Sinister Presence

[Hervé]

Found in Thulsa's Spider-God's Bride, Sinister Presence is an ability that allows sorcerers to keep opponents at bay for a while as they boast about the terrible powers they can wield.

I found this ability very "Conanesque" and thought this was maybe what the scholar was lacking in the game. A fear inspiring ability that can prove useful for PCs and NPCs alike.

What do you think of it?

 

[warzen]

I found it so "Conanesque" that I assumed it was something I overlooked from the Conan rulebook !!

Great ability Thulsa !!

W.

 

[Demetrio]

As I recall he originally posited it as an more reasonable alternative to the various rather uncanonical Defensive Blast spells.

It is quite a nice idea though.

 

[The King]

Found in Thulsa's Spider-God's Bride, Sinister Presence is an ability that allows sorcerers to keep opponents at bay for a while as they boast about the terrible powers they can wield.

I found this ability very "Conanesque" and thought this was maybe what the scholar was lacking in the game. A fear inspiring ability that can prove useful for PCs and NPCs alike.

What do you think of it?

There was already something like this in Earthdawn RPG which was called "arcane muttering" and had the same effect.
I think this is great (and also probably a must) in games where magic isn't a common, but a dangerous art.

 

[Stygian Devout]

Sounds interesting, care to put up the details of this ability?

 

[Hervé]

Stygian Devout wrote:

Sounds interesting, care to put up the details of this ability?

I can post it on the forum, but I need Thulsa's authorization first.
I'll ask him by pm.

 

[thulsa]

As I recall he originally posited it as an more reasonable alternative to the various rather uncanonical Defensive Blast spells.

It is quite a nice idea though.

By the way, I was inspired by the noble's "Do You Know Who I Am?" ability, and also the Slaine RPG, where druids have a similar power ("Druidic Awe").

- thulsa

 

[Hervé]

Thanks to Thulsa, here the text of the Sinister Presence ability:

Sinister Presence (Ex): Sorcerers are loathed and feared by most. At 1st level, the sorcerer has already entered a path of study which sets him apart from normal men.
As a standard action, once per encounter, the sorcerer may loudly declare his name and occupation to all who listen. Following this declaration, all who wish to attack the sorcerer, whether physically or with spells, must make a Will save (DC 10 + half sorcerer’s level + sorcerer’s Charisma modifier).
Those who fail the saving throw are unable to attack the sorcerer for the duration of the encounter. However, if the sorcerer attacks or casts a spell on an affected creature, that creature is immediately free to act against the sorcerer again.
Those affected must be able to see and hear the sorcerer. Creatures of a different creature type than the sorcerer get a +4 bonus to the saving throw. Creatures that do not share a common language with the sorcerer get a +2 bonus to the saving throw. These bonuses stack. Constructs, oozes, plants and vermin are never affected.

A must for Hyborian sorcerers who tend to rely more on fear and intimidation than on fireballs!

 

[LucaCherstich]

In "Conan Terms" I think we could use "Sinister Presence" as an alternative rule (as those for the multiclass options in the Hyboria's F. Series).
Maybe it could be taken instead of a new Advanced or Bonus spell from 3rd level onwards.
Taking it instead of New Sorcery Style or of "Knowledge is power" at 1st-2nd levels seems too much to me and, after all, a 3rd level scholar starts to be a decent sorcerer (and not a 1st -2nd level novice), so maybe that special ability is reasonable.

 

[Krushnak]

I would actually use that in place of the defensive blast that the character would otherwise gain and have slightly different effects for different styles.

ie: counterspells lets you use this against demons and other 'outsiders', nature lets you use it against beasts and summoning would give you a bonus against humans say +2.

 

[Style]

I like it! I've been using in my game that any one who witnesses magic being cast must make a terror check, but I think Thulsa's solution is closer to portraying the original tales.

