Crippled/Scarred PC? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Crippled/Scarred PC? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Nobi
06-19-07, 11:23 AM Hey, all.

Our DM used to have my party of four playing Lv.1 characters in an Abyssal campaign, but things started to go down the tube when he put us in a Demon Lord's prison, and we only got ourselves into more trouble by trying to escape. So, he called it off, saying that we had been executed; a TPK.

The next week, he's restarted us, as a bunch of Level 10 characters sent on a follow-up mission after the loss of the first party. My character's a modified Gray-Guard (Mostly in regard to Gray Guard lore; they take on more of a Splinter Cell type mission for the Church, instead of being widely acknowledged, as CS originally stated.)

But that's besides the point: My Gray-Guard has the leadership feat, and I discussed with my DM that I wanted my cohort to be one of the members of our last party, who barely escaped death in the dungeons. However, the DM stipulated that there had to be pretty severe consequences from this character's torture, both physical and psychological.

I've pretty much got the psychological part figured out, though I'm still open to suggestions. I'm really asking about the physical. I've never seen any D&D rules about crippled or severed limbs, poked out eyes, increased CON (But a loss from other stats?) from surviving torture, so I've come here for help!
CryoSilver
06-19-07, 01:02 PM Check out the Flaw system in the SRD (d20srd.org).
RobbyPants
06-19-07, 01:24 PM I've pretty much got the psychological part figured out, though I'm still open to suggestions. I'm really asking about the physical. I've never seen any D&D rules about crippled or severed limbs, poked out eyes, increased CON (But a loss from other stats?) from surviving torture, so I've come here for help!
I don't know if you ever played 2E before. There was a suppliment for the Player's Option called Combat & Tactics. I loved that book for many reasons. They had some comprehensive rules for specific injuries on critical hits, and this covered limb loss. I don't remember all the rules excatly (and probably couldn't post them anyway if they're not OGL), but I'll give you some basics:
If the PC loses an arm or leg, drop their Str score by 2, and/or subtract a number from their max HP.

If they lose an eye, give them either -2 Dex, or perhaps -2 on all ranged attacks. They should probably have -2 or -4 on Spot checks, but not necessarily Search checks.

Do you have Heroes of Horror? If so, consider using some of the depravity traits from taint to represent the psychological aspect of having been tortured. There are all sorts of ways to handle that part with or without game mechanics.

Check out the Flaw system in the SRD (d20srd.org).
One thing to be careful about using flaws: you get a bonus feat for this scarring/crippling. If this can be overcome with a regeneration spell, what happens to the bonus feat? I don't like using flaws that can be overcome permanently by a spell, unless the player and DM agree on a (possibly contrived) reason why it can't be cured.
CryoSilver
06-19-07, 02:02 PM One thing to be careful about using flaws: you get a bonus feat for this scarring/crippling. If this can be overcome with a regeneration spell, what happens to the bonus feat? I don't like using flaws that can be overcome permanently by a spell, unless the player and DM agree on a (possibly contrived) reason why it can't be cured.

Perhaps the damage inflicted by the demon was something akin to Vile damage; it can't be healed by conventional means. Maybe it would require a Wish or Miracle followed by Heal. And if you're going to expend 5,000 XP on it, might as well let the guy keep the feat. Most feats are only equivalently worth 20,000 gp max.
RobbyPants
06-19-07, 02:15 PM Perhaps the damage inflicted by the demon was something akin to Vile damage; it can't be healed by conventional means. Maybe it would require a Wish or Miracle followed by Heal. And if you're going to expend 5,000 XP on it, might as well let the guy keep the feat. Most feats are only equivalently worth 20,000 gp max.
There's a good, non-contrived reason. I just wanted to point that out to the OP before he gave the NPC a non-flawed flaw.
Kouk
06-19-07, 02:18 PM Head. In a jar.
Nobi
06-19-07, 02:30 PM Head. In a jar.
Hah. That might be taking it a little far.

Perhaps the damage inflicted by the demon was something akin to Vile damage; it can't be healed by conventional means. Maybe it would require a Wish or Miracle followed by Heal. And if you're going to expend 5,000 XP on it, might as well let the guy keep the feat. Most feats are only equivalently worth 20,000 gp max.
I like the sound of that. I don't have BoVD, but my DM does. I do have Heroes of Horror, though, I'll have to look through that.

And as for 2E locational damage: I've always wanted to look into Second Edition, and I think my local library has got some copies.
CryoSilver
06-19-07, 02:31 PM There's a good, non-contrived reason. I just wanted to point that out to the OP before he gave the NPC a non-flawed flaw.

Fair enough and understandable.
Sarrazon
06-19-07, 03:57 PM And as for 2E locational damage: I've always wanted to look into Second Edition, and I think my local library has got some copies.

Your library has copies of 2e books? You lucky *******.

