I'm currently working on converting the Arcane Shadows adventure, after which I will be converting Asticlian Gambit and Dragon's Crown. At this point in time I am running into a few conversion problems that after reading the products at athas.org, I am still at a loss to resolve.
A) Are characters expected to have the same wealth listed in the DMG only converted to cp?
B) If (A) is true, then should NPC's have their equipment updated to the NPC standards (monentary value table in the DMG)?
C) Are magic and psionic items available on the open market (with the exception of magic items only being available in the shadowy area of the elven bazaar, from the alliance, or from a king's defiliers section)?
D) Has anyone taken a crack at converting the Psionitrix; either whole or in pieces?
E) Any thoughts on the main points in Dragon Crown? i.e. 16th level party fighting 24th level psion.
-my thoughts on the psionic disturbance are an increase in PP needed to manifest powers which would effectively limited the level of powers that manifesters are allowed to use; perhaps coupled with concentration checks to manifest through the "static".
I have already run through Freedom and I am funishing up Road to Urik (following the old campaign lines in the adventures). I hope to start Arcane Shadows sometime soon and will be working on the others throughout the course of the next few months, so I do not need immediate counsel, but any help would be appreciated.
As for Dragon's Crown- I would think that by the time that the PC's are nearing the third book that they would be about 18th or 19th level- if they started out as 16th. They should be able to handle the psions in the adventure- the place that would be the most difficult I think is the room with like three or four psions and a bunch of undead- that may be pretty hard.
As for the effects of the Psionitrix, I think that the power Catapsi in the XHB is the closest to the effect- hieghtened to a level that requires a DC 30 or so Will save to ignore the added cost- but everything else should follow the power (ie full round to manifest, 4 extra PSP's, and keeping the limit on the # of PSP's they can spend). I think the adventure first provides one crystle to the characters that will allow one character to ignore the effects of the artifact and they should be able to pick up more on the way.
You could also start the effect at a lower DC and added cost say like 15 and 1 PSP at first but then you could increase the effect as time progresses and the psionicist in control of the artifact gets more accustom to wielding the thing, up to DC 30 or higher and at a cost of 4 to 6 additional PSP's. Kind of like what Dregoth does in DA with the godhood spell.
And finally- for the treasure- I would of course make psionic items more abundant and legal to buy along with divine magical items in some places, but arcane magical items should be harder to come by and only available in Elven Markets. Psionic items can be made that effectively are the same as the arcane magical items- only the powers needed to craft them change in the creation process.
I would update the NPC's to follow the treasure allocation per the DMG- only due to the fact that Athas.org cannot make a treasure chart specifically for DS- I think.
There are somethings for which only arcane magic will do
Like fireball- nothing an replace a good ol' fireball. Especially if it is being used on those runts people call halflings :D. With a fireball you can blast a whole bunch of them and see their little blasted bodies get blasted into the forest :D
, I'm not finding this funny in the slightestYou know I go nothing but love for you Sage ;)
Would you happen to have your conversions of Freedom and Road to Urik typed up?
In a word, no. It would not be much work to just put them into a spreadsheet, although I used gestalt rules from Unearthed Arcana for some of the NPC's; I would have to change the equipment and treasure too. If you would like them, I could try to compile them in my spare time.
As for the effects of the Psionitrix, I think that the power Catapsi in the XHB is the closest to the effect- hieghtened to a level that requires a DC 30 or so Will save to ignore the added cost- but everything else should follow the power (ie full round to manifest, 4 extra PSP's, and keeping the limit on the # of PSP's they can spend).
....You could also start the effect at a lower DC and added cost say like 15 and 1 PSP at first but then you could increase the effect as time progresses and the psionicist in control of the artifact gets more accustom to wielding the thing, up to DC 30 or higher and at a cost of 4 to 6 additional PSP's.
I think that I might do that. Start with DC: 20 and 1 PP, then I will add 1 to the DC and PP cost per week or something. For the thri-kreen, I'll think I'll start with DC:10 will save, add 1 per week, and add an ad hoc DC increase in accord to the proximity of the pc's to the psionitrix.
For the small crystals that reduced the penalties by half, I think that I'll add a luck bonus to the will save to resist.
For the major crystals, I'll have them make the bearer immune to the psionitrix.
I would think that by the time that the PC's are nearing the third book that they would be about 18th or 19th level- if they started out as 16th.
The adventure calls for the pc's to start at around level 11-13. I don't think that that will be the starting level; however, the halfling member of the Order , Pakk, that the pc's have to kill toward the end of the second book would place the pc's at about 16L and the guy is a 26L Psion(Telepath).
the place that would be the most difficult I think is the room with like three or four psions and a bunch of undead- that may be pretty hard.
I'm not too worried about them because at that point the psions can't use their powers.
Other than that. thanks for the input and i'll see what i can do about the conversions.
I'm not too worried about them because at that point the psions can't use their powers.
Well except that they all have the crystals that allow them to use their powers and IIRC are all epic level manifesters.
Like fireball- nothing an replace a good ol' fireball. Especially if it is being used on those runts people call halflings :D. With a fireball you can blast a whole bunch of them and see their little blasted bodies get blasted into the forest :D
Not quite fireball, but close.
