Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 20 Dec 2001 to 21 Dec 2001 (#2001-2) From: Automatic digest processor Date: 22/12/2001, 19:00 To: Recipients of MYSTARA-L digests Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There are 16 messages totalling 742 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. OT: One Film to Rule Them All 2. (OT) LOTR Eowyn 3. Glasses of Identification (2) 4. Claws of the Reptile (2) 5. Artifacts for my campaign (2) 6. Simple But Required Questions (6) 7. elrond' wife is gone 8. Technomancer Prestige Class ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.dnd.starflung.com/ To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2001 03:09:21 -0500 From: Dan Brockfield Subject: Re: OT: One Film to Rule Them All Hello all: I've lurked on the list for a VERY long time, never having much in the way of time or inspiration to contribute to Mystara, but this is something I can contribute to, so here's my thoughts on the movie. (spoilers aplenty, of course) Like everyone else, I loved it. I've been following it for a couple years, always a little more worried by rumors of changes and such, but seeing it on the screen was a dream come true. I thought the biggest change was the character of Arwen. I had not guessed until the night before that she would replace Glorfindel, but I was amazed by how well that worked. It wasn't the sort of thing that Tolkien would have written, of course, but it made her a real character in the saga as opposed to a third-tier player in the last book. The increased "romance element" didn't hurt either- it made Aragorn easier to relate too, as well. Here's a guess: instead of sending Aragorn his banner with Halbarad and the Rangers, she'll replace them and show up herself. After all, someone has to bring the Sword that was Broken to Aragorn- the last we saw of it, it was still lying, broken, on that pedestal in Rivendell (I'm sure he wasn't using it later on). It will be a shame, though, if her character really is made up just out of other characters. I can't imagine Lord of the Rings without Eowyn. I don't know quite what to think of Saruman. I never saw him as a lieutenant of Sauron, but as an unwitting pawn, despite being such a power in his own right. The movie clearly had him following Sauron's orders though- maybe to cut down on confusion over who the bad guy really is? One things for sure, though- when the orcs started pulling down those trees in Isengard with lines about how their roots were "old and deep," I cold only smile at what the result of _that_ will be in the next movie. The best sequence of course was in Moria. This was the part I was most afraid of, since even after multiple readings, it still is terrifying, and was about the only thing that could have made me walk out. The movie did not disappoint- the "drums in the deep" and especially the distant fire of the Balrog and the Fellowship's despair were just as I had always pictured them. And that scene of the infinite pillars...wow. They didn't need to explain anything else about Khazad-dum after that. The last part- the Breaking of the Fellowship- was also a pleasant surprise. Boromir's last words were beefed up a bit to make him more of a sympathetic character- another change that worked very well. I can't say that I liked the way Aragorn was given the choice of whether to let Frodo go on his own or not. Everyone else who had a chance to take the Ring was clearly tempted by it- that's why Gandalf's and Galadriel's refusals were so important. Tolkien neatly sidestepped this originally by taking the decision out of Aragorn's hands- I wonder why Peter Jackson did not. As far as the acting, everything was superb. Ian McKellen IS Gandalf. I'm still amazed at some of the high-powered casting that was done for a film that many would have thought would have limited appeal. I personally didn't think Elijah Wood was right for Frodo, but he did a decent enough job. The contrast between the "character" shots and the "scenery" shots kind of struck me, too, but when you have such scenery to deal with (fantastic New Zealand and even more fantastic CGI) that's understandable! I was at the first showing here in Boston, and so the audience was already almost all fans, but there was constant applause and cheers throughout- even at things the movie didn't go into. We all started laughing uncontrollably at Gandalf's statement that he had nothing to do with Bilbo and "that dragon business." So, it was a great movie. Maybe it will even inspire me to do something Mystaran sometime! Later- Dan ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2001 14:26:00 +0100 From: Francesco Defferrari