Truespeaking, Mk. N+!

[Garryl]

Reserved for intro and index.

The general idea is that I got thinking about truenaming a while back when a bunch of people were making some attempts at fixing it. I remember Kellus made a fairly interesting attempt at it. I made some notes about it way back when, and I recently stumbled back upon them. So, here we are, with my own ideas.

The general idea is that truenaming gets you functionally-at-will abilities. They're balanced around being effectively at-will and working essentially 100% of the time. None of this fumbling about with scaling Truespeak DCs, or worse, with unreasonably high ones that force you to optimize to an absolutely absurd level just to use your abilities even once. This version of the system does use a skill check, but the numbers are essentially fixed and are designed to be hit on a 5 or so if you've been sticking max ranks into the skill and are a member a truespeaking class, or on a 1 if you actually put more than a 10 into Int or take Skill Focus or something (the exact numbers still need adjustment, but they're about right at present). Actually having a risk of failure is reserved for top-level utterances doing things like targeting foes on another plane or using metautterance feats (which'll still be fine for your lower-level utterances).

Truespeak is actually a skill now, by which I mean a skill that does something in and of itself, not just get used to not fail with your class features. You can use it to research truenames and then to speak them. Speaking a truename actually does something in an of itself. I've got it as effectively letting you spy on someone (although they also get to see you, too). The nature of what happens when you speak a truename might change (maybe you spying on them is broken, I dunno), but I definitely intend to keep the part where speaking it is a big enough thing that they will know that you spoke it and what you did with it.

The Orator is the new base class, in place of the Truenamer as the basic truespeaking class. It's shtick is truenaming, duh.

Utterances aren't divided into those three lexicon thingies. Like spells or maneuvers, they're available to whichever classes they state. Most have multiple variations to produce different effects based on if you're targeting/influencing a creature, location/area, or object. Most also have unique effects for if you weave a truename into them. For example, Seek the Sky gives okay flight to a creature, or much better flight if you speak that creature's truename. Vengeful Dreams works like a souped up Sleep spell without a truename, but with a truename it's a Nightmare-like day-long sleep disruptor no matter where in the multiverse your enemy is.

Also, to cut off any confusion, the rules in Tome of Magic are gone. No increasing DC with subsequent use, not limit on how many times you can have the same utterance up at once, etc.

[Garryl]

Truespeak skill

The following classes treat Truespeak as a class skill:

(click to show/hide)

Bard
Loremaster (PrC)

Truespeak (Int; Trained Only)

Utterances	Truespeak DC
Speak an utterance	10 + 5 per utterance level
Utterance Special Options	Truespeak DC Modifier
Speak utterance as a supernatural ability	+10
Dead magic zone or an anti-magic field	+20
Utterance Targeting	Truespeak DC Modifier
No line of sight	+2
No line of effect	+5
Target on another plane	+10
All utterance targeting modifiers stack.

Task	Truespeak DC
Speak a creature's truename	10 + creature's CR + creature's Charisma modifier
Speak an object's truename	10 + object's CL (if magical) + object's Charisma modifier (if intelligent), or owner's DC (use highest)
Speak a location's truename	101, or owner's DC (use highest)
Repeat an unknown truename	Truename's speak DC + 5 + 1 per minute
Obfuscate a truename	Truename's speak DC
Mark a truename	Truename's speak DC + 10
Unmark a truename	Marker's Truespeak check result
Research a creature's truename	25 + creature's CR + creature's Charisma modifier
Research an object's truename	25 + object's CL (if magical) + object's Charisma modifier (if intelligent), or owner's DC (use highest)
Research a location's truename	251, or owner's DC (use highest)
Learn a truename from another	Truename's research DC - 5
Obscure a truename	Truename's research DC
Identify an utterance being spoken	15 + utterance level
Identify an utterance targeted on you	25 + utterance level
Counterspeak an utterance	Speaker's Truespeak check result
1. Varies based on both size and security of location, see below.

Location Security	Truespeak DC Modifier
Public (mundane wilderness, outdoor public spaces)	+0
Semi-private (an abandoned dungeon, a business's public front, a warehouse, rope trick)	+5
Private (an animal's den, a private residence, an occupied fortress, mage's private sanctum)	+10
Secured (a vault, an inner sanctum, mage's magnificent mansion, an area protected by guards and wards)	+20
Use only the highest location security modifier.
Location Size	Truespeak DC Modifier
Small (100 square feet or less)	+0
Medium (up to 500 square feet)	+5
Large (up to 2500 square feet)	+10
Huge (a city block, a small lake, a small castle)	+15
Gargantuan (a city district, a small forest, a small town)	+20
Colossal (a whole city, a small island)	+30
Enormous (an entire country)	+40
Use only the highest location size modifier.

Check
The DC of the check depends on what you are trying to do.

Speak an Utterance
You can speak any utterance you know at will. Utterances are spell-like abilities. All utterances have verbal components, like most spells, so anything that prevents you from speaking or gives your verbal activities a chance to fail also applies to speaking utterances. Some utterances also have other components, most commonly experience components. The save DC of an utterance is 10 + the utterance's level + your Charisma modifier.

When you attempt to speak an utterance, you must make a Truespeak check to speak it properly. If you fail, nothing happens; the utterance does not take effect, you do not lose experience points (if it has an experience component), and so forth. If you are speaking an utterance from a source that only allows you to do so a limited number of times, a failed attempt to speak it does not count against that limit.

You can attempt to speak an utterance in a special way so as to divorce it from the normal limits of magic.

• By increasing the Truespeak DC by 10, you can speak an utterance as a supernatural ability instead of a spell-like ability (does not provoke an attack of opportunity, cannot be dispelled, ignores spell resistance). It still has its component.
• By increasing the Truespeak DC by 20, you speak the utterance and enable it to function even in areas where magic does not function, such as a dead magic zone or an anti-magic field.
  

