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I've been running a campaign where the Elves of my campaign world developed technology via arcane magic. Think sci-fi done with magic items that look... well sci fi.
A few examples have been "night vision goggles" as a set of lenses of darkvision.
Most commonly found in the game has been spell-rifles of scorching ray (I just re-flavored wands to be honest. Usable without prereqs or UMD if you are an elf. Two hands required.) though others might exist.
I was planning on using Privateer Presses Liber Mechanika and Iron Kingdoms core to stat out other items, however it ends up being a lot of work.
The players in my campaign have recently come across a military outpost that should contain military arcanatech (the name we use for magi-technology in the campaign) and I need to let them know what they found.
The elite forces of the elves are are called Wraith in my campaign and now I find myself needing to stat out their cool toys...
Wraith use an arcanatech broach that can call their armor (usually mithral breastplate) message spell their team and project a shield spell. Their weapons come from a storage cube that is about fist sized and holds a composite bow and a longsword. These items are called out when needed and stored when not. Arcanatech gauntlets contain an item (ring slot) that generates arrows for an attack, I used a 0-level spell called devlin's barb.
I'm thinking the cube could just be a re-fluffed handy haversack.
As the items are all arcanatech they require recharging so I'd like to keep that aspect. Might keep accumulators from Iron Kingdoms.
What other cool toys would an elite elf soldier commonly need? What spells could be used as a basis for the item(s).
Any help or brainstorming would be great. If anyone has already done something like this then I'd like to hear about it as well.
Dotted, as I plan on doing something similar.
What other cool toys would an elite elf soldier commonly need? What spells could be used as a basis for the item(s).Any help or brainstorming would be great. If anyone has already done something like this then I'd like to hear about it as well.
Well...for an elven unit called "Wraiths"...how about thermoptic camouflage (either built into their armor or as a sort of ghillie suit/cloaking cloak) using invisibility?
Tesla cannon heavy weapons based on lightning bolt/chain lightning?
Jetpacks/gliders for infiltration using fly/overland flight?
Satchel charges/mortars/rocket launchers using a bag/catapult/crossbow plus many copies of explosive runes on separate strips of paper and a low-CL dispel?
How high tech are you looking to emulate here?
What other cool toys would an elite elf soldier commonly need? What spells could be used as a basis for the item(s).Any help or brainstorming would be great. If anyone has already done something like this then I'd like to hear about it as well.
Well...for an elven unit called "Wraiths"...how about thermoptic camouflage (either built into their armor or as a sort of ghillie suit/cloaking cloak) using invisibility?
Tesla cannon heavy weapons based on lightning bolt/chain lightning?
Jetpacks/gliders for infiltration using fly/overland flight?
Satchel charges/mortars/rocket launchers using a bag/catapult/crossbow plus many copies of explosive runes on separate strips of paper and a low-CL dispel?
How high tech are you looking to emulate here?
I did forget to mention the invisibility cloaks... That is why I named them that.
Looking for cool stuff from sci-fi as inspiration. Spell-rifles. Are common elemental weapons, may replace the bows and devlin's barb gauntlets with those.
How about One use "scroll stone" fireball and dispel grenades?
Digging the Tesla cannon...could stat it up as a chain lightning wand with few charges. Maybe do one as lightning bolt/quickened lightning bolt? Thoughts?
Levitation/flight packs could be cool. Might stat them as metal "wing" add ons to the armor.
I did forget to mention the invisibility cloaks... That is why I named them that.Looking for cool stuff from sci-fi as inspiration. Spell-rifles. Are common elemental weapons, may replace the bows and devlin's barb gauntlets with those.
How about One use "scroll stone" fireball and dispel grenades?
Digging the Tesla cannon...could stat it up as a chain lightning wand with few charges. Maybe do one as lightning bolt/quickened lightning bolt? Thoughts?
Levitation/flight packs could be cool. Might stat them as metal "wing" add ons to the armor.
Mmkay. Yeah, necklace of fireball charges as incendiary grenades, you could stat up other elemental versions using the beads form those as a template too.
Telepathic bond headbands for the scifi "implanted commlink" thing, message for more familiar radios (you mentioned message already, but just thought I'd throw that out if you want something along those lines).
Belt/ring/etc. with mirror image to deceive enemies about the size of the army and give a huge defensive boost (holographic clones).
