Thinking of a new way of dealing with Dragonmarked powers. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Thinking of a new way of dealing with Dragonmarked powers. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Nerdicus
10-20-07, 02:17 PM I have been thinking about making dragonmark abilities into a device for me to use as the DM as much as the players. And that has lead me to thinking of ways of making them a constant power. For instance, in our current groups game we have a scion from House Medani and House Sivis. The house Medani one chose the house because of fluff more then mechanics. He liked the idea of playing that type of character more then what that would grant him. But now he asks me, "What am I supposed to do with this power. Detect magic and Poison?

And so I have been thinking of using it as something for the story where his character is able to discern threats automatically, as in, I write them into the story for said purpose. Only, I can't think of how to do this exactly, so for now I have been avoiding it. I do not want to avoid it any more!

So I come to the wisdom of the boards for aid! Ever tried something anything like this, or do you have any ideas for a guy who is going to? And please, haters and neigh sayers need not reply. I'm looking for ways to make this work, not reasons why it can't.

Thanks.
Alex_
10-20-07, 03:09 PM Don't forget that in addition to spell-like abilities usable a number of times per day, Dragonmarked characters also get...

1. A bonus to a particular skill check

2. The ability to use special magical items

3. Great importance to Rajahs, Dragons, the Undying Court, and anyone else who studies the prophecy

4. Connections and contacts within, if not automatic membership in continent spanning Merchant Dynasties

Don't just focus on the spell-like abilities of the mark. That's just a fraction of its potential as a means of defining a character or influencing/driving a campaign.

Try weaving house Medani into the plot, so that the PC can call on favors, allies, resources, or get the party out of tough spot (they become the subject of an investigation).

Make the politics/economics of the Dragonmarked more prominent in the campaign by having the PC tasked with jobs/assignments. They may have thought they were just in the town to get supplies, only to have a nobleman seek them out to help find out who kidnapped his daughter- choosing them specifically because they have the Mark of Detection, and are thereby associated in some way with the world's finest detectives and investigators.

Or have them treated differently by people of higher/lower social ranking. Maybe the Mark will help them get into a an otherwise high class place, or it might get them kicked out of an unsavory place ("We don't need you Medani snoops spying on our patrons.") Either way, they witness somethin important to the story that they wouldn't had then been outside/inside the place (murder, secret deal, questionable people, etc). Maybe the prophecy is involved in a way the PCs didn't know before; "When the inquisitive child of Khorvaire lets loose the crown of the giant's tomb, the Lich Queen from Aerenal will ascend the throne."- or something like that. Now the PC's running around and plundering tombs in Xen'drik has the potential to set in motion the events that will see Vol's rise to power.

In the end, remember that it's not the spell-like abilities of the Dragonmark that are moset important. I personally like playing characters who work for or are in some way associated with the houses (for good/ill) even if they're unmarked or a member of an unmarked race. The story-telling opportunities possible when you're connected to something as powerful and widespread as the Dragonmarks and related phenomena is simply too good to pas up, even if they never become the focus of the campaign.
Nerdicus
10-20-07, 03:18 PM Indeed! All the points you have made are already being used in the game. The Houses involved will play major rolls in the story, and I have stressed to the players what is involved with being marked members of a dragonmarked house. I am trying to find a way to use the dragonmark as a cool plot device.

Example: The next session will have the players making their way down Cyre river in a merchant boat working as guards for the cargo(of which they are in the dark as to what it is), and have just taken on some new passengers. In the next session I intend to have them being followed by another boat full of enemies. These enemies are going to be looking for the gnome passengers that the group just picked up using spells like locate item and what not. I would like to have the Medani character to be able to pick up on this fact through the use of his dragonmark. Without saying to him , "Now is a good time to use your dragonmark", I would to have his character detect the threat. So I'm thinking about having it dragonmarks like that get their regular use, plus, once per day he can simply know that someone is using magic to scry on him.

I'm looking for ideas on this sort of use of dragon marked abilities. Not just for the mark of detection, but also for any of the other marks.
Alex_
10-21-07, 06:24 PM Example: The next session will have the players making their way down Cyre river in a merchant boat working as guards for the cargo(of which they are in the dark as to what it is), and have just taken on some new passengers. In the next session I intend to have them being followed by another boat full of enemies. These enemies are going to be looking for the gnome passengers that the group just picked up using spells like locate item and what not. I would like to have the Medani character to be able to pick up on this fact through the use of his dragonmark. Without saying to him , "Now is a good time to use your dragonmark", I would to have his character detect the threat. So I'm thinking about having it dragonmarks like that get their regular use, plus, once per day he can simply know that someone is using magic to scry on him.

