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General Tabletop Discussion
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
Scent-Aid Or alternate rules for Scent Ability.
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<blockquote data-quote="Vraille Darkfang" data-source="post: 2323017" data-attributes="member: 16989"><p>Yeah, but....</p><p></p><p>When your trying to build up suspense or surprise the party, having the half-orc go "Wait, I smell something within 30'" sort of really kills a lot of potential encounters.</p><p></p><p>Not to mention makes those characters who actually PUT points in Spot & Listen feel sort of cheated.</p><p></p><p>Plus, it just says he smells it. Doesn't say how he knows what 'IT' is. How much can he smell? Can he tell the difference between an orc & an ogre, how about a Dragon & a Wyvern? The rules are clearly not made for PC's to ever, EVER take the feat. Sure the PHB says characters can take it with DM's permission. but they leave out the note: "Hey DM, we have NEVER playtested this out with ACTUAL Player Characters using it, so your just going to have to make it up as you go along).</p><p></p><p>For instance, PC's come across dead bodies (with some being undead lying in wait). How does the Bugbear use his Scent to distinguish between the scent of the Dead vs the Undead? </p><p></p><p>No roll, you either know or know not. I mean a Ghoul doesn't smell like a Nymph (at least I assume not). Yet by the RAW, all the Bugbear knows is 'somthing's within 30' Could be a Fire Elemental, Could be a Black Dragon, Could be an Outhouse Golem, Could be a Vanilla Faerie, they apparently ALL SMELL EXACTLY THE SAME.</p><p></p><p>I need a way to let the Bugbear attempt to Analyze the smells he detects. That doesn't exist. I'm taking advice here, as I clearly need to make up my own system, or tell the bugbear, he had one hell of a sinus infection & his honker doesn't work so good anymore (which is unfair to him).</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Vraille Darkfang, post: 2323017, member: 16989"] Yeah, but.... When your trying to build up suspense or surprise the party, having the half-orc go "Wait, I smell something within 30'" sort of really kills a lot of potential encounters. Not to mention makes those characters who actually PUT points in Spot & Listen feel sort of cheated. Plus, it just says he smells it. Doesn't say how he knows what 'IT' is. How much can he smell? Can he tell the difference between an orc & an ogre, how about a Dragon & a Wyvern? The rules are clearly not made for PC's to ever, EVER take the feat. Sure the PHB says characters can take it with DM's permission. but they leave out the note: "Hey DM, we have NEVER playtested this out with ACTUAL Player Characters using it, so your just going to have to make it up as you go along). For instance, PC's come across dead bodies (with some being undead lying in wait). How does the Bugbear use his Scent to distinguish between the scent of the Dead vs the Undead? No roll, you either know or know not. I mean a Ghoul doesn't smell like a Nymph (at least I assume not). Yet by the RAW, all the Bugbear knows is 'somthing's within 30' Could be a Fire Elemental, Could be a Black Dragon, Could be an Outhouse Golem, Could be a Vanilla Faerie, they apparently ALL SMELL EXACTLY THE SAME. I need a way to let the Bugbear attempt to Analyze the smells he detects. That doesn't exist. I'm taking advice here, as I clearly need to make up my own system, or tell the bugbear, he had one hell of a sinus infection & his honker doesn't work so good anymore (which is unfair to him). [/QUOTE]
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Scent-Aid Or alternate rules for Scent Ability.
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