It is run in four phases. The first phase runs until Thursday. This is where people post their entries. On Thursday, nomination phase will take place where people may nominate threads to move to the next round. The top entries (Three to five, depending on the number of entries) will be up on a poll to be voted on as Friday's phase. The votes will end Friday night.
The final entries will be put up against each other in one final poll against the top entries from the other world entries on Saturday. Woo hoo! You're not just setting up the best entry for your area, but against the other areas as well!
Here's what you'll be making:
A mace.
Not just any mace, but one that represents this world. We need to see the back story of the mace, the powers of the mace, the material it's made of, and it's current location/owner. Be as creative and descriptive as possible. The challenge is to present the mace as part of your chosen game world, but be clearly explained to folks who may or may not know anything about the world. Folks will be voting on your entry based on coolness factor and adaptability to any game world, even with the rich history. What this means is we don't need a detailed description of every war in the game world, or all the details of the game world. But enough of the flavor of the game world should be apparent in the mace's description.
Two very different and difficult things to work with/around, IMO. What exactly is the flavor of what makes Mystara different, would be the first problem, and how to incorporate that into an object...
This is kind of tough, actually. Something that represents the flavor of Mystara (and is distinct) yet is adaptable to any setting, potentially.
It doesn't say that, it said it has to be easily explainable to fans of other settings - that is, people should be able to see what's cool about it without needing a crash course in Mystara. If it's tied in well enough, people should be able to say "oh cool" and have that as their first introduction to Mystara.
Two very different and difficult things to work with/around, IMO. What exactly is the flavor of what makes Mystara different, would be the first problem, and how to incorporate that into an object...
The distinct cosmology is obvious - something that relates to planar travel or Immortal contact in the distinctly Mystaran cosmology would work. Another obvious thing to work with would be the Hollow World, or the Radiance - in fact, a Shadow Elf artifact could relate to all three. (Although it would be a bit of a spoiler.)
The distinct cosmology is obvious - something that relates to planar travel or Immortal contact in the distinctly Mystaran cosmology would work. Another obvious thing to work with would be the Hollow World, or the Radiance - in fact, a Shadow Elf artifact could relate to all three. (Although it would be a bit of a spoiler.)
I like this idea although it does give substancial spoilers. Even so, that may not be a bad thing either. Let people see what it is that makes Mystara unique. I find that nowadays players pretty much know all the secrets of the settings they play in anyways.
The Mace of Mystara:
Appearance: An ordinary mace with round bumps instead of spikes, a leather-bound pommel, and a dark metalic luster.
Material: Ultra Dense Metal of the World-Shield
Combat Statistics: A finely crafted weapon, it confers a natural +1 to hit. It provides no magical bonuses to hit or damage, however its natural density provides a base damage of 4d8. Despite its density, it does not require a special strength to wield in combat (merely to carry it).
Magical Abilities:
Powers of the Five Spheres of Immortal Power:
Matter: The Mace of Mystara is made of the World-Shield, a super-dense layer of ore providing normal gravity to the hollow world of Mystara. As such, it is incredibly dense, weighing 500 Pounds (hence the oft-plural "bearers"). When grasped for combat purposes, it seems to weigh no more than an ordinary mace. The Mace of Mystara can strike any material creature which requires +5 weapons to hit.
Energy: The Mace of Mystara confers Immunity to all types of magic to its bearer. Just as the World-Shield absorbs mortal magic, so to does the Mace from which it was made. It even erases 1d4 random memorized spells from a sticken magician. An unfortunate side effect is that none of the bearers' magic items, spells, or spell like abilities work while touching the Mace.
Time: The strange gravity around the Mace bends space and time when it is swung; the wielder gains an extra attack every round. The bearers of the Mace also heal (and age) twice as fast.
