Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Curgoth 07-15-07, 08:11 PM	I'm in the process of trying to put together a psionic race for my campaign setting. One of the features I want this race to have is an iron allergy; I don't want them using steel or iron of any kind, for armour or weapons. Much like fae races in countless fantasy novels, the vulnerability to iron is what keeps the (arguably) less powerful humans on top, and keeps the psionic race confined to a particular range of mountains. The race uses bronze for common weapons and armour instead (and crystal for the more high end folk). Any suggestions for a mechanic for this? I'm looking for suggestions in terms of what sort of penalties a member of the race should be looking at if they try to use iron weapons or armour, and potentially taking damage or being stunned/slowed if put in contact with iron (shackles and the like, for example). As far as the race's design is concerned, the allergy is supposed to balance out one or more psi-like abilities to make a balanced +0 LA race.
HippoMaster 07-15-07, 08:18 PM	For a race that's supposed to be mostly psions, the iron allergy doesn't hurt it much. It is a hindrance, as it limits the race from being optimized warrior or cleric types, but it is not nearly worth a -1 to LA. Iron Allergy prevents: Many weapons, non-druid armor, rods, and 1 or 2 wondrous items. The lack of rods hurts casters, but it is possible to form metamagic rods out of something else, according to the SRD. So, it is merely an annoyance to casters, who will need their rods specially made. Druids are almost completely unaffected. Psions aren't affected at all. So, the allergy can be used to cover a bonus that affects mostly classes that are hurt by the allergy, but does not counter any bonus that helps casters.
Rerecros 07-15-07, 08:24 PM	I would suggest against being paralyzed by metal that conacts them, or they'll be dead quick. You could give them Regeneration 0, and iron/steal weapons deal normal damage while everything else deals non-lethal damage, and they loose their regeneration if they weild or wear steal/iron weapons/armor. When their non-lethal equal their hitpoints they pass out, and either heal one point in an hour, get healed by a comrade or are coup des grais by a metal weapon.
Millenia 07-15-07, 08:42 PM	One way of showing th iron allergy in a way that would deserve a lowering of LA, in my opinion, would be to have the race suffer more damage due to iron/steel weapons.
Lord_Of_The_Abyss 07-15-07, 08:52 PM	All swords have a handle made of wood and usually has a layer of leather wrapped around that as well. That being said, them being unable to come in contact with iron or steel (you may also want to expand this to "metals of any kind" such as adamentine or even mithril so there are no loop holes) is completely irrelevant unless you are running a very realistic campaign and you know exactly what your talking about and you have a creature do what's called a half-sword or shortened sword (picture here [sorry about the gory image to the left] http://thearma.com/Manuals/Mair/124.jpg note, this attack form can be used for thrusting as well as parrying and no, swords of any type are not sharp enough to instantly cut your hands by just touching them, they need friction, and in this technique, there is none as long as you keep a firm grip, and yes, i am a practitioner of real medieval martial arts, mainly the longsword, i know exactly what i'm talking about). Having said all of this, you may want to make it an aura effect because there realistically is no weapon made completely out of metal, i think 1d6 damage plus slowed per round you're near the metal would be reasonable (your decision of course). And thus ends my ranting.
Curgoth 07-15-07, 08:57 PM	For a race that's supposed to be mostly psions, the iron allergy doesn't hurt it much. It is a hindrance, as it limits the race from being optimized warrior or cleric types, but it is not nearly worth a -1 to LA. HippoMaster: Good point. I've been thinking more in terms of world building, where I assume that for all races who take up territory on the map, spellcasting/psi classes will make up a small portion of the population. That means that the troops that prevent the neighbors from marching in and taking over will be mostly warrior types. From the POV of not letting the new race dominate a game, though, that wizard getting a -1 to hit and damage with her dagger is not really that inconvenienced, and no one is going to play a fighter from this race. I'll have to keep the benefits, especially to psions/wizards, fairly mild. I'd given some thought to having them take extra damage from steel/iron weapons, but that seems a bit extreme. Any thoughts on long-term exposure? I am considering have them move into "sickened" or "shaken" condition if they're in contact with iron and can't remove it. (including being grappled by people in armour or bound in chains) Possibly degrading into "nauseated" after some number of turns.
