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Incarnum=Lifeshaping

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Oninotaki
Oct 01, 2005 18:29:49 After finally getting my hands on a copy of Magic of Incarnum and reading halfway through it(right before the actual descriptions of the soulmelds) I got to thinking that this would be a really neat and already balanced rules system for using life shaped item in D&D3.5 I can totally imagine life shaping being the art of taking souls from the grey and using their power.

I imagine it as thus, blue age halflings as more powerful versions of Incarnates and soulborns, (just like the psionics from the green age are supposed to be even more advanced then the most powerful members of the order) and what we know as life shaped items just being soul melds that have been bound to chakra. All you really have to do is change the description of a bound soulmeld to that of a living creature that has bonded to the character that made it. I know this dosent sound like it covers players being able to just pick up found lifeshaped items and using them, but the feats that let players bind soulmelds handle that in my opinion.

Oh and the Rhul-than(SP?) (anywaythe halflings in the modern era that still retain some life shaper knowledge) could be regular incarnates and soulborn, while the forest ridge halflings could be totemists, and the fact that halfings get totemist racial substitution levels really added to my belief that this idea might really work.

Anyway its just an idea that i dont think i explained very clearly at all because it is just really forming in my head as i right this :D

Anyway tell me what you think, I dont really expect anyone to like it but I hope to be surprised:D
#2
xlorepdarkhelm_dup
Oct 01, 2005 21:51:56 Dunno what it is you are referring to. Sounds interesting enough. Personally, I'm still sticking to using the Star Wars d20 race called "Yuuzhon Vong" and all their bioengineered technology for lifeshaped stuff in my games.
#3
Pennarin
Oct 01, 2005 22:09:33 The only thing I saw that could port to DS in the Incarnum book is the immateriality of most of the "magic" items.

Reading one description made me think immediately of Rajaat's lightining crown...

Since I read those excelent item descriptions I'm now thinking the stuff we see on Rajaat, like the lightning crown, could in fact be insanely powerful items made of pure magical energy, in this case magical lightning.
#4
lyric
Oct 01, 2005 23:48:47
The only thing I saw that could port to DS in the Incarnum book is the immateriality of most of the "magic" items.

Reading one description made me think immediately of Rajaat's lightining crown...

Since I read those excelent item descriptions I'm now thinking the stuff we see on Rajaat, like the lightning crown, could in fact be insanely powerful items made of pure magical energy, in this case magical lightning.

lightning crown?? remind me again where this comes from and what it was used for??
#5
Pennarin
Oct 02, 2005 1:50:59
lightning crown?? remind me again where this comes from and what it was used for??

In every single novel (PP I-V, RaFoaDK) in which we get a physical description of Rajaat, we get a picture that he's got a chain of pure lightning cicling around his brow. He's even got it in the Hollow. (If you own Beyond the Prism Pentad, look at the pic on page 9: that poor rendition of Rajaat has the "crown".)

As to what its used for...no idea. One thing's for sure: it isn't there for show.
#6
greyorm
Oct 02, 2005 12:47:41
One thing's for sure: it isn't there for show.

Are you sure about that? Maybe Rajaat has expanded out into fashion now. You know, magic is old hat at this point, so the old boy is extending his reach into a new and revolutionary enterprise: fashionable electric wearables.
#7
seker
Oct 02, 2005 19:29:03 Actually I just picked up the book myself today, and while it is quite similiar to what I was already working on for lifeshaping for my d20 version it is not exactly quite right. (though I will admit it gave me some wonderful ideas and I am revamping the arcane magic..... again.... because of it.)

The system for the bonding and enhancing is wonderfull and is helping me reshape my lifeshaping to use soimething along the same lines but like xlor said the actual lifeshaped items are more physical like the vong from star wars were.....

