Minor & Partial Transformations

[Roman]

Balrus was strapped to the pole with robust ropes. He struggled violently, but it was to no avail and the pit slowly began to fill with the glowing liquid. The man paused in his exhausting attempts to set himself free and looked on with horror as the liquid oozed closer and closer to his feet. It was now within inches and he stood on his toes to dela any effect the liquid might have when touching his body. "It will only be a temporary reprieve. The entire pit will be filled with the substance eventually," he despaired just before the liquid touched his toes... The man had been lucky. His friends got there just in time; cut him loose and pulled him out of the pit. His toes that were touched by the liquid, however, were different...

How do would you deal mechanically with a creature only a miniature part of which has been transformed into another creature. In my example, Balrus's toes are transformed into dragon toes (claws). Could this conceivably have any mechanical effect (I am a big fan of mechanical effects reinforcing flavour)? Perhaps Balrus cannot wear normal shoes anymore... any other ideas? How about if some other small body part such as ears had been affected? How would you deal in general with similar kinds of minor/partial transformations?

 

[Roman]

Has nobody had anything similar happen in his/her game?

 

[Terwox]

There's a little bit in Unearthed Arcana and Complete Divine about druids using wild shape to temporarily only partially change shape instead of completely change shape.
But sure, for the example, don't let him wear magic boots unless they cost a little bit extra for the customization, but give him a +2 racial to climb if he's barefoot. Something like that, easy enough.

 

[Roman]

There's a little bit in Unearthed Arcana and Complete Divine about druids using wild shape to temporarily only partially change shape instead of completely change shape.
But sure, for the example, don't let him wear magic boots unless they cost a little bit extra for the customization, but give him a +2 racial to climb if he's barefoot. Something like that, easy enough.

Fair enough - how would you deal mechanically with transformed internal organs - such as a dragon (or demonic, or angelic, or other monster) heart or I don't know let's say adrenal glands (if you want something really unusual )?

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

There's some stealable stuff in Chaositech for this. Internal implants and such. It has prices and DCs, but you might not want all the nasty Chaos-ness. I'd say a fully replaced outsider/dragon organ system might grant a bonus to Con, maybe the ability to eat poison like brass dragons do; draconic adrenal glands might grant a rage-like effect a few times per day.

 

[Verequus]

Use Upper_Krusts CR-system - if you can build all kinds of monsters, then just a little addition shouldn't be a problem. I have an older RC-version, which I can mail to you - but beware, that there are some errors in it (like the XP system, where it accounts twice the party size), but they shouldn't impact your goal, as far as I know. Post your mail address here!

 

[Roman]

There's some stealable stuff in Chaositech for this. Internal implants and such. It has prices and DCs, but you might not want all the nasty Chaos-ness. I'd say a fully replaced outsider/dragon organ system might grant a bonus to Con, maybe the ability to eat poison like brass dragons do; draconic adrenal glands might grant a rage-like effect a few times per day.

Thanks for the ideas!

 

[Roman]

Use Upper_Krusts CR-system - if you can build all kinds of monsters, then just a little addition shouldn't be a problem. I have an older RC-version, which I can mail to you - but beware, that there are some errors in it (like the XP system, where it accounts twice the party size), but they shouldn't impact your goal, as far as I know. Post your mail address here!

destrelschwarzschaf@hotmail.com

Thanks!

BTW: What is an 'RC-version' (I am guessing it is a misspelled CR-version but I am not a native English speaker so I am asking just in case it is 'RC-version' and I am not understanding it)?

 

[Roman]

Use Upper_Krusts CR-system - if you can build all kinds of monsters, then just a little addition shouldn't be a problem. I have an older RC-version, which I can mail to you - but beware, that there are some errors in it (like the XP system, where it accounts twice the party size), but they shouldn't impact your goal, as far as I know. Post your mail address here!

Just bringing it to your attention again.

 

[Roman]

BTW: At what point would you think these minor partial transformations (or implants/transplants) would begin having 'global' effects? By global, I mean that they would begin affecting the body as a whole rather than only the body part (or the use of the body part) in question. What would you rule these 'global' effects to be? For example, a person with the aforementioned draconic heart and adrenal glands could with more transformations/implants at some stage (which I am trying to determine - hence my question) begin to become susceptible to spells that target only dragons...