Thought: The Mace can strike any spiritual being which requires a +5 to hit, and even those spiritual beings which can not normally be struck by weapons. It strikes such beings not as the Mace (4d8), but as a longsword +5 (1d8+5). This is because of the Mace's Intelligence, which was transfered from an intelligent longsword, thus its spiritual essence is still that of a blade. Unfortunately, the Mace's intelligence is warped by the magic draining properties of the Mace, and thus has an Intelligence of 2. It has no Alignment.
Entropy: The sphere of Entropy warps all of the benefits of the four other spheres into their respective detriments.
For fun, perhaps this mace can be found in the hands of the statue at the beginning dungeon in the 1983 redbook D&D Basic book.
...can strike any material creature which requires +5 weapons to hit.
3.5 no longer has varying +# magic weapons to overcome Damage Reduction. However, the mace could fulfill several kinds of weapons:
- Bludgeoning would be one, obviously.
- Adamantine could be another since the World-Shield material has an even greater density.
- Cold Iron? Why not!
- Magical Weapon
- Epic?
Overall, I really think you've given it a good start!
Description: It is a ten kilogram rod a metre in length and one twenty-fifth of a metre in diameter ending in a sphere one tenth of a metre in diameter. It is made from a strange bronze-like metal that is otherwise unidentifiable. The Spline (or Splinemace as it has since become refered to) is a piece of Technology of an era long past. As a component of the Hyperdrive it's "macehead" functions on twelve dimensions simultaneously allowing the weapon to be used against any foe whether they be immortal, astral, other-planar, or simply immune to nonmagical weapons. It is also immune to all damage.
It does not register as a Magical Weapon and Would Qualify as a Masterwork Mace requiring substantial strength to wield it in combat due to it's weight.
While the "Mace of Mystara" is an interesting concept, I just don't see Mystara as being a place that has big uber-weapons at the core of its identity. The Immortals and high-level NPCs all get out of the way, after all, rather than meddling in adventures, leaving room for all the low-level "Red Box" adventures we know and love. ;) I'd accordingly consider the following to be more representative of Mystara:
The Mace of Rogahn
This simple weapon, unremarkable in appearance, is said to have been used by the mighty hero Rogahn the Fearless during the early days of his adventuring career. Though Rogahn would later go on to wield much mightier weapons and accomplish legendary deeds, his mace is still remembered and prized by those who would rise from obscurity to accomplish great things.
The Mace itself is not noteworthy to look upon, being a simple steel head mounted on a shaft of yew wood. The haft is wrapped in leather, and capped with a small counterweight of brass; the weapon is unmarked by rune or design, unless one unscrews the counterweight - beneath which is carved a small scripted "R".
Because of this simplicity of design, the Mace of Rogahn has appeared in many tales, legends and rumors - some of which, undoubtedly, are false. Its past history before coming into Rogahn's hands is unclear, with stories ranging from its crafting by a wizardly mentor of Rogahn to first being empowered by a village priest desperate for a weapon to defeat an oncoming horde of orcs. Its current location is equally unknown, and not a year goes by in which the Mace has said to have been recovered by some would-be hero and used to crush some gathering evil. False rumors and fake copies of the Mace are a favorite tool of thieves and con artists, as well. Would-be heroes who claim the actual Mace may have to face some skeptics to prove their claim.
In the hands of a character of 4th level or greater, the Mace of Rogahn appears to be nothing more than a standard masterwork mace. It radiates faint transmutation magic if checked with divination magic, but does not seem to grant any bonuses. If given into the possession of a character of 3rd level or less, however, the Mace provides several useful effects:
- The wielder of the Mace receives a +2 circumstance bonus to Diplomacy and Intimidate skill checks.
- The wielder of the Mace may make Intelligence checks freely to identify monsters in combat. This is as if the character made an untrained Knowledge skill check, but the restriction on DC 10 "common knowledge" results is ignored for identifying monsters and their
- The wielder of the Mace can move through squares threatened by enemies without incurring attacks of opportunity. Attacks of opportunity incurred through other actions still may be made, however.
