So, I'm thinking about the future of one of my PbPs. The characters will be traveling an ancient desert known as the Blackwraith (for its ebon sands) that was once the abode of the 'Old Ones' (Lovecraft's Elder Things) who were destroyed Millenia ago in a magicopocalypse with a competing civilization of biomancer lizard men.
What I need to find is some inspiration. The Midgard setting has some great stuff from their Western Wastes, but is there any other good haunted desert stuff out there?
Googling "Haunted Desert" gets me a lot of Legend of Zelda stuff, so that's me officially tapped.
I mean, Sandstorm (the 3.5 book) has some cool stuff, like desiccated undead and evil oasis fey, but that's probably not what you're looking for here.
I'll have to work on it. I need a list of deserty undead anyway. There's going to be a lot of that in this campaign
The Hammer and the Blade, a fantasy S&S novel by Paul S. Kemp, has a blasted monster-infested wasteland crossed by stone roads magicked to be permanent and indestructible. At one point the bad guys escape by flying away, and when the heroes follow, and view the desert from above, the roads can be seen to actually be sigils and lines forming an incredibly huge magic circle. But whether it wards something trapped there, or is used to summon something forth is never made clear.
Hi everyone!
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I'll have to work on it. I need a list of deserty undead anyway. There's going to be a lot of that in this campaign
Let me know if you need any custom monsters. I would love to help.
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I'll have to work on it. I need a list of deserty undead anyway. There's going to be a lot of that in this campaignLet me know if you need any custom monsters. I would love to help.
You are the best, Taig! Some ideas I've been punting around in my melon:
A dessicated dust shoggoth
Mind-control cactus (kinda like a yellow musk creeper but with shooting needles)
Water or salt stealing creatures
Animated Guardian statues so old they are just piles of mobile rubble
The Hammer and the Blade, a fantasy S&S novel by Paul S. Kemp, has a blasted monster-infested wasteland crossed by stone roads magicked to be permanent and indestructible. At one point the bad guys escape by flying away, and when the heroes follow, and view the desert from above, the roads can be seen to actually be sigils and lines forming an incredibly huge magic circle. But whether it wards something trapped there, or is used to summon something forth is never made clear.
Hi everyone!
Hi Calex! Thanks for the info!
So, a Saturday off. I think I will celebrate by trying to get the maps of my PbPs put together. Then some flash cards of Contracts. Hmm, agreement, consideration, legality, competence, .... Damn Runs to check textbook
Today is the only day this week I work, at least that I get paid for, but that's the breaks of being a stay at home dad. :-)
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Flying home today.
Flying home today.
Safe travels!
Photoshop you vex me...
Photoshop vexes everyone.
I'm pretty sure it's a form of torture somewhere.
"Now rotate it 45 degrees.. I SAID ROTATE!!"
"I'm trying!.. It.. It won't f&%+ing rotate!!... no! G#$!@!n it, I don't want the f*!&ing paintbrush!!... g~!@!&n it, I'll tell you whatever you want to know about McDonald's secret sauce, just please don't make me crop something, I... I can't take anymore"
Somehow it ate my PSD battle map template. *sigh* either that or I just can't locate it where it should be. Either way I'm back to drawing on graph paper...
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Home.
Always good to get home!
Good news on Photoshop. I had kept my old lap top from about a decade ago. It was loaded with another version of Photoshop. Although the keys are wonky I got it booted up (not bad for four years shut down! ) and I can now make maps! Yay!
I am happy I am getting my games back online. If all goes well I might try my hand at another this Spring
My other PbP is traipsing through an undead world (Ranäis for those with the D&D history chops). I have tossed some fun spooks and specters at them (the vampire clown and his animated puppet minions were fun-they nuked them from orbit, just to be certain ;)
I'm looking for sources of interesting undead. Any thoughts? They kill anything below CR8 with contentious ease.
One of my very favorites is the
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My other PbP is traipsing through an undead world (Ranäis for those with the D&D history chops). I have tossed some fun spooks and specters at them (the vampire clown and his animated puppet minions were fun-they nuked them from orbit, just to be certain ;)
I'm looking for sources of interesting undead. Any thoughts? They kill anything below CR8 with contentious ease.
No we don't! Well, Not on purpose! Well, yeah, the nuking was on purpose, but that was absolutely NOT my fault for the original fire! This time. It's not our fault that we're heck on Nuking, but not so good at the subtle stuff! :D (Fireballs are subtle, right?) ;)
Nice treefort! Do you happen to have a rocking chair for creaky old wizards to relax in? :)
I'm digging through my memories, I may have some older modules (Pre 3.x) that were desert themed. (I know I used to)
I recall a juggernaut/Ziggurat that was a giant animated mobile aztec pyramid on giant stone rollers. It just rolled right up to you, and then over you. Probably left-over from a centuries-old desert war, and is now just roaming the desert fulfilling it's last order.
