========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2000 09:45:04 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Caroletti Subject: Re: New GPD Website MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > It's true that we had a number of commoners (*with* Water Breathing this time - much more efficient!) down there last week, but we've sent them all home now. We had them search for treasure on sunken Thyatian ships, though naturally there was none - I should have known... ;) > > - The Stalker Well, probably you'd have a better chance to search treasure in...uh...what was it's name?....Sunken Alphatia? I think I remember you left some pair of old socks in your room, I wouldn't like to see them rot because of the salty water. Iulius Sergius Scaevola Captain of the XXth Cohort Port Lucinius, Thyatis ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2000 04:56:11 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: erewan laubgaenger Subject: Re: Illithids? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Eyal Fleminger wrote: > Illithids don't exist on Mystara, but you should be able to add a small > number of them without any trouble (ater all, who knows WHAT lurks down in > forgotten corners of the Broken Lands..dum-dum-dum). I used them as > creatures from the Nightmare dimension, relatives of the brain eater. I did > an adaptation of the stats to OD&D; I'll be happy to send it to you, but > since I may not be able to send it until the end of next week. could you send them to me too? i want use some illitthids in my next camp, but i don`t want PSI in my world. IBON ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2000 17:30:49 IDT Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Eyal Fleminger Subject: Illithid Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Here is my adaptation of mind flayers. It's writen with the psionics handbook in mind; if you don't use psionics IYC, replace them with the following powers (at will, once per round, at 7th level): 1. mind blast - 60' cone, 5' at the base and 20' wide at its end; all within the area must save vs. spell or be stunned for 1d10+2 rounds. 2. Charm monster 3. ESP 4. Levitate 5. Travel (self only) 6. All saves against these powers are at -4 Mind Flayer Armor Class 5 Hit Dice 8+4*****(M) Move 120'(40') Attacks 4 tentacles Damage see below No. Appearing 1-4 (1-4) Save As M9 Morale 9 Treasure Type A (S, T, V) Intelligence 17 Alignment Chaotic XP Value 3,925 Type: Monster (Very Rare) Mind flayers stand about 6 feet tall, with hideous mauve skin which glistens with slime. The head resembles an octopus, with white eyes (no pupils are evident) and four tentacles where a mouth should be. They have three fingers and a thumb on each hand; their fingers have a reddish cast. Mind flayers have infravision to 120'. They can communicate via telepathy; they have no spoken language. Their name for their kind is illithid. They are originally from the Dimension of Nightmare, but have formed colonies on the Prime Plane. A mind flayer uses its four tentacles in combat. if a tentacle hits, it will reach the victim's brain in 1-4 rounds, drawing it forth and killing the victim. The flayer then devours the brain. They also have a variety of psionic powers: Level Dis/Sci/Dev Attack/Defense Score PSPs 7 4/15/14 MT/M-, TS, Mb, +1 =Int 1d100+250 Type: attack, mind control, travel Psychokinesis: Detonate, Control Body*, Levitation* Psychometabolism: Body Equilibrium* (only) Psychoportation: Probability Travel*, Teleport*, Astral Projection* Telepathy: Domination*, Awe, ESP*, Post-Hypnotic Suggestion* * - always have this power In combat, a mind flayer will seek to capture prisoners. These will become slaves and an emergency food supply. Mind flayers live in large underground communities of 200 to 2,000 illithids, plus at least two slaves each. The slave's minds have been stripped of any independent thinking ability, so they obey without question. Mind flayers hate sunlight and avoid it whenever possible. The center of each community is the elder-brain, a pool of briny brain fluid which contains the brains of a community's dead illithids. Due to their powerful mental abilities, their brains remain alive after the bodies have been destroyed, and the telepathic unions of these dead brains rules the community. The elder-brain has a range of 2 to 5 miles, depending on the size and age of the community. The elder-brain cannot attack, but it can warn mind flayers of the presence of thinking creatures, so a mind flayer in its radius cannot be surprised by intelligent creatures. The telepathic range of the elder-brain defines the borders of the community, though it will often send raiding parties further. Mind flayers are extremely arrogant, viewing all other species as cattle to be preyed on. They prefer to eat the brains of intelligent creatures. Illithids are sexless, living the first 10 years of life like tadpoles. Terrain: any subterranean ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2000 20:52:25 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Matthijs van der Mede Subject: Champions of Mystara Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Hi everybody, A friend of mine told me he could buy "Champions of Mystara"for me but I would like know if its worth it. Could anyone describe me what is in this setting? That would really be appreciated. I'm currently running an AD&D campaign in Karameikos and I don't know if I can fit it in. Thanks, Matthijs ps. Did anyone ever make an adventure that involves the gnomish caravan? I like to hear some ideas. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2000 21:21:59 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?H=E5vard?= Subject: Re: Champions of Mystara In-Reply-To: <3.0.6.32.20000608205225.007a7e10@pop.accu.uu.nl> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8BIT On Thu, 8 Jun 2000, Matthijs van der Mede wrote: > Hi everybody, > > A friend of mine told me he could buy "Champions of Mystara"for me but I > would like know if its worth it. Could anyone describe me what is in this > setting? That would really be appreciated. I'm currently running an AD&D > campaign in Karameikos and I don't know if I can fit it in. There are two really great maps of the Sind Desert and the Serpent Peninsula (The regions between the Known World and the Savage Coast). Then there are three books. The first book includes parts of the Voyage of the Princess Ark series. It also includes information about the flying ship, the Princess Ark itself and its crew. The Second book has information about Sind, the Grakkalian Vastes (the lands below the Sind desert), and the lands of the Serpent Peninsula. The Third book includes information about Space Travel in mystara and creating new worlds or countries. I'd say this box is a must-have, although if you > ps. Did anyone ever make an adventure that involves the gnomish caravan? I > like to hear some ideas. Havent done that. The route seems pretty safe actually, although south of Kelvin there are Bugbears to the west, and further south there are the Goblins of Dymrak who might plan an attack on the caravan. Perhaps, there are some important people joining the caravan and the goblins manage to kidnap these people. Perhaps the goblins were hired by the Iron Ring to kidnap, say the gnome kings daughter, to blackmail the gnomes in the future. H�vard Haavard R. Faanes (hoc@nvg.ntnu.no) http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/~hoc "Would it not be easier in this case for the government to dissolve the people and elect another?" -Bertolt Brecht ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2000 12:25:53 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Beau Subject: Re: Champions of Mystara In-Reply-To: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable At 21:21 06/08/2000 +0200, H=E5vard wrote: >Then there are three books. > >The first book includes parts of the Voyage of the Princess Ark series. It >also includes information about the flying ship, the Princess Ark itself >and its crew. > >The Second book has information about Sind, the Grakkalian Vastes (the >lands below the Sind desert), and the lands of the Serpent Peninsula. > >The Third book includes information about Space Travel in mystara and >creating new worlds or countries. > >I'd say this box is a must-have, although if you Hell. I'd hoped it would be Mystara-in-a-box. I just want enough info (including a world map) to be able to have characters move quickly through, say, Darokin without having to hunt down a Gazeteer for each land. BEAU http://www.LBY3.com/ ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2000 22:14:09 CEST Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Max Monas Subject: How do you describe things? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Hi everyone, some time ago I asked you how you would describe things. Maybe some use great detail, others would just desribe an overall scene. My question is the following. I am really having a hard time finding the right balance, in fact I am just having a hard time trying the describe things in such a way, that things actually set in my PCs minds. In order to find a solution, I bought a book called word painting (you cal me crazy, but I really want to be able to describe things correctly). In this book the author gives advice (it is a book for beginning writers) on how to describe things in a way that it really has a lot of feel to it. She says that in order for a reader to be able to actually visualise things they read (in this case hear) you need to make use of the five senses (I tried to do this when an band of orcs attacked a village the PCs were in, but some of the PCs didn't like the fact that I had to finsish my description of what was going on, before they could take action). I tried to use things like: you hear people screaming in panic, you see a couple of Orcs attack a family which is fleeing and you see that they totaly rip them apart (over the top, yes I know). You see this to the left and you see this to the right etc. I would really like to know how you describe for example things of which they should get a creepy feeling, I don't just want to say: You look at ... *the castle, the room etc.) and you get a creepy feeling. I want them to actually have a creepy feeling (them as players). Some time ago people talked about the use of music during play (I recently bought the soundtrack of Dracula, and I think this will help to build a creepy atmosphere, I hope), but I don't think I should buy lots and lots of cds just so the players will have some sort of feeling. I want them to get this feeling through description. One player said that he missed the building of a picture, of an overall mood. I hope you can tell me how you do this or maybe even what techniques you use in order to get across that something feels threatening or is creepy, or that they feel they ..... whatever. I hope you know what I am talking about. I am looking forward to reading you replies, because I hope you will have some good things to say about this problem. Thanks and regards, Max ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2000 21:41:35 +0100 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Rob Subject: Re: How do you describe things? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Well, I dont think I will be much help sadly, as I am (almost criminally, I would say) very spartan with giving descriptions. But I run a swashbuckling campaign on the Savage Coast, and I let the players themselves make up the surroundings to an extent themselves. Like, there being convenient ropes to swing on, heavy objects to drop on people, fragile objects to break etc. etc. etc. They ask, and if its remotely plausible, I normally say "yes its there". It certainly gets the PCs involved - but its not the style to use if you are trying to encourage something other than swashbuckling I think... Cheers Rob > Hi everyone, > > some time ago I asked you how you would describe things. Maybe some use > great detail, others would just desribe an overall scene. My question is the > following. I am really having a hard time finding the right balance, in fact > I am just having a hard time trying the describe things in such a way, that > things actually set in my PCs minds. In order to find a solution, I bought a > book called word painting (you cal me crazy, but I really want to be able to > describe things correctly). In this book the author gives advice (it is a > book for beginning writers) on how to describe things in a way that it > really has a lot of feel to it. She says that in order for a reader to be > able to actually visualise things they read (in this case hear) you need to > make use of the five senses (I tried to do this when an band of orcs > attacked a village the PCs were in, but some of the PCs didn't like the fact > that I had to finsish my description of what was going on, before they could > take action). I tried to use things like: you hear people screaming in > panic, you see a couple of Orcs attack a family which is fleeing and you see > that they totaly rip them apart (over the top, yes I know). You see this to > the left and you see this to the right etc. I would really like to know how > you describe for example things of which they should get a creepy feeling, I > don't just want to say: You look at ... *the castle, the room etc.) and you > get a creepy feeling. I want them to actually have a creepy feeling (them as > players). Some time ago people talked about the use of music during play (I > recently bought the soundtrack of Dracula, and I think this will help to > build a creepy atmosphere, I hope), but I don't think I should buy lots and > lots of cds just so the players will have some sort of feeling. I want them > to get this feeling through description. One player said that he missed the > building of a picture, of an overall mood. I hope you can tell me how you do > this or maybe even what techniques you use in order to get across that > something feels threatening or is creepy, or that they feel they ..... > whatever. I hope you know what I am talking about. I am looking forward to > reading you replies, because I hope you will have some good things to say > about this problem. > Thanks and regards, > > Max > > > > ________________________________________________________________________ > Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com > > ******************************************************************** > The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp > Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp > To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. > ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2000 17:32:15 -0400 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Mischa E Gelman Subject: Re: Champions of Mystara In-Reply-To: <3.0.5.32.20000608122553.007c0150@lby3.com> MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII > Hell. I'd hoped it would be Mystara-in-a-box. I just want enough info > (including a world map) to be able to have characters move quickly through, > say, Darokin without having to hunt down a Gazeteer for each land. The Rules Cyclopedia gave good snapshots of the major lands of Mystara. Also, the ultra-brief summaries in X1 (our first intro to most of the countries) are great, as they tell you which historical culture a Mystaran society is based upon. Having each GAZ helps, but it's hardly necessary for a fun time. - Mischa The United States should not be a member of such organizations as the WTO - which is not a representative body. The WTO is unelected and unaccountable to the American people. - Alan Keyes ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 00:36:01 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Jacob Skytte Subject: Re: How do you describe things? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable > I let the > players themselves make up the surroundings to an extent themselves. = Like, > there being convenient ropes to swing on, heavy objects to drop on = people, > fragile objects to break etc. etc. etc. They ask, and if its = remotely > plausible, I normally say "yes its there". That sounds a lot like my Feng Shui campaign...but then it's supposed to = work that way. On topic: When I try to set a mood I always involve the weather. For = some reason IMC it's sunny when things are cheerful, and raining when = things start to go baaadd. (Of course I sometimes reverse things to keep = my players guessing.) Fogs arise, snow starts falling, or heavy winds = start blowing. This usually works moodwise for me. When I describe characters I tend to focus on the visual aspects, like = their size, weaponry and general attitude. I rarely go into specific = features unless they're extremely apparent (huge scar or whatever). I rarely describe areas in any great detail, merely stuff like "there's = two hills nearby and a stream runs between them". If the players f.ex. = ask what size is the stream, I go into detail otherwise I let it rest. = Likewise with castles and towns; just the general size and layout, go = into details if they ask. When characters first enter a cave/castle/whatever I give a general = description of temperature, humidity, drafts or whatever springs to mind = to give the players a feel for how oppressive the locale in question = seems. I sometimes focus on sounds in the distance (one character is a = thief who likes to detect noise). After the initial description I only = mention these things if something is very different. During fights I always describe in detail just what the effects of = attacks are, regardless of hit/miss. Like, "you catch the orc's blow on = the edge of your shield, and press his weapon to the ground while you = ready a strike of your own." or "with a mighty two-handed swing your = mace hits the unfortunate goblin square in the jaw and sends it = sprawling to the ground. It tries to get up, once, then faints into = unconsciousness." This balance is the result of several years of gaming, where I've = learned that most players (that I've dealt with) prefer detailed combats = without the need for tables with hit locations and the like. Generally = they've paid little attention to lengthy descriptions of locales, = preferring to get into that if they need something specific to be there. = As for NPC descriptions this has been more varied. Some players prefer = that I play the NPC's to the hilt, describe them in great detail, and = try to take on their characteristics; others like a short description = and perhaps a distorted voice (I do a mean Gnomish Yoda imitation; mean = to my vocal chords anyway). So, I hope this is useful; otherwise thanks for reading my rantings... = :) Jacob Skytte scythe@wanadoo.dk ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 02:16:35 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Shaham Ilan Subject: Re: How do you describe things? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1255" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > Hi everyone, > > some time ago I asked you how you would describe things. Maybe some use > great detail, others would just desribe an overall scene. My question is the > following. I am really having a hard time finding the right balance, in fact > I am just having a hard time trying the describe things in such a way, that > things actually set in my PCs minds. In order to find a solution, I bought a > book called word painting (you cal me crazy, but I really want to be able to > describe things correctly). In this book the author gives advice (it is a > book for beginning writers) on how to describe things in a way that it > really has a lot of feel to it. She says that in order for a reader to be > able to actually visualise things they read (in this case hear) you need to > make use of the five senses (I tried to do this when an band of orcs > attacked a village the PCs were in, but some of the PCs didn't like the fact > that I had to finsish my description of what was going on, before they could > take action). I tried to use things like: you hear people screaming in > panic, you see a couple of Orcs attack a family which is fleeing and you see > that they totaly rip them apart (over the top, yes I know). You see this to > the left and you see this to the right etc. I would really like to know how > you describe for example things of which they should get a creepy feeling, I > don't just want to say: You look at ... *the castle, the room etc.) and you > get a creepy feeling. I want them to actually have a creepy feeling (them as > players). Some time ago people talked about the use of music during play (I > recently bought the soundtrack of Dracula, and I think this will help to > build a creepy atmosphere, I hope), but I don't think I should buy lots and > lots of cds just so the players will have some sort of feeling. I want them > to get this feeling through description. One player said that he missed the > building of a picture, of an overall mood. I hope you can tell me how you do > this or maybe even what techniques you use in order to get across that > something feels threatening or is creepy, or that they feel they ..... > whatever. I hope you know what I am talking about. I am looking forward to > reading you replies, because I hope you will have some good things to say > about this problem. > Thanks and regards, > > Max > I will start from the music part. Though I never used this in a game (and I havn't played in years), I can see how it can help. Try using CDs that don't have words in them (especially not in your native language) as this disrupts concetration to what's being said. I am a CD sailsmen, and I hear quite a lot of crapy music on a dayly basis. What I will recommend for gaming is "world music" especially Celtic and Gregorian music or sounds used in meditation. These give atmosphere and do not get in the way of the story telling. You say you want to get your PCs to get in the mood, especially at creepy parts. Have you any Ravenloft products? The Ravenloft monster manuel explains how to describe scenes apropriate for horror/gothic. The main thing is, details. Don't tell the player's "you see a bunch of orcs slashing a family to pieces", you have to take it slow. You have to transmit to the players that this is no computer game, and they are not bombing monsters who dissapear with a puff of smoke and thier XP rises to the sky. In the Orcish masacre scene describe the family. Describe how the orcs look like in detail (I guess your players have never really seen an orc have they?). Than describe how two of the orcs are holding the innocent villager down and drop him to his knees. Describe the terrified look in his eyes, and the glance he sends to his wife and children held helpless by two other orcs. Than describe the orc taking his jagged rusting sword and how he takes it close to the villagers neck and suddenly slashes him as the other Orcs emit a horrible laugh and the wife of the villager gives out a broken cry of horror and despair. This does not have to take long, not in game time and not in real time. All you need is to visualise in your head the sounds and sights of whats going on, than tell about it to the players. Don't be afraid to be emotional. If the scene is horrible, tell them why. It is not enough to state that a horrible deed has been done to make people realise how much horrible it realy is. If the scene is wonderful and moving, tell that to your player. If your players find it boring, than maybe they should move to another game or to another DM. Hack n Slash gaming is fine, but gaming like that more than a few time could be boring and childish. I hope this helps. Ohad ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 01:26:01 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?H=E5vard?= Subject: Re: How do you describe things? In-Reply-To: <20000608201409.56746.qmail@hotmail.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8BIT This is in response to Max Monas' letter about how to describe things and how to set a good mood. First of all, I'm no expert. I've read _alot_ about this. Reading about it aparently doesnt automatically mean you know how to use it. You mention two very important things in your mail. First, that its important to use all senses, second that your players dont want to hear your long descriptions. I think I'll start with the second part. You shouldn't give the players longer descriptions than then want to hear. Try to give a short description, but make sure to make it unique and different every time. Make sure to include something that catches the players interest. an example. "You see a door with strange carvings on it." this description is really short and simple, yet the part about strange carvings might catch the players attention, if he is in the mood. If he is he will ask more about the door and you should keep giving him bits of information. In the orcs example, you might say: "as you approach the battle scene, you see that it is a group of orcs, attacking the villages, yet there is something strange about these orcs..." Later on you can make up whats strange about the orcs. Maybe their armor is different, maybe they are especially ferocious, like in a berserker rage, or maybe its just their strange warcries..." Now about the senses. Im not very good at this myself, but it really works well if you can manage it. Dont use all senses all the time. Since you are going to keep your descriptions short, stay with what strikes the characters first. Smell is a great sense, and it is a great trigger for the imagination if used right. Max Monas also asked about other ways of creating a good mood. I think background music is a good idea, but again dont overdo it. I once played the Dacula soundtrack so many times my players really hated it. Buy two or three CDs so you can change between them. Movie sound tracks usually work really well. Braveheart, the Devils Advocate, Gladiator, Ronin, all good sound tracks. Dimmed lights and candles can also work miracles. Just a few thoughst that might be helpful. H�vard Haavard R. Faanes (hoc@nvg.ntnu.no) http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/~hoc "Would it not be easier in this case for the government to dissolve the people and elect another?" -Bertolt Brecht ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2000 20:20:52 EDT Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Dan Roy Subject: Re: Ad&D : play online, design worlds MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Do you want to play Ad&D Online? How about helping to design a world? We are currently working on an island and adventuring will begin soon. Imagine playing with 100s of other PCs adventuring in one world and having a 24/7 role playing game at your hands always changing due to you and others adventuring .. even while you sleep it changes! Progress: Working on new website design discussion on our own chat client most projects taken, aiming for 500+ NPCs in the capital and much more... For more information, email me at : rollrhky55@aol.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 02:56:23 +0100 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: The Stalker Organization: Angelfire (http://email.angelfire.mailcity.lycos.com:80) Subject: Re: New GPD Website Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit On Thu, 8 Jun 2000 09:45:04 Caroletti wrote: >> It's true that we had a number of commoners (*with* Water Breathing this time - much more efficient!) down there last week, but we've sent them all home now. We had them search for treasure on sunken Thyatian ships, though naturally there was none - I should have known... ;) >> >> - The Stalker > >Well, probably you'd have a better chance to search treasure in...uh...what was >it's name?....Sunken Alphatia? I think I remember you left some pair of old >socks in your room, I wouldn't like to see them rot because of the salty water. > Nah - don't worry about it! I Teleported them out years ago... Your concern is duly noted, though, and very touching... Besides, looking for treasure in Sunken Alphatia is not very profitable - the people who live there already took it all! - The Stalker of Alphatia Angelfire for your free web-based e-mail. http://www.angelfire.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 03:41:05 +0100 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: The Stalker Organization: Angelfire (http://email.angelfire.mailcity.lycos.com:80) Subject: Re: How do you describe things? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit On Thu, 8 Jun 2000 22:14:09 Max Monas wrote: >Hi everyone, > >some time ago I asked you how you would describe things. Maybe some use >great detail, others would just desribe an overall scene. My question is the >following. I am really having a hard time finding the right balance, in fact >I am just having a hard time trying the describe things in such a way, that >things actually set in my PCs minds. In order to find a solution, I bought a >book called word painting (you cal me crazy, but I really want to be able to >describe things correctly). In this book the author gives advice (it is a >book for beginning writers) on how to describe things in a way that it >really has a lot of feel to it. She says that in order for a reader to be >able to actually visualise things they read (in this case hear) you need to >make use of the five senses (I tried to do this when an band of orcs >attacked a village the PCs were in, but some of the PCs didn't like the fact >that I had to finsish my description of what was going on, before they could >take action). This is a problem, yes, but at the heart of it, it's mostly because they get the feeling that things are going on around them, while they are not allowed to participate... I mean, a woman is being torn to pieces, and the PCs want to intervene - so let them! They are the heroes, and if they want to react before they picked up all the clues, then fine - it's really difficult to pay attention to all five senses in such a situation. My advice: Keep your descriptions very short, and leave some of the non-essential ones (smell, heat, taste...) out *until* the PCs do something - allow them to stop your description if they want to. You can always continue it *while* they are fighting, since they are still just in the process of realizing the awful smells around them, for example. > I tried to use things like: you hear people screaming in >panic, you see a couple of Orcs attack a family which is fleeing and you see >that they totaly rip them apart (over the top, yes I know). > I don't think it's over the top if it serves a purpose, but don't allow your descriptions to become so long that they slow down the pace! I mean, you were trying to create a frantic, exciting, fast-paced atmosphere, and lengthy descriptions tend to ruin that... > You see this to >the left and you see this to the right etc. I would really like to know how >you describe for example things of which they should get a creepy feeling, I >don't just want to say: You look at ... *the castle, the room etc.) and you >get a creepy feeling. Do all this during the battles - little pieces at a time... > I want them to actually have a creepy feeling (them as >players). Some time ago people talked about the use of music during play (I >recently bought the soundtrack of Dracula, and I think this will help to >build a creepy atmosphere, I hope), but I don't think I should buy lots and >lots of cds just so the players will have some sort of feeling. > You got the Dracula music? Good for you - it's excellent! What I do in those situations is program to CD player to continuously replay a number of the better tracks, and then leave it alone to play for a couple of hours. You can also choose one track to replay, and then change it when something new happens. The Dracula track is great for this, because the various tracks are appropriate for many different situations - just leave out the Annie Lennox song at the end. It's not bad, but it's inappropriate for atmospheric music IMHO. > I want them >to get this feeling through description. One player said that he missed the >building of a picture, of an overall mood. This can and *will* happen... Just make sure that he really notes his mistake, so that he'll listen better next time, and make sure your descriptions aren't too long! > I hope you can tell me how you do >this or maybe even what techniques you use in order to get across that >something feels threatening or is creepy, or that they feel they ..... >whatever. I hope you know what I am talking about. (snip rest) Well, I'm just lucky because my players (especially one of them) are so paranoid that they'll jump to a thousand conclusions much worse than what's in the adventure... Of course, if the conclusion they jump to is a really good one, they tend to be right about it... :) For example... Player: "Arrgh - you mean... There are *undead* beholders in your campaign?????" - " Me: "There are now!" :) Angelfire for your free web-based e-mail. http://www.angelfire.