Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 1 Dec 2001 to 2 Dec 2001 (#2001-331) From: Automatic digest processor Date: 03/12/2001, 19:00 To: Recipients of MYSTARA-L digests Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There are 18 messages totalling 902 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Question (4) 2. Sentient Races of Mystara, 'T' (5) 3. Threshold (2) 4. Threshold - under seige? (3) 5. Sentient Races list - "Skulk" to "Zombie, Lightning" (3) 6. Diplomacy In Traladara, 965 A.C. ******************************************************************** 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: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 06:04:55 -0500 From: David Knott Subject: Re: Question From: "Chris Furneaux" > I own PWA's 1+2. I have the oppitunity to buy the PWA > 3 and Joshuan's Alminac. My question is, is it worth > it(they are in excellent condition/near new and about > US$9..the PWA3 still has the map attached)? A lot depends on what you are after. Here is a brief summary of what you would get from each almanac: PWA3: Events of 1012 AC, and AD&D 2E versions of surviving NPCs from previous two almanacs. Joshuan's Almanac: Events of 1013 AC (thus giving you a bridge to all the later Net Mystara Almanacs) and a new format that gives you a better idea of how most Mystarans think their world is (as opposed to how it really is). > Also what happened to the acaeum? It's dissappeared! No idea -- what is the acaeum? > They also have a excellent condition copy of > gaz5-elves of alfheim (which I had just bought a copy > of the other week) which I could grab if anyone was > interested in trading me for it/preferably down this > end of the world (NZ). Apparantly someone brought in > like 9 of the gaz's and I missed out. I want to know > is who there is in wellington buying them. No idea -- but it seems to be one of the scarcer gazetteers, and the last time I checked it was the only gazetteer that Jim Butler did not yet have a copy of for ESD purposes. As an American I can provide no helpful info about the NZ market -- but I would definitely consider a copy of the Elves of Alfheim gazetteer to be a worthwhile purchase if you do not already have a copy. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 06:12:23 -0500 From: David Knott Subject: Re: Sentient Races of Mystara, 'T' From: "la Volpe" > > In last year's Mystaran Almanac there is a nation of intelligent troglodytes in > North Western Brun (Klagorst). Ok, I admit it: I wrote that bit. Is it a problem? It shouldn't be, especially given that they have Int scores of 10 in the D&D RC. This makes Mystaran troglodytes a bit more intelligent than their counterparts in the 2E MM (Int 5-7) or the 3E MM (Int 8). Perhaps the original write-up should be revised to say that they lack organization or sophisitication rather than intelligence? ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 11:06:37 +0100 From: Agathokles Subject: Re: Sentient Races of Mystara, 'T' The Stalker wrote: > > I don't think troglodytes are rare monsters, Uhm, I can't remember appearances of Troglodytes in the canon material, save for the Troglodyte lair in X1. So, they're not so common as well. > and I never connected them > with the Carnifex. As Geoff said, this comes from his work on Y'hog. > It's true that they are not overly intelligent, though, > which may be the reason for the reference to their inability to form > complex societies, as troglydytes usually live by stealing what they need > from others, i.e., preying on other societies. That's my take on it, at > least... Agreed. -- Giampaolo Agosta agathokles@libero.it agosta@elet.polimi.it http://digilander.iol.it/agathokles ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 10:19:28 EST From: Alex Benson Subject: Re: Threshold > Anyone have any campaigns/adventures taking place in Threshold, or the area > therein? If so, what is the current take on Threshold since the Karameikos > boxed set and following storylines. I never really did alot of adventuring or adventure setting in that area. However, I will poke my nose in here anyway :-) Threshold is your basic /backwoodsy/frontier/settlement town. Out of missile range of the town's walls, there should be ample dangerous creatures about. This would be a good place to start a new party. Players could use the region to make a good history for their PCs; background, motivations, personality, eductation. A party could level fairly comfortably within a day's travel of town, roaming humanoids and wolves come to mind. As they progress they could be involved in some quest or defense