A man of few words

[Dannyalcatraz]

Recently, I was listening to a song by Charlie Hunter which featured a line about a "man who carried a sharp stone in his mouth for 3 years so he could learn how to listen."

This made me think about the power of vows (as evidenced in BoED Vows and the AU Oathsworn)... Its a theme that shows up in numerous legends.

Beyond the obvious need for the Feat Silent Spell, how would you design a PC who has taken a vow of silence (none exists in the BoED- OOPS!) or is otherwise mute and has at least some spellcasting ability? Arcane or Divine ideas are fine.

(While we're at it, feel free to design a Vow of Silence Feat and post it.)

I hate geting inspired by music...

My personal first sketchy ideas about this were along the lines of a truly mute Sorcerer with Ranger or Rogue levels. My second was a Druid/Barbarian who was kind of a mystical wolf-child...

 

[IamTheTest]

Maybe a minus to CHA skill attempts (gather info and diplomacy would be difficult at least) and a bonus to search, spot, and listen (not talking would make you notice things I think). Maybe some kind of subdual damage if you speak (due to the sharp object in your mouth). Oooo what if you could trade hit points for a bonus to an intimidate check? I picture a large, mean looking, and quiet barbarian smiling as he spits out a mouthful of blood...thatd scare the crap out of me.

Hope that gives some kind of inspiration.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Maybe a minus to CHA skill attempts (gather info and diplomacy would be difficult at least) and a bonus to search, spot, and listen (not talking would make you notice things I think).

Are you proposing that as a Vow of Silence Feat? Not bad!

 

[IamTheTest]

Are you proposing that as a Vow of Silence Feat? Not bad!

Thanks. I suppose its nothing more than 3am ramblings, but if you like it then Im thrilled to do something decent.

 

[apesamongus]

Beyond the obvious need for the Feat Silent Spell, how would you design a PC who has taken a vow of silence

I wouldn't. For an NPC, it's fine, but for a PC, not being able to communicate easily with the other PCs is disruptive to the game.

 

[diaglo]

JoeBlank played a mute half orc barbarian former slave. i played a bard. we both took language (sign).

Joe talked normally Out of Character. and in character i interpreted. of course, i changed his words.

 

[JoeBlank]

diaglo beat me to it. Basically, all we did rules-wise was take the speak language (sign) skill, which was cross-class for my barbarian. I didn't want to play a mute unless he had some way of communicating with at least one PC, because I wanted to avoid causing too many problems at the gaming table.

During games, for unimportant stuff I would just say "[My PC] signs to [diaglo's PC] that he thinks we should take the passage to the left." For more important or secretive communcations, I would write it down and simple say " "[My PC] signs to [diaglo's PC]" while handing him the note.

This was made more fun by the fact that diaglo's PC was somewhat sneaky and would often twist the words of the message to his own purposes.

My character also carried writing implements and a signal whistle, so he could write messages if diaglo's PC was not available, and "call" for help if he needed a way to "shout".

Obviously, playing a spellcaster who can not or will not speak will be much more difficult.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

I hate geting inspired by music...

Could be worse. You could listen to death metal all the time. "I got this new song today, and inspired me. Now, this is how your party is to be wiped out..."

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Well, I can't listen to death metal all the time...I have to listen to jazz, rap, hip-hop, classical, pop, metal, techno...

In other words...I have a big and diverse music collection. You'd be surprised at what people commit to song.

At the time everyone was griping about Bodycount's Copkiller song, not only did I have THAT, but I was listening to an old (late 1930's) blues song about a guy claiming to be the antichrist, which, while not graphic, expressed much the same nihilistic sentiment of some of the darkest stuff out there.

Now, if only I could find it in the Wall of CD's...

 

[The Souljourner]

I played a mute psionic monk back in 2nd edition (home brewed class). It was a hell of a lot of fun. I can't remember offhand, but at least some of the people in the party knew sign language. What was fun was when I was on my own and had to talk to shopkeepers and stuff. Ahh charades Very cool, very fun. No need to make a big deal out of it and give all kinds of special abilities for it... just roleplay it.

-The Souljourner