I also recall a plant that was a giant flytrap (Or it may have been a sand-starfish?) that lay flat under the sand, lured you close with an illusion of water or person in distress, then closed up around you when you were standing in the middle of it.
Annnnd I should reeeely stop giving you ideas, shouldn't I? :)
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wohoo, new thread
*presents bread and salt to Monkey*
( is bread and salt the traditional new home gift in America, too?)
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*Stares at bread and salt*
I don't get it...Is this a war? Is this how Germans declare war?
EDIT: Or how dwarves declare war? Who puts salt on bread? Definitely a war. This is a war.
One of my very favorites is the
** spoiler omitted **
I'll have to dust off my old FF. Thanks KC!
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wohoo, new thread
*presents bread and salt to Monkey*
( is bread and salt the traditional new home gift in America, too?)
No, usually a casserole here. But I like bread and salt better. Most casseroles are tuna-based, and who ever thought that tuna was good piping hot? *shudder*
My other PbP is traipsing through an undead world (Ranäis for those with the D&D history chops). I have tossed some fun spooks and specters at them (the vampire clown and his animated puppet minions were fun-they nuked them from orbit, just to be certain ;)
I'm looking for sources of interesting undead. Any thoughts? They kill anything below CR8 with contentious ease.
No we don't! Well, Not on purpose! Well, yeah, the nuking was on purpose, but that was absolutely NOT my fault for the original fire! This time. It's not our fault that we're heck on Nuking, but not so good at the subtle stuff! :D (Fireballs are subtle, right?) ;)
Nice treefort! Do you happen to have a rocking chair for creaky old wizards to relax in? :)
I'm digging through my memories, I may have some older modules (Pre 3.x) that were desert themed. (I know I used to)
I recall a juggernaut/Ziggurat that was a giant animated mobile aztec pyramid on giant stone rollers. It just rolled right up to you, and then over you. Probably left-over from a centuries-old desert war, and is now just roaming the desert fulfilling it's last order.
I also recall a plant that was a giant flytrap (Or it may have been a sand-starfish?) that lay flat under the sand, lured you close with an illusion of water or person in distress, then closed up around you when you were standing in the middle of it.
Annnnd I should reeeely stop giving you ideas, shouldn't I? :)
Probably, since you're in both PbPs ;)~
And the rocker is over by the stack of National Geographics. Take a load off!
So, I'm listening to Moby Dick on Audible, and it's got me to wondering:
In an ocean/sailing-based campaign, what sort of creatures would necessitate a large craft and crew to hunt? One that would create a subculture like whaling did in the 18th-19th centuries? What beasts would be worth hunting? For oil? For skin/teeth/liver made of magic meat? With common light magic would whale (or other large beastie) oil be profitable? Would Druids and sea dwellers like mermen object to their comrades being hunted? If there was an evil cetacean race would that make a difference?
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I'll have to dust off my old FF. Thanks KC!One of my very favorites is the
** spoiler omitted **
Speaking of worms, the Dungeon magazines in the Age of Worms AP tend to have a fair number of new undead. Spire of Long Shadows should have a few around the CR you're looking for, though they are a bit themed around worm stuff.
Come to think of it, I think the ulgurstastas are in the Fiend Folio, too. Those are pretty neat.
Yeah AoW would be a good thought. I have the mags somewhere. There is a lot of scattering of my collection since my panicked moving last Spring
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So, I'm listening to Moby Dick on Audible, and it's got me to wondering:
In an ocean/sailing-based campaign, what sort of creatures would necessitate a large craft and crew to hunt? One that would create a subculture like whaling did in the 18th-19th centuries? What beasts would be worth hunting? For oil? For skin/teeth/liver made of magic meat? With common light magic would whale (or other large beastie) oil be profitable? Would Druids and sea dwellers like mermen object to their comrades being hunted? If there was an evil cetacean race would that make a difference?
Yes.
More seriously:
Much depends on the civilization present and the environmental conditions.
What beasts would be worth hunting Really depends on what is available.
Oil Abundance of magic light might make burning oil not worth the trouble. Typical Pathfinder campaign cost for 0th level at will item is very steep, though (900 gp) meaning that not many people will be able to afford it, thought it would return its price after extended period of use by saving continued expenditure on fuel - poor and lower middle class would be the more likely buyers of oil because they can't afford such expenditure at once. If the climate is colder the oil gets an added functionality as a source of heat. It might also be a component in its own right.
Skin/teeth/liver Plot-dependent. If the world designer says its valuable then it is valuable. Might require setting the right price per harvest to drive the point, though.
Druids and sea dwellers and awakened whales could be a serious threat to whalers. On the other hand some druids could try to find a solution by pointing to whalers the weak, old, and sick specimens that deserve to be culled. Or instead of interfering just augment random whales with extra strength and abilities making the hunt more even-sided. If the whalers manage to kill the augmented whale they certainly deserve the spoils of the hunt, especially if each of such hunts ends with numerous deaths on the hunters side.