 

[LilithsThrall]

Thanks to Thulsa, here the text of the Sinister Presence ability:

Sinister Presence (Ex): Sorcerers are loathed and feared by most. At 1st level, the sorcerer has already entered a path of study which sets him apart from normal men.
As a standard action, once per encounter, the sorcerer may loudly declare his name and occupation to all who listen. Following this declaration, all who wish to attack the sorcerer, whether physically or with spells, must make a Will save (DC 10 + half sorcerer’s level + sorcerer’s Charisma modifier).
Those who fail the saving throw are unable to attack the sorcerer for the duration of the encounter. However, if the sorcerer attacks or casts a spell on an affected creature, that creature is immediately free to act against the sorcerer again.
Those affected must be able to see and hear the sorcerer. Creatures of a different creature type than the sorcerer get a +4 bonus to the saving throw. Creatures that do not share a common language with the sorcerer get a +2 bonus to the saving throw. These bonuses stack. Constructs, oozes, plants and vermin are never affected.

A must for Hyborian sorcerers who tend to rely more on fear and intimidation than on fireballs!

That's a shade too powerful in my opinion. Targets who fail their first save should be able to heroically overcome their fear and attack anyway.
So, I'd change it to allow targets who fail their save to be able to roll new save throws each round until they overcome the effect.

 

[DimitriX]

Is this something that a Temptress could take? This seems like something that would be really good for that class.

 

[Demetrio]

I think it would need tweaking for a temptress. In Howard, women tend to be regarded as 'spoils' to a large extent. One might say that a successful 'Enchanting Beauty' roll by a temptress would mean that affected opponents would attempt non-lethal attacks against her (unless she resorted to lethal force herself). Mechanically it could work in a similar way to Sinister Presence though.

I'm not sure what Temptress ability should be foregone in order to get this ability instead.

 

[DimitriX]

Hm. That's a good point. I think I would let a temptress take this ability as a feat with the prerequisite that she take sorcery as her secret art. I think I would require a certain number of ranks in Bluff and/or Intimidate as well.

 

[Hervé]

LilithsThrall wrote:

That's a shade too powerful in my opinion.

It's quite nothing compared to Power Attacking with a two handed weapon!...
Anyway, if the Sorcerer makes any agressive move, the ability wears off. So it's not that powerful, as it's more a Defensive ability. Scholars need protection in the game, as much as PCs than as NPCs.

In my campaign sorcerers often are often o/s even before they can cast a single spell or reveal the secrets of their evil diabolical plans. Now they got the time for their megalomaniac speeches! :twisted:

Targets who fail their first save should be able to heroically overcome their fear and attack anyway.

If heroically means burning a Fate Point, that's fine by me. If the targets get a new Will save each round, then the ability becomes close to useless.

Nonetheless, I think this ability is really adapted to hyborian sorcerers. Actually, it's more in the mood of the game than the Defensive Blasts (especially the weird effects of 2nd Ed DBs!)

 

[Vortigern]

I really like this as well.

Given it's defensive nature, as noted by Herve, I don't feel it is overpowering at all. In fact I think it balances the scales a little bit by enforcing in a mechanical manner the fear that 'should' ICly be there regarding sorcery/magic, but often isn't due to OOCness.

 

[seanbickford]

I love abilities like this! There should be more abilities like this for other classes as well. I'll do some brainstorming later...

 

[kintire]

I think it would need tweaking for a temptress. In Howard, women tend to be regarded as 'spoils' to a large extent. One might say that a successful 'Enchanting Beauty' roll by a temptress would mean that affected opponents would attempt non-lethal attacks against her (unless she resorted to lethal force herself). Mechanically it could work in a similar way to Sinister Presence though.

I'm not sure what Temptress ability should be foregone in order to get this ability instead.

I think only using non lethal damage isn't very useful. I'd say that opponents would treat her as no threat. I might link it to the Compelling Performance ability and call it a use of that.

Just as a note, I assume the power only works on intelligent beings? And does it affect other sorcerers, and/or demons?

 

[Krushnak]

Theres two feats from Hyboria's fallen that already do this.

The first is 'Submissive Demeanour' prereq: wisdom 13.
when you get targeted by spells or spell like effects you make an opposed will save with the cast if you win he targets someone else, if you fail by more than 5 the cast focus' on you for the next round aswell. cant auto fail the save and it is broken as soon as you make any hostile actions.

the second feat is 'True Submissive' prereq: submissive demeanour.
against any intellegent creature who attempts to attack you you make an opposed will save. if you win the attack is halted(wasted effectively) and if you lose then the attack goes through and the attacker is immune to this effect for 24 hours. gets broken by taking any hostile actions or a move action (can still 5 foot step).