Elven Cloaks

[Anders]

In Middle-Earth, elven cloaks are stupendously effective at keeping you hidden. This was adapted into That Other Game as cloak of elvenkind. So lets say there's a cloak modifier that gives you +4 to Camouflage. What CF would you assign to that?

[Kromm]

Originally Posted by Anders

In Middle-Earth, elven cloaks are stupendously effective at keeping you hidden. This was adapted into That Other Game as cloak of elvenkind. So lets say there's a cloak modifier that gives you +4 to Camouflage. What CF would you assign to that?

I'd adapt the modifiers for "Ornate" armor or clothing (Adventurers, p. 107). Instead of making you stand out and be impressive, it makes you blend in. Changing "+1 to reactions for +1 CF, +2 for +4 CF, or +3 for +9 CF" to "+1 to Camouflage for +1 CF, +2 for +4 CF, +3 for +9 CF, or +4 for +16 CF" should work just fine.

This is somewhat different from dungeon camouflage (Adventurers, p. 113). Additional ordinary clothing is $120, 2 lbs. per outfit (Adventurers, p. 110). Dungeon Camouflage adds $240 per suit, which amounts to +2 CF for clothing. On the other hand, it also benefits Stealth vs. Vision. Make that its own effect with the same modifiers: "+1 to Stealth vs. Vision for +1 CF, +2 for +4 CF, +3 for +9 CF, or +4 for +16 CF."

I don't see anything especially weird about having one but not the other in a fantasy world. If you do, then insist that it's always "+1 to Camouflage, and to Stealth vs. Vision, for +2 CF, +2 for +8 CF, +3 for +18 CF, or +4 for +32 CF."

All of the above assumes one specific environment. An "Active," "Adaptive," or "Universal" cloak that works everywhere should be more costly. In GURPS, this sort of thing is nearly always +300% on an advantage, so I'd quadruple the modifiers: "+1 to Camouflage, and to Stealth vs. Vision, for +8 CF, +2 for +32 CF, +3 for +72 CF, or +4 for +128 CF." Given the low cost of a cloak ($20 or $50), it's still a pretty sweet deal. To avoid silliness, I'd say that it must be on a cloak.

[Dalin]

And if it's actually an elven cloak, then elves might get their usual 10% discount from their Elven Gear perk.

[Kromm]

Originally Posted by Dalin

And if it's actually an elven cloak, then elves might get their usual 10% discount from their Elven Gear perk.

Definitely! If it has "elven" in the name, that applies. If the GM doesn't want it to apply, don't call it "elven."

[sjmdw45]

Does that apply to elven slaves?

[Prince Charon]

Originally Posted by sjmdw45

Does that apply to elven slaves?

That probably depends on the GM, and what sort of game you're in.

[adm]

While costly, I could see this on a tent.

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by sjmdw45

Does that apply to elven slaves?

If they are enslaved by Drow raiding parties, or bred on the dirt farms far below the cloud cities of the Lands Under The Hill, why not?

Lots of elves are not very nice people, and vile monsters like you enough to cut deals with you is hardly out of character for a lot of adventurers.

[sjmdw45]

Originally Posted by malloyd

If they are enslaved by Drow raiding parties, or bred on the dirt farms far below the cloud cities of the Lands Under The Hill, why not?

Lots of elves are not very nice people, and vile monsters like you enough to cut deals with you is hardly out of character for a lot of adventurers.

If you want a reason why the Drow would not cut other elves a deal on buying elven (but not human!) slaves, may I suggest that Drow enslave other elves in the first place specifically because they hate them? (And presumably faeries, druids, and bunnies too.)

I guess I'm the only one here who finds it amusing to juxtapose "elven" as an adjective for the implied quality of manufactured goods with "elven" as an adjective describing the creators of those manufactured goods. The logical incoherence of the idea that slavers would cut elves a special deal on buying other elves... to me that's funny in the same way as the observation that "I'm sorry" and "my bad" mean the same thing, except at a funeral.

Dad humor.

I'll show myself out.

[Anders]

Originally Posted by adm

While costly, I could see this on a tent.

That's an interesting idea. Yeah, I could see that. Tent of elvenkind