Powers Check - Revision history

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1d4chan>2DLove: /* Mechanics */ typo

2022-01-19T14:27:42Z

Mechanics: typo

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:27, 19 January 2022
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	'''Laying a Curse:''' The act of invoking the Dark Powers to lay a curse on somebody has its own minigrid, based on how justified the curse is (Highly Justified, Justified, Unjustified) and the severity of the curse across its 5 layers of deadliness. ''Embarrassing'' Curses have sin values of 0% (HJ), 1% (J) and 2% (U). Frustrating Curses have sin values of 1% (HJ), 2% (J) and 3% (U). ''Troublesome'' Curses have sin values of 2% (HJ), 4% (J) and 8% (U). ''Dangerous'' Curses have sin values of 4% (HJ), 8% (J) and 16% (U). And finally, ''Lethal'' Curses have sin values of 8% (HJ), 16% (J) and 32% (U).		'''Laying a Curse:''' The act of invoking the Dark Powers to lay a curse on somebody has its own minigrid, based on how justified the curse is (Highly Justified, Justified, Unjustified) and the severity of the curse across its 5 layers of deadliness. ''Embarrassing'' Curses have sin values of 0% (HJ), 1% (J) and 2% (U). Frustrating Curses have sin values of 1% (HJ), 2% (J) and 3% (U). ''Troublesome'' Curses have sin values of 2% (HJ), 4% (J) and 8% (U). ''Dangerous'' Curses have sin values of 4% (HJ), 8% (J) and 16% (U). And finally, ''Lethal'' Curses have sin values of 8% (HJ), 16% (J) and 32% (U).

	'''Using Black Magic:''' Finally, using magic classified as inherently evil just provokes its own kind of Powers Check. In AD&D, "Evil, Non-Necromantic" spells have a 1%/spell level sin value, whilst "Evil, Necromantic" spells have a 2%/spell level sin value. In both cases, using this magic with good intentions ~~hlves~~ the power's check value. In 3rd edition, the mechanics are more complicated, largely because the definition of black magic is more explicitly baked into the rules and because magic items are more prevalent:		'''Using Black Magic:''' Finally, using magic classified as inherently evil just provokes its own kind of Powers Check. In AD&D, "Evil, Non-Necromantic" spells have a 1%/spell level sin value, whilst "Evil, Necromantic" spells have a 2%/spell level sin value. In both cases, using this magic with good intentions halves the power's check value. In 3rd edition, the mechanics are more complicated, largely because the definition of black magic is more explicitly baked into the rules and because magic items are more prevalent:
	* ''Spell has the Evil descriptor OR Necromancy school:'' 1% per effective spell level		* ''Spell has the Evil descriptor OR Necromancy school:'' 1% per effective spell level
	* ''Spell has the Evil descriptor AND Necromancy school:'' 2% per effective spell level		* ''Spell has the Evil descriptor AND Necromancy school:'' 2% per effective spell level

1d4chan>QuietBrowser: Added a section on the mechanics, at least for actually causing a Powers Check. I only used Domains of Dread and the RPHB for 3.5 as references, so if other versions differ, please expand. Overview of mechanics for failing the check still required.

2021-06-22T06:54:49Z

Added a section on the mechanics, at least for actually causing a Powers Check. I only used Domains of Dread and the RPHB for 3.5 as references, so if other versions differ, please expand. Overview of mechanics for failing the check still required.

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 '''Powers Checks''' (an abbreviation of '''Dark Powers Checks''') are a mechanic unique to the [[Dungeons & Dragons]] setting of [[Ravenloft]]. Intended to be a way to enforce mechanically the roleplaying/thematic background element of how the Dark Powers rewards villains by gifting them with both unnatural powers ''and'' malefic curses, the basic idea is that when a player characters commits certain sinful acts, such as murder, betrayal, using a [[Necromancer|necromantic]] spell, blasphemy, etc, the player rolls a Percentile Die. This is compared to a large table that combines various sins and sin modifiers (acts of passion tend to be more likely to draw their eyes than cold-blooded, dispassionate malice, for example); if the player rolls equal to or less than this number, then they have caught the attention of the Dark Powers and are infused with spiritual taint. The more times this happens, the greater their powers - and their curses - grow, until ultimately they become [[monster]]s or even full-fledged [[Darklord]]s.
 ==Act of Ultimate Darkness==
 In [[Ravenloft]] canon, there are some acts so foul, so horrible, so monstrous, that no Powers Checks are required; those who commit them just automatically get the Dark Powers' attention. For PCs, this is generally an automatic failed Powers Check, but for NPCs, this could even cause them to leap from "normal person" to "[[Darklord]]" in a single fell swoop.
-Precisely what counts as an Act of Ultimate Darkness is left to the DM's discretion. For example, [[Strahd von Zarovich]], in one night: turned himself into a [[vampire]] to try and preserve his youth, murdered his brother to take his brother's wife, murdered all the guests at his brother's wedding to disguise what he'd done, and tried to mind control the woman he "loved" so he could turn her into his vampire bride - which caused her to curse him and leap to her death from the parapets of [[Castle Ravenloft]].
+Precisely what counts as an Act of Ultimate Darkness is largely left to the DM's discretion. For example, [[Strahd von Zarovich]], in one night: turned himself into a [[vampire]] to try and preserve his youth, murdered his brother to take his brother's wife, murdered all the guests at his brother's wedding to disguise what he'd done, and tried to mind control the woman he "loved" so he could turn her into his vampire bride - which caused her to curse him and leap to her death from the parapets of [[Castle Ravenloft]].
 ==Terror Track==

