After the delightful examples of Bon Mot, time for the next step. So we can use it, how do we get rid of it.
part of the description of the Bon Mot feat:
The target can end the effect early with a retort to your Bon Mot. This can either be a single action that has the concentrate trait or an appropriate skill action to frame their retort. The GM determines which skill actions qualify, though they must take at least 1 action. Typically, the retort needs to use a linguistic Charisma-based skill action.
The question is how to read this. Should it be read as:
1) The target can end the effect early with a retort to your Bon Mot.
2) This can either be a single action that has the concentrate trait, or
3) An appropriate skill action to frame their retort. The GM determines which skill actions qualify, though they must take at least 1 action. Typically, the retort needs to use a linguistic Charisma-based skill action.
Or as:
1) The target can end the effect early with a retort to your Bon Mot.
2) This can either be a single action that has the concentrate trait, or an appropriate skill action to frame their retort.
3) The GM determines which skill actions qualify, though they must take at least 1 action. Typically, the retort needs to use a linguistic Charisma-based skill action.
In the first example, one could use any concentration trait action, Demoralize, perform, even cast a spell, recall knowledge.
In the second, the action is always the retort which typically uses a Linguistic Charisma based skill. So you'd have to answer with a quib of your own, using a Cha skill.
Thoughts?
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Second.
Countering a Bon Mot with a spell doesn't make any sense.
Though "FIREBALL" seems like an effective comeback from pretty much any insult.
I guess it's more of a case by case kinda ability.Kind of.
The single action with the concentrate trait option is universally applicable. It's just what else also works that is GM determined.
So a one action spell like True Strike, which is verbal, thus concentrate, would it or would it not end the Bon Mot? Or does it need to be a skill action? not clear from your answer.
Blave: yes, Fireball would work. Wasn't fireball the solution to everything? Or was that 42?
Blave: yes, Fireball would work. Wasn't fireball the solution to everything? Or was that 42?
It was 42 fireballs, obviously.
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My reading of the ability was that the first option was its own unique activity. You make no check, but it does have the concentrate tab, and the GM should ask what you say in response, or focus on to get over the emotional suffering of your enemy's sharp words.
Alternatively, rather than spending an action to accomplish nothing, you can engage in a skill action relevant to the quip itself, to demonstrate your prowess and possibly accomplish something else with that action.
Personally I think it is much more fun to require that that action succeed to clear the ability, especially since the ability can be cleared without a check by just spending an action on it. But I think the clearest reading of the rules by RAW would be that just focusing on trying to complete that skill, success or not, gets you out of the funk that gives you the penalty.
Seems hard for a raging Barbarian to counter Bon Mot. Which sounds oddly appropriate.
Demoralize is a suggested solution above, which is something a raging barb can do with raging intimidation. So maybe not so difficult.
Is there a DC for a skill action to end the effect? And does an action with the concentrate trait automatically do it?
Is there a DC for a skill action to end the effect? And does an action with the concentrate trait automatically do it?
No and yes, it reads. No matter how bad you are at something, to do it is to end it. Or the one concentrate action.
Barbarians also have access to GREATAXE, which is great for countering all sorts of things, including mouthy quipsters. A few liberal applications and no more Bon Mots.Seems hard for a raging Barbarian to counter Bon Mot. Which sounds oddly appropriate.Demoralize is a suggested solution above, which is something a raging barb can do with raging intimidation. So maybe not so difficult.
LOL.
On the other hand, just recently one such quipster did just that, while protected by a ranger and liberator, and did not only that, but also used a flimsy whip to drop the barb prone, twice, which got him crit twice by aforementioned martials during his humiliating struggle to get back to his feet.
Buy that aside, Nyhme raises some interesting questions. Countering the effects would be difficult under those circumstances.
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Here's a question. If you used bon mot on a creature that was under the effects of comprehend languages. Since the counter says typically a charisma based linguistic skill. If you didnt understand their language, would they be able to counter the effect? The linguistic trait specifically says the skill only works if the target understands.
Also, bon mot delivered via the message spell. If you're hiding 30 feet away so they cant see you and so cant reply to the message. Are they able to counter? I just love the idea of stealthing up to the target and whispering "theyre all gonna laugh at you!" And the target randomly shouting out to nothing.
Obviously if a non linguistic skill is being used then it would work. But i mean if you tell an fire elemental in ignan that his wife shags water elementals so she can snort fleyleaf for cheap. What in their skill repetior would be an ideal counter?
It doesn't matter if you hear them or not, they make the retort to feel better about themselves. They don't even have to roll, just waste an action. It's like disarm loosening their grip. They can keep the penalty or waste an action removing the penalty.
Seems hard for a raging Barbarian to counter Bon Mot. Which sounds oddly appropriate.
The only counter is for him to kill the being using Bon Mot on him.
I've been thinking about this. I was wondering how other folks run it. So far I've been nice and just allowed a concentrate action to get rid of the condition. I could see an intimidate doing it as well or a similar appropriate action like a Bon Mot back.
Depending on the quip, I have no problem letting a character use a skill action to counter the Bon Mot either. Like if the quip was about how weak the barbarian looked, I'd let them use an athletics check to grab the offender counter the Bon Mot as well