User:Spazalicious Chaos/Appearance and Style (3.5e Variant Rule)

== Appearance and Style ==

Introduction
Of the various versions of Appearance presented thus far, few of them are usable, either effectively replacing charisma as a stat (like in the Book of Erotic Fantasy or the older White Wolf games) or simply not contributing to the game whatsoever (like Anima). However, many gamers feel a need to rate how they look in the game. For those who are so insecure, here is my example of a functional but not overbearing Appearance stat. Supplementing this stat is Style, a quasi-skill that allows one to maximize the use of Appearance.

Rule Mechanics - Appearance (Apr)
Appearance is a measure how effectively your character uses body posture, facial expressions and general form to affect others. Appearance is not rolled, but rather taken as the average of Strength, Dexterity, Constitution and Charisma (simply add the four stats together and divide by four.) You should also note the highest of the contributing stats, which will be called the primary. If there is a tie, there is a tie and all tied stats are considered primary, with your character able to use both primaries in Style checks, as per below. The primary also determines your Appearance as per below:
 * Strength as a primary indicates that your character is heavily muscled and has a body-builders frame, which can grant bonuses to Style checks in situations where brute force and physical might is favored.
 * Dexterity as a primary indicates a graceful and slender form that seems to flow as you move, almost like a dancer, which may grant bonuses to Style checks in situations where fluidity of motion and grace are favored.
 * Constitution as a primary indicates a calming stillness and solidity to your form that never seems to wear down or get tired, which may grant bonuses to Style checks in situations where endurance and stoic calm are favored.
 * Charisma as a primary indicates an appearance that changes to fit the setting, keeping up with fashions and attitudes of the world around them, which may grant bonuses to Style checks in situations where social graces and sense of fashion are favored.

An appearance check is used to make an impression on others that does not change attitudes but definitely can change the tone of how those attitudes are presented. This check cannot be made in combat after initiative is rolled, but may be used prior to or even to provoke/discourage a combat. Before rolling an appearance check, the player describes how she wants to be treated. If such a description is well matched with her primary, she can add half her primary's modifier as a synergy bonus. The roll is made once per scene, and is compared with the HD + Sense Motive + 10 of affectable creatures. If the roll exceeds this amount, the target changes his tactics (not his attitude) to match the presentation of the characters facade. If the check fails by 10 or more, targets see through the facade completely and may take Sense motive checks on the character as a free action. These effects last until the character leaves for longer than a minute, breaks her facade in some fashion (pretending to be a gimp works up until you break someone), or a successfully resisting character informs others of the true intent behind the facade.

For example, before combat the graceful Arian Blade the elven ninja uses her appearance 14, Dexterity primary, to flaunt her skill. She rolls high enough to convince the party of orcs that she is graceful and possibly deadly at range as well as hard to hit. Better use the net...

Rule Mechanics - Style (Apr, Untrained, Special)
Style is used to make an impression on others, either to instill awe or inspire others... or to simply get their attention.

Style always has effective ranks equal to your character level (or HD, for monsters), but it can otherwise be boosted as a typical skill, such as with feats and skill boosting magic.

You can roll Style as a swift action once at the beginning of a scene or as part of an entrance; it acts as a Diplomacy check or Intimidate check to determine the starting attitudes of all parties that would notice your character. This roll automatically negates any effect that would cause you to go unrecognized. If you cannot negate such an effect yourself, you cannot make such a style roll. You can add half your primary's modifier as a synergy bonus in the following situations:
 * Str - Combat when making a melee attack, breaking down a door or other barrier, moving a massive object out of the way.
 * Dex - Combat when making a ranged attack or an attack using Weapon Finesse, sneaking or tumbling into an area, any dance related event.
 * Con - Emerging from a damaging area effect, entering from severe weather conditions, entering after having taken damage (without healing) from a previous encounter.
 * Cha - any social gathering or event.

You can also roll style as a free action whenever you roll a natural 20 or 1. If the styled roll uses your primary as it's key attribute, you add half the primary's modifier as a synergy bonus. These style rolls modify the effects of the original roll as follows:

Finally, you can roll style as a free action whenever you take damage from a critical hit. For every five points you roll above 20, you either remove 1 point of penalties you are currently taking or grant all allies who saw you take the damage one temporary hit point. Alternatively, if you roll 30 or higher and the attack would incapacitate or kill you, you take your next turn normally before falling unconscious or dying. If you roll five or lower, you take the damage like an absolute sissy, becoming panicked until the damage source is removed or otherwise negated. If the damage would incapacitate or kill you, your wee girlish screams cause all allies to become shaken until you are revived or the damage source is removed or nulled.

Appearance in the Game - the Other Stuff
Here is a list of other uses for Appearance that, believe it or not, could come up:
 * Appraise can be used to gauge a target's appearance. Success by 5 or more also reveals the targets primary.
 * Appearance can be used to rate the value of a pelt. The price is by square yard, and is equal to the appearance score in copper for common creatures, silver for uncommon creatures, gold for rare and illegal pelts, and platinum for unique or nearly so creatures.
 * Non-attributes count as 10 for determining appearance, though they can never be a primary.
 * Favorable circumstance bonuses for style include culturally significant acts, associating with the right people, dressing in fashionable or stylish manner, and having a reputation (of any sort.) Being the mysterious stranger can also work...
 * Unfavorable circumstance penalties for style include taboo actions, being in the wrong crowd, dressing poorly or in a silly costume, being covered in something gross, or being a nobody. Having a reputation as someone no one likes (like a snitch or a coward) can also hurt.
 * Appearance is not always looking dead smexy, but can also include general awesomeness (dragons), terrible might (unique monsters), alien and haunting grace (ethereal beings), stony coolness (constructs), or even just impressive flamboyance (bards.)
 * If the GM allows it, style could be rolled as one makes an exit.