2603:8001:3500:CB:7D67:47B3:441B:930A: /* In Later Editions */

2021-06-17T07:43:32Z

In Later Editions

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	'''Second Skin:''' You have a Jekyll & Hyde-esque ability to transform into a strange secondary form, which you can either specifically designate or generate through a roll on a d6 table. There's only a single benefit here; ''Transformation'', which lets you cast Alter Self (Change Appearance only) on yourself 1/day and adds Alter Self to your spells list if you're a spellcaster. But, if you use this SLA, then when you return to normal, you'll retain some visible trait of your previous form until you complete a long rest. Rather than the standard "critical fail" triggered downside, this Dark Gift's downside is ''Involuntary Change'', where exposure to a catalyst (either determined or chosen from a d6 table) forces you to pass a DC 15 Charisma save or automatically shapeshift via your Alter Self SLA. Basically, this gift is pretty much all fluff, as there's not a lot of crunch wrapped up in transforming this way.		'''Second Skin:''' You have a Jekyll & Hyde-esque ability to transform into a strange secondary form, which you can either specifically designate or generate through a roll on a d6 table. There's only a single benefit here; ''Transformation'', which lets you cast Alter Self (Change Appearance only) on yourself 1/day and adds Alter Self to your spells list if you're a spellcaster. But, if you use this SLA, then when you return to normal, you'll retain some visible trait of your previous form until you complete a long rest. Rather than the standard "critical fail" triggered downside, this Dark Gift's downside is ''Involuntary Change'', where exposure to a catalyst (either determined or chosen from a d6 table) forces you to pass a DC 15 Charisma save or automatically shapeshift via your Alter Self SLA. Basically, this gift is pretty much all fluff, as there's not a lot of crunch wrapped up in transforming this way.

	'''Symbiotic Being:''' You're Venom. Seriously. That's it. You have a physical living creature with its own indepentent mind and personality fused to your body. There's a d6 table to generate manifestation, and they include a living tattoo, crystalline growths, and basically an homage to Vampire Hunter D (or Voldemort in the very first Harry Potter novel). You gain the traits ''Entwined Existence'' (Symbiote has its own Int, Wis and Cha scores, and gives you free proficiency in either Arcana, Deception, History, Intimidation, Insight, Investigation, Nature, Religion, Perception or Persuasion) and ''Sustained Symbiosis'' (1/day, you can sacrifice a Hit Dice to either boost a saving throw or to automatically critical succeed a Death Saving Throw). The downside is, of course, ''Symbiotic Agenda'' - your symbiote has its own goal that it wants to achieve, and if you try to pass up an opportunity to pursue that goal, you have to pass a Charisma save (DC 12 + symbiote's Cha modifier) or else it takes over you, represented as a Charm effect that lasts 1d12 hours. You can either create the symbiote's agenda, or roll on the provided d6 table.		'''Symbiotic Being:''' You're Venom. Seriously. That's it. You have a physical living creature with its own indepentent mind and personality fused to your body. There's a d6 table to generate manifestation, and they include a living tattoo, crystalline growths, and a face that's basically an homage to Vampire Hunter D (or Voldemort in the very first Harry Potter novel). You gain the traits ''Entwined Existence'' (Symbiote has its own Int, Wis and Cha scores, and gives you free proficiency in either Arcana, Deception, History, Intimidation, Insight, Investigation, Nature, Religion, Perception or Persuasion) and ''Sustained Symbiosis'' (1/day, you can sacrifice a Hit Dice to either boost a saving throw or to automatically critical succeed a Death Saving Throw). The downside is, of course, ''Symbiotic Agenda'' - your symbiote has its own goal that it wants to achieve, and if you try to pass up an opportunity to pursue that goal, you have to pass a Charisma save (DC 12 + symbiote's Cha modifier) or else it takes over you, represented as a Charm effect that lasts 1d12 hours. You can either create the symbiote's agenda, or roll on the provided d6 table.

