New Prestige Race Alterations - Ice Focus

[kreynolds]

edit: did you bum through the thesarus trying to find names for these abilities?

Yup!

 

[Ashy]

::chuckle:: Same here for the ones I've done for Dragon and Bastion - it's all about the thesarus, baby!

 

[Khorod]

In the name of the Thesaurus God, you forgot 'Gelid'.

So Charisma bonus as a coldly regal presence, all eyes turned toward the white being who sweeps into the room...

Okay. But Gather Information is not the skill that would be increased. If anything, it would be harder to make casual conversation with people for a few hours... but I definitely see the Intimidation & Diplomacy angle.

 

[kreynolds]

In the name of the Thesaurus God, you forgot 'Gelid'.

Heh. Well, the path isn't finished yet, so...

So Charisma bonus as a coldly regal presence, all eyes turned toward the white being who sweeps into the room...

Exactly.

Okay. But Gather Information is not the skill that would be increased. If anything, it would be harder to make casual conversation with people for a few hours...

Not really. You don't lose any social skills, and you don't forget how to talk. You can indeed talk to people, and quite smoothly. There is nothing stating that you can't mimic emotional states. It merely states that it is a very rare thing for someone on this path to loose control of their emotions. For example, I can look really happy and cheerful if I want to, and it would be convincing, but that doesn't make it so.

...but I definitely see the Intimidation & Diplomacy angle.

Diplomacy is very similar to Gather Information. When you use Gather Information, one of the things you're doing is buttering people up.

 

[Azure Trance]

Minor Quicky Q: Can you burn enough XP on a Focus to lose a level?

 

[Bean 2.0]

no the feat doesn't allow you sack a level

 

[kreynolds]

Bean is correct. The normal rules for expending XP still apply.

 

[kreynolds]

I updated the focus with the skills and an additional power for one of the steps.

 

[Khorod]

Gather Info vs. Diplomacy

I didn't mean to imply a reduction of social skills. Gather Info is about blending in and hanging out. The 'regal presence' angle of charisma is the opposite approach to social interaction. While it shares some things with Diplomacy, the two are different. For the frosty character that walks into the bar and interviews the patrons one at a time (or as a whole group), that's Intimidate and Diplomacy. For the one that dresses like a local, slides into a game of dice, and makes meaningless chit-chat that drifts around, subtely moving toward topics of interest- that's gather information. In general, and as I see it.

Sorry to hijack, just trying to explain myself.

 

[kreynolds]

Re: Gather Info vs. Diplomacy

Gather Info is about blending in and hanging out.

From the Gather Information description...

...given an evening with a few gold pieces to use for making friends by buying drinks and such...

It's not just about blending in.

The 'regal presence' angle of charisma is the opposite approach to social interaction. While it shares some things with Diplomacy, the two are different. For the frosty character that walks into the bar and interviews the patrons one at a time (or as a whole group), that's Intimidate and Diplomacy.

If a striking individual walks into a bar, how is Intimidate even appropriate as the sole option to the character? Gather Information is merely a skill that allows you to seek out information on a large scale. Gather information isn't really meant to be used on a one-on-one basis.

For one-on-one, you use Diplomacy, Intimidate, and Sense Motive.

For the one that dresses like a local, slides into a game of dice, and makes meaningless chit-chat that drifts around, subtely moving toward topics of interest- that's gather information. In general, and as I see it.

Well, the way I see it, you've come to a mistaken conclusion about how Gather Information works. It's not about blending in, but because you think it is, it has set a precedent for what the other skills are used for. You see Gather Information as blending, thus Intimidate must be for those that cannot blend. That is not only arbitrary, but its also incorrect.

Sorry to hijack, just trying to explain myself.

It's cool. I'm glad I better understand your point of view now.