Removing scars

[Hypersmurf]

What mechanisms would remove a very old scar? (Let's say hideous, large, burn scar, as an example.)

A Cure Wounds spell, to me, only affects current injuries. Someone scarred but otherwise in excellent physical condition, I should imagine, wouldn't benefit.

Regenerate, I would think, would certainly do the job.

Heal, possibly.

But it seems odd that the two spells that might help are higher level than Raise Dead... one would hope cosmetic surgery would be less mana-intensive than raising a corpse!

Polymorph Other might help... but it would be dispellable, no?

Any other ideas?

-Hyp.

 

[caudor]

I think a lot would depend on whether or not the removal of the scar would result in an increase in charisma. In that case, it would make sense that a higher level spell would be required. IMO, of course.

 

[Shin Okada]

I wonder if cutting entire area off and casting cure spells may work or not. I am not sure if cure spells leave scars.

By the way, why you want to remove scars? What is the situation?

 

[LordAO]

I'm sure a regenerate spell would do it. If it can regrow lost limbs, scars should be no problem.

 

[kreynolds]

I think a lot would depend on whether or not the removal of the scar would result in an increase in charisma.

Charisma isn't just about physical attractiveness. It's also about force of personality. A character with a low charisma can still be good looking, but it might not get him anywhere at all since his personality good pretty lame. The PH lists some good examples of Charisma in Chapter 1.

 

[Hypersmurf]

By the way, why you want to remove scars? What is the situation?

I'm DMing a player whose character came covered in scars - slavery and torture in his background. Goes muffled in a cloak 'cos he's embarrassed about it.

It seems to me a lot of NPCs would come up with "Well, why don't you just petition the High Priest to cast a such-and-such?"

Regenerate - 7th level spell - just seems like overkill, though.

-Hyp.

 

[caudor]

Charisma isn't just about physical attractiveness. It's also about force of personality. A character with a low charisma can still be good looking, but it might not get him anywhere at all since his personality good pretty lame. The PH lists some good examples of Charisma in Chapter 1.

Thanks kreynolds. Yes, after refreshing myself on chap 1 PHB, I must say I agree with you. It is all there in black and white. Classes that rely on charisma (especially spell-casters) would surely not be rendered less effective by a newly obtained scar.

I've always had the impression that at some point, massive physical disfigurement would eventually impact one's charisma, perhaps simply because commoners become shocked or horrified to look up them. But now that I think about it, even an elephant man or some one with an intense interest in slimes may become a popular bard or a feared sorcerer. Again, perhaps my focus on the physical been itself hass been out of balance. Ugly may not necessarily mean underpowered (less charisma); in fact, the opposite may be true in certain situations. Thanks for the response.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Classes that rely on charisma (especially spell-casters) would surely not be rendered less effective by a newly obtained scar.

I've always had the impression that at some point, massive physical disfigurement would eventually impact one's charisma, perhaps simply because commoners become shocked or horrified to look up them.

My take on it would not be to penalise the stat, but to apply a negative circumstance modifier in social situations.

Hideously scarred or grossly overweight might not bother a sorcerer where bonus spells are concerned, but it could easily make it more difficult for the bard to buy the mayor's daughter a drink...

-Hyp.

 

[Shin Okada]

How about this?

Basically, current rule is not supporting such kind of extreme physical disfigurement.

Because of efficient healing spells, almost any physical disfigurements are, effectively, just a temporal status in DnD 3e.

So instead of actually lowering on's charisma, you can give him some penalty to some of Charisma checks and Charisma based skill checks. You may make it an unnamed penalty, or call it a Bruise penalty or something.

That penalty can be removed by curing those scars.

Hmm, am I making a house rule? Or this is still within "DM's call"?

 

[Hypersmurf]

You may make it an unnamed penalty, or call it a Bruise penalty or something.

Uh... or a circumstance penalty?

Why didn't I think of that?

-Hyp.