[D&D 3.5] Epic Truespeak (WIP, PEACH)

[RaggedAngel]

As a wise man once said, "In the Beginning Was the Word, and the Word Was Suck; (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=214115)" and in general, he's right. From the lowliest tavern-born dungeon crawls to climactic fights with a pile of Balors, the average Truenamer will feel weak, inefficient, and could be replaced by a pile of wands.

You are not an average Truenamer.

You spent years of your life struggling to survive combat, scrambling to scrap together enough money for an Amulet of the Silver Tongue, and eternally paying dues to the Paragnostic Assembly. You found some moments of respite along the way, beautiful gems that kept you sane; the first time you flew, the first time you ripped a spell away from a much-stronger caster, and, well, Conjunctive Gate. By and far, however, your life was far harder than it should have been. You've always been one step behind your companions, always fighting to earn your cut and to gain recognition.

Your time is now. Your power, you have discovered, was so inefficient and clunky throughout your career for a reason. Truenaming was never meant for mortal lips, never meant to be a source of mortal power. Truenaming is not spellcasting; it is far less refined, less tamed. Truenaming is pure.

Truenaming is Epic.



Epic Utterances

"The secret to power? The secret to Truenaming? You cannot even understand the question, let alone the answer. Go ask someone with the time and simple mind required to dumb it down enough for you. I hear Boccob isn't very busy these days." -Ariallia Driftcloud, Exalted Philosopher of Paragnostic Truths, last recorded public statement.


The utterances that make up the totality of a Truenamer's power take on a new clarity and depth at Epic levels. An Epic Truenamer learns one Epic utterance when they take the Epic Truenaming Feat and every level thereafter. Epic utterances do not have a Lexicon like most utterances; they defy many of the definitions and limitations of lesser utterances. The DC to speak an Epic utterance is 25+(CR*2), and all the standard rules for utterances apply to them.

True Word of Life
Duration: 5 rounds (normal) or instantaneous and concentration, up to 2 rounds (reverse)
Saving Throw: None (normal) or Fortitude partial (reverse)
Normal: You speak the primal Truename of Life itself, and weave the 'Name of your ally into it seamlessly. As the words pass your lips his injuries vanish; not as if they have healed, but as if they never were at all.

You grant a creature Fast Healing equal to twice your ranks in Truespeak. In addition, this utterance removes any condition that would be removed by a Heal (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/heal.htm) spell.

Reversed: You twist Life into Death, and you stitch the vicious sound to your foe's 'Name without pause or hesitation. There is a single moment of pause, and then his body is obliterated by the fabric of reality itself.

This utterance instantly slays the subject and consumes its remains (but not its equipment and possessions). The only way to restore life to the target is to use True Resurrection, a carefully worded Wish spell followed by Resurrection, or Miracle. On a successful save the target takes 1d6 points of typeless damage per rank in Truespeak you have; if this damage would slay the target its body is reduced to ash.

If the target succeeds on its first Fortitude save you may spend a standard action the next round to concentrate on the utterance; if you do it takes 1d6 typeless damage per rank in Truespeak you have; if this damage would slay the target its body is reduced to ash.

True Word of Time
Duration: 2+ rounds (normal) or 5 rounds (reversed)
Saving Throw: None
Normal: You speak the Truename of Time, and all of reality halts at your words. For a few moments you are entirely uncontested before time renews its flow.

You force the entire universe to grind to a halt. You are free to act for 2 rounds. You can speak utterances, move, or perform other types of actions, subject to the restrictions outlined below.

While True Word of Time is in effect, other creatures are invulnerable to your attacks and utterances. This means you cannot target a creature with any attack or utterance, though you can affect yourself with utterances or spells. Additionally, you can create ongoing effects that do not target a creature, like a Gate to another plane. You could not, however, use that same Gate to summon a Balor, because that Balor is currently frozen in time.

You can affect an unattended object but not an object held, carried, or worn by another creature. You are undetectable by any means while the True Word of Time lasts.

For every -10 penalty you take on your Truespeak check your True Word of Time lasts 1 round longer. You are unable to use your True Word of Time for a number of rounds equal to its duration after its effects end.

Reversed: You turn Time inside out, and entirely remove a creature from its all-pervasive flow.

For the creature, time ceases to flow and its condition becomes fixed. Its body functions virtually cease, and no force or effect can harm it or remove it from this utterance; the only way to be free is to wait for the duration to expire.

True Word of Flight
Duration: 1 minute (normal) or instantaneous and 5 rounds (reversed)
Saving Throw: None (normal) or Fortitude partial (reverse)
Normal: After endless trial and error, you have finally isolated the Truename that allows flight to be. In doing so, you discovered the 'Name for the very concept of freedom. You speak the words, and your entire body is filled with lightness and grace. You leap into the air and vanish, leaving the Material Plane behind.

The target can fly as the Fly (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/fly.htm) spell except he gains a speed of 300 feet with a maneuverability of perfect. In addition, the target of this utterance is considered ethereal (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#etherealness) and incorporeal (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/typesSubtypes.htm#incorporealSubtype) when those conditions would be beneficial, and it does not provoke attacks of opportunity, even against other ethereal or incorporeal creatures. The target is also under the equivalent of a Freedom (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/freedom.htm) spell for the duration of the utterance.

Reversed:You revoke all rights to movement and freedom, and you tear any power of flight away from the target, the words of the utterance cold on your lips.

You render a creature utterly unable to fly. The target of this utterance immediately falls to the ground, taking 1d6 of damage for every 10 feet it fell; this damage is not capped at 20d6 like normal falling damage. If the target fails its save it can never fly again unless under the effect of a spell with a caster level greater than your effective caster level.

In addition, the target is stunned (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/conditionSummary.htm#stunned) for 1 round as the power of the utterance tears through its body, permanently grounding it.

True Word of Negation
Duration: 5 rounds
Saving Throw: None
Normal: You understand the true nature of energy; all energy is of the same type, simply expressed in different ways. With this knowledge and a word you perfectly shield your ally from all forms of energy.

