Mystara 3E - What to use? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Mystara 3E - What to use?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
havard
Jan 20, 2009 10:34:05 How would you use 3E with the Mystara Setting? Would you change alot to emulate the feel of classic D&D or would you use 3E full sale, including the Great Wheel cosmology and let that take presedence over the setting?

Is there anything you would not allow?

Personally I would use the Mystaran Cosmology more or less, with Immortals rather than deities. However, when it comes to Core Classes/Races I am pretty generous. I would even, under some circumstances allow Dwarven Wizards/Sorcerers which I know is controversial in this community.

How about the rest of you guys and gals?

Havard
#2
CmdrCorsiken
Jan 21, 2009 21:05:20 I use the base 3.5 rules essentially unaltered. So, like you, I wouldn't place real restrictions on race/class combinations. One key factor for me is changing halfings back to the more hobbit-like beings that classic D&D described them as.

While I have enjoyed playing in many campaigns/worlds that are part of the Great Wheel, I would definitely dismantle the Wheel and adapt the Mystaran cosmology.

Now, I am rather hardcore when it comes to cannon creatures. With few exceptions, if a 3E creature did not appear in any D&D/Mystara product, I don't use it in my Mystara campaigns.

Those are the fundamentals. I'm sure we'll get into more details as we talk further....
#3
havard
Jan 26, 2009 13:33:36
I use the base 3.5 rules essentially unaltered. So, like you, I wouldn't place real restrictions on race/class combinations. One key factor for me is changing halfings back to the more hobbit-like beings that classic D&D described them as.

This ccan be fixed by adding text only and leaving the crunch only. Ofcourse, the Five Shires Halflings are pretty tough too, but maybe less anorectic than their 3E counterparts.

While I have enjoyed playing in many campaigns/worlds that are part of the Great Wheel, I would definitely dismantle the Wheel and adapt the Mystaran cosmology.

That's what I do too. Although it doesn't affect the campaign much, as all the PCs know is that there are other worlds which sometimes have gates from which monsters escape into Mystara for them to fight.

Now, I am rather hardcore when it comes to cannon creatures. With few exceptions, if a 3E creature did not appear in any D&D/Mystara product, I don't use it in my Mystara campaigns.

Interesting. I am pretty much the same. There are so many creatures in Mystara already, there is little need to add more. The only creatures I have considered including are metallic dragons (other than gold).

Those are the fundamentals. I'm sure we'll get into more details as we talk further....

Looking forward to it!

Havard
#4
CmdrCorsiken
Jan 26, 2009 20:03:36 One of the more fun projects I've worked on over the years of 3E has been deciding what base and prestige classes fit with Mystara. Sure the eleven core base classes aren't that hard to place just about anywhere. The other base classes, included in the first four Complete books (and a few others), took a little thought, as did the scores of prestige classes presented in more than a dozen books.

As we all know, Mystara is a world full of diverse and deeply detailed cultures, many that parallel real world historical lands. I let the cultural flavor of Mystara's regions and nations lead the way to which classes to use.

Here are a few base classes that easily fell into place.
Favored Soul (Complete Divine), Ethengar and Northern Reaches
Scout (Complete Adventurer), Alfheim and Karameikos
Swashbuckler (Complete Warrior), Ierendi and Minrothad
Warmage (Complete Arcane), Alphatia and Glantri

Many prestige classes worked out similarly. Minrothad was the perfect fit for the Dread Pirate (Complete Adventurer) and the Scarlet Corsair (Stormwrack). Alfheim easily worked for Arcane Archer (DMG) and Darkwood Stalker (Complete Warrior). Rockhome got the Battlesmith (Races of Stone) and the Ollam (Complete Adventurer).

And those are just examples. I found a place for most base classes, variant base classes, and prestige classes in Mystara. In fact, I use about 80% of the material in the books I own. While that seems like a lot, the way I associate each with only a few nations, limits their availability to any single character. The Dervish (Complete Warior) and Tempest (Complete Adventurer) are rather similar classes, but since each is linked to a different nation, no single character will have access to both.