For those utterances that can target without line of sight, without line of effect, or across planar boundaries, the DC to speak them is higher. Generally, this is only the case for utterances with unlimited range. Utterances otherwise follow the normal rules for targeting spell-like abilities.

Speak a Truename
As a standard action, you can attempt to speak a truename you know. When you speak a creature or object's truename, you immediately become aware of its location, and it of yours. This transcends distance, solid obstructions, and even planar boundaries. Each of you also becomes aware of the others' actions for 1 round. When you speak a location's truename, you become aware of its location, and how many creatures are within the area. Creatures and objects within the area become aware of your location and actions as if you'd spoken their truenames.

Some utterances require you to speak a truename as part of the action of speaking them. If you fail the check to speak the truename correctly, the utterance fails as if you failed its Truespeak check.

You can attempt to speak a truename that you do not know but have recently heard spoken by a truespeak who knows it. This works exactly as speaking a truename that you know, except that the DC is 5 higher, plus 1 for every minute since you heard the truename spoken by someone who knows it. A truespeaker who does not know a truename cannot pass it on to others.

Obfuscate a Truename
You can attempt to obfuscate a truename you know, making it harder for others to speak it. For the next 1 day, the truename's speak DC becomes the higher of its normal speak DC and your check result. This applies to everything that uses the truename's speak DC as well, such as marking it. For every -2 penalty you take on your check, you can increase the duration of the obfuscation by 1 day. Obfuscating a truename takes 1 hour.

Mark a Truename
You can attempt to mark a truename you know, linking it to you and making you aware whenever it is spoken. For the next 1 day, whenever a truespeaker speaks the marked truename, you become aware of the speaker's location and actions as though he had spoken your truename. For every -2 penalty you take on your check, you can increase the duration of the mark by 1 day. Marking a truename takes 1 hour.

Unmark a Truename
You can attempt to unmark a truename you know, removing any marks on it. Any marks made with a check result equal to or lower than your Truespeak check result are immediately ended. Unmarking a truename takes 10 minutes.

Research a Truename
With access to appropriate research materials, you can attempt to research, learn, or derive a truename you do not already know. Researching a truename takes 1 day.

Learn a Truename From Another
You can attempt to learn a truename you do not already know from someone who does. The DC to learn a truename from another is 5 lower than the DC to research it yourself, although your teacher must also succeed on a Truespeak check to speak the name in order to successfully teach you. Learning a truename takes 10 minutes.

Obscure a Truename
With access to appropriate research materials, you can attempt to obscure a truename you know, making it harder for others to research it. For the next 1 week, the truename's research DC becomes the higher of its normal research DC and your check result. This applies to everything that uses the truename's research DC as well, such as learning it. For every -2 penalty you take on your check, you can increase the duration of the obscurement by 1 week. Obscuring a truename takes 1 day.

Identify an Utterance
If you see or hear an utterance being spoken, or if the utterance involves speaking your truename or a truename you have marked, you can use Truespeak to attempt to identify the utterance. No action is required, but no retry is possible.

Additionally, if you are subjected to an utterance targeting you, you can also attempt to identify it. If you also saw or heard it being spoken, this allows you a second chance to identify it, albeit at a higher DC. No action is required, but no retry is possible.

Counterspeak an Utterance
You can ready an action to counterspeak an utterance. You must be able to see or hear the utterance being spoken to counterspeak it. Alternatively, if the utterance is spoken with a truename, you can counterspeak it if you know that truename and succeed on the Truespeak check to speak it, even if you cannot see or hear the utterance being spoken (you must still somehow be aware that the utterance is being spoken). If your Truespeak check equals or exceeds the speaker's Truespeak check to speak the utterance, the utterance fails as if the speaker had failed her Truespeak check.

Action
Varies.

Try Again
Yes.

Synergy

• If you have 5 or more ranks in Truespeak, you gain a +2 bonus on Use Magic Device checks made to activate command word items.
• If you have at least 5 ranks in a Craft skill, you gain a +2 bonus on Truespeak checks made to research the truename of an object that the skill can create.
• If you have at least 5 ranks in a Knowledge skill, you gain a +2 bonus on Truespeak checks made to research the truename of a creature that the skill can identify.
• If you have at least 5 ranks in Knowledge (architecture and engineering), you gain a +2 bonus on Truespeak checks made to research the truename of a building.
• If you have at least 5 ranks in Knowledge (dungeoneering), you gain a +2 bonus on Truespeak checks made to research the truename of a underground complex.
• If you have at least 5 ranks in Knowledge (geography), you gain a +2 bonus on Truespeak checks made to research the truename of a natural environment.
• If you have at least 5 ranks in Knowledge (local), you gain a +2 bonus on Truespeak checks made to research the truename of an urban district.
• If you know at least 5 languages you gain a +2 bonus on Truespeak checks made to identify utterances.

Change Log

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3/1/2016: Changed the DCs for speaking utterances to a standardized formula. Increased the sizes for small- and medium-sized locations. Clarified that obscuring or obfuscating a truename also applies to things that rely on the speak or research DC.
1/1/2016: Happy new year! You can identify utterances using your truename or truenames you have marked. Added some more options for speaking utterances.
31/12/2015: First posted.
21/9/2012: 1001 ideas.

[Garryl]

Orator base class (WIP)
A replacement for the Truenamer in a replacement for Truespeaking.

