Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 7 Jul 2003 to 8 Jul 2003 (#2003-172) From: Automatic digest processor Date: 09/07/2003, 17:00 To: Recipients of MYSTARA-L digests Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There are 12 messages totalling 565 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Planar Warfare Part 1 2. Planar Warfare Part 2: Staging areas (8) 3. Mystaros' "Barovia/Karameikos" article? (3) ******************************************************************** 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: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 08:02:14 -0700 From: John Calvin Subject: Planar Warfare Part 1 I just got a hold of the Dragon/Dungeon/Poly mags containing the “Githyanki Incursion” and I started to think, how could this be applied to the Mystara setting? Well, the idea that jumped out the most at me was the way in which the Githyanki utilize gates in order to commence their attacks. I thought if the Githyanki can do it, then why not some of the more powerful Known World nations (Thyatis, Glantri, Alphatia)? So here is a quick pass at what I came up with: Planar Warfare The ability to move troops around the world quickly and covertly can play a major role in whether or not a military campaign is successful. In a world dominated by magic, and filled with characters powerful to wield it at its fullest potential, magic can play a decisive part in the way warfare is carried out. The ‘Gate’ spell (and some of its variants) has a great potential to alter the way that militaries conduct combat. The following scenarios present several different ways in which the Gate spell can be used to great effect. 1) Portals: It is rumored that the ancient Nithians had a system of permanent gateways that tied their nation together across vast distances. They used these portals to move commercial goods, as well as military units, to exactly the point in their nation where those things were needed most. Pros: Portals do not require an extra-planar staging area. Anyone with the knowledge of activating a portal can use it (they need not necessarily wield magic). Cons: The endpoints of a portal system are static. Once set, they do not change. If one of the endpoints of the portal system is destroyed or damaged, access to that area will be cut off. 2) High level wizards with the Gate spell: Wizards may open a gate from their current plane to any other plane in existence that has contact with it (transitive planes may be the easiest to access – Ethereal, Shadow, and Astral, although demi-planes, the inner planes, and some outer planes may also be accessible). Travel to another point on the same plane is not possible (in one step), but wizards may open a gateway to some extra-planar staging area, and then open a second gate back to another location on their original plane. Pros: This option offers the most flexibility, as the wizard can choose his destination at will. Cons: Travel to another location on the same plane is a two step process. A staging area must be accessed and maintained (at least for some period of time). The number of gate spells that can be cast will be limited to the experience of the wizard casting them. 3) Artifacts: Some artifacts may grant planar travel (either through the Gate spell or by some other means). Artifacts may allow destination flexibility, or they may be keyed to certain locations. The method of travel (and the destinations) should be determined on a per artifact basis. Pros: Artifacts may allow non spell casters to operate them. Cons: Wielders of an artifact may experience side effects. Artifacts may have time limitations on their number of uses. Artifacts will certainly draw the attention of other powerful individuals. Defenses against Planar Attacks Defenses do exist against the threat of planar incursions. Vital areas (such as fortresses, strategic locations, and even entire cities) may be protected through the use of spells, artifacts, and even rituals performed by the general populace. However the entire territory possessed by a nation can never truly be protected… the resources to do so would simply be too great. 1) Spells – Spells that block planar travel may be cast in order to prevent gates from opening in certain locations (a castle’s courtyard, town square, etc). The spells must be maintained (cast again before their duration expires) in order to be effective. This method has the disadvantages of being hard to maintain, and only protecting limited areas. 2) Artifacts – Certain magical items may be imbued with the power to prevent planar travel. These artifacts would function much as a spell would, but their operation would be permanent. Structures could be created with these wards built into them. The area that these artifacts would protect would still be limited. 