What Body Modifications Does Your Character Have?

"Did I hear you say something, stranger?" Barak growled. He was a big man, full of whiskey, and spoiling for a fight.

The stranger set his glass down, and looked at Barak. He was a long shank of a man, whipcord, and hard. He didn't seem worried, or even impressed. He let the moment swell, unbuttoning his right sleeve and rolling it back. A black serpent tattoo circled his wrist, fangs sunk into its own tail. Above that, a black heart with a dagger through it on his forearm. And in the crook of his elbow, a laughing demon.

"I said a man your size should be able to hold his liquor better," the stranger repeated.

"You're quite right, Sir," Dolomon said, snatching Barak by the arm. Though his words were jovial, Dolomon's knuckles were white. "I'll just get him sobered up someplace."

"You do that," the stranger said, returning to his drink.

Dolomon held his breath until they were outside, letting it out in a long gust. Barak was complaining, making excuses about how he could have taken the mouthy drunk. Barak had never served in the king's navy, though, and he didn't know what Dolomon knew. The black serpent was worn by Calabra Privateers, and the killer's heart only by those who'd spilled blood for their captain. The laughing devil marked the ship's Questioner... and Dolomon had heard enough rumors about what they did to know that they wanted no part of that man's ire.

Gold makes monsters of the best men... and it makes the worst of them into devils.

Tattoos and Scars

It's the small details that often makes our characters really stand out, and body modifications are one of those things a lot of us turn to for adding a touch of unique flair. Even in instances where there's no mechanical bonus (such as you get from magical tattoos, from enchanted earrings, or class features where your heavy scarring actually grants you natural armor, or adds to Intimidate checks), these features still make our characters truly stand out.

Not only that, but what these things say about our character and their histories can also tell us a lot about who they are, and where they've been.

It is rare to see one who survived the training of a Kiloshan Warlock.

Sometimes these markings might be a cultural thing, as I mention in several entries in 100 Superstitions For a Fantasy Setting. Perhaps it's the belief that an earring will prevent seasickness, and so it's common for sailors and fishermen in certain areas to have their ears pierced in particular ways. Alternatively ritual scarification might be how individuals are marked as adults in certain cultures, with the pattern saying something about their history and deeds. Or, as is mentioned in 100 Fantasy Tattoos (And The Meaning Behind Them), tattoos might mark how many children one has, what rank they hold socially, or it might even be used as a marking to prove that a particular noble is who they say they are.

However, even if your tattoos, scars, or piercings don't "mean something," they still mean something.

What does that mean? Well, even if your character got a tattoo for no reason other than they thought it looked cool, or their scarification was something they got done with a friend on their travels, or they got drunk and pierced on a lark after going through a dungeon, the fact that the marks don't have personal, religious, or cultural significance to the individual don't render them useless.

Generally speaking, certain traditions of body modification aren't going to be universally available, practiced, or even allowed across the entirety of a fantasy setting. So for a character to boast tattoos of a particular style, to wear a nose piercing with a chain hooked to an ear ring, or to bear a pauldron-flower scarification pattern means they likely traveled to a region where such an art form is practiced. And if they didn't, then they somehow crossed paths with a craftsman who was able to create the art they now bear.

In some cases the body modification might even have been as a reward for deeds done, or to signify membership in a tribe, a gang, a brotherhood, or a knightly order. From soldiers being inducted into service, to a champion who stood against a greater force on behalf of an outnumbered tribe, to someone who married into a particular culture where these markings were part of the ceremony, there's always some kind of significance to them with regards to a character's story.

So ask yourself what sort of body mods your character has. And once you know what they have, ask what personal significance they have, where they got them, how they got them, and what those markings might tell other people who see them. Because they might just be really into tattoos and piercings... or those marks might tell those with the right knowledge that this is a magus of a prestigious magical lineage, a vicious outlaw, or someone who was (at least at one time) a member of a holy order.

Additional Reading and Inspiration

For those who'd like additional reading over and above the supplements listed above, check out the following:

- Character Reputation in RPGs: The Small Legend: Reputation in an RPG setting is an important thing to consider, and for those who are known by certain body mods those decorations are going to make them identifiable at a glance.

- Did Your Character Have a Former Life?: Tattoos often hearken back to someone a character used to be, which makes this a useful question to consider.

- 100 Gangs For Your Urban Campaigns: Tattoos are often a kind of street heraldry for gang members, and this supplement has a dozen different inspirations for those looking for characters who have something of a checkered past.

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That's all for this week's Fluff post!

For more of my work, check out my Vocal archive, and stop by the YouTube channel Dungeon Keeper Radio. Or if you'd prefer to read some of my books, like my alley cat thriller Marked Territory, it's sequel Painted Cats, my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife or my recent short story collection The Rejects, then head over to My Amazon Author Page!