This object is a relic of ancient Blackmoor technology; it is a small rectangular object with a grip designed to fit the wielder's hand. When a button on the top is pressed and the object is directed against an opponent's face, it releases an irritating spray that leaves the opponent stunned and blinded for 3d6 rounds on a successful attack roll.
The item typically contains 3d6 charges before it is depleted.
The Mace of Old Blackmoor
I believe we have a winner: It fits into the campaign, isn't an artifact, and most importantly, it shows the heart of Mystara: Fun, and sometimes some puns.
The Mace of Old Blackmoor
This object is a relic of ancient Blackmoor technology; it is a small rectangular object with a grip designed to fit the wielder's hand. When a button on the top is pressed and the object is directed against an opponent's face, it releases an irritating spray that leaves the opponent stunned and blinded for 3d6 rounds on a successful attack roll.
The item typically contains 3d6 charges before it is depleted.
I love this! Absolutely perfect idea, but it needs to get a proper 3E writeup.
Let's get out the vote, all!
And then I had to post, to make sure this thread stayed bumped to the top.
Unfortunately, the write up is pretty weak when compared to the others. I like it the best, but perhaps more could be added to the description, as defined in the original contest parameters? Like history, current location/owner, etc.
Remember, if it passes this poll, it goes up against the entries from the other campaign worlds too, which I'm certain will have a lot more background material to work with.
Final Round
Anyway, Mystara came in third, so not too bad. Beat out most of the "big" worlds- FR, Eberron, Greyhawk, Planescape. I think it was RL and Dark Sun that beat us.
(Maybe we should just chaulk it up as the 'Revenge of Ravenloft')
Yeah, they couldn't stand the humiliation - so they had to come up with SOMETHING to save their dignity. I think we can afford being generous towards them.
GW
Lost to Ravenloft, guys! We beat them in one competition (number of posts) and then lose in this one. Where were all the Mystara voters?
I voted.
Anyway, Mystara came in third, so not too bad. Beat out most of the "big" worlds- FR, Eberron, Greyhawk, Planescape. I think it was RL and Dark Sun that beat us.
Looks like the 'discontinued worlds' are alive and kicking, if RL was 1st, DS 2nd and Mystara 3rd.
Regards,
Gary
If either the Mace of Mystara or the Mace of Old Blackmoor had more character in their writeups, perhaps Mystara would have fared better in the polls.
I think one of the reasons the Mace of Mystara was beaten was because, as I pointed out in an earlier post about the Mace of Old Blackmoor, that the entry was lacking in background material. The writeup for the Mace of Mystara was all powers and game effects and no history or character. Who forged the Mace? Why? How long ago, and where/when has it turned up in history?
If either the Mace of Mystara or the Mace of Old Blackmoor had more character in their writeups, perhaps Mystara would have fared better in the polls.
You hit the nail on the head... I read both the Ravenloft and DS entries and while I think the Mace of Mystara from a statistical point of view was better, they both had great histories attached to them that captured their settings very well. Too be fair, the timeline for this whole exercise was very compressed- I voted but was taken completely by surprise by the speed this was done at.
Too be fair, the timeline for this whole exercise was very compressed- I voted but was taken completely by surprise by the speed this was done at.
I agree. I didn't even notice the poll results at the top of THIS thread until just now. It would've been better if some good, in depth background could be put together but I have a feeling that more than just a few of us were fairly busy for the last week or so (I know I was).
OTOH, I also think it may have just come right down to a vote of settings by their fans! ;)
What's with the voting going on over the weekend?Had I my connection, maybe the Mace of Old Blackmoor would have gotten another vote (me).
Greeaaat; I lose my internet connection on the 23rd, and now I find out that a poll occurred, and that no-one suffiently nerfed the "Mace of Mystara" (which I started as hopefully a group effort) before it was put up against other worldy foes.
It was all for the UnCon that took place over the course of last week/weekend?
Anyway, look on the bright side, you won a prize of some sort (you need to contact WizO_Paradox to pick it up).
I'm kind of curious what you win, myself...