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2000 22:47:31 EDT Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Meltheim Shadowstalker Subject: Re: describe things? THE GREAT MELTHEIM SPEAKS! MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit The great Meltheim speaks yet again. Let all ye that are worthy listen, while the rest of ye just go do something else, ok??? I personally believe in lots of description, but only describe what you want the players to know, as in, give them a little bit that they bite on and let them figure out what the rest of it looks like. I will say, "You come upon a turned over caravan that looks to be in very bad condition" and let them go from there. If they inquire about the driver, the sand, the winds, whatever, i'll let them know if it's pertinent. However, like my fellow Stalker, if they say something that suddenly sounds to good to me, such as "Is the caravan driver an undead beholder?" I will agree wholeheartedly and let them deal with their own world. heehee, manipulative little bastard, aren't I??? Meltheim the Shadowstalker ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 01:24:51 EDT Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Wizards Shopper Subject: Re: How do you describe things? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In a message dated 2000-06-08 4:50:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time, rmunch@EASYNET.CO.UK writes: << Well, I dont think I will be much help sadly, as I am (almost criminally, I would say) very spartan with giving descriptions. But I run a swashbuckling campaign on the Savage Coast, and I let the players themselves make up the surroundings to an extent themselves. Like, there being convenient ropes to swing on, heavy objects to drop on people, fragile objects to break etc. etc. etc. They ask, and if its remotely plausible, I normally say "yes its there". It certainly gets the PCs involved - but its not the style to use if you are trying to encourage something other than swashbuckling I think... >> One approach that I once saw recommended is to limit initial descriptions to the obvious things that even the most oblivious PCs cannot miss. If the players tell you that they are looking for certain things, amplify your descriptions to indicate the presence or absence of whatever they are looking for. Thus, for example, in the case of orcs committing various atrocities in a nearby village, your initial description should tell them what they here. That description would be vague enough to elicit only the vague action of looking in the direction of the noise from the PCs. At that point you give them the "quick" version of what they see. If they react, carry on from there -- but if they continue looking, give full details of just what those orcs are doing. If the players interrupt your description with plausible actions, let them carry out those actions immediately unless there is something very obvious that you have not yet described. If the things you have not yet described could possibly be overlooked by people who are in a hurry to deal with a crisis, then there is no need to continue -- let them be surprised by the ambusher or trap that they did not even attempt to detect. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 12:27:35 +0100 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Rob Subject: Re: How do you describe things? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > One approach that I once saw recommended is to limit initial descriptions > to the obvious things that even the most oblivious PCs cannot miss. If > the players tell you that they are looking for certain things, amplify your > descriptions to indicate the presence or absence of whatever they are > looking for. Yeah, I suppose thats what I do :) That sounds a lot more professional than what I wrote :) Cheers Rob ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 19:46:16 +0100 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: mortus Subject: Re: Bargle the Infamous MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > > No point in you killing them and making them undead - naturally they already are! :) > > guess i'll just have to break your control of them then, it just wont be as much fun though, ah well. mortus. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 19:59:46 +0100 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: mortus Subject: Re: New GPD Website MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > > Get a fishing boat and sail around the Sea of Dawn, looking over the side? > why bother looking over? just trail a large hook and your bound to catch one ;-) mortus. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 14:04:24 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Greg Weatherup Subject: How do you describe things? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit This is in reply to Max's question. I know you've already gotten some great responses with some terrific advice, but I figured I'd try to add some more. I've found that it does take some practice to get the right feel and technique and pace. The first step though is to make sure YOU understand the scene and can visualise it. But don't set that vision in stone... Your players might get a slightly different read from your discription that might work out better you decide (did someone say undead beholder?). A class on the psychology of the 5 senses and memory can also be helpful. Once you find a pace and description length that works for you and your group don't be afraid to flutuate some. If it's something routine, you probally do not need as long a discreption. If it's something more extraordinary from normal, linger on it. If the players want to say "ok, ok already, I do x" then go with it, they just miss out on whatever important thing you have to say (hence my famous "helll-ooooooooo!" story). Also be careful of what words you use or you could end up with a paranoid character killing himself in a comical way (such as the classic 'Eric & the Gazeboo' story or my famous 'Andy and the Cat' tale). You might find it helpful to have 2 or 3 levels of description of everything, one a general overview, a closer look, and a detailed inspection or some such. As for background music, if you have it and can work it in with out too much of a distraction with fumbeling around with the technology.. then go for it. I've never actually had an oportunity to use background music, but I have played a few games using the Audio CD adventures and my players seemed to like them as a change of pace from just hearing my voice. About using the five senses. Be sure to tie them into memory and how memory also works. Of course hearing and vision are going to be the two strongest. Not only are they the 2 most dominate human senses, they are also the easiest to use, imitate, and fool and describe things for. Touch will probaly come in too, but that I have found that it often takes some time to describe touch sensations (of course if they're in the dark, then that and sound work really well together). Taste & Smell are two that I have never been very good at utilising in a campaign, although I have managed on a few occasions to use vision to replace them when describing food (especially if the food is a five course feast with a wide range of delectables to choose from, or is something really disgusting and squirmy, and possibly still alive) and a really good visual description can sometimes stimulate a players actual taste organs and stomach :) Some other advices: When a NPC is speaking, actually try ot imitate their voice, but don't go over the top. Just a small change in your voice or tone is usually good enough to distinquish several distinct personages. It's often hard to imitate someone of the oposite sex from yourself so you might not want to try (unless you want the players falling off there chairs laughing). Describe not only the world evolving around them, but the consequences of their actions. If you know ahead of time what situations you'll be getting the players into... umm... I mean what situation the palyers will be getting themselves into (yeah, that's what I meant :) then props will work wonders, but most of the time they will be a waste of time as the players never do what you want and you have to make everthing up on the spur of the moment. Also, don't be afraid to fool the players senses, just don't do it 100% of the time or they will stop trusting there own eyes about everything (DM: ok, you pick up the pencil and start to wright Player interupts: but How do I know it's a pencil and not a snake or a tiger's tail?). It also sometimes helps to focus in one some particular feature of a humanoid, especially of a different species from the players. The first couple of Orc's they see might be brand new and need complete descriptions. Then they start to be able to pick out individual orcs on the fifth encounter, distinquishing them by specific features: the muscular one, the one with the short brwon hair, the one with the scar, the really tall one, the scrwany one, the enormously buiilt one, etc. By there twentieth encounter with orcs they can probally tell a lot more about them from just looking at individual orcs (even though I don't believe in physiognomy I often use it in effectively in games when describing humanoids and such) hope this helps Max. Now a question for everyone: Despite normally being fairly good at DM'ing face-to-face games, I am finding it much harder to do the same with PBEM games. Would anybody have any advice to the same question but for PBEM games? Greg Weatherup Gecko GWxup@excite.com http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine/spock/67/index.html _______________________________________________________ Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by Excite Visit http://freelane.excite.com/freeisp ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 22:43:01 +0100 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Phillip Jones Subject: Re: How do you describe things? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > In order to find a solution, I bought a > book called word painting (you cal me crazy, but I really want to be able to > describe things correctly). No, actually it sounds like a good idea to me. Let me know the author, and I'll see if I can pick it up myself! I tried to do this when an band of orcs > attacked a village the PCs were in, but some of the PCs didn't like the fact > that I had to finsish my description of what was going on, before they could > take action). I tried to use things like: you hear people screaming in > panic, you see a couple of Orcs attack a family which is fleeing and you see > that they totaly rip them apart (over the top, yes I know). You see this to > the left and you see this to the right etc. In my campaign I've found that if you keep the narrative in combat situations to a minimum, just chucking in the odd remark on a particular action now and again (often funny or sarcastic), combat is fast, furious and fun. Of course, when the PCs have more time to look around, feel free to give more detailed descriptions of the area they are in. Personally though, I still keep the descriptions fairly brief, and elaborate as the PCs investigate a particular point of interest further. > I would really like to know how > you describe for example things of which they should get a creepy feeling, I > don't just want to say: You look at ... *the castle, the room etc.) and you > get a creepy feeling. I want them to actually have a creepy feeling (them as > players). In that sort of situation, a good description is required. That's got the initial setting. The description of sounds (or lack of - e.g. the place is deathly quiet, the only sound you can hear is your own footfalls echoing hollowly on the wooden floor.) I've found really creeps PCs out, as well as tricks of the imagination. (e.g. in above description just add "Out of the corner of your eye, you think you see something dart into the shadows. You whip your head around, focusing on the area, but see nothing. Just your imagination - or is it?" That'll get them a bit paranoid (and when it starts to get a bit old, have something jump out of them - even if its just a mop falling out of that closet they just opened!). Don't forget, the more paranoid the players get, the more their imagination will play on them, imagining sights, sounds, etc. Another thing that works wonders is to seperate the PCs into smaller groups (or even alone!). Things get alot scarier when your mates are not around. (and of course, you can distort the echos of the sounds that the other party members make to really freak the listener out!). Of course, the final touch is the DMs slightly bemused "Oh boy are you in for it this time" look. Just that look alone, sends waves of dread over my players (he,he). A combination of these have been VERY effective in my campaign. > Some time ago people talked about the use of music during play (I > recently bought the soundtrack of Dracula, and I think this will help to > build a creepy atmosphere, I hope), but I don't think I should buy lots and > lots of cds just so the players will have some sort of feeling. I've never tried background music, thinking it too distracting, but if you can live with it give it a whirl. Personally, I prefer quiet. That way the PCs hang on your every word, absorbing the asmosphere you're generating. Thats all I can think of for now. Hope its of some help. :) ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 22:53:09 GMT Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: kevin wyton Subject: Barroom Brawl Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Greetings All I recently participated in a fun little escapade I thought I'd share. A fellow DM had a gathering and being that there was a wealth of gamers present he ran a Barroom Brawl.It turned out fun for experienced gamers and non-gamers both. The setup was simple: 1. A map of a bar. I recommend a two story with the second story being a balcony overlooking the first floor. 2. A handful of pre-generated characters. the more the merrier! 3. A series of plots and subplots involving the characters 4. A handy chart showing the damage from such things as mugs,wine bottles, chairs, etc. 5. rules for miscast spells (preferably a random result chart) The only new rule we used was one specifying the results of inebriation. Your constitution(CON) was converted into "Drunk Points" on a 1 to 1 basis. Drinks were given a Drunk Value. Cider=.5, ale=1, whiskey=2, etc. Those who had some drinks were required to roll a d20 and score higher than their accumulated Drunk Points before any action they attempted. A failure indicated things didn't go as planned. With a litle creativity things degenerated into mayhem very quickly! For example my character(a half-orc with INT 3!) had decided that the bard singing on the stage was in love with him(this was the plot provided by the DM). His attempts to profess his love to her (in orcish fashion) quickly involved some of the other players and the bars bouncers. Add a few failed Drunk Rolls and soon everybody was fighting. Oh yeah, any character whose Drunk Points total equalled or exceeded his CON had to make a CON check or fall unconcious. A +1 modifier was added for every Drunk Point above his limit and a further +1 for every round after reaching his limit. Hope others can use this and have fun Kevin ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 15:53:59 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Beau Subject: Re: Barroom Brawl In-Reply-To: <20000609225309.92614.qmail@hotmail.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 22:53 06/09/2000 GMT, kevin wyton wrote: >I recently participated in a fun little escapade I thought I'd share. A >fellow DM had a gathering and being that there was a wealth of gamers >present he ran a Barroom Brawl.It turned out fun for experienced gamers and >non-gamers both. > >The setup was simple: >1. A map of a bar. I recommend a two story with the second story being a >balcony overlooking the first floor. > >2. A handful of pre-generated characters. the more the merrier! > >3. A series of plots and subplots involving the characters > >4. A handy chart showing the damage from such things as mugs,wine bottles, >chairs, etc. > >5. rules for miscast spells (preferably a random result chart) > >The only new rule we used was one specifying the results of inebriation. >Your constitution(CON) was converted into "Drunk Points" on a 1 to 1 basis. >Drinks were given a Drunk Value. Cider=.5, ale=1, whiskey=2, etc. >Those who had some drinks were required to roll a d20 and score higher than >their accumulated Drunk Points before any action they attempted. A failure >indicated things didn't go as planned. Years and years ago, a magazine -- for the life of me, I can't remember if it was "The Dragon," "Fantasy Gamer" or the old "White Dwarf" or even "Imagine" -- actually published a miniatures-scale bar map and a list of NPCs and such specifically for playing a bar room brawl. Wow, thinking back on it, I think our gaming group may have spent at least half our time in brawls after that. And most of the rest of the time, we were either out burglarizing or wenching. What a depraved bunch of kids we were! BEAU http://www.LBY3.com/ ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 19:36:06 EDT Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Andrew Theisen Subject: Re: Barroom Brawl Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Beau wrote: > >Years and years ago, a magazine -- for the life of me, I can't remember = >if it was "The Dragon," "Fantasy Gamer" or the old "White Dwarf" or even >"Imagine" -- actually published a miniatures-scale bar map and a list of= >NPCs and such specifically for playing a bar room brawl. One of the adventures for "Tales From the Floating Vagabond" had a veyr distinctive bar brawl featured in it. Superheroes, PCs, and fanatic follo= wers of a some strange cult going at it in the FV. Come to think of it, TFFV w= as pretty much a continuous bar brawl... (Interesting humorous system, although the combat resolution mechanics di= dn't seem to fit the atmosphere of the game...) ____________________________________________________________________ Get free email and a permanent address at http://www.amexmail.com/?A=3D1 ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 01:41:39 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: David Burtin Organization: K.A.O.S. Subject: Re: Barroom Brawl MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit I've got this one in an old Best of White Dwarf Scenarios. Can't remember if it's vol I or II. Beau a �crit : > At 22:53 06/09/2000 GMT, kevin wyton wrote: > > >I recently participated in a fun little escapade I thought I'd share. A > >fellow DM had a gathering and being that there was a wealth of gamers > >present he ran a Barroom Brawl.It turned out fun for experienced gamers and > >non-gamers both. > > > >The setup was simple: > >1. A map of a bar. I recommend a two story with the second story being a > >balcony overlooking the first floor. > > > >2. A handful of pre-generated characters. the more the merrier! > > > >3. A series of plots and subplots involving the characters > > > >4. A handy chart showing the damage from such things as mugs,wine bottles, > >chairs, etc. > > > >5. rules for miscast spells (preferably a random result chart) > > > >The only new rule we used was one specifying the results of inebriation. > >Your constitution(CON) was converted into "Drunk Points" on a 1 to 1 basis. > >Drinks were given a Drunk Value. Cider=.5, ale=1, whiskey=2, etc. > >Those who had some drinks were required to roll a d20 and score higher than > >their accumulated Drunk Points before any action they attempted. A failure > >indicated things didn't go as planned. > > Years and years ago, a magazine -- for the life of me, I can't remember if > it was "The Dragon," "Fantasy Gamer" or the old "White Dwarf" or even > "Imagine" -- actually published a miniatures-scale bar map and a list of > NPCs and such specifically for playing a bar room brawl. > Wow, thinking back on it, I think our gaming group may have spent at least > half our time in brawls after that. And most of the rest of the time, we > were either out burglarizing or wenching. What a depraved bunch of kids we > were! > > BEAU > http://www.LBY3.com/ > > ******************************************************************** > The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp > Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp > To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 16:40:05 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Beau Subject: Re: Barroom Brawl In-Reply-To: <394180B3.BC8C4F63@wanadoo.fr> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 01:41 06/10/2000 +0200, David Burtin wrote: >I've got this one in an old Best of White Dwarf Scenarios. Can't remember if it's vol >I or II. If you remember, I'm definitely going to start scouring eBay for it, if only for nostalgia value. (I mean, I can certainly make a map of a bar and add NPCs to it. Hell, there's a Web site that generates both automatically nowadays.) BEAU http://www.LBY3.com/ ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 00:49:44 +0100 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: The Stalker Organization: Angelfire (http://email.angelfire.mailcity.lycos.com:80) Subject: Re: Bargle the Infamous Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit On Fri, 9 Jun 2000 19:46:16 mortus wrote: >> >> No point in you killing them and making them undead - naturally they >already are! :) >> >> >guess i'll just have to break your control of them then, it just wont be as >much fun though, ah well. > I already told you people that they weren't there any more - but go ahead... I'll just let one of the dragon turtles know where to catch it's next meal! :) - The Stalker Angelfire for your free web-based e-mail. http://www.angelfire.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 18:03:23 -0600 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Leroy Van Camp III Subject: [ADMIN] Election: Time to Cast Your Vote MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hmmm... looks like none of the candidates chose to post a bit about themselves and why they feel they would make a good admin. Disheartening, really, but so it goes... Now it's time to begin the voting phase of the election. Here are the rules... 1) Votes must be for one of the following candidates: Alan Shutko Geoff Gander Andrew Theisen Gordon McCormick 2) One vote per person. 3) All votes must be sent to me (malacoda@uswest.net), not the list. Votes sent to the list will be ignored. 4) All votes should have ... [VOTE] MML Election ...as the subject header. Those without it will be ignored. This may seem a bit hard-assed, but it will help insure votes don't get lost in my standard deluge of e-mail (I get around 400+ a day) 5) Votes must be sent from the account that you are subscribed to the list with. I will be using the current subscriber list to track votes, and votes from addresses not on that list will be ignored. This is simply to help avoid any potential ballot stuffing, as unlikely as that really is. This also means that anyone not subscribed when I pull the list will not be able to vote. 6) Nominees can vote as well. I get to vote, too, of course. 7) The voting starts now (6/9/00) and ends in one week (8 p.m. Mountain time, 6/16/00). The winner will be announced a while after that, depending on how many votes I need to calculated. 8) The winner will be the person with the most votes, regardless of how close it comes. In the case of a tie, we'll figure something out. All numbers will be posted (though numbers only, not who voted for who). That's it. I encourage everyone to vote, even you lurkers. Leroy Van Camp III malacoda@uswest.net http://www.users.uswest.net/~malacoda/TarkasBrainLabIV.html ICQ #20039817 "My hamster had five babies last week. This morning when I looked in the cage she had ate two of them little babies. What the heck. Had a couple myself." Earl, Red Meat ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 17:23:41 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Ktrey Parker Subject: Re: Barroom Brawl MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii I have some old Judges Guild Terrain Maps, and one of them is a tavern/inn. and it came with pregenerated PC's. -ktrey --- Beau wrote: > At 22:53 06/09/2000 GMT, kevin wyton wrote: > > >I recently participated in a fun little escapade I > thought I'd share. A > >fellow DM had a gathering and being that there was > a wealth of gamers > >present he ran a Barroom Brawl.It turned out fun > for experienced gamers and > >non-gamers both. > > > >The setup was simple: > >1. A map of a bar. I recommend a two story with the > second story being a > >balcony overlooking the first floor. > > > >2. A handful of pre-generated characters. the more > the merrier! > > > >3. A series of plots and subplots involving the > characters > > > >4. A handy chart showing the damage from such > things as mugs,wine bottles, > >chairs, etc. > > > >5. rules for miscast spells (preferably a random > result chart) > > > >The only new rule we used was one specifying the > results of inebriation. > >Your constitution(CON) was converted into "Drunk > Points" on a 1 to 1 basis. > >Drinks were given a Drunk Value. Cider=.5, ale=1, > whiskey=2, etc. > >Those who had some drinks were required to roll a > d20 and score higher than > >their accumulated Drunk Points before any action > they attempted. A failure > >indicated things didn't go as planned. > > Years and years ago, a magazine -- for the > life of me, I can't remember if > it was "The Dragon," "Fantasy Gamer" or the old > "White Dwarf" or even > "Imagine" -- actually published a miniatures-scale > bar map and a list of > NPCs and such specifically for playing a bar room > brawl. > Wow, thinking back on it, I think our gaming > group may have spent at least > half our time in brawls after that. And most of the > rest of the time, we > were either out burglarizing or wenching. What a > depraved bunch of kids we > were! > > BEAU > http://www.LBY3.com/ > > ******************************************************************** > The Other Worlds Homepage: > http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp > Find Local Players: > http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp > To unsubscribe, send email to > LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos -- now, 100 FREE prints! http://photos.yahoo.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 02:31:45 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: David Burtin Organization: K.A.O.S. Subject: Re: Barroom Brawl MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit I've found in an index of White Dwarf that "A Bar-Room Brawl D&D style" was in issue number 11. ( so it should be in Best of White Dwarf Scenarios vol I) David Beau a �crit : > At 01:41 06/10/2000 +0200, David Burtin wrote: > >I've got this one in an old Best of White Dwarf Scenarios. Can't remember > if it's vol > >I or II. > > If you remember, I'm definitely going to start scouring eBay for it, if > only for nostalgia value. (I mean, I can certainly make a map of a bar and > add NPCs to it. Hell, there's a Web site that generates both automatically > nowadays.) > > BEAU > http://www.LBY3.com/ > > ******************************************************************** > The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp > Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp > To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 17:28:56 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Beau Subject: Re: Barroom Brawl In-Reply-To: <39418C71.509BE7D3@wanadoo.fr> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 02:31 06/10/2000 +0200, David wrote: >I've found in an index of White Dwarf that "A Bar-Room Brawl D&D style" was in >issue number 11. >( so it should be in Best of White Dwarf Scenarios vol I) Thanks! BEAU http://www.LBY3.com/ ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 20:10:19 -0400 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Alan Shutko Subject: Re: [ADMIN] Election: Time to Cast Your Vote In-Reply-To: Leroy Van Camp III's message of "Fri, 9 Jun 2000 18:03:23 -0600" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Leroy Van Camp III writes: > Hmmm... looks like none of the candidates chose to post a bit about > themselves and why they feel they would make a good admin. > Disheartening, really, but so it goes... Sorry about that... hardware problems on my side. I'm currently writing this on a borrowed powerbook telneted to a pentium 60 connected by a currently un-working cable-modem, while my real machine is in Texas being repaired. Hopefully, the cable people will fix the net soon! Anyway, any voters can just reread my original self-nomination for a basic platform. I'll provide an archive-link if I get a net back for enough time. -- Alan Shutko - In a variety of flavors! 154 days, 15 hours, 26 minutes, 56 seconds till we run away. Safety Third. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 18:12:34 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Andrew Theisen Subject: Re: [ADMIN] Election: Time to Cast Your Vote In-Reply-To: <054101bfd26f$4b285340$ee83e33f@thedeadlands> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 06:03 PM 6/9/00 -0600, you wrote: >Hmmm... looks like none of the candidates chose to post a bit about >themselves and why they feel they would make a good admin. >Disheartening, really, but so it goes... Sorry to disappoint, but it's only been 5 days since the post on the Nominations, and I've been having problems at work all week long... don't mean to sound snippy, but... well, there's no good reason for it, I guess. That being said, while I really do appreciate the thought, and being nominated, and absolutely would like to take on the responsibilities, either in part or in full, I just don't feel that I can do so in all good conscience. I'm not concerned that I can't do it on the technical side, nor do I think that it will be something that will require much in terms of actual hands on monitoring (everyone here on the list is pretty rational, reasonable, and easygoing). Ultimately, though, I really don't know what to expect of the duties, and given some personal difficulties that have arisen, and other responsibilities I already have, I cannot accept the position as currently offered. I do regret that, and I hope that it doesn't let anyone down, but there are certainly other great candidates to choose from, and if for some reason none of them work out, I would certainly still be open to sharing the responsibilities. I don't want to see the list die, but I can't- won't- commit myself to a responsibility that I don't know if I can hold up. Not fair to me or the list. So I guess this is me bowing out... Sorry. :( ----- Andrew "Cthulhudrew" Theisen Aspiring screenwriter, actor, and gadabout jsmill@wans.net "The greatest trick Doug Henning ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." - Keyser Soze ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 18:17:06 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Andrew Theisen Subject: [ADMIN] Election: Time to Cast Your Vote In-Reply-To: <054101bfd26f$4b285340$ee83e33f@thedeadlands> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" In response to my last post, I see that the Nominations were posted longer than 5 days ago- it was the revised list of candidates that was posted on 6/4/00, and not the initial one. Didn't mean to rile anyone's feathers (if I did). I still have to bow out, though... ----- Andrew "Cthulhudrew" Theisen Aspiring screenwriter, actor, and gadabout jsmill@wans.net "The greatest trick Doug Henning ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." - Keyser Soze ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 20:11:43 -0500 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Ron Rogers Subject: [VOTE} MML Election. Comments: To: malacoda@USWEST.NET In-Reply-To: Leroy Van Camp III 's message of Fri, 9 Jun 2000 18:03:23 -0600 Content-Type: Text/Plain; Charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7Bit MIME-Version: 1.0 (WebTV) I'm mostly a lurker here, I think any of the nominees would do a good job. The list mostly self regulates, I've been a member for what, about a year now, and I count count the number of times you've had to publicly intervene on one hand. But IMHO Geoff and Andrew tend to be a bit more active so I'm going to choose between one of them. Of course being List Ogre might reduce their activity, hmm. Make it Andrew Theisen. CronoCloud (Ron Rogers) Knight of the Square Table http://members.tripod.com/~CronoCloud/index.html Member of the Knights Knoble http://knightsknoble.cjb.net ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 20:17:03 -0500 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Ron Rogers Subject: Re: [VOTE} MML Election. In-Reply-To: Ron Rogers 's message of Fri, 9 Jun 2000 20:11:43 -0500 Content-Type: Text/Plain; Charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7Bit MIME-Version: 1.0 (WebTV) Leroy discount my vote, sorry about that, I don't know why that happened. I had your address set properly. It should NOT have gone to the list. CronoCloud (Ron Rogers) Knight of the Square Table http://members.tripod.com/~CronoCloud/index.html Member of the Knights Knoble http://knightsknoble.cjb.net ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 10:57:49 +0800 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: "Francisco V. Navarro" Subject: Laterran Geography MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hail Mystarans! Working on the origins of the d'Ambrevilles, the McGregors, and the Fenswick/Fens in Glantri got me thinking about the georgraphy of Laterre in the Dimension of Myth. I've come up with a list of RW (real world) and L (Laterre) correspondences, from the available. I'm sure others have ideas to contribute. >From CAS and Glantri: Averogine: a province of L-France (What's the name of L-France?) Klantyre: a province of L-Scotland (What's the name of L-Scotland? Kaeland?) Kaelic: L-Scotts/Scottish, not a place name? Fensland: L-England Fen: L-English >From the history of the Immortal Nyx: Taprobane: L-Ceylon/Sri-Lanka Hind: L-India, Pakistan, Bangladesh Cathay: L-China Saracenia: L-Arabia Shangri-La: L-Tibet? Nepal? Others: Hellenia: L-Greece Troya: L-Troy, Turkey IMO, there should also be the legendary/mythical places on Laterre, such as Xanadu, Avalon, and Atlantis. Any ideas? Kit Navarro ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 08:55:31 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Marco Fossati Subject: R: [MYSTARA] How do you describe things? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I don't think you aren't a fair DM in your PBEM game ----- Original Message ----- From: Greg Weatherup To: Sent: Friday, June 09, 2000 11:04 PM Subject: [MYSTARA] How do you describe things? > This is in reply to Max's question. > > I know you've already gotten some great responses with some terrific advice, > but I figured I'd try to add some more. > > I've found that it does take some practice to get the right feel and > technique and pace. The first step though is to make sure YOU understand > the scene and can visualise it. But don't set that vision in stone... Your > players might get a slightly different read from your discription that might > work out better you decide (did someone say undead beholder?). A class on > the psychology of the 5 senses and memory can also be helpful. Once you > find a pace and description length that works for you and your group don't > be afraid to flutuate some. If it's something routine, you probally do not > need as long a discreption. If it's something more extraordinary from > normal, linger on it. If the players want to say "ok, ok already, I do x" > then go with it, they just miss out on whatever important thing you have to > say (hence my famous "helll-ooooooooo!" story). Also be careful of what > words you use or you could end up with a paranoid character killing himself > in a comical way (such as the classic 'Eric & the Gazeboo' story or my > famous 'Andy and the Cat' tale). > > You might find it helpful to have 2 or 3 levels of description of > everything, one a general overview, a closer look, and a detailed inspection > or some such. > > As for background music, if you have it and can work it in with out too much > of a distraction with fumbeling around with the technology.. then go for it. > I've never actually had an oportunity to use background music, but I have > played a few games using the Audio CD adventures and my players seemed to > like them as a change of pace from just hearing my voice. > > About using the five senses. Be sure to tie them into memory and how memory > also works. Of course hearing and vision are going to be the two strongest. > Not only are they the 2 most dominate human senses, they are also the > easiest to use, imitate, and fool and describe things for. Touch will > probaly come in too, but that I have found that it often takes some time to > describe touch sensations (of course if they're in the dark, then that and > sound work really well together). Taste & Smell are two that I have never > been very good at utilising in a campaign, although I have managed on a few > occasions to use vision to replace them when describing food (especially if > the food is a five course feast with a wide range of delectables to choose > from, or is something really disgusting and squirmy, and possibly still > alive) and a really good visual description can sometimes stimulate a > players actual taste organs and stomach :) > > Some other advices: When a NPC is speaking, actually try ot imitate their > voice, but don't go over the top. Just a small change in your voice or tone > is usually good enough to distinquish several distinct personages. It's > often hard to imitate someone of the oposite sex from yourself so you might > not want to try (unless you want the players falling off there chairs > laughing). Describe not only the world evolving around them, but the > consequences of their actions. If you know ahead of time what situations > you'll be getting the players into... umm... I mean what situation the > palyers will be getting themselves into (yeah, that's what I meant :) then > props will work wonders, but most of the time they will be a waste of time > as the players never do what you want and you have to make everthing up on > the spur of the moment. Also, don't be afraid to fool the players senses, > just don't do it 100% of the time or they will stop trusting there own eyes > about everything (DM: ok, you pick up the pencil and start to wright Player > interupts: but How do I know it's a pencil and not a snake or a tiger's > tail?). It also sometimes helps to focus in one some particular feature of > a humanoid, especially of a different species from the players. The first > couple of Orc's they see might be brand new and need complete descriptions. > Then they start to be able to pick out individual orcs on the fifth > encounter, distinquishing them by specific features: the muscular one, the > one with the short brwon hair, the one with the scar, the really tall one, > the scrwany one, the enormously buiilt one, etc. By there twentieth > encounter with orcs they can probally tell a lot more about them from just > looking at individual orcs (even though I don't believe in physiognomy I > often use it in effectively in games when describing humanoids and such) > > hope this helps Max. Now a question for everyone: > > Despite normally being fairly good at DM'ing face-to-face games, I am > finding it much harder to do the same with PBEM games. Would anybody have > any advice to the same question but for PBEM games? > > Greg Weatherup > Gecko > GWxup@excite.com > http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine/spock/67/index.html > > > > > > _______________________________________________________ > Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by Excite > Visit http://freelane.excite.com/freeisp > > ******************************************************************** > The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp > Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp > To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 09:13:39 +0100 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Gordon McCormick Subject: Re: [ADMIN] Election: Time to Cast Your Vote In-Reply-To: ; from ats@ACM.ORG on Fri, Jun 09, 2000 at 08:10:19PM -0400 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii On Fri, Jun 09, 2000 at 08:10:19PM -0400, Alan Shutko wrote: > Leroy Van Camp III writes: > > > Hmmm... looks like none of the candidates chose to post a bit about > > themselves and why they feel they would make a good admin. > > Disheartening, really, but so it goes... We weren't allowed to mention the other candidates, and I only fight good in a smear campaign :) Actually I think people should vote for Alan cos I think he'd be a good admin, vote for me if you disagree - not a catchy campaign platform, but hey... :) > Anyway, any voters can just reread my original self-nomination for a > basic platform. I'll provide an archive-link if I get a net back for > enough time. http://209.67.104.4/scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind0005d&L=mystara-l&F=&S=&P=22315 should get you to it, and it convinced me :) gordon ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 06:31:15 EDT Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Wizards Shopper Subject: Re: Laterran Geography MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In a message dated 2000-06-09 11:11:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time, fanavarro@PACIFIC.NET.PH writes: << IMO, there should also be the legendary/mythical places on Laterre, such as Xanadu, Avalon, and Atlantis. Any ideas? >> Let's see: Xanadu: I thought that was a real place -- the Mongol capital of China. Avalon: If it exists on Laterre, it would be a small island near Britain that is mostly out of touch with the rest of the world. It would not be worth noting as a part of Laterre. However, as a gate used by sidhe to get from Laterre to Faerie and perhaps other worlds, that island would gain some additional importance -- but it would not generally be available for use by mortal adventurers. Atlantis: As a prominent feature of Greek legend, Atlantis would certainly exist in the past of Laterre. However, by the medieval era in which the d'Ambrevilles and the McGregors lived, Atlantis would be little more than a distant memory. Incidentally, if my history of Nyx is revised to take place in the more distant past (which I would recommend if anyone has plans to detail Hind as a viable realm for living beings), then references to Saracenia (which is actually the entire region controlled by Islam in medieval times, not just Arabia) should be replaced by references to Lemuria, yet another mythical sunken continent that in this case would be located in the region now known as the East Indies. Lemuria, like Atlantis, would sink into the ocean several thousand years before the start of recorded history, and that event would trigger a long dark age in which human civilization would slip back from the early Renaissance level supposedly achieved by these lost civilizations to a Late Stone Age or Early Bronze Age level. All of recorded history would come after this event, and the history of the real world in a slightly mythologized form would work well as the history of Laterre. If you wish to fit Biblical events into this history, then the Tower of Babel and the resulting confusion of human languages should happen at around the same time as the sinking of Atlantis and Lemuria and be a major contributer to the resulting dark age. Noah's Flood, of course, would pre-date all other events described herein by several centuries at least, thereby eliminating the need to set exact dates for anything before the Flood. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 12:53:18 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Caroletti Subject: the Nature of Dreams 1-dreaming MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Ok, guys, here is a new article for the Nightmare Project. It will be soon found at www.geocities.com/iuliusscaevola/ in an optimal format, but you can give it a look here too!! If Shawn wants to put it on his site, it's better if I send to him the "good" HTML version...let me know, Shawn! The inspir Sender: Mystara From: Caroletti Subject: the Nature of Dreams 2-the dreamworld MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit the Dreamworld How can we describe the Dreamworld? The Dreamworld is a place where all things that can be conceived by the dreamer's mind takes form. Unfortunately, in the Dreamworld, all that is dreamed contemporarily manifests itself, only to disappear if the person who is dreaming suddenly wakes up. So there is no real way to describe the Dreamworld, as any sort of event may happen to the Artist Dreamer, if he enters it without any caution. The thing a Dreamer must always do before entering is to decide what the Subject of his dream is. If a Dreamer is stranded thirsty and starving on a seashore without food and water, it may decide to Dream about food and water, to eat them in the Dreamworld and wake up in the real world without any hunger or thirst. So the Art of Dreaming may indeed be useful...but it must be remembered that everything must be accomplished while in the Dreamworld to make it happen in the real world too. Taking objects from the Dreamworld is impossible, but drinking a Potion of Healing in the Dream may allow to gain actual hit points when one awakes. There is only a little problem. Apart the possibility to fail entering the Dreamworld (see above), there is also a chance of failure for the concentration on a Subject. Obviously, if a fool tries to enter the Dreamworld without a Subject, see directly the part regarding Failure. HOW TO ROLL THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE IN DREAMING OF A SUBJECT Roll a d10. Confront the number with the Intelligence of the Dreamer. If it is higher, there is Failure. Otherwise, roll a d8 and add it to the first score. Confront the number. If it is higher, there is Failure. Then do the same with d6 and d4, but this time, if it is higher, there is only Partial Failure. Failure If there is a Failure, anything can happen, and the Subject of the dream will NEVER appear/happen. If there is a Partial Failure, the Subject appears or happens (see also Success for learning what this means), but there will be also another event. The events that may happen are described below, and must be rolled on d%. Anyway, as anything may hasppen in the Dreamworld, these are just suggestions and ideas, feel free to add more or modify the table as you wish. 01-50 Encounter An Encounter is one of the most dangerous situations in the Dreamworld. An Encounter means that the Dreamer gets caught in somebody other's dream or, worse, that his Fourth Dimensional consciousness has caught the attention of a Discontiguate or, if she is really unlucky, of an Outer Being whose Fourth Dimension hasn't been erased by the Old Ones. It must be noted that whatever happens to the Dreamer is reflected on the real world dreaming body. As an example, if Rob the Wild Mage fails and faces an encounter with Stalker the Mage, and the first casts Fireball inflicting 45 hit points to Stalker, then the latter suffers immediately 45 hit points. If an astonished fellow, let say Meltheim the Elf, passes by the dreaming body of the Stalker, he will suddenly see its body bearing wounds as if he had been burned by something fiery. However, if Rob meets the Stalker, but the latter is not performing a Dream, but simply normally dreaming, the only one who risks something is Rob. If somebody wakes the Dreamer while he is facing the encounter, he will lose immediately the connection to the Fourth Dimension, and the encountered creature will see him simply disappear. Anyway, the awaken Dreamer will feel a little confused, and will have a -2 penalty to all Intelligence checks until he will rest (normally) again. If a Dreamer is killed in the Encounter, he dies of heart attack. He may be Raised from the Dead only if a Dispel Evil is cast on the passed Dreamer. If the Dreamer is not awaken, he will wake up on his own about an hour after the Encounter. 1-45 Prime Creature (dreaming) 46-60 Prime Creature (Dreamer) 61-85 Nightmare Creature (dreaming) 86-95 Nightmare Creature (Dreamer) 96-99 Discontiguate 00 Outer Being 51-90 Situation Situations are not different from normal dreams, uncontrolled by the Dreamer. They may be of every sort, but generally they last only an hour or so. Situations are always present during an Encounter, BUT in those cases they will appear simply as a scenario, and not be esplicitly dangerous. As an example, if Evil Porphy encounters the List Ogre in an Encounter, the scenario could be a house in the middle of a desert. This situation won't necessarily be dangerous, but if the two begin to fight each other in a room at the second floor, one of them could be damaged if he falls out an open window. Talking about these specific Situations, they are a lot more dangerous, and may be of every kind. The situation should be somehow related to the Subject of the dream. As an example, if a person wants to dream about a Potion of Healing, it coul dream of two cups of wine, one curative and the other poisonous, but he will not be able to determine which one is what...and so on. Some examples of Situations will be presented in an upcoming article. 91-94 Two Encounters One Encounter is dangerous; two a lot more. Roll two times in the Encounter subtable (see above). 95-99 Encounter + Situation In this case, there will be an Encounter, PLUS the scenario will be one of the dangerous Situations. 00 Two Encounters + Situation Well, what more can I say? Hopefully no-one will roll it... Success The Success is obvioulsy the most desired result. Heh. But success doesn't mean automatically success...let's see what I mean. 1) A Dreamer can desire, as a Subject, to enter in possession of an item. He will get the item in the Dream, but he will lose it whenever he wakes up. So an intelligence Subject would be to dream of a Potion. As an example, a Potion of Healing. If the character drinks it, he will be healed by the Potion. 2) A Dreamer may dream of casting a spell. Even a non-wizard may do it. A spell cast in a dream will work in the Real World only if it is a spell like Invisibility, Armor etc, and they will begin to have effect from the moment it happens in the Dream. Example: Cronocloud Dreams of becoming Invisible. In the same moment, his companion Valeryia sees him disappearing suddenly! In fact, he is invisible!! Spells like Fireball, Ice Storm etc. will not work. 3) A Dreamer may desire to encounter voloutarily a person. Several situations will arise: a) If the person is Dreaming, an Encounter with the person will immediately occur. The two persons may exchange informations, mutually use their spells to the other's benefit, or also try to kill each other. b) If the person is dreaming (not performing an Act of Dreaming), the two persons will encounter each other, but only one of them may receive damages and benefits from the encounter, while the dreamer will, at best, remember partially its dream. c) If the person is awake, then the Dreamer will encounter a projection created by his mind. Anything may happen, but the other person, not being a real creature, but a part of the Dreamer's mind, will not even know about this. Unfortunately, the Dreamer will not be able to understand wheter the encountered person was Dreaming, dreaming or was a projection..with all sorts of possible weird situations like in the example given below. Thibault has been captured by orcs led by the evil Kayvid, and is now starving in a dark cellar. His friend Gordon decides to Dream, hoping to meet Thibault and discover where he has been brought. he waits until late at night, in order to have more chances of meeting him, and not a mental projection. He rolls the success of the Subject and is lucky enough to enter the desired Dream. He meets Thibault, and asks him where he is. Thibault answers that he is currently in Glantri, held prisoner in the cellar of the Paparazzi Glantri. Gordon wakes up and decides to travel there. Unfortunately, when Gordon was Dreaming, Thibault was well awake, as he was been tortured by the evil Kayvid. So Gordon saw just a Projection of his own subconscious thoughts, as Gordon hates Glantri and therefore was inner inside hoping that Thibault was prisoner there, in order to create havoc in that land. 4) There may be other circumstances...but I suppose the Dungeon Master should decide situation by situation, basing himself on the ideas given here. The End Well, I hope you have enjoyed these rules...and that the dreams of your players will be a little spiced up. I hope that a player in one of your campaigns, will shout: "Oh, no! We must rest...". ENJOY! ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 13:01:56 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Caroletti Subject: Nightmare Project Update MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Ok, guys, watch out! www.geocities.com/iuliusscaevola/ the Nightmare Project Web Page "A Dark Portal" is updated!!! ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 22:25:40 +0800 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: "Francisco V. Navarro" Subject: Re: the Nature of Dreams 2-the dreamworld MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > He meets Thibault, and asks him where > he is. Thibault answers that he is currently in Glantri, held prisoner > in the cellar of the Paparazzi Glantri. Eh, eh, m'sieur! You make the Paparazzi Glantri sound like such a vile organization! S'il vous plait, m'sieur! We have no dungeons or cellars where we keep prisoners in--only the finest of wines from Nouvelle Averoigne! > Gordon wakes up and decides to travel there. > Unfortunately, when Gordon was Dreaming, Thibault was well awake, as he > was been tortured by the evil Kayvid. So Gordon saw just a Projection of > his own subconscious thoughts, as Gordon hates Glantri and therefore > was inner inside hoping that Thibault was prisoner there, in order to > create havoc in that land. > Ah, you see! The Paparazzi Glantri is hardly a hostile or threatening group! It seems it is this M'sieur Gordon who is the true danger to us peace-loving Glantrians! Why he hates us, that we don't know! (Actually since we are the Paparazzi, that we *do* know...) Gordon must be some stinky dwarf or evil cleric from that Sunken Continent! Noussoir du Marais Paparazzi Glantri Correspondent to the Sylaire and the Fenswick www.geocities.com/paparazzi_glantri ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 18:53:24 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: thibault sarlat Subject: Re: the Nature of Dreams 2-the dreamworld MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Hey ; i've been dragged into someone else dream without noticing it.... bonne chance messieurs... on a sidenote i wish good luck to the one who wants to capture me (36th level wizard with a bunch of spellbooks and unknown spells at hand). i would like to remind you that there was a great article on dragon #200 (i think) about the dream magic. I have done some work some years ago , trying to adapt it to mystara, i'll try to find it in my messy Hard drive. Francisco V. Navarro a �crit: > > > He meets Thibault, and asks him where > > he is. Thibault answers that he is currently in Glantri, held prisoner > > in the cellar of the Paparazzi Glantri. > > Eh, eh, m'sieur! You make the Paparazzi Glantri sound like such a vile > organization! S'il vous plait, m'sieur! We have no dungeons or cellars where > we keep prisoners in--only the finest of wines from Nouvelle Averoigne! > > > Gordon wakes up and decides to travel there. > > Unfortunately, when Gordon was Dreaming, Thibault was well awake, as he > > was been tortured by the evil Kayvid. So Gordon saw just a Projection of > > his own subconscious thoughts, as Gordon hates Glantri and therefore > > was inner inside hoping that Thibault was prisoner there, in order to > > create havoc in that land. > > > > Ah, you see! The Paparazzi Glantri is hardly a hostile or threatening group! > It seems it is this M'sieur Gordon who is the true danger to us peace-loving > Glantrians! Why he hates us, that we don't know! (Actually since we are the > Paparazzi, that we *do* know...) Gordon must be some stinky dwarf or evil > cleric from that Sunken Continent! > > Noussoir du Marais > Paparazzi Glantri > Correspondent to the Sylaire and the Fenswick > www.geocities.com/paparazzi_glantri > > ******************************************************************** > The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp > Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp > To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. -- Thibault Sarlat ICQ 16622177. My first adress (checked daily) is thibsylv@club-internet.fr My other adress is tsarlat@etu.montaigne.u-bordeaux.fr If you need any maps regarding Mystara, check my Homepage http://www.mystara.com.bi Pour rejoindre la Mystara mailing liste francophone, rendez-vous sur ma page de garde en bas. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 18:12:11 +0100 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Gordon McCormick Subject: Re: the Nature of Dreams 2-the dreamworld In-Reply-To: <39421E4B.695BBAAF@tin.it>; from scarole@TIN.IT on Sat, Jun 10, 2000 at 12:54:03PM +0200 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii On Sat, Jun 10, 2000 at 12:54:03PM +0200, Caroletti wrote: > his own subconscious thoughts, as Gordon hates Glantri and therefore > was inner inside hoping that Thibault was prisoner there, in order to > create havoc in that land. Hey, I like Glantri! That's why my campaigns are mainly set there! And since the PC's are in Glantri, well, naturally *some* bad stuff has to happen to it. I don't *mean* to cause havoc, it just happens! [Curses, how did Caroletti discover my secret hatred!] :) Fun article, I enjoyed reading it :) gordon ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 20:00:37 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Caroletti Subject: Re: the Nature of Dreams 2-the dreamworld MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Thanks to everybody for the feedback. I hope noone minded the use I did of some fellows of the MML...just to spice up things, instead of using for the examples Jack & John & Frank... Iulius Sergius Scaevola Captain of the XXth Cohort Port Lucinius, Thyatis ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 13:15:26 -0600 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Leroy Van Camp III Subject: [ADMIN] Election: A Change in Canidates MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mystaraphiles... It looks like we now have one less canidate in this election. Andrew Theisen has decided to drop from the race. All votes for him shall be discarded. Please vote again from one of the other canidates. Alan Shutko Geoff Gander Gordon McCormick Thanks... Leroy Van Camp III malacoda@uswest.net http://www.users.uswest.net/~malacoda/TarkasBrainLabIV.html ICQ #20039817 "My hamster had five babies last week. This morning when I looked in the cage she had ate two of them little babies. What the heck. Had a couple myself." Earl, Red Meat ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 21:40:47 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?H=E5vard?= Subject: Anyone in Camebridge? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8BIT Hello, I'm taking a history course at Camebridge University (Britain) this summer. Does any of you MML members live near Camebrdige? Are there any good game stores there? Cheers, H�vard Haavard R. Faanes (hoc@nvg.ntnu.no) http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/~hoc "Would it not be easier in this case for the government to dissolve the people and elect another?" -Bertolt Brecht ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 22:03:17 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: thibault sarlat Subject: Re: the Nature of Dreams 2-the dreamworld MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit I am volunteer to be taken as example for any other scenario as long as it is at my advantage.... Caroletti a �crit: > Thanks to everybody for the feedback. I hope noone minded the use I did > of some fellows of the MML...just to spice up things, instead of using for > the examples Jack & John & Frank... > > Iulius Sergius Scaevola > Captain of the XXth Cohort > Port Lucinius, Thyatis > > ******************************************************************** > The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp > Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp > To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. -- Thibault Sarlat ICQ 16622177. My first adress (checked daily) is thibsylv@club-internet.fr My other adress is tsarlat@etu.montaigne.u-bordeaux.fr If you need any maps regarding Mystara, check my Homepage http://www.mystara.com.bi Pour rejoindre la Mystara mailing liste francophone, rendez-vous sur ma page de garde en bas. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 22:38:22 +0100 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Rob Subject: Re: Anyone in Camebridge? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Not me, I'm in Exeter... but should you happen by London at any point, apparently there is some D&D stuff around Leicester Square. I'm going to be checking it out in a couple of weeks, so if I find anything particularly juicy there I'll get back to you... Cheers Rob > Hello, > I'm taking a history course at Camebridge University (Britain) this > summer. Does any of you MML members live near Camebrdige? Are there any > good game stores there? > > Cheers, > > H�vard > > Haavard R. Faanes (hoc@nvg.ntnu.no) > http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/~hoc > > "Would it not be easier in this case for the government > to dissolve the people and elect another?" -Bertolt Brecht > > ******************************************************************** > The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp > Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp > To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. > ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 22:47:27 +0100 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: mortus Subject: Re: How do you describe things? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > Well, I'm just lucky because my players (especially one of them) are so paranoid that they'll jump to a thousand conclusions much worse than what's in the adventure... Of course, if the conclusion they jump to is a really good one, they tend to be right about it... :) > > For example... > > Player: "Arrgh - you mean... There are *undead* beholders in your campaign?????" - " > > Me: "There are now!" :) > this usually works well for me too! i also use a lot of meaningful eye contact to throw the players off. example. i want the players to believe i have something really sinister planned, i pick the player whose imagination is at that moment really paranoid, and i stare into his eyes and give a little smirk. this usually has the effect of making them even more paranoid and cautious. mortus. