Tatoos

[DM Grizwald]

Way way way back in the world we live in (Yes I mean we live in FRC, because let's face it, we spend more time on this game then we do IRL) how were tatoo's done? With an ink and needles and someone just slowly poked you thousands and thousands of times over?

I want to play a character who has written his life story in the form of body art but how does it work in the time our characters live in?

[Aodhan the Unusual]

Sharp sticks and dyes. Maybe needles and dyes. Nothing fancy like what we have now, mind you, but I think it's how it was done back then too.

[The Supreme Watcher]

you COULD do this new fangled form of body enhancement, where they basically brand themselves.

make a mold of the text, heat it up, kssssst, nice little scar tattoo.

[EDM Entori]

I imagine that there could be some form of magical medium of tattoos as FR, is well, full of magic, the weave runs through everything.

that aside, I think that the typical prison tatoo, is how it goes, a sharp object, with ink, and just mechanically pushed in and out, the procession would be in my own opinion more painful, and last much longer then our usual parlor.

only other thought would be that there would be an actually in source reference, from a section on magical tatoos.

[fred]

Sept 15, 2008 19:35:21 GMT -5 DM Grizwald said:

Way way way back in the world we live in (Yes I mean we live in FRC, because let's face it, we spend more time on this game then we do IRL) how were tatoo's done?

Forgotten Realms is an alternate universe that, as far as I'm concerned, exists concurrently with the world I live in. There's nothing past about it: the Forgotten Realms are not medieval Europe.

We can make up a way that tattoos are done in the Forgotten Realms in a way that seems consistent with the setting... remembering that it is a high-magic, low-technology setting.

Personally, I see nothing wrong with either (a) needles and dyes, or (b) magic, as a tattoing method in FR. But the denizens of the Realms of Useless Knowledge, wherein dwell Many Sourcebooks, may have more to say on the subject.

[Deleted]

Haven't you people ever heard of the gnomish tattoo gun? It involves needles, ink,and smokepowder explosions!

[brian333]

There was a Discovery Channel or History Channel show on the very topic just a few weeks past.

Apparently the oldest person ever discovered with intact skin was tatooed. Tatooing probably predates language. It certainly predates civilization.

The original medium was ash and some kind of plant resin mixed to a paste and then dozens of bone or twig needles were bundled together and tapped with a mallet of some kind.

The Iceman of Austria had tatoos on places where he apparently suffered from arthritis, so it was possibly a magical cure in his case, but the aboriginals of Indonesia and Pacifica used tatoos to indicate wealth, status, etc.

I'm the only guy I know with no tats. I had a buddy with none, but he met a really cute artist who fixed that. Got his first tat at 55. I'm not opposed to tats, I just don't want to pick something I get tired of, and knowing me, it will be two days to a week before I get bored with it.

Edit: Found it, but the link on the website was broken. The show is, "The Works: Tatoos: Part 1"

[brian333]

Larry Niven's 'Warlock' (character in several books, including "The Magic Goes Away" and "The Magic May Return") had a demon-prison tatoo which he used twice. The first time he used it to allow the imprisoned demon out to ravage a battlefield, the second time to imprison a demon which had taken the form of a cursed sword. (Hey, it was empty at the time, why not?)

I've often portrayed a mage applying Permanent spells on himself via tatoos. Want a permanent Comprehend Languages? Get a tat. Trouble is, dispells or disjunctions leave you with a useless tatoo and after a few dozen you run out of clear skin for another try.

[ShadowCatJen]

Sept 15, 2008 20:44:08 GMT -5 @dmhighherald said:

Haven't you people ever heard of the gnomish tattoo gun? It involves needles, ink,and smokepowder explosions!

Is that how One-Arm Magurk lost his arm?

Anyway, tattoos applied magically happens in Faerun. Ask any Thayan. From Page 158 of Unapproachable East under the People of Thay, Mulan entry:

"Many Red Wizards use tattoo magic, and the fashion of tattooing arose from this. Even those without the power of the Red Wizards wish to look as though they do."

So magical application is possible, the secondary would be, I assume, the needle and ink way.

This is an interesting question as my own character has tattoos. I always imagined it was through the good ol' needle/ink process. Bigger question would be is if it would be a technique readily available in the local area your character is from. For some reason tattoo art doesn't come across to me as a "Cormyrian" thing. Even with their navy. Though with Proskur right there a person might be able to find an "artist".

