Do people feel blackguard's aura of despair? (char desc)

[NegInfinity]

Would a non-hostile characters feel blackguard's aura of despair?
I have suspicion they would, especially, if they're good aligned, and something like that should definitely go into character's description.

However, writing "((if you're good-aligned, you'll feel uneasy around this character))" Sounds like an invitation for metagaming, since it screams "I'm evil, smite me".

What do I do about it?

[DM Narshe]

Only if the blackguard wishes it to be noticeable and only if the other players wish to entertain that roleplay. We have disabled it from showing in non-hostile situations so that blackguards can roam about without constantly being badgered as such.

I would advise against placing it in your character's description. Up to you though. If it's in there... it's something you want to be noticed and it becomes your responsibility if other characters act upon it in a way you don't like.

If you have other concerns, feel free to post here or PM the DMs it directly.

Thanks.

[NegInfinity]

Thank you for your reply. In the end I decided to keep aura always on and put subtle hint of it being present into character description.

So far nobody tried to kill me because of that, but few people got suspicions.

The main reason for that decision is that toggling aura on and off produces very obvious messages in combat log: "<charactername> casts aura of despair". Which means that trying to be subtle about it puts character in danger instead.

Thanks for the reply.

[breteas]

However, writing "((if you're good-aligned, you'll feel uneasy around this character))" Sounds like an invitation for metagaming, since it screams "I'm evil, smite me".

It's an invite to metagaming I agree. But the "You feel.." section is also God modding imo. How can anyone write in their examine how other characters feel?

[Cibernadie]

Can i... hijack the thread to ask if that also applies to the dissonant chord's aura of distraction?

[DM Narshe]

Can i... hijack the thread to ask if that also applies to the dissonant chord's aura of distraction?

Mechanically, nonhostile players near you won't notice it until you toggle them hostile and approach them so that they're within the radius.

It is still something the bard controls though.

It's an invite to metagaming I agree. But the "You feel.." section is also God modding imo. How can anyone write in their examine how other characters feel?

Some player might feel this to be too literal rather than simply a descriptive they're welcome to explore in gameplay. You could instead word it as "The perceptive bystander might notice..." so that they feel less "forced" to be involved in that reaction.

[Monnock777]

Thank you for your reply. In the end I decided to keep aura always on and put subtle hint of it being present into character description.

So far nobody tried to kill me because of that, but few people got suspicions.

The main reason for that decision is that toggling aura on and off produces very obvious messages in combat log: "<charactername> casts aura of despair". Which means that trying to be subtle about it puts character in danger instead.

Thanks for the reply.

I know for me, I try not to use OOC information about your character. Ronin has partied with you and a few other blackguards, not knowingly, but as a player I know, due to feat choices, and what happens to the enemy when they get near. It no different really than lets say using IC information from another one of you character to make a judgement about how Ronin or another character will react to you. Ronin if he where cast the spell battletide, it would look very similar to what the aura a blackguard gives off. Only ones who would feel it are player, npc or other thing that hostile toward Ronin.

[Nomster]

The blackguard's aura of despair specifically says on the class description IG as well as in PnP:

"Beginning at 3rd level, the blackguard radiates a malign aura that causes enemies within 10 feet of them to take a –2 penalty on all saving throws."

Keyword here being enemies.

Allies and random people are not affected unless the blackguard wills them to be (and IG they would have to be toggled hostile for this to have mechanical effect). If using for RP purposes, the blackguard player should emote having it active (because how is another character supposed to know it is active and targeted at them otherwise?).

Aura of Despair is a somewhat misguided name when it is not really despair (which would be a fear effect) but a debuff. I think of it as a sense of discomfort or distrust. Evil characters may on the other hand be drawn to such an aura instead. Never emote or say how someone else should feel about these auras. Leave that up for the opponents interpretation, these are suggestions only.

Aura's can be a bit tricky to RP but I would say about all auras (paladin, cleric with good domain, warpriest, Battletide spell, etc), do not expect others to know of your character's aura and RP accordingly. If you want other people to react, RP and emote the aura.