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 23:07:53 +0100 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: mortus Subject: Re: Barroom Brawl MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > Oh yeah, any character whose Drunk Points total equalled or exceeded his CON > had to make a CON check or fall unconcious. A +1 modifier was added for > every Drunk Point above his limit and a further +1 for every round after > reaching his limit. > > Hope others can use this and have fun > sounds like an average night down the local bar ;-) must use. mortus. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 23:11:03 +0100 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: mortus Subject: Re: Barroom Brawl MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > Years and years ago, a magazine -- for the life of me, I can't remember if > it was "The Dragon," "Fantasy Gamer" or the old "White Dwarf" or even > "Imagine" -- actually published a miniatures-scale bar map and a list of > NPCs and such specifically for playing a bar room brawl. > Wow, thinking back on it, I think our gaming group may have spent at least > half our time in brawls after that. And most of the rest of the time, we > were either out burglarizing or wenching. What a depraved bunch of kids we > were! > i think i've played with your irish alter ego's. i don't think we've ever left a bar anywhere in mystara that we hadn't caused some damage in. this is probably the main reason we have had to adventure all over. mortus. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 23:14:27 +0100 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: mortus Subject: Re: Bargle the Infamous MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > >> No point in you killing them and making them undead - naturally they > >already are! :) > >> > >> > >guess i'll just have to break your control of them then, it just wont be as > >much fun though, ah well. > > > > I already told you people that they weren't there any more - but go ahead... I'll just let one of the dragon turtles know where to catch it's next meal! :) > > > - The Stalker poor alphatian has lost his mind! this reply was to another of my posts. this should make it easier to wrest control of his undead servitors from him. did we ever get a list of the best asylums? mortus. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 00:48:52 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?H=E5vard?= Subject: Re: the Nature of Dreams 2-the dreamworld In-Reply-To: <39421E4B.695BBAAF@tin.it> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8BIT Cool stuff Caroletti! I wrote an article with a slightly different theory on Dreaming some time ago, which is available at Stans site. direct URL: http://dnd.starflung.com/dream.html I was going to revise this and add some new rules for Dream Mages, but that project died some time ago :( H�vard Haavard R. Faanes (hoc@nvg.ntnu.no) http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/~hoc "Would it not be easier in this case for the government to dissolve the people and elect another?" -Bertolt Brecht ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 01:16:58 +0100 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: The Stalker Organization: Angelfire (http://email.angelfire.mailcity.lycos.com:80) Subject: Re: How do you describe things? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit On Sat, 10 Jun 2000 22:47:27 mortus wrote: >> Well, I'm just lucky because my players (especially one of them) are so >paranoid that they'll jump to a thousand conclusions much worse than what's >in the adventure... Of course, if the conclusion they jump to is a really >good one, they tend to be right about it... :) >> >> For example... >> >> Player: "Arrgh - you mean... There are *undead* beholders in your >campaign?????" - " >> >> Me: "There are now!" :) >> >this usually works well for me too! > >i also use a lot of meaningful eye contact to throw the players off. >example. >i want the players to believe i have something really sinister planned, i >pick the player whose imagination is at that moment really paranoid, and i >stare into his eyes and give a little smirk. >this usually has the effect of making them even more paranoid and cautious. > Tsk, tsk... And they say we Alphatians are devious... ;) Actually, I don't need to do that because my players are far too paranoid already... Another good trick to achieve this, though, is to write unimportant messages on small pieces of paper to people, such as "Your character needs to go to the toilet", "This note says nothing", or "It's a bit embarrasing, but you've swallowed a fly, and you don't want the others to notice...". These usually works wonders as the other players are forever trying to guess what that note was about. ;) A *really* nasty one is to ask one of the player to roll 1d20 - you don't tell them why or what would be good to roll, just that he or she should do it and tell you the result. This is particularly effective with 1d20 because it can be both a saving throw or attack roll, in which case it's good to roll high, or a proficiency or ability check or the number of monsters appearing, in which case it's good (for the players) to roll low, except that (naturally) they won't know which... I tried this last thursday on the one female gamer in our group just before Alphatians disintegrated their ship with their magic - she was rather annoyed, in a humorous way, about the rest of the night - I wonder if she'll even talk to me when we play again next thursday... ;) - The Stalker of Alphatia Angelfire for your free web-based e-mail. http://www.angelfire.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 01:25:37 +0100 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: The Stalker Organization: Angelfire (http://email.angelfire.mailcity.lycos.com:80) Subject: Re: Bargle the Infamous Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit On Sat, 10 Jun 2000 23:14:27 mortus wrote: >> >> No point in you killing them and making them undead - naturally they >> >already are! :) >> >> >> >> >> >guess i'll just have to break your control of them then, it just wont be >as >> >much fun though, ah well. >> > >> >> I already told you people that they weren't there any more - but go >ahead... I'll just let one of the dragon turtles know where to catch it's >next meal! :) >> >> >> - The Stalker > >poor alphatian has lost his mind! >this reply was to another of my posts. >this should make it easier to wrest control of his undead servitors from >him. >did we ever get a list of the best asylums? > Aargh! Sorry about that - my mind was a bit hazy yesterday after I suddenly had to cast a Protection from Exploding Thyatians spell (don't ask!) that I, in my ceaseless naivity, forgot to memorize. To the other post my comments were still rather valid, though. And I bet you were wondering how I would manage to blame Thyatians for this blunder, right ? :) Besides, as I'm sure both Thyatians and Glantrians will agree with me, Alphatians don't need minds! Never have - never will ;) - The Stalker Angelfire for your free web-based e-mail. http://www.angelfire.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 02:23:30 +0100 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: The Stalker Organization: Angelfire (http://email.angelfire.mailcity.lycos.com:80) Subject: Re: the Nature of Dreams 2-the dreamworld Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit On Sat, 10 Jun 2000 12:54:03 Caroletti wrote: (snip) > As an example, if Rob the Wild Mage fails >and faces an encounter with Stalker the Mage, and the first casts >Fireball inflicting 45 hit points to Stalker, then the latter suffers >immediately 45 hit points. If an astonished fellow, let say Meltheim the >Elf, passes by the dreaming body of the Stalker, he will suddenly see >its body bearing wounds as if he had been burned by something fiery. >However, if Rob meets the Stalker, but the latter is not performing a >Dream, but simply normally dreaming, the only one who risks something is >Rob. Ha-ha, *LOL* (sound of Stalker laughing his guts out!) Me being taken down by a wild mage upstart ???? That really is one of the most amusing ideas I've heard in a long time... Still, it's appropriate to this article, because... clearly - You're dreaming! ;) Now wake up again and quiver before the towering might of Alphatian magic like you're supposed to... :) - The Stalker Angelfire for your free web-based e-mail. http://www.angelfire.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 21:29:04 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Shane Henry Subject: Re: Laterran Geography MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Francisco Navarro wrote: > Working on the origins of the d'Ambrevilles, the McGregors, and the Fenswick/Fens in Glantri got me thinking about the georgraphy of Laterre in the Dimension of Myth. I've come up with a list of RW (real world) and L (Laterre) correspondences, from the available. I'm sure others have ideas to contribute. > >From CAS and Glantri: Averogine: a province of L-France (What's the name of L-France?) > According to Clark Ashton Smith, Averoigne is "a region in France, heavily forested -- located somewhere between Tours and Moulins; a 'main highway' between those two cities goes through it." ("The End of the Story", ["The Eldritch Dark" website -- see postscript for URL]) That would place the province in northerly Central France. > Klantyre: a province of L-Scotland (What's the name of L-Scotland? Kaeland?) Kaelic: L-Scotts/Scottish, not a place name? Fensland: L-England Fen: L-English > >From the history of the Immortal Nyx: Taprobane: L-Ceylon/Sri-Lanka Hind: L-India, Pakistan, Bangladesh Cathay: L-China Saracenia: L-Arabia Shangri-La: L-Tibet? Nepal? > Others: Hellenia: L-Greece Troya: L-Troy, Turkey > IMO, there should also be the legendary/mythical places on Laterre, such as Xanadu, Avalon, and Atlantis. Any ideas? > One thing to consider is that CAS's Averoigne Cycle is explicitly set within the shared-world of H.P.Lovecraft's (and others') Cthulhu Mythos. Therefore, "Laterre" would simply be a Mystarocentric term (French/Sylaire-derived) for "Cthulhu Mythos Earth" (an OOC term). A Mystarocentric term for the entire "Cthulhu Mythos Universe" (another OOC term) could arguably be the "Dimension of Myth". Since Averoigne is set in the vast Cthulhu Mythos setting, there are lots of locales that have already been detailed in countless books, comics, etc. Here's a few examples (chosen because they have online maps and/or rpg support): Hyperborea: Laterre's Greenland pre-750,000BC (described in a CAS story cycle). No known relation to Mystara's similarly-named region of Brun, or to the land of Hyperborea of Laterre's later Hyborian Age (the Hyborian Hyperborea is the ancestral land of the Laterran Finnic peoples, and thus would later correspond to Laterre's Baltic Europe). (BTW, "Hyperborea" is simply Latin for "Far North" -- that's why it's been overused as an arctic placename in various fantasy settings.) Here's a map of Laterre's ancient continent of Hyperborea: http://members.xoom.com/eldritchdark/art/inspired/hyp-map.html Thurian Age: Laterre, c.20,000BC. The age of Robert E. Howard's Kull of Atlantis. For a map of Thurian Age Laterre (including Atlantis), see: http://www.dodgenet.com/~moonblossom/Katl.htm Hyborian Age: Laterre, c.12,000BC. The age of REH's Conan of Cimmeria and Red Sonja of Hyrkania. For roleplaying resources, there's a GURPS Conan sourcebook, and short-lived TSR-produced Conan and Red Sonja games. For a map of Hyborian Age Laterre, see: http://www.dodgenet.com/~moonblossom/atlas.htm Modern Laterre: At this late stage, Laterre's geography would now more or less parallel RW Earth's. Chaosium's "Call of Cthulhu" rpg covers three modern Laterran decades: the 1890's, the 1920's, and the 1990's. There's also a Steve Jackson Games/Chaosium crossover GURPS guide called "Cthulhupunk", which would conceivably portray Laterre in the 21st century. Xothique: A continent (from a CAS story cycle) in Laterre's ultra-far future, likely resulting from the tectonic collision of Southeast Asian landmasses. For a map of Xothique, see: http://members.xoom.com/eldritchdark/art/inspired/zoth-map.html I'd don't exactly agree with Jame's Mishler's suggestion that Gary Gygax's world of �rth (from the "Dangerous Journeys" rpg) be used, unaltered, for Laterre. I'd keep �rth's specific personages, events, and timeline separate from Laterre's, since �rth -- along with Yarth and Uerth (which were mentioned by Gygax in an old Polyhedron magazine), and Oerth (the world of the Greyhawk setting) -- are each alternate Earths in their own right. Also, �rth doesn't, to my knowledge, have the requisite ties to the Cthulhu Mythos. Having said that, I do agree that Laterre (ie. Cthulhu Mythos Earth) and �rth are both very similar to Real World Earth, so a lot of the cultural information in the �rth gamebooks could be used as inspirational material when detailing Laterre. For example, the game material for �rth's land of �gypt could be useful in detailing Laterre's land of Egypt, and also its Hyborian Age predecessor, Stygia, -- but Mystara's Nithia HWR could be used in the much the same way (though to a lesser degree, since Mystara has "diverged" more from RW Earth). Oh, and the AD&D2E Historical Reference series, and the Masque of the Red Death game, could be useful examples of how to describe RW Earth using XD&D rules. I wonder what opinions our resident MML Cthulhiana experts' (Geoff?, Cthulhudrew?, others?) have on the relationship between "Laterre" and "Cthulhu Mythos Earth"? Shane P.S. Here's some Laterre/Mythos-related websites that I've found to be substantial: For Conan and Kull, "Heroes of Dark Fantasy" at http://www.dodgenet.com/~moonblossom/heroesof.htm ...and for Averoigne, Hyperborea, and Xothique (and other CAS story cycles), http://members.xoom.com/_XOOM/eldritchdark/index.html ...and specifically, there's an interesting internal timeline of the events in the Averoigne story cycle at http://members.xoom.com/eldritchdark/misc/cycle/cycle.html __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos -- now, 100 FREE prints! http://photos.yahoo.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 23:23:40 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Andrew Theisen Subject: Re: Laterran Geography In-Reply-To: <20000611042904.2855.qmail@web1101.mail.yahoo.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 09:29 PM 6/10/00 -0700, Shane Henry wrote: > >According to Clark Ashton Smith, Averoigne is > >"a region in France, heavily forested -- located >somewhere between Tours and Moulins; a 'main highway' >between those two cities goes through it." >("The End of the Story", ["The Eldritch Dark" website >-- see postscript for URL]) > >That would place the province in northerly Central >France. I generally just go ahead and place it in the Auvergne (Auvergne=Averoigne) which is to the southeast of Tours, and a little bit south of Moulins (Moulins is actually right on the edge of it). The RW history of the region fits well with the CAS history, wherein it is one of the earliest regions to be settled by the Romans. Besides, having a town called St. Etienne seems just too appropriate not to place it there. :) >I wonder what opinions our resident MML Cthulhiana experts' (Geoff?, >Cthulhudrew?, others?) have on the relationship between "Laterre" and "Cthulhu >Mythos Earth"? Francisco's already seen some of the work I've done on the topic, but for what its worth, I consider what you refer to as the "Cthulhu Mythos Earth" and Laterre to be one and the same. I've got the d'Ambrevilles from France, and the McGregors from Scotland. The d'Ambrevilles left Laterre in 1375 AD, fleeing the forces of King Charles V "the Wise", who suspected them of witchcraft and treason. John McGregor of Glenorchy died in 1390 AD, upon which the McGregor clan split amongst his sons, one of whom ended up leading many of his clansmen to Mystara. There's more to it than that, and I'll post my "alternate" timeline one of these days, but I'm still trying to figure an appropriate format for it. ----- Andrew "Cthulhudrew" Theisen Aspiring screenwriter, actor, and gadabout jsmill@wans.net "The greatest trick Doug Henning ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." - Keyser Soze ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 02:45:06 EDT Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Magister Mystaros Subject: Re: Laterran Geography MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable In a message dated 6/10/00 11:29:43 PM US Eastern Standard Time,=20 shane_henrymml@YAHOO.COM writes: << Also, =C6rth doesn't, to my knowledge, have the requisite ties to the Cth= ulhu Mythos. Having said that, I do agree that Laterre (ie. Cthulhu Mythos Earth= )=20 and =C6rth are both very similar to Real World Earth, so a lot of the cultur= al=20 information in the =C6rth gamebooks could be used as inspirational material=20 when detailing Laterre >> Actually, though it is little known, the Atlantlan (Atlantean) mythos of=20 Aerth is very close to the Cthulhu Mythos in many ways (appropriate for the=20 Atlanteans, after all). I'll dig up the source on that one... James A. Mishler Magister Mystaros Mystara Lives! Check out the excellent Official Mystara Website: http://dnd.starflung.com/ ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 02:49:04 EDT Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Meltheim Shadowstalker Subject: Character tree? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Has anyone ever gamed with a character tree before? One of my players recently inquired about this, and it was something I had never heard of. I'm wondering how well it works, and if anybody has any tips on how to get the game to flow better (storyline, deaths, etc) with the character tree in place. thanks! Meltheim ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 02:55:09 EDT Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Wizards Shopper Subject: Re: Laterran Geography MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In a message dated 2000-06-11 2:17:20 AM Eastern Daylight Time, jsmill@WANS.NET writes: << Francisco's already seen some of the work I've done on the topic, but for what its worth, I consider what you refer to as the "Cthulhu Mythos Earth" and Laterre to be one and the same. I've got the d'Ambrevilles from France, and the McGregors from Scotland. The d'Ambrevilles left Laterre in 1375 AD, fleeing the forces of King Charles V "the Wise", who suspected them of witchcraft and treason. John McGregor of Glenorchy died in 1390 AD, upon which the McGregor clan split amongst his sons, one of whom ended up leading many of his clansmen to Mystara. There's more to it than that, and I'll post my "alternate" timeline one of these days, but I'm still trying to figure an appropriate format for it. >> While you are at it, could you establish the proper mapping between the AC dates of Mystara and the AD dates of Laterre? At this point my theory is that AC + 400 = AD, but a more precise formula would be much appreciated. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 00:23:26 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Greg Weatherup Subject: Question, what is a bladesinger without his blade? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hello All, I've got an interesting situation arising in my PBEM game that I run and I'm not quite sure how to play it out. There is one player from the game on the list, but what's happening doesn't directly affect him so it should be ok for me to ask the list (Just don't you tell anybody ok Gianbattista?) This is all taking place in the middle of a furious, confused combat by the way. To reward the players for a good week where everybody actually replied with good role-playing segments (something that hasn't happened in nearly a year) I allowed each player to choose 1 of 2 possible rewards, either 20xp's or a draw from the 'Fame & Fortune' deck. The bladesinger chose the later option and he got the following card: "The Two of Me A perfect double of the character instantly appears when this card is drawn. The twin has the same personality and all the memories of the original-in fact, neither the double nor the original will know who is who. Possessions are distributed between the two, and both twins remain under the player's control. Each functions as a separate character." While I might be able to figure out how to do this in a face-to-face game, I can't figure out how to do it in a PBEM game. Now what would you experenced DM's do with something like this? Do I send two messages to the player and not explain why he's getting two but there's a mirror copy of him who has his sword but in the second message he does have the sword? He would probaly just presume one message was a misteak. It becomes further complex when you consider that bit about the possessions being distributed amongst them. One twin got the longsword and the other got the spellbook but since a bladesinger is all about using the sword in the casting of the magic can either one function? Or would you just say that each gets a copy of the epuipment? (especially when you consider the clothes...... does one get the shirt and the other the pants? yikes!) which would make it easier since the character was broke before the cloning and can't afford another quality longsword anytime in the near future (actually he owed the archer 1cp, which one now owes the archer? or is the archer owed 2???!!?? now I've got a headache). I had originally though of making one be a fighter and the other a Mage (since a Bladesinger is a fighter/mage kit) but I remembered all the player had gone through to get the bladesinger kit and I couldn't quite be that evil, although I considered for a long while. What would you do? I don't want to just draw again for the player as I'd like to actually stick to the card number he picked. Also, would you have this be permanent or just till midnight or till the next day of dread or what? Greg Weatherup Gecko GWxup@excite.com http://www.fortuencity.com/tattooine/spock/67/index.html http://members.fortunecity.com/gecko_g _______________________________________________________ Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by Excite Visit http://freelane.excite.com/freeisp ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 00:37:32 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Andrew Theisen Subject: Re: Laterran Geography In-Reply-To: <50.685e550.267491cd@aol.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 02:55 AM 6/11/00 EDT, Wizards Shopper wrote: > >While you are at it, could you establish the proper mapping between the >AC dates of Mystara and the AD dates of Laterre? At this point my >theory is that AC + 400 = AD, but a more precise formula would be much >appreciated. What I did was make an Excel worksheet to map dates between Mystara and Laterre, since Mystara has only 336 days/year, and Laterre (Earth) has 365.25 days/year. So I came up with a formula by which I could input an Earth year and get the corresponding Mystara year. As for how I came up with a baseline for correspondence, I based it on my own arbitrary assumption that the year 1356 AD was equivalent to 709 AC on the Mystaran calendar. How did I arrive at that date? As I said, it was pretty arbitrary, but it took me a while to come to a satisfactory date. Basically, after the Battle of Poitiers in 1356 AD, I diverged from the RW timeline a bit and had Edward "the Black Prince" press his forces a bit further inland than they actually came (at that point anyway, my research showed that they actually crossed near to the Auvergne a few years earlier on another campaign). Anyway, he brought his forces further inland to Averoigne, where they were met by the armies of the d'Ambrevilles. Michel managed to give the Black Prince one of his few defeats in France, but it was a narrow victory, and there were rumors of treason on the behalf of some of the d'Ambrevilles in allowing the Black Prince to get that far. Those rumors, plus rumors of witchcraft, are what convinced King John's successor, Charles V, to root out the d'Ambrevilles (probably along with all sorts of other politics). So I set 1356 equal to 709, and then used that as the baseline for the rest of my formula. Don't recall the formula offhand, but I've still got the Excel file, and can pull it up and share it if you'd like. ----- Andrew "Cthulhudrew" Theisen Aspiring screenwriter, actor, and gadabout jsmill@wans.net "The greatest trick Doug Henning ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." - Keyser Soze ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 13:42:34 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Marco Fossati Subject: R: [MYSTARA] Question, what is a bladesinger without his blade? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Dear Greg, My mouth shall remain close... After reading that I'm scared by what could be happen to me. ----- Original Message ----- From: Greg Weatherup To: Sent: Sunday, June 11, 2000 9:23 AM Subject: [MYSTARA] Question, what is a bladesinger without his blade? > Hello All, > > I've got an interesting situation arising in my PBEM game that I run and I'm > not quite sure how to play it out. There is one player from the game on the > list, but what's happening doesn't directly affect him so it should be ok > for me to ask the list (Just don't you tell anybody ok Gianbattista?) > > This is all taking place in the middle of a furious, confused combat by the > way. > > To reward the players for a good week where everybody actually replied with > good role-playing segments (something that hasn't happened in nearly a year) > I allowed each player to choose 1 of 2 possible rewards, either 20xp's or a > draw from the 'Fame & Fortune' deck. The bladesinger chose the later option > and he got the following card: > "The Two of Me > A perfect double of the character instantly appears when this card is drawn. > The twin has the same personality and all the memories of the original-in > fact, neither the double nor the original will know who is who. Possessions > are distributed between the two, and both twins remain under the player's > control. Each functions as a separate character." > > While I might be able to figure out how to do this in a face-to-face game, I > can't figure out how to do it in a PBEM game. Now what would you experenced > DM's do with something like this? Do I send two messages to the player and > not explain why he's getting two but there's a mirror copy of him who has > his sword but in the second message he does have the sword? He would > probaly just presume one message was a misteak. > > It becomes further complex when you consider that bit about the possessions > being distributed amongst them. One twin got the longsword and the other > got the spellbook but since a bladesinger is all about using the sword in > the casting of the magic can either one function? Or would you just say > that each gets a copy of the epuipment? (especially when you consider the > clothes...... does one get the shirt and the other the pants? yikes!) which > would make it easier since the character was broke before the cloning and > can't afford another quality longsword anytime in the near future (actually > he owed the archer 1cp, which one now owes the archer? or is the archer owed > 2???!!?? now I've got a headache). > > I had originally though of making one be a fighter and the other a Mage > (since a Bladesinger is a fighter/mage kit) but I remembered all the player > had gone through to get the bladesinger kit and I couldn't quite be that > evil, although I considered for a long while. > > What would you do? I don't want to just draw again for the player as I'd > like to actually stick to the card number he picked. > > Also, would you have this be permanent or just till midnight or till the > next day of dread or what? > > Greg Weatherup > Gecko > GWxup@excite.com > http://www.fortuencity.com/tattooine/spock/67/index.html > http://members.fortunecity.com/gecko_g > > > > > > _______________________________________________________ > Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by Excite > Visit http://freelane.excite.com/freeisp > > ******************************************************************** > The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp > Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp > To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 12:00:32 +0000 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Agathokles Subject: Re: Question, what is a bladesinger without his blade? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Greg Weatherup wrote: > > I allowed each player to choose 1 of 2 possible rewards, either 20xp's or a > draw from the 'Fame & Fortune' deck. The bladesinger chose the later option > and he got the following card: > "The Two of Me > A perfect double of the character instantly appears when this card is drawn. > The twin has the same personality and all the memories of the original-in > fact, neither the double nor the original will know who is who. Possessions > are distributed between the two, and both twins remain under the player's > control. Each functions as a separate character." > > While I might be able to figure out how to do this in a face-to-face game, I > can't figure out how to do it in a PBEM game. While I've never faced a similar event, I still can think of a reasonable solution for it. First, the equipment: I think that personal items held/worn by the character at the time of the split should be duplicated (clothes, weaponry, etc). However, magic or high quality equipment should be replaced by normal equipment. Other possession should be distributed. As to the more difficult issue, I'd say that the two character will undergo a time of confusion and stress, as they aren't accustomed to have a double. I remember an episode of Star Trek TNG where Commander Riker discovered a double of himself abandoned in a wrecked space station. In the end, the two Rikers found they could not stand each other, and parted ways. The recovered one started using his second name, and behaving quite differently from the "old" one. In your case, the two characters should be forced to react at the same time in the same way to most events, until one of them manage to break free from the old personality, and develops a new one. It is quite probable that this one will drop the kit, while the other will (slowly) recover its mental balance. I would give the player two messages, describing the sudden appearance of the double, possibly using background details to make clear that the messages are describing the same scene seen by different characters (example, since they must be in different places, they will see slightly different scenes). Then have the player act with both characters. In the long run, the one with the high-quality sword will probably retain his kit (and get a new spellbook, I hope). The other will probably stress is wizard skill, perhaps to the point of nearly dropping his fighter skills. Hope it helps, -- Giampaolo Agosta agathokles@libero.it agosta@fusberta.elet.polimi.it http://digilander.iol.it/agathokles/index.htm ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 19:33:00 GMT Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: kevin wyton Subject: Re: Question, what is a bladesinger without his blade? