Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 20 Aug 2004 to 22 Aug 2004 (#2004-173)
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There are 14 messages totalling 1210 lines in this issue.

Topics of the day:

 1. 3.5E Radiance Magic (Part 1) (3)
 2. Mystara Dutch (3)
 3. Reviving the Tome of Mystara (7)
 4. 3.5E Radiance Magic (Part 2)

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Date:    Sun, 22 Aug 2004 01:53:34 -0700
From:    Rodger Burns <libramus@SCN.ORG>
Subject: 3.5E Radiance Magic (Part 1)

Hey!  Decided to pull some notes together and write up some information
on spells and magic for the Radiance in 3.5E.  The work I've done is
based on the following material:

- Havard's Radiance basics, at http://dnd.starflung.com/radiance.html.
- Havard's Radiance Mage PrC, at http://dnd.starflung.com/rad_mage.html,
EXCEPT that I'm treating it as a 5-level PrC (similar to the Archmage)
which gains Radiance Magic V at 1st level and improves from there.
There are no Radiance spells of less than 5th level.

This writeup just converts spells from Gaz3 to 3.5E; I've got another
dozen original spells that I'll be writing up in later installments.
As my copy of Gaz3 is inaccessible at the moment, I may be getting some
of the details wrong here - please let me know if anything should be
revised.  Thanks.


CALL UPON RADIANCE
Conjuration (Summoning)
Level: RadM 5
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round/level

By casting this spell, you draw upon the power of the Radiance to
improve the power of the spells you cast.  For the remainder of the
spell's duration, you may choose to spontaneously apply metamagic to the
spells that you use, applying one level's worth of metamagic to your
spells for every level of Radiance Mage that you possess.  You do not
have to choose metamagic feats known to you for this.  You can choose to
apply different metamagic feats to each spell cast.

Spells that have metamagic applied to them by Call Upon Radiance have
their casting times extended (as per usual for spontaneous metamagic).
You may choose not to apply metamagic to spells you cast in order to
have the usual casting time apply.

Focus: Your Radiance Receptacle.  As such, this spell can normally only
be cast when within your tower in Glantri.

[Design Notes: Providing spontaneous metamagic is IMHO a much cleaner
and more flexible way of handling the spell mechanic than the Gaz3
tables.  Why try and convert a one-off mechanic from 0E when a
made-to-order 3E mechanic is available?]

SUMMON RADIANCE
Conjuration (Summoning)
Level: RadM 6
Components: V, S, M

This spell is identical to Call Upon Radiance, aside from substituting
the focus for a material component.  As such, it can be cast in much
more flexible circumstances.

Material Component: A shard of crystal, of the same kind used to create
Radiance Receptacles.  This crystal shard is worth at least 500 gp.

[Design Note: I don't have the range information list based on Glantrian
Noble rank available, and I'm not sure I'd want to use it if I did.
Given how many established Brothers were simply related to Princes in
Glantri, rather than holding noble titles themselves, this seems like
something that should possibly be cut.]

RETAIN POWER
Universal
Level: RadM 7
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instantaneous

This spell allows you to manifest Radiance energy and store it within
your own body for later use.  The Radiance energy manifested can be used
to power other Radiance spells used by the caster at a later date.

Radiance energy is measured in Rads; each casting of Retain Power
provides 1d6 Rads.  You can store a number of Rads equal to your caster
level.  Stored Rads remain within your body until used or discharged.
You can discharge Rads by touching your Radiance Receptacle; as many
Rads as you like can be discharged as a free action.

Storing Rads for a long period can be dangerous.  If you retain Rads
within your body for more than a week, you must make a Fortitude save
(DC of 10 + (stored Rads/2)) or suffer from Radiance corruption.  A new
save must be made for each full week that you retain Rads within your body.

Focus: Your Radiance Receptacle.  As such, this spell can normally only
be cast when within your tower in Glantri.

CONTROL DESTINY
Evocation
Level: RadM 7
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round/level

This spell allows you to use raw Radiance energy to shape the balance of
time and space around you.  While this spell is in effect, you may take
a free action (concentrating on the spell) and expend Rads to apply an
unnamed bonus or penalty to any action being taken that you're aware of
- your own, an ally's, or an enemy's.  For each Rad expended, you can
provide a +1 bonus or a -1 penalty.  A maximum of 10 Rads can be spent
to affect any action.

[Design Notes: The raw, unnamed bonus/penalty is cleaner than trying to
change die rolls or force rerolls, especially given the possibility of
changing an attack die roll into a 20 and insuring a critical.  The 10
Rads limit just makes sense, given the balance limitations on other 3E
material.]