Your target gains immunity to Fire, Cold, Acid, Electricity, and Sonic damage. He also gains resistance 30 to Force damage, purely magical damage, and divine damage, like a Warlock's blast or half of the Flame Strike (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/flameStrike.htm) spell. He does not gain resistance against the untyped damage caused by utterances.

Reversed: With that same mastery of energy you completely consume a foe in a maelstrom of power and wrath, tearing into them with the primal forces at your beck and call.

The target takes 20 points each of Fire, Cold, Acid, Electricity, and Sonic damage every turn during the duration of this utterance. This is considered ongoing damage, as with the Acid Arrow (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/acidArrow.htm) spell. Additionally, the target loses all immunities or resistances to energy while this utterance is in effect.

True Word of Perception
Duration: 5 rounds
Saving Throw: None
Normal: With an insanely complex word of power you wipe away your own imperfection and gaze upon the universe with unimaginable clarity.

The target of this utterance gains the Blindsight (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#blindsightAndBlindsense) and Scent (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#scent) special abilities, and the equivalent of a True Seeing (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/trueSeeing.htm) spell and a Greater Arcane Sight (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/arcaneSightGreater.htm) spell, except that the range of the targets senses cover his entire line of sight. The target need not make any Spot checks on anything in his line of sight.

Reversed: You tear away the senses of your foe with the True Word of Perception, rendering them completely disconnected from the outside world.

The target of this utterance loses all of its senses; even a creature with many additional senses like an Ethergaunt loses all perceptual ability. The target is considered Blinded (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/conditionSummary.htm#deafened), and Deafened (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/conditionSummary.htm#blinded), and loses all sensory abilities such as Blindsight (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#blindsightAndBlindsense), Blindsense (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#blindsightAndBlindsense), or Scent (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#scent).

True Word of Puissance
Duration: 5 rounds
Saving Throw: None
Normal: You grant your ally complete mastery of battle, his blade suddenly faster than the eye can follow and his blows mightier than a god's.

The target gains a bonus on attack rolls and damage rolls equal to the number of ranks you have in Truespeak.

Reversed: You shatter the martial power of your foe with your utterance, and they become as clumsy and ineffective as an apprentice mage.

The target takes a penalty on attack rolls and damage rolls equal to the number of ranks you have in Truespeak.

The First Word
Prerequisites: Truespeak 53 ranks, Int 50
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Hell no.
Special: The Truespeak DC for this utterance is 1000.
Normal: You are a god, or as powerful as one. You have surpassed reality. Your mind encompasses worlds. You scoured every tome, text, and libram in existance for the one true Word, the Word that began it all. You could never find it. Every scrap of knowledge in existence was not to find the answer. There was no god or sage in the entire universe that knew the Word.

And so you looked within yourself.

And you found it.

You erase this reality and create a new one in your image.

[RaggedAngel]

Epic Truenaming Feats

Epic Truenaming [Epic]
Prerequisites: Truespeak 24 ranks, at least one 4th level utterance from the Lexicon of the Perfected Map known
Benefit: You learn one Epic utterance. Every time you gain a level that would advance your Truenaming you may learn one Epic utterance instead.
The DC to speak an Epic Utterance is 25+2*CR, where 'CR' is the Challenge Rating of the target. The other rules of Truespeak apply to Epic Utterances normally.

Utterance Knowledge [Epic]
Prerequisites: Truespeak 24 ranks, at least one 4th level utterance from the Lexicon of the Perfected Map known
Benefit: You learn two new utterances of any level from any lexicon.
Special: You can gain this feat multiple times. Each time, you learn two new utterances.

Broken Sequence [Epic]
Prerequisites: Truespeak 24 ranks
Benefit: You have learned how to partially ignore the restrictions of reality. You may have two copies of an utterance active at any one time, though they cannot both affect the same creature. This does not apply to Epic utterances.
Normal: You may only have one copy of an utterance active at one time.

Shattered Resistance [Epic]
Prerequisites: Truespeak 27 ranks
Benefit: You have learned how to partially push past the resistance the builds up when using your utterances. The Truespeak DC to use an utterance only increase by 1 with each successive use. This does not apply to Epic utterances.
Normal: The DC to use an utterance increases by 2 with each successive use.

Intensify Utterance [Epic]
Prerequisites: Truespeak 24 ranks, ability to speak utterances.
Benefit: If the utterance is successful, all the variable, numeric effects of the utterance are maximized, then doubled. Saving throws and opposed rolls are not affected, nor are spell without random variables. An intensified utterance has a Truespeak DC 35 higher than normal.

Persistent Utterance [Epic]
Prerequisites: Truespeak 24 ranks, Extend utterance, ability to speak utterances.
Benefit: A Persistent utterance lasts 5 minutes. An utterance with a duration of instantaneous or concentration is not affected by this feat. An utterance cannot be Extended and Persisted. A Persistent utterance has a Truespeak DC 30 higher than normal.


Epic Recitation Feats

All Recitation feats take a full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunity to perform. The Truespeak DC for an Epic Recitation Feat is 15+(2*your HD)+2, and you gain a +4 bonus on this check due your skill at speaking your own personal truename.

Recitation of the Indomitable State [Epic, Recitation]
Prerequisites: Truespeak 24 ranks, ability to speak utterances, must know your own personal truename.
Benefit: While you speak your Recitation of the Indomitable state you inexorably tie the truename of defense into your own personal truename, making yourself an untouchable bastion of defense. All melee and ranged attacks have a 100% miss chance against you, and all of your saving throws are treated as if you rolled a natural 20.

Recitation of the Inert State [Epic, Recitation]
Prerequisites: Truespeak 24 ranks, ability to speak utterances, must know your own personal truename.
Benefit: The Recitation of the Inert State is a last resort, a final and perfect defense against anything and everything the universe has to offer, but at a steep cost. You set your personal truename in stone; unchanging, unyielding, and perfect. While you are speaking the Recitation of the Inert State you cannot take any other action, including Swift or Immediate actions. As long as you continue to speak the Recitation of the Inert State your body and mind become completely unchangeable; though your lips continue to move and speak you are frozen in time. You can observe the world around you, but you can take no actions to change it unless you cease speaking the Recitation. You do not age, nor do you need to eat, sleep, or breath. You cannot be affected or moved in any way; teleportation spells instantly fail, and even removing the earth from beneath your feet would not make you fall.