3) Rituals – Rituals are religious ceremonies performed by the general populace under the direction of the clergy. The power of the rituals can prevent planar travel as long as the rituals are maintained. Rituals might need to be performed on a regular basis (once per day, week, month, etc) depending upon their power level and how much land needs to be protected. Rituals work in a slightly different way than the other two options in that the area to be protected is essentially limitless, as long as enough true believers participate in maintaining the ritual. ===== Rule #85. I will not use any plan in which the final step is horribly complicated, e.g. "Align the 12 Stones of Power on the sacred altar then activate the medallion at the moment of total eclipse." Instead it will be more along the lines of "Push the button." from "A Guide to Becoming an Evil Overlord" by Peter Anspach __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 08:03:39 -0700 From: John Calvin Subject: Planar Warfare Part 2: Staging areas Staging Areas Staging areas are required for any gate trip to which the intended destination is on the same plane as the starting point. The Gate spell can not open up a direct route to a destination on the same plane from which it was cast, so a staging area on another plane is used as a midway point. From the staging area another Gate spell can be case with a new destination on the plane of origin. There are several problems in setting up a staging area however. These are detailed briefly below: 1) Extra-planar locations may be disconcerting (at beast) and deadly (at worst) to those traveling there. 2) Access to extra-planar locations may be limited by variables from the plane or origin. 3) Extra-planar locations are rarely devoid of native life, and the natives (sentient or not) may not take kindly to intruders upon their domain. Mystaran Staging Areas The following are just a few examples (that I can recall off of the top of my head) of possible staging areas in the Mystaran Multiverse. Honor Island : The Honor Island Mages have access to a node on the Ethereal plane. They share control of this node with creatures from the elemental plane of Fire. Spill World: This demi-plane was discovered and explored briefly by a joint Thyatian/Alphatian effort. Adventure Hooks (for WotI) 1a) Quest for Artifacts: The PCs must quest for an artifact that will either allow their forces to travel the planes, or that will protect their strongholds/cities from the threat of planar incursion. These artifacts may already be in the possession of their enemies, in which case they will need to be recovered before the enemy can use them. 1b) Destroy an Artifact: The PCs must journey deep into enemy territory and discover an artifact that is prevent planar incursions. Once the artifact has been destroyed (or removed) the PCs can launch a sneak attack directly in the heart of enemy territory. 2a) Opening Nithian Portals: Nithian portals from the Known World to the Island of Dawn (perhaps in Thothian territory) could play an important role in the invasion of either of those areas. The PCs must gain control of a portal within their territory and learn how to operate it. Once the proper rituals are known they can launch an invasion into the heart of enemy territory. Supplying the troops once there will also become a top priority, so both endpoints of the portal will have to be controlled. 2b) More Nithian Portals: Unknown to the PCs, there is a third portal that is tied into the network, and it has just fallen under control of the enemy. The PCs must defend one of their portals against a sneak attack from within. They must then find the enemy controlled portal and capture it in order to deny the opposing army access to it. 3a) Access Staging Area: The PCs must negotiate with a power that already has control of a Staging Area (perhaps the Honor Island Mages). Their mission is to gain access to the area for troop movements through diplomacy, or if that fails to try and prevent their enemies from doing the same. 3b) Control Staging Area: The PCs must lead an expedition that will gain control of a known staging area. The area may be under the control of populations native to the plane it exists on, or it may already be under the control of their enemies. 3c) Create Staging Area: The PCs are tasked with the creation of a secret stating area. They must open a gate to another plane and transport enough materials and resources to get the staging area into a functional state. All of their activities will invariably draw the attention of natives of the plane who will want to acquire the staging area for themselves. Can anyone else think of any other Mystaran extra-planar strongholds? Any ideas on how they would be used in a combat situation (WotI for example)? -John ===== Rule #85. I will not use any plan in which the final step is horribly complicated, e.g. "Align the 12 Stones of Power on the sacred altar then activate the medallion at the moment of total eclipse." Instead it will be more along the lines of "Push the button." from "A Guide to Becoming an Evil Overlord" by Peter Anspach __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 08:33:17 -0700 From: Joe Kelly Subject: Re: Planar Warfare Part 2: Staging areas In My campaign I have used a couple of things and do incorporate portals 1. I use the Portal Master character from Wizards of the coast site here: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=3Dfr/fx20020717rp=20 2 I use the Mega Map from the wizards daily map that featured a lagre = dungeon: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/mapofweek/POSTER_600_h4s.jpg=20 The Black Circle Pits I use as the portal areas 3. I use the book Stronghold Builder's Guidebook to flesh it out. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=3Dproducts/dndacc/881660000=20 4. Also I used the portal adventures on the site to give me ideas: http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp-a=3Dsp10025a73&sp-f=3DISO-8859-1&sp-t=3D= dnd.tpl.00121bbf&sp-q=3DPortals&sp-k=3DDungeons+and+Dragons=20 So hope this helps some one out there. :) JK Wolf ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 11:45:41 -0700 From: John Calvin Subject: Re: Planar Warfare Part 2: Staging areas Joe Kelly wrote: >> In My campaign I have used a couple of things and do incorporate portals Yeah, I've seen many of those portal sights off of the main wizards page. I'll have to check out that last link, but I'm having some trouble opening it correctly. I guess what I was really trying to explore though, was using gates (the spell) as a way of moving troops around... especially during WotI. For example, what's to stop some Alpher mage from 1) openning a gate to a demi-plane, and moving his troops (and himself) into the demi-plan. 2) openning a gate from the demi-plane into the center of Thyatis city, and unleashing his army on an unsuspecting populace. Is this tactic feasable? The new Dragon 309/Dungeon 100 issue seems to imply that it would be. If so, then how could the opposing sides in WotI use it to their advantage. It kind of changes the whole concept of moving troops around. You no longer need to spend months on a sea voyage, or weeks or trudging across the countryside. Now you take 2 steps and you're ready to engage the enemy! -John ===== Rule #85. I will not use any plan in which the final step is horribly complicated, e.g. "Align the 12 Stones of Power on the sacred altar then activate the medallion at the moment of total eclipse." Instead it will be more along the lines of "Push the button." from "A Guide to Becoming an Evil Overlord" by Peter Anspach __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 12:27:29 -0700 From: Joe Kelly Subject: Re: Planar Warfare Part 2: Staging areas Well the way it is described under the Portal Master character was this: As for the last link it was just the Perilous Gateways archive site for = Portal adventures.=20 JK Wolf >>> chimpman.geo@YAHOO.COM 07/08/03 11:45AM >>> Joe Kelly wrote: >> In My campaign I have used a couple of things and do incorporate portals Yeah, I've seen many of those portal sights off of the main wizards page. = I'll have to check out that last link, but I'm having some trouble opening it correctly. I guess what I was really trying to explore though, was using gates (the = spell) as a way of moving troops around... especially during WotI. For example, what's to stop some Alpher mage from 1) openning a gate to a demi-plane, = and moving his troops (and himself) into the demi-plan. 2) openning a gate = from the demi-plane into the center of Thyatis city, and unleashing his army on = an unsuspecting populace. Is this tactic feasable? The new Dragon 309/Dungeon 100 issue seems to = imply that it would be. If so, then how could the opposing sides in WotI use it = to their advantage. It kind of changes the whole concept of moving troops = around. You no longer need to spend months on a sea voyage, or weeks or trudging across the countryside. Now you take 2 steps and you're ready to engage = the enemy! -John =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Rule #85. I will not use any plan in which the final step is horribly complicated, = e.g. "Align the 12 Stones of Power on the sacred altar then activate the medallion at = the moment of total eclipse." Instead it will be more along the lines of "Push = the button." from "A Guide to Becoming an Evil Overlord" by Peter Anspach __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com=20 ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp=20 The Mystara Homepage: http://www.dnd.starflung.com/=20 To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM=20 with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 12:38:08 -0700 From: Joe Kelly Subject: Re: Planar Warfare Part 2: Staging areas by the way here is the Portal Master adventures: The Drifting Portal: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=3Dfr/pg20020807x=20 The Pirates Escape Portal: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=3Dfr/pg20020814x=20 The Elven Unification Portal: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=3Dfr/pg20020821x=20 Avernask, The Sullen Portal: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=3Dfr/pg20020828x=20 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 12:50:23 -0700 From: David Keyser Subject: Re: Planar Warfare Part 2: Staging areas There is precedent, in M2 Vengeance of Alphaks, the Alphatians open a gate near the capital of Norworld to lay a siege and cutoff the troops which guard the only mountain pass. There was also X12 Skarda's Mirror. I don't know about the middle of a city, troops would be embroiled in a chaotic melee and be unable to secure the gate. A worst case scenario the gate could be dispelled and troops would be stranded. More likely you would open the gate in a staging area somewhere unseen and safe to allow you to have everyone get through and get organized before attacking. The Alphatians would be the only ones close to the githyanki in terms of practice and use of the tactic. Other nations might experiment with it, but the hardest part would be finding a safe demi-plane. Dave John Calvin wrote: > > I guess what I was really trying to explore though, was using gates (the spell) > as a way of moving troops around... especially during WotI. For example, > what's to stop some Alpher mage from 1) openning a gate to a demi-plane, and > moving his troops (and himself) into the demi-plan. 2) openning a gate from > the demi-plane into the center of Thyatis city, and unleashing his army on an > unsuspecting populace. > > Is this tactic feasable? The new Dragon 309/Dungeon 100 issue seems to imply > that it would be. If so, then how could the opposing sides in WotI use it