Hit Die: d6

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special	Utterance Bonus
1	+0	+0	+0	+2	Bonus Language, Truename Research, Utterances (0th, 1st)	+6
2	+1	+0	+0	+3	Bonus Language, Personal Truename	+7
3	+1	+1	+1	+3	Utterances (2nd)	+8
4	+2	+1	+1	+4	Bonus Language	+9
5	+2	+1	+1	+4	Utterances (3rd)	+10
6	+3	+2	+2	+5	Bonus Language	+11
7	+3	+2	+2	+5	Utterances (4th)	+12
8	+4	+2	+2	+6	Bonus Language	+13
9	+4	+3	+3	+6	Utterances (5th)	+14
10	+5	+3	+3	+7	Bonus Language, Confident Speech	+15
11	+5	+3	+3	+7	Utterances (6th)	+16
12	+6/+1	+4	+4	+8	Secret Language	+17
13	+6/+1	+4	+4	+8	Utterances (7th)	+18
14	+7/+2	+4	+4	+9	Secret Language	+19
15	+7/+2	+5	+5	+9	Utterances (8th)	+20
16	+8/+3	+5	+5	+10	Secret Language	+21
17	+8/+3	+5	+5	+10	Utterances (9th)	+22
18	+9/+4	+6	+6	+11	Secret Language	+23
19	+9/+4	+6	+6	+11	--	+24
20	+10/+5	+6	+6	+12	Say My Name and I Am There, Secret Language	+25

Class skills (6 + Int modifier per level): Bluff, Concentration, Craft, Decipher Script, Diplomacy, Gather Information, Knowledge (all skills, taken individually), Listen, Perform, Profession, Sense Motive, Speak Language, Spellcraft, Truespeak, and Use Magic Device.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: As an Orator, you are proficient with all simple weapons and with light armor.

Bonus Language: At 1st level, and again at every even-numbered level thereafter, you learn a new non-secret language of your choice. Beginning at 12th level, you can also learn secret languages this way.

Truename Research: You gain Truename Research as a bonus feat, even if you do not meet the prerequisites. This allows you to research and learn truenames more easily.

Utterance Bonus (Ex): You gain a competence bonus on Truespeak checks made to speak an utterance or to counterspeak one equal to your class level plus 5.

Utterances: As an Orator, you learn to use truespeech, the very language of the universe, to alter your environment and enact your will. You begin play with knowledge of all 0th-level and 1st-level utterances available to Orators. At 3rd level, and again every 2 levels thereafter up to 17th level, your research into truespeech gives you access to the next level of utterances and knowledge of all Orator utterances of that level.

Personal Truename (Ex): At 2nd level, you learn your personal truename. Thereafter, you need not make a Truespeak check to speak your own truename and you automatically know if someone marks, obfuscates, or obscures your truename. You gain a +4 bonus on all Truspeak checks relating to your own truename.

Confident Speech (Ex): Beginning at 10th level, you can take 10 on Truespeak checks, even when threatened or distracted.

Say My Name and I Am There (Su): Beginning at 20th level, whenever anyone speaks your truename, you become aware of the local environmental conditions around the speaker. As an immediate action, you can transport yourself to the speaker's location, as per the transport travelers option the wish spell.

- Respeak: If you fail to speak an utterance, try again with a -5 penalty on your Truespeak check as a move action.
- Bonus feats: Why not?
- Truenickname: You can create a truenickname for yourself. Your truenickname functions exactly like your truename. Anyone you teach it to directly can speak it without needing to make a Truespeak check (and no Truespeak check needed to teach it, either; can be learned and spoken untrained). You can retire your truenickname and/or create a new one in its place. You can only have one truenickname at once.
- Speak Unto the Masses: Chain Spell for utterances. Maybe this should be a feat?

Considering Truespeak DCs for utterances vs. expected Truespeak modifier, assuming I bump the class bonus to level+5 and speaker has no other modifiers (Int, Skill Focus, items, etc.) and change the DC to a more intuitive 10 + 5x level.
Level   Max DC   TS (+5)   Speak%   Speak%-1   Respk-5
1   15   10   80%   100%      (91%)
3   20   14   75%   100%      (87.5%)
5   25   18   70%   95%      (83.5%)
7   30   22   65%   90%      79%
9   35   26   60%   85%      74%
11   40   30   55%   80%      68.5%
13   45   34   50%   75%      62.5%
15   50   38   45%   70%      56%
17   55   42   40%   65%      49%
20   55   48   70%   95%      83.5%

Speak%: Chance to speak the highest level utterance
Speak%-1: Chance to speak the second-highest level utterance
Respk-5: Chance to speak the highest level utterance with a retry at -5 on the check


Change Log

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dd/mm/yyyy: First posted.

[Garryl]

Utterances
This section the rules for and descriptions of utterances, the spell-equivalents of this subsystem.

- Utterances are SLAs. Usable at will, but requires a Truespeak check to speak. Always has a verbal component.
   - Truespeak check should be easily made, assuming class features and max skill ranks but no Int bonus or Skill Focus or stuff.
   - Considering changing the DCs to 10 + 5x utterance level instead of the current not-quite-quadratic curve.
- Save DC is 10 + utterance level + Cha mod.
- Initial concept of utterance access (first draft, subject to change)...
   - Orators get access to all Orator utterances.
   - General utterances are available to pretty much all truespeakers and are available through feats.
   - Esoteric utterances are only learned through research (and require a feat to research them).
   - Metautterance feats make an utterance count as a higher level for speaking them (increased Truespeak DC).
- I'm almost certainly going to be changing that. Unlimited options plus unlimited uses is a bad mix when non-exclusive buffing is involved.
   - Utterances must be readied before use.
   - 1 hour of rest/study/practice/meditation/whatever lets you change out your readied utterances. You can only ready an utterance you know.
   - Orators can ready 3 0th-level utterances and 1 1st-level utterance at level 1. Each level thereafter gives another readied utterance of the highest available level (ending at 3x0th, 2x1st-8th, and 4x9th at level 20).
   - Orators also get to spontaneously ready an extra utterance or two of less than maximum level.
   - Metautterance feats make an utterance count as a higher level for speaking them (increased Truespeak DC) and readying them (higher level readied utterance slot).