Subject: (OT) LOTR Eowyn Hello, i haven't seen the movie yet (in Italy should be in theaters in middle = january AFAIK), but reading yours opinions i think will be a movie worth = seeing.. I can excuse the bigger role of Arwen and the disappearing of = Gilfrondel, i can quite excuse the disappeareance of Tom Bombadil = (sigh), and i hope there will not be in the next movies bigger changes = to the story of the books.. anyway Eowyn hasn't been eliminated ( i = would have killed Peter Jackson if he committed such a crime !!! ), = Miranda Otto is portraited on lordoftherings.net as the actress chosen = to play Eowyn (go to The Film, Cast, Miranda Otto). I hope and i pray = that will be HER to kill the Lord of the Nazguls and not Arwen (Arwen is = not even a warrior in the books !!!) Bye Francesco "What can change the nature of a man ?" ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2001 20:30:14 +0100 From: la Volpe Subject: Re: Glasses of Identification > The Artifacts of the Pharaoh > > These artifacts are collectively known in Pandius as the Artifacts of > Pharaoh, because they used to belong to the last nithian pharaoh. Their main > uses is in campaigns centered around quests for Immortality and the PCs' > careers as Immortals. They all were gathered or created for the same > purpose, waging war against the Immortals and their enforced rules, but they > do not have a common origin, though. Uhm...I recall something similar to this. Wasn't there someone among us who had written of GOOD Nithian Artifacts...oh, yes! John Calvin about Lycanthropy, now I remember. > Glasses of Identification > > These glasses were created by the last Pharaoh of Nithia, Thanorisre > (Taphose, for the Milenians) around 550 BC. After establishing a cult to > himself as the Supreme God of the Nithians, the Pharaoh decided to take > measures against the intervention by the Immortals, that was certain to > follow. Here could be another reason, another angle from which to see the reasons for destroying Nithia. > When the Immortals striked, the Pharaoh used his powers to teleport his > belongings to specially prepared temples, protected from the prying eyes of > the Immortals by powerful spells he had researched. So you suggest the Pharaoh was a Mage and not a worshiper of Thanatos? An interesting idea, to say the least... > All of these temples are > underground and protected by Exalted beings, among them, some Burrowers. Ugh, this is stretching the line a bit. Well, maybe not. The Nithians must have done something, to deserve such a treatment... Raniel is a cool character, and this first artifact is cool too: the Glasses are not so useful and create quite a problem. It would be interesting to know what happens when a cleric wears them (maybe a hint to a way to destroy them?). When I have time I'll read the rest (and give some comments). Iulius Sergius Scaevola Captain of the XXth Cohort Port Lucinius, Thyatis ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2001 20:40:42 +0100 From: la Volpe Subject: Re: Claws of the Reptile > Claws of the Reptile > > These barbed gloves adjust perfectly to the hands of anyone who tries them, > automatically changing their size to fit whomever is currently holding them, > be it a pixie, a man or an ancient dragon. They were fashioned long ago, by > the Carnifex, to help in their war against the Immortals and are an > effective weapon against them, as well as against any other creature. > > Thanorisre found them at the end of his reign and was still researching its > functions when he was deposed. Some Immortals fear what he might have been > able to do, should he had mastered this artifact completely. The news of the > uncovering of the Claws were what made the Immortals act immediately and > Ixion spent a lot of time and effort trying to track it down after Nithia > was destroyed. Yes, this is really a good reason for Nithia's destroying. I think we have gathered and created so many informations about Nithia's demise that somebody should try to write a single article collecting all these tidbits and pieces into one. > The artifact is ever since in a secluded cloister in Thothia, in the heart > of the Great Escarpment. The place is under 1 mile of solid rock and can be > reached only by tunnels that wind down for about 30 miles, in the shortest > path. The temple, dedicated to Thanorisre and Thanatos, is protected by a > Great Wyrm Shadow Dragon (Exalted status) Should be cool to write a story about Shadow Dragons in Mystara...or maybe...uhm...change completely its description from the FR one (except for the stats, obviously - too much work, doing that). > Disrupt Mortal Identity (instantaneous, touch, 