BoED: magic (items?) for ascetics

[jayaint]

I know there was another thread that kind of limped around this topic, but i was wondering if there are any books (WotC or 3rd party), or Dragon mag issues, with items, things, magical schemes to help out an ascetic character? I'm thinking along the lines of symbiotes, beneficial parasites, living skin, grafts, etc. I got the idea from some info in BoVD, but maybe more good aligned? Have lots of ideas along these lines.... but before i flesh them (no pun intended) all out myself (never works out for the best) I was wondering if anyone else had worked along the same lines??

Thanks.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

The BoED has no such thing (it's about good, and it avoids nastiness.)

But a character who swears a Vow of Poverty (and takes the corresponding exalted feat, which is subject to DM discretion, like other exalted feats) will get special benefits based on Charakter level, which more or less emulate magic items: AC boosts, bonus exalted feats, ability score increases.

Such a character may not possess much (I think one weapon, one armor, cheap clothes, and food for 2 days sums it up). He still "gets" a share of the party treasure, which he donates.

If you ever break your vow, your benefits go poof and won't come back.

 

[jayaint]

I have the BoED. I know about taking the Sacred Vow/Vow of Poverty feat chain in order to gain the ascetic bonuses, and what you can and cannot own. I was mistaken above.. the info that inspired me to ask was in the Fiend Folio. There is info in that book about Implants, Grafts, Parasites and Symbiotes.

What I'm wondering is if there has been any attempt to get something like those things available to good characters. Like what would happen if you got your hand thrust into (FR only, obviously) the Elvish Moonfire-liquid as it poured forth from their altar? Would it graft to your hand and give you some kind of cool inherent magical neat-ness? What if a Solar or Celestial Deva touched your forehead and implanted some kind of helper-conscience-being inside you to watch over you and guide you? These are all things that could happen to an "exalted" ascetic character (per BoED) and would allow him to GAIN cool things within an adventure and not break his "vow of poverty".

I can only imagine that it might sting a little bit to watch other party members try on ring after ring, hoist weapon after weapon, and never be able to join in their reindeer games.

Any ideas, info, anything...?

 

[Geoff Watson]

No, you can't get non-item magic items.
The whole point of the ascetics is that you get lots of special stuff instead of magic items.
If you could get around that disadvantage by having non-item equivalents, it would be vastly overpowered.

Geoff.

 

[andargor]

Which is all funny, because the Apostle of Peace states:

As part of their sacred vows, apostles of peace forswear the use of armor, though they may wear magic items that protect them (such as a ring of protection or bracers of armor)

Sure, it may be a "class feature", but the text begs the question if this can be applied to "standard" ascetics, especially since the apostles have all the most restrictive vows.

Andargor

 

[The Iron Mark]

There was a Dragon magazine with Illithid symbionts that worked as armor, melding to the flesh and giving stat/NA bonuses. There was also an issue with "Prestige Races", using EXP to change yourself to gain abilities similar to items, but as EX or SU.

 

[Geoff Watson]

Which is all funny, because the Apostle of Peace states:



Sure, it may be a "class feature", but the text begs the question if this can be applied to "standard" ascetics, especially since the apostles have all the most restrictive vows.

Andargor

I think the Vow of Poverty in the AoP requirement is a typo.
They probably shoud have a different Vow feat requirement.

Geoff.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Like what would happen if you got your hand thrust into (FR only, obviously) the Elvish Moonfire-liquid as it poured forth from their altar?

Moonfire? Isn't that the stuff Selunites use?

 

[jayaint]

Moonfire? Isn't that the stuff Selunites use?

Yes... Magic of Faerun...

"...moonfire, an opalescent, glowing, animate fluid mass with the consistency of custard. The Moonfire flows from the altar to envelop *beings* and items, often bestowing them with magic powers" (emphasis mine)

BUT WHAT DOES IT DO TO BEINGS???? lol The rest of the section only talks of items.

No, you can't get non-item magic items.
The whole point of the ascetics is that you get lots of special stuff instead of magic items.
If you could get around that disadvantage by having non-item equivalents, it would be vastly overpowered.

Geoff.

Basically... I'm not wanting to get a "non-item magic item" thats going to act like a ring of prtoection +x, or belt of giant strength +x.... I think it would be a neat mechanic to allow the ascetic to get SOMETHING, WITHIN the context of the game, not meta (i.e. bonuses every level).

Dont get me wrong, the meta-bonuses are what ATTEMPT to allow an ascetic character to stay on par with the rest of the magic-item-gaining party (I haven't playtested yet to see how under/over powered those bonuses are yet)

But... I think that living skins, grafts, symbiotes, etc wold fill an interesting void in an ascetic character's playing life. Things that would not give game breaking bonuses or mirror some kind of magic item... but would allow for cool roleplaying moments, and allow them to have some kind of in-game growth and progression.

"Oh... I feel the power of a new level surging through me... i get +2 to three stats and a bonus exalted feat... ohhhhh"

or

"I had this weird dream that an angel came down and touched me on the forehead, and then it was like i was pregnant or carrying something heavy inside me... wait... what's this lump on my temple...? who's speaking celestial? Why are all your magic items glowing?"

Tough choice, huh?

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Yes... Magic of Faerun...

That stuff isn't elvish.

BUT WHAT DOES IT DO TO BEINGS????

Look up moondraught, should be in MaoF, too. It's a magic item.

Basically... I'm not wanting to get a "non-item magic item" thats going to act like a ring of prtoection +x, or belt of giant strength +x.... I think it would be a neat mechanic to allow the ascetic to get SOMETHING, WITHIN the context of the game, not meta (i.e. bonuses every level).

Well, I think that's disgusting. Sentient parts of your body and all that. I suspect that the people over at Wizards' think the same, and haven't included such stuff, then.

So you just get the +x as a gift from the Angel you mentioned, without the by-product of running around like Quasimodo.