Vile Damage

The concept of Vile Damage first appeared in the Book of Vile Darkness. This page is a quick recap of those rules as well as tying vile damage more firmly to the concepts of Taint. It should be pointed out that weapons and characters that are able to inflict vile damage are few and far between, however it is not inconceivable for characters to travel to places where vile damage is the norm.

What is Vile Damage?

Vile damage is damage that comes from a source so evil and depraved that it cannot be healed by normal means. When a character takes vile damage natural healing, regeneration, fast healing and magical healing are ineffective in restoring the lost hit points or ability points. Vile damage can only be healed by healing or restoration magic that is cast within an area sanctified by the forces of good - such as within a consecrate or a hallow spell.

The dark power behind taint is the same dark power that is used to inflict Vile damage. Anyone inflicting Vile damage is using the power of taint to violate their victim's body to such an extent that the damage cannot be easily healed. Those who employ vile damage do not need to be tainted themselves, and those who are tainted do not necessarily have access to vile damage, although the two do often go hand-in-hand. A tainted weapon that has been used for acts of unspeakable evil may inflict vile damage on foes in combat, for example.

Vile damage affects any living creature - even if that creature is of the Evil subtype. Against undead and constructs, vile damage is considered to be normal damage.

What are Vile Feats?

Vile feats are only available to intelligent creatures of an evil alignment. They are granted to characters at the behest of a powerful evil entity (a god, an archdevil or similar). Taking a vile feat therefore makes you beholden to such an entity and this should be written into your character background. Vile feats are supernatural abilities.

There are 22 vile feats over several different sources. They are compiled here:

Dark Speech (Book of Vile Darkness)
You know some of the language of the dark power and can use it to cause fear in others, and help cast evil spells more effectively.

Deformity, Clawed Hands (Book of Vile Darkness)
You have sharpened your hands. They deal 1d6 lethal damage. This feat gives you +2 effective taint.

Deformity, Eyes (Book of Vile Darkness)
You have drilled a hole in forehead and inserted a third eye. This allows you to see the invisible for one minute per day. This feat gives you +2 effective taint.

Deformity, Face (Book of Vile Darkness)
You are so ugly you gain bonuses to Intimidate and to diplomacy checks with evil creatures. This feat gives you +2 effective taint.

Deformity, Gaunt (Book of Vile Darkness)
You are so slight you gain a bonus to dexterity, and a like penalty to constitution. You also gain skill bonuses to escape artists and intimidate. This feat gives you +2 effective taint.

Deformity, Obese (Book of Vile Darkness)
Gain a con bonus at the expense of dexterity. You also have a bonus on intimidate checks. This feat gives you +2 effective taint.

Deformity, Skin (Heroes of Horror)
Your skin is harder and grants a bonus to AC. This feat gives you +2 effective taint.

Deformity, Tall (Heroes of Horror)
Gain an additional 5 foot reach. This feat gives you +2 effective taint.

Deformity, Teeth (Heroes of Horror)
Gain a bite attack at that does base 1d4 damage. This feat gives you +2 effective taint.

Deformity, Tongue (Heroes of Horror)
Gain blindsense out to a range of 30 feet. This feat gives you +2 effective taint.

Disciple of Darkness (Book of Vile Darkness)
Your diabolic patron grants you a +1 luck bonus to one die roll when committing an evil act.

Evil Brand (Book of Vile Darkness)
You are branded by your patron. Non-evil beings know your dodgy, evil creature recognise the power you serve and are friendlier to you.

Favoured of the Zulkirs (Player's Guide to Faerûn)
When you cast a Corrupt Spell, the ability damage you take is reduce by 1 point.

Lichloved (Book of Vile Darkness)
By having sex with the dead you take on some useful undead traits.

Sacrificial Mastery (Book of Vile Darkness)
You gain a +4 profane bonus on religion checks when conducting a sacrifice.

Spider Bite (Player's Guide to Faerûn)
Your saliva is poisonous and inflicts 1d4/1d4 Strength damage.

Thrall to Demon (Book of Vile Darkness)
Your diabolic patron grants you a +1 luck bonus to one die roll when committing an evil act. This feat is not available in the Great Dark campaign.

Touch of Hate (Player's Guide to Faerûn)
You are a servant of the lost god Bane. Once per week an animal you touch turns into a Beast of Bane (as Beast of Xvim in Monsters of Faerûn).

Verminfriend (Book of Vile Darkness)
Vermin are friendly to your character and often refuse to attack you.

Vile Ki Strike (Book of Vile Darkness)
When you deal damage with your unarmed strike, you deal an extra one point of vile damage. This feat gives you +2 effective taint.

Vile Martial Strike (Book of Vile Darkness)
When you deal damage with a specific type of weapon, you deal an extra one point of vile damage. This feat gives you +2 effective taint.

Vile Natural Attack (Book of Vile Darkness)
When you deal damage with your natural attack, you deal an extra one point of vile damage. This feat gives you +2 effective taint.

Willing Deformity (Heroes of Horror, Book of Vile Darkness)
Gain a +3 bonus on intimidate checks. This feat gives you +2 effective taint.

See Also:

• Taint