So I was looking at the Spellscarred the other day. - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

So I was looking at the Spellscarred the other day.

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Cpt_Micha
Nov 17, 2008 13:15:38 And I got to thinking, given the wide range of possibilities you can achieve with the way Spellscars were carried out (if not abit wonky in that they screw you out of multiclassing but I digress) what all things are possible with doing something "spell scar like?"

I was pondering doing "Sidhe powers" (read spell like abilities that fey 'traditionally' have in D&D or literature) that you pick up Hand of Power ( a feat that I made some time back if some of you recall) or up to two hands, and they open up a specific chain of powers that you can learn instead of powers you would gain from your class or multiclassed class.

These powers are not in a feat chain, or anything like that (though if I did, it would be one feat per tier that still doesn't count against your multiclass) like Lesser Hand of Power in Heroic, Hand of Power in Paragon, Greater Hand of Power in Epic for examples.

A friend of mine, wants to remake Eladrin Soldier and Dwarven Weapon trainings into spell scarred type feats and powers.

So has anyone else had thoughts of what to do with Spell scar type feats and powers?
#2
sigil_beguiler
Nov 17, 2008 13:23:31 For specific spellscarred powers are just the concept in general?

In general some of my ideas (haven't implemented yet, but planning on someday):

-Possession. The PC will upon levelling make a roll to determine if the possessing spirit, deity, whatever has gained in influence if they have you multiclass-pick a Power from the Multiclass-Only Powers.

-Mutation. Follows similar concept to above, just instead of being more possessed your mutations get worse (obviously this follows quite closely to ordinary spellscarred, just the actual mutations are more 1950's sci-fi and Fallout-style).

-Various minor things. Taking stuff from WoD's Second Sight, the Multiclass-Only would be things like Hedge Magic, Minor Psionics, Vodoun, etc.
#3
Cpt_Micha
Nov 17, 2008 13:28:40 Just the concept in general *nods*

I was thinking "I might do something with mutation" with them too at some point :D was going to couple it with my taint variant (have to have so many permenate taint points before you can pick up the feat)
#4
greatfrito
Nov 17, 2008 14:18:27
Just the concept in general *nods*

I was thinking "I might do something with mutation" with them too at some point :D was going to couple it with my taint variant (have to have so many permenate taint points before you can pick up the feat)

I'm considering using it (and potentially Spellscarred, straight out of the book) as a Splicer-analog for a Bioshock-inspired setting.

Beyond that, yeah, I think the mechanic is an interesting idea to use for mutations, possession, or even racial power trees or "bloodline" power trees.
#5
Alas
Nov 17, 2008 14:38:44 To an Eberron player, spellscars present a pretty obvious model for Dragonmarks-- I'd be happy if they prove similar.
#6
mr_teapot
Nov 17, 2008 15:33:09
A friend of mine, wants to remake Eladrin Soldier and Dwarven Weapon trainings into spell scarred type feats and powers.

Did you see the Gladiator Dragon article? That's pretty close along the lines you're talking about: there were a couple exotic weapons who were basically MC only classes with powers specific to those weapons.

so that's another direction you could take Multi class only classes: instead of branching out to another class, you can reprsent the character specializing within their class. Consider also reintroducing 3rd ed wizard specialties via MC only classes, or specialty priests of a given god that are MC only classes only accessible if you have the right Channel Divinity feat.

Or making various subraces MC only classes restricted to a given race. Duergar, for example, might just be dwarves who take a "Deep Dwarf" feat, then swapping out a 2nd level Utility for Expansion and a low level attack for their weird beard power.
#7
greatfrito
Nov 17, 2008 16:14:20
so that's another direction you could take Multi class only classes: instead of branching out to another class, you can reprsent the character specializing within their class. Consider also reintroducing 3rd ed wizard specialties via MC only classes, or specialty priests of a given god that are MC only classes only accessible if you have the right Channel Divinity feat.

