Innate campaign spezific abilities [Archive] - Wizards Community

Innate campaign spezific abilities [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Morgengrauen
05-13-07, 07:48 AM In my new campaign world I plan to have innate special abilities for heroes. Unfortunately the best ideas for innate powers are already used, e.g. the following:

Birthright: Bloodlines: Godlike powers like Highlander that could be transfered to other people.

Unearthed Arcana: Bloodlines which could be gained by birth

Dark Sun: innate Psi-Power

Midnight: Heroic Paths each Character gains

Eberron: Dragonmarks

I don't want to reproduce any of these ideas. Does anyone have an idea about the origin of innate abilities? Where could they come from if not from the gods or by birth?
Aneutralshadeofblack
05-13-07, 07:54 AM You could have a world which is very much mystically saturated, resulting in any individual with sufficiently strong will being able to impose his vision of things on said world. In your case, this would mean that gods aren't needed for these innate abilities to exist; nor do they have to be acquired through birth; any character "special" enough would be able to essentially modify his own self (albeit not in a conscious way), which would result in him manifesting innate abilities.

And of course, what're PCs if not very special individuals?
queenfange
05-13-07, 11:29 AM I can think of several ideas, but some are rather cliche or lame...

exposure to strange magical forces
genetic mutation
astrological forces
site of birth or conception having magic/supernatural/unearthly/etc forces
gift from a superpowerful NPC who sees much promise in the PC(s)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Morgengrauen 05-13-07, 07:48 AM	In my new campaign world I plan to have innate special abilities for heroes. Unfortunately the best ideas for innate powers are already used, e.g. the following: Birthright: Bloodlines: Godlike powers like Highlander that could be transfered to other people. Unearthed Arcana: Bloodlines which could be gained by birth Dark Sun: innate Psi-Power Midnight: Heroic Paths each Character gains Eberron: Dragonmarks I don't want to reproduce any of these ideas. Does anyone have an idea about the origin of innate abilities? Where could they come from if not from the gods or by birth?
Aneutralshadeofblack 05-13-07, 07:54 AM	You could have a world which is very much mystically saturated, resulting in any individual with sufficiently strong will being able to impose his vision of things on said world. In your case, this would mean that gods aren't needed for these innate abilities to exist; nor do they have to be acquired through birth; any character "special" enough would be able to essentially modify his own self (albeit not in a conscious way), which would result in him manifesting innate abilities. And of course, what're PCs if not very special individuals?
queenfange 05-13-07, 11:29 AM	I can think of several ideas, but some are rather cliche or lame... exposure to strange magical forces genetic mutation astrological forces site of birth or conception having magic/supernatural/unearthly/etc forces gift from a superpowerful NPC who sees much promise in the PC(s)