	'''Touch of Death:''' Your flesh courses with malevolent energies or supernatural venom, allowing you to bring death to whoever brushes your skin. There's a d6 table to suggest how this might have been caused and manifests. Your positive traits are ''Death Touch'' (as an action, make an unarmed strike that does +1d10 Necrotic damage, boosted by +1d10 at levels 5, 11 and 17), ''Inescapable Death'' (your attacks ignore Necrotic Resistance), and ''Withering Contact'' (if you start your turn grappling or being grappled, the other guy takes 1d10 Necrotic damage). Surprisingly, there's no explicit downside to this ability! Although a sneaky DM could rule that the ability can activate involuntarily outside of combat and cause you to accidently kill someone you touch. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PBbHVDGIco\| Either way, you better get used to not being able to hug things anymore.]		'''Touch of Death:''' Your flesh courses with malevolent energies or supernatural venom, allowing you to bring death to whoever brushes your skin. There's a d6 table to suggest how this might have been caused and manifests. Your positive traits are ''Death Touch'' (as an action, make an unarmed strike that does +1d10 Necrotic damage, boosted by +1d10 at levels 5, 11 and 17), ''Inescapable Death'' (your attacks ignore Necrotic Resistance), and ''Withering Contact'' (if you start your turn grappling or being grappled, the other guy takes 1d10 Necrotic damage). Surprisingly, there's no explicit downside to this ability! Although a sneaky DM could rule that the ability can activate involuntarily outside of combat and cause you to accidently kill someone you touch. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PBbHVDGIco\| Either way, you better get used to not being able to hug things anymore.]

2603:8001:3500:CB:6143:72B9:42CA:59B9: /* In Later Editions */

2021-06-05T01:10:53Z

In Later Editions

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:10, 5 June 2021
Line 61:		Line 61:
	'''Second Skin:''' You have a Jekyll & Hyde-esque ability to transform into a strange secondary form, which you can either specifically designate or generate through a roll on a d6 table. There's only a single benefit here; ''Transformation'', which lets you cast Alter Self (Change Appearance only) on yourself 1/day and adds Alter Self to your spells list if you're a spellcaster. But, if you use this SLA, then when you return to normal, you'll retain some visible trait of your previous form until you complete a long rest. Rather than the standard "critical fail" triggered downside, this Dark Gift's downside is ''Involuntary Change'', where exposure to a catalyst (either determined or chosen from a d6 table) forces you to pass a DC 15 Charisma save or automatically shapeshift via your Alter Self SLA. Basically, this gift is pretty much all fluff, as there's not a lot of crunch wrapped up in transforming this way.		'''Second Skin:''' You have a Jekyll & Hyde-esque ability to transform into a strange secondary form, which you can either specifically designate or generate through a roll on a d6 table. There's only a single benefit here; ''Transformation'', which lets you cast Alter Self (Change Appearance only) on yourself 1/day and adds Alter Self to your spells list if you're a spellcaster. But, if you use this SLA, then when you return to normal, you'll retain some visible trait of your previous form until you complete a long rest. Rather than the standard "critical fail" triggered downside, this Dark Gift's downside is ''Involuntary Change'', where exposure to a catalyst (either determined or chosen from a d6 table) forces you to pass a DC 15 Charisma save or automatically shapeshift via your Alter Self SLA. Basically, this gift is pretty much all fluff, as there's not a lot of crunch wrapped up in transforming this way.