100PP): If used against an > Immortal in a Mortal Identity and the Mortal Identity is hit, it must pass a > Fortitude Save or be killed, banning the Immortal back to his Home Plane. > This feature is not known by the artifact current owner and it is debatable > if it was planned by the Carnifex or added by other powers. The Outer Beings! Iä! Iä! > That usually means Thanatos, as > he is the only one willing to destroy all Immortals. I don't agree with this. No no no. Obviously this means that I disagree also with the Aura power (below) > Aura: every cleric or paladin of every deity, except Thanatos will feel > unsettled on the presence of the wearer of this artifact. Iulius Sergius Scaevola Captain of the XXth Cohort Port Lucinius, Thyatis ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2001 20:43:51 +0100 From: la Volpe Subject: Re: Artifacts for my campaign > > > Ring of Forbidden Knowledge > > The wearer of this ring automatically gains the knowledge of the old > Immortal history, as only the most ancient Immortals know it (see the > Ancient Secrets of Mystara article in the last volume of the Tome of Mystara > http://www.geocities.com/mystaratome/ ). He gets a version close to the one > Thanatos would tell. Ok, you fooled me. I am going to read that article, now. 8-) Iulius Sergius Scaevola Captain of the XXth Cohort Port Lucinius, Thyatis ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2001 15:28:46 EST From: Alex Benson Subject: Re: Simple But Required Questions I am moving along fairly well with the PS/Mystara crossover project. I am taking this weekend to do one of my favorite parts of an adventure; map time. My question is a minor ommission on TSR's part but one that I do need. I don't think that I have overlooked the scale on the map in either the Gaz or G:KoM but I could be wrong. Does anyone have any idea what the scale is on the Glantri Gaz foldout map? 1 inch = ???? feet/yards Thanks for any references or suggested guess. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2001 21:49:09 +0100 From: Thibault Sarlat Subject: Re: Simple But Required Questions sorry i don't have any clue but i'll look for that thib ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2001 12:57:17 -0800 From: davek Subject: Re: Simple But Required Questions Alex Benson wrote: > I am moving along fairly well with the PS/Mystara crossover project. I am > taking this weekend to do one of my favorite parts of an adventure; map time. > My question is a minor ommission on TSR's part but one that I do need. I > don't think that I have overlooked the scale on the map in either the Gaz or > G:KoM but I could be wrong. > > Does anyone have any idea what the scale is on the Glantri Gaz foldout map? > > 1 inch = ???? feet/yards > > Thanks for any references or suggested guess. I am pretty sure that was explained in one of Bruce Heard's articles in Dragon Magazine, if no one gives you an answer, I can have one by tomorrow. (If I remember correctly.) Dave ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2001 16:21:35 -0500 From: Michael Wallace Subject: Re: Simple But Required Questions On Fri, 21 Dec 2001 12:57:17 -0800 davek writes: > Alex Benson wrote: > > > I am moving along fairly well with the PS/Mystara crossover > project. I am > > taking this weekend to do one of my favorite parts of an > adventure; map time. What is the PS/Mystara crossover project? Michael ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2001 23:10:08 +0100 From: Agathokles Subject: Re: Simple But Required Questions Alex Benson wrote: > > Does anyone have any idea what the scale is on the Glantri Gaz foldout map? You can deduce it from the GSoM size. There is a map on the inner cover that has got a scale. -- Giampaolo Agosta agathokles@libero.it agosta@elet.polimi.it http://digilander.iol.it/agathokles ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2001 21:28:31 -0500 From: Dan Eustace Subject: Re: Simple But Required Questions If you have WotI, look on Pg. 61 of Book 2. The partial repro of the Glantri City map has a scale in the lower left corner. If not, Alexander Platz is about 200 yards across from N to S. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alex Benson" To: Sent: Friday, December 21, 2001 3:28 PM Subject: Re: [MYSTARA] Simple But Required Questions > I am moving along fairly well with the PS/Mystara crossover project. I am > taking this weekend to do one of my favorite parts of an adventure; map time. > My question is a minor ommission on TSR's part but one that I do need. I > don't think that I have overlooked the scale on the map in either the Gaz or > G:KoM but I could be wrong. > > Does anyone have any idea what the scale is on the Glantri Gaz foldout map? > > 1 inch = ???? feet/yards > > Thanks for any references or suggested guess. > > ******************************************************************** > The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp > The Mystara Homepage: http://www.dnd.starflung.com/ > To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. > > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2001 22:41:50 -0500 From: David Knott Subject: Re: elrond' wife is gone From: "Giampaolo Agosta" > > Elrond left at the end of the LotR event, of course, but his sons > remained at Imladris for some time with the last remnants of the Noldor > (I suppose they left after Arwen's death, but I don't think it is ever > said). I thought I read somewhere that by staying behind they effectively chose mortality (although their motives for doing so are anything but clear). Thus, when Elrond left Middle Earth he rejoined his wife but was permanently cut off from all three of his children. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2001 20:30:15 -0800 From: John Calvin Subject: Re: Technomancer Prestige Class Hi Ethan, Since I guess I'm one of the few Mystarafiles who actually likes the idea of technomancy, I'll try and leave some questions/comments. Keep this stuff coming, because (at least for me) it's very useful. >> I finally got time to finish this up. I hope you all enjoy! It includes stuff about Modular Magic, and technomancy, and all sorts of fun things. If anyone has any comments, PLEASE pipe them through. I have a whole neat new list of feats too coming along for Thimhallan, as well as Thimhallan itself :) << I'd like to see some feats (and possibly a few skills and classes) for a "fantasized" techno society. I myself am working on something similar for my hidden Blackmoor project. >> Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The Technomancer is proficient with exotic Technomantic weapons. << What are these? I assume you have a few up your sleeve? ;) >> Bonus Construction Feat: At 1st and 6th level, a technomancer receives a bonus item construction feat. The pluses are virtual level bonuses to qualify for more advanced creation feats. For example, a wiz3/TM6 is only spellcaster level 9, but can take the craft staff or forge ring feats because they receive a bonus feat at +4 their actual spellcaster level. This bonus is ONLY for the purpose of taking the bonus feat, and they do not stack. << I think I would limit this bonus for use on purely technomantic items only. >> Modular Magic: As part of their training, technomancers learn a specialized and formal method of magic use which allows them to consciously alter the energy type of spells and magic items, much like the energy substitution feat. As a standard action, as many times a day as his/her level allows, a technomancer can alter the energy type of a spell or item by making a ranged touch attack against the caster or wielder. A technomancer can use this ability as a free action if applied to a spell he or she is casting. << This is an interesting ability. I think it would add flavor to require that technomancers need to use some kind of technomantic device as a focus for this ability. The device should require both gold and time to construct. Perhaps you could extend this requirement for all technomantic spellcasting. Each spell might have its own unique device to facilitate its casting. The technomancer would then become a walking gizmo collection. Hastily constructed gizmos might allow one to a few castings of a spell before being burned out, but more expensive gadgets (or those that the technomancer spent much more time on) might allow infinite castings much like a reusable focus. These gadgets might even replace a technomancer's spellbook. Instead of spending time memorizing symbols on a page, perhaps the technomancer must spend some time each morning fine turning all of his gadgets. >> Craft Technomagical Item: Using this ability, instead of creating a normal magical item, a technomancer can create a technomagical equivalent. The advantages of a technomagical item is that it retains all of its magical powers, but is considered a non-magical masterwork item. Technomagical items are not affected by anti-magic, detectable via detect magic, or able to be dispelled. However, they are not afforded the same damage resistance vs. spells as a normal magic item, and if damaged, technomagical items lose all special abilities until they are repaired. Technomagical items look very distinctive, usually with strange patterns or cogs, sprockets, and vials attached to them, and as such they are slightly more