Halfling professions

[tbone]

Originally Posted by restlessgriffin

How are you beefing up Silence?

My question too. Silence always seemed too expensive to me; the same 5 points could get you a Talent that boosts Stealth and four other skills.

Rather than cut the cost of Silence, I've tried to beef it up. A few months ago I tweeted this:

The Silence advantage is expensive compared to just buying up Stealth.

I get that Silence’s doubled “when motionless” bonus is valuable. But it comes up rarely. And Silence only works vs hearing; plain old Stealth hides you from both hearing and vision. I’d like to see Silence repriced—or beefed up.

Idea: As long as the PC stays in place (the "no Move" restriction), use Silence’s higher bonus to perform any action quietly, not just breathe quietly, if reasonably possible: draw a weapon, pick a lock, search a bag, etc.

(Or maybe that’s already the intended working of Silence? Correct me if I’m house-ruling what’s already the rule…)

It's a small improvement, but I'm open to better ideas.

Maybe even this really simple idea: Each level of Silence adds +2 to Stealth, only vs Hearing. That's it; any actions, with or without movement, no other restrictions/complications. Still a little expensive, IMO, but a better buy than the current version.

[The Colonel]

Originally Posted by Rolando

If real people believed a wolf raised a pair of children and they somehow ended founding one of the great empires of humanity I think a fantasy game can tolerate a halfling raised by a pack of wolfs and turning into a successful barbarian adventurer.

As to the Romans, I understand it to be a running joke that in Latin, "she-wolf" was used as a euphemism for prostitute. It certainly amuses me to think of all those wolf statues as a form of insistent terminology...

[sjmdw45]

Originally Posted by tbone

Maybe even this really simple idea: Each level of Silence adds +2 to Stealth, only vs Hearing. That's it; any actions, with or without movement, no other restrictions/complications. Still a little expensive, IMO, but a better buy than the current version.

You could steal a page from the Hush spell: each level of Silence gives +1 to Stealth OR -2 to enemy hearing checks against your Stealth, your choice. Normally you'd take the Stealth bonus, but when sight isn't applicable you'd impose the hearing penalty instead--and there's no requirement to remain motionless to get it.

In fact I should run bugbears this way.

[mburr0003]

Originally Posted by restlessgriffin

How are you beefing up Silence? I'm missing what you're saying.

Mostly because I didnt' say it...

My upgrades are to have various types of "Silence" refluffed as "Stealthy", it applies to hearing as well as sight, in a specific style, it also allows them to always count as having "at least half the party as diversions" for Backstabbing, even if they're alone.

The Advantage also counts as a level requied buy in for various Power-Ups.


Scouts and Thieves have Stealth (Camouflage), so they get a bonus vs Sight if they're wearing something at least vaguely 'camouflaged', IE dark clothes in a dungeon, browns and greens in the woods, etc.

Halflings has Stealth (Small) and get the bonus versus sight if there is anything around they could easily hide behind or alongside.

My campaign also has Dark Elves who have often have a connection with elemental Darkness and get Stealth (Darkness), so get their bonus as long there are darkness penalties (but also they're limited to the local darkness penalties).

Racial abilities can trump Professional abilities, so a Halfling Thief could start with Stealthy (Small) 4 lvls, or 2 of Small and 2 of Camouflage, the PC's choice.

I think the Innate Attack (Projectile) is something worth considering. Got to consider how outside RAW this would be.

It doesn't break anything was my biggest concern.

Originally Posted by tbone

Maybe even this really simple idea: Each level of Silence adds +2 to Stealth, only vs Hearing. That's it; any actions, with or without movement, no other restrictions/complications. Still a little expensive, IMO, but a better buy than the current version.

Now, to me, that sounds like an excellent Advantage option for Cat-Folk...