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visceral healing

Started by beejazz, June 09, 2006, 03:38:19 PM

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beejazz

Okay... as DMs, I'm sure we've all described some pretty greusome injuries... from the scythe-crit that splattered gnome bits all over the wall to the necromantic spell that raised boils and pus all over the orc's body. My question is... what would healing look like after something like this? I mean... what with the intestines slithering back into place, the muscles and skin re-fabricating... it's entirely concievable that magical healing looks downright NARSTY!

what are your thoughts on the subject?
Beejazz's Homebrew System
 Beejazz's Homebrew Discussion

QuoteI don't believe in it anyway.
What?
England.
Just a conspiracy of cartographers, then?

Xeviat

This is when I feel that the Wound/Vitality system works so much better for descriptive elements such as this. My game uses WP/VP, and in such a system healing spells heal vp with their dice, and wp with their numerical bonus. Point being that healing spells don't heal that much wounds, which is what a grueusome injury would be.

Ideally, healing should be speeding up the natural processes; after all, you can't grow someone's arm back with anything short of regenerate. So yeah, if someone's stomach was split open by a wound, it's safe to say that a cure spell would probably coax the intestines back in and seal up the skin.
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Epic Meepo

An aura of white light flares up to obscure the fallen warrior's grievous injuries, and when it subsides, his broken flesh is once more intact, as though the injuries had never occured in the first place.  Nothing of the wounds remains behind to indicate the exact means of their undoing, but for blood already shed, now rendered inert and unneeded by the work of the light.
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Proud recipient of a Silver Dorito Award.
Unless noted otherwise, this post contains no Open Game Content.
[spoiler=OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a]OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a
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CYMRO

Quote from: Epic MeepoAn aura of white light flares up to obscure the fallen warrior's grievous injuries, and when it subsides, his broken flesh is once more intact, as though the injuries had never occured in the first place.  Nothing of the wounds remains behind to indicate the exact means of their undoing, but for blood already shed, now rendered inert and unneeded by the work of the light.


Bingo!
What makes magical healing so great is that you get to avoid the icky bits.

Raelifin

Hahaha, you assume that we use magical healing. ;)

Lmns Crn

Quote from: Xeviat TranionMy game uses WP/VP, and in such a system healing spells heal vp with their dice, and wp with their numerical bonus. Point being that healing spells don't heal that much wounds, which is what a grueusome injury would be.
I like this interpretation. I don't want to derail this thread, but one of these days I'd like to have a chat with you about these kinds of fine details of the WP/VP system. I'm still at a loss as to how to reconcile VP/WP with magic.
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when dust move in the sunshine

CYMRO

Quote from: RaelifinHahaha, you assume that we use magical healing. ;)

Better than doctors.
Doctors killed President Garfield.

beejazz

Yeah... I use a modified VP/WP myself. never liked the stunning aspect. It's frustrrating when players can't do ANYTHING... then they're FLAT FOOTED... then they DROP THEIR WEAPONS. I mean... wtf? as if crits weren't bad enough? An easier way to go is to say they're nauseated. That way, they can still move.

Back to the original thing... visceral healing is still a fun descriptive element. Especially for a healing foe. White light is not characteristic of a healing blackguard, I should think.
Beejazz's Homebrew System
 Beejazz's Homebrew Discussion

QuoteI don't believe in it anyway.
What?
England.
Just a conspiracy of cartographers, then?

CYMRO

QuoteWhite light is not characteristic of a healing blackguard, I should think.

Maybe a pulsing red light for fiendish foes.


beejazz

Aahh.. red light... the easy way out. I dunno... glowy magic just seems so cliche.
Beejazz's Homebrew System
 Beejazz's Homebrew Discussion

QuoteI don't believe in it anyway.
What?
England.
Just a conspiracy of cartographers, then?

CYMRO

Quote from: beejazzAahh.. red light... the easy way out. I dunno... glowy magic just seems so cliche.

You could use Dark Light. *cue appropriate thunder effects*
(as described in The Truth by Terry Pratchett)

Epic Meepo

Personally, for evil heally things, I like to use black light (appropriately enough).

And I always let healers describe things in terms of flashy light effects.  Anything less makes them significantly less cool (visually) than the mage who's hurling bolts of lightning and balls of fire.
The Unfinished World campaign setting
Proud recipient of a Silver Dorito Award.
Unless noted otherwise, this post contains no Open Game Content.
[spoiler=OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a]OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a
The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright 2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc ("Wizards"). All Rights Reserved.

