Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 6 Apr 2002 to 7 Apr 2002 (#2002-95) From: Automatic digest processor Date: 08/04/2002, 17:00 To: Recipients of MYSTARA-L digests Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There are 9 messages totalling 435 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. North Western Skothar & Nentsun 2. George's Current Mystara Campaign (long) (2) 3. Old World Nations Foreign Policy in 1,000 AC (2) 4. George's Current Mystara Campaign (3) 5. Point of view was [MYSTARA] George's Current Mystara Campaign ******************************************************************** 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, 7 Apr 2002 11:00:47 CEST From: la Volpe Subject: North Western Skothar & Nentsun I was considering that I never decided where exactly to put my Nentsun stuff. My original thought, considering the world map of the Rules Cyclopedia, was to put it on the eastern coast of Skothar, and thus it wouldn't be related to the map Thibault recently drew; more precisely, Nentsun would be placed in the northern part of the M-Tibet from Christian Constantin's maps, bordering the sea. However, we could also decide to place it in the northern region of Skothar...I don't know, any suggestions? Iulius Sergius Scaevola Captain of the XXth Cohort Port Lucinius, Thyatis ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 7 Apr 2002 08:35:38 -0500 From: Giorgio Subject: George's Current Mystara Campaign (long) Thanks to the recent posts on the subject of technology and printing presses, I now have an extra element I can add to my ongoing adventure. If anyone can suggest any names for the immortals and NPCs I need to fill in the blanks, please feel free to comment. The PCs adventure takes place following the first Selenica Conference of 1,000 AC. This conference, celebrated from Klarmont 15-22, was organized by [the leader of Darokin or mayor merchant house head] to promote and discuss economical, military, political and technical issues between all participating nations. To this conference assisted delegates from Alfheim, Darokin, The Shire, Irendi, Karameikos, Minrothad, Rockhome, Thyatis and Ylaruam. This conference had the direct blessing of [immortal of trade/merchants], [immortal of peace/prosperity], and [immortal of knowledge] who had vested interests in seeing the nations of the Old World develop peaceful, profitable and stable international relationships. They where opposed by [immortal of war/death], [immortal of corruption/geed] and [immortal of chaos] who have a vested interest in seeing the opposite take place. Many events took place leading to the creation of the conference, of which the PCs will find out about with time. The PCs start their adventures a few days after the conference finishes, and they join the last mayor caravan on its way to Kelvin as passengers. Each of the PCs has their own reasons for reaching Kevin, and they have never seen each other before. The only thing they have in common is that each of them has a background involved with trade or industry and they where all participating in the conference as part of their nations trade delegations. In this conference, many trade deals where signed , political borders and alliances formed, exchanges of military and law-enforcement officers took place , and dissuasions of new ideas, skills, and technologies (mechanical and magical) occurred. A mayor invention presented in the conference was from the Darokin delegation, where they presented a new machine that they claimed would revolutionize the world: The Wordbinder. The Wordbinder is a machine that allows for the rapid, accurate and reliable copying of non-magical printed words quickly, efficiently and cheaply. This machine can copy whole books in a fraction of the time and cost that it takes a professional scribe, and it competes against the uncommon and expensive Glantri word copying spells that nations have used until now. It has the potential to create a whole new market, quickly and cheaply diffuse knowledge and allow for greater communications between people that don’t have access to communication magic or who can't afford to use them if available. One of the PCs is part of the Darokin delegation tasked with the promotion of the Wordbinding machine and I am going to have him go around promoting it in many places. Unknown to him, there are quite a few immortals (and their servants) interested in seeing that this comes about, and others who want to see it never take off. Lots of potential adventuring ideas here I can develop. On their way to Kelvin the caravan in which the PCs are in has been attacked by a large group of goblins and currently the PCs are fighting for their lives against a powerful magical attack force created by a 12th lv Glantri wizard that wants something that caravan has. The adventure so far (we have played 4 sessions) has been quite interesting, and I plan on writing about it and posting it online. A few things I have noticed as a GM is that I prefer the third person point of view when describing dialogue ("the guard tells you to halt"), the first person view when having the PCs tell me their characters actions ("Robert goes up to the guard and says "Hail and well meet guardsmen"") and I use/describe spell effects for dramatic effect and I don’t bother to use the spell description/ rules as found in the rulebooks when not in combat. On a different note I just bought the Dawn Of Emperors, Shadow Elves and B1-9 In Search of Adventure books, and I will post something about them after I receive them this week. George ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 7 Apr 2002 08:43:33 -0500 From: Giorgio Subject: Old World Nations