Ben Mathis's page

I should have mentioned I saw that, sorry. It doesn't explain where 3 expansions and the turret access have gone, or the presence two extra berths. That's what is messing me up.

Because with a compliment of 8 max, 2 expansion bays (both cargo holds), no listed weapons, and a length of about 175 feet I'm having trouble stating one up. I like the layout and want to build something similar. Thoughts (or official position)?

I'm gonna have to slap a bump on this, because I really want a corrected map PDF. I heart this area and wanna start a big run. Like it to match up with offical if possible.

I think this is the effect in question...

Enrichment: This effect targets plants within a range of a halfmile,
raising their potential productivity over the course of the next
year to one-third above normal.

And the "stack with itself from this effect should be clear. And would go a long way towards explaining why even mid level druids have groves full of appropriately ancient trees...

Also why can farmers in this setting can support such large, late medieval urban populations with early medieval agriculture and transportation.

Don't want it.
It's not needed.
Several books full of variant rules, plus one that totally rewrote four base classes, show that unless the basic system is flawed there is no need for a 2nd ED.
Do NOT go all D&D/Shadowrun/CoC/WoD on me guys. I've dumped systems for that. In fact I've dumped three of the four I just mentioned.

All through RotRL I allowed my characters to sell off non-standard sized weapons & armor in Magnimar for a reduced rate. The tiny dagger sold for 25% of its value. What shopkeeper is going to give high return on equipment that isn't useful to the vast majority of his customers? Same with the large and huge weapons in books 4 and 5. Now they did keep some of the odd sized gear to put in their trophy room at Foxglove Manor (seems the original deed was vacated by the government. Something about being tied to a group plotting to kill the Lord-Mayor...)

How can I put this....

Yes, I have stuff.
Lots of stuff.

Now that there are PFS sheets for APs, I was wondering if there are official end results for the adventure paths? While I would assume the final Boss is going to be beaten and Glorion saved, there are often very serious ramifications that can have a serious effect on how people might interact in-game, especially if they have one or more of the AP sheets on their character.

For instance...

The same question could be asked about some of the Society specials too, but I'm assuming that would be based on the characters experience playing the scenario. But with the APs being such huge, world changing events, the final outcome would be good to know for character back story if nothing else.

So somebody spill.
Or tell me how I missed it in the search.

Ruick wrote:

semi off topic but:

So if I'm not mistaken the taxes they put on tobacco products pays for school programs of some sort or another...

I always wondered where they were going to get their money once enough people quit smoking. Looks like its going to be soda...since there area already bans in place...

Im just going to kick back and giggle since I no longer smoke and have instituted my own household soda ban lol.

It all goes into the same place and comes out in one undifferentiated mass.

Not necessarily so. Several state/local "sin" taxes chuck their takings directly at one program or another. Example- here in WV the soda tax that has been in place for decades was all routed to WVU for the purpose of setting up a medical school.

iBooks works fine, as does Adobe Reader. I also get good use out of...

PFR - a rule reprint app. Costs money, but you can get almost all the hardback books for $2 a pop.

Spellbook - though it hasn't been updated recently. All the basics are there, but if you are playing a serious spellcaster look for one that updates more often.

InitiativeBoard - Just what it sounds like.

Hero Lab - Love it on my computer, love it on my iPad. I get more use from it than anything else. WARNING! It is not cheap. As new material is released by Paizo they update the program, but not all the updates are free. But as a DM it is great for keeping up with my bad guys.

Since this sounds exactly like my Wednesday night Runelords game from last week, I guess I should explain myself.

The BoL wasn't cast the same round, it was cast on the same initiative tick. The bad guy and the PC cleric had the same tick, he just went first. (Mokmurian, from "Fortress of the Stone Giants")That, coupled with the fact the gnome sorcerer only missed the save by 1 (yes Grant, you missed it by 1!) is why I decided the cleric was able to get there before he was totally reduced to a lil pile of dust. In any other situation (bigger margin of failure on the save, slower action by the cleric) this would have been a kill shot. Instead I gave him the staggered condition for 1d6 rounds (and promptly rolled a 1) and moved the combat along.

It was my call based on the near miss saving throw and the immediate action taken practically at the same time by the cleric. Is it a perfect call? Not likely. Most aren't. RAW it is likely dead wrong. But it stopped the book races going on around the table and got us back to playing the game, which is what I invited people over to do in the first place.

I don't know. The idea of constellation-based monsters would mean you need a whole new set of constellations. So you use the ones listed in Different Worlds. And with this being the Age of Lost Omens, one might have a lot to fear from creatures based around astrology...

On the outer space note, some more off-world monsters specific to some of the more environmentally challenging climates (Aballon, Aucturn, Nox, ect)

Agreed, it's a house rule, you can play it as you like.

My point is that the item predates the Ultimate Campaign book (or Paizo. Or WotC.) If the designers thought the item rules needed modification they likely would have included them it in the UCam book or the Core Rule update that hit my inbox this morning. Or assigned it a point value under the downtime building system. The lack of rule change leads me to think they didn't feel the need. And I'm sure they thought about it.

The idea that "The players can get something for nothing, can't have that!" just sits poorly with me. The item eliminates labor costs. So bumping the transport cost to compensate strikes me as being punitive for no good reason. Extra transport costs to stockpile materials? Fifty trips in a wagon will cost as much as fifty wagons making one trip. Or ten a day for five days. and it will still be a fraction of the actual material cost. And your players know this. Gigging them for planing ahead when you let them have the lyre seems like poor sport. And if they do take up the gauntlet then expect to see them realize the (underground building=no transport cost) mechanic I mentioned above.

Now if you want to talk about really unbalancing uses...
>Use the stone from underground construction as an offset for BP when building roads.
>Irrigation ditches dug with the Lyre make plains farmland hexes faster and cheaper. Terracing makes hill hexes into fields for lower BP
>Rerouting waterways can dry out swamp hexes fast, lowering BP cost to put anything there by lowering prep costs.
>Motte & bailey, rampart & ditch, moats, and other earthworks can be produced fast and free (since the spoil is used in adjacent rammed earthworks) and increase the defensive value of settlements.
>Breakwaters, quays, and defensive shoals can spring up overnight. Harbors can be dredged out equally rapidly. Reduce the BP cost for Waterfront. And eliminate the cost for waterways.

None of these projects have any transportation cost, or the cost is offset by the diminished labor costs to extract the material (example-the gravel from the excavation going to road construction). With 1 Labor=20gp and 1BP=4000gp THIS is where you'll see the unbalancing effect.

Transportation costs should not be equal to 1/2 the labor costs of a building. Teamsters are quite a bit cheaper than stonemasons and carpenters (or they should be). And since the lyre can be used for excavation (as per the item description- "magically construct buildings, mines, tunnels, ditches, ect.") if the materials are available on site in their natural state (stone in a quarry for example) then this should not cause any cost increases at all. I would also apply this to wood used in construction if the building site is in a forest, but that's just me.

And for underground construction there would be no material cost as long as the areas excavated didn't require materials from off site to be used for bracing. As long as the stone you're working can be engineered to hold itself up (dwarven bards looking really useful all of a sudden) then labor cost should be 0gp.

Honestly, this comes back to the oldest trick in the DM-ing arsenal. If you think an item is overpowered, don't let the players have it. Period. You can give reasons (can't find one to buy, can't find the needed information to make one, ect), impose penalties for having it (in this specific case I'm sure nobles tend to confiscate Lyres of Building from untitled riff-raff. Especially if they go building fortifications without permission. Tradesman's guilds likely go a bit nuts about them too.) or just say "No, you can't have one."

But in the end, how big an issue is this? Does it need a rule? I think not. The only time I have ever had players pulling their hair out trying to get one of these was while running Kingmaker. And if they had located one, I'd have let them have it. It's primary use is during downtime. Kingmaker is the only time I've had a situation where a Lyre could mess up the story line, but it was just the B story. The odds on it trashing your main plot line are normally pretty low. Just work with it.

Nevermind, I found the fix.
I'm apparently blind...

So, in the interests of making my game a bit more portable I've been putting all my bad guys into HeroLab. When I got to Barl, I notice that under SQ in his stat block it says Thassilonian Specialist. If I add that archetype is spells per level goes up by one more than shown in the block. Anyone else found a problem with him, or is this a HeroLab glitch?

OK, so to confirm for the mildly confounded...

#1-I am currently running RotRL as a home game with standard PFRPG characters. After the players finish Thistletop I can give them (and myself) a Chronicle Sheet for "Burnt Offerings" that may be applied to any 3rd through 5th level PFS character in their inventory.

#2-Then after they finish Foxglove Manor I can give out "The Skinsaw Murders" Chronicle Sheet. It can be applied to any 4th to 6th level PFS character. It does not have to be applied to the same one that received the "Burnt Offerings" sheet.

#3-In either case, the Society characters that get the Chronicle Sheets for sanctioned Adventure Path content can still be played normally in Society scenarios and sanctioned modules. Or other sanctioned Adventure Paths for that matter.

Are these assumptions correct?

Ahhh. Totally forgot that it requires brass cartridges. That pretty much squashes using it even if it could be fixed. Carry on.

I've been asked to edit this to hide the spoiler. Sorry, I wasn't thinking.

Ghost of Jerry Lewis is banned for being considered brilliant by the French

To:Paracountess Zarta Dralneen,

This situation is unfortunate. And it sounds as though you may have allowed this to progress too far to correct it. Especially with the whining of some of the Society members that I'm sure wouldn't have the spine needed to be as blatant in their disrespect if you had not advised us of this possible threat to your position.

In all honesty, you know I'm not sufficiently trustworthy to be given this information. Of all the people you know you can trust, you give me this missive? That is very likely not one of your best thought out plans. Giving me a hint of weakness is akin to giving me a dagger and then turning your back. This also likely applies to more than a few members of our Faction. That whole "might makes right" view of order that the homeland thrives on is alive and well in more than a few of our countrymen here in Absalom. I'd be very careful who else you entrust with this information.

As for myself, at least, you did make the correct choice. After careful consideration I have decided to support you in this little misunderstanding. And as I'm sure you can guess, the decision was based on my own selfish personal interests. If you are displaced I'm sure it would be by someone much less interesting to work for. Being stuck dealing with the same sort of hide-bound, scripture-quoting, sycophant I left Egorian to get away from in the first place does not fill me with joy. You are, regardless of the jealous quips of your detractors, the only reason that working for the Society is actually entertaining. I could pull in a great deal more simply thieving and looting with a crew of my own. But you make dealing for people with scruples tolerable. And as such I'll do what I am able to assist you keep your position.

I will also remind you, I have quite the imagination...

Pax,
Alexite Baradin
Captain, The Silver Princess

P.S.- Varia says she will support you as well. Again, mostly out of self interest. But she's a good bit more trust worthy than myself.

I think the last encounter in First Steps #1 is the only on avalible for purchase. It is part of the Ambush Sites map pack.
First Steps #2 uses the Haunted Dungeon flip mat
First Steps #3 uses the Waterfront Tavern and River Crossing flip mats

Unfortunately, the big warehouse in #1 is not, as far as I know, available. Which is a bummer because if they sold that one as a flip mat (w/o the hole in the floor. I can draw that in) I'd grab one up. Getting sick of drawing it...

"Honestly'" sighs the rakishly attired half elf by the window " if I was such a stickler about THE LAW as you lot nothing I ever get set out to do would actually get done. Let me make sure all my priorities are in line here...sex, gold, sex, power, sex, drugs, sex, booze, sex, parties, sex..." Lifting a glass of wine he cracks a mocking smile, "Oh yes, I can work for the Paracountess. Though I find myself in agreement with the orc as to my plans when toiling away here loses its...allure."

Don't feel bad TOZ, our DM did that at Origins after the battle interactive. Oops. Happens to the best of us.