Notes on the power of utterances...
- Without a truename, about as strong as a spell 1 or 2 levels lower.
- Blasty utterances could be as strong as a spell of the same level, since we all know blasting spells are suboptimal.
- With a truename, is at least as strong as an equal level spell.
- Long-duration effects (1 hour or longer) are usually limited to requiring a truename. Don't want you buffing every NPC you come across to the gills just because you can, only your own party.

Echoes of the Past
- Creature: Repeat the last damage taken or healing received within last round (max 5/level).
- ...

See The Named
- Creature: Give a creature True Seeing
- Scry on a truenamed creature/object/location

Speak The Truth
- Creature: Subject cannot lie (or maybe just significant penalties to Bluff checks).
- Object: Reveals intentional falsehoods in recoded information. Reveals the presence of hidden curses.
- ...

Universal Aptitude (0th)
- Creature: Guidance-esque. Maybe +2 on a skill check instead of +1 on anything?
- Object: Functions as a tool for any skill
- Object (truename): Functions as a masterwork tool for any skill

Word of Purification (0th)
- Creature: Cures some nonlethal damage or deals 1d6 damage to undead.
- Object: Purify Food and Drink

Word of Lightning (0th)
- Creature: 1d6 electricity damage
- Location: ...
- Object: Metal object becomes slightly magnetized, although not strongly enough to meaningfully affect combat. Or maybe not? As cute as this sounds, making it do anything would be complicated.

Defensive Edge (1st)
- Creature: Shield of Faith (+2-5 deflection to AC)
- Location: Creatures in area cannot be flanked.
- Object (truename): +2-5 to object's hardness and saving throws.

True Command (1st)
- Creature (truename): As Command.
- ...

Knight's Puissance (1st)
- Creature: Subject is flanked.
- Creature (truename): Divine Favor (+1-3 luck to attack and weapon damage)
- Object: Armor or shield gives DR as if adamantine.

Word of Nurturing (1st)
- Creature: Heals some damage. Healing cannot bring creature above 1/2 max hp, although it still removes nonlethal damage.
- Creature (truename): Removes dazzled, fatigued, and sickened. Or something like that. Remind me to check the big conditions list (and the smaller conditions potency list I wrote somewhere I can't remember).
- Object: Mending

Hidden Truth (2nd)
- Creature: ...
- Location: Reveals invisible things in the area as Faerie Fire.
- Location (truename): Makes you aware of all disguised, hidden, and invisible creatures, objects, and traps in your sight within the location.
- Object: Identify

Silent Caster (2nd)
- Creature (truename): Discharge to cast a spell or speak an utterance without verbal components (as with Silent Spell).
- Location: Area Silence-ish.
- Object: Attacking with weapon makes no noise. No Listen check to hear the attack, no penalty on Move Silently for attacking with it.

Word of Cleansing (3rd)
- 3rd-level utterance in the Word of [Healing] line.

Word of Restoration (5th)
- 5th-level utterance in the Word of [Healing] line.
- Creature: Give temp hp and remove conditions.
- Creature (truename): Revivify
- Location (truename): Plant Growth n' stuff.

Magic Contraction (6th)
- Creature, Object: Targeted dispel magic.
- Creature (truename): Immune to one spell or utterance per 4 levels of 6th level or lower. Mutually exclusive with Spell Immunity and Greater Spell Immunity.
- Location: Area greater dispel magic.

Immovable Object (7th)
- ...

Unstoppable Force (7th)
- Creature: Fus-roh-dah! Knockback and more! I dunno, look at some of the Bigby's Hand spells?
- Location (truename): Wall of Force covers the edges of the location.

Word of Vitality (7th)
- Creature: Heal
- Creature (truename): Resurrection
- Location: AoE healing

Unnaming (8th)
- Removes a creature, location, or object's truename. It can get a new truename with Edit Reality/Rewrite Reality or similar.
- Speaking time: 1 hour. XP cost: ???.
- If it has a truenickname, that must be removed separately.
- Obviously, a creature without a truename cannot have its truename spoken (since it doesn't have one).
- A creature without a truename cannot naturally heal. Fast healing and regeneration apply per hour instead of per round. Magical healing is at 1/2 effectiveness. Negative levels remain indefinitely, never disappearing or causing permanent level loss. Diseases require an additional 2 consecutive saves to cure naturally. Anyone who meets the nameless creature and does not already know him/her has an attitude no better than indifferent. A nameless creature cannot gain levels or grow in HD.
- Objects and locations are similarly barred from growth and recovery.
- Objects cannot be maintained and slowly break or fall into ruin.
- Locations slowly fall into ruin or become barren. People stop trying to live there (for a building, people move out and don't move back in; for a kingdom, immigration dries up and emigration becomes common).

Word of Life (9th)
- Creature: Greater Restoration
- Creature (truename): True Resurrection
- Location: AoE healing

Reference:
- Lexicon of the Evolving Mind: http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20060303a&page=9
- In the Beginning Was the Word, and the Word Was Suck: A Guide to Truenamers: http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?214115-In-the-Beginning-Was-the-Word-and-the-Word-Was-Suck-A-Guide-to-Truenamers


Esoteric Utterances

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0th-Level Esoteric Utterances

1st-Level Esoteric Utterances

2nd-Level Esoteric Utterances

3rd-Level Esoteric Utterances

4th-Level Esoteric Utterances

5th-Level Esoteric Utterances

6th-Level Esoteric Utterances

7th-Level Esoteric Utterances

8th-Level Esoteric Utterances

9th-Level Esoteric Utterances

Orator Utterances

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0th-Level Orator Utterances

• Word of Corrosion: Deals 1d6 acid damage or weakens a weapon.
  
• Word of Flame: Deals 1d6 fire damage, dazzles an area, or light fires.
  
• Word of Frost: Deals 1d6 cold damage, makes an ice slick, or creates clean snow.
  
• Word of Thunder: Deals 1d4 sonic damage, or deafens an area.
  

1st-Level Orator Utterances

• Defensive Edge: Grants a deflection bonus to AC, improves an object's saves, or prevents flanking.
  