DISCHARGE
Evocation [Force]
Level: RadM 8
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Long (400 ft + 40 ft/level)
Target: One or more creatures (see text)
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Reflex half, Fortitude special (see text)
Spell Resistance: Yes

When you cast this spell, you gain the ability to fire blasts of raw
Radiance energy at creatures within the spell's range.  Immediately upon
completion of this spell, and once per round thereafter, you may fire
one blast of Radiance energy at a single creature, inflicting 10d8
damage.  A creature who takes damage from this spell must also make a
Fortitude save or take 1d6 Con damage and be affected by Radiance
corruption.

You need not fire a blast immediately; other actions, even spellcasting
may be performed.  However, each round after the first you may use a
standard action (concentrating on the spell) to fire a blast.  You may
fire a number of blasts equal to your caster level (though the total
number of blasts available will more likely be limited by your store of
Rads).

You must have a store of Rads available to use this spell.  Each blast
of Radiance energy fired uses up 2 Rads from your store; if you're
reduced to 1 Rad or less, the spell immediately ends.

Material Component: A scrap of flesh withered by exposure to Radiance
energy.

[Design Notes: A straight conversion of the 0E 'one big blast' effect
would have been utterly anemic when compared to spells like Polar Ray
and Horrid Wilting - "for _this_ I took four levels of an ultra-rare
PrC?!?".  Instead, the spell becomes a super-Call Lightning, able to
potentially deal out 80 dice of damage over the course of 8 rounds in
the hands of a Wiz13/RadM 4.]

TRANSCEND LIFE FORCE
Universal
Level: RadM 9
Components: V, S, M, F
Casting Time: 8 hours
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instantaneous

By casting this spell, you attempt to bind the power of the Radiance
into your own soul and attain Immortality.  Casting this spell is the
culmination of an entire campaign, and should not be handled lightly.
Even just learning of this spell's existence should require an epic quest.

To cast this spell, you must have your maximum number of Rads stored
(see Retain Power) and at least 36 Rads stored.  Expending any Rads
before casting Transcend Life Force will cause the spell to fail.  All
Rads retained are expended while casting the spell.  As soon as you
finish casting the spell, you must make a DC 50 Will save; failure
results in your soul being utterly destroyed.  If the Will save
succeeds, you attain Immortality.  Your character either becomes a 1st
level Immortal in the Sphere of Energy or receives a Divine Rank of 0,
depending on your DM and the campaign.

Material Components: (I've lost the list of material components.  Can
someone provide them?)

Focus: Your Radiance Receptacle.

[Design Notes: Yeah, it's still a plot point spell.  Yeah, 3E is lousy
about handling plot point spells.  It maybe should be an Epic spell,
except I hate the entire idea of Epic spells and think they should be
buried beneath Glinda's castle in Oz.  Anyone who has a better idea for
handling the writeup on this one is welcome to take a shot at it.

Also, on the DC 50 Will save - yeah, it's a toughie.  OTOH, a Wiz 36 is
going to have a Will save of +12 from class levels, +8 from epic levels,
+6 minimum from Wisdom including inherent and enhancement bonuses, +10
resistance, and can scrape up some insight/luck/sacred bonuses to saves
as well, for what's going to be a one-time event.  If you get another
Radiance Mage to provide a Control Destiny effect, you can even get a
Will bonus from that - though you can't Control Destiny yourself, the
spell's written to prevent that.  So yeah, it's doable.  It may kill
you, but you can prep for it.  And the reward's worth it...]


"The best lack all conviction,
 While the worst are full of passionate intensity."
                - W.B. Yeats, "The Second Coming"
- Rodger Burns
libramus@scn.org

------------------------------

Date:    Sun, 22 Aug 2004 12:07:58 +0200
From:    =?iso-8859-1?q?Havard=20Faanes?= <havardfaa@YAHOO.NO>
Subject: Re: 3.5E Radiance Magic (Part 1)

Hi Roger,
just skimmed through the post, but here are my
throughts so far.

I was never very happy with my own version of the
Radiance Mage PrC. I wanted to do a rewrite myself,
but never found time, so I'm looking forward to seeing
what you'll come up with.

I've warmed up to the idea of making the Radiance Mage
a 5 level PrC like you suggest, rather than a 10 level
one, which I originally wanted. Having it a 5 level
class also makes it easier to convert NPCs.

IMO this class should be made so that it can model
Radiant Shamans aswell as Radiance Mages.

I like how you have converted the spells, especially
Summon Radiance and Discharge, which were the ones I
had the most problems with. Transcend Life Force looks
good too IMO.