Hey! Let's build an escalator on Mt Everest!

There, I suggested it. Now, other ways to get race boons...

Obviously, buy them with prestiege from another character whose Faction could have something to do with the race in question. Want a tiefling? 20 Chelixian PP. Aasimar for 20 Silver Crusade PP. You get the idea. Note that I'm not suggesting the new boon-race character has to be a member of the Faction the points come from, just the player has to earn the points working for that Faction with the original character.

Less obviously, the "if you have all three Chronicles" trick for extra-fancy swag when compleating an entire series could be a good place for something like this. After all, so far I have an axe beak mount and two characters with permenent endure elements from that deal, why not a cool race.

I'm sure there are other ways to do it, those are off the top of my head.
But let's face it-either one is better than having them for sale on eBay.

That doesn't make any sense.
I know the rule is one player Chronicle and one GM Chronicle for any given Scenario per player. And they can't be on the same character.

So...if he died he didn't get a Chronicle. `Why can't he play it again and get one?

Not trying to be difficult, but it doesn't make a lot of sense.

I got $30.00 off! Yay!

Which means it only cost me half as much as the Rappan Athuk Kickstarter.

Which means I'll get to have food again by....
Crap.
Y'all my have to buy me a hot dog at GenCon so I don't starve to death at the table in the PFS room.

Fair enough. Can we maybe get plushies of the pregens from We Be Goblins?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

By contrast, religion isn't the sole repository of intolerance. That street goes both ways, y'know. You don't have to like or respect someone's beliefs or opinions, but you don't have to be a jerk about it either.

That all depends on what you intend to do with those beliefs...

Planing on bringing them into my science classroom? Then I will break out my physics book, and proceed to make you look like a fool.

Planing on using them to deny civil rights to a class of people because you think that the way they express thier love is prohibited by your rule book? I will break out my Constitution and make you look like a fool.

Plan to use it to run the country I live in? I will call you on it every time it conflicts with the Constitution, common sense, or the not insignificant number of us out here that don't subscribe to your version of the rule book.

As taxpayers we (agnostics, atheists, deists, and others not believing in whatever rulebook your game plan is running out of)have the right to be represented too. And a lot of us would like some sound policy about things that your rulebook doesn't really cover. Like $4.00/gal gas, domestic spying, border security, and the impending failure of social security. So once we live is a country where all the non-theological issues have been addressed we can see about continuing the not so impressive history of running government like a religion.

On the other hand...
Planning to use your faith in church, your private school, or in a public forum not supported by my taxpayer dollars? Knock yourself out.

(P.S.- I use the term "rule book" above since I don't want to single out any one group. My disdain for religion in governance, especially in taxpayer funded situations, isn't limited to any one religion. All are equally unwelcome in politics when I already provide de facto funding through their 501c3 status)

Sorry, but I'm gonna weigh in on the side of insensitive feelings-hurters everywhere and say religion has no place in politics. Ever. Pandering to voters beliefs in order to win is repellant in the extreme and should be subject to disdain not only from those of us that don't belive in the invisible friend, but from believers who should be intelligent enough to see the prostitution of faith for what it is-a ploy to win votes.

As a Libertarian I'm a great deal more interested in your energy policy, economic policy, and if you plan on restoring the lost personal liberties from the last fifty years or so of two party rule in this country.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Matthew 6 Today's New International Version

Giving to the Needy
1 "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness in front of others, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Prayer
5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

See, even the rulebook says not to make a spectacle out of it.

And that is the end of me giving money to WotC. That's all, it's been a blast, but I'm over it. I'll be reverting to my house-rule 3.25 game and all the 4th ed can go hang.

I had heard that Greyhawk was out of 4th ed. This seems to be the clincher.

Hell's bells

So, I lose the mags I have loved since about '79 or so. And I'm to assume it will also be the end of offical Greyhawk material too. Or are they letting you keep using Greyhawk in Pathfinder?

I did a write up description of the punishing man in Lepidstadt and the punishing of V&G (although it would be easy enough to replace them with someone else).

So my players are returning to Lepidstadt after Schloss Caromarc. The trial of V&G has just wrapped up as they arrive and the drunken peasantry of Lepidstadt will be singing this song:

Hey Paizoites,

I am going to get started DMing a Savage Tide game Sunday nights here in Salem, Oregon. I currently have 2 players (in their 20s & 30s), and am looking for an additional 1-3 players to round out the group. I am an experienced GM/Dm having most recently run Age of Worms in Eugene, and am excited about getting my hands dirty in the Pathfinder Beta test. Any interested parties should email me at:

andrewibhunt@yahoo.com

Thanks,
Andrew

Hey folks,

Looking for gamers interested in playing or running RPGs in the Salem, Oregon area. I both GM/DM and play. I am generally more interested in the serious side of gaming, although a good joke campaign can be fun sometimes too.

Anyone nearby?

I am toying around with the idea of running a Dark heresy campaign. I used to play 40K back in the day (all through he 1990s) and while I would never want to play the table top game again, running in a RPG in that setting intrigues me.

Here is the plot I have put together. Any advice on the system, plot, or anything else would be of great help. Thanks.

Plot: Imperial Guard Commissar Kleitos has secretly fallen to Chaos. This was a process that started over 20 years earlier, when he was commander over an imperial guard force batting chaos. They traveled in a space ship now lost as a space hulk. Kleitos is planning to undermine the imperial battle in a system of planets, that if they fall, will leave an entire section of the Imperium ripe for the expansion of chaos. One world in particular, Ushas Prime, is of particular strategic importance, as it is placed on the crossing of space lanes, and is the largest and most benign world in the Girisha system. There is a large force of Imperial Guard stationed on Ushas Prime, with smaller forces stationed on Nala (only a few detachments), Valli (Mostly Irregular troops, with a couple Battalions), and Ushas Tau (A few Companies protecting each mining interest).
Commissar Kleitos plans on turning the tide by infecting small groups of imperial guards, at specific strategic positions, with the tour-de-force being his taking control of the Imperator titan, stationed at Kutna Bastille, the main imperial fortification in the system.

Locations:
Girisha System – 5 planets, Asteroid belt, and 2 Suns that orbit each other.
In order, from closest to farthest:
Girisha – the sun – 1.2 times the size of terra sun (more Orange hue)
Yami – the lesser sun - .6 size of Terra sun (brighter white)
Nala – Small silicon based planet. Solor energy collection station.
Valli – Heavily forested, hot, Methane based atmosphere, some colonization
Ushas Prime – Terra like planet (1.8x size of earth)
Ushas Tau – Ironite Sphere – Heavy industry and mining.
Anil – Gas Giant

Adventures
#1. Plague infests a space dock station orbiting Ushas Tau. Sent in to investigate alongside medical crews. Location - Zayin mining Transfer Station – Ushas Tau. Encounters - Rabies like plague infested crew. (28 days later esque).

#2. Evidence of Captain Hengist possibly, accidentally or purposefully bringing the plague to Zayin station. Unsuccessfully track down Captain Hengist. Location - Ushas Tau – Mining Colony. Encounters - NCOs in the Imperial Guard, disgruntled miners, chaos infected (radiation poisoning) mine manager.

#3. Track Captain Hengist to Valli. There on the forested planet, encounter with him, laying foundation for possible chaos taint. Locations - Valli – Main Colony . Encounters - Captain Hengist, imperial troops assigned to him. Eldar scouts.

#4. Transport the body of Captain Hengist to Imperial ship orbiting Anil, for Inquisition autopsy, to be performed in another system. Locations - Space & Orbit of Anil. Encounters - High inquisitors. Space pirates?

#5 Respite from main plotline. Location -Ushas Prime

#6 Respite from main plotline. Location - Ushas Prime

#7. Inquisition asks for them to investigate Commissar Kleitos, surreptitiously. Travel to interrogate members of his old unit, on an outer system. Location - Ahti system – Terraforming planets, full of retired Imperial Guard officers. Encounters - Retired Imperial Guard officers. Possible chaos taint.

#8. Travel to an old battlefield, fought 5 years earlier, by Commissar Kleitos. Discover evidence of his taint. Locastion - Battlefield in other system. Encounters - Ghosts of the battle. Tainted animals.

#9. Travel to find the Space Hulk that Commissar Kleitos commanded previous to his being promoted to the Rank of Commissar. Location - Space Hulk deep in space. Encounters - Terminator Space Marines. Tyranids and Gene Stealers.

#10. Present evidence damming Commissar Kleitos to the Inquisition. Put him on trial, in abstantia. Locations - Inquisition courtroom on an imperial planet. Encounters - Lawyers (Sebastian mayhaps), the Inquisition court judges.

#11. Attempt to find Commissar Kleitos at his Bunker. Discover his plans for the Imperator Titan. Location - Commissar Kleitos’ bunker on Ushas Prime.Encounters - Tainted Imperial Guardsmen. Lesser Chaos demons.

#12. Assassinate Commissar Kleitos and foil his plans to give the Imperator Titan to the forces of Chaos. Location - Battlefield at Kutna Bastille. Inside the Imperator Titan. Encounters - Commisar Kleitos.
Tainted Imperial officers. Chaos Demon.

What do you guys think?

So I was just pointing out a Rigger the other night, and was reading the Shadowrun 4th edition Arsenal book. On page 108 I found the following interesting vehicle:

Entertainment Systems Cyclops (Monocycle)

With the advent of advanced gyro stabilization, the motorized
monocycle—a wheel on which the rider sits astride—fi nally
became a feasible mass market product, though it is still in search
of a market for the moment. Entertainment Systems had hoped
that customers would graduate from their Papoose model to the
Cyclops, but its appearance is still seen as off -putting. Some use
it as a commuting vehicle (though it is a little too sporty to be
practical for that purpose) and it can be easily disassembled to be
stored in a locker room. Its electric drive doesn’t smell or leave
other traces that would upset others. It has excellent response,
though for go-gangers there just isn’t enough protection for the
inevitable fights they get into. Lately, a few security forces have
begun to employ the Cyclops for light patrol and urban use.

Okay...cool, its a monobike, gotta love the future and all those wacky ideas we have about it.

Then I read this article, linked off Yahoo news, just a few minutes ago:

Go to [url=http://www.goodcleantech.com/2008/04/uno_crazy_electric_unicycle_mo.php]

Who knew that 2070 would arrive so soon. Man I love my motherland of Canada and all the wacky Canadian brothers and sisters that live there. Who wants to bet the kid has played Shadowrun?

Hey Chummers!

So with all the 4e/3e shifts and changes, I decided to take a small break from D&D/D20 to make a side run in the old Shadowrun universe. I have played the game maybe a half-dozen times but never run it. I also am rather short on time, so I decided to raid my rather solid library of dungeon magazines (from 87-150). I reread the Shadows over Istivin and thought that it sounded like it had potential to convert to Shadowrun.

Here is what I have so far. Any helpful suggestions or tips would be great as I have never GM'ed Shadowrun before.

As a side note I am going to try and limit the amount of Matrix and Hermetic Magic use, to keep things simple, at least that seems like a good approach for my first campaign, maybe not?

Oh and I am using 3rd edition, mainly because thats what we have played before and own the books of. Is 4th edition Shadowrun so much cooler that I should just not consider running in 3rd even thoguh it would mean more work for me?

Shadowrun – Istivin City of Shadows
Setting: Cripple Creek-Victor, Colorado (45 Miles outside of Colorado Springs)

Istivin
Elevation: 9,400ft Population: 149,000
Demographics:
Human 57%
Elven 4%
Dwarven 13%
Orc 21%
Troll 5%
Economics: Mining, Trade,

Timeline:
1891 – Rich gold Ore found in Cripple Creek – Last great Colorado gold rush of the 19th
century begins.

2018 - Treaty of Denver. The city of Cripple Creek forms the South-West border of the Front Range Free Zone. This area becomes a Black Market trade zone between the Ute Nation, the Sioux Nation, and the Pueblo Corp Council.