• Entropic Word: Deals 1d4 damage/level and fatigues foes.
  
• Inertia Surge: Increases or decreases speed, or disarms a foe.
  

2nd-Level Orator Utterances

• Strike of Might: Enhances creature's next attack or boosts the strength of a creature or weapon.
  

3rd-Level Orator Utterances

• Seek the Sky: Touched creature or object can levitate or fly.
  

4th-Level Orator Utterances

5th-Level Orator Utterances

6th-Level Orator Utterances

• Vengeful Dreams: Subjects fall into agonizing, restless slumber.
  

7th-Level Orator Utterances

• Edit Reality^X: Alters reality, within utterance limits.
  

8th-Level Orator Utterances

9th-Level Orator Utterances

• Rewrite Reality^X: As edit reality, but with fewer limits.
  

Utterance Descriptions

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Defensive Edge
Abjuration
Level: Orator 1
Variations: Location
Truename Variations: Creature, Object
Speaking Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Duration: 1 minute/level
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)

Creature (truename)
Target: Touched creature
The utterance grants the subject a +2 deflection bonus to AC, with an additional +1 to the bonus for every six levels you have (maximum +5 deflection bonus at 18th level).

Location
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Area: 10-foot radius emanation
Duration: 1 round/level
Creatures in the area cannot be flanked.

Object (truename)
Target: Touched object
The utterance grants the affected object a +2 resistance bonus to its saving throws, with an additional +1 to the bonus for every six levels you have (maximum +5 resistance bonus at 18th level).


Edit Reality
Universal
Level: Orator 7
Variations: Creature, Location, Object; See text
Truename Variations: None; See text
Speaking Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
SR: Yes (harmless)

Creature, Location, or Object
Target: One creature, location, or object
This utterance undoes the harmful effects of certain powers, spells, and utterances affecting the target, such as geas/quest or insanity. Such effects specifically call out bend reality, edit reality, or limited wish as a method of undoing their effects.

Creature or Object
Target: One creature or object
Duration: 1 round or until discharged
Edit reality can help ensure the success of a specific event. The utterance causes the target to automatically hit with an attack, to gain a +20 bonus on a skill check for an activity lasting no more than 1 round, or for one subject of an ability, power, spell, or utterance it uses that requires a saving throw to suffer a -7 penalty. This usage costs 300 xp.

Special
Speaking Time: See text
Range: See text
Target, Effect, or Area: See text
Duration: See text
Saving Throw: See text
SR: See text
Edit reality alters the fabric of the universe. While specific utterances may offer more raw power in their focused field, edit reality can produce a wide range of effect. Edit reality can duplicate most any other lower-level utterance, as follows:

• Duplicate a speakable utterance of 6th level or lower. You must know the utterance and be able to speak it (have it readied, etc.).
• Duplicate a known, unspeakable utterance of 5th level or lower. You must know the utterance. This usage costs 50 xp per utterance level.
• Duplicate an unknown utterance of 4th level or lower. You need not know the utterance, but it must be on the list of utterances you can access or learn and may not be a prohibited utterance (such as being from a banned school or having an alignment descriptor opposed to your deity's alignment). This usage costs 100 xp per utterance level.
• Duplicate any utterance of 3rd level or lower. This can be any utterance on any utterance list, even if it is prohibited to you. This usage costs 200 xp per utterance level.

A duplicated utterance functions in all ways as the duplicated utterance (including range, area, speaking throws, casting time, and components), but the save DCs are as for a 7th-level utterance. Metautterances and other utterance modifications can be applied to edit reality, but only affect the duplicated utterance if they could be applied to the duplicated utterance.

XP Cost
Certain uses of edit reality have XP costs, as described above. An edit reality that duplicates an utterance with an existing XP cost uses the sum of both costs.


Entropic Word
Necromancy
Level: Orator 1
Variations: Creature, Location, Object
Truename Variations: Creature
Speaking Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Fort partial
Spell Resistance: Yes

Creature
Target: One creature
This utterance deals 1d4 points of damage per level (maximum 5d4) and fatigues the subject. A successful saving throw halves the damage and negates the fatigue.

Creature (truename)
Target: One creature
This utterance deals 1d4 points of damage per level (maximum 5d4) and exhausts the subject. A successful saving throw negates the exhaustion.

Location
Area: 10-foot radius burst
Saving Throw: Fort negates
This utterance deals 1 point of damage per level (maximum 5) to each creature in the area. Affected creatures are fatigued.

Object
Target: One object
Saving Throw: Will half (object)
This utterance deals 1d4 points of damage per 2 levels (maximum 3d4). This damage ignores hardness. A successful saving throw halves the damage.


Inertia Surge
Transmutation
Level: Orator 1
Variations: Location, Object
Truename Variations: Creature, Object
Speaking Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

Creature (truename)
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 hour/level (D)
You gain a +10-foot enhancement bonus to your base movement speed. This has no effect on any other movement modes you may possess, such as burrow, climb, fly, or swim.

Location
Area: 10-foot radius emanation
Duration: 1 round/level (D)
Creatures move through the affected area at half speed.

Object
Target: One object up to 50 pounds
Duration: Instantaneous
Sudden, jerking forces wrench the object about. If it is unattended, the object might be knocked about slightly, but the forces generally cancel each other out and are unlikely to move it from its space. If the target object is held by a creature, you initiate a disarm attempt against the creature holding the object. The creature does not get an attack of opportunity against you or the force. You and the target then make opposed attack rolls; your attack bonus is equal to your caster level plus your Cha bonus. The force is treated as a one-handed weapon wielded by a Medium creature. If you win the opposed roll, the target is disarmed. If you lose the opposed roll, the target does not get an opportunity to disarm you.

