Muad'Dib comes to Athas - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Muad'Dib comes to Athas

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Feb 26, 2005 21:25:04 I've been using Muad'Dib (From Dune) as an NPC in my DS campaign for a while now, and am looking for opinions on how best to convert him into D&D statistics. Anybody have any thoughts on class and choices of psionic powers? If it helps, all the Fremen in my game are Elans, having been converted to that state through consuming spice created by the duneworms they brought to Athas with them(They folded space onto Athas right next to the Pristine Tower, and the heighliner crashed. The worms in the hold were the only ones injured, and they were.....changed). Any thoughts on any aspect of this would be very helpful. Keep in mind that because they are Elans, the Fremen have no need of food or drink, and no longer require stillsuits to preserve their body's water, because of the Elan sustenance ability.)
#2
dawnstealer
Feb 26, 2005 21:50:50 Hmmm. Higher level spirit of the land (that's Druid/Psion of 20+ levels in each). Toss in a couple levels of psychic warrior, too. At least you're not talking about Leto. He'd be a LOT tougher.
#3
zombiegleemax
Feb 26, 2005 22:29:46 Yeah, Leto WOULD be a lot tougher. He's smack Lalali-Puy like she didn't have his money. But I'm curious. Muad'Dib as a Spirit of the Land? Please elaborate! I'd been contemplating a very high-level PsyWar with a focus on Clairsentient powers.
#4
dawnstealer
Feb 26, 2005 23:48:39 Actually, since psywar didn't even exist in 2e, I'd say make him a high-level Druid/PsyWar. Basically, a Spirit of the Land is the higher-being form of druids. You have:

Elementals == Cleric/Psion
Dragon == Defiler/Psion
Avangion == Preserver/Psion
Spirit of the Land == Druid/Psion

I just think that he has definite ties to the land and particularly water, so either Druid or Water Priest.
#5
zombiegleemax
Feb 27, 2005 0:13:25 I'm totally familiar with the Spirit of the land, I guess I phrased my post sloppily. Thanks for the synopsis, though. It'll be usefull to people less familiar with the material than us. I can see the connection to water and the land, but I want to stick as close to the books as possible with him. I'll definetely have Fremen character elementals (Water) though. I'm leaning towards a PsyWar/Tempest/War Mind for Muad'Dib, with the appropriate feats to allow two-weapon fighting with no penalties, and focusing his powers on Clairsentient-group stuff, as well as sonic-based powers (A nod to the original movie, though the Sci-Fi version was much better.It just seems like Muad'Dib is the kinda guy who could kill you with a shout :D ) To adequately reflect his mastery of the Weirding Way of combat, as some of his epic feats I'm going to include Infinite Deflection and Exceptional Deflection, and Reflect Arrows. Muad'Dib should be able to deflect anything,then throw it back at you, right? Also, does anyone remember which book the Reciprocal Strike feat is located in, or is it some type of class ability? I want him to be able to kick your A$$, and hit you when you think you're going to hit him.
#6
dawnstealer
Feb 27, 2005 2:49:10 I'd say the original movie was better, but the SciFi version much (much) closer to the books. And the books, of course, were pretty amazing. Your mix of three classes (warmind/psywar/tempest) sounds pretty good. I'd stick with it. Can't remember which book that's in. Probably the Complete Monk, if I had to guess.
#7
zombiegleemax
Feb 27, 2005 11:11:49 Any thoughts on what to do with the Fremen and the Fedaykin, as far as classes go?What about Bene Gesserit , and BG Reverend Mothers?
#8
dawnstealer
Feb 27, 2005 12:12:10 Bene Gesserit would probably be straight psions. Fremen would be either rangers or psywarriors (or combination thereof - some sort of prestige class), Fedaykin are straight fighters, in my opinion.
#9
zombiegleemax
Feb 27, 2005 12:44:38 How about PsyWar/Soulknife (Jon's 10 lv. prestige class) for the Fedaykin? With an explanation about becoming one with their Crysknife due to the newly psionic nature of the mutated Duneworms? Also, at first thought, I thought straight Psion for the BG too, but they're supposed to be among the greatest hand-to-hand fighters in the Dune Universe (Only the Sarduakar and Fedaykin are better, and that's VERY iffy). So, I'm stuck with a quandary. Maybe straight Psychic Warrior and take Improved Spell(Power) Capacity from the ELH after level 20? Trying to get them just right will be a pain. But regardless, they'd definetely be focused on Clairsentience and Psychometabolism powers. I realize I'm probably making things overcomplicated, but I'm trying to get the flavor of the whole thing just right, while making it uniquely Athasian. I even have a plot going on where the passage of Duneworms through the land restores the damage done by defilers, however water still needs to be brought in. And this is being done, slowly, by Muad'Dib and co., because they still have a functional Heighliner, which bypasses the Grey barrier altogether by travelling through folded space. It's the only truly reliable way to and from Athas besides Dregoth's Planar Gate!
#10
zombiegleemax
Feb 27, 2005 12:46:32 I almost forgot! the Qizarate Priests! They can be focused on becoming Water elemental clerics, so as to complement the activities of Shai-Hulud on the face of Athas!
#11
Pennarin
Feb 27, 2005 19:03:32 You might want to check out the following board adaptations of some elements of the Dune novels:

