Ok, this is going to sound a little crazy but how about a magic item that reproduces the effects of a poke' ball. Your Wizard or Druid is out adventuring and manages to beat a monster down to zero hit points without killing it. Then he/she takes out an orb of containment trapping the creature inside. The contained creature becomes enslaved by the owner of the containment orb and must obey his/her commands. As the creature is called out of the orb to do battle it shares experience with the owner of the orb so that it too advances in hit points. Limit the creature type to exclude humanoids, monstrous humanoids, and giants and either require the owner of the containment orb to have a higher INT than the contained creature or allow a creature with a higher INT than it's captor a save everyone time it is called out of the orb to break free of its enslavement.
Anyway, I think this could be a lot of fun and would love to see a write up for a magic item like this. I would consider doing a write up myself but lets just say the finer points of the rules tend to allude me.
gotta catch 'em all?
gotta catch 'em all?
Hrm. It could be done in an interesting fashion. Obviously, it couldn't be a direct one-to-one conversion, due to copyright and trademark laws.
Effectively, it could be a magically-hardened crystal sphere that acts similarly to an iron flask.
The system could be as simple as a touch attack against a magical beast or outsider that has been rendered unconscious due to subdual damage. Each sphere can contain a creature of a certain HD (based on the level of summon monster used to create the sphere). The creature would have to fail a Will save to be contained within the sphere, and the wielder would have to win a contested Charisma challenge (with a bonus) to order the creature once it is freed.
It could be useful, it could be cheesy. YMMV. =)
It could be useful, it could be cheesy. YMMV. =)
It could be both, simultaneously. ;)
It could be useful, it could be cheesy. YMMV. =)It could be both, simultaneously. ;)
Indeed it could, which is why I left out the /or/ in the previous statement. ;)
Personally, I wouldn't allow it in my game, but I could see the interest is something a little more ... period.
I used to have a red and white familiar pocket in which I kept my familiar, a shocker lizard alter selfed to look like a yellow rodent...
I considered converting all the Pokemon as d20 monsters and creating a "monster trainer" character class, but I decided that with 151 monsters, it would be too much effort. Little chance of me doing it now that there are what, 468 Pokemon...
It could be useful, it could be cheesy. YMMV. =)It could be both, simultaneously. ;)
To me the cheesy/useful quality of a magic item like this is what makes it so fun. I can easily picture a group walking through a dungeon, coming across a big scary monster and then one of the party members shouting out "Wait don't kill it!" and then desperately trying to convince the rest of the party to defeat the monster by using subdual damage.
As for catching them all, I think the success of the D&D miniatures shows that D&D fans want to "catch them all" as much as any pokemon fan.:)Plus, a magic item like this would be great for introducing new players to D&D, especially those who have played pokemon. "Hey kids if you had fun catching pokemon, just wait till you see the monsters you can catch with D&D."
"Hey kids if you had fun catching pokemon, just wait till you see the monsters you can catch with D&D."
Oh dear sweet Palor... no thank you. I already have my younger cousins trying to get me to DM them and bring my gameboy for pokemon battles...
That actually sounds like a fun concept. It would be similar in game effect as a summon monster spell, I could see it as being a great way for spellcasters to help keep their familiars safe as well. However I see no reason why someone who is ok with having slaves couldn't catch humaniods? I would take a sort of personal pleasure from the idea of Pikachu throwing Ash into battle and letting Ash get beat up to an inch of his life by creatures 10 times his size for once.
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Dammit, as much as I hate to say this....I think it would be neat to have an item like that with several limitations.
1. special class to use it
2. only a certain number of containment balls
3. not much more powerful than a summoned monster
I would enjoy playing a "specialist summoner", just please let me believe it didn't come from a Pokemon idea.
FH
Don't worry, FH, I won't tell anyone your dirty little secret...
Unless of course, the party makes it to the final level of the dungeon, where a man's secrets are revealed to the world! Mwah-hah-hah!
(Pokemon...*shudders* The only time I even touched the thing was when I did Pokemon bishies for an online buddy who was very depressed. *feels dirty*)
Dammit, as much as I hate to say this....I think it would be neat to have an item like that with several limitations.
