Lifestealer Suggestions

[Valo56]

This is NOT a thread about nerfing this truly awesome background. I find it great, personally, and provides more variety among the "dark arts."

I think that the perk would be great if it required that you kill to survive. As the sorcerer grows in power, the more blood he needs to survive. At level 2 this may start off as every 10 minutes you spend without killing something results in either CON damage, STR damage, or perhaps a bleeding effect if you haven't dealt any damage to anyone lately. At level 5 the damage is increased, and at level 8 you actually suffer from level drain which is removed only after actually killing something. Spending too long without killing something results in death. Successful fort saves with DC's increasing with levels and time can negate the penalties.

Thoughts?

[Disco]

Defenatly no.

[RagingPurpleGiant]

I like the spirit of the suggestion, but I agree with Disco. A character who's mechanically required to spam quests rather than interact with other players on a deeper level will result in many very boring, or dead, Lifestealers.

[Valo56]

Some magic has the power to scour away the soul and leave a man hollow  within. Sorcerers, who often lack the circumspection and understanding  of wizards, will occasionally and tragically dabble in such dark fonts  of the Arcane without any regard for the price. Though none could  possibly accept such a terrible price willingly, those who inadvertently  do pay this toll welcome upon themselves a malevolent and relentless  hunger which must continually seek the souls and lifeforce of other  beings to prevent it from consuming them utterly. It is when this cruel  curse intersects and interacts with the innate magical power of the  Sorcerer that the wretched Lifestealer is born.

Something to bring the bolded text out more in these guys would be great, is all.

[Vlaid]

I think that if you want to play a vampire, you should just apply to play a vampire.

The perk is currently themed well for being a sorcerer who's powers delve into necromancy and can make themselves stronger from using said powers. The suggestion posted seems little more than vampire-lite to me.

[Blue41]

I think it could be an interesting take on a concept, personally. But making it a mechanical requirement will only lead to more cries of "reset plz" and "well".

[granny]

it's about how deep you're going into the concept, as there are other flavors to be added to the same perk.

although, I would strongly suggest a PrC in the order to keep advancing in this way of things: the Adipose Avatar

[Outcast]

I thought you didn't want to nerf it?

[Ebok]

If you want this and it fits for your version, then RP it. Enforced mechanical limitations are always stupid. No offense intended.

[Jagged]

I played a character that became afflicted with a custom disease which forced him to subdue another PC every thirty minutes in order to drain their life force or otherwise be slapped with some pretty hefty penalties. I thought it was awesome at first but then the novelty wore off and it became very, very annoying.

What Ebok said is the way to go for me.