	'''Symbiotic Being:''' You're Venom. Seriously. That's it. You have a physical living creature with its own indepentent mind and personality fused to your body. There's a d6 table to generate manifestation, and they include a living tattoo, ~~crystaline~~ growths, and basically an homage to Vampire Hunter D (or Voldemort in the very first Harry Potter novel). You gain the traits ''Entwined Existence'' (Symbiote has its own Int, Wis and Cha scores, and gives you free proficiency in either Arcana, Deception, History, Intimidation, Insight, Investigation, Nature, Religion, Perception or Persuasion) and ''Sustained Symbiosis'' (1/day, you can sacrifice a Hit Dice to either boost a saving throw or to automatically critical succeed a Death Saving Throw). The downside is, of course, ''Symbiotic Agenda'' - your symbiote has its own goal that it wants to achieve, and if you try to pass up an opportunity to pursue that goal, you have to pass a Charisma save (DC 12 + symbiote's Cha modifier) or else it takes over you, represented as a Charm effect that lasts 1d12 hours. You can either create the symbiote's agenda, or roll on the provided d6 table.		'''Symbiotic Being:''' You're Venom. Seriously. That's it. You have a physical living creature with its own indepentent mind and personality fused to your body. There's a d6 table to generate manifestation, and they include a living tattoo, crystalline growths, and basically an homage to Vampire Hunter D (or Voldemort in the very first Harry Potter novel). You gain the traits ''Entwined Existence'' (Symbiote has its own Int, Wis and Cha scores, and gives you free proficiency in either Arcana, Deception, History, Intimidation, Insight, Investigation, Nature, Religion, Perception or Persuasion) and ''Sustained Symbiosis'' (1/day, you can sacrifice a Hit Dice to either boost a saving throw or to automatically critical succeed a Death Saving Throw). The downside is, of course, ''Symbiotic Agenda'' - your symbiote has its own goal that it wants to achieve, and if you try to pass up an opportunity to pursue that goal, you have to pass a Charisma save (DC 12 + symbiote's Cha modifier) or else it takes over you, represented as a Charm effect that lasts 1d12 hours. You can either create the symbiote's agenda, or roll on the provided d6 table.

	'''Touch of Death:''' Your flesh courses with malevolent energies or supernatural venom, allowing you to bring death to whoever brushes your skin. There's a d6 table to suggest how this might have been caused and manifests. Your positive traits are ''Death Touch'' (as an action, make an unarmed strike that does +1d10 Necrotic damage, boosted by +1d10 at levels 5, 11 and 17), ''Inescapable Death'' (your attacks ignore Necrotic Resistance), and ''Withering Contact'' (if you start your turn grappling or being grappled, the other guy takes 1d10 Necrotic damage). Surprisingly, there's no explicit downside to this ability! Although a sneaky DM could rule that the ability can activate involuntarily outside of combat and cause you to accidently kill someone you touch. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PBbHVDGIco\| Either way, you better get used to not being able to hug things anymore.]		'''Touch of Death:''' Your flesh courses with malevolent energies or supernatural venom, allowing you to bring death to whoever brushes your skin. There's a d6 table to suggest how this might have been caused and manifests. Your positive traits are ''Death Touch'' (as an action, make an unarmed strike that does +1d10 Necrotic damage, boosted by +1d10 at levels 5, 11 and 17), ''Inescapable Death'' (your attacks ignore Necrotic Resistance), and ''Withering Contact'' (if you start your turn grappling or being grappled, the other guy takes 1d10 Necrotic damage). Surprisingly, there's no explicit downside to this ability! Although a sneaky DM could rule that the ability can activate involuntarily outside of combat and cause you to accidently kill someone you touch. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PBbHVDGIco\| Either way, you better get used to not being able to hug things anymore.]

2603:8001:3500:CB:6143:72B9:42CA:59B9: /* In Later Editions */

2021-06-05T01:09:17Z

In Later Editions

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:09, 5 June 2021
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	'''Symbiotic Being:''' You're Venom. Seriously. That's it. You have a physical living creature with its own indepentent mind and personality fused to your body. There's a d6 table to generate manifestation, and they include a living tattoo, crystaline growths, and basically an homage to Vampire Hunter D (or Voldemort in the very first Harry Potter novel). You gain the traits ''Entwined Existence'' (Symbiote has its own Int, Wis and Cha scores, and gives you free proficiency in either Arcana, Deception, History, Intimidation, Insight, Investigation, Nature, Religion, Perception or Persuasion) and ''Sustained Symbiosis'' (1/day, you can sacrifice a Hit Dice to either boost a saving throw or to automatically critical succeed a Death Saving Throw). The downside is, of course, ''Symbiotic Agenda'' - your symbiote has its own goal that it wants to achieve, and if you try to pass up an opportunity to pursue that goal, you have to pass a Charisma save (DC 12 + symbiote's Cha modifier) or else it takes over you, represented as a Charm effect that lasts 1d12 hours. You can either create the symbiote's agenda, or roll on the provided d6 table.		'''Symbiotic Being:''' You're Venom. Seriously. That's it. You have a physical living creature with its own indepentent mind and personality fused to your body. There's a d6 table to generate manifestation, and they include a living tattoo, crystaline growths, and basically an homage to Vampire Hunter D (or Voldemort in the very first Harry Potter novel). You gain the traits ''Entwined Existence'' (Symbiote has its own Int, Wis and Cha scores, and gives you free proficiency in either Arcana, Deception, History, Intimidation, Insight, Investigation, Nature, Religion, Perception or Persuasion) and ''Sustained Symbiosis'' (1/day, you can sacrifice a Hit Dice to either boost a saving throw or to automatically critical succeed a Death Saving Throw). The downside is, of course, ''Symbiotic Agenda'' - your symbiote has its own goal that it wants to achieve, and if you try to pass up an opportunity to pursue that goal, you have to pass a Charisma save (DC 12 + symbiote's Cha modifier) or else it takes over you, represented as a Charm effect that lasts 1d12 hours. You can either create the symbiote's agenda, or roll on the provided d6 table.