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed >From: Agathokles >Reply-To: Mystara >To: MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM >Subject: Re: [MYSTARA] Question, what is a bladesinger without his blade? >Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 12:00:32 +0000 > >Greg Weatherup wrote: > > > > I allowed each player to choose 1 of 2 possible rewards, either 20xp's >or a > > draw from the 'Fame & Fortune' deck. The bladesinger chose the later >option > > and he got the following card: > > "The Two of Me > > A perfect double of the character instantly appears when this card is >drawn. > > The twin has the same personality and all the memories of the >original-in > > fact, neither the double nor the original will know who is who. >Possessions > > are distributed between the two, and both twins remain under the >player's > > control. Each functions as a separate character." > > > > While I might be able to figure out how to do this in a face-to-face >game, I > > can't figure out how to do it in a PBEM game. > >While I've never faced a similar event, I still can think of a >reasonable solution for it. First, the equipment: I think that personal >items held/worn by the character at the time of the split should be >duplicated (clothes, weaponry, etc). However, magic or high quality >equipment should be replaced by normal equipment. Other possession >should be distributed. As to the more difficult issue, I'd say that the >two character will undergo a time of confusion and stress, as they >aren't accustomed to have a double. >I remember an episode of Star Trek TNG where Commander Riker discovered >a double of himself abandoned in a wrecked space station. In the end, >the two Rikers found they could not stand each other, and parted ways. >The recovered one started using his second name, and behaving quite >differently from the "old" one. >In your case, the two characters should be forced to react at the same >time in the same way to most events, until one of them manage to break >free from the old personality, and develops a new one. It is quite >probable that this one will drop the kit, while the other will (slowly) >recover its mental balance. >I would give the player two messages, describing the sudden appearance >of the double, possibly using background details to make clear that the >messages are describing the same scene seen by different characters >(example, since they must be in different places, they will see slightly >different scenes). Then have the player act with both characters. >In the long run, the one with the high-quality sword will probably >retain his kit (and get a new spellbook, I hope). The other will >probably stress is wizard skill, perhaps to the point of nearly dropping >his fighter skills. > >Hope it helps, >-- > > > Giampaolo Agosta > >I agree with just about all of this. My only difference would be in having >the twin continue as a bladesinger. You could have them part company, each >seeking personal glory, and then have rumors of great and wondorous deeds >by the twin filter back to your PC. This might tweek your PC into >attempting some wondorous deeds of his own. Kevin > ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 17:24:57 EDT Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Wizards Shopper Subject: Re: Laterran Geography MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In a message dated 2000-06-11 3:31:32 AM Eastern Daylight Time, jsmill@WANS.NET writes: << As for how I came up with a baseline for correspondence, I based it on my own arbitrary assumption that the year 1356 AD was equivalent to 709 AC on the Mystaran calendar. >> There is actually a better basis for comparison in the Clark Ashton Smith stories -- several A.D. dates are given in those stories, so the trick is to figure out how they correspond to Mystaran dates. As for relative lengths of years, a simpler assumption to make is that Laterran years and Mystaran years are equal in length, with the difference in number of days accounted for by making Mystaran days longer. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 23:49:17 +0100 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Phillip Jones Subject: Re: Question, what is a bladesinger without his blade? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > Hello All, > > I've got an interesting situation arising in my PBEM game that I run and I'm > not quite sure how to play it out. There is one player from the game on the > list, but what's happening doesn't directly affect him so it should be ok > for me to ask the list (Just don't you tell anybody ok Gianbattista?) > > This is all taking place in the middle of a furious, confused combat by the > way. > > To reward the players for a good week where everybody actually replied with > good role-playing segments (something that hasn't happened in nearly a year) > I allowed each player to choose 1 of 2 possible rewards, either 20xp's or a > draw from the 'Fame & Fortune' deck. The bladesinger chose the later option > and he got the following card: > "The Two of Me > A perfect double of the character instantly appears when this card is drawn. > The twin has the same personality and all the memories of the original-in > fact, neither the double nor the original will know who is who. Possessions > are distributed between the two, and both twins remain under the player's > control. Each functions as a separate character." > > While I might be able to figure out how to do this in a face-to-face game, I > can't figure out how to do it in a PBEM game. Now what would you experenced > DM's do with something like this? Do I send two messages to the player and > not explain why he's getting two but there's a mirror copy of him who has > his sword but in the second message he does have the sword? He would > probaly just presume one message was a misteak. > > It becomes further complex when you consider that bit about the possessions > being distributed amongst them. One twin got the longsword and the other > got the spellbook but since a bladesinger is all about using the sword in > the casting of the magic can either one function? Or would you just say > that each gets a copy of the epuipment? (especially when you consider the > clothes...... does one get the shirt and the other the pants? yikes!) which > would make it easier since the character was broke before the cloning and > can't afford another quality longsword anytime in the near future (actually > he owed the archer 1cp, which one now owes the archer? or is the archer owed > 2???!!?? now I've got a headache). > > I had originally though of making one be a fighter and the other a Mage > (since a Bladesinger is a fighter/mage kit) but I remembered all the player > had gone through to get the bladesinger kit and I couldn't quite be that > evil, although I considered for a long while. > > What would you do? I don't want to just draw again for the player as I'd > like to actually stick to the card number he picked. > > Also, would you have this be permanent or just till midnight or till the > next day of dread or what? > > Greg Weatherup Well, I've never faced this sort of problem, but if I did I would turn to the trusty OD&D RC. There is a magi-user spell, Clone, that does the same sort of thing (except for the sharing of items bit). However, if the person is still alive when the clone is summoned they immeadiately become obsessed with killing the other (and as such becomes an NPC for the DM to control)(it also mentions about if this is not done in one day per level of the caster then the clone goes insane, and has a chance of driving the PC insane as well - but I'd ignore that bit in these circumstances). Share the items out, as you was planning to do, and then have the player character go after his "clone". When they finally meet and battle only one will remain (no further problem). If it is the PC who wins, then he just picks his clones equipment and carries on (personally, I'd have the clone "acquire" a new spell book in anticpation of this conflict, and as for the PC, well its easy enough to by another sword). If the clone wins, he does the same, and you post the player his "new" character (which in all probability look amost exactly the same as his old one!). If however, you wish to make it more of a boon for the character, just delay its implementation. When the PC finally dies, as the PC draws his last breath, he sees a clone of himself "appear". That clone will then just carry on in the PCs place. Hope this will be of some use. :) P.S. Next time you see a headache on the horizon, fudge the roll a bit! (hehe) ;) ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 16:24:44 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Andrew Theisen Subject: Re: Laterran Geography In-Reply-To: <33.64e662f.26755da9@aol.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 05:24 PM 6/11/00 EDT, Wizards Shopper wrote: > >There is actually a better basis for comparison in the Clark Ashton Smith >stories -- several A.D. dates are given in those stories, so the trick is to >figure out how they correspond to Mystaran dates. That's the thing, though, there is no direct correspondence. The stories, having been written long before Mystara, have no direct relation to any specific Mystaran dates. Since the only Mystara-Averoigne connection we have are those given in Mark of Amber (which gives the most detail on the d'Ambrevilles history on Laterre than anywhere else), that's what I went with, and then I worked from there, and the geographic locale of what I determined to be Averoigne (the Auvergne) and tried to fit things into as interesting a historical context as possible. Again, it may not (and probably doesn't) fit into everyone else's take on things, but it's how I thought it would be most interesting. As for the dates given in CAS' stories, they are all over the place- everywhere from the 1st century BC ("The Oracle of Sodaggua", an outline of a short story) all the way to 1789 AD ("The End of the Story"). So there's literally centuries between stories, and the stories themselves have no one-to-one correspondence with any Mystaran dates. >As for relative lengths of years, a simpler assumption to make is that Laterran >years and Mystaran years are equal in length, with the difference in number of >days accounted for by making Mystaran days longer. Definitely an easier assumption, but at the time I was also trying to make a unified timeline of all the D&D worlds (as well as the Cthulhu Mythos Earth), and most of those worlds also have 365.25 days/year to them. Since there was no indication of any sort that Mystaran days are longer than "normal" days, I went with the formula I came up with, which also had the added effect of corresponding to some interesting RW dates (Using my 1356 RW-709 MW date, it works out that when the McGregors leave Laterre in the year 743 AC MW, it corresponded to the RW death of John McGregor in 1390 AD, which I worked into the splitting of the clan. There are a couple of other interesting correspondences that way as well, which is another reason I actually ended up settling on 1356 and the Battle of Poitiers as opposed to my first thought, which was 1346 and the Battle of Crecy). ----- Andrew "Cthulhudrew" Theisen Aspiring screenwriter, actor, and gadabout jsmill@wans.net "The greatest trick Doug Henning ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." - Keyser Soze ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 20:33:32 EDT Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Wizards Shopper Subject: Re: Laterran Geography MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In a message dated 2000-06-11 7:18:14 PM Eastern Daylight Time, jsmill@WANS.NET writes: << As for the dates given in CAS' stories, they are all over the place- everywhere from the 1st century BC ("The Oracle of Sodaggua", an outline of a short story) all the way to 1789 AD ("The End of the Story"). So there's literally centuries between stories, and the stories themselves have no one-to-one correspondence with any Mystaran dates. >> But I thought one of those stories that mentioned Dame Genevieve and/or the White Wolf was dated at some point in the 1200s. If we limit the date references to stories that have some connection with the personalities later found in New Averoigne in Glantri, are the dates still all over the place? ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 18:58:46 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Andrew Theisen Subject: Re: Laterran Geography In-Reply-To: <68.469f5a7.267589dc@aol.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 08:33 PM 6/11/00 EDT, Wizards Shopper wrote: > >But I thought one of those stories that mentioned Dame Genevieve and/or >the White Wolf was dated at some point in the 1200s. If we limit the >date references to stories that have some connection with the personalities >later found in New Averoigne in Glantri, are the dates still all over the >place? Unfortunately yes. The story in question, "The Enchantress of Sylaire" is one of the stories that has no date given in the text (nor in any of CAS' numerous compilations of notes, at least that I've seen). Additionally, it is complicated by the fact that Malachie du Marais dies in said story. Actually, come to think of it, that's not the only story. The story with Moriamis ("The Holiness of Azedarc") is set in 1175 AD, though it jumps around, and Moriamis herself lives in 475 AD. Since she's got access to potions of Time Travel, this one isn't a big deal. The story "The Mandrakes" which is about Gilles Grenier, is set in the 15th century AD (1401-1500). If you assume that he didn't move to Mystara until later, after Castle Amber returns (979 AC) then the corresponding date on Cthulhu Mythos Earth is 1626 AD, which doesn't quite match his time period either, but I figured it was a lesser evil. Maybe he used the gate at some other time, and didn't necessarily follow any of the d'Ambrevilles explicitly. Anyway for my part, I incorporated the Sephora story thusly: The story is as told, even including the death of du Marais. The principal characters, Sephora and her lover Anselme, married and bore a child whom they named Genevieve. At the time, Anselme was the Comte de Framboisier (the elder Sephora managed to secure the title from his elder brother). Through some unknown means, Malachie du Marais was returned from the dead, but the horror of death had turned his hair and body white (his albino coloration). While travelling, the resurrected du Marais assaulted and killed his nemesis Sephora and her husband, Anselme. Genevieve was still at home, and was raised by family there, and fostered a hatred towards du Marais. The mystical realm of Sylaire was located on her family estate, and she often traveled there with her mother as a youth. Years later, when she met Etienne and fell in love with him, she shared with him the secret of the realm of Sylaire, and Etienne was fascinated by the magicks that powered the portal to that realm. It was from the study of this portal that he eventually devised the gate that led his family to Mystara. Again, all from my own workings, and not canon by any means. ----- Andrew "Cthulhudrew" Theisen Aspiring screenwriter, actor, and gadabout jsmill@wans.net "The greatest trick Doug Henning ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." - Keyser Soze ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 22:08:14 EDT Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Master's Pawn Subject: Re: Question, what is a bladesinger without his blade? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In a message dated 06/11/2000 3:23:57 AM Eastern Daylight Time, gwxup@EXCITE.COM writes: << What would you do? I don't want to just draw again for the player as I'd like to actually stick to the card number he picked. >> I must ask: Why not? Does all the headache of this random outcome really make your game any more enjoyable? Will the running of the two characters improve the story/plot of the campaign in a meaningful way? Is this double character/double posting something you wan to deal with? I only ask because I personally feel as a DM that, specially in a PBeM game, the minutia of individual die rolls should be subsumed to the story you and your players want to tell. And as you have the luxury of time to compose your responses to your players actions (as they do to yours) you can go ahead and draw another if it will improve the game/make your life easier/etc. JMHO, but this is definitely a case where I think the DM should be mightier than the dice. I know I didn't give any suggestions to your conundrum, but I don't use spellsingers in my campaign. Sorry. Just responding on principle. BoBoII ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 11:07:53 +0800 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: "Francisco V. Navarro" Subject: GPD Website Updated Again!!! Comments: cc: Max Monas , Andrew Theisen , Carl Quaif , Giampaolo Agosta , Giovanni Porpora , =?iso-8859-1?B?SGFycmkgTeRraQ==?= , Jennifer Favia , Markus Montola , Ohad Shaham , Red Stuart Robyne MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hail Mystarans! Yes, the GPD website has been updated once again! (We Glantrians have been very very busy!) Updates include: The Histories section is open, with with the histories of the Clan Ellerovyn, House Silverston and the minor Houses of Fulvina and Vandehaar, and the newly released history of House Beaumarys-Moorkroft. The controversial Gerrid Rientha is updated and re-released, as with his Cane . (His spells have gone before him!) Leena Tijlen is updated, with her Medallion of Metamorphosis, and Trillo d' Ascioti finally make his appearance.Aleah Virayana and Waira Virayana complete the files on House Singhabad. Another vampire baron of Boldavia, Piotr-Grygory Timenko, is added, together with his loyal seneschal, Dingus McDiarmaid. New spell collections are unearthed: Spells of the Secret Craft of Necromancy and Spells of the Princes of Glantri. Go have a look-see. www.geocties.com/principalities_of_glantri/ Kit Navarro Reigning Archduke of the GPD ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 22:36:18 -0500 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Neal Subject: new site MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit i've tried my hand at a new site. i'm putting some short stories i've written about mystara and some old campaigns that i've run there. i hope some will enjoy. http://www.geocities.com/bgbuff400/index.html ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 03:06:48 EDT Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Wizards Shopper Subject: Grens: Source of Blackmoor technology MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit The Grens were a humanoid race dwelling on a planet in an alternate dimension with high technology but no magic. Thousands of years ago they devastated their home world in a vicious civil war. The survivors of that war developed a high level of resistance to radiation and other mutagenic agents; those who failed to develop those characteristics either died out or were killed off by anti-mutant hunters. Eventually the Grens recovered sufficiently from that disaster to send starships out to other worlds, and after colonizing several of these worlds they founded a great interstellar Federation. One of their scout ships, the F.S.S. Beagle, crash landed on Mystara in a nation called Blackmoor, with effects that are already well known. Before anyone could locate the Beagle, however, the Federation collapsed when their androids revolted and eventually took over. One group of refugees from this revolt found their way to the Mystaran solar system and colonized the asteroids that became known as the Pyrithean Archipelago. Several centuries later, the Kingdom of Emerond was founded by a scouting party of Grens from those asteroids. Meanwhile, the androids who took over the Gren Federation learned the secrets of time travel and interdimensional travel and sought to spread themselves throughout all planes and dimensions. On those worlds where they were found out, they became known as the "Oards". Gren: Members of this race receive bonuses of +2 to Dex, Int, and Cha and penalties of -2 to Str and Wis. They have NO preferred multiclass. They receive the human bonus for skills but not feats. Skin color ranges from light green to dark green, and hair color may be green, silver, black, or brown. They receive the same bonus as dwarves to saves vs. poison and magic and gain an additional bonus of +2 to saves vs. the effects of radiation as well as magic whose effects are intended to change a Gren's shape or form. They also gain a bonus of +2 to skills associated with attempts to decipher or use high tech items. Even in dimensions where magic works they are incapable of becoming spellcasters of any type for which an innate talent is required. Thus, they may become clerics, druids, rangers, or monks but not wizards, sorcerers, bards, paladins, or psionicists. They may be of any alignment but are usually Lawful. Oard: Oards have dark vision (infravision) as dwarves and save as dwarves of 1.5 times their level (rounded down). They are immune to ESP and charm effects and save vs. other mental attacks at +2 over other bonuses. Ability score adjustments and limits are set as follows: Str: No adjustment (minimum 8) Dex: No adjustment Con: +2 (minimum 8) Int: +4 Wis: -4 (minimum 6) Cha: -2 (minimum 4) They have NO preferred multiclass. Skin and hair color are as for Grens. They gain a bonus of +4 to skills associated with attempts to decipher or use high tech items. Even in dimensions where magic works they are incapable of becoming spellcasters of any type whatsoever -- they are limited to mundane, non-spellcasting classes. They cannot be Chaotic and are usually Lawful. Karimari: The Karimari are descended from matings between the Grens and Tanagoro humans. They have -2 to Str, +2 to Int, and may be members of any class other than the Mage class. They are shorter than both of their parent races. They take after the Tanagoro in terms of coloring and after the Emerondian Grens in terms of philosophy. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 00:36:26 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Greg Weatherup Subject: Re: Question, what is a bladesinger without his blade? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Marco Fossati wrote: > Dear Greg, > My mouth shall remain close... > After reading that I'm scared by what could be happen to me. (said with an evil lisp) "yesss, that'ss right. You ssstill havn't pick a card number yet. Your choiccce awaitssss..........." Greg _______________________________________________________ Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by Excite Visit http://freelane.excite.com/freeisp ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 00:47:08 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Greg Weatherup Subject: Re: Question, what is a bladesinger without his blade? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Agathokles wrote: > > While I've never faced a similar event, I still can think of a > reasonable solution for it. First, the equipment: I think that personal > items held/worn by the character at the time of the split should be > duplicated (clothes, weaponry, etc). However, magic or high quality > equipment should be replaced by normal equipment. Other possession > should be distributed. well that would definately simplify it. The one that got the spellbook and get an ordinary sword while the other keeps the quality sword. What about the spellbook? Should I just consider it ink & paper and give them each one? >As to the more difficult issue, I'd say that the > two character will undergo a time of confusion and stress, as they > aren't accustomed to have a double. > I remember an episode of Star Trek TNG where Commander Riker discovered > a double of himself abandoned in a wrecked space station. In the end, > the two Rikers found they could not stand each other, and parted ways. > The recovered one started using his second name, and behaving quite > differently from the "old" one. OOH! excellent reference, especially since I'm a star trek finatic. Why didn't I think of that episode? > In your case, the two characters should be forced to react at the same > time in the same way to most events, until one of them manage to break > free from the old personality, and develops a new one. yeah, that could work. If the player presumes one message is a misteak and only replies with his actions to only one, I can have both clones do that action until he gets the idea. Actually I think both might be succumbing to a color spray spell in the next round (cast by the shadow elf to cover his retreat after the other players atacked him, see he's a player also I just didn't tell the others. I like having the others never be completely sure who's a player and who's a NPC.) >It is quite > probable that this one will drop the kit, while the other will (slowly) > recover its mental balance. > I would give the player two messages, describing the sudden appearance > of the double, possibly using background details to make clear that the > messages are describing the same scene seen by different characters > (example, since they must be in different places, they will see slightly > different scenes). yes, one would be facing the archer and the other would be facing the wall. It might take a few rounds but hopefully he would get the idea. >Then have the player act with both characters. > In the long run, the one with the high-quality sword will probably > retain his kit (and get a new spellbook, I hope). The other will > probably stress is wizard skill, perhaps to the point of nearly dropping > his fighter skills. > > Hope it helps, this sounds like it might be a workable plan, but I see some other possibilites have also been brought up in other messages. Thank you Agathokles. Greg Weatherup Gecko GWxup@excite.com http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine/spock/67/index.html _______________________________________________________ Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by Excite Visit http://freelane.excite.com/freeisp ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 00:58:34 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Greg Weatherup Subject: Re: Question, what is a bladesinger without his blade? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit kevin wyton replying to Agathokles who was answering my question wrote: > >I agree with just about all of this. My only difference would be in having > >the twin continue as a bladesinger. You could have them part company, each > >seeking personal glory, and then have rumors of great and wondorous deeds > >by the twin filter back to your PC. This might tweek your PC into > >attempting some wondorous deeds of his own. ooh. Now I'm hopeing that the player won't want to keep both (which he probaly won't due to lack of time on his part.). I can have him pop back in whenever I need and have word of him doing this or that coming back to the original. He could even start benefiting (or suffering!) from the others reputation (since he would be misteaked for the other) like in the ST:DS9 episode where the clone of Riker came back and impersonated Riker to steal the USS Defiant for the Maquis. Cool. Mahalo Kevin. Greg Weatherup Gecko GWxup@excite.com http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine/spock/67/index.html _______________________________________________________ Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by Excite Visit http://freelane.excite.com/freeisp ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 01:12:37 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Greg Weatherup Subject: Re: Question, what is a bladesiner without his blade? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Phillip Jones wrote: > > Well, I've never faced this sort of problem, but if I did I would turn to > the trusty OD&D RC. There is a magi-user spell, Clone, that does the same > sort of thing (except for the sharing of items bit). However, if the person > is still alive when the clone is summoned they immeadiately become obsessed > with killing the other (and as such becomes an NPC for the DM to control)(it > also mentions about if this is not done in one day per level of the caster > then the clone goes insane, and has a chance of driving the PC insane as > well - but I'd ignore that bit in these circumstances). Share the items out, > as you was planning to do, and then have the player character go after his > "clone". When they finally meet and battle only one will remain (no further > problem). If it is the PC who wins, then he just picks his clones equipment > and carries on (personally, I'd have the clone "acquire" a new spell book in > anticpation of this conflict, and as for the PC, well its easy enough to by > another sword). If the clone wins, he does the same, and you post the player > his "new" character (which in all probability look amost exactly the same as > his old one!). One thing I never understood about the clone spell from the RC: It says any damage taken by either one is suffered by both. So If there trying to kill there clone wouldn't the damage they inflict on there clone also be inflicted onto themselves, thus killing themselves at the same time (unless one had since gained more levels thus more hit points)? > > If however, you wish to make it more of a boon for the character, just delay > its implementation. When the PC finally dies, as the PC draws his last > breath, he sees a clone of himself "appear". That clone will then just carry > on in the PCs place. ooh.... That is certaintly a good possibility. And would be more in line with the reward that this was supposed to be. hmm, now I've got TWO good ideas. > > Hope this will be of some use. :) definately was. Thank you. > > P.S. Next time you see a headache on the horizon, fudge the roll a bit! > (hehe) ;) :) I've already been doing that several times in the game. But this wasn't a roll actually but rather a random number chosen by the player. I could just say that this other card was that number and he would never know, but now that I've seen2 possible solutions to this I think I'm going to stick with it. Greg Weatherup Gecko GWxup@excite.com http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine/spock/67/index.html _______________________________________________________ Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by Excite Visit http://freelane.excite.com/freeisp ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 01:31:10 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Greg Weatherup Subject: Re: Question, what is a bladesinger without his blade? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Master's Pawn wrote: > << What would you do? I don't want to just draw again for the player as I'd > like to actually stick to the card number he picked. > >> > > I must ask: Why not? Does all the headache of this random outcome really > make your game any more enjoyable? Will the running of the two characters > improve the story/plot of the campaign in a meaningful way? Is this double > character/double posting something you wan to deal with? Valid points. That was the purpose of my asking the MML: to see if there was any ideas for making this work and making it worthwhile. If no one had had any good ideas I was just going to deem it not worthwhile and change (or Fudge) his pick. > > I only ask because I personally feel as a DM that, specially in a PBeM game, > the minutia of individual die rolls should be subsumed to the story you and > your players want to tell. And as you have the luxury of time to compose your > responses to your players actions (as they do to yours) you can go ahead and > draw another if it will improve the game/make your life easier/etc. Yes, I definately agree. I just also sometimes get the feeling about a certain result sometimes from random rolls. Something inside me just kinda says that this will be either really great and fantastic or it will really suck and just be a waste of time. I normally decide to press on with it, it normally works out for the latter but I'm always hopeing for the former (such as with happened with the 'Andy and the cat' story from one of my games that some of you have heard about). Since it is a PBEM game and like you said I have time to prepare the next part, I thought I would see if this could be really great. To do that though I needed the collective imagination of the MML. And so far it's worked out great as I've gotten 2 really fantastic ideas, and either one would work well. So thank you MML! > > JMHO, but this is definitely a case where I think the DM should be mightier > than the dice. > > I know I didn't give any suggestions to your conundrum, but I don't use > spellsingers in my campaign. Sorry. Just responding on principle. And it was a very important principle that I should of addressed better in my original query. Thank you, as I'm sure others might of been hesitant to respond since they might just of thought "oh he should just change the players pick". Greg Weatherup Gecko GWxup@excite.com http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine/spock/67/index.html _______________________________________________________ Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by Excite Visit http://freelane.excite.com/freeisp ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 13:32:34 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Agathokles Subject: Re: Question,what is a bladesinger without his blade? