Please & Thanks...
...you need to think about all of that, that is, if you want it done professionally and not half-assed :P
Background info would need to be fleshed out beforehand to even start stating her.
I think there's more information on her than some of the other write-ups I've seen around here ;)
Plus that wild talent of hers is quite the thing: Is it a new power, a psi-like ability? Is she a mutant, like a New Race, and it's a supernatural ability of hers?
Whole heartedly agree there.
...you need to think about all of that, that is, if you want it done professionally and not half-assed :P
Done at all would be nice, I can work things out from there.
Siemhouk: Human, Female, Age:14 (in unknown year)
Born in Naggaramakam, Mother was a Templar and died in child birth, Nibenay believes the mother has lived on in Siemhouk.
Currently head templar of Nibenay City-State, Supposedly Dhojakt (Nibenay's son) is her body guard. She has a wild talent that prevents or stops bestial rage.
Only information on statistics I could find ‘Templar 15/Psionic 4’ (or 14 sources vary) and Lawful Evil in alignment. I'm sure there is more flavor text on her and her history in other sources - I'm going off the Veiled Alliance information mostly.
Siemhouk has a prevailing NPC role in The Marauders of Nibenay as some sort of guide through Naggaramakam (or something like that – I play, not GM Dark Sun).
As for that power, D&D rules don't allow for powers of a level higher than 1st to be used as a Hidden Talent.
I would imagine its duration to be 1 day, so that Nibenay always needs to have her close at hand.
Her abilities don't need to be a Hidden (or in 2ed. Wild) Talent, it could simply be written up as a unique special ability labeled as a wild talent.
1 day duration sounds about right to me as well. I feel this Abate Rage is going to be the single hardest part on her write-up. Wait a minute, Abate Rage, there's a Forgotten Realms spell by that name, need to look and see if I have that book. It's a spell aimed at dealing with the "Rage of Dragon's" disease/charm.
Calm Dracorage psionic power perhaps if someone would like to stat it up or I can do it along with a Templar/Psion PrC (a dirty conversion would be to make the Mystic Theurge a Psionic Theurge or has wizo\s done that already?)
Checking out the Dragon document by athas.org would provide a definition of the dragon rage and what form this bonus could thus take.
I would say Dhojakt is literally a bodyguard to Siemhouk whenever she needs to be moved from one Nibenese complex to another, but otherwise I see him as head administrator to the most important and unofficial bureau in Nibenay, the Bureau of Siemhouk Protection, or BSP :D Seriously though, he would have near unlimited power and ressources to make sure that plans by curious Veiled Alliance cells, templar spies from other cities, or outright moves by internal or external forces to kidnap or kill Siemhouk are thwarted.
The changes made at this point cause the dragon to enter a period of uncontrolled savagery known as its animalistic rampage, which lasts a number of months equal to the backlash roll from this spell, during which time the character's reason is superseded by a lust for destruction and power. Any plants (and animals in the case of dragons that have taken the athasian dragon PrC) become a source of hatred for the dragon, rivaling that of an undead creature’s hatred for the living, and are laid waste in the dragon’s unending wrath. This savage need for destruction comes from the incredible pain that wracks the dragon’s body during this stage of the metamorphosis. No longer their original race, but not quite a full dragon yet, its need to end the process nearly drives it mad. Per DM choice, the character may become an NPC during this period.
There's nothing there that, in my opinion, can't be dealt with by way of a simple "Calm Emotion" with an extented duration. I'm not sure if we even need to adjust the Abate Dracorage as the mechanical effects are not compatable. BTW thanks for that Zardnaar, I looked throught my books for it, but my 'Dragon's of Faerun' is loaned out at the moment.
P.S. - I'm only quoting parts of the Dragon PrC for ease of reference, if there's a problem I'll be happy to remove it from this post.
Even on Faerun though the Abate Dracorage spell is a new one. The easiest conversion would be just to have it apply to draconic transformation, convert it to a psionic power and let Siemhouk use it. I'm a big fan of the KISS principle.
Another way to let here use it is to design a series of feats. Various spells/powers can duplicate feat effects and on other worlds (Eberron and Faerun come to mind) you can get up to level 6 spells by taking feats. On Eberron for example you can take Dragonmark feats and if you take 3 of them I think you end up with the ability to cast 3 1st level spells, 2 3rd level spells and 1 6th level spell once per day (the spells are from a specific list BTW).
Take the wild talent feat and design a feat tree around it which could end up giving you higher level psionic powers. As written Pennarin the calm emotions (read the spell description not the title) will calm a raging Dragon down- it just has a short duration. I have noticed that alot of the members of Athas.org and a few of the hard core posters here on the Dark Sun forums tend to underestimate non epic spells. Example.
