From: "Robert Herneson" Subject: Turning Undead (house rule) (LONG) Date: Wed, 21 Oct 1998 01:25:59 -0500 Hi, Several of you were nice enough to give me opinions and information on what the rules approach about turning the undead. It is suggested that as one advantage of Clerical Investment (someplace) if the GM so deems, but is not supported anywhere else, save for some rules on how vampires deal with holy symbols. My fantasy group finally came around to playing a couple of religious characters, other than pagan religions or demi-human ones and I figured it would be a good thing to allow to give those character a different tint and flavor. Here is what we have found to be effective. To my knowledge, this should fit with Undead, or other genre, if a GM wants to allow it. TURNING THE UNDEAD By Robert Herneson The ability to turn the undead is granted by certain Gods, usually 'good' in nature. It is included in the basic Clerical Investment cost (adjusted by the GM as they see fit). To turn an undead (and only undead) the cleric (lay figure, or bishop, or whatever) must have a symbol of his faith that he presents strongly while concentrating. Like all clerical 'spell' abilities, a round must be spent concentrating. The cleric then makes a "faith" roll, that being a will roll modified by the addition of any levels of Power Investiture. If the cleric succeeds, all undead up to three hexes away from the front of the cleric (where the symbol is being presented) and 60 degrees left and right (the normal forward combat arc) must make a will roll, also modified by any levels of Power Investiture they may have (most often found in undead priests. i.e.; lich priests or vampire priests, usually NPCs). All undead that fail the roll immediately take a number of points of damage equal to the amount that they failed and must avoid the cleric with the symbol for a number of hours equal to the amount that they failed the roll by. On a critical success roll by the cleric, a contest of 'faith' rolls is made between the cleric and the undead, and the undead that fail are immediately destroyed. As always, with the ways of the Gods, additional pluses of minuses may mysteriously appear at the Gods and GM's will. The Undead are not that impressed with the cleric for this effect, but rather his faith, as demonstrated by the presentation of the symbol of his faith. If the cleric should loose that symbol, perhaps due to combat or a not undead accomplice grabbing it or whatever, the undead that were effected will avoid the symbol at a range of 3 hexes, not the cleric. Also, the turning process takes place in the normal turn sequence, just like any other event, such as spells. This is usually based on speed. As noted above, this ability only works on UNDEAD, not spirits (including vampires in gaseous form), demons, devils, and so on. ***NOTES*** The use of the term faith does not suggest a new stat, just a shorthand way to use existing stats for this effect. Power investiture is used because being a high-ranking cleric does not mean you necessarily have a higher faith than a gifted novice does, for example. Also, being Blessed may confer additional advantages as well. THE EXAMPLE Ralph, cleric to Rizzo the Rat God, is wadding The Devilish Dunjon, leading his party. Who should come down the hall but a party of 4 skeletons? Not being surprised and as well having an amazing speed of 6.5 (which coincidentally beats all other speeds in this example), Ralph whips out the holy swiss wedge, symbol of his faith, concentrates, drawing deep on his faith in Rizzo and strongly presents the cheese. Ralph has an IQ of 11, 1 level of strong will, and 2 levels of Power Investiture, totaling up to a 14. Ralph rolls a 10 and succeeds in showing his faith in Rizzo. The skeletons mean while all shamble right up to in front of Ralph in a straight line. Skeletons, not having that much free will, and only having an IQ of 8 and no other advantages, for the sake of our example, total an 8. They roll each, a 11, 6, and 17 respectfully. The fourth skeleton is out of range for the effect. The first skeleton takes 3 points of damage (generally applied, usually torso, although this gives the GM some dramatic license rights, if they want), and turns to get out, the second is not impressed by Ralph, Rizzo, or the cheese and shuffles past the first, who wants noting to do with Ralph. The third takes 9 points of damage, now considers a totally new career and turns to call his agent and will not be heard of for 9 hours. The dwarf that stands next to Ralph, just for occasions like this, hammers the resisting skeleton with his war mattock and kneecaps him like a Mafioso enforcer. Ralph, meanwhile, is concentrating again to try to turn the fourth skeleton who has obligingly come into range. Later, Fred the vampire, having heard that his minions were being harassed, decides to take matters into his own hands. He vaporously floats up to Ralph. Ralph, having read Fred the Vampire's rap sheet, knows this is a Fred's standard MO. Ralph grabs the holy swiss again, concentrating, and waits for Fred to solidify. Ralph is not so stupid to try to turn Fred in gaseous form because he got the hot tip not to from the rap sheets. Fred solidifies 1 hex in front of Ralph. Ralph rolls, needing a 14, but rolling a 16 instead. This would be a good time to get that soda, as Ralph and his party will be busy for a few minutes. Later still, a not so fresh Ralph and company happens on a pack of Hell Hounds. Ralph whips out the holy swiss once again and immediately gets turned into kibble because Hell Hounds aren't undead. (The above is freely given to the world and may be used for any not for profit basis. Let these words find their own karma)