Looking forward to the next parts! :)

Havard

Roger Burns <libramus@SCN.ORG>:
> Hey!  Decided to pull some notes together and write
> up some information
> on spells and magic for the Radiance in 3.5E.  The
> work I've done is
> based on the following material:
>
> - Havard's Radiance basics, at
> http://dnd.starflung.com/radiance.html.
> - Havard's Radiance Mage PrC, at
> http://dnd.starflung.com/rad_mage.html,
> EXCEPT that I'm treating it as a 5-level PrC
> (similar to the Archmage)
> which gains Radiance Magic V at 1st level and
> improves from there.
> There are no Radiance spells of less than 5th level.
>
> This writeup just converts spells from Gaz3 to 3.5E;
> I've got another
> dozen original spells that I'll be writing up in
> later installments.
> As my copy of Gaz3 is inaccessible at the moment, I
> may be getting some
> of the details wrong here - please let me know if
> anything should be
> revised.  Thanks.
>
>
> CALL UPON RADIANCE
> Conjuration (Summoning)
> Level: RadM 5
> Components: V, S, F
> Casting Time: 1 standard action
> Range: Personal
> Target: You
> Duration: 1 round/level
>
> By casting this spell, you draw upon the power of
> the Radiance to
> improve the power of the spells you cast.  For the
> remainder of the
> spell's duration, you may choose to spontaneously
> apply metamagic to the
> spells that you use, applying one level's worth of
> metamagic to your
> spells for every level of Radiance Mage that you
> possess.  You do not
> have to choose metamagic feats known to you for
> this.  You can choose to
> apply different metamagic feats to each spell cast.
>
> Spells that have metamagic applied to them by Call
> Upon Radiance have
> their casting times extended (as per usual for
> spontaneous metamagic).
> You may choose not to apply metamagic to spells you
> cast in order to
> have the usual casting time apply.
>
> Focus: Your Radiance Receptacle.  As such, this
> spell can normally only
> be cast when within your tower in Glantri.
>
> [Design Notes: Providing spontaneous metamagic is
> IMHO a much cleaner
> and more flexible way of handling the spell mechanic
> than the Gaz3
> tables.  Why try and convert a one-off mechanic from
> 0E when a
> made-to-order 3E mechanic is available?]
>
> SUMMON RADIANCE
> Conjuration (Summoning)
> Level: RadM 6
> Components: V, S, M
>
> This spell is identical to Call Upon Radiance, aside
> from substituting
> the focus for a material component.  As such, it can
> be cast in much
> more flexible circumstances.
>
> Material Component: A shard of crystal, of the same
> kind used to create
> Radiance Receptacles.  This crystal shard is worth
> at least 500 gp.
>
> [Design Note: I don't have the range information
> list based on Glantrian
> Noble rank available, and I'm not sure I'd want to
> use it if I did.
> Given how many established Brothers were simply
> related to Princes in
> Glantri, rather than holding noble titles
> themselves, this seems like
> something that should possibly be cut.]
>
> RETAIN POWER
> Universal
> Level: RadM 7
> Components: V, S, F
> Casting Time: 10 minutes
> Range: Personal
> Target: You
> Duration: Instantaneous
>
> This spell allows you to manifest Radiance energy
> and store it within
> your own body for later use.  The Radiance energy
> manifested can be used
> to power other Radiance spells used by the caster at
> a later date.
>
> Radiance energy is measured in Rads; each casting of
> Retain Power
> provides 1d6 Rads.  You can store a number of Rads
> equal to your caster
> level.  Stored Rads remain within your body until
> used or discharged.
> You can discharge Rads by touching your Radiance
> Receptacle; as many
> Rads as you like can be discharged as a free action.
>
> Storing Rads for a long period can be dangerous.  If
> you retain Rads
> within your body for more than a week, you must make
> a Fortitude save
> (DC of 10 + (stored Rads/2)) or suffer from Radiance
> corruption.  A new
> save must be made for each full week that you retain
> Rads within your body.
>
> Focus: Your Radiance Receptacle.  As such, this
> spell can normally only
> be cast when within your tower in Glantri.
>
> CONTROL DESTINY
> Evocation
> Level: RadM 7
> Components: V, S
> Casting Time: 1 standard action
> Range: Personal
> Target: You
> Duration: 1 round/level
>
> This spell allows you to use raw Radiance energy to
> shape the balance of
> time and space around you.  While this spell is in
> effect, you may take
> a free action (concentrating on the spell) and
> expend Rads to apply an
> unnamed bonus or penalty to any action being taken
> that you're aware of
> - your own, an ally's, or an enemy's.  For each Rad
> expended, you can
> provide a +1 bonus or a -1 penalty.  A maximum of 10