A 1st level spell (Endure elements) negates the penalties from athas sun.
A 2nd level spell can turn someone invisable or create a street light.
A level 5 spell can raise you from the dead
A level 9 spell can inflict 10d6 damage to everyone in a 10 mile radius per caster level (Apocalypse from the Sky)- even epic magic would have trouble doing that.
I could see an improved version of calm emotions being 4th level and Abate Dracorage is exactly the effect Siemhouk can do. Theres a reason alot of people, complain magic is broken. I recommend a vist to the character optimisation boards , spells and magic or the classes boards every now and then.
For those wanting to have it being accurate, the power would need to work with the backlash damage of the epic spell, since that's what controls the duration of the rage.
The power could allow you to sidestep the normal rules for the animalistic rampage (i.e. which lasts a number of months equal to the backlash roll from the spell), by stating that if the character having the power uses it on a dragon anytime during the casting time of the metamorphosis spell, the caster can, instead of automatically entering the animalistic rampage, try a very high DC saving throw or ability check (whatever) that would allow him to go on sidesteping the normal rules for another month, after which time the power must be manifested again with another saving throw or check, each month thus passing removing one month from the duration of the actual animalistic rampage if the dragon were to fail his save/check and enter a rampage.
Bruno, you reading this?
Personally I as a DM would have no issue adapting to for Athas as written. Just let it apply to the rage from the metamorphosis. Its more or less a direct conversion to a 4th level Psionic Power from there. As its unique to Siemhouk only she can use it perhaps she could teach another Psion it though. Siemhouk in 3.5 ed rules she could be a Templar 7/Psion3/Psionic Theurge4 which would let her use it or you could design a feat tree that lets her use a 4th level power.
Dragons of Faerun is actually quite fluffy with a little bit of crunch and even if you don't like FR that book and Lost Empires of Faerun are almost worth getting for the expanded epic spells in them. Lost empires has epic spell seed Mythal in it.
Mythal seed lets you put long lasting/permanent spell effects over a large area. On Darksun the wards of Saragar and Ur Draxa could be duplicated with this seed.
Anyway on Faerun theres an ancient elven Mythal that effects the whole planet that drives Dragons nuts for a while. The global Mythal IIRC had an ad hoc +1000 modifier to the spells DC (they reduced it later by various means) and the save DC was in the 40's.
Abate Dragonrage lets dragons function normally during that time. On Faerun the good dragons usually go to sleep, the Crystal Dragons leave Faerun for the outer planes and the evil dragons go on a flight of the dragons or somesuch and generally destroy lotsa stuff. Nice big technical terms:P
Hell I could convert it in an hour or 2 if you want and make it feel Athasian without reprinting it verbatim from Dragons of Faerun. I'm kinda posting here and trying to play Mass Effect at the same time.
Telepathy
Level: Psion/Wilder 4
Display: none
Manifesting Time: standard action
Range:Close (25 ft+5 ft/2 levels)
Target: 1 Dragon
Duration: 1 day/level
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Power Resistence: Yes
Power Points: 7
This power calms a Dragon down that is going through the stages of Dragon metamophosis. The Dragon remains calm and can act normally for the duration of the power (maximum 20 days). As a side effect the Dragon cannot rage or frenzy if it has access to these abilities via a class feature or some other source.
Special: This power is unique to Siemhouk and at the DMs discretion other beings capable of psionics may only learn of this power from Siemhouk. In any event Dragons cannot manifest or even learn this power.
This version is different than the version in Dragons of Faerun which has addtional effects. I changed the manifesting time as well (DoF = 1 round). Calm Dragon was the 1st name I thought of.
Wild Talents. Certain individuals may have access to psionic powers without actual levels in a Psionic class. All wild talents must be taken in the same discipline.
Minor Wild Talent
Prerequisite:None
Benefit: You know a 1st level power of your choice. You also gain 1 power point.
A saving throw (if applicable) against your wild talent has a DC of 10+level of power+ your Cha modifier.
Your manifester level is 1 or your level in any psionic class (whichever is greater)
Lesser Wild Talent
Requirements: 9 ranks in any 2 skills, Minor Wild talent.
Benefit:
You know a 2nd or 3rd level psionic power of your choice. You gain 6 power points.
A saving throw (if applicable) against your wild talent has a DC of 10+level of power+ your Cha modifier.