[NegInfinity]

You could instead word it as "The perceptive bystander might notice..." so that they feel less "forced" to be involved in that reaction.

Hmm.

Didn't think of it this way.

Technically, people that investigate character description, tend to fall into "perceptive bystander" category.

Would something similar to "For uncertain reason, some people tend to feel uneasy around this char" work? Gives a hint, does not metagame, and let's the player decide if he/she falls into that category.

[breteas]

Can i... hijack the thread to ask if that also applies to the dissonant chord's aura of distraction?

Mechanically, nonhostile players near you won't notice it until you toggle them hostile and approach them so that they're within the radius.

It is still something the bard controls though.

It's an invite to metagaming I agree. But the "You feel.." section is also God modding imo. How can anyone write in their examine how other characters feel?

Some player might feel this to be too literal rather than simply a descriptive they're welcome to explore in gameplay. You could instead word it as "The perceptive bystander might notice..." so that they feel less "forced" to be involved in that reaction.

I'm sorry, Narshe but I disagree. Examines should be factual, as to allow players to decide how -their- characters could/would/"should" react to said character with that examine. No examine should have "rules" as to how another character -should- react to said character. That's just silly.

Or for example: "You see a big guy with a big sword" as opposed to: "Your char feels intimidated by the size of soandso's sword and muscles"

Examine one states facts, and you are free to Rp around it accordingly.
Examine two states instructions on how to Rp "accordingly".

Me, personally, will ignore any and all examines where I'm -told- how my character should react. It's laughable. It's my char, with my background, with my ideas for a personality, and my ideas which might grow for developement. Being -told- how to Rp, whether IC, OOC, or through examines, is just downright rude. Imo.

I'm not here to oblige, favor, or be fun for you. I'm here to have fun and create the same, try to give the same fun back while we Rp. Being told how to react through any means, is from fun.

Or in simpler words: Blah.

[DM Narshe]

I'm sorry, Narshe but I disagree. Examines should be factual, as to allow players to decide how -their- characters could/would/"should" react to said character with that examine. No examine should have "rules" as to how another character -should- react to said character. That's just silly.

That's what I said. My example was "The perceptive bystander might notice..." which gives the reader the option of roleplaying their Spot/Listen/Sensemotive/Spellcraft or whatever else. My descriptions don't force anything on players. Sorry if I gave that impression somehow.

[NegInfinity]

Or for example: "You see a big guy with a big sword" as opposed to: "Your char feels intimidated by the size of soandso's sword and muscles"

Problem: define "big".

Additional example : "you see a tall armored figure , in black armor, and with jagged blade that is currently dripping blood. The figure radiates dread.". Do you feel the dread figure radiates? Do you react to it? That's up to you to decide. Or do you perhaps, want people to specify dread as DC for will roll? That would be very boring, in my opinion.

Being told how to react through any means, is from fun.

IMO, that's overthinking.

When people write something along the lines "you feel". They do not necessarily do that in order to manipulate your character. They can be trying to describe their character and simply pick a wrong way to do it. You are not a robot, you don't need to take things literally, so it shouldn't be that hard to understand that "The figure radiates dread that makes you shiver" is very likely to mean "The figure radiates some kind of magical effect that would make average bystandard/commoner/peasant shiver".

This style of writing was quite common in some CRPGs, namely fallout "you're not certain what it does", "You see rat's eyes blinking in the darkness", etc. Using the same logic, you could call it all god-moding.

In my opinion, if someone actually bothered to write description, the right thing to do would be to attempt to reinterpret it when you encounter something disagreeable, instead of outright ignoring it. Because, you know, there's sooooo many characters with blank description or "not much is known about your history, you're a close book".

Anyway, it is all old news and description was settled month ago.

[breteas]

When people write something along the lines "you feel". They do not necessarily do that in order to manipulate your character.

Perhaps not, but I get the idea it's self centered. I try to progress others, create fun. Not play to make myself the center of the universe.

If you're able to write in your examine how my char should react, surely your english is good enough to come up with something less self-centered. Yes?