tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85532318236228622602024-02-19T09:11:37.279-05:00Eberron: The Adventures of Prince OargevA blog exploring Eberron, all aspects of 4ed Dungeons and Dragons, and gaming in general.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-76279426240520944832016-06-18T14:33:00.000-04:002016-06-18T14:33:22.215-04:00Campaign Recap Part 2: 990-993 YK<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">April 990-December 993 YK: </span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In April, 990 YK, Prince Oargev got word that an information broker in Sharn was selling the location of an item of ancient power called the Heart of Flame. It was advertised to be an almost inexhaustible source of arcane might, and the prince was determined to get his hands on it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Oargev, Istav, Martin, Bas'shi, and Tact traveled by lightning rail to Sharn in order to secure the artifact's location. In Sharn, they ran into the Order of the Emerald Claw and an expedition from Thrane, all after the same information. Only the Thrannish and Cyran contingents left the city with the information, both on the lightning rail, headed north, for their destination, Icewhite Island. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Thrannish contingent was most notable due to its commander, a Paladin named Jared Daran. He and Istav got along very well, despite the fact that they were vying for the same ancient artifact. This meeting laid the groundwork for a very close future relationship between Oargev's government and Thrane. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In Stormhome, the Thrannish expedition booked passage on one of the fastest sailing vessels in Lyrandar's fleet. Fortunately, Prince Oargev (let's be honest-Istav) secured the use of one of Lyrandar's fledgling airships, the <i>Strikes Twice. </i>This made all the difference in Prince Oargev's success in securing The Heart of Flame, which proved to be every bit as powerful as reported.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In one sense, this success spelled doom for Cyre. In a much greater sense, this success saved the world from a free and unrestrained Laz Shathoom, also known as the Lord of Mourning. Had Thrane or Karrnath secured this artifact and used it, they would have released him from his prison. Cyre was able to re-imprison him instantaneously-unfortunately, it cost them their nation.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Queen Dannel's Arcane Council went to immediate work drawing up ways to utilize the power in the Heart of Flame. A massive epic spell was developed which would activate a defensive perimeter around the entire nation, preventing invading armies from passing through. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the years following this expedition, Prince Oargev developed something of a shadow government separate from his mother's government. While Oargev continued to publicly work for the Queen, leading troops against the Captain of Corpses, defending Cyran territory in the Battle of the Cauldron, and placing the focii for the defensive ritual, his allies were making diplomatic ties to the Valenar, Thrane, and Breland.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">World leaders rose and fell. Random poems started popping up in publications around the world by a man called Halmander, the Dragontongue. Prince Oargev and his followers took notice and organized the poems into a series of prophecies describing a year of signs and tragedies that would be inflicted upon Cyre before a great calamity. His shadow government began making preparations to prevent-and then when it became clear that prevention could end the world- minimize the damage to Cyran life and property.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The signs began, Prince Oargev and his followers became believers in the end of Cyre. Others read the signs and began reacting in their own ways, hurtling the world towards the Day of Mourning.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The poems that predicted the end are included below:</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. Signs</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These thirteen signs shall break the proudest jewel</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">of Galifar’s mighty, prosp’rous lands:</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The first shall show both time and death a fool,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The second dim the sun with misty bands.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Beasts not of this world next month appears,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For thirteen days no cock will ever crow,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then rain will fall not water, but as tears</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For never-ending heat that all shall know.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thirteen beasts of every herd shall die.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The wash of soured wines shall make a flood.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thirteen days of tears the makers cry,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then the nation’s river runs with blood.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When moons go dark and dreams are things men share-</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Even bold men of the Jewel should beware.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. Decay</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Death, you are not death when nothing fades,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When power robs you of corrupting grasp.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Though our spirits go unto the shades</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not so our bodies after dying rasp.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My true love, though she died a decade past</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lays just as sweetly on her final bed.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Her ruby lips and sparkling eyes will last</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Even after all the world is dead.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Though poets write of powers in their verse</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To save the lives of loves beyond their graves,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not through my words but by its dire curse,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My love’s fair skin, forever, Evil saves.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Because today until the last tomorrow</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My love lies deep within the Land of Sorrow.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. Sunlight</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In every land the sun rises at break</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of day and brings with it a happy dawn.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Except where, due to arrogant mistake,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Within that land sunlight’s warm face is gone.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For four long months we’ve never seen the sun.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We’ve only mists and clouds to clothe our sky.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I fear, before this gloomy spring is done</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That every man of heart will wish to die.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For sunlight is the food that feeds the soul</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And sunlight makes our loves and hopes to grow-</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Only in the sun are we made whole.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For in the dark our bravery will go.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But soon, when sunlight sees this place at last,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We’ll wish these mists and clouds had never passed.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. Beasts</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the forests of our mighty land</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ran deer, flew birds, stalked wolves, and swam the fish.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More things exist than e’er we’ll understand</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And if we understood, well might we wish</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To unremember things that we have learned</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For there are things no man was meant to know.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But things once seen into our minds are burned</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And force us, our innocence, outgrow.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seek not the secrets locked behind the trees.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seek not to know the things that nature’s hid.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For seekers will be brought unto their knees</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For seeking that which nature has forbid.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But in these days no nature can be found</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When forests stand on curséd, mourning ground.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5. Time</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Who greets the morning with a one-note song</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And rules his land with claw and garments fair?</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He fathers armored children by the throng;</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He’s calléd by the name of Chanticleer.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He is the herald of the morning sun</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He is the cock that starts us on our way.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But once our days of sorrow have begun</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For one less than two weeks his voice will stay.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In morning silence, we won’t know the hour</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In mourning silence we’ll regret our loss.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This silent herald ushers in the power</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That wipes us from the land like worthless dross.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The rooster who sings morning’s light is gone.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The rooster who brings mourning’s fright lives on.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6. Tears</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What grief could make the heavens freely weep</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And wash the earth in sorrow’s salty wine?</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The griefs that into nations, peaceful, creep</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And threaten peace and lives, both yours and mine.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We’ve built a court to house the Lord of Mourning.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We’ve brought him home to feed him from our fears.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We’ve disregarded every single warning</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And soon he’ll slake his thirst upon our tears.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For one less than two weeks these tears will fall:</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Arawai mourning that which mortals do.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But when these tears have fallen one and all,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The hazy, sunless mists will then be through.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The One Who First Brought Weeping to this World</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Brings weeping to our land: his flag unfurled.