Recitation of the Watchful State [Epic, Recitation]
Prerequisites: Truespeak 24 ranks, ability to speak utterances, must know your own personal truename.
Benefit: You tell the universe that you can see the world around you with such force and power that nothing remains hidden to your eyes. While you are speaking this utterance no creature within your line of sight is considered hidden or concealed from you, and you are aware of creatures that have total cover from you, though you cannot actually perceive them. No form of magical or nonmagical invisibility or illusion can deceive you. Additionally you can see the true form of any creature under the effects of an Alter Self, Polymorph, Shapechange, or similar spell or ability in addition to its current form.

Recitation of the Omniscient State [Epic, Recitation]
Prerequisites: Truespeak 27 ranks, ability to speak utterances, must know your own personal truename.
Benefit: You intricately wrap words of knowledge and understanding into your personal truename, and your mind expands to fill a void you never knew was present. While speaking this Recitation you gain a +10 perfection bonus on Knowledge checks and any Lore or Bardic Knowledge class feature you may possess.

Recitation of the Divine State [Epic, Recitation]
Prerequisites: Truespeak 30 ranks, ability to speak utterances, must know your own personal truename.
Benefit: You speak your own personal truename with such perfection and precision that reality itself bends its knee. While speaking this Recitation you are treated as a Rank 0 deity. These benefits include a deflection bonus to AC equal to your Charisma bonus, immunity to polymorphing, transmutation, petrification, energy drain, ability drain, ability damage, mind-affecting effects, DR 10/Epic, fire resistance 5, and SR 32. Additionally, any creature, friend or foe, that can perceive you must make a Will Save (DC=10+1/2HD+Cha) or be dazed as long as you continue to speak.

[RaggedAngel]

The Epic Truenamer
In light of the fact that the Wizards of the Coast never bothered to give an Epic progression for their most beloved and well-edited creation, I took the liberty of making a progression all my own, below. The Truenamer's class features don't follow any set patterns (surprise surprise), so I had to use my best judgement.

Hit Die: d6

Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Int modifier.

{table=head]Truenamer Level|Special

21st|-

22nd|Knowledge Focus

23rd|Bonus Feat

24th|-

25th|Bonus Recitation Feat

26th|Bonus Feat

27th|Knowledge Focus

28th|See the Named 2/day

29th|Bonus Feat

30th|Knowledge Focus[/table]

Truespeak: A Truenamer's effective caster level is equal to his or her class level. A Truenamer does not learn utterances after 20th level unless he or she selects the Epic Truenaming feat.

Knowledge Focus (ex): As the Truenamer class feature.

See the Named (su): A 28th level Truenamer can use their See the Named class feature twice a day.

Bonus Recitation Feat: A 25th level Truenamer may select an additional Recitation feat.

Bonus Feat: The Epic Truenamer can select a bonus feat (selected from the list of Epic Truenamer bonus feats) every three levels after 20th.

Epic Truenamer Bonus Feat List: Broken Sequence, Energy Resistance, Epic Spell Penetration, Epic Skill Focus, Epic Truenaming, Extended Lifespan, Fast Healing, Great Intelligence, Great Charisma, Intensify Utterance, Persistent Utterance, Polyglot, Shattered Resistance, Utterance Knowledge

[silphael]

About the reverse TW of Life, I would have put something like "no creature with less HD than your TS rank can use Mettle against this utterance", because I don't think there is anything that may deny evasion normally speaking.

I will add a clause as desintegrate: if the Nd6 damage kill the target, his body is uterly destroyed.

[mootoall]

I agree with the sentiment above. Mostly a nice set of fluffy Save or Sucks/Loses/Dies, and I like them. Oh, and Ao is now a single classed Truenamer.

[Eldest]

The First Word=I win.
Good luck saying it, though.

[RaggedAngel]

About the reverse TW of Life, I would have put something like "no creature with less HD than your TS rank can use Mettle against this utterance", because I don't think there is anything that may deny evasion normally speaking.

I will add a clause as desintegrate: if the Nd6 damage kill the target, his body is uterly destroyed.
I agree with you on the Mettle thing, that definitely needs a limit. I put that clause there in the first place because the damage is supposed to be unpreventable, as in the Words of Nurturing; it felt wrong to make it avoidable simply because I added another effect that did allow a save.


I agree with the sentiment above. Mostly a nice set of fluffy Save or Sucks/Loses/Dies, and I like them. Oh, and Ao is now a single classed Truenamer.
:smallwink: That's what I was trying for, so I'm glad to hear it.

As for the First Word, I made it along the lines of the Epic spell "Vengeful Gaze of God"; not something a PC should ever be able to use, but damned awesome if they ever pull it off somehow. And I am of the opinion that Truespeak is the source-code of the universe. :smallwink:

[Socratov]

lol, pun-pun just got outclassed by a truenamer (albeit somewhere in the 900's levels...)

[RaggedAngel]

lol, pun-pun just got outclassed by a truenamer (albeit somewhere in the 900's levels...)

Of course not, silly; Pun-Pun has every utterance (and spell, and power) as an at-will Extraordinary ability.

Now that you mention it, I'm not sure how many ranks you need to use that utterance, but it's less than you think. Heck, with enough Artificer's you could do it very early; just have a pile of items granting a +30 (the highest nonepic skill bonus) to Truespeak and then have your hirelings make them grant different bonus types; divine, luck, natural armor (don't ask), profane, etc. You'd still have to be incredibly intelligent, but you could do it before level 100. Maybe. With a lenient DM.

That said, if you do pull it off? You and the DM stand up, shake hands, and switch places. Everyone rolls new characters. The next campaign is yours.

[Psyren]

Needing SMNAIAT to access these means you need to be a Truenamer 20, does it not? Doesn't that mean you can't PrC at all?

[Trekkin]

Needing SMNAIAT to access these means you need to be a Truenamer 20, does it not? Doesn't that mean you can't PrC at all?

