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I'm re-posting this suggestion from the Alpha threads (and the 'Cleric, Druid and Paladin' thread):
I have been thinking about giving all spellcasters a free class feature: 'Arcane/Divine/Nature's Flavour', which is essentially a modified version of the 'Spell thematics' (Metamagic Feat in FR). This Feat essentially lets you add some theme (flavour) to your arcane spells -- your version of the 'Shield' spell might manifest as green flames enveloping your body, or maybe your 'Greater Magic Weapon' makes your weapon glow golden (to give two examples). You don't really benefit from this Feat in 3E -- Spellcraft check DCs to identify your spells (e.g. when an enemy tried to counterspell them) increase by +5, but that's hardly worth spending a Feat. Well, I have to admit that I *have* taken it a couple of times just add some unique flavour to my PC's spells.
Psionics also have different types of 'manifestations' that you can freely choose -- e.g. it might be a sensory or olfactory "flavour". And Ars Magica lets you choose a "sigil" for all your spells which is always unique (and therefore acts as a 'calling card' for your spells).
I have given almost all NPCs (and many PCs, too) of all the spellcasting classes the ability to flavour their spells however they wanted, but unlike 'Spell Thematics', my version has no mechanical effect at all. For example, isn't it kind of cool when that evil Druid casts 'Flame Blade' and a blade of poison-green blade appears? Or when the ancient elven cleric casts 'Flame Strike', a cascade of bright, burning stars sear his foes? Or the half-fiend evil conjurer might summon his minion creatures among a burst of ethereal, heatless flames. A Magic Missile spell cast by a bard might manifest as bolts which are whistling as they soar at his enemies. And so on.
As it would be a "flavour-only" kind of ability, why couldn't all the spellcasters get this as a class ability in PF? I know that it's easy to "houserule" in, but I also know many DMs who always play "by the book", and do not allow any sort of "tweaking" or "houseruling". As this would not take up a lot of space (i.e. it does not have any mechanical effects), perhaps it could be included "officially" in the game -- as an optional rule in a sidebar, if not nothing else?
Jason, any chance for something like this?
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just for conenient sakei am not reposting here exactly a i did *winks*
but i believe there should eb a sidebar who allows players to describe their spells as they better see fit, this should not add any mechanism or benefits or drawbacks... just let people to have something writen than would let them get some flavor in what they cast.
i would hate this to be a feat... i mean its ridiculous to think that every wizard cast the same exactly fireball... or that all gods give the same kind of spells even when they have domain over different areas, and this casterslearn this from the moment they learn magic, they should not be charged by this
everyone of us have gone to school, but as we are teached mostly the same things in the first years a lot of how we learn and apply it is molded and modified by how we learn it, where we study it, who teaches us... not only what lesson we learn but how to apply them, i have seen mathemathicians apply different procedures to the same equation... yet they get the same answer...
its the same with spells...
maybe you have a necromancer whose fireball is ghostly-blue and when it hits you feel as the horrible fire doesn't burns you bt drains your lifeasit was burning your soul, while that of an evoker would be firy red and burn you altoguether
the spell is the same... it would do the same with no difference on mechanics, bu the flavor is different...
my cleric for examplealways uses her sword and shield to cast (they have engraved the simbol of Iomedae, and the sowrd atually is here holy symbol), she to cast create water, wouldtake the blade with both hands while praying and cutherself,and from the wounds there would come watter instead of blood
her spells of light or anything that produces fires would produce a silvery fire with golden sparks
etc...
So long as this is done purely for flavor and has no impact on the DCs for characters using Spellcraft to identify these spells, I am behind this idea 100%. Spell Thematics should be rolled into the existing rules for magic - they are NOT worth spending an entire Feat on.
I'm not sure why this posting exists twice, but here's what I said in the other.
I guess I don't see why this needs to be included as a class ability. If there's no mechanical aspect, then it's up to the player to describe it how he or she wants.
It's really the responsibilty of the DM to enable his players to have fun doing the things they want with their characters. If you're really worried about jerk DM's, you could throw in a few sentances in the magic chapter that say, "The player may choose how his or her spell appears. This grants no mechanical benefit. A spell cannot be made invisible in this way, but a player may choose to make an invisible spell visible."
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I'm not sure why this posting exists twice, but here's what I said in the other.
I guess I don't see why this needs to be included as a class ability. If there's no mechanical aspect, then it's up to the player to describe it how he or she wants.
It's really the responsibilty of the DM to enable his players to have fun doing the things they want with their characters. If you're really worried about jerk DM's, you could throw in a few sentances in the magic chapter that say, "The player may choose how his or her spell appears. This grants no mechanical benefit. A spell cannot be made invisible in this way, but a player may choose to make an invisible spell visible."
One of the reasons I'd like to see it included in the game is that new DMs and players would probably feel more "at ease" with the magic system, and use their creativity with their spells right from the start (this is probably why they included this in 4E, too). Another reason is to "shake up" some long traditions in some groups which mostly play "by the book" -- I've even heard DMs saying that since it's a Feat in 3E, it's still only possible via that same Feat, unless the PF RPG will change it.
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So long as this is done purely for flavor and has no impact on the DCs for characters using Spellcraft to identify these spells, I am behind this idea 100%. Spell Thematics should be rolled into the existing rules for magic - they are NOT worth spending an entire Feat on.
Agreed -- it should be free. Sadly, not all DMs agree on this.
If we add this to everyone's casting, then the +5 to spellcraft DC becomes unnecessary.
In any case, I'm all in favor of this. There's no potential for abuse, and it's just darn cool. I'd actually also like to add in a "caster effects" clause, basically letting players describe cool minor things on the order of Prestidigitation happening to their characters when casting. So, maybe a Sorcerer who tosses out a fireball has flames curl up his body, twisting around his feat and up his chest until they come to a point in his hand which he closes... and there's an explosion 400 ft away, or his voice deepens preternaturally and his eyes glow when he casts Dominate Person. Maybe a Wizard casts Lightning Bolt and his clothes seem to be enveloped in buffets of wind and he floats an inch about the ground for a moment or two. Stuff like that. Stuff that any DM following the Rule of Cool would allow, only made explicit.
Agreed -- it should be free. Sadly, not all DMs agree on this.
You have a point in that Rules Lawyers won't allow anything if the book doesn't explicitly says so, but then I don't care much about them. In fact, when I see a DM forcing you to roll base height/age/weight or imposing class stereotypes the first thing I do is leave.
I always narrate myself my spells at the moment I declare my action, if a DM doesn't like it that's his problem, not mine.
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good points mentioned still a sidebar would do lots to help return the soul to spellcasting, it gives an option to unexperienced players and its a helpful note for experienced players...
still Dogbert is right, sometimes one needs to shows his likings to these he play and be damned what they think... specially if it has no mechanical consequences.