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable >=20Agathokles=20wrote:=0D=0A>=20>=0D=0A>=20>=20=20While=20I've=20never=20= faced=20a=20similar=20event,=20I=20still=20can=20think=20of=20a=0D=0A>=20= >=20=20reasonable=20solution=20for=20it.=20First,=20the=20equipment:=20I=20= think=20that=20=0D=0Apersonal=0D=0A>=20>=20=20items=20held/worn=20by=20th= e=20character=20at=20the=20time=20of=20the=20split=20should=20be=0D=0A>=20= >=20=20duplicated=20(clothes,=20weaponry,=20etc).=20However,=20magic=20or= =20high=20quality=0D=0A>=20>=20=20equipment=20should=20be=20replaced=20by= =20normal=20equipment.=20Other=20possession=0D=0A>=20>=20=20should=20be=20= distributed.=0D=0A>=20=0D=0A>=20well=20that=20would=20definately=20simpli= fy=20it.=20=20The=20one=20that=20got=20the=20=0D=0Aspellbook=20and=0D=0A>= =20get=20an=20ordinary=20sword=20while=20the=20other=20keeps=20the=20qual= ity=20sword.=20=20What=20=0D=0Aabout=0D=0A>=20the=20spellbook?=20=20Shoul= d=20I=20just=20consider=20it=20ink=20&=20paper=20and=20give=20them=20=0D=0A= each=0D=0A>=20one?=0D=0A=0D=0AI=20wouldn't.=20A=20spellbook=20is=20a=20ne= ar-magic=20item:=20the=20one=20with=20the=20=0D=0Ahighquality=20sword=20g= ets=20a=20low=20quality=20spellbook,=20which=20is=20perhaps=20useful=20=0D= =0Aas=20a=20"mage's=20diary"=20but=20it=20worthless=20as=20a=20record=20o= f=20spells.=0D=0A=0D=0A[...]=0D=0A>=20Thank=20you=20Agathokles.=0D=0A>=20= =0D=0AYou're=20welcome=20:)=0D=0A=0D=0A=09Giampaolo=20Agosta=0D=0A=0D=0A=0D= =0Aagathokles@libero.it=0D=0Aagosta@fusberta.elet.polimi.it=0D=0Ahttp://d= igilander.iol.it/agathokles/index.htm=0A=0A= ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 10:46:59 -0400 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Geoff Gander Subject: Re: [ADMIN] Election: Time to Cast Your Vote Things have been extremely busy at my end, on top of being out of town on business - my apologies to everyone. I don't have a lot of time right now, but I will present a (very late, I know - sorry!) platform: In short, I an honoured by those who have nominated my for Admin, and, even though the technical side might pose problems now and then, if elected I promise to give it my best shot. In truth, I would probably farm out some of the work to acceptable monitors, while maintaining the executive offices and responsibilities for myself, since in all honesty I do not have the time to carry the task on my own. I do, however, feel very strongly about the MML, which is why I will stand in this election*. Geoff *please note, this is not a slag against Andrew - who probably has even less free time than I do - or anyone else who has bowed out in the past. All of the candidates are good ones, and all equally worthy of consideration. -- Geoff Gander, BA 97 Cartographer/Game Designer/Government Peon Carnifex Loremaster au998@freenet.carleton.ca : www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Realm/2091 ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 10:49:57 -0400 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Geoff Gander Subject: Re: Barroom Brawl Kevin wrote: >The only new rule we used was one specifying the results of inebriation. >Your constitution(CON) was converted into "Drunk Points" on a 1 to 1 basis. >Drinks were given a Drunk Value. Cider=.5, ale=1, whiskey=2, etc. >Those who had some drinks were required to roll a d20 and score higher than >their accumulated Drunk Points before any action they attempted. A failure >indicated things didn't go as planned. Alternatively, you could use the rules for intoxication that I wrote up for D&D, as presented in the Winter 2000 issue of the Tome of Mystara. Yours work well too, though. Geoff -- Geoff Gander, BA 97 Cartographer/Game Designer/Government Peon Carnifex Loremaster au998@freenet.carleton.ca : www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Realm/2091 ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 19:50:34 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?H=E5vard?= Subject: Re: new site In-Reply-To: <000301bfd41f$6046f180$3d81dcd8@default> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8BIT On Sun, 11 Jun 2000, Neal wrote: > i've tried my hand at a new site. i'm putting some short stories i've > written about mystara and some old campaigns that i've run there. i hope > some will enjoy. > > http://www.geocities.com/bgbuff400/index.html Hi Neal, Your site looks promising. However, you might want to change the background images, because they make it a bit difficult to read your texts. Just a suggestion :) H�vard Haavard R. Faanes (hoc@nvg.ntnu.no) http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/~hoc "Would it not be easier in this case for the government to dissolve the people and elect another?" -Bertolt Brecht ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 00:27:11 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: DM Subject: [OT] X7, War Rafts of Kron Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Hi guys! Just a brief message to tell you if you're interested in getting a near mint copy of X7, War Rafts of Kron for $11.50 (+$2.00 shipping within USA), please drop me a line. First come first served. thanx! ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 18:34:34 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Darth Darknerd Organization: HotBot Mail (http://mail.hotbot.mailcity.lycos.com:80) Subject: [Q] Northern Reaches not North? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hello guys, I just got a question from one of the players. How come the Northern Reaches are not ... well ... up North? HotBot - Search smarter. http://www.hotbot.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 18:38:14 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Darth Darknerd Organization: HotBot Mail (http://mail.hotbot.mailcity.lycos.com:80) Subject: [Q] Viking lands too small? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hello guys, Another question from the players is that the Northern Reaches area (Ostland, Vestland, Jarldoms) seems overly small. The vikings of the real world have lands that stretch for miles and miles. The whole lore and might of the Vikings seems rather unsuitable for Mystara, as they are confined to such a small area, do not have weather conditions that helped define Viking culture, and had a much larger population. Ideas, Opinions? HotBot - Search smarter. http://www.hotbot.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 18:42:56 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Darth Darknerd Organization: HotBot Mail (http://mail.hotbot.mailcity.lycos.com:80) Subject: [Q} Why Vikings move south? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hell again, One other question. Why did the vikings resettle to the Northern Reaches? It would make sense that they colonized new lands, but there is nothing mentioned of the vikings up the original vikings farther up North. One would suspicion that those vikings are still there. If this is the case then what is their relation between Alphatian conquerers that have built fortifications. HotBot - Search smarter. http://www.hotbot.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 18:49:48 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Darth Darknerd Organization: HotBot Mail (http://mail.hotbot.mailcity.lycos.com:80) Subject: Vestland vs Ethengar Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hell again, The population in Vestland is very small when compared to the swelling horde of Ethengar. I imagine the horde needs to expand elsewhere, and Vestland is easy pickings compared to the might of the horde. I would imagine they could overun Vestland with little consequence from other nations. This would grant them access to sea ports and richer trade. In the real world, the Mongolians were just amazing. They defined the steppe cultures of Russia and even dominated southern Russia for a period of time. They conquered China, India, Persia, Asia-Minor (Turkey), and then eastern Europe, e.g. Bulgar Kahns. This group captured the most territory at one period of time throughout all of history than any other group. HotBot - Search smarter. http://www.hotbot.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 22:06:37 -0400 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: jdaly Subject: Re: [Q} Why Vikings move south? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Probably, as in the real world, they set up colonies which quickly died from attacks by other savages and from not having a civilized world to loot off of. ----- Original Message ----- From: Darth Darknerd To: Sent: Monday, June 12, 2000 9:42 PM Subject: [MYSTARA] [Q} Why Vikings move south? > Hell again, > One other question. Why did the vikings resettle to the Northern Reaches? It would make sense that they colonized new lands, but there is nothing mentioned of the vikings up the original vikings farther up North. > > One would suspicion that those vikings are still there. If this is the case then what is their relation between Alphatian conquerers that have built fortifications. > > > HotBot - Search smarter. > http://www.hotbot.com > > ******************************************************************** > The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp > Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp > To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. > ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 22:08:11 -0400 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: jdaly Subject: Re: [Q] Viking lands too small? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Not really. That is, there was never any "Viking kingdom". It was a collection of tribes ruled by one piratical overlord or another. Really, their territory was quite small. ----- Original Message ----- From: Darth Darknerd To: Sent: Monday, June 12, 2000 9:38 PM Subject: [MYSTARA] [Q] Viking lands too small? > Hello guys, > Another question from the players is that the Northern Reaches area (Ostland, Vestland, Jarldoms) seems overly small. The vikings of the real world have lands that stretch for miles and miles. > > The whole lore and might of the Vikings seems rather unsuitable for Mystara, as they are confined to such a small area, do not have weather conditions that helped define Viking culture, and had a much larger population. > > Ideas, Opinions? > > > HotBot - Search smarter. > http://www.hotbot.com > > ******************************************************************** > The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp > Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp > To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. > ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 22:08:48 -0400 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: jdaly Subject: Re: [Q] Northern Reaches not North? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit It is north of Thyatis. No doubt most names come about from an association of "Where in relation is it to Thyatis?" ----- Original Message ----- From: Darth Darknerd To: Sent: Monday, June 12, 2000 9:34 PM Subject: [MYSTARA] [Q] Northern Reaches not North? > Hello guys, > I just got a question from one of the players. How come the Northern Reaches are not ... well ... up North? > > > HotBot - Search smarter. > http://www.hotbot.com > > ******************************************************************** > The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp > Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp > To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. > ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 23:54:51 EDT Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Wizards Shopper Subject: Gren corrections MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit First off -- forget about giving Grens the human skill bonus -- their Int bonus takes care of that, so giving them a further skill bonus would be redundant. Secondly -- I forgot to mention that more primitive Grens such as the Emerondians would lose the bonus for fiddling with high tech equipment but gain a bonus of +2 to hide, or +4 when attempting to do so in woods, assuming that they are not wearing anything that would stand out from the greenery. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 07:56:22 +0300 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Pasi Anias Subject: Re: [Q] Viking lands too small? In-Reply-To: from Darth Darknerd at "Jun 12, 2000 06:38:14 pm" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > Hello guys, > Another question from the players is that the Northern Reaches area > (Ostland, Vestland, Jarldoms) seems overly small. The vikings of the > real world have lands that stretch for miles and miles. 'The vikings' of Mystara are not all in the northern reaches. as far as I have understood, the same peoples live in the Heldannic reaches (under the thyatian invaders) and propably most natives from northern brun and northern Isle of dawn belong to them as well. Usually the race seems to be called heldannic. Pasi //Not that everything should be alike in Mystara and RW... -- Pasi Anias X puh. +358 3 2533536 X \\|// Sammonkatu 8-10 G 62 X gsm. +358 50 5936224 X (o o) 33540 Tampere, FI, EU X anias@students.cc.tut.fi X o000--(_)--000o ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 02:28:13 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: katri w Subject: Re: Vestland vs Ethengar Content-Type: text/plain > Hell again, huh.. i hope that's just a typo.... (and not your players giving you hard time) but hi to all too > The population in Vestland is very small when compared to the swelling horde > of Ethengar. I imagine the horde needs to expand elsewhere, and Vestland is > easy pickings compared to the might of the horde. I would imagine they could > overun Vestland with little consequence from other nations. This would grant > them access to sea ports and richer trade. > In the real world, the Mongolians were just amazing. They defined the steppe > cultures of Russia and even dominated southern Russia for a period of time. > They conquered China, India, Persia, Asia-Minor (Turkey), and then eastern > Europe, e.g. Bulgar Kahns. This group captured the most territory at one > period of time throughout all of history than any other group. you got some answers already to your questions. didn't see any to this particular matter. (i can be late ofcuz already) uhmm... first of all, those cultures aren't completely, totally, similar etc to those in real world history... besides its not always quantity that counts, but quality! (like tiny amount of finns against HUGE soviet-army during WWII with known results) northern reaches people are fighting-orientated and would defend their dominions till the last person. besides, the territory between vestland and ethengar isnt the most suitable for a horseman-horde to ride on... mountains, hills, areas settled by trolls. besides, people in northern reaches has their gods on their side too. i would imagine some divine intervening would happen, if ethengars robbed odin's temples and put horse-statues in there. another question is how would other nations react. am i totally wrong saying that ostland is allied with thyatis? vestland and soderfjord are having more like trade-allies. i think vestland has trade-relations even with ethengar (?) -- KATRI "If it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be: but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic." (Tweedledee) ______________________________________________________ Smile :-) Artic :-) http://www.artic.net/ads/go.cgi?go=179&r=email ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 15:57:47 CEST Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Federico Kaftal Subject: Dreams/Nightmares Schools, and Scholars Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed Great, really great job from those Keepers of the Dark Portal! I'll bet if they go on like this, soon the stars will be right, and THEY SHALL PASS! (Ja, Ja! Shub Niggurath! ...etc.etc.) By the way, shall you three give us some more information about the different Dream Masters and Dreaming Schools known in Mystara, their relations (if any) with the Secret Craft of Illusionism in Glantri (which is presumably one of those Schools), and so on? Thanks in advance! Federico (also known as Sebastian van Hohengarten, the Bloody Hobbit) ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 20:14:57 +0100 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: mortus Subject: Re: [Q] Viking lands too small? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > 'The vikings' of Mystara are not all in the northern reaches. as far as > I have understood, the same peoples live in the Heldannic reaches (under > the thyatian invaders) and propably most natives from northern brun and > northern Isle of dawn belong to them as well. Usually the race seems to > be called heldannic. the people of the northern reaches,heldan,norwold, and the human population of wendar are all of antalian stock, as are a lot of the people on the isle of dawns western side. i think the hinterlanders are too, and the three tribes that became the thyatian peoples also. mortus. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 15:42:04 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Darth Darknerd Organization: HotBot Mail (http://mail.hotbot.mailcity.lycos.com:80) Subject: Re: [Q] Viking lands too small? Comments: cc: suavecali@hotbot.com Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Yes. However the other Antalian tribes are not necessarily "Vikings". The Heldannic folk's culture are more like the Magyars of Hungarian (whom were themselves from Finland). The Hattians are similar to RW Germanic tribes of Otto the Great. The Germanic/Hattian eventually conquered the Haldannic/Magyar, but unlike RW, the Heldann's were never the original agressor to Hattia, like the Magyars were to Germannic kingdoms (pre Holy Roman Empire) However, back to my original point, the lands of the "viking" people with viking *culture*, are in lands possibly smaller than Denmark. Given the hex size, Norway alone might fit up from Thyatis all the way past Heldann territories. Forgive me from challenging the logic and brillance "canon" doctrine, but this seems irrepsentative of the conditions (climate, land size, etc.) that would develop the "viking" style culture. One idea I came up with is that these lands "Northern Reaches" are just outer colonies of viking-like lands further north. These lands are now subjugated by the Alphatians. Perhaps one day, they can be liberated by fellow norse men of the south (Northern Reaches). I think this would be a good plot climate and also remain within canon. -- On Tue, 13 Jun 2000 07:56:22 Pasi Anias wrote: >> Hello guys, >> Another question from the players is that the Northern Reaches area >> (Ostland, Vestland, Jarldoms) seems overly small. The vikings of the >> real world have lands that stretch for miles and miles. > >'The vikings' of Mystara are not all in the northern reaches. as far as >I have understood, the same peoples live in the Heldannic reaches (under >the thyatian invaders) and propably most natives from northern brun and >northern Isle of dawn belong to them as well. Usually the race seems to >be called heldannic. > > >Pasi //Not that everything should be alike in Mystara and RW... > > >-- >Pasi Anias X puh. +358 3 2533536 X \\|// >Sammonkatu 8-10 G 62 X gsm. +358 50 5936224 X (o o) >33540 Tampere, FI, EU X anias@students.cc.tut.fi X o000--(_)--000o > >******************************************************************** >The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp >Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp >To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM >with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. > HotBot - Search smarter. http://www.hotbot.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 15:55:03 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Darth Darknerd Organization: HotBot Mail (http://mail.hotbot.mailcity.lycos.com:80) Subject: Re: Vestland vs Ethengar Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit -- On Tue, 13 Jun 2000 02:28:13 katri w wrote: >> Hell again, >huh.. i hope that's just a typo.... (and not your players giving you >hard time) > >but hi to all too > >> The population in Vestland is very small when compared to the swelling horde >> of Ethengar. I imagine the horde needs to expand elsewhere, and Vestland is >> easy pickings compared to the might of the horde. I would imagine they could >> overun Vestland with little consequence from other nations. This would grant >> them access to sea ports and richer trade. >> In the real world, the Mongolians were just amazing. They defined the steppe >> cultures of Russia and even dominated southern Russia for a period of time. >> They conquered China, India, Persia, Asia-Minor (Turkey), and then eastern >> Europe, e.g. Bulgar Kahns. This group captured the most territory at one >> period of time throughout all of history than any other group. > >you got some answers already to your questions. didn't see any to this >particular matter. (i can be late ofcuz already) >uhmm... first of all, those cultures aren't completely, totally, similar >etc to those in real world history... besides its not always quantity >that counts, but quality! (like tiny amount of finns against HUGE >soviet-army during WWII with known results) >northern reaches people are fighting-orientated and would defend their >dominions till the last person. besides, the territory between vestland >and ethengar isnt the most suitable for a horseman-horde to ride on... >mountains, hills, areas settled by trolls. The mountain and hills never provided a problem for real-world Mongolians, and shouldn't pose a problem for Ethengars. The Ethengars do not need to conquer the troll lands, but merely pass through them. I doubt even trolls are stupid enough to stand in the way of a horde of 50,000 horsemen galloping through. >besides, people in northern reaches has their gods on their side too. >i would imagine some divine intervening would happen, if ethengars robbed >odin's temples and put horse-statues in there. Gods seldom intervine directly as other gods wouldl intervine directly as well, and once that happens, nothing is the same. >another question is how would other nations react. am i totally wrong saying >that ostland is allied with thyatis? vestland and soderfjord are having >more like trade-allies. i think vestland has trade-relations even with >ethengar (?) True, other nations would react. It depends on how well Ethengar holds Vestland territory. If re-conquering Vestland requires to many resources spent elsewhere, then this would not be the most pluasible action. In pre-WotI, Thyatis deadlocked with Alphatia. Ostland is invading/colonizing parts of Alphatia on Isle of Dawn. Ostland would look to Vestland for further raids. In post-WotI, Thyatis has many worries including the newly powerful Heldannic Knights. In both scenarios, Soderfjord Jarldoms is in no position to intervine (either being too weak or intwined in their petty squabbles). HotBot - Search smarter. http://www.hotbot.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 19:32:34 EDT Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Master's Pawn Subject: Re: [Q] Viking lands too small? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In a message dated 6/13/2000 6:43:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time, darknerd@HOTBOT.COM writes: << One idea I came up with is that these lands "Northern Reaches" are just outer colonies of viking-like lands further north. These lands are now subjugated by the Alphatians. Perhaps one day, they can be liberated by fellow norse men of the south (Northern Reaches). >> Yes, I saw scattered Norse style fjords and communities all through "Norworld", most operating like the Yarldoms in clannish, local communities. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 01:12:32 +0100 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: jason o'brien Subject: Re: [Q] Viking lands too small? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > Yes. However the other Antalian tribes are not necessarily "Vikings". The Heldannic folk's culture are more like the Magyars of Hungarian (whom were themselves from Finland). The Hattians are similar to RW Germanic tribes of Otto the Great. The Germanic/Hattian eventually conquered the Haldannic/Magyar, but unlike RW, the Heldann's were never the original agressor to Hattia, like the Magyars were to Germannic kingdoms (pre Holy Roman Empire) > the point i was trying to put across is that the antalians were themselves vikingish and that the northern reaches *vikings* are but a remnant, most other antalian groups havingevolved beyond the viking stage. this could be the reason why the viking lands are so small. mortus. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 02:03:24 +0100 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: The Stalker Organization: Angelfire (http://email.angelfire.mailcity.lycos.com:80) Subject: Re: [Q] Viking lands too small? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit On Tue, 13 Jun 2000 07:56:22 Pasi Anias wrote: >> Hello guys, >> Another question from the players is that the Northern Reaches area >> (Ostland, Vestland, Jarldoms) seems overly small. The vikings of the >> real world have lands that stretch for miles and miles. > >'The vikings' of Mystara are not all in the northern reaches. as far as >I have understood, the same peoples live in the Heldannic reaches (under >the thyatian invaders) and propably most natives from northern brun and >northern Isle of dawn belong to them as well. Usually the race seems to >be called heldannic. > And don't forget those Antalians on Qeodhar! What's the name of that place... Ystmarhaven or something like that ?? It may be in Alphatia, so you'd expect I'd remember, but I rarely recall the names of places where commoners live ;) They had a pretty harsh time in 1016 AC - just check the 1016 Almanac if you don't believe me... - The Stalker of Alphatia Angelfire for your free web-based e-mail. http://www.angelfire.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 20:46:39 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Andrew Theisen Subject: Re: [Q] Viking lands too small? In-Reply-To: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 03:42 PM 6/13/00 -0700, Darth Darknerd wrote: > >Forgive me from challenging the logic and brillance "canon" doctrine, but this >seems irrepsentative of the conditions (climate, land size, etc.) that would >develop the "viking" style culture. By that token, the lands of the Ethengar, the lands of the Thyatians, pretty much everyone in the "Known World" are all too small. This has always been one of the greatest oddities of the Mystaran world. >One idea I came up with is that these lands "Northern Reaches" are just outer >colonies of viking-like lands further north. These lands are now subjugated by >the Alphatians. Perhaps one day, they can be liberated by fellow norse men of >the south (Northern Reaches). There is certainly no reason the lands of Norwold couldn't be populated by "viking" type folk- I'd suggest the large islands off the coastland might be populated by Ostlander colonists. Also, as someone else mentioned, there are the Yanifey people, whom Geoff has done a wonderful writeup of, and has tied them in with the Ostlanders (not to mention the kingdom of Frisland in Alphatia). ----- Andrew "Cthulhudrew" Theisen Aspiring screenwriter, actor, and gadabout jsmill@wans.net "The greatest trick Doug Henning ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." - Keyser Soze ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 09:44:29 +0300 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: harri m�ki Subject: Site update Hi everyone, I just added some new files to my site and made some reconstruction there. So have a look. Harri http://sivut.koti.tpo.fi/wallemaki Sunpoint.net - Kolmannen sukupolven Internet-palvelu http://www.sunpoint.net ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 09:09:46 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Jacob Skytte Subject: Re: Vestland vs Ethengar MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable > Hell again, And Hell to you too... ;) > The population in Vestland is very small when compared to the = swelling horde > of Ethengar. I imagine the horde needs to expand elsewhere, and = Vestland is > easy pickings compared to the might of the horde. I would imagine = they could > overun Vestland with little consequence from other nations. This = would grant > them access to sea ports and richer trade. > In the real world, the Mongolians were just amazing. They defined = the steppe > cultures of Russia and even dominated southern Russia for a period of = time. > They conquered China, India, Persia, Asia-Minor (Turkey), and then = eastern > Europe, e.g. Bulgar Kahns. This group captured the most territory at = one > period of time throughout all of history than any other group. Of course you are right that if Ethengar were just like RW Mongolians, = they would be out conquering the world by now. I'm saying 'would be' = because they seem to be a little too late out for that. In my opinion = the only thing that keeps the tribes of Ethengar together is Moghul = Khan. And they wouldn't be invading any other nations in force unless he = was the drive behind that invasion. Even though he was ambitious and = warlike once, in later years the products described him as just too = civilized. He seems to have lost that edge as he grew older, and now = he's well out of his prime, pondering lost opportunities. But anything = could happen. If you like, he might go through a mid-life crisis and = decide to conquer the world or he might die and a younger leader, eager = to prove himself might take over the nation and invade Vestland to prove = his superiority. In your campaign anything can happen! Jacob Skytte scythe@wanadoo.dk ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 09:31:04 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Jacob Skytte Subject: Re: [Q] Viking lands too small? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable > Yes. However the other Antalian tribes are not necessarily "Vikings". = The Heldannic folk's culture are more like the Magyars of Hungarian = (whom were themselves from Finland). The Hattians are similar to RW = Germanic tribes of Otto the Great. The Germanic/Hattian eventually = conquered the Haldannic/Magyar, but unlike RW, the Heldann's were never = the original agressor to Hattia, like the Magyars were to Germannic = kingdoms (pre Holy Roman Empire)< But the Antalians were like the original Vikings; their culture has just = evolved in different directions, and the Northern Reaches are the ones = left that resemble them the most. =20 > However, back to my original point, the lands of the "viking" people = with viking *culture*, are in lands possibly smaller than Denmark. = Given the hex size, Norway alone might fit up from Thyatis all the way = past Heldann territories.