[Libris Mortis] Ghouls as PCs and more

[Yair]

I'm going to play a Ghoul (using the monster class level approach) on this weekend and I have some rules questions on that. Frankly, LM left some things out in the open...

* I've chosen to be an Elf that became a ghoul. Do I maintain my Low-Light Vision? My weapon proficiencies? My "detect secret doors"? What happens to the "Con -2" trait, I just ignore it?
* I've chosen the Lifesense feat. Does Low-Light Vision affect the radius of illumination?
* The ghoul ability DC's state something like "10+1/2 class level HD+Cha modifier", that seems wrong as it doesn't reproduce the Ghoul (which uses 1/2 HD from any source, as per the standard), what to use?
* Where are the rules on creating poison? Not in the SRD as far as I could tell. Ashame. (I guess I'm missing Craft DCs.)
* I would like to make a "ghoul touch" poison, transferring the ghoul's paralysis ability into a poison. Is there a legit way to do so? (If not - can you recommend a house rule?)
* How much would a Potion of Inflict Light Wounds cost? Can one even be made? Would one be made, and be available to purchase at a large "magic shop" or "merchandise temple"? (Imagine we're in the FR...)
* Can a ghoul use a potion or elixir?
* What's the gp worth of a 5th level character's gear? heh: help a guy with no DMG at hand... )

BTW, there is also another hole in the system. Using a point-buy system or a fixed array, how to determine ability scores? No solution, despite both methods being very common. Ashame.

Thanks a lot to anyone that is kind enough to answer,
Yair

 

[Darkness]

* I've chosen to be an Elf that became a ghoul. Do I maintain my Low-Light Vision? My weapon proficiencies? My "detect secret doors"? What happens to the "Con -2" trait, I just ignore it?

Ghoul is not a template so none of the elf racial characteristics apply.

* The ghoul ability DC's state something like "10+1/2 class level HD+Cha modifier", that seems wrong as it doesn't reproduce the Ghoul (which uses 1/2 HD from any source, as per the standard), what to use?

The standard is that you only factor in your monster HD, actually.

* What's the gp worth of a 5th level character's gear? heh: help a guy with no DMG at hand... )

9,000 gp

BTW, there is also another hole in the system. Using a point-buy system or a fixed array, how to determine ability scores? No solution, despite both methods being very common. Ashame.

Libris Mortis explicitly says you should roll normally, assign a score to Con, and then treat the character as having no Con, as normal.
So logically, if using point-buy, you don't need to put points into Con if you don't want.

 

[Yair]

Ghoul is not a template so none of the elf racial characteristics apply.

Ghoul is a class, and it says something like "this is just like any other class, except..." and the except doesn't list any treatment of racial traits. And it specifically says you must choose a race. Yet it lists racial traits in the class description... I'm confused.

The standard is that you only factor in your monster HD, actually.

So they go the opposite of the standard... interesting.

9,000 gp

Thanks

If rolling, I'd roll only 5 times. But that's just me.
If using point-buy, just ignore Con.

You can't just "ignore con", well you can but then everything else will be much higher.

Thanks a lot, darkness!

 

[Darkness]

Ghoul is a class, and it says something like "this is just like any other class, except..." and the except doesn't list any treatment of racial traits. And it specifically says you must choose a race. Yet it lists racial traits in the class description... I'm confused.

I think it works like other monster classes. Hm. I'll need to look into this before commenting more on it, then.

So they go the opposite of the standard... interesting.

The ghoul class is consistent with the MM. His class HD are monster HD. (You only use the ghoul class HD, not the others. Or does it say otherwise?)

You can't just "ignore con", well you can but then everything else will be much higher.

Exactly.

Thanks a lot, darkness!

 

[Darkness]

I think it works like other monster classes. Hm. I'll need to look into this before commenting more on it, then.

Alright, so they don't work like other monster classes. My bad.

The ghoul class is consistent with the MM. His class HD are monster HD. (You only use the ghoul class HD, not the others. Or does it say otherwise?)

Ok, it seems to indicate you use all class HD. Could be a mistake - or not.

 

[Darkness]

* I've chosen to be an Elf that became a ghoul. Do I maintain my Low-Light Vision? My weapon proficiencies? My "detect secret doors"? What happens to the "Con -2" trait, I just ignore it?

Yes, apparently you retain all your elf features.
The Con modifier is applied to your Con, which you then cheerfully ignore.

 

[Tonguez]

Ghoul is a class, and it says something like "this is just like any other class, except..." and the except doesn't list any treatment of racial traits. And it specifically says you must choose a race. Yet it lists racial traits in the class description... I'm confused.

So they go the opposite of the standard... interesting.

Thanks

You can't just "ignore con", well you can but then everything else will be much higher.

Thanks a lot, darkness!

I played a Ghoul Psychic Warrior once (not using LM though) having no Con score becomes a huge boon because of the extra points from Con. If you used Point buy you might consider a -8 Penalty to account for the Con (personally I'd just enjoy my high stats)

Also although using a Monster Class approach (a great 3e Mechanic and I've played a Lycantorpe Monster Class myself) Ghoul IMHO ought not to be class per se and imho Darkness is correct ie you ought to loose your Elf traits and replace them with Ghoul traits

I'd price a potion of inflict X wounds the same as a potion of cure X wounds but also make them illegal and only available from the black market (or friendly neighbourhood necromancer)

 

[Yair]

Another question: what about +1 to ability scores per level? And what about maximum skill ranks?

The guy who wrote these rules should be flayed alive. They couldn't be less clear. Arrgh.

 

[Darkness]

what about +1 to ability scores per level?

The what? If you mean the ability score increase per 4 levels all characters get, that's based on how many HD you have above what you gained from race AFAIK (i.e., 1 point per 4 HD above), the otyugh example lifted from 3.0 notwithstanding.

And what about maximum skill ranks?

HD+3.

 

[HellHound]

We've run a ghoul in our Shackled City campaign - using the Ghoul racial class from Savage Species mind you.

The biggest treasure the party got, in Oscar's opinion, was a wand of inflict light wounds - he also paid off a cleric in the party to make a bunch of potions of the same spell.