of the town thta brings them to the attentions of the rulers. Tis good to have friends in high places. Like any ambitious individual, the PCs are going to seek out more adventure and more prestige. Get them involved in Karameikan politics; send them to Mirros on errands and message carrying. In Mirros, hit them with some culture shock and have people treat them like bafoons. In spite of any notoriety they had in Threshold, they are nobodies in Mirros. They need to prove themselves in "the big city". Get the PCs to get manipulated a bit so they can learn from their mistakes. Establishing a reputation in Mirros, the PCs are called back to Threshold for a mid-level/high level campaign. Make it a quest, where the problem seems relatively minor but leads to bigger things. This done, they are true heros of Karamiekos. On the flip side- PCs are tasked (or hired) to cause an uprising among the Traldaran around Threshold. It's isolated and its surroundings would make support from Mirros diffcult. As a frontier town, the locals will be predominently Traladaran. They will be more self sufficient and more detached from Stefan's Court. Threshold's defenses are relatively minor (wooden palisade) and the rulers are young. A successful Traladran coup could see the town used as a Traldaran enclave stronghold. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 10:26:10 EST From: Alex Benson Subject: Re: Threshold <> oops...me thinks i jumped the gun a bit on that one. There are some references in a couple modules. Most of my Mystara materials are stashed away so I cannot give you much. I would just have win what is given. It's fairly open enough for DM artistic license in design for the area. Segway to my earlier post ideas. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 10:48:43 -0800 From: Chris Furneaux Subject: Re: Question > A lot depends on what you are after. Here is a > brief summary of > what you would get from each almanac: > > PWA3: Events of 1012 AC > Joshuan's Almanac: Events of 1013 AC Is there much of real importance that happens? > and a new format that gives > you a better idea of how most Mystarans think their > world is (as opposed to how it really is). > No idea -- what is the acaeum? It is/was a site that lists all the OD&D products, with pictures, summary, and surgested pricing. It was really really good and now it doesn't appear to be there (www.acaeum.com). Theres something else instead. > No idea -- but it seems to be one of the scarcer > gazetteers, and the last time I checked it was > the only gazetteer that Jim Butler > did not yet have a copy of for ESD purposes. As an > American I can provide no helpful info about the > NZ market -- but I would definitely consider a > copy of the Elves of Alfheim gazetteer to be > a worthwhile purchase if you do not already have a > copy. I got a copy a couple of weeks ago from the same shop and they have got another copy in recently. Chris. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Buy the perfect holiday gifts at Yahoo! Shopping. http://shopping.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 11:18:51 -0800 From: Chris Furneaux Subject: Re: Threshold - under seige? > On the flip side- PCs are tasked (or hired) to cause > an uprising among the Traldaran around Threshold. > It's isolated and its surroundings would make > support from Mirros diffcult. As a frontier town, > the locals will be predominently Traladaran. They > will be more self sufficient and more detached > from Stefan's Court. Threshold's defenses are > relatively minor (wooden palisade) and the rulers > are young. A successful Traladran coup could see the > town used as a Traldaran enclave stronghold. A few coments on this, As a frontier town I imagine it would be relitively free from a lot of the hardships faced by the rest of the country after the thyatian invasions. It's just too far out in the wilderness for most "self repecting" thyatian to be particually concerned with inforcing thyatian rule. As long as everyone behaves that is. Stefans "road building" should be seen as extremely benificial to the town as well as any extra military surport sent their way. I agree that a Traldarian uprising could be posible but the questions would be whats the point of just Threshold. The con's seem worse to me. The wooden palisade is primarally to keep monsters out, I doubt it would prove too difficult for a seasoned army. As for being self sufficient, I didn't think that was the case. My understanding is that it was primarally a logging town that trived off sending the logs down river (and of course the new minted coins) under the new karamiekian economy. Without the connection to the outside this town would strugle. I do however have a limited sugestion, and that would be it could be subverted (for all those "civilisation" players). First start cutting off/controling the arteries into and out of the town, only letting out that which is deemed benificial, bring about a change in power structure and then send an altermatium to the duke saying that Threshold is now a Traldarian state but will pledge alegence and suport to the duke in exchange for the right to run itself as it sees fit. If the duke tries to quell them, wage a gurrela war on armies as they come up the road, etc. Chris. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Buy the perfect holiday gifts at Yahoo! Shopping. http://shopping.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 22:56:42 +0100 From: Agathokles Subject: Sentient Races list - "Skulk" to "Zombie, Lightning" Here is the last section of the Sentient Races list, 'V'-'Z', plus a repost of previous sections, starting with the updated entries for Skulk and Snyad. Thanks to all those who contribued to this project providing comments and additional information. I hope the list will be a useful tool for the Mystaran DMs and players, and that more detailed articles on individual races (like the excellent Treatise on Lycanthropy by John Calvin and Vampire Rules by Bleakcabal) will keep coming. ======== Skulk Possibly a step behind the doppleganger in the evolution ladder, the Skulk is a nocturnal, underground humanoid. However, it is not a canon Mystaran monster (it is linked to the Greyhawk setting). If used on Mystara, it could be set as an ancestor of the doppleganger, living in some underground areas of the Hollow World, or in the Hollow Moon. Snyad Another small gremlin-kin, like the Mite, but even less organized and aggressive. Not a canon Mystaran monster, but neither a totally out of place one. Sollux The Sun Brothers, of Sollux, are elemental beings of the Plane of Fire. Their Brotherhood wages a constant war against the Efreeti Sultanate, and often scout the Prime for traces of Efreeti activity. Their society is (at least on the Prime) very militant, and resemble more an army than a civilian society. References: X2 Castle Amber Sphinx Sphinxes are not uncommon on Mystara. Great lovers of riddles, they may be found alone, or at most in small family groups, due to the need for extensive hunting grounds. The hill regions of the former Milenian Empire, the south-eastern tip of Brun and Thothia are all adequate for some Sphinx settlements. Some Sphinxes mix with the humanoid societies, and can be found in Serraine and in, probably, in Limn. Androsphinx This is just a male sphinx. Gynosphinx This is just a female sphinx. Spider, Planar Planar Spiders are spider-like intelligent beings hailing from some unknown Demiplane hidden in the Deep Ethereal. As there are many nations of Planar Spiders, it is likely that they have developed a number of different societies, and judging from their magic and technology, it is likely that these societies are very advanced. Sprite Sprite are faeries with a strong affinity for magic, and are closely related to Pixies. They are part of the Faery society, and can be found in the Dreamlands and in other lands of the Wee Folk, though they are probably less common than Brownies or Pixies in the human lands. References: PC1 Tall Tales of the Wee Folk. Sshai The Invisible Stalkers are elemental beings from the Plane of Air. They have a society of their own on their home plane, but appear on Mystara as summoned servants, so it is unlikely that they have formed societies here--though they probably appear in Djinn holdings in the skies of Mystara. Tabaxi This feline humanoids look much like Rakasta. They live in clans, often lead by a Tabaxi Lord--a sort of intelligent great cat, having some blood relation to the Tabaxi themselves. If used on Mystara, they could actually be a race of savage jungle Rakasta fallen under the sway of some dark power. The Tabaxi are mentioned in the Rakasta of Mystara article, so they are not entirely non-canon. References: Rakasta of Mystara, by B. Heard, Dragon Magazine 247. Tabi Tabi are small flying humanoids that look like monkeys. They have a certain affinity for magic, and are silent and dexterous, but have very short attention span, and a primitive technology level. They live in extended tribes in the jungles of northern and eastern Davania, but the Nagpa have conceived magics that allow them to summon and bind Tabi as familiars. References: PC2 Top Ballista, X4 Master of the Desert Nomads. Tasloi Tasloi