The Enchanter: A New Type For Tunnels and Trolls

Snake Charmer by Renata Cavanaugh

Enchanter

(CHR / INT / LK / WIZ)

Overview

Originally when I conceived the Enchanter as a specialist Wizard for Tunnels and Trolls, I had much more of a pacifist in mind. In fact, I had considered banning them the use of any weapons! This was mostly due to the special ability that I had designed for the type, that required them to be non-agressive in order for it to be at all effective.

As I worked through fleshing out the type however, it soon became apparent that a character that is unable to fight due to it's special ability, simply would not function as a part of a standard delving party.

So the Enchanter that is presented here is a re-working of that idea. It still maintains the special ability that I feel is central to this type but, also puts a good range of other abilities at the players fingertips with which to adventure.

Oh, and of course it now allows Enchanters to wield weapons should diplomacy fail. ;0).

Attributes

The prime attributes for Enchanters are, Charisma, Intelligence, Luck and Wizardry, all of which must be at least 12 in order to qualify for this type. As such Enchanters are as rare as Paragons (and just as powerful!)

Abilities

• All Enchanters have the same limitations when it comes to wielding weapons that Wizards do (they may use no weapon that grants more than 2D in combat).

• All Enchanters begin play with Wizards Speech in addition to any other languages that they know.

• Enchanters are not trained by the Wizard's Guild and therefore do not begin with all of the 1st level spells.

• The first Talent taken by all Enchanters must be Charm (based upon Charisma) in the same way that all Rogues must take Roguery.

Charm
Instead of attacking a foe, an Enchanter may try to beguile them into submission using this ability.

When charming a foe in combat, instead of attacking, the Enchanter rolls a number of dice equal to their level plus one and, adds any bonuses (one point for every point over twelve plus the bonus granted by the Talent) from their prime attributes, whilst the opponents roll up their attacks normally.

If the Enchanter wins the combat round, then the MR of the enemies is reduced by the difference as if damage had been dealt (although no harm is done, so armor can not reduce this amount).

If an opponent is reduced to zero MR this way then they become docile and compliant... Or as docile as compliant as can be expected of the creature in question.

When used outside of combat, the Charm ability can be win over almost anyone using SR's (as set by the GM and, based upon the situation).

Charming is not without it's limitations though and, cannot be used in the following situations:

• The Enchanter and the target do not share a common language.
• The target is non-sentient (Undead and Constructs generally cannot be charmed unless they possess an active consciousness).
• If the target is being attacked in any way, shape or, form they cannot be charmed.

In addition to this ability, Enchanters automatically gain access to the following spells once they have the required attributes to cast them:

Level 1 Spells (DEX: 10, INT: 10)

Hold That Pose (WIZ: 4)
Oh Go Away (WIZ: 5)

Level 2 Spells (DEX: 12, INT: 12)

Mirage (WIZ: 8)
Spirit Mastery (WIZ: 8)

Level 3 Spells (DEX: 15, INT: 15)

Befuddle (WIZ: 12)
Firestorm of Protest (WIZ: 6)
Rock-A-Bye (WIZ: 11)

Level 4 Spells (DEX: 19, INT: 19)

Dum-Dum (WIZ: 8)

Level 5 Spells (DEX: 24, INT: 24)

ESP (WIZ: 20)
Mind Pox (WIZ: 39)
Second Sight (WIZ: 25)

Level 6 Spells (DEX: 30, INT: 30)

Porta-Vision (WIZ: 30)

On The Cards: Sunday 26th August

So many plans, so much time and yet so little done.

What's Been Going On?

I did set out this week with soooo many posts planned but, if anything, I have posted up less this week than I have in previous weeks. I have also rolled back some of the more recent changes that I had made... But why?

Well, as much as I thought that I would have the time to do this, that and, the other in theory this week, the practice has had me spending only a handful of hours sat at my laptop whilst I have been cracking away at a number of things.

One of them being miniature painting. I have taken back to doing this myself and am currently spending a couple of hours on average behind the brush a day.