This has had an interesting affect on character creation in my gaming group. All my players think seriously about their character's national origin. Some choose a nation that sounds interesting, then look at the class options connected to that nation. Others start with the classes they are interested in and find a nation that fits. Either way, the homeland of the character has a fundamental impact on the initial character concept.

So, that's how I've handled classes for my 3E Mystara....
#5
redking
Jan 30, 2009 2:22:57 There is no conflict whatsoever in my opinion.

Magic using dwarves? Sure, but it doesn't mean they are common or held in high regard. The 3E rules are easily used in Mystara.

As for the cosmology, that is easily rationalized. Any entry to the planes from Mystara goes to places in the planes associated with Mystara and it's immortals. It is possible for a Mystaran to go to a place within the D&D standard cosmology, but they still must pass through the areas of the planes associated with Mystara. For example, a character that planeshifts to the Abyss will appear in a place associated with Mystara or one of it's immortals (or group of immortals). In this place the standard cosmology is largely irrelevant, but if the character knows about the rest of the multiverse, he may travel from that point to see the more well known parts of the Abyss (well known to people outside Mystara, that is).

Mystaran immortals are simply gods, with no other differences except for the fact that all of them rose from the ranks of mortals, and a great many of them happen to be from Mystara, the greatest immortal producing world of all. For this reason the immortals are very sociable among themselves, but are aloof to the other powers of the multiverse, and do not tolerate interference with Mystara. Alien powers that attempt to interfere with the immortals project in Mystara quickly find themselves blocked by the entire mass of immortal powers, including those associated with the concept of entropy. For example, Asmodeus might think the whole multiverse has to follow his pact primeval with the gods, but the immortals of Mystara care not a whit for that. Souls of Mystarans pass on in the Mystaran way. Why this happens is a mystery, but it is surely something to do with the immortals and their predecessors, the Old Ones.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 havard Jan 20, 2009 10:34:05	How would you use 3E with the Mystara Setting? Would you change alot to emulate the feel of classic D&D or would you use 3E full sale, including the Great Wheel cosmology and let that take presedence over the setting? Is there anything you would not allow? Personally I would use the Mystaran Cosmology more or less, with Immortals rather than deities. However, when it comes to Core Classes/Races I am pretty generous. I would even, under some circumstances allow Dwarven Wizards/Sorcerers which I know is controversial in this community. How about the rest of you guys and gals? Havard
#2 CmdrCorsiken Jan 21, 2009 21:05:20	I use the base 3.5 rules essentially unaltered. So, like you, I wouldn't place real restrictions on race/class combinations. One key factor for me is changing halfings back to the more hobbit-like beings that classic D&D described them as. While I have enjoyed playing in many campaigns/worlds that are part of the Great Wheel, I would definitely dismantle the Wheel and adapt the Mystaran cosmology. Now, I am rather hardcore when it comes to cannon creatures. With few exceptions, if a 3E creature did not appear in any D&D/Mystara product, I don't use it in my Mystara campaigns. Those are the fundamentals. I'm sure we'll get into more details as we talk further....
#3 havard Jan 26, 2009 13:33:36	I use the base 3.5 rules essentially unaltered. So, like you, I wouldn't place real restrictions on race/class combinations. One key factor for me is changing halfings back to the more hobbit-like beings that classic D&D described them as. This ccan be fixed by adding text only and leaving the crunch only. Ofcourse, the Five Shires Halflings are pretty tough too, but maybe less anorectic than their 3E counterparts. While I have enjoyed playing in many campaigns/worlds that are part of the Great Wheel, I would definitely dismantle the Wheel and adapt the Mystaran cosmology. That's what I do too. Although it doesn't affect the campaign much, as all the PCs know is that there are other worlds which sometimes have gates from which monsters escape into Mystara for them to fight. Now, I am rather hardcore when it comes to cannon creatures. With few exceptions, if a 3E creature did not appear in any D&D/Mystara product, I don't use it in my Mystara campaigns. Interesting. I am pretty much the same. There are so many creatures in Mystara already, there is little need to add more. The only creatures I have considered including are metallic dragons (other than gold). Those are the fundamentals. I'm sure we'll get into more details as we talk further.... Looking forward to it! Havard
