Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 5 Oct 2003 to 6 Oct 2003 (#2003-242) From: Automatic digest processor Date: 07/10/2003, 18:00 To: Recipients of MYSTARA-L digests Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There are 4 messages totalling 175 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. About the Almanac (2) 2. Blackflame and Halfling Masters in other lands (2) ******************************************************************** 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: Mon, 6 Oct 2003 02:23:57 -0700 From: Herve Musseau Subject: Re: About the Almanac > From: "Harri_Mäki" > Don't take it too hard. Apparently noone else haven't spotted these earlier or > haven't been ready > to point them out. These things are bound to happen in projects like the net > almanacs. I have to > admit that I realise these mistakes only because I was really going through > things happening in > Thyatis and Nayce during the net almanacs and the year 1017 especially was in > all quite eventfull. Well, ultimately it's my fault, of course, since I'm the editor (whose job it is to eliminate all such inconsistencies). Since few authors update the atlas entries unless they actually write a new correspondence, it generally falls upon me to do it. Which of course is a huge task. I went back to last year's almanac and updated the entries when I saw the need too (and that's also why you have the new section - Last Year's Events - for all countries: as long as I was at it, I might as well write it down, right?). But I didn't go further back, so entries that were already wrong last year, well, ... And of course I can always miss some things. Even the editor is not infallible (that's right - i'm not a robot. who would have guessed? :) Keep 'em coming, maybe we'll make a second printing (or maybe just an erratum). ===== ___________________________________________________________ Herve Musseau http://www.geocities.com/hmusseau/ __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2003 11:14:28 -0700 From: David Keyser Subject: Re: Blackflame and Halfling Masters in other lands Havard Faanes wrote: > > > I've been toying with ideas for a Master PrC. I > suppose they are similar to Druids, but I'm looking > for ideas for special abilities for these guys. Ideas > anyone? > I don't play 3E with Mystara, so I can't offer many suggestions on converting Halfling Masters to a prestige class. Stealing feats from other druid prestige classes might help, but a few of those unique spells from GAZ8 should be brought over. In 3E the emphasis is on balance, and the Master class is one that can be very overpowering. A high level halfling master with a shortsword of blackflame is something even a 36th level mage would be reluctant to face. Dave ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2003 11:16:29 -0700 From: David Keyser Subject: Re: About the Almanac Harri Mäki wrote: > > > > Ok, this is mainly my fault. I am the one to take the > > blame for this. > > Geoff, Hervè, I'll work on this as soon as possible. > > Tell me what to do. > > > > Don't take it too hard. Apparently noone else haven't spotted these earlier or haven't been ready to point them out. These things are bound to happen in projects like the net almanacs. I have to admit that I realise these mistakes only because I was really going through things happening in Thyatis and Nayce during the net almanacs and the year 1017 especially was in all quite eventfull. > > Harri The advantage of the net Almanacs over printed materials is that you can always go back and fix things easily, and just release it as a new rev. In fact, nothing stops you from adding more stuff to earlier years either, has anyone ever considered doing that? Dave ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2003 14:39:16 -0700 From: Rodger Burns Subject: Re: Blackflame and Halfling Masters in other lands Havard Faanes wrote on October 03, 2003: > > Hi David, > > This is quite an interesting topic that I have been > thinking about aswell. > I think Masters should be allowed in lands that are > considered Halfling homelands, such as the Five > Shires, Leeha and Alphatian lands. Perhaps Blackflame > originated in the old halfling lands back on Davania > and was spread from there like the Trees of Life? > > I've been toying with ideas for a Master PrC. I > suppose they are similar to Druids, but I'm looking > for ideas for special abilities for these guys. Ideas > anyone? The main problem I see with the Master as a prestige class is the lack of special abilities. The Master was designed to provide halflings with some native spellcasters, but this is a non-issue in 3E; because of this, special abilities become a lot more difficult to determine. I guess this is what I'd go with for an ability lineup: - +1 spellcaster level per Master PrC level. - Expanded spell list starting at Level 1 - choose 2-4 'iconic' spells per spell level off the Gaz8 list, and make these available to the Master regardless of their base spellcasting class. (I don't have Gaz8 with me, so I can't list any specifics. But, for instance, if _Warp Wood_ were chosen as an iconic Level 2 spell, then a Master who started out as a Cleric or Wizard could memorize it as a second-level spell - even though it's normally only usable by druids.) - Denial 1/day at Level 3. This would function by the same rules as using a _Dispel Magic_ spell as a counterspell, usable as a free action under the Gaz8 restrictions for use (spell has to target a halfling, HP drain to the user based on targeted spell's level, etc.) Denial is usable 2/day at Level 6 and 3/day at Level 9. - Energy Subsititution - Blackflame at Level 4, as a free feat. Works the same as the usual Energy Subsitution feat, except can *only* substitute for Blackflame. (As an element, Blackflame would act as both fire and cold damage, forcing the target to use whichever of their Fire/Cold Resistance scores is lower.) - Additional Blackflame-based powers at Levels 7 and 10, probably based on some of the magical items that were presented in Gaz8. PrC requirements would probably be something like ability to cast 4th-level spells, and possibly 10+ ranks in a couple of skills such as Knowledge (Halfling Lore) and Wilderness Lore (or Survival, in 3.5E). (And halfling heritage, naturally! ^_^) P.S: I came across this post while trolling the net for expanded spell list possibilities: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mystara3E/message/1337. My personal preference would be for a PrC that extends existing spellcaster capabilities, rather than adding a new spellcaster progression, but that's just me. =/ "The best lack all conviction, While the worst are full of passionate intensity." - W.B. Yeats, "The Second Coming" Rodger Burns ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 5 Oct 2003 to 6 Oct 2003 (#2003-242) **************************************************************