Morte and tatoos

[mikeydsc]

Why cant we inscribe 1 or 2 tats on Morte's skull? Seems a perfect place to put something instead of the dull grey color of his skull? He can talk after all so it wouldnt be surprising to have an additional enchantment on him....no? (hate the auto underlying by Steam on this)

On my 3rd play through (1st on Steam) and this has always struck me as odd.

[Hasefrexx]

Perhaps because you usually make tattoos on skin?

[mikeydsc]

Ink can be applied to any canvas :) whether skin or bone.

Look at all the designs around the world on tusks, stone, wood etc...

After all, what is a tatoo? Its a piece of art that can be applied to any surface.
Its the design that brings the enchantment to life.

[figmentPez]

I assume it's a game balance issue, since Morte is pretty tanky with his base stats, and can be upgraded from there.

If you want a lore appropriate explanation: ink can be applied to any surface, but Fell only works on skin. These aren't just tattoo's, they're _Fell's_ tattoos.

[mikeydsc]

Yea, I assumed that was the reasoning, but it still seems to fall short. No other Dabus works with skin in the city, its all wood, stone etc... so that was basis for my question.

Yes, even tho Fell fell out of favor with LoP, it still doesn't explain how he came to work on skin when they worked with everything but skin.

He could have gotten the tats during his stay in the bone pile he was found in or even before that.

And since space is limited, he would be limited to 1 or 2 at most.

[figmentPez]

Why does Chihuly work with glass and not oil paints? Because.

There doesn't have to be a reason an artist only works in one medium.

[mikeydsc]

I understand that, but Fell is so far out of his heritage, upbringing, knowledge area, it just seems odd.

Kinda like Michaelangelo just painting houses 1 color.

[figmentPez]

Or like a Drow elf living on the surface and becoming a ranger? Or, even more relevant, like a succubus becoming a Lawful Neutral priest? Or a modron being a Chaotic adventurer?

Yeah, someone going radically against their heritage just doesn't make any sense...

[mikeydsc]

My point is, Fell is a Dabus and the Dabus only worked on the city (afaik from lore) using building materials. Nowhere in game do they deviate from that - ever - except Fell. How he became self aware is also something I dont know or remember(maybe :) )

Working with skin is something very far out of their realm of knowledge. Skin and stone or wood have very different techniques and tools.

Those other races you describe all have their beginnings in lore and have explanations on how they came to be. Internal wars, philosophy differences, other races imposing their wills on others.

Its just that working with stone, you sue an entirely different set of tools and techniques. You dont beat on skin with big hammers like stone. You dont use needles to chisel stone.

I would almost classify Dabus as Borg. (hive minds)

[figmentPez]

Originally posted by mikeydsc:

I would almost classify Dabus as Borg. (hive minds)

Modrons are a hive mind, that didn't stop Nord...

Ya know what, I give up. Maybe someone else can try explaining to you how Fell being an anomaly, unlike all other Dabus, fits in perfectly with the theme of the game. Fell is different, and he suffers Torment because of his situation.

[mikeydsc]

Its not like I dont understand where you are coming from. I do.

Sometimes I try to figure out what was in the devs minds when they make some decisions.

Appreciate your insight.

[figmentPez]

Originally posted by mikeydsc:

Sometimes I try to figure out what was in the devs minds when they make some decisions.

Then why do you keep trying to say that the devs are wrong, and that there can't be an explanation? Just because the game doesn't specifically state how Fell came to be different than other Dabus, doesn't mean that there isn't an explanation, or that there can't be.

Learn to "Yes, and..." dude. Accept the premise and then expand on it.

[mikeydsc]

Show me where I said it was wrong, never said that. Just saying it doesn't fit to me. After playing many of these DnD games, just seems odd is all.

I've played BG 1 and part of 2 - still need to finish that one, NWN, IWD 1 and now this again.

[GrimSentinel]

People changing their natures is sort of one of the main themes of Planescape: Torment. "When one turns on their nature, many are the torments that arise from such a betrayal."

Not sure how those other games are relevant, really. Not every story needs to have the same theme.

[Hasefrexx]

Originally posted by mikeydsc:

Ink can be applied to any canvas :) whether skin or bone.

Look at all the designs around the world on tusks, stone, wood etc...

After all, what is a tatoo? Its a piece of art that can be applied to any surface.
Its the design that brings the enchantment to life.

But if you do it on living bone, odds are that when the ink is recovered by bone, you can't see it, since bone does not let light slip through like skin.