> Rads can be spent
> to affect any action.
>
> [Design Notes: The raw, unnamed bonus/penalty is
> cleaner than trying to
> change die rolls or force rerolls, especially given
> the possibility of
> changing an attack die roll into a 20 and insuring a
> critical.  The 10
> Rads limit just makes sense, given the balance
> limitations on other 3E
> material.]
>
> DISCHARGE
> Evocation [Force]
> Level: RadM 8
> Components: V, S, M
> Casting Time: 1 standard action
> Range: Long (400 ft + 40 ft/level)
> Target: One or more creatures (see text)
> Duration: 1 round/level
> Saving Throw: Reflex half, Fortitude special (see
> text)
> Spell Resistance: Yes
>
> When you cast this spell, you gain the ability to
> fire blasts of raw
> Radiance energy at creatures within the spell's
> range.  Immediately upon
> completion of this spell, and once per round
> thereafter, you may fire
> one blast of Radiance energy at a single creature,
> inflicting 10d8
> damage.  A creature who takes damage from this spell
> must also make a
> Fortitude save or take 1d6 Con damage and be
> affected by Radiance
> corruption.
>
> You need not fire a blast immediately; other
> actions, even spellcasting
> may be performed.  However, each round after the
> first you may use a
> standard action (concentrating on the spell) to fire
> a blast.  You may
> fire a number of blasts equal to your caster level
> (though the total
> number of blasts available will more likely be
> limited by your store of
> Rads).
>
> You must have a store of Rads available to use this
> spell.  Each blast
> of Radiance energy fired uses up 2 Rads from your
> store; if you're
> reduced to 1 Rad or less, the spell immediately
> ends.
>
> Material Component: A scrap of flesh withered by
> exposure to Radiance
> energy.
>
> [Design Notes: A straight conversion of the 0E 'one
> big blast' effect
> would have been utterly anemic when compared to
> spells like Polar Ray
> and Horrid Wilting - "for _this_ I took four levels
> of an ultra-rare
> PrC?!?".  Instead, the spell becomes a super-Call
> Lightning, able to
> potentially deal out 80 dice of damage over the
> course of 8 rounds in
> the hands of a Wiz13/RadM 4.]
>
> TRANSCEND LIFE FORCE
> Universal
> Level: RadM 9
> Components: V, S, M, F
> Casting Time: 8 hours
> Range: Personal
> Target: You
> Duration: Instantaneous
>
> By casting this spell, you attempt to bind the power
> of the Radiance
> into your own soul and attain Immortality.  Casting
> this spell is the
> culmination of an entire campaign, and should not be
> handled lightly.
> Even just learning of this spell's existence should
> require an epic quest.
>
> To cast this spell, you must have your maximum
> number of Rads stored
> (see Retain Power) and at least 36 Rads stored.
> Expending any Rads
> before casting Transcend Life Force will cause the
> spell to fail.  All
> Rads retained are expended while casting the spell.
> As soon as you
> finish casting the spell, you must make a DC 50 Will
> save; failure
> results in your soul being utterly destroyed.  If
> the Will save
> succeeds, you attain Immortality.  Your character
> either becomes a 1st
> level Immortal in the Sphere of Energy or receives a
> Divine Rank of 0,
> depending on your DM and the campaign.
>
> Material Components: (I've lost the list of material
> components.  Can
> someone provide them?)
>
> Focus: Your Radiance Receptacle.
>
> [Design Notes: Yeah, it's still a plot point spell.
> Yeah, 3E is lousy
> about handling plot point spells.  It maybe should
> be an Epic spell,
> except I hate the entire idea of Epic spells and
> think they should be
> buried beneath Glinda's castle in Oz.  Anyone who
> has a better idea for
> handling the writeup on this one is welcome to take
> a shot at it.
>
> Also, on the DC 50 Will save - yeah, it's a toughie.
>  OTOH, a Wiz 36 is
> going to have a Will save of +12 from class levels,
> +8 from epic levels,
> +6 minimum from Wisdom including inherent and
> enhancement bonuses, +10
> resistance, and can scrape up some
> insight/luck/sacred bonuses to saves
> as well, for what's going to be a one-time event.
> If you get another
> Radiance Mage to provide a Control Destiny effect,
> you can even get a
> Will bonus from that - though you can't Control
> Destiny yourself, the
> spell's written to prevent that.  So yeah, it's
> doable.  It may kill
> you, but you can prep for it.  And the reward's
> worth it...]
>
>
> "The best lack all conviction,
>   While the worst are full of passionate intensity."
>                  - W.B. Yeats, "The Second Coming"
> - Rodger Burns
> libramus@scn.org
>
>
********************************************************************
> 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.
>
>