2020 – Franklin Istivin discovers the Collins Load gold/something else? strike.

2021-2035 – The Istivin Gold/? Rush – Population grows from 1,000 to 63,000 by 2035.

2025 – Franklin Istivin dies in a mine collapse near Victor. Many theorize this was not an accident. Some fingers are pointed towards Eilservs Mining Corp.

2026 – Cripple Creek is renamed Istivin in honor of the Collin’s Load discoverer.

2031 – Eilservs Mining Corp. files for bankruptcy following a series of bad test mines.

2035 – The Gold Rush ends. From here on out all mines are owned and all mining is organized by the big three mining corporations:
Verbane Mining Interest LLC, Querchard Entreprises, and Oestral Corp.

2038 – The Oestral disaster strikes. A minor earthquake devastates their mines and kills the board of directors who were visiting the site. The company files for bankruptcy and it’s holdings are bought out by Querchard and Verbane.

2041-42 – Time of Troubles – The Elven Mage of the Eilservs family causes problems from within. Takes over the city, begins a mass slaughter in the center of the city.

2042 - Istivin devastated by the Troll Nomad Invasion. The city manages, with help from Denver to throw off the invaders.

2042-2050 – Istivin rebuilds. Verbane and Querchard expand operations throughout the entire region. Most buildings in the outer city date from this era.

2060 – Modern Day

Major Players:
D&D Shadowrun
Drow House of Eislervs Eilservs Mining Corporation – Elven o
Marquis Querchard - City Rulers Querchard Enterprises –
Giants Ilkaris - Troll Nomads
Demon Malgoth Demon Malgoth
Sage Algorthas Decker Algorthas, working for some corp
Verbane – Mage Verbane Mining Interest, LLC

Major Locations:
D&D Shadowrun
Temple of Pelor (pg 48, #117) ?
Deeper Dungeons (Pg. 52, #117) Asylum? Corporate Warehouse?
Temple of Peolor (pg. 40, #118) ? Place of Ambush
Border Fort (Pg. 49, #118) Old US Military Installation
The Oestral Abyss (pg. 33, #119) Abandoned Oestral Mine
The City Square of Istivin The City Square of Istivin

Minor Players:
D&D Shadowrun
Ruga the blind war veteran Ruga the blind war veteran
Crylis – Male Kaorti Sorceror ?
Sufrira – Female Frost Giant
Barb 4-pg. 45 ?
Baron Teusele & Mad Amos – Prospectors perhaps?
Velikar the Hill Giant 12
Cleric, pg. 54 ?
Gleodites, Male Drow, rogue6/
Fighter6 55 ?

Minor Locations:
D&D Shadowrun
Gates of Istivin (Event 1,
Pg. 48 #117) Gates of Istivin
Tavern of Bar Fight (Event
3, pg. 49 #117) ?
Back Alley (Event 4,
pg. 50 #117) Back Alley of the City

Oh and the Reason for the mining? Morphesium. Still not sure about magical effects as I am still reading the Shadowrun magic system.

Morphesium – The Rock of Dreams

Specific Density: 12.5 g/ml Mohs Hardness: 6.5 Absolute Hardness: 86

Appearance: Morphersium is a metamorphic mineral, formed when gold-quartz is exposed to heat (in excess of 1,500 C though less than 3,000 C), Pressure (4-10 Atm), and mystic energy. Because of the extreme rarity of these processes, combined with it’s rapid deterioration when exposed to the visible light spectrum, Morphesium is one of the rarer minerals mined on earth. When seen under normal light, before deterioration, it appears to have a slight surface iridescence quartz like crystal, rutilated with strands that appear strongly iridescent.

Properties: Morphesium is a dangerous mineral to handle under normal conditions. It releases high frequency gamma ray radiation that can cause mutation in life forms when placed in close contact over a long period of time. These mutations tend to be associated with those created via awakening energies. Morphesium shatters into long rods when placed under duress. These vary from ½”-3” in width and 2”-14” in length. The number of sides varies from 3-12, depending on stress factures and purity of the sample.

Handling: Morphesium quickly deteriorates when exposed to UV radiation. When purity levels are above 37%, if the sample is exposed to direct sunlight, detonation can occur, at a rate varying from 4 m/sec (37% pure sample) to 150 m/sec (99% pure sample) . The visable range of light causes a slower, though consistent deterioration of samples. Thus pure morphesium must be mined under conditions that limit the amount of light and specifically UV radiation from exposing the ore. Extraction mining is usually done via shaft-pit mines, with miners using nightvision goggles and low frequency infrared lighting.
Due to the radiation released from Morphesium, miners, transporters, and processors must wear clothing infused with Lead-Gazardiel. Long term exposure, found in miners especially, where ventilation is limited, creates mutations found within the lungs and respiratory track as well as skin abnormalities, ie. troll like skin or other growths.

Processing: Morphesium can be processed into a variety of chemicals and forms. The most common processed form, Istivin 4M, known on the street as Krystal-M or White Dream, binds crushed Morphesium with Zinc Oxide to create a fine crystalline powder that has a wide variety of uses for adepts in circles and spells. Istivin 4M causes a increase in both potency, duration, and radius of effect.
A less common form, Istivin 12NG, more commonly known as Vulcan’s Blood or Suicide, binds finely powdered Morphesium with a mixture of oxybenzone and glyceryl trinitrate. This explosive and highly unstable mixture is used in techno-adept arms and ammunitions. The rarity of this substance is in no small part due to its ease of detonation at room temperature.
A final form that is just beginning to see testing is Instivin 249F, more commonly known as Eye-Steel, binds molten Morphesium with wrought iron. The result is a blackened, dull steel with iridescent flecks. This material is as strong as Titanium steels and as hard as tool steel, yet also has resistance to adept effects. Uses in adept-tech are not known at this time.

Price: Unrefined -
Refined -

Hello Oregonians.

I am an experienced DM/GM/Storteller and player living in the good old capital city of Salem, Oregon. I still run games sometimes with my old group from Eugene, but am looking for new players closer to home (gas is getting expensive). I have played and run D&D 3.5 extensively (having just completed running AoW) but would be up for just about any RPG that is out there, from Shadowrun to Call of Cthulhu to Serenity to whatever.

If you are interested and in the area shoot me an email, andrewibhunt@yahoo.com

I know this has been discussed before, but I am wanting to expand on the idea of running the old Porphyry House adventure from Dungeon 95 as a prequel to my Savage Tide campaign (which will start in the Spring). I have been rewriting portions of the adventure, expanding it, and trying to rework the intro. As a general warning, the descriptions will be mature, not quite torture-porn though, like Nick writes. I hope not anyhow.

I am having the players start on the dark side as it were, with 10th level characters, all N, CN, NE, LE, CE in alignment (I can keep doing this at least until 4E kills alignment, eh folks?).
Here is the intro that I have put together:

Scene1 -
Location – The Vohoun Ocean (within the Densac Gulf) with the characters aboard the ship Josephine's Doom. There are all sorts of reasons for them being aboard the ship.

Josephine’s Doom – Type: Junk, Cargo: 160 tons, Sailing from Sasserine
Crew: Captain Luim, Human, Male N, (4th Bard/4th Expert/4th Rogue)
+2 Chain Shirt, +1 Buckler, +1 Keen Longsword, Ring of Swimming
Lieutenant T’ces 1st mate, Human, Female, CN, (8th Druid)
+2 Shark Hide (+10 swim), +1 Short Spear of Wounding
Worthy Seaman (10) – 5 Human, 3 Half-Orc, 2 Elf (CN, N, NE),
3rd Rogue or Experts -
Studded Leather, Shortsword, Dagger, Light Crossbow
Common Seaman (35) – 20 Human, 12 Half-Orc, 3 Elf (CN, N, NE),
1st Commoner or Experts – Dagger

Attacked by Captain Ustk of the Crimson Fleet.
Beasts,Humans, Half-Orcs, Tieflings, Minotaurs, Orcs, Ogres,
Bugbears, Lizardfolk, Locanth.
40 - 1st level Pirates (1st Warriors)
10 - 2nd level Pirates (2nd Rogues)
5 - 4th level Pirates (4th Rangers)
3 – 8th level Pirates (8th Rogues)
3 – 8th level Pirates (8th Rangers)
1 – 10th level Pirate (10th Wizard)
1 – 10th level Pirate (10th Druid)
Luts’k, the 1st Mate – Ogre 8th level Barbarian
Captain Ustk – Lemorian ½ Fiend, 8th Fighter/4th Legendary Cap.

Introduction:
The waters of the Vohoun Ocean are choppy yet warm. The brisk May breeze, of a southerly bent, forcing the crew to tack into the wind, yet progress is being made. Captain Luim has set the junk on a smooth course since passing through the straights of the Olman Islands. The cargo hold, full of supplies to be traded with the monks and druids of Fort Greenrock. Trade goods from Sasserine, destined for far distant ports of the Auxual Islands and supposedly even more distant lands, on the far shores of the Pearl Sea, weigh down the vessel, it’s keel cutting deep into the pale blue waters. The crew, a mix of humans, half-orcs, and elves, sing various tunes, both common and exotic as they tack the sails, scrub the decks, and make the minor repairs needed as much to keep the ship shape as to keep the crew busy. Few ships ply these waters, fewer still venture far from the shore. Every day or two, a pair of lashed canoes makes it’s way from the endless impenetrable jungle, destined to trade fresh fruits, strange game meats, and tales for iron knives, an old axe head, or even a dented steel shield. The Southern Olman peoples are tougher than their Northern Cousins, more feral. Their canoes are decorated with the skulls of their enemies, not all of the unfamiliar. Their bodies are wiry and tight with muscle, their skin tattooed with strange patterns disconcerting to the eye. Few upon the ship can speak their tongue, although the swarthy skinned lieutenant T’ces, seems to be fluent enough for trade and tale at least, her countenance stern and bargaining fierce. Eventually these trades wane as you approach within a day of Fort Greenrock, their trade funneled and focused upon the jungle fort.

Scene 1 Pirates!!:
It is with the first morning watch, during a muggy hot foggy rain, that the cry goes out, an hour before the dawn. “Ship, fast and stout, closing from the shore. She bloodywell appeared out of nowhere, walking out of the very shores of the jungle. Ah, Saint Cuthbert preserve us, she flies the Crimson sails. To arms! To arms!”
Josephine’s Doom currently is traveling no more than 500ft from the shore, and there barreling down upon the ship is a large blood vessel, painted black with great red gashed upon it’s side, like some sort of wounded beast. Filled with blasted arcane winds, the blood red sails draw the pirate ship to you as a fly to s++~. Upon it’s twisted decks, dozens of men and beasts swarm, filling the wrigging, making it seems as if the black beast is infested.
Josephine’s Doom suddenly bursts into a furious chaos of activity and apathy. Sailors urine wets the deck, others run, some scream, the watch captain roars for daggers and axes to be found, the captain, still belting his cutlass, roars for his men to stand fast and fight the devils.
Roll for Initiative.
Tactics – A group of the pirates have snuck up to the vessel while invisible, namely the Captain, the druid, and the 5, 8th level rogues. They all have invisibility cast upon them, and have rowed out upon an small invisible raft. They will board at the stern, and try to take the stern castle, the poopdeck. The events will follow as noted, unless players intervene.

Surprise Round – Ships at 400ft Distance
Captain Ustk and his crew mount the poopdeck still invisible. DC 25
listen check to hear them over the commotion on deck. DC 25 spot check to notice the watery footprints they left upon the deck.