Bene Gesserit Sister (PrC)
Fedaykin (PrC)
Fremen (PrC)
Sandworm 1 (monster)
Sandworm 2 (monster)
#12
zombiegleemax
Feb 27, 2005 19:18:01 Thanks, Pennarin! I checked out those links, and liked what I saw. I'm wary about using a lot of unofficial stuff, though, because my PCs like to gripe if they feel shortchanged by the cool PrC one of the others picked up. The only reason they don't gripe about the condensed 10 lv soulknife is because it was designed by a member of Athas.org, and they trust the material. Any thoughts on how to use official classes to adequately represent the denizens of Dune?
#13
jedi_steve-o
Mar 06, 2005 23:43:11 Thanks for all the great info! I'm creating a d20 DUNE game almost from scratch (new base classes, new feats, new prestige classes, etc.) using psionic powers and your thread has been a great help. Check out the current project here: d20 Dune Roleplaying Thread.

Sorry in advance for the tangent.

Jedi Steve-O

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Feb 26, 2005 21:25:04	I've been using Muad'Dib (From Dune) as an NPC in my DS campaign for a while now, and am looking for opinions on how best to convert him into D&D statistics. Anybody have any thoughts on class and choices of psionic powers? If it helps, all the Fremen in my game are Elans, having been converted to that state through consuming spice created by the duneworms they brought to Athas with them(They folded space onto Athas right next to the Pristine Tower, and the heighliner crashed. The worms in the hold were the only ones injured, and they were.....changed). Any thoughts on any aspect of this would be very helpful. Keep in mind that because they are Elans, the Fremen have no need of food or drink, and no longer require stillsuits to preserve their body's water, because of the Elan sustenance ability.)
#2 dawnstealer Feb 26, 2005 21:50:50	Hmmm. Higher level spirit of the land (that's Druid/Psion of 20+ levels in each). Toss in a couple levels of psychic warrior, too. At least you're not talking about Leto. He'd be a LOT tougher.
#3 zombiegleemax Feb 26, 2005 22:29:46	Yeah, Leto WOULD be a lot tougher. He's smack Lalali-Puy like she didn't have his money. But I'm curious. Muad'Dib as a Spirit of the Land? Please elaborate! I'd been contemplating a very high-level PsyWar with a focus on Clairsentient powers.
#4 dawnstealer Feb 26, 2005 23:48:39	Actually, since psywar didn't even exist in 2e, I'd say make him a high-level Druid/PsyWar. Basically, a Spirit of the Land is the higher-being form of druids. You have: Elementals == Cleric/Psion Dragon == Defiler/Psion Avangion == Preserver/Psion Spirit of the Land == Druid/Psion I just think that he has definite ties to the land and particularly water, so either Druid or Water Priest.
#5 zombiegleemax Feb 27, 2005 0:13:25	I'm totally familiar with the Spirit of the land, I guess I phrased my post sloppily. Thanks for the synopsis, though. It'll be usefull to people less familiar with the material than us. I can see the connection to water and the land, but I want to stick as close to the books as possible with him. I'll definetely have Fremen character elementals (Water) though. I'm leaning towards a PsyWar/Tempest/War Mind for Muad'Dib, with the appropriate feats to allow two-weapon fighting with no penalties, and focusing his powers on Clairsentient-group stuff, as well as sonic-based powers (A nod to the original movie, though the Sci-Fi version was much better.It just seems like Muad'Dib is the kinda guy who could kill you with a shout :D ) To adequately reflect his mastery of the Weirding Way of combat, as some of his epic feats I'm going to include Infinite Deflection and Exceptional Deflection, and Reflect Arrows. Muad'Dib should be able to deflect anything,then throw it back at you, right? Also, does anyone remember which book the Reciprocal Strike feat is located in, or is it some type of class ability? I want him to be able to kick your A$$, and hit you when you think you're going to hit him.
