Defiling in Dragon #315 - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Defiling in Dragon #315

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Dec 13, 2003 20:13:10 I'm hoping someone can clarify this for me...

I don't understand the difference between Defiler Points and a character's Defiler Score. Supposedly one accrues penalties when their D. Points go up, but these can be wiped away by voluntarily assuming the taint...in which case the character's D. Score goes up.

But I can't find any negatives associated with having a high D. Score, since "Points" and "Score" are tracked seperately.

Even in their example, they say that a character with a D. Score of 9 and no D. Points has no ability score or skill check penalties.

help!!

edit: upon further reading, I noticed the Druid spell "Revenge of the Land" only effects those with a Defiler Score...so that's something, but it still doesn't seem like a big enough negative.
#2
korimyr_the_rat
Dec 15, 2003 5:16:56 Your Defiler Score measures just how easy it is to detect you with a Detect Defiler spell. The higher it is, the more determined Preservers and Druids are going to be to destroying you.

Other than this, you're right, there is very little penalty for assuming the Taint. I suspect it is supposed to be easy and have very few penalties, in order to make it tempting to otherwise good arcane spellcasters.

The main penalty is, once you've assumed the Taint, you'll never be free of it, and Druids will always be able to recognize you with one simple spell. Meditation to remove Defiler Points is much more difficult, but allows you to be rid of the penalties without permanently making yourself a target.
#3
zombiegleemax
Dec 15, 2003 17:03:18 My friends and I agree that's not a high enough price to pay for the power it gives you...so we've altered it such that your Defiler Score gives penalties exactly as if it were your Defiler Points...Assuming the Taint is just a quick way to burn off DP's if you're being horribly screwed and you need to get rid of them like, right this minute.
#4
dawnstealer
Dec 15, 2003 17:13:01 The thing I thought was weak was that the defiler eventually becomes a T'Liz. In my opinion, the "cost" should be a moral and social one: not to turn you into undead if you happen to cast a lot of spells (okay, 41+ is a LOT of defiler points, according to their scale, but still).
#5
zombiegleemax
Dec 15, 2003 21:11:58 A -4 penalty on all Charisma-based skills seems like a social cost, to me. ^_^; Not to mention that anyone with Detect Defiler will be hunting for you.
#6
dawnstealer
Dec 15, 2003 22:55:50 I was thinking more of this:

Player: "I suck in energy to cast a fireball."

Me: "You're in the middle of Shadow Square. Are you sure?"

Player: "Yeah! They'll all be scared of my mad spellcasting skillzezessess."

Me: "You think so?"

Player: "Hell yeah!"

Me: "Okay; the ground grows black around you, a small potted plant, residing in the windowsill above your head, withers into dust. People in your surrounding area gasp as the magic draws on their lifeforce."

Player: "Sweet! Now where did that templar go! Got some fireball action for ya!"

Me: "He's about twenty yards away, at the far side of the square."

Player: "I cast the spell."

Me: "He disappears into a fine red mist as the fire consumes him."

Player: "Sweet!"

Me: "You feel a sharp pain on your right shoulder. You take one point of damage."

Player: "Huh? What is it?"

Me: "Looks like someone just threw a rock at you."

Player: "Who did it? I look for who did it and get ready to cast magic missile."

Me: "A slightly larger rock pegs you in the back of the head for... 3 points of damage. The pain isn't much, but roll to see if your spell is disrupted."

Player: "Okay....got an 18."

Me: "Great. Now for rocks 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. Looks like someone out there has an obsidian-tipped spear, too. Actually, as you start to fall under the weight of the small stones, you see that some of the citizens are forgoing rocks in favor of clubs.:

Player: "..."