I was under the impression it just meant you'd be delayed in getting these features while you took more Truenamer levels until you did have twenty.

[RaggedAngel]

Needing SMNAIAT to access these means you need to be a Truenamer 20, does it not? Doesn't that mean you can't PrC at all?

Hm. I suppose I should change that; when I decided to require Say My Name and I Am There I was thinking that there weren't actually any Truenamer Prc's, and I wanted you to have at least 20th level Truenaming. That said, I think "a 5th level Utterance of the Perfected Map" will fill out that requirement without making you forgo PrC's.

[maximus25]

So the fast healing one is an 'I win' button for 5 rounds. Even if you're smacked to -10, you heal back to full -10 next round and keep on going.

Awesome.

[Tyndmyr]

The DC to speak an Epic Utterance is 25+2*CR, where 'CR' is the Challenge Rating of the target. The other rules of Truespeak apply to Epic Utterances normally.

Why the +10 boost?

I don't get why this would be desirable.

[Cogidubnus]

I'm bookmarking this, it's a good progression. The First Word is, of course, purely for role play, and the rest are in no way broken. Plus, it'll still mesh nicely with Kellus' fix if people want to use it because it's not a class progression.

[Kobold-Bard]

Word of Time has a duration listed as 1 round, when the text says it lasts 2+ rounds.

That aside, I was just this minute planning to look for an Epic Truenamer, and I may well snag these.

And also: :smallbiggrin: So few people like the "Truenamers are the hackers" theme I insist on applying to them.

[Steward]

Hm. I suppose I should change that; when I decided to require Say My Name and I Am There I was thinking that there weren't actually any Truenamer Prc's, and I wanted you to have at least 20th level Truenaming. That said, I think "a 5th level Utterance of the Perfected Map" will fill out that requirement without making you forgo PrC's.

Honestly, I think anyone who suffers through the full Truenamer class deserves to have something nice.

[RaggedAngel]

So the fast healing one is an 'I win' button for 5 rounds. Even if you're smacked to -10, you heal back to full -10 next round and keep on going.

Awesome.
Well, if you die you lose your Fast Healing (at least, I'm pretty sure), so it won't help you at -10. At -9 or higher, however, you can feel pretty safe.

Why the +10 boost?

I don't get why this would be desirable.
It isn't desirable; I added it for balance reasons, or at least to pretend that things are balanced at Epic levels. The only thing it really means is that you won't be able to automatically Quicken your Epic utterances for as long as your regular ones. If anything I think I should up the DC, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

I'm bookmarking this, it's a good progression. The First Word is, of course, purely for role play, and the rest are in no way broken. Plus, it'll still mesh nicely with Kellus' fix if people want to use it because it's not a class progression.
First of all, you have officially made my day. :smallsmile:

Secondly, yeah, the First Word wasn't meant to see play, I just couldn't help myself. And while this is meant to be used with the out-of-the-book Truenamer, it should work with Kellus's fix pretty well.

Word of Time has a duration listed as 1 round, when the text says it lasts 2+ rounds.

That aside, I was just this minute planning to look for an Epic Truenamer, and I may well snag these.

And also: :smallbiggrin: So few people like the "Truenamers are the hackers" theme I insist on applying to them.
1. And that's why it's a WIP. :smallwink::smallsmile:
2. Hurray! I feel very validated.
3. I just can't help but think that when I read their fluff. It suits them. :smallcool:

[Kobold-Bard]

...

1. And that's why it's a WIP. :smallwink::smallsmile:

...

I was being helpful, not critical :smallsmile:

What? It can happen! :smallannoyed:

[RaggedAngel]

I was being helpful, not critical :smallsmile:

What? It can happen! :smallannoyed:

I know you were, silly. That's why I smiled and then changed it. :smallwink:

I want and need any help I can get; if you guys could point out any flaws or odd mistakes I've made it'll just help me make this look more useful and professional, which is my general goal.

Does anyone have any ideas for more Epic utterances? I mostly followed patterns with these, but I'm more than willing to expand to more out-of-the-box things.

Oh, and I've added some Feats. How are they, balance-wise?

[Kobold-Bard]

Maybe do an actual Epic progression for the Truenamer class, since there's no official one?

[RaggedAngel]

Maybe do an actual Epic progression for the Truenamer class, since there's no official one?

:smallsmile: I like the way you think. Incoming in a few minutes. I have a few good ideas, actually. I suppose that's what the third post will be for.

[Qwertystop]

You should add rules for Truespeak checks not used to fuel utterances. Raw, unstructured, just saying "AVOCADOES!" in Truespeak and causing a rain of them. Stuff like imitating Conjuration and Transmutation spells, and a few ultra-powerful compulsions.

[Kobold-Bard]

You should add rules for Truespeak checks not used to fuel utterances. Raw, unstructured, just saying "AVOCADOES!" in Truespeak and causing a rain of them. Stuff like imitating Conjuration and Transmutation spells, and a few ultra-powerful compulsions.

http://www.ponychan.net/chan/arch/src/131268070794.jpg

Do this please. Maybe an Epic PrC?

If you don't, I will.

[RaggedAngel]

You should add rules for Truespeak checks not used to fuel utterances. Raw, unstructured, just saying "AVOCADOES!" in Truespeak and causing a rain of them. Stuff like imitating Conjuration and Transmutation spells, and a few ultra-powerful compulsions.



Do this please. Maybe an Epic PrC?

If you don't, I will.

I'll let you have this one, good sir Kobold-Bard. I'm not actually particularly good at homebrew; I just like to complete patterns and follow sequences.

Plus, I have my work cut out for me coming up with new Epic utterances and feats. :smallwink:

Oh, and the Epic Truenamer class progression is up. What do you think?

[Kobold-Bard]

I'll let you have this one, good sir Kobold-Bard. I'm not actually particularly good at homebrew; I just like to complete patterns and follow sequences.

Plus, I have my work cut out for me coming up with new Epic utterances and feats. :smallwink:

Oh, and the Epic Truenamer class progression is up. What do you think?