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7. Heat</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Until the final sorrow claims our lives,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When winter’s cold embrace should grasp our hands,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We’ll find the chill of winter ne’r arrives:</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Only the sun to blast our fields to sands.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our lips are parched and rivers nearly dried</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From long-lost sun’s miraculous return,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For all the prayers for sun’s return we sighed</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Have only served to make us sweat and burn.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We thrive on warmth, deny the chill of death,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But death can come as surely when it’s hot.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When suffocating fires claim your breath,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ll thank the Crying Lord your flesh can’t rot.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The fires from far north that bring despair</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Were brought here from the cold by our brave heir.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">8. Feasting</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A dozen taken from us for our sins</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And one more taken from us for our fear:</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A time of tears and weeping soon begins</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In a nation that won’t see another year.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we feast sorrow, set with fresh-cut steak</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At thirteen places, mourners all to sit,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We celebrate the day our jewel will break</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And welcome he whose fate to ours is knit.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Though death will come to all in mortal time</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To some it comes too soon, a rapid fate.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The time we’ve left, in revelry sublime</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We’ll meet our death and always celebrate</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The lives we lead ‘fore power’s grasping fist</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Knit us shrouds of death in dead, grey mist. </span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">9. Celebration</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A dozen taken from us for our joys</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And one more taken from us for our pride:</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These are the tools the Crying Lord employs</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To move into our land and there abide.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we feast sorrow, set with soured wine</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At thirteen places, mourners all to drink,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We spoil the meal, forever to malign</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The day in sorrow’s pit we start to sink.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Though grief commands us all to drink its health</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The vintage it provides will never sate</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our thirst, no matter how much of our wealth</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We spend to try and fight to stop our fate.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The vines of grief are ripe--so take your cup</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of tears and vinegar and grief--drink up!</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">10. Industry</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The People of the Gorgon always craft</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cunning things of steel and wood and flame.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Accordingly, their city’s shops are staffed</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With cunning people who all do the same.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The truest steel will never, ever weep</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In hottest forge or in the cool of snow;</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As finest woods, relied upon to keep</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Their spring when used to make a mighty bow. </span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The only flame they know is forge’s light;</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No fire ever burns within their breast.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But passions in their hearts will soon alight</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When Sorrow’s Maker makes a mighty test:</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Will workers keep their crafts within their keeping</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When one less than two weeks all eyes are weeping?</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">11. Water</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Through our veins blood flows providing life</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To every mind and heart and leg and limb,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But when blood leaves our flesh it causes strife</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And causes life, so sweet, so short, to dim.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And so the waters flow, bring life unto</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The land that calls the flowing waters home.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And so, in times when rains are overdue</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That we miss river’s life-sustaining loam.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The day that river runs with life-red blood</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For thirteen hours of fear and sorrow dire,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It signals death for child and planted bud</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As surely as does plague or burning fire.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In three month’s time, no river, mortal man,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Or blood will flow, will walk where now they can.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">12. Moons</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Above our heads the windows to the planes</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Look down and teach us things we’ve not been shown..</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Amidst this nation’s trials and campaigns,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They offer comfort that we are not alone.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we look to Siberys above,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lighting up the clear and darkling sky,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We see the source of flame, and war, and love,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A home for beasts, for dreams, and those who die.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Even when all allies leave our side</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And enemies surround on every shore,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Above is where our allies all reside</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And with their guidance we’ll win every war.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The night they turn their faces from our land</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Will mark the night our end is close at hand.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">13. Dreams</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Crying Lord, long sealed in fire and ice</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Can only visit men in thoughts and dreams.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once he’s freed, a nation is the price</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To buy the world and silence dying screams.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The sacrifices know their lives are due-</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The One who Drinks All Tears will tell them so.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But soon their dreaming horrors will be through.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is the ones who live who’ll have to go</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Out to a world that’s left them all behind,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To find a way to live their lives again</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While haunted by the dreams that once maligned</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The strongest of belovéd countrymen.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The one who chose his nation for this fate</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Will fight the Dreaming Grief and be made great.</span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">14. Mourning</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oh Jewel of Galifar, please tell me why</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The bitter tears are streaming down your face.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Your victory is won, though now you cry-</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You took the curse in all of Khorvaire’s place.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Though only monsters, metal men, and fools</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Walk on your roads or tread your hallowed halls,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You’ve bought the world the time to find the tools</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To kill the Lord of Mourning and his thralls.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In any other realm he’d be set free-</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Only your blood will fight him to the end.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The world can’t know how great your heroes be,</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But all who know will call your nation friend.</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today we consecrate you to the ground-</span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tomorrow, be reborn, once hope is found.</span><br />
