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Road to Nowhere
This is the distilled wisdom of official reports by Knights and
Cohorts of the Company of the Phoenix. The contents of this document are not to
be discussed outside the Company; passages marked Secret are not to be
discussed with those not specifically cleared for the details in question.
Knights
- Silvester Hawkwood, Baron of Little Deane
- Dominic Navarre of the Hazat, Baron of Navarre
- Sir Arthur Hawkwood, may he rest in peace
Cohorts
- Azune of Madoc, Entered of the Supreme Order of Engineers
- Lieutenant Luca Alshinsh of the Charioteers Guild
- Provist Durune of the Eskatonic Order
Representatives of the Church [NPCs]
- Illuminatus Millard of the Eskatonic Order
- Sister Alba of the Sanctuary Aeon
- (May they both rest in peace)
Mission
To discover the whereabouts of His Grace the Duke of Cadavus,
Commander of the Company of the Phoenix. He had taken upon himself an unknown
quest, and was last heard from on the backwater world Nowhere. Likelihood of
finding him alive is considered slim.
Briefing
The group were briefed as usual, by His Grace the Duke of
Salamandra, Acting Commander. It was decided that in order to raise awareness
of the work of the Company a press conference would be held. [Note: This was
a bad decision. The Company will not hold press conferences in future.] At
the conference a journalist named Emil Lassiter asked Brother Millard directly
whether he was a member of the Kalinthi, the Church’s secret order of
demon-hunters. This was denied.
[Secret: It was true: Brother Millard was a member of the Kalinthi.]
Outward Journey
The group were issued with a small ship and a crew. At Criticorum
they had an unfortunate turn of events when the jump gate there was to take a
week to recharge, but after a few days they were joined by an Imperial Navy
fleet. The dreadnaught Indefatigable and its escorts, under Commodore the Most Honourable
Lady Mia Justinian, Marchioness of St. Omer, were on the way to relieve part of the Stigmata blockade. They used one of the Navy’s ‘reset’ keys to force an early end to the cycle, allowing the party to continue.
[Personnel note: There was an unknown animosity between Lady St.
Omer and Lord Little Deane; this may have been something to do with a past
encounter, since Houses Justinian and Hawkwood are typically on very good
terms.]
A Sathra Incident
At a subsequent jump it was found that the ship’s sathra damper had
been disabled, allowing dangerous psychic radiation to permeate the ship.
Members of the Church immediately set to discovering what vandal might have
caused the failure, as well as checking that nobody aboard had become addicted
to the euphoric experience, known to be a cause of cult activity.
The Third Engineer was proved to be responsible, was confined and
eventually delivered into Church custody at Nowhere. However, the incident also
brought to light the psychic abilities of Sir Arthur Hawkwood, who was not
publicly declared penitent (as Church law requires). He was in discussion with
his superiors as to how the situation could be resolved, but unfortunately died
in a gun-cleaning accident shortly after the discovery.
[Secret: Arthur had not been declared penitent at all. A Bishop friendly to the Company’s cause was prepared to announce that he had already been accepted as penitent but that his nature had been kept secret for security reasons, but the accident claimed him before arrangements were made.]
Nowhere
The group made planetfall on Nowhere, and traced the last known
steps of Lord Cadavus. First the expedition travelled into the desert to the
Gargoyle. [Secret: The personal experiences of encountering the
allegedly-psychic statue are not a matter of record.]
Next they tracked him to the abandoned campus of a Second Republic
university, where they discovered a previously lost jump key. [Secret: They
were attacked by Symbiots. This is the only recorded Symbiot encounter outside
of Stigmata and the quarantined worlds and is not to be discussed with anyone,
for any reason. Do not worry: Although not normally considered dangerous,
Nowhere is on the other side of the Stigmata blockade.]
[Secret: It was around this time it was discovered that Sister Alba
was not Sanctuary Aeon originally, but was rather on secondment to them from
the Brother Battle Order. She was also Kalinthi.]
Beyond the Gate
[Note: The events of the Nexus and Paradise are Top Secret. None of
this section is to be discussed outside the distribution list of this
document.]
When used to activate the Nowhere gate, the new jump key opened the
way to a previously undiscovered space station. There they discovered Lord
Cadavus. He appeared to have become an antinomist and potentially a Symbiot,
and was guarded by a collection of demon-tainted Symbiot guards. The Imperial
Navy dreadnaught Indefatigable, under the command of the Commodore, destroyed
the station and all hands, including Cadavus.
The jump gate there was different: capable of being opened to a
large directory of destinations without a key. Among those was
Paradise, lost homeworld of House Justinian, which appeared to be the most
recently-used destination. The group travelled there, leaving explosive charges
to destroy the gate.
Paradise appeared initially to be intact, and the Prince of House
Justinian formally invited the Knights, Cohorts and representatives of the
Church to an audience. On reaching the planet is was discovered that the
planet’s leadership had succumbed to the antinomist-Symbiot taint, and it was
assumed that in the years since the world was lost it had been completely
compromised. The Indefatigable used nuclear weapons to make the planet
uninhabitable, hopefully even to Symbiots.
[The secret and sensitive nature of the above cannot be overstated.
Do not forget that nuclear weapons are banned by treaty and it is a secret of
Imperial security that Navy dreadnoughts even carry them. Not to mention the difficulties
Lady St. Omer would have if it were to become known that she was involved in
the destruction of her House’s lost homeworld, or the embarrassment it would
cause House Decados if the corruption of Lord Cadavus were made public.]
Brother Millard of the Kalinthi was lost on Paradise: his theurgy
bought the time the Zephyr needed to take off. The group were able to
open the Paradise gate to return to Imperial space, leaving charges to destroy
that gate as they left.
Aftermath
[Out of Character note: There was a big epilogue sequence when we
realised that the nobles were quite old not to be married, but I’ll mention
only the most important bits in the report.]
- Lord Little Deane was rewarded by House Hawkwood,
being created viscount of the prestigious fief of Collingbourne on Byzantium
Secundus. He married Astra Decados, sister of the new Lord Cadavus of House
Decados (and daughter of the old, corrupted one).
- Lord Navarre was not obviously rewarded by the
Hazat. It is noted that the moon of Hades in the Sutek system recently returned
to Hazat control after freeholds to the Empire and the Muster expired; the
Imperial Eye notes that the moon is perfect ground for a training facility and
suspects that Lord Navarre has been appointed commandant. He married Lady St.
Omer; both are under intense Eye scrutiny.
- Azune of Madoc was restored to the rank of Fellow
within the Engineers. (She had been demoted to Entered after using an
emergency beacon to call for rescue from an uninhabited planetoid. Unscheduled
stops are very expensive.) [OOC: That was the end of her previous adventure,
under a different GM.]
- Sister Alba returned to the Brothers Battle. [Secret:
She was tainted by the Symbiots during the battle on Paradise, was removed from Imperial Navy quarantine by the Brothers Battle and was reported dead shortly after. The Imperial Eye intercepted communication from Lord Navarre
[suspiciously] asking after her, but he was given no information.]
- The Most Honourable Lady St. Omer returned to
duty after a short compassionate leave, being given being given a ground
posting (as a Captain) on Byzantium Secundus. Having married into another
House, it is expected that the Marquisate of St. Omer will revert to another
line in House Justinian rather than pass to any children she may have with Lord
Navarre.
A Flock of Black Sheep
Here is part of a sample party for the next Fading Suns game. Players are welcome to grab one of these to play; we'll change what we need to fit them in with the rest of the group. They're all intended as breaks from their respective stereotypes, although that's easier (and more fun) with nobles: when you're not born into a role there are far fewer excuses to be stuck there when it doesn't suit you.
Some of them have their secrets, of course: I know what they are but I can only tell a player who is pretty well committed to playing them (obviously).
The Lord Ormond Decados, Baron of Wraxall
Mockingly called the White Knight by others of his house, Ormond was the younger son of an ultra-traditional Decados baron. On being knighted he was sent away to join the Company of the Phoenix, but the conservative establishment liked the youth's ideas of 'justice' and 'honour' and he was well liked. This only make him less popular with his father, and he might have been cast out altogether had the Baron and his eldest son not died hunting while he was away on a quest. As it is, the Count of Nailsea would gladly destroy the entire Barony to be able to get rid of the troublesome paladin, but their lord the Duke of Cadavus insists that he no nothing that might weaken the House.
The rest of the House still considers Ormond to have an 'attitude problem': his dedication has impressed the Questing Knights, even the Emperor, but it makes the rest of the Decados nervous. None of them can tell which of their depraved secrets he might have, and which he might be about to uncover for the sake of some 'greater good'.
Lady Antonia Maria Alvarez de Vera Cruz y Vasquez, of the Hazat
Lady Antonia is a niece of the Duke of Vera Cruz, youngest daughter of his brother the Count of [later]. Not even a knight, strictly, a stint as assistant to the Hazat Ambassador to the Emperor has shown how capable a negotiator she is. For the next quest, she has been attached to the Company of the Phoenix to offer her help to Ormond.
As would befit a young lady of any other house, she is skilled in various delicate pursuits that contrast her quite starkly with the militancy of the rest of her family. Quite how she will get on among reckless adventurers is the question on everyone's lips.
Antonia is not a knight or a dame by name, but certainly warrants the same level of respect and will be generated with the same rank benefice. She should be considered a dame in everything but address.
Sir Nathan Levin-Hawkwood
The Hawkwood of Delphi are glad to see the back of Nathan, although that he leaves to go into the limelight of Imperial service is a concern. He is a master of duelling, seduction and merrymaking, but even the most respectable of these is not enough to support a son of House Hawkwood so prone to subtle but drastic infractions against his own honour and that of others (and their wives).
Brother Theodore of the Sanctuary Aeon
In general, the Church puts the health of the spirit before all else, and warns that over-reliance on technology causes unavoidable harm to that. The Sanctuary Aeon care a little more for the health of the body, but still tend to err on the side of protecting the spirit. Theodore agrees, mostly, but has the controversial view that a little harm to the spirit is worth it for the benefits that the latest technology can bring to physical well-being, especially if the bodies of his patients benefit with only his spirit harmed. To that end, he is a specialist in medical technology; probably one of the finest outside the Merchant League.
Military Ranks
This is the rank listing for Imperial legions. It's based mainly on previous non-noble forces, although some noble houses (most notably the Hazat) have been using a similar structure.
To the extent that they're useful, I will be adding charts of other forces to compare later. I won't be detailing enlisted ranks, since I don't see them having an impact on the game.
In some cases intermediate ranks or subranks may have been omitted: for example the different grades of army Lieutenant are mainly a payscale distinction and a measure of how many more exams or commendations are required to make Captain, rather than a structural feature.
The NATO Code is included, for easy comparison to modern-day forces.
Points is the number of benefice points that the rank costs. I'm still working on these and they're likely to change, and it's worth noting that some other benefices (especially noble rank) may have military rank ex officio (or at least by way of nepotism or plot device).
| NATO Code | Points |
Imperial Armed Forces |
|---|
| Army/Marines | Navy |
|---|
| OF-1 | 3 |
Lieutenant (Lt.) |
Sublieutenant (SLt.) |
| OF-2 | 5 |
Captain (Cpt.) |
Lieutenant |
| OF-3 | 7 |
Major (Maj.) |
Lieutenant Commander (Lt. Cdr) |
| OF-4 | 9 |
Lieutenant Colonel (Lt. Col.) |
Commander (Cdr.) |
| OF-5 | 11 |
Colonel (Col.) |
Captain (Cpt.) |
| OF-6 | 13 |
Brigadier (Brig.) |
Rear Admiral (RAdm.) |
| OF-7 | - |
Major-General (Maj. Gen.) |
Flank Admiral (FAdm.) |
| OF-8 | - |
Lieutenant General (Lt. Gen.) |
Vice Admiral (VAdm.) |
| OF-9 | - |
General (Gen.) |
Admiral (Adm.) |
| OF-10 | - |
Field Marshal (FM) |
Admiral of the Fleet |
Merchant League military ranks are generally tied in with actual guild commissions, especially in the Muster and Charioteers where the common commissions have the same names as the military ranks. Members of other guilds who find themselves serving in the League military (or seconded to someone else's military) will normally be referred to by the equivalent Muster/Charioteer rank.
Since the League forces follow the Imperial ones most of the way I haven't added them to the table. The differences are as follows:
- The League navy uses the rank Ensign rather than Sublieutenant
- All army flag officers (OF-6+) are Generals and all navy flag officers are Admirals. They are then divided by 'stars', ranging from One Star (Brigadier/Rear Admiral) up to Five (Field Marshal/Admiral of the Fleet).
Note that the Muster ranks in the book start much too low: I do not expect every person enlisted with the Muster to hold a guild commission (the very word suggests otherwise) so assume that Muster commission uses the ranks and points costs listed here. Some NCOs may be considered commissioned (in the guild sense), but in general commissioned PCs should start as officers.
The campaign so far hasn't worried too much about what grade of flag officer (OF-6+) a person is. For example, the governer of Nowhere is named General by the rulebook, but since the Imperial military now has British-style ranks he's more likely a Brigadier or a Major-General. Since all flag officers outrank any military party members by a long chalk, please excuse me if I continue to be slightly sloppy about their ranks.
The Imperial ranks (and those of most noble militaries) are superficially based on the British Army and the Royal Navy, while the Muster ones will get a more US feel. However, I have used Commodore as a posting rather than a rank as was implied when I introduced the her Ladyship the Marchioness Justinian (and as Steve assumed as soon as it was mentioned); hence the new Admiral rank.
The top flag officer rank in each force will be very rare, probably restricted to one holder at a time and possible only available during wartime, depending on the force. Some forces will never have anyone holding this rank.
Remember: There is only ever one person aboard a ship who can correctly be addressed as Captain. Anyone holding the rank of naval Captain or army Captain who is not the captain of the ship must be addressed by suitably respectful civilian address if you are their equal or better, or Sir if they outrank you.
Non-Commissioned Ranks
By popular demand, the non-commissioned ranks (NCOs and enlisted men & women) of the Imperial Amry, Navy and Marines. (Note that, as always happens when I put more detail into something, some of it contradicts what had previously been said or assumed).
| Grade1 | Points2 |
Imperial Armed Forces |
|---|
| Army/Marines | Navy |
|---|
| 1-4 | 0 |
Private (Pvt.)3 | Rate (Rt.)3 |
| 5 | 0 |
Lance-Corporal (LCpl.) | - |
| 6 | 0 |
Corporal (Cpl.) |
Leading Rate (LRt.) |
| 7 | 1 |
Sergeant (Sgt.) |
Petty Officer (PO) |
| 8 | -2 |
Staff Sergeant (SSgt.)4 |
Chief Petty Officer (CPO) |
| 9 | -2 |
Warrant Officer, Second Class (WO2)5 |
| 10 | -2 |
Warrant Officer, First Class (WO1)5 |
Notes to the table:
- The 'Grade' is simply for comparing the items in the table (and other tables I may make in future). It doesn't correspond to anything in-game or real-world.
- In general, player characters deserve commissions; the benefices of Rank, Ordained and Commissioned all correspond to more than being an NCO. Being a Sergeant/Petty Officer corresponds to the Householder benefice, costing one point. Rank below that isn't worth benefice points (assuming the campaign even has space for Privates and Corporals) and rank above that should be discussed with the Referee, who may just recommend paying the 3 points to be a Lieutenant/Sublieutenant.
- The Imperial Marines call their Privates 'Marine'. The different grades of Private, Marine and Rate are payscale and experience distinctions only; they don't normally imply additional responsibility (unless you've lost all your officers and NCOs...). They are generally referred to in classes, from 4th up to 1st. Some legions use alternative names, such as Rifleman, Fusilier, Gunner, Sapper, Trooper, Guardsman and so on.
- Marines and some legions call their Staff Sergeants 'Colour Sergeant'. Several specialist appointments are equivalent to this rank, such as Company Quartermaster Sergeant.
- Warrant Officer is normally a pay grade rather than an appointment. Postings include Company Sergeant Major (WO2), Charge Chief Petty Officer (WO2), Fleet Chief Petty Officer (WO1) and Regimental Sergeant Major (WO1).
Noble Address
From a lesson given to the youngest children of Vice-Chancellor Peter Kraemer of the Academy of Reeves by Claudia Torensen, Daughter of The Count of Llian.
Noble men and women take etiquette and address very seriously, and knowing how to meet them and do business with them without offending them is a very important skill to any Guildsman who wants to do any work in Imperial or Noble space. Your father has asked me to give you something of a primer on the correct address for members of different Houses.
First things first: kinds of address. You need to understand two main parts, style and what I will refer to for convenience as salutation. A person's style is their full title, as might be called in order to announce them as they enter a function. Their salutation is the formal way they should be addressed directly, such as at the top of a letter.
There are three sorts of people you might need to bear in mind: men who hold title, the wives of men who hold title, and women who hold title in their own right.
What about husbands?
In all the major Houses, husbands don't gain a style from their titled wives. She might decide that he should be addressed as if he held her title, or she might be powerful to grant him something of his own, but he isn't accorded anything by default.
And don't be afraid to ask questions; I can't tell what you don't know unless you say.
So, let us look at unlanded ranks first. The major Houses knight most of their men on reaching adulthood. Baronetcies are sometimes created for knights who distinguish themselves, either simply as a higher rank of knight, or more likely as a hereditary title. Women are generally knighted only if they intend to do what is traditionally men's work; a female knight is called a Dame.
I'll use James Hawkwood and his wife Jane as an example for my names, unless I need other Houses: should he be a knight or a baronet, he is styled 'Sir James Hawkwood' and has salutation 'Sir James'. Jane is then 'Lady Jane Hawkwood', or 'Lady Jane'. Should it be Jane who holds the title, she'd be 'Dame Jane Hawkwood' or 'Dame Jane'.
The landed ranks, and I'll be concentrating on the five 'sub-royal' ones, since they are the ones you are likely to encounter, start to vary quite substantially by House, and in some cases by individual title. I'll give general cases as best I can, but I can't stress enough that you should get as much advance warning as you can so that you can look up the particular person you need to deal with.
Let us assume now that James Hawkwood is Lord of Winterbourne. Now we'll see how his address changes as we upgrade Winterbourne through different levels of fief.
With Winterbourne as a barony, James is probably styled 'The Lord James Hawkwood of Winterbourne', saluted as 'Lord Hawkwood'. This generic address is used by most of the major Houses in order to make sure they fit in (a) his House, (b) his fief and (c) his given name(s). The old 'The Lord Winterbourne' form is rarely used for a barony, although some families do use it (especially where the family is named for the fief).
As his wife, Jane is fully styled 'The Lady Jane Hawkwood of Winterbourne'. It is not unusual for the wife's style to be missing her surname and/or her husband's fief, though. Styles for wives are at the same time one of the system's largest points of contention and its biggest area of leeway; the typical nobleman isn't too bothered if you address his wife incorrectly, provided you have shown proper respect while doing so. Her salutation is still 'Lady Jane'.
Note well that she is not termed Baroness; should she hold the barony in her own right her style is 'The Baroness Jane Hawkwood of Winterbourne', saluted 'Lady Hawkwood', or 'Lady Winterbourne' if that's the form the Lord would have used.
A brief note about the names of fiefs: Some nobles simply don't use them. In cases where the family name is the name of the House, some nobles would rather be addressed by that. Outside the Hazat, a noble will rarely be offended if you use his family name rather than that of his fief, and many even prefer it (although he should also accept properly formed address using the name of his fief, should his preference be unknown).
Of course, in the Hazat, few if any nobles bear the name of the House. In this instance it is important to do the research; address and announce them properly using family name and name of fief, and adding 'of the Hazat' after, if you feel it proper.
If a nobleman leaves his fief out of his salutation, so will his wife. Whether Jane Hawkwood would be 'Lady Jane', 'Lady Hawkwood' or something else entirely depends on her, her husband, his title and his House. I'd use the former if unsure.
If we now make Winterbourne a vicountcy, there are subtle changes. Where before the Lord's title didn't appear in his style, from here on it plays a major part.
James is now 'The Lord James Hawkwood, Viscount Winterbourne' and Jane is 'The Lady Jane Hawkwood, Viscountess Winterbourne'. Their salutations are 'Lord Winterbourne' and Lady Winterbourne' respectively. Only in a few cases is it 'Viscount of Winterbourne'; finding some examples is left as an exercise.
A Viscountess in her own right is styled 'The Lady Jane Hawkwood, Viscountess Winterbourne'. Despite what I've said about wives, please don't lose any of the address of a noblewoman in her own right.
Next is Count, or if your title is granted by House Hawkwood, Earl. James is 'The Lord James Hawkwood, Earl of Winterbourne' and Jane is 'The Lady Jane Hawkwood, Countess of Winterbourne.' Yes, the wife of an Earl is a Countess. For the other Houses, substitute 'Count' for 'Earl'. The salutation is the same as before: Lord and Lady Winterbourne. Jane as Countess in her own right is 'The Lady Jane Hawkwood, Countess of Winterbourne.'
You've got the opposite situation with 'of' here: most Countships and Earldoms have it, and you should check carefully that you're not dealing with one of the few who don't.
If you ever hear a noble announced with language variations, use them if you can pronounce them and ignore them otherwise. The Hazat Count may be quietly pleased if you address his wife as Condesa, but he'll likely be displeased - and perhaps not quietly - if you call her Contessa; certain minor Houses are the other way around. By convention only the most unreasonable of nobles will complain if you use the accepted generic terms rather than their preferred variations.
Of course some of the variations have made their way into the accepted form, and you should really learn them, at least for the major Houses.
