Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 11 Feb 2003 to 12 Feb 2003 (#2003-44) From: Automatic digest processor Date: 13/02/2003, 19:00 To: Recipients of MYSTARA-L digests Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There are 10 messages totalling 271 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Constructs (5) 2. {OT} No Dragon subs in Europe (4) 3. OD&DITIES Issue Nine is out! ******************************************************************** 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: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 10:17:02 +0200 From: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?Ville_V_L=E4hde?= Subject: Constructs Has anybody made any revised guidelines for creating constructs? The Rules Cyclopedia states that a mage must be of level 18 or above to make any kind of a construct. That is a bit farfetched, considering that there are tons of official modules, where lower-level fiends arm themselves with gargoyles, living statues and such smaller constructs (even though gargoyles are technically "greater constructs"). The mage of our PC group is keen on reinforcing his tower, so I think I should make some house-rule decisions on this. Until now I've allowed making some constructs provided the mage can get her/his hands on certain books of rituals that describe the procedures of creating a SPECIFIC form of constructs (like living crystal statues). But it is plausible that a mage (the one in question is 12th level) could create his own rituals from scratch. Any thoughts on this one? Ville ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 09:31:11 +0100 From: Daniel Mayer Subject: Re: Constructs There's an "encyclopaedia arcanum (constructs)" or something like that existing. Not from TSR/WOTC, but designed for D20-Systems. I didn't read it so far, sorry. Daniel ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 12:05:39 -0000 From: Colin Davidson Subject: Re: Constructs ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ville V Lähde" To: Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2003 8:17 AM Subject: [MYSTARA] Constructs > Has anybody made any revised guidelines for creating constructs? The Rules > Cyclopedia states that a mage must be of level 18 or above to make any > kind of a construct. That is a bit farfetched, considering that there are > tons of official modules, where lower-level fiends arm themselves with > gargoyles, living statues and such smaller constructs (even though > gargoyles are technically "greater constructs"). > > The mage of our PC group is keen on reinforcing his tower, so I think I > should make some house-rule decisions on this. > > Until now I've allowed making some constructs provided the mage can get > her/his hands on certain books of rituals that describe the procedures of > creating a SPECIFIC form of constructs (like living crystal statues). But > it is plausible that a mage (the one in question is 12th level) could > create his own rituals from scratch. > > Any thoughts on this one? My own ruling is that being able to case some manner of creation spell is neccesary, so the maximum power level of the construct is limited by the casters rank (for example, no special abilities if create normal monsters is used, two for magical monsters, etc). The cost is, of course, high, being (according to one official source) at least 5000gp per asterisk (special ability). I make it a little pricier than that, depending on what construct is being made. And the time taken is as standard for magic item creation (as in the Glantrian and Alphatian/Thyatian gazetteers). I also have a formula for working out chance of success (treat as magical item spell like ability equal to twice the number of asterisks in levels, minumum third). Have you thought that maybe the lower level mages in charge of constructs have merely found a way of controlling them once their original creators have died? ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 08:00:37 -0600 From: The Rusty Subject: Re: Constructs > There's an "encyclopaedia arcanum (constructs)" or something like that > existing. > Not from TSR/WOTC, but designed for D20-Systems. > I didn't read it so far, sorry. > > Daniel > I have it, its from Mongoose Publishing, and its pretty good. In fact, I'd recommend most of their stuff if you are into 3rd Edition. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 10:51:54 -0800 From: hammer_of_ulric Subject: {OT} No Dragon subs in Europe Only slightly OT, but I've just received this from Paizo. I could cry. We lost TSR UK, we lost RPGA UK and now this: We have no possible way of sending magazines to anyone in Europe. We are frantically trying to get the information so we can refund your money. Johanny L. Wilson, President Paizo Publishing, LLC Publisher of Dragon, Dungeon/Polyhedron and Star Wars Insider "Dimitto magicum!" ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 13:19:42 -0600 From: Eric Anondson Subject: Re: {OT} No Dragon subs in Europe > Only slightly OT, but I've just received this from Paizo. I could cry. > We lost TSR UK, we lost RPGA UK and now this: > > We have no possible way of sending magazines to anyone in Europe. We > are frantically trying to get the information so we can refund your > money. > > Johanny L. Wilson, President > > Paizo Publishing, LLC > > Publisher of Dragon, Dungeon/Polyhedron and Star Wars Insider What was the question to which this was the reply? Eric Anondson ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 11:33:51 -0800 From: hammer_of_ulric Subject: Re: {OT} No Dragon subs in Europe European subscribers have been dumped by Paizo, I beleive because the three companies involved (print, publisher, distributor) can't agree terms. I, and many like me, have been asking WHERE IS DRAGON? and WHERE IS DUNGEON? but the publisher has now confirmed that we can't have our mags. His reply to me doesn't even suggest they will be setting up alternate arrangements. The sale of Dragon and Dungeon to Paizo has failed, at least for those wanting to save money with a subscription. So its back to the newsagents. Hammer of Ulric ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 14:21:00 -0600 From: Eric Anondson Subject: Re: {OT} No Dragon subs in Europe > His reply to me doesn't even suggest they will be setting up alternate > arrangements. That's why I was asking what exactly the question was that he was replying to. I'm not unsympathetic in the least. But there have been magazine distribution problems to Europe for quite a long time now, I believe ever since the Living Greyhawk Journal and Polyhedron were rolled into Dragon and Dungeon. This happened before Paizo ever got the license to publish the magazines. I seem to recall that the subscriber address lists in Europe were held by an entirely separate company that was refusing (for whatever reason) to cooperate with WotC, and obviously now Paizo, to help clean up the issue. It sounds like Paizo is just throwing up their arms, I wouldn't be surprised if they start fresh with their own subscriber system into Europe, and that it required backing out of the arrangement that they are in right now. Eric Anondson ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 21:44:14 -0000 From: Richard Tongue Subject: OD&DITIES Issue Nine is out! Well, it's finally here. OD&DITIES Issue 9 is now avaliable for download at http://www.tongue.fsnet.co.uk ! This issue features excellent cover artwork by Jeremy Simmonds, and the first half of an excellent interview of Gary Gygax. Another excellent article is the first part of the 'World of Herol', a new campaign world for OD&D designed by Carl Quaif. Other articles include: Governing Gods, by Guy Robinson First Strike, by Erin D. Smale Some Enchanted Item, by Erin D. Smale Combat sans Matrix, by Erin D. Smale Street of a Thousand Adventures, by Geoff Gander Please let me know your opinions, items, thoughts and suggestions, at Methuslah@tongue.fsnet.co.uk Enjoy! Richard Tongue, Editor, OD&DITIES ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 23:16:28 -0500 From: David Knott Subject: Re: Constructs From: "Ville V Lähde" > Has anybody made any revised guidelines for creating constructs? The Rules > Cyclopedia states that a mage must be of level 18 or above to make any > kind of a construct. That is a bit farfetched, considering that there are > tons of official modules, where lower-level fiends arm themselves with > gargoyles, living statues and such smaller constructs (even though > gargoyles are technically "greater constructs"). Well, the 3E MM only requires an arcane spellcaster to be of at least level 14 to create a flesh golem -- so your 12th level wizard just might be able to create a "lesser construct". The key point would seem to be that you need to determine which spells are required to create the construct and then set the minimum caster level at least one level higher than the level needed to cast the highest level required spell. ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 11 Feb 2003 to 12 Feb 2003 (#2003-44) ***************************************************************