Object (truename)
Target: One object up to 50 pounds
Duration: Instantaneous
A sudden, ramlike force strikes the object. This functions as above, except that you have greater control over the object and the force that strikes it. The disarming force is treated as a two-handed weapon instead of a one-handed weapon. If the object is unattended or is successfully disarmed, you can have the force knock it in the direction of your choice. The distance depends on the weight of the object. If you have a free hand and the force moves the object into your space, you can catch it as a free action.

Object Weight	Maximum Distance
0-5 pounds	40 ft.
6-10 pounds	30 ft.
11-20 pounds	20 ft.
21-30 pounds	10 ft
31-50 pounds	5 ft.

Rewrite Reality
Universal
Level: Orator 9
Variations: Creature, Location, Object; See text
Truename Variations: Creature, Location, Object; See text
Speaking Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
SR: Yes (harmless)

Creature, Location, or Object
Target: One creature, location, or object
This utterance undoes the harmful effects of certain powers, spells, and utterances affecting the target, such as feeblemind or microcosm. Such effects specifically call out miracle, reality revision, rewrite reality, or wish as a method of undoing their effects.

Creature or Object
Target: One creature or object
Rewrite reality can undo a single recent event. The utterance forces a reroll of any roll made since the beginning of your last turn. Reality reshapes itself to accommodate the new result. For example, a rewrite could undo an opponent’s successful save, a foe’s successful critical hit (either the attack roll or the critical roll), a friend’s failed save, and so on. The reroll, however, may be as bad as or worse than the original roll. The utterance targets the creature or object that made the roll. An unwilling target gets a Will save to negate the effect, and spell resistance (if any) applies.

Creature or Object
Target: One creature or object
Duration: 1 round or until discharged
Rewrite reality can help ensure the success of a specific event. The utterance causes the target to automatically critically hit with an attack, to gain a +20 bonus on all skill checks for a specific activity lasting no more than 1 day, or for one subject of an ability, power, spell, or utterance it uses that requires a saving throw to suffer a -10 penalty on its save. This usage costs 500 xp.

Creature (truename)
Target: One dead creature
Rewrite reality can bring a dead creature back to life. This utterance produces the same effects as a resurrection spell. This usage costs 2000 xp.

Creature (truename)
Target: The location where a creature's body was destroyed
Rewrite reality can recreate the body of a dead creature whose body has been destroyed. Only creatures who could be revived by a true resurrection spell and who would be willing to be returned to life by the caster in such a way can have their bodies recreated in this way. You must speak the creature's truename as part of speaking this utterance. This usage costs 1000 xp.

Location (truename)
Target: You and up to one creature/level
Rewrite reality can lift you and up to one creature per level within range and place those creatures anywhere else on any plane. You must speak the truename of the destination location as part of speaking this utterance. An unwilling target gets a Will save to negate the effect, and spell resistance (if any) applies. This is not a teleportation effect. This usage costs 500 xp.

Object (truename)
Target: One object
Rewrite reality can create a magic item, or add to the powers of an existing item. You need not be able to craft the magic item or add the desired powers on your own. You must provide the raw materials, experience points, and other prerequisites as though you were crafting the item normally, but the entire crafting process takes place instantaneously. This usage costs 1 xp for every 50 gp of market value added to the item, in addition to any experience points spent as part of crafting the item. If you cannot meet all of the prerequisites, this usage costs 1000 xp for every prerequisite of the item's creation that you do not meet plus 1 xp for every 25 gp of market value added to the item, in addition to any experience points spent as part of crafting the item.

Special
Speaking Time: See text
Range: See text
Target, Effect, or Area: See text
Duration: See text
Saving Throw: See text
SR: See text
Rewrite reality fundamentally alters the fabric of the universe. While specific utterances may offer more raw power in their focused field, rewrite reality can produce nearly any imaginable effect. Rewrite reality can duplicate most any other utterance, as follows:

• Duplicate a speakable utterance of 8th level or lower. You must know the utterance and be able to speak it (have it readied, etc.).
• Duplicate a known, unspeakable utterance of 7th level or lower. You must know the utterance. This usage costs 50 xp per utterance level.
• Duplicate an unknown utterance of 6th level or lower. You need not know the utterance, but it must be on the list of utterances you can access or learn and may not be a prohibited utterance (such as being from a banned school or having an alignment descriptor opposed to your deity's alignment). This usage costs 100 xp per utterance level.
• Duplicate any utterance of 5th level or lower. This can be any utterance on any utterance list, even if it is prohibited to you. This usage costs 200 xp per utterance level.

A duplicated utterance functions in all ways as the duplicated utterance (including range, area, speaking throws, casting time, and components), but the save DCs are as for a 9th-level utterance. Metautterances and other utterance modifications can be applied to rewrite reality, but only affect the duplicated utterance if they could be applied to the duplicated utterance.

XP Cost
Certain uses of rewrite reality have XP costs, as described above. A rewrite reality that duplicates an utterance with an existing XP cost uses the sum of both costs.


Seek the Sky
Transmutation
Level: Orator 3
Variations: Creature, Object
Truename Variations: Creature
Speaking Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Duration: 1 round/level (D)
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)

Creature
Target: One creature
The subject gains a fly speed of 40 feet with average maneuverability.

Creature (truename)
Target: One creature
The subject gains a fly speed of 60 feet with good maneuverability.

Object
Target: One unattended object
You can levitate an object. You can mentally direct the object to move up or down as much as 20 feet each round. You can only move the affected object vertically. The affected object can lift itself plus up to a heavy load calculated using your Charisma score. The object is not weightless. Attempting to manually lift it or to shift it horizontally is as difficult as if it were resting solidly on the ground.


Strike of Might
Transmutation
Level: Orator 2
Variations: Creature, Object
Truename Variations: Creature, Object
Speaking Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Duration: 1 minute/level
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)

Creature
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round or until discharged
The subject adds your caster level as a bonus to her next melee attack roll, maximum +5. If the attack hits and deals damage, it deals an additional +1d6 damage/level, maximum +5d6.