cumbersome to carry around, weighing 1¼ times normal weight. << IMC I've rules that purely technological items (like the Beagle's engines) fail in the Mystaran universe. The two exceptions to this are items that have been modified/enhanced with magic, and items that were created from the World Shield ore or some derivitive thereof. The later items should work normally since WS ore is highly magic resistant, but the former items may have some chance of failure or misfire. >> Halt Golem: Reformat Golem: Meld With Machine: << I've been working on a prestige class with very similar abilities to these last three. I call it the Intefacer class. Interfacers have a way with constructs (either purely magical or technomantic). I like these kind of powers, but I'm not sure I would include them for a technomancer. Well, these are just some random thoughts. I hope you can make some use of them. I'd like to see more technomancy rules. I'm going to put my own together eventually, but it might be nice to collaborate a bit, if we can. -John ===== Rule #53. If the beautiful princess that I capture says "I'll never marry you! Never, do you hear me, NEVER!!!", I will say "Oh well" and kill her. from "A Guide to Becoming an Evil Overlord" by Peter Anspach __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send your FREE holiday greetings online! http://greetings.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2001 02:51:03 -0200 From: Andre Martins Subject: Re: Glasses of Identification ----- Original Message ----- From: "la Volpe" > > The Artifacts of the Pharaoh > > Glasses of Identification > > When the Immortals striked, the Pharaoh used his powers to teleport his > > belongings to specially prepared temples, protected from the prying eyes of > > the Immortals by powerful spells he had researched. > > So you suggest the Pharaoh was a Mage and not a worshiper of Thanatos? An > interesting idea, to say the least... His actual class is strongly connected to my campaign house rules, as. if I were to actually write his sheet, I'd have him advancing as a special class, actually. As I'm playing with 3rd Ed rules, that'd be a prestige class, with very difficult requirements to enter, the mot important of them, being the worship of many, many people. His subjects saw him as a god and he extracted power from there, something enough to give him Exated status. In OD&D, that'd mean a new class, almost impossible to enter, but with game mechanics similar to the hin Master and such. Before that, I'd make him both, cleric and wizard. Be it a special class (OD&D) or multiclassing (2nd ed, Thanatos would have granted him the ability to be a multiclassed human; and 3rd ed). He was the most powerful man of his time, powerful enough to rival the Immortals, so some new rules are needed for him, and other people like him who have eventually existed, IMC. > > > All of these temples are > > underground and protected by Exalted beings, among them, some Burrowers. > > Ugh, this is stretching the line a bit. Well, maybe not. The Nithians must have > done > something, to deserve such a treatment... Some is not meant as many, a few would do it. Anyway, I do see them as very powerful, far more than the Alphatians are nowadays, and that'd mean something above 36th level archmages. > Raniel is a cool character, and this first artifact is cool too: the Glasses are > not so > useful and create quite a problem. It would be interesting to know what happens > when a cleric wears them (maybe a hint to a way to destroy them?). When I have > time I'll read the rest (and give some comments). I haven't actualluy thought of his effects on clerics or how to destroy them yet. I had figured they one of them might be required to destroy the Pearl of Oblivion (was it a pearl, most of my stuff is still inside boxes, after I moved, so I'm doing a lot of it from memory?) Perhaps The Pearl needs to be smashed by the Claw, something along these lines. And you will need the Armor to actually going near the Pearl and not forget what you were doing, so it might be quite a quest. A cleric wearing it might feel the Glasses, or the other artifacts, as something horrible, but at the same time alluring. He'd be tempted to use, but he'd know that'd be against his believes and that he should refrain from doing so. His/her Immortal would certainly show up in a dream with hints on how to destroy that and make the PC embark on a quest to do it, while the party is hunted by powerful beings who want the artifacts for their own purposes and which are actually behind some of the national goverments. Lord of the Rings, anyone? :) ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2001 