Frail Race With An Ace... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Frail Race With An Ace... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Screams_of_the_Oak
05-02-07, 01:46 PM I've really been thinking about an interesting race with a particularly frail build, a weak ability for spellcasting, and an even lesser comprehension of things society comes to take for granted (arithmatic for example). However, I hope to balance these things with a bonus to wisdom, and a VERY powerfull ability: to raise the dead.

Yes, I know. Please, don't start the screaming. I know how powerful this is. It can bend game mechanics, and just asks for abuse. However, I already have a great background written for the race, I plan to write more penalties and restrictions for the use of the raising. Perhaps, even writing a restriction regarding abuse of the raising that kills a character.

In short, to all those who are listening/reading and still think this is doable: How would you go about doing this? What could balance this out, and how would you prevent abuse other than good Dm'ing?

Comments appriciated :)
theotherdraxen
05-02-07, 02:03 PM Raise Dead as a SLA? Even usable 1/day that's going to impact game mechanics heavily, and your campaign world even moreso.

If you're talking about animating the dead, then that might be easier to balance. However, it might be helpful if you could dole out some more info.
AMGriffin
05-02-07, 08:29 PM Hmm...it seems a little gimmicky...
Vharuck
05-02-07, 09:49 PM Funny thing about penalties: players tend to avoid situations in which the penalties actually penalize them. The reverse is true of bonuses: players take as much advantage of them whenever they can, and seek out or alter situations to do so.

Which is to say, a great bonus isn't really offset by a bunch of penalties. Both must fall within a certain range, otherwise you end up with a race that's either game-breaking or useless.
nytemare3701
05-03-07, 01:05 AM If it were something along these lines:

Soul Sanctuary: (SLA) once per month, in the exact moment a living being's soul leaves the mortal realm (-10hp) the being is wrenched back to the world of the living, albeit rather traumatized. The body of the creature is comatose, stabilized at -9 hp, its soul in a temporary sanctuary. The soul remains in stasis until the body reaches full HP naturally, at which time the creature awakens as if it had slept for 8 hours. If the body is destroyed or brought to -10 hp. the soul leaves forever.

(A creature with its soul in sanctuary cannot be healed by any means other than natural regeneration)

It wouldn't even need penalties.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Screams_of_the_Oak 05-02-07, 01:46 PM	I've really been thinking about an interesting race with a particularly frail build, a weak ability for spellcasting, and an even lesser comprehension of things society comes to take for granted (arithmatic for example). However, I hope to balance these things with a bonus to wisdom, and a VERY powerfull ability: to raise the dead. Yes, I know. Please, don't start the screaming. I know how powerful this is. It can bend game mechanics, and just asks for abuse. However, I already have a great background written for the race, I plan to write more penalties and restrictions for the use of the raising. Perhaps, even writing a restriction regarding abuse of the raising that kills a character. In short, to all those who are listening/reading and still think this is doable: How would you go about doing this? What could balance this out, and how would you prevent abuse other than good Dm'ing? Comments appriciated :)
theotherdraxen 05-02-07, 02:03 PM	Raise Dead as a SLA? Even usable 1/day that's going to impact game mechanics heavily, and your campaign world even moreso. If you're talking about animating the dead, then that might be easier to balance. However, it might be helpful if you could dole out some more info.
AMGriffin 05-02-07, 08:29 PM	Hmm...it seems a little gimmicky...
Vharuck 05-02-07, 09:49 PM	Funny thing about penalties: players tend to avoid situations in which the penalties actually penalize them. The reverse is true of bonuses: players take as much advantage of them whenever they can, and seek out or alter situations to do so. Which is to say, a great bonus isn't really offset by a bunch of penalties. Both must fall within a certain range, otherwise you end up with a race that's either game-breaking or useless.
nytemare3701 05-03-07, 01:05 AM	If it were something along these lines: Soul Sanctuary: (SLA) once per month, in the exact moment a living being's soul leaves the mortal realm (-10hp) the being is wrenched back to the world of the living, albeit rather traumatized. The body of the creature is comatose, stabilized at -9 hp, its soul in a temporary sanctuary. The soul remains in stasis until the body reaches full HP naturally, at which time the creature awakens as if it had slept for 8 hours. If the body is destroyed or brought to -10 hp. the soul leaves forever. (A creature with its soul in sanctuary cannot be healed by any means other than natural regeneration) It wouldn't even need penalties.