Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 24 Sep 2009 to 25 Sep 2009 (#2009-55) From: MYSTARA-L automatic digest system Date: 26/09/2009, 17:00 To: MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There are 6 messages totalling 196 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Elves of Karameikos (3) 2. Completed one Adaptation & Western Karameikos (2) 3. Need Your Help: Ideas for Pranks to PCs ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.pandius.com To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 06:35:50 -0700 From: Joaquin Menchaca Subject: Re: Elves of Karameikos Vyalia do worship Ilsundal, this is from the boxed Gazetteer set. Someone suggested using material from B7 Rahasia, which talks of a mystic-sounding sect, which would work for Vyalia. The Siswa as they are called in B7 Rahasia. Though, I would imagine this fits better for a Sind-Galantri arc with the names used, and "The Wizard of Wines Winery, Champagne du le Stomp". I don't know where Rahib would come from. The elven village is named "Kota-Hutan" and the area is near Gray Mountain. Names of sample PCs are: Sunggu, Kepala, Jujur, Benar, Bechak, Mati, Suchi, Sinar. The module aslo mentions Elayas whom founded the Quiet Way, and was the spiritual leader of the Siswa. The module also mentions the "Old One". Not sure if this is the same as Elayas, or different Immortal. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.pandius.com To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 07:54:35 -0700 From: Joaquin Menchaca Subject: Elves of Karameikos GAZ1 Notes: Regarding Haven: "Most of the population consists of Vyalia elves (described under "The Island of Lost Dreams," below), plus a few elves, humans, dwarves, gnomes, and representatives of other races" (GAZ01 40) Regarding area around Lake of Lost Dreams: "These are the woods of the Vyalia elves. The Vyalia tend to have very fair skin and deep green eyes; they live in tree-houses on the southeast edge of the lake, and further inland. They don't deal much with humans--not because they don't like them, but because they're self-sufficient and no human community is very near" (GAZ01 40) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.pandius.com To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:33:19 -0700 From: Joaquin Menchaca Subject: Completed one Adaptation & Western Karameikos I finally completed converting module TC1 Into the Haunted Forest to Pathfinder and adapted it to Karameikos (names and such). I am figuring out where to place it, and I am thinking near Riverfork Keep. I am imaging that the western part of Karameikos is pretty lawless, with the worst of Five Shires and Karameikos (and maybe some of the best) come there, as well as sea and river pirates, etc. The more brutal earlier Thyatians could have sent many refugees toward there. Elements of law and order filter in causing some stability. Sometimes, townships are modeled after Five Shires system of governance, with hin taking a bigger role in managing and policing the area unofficially, in an effort to control lawless bands that might spill over the border, as if Black Eagle Barony was not enough. In this particular town, dubbed Falcon's Hollow for now (could change it to Floresti, Falesti, or other Moldavian type name later), is formed around lumber operation. In TC1, adventurers come across a body being ripped to shreds by dogs, it is a fallen hobgoblin, and the players find a magical dagger near by. When they go to a local inn, a ranger of the group starts a fight claiming that the dagger belongs to him. Later a sheriff stops the brawl, confiscates the dagger to determine ownership later. During the brawl, an artifact was destroyed. Over the night a dagger was stolen, with one of the PCs accused. This part gets funny. In the end, the sheriff sends both groups on an adventure to retrieve artifacts for the NPC. The party that wins, gets the dagger. IMC, the other adventuring party is a NPC party from Black Eagle Barony, so naturally they don't play fair. Overall, I researched basics of 8 modules (3 from Greyhawk City boxed set, 1 Dragon article, and 3 from Paizo). I am looking at U1, U2, and U3, in addition to B6 and B10. This should last the next 2 months. Hopefully I can finish it. At some point, I am considering creating my own unique stuff, but I wanted to run the hodgepodge mix of material I have for assess game balance and reaction from players. I want a mix of seriousness, horror, and humor. - Joaquin PS - Who can I talk to to get illustrator/photoshop hex grids and/or maps. I wanted to make blown up version of Western Karameikos. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.pandius.com To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:59:10 -0700 From: Michael Phillips Subject: Re: Completed one Adaptation & Western Karameikos On Fri, Sep 25, 2009 at 5:33 PM, Joaquin Menchaca wrote: > PS - Who can I talk to to get illustrator/photoshop hex grids and/or maps. > I wanted to make blown up version of Western Karameikos. > I use hexGIMP (http://axiscity.hexamon.net/users/isomage/gimp/hexgimp/) with GIMP (http://www.gimp.org/) to make my hexmaps (e.g. http://www.icculus.org/~msphil/mystara/maps/malpheggi-swamp-2_7mph.png). It's straight-forward to use, if you're already familiar with GIMP (which I was when I tried). Thorf's site (http://mystara.thorf.jp/) has a palette for use in Illustrator, if you want to go that route. In this thread, he talks about how he maps: http://www.thepiazza.org.uk/bb/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=2099 Your campaign sounds quite interesting. I was looking at trying the U1-3 series myself, only I was going to put Saltmarsh either northwest of Athenos or northeast of Port Tenobar, if the players decide to go into monster slaying instead of trade. -- Mike Phillips, msphil@gmail.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.pandius.com To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:14:01 -0700 From: Michael Phillips Subject: Re: Need Your Help: Ideas for Pranks to PCs On Thu, Sep 24, 2009 at 6:20 AM, Joaquin Menchaca wrote: > But seriously, I need help with the pranks. ^.^ Ideas? > Using illusions to disguise the nature of the ground, so that their tents, which appear to be pitched on great spots, are actually on top of ant hills. Using illusions to disguise the nature of the ground, so that walking through the field, they find themselves in a bog. Leading them around with mysterious sounds/shapes, always a little distant, until they get lost in the woods. Using illusions to change the appearance of their rations or other meals, so that food becomes very appetizing -- or they think they're eating rations, and it turns out to be mud or something. Swapping purses so that the coins they think they have are all faerie gold or equivalent (but make sure they have a way to get their real money back, or it's just mean). Making the woods they're camping in/near appear to come alive, like treants. In the non-magical side, drive wild animals through their camps while they sleep, and hide their gear (or switch possessions with other party members in the middle of the night). -- Mike Phillips, msphil@gmail.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.pandius.com To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:04:03 -0700 From: Michael Phillips Subject: Re: Elves of Karameikos There was a Dragonlance article in Dragon many ages ago, discussing that world's version of wild elves. I don't recall the issue, but it was probably 150 or earlier. (Another player in the game I was in at the time had an elf from that culture, which he and the DM had imported into Greyhawk.) They were deeply xenophobic, and they had some extra skills, items, and racial traits which made them even better at hiding in forests. I liked the characterization in that article, and lifted it for the Vyalia. This eventually led to an intended campaign timeline which had the Vyalia create their own nation out of eastern Karameikos and about half of the county of Vyalia in Thyatis. Sadly, the players never saw the effect, but I enjoyed figuring out what happened anyway :-) -- Mike Phillips, msphil@gmail.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.pandius.com To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 24 Sep 2009 to 25 Sep 2009 (#2009-55) ***************************************************************