Creature (truename)
Target: Creature touched
The subject gains a +4 enhancement bonus to Strength.

Object
Target: Weapon touched
This utterance gives a weapon a +1 enhancement bonus on attack and damage rolls. (An enhancement bonus does not stack with a masterwork weapon’s +1 bonus on attack rolls.) You can’t speak this utterance on a natural weapon, such as an unarmed strike. A monk’s unarmed strike is considered a weapon, and thus it can be enhanced by this utterance.

Object (truename)
Target: Weapon touched
This utterance gives a weapon a +1 enhancement bonus on attack and damage rolls. In addition, it bypasses damage reduction as if it was made of all materials.


Vengeful Dreams
Enchantment (compulsion) [Mind-affecting]
Level: Orator 6
Variations: Creature, Location
Truename Variations: Creature, Location
Speaking Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Duration: 1 round/level (D)
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes

Creature
Target: One creature
The subject falls asleep as per the sleep spell, with no HD limit. The creature cannot be woken for the duration, even if it is attacked or injured. Each round the subject sleeps, it takes 1d6 points of nonlethal damage.

Creature (truename)
Speaking Time: 10 minutes
Range: Unlimited
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 day (D)
The next time the subject falls asleep, it must make a Will save. On success, it suffers a nightmare, which wakes it after 1 minute of restless sleep, after which it can sleep normally again. On failure, the nightmare becomes real, dealing 1d6 damage per level (maximum 20d6), half of which is nonlethal, and preventing any restful sleep for the remainder of the duration.

Location
Area: One or more living creatures within a 20-ft.-radius burst
Creatures within the area may fall asleep. This functions as the sleep spell, except with a HD limit equal to twice your level (maximum 40 HD).

Location (truename)
Speaking Time: 10 minutes
Range: Unlimited
Area: Location whose truename you speak
Duration: 1 day (D)
For the duration, any creature attempting to sleep in the location must make a Will save or be unable to gain any restful sleep.


Word of Corrosion
Transmutation [Acid]
Level: Orator 0
Variations: Creature, Object
Truename Variations: None
Speaking Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes

Creature
Target: One creature
The outer layers of the subject's body sizzle and melt, dealing 1d6 points of acid damage.

Object
Target: One metal object
Duration: 1 minute
The affected object becomes temporarily corroded. Any attacks made with it suffer a -1 penalty on their attack and damage rolls. The object also suffers a -2 penalty to its hardness. This can't reduce the object's hardness below 0.


Word of Flame
Conjuration (creation) [Fire]
Level: Orator 0
Variations: Creature, Location, Object
Truename Variations: None
Speaking Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

Creature
Target: One creature
A burst of flame deals 1d6 points of fire damage to the target.

Location
Area: 20-ft.-radius burst
Duration: 1 minute
Saving Throw: Reflex negates
Sparks momentarily fill the area. All creatures in the area are dazzled if they fail their saving throws.

Object
Target: One unattended flammable object
The affected object is set on fire, as though it was exposed to a tindertwig or a lit torch. Nonflammable objects are unaffected.


Word of Frost
Conjuration (creation) [Cold]
Level: Orator 0
Variations: Creature, Location, Object
Truename Variations: None
Speaking Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

Creature
Target: One creature
A sudden chill deals 1d6 points of cold damage to the target.

Location
Area: 10-ft.-radius burst
Duration: 1 minute
All surfaces in the area become covered in a thin layer of ice. Walking across ice requires a Balance check.

Object
Effect: Up to 1 cubic foot of snow/level
This utterance generates light, fluffy snow. Snow created by this utterance is just below freezing temperature. If melted, the snow becomes wholesome, drinkable water, just like clean rain water. Snow can be created in an area as small as will actually contain it, or in an area three times as large—possibly creating a light snowfall or filling many small receptacles.

Note: Conjuration spells can’t create substances or objects within a creature. One cubic foot of light, fluffy snow contains weighs about 6 pounds.


Word of Thunder
Evocation [Sonic]
Level: Orator 0
Variations: Creature, Location
Truename Variations: None
Speaking Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes

Creature
Target: One creature
A sudden sonic pressure wave deals 1d4 points of sonic damage to the target.

Location
Area: 10-ft.-radius burst
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Fort negates
A loud bang deafens all creatures in the area that fail their saving throws.

Change Log

(click to show/hide)

dd/mm/yyyy: First posted.

[Garryl]

Reserved for feats and whatnot, once I get around to them.

- Truename Research: Improve your ability to research truenames. +5 on research checks, takes 1/4 the time.
- Esoteric Research: Can research esoteric utterances to learn them. Must receive instruction or find a text describing the utterance. No check required. Takes 1 hour. Typical cost for instruction is 100 gp/utterance level (level 0 = 1/2), or twice that for a text. Can learn any esoteric utterance up to the highest level utterance you already know.
- Truespeech Initiate: Learn the basics of truespeech. Learn 2 general 0th-level utterances of your choice. Can prepare/ready 1 of them. Can research general utterances to learn them. Must receive instruction or find a text describing the utterance. No check required. Takes 1 hour. Typical cost for instruction is 100 gp/utterance level (level 0 = 1/2), or twice that for a text. Can learn any general utterance up to the highest level utterance you already know.
- Truespeech Apprentice: Learn 2 general 1st-level utterances. Can prepare/ready 1 of them.
- Truespeech Novitiate: Learn 2 general 2nd-level utterances. Can prepare/ready 1 of them.

Metautterance feats: Like metamagic for utterances. Increases effective level for speak DC. Cannot increase effective level beyond the highest level utterance you know and can speak normally.
- Quicken does not exist. There's no resource management with at-will utterances, so there is no downside or tradeoff at all for quickening an utterance every round. It would just be a way of doubling your utterances for a feat.
- Speak Unto the Masses: As Chain Spell, but for Utterances. Also, speak multiple truenames of the same sort (creature, location, object) at once using the highest DC + 2 per truename beyond the first.