Your manifester level rises to 6 or your level in any Psionic class (whichever is greater)
Major Wild Talent
Requiements:13 ranks in any 2 skills, Lesser Wild Talent
Benefit: You know a 4th or 5th level psionic power of your choice. You also gain 15 power points.
A saving throw (if applicable) against your wild talent has a DC of 10+level of power+ your Cha modifier.
Your manifester level rises to nine or your level in any psionic class (whichever is greater).
3 feats lets you know 3 powers and gives you a total of 22 power points to power them with. SOmething like that. Perhaps the lesser one could grant an additional 1st level power known, and the greater one an addtional 2nd or 3rd level power.
I might even for my own personal flavor have it be a sort of calming aura that she has as a supernatural ("Psionic") ability that begins to effect anyone who spends more then a minute in her presence. I think it would be interesting if The Shadow-King had to spend a couple of hours in her presence every day to keep his Dragon Rage at bay. Perhaps she might even sing lullabies to him, wash his feat, or brush his hair to calm him... that would just be creepy!!! :evillaugh
Bottom line is, I think it is more interesting as a plot device then an explicitly spelled out power designed for common consumption.
On the plus side I really like the Eberron - Dragon Mark idea, an ability/feat tree that grows with the character (Sorry, don't know a thing about Eberron).
I'm still trying to figure out why people insist this ability in to a power manifestation. The flavor text on Siemhouk make her ability sound more like a unique 'special ability' the exception to the norm so to speak - like Hamannu is unique to the SK's, Sadira in unique to other mages, Dark Sun is a land of common exceptions.
On the plus side I really like the Eberron - Dragon Mark idea, an ability/feat tree that grows with the character (Sorry, don't know a thing about Eberron).
My last response a couple of posts back is a rough example of the Eberron Dragonmarked feats turned into a Psionic power. Essentially the Dragonmarked feats offer a a group of similar spells. The healing house for example offers various healing type spells (Cure lit wounds, remove disease etc) when you take the feats.
example a least dragon mark will let you use Cure light wounds 1/day. Take the Lesser one and you can use Cure Serious Wounds once a day, and Cure light Wounds 2/day. Take the feat Greater Dragonmark and you can use Cure Lit Wounds 3/times a day, cure serious wounds 2/day and heal 1/day with a caster level of 9+ amount of levels in the Dragonmarked Heir prestige class.
Each addtional dragonmark increases your caster level and lets you use each lesser power an additional time per day.
Theres more spells you get to chose from as the above list is just one example. You can get level 6 spells at level 9 IIRC and theres 12 houses with a related spell list. The transprtation house for example get to choose movement type spells like fly and teleport as Dragonmarked spells.
Least: Empathy? (1st level)
Lesser: Calm Emotion? (? level)
Greater: Calm Dragon (? level)
But like I said; I don't think we should try to build this like a psionic manifestation, but rather as some form of a special ability or even a minor template/new race (think Genasi or tiefling, not tower freak) with maybe some other minor abilities designed to deal the dragon transformations (save bonus vs. dragon fear sounds good).
Now FYI, I'm not wanting to build some uber-templar I just want to logically and with in current rules create an important character introduced in second edition.
Now Zardnaar suggested Templar 7/Psion 3/Psionic Theurge 4 (another double progression broken PrC :nonono
. I was thinking Templar 5/Wife of Nibenay 5+/Psion (Telepath?) <5 as according the her history she's in charge of the Nibenese Templarate and she's not a very powerful psionic due to her age.Thoughts, over powered, under powered, comments, critique, heaven forbid flames - All that I ask is: Be gentle, it's my first time...
___NAME___
* +2 Wisdom, +2 Intelligence, -2 Construction: ____ are highly insightful and self controlled but this comes at a cost to their durability. (Reasoning: Descriptions of Siemhouk I have read make her out to be this always calm and knowledgeable child of slight build, feel free to disagree)
* Medium Size: As medium creatures, ____ have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
* ____ base land speed is 30 feet.
* +2 Racial bonus on saving throws against fear based effects.
* Psi-Like Abilities (Su): At 1st level a ____ can as a standard action use the Empathy 1/day; at 4th level the ____ can use the Calm Emotion 1/day, plus 1 additional use of Empathy per day; at 8th level the ____ can use Calm Rage to the point of possibly allowing the dragon to regain control of it’s actions from their frenzied state 1/day, plus 1 additional use of Empathy and Calm Emotion per day. The manifester level is equal to the character’s level. The save DC’s are Intelligence based.
* Natural Psionic: ____ gain 1 bonus power point at 1st level. This benefit does not grant them the ability to manifest powers unless they gain that ability through another source, such as levels in a psionic class.
