Outcast Rating

2018-08-26T20:39:38Z

2.31.22.141:

Being the bastard spawn of a drunken orgy between [[Dungeons & Dragons]], Hammer Horror films and Gothic Horror novels, it should be no surprise that the setting of [[Ravenloft]] is full of murderous monsters that look almost, but not quite, human. It should be equally unsurprising that it is also full of superstitious, xenophobic, racist peasant-folk, although how much the former informs the latter is a matter of personal taste. Needless to say, if you're not playing a human, chances are the NPCs aren't going to be too friendly.

When the Ravenloft campaign setting was released for [[Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]] by [[White Wolf]], this was handled by the introduction of a new game mechanic: '''Outcast Rating'''. A simple little numeral that represented just how much you freaked out the local ignorant peasants. Whilst mostly static, there were some ways of raising it - certain curses or failing Dark Powers Checks would boost it, and some monsters could also inflict it upon you; [[goblyn|Goblin]]s had the "Feasting" attack, which left such horrific scarring from their attempts to eat your living face off that you permanently gained Outcast Rating as a result. And, of course, DMs had carte blanche to inflict it upon you for various "thematically appropriate" reasons.

Mechanically, Outcast Rating manifests as a Circumstance Penalty to Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information and Perform checks, but with an equivalent Circumstance Bonus to Intimidate checks. Outcast Rating has no effect on friends & allies (who have learned to look past whatever makes you spooky), nor on beings who share your Outcast Rating "origins" - you should be able to figure out why this is, so long as you have a better brain than a moldy half-cabbage.

Of the "core" Ravenloft races, their respective Outsider Ratings were:
* [[Caliban]]: 5
* [[Dwarf]]: 3
* [[Elf]]: 3
* [[Gnome]]: 2
* [[Half-Elf]]: 1
* [[Halfling]]: 1
* [[Half-Vistani]]: 2, but can attempt a Disguise Check (minor details DC) to reduce to 0

[[Category:Dungeons & Dragons]][[Category:Game Mechanics]][[Category:Ravenloft]]

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Outcast Rating