Wings, glowing eyes and tails.

[The Old Hack]

I'm not saying that no character should be understanding of the hideously deformed, but when they are en masse welcomed in, even though if they were red NPCs they'd be attacked on sight, it does cheapen the narrative.

Ah. That is different and I completely agree. As long as you have the freedom to be an exception to the (social) norm, whether more or less tolerant, more or less reclusive, etcetera, I am fine with it. It should also in passing be noted that there may be a price to being different. Someone who is being overly friendly to and tolerant of 'freaks' may soon find themself shunned as well...

Half-bug men, ooze-spitters, invisible exhibit curators, shrub-brained elves, glowing-eyed priests of genocide-committing deities, freakishly chaotic circus ringmasters (the list goes on) are all frequently in Mistlocke without any real fear of being lynched. So putting this condition on wings and tails alone feels sort of arbitrary.

The freaks are everywhere, wings and tails are just a different flavor of freak.

Yes and no. It is not merely a question of flavour but also of degree. Certain kinds of freakishness is hard to notice or get a crowd riled up about ("Look! It's an invisible man!" "Where?") or, while unsettling, is not quite as unsettling as wings, tails or horns. Horns in particular get associated with the demonic or infernal, for example.

I think character altering experiences are a positive thing. Id expect a seasoned adventurer to come across a few extra appendages in his career. And if they're unwanted? Trying to reverse the transformation makes for a fine story, too. However, if the change makes the character completely unplayable I think its just wasted potential if you can't so anything but wander the forest without a DM presence, or turned into a non-speaking animal unable to do ANYTHING - especially if there's resistance to restoring the PC.

Yes, yes, its a scary and grim world.

I agree very much with this. If an established character is subjected to this kind of change and is instantly barred from all 'civilised' places, it becomes far harder for them to work on a cure. There ought to be at least a little hope for them in this regard. Admittedly it is all a matter of perspective, some may feel that the player could do it anyway "if they just sucked it up and forged on" but even so there should be an opening for cutting them just a bit of slack.

~tOH.

[Adam]

A fairy came into town recently with about 15 PCs present. It demanded everyone offer it tribute, and they did, and it even cast Confusion on them and made them attack eachother. Only one person attacked the fairy, and the PCs present defended the creature, and the attack was not made because it was some freak.

This example shows how a significant portion of PCs respond to winged magical creatures. Then again this was a DM possessed fey, not a PC fey, so naturally people will treat it differently because of that fact alone. Sad but true.

This happened due to an unnatural fear of npcs that every player I have seen on EFU has.

[Guttersnipe]

A fairy came into town recently with about 15 PCs present. It demanded everyone offer it tribute, and they did, and it even cast Confusion on them and made them attack eachother. Only one person attacked the fairy, and the PCs present defended the creature, and the attack was not made because it was some freak.

This example shows how a significant portion of PCs respond to winged magical creatures. Then again this was a DM possessed fey, not a PC fey, so naturally people will treat it differently because of that fact alone. Sad but true.

Actually this happened because the fairy in question claimed to have an army at her back and people decided it was better for Mistlocke (and cheaper) to pay the tribute. Also, the Confusion was cast by a PC causing trouble, not the NPC.

[xXCrystal_Rose]

My mistake on the confusion! It is true though, people do fear NPC's, and for good reason. A lot of the time one can be normal people, then when possessed the same npc becomes godlike with saves in the 30's and such. That's a whole different tangent though and off topic.

[Teeth in a Bowl]

This happened due to an unnatural fear of npcs that every player I have seen on EFU has.

It's a widely known fact that even Mistlocke Commoners are all lifting weights and practicing with swords when we're out adventuring, just waiting for the day to throw us out.

[Ebok]

You can toggle glowing eyes on and off. Maybe it's best not to walk around burning holes into everyone. It should trigger some serious reactions, one way or another, however.

[One_With_Nature]

DMs have already ruled when and when you do not need a DM present. Act as is natural for your character regardless even if the public accepts a "Freak." Its a case by case basis, so if you have a PC with abberants grafts or anything that would warrent response from NPCs check with a DM if its okay.

