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Shardminds and Survival Days

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
slam-evil
Sep 14, 2010 18:06:02
One of my players wants to play a Shardmind. I'd really rather he didn't, they creep me out. But, since a good DM should never say "NO" I'm gonna see if I can allow it.

His backstory is that he was created by an isolated circle of psions to destroy the SKs. He's going with a Monk/Warlord hybrid build, so I asked him if he actually wanted to play a being made of crystaline shards or if he just like the +2wis/+2 cha. He wants to play a living construct though, and likes that they're unique to 4E.

I think there was a thread earlier about warforged and survival days, but I was thinking for a shardmind there should be something like a need to consume psicrystals as survival days. Like, a psicrystal can keep him charged for a week and theyre about as common as potion fruits.

I was also toying with the idea of him having to defile to survive. I would prefer a solution like this as it maintains the grittyness and themes of the setting while allowing him to play a unique race.

What should I do? I'm afriad his character will derail the setting if I'm not careful, but I dont want to be overly restrictive. How can I convey the harshness and scarcity of resources of Athas to my players if one of them has no need to eat or drink?
#2
villianbynecessity
Sep 14, 2010 19:04:35 I just reread the shardmind. Here are my thoughts:
They still need water and oils to keep the constantly shifting crystals from grinding together.

Instead of sun sickness, they lose the healing surge due to the pain of the grinding sand.

While they do not need food and all. They do need sun and sand protection

The shardmind is also extremely rare and they would be much sought after as arena oddities

Just a few thoughts to help out.
#3
RyndarLocke
Sep 14, 2010 19:58:39

One of my players wants to play a Shardmind. I'd really rather he didn't, they creep me out. But, since a good DM should never say "NO" I'm gonna see if I can allow it.

His backstory is that he was created by an isolated circle of psions to destroy the SKs. He's going with a Monk/Warlord hybrid build, so I asked him if he actually wanted to play a being made of crystaline shards or if he just like the +2wis/+2 cha. He wants to play a living construct though, and likes that they're unique to 4E.

I think there was a thread earlier about warforged and survival days, but I was thinking for a shardmind there should be something like a need to consume psicrystals as survival days. Like, a psicrystal can keep him charged for a week and theyre about as common as potion fruits.

I was also toying with the idea of him having to defile to survive. I would prefer a solution like this as it maintains the grittyness and themes of the setting while allowing him to play a unique race.

What should I do? I'm afriad his character will derail the setting if I'm not careful, but I dont want to be overly restrictive. How can I convey the harshness and scarcity of resources of Athas to my players if one of them has no need to eat or drink?

Your player found a way to save himself 5gp a day YAY!

Just play it as is. Use roleplaying to offset his need for no survival days. I mean how many walking contrusts get to walk around in town? Wouldn't a slave that needs no food and water be awesome to own?
#4
Bera
Sep 14, 2010 22:24:08 I'm all for letting PCs be something rare or unique, but playing something like that comes with a good number of RP consequences. If you're an arcane character and you defile, that's likely to be a death sentence, either because the Veiled Alliance tracks you down, a mob of townsfolk do, or your own party offs you. Similarly, if you're a rare/unique race, you'll stick out like a sore thumb. Even Half-giants are somewhat common in cities, but a dray or tiefling are feared/hated and really stand out. How much more would a creature of living crystal?

If it doesn't fit your game well, ask the player to come up with an alternate idea. Otherwise, just make sure that everyone is aware that wandering around with a creature made of living crystal is liable to attract all kinds of attention, so disguises or wandering the wastes might be necessary. But that's no different than an arcane/divine class or some other rare race.
#5
slam-evil
Sep 14, 2010 23:13:19

the only reason I'm reluctant to let him scot free with only RP consequences is because I really want to have surviving resourcesless in the desert be a significant portion of the campaign.

I like the idea of his crystal plates rubbing together and it causing him pain. And him being pursued by slavers all the time sounds good too. thanks everybody, I feel a little better about the situation now
#6
Pashalik_Mons
Sep 15, 2010 4:17:45 Honestly, I'd recommend the same thing I did for the warforged. Not having to spend survival days is a nice little perk, but not game-breaking, and not setting-derailing. After all, the whole rest of the party still has to worry about survival days. It will continue to be a challenge for the party as a whole.

