What does the Vow of Poverty do?

Kashell · Oct 27, 2004

....Someone tell me...I must know...

Btw...is it in SRD format yet? if so, can I get a linky?

Rodrigo Istalindir · Oct 27, 2004

It's a way to allow a player to exchange material goods (read: phat lewt) in exchange for inherent abilities. It basically prohibits the character from owning anything, or benefiting in any way from material wealth (eg you can't let the party keep your share of the loot, you have to give it away to charities and such.) Debates over its degree of brokenness have raged to no conclusion (this is the Internet, after all). It does put a great deal of weight on the DM to be diligent about enforcing the Vow, because if the DM lets the character exploit loophole after loophole, then it rapidly becomes a major power boost without any serious drawbacks.

No SRD, as I don't believe the Book of Exalted Deeds is OGC.

Halivar · Oct 27, 2004

BoED is probably the best $30 you can spend on a non-core book other than Unearthed Arcana (although Complete Divine almost beats it). Exalted feats are awesome, and the VoP is a good way to get around the lack of monk-related items in the DMG.

GlassJaw · Oct 27, 2004

BoED is probably the best $30 you can spend on a non-core book other than Unearthed Arcana (although Complete Divine almost beats it). Exalted feats are awesome, and the VoP is a good way to get around the lack of monk-related items in the DMG.

Level 20 Munchkin

'Nuff said.

I really abhor VoP.

Rodrigo Istalindir · Oct 27, 2004

Halivar said:
BoED is probably the best $30 you can spend on a non-core book other than Unearthed Arcana (although Complete Divine almost beats it). Exalted feats are awesome, and the VoP is a good way to get around the lack of monk-related items in the DMG.

Icky, icky, icky. I don't own it, but I've skimmed through it, and I didn't like a single thing I saw in it. Munchkin's paradise. Plus, I despise monks, so I doubly despise VoP. It's one of the few WotC books I don't own, and can't see any reason to change it. Complete Divine would be a much better choice (assuming one had to make an either/or decision).

My preferences tend to the grim and gritty, low magic stuff though, so take my opinions with a large grain of salt. If you are into high level anything goes type campaigns, you may find it useful.

der_kluge · Oct 27, 2004

The most munchkin player from my last campaign had that book. He took the most gawdawful spell I'd ever seen - Celestial Brilliance, I think it was called. Basically gave him a 60' radius of brilliant light that did massive damage to undead within radius. And it lasted for like hours, I think.

Just absurd.

While I was reading XRP's Magical Medieval Society:Western Europe, they talk about the concept of a Mendicant, and I thought that would make a pretty cool character concept. Mendicants are traveling priests who deprive themselves of the pleasures of life, and pretty much beg for all their food and shelter. VoP would be a perfect choice. But, I don't have that book, and I doubt I'd buy it for just that one feat.

diaglo · Oct 27, 2004

Kashell said:
What does the Vow of Poverty do?

breaks a campaign if the DM isn't careful.

Olorin · Oct 27, 2004

die_kluge said:
The most munchkin player from my last campaign had that book. He took the most gawdawful spell I'd ever seen - Celestial Brilliance, I think it was called. Basically gave him a 60' radius of brilliant light that did massive damage to undead within radius. And it lasted for like hours, I think.

Just absurd.

Just looked it up:

Bright light 60', dim light 60'. Undead within 60' take 1d6 damage per round. Evil outsiders and undead specifically harmed by daylight take 2d6 per round. Counters or dispels darkness spells of equal or lower level. Duration is 1 day/level. 4th level cleric/Glory domain/sorcerer/wizard.

The only things I would consider changing are the duration and having it be a sorc/wiz spell. 1d6/2d6 per round for a 4th level spell is "massive damage"?

Seems like a pretty cool spell to me. *shrug*

der_kluge · Oct 27, 2004

Olorin said:
Just looked it up:

Bright light 60', dim light 60'. Undead within 60' take 1d6 damage per round. Evil outsiders and undead specifically harmed by daylight take 2d6 per round. Counters or dispels darkness spells of equal or lower level. Duration is 1 day/level. 4th level cleric/Glory domain/sorcerer/wizard.

The only things I would consider changing are the duration and having it be a sorc/wiz spell. 1d6/2d6 per round for a 4th level spell is "massive damage"?

Seems like a pretty cool spell to me. *shrug*

The thing has a radius of 120' of illumination, and as written, lasts for DAYS. So, in our group, the guy casting it was 14th/15th level. So, that spell lasts for half a month at that level. That's almost as good as a permanent magical effect.

And it deals 2d6 damage *per round* to vampires, shadows, and evil outsiders.

Maybe it was unique to my campaign, but they just happened to fight shadows, and vampires. So yea, it was uber powerful. I cut the radius in half, and cut the duration down a lot. It was still powerful.

JustKim · Oct 27, 2004

Celestial brilliance doesn't do massive damage, but it lasts for a day a level. There's really no reason for a 7th level good Cleric not to have it active and automatically damaging any undead or evil outsiders, whether apparent or not, in the huge radius. I was asked to allow this in a game centered around undead, because I guess it's more exciting to wade effortlessly through your enemies disintegrating them at will.