Nibbens
2015-08-31, 06:25 PM
Okay, so here's a thought experiment. At high levels (15th and above) curses, disease, poison and death almost have no lasting game-play elements. In my search for better and better ways to challenge my PCs, I came across an interesting monster: a Colour out of space (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/oozes/colour-out-of-space).
Props goes to HP Lovecraft and if you've never read this particular story of the same name - stop reading this right now and go read it. It's worth it.
Regardless, the CooS is what I like to call one of those "scenario monsters" where you wouldn't just throw one of these willy-nilly into a dungeon or as a random monster. This is a story driven creature where you plan a whole session or more just around taking out this one beast.
Anyway, what I'm interested in is the Template it applies to living creatures - the colour-blighted template.
Colour-Blighted Simple Template (CR +0)
A creature with the colour-blighted simple template appears hideously deformed and glows with the same unnamable color as the creature that blighted it. A colour-blighted creature's quick and rebuild rules are the same.
Rebuild Rules: A colour-blighted creature's ability scores are already drained as a result of being fed upon by a colour out of space, but once a creature gains this template it becomes immune to further feed attacks from colours out of space until it loses the colour-blighted simple template. A Charisma score drained to 0 by a colour out of space's feed attack is raised to 1; otherwise, its ability scores are not altered by this template. In order to remove this simple template from a creature, one only has to restore all of its drained ability scores to normal. As long as a creature suffers the colour-blighted template, it becomes aggressive toward creatures that do not exude the colors of a colour out of space, and gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls and weapon damage rolls against such targets. Every 24 hours, a creature suffering from this simple template must succeed at a DC 12 Fortitude save or crumble into fine, white ash—such a doom means instant death and, for many color-blighted creatures, the only chance at escape from a life filled with pain.
Okay, what I'm most interested in is the precedent of a monster applying a template to a PC. If the CooS does it, then perhaps other monsters will apply a template to non-dead characters as well.
So, my questions: 1) Are there any other creatures or things that force templates on living/non-monstrous (so Runeslave is a no-go) PCs such as the way the CooS does? If there are, what are they?
2) What ways are there to remove a template in PF? I currently know of none, (except by perhaps using a 'wisher-beware' wish) so if anyone knows of one, I'd gladly eat that knowledge up.
3) If no other (or insufficient amounts of) precedent exists for forcing a template on a character to make their lives more miserable, etc and increase the challenge involved in a game, what would be a fair and legitimate effect that a template could force a PC to experience for 15th level and higher PCs.
Any takers on this?
Props goes to HP Lovecraft and if you've never read this particular story of the same name - stop reading this right now and go read it. It's worth it.
Regardless, the CooS is what I like to call one of those "scenario monsters" where you wouldn't just throw one of these willy-nilly into a dungeon or as a random monster. This is a story driven creature where you plan a whole session or more just around taking out this one beast.
Anyway, what I'm interested in is the Template it applies to living creatures - the colour-blighted template.
Colour-Blighted Simple Template (CR +0)
A creature with the colour-blighted simple template appears hideously deformed and glows with the same unnamable color as the creature that blighted it. A colour-blighted creature's quick and rebuild rules are the same.
Rebuild Rules: A colour-blighted creature's ability scores are already drained as a result of being fed upon by a colour out of space, but once a creature gains this template it becomes immune to further feed attacks from colours out of space until it loses the colour-blighted simple template. A Charisma score drained to 0 by a colour out of space's feed attack is raised to 1; otherwise, its ability scores are not altered by this template. In order to remove this simple template from a creature, one only has to restore all of its drained ability scores to normal. As long as a creature suffers the colour-blighted template, it becomes aggressive toward creatures that do not exude the colors of a colour out of space, and gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls and weapon damage rolls against such targets. Every 24 hours, a creature suffering from this simple template must succeed at a DC 12 Fortitude save or crumble into fine, white ash—such a doom means instant death and, for many color-blighted creatures, the only chance at escape from a life filled with pain.
Okay, what I'm most interested in is the precedent of a monster applying a template to a PC. If the CooS does it, then perhaps other monsters will apply a template to non-dead characters as well.
So, my questions: 1) Are there any other creatures or things that force templates on living/non-monstrous (so Runeslave is a no-go) PCs such as the way the CooS does? If there are, what are they?
2) What ways are there to remove a template in PF? I currently know of none, (except by perhaps using a 'wisher-beware' wish) so if anyone knows of one, I'd gladly eat that knowledge up.
3) If no other (or insufficient amounts of) precedent exists for forcing a template on a character to make their lives more miserable, etc and increase the challenge involved in a game, what would be a fair and legitimate effect that a template could force a PC to experience for 15th level and higher PCs.
Any takers on this?