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Some of The Best Magic Tattoos in Pathfinder

 I've been holding off a little while on this entry, but I figured this week would be an appropriate time for it since my supplement 100 Fantasy Tattoos (And The Meaning Behind Them) just dropped from Azukail Games! So this week I thought I'd talk about the unique mechanic of magic tattoos in Pathfinder, and which ones I think you should consider checking out.

And remember, when it comes to tattoos, you get what you pay for.

While the following entries will be wondrous items, feats, and spells, I won't be including class feature magic tattoos in this list. Though if folks like this initial step into this under-utilized mechanic, I might write a follow-up for some of those as well.

Lastly, if I missed some of your favorites, make sure to leave it in the comments along with why you think that particular magic tattoo is so good!

#1: Potion Tattoo

Pick your poison!

Speaking of spells that give you tattoos, this one out of Inner Sea Magic has some serious strategic implications. This spell, available to alchemists, sorcerers, wizards, witches, and bards, allows you to mix special inks into a potion, and drink it. Once you've drunk it, the potion appears on your chest as a tattoo, ready to be used.

What makes this spell so useful is that the potion is there permanently. While it could be dispelled, it can't be stolen, you don't have to spend an action to draw it, and enemies can't take an attack of opportunity to slap it out of your hand. It's a little pricey at 500 gold for the components, and you can only have one at a time, but it's a nice little ace in the hole.

#2: Runeward Tattoo

Little protection never hurt anybody.

Found in the supplement Magical Marketplace, Runeward tattoos seem pretty blase on their face. Each of these tattoos is geared toward a particular school of magic, and they give you the ability to use detect magic at-will for that school of magic. The helpful thing, though, is that they give you a +1 bonus to saves against spells and spell-like abilities of that school, and you always know when a spell of that type is cast within 60 feet of you.

These tattoos are fairly cheap, at only 1k (assuming you don't take Inscribe Magic Tattoo and do it yourself), and if you're going to be facing a particular type of magic fairly often then this is going to be a godsend. Whether it's keeping the fighter from falling under enchantment effects, or so that you always know when someone casts an illusion spell in your vicinity, it can be a lovely heads-up warning that won't break your budget.

#3: Animal Totem Tattoo

Deadly ink!

Another feat, this one also found in Magical Marketplace, animal totem tattoo grants the bearer the 5th-level totem transformation ability of the appropriate animal shaman druid type. Which, for those who select bat, dragon, or eagle, means you have a fly speed for 5 minutes per day that goes everywhere with you! The other animal types offer other benefits, of course, but for my money flight trumps them every time.

It's pretty expensive at 12k, but if you have someone in the party who's taken the Inscribe Magic Tattoo feat then 6k and a lot of nights spent with your shirt off by the campfire is not a bad price to pay for something that can come in quite handy.

#4: Tattoo Transformation

Open your mind... absorb my power!

Another feat worth considering is Tattoo Transformation, out of the Monster Summoner's Handbook. This feat requires you to first take Tattoo Attunement, which allows you to absorb creatures you've summoned into your body as tattoos. This suspends their duration, keeping them present for a number of hours equal to your caster level. It's a standard action to release them, and the idea is that this allows you to get full use out of your summon monster spells.

Tattoo Transformation, however, allows you to absorb some of the summoned creature's protections. If they have energy resistance, you can make use of it as if it was yours (though you only get 1 category if they have multiple resistances). If the creature has an energy immunity, you gain a resistance of 20 in that category. If you're going to be summoning monsters anyway, this is a great way to keep a menagerie up your sleeve, and help stop yourself from getting blasted by an evoker while you're at it.

#5: Weapon Tattoo

Where was I keeping that? Wouldn't you like to know.

 

Found in the Dirty Tactics Toolbox, this unique tattoo allows someone to store a single weapon sized for them in a magical space on one forearm (though the tattoo prevents the other forearm from being used as a space, even though it only stores one weapon). When stored, the weapon appears sheathed on the forearm, and it can be drawn as a swift action, appearing in the hand it's tattooed near. It takes a full-round action to put away, of course, but it's the ultimate in clandestine armaments and back-up weapons for the adventurer who doesn't want to appear strapped.

It is extremely expensive, at 10k gold pieces, but again if you've got someone in the party crafting it for you 5k isn't too bad for a weapon that goes wherever you go. Especially since this is a tattoo that can be used all the time, and it's ideal for those sneaky, undercover missions where you can't go in armed to the teeth.

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That's all for this week's Crunch topic! For more of my work, check out my Vocal archive, and stop by the YouTube channel Dungeon Keeper Radio! Or if you'd like to read some of my books, like my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife or my latest short story collection The Rejects, head over to My Amazon Author Page!