[ancientempathy]

Tattoo Magic [Item Creation] You create tattoos that store spells. Prerequisite: Craft (calligraphy) or Craft (painting) skill, spellcaster level 3rd+ Benefit: You can create single use magic tattoos. You can create a tattoo of any spell of 3d level or lower that you know and that targets a creature or creatures. Creating a tattoo takes 1 hour, and it must be inked onto a creature with a corporeal body. When you create a tattoo, you set the caster level. The caster level must be sufficient to cast the spell in question and no higher than your own level. The base price of a tattoo is its spell level x its caster level x 50 gp. To creatre a tattoo, you must spend 1/25 of this base price in XP and use up raw materials costig half this base price. When you create a tattoo, you make any choices that you would normally make when casting the spell. The bearer of the tattoo is th eonly one who can activate it and is always the target of the spell. Activating a tatoo requires the creature to touch the tattoo with either hand (the hand does not need to be empty). Activating a tatoo is a standard action that does not draw an attack of opportunity. Any tattoo that stores a spell with a costly material component or an XP cost also carries a commensurate cost. In addition to the costs derived from the base price, you must expend the material component or pay the XP when creating the tattoo. Normally a magic tattoo uses a magic item space on the creatures body. For example, a creature with a tatoo on one of its hands could not gain the benefits from a magic glove on that hand. Likewise, a creature with a magic tatoo on its back does not receive the benefits of a magic cloak, cape, or mantle. In effect, the magic tattoo is always the first item "worn" on that part of the body, negating the effects of all other items. A tattoo can be created that does not use a magic item space, but the base price of such a tattoo is double the normal value. A magic tatto can be erased with an erase spell as if it were magic writing. Failing to erase the tattoo does not activate it. From the Lords of Darkness, pg. 190

Tattoo Focus [Special] You bear the powerful magic tattoos of a Red Wizard of Thay. Prerequisits: Specialized in a school of magic. Region: Thay Benefit: Add +1 to the DC for all saving throws agaisnt spells from your specialized school. You get a +1 bonus on caster level checks (1d20 + caster level) to beat a creature's spell resistance when casting spells from that school. Special: Only characters with the Tattoo Focus feat can participate in Red Wizards' circles. A character can only select this feat with the help of a Red Wizard who has the scribe tattoo ability. //From the FRCS, pg. 38

[ancientempathy]

the above is some random bit of information.

[ancientempathy]

Sept 15, 2008 19:35:21 GMT -5 DM Grizwald said:

Way way way back in the world we live in (Yes I mean we live in FRC, because let's face it, we spend more time on this game then we do IRL) how were tatoo's done? With an ink and needles and someone just slowly poked you thousands and thousands of times over?

I want to play a character who has written his life story in the form of body art but how does it work in the time our characters live in?

Body art? Body art doesn't need to be with tattoos, it can be with painting as well, and likely less painful. Food for thought. You could also cover more surface area since you wont have to endure as much pain

Body paintings and body tattoos are often two different things of course. I believe however, on a random note, that you can empower body paintings with magic and essentially just turn them into permanent tattoos

There's not really a whole lot of information to go by I dont think

Munroe and HH can indulge/correct me where I'm wrong if they care to

I personally roleplay any body designs as paintings, unless I plan on RPing tattoo magic

As for what can be used? Brian's suggestions seem nice. This is a fantasy setting...you could say a magical quill proded its design on ya. Just tossing some ideas out there

Anyway, go with what you're wanting to have fun with, so long as its reasonable. Dont go using rocks or something to try and give yourself fancy designs

[soulfien]

There was one documentary I saw where the females in this small tribe were tattooed. It used to be required, but these days it's voluntary. The tattoo is done all over their face by a sharp stick and dye by an elder female of their choice.

One hint of pain is considered an insult and they lose the respect the tattoo would have gained them.

The girl will lie there as her whole face is given this design and when the soft flesh around her eyes is poked, they always shed tears, but as long as they don't wince or cry out their fine.

[The Supreme Watcher]

That's what we call a D12 HD class right there.

Barbarians: Don't Mind The Eye Tattooing!

[iangallowglas]

I remember the Omega's, a fraternity at the college I went to, used to brand all their members with the Greek letter Omega, and that was back in the early
80's. I heard it was quite painful The 80's weren't the medieval times, but they were close to it ;D.

I would think that brands would be commonly used on livestock, and could easily be made by a blacksmith for use on a human, (or half-orc, or dwarf, but probably not an elf )

[ShadowCatJen]

If we really want to apply social reasoning to the way people will put tattoos/body art on their bodies as it pertains to the Forgotten Realms Universe....

I would say that all the techniques mentioned (paint, needle, branding, magic, arm-eating-gnomish-invention) would be possible.

If they were Loviatarian then it would have to be either by needle or branding. As mentioned Red Wizards by magic. Non-Red Wizards wanting to emulate the style could probably use any technique they could afford.

There are more than enough societies in Faerun that the more "painful" methods could easily be a rite of passage. Uthgart come to mind and I do believe some portions of the southern countries would easily make it a regular practice.

So, to go back and really answer Clark's question, I'd say it would again depend on where your character is from and what technique that character could tolerate. If they're a bit frail and pain isn't something they like, say it was magically placed on. If they don't mind the pain and it's the only way the character knows how to have tattoos put on, then go the branding or ink/needle way.

I also kinda like the idea of a magically infused quill that will place the wanted art on. It's still the ink/needle technique, but at least it will look like what the person intended. And if your character is wanting to tell his life story on his own skin, it helps if the sailing ship doesn't look like a basket of fruit.

[DM Grizwald]

K thanks everyone, the feedback really helps