RPing Quivering Palm?

[Arn]

The feat says:

Starting at 15th level, a monk can set up fatal vibrations within the body of another creature once per day. Unless the target makes a Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + 1/2 the monk's level + the monk's Wis modifier), it dies. Quivering Palm does not work on creatures that have immunity to critical hits. Creatures that have higher hit die or level than the monk are also immune to this ability.

That having been said, any thoughts on RPing the feat as a knock out? In PvP, I think I would have the choice to RP it as a kill or a KO, according to the server's PvP rules. But what about against NPC mobs?

As I see it, the biggest problem with RPing it as a KO is that the feat explicitly says the target dies.

[Boddynock]

While it stands to reason that if you re capable of setting up "fatal vibrations" that you are capable of setting up less than fatal vibrations as well, though it might qualify as a new technique somewhere in between stunning fist and quivering palm that you could RP developing (like a mage writing a new spell).

Or perhaps it is just best left to the judgement of the DM overseeing the particular instance in which you are trying to use the feat differently.

[Arn]

That is actually a pretty cool idea, to RP developing a new technique. I might do that, just for the RP.

But the reason I am posting in public is because I am trying to get a measure of how players might react if I used it in a regular adventuring party, with no DM present.

[Boddynock]

Ah, in that case, I wouldn't have an issue with you using it in a party with me, though not sure how you would use it against an NPC without DM oversight...

In PVP, most people probably wouldn't mind you RPing it as a KO, but some people might insist on it being a death do to how the feat works, and wouldn't technically be wrong, might be something you have to work out with someone ahead of time in tells.

[Arn]

I didn't mean NPC citizens or anything, just mobs.

[Steve]

Isn't there the problem in that one cannot knock out mobs? Stun them, yes. But there is no subduing, really. It's aggro or not, very little in-between unless a DM is there to control their Faction setting.

Personally, for sake of Character, if your PC and my PC were in a RP adventure together, and you wanted to RP that you used Quivering Palm to attack a Foe, but halted the vibrations just before death of the mob, and thus, the mob was "supposedly" on the ground, stunned, I would support it and see where it led, for sake of a Player trying to generate a storyline that most likely defined an aspect of their PC's character.

However, asking everyone to start RPing acceptance that your PC has developed the Feat Quivering Stun, is just plainly not RPing your Character Sheet.

I really try to RP those things that manifest before my eyes on the computer screen, with leeway for moments in when Players—and myself—need to do something for sake of Character and Story in the moment.

But otherwise, we have lots of mechanical and more limitations, and that is probably good to not try and bypass them too often, because that again, starts to deny the Play Your Sheet guideline.

My 2 cents, for what it's worth.

[Arn]

I agree that it would not be playing my character sheet. That is why I haven't done it yet. I have been thinking about it, but I wanted to get some sort of a consensus first.

I do ask people to RP my character's punches as KOs, since I don't think my character sheet prohibits that.

[Boddynock]

I agree that it would not be playing my character sheet. That is why I haven't done it yet. I have been thinking about it, but I wanted to get some sort of a consensus first.

I do ask people to RP my character's punches as KOs, since I don't think my character sheet prohibits that.

It doesn't as you can choose to inflict non-lethal damage per the rules. Not sure if that applies to feats too though, you might want to do some digging in the source books.

[Tsidkenu]

I've always wondered this: how come monsters die at 0 HP and not at -10 like PCs do? How awesome would it be if they too fell unconscious at negative hit points and players could then decide if they want to finish them off or not?

[kleomenes]

I've always wondered this: how come monsters die at 0 HP and not at -10 like PCs do? How awesome would it be if they too fell unconscious at negative hit points and players could then decide if they want to finish them off or not?

I can imagine all the guilt that would arise after super crits.

"Noooooooo! We can sew your head back on and I can KO you!"

[Maximvs]

In pen and paper, quivering palm doesn't kill instantly. The monk places a mark on an opponent, nothing else. The monk then can re-activate that mark later on, up to 1 day per monk level I believe? and kill the person.

As for the RP... Kill Bill !!


Anyone can do non lethal damage with lethal weapons, or lethal damage with non lethal weapons, just with a -4. Monks get to do any of the two without that -4.