no guarantee the spirit will provide aid. They may very well decide what you ask is within your own power, and make you do it yourself. Or they may decide that your cause is not one they support. It could lead to some fun circumstances to play out the spirits not responding!

As for OOC class, it's a toss-up to me between Hunter and Shaman. Shaman does give you most of the listed abilities (changing form for speed, lightning, Hex), but Shadow Hunters start as accomplished hunters, so if you choose the Hunter class as your base you could lean towards abilities such as Aspect of the Cheetah/Pack, which simulates Legba's blessing, instead of the more caster-centric ones.

[Aphetoros]

What about rogue? (a lot of my reading in that story thus far points very rogue-esque to me!

[Jonoth]

What about rogue? (a lot of my reading in that story thus far points very rogue-esque to me!

I've thought about them too. They -could- feasibly work, as I've always thought Headhunters were combination Hunter/Rogue OOC (Hunter with Rogue stealth and throwing specialization). But if I had to narrow it down, I'd lean more towards Shaman/Hunter for both IC and OOC reasons.

[Bovel]

Honestly, if its your first time rolling a Troll, I -really- wouldn't suggest playing a Shadow Hunter. Or even a Shaman/Priest/Witch Doctor, at that. Voodoo has so much lore behind it, and people end up RPing it terribly if they don't even have a really firm grasp on the basics of troll lore.

Sorry, but I have to second this.

[Kage]

Honestly, if its your first time rolling a Troll, I -really- wouldn't suggest playing a Shadow Hunter. Or even a Shaman/Priest/Witch Doctor, at that. Voodoo has so much lore behind it, and people end up RPing it terribly if they don't even have a really firm grasp on the basics of troll lore.

Sorry, but I have to second this.

Whereas that does make sense to go with something simple, it only feels as if I've decided to be lazy. I haven't even made the character yet, I've been -far- too busy on ready everything I can. Whereas IG experience would be needed, if you look at what I did with Daichi, who before I made him I had -no- orcish lore knowledge, I wasn't good at first, but quickly learned and made him better (Or so I hope). This troll'll be the same.

To put it another way, if I pick the easy route, I feel as if I cheated. So far my method of submersing myself into the lore of each race, class, daily life, how they feel about smaller things such as rodents, how they feel about larger creatures, other races, all of it. I will suggest this if you still have problems, I plan on writing the profile as I know more, and I will -not- play IG till I have. If you truly have an issue, read the profile. I'm opening it to -all- to judge. If it's not written well enough for you to think I can rp it correctly, tell me so and I'll either scrap him (Probably not) or put him on the back burner till you are sure I can play him.

[Bovel]

Whereas that does make sense to go with something simple, it only feels as if I've decided to be lazy.

The problem is that you cannot just read up on WoW lore. For this you gotta read up on basic voodoo and their metaphysics, delve into what other people have done in the past, what worked and didn't and so on.

My troll that in the end reached shadow hunter was rolled as a scalper with the bad habit of being harassed by spirits, that became an apprentice to several witch doctors and after almost three months I felt I had what I needed.

BUT MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL is how you relate the shadow hunter and his powers to everyone else. How can you RP your troll without witch doctors, hexxers and priests look worthless? If everyone wears a mask and you should too, what's the visual effect of the rush'kah then?

Problem is CotH isn't abundant in troll RP, rather the opposite. And most trolls have abandoned, don't care or have players that aren't well read up on voodoo. Chances are you'll end up with loose tidbits, follow a bad description of the class from some Wiki and have a ranged warrior that can cast divine spells.

[Kage]

Whereas that does make sense to go with something simple, it only feels as if I've decided to be lazy.

The problem is that you cannot just read up on WoW lore. For this you gotta read up on basic voodoo and their metaphysics, delve into what other people have done in the past, what worked and didn't and so on.

My troll that in the end reached shadow hunter was rolled as a scalper with the bad habit of being harassed by spirits, that became an apprentice to several witch doctors and after almost three months I felt I had what I needed.

BUT MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL is how you relate the shadow hunter and his powers to everyone else. How can you RP your troll without witch doctors, hexxers and priests look worthless? If everyone wears a mask and you should too, what's the visual effect of the rush'kah then?

The visual effects? I'll get to that once I'm done writing the character. I'm a designer after all.