sigma999 07-15-07, 09:01 PM	Don't forget your own blood has iron... Also, I've seen the Iron Allergy for certain Fey templates in a Dragon magazine issue. I tried out the Unseelie one in a Tiefling Sorcerer (LA+0) It wasn't a pretty sight, getting +1d6 damage per blow, and the DM thankfully also noticed how bad that was and exchanged it for something like "under a Slow effect while in contact with iron", which did not include being struck. Still limited what the Fey could use, much like a Druid's item restrictions, and didn't get him killed in a single round by some L1 orc. But most Fey also get DR x/Iron, which led me to believe that such 'weakness to iron' was actually not an active allergy, but rather the only thing (in mythology) that the common person could use to bong them goblins and pixies on the beaner. So maybe your should give some kind of bonus that becomes null when in contact with iron/steel?
Talisman 07-15-07, 09:43 PM	+50% damage when struck by an iron (not cold iron) weapon. Suffer a -1 circumstance penalty on all rolls whenever in contact with iron. This penalty increases by +1 every round: -2 on round 2, -3 on round 3, etc. Become fatigued immediately upon touching iron. Maintaining contact for a minute makes you exhausted. A second minute knocks you out. Since this is a psionic race, can't use any psi-like abilities when in contact with iron, and contact with iron drains 1 power point per round. In addition to any of the above, anyone wearing iron (i.e., armor) gains a +2 bonus on saves vs. the [psionic race]'s psionic powers.
sigma999 07-15-07, 11:35 PM	Go for just the "fatigue", it's simple. Maybe the #4 but that's pushing it.
Rasmus Wagner 07-16-07, 08:32 AM	Always non-proficient with metal weapons and armor, regardless of feats and classes, to represent discomfort. +1d6 or maybe +2d6 from iron weapons.
Phantomcrossing 07-16-07, 07:39 PM	Take 1 point of damage from touching Iron, Cold Iron, or Iron Alloy materials such as Steel. This damage does not overcome DR/Cold Iron, unless the touch is from Cold Iron. +1d6 points of damage from Iron, Cold Iron, or Iron Alloy materials such as Steel. This is what they gave the Unseelie Fey in the Dragon Compendium Volume I. I think its a good balancing aspect. You can't wear most metal armors, general contact with metal can suck. At low levels it can make combat suck. I trust it, even though it was penned by Gwendolyn FM Kestrel, I have some grievances since a few of her previous works. ... Wait, CRAP! This just reminded me that my gf wasn't getting her extra damage from the Rapiers and the cross bow bolts. Oh well, in two weeks we'll have to rectify some matters...
Curgoth 07-16-07, 11:05 PM	After reading through the replies, this is what I'm looking at now; +1d6 damage from iron weapons Prolonged contact (6 inches of closeness or less is enough to avoid cheating with wooden handles, etc.) with iron causes the character to be groggy; -2 to hit/damage, skill rolls, initiative, etc. Unable to concentrate enough to use psi-like abilities, manifest psionics or cast spells, skill checks are at -5. Maybe require a fort save to take anything but a move action? Can't use iron/steel weapons and armour. Bronze is the low-level replacement; mithril, crystal etc. work, though of course low-level chars can't afford them. Sucks at low levels, which is when the psi-like abilities will be most useful (I'm planning to stick to 1st level powers; maybe just one), and sucks less at higher levels when a 1st level power is less useful. I like having prolonged contact cripple but not kill; it gives me some nice story hooks to work with.
