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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Trainz" data-source="post: 1249925" data-attributes="member: 2122">Very good analysis Reprisal. And I will build the following based on that: For starters, lets follow canon knowledge about appearance values, like Lord of the Rings (which, although some would like to deny it, greatly influences D&D standards). Elves are fascinating to humans and hobbits (halflings). Although gnomes aren't portrayed in LotR, I would assume that being somewhat fearie themselves, they would also view elves in a good light. Thus, elves would have a +2 appearance score when relating to humans, halflings, and gnomes. Elves aren't more impressed by other elves because they're used to hang out with other elves. The same thing would happen with half-elves, but to a lesser degree, thus only +1 in regard to humans, halflings, and gnomes (one is tempted to include dwarves as well when one considers Gimli's reaction to Galadriel, but in general, it is well known that dwarves couldn't care less when it comes to elves).  As for the other races, I would say they have no bonuses or penalties when interacting with their own race, or a -2 penalty when dealing with other races (except as noted above). Half-orcs would have a -4 flat penalty with other races, none with their own race. Sex also plays a role when dealing with appearance, so add another +2 when dealing with someone with the attractive sex (I do allow room for homosexuality, I am open minded). I would generate the appearance stat outside the normal stat generation system, modified by charisma. I would roll 4d6, whatever the stat generation system, because appearance is a roleplaying issue, not affected by the power level of any given campaign. Once the stat is determined, it could have many effects: First, appearance helps in changing an NPC's attitude, according to the Diplomacy skill (Player's Handbook p.71-72, check sidebar page 72). Add (or substract) the appearance modifier to the diplomacy skill check when trying to change an NPC's attitude.  For example, lets take an elven maiden trying to change the attitude of an indifferent human guard. She has 5 ranks of diplomacy, a charisma score of 13 (thus a total diplomacy skill of 6), and 12 appearance. She is an elf, thus has a +2 appearance towards the human. Furthermore, the human guard is sexually attracted to females, for another +2 appearance. Her total +4 appearance gives her an appearance of 16 for this encounter, thus a +3 modifier. Her diplomacy score (+6) thus becomes +9 (there's a good chance the human guard will become friendly towards the cute elven maiden). Secondly, we could create a system to determine if sexual intercourse is desired from an NPC. Without going into detail like the Book of Erotic Fantasy does, you could just determine if a PC is succesful or not in trying to get a good evening's fun with the serving girl (IMC, we do not want to go into further detail. A simple success or failure is all we are really interested in). I propose the following system to resolve such an encounter: First step, First Contact: The target of the PC's desire might be interested at first sight. Make an opposed check, taking the inquiring PC's appearance modifier opposed by the "target's" wisdom modifier. If it is successful by more than 5, the "target" is readilly interested right away, do not go to development. If it is succesful by 5 or lower, go to development. If it is failed, well that's that. If it is failed by 5 or more, the target takes offense, and will take steps to strike back at that offense (from a simple wine glass to the face to a more involved expulsion by the bouncers of the establishment...). Second step, Development: O.k., the "target" has noticed you, even finds you attractive, now lets see if you can "sweet-talk" or convince the "target" to go further. Make an opposed check, taking the inquiring PC's charisma modifier opposed by the "target's" intelligence modifier. If it is succesful by more than 5, the target is interested by more than one evening's pleasure and may become a love partner for a long time (maybe leading to a weding). If it is succesful by 5 or lower, the "target" is willing for an evening's pleasure. If it is failed, well that's that. If it is failed by 5 or more, the target finds you so boring that he-she destroys the inquiring character's confidence, so that any other such ability checks (for the sexual intercourse charisma opposed check) suffer a -4 penalty for the next 1d4 days. I would also give a -2 to +2 modifier to the Development check depending on the player's role-playing of the verbal exchange if there is any (according to the DM's best friend situational modifier rule in the books). If the player refuses to role-play the exchange, just give it a -2. If the player is very crude in role-playing the exchange ("Hey babe, how would you like to have sex with the greatest hero around ?"), give it a -4 (yes, this still may lead in a success, but in real life, it does happen... *sigh*). Anyways, all this is some top-of-my-head musings of how an appearance score could be used... make of that what you will.</blockquote>

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