Resilient sphere/wall of force as shields (like "shields up!" shields, not "sword and shield" shields <_<)
Figurines of wondrous power/summoning spells as UCAV type scouting devices and drones (bonus points if they summon "techy" things as opposed to, say, a celestial eagle or whatever)
Teleportation circle as a Stargate
Do you want larger devices too, or only infantry stuff? Cause you can work up what amounts to tanks, gunships, artillery, etc. without too much difficulty too.
How about the suit has an incorporeal form setting (based on dust form, since that's the only spell I can find that makes the caster incorporeal)? They are Wraith, after all.
Glide - flying squirrel suits for elite drop-in units.
Digging the ideas so far! That's why I love these boards.
For the tech summons (great idea btw) should an alternate template be done? Maybe something that turns the creatures into constructs or living constructs? Are there templates that are +cr comparable that change the creatures to constructs/living constructs?
Tanks and Gunships would be really cool. Maybe a troop transport that can fly and cloak to deliver our Wraith?
I also liked the Eagle Aerie mount idea. What to itemize it as... I'm thinking a tech-saddle stored in the cube. Other thoughts?
I like Dust Form as an add-on to the armor, maybe add it to the cloak instead, give it two options.
Other suits might be useful. I think I'll take some time to stat up a four Elf unit (thinking Fighter or Ranger x 2, Magus, Arcane Duelist bard). Given the difference in proficiency it might be a good idea to have a couple of load outs to play to a units strengths.
My campaign world has few people that are level 6 or higher so I'll stat up the unit at level 4. Different campaigns can raise this number easily. I'll assume the Elves have enough high level casters to create the military items.
Keep the ideas coming.
Hunter's Eye as a tracking device integrated in some way with an occular device.
Like it, maybe keep a compound bow in the cube and have a few arrows of this that tie to the armor helm?
Here is what I see the average Wraith being. The Magus/Bards being officers.
I created the character with pcgen and can upload the full sheet if anyone is interested.
I haven't given the character equipment because I haven't finished the write up for all the toys.
I'm thinking of writing up the gear uncharged as that seems specific to my campaign world (except the spell rifles, which are basically wands).
I'm hoping to get some name ideas for the cube or other items.
Anyway...
WRAITH FIGHTER
CR 3
Male Elf Fighter 4
LN Medium humanoid (elf)
Init +2; Senses Low-Light, Perception +7,
DEFENSE
AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 10 (+2 Dex, )
hp 44 (4d10)+8
Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +3, +1 Will vs. fear, +2 vs. enchantment spells and effects
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft. STATISTICS
Str 15, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 10
Base Atk +4; CMB +6; CMD 18
Feats Alertness, Armor Proficiency, Heavy, Armor Proficiency, Light, Armor Proficiency, Medium, Breadth of Experience, Martial Weapon Proficiency, Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Shield Proficiency, Simple Weapon Proficiency, Tower Shield Proficiency, Weapon Focus (Longsword)
Skills Acrobatics +2, Climb +2, Escape Artist +2, Fly +2, Handle Animal +4, Heal +2, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) +7, Knowledge (Engineering) +6, Perception +7, Ride +6, Sense Motive +4, Stealth +2, Survival +7, Swim +2,
Languages Common, Elven
SQ Armor Training, Bravery, Elven Immunities, Elven Magic, Keen Senses, Weapon Familiarity,
Possessions
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Armor Training (Ex) You are more maneuverable while wearing armor. Whenever you are wearing armor, you reduce the armor check penalty by 1 and increase the maximum Dexterity bonus allowed by your armor by +1
Bravery (Ex) You gain a +1 bonus to Will saves against fear effects.
Elven Immunities (Ex) Elves are immune to magic sleep effects and get a +2 racial saving throw bonus against enchantment spells and effects.
Elven Magic (Ex) Elves receive a +2 racial bonus on caster level checks made to overcome spell resistance. In addition, elves receive a +2 racial bonus on Spellcraft skill checks made to identify the properties of magic items.
Keen Senses (Ex) Elves receive a +2 bonus on Perception skill checks.
Weapon Familiarity (Ex) Elves are proficient with longbows (including composite longbows), longswords, rapiers, and shortbows (including composite shortbows), and treat any weapon with the word "elven" in its name as a martial weapon.