By all means, have him chased by slaver, though, if you can make it fun and interesting.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 slam-evil Sep 14, 2010 18:06:02	One of my players wants to play a Shardmind. I'd really rather he didn't, they creep me out. But, since a good DM should never say "NO" I'm gonna see if I can allow it. His backstory is that he was created by an isolated circle of psions to destroy the SKs. He's going with a Monk/Warlord hybrid build, so I asked him if he actually wanted to play a being made of crystaline shards or if he just like the +2wis/+2 cha. He wants to play a living construct though, and likes that they're unique to 4E. I think there was a thread earlier about warforged and survival days, but I was thinking for a shardmind there should be something like a need to consume psicrystals as survival days. Like, a psicrystal can keep him charged for a week and theyre about as common as potion fruits. I was also toying with the idea of him having to defile to survive. I would prefer a solution like this as it maintains the grittyness and themes of the setting while allowing him to play a unique race. What should I do? I'm afriad his character will derail the setting if I'm not careful, but I dont want to be overly restrictive. How can I convey the harshness and scarcity of resources of Athas to my players if one of them has no need to eat or drink?
#2 villianbynecessity Sep 14, 2010 19:04:35	I just reread the shardmind. Here are my thoughts: They still need water and oils to keep the constantly shifting crystals from grinding together. Instead of sun sickness, they lose the healing surge due to the pain of the grinding sand. While they do not need food and all. They do need sun and sand protection The shardmind is also extremely rare and they would be much sought after as arena oddities Just a few thoughts to help out.
#3 RyndarLocke Sep 14, 2010 19:58:39	One of my players wants to play a Shardmind. I'd really rather he didn't, they creep me out. But, since a good DM should never say "NO" I'm gonna see if I can allow it. His backstory is that he was created by an isolated circle of psions to destroy the SKs. He's going with a Monk/Warlord hybrid build, so I asked him if he actually wanted to play a being made of crystaline shards or if he just like the +2wis/+2 cha. He wants to play a living construct though, and likes that they're unique to 4E. I think there was a thread earlier about warforged and survival days, but I was thinking for a shardmind there should be something like a need to consume psicrystals as survival days. Like, a psicrystal can keep him charged for a week and theyre about as common as potion fruits. I was also toying with the idea of him having to defile to survive. I would prefer a solution like this as it maintains the grittyness and themes of the setting while allowing him to play a unique race. What should I do? I'm afriad his character will derail the setting if I'm not careful, but I dont want to be overly restrictive. How can I convey the harshness and scarcity of resources of Athas to my players if one of them has no need to eat or drink? Your player found a way to save himself 5gp a day YAY! Just play it as is. Use roleplaying to offset his need for no survival days. I mean how many walking contrusts get to walk around in town? Wouldn't a slave that needs no food and water be awesome to own?
#4 Bera Sep 14, 2010 22:24:08	I'm all for letting PCs be something rare or unique, but playing something like that comes with a good number of RP consequences. If you're an arcane character and you defile, that's likely to be a death sentence, either because the Veiled Alliance tracks you down, a mob of townsfolk do, or your own party offs you. Similarly, if you're a rare/unique race, you'll stick out like a sore thumb. Even Half-giants are somewhat common in cities, but a dray or tiefling are feared/hated and really stand out. How much more would a creature of living crystal? If it doesn't fit your game well, ask the player to come up with an alternate idea. Otherwise, just make sure that everyone is aware that wandering around with a creature made of living crystal is liable to attract all kinds of attention, so disguises or wandering the wastes might be necessary. But that's no different than an arcane/divine class or some other rare race.
#5 slam-evil Sep 14, 2010 23:13:19	the only reason I'm reluctant to let him scot free with only RP consequences is because I really want to have surviving resourcesless in the desert be a significant portion of the campaign. I like the idea of his crystal plates rubbing together and it causing him pain. And him being pursued by slavers all the time sounds good too. thanks everybody, I feel a little better about the situation now
#6 Pashalik_Mons Sep 15, 2010 4:17:45	Honestly, I'd recommend the same thing I did for the warforged. Not having to spend survival days is a nice little perk, but not game-breaking, and not setting-derailing. After all, the whole rest of the party still has to worry about survival days. It will continue to be a challenge for the party as a whole. By all means, have him chased by slaver, though, if you can make it fun and interesting.