I am finding this quite enjoyable but, I am coming to learn just how fussy I can be when it comes to my paint jobs. Still, all being well, I will have some pretty amazing looking models (by the standards of someone who hasn't painted in an age) to bring to the table.For one thing, I have taken to painting my own miniatures again, so on average spend a couple of hours 

Other than that, I have been very deeply buried in rule books, looking through games that I have owned for some time but, have done little but sit on the shelf, with the hope that I can bring some of them to the table soon and of course, review them.

I have also ditched (as some have you may have noticed) Trollish Encounters and the survey that I had posted up. Although Trollish Encounters seemed like a good idea at the time and, indeed ran smoothly, it's variable size meant that it left the sidebar looking rather ramshackle and, just had to go!

I can always bring it back though, just maybe on a page of its own.

The survey has also been chucked before completion. Again, it was making the blog look a damned mess as far as I was concerned but, the feedback was valuable and the responses fairly conclusive, so I must thank everyone who participated. Your feedback has been taken on board and into consideration.

So What Next?

In all honesty, I can say that the week ahead is as much a mystery to you as it is me!

I still haven't received my hours for the coming week yet and, I could be required to be in work in less than 24 hours...

What I can say however is that I will be continuing to post up the usual features regardless and, time permitting, more besides! All being well, I hope to get that new Tunnels and Trolls type I promised you all today too.

On The Cards: Sunday 19th August

Another week of blogging nearly up and, what a week it's been.

Not only have we reached our 1,000 page view goal but, also set ourselves the new (and very ambitious goal) of 1,000,000 page views!

I know a lot of people who read that post probably sat there in disbelief for a moment or two before thinking to themselves, something along the lines of "it'll never happen".

I really believe that it can be done though. Not only can but, will be done.

Over the past couple of months we have grown substantially, going from attracting only a handful of readers everyday, to the point where we now pull in on average 40+ viewers nearly each and every day!

This figure is still growing too! So it may take a while but, 1,000,000 page views is going to happen.

I want to take this opportunity to again send out a big thank you to everyone who has popped by and made this possible, with special thanks to everyone who has shared our content with the web. There's nothing quite like Googling your work and seeing that it has spread like wildfire. :0).

So whatever next from our bag of tricks?

Well, I will be continuing with our regular features that have proved to be very popular on the world wide web including Alchemy Bytes, DMotivational and, our conversion of new material for the Diablo II Fast Play RPG. Also we'll be continuing with our new features The Aladdin's Cave and Fluxx Up's.

I also have a few other things in the works that I hope I can start rolling out over the coming week, including a new Tunnels and Trolls type with a rather original approach to combat and, many more things to boot.

Week Of The Troll: Typecast

At a quick glance, Tunnels and Trolls may seem to lack the bite that the modern gamer has come to expect when they invest in a roleplaying game.

Only four character types (eight in later editions) might seem a little paltry in comparison to other games now widely available but don't those handful of types just about describe everything you'd ever need for crafting mighty adventurers in a land of high fantasy?

Warriors, Wizards and, the guys in between. For me this covers just about any character from popular fantasy fiction you might care to name. Conan, he's a warrior. Gandalf, a wizard. The list goes on.. And so does the list of types.

One of the real selling points of Tunnels and Trolls is its excellent fan driven community, who have over the years produced a great wealth of material, new spells, new kindreds and, new types to name but a few of their achievements.

So if you're not quite sold on the handful of options in the rulebook, why not take a look at some of these fan creations. All of which are great in their own right and, offer some interesting insights into how you may create types of your very own.

Alchemists by ProfGremlin.
Barbarians by Cartomancer (Me).
Bards by mgtremaine.
Beast Masters by Burraggha.
Berserkers by Ken St Andre.
Brawler / Martial Artists by wilowisp.
Burglars by Scott Malthouse.
Godswords by Scott Malthouse.
Minstrel by Scott Malthouse.
Ninjas by Burraggha.
Psi Knights by Dan Prentice.
Kung-Fu Fighters by Bruce V Edwards.
Shamans by Bruce V Edwards.
Superheroes by Dan Prentice.
Thieves by Bruce V Edwards.
Wildfarers by Scott Malthouse.
Wytchfinders by Scott Malthouse.