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<br />Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-61030187076105025712016-06-13T15:23:00.000-04:002016-06-13T21:48:15.995-04:00Campaign Recap Part 1: 988-990 YK<span style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">So, we finished our campaign. I have had a few requests for a record of the game and I will likely also put some ideas I have had for re-vamping 4ed moving forward. This is part 1. I'm writing it from an in-game perspective.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">January 988 YK-March 990</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On Prince Oargev’s 18th birthday, he entered into public life. He received two significant birthday gifts from his mother, Queen Dannel of Cyre. The first was a troop of warforged freshly minted in Cannith’s creation forges, led by two warforged heroes-a silent, broken warrior called Tact, and his brother, a charismatic commander called Blade. Blade served as the troop’s leader under Oargev’s command and Tact served as Oargev’s personal bodyguard. The second gift given by the Queen was Prince Oargev’s first mission- a diplomatic progress to a handful of nobles in Cyre’s northeast who had been less than enthusiastic about Queen Dannel’s reign. Along the way, the Prince and his companions were to inspect a secret House Vadalis installation at Clifftop and make some decisions on the progress of certain projects Vadalis had been working on for Cyre.</span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-8be640d3-4b36-083b-5771-f58192de3ace" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At this point, I should identify the companions that travelled with the young Prince at this juncture. First and foremost was his cousin, Lord Istav ir’Somme, recently returned from school in Aundair. He was sent to serve as Istav’s diplomatic advisor-of course, he had great success in that role. Secondly, Oargev’s childhood friend and companion, Martin ir’Dallis, whose family was dispossessed of lands by the Valenar, accompanied the Prince out of loyalty and service. These three friends served as the core of Oargev’s rise to power and inner councils until the end of Oargev’s reign.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During this progress, Oargev and his companions fell into the middle of a plot by the Ashbound Druids to destroy the secret House Vadalis installation, discovered an invasion in progress by Karrnath, and uncovered the first in a long line of prophecies that later proved that Oargev ir’Wynarn was the champion of prophecy for his age. Many lines of the prophecy were unreadable at this point, but were later reconstructed. </span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />The Lord of Mourning<br /><br />The blood of one removed from royal, shed<br />Shall bring unto the world a realm of night<br />And fill the heart of every man with dread<br />Of spreading pestilence and growing blight.<br />For when this sorrow of a nation falls<br />And sorrow soon becomes that nation's name,<br />The dead will only walk the castle's halls<br />And sit the thrones of those who are to blame.<br />But all is never lost in darkest gloom:<br />The life of one removed from royal spent<br />Can save the guilty parties from their doom,<br />Though all the land they darkened still be rent.<br />This I say is how the Lord of Mourning<br />Shall rise again. Take heart and heed my warning!</span></span>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">References to the coming tragedy of the Mournland abound in this poem, though at this point, we didn’t see them clearly. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Over the course of the following year, Prince Oargev wins the love of Brelish noblewoman Elyse ir’Kristain and preparations for their wedding commence. He is also involved in military action along the Karranthi-Cyran border. Most Notably, the Prince leads a rescue attempt to save a key Cryan military commander, losing almost all of his men in the process-but they escape with their lives, inspiring songs and heroes of Cyre. Istav serves as a mediator for the impending split between the Eldeen Reaches and Aundair. Relationships with the Valenar Elves, Goblins of Darguun, and Breland become strained and complicated during this time. A Valenar warrior, Bas’shi Bosti, becomes impressed with Prince Oargev’s valor and joins his band of advisors for a time, aiding him in his military campaign against the Karrnathi.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After the Prince’s wedding, he and his advisors are given another major task that will change the course of the world...</span></div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-15323897364417039322012-02-14T10:00:00.000-05:002012-02-14T10:00:07.233-05:00Adventure 2 Recap., Part 2So, here's the adventure I'd planned:<br /><br />The first section went according to plan: the PCs bit the hooks I'd laid out for them and made very interesting arrangements to travel first to Sharn, then to Stormhome. They hit all of the encounters I'd planned: mysterious shadow-marked assassins, lots of Emerald Claw, a bit brutal bar-fight.<div>
<br />On the train to Stormhome, I had prepared for them to try and jump the Silver Flame team. If that'd happened, I had planned on trying to put an end to the fight or call a truce: after all, their leader is just as much a Lawful Good Paladin as Oargev and doesn't want to see anyone dead over some artifact, but I knew that a few of the PCs REALLY hate Thrane. They didn't go for the fight even a little bit. I had planned for this, and the encounter wasn't essential.<br /><br />Here is where things broke down: On the trip to the Frostfell, after encountering the hired griffon-riding Shadow elves, the Airship was supposed to crash on the shores of the Demon Wastes after one of the saboteurs managed to place explosives on the elemental binding struts. Then the PCs were going to need to fight off sahuagin on the shoreline, venture into the wastes and encounter the Plague Clans while trying to find a fire elemental to rebind to the ship, and hold off both the Sahuagin and Clans while repairs were being made, all the while giving both the Emerald Claw and the SIlver Flame a chance to catch up. </div>
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My PCs were FAR too effective at keeping the saboteurs from blowing up the ship. That's when I decided to introduce the Fernia Manifest zone...and the PCs basically tackled that with insane skill checks. I wasn't about to just swat them out of the sky for no reason, and between the new PC who dramatically changed fight dynamics (Elf Essentials Ranger Controller) and the party's focus on skills after Kingdom Building, I didn't manage to challenge them enough.<br /><br />The original plan was for them to, fairly easily, make it from there to the Frostfell, getting there first, and making their way across a fairly desolate waste with maybe one Frostfell encounter, to help set the stage (the Yeti and Mammoths encounter I ran). Once they got to the Temple, they were supposed to be caught up with by the Silver Flame adventurers. There was going to be a likely fight there that would, again, be called off, with both parties hopefully agreeing to take different paths through the Temple and see who got the stone. The idea was that the Silver Flame would get the stone moments ahead of the PCs, but that the Cardinal in their party would take the stone, give in to the power it represents, and command his crew to kill all of the PCs. The Paladin was going to turn against the Cardinal and be struck down for in, badly wounded. I was going to give the PCs a chance to save an enemy, and in doing so, make a VERY powerful friend down the road (Like I said, the Paladin's name was Sir Jared Daron. He has a young daughter.) </div>
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With the PCs getting to the Frostfell so quickly, I had to call an audible. I crashed their ship once they got to the Frostfell. I added Frostfell encounters. I decided to slow them down by encouraging them to find a Fire Elemental in the temple in addition to the Heart of Flame. Since they were going to be dealing with ALL of the Temple guardians, I figured it would take them longer, and all I needed was one or two extended rests and the Silver Flame could find them in the temple. </div>
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They never rested, they got lucky in choosing their path in the temple and found the Heart of Flame and got out,</div>
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Originally, my plan was for the PCs (and maybe the Paladin, Sir Jared) to get back to the airship only to find their ships captured by the Order of the Emerald claw. There they would have to free the ships and get back home, flying home with no incident.</div>
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If the PCs were far outstripping the Silver Flame, the Order of the Emerald Claw had no business up here. I decided to force the Silver Flame encounter while the PCs were headed back to their ship, but again, my PCs took every opportunity to conceal themselves, and there was no reasonable way for them to be found by the Flame, short of DM fiat, which I hate to use.</div>
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So I just added some air-encounters on the way back to Cyre, to reinforce to them that, nabbing a major artifact under the noses of Thrane and the Order of the Emerald Claw is SERIOUS BUSINESS.</div>
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Despite my abysmal planning, I think everyone had fun and is enjoying their international rockstar status. That's what it's all about, right?</div>
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At least I still have a team of Silver Flame adventurers to foil my PCs in the future. </div>
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<i>Bonus Material:</i></div>
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My key NPCs are generally inspired by lots of different sources. The Silver Flame team's inspirations: </div>
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-Daniel Dravot and Peachy Carnehan from Kipling's <i>The Man Who Would Be King </i>(Cardinal Dravot, Silver Invoker and "Apples" Carnehan, halfling assassin)</div>
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<i>-</i>Thomas of Hookton from Cornwell's <i>The Archer's Tale</i> (Thomas ir'Hoekton, Thrannish Expert Archer)</div>
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-Jackson "Grimjack" Grimwood from our most recent Forgotton Realms Campaign (Jack, a Brute)</div>
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-Prince Oargev if he'd been raised in Thrane, and was a few years older. (Sir Jared Daran)</div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-2772231883025130892012-02-08T10:20:00.001-05:002012-02-08T10:20:18.104-05:00Adventure 2 Recap., Part 1Last week my PCs completed their second adventure, taking them from level 4 to level 8. I made some huge DMing mistakes on planning this adventure, and I hope writing about them will help me remember NOT to do the same thing again.<br />
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<b>A brief summary of the adventure as it happened: <i>Prince Oargev and the Heart of Flame</i></b><br />
The PCs found out about two fortuitous opportunities both taking place in the next month. First, House Thuranni was selling maps and notes that led to an ancient temple that contained an artifact of amazing, pure magic called the <i>Heart of Flame. </i>They would sell copies of this information to any and all comers. Later in the month, House Lyrandar was quietly looking for an impressive expedition to hire out their first for-hire airship expedition. They specified that they wanted high-profile passengers on a mission of impressive scope.<br />
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The PCs decided to take the train, incognito, to Sharn to purchase the information. While there they discovered that both the Silver Flame and the Order of the Emeral Claw were trying to get their hands on the documents. They'd already missed the Silver Flame, but they actually arrived at the bar where the contact was selling the info while the Emerald Claw representatives were inside, purchasing. They killed the Emerald Claw guards waiting outside the bar, they were drawn into a bar fight, which they used as an excuse to take out the Emerald Claw guards inside the bar. They then let the Emerald claw commander and his bodyguards walk out of the bar, with the info as they went in and bought the info themselves. On their way out, they were attacked by the remaining Emerald Claw operative, and managed to defeat them, though one messenger got away with the expedition information<br />
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They then took the train to Stormhome, the Lyrandar base. On the Train, they discovered that they shared both destination and goals with a group of Thrannish adventurers, led Sir Jared Daran and Cardinal Dravot. The Silver FLame party thought they would stand a good chance in hiring the Airship because Sir Daran was the grandson of a much beloved Keeper of the Flame, and Dravot was an up-and-coming Cardinal. Since Oargev was in disguise, the PCs said their best claim was that they had Istav, the Prince's cousin. Istav and Sir Daran came to the agreement not to fight it out on the train, and to be adversaries in the pursuit of the <i>Heart of Flame, </i>but whatever happened, to make sure one of their two nations received the <i>Heart, </i>NOT the Order of the Emerald Claw and Karrnath. The PCs at Stormhome successfully negotiated the rights to the ship and convinced Lyrandar to sneak off without immediately informing the other parties of their departure, giving them a head start. They sent a best wishes bottle of alcohol to Sir Daran, who, I think, they legitimately liked.<br />
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They decide to take, not the quickest route, which would have taken them directly over the capitol of the Demon Wastes, but the next quickest, which skirts the Wastes for a while and then heads north to the frozen isles south of the Frostfell, their destination. Along the way they fought off Griffon-riding elves with strange shadow abilities who tried to sabotage the ship, they tracked a huge Fire Manifest Zone that, had they entered, would have empowered their Fire Elemental, allowing it to break free, they discovered a mole on board who was sending updates to the Emerald Claw on the ship's location, and finally, they fought against creatures of elemental ice that disrupted their fire ring and caused the ship to crash on the shores of the Frostfell.<br />
