Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lord of the Ninth 02-15-06, 11:43 PM	I'm making a rather unusual character. He is first and foremost a warrior, but he also has some limited spell-casting ability. He also has two weapon grafts that replace his hands with scissor swords (savage species). These use essentially the same stats as bastard swords, but look cooler. But this isn't a thread about may character build. The main issues are more practical. First, I need to think of what would drive someone to replace both fo their hands with really big scissor like blades. I also need to think of all the things this would prevent him from doing, and maybe some creative ways to get around those that don't require piles of money. He's a member of the Doomguard (faction based on devotion to Entropy). He isn't evil, probably LN or N, and his name is Artaziak. I'm trying to think of ways to connect all the different aspects of his character.
Morka 02-16-06, 02:02 PM	Skills he couldn't use: Climb, Open Lock, Ride, Sleight of Hand, Use Rope, Craft, Disable Device, Forgery, Heal, Disguise, Handle Animal, Perform: Musical Instrument. Skills he would have serious penalties: Swim, Balance (he always has 2 bastard swords in arms), hide, move silently, Tumble, Survival. Without hands, I wonder how he would be able to eat, drink potions, hold magical items, dress himself, shave himself (no, a sword is not a razor), shake someone's hand. If there is some places where weapons are prohibited (some high-class inns, some nobles houses, even some cities), then he would have to remain outside. Also, he would be unable to use any other weapon than his swords, so no range attacks, or silver/cold iron/adamantine weapon. It's a very good quirk, but unfortunately, not very viable...
Timmo_Turren 02-16-06, 06:37 PM	A possible way to get around certain drawbacks of not having hands it to use telepathy (psyonics). Also, illusion magic might be useful for when he doesn't want everyone to see that he has crazy blade-hands (i.e. when trying to use diplomacy). As for cohesion of attributes, perhaps as a member of a Doomguards he replaced his hands with sissor-swords because of his devotion to entropy. He wanted to be a physical embodyment of that which is strange and alien. Reading over that second paragraph, it sounds really weird. But, I mean, the guy sounds like he's inspired from a Tim Burton movie. So what can you expect? :P
Lord of the Ninth 02-16-06, 11:02 PM	I found a spell that might be kind of handy in the Spell Compendium. It's called Greater Magehand. It's like mage hand, but level 1, medium range and gives the caster 40 lb instead of 5 lb. Timmo_Turren, I'm not entirely sure how helpful illusions would be in disguising his "hands," because while they are sized down a bit from the weapon designed for Marilliths, these suckers are probably around 2 feet long. Maybe I could make it look like I had my hands in the pockets of a really long coat or something? Morka, I disagree with some of the items you have under "serious penalties." I don't see how I would have problems hiding or moving silently, as one has no problem doing these things while holding two bastard swords. And as for balance, I totally disagree. The two would weigh the exact same amount and would allow me to lower my center of gravity, or maybe use them like one of those balancing poles (mind you they wouldn't actually be helpful). But yes, sleight of hand is right out. ;) And he would be a miserable swimmer, I hope we never do that. I was considering getting him the equivilent of a ring of sustenance (I hope my DM lets me use a different item, what with my finger deficit). And I think this character will definately have a beard and long hair. And as for limitations on ranged weapons, this guy has a level of war mage, and doomlord gets 1/2 spell progression, so I can use magic when they're too far away (no where near as nice, but often better than a longbow for a nonspecialist). And I made sure to get the blades made out of adamantine (perhaps not the most common, but it has more utility than silver or cold iron, and it doesn't rust).