1. Definitions: (a)"Contributors" means the copyright and/or trademark owners who have contributed Open Game Content; (b)"Derivative Material" means copyrighted material including derivative works and translations (including into other computer languages), potation, modification, correction, addition, extension, upgrade, improvement, compilation, abridgment or other form in which an existing work may be recast, transformed or adapted; (c) "Distribute" means to reproduce, license, rent, lease, sell, broadcast, publicly display, transmit or otherwise distribute; (d)"Open Game Content" means the game mechanic and includes the methods, procedures, processes and routines to the extent such content does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhancement over the prior art and any additional content clearly identified as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means any work covered by this License, including translations and derivative works under copyright law, but specifically excludes Product Identity. (e) "Product Identity" means product and product line names, logos and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts; creatures characters; stories, storylines, plots, thematic elements, dialogue, incidents, language, artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, likenesses, formats, poses, concepts, themes and graphic, photographic and other visual or audio representations; names and descriptions of characters, spells, enchantments, personalities, teams, personas, likenesses and special abilities; places, locations, environments, creatures, equipment, magical or supernatural abilities or effects, logos, symbols, or graphic designs; and any other trademark or registered trademark clearly identified as Product identity by the owner of the Product Identity, and which specifically excludes the Open Game Content; (f) "Trademark" means the logos, names, mark, sign, motto, designs that are used by a Contributor to identify itself or its products or the associated products contributed to the Open Game License by the Contributor (g) "Use", "Used" or "Using" means to use, Distribute, copy, edit, format, modify, translate and otherwise create Derivative Material of Open Game Content. (h) "You" or "Your" means the licensee in terms of this agreement.

2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains a notice indicating that the Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of this License. You must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content that you Use. No terms may be added to or subtracted from this License except as described by the License itself. No other terms or conditions may be applied to any Open Game Content distributed using this License.

3.Offer and Acceptance: By Using the Open Game Content You indicate Your acceptance of the terms of this License.

4. Grant and Consideration: In consideration for agreeing to use this License, the Contributors grant You a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license with the exact terms of this License to Use, the Open Game Content.

5.Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are contributing original material as Open Game Content, You represent that Your Contributions are Your original creation and/or You have sufficient rights to grant the rights conveyed by this License.

6.Notice of License Copyright: You must update the COPYRIGHT NOTICE portion of this License to include the exact text of the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any Open Game Content You are copying, modifying or distributing, and You must add the title, the copyright date, and the copyright holder's name to the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any original Open Game Content you Distribute.

7. Use of Product Identity: You agree not to Use any Product Identity, including as an indication as to compatibility, except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of each element of that Product Identity. You agree not to indicate compatibility or co-adaptability with any Trademark or Registered Trademark in conjunction with a work containing Open Game Content except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of such Trademark or Registered Trademark. The use of any Product Identity in Open Game Content does not constitute a challenge to the ownership of that Product Identity. The owner of any Product Identity used in Open Game Content shall retain all rights, title and interest in and to that Product Identity.

8. Identification: If you distribute Open Game Content You must clearly indicate which portions of the work that you are distributing are Open Game Content.

9. Updating the License: Wizards or its designated Agents may publish updated versions of this License. You may use any authorized version of this License to copy, modify and distribute any Open Game Content originally distributed under any version of this License.

10 Copy of this License: You MUST include a copy of this License with every copy of the Open Game Content You Distribute.

11. Use of Contributor Credits: You may not market or advertise the Open Game Content using the name of any Contributor unless You have written permission from the Contributor to do so.

12 Inability to Comply: If it is impossible for You to comply with any of the terms of this License with respect to some or all of the Open Game Content due to statute, judicial order, or governmental regulation then You may not Use any Open Game Material so affected.

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15 COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Open Game License v 1.0 Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

System Reference Document Copyright 2000-2003, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Rich Baker, Andy Collins, David Noonan, Rich Redman, Bruce R. Cordell, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.

Modern System Reference Doument Copyright 2002, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Bill Slavicsek, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Charles Ryan, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Richard Baker, Peter Adkison, Bruce R. Cordell, John Tynes, Andy Collins, and JD Walker.

Swords of Our Fathers Copyright 2003, The Game Mechanics.

Mutants & Masterminds Copyright 2002, Green Ronin Publishing.

Unearthed Arcana Copyright 2004, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Andy Collins, Jesse Decker, David Noonan, Rich Redman.

Epic Meepoââ,¬â,,¢s forum posts at www.thecbg.org Copyright 2006-2007, E.W. Morton.

Cebexia, Tapestry of the Gods Copyright 2006-2007, the Campaign Builder's Guild.[/spoiler]

CYMRO

Quote from: Epic MeepoPersonally, for evil heally things, I like to use black light (appropriately enough).

And I always let healers describe things in terms of flashy light effects.  Anything less makes them significantly less cool (visually) than the mage who's hurling bolts of lightning and balls of fire.

Good idea.  Gotta give healers their due.  What they do is just as significant as the blaster casters.