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The PCs lost no time marching directly to the temple (along the way fighting more ice creatures and a yeti mammoth hunting party), and then rapidly finding their way to the guardian of the <i>Heart of Flame, </i>obtaining the gem, and getting the heck back to the ship. They stopped for nothing--they didn't even finish exploring the temple. On their way back to the ship they saw, and hid from, the Silver Flame expedition, having just arrived by boat, making their way to the temple. They escaped on their repaired ship and flew over Aundair and Breland to arrive directly in Thrane. Along the way, shadow elves tried to infiltrate their ship once more and Talenta Halfling mercenaries attacked them just out of Metrol. They arrived vistorious, national heroes.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-50610150033035688382012-02-01T13:28:00.000-05:002012-02-01T13:28:00.823-05:00More Prophetic PoetryWork is totally eating my face right now. I'd planned on writing a detailed post-mortem on the campaign's second adventure, which ended last night, but that's not going to happen.<br />
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Instead I'll leave you with two more poems of prophecy that are dropping hints at the events that will lead to the Mourning.<br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3486805991269648"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Beasts</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the forests of our mighty land</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ran deer, flew birds, stalked wolves, and swam the fish.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">More things exist than e’er we’ll understand</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And if we understood, well might we wish</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To unremember things that we have learned</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For there are things no man was meant to know.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But things once seen into our minds are burned</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And force us, our innocence, outgrow.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Seek not the secrets locked behind the trees.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Seek not to know the things that nature’s hid.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For seekers will be brought unto their knees</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For seeking that which nature has forbid.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But in these days no nature can be found</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When forests stand on curséd, mourning ground.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.3486805991269648"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Moons</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Above our heads the windows to the planes</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Look down and teach us things we’ve not been shown..</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amidst this nation’s trials and campaigns,</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They offer comfort that we are not alone.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we look to Siberys above,</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lighting up the clear and darkling sky,</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We see the source of flame, and war, and love,</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A home for beasts, for dreams, and those who die.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even when all allies leave our side</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And enemies surround on every shore,</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Above is where our allies all reside</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And with their guidance we’ll win every war.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The night they turn their faces from our land</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Will mark the night our end is close at hand.</span></b></div>
</div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-76660777433247275422012-01-25T10:00:00.000-05:002012-01-25T10:30:23.340-05:00My Dungeons and Dragons EditionTime to put up my list of things I'd like to see in Dungeons and Dragons Next. A few notes on my D&D background: My 2nd ed. experience is limited to extensive play of the Balder's Gate computer games. I jumped in with both feet on day 1 of 3rd edition during my freshman year of college and played it avidly up until the release of 4th edition. I played 4th edition from day 1 as well, and still do. Pathfinder never interested me in the least. I've also spent a good amount of time playing Mutants and Masterminds 2nd Ed, Iron Heroes, and Star Wars Saga edition.<br />
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I know these are all my opinions. By all means, disagree!<br />
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<b><u>Section 1: Things 4ed does well, I'd like see to maintained.</u></b><br />
<ul>
<li><b>Teams:</b> In 3rd edition I rarely had to pay much attention to what my teammates were doing to be super-effective. In 4th edition, the better I know my team, the better we are because so many of our powers and abilities synergize. Keep this a design principle. Tell the people who trot this out and scream, "MMO!" to sit down, shut up, and appreciate solid game design.</li>
<li><b>Defined Team Roles: </b>I want to know, at a glance, what to expect from each member of my team. I'm fine with certain character classes being able to fill, depending on build, certain roles, but I want to be able to know who should be doing what. Classes should be as balanced as possible against other classes of their type.</li>
<li><b>Easy and Intuitive DM Prep: </b>I love creating monsters/npc combatants in 4ed. It is easy. In 3rd ed, it was a pain in the rear. Heck, in SW: Saga, Iron Heroes, and Mutants and Masterminds, it was a pain in the rear. 4th ed is the only system I've ever seen where it is fast, plain easy, and still results in fascinating and memorable encounters. This is the #1 thing that has turned me from a player and reluctant DM to a dedicated DM. This is the #1 thing I do NOT want to see changed in D&D.</li>
<li><b>An Emphasis on Movement and Terrain: </b>A good 4th ed fight is memorable and dynamic. First of all, because of the monsters, but second of all, because of all the interesting ways the powers can interact with terrain, movement, and obstacles. I don't want this to go away.</li>
<li><b>Constant Updates and Erratum: </b>I want a game that is being looked at and revised from time to time. Up until the introduction of the web-only character builder, I LOVED the fact that my game had gaming professionals offering me constant support that was easily referenced for my character. That said, I didn't love the handful of times they decided to go in a completely different direction with certain design principles (Magic Items, Tiefling racial power, and Magic Missile!). With this slow development involving open and dedicated play-testing, I hope the designers will be able to come up design paradigms and stick with them. </li>
</ul>
<b><u>Section 2: Things 4ed almost did. D&D next has an opportunity!</u></b><br />
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<ul>
<li><b>Defined and Unified Power-Source Mechanics: </b>Having a variety of ways to play DnD is awesome. 3rd ed did this pretty well (though the balance side of things was wonky), and 4ed figured this out to some small degree with Psionics and Essentials. When I heard that 4ed was doing explicit power sources I was excited. The fact that, in PHB1, all power sources looked essentially the same was a HUGE let down for me. I want martial classes that work like the Essentials martial classes: an emphasis on at-will abilities augmented with per-encounter utility, damage-add, and special-effect abilities. I want arcane classes with modified Vancian magic, able to add spells to their repertoire, their bread-and-butter in their daily abilities. I want Divine classes tied to the gods they serve with powers reflecting their Patron's portfolio, dictating or modifying their power choices. Your power source should MEAN something to HOW you play the game. This is the #1 thing I wish 4ed had done differently.</li>
<li><b>Non-combat Abilities: </b>Skills are a good way for characters to be able to do things out of combat, and skill powers were a neat step in the right direction for allowing some encounter application to skill training, but I don't think they went far enough. I feel like maybe most Utility powers should have been tied to either your Power Source or your Trained Skills, leaving your class itself out of the equation.</li>
<li><b>Skill Challenges: </b>I love the idea that there is a formalized framework in which to dictate success and failures in complicated non-combat situations. If you read this blog, you can probably tell. They should have taken this basic idea and provided expanded rules to use them in lots of ways: running a kingdom, commanding armies in mass-combat, crafting, or whatever seems like a cool thing for a PC to do in an adventure.</li>
<li><b>Key Words: </b>They were used. They should have been used better. I want to see Monsters, first and foremost, have keywords associated with more of their powers. I want the relationship between damage and keyword to be clear. I want there to be more powers and effects that trigger off of a larger variety of keywords. Make what each PC (and each monster) can do special. Give it as many good descriptors as you can so it can interact with things in a special way.</li>
<li><b>Rituals: </b>I love the idea of divorcing out-of-combat utility magic from combat magic. The way it was done was a little bit less than perfect and pretty much punished PCs for wanting to use rituals, creatively or otherwise. I want to find rituals a home somewhere between the abuses of 3ed and the worthlessness (Cost-benefit ratio) of so many 4ed rituals. </li>
</ul>
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<b><u>Section 3: Things 4th Edition didn't even try to do, but a new edition should.</u></b></div>
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<ul>
<li><b>"Advanced" and "Basic" Options: </b>3rd edition had Core material and everything else. 4th edition has an everything is core mentality. Core vs. Splat made everything not in the PHB seem optional, which is a very bad business proposition. Everything Core made it hard for a DM (or players, for that matter) to customize the level of complexity they wanted in their games. Other games I've seen have their core rules, but frequently have a section for "advanced" combat rules or even advanced overall rules. I think, if the game wants to make differentiation in levels of product, this is the divide to create. D&D's wealthy, younger cousin, M:tG does it. D&D once did it too (though, not exactly in the way I am suggesting, as I understand it-before my time.) Basic-only games could be great for Encounters sessions, tournament play, or for lightweight dungeon crawl campaigns for beginners in the hobby. Advanced games would be for veteran groups that need something to spice-up a previously basic game or for those epic home campaigns that last for years, have lots of character, and that keep you coming back to the hobby. This, and all of the ideas below I have related to this, is the #1 thing I feel like D&D Next could do to bring players back to the table.</li>
<li><b>"Needless" Symmetry in Design: </b>I LIKE symmetry. I think 4ed could have BENEFITED from some symmetry early on.<b> </b>The 4ed designers called it needless, but I call it elegant. Having a symmetrical and rigid framework in which to produce classes would have prevented such mis-steps as creating classes that received almost no support because the design space to support them was filled with existing classes (I am looking at YOU Seeker and Runepriest.) Would it have been so bad to have the Ranger as a Martial Controller (which Essentials did-very well), disabling his opponents with trick shots and precise slashes of his whirling blades? Could the Druid and Ranger have not just beaten up the Seeker and taken his stuff? Why wasn't the Runepriest a Cleric build? Maybe the Arcane classes benefited from redundancy (Warlock+Sorcerer and Bard+Artificer being the big argument in favor) but I still think using a rigid framework to motivate design is a solid idea.</li>