On topic, I personally, am a fan of a lost limb or eye. Makes you look like a pirate. Yar.
Heros_Backpack
06-19-07, 07:14 PM You might want to look over the varient damage rules on DMG 27. IIRC they include penalties for damage to specific parts of the body.
Carmine_the_Wolf
06-20-07, 06:36 AM I once played a 2nd Ed fighter/rogue with one arm, whom the DM ruled had his DEX halved when he made a check that would have ideally required two hands.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Nobi 06-19-07, 11:23 AM	Hey, all. Our DM used to have my party of four playing Lv.1 characters in an Abyssal campaign, but things started to go down the tube when he put us in a Demon Lord's prison, and we only got ourselves into more trouble by trying to escape. So, he called it off, saying that we had been executed; a TPK. The next week, he's restarted us, as a bunch of Level 10 characters sent on a follow-up mission after the loss of the first party. My character's a modified Gray-Guard (Mostly in regard to Gray Guard lore; they take on more of a Splinter Cell type mission for the Church, instead of being widely acknowledged, as CS originally stated.) But that's besides the point: My Gray-Guard has the leadership feat, and I discussed with my DM that I wanted my cohort to be one of the members of our last party, who barely escaped death in the dungeons. However, the DM stipulated that there had to be pretty severe consequences from this character's torture, both physical and psychological. I've pretty much got the psychological part figured out, though I'm still open to suggestions. I'm really asking about the physical. I've never seen any D&D rules about crippled or severed limbs, poked out eyes, increased CON (But a loss from other stats?) from surviving torture, so I've come here for help!
CryoSilver 06-19-07, 01:02 PM	Check out the Flaw system in the SRD (d20srd.org).
RobbyPants 06-19-07, 01:24 PM	I've pretty much got the psychological part figured out, though I'm still open to suggestions. I'm really asking about the physical. I've never seen any D&D rules about crippled or severed limbs, poked out eyes, increased CON (But a loss from other stats?) from surviving torture, so I've come here for help! I don't know if you ever played 2E before. There was a suppliment for the Player's Option called Combat & Tactics. I loved that book for many reasons. They had some comprehensive rules for specific injuries on critical hits, and this covered limb loss. I don't remember all the rules excatly (and probably couldn't post them anyway if they're not OGL), but I'll give you some basics: If the PC loses an arm or leg, drop their Str score by 2, and/or subtract a number from their max HP. If they lose an eye, give them either -2 Dex, or perhaps -2 on all ranged attacks. They should probably have -2 or -4 on Spot checks, but not necessarily Search checks. Do you have Heroes of Horror? If so, consider using some of the depravity traits from taint to represent the psychological aspect of having been tortured. There are all sorts of ways to handle that part with or without game mechanics. Check out the Flaw system in the SRD (d20srd.org). One thing to be careful about using flaws: you get a bonus feat for this scarring/crippling. If this can be overcome with a regeneration spell, what happens to the bonus feat? I don't like using flaws that can be overcome permanently by a spell, unless the player and DM agree on a (possibly contrived) reason why it can't be cured.
CryoSilver 06-19-07, 02:02 PM	One thing to be careful about using flaws: you get a bonus feat for this scarring/crippling. If this can be overcome with a regeneration spell, what happens to the bonus feat? I don't like using flaws that can be overcome permanently by a spell, unless the player and DM agree on a (possibly contrived) reason why it can't be cured. Perhaps the damage inflicted by the demon was something akin to Vile damage; it can't be healed by conventional means. Maybe it would require a Wish or Miracle followed by Heal. And if you're going to expend 5,000 XP on it, might as well let the guy keep the feat. Most feats are only equivalently worth 20,000 gp max.
RobbyPants 06-19-07, 02:15 PM	Perhaps the damage inflicted by the demon was something akin to Vile damage; it can't be healed by conventional means. Maybe it would require a Wish or Miracle followed by Heal. And if you're going to expend 5,000 XP on it, might as well let the guy keep the feat. Most feats are only equivalently worth 20,000 gp max. There's a good, non-contrived reason. I just wanted to point that out to the OP before he gave the NPC a non-flawed flaw.
Kouk 06-19-07, 02:18 PM	Head. In a jar.
Nobi 06-19-07, 02:30 PM	Head. In a jar. Hah. That might be taking it a little far. Perhaps the damage inflicted by the demon was something akin to Vile damage; it can't be healed by conventional means. Maybe it would require a Wish or Miracle followed by Heal. And if you're going to expend 5,000 XP on it, might as well let the guy keep the feat. Most feats are only equivalently worth 20,000 gp max. I like the sound of that. I don't have BoVD, but my DM does. I do have Heroes of Horror, though, I'll have to look through that. And as for 2E locational damage: I've always wanted to look into Second Edition, and I think my local library has got some copies.
CryoSilver 06-19-07, 02:31 PM	There's a good, non-contrived reason. I just wanted to point that out to the OP before he gave the NPC a non-flawed flaw. Fair enough and understandable.
Sarrazon 06-19-07, 03:57 PM	And as for 2E locational damage: I've always wanted to look into Second Edition, and I think my local library has got some copies. Your library has copies of 2e books? You lucky *******. On topic, I personally, am a fan of a lost limb or eye. Makes you look like a pirate. Yar.
Heros_Backpack 06-19-07, 07:14 PM	You might want to look over the varient damage rules on DMG 27. IIRC they include penalties for damage to specific parts of the body.
Carmine_the_Wolf 06-20-07, 06:36 AM	I once played a 2nd Ed fighter/rogue with one arm, whom the DM ruled had his DEX halved when he made a check that would have ideally required two hands.