* Automatic Languages: Common, home area. Bonus Language: Any non-exclusive.
* Favored Class: Psion.
* Level Adjustment: +1 ____ are slightly more powerful and gain levels more slowly than most other races.
Ability Scores: by the DMG they balance +0 ECL.
Size: base line +0 ECL.
Speed: Base line for size +0 ECL.
Bonus to saves: Not directly mentioned but does fall under the part "A single feature is not always worth a level adjustment, since characters of the standard races can often achieve the same result through (class features, magic items, or spells) In general, a special attack or special quality that a character of a standard race cannot duplicate is worth a +1 level adjustment." I'm figuring +0 ECL as it's weaker than the "Fearless" feat plus there are spells that can perform similarly.
Psi-Like Abilities: Normally this is considered a +2, but for Dark Sun I'm calling it the same as Spell like Abilities and sense the way I've presented it, it does not exceed what a character could have access at the given levels +0 ECL.
Natural Psionic: Not covered in Savage Species but based on the examples given in the Expanded Psionics Handbook I'm again calling this +0 ECL.
Languages and Favored Class: Not Applicable.
Lastly there is the “Acid Test”
“Would you rather play this species, or a standard character of the same level?”
For the time being I'm going to call Siemhouk a Level Adjustment +0 character.
The only LA+1 race worth playing is Goliath and the only ECL+2 race I like is half vampire.
Athas.org done a good job with the LA on Mul, Half Giant, and reducing the Kreen from LA+2 down to +1.
Your race is to good for LA+0 and slightly to weak for LA+1.
Calm Nibenay (Su): As long as Siemhouk spends at least X (hours/minutes/etc) per (day/week/month/etc) with Nibenay, he does not enter his dragon rage. If they don't spend enough time together, Nibenay enters his rage (at dawn/at dusk/immediately/etc).
where X and the units are determined so as to be most useful for the campaign at hand.
"She has the ability to allay bestial rages, and may be able to calm even those states that seize dragons as they advance toward maturity."
Things to keep in mind is "may be able" and the lack of precise targets such as Nibenay or dragons. Nice try though CSK.
Ok this is what I've come up with:
Siemhouk (Unique-humanoid)
- 2 Wisdom, +2 Intelligence, -2 Construction: Siemhouk is highly insightful and self controlled but this comes at a cost to her durability.
- Medium Size: As medium creatures, Siemhouk has no special bonuses or penalties due to her size.
- Siemhouk’s base land speed is 30 feet.
- Fearless (Ex): +2 Racial bonus on saving throws against fear based effects.
- Psi-Like Abilities (Su): At 1st level Siemhouk can as a standard action use the Empathy 1/day; at 4th level Siemhouk can use the Calm Emotion 1/day, plus 1 additional use of Empathy per day; at 8th level Siemhouk can Calm Rage to the point of possibly allowing the dragon to regain control of it’s actions from their frenzied state 1/day, plus 1 additional use of Empathy and Calm Emotion per day. The manifester level is equal to the character’s level. The save DC’s are Intelligence based.
- Natural Psionic (Ex): Siemhouk gains 1 bonus power point at 1st level. This benefit does not grant her the ability to manifest powers unless she gain that ability through another source, such as levels in a psionic class.
- Automatic Languages: Common, Nibenese. Bonus Language: Any non-exclusive.
- Favored Class: Psion.
I am also assuming that the 2nd ed. material was written from the FY10 pov (or earlier), so with this character and the changes that occurred in FY10+, I have progressed her in age and ability as well. Just some thoughts.
Freedom FY 1
Road to Urik FY2
Arcane Shadows FY 2
Asticlian Gambit FY 3
Dragon Crown FY 4
Black Flames FY 5
Merchants House of Amketch FY 5
Marauders of Nibenay FY 5
Black Spine FY 6
Forest Maker FY 7
City by the Silt Sea FY 10
The Taste of Fear (from Thri-kreen of Athas) FY 10
...and novels
The Verdant Pass FY 1
The Crimson Legion FY 2
The Amber Enchantress FY 3
The Obsidian Oracle FY 9
The Cerulean Storm FY 10
My copy of the City-State of Nibenay contains Siemhouk's age - 14 - as well as mention of Dhojakt's "recent" disappearance. So...
Siemhouk would be 14 years old in FY 3.
On the "recent" part of Dhojakt's disappearance, missed that word reading through. So based on that we can asume an age of 14 in Free Year 3. Talk about a round and about way to determine a date...
Thanks squidfur.