<li><b>Obviously Open Combat Options: </b>Even if it's just as a list of "Advanced" options in combat. "Basic" combat rules say I can move, second wind, shift, or make a basic attack on my turn. If we are playing with "Advanced" rules, the list can expand to charge, grab, disarm, trip, whatever. Now, this shouldn't discount powers being able to do these things TOO, the same way you can grab or charge in 4ed, but you can ALSO grab or charge with a myriad of specialized powers that have better reliability, more damage, and more flair. I say give people a chance at doing cool stuff if they really want to go for it. I feel like this would solve many of the problems people had with 4ed being too "restrictive."</li>
<li><b>Optional, Expanded, Modular Rule Sets: </b>These could be marketed as Advanced Options that might not have a home in all D&D campaigns, but could make D&D the default for any conceivable fantasy RP campaign. Give us modular rule-sets for Kingdom Building, Mass Combat, Naval Warfare, Running a business, Crafting, whatever! For bonus points, do it within whichever Skill Challenge structure you've already created to introduce ease of learning to players who want to drop these elements into their campaigns. Can't make money off of these books? Put them all into the same book with different chapters. Market it as a DMG. Still won't work? Put it in the magazines! This is the sort of content e-Dungeon should give DMs along with a few modules a month.</li>
</ul>
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There might be other things I don't even realize I love and would be heart-broken if they changed. There are things from previous editions I would be very put off by going back to that I don't even think of any more. This list may grow as I think on it, but it's a pretty comprehensive start. </div>
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What do you want in D&D Next? </div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-21381284651205439032012-01-18T10:00:00.000-05:002012-01-25T10:39:54.730-05:00Kingdom Building vs. Archetypes 2: Kingdom Building Utilities<div>
The goal with these powers is to give each PC an encounter ability that will actually be useful during Kingdom Building. Some classes grant a decent amount of skill-useful utilities (I'm looking at you Bard!) and Skill Powers are always great options, but I wanted to offer something special that can ONLY work during Kingdom Building play.</div>
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<b><i> Prince Oargev:</i></b> <br />
<b> Level 8:</b> You gain the <i>Inspirational Leadership</i> Utility power.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red; color: white;"><b>Inspirational Leadership </b>Prince Oargev Utility 8</span><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">When you decide what the focus of the coming months is, you inspire others to work towards that common goal.</span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Encounter * Kingdom Building <br />Standard Action <br />Effect:</b> Pick from the following Kingdom Building Keywords: Information, Domestic, Foreign, Philanthropic, Commercial, Research, or Diplomatic. Until the end of the encounter, you and all allies grant a +5 bonus rather than a +2 bonus when they aid another in a Policy with the keyword you selected. </span><br />
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<b><i>Cyran Patriot:</i></b><br />
<b>Level 8:</b> You gain the <i>Luck of the Common Man</i> Utility Power<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><b>Luck of the Common Man Cyran Patriot Utility 8</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>You travel in circles in which those of your station were never meant to travel. Others get by on their status, power, and allies. You get by on luck and skill alone. </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Encounter * Kingdom Building <br />Free Action<br />Trigger:</b> You roll a skill check during kingdom building and dislike the result. <br /><b>Effect:</b> Ignore this result. Roll twice and take the better of the two results.</span><br />
<b><i><br /> </i></b></div>
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<b><i>Cyran Noble:</i></b> <br />
<b>Level 8:</b> You gain the <i>Political Acumen</i> Utility Power</div>
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<b style="background-color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Expert Delegation Cyran Noble Utility 8</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>You have managed people all of your life. When you take the lead, those who work with you are a well-oiled machine.</i><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Encounter * Kingdom Building</b> <br /><b>Standard Action <br />Effect:</b> Select one Policy you own, have Supported, or have Pursued. You now know all Advantages the policy may have attached to it. In addition, you may use the aid another action for each ally who is Pursuing or Supporting this policy this round as a free action. You may not Pursue this policy until the next round. </span></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>Warforged Servant:</i></b> <br />
<b> Level 8:</b> You gain the <i>Yes, Master</i> Utility Power<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><b>Yes, Master Warforged Servant Utility 8</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Your devotion benefits all of your master’s pursuits.</i><br /><b>Encounter * Kingdom Building <br />Free Action</b> <br /><b>Trigger:</b> You successfully Aid Another<br /><b>Effect:</b> If the total result would hit the moderate DC, the success counts as a difficult success. </span></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>Dragonmarked Scion:</i></b> <br />
<i>I recently realized that the Dragonmark feats don't actually give a skill bonus like I thought they did. Since both my Action Point ability for the Dragonmark Scion and my planned level 8 ability involved a related skill, I decided to assign each Dragonmarked house the following related skill:</i><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div>
<b><u>Related Skills</u></b> </div>
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<ul>
<li>Cannith (Arcana)</li>
<li>Deneith (Endurance)</li>
<li>Ghallanda (Streetwise)</li>
<li>Jorasco (Heal)</li>
<li>Kundurak (Dungeoneering)</li>
<li>Lyrandar (Acrobatics)</li>
<li>Medani (Insight)</li>
<li>Orien (Athletics)</li>
<li>Phiarlan (Bluff)</li>
<li>Sivis (Diplomacy)</li>
<li>Tharashk (Perception)</li>
<li>Thuranni (Stealth)</li>
<li>Vadalis (Nature)</li>
</ul>
<b></b><br />
<div>
<b><b><br /></b></b></div>
<b>
Level 8:</b> You gain the <i>Let the Expert Take Over</i> Utility Power.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red; color: white;"><b>Let the Expert Take Over Dragonmarked Scion Utility 8</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The special training offered by your house makes up for the shortcomings of others</i><br /><b>Encounter * Kingdom Building <br />Free Action <br />Trigger:</b> An ally attempts a skill check in your house’s related skill and doesn't like the result<br /><b>Effect:</b> You may immediately make a skill check and use your result in place of your ally’s result. </span></div>
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<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div>
<i><b>Foreign National:</b> </i><b>Level 8:</b> You gain the <i>Outsider’s Insight</i> Utility Power</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><b>Outsider’s Insight Foreign National Utility 8</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Your knowledge of how things are done in another country gives you a unique perspective on local affairs.</i><br /><b>Encounter * Kingdom Building</b> <br /><b>Minor Action</b> <br /><b>Effect:</b> You may support or aid another a policy with the Domestic keyword. You gain a +5 power bonus to this roll. </span></div>
<div>
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div>
<i><b>Sovereign Priest:</b></i> <br />
<b>Level 8:</b> You gain the <i>Act Through Faith</i> Utility Power</div>
<div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Act Through Faith Sovereign Priest Utility 8</span></span></b></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Sometimes, just praying for a desired outcome is enough.</i><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Encounter * Kingdom Building <br />Standard Action </b></span><b style="font-size: small;"><br /></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Effect:</span><b style="font-size: small;"> </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">You may pursue, support or aid another a policy. Roll Religion for your check, but you may treat it as any counting as any skill of your choice (this affects aiding another, policy advantages, and limited uses of the religion skill on some policies).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div>
<b><i>Druidic Initiate:</i></b> <br />
<b>Level 8:</b> You gain the <i>Where the Wild Thing Are</i> Utility Power</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red; color: white;"><b>Where the Wild Things Are Druidic Initiate Utility 8</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>You have useful contacts throughout the world that can help your friends in need.</i><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Encounter * Kingdom Building <br />Minor Action<br />Effect:</b> Any Unit you send on a mission this round may reroll one Observation or Survival check, with a +2 power bonus.</span></div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-11737765490399786102012-01-11T10:00:00.000-05:002012-01-11T10:00:05.385-05:00More Rituals<div>
Note: Sorry for my holiday disappearance. The beginning and the end of semesters is a super-busy time for me, and I haven't had much time to blog. I hope to be back on a regular schedule soon.<br />
<br />
But as for rituals: The more I think about this skill-based ritual system, the more I like it. <br />
<br />
I wonder if, while giving rituals a level is still useful, seeing as we should have guidelines concerning at what level they should have these abilities and what the DC for checks should be, divorcing a PC's level from their ability to USE a ritual isn't a good idea.<br />
<br />
This makes rituals another great type of treasure. Using the treasure guidelines of giving out items of up to 4 levels above the PCs can give casters a chance to try a rituals that may be a little too tough for them, but not impossible, and very valuable. Also, while it would be easy to allow PCs to freely purchase rituals of their level or lower, you could pick and choose appropriate rituals you might want your PCs to have access to for plot reasons. In a very difficult and potentially deadly campaign, slipping the ritualist a raise dead ritual at level 4 might be useful, and while actually raising the dead could be tough for a little while, it would eventually become pretty much automatic.<br />
<br />
Now for an Epic Tier Arcane Ritual!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><u>True Portal</u></b></div>
<div>
<b>Level: </b>28</div>
<div>
<b>Type: </b>Arcane (Travel)</div>
<div>
<b>Initial Component Cost: </b>5,000 gp (see text)</div>
<div>
<b>Aid Another DC: </b>24</div>
<div>
<b>Failure Cost: </b>5,000 gp (see text)</div>
<div>
<b>Market Price: </b>425,000 gp</div>
<div>
<b>Duration: </b>Special</div>
<div>
This ritual works the same as Linked Portal, except as noted here.</div>
<div>
<b>Check 1: </b>Gather Arcane Energies (Arcana DC 40)</div>
<div>
<b>Check 2-4: </b>You are not limited to teleporting to places you've seen or that have permanent teleportation circles. However, when performing this ritual, you must describe your intended destination clearly and hold that description in your mind. "Lord Sommes's Audience Chamber" is sufficient, as is "the nearest temple of Kol Korran." Your description must use only place names and other static references; you can't say, "wherever Prince Oargev is." All participants in casting this ritual must seek the same location or the ritual automatically fails. (Nature or History DC 30)</div>
<div>
<b>Check 5: </b>You open the portal at the pictured location. If the destination is blocked by a warding ritual, the portal opens at a point along the ward's boundary. You can see through the portal before you enter, and you don't have to step through if you don't want to. (Arcana DC 30)</div>