	'''Touch of Death:''' Your flesh courses with malevolent energies or supernatural venom, allowing you to bring death to whoever brushes your skin. There's a d6 table to suggest how this might have been caused and manifests. Your positive traits are ''Death Touch'' (as an action, make an unarmed strike that does +1d10 Necrotic damage, boosted by +1d10 at levels 5, 11 and 17), ''Inescapable Death'' (your attacks ignore Necrotic Resistance), and ''Withering Contact'' (if you start your turn grappling or being grappled, the other guy takes 1d10 Necrotic damage). Surprisingly, there's no explicit downside to this ability! Although a sneaky DM could rule that the ability can activate involuntarily outside of combat and cause you to accidently kill someone you touch. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PBbHVDGIco\| ~~Point is~~, you better get used to not being able to hug things anymore.]		'''Touch of Death:''' Your flesh courses with malevolent energies or supernatural venom, allowing you to bring death to whoever brushes your skin. There's a d6 table to suggest how this might have been caused and manifests. Your positive traits are ''Death Touch'' (as an action, make an unarmed strike that does +1d10 Necrotic damage, boosted by +1d10 at levels 5, 11 and 17), ''Inescapable Death'' (your attacks ignore Necrotic Resistance), and ''Withering Contact'' (if you start your turn grappling or being grappled, the other guy takes 1d10 Necrotic damage). Surprisingly, there's no explicit downside to this ability! Although a sneaky DM could rule that the ability can activate involuntarily outside of combat and cause you to accidently kill someone you touch. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PBbHVDGIco\| Either way, you better get used to not being able to hug things anymore.]

	'''Watchers:''' You are the object of interest to ethereal spirits, which manifest themselves in Tiny-sized bodies made of shadowstuff and constantly hang arond you, even if you try to drive them away. There's a d8 table of example forms that these watchers might take, from ravens and rats to drifting religious symbols or animated objects. For a positive trait, you get ''Borrowed Eyes'', which lets you invoke the power of the Watchers to gain Adventage on Investigation & Perception checks plus Immunity to Blindness for 1 hour 1/day. The negative trait is ''Dread Presence'': you have Disadvantage on saves against Scrying, and if your Watchers are visible, you also suffer Disadvantage on Deception, Performance and Charisma checks. You can disperse these Watchers with a minute's work and a successful DC 15 Animal Handling check, but it only lasts for 1 hour and can only be done 1/day.		'''Watchers:''' You are the object of interest to ethereal spirits, which manifest themselves in Tiny-sized bodies made of shadowstuff and constantly hang arond you, even if you try to drive them away. There's a d8 table of example forms that these watchers might take, from ravens and rats to drifting religious symbols or animated objects. For a positive trait, you get ''Borrowed Eyes'', which lets you invoke the power of the Watchers to gain Adventage on Investigation & Perception checks plus Immunity to Blindness for 1 hour 1/day. The negative trait is ''Dread Presence'': you have Disadvantage on saves against Scrying, and if your Watchers are visible, you also suffer Disadvantage on Deception, Performance and Charisma checks. You can disperse these Watchers with a minute's work and a successful DC 15 Animal Handling check, but it only lasts for 1 hour and can only be done 1/day.

	[[Category: Game Mechanics]] [[Category: Ravenloft]]		[[Category: Game Mechanics]] [[Category: Ravenloft]]