With Winterbourne upgraded again, it's a marquessate. Here you have to be very careful distinguishing nobles by House on two counts. Firstly, there's the title itself. Hawkwoods call the man a Marquess and the woman a Marchioness, and several of the more traditional minor Houses are with them. House Decados and the Hazat call them Marquess and Marquessa, while the al-Malik and the Li Halan call them Marquis and Marquise.
Next, some Houses still refer to their Marquesses as 'Most Honourable', but this is going out of fashion. Try and find out in advance which it is (Hawkwood and Decados yes, Hazat and Li Halan no, al-Malik varies; there are always exceptions), although I daresay that you might get by assuming that it is required; too much respect is less offensive than too little.
In any case, the correct style is 'The Most Honourable Lord' or Lady (or simply 'The Lord' or Lady), the full name, then the correct title and the name of the fief. Marquessates that don't have 'of' in their style are at least as rare as the countships. The address for the wife is, as before, the same as a female title-holder but with a little more leeway. James, then, is 'The Most Honourable Lord James Hawkwood, Marquess of Winterbourne'.
As with the previous two, salutation is as 'Lord and Lady Winterbourne'.
Finally, Winterbourne as a duchy. James is now 'His Grace James Hawkwood, Duke of Winterbourne, with his wife 'Her Grace Jane Hawkwood, Duchess of Winterbourne'. When saluting in writing, use 'Duke' or 'Duchess'; when speaking to them address them as 'Your Grace'.
Can I call people 'My Lord'?
I wouldn't. In conversation with a Lord (ignoring Dukes for the moment, who are more or less above that title) you can use the full salutation: Lord Winterbourne, for example. It is respectful enough to refer to a Lord as 'My Lord', but since this could be taken to imply allegiance many nobles avoid using it except for their direct superiors, and as freepersons you would do well to avoid it completely.
'My Lady' or 'MiLady' is slightly different. You can always use it as a term of respect for a nobleman's wife, and since women with titles in their own right are still quite rare you should get away with it even when she is landed.
What about nobles without titles?
A male noble without a title will normally be a guildsman or a priest. You should address him as such, for while he may have important friends, most Houses consider such a person to have given up their claim to nobility.
Noble ladies without title are very common, although they won't often deal with outsiders. If Jane Hawkwood is an unmarried noblewoman, style her as 'Lady Jane Hawkwood' and salute her as 'Lady Jane'. She isn't 'The Lady Jane', especially in earshot of anyone who may actually be entitled to that.
One last thing: Military rank. The correct style for a military nobleman is to put his military address before the full style of his noble rank. Consider announcing the organisation that awarded the rank: when introducing Lieutenants and Captains it can be really quite important to make it clear whether they are army or navy.
For example, should James Hawkwood - let's make him a Baron again - be a Lieutenant in the Imperial Navy, he would be styled 'Lieutenant The Lord James Hawkwood of Winterbourne, Imperial Navy'.
You don't always have to use military rank; since you're not military yourself you could use the civilian address for someone whose noble rank is at least as prestigious. Just don't omit a high military rank in order to use low noble rank; the Hazat armed forces in particular award rank on military experience and merit and it's not hard to find a Knight made General, who definitely should not be addressed as just a Knight.
That's enough for the time being. I will speak with your father; I may have time for another lesson while I'm staying, but I really must spend some time with my sister, having come so far to visit her.
Noble Ranks
A substantial guide to addressing nobles appears elsewhere, and includes much of the information you might need for dealing with them. Here are a few slightly more game-oriented comments.
Types of Title
The Unlanded ranks are the lowest kind.
Typically every adult male who is not commissioned into a guild or ordained into the Church will be knighted, along with some of the women (depending on the House). Knighthood is not hereditary, nor is it tied to a particular place or court.
A baronetcy is normally a hereditary knighthood. Particularly successful and valuable knights are made Baronet, although obviously most modern Baronets have inherited the title. A woman inherits a baronetcy (or is created the rank) is termed Baronetess.
Landed noble titles imply dominion over - and responsibility for - a noble fief. The landed noble titles are those from Baron upward, or arguably from Baron to Duke inclusive.
A landed noble in Fading Suns is usually ruling land owned by a superior (ultimately the head of the House in most cases), although in some cases a noble may own his own land. Generally the difference is small; both swear allegiance to their immediate superior and are liable for taxes and/or troops, and both could have their land taken easily enough if the might of their House turns on them.
If your father is a landed noble and you are his eldest son, then becoming one in your own right is just a matter of time. Otherwise, gaining a fief is extremely difficult, since the land has to come from somewhere. When a nobleman dies without heirs his title becomes extinct, and could be created again by the owner of the land. Acts of treason or gross negligence sometimes give the House enough reason to take titles from their current owners, but generally punishing existing nobles in this way only damages the House. The only other way for a House to make new fiefs is to gain land, but with the internal borders of the Known Worlds more or less fixed, the only real avenues for expansion are with House Hawkwood into Vuldrok space or the Hazat into the Kurga Caliphate.
Courtesy titles are granted to the heirs of high-ranking noble. For example, if a Duke also holds a Countship and a Viscountcy, then he might hold the Dukedom in his own right and allow his eldest son to be styled Count as a courtesy. Often these arrangements are written into the Letters Patent when the titles are created.
Note that it is possible to hold more than one title for the same fief; perhaps be Marquess and Earl. In most Houses there cannot be more than one nobleman per fief, so these titles must remain held by the same person and neither can be a courtesy title.
There is one notable exception to that rule: if a House has lost the land for a fief but has not dissolved the title, it may be that another now has their own title created on the same fief...
Victory titles are sometimes granted to leaders of successful military campaigns. They are styled as landed titles but differ from true titles in that the creating authority doesn't have the power to grant the fief descibed, so the title is entirely honorary. For this reason, the Houses in Fading Suns tend to steer clear of such titles.
More or less opposite are those titles pertaining to fiefs no longer controlled by the granting House. Originally a title would be dissolved if the corresponding land was lost, but recently - especially during the Emperor Wars - it has been common to leave the title in place, assuming the land will eventually be recovered...
Table of Titles
Here is the expanded table of noble ranks.
| Points | Title |
|---|
| Original | Adjusted |
|---|
| 3 | 3 |
Knight |
| 5 | 5 |
Baronet[ess] |
| 7 | 7 |
Baron[ess] |
| - | 9 |
Viscount[ess] |
| 9 | 11 |
Count[ess] |
| 11 | 13 |
Marquis[e] |
| 13 | - |
Duke/Duchess |
| - | - | Prince[ss] |
Notes and Variations
Since the table in the rulebook does not contain Viscount, everything above that has increased in points value. Prince obviously is off the top of the table in the rules; some Houses don't even use it.
Bread and Circuses
The Stages
1. Tethys
The championship begins on the Emperor's factory world, taking in the Festival of St. Horace in Nuevo Madrid before racing on the new track on silt flats near Maguat.
2. Aragon
The surrounds of the beautiful Castle Furias provide the backdrop for a rural stage on Aragon. Visitors will be able to see the marvellous Tassera Gardens, perhaps even see duelling at the infamous Athos Gardens.
3. Madoc
The third race is in and around the pontoon city of Lurzash in the northern hemisphere of the League's water world. Visitor's may partake in the Empire's finest fishing, eat the Empire's freshest fish, or simply enjoy the panoramic views.
4. Icon
The Li Halan play host to this stage among the wondrous wildlife of the Urtata forest region.
5. Criticorum
By day, hospitality in Tabrast. By night, a daring stage in the Disember Mountains.
6. Cadavus
The Luxor river basin is the setting for a thrilling circuit stage.
7. Shaprut
The Shantor Day Race is the backdrop for the next stage: watch the traditional race on the summer solstice, then race the route the next day.
8. Ravenna
Racers and teams are warmly invited to Ravenna by his Grace Alvarex Hawkwood, Duke of Aldyra, himself. Here a nail-biting underground course plumbs the depths of Deepcore City 7.
9. Leminkainen
Blistering speeds are expected across the Blood Desert of Jyväskylä.
10. Byzantium Secundus
A purpose-built orbital facility is the setting for the grand finale. Enjoy the luxury of the new orbital leisure complex and the technical challenges of the state-of-the-art tracks.
The Teams
Bannockburn
The Merchant League
Director - Lo Ree Mok Kuklo
Cadavus
House Decados
Director - His Grace Istvan Decados, Duke of Cadavus
Riders - Sir Uther Orpheo Decados; Rod Birch
Criticorum
House al-Malik
Delphi
House Hawkwood
Director - Sylvester Hawkwood, Viscount Collingbourne
Technical Officer - Charlton Merriot-Hawkwood, Entered of the Supreme Order of Engineers
Riders - Sir William Hawkwood; Azune of Madoc
Gwynneth
House Hawkwood
Director - Richard Hawkwood, Baron of Stockbridge
Istakhr
House al-Malik
Kordeth
The Merchant League and the Ur-Ukar
Leagueheim
The Merchant League
Midian
House Li Halan
Pentateuch
Independent Churchmen
Director - Brother Fyodor of the Urth Orthodox
Riders - Brother Wright of the Eskatonic Order
Five Great Houses
The origin of the Malkavian known as Marcus is unclear. What is known is that he travelled extensively, collecting quite a coterie of friends and lovers, before arriving in London. Shortly after, around the turn of the 12th century, a strange plague swept the city, killing only the weakest of mortals but virtually all the Cainites; all except Marcus and his five companions.
Returning after a brief quarantine, the Malkavian declared himself Prince and gave his coterie freedom to sire new Cainites. For a hundred years, London was ruled by Marcus and populated largely by his companions and the Houses they established; outsiders came and went, but only a handful of the city's vampires fail to trace themselves back to that coterie.
In 1206, the plague returned. A blood-borne disease was loose in the city, carried by mortals, bringing sickness and debilitation to the Cainites. Nobody was prepared this time, no safe places to hide, no emergency herd carefully quarantined. But this time it didn't strike so hard: younger Cainites and outsiders were virtually untouched, while even the eldest chider of the original five were only out of circulation for a few months. By some twisted irony, the plague worst affected those who were unscathed the first time: the heads of the five Houses are in deathly torpor and Marcus is missing, presumed the same or worse.
As 1206 draws to a close, the city is in disarray. The tension between the Houses may be the calm before the storm as the new leaders seek someone to blame, and some way to get an edge over their rivals.
The Five Great Houses is a large play-by-forum game of Vampire: the Dark Ages (with some elements of Dark Ages: Vampire, for those who know the difference) that I'm planning. It'll be at RPoL, where the custom-built forums give GMs plenty of tools and control, and it'll be open both to those I know at Tigars and those who are looking for new games at RPoL.
With any luck, I can get enough players to have few NPCs, so that the game has a real player-driven feel like a live-action game. Characters will be the vampires of London, beginning at the close of AD 1206, under the alternate history given above.
Most characters should be from the five Houses. This means playing a character descended from (the childer or grandchilder of, most likely) one of Marcus's five companions. Once I've detailed those NPCs, players should take care to make characters that they might conceivably embrace, or find intermediate player characters so that they can be worse generation.
Until I detail the founders of the Houses, you'll have to make do with their provisional clans:
- Lasombra
- Toreador
- Tremere
- Tzimisce
- Ventrue
Players are free to choose these clans, ignoring their normal geographic character. The companions of Marcus left their native lands and came here, and when given free rein to embrace did so from local stock. In essence, we're actually playing bloodlines of these clans based as much on the character of the immediate progenitor as the clan itself, but you'll just have to wait for those descriptions of the progenitors.
Individual Cainites of the following clans would probably be reasonable:
- Brujah
- Cappadocian
- Gangrel
- Malkavian
- Nosferatu
Other clans are not sources of support (or plot devices) in the same way as the main ones. You should only choose one of those clans if you are prepared to work a little harder to get yourself involved in the game.
The other clans (Assamites, Followers of Set, Ravnos) are not appropriate, due to issues of mood and geography. Please do not ask for them.
That's enough for the moment. Get in touch if you're interested or if you want more information.
Influence
As a backdrop to the character plays, Five Great Houses will use the following influence mechanic to keep track of off-camera power.
Influence is mostly similar to the background of the same name from the core rules. It doesn't use quite the same scale, but crucially the total amount of influence available in the city is fixed. While there remains unclaimed influence you need only hatch suitable schemes against mortals, but eventually you will have to go up against other Cainites in order to take their influence from them.
Influence comes in four kinds:
- Noble influence represents power over the courts and landholdings of London and beyond. It is sought after by the Lasombra, the Tzimisce and the Ventrue.
- Religious influence generally holds sway over the more worldly aspects of the Church, but on some level also appeals to those of a true spiritual bent. The Toreador compete with the Lasombra for religious influence.
- Commercial influence affects merchants and money-lenders. The Tremere and the Ventrue dabble in such things alongside their main concerns.
- Supernatural influence represents those unusual things beyond mortal or vampiric society. The Toreador are a poor challenge to the Tremere's virtual monopoly on such things.
In London at the beginning of the thirteenth century, these things are not in balance. The ratio of available influence 'points', and the clans with a 'major' or 'minor' interest in gaining them, are as follows:
| Type | % | Lasombra | Toreador | Tremere | Tzimisce | Ventrue |
|---|
| Noble | 40 | Major | - | - | Major | Major |
| Religious | 35 | Major | Major | - | Minor | - |
| Commercial | 15 | - | - | Minor | Minor | Minor |
| Supernatural | 10 | - | Minor | Major | Minor | - |
Amassing Influence:
There will probably be 1000 points of influence available. By providing many points I will be able to make smaller awards so that players can more rapidly see the effects of their actions. Starting characters will receive a modest allotment, somewhere around 20-25 for the childe of one of the Companions, 10 otherwise. The starting points must be chosen from the influences mentioned as clan concerns: if all the points are gone, tough luck.
I haven't yet decided whether outsiders (those not of the five lineages) will have initial influence; probably not. They will have to gain it during play, a task which will be that much harder without a supportive clan.
Major campaign events, such as a concerted effort by a number of influential PCs, may be able to change the amount of available influence or the balance between the types.
Counting Influence:
Although they have no direct mechanical effect, you may want to measure your progress against other characters with the following totals:
- Obviously, your character's personal influence score.
- Influential childer reflect well on their sire. Keep track of a Bloodline influence score by adding the influence of all your childer (excluding any from whom you are estranged) to your own.
- Finally, the total influence of all the members of each clan (provided they still recognise and are recognised by the clan) provides a quick measure as to how each faction is getting on.
I will probably be keeping league tables of these scores on the web somewhere as the game proceeds. Note that it doesn't correspond directly to anything the characters can discern; they'll just have to work it out for themselves.
The Companions of Marcus
The progenitors of the five great lineages to be found in London are detailed below. With each is a description of what manner of people they preferred to embrace, as well as in what manner of influence they and their progeny are most interested (more about influence later).
Algernon of Clan Ventrue
After a distinguished career as a household knight, Algernon was made responsible for all the forces of his Lord, a Norman noble. Showing considerable aptitude for managing and commanding commoners and knights alike, he attracted the attention of a Ventrue elder who needed good underlings to follow William's incursion into England. The campaign was a success, but the machinations of the Toreador back in France drew the attention of Algernon's sire farther and farther from England until the powerful fledgling was on his own.
Although the details of how each member of the coterie was persuaded to join Marcus remains secret, what is clear is that Algernon secured London much like he did his Lord's lands. Much of the prosperity of the last century is due to Algernon and his childer, rooting out undesirable elements in Cainite society and protecting the domain's borders against allcomers.
Algernon seems to be motivated mainly by a sense of duty, and even makes concessions for honour on occasion. He has taken great pleasure in being responsible for the safety of his master's subjects, and gathered considerable respect and goodwill from local Cainites.
Relations: Although he never put much stock in the idea of being destined for leadership because of his lineage, his assumption that he was always second-in-command may have had a similar effect on his childer with Marcus gone. A quiet alliance with Edith always helped secure the city, and John tended to remain beneath his noticed. Mainly he was wary of Melchiorre, who was a threat to his assumed position at Marcus's right hand, and Erzsébet, who is simply too unpredictable to trust.
Likely Childer: Algernon favours military candidates for embrace, although these are more often chosen for their skill at command or logistics than for raw skill at arms. In later years he sought to solidify the sources of troops he needed by accepting non-combat nobles of note.
Influence: Algernon's brood are interested mainly in noble influence, bringing them into conflict with Melchiorre and sometimes Erzsébet. They keep small interests in commercial circles in order to secure supplies of arms and mercenaries, which sometimes brings them up against Edith's childer.
Generation: Algernon of Clan Ventrue is Sixth generation.
Edith of Clan Tremere
From a long line of mages in the Hermetic tradition, great things were expected of Edith. When it became clear that she lacked even the slightest grasp of the Order's magic, she was left doing menial work in her family's chantry while others around her became distant and barely acknowledged her. She continued to study magical theory, and on learning what House Tremere had done she went to them, offering her services as archivist and researcher. Within a decade her hard work and devotion to learning earned her the embrace.
Few were surprised when she excelled at Thaumaturgy and soon she was sent to London to assist the Regent of the chantry there. It was on the way, however, that she met Marcus, and changed her plans. It is not clear exactly what deal was struck, but it is assumed that the affliction that so conveniently paved the way for Marcus' ascension was of her making.
Edith is cold, used to being unfairly looked down on and now only too happy to do the same. Her mastery of various forms of blood magic is unquestionable, and she seems torn at times between a paranoid desire for her security and an academic love of her field. It is whispered that the only thing that stopped Edith and her students executing a coup and taking control of the city was the fractured organisation she imposed on them to stop them plotting against her. Another whisper, on the other hand, tells that she secretly loved Marcus...
Likely Childer: Edith's childer tend to be those with a knack for blood magic. It is unclear how she can tell, and true that a few failed students have gone missing over the years, but mainly Edith embraces from all walks of life those who subsequently prove strong in Thamaturgy. Most other functions she needs are left with ghouls or things less human entirely, both of which are more easily controlled.
Influence: The city's Tremere like to dabble in - and control, where possible - the magical and supernatural elements of the city; in this they oppose John's Toreador. They fall back on some commercial concerns when appropriate, although rarely competing for the interests the Ventrue desire.
Generation: Edith is Eighth Generation.
Clan Weakness: Because she had only loose ties to her clan since joining Marcus, Edith's childer are not bound to the Council, as a properly embraced Tremere should be. Instead, they are bound only to her, but stand to suffer greatly if ever the clan proper dares to send a capable agent to London.
Erzsébet of Clan Tzimisce
A minor noblewoman in Hungary, Erzsébet was married off to a Transylvanian lord in order to cement some or other agreement. Her husband was a better leader in war than peace, and she quickly learned to run the holding without him, including brokering necessary deals with unruly subordinates and neighbouring powers alike. When he returned from campaign each time, he had no idea how much he owed her, but the Tzimisce Voivode who had been considering him for the embrace noticed, and took her instead.
Erzsébet is subtle and cunning. She does not play the game for its own sake, but that isn't to say she doesn't enjoy every moment. While Melchiorre often could not help but proclaim his involvement in some delightful scheme, Erzsébet would be happier if nobody ever noticed, provided she reaped the rewards properly.
Likely Childer: Like herself, Erzsébet's childer must be subtle. They must be driven and ambitious, but above all Erzsébet respects control and precision, for drive is worthless without them.
Influence: Behind the scenes, the Tzimisce contest the noble influence desired by the Ventrue. However, their seemingly indiscriminate desire for power and the marvellous delicacy with which they conduct themselves mean that many a Cainite has taken stock of a trusted holding only to find that it has been subverted and undermined by one of Erzsébet's brood.
Generation: Erzsébet is Seventh Generation.
John of Clan Toreador
In contrast to his 'brother' Melchiorre, John certainly had faith, and retained it until the second plague struck. He had been a monk as a mortal, happy to spend his time between meals and prayers toiling away in his cell creating fine tapestries, for that was his gift. It was a gift he more or less lost when embraced, causing a proud Toreador to leave him where he'd found him rather than take him back to France.
Since then, John has spent his time praying, studying and generally contemplating his place in the world. He takes a liking to anyone who makes good conversation on such topics, but does not much mind what they do with themselves at other times.
Likely Childer: John has one of the more diverse groups of childer, since he finds desirable traits in all kinds of person. He would most likely offer the embrace to someone of a similar spiritual and academic leaning, but this has not always been the case.
Influence: John's brood contest the religious influence strongly, with Melchiorre's childer trying to block them at every turn. The idea that John may actually have had good cause to take sanctuary in the Church only heightens the divide. They also dabble in supernatural influence, and the only reason Edith never took steps to stop them was because they seem to lack the talents to pose a threat.
Generation: John is Seventh Generation.
Melchiorre of Clan Lasombra
It is unlikely that Melchiorre, once a Bishop not too far from his native Rome, actually maintains any sort of faith, and is debatable that he had any to begin with. The turning point may have been his embrace, of course, but he keeps the details to himself. What is clear that whatever caused him to leave his previous life hasn't followed him here, and he has settled into quite the powerbase, using the Church to gain temporal influence and power.
Melchiorre is a consumate schemer, matched only by Erzsébet. He is patient, enjoying long-term plans that are always more than simply a means to an end. Marcus seems to have trusted him enough, bringing him to London and letting him dig his fingers into the Church and its holdings. It was in playing these mortals off against one another - and doing the same to Cainites wherever he could get away with it - that he passed much of his time.
Likely Childer: Melchiorre embraced in his own image, picking those who had a similar flair for games of power and politics, and sturdy soul and stomach for the constant competition. He encouraged games even between his childer, but was always clear that they should put one another before anyone not of their clan.
Influence: Melchiorre's brood predominantly hold influence in religious and noble circles, for that is where their brand of temporal power is to be found. While the enmity between the Lasombra and the Ventrue is a simple struggle of power and pride, their opposition to the Toreador stems as much from ideology as competition, since religion was very much a means to Melchiorre and an end to John.