Melville imparts Moby Dick with a malicious intelligence. Of course, Ahab is no nice guy himself.
I was trying to figure out if there was any currently-statted monster that could serve as a target. I'd have to see if there is one
But the kraken was the first thing that came to my mind...
Dragon turtles?
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<kicks back in rocking chair>
Maybe it's my old 1st ed habits kicking in, But dragon turtles always sceered me! o_O
Not because they were terrible awesome beings of destruction, (which I guess they could be) But because in the old days of 1st ed, they had a near-unassailable AC! (IIRC, They say the mind is the first to go.) ;)
<picks up national geographic magazines and begins reading>
No, usually a casserole here. But I like bread and salt better. Most casseroles are tuna-based, and who ever thought that tuna was good piping hot? *shudder*wohoo, new thread
*presents bread and salt to Monkey*
( is bread and salt the traditional new home gift in America, too?)
As a hater of tuna at all temperatures, I'm so thankful I've never run into these. I like most casseroles (and make a pretty good Green Bean Casserole myself) but apparently I live in the wrong place for the abundance of tuna foundation to be something I need fear.
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<Holds Magazine away from him, trying to see if he read something right.>
That is one skeery bug! Where did I put my 'Pest-shield' spell?
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While sport's ball was going on i cranked this guy out, for appearance and temperament imagine Adam Goldberg from Fargo with antennae.
Other then the fact he's lashunta, and evil, PFS legal 20 point buy.
Male lashunta fighter (sensate) 1 (Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Inner Sea Bestiary 25, Pathfinder RPG Occult Adventures 118)
NE Medium humanoid (lashunta)
Init +3; Senses Perception +3
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Defense
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AC 15, touch 13, flat-footed 12 (+2 armor, +3 Dex)
hp 13 (1d10+3)
Fort +4, Ref +3, Will -1
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee sawtooth sabre +1 (1d8+2/19-20) or
sawtooth sabre +1 (1d8+1/19-20)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st; concentration +1)
At will—daze (DC 10), mage hand
1/day—detect thoughts (DC 12)
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Statistics
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Str 14, Dex 16, Con 15, Int 13, Wis 8, Cha 10
Base Atk +1; CMB +3; CMD 16
Feats Exotic Weapon Proficiency (sawtooth sabre), Two-weapon Fighting
Traits fencer
Skills Acrobatics +7, Knowledge (local) +7, Perception +3; Racial Modifiers +2 Knowledge (local)
Languages Azlanti, Elven, Lashunta; limited telepathy
SQ manifestation points, ability scores
Other Gear leather armor, sawtooth sabre[ISWG], sawtooth sabre[ISWG], applejack (per gallon)[UE], backpack, bedroll, belt pouch, coffee (per cup)[UE] (30), flint and steel, hemp rope (50 ft.), mess kit[UE], pot, soap, torch (10), trail rations (5), waterskin, 110 gp, 3 sp
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Special Abilities
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Limited Telepathy (30 feet) (Su) A lashunta is able to mentally communicate with any creature within 30 feet with whom she shares a language. Otherwise this ability is identical to the telepathy ability.
Manifestation Points, Ability Scores ([none], 11/psychic duel) Every combatant begins a psychic duel with a pool of MP equal to the combatant’s HD + the average of her Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. As a free action, a combatant can draw from this pool to generate MP.
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Dragon Turtles would be an interesting take. Especially if their shells had a mother-of-pearl quality to them. Plus, magic components.
Maybe a giant kraken/nautiloid? With some sort of super tough shell and the possibility of giant purple pearls within its depths? Hmmm
In my old campaign I had a city named Whalebones, that was built using the body of a colossal whale that had beached itself at some point in the distant past, in order to kind of expand the world outward I had it just recovering from an ice age, with Whalebones the port at the end of the Iron Road, or whatever it is I had called it.
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Ugh fighting illness and doing game prep. Ugh I wish this cold would die.
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In my old campaign I had a city named Whalebones, that was built using the body of a colossal whale that had beached itself at some point in the distant past, in order to kind of expand the world outward I had it just recovering from an ice age, with Whalebones the port at the end of the Iron Road, or whatever it is I had called it.
In Pirate 101 PC online game (Same universe as Wizard 101) the starting area has a city in it that is built on the back of a giant whale.
(Oh yeah, and all ships, islands, etc are floating of course. You fly the 'skyways and spaceways' not the ocean) ;P
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Ugh. 16 hour shift almost finished. Thank YHWH
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And Lo, the snow hath begun. Gather thy milk and bread and charge thy devices my children. The snowpocalypse draws nigh
And Lo, the snow hath begun. Gather thy milk and bread and charge thy devices my children. The snowpocalypse draws nigh
I told you guys I was back.
Looks like we've been spared the snow for at least another day.
Maybe fantasy whalers could be hunting for underwater unicorns?