Round 1 – Ships at 300ft distance.
On the Poopdeck – Captain Luim, Lieutenant T’Ces, 5 worthy Seamen
Captain Ustk, the pirate Druid, and 5 8th level rogue pirates.
Captain Ustk - surprise Attacks Captain Luim. 12 dam.
2 - 8th level Rogues – Flank and backstab Captain Luim – 35 damage
1 – 8th level Rogue – Backstabs Lieutenant T’Ces – 17 damage
2 – 8th level Rogues – Backstab Worthy Seamen – 17 damage
Pirate Druid – Casts Wall of Fire (non-lethal damage) to separate the
poopdeck from the rest of the ship.
Pirate Wizard – Casts Fireball from the deck of the far ship (30 non
lethal damage) focused on the mid-deck. All worthy Seamen within
the blast are knocked unconscious by this attack.

Round 2 – Ships at 200ft distance
Captain Ustk kills Captain Luim
Rogues backstab Lieutenant T’Ces, killing her
Rogues kill Worthy Seamen
Pirate Druid – Casts Ice Storm (15 non-lethal damage) covering the
Forecastle, knocking unconscious half the Worthy Seamen there.
Pirate Wizard – Casts Lightning Bolt (10d6 non-lethal) targeting
strong warriors (the PCs) on the deck of the ship.

Round 3 – Ships at 100ft distance
Captain Ustk and the Rogues take the Poopdeck, beheading Captain Luim and drinking the blood dripping from his severed neck.
Rogues slay the rest of the worthy Seamen, tossing their corpses
onto the stairs, blocking passage up to the poopdeck.
Pirate Druid – Casts Call Lightning Storm (5d10 non-lethal damage)
targeting powerful people on the deck of the ship.
Pirate Wizard – Casts Lightning Bolt (10d6 non-lethal) targeting
strong warriors on the deck of the ship.

Round 4 – Boarding distance
Captain Ustk Calls for the crew to surrender, battles against the
PCs, backed up by his rogues.
Pirate Druid – Casts Call Lightning Storm (5d10 non-lethal damage)
targeting powerful people on the deck of the ship.
Pirate Wizard – Casts Waves of Fatigue at the largest bunch of
sailors on the Junk.
Luts’k the 1st Pirate Mate – Leads the boarding of the vessel from
the mid section. – Knocks unconscious the first worthy seaman
who he encounters.
30 – 1st level Pirates – Board with Luts’k
8 – 2nd level Pirates (8 Rogues) – Board with Luts’k
4 - 4th level Pirates (4 Rangers) - Board with Luts'k
2 - 8th level Pirates (2 Rangers) - Board with Luts'k

Round 5 - Joined
Captain Ustk, his rogues, and Luts’k battle against the PCs
Pirate Druid – Continues to target major persons with lightning
Pirate Wizard – Casts Cone of Cold (10d6 nonlethal) or Feeblemind.
The others battle against the leftover Worthy Seamen mostly using
Saps, unless brought below 1/2 hp, then resorting to daggers.

Luts’k, the 1st Mate – Ogre 8th level Barbarian
HP:118/118, AC:22, +2 Greatclub +23/+18/+13 2d8+12 (str 31 rage),
Fort+14, Reflex +4, Will +4, Damage Reduce 2, Initiative +0

Captain Ustk – Lemorian ½ Fiend, 8th Fighter/4th Legendary Captain Initiative+7 HP:106, AC:28, +2 Falchion - +20/+15/+10, 2d4+7,
Fort+10, Reflex+7, Will+5

10th Level Druid Pirate – Human
HP:58, AC:21, +1Scimitar +11/+6 1d6+1 damage
Fort+8, Reflex+5, Will+10 - Spells
Druids Spells Already Cast:
Control Winds, Air Walk, Summon Nature’s Ally III, Summon Nature’s Ally IV, Resist Energy (Fire, 30pts), Resist Energy (Electricity,
30pts), Flaming Sphere, Bear’s Endurance, Summon Nature’s Ally I (x3)
Druid casts –
1st (3) – Jump, Goodberry
2nd (1) – Summon Swarm, Warp Wood,
3rd (4) – Sleet Storm, Call Lightning (3d10 dam, DC19), Quench,
4th (2) – Ice Storm (3d6 bludgeoning, 2d6 cold, Long Range)
5th (2) - Call Lightning Storm (5d10 dam, DC 21), Wall of Fire

10th Level Wizard Pirate
HP:37, AC:15, Mtwk Dagger +8 1d4 damage
Fort+4, Reflex+5, Will+8 - Spells
Wizard's Spells Already Cast:
Enlarge Person Mass, Greater Invisibility, Hallucinatory Terrain,
Haste, Spider Climb, Bull’s Strength, Bear’s Endurance, Cat’s Grace,
Shield, Protection vs. Good, Protection vs. Law, (all on Captain),
Wizard Casts:
1st (3) – Magic Missile (5d4+5) x2, Color Spray
2nd (1) – Flaming Sphere (2d6)
3rd (3) – Fireball, Lightning Bolt, Dispel Magic
4th (2) – Shout (5d6 + Deaf), Evard’s Black Tentacles,
5th (3) – Waves of Fatigue, Cone of Cold (10d6, DC 22), Feeblemind
(DC 22/26)

8th Level Rogue Pirates - Human
HP:38, AC:17, +1 Dagger +9/+4 1d4+1+4d6 sneak
Fort+3, Reflex+9, Will+2

Captain Luim, Human, Male N, (4th Bard/4th Expert/4th Rogue)
HP:56, AC:17, +1 Longsword +10/+5 Damage 1d8+1
Fort+5, Reflex+9, Will+7, + Spells
+2 Chain Shirt, +1 Buckler, +1 Keen Longsword, Ring of Swimming

Lieutenant T’ces 1st mate, Human, Female, CN, (8th Druid), Initiative+2
+2 Shark Hide (+10 swim), +1 Short Spear of Wounding
HP:49/49, AC:19, Spear +7/+2, 1d6+1 damage, Bow +9/+4 1d8 damage
Fort+7, Reflex+4, Will+9, Spells 6/5/4/4/2

Worthy Seamen – Half-Orcs, 3rd Rogue
HP:20, AC:16, mwk Short Sword +6 1d6+2 Damage
Fort+2, Reflex+4, Will-1

Denouement:
The pirates begin punching, kicking, biting, and spitting upon the crew and passengers of Josephine’s Doom. You hear a woman’s scream disappear into the hold, even as a slime ridden foot smashes down upon your face, and all goes black.

Scene 2 - Scuttlecove:
You squint. Your mouth is parched, and your arms and shoulders burn in pain, screaming out to you.. You lips are cracked in a thousand places and bruises cover you body almost as much as the salt spray. The sun burns into your eyes, and you close them, opening them again with a deep goan. You look out upon the sea it’s surface descend and then ascend again, rocking with the movement of the ship across the waves. It is then that you realize that it is your bloodied heels that are making the hollow knocking sounds. You are bound by your shoulder and arms to the railing of Josephine’s Doom, facing outward to the sea, legs and body dangling over the drink. As you begin to turn to investigate the piercing screams, pulpy, and fleshy sounds from behind you on the deck, a fist smashes into your eye socket, turning all again to black.

For three days this is your lot. The pirates shove mouthfuls of bilge water down your throats as the sun sets each day, the foulness of it making you retch, yet your thirst pleading to swallow more.

You awake hours later to hear the moans and screams of your fellow bound passengers, your arms and shoulders having long since grown numb, you body wracked and twisted in pain, each wound soaked in the salt spray, your skin blistered from the sun.

“Oh Gods no…oh gods no! By the grace of Pelor no!! Not Scuttlecove!! NO!!!!!!!!!” The man hanging two down from you begins ranting and screaming, staring out into towards sea to the fore. Following his gaze you see that the ship is approaching a massive island, covered with thick jungle, imposing cliffs, whose air hangs with a dull miasma of smoke and grease. The image is gone as the ship tacks to catch the breeze, then returns with a starboard turn.

A fleshy thumb is heard, with a soft crack, a slight spray of wetness splatters your cheeks, as a fist silences the man, you think forever. The inmate next to you, covered with bits of the far man’s teeth and blood, reaches out his parched tongue, and licks his sanguine face.

You can clearly make out the crimson sails of the pirate ship leading a mile ahead, silhouetted against the isle. And beyond the ship, stretching to either side is a port, an opening in the jungle, a mass of jumbled buildings and rough, buckling fortifications. Only a few structures seem to rise above the chaotic mass, what appears to be an arena of some sort to the West, it’s wall rising high yet not smooth. In the center some sort of rough pyramid of wood and metal and other unidentifiable materials rises glistening and glittering in the midday sun. Near the Western walls of the city an elegant structure of stone rests, made from dark purple porphyry with four minarets rising from it’s corners, it stands at a contrast to it’s surroundings. And finally on the hill overlooking this foul pustule of a coastal inhabitation, is a blacked husk of a fortress, impenetrable as it’s form is untenable to the sane mind, the Palace from which the mad rule the foulest of capitals, the epicenter of horrors, the port-city of Scuttlecove.

The shanghaied ship maneuvers it’s way fitfully through a maze of passages, winding between the perilous wrecks that litter the mouth of Scuttlecove. The waters of the bay are generally calm, partially because of these unnatural reefs, and thus are full of the filth and mire that the city produces. A thick slick of grease, bits of hair, and unmentionable flotsam cover the bay’s waters.

The smell of the waters is almost refreshing compared to the miasma that wafts from the city itself, carrying with it the smells of a thousand filths, strange chemicals, and rot, both plant and animal. Your stomach begins to turn, even as you overhear pirates comment on the good smell of home, their speech barely rising above the dry retches of your fellow prisoners. Flies, mosquitoes, and other disdainful insects begin to fill the air, sometime congregating around a corpse floating in the waters, yet enough of them gaining interest in your vessel for you wounds to begin filling with swarms of bloodsuckers and egg layers. The buzzing they make crescendos as it merges with the sounds of the city to create a cacophony of terror. Screams, clanging of metal, cries of mercy, the creak of ships against docks, flesh yielding to steel, dull moans, this is the symphony of Scuttlecove. Your final destination.

The pirates, expert seamen, maneuver the ship into position and dock it along the bayfront. The docks themselves seem to be in relatively good repair especially when compared to the collapsing ruins that are the cities finest homes. The nimble youths jump from the rails unto the docks, catching the ropes and tying off the vessel, then aiding the original Crimson Fleet ship to dock to the aft. The pirate officers confer for a few moments, fingers pointed, bodies, off loaded from both ships are dumped into a cart a wheeled off, after the man leading the cart pays a few gold coins to the tall Ogre pirate leading this venture.

Finally manacles are brought forth, and the slow process of cutting loose the prisoners, you and your compatriots, begins. As each slave is untied, they are manacled to a gang line, each line linked by a thick, ancient chain, thus tying together 10 men. As each group is completed, they are led off by a group of 10 pirates towards a wooden platform, as tall as a man, made from sagging boards, found upon the beach. It seems that there a slave auction of sorts is being held.

You are all in the second group to be untied. Each one of you is untied one at a time.
5 – 1st level Pirates, 2 – 4th level Rangers, 2 – 8th level Rogues

Your muscles scream at you in terrible pain, forcing you to double over, your legs failing to hold your weight, even as the slap the manacles upon you. Three well built sailors are at the front of you group, yet following you are a group of men beaten and wasting away, all of which carry at least one broken limb.

Thats all I have written so far. I have the rest mapped out. They will be sold to a slaver, held in his pit's to prepare them to be shipped out to his plantation island. Within the pits, they will have to bareknucle fight for survival, then will be saved by Tyralandi, that is if they will sign a pact with Graatz to bring down the Porphyry House of Whor..err..Horrors.

What do folks think?

So my campaign is quickly approaching the end (they are on the Kings of the Rift adventure right now), and the players have decided that they wish to build a kingdom of their own. They have even figured out the perfect spot, the isle of Tilagos! I am not seen that anyone has written about their players taking this particular course of action, but it would seem to make sense.