What I have for lifeshaping is basically you grow/alter life into the lifeshaped item using a craft check...... and they are items that anyone can use, like many magical/psionic items, once they are made.... however in the hands of one who has mastered the lifeshaper arts (naturemaster/naturebender etc...) they can be bonded and altered to have stonrger abilities..... similiar to magic of incarnum
#8
Kamelion
Oct 03, 2005 3:50:38 I haven't taken a look at Magic of Incarnum (it's not grabbing my attention much and I just bought the Wilderlands boxed set so I have plenty to keep busy with). But as far as lifeshaping goes, I feel that the system of grafts and symbionts would be the best way to represent it. At least, that is the template we will be using when we get around to developing the lifeshaped items after ToA's final release.

(Off-topic: As I was writing this, the Torg Revised & Expanded Hardcover just arrived at my door. Oh, happy happy day!! All other games wish that they were this cool. They honestly do. >skips off, shrieking and whooping incoherently<)
#9
raster
Oct 03, 2005 19:20:44
I haven't taken a look at Magic of Incarnum (it's not grabbing my attention much and I just bought the Wilderlands boxed set so I have plenty to keep busy with). But as far as lifeshaping goes, I feel that the system of grafts and symbionts would be the best way to represent it. At least, that is the template we will be using when we get around to developing the lifeshaped items after ToA's final release.

(Off-topic: As I was writing this, the Torg Revised & Expanded Hardcover just arrived at my door. Oh, happy happy day!! All other games wish that they were this cool. They honestly do. >skips off, shrieking and whooping incoherently<)

It's a little off topic, but speaking of non-DS material and grafts, Magic of Eberron is supposed to have elemental grafts that might fit nicely on Athas. Info here: Improved Initiative: Magic of Eberron
#10
zombiegleemax
Nov 22, 2005 4:10:30 I think that the SRD cybernetics rules are a better fit for lifeshaped items. Just make them living instead of mechanical: use the same rules on number of "attachments" and most of then fit. (except that lifeshaped aren't as easy to hide)

I think that the incarnum rules would be a better fit for casting from the gray (After all that's where all the souls go.), with necrocarnum being casting from the gray that is tainted by the black.