Generation: Melchiorre is Seventh Generation.
The Inestimable Fortunes of the Golden Bough
The Inestimable Fortunes of the Golden Bough is a Tékumel game, probably using some sort of Runequest/Call of Cthulu mash-up. As well as the documents I'll eventually post here, players may wish to refer to the Tékumel page in the articles section, where I've currently got a Tsolyáni calendar and may later put more general resources.
Available now:
- Campaign notes (PDF, ~125kB), which includes character generation notes, describes the available lineages, has a few notes on possible temples and legions, and descriptions of the clan-houses in Jakálla. This document is work in progress, so make sure you get a new copy when you need to refer to it.
The Screaming Twenties
A decade of 'war' is over. The last fifteen years have seen economic collapses, civil wars, and proud nations brought to their knees by terror attacks. With a number of landmark settlements finally made over the last year, people now dare to show the hope they had kept secret for so long.
It promises to be an exciting new era. Technology that has been taboo since the beginning of the century is finally making its way out of testing, through the committees and onto the high street. Decades of science fiction is gradually becoming not only technically viable but commercially useful and socially acceptable. And a new generation of 'depression children' are finally getting the space to go wild over it all.
The owner of a new London nightclub is looking for staff. The place needs security personnel, an events manager, a technical team, and various other employees. The club may also take on some in-house entertainment, and the owner might even consider additional applications for the position of general manager. All are needed in time for the club's landmark opening, on December 31st, 2019. We hope to see you there.
If you're asking what genre it is, it's a cyberpunk game, by which I mean you should go and watch Strange Days and Blade Runner. Read Neuromancer, of course, but don't take it too seriously; I'm not going for the 21st century Chiba envisioned in the '80s.
If you're asking what system it is, then stop worrying about mechanics. It'll use some stuff from CP2020 (Interlock), maybe a little Fuzion and certainly a few nice ideas from the World of Darkness. But really it'll be whatever mechanics (or lack of) that fit the game.
If you'd like to know when and where it will be run, then you should expect it to be an in-person RPG (rather than a forum-based or PBeM one), either down the pub or around some unwitting player's house. If you aren't connected to Tigars then you may have trouble finding us.
If I run this, I'll want character submissions beforehand, in the form of in-character curricula vitarum, maybe even application forms. Then I'll help people work out game mechanics based on that (with appropriate bonuses per concept). The first session will be a group interview (note that if the game is oversubscribed I might get tempted to run the interview and actually use it to decide who is playing).
Herein I will add the IC and OOC articles and things that I plan to write, giving you more insight into the setting and the rules.
Timeline
This document is still in draft, and is now published so that players can make comment. Details on it may change before I consider them finalised.
Since I planned part of this, some time ago, some of it has already gone out of date (A UK General election is likely before the latest it could possibly be, for example). The inevitable divergence from the real world has already started...
- 2008
- Politics (USA): John Kerry (Democrat) narrowly beats Republican candidate Condoleezza Rice for the Presidency of the United States of America. Although his softer stance on foreign policy is popular for a while, his reaction to continued terror attacks is seen by many as lacking in conviction and the next four years see the gradual growth of nationalist paramilitary groups.
Media (UK): Analogue television transmitters in some regions are turned off, requiring all viewers to use a set-top box or a digital television.
- 2010
- Politics (UK): General Election results in a hung parliament resolved by a Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition.
Media (UK): A new protocol for digital televisions standardises the way in which viewers watch otherwise encrypted television channels. As the value of TV advertising falls, some of the major commercial channels find mixed success switching to a subscription or pay-per-view basis.
- 2011
- Politics (UK): After concern about big business having undue influence over the elected government, The Integrity of Parliament Act tightens regulations for interaction between politicians and the private sector. The following months see several high-profile resignations and even a few criminal trials. Public opinion is that the corporatisation to be found in other countries has been averted, although something may soon have to be done to counter the economic growth of those nations.
Media (UK): The TV License is replaced by a subscription to watch the BBC channels. TV in itself is free, although there isn't much on.
- 2012
- Politics (USA): Condoleezza Rice becomes the first woman (and the first African-American) President of the United States, denying President Kerry a second term. A number of state independence parties manage to put members in Congress and even one in the Senate; with a slight Democratic majority in each House the President makes a number of controversial deals in her first two years.
Media (UK): The last of the analogue television transmitters is turned off. Either by set-top box or native ability, televisions now receive around 60 terrestrial channels, around a quarter of them in High Definition.
- 2013
- Politics (China): China's new President, Mao Li proposes a range of new measures to 'protect' the People's Republic from Western-style capitalism. Commentators in the West consider his policies at best a step back, at worst very dangerous, but he has the support of his government, outwardly at least.
Communications (UK): Some time behind schedule, the deployment of the new generation telephone network is finished. Broadband is now the default service on all telephone lines and the market in internet-ready home electronics peaks. The service itself just keeps getting faster.
- 2014
- Politics (UK): General Election installs a Conservative government, although their majority is small.
Politics (International): The People's Republic of China claims that Siberia should be a Chinese territory, citing new-found archaeological evidence. It demands that Russia cede large areas of land from the Chinese border almost to the Arctic Circle, warning that it will otherwise consider the land unlawfully occupied. Russia refuses, and despite warnings from the UN, China commits a huge ground force to an invasion. UN Security Council talks prove inconsequential since both of the involved nations effectively have a veto.
Communications (UK): Fourth generation mobile telephone network goes live, offering always-on data connectivity of comparable speed to the first incarnation of ADSL. As WiFi networks grow, it becomes common for handsets to switch networks depending on cost and availability, and a new generation of wirelessly networked PDAs and mobile phones becomes cost-effective and reliable (for those in built-up areas).
- 2015
- Politics (International): Meetings of the UN General Assembly fail to find a satisfactory solution to the Siberian Conflict. The UN continues to lobby for a diplomatic solution. NATO and various UN member nations heighten military readiness.
A British submarine gathering intelligence in the Pacific near the East China Sea is sunk by the Chinese navy. The PRC claims that it was a mistake and while their apology is a little half-hearted the UK accepts it; despite this the USA claims it an attack on a NATO member and uses it as justification to commit troops in support of the Russian Federation.
- 2016
- Politics (USA): Some of the mid-western states speak out against the war, openly expressing disapproval for the President Rice and her administration. Demonstration and rioting is widespread during the run-up to the Presidential election; National Guard units in certain states refuses to help police riots. President Rice does not stand for a second term and a late replacement Republican is easily beaten by former diplomat James Mitchell. Tense negotiations begin between the Federal government and many of the states, with whispers of secession in the background.
Politics (International): The Siberian ground war continues. NATO members vote and agree to support the USA, causing many more nations to commit troops, generally without much popular support at home.
- 2017
- Politics (International): With a large portion of Siberia under Chinese control, the People's Republic offers a ceasefire. The offer has undertones of a threatened nuclear strike, forcing an uneasy truce, although subtle troop reinforcements continue.
Politics (USA): Isolated outbreaks of anti-war rioting provide cover for renewed terrorist activity. Increases in government spending on security quickly filter down to the populace, with increased taxes and deficiencies in other public services. As foreign investors look elsewhere, the country slides into a deep recession.
- 2018
- Politics (UK): General Election results in a hung parliament once more, this time leading to a Labour/Liberal Democrat coalition government.
Politics (USA): The day after his Secret Service detail leaves, former President George W. Bush is shot and killed by a lone gunman at his home in Texas. The Department of Homeland Security is called on to repeal Public Law 103-329 and reinstitute lifetime protection for past Presidents.
Bullet Points
To tide you over until I get around to writing some fancy background stuff, here's a quick-fire list of what sort of thing you can expect in the world of Screaming Twenties.
The information here pertains mainly to this campaign setting: 2019 London. Some details differ throughout the game world.
I seem to have gotten carried away with politics now. Please bear with me for some technology and popular culture information which will come later.
Technology
In general: For the most part, available technology is much as it was thirteen years ago: few things are done now that weren't really possible then. What the last decade has seen is many of the predicted side-effects of the previous one becoming feasible as high-street products.
Transport:
The most common mode of personal transport is still the automobile. They now reliably drive themselves in all but the most taxing of conditions, although in the UK a vehicle moving on public roads must still be supervised by a licensed driver. A number of people have been convicted of Dangerous Driving after being found not to have been properly supervising their vehicle immediately prior to an accident. In remote areas, some roads are considered unsafe for automated driving, generally because the lines aren't repainted often enough.
For domestic use, electric and ethanol vehicles have performance comparable to petrol ones; the rising cost of fossil fuels has made high-performance petrol vehicles something of a status symbol among the young corporate elite. Besides gradual progress in safety, performance and fuel efficiency, the main difference is the extent of in-car entertainment: most cars now have a complete suite of consumer electronics for each seat (apart from the 'supervisor's').
Electric power is also available for small aircraft, whose easier access to sunlight makes them quite cheap to run. Small helicopters are quite reasonable to own and run, although various taxes and the required qualifications tend to restrict them to businesses and some wealthy individuals. Fixed-wing aircraft are cheaper, but the inconvenience of airfields has made them less popular.
One thing that does still require fossil fuels is the jet engine. The largest and fastest aircraft, as well as all vectored thrust vehicles, are very expensive to run, and hence quite unusual. For VTOL scenarios, tiltrotor aircraft provide a cost-effective alternative to VTs.
Trains are faster and more reliable than ever, although the quality of track in the UK still leaves a lot to be desired. The London Underground continues to run, those annoying anti-suicide barriers having by now been fitted in all stations and well-maintained trains and track making the system very reliable.
Slow shipping by huge tanker remains common, and smaller water-borne vessels have seen many of the same improvements as land vehicles.
Human Augmentation:
The term 'human augmentation' is used to refer to biological and genetic manipulations as well as high-performance prosthetics and other technologies intended to permanently alter the human body for better performance. Although almost any alteration is now legal, that legislation was a careful balance between protecting the consumer and protecting the manufacturer, and many are put off by the disclaimers a patient must sign.
Various treatments are available to increase pure physical performance: muscle & bone strengthening, reflex enhancements and so on. These are not as common as one might think (at least among normal, law-abiding citizens); they are absolutely illegal in traditional sports, and a new range of so-called cybersports are mired in conflicts of regulation as they try and establish rules that avoid their competitions devolving into corporate spend-offs.
The mental improvements are less well developed but more sought-after. An implanted microcomputer is a popular choice (see Direct Neural Interface, below), but direct improvements to mental and social faculties are limited to expensive and/or experimental biochemical and biogenetic therapies.
Outright replacement of perfectly good body parts is frowned on in most circles, especially since the benefit is usually purely physical. Artificial skin is good enough to make prosthetics virtually undetectable to the unaided eye, although some youth cultures see a raw metal arm as a daring fashion statement.
Improved senses, especially eyes, are surprisingly common (although still very unusual, across the populace). A replacement eye may have - depending on the patient's requirements - active aperture control, sensitivity to non-visible light (IR and/or UV), or even a camera. Heads-up display for a visual feed (from an internal computer or DNI (below) is almost standard.
Direct Neural Interface: The Holy Grail of cybernetics is a workable universal neural interface, and it isn't quite here yet. Current neural interfaces consist of an implanted network connection (wireless generally, although some prefer wires) and a 'thought recognition' processor to turn the operator's thoughts into digital instructions.
The thought recognition is comparable to late twentieth century speech recognition: a properly 'trained' interface can read the thoughts with a very high accuracy, although giving the device instructions effectively requires quite a lot of practice on the part of the user, both to frame the impulses in a coherent way and to be able to continue other surface thoughts without the interface trying to interpret them.
A practiced user can control a computer by DNI significantly faster than with a traditional keyboard/mouse arrangement, and dictation by thought recognition is much faster than by speech recognition. Other scenarios show less improvement. Vehicular controls tend to be sufficiently slow that the improvement in response time from the operator makes little or no difference, and the interface programs currently make it as difficult to learn to control the vehicle by DNI as manually, if not harder. A DNI is normally combined with a full implanted microcomputer, to add extra functionality to the link.
Direct neural interfaces are common among those who work with computers in a technical capacity, but unusual otherwise. Certainly they are not expected of anyone (in the UK it is illegal to require an employee to accept alterations, or to discriminate against applicants for a job on the basis of their augmentation or lack thereof, and on the face of it most employers have taken this to heart).
Health Implications: The long-term effects of human improvement technologies are largely unknown. There are many recorded cases of patients having adverse psychological reactions to augmentations, but this not expected to be a physical result of the alteration. Most people are unsure of the improvements, unhappy with the idea of having such invasive alteration and with the lack of reassurance from the research into the matter.
Computers:
Computers have continued to get more powerful, but perhaps more importantly more widespread. Embedded microcomputers are everywhere, to the extent that the typical consumer takes them for granted and nobody spares them much thought (while they work). Most of them have little or no human interaction, but those that do (the refrigerator that reorders when its inventory is low [and helps manage diets by withholding food], the fact that practically anything with a screen has internet access, and so on) are a defining feature of modern life.
Full-function computers are becoming less common in homes, their useful abilities often being replicated in less complicated multi-function devices. In businesses computers are small desktop units that are more powerful than ever running software that takes more resources than ever, for little overall change since the turn of the century.
Wireless networks are everywhere; a recent survey of the capital estimated that around 99.8% of Inner London was within gigabit WiFi coverage, and new billing models from ISPs make it easy to get internet access through any of it. Properly implemented wireless security is very difficult to get through, but the ease of establishing a network and the relative difficulty of securing it properly mean that tens of thousands of devices are more or less waiting for someone to break in.
The internet itself hasn't changed much. Various communications protocols have moved on a generation or two, but there have been few real new developments. The quality of web content continues to improve and the use of remote login protocols has almost peaked, but the promised age of virtual realities filled with geometric shapes hasn't materialised.
Miscellaneous Innovations:
ClearGlassTM presents no reflections: it is so transparent as to be essentially invisible. It is available for all manner of styles and purposes, although the bullet-resistant version is not quite as clear as the regular grade.
Holotubes: A laser array shines into a sealed glass chamber containing a mix of inert gases, where it has the abilitiy to project points of light into three-dimensional space. The full effect is a full image in 3D throughout the chamber. The output is from a digital feed, and can be anything that will fit in the chamber. Some problems still exist with opacity (since the projection is generally translucent, you can normally see the far side of the projected body, looking through the near side) but careful choice of nearby lighting will almost cover this, and reduce the 'glow' associated with an active video display. The units are common as part of entertainment systems, and also in shop windows and other places where they can be used for demonstration purposes.
More later, maybe. What more do people want to know about on the technology front?
Rules
This section contains brief explanations of key rules. It's not the entire rulebook, for two reasons: firstly that I don't want to write an entire rulebook, and secondly that even if I did there might be parts I wouldn't show to the players.
These rules may eventually be firmed up a little and used for other games, besides the Screaming Twenties. For that reason they're a little more general in scope than I expect to be necessary in that game. If you're playing in that, don't expect masses of firearms combat just because I happen to include a few pieces on it.
1. Basics
So, we're on an Interlock (CP2020) variant: variable target numbers for skill rolls of:
Attribute + Skill + Bonuses + d10
Attributes
The Attributes we're going to use are the following:
- Reflexes
- Coordination
- Body
- Intelligence
- Technical
- Empathy
- Willpower
- Charisma
- Luck
I know, they're not the normal Interlock stats. I've split the functions of Reflexes down into Reflexes and Coordination so that a single trait isn't so key to combat characters. I've taken Move Allowance away because I don't think there should be such a broad range of movement speeds along humans (Run is likely to be calculated as 10 + Reflexes + Body rather than 3*MA). I've replaced Attractiveness with Charisma, because I wanted to make it slightly more generic than what has traditionally been considered by players to be little more than sex appeal. Cool/Will is now called Willpower, shortened to Will, because somehow using the word 'Cool' to describe the beautiful people of 2020 seems trivial or worse.
Luck remains. Although the exact mechanics of using it aren't yet settled, Luck will not be a dump stat; people who have it unreasonably low may find themselves in trouble.
Normal human range for these is 2-10.
Skills
A skill list will be produced later. Skills won't be specifically related to particular attributes, but there will generally be one or two common combinations, much as in the Storyteller system.
Skills run from 0 (unskilled) to 10. The referee will be left to decide which rolls can be attempted unskilled, or whether alternate skills may be used instead.
Bonuses
The main category of bonuses is from a set of nWoD-style Advantages. These run from 1-10, and may offer different bonuses at different levels. For example, the new Combat Sense adds a cumulative +1 to awareness rolls in combat situations at each odd level, and +1 to initiative at each even level.
Other bonuses added into skill rolls will generally include equipment bonuses, or others that the player is responsible for keeping track of. Circumstantial modifiers will generally be applied to the target number instead.
d10
When the d10 comes up 10, roll again and add results. If necessary, keep rolling and adding until something other than 10 is rolled.
If the initial d10 (not extra d10s for rolling 10s) comes up 1, roll another die and take it away. Inform the ref if this penalty die equals or exceeds your Luck.
RPG Articles
d20 System
D&D House Rules
The following house rules are (mostly) standard for my D&D games, although some of the more unusual may be marked as optional even in my stuff. Get me to list the variants I'm using before a game begins.
Small variations (or those that didn't need much explaining) are in the first section; others get pages to themselves. If I'm running something that isn't online, you can either expect me to bring (or otherwise make available) a print-friendly copy, or I might just remember the changes and not bother letting anyone else look at them.
Short Rules
These d20 house rules don't warrant their own pages.
Ability Scores
When checking prerequisites for feats and other purposes (especially epic
ones), inherent and racial ability score bonuses count towards the ability score. No other
kind (apart from the actual increase gained by advancement and the appropriate
epic feats) does.
Favoured Classes
A human or half-elf may nominate as favoured class at each level the class
most beneficial. This will usually be the highest or the lowest. He does not
automatically have to choose the highest (as the normal rules state). For
example, a human fighter 6/wizard 5/rogue 1 may name rogue as favoured, rather
than fighter, since this will save him an experience penalty.
Natural Weapons
Characters with natural weapons are assumed to have the correct proficiency
when it is required as a prerequisite to feats or prestige classes. Some weapons
may be similar enough to benefit from these feats. For example, claw-style
weapons will be included provided they do less damage than a martial weapon that
the character can wield in one hand; a medium-sized character could wear claws
doing d6 damage over the top of his own (which probably only do d4 or d6
anyway). Any more than this and the weapon is exotic, and requires separate
proficiency.
Epic Characters, Attack Bonuses and Saves
The rules for epic characters (which have now made it into the SRD, to an
extent) say that the first twenty levels (or HD) contribute to the character's
base attack bonus and saves, and then the epic progression takes over. However,
this means that a fighter 20/wizard 20 gains a full attack bonus then goes on to
learn a full complement of spells, but a wizard 20/fighter 20 learns only feats
from his fighter levels and does not improve his combat, being forever stuck
with minimum attack bonus. Although the FAQ to the ELH specifically confirms
this, I do not think players should be penalised for the order in which they
took their classes (except for the differences at first level, which are not
affected by this house rule).
My rule is then that the best twenty levels count toward base attack bonus.
Figure this as follows:
Count the number of levels you have in a class that gives the good attack
bonus progression (or HD of dragon, magical beast, monstrous humanoid or
outsider). If you have twenty or more, then your base attack bonus is +20, and
you've finished.
If you don't, take the number of levels in classes with the middle (cleric)
progression (or HD of anything else but fey and undead). Only add enough
cleric-equivalent levels/HD to make your total 20; discard any extra. Now add ¾
of your cleric-equivalent levels/HD to your fighter ones to get your total base
attack bonus.
If you still haven't accounted for 20 levels/HD, throw in enough class levels
with the worst (wizard) base attack progression (or your undead or fey HD) to
make 20. Add half these to your total.
After you have the total, derive extra attacks from it as normal, at a rate
of one per -5.
In each case, round normally as you divide things. This may not get exactly
the same numbers as you were expecting, but everyone in my campaign is using it,
so it is fair. If by carefully juggling your classes you managed to get a better
base attack out of your first twenty levels than you would with this system,
take it; you still won't be any better than a 20th level fighter.
Example: Möbius is a fighter 9/monk 8/sorcerer 8. He has 9 levels with
the best progression, so he makes a note of 9 levels spent and attack bonus +9.
Then he has eight levels of the middle progression, which can all count since he
has 11 levels left to account for. He marks off 17 levels and base attack of +15
(9 + ¾ of 8 = 9 + 6 = 15). Then he takes three of his sorcerer levels to make
up 20; adding their base attack of half a point/level he gets 1 point of base
attack, for a total of +16, which expands to +16/+11/+6/+1 as normal.
As for saves, I have not yet decided how they should work. You may be stuck
with your first twenty levels of saves, or more likely you can choose the best
twenty of your levels. Players who take dozens of classes to get the extra +2
from the first level of the high progression will be penalised by being made to
stack the levels rather than the bonuses. In any case, you must use whole class
levels rather than individual saves; under no circumstances will a
fighter/wizard be allowed to take the good Fortitude from his fighter levels and
the good Will from his wizard levels, rather he could have the good Fortitude on
half his levels and good Will on the other half.
Monstrous Characters, Hit Dice and Class Levels
For most humanoids, monstrous humanoids and other mortal races the rule of
adding hit dice to class level and level adjustment works quite well. However,
it is a clear disadvantage for characters who are lumbered with a dozen humanoid
hit dice when they could be gaining class abilities, extra skill points or extra
hit points.
For PCs and important NPCs I will consider, on a case-by-case basis, allowing
a player to reduce the number of racial hit dice he must take and increase his
class levels to keep the same ECL. This represents training from an earlier age
(most likely to happen when you are only ditching one or two HD after the
first), or an outsider being created for a specific purpose and and being more
specialised from the outset.