to > their advantage. It kind of changes the whole concept of moving troops around. > You no longer need to spend months on a sea voyage, or weeks or trudging > across the countryside. Now you take 2 steps and you're ready to engage the > enemy! > > -John > > ===== > Rule #85. > I will not use any plan in which the final step is horribly complicated, e.g. "Align > the 12 Stones of Power on the sacred altar then activate the medallion at the > moment of total eclipse." Instead it will be more along the lines of "Push the > button." > > from "A Guide to Becoming an Evil Overlord" by Peter Anspach > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! > http://sbc.yahoo.com > > ******************************************************************** > 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: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 15:58:52 -0400 From: Chris Cherrington Subject: Re: Planar Warfare Part 2: Staging areas It's been a long time since I read Skarda's Mirror, but this will fit up your alley. I believe it is a portal to a pocket plane that an evil doer is gathering a large force inside to invade Karameikos. All you need to do is get the mirror to the inside of Stephan's house and you have a Trojan Horse. Another note to check out is the Rainbow Path, that is a mass means of transportation, and there was an invasion in Alfheim by extra planar beastmen that was stopped at Tree Shield, Alfheim City was built on it's scar. IMC, I used a Nithian device that was a map of the Isle of Dawn. Within this map, only the king (by use of the Hook and Flail) could see his troop's locations. By use of other devices he was able to move certain shock troops around the Isle of Dawn. In the WotI, several players became interested in a much improved version of the same artifact, and accidently moved 2 divisions of undead into Glantri City, thus starting the official war. I liked this accident better than having 30 mages gating elementals and such in Glantri. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 22:54:47 +0000 From: Giampaolo Agosta Subject: Re: Planar Warfare Part 2: Staging areas David Keyser wrote: > > The Alphatians would be the only ones close to the githyanki in > terms of practice and use of the tactic. Other nations might > experiment with it, but the hardest part would be finding a safe > demi-plane. They could create one, permanent or more likely temporary, by spell or by other techniques (depending on the rule set). They could even try with something lower-powered, like passing through the Border Ethereal. GP -- di nuovo come un tempo sopra l'Italia intera urla il vento e soffia la bufera ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 15:45:36 -0700 From: Andrew Theisen Subject: Mystaros' "Barovia/Karameikos" article? I've been trying to find this article of Mystaros', from several years ago. Not a full article, really, just a blurb on his theory of Barovia as originating on Mystara that he posted to the MML some time ago. I thought it was on the Vaults, but I can't seem to find it there. I also did a search of the digest archives at Wizards, but didn't find it there. The other archives (vols 1 and 2) don't seem to exist anymore. Anyone else know where I can find this? Thanks! ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 22:16:28 -0500 From: Web Warlock Subject: Re: Mystaros' "Barovia/Karameikos" article? I posted one a while back saying I thought Barovia was part of Glantri. Was that it? I'll look for it if you like. Tim -- Timothy S. Brannan timothy.brannan@comcast.net -- I'm just a soul who's intentions are good Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood. - The Animals, "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" > -----Original Message----- > From: Mystara RPG Discussion [mailto:MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM]On > Behalf Of Andrew Theisen > Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2003 5:46 PM > To: MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > Subject: [MYSTARA] Mystaros' "Barovia/Karameikos" article? > > > I've been trying to find this article of Mystaros', from several > years ago. Not a full article, really, just a blurb on his theory > of Barovia as originating on Mystara that he posted to the MML > some time ago. I thought it was on the Vaults, but I can't seem > to find it there. I also did a search of the digest archives at > Wizards, but didn't find it there. The other archives (vols 1 and > 2) don't seem to exist anymore. > > Anyone else know where I can find this? Thanks! > > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 22:23:57 -0700 From: Kar Ess Subject: Re: Mystaros' "Barovia/Karameikos" article? I put it on Itheldown Island. KS --- Andrew Theisen wrote: > I've been trying to find this article of Mystaros', from several years > ago. Not a full article, really, just a blurb on his theory of Barovia > as originating on Mystara that he posted to the MML some time ago. I > thought it was on the Vaults, but I can't seem to find it there. I also > did a search of the digest archives at Wizards, but didn't find it > there. The other archives (vols 1 and 2) don't seem to exist anymore. > > Anyone else know where I can find this? Thanks! > > ******************************************************************** > 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. > __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 7 Jul 2003 to 8 Jul 2003 (#2003-172) **************************************************************