Opinions?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Oninotaki Oct 01, 2005 18:29:49	After finally getting my hands on a copy of Magic of Incarnum and reading halfway through it(right before the actual descriptions of the soulmelds) I got to thinking that this would be a really neat and already balanced rules system for using life shaped item in D&D3.5 I can totally imagine life shaping being the art of taking souls from the grey and using their power. I imagine it as thus, blue age halflings as more powerful versions of Incarnates and soulborns, (just like the psionics from the green age are supposed to be even more advanced then the most powerful members of the order) and what we know as life shaped items just being soul melds that have been bound to chakra. All you really have to do is change the description of a bound soulmeld to that of a living creature that has bonded to the character that made it. I know this dosent sound like it covers players being able to just pick up found lifeshaped items and using them, but the feats that let players bind soulmelds handle that in my opinion. Oh and the Rhul-than(SP?) (anywaythe halflings in the modern era that still retain some life shaper knowledge) could be regular incarnates and soulborn, while the forest ridge halflings could be totemists, and the fact that halfings get totemist racial substitution levels really added to my belief that this idea might really work. Anyway its just an idea that i dont think i explained very clearly at all because it is just really forming in my head as i right this :D Anyway tell me what you think, I dont really expect anyone to like it but I hope to be surprised:D
#2 xlorepdarkhelm_dup Oct 01, 2005 21:51:56	Dunno what it is you are referring to. Sounds interesting enough. Personally, I'm still sticking to using the Star Wars d20 race called "Yuuzhon Vong" and all their bioengineered technology for lifeshaped stuff in my games.
#3 Pennarin Oct 01, 2005 22:09:33	The only thing I saw that could port to DS in the Incarnum book is the immateriality of most of the "magic" items. Reading one description made me think immediately of Rajaat's lightining crown... Since I read those excelent item descriptions I'm now thinking the stuff we see on Rajaat, like the lightning crown, could in fact be insanely powerful items made of pure magical energy, in this case magical lightning.
#4 lyric Oct 01, 2005 23:48:47	The only thing I saw that could port to DS in the Incarnum book is the immateriality of most of the "magic" items. Reading one description made me think immediately of Rajaat's lightining crown... Since I read those excelent item descriptions I'm now thinking the stuff we see on Rajaat, like the lightning crown, could in fact be insanely powerful items made of pure magical energy, in this case magical lightning. lightning crown?? remind me again where this comes from and what it was used for??
#5 Pennarin Oct 02, 2005 1:50:59	lightning crown?? remind me again where this comes from and what it was used for?? In every single novel (PP I-V, RaFoaDK) in which we get a physical description of Rajaat, we get a picture that he's got a chain of pure lightning cicling around his brow. He's even got it in the Hollow. (If you own Beyond the Prism Pentad, look at the pic on page 9: that poor rendition of Rajaat has the "crown".) As to what its used for...no idea. One thing's for sure: it isn't there for show.
#6 greyorm Oct 02, 2005 12:47:41	One thing's for sure: it isn't there for show. Are you sure about that? Maybe Rajaat has expanded out into fashion now. You know, magic is old hat at this point, so the old boy is extending his reach into a new and revolutionary enterprise: fashionable electric wearables.
#7 seker Oct 02, 2005 19:29:03	Actually I just picked up the book myself today, and while it is quite similiar to what I was already working on for lifeshaping for my d20 version it is not exactly quite right. (though I will admit it gave me some wonderful ideas and I am revamping the arcane magic..... again.... because of it.) The system for the bonding and enhancing is wonderfull and is helping me reshape my lifeshaping to use soimething along the same lines but like xlor said the actual lifeshaped items are more physical like the vong from star wars were..... What I have for lifeshaping is basically you grow/alter life into the lifeshaped item using a craft check...... and they are items that anyone can use, like many magical/psionic items, once they are made.... however in the hands of one who has mastered the lifeshaper arts (naturemaster/naturebender etc...) they can be bonded and altered to have stonrger abilities..... similiar to magic of incarnum
#8 Kamelion Oct 03, 2005 3:50:38	I haven't taken a look at Magic of Incarnum (it's not grabbing my attention much and I just bought the Wilderlands boxed set so I have plenty to keep busy with). But as far as lifeshaping goes, I feel that the system of grafts and symbionts would be the best way to represent it. At least, that is the template we will be using when we get around to developing the lifeshaped items after ToA's final release. (Off-topic: As I was writing this, the Torg Revised & Expanded Hardcover just arrived at my door. Oh, happy happy day!! All other games wish that they were this cool. They honestly do. >skips off, shrieking and whooping incoherently<)
#9 raster Oct 03, 2005 19:20:44	I haven't taken a look at Magic of Incarnum (it's not grabbing my attention much and I just bought the Wilderlands boxed set so I have plenty to keep busy with). But as far as lifeshaping goes, I feel that the system of grafts and symbionts would be the best way to represent it. At least, that is the template we will be using when we get around to developing the lifeshaped items after ToA's final release. (Off-topic: As I was writing this, the Torg Revised & Expanded Hardcover just arrived at my door. Oh, happy happy day!! All other games wish that they were this cool. They honestly do. >skips off, shrieking and whooping incoherently<) It's a little off topic, but speaking of non-DS material and grafts, Magic of Eberron is supposed to have elemental grafts that might fit nicely on Athas. Info here: Improved Initiative: Magic of Eberron
#10 zombiegleemax Nov 22, 2005 4:10:30	I think that the SRD cybernetics rules are a better fit for lifeshaped items. Just make them living instead of mechanical: use the same rules on number of "attachments" and most of then fit. (except that lifeshaped aren't as easy to hide) I think that the incarnum rules would be a better fit for casting from the gray (After all that's where all the souls go.), with necrocarnum being casting from the gray that is tainted by the black. Opinions?