are small, somewhat rat-like, humanoids. I don't think they are canon Mystaran monsters, but I seem to remember that someone put Tasloi in the Thanegioth Archipelago. They could also dwell in other jungle regions (e.g., in Skothar). Thoul A nightmarish mix of troll and ghoul over an hobgoblin frame, the Thouls are limited in numbers, but powerful in single combat, thanks to the natural abilities. Possibly due to the presence of undead blood in their makeup, Thouls reproduce slowly, and are not overly intelligent, even for goblinoids. Thoul are often employed by hobgoblin "Kings" as bodyguards, otherwise they live as outcasts in large hobgoblin hordes or in small, isolated communities. Titan A Titan is an Immortal being, a creature of status even higher than the Exalted beings, though not as powerful as a true Immortal. Titans are major servants of the Immortals, and should appear rarely, if ever, on the Prime. References: Wrath of the Immortals boxed set Tortle There are two races of turtle-like humanoids living along the Savage Coast, the pacifistic Tortles and the savage Snappers. Tortle Tortle are, rather unsurprisingly, intelligent, humanoid turtles. They have a limited technology (Stone Age, though this has changed where the Tortle lands have been colonised by the Baronial humans and the Lupins of Renardy), and are often looked upon by the more advanced races of the Savage Coast. Tortle once had an advanced cultural level, as testified by the mysterious monuments theri civilization left, like the Monoliths of Zul, but now they are just peace-loving primitives, living in the free, but resource poor, Tortle Tribelands, or peasants in the haciendas of the human Baronies. References: Savage Coast Campaign Book. Snapper Snappers are aquatic Tortles of evil disposition. They are even more primitive than their land-dwelling cousins, and their tribe are often dominated by powerful cläu-rin (intelligent but evil sea turtles). References: Savage Coast MCA. Treant These sentient plants look like large trees with humanoid faces, often bearded. They live in large forests, like Canolbarth in the Known World, sharing their territories with other woodland being. They form small clans, lead by the elders. References: PC1 Tall Tales of the Wee Folk, O2 Blade of Vengeance. Triton An highly civilized and magically powerful aquatic race, the Tritons have formed a large kingdom in the Sea of Dread, with a feudal structure. The Triton society has historically been divided along the wizards-priests line, so nowadays the King or Queen is always a wielder of both kinds of magic. Tritons are highly organized and even militaristic, probably due to their continuous struggle with the devilfishes. Looking at their language, it can be safely supposed that there have been, at some point in the past, heavy contacts between the Kingdom of Undersea and the Empire of Thyatis. It is also likely that these contacts ended badly (see the "battle of Aquapopulus" won by the Thyatians). References: PC3 The Sea Peoples, XSOLO Lathan's Gold. Troglodyte These cave-dwelling reptiles are considered (from non-canon works by Geoff Gander) a creation of the long lost Carnifex. They are not overly common, nor culturally advanced enough to form complex societies--at least not the Troglodytes found in the better known regions. Troglodytes are present in the Thanegioth Archipelago, and as slaves of the lizard-men in Davania. A nation of more advanced Troglodytes appears in the non-canon Klagorst region, by G. Caroletti. References: X1 Isle of Dread, PWA II, Mystaran Almanac AC 1017. Troll Trolls are near mindless, ravenously hungry humanoids. They are considered descendents of the Beastmen, even though they are largely different from other goblinoids. Troll minds are too limited to understand concepts as complex as that of society. The Troll domain in the Broken Lands is actually in complete anarchy, since the "Queen" only controls what passes near enough to her to be eaten. Trolls are found in relatively large numbers in a region that goes from the Broken Lands to the Northern Reaches, but some can be found in other regions, including the Savage Coast, Norwold, and Alphatia. References: Gaz 10 Orcs of Thar, Gaz 7 The Northern Reaches. Scrag These are aquatic Trolls. I don't known whether they are present on Mystara. Vampire There are several monster species belonging to the Vampire class on Mystara. The origin of many modern bloodlines can be traced to the Necromancer Kings of Taymora, and to various Entropic Immortals. Vampires are found everywhere in Brun and Alphatia, and in many of the most populated locations