2603:8001:3500:CB:6143:72B9:42CA:59B9: /* In Later Editions */

2021-06-04T23:29:18Z

In Later Editions

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:29, 4 June 2021
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	'''Symbiotic Being:''' You're Venom. Seriously. That's it. You have a physical living creature with its own indepentent mind and personality fused to your body. There's a d6 table to generate manifestation, and they include a living tattoo, crystaline growths, and basically an homage to Vampire Hunter D (or Voldemort in the very first Harry Potter novel). You gain the traits ''Entwined Existence'' (Symbiote has its own Int, Wis and Cha scores, and gives you free proficiency in either Arcana, Deception, History, Intimidation, Insight, Investigation, Nature, Religion, Perception or Persuasion) and ''Sustained Symbiosis'' (1/day, you can sacrifice a Hit Dice to either boost a saving throw or to automatically critical succeed a Death Saving Throw). The downside is, of course, ''Symbiotic Agenda'' - your symbiote has its own goal that it wants to achieve, and if you try to pass up an opportunity to pursue that goal, you have to pass a Charisma save (DC 12 + symbiote's Cha modifier) or else it takes over you, represented as a Charm effect that lasts 1d12 hours. You can either create the symbiote's agenda, or roll on the provided d6 table.		'''Symbiotic Being:''' You're Venom. Seriously. That's it. You have a physical living creature with its own indepentent mind and personality fused to your body. There's a d6 table to generate manifestation, and they include a living tattoo, crystaline growths, and basically an homage to Vampire Hunter D (or Voldemort in the very first Harry Potter novel). You gain the traits ''Entwined Existence'' (Symbiote has its own Int, Wis and Cha scores, and gives you free proficiency in either Arcana, Deception, History, Intimidation, Insight, Investigation, Nature, Religion, Perception or Persuasion) and ''Sustained Symbiosis'' (1/day, you can sacrifice a Hit Dice to either boost a saving throw or to automatically critical succeed a Death Saving Throw). The downside is, of course, ''Symbiotic Agenda'' - your symbiote has its own goal that it wants to achieve, and if you try to pass up an opportunity to pursue that goal, you have to pass a Charisma save (DC 12 + symbiote's Cha modifier) or else it takes over you, represented as a Charm effect that lasts 1d12 hours. You can either create the symbiote's agenda, or roll on the provided d6 table.

	'''Touch of Death:''' Your flesh courses with malevolent energies or supernatural venom, allowing you to bring death to whoever brushes your skin. There's a d6 table to suggest how this might have been caused and manifests. Your positive traits are ''Death Touch'' (as an action, make an unarmed strike that does +1d10 Necrotic damage, boosted by +1d10 at levels 5, 11 and 17), ''Inescapable Death'' (your attacks ignore Necrotic Resistance), and ''Withering Contact'' (if you start your turn grappling or being grappled, the other guy takes 1d10 Necrotic damage). Surprisingly, there's no explicit downside to this ability! Although a sneaky DM could rule that the ability can activate involuntarily outside of combat and cause you to accidently kill someone you touch.		'''Touch of Death:''' Your flesh courses with malevolent energies or supernatural venom, allowing you to bring death to whoever brushes your skin. There's a d6 table to suggest how this might have been caused and manifests. Your positive traits are ''Death Touch'' (as an action, make an unarmed strike that does +1d10 Necrotic damage, boosted by +1d10 at levels 5, 11 and 17), ''Inescapable Death'' (your attacks ignore Necrotic Resistance), and ''Withering Contact'' (if you start your turn grappling or being grappled, the other guy takes 1d10 Necrotic damage). Surprisingly, there's no explicit downside to this ability! Although a sneaky DM could rule that the ability can activate involuntarily outside of combat and cause you to accidently kill someone you touch. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PBbHVDGIco\| Point is, you better get used to not being able to hug things anymore.]

	'''Watchers:''' You are the object of interest to ethereal spirits, which manifest themselves in Tiny-sized bodies made of shadowstuff and constantly hang arond you, even if you try to drive them away. There's a d8 table of example forms that these watchers might take, from ravens and rats to drifting religious symbols or animated objects. For a positive trait, you get ''Borrowed Eyes'', which lets you invoke the power of the Watchers to gain Adventage on Investigation & Perception checks plus Immunity to Blindness for 1 hour 1/day. The negative trait is ''Dread Presence'': you have Disadvantage on saves against Scrying, and if your Watchers are visible, you also suffer Disadvantage on Deception, Performance and Charisma checks. You can disperse these Watchers with a minute's work and a successful DC 15 Animal Handling check, but it only lasts for 1 hour and can only be done 1/day.		'''Watchers:''' You are the object of interest to ethereal spirits, which manifest themselves in Tiny-sized bodies made of shadowstuff and constantly hang arond you, even if you try to drive them away. There's a d8 table of example forms that these watchers might take, from ravens and rats to drifting religious symbols or animated objects. For a positive trait, you get ''Borrowed Eyes'', which lets you invoke the power of the Watchers to gain Adventage on Investigation & Perception checks plus Immunity to Blindness for 1 hour 1/day. The negative trait is ''Dread Presence'': you have Disadvantage on saves against Scrying, and if your Watchers are visible, you also suffer Disadvantage on Deception, Performance and Charisma checks. You can disperse these Watchers with a minute's work and a successful DC 15 Animal Handling check, but it only lasts for 1 hour and can only be done 1/day.