In the adventure it writes that the Isle of Tilagos, upon their return is:
"An uninteresting, barren island in the Nyr Dyv....the barren rocks are covered with grass and a few copses of trees..."

Now in the adventure map, the isle of Tilagos, is approximately 40-50 miles wide and 70-80 miles long. An estimate of it's total area then would be from 1,800 to 4,000 sq. miles, with it probably being around 2,800 sq. miles or so or 7,250 sq. kilometers. According to wikipedia this would make Tilagos a larger area than the 63 smallest countries in the modern world, just somewhat larger than Brunei and somewhat smaller than Puerto Rico. As far as islands, it would be just a little smaller than Corsica or Crete, and larger than Hawaii's Big Island (the island of Hawaii that is) or Prince Edward Island. Thus it is a rather large land mass, as presented.

My players figured, why not build a kingdom on it?

I mean here it is, located 100 miles from Alhaster, in the middle of everything (that is the Nyr Dyv) and totally uninhabited. Plus even though there are other powers that will immediately be interested in it, it's not like the players are push overs, they are both 18th or 19th level now, and have leadership, thus small personal armies, as well as the resources of their respective churches (Wee Jas and Hextor that is).

Luckily I anticipated this, and made it such that the Island of Tilagos shrunk when it returned to the material plane, such that it was 'only' 10 miles wide and 20 miles long, in total 200 sq. miles or 500sq. km, of land (still larger than Andorra, and the 38 smallest countries in the modern world). Thus they have laid claim to the island and are beginning to build towns and watch towers upon it, both with muscle and magic.

Of course I was not going make everything easy for them. The druids of the Bronzewood lodge arrived, and promptly blackmailed them for 1/3 of the entire island, as a untouched preserve. They said they would collect the large and most dangerous beasts and try and keep them in this area, in return for promises of no human interference or destruction of habitat/forests/animals, within that area. My one player, the Paladin of Hextor, was all for killing the druids, until it was pointed out that with the number of beasts that had survived transit from the demiplane, they were terribly outnumbered, and that there were some rather powerful druids backing the bronzewood lodge up, druids that could make life rather difficult on Tilagos, if they so choose.

Thus the tri-nation of Tilagos was born, 1/3 Hextorian, 1/3 Wee Jasian, and 1/3 druidic. Long live the Isle of Law (as they christened it)!

I have a player who judiciously uses the Spell Compendium to boost his already powerful Cleric of Wee Jas. I have been interested by the power-up that this book gives to Clerics, a class that I never felt was necessarily wanting for power. Anyhow, I had a general question.

While fighting in the AoW, a Assassin using Improved Invisibility Attacked this Cleric, and used her Death Attack. The Cleric failed his save, yet had cast Fortunate Fate upon himself. He said that since Fortunate Fate casts Heal upon reaching -10hp, or death from a type of damage that heal can mitigate, that he should be saved from Death. I ruled otherwise, saying that while the Death Attack is not a Death Effect per see (perhaps I am wrong here, I thought that it is not the type of thing that a Death Ward would prevent) it is a Death Attack, and thus cannot be stopped by heal. I gave the description that the Crossbow bolt hit the Cleric just below the Jaw and lodged in his Skull, even as he fell the entry hole healed around the edges of the bolt, but he was still dead.

Was I correct in my ruling, ie. that Assassin Death Attacks (which are notoriously difficult to conduct and have a rather Low save DC) are not hindered by Fortunate Fate?

Also on this point, the spell, Lion's Roar was used in the same adventure, by the same Cleric, at a latter point. From what I could tell it is WAY overpowered. The Cleric did 10d8 damage to all enemies within a 120FT. BURST!!! STUNNING THEM ON A FAILED SAVE!!! and dealing HALF damage on a successful save!!! WTF!!!!!????? That alone is more powerful than any wizard/arcane spell that I know of, not only for having the largest area effect of ANY damage dealing spell that I have ever seen, by three fold!! But also it Stuns, a massively powerful effect, that could single handedly change a vast battle between upwards of 900 enemy Combatants (if there were 900 friendly combatants in the other 900 5x5ft squares). But it does not end there!!

It seems that Lion's Roar also gives all friendly combatants a +1 morale bonus to combat rolls/saves vs. fear effects, as well as a nice bonus 1d8+caster level HP (max 20, which it was maxed). WOW!!!

So lets set up a potential scenario. There is Evil Wizard A, a 15th Level Wizard, who has hired a army of 900 10th level adventurers, a mix of Fighters, Wizards, Clerics, Rogues, and all, vs. Good Cleric B, a 15th level Cleric, who has hired an army of 900 10th level adventurers, a mix of fighters, ect....

They get into a big mess of combat, and the cleric and the wizard close towards the middle to Duke it out. The Cleric casts Lion's Roar, he raises his caster level using one of the many tricks available for this, to 20th level, Save DC 23 minimum, Fort Save. The 70% evil 10th level Clerics take 45hp of Damage (66% of their total, with a average roll) and are stunned for 1 round. 50% of the Evil Fighters would face the same fate (taking damage equivalent to 56% of their total HP) and be stunned. 95%! of the Rogues would fail their saves (taking damage equivalent to 95% of their HP totals) and of course be stunned. Likewise 95% of the 10th level Wizards would fail their saves (taking 121% of their total HP!!, thus leaving them at -8hp!). Conversely the allies would all gain a +1 to hit their opponents, and gain an average of 24 or 25 bonus HP.

Evil Wizard A responds with hmm... maybe a 8th level Arcane Spell from Spell Compendium like:
Maddening Whispers - turning up to 15-20 (if he raises his caster level) of Good Cleric A's followers insane.
or
Lightning Ring - Making him resistant to electrical attacks, Damaging anyone nearby, and shotting off 2 lightning bolts a round, each doing 5d6 damage (average 17-18hp of damage) to up to 48 of Good Cleric's followers, although most likely he will end up hitting some of his own troops as well, and of course it will hurt them, not give them attack bonuses and healing.
or
whatever....

In the end no spell a 15th+ level Wizard has access to even approaches this one Cleric spell in terms of area effect destruction. I mean at a 30ft radius this spell is overpowered, much less a 120ft radius.

Thoughts?

So I was hoping to send this in as a submission, but considering the end of the magazines, I guess that possibility has been lost.

I was trying to come up with an idea of a very useful adventure to write for Dungeon and I happened upon this: creating an epic adventure (22nd or at the most 25th level) that was set up specifically to be run after the end of any of the 3 APs, as they are currently written. While I have not even gotten close to finishing it (I was just starting to gear back up to writting more of it when the announcement came in April) I think that the basic idea is a good one.

The working title is: The Trypich of Ur

Here is what I have written so far:

The Triptych of Ur

An Epic Adventure for a Group of 4, 22nd level Adventures
Plot:
Three groups of Ur-Priests and their allies seek to destroy three gods, draining their powers into their bodies, and upsetting the divine balance of the planes. They are going to push their rituals in three different locations, forcing the players to attack three places at once. If they attack Atka Isten first, they will be at a disadvantage as the other two have weapons and items that can be used against Atka and the Atropal.

In Depth:
The Ur-Priests of Scuttlecove were attacked by a Vengeful God, perhaps Hextor, who they had planned on destroying, their plans failed. They had to flee, and in so doing ended up on the Negative Energy plane, in the home of an ancient Ur Priest, Atka Isten. This was 7 years ago.
The Ghost of Ssythar-Vassha had discovered a weakness that many divine beings held, to the bodily fluids of an Atropal, a extremely rare undead stillborn child of a God or Goddess. The slithering archmage was unable to discover the location of an Atropal, but knew of one who might know, the Ancient Ur-Priest Atka Isten. This was 3 or 4 years ago.
Atka Isten, hated Pelor deeply and so planned to destroy him, only he was biding his time before acting. He now has enough powerful associates to act.
They found the Atropal deep in the bowels of Pandemonium, bringing it forth with their combined might, and allying with it, promising to allow it to destroy it’s parent, Pelor.

Major Foes:
Atropal – Main final foe (CR 30)
Atka Isten – Main Ur-Priest – Wanting to kill Pelor
Either:
a Half-Celestial/Half-Human –
2nd Ranger/5th Wizard/10th Ur-Priest/7th Mystic Theurge (CR 26)
12th Level Arcane Spellcaster- 23rd Level Divine Spellcaster
Or Possibly
Shadar-Kai (CR:26) Has worked for the Garrote
3rd Rogue/12th Cleric of Shadow God/10th Black Flame Zealot

with 2 Advanced x2 Evolved Undead Nightwalkers (CR 22 each, CR 24 together 33HD each) CR 27 Encounter

The Ur-Priests of Scuttlecove – Associated with the Savage Tides AP – Wanting to kill Olidamara. CR25 Encounter

Kolyarut 2nd Fighter/10th Ur-Priest – Followed a oath breaker to the Far Realm, went mad (CR 24)
or
Varakhut Inevitable – Advanced CR: 24 (Elite Array Stats, +12HD, Huge, 34HD)

with:
12th level Fighters/8th Level Ur-Priest (Human) x2 (CR:20 each, CR 22)

Possibly the Ghost of Ssythar-Vassha – The Ancient Cleric of Merrshaulk, risen as a Greater Mummy, associating with the Ur Priests to bring destruction to the soft fleshed gods for their desecration of his tomb. Wanting to kill Wee Jas, because of her follower that brought destruction to his tomb. CR26 Encounter
Yuan-Ti pureblood 6th Level Fighter/6th level Sorcerer/10th level Eldritch Knight CR:25

with:4 Awakened Gargantuan Constrictor Snakes – HD: 33HD+ 6th Fighters (CR20)
“A Humanoid creature with subtle snakelike features clad in a black robe, and wearing a coronet, in one hand grasping a viper, in the other hand an unblinking eye set into it’s palm”.

Major Locations:
- The Negative Energy Plane – Atka Isten’s Flying Castle, the Trypich of Ur – Trying to merge the Plane with the Fortress of the Sun for 20 rounds in order to kill Pelor.

- On the Plains of Ysgard, hidden in a deep valley, near the Den of Olidammara

- On a large Crystal Shard in Ocanthus Burrowed in the heart of the Shard

Rewards:
The Tryptych of Ur – A powerful Flying Planar Castle
2 Vials of the Cord Blood of the Atropal – Prepare a oil to be used against it
Craft: Alchemy DC 60 Worth 1,800gp each
Powerful Temporal Spell can give them 2 weeks to
complete the oil
Oil of the Gods Blood – effects last for 10 rounds.
If pored on a blade – DC save 30 Fort save or the Blade is eaten
away and turns to dust.Overcome Damage Reducation of the Atropal as well
as adding +10 to all damage done to it. If Drunk – DC save 30 Fort or Die. +10 to spell level for all spells cast against the Atropal

1 Boon from the church of each God(dess), each boon is worth up to 50,000gp

Estimated Length and number of Maps:
1 Map of the Shard of Ocanthus
1 Map of the Valley of Ysgard (Overgrown Temple of an ancient CG god of war)
1 Map of the the Trypich of Ur.

I realize that it is still rather in rough sketch form, but tell me what do you think.

Sorry just could not resist repeating the joke, I get good ones so rarely.

I figure if Kyuss wins we can just call it catastrophic Global Worming. Maybe Al Gore can be represented by the Rain Man, the guy trying to warn us of the coming bad, (no disrespect to Al, loved the movie) and then the players would be like uber enviromental activists or scientists about to save all of our collective A**es, and then....wait who would Dubya and the heads of the international oil/auto companies be then......those Kyuss pod people?

I guess you can only take the joke so far.

Anyhow, thought we all could use a little humor, even if it is of my rather poor quality.

have a good one folks.

Well it seems kinda odd to be posting again on the AoW with the big news on the transition and all, but I figure the game must go on, eh?

