In response to the constant displeasure with Viscanti abilities in influencing, I'm suggesting a racial ability be added so that they can choose to become more (though still only moderately) charismatic in exchange for intelligence. +2 CHA for -2 INT. This is referencing the initial powers of Ladantine in being able to disguise his appearance from other races.
I also hope that it fits the original concept of the race, that they are quite aristocratic and vain, and will gladly exert significant power in order to make themselves appear to regain their former beauty.
I'm not sure if -2 int is enough of a disadvantage, but I think it would be. Anyway, here is how I would implement it:
It requires balance and equilibrium, and 5 seconds of uninterrupted focus. Any action in this time dispels the process entirely. It should require, say 200 mana, and 100 willpower. A power cost is optional, but as a racial skill I don't think that would be considered.
An example:
> MASQUERADE AS MUGWUMP
Drawing on the unfathomable powers of the Taint, your features begin to morph into those of a regular Mugwump.
> CLOT
You focus your mind on clotting. (whatever)
Distracted, you lose your focus and the masquerade dissipates.
> MASQUERADE AS FAELING
Drawing on the unfathomable powers of the Taint, your features begin to morph into those of a regular Faeling.
(5 seconds later)
The illusion is complete and you focus a portion of your mind on maintaining the flawless masquerade.
Afterwards, their honors would be changed to reflect the new race, but their description would remain unchanged. Very similar to the changeself illusion, but with the two stat changes.
One extra thing that would be nice, but probably too much effort is if the first race you masquerade as becomes the only one you can use.
Any thoughts, particularly from Viscanti characters?
I also hope that it fits the original concept of the race, that they are quite aristocratic and vain, and will gladly exert significant power in order to make themselves appear to regain their former beauty.
I'm not sure if -2 int is enough of a disadvantage, but I think it would be. Anyway, here is how I would implement it:
QUOTE(HELP VISCANTI)
4.14.18 The Viscanti Race
The viscanti are unlike most of the other races because they did not
originate from the fragmentation of an Elder God. Rather, the viscanti
came into being as victims of the Taint at the time of the Fall of the
Celestine Empire. The viscanti were originally members of the other
native Lusternian races who were directly caught in the Taint and whose
forms became twisted, just as the land became twisted. Through years of
interbreeding, they have become recognized as a race unto themselves.
Generally, they are of a demonic appearance though some viscanti retain
vestigial characteristics of other races, such as wings of trills (though
bat-like and ineffective for flying) or pointed ears of the elfen. The
greater viscanti have the ability to breathe poison gas. Although most
reside in the Magnagora and neighboring tainted land, a few viscanti have
been known to become "reformed" and live in other civilized areas.
STATISTICS:
Strength  : 13  Dexterity : 10  Constitution: 14
Intelligence: 12  Charisma  : 10  Size    : 13
ADVANTAGES:
 o Can breathe poison gas upon reaching level 50.
 o Can MASQUERADE as other races upon reaching level 50.
 o Regenerate health and mana while in Tainted land, level 2. (Just because I'm jealous!
)
 o Immune from poison gas.
 o Resistance to poison damage, level 1.
 o Resistance to blunt damage, level 1.
 o Resistance to cutting damage, level 1.
 o Special: Upon gaining the Geomancy specialization or Nihilist
  specialization, a viscanti becomes a Master Viscanti with statistics
  changing by -2 strength, -2 dexterity, +3 intelligence and +2
  charisma. Viscanti warriors who choose the necromancy path, upon
  gaining the necromancy specialization become a Brood Viscanti with
  statistics changing by -3 intelligence, -1 charisma, +3 strength,
  +2 dexterity, +2 constitution and +2 size.
DISADVANTAGES:
 o Heal more slowly from elixirs, level 2.
Masquerade: Using the powers of the taint, a skilled Viscanti can MASQUERADE AS to conceal their true nature. This ability will require intense mental concentration to maintain, but will increase a Viscanti's charismatic charm when dealing with the peoples of the basin.
The viscanti are unlike most of the other races because they did not
originate from the fragmentation of an Elder God. Rather, the viscanti
came into being as victims of the Taint at the time of the Fall of the
Celestine Empire. The viscanti were originally members of the other
native Lusternian races who were directly caught in the Taint and whose
forms became twisted, just as the land became twisted. Through years of
interbreeding, they have become recognized as a race unto themselves.
Generally, they are of a demonic appearance though some viscanti retain
vestigial characteristics of other races, such as wings of trills (though
bat-like and ineffective for flying) or pointed ears of the elfen. The
greater viscanti have the ability to breathe poison gas. Although most
reside in the Magnagora and neighboring tainted land, a few viscanti have
been known to become "reformed" and live in other civilized areas.
STATISTICS:
Strength  : 13  Dexterity : 10  Constitution: 14
Intelligence: 12  Charisma  : 10  Size    : 13
ADVANTAGES:
 o Can breathe poison gas upon reaching level 50.
 o Can MASQUERADE as other races upon reaching level 50.
 o Regenerate health and mana while in Tainted land, level 2. (Just because I'm jealous!