<div>
You can use an existing teleportation circle as the origin point of this ritual, making minor temporary modifications as part of the ritual. Using a teleportation circle reduces the ritual's initial component cost and failure cost to 100 gp and grants a +5 bonus to your Arcana checks.<br />
<br />
<br />
I find myself, when designing these rituals, coming up with a pattern of:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>First Check: Gather appropriate Energy</li>
<li>Middle Checks: Craft the spell</li>
<li>Final Check: Execute the spell.</li>
</ul>
<br />
I am considering making this a formal part of the ritual, possibly even requiring the First and Final checks to be made by a caster with the appropriate ritual caster feat, and the middle checks to be made by anyone participating...<br />
<br /></div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-34653609196410040022011-12-20T10:00:00.000-05:002011-12-20T16:09:07.870-05:00Kingdom Building Part 6: Prince Oargev and the Duke of HazardsThis is the write-up I gave my PCs for the mission detailed in the last Kingdom Building post. By "gave them" I mean they watched me write, real-time, in Google docs, waiting to see what happened next:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span id="internal-source-marker_0.9936292197089642" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How it happened:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Knowing that no one on the council would be particularly excited about the prospect of the Crown Prince leading just over a hundred troops into Karrnath to find and rescue Duke Korlan, Oargev </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">tries to mask his leaving. He has the members of the Prince’s shield spread word around Metrol and all the way to the northern border that the Prince is embarking on yet another mercy mission to war-torn villages. </span><a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3219315/"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Intrigue Roll=18!</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Anyone who is paying attention to the Prince and his movements assume his northern trip is another mercy mission.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> As the the Prince and his retinue camp in the north, they join up with one of the northern army encampments. The plan is to sneak across the river under the cover of darkness and be deep into Karrnathi territory before anyone notices they’d gone. </span></span></span><a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3219326/"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Roll=13</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">! The crew sneaks across the river and moves deep into Karrnath. They find a copse of trees to set up camp for the evening.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The plan is for the Order of the Prince’s Shield to travel into nearby villages and try to find out where the Duke might be held while the Warforged and Oargev hide in the woods, keeping a perimeter to make sure no one who sees them makes it out alive. </span><a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3219337/"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Intrigue=30 and Combat=20</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The order is barely gone one day before they return with very solid information that the Duke is being kept in the dungeons beneath the Fortress of Atur. The one patrol that comes across your hidden camp doesn’t make it out alive.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The rescue mission moves quietly across Karrnath, through the Karrnwood to get to Atur. </span><a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3219365/"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Roll=19</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. They make it through silently and make camp again just southeast of Atur under the cover of the mountains and trees.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The Order of the Prince’s shield sneaks into the town surrounding Atur and hits the bars, drinking with the soldiers from the castle, learning what they can about it’s design and defenses. </span><a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3219374/"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Roll=13!</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> They find the soldiers tight lipped, and return to camp, determined to take another approach. Blade sends some of his best scouts to observe the castle over the next 24 hours, hoping they can find some weakness in their defenses that can be exploited. </span><a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3219381/"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Roll=11!</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> As far as they can tell, the fortress is impregnable. Amidst all of the waiting, Prince Oargev and Blade discuss amongst themselves old war accounts of Atur, and try to decide on an appropriate plan of action. </span><a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3219384/"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Roll=17</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Blade recalls a story he once heard about an Aundarian master spy who broke OUT of Atur. Oargev and blade piece together that story with the small pieces of information the Order and the Warforged are able to deliver and come up with a plan.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The plan is a concerted assault on a hidden sally-gate they remembered from the story that will take them into the dungeon. There they will kill the guards, grab the duke, and make their way quickly back south to Cyre. They make the attack! </span><a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3219398/"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Roll=15</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The fighting is brutal, and in the first assault, many members of the Order of the Prince’s shield are badly wounded, but the warforged press on, making their way into the dungeons. The dungeon guards, totally surprised, still manage to put up a fight. </span><a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3219406/"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Roll=19</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">! They find the Duke, break him out of prison, and flee the castle back through the way they came, disappearing into the dark woods, taking their fallen companions with them.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> They move quickly, hoping to beat any border reinforcements that might be summoned, staying ahead of any pursuit. As they leave the Karrnwood, they are faced with a patrol that heard them coming. </span><a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3219412/"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Roll=19</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The fighting is close, and the patrol manages to contain them, but the Warforged keep fighting! </span><a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3219417/"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Roll=17</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3219419/"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Roll=23</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3219422/"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Roll=12</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. It looks like the patrol is just biding their time. It seems that they might be waiting for a larger force to come up and finish the group off. </span><a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3219425/"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Roll=8</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> A much larger patrol arrives, and surrounds the warforged, the Prince, the weak duke, and what is left of the knights. </span><a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3219427/"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Roll=9</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Things start looking very grim as the army closes around the squad. </span><a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3219456/"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Roll=9.</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The fighting becomes more and more desperate. </span><a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3220133/"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Roll=13</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The assault from the Karrnath army breaks the circle of warforged. Prince Oargev is knocked unconscious.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The next the Prince knows, he wakes up in a tent, with Tact and Blade standing over him. When he asks what happened, he is told by Blade, “In the confusion, Tact and I were able to grab you and slip away from the fighting. Only a handful of your warforged made it away with us. We were unable to rescue any of your knights or the Duke. I apologize for our failure. We are back in Cyre.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your Mechanical Options: </span><br />
<ul>
<li style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can redo Order of the Prince’s shield to recruit a new crew of Prince’s Shield.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can also do a Policy of “Purchase and Train Warforged Unit from Cannith” to put together a new warforged unit. </span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The warforged unit you had has now turned into a Hero Unit (level 4) called “Prince Oargev’s Warforged Bodyguards.” This is Blade, Tact, and 8 other warforged.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Mission debriefing:</b> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Talking to the warforged, they tell you that, once it was clear they had lost the battle, Blade commanded most of the surviving warforged to hold the line while they got the Prince to safety. They also tried to bring out the Duke, but the warforged carrying him was struck down. You get the sense that Blade is deeply saddened by the loss of the warforged, but not saying anything. He does ask you if you plan on rebuilding the unit, commissioning more warforged from the Cannith forges. He mentions he would be more than happy to train new recruits.</span></div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-79605724847214811652011-12-16T11:39:00.002-05:002011-12-16T11:39:34.356-05:00A New Look at RitualsSorry this post is late. End of semester stuff got crazy!<br />
<br />
Rituals were a great concept in solving the God-mode wizard and cleric problems of previous editions. That said, I don't love how it was executed. Making them take some time and costing a little something is a pretty good idea, but overall, I've only ever found a few that were useful.<br />
<br />
My idea is to make rituals involve more of the party, working like many ritual-casting systems I've seen in LARPs, take up some time, but more time as detailed in rounds rather than in minutes or hours, and maybe be more affordable--but less automatic. I'd also like to see the spells a little bit specific to certain power sources, as, right now, Wizards are as likely to raise the dead as Clerics. This bothers me.<br />
<br />
When looking for 4ed solutions, of course, I went to the Skill challenge. By making each ritual a self-contained skill challenge, you make the casting of these complex spells happen in stages, be difficult, but possible to complete in combat, and allow the whole party to get involved, if they so choose. <br />
<br />
First change: the entry feat to a set of feats:<br />
<b>Arcane Ritualist </b><br />
<b>Tier: </b>Heroic<br />
<b>Prerequisites: </b>Trained in Arcana; Arcane power source.<br />
<b>Benefit: </b>You can master, lead, and perform rituals of your level or lower whose prerequisites you meet. You are treated as trained in any skill check you roll during a ritual challenge (granting you a +5 bonus to the check if you are not already trained in it.) At levels 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 you learn one ritual with the Arcane prerequisite for free. At heroic tier, you may cast 1 arcane ritual per day without paying the initial component cost. At paragon tier this increases to two arcane rituals and at epic tier, 3.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Divine Ritualist </b><br />
<b>Tier: </b>Heroic<br />
<b>Prerequisites: </b>Trained in Religion; Divine power source.<br />
