Tatoos as permanent magic items... has it been done yet?

[Mycanid]

I wonder what if this will be addressed either in the next update to 3.5 and/or 4e? :\

I always thought the tattoos were a strange method ... primarily because of the issues with heal spells (as partly pointed out) or the problem with them washing off (if they were like those fake tattoos I've seen kids use nowadays). Okay, okay - it's MAGIC. Yes, yes. But still....

 

[Klaus]

Until the PCs invent "Magical" Laser Tatoo Removal .

aka the Erase spell.

RW's girlfriend's tattoo-that-isn't-healing-properly has a point. Maybe the character has to sacrifice hit points to get a tattoo? Say, 1 hp per Caster Level of the item?

 

[questing gm]

Hands as Weapons is a great feat!

In WotC' publications, though, isn't there a Tattooed Monk PrCl (OA, as I recall) that essentially has some form of permanent magical tattoos?

There is a Tatooed Monk PrC in Complete Warrior, the abilities granted by the tatoos are on a times/day basis...

 

[TheYeti1775]

It's in R&R I, R&R II, Burok Torn, Strange Lands, and the Player's Guide to Wizards Bards and Sorcerers too, if not more.

Yup, that combined with the Create Magic Tattoo spell in the Spell Compendium and permancy can be fun.

I have a mage with the Caster Level +1, the +1 to all Saves, and a few others tattooed on himself. He is currently researching using contingency tattoos for himself.

 

[Twowolves]

There was also a feat in an issue of Dungeon I believe, but that version is basicially a form of Brew Potion. I use both this one and the Scared Lands specific types of magical tattoos. In fact, in the Scarred Lands, the dark elves are tattoo magic specialists, having phosphorescent and fluroescent tattoos, and there is even a PrC for them in the Player's Guide to Wizards, Bards and Sorcerers.

 

[Waylander the Slayer]

Why go through all the complications? Make it a magical item which does'nt take up a slot and be done with it. I currently have a tattoo as a legacy magical item in my Savage Tide AP.

 

[Gold Roger]

Instead of putting a pair of bracers of armor, you get a tatoo that fills up that slot (and you can't benefit of arm-based items). Has anything like this been done? I know of the expendable tatoos in the FR and XPH books, but I was looking for something a little more permanent.

I use this, as well as grafts. Just make a "grafting" or "tatooing" feat (or call it imbued enchantments and make the flavor choosable), that allows casters to make all magic items he can create into permanent fixtures on his body.

The advantage is that it can't be lost, while the disadvantage is, well, that such an item can't be lost, so you can't swap it out when something better comes along.

 

[papastebu]

You know, I've had a picture of a bison's skull tattooed on my shoulder for almost 20 years, and it's never done anything but sit there. :\

 

[Boss]

See, you went to the wrong tatoo artist. The one you went to obviously had Craft Tatoo for a skill, but never took the Craft Magic Tatoo Feat.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

I like the idea, though I'd recommend a 30% upcharge on the price due to they can't be stolen or broken.

They also cant be traded between players, and are always there. You cant have situational items. Its a worse deal overall.