Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 obiwaynekenobi Oct 20, 2009 11:25:31	Am I allowed to reflavor a character's powers as long as I do not change the mechanics?  For example, I'm thinking of a Bard as a new character, but I despise the whole "music/performance" aspects of the class.  If I reflavor, for instance, Vicious Mockery to be an illusion type spell instead of hurling a magical insult (not the keyword, I mean it's an illusionary spell I'm casting to cloud the foe's mind, instead of the default flavor which is an insult you call out), am I safe per LFR?  I don't think there's an issue since I'm not changing anything mechanical about the power, just the fluff surrounding it, but I want to make sure since I'm still new to LFR and I'm not sure how well this would fly.  For all intents and purposes my character would be a Bard but I don't want his powers to involve singing or playing an instrument.
#2 Reylance Oct 20, 2009 12:18:37	It shouldn't be a problem, but unless you play with a set group with DMs who know what your powers actually are, you'll be constantly explaining yourself.  Most DMs will have a fairly good idea of the classes and their commonly used powers, but not what power you're using when you don't use its name.
#3 obiwaynekenobi Oct 20, 2009 12:35:13	It shouldn't be a problem, but unless you play with a set group with DMs who know what your powers actually are, you'll be constantly explaining yourself.  Most DMs will have a fairly good idea of the classes and their commonly used powers, but not what power you're using when you don't use its name. I think I would keep the name of the power for clarity but its in-game effect would be different if I chose to describe it (most D&D games I've played we don't even bother to describe our powers, it's just "I'm going to use Power X" and then resolve it)
#4 gomeztoo Oct 22, 2009 1:59:19	I would try to stick to a basic nature of the spell to avoid confusion. I.e, in its basis, viscious mockery is not an actual insult, but a magical keyword that triggers the effects in an opponent (it crosses language barriers). Now, my bard treats it as an insult (which I occasionally cover by shouting the insult in Damaran - I am one of very few PCs in LFR with that language), but it is perfectly acceptable to have it be a 'nonsensical' magic word, making it very obviously a pure magical effect. I wouldn't call it an illusion though. That confuses things since illusion is a specific kind of magic.
#5 Alphastream Oct 22, 2009 2:19:47	The PH encourages reflavoring. It is a good idea to keep some semblence of what the power is meant to do. That Vicious Mockery example is a good one - it should be about a put-down, but it could be a shouted insult, a visual illusion, evoking bad memories within the person's brain, making them say something bad, etc. My bard reflavors all powers to come from his drinking curse. When he casts Vicious Mockery, he is really taking a swig of ale and then his foe ends up insulted be one of any means (maybe one of my allies says a 'your momma' joke, maybe the foe just gets depressed and self-critical from the depressing effects of alcohol). In general, I reflavor as in this example: "I cast Vicious Mockery on the bandit and... 22, that has to hit! Drihn takes a huge swig of ale from his cup. The moment he does that, the bandit lets out a loud belch, then starts sobbing about how someone made fun of him when he was young. "Can't handle his alcohol", chides Drihn." This makes sense at the table since I've explained the premise during PC introductions.
#6 LOE_Frey Oct 22, 2009 9:49:39	....maybe one of my allies says a 'your momma' joke, maybe the foe just gets depressed and self-critical from the depressing effects of alcohol). I have to say as I read this the first thing I thought of was a "your momma joke" and something about an ogre.  But much like the others have said unless a GM is stuck in his ways and is not open to imagination I would think this should be encouraged even heightened by a good GM.  I would also steer clear of changing key words just in case it could cause an imbalance and it would be recommended that if you change it to an "illusion" concept that you let a GM know what the actual keywords are just to they don't react to "illusion" based on stat blocks versus what the key word is.  If you play with the same group this should not be a problem. Go for it, have fun, and let us know how it works out.
#7 gomeztoo Oct 23, 2009 2:27:12	You definitely can't add keywords. Not in LFR. That's why would not call it an illusion, no matter how you reflavor it. The power is a charm, and follows the rules for charms, not illusions. Gomez
#8 LOE_Frey Oct 23, 2009 9:59:30	You definitely can't add keywords. Not in LFR. That's why would not call it an illusion, no matter how you reflavor it. The power is a charm, and follows the rules for charms, not illusions. Gomez Yes, it would be best to not call it that, but if it is a small group that knows whats going on, I would not worry.  If he plays with the same GM all the time and the GM knows its a "charm" then perfect.  But don't add, remove or change keywords, properties, or effects.
#9 chanter_hound Oct 24, 2009 12:24:06	My gnoll bard has a power reflavored. Shout of Triumph is "Really Loud Bark" or Bark of Triumph. I always anounce it as such "Fool king barks really really loudly." My assassin is going to start pulling a few playing cards out of thin air. (since he is based on alice in wonderland.) which announces that shadow darts is about to be used.
#10 Cailte Oct 24, 2009 20:48:29	I think if you start pulling playing cards out of thin air people are going to think Gambit. My Assassin has whiteless black eyes, along with white skin and hair. The first time I described her a player asked "what race is she?" to which the answer is "human". The physical description is part of her background, and the effect of her becoming an Assassin.
#11 chanter_hound Oct 25, 2009 1:47:37	Well the assassins name is Cheshire cat.  He is suppose to have various crytpic sayings. My favorite is "When is a (insert improvised weapon) like a billy club? Any time I want it to be." currently trying to get a crochet mallet.