Nothing more to discuss really?

[Numos]

A fairy came into town recently with about 15 PCs present. It demanded everyone offer it tribute, and they did, and it even cast Confusion on them and made them attack eachother. Only one person attacked the fairy, and the PCs present defended the creature, and the attack was not made because it was some freak.

This example shows how a significant portion of PCs respond to winged magical creatures. Then again this was a DM possessed fey, not a PC fey, so naturally people will treat it differently because of that fact alone. Sad but true.

The PCs were lead to believe it was at the head of a large hunt. And people defended it because they didn't want the Prince to get mad and enslave the village. It also seems more probable that a town of peasants would supplicate themselves to magical creatures rather than hack them to bits.

[SanTelmo]

You can toggle glowing eyes on and off. Maybe it's best not to walk around burning holes into everyone. It should trigger some serious reactions, one way or another, however.

While this is true, it would be greatly preferred if the ones who have their glowing eyes either keep them constantly active or change them for specific reasons

For instance,

a fire genasi without glow when calm but when angered, bursting them into flames

an aasimar whose eyes glow during times of courage, love or great need

reptilian eyes only glowing green in the dark

and so on, depending what you play. Of course I am sure someone could have somekind of concept built around blending in but remember that those are your -eyes-, not simply some contact lenses you can swap whenever you feel like it.

Otherwise utilize your unnatural perks, skills, spells and "deformations" in a way that is fitting for them. It is always sad to see eccentricity played as everyday appearance in common populace/company.

[Ryan]

The PCs were lead to believe it was at the head of a large hunt. And people defended it because they didn't want the Prince to get mad and enslave the village. It also seems more probable that a town of peasants would supplicate themselves to magical creatures rather than hack them to bits.

This. And, for the record, a Stargazer (looking at you, VP, you scamp) cast the confusion on us.

[granny]

Half-bug men, ooze-spitters, invisible exhibit curators, shrub-brained elves, glowing-eyed priests of genocide-committing deities, freakishly chaotic circus ringmasters (the list goes on) are all frequently in Mistlocke without any real fear of being lynched. So putting this condition on wings and tails alone feels sort of arbitrary.

... maggot covered hags...

that's why I am opening the Syndicate of the Freaks, aka SYFREAK. we gather together and finish with the dumb normal guys that trash the town

[Pup]

I am generally more saddened than upset so many players just act like monstrous freaks are just another adventurer.  It is also disappointing so many players seem to think of monstrous traits as impairment to play, and that if you can't walk in Mistlocke you are somehow doomed to obscurity and boredom.

Embrace your freakishness, and if you want to be normal and boring again then work towards it.  Or go play WoW where there is no chance of anything interesting ever happening to your character.

[sylvyrdragon]

I had a character suddenly get Wings in Efu:A.  She was well known by her group when she got them.  So to start things weren't to bad, it wasn't until she went to her faction HQ that things got interesting.  

I was chased out by the NPC's.  Kicked out of my faction, had a bounty on my head and none of her "friends" would talk to her.  This had to be one of the best times I've had with a character.

It forced me to find other ways to play her, to make new allies and friends, and find other places she felt "safe" in.

The other players were excellent about it.  They didn't just attack, or PvP her, they chased her off, yelled at her, called her names, but made it all fun.

I did however know that a DM was needed to go into an NPC filled zone, at least for the first couple times.  After that she found a place that didn't care of her wings.

My advise is, don't give up.  Give the DM's and players a chance to honestly react to the changes.. yeah they might chase you out, but then a new chapter can begin.

[Aspirinsmurf]

While I have nothing against wings or glowing eyes on principle, my tastes are aesthetically against them being widespread and accepted. I play on EfU for a gritty, low-level feel. Vanity perks like visual changes tend to cheapen that experience in my eyes.

[Lord Byron]

They are rare and justly so. As you can see, those involved are usually hunted by NPCs or other PCs.