=====
***
Håvard R. Faanes
www.stud.ntnu.no/~havardfa

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------------------------------

Date:    Sun, 22 Aug 2004 15:51:01 +0200
From:    Giampaolo Agosta <agathokles@KATAMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Mystara Dutch

Chris Cherrington wrote:

> Viewing these posts, I am warming up to the idea as well.  Perhaps
> not putting a new M-Dutch country in, but seeing one of the current
>  nations turning into the M-Dutch.

Well, any nation colonized by the Flaems (from Glantri) would be an
M-Dutch country.

Right now, we have the Principality of Bergdhoven in Glantri, plus the
gnomes in the Hollow World are a sort of M-Belgium.

Bye,
       GP
-- 

    Giampaolo Agosta

http://digilander.iol.it/agathokles

------------------------------

Date:    Sun, 22 Aug 2004 17:39:27 +0200
From:    Giampaolo Agosta <agathokles@KATAMAIL.COM>
Subject: Reviving the Tome of Mystara

Hi all,

I think we all miss the Tome of Mystara (for those who don't know, it
was a _very_ good Mystaran webzine), and I'm thinking we could work on a
webzine that would fill the same niche.

Currently, we have three main channels for cooperative development of
Mystara, namely the MML (and MMB), the Almanacs, and OD&Dities.
The MML covers well the day-by-day discussion, the Almanacs fulfills its
usual role for the development of a Mystaran future (w.r.t. the
"present" of the last official publications) as well as furthering the
development of new areas of the world, and OD&Dities concerns itself
with OD&D.

What could be useful, IMO, would be a way to present articles (or
series) in a more formal way than in the MML/MMB (i.e., with editing
etc.), with a more focused approach than in the Almanacs (i.e., covering
a single issue, not necessarily fitting an overall schema), and with a
multi-ruleset or rule-light approach.

Opinions?
-- 

    Giampaolo Agosta

http://digilander.iol.it/agathokles

------------------------------

Date:    Sun, 22 Aug 2004 09:20:45 -0700
From:    Mike Harvey <gm@DSL-ONLY.NET>
Subject: Re: Reviving the Tome of Mystara

Did anyone mirror it, or is it gone=3F

Mike

------------------------------

Date:    Sun, 22 Aug 2004 19:25:43 +0200
From:    Giampaolo Agosta <agathokles@KATAMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Reviving the Tome of Mystara

Mike Harvey ha scritto:
> Did anyone mirror it, or is it gone?

The Tome of Mystara is gone due to Geocities' recent policies, but some
of us do have mirror copies (I do, for one).

Bye,
       GP

------------------------------

Date:    Sun, 22 Aug 2004 20:07:10 +0200
From:    =?iso-8859-1?q?Havard=20Faanes?= <havardfaa@YAHOO.NO>
Subject: Re: Reviving the Tome of Mystara

Sure sounds like a good idea!

While I'm unable to make any commitments to such a
project at the moment, I just wanted to give you
thumbs up for the initiative :)

Havard

--- Giampaolo Agosta <agathokles@KATAMAIL.COM> skrev:

> Hi all,
>
> I think we all miss the Tome of Mystara (for those
> who don't know, it
> was a _very_ good Mystaran webzine), and I'm
> thinking we could work on a
> webzine that would fill the same niche.
>
> Currently, we have three main channels for
> cooperative development of
> Mystara, namely the MML (and MMB), the Almanacs, and
> OD&Dities.
> The MML covers well the day-by-day discussion, the
> Almanacs fulfills its
> usual role for the development of a Mystaran future
> (w.r.t. the
> "present" of the last official publications) as well
> as furthering the
> development of new areas of the world, and OD&Dities
> concerns itself
> with OD&D.
>
> What could be useful, IMO, would be a way to present
> articles (or
> series) in a more formal way than in the MML/MMB
> (i.e., with editing
> etc.), with a more focused approach than in the
> Almanacs (i.e., covering
> a single issue, not necessarily fitting an overall
> schema), and with a
> multi-ruleset or rule-light approach.
>
> Opinions?
> -- 
>
>      Giampaolo Agosta
>
> http://digilander.iol.it/agathokles
>
>
********************************************************************
> The Other Worlds Homepage:
> http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp
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> To unsubscribe, send email to
> LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM
> with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message.
>
>

=====
***
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www.stud.ntnu.no/~havardfa

______________________________________________________
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------------------------------

Date:    Sun, 22 Aug 2004 11:47:24 -0700
From:    Rodger Burns <libramus@SCN.ORG>
Subject: Re: 3.5E Radiance Magic (Part 1)

Havard Faanes wrote:

> Hi Roger,
> just skimmed through the post, but here are my
> throughts so far.
>
> I was never very happy with my own version of the
> Radiance Mage PrC. I wanted to do a rewrite myself,
> but never found time, so I'm looking forward to seeing
> what you'll come up with.

