Hardhead
Explorer
Merak Spielman mentioned some Swashbuckling Cards that he uses in his campaign in another thread. I read them, and while I think some of them are too powerful, the concept is really cool (especially the ones that don't directly provide combat bonuses). You get cards at the begining of the adventure, and they're taken back if unused at the end. Here's some examples:
The entire list can be found here.
As I was reading, I had a couple ideas for new ones. I figured Merak might be interested in them, and that others might join in the fun of constructing special actions based off of movie quotes.
What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?
Play: Any time.
Effect: You happen to know some obscure and trivial (yet relevant) fact.
If she weighs the same as a duck...
Play: Any time.
Effect: Using horribly contorted logic, you come to a illogical conclusion... that happens to be right.
Hair Pin
Play: Whenever you need to get through a locked door
Effect: By using improvised tools that by all rights shouldn't work, you jigger the door unlocked in one round.
Life is like a box of chocolates
Play: Whenever the group is trying to figure something elaborate out.
Effect: When trying to unravel the BBEG's master plan, a fiendishly complicated puzzel, or any other great mystery, a character or NPC with a low intelligence has a profound insight.
Vulcan Neck Pinch
Play: Outside of combat
Effect: You automatically knock out up to two NPCs who either don't see you, or don't expect immediate violence from you, and who the DM has not come up with names for.
Imbed Sword
Play: In combat
Effect: You imbed your weapon in your opponent. You are automatically disarmed, but your attack deals triple damage.
Evil always wins because good is dumb
Play: Whenever you're in combat with an important NPC, and you are loosing.
Effect: The BBEG stops in the middle of combat to mock and berate you. You may spend the round recouping (drinking potions, ect). If you attack the NPC, he acts next in the initiative order, as if he had delayed.
What can the harvest hope for, if not for the care of the Reaper Man?
Play: Whenever you die.
Effect: You make a deal with Death/an agent of your diety/ect. In exchange for some service, you come back to life, at 1/4th yor total hit points.
Run for it!
Play: In combat
Effect: The rest of the group may flee, without anyone important chasing them, so long as you remain in combat. The bad guys attempt to capture you instead of killing you.
Piercethrough
Play: In combat.
Effect: If you hit the opponent you are attacking this round, you may also make an attack roll in the square beyond him.
Monstrous Regiment
Play: Outside of combat
Effect: Your are able to disguise yourself as a member of the opposite sex, no matter how unlikely such a trick would be. You gain a +20 to disguise and bluff checks to maintain this illusion. Against all odds, at least one NPC will find you to be extremely attractive.
So, that's the ones I came up with. Anyone else got some ideas?
Soliloquy
Play: Anytime
Effect: All combat comes to a standstill, while you make a heroic speech. Take as long as you like.
Touche!
Play: Your turn
Effect: Deliver a stunning insult to your opponent. If the other players laugh the target is flatfooted for the duration of the following round.
If we only had a wheelbarrow...
Play: Anytime
Effect: One piece of needed mundane equipment just happens to be nearby.
Love, Love, Love...
Play: After an enemy has died or become disabled
Effect: Instead of dying the enemy repents and becomes an ally.
The entire list can be found here.
As I was reading, I had a couple ideas for new ones. I figured Merak might be interested in them, and that others might join in the fun of constructing special actions based off of movie quotes.
What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?
Play: Any time.
Effect: You happen to know some obscure and trivial (yet relevant) fact.
If she weighs the same as a duck...
Play: Any time.
Effect: Using horribly contorted logic, you come to a illogical conclusion... that happens to be right.
Hair Pin
Play: Whenever you need to get through a locked door
Effect: By using improvised tools that by all rights shouldn't work, you jigger the door unlocked in one round.
Life is like a box of chocolates
Play: Whenever the group is trying to figure something elaborate out.
Effect: When trying to unravel the BBEG's master plan, a fiendishly complicated puzzel, or any other great mystery, a character or NPC with a low intelligence has a profound insight.
Vulcan Neck Pinch
Play: Outside of combat
Effect: You automatically knock out up to two NPCs who either don't see you, or don't expect immediate violence from you, and who the DM has not come up with names for.
Imbed Sword
Play: In combat
Effect: You imbed your weapon in your opponent. You are automatically disarmed, but your attack deals triple damage.
Evil always wins because good is dumb
Play: Whenever you're in combat with an important NPC, and you are loosing.
Effect: The BBEG stops in the middle of combat to mock and berate you. You may spend the round recouping (drinking potions, ect). If you attack the NPC, he acts next in the initiative order, as if he had delayed.
What can the harvest hope for, if not for the care of the Reaper Man?
Play: Whenever you die.
Effect: You make a deal with Death/an agent of your diety/ect. In exchange for some service, you come back to life, at 1/4th yor total hit points.
Run for it!
Play: In combat
Effect: The rest of the group may flee, without anyone important chasing them, so long as you remain in combat. The bad guys attempt to capture you instead of killing you.
Piercethrough
Play: In combat.
Effect: If you hit the opponent you are attacking this round, you may also make an attack roll in the square beyond him.
Monstrous Regiment
Play: Outside of combat
Effect: Your are able to disguise yourself as a member of the opposite sex, no matter how unlikely such a trick would be. You gain a +20 to disguise and bluff checks to maintain this illusion. Against all odds, at least one NPC will find you to be extremely attractive.
So, that's the ones I came up with. Anyone else got some ideas?

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