< That could be said about most nations of the Known World. And in total = the Northern Reaches cover a fair area of the Known World. As for = another point you made along the way, the Viking culture doesn't have = the geographical environment to logically evolve (but neither do the = rest of Mystaran cultures). This comes down to the original creative = process involving a map, and 'what sort of nations would be cool?'. This = is also the explanation for the term 'Northern Reaches', since in those = days this really *was* as far north as you could get. It makes little = sense for us to try to make complicated explanations for how all these = different cultures eventually ended up coexisting in such a small space = and within so few square miles. Not that I'm saying you couldn't try, = but I doubt that the result would be worth it. =20 > Forgive me from challenging the logic and brillance "canon" doctrine, = but this seems irrepsentative of the conditions (climate, land size, = etc.) that would develop the "viking" style culture.< Who cares if you challenge canon. Like I just said the logic of this = particular canon came down to an empty map... =20 > One idea I came up with is that these lands "Northern Reaches" are = just outer colonies of viking-like lands further north. These lands are = now subjugated by the Alphatians. Perhaps one day, they can be = liberated by fellow norse men of the south (Northern Reaches).< This does sound like a load of fun if you're playing an Ostland campaign = (I don't think that Soderfjord is organized enough to do anything about = it, and Vestland has become too integrated with other nations). The = question is whether this original culture still exists. After a few = generations of Alphatian rule they might be more Alphatian than Viking. = Perhaps a few rebellious youths have convinced some jarls of Ostland = that all of their fellow men toil under Alphatian tyranny yearning only = for freedom, and once the Ostland army arrives and starts fighting, = their 'fellow men' take up arms along with the Alphatians and Ostland is = left with a lost cause...and a lot of explaining to do... Jacob Skytte scythe@wanadoo.dk ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 10:40:13 EDT Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Meltheim Shadowstalker Subject: Re: [Q] Viking lands too small? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Does anybody think this is odd how we are trying to mix fantasy and reality? JUST GRASP FANTASY FOR ITSELF!!! That's like complaining about how Bugs Bunny got up after the anvil dropped on his head or something. I know that the cultures parallel themselves, but the geography? C'mon, it's two completely different worlds, there's no need for the "Vikings" of Mystara to be in the same place, or have a similar land location as they did on earth, right? Meltheim the Shadowstalker ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 18:02:15 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?H=E5vard?= Subject: Re: [Q] Viking lands too small? In-Reply-To: <65.595cd4c.2678f34d@aol.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8BIT On Wed, 14 Jun 2000, Meltheim Shadowstalker wrote: > Does anybody think this is odd how we are trying to mix fantasy and reality? > JUST GRASP FANTASY FOR ITSELF!!! That's like complaining about how Bugs > Bunny got up after the anvil dropped on his head or something. I know that > the cultures parallel themselves, but the geography? C'mon, it's two > completely different worlds, there's no need for the "Vikings" of Mystara to > be in the same place, or have a similar land location as they did on earth, > right? The reason for making comparisons to earth is probably to understand better how Mystaran nations are different from Earth's. If Mystaras "viking" lands are further south than RW Scandinavia, does that mean that the Northern Reaches have a similar climate to that of France? Also, does the lands location allow realistically for raiding neighbours? H�vard *** Haavard R. Faanes (hoc@nvg.ntnu.no) http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/~hoc "Would it not be easier in this case for the government to dissolve the people and elect another?" -Bertolt Brecht ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 18:29:16 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?H=E5vard?= Subject: Re: Grens: Source of Blackmoor technology In-Reply-To: <7a.6731969.2675e608@aol.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8BIT On Mon, 12 Jun 2000, Wizards Shopper wrote: > The Grens were a humanoid race dwelling on a planet in an alternate > dimension with high technology but no magic. Thousands of years ago > they devastated their home world in a vicious civil war. The survivors of > that war developed a high level of resistance to radiation and other > mutagenic agents; those who failed to develop those characteristics > either died out or were killed off by anti-mutant hunters. Eventually > the Grens recovered sufficiently from that disaster to send starships > out to other worlds, and after colonizing several of these worlds they > founded a great interstellar Federation. One of their scout ships, the > F.S.S. Beagle, crash landed on Mystara in a nation called Blackmoor, > with effects that are already well known. Nice writeup Kaviyd! according to this writeup the Federation is located in Mystaras galaxy? > Before anyone could locate the Beagle, however, the Federation collapsed > when their androids revolted and eventually took over. One group of refugees > from this revolt found their way to the Mystaran solar system and colonized > the asteroids that became known as the Pyrithean Archipelago. Several > centuries later, the Kingdom of Emerond was founded by a scouting party > of Grens from those asteroids. the story would be even more interesting if you included something about parts of the Gren Federation surviving and trying to reestablish itself... On the Emerondians: Werent they supposed to be elf-like? > Meanwhile, the androids who took over the Gren Federation learned the > secrets of time travel and interdimensional travel and sought to spread > themselves throughout all planes and dimensions. On those worlds > where they were found out, they became known as the "Oards". I like the link between the Oards and the Gren.. Overall this was pretty cool :) H�vard Haavard R. Faanes (hoc@nvg.ntnu.no) http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/~hoc "Would it not be easier in this case for the government to dissolve the people and elect another?" -Bertolt Brecht ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 12:47:55 -0400 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Geoff Gander Subject: Re: [Q] Viking lands too small? I was always under the impression that the indigenous Heldanners were based on the Icelandic culture. As for other Norse realms, there could be pockets of old Norse culture still existing in Norwold (much of which, though claimed by Alphatia, was never really subdued), or, if you use some of the net-generated materials, my history of Qeodhar and northwestern Alphatia placs some Norse cultures there, too. Geoff -- Geoff Gander, BA 97 Cartographer/Game Designer/Government Peon Carnifex Loremaster au998@freenet.carleton.ca : www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Realm/2091 ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 20:23:55 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Caroletti Subject: Re: [Q] Northern Reaches not North? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit jdaly ha scritto: > It is north of Thyatis. No doubt most names come about from an association > of "Where in relation is it to Thyatis?" And this shows just how important Thyatis is in the history and culture of the Old World. Iulius Sergius Scaevola Captain of the XXth Cohort Port Lucinius, Thyatis ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 20:24:02 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?H=E5vard?= Subject: Re: [Q] Viking lands too small? In-Reply-To: <200006141647.MAA03773@freenet10.carleton.ca> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8BIT On Wed, 14 Jun 2000, Geoff Gander wrote: > I was always under the impression that the indigenous Heldanners were > based on the Icelandic culture. As for other Norse realms, there could be > pockets of old Norse culture still existing in Norwold (much of which, > though claimed by Alphatia, was never really subdued), or, if you use some > of the net-generated materials, my history of Qeodhar and northwestern > Alphatia placs some Norse cultures there, too. Although many Icelandic people claim otherwise, Iceland was settled mainly by Norwegians, so speaking of the Icelandic culture as one separate from the general norse culture is IMO meaningless, even though some Mystara material seems to indicate something else. H�vard Haavard R. Faanes (hoc@nvg.ntnu.no) http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/~hoc "Would it not be easier in this case for the government to dissolve the people and elect another?" -Bertolt Brecht ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 20:32:40 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Caroletti Subject: Re: Vestland vs Ethengar MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > > > True, other nations would react. It depends on how well Ethengar holds Vestland territory. If we stick to RW history, not too well. The Mongolians lost most of their territories almost as fast as they had conquered them. Iulius Sergius Scaevola Captain of the XXth Cohort Port Lucinius, Thyatis ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 20:37:03 +0200 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Caroletti Subject: Re: Dreams/Nightmares Schools, and Scholars MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > By the way, shall you three give us some more information about the > different Dream Masters and Dreaming Schools known in Mystara, their > relations (if any) with the Secret Craft of Illusionism in Glantri (which is > presumably one of those Schools), and so on? > Well....what can I say? Unfortunately, all us three (Andrew, me and Geoff) are busy fellows. I am the most active, recently, also because Andy and Geoff are workers, and I am just an univ student. Then, Andrew and Geoff are deeply involved in other Mystara projects...so the materiel we produce is mostly untied to other products and sources, because it would take too much time to make conversions, although we have a lot of "hey, I am doing this and that" that never is finished (ex. Andrew's Burrowers, or mine adaption of the Phantasmer, a former adaption by Andrew). Sob. Giulio ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 11:44:34 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: katri w Subject: Re: Vestland vs Ethengar Content-Type: text/plain me and my endless opinions here again... > Darth Darknerd kirjoitti: > The mountain and hills never provided a problem for real-world Mongolians, and > shouldn't pose a problem for Ethengars. The Ethengars do not need to conquer > the troll lands, but merely pass through them. I doubt even trolls are stupid > enough to stand in the way of a horde of 50,000 horsemen galloping through. > > >besides, people in northern reaches has their gods on their side too. > >i would imagine some divine intervening would happen, if ethengars robbed > >odin's temples and put horse-statues in there. > > Gods seldom intervine directly as other gods wouldl intervine directly as well, > and once that happens, nothing is the same. > > >another question is how would other nations react. am i totally wrong saying > >that ostland is allied with thyatis? vestland and soderfjord are having > >more like trade-allies. i think vestland has trade-relations even with > >ethengar (?) > > True, other nations would react. It depends on how well Ethengar holds > Vestland territory. If re-conquering Vestland requires to many resources spent > elsewhere, then this would not be the most pluasible action. > > In pre-WotI, Thyatis deadlocked with Alphatia. Ostland is invading/colonizing > parts of Alphatia on Isle of Dawn. Ostland would look to Vestland for further > raids. In post-WotI, Thyatis has many worries including the newly powerful > Heldannic Knights. In both scenarios, Soderfjord Jarldoms is in no position to > intervine (either being too weak or intwined in their petty squabbles). i read this mail and during my day gave quite a few thoughts to this matter and the result being me writing following blabbering. and yes, i absolutely want to share it with you all. i'm not suggesting that it's impossible for ethengars to occupy vestland or other nothern reaches, but i still wouldn't just simplify the matter with the argument: mongolians did their occupation fast&easily and thus ethengarians can do excatle the same. since this whole matter actually interests me as a possible scenario, i'll share my thoughts (with, i'm affraid bit long mail) of what should be taken into account. (good material for ethengarian spies, whose number is quite high at leats in rhoona... i hope i wont lead the northern reaches into destruction) i'm not any expert with ethengarian culture, so i might talk here total non-sense and claim things that aren't "real". (if so, please correct) first of all, is there really a reason for ethengars to start occupy vestland? i mean some other reason than the usual "we should rule the world, since we are the chosen ones!" (if anyone knows such reason, please enlight me, so i can use it as part of my campaign perhaps...) i'm just curious to know do they seek justification for their case. so, if the ethengarians would start invade northern reaches, there isn't just plain terrain and humble people waiting to be repressed. it's totally possible that they succeed, even easily since, as in real world, i'm sure also in fantasy-world chance will play major role in warfare. but once more: ethengar isn't mongolia. and vestland, soderfjord and ostland aren't similar kind of areas as mongols invade. the terrain between ethengar and vestland isn't suitable for huge horde of horsemen to pass quickly, which kind of is the basic tactic of ethengars. atleast when they do minor raids on vestland area. in south hardanger range and in west makkres range form natural protection to soderfjord and partially to vestland too. and THAT terrain is quite impossible for horde of horsemen pass. of course it's possible ethengars might try same strategy as hannibal did and my guess is that the number of attackers would be essentially smaller when they finally get over the mountains. (descriptions to all those borders areas can be found from GAZ 7) terrain and climate won't favour big troopmovements and neither would all the non-human "locals" (goblinoids, dragons(?) etc...) in north-west the terrain isn't that bad, especially trollheim area. so it's posibble to come through there. trollheim hills (steep slopes) decending into valleys (forest) and then the lowlands (soft, wet turf & low bogs) would nevertheless slower horsemen. area is inhabited by trolls and for them the difference between 2 horsemen and 2000 horsemen is difference between food and plenty of food. the north-west vestland is sparsely populated and there is only few forts guarding the peace (=fighting mostly against non-human attackers who defend their own territories). so i dont think that those few people would slower considerably big army. but the settlers who have survided in that area for generations, usually live in strong, easily defendable manors and they fight together. also the small, but always alerted homeguard would participate any hostile activity in that area. horde most likely still outnumber all those sooner or later, but then already all vestland would be alerted. people would hide in forests, hide their cattle, probably burn all the extra grain etc which they can't take with them. even horde has to eat, but from vestland they wouldnt get much supplies (unless locals totally fails with their plans). from trollheim is still quite long way, although much easily to ride, to capital and other important cities. after north-west vestland is conquered, horde can turn towards south. another matter is, how to proceed from there. vestlandians won't surrender. it's the northern reaches culture, if you leave the battlefield, you do it boots on and axe in hand, not running away. ethengarian horde isn't as big as the population of ethengar. in northern reaches, people would defend their dominions together, so number of defenders equals pretty much to the population (yes, even women and children doing their own part) so simple outnumbering isn't right way to mesure the possible result (that's of course only MY opinion, i won't say it equals reality in any way). im quite aware of the achievements of mongolian empire. but same time i find other examples from human history when things didn't turn out like they "should" have been. romans had their defeats, it took quite long time for france to finally conquer and pacificate algeria and let us not forget what happened in vietnam. how well ethengarians are prepared to long and exhausting fighting everywhere, even the amount of opponents isn't that big? because long and exhausting guerillawar they will get if they manage to defeat vestland armies. i have hard time to believe that people in that area would accept foreign rule. occupying an area is one thing, colonising it and get all possible wealth from it is totally another. if ethengar attacked, vestland would call soderfjord help and maybe even in the last moment also ostland, which probably would gladly intervene and use the weaknes of its old dominions to get them back under it's rule. for ostland powerful, worldconquering enemy with FOREIGN gods and possible intruding to the trade near its territory can't be welcome. i'm not very familliar with ethangarian politics and administration and such, but their nation is built into great khans superiority over several minor khans, who rule their own clans (????). in such cultures often happens (i dont say always) that army is as strong as its leader. how loyal are those minor khans to their leader? how much competition there is behind scene? if their great khan happened to die, would his successor be as good to general or would be capable to maintain control over conquered areas? how unified is the khanate in general? and since the traditional main enemy for ethengar has been for centuries in west (glantri), is it very wise to concentrate manpower in east and same time welcome enemies attack from other direction??? i think i've brought up some obvious points, which would make the conquer slow and painful. and is it really any worth for ethengar to abandon peaceful neighbour and possibility to concentrate on hostile neighbours? then there is of course matters of using magic or even divine intervention. in norse pantheon there is one god, whose main intrests is to protect northern reachers, especially vestland. forsetta isn't one of the big boys, but not likely stays as bystander. his protector odin even is in "good" relation with ixion and terra, ethangarians main divinities. interesting, eh? if you/anyone are planning such conquering campaign, it would be very interesting to know how you are going to build it. my personal view is that it'll be more interesting if also the opponents (or future victims of horde) have "equal" chance. for my usual way, i have looooooooong speculations, which could be summarize to a one sentence: yes, i believe that ethangarians would be able to conquer vestland (northern reaches), but it WON'T be easy and it will take long time. -- KATRI "If it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be: but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic." (Tweedledee) ______________________________________________________ Mainosta Articissa! http://www.artic.net/ads/go.cgi?go=108&r=email ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 11:56:35 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: katri w Subject: Re: Vestland vs Ethengar Content-Type: text/plain hiyas! me and my opinions here again > Darth Darknerd kirjoitti: > >you got some answers already to your questions. didn't see any to this > >particular matter. (i can be late ofcuz already) > >uhmm... first of all, those cultures aren't completely, totally, similar > >etc to those in real world history... besides its not always quantity > >that counts, but quality! (like tiny amount of finns against HUGE > >soviet-army during WWII with known results) > >northern reaches people are fighting-orientated and would defend their > >dominions till the last person. besides, the territory between vestland > >and ethengar isnt the most suitable for a horseman-horde to ride on... > >mountains, hills, areas settled by trolls. > > The mountain and hills never provided a problem for real-world Mongolians, and > shouldn't pose a problem for Ethengars. The Ethengars do not need to conquer > the troll lands, but merely pass through them. I doubt even trolls are stupid > enough to stand in the way of a horde of 50,000 horsemen galloping through. > > >besides, people in northern reaches has their gods on their side too. > >i would imagine some divine intervening would happen, if ethengars robbed > >odin's temples and put horse-statues in there. > > Gods seldom intervine directly as other gods wouldl intervine directly as well, > and once that happens, nothing is the same. > > >another question is how would other nations react. am i totally wrong saying > >that ostland is allied with thyatis? vestland and soderfjord are having > >more like trade-allies. i think vestland has trade-relations even with > >ethengar (?) > > True, other nations would react. It depends on how well Ethengar holds > Vestland territory. If re-conquering Vestland requires to many resources spent > elsewhere, then this would not be the most pluasible action. > > In pre-WotI, Thyatis deadlocked with Alphatia. Ostland is invading/colonizing > parts of Alphatia on Isle of Dawn. Ostland would look to Vestland for further > raids. In post-WotI, Thyatis has many worries including the newly powerful > Heldannic Knights. In both scenarios, Soderfjord Jarldoms is in no position to > intervine (either being too weak or intwined in their petty squabbles). i read this mail, im replying now, already this morning and i've given thought or 2 to it during my daily routines. since this whole matter actually interests me as a possible scenario, i'll share my thoughts (with, i'm affraid bit long mail) of what should be taken into account. (good material for ethengarian spies, whose number is quite high at leats in rhoona... i hope i wont lead the northern reaches into destruction) i'm not suggesting that it's impossible for ethengars to occupy vestland or other nothern reaches, but i still wouldn't just simplify the matter with the argument: mongolians did their occupation fast&easily and thus ethengarians can do excatle the same. (and as jacob said in his reply, in your own campaing you should do as you feel like... i really loved the idea of midlife-crisis being motivation to worldconquest!) i'm not any expert with ethengarian culture, so i might talk here total non-sense and claim things that aren't "real". (if so, please correct) first of all, is there really a reason for ethengars to start occupy vestland? i mean some other reason than the usual "we should rule the world, since we are the chosen ones!" (if anyone knows such reason, please enlight me, so i can use it as part of my campaign perhaps...) i'm just curious to know do they seek justification for their case. so, if the ethengarians would start invade northern reaches, there isn't just plain terrain and humble people waiting to be repressed. it's totally possible that they succeed, even easily since, as in real world, i'm sure also in fantasy-world chance will play major role in warfare. but once more: ethengar isn't mongolia. and vestland, soderfjord and ostland aren't similar kind of areas as mongols invade. the terrain between ethengar and vestland isn't suitable for huge horde of horsemen to pass quickly, which kind of is the basic tactic of ethengars. atleast when they do minor raids on vestland area. in south hardanger range and in west makkres range form natural protection to soderfjord and partially to vestland too. and THAT terrain is quite impossible for horde of horsemen pass. of course it's possible ethengars might try same strategy as hannibal did and my guess is that the number of attackers would be essentially smaller when they finally get over the mountains. (descriptions to all those borders areas can be found from GAZ 7) terrain and climate won't favour big troopmovements and neither would all the non-human "locals" (goblinoids, dragons(?) etc...) in north-west the terrain isn't that bad, especially trollheim area. so it's posibble to come through there. trollheim hills (steep slopes) decending into valleys (forest) and then the lowlands (soft, wet turf & low bogs) would nevertheless slower horsemen. area is inhabited by trolls and for them the difference between 2 horsemen and 2000 horsemen is difference between food and plenty of food. the north-west vestland is sparsely populated and there is only few forts guarding the peace (=fighting mostly against non-human attackers who defend their own territories). so i dont think that those few people would slower considerably big army. but the settlers who have survided in that area for generations, usually live in strong, easily defendable manors and they fight together. also the small, but always alerted homeguard would participate any hostile activity in that area. horde most likely still outnumber all those sooner or later, but then already all vestland would be alerted. people would hide in forests, hide their cattle, probably burn all the extra grain etc which they can't take with them. even horde has to eat, but from vestland they wouldnt get much supplies (unless locals totally fails with their plans). from trollheim is still quite long way, although much easily to ride, to capital and other important cities. after north-west vestland is conquered, horde can turn towards south. another matter is, how to proceed from there. vestlandians won't surrender. it's the northern reaches culture, if you leave the battlefield, you do it boots on and axe in hand, not running away. ethengarian horde isn't as big as the population of ethengar. in northern reaches, people would defend their dominions together, so number of defenders equals pretty much to the population (yes, even women and children doing their own part) so simple outnumbering isn't right way to mesure the possible result (that's of course only MY opinion, i won't say it equals reality in any way). im quite aware of the achievements of mongolian empire. but same time i find other examples from human history when things didn't turn out like they "should" have been. romans had their defeats, it took quite long time for france to finally conquer and pacificate algeria and let us not forget what happened in vietnam. how well ethengarians are prepared to long and exhausting fighting everywhere, even the amount of opponents isn't that big? because long and exhausting guerillawar they will get if they manage to defeat vestland armies. i have hard time to believe that people in that area would accept foreign rule. occupying an area is one thing, colonising it and get all possible wealth from it is totally another. if ethengar attacked, vestland would call soderfjord help and maybe even in the last moment also ostland, which probably would gladly intervene and use the weaknes of its old dominions to get them back under it's rule. for ostland powerful, worldconquering enemy with FOREIGN gods and possible intruding to the trade near its territory can't be welcome. i'm not very familliar with ethangarian politics and administration and such, but their nation is built into great khans superiority over several minor khans, who rule their own clans (????). in such cultures often happens (i dont say always) that army is as strong as its leader. how loyal are those minor khans to their leader? how much competition there is behind scene? if their great khan happened to die, would his successor be as good to general or would be capable to maintain control over conquered areas? how unified is the khanate in general? and since the traditional main enemy for ethengar has been for centuries in west (glantri), is it very wise to concentrate manpower in east and same time welcome enemies attack from other direction??? i think i've brought up some obvious points, which would make the conquer slow and painful. and is it really any worth for ethengar to abandon peaceful neighbour and possibility to concentrate on hostile neighbours? then there is of course matters of using magic or even divine intervention. in norse pantheon there is one god, whose main intrests is to protect northern reachers, especially vestland. forsetta isn't one of the big boys, but not likely stays as bystander. his protector odin even is in "good" relations with ixion and terra, ethangarians main divinities. interesting, eh? even gods rarely intervene to mortal things, since things wouldnt be same, forsetta would be likely to do it nevertheless. i know in my campaing he would do it... if you/anyone are planning such conquering campaign, it would be very interesting to know how you are going to build it. my personal view is that it'll be more interesting if also the opponents (or future victims of horde) have "equal" chance. for my usual way, i have looooooooong speculations, which could be summarize to a one sentence: yes, i believe that ethangarians would be able to conquer vestland (northern reaches), but it WON'T be easy and it will take long time. (and all i've said is, as usual, just my personal views...) -- KATRI "If it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be: but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic." (Tweedledee) ______________________________________________________ Mainosta Articissa! http://www.artic.net/ads/go.cgi?go=108&r=email ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 12:02:10 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: katri w Subject: Re: Vestland vs Ethengar SORRY!!! Content-Type: text/plain argh!!! sorry.. i send my mail twice.. 1st the draft and then the one i ment to.. in my case multi-tasking means i can mess up several things simultaneously sorry again for the inconvenience. -- KATRI "If it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be: but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic." (Tweedledee) ______________________________________________________ Onko Sinulla jo oma GSM-kotisivu? Luo nyt omasi ilmaiseksi Articissa. http://www.artic.net/ads/go.cgi?go=182&r=email ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 13:06:23 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Darth Darknerd Organization: HotBot Mail (http://mail.hotbot.mailcity.lycos.com:80) Subject: Re: [Q] Viking lands too small? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit On Wed, 14 Jun 2000 09:31:04 Jacob Skytte wrote: [snip] >> However, back to my original point, the lands of the "viking" people with viking *culture*, are in lands possibly smaller than Denmark. Given the hex size, Norway alone might fit up from Thyatis all the way past Heldann territories.< > > That could be said about most nations of the > Known World. And in total the Northern Reaches > cover a fair area of the Known World. As for > another point you made along the way, the > Viking culture doesn't have the geographical > environment to logically evolve (but neither > do the rest of Mystaran cultures). This comes > down to the original creative process > involving a map, and 'what sort of nations > would be cool?'