#4 CmdrCorsiken Jan 26, 2009 20:03:36	One of the more fun projects I've worked on over the years of 3E has been deciding what base and prestige classes fit with Mystara. Sure the eleven core base classes aren't that hard to place just about anywhere. The other base classes, included in the first four Complete books (and a few others), took a little thought, as did the scores of prestige classes presented in more than a dozen books. As we all know, Mystara is a world full of diverse and deeply detailed cultures, many that parallel real world historical lands. I let the cultural flavor of Mystara's regions and nations lead the way to which classes to use. Here are a few base classes that easily fell into place. Favored Soul (Complete Divine), Ethengar and Northern Reaches Scout (Complete Adventurer), Alfheim and Karameikos Swashbuckler (Complete Warrior), Ierendi and Minrothad Warmage (Complete Arcane), Alphatia and Glantri Many prestige classes worked out similarly. Minrothad was the perfect fit for the Dread Pirate (Complete Adventurer) and the Scarlet Corsair (Stormwrack). Alfheim easily worked for Arcane Archer (DMG) and Darkwood Stalker (Complete Warrior). Rockhome got the Battlesmith (Races of Stone) and the Ollam (Complete Adventurer). And those are just examples. I found a place for most base classes, variant base classes, and prestige classes in Mystara. In fact, I use about 80% of the material in the books I own. While that seems like a lot, the way I associate each with only a few nations, limits their availability to any single character. The Dervish (Complete Warior) and Tempest (Complete Adventurer) are rather similar classes, but since each is linked to a different nation, no single character will have access to both. This has had an interesting affect on character creation in my gaming group. All my players think seriously about their character's national origin. Some choose a nation that sounds interesting, then look at the class options connected to that nation. Others start with the classes they are interested in and find a nation that fits. Either way, the homeland of the character has a fundamental impact on the initial character concept. So, that's how I've handled classes for my 3E Mystara....
#5 redking Jan 30, 2009 2:22:57	There is no conflict whatsoever in my opinion. Magic using dwarves? Sure, but it doesn't mean they are common or held in high regard. The 3E rules are easily used in Mystara. As for the cosmology, that is easily rationalized. Any entry to the planes from Mystara goes to places in the planes associated with Mystara and it's immortals. It is possible for a Mystaran to go to a place within the D&D standard cosmology, but they still must pass through the areas of the planes associated with Mystara. For example, a character that planeshifts to the Abyss will appear in a place associated with Mystara or one of it's immortals (or group of immortals). In this place the standard cosmology is largely irrelevant, but if the character knows about the rest of the multiverse, he may travel from that point to see the more well known parts of the Abyss (well known to people outside Mystara, that is). Mystaran immortals are simply gods, with no other differences except for the fact that all of them rose from the ranks of mortals, and a great many of them happen to be from Mystara, the greatest immortal producing world of all. For this reason the immortals are very sociable among themselves, but are aloof to the other powers of the multiverse, and do not tolerate interference with Mystara. Alien powers that attempt to interfere with the immortals project in Mystara quickly find themselves blocked by the entire mass of immortal powers, including those associated with the concept of entropy. For example, Asmodeus might think the whole multiverse has to follow his pact primeval with the gods, but the immortals of Mystara care not a whit for that. Souls of Mystarans pass on in the Mystaran way. Why this happens is a mystery, but it is surely something to do with the immortals and their predecessors, the Old Ones.