Now THAT is a social consequence. Much more significant than: "The bartender detects 'the Taint' on you: you must pay 2sp instead of 1. Hah!"
#7
zombiegleemax
Dec 15, 2003 23:01:46 *ROTF* well...yes, there is that, too. ^^; Makes me glad my character isn't on Athas at the moment.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Dec 13, 2003 20:13:10	I'm hoping someone can clarify this for me... I don't understand the difference between Defiler Points and a character's Defiler Score. Supposedly one accrues penalties when their D. Points go up, but these can be wiped away by voluntarily assuming the taint...in which case the character's D. Score goes up. But I can't find any negatives associated with having a high D. Score, since "Points" and "Score" are tracked seperately. Even in their example, they say that a character with a D. Score of 9 and no D. Points has no ability score or skill check penalties. help!! edit: upon further reading, I noticed the Druid spell "Revenge of the Land" only effects those with a Defiler Score...so that's something, but it still doesn't seem like a big enough negative.
#2 korimyr_the_rat Dec 15, 2003 5:16:56	Your Defiler Score measures just how easy it is to detect you with a Detect Defiler spell. The higher it is, the more determined Preservers and Druids are going to be to destroying you. Other than this, you're right, there is very little penalty for assuming the Taint. I suspect it is supposed to be easy and have very few penalties, in order to make it tempting to otherwise good arcane spellcasters. The main penalty is, once you've assumed the Taint, you'll never be free of it, and Druids will always be able to recognize you with one simple spell. Meditation to remove Defiler Points is much more difficult, but allows you to be rid of the penalties without permanently making yourself a target.
#3 zombiegleemax Dec 15, 2003 17:03:18	My friends and I agree that's not a high enough price to pay for the power it gives you...so we've altered it such that your Defiler Score gives penalties exactly as if it were your Defiler Points...Assuming the Taint is just a quick way to burn off DP's if you're being horribly screwed and you need to get rid of them like, right this minute.
#4 dawnstealer Dec 15, 2003 17:13:01	The thing I thought was weak was that the defiler eventually becomes a T'Liz. In my opinion, the "cost" should be a moral and social one: not to turn you into undead if you happen to cast a lot of spells (okay, 41+ is a LOT of defiler points, according to their scale, but still).
#5 zombiegleemax Dec 15, 2003 21:11:58	A -4 penalty on all Charisma-based skills seems like a social cost, to me. ^_^; Not to mention that anyone with Detect Defiler will be hunting for you.
#6 dawnstealer Dec 15, 2003 22:55:50	I was thinking more of this: Player: "I suck in energy to cast a fireball." Me: "You're in the middle of Shadow Square. Are you sure?" Player: "Yeah! They'll all be scared of my mad spellcasting skillzezessess." Me: "You think so?" Player: "Hell yeah!" Me: "Okay; the ground grows black around you, a small potted plant, residing in the windowsill above your head, withers into dust. People in your surrounding area gasp as the magic draws on their lifeforce." Player: "Sweet! Now where did that templar go! Got some fireball action for ya!" Me: "He's about twenty yards away, at the far side of the square." Player: "I cast the spell." Me: "He disappears into a fine red mist as the fire consumes him." Player: "Sweet!" Me: "You feel a sharp pain on your right shoulder. You take one point of damage." Player: "Huh? What is it?" Me: "Looks like someone just threw a rock at you." Player: "Who did it? I look for who did it and get ready to cast magic missile." Me: "A slightly larger rock pegs you in the back of the head for... 3 points of damage. The pain isn't much, but roll to see if your spell is disrupted." Player: "Okay....got an 18." Me: "Great. Now for rocks 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. Looks like someone out there has an obsidian-tipped spear, too. Actually, as you start to fall under the weight of the small stones, you see that some of the citizens are forgoing rocks in favor of clubs.: Player: "..." Now THAT is a social consequence. Much more significant than: "The bartender detects 'the Taint' on you: you must pay 2sp instead of 1. Hah!"
#7 zombiegleemax Dec 15, 2003 23:01:46	ROTF well...yes, there is that, too. ^^; Makes me glad my character isn't on Athas at the moment.