Problem is CotH isn't abundant in troll RP, rather the opposite. And most trolls have abandoned, don't care or have players that aren't well read up on voodoo.

It's not just the wowwiki I'm using. There is a lack of troll rp on here (Another reason why I'm making such a troll, it may create more) so I'll be reading -all- the profiles in the cothwiki, along with IC posts that include trolls.

Chances are you'll end up with loose tidbits, follow a bad description of the class from some Wiki and have a ranged warrior that can cast divine spells.

I doubt that. I'm not that bad. Even if it's just an example.

[Wuvvums]

Honestly I wouldn't chalk up lack of experience/familiarity as a reason not to roll something. I could see for shadow hunter because even after two years of rping trolls I never heard of them, and yet I think I could probably read a bit about them, apply some inspiration, and have a creative spin on what I think they're like. But you're also extending this to -anything- voodoo related like shaman and priest. I just don't think that's right, given how the headhunters, the primals, and the melee races are just as superstitious and believe about the voodoo as those that choose to wield it. It would really only be the younger trolls that aren't as into it.

Some things are just difficult but if someone gets it wrong, just correct them or give advice. Let them learn through experience. I doubt that just rping trolls is going to prepare you to know more about them, when as you mentioned, troll rp is the minority roleplay. Some things just are a matter of trial, error and guessing.

[Beltharean]

If you're set on making a Shadow Hunter, perhaps find a mid ground between what we're saying (Bovel and I are, as far as I know (aside from Hawk of course!) two of the longest standing Trollites of CotH, and your method of immersing yourself. Have your character be destined for Shadow Hunter-hood, but rather than starting your training the moment your start to RP, play a Headhunter, or a typical Wotch Doctor for a month or two before you begin your character's official training. Before he even begins to humor the idea of wearing a Rush for the rest of his life, decide the intricacies of Lore and personality that only RP can bring. You'd b much better off for it... Just think of it as additional, peremptory research!

[Ural]

I find myself occasionally RPing characters that are smarter, more skilled or physically stronger than myself. If I don't know something OOCly, I try not to let it affect a major aspect of my character. But yes, some OOC ineptitude seeps into character. Does that bother me? Not really, as none of my characters are all-knowing. I had one profiled, and truly there was nothing left to RP out. I find that's my own weakness trying to create old characters. We need more humble characters willing to be shaped by those around them. I think Wuvvums put it nicely.

Honestly I wouldn't chalk up lack of experience/familiarity as a reason not to roll something.

Some things are just difficult but if someone gets it wrong, just correct them or give advice. Let them learn through experience. I doubt that just rping trolls is going to prepare you to know more about them, when as you mentioned, troll rp is the minority roleplay. Some things just are a matter of trial, error and guessing.

[Kage]

If you're set on making a Shadow Hunter, perhaps find a mid ground between what we're saying (Bovel and I are, as far as I know (aside from Hawk of course!) two of the longest standing Trollites of CotH, and your method of immersing yourself. Have your character be destined for Shadow Hunter-hood, but rather than starting your training the moment your start to RP, play a Headhunter, or a typical Wotch Doctor for a month or two before you begin your character's official training. Before he even begins to humor the idea of wearing a Rush for the rest of his life, decide the intricacies of Lore and personality that only RP can bring. You'd b much better off for it... Just think of it as additional, peremptory research!

Where as you think that's a good idea, you forgot one thing.

Problem is CotH isn't abundant in troll RP, rather the opposite. And most trolls have abandoned, don't care or have players that aren't well read up on voodoo.

Clearly you agree with Bovel, but where am I going to get the experience. And asides from that, the last thing I want is a character with so many ties to other trolls that he really -can't- be rped unless there on that I'm stuck waiting. The thought is nice, training after I've gotten use to the character, but I don't want to be waiting for others. I have about two characters that I use freely, and two more that I enjoy even more, but I'm stuck waiting for other people and I don't really like it. The thought is there, and it's nice, but you really have no say in if I should rp someone or not until you've seen me do so. So please, refrain from trying to tell me what to do and just wait until I actually do rp him. If you have an issue, bring it up with me and I'll fix it. Just telling me ahead of time that I shouldn't because I don't know enough is kinda hurtful, and it's the only reason I'm typing this post.