Cifer 02-17-06, 08:55 AM	I don't see how I would have problems hiding or moving silently, as one has no problem doing these things while holding two bastard swords. Well... do you think you still have usable wrists so you can turn the blades or do they replace the wrists? In the latter case, you would probably face problems at balancing since you only have got two joints (elbow and shoulder) with which you can balance the swords. And about moving silently and hiding: you have at least two feet of sword there (bastard sword would be even a bit more in my opinion...) at every hand. You constantly have to think about "where the hell do I put those swords so they don't make any noise and are not seen". And as for limitations on ranged weapons, this guy has a level of war mage, and doomlord gets 1/2 spell progression, so I can use magic when they're too far away (no where near as nice, but often better than a longbow for a nonspecialist). You know the words "somatic component"? How will your hands enact mystic arcane gestures when you don't have any hands? Anyway, this character is pretty sick. I don't mean that in an offensive way, but think about what you do with your hands every day. The fact that we walk upright and thus can use our fingers and opposable thumbs has been one of the factors for the dominance and intelligence of the human species. You basically reject all that toolmaking quality. Think about it: You cannot open doors. You cannot eat in the usual way. You cannot turn the page of a book. You cannot get into your clothes (I know the problems people have with a plastered arm...). You cannot bathe yourself. You cannot caress a loved one. The next thing to be thought about would be how he is perceived by others: Do you know how people view deformities? Think about how they would perceive a person with two swords for hands - ok, that would end that problem with the loved ones... I daresay there will be nearly noone willing to have social contacts with the character except on a professional base (if he seems to be efficient). What emotional impact would that have on a human being? I'd say after a few months he would cease to feel as one. If you want limbs to attack with maybe think about an extra pair of arms to which you can attach the blades.
Morka 02-17-06, 02:38 PM	Being a spellcaster, you could manage to have a monkey familiar. This little dude will be able to make basic things you usually do with your hands and this character won't be able, like drinking, eating, opening doors, dressing up, etc.
guarnasco 02-17-06, 06:52 PM	2 words: leather covers. Why in the world the poor Edward didn't get any? Covering a sword is a logical manner to defend it from rust as well from unwanted attention, since a drawn sword may cause social problems. With it you can use doors, move quite confotably in stealth actions, even caress a loved one. Smat covers could even be designed to help swimming or catching (webbed), dress and sex (greased/oiled), ranged attacs (built in crossbows, spears advantaged by the leaver action etc.), or even climb or holding stuff (hooks/suckers) As long you could figure a fast way to free your blades, with covers, sharpness will not handicap you any more: So the sharper the better for shaving, crafting (tailor, wood/ice/garden sculptures), profession (hairresser, gardener), piking loks, plaing certain instruments (iron corded harps?) and disabling devices cod even be esier if you have sharp and needle like instruments. Somatic components shold be not an issue since many handless race are capable of spellcasting (nagas, certain yuan-ti, etc).
Lord of the Ninth 02-18-06, 01:43 AM	Leather covers might be a good idea, although I question how far that extends. I don't think he could open doors with them, because it would be like turning a door knob with hedgeclippers. A lot of these would work better if he had hands like Edward, but this guy has exactly two blades per arm, each about 2 feet long. No manual dextarity at all. Harps, even very durable ones are out of the question (and iron strings wouldn't be near enough, adamantine cuts them like butter). This guy's best bet would be something like a harmonica on a necklace or something, although he isn't the musical type.
guarnasco 02-18-06, 03:34 AM	Leather covers might be a good idea, although I question how far that extends. I don't think he could open doors with them, because it would be like turning a door knob with hedgeclippers. A lot of these would work better if he had hands like Edward, but this guy has exactly two blades per arm, each about 2 feet long. No manual dextarity at all. Harps, even very durable ones are out of the question (and iron strings wouldn't be near enough, adamantine cuts them like butter). This guy's best bet would be something like a harmonica on a necklace or something, although he isn't the musical type. scissor sword has 3 blades... Each featuring an articulation, essentially being a big 3 finghered claw (you can even grab a targhet with 2 and continue to inflict damage with the trid) enough for manipulation, since all 3 are opposable. with covers: instrument: percussions. door knobs: experssely designed hook you shall also look at magical and mundane objects in Savage species (arms of the naga, claw wip etc) and any of the 3 finghered kreens are ideal.
Cifer 02-20-06, 02:59 PM	scissor sword has 3 blades... Each featuring an articulation, essentially being a big 3 finghered claw (you can even grab a targhet with 2 and continue to inflict damage with the trid) enough for manipulation, since all 3 are opposable. I'll just guess the articulations are in the middle... that would still mean he tries to grab things with talons that are far too large for any fine manipulation.
Lionhearted 03-01-06, 09:38 AM	i got an idea, he was made and his creator never finished his hands... oh... right i forgot... however edward scissorhand is a awesome concept and a fantastic movie
cypherx 03-01-06, 09:00 PM	you could flip it into a bestow curse (no hands and a -3 to cha. cause you are hideous outweighs the swords) or, you could have it a secret that you are actually a psychic warrior with the graft weapon power... "we can't kill him" "hold up" (immense purple light) "were did the bbeg go?"