Not quite fireball, but close.
Where does he get those wonderful toys?? :D
Well except that they all have the crystals that allow them to use their powers and IIRC are all epic level manifesters.
p. 14 of the Dragon's Crown Mountains book states "Pharistes has decided to disable the crystals screening out the Psionatrix field, thus neutralizing all psionics. When the attack begins, the crystal shards shielding their possessors from the Psionatrix field will burn out and turn black. All psionicists relying on the crystals--the Order members, the rogue psionicists, and any player characters--will be fully affected by the Psionatrix field."
BTW- back to the purpose of this thread-
Ramar Aulinvox have you read through the adventure? I thought that you knew that the crystals allowed the carrier to be 'immune' to the artifacts effects- so the biggest hinderence to a party is if their are multipal psions/psychic warriors/wilders/wild talents in a group because as soon as the PC's meet up with the Avangion, IIRC they get one crystal.
Ramar Aulinvox have you read through the adventure? I thought that you knew that the crystals allowed the carrier to be 'immune' to the artifacts effects- so the biggest hinderence to a party is if their are multipal psions/psychic warriors/wilders/wild talents in a group because as soon as the PC's meet up with the Avangion, IIRC they get one crystal.
Yes, I have read the adventure. There are two types of crystals: 1) decreases the penalty while 2) makes the wearer immune. All of the crystals are destroyed at the beginning of the assualt on the Dragon's Crown tower-complex, leaving Pharistes the only one able to access powers regularly. There are a couple oppurtunities to get the crystals throughout the adventure: from avangion, at the preserver's keep, from Pakk's corpse, etc.
One thing that I have not decided on yet concerns the actual classes of the Order. I was considering making them straight level psions but I have wondered about some wilders or multiclass psion/psychic warriors or psion/(pick prestige class). I have been considering making an epic prestige class for the Order as well. If anyone has any ideas about things like this, I would love to hear them. Or any other type of constructive advise.
One thing that I have not decided on yet concerns the actual classes of the Order. I was considering making them straight level psions but I have wondered about some wilders or multiclass psion/psychic warriors or psion/(pick prestige class). I have been considering making an epic prestige class for the Order as well. If anyone has any ideas about things like this, I would love to hear them. Or any other type of constructive advise.
hmmm... we had a thread discussing the order and the classes that are order friendly or appropriate for members of the order and those that are not order friendly.
I think the General Consensus for the base classes was:
Psion- class of choice for order members
Psychic Warrior- tools to be used by the order
Soulknife- Psionic? you can't even manifest powers! Ignored by the order
Wilder- dangerous unbridled users of psionics, enemies of the order
and if you're using the Eurudite- Also a sotck and trade class for members of the order, as equally likely as psion.
As for prestiege classes, as a rule of thumb, I think that any one that gives a manifester level half or more of the time is plausible.
From the XPH the PrCs Metamind, Psion Uncarnate, and Thrallherd make the most sense, and the Elocator seems Ok too. The other PrC are pretty unlikely, unless in your version of DS the order is fighting a secret war with the illithids, in which case illithid slayer makes sense too.
One thing that I have not decided on yet concerns the actual classes of the Order. I was considering making them straight level psions but I have wondered about some wilders or multiclass psion/psychic warriors or psion/(pick prestige class). I have been considering making an epic prestige class for the Order as well. If anyone has any ideas about things like this, I would love to hear them. Or any other type of constructive advise.
If you want a pretty cool class for psionicists- check out the Psiologist PrC in my sig- this PrC has the Order all over it. And you might want to look in the sticky Dark Sun Forum Archive on this board- Meth came up with a great psionicist PrC that is called the Academician. Both were out personal takes on the original Psiologist kit from The Will and the Way.
Oh- I was not trying to imply that you had not read or know the adventure- I was just wondering if you had read it because you had said you had not started it yet and were still on some of the other adventures
and if you're using the Eurudite- Also a sotck and trade class for members of the order, as equally likely as psion.
What is a Eurudite? Where can I find information on them?
