A Wizard with Tourettes?! [Archive] - Wizards Community

A Wizard with Tourettes?! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
tate
10-27-04, 02:29 AM So I DM a group and the party wizard, who just joined, said he was thinking about having Tourettes. For those of you who are not familiar with the disease, its primary symptoms are "tics" such as involuntary motor movements, mostly facial twitches, but more noticable are the innappropriate outbursts of profanities. This disease has been mocked on several TV shows and movies, and is pretty funny (aside from the I feel really guilty for laughing at other's misfortune). So anyway, He suggested a spell failure chance of about 15% for verbal spells. I think thats a pretty significant problem, he might as well wear studded armor to get some counterbalance to the ASF.

What would you consider as an appropriate level of Verbal Spell Failure? I am thinking around 10% for standard actions and 20% for longer spells (?).

Also, what benefit would you allow to counterbalance this? I was leaning towards maybe free silent spell bonus feat (but level penalties still apply) to represent his training to overcome the disease. That might be too powerful though.

I think for sure it will be an interesting Charisma score, I think it should be around a 6 for a -3 mod. That would give him some other points to distribute to other stats (point buy method of creation).

Any other thoughts on this topic? Thanks for the help. Its a cool idea, but seems to cause problems.
GRAOUH !!!
10-27-04, 04:24 AM Hum…
Don't want to be cruel but noone will spend a huge amount of time to learn arcane magic someone with tourettes. Cleric is ok, I don't think that faith needs good spelling, and psionics are perfects in this case.

Bards always have a verbal component for their spells, if your player really wants to play this character a solution is to change his way of casting. His spells would always need material components, eschew material isn't allowed for him, then no need to apply a spell failure chance.
You can lower charisma to 3. I saw someone with tourettes, and all I wanted was to go away. It's really not funny, believe me, more frightening and sad than funny. Charisma 3 or less, not more :(
Dracspero
10-27-04, 11:55 AM How about a Will saving throw each time he tries to cast? DC 10 + spell level.
Zolgar
10-27-04, 01:00 PM You can lower charisma to 3. I saw someone with tourettes, and all I wanted was to go away. It's really not funny, believe me, more frightening and sad than funny. Charisma 3 or less, not more :(

It's not ALWAYS that bad.

For a while I was in a gameing group with a guy with tourettes... Worste thing about him was his spitting. *shrugs*
tate
10-27-04, 02:06 PM Well while I agree that becomming a wizard is not the most likely path for someone with tourettes, its what he wants to do and thats that. He obviously wouldnt have a horrific case of it like you (graough) have experienced.

Will saves are easy for wizards, so maybe concentration check? DC 10+level or it fails, but only for verbal spells. No ASF. No special bonuses. Cha of 5 -3 mod. Sound good? I also forsee some interesting things if he tries to move silently :)
Teron Gorefiend
10-27-04, 04:20 PM OK, you lot need a reality check. I have Tourette's Syndrome, and it's no where near as bad as you all seem to think. It also isn't funny. The tics are easily controlled, at least temporarily, with a little willpower. A character with Tourette's Syndrome would certainly not have any particular difficulty casting spells or moving silently. If a surgeon can deal with it (true story), I think a wizard could manage it for a few seconds at a time.
Kolo
10-27-04, 04:52 PM OK, you lot need a reality check. I have Tourette's Syndrome, and it's no where near as bad as you all seem to think. It also isn't funny. The tics are easily controlled, at least temporarily, with a little willpower. A character with Tourette's Syndrome would certainly not have any particular difficulty casting spells or moving silently. If a surgeon can deal with it (true story), I think a wizard could manage it for a few seconds at a time.

Second that. willpower shouldn't be a difficult thing to manage for a wizard. (always best to get the opinion straight from someone who knows best... tahnks Teron)

although... the mental image of a Bard with Tourette's is, to say the least, interesting. Would he be the first "metal" musician in the world due to it? I can see an imaginative bard turning his occasional tics into one heck of a riff, especially when under stress. :P

Sorry, that was tasteless... :blush: but I just had to share it.
tate
10-27-04, 06:39 PM I am sorry if I have offended you, Teron. When I said it was funny, I was referring to the movie depictions of the disease, which I know are bizarre and not realistic. I also knew someone with Tourettes and I didnt even know they had it. He just blinked a lot every few minutes. But he was also on medication, which in the D&D world would not be available.