#6 dawnstealer Feb 27, 2005 2:49:10	I'd say the original movie was better, but the SciFi version much (much) closer to the books. And the books, of course, were pretty amazing. Your mix of three classes (warmind/psywar/tempest) sounds pretty good. I'd stick with it. Can't remember which book that's in. Probably the Complete Monk, if I had to guess.
#7 zombiegleemax Feb 27, 2005 11:11:49	Any thoughts on what to do with the Fremen and the Fedaykin, as far as classes go?What about Bene Gesserit , and BG Reverend Mothers?
#8 dawnstealer Feb 27, 2005 12:12:10	Bene Gesserit would probably be straight psions. Fremen would be either rangers or psywarriors (or combination thereof - some sort of prestige class), Fedaykin are straight fighters, in my opinion.
#9 zombiegleemax Feb 27, 2005 12:44:38	How about PsyWar/Soulknife (Jon's 10 lv. prestige class) for the Fedaykin? With an explanation about becoming one with their Crysknife due to the newly psionic nature of the mutated Duneworms? Also, at first thought, I thought straight Psion for the BG too, but they're supposed to be among the greatest hand-to-hand fighters in the Dune Universe (Only the Sarduakar and Fedaykin are better, and that's VERY iffy). So, I'm stuck with a quandary. Maybe straight Psychic Warrior and take Improved Spell(Power) Capacity from the ELH after level 20? Trying to get them just right will be a pain. But regardless, they'd definetely be focused on Clairsentience and Psychometabolism powers. I realize I'm probably making things overcomplicated, but I'm trying to get the flavor of the whole thing just right, while making it uniquely Athasian. I even have a plot going on where the passage of Duneworms through the land restores the damage done by defilers, however water still needs to be brought in. And this is being done, slowly, by Muad'Dib and co., because they still have a functional Heighliner, which bypasses the Grey barrier altogether by travelling through folded space. It's the only truly reliable way to and from Athas besides Dregoth's Planar Gate!
#10 zombiegleemax Feb 27, 2005 12:46:32	I almost forgot! the Qizarate Priests! They can be focused on becoming Water elemental clerics, so as to complement the activities of Shai-Hulud on the face of Athas!
#11 Pennarin Feb 27, 2005 19:03:32	You might want to check out the following board adaptations of some elements of the Dune novels: Bene Gesserit Sister (PrC) Fedaykin (PrC) Fremen (PrC) Sandworm 1 (monster) Sandworm 2 (monster)
#12 zombiegleemax Feb 27, 2005 19:18:01	Thanks, Pennarin! I checked out those links, and liked what I saw. I'm wary about using a lot of unofficial stuff, though, because my PCs like to gripe if they feel shortchanged by the cool PrC one of the others picked up. The only reason they don't gripe about the condensed 10 lv soulknife is because it was designed by a member of Athas.org, and they trust the material. Any thoughts on how to use official classes to adequately represent the denizens of Dune?
#13 jedi_steve-o Mar 06, 2005 23:43:11	Thanks for all the great info! I'm creating a d20 DUNE game almost from scratch (new base classes, new feats, new prestige classes, etc.) using psionic powers and your thread has been a great help. Check out the current project here: d20 Dune Roleplaying Thread. Sorry in advance for the tangent. Jedi Steve-O