@matthewmercer Could a deaf/mute individual become a caster? Would they be able to use sign language as a ‘verbal’ component or would they be limited to spells requiring somatic components only?#dungeonsanddragons
— Sanya (@Sanya_Westall) October 26, 2019
In my opinion, there are always workarounds! A form of disciplined sign language that can weave alongside the somatic components sounds awesome to me. 🙂 https://t.co/dqtm0dKD2M
— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) October 27, 2019
Here is a curious one, if that said character is deaf or mute, but that mean that the "Silence spell" would have no effect one them since they don't need a voice to speak to cast that mind of spell? Would @Wizards_DnD or @ChrisPerkinsDnD have a take on that?
— Myrrdyn Whitefall (@TheMyrrdyn) October 27, 2019
And isn’t that a cool benefit of being a deaf/mute caster? Imagine how badass that moment would be, the enemy realizing that their tactic was useless. 😉 https://t.co/wlL4ZkiuRM
— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) October 27, 2019
I had a sect of worshippers of a death goddess who took a vow of silence. They had a sign language, and all their spells had S components in place of V.
It can work really well, as the followers of Dakhira the Silent will show you. 😉 Alternatively, if you want to preserve the requirement for sound in creating some magic, changing out incantations of power for other sounds or even vibration patterns opens up cool possibilities. Percussive patterns, crystal chimes, plenty of non-verbal ways to get there.
— Dan Dillon 👥 (@Dan_Dillon_1) October 27, 2019
They might need bells on their fingers or wrists for the ‘somatic’ component.
I like that idea – it reminds me of Shintoism and its ceremonial kagura dances using “kagura suzu”, or ritual handbells.
Real world religions and rituals (especially the more shamanic ones) tend to be rich sources of inspiration – bells, drums, ritual dance, sacred flutes… they’d all make for fantastic “verbal” or somatic spell components.
Although, to be honest, there’s technically already an element of that with bards being able to use musical instruments as spell foci, but that’s often overlooked…
All of that said, one of the big problems I have with D&D is that it doesn’t do enough to encourage thinking outside the box and looking past the obvious.
For example, people hear “Rogue” and think “black leather, daggers, sneaking, thievery, assassination, etc” – but you could just as easily build a “Rogue” as a highly skilled medical doctor, or a charming diplomat, or a knowledgeable historian. The possibilities that the class mechanics offer get overshadowed by the stereotype.
Bards have much the same problem – the term “Bard” conjures up very specific images of classic European troubadours and entertainers, but the class could just as easily represent a tribal shaman and storyteller who summons up spirits with sacred drum music; or a Sufi-inspired mystic who weaves their magic by reciting Dhikr-inspired prayers; or a Buddist-inspired monk who recites “sutras”; or a Christian-inspired priest who utters Gregorian-esque chants, etc.
Or the poor “Barbarians”, who everyone instantly pictures as Conan-esque primitives clad in hides and seething with berserker rage, but who could just as easily represent a wide array of characters. I’ve personally built a ronin-esque wandering swordsman who “enters a trance” instead of “raging”, despite the mechanical effects being identical. I’ve also built a mafia-inspired thug and “enforcer” wearing a cheap suit and too much hair product, who became infamous for conducting business with his fists and being absurdly hard to kill.
Anyway, my point is, I wish a little bit more was done to suggest to players that the “flavor” and aesthetic of a class can vary much more wildly than we typically think is possible, and to encourage people to “reskin” mechanics.