I might just do that.

And it looks good.

[NoldorForce]

FYI, there are no 5th-level utterances in the Lexicon of the Perfected Map. Did you have an oversight, did you plan to implement 5th-level utterances for this in some way, or were you implicitly referring to the paragraph on increasing the spell levels of truenames?

[Qwertystop]

Thank you very much for trying to make my idea of "Say Avocadoes and it rains them!" real.

[RaggedAngel]

FYI, there are no 5th-level utterances in the Lexicon of the Perfected Map. Did you have an oversight, did you plan to implement 5th-level utterances for this in some way, or were you implicitly referring to the paragraph on increasing the spell levels of truenames?

Whoops, I meant 4th. Once again the collective nitpicking power of the Playground has worked to my advantage. :smallwink: Thank you for the catch. :smallsmile:

[Eldest]

I believe with epic progressions you start the chart with 21. It's been a long time since I saw the epic handbook thing, though, so I'm not sure.

[RaggedAngel]

I believe with epic progressions you start the chart with 21. It's been a long time since I saw the epic handbook thing, though, so I'm not sure.

Whoops. I Copy-pasta'd the chart from the Fax Celestia's homebrew helper thread and forgot to change the levels. Thank you for the catch. :smallredface:

*whisks off to fix*

EDIT- BAM. Intensify Utterance and Persistent Utterance are up. What do you think of the DC increases?

[Cieyrin]

The new Epic feats look fine to me. The pattern in ToM for Metatruenaming is +1 SL = +5 DC but I don't think that Intensify or Persistent are wrong for the DCs they set for themselves, given the ridiculous inflation that's already in place.

What I think there should be is, much like how how psionics has Power Knowledge (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/epic/feats.htm#powerKnowledge) and regular casting has Spell Knowledge (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/epic/feats.htm#spellKnowledge), there should be a method for epic Truenamers to pick up new utterances of any level, as there may be some that they missed the first time around that the current feats miss. Some epic Recitations would also be good, something actually worthwhile to use, as current Recitations are rather lackluster.

[RaggedAngel]

The new Epic feats look fine to me. The pattern in ToM for Metatruenaming is +1 SL = +5 DC but I don't think that Intensify or Persistent are wrong for the DCs they set for themselves, given the ridiculous inflation that's already in place.
Whoops, I didn't even notice that the first time around. I'll go and change that; it doesn't affect the DC's much, and patterns are nice. :smallwink:


What I think there should be is, much like how how psionics has Power Knowledge (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/epic/feats.htm#powerKnowledge) and regular casting has Spell Knowledge (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/epic/feats.htm#spellKnowledge), there should be a method for epic Truenamers to pick up new utterances of any level, as there may be some that they missed the first time around that the current feats miss. Some epic Recitations would also be good, something actually worthwhile to use, as current Recitations are rather lackluster.
Hm. Should that be an Epic feat or just a normal one? Hard question. As for the Epic Recitations, I do intend to make some of those; I'm going to make sure they're worth giving your turn up for, don't worry.

[Cieyrin]

Whoops, I didn't even notice that the first time around. I'll go and change that; it doesn't affect the DC's much, and patterns are nice. :smallwink:


Hm. Should that be an Epic feat or just a normal one? Hard question. As for the Epic Recitations, I do intend to make some of those; I'm going to make sure they're worth giving your turn up for, don't worry.

Well, unless you want to supplant the current feats that grant new utterances of each of the lexicons, which I don't really mind, you could make it something like:

Utterance Knowledge [Epic, Truename]
Prerequisites: Truespeak 24 ranks, at least one 4th level utterance from the Lexicon of the Perfected Map known
Benefit: You learn two new utterances of any level from any lexicon.
Special: You can gain this feat multiple times. Each time, you learn two new utterances.

[RaggedAngel]

Well, unless you want to supplant the current feats that grant new utterances of each of the lexicons, which I don't really mind, you could make it something like:

Utterance Knowledge [Epic, Truename]
Prerequisites: Truespeak 24 ranks, at least one 4th level utterance from the Lexicon of the Perfected Map known
Benefit: You learn two new utterances of any level from any lexicon.
Special: You can gain this feat multiple times. Each time, you learn two new utterances.

Well, [Truename] isn't actually a feat tag, but other than that this looks perfect. I'll go update the feat list. :smallsmile:

[Cieyrin]

Well, [Truename] isn't actually a feat tag, but other than that this looks perfect. I'll go update the feat list. :smallsmile:

I blame Realms Helps and not actually getting my copy of Tome of Magic out for reference. >_>;;

[RaggedAngel]

I blame Realms Helps and not actually getting my copy of Tome of Magic out for reference. >_>;;

:smallwink: Don't sweat it, man. There isn't much about the Truenaming chapter that makes much sense.

Now then, as for Recitations, would you all agree that the general thematic idea is a chant in Truespeak that empowers or guides you, but takes up your standard/full action? I think I have a few ideas for some Epic ones; they may even be strong enough to spend a feat on. I'll put them up later today.

[Cieyrin]

:smallwink: Don't sweat it, man. There isn't much about the Truenaming chapter that makes much sense.

Now then, as for Recitations, would you all agree that the general thematic idea is a chant in Truespeak that empowers or guides you, but takes up your standard/full action? I think I have a few ideas for some Epic ones; they may even be strong enough to spend a feat on. I'll put them up later today.

Recitations are speaking your personal true name in a certain manner to change yourself in relation to the universe. By emphasizing different parts, you get different effects. You can also remind the universe of how you should be and thus become so.

[wiimanclassic]

Maybe something like having a group of True Speakers all trying to chant the same thing or some kind of boosting chant for the one going for some high DC effect?.....wait that would then be abused to use First Word after taking leadership and getting an army to boost you.

[RaggedAngel]

Epic Recitation Feats

All Recitation feats take a full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunity to perform. The Truespeak DC for an Epic Recitation Feat is 15+(2*your HD)+2, and you gain a +4 bonus on this check due your skill at speaking your own personal truename.