	[[Category: Game Mechanics]] [[Category: Ravenloft]]		[[Category: Game Mechanics]] [[Category: Ravenloft]]

2603:8001:3500:CB:6143:72B9:42CA:59B9: /* In Later Editions */

2021-06-04T23:18:41Z

In Later Editions

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:18, 4 June 2021
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	Powers Checks were deeply rooted in TSR's approach to D&D, and so they didn't really sit too well with WotC. In 4th edition, the concept was dropped (if only because a dedicated Ravenloft setting never resurfaced there), with instead the player being suggested to come up with spooky background or character traits to represent brushes with the dark powers. The closest that 4e got to Powers Checks were a pair of Themes called the Haunted Blade and the Misshapen, which gave the character powers tied to a brush with dark forces.		Powers Checks were deeply rooted in TSR's approach to D&D, and so they didn't really sit too well with WotC. In 4th edition, the concept was dropped (if only because a dedicated Ravenloft setting never resurfaced there), with instead the player being suggested to come up with spooky background or character traits to represent brushes with the dark powers. The closest that 4e got to Powers Checks were a pair of Themes called the Haunted Blade and the Misshapen, which gave the character powers tied to a brush with dark forces.

	In 5th edition, [[Van Richten's Guide]] to [[Ravenloft]] scrapped the idea of Powers Checks entirely and replaced them with '''Dark Gifts''': an entirely voluntary option that the player can pick at starting level, or earn ~~throguh~~ play, that grants them distinct boons, at the cost of largely cosmetic "spooky" drawbacks. As a result, the book contains a specific array of Dark Gifts, consisting of the following. Each grants a couple of minor powers, but comes with a drawback.		In 5th edition, [[Van Richten's Guide]] to [[Ravenloft]] scrapped the idea of Powers Checks entirely and replaced them with '''Dark Gifts''': an entirely voluntary option that the player can pick at starting level, or earn through play, that grants them distinct boons, at the cost of largely cosmetic "spooky" drawbacks. As a result, the book contains a specific array of Dark Gifts, consisting of the following. Each grants a couple of minor powers, but comes with a drawback.

	'''Echoing Soul:''' You have a connection to past incarnations, were magically swapped into your current body, or you have a deep spiritual link to another being - there's a d6 table to roll on to randomly generate the specifics. Regardless, you experience intrusive echoes of one or more entirely different lives; on the plus side, this gives you two free skill proficiencies and a bonus language. The downside is the ''Intrusive Echoes'' trait; if you trigger the downside by rolling a 1 on an attack roll, ability check or saving throw, you become overwhelmed by foreign visions and memories, which you determine by rolling on a d6 table. You might end up charmed or frightened by a random creature for 1 minute, blinded for a turn, halve your speed for a turn, be incapacitated for a turn, or even get to reroll the triggering roll because you awoke a memory of a past triumph. Fortunately, Intrusive Echoes can only happen once per short rest.		'''Echoing Soul:''' You have a connection to past incarnations, were magically swapped into your current body, or you have a deep spiritual link to another being - there's a d6 table to roll on to randomly generate the specifics. Regardless, you experience intrusive echoes of one or more entirely different lives; on the plus side, this gives you two free skill proficiencies and a bonus language. The downside is the ''Intrusive Echoes'' trait; if you trigger the downside by rolling a 1 on an attack roll, ability check or saving throw, you become overwhelmed by foreign visions and memories, which you determine by rolling on a d6 table. You might end up charmed or frightened by a random creature for 1 minute, blinded for a turn, halve your speed for a turn, be incapacitated for a turn, or even get to reroll the triggering roll because you awoke a memory of a past triumph. Fortunately, Intrusive Echoes can only happen once per short rest.

