Does anyone have a list for special powers a new PC might have? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Does anyone have a list for special powers a new PC might have?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Oct 07, 2003 12:32:19 We're starting a campaign and would like to have each of our characters obtain some sort of special power that would provide an epic flavor as well as some uniqueness. I've thought of using spell-like abilities, but thought something more obscure might be the ticket. We're playing in the 2E setting. Thanks.
#2
stonebeard
Oct 07, 2003 20:05:45 Try wild talents, maybe in one of the Player Option books or in the Dark Sun campaign setting.
#3
zombiegleemax
Oct 10, 2003 3:57:04 Fight orcs badly (Fighter)
Have lots of hp (Ranger)
Die like a ***** (Monk)
Cast one spell (Magic User)
Save Party Repeatedly (Cleric)
Catch Trap (Thief)
Stab in Back (assassin)
Cast crap spells only (Druid)
#4
zombiegleemax
Oct 10, 2003 9:24:59 Wow, all these geeks and not one alternate power list. You should all be ashamed to call yourselves geeks!
#5
zombiegleemax
Oct 10, 2003 9:48:21 In the Planescape campaign I just started I let the Tiefling characters roll for alternative powers on a table in the Planewalker's handbook. That was fun, although Misdirection as an innate ability isn't as useful as Invisibility or Summon Swarm.

Another player wanted to play a human character that suffered from a special kind of lycanthropy. I think that if players can provide a good rationale for the powers they have, then you should look at some game balance issues and allow it once it looks OK. Ofcourse, the planescape setting lends itself better to strange player characters: weird people are all over the place. But other worlds also have their share of special powers, like Wild Talents from Dark Sun and other settings, and Spellfire from the Forgotten Realms.
#6
stonebeard
Oct 10, 2003 20:48:58 Try this idea, make them all normal humans (level 0) and give them each a wand of wonder.
#7
zombiegleemax
Oct 11, 2003 11:09:13 I don't know of any lists, but I have a suggestion:
You could take pick a spell, or class ability, of some type for them to be able to do innately, preferrably of some relation to their class(the sneaky theif has Invisibility, the sturdy warrior has Cure Light Wounds, the dwarf w/ intestinal diffuculty has Stinking Cloud, etc.). Seems kind of boring, though, right?
That is why the DM has control over the activation of their talents, further, at least for the first couple of times, the PCs would have little or no idea what is going on, as the talents are instinctive reactions w/o any sense of mental control (the sturdy warrior suddenly is healed a few HP in the middle of a fight, the theif is cornered by city guards, and suddenly vanishes from sight, An assassin sneaking up on the Dwarf for a backstab w/ his Dagger of Venom is incapacitated by foul fumes, etc.)
#8
zombiegleemax
Oct 13, 2003 10:40:39 Not a bad suggestion, Xymlar.
Stonebeard, thanks for being capn dufus!
#9
winternova
Oct 17, 2003 10:33:30 Give them a few draws of the 'deck of many things!' they'll probably want new characters after that though. My players did.
#10
zombiegleemax
Oct 31, 2003 9:23:12
Originally posted by ekote
We're starting a campaign and would like to have each of our characters obtain some sort of special power that would provide an epic flavor as well as some uniqueness. I've thought of using spell-like abilities, but thought something more obscure might be the ticket. We're playing in the 2E setting. Thanks.

I love to do this with players. I would even love to help you out. However, you give nothing to go on! Are the PCs all fighters that need some differentiation? Do they have history/backgrounds? Do the players have concept ideas for their characters??

A little more detail, please?
#11
zombiegleemax
Oct 31, 2003 10:33:40 We have a variety of characters in the group-6. I was simply thinking that an old Dragon or perhaps a geek website might have compiled a list of possible powers one might obtain in a campaign. My old DM made a list that combined things like various psionic abilities, spells, powers from magic items, etc into a list. Just trolling for some good stuff from a great population of fellow D nerds like me...
#12
zombiegleemax
Oct 31, 2003 14:16:54 I've pinched ideas from other systems.