Recitation of the Indomitable State [Epic, Recitation]
Prerequisites: Truespeak 24 ranks, ability to speak utterances, must know your own personal truename.
Benefit: While you speak your Recitation of the Indomitable state you inexorably tie the truename of defense into your own personal truename, making yourself an untouchable bastion of defense. All melee and ranged attacks have a 100% miss chance against you, and all of your saving throws are treated as if you rolled a natural 20.

Recitation of the Inert State [Epic, Recitation]
Prerequisites: Truespeak 24 ranks, ability to speak utterances, must know your own personal truename.
Benefit: The Recitation of the Inert State is a last resort, a final and perfect defense against anything and everything the universe has to offer, but at a steep cost. You set your personal truename in stone; unchanging, unyielding, and perfect. While you are speaking the Recitation of the Inert State you cannot take any other action, including Swift or Immediate actions. As long as you continue to speak the Recitation of the Inert State your body and mind become completely unchangeable; though your lips continue to move and speak you are frozen in time. You can observe the world around you, but you can take no actions to change it unless you cease speaking the Recitation. You do not age, nor do you need to eat, sleep, or breath. You cannot be affected or moved in any way; teleportation spells instantly fail, and even removing the earth from beneath your feet would not make you fall.

Recitation of the Watchful State [Epic, Recitation]
Prerequisites: Truespeak 24 ranks, ability to speak utterances, must know your own personal truename.
Benefit: You tell the universe that you can see the world around you with such force and power that nothing remains hidden to your eyes. While you are speaking this utterance no creature within your line of sight is considered hidden or concealed from you, and you are aware of creatures that have total cover from you, though you cannot actually perceive them. No form of magical or nonmagical invisibility or illusion can deceive you. Additionally you can see the true form of any creature under the effects of an Alter Self, Polymorph, Shapechange, or similar spell or ability in addition to its current form.

Recitation of the Omniscient State [Epic, Recitation]
Prerequisites: Truespeak 27 ranks, ability to speak utterances, must know your own personal truename.
Benefit: You intricately wrap words of knowledge and understanding into your personal truename, and your mind expands to fill a void you never knew was present. While speaking this Recitation you gain a +10 perfection bonus on Knowledge checks and any Lore or Bardic Knowledge class feature you may possess.

Recitation of the Divine State [Epic, Recitation]
Prerequisites: Truespeak 30 ranks, ability to speak utterances, must know your own personal truename.
Benefit: You speak your own personal truename with such perfection and precision that reality itself bends its knee. While speaking this Recitation you are treated as a Rank 0 deity. Additionally, any creature, friend or foe, that can perceive you must make a Will Save (DC=10+1/2HD+Cha) or be dazed as long as you continue to speak.

These are a bit splashier, so let me know what you think. Remember that they take a Full-round action to use.

[Daftendirekt]

You cannot even understand the question, let alone the answer.

Duh, it's 42.


True Word(s) of Flight


"Aim for the ground and miss."

*dodges thrown books*

[RaggedAngel]

Duh, it's 42.
Knowing is not understanding. :smallamused:


"Aim for the ground and miss."

*dodges thrown books*
This works, except it would look more like "alk'jasd'gfiua'ebnuvcvnlu'awef".

[Story Time]

What an interesting thread! I'm not...really versed with truenamers. But I love the initial list of epic utterances! I'm also going to add this thread to my list.

But...there is...one...glaring thing that sticks out to me.

The First Word. This should have a reverse, yes? It's only an opinion, and I'm pretty sure what Angel was going for with the utterance to begin with...but... Well, could the First Word be a way to create a reality and the Reverse of it be used to end one?

Thanks for making and providing all this material. :smallsmile:

[RaggedAngel]

What an interesting thread! I'm not...really versed with truenamers. But I love the initial list of epic utterances! I'm also going to add this thread to my list.

But...there is...one...glaring thing that sticks out to me.

The First Word. This should have a reverse, yes? It's only an opinion, and I'm pretty sure what Angel was going for with the utterance to begin with...but... Well, could the First Word be a way to create a reality and the Reverse of it be used to end one?

Thanks for making and providing all this material. :smallsmile:

Actually, it's a common misconception that all Utterances have reverses. Only the Utterances in the Lexicon of the Evolving Mind have reversed forms; Utterances of the other Lexicons, and those without a Lexicon (which, admittedly, exist only in homebrew) do not have flipped forms.

Plus, I hope there isn't anyone powerful enough to research the True Word of Ending Everything Forever who's actually willing to do it. That suggests an Overdiety willing to end it all, which would be pretty awful.

[Story Time]

Well, the fashioner of the home-brew is certainly entitled to her opinion. I don't see it as a mis-conception that an utterance can have a reverse. I tend to think of it as an option...since I'm a bit of a linguist. :smallbiggrin: Angel's opinion is not wrong, though. It's different and that's fine. The first time I read the description, I only thought automatically what I stated previously.

Actually, looking at it from Angel's perspective, I can see it as a re-write reality utterance rather than a make reality utterance. The descriptions of all the utterances were well done, I thought. I haven't had the chance to go over the recitations yet. I didn't mean to sound discouraging either and I'm sorry if it came off that way. I'm glad this unofficial expansion was added. :smallsmile:

Also, no I'm not a fan of ending everything ever. That would be pretty mean. Probably both from a Player's perspective and a GameMaster's perspective. Assuming a truenamer even did learn how to use it, there's probably some other epic truenamer out there who erased their truename who could just as easily make another reality in its place. So ending everything, ever, forever...doesn't really exist in my philosophy. :smallbiggrin:

Um...what's Angel's next project, if I'm allowed to be so curious?

[RaggedAngel]

Um...what's Angel's next project, if I'm allowed to be so curious?

Huh. I hadn't thought about it, but if I am to make another thing it would probably be a Truenamer/Arcane spellcaster PrC. I mean, there's a NewSystem/Arcane PrC for every single system in the game except Truenaming, so if nothing else I want to rectify that. I think the challenge is going to be making the Truenaming relevant in the character without significantly changing the character; sacrificing spells to lower the DC or affect more targets or some such.

