Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 johnthedm7000 Jan 24, 2009 0:48:16	I know a lot of players feel like the shorter-duration charm and dominate powers that classes like the feylock have are good in their place, but that there's a specific niche that hasn't been filled-that of a longer term charm effect, effectively a "love spell". There are a myriad of uses for such a ritual, whether it's loosening the tongue of an enemy, planting a mole in an an enemy organization, or getting that cute member of the opposite sex (or the same sex, for that matter) to notice you. I wanted to give my players the option to use longer duration charm effects, but wanted to avoid the "save or suck" problem that charm person and it's brethren caused "Oh he won't talk to us? Charm Person. Oh I need a date to the ball? Charm Person. I need a better deal on this magic sword! Charm Person" You get the idea...so I looked at a comparable social skill enhancing ritual-discern lies, and I decided I wanted something with a smaller effect, but with a longer potential duration and this is what came of it-please P.E.A.C.H. Charm The orc chieftain coughs as you blow a small amount of powdered bark from a dryad's tree into his face "What sorcery is this?!" He barks in Orcish. "Something that will make you more amenable to negotiation" you say as utter a few simple words of power. Within moments of you saying the last syllable, the orc's expression has changed from one of hatred and rage to one of wary respect-maybe now you'll be able to get something out of him Level: 6 Type: Binding Key Skill: Arcana Time: 10 minutes Market Price: 500 gold Component Cost: 200 gold, (400 for paragon tier creatures, 800 for epic tier creatures). Duration: 1 day (see text) Through the use of magic and ritual, you render one individual within 5 squares (and who must remain within five squares of you for the duration of the entire ritual) vulnerable to suggestions made by you. After the ritual is completed, make an Arcana check vs the creature's will defense, if your check is successful you gain a +2 bonus to diplomacy and bluff checks against that creature for one day. You may extend the duration of this ritual's effects on a particular person by one day by spending a healing surge when the ritual would otherwise end within 5 squares of the person so charmed and may extend it's duration indefinitely in this fashion (provided you can keep spending healing surges). The effects of this ritual may be removed by a remove affliction spell or by preventing the charmer from coming into contact with the person so affected (and thus preventing them from continuing the charm).
#2 greatfrito Jan 24, 2009 2:48:51	I like it (I love it, actually), with one small concern. The spending a healing surge to extent bit allows for indefinite charm at only minimal cost (really just a shorter adventuring day, for most). Now, the benefit is so minor (and still appropriate) that I don't actually have a problem with an indefinite charm, but it was a little spot that stuck out to me as I read it through.
#3 johnthedm7000 Jan 25, 2009 17:59:05	While at first I was wary of handing out the possibility of a potentially indefinite charm to my players, I considered the difficulties inherent in keeping it there-firstly there's the healing surge cost, which reduces the character's level of endurance. Secondly, there's the matter of the character being able to get within 5 squares of the person to spend the healing surge to extend the effects-for the vast majority of uses for this ritual that's going to be rather difficult. For example, say your going the way of the ritualist described in the flavor text and charming an orc chieftain to get some information out of him and to get a "mole" in the tribe who you can speak to. To keep him charmed you'll have to convince him to leave the tribe periodically or have to sneak into the tribe's campsite in order to renew it, both of which leave you with the risk of being spotted by orcs that aren't quite as understanding as your new "friend".