I totally get why it's in there, but as a biologist and educator, the use of phrenology in Occult Adventures kinda irrationally bugs me. Anyone got suggestions for an alternate occult use of the Knowledge (Arcana) Skill Unlock? My first thought was auras, but that's already taken.
I'm surprised the other occult skill unlocks don't bug you as well.
I'm surprised the other occult skill unlocks don't bug you as well.
Or that I'm playing a game with any bit of make-believe ;)
Nah, the other ones I can willingly suspend my disbelief enough to allow them to work in a fantasy context. Phrenology though? Just pushes my limits too far.
I think the simplest thing to do would be to reflavour it to be abit more... supernatural rather than by using callipers and checking for bumps. By touching and examining a skull, someone with psychic sensitivity and knowledge of how magic works can tap into the residual mental energy that is stuck in the skull of the person to rip information out of it. Though, that still might not be enough away from phrenology for you since this is a subjective matter.
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Phrenology also doesn't make much sense in a world where some of the most intelligent beings are evil psychic fishes, giant flying fire-lizards, and literal hellspawn. Do aboleths even have skulls?
Phrenology also doesn't make much sense in a world where some of the most intelligent beings are evil psychic fishes, giant flying fire-lizards, and literal hellspawn. Do aboleths even have skulls?
Or Elder Things - they don't even have HEADS!
Phrenology also doesn't make much sense in a world where some of the most intelligent beings are evil psychic fishes, giant flying fire-lizards, and literal hellspawn. Do aboleths even have skulls?
This is a big part of my issue. Hell, even just going from human to could be an issue if orcs have even a small sagittal crest. Ironically, I almost included an example of aboleth skulls in my last post.
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I had similar issues, so this is the way I rationalize it:
You put your hands on opposite sides of the subject's head, send a gentle psychic pulse from one hand to the other, make your skill check, and determine that the subject is a female human paladin who isn't as experienced as you are.
She then asks you for her money back.
While yes, phrenology doesn't work and has even been used to rationalize racist rhetoric, Pathfinder has a history of using magic to force pseudo-science to work (as well as avoiding bigoted stances). So I figure it's less about learning about someone by measuring their head as much as empathizing basic information about someone by touching their head. Like magical neurology instead.
These ideas are some alternative concepts that you would have to flesh out with proper game mechanics.
1) Attunement: you are sensitive to the ebb and flow of magic. Once per day you sense a significant magical event (if there are any). I imagine this being a little like Darth Vader sensing a disturbance in the force.
2) Astrology: once per week on a starry night you can see the portents of significant events in the stars and receive some clues as to what the future may hold, maybe in the form of a riddle or cryptic clue?
3) Spellbreaking: once per day, as a full round action, you can sense the weak point in any one spell allowing you to dispel it with a successful skill roll. On a successful roll you can elect to avoid the magic without dispelling it.
4) Secret Lore: after one week of intensive study you can determine the secret command word that lets you activate one magic item (sort of like a true name for a magic item). From that time onwards you can always activate that item even if you do not meet the alignment, class etc. requirements.
I would allow players to change it to palmistry or tea leaf reading or any other kind of "psychic" reading that requires physical contact.