Epic Truespeak skill:
- Whisper Truename (DC +50): Speak a truename, but subject isn't made aware of you.
- Location Security - Impenetrable (DC +30): Private dimension-locked demiplanes, deities' outer sanctums, etc.
- Location Security - Inaccessible (DC +50): Deities' inner sanctums, the void where vestiges reside, etc.
- Location Size - Planar Layer (DC +60): An entire planar layer.
- Location Size - Planar Entirety (DC +100): All layers of an entire plane.

[Garryl]

Items and Equipment

Table: Adventuring Gear

Adventuring Gear

Cost

Weight

Adventuring Gear Descriptions

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Table: Alchemical Items

Alchemical Item

Cost

Weight

Craft DC

Alchemical Item Descriptions

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Table: Poisons

Poison

Type

Save DC

Initial Damage

Secondary Damage

Cost

Craft DC

Poison Descriptions

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Table: Tools and Kits

Tool

Cost

Weight

Tool Descriptions

(click to show/hide)

Table: Services

Service	Cost
Obfuscate a truename	50 gp plus 1 gp x new speak DC x obfuscation duration in days
Obscure a truename	250 gp plus 5 gp x new research DC x obscurement duration in weeks
Research a truename	1000 gp plus 10 gp x research DC
Teach a truename	100 gp plus 5 gp x research DC
Unmark a truename	50 gp plus 2.5 gp x Truespeak check result

Service Descriptions

(click to show/hide)

Obfuscate a Truename: The indicated amount is how much is costs to get a trained truespeaker to obfuscate a truename for you. This assumes that either the truespeaker knows the truename already or that you can teach it to him or her.


Obscure a Truename: The indicated amount is how much is costs to get a trained truespeaker to obscure a truename for you. This assumes that either the truespeaker knows the truename already or that you can teach it to him or her.

Research a Truename: The indicated amount is how much is costs to get a trained truespeaker to research a truename for you. This does not include the cost of hiring the truespeaker to the teach it to you.

Teach a Truename: The indicated amount is how much is costs to get a trained truespeaker to teach a truename to you. This assumes that either the truespeaker knows the truename already.

Unmark a Truename: The indicated amount is how much is costs to get a trained truespeaker to unmark a truename for you. This assumes that either the truespeaker knows the truename already or that you can teach it to him or her.

Change Log

(click to show/hide)

dd/mm/yyyy: First posted.

[Garryl]

I'm setting this aside for now. My initial burst of inspiration is spent. Right now I'm slogging through ideas for utterances and their effects (10 levels x 5 utterances/level x 2-4 variations/utterance = about 150 different things to make), which, as my wording implies, is a bit of a slog. I'm also not 100% sure about how the basis of utterance access should work, and that itself has gone through several iterations of ideas.

[bhu]

Need any help?

[Garryl]

The three biggest things I'm stalled on are...
- Utterances and their effects. I want ~150 effects over ~50 utterances, as mentioned above. If it helps, I've also been trying to look at the original utterances in ToM for inspiration.
- Utterance access mechanics. It's not as much to write, but more important to finalize the actual mechanics.
- Orator class features. I have a few in there already, but it needs some more to flesh the levels out. Lots of extra languages doesn't count, and I'd rather do more than just dump a bunch of bonus feats in there.

Aside from that, there are several smaller or less important things I'd like to deal with eventually.
- Feats. Gotta have feats for your subsystem.
- More base classes.
- Prestige classes.
- Writing up some of the less important aspects of the system that are there but are kind of implied, such as what the definition of a "location" is.
- Truenames for organizations/groups? I don't have any actual plans for it, it's just something that came to mind.

If you've got any ideas for the above (or anything else, really), I'd love to hear them. Every bit helps.

[bhu]

so each utterance has up to 3 effects?  Perhaps an easy way to do this would be to have each utterance have one effect, and  you could add feats that allow new options with similar groups of utterances.

[Garryl]

so each utterance has up to 3 effects?  Perhaps an easy way to do this would be to have each utterance have one effect, and  you could add feats that allow new options with similar groups of utterances.

Could be more than 3, actually, although most are from 2-4. The general idea is that you have one sort of effect if you're speaking on a creature, a different effect on an object, and a third on a location or area, each of which could have a more powerful effect if you include the target's truename (although it doesn't necessarily have to have a non-truename variation if it has a truename version).

For example, Defensive Edge creates an area of unflankability (location), or gives a deflection bonus to AC to one creature (truenamed creature), or boost's an object's saving throws (truenamed object). I have several utterances written out (they're in the spoiler at the bottom of the utterances post), and notes on a lot more.

[bhu]

It's different from what i was thinking of this afternoon, but your idea is prolly a lot easier to do!

[Nanshork]

As with all of your projects, when you've got stuff fleshed out I'm willing to comb through it and give an analysis if you'd like.

[Garryl]

Thanks, I appreciate it.

I just noticed something fun about the numbers I'm currently planning. With full class levels, Skill Focus (Truespeak), and an Int mod equal to the level of your highest-level utterance, you always have a 100% chance to successfully speak a top-level utterance.

[bhu]

Howzis:

Location: Any one building or area of contiguous terrain no bigger than x square feet per level

[Garryl]

Non-truenamed locations are your standard spell areas (x-foot radius burst/spread/emanation, etc.).

Truenamed locations are sorta implied but not fully described in the Truespeak skill section (if this were a finished product, they'd be fully fleshed out in a more general "mechanics of truespeaking" section along with everything else about truenames). It should be from the smallest things that you can conceive of as a distinct place (a small room, or perhaps just a corner of a large room) up to countries and continents (or entire planes in epic rules). Larger and/or more private/secure locations have higher Truespeak DCs.

Note that you can only speak a truename into an utterance's variation designed for a truename. No turning the utterance equivalent of Fireball into a Locate City bomb.