I'm looking for ideas on this sort of use of dragon marked abilities. Not just for the mark of detection, but also for any of the other marks.

Hmm okay then. Well IME, people always spam detect spells when they encounter some kind of suspicious object.

So have the followers leave some clues. If they're moving downriver, then have the pursuers accidentally lose some of their gear in a bag, and have it float down the river and reach the PCs. Call for a Spot check to notice it, since the Medani character should have a +3 bonus not counting other modifiers, probably giving them a higher chance of seeing it. The PCs pick up this bag and look inside finding strange items that look like items or tools used for scrying, some darts/bolts/arrows/daggers and a or two of vile of the poison they were going to use to incapacitate the PCs, or maybe just the poisoned weapons themselves. A knowledge check can reveal some information or clues they forgot that could make them aware that they're being followed.

Or have the PCs stop at a community along the river, and have the Medani character visit another agent of House Medani; one who has access to a more powerful mark, item, etc, and have them inform him that they're being followed or in great danger.

Or you could just try not having them realize they're being followed, and have them actually be surprised.
Captain_Kobold
10-22-07, 10:27 PM I would suggest that use of skills like Spot, Listen, and Sense Motive could be used to see if the character thinks he is in a situation where he should make use of his Dragonmark.

Simply having the powers of a Dragonmark is of little help if the character has neglected the skills of his House as well. The Dragonmark even gives a bonus to one of the more applicable skills.
Arz
10-29-07, 10:10 AM Feats in PGtE and Dragonmarked allow you to channel your spell-likes for different effects. Following the same logic you could design magic items for the house that work on channeling the spell-like into different effects. Just remember to focus them on things that are specific to that House's speciality.
BlackDragon71425
10-31-07, 07:34 AM If I understand what your trying to do, i.e, make his dragonmarked ability active at all times, just modify a permanancy spell for use on that character.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Nerdicus 10-20-07, 02:17 PM	I have been thinking about making dragonmark abilities into a device for me to use as the DM as much as the players. And that has lead me to thinking of ways of making them a constant power. For instance, in our current groups game we have a scion from House Medani and House Sivis. The house Medani one chose the house because of fluff more then mechanics. He liked the idea of playing that type of character more then what that would grant him. But now he asks me, "What am I supposed to do with this power. Detect magic and Poison? And so I have been thinking of using it as something for the story where his character is able to discern threats automatically, as in, I write them into the story for said purpose. Only, I can't think of how to do this exactly, so for now I have been avoiding it. I do not want to avoid it any more! So I come to the wisdom of the boards for aid! Ever tried something anything like this, or do you have any ideas for a guy who is going to? And please, haters and neigh sayers need not reply. I'm looking for ways to make this work, not reasons why it can't. Thanks.
Alex_ 10-20-07, 03:09 PM	Don't forget that in addition to spell-like abilities usable a number of times per day, Dragonmarked characters also get... 1. A bonus to a particular skill check 2. The ability to use special magical items 3. Great importance to Rajahs, Dragons, the Undying Court, and anyone else who studies the prophecy 4. Connections and contacts within, if not automatic membership in continent spanning Merchant Dynasties Don't just focus on the spell-like abilities of the mark. That's just a fraction of its potential as a means of defining a character or influencing/driving a campaign. Try weaving house Medani into the plot, so that the PC can call on favors, allies, resources, or get the party out of tough spot (they become the subject of an investigation). Make the politics/economics of the Dragonmarked more prominent in the campaign by having the PC tasked with jobs/assignments. They may have thought they were just in the town to get supplies, only to have a nobleman seek them out to help find out who kidnapped his daughter- choosing them specifically because they have the Mark of Detection, and are thereby associated in some way with the world's finest detectives and investigators. Or have them treated differently by people of higher/lower social ranking. Maybe the Mark will help them get into a an otherwise high class place, or it might get them kicked out of an unsavory place ("We don't need you Medani snoops spying on our patrons.") Either way, they witness somethin important to the story that they wouldn't had then been outside/inside the place (murder, secret deal, questionable people, etc). Maybe the prophecy is involved in a way the PCs didn't know before; "When the inquisitive child of Khorvaire lets loose the crown of the giant's tomb, the Lich Queen from Aerenal will ascend the throne."- or something like that. Now the PC's running around and plundering tombs in Xen'drik has the potential to set in motion the events that will see Vol's rise to power. In the end, remember that it's not the spell-like abilities of the Dragonmark that are moset important. I personally like playing characters who work for or are in some way associated with the houses (for good/ill) even if they're unmarked or a member of an unmarked race. The story-telling opportunities possible when you're connected to something as powerful and widespread as the Dragonmarks and related phenomena is simply too good to pas up, even if they never become the focus of the campaign.