03:12:19 -0200 From: Andre Martins Subject: Re: Artifacts for my campaign ----- Original Message ----- > > Ring of Forbidden Knowledge > > The wearer of this ring automatically gains the knowledge of the old > > Immortal history, as only the most ancient Immortals know it (see the > > Ancient Secrets of Mystara article in the last volume of the Tome of Mystara > > http://www.geocities.com/mystaratome/ ). He gets a version close to the one > > Thanatos would tell. > > Ok, you fooled me. I am going to read that article, now. 8-) Got one more to read it! 8-) My own master plan is working very well... (insert evil laugh here). If he will just fail his insanity check... You will see how some of the stuff I wrote ties in with my own version of old history. The artifacts can be used on their own, but some powers and, specifically, the part Thanatos plays on it all is campaign dependent. I know it. Anyway, any comment you might have on the article will be very welcome. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 22 Dec 2001 03:07:20 -0200 From: Andre Martins Subject: Re: Claws of the Reptile From: "la Volpe" > > Claws of the Reptile > Yes, this is really a good reason for Nithia's destroying. I think we have > gathered and created so many informations about Nithia's demise that somebody > should try to write a single article collecting all these tidbits and pieces > into one. Nithia, Blackmoor, the Carnifex and a couple of others, IMC, were destroyed basically because their powers was starting to rival those of the Immortals and they were becoming very dangerous. Nithia was not as dangerous as the previous two, and the Carnifex were the worse of them all, as the Immortals have being intervening earlier and earlier, to avoid long battles, where some of their own were destroyed. A single article would be fine, and whoemever writes it, feel free to do the necessary modifications to my Artifacts, in order to make them fit your own campaign, as necessary. I know that, if I were to write it, it would include my personal take on Mystara hystory and many wouldn't consider that canon (AAHHHH....running for cover, after using the forbidden world, known to atract the wrath of the Outer Beings...) > > The artifact is ever since in a secluded cloister in Thothia, in the heart > > of the Great Escarpment. The place is under 1 mile of solid rock and can be > > reached only by tunnels that wind down for about 30 miles, in the shortest > > path. The temple, dedicated to Thanorisre and Thanatos, is protected by a > > Great Wyrm Shadow Dragon (Exalted status) > > Should be cool to write a story about Shadow Dragons in Mystara...or > maybe...uhm...change completely its description from the FR one (except for the > stats, obviously - too much work, doing that). Having decided it yet, but I'm almost sure that, IMC, this Shadow Dragon would be the mother of someone we all know and who is currently in Glantri... > > Disrupt Mortal Identity (instantaneous, touch, 100PP): If used against an > > Immortal in a Mortal Identity and the Mortal Identity is hit, it must pass a > > Fortitude Save or be killed, banning the Immortal back to his Home Plane. > > This feature is not known by the artifact current owner and it is debatable > > if it was planned by the Carnifex or added by other powers. > > The Outer Beings! Iä! Iä! Yes. Or Thanatos, see bellow. > > That usually means Thanatos, as > > he is the only one willing to destroy all Immortals. > > I don't agree with this. No no no. Obviously this means that I disagree also > with the Aura power (below) > > > Aura: every cleric or paladin of every deity, except Thanatos will feel > > unsettled on the presence of the wearer of this artifact. IMC, Thanatos plays a very special role. I have the Immortals lead by major Hierarchs in Pandius in one side, the Outer Beings at another, and Thanatos, altough accepted in Pandius, is a 3rd party of his own, trying to restore the multiverse to its initial state. That'd mean release the Outer Beings and destroy the Vortex Dimension, among other things. The OB were once his worse enemies, but he doesn't care anymore. These artifacts are actually part of a LONG term plan. He knew Nithia would be destroyed, but he wanted it to produce one more artifact. Eventually, there will be enough power prepared for the mortals or non-Path Immortals (like Rad and Rafiel) to take part in Immortal politics and he will lead them to his big, master plan. IMC, that means the next few decades everything will be happening. ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 20 Dec 2001 to 21 Dec 2001 (#2001-2) **************************************************************