of Davania. The most important Vampiric societies are the Principality of Boldavia in Glantri, and the Devilfish hierarchy in the deeper reaches of the Sea of Dread. References: The Principalities of Glantri Gazetteer; Revised Vampire Rules & Bloodlines by Bleakcabal, Vampires of Mystara by Agathokles Nosferatu These undeads are closely related to Vampires, but they show lesser prowess in combat, but much stronger skills in other areas. Moreover, they suffer less from the limitations typical of Vampires, so that they can better mix with the human society. Velya These are aquatic Vampires. They come in smaller numbers, due to the unability to create new Velyas by just draining a victim dead, and are solitary. They routinely use wights as minions, creating small bands. Xvart I think this is a sort of Kobold, and an Underdark monster as well. I don't think it is present on Mystara (at least as a canon monster). Zombie, Lightning These intelligent undead are reanimated right after death by powerful Radiance energies. They retain the basic personality they had in life, but lose all memories, and acquire common undead immunities (including agelessness). They are very uncommon (and unheard of before WotI, AFAIK), but the few observed groups keep human-like behaviours, including societies, usually led by a powerful specimen (a Greater Lightning Zombie). References: Wrath of the Immortals boxed set. -- Giampaolo Agosta agathokles@libero.it agosta@elet.polimi.it http://digilander.iol.it/agathokles ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 16:53:38 -0600 From: Eric Anondson Subject: Re: Sentient Races list - "Skulk" to "Zombie, Lightning" > Xvart > I think this is a sort of Kobold, and an Underdark monster as well. I > don't think it is present on Mystara (at least as a canon monster). Believe it or not, this is another Greyhawk monster. It even has it's own god over there, named Raxivort (his followers are were-rats, xvarts and kobolds) And you are correct that they are related to kobolds. Eric Anondson ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 17:44:57 -0500 From: David Knott Subject: Re: Question From: "Chris Furneaux" > > A lot depends on what you are after. Here is a > > brief summary of > > what you would get from each almanac: > > > > PWA3: Events of 1012 AC > > Joshuan's Almanac: Events of 1013 AC > > Is there much of real importance that happens? PWA3 has a lot in it -- about as much as PWA1 and PWA2 each have. Joshuan's is skimpier, partly because of change in format and partly because all Hollow World events are ignored. One way to judge the utilitity of these almanacs might be to download the Mystaran Almanac for 1014 AC and see whether its events seem to flow from those for 1011 AC in PWA2. If they don't and you really care how things developed in your two missing years, then you may want to pick up those almanacs. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 15:47:56 -0800 From: The Stalker Subject: Re: Question On Sat, 1 Dec 2001 23:05:49 -0800, Chris Furneaux wrote: > --- Stone Marshall wrote: >> If I were you I would buy PWA3 and ignore Joshuan's >> Almanac. PWA3 gives >> stats for ADnD 2nd edition but otherwise follows >> along the same line as PWA >> 1&2. I own all of them and enjoy them. We use them >> for ideas in our >> campaign. J's Almanac follows a whole different >> setup and IMO is not worth >> the bother. They even try to say the Hollow World is >> made up! ;) > > How do the character description sections compare? It > seemed as if it might have more on indeviduals but > less of them. In PWA3 it really isn't that different from PWA1 or PWA2, except that the stats are in 2e format. In JA, the format is completely different because the product is written very "in character" from Joshuan's point of view, and more so that players may read it. For example, the character section has separate listings for Stefanius and Demetrion even though it's the same person, simply so players won't know, I assume. I remember wondering about that at first, until I checked and noted they have identical stats... > Also it looked like it might have more > on the key countries, how do the country description > compare and what parts of the world are new in each? > Anything but the known world region (those covered in gazetteers, except the Alphatian region and the subterranian regions) is discarded in JA, and you only get new IC descriptions of the same old nations... And there is very little knew stuff. I remember more details on how the Ierendi Crown Tourney is conducted, not that it was very interesting... You should buy the JA