Foreign Policy in 1,000 AC In my campaign, I am currently working on the political/geo-political relationships of the various Old World nations as found in the GAZs in 1,000 AC. So far I have a good idea of how Irendi, Rockhome, Ylaruam, Thyatis, Alphatia, Karameikos, the Shadow Elves and the Broken Lands deal with each other. However, I have very little idea of how the Ethengar Khanate, Glantri, Darokin , Shires, Heldan Freeholds and Alfheim deal with their neighbors. Could someone please give me an overview of how these six nations related to another and who their friends and enemies are? Thanks in advance, George ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 7 Apr 2002 17:21:44 CEST From: la Volpe Subject: Re: George's Current Mystara Campaign Ok, some suggestions for the names: [the leader of Darokin or mayor merchant house head] Corwyn Mauntea [immortal of trade/merchants] Asterius [immortal of peace/prosperity] Koryis [immortal of knowledge] ? [immortal of war/death] Thanatos [immortal of corruption/geed] Atzanteotl [immortal of chaos] Loki However the names of the Immortals might change depending on HOW these Immortals are involved in the matter. If they work as a tight group, probably of the Entropic Immortals only one would be a high-ranking Immortal, while the others would be servants/allies of much lower rank (it's difficult seeing powerful Entropics cooperate) Greetings, Iulius Sergius Scaevola Captain of the XXth Cohort Port Lucinius, Thyatis ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 7 Apr 2002 15:31:29 -0400 From: Dan Eustace Subject: Re: George's Current Mystara Campaign > Ok, some suggestions for the names: > > [the leader of Darokin or mayor merchant house head] > Corwyn Mauntea > > [immortal of trade/merchants] > Asterius > > [immortal of peace/prosperity] > Koryis > > [immortal of knowledge] > Could use Ixion, Ka, Noumena, or even Odin, although all of these have other interests besides the pure pursit of knowledge. Ssu-Ma is the "Father of Written Knowledge" said to have invented magical scrolls and spell books; he has an artifact described in the Master's set. Since he is little known, and seldom mentioned, it might be interesting to include him, to some degree. > > [immortal of war/death] > Thanatos > > [immortal of corruption/geed] > Atzanteotl Masauwu could be also used here, especially if Atzanteotl is the head of this plot. Atz. and Than. may not work together that easily. Mausauwu was basically a snake oil salesman in life who liked to drive people to ruin and death (while derviving enjoyment from such pursuits). > [immortal of chaos] > Loki The others are the best choices, I agree. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 7 Apr 2002 16:43:34 +0000 From: Agathokles Subject: Re: Old World Nations Foreign Policy in 1,000 AC Giorgio wrote: > > However, I have very little idea of how the Ethengar Khanate, Glantri, > Darokin , Shires, Heldan Freeholds and Alfheim deal with their neighbors. > Could someone please give me an overview of how these six nations related to > another and who their friends and enemies are? Ethengar: on bad terms with almost everyone but Rockhome, but always raiding Glantrian border. Heldann Freeholds: free, its neutral and basically non-concerned with foreign politics; under the Heldannic Knights rule, it is agressive, and opposed to Alphatia, Norwold and Ethengar, while relatively friendly with Vestland. Alfheim: they have a single neighbour, Darokin, and are on good terms with them. On good terms with Karameikos and the other WDL countries as well. Shires: on bad terms with Thyatis, Rockhome and the Black Eagle barony, otherwise neutral or friendly with its neighbours. Glantri: on good terms with Darokin, and to some extent with Thyatis and Alfheim as well. On very bad terms with the Shires, Rockhome, Ylaruam, and Ethengar. Neutral with all others, with some rivalry with Alphatia. -- Giampaolo Agosta agathokles@libero.it agosta@elet.polimi.it http://digilander.iol.it/agathokles ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 7 Apr 2002 13:53:14 -0700 From: Chris Furneaux Subject: Re: George's Current Mystara Campaign > [immortal of trade/merchants] > Asterius Asterius from Blackmoor, but "ignored his culture's fascination with technology and explored the ways of magic." While he is the patron of thieves and merchants, I doubt he would be eagar to further technology. I would still have him giving his blessing for this meeting to encourage trade and profiteering, but would have him aproch it more carfully then the others and stick to the more trade side of affairs. > [immortal of knowledge] > ? I think I would use Korotiku (the spider/the trickster). Patron of clever fighters and theives, arch enimy of loki (as Korotiku tricks to make people think and shattter illusions, Loki tricks for destructive purpose. Sphere: Thought. Looks eagarly on the clever and self sufficient, and above all values clever thinking. I would use him because he throws a little more potential for interest into the mix I think then the others. Others suggested: Ixion - Sphere: energy. Promotes knowledge believing it a tool to fight entropy, and is a particually friendly with Asterius. I don't think he would have a lot of interest in this conference, but I do think that he might observe some of the precedings out of interest. Ensuring that he has someone looking into it. Ixion is a very old immortal and I think especally because of his firey nature he is quite set in his ways especally that he be paid the worship he is due. I think that he would have his doubts about this conference fearing the potential that it has to provide entropy with dangerous tools. Ka - Sphere Matter. Profile not really conected to the conference though. Noumena - Sphere: Thought. Not sure, don't know enough. Odin - Sphere: Thought. > [immortal of chaos] > Loki A mischievious immortal, who delights in causeing trouble. He would take this obitunity for as much mischief as possible, but would be unlikely to be doing it in co-operation with other entropics, more for his own fun and the spread of mischief. Also events like this one in Draokin would be of interest to him with his plots and schemes in hule advancing. Thanatos is also a good choice, as technology is a great tool to bring wreck, ruin and death to many. Chris. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax http://taxes.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 7 Apr 2002 21:57:32 -0400 From: Dan Eustace Subject: Re: George's Current Mystara Campaign (long) > A few things I have noticed as a GM is that I prefer the third person point > of view when describing dialogue ("the guard tells you to halt"), the first > person view when having the PCs tell me their characters actions ("Robert > goes up to the guard and says "Hail and well meet guardsmen"") and I > use/describe spell effects for dramatic effect and I don't bother to use the > spell description/ rules as found in the rulebooks when not in combat. Hmm. I'll only use that style if I want to skim over stuff, or if I'm giving a general description of what occured, i.e. "You look around the town for most of the day, talk to a bunch of people, but no one seems to know much about any wizard named Marsheem." Usually most of the interactions are fully role-played out, the way actors would. Sometimes that can bog things down, but it adds a whole 'nother element to the game. Nearly everyone uses odd accents or voices depending on their character, and as DM, I've got to come up with different (and recognizable) voices for every NPC encountered, often having to role-play several of them at once. This is especially challenging when you have a few NPCs talking back and forth, with the PCs just listening. What it amounts to is basically having a conversation with myself, all in different voices! I'd much rather launch into an actual diabolical laughter, then simply stating, "The evil cleric, laughs maniacally at you, and proceeds to attack." I was wondering how many groups use each of these styles, since I've seen both. In a recent game I sat in on, everyone kept looking at me funny when I insisted on speaking my dwarven PC's lines in a deep, gruff voice, and coloring my comments with references to stone and mining, but hey, it was fun! ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 01:19:05 -0500 From: Stone Marshall Subject: Point of view was [MYSTARA] George's Current Mystara Campaign I alternate between 1st person and 3rd person. My players and I love to act out our characters voices and mannerisms. We use 3rd person when we are in a hurry or I just feel like the game has dragged on enough. I would never use it for the Red Dragon in the dungeon. One person comes to mind and he always tries flattery with a dragon (Oh, of course your a girl dragon!)hehe. It makes for a more memorable night for my son when I use voices and some props. He is just learning the game so its fun to watch his face light up, and not in front of a video game! Multizar the Mage > From: Dan Eustace > Reply-To: Mystara RPG Discussion > To: MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > Subject: Re: [MYSTARA] George's Current Mystara Campaign (long) > Date: Sun, 7 Apr 2002 21:57:32 -0400 > > > A few things I have noticed as a GM is that I prefer the third person > point > > of view when describing dialogue ("the guard tells you to halt"), the > first > > person view when having the PCs tell me their characters actions > ("Robert > > goes up to the guard and says "Hail and well meet guardsmen"") and I > > use/describe spell effects for dramatic effect and I don't bother to use > the > > spell description/ rules as found in the rulebooks when not in combat. > > Hmm. I'll only use that style if I want to skim over stuff, or if I'm > giving a general description of what occured, i.e. "You look around the > town > for most of the day, talk to a bunch of people, but no one seems to know > much about any wizard named Marsheem." Usually most of the interactions > are > fully role-played out, the way actors would. Sometimes that can bog things > down, but it adds a whole 'nother element to the game. Nearly everyone > uses > odd accents or voices depending on their character, and as DM, I've got to > come up with different (and recognizable) voices for every NPC encountered, > often having to role-play several of them at once. This is especially > challenging when you have a few NPCs talking back and forth, with the PCs > just listening. What it amounts to is basically having a conversation with > myself, all in different voices! I'd much rather launch into an actual > diabolical laughter, then simply stating, "The evil cleric, laughs > maniacally at you, and proceeds to attack." I was wondering how many > groups > use each of these styles, since I've seen both. In a recent game I sat in > on, everyone kept looking at me funny when I insisted on speaking my > dwarven > PC's lines in a deep, gruff voice, and coloring my comments with references > to stone and mining, but hey, it was fun! > > ******************************************************************** > 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. > _________________________________________________________________ MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 6 Apr 2002 to 7 Apr 2002 (#2002-95) *************************************************************