Or making various subraces MC only classes restricted to a given race. Duergar, for example, might just be dwarves who take a "Deep Dwarf" feat, then swapping out a 2nd level Utility for Expansion and a low level attack for their weird beard power.

Interesting (and awesome) ideas. I don't have Dragon, but I have to admit that I like the idea of "specialist multiclass" to emphasize some aspect of a class.

A "racial multiclass tree" is something that would have made sense, given some of the talk leading up to 4th about a greater emphasis being put on race. That would have been a great way to emphasize race, as an option.
#8
Cpt_Micha
Nov 18, 2008 9:03:39 Mr_Teapot that is pretty awesome stuff. I'm sure he's seen the Gladatorial articles as he has DDI. (I do not unfortunately)

I had not thought of doing specialist wizards in that manner.. (but I might now... *makes a note to do some rough work on that later*)
#9
batshido
Nov 18, 2008 9:10:14 I used that sort of template for the Fighting Styles I put together a month or so after 4E came out. They're basically a multi-class only class that has specialized powers based on their theme, be it a kicking style of unarmed combat or a Dwarven Defender-type school.

It worked pretty well for me, I don't see why it wouldn't for other things.

Did you see the Gladiator Dragon article? That's pretty close along the lines you're talking about: there were a couple exotic weapons who were basically MC only classes with powers specific to those weapons.

I haven't seen this particular article, but it's the direction I was going with my Athasian gladiatorial weapons as well. Each weapon had two or three feats associated with it that gave access to an encounter power, like a trip attack or a Twin Strike for singing sticks.

