Fasting Benefits?

[Steverooo]

Along similar lines, I was thinking of creating a couple of feats called Vow of Chastity and Vow of Poverty. Not limited to paladins and their ilk, but clearly suited for them. The problem is that I have no clue what they should do.

Chastity: +2 Insight Bonus to saves vs. Enchantment?

Poverty - Remember to subtract any and all equipment/magic from the GP/Level they should have, then increase XP by the amount donated to the church, minus 10% (Tithe). Thus, a Paladin who donates ALL his wealth for a level to the church receives 190% XP. (Also note, however, that the church may opt to devote some of that wealth to making a Holy Avenger to equip him with, thus giving the money BACK to him and increasing his wealth, so the XP wouldn't be gained! Ergo, Paladins won't be getting anywhere near twice the XP, as they'll need some equipment, food, weapons, armor, etc. They'll probably get nothing for the first five levels, or so.) Also note that it is assumed that all Clerics and Paladins tithe 10% of their income, and get no bonus XP for that 10%. They can get a place to sleep and food at the temple,when in town, though.

Just my ideas.

 

[Hashmalum]

Chastity: +2 Insight Bonus to saves vs. Enchantment?

Saves against enchantments are Will saves, though, and clerics already get good Will saves--therefore, it would benefit them less than other classes, which is the opposite of what I want. Besides, I want players with this feat to fear the possibility of being charmed by a succubus

Poverty - Remember to subtract any and all equipment/magic from the GP/Level they should have, then increase XP by the amount donated to the church, minus 10% (Tithe). Thus, a Paladin who donates ALL his wealth for a level to the church receives 190% XP. (Also note, however, that the church may opt to devote some of that wealth to making a Holy Avenger to equip him with, thus giving the money BACK to him and increasing his wealth, so the XP wouldn't be gained! Ergo, Paladins won't be getting anywhere near twice the XP, as they'll need some equipment, food, weapons, armor, etc. They'll probably get nothing for the first five levels, or so.) Also note that it is assumed that all Clerics and Paladins tithe 10% of their income, and get no bonus XP for that 10%. They can get a place to sleep and food at the temple,when in town, though.

Awfully complicated, but some form of XP bonus is worth considering...

 

[Steverooo]

Saves against enchantments are Will saves, though, and clerics already get good Will saves--therefore, it would benefit them less than other classes, which is the opposite of what I want. Besides, I want players with this feat to fear the possibility of being charmed by a succubus

And what would that do? The chaste one would then see her as his good and loyal friend. He might love her (as a friend), but it would not affect his vows! In other words, being charming is enough to attract a man's attention, but never enough to hold it!

As for Vow of Chastity adding to their strong save... So? They are chaste, and, um, the hardest of the hard to seduce. Where's the problem?

 

[Steverooo]

Awfully complicated, but some form of XP bonus is worth considering...

Not the least bit complicated!

1) Note wealth donated.
2) Compute wealth total.
3) Subtract 10% of 2 from 1, yielding three.
4) Divide three by two, yielding a percentage.
5) Multiply XP by this percentage, giving Bonus XP.

You're done.

Want to keep it simpler? Compute it each time, only for the increase, not total wealth. In other words, if he gets 1,000 GP and gives it all to the church:

1) 1,000
2) 1,000
3) 900
4) 0.90
5) Assuming 5,000 XP for the adventure, bonus XP = 5,000 x 0.90 = 4,500, or 9,500, total.

If he had kept half the money for supplies:

1) 500
2) 1,000
3) 400
4) 0.40
5) Same 5,000 x 0.40 = 2,000, or 7,000 total.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Personally, I'd say that unless the character is taking a fairly mild fast (as in, one modest meal every night after sundown) that the penalties should be quite a bit harsher, and should include mental stats.

Hunger screws you up. You don't think as clearly when you're hungry, and if you're very hungry, you're in pain. Going without food for more than a couple days will also considerably weaken you physically, at least until you've eaten again.

I don't know what the benefits should be. I tend to see ritual fasting in the same light as vegan diets and "healthy" diets-- a placebo with very serious side effects.