This is most likely for races with very high level adjustments, because in no
case should a PC's CR exceed his ECL. Some special attacks and qualities
(especially spellcasting ability and other things that are much like class
features) might be removed if the character is gaining too much power.
Incidentally, for those who are wondering what difference it makes, let's
assume that the table in the improving monsters section of the v3.5 SRD holds
for removing HD as well as adding them (which I realise it probably doesn't, but
bear with me). Then each outsider or dragon HD turned into a (useful) class
level increases CR by ½, each HD of animal, magical beast or monstrous humanoid
turned into a class level increases it by two-thirds, and each HD of anything
else increases it by ¾. If you are changing it to a class not considered useful
for that type of creature (a 'non-associated' class), things are a little
different; go and check out the SRD (sorry, but I don't even know which book
that stuff is in if you have the new core books; probably Core Book II).
Of course, since monster HD are considered equivalent to class levels for the
purposes of ECL, the ECL does not change if you swap class levels in like this.
Although I accept that some races should retain at least some racial hit dice
(especially if their level adjustment depends on their special abilities being
commensurate with their CR), I don't think players should be penalised (too
much) for playing non-humans, and making them lug dozens of giant HD around when
the rest of the party are depending on their epic feats and fantastic spells is
just mean.
Example: Most celestials can cast spells as clerics. If a player wants a
celestial cleric and is worried about his turning being poor, I will probably
let him treat the character as a cleric, exchanging enough of his HD for cleric
levels to make the spellcasting a class feature rather than a racial ability.
Example: The Gloom (from ELH) seems to be a member of a relatively
insignificant race whose main interesting feature is the fact that the typical
member has the special abilities of a 25th level rogue. I would be inclined to assume
that they weren't 25HD monstrous humanoids, but rather 1HD monstrous humanoids
who typically have 25 levels of rogue (thereby ignoring the racial HD). This
reduces their hit points, increases their skill points, and makes them fit in
better with the style of my epic games (which focuses on adversaries with
classes rather than ludicrous monsters), as well as allowing players to
multiclass them rather than being restricted to rogue until 25th level. They
have a couple of racial traits and spell-like abilities that are probably
dormant in lower-level characters, but besides that are a reasonable race.
Outsiders
More a statement of campaign style than of rules, players (especially those
of outsider PCs) should be warned that outsiders in my campaigns are subtlely
different to those found elsewhere.
Many outsiders are former mortals (not only those that have ascended through
a character class; the Book of Exalted Deeds suggests that heaven was empty
until the first petitioners arrived, and it is well known that evil petitioners
can eventually become fiends), and many more spend a lot of time with them. Even
those who are spawned from some concept or alignment become tainted by contact
with the flock, since [demi]humanity and its complexities are infectious to
someone whose life is so simple.
Because of this, most outsiders (certainly all of those that can be easily
met or contacted by mortals) should have at least some human-like qualities, and
most will have a full range of mortal foibles. They are just as prone as mortals
to like particular things, fall in love, give in to hatred or lust, or any
number of other things.
Obviously some outsiders are more likely to succumb to this than others. Most
at risk are those who used to be petitioners, and those who were created in a
mortal image or in the image of the same entity the mortals were modelled on.
Those who have a lot of contact with mortals, especially those who must walk
among them in disguise, are particularly prone to becoming like them, as are
those that rely on mortal worship (i.e. deities).
On top of this, there is the issue of gender. After being around humans for a
while, most outsiders tend to associate themselves with a human gender,
considering themselves male or female. Those capable of changing their shape
will often take on the physical characteristics of their sex, wearing human-like
clothes for modesty (or not, as the case my be). This is especially important to
those who masquerade as human. What sex the outsider takes on depends on their
personality and personal style, as well as the experiences they have had (one
who falls in love with the first mortal they see is likely to make themselves
opposite to that person). The exception of course are those that already have
some element of gender; mariliths, succubi and erinyes are unlikely to consider
themselves male, although it has happened in the past.
Elementals could be affected, but this is unlikely; the elements are
inherently more inhuman than the alignments.
You have been warned.
Polymorph and Shapechange
A polymorphed or shapechanged character does not take on average physical
ability scores for the race he is morphed into, as polymorph other describes.
Instead, he replaces the physical ability modifiers of his own race with those
of the new one; inherent, experience and other modifiers still apply, as do his
actual ability scores. Any items that can be used by the new form adapt
themselves accordingly; weapons will stay at their normal size or change through
as many categories as their owner, at the player's choice. Wild magic
items work as normal.
Example: Pilios, the insectile human sorcerer, has two pairs of bracers
(one for each pair of arms; he has the Extra Item Space feat from Savage
Species), and has racial modifiers of +4 Dex, +2 Wis. When he needs to enter
towns he uses polymorph self to turn himself into a regular human (sick
of people seeing through alter self). Shedding the two extra arms, his
first pair of bracers are on his human arms, and work as normal, but the other
pair are missing and nonfunctional, to return when he gets his other arms back.
His Dexterity is down 4 points (since he is using the human modifier, +0, rather
than his own +4), but his Wisdom, not being a physical ability, is unaffected.
Wounds and Vitality
Those of you familiar with the d20 Star Wars, Stargate, Spycraft, Farscape or any of a number of others (including Unearthed Arcana for D&D), this system should be old news. However, the version I like to use is a little different to the UA version and most of the others (since the others don't have undead, for a start), so it is still worth reading through this document.
Why?
Lots of reasons.
Description: The idea of hit points as pure attrition in the face of physical damage is absurd, and the homogenous nature of hit points as they stand does much to encourage this. That a 10th level fighter is literally 10 times [actually more] as hardy as a 1st level one, when both are the same race, is crazy. Vitality (a proper description follows) is a far better mechanic for supporting a convincing and heroic-feeling description of the d20 injury system.
Danger: Tension in combat generally arrives quite late, as hit points run low, or when the Ref has hideously stacked the fight and there are one-hit-killers around. When each hit has an element of danger, players are encouraged to fight smarter and the whole game gets more interesting.
Recovery: Vitality recovers much quicker than hit points, allowing for the party to be back on its feet sooner, and reducing the awful dragging feeling you get when you've started the sixth encounter in a row on half health, because the party is out of healing.
Pacing: This variant makes creatures last longer when they would normally be routinely killed in one hit, but it makes tough enemies (and characters) easier to kill. For PCs I counterbalance this by increasing the amount of time available for a healer to get to a dying comrade, meaning that combat death will be very unlikely unless you manage to get knocked down surrounded by enemies, or a very long way from the party.
Rules
The basics of the system follow. These will be fleshed out later, when I get some time to sit down with the book, and may be formalised in a decent article on my web site. Although I currently can't quote specific differences (healing spells being the only one I can think of), this system may not be exactly the same as the UA version.
Vitality points are much like hit points as many people describe them. They represent that heroic knack that characters in fantasy fiction tend to have for avoiding serious injury, by exerting themselves to turn square hits into glancing blows (sometimes avoiding them altogether) and the like.
Wound points are your core physical well-being. Once you begin to lose wounds you are in a sorry state; the pain of any real injury distracts from virtually everything you do, while some injuries will impair your movement, coordination or senses.
Each character gains a die of vitality for each level, and adds their Constitution modifier: your vitality in the new system is equal to your previous hit point total. You have a number of wound points equal to your consitution (including enhancement bonuses and so on).
Incorporeal undead use vitality in much the same way as living physical beings, while corporeal undead have vitality representing the unnatural physical toughness of their mortal forms. In both cases wounds represent the strength of the creature's grip on the negative energy that sustains it, and is derived from Charisma rather than Constitution. Subject to this difference wounds and vitality work for undead in exactly the same way as for the living: undead are no longer immune to critical hits, and do not instantly depart when they reach 0 hit points (or wounds, in the new system).
Note that some Challenge Ratings may be changed to account for undead losing immunity to critical hits.
For the most part, vitality is interchangeable with hit points, with wound points comprising an additional pool to be removed when all vitality is lost. However, here is the crucial combat difference:
Rather than causing additional damage, a critical hit causes wound damage instead of vitality damage.
Weapons with a critical multiplier of 'x2' will retain their normal statistics (although the 'x2' is now irrelevant). For each +100% of damage beyond 'x2', the weapon's critical range increases by one. For example, most axes (20/x3) are now '19-20', a scythe (20/x4) is now '18-20' and so on. The Improved Critical feat and the keen magical effect now grant a one-point increase in the critical range: they do not grant +100% as before. Any other feature or effect that improves criticals by an additional multiplier of range or magnitude will similarly grant a one-point bonus, subject to a case-by-case GM tweak.
Spells that require attack rolls have a critical range of '20' by default. Other spells will continue to do vitality damage, although a critical failure on a save may invite wound damage.
Vitality recovers at a rate of one point per hit die, per hour of rest. I will probably award half that for an hour of light activity, but any hour that includes combat grants no respite. Wounds recover at one point per hit die per night of rest, or twice that for full days of rest (it is to this rate that the long-term care use of the heal skill applies).
The cure spells (and those like them) can now work in three ways: all vitality, wounds first, or half and half, to be chosen at the time of preparation unless you can cast spontaneously. Heal will work on a 'wounds first' basis, with excess points restored to vitality. The same principles apply to casting inflict spells to heal an undead creature.
When used to inflict damage, cure and inflict always affect vitality first.
A character with no vitality starts to lose wounds when injured (starting with the rest of the attack that took his last point of vitality, unless it had no excess damage). A character who takes any wound damage becomes Fatigued (cannot run, -2 Strength and Dexterity).
A character with no wounds remaining is unconscious, and will die at the end of ten rounds (count starting at the end of the current round). No more regular damage is counted; it's a ten-round timer unless somebody gets a coup de grace in before then. An appropriate heal check or any magical healing (even if it only restores vitality) will stabilise the character on 0 wounds, or the wounds restored by the magic, as appropriate. Note that this applies to undead characters (except that heal checks can't stabilise them), and if I can be bothered to do the book-keeping it may also be used for NPCs and creatures, if there is someone around who might be prepared to save them.
The death from massive damage rule is not in effect.
Abilities that allow incapacitated characters to fight on need reassessing, but I haven't yet done that.
Dragons [WIP]
1: The Platinum Dragon
The Platinum dragon is the rarest of Metallic dragons. So rare in fact, that
some DMs may feel that Bahamut, god of good dragons, should be the only one (in
which case, check out the Manual of the Planes or Deities and Demigods,
depending on how powerful you want him).
With the arrival of the Epic Level Handbook comes a need for unreasonably
powerful foes and allies. It is quite likely that platinum dragons are a
sufficiently high cut above even gold and red dragons. Because different
campaigns will have different needs, I have thrown together two different
versions of the platinum dragon. If you use the stronger stats, you will need to
beef up Bahamut, otherwise a typical member of his race would wipe the floor
with him...
Platinum Dragon
Dragon
Climate/Terrain: Any
Organisation: Wyrmling to young adult: solitary or clutch (2-5); adult or
older: solitary, pair or family (1-2 with 2-5 offspring).
Challenge Rating:
Treasure: Double standard.
Alignment: Always lawful good.
Advancement: See Dragon, Advanced in the ELH.
Platinum dragons are huge creatures, proportioned much like gold dragons,
although often at least as large (particularly if the epic version is used),
with a majesty that would put even the most regal of silvers to shame. They are
like the end of a line of development that went through all of the other
metallic dragons, or perhaps the beginning. As wilful supporters of good and law
as the most noble of silvers and golds, platinum dragons tend not to concern
themselves with the lives of humans and demihumans, instead saving themselves
for tasks that concern entire races, or even planes.
Out of the egg, platinum dragons are virtually white, with tiny shards that
reflect white or blue. As the dragon ages, these fragments expand, joining up to
cover the dragon's body in a blue/white sheen that by the adult stage has
coalesced into one colour.
Platinum dragons tend to make a lair as far away from other creatures as
possible, on a plane of their own if they can manage it. They like to eat
enchanted objects, although they will subsist on whatever else they can find
when there is no supply of them. As with gold dragons and gems, a platinum
dragon always appreciates gifts of choice magic items, although it will often be
suspicious of the motivation behind such gifts.
Combat
Platinum dragons do not like to fight. They know well enough that most
enemies are well below them, and usually look for the quick way to end a fight,
either by scaring off the enemy, or destroying it. In any case, platinum
dragons, like most others, are highly intelligent and powerful sorcerers, and
like to fight on their own terms, warding areas with alarm spells and the
like to give them time to use spells like improved invisibility, stoneskin,
spell turning, and so on.
Breath Weapon: A platinum dragon has three breath weapons available. A
cone of cold works as any other breath weapon. A cone of gas stuns opponents and
forces them into a gaseous form for a number of rounds equal to twice the
dragon's effective sorcerer level, negated by a Fortitude save. A beam of blue
light causes a disintegration effect, which instead causes d10 damage per age
category even if a Fortitude save is passed. Unlike a disintegration
spell, it affects all of the matter in its path, out to the end of the effect.
Spells: A platinum dragon can cast sorcerer spells at the level
indicated for his category. He can also use these slots for spells from the
cleric list, or the air, protection and good domains.
Spell-like Abilities: At will: polymorph self; 3/day - control
weather, control winds, detect thoughts, fog cloud, polymorph self; 1/day
- quest, sunburst and foresight.
Water Breathing: A platinum dragon can breathe water as if it was air.
In addition, the dragon may still use its breath weapon and other abilities
underwater.
Skills: A platinum dragon has one rank in the Jump skill free for each
of its hit dice. Don't ask me why; they can fly...
Reading the Table: Because I am presenting two related profiles, I
have put them both on the same table, separating them with a semicolon (;).
Dragons have d12 for hit die, so I have saved a little space on the table by
omitting the die type. Read 10+23 as 10d12+23.
Virtual age categories are introduced in the Epic Level Handbook (and
repeated in the Draconomicon for non-epic dragons), as a
mechanic for allowing dragons to advance more than just their hit die. If you
cannot work out what to do with the information, consult the ELH or the
Draconomicon. Likewise, the
Colossal+ size category is used by advanced and epic dragons in the ELH, for the
breath weapons and reaches of extremely large dragons.
The ground speed of a prismatic dragon is 60', regardless of age. Similarly,
the platinum dragon always has a swim speed of 60'. Only the fly speed is shown
on the table.
Table d1: Platinum Dragons by Age (normal; epic)
| Age |
Size |
Hit Dice (hp) |
AC |
Attack Bonus |
F |
R |
W |
Breath Weapon (DC) |
Fear DC |
SR |
DR |
| Wyrmling |
M; L |
10+40(110); 15+60(165) |
19 (+9 natural); 23 (-1 size, +14 natural) |
+20; +24 |
|
|
|
2d12; 5d10 |
|
|
|
| Very Young |
L; H |
13+65(176); 20+100(240) |
21 (-1 size, +12 natural); 27 (-2 size, +19 natural) |
|
|
|
|
4d12; 10d10 |
|
|
|
| Young |
L; H |
16+80(192); 25+150(325) |
24 (-1 size, +15 natural); 32 (-2 size, +24 natural) |
|
|
|
|
6d12; 15d10 |
|
|
|
| Juvenile |
L; H |
19+114(247); 30+210(420) |
27 (-1 size, +18 natural); 37 (-2 size, +29 natural) |
|
|
|
|
8d12; 20d10 |
|
|
|
| Young Adult |
H; G |
22+154(308); 35+280(525) |
29 (-2 size, +21 natural); 40 (-4 size, +34 natural) |
|
|
|
|
10d12; 25d10 |
|
|
|
| Adult |
H; G |
25+175(350); 40+360(640) |
32 (-2 size, +24 natural); 45 (-4 size, +39 natural) |
|
|
|
|
12d12; 30d10 |
|
|
|
| Mature Adult |
H; G |
28+224(420); 45+450(765) |
35 (-2 size, +27 natural); 50 (-4 size, +44 natural) |
|
|
|
|
14d12; 35d10 |
|
|
|
| Old |
G; C |
31+279(496); 50+550(900) |
36 (-4 size, +30 natural); 51 (-8 size, +49 natural) |
|
|
|
|
16d12; 40d10 |
|
|
|
| Very Old |
G; C |
34+340(578); 55+660(1045) |
39 (-4 size, +33 natural); 56 (-8 size, +54 natural) |
|
|
|
|
18d12; 45d10 |
|
|
|
| Ancient |
G; C |
37+407(666); 60+780(1200) |
42 (-4 size, +36 natural); 61 (-8 size, +59 natural) |
|
|
|
|
20d12; 50d10 |
|
|
|
| Wyrm |
C; C+ |
40+480(760); 65+910(1365) |
41 (-8 size, +39 natural); 66 (-8 size, +64 natural) |
|
|
|
|
22d12; 55d10 |
|
|
|
| Great Wyrm |
C; C+ |
43+559(860); 70+1050(1540) |
44 (-8 size, +42 natural); 72 (-8 size, +69 natural) |
|
|
|
|
24d12; 60d10 |
|
|
|
| per +1 virtual category |
C or C+; C+ |
3 extra HD; 5 extra HD |
+3 natural; +5 natural |
|
|
|
|
+2d12; +5d10 |
|
|
|
Table d2 - Platinum Dragon Abilities by Age (normal; epic)
| Age |
Speed |
Str |
Dex |
Con |
Int |
Wis |
Cha |
Special Abilities |
Caster Level |
| Wyrmling |
fly 200' (poor); fly 250' (poor) |
20; 26 |
10; 10 |
18; 18 |
16; 20 |
17; 20 |
16; 21 |
|
- |
| Very Young |
fly 200' (poor); fly 250' (poor) |
24; 30 |
10; 10 |
20; 20 |
18; 22 |
19; 23 |
18; 23 |
|
1 |
| Young |
fly 200' (poor); fly 250' (poor) |
28; 34 |
10; 10 |
20; 22 |
19; 26 |
19; 27 |
20; 28 |
|
3 |
| Juvenile |
fly 200' (poor); fly 250' (poor) |
32; 38 |
10; 10 |
22; 24 |
20; 30 |
20; 30 |
21; 31 |
|
5 |
| Young Adult |
fly 200' (poor); fly 300' (clumsy) |
34; 42 |
10; 10 |
24; 26 |
21; 36 |
21; 36 |
21; 37 |
|
7 |
| Adult |
fly 200' (poor); fly 300' (clumsy) |
36; 46 |
10; 10 |
24; 28 |
21; 38 |
21; 40 |
22; 40 |
|
9 |
| Mature Adult |
fly 200' (poor); fly 300' (clumsy) |
38; 50 |
10; 10 |
26; 30 |
22; 43 |
22; 43 |
22; 44 |
|
11 |
| Old |
fly 250' (clumsy); fly 300' (clumsy) |
40; 54 |
10; 10 |
28; 32 |
25; 47 |
25; 48 |
26; 49 |
|
13 |
| Very Old |
fly 250' (clumsy); fly 300' (clumsy) |
42; 58 |
10; 10 |
30; 34 |
27; 51 |
28; 51 |
28; 52 |
|
15 |
| Ancient |
fly 250' (clumsy); fly 300' (clumsy) |
44; 62 |
10; 10 |
32; 36 |
29; 55 |
30; 56 |
30; 56 |
|
17 |
| Wyrm |
fly 250' (clumsy); fly 300' (clumsy) |
46; 66 |
10; 10 |
34; 38 |
32; 58 |
33; 59 |
33; 60 |
|
19 |
| Great Wyrm |
fly 250' (clumsy); fly 300' (clumsy) |
48; 70 |
10; 10 |
36; 40 |
34; 61 |
35; 61 |
35; 62 |
|
21 |
| per +1 virtual category |
No change |
+2; +4 |
- |
+2; +2 |
+1; +2 |
+1; +2 |
+1; +2 |
|
+2 |
2: The Vile Dragon
The race of vile dragons are unusual among epic dragons, in that they do not
share the range of outlooks that are the mark of force dragons and prismatic
dragons. Instead, they have come to represent the extreme of the chromatic
dragons; evil in scaled form.
Vile Dragon
Dragon (Fire, Shadow)
Climate/Terrain: Any
Organisation: Wyrmling to young adult: solitary or clutch (2-5); adult or
older: solitary, pair or family (1-2 with 2-5 offspring).
Challenge Rating: Unknown (I will make a guess later). Probably slightly
less than a Force dragon of equivalent age.
Treasure: Double standard.
Alignment: Always evil.
Advancement: See ELH
Vile dragons are wiry and gaunt creatures, looking deceptively small most of
the time. When they bother to flaunt it, their form is as glorious as any
metallic dragon, but their links with the plane of shadow lend them the
temperament and the ability to hide this. An ancient embodiment of evil, they
are rumoured to be the result of a magical experiment to merge red and shadow
dragons; it is perhaps more likely that these dragons, perhaps along with the
other chromatic lines, are imperfect descendents of the original vile dragons.
In any case, most vile dragons hate the world at large, and love to make other
lives miserable.
A vile dragon's connection with the stuff of shadows is undeniable, and it
carries over into its appearance, and in many cases its demeanour. Out of the
shadows, a vile dragon will appear black, with fiery red streaks that fade to a
glow more like magma as they age.
Vile dragons lair anywhere that has a large supply of intelligent life to
abuse. They will often be found in the middle of cities, influencing otherwise
democratic systems to bring ruin to the populace. As with all dragons, they can
eat almost anything, but prefer to feed on the flesh of intelligent creatures,
preferably with the victim lucid enough to understand his fate.
Combat
Vile dragons do not like to take risks. With the accomplishment they have as
sorcerers, this would normally keep them out of combat completely, but they also
love to cause pain, from as close as they can get. For this reason, they will
often be found in close combat, after having tooled up with appropriate spells
and spell-like abilities.