only for the sake of completeness! The PWA3 is more interesting. Even though it uses AD&D stats, it is very much true to the earlier format (in fact, the game system stats is the only thing changed in the format at all). PWA1 made new descriptions of the old nations after the war, and IIRC PWA2 describes areas of the Thyatian Hinterland and other places on Davania. In the same manner, I think PWA3 makes some descriptions about Skothar. I remember that because I did the MA events for the Jennite rebellion against the Alphatians last year and this year, and PWA3 was the best canon source of reference to what went on in the area that I could find. Events in PWA3 are done just as in PWA1 and PWA2. If you like events, you simply have to get PWA3. JA has very few events, though, and most seem to be there only to "tie up" unfinsished plots from the earlier years... - The Stalker ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 15:58:11 -0800 From: The Stalker Subject: Re: Sentient Races of Mystara, 'T' On Sun, 2 Dec 2001 11:06:37 +0100, Agathokles wrote: > The Stalker wrote: >> >> I don't think troglodytes are rare monsters, > > Uhm, I can't remember appearances of Troglodytes in the canon material, > save for the Troglodyte lair in X1. So, they're not so common as well. > Well, in the 2e MM the are listed as "common". Say, doesn't 3e have "frequency"? How are people supposed to know how common/rare monsters are in 3e? >> and I never connected them >> with the Carnifex. > > As Geoff said, this comes from his work on Y'hog. > Yes. I sort of like that idea. It might not be common D&D/AD&D/3e standard, but then gnolls weren't created by anyone specific in most other D&D worlds either (and we know they were created by the Nithians on Mystara because several sources tell us so, such as the HW set). So why not Troglodytes? (snip rest) - The Stalker ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 16:09:45 -0800 From: The Stalker Subject: Re: Threshold - under seige? On Sun, 2 Dec 2001 11:18:51 -0800, Chris Furneaux wrote: >> On the flip side- PCs are tasked (or hired) to cause >> an uprising among the Traldaran around Threshold. >> It's isolated and its surroundings would make >> support from Mirros diffcult. As a frontier town, >> the locals will be predominently Traladaran. They >> will be more self sufficient and more detached >> from Stefan's Court. Threshold's defenses are >> relatively minor (wooden palisade) and the rulers >> are young. A successful Traladran coup could see the >> town used as a Traldaran enclave stronghold. > > A few coments on this, > As a frontier town I imagine it would be relitively > free from a lot of the hardships faced by the rest of > the country after the thyatian invasions. It's just > too far out in the wilderness for most "self > repecting" thyatian to be particually concerned with > inforcing thyatian rule. As long as everyone behaves > that is. > > Stefans "road building" should be seen as extremely > benificial to the town as well as any extra military > surport sent their way. > > I agree that a Traldarian uprising could be posible > but the questions would be whats the point of just > Threshold. The con's seem worse to me. The wooden > palisade is primarally to keep monsters out, I doubt > it would prove too difficult for a seasoned army. > Okay, several points here. First, I don't see a Traladaran uprising taking place in Threshold for two reasons. 1. It's a frontier town with lots of gnolls just to the north. If the humans fight to much amongst themselves, the gnolls will use that to attack the town. 2. Of all the Thyatian lords/barons, Sherlane is probably the most benevolent and fair. The Traladarans probably see him more so than Stefan given that Stefan had to put down rebellions in his early years of rule. I've read no source that claim that to be true for Sherlane as well. Also, I see Threshold as a place where adventurers gather to fight the gnolls to the north and the goblinoids in the Wufwolde Hills. > As for being self sufficient, I didn't think that was > the case. My understanding is that it was primarally a > logging town that trived off sending the logs down > river (and of course the new minted coins) under the > new karamiekian economy. Without the connection to the > outside this town would strugle. > Agreed. > I do however have a limited sugestion, and that would > be it could be subverted (for all those "civilisation" > players). First start cutting off/controling the > arteries into and out of the town, only letting out > that which is deemed benificial, bring about a change > in power structure and then