Holy Tattoos Vs. Vampires.

[Tainted_Scholar]

I've had this idea for awhile now and I want to know if it works. Would tattooing a holy symbol onto your neck and other parts of your body keep Vampires from attacking you?

[Zanos]

Is there an option for tattoo holy symbol somewhere? The PHB only has wooden and silver as options, which leads me to believe that tattoos probably don't work. Anyway:


Vampires cannot tolerate the strong odor of garlic and will not enter an area laced with it. Similarly, they recoil from a mirror or a strongly presented holy symbol. These things don’t harm the vampire—they merely keep it at bay. A recoiling vampire must stay at least 5 feet away from a creature holding the mirror or holy symbol and cannot touch or make melee attacks against the creature holding the item for the rest of the encounter. Holding a vampire at bay takes a standard action.

If you allow tattoos as holy symbols, as long as you're spending a standard action to every round to keep it at bay it should work. That won't prevent it from making ranged attacks, casting spells, or summoning wolves to kill you, though.

[Daefos]

Not unless you spend a standard action each round to thrust it at them to hold them at bay. And thrusting your neck at a hungry vampire seems like a bad idea.

The tattoo idea in general might work, depending your DM. But it won't provide passive protection.

[Tainted_Scholar]

Is there an option for tattoo holy symbol somewhere? The PHB only has wooden and silver as options, which leads me to believe that tattoos probably don't work.

What if I use Silver in the Tattoo?


Not unless you spend a standard action each round to thrust it at them to hold them at bay. And thrusting your neck at a hungry vampire seems like a bad idea.

Actually I think that would be hilarious. Your actively taunting the vampire by thrusting your neck at him.


Also I had forgotten about the fact that it's a standard action to ward of Vampires, so thanks for the clarification.

[Zanos]

What if I use Silver in the Tattoo?
It's a pound of silver, so I think you might run into some problems.

[Tainted_Scholar]

It's a pound of silver, so I think you might run into some problems.

Does it have to be a pound? I know the table says that's how much it weighs, but is that a requirement or is it just the standard weight?

[Zanos]

Does it have to be a pound? I know the table says that's how much it weighs, but is that a requirement or is it just the standard weight?
The PHB only has two entries for a Holy Symbol, so yeah, a silver holy symbol weighs 1lb, just like a greatsword weighs 8lbs.

Complete Divine says this about alternative holy symbols:

COMMON ELEMENTS OF HOLY SYMBOLS
Each of the following holy symbols has a unique description
and its own special enhancements. However, all have the
following elements in common.
• Each symbol is made of materials worth at least 100 gp.
Even those made of natural materials go through a refining
process that makes them inherently valuable.
• Each symbol is durable, with hardness 5 and 10 hit
points.
• Each symbol is made to fit in one hand, regardless of the
size of that hand. Its power lies not in its size, but in its
connection to the divine.
• To wield a holy symbol, the user must hold it in one hand
and brandish it openly. Although some holy symbols can
be worn, the wielder must always touch his symbol with
at least one hand and display it prominently to use it as a
focus for spellcasting, turning checks, and other related
uses. Only the use of a metamagic feat such as Still Spell
allows a caster to forgo this motion.
• Each special symbol costs 350 gp. That price covers all
material costs, plus any blessings or rituals needed to
consecrate it. This cost also represents the fact that each
symbol is of masterwork quality.

[Tainted_Scholar]

The PHB only has two entries for a Holy Symbol, so yeah, a silver holy symbol weighs 1lb, just like a greatsword weighs 8lbs.

Just seems a bit odd is all.


Complete Divine says this about alternative holy symbols:

Interesting, I think I could probably tattoo a Holy Symbol onto ones body using those rules.

[WeaselGuy]

In one of my groups, I had no issue with our Sword & Board Paladin having his holy symbol be his shield. I told him that he'd still have to pay for it, effectively making his shield masterwork. It was a pretty neat little bit that we did. So, like all things in D&D, ask your DM?

[Tainted_Scholar]

In one of my groups, I had no issue with our Sword & Board Paladin having his holy symbol be his shield. I told him that he'd still have to pay for it, effectively making his shield masterwork. It was a pretty neat little bit that we did. So, like all things in D&D, ask your DM?

I actually did the exact same thing in my First D&D campaign, though it was druid rather than a Paladin.

[lightningcat]

I once had a cleric that had a holy symbol tattoo. While not his primary focus, it was totally appropriate for the character and served as a backup. The DM ruled that it cost 50% more than a standard silver holy symbol, and required a bit of rp to find someone to do the job.
As always just ask the DM.

[Red Fel]

Pathfinder actually has rules for this.

First, consult the entry on various alternative forms of the holy symbol, including tattoos and flasks (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/goods-and-services/toys-games-puzzles/#TOC-Holy-Symbol). (Insert joke about holy spirits.) You can actually stop there; for 100 gp, you have a functioning holy symbol engraved on your skin. Fun.

But we're not stopping there. Hop over to this convenient regional trait, Holy Tattoo (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/regional-traits/holy-tattoo/). Basically, if you get a tattoo of your holy symbol, not only does it function as a holy symbol; specifically, when used to keep Vampires away, it works better than a regular holy symbol. Probably because the holy symbol is, y'know, part of the intended victim, instead of merely held by him. (This may actually work for a regular tattoo (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/goods-and-services/containers-bags-boxes-more#TOC-Tattoo), as opposed to specifically a holy symbol tattoo. Kind of hard to tell from the RAW.)

Want more? PF also has rules for turning other objects into holy symbols. These are called "channel foci." In addition to functioning as a Holy Symbol, they get a bonus function when a Cleric channels energy into them. Take a look: holy symbol weapon (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/goods-and-services/toys-games-puzzles/#TOC-Consecrated-Weapon), holy symbol shield (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/goods-and-services/toys-games-puzzles/#TOC-Sanctified-Shield), even holy symbol jewelry (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/goods-and-services/toys-games-puzzles/#TOC-Sanctified-Rings).

[Tainted_Scholar]

Pathfinder actually has rules for this.

First, consult the entry on various alternative forms of the holy symbol, including tattoos and flasks (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/goods-and-services/toys-games-puzzles/#TOC-Holy-Symbol). (Insert joke about holy spirits.) You can actually stop there; for 100 gp, you have a functioning holy symbol engraved on your skin. Fun.

But we're not stopping there. Hop over to this convenient regional trait, Holy Tattoo (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/regional-traits/holy-tattoo/). Basically, if you get a tattoo of your holy symbol, not only does it function as a holy symbol; specifically, when used to keep Vampires away, it works better than a regular holy symbol. Probably because the holy symbol is, y'know, part of the intended victim, instead of merely held by him. (This may actually work for a regular tattoo (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/goods-and-services/containers-bags-boxes-more#TOC-Tattoo), as opposed to specifically a holy symbol tattoo. Kind of hard to tell from the RAW.)

Want more? PF also has rules for turning other objects into holy symbols. These are called "channel foci." In addition to functioning as a Holy Symbol, they get a bonus function when a Cleric channels energy into them. Take a look: holy symbol weapon (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/goods-and-services/toys-games-puzzles/#TOC-Consecrated-Weapon), holy symbol shield (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/goods-and-services/toys-games-puzzles/#TOC-Sanctified-Shield), even holy symbol jewelry (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/goods-and-services/toys-games-puzzles/#TOC-Sanctified-Rings).

Nice, I don't usually use PF rules but this exactly what I'm looking for.