I am about to run the Library of Last Resort and was going over some ideas on how to push and make even more hectic the last few adventures.

one idea I have had for a while is making the demi-plane of the Library have a slower run of time compared to the rest of greyhawk, thus meaning that by the time the characters have returned victorious, the world has passed them by significantly. I am not planning to make it to drastic, my thoughts are to make it as follows:
1 hour = 2 days outside
1 day = 2 months outside
1 week = 1 year

Thus most likely a year will have passed while they are in the plane. This helps to explain the pace of work on the tower in Alhaster, spreads the AP over a longer time, and also explains perhaps why the enemies within the cult of Kyuss do not move against them as fast in the last 3 adventures, they think they are dead or gone, having lost track of them for a year.

I am also planning to have a number of events occur while they are gone:

- The Day of Night – During a solar eclipse. The rise of an undead army, lead by the Death Knight Raknian and his lieutenant, a powerful undead (a Kyuss Knight which was one of the players cohorts at one time). The army will attack and wipe out most of a city or town, perhaps Elmshire, maybe part of the Shield Lands. The reaction will be swift and most of the army destroyed, though Raknian and his Lieutenant will escape, leading many to think that the age of worms has been averted. This is however just a taste of things to come, as undead begin to rise from graveyards with a greater frequency (think ghost busters "the dead rising from the grave!") in towns all across the Flanness, harsher weather becoming more common, a late spring frost killing young plants and blossoms, a summer blight and drought, and a early onset of fall with a very harsh winter.

(Hey it's global worming! I couldn't resist.)

Thus the players will return to find most/many thinking them dead and gone, their homes empty and dusty, the world a darker and more apocalyptic place then they had left (think 5-10 times more rain barrel men) and the general feeling that the age of worms is Nigh!

Any other suggestions for events that could occur while they are gone?

What do you folks think?

I was writing up a Prayer to Wee Jas, a funeral prayer that could be either spoken by the dying or, with a slight variation, spoken to one dying, when I thought that this is one area I have not seen good fan work on. That is I have not seen many published prayers to different Gods and Goddesses. So I figured I would put the word out and see what others have written or could write up for different deities. Perhaps a prayer for the dead by a priest of Moradin, or Nerull could be interesting, or the Wedding Blessing of Obad-Hai or Farhalagn.

Anyhow here is what I wrote. Lets see some others, eh?

Spoken by a dying man or woman:

“See Dark-Eyed Lady,
Speak Queen of Ruby,
Ask Witch on High,
For Time is Nigh,
This Body Wither,
This Mind Hither,
Across the Plains Glacial,
Open the Gates Palatial,
My Spirit to Burn,
Your Vision so Stern,
Count Another Soul,
I will pay whatever Toll,
To live with a moment thus,
In Aged Occanthus.”

Spoken over a dying man or woman:

“See the Dark-Eyed Lady,
Speak of Queen of Ruby,
Ask the Witch on High,
For the Time is Nigh,
This Body Withered,
This Mind goes Hither,
Across the Plains Glacial,
Open the Gates Palatial,
This Spirit to Burn,
Your Vision so Stern,
Count Another Soul,
They will pay whatever Toll,
To live with a moment thus,
In Aged Occanthus.”

There you go.

or ov

Perhaps I am late in the game on this post, if so please direct me to the most recent post.

I would have liked to have seen a side view of the Pirate-Ship-Tree extravaganza, hideout. In reading over each section very carefully, I have, I think, been able to discern how the whole is put together, but it is rather difficult (even more so than the anti-dragon Giants Fortress in AoW). If it is possible could we see an illustration on the online supplemental material, so that we can better understand the geometry of this most amazing building. Also a general sketch of it, for play aid, would be great as well.

Thanks.

My players have just finished with the mass slayage that was the Spire of Long Shadows. After making a pit stop in Sasserine, and completing some left over business, they are going back home to Alhaster. But the one Cleric of Wee Jas was going to pick up some packages for a certain Halfling Merchant woman, who lives in Rooksroost (Mizen Mitchwillow).

I had not done much interesting with the packages that they were going to take to Mitchwillow, mostly some rare woods, spices, and other goods that she had them trade for some similar, Northern, goods that they had taken down with them. But I got to thinking, I should have a less than scrupulous noble or merchant (perhaps Nemiem Roblach or Vanthus)hand them two magically sealed boxes to take to Mitchwillow and some other merchant in Alhaster, two Shadow Pearls. I would have the Sasserine fellow show them their cargo and then magically seal the velvet lined strong boxes, paying them 1,000gp to take them North.

I figure this is a nice way to set up some unknown foreshadowing about the next AP, that I plan to run next year or so. It will be especially cool because neither of my players know anything about the next AP except that it has pirates, high seas, cool adventures, and the Isle of Dread. So it will be like 6 months or more until they see a shadow Pearl again, but when they do they will realize that their characters from the last game helped spread a secret horrorm to the hometown that by then they (the old AoW characters) now rule.

I figure it will be a cool moment and will make their cargo a bit more interesting.

So I just posted this elsewhere, but I figured I would make a new thread for it as well, as it took me a hour or so to put together.

Lets see what kind of profits the colony of Farshore can possibly rake from their hard labor.

Lets look at the island. It is tropical. Tropical lands are very different than more polar latitudes. For instance the Bamiléké of Cameroon had family farms that averaged 3 Hectares or roughly 7 1/2 acres. And that is circa 1987. Two friends of mine bought 1 acre of land in the highlands of Honduras and have managed to pay the bills working just that 1 acre of land. They may live leanly (in fact it turns out when you farm 1 acre of land in honduras, you live like the guy next to you farming 1 acre of land, that is you are starving a little) but 2 or 3 acres would do them very well.

That is becasue of growing seasons. In North America if you plant corn in a field you will get 1 crop of corn that year. Maybe you will plant a winter crop in the field, and get some yield from that,but more liekly you let the field go fallow for a year or two and then plant it again. Traditional farming that is. The crop rotation method.

In the tropics, there are various means of farming, but especially good farmland, like that found in Costa Rica, can be planted and harvested upwards of four or five times a year. That is because there is no winter there. And dependant on rain patterns, you can grow rainy season crops and dry season crops. This vasty increases your yield per acre of land, and allows for the increased production of cash crops.

That brings us to the more important point, cash crops. You are not going to be growing wheat to compete with other wheat growers, once set to market in Sasserine or beyond. In Farshore you are going to be growing rare spices. How rare and how much do/did these spices cost? Lets look at 14th century costs for spices in Europe.

Saffron 1lb cost 12 shillings to 15shillings
Pepper 1lb cost 4 shillings

And here are wages for a 14th century Thatcher and his mate.
1 days work = 3 pence for a Thatcher
1 days work = 1 pence for a Thatcher's mate

1 shilling = 12 pence (d)

So a Master Thatcher (which was a good skilled job back in the 14th century) would have to work 16 days to buy 1 lb of pepper. The same Thatcher would have to work 48 days to buy 1lb of Saffron (a rather large amount of said spice, but still).

And just incase you were wondering about earlier times:
In Diocletian's day 3rd Century CE or AD) a pound of ginger cost 5,000 days wages (18.5 years, with 270 workdays per year); but in 1875, only 1.4 days' pay.

So the net result is that spices, because of their rarity, were an excellent way to make a small farm make big bucks. In Sumatra your average pepper plant yields 12lbs of pepper a year. Figure you have an Acre of said plants. Each plant needs a tree to be grafted upon (to grow it in Indian fashion). Figure 100 trees per acre. That means that you are producing 1,200lbs of pepper a year. Or in other words, you are producing wealth equal to the yearly labor of roughly 71 Master Thatchers or 210 Thatcher Mates. Thats a dang good cash crop. Now you will not be getting all of that wealth of course. You will get some, some will be reinvested into your farm, some will go to pay local taxes, a lot will be taken by the merchant who transports the spices to market, and a bit will be taken by the spice trader or spice seller in the market town. But still, even if you only get 10% profit, you are still making 7 times the living off of 1 acre of land that the average Skilled Tradesman is making back in Sasserine or Greyhawk city.

And to top it all Pepper plants are grown along side other crops. In Sumatra the ground is cleared, ploughed, and sown with rice, and cuttings of the pepper vine are planted in September, 5 ft. apart each way, together with a sapling of quick growth and rough bark. In India they use trees with rough bark, perhaps such as fruit trees or nut trees, thus doubling the use of the land, getting both personal use food stuffs and a cash crop off of the same acre.

Lastly, the thing to consider is other island populations. People went to the Orkney's to get away from it all, and to scrape out a living far from the eyes of the law. People went to the West Indies to get rich not to build small family farms. Thats why slaves were imported for labor. Huge plantations (compared to the amount of land needed to support a family) were set up and slave labor worked them to make one family very, very, very rich.

In this case, Lavinia is not interested in slave labor (although if the players pick the evil tract, maybe that is somethign they should look into, getting folks drunk and loading them unto their ships, taking them to Farshore to work the plantations till they die....hmm....). Instead she is going to sell the lands, and make money off of transporting the goods. She will probably also run a large plantation on the island, but her main interest it seems is in shipping not farming. But she needs folks to farm the land if that is going to be the case.

As another poster said there are about 12,800 Acres of land avaliable on the island. Lets say that only 1/3 of that is good arable land for spices, the other 1/3 left for timber, and the last 1/3 for pasture lands and sustenance crops. That means that the island could support 1,400, small, 3 acre farms, each raising 1 acre of spices and 2 acres of food stuffs, leaving 4,200 acres for a grazing commons. Now in the prairie west of the US, you want 15 acres per cow or 4 acres per sheep, meaning only 285 cows or 1,060 sheep could be grazed. Chickens on the other hand, according to modern “Free-Range” constraints are to be limited to 300-400 per acre, although this means using feed. But even if one were to limit it to 3 chickens an acre, that would still mean between 9-18 chickens per colonist family, more than enough to keep them in eggs and meat. But considering this is the tropics and there is a longer growing season and more productive land, one would probably be safe double or even quadrupling the number of animals that could be put on the pasture lands, meaning enough animals for the colony to not need to import leather, meat, and cheeses. And that would still leave 4,200 acres of timber that can be harvested for fuel, building materials, export, and medicines (natural remedies and what not).

So it total, such an island, were it to produce pepper, in large amounts, could, in 14th century prices, produce 1.7 million lbs of pepper a year, worth 6.8 million shillings. Now even if shillings were equal to silver pieces, that means a total crop value for the island of 680,000gp. Heck even if they are equal to copper pieces you still rake in 68,000gp. I qould probably fudge towards the silver piece price. Figure 10-15% goes to Farshore (vastly incresing their finances), 25-40% goes to Lavinia (who has to take losses, such as building ships, losing ships dissapearing, paying crews, destroyed or stolen cargos, ect.), and the final 45-65% would be made by the Spice merchants of Sasserine, northern traders, and the small market sellers and stores that pander the spices to the individual consumers. Now you see why Lavinia and her parents, heck everybody is interested in opening and developing this market.

And all of these numbers do not reflect the trade possibilities with native olmans, harvesting timber and spices from other non-inhabited islands, or even the more aggressive prospect of taking over the Olman lands.

All in all I think that the prospects are good for the farshore colony. And I also believe that there are great reasons for folks wanting to leave Sasserine or the bitter North and come down South to start a new life and make a great profit, in the colony of Farshore.

So I was running the SoLS the other night and my player, who runs a Cleric of Wee Jas, and his cohort, both got infected by Kyuss worms at the same time. The Cleric cast heal on himself, I can't remeber if it was before or after the worms reached his brain, however I ruled that it did not stop them. thus his cohort was turned into a Knight of Kyuss (my ruling there as they were near the spire) and the cleric was saved by the Paladin of Hextor, who had just one remove disease.

Was I correct in my ruling?

