Sun Domain granted Power

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

zombiegleemax

Jul 22, 2005 11:54:30
I was having a discussion with my friend and fellow Ravebloft Dm as to whether or not the Sun Domain granted power (the ability to perform a greater turning and destroy any turned undead) would function normally in Ravenloft.

I have scoured the books and have found nothign save a mention in the RPH abut how undead are only destroyed if prevented frm fleeing as their next action. But this seems (to me, at least) to imply that this is with regards to regular turning attempts as described in the core PHB, but that special abilities and feat MAY allow you to destroy undead under certan circumstances.

i was wondering what the ruling was in your games, because we're a little at an impass. Perhaps some of you have a house rule variant for the Sun domain to suggest if you don't allow the power to function...?
#2

Mortepierre

Jul 22, 2005 12:14:36
I say, leave it as it is. Out of the 28 deities listed so far in the (RL) game, only 2 grant access to it (Belenus and Ra) and both are known to despise undeads. Besides, it can be used only once per day and you can always rule darklords are immune to it (i.e. a 'destroyed' result becomes automatically 'turned' instead).

That will allow clerics of those two gods their little moment of triumph in-game.. right before whatever necromancer they were fighting unleash his second line of defense
#3

zombiegleemax

Jul 24, 2005 18:22:15
Hmm, I never really thought about it, but then I haven't played in or DM'ed the setting in a while. I would rule it either one of two ways:

1) The undead is destroyed, as per the rules, but Dark Lords are immune.

2) The undead is "destroyed" but in fact returns a few days later (like a destroyed ghost. So perhaps 1d4 or 2d4 days later the skeleton rises again, the wraith returns, etc. Unless, of course, the body is destroyed (such as by fire).

The latter could be fun, particularly if the players don't realize this and so do not destroy the body (impossible anyway for all incorporeal undead). And if they are only passing through the area, it could make for a good hook later, when they return to the area only to find it in worse shape than before due to "vengeful undead" that started attacking shortly after they left, last time.
#4

zombiegleemax

Jul 25, 2005 20:29:41
I would leave it as originaly mentioned, as someone else stated there are very few gods that grand such powers... and players need every advantage they can get...

of course undeads in Ravenloft are more resistent to Turn and Destroy by those methods for a lot of possibilities, like sinkholes of evils, a darlord present, their creatro present, cursed places, bad time of year... whatever :P

so already any Turn undead ability is to a disadvantages in Ravenloft... so taking away even that from the Domain Power would be more than unfair :P

but its always fun :P

Montalve
#5

zombiegleemax

Jul 26, 2005 12:59:40
When my DM said "sorry, it doesn't work" I was pretty angry. I'm with you guys - there's plenty out there that already stacks the deck in the undead's favour and the Sund domain's power works only once per day. I ended up chaging chosen domains (and my whole character concept) when I found out.

I was trying to suggest at least a compromise: ionce per day, I can turn undead with the same consequences as if I wasn;t in Ravneloft/ So, basically, If I have twice the HD of the undead, it IS destroyed on a greater turning. (no darkloads, or course - they're immmune)

The main reason I was angry is because it was just no, with no talk of what power "replaces" greater turning ability. And after being told no by him, I am surprised to hear everybody pretty much agree that it should work just fine.
#6

zombiegleemax

Jul 26, 2005 14:10:34
The fact is that is unfair to take one of the players characters clases for that...

and i would say it won't destroy them in a sink hole of evil or around a darklord, anywhere else maybe.... and definitively not against "protagonist" undeads, like the common villians of some histories, or those afflicted by specific curses.

Montalve
#7

zombiegleemax

Jul 27, 2005 9:39:04
As long as you don't hit Radiant Servant of Pelor, and then you can perform the Greater Turning 3+Cha mod times per day, it'll be fine. Once you do...well, take it from me who's playing one, undead become a lot less of a challenge.

I'm not pimped out to turn undead, but at 8th level I have a +3 Cha mod, so I can destroy undead 6 times per day. Effective.
#8

zombiegleemax

Jul 27, 2005 14:05:30
yeah but rember that in ravenloft almost naturaly the undead have a bonus of +2 versus turning and destroying, and in especific conditions it increases... a lot.

also a Cleric of a Sun god (whichever its name) would surely atract the attention of a Darklord... soon, or of some of his powerful lieutenants, which surely would not be afected by the turning... nor the creatures that acompany it/he/she.

Undeads can be terryfing to anyone... also... if there is a tide of them... how much you can destroy... at the end they would tear him to peaces even if he destroyed a lot of them.

Fear not... undeads in Ravenloft are in quantities... don't crose to Darkon or Necropolis, in there, there are waves of them.

Montalve
#9

zombiegleemax

Jul 28, 2005 1:06:13
Yeah - I don't want to be misunderstood with this - I'm not talking a PC class "just for that ability", but I had made a character concept where my character was this "gifted" holy man,/crazy man./ As far as the villagers and the church were concerned, this guy was just a little off... but I was going to purposefully create this guy who can destory undead (infrequently, and only if the conditions are right, anyhow) but who was essentially like "I don't know how I do it! The power just comes!" Definitely not this "Die undead scum" kind of vampire hunter concept. Besides, like all other abilities in Ravenloft, turn undead should not be very reliable... I have no fear that being able to turn some "weaker" zombies, essentially ONLY for dramatic effect, when it comes down to it, would have hurt the game...

I just remade a character, which, I think, is even better now without the Sun domain, and is much more sublte. It works better with the rest of our party, anyways...

And I agree - there's no way this would have worked on any "major" undead we could encounter. I agree that nothing sucks more than a "plot breaker" character, but it's not unreasonable to expect that, as news of this man who can destroy the undead surfaces, they start to pick on him, and with their worst. The powers that be would more than make my character regret his abilities, which is as it should be, right?... (And one of the reaons I made this character - I WANT to die horribly at the hand of the undead! It's so wonderfully ironic and tragic! )

(I am reminded here of one type of undead in particulr, which would be VERY appropriate to use against such a Sun doamin cleric - an Odem, because they can't be turned by priests!!!)
#10

zombiegleemax

Jul 28, 2005 1:28:30
even better, he could be corrupted by the undead forces become one of them, that is trully ironic, dying :D is just justice or them.

well if you are happy with your char thats ok, thats the important thing. but i can think of more than one plot created by such a char... it would be so interesting to having him into the Asylum... i forget the name of the Doctor/Darklord... but he would be a very interesting subject for his 2threatmen", did i forgot to say that the good doctor is a vampire?

Montalve
#11

zombiegleemax

Jul 28, 2005 11:58:55
yes, corruption!... fall from gace... returning as the ancient dead / ghost / vampire, whatever! Well, my character is still a priest and still has turn undead, so it would still work.

I believe the name of the good doctor is Heinforth or Heinfroth or something like that. (dominia?)
#12

zombiegleemax

Jul 28, 2005 18:24:49
jeje indeed Dominia
nice cosi place... if a little crowded and it takes you out of your mind... but hey who doesn't become a little crazy this days.

Montalve