1. special class to use it
2. only a certain number of containment balls
3. not much more powerful than a summoned monsterI would enjoy playing a "specialist summoner", just please let me believe it didn't come from a Pokemon idea.
FH
Pokemon training wouldn't work so well directly converted to d20. In the game, you had the reasonable limitation of six creatures travelling with you and only one fighting at any given time. Since D&D aims to be as free-form as real life, there'd be nothing stopping you from throwing out all six monsters one round after the other, even if your number of monsters was limited by, say, your Charisma modifier. For balance reasons, they'd have to be about as weak as summoned monsters, and it would end up just a glorified summon monster thing.
Hey!
This reminds me something I wrote for the D20 humour boards a while back. Shame no one read it - perhaps it will be better recieved here! Here it is guys; TFAD productions is proud to present The Lord of the Rings - Anime style!
Peace,
tfad
*
(Scene opens as the Moria-goblins flee the sound of the Balrog)
Gandalf Balrog is the master of Moria! We can't beat him!
Aragorn Not even if we work together?
Gandalf No! We must flee this battle!
Frodo Not a chance, we've come so far! I'm not backing down now!
Sam (Excited) Sam sam!
Frodo Let's go!
(Frodo and Sam chase off into the dark)
Gandalf We can't catch them now; they're too far ahead.
Aragorn Not without help anyway.
(Aragorn begins his summoning ritual)
Aragorn Arwen! I choose you!
(A large wave rises out of Aragorn's amulet and breaks in front of the Fellowship. It reveals Arwen sat on a blue horse with a mane of sea foam)
*
(Frodo and Sam are sneaking across the bridge of Khazad-Dum. They are surprised as the Balrog steps out on the opposite side. Frodo stands as tall as he can whilst Sam scurries behind a rock.)
Frodo W-who are you?
Balrog I am Balrog, Lord of Moria and Master of Shadow and Flame! What are you doing here?
Frodo I'm Frodo! An' I'm not gonna let you stand in my way!
Sam (Vicious) Sam!
Balrog Well now, aren't we just full of spirit! I'll soon fix that!
Frodo Not if I fix you first!
Balrog Ah, good! There's still some fight left in you yet!
Frodo I've had enough!
(Frodo draws Sting and attacks)
Frodo Bilbo's secret move; Super Sting Slash!
(The attack misses)
Frodo Huh? How did he-
Balrog Foolish boy! Did you really think you could harm me?
Frodo I'm not through with you!
(The Fellowship arrive at the base of the bridge behind Frodo, carried on a giant wave)
Sam (Happy) Sam sam!
Gandalf No! Frodo!
Balrog Ah! Now your friends have arrived in time to witness your total annihilation!
(The flames on the Balrog's back and sword flare up)
Balrog Ha! You're mine! Flaming Balrog Crush!
(The attack hits and Frodo is forced to his knees, heavily scorched)
Frodo Urgh-
Sam (Desperate) Sam!
Gandalf Poor Frodo. I don't see how he can win this fight.
Aragorn We need to help him! Let-
Arwen I shall help him.
(Arwen begins casting a spell)
Arwen Element of water! Hear my call! Hear my call and grant your blessing to Frodo!
(A figure made of water rises out of Arwen and splashes down on Frodo. The two are surrounded by separate spinning spheres of water)
Balrog Wha-
Sam (Excited) Sam!
Legolas (Voice over) So. Arwen has protected Frodo by linking their spirits with water magic. Now they will be immune to Balrog's fire attacks. Interesting.
Aragorn Yeah! Alright!
Balrog Very clever. But have you forgotten I am a Master of Shadow AND Flame!
Gandalf Does this mean-
Legolas (Voice over) Elves are weak against shadow magic. Now their spirits are linked, a shadow attack against Frodo will harm Arwen as well. Balrog is playing to win!
(The flames on the Balrog's back dim to a glow and the darkness wraps itself around him)
Balrog Any last requests? Ha! No matter! Mega Shadow Stomp!
(The Balrog stomps on the water sphere protecting Frodo)
Frodo Argh!
Arwen Ah!