Does heal effect the Kyuss worms before they infect the brain?

After?

As far as I have read, only two (maybe three) spells effect them: Remove Disease, Remove Curse, (and maybe) Neutralize Poison (can't remember off hand, that my be the one that slows them down.....hard to recall without a book on hand).

What about more powerful healing spells like...Heal?

So I am currently at the Spire of Long Shadows in my AoW campaign, and will be the GM for Savage Tides as well. So I have started bringing in elements of STAP into my AoW to set it up for my players. I was wondering what other folks were doing, if anyone else is doing this.

What I have done so far is as follows:
- During GoW, one player bought passage on a ship to Alhaster from the Free City, he road on the Sea Wyveryn captained by Jarris.

- In the SoLS, the players travelled to Sasserine, met with the temple of Wee Jas there, saw the sites in the city and got generally familiar with the place. They also learned the history of the city, in terms of the Sea Princes and the Scarlet Brotherhood.

- After SoLS, the players will meet with the Vanderborens (still alive at this time) and transport some goods for them back North to the Free City or to Alhaster (their current home base).

Has anyone else done this, and if so, what have you done?

I have had the fortune to be able to run the AoW AP with the complete, or nearly complete for the first few adventures, set of adventures printed, when I began. As such I decided to try and add even more foreshadowing and connections for the characters to have within the story to some of the later important plot elements. I figured I would share these as well as see waht other people have likewise done.

To clarify, my two players are running as a Paladin of Hextor (LN) and a Cleric of Wee Jas (LN).

- Starting from when they slept in the Whispering Cairn in the first adventure, the palyers have had regular dreams, odd and inconclusive, but that give portents of their future, and also move along their Weapon of Legacy plots.

- The Paladin of Hextor was offered membership in, and joined, a secretive order of Hextorian Knights known as the Knights of the Crimson Law. As part of his rising in their ranks, just after the Paladin wins in the Free City Games, he is tasked with either turning Prince Zeech to the right path in the Redhand or replacing him, either or, within the next year. They tasked him with this because they think that Zeech has a good chance of losing the Redhand completly for the Church of Hextor to the Church of Iuz or possibly the Shield Lands Heironeans.

- When the Cleric of Wee Jas wanted to buy/start a magic shop in the Free City, I had him run afoul of the powerful and VERY exclusive Thaumatulergical Guild that explained to him in very clear terms that he had no place in the city, and that he should try other places, such as the mage Imoandi in Alhaster who was selling her shop.

- When said Cleric of Wee Jas decided to buy the shop in Alhaster, and take the Landlord feat, he wanted a patron as explanation for where the money was coming from. So along shows up a carved white box, with two dragons eating eachothers tales, in the doorway of his clerical cell, the morning after he wins the champions games. out from it the image of Lashonna springs, telling him of how she seeks to make even greater her once great city of Alhaster, and how she wishes to help such a great man as he, to purchase Imoandi's shop. Thus she foots the bill, or at least that is what he currently thinks. In truth she simply vamped Imoandi, and after turning the old witch into one of her slave guardians in her lair benath Alhaster, Lashonna just left a letter, austensibly from Imoandi, for the Cleric of Wee Jas stating that the shop was his, and that she had already left to enjoy her retirement. What fun he he have when they have to battle the Vampiric Witch Imoandi in the last adventure eh?

- The Apostolic Scrolls. I have a previous post that has a copy of the Apostolic Scrolls that I gave my players ( Writing the Apostolic Scrolls ). Within the writing of the scrolls I tried to place imagery that foreshadowed the Spire of Long Shadows and especially the rise of Kyuss in Alhaster. I tried to mix in other, non-specific images as well to mix up the players, but I hope that they remember these passages when the time comes.

So that is a good bit, though not all, of the foreshadowing I put into my AoW campaign so far. As I stated earlier, I had the opportunity to do this, since I started my campaign just after the publication of the Prince of Redhand, and so knew what was coming from a long way off. What do you think and what have other folks done?

Hello,

I moved up to Salem from Eugene last year and have yet to find a gaming group in the area. I both DM and Play, just about every game imaginable, although at the moment I am DM'ing a Age of Worms campaign with some friends from Eugene. If you are interested in gaming perhaps sometime or know of a group, drop me a line either here or at andrewibhunt@yahoo.com

thanks,
Andrew (sol)

I am just about to begin running the Spire of Long Shadows, and am thinking of tweaking Tenser's presentation in it. I am changing Tenser from being the busy, yet likeable Lawful Good wizard-Patron, to being the Paranoid, they-are-all-out-to-get-me, defense obssessed, step-brother of Dispater. He will still be Lawful Good (Or at least Lawful Netural, as my players are both Lawful Netural, one a Paladin of Hextor the other a Cleric of Wee Jas) and still be Tenser, but he will be running a different show.

Partially this is based upon my exprience playing a 23rd level wizard in an Epic Campaign one time. I actually tried, using my spell list, to come up with a way to build a castle, with moats, outer walls, gates, and everything in one day. I manged to do it to, creatively using many spells to expand and shift/manipulate materials.

With that in mind, I figure Tenser, as a 21st or 22nd level wizard has fortified Magepoint, making it a varitable impregnable bastion of safety for him and his few close associates.

I am making Tenser so paranoid because of his colorful and intersting history. I mean he is a guy who has had attempts put on his life many times in the past, and has been killed by what he thought was one of his closest allies and friends (good old Rary), and has made enemies with some of the most powerful beings in existence (including the forementioned Rary, some demon princes, probably a duke or two of hell, and of course the DEMI-GOD Iuz!) I figure he is completely paranoid by this point. I figure he has proabably got a half-dozen 10th level wizard Simulacrum's running around doing his biding, pretending to be him (including one who is going to meet the PCs) as well as a sizable army of hireling soldiers and lesser wizards watching the gates of his castle, the causeway, it's gatehouse (something I added) and the 50ft high wall with 8 towers that sorounds the entire community (something else I added).

I figure building a huge stone wall would not be hard for Tenser, as he could just cast wall of stone, and then Polymorph any Object, to turn it into a larger, thicker wall, shaped to his satisfaction (an intersting construction idea, IMOHO). A few days worth of casting those two spells and voila! a huge wall with a couple of great gate houses surrounds Magepoint. I am currently thinking of additional protections to give his palace/tower, perhaps a few golems, some summoning stones, and maybe a few other items from the stronghold builders guide.

Any adivce or thoughts?

Here is a warband I developed for the Champions Games. There are four members of the warband, the leader, Duke Slaine the Half-Giant, Nori the Mithiral Marauder, and their backup, the Steinjotunen.

Duke Slaine is a half-Giant, 2nd Fighter/4th Monk/2nd Reaping Mauler. He was born in Kongen-Thulnir. He was raised amongst a monastic group of giants there, associated with the Tiamikal Nul-Shada. His monastic order was devastated by the recent civil wars in the giant city, and he has left to find not only new converts, but also money in order to rebuild the monastery (I would place it on area D on the map of Kogen-Thulnir).

Nori the Mithiral Marauder is a Warforged, 9th Monk. He is an ancient relic, left over from the days of the Clockwork empire in the north. He awoke recently, hearing the call of the Clockwork Fortress again, yet sought his own path rather than return to the place of his birth. He traveled South, and eventually to the city of Kongen-Thulnir. There he studied the monastic rites of the giants, alongside Duke Slaine. He is working with Slaine to rebuild the lost monastery, and find new recuits.

The Steinjotunen are two stone giants, who until recently lived in Kongen-Thulnir, and were associated with the monastic order there.

Here are the Stats for Nori and Slaine with NPC treasure levels:

Nori the Mithiral Marauder
CR:9 Medium Lawful Neutral
Warforged, 9th Monk
HD: 9d8+9, HP:53/53, Initiative:+4, AC: 22, Move: 60ft
Str:14+2, Dex:18+4, Con:12+1, Int:10, Wis:12+1, Cha:8-1,
Fort+7, Reflex+10, Will+7, Base+6/+1

Attacks:
Unarmed Strike - To Hit: +11/+6, Damage: 2d6+2, Critical: 20x2
Flurry of Blows – To Hit: +11/+11/+6, Damage: 2d6+2, Crit: 20x2
Bull Rush - +6 Damage: 2d6+2
Grapple - +12 Pin Damage: 2d6+2
Trip - +6

Skills: Climb+9, Hide+10, Jump+5, Listen+11, Move Silent+10, Spot+11, Tumble+12

Feats: Improved Grapple, Mobility, Mithiral Body, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Unarmed Strike, Deflect Arrows, Weapon Finesse, Spring Attack, Weapon Focus, Improved Trip
Special: Evasion, Still Mind, Ki Strike (magic), Slow Fall (40ft), Improved Evasion
Magic Items: Monk’s Belt

Slaine the Half-Giant Duke CR:9
Medium Lawful Neutral
Half-Giant, 2nd Fighter/4th Monk/2nd Reaping Mauler
HD:4d10+4d8+16, HP:60/60, Initiative:+5, AC: 16, Move: 40ft
Str:20+5, Dex:12+1, Con:14+2, Int:13+1, Wis:14+2, Cha:10,
Fort+11, Reflex+8, Will+6, Base+8/+3

Attacks:
Unarmed Strike – To Hit: +14/+9, Damage: 2d8+5, Critical: 20x2
Flurry of Blows – To Hit: +12/+12/+7, Damage: 2d8+5, Crit: 20x2
Charging – To Hit: +14, Damage: 2d8+1d12+7
Bull Rush – +14 Damage: 2d8+5
Grapple – +22 Pin Damage: 2d8+1d12+5

Skills: Balance+8, Climb+12, Escape Artist+12, Jump+12, Know (Arcana)+4, Tumble+12

Feats: Improved unarmed Strike, Deflect Arrows, Improved Grapple, Still Mind, Earth’s Embrace, Cleaver Wrestling (+2 vs. larger creatures), Improved Bull Rush, Mobility, Improved Initiative, Flying Kick, Power Attack, Weapon Focus
Special: Evasion, Counter Grapple, Sleeper Lock, Low Light Vision, Giant Type, Fire
Acclimated, Powerful Build, Knock 1/day, Ki Strike (Magic), Slow Fall (2oft)
Magic Items: Monk’s Belt

The Steinjotunen – Stone Giants (2)

I am planning on having these NPCs show back up either during or after the siege at Kongen-Thulnir. Duke Slaine will then try and assert himself as the new ruler of the Giant City.