Thanks for the support.  I'm not really pondering a full PrC writeup or
planning to go into details on the Brotherhood - your material looks
good from that end of things.  Just needs a bit of tweaking. ;)

>
> I've warmed up to the idea of making the Radiance Mage
> a 5 level PrC like you suggest, rather than a 10 level
> one, which I originally wanted. Having it a 5 level
> class also makes it easier to convert NPCs.

*nods* It just seems to fit the existing setup better.  Writing up the
Radiance spells has also led me to do some more thinking about how the
PrC applies to Glantrian NPCs - namely, that Etienne D'Ambreville is
probably the only person who's attained RadM 5 (in 1000 AC, anyway).
Brannart and Harald of Haskinnz might be RadM 4, and the other
established Brothers all RadM 2 or 3 - their other levels would be
standard Wiz or more commonly available PrCs.  (I suspect that Vanserie
is a Wiz 13/Elemental Savant (Fire) 10/RadM 3, say.)

Also, as far as school specialization goes, the Radiance is most
attractive to Evokers and Conjurers; it's very unpalatable to Diviners,
Enchanters and Illusionists.  My additional Radiance spell writeups will
include a few Abjurations, Necromancies, and Transmutations, so
specialists in those disciplines may find some interest in the Radiance
as well.

>
> IMO this class should be made so that it can model
> Radiant Shamans aswell as Radiance Mages.

Hmmm, that I'm unsure of.  Radiant Shamans would be divine spellcasters,
with different prereqs for entering the class (Knowledge (religion)
ranks and access to the Temple of the Stars) and quite likely different
spells as well.  Making two different PrCs seems safest.

>
> I like how you have converted the spells, especially
> Summon Radiance and Discharge, which were the ones I
> had the most problems with. Transcend Life Force looks
> good too IMO.

Thanks.  I could stand to be happier with Transcend Life Force, but it
may be best to keep it in a fairly loose setup and let GMs restrict it
further as suits their campaign.  (If nothing else, it discourages those
players who Read All And Know Too Much.)

>
> Looking forward to the next parts! :)

Thanks!

>
> Havard
>
(snip)

-- 
"The best lack all conviction,
 While the worst are full of passionate intensity."
                - W.B. Yeats, "The Second Coming"
- Rodger Burns
libramus@scn.org

------------------------------

Date:    Sun, 22 Aug 2004 15:15:01 -0700
From:    Rodger Burns <libramus@SCN.ORG>
Subject: 3.5E Radiance Magic (Part 2)

Hey again!  Part 2 (of what will likely be three parts total) detailing
Radiance magic in 3.5E.  This section details some new spells for
Radiance mages that broaden their expertise and provide added power.
And yes, I confess that many of these spells take standard wizard spells
from the PHB and improve on them (Negate Magic -> Greater Dispel Magic,
Radiance Prison -> Forcecage, etc.) - this is intentional, as it
provides a few places where Radiance mages get more power, rather than
just more options.  Feel free to comment or critique!

RADIANCE SCRY
Divination
Level: RadM 5
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 4 hours

This spell allows you to contact and communicate with other Radiance
Mages.  Upon casting this spell, you establish a telepathic link through
your Radiance Receptacle to other Radiance Mages; you can communicate
telepathically to any other Radiance Mage who is touching a Receptacle.
 The telepathic link works regardless of language and works over any
distance (though from not from one plane to another).  Note that the
telepathic link is one-way only, allowing you to speak but not listen; a
Radiance Mage who wishes to speak with you must cast this spell
themselves, or use an alternate method of communication.

No special power or influence is established as a result of the bond,
and you gain no special knowledge of the identity or location of any
being you contact.  If you (or any other Radiance Mage) stops touching
their Radiance Receptacle, the telepathic link is broken until contact
is restored.

Focus: Your Radiance Receptacle.

NEGATE MAGIC
Abjuration
Level: RadM 6

With this spell, you draw on primal Radiance energy to disrupt another's
spellcasting or effects.  This spell functions as Dispel Magic, except
that the maximum caster level on your dispel check is +20 instead of
+10.  Additionally, if you attempt to use this spell as a counterspell
against a spell of 6th level or lower, you are automatically successful;
no dispel check is needed.

SHAPE RADIANCE ENERGY
Evocation
Level: RadM 6
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: See text
Effect: See text
Duration: See text
Saving Throw: Varies; see text
Spell Resistance: Yes

This spell allows you to shape Radiance energy into a sorceror or wizard
evocation spell of 5th level or lower.  (For a spell with more than one
level, use the best one applicable to you.)