<b>Benefit: </b>You can master, lead, and perform rituals of your level or lower whose prerequisites you meet. You are treated as trained in any skill check you roll during a ritual challenge (granting you a +5 bonus to the check if you are not already trained in it.) At levels 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 you learn one ritual with the Divine prerequisite for free. At heroic tier, you may cast 1 divine ritual per day without paying the initial component cost. At paragon tier this increases to two divine rituals and at epic tier, 3.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Primal Ritualist </b><br />
<b>Tier: </b>Heroic<br />
<b>Prerequisites: </b>Trained in Nature; Primal power source.<br />
<b>Benefit: </b>You can master, lead, and perform rituals of your level or lower whose prerequisites you meet. You are treated as trained in any skill check you roll during a ritual challenge (granting you a +5 bonus to the check if you are not already trained in it.) At levels 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 you learn one ritual with the Primal prerequisite for free. At heroic tier, you may cast 1 primal ritual per day without paying the initial component cost. At paragon tier this increases to two primal rituals and at epic tier, 3.<br />
<br />
These feats help preserve the classic spell lists without making a character who wants a wide variety of rituals available to him have to spend a ton of feats to cast rituals of multiple types. All half-elves could easily gain access to two ritual types through their dilettante power. Most classes have an initial multi-class feat that offers an at-will power as an encounter power, which would also satisfy this requirement. I am okay with a wizard having to at least dabble in divine magic in order to cast divine rituals. These feats also alleviate a little bit of the never using rituals because initially getting them and then casting them is so expensive problems. A few free-bees should make them a regular part of adventuring life.<br />
I included the bonus to untrained skills because I wanted trained ritualists to be at least decent at all parts of rituals, even those that require non-traditional skill checks (like Endurance to control the arcane energies present, or Diplomacy to bargain with the outsider you are seeking answers from). That said, a wizard will likely still welcome a mighty warrior to channel the arcane energies through, as his 20 Con+training will likely be superior to the wizard's. Also, with more checks made towards the casting of the ritual per round, the faster the ritual can be completed (when the caster doesn't have to do it all himself.) The caster Leading the ritual can take no actions other than maintaining the ritual. Helpers can contribute to a ritual whenever appropriate, and they don't need to have a ritual casting feat in order to help. The Leader spending all of his round "working" on the ritual represents him talking the others through their roll in the ritual.<br />
<br />
<b>Sample Ritual</b><br />
<br />
Raise Dead<br />
<b>Level:</b> 8<br />
<b>Type: </b>Divine (Restoration)<br />
<b>Initial Component Cost: </b>Special<br />
<b>Aid Another DC: </b>14<br />
<b>Failure Cost: </b>Special<br />
<b>Market Price: </b>680 gp<br />
<b>Duration: </b>Instantaneous<br />
To perform the Raise Dead ritual, you must have a part of the corpse of a creature that died no more than 30 days ago. You must prepare the body with enough mystic salves equal to the dead creatures level x 25 gp at heroic tier. At paragon tier it requires mystic salves equal to the creature's level x 250 gp. At epic tier, it requires mystic salves equal to the creature's level x 2,500 gp. <br />
<b>Check 1: </b>Petition Divine Intervention (Religion DC 24)<br />
<b>Check 2, 4, 6, 8: </b>Rebuild the Broken Body (Heal DC 24)<br />
<b>Check 3, 5, 7, 9: </b>Survive the Shock of the Body Rebuilt (Endurance DC 12; May only be made by the target of the ritual. This is the only skill check the dead character can make. The character may not be aided on these checks).<br />
<b>Check 10: </b>Find the missing soul (Insight DC 12)<br />
<b>Check 11: </b>Bring the missing soul back into the body (Diplomacy DC 12)<br />
<b>Check 12: </b>Reunite Body and Soul (Religion DC 24)<br />
The subject returns to life as if he or she had taken an extended rest. The subject is freed of any temporary conditions suffered at death, but permanent conditions remain. The subject immediately loses 1 healing surge per failure suffered during the ritual attempt. The number of healing surges lost increases to 2 per failure at paragon tier, and 3 per failure at epic tier. If the subject does not have enough healing surges to sustain this loss, he loses HP equal to his Surge Value for each healing surge he lacks. <br />
The subject returns with a death penalty: -1 to all attack rolls, skill checks, saving throws, and ability checks. This death penalty fades after the subject reaches 3 milestones.<br />
You can't restore life to a creature that has been petrified or a creature that died of old age.<br />
The subject's soul must be free and willing to return to life. Some magical effects trap the soul and thus prevent raise dead from working. <br />
A failed ritual can be tried again.<br />
<br />
This ritual still shouldn't be done in combat, as each skill check should probably take a standard action, and 1 cleric, acting alone, couldn't get it done faster than 7 rounds, spending an action point, assuming no failures. This ritual will be very hard to successfully perform on low-level PCs, as they may have a hard time hitting the high Religion and Heal DCs. Aiding another makes this ritual more sure, but still difficult. That's why I made it so inexpensive for heroic tier characters to be raised: failure will probably happen and have to be factored into that cost. On the flip side, Epic tier characters pay much more in this system, but should have no problems hitting the DCs regularly. Plus, Epic tier characters have so many ways to cheat death, it's silly, so it will likely come up only rarely.<br />
<br />
My idea for the complexity of each ritual (# of checks required, how many hard DCs, how many built-in advantages) charts directly with how much time the original ritual required:<br />
<br />
1 or 5 minutes: Complexity 1 (4 successes, all moderate)<br />
10 minutes: Complexity 2 (6 successes, 1 difficult)<br />
30 minutes: Complexity 3 (8 successes, 2 difficult, 2 advantages)<br />
1 hour: Complexity 4 (10 successes, 3 difficult, 4 advantages)<br />
8 hours: Complexity 5 (12 successes, 4 difficult, 6 advantages)<br />
<br />
I decided to ignore the rule that each PC can only get 1 success for a use of any given skill. To counter that advantage to the PCs, I am also ignoring the rule that PCs get to pretty much pick whichever skills they want to use, giving them a prescriptive order and difficulty of skills.<br />
<br />
A failed check would cause whatever complications are involved in the ritual, and would need to be rerolled. 3 failures in a ritual would require the ritual be aborted, the initial components lost, and the ritual begun again.<br />
In the coming weeks, I will rewrite some other rituals using this system.<br />
<br />Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-80483842451280636432011-12-13T10:00:00.000-05:002011-12-13T10:00:00.749-05:00Kingdom Building Part 5: MissionsHere's the not so well kept secret: in Kingdom Building, Missions, like Policies, are just slightly modified Skill Challenges.<br />
<br />
A sample mission:<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span id="internal-source-marker_0.6328700580634177" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>The Duke of Hazards:</b> Rescue Duke Korlan ir'Varak from Karrnathi imprisonment.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Level 8 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Complexity 3<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>DC 12/16/24</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Required Successes (6 moderate, 2 hard)</span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Intrigue: 1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Espionage: 2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Espionage or Combat: 3<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Research, Observation, or Intrigue: 2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Special Rules:</i> </span><ul><ul>
<li style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: circle; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Two espionage checks vs. Easy DC count as a moderate success.</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This follows many of the basic skill challenge guidelines. The DCs and required successes are set exactly as the Skill Challenge rules are laid out. "Special Rules" take the place of "Advantages" but are the exact same thing with a different name. Since Units only have 6 "skills" with which to make checks, I eliminated the rule that allows for limited successes with any given skill; in fact, I codified that rule by outlining exactly which competencies were required, and in what amounts, to win the mission. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I build a challenge by outlining exactly what the mission is supposed to be. If it should be simple for the PCs to send minions to accomplish this, I make it PC level -2. If it should be a moderate challenge, I set it to PC level+1, and if it should be practically impossible, but within reach, I set it to PC level +4. Then, to set complexity, I make a list of things they will have to accomplish to win, i.e how many checks they will need to make. This helps me gain an understanding of how complex the mission needs to be.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the above sample, I knew that, per <i>The Forge of War, </i>Cyre's elite adventuring/espionage group, the Champions of the Bell, gain fame for saving Duke Korlan, so I didn't want it to be easy for the Prince and his Order to Change history; it could be possible, but not easy, so the difficulty was set at level 8 (Level 4 PC + 4). Then I set the challenges. To win, the adventurers would need to:</span></span></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make an excuse to be at the northern border or get permission from the Queen to invade Karrnath. (Intrigue)</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get out of Cyre without the rest of the military noticing (Espionage)</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Move past the Karrnathi border patrol without engaging the army (Espionage)</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Find out where the Duke is being held Prisoner (Research, Observation, or Intrigue)</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get to the prison (Espionage or Combat)</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Figure out a way inside the prison (Research, Observation, or Intrigue)</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Break into the Prison (Espionage or Combat)</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get back out of Karrnath with the Duke (Espionage or Combat)</span></span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">With 8 distinct tasks, it seemed complexity 3 was perfect. I selected 2 cases of moderate success with hitting easy DC for Espionage checks because the essence of this mission was espionage: I wanted whomever attempted this mission to feel like they could at least compete, even if Espionage wasn't their main deal.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Things I still need to consider about missions:</b></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>1. </b>How should I handle missions when a PC wants to send multiple units on a mission together? My initial reaction was to use whichever unit had the best competency for each roll, but to assign failures to both sets of stamina, no matter who made the check. I would consider opening it up, allowing the PC to pick which of the multiple units would make each check, only penalizing the unit who attempting the task, and even allowing aid-another checks, with the drawback that a failure would penalize both units. I'd love to debate the virtues of both systems with anyone who has ideas, and would also appreciate any alternate ideas anyone might have.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>2. </b>Can a PC do a mission without being attached to another unit? I have a PC whose unit ALWAYS failed missions, because dice rolls were bad and their math was never quite good enough. The PC wanted to just do the missions solo, but if just the PC were doing the mission, why not just run it? Time constraints and the desire to entertain everyone nixed that idea, but after looking at what some LARPs are experimenting with, concerning how much can be done with in-between game actions, I decided to consider ways to let individual PCs (or small groups of them) attempt missions. Should I just let them make appropriate skill challenges instead of competencies? Should I convert them into "Heroic Unit" stats somehow and let them try the mission the same way an NPC would? Would that allow me to eliminate the attachment rules I am not happy with and just let the PC's "Mission Stats" also go on the mission?</span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next time in Kingdom Building: a sample mission, fully executed.</span></span></div>