So, yeah. Other than that, there isn't much I intend to work on; I haven't yet tired of 3.5, and I don't consider myself an excellent homebrewer. Even here I mostly just followed established patterns to their logical conclusion, which a well-built computer could accomplish.

[InfiniteNothing]

Okay, this... this is impressive. This is quite impressive.

If I might make one request, though? My GM uses Kellus's revised Truenaming rules. Do you think you could provide a conversion for your epic-level work so I can use them with those rules?

Link to Kellus's work: http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90961

[Story Time]

I hadn't thought about it, but if I am to make another thing it would probably be a Truenamer/Arcane spellcaster PrC.

Practice makes proficient? :smallsmile: Please inform me if or when you start this prestige class. I would be interested in viewing what you designed. At the moment the only prestige class that strikes me would be one which focused on increasing truespeak competency. Or perhaps one which focused on lowering the natural difficulty of truespeech in a collection of small increments. Hm.

[Cieyrin]

Practice makes proficient? :smallsmile: Please inform me if or when you start this prestige class. I would be interested in viewing what you designed. At the moment the only prestige class that strikes me would be one which focused on increasing truespeak competency. Or perhaps one which focused on lowering the natural difficulty of truespeech in a collection of small increments. Hm.

Something like the Ultimate Magus, I'd imagine, spending spell slots to decrease the difficulty of utterances and making Truespeach checks to reduce teh cost of metamagic on your spells or something like that.

[RaggedAngel]

Something like the Ultimate Magus, I'd imagine, spending spell slots to decrease the difficulty of utterances and making Truespeach checks to reduce teh cost of metamagic on your spells or something like that.

Exactly like that, yeah; and if anything I would have the PrC focus on Truenaming. Otherwise your regular casting would overwhelm your Truenaming, and it wouldn't get used for anything other than healing up after fights or buffing the rogue before they attempt to disarm a device.


Okay, this... this is impressive. This is quite impressive.

If I might make one request, though? My GM uses Kellus's revised Truenaming rules. Do you think you could provide a conversion for your epic-level work so I can use them with those rules?

Link to Kellus's work: http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90961
As for conversions to Kellus's fix, I'll look into it, but the purpose of this pile of homebrew is to simply pick up where official material left off. It's the least homebrewiest-type of homebrew.

[Story Time]

Something like the Ultimate Magus, I'd imagine, spending spell slots to decrease the difficulty of utterances and making Truespeach checks to reduce teh cost of metamagic on your spells or something like that.


Exactly like that, yeah; and if anything I would have the PrC focus on Truenaming. Otherwise your regular casting would overwhelm your Truenaming, and it wouldn't get used for anything other than healing up after fights or buffing the rogue before they attempt to disarm a device.

I think that I support this concept. I will admit that I am a bit ignorant about the particulars.



It's the least homebrewiest-type of homebrew.

It's kind of queer to me to think that someone else seems to have the same idea about truenamer correction that I do. But it's also kind of neat. :smallbiggrin:

[RaggedAngel]

I'm about to play another (really the same) Epic Truenamer, so if anyone would like to look over the material here once more for any odd errors or suggest new Epic Utterances/Feats I'd be most thankful. :smallsmile:

[Cieyrin]

I'm about to play another (really the same) Epic Truenamer, so if anyone would like to look over the material here once more for any odd errors or suggest new Epic Utterances/Feats I'd be most thankful. :smallsmile:

Looking over 'em again, I'm not sure of a couple things. Things like if a Reversed True Word of Flight should really deny flight if the effect is too low level permanently or if the True Word of Negation would block Reversed Word of Nurturing chain's damage.

Other things I'd do is spell out explicitly what you get from Recitation of the Watchful State so you don't have to look up Divine Rank 0 every time. On the Epic Truenamer progression, I'd add to See the Named and Bonus Recitation that they continue to scale as you level.

Finally, I'd look up Dragon 346, specifically on Denouncements, which are a nice expansion to Truenaming, as well as Truename Scholar, which lets you speak a personal truename of another with as much confidence as your own, with the bonus to do so included. :smallbiggrin:

[RaggedAngel]

Looking over 'em again, I'm not sure of a couple things. Things like if a Reversed True Word of Flight should really deny flight if the effect is too low level permanently or if the True Word of Negation would block Reversed Word of Nurturing chain's damage.
Hm. I'm reconsidering the permanent bit, and True Word of Negation really should block the Reversed Word of Nurturing's damage, just like how Epic spells overpower regular spells.


Other things I'd do is spell out explicitly what you get from Recitation of the Watchful State so you don't have to look up Divine Rank 0 every time. On the Epic Truenamer progression, I'd add to See the Named and Bonus Recitation that they continue to scale as you level.
I completely forgot about those; I'll make sure to add that in. It doesn't matter too much, but it's clumsy to not follow all the proper patterns.


Finally, I'd look up Dragon 346, specifically on Denouncements, which are a nice expansion to Truenaming, as well as Truename Scholar, which lets you speak a personal truename of another with as much confidence as your own, with the bonus to do so included. :smallbiggrin:
There was a Dragon with Truenaming expansions in it? Crazy. I don't have access to the Dragon Mags, and they're more or less homebrew, so I don't think I'm going to be able to add this in.

[Cieyrin]

There was a Dragon with Truenaming expansions in it? Crazy. I don't have access to the Dragon Mags, and they're more or less homebrew, so I don't think I'm going to be able to add this in.

Dragon had everything, though whether it's well written or not is something else. I'm just saying you should have a look at them and possibly expand on them into Epic or nonepic material, as Denouncements are fairly well thought out and could definitely scale or be expanded, if you were so inclined. You can find them here (http://www.realmshelps.org/datafind/skills/truename.shtml), if you care to look them over. :smallwink:

[RaggedAngel]

I'll be honest here: This is the first time I'm personally going to be using Truenaming, and I'm only doing so because of a PrC which lets me augment my spells further. So take what I say with a salt hammer.

Life seems a bit askew, if only for the fact that you are more or less invincible unless everything is focusing you or something could normally one shot you. It seems a bit excessive. And as for its reverse, its a solid damage, but most things cap either at 20d6 or at least cap at current Caster Level. And that being on a successful save, it makes just about any Save-or-Die spell I could come up with pale in comparison.