(Black energy swirls around the sphere before it shatters. Frodo is thrown back. The sphere around Arwen shatters as well and she explodes into a cloud of steam with a shriek. The cloud is sucked back into Aragorn's amulet.)
Aragorn (Pats amulet) You did your best Arwen. It's time for you to rest now.
Frodo (Scorched and wounded) Puh! Is that all you got?
Balrog You're still alive?
Sam (Excited) Sam!
Gandalf I-I don't belive it!
Legolas (Voice over) So! Frodo survived the Mega Shadow Stomp! Ha! Very interesting!
Frodo Alive and ready to defeat you! Once and for all!
Balrog You don't stand a chance, boy!
Frodo That's what you think.
(Frodo produces a glowing vial from his pouch)
Frodo Galadriel gave me this!
Balrog No! Where did you get that?
Legolas (Voice over) Uh! Now he is using his shadow attacks, Balrog is vulnerable to light magic!
Frodo And that's not all!
(Frodo breaks the chain around his neck and slips on the One Ring)
Balrog The One Ring too! No!
(Frodo pours light from the glowing vial over the hand wearing the One Ring)
Frodo One Ring! Combine with Galadriel's Light!
Balrog No! I'll get you first!
(The Balrog charges across the bridge at Frodo)
Frodo You're going down!
Balrog Never!
(Frodo launches himself at the Balrog with a glowing fist extended)
Frodo Hyper Holy Light Punch!
Balrog Argh!
(The Balrog explodes in a ball of white light)
Frodo Yeah!
Sam (Happy) Sam! Sam!
(Frodo looks over at the rest of the Fellowship with a smile)
Frodo (Voice over) I'll keep fighting and keep growing stronger. Eventually I'll find a way out of this dungeon. Then I'm coming to free you from Sauron, Bilbo. Don't give up on hope. I'm coming.
*
*Urgh* Double-post format nightmare! Hope that's readable now!
;P
Anyways, so, if you can't tell yet; Yeah I like anime a fair bit but think it doesn't really sit well in MY sort of D&D. But there's no reason it can't be a part of yours. :)
Peace,
tfad
ROFLMAO! That was amusing, tfad!
Anyways, so, if you can't tell yet; Yeah I like anime a fair bit but think it doesn't really sit well in MY sort of D&D. But there's no reason it can't be a part of yours. :)Peace,
tfad
*blinks*
*blinks*
Where's Goku? Surely he's completed his trip down the Serpent Road and returned to life? Or is he cleverly disguised as Tom Bombadil. Ha! Haha!
Seriously. That's funnier than bums fighting each other with sticks.
Battered and beaten, Gandalf stared at his own clenched fists. His superhuman muscles twitched, massive and bulging - the fight with the balrog had long since robbed him of his torn shirt. "I won't," he paused to grunt, "let you," he grunted twice again, "get away, with this! Rrrgh!"
The balrog stood with a smug grin. Gandalf grunted for twenty minutes.
Hrm. It could be done in an interesting fashion. Obviously, it couldn't be a direct one-to-one conversion, due to copyright and trademark laws.
Isn't there a whole article series, Silicon Sorcery or somesuch that's D&D verions of stuff from video games? I think I actually saw an article with stats for a chocobo. I had this foisted on me when a player in a game I ran once thought it'd be fun to mortify me with. If you can do chocobos I think you could get away with Pokeballs. Then again I'm no lawyer.
For those interested BESM D20 has a Pet Monster Trainer class, including the feat Train a Cute Monster. So yeah any of you with the bug to go catchin' 'em all the resources are available.
For me, personally I think it'd be sick fun to have a group of Pet Monster Trainer characters head off to the Infinite Layers of the Abyss pokeballs in hand with their cute lil backpacks, baseball caps and spikey hairdos.
I didn't really like BESM D20 / Anime D20. It felt like they'd taken Tri-Stat and shoehorned it into the D20 system just to latch on to D20's popularity. It tries to mix Tri-Stat's classless system with D20's class system, so either everyone plays the same class (thus defeating the point of a class system) or you get silly genre-mixing combinations like a samurai and a Pokemon trainer. It piles Tri-Stat's points-based Attributes system on top of D20's own feats, skills and class systems, rather than, say, doing away with several feats and converting the rest to Attributes.