Strength to UMD trait - Brutal Manipulation


Homebrew and House Rules

The Exchange

Brutal Manipulation (Equipment trait)
There were many magical influences in your life, but you never took to using them as others did. Often frustrated by these foreign objects, you found that pushing them almost to the breaking point could release some magical energies.
You may add your Strength modifier to the Use Magic Device skill instead of your Charisma modifier. If you roll a 1 on such a Use Magic Device check, however, the item gains the broken condition and the function your were attempting to activate becomes unavailable until the item is fixed (for example, a wand will be deactivated until it is repaired and one day passes).


Equipment that can't perform up to spec gets replaced. Equipment that won't perform gets abused until it will, or until it can't.

Schlock Mercenary 2001

The Exchange

Goddity wrote:

Equipment that can't perform up to spec gets replaced. Equipment that won't perform gets abused until it will, or until it can't.

Schlock Mercenary 2001

You, Goddity, are the funniest person I've met on these boards.

You never fail to cheer me up, thanks!


Thanks.

More seriously: Its an interesting trait, and it exists because, let me guess, a fighter type character needs to use a wand? This works balance wise until you realize that this makes wand casting a strength based skill and can be used when raging, with the raging strength buff, without needing to end the rage to cast. That would be beautiful for rage prophets.


Goddity wrote:

Thanks.

More seriously: Its an interesting trait, and it exists because, let me guess, a fighter type character needs to use a wand? This works balance wise until you realize that this makes wand casting a strength based skill and can be used when raging, with the raging strength buff, without needing to end the rage to cast. That would be beautiful for rage prophets.

You could argue that trying to make something work so hard that it does "requires concentration," so a barbarian couldn't technically do Str-based UMD even with this trait. I will agree, though, that Str-based UMD could prove to be a touch overpowered. I'd say that they get a -5 to the check as part of the trait, to reflect the fact that their wand/scroll/whatever is pretty likely to explode because of the brutal manipulation.


I have to admit I'd be willing to tolerate UMD done based on any mental stat but once you start going for physical stats that's a little too far for me. Both the flavour and the game balance seem off to me. Some people just shouldn't have access to magic.


Actually I never understood why it was CHA in the first place. INT makes much more sense.


Why is channeling based on charisma? Personally I feel that too many are focused on the physical appearance aspect of the ability. To me charisma is knowing how to convince others to see things your way, whether it's the shop keeper you're bartering with, the city guard you're attempting to deceive, the divine will you're attempting to bend to your aid or the arcane force that you attempt to focus without necessarily understanding it properly.


Channeling might be more of a balance thing. Otherwise clerics could just take wis and str and con and make melee builds without losing anything.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Goddity wrote:
Actually I never understood why it was CHA in the first place. INT makes much more sense.

Not really, when you consider that the inspiration for UMD and it's grandfather, Chance To Use Magic Device, are characters like the Grey Mouser and Arthur Fonzirelli.


Charisma is, essentially, your ability to impress yourself and your will on the world. You can kind of imagine it as your personal force of will in terms of applying yourself. Wisdom is your force of will in terms of keeping the world from forcing itself on you.

Str:Cha
Dex:Int
Con:Wis

So UMD being Charisma based is saying, "You can't normally do this. You aren't trained. But you're making it happen anyways, because you're cheating the system and forcing the magic to flow, despite never having an operator's manual."


I'd say this would work if you changed from "if you roll a 1" to "if you fail the check by 5 or more OR roll a natural 1."

This means you can do it, but you'd better have a good UMD score or you're going to snap that wand every day. Getting it as a class skill would help.

I want to make a character that uses this.

The Exchange

Good idea Inlaa! I'd add your condition to it
I originally thought that I would only need a little penalties because I wanted Martials to have nice things, but you guys have pointed out to me just how good that is (broken-OP).


Not really convinced that it is broken really. Is it more balanced that a sorcerer can use umd to activate cleric scrolls like a boss? If so, why do you think that?


Quote:
I originally thought that I would only need a little penalties because I wanted Martials to have nice things, but you guys have pointed out to me just how good that is (broken-OP).

Why do I feel shame? I was not made to feel emotions.

Honestly, the more I think about it, the more I feel the part about "if you roll a 1" isn't necessary if you have the "if you fail the check by <x> or more." Again, I'd keep 5 as <x>.

Essentially, if your character is REALLY trained at smacking a wand against the wall until it starts sparking, then your character shouldn't have a chance of breaking it.

You can also still use CHA at times when you don't want to risk the wand breaking.


Inlaa wrote:

Essentially, if your character is REALLY trained at smacking a wand against the wall until it starts sparking, then your character shouldn't have a chance of breaking it.

(paraphrased slightly)

"I thought I'd join you guys, I got a uniform form a dead soldier."

"What? You can't do that! We are trained professionals! "

"What about the guy trying to break a mine open with a rock?"

"Well... He's uh... trained to do .... that."

KABOOOM!!!

"Welcome Aboard! "

Gone with the Blastwave


I fully support the concept, especially if it can also be applied to making technology work as well. Add a mechanism for stuff to blow up in your face rather than just breaking and it's golden.

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