. This is also the explanation > for the term 'Northern Reaches', since in > those days this really *was* as far north as > you could get. It makes little sense for us to > try to make complicated explanations for how > all these different cultures eventually ended > up coexisting in such a small space and within > so few square miles. Not that I'm saying you > couldn't try, but I doubt that the result > would be worth it. Some people though prefer a sense of realism. I try to have a little realism in order to capture the spirit and environment of Norse Mythology, lore, and culture. I also desire to provide a non-laughable setting for the players. >> Forgive me from challenging the logic and brillance "canon" doctrine, but this seems irrepsentative of the conditions (climate, land size, etc.) that would develop the "viking" style culture.< > >Who cares if you challenge canon. Like I just said the logic of this particular canon came down to an empty map... Some people do care, so that is why I made the comment. >> One idea I came up with is that these lands "Northern Reaches" are just outer colonies of viking-like lands further north. These lands are now subjugated by the Alphatians. Perhaps one day, they can be liberated by fellow norse men of the south (Northern Reaches).< > >This does sound like a load of fun if you're playing an Ostland campaign (I don't think that Soderfjord is organized enough to do anything about it, and Vestland has become too integrated with other nations). The question is whether this original culture still exists. After a few generations of Alphatian rule they might be more Alphatian than Viking. Perhaps a few rebellious youths have convinced some jarls of Ostland that all of their fellow men toil under Alphatian tyranny yearning only for freedom, and once the Ostland army arrives and starts fighting, their 'fellow men' take up arms along with the Alphatians and Ostland is left with a lost cause...and a lot of explaining to do... I doubt it would be a "Ostland" only campaign, because vikings would amass just for the glory. Given a sense of greater purpose, and many would set aside their differences to join the "just" cause. Also, the priests of gods can be very persuasive to rally folk, despite any preceived nationalistic views. I think that many of the Norwold Anatalians would gain from many benefits from being allied or subjugated by Alphatia. I imagine some would side with Ostlanders while others side with Alphatia. It depends on the climate of politics and warfare. Obviously a viking horde would not blindly show-up at the front door. Overall, this would be an interesting campaign. Perhaps an ambitious player take up the challenge. HotBot - Search smarter. http://www.hotbot.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 13:16:38 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Darth Darknerd Organization: HotBot Mail (http://mail.hotbot.mailcity.lycos.com:80) Subject: Re: Vestland vs Ethengar Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit That is not entirely true. Perhaps on a nationalistic point of view, there can be truth in that statement. Many territories were held for a significant period of time. And even if they did not have a sense of a nation back then, they people's of Mongulian steppes dominated many spots of the world, and have never been whiped out (rather assimilulated into other cultures, or other cultures assimulated into theirs). The Moguls have had a lasting affect through the world, and have held territories from long periods of time. The affected Chinese cultures, the steppes people thorughout Russia, eastern Europe (Bulgar Kahns, etc), and especially Turkey. The Turks today still have a language similar to that spoken in Mogolian. -- On Wed, 14 Jun 2000 20:32:40 Caroletti wrote: >> >> >> True, other nations would react. It depends on how well Ethengar holds Vestland territory. > >If we stick to RW history, not too well. The Mongolians lost most of their territories almost as fast as they >had conquered them. > >Iulius Sergius Scaevola >Captain of the XXth Cohort >Port Lucinius, Thyatis > >******************************************************************** >The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp >Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp >To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM >with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. > HotBot - Search smarter. http://www.hotbot.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 18:56:15 EDT Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Andrew Theisen Subject: Dreams/Nightmares Schools, and Scholars] Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Federico Kaftal wrote: > >By the way, shall you three give us some more information about the >different Dream Masters and Dreaming Schools known in Mystara, their >relations (if any) with the Secret Craft of Illusionism in Glantri (whic= h >is presumably one of those Schools), and so on? I did do a reworking of the Secret Craft of Illusion, tying it in directl= y with the Dimension of Nightmares some time ago. It should be up on Shawn'= s site, under Phantasmers... = More is coming, but as Giulio mentioned, some of us Nightmare guys are notoriously overstretched on our projects... me bad monkey! ____________________________________________________________________ Get free email and a permanent address at http://www.amexmail.com/?A=3D1 ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 23:14:17 -0400 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Stefan Gunnarsson Subject: Re: [Q] Viking lands too small? In-Reply-To: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 20:24 14.6.2000 +0200, you wrote: >On Wed, 14 Jun 2000, Geoff Gander wrote: > >> I was always under the impression that the indigenous Heldanners were >> based on the Icelandic culture. As for other Norse realms, there could be >> pockets of old Norse culture still existing in Norwold (much of which, >> though claimed by Alphatia, was never really subdued), or, if you use some >> of the net-generated materials, my history of Qeodhar and northwestern >> Alphatia placs some Norse cultures there, too. > >Although many Icelandic people claim otherwise, Iceland was settled >mainly by Norwegians, so speaking of the Icelandic culture as one separate >from the general norse culture is IMO meaningless, even though some >Mystara material seems to indicate something else. > Im from Iceland reallife, yes no kidding and heldanners are not in anyway like the old icelandic vikings except maybe for one thing, they raided alot.. but the heldanic culture is very different. Plus there was no king here is iceland back in the viking days, we created the first Congress in the world meeting once per year to settle national problems(mostly blood revenges and crimes) And the fact is that we are original from Norway and Ireland(slaves)none here on this atlantic rock believes otherwise. Grettir Sterki (old icelandic myth) >******************************************************************** >The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp >Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp >To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM >with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. > ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 16:35:47 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Kar Ess Subject: Re: [Q] Viking lands too small? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii YES!!!! Because it's a fictional setting with no correlation to real-world history beyond a technology level comparable to that of a specific period in our own timeline, it's kind of unfair to say this or that should or shouldn't exist simply because it did or didn't in the real world. If your game is set in 13th century France, then by all means be as historically-accurate to Europe in the 1200's as you want, but I personally think imposing our history and/or cultures on that of a fictional game setting as anything other than a baseline comparison does a disservice to both. --- Meltheim Shadowstalker wrote: > Does anybody think this is odd how we are trying to mix fantasy and reality? > JUST GRASP FANTASY FOR ITSELF!!! That's like complaining about how Bugs > Bunny got up after the anvil dropped on his head or something. I know that > the cultures parallel themselves, but the geography? C'mon, it's two > completely different worlds, there's no need for the "Vikings" of Mystara to > be in the same place, or have a similar land location as they did on earth, > right? > > Meltheim the Shadowstalker > > ******************************************************************** > The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp > Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp > To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos -- now, 100 FREE prints! http://photos.yahoo.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 18:33:54 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Darth Darknerd Organization: HotBot Mail (http://mail.hotbot.mailcity.lycos.com:80) Subject: Re: [Q] Viking lands too small? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hey Kar, I am not sure which side you are arguing here. Anyways the whole thing was to strike a balance between fantasy and having some ounch of realism. However, IMHO the current scenario as describe from the books seems border-line absurd. That is why I opened the discussion, and tried to open find some resolution in order to add some realism and avoid absurdity. However, it seems that this has twisted and turned and became a candidate for a good Monty Python mock debate... regards, Joaquin PS - Meltheim: That's -10 Character Point penalty for each character!! PS2 - See Dead Parrot. --- How many boards, can the Ethengars hoard, if the Ethengar horde got bored? On Wed, 14 Jun 2000 16:35:47 Kar Ess wrote: >YES!!!! >Because it's a fictional setting with no correlation to real-world history beyond a technology >level comparable to that of a specific period in our own timeline, it's kind of unfair to say this >or that should or shouldn't exist simply because it did or didn't in the real world. If your game >is set in 13th century France, then by all means be as historically-accurate to Europe in the >1200's as you want, but I personally think imposing our history and/or cultures on that of a >fictional game setting as anything other than a baseline comparison does a disservice to both. > > >--- Meltheim Shadowstalker wrote: >> Does anybody think this is odd how we are trying to mix fantasy and reality? >> JUST GRASP FANTASY FOR ITSELF!!! That's like complaining about how Bugs >> Bunny got up after the anvil dropped on his head or something. I know that >> the cultures parallel themselves, but the geography? C'mon, it's two >> completely different worlds, there's no need for the "Vikings" of Mystara to >> be in the same place, or have a similar land location as they did on earth, >> right? >> >> Meltheim the Shadowstalker HotBot - Search smarter. http://www.hotbot.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 18:44:04 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Darth Darknerd Organization: HotBot Mail (http://mail.hotbot.mailcity.lycos.com:80) Subject: Re: Illithid Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit How many boards, can the Ethengars hoard, if the Ethengar horde got bored? On Thu, 8 Jun 2000 17:30:49 Eyal Fleminger wrote: >Here is my adaptation of mind flayers. It's writen with the psionics >handbook in mind; if you don't use psionics IYC, replace them with the >following powers (at will, once per round, at 7th level): >1. mind blast - 60' cone, 5' at the base and 20' wide at its end; all within >the area must save vs. spell or be stunned for 1d10+2 rounds. >2. Charm monster >3. ESP >4. Levitate >5. Travel (self only) Do they get frequent flyer miles out of this? >6. All saves against these powers are at -4 > >Mind Flayer >Armor Class 5 >Hit Dice 8+4*****(M) >Move 120'(40') >Attacks 4 tentacles >Damage see below >No. Appearing 1-4 (1-4) >Save As M9 >Morale 9 >Treasure Type A (S, T, V) >Intelligence 17 >Alignment Chaotic >XP Value 3,925 >Type: Monster (Very Rare) >Mind flayers stand about 6 feet tall, with hideous mauve skin which glistens >with slime. The head resembles an octopus, with white eyes (no pupils are >evident) and four tentacles where a mouth should be. They have three fingers >and a thumb on each hand; their fingers have a reddish cast. Mind flayers >have infravision to 120'. They can communicate via telepathy; they have no >spoken language. Their name for their kind is illithid. They are originally >from the Dimension of Nightmare, but have formed colonies on the Prime >Plane. >A mind flayer uses its four tentacles in combat. if a tentacle hits, it will >reach the victim's brain in 1-4 rounds, drawing it forth and killing the >victim. The flayer then devours the brain. They also have a variety of >psionic powers: > >Level Dis/Sci/Dev Attack/Defense Score PSPs >7 4/15/14 MT/M-, TS, Mb, +1 =Int 1d100+250 > >Type: attack, mind control, travel > Psychokinesis: Detonate, Control Body*, Levitation* > Psychometabolism: Body Equilibrium* (only) > Psychoportation: Probability Travel*, Teleport*, Astral Projection* > Telepathy: Domination*, Awe, ESP*, Post-Hypnotic Suggestion* > * - always have this power > >In combat, a mind flayer will seek to capture prisoners. These will become >slaves and an emergency food supply. Mind flayers live in large underground >communities of 200 to 2,000 illithids, plus at least two slaves each. The >slave's minds have been stripped of any independent thinking ability, so >they obey without question. Mind flayers hate sunlight and avoid it whenever >possible. The center of each community is the elder-brain, a pool of briny >brain fluid which contains the brains of a community's dead illithids. Due >to their powerful mental abilities, their brains remain alive after the >bodies have been destroyed, and the telepathic unions of these dead brains >rules the community. The elder-brain has a range of 2 to 5 miles, depending >on the size and age of the community. The elder-brain cannot attack, but it >can warn mind flayers of the presence of thinking creatures, so a mind >flayer in its radius cannot be surprised by intelligent creatures. The >telepathic range of the elder-brain defines the borders of the community, >though it will often send raiding parties further. Mind flayers are >extremely arrogant, viewing all other species as cattle to be preyed on. >They prefer to eat the brains of intelligent creatures. Illithids are >sexless, living the first 10 years of life like tadpoles. >Terrain: any subterranean > >________________________________________________________________________ >Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com > >******************************************************************** >The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp >Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp >To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM >with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. > HotBot - Search smarter. http://www.hotbot.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 18:49:50 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Kar Ess Subject: Re: [Q] Viking lands too small? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Realism, balderdash! It's a fantasy game! That's the side! --- Darth Darknerd wrote: > Hey Kar, > > I am not sure which side you are arguing here. > > Anyways the whole thing was to strike a balance between fantasy and > having some ounch of realism. However, IMHO the current scenario as > describe from the books seems border-line absurd. That is why I > opened the discussion, and tried to open find some resolution in > order to add some realism and avoid absurdity. > > However, it seems that this has twisted and turned and became a > candidate for a good Monty Python mock debate... > > regards, > Joaquin > > PS - Meltheim: That's -10 Character Point penalty for each > character!! > PS2 - See Dead Parrot. > > > --- > How many boards, can the Ethengars hoard, > if the Ethengar horde got bored? > > On Wed, 14 Jun 2000 16:35:47 Kar Ess wrote: > >YES!!!! > >Because it's a fictional setting with no correlation to real-world history beyond a technology > >level comparable to that of a specific period in our own timeline, it's kind of unfair to say > this > >or that should or shouldn't exist simply because it did or didn't in the real world. If your > game > >is set in 13th century France, then by all means be as historically-accurate to Europe in the > >1200's as you want, but I personally think imposing our history and/or cultures on that of a > >fictional game setting as anything other than a baseline comparison does a disservice to both. > > > > > >--- Meltheim Shadowstalker wrote: > >> Does anybody think this is odd how we are trying to mix fantasy and reality? > >> JUST GRASP FANTASY FOR ITSELF!!! That's like complaining about how Bugs > >> Bunny got up after the anvil dropped on his head or something. I know that > >> the cultures parallel themselves, but the geography? C'mon, it's two > >> completely different worlds, there's no need for the "Vikings" of Mystara to > >> be in the same place, or have a similar land location as they did on earth, > >> right? > >> > >> Meltheim the Shadowstalker > > > HotBot - Search smarter. > http://www.hotbot.com > > ******************************************************************** > The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp > Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp > To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos -- now, 100 FREE prints! http://photos.yahoo.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 18:57:18 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Darth Darknerd Organization: HotBot Mail (http://mail.hotbot.mailcity.lycos.com:80) Subject: BirthRight Downloads Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I just noticed that all the Birthright material is downloadable. I certainly hope that someday all of Mystara material can be downloadable as well. HotBot - Search smarter. http://www.hotbot.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 22:03:47 -0400 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: jdaly Subject: Re: [Q] Viking lands too small? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit You haven't made a good case for why it would be absurd... But I'll help you out a bit. All the nations of the Known World are rather close together and in a very small space. It does seem like a stretch to have so many in such a small area. But then, its fantasy. Outrageously unbelievable fantasy is no good. Who would have liked Return of the Jedi if Luke had discovered a "Kill Emperor Palpatine power" at the last minute that he didn't know he had? The force is unbelievable...but it has a structure and therefore during the movie it is believable. That's the secret to fantasy. The secret to dming is to take those unbelievable elements and sift between "that which the players will notice" and "that which the players will never notice". Once you have figured out what constitutes the former, you just need to have an explanation ready. As a last resort you can always say, "Magic." But that's a last resort and leans too closely to the Star Wars example above... ----- Original Message ----- From: Darth Darknerd To: Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2000 9:33 PM Subject: Re: [MYSTARA] [Q] Viking lands too small? > Hey Kar, > > I am not sure which side you are arguing here. > > Anyways the whole thing was to strike a balance between fantasy and > having some ounch of realism. However, IMHO the current scenario as > describe from the books seems border-line absurd. That is why I > opened the discussion, and tried to open find some resolution in > order to add some realism and avoid absurdity. > > However, it seems that this has twisted and turned and became a > candidate for a good Monty Python mock debate... > > regards, > Joaquin > > PS - Meltheim: That's -10 Character Point penalty for each > character!! > PS2 - See Dead Parrot. > > > --- > How many boards, can the Ethengars hoard, > if the Ethengar horde got bored? > > On Wed, 14 Jun 2000 16:35:47 Kar Ess wrote: > >YES!!!! > >Because it's a fictional setting with no correlation to real-world history beyond a technology > >level comparable to that of a specific period in our own timeline, it's kind of unfair to say this > >or that should or shouldn't exist simply because it did or didn't in the real world. If your game > >is set in 13th century France, then by all means be as historically-accurate to Europe in the > >1200's as you want, but I personally think imposing our history and/or cultures on that of a > >fictional game setting as anything other than a baseline comparison does a disservice to both. > > > > > >--- Meltheim Shadowstalker wrote: > >> Does anybody think this is odd how we are trying to mix fantasy and reality? > >> JUST GRASP FANTASY FOR ITSELF!!! That's like complaining about how Bugs > >> Bunny got up after the anvil dropped on his head or something. I know that > >> the cultures parallel themselves, but the geography? C'mon, it's two > >> completely different worlds, there's no need for the "Vikings" of Mystara to > >> be in the same place, or have a similar land location as they did on earth, > >> right? > >> > >> Meltheim the Shadowstalker > > > HotBot - Search smarter. > http://www.hotbot.com > > ******************************************************************** > The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp > Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp > To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. > ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 22:24:56 EDT Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Wizards Shopper Subject: Re: Grens: Source of Blackmoor technology MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In a message dated 2000-06-14 12:42:12 PM Eastern Daylight Time, hoc@NVG.NTNU.NO writes: << Nice writeup Kaviyd! according to this writeup the Federation is located in Mystaras galaxy?>> Either they lived in an alternate dimension where magic does not work, or in the galaxy of Mystara magic works only near Mystara. The problem is that the inherent weakness of the Grens in regard to magical and psionic abilities would give them problems if they lived in a region of space where such things worked. << the story would be even more interesting if you included something about parts of the Gren Federation surviving and trying to reestablish itself...>> I certainly would not preclude such a thing from happening.... << On the Emerondians: Werent they supposed to be elf-like? >> They lived far more in harmony with nature than the more advanced Grens did, but they were basically described as looking like green skinned humans as I recall. Culturally the Emerondians would have changed greatly from the lifestyle of their Gren ancestors. ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 01:55:00 EDT Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Wizards Shopper Subject: Re: [Q] Viking lands too small? MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In a message dated 2000-06-14 12:40:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time, hoc@NVG.NTNU.NO writes: << The reason for making comparisons to earth is probably to understand better how Mystaran nations are different from Earth's. If Mystaras "viking" lands are further south than RW Scandinavia, does that mean that the Northern Reaches have a similar climate to that of France? Also, does the lands location allow realistically for raiding neighbours? >> Another reason for making comparisons to Earth is that RW Earth of the Middle Ages is our "default" for understanding Mystara. Basically, the easiest thing to do is to assume that Mystara is like Earth in any matter not specifically detailed otherwise. Magical effects of some sort would be the most likely explanation of anything that is wildly out of whack with the real world (such as the bizarre lunar cycles). ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 23:46:56 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Darth Darknerd Organization: HotBot Mail (http://mail.hotbot.mailcity.lycos.com:80) Subject: Re: [Q] Viking lands too small? Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit This was my problem. I had one player, already critical about Mystara, question about the logic of Norse being so far south and also in general question the overall map scale of the Known World. I was caught off guard and I did not know what to say. I thought about it, and I felt that it was awkward, and I wondered why would the Norse live so far south anyhow; How can they fit in such a small landscape. Also, the climate is important in producing various cultures. This is the reason, Vikings didn't wear togas or wear turbans. This is the reason Ylari don't run around in full plate. So I was faced between maintain the integrity of Mystara, but yet still having realism, and including RealWorld elements that make spirit the Viking lore and Norse mythology thriving in the campaign. I came up with a few explanations... - The Northern Reaches are actually previous colonies. The real Vikings are still up North. ("real" meaning closer to artic climate Vikings of RW) - There are still Vikings in Norwold, though subjugated by Alphatians. - Because of the many natural elemental vortexes (from 3rd green D&D boxed set), the climates are different. Arid just briefly south, but colder in the Northern Reaches, yet warmer in parts and pockets of Norwold. - The map scale is actually larger. (This allows the GM to add more depth to each hex, such as villages, etc.) regards, Joaquin --- How many boards, can the Ethengars hoard, if the Ethengar horde got bored? On Wed, 14 Jun 2000 22:03:47 jdaly wrote: >You haven't made a good case for why it would be absurd... > >But I'll help you out a bit. All the nations of the Known World are rather >close together and in a very small space. It does seem like a stretch to >have so many in such a small area. But then, its fantasy. Outrageously >unbelievable fantasy is no good. Who would have liked Return of the Jedi if >Luke had discovered a "Kill Emperor Palpatine power" at the last minute that >he didn't know he had? > >The force is unbelievable...but it has a structure and therefore during the >movie it is believable. That's the secret to fantasy. The secret to dming >is to take those unbelievable elements and sift between "that which the >players will notice" and "that which the players will never notice". Once >you have figured out what constitutes the former, you just need to have an >explanation ready. As a last resort you can always say, "Magic." But >that's a last resort and leans too closely to the Star Wars example above... > >----- Original Message ----- >From: Darth Darknerd >To: >Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2000 9:33 PM >Subject: Re: [MYSTARA] [Q] Viking lands too small? > > >> Hey Kar, >> >> I am not sure which side you are arguing here. >> >> Anyways the whole thing was to strike a balance between fantasy and >> having some ounch of realism. However, IMHO the current scenario as >> describe from the books seems border-line absurd. That is why I >> opened the discussion, and tried to open find some resolution in >> order to add some realism and avoid absurdity. >> >> However, it seems that this has twisted and turned and became a >> candidate for a good Monty Python mock debate... >> >> regards, >> Joaquin >> >> PS - Meltheim: That's -10 Character Point penalty for each >> character!! >> PS2 - See Dead Parrot. >> >> >> --- >> How many boards, can the Ethengars hoard, >> if the Ethengar horde got bored? >> >> On Wed, 14 Jun 2000 16:35:47 Kar Ess wrote: >> >YES!!!! >> >Because it's a fictional setting with no correlation to real-world >history beyond a technology >> >level comparable to that of a specific period in our own timeline, it's >kind of unfair to say this >> >or that should or shouldn't exist simply because it did or didn't in the >real world. If your game >> >is set in 13th century France, then by all means be as >historically-accurate to Europe in the >> >1200's as you want, but I personally think imposing our history and/or >cultures on that of a >> >fictional game setting as anything other than a baseline comparison does >a disservice to both. >> > >> > >> >--- Meltheim Shadowstalker wrote: >> >> Does anybody think this is odd how we are trying to mix fantasy and >reality? >> >> JUST GRASP FANTASY FOR ITSELF!!! That's like complaining about how >Bugs >> >> Bunny got up after the anvil dropped on his head or something. I know >that >> >> the cultures parallel themselves, but the geography? C'mon, it's two >> >> completely different worlds, there's no need for the "Vikings" of >Mystara to >> >> be in the same place, or have a similar land location as they did on >earth, >> >> right? >> >> >> >> Meltheim the Shadowstalker >> >> >> HotBot - Search smarter. >> http://www.hotbot.com >> >> ******************************************************************** >> The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp >> Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp >> To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM >> with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. >> > >******************************************************************** >The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp >Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp >To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM >with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. > HotBot - Search smarter. http://www.hotbot.com ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 23:57:09 -0700 Reply-To: Mystara Sender: Mystara From: Beau Yarbrough Subject: Re: [Q] Viking lands too small? In-Reply-To: MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 23:46 6/14/00 -0700, Darth Darknerd wrote: >This was my problem. I had one player, already critical about Mystara, question about the logic of Norse being so far south and also in general question the overall map scale of the Known World. What a peach this player sounds like. >I was caught off guard and I did not know what to say. I thought about it, and I felt that it was awkward, and I wondered why would the Norse live so far south anyhow; How can they fit in such a small landscape. Also, the climate is important in producing various cultures. This is the reason, Vikings didn't wear togas or wear turbans. This is the reason Ylari don't run around in full plate. > >So I was faced between maintain the integrity of Mystara, but yet still having realism, and including RealWorld elements that make spirit the Viking lore and Norse mythology thriving in the campaign. > >I came up with a few explanations... > > - The Northern Reaches are actually previous colonies. The real > Vikings are still up North. ("real" meaning closer to artic > climate Vikings of RW) > - There are still Vikings in Norwold, though subjugated by > Alphatians. > - Because of the many natural elemental vortexes (from 3rd green D&D > boxed set), the climates are different. Arid just briefly south, > but colder in the Northern Reaches, yet warmer in parts and > pockets of Norwold. This is what makes the most sense to me. In a world where the most important prehistoric events are UFOs crashing into the world and explosions shifting the planet on its axis, it's hard to overlook the world-altering effects of the supernatural and fantastic. If the Immortals are lobbing giant meteors at Glantri and sinking Alphatia, isn't it probable that someone has messed with air and water currents something fierce, purposefully or otherwise? (Why Al-Kalim doesn't turn Ylaruam into the Desert Garden, though, is beyond me, in this case.) BEAU http://www.LBY3.com/ ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp Find Local Players: http://nafsasp.wizards.com/Registries/TSR/Welcome.asp To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message.