But on the gameplay issue, I think the party wizard would want to play a character who has a more severe case of Tourettes than the average case, or even the typical case. Assuming the character has a chronic case of it, I suggested some gameplay modifications and was wondering how they work. Keep in mind that this is not a light case, he wants it to be a severe impediment. Thanks guys.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
tate 10-27-04, 02:29 AM	So I DM a group and the party wizard, who just joined, said he was thinking about having Tourettes. For those of you who are not familiar with the disease, its primary symptoms are "tics" such as involuntary motor movements, mostly facial twitches, but more noticable are the innappropriate outbursts of profanities. This disease has been mocked on several TV shows and movies, and is pretty funny (aside from the I feel really guilty for laughing at other's misfortune). So anyway, He suggested a spell failure chance of about 15% for verbal spells. I think thats a pretty significant problem, he might as well wear studded armor to get some counterbalance to the ASF. What would you consider as an appropriate level of Verbal Spell Failure? I am thinking around 10% for standard actions and 20% for longer spells (?). Also, what benefit would you allow to counterbalance this? I was leaning towards maybe free silent spell bonus feat (but level penalties still apply) to represent his training to overcome the disease. That might be too powerful though. I think for sure it will be an interesting Charisma score, I think it should be around a 6 for a -3 mod. That would give him some other points to distribute to other stats (point buy method of creation). Any other thoughts on this topic? Thanks for the help. Its a cool idea, but seems to cause problems.
GRAOUH !!! 10-27-04, 04:24 AM	Hum… Don't want to be cruel but noone will spend a huge amount of time to learn arcane magic someone with tourettes. Cleric is ok, I don't think that faith needs good spelling, and psionics are perfects in this case. Bards always have a verbal component for their spells, if your player really wants to play this character a solution is to change his way of casting. His spells would always need material components, eschew material isn't allowed for him, then no need to apply a spell failure chance. You can lower charisma to 3. I saw someone with tourettes, and all I wanted was to go away. It's really not funny, believe me, more frightening and sad than funny. Charisma 3 or less, not more :(
Dracspero 10-27-04, 11:55 AM	How about a Will saving throw each time he tries to cast? DC 10 + spell level.
Zolgar 10-27-04, 01:00 PM	You can lower charisma to 3. I saw someone with tourettes, and all I wanted was to go away. It's really not funny, believe me, more frightening and sad than funny. Charisma 3 or less, not more :( It's not ALWAYS that bad. For a while I was in a gameing group with a guy with tourettes... Worste thing about him was his spitting. shrugs
tate 10-27-04, 02:06 PM	Well while I agree that becomming a wizard is not the most likely path for someone with tourettes, its what he wants to do and thats that. He obviously wouldnt have a horrific case of it like you (graough) have experienced. Will saves are easy for wizards, so maybe concentration check? DC 10+level or it fails, but only for verbal spells. No ASF. No special bonuses. Cha of 5 -3 mod. Sound good? I also forsee some interesting things if he tries to move silently :)
Teron Gorefiend 10-27-04, 04:20 PM	OK, you lot need a reality check. I have Tourette's Syndrome, and it's no where near as bad as you all seem to think. It also isn't funny. The tics are easily controlled, at least temporarily, with a little willpower. A character with Tourette's Syndrome would certainly not have any particular difficulty casting spells or moving silently. If a surgeon can deal with it (true story), I think a wizard could manage it for a few seconds at a time.
Kolo 10-27-04, 04:52 PM	OK, you lot need a reality check. I have Tourette's Syndrome, and it's no where near as bad as you all seem to think. It also isn't funny. The tics are easily controlled, at least temporarily, with a little willpower. A character with Tourette's Syndrome would certainly not have any particular difficulty casting spells or moving silently. If a surgeon can deal with it (true story), I think a wizard could manage it for a few seconds at a time. Second that. willpower shouldn't be a difficult thing to manage for a wizard. (always best to get the opinion straight from someone who knows best... tahnks Teron) although... the mental image of a Bard with Tourette's is, to say the least, interesting. Would he be the first "metal" musician in the world due to it? I can see an imaginative bard turning his occasional tics into one heck of a riff, especially when under stress. :P Sorry, that was tasteless... :blush: but I just had to share it.
tate 10-27-04, 06:39 PM	I am sorry if I have offended you, Teron. When I said it was funny, I was referring to the movie depictions of the disease, which I know are bizarre and not realistic. I also knew someone with Tourettes and I didnt even know they had it. He just blinked a lot every few minutes. But he was also on medication, which in the D&D world would not be available. But on the gameplay issue, I think the party wizard would want to play a character who has a more severe case of Tourettes than the average case, or even the typical case. Assuming the character has a chronic case of it, I suggested some gameplay modifications and was wondering how they work. Keep in mind that this is not a light case, he wants it to be a severe impediment. Thanks guys.