Vile Damage (Ex): The vile dragon's link with the powers of evil allows it
to cause wounds that fester and refuse to heal. The first point of damage from
every dice of damage from the dragon's attacks, including physical attacks and
its breath weapon, is vile damage. Fixed damage, particularly Strength
modifiers, are not affected. If the BoVD is not available, ignore this
ability.
Breath Weapon (Su): A vile dragon has two breath weapons available. Firstly
it can breathe a cone of fire similar to that of a red dragon (with the first
point of damage from each die being vile, as above). Secondly, it can exhale a
cone of shadowy gas infused with negative energy, that causes an energy drain.
One negative level is inflicted for each age category of the dragon, with a a
Reflex save for half. The Fortitude save to prevent the drain becoming permanent
is against the same DC.
Spells: A vile dragon can cast sorcerer spells at the level indicated
for his category. He can also use these slots for spells from the cleric list,
or the darkness (BoVD), destruction, evil or fire domains.
Shadow Blend (Su): In lighting conditions short of full daylight, a
vile dragon can disappear into the shadows, and gain nine-tenths concealment.
Only full daylight or a daylight spell can negate this.
Create Shadows (Su): A number of times each day, a sufficiently old
vile dragon can create and animate a whirling mass of shadows about itself with
a radius of 300 feet. In this area, no normal or magical light shines, all
creatures gain a +4 circumstance bonus to hide checks and can attempt to hide
even if observed, and all creatures with ties to the plane of shadow (including
the dragon) gain full concealment and are considered invisible (+2 to attack and
opponents are denied Dexterity bonuses to AC), even though they can move and
fight normally. Young vile dragons can invoke this effect one per day, lasting
one hour. At Adult and Very Old this increases by one use per day, and a Great
Wyrm can cause or suppress the effect at will.
Other Spell-like Abilities: At will: nondetection; 3/day - dimension
door, mirror image, suggestion; 1/day - shadow walk.
Reading the Table: Dragons have d12 for hit die, so I have saved a
little space on the table by omitting the die type. Read 10+23 as 10d12+23.
Virtual age categories are introduced in the Epic Level Handbook and the
Draconomicon, as a
mechanic for allowing dragons to advance more than just their hit die. If you
cannot work out what to do with the information, consult one of those books. Likewise, the
Colossal+ size category is used by advanced and epic dragons, for the
breath weapons and reaches of extremely large dragons.
The ground speed of a vile dragon is 60', regardless of age. Only the flight
speed appears in the table.
Table d1: Vile Dragons by Age
| Age |
Size |
Hit Dice (hp) |
AC |
Attack Bonus |
Breath Weapon (DC) |
Fear DC |
| Wyrmling |
L |
15+60 (165) |
23 (-1 size, +14 natural) |
+22 (+15 HD, -1 size, +8 Str) |
5d10 (21) |
22 |
| Very Young |
H |
20+100 (240) |
27 (-2 size, +19 natural) |
+28 (+20 HD, -2 size, +10 Str) |
10d10 (25) |
26 |
| Young |
H |
25+150 (325) |
32 (-2 size, +24 natural) |
+35 (+25 HD, -2 size, +12 Str) |
15d10 (28) |
29 |
| Juvenile |
H |
30+210 (420) |
37 (-2 size, +29 natural) |
+42 (+30 HD, -2 size, +14 Str) |
20d10 (32) |
35 |
| Young Adult |
G |
35+280 (525) |
40 (-4 size, +34 natural) |
+47 (+35 HD, -4 size, +16 Str) |
25d10 (35) |
40 |
| Adult |
G |
40+360 (640) |
45 (-4 size, +39 natural) |
+54 (+40 HD, -4 size, +18 Str) |
30d10 (40) |
45 |
| Mature Adult |
G |
45+450 (765) |
50 (-4 size, +44 natural) |
+61 (+45 HD, -4 size, +20 Str) |
35d10 (42) |
49 |
| Old |
C |
50+550 (900) |
51 (-8 size, +49 natural) |
+64 (+50 HD, -8 size, +22 Str) |
40d10 (46) |
54 |
| Very Old |
C |
55+660 (1045) |
56 (-8 size, +54 natural) |
+71 (+55 HD, -8 size, +24 Str) |
45d10 (49) |
58 |
| Ancient |
C |
60+780 (1200) |
61 (-8 size, +59 natural) |
+78 (+60 HD, -8 size, +26 Str) |
50d10 (53) |
63 |
| Wyrm |
C+ |
65+910 (1365) |
66 (-8 size, +64 natural) |
+85 (+65 HD, -8 size, +28 Str) |
55d10 (56) |
67 |
| Great Wyrm |
C+ |
70+1050 (1540) |
71 (-8 size, +69 natural) |
+92 (+70 HD, -8 size, +30 Str) |
60d10 (60) |
71 |
| per +1 virtual category |
C+ |
5 extra HD |
+5 natural |
+7 (+5 HD, +2 Str) |
+5d10 (Fort +8) |
* |
Table d2 - Vile Dragon Abilities by Age
| Age |
Flight |
Str |
Dex |
Con |
Int |
Wis |
Cha |
Special Abilities |
Caster Level |
F |
R |
W |
SR |
DR |
| Wyrmling |
200' (average) |
26 |
10 |
18 |
20 |
20 |
21 |
|
- |
+13 |
+9 |
+14 |
20 |
15/ +1 |
| Very Young |
250' (poor) |
30 |
10 |
20 |
22 |
23 |
23 |
Nondetection |
1 |
+17 |
+12 |
+18 |
23 |
20/ +2 |
| Young |
250' (poor) |
34 |
10 |
22 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
Create Shadows 1/day |
3 |
+20 |
+14 |
+22 |
26 |
25/ +3 |
| Juvenile |
250' (poor) |
38 |
10 |
24 |
30 |
30 |
31 |
Mirror Image |
5 |
+24 |
+17 |
+27 |
29 |
30/ +4 |
| Young Adult |
300' (clumsy) |
42 |
10 |
26 |
36 |
36 |
37 |
|
7 |
+27 |
+19 |
+32 |
32 |
35/ +5 |
| Adult |
300' (clumsy) |
46 |
10 |
28 |
38 |
40 |
40 |
Create Shadows 2/day |
9 |
+32 |
+22 |
+37 |
35 |
40/ +6 |
| Mature Adult |
300' (clumsy) |
50 |
10 |
30 |
43 |
43 |
44 |
Suggestion |
11 |
+34 |
+24 |
+39 |
38 |
45/ +7 |
| Old |
300' (clumsy) |
54 |
10 |
32 |
47 |
48 |
49 |
Dimension Door |
13 |
+38 |
+27 |
+46 |
41 |
50/ +8 |
| Very Old |
300' (clumsy) |
58 |
10 |
34 |
51 |
51 |
52 |
Create Shadows 3/day |
15 |
+41 |
+29 |
+49 |
44 |
55/ +9 |
| Ancient |
300' (clumsy) |
62 |
10 |
36 |
55 |
56 |
56 |
Shadow Walk |
17 |
+45 |
+32 |
+55 |
47 |
60/ +10 |
| Wyrm |
300' (clumsy) |
66 |
10 |
38 |
58 |
59 |
60 |
|
19 |
+48 |
+34 |
+58 |
50 |
65/ +11 |
| Great Wyrm |
350' (clumsy) |
70 |
10 |
40 |
61 |
61 |
62 |
Create Shadows at will |
21 |
+52 |
+37 |
+62 |
53 |
70/ +12 |
| per +1 virtual |
no change |
+4 |
- |
+2 |
+2 |
+2 |
+2 |
no additional |
+2 |
* |
* |
* |
+3 |
+5/ +1 |
3: Epic Half-Dragons
Savage Species lists the ECL modifier for the half dragon template as
+2, plus some modifier dependent on the colour of the dragon parent. That the
modifier in question is +1 for all core dragon types is of no consequence; the
fact remains that the half dragon can be made more powerful by varying the
dragon type. To that end, here is a variant template for some epic dragons: the
Force and Prismatic dragons (from ELH) and my own Vile
dragon.
This article refers to the MM (particularly the regular half-dragon
template), and readers may also find Savage Species useful.
Epic Half-Dragon
As much as normal dragons, or more so, epic dragons are magical creatures,
capable of cross-breeding with virtually any creature. Most breeds are less
likely to do so, although accidents have been known to happen even to
shapechanged prismatic dragons, and vile dragons are happy to indulge in any
activity that will hurt others.
In addition to the usual signs of dragon parentage, scales, claws, and so on,
an epic half dragon often crackles with a tangible hint of the power latent in
her blood.
Creating an Epic Half-Dragon
As with the normal template, "epic half-dragon" can be applied to
any living corporeal creature, (referred to hereafter as the "base
creature"). If the base creature is already a true dragon, see the section
at the bottom of this page. The creature's type becomes "dragon." It uses all of
the base creature's statistics and special abilities except as noted here.
Hit Dice: The hit die of the creature increase by one type, to a
maximum of d12. Note that (according to Savage Species) this applies only
to racial hit dice, not to class hit dice.
AC: Natural armour increases by +5. Force half-dragons and prismatic
half-dragons gain a deflection bonus to AC equal to their Charisma modifier, if
positive.
Damage: The creature gains bite and claw attacks, as per a regular
half-dragon.
Special Attacks: The creature retains its special attacks and gains a
breath weapon, that it can use once each day. The shape and effect of this
weapon depends on the breed of the dragon parent, as per Table d3. Victims of a
vile half-dragon's breath may attempt a Reflex save for half damage (1 level),
then a Fortitude save to resist the drain becoming permanent, as normal. All
cones are 30' long.
Special Qualities: The creature retains its special qualities, and
gains low-light vision, darkvision (range 60'), immunity to sleep and paralysis,
plus the immunity noted on Table d3. Vile dragons also gain three-quarters
concealment in any light conditions darker than full daylight or a daylight
spell.
Table d3 - Special Attacks and Qualities by Dragon Parent Breed
| Breed |
Breath Weapon |
Damage (DC) |
Immunity |
| Force |
Cone of force |
9d12 (21) |
Force effects |
| Prismatic |
Cone of prismatic spray effect |
as spell (22) |
Light and Blindness effects |
| Vile |
Cone of energy drain |
2 levels (20) |
Energy drain and fire |
Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: Str +8, Dex +0,
Con +6, Int +4, Wis +4, Cha +4.
Skills: An epic half-dragon has 6 skill points (plus Intelligence
modifier) per hit die, unless she gains skill points from a class.
Feats: The epic half-dragon gains feats normally from his hit dice or
his class levels. Half-dragons may select feats that have 'any dragon' as a
prerequisite, but not those that require 'true dragon' (unless of course they
are a true dragon).
Climate/Terrain: Either the same as the base creature or the parent
dragon.
Organisation: Same as the base creature.
Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature +4.
Treasure: Same as the base creature.
Alignment: Same as the dragon variety (assuming you are accepting the
similar line in the half-dragon template; in my campaign they both read
"Same as the base creature.")
Advancement: Same as the base creature.
Level Modifier: +5. The epic half-dragon has an ECL modifier of +5,
broken down into +2 for half-dragon, and +3 for each of the dragon parent breeds
listed above. (this number may well change after I think this through some
more).
Hybrid Dragons
A true dragon given either the half-dragon or epic half-dragon template needs
slight adjustment. Although dragon crossbreeds are rare, they are possible, and
can be generated with the templates, as with any other offspring of a dragon
parent. Because they already have a true dragon's breath weapon, the hybrid does
not gain the 1/day use of the watered down version normally gained by dragons;
he instead gains the option to use the breath weapon of the parent contributing
the template when he might otherwise use his own. For example, a gold dragon
with half-silver as a template can breathe a cone of fire or a cone of weakening
gas, or use the half-silver's breath weapon of a cone of cold. The cone of cold
is as a silver dragon of the appropriate size and age category, rather than that
of the template.
However, a gold/silver hybrid would be lucky to have abilities matching a
gold dragon, and certainly should not have increased abilities, as applying the
half-silver template to a gold dragon would suggest. True dragons receiving the
half-dragon template do not get the modifications to ability scores.
A possible exception would be a regular dragon being given an epic
half-dragon template, or some other situation in which the lesser of two dragon
kinds is used as the base creature. In this case use the abilities of the base
dragon plus the modifiers of the template, or the abilities of a dragon of the
template's kind, whichever are lower.
The CR of a hybrid dragon is the same as any other creature receiving the
half-dragon template, unless its ability scores increase, in which case it is
one higher.
Evil Rules
Meaner Addiction
In order to make the Drugs rules in the BoVD more vicious, consider
the following change to the addiction rules. Currently, a character becomes
addicted to a substance if they fail an initial fortitude save, after which
addiction is much like a disease; characters take a saving throw each day (with
a penalty if too much time has passed since the last dose) or take some ability
damage, and after two consecutive successful saves, the character is free of
addition.
I recommend the following. After two successful saves, the character has
loosened the hold the substance has on him. One week after that, he must once
more make a save, or he will suffer the damage. This continues until the
character passes two weekly saves in succession. Really mean referees may want
to go to months next; the sequence could be extended indefinitely.
Remember that a strong enough addiction should show in the way a character is
played, and that ability damage, particularly Wisdom damage, can be roleplayed.
Also, even when the physical effects are gone, the character probably still
wants another fix.
Magical Items
Strictly v3-compliant (for the time being), this collection of articles for the d20 system provides additional enchantments and other suggestions for creating magical weapons, armour & trinkets.
1: New Special Properties
Here are some new abilities to add to your magic weapons and armour. Note
that abilities with bonuses of +6 or greater, or items with total bonuses
greater than +10 are considered epic, and will not be available in campaigns
that do not use the Epic Level Handbook. See that tome for details on
pricing such items.
Fractional Bonuses
Some of the abilities below have a market price bonus that is not a whole
number. Depending on the style of your campaign (and whether you have someone
who can handle a calculator), I recommend that you either round the total of the
item's pluses up, or you work out the actual cost, using (1,000gp or
2,000gp)*(plus)2 + (masterwork item).
New Abilities
Ability Enhancement: The enchantment placed on this armour improves one of the wearer’s Ability scores. The name of the enchantment varies, depending on the Ability improved.
| Ability |
Example Name |
| Strength |
Powered |
| Dexterity |
Nimble |
| Constitution |
Tough |
Although perhaps possible, enhancements to other abilities are very unusual. The character gains
an enhancement bonus to the appropriate Ability while wearing the armour.
Caster Level: 10th for up to +2, 12th for +3 or +4, 14 for +5, 21st otherwise; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Weapons and
Armour (Craft Epic Arms and Armour for +6 or greater bonuses), any spell to improve the desired Ability; Market Price:
Equal to ability bonus.
Note: If your referee is reading between the lines of the DMG (or is
using the first paragraph of A&AIII) it will
usually be cheaper to add ability bonuses as a second unrelated power. If they
allow it, use that.
Aligned: This weapon is attuned to a particular alignment, and causes
+d6 damage to creatures of that alignment. It also penetrates DR when its
alignment is called for. For example a Good Aligned weapon (sometimes called a lesser
holy weapon) is a good weapon for the purposes of penetrating DR (of fiends
and the like) and does +d6 damage to evil characters and creatures.
Caster Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armour, align
weapon; Market Price: +1 bonus.
Diminution: When the command word is spoken, a weapon or shield with this enchantment shrinks to one tenth of its size. Its weight is unaffected. An improved version also works on armour, and makes the weight of the item negligible while shrunk.
Caster Level: 6th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armour, Shrink
Item; Market Price: +1 Bonus (+2 for improved version).
Notes: This item appears with thanks to Oliver Smith, who helped design
it.
Elemental Resistance: This armour or shield protects against all elemental damage. It absorbs the first 5 points of damage per round from elemental sources (including Acid and Sound, for these purposes). If multiple damaging elements are present, the item only absorbs 5 points per round in total, not for each element.
Caster Level: 7th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armour, Resist
Elements; Market Price: +3 Bonus.
Elemental Warding: This armour or shield protects against all
elemental damage. It absorbs the first 25 points of damage each round from
energy sources. If damage is sustained from multiple energy types, the
resistance is for 25 points in total, not per energy type.
Caster Level: 21st; Prerequisites: Craft Epic Magic Arms and Armour
(Craft Magic Arms and Armour), Protection from Elements; Market Price: +8
Bonus.
Fast Healing: This armour - or less frequently weapon or shield - is
enchanted with powerful healing magic to constantly restore the wearer or
wielder. It grants some degree of the Fast Heal special quality, as described in
the Monster Manual.
Caster Level: 12th for up to three points, 21st otherwise; Prerequisites:
Craft Magic Arms and Armour (Craft Epic Magic Arms and Armour for more than 3
points), Regeneration or Heal; Market Price: +3 bonus (1 point),
+5 bonus (3 points), +7 Bonus (6 points), +9 (10 points).
Options: Some DMs may feel that Fast Heal is a powerful ability to let
PCs have, since they can tend to suffer more numerous, lighter hits than a
typical monster. If you would like to keep this ability out of the hands of your
mid- to high-level characters, either remove the two lowest levels, or add three
to all the market prices and remove the top one.
Feat: An item enchanted with a feat allows use of that feat, as if the
character has it. An Epic feat may only be added to a weapon that is already an
epic magic item (either because it has an ability worth more than a +5 bonus, or is
worth more than +10 in total). The market price value of a feat depends on its
prerequisites. If the feat has no prerequisites, or the item only grants it to
people who already meet the prerequisites, then the ability has a +0.5 market
price bonus. To ignore the lack of certain prerequisites, consult the following
table:
| Prerequisite |
Market Price bonus |
| Per other feat |
+0.25 |
| Per point of base attack |
+0.1 |
| Per level required to gain required class feature |
+0.1 |
| Per 10 ranks of skill required |
+0.1 |
| Per 10 ranks of exclusive class skill required |
+0.25 |
| Level 21+ (i.e. feat is Epic) |
+1* |
| Per ability score at 13+ |
+0.25 |
| Per two extra ability points |
+0.1 |
Examples (assuming user needs none of prerequisites): Combat Casting: +0.5
bonus (no prerequisites); Weapon Proficiency: +0.6 Exotic,
otherwise +0.5 (Martial has no prerequisite; Exotic requires base attack +1);
Armour Proficiency: Light +0.5, Medium +0.75, Heavy +1 (due to lower feats as
prerequisites); Whirlwind Attack: +2.4 (four prerequisite feats, +4 base attack,
2 abilities at 13+); Devastating Critical: +3.85 (6 prerequisite feats, epic,
Str 25).
Caster Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Weapons and Armour (Craft
Epic Magic Weapons and Armour for epic feats), caster must have the feat or
instruction from someone who does; Market Price: variable: see above.
Feat II: This version of the Feat enchantment is offered as an
alternative to the one above. The feat is available to any user, regardless of
their lack of prerequisites. The market price bonus is +0.5 for each four levels
or part thereof that it would take a normal human to achieve the prerequisites.
The user does not gain the abilities of the prerequisite feats, and so this is
enchantment is not appropriate for some feats which are designed to stack with
their prerequisites (such as Greater and Perfect Two-weapon Fighting).
As above, the feat enchantment for an epic feat may only be put on an epic item.
Caster Level: Four levels per +0.5 bonus; Prerequisites: Craft Magic
Weapons and Armour (Craft Epic Magic Weapons and Armour for epic feats), caster
must have the feat, or have instruction from someone who does; Market Price:
+0.5 per four levels (or part) required to qualify for feat.
Keyed: This item, typically a weapon, is dedicated to its owner. The
owner can be specified when the item is created, although the dedication fades
after one month of being left unused by that person. An unclaimed keyed item
will attune itself to a character after it has been used at least once each day
for one week (sparring with a weapon or wearing armour is enough). It cannot be attuned to more than one user; if two or more people
use it once a day for a week, the item becomes keyed to the first person to use
it on the seventh day. Whenever a person not keyed to the item attempts to use
it, they gain two negative levels, that cannot be removed until the item is
relinquished, or until the key wears off.
Caster Level: 7th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armour, Arcane
Lock; Market Price: +0.5 Bonus.
Limited Spell Resistance: This armour or shield has been enchanted as defence against a specific school of magical effects. It bestows Spell Resistance as per the normal rules, defending against spells and effects from that school only.
Caster Level: 12th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armour, Spell
Resistance; Market Price: +1 Bonus (SR 15), +2 Bonus (SR17), +3 Bonus (SR19).
Living: This weapon, shield or armour has been imbued with life. Living armour or a Living shield will defend normally against Brilliant Energy weapons, and Living weapons may parry them (and be parried by them) as normal. In addition, Living shields and weapons heal damage they have sustained at the rate of one hit point per point of enhancement bonus (including bonus equivalents from special abilities) per day. If the campaign uses rules for damage to armour, Living armour should heal at a similar rate.
Although Living leather or hide armours tend to be fairly subtle, Living metal armours look very strange indeed.
At the DM's option, living metal armours are not really metal at all, and may be
worn by a druid without penalty.
Caster Level: 10th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Items and Armour; Market Price: +3 Bonus.
Locked: This weapon or shield cannot be removed from the user's grasp
without his or her consent. Disarm attempts targeting this weapon or shield will
fail automatically, without a chance of disarming the attacker. Alternatively,
an armour version prevents items from being disarmed from any gauntlet or glove
that the armour includes (usually two gauntlets are included), but does not
affect spellcasting as a locked gauntlet would. The magic stops functioning when
the bearer dies, and the items can be taken from the body, but it functions
again when taken up by someone else (or when the old owner is brought back...)
Caster Level: 9th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armour, Arcane
Lock; Market Price: +1 Bonus (weapon or shield), +2 Bonus (armour).
