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Sourcemaster2
Senior Scribe
USA
361 Posts |
 Posted - 23 Jun 2004 : 00:08:08
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It's fairly common for charactersd to have items that increase their stats. For Strength, Constitution, and Dexterity, this isn't usually a problem. Physical attributes are simply enhanced. What about Wisdom, Intelligence, and Charisma? Does a cloak of charisma make the wearer look better, or just exude a more companionable aura? If someone takes off his headband of intellect, does he find it more difficult to think? That could lead to some sort of addiction; after all, people in our world get hooked on enhancers all the time. Back to the main point: How can this sort of device be worked into a character? Do enhancing items take away from a character's inner strength? Are they a crutch, or a useful tool, and where do you draw the line?
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But what have all the passing years/Done, but breed new angers, fears?/Show me now an equal worth/To innocence I earned at birth. |
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DDH_101
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1272 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jun 2004 : 02:35:19
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For a cloak of charisma, it works both ways. There's an aura that surrounds the person, making him more likable or charming to other people. It works kinda like the effects of a charming spell. There are cloaks out there that improves your actualy features, making a person more beautiful, but I don't think it's a permanent thing.
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"Trust in the shadows, for the bright way makes you an easy target." -Mask |
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jun 2004 : 03:31:40
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Physical changes aren't apparent, in my opinion. It's a magical enhancement, not a "real" one. So a magical boost to strength would result in something like (if you'll pardon the analogy) the character of Buffy, an anorexic-looking slip of a girl who can lift grown men over her head.
Mental ones, as you noted, are harder. However, I would use the basic "meaning" of each ability to determine the in-character effect. That is, a boost to intelligence would make one think faster and with more clarity, wisdom makes one more aware of one's self and suroundings, and charisma would make one speak better and be more appealing and commanding.
Of course, that simply cannot be a set rule. I'll take something from my own experience. Older members will possibly remember I suffer from attention deficeit disorder; I have medication to take to lessen the effects, though I only do so when necessary because of certain drawbacks. The point is, when I do take the pill, I gain the effects of each category I listed above. That is, I am clearer-headed, I can pay more attention to things around me, and my speech (normally hesitant and almost stuttering) becomes clear and quick.
So I'd leave it up to the player, but if I were the DM I'd want to know exactly how the player's character feels about long-term effects. That is, after having a headband of intellect on for a week, how would that character feel about having to give it up? |
Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
Download the brickfilm masterpiece by Leftfield Studios! See this page for more. |
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Elrond Half Elven
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
322 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jun 2004 : 11:31:19
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In my Group we have found away (of sorts) around this problem- we have added an additional characteristic 'comeliness'. Charisma is how easy a person is to get on with, how likable that person is their 'inner' beauty. However comeliness is a manifestation of their physical Beauty.
Addiction on Magical items of Characters, surely surfaces through the Players actions- I have found that players are likely to become addicted to the magical items they have. The only time they give them up is when a more powerful 'hit' comes along (In the form of a Vorpal Long sword usually  ). I have Termed this as Extreme Magic Addiction syndrome EMAS, I have found that most players have inborn tendencies to become an EMAS sufferer. This Blight affect role-playing when even the most stalwart anti-magical Barbarian ditches his previous beliefs for Chain mail +5 and a Bastard sword of Slaying. In my research there are no ways to break an addiction, as players will even resort to using 'cursed' items.
Hanx
Elrond
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Once upon a midnight dreary, while i pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore-
While i nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
-The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe |
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jun 2004 : 11:58:34
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I hate it when people mistake Charisma for physical beauty. You can be really good-looking and still be a b-- . . . ah, hard to get along with. 
Tell me, how does your "comeliness" work? |
Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
Download the brickfilm masterpiece by Leftfield Studios! See this page for more. |
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Elrond Half Elven
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
322 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jun 2004 : 14:32:16
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Well like any other characteristic it is awarded a score between 3 and 18 with no modifiers. When a character first interacts with a NPC their 'comeliness' score is used for modifiers etc (First impressions). However once the NPC gets to know a person thier Charisma score is used instead of their Comeliness. This, i feel, allows an amount of realism, even if it seems ever so slightly shallow.
Well thats about it, but if anyone else has any possible uses i'd love to hear them.
Hanx
Elrond |
Once upon a midnight dreary, while i pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore-
While i nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
-The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe |
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Arion Elenim
Senior Scribe
933 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jun 2004 : 16:25:57
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Last time such a cloak was used in one of my campaigns, I ruled that the effect was a magical improvement of appearance and perception...
The example that I used was what I call the "Power Suit Effect". When someone dons a spectacular business suit or that sexy outfit, it enhances their credibility, makes them appear more likeable and charismatic or more in control. Donning a "cloak of charisma" or similar gear merely increases that effect to magical proportions...so their facial features don't change...only the perceptions of the people who view them. |
My latest Realms-based short story, about a bard, a paladin of Lathander and the letter of the law, Debts Repaid. It takes place before the "shattering" and gives the bard Arion a last gasp before he plunges into the present.http://candlekeep.com/campaign/logs/log-debts.htm |
Edited by - Arion Elenim on 23 Jun 2004 16:29:22 |
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jun 2004 : 00:05:32
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| It's an interesting idea, Elrond. And Arion, that's a very good analogy. |
Hell hath no fury like all of Candlekeep rising in defense of one of its own.
Download the brickfilm masterpiece by Leftfield Studios! See this page for more. |
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SoulLord
Seeker
Mexico
62 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jun 2004 : 16:37:10
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I dont recall the source since its been a while
but i do remember some magical illness that targeted magic item users.
Perhaps if you feel that they are being abused you could throw some of this at the offending individual.
Ex1.- Each week as the body gets used to the new attribute it stops working as efficiently since something else is doing the work for it. Make her do a fortitude save dc 15 + bonus granted with a + 1 difficulty each week that the item is used failure cause a loss of 1 in the attribute boosted to a top of the boost given by the magic item.
to remove the effects they should simply stop wearing the item for a reasonable (for the dm) amount of time.
Ex2.- The user must get medicine to treat it, healing check dc 15 to diagnose it and a potion to offset its efect with the cost given by the dm, as an alternative a heal spell or a cure disease could work.
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hammer of Moradin
Senior Scribe
USA
758 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jun 2004 : 18:32:53
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| A good role-playing opportunity could be that either the creator of the magic item or the "model" for the creation could be the base for the enhancement. An intelligence boost would be based on the creators knowledge. A charisma boost could be based on how charismatic the model for the magic item is. As an example, the wizard who creates the cloak of charisma empowers the cloak while it is being worn by say a natural leader, a fighter, who has a high charisma. Maybe whoever wears the cloak takes a bent towards military command or affairs while wearing the cloak. It could bring out a certain way they act while benefitting from their charisma bonus. Or, while wearing the cloak someone who knows the model would say, "Do I know you, you seem familiar." |
"Hurling himself upon his enemies, he terrified them with slaughter!"
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium
Candlekeep proverb: If a thing is said often enough, fools aplenty will believe it to be true. |
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Stat boosts and roleplaying
