New Feat: True Name

[HalfElfSorcerer]

I haven't seen the epic level handbook or anything, but I think this would be good for epic level characters.

True Name (General/Metamagic)

Prerequisites: Character Level 25+. To access the magical properties of this feat, the character must have at least three metamagic feats. It is not necessary to have all the feats when this feat is taken. (PLEASE comment on the requirements.)

One week after this feat is taken, the character wakes up in the morning with the knowledge of their one true name, which has been hidden in their soul for their entire lives. Since a true name holds incredible power, a character is extremely unlikely to divulge it. There are very few other ways to attain knowledge of a true name. Knowing your true name awakens the following powers:
**+4 naming bonus to all attack rolls.
**+4 naming bonus to AC.
**If a character speaks their true name in the verbal component of a spell, that spell is instantly cast as if the Maximize Spell feat and one other Metamagic Feat of the caster's choice (except Silent Spell) had been used with the spell. Casters who prepare spells need not prepare the spell with the name included in it. The spell is cast 3 spell levels higher than normal. Anyone hearing the spell being cast cannot discern the name from the other words in the spell. Spells without a verbal component (i.e. a Silenced spell) cannot have this power applied to them. This power requires the Metamagic Feat requirement.

In addition, the character gains the following abilities against any creature whose true name is known by the character:
**Additional +4 naming bonus to attack rolls against the creature. This stacks with the naming bonus already granted to attack rolls.
**Additional +4 naming bonus to AC against attacks made by the creature. This stacks with the naming bonus already granted to AC.
**The creature can be controlled by the caster. The caster can effectively use charm person 5 times per day against the creature, and dominate person or dominate monster (as appropriate) once per day. This ability requires the Metamagic feat requirement.

Most creatures who gain this feat are humanoids or intelligent outsiders. Creatures who gain this feat outside these categories are possible, but highly unlikely.

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So tell me what you think. I culled this from fantasy I've read and heard about the power of a name. Feel free to make comments.

 

[hong]

I'm not aware of any precedent in legend or fantasy where you need to know your own true name to take advantage of someone else's true name. Also, a true name is usually a source of weakness as well as strength, and people tend to go to great lengths to find out someone's true name. Because of that, I'd make the following changes:

- knowing someone else's true name gives you a +4 naming bonus on your AC against them, and a +4 naming bonus to your attacks against them.
- casting a spell with your true name gives all listeners a Spellcraft check (DC 30 + spell level) or Listen check (DC 40 + spell level) to hear the true name.

 

[adndgamer]

It's interesting. I'd definitely use hong's addendum to it though. Hm. Rules for using people's true names (beyond this) would be cool too.

Back to latin homework. blech.

-Paul

 

[poilbrun]

I'd wait to see the rules from the Epic Level Handbook... After all, the pre-requesites for this feat mean that only spellcasters can take it. Let's imagine a wizard/sorcerer of level 25. He has a BAB of +12/+7/+2 (if the rules keep on expanding as they do in the PHB, I can't see why not). It means that this feat grants the player a 33% increase to his BAB, which is immensely powerful IMO. Maybe that's the road that will be taken by WotC, but until I see it, I won't use such a powerful feat!

 

[EOL]

As has been mentioned it's really difficult to tell whether this feat is balanced or not is impossible before the Epic Level Handbook comes out. That being said the whole idea of a true name is very cool, and I think a lot could be done with it, but for it to really reach it's true potential you'd have to have a whole set of rules for it, and make it more integral to the system as a whole. I don't think a single feat would cut it.

Having read a book like "The Wizard of Earthsea" which really takes the true name concept and applies it to everything, anything less than that would be a little disappointing, not that I wouldn't use it, but having seen it done perfectly it would be hard to accept anything less.

 

[kenjib]

I like the idea but I completely agree with Hong's addendum. True names should have a strong liability component - especially with the huge bonuses it gives.

> There are very few other ways to attain knowledge of a true name.

I think you should expand on this. Does commune work? How about legend lore? Can you make someone tell you by dominating them? Why can't someone use spellcraft or knowledge (arcana) to figure it out when a caster uses it to cast a spell? It seems like there are many potential ways of finding someone's true name and that some guidelines would be in order.

 

[HalfElfSorcerer]

Thanks for the comments. Note to poilbrun: the metamagic requirement was only if you wanted to use the feat to affect spells, as per the original post. I agree that the whole true name concept really needs to be applied to something larger. Inspiration kinda just struck yester day (3/9) when I wrote that, so I really wasn't starting off on a complete rules set. Hong, your checks to hear the name seem about right. Everyone, feel free to submit your own ideas about true names in DnD.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

It might be multiple feats, each giving one of the bonus...
And I think using the own True Name in a spell should allow (with a good Spellcraft Check) figuring something out about it. (Hey, if it`s a verbal component, it might even be a simple Listen Check. )

Mustrum Ridcully