Again, it was all pretty easy to put together.
#10
mr_teapot
Nov 18, 2008 13:05:47 I forgot to mention this third party supplement, which uses the same basic setup as the Spellscarred to make a Noble class. It sticks pretty close to the Spellscarred setup (initial penalty to allow you to take the MC feats, then using standard power swap feats to replace your existing powers). It's kind of interesting, and I tend to agree that Noble is not a concept for a complete class in itself so much as for overlaying on another character class. Weird how few Utilities the class gets, and how each one involves combat instead of, you know, Diplomacy and politicking and such. Still, my point is that some other people are starting to explore this design space, too.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Cpt_Micha Nov 17, 2008 13:15:38	And I got to thinking, given the wide range of possibilities you can achieve with the way Spellscars were carried out (if not abit wonky in that they screw you out of multiclassing but I digress) what all things are possible with doing something "spell scar like?" I was pondering doing "Sidhe powers" (read spell like abilities that fey 'traditionally' have in D&D or literature) that you pick up Hand of Power ( a feat that I made some time back if some of you recall) or up to two hands, and they open up a specific chain of powers that you can learn instead of powers you would gain from your class or multiclassed class. These powers are not in a feat chain, or anything like that (though if I did, it would be one feat per tier that still doesn't count against your multiclass) like Lesser Hand of Power in Heroic, Hand of Power in Paragon, Greater Hand of Power in Epic for examples. A friend of mine, wants to remake Eladrin Soldier and Dwarven Weapon trainings into spell scarred type feats and powers. So has anyone else had thoughts of what to do with Spell scar type feats and powers?
#2 sigil_beguiler Nov 17, 2008 13:23:31	For specific spellscarred powers are just the concept in general? In general some of my ideas (haven't implemented yet, but planning on someday): -Possession. The PC will upon levelling make a roll to determine if the possessing spirit, deity, whatever has gained in influence if they have you multiclass-pick a Power from the Multiclass-Only Powers. -Mutation. Follows similar concept to above, just instead of being more possessed your mutations get worse (obviously this follows quite closely to ordinary spellscarred, just the actual mutations are more 1950's sci-fi and Fallout-style). -Various minor things. Taking stuff from WoD's Second Sight, the Multiclass-Only would be things like Hedge Magic, Minor Psionics, Vodoun, etc.
#3 Cpt_Micha Nov 17, 2008 13:28:40	Just the concept in general nods I was thinking "I might do something with mutation" with them too at some point :D was going to couple it with my taint variant (have to have so many permenate taint points before you can pick up the feat)
#4 greatfrito Nov 17, 2008 14:18:27	Just the concept in general nods I was thinking "I might do something with mutation" with them too at some point :D was going to couple it with my taint variant (have to have so many permenate taint points before you can pick up the feat) I'm considering using it (and potentially Spellscarred, straight out of the book) as a Splicer-analog for a Bioshock-inspired setting. Beyond that, yeah, I think the mechanic is an interesting idea to use for mutations, possession, or even racial power trees or "bloodline" power trees.
#5 Alas Nov 17, 2008 14:38:44	To an Eberron player, spellscars present a pretty obvious model for Dragonmarks-- I'd be happy if they prove similar.
#6 mr_teapot Nov 17, 2008 15:33:09	A friend of mine, wants to remake Eladrin Soldier and Dwarven Weapon trainings into spell scarred type feats and powers. Did you see the Gladiator Dragon article? That's pretty close along the lines you're talking about: there were a couple exotic weapons who were basically MC only classes with powers specific to those weapons. so that's another direction you could take Multi class only classes: instead of branching out to another class, you can reprsent the character specializing within their class. Consider also reintroducing 3rd ed wizard specialties via MC only classes, or specialty priests of a given god that are MC only classes only accessible if you have the right Channel Divinity feat. Or making various subraces MC only classes restricted to a given race. Duergar, for example, might just be dwarves who take a "Deep Dwarf" feat, then swapping out a 2nd level Utility for Expansion and a low level attack for their weird beard power.
#7 greatfrito Nov 17, 2008 16:14:20	so that's another direction you could take Multi class only classes: instead of branching out to another class, you can reprsent the character specializing within their class. Consider also reintroducing 3rd ed wizard specialties via MC only classes, or specialty priests of a given god that are MC only classes only accessible if you have the right Channel Divinity feat. Or making various subraces MC only classes restricted to a given race. Duergar, for example, might just be dwarves who take a "Deep Dwarf" feat, then swapping out a 2nd level Utility for Expansion and a low level attack for their weird beard power. Interesting (and awesome) ideas. I don't have Dragon, but I have to admit that I like the idea of "specialist multiclass" to emphasize some aspect of a class. A "racial multiclass tree" is something that would have made sense, given some of the talk leading up to 4th about a greater emphasis being put on race. That would have been a great way to emphasize race, as an option.
#8 Cpt_Micha Nov 18, 2008 9:03:39	Mr_Teapot that is pretty awesome stuff. I'm sure he's seen the Gladatorial articles as he has DDI. (I do not unfortunately) I had not thought of doing specialist wizards in that manner.. (but I might now... makes a note to do some rough work on that later)
#9 batshido Nov 18, 2008 9:10:14	I used that sort of template for the Fighting Styles I put together a month or so after 4E came out. They're basically a multi-class only class that has specialized powers based on their theme, be it a kicking style of unarmed combat or a Dwarven Defender-type school. It worked pretty well for me, I don't see why it wouldn't for other things. Did you see the Gladiator Dragon article? That's pretty close along the lines you're talking about: there were a couple exotic weapons who were basically MC only classes with powers specific to those weapons. I haven't seen this particular article, but it's the direction I was going with my Athasian gladiatorial weapons as well. Each weapon had two or three feats associated with it that gave access to an encounter power, like a trip attack or a Twin Strike for singing sticks. Again, it was all pretty easy to put together.
#10 mr_teapot Nov 18, 2008 13:05:47	I forgot to mention this third party supplement, which uses the same basic setup as the Spellscarred to make a Noble class. It sticks pretty close to the Spellscarred setup (initial penalty to allow you to take the MC feats, then using standard power swap feats to replace your existing powers). It's kind of interesting, and I tend to agree that Noble is not a concept for a complete class in itself so much as for overlaying on another character class. Weird how few Utilities the class gets, and how each one involves combat instead of, you know, Diplomacy and politicking and such. Still, my point is that some other people are starting to explore this design space, too.