Nerdicus 10-20-07, 03:18 PM	Indeed! All the points you have made are already being used in the game. The Houses involved will play major rolls in the story, and I have stressed to the players what is involved with being marked members of a dragonmarked house. I am trying to find a way to use the dragonmark as a cool plot device. Example: The next session will have the players making their way down Cyre river in a merchant boat working as guards for the cargo(of which they are in the dark as to what it is), and have just taken on some new passengers. In the next session I intend to have them being followed by another boat full of enemies. These enemies are going to be looking for the gnome passengers that the group just picked up using spells like locate item and what not. I would like to have the Medani character to be able to pick up on this fact through the use of his dragonmark. Without saying to him , "Now is a good time to use your dragonmark", I would to have his character detect the threat. So I'm thinking about having it dragonmarks like that get their regular use, plus, once per day he can simply know that someone is using magic to scry on him. I'm looking for ideas on this sort of use of dragon marked abilities. Not just for the mark of detection, but also for any of the other marks.
Alex_ 10-21-07, 06:24 PM	Example: The next session will have the players making their way down Cyre river in a merchant boat working as guards for the cargo(of which they are in the dark as to what it is), and have just taken on some new passengers. In the next session I intend to have them being followed by another boat full of enemies. These enemies are going to be looking for the gnome passengers that the group just picked up using spells like locate item and what not. I would like to have the Medani character to be able to pick up on this fact through the use of his dragonmark. Without saying to him , "Now is a good time to use your dragonmark", I would to have his character detect the threat. So I'm thinking about having it dragonmarks like that get their regular use, plus, once per day he can simply know that someone is using magic to scry on him. I'm looking for ideas on this sort of use of dragon marked abilities. Not just for the mark of detection, but also for any of the other marks. Hmm okay then. Well IME, people always spam detect spells when they encounter some kind of suspicious object. So have the followers leave some clues. If they're moving downriver, then have the pursuers accidentally lose some of their gear in a bag, and have it float down the river and reach the PCs. Call for a Spot check to notice it, since the Medani character should have a +3 bonus not counting other modifiers, probably giving them a higher chance of seeing it. The PCs pick up this bag and look inside finding strange items that look like items or tools used for scrying, some darts/bolts/arrows/daggers and a or two of vile of the poison they were going to use to incapacitate the PCs, or maybe just the poisoned weapons themselves. A knowledge check can reveal some information or clues they forgot that could make them aware that they're being followed. Or have the PCs stop at a community along the river, and have the Medani character visit another agent of House Medani; one who has access to a more powerful mark, item, etc, and have them inform him that they're being followed or in great danger. Or you could just try not having them realize they're being followed, and have them actually be surprised.
Captain_Kobold 10-22-07, 10:27 PM	I would suggest that use of skills like Spot, Listen, and Sense Motive could be used to see if the character thinks he is in a situation where he should make use of his Dragonmark. Simply having the powers of a Dragonmark is of little help if the character has neglected the skills of his House as well. The Dragonmark even gives a bonus to one of the more applicable skills.
Arz 10-29-07, 10:10 AM	Feats in PGtE and Dragonmarked allow you to channel your spell-likes for different effects. Following the same logic you could design magic items for the house that work on channeling the spell-like into different effects. Just remember to focus them on things that are specific to that House's speciality.
BlackDragon71425 10-31-07, 07:34 AM	If I understand what your trying to do, i.e, make his dragonmarked ability active at all times, just modify a permanancy spell for use on that character.