Malleability: Malleable weapons can take on the forms
of various melee/throwing weapons, giving all of the advantages of carrying a small host of
weaponry. It takes a free action to alter the shape and properties of the
weapon, although they can only be changed once each round.
A malleable weapon uses all of the traits - damage, size, critical values, et
cetera - of the weapon it is imitating, including special properties such as the
ability to make trip attacks, extra damage against chargers, and reach. Also,
the malleable weapon counts as whatever shape it currently holds with regards
feats. A non-proficient user suffers appropriate penalties until they return the
weapon to a shape they are proficient with, and feats like Improved Critical and
Weapon Focus will apply only while the weapon is in the shape of the weapon they
bought the feat for.
However, the malleable weapon cannot effectively imitate double weapons; the wielder
may choose the shape of a double weapon, but when he does so he must decide
which attacking surface carries the magical properties the weapon has. The other
end does not gain even a masterwork bonus.
Because a malleable weapon has no default shape, it must be made by enchanting a
form that represents the best type of weapon the item can replicate. These costs
are not tabulated, since they can vary with which weapons are in use in the
campaign setting.
| Name |
Market Price |
Available weapons |
Caster Level |
| Lesser Malleability |
+1 bonus |
Any single size class of simple and martial weapons |
7th |
| Malleability |
+2 bonus |
Any two adjacent size classes of simple and martial weapons OR a single
size class of weapons, regardless of proficiency group |
9th |
| Greater Malleability |
+3 bonus |
Any simple or martial weapons OR any two adjacent sizes of weapons,
regardless of proficiency group |
11th |
| Exotic Malleability |
+4 bonus |
Any weapon. |
15th |
| Epic Malleability |
+6 bonus |
As Exotic Malleability, but weapon also grants proficiency for the
weapon, regardless of its current shape. |
21st |
Caster Level: As per table; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armour
(Craft Epic Magic Arms and Armour for Epic version), Polymorph Any Object;
Market Price: As per table.
Might: Only a bow may be enchanted with Might, although it need not be
a composite bow. A bow of Might allows any person with a Strength score in the
normal human range to add their Strength bonus to damage, as if the bow was a
mighty composite (+4) bow. In addition, the slight magical assistance removes
any penalty the firer might suffer for having a less than average Strength
score.
At the DM's option, whips and other weapons that can be mighty might be allowed
this enchantment.
This does not stack with any mighty composite bonus that the weapon may have in its
own right.
Caster Level: 6th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armour; Market
Price: +0.5 Bonus.
Might, Greater: Only bows may be enchanted with Greater Might,
although they need not be composite. A bow of Greater Might allows anyone to add
their Strength bonus to damage, as if the bow was a mighty composite bow with a
bonus equal to the character's Strength bonus.
At the DM's option, whips and other weapons that can be mighty might be allowed
this enchantment.
Obviously, if the bow is mighty in a mundane way, this enchantment makes that
redundant.
Caster Level: 10th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armour; Market
Price: +1 Bonus.
Movement: This armour or shield is easier to move with. For each point of this ability,
the armour gains a +1 haste bonus to its Check Penalty (improving the
penalty by one) and the maximum Dexterity bonus, and has its arcane spell
failure chance reduced by 5%. Its weight is not affected, although for every
three full points of Movement the armour is reduced by one weight
category to a minimum of light (this last part does not stack with the bonus
of Mithral armour, but it is the only part that does not).
Note that this enchantment does not bestow a haste bonus to AC, or any of
the benefits of more traditional uses of haste. The haste
effect has simply been used to bring the armour up to the speed and mobility
that the user has, and to enhance his efforts to stop and turn the moving
armour.
No combination of improvements can give armour a positive Check Penalty (a ‘Check bonus')
or take the spell failure chance
below 0%. All of the movement bonuses on an item count as a single ability for
the purposes of determining whether the item is Epic, i.e. an item with six
points worth of Movement enchantment effectively has a single ability of +6
bonus, and hence is an Epic magic item.
Caster Level: 8th (21st for more than 5 points worth); Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and
Armour (Craft Epic Magic Arms and Armour for 6 points worth or more), Haste; Market Price: +1 Bonus per point of improvement.
Comment: I suggest that although neither of them are named, the
armour check bonus on masterwork armour is a 'masterwork' bonus, due to ease
of movement, and the similar bonus on Mithral is a 'material' bonus, due to
weight reduction. I argue that the difference between this and the weapon
case is that the factors that help weapons (masterwork, material and
enchantment) all affect the same kind of things (like balance, rigidity and keenness of blade, etc.). However, if you want to
use an exact parallel to the weapon case, where masterwork bonuses, material
bonuses and enchantments are all effectively 'enhancement' bonuses, feel
free to do so.
Regeneration: This armour - or occasionally weapon or shield -
provides amazing regenerative capabilities. It grants a certain amount of
Regeneration, as detailed in the Monster Manual. For each such item found, a
weakness should be chosen; this is the type of damage that the Regeneration does
not protect against. Sample weaknesses include: alignment damages (chaotic, holy
and blessed, lawful, unholy), basic damage types (bludgeoning, piercing,
slashing), energy types (acid, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), special
materials (silver, cold-forged iron, adamantium), and so on. The DM should make sure that no
weakness significantly less common than these is allowed.
As with a Ring of Regeneration, the armour will not heal damage taken before it
was put on.
Caster Level: 15th for 1 point, 21st otherwise; Prerequisites: Craft
Magic Arms and Armour (Craft Epic Magic Arms and Armour for more than 1 point), Regeneration;
Market Price: +5 bonus (1 point), +7 bonus (3 points), +9 bonus (6 points).
Options: Some DMs may feel that Regeneration is a very powerful ability
to let non-epic characters get hold of. If you agree with them, I recommend
either adding one to all of the market price bonuses, or ignoring the lowest
incarnation of this ability. If you are increasing the bonus of Fast Heal items
(see above), then you should increase Regeneration items by the same number.
Since epic characters can have Fast Heal by themselves, Regeneration should not
cause a problem. If you feel it might, then perhaps it is best to leave this
ability out of your game entirely.
Special Material: This is a magical and alchemical process that
enables a weapon to have the properties of being made of a special material. The
options at present are as follows:
- An adamant weapon penetrates DR and hardness as if it was
adamantine.
- A frigid iron weapon penetrates DR as if it was made of cold iron.
- A silvered weapon penetrates DR as if it was made of alchemical
silver. However, it does not suffer the damage penalty normally associated
with silver weapons.
Each of these abilities is a +1 bonus, which is far more expensive than
making it out of the material itself (even with adamantine, since the additional
cost of increasing the market price bonus is always at least 6,000gp), but the
advantage is that these abilities stack, making the weapon even more versatile.
Caster Level: ; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armour, an
appropriate spell (polymorph any item if nothing else); Market Price: +1
each.
Strength: Only bows and crossbows may be enchanted as weapons of
Strength (some campaigns may be using unusual weapons that could also benefit;
check with your DM). A weapon enchanted with Strength bestows a Strength bonus
to the damage of its projectiles. However, in order to fire a bow of Strength,
or reload a crossbow of Strength, a character must have a Strength ability
modifier at least equal to the damage bonus of the Strength enchantment. If a
winch is used to reload a crossbow of Strength, the enchantment will not work
until the weapon is reloaded by personal strength alone, and for this reason
such weapons typically do not have winches.
Note that a bow of Strength is not Mighty unless it is otherwise engineered or
enchanted to provide that ability. The damage bonus will stack if a bow has
both, though.
Caster Level: 12th (21st for +11 damage bonus or greater); Prerequisites:
Craft Magic Arms and Armour (Craft Epic Magic Arms and Armour for +11 damage
bonus or better), Bull's Strength; Market Price: +0.5 per point of bonus.
Unstoppable Deception: A weapon with this power allows sneak attacks
(and other precision-based damage) even against creatures with no discernable
anatomy. The target must still meet all the other conditions of a sneak attack,
and a target normally immune to sneak attacks takes only half of the bonus
damage.
Caster Level: 21st; Prerequisites: Craft Epic Magic Arms and Armour,
Craft Magic Arms and Armour, caster must have sneak attack or a similar class
feature, Cat's Grace; Market Price +6 bonus.
2: Reducing Cost
The DMG mentions three ways of reducing the cost of a magic item by
restricting its usage. I would be wary of using these, since the chances are
that as a referee you will rig the hauls so that the party only gets items some
character can use anyway. For example, the Holy Avenger seems to have a
bit of a cost break because most of its power is available only to a paladin,
but how many campaigns have you seen where such a sword is used by anyone but?
In the hands of a paladin, the sword is worth more than its market price.
There are some counterarguments. A paladin's a holy sword is only an
advantage for as long as he keeps to his vows and his ethos. It means that the
rest of the party cannot get full use out of it; if the paladin falls, the team
member who tries to fight on with his Holy Avenger uses it at three
points less bonus than the paladin did.
However, a character whose items are even more restricted - will not work at
all for people outside of the appropriate group - can use this to his advantage.
He can be sure that the rest of the party will not waste the charges on his wand
while he sleeps, simply because they are not eunuch gnome invokers with one ear
missing and and rat named 'Igor'.
Probably the restrictions should be used as they are in the DMG - those were
the ones Wizards playtested, after all - but I suggest that referees watch for
potential abuse. If the party's wizard is restricting everything to himself when
nobody else in the party would want to use it anyway, then he is actually
getting a valuable security measure, and should not be rewarded for it (it might
even be worth a rise in market price).
General Disadvantages
Requires skill, requires exclusive skill, requires class or alignment
These are the ones given in the DMG, worth 10%, 20% and 30% respectively. I
suggest that the 30% cut for a required alignment refers to a specific corner;
if you need to, you could split this into 15% per axis restricted. If you really
want to allow it, these could be stacked; simply add the percentages before
applying the discount. Be careful though; when the mighty vorpal sword +5
turns up at around 20,000gp because it can only be used by Chaotic Neutral
fighter/mages, just check that it wasn't forged by a CN f/m after being designed
by her player...
Requires individual user
I strongly recommend you don't use this one. After all, if it works for only
one person, then to have any business being in the campaign that person
should be around. You then have a character who can get a perfectly secure item,
that works for
nobody else. However, if said person is part of a
team, and that team could make use of the item at any stage, then the fact that
they can't is a disadvantage. Reduce cost by up to 30-40% or thereabouts, if you
feel it necessary. Under no circumstances stack this with anything else; this is
as tight as restrictions should get (besides, if you enchant it so that only
Eric the Blackguard can use it, then save more by allowing only Lawful Good
users, then you just achieved the world's most magical paperweight).
Disadvantages for Arms and Armour
The following are bad stuff that you could tack onto things to save money.
Strictly speaking such an item is considered cursed, but the difference is that
here the curse is considered a worthwhile price. The items may still be given up
without any particular hassle, but the disadvantage remains for as long as the
character carries the item (whereas the benefit only works while the item is
used).
Ability Penalty
A common effect of enchanting weapons with too primal an energy, applying a
penalty to Intelligence, Wisdom and/or Charisma.
Market Price: -1 bonus per 2 points of penalty.
3: Reverse Engineering
There now follow guidelines for stealing abilities from existing specific weapons.
Since I am probably the only person who comes to this website [.] who has access
to the ELHB, I will be sticking to DMG items.
This seems really obvious to me, and presumably to some of you lot, but then
every now and again I remember that the proportion of people with three years
worth of degree-level maths under their belt is quite small, and that some of
you may benefit from being told things I think are obvious (goodness knows that
I benefit from explanations of things that people at college think are
obvious...).
If you like some of the stuff from one of the specific magic weapons, but
would like to add more, or try and take out some that is already there, take a
look at this.
Take the price of a weapon, and look up the non-magical version version. I'm using the
Assassin's Dagger as an example. Taking the price of the Dagger (10,302gp) as a
starting point, we look up the cost of a dagger (2gp), and subtract a masterwork
dagger from the overall cost, to get the portion of the cost that is due to the enchantment
(10,000gp).
Once we have that, divide by 2000gp (for weapons) or 1000gp (for armour and
shields). For the Assassin's Dagger, we have 5. Then square root it, to get the
total Market Price Bonus equivalent. The use of the Assassin's Dagger as an
example now highlights a little quirk: the specific magic weapons and armour do
not necessarily use whole numbers worth of bonuses.
The total bonus for the Dagger is the square root of five, or approximately
2.24. Going back to the description of the item, we see that it has a +2
enhancement bonus, meaning that the rest of the bonus (around a quarter of a
point) is for the increase to the save DC for the assassin's death attack.
The market prices of various abilities can be found this way, although
weapons with multiple powers may make it difficult to determine the values of
individual abilities. For example, the Holy Avenger (120,315gp, plus equivalent
of approximately 7.75) has a baseline +2 enhancement bonus, but extra stuff for
paladins only (including an extra +3 enhancement, half-strength holy
effect, and some anti-magic properties). The extra stuff is worth five and
three-quarter points as a bundle, but DMs must make their own rulings as to
which bits are worth what.
It is worth noting at this point that the Flame Tongue is overpriced;
it costs 32,315gp (equivalent to +4) and has a +1 enhancement bonus and the flaming
and flaming burst powers. However, the description of flaming
burst says that it includes flaming, so the weapon should only be +3
(+1 enhancement, +2 flaming burst), and cost 18,315gp. Rant over...
Here are the plus equivalences for the DMG specific weapons and armour
(except for one-use items and those which are merely special materials, since these are already covered in
the DMG). If
you need any others and would rather not wade through the instructions above,
mail me. Remember that I need the whole description of the weapon.
| Weapon |
Plus (2dp) |
Weapon |
Plus (2dp) |
Armour |
Plus (2dp) |
| Assassin's Dagger |
+2.24 |
Oathbow |
+3.71 |
Banded Mail of Luck |
+4.30 |
| Dagger of Venom |
+2.12 |
Rapier of Puncturing |
+5.00 |
Breastplate of Command |
+4.61 |
| Dwarven Thrower |
+5.48 |
Sun Blade |
+3.54 |
Celestial Armour |
+5.00 |
| Frost Brand |
+4.95 |
Sword of Life Stealing |
+3.87 |
Demon Armour |
+6.32 |
| Holy Avenger |
+7.75 |
Sword of the Planes |
+5.10 |
Plate Armour of the Deep |
+3.87 |
| Life-Drinker |
+4.47 |
Sword of Subtlety |
+2.74 |
Rhino Hide |
+2.24 |
| Luck Blade |
+9.23 |
Sylvan Scimitar |
+5.27 |
|
|
| Mace of Smiting |
+6.12 |
Trident of Fish Command |
+1.32 |
Shield |
Plus (2dp) |
| Mace of Terror |
+2.96 |
Trident of Warning |
+2.18 |
Absorbing Shield |
+7.07 |
| Nine Lives Stealer |
+3.54 |
|
|
Caster's Shield |
+1.73 |
|
|
|
|
Lion's Shield |
+3.00 |
|
|
|
|
Spined Shield |
+1.58 |
|
|
|
|
Winged Shield |
+3.87 |
4: Other Traits
Unusual Powers
Powers not normally associated with weapons and armour can be added to them
easily enough. Following the rules in the DMG (Table 8-40, p242) or Tome and
Blood (Table 4-3, p74), perhaps with my suggestions in the Trinkets
section, simply treat the weapon/armour enhancement and special abilities as one
group of powers (one power, strictly speaking), and the other group(s) as
others, doubling the cost of each group of powers not related to the most
expensive.
It could be argued that the purpose of a weapon is to attack things, and
similarly that armour is for defence, and that the enhancement and ability cost
should always be the primary one. I do not agree, but I think it is likely to be
a fairly academic argument as most arms and armour, arms in particular, are
going to have their offensive/defensive powers get so expensive that they will
always be the most expensive group.
Levelling Items
A while ago there was an article in Dragon magazine on levelling items. The
piece was recommending a heavily structured system of PCs spending experience on
their magic items in order to activate their more advanced powers. Although this
is a valid approach, I did notice that under the normal equivalence (1xp = 5gp)
these items cost more to make than regular items, and did not mesh well with the
normal gold allotment. This attempt to put that right draws heavily on the magic
items in the Earthdawn game, among other things.
Levelled items are an excellent idea, it must be said, but having too rigid a
system to cover them only limits their effectiveness. In most campaigns the DM
takes care to rig the treasure distribution to suit the party, and levelled
items should probably be seen as only one more way of doing that. Knowing that a
character is focused on a particular item, the DM can throw in some enhancement
for that, even while the rest of the party get a normal award. This can be done
in any of the following ways.
New Parts
Like the Rod of Seven Parts, an item may be incomplete. Gerbo's
Many Missiles is a minor artefact consisting of a magic bag that generates
sling stones. When first found in a campaign it only knows the recipes for a few
types of stone, having lost knowledge of the others it could once make. Over the
course of the game, new (old) orbs are found and reintroduced to the bag, so
that it increases in power as its owner does.
I took the easy way out and called the item an artefact, so that I didn't
have to price it. In my defence, I anticipated an item that DMs would customise
depending on which orbs they felt were appropriate for their game, and I did not
want to fix a general price since the specific price in a given campaign would
depend on what was available. Other multipart items can
be priced using the rules in the DMG, provided they are a little less eccentric.
Words and Deeds
Teach them a new command word. This needs next to no trickery on your part;
it simply requires some tablet or something with a piece of legend regarding the
item, that includes the command word to activate some power the owner did not
previously know about.
Earthdawn is very big on its magic items, and each one has a sequence of
levels that require experience to be paid, specific quests be accomplished or
certain legends uncovered. Only by doing these things can the owner properly
attune himself to the item and make it really work for him. It makes designing
items an absolute pig, but adventuring with them is great, and the structure
that already exists in the DMG can be used to make sure that the items are
always of an appropriate power level.
User Improvement
Perhaps the item will only open the last of its special powers when its user
is of a certain level. Perhaps the invisibility function only works for people
with a prerequisite number of ranks in Hide. There are many game mechanics on
which such a test could be based.
Costs
For weapons and armour (which is primarily what these articles are intended
to cover), the costs of new levels are easy to calculate. Ignoring the cost of
the mundane masterwork component, the cost of taking a weapon from +n
total market price bonus to +(n+1) is (2n+1) times 1000 (for
armour) or 2000 (for weapons). You'll have to work out other things yourself.
One thing I will have a look at, though, is the use of levelling intelligent
items, since that table is slightly more complicated. Observe the following:
| Level |
Abilities |
Communication |
Capabilities |
Cost |
Ego |
| I |
3d6, 2d6+5 twice |
Semiempathy |
1 primary |
10,000 |
+4 |
| II |
+1 on better scores |
Empathy |
+1 primary |
+5000 |
+6 |
| III |
+1 on better scores |
Speech |
- |
+2500 |
+7 |
| IV |
+1 on better scores |
- |
+1 primary |
+7500 |
+10 |
| V |
+1 on better scores |
- |
- |
+7000 |
+11 |
| VI |
+1 on better scores |
+Telepathy |
+1 extraordinary |
+23,000 |
+15 |
| VII |
+1 on better scores |
- |
+1 extraordinary |
+23,000 |
+19 |
| VIII |
+1 on better scores |
- |
- |
+22,000 |
+20 |
As opposed to the DMG version (p228), this table shows line-on-line
increases, giving the changes if the item was to be increased from one level to
the next. Each level of intelligence adds one to each of the greater ability
scores; the one at 3d6 during creation (which is likely to be lowest, although
need not be) remains the same. The Ego score given on the table is an estimate,
and does not include that provided by the normal enchantments of the item, or
any special purpose powers.
5: Specific Items
Yves' Salvation
The hermit Yves was a frail old man by the time the orc tribes swept through
the mountain range that he called home. Knowing that it might be the only way he
could survive the onslaught of the invaders, he crafted a fine oaken cudgel and
enchanted it with every trick he could come up with. When the orcs reached his
cave, he held the entrance, slaying them one after another until they decided to
take a different pass through the terrain.
Yves' Salvation is a thundering club +3, with the additional effects of
granting the wielder a +2 enhancement bonus to Strength and a +2 natural armour
bonus to AC.
Caster Level: 9th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms and Armour, barkskin,
bull's strength, blindness/deafness; Market Price: 74,300gp; Weight:
3lb.
Notes: The cost is 50,300gp for the weapon part, 8,000gp (bonus2
x 1,000gp, x2 for being unrelated to main power) for the Strength, and 16,000gp
(bonus2 x 2,000 x 2) for the armour.
Gerbo's Many Missiles (Minor artefact, weapon/wondrous item)
The Many Missiles come in a small bag, typically holding ten small spheres
when it is found. Each of the spheres is about two inches across and as heavy as
lead. They come in a number of varieties, each of a slightly different pattern,
and with a different effect. To trigger the effect, the Missile must be thrown
or fired from a sling, or subjected to some other shock (although they cannot be
triggered until removed from their bag).
Although at one time the bag understood many types of Missiles, at the moment it
only remembers the secrets of a few. The others have been removed from the bag
through some ritual now lost, and have become inert. If they are found and
returned to the bag, they will be reactivated, and then the bag will be able to
make new ones of that type in addition to the others it knows.
Each hour, if the bag has less than ten Missiles inside, a new one appears.
However, it is difficult to predict which type the new orb will belong to. Each
orb has a relative frequency, which represents how common that type is compared
to the others. When a new orb is made, add up the frequencies of all of they
types the bag currently knows, and then the frequency of any particular orb is
the proportion chance of that orb being made (I may write a little app to work
that out for you, later).
