First Timer Here – I’m starting shortly SCAP with 2 groups of PCs. I’m an experienced french DM and I have ruled sessions and campaigns in CoC, Runequest and DD for 25 years. I will run SCAP with a lot of house rules with a basis of a purified 3.5 rules’ set. I’ve worked and I’m still working on the necessary adaptation on the HC material to smoothly fit with this.
I would like to start by two remarks on The Vanishing - translated in French by ‘la Disparite’ which gives it some fun :
It’s seems like very few clues about the disease can be found by the PCs. But The Vanishing occurred 75 years ago. For a gnomish life span it’s just like a 15 human years old story. So, for a so hurting event which hit a whole community we can expect that a lot of data are still available through the gnomes of Cauldron. How have you deal about that possible knowlegde of the dark secret of the Gnome in the city ?
Even after reading almost all the dedicated threads (and the HC) I’m still in balance on how to deal with the Vanishing contamination and effects. Does a SR apply as soon as a PC touch an infected item? Is it a roll against Fortitude or against Will - magical disease? Does a new SR apply every period of time the PC keeps the contact with the object - each 12 hours or each day ? When a PC is infected and cured is he stabilized at his current state or is he recovering it’s standard shape? How works the cure, is it instantaneous or painfully long?
Let me know about your experience in game
I told one of player just about everything about the disease when he rolled a 28 on his Heal check when asking about it. How to discern it, the symptoms, how it's transmitted, and how to remove it, and it's history. About the only thing I didn't say was that it was from the spell weavers.
Since the character is a native of the town and is also a cleric of Pelor, a god of healing, I figured that it could have been part of her healing education in Cauldron. And also that these circumstances warranted justification to bring his Heal check over DC 30 with circumstance bonuses.
Some information about this magical curse can also be revealed with high Knowledge(arcane), Knowledge(history), or Bardic knowledge. And of course a decent Gather Information in Cauldron could also reveal some facts.
Even after reading almost all the dedicated threads (and the HC) I’m still in balance on how to deal with the Vanishing contamination and effects.
The details of the disease are on pg. 46, under the heading "THE VANISING (EL 2)". It is seperate from the description of its history on the previous page.
Does a SR apply as soon as a PC touch an infected item? Athough it's a magical disease, I don't believe that SR applies. There is a caster level of 10 listed for the purpose of removing the disease with break enchantment, but I don't see that SR applies against the disease. The disease is transmitted with the magic item is used.
Is it a roll against Fortitude or against Will A DC 15 Fortitude save.
- magical disease? Does a new SR apply every period of time the PC keeps the contact with the object - each 12 hours or each day? No SR check. But a new Fortitude save is needed every 24 hours the character is infected.
When a PC is infected and cured is he stabilized at his current state or is he recovering it’s standard shape? Even when he is diseased, his natural healing heals his Charisma damage one point per day. And he of course also heals Charisma after the disease is removed.
How works the cure, is it instantaneous or painfully long? Only magical treatment can save a victim of the Vanishing. A successful break enchantment, remove disese, or remove curse cures the disease. After that, natural healing or restoration spells can recover the damage Charisma score. The disese is not painful; you just fade from reality.
Wow ! straight and solid Frank, Thanks! – I will use most of your answers as they stand.
Just a little remark, in both of my PCs’ party I’ve got gnomes. It seems for me this will boost a little bit the information relative to Jzadirune / The Vanishing they can gather in town and especially through gnomish community of Caludron.
Your feeling ? Can this become unbalancing and lead to the vanishing threat of The Vanishing !? Or perhaps should it be a way to stress up some very paranoïd PCs?
Your feeling ? Can this become unbalancing and lead to the vanishing threat of The Vanishing !? Or perhaps should it be a way to stress up some very paranoïd PCs?
I would allow them the knowledge, should they do their research without hesitation.
However, bear in mind, Jzadirune was a gnomish enclave of crafters and spell casters. It wasn't a city or true community (thus the secret entrance). So don't make it too easy to find information. So far, the PC's in my game came up with a 20 on a knowledge local to remember any of the info I've given them.
They did, however, quiz Ghelve deeply, and get the map out him. (They also ignored every hint I gave them individually, i.e. not to everyone at the table. They did find the programmed image in the library, finally, and are considering what to do with the magic items).
So far, nobody has had to make a save vs. the Vanishing, though the Wizard almost used the wand of Burning Hands on two occasions.
-c
Thanks. Now I have a clear sight on how to deal with the Vanishing thanks to your points. But my version of the disease will certainly come with some scary effects - as having a complete vanishing of a limb (which is really gone!) or a dissapearing voice or a some very nightmares...
As I know my players it will boost their RP performances up to the sky !
It’s seems like very few clues about the disease can be found by the PCs. But The Vanishing occurred 75 years ago. For a gnomish life span it’s just like a 15 human years old story. So, for a so hurting event which hit a whole community we can expect that a lot of data are still available through the gnomes of Cauldron. How have you deal about that possible knowlegde of the dark secret of the Gnome in the city ?
Everyone has given good information, but another thing to consider is that (for the most part) the surviving gnomes packed up and left for other locales. It explains why there isn't as much information readily available as it could be.
The information should be difficult to get, but achievable by dedicated play. Leave the path of the paranoid and clueless PCs for those players who don't work to research mysteries. Reward players who put in the effort and ranks in the appropriate skills with forewarning and an informed process.
None of the PCs in my game were even in danger of the vanishing because each found magic item was checked for a curse using the augury spell before even identifying it.
Just remember: roleplaying opportunities is fun, but having your ideas and intelligence pay off in game is also fun. And satisfying.