CR(no equip/reg) Name Class A/C(FF/T) Speed HD/hp Initiative Weapon Attack Damage Crit Align Fort Reflex Will Feats Skills Note worthy Equipment Spells/Psionics
0.5 Citizen Com. 1 10:10/10 30 1d4:2 0 B. Dagger -1 1d4-1 19-20 Var 0 0 0 Skill Focus(var) Craft or Prof. +7 n/a n/a
3/2 Elf, typical Rogue 3 14:14/14 40 3d6+3:13 4 B. Wrist Razor +5 1d6+1 18-20 N 0 7 0 W. Finesse, Toughness H/MS +9, T +9, Bl +6, S/L +5, Sur +2, SH +9, Cl +7, Dis +6 n/a n/a
5/4 Gang, Leader (Mul) Ftr 5 11:10/11 30 5d10+15:42 1 Unarmed +10 1d3+5 20 CE 7 2 2 Power Att., Improv. Unarmed Strike, Dodge, Mobility, Improv. Grap. Intim. +6, Cl +9, Ju +9 n/a n/a
5/4 Glad, Dwarf Glad 5 15:13/10 20 5d12+20:52 4 S. Club +11 1d6+5 20 Var 8 1 2 WF(club), Power Att., Improv U.S. Bl +8, SM +10 n/a n/a
4/3 Glad, Human Glad 4 13:11/11 30 4d12+8:34 1 Ob. Long Sw. +7 1d8+2 19-20 Var 6 2 2 WF(LS), Dodge, Mobility Bl +8, sm +8 n/a n/a
4/3 Glad, Mul Glad 4 14:13/11 30 4d12+12:38 1 Dart/Unarmed +5 / +9 1d3+5/1d3+5 20 Var 7 2 2 PBS, Improv. US, Improv. Grapple Bl +8, sm +8 n/a n/a
5/4 Guard, Half-Giant War 4 14:13/10 40 6d8+24:51 5 Large Ob. Long Sw. +10 2d6+6 19-20 N? 10 3 2 WF(LS), Improv. Init., Iron Will Intim. +6, Cl +6, Ju +6 Leather Armor n/a
4/3 Guard, Human War 4 13:11/11 30 4d8+11:29 5 B. Short Spear +7 1d6+2 x3 NE 5 2 2 WR(SS), Toughness, Improv. Init. Intim. +6, Cl +9, HA +6 Leather Armor n/a
7/6 Guard, Officer (human) War 7 16:13/11 20 7d8+14:45 5 Met. Dagger +10/5 1d4+3 19-20 N 7 3 3 Toughness, Improv. Init., Dodge, Mobility Intim. +9, HA +9, Ride +6, Cl +3 Metal Dagger, Buckler, Scale Mail n/a
0.5 Noble, minor Arist. 1 11:10/11 30 1d8:4 1 Metal Dagger +1 1d4+1 19-20 Var 0 1 2 Negotiator, Dodge Dipl. +8, sm. +6, bl. +6, Kn(L) +4, Prof. +4 Metal Dagger, Coin Purse (3d6 cp) n/a
4/3 Overseer, Dwarf War 4 13:12/11 20 4d8+16:34 1 Whip +5 1d3+2 (subd) 20 NE 8 2 2 EWP(whip), Endur. Intim+5. Leather Armor n/a
2/1 Overseer, Human War 2 11:10/11 30 2d8+7:16 1 Flail +5 1d8+2 20 LE 5 1 1 WF(flail), Toughness Intim. +4 n/a n/a
0.5 Slave, Dwarf Com. 1 9:9/9 20 1d4+5:7 -1 Unarmed +1 1d3+1 (subd) n/a var 2 -1 0 toughness craft +3, surv. +1 n/a n/a
0.5 Slave, Elf com. 1 12:10/12 40 1d4+3:5 2 B. Dagger -1 1d4-1 19-20 var 0 2 -1 toughness surv +0, craft +4 n/a n/a
3/2 Slave Gith War. 3 13:12/11 30 3d8+3:16 5 Claws +5/+5 1d4+2 20 CE 3 2 0 Improv. Init., Toughness Cl +5, Ju. +13, H/MS +5 n/a n/a
2/1 Slave, Human War. 2 11:10/11 30 2d8+7:16 1 Unarmed +4 1d3+2 (subd) n/a var 5 1 1 Toughness, Endurance Cl +6, Ju. +6, HA +4, craft +2 n/a n/a
.5 Slave, Mul Com 1 10:10/10 30 1d4+4:6 0 Unarmed +2 1d3+2 (subd) n/a var 1 0 0 toughness craft +4, HA +3 n/a n/a
7/6 Templar, Mid-level Temp. 6 15:14/10 20 6d8+12:39 4 Metal Dagger +5 1d4 19-20 LE 7 2 8 Combat Cast., Improv. Init., Scribe Scroll, Silent Spell Dipl. +10, SC +9, Intim. +10, SM +5, Kn(L) +4 Metal Dagger, Shell Armor(Chain mail), Coin Purse (3d6 cp) Spells/day: 6/7/6/4 0L-DM, CMW, DP, Resis, Def. Scent, Guide, IMW, Mend, Virtue; 1L-Bless, Cause Fear, Comp Lang, CLW, Divine Favor; 2L-Hold Person, Zone of Truth, Resist Energy; 3L-Dispel Magic, Animate Dead
4/3 Templar, Minor Temp. 3 12:12/10 30 3d8+6:19 4 Stone Club +2 1d6+1 20 LE 5 1 5 Improv. Init, combat Cast., Scribe Scroll Dipl. +8, SC +6, Intim. +8, SM +3, Kn(L)+3 Stone Club, Leather Armor Spells/day: 6/6 0L-DM, CMW, Def. Scent, DP, Resis, Mend; 1L-Bless, CLW, Cause Fear, Sanctuary
1/.5 Thug, human War. 2 11:10/11 30 2d8+4:13 1 Unarmed +4 1d3+2 20 NE 5 1 1 Toughness, Improv. U.S. cl +7, ju +7, intim. +4 n/a n/a