Time's normal saying seems alright, like a sort of shortened Time Stop. But, this is just me because I'm not seeing any DC listed, or a maximum you can do on this, but you can take a -10 penalty to your Truenaming check to extend your Time-Stop-Thing by another round: Where's the limit?

Flight makes me giggle far too much. I like it, but I can't help but think of some old Truenamer being really pissed off at some birds who keep crapping on his stuff. That said, to permanently remove flight from a creature is a bit extreme; which, I guess, is Epic-tier.

I can put Negation at an actual gold cost at 2,160,000gp, but then there's the added immunity to Force, and half damage from magical and divine components. And its reverse is around 100 damage per round. The reverse I can see. That's cool. The negation itself is sitting unwell, if only for the fact that the only thing that can pretty much do any damage to it is something that can casually toss mountains due to how strong it is.

Perception is nice. I don't think you'd have any other ways to get it, so to actually be able to sense things that you normally wouldn't, or have to rely on others to sense for you, aaaaand the reverse overcomes a lot of debuff spells I could use.

So overall, its a hit-or-miss, which is just about all Homebrew ever. This is Epic, and the scale for it is so hard to get down, but overall it seems alright, given I don't think you intend to just auto-Life yourself to absurd heights and then just going around making everything a Stunned, Flightless, Blinded, Deafened, Flat-Footed, and Sickened cripple.

This is from an OOC thread where we were discussing this thread. I figured it was good to include here. I'm going to take several of these changes into account; Life is going to be depowered, Time will have some clarification, Flight will allow a save (and I'm going to shorten the stunning), Negation needs a look-over, and the First Word is perfect, as always. :smallwink:

[speeddemon]

I've looked at this and this seems like a realy good progression for the truenamer class to epic. I especially like the idea of the first word and the idea that you and the DM would switch spots if it was ever used :smallsmile:. I don't quite get how Epic Truenaming works though. It says to gain more epic utterances you get one instead of increasing your truenaming when you gain a level. Does that mean you give up the XP needed to reach the next level or does your caster level not increase or what?

[RaggedAngel]

I've looked at this and this seems like a realy good progression for the truenamer class to epic. I especially like the idea of the first word and the idea that you and the DM would switch spots if it was ever used :smallsmile:. I don't quite get how Epic Truenaming works though. It says to gain more epic utterances you get one instead of increasing your truenaming when you gain a level. Does that mean you give up the XP needed to reach the next level or does your caster level not increase or what?

It just means that you do not gain any lower-level utterances; you still go up in level, like with all Epic class progressions. Your caster level, such that it is, increases every level like normal.

[Lohj]

Hmm... for the First Word.
You need 50 Int.
That's very... drastic.
I get that you get to rewrite reality, but isn't that the case with most epic level characters?
Maybe I'm wrong.

[RaggedAngel]

Hmm... for the First Word.
You need 50 Int.
That's very... drastic.
I get that you get to rewrite reality, but isn't that the case with most epic level characters?
Maybe I'm wrong.

It really is not intended to be used in games, is the thing. I mean, you can say that Epic characters can rewrite reality, but what does that actually mean? Even with Epic Spellcasting, you have enormous limitations on what you can actually accomplish, and by the time you can rewrite reality in any literal way the game has long since ceased to be fun. The First Word is a plot device, a bit of backstory; not the tool of a playable character. 50 Int is just there as one of several very difficult requirements to make sure that it's clear that it is not to be trifled with.

[Morphic tide]

Perhaps the First Word is a palindrome, which causes it to utterly destroy whatever reality it's spoken in and creates a new one in it's place. It would explain why it erases the reality it's spoken in. Of course, there should be a 'small', perhaps +50, DC boost to utterly destroy reality without making a new one and another to make a new reality without destroying the current one. After all, breaking the multiverse to make your new universe/micro multiverse is wasteful, so the option to make a universe while in the Astral Plane without destroying the Astral Plane is a good thing to do. Maybe use it as a bit of backstory, "The Omnicifer-Truenamer, after achieving omniscience of Truespeech, decided to take a short while to make some new elemental planes for the Law/Chaos axis and a silly place that time doesn't work quite right in, and then left the multiverse as we know it. Go kick the asses of the new elementals to help figure out what the heck they are, and maybe make friends with some." As good a story as any as to why there are suddenly 8 (or 12, if you have the Pun-Pun-lite add a full set of new positive and negative elemental planes.) new elemental planes. The place time doesn't work right in could be a setting all it's own, with the Truenamer who made it as it's highest god and the new elementals as just how things are, with the traditional extraplaner big bads being ignored in favor of a war against overzealous celestials who want to destroy it because it shouldn't exist, while the fiends are busy freaking out over suddenly having 4 or 6 new planes to work with. Especially as Orcus would now have competition for best at necromancy from the GOOD Negative Energy Elementals.

As for names for the Good/Evil negative and positive elementals, either Rot or Death for evil negative energy, Undeath for good negative energy, as it's about the most good thing that negative energy can be used for, Life as the obvious pick for good positive energy, and perhaps Nature or Plague for evil positive energy, as nature has much scary nonsense that will eat you and your loved ones and your house and Plague because only viral and prion transmissible diseases are non-living, all other transmissible diseases are some form of parasite. Law and Chaos, I've got no clue for that set of 12 elementals. I could actually see a community of Undeath and Life elementals recovering and reviving people, with the weakest Undeath elementals making the dead into zombies, then bringing them to the Greater and Elder Life elementals to be resurrected, while the Life elementals just heal, albeit at a far higher level than normal Positive Energy Elementals.

And fighting a Death elemental would be a Bad Idea, as they are literally made of death effects, so every hit carries negative levels, death effects, and normal damage, and every time you touch them, you may drop dead. Now I'm thinking of an army of thousands of Monks dieing to one Lesser Death Elemental because they just kept punching it... It's funny, thinking of an Epic Monk dropping dead mid-Flurry on a mere Lesser Elemental.