) o Immune from poison gas.
 o Resistance to poison damage, level 1.
 o Resistance to blunt damage, level 1.
 o Resistance to cutting damage, level 1.
 o Special: Upon gaining the Geomancy specialization or Nihilist
  specialization, a viscanti becomes a Master Viscanti with statistics
  changing by -2 strength, -2 dexterity, +3 intelligence and +2
  charisma. Viscanti warriors who choose the necromancy path, upon
  gaining the necromancy specialization become a Brood Viscanti with
  statistics changing by -3 intelligence, -1 charisma, +3 strength,
  +2 dexterity, +2 constitution and +2 size.
DISADVANTAGES:
 o Heal more slowly from elixirs, level 2.
Masquerade: Using the powers of the taint, a skilled Viscanti can MASQUERADE AS
It requires balance and equilibrium, and 5 seconds of uninterrupted focus. Any action in this time dispels the process entirely. It should require, say 200 mana, and 100 willpower. A power cost is optional, but as a racial skill I don't think that would be considered.
An example:
QUOTE
> MASQUERADE AS MUGWUMP
Drawing on the unfathomable powers of the Taint, your features begin to morph into those of a regular Mugwump.
> CLOT
You focus your mind on clotting. (whatever)
Distracted, you lose your focus and the masquerade dissipates.
> MASQUERADE AS FAELING
Drawing on the unfathomable powers of the Taint, your features begin to morph into those of a regular Faeling.
(5 seconds later)
The illusion is complete and you focus a portion of your mind on maintaining the flawless masquerade.
Afterwards, their honors would be changed to reflect the new race, but their description would remain unchanged. Very similar to the changeself illusion, but with the two stat changes.
One extra thing that would be nice, but probably too much effort is if the first race you masquerade as becomes the only one you can use.
Any thoughts, particularly from Viscanti characters?
Doesn't really make sense (in an ooc manner) that a Viscanti would be able to rebalance their disadvantages. 
QUOTE(Acrune @ Sep 23 2005, 08:39 AM)
Doesn't really make sense (in an ooc manner) that a Viscanti would be able to rebalance their disadvantages.Â
191077
Well, Daevos's point about village influencing being a bit unfair as the Magnagoran city race has so much less charisma than the other city/commune races is a valid argument. This would help that imbalance.
This reminds me of the faeling specializations. Now it's like - what arguments? 
You mean.... Magnagora has a disadvantage because EVERYONE in the city is Viscanti? Oh no! Let's substitute our low cha for our overrated int!
But that about Glomdoring! Everyone has a disdvantage there, because they're ALL FAELING! Oh no! Let's fix that low con by substituting our useless dex!
I could continue in this vein, but it's late, and I'm concentrating on other things.
But...
You mean.... Magnagora has a disadvantage because EVERYONE in the city is Viscanti? Oh no! Let's substitute our low cha for our overrated int!
But that about Glomdoring! Everyone has a disdvantage there, because they're ALL FAELING! Oh no! Let's fix that low con by substituting our useless dex!
I could continue in this vein, but it's late, and I'm concentrating on other things.
But...
Along the lines of mages, viscanti have lvl 3 mana and health regain in tainted land, while merian have lvl 2 in DEEP water, which generally isn't as convenient as just plain tainted land...
And Merian Lords, which in my opinion are the opposite of Master Viscanti have just as many stat boosts as a nihilist, so it really isn't that uneven.
And that says a lot coming from a level 70 imperial merian with 2680 normal health
You just have to work with what you've got
And Merian Lords, which in my opinion are the opposite of Master Viscanti have just as many stat boosts as a nihilist, so it really isn't that uneven.
And that says a lot coming from a level 70 imperial merian with 2680 normal health
You just have to work with what you've gotQUOTE(Lonely Pirate @ Sep 23 2005, 05:30 PM)
Along the lines of mages, viscanti have lvl 3 mana and health regain in tainted land, while merian have lvl 2 in DEEP water, which generally isn't as convenient as just plain tainted land...
And Merian Lords, which in my opinion are the opposite of Master Viscanti have just as many stat boosts as a nihilist, so it really isn't that uneven.
And that says a lot coming from a level 70 imperial merian with 2680 normal health You just have to work with what you've got
And Merian Lords, which in my opinion are the opposite of Master Viscanti have just as many stat boosts as a nihilist, so it really isn't that uneven.
And that says a lot coming from a level 70 imperial merian with 2680 normal health
You just have to work with what you've got191260
Give merians their regen in their demesnes, and give viscanti +1 cha, and everyone's happy, right?
QUOTE(Nokraenom @ Sep 23 2005, 03:26 AM)
Masquerading as another race would just make no sense for Viscanti. I like the skill idea, as I said in the other thread, but it should not have them "morph" into another race.
Ladantine was 1. Not Viscanti, and 2. An Aquamancer, and thus a practitioner of Illusions. He was using changeself to make himself appear still Merian when he was (un)dead.
Ladantine was 1. Not Viscanti, and 2. An Aquamancer, and thus a practitioner of Illusions. He was using changeself to make himself appear still Merian when he was (un)dead.
191066
I think this kind of destroys most/all arguments for having boosted stats in this case.
