Bard's Exalt

Fizz · Post by **Fizz** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:41 am

Hi all-

The Bard ability Exalt has the relevant ability (Charisma) beside it, indicating that this is an attribute check. But, what is one making a check against? What are the modifiers? I mean, what makes singing the praises of somebody more or less difficult?

-Fizz

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 4:13 am

Well, you have to make a check against the bard's charisma in order to get the bonus to work at all.

You could also have a good ole' fashioned Exalt Off! Whereas the bard who beats his charisma check by a greater amount wins the contest!!!

........................................Omote

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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 12:27 pm

I'd make it a check against the number of people to be exalted. As long as the check succeeds (against the base,) it affects a number up to the point of the failure. So, for example, 10 people are to be affected, and the bard rolls a total of 18. That's 6 more than the base 12, so 6 of 10 are exalted.

StealthSuitStanley · Post by **StealthSuitStanley** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 1:18 pm

Fizz,

The way the SEIGE engine works is through choosing primes. Any attempt to perform an action requires an ability check. The base for the ability check is 18. i.e. the player must roll an 18 including all bonuses. Where primes come into play is by reducing the base to 12 when checking against a prime ability. i.e. a bard makes an exalt check against his charisma. Since Charisma must be chosen as prime as part of the character class, the player must roll 12 including any bonuses in effect for the check. Another advantage with the seige engine is that when a character makes a check against an ability that is included as a class abilities, they add their level to the die roll. Thus, a 4th level bard with 18 charisma must roll a 12 to succeed. The player rolls 5 + 4 (level) +3 (CHA bonus) = 12. Thus the bard suceeds.

The greatness of the SEIGE engine is that any character can attempt anything, including a similitude of the Bard's exalt ability. What makes the bard so much better at it is the addition of their level bonus. i.e., a fighter with 16 CHA prime attempts to exalt another character. player rolls 11 + 1 (CHA bonus) = 12. Thus the player suceeds. This may be something the CK will need to adjucate.

I also think Omote and Serl have good ideas in the application of the ability.
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Fizz · Post by **Fizz** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 2:23 pm

StealthSuitStanley wrote:
The way the SEIGE engine works is through choosing primes.

Um, no offense, but i did read the book. I know how the system works. This is not my question.

Unlike other abilities Exalt does not an obvious set of parameters to define the CL of the task. What makes using Exalt more difficult in one case and easier in another?

For example, Legend Lore has obvious sets of parameters to determine the CL: how rare is the information? how complex is it? Etc.

What makes Exalt more difficult?

-Fizz

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 2:47 pm

Fizz wrote:
What makes Exalt more difficult?

Nothing at all. Although, Serleran has a nifty idea on how to affect a certain amount of people. As I read it, as long as you make the CHA check, then everybody with 60 feet of you that is an ally gets the +2.

.......................................Omote

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Fizz · Post by **Fizz** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 5:38 pm

Omote wrote:
Nothing at all. Although, Serleran has a nifty idea on how to affect a certain amount of people. As I read it, as long as you make the CHA check, then everybody with 60 feet of you that is an ally gets the +2.FPQ

I also had an idea about the CL varying with characters of higher level. That is- might a high level target be less likely affected by Exalt that if the target were a low level target? Basically, might more experienced people be more difficult to influence- less room for improvement?

What about the situation? Might it be easier or more difficult to inspire people in a nearly hopeless situation? "What's the point of trying... we're dead anyways..."

Thoughts?

-Fizz

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 5:52 pm

There could potentially be a great many factoris that could modify an Exalt check, you bring up a few good suggestions. Other modifiers might be:

The bard is giving a speach while at a podium in front of a large crowd, possibly in an auditorium.

A bard could beseech the people around him by cutting himself and spilling his own blood on the ground to make the point to the audience.

A particularly hard bunch of people to convince of anything, such as a group of downtrodden slaves.

Just some thoughts.

.............................................Omote

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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 6:15 pm

I just add what I think are situational modifiers. They have that chart showing what range CL's fall in, such as easy, difficult, heroic, or whatever adjectives they use.

So I look at the situation and derive as fair a CL as I can and then that is the modifier.

Such as exalting in combat, I handle that the same way I handle my feats. Presuming that the Bard is actually in combat. The CL is the average HD of the opponents that could hit the Bard, which is usually the HD of whoever the Bard is fighting since I often have the bad guys equal in HD.

Giving a speech to rally the peasantry? I just have to decide how reluctant they are to fight and assign a CL accordingly.

So bascially you just have to look at the situation in which the exalt is being attempted, then assign what you consider a fair CL. Or even say it automatically succeeds if you see no reason for failure.

Thats how I have been handling it, anyways.

moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 12:59 am

How bout something as simple as how well can the 'targets' of the Exalt can hear the bard? Depending on the environment the bard is in, other noise may drown the Bard out.

Just an idea but I think Omote and Treebore have a solid lead... Serl's idea is nifty too!

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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 1:06 am

Quote:
Might it be easier or more difficult to inspire people in a nearly hopeless situation? "What's the point of trying... we're dead anyways..."

Sure, one can impose morale / cadence modifiers if they wish. I would still treat the end result as I stated before, only the base would increase, or decrease, based on said modifiers. For example, a group of drunkards in a rip-roaring tavern hall need to be exalted for some reason. The CK decides the dunkenness makes them inattentive (-2), and the place is loud (-2), but they are gullible and easily duped, for a +2, ending with a total of -2. There are 6 of them, and the Bard is 6th level, witha Charisma Prime of 15. He rolls a 13, for a total of 21, which is 7 above the needed 14, and exalts them all.

serleran · Post by **serleran** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:25 pm

It would very ineffectual if the ability were based against the HD / level of the intended recipients. Therefore, the difficulty is based on the situation, and what, and how, the bard is trying to use the ability. Because there is no limit, in theory, to the number of people that can be affected, I would probably call for a difficulty based on the audience, their willingness to be exalted, and whatnot. That might be construed as being too mean, though, so you can simply use a flat check... which is against a difficulty of zero.