Smite-Mo-Tron 07-16-07, 11:52 PM	Perhaps some sort of fortitude save whenever the race comes in contact with iron, and a constantly increasing save for each round that he remains in contact with the iron object. Failure would mean that he was sickened, a second failure would result in nausea, and a third failure resulting in the character passing out. Oh, and for blood, try the Spock cop out: Green blood with copper instead of iron.
sigma999 07-18-07, 04:17 PM	Well it's all pseudo-science after a point, but what one should strive for is simplicity. Whichever conclusion should be brief and easily accounted for or you'll get the problem Phantomcrossing and his girl have/had.
RobbyPants 07-18-07, 04:32 PM	Another balancing factor problem is that this allergy can be completely overcome with superior equipment at higher levels (when the PCs have more money). Mithril is harder than steel and half the weight. It's not that expensive to use (and light armor could be available as early as 3rd or 4th level). Adamantine is stronger yet, but more expensive. Dragonhide armor can be worn in place of steel armor. Crystal weapons and armor can be fashioned and function exactly like their steel counterparts. It seems that the bulk of this allergy would really be only for flavor. After the first few levels, it would have little effect on the race, other than the negative effects of getting hit by iron/steel weapons. Also, out of curiosity, would damage reduction X/magic protect you from contact with non-magical iron/steel? I'm not really sure what constitutes "damage" in this case.
Lord_Of_The_Abyss 07-18-07, 05:25 PM	Mithril is harder than steel and half the weight. It's not that expensive to use (and light armor could be available as early as 3rd or 4th level). Adamantine is stronger yet, but more expensive. ........I......just said that......3 days ago........thank you for restating my statement :P
sigma999 07-19-07, 12:21 AM	Also, out of curiosity, would damage reduction X/magic protect you from contact with non-magical iron/steel? I'm not really sure what constitutes "damage" in this case. Yes but only in the amount reduced by DR. Anything over would then activate an "allergic reaction" incuring extra damage, status effect, etc. A fey/devil might have something like DR 5/iron (plus allergy) and DR 5/silver. :eek:
RobbyPants 07-24-07, 11:52 AM	........I......just said that......3 days ago........thank you for restating my statement :P I expanded on your statement. :P
TiwazTyrsfist 07-24-07, 12:26 PM	My opinion is that it depends on WHAT these psy-like abilities are. Assuming it's 3 0-lvl powers and 1 1-lvl power, each useable only once per day, then here's a balancing iron allergy. (IMO) Damage from iron or iron alloy weapons in +1/dice. So, most weapons would do +1 damage, while things like a greatsword or scythe would do +2. And this should get multiplied on a crit. Brief contact, such as skin contact with an area larger than a quarter, should require a fort save to avoid being sickened for one round. Note that being wounded by iron should trigger this. Maybe a DC 13? Prolonged Contact should cause the character to become Nauseated. Constant contact for more than four rounds causes fort saves to avoid being nauseated. DC starts at 18 and increases by 5 per save. Automatically Nauseated after one minute of continual contact.
tantric 07-24-07, 12:35 PM	i'm working on this for a similar campaign - iron disrupts magic and psionics, iron armor protects against these attacks (save bonus), having an arrowhead stuck in your body is lethal for the fey races, but getting cut isn't, though it destroys active spells, and cuts through mage armor. DnD sucks for this kind of thing, btw.
Curgoth 07-25-07, 01:55 PM	My opinion is that it depends on WHAT these psy-like abilities are. Assuming it's 3 0-lvl powers and 1 1-lvl power, each useable only once per day, then here's a balancing iron allergy. (IMO) Damage from iron or iron alloy weapons in +1/dice. So, most weapons would do +1 damage, while things like a greatsword or scythe would do +2. And this should get multiplied on a crit. Brief contact, such as skin contact with an area larger than a quarter, should require a fort save to avoid being sickened for one round. Note that being wounded by iron should trigger this. Maybe a DC 13? Prolonged Contact should cause the character to become Nauseated. Constant contact for more than four rounds causes fort saves to avoid being nauseated. DC starts at 18 and increases by 5 per save. Automatically Nauseated after one minute of continual contact. The first draft had empty mind 3/day. I'm considering adding mind link 1/day as well.