Shaman skill: tattoo

[Katrana]

Suggestions to better the idea, or reasons why it wouldn't work (constructive please) would be awesome!

skill tattoo - level 25, aligned shamans only

This ritual proves the shaman's dedication to his or her deity by inscribing a tribute directly onto their skin. The deity's approval of this grants the shaman powers not usually accessed.

Notes: This would be a 'slot' that appears once level 25 is reached by an aligned shaman. Under the wwp the deity's decoration description would display. The tattoo would give the shaman a spell chosen by the deity perhaps (new fset)? Or could a common benefit amongst deities and could be something like a permanent bless or detect invis or something similar. (No permanent sanc:P)

I look forward to hearing what you think!

Kat

[Rhysling]

I like the idea. I'd like the possibility of Immortals gifting a tattoo like this to Ordained even more. For Ordained, I think it could last after they convert classes, albeit with a drop in effectiveness.

Maybe it could even be extended to other Mortals, as a reward for great feats (although that might have to be managed by Gods/Goddesses+).

Just my two cents.

[Vale]

I'd like the possibility of Immortals gifting a tattoo like this to Ordained even more

I don't like that. Ordains get too many perks as it is. For example, did you know a good OM ranger swings against ALL evils he's fighting again?


Regarding the original idea:

I really like it! I think it would be cool to just give shamans an extra slot "tattoo" and maybe make the tattoos questable/createable through reagants...

[Krouk]

OK - I like the concept but I'm mixed up over the idea.

What I don't like about the idea is the current lack of concrete limitations. I can't support a shaman permanantly gaining spells that are unique to the other classes. Also, I don't like that it is an immortal related ability because that implies they would be immortal level spells - thus allowing a shaman to permanantly receive the benefit of a different class at a power level unachievable by members of that class.

I do like this idea a lot - developed in a fashion that is unique to the shaman class. This would either involve creating new benefits / abilities for shaman only; OR adjusting a current ability to work with the tattoo concept:

I think that there should be a range of available tatoos that are permanant and unchangable until death.

Tattooed:

a wooden shield = +3 da and aff ac -10
a burning star = increased mana regeneration
a venomous snake = impervious to poison
an angry boar = +3 str and a str stat bonus of +1 for prime shamans (increases max str capablity to 575, 650 for ogres)
a sly weasel = +3 dex and a dex stat bonus of +1 for prime shamans (increases max dex)


These are just ideas, it is the concept that should be evaluated.

Krouk

[Spooky]

I agree with the way Krouk has presented the original idea. Although, I also liked the idea that the tattoo encouraged and even rewarded a shaman who normally gains nothing through alignment for choosing a following. I'm all for a tattoo system that basically gives an aligned shaman his TS slot back, and I agree it shouldn't be a spell/skill other classes have, but something unique to them.

[Rhysling]

"I think that there should be a range of available tatoos that are permanant and unchangable until death."

Something like Lyricals for Bards?

[Krouk]

Not exactly,

While lyricals stack the shaman could choose only one of the available tattoos - at some sort of cost. If if were determined that multiple tattoos should be available then .the strength of them should be adjusted accordingly. Lyricals offer some exceptional benefits, I see that tattoo as being a moderate bonus.

Krouk

[Katrana]

Agreed Krouk, the benefits should not be equal to that of a bard's lyrical. But I am in favor of something similar to a lyrical where it would be unchangable until death. Building off of everyone's responses...perhaps the following would be a better description? Again, all idea Thanks everyone for the great feedback, keep it coming!

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skill tattoo - level 25

tattoo <fetish>
This ritual proves the shaman's dedication to his or her ways by inscribing a tribute directly onto their skin. A reagent is required to complete this skill.

Notes: You could only have one tattoo. This would be a 'slot' that appears once level 25 is reached by an aligned shaman. The reagent would be a fetish. The tattoo wording would be a predetermined tattoo based on the spell tattooed. Essentially the tattoo would be of the spell of the fetish. Please note it would be only certain spells, shield, armor, ts, det invis, det hidden, invis, imp invis, stone skin, bless, strength, pass door, attunement, soul sense, pass w/o trace.

(I'm not the best at restrings, or cool naming ideas, so these are really rough:P)

<tattoo> three open eyes in the shape of a triangle (for TS)
<tattoo> three eyes in the shape of a triangle, the top eye open (for soul sense)
<tattoo> three eyes in the shape of a triangle, the right eye open (for det invis)
<tattoo> three eyes in the shape of a triangle, the left eye open (for det hidden)

-AND/OR-

You could have 'special' fetishes, or these could be the tattoos themselves that pop rarely like lyricals that have the following affects when tattoo'ed:
*Increase in the rift cap
*Increase in hps absorbed by cloak
*Chance to confuse when landing of a fear
*3 to 6 DA
*-3 to -6 svs
*3 to 6 mr
*etc

[Tynian]

The idea itself is an interesting one, though I'm not sure about additional slot that only shamans can access. Mixed feelings.

Declined at this time because our main focus is version 5, and I'm not accepting more shaman ideas for v5.

Feel free to bring it up again once the v5 dust settles.