Chapter 2 - The Whispering Cairn

3rd of Reaping - Sam Herrick & Lugdush, led by the Dwarf, Gar, traveled to the Whispering Caern. There they discovered that there was more to the Ancient Caern then had first met the eye. While Gar was busy making rubbings of the Ancient inscriptions, focusing on interesting sigils found on an ancient black stone remnants of a mirror-like frame, Sam & Lugdush investigated further into the windy corridors of the Caern. There they encountered a small Pack of Wolves, Killing two of them, with Sam taking the third as a pet. They discovered in the Wolves Den a Indigo Lantern of great craftsmanship as well as a Silver bracelet of Elven craftsmanship and the broken finger of a stone statue. Delving deeper into the Caern they discovered a room covered with ancient, cracked, yet beautiful frescos depicting a rainbow like scene and tall, elongated androgynous figures. Finally they discovered the great room of the Caern, a huge room with 40ft tall ceilings and seven passageways branching off from it. In the center was a great sarcophagus, upon which was carved a beautiful elongated Androgenous figure, a sigil, all upon an arrow like Dias. At the end of each hallway was a Lantern hanging from a chain above a 4 ft. diameter circle inscribed into the Stone floor. The red and blue lanterns were missing and the Green lantern was lit by a torch that seems to never need fuel. Upon turning the Sarcophagus Sam and Lugdush discovered the following:
Red, Orange, Blue, Violet – No reaction, the Blue shaft is taller, perhaps 50ft high
Yellow – The Stone Circle rises and a 5ft wide metal cylinder rises from the
stone. The doors open, and nothing happened to the corpse that went down in the tube
Green – A Horrible Grinding sound was heard just before the entire circle
collapsed. A Horde of Acid beetles followed by a terrible monstrosity, a massive Eye connected to long Spidery legs. Gar destroyed the horde while Lugdush and Sam slew the eye creature.
Indigo – A trapped tube rose from the floor
Upon Slaying the Eye creature and the Horde of Beetles, Lugdush, Gar, and Sam peered down the 60ft shaft into the Stone Floor. It was dark and deep and so they threw down a torch for light. Seeing an opening at the bottom of the shaft, they tied a rope to the Chain above and Lugdush climbed down the shaft, soon followed by Sam. Once at the bottom the two found a strange chamber full of disapproving statues, many of which had been damaged. In two rooms nearby they found a strange room with enchantments that made one sleep, and a Giant Beetle that sprayed forth Acid. While Battling the giant Beetle, another Giant Beetle arrived with a Horde of acid beetles behind her. Finally slaying the insects hordes, Sam and Lugdush narrowly escaped a deadly statue, searching both of the rooms and finding four dead bodies of Seekers. After looting the corpses, Lugdush tried in vain to explore a deeper, flooded passage, being knocked unconscious by an unseen enemy, only a fist of water to gauge it by.
4th of Reaping - Deciding to delve deeper at another time, Lugdush, Gar, and Sam returned to Diamond Lake, where Lugdush approached a Albino Half-Orc named Kullen, seeking employment as a Thug for Balabar Smenk. This fell through over a dog fight between Kullen’s dog Lobo and Sam’s wolf. Lugudhs did manage to save the life of an Orc named Pes, who now roams the streets looking for Orc blood folk for Hextor. Having lost 50 gold on the bet, they left the Feral Dog, with Kullen’s Curse on their backs, intent of delving deeper into the Whispering Caern the next day.

I will first admit that I was not person to come up with this characterization of Allustan's personality, but I have come to like it more and more as I approach running EaBK and later adventures with Allustan such as GoW.

To Quote:
"Vorpatril (Subscriber), Fri, Mar 24, 2006, 01:22 PM
My solution to Allustan's split with the evil-fighting Manzorian (Tenser) was to make Allustan a good-hearted, bookish coward. This also explains why:
He is disinterested in exploring the Whispering Cairn until the PCs have cleared all the dangers (or so he thinks).
He wants to teleport for help instead of actively fighting the lizardfolk.
He hangs out in Diamond Lake during events leading up to the Age of Worms, even though he is a fairly high level wizard.
I also have Marzena (Blackwall Keep) tell the PCs that she and Allustan were fellow students under Manzorian back in the day. Allustan was the most talented, and Marzena had a thing for him at one point, but could not respect his lack of courage.
In my campaign, Allustan wants nothing more than to tend his garden, research what interests him, and watch over his wayward brother. It's a big deal for him to travel to the outskirts of the King's Forest (Mistmarsh) to visit Marzena when there are reports of increased Lizardfolk activity."

It kinda makes sense to. I think that cowardly personalities, or people that develop into cowards are an often under used personality type in D&D.

Take for instance a 8th level wizard. By 8th level you have gathered together a fairly large amount of gold, say about
9,400gp at the low end and 27,000gp at the high end. This is,at the low end, more gold than lowly peasent could make in 100 years of hard back breaking labor, at the high end it represents about 290 years worth of a peasent's labor, and this if they work 6 days a week, with no holidays, ever.

By 8th level you also are also pretty dang powerful. I mean who is going to mess with a wizard who can stay invisible while casting fireballs, flying, and protected by eldritch fields? Basically nobody!

Finally by 8th level you have also probably seen a couple of your best buds take one for the team and buy a one way ticket to the outer planes. Looking foward to your future prospective enemies such as beholders, liches, and dragons, I could see a lot of wizards figuring that they are better off living the good life being a big fish in a small town pond, then ending up the next meal to some horrid abberation.

Anyhow, I am planning on making Allustan a cowardly wizard, hoping to live a good, nice, boring bachelors life, spending his days writing treatise on cyclopean cairns and other such maginalia.

Anyone else (other than, but including the poster quoted above) take this route with Allustan?

So I have read Gary Gygax's rules for Dragonchess (it reminds me of the 3-D chess of Star Trek Fame) but have found them wanting for a in game experience. So I have written up my own rules and background to the game. I tried to work in the history of Oerth (as I understand it, I am new to Greyhawk, old to D&D) as well as Khelleck's particular point of view as a Seeker.
Tell me what you think. (the Quotes are Khellek Speaking)

“Hmm, have you ever actually played Dragonchess before? It is not a game for children, nor for simple minded farmers. It is a game that represents all that we do and are, it represents life itself. If you wish to play against me, I will not turn you aside, for unfortunately there are no worthy players on the road tonight.”
As he begins his opening move Khellek says “It is said that each of the rounds of Dragonchess is named after a Age of Oerth, a epoch in our own history. The first three rounds, named the Opening of the Sky, the Razing of the Earth, and the Breaching of the Underworld, represent the beginning of all that is. This is followed of course by the Age of Eldar, a reference to the long lived elves I suspect. The Age of Law follows, perhaps this land was once more axiomatic than it is now. The Age of War and Age of Dust follow the Law, both of which I believe are references to the great fall of the Suel Empire. The Age of Roads speaks to the migrations of people, the conquerors that made this land. Finally we reach the Age of Empire, a clear reference to the late Great Kingdom, followed by the concluding round, the final tally, the Age of Disolution, which I do believe is the age we live in now. How interesting to think of life in such grand stages, much larger than any of us, no? It is unfortunate that I was born into such a lowly age as that in which we live. We find but the remnants of the great Suel empires, or even the Wind Dukes who built the deadly Cairns of old. It is rumored that there is an 11th Age which has yet to come to pass, the Age of Worms, of it little is spoken, darkly, and from the depths of depraved minds. Ah what an ending the Age of Worms would make, the whole world eaten like some overotten corpse left out in the sun to long. Perhaps there will be rebirth from such rot, perhaps it will be the end, the mad sages do not say.”
Opposed Prof (Gambler) skill checks.
+2 for 5 or more ranks in Bluff, Dipl, or Intim
The Opening of the Sky (round 1) Khellek – rolls +8
The Razing of the Earth (round 2) Khellek – rolls +8
The Breaching of the Underworld (Round 3)Khellek – rolls +8
The Age of Eldar (round 4) Khellek – rolls +8
The Age of Law (round 5) Khellek – rolls +8
The Age of War (round 6) Khellek – rolls +8
The Age of Dust (round 7) Khellek – rolls +8
The Age of Roads (round 8) Khellek – rolls +8
The Age of Empire (round 9) Khellek – rolls +8
The Age of Dissolution (round 10) Khellek – rolls +8

I have built upon my ideas of trying to figure out how productive the free city arena is by trying to figure out how much gold my player who is about to open a old collapsed mine in Diamond Lake, might make. I looked up Iron Ore purities (although I fudged the bog ore, but I love the idea of mining Iron both below Diamond Lake and at the Swamps, it extends the setting). I further looked at the price rate in the players handbook between the weight of mostly steel weapons/armor and their price. I also tried to figure out wages, additional costs, and a resonable amount of wealth being made off the mines. It seems that the mine managers are wealthy but not just vastly so, at least in comparrison to high level adventurers and other powerful Free City Merchants.

So here it goes. Please tell me what you think.

Economics of mining in the Greyhawk area:

Dagger – Cost: 2gp, Weight: 1/2 lb Iron, 4gp per pound
Short Sword – Cost: 10gp, Weight: 3 lbs Iron 3gp per pound
Long Sword – Cost: 15gp, Weight: 4 lbs Iron 4gp per pound
Small Steel Shield – Cost: 9gp, Weight: 6 lbs 1gp+5sp pound
Large Steel Shield – Cost: 20gp, Weight: 15 lbs 1gp+5sp pound

I decided upon a rough estimate of 1sp+3cp per pound for the price of Iron that blacksmiths of the guild pay in the free city. Independent smiths, and those in smaller towns would of course pay much more.

1sp+3cp per pound Iron price means that for a blacksmith to make say 8sp per day (higher lifestyle than most artisans) they would have to produce and sell a dagger a day. Of course there would be guild fees, costs of hiring/boarding less skilled smiths/apprentices, and just the higher cost of living being in the big city and all, so most likely a Free City blacksmith would need much more than 8sp per day. But I digress.

1sp+3cp per pound - Price of Iron Ingots to a blacksmith of the Guild in the Free City

1sp per pound - Price paid for Iron Ingots by the Blacksmith’s Guild of the Free city

1cp per pound – Transportation cost of Iron Ingots from Diamond Lake to the Free City

5cp per lb – The rate per Ingot lb for ore refinement at the Diamond Lake Smelter (roughly half the profits, the backdrop did say that Vulgan Durtch is one of the richest men in the whole town, and of course he has expensive fees, licenses, and employees to pay).

1cp per 100lbs – Transportation cost from the mine head to the Smelter

5lbs x (Str+Con) – The number of pounds of Ore an average miner can mine per day. I just came up with this number but it seemed resonable, if even a little high, considering the amount of work it would take to get impure or extraneous rock out from around a purer vein of ore.

The Purities of Ore found in Diamond Lake:
Magnetite or Loadstone – A blackish, magnetic ore – 72% Iron
Very Rare, only accounting for 5% of all ore deposits
Hematite or Silverock – A reddish ore that can be polished to a
silver – 70% iron
Uncommon, accounting for 25% of all ore deposits
Siderite or Ogre Gold – A brownish crystalline ore – 48% Iron
Common, accounting for 60% of all ore deposits
Limonite or Bog Iron – A yellow-brown ore found in the swamps -
25% Iron
Uncommon, accounting for 10% of all ore deposits

Of course it is hard to get a pure ore so each pound of ore is actually only ½ ore and the other ½ other impurities.

So 1 regular human worker can mine 100lbs of ore, which on average is Siderite. Of that 100lbs only 50lbs is actual siderite which will in turn produce 24lbs of Pig Iron
Workers are paid 3sp per day on average.

So the avg. mine makes after wages, smelting and transport costs – 9 sp per miner/day

Minus from that the costs of hiring guards (average 1 per 10 miners or 1sp per miner/day)

And the cost of scribes, mine upkeep, and equipment (1sp per miner/day)

And the average mine manager is making a profit of 7sp per miner/day

Minus from this the 500gp yearly fees for registering as a mine manager. This is something I made up for my players. It seemed resonable though.

Minus from this the 300gp yearly property tax on the mine.

So:
20 miners working (with 4 weeks off a year) 280 days a year produce 3,000gp in profit

Take from this 33% in taxes from the Free City and Diamond Lake, and the average mine manager is making 2,000gp per year in profit from a mine that employs 20 miners.

A mine owner that owned 5 mines might make 10,000gp per year (think Smenk) or possible even more, especially if you upper the miner/mine ratio, as fees are based upon single mines not how many are working them.

What do you think? I am crazy or what?

just to finish off explaining what I have done with the Champion Games, I expanded it to a 7 days event, based in the Brewfest holiday Week (as I started my campaign out early in the month of Reaping). I added 2 days of parades and festivities before the begining of the games, in which the teams competing in the games parade about the city in Carnival like fashion, with musicians, bards, banners, and decorated chariots all paid for by their Managers and Raknian (in order to drum up more excitment amongst the populace for the Champion's Games). These festivities would end with the Dinner on the 0th night of the games, although I also envisioned a final Champions Parade after the Final battle. I am keeping in mind the Imperator parades of the early roman generals and the Roman Emperors who followed them (keeping with the Gladiator/Roman theme).