Eg: I gave one character "luck". On a failed save, he took only half damage. On a save made, if the damage was normally half, he took one tenth. This made him a daring thief (he was a halfling).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Oct 07, 2003 12:32:19	We're starting a campaign and would like to have each of our characters obtain some sort of special power that would provide an epic flavor as well as some uniqueness. I've thought of using spell-like abilities, but thought something more obscure might be the ticket. We're playing in the 2E setting. Thanks.
#2 stonebeard Oct 07, 2003 20:05:45	Try wild talents, maybe in one of the Player Option books or in the Dark Sun campaign setting.
#3 zombiegleemax Oct 10, 2003 3:57:04	Fight orcs badly (Fighter) Have lots of hp (Ranger) Die like a ***** (Monk) Cast one spell (Magic User) Save Party Repeatedly (Cleric) Catch Trap (Thief) Stab in Back (assassin) Cast crap spells only (Druid)
#4 zombiegleemax Oct 10, 2003 9:24:59	Wow, all these geeks and not one alternate power list. You should all be ashamed to call yourselves geeks!
#5 zombiegleemax Oct 10, 2003 9:48:21	In the Planescape campaign I just started I let the Tiefling characters roll for alternative powers on a table in the Planewalker's handbook. That was fun, although Misdirection as an innate ability isn't as useful as Invisibility or Summon Swarm. Another player wanted to play a human character that suffered from a special kind of lycanthropy. I think that if players can provide a good rationale for the powers they have, then you should look at some game balance issues and allow it once it looks OK. Ofcourse, the planescape setting lends itself better to strange player characters: weird people are all over the place. But other worlds also have their share of special powers, like Wild Talents from Dark Sun and other settings, and Spellfire from the Forgotten Realms.
#6 stonebeard Oct 10, 2003 20:48:58	Try this idea, make them all normal humans (level 0) and give them each a wand of wonder.
#7 zombiegleemax Oct 11, 2003 11:09:13	I don't know of any lists, but I have a suggestion: You could take pick a spell, or class ability, of some type for them to be able to do innately, preferrably of some relation to their class(the sneaky theif has Invisibility, the sturdy warrior has Cure Light Wounds, the dwarf w/ intestinal diffuculty has Stinking Cloud, etc.). Seems kind of boring, though, right? That is why the DM has control over the activation of their talents, further, at least for the first couple of times, the PCs would have little or no idea what is going on, as the talents are instinctive reactions w/o any sense of mental control (the sturdy warrior suddenly is healed a few HP in the middle of a fight, the theif is cornered by city guards, and suddenly vanishes from sight, An assassin sneaking up on the Dwarf for a backstab w/ his Dagger of Venom is incapacitated by foul fumes, etc.)
#8 zombiegleemax Oct 13, 2003 10:40:39	Not a bad suggestion, Xymlar. Stonebeard, thanks for being capn dufus!
#9 winternova Oct 17, 2003 10:33:30	Give them a few draws of the 'deck of many things!' they'll probably want new characters after that though. My players did.
#10 zombiegleemax Oct 31, 2003 9:23:12	Originally posted by ekote We're starting a campaign and would like to have each of our characters obtain some sort of special power that would provide an epic flavor as well as some uniqueness. I've thought of using spell-like abilities, but thought something more obscure might be the ticket. We're playing in the 2E setting. Thanks. I love to do this with players. I would even love to help you out. However, you give nothing to go on! Are the PCs all fighters that need some differentiation? Do they have history/backgrounds? Do the players have concept ideas for their characters?? A little more detail, please?
#11 zombiegleemax Oct 31, 2003 10:33:40	We have a variety of characters in the group-6. I was simply thinking that an old Dragon or perhaps a geek website might have compiled a list of possible powers one might obtain in a campaign. My old DM made a list that combined things like various psionic abilities, spells, powers from magic items, etc into a list. Just trolling for some good stuff from a great population of fellow D nerds like me...
#12 zombiegleemax Oct 31, 2003 14:16:54	I've pinched ideas from other systems. Eg: I gave one character "luck". On a failed save, he took only half damage. On a save made, if the damage was normally half, he took one tenth. This made him a daring thief (he was a halfling).