Spells & SLAs as flavor instead of "magic"


Pathfinder Society

Grand Lodge

I am creating a "Lucky Halfling" Cleric with the Luck and Liberation Domains, Variant Channeling:Luck, Adaptable Luck, etc.

I would like to use the granted spells to emulate having a lucky Halfling around.

Assuming that I do not alter the Somatic, Verbal, Material needs of a spell, and by RAW the effects would still be a spell for all purposes, would anyone see a DM in PFS having a problem this? Note - I do not want to change the type bonus on a spell, only the flavor.

Examples -

Command - "DROP" - The creature trips at an opportune moment

Bless - everyone gets a little bit more "lucky"

Entropic Shield - lucky miss

Sanctuary - Enemy fumbles weapon when about to attack

Liberation Granted Power (freedom of movement) - The Creature Grappling me in its maw sneezes and I am free

ETC

So long as I do not change the requirements or effects, could the flavor of just getting lucky all the time be accepted at the table for PFS?

Thank you all in advance for your opinions.

Grand Lodge 2/5 RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

Is anything changing mechanically for anyone involved?

Is command still language-dependent and mind-affecting? Can NPCs still identify what you're casting with Spellcraft? Would it be any harder than normal for someone to recognizing that you were casting a spell in the first place?

4/5

My understanding is you can't reflavor in PFS. I would say most gm's I've seen don't care if you reflavor, just expect table variation on that.

The Exchange 5/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

and I am sure that someone on the board will object to this, I'm just wondering how many posts it will take for them to do so...

(it looks fine by me - realizing that this is dependant on the statement that "nothing is changing mechanically for anyone involved")

Liberty's Edge 5/5

As long as it doesn't mechanically change anything and there aren't already rules for your reflavor, fluff it up. Just don't expect any advantages for your fluff other than a smile for some cool roleplay.

5/5

Yeah, I'm not sure how much I even see this as re-flavoring, so much as being more descriptive than the spells descriptions normally are. Maybe I'm biased though. My incredibly dumb bard-barian dragon disciple casts heroism by poking someone and yelling "BE A HERO!" at the top of her lungs.

Grand Lodge

Jiggy wrote:

Is anything changing mechanically for anyone involved?

Is command still language-dependent and mind-affecting? Can NPCs still identify what you're casting with Spellcraft? Would it be any harder than normal for someone to recognizing that you were casting a spell in the first place?

Nothing would be changeing mechanically so as not to disturb the hundreds of nuances of game play. I just do not want to "cast spells". I want to have "luck" for myself and my party.

Perhaps my character just doesn't know that the "lucky gestures and sounds" he does is actually a spell...

Love the responses so far. Thank you, all.

Grand Lodge 2/5 RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

Shoemaker wrote:
Perhaps my character just doesn't know that the "lucky gestures and sounds" he does is actually a spell...

I'll admit, this type of thing grates on me and really hurts my sense of immersion. How does someone spend an hour each morning requesting individual spells (and the specific number of each) from his deity without realizing he's doing so? I could get behind it a little more with a spontaneous caster, but a prepared caster literally decides each morning what they can do and how often. To do that, then claim not to realize what you're doing, all while having a solid WIS score... It creates a level of internal inconsistency/paradox/self-contradiction that really bothers me.

But you know what? That's me, and only me. This game's big enough for the both of us. I may not want to be at a table with that specific PC, but you've got every right to enjoy the game your way, so if you're having fun with it, knock yourself out! :)

Grand Lodge

Jiggy wrote:
Shoemaker wrote:
Perhaps my character just doesn't know that the "lucky gestures and sounds" he does is actually a spell...
How does someone spend an hour each morning requesting individual spells (and the specific number of each) from his deity without realizing he's doing so? I could get behind it a little more with a spontaneous caster, but a prepared caster literally decides each morning what they can do and how often. To do that, then claim not to realize what you're doing, all while having a solid WIS score... It creates a level of internal inconsistency/paradox/self-contradiction that really bothers me.

This is a very good point.

I had not considered the act of preparing spells required each day as it definitely removes the oblivious concept.

I would not enjoy playing a character that disturbed anyone else's enjoyment of the game and I appreciate your honest feedback, Jiggy.

I suppose I can just make the verbal and semantic components small prayers to Desna. I can even come up with a list of fun halfling twists on common luck phrases.

C'mon Desna, Daddy needs a new foot waxing!

5/5 5/55/55/5

Jiggy wrote:
I'll admit, this type of thing grates on me and really hurts my sense of immersion. How does someone spend an hour each morning requesting individual spells (and the specific number of each) from his deity without realizing he's doing so?

The player requests specific spells. Maybe the character wonders why some strange, otherworldly being has filled their head with magic.

Grand Lodge 2/5 RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

BigNorseWolf wrote:
The player requests specific spells.

I think that's stretching things a bit. Everything we know about the world and its interactions with spellcasters (purchasing spellcasting services, the ability to leave slots open to fill with spells of your choice later that day, the ability to prepare spells tomorrow to specifically deal with afflictions gained today and even choosing how many shots at success you want, etc.) suggests that the CHARACTERS are making those decisions.


Maybe he just plays Solitaire in the morning.

The Exchange 5/5

"wow - guess it was lucky I asked for those spells, right?"

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