Divine Focus

[Hellefire]

So, one of my players - the cleric - was asking if he could get his holy symbol tattooed on his skin or implanted in his body somehow, so that he wouldn't be denied it if he was captured and his gear taken from him or some such. For turning I know the symbol has to be boldly displayed, but for spell use...what do you think? Or is there some feat or other alternate rules that deals with that?

Ideas, thoughts?

Aaron

 

[Sidekick]

Dunno about general D&D or other settings but Faiths of Eberron has the Worldly Focus feat. It allows you to cast divine spells without the holy symbol.

You could just yoink that for your campaign.

 

[irdeggman]

So, one of my players - the cleric - was asking if he could get his holy symbol tattooed on his skin or implanted in his body somehow, so that he wouldn't be denied it if he was captured and his gear taken from him or some such. For turning I know the symbol has to be boldly displayed, but for spell use...what do you think? Or is there some feat or other alternate rules that deals with that?

Ideas, thoughts?

Aaron

Actually you must "manipulate" the focus.

CHOOSING A SPELL
First you must choose which spell to cast. If you’re a cleric, druid, experienced paladin, experienced ranger, or wizard, you select from among spells prepared earlier in the day and not yet cast (see Preparing Wizard Spells and Preparing Divine Spells).
If you’re a bard or sorcerer, you can select any spell you know, provided you are capable of casting spells of that level or higher.

To cast a spell, you must be able to speak (if the spell has a verbal component), gesture (if it has a somatic component), and manipulate the material components or focus (if any). Additionally, you must concentrate to cast a spell.

If a spell has multiple versions, you choose which version to use when you cast it. You don’t have to prepare (or learn, in the case of a bard or sorcerer) a specific version of the spell.
Once you’ve cast a prepared spell, you can’t cast it again until you prepare it again. (If you’ve prepared multiple copies of a single spell, you can cast each copy once.) If you’re a bard or sorcerer, casting a spell counts against your daily limit for spells of that spell level, but you can cast the same spell again if you haven’t reached your limit.

You must "present" your holy symbol to turn undead.

You must present your holy symbol to turn undead. Turning is considered an attack.

And the holy symbol is the divine focus.

Holy Symbol, Silver or Wooden: A holy symbol focuses positive energy. A cleric or paladin uses it as the focus for his spells and as a tool for turning undead. Each religion has its own holy symbol.

 

[FireLance]

Ideas, thoughts?

Were you planning to take his holy symbol away from him at any point during the campaign? If not, just let him have it - it's not as if it's going to come up, anyway.

If you want to maintain the option, you'll have to decide what is the appropriate cost for you. Requiring a feat probably isn't a bad idea, and allowing the cleric to use it to turn undead probably won't unbalance it, either.

Alternatively you could price it at 50 gp (twice the price of a silver holy symbol), but rule that it could be "broken" and rendered useless by branding/scarring.

 

[Dross]

Not an answer to your Q but:
Cleric with Professionainter.

Paints her holy symbol on her sheild, armour, weapon blade/head, backpack strap, pants, etc to allow "manipulation" at any given time and not need a hand free to do so and a single sunder doesn't render her less potent.

Personally I don't like the idea and wouldn't allow it (sans playing in Eberron) .

 

[Deset Gled]

Actually you must "manipulate" the focus.

I think that some gods look down upon using using your body in this manner.

OTOH, certain tatoos might be able to fulfill this requirement. For example, Petunia from Pete and Pete.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I'd say it would at least cost a Feat, possibly even a level in a PrCl like Tattooed Monk.

 

[werk]

I'd say it would at least cost a Feat, possibly even a level in a PrCl like Tattooed Monk.

Ditto. Using your body as a focus could be a good way to get burned.

 

[Plane Sailing]

So, one of my players - the cleric - was asking if he could get his holy symbol tattooed on his skin or implanted in his body somehow, so that he wouldn't be denied it if he was captured and his gear taken from him or some such. For turning I know the symbol has to be boldly displayed, but for spell use...what do you think? Or is there some feat or other alternate rules that deals with that?

Ideas, thoughts?

Aaron

I wouldn't allow it.

For starters it is one of the (very few) limiting factors on a cleric!

Flavour wise I think it is important that the holy symbol is an actual item and not just a pictorial representation of something.

 

[Darklone]

Agreeing with PS. This doesn't sound like a stylish thing, more like a powergaming attempt.

If the cleric would refuse to wear armour to display his wonderfully tattoed chest and head into some monk/clr prestigeclass concentrated on holy tattoos, I would allow it.