Born with no arms?

[Ogrork the Mighty]

What would the game effects be?

 

[Spatula]

Penalty to Climb and Swim checks? Inability to cast spells with somatic or focus components, or to wield weapons? A burning desire for a permanent alter self spell?

 

[frankthedm]

regenerate would not help you

Regenerate
Conjuration (Healing)

Level: Clr 7, Drd 9, Healing 7

Components: V, S, DF

Casting Time: 3 full rounds

Range: Touch

Target: Living creature touched

Duration: Instantaneous

Saving Throw: Fortitude negates (harmless)

Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)

The subject’s severed body members (fingers, toes, hands, feet, arms, legs, tails, or even heads of multiheaded creatures), broken bones, and ruined organs grow back. After the spell is cast, the physical regeneration is complete in 1 round if the severed members are present and touching the creature. It takes 2d10 rounds otherwise.

Regenerate also cures 4d8 points of damage +1 point per caster level (maximum +35), rids the subject of exhaustion and/or fatigue, and eliminates all nonlethal damage the subject has taken. It has no effect on nonliving creatures (including undead).

 

[Tetsubo]

Penalty to Climb and Swim checks? Inability to cast spells with somatic or focus components, or to wield weapons? A burning desire for a permanent alter self spell?

Why couldn't a somatic component be done with the feet? Real world people with this condition play guitars and use chainsaws.

 

[Plane Sailing]

According to the DMG the only effect would be -2 on a few skills (see hand and arm injuries, optional rules p27) !?!

 

[argo]

An unplayable character. Unless your campaign has cybernetics (or something that acts like cybernetics) you should tell the player to come back when he has a serious character concept.


I mean, a guy with a hook for a hand or a peg leg is one thing. But no arms?

 

[Anabstercorian]

Killed at birth, or killed as a toddler due to a tragic but ultimately hilarious accident.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

An unplayable character. Unless your campaign has cybernetics (or something that acts like cybernetics) you should tell the player to come back when he has a serious character concept.

Actually, it's quite a playable concept thank you very much. It just requires some innovative thinking. In fact, your comments could be considered downright offensive to the real-world disabled ("Sorry, I don't take you seriously b/c you don't have arms..." What is that all about?

Anyhoo, I've already got spellcasting covered. I was just wondering about skills and such. Maybe grappling. I'm not too worried about the obvious physical limitations (like Climb and Swim) b/c this character focusses more on the mental.

Should make for a very memorable character indeed!

 

[argo]

Actually, it's quite a playable concept thank you very much. It just requires some innovative thinking.

Unless your setting has something to substitute for prosthetics (no problem in a cyberpunk or steampunk setting) or is very high magic this guy will be useless. He should not be able to use the skills: climb, craft, disable device, forgery, heal, open lock, sleight of hand, or use rope and should probably take a hefty penalty on other checks such as balance and tumble. He should be incapable of making most Str or Dex checks. He can't lift or carry anything he can't pick up with his teeth. Unless he takes IUS he should be incapable of making attack rolls at all. Assuming you do have some way around the somatic components of your spells just what do you intend to do about material or focus components? Cant use those without hands. Many spells, including many touch and ray spells, require you to use your hands as part of casting the spell. If you are holding the charge on a touch spell it discharges if you touch anything else so you will have to hop around on one foot to deliver them (assuming you are using a foot to deliver it). You can't use wands and I'm unsure what kind of penalties should be assigned for trying to drink a potion with your foot in the middle of combat. This character is going to find it a strugle just to walk through a door let alone do the things adventurer's are expected to do. His party is bound to find him a major burden.

In fact, your comments could be considered downright offensive to the real-world disabled ("Sorry, I don't take you seriously b/c you don't have arms..." What is that all about?

Changing the subject are we? This has absouetly nothing to do with disabled people in real life. This is a fantasy game. Real life disabled people are not expected to climb the highest mountain, swim the deepest ocean and slay a dragon when they get there all before breakfast. You are making an adventurer and an adventurer without arms is unplayable barring some mitigating circumstances.

I'm not too worried about the obvious physical limitations (like Climb and Swim) b/c this character focusses more on the mental.

Well I'm sure that your fellow players will be thrilled to know that. Personally I'd be a bit cheesed if someone brought a character to the table who had no arms unless that person had put some thought into how he was going to pull his own weight.

Good Luck.

 

[LavosBacons]

Unless he takes IUS he should be incapable of making attack rolls at all.

"Unarmed" does seem to be the key word here.