The following effects have been documented:
| Description |
Effect |
Frequency |
| Orange, flame effect |
d6 fire damage |
10 |
| Light Blue, shimmering |
d6 cold damage |
10 |
| Green, swirling |
d4 acid damage for d3 rounds |
5 |
| Black, red glyph |
+2 sling stone (20' increment if thrown) |
10 |
| Clear, rings when struck |
d4 sonic damage, +1 Fort save (DC 14) or deafness as per Thundering
weapon |
5 |
Although I have plenty more effects in mind, I think I will save them, in
case I get the chance to run anything that could include the Many Missiles.
6: Dragonhide
The DMG includes a number of unusual materials for the construction of
weapons and armour, and many more are added by the Arms and Equipment Guide
(please don't ask me questions about that; I don't yet have it). However, the
passing comment given in the Monster Manual regarding one of my favourite armour
materials is disappointing, and leaves a lot to be desired (especially since my
character in one game now has the complete hides of two dragons, albeit
relatively small ones).
Here, then, I will try to put together a useful guide to using the hides of
an adventurer's greatest foe to make interesting and different armours.
As it stands...
The new edition (v3.5) SRD says only that armourers can make masterwork
armour and shields from dragonhide. The older version had more information: they
make masterwork armour or shields 'for the normal cost' (I assume they mean the
normal masterwork cost), according to the following table:
| Dragon Size |
Minimum Age by Colour |
Armour Type |
| I |
II |
III |
IV |
V |
Hide |
Banded |
Half |
Full |
| Tiny |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Wyrmling |
Dim. |
Fine |
- |
- |
| Small |
- |
- |
Wyrmling |
Wyrmling |
Very Young |
Tiny |
Dim. |
Fine |
|
| Medium |
Wyrmling |
Wyrmling |
Very Young |
Very Young |
Young |
Small |
Tiny |
Dim. |
Fine |
| Large |
Very Young |
Very Young |
Juvenile |
Juvenile |
Young Adult |
Medium |
Small |
Tiny |
Dim. |
| Huge |
Young Adult |
Young Adult |
Adult |
Adult |
Mature Adult |
Large |
Medium |
Small |
Tiny |
| Gargantuan |
Old |
Old |
Ancient |
Ancient |
Wyrm |
Huge |
Large |
Med. |
Small |
| Colossal |
Wyrm |
Great Wyrm |
Great Wyrm |
- |
- |
Garg. |
Huge |
Large |
Med. |
Minimum Age: The minimum age category that a dragon of each size
progression must be to have grown that large. The progressions are:
- Gold
- Red
- Silver
- Blue, Bronze, Green
- Black, Brass, Copper, White
Armour Type: The armourer may make one suit of armour up to the size
given in the appropriate column; hide armour, banded mail, half plate or full
plate (a breastplate requires the same size hide as full plate).
Beyond the fact that it is masterwork, the armour has no special properties
(although it does allow druids to wear plate armour...).
Dragonhide as a Substitute Material
Apart from the hide, the assumption is that the dragon skin is to be used as
a replacement for metal in the armour. Certainly, sections of the hide can be
treated - heavily cured to make them rigid and tough - and used in place of
metal. However, this is not the only possible use; most of the common armour
types can be constructed in dragonhide with only slight modification.
Armour Descriptions
The following items are those appearing on the armour table in the SRD:
Armour Spikes: Dragonhide armour can be spiked in the same way as any
other. The spikes can be made of pieces of spare plate, or even teeth, claws and
horns, if you have them.
Banded Mail: Wide of heavy-cured hide are placed on a backing or more
mundane armour, or perhaps on soft leather from the creature's wings. Banded
mail needs smaller continuous pieces of 'metal' than many other armours, and so
can be constructed with a smaller hide than plate armours would need.
Breastplate: A breastplate made of cured hide makes the basis for an
admirable suit of armour, even when finished off with only greaves and some
wing-leather.
Buckler: The smallest shield can usually be made from a single plate
of cured hide.
Chain Shirt, Chainmail: True mail cannot effectively be replicated
with pieces of dragon. The behaviour of the links works because of the
properties of the wire they are wound from, and no part of the dragon behaves in
quite the same way.
Full Plate: For most people the final word in armour, dragon hide is
perfectly suited to making full plate. However, the plates must be cured whole,
so there must be large sections of high quality scale. This means that the
intended wearer of full plate armour must be far smaller than the dragon that
will provide the raw materials.
Gauntlet, Locked: Although some of the functional pieces must be
filled in with metal, there is no reason that the gauntlets of a suit of
dragon-hide armour should not be made lockable.
Half-Plate: In the same way as full plate, half-plate requires large
sections of good scale. However, slightly less plate is required, and sometimes
a maker of half-plate can tolerate a carefully hidden join or two in making the
plates, allowing the armour to be larger than the equivalent full plate.
Hide: When the strength of metal is not required, dragon hide can be
used more or less untreated. Sometimes those sections of hide judged unfit for
curing can make a suit of hide, in addition to some metal-substitute armour.
Leather: Most of a dragon is far too tough to be used as a substitute
for leather; even untreated it is as tough as carefully layered hide armour.
However, the wings of a dragon, and some other vulnerable parts, are as tough as
boiled leather while retaining much of their suppleness.
Padded: Padded armour cannot be made of dragon hide. No part of the
dragon will give so little protection.
Scale Mail: Individual scales, preferably the large ones from the
spine and other tough areas, can be cured until they are completely rigid,
tougher even than the plates used to emulate metal. They can then be sewn onto a
suit of normal leather, or even dragon wing.
Shield, Large or Small: With a metal or wooden base, or simply layered
up with patches of treated hide, a shield can be far more substantial than the
plates of a suit of armour. Because of this it can be far more 'patchwork' than
armour proper, needing only small scraps of curable hide.
Shield Spikes: As with armour, dragon skin shields can be spiked with
cured hide, horns, teeth or claws.
Shield, Tower: In the same way as other shields, a tower shield can be
built up from leftovers. However, just how much will be left over depends on
what else is planned, and how big the dragon is; a tiny dragon simply doesn't
have enough good hide for a tower shield large enough for a human.
Splint Mail: Like banded armour with vertical strips rather than
horizontal bands, this armour has similar requirements, i.e. slightly more
dragon than is required for the equivalent hide armour.
Studded Leather: Soft wing skin studded with individual cured scales,
dragonhide studded leather is something of a compromise between leather armour
and scale mail.
Properties of Dragonhide
The exact properties of dragon armour depend on how the hide has been prepared.
For example, cured plates behave much like metal but are considerably lighter
and a little more flexible, while the hide from the wings allows far more
mobility than leather.
The following table shows all of the common options for
dragonhide armour; the asterisks and specials are those described in the SRD.
The extra effort and skill required to work with such exotic materials means
that all dragon armour items must be masterwork; the modifiers for this are
included in the table.
| |
Armour |
Cost |
Armour Bonus |
Max Dex |
Check Penalty |
Speed |
Weight (lb) |
| (30') |
(20') |
| Light Armour: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leather |
1,055 |
+2 |
+8 |
0 |
30' |
20' |
10 |
|
Studded Leather |
1,575 |
+3 |
+7 |
0 |
30' |
20' |
15 |
| Medium Armour: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hide |
1,565 |
+3 |
+5 |
-3 |
20' |
15' |
25 |
|
Scale Mail |
2,300 |
+4 |
+4 |
-3 |
20' |
15' |
20 |
|
Breastplate |
3,350 |
+5 |
+4 |
-3 |
20' |
15' |
20 |
| Heavy Armour: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Splint Mail |
4,450 |
+6 |
+1 |
-6 |
20'* |
15'* |
30 |
|
Banded Mail |
4,500 |
+6 |
+2 |
-5 |
20'* |
15'* |
25 |
|
Half-plate |
6,150 |
+7 |
+1 |
-6 |
20'* |
15'* |
35 |
|
Full Plate |
8,550 |
+8 |
+2 |
-5 |
20'* |
15'* |
35 |
| Shields: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Buckler |
765 |
+1 |
- |
0 |
|
|
5 |
|
Shield, Small |
759 |
+1 |
- |
0 |
|
|
5 |
|
Shield, Large |
1,070 |
+2 |
- |
-1 |
|
|
10 |
|
Shield, Tower |
4,280 |
** |
- |
-9 |
|
|
30 |
| Extras are unchanged. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Special Properties
Of course, there are other benefits to wearing the skin of a dragon. First of
all, dragon armour usually grants a +2 circumstance bonus to Intimidate checks;
the DM should adjust this to fit his campaign setting; some campaigns may think
dragons almost commonplace, while in others they may be so rare that nobody
would recognise their hide when worn by anything else.
Next is the fact that some small degree of the dragon's resistance remains in
its skin, even when it has passed on. Each colour of dragon hide retains
resistance to a particular energy type, allowing the wearer to ignore a number
of points each round equal to the armour bonus of the armour worn (count the
tower shield as having a bonus of +6 for this purpose). The following
table lists the resistances:
| Colour |
Resistance |
|
Colour |
Resistance |
| Black |
Acid |
|
Brass |
Fire |
| Blue |
Electricity |
|
Bronze |
Electricity |
| Red |
Acid |
|
Copper |
Acid |
| Green |
Fire |
|
Gold |
Fire |
| White |
Cold |
|
Silver |
Cold |
This resistance does not stack with energy resistance from a magical
effect or a racial ability; use whichever is more advantageous.
Since all dragon items are masterwork, they can always be enchanted. Some DMs
may wish to allow cost breaks for adding especially appropriate special
abilities such as strengthening the armour's inherent energy resistance and
trying to emulate the dragon's damage reduction or spell resistance; that is up
to them.
Costs and Commisions
I don't expect to see these items on sale anywhere; the costs given are
market prices mainly for use when worrying about how much gear a character
should have. What I do expect to happen is that player characters who manage to
kill dragons to consider doing something with the armour, probably taking it to
the best armourer they can find and asking him to make them some armour.
When that happens, the character should be charged the cost of a normal
version of the requested item, plus the masterwork modifier. Unless you watch
him very carefully, expect the armourer to hang on to the leftovers, perhaps to
the point of lying and claiming there was nothing spare. If the DM needs to fix
the character's finances one way or the other, he should use this as an
opportunity to do so; the price probably won't go down much, but could go right
up to near the market price if the armourer in question is the only one with the
skill to take on such a task.
So How Much Do I Get?
Right, here is a new version of the table from above.
| Dragon Size |
Hide |
Metal Substitute |
Leather |
Shield |
| Banded/Scale |
Half |
Full |
Large |
Tower |
| Tiny |
Dim. |
Fine |
- |
- |
Dim. |
Fine |
- |
| Small |
Tiny |
Dim. |
Fine |
|
Tiny |
Dim. |
Fine |
| Medium |
Small |
Tiny |
Dim. |
Fine |
Small |
Tiny |
Dim. |
| Large |
Medium |
Small |
Tiny |
Dim. |
Medium |
Small |
Tiny |
| Huge |
Large |
Medium |
Small |
Tiny |
Large |
Medium |
Small |
| Gargantuan |
Huge |
Large |
Medium |
Small |
Huge |
Large |
Medium |
| Colossal |
Garg. |
Huge |
Large |
Medium |
Garg. |
Huge |
Large |
For each hide you may choose one of the Metal Substitute columns and one of
the shield columns. In addition, you can always make leather or studded leather
up to the size in the Leather column. A large shield for one creature will count
as a small one for a creature of the next size category up, or a buckler for two
sizes up.
There is no advantage in saving the materials earmarked for making a shield,
but if you make hide armour instead of a metal armour you may count the dragon
as a size larger for the purpose of the shield, and if you make only a shield
you can count the hide as two sizes larger.
The material left over after a suit of armour might be enough for another;
once you have cut out enough for the first set, consult the armour columns again
as if the hide was now three sizes smaller. The same works for the shield
allotment and the leather column.
In all cases an object of one size may be replaced with two of the size
below.
Example: Elle has the pelt of a tiny white dragon. Measuring it up, she
decides that if she was to cure the best bits, she could make fine scale mail
and a large shield for a fine creature. Unfortunately the party contains no fine
creatures, the smallest member being one of the mages' familiars, a diminutive
toad. If she makes hide armour for him, she can use the better bits on a shield,
with enough to make a buckler for the party's halfling. No matter what she does
with the body, the wings will be enough for leather armour or studded leather
armour for the toad.
Later on her party kill a large blue dragon. Taking the hide from that,
she could make hide armour and a large shield for herself, or banded mail and a
large shield for the halfling, full plate for the toad and a small shield for
herself, or just a tower shield for herself. On top of that, she has enough wing
for a medium sized suit of leather.
On day she sits back, dreaming of the day that she stands atop the corpse
of a red Great Wyrm. With a colossal hide, her first priority would be full
plate. The leftover pieces worthy of being armour would be as per a large hide,
with enough for full plate for the toad, or hide for one of the other humans.
She would want a large shield; since there is hide enough for a large shield fit
for a huge creature, there is enough for four for humans (one shield for a huge
creature is equivalent to two for large creatures, which are two each for
humans). On the same principle, she could make leather armour for a gargantuan
creature, equivalent to eight humans.
What else?
Although they probably have no special qualities unless enchanted with them,
other items can be made of pieces of dragon. A dragon corpse will provide plenty
of spell components, their teeth, claws and horns could be used as part of
weapons or even musical instruments, and the wings make excellent cloaks.
Other Armours
I suspect that the selection of armours in the PHB represents all of the
kinds that could reasonably use dragonhide. However, in case anyone wants to
convert armour from other sources, here is a little explanation.
Firstly, it's all masterwork: one point of check penalty removed. Next, the
leather substitute is far softer than leather, and the metal substitute is more
supple than metal, so I've put the maximum Dexterity bonus up by one point on
everything (if only for completeness, in the case of hide armour). I've also
reduced the weight of everything by one third, and then rounded it about a bit.
As far as pricing goes, I've charged n2*100 for resistance
of n, and then thrown in the cost of the normal item, the masterwork
cost, and 500 to cover the weight reduction and the extra point of Dex bonus. I
haven't bothered to scale that cost with the armour category or anything; your
DM might want to increase it for the armours with a maximum Dexterity bonus low
enough to matter to player characters, but I think the massive increase in the
cost of the resistance should cover it.
7: Trinkets
Costing Miscellaneous Items
I refer you to Table 8-40, on page 242 of the DMG, and Table 4-3, page 74 of
Tome and Blood. As a clarification, as best I can tell, the phrase
'Use-activated' in the Spell Effect section includes any effect that is constant
while the object is being worn/wielded ('used'). In other words, although the
Lantern of Revealing is used as an example, since the 'use' of clothes is to
wear them, items such as the Cloak of Elvenkind (which gives an effect when the
hood is raised) is also an example of this trigger type.
Oh, and look carefully: in the DMG version, on the Special: Charges per day
line that symbol is a divide sign (which I don't even seem to have on my
keyboard), not a plus. Took me a while to notice that... In the Tome and Blood
version, that symbol is instead a minus sign, which almost certainly isn't right
(since '5 - charges per day' should remain positive, in my opinion. But then
again, maybe Wizards know what they are doing. What do I know about formulae?
Beyond that, it is mainly a case of finding a spell of about the right power
level for the effect you want, or an item that already does something similar.
The main principles to remember are:
- that the second most expensive power of a group of similar ones costs only
three quarters, and the third and subsequent ones are half cost each.
- that additional powers that are not similar are double in price.
I recommend implementing combinations of these are follows:
- For each group of related powers (and this in itself is a judgement call;
consult your ref, or if you are refereeing talk to someone else you trust to
know what is going on), use the first principle to determine a total cost.
- Use the normal cost of the most expensive of these groups, and double cost
for each other group.
Remember, if the cost that comes out after using the tables is not
competitive with other items, feel free to reduce it (provided you are the ref,
or the ref agrees). The example in Tome and Blood comes in at 23,000gp, which is
far more than the Bag of Holding 2 (of which it is a souped-up version), so the
designer makes some arbitrary changes (that do not stem from game rules) to
reduce it to something more reasonable. If you only use some aspect of a spell's
power, treat it as a lower level, or scale down the cost some other way.
The main thing to remember is that the referee always has power of veto over
anything that anyone else attempts to bring to their game. Whether I tell you
this as a reminder to bow to the ref's will, or as a reminder that you are
allowed to subject people to it, you would do well to remember it.
If in doubt, leave it out. It is far harder to put up with the player who is
annoyed because you took away his favourite game-unbalancing toy than it is the
one who is annoyed because you wouldn't let them have it in the first place.
And if the worst comes to the worst, as ref, call it an artefact. Then you
don't need to price it at all...
New Feats
Many of the following are epic, and hence have
Character Level 21 as one of their prerequisites.
Distant Defending [Epic]
You can move further to protect your charge from harm.
Prerequisites: Harm's Way class feature, Deflect Attack class feature,
base move 30', Dexterity 21+.
Benefit: You may use Harm's Way or Deflect Attack while your charge is within 10', rather than 5'.
Iaido [General] [Fighter]
You are skilled in the way of the drawing strike.
Prerequisites: Quick Draw, Improved Initiative, Base Attack Bonus +4,
Dexterity 13+
Benefit: You may draw a slashing weapon and strike with it as a single
free action. Provided you are not surprised at the beginning of a combat you may
take this action before the first action of the combatant with the highest
initiative score, after which combat proceeds normally; a character hit by the
surprise strike is denied a Dexterity bonus to AC. If more than one character is
using this feat, they take their free attacks in initiative order before combat
proper begins.
Improved Defender Deflection [Epic]
You may deflect ranged attacks that threaten your charge.
Prerequisites: Deflect Attack class feature, Dexterity 19+, EITHER
{Deflect Arrows, Improved Unarmed Strike} OR {Ranged Parry, Weapon Focus}
Benefit: Provided your charge is within the range of your Deflect Attack feature,
you may use your ranged deflection feats to
protect her instead of yourself. This includes Deflect Arrows or Ranged Parry,
but also others such as Exceptional Deflection and Infinite Deflection. You may
not use Infinite Deflection to deflect additional melee attacks.
Improved Iaido [General] [Fighter]
You are even more accomplished in the way of the drawing strike.
Prerequisites: Iaido, Quick Draw, Improved Initiative, Improved Critical,
Base Attack Bonus
+8, Dexterity 13+
Benefit: When you hit with a draw-and-attack action with a
slashing weapon for which you have the Improved Critical feat, the hit is automatically a threat. Check
to confirm as
normal.
Multiweapon Parry [General] [Fighter]
You are an accomplished multiweapon fighter, able to carefully balance attack
and defence.
Prerequisites: Base attack bonus +3, Multiweapon Fighting, Dexterity 13+.
Benefit: For each limb worth of attacks you decline to use, you gain a
stacking +2 shield bonus to your AC for that round.
Special: This feat is based on Off-Hand Parry (from Sword and Fist)
and replaces that feat for characters with more than two arms.
Ranged Parry [General] [Fighter]
The character may use his weapon to parry incoming arrows and other ranged
attacks.
Prerequisites: Dexterity 13+, Weapon Focus.
Benefit: While using a weapon on which he is focused, the character may
deflect attacks from ranged weapons. Once per round as a free action the
character may make a Reflex save, (DC 20 + any enhancement bonus the projectile
has) to ignore the attack. Otherwise this feat works as Deflect Arrows.
Special: There are armed versions of Exceptional Deflection, Infinite
Deflection and Reflect Arrows. They must be purchased separately to their
unarmed counterparts, they have Ranged Parry and Weapon Focus replace Deflect
Arrows and Improved Unarmed Strike in their prerequisites, and references to
'having one hand free' must be changed to 'being armed with a focused weapon'.
You cannot Snatch Arrows with a melee weapon.
This feat is much like the epic feat Armed Deflection, from the Epic Insights
column at www.wizards.com. However, I do
not see that deflecting with a weapon is so much worse than without one,
especially since I think monks are suspicious anyway. For this reason, my
campaigns use this version, with the easier prerequisites. However, I cannot
guarantee that this will always be the case, and players with this feat should
be prepared to trade up or find something else to take.
On Metamagic
At high levels (such as Glorious Few, the Epic Ravenloft game I seem to have
gotten myself into) some of the metamagic feats could be stacked in a
particularly devious and twisted way. The following are suggestions to referees
who wish to curb this; things put as 'recommendations' should be considered DM
rulings for my games, other things are not (yet).
Additive Metamagic and Motes
Some metamagic feats cause the entire effect of a spell to happen more than
once. Twin Spell causes the effect to happen twice in one round, Repeat Spell
causes it to happen again in the next, and so on. I recommend that Energy
Admixture be treated as additive metamagic, equivalent to Twin Spell plus Energy
Substitution/Energy Affinity (depending on which source you have it from).
Terminology
A mote is a magical effect as written up in the spell descriptions
in the PHB and elsewhere. An additive metamagic feat creates an additional mote,
with some condition (alongside the original, a round after the original, or
with a particular energy type). Regardless of how you stack them, multiple
additive metamagics only affect the original mote; this means that you
will always get one additional mote from each additive feat. For
example, a Twinned, Repeated spell makes three motes, one from the base spell, one alongside it from Twin Spell, and one the next round from Repeat
Spell. Repeat Spell does not affect the Twin mote ('two doublings equals a
tripling', remember).
Mote Metamagic
Mote metamagic affects only a single mote, even when additive metamagic has
been used to get more than one mote out of a slot.
Example: a Maximised, Twinned spell has one normal mote and one maximised.
An Enlarged, Twinned spell has one mote at normal range and another at double
range.
Even feats that cannot normally be stacked can be added as many times as it
takes to apply them to all of the motes spawned from that slot (i.e. once for
each additive feat used), without buying the feat again. Taking the example
above, most spells that one would Twin would then need Enlarging twice to be
worth Enlarging at all.