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In Later Editions

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	'''Symbiotic Being:''' You're Venom. Seriously. That's it. You have a physical living creature with its own indepentent mind and personality fused to your body. There's a d6 table to generate manifestation, and they include a living tattoo, crystaline growths, and basically an homage to Vampire Hunter D (or Voldemort in the very first Harry Potter novel). You gain the traits ''Entwined Existence'' (Symbiote has its own Int, Wis and Cha scores, and gives you free proficiency in either Arcana, Deception, History, Intimidation, Insight, Investigation, Nature, Religion, Perception or Persuasion) and ''Sustained Symbiosis'' (1/day, you can sacrifice a Hit Dice to either boost a saving throw or to automatically critical succeed a Death Saving Throw). The downside is, of course, ''Symbiotic Agenda'' - your symbiote has its own goal that it wants to achieve, and if you try to pass up an opportunity to pursue that goal, you have to pass a Charisma save (DC 12 + symbiote's Cha modifier) or else it takes over you, represented as a Charm effect that lasts 1d12 hours. You can either create the symbiote's agenda, or roll on the provided d6 table.		'''Symbiotic Being:''' You're Venom. Seriously. That's it. You have a physical living creature with its own indepentent mind and personality fused to your body. There's a d6 table to generate manifestation, and they include a living tattoo, crystaline growths, and basically an homage to Vampire Hunter D (or Voldemort in the very first Harry Potter novel). You gain the traits ''Entwined Existence'' (Symbiote has its own Int, Wis and Cha scores, and gives you free proficiency in either Arcana, Deception, History, Intimidation, Insight, Investigation, Nature, Religion, Perception or Persuasion) and ''Sustained Symbiosis'' (1/day, you can sacrifice a Hit Dice to either boost a saving throw or to automatically critical succeed a Death Saving Throw). The downside is, of course, ''Symbiotic Agenda'' - your symbiote has its own goal that it wants to achieve, and if you try to pass up an opportunity to pursue that goal, you have to pass a Charisma save (DC 12 + symbiote's Cha modifier) or else it takes over you, represented as a Charm effect that lasts 1d12 hours. You can either create the symbiote's agenda, or roll on the provided d6 table.

	'''Touch of Death:''' Your flesh courses with malevolent energies or supernatural venom, allowing you to bring death to whoever brushes your skin. There's a d6 table to suggest how this might have been caused and manifests. Your positive traits are ''Death Touch'' (as an action, make an unarmed strike that does +1d10 Necrotic damage, boosted by +1d10 at levels 5, 11 and 17), ''Inescapable Death'' (your attacks ignore Necrotic Resistance), and ''Withering Contact'' (if you start your turn grappling or being grappled, the other guy takes 1d10 Necrotic damage). Surprisingly, there's no explicit downside to this ability!		'''Touch of Death:''' Your flesh courses with malevolent energies or supernatural venom, allowing you to bring death to whoever brushes your skin. There's a d6 table to suggest how this might have been caused and manifests. Your positive traits are ''Death Touch'' (as an action, make an unarmed strike that does +1d10 Necrotic damage, boosted by +1d10 at levels 5, 11 and 17), ''Inescapable Death'' (your attacks ignore Necrotic Resistance), and ''Withering Contact'' (if you start your turn grappling or being grappled, the other guy takes 1d10 Necrotic damage). Surprisingly, there's no explicit downside to this ability! Although a sneaky DM could rule that the ability can activate involuntarily outside of combat and cause you to accidently kill someone you touch.

	'''Watchers:''' You are the object of interest to ethereal spirits, which manifest themselves in Tiny-sized bodies made of shadowstuff and constantly hang arond you, even if you try to drive them away. There's a d8 table of example forms that these watchers might take, from ravens and rats to drifting religious symbols or animated objects. For a positive trait, you get ''Borrowed Eyes'', which lets you invoke the power of the Watchers to gain Adventage on Investigation & Perception checks plus Immunity to Blindness for 1 hour 1/day. The negative trait is ''Dread Presence'': you have Disadvantage on saves against Scrying, and if your Watchers are visible, you also suffer Disadvantage on Deception, Performance and Charisma checks. You can disperse these Watchers with a minute's work and a successful DC 15 Animal Handling check, but it only lasts for 1 hour and can only be done 1/day.		'''Watchers:''' You are the object of interest to ethereal spirits, which manifest themselves in Tiny-sized bodies made of shadowstuff and constantly hang arond you, even if you try to drive them away. There's a d8 table of example forms that these watchers might take, from ravens and rats to drifting religious symbols or animated objects. For a positive trait, you get ''Borrowed Eyes'', which lets you invoke the power of the Watchers to gain Adventage on Investigation & Perception checks plus Immunity to Blindness for 1 hour 1/day. The negative trait is ''Dread Presence'': you have Disadvantage on saves against Scrying, and if your Watchers are visible, you also suffer Disadvantage on Deception, Performance and Charisma checks. You can disperse these Watchers with a minute's work and a successful DC 15 Animal Handling check, but it only lasts for 1 hour and can only be done 1/day.

	[[Category: Game Mechanics]] [[Category: Ravenloft]]		[[Category: Game Mechanics]] [[Category: Ravenloft]]