Born with no arms?

[Timely Drought]

Might work as a psion?

Wouldn't allow one of my players to develop such a character concept. PCs need to pull their own weight. Reliance on other PCs would be too annoying. Wouldn't want a psion to waste PSPs on basic tasks, like wiping his own ass. Its not like the other PCs will be interested in babysitting the cripple so he can save his power for killing people and taking their stuff.

 

[Arkhandus]

Feet and toes are not the same as hands and fingers (let alone opposable thumbs). They are not as well-coordinated or touch-sensitive. There are many things you could not use if you had no arms/hands/fingers/opposable thumbs to use them with. As already mentioned, the character would not be allowed to make most Strength- or Dexterity-based checks because they generally require the use of hands or arms to some extent.

Many acrobatic and athletic maneuvers or activities are impossible without four useable limbs. Definitely some serious penalties to Balance and Tumble checks that way (without arms, you have nothing to help balance yourself, and nothing for making decisive corrections when you lose your balance; try running on slick ice while wearing a straightjacket or something, and I bet you'll fall on your rump or your face every time because you have nothing to help adjust your center of gravity). No Climb or Swim checks possible, nor Disable Device, Pick Pocket/Sleight of Hand, or Disguise checks.

No weapon use or proficiency, because they could never really train well with them; though unarmed strike proficiency would be feasible, and metalshod boots could serve the same function as gauntlets do. Most weapons would be unusable to the character, except for some light weapons (since feet lack opposable thumbs, most weapons would be unusable; though I suppose light crossbows could probably be loaded while sitting down and using the feet, and they might be able to fire the light crossbow too from such a position, but would need both feet to keep the crossbow aimed and steady; without someone's extensive help, they couldn't set up any sort of device or rope-system to do this while standing).

Given the limited usefulness of legs and feet for wielding weapons, the character would probably be considered unarmed even when armed (such that they would suffer attacks of opportunity when striking, and would not be allowed to make attacks of opportunity themselves), though Improved Unarmed Strike may negate that particular weakness (YOU try kicking four people running past you while your arms are stuck in a straightjacket or something, in the space of only a few seconds, without falling on your rump after the first or second kick). Using only your legs, you couldn't just twist your torso to strike a different enemy going past you, you'd have to rely exclusively on the speed at which you can turn your entire body towards them.

They would always have to go prone in order to even receive any chance to make a grapple check (otherwise they'd automatically lose the grapple checks), and in any case they'd definately suffer a grapple check penalty of some sort due to the limited movement range and coordination of legs and feet (I imagine most wrestling maneuvers would be impossible without arms and hands). They would almost certainly fall prone any time they attempted to trip someone (though they may still succeed at the trip attempt, they just wouldn't have any arms to help their balance or to oppose any attempt by the enemy to pull or push them down with them). They would suffer a big penalty like -8 or more on rolls to oppose a trip. They'd likewise suffer a big penalty on opposing bull rushes, and likewise a moderate or big penalty on attempting to bull rush an enemy. Many actions that other characters could do without suffering an attack of opportunity would probably provoke one if this character had to try the action with only their feet (could YOU hold off an enemy with your mace if you needed to use that same foot to pick up your healing potion and guzzle it?). They'd need to sit down to do many things, like to uncork a potion and drink it (would need two limbs to do that, one to hold the container still and another to turn or pull open the top).

Spells with somatic, focus, or material components couldn't be cast, because focus and material components generally need to be held, and somatic components need the fine motor coordination and movements that a hand with several long, multi-jointed fingers and an opposable thumb is capable of but a foot with several short, slightly-jointed stubby toes of extremely limited movement-range are incapable of. A few spells with focus or material components could be used, but like someone said, the character would have to hop around on one foot while doing so, making movement greatly reduced while using a touch spell (probably reducing speed to one-quarter or so, since they lack arms to help keep their balance while hopping about). Somatic components require the gestures that fingers and an opposable thumb could make, so toes wouldn't likely do. Could make a perfectly fine Savant Psion or Shaper Psion, though. Or a Telepath Psion using Charm Monster to control a horde of monkeys to do your bidding and throw poo at those who mock your armlessness! That'll show 'em.

 

[ThirdWizard]

I smell opportunity for the Half Golem template being used!

Sure, you might turn into a raving homocidal lunatic, but that's just another day in the life of an adventurer, right?

 

[Three_Haligonians]

Firstly we want to congradulate you, or your player, on a unique character concept! Frankly we're shocked at the blatant lack of good manners in many of the replies on this post. After all, this character was BORN without arms, he hasn't suddenly had them cut off. There should be no penalties to Dex and basic human functions. He never had to ADAPT, because this is the way life has always been for him.