To stay on top of all my latest releases, follow me on Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and now on Pinterest as well! And if you'd like to help support me and my work, consider Buying Me A Ko-Fi or heading over to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page to become a regular, monthly patron! Even a little bit of help can go a long way, trust me on that one.

Tattoos and Scars... What Do They Say About Your Character?

He didn't look like much. A little on the tall side, rangy instead of really skinny, the man was dressed in a simple jerkin and breeches. He had a leather cuff around his left wrist, and a little gray at his temples. A halfway decent hostler, the horses liked him well enough, and so did their riders. The Merrick boys marked him as an easy target, and when no one was around they tried to snatch his strongbox.

He objected.

Rather firmly, in fact.

The first of the young bullyboys got off easy; in a few months he was able to walk, albeit with a pronounced limp. The second doesn't do much but sit in a chair on the porch and stare off into space with the one eye he has left. The third one hasn't been seen since he ran off into the night, bloody and crying.

It was too bad none of them ever saw the hostler wash his hands. If they had, they would have seen the tattoo on the back of his wrist, and walked wide. Only a fool would have tried a man who bore the mark of a Black Eagle Legionnaire.

Before we go too much further, if you're looking for some more examples to get your creative juices flowing, check out 100 Fantasy Tattoos (And The Meaning Behind Them)!

Tattoos and Scars

A character's appearance, whether it's in a novel or an RPG, uses a certain visual shorthand. Sure, we may give our fighter a greatsword because it's a big damage dealer mechanically, but it also says something about his strength and skill. A character who wields a rapier, a whip, or a spiked chain may be taking advantage of abilities that let them attack with their dexterity, but they're also letting people know where their true skill lies. It might also be an easy way of letting people know about their personalities. Because while you can have a charismatic bastard sword fighter, or a reticent swashbuckler, those weapons tend to be associated with certain types of wielders.

The marks character bear also add to a character's story. Even when they don't provide any mechanical bonuses.

If you ever see a shaman with a full-face tattoo, though, I'd be on your best behavior.

 

Before you choose the kinds of marks your character bears, you need to ask what the message you're trying to send is. Because looking cool, or being visually distinct, is fine... but it helps to know the full circumstances behind the character's unique marks, and how they effects that character's life.

Gaspar Dell'amore, the Black Rose of Edme, for instance, was born with a unique mark on his left hand. A black rose, this birthmark could have been written off as little more than an accident. It wasn't, though. In fact, the knowledge that the mark was attached to a certain goddess shaped Gaspar's view of the world. It pushed him in a certain direction, and made him decide what he would stand for. He could have been any number of things, but that mark was one of the factors that turned him into a bare-knuckled enforcer, whose chosen enemies were tyrants, and who surrounded himself with revolutionaries.

Your character's marks don't have to be that dramatic, though they certainly can be. If you're looking at scars, for example, a ranger who's hunted big game might have claw scars across his chest and shoulders from when he had to kill a bear, or a tiger, with nothing more than his knife. A former gladiator might still bear the brand of her previous owner, hidden so other people won't know she was once property. A self-taught evoker might have burn scars along his hands from early mistakes made with fire. A former bandit might be missing fingers, or have certain marks scarred into her so everyone knows what crimes she committed.

Not all body modification is bad, though. In fact, some of it we actively seek out, and pay enormous prices for. For example, does your tribe require you to undergo tattooing as a test of adulthood? Did you get drunk with your shipmates, and you all got your flag tattooed on you? Did you get inked as part of an initiation into a gang, religion, or other organization? Are you still proud of that mark, or have you tried to turn your back on that decision with time and wisdom?

Make Yourself Part of The Lore

The marks your character has, whether or not they were willingly acquired, should make them feel more real. Whether it's how the fighter got his nose broken defending the party from the bugbear, or the triple set of ear rings the bard acquired when he got drunk as part of the victory celebration for fighting off a goblin invasion, you should know when, where, how, and why your character has these marks. You should know if they have any meaning, as well.

Because there's nothing more fun than mentioning one of your character details, and asking someone to roll a knowledge check to figure out what it means, or where you got it. Because just like an exotic fighting style, unusual weapon, or rare brand of magic, your tattoos and scars can speak volumes about who your character is, and where they came from. They can make you a true, organic part of the world you're playing in, and that is no small feat.

Of course, there's nothing that says you can't get a mechanical bonus from your birthmarks, scars, and tattoos. But not getting a mechanical bonus shouldn't discourage you from holding onto the unique look such body modification provides.

That's all for this week's Fluff topic. Hopefully it inspired some folks out there, and entertained everyone else. If you'd like to help support Improved Initiative so I can keep bringing you topics just like this, you should stop by The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page and become a patron. As little as $1 a month can make a big difference, and it nets you some sweet swag as well. Lastly, if you haven't followed me on Facebook, Tumblr, or Twitter yet, well, why not start now?