Spells that normally have an energy descriptor, such as Lightning Bolt,
are instead powered by Radiance energy, and replace their energy type
with the [Force] descriptor.  Affected creatures receive any saves or
spell resistance that thee spell being simulated allows, but the save DC
is set according to Shape Radiance Energy's level (6th) rather than the
spell's normal level.

IMBUE RADIANCE WEAPON
Transmutation
Level: RadM 7
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Weapon touched
Duration: 1 min/level
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless, object)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless, object)

You focus Radiance energy on a weapon, allowing it to cut through almost
any substance and possibly inflict Radiance corruption on creatures that
it injures.  The weapon is considered to be made of adamantium for
purposes of damage resistance, and ignores up to 10 points of hardness
when striking objects.  Any creature who takes damage from the weapon
must make a Fortitude save (DC 17+caster's Int bonus) or take 1d4 Con
damage and suffer from Radiance corruption.  Spell resistance can negate
the Con damage and Radiance corruption.

You can't cast this spell on a natural weapon, such as an unarmed
strike.  A monk's unarmed strike is considered a weapon, and can be
enhanced by this spell.

RADIANCE ENHANCEMENT
Transmutation
Level: RadM 7
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round/level

You use stored Rads to improve one of your physical ability scores or
derived scores (your AC, base attack bonus, or a save).  When casting
this spell, you must expend at least one Rad, and may expend up to 10;
for each Rad you expend, the score you choose to improve gains a +1
bonus.  You must choose which score to improve when first casting the
spell, and you can't change it.

If you choose to improve a physical ability score, this spell provides
an enhancement bonus.  If you choose to improve your AC, this spell
provides a deflection bonus.  If you choose to improve your AC or a
save, this spell provides a competence bonus.

Material Component: A Pearl of Power, which is consumed by the spell.
The pearl may be of any power level.

RADIANCE PRISON
Evocation [Force]
Level: RadM 7
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft + 5 ft/2 levels)
Area: 10-ft cube or larger (see text)
Duration: 2 hours/level (D)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

You create an immobile, invisible cubical prison composed of walls of
aolid force, maintained by Radiance energy.

Creatures within the spell's area are caught and contained unless they
are too big to fit inside, in which case the spell automatically fails.
 The force walls extend into the Ethereal Plane, blocking ethereal
travel.  In addition, latent Radiance energy also disrupts teleportation
and other methods of astral travel out of the prison (though astral
travel can still be used to enter).

A Radiance Prison is immune to most forms of physical and magical
attack, including Dispel Magic and Disintegrate.  It can be destroyed by
a Sphere of Annihilation or a Rod of Cancellation.  The Radiance energy
which maintains the prison can be disrupted by a strong application of
negative Entropic energy, so an Energy Drain spell or a turning attempt
by an evil cleric of at least 15th level can also destroy the Radiance
Prison.

In order to cast this spell, you must expend at least 3 stored Rads.
For every additional 3 Rads you expend, you may double the area of the
spell (as always, two doublings equals a tripling, and so on).

-- 
"The best lack all conviction,
 While the worst are full of passionate intensity."
                - W.B. Yeats, "The Second Coming"
- Rodger Burns
libramus@scn.org

------------------------------

Date:    Sun, 22 Aug 2004 22:22:25 -0300
From:    "Vinicius R. de Moraes" <vinimagus@TERRA.COM.BR>
Subject: Re: Mystara Dutch

At 10:51 22/8/2004, you wrote:
> Chris Cherrington wrote:
>
> > Viewing these posts, I am warming up to the idea as well.  Perhaps
> > not putting a new M-Dutch country in, but seeing one of the current
> >  nations turning into the M-Dutch.
>
> Well, any nation colonized by the Flaems (from Glantri) would be an
> M-Dutch country.

"M-Dutch" = "Mystaran-Dutch"?

> Right now, we have the Principality of Bergdhoven

Hoven = city, land, right? Bart Alleblas (is that your last name?), the
Dutch guy in this list should be able to help with this one.  ;-)
Danke wel ! (or something like that... well, thank you very much)

> in Glantri, plus the gnomes in the Hollow World are a sort of M-Belgium.

Are they? Never thought of that. Why do you say so, "carissimo" (dear)?


> Bye,
>        GP
> -- 
>
>     Giampaolo Agosta
>
> http://digilander.iol.it/agathokles

"Grazie"!   (Thanks!)
"Ciao",   (Bye, see ya)    :-)
vini

------------------------------

Date:    Sun, 22 Aug 2004 22:34:08 -0300
From:    "Vinicius R. de Moraes" <vinimagus@TERRA.COM.BR>
Subject: Re: Reviving the Tome of Mystara

At 12:39 22/8/2004, you wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I think we all miss the Tome of Mystara (for those who don't know, it
> was a _very_ good Mystaran webzine),

How frequent was that?