Some metamagic affects the 'variable, numeric' properties of a spell. These
tend to say how they interact: a Maximised, Empowered spell has the maximised
normal effect, plus half of the effect rolled as normal, and Intensify Spell
states that it does not stack with 'any other feat that affects the variable,
numeric effects of a spell'. At the DM's option there may be some spells that
deserve to be treated as having 'variable, numeric' effects for the purpose of
Empower Spell and perhaps Intensify Spell (the new ability enhancement spells
spring to mind, since they used to be variable, and I'm sure people can come up with others).
Note that the half-and-half metamagic feats (such as Sacred, Consecrate,
Corrupt and Vile) stack by cutting each type of damage in two: a Corrupted fireball
does half fire damage and half unholy damage, so a Violated, Corrupted fireball
does one quarter fire damage, one quarter vile fire damage, one quarter unholy
damage and one quarter vile unholy damage (an in case you were counting, it now
has the [evil] descriptor at least twice...).
Slot Metamagic
Some metamagic feats affect the way the spell is cast, rather than the effect
it has. These feats are applied only once, since a spell slot (and however many
spells it spawns) is cast all at once. These feats include Quicken Spell, Silent
Spell and Still Spell. Slightly different but also in this group is Heighten
Spell (and Improved Heighten Spell); this should be considered the most
fundamental metamagic feat, and is always applied first.
Improved Metamagic and Stacking
Terminology
When metamagic is stacked with itself, each use of a metamagic feat is
called a layer.
Some metamagic feats can be applied more than once. The Enhance Spell explains
how it stacks; you may add it once for each time you have bought the feat,
adding +4 to the level of the spell slot each time. As noted above, you can
reapply spell metamagic once for each additional spell gained through additive
metamagic; this stacking does not require additional purchases of the feats in
question.
One of the most powerful feats in the game when stacked, Improved Metamagic
reduces the level cost of every metamagic feat the caster knows by +1, to a
minimum of +1. As a suggestion (watch my wording; not yet a recommendation),
add the levels of multiple layers of a single metamagic feat before
taking off the effect of Improved Metamagic. So to increase the damage cap of a
damaging spell by 20 levels, buy Enhance Spell twice, use a spell slot +8 higher
than normal, then take the number of purchases of Improved Metamagic you have
from this +8.
Alternatively (and this one is in my games for playtesting, as an option for
players who want to use it) allow stacking of feats that do not normally stack,
without extra purchases, but with the above condition on Improved Metamagic. The
feats that will stack under this option are (and I'm not saying all of these are
worth it):
Chain, Consecrate, Corrupt, Delay, Empower, Energy Admixture, Enlarge,
Extend, Intensify, Purify, Repeat (see below), Sacred, Split Ray,
Twin, Violate, Widen
When stacking metamagic like this, you add together the cost of all the
purchases of the same metamagic, then take away your Improved Metamagic
discount. The minimum cost is +1 per layer of metamagic.
Example: if you want more than one extra mote at the same time, you could
stack Twin Spell with itself. Twin Spell normally costs +4, so using it twice
has a total modifier of +8. You take the number of purchases of Improved
Metamagic away from this total rather than each layer, but you must still pay at
least +1 per layer (even if you have 7 slots of Improved Metamagic) for a
minimum of +2.
A doubly consecrated lightning bolt does one quarter doubly holy
damage (although unless your DM says otherwise, this is equivalent to normal
holy damage), two quarters (i.e. one half) holy damage and one quarter lightning
damage. [I did warn you that some combinations would be less than useful.]
Think carefully about how things stack, and if in doubt use the percentage
version that I have used on the table below rather than the multiplicative
version in the book. For example, Empower twice would be +100% variable effect.
[As it is described, Maximise works on 100% of the spell's normal effect, so two
Maximise layers will maximise the extra from both Empower layers (but that is
the same as Intensify and more expensive).] Obviously there is no use in maximising twice, so only the doubling
aspect of the second or subsequent Intensify layers have an effect.
Crazy Repeating
For those of a slightly strange disposition, try this. Stacking Repeat Spell
gives you an additional spell the in the second round (for a total of two in the
second round). If you wish, for +2 rather than +3 the stacked Repeat can happen
the round after; for a total of +5 levels you get the initial spell, then
another for each of the next two rounds. Extra spells in the fourth and
subsequent rounds are +1 level each; you cannot arrange a late repeat unless
there is already a repeat in the round immediately before it.
Stacking, Step by Step
In case these clarfications have made things less than clear, there now
follows a step by step guide to stacking metamagic.
Step 0: Choose a spell and a level
Obviously the first step in choosing a metamagic effect is to pick a base
spell. In addition, you may well want to choose the number of levels you have
available for metamagic at this stage; it is easier to keep your monstrosity
under control if you work to a budget, so to speak. As for planning the effect,
it is difficult to get the full potential out of more than one mote unless you
have several slots of Improved Metamagic, and several spell levels available;
that will be an important decision later.
Step 1: Slot Metamagic
Some metamagic feats affect the entire spell slot. These include the Heighten
Spell feats, as well as Quicken, Still and Silent Spell. Slot metamagic feats
are marked as such in the table below. Most slot metamagic feats (Still, Silent,
and so on) are purchased once only.
Step 2: Additive Metamagic
The next step is working out how many effects you want. You can increase the
overall effect of a spell by adding additional motes using additive metamagic
(see that section, above). Each use of an additive feat gives you an additional
mote, but each mote must be improved separately in the next step, so it may
be possible to have too many to use effectively. Additive feats are marked in
the table below by having 'Add' in their type column.
Step 3: Mote Metamagic
The there are the other metamagic feats, those that affect one mote each. If
you only have one mote (by having skipped step 2), then these stack as noted in
their descriptions. Otherwise you must pay for each mote feat once for each mote
you want affected, either buying once per mote, or leaving some motes
unaffected.
Examples
Enhanced, Twinned, Doubly Intensified lightning bolt (20th level
caster): the base mote of lightning bolt is a line doing 10d6 electricity
damage, as a 3rd level spell. Enhance (+4) is Slot metamagic, and one use
affects the entire spell, increasing the basic damage from 10d6 to 20d6. Twin
Spell (+4) makes this two motes, each being a line of 10d6 electricity damage.
Because there are now two motes, Intensify may be bought once for each mote
(otherwise it will only affect one), and so the caster has chosen to doubly
Intensify, turning each mote into line of 240 electricity damage (now 240x2
damage, with electricity resistance counting twice), for +14 spell levels. The
spell now needs a 25th level spell slot, but each of the first three slots of
Improved Metamagic reduces this by 4 levels, then the next three reduce it by 2
levels. So three slots makes it level 13, and six slots make it level 7.
Doubly Enhanced, Quad (three Twins) fireball (30th level caster):
the base mote of fireball is a burst of 10d6 fire damage, as a 3rd level
spell. Enhance (+4) is slot metamagic, and so both purchases affect the entire
spell (but bear in mind that you must have two feat slots of Enhance Spell to do
this), turning the base mote into 30d6 damage for +8 levels. Quad Spell is three
layers of Twin Spell, making three additional motes at 30d6 fire damage for +4
each, coming to +12 levels. The whole spell is then four fireballs of 30d6 fire
damage each, all hitting the same spot at the same time, for a total of 23rd
level. Up to three slots of Improved Metamagic would reduce this by five levels
each, to a minimum of 8th level (4x30d6 damage, ranges 120-720, average 420,
minus four times the opponent's fire resistance).
The better option, then is the Doubly Enhanced, Doubly Intensified,
Twinned lightning bolt. The base mote is once again a line of 10d6
electricity damage, for 3rd level. Doubly Enhancing costs +8 levels and
increases the base mote to 30d6 electricity damage. Twinning then makes an
additional mote of that effect for +4 levels, making a total of two motes of
30d6 damage. Then both are Intensified, for +14 levels, making each a line of
360 damage. The spell then does 2x360 electricity damage (resistance applies
twice), in a 29th level spell slot. The first three slots of Improved Metamagic
reduce this by five levels each, the next three reduce it by two levels each. So
with three slots of Improved Metamagic the spell requires a 14th level slot, and
with six slots it requires an 8th level slot. Clearly if you have know Intensify
and have enough slots of Improved Metamagic, this version is better.
Using the options I have introduced above, you can manage the following.
Doubly Enhanced, Triply Intensified Violated flame strike (35th level
caster): the basic mote of flame strike is a column of 15d6 damage, half
fire, half divine, for a 5th level spell. Double Enhancement costs +8 levels and
changes the base mote to 35d6 (proportions as above), requiring two slots of
Enhance Spell. Triple Intensity costs +21 levels, increasing mote damage by 300%
and maximising up to 600% (since we only have 400%, that's all of it), to a
total of 420 fire and 420 divine. Finally Violate Spell turns half the damage
into vile damage, costing +1 level and making the finished spell 210 fire, 210
vile fire, 210 divine and 210 vile divine (fire resistance only counts once). It
takes up a 35th level spell slot (requiring Wis 45!), but the first three slots
of Improved Metamagic reduce this by +3 each and up to 17 more reduce it by a
further +1 each. A caster with three slots of Improved Metamagic can put the
spell in a 26th level spell slot, and one with six slots can treat it as 23rd.
Bear in mind, however, that each of the above spells still count as their
regular level (3rd or 5th), and so may be easier to save against or resist with
SR than spells you might expect from such high level slots.
Table: Collected Metamagic
| Feat |
Source |
Type |
Cost |
Effect |
| Chain |
T&B |
Mote |
+3 |
Single target spell arcs to [caster level] secondary targets for half
damage (Ref half) or +4 bonus to save |
| Consecrate |
BoXD |
Mote |
+1 |
Add [good], half of damage is divine2 |
| Cooperative |
T&B |
Slot |
+0 |
Cast the same spell as adjacent ally for increased save DC and caster
level |
| Corrupt |
BoVD |
Mote |
+1 |
Add [evil], half of damage is unholy2 |
| Delay |
T&B |
Slot |
+3 |
Set a 1-5 round delay |
| Disguise Spell |
Dei&Dem |
Slot |
+1 |
Bard only; spell is subtlly incorporated into performance |
| Empower |
PHB |
Mote |
+2 |
+50% variable, numeric |
| Energy Admixture |
T&B |
Add |
+4 |
Choose an energy type; when you cast any energy spell make an additional
spell of your chosen type. |
| Energy Affinity |
MH |
Mote |
+0 |
Choose an energy type; substitute another energy for your chosen type |
| Energy Substitution |
Dei&Dem, T&B |
Mote |
+0 |
As Energy Affinity (name change) |
| Enhance |
ELH |
Slot |
+4 |
Damage cap increases by 10 levels |
| Enlarge |
PHB |
Mote |
+1 |
+100% range |
| Eschew Materials |
Dei&Dem, T&B |
Slot |
+0 |
Ignore material component of up to 1gp |
| Extend |
PHB |
Mote |
+1 |
+100% duration |
| Heighten |
PHB |
Slot |
|
Increase effect level (maximum 9th) |
| Ignore Material Components1 |
ELH |
Slot |
+0 |
Ignore all material components |
| Improved Heighten |
ELH |
Slot |
|
As Heighten, but no maximum level |
| Innate1 |
T&B |
Mote |
+8 |
Spell is not cast, but can be used once per round as a Spell-like
ability |
| Intensify |
ELH |
Mote |
+7 |
+100% variable effects then up to 200% maximised |
| Maximise |
PHB |
Mote |
+3 |
Maximum on damage dice |
| Nonlethal Substitution |
BoXD |
Mote |
+0 |
Substitute nonlethal damage for energy damage |
| Persistent Spell |
Dei&Dem, T&B |
Mote |
+4 |
Duration becomes 24 hours |
| Purify Spell |
BoXD |
Mote |
+1 |
No damage to good creatures, half damage to neutral creatures, one die
type up to evil outsiders |
| Quicken |
PHB |
Slot |
+4 |
Cast as a free/swift action |
| Reach Spell |
Dei&Dem, DotF |
Mote |
+2 |
Changes range from touch to 30' |
| Repeat Spell |
Dei&Dem, T&B |
Add |
+3 |
Spell happens again next round |
| Sacred Spell |
Dei&Dem, DotF |
Mote |
+2 |
Half of damage is divine2 |
| Sanctum |
T&B |
Slot |
+0 |
+1 caster level when cast in your sanctum, -1 caster level otherwise |
| Sculpt |
T&B |
Mote |
+1 |
Pick a new area shape |
| Split Ray |
T&B |
Mote |
+0 |
Two targets each take half damage |
| Subdual Substitution |
Dei&Dem, T&B |
Mote |
+0 |
As Nonlethal Substitution (name change) |
| Sudden [feat] |
MH |
Mote |
+0 |
1/day free and unprepared use of [feat] |
| Silent |
PHB |
Slot |
+1 |
Not Bard; Remove verbal component |
| Still |
PHB |
Slot |
+1 |
Remove somatic component |
| Twin |
T&B |
Add |
+4 |
Additional spell, same time and target as original |
| Violate |
BoVD |
Mote |
+1 |
Add [evil], half of damage is vile |
| Widen |
PHB, T&B, Dei&Dem |
Mote |
+3 |
+100% in each linear measurement of area3 |
| 1 Not strictly a metamagic feat, but behaves
like one. Recommend that characters who want to use Innate Spell as
metamagic are allowed to, so that they can use the slot for something else the next
day; whether Improved Metamagic reduces the cost of Innate Spell is at
DM's discretion. |
| 2 Recommend that Sacred be reduced to +1 slot
(Consecrate and Corrupt are from more recent sources). Change Consecrate's
divine damage to holy damage; adding [good] is a commensurate advantage. |
| 3 Since the terminology is always area,
recommend that only two dimensions of measurement (radius counts as both)
are increased. This is actually an +300% increase, since doubling
in each of two dimensions increases area by a factor of 22.
(All three dimensions would increase volume eightfold) |
Tékumel
This section will remain small for the time being, since I don't run Tékumel and while I'd love to the list of things I'd love to run is much longer than the list of things I'll get time to run, for the foreseeable future.
At the request of the referee of our current game, I've knocked together a 'tick-off' style calendar for the year as described in Adventures on Tékumel Part One: Tsolyáni Calendar (PDF, 13kB).
I'd like feedback if anyone can think of ways to make it clearer or more useful, preferably without making it go off the page.
I might make a second copy marked with dates important to the party in the current game, such as the 14th of Langála and the 1st of Pardán...
WoD Stuff
Resources and house rules, and so on.
A very quick intro
Attributes
Note that the nine attributes fit in a grid: each category (mental, physical, social) has a power attribute (Intelligence, Strength, Presence), a finesse attribute (Wits, Dexterity, Manipulation) and a resistance attribute (Resolve, Stamina, Composure).
A given task will couple the most appropriate attribute with the most likely skill. Some actions are described in the rules, while others the referee will determine on the spot (and sometimes things written in the book might get made up instead anyway). So a mental task requiring sheer power of intellect would require Intelligence, one requiring mental agility might be Wits and a mentally exhausting task could be Resolve.
For social tasks, Presence is about getting your way by force of charisma and inspiration, Manipulation is for subtle trickery and Composure is for keeping your cool. There's a fine line between Resolve and Composure, but most tasks can be distinguished as mental or social.
The physical attributes need little explanation; they're pretty much the same in every other game...
Sometimes a task is borderline and I'll let you choose. Sometimes I'll let you roll what you want if you've got a good justification for solving the problem with those traits. Sometimes I'll be considering things on a case-by-case basis and I don't promise to follow precedents consistently.
Some attributes contribute to other mechanics. The resistance attributes are often used as a penalty when opponents use that kind of action against you. Stamina helps determine health, while Willpower is Resolve plus Composure. Defence is the worse of Wits and Dexterity.
Skills
Once the task has a skill and an attribute, you add together the dots, roll that many d10 and count those that are 7 or better (although I might have a house rule letting me specify other target numbers where appropriate). This means that skill dots are as powerful as attribute dots, albeit more specialised. Skill specialities are further refinements in which you specify one favoured facet of a given skill: when it's relevant it's worth a bonus dot. You can have as many specialities on a skill as you like, but you can only claim one at a time.
When you have no dots in a skill, you suffer a penalty that depends on the category: -3 dice for mental, -1 otherwise. This means that the first dot is the most valuable, since it's a increase of 2 dots or 4.
Two is a respectable skill level, especially at your age. Three is the [normal] maximum for child characters, and is really quite impressive.
Computer: You can just about use one without dots, but not to get anything interesting done. Crafts: Making/fixing stuff with your hands. Investigation: Search, analyse scenes, interview people, etc. Medicine: At the levels we're talking, you could be pretty good at first aid. Occult: Know lots of folk tales and legends, maybe something more sinister. They may or may not be true. Politics: Both political theory and current affairs, as they apply to real politics or even playground politics.
Study: Academic and other book knowledge. Adults have parallel skills: Academics and Science.
Athletics: Running, jumping, climbing, throwing... Brawl: Unarmed combat. Firearms: You better have a damn good reason for taking this. Larceny: Picking locks, pockets and other sleights. Stealth: Hiding and moving undetected. Survival: Finding food, water, shelter and so on in natural settings. Weaponry: Armed close combat.
Animal Ken: Getting on with animals, understanding them, training etc. Empathy: Judging motives, lies and so on. Expression: Writing, composing and on small scales speaking well. Intimidation: Subtle or otherwise. Persuasion: Convincing people of things (especially when you believe it). Socialise: Having fun in company and making sure everyone else does. Streetwise: Knowing how to find things and get by, on the dark side. Subterfuge: Making people believe things when you don't...
Asset, Fault & Willpower
Every child character has a dominant positive trait and a dominant negative one. They needn't be balanced and they won't be the character's only trait, but one of each is specified. When short term actions fit the character's Fault he regains a Willpower point; when longer term action is in keeping with his Asset his Willpower is refilled. I'll run through a list of sample Assets and Faults when we meet up.
When you absolutely have to get something done you can spend a temporary Willpower point for a three-dice bonus to one roll, or a two-dot bonus to a resistance attribute to resist one enemy action.
That's about it
I'm not going to explain combat until we need to know it, so that's more or less all you need to know.
Child Character Creation
By request, a quick run down on the traits and stuff is here.
The fifth dot in most things costs double, but I don't expect you to be able to afford any fifth dots.
Attributes
You start with a free point in each (already inked in). Pick your favourite category (Mental, Physical, Social) and distribute 5 dots. Pick your next category and distribute 4 dots, then 3 in the final category. For a balanced character it pays to have two dots in each attribute (which leaves you with little choice of how to do that tertiary category...). Attributes are capped at 5; remember the last dot is double.
Skills
No free dots this time, but otherwise much the same deal: 7 dots in your primary category, 4 dots in the secondary and 2 in the tertiary. Finally pick one skill and specify one aspect of it in which you're specialised. Skills are capped at 3 for most children; see the Prodigy merits, below.
Merits
Distribute 7 points across the following list (costs in brackets; the fifth dot costs double):
- Danger Sense (2)
- Ego Boost (2) - Bonus dice after praise
- Eidetic Memory (2) - As you'd expect
- Language (1) - Fluency in one other language
- Mental Prodigy (1) - Requires a mental attribute at 4: Break the 3-dot cap in one mental skill
- Multilingual (1-5) - Conversational in two languages per dot
- Prized Possession (1) - A useful item with a skill bonus
- Trivia Hound (4) - Loads and loads of useless knowledge. You may be required to bring some out-of-character
- Unseen Sense (2) - You can see ... things... Requires Wits 2
- Ambidextrous (3) - No off-hand penalties
- Direction Sense (1)
- Fast Reflexes (1 or 2) - Requires Dex 3 or Wits 3. Bonus to initiative
- Fighting Style: Karate for Kids (1-3) - Requires Dex 2, Sta 2, Brawl 2. Combat manoeuvres
- Fighting Style: Playground Dogpile (1-3) - Requires Str 2, Sta 2, brawl 2. Combat manoeuvres
- Fleet of Foot (1-3) - Requires Str 2, bonus move speed
- Fresh Start (1 or 3) - Requires some Fast Reflexes, change declared combat actions
- Giant (3) - Be adult size!
- Hard Head (2) - Requires Sta 3 or Resolve 3, dificult to stun
- Iron Stomach (1) - Requires Sta 2
- Natural Immunity (1) - Requires Sta 2, disease resistance
- Physical Prodigy (1) - Requires a physical attribute at 4, breaks the 3-dot cap on a physical skill
- Quick Draw (1 or 2) - Requires Dex 3, draw items from about your person as free action
- Quick Healer (4) - Requires Sta 3
- Strong Back (1) - Requires Str 2, bonus to carrying and lifting
- Strong Lungs (2) - Requires Athletics 3, greater endurance and holding breath
- Tiny (1) - Small person
- Tough (1-2) - Requires Sta 3 or Resolve 3, reduce wound penalties
- Toxin Resistance (1) - Requires Sta 3
- Allies (1-3)
- Contacts (1-3)
- Deep Pockets (2) - Daddy (or somebody) is rich...
- Fame (1-3)
- Guardian (1-3)
- Guardian Angel (4) - Like a normal guardian, only weirder...
- Inspiring (3) - Requires Presence 3, you can help others regain Willpower
- Mentor (1-5)
- Odd Jobs (1) - You have a little money of your own
- Pet (1 or 3)
- Social Prodigy (1) - Requires a social attribute at 4, breaks the 3-dot cap on a social skill
- Striking Looks (2) - Character is pretty
- Team Player (2) - Bonuses all 'round!
Other Stuff
You should be able to find everything else you need somewhere on the character sheet.
WFRP Career Planner
Select a career from the list to see its entries and exits. Click on an entry or exit career to move it to the middle. Advanced careers are named in italic. The database currently includes all the careers from the second edition core rulebook; if anyone wants to provide me with lists of careers (including entries, exits and racial restrictions) from other sources, I'll look into including them.
