Altair_the_Vexed
2007-09-13, 02:25 PM
It spoils intrigue in games - or it can spoil it, let's not debate the premise too much, but concentrate on the rule - when the cunning BBEG is revealed by a simple Detect Evil, or Truesight, Zone of Truth or similar spell.
In an effort to get round this, I propose the following house rule - and I thought you fellow playgrounders might like to pick it over.
Alignment Detection spells:
Such spells grant a Sense Motive check, DC 20, using the target's CHA adjustment + 1 per aura category over "Faint" as a bonus to the check, or simply opposed by the "target's" Bluff check if they are actively attempting to conceal their nature. Evil objects, places, etc are treated as normal.
For example: Ehp, a 6th level evil high priest of Cthlqxyg has a CHA of 14 and a Bluff bonus of 6. He is unaware that Hunq the Paladin is attempting to Detect Evil. Hunq's Sense Motive check has a +2 bonus because Ehp is 6th level and thus has a "Strong" aura, and +2 because Ehp has a high Charisma, for a total of +4. If Hunq fails to notice the taint of evil, Ehp can actively hide his nature with a Bluff check.
Truth Detection spells:
These can be divided into spells that grant the caster a bonus to Sense Motive (e.g. Discern Lies), and spells that inflict a penalty to Bluff, Diplomacy, etc on others (e.g. Zone of Truth). Both bonuses and penalties are 5 x the Spell level.
As a skeleton of an idea, how do you like it?
In an effort to get round this, I propose the following house rule - and I thought you fellow playgrounders might like to pick it over.
Alignment Detection spells:
Such spells grant a Sense Motive check, DC 20, using the target's CHA adjustment + 1 per aura category over "Faint" as a bonus to the check, or simply opposed by the "target's" Bluff check if they are actively attempting to conceal their nature. Evil objects, places, etc are treated as normal.
For example: Ehp, a 6th level evil high priest of Cthlqxyg has a CHA of 14 and a Bluff bonus of 6. He is unaware that Hunq the Paladin is attempting to Detect Evil. Hunq's Sense Motive check has a +2 bonus because Ehp is 6th level and thus has a "Strong" aura, and +2 because Ehp has a high Charisma, for a total of +4. If Hunq fails to notice the taint of evil, Ehp can actively hide his nature with a Bluff check.
Truth Detection spells:
These can be divided into spells that grant the caster a bonus to Sense Motive (e.g. Discern Lies), and spells that inflict a penalty to Bluff, Diplomacy, etc on others (e.g. Zone of Truth). Both bonuses and penalties are 5 x the Spell level.
As a skeleton of an idea, how do you like it?