> and I'm thinking we could work on a
> webzine that would fill the same niche.
>
> Currently, we have three main channels for cooperative development of
> Mystara, namely the MML (and MMB), the Almanacs, and OD&Dities.
> The MML covers well the day-by-day discussion, the Almanacs fulfills its
> usual role for the development of a Mystaran future (w.r.t. the
> "present" of the last official publications) as well as furthering the
> development of new areas of the world, and OD&Dities concerns itself
> with OD&D.

What is "OD&Dities"?

> What could be useful, IMO, would be a way to present articles (or
> series) in a more formal way than in the MML/MMB

Does something REALLY happen at the MMB? I check it... say... yearly. Do
you guys post there? Or find useful info/cool discussions there? Do you
read it frequently? Am I missing something by not doing so?

> (i.e., with editing
> etc.), with a more focused approach than in the Almanacs (i.e., covering
> a single issue, not necessarily fitting an overall schema), and with a
> multi-ruleset or rule-light approach.
>
> Opinions?
> -- 
>    Giampaolo Agosta
> http://digilander.iol.it/agathokles

You say "editing": maybe the Wiki. We have been discussing it recently.

Giampaolo, do you think of many people working together in a same text
(i.e. you can add/change/delete things from a text that a first created) or
not? If so, he Wiki is ideal.

The good thing is that it would not put any additional weight on Shawn's
shoulders. Think of a blackboard: anyone passes by, writes a few ideas and
drops the pencil on the table nearby. Nxt guy passes, does the same. There
is no need of a "keeper of the seven pens". We are adult enough (and know
each other virtually for long enough) to make it work.

Important point: I remain, as always, FAN NUMBER ZERO of Shawn's site.
Mystara is the ***only*** subject about which I do not look for info on
Google or Altavista... I go directly to Vaults of Pandius.

Kind regards,
vini

------------------------------

Date:    Sun, 22 Aug 2004 22:36:08 -0300
From:    "Vinicius R. de Moraes" <vinimagus@TERRA.COM.BR>
Subject: Re: Reviving the Tome of Mystara

At 14:25 22/8/2004, you wrote:
> Mike Harvey ha scritto:
>> Did anyone mirror it, or is it gone?
>
> The Tome of Mystara is gone due to Geocities' recent policies

How come? Is it because Mystara is owned by a company?

> but some of us do have mirror copies (I do, for one).
>
> Bye,
>        GP

Dear Giampaolo,
could you please make it available?

TIA,
vini

------------------------------

Date:    Mon, 23 Aug 2004 08:22:45 +0200
From:    Giampaolo Agosta <agathokles@KATAMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Reviving the Tome of Mystara

Vinicius R. de Moraes wrote:

>
>> The Tome of Mystara is gone due to Geocities' recent policies
>
> How come? Is it because Mystara is owned by a company?

No, just because the website has been inactive for a long time -- the Tome had been discontinued after five or so issues.

>> but some of us do have mirror copies (I do, for one).
>
> could you please make it available?

Yes and no: no, in the sense that I can't simply put the stuff on some
website, since it's not my own stuff, yes in the sense that I can send
it by mail to people, or simply provide the files if the original
authors/editors need them.

Bye,
       GP
-- 

    Giampaolo Agosta

http://digilander.iol.it/agathokles

------------------------------

Date:    Mon, 23 Aug 2004 08:45:44 +0200
From:    Giampaolo Agosta <agathokles@KATAMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Mystara Dutch

Vinicius R. de Moraes wrote:

>> Well, any nation colonized by the Flaems (from Glantri) would be an
>> M-Dutch country.
>
> "M-Dutch" = "Mystaran-Dutch"?

Yes.

>> in Glantri, plus the gnomes in the Hollow World are a sort of M-Belgium.
>
> Are they? Never thought of that. Why do you say so, "carissimo" (dear)?
Well, we have these two clans of gnome, Valoin and Flamaker, which seems
to mirror the division of Belgium into french-speaking (Wallon) and
dutch-speaking (Vlaams) regions.
Also, one family of these gnomes is named "Les Nerviens", which in the
RW is the (french) name of a gallic nation in Belgium.

There may be other hints in the VotPA article, but I haven't it here.

Bye,
       GP
-- 

    Giampaolo Agosta

http://digilander.iol.it/agathokles

------------------------------

End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 20 Aug 2004 to 22 Aug 2004 (#2004-173)
****************************************************************