Under "blinded" in the DMG it states many penalties, but then says, "characters who remain blinded for a long time (like, say, from birth!) grow accustomed to these drawbacks and can overcome some of them (DM's discretion)". We think you should keep this in mind, and that the people who have responded to this post should, as well.

As to grappling, if you've ever watched wrestling or know any capoeira, you will know that grappling with your legs is a plausible option (scissor kick). This typically takes the character to the ground with their opponent. When the character fails to make the touch attack, we would say the character ends up prone, while his opponent does not. Instead of imposing minus' on the actual grapple check, we would suggest you consider this as the penalty.

As for skills, we would suggest, regardless of the character's class, keeping Swim out of class, simply because learning to swim without arms would be doubly difficult. Trapeze artists often hold themselves up by their teeth. We don't see why this can't be applied to Climb, when using a rope (pulling yourself up with your teeth, and twisting your legs to secure the rope beneath you . . . dude, this guy is cool!). Clearly it would be a lot slower, but it works. We don't see why craft is a problem, except, perhaps, smithing. And penalties to Escape Artist!? Hell, this guy should get bonuses. Consider how precise he is with his feet, Forgery might be more difficult, as it is so precise. Some Sleight of Hand operations may be difficult, not cutting a purse, but picking a pocket. We don't see any problem with any of the other skills.

Things requiring manual dexterity can be done with his feet. As for spells with touch attacks, we would suggest you can touch the opponent with any part of your body (headbutts make for a nice visual). Have him possess a bandelier that straps at the shoulder, which can hold potions close to his mouth, so he does not have to "use his foot". That would be ridiculous in battle. Wands, however, can most certainly be activated by foot.

Benefits may include bonuses to squeezing through tight spaces, and maybe to Dex, as he has had to be flexible all his life. In some systems if you take huge penalties like this, you gain benefits in other areas to balance your character. You may want to consider giving this character a bonus to Int, or some such thing.

Remember folks, role-playing is about playing exceptional people. If you doubt the abilities of disabled people to accomplish great physical feats, we suggest watching the special olympics.

Good Luck (meant sincerely)

T, J, and R from Three Haligonians

 

[Caliban]

What would the game effects be?

Based on a few shows I've seen regarding real life people with this disability, I would say the main effect would that you can't often wear boots or shoes, or wield a weapon.

Why can't you wear boots? Because most likely you would have learned to use your toes/feat as rudimentary hands. You would be able to perform most day to day activities without to much trouble (after a lifetime of practice), but would have real problems with the extreme types of activities that adventurers are usually involved in.

Most manual tasks would have a -2 penalty if they dont' require fine manipulation, or a -6 (or greater) if they do require fine manipulation. Certain activities are most likely impossible. (Climbing a rope, many craft skills, etc.)

Other skills might have a bonus (such as Balance, because you have learned to stand on one foot while using the other to manipulate things).

Wielding most weapons would be impossible, but you might be able to make do with armor spikes.

Spellcasting would be difficult. Somatic gestures would probably be impossible (you would either have to prepare all spells with the Still feat, or learn alternate versions that substitue toe/foot wiggles for finger/hand gestures (maybe with a +0 level metamagic feat).

Psion or Monk would seem like your best bet for and adventuring class.

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Three words:

Arms. of. Nyr.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Wow. There are some really close-minded opinions on this topic; I'm glad I'm not playing in their groups. It's the same mentality as, "oh my stats don't add up to X, well then this is a useless character." What a crock of bs. As for changing the subject, when someone makes derogatory insinuations, I'm going to call them on it. Period.

Anyhoo. The character doesn't need to worry about skills such as climb and swim. He can fly so that's not really an issue. He should rarely be engaging in close-quarters fighting. Spellcasting is covered (he's put a lot of energy, skills, and feats into improving the effects of the mage hand spell, thereby allowing him to cast somatic spells and manipulate material components).

I was thinking a -2 to -4 penalty on such things as grappling. And some other things might just be impossible.

We're not interested in artificial limbs of any sort - that kinda defeats the whole purpose of the concept.

All in all, it's shaping up to be quite the character. And anyone who thinks he's useless will be in for quite the shocker indeed...

 

[Numion]

Intresting character concept would be a Psion with no arms and no legs. Psionics can be freely manifested without arms and legs, and once it gets levitation or flight it's the Flying Torso of Doom!

 

[Tetsubo]

Intresting character concept would be a Psion with no arms and no legs. Psionics can be freely manifested without arms and legs, and once it gets levitation or flight it's the Flying Torso of Doom!

I had a PC in my 3rd Edition gamma World campaign like this. Wicked powerful telekinetic...

 

[Piratecat]

Intresting character concept would be a Psion with no arms and no legs. Psionics can be freely manifested without arms and legs, and once it gets levitation or flight it's the Flying Torso of Doom!

Why do you even need a torso? Disembodied head of Destruction! And you can collect a nice assortment of stylish hats, too.