send an altermatium to the > duke saying that Threshold is now a Traldarian state > but will pledge alegence and suport to the duke in > exchange for the right to run itself as it sees fit. > If the duke tries to quell them, wage a gurrela war on > armies as they come up the road, etc. > Like I said before, my major concern with that is that Sherlane is probably the "nicest" of the Thyatian rulers, and I always got the impression people realized that. Since you say "duke" I assume it's in AC 1000, at which time such a rebellion is far more likely to take place in the Black Eagle barony where Ludwig really *is* horrible to people (Thyatians and Traladarans alike). - The Stalker ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 22:05:13 -0500 From: David Knott Subject: Re: Sentient Races of Mystara, 'T' From: "The Stalker" > > Well, in the 2e MM the are listed as "common". Say, doesn't 3e > have "frequency"? How are people supposed to know how common/rare monsters > are in 3e? I think that was left out because it means nothing on a generic basis. After all, orcs are a "common" monster in 2E, but you won't find too many of them on Athas, at the bottom of the sea (alive, at least), or at the top of Mount Celestia in the Outer Planes. On the other hand, creature type alone gives considerable clues about frequency, as animals and humanoids should be more common than giants and magical beasts, who in turn should be more common that outsiders and aberrations. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2001 00:10:55 -0500 From: Kevin Powers Subject: Diplomacy In Traladara, 965 A.C. In Traladara, circa 965 A.C., how would the dwarves and gnomes of Highforge (respectively, not collectively) react to requests by Thyatians for assistance in resolving a humanoid menace of some sort (actually, it's a bunch of Rocs flying around and snatching up farmers, but that's a long story...)? Would the dwarves or gnomes be hostile or friendly, or just plain neutral toward such a request? Would they be more or less receptive to Traladarans? Kevin ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001 21:54:34 -0800 From: Chris Furneaux Subject: Re: Threshold - under seige? > Since you say "duke" I assume it's in > AC 1000, at which time > such a rebellion is far more likely to take place in > the Black Eagle barony > where Ludwig really *is* horrible to people Well I say duke out of habit. The original question I think was on 1012 or so... Which would be King in most campaigns. It is possible that that would still be where an uprising would be best staged while the rule of Halag is transfered to new blood. Chris. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Buy the perfect holiday gifts at Yahoo! Shopping. http://shopping.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2001 08:14:46 -0500 From: Giampaolo Agosta Subject: Re: Sentient Races list - "Skulk" to "Zombie, Lightning" Eric Anondson wrote: >> Xvart >> I think this is a sort of Kobold, and an Underdark monster as well. I >> don't think it is present on Mystara (at least as a canon monster). > > Believe it or not, this is another Greyhawk monster. It even has it's own > god over there, named Raxivort (his followers are were-rats, xvarts and > kobolds) And you are correct that they are related to kobolds. Thank you. I only remembered this monster from some PC game (can't remember which one, though), and IIRC it was a blue kobold. Anyway, it still isn't a Mystaran monster (though one might want to introduce it as a mutated kobold, perhaps). -- Giampaolo Agosta agathokles@libero.it agosta@elet.polimi.it http://digilander.iol.it/agathokles ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2001 08:21:02 -0500 From: Giampaolo Agosta Subject: Re: Sentient Races of Mystara, 'T' The Stalker wrote: >> >>> I don't think troglodytes are rare monsters, >> >> Uhm, I can't remember appearances of Troglodytes in the canon material, >> save for the Troglodyte lair in X1. So, they're not so common as well. > > Well, in the 2e MM the are listed as "common". Say, doesn't 3e > have "frequency"? How are people supposed to know how common/rare monsters > are in 3e? Frequencies on the MM are related to the "average world" (that would be Greyhawk, even for 2e). There are monsters in the MM that don't appear on Mystara at all, even though they may be listed as common or uncommon. -- Giampaolo Agosta agathokles@libero.it agosta@elet.polimi.it http://digilander.iol.it/agathokles ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 1 Dec 2001 to 2 Dec 2001 (#2001-331) **************************************************************