</div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-59747562026916469472011-12-08T11:00:00.000-05:002011-12-08T11:00:04.828-05:00Party Favors!<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Two of the biggest policies completed in Kingdom Building were Prince Oargev's planning of his own wedding and Istav's secret planning of Prince Oargev's bachelor's party. Other than researching rituals to summon Succubus Dancers, inviting all of the young and powerful of Cyre and Breland, hiring the finest caterers, and buying the biggest stash of alcohol Metrol had ever seen, Istav bartered with House Cannith to provide party favors. These are what Cannith donated as advertisements: </span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Level 2 Magic Items: Cannith Fortune Stones</b></span></span><br />
<div>
<ul>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Stone of Cannith: </span></b><b>(Daily):</b> Free Action: Trigger: You are hit by an attack with the Fire keyword. Effect: The opponent who hit you rerolls the attack roll. If the reroll is a 20, this magic item is destroyed. </li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Stone of Deneith: </span></b><b><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>(Daily): </b>Free Action: Trigger: You are hit by a melee attack with the Weapon keyword. </span></span></b>Effect: The opponent who hit you rerolls the attack roll. If the reroll is a 20, this magic item is destroyed.</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Stone of Ghallanda: </span></b><b><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>(Daily): </b>Free Action: Trigger: You are hit by an attack that includes Forced Movement. </span></span></b>Effect: The opponent who hit you rerolls the attack roll. If the reroll is a 20, this magic item is destroyed.</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Stone of Jorasco:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b> (Daily): </b>Free Action: Trigger: You are hit by an attack with the Poison keyword. </span>Effect: The opponent who hit you rerolls the attack roll. If the reroll is a 20, this magic item is destroyed.</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Stone of Kundarak:</span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-weight: normal;"><b> (Daily): </b>Free Action: Trigger: You are hit by an attack that targets Fortitude Defense. </span></span></b>Effect: The opponent who hit you rerolls the attack roll. If the reroll is a 20, this magic item is destroyed.</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Stone of Lyrandar:</span></b><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b> (Daily): </b>Free Action: Trigger: You are hit by an attack with the Lightning keyword. </span></span>Effect: The opponent who hit you rerolls the attack roll. If the reroll is a 20, this magic item is destroyed.</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Stone of Medani:</span></b><b><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b> (Daily): </b>Free Action: Trigger: You are hit by a a ranged attack with the Weapon keyword. </span></span></b>Effect: The opponent who hit you rerolls the attack roll. If the reroll is a 20, this magic item is destroyed.</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Stone of Orien:</span></b><b><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b> (Daily): </b>Free Action: Trigger: You are hit by an attack that targets Reflex Defense. </span></span></b>Effect: The opponent who hit you rerolls the attack roll. If the reroll is a 20, this magic item is destroyed.<b><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></b></li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Stone of Phiarlan:</span></b><b><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b> (Daily): </b>Free Action: Trigger: You are hit by an attack with the Charm keyword. </span></span></b>Effect: The opponent who hit you rerolls the attack roll. If the reroll is a 20, this magic item is destroyed.</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Stone of Sivis:</span></b><b><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b> (Daily): </b>Free Action: Trigger: You are hit by an attack that targets Will Defense. </span></span></b>Effect: The opponent who hit you rerolls the attack roll. If the reroll is a 20, this magic item is destroyed.</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Stone of Tharashk:</span></b><b><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-weight: normal;"><b><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b> (Daily): </b>Free Action: Trigger: You are hit by an area attack. </span></span></b></span></b>Effect: The opponent who hit you rerolls the attack roll. If the reroll is a 20, this magic item is destroyed.<b><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-weight: normal;"><b><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></b></span></b></li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Stone of Thuranni:</span></b><b><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-weight: normal;"><b><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-weight: normal;"><b><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b> (Daily): </b>Free Action: Trigger: You are hit by an attack with the Necrotic keyword. </span></span></b></span></b></span></b>Effect: The opponent who hit you rerolls the attack roll. If the reroll is a 20, this magic item is destroyed.</li>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Stone of Vadalis:</span></b><b><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-weight: normal;"><b><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-weight: normal;"><b><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-weight: normal;"><b><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b> (Daily): </b>Free Action: Trigger: You are hit by an attack with the Cold keyword. </span></span></b></span></b></span></b></span></b>Effect: The opponent who hit you rerolls the attack roll. If the reroll is a 20, this magic item is destroyed.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Lesser Stone Benefits</span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Wielders Benefit</span></b></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2 </b>Each ally who bears a stone gains an item bonus to the defense targeted by the rerolled attack granted by their stone equal to the number of allies with stones they can see.</span></div>
<div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div>
These were inspired by the Luck Stone magic items from Adventurer's Vault, but at a much lower level, no way to specifically plan to take advantage of them, and with a significant drawback. Still, they seemed useful to keep around. The copies the PCs got were "experimental" products deemed safe, but unstable. I had the PCs roll to get a random stone.</div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-42744287083693359512011-12-06T10:00:00.000-05:002011-12-16T11:50:56.352-05:00Kingdom Building Part 4: Units<i>Early on in my development of Kingdom Building, I realized that, of my 3 PCs, 2 were very much skill-focused and likely to be very successful in Kingdom building. However, Prince Oargev was a Paladin with few trained skills and one skill related utility power, and I figured he could use something else to do during Kingdom Building. It seemed, from that point, that the obvious answer was to give Oargev (and the other PCs, should they wish it) the opportunity to raise armies, units, or other groups and send them to do stuff in their place.</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>This is what I came up with:</i><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.5939396054018289" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rule for Units:</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Units represent groups of soldiers, adventurers, or other groups that can be commanded to complete tasks on the behalf of the PCs. They don’t have combat statistics like regular monsters, NPCs or PCs. They are designed to interact with Policies or Missions.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Competencies:</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are six core Competencies that all units have. These Competencies are abstractions that represent how good a unit might be in certain types of situations. Each Competency has a number of related skills. If a unit is called on the make a skill check (such as when it is Supporting a Policy, it can use this competency modifier in place of a skill modifier.)</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Combat: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The unit’s ability to fight. This includes all forms of combat, physical and magical.</span></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Related Skills:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Arcana, Athletics, Endurance, Intimidate, Religion</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Survival: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The unit’s ability to live off the land and endure extraordinary hardships </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Related Skills: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Acrobatics, Athletics, Endurance, Heal, Nature, Perception</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Espionage: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The unit’s ability to sneak, set traps, and engage in other clandestine activities. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Related Skills: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Acrobatics, Bluff, Diplomacy, Dungeoneering, Stealth, Streetwise, Thievery</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Research: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What the unit knows and what they can find out. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Related Skills: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arcana, Dungeoneering, Heal, History, Nature, Religion, Streetwise</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Observation: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How well the unit can perceive and understand the world around it. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Related Skills: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Insight, Perception, Stealth, Thievery</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Intrigue: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The unit ability to negotiate, lie, or engage in other social situations. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Related Skills: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bluff, Diplomacy, History, Insight, Intimidate</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Competency modifier of a Unit is determined by how good a unit is at the particular Competencies.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Specialty: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Competency modifier equals ½ level+10 (round down). At Paragon Tier, and again at Epic Tier, it gains a +3 bonus to this skill check. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trained: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Competency modifier equals ½ level+2 (round down). At Paragon Tier, and again at Epic Tier, it gains a +2 bonus to this skill check. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Untrained: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Competency modifier equals ½ level-3 (round down). At Paragon Tier, and again at Epic Tier, it gains a +1 bonus to this skill check.</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i> I wanted to give Units stats that paralleled the core 6 abilities, but with lots of simplicity. Strength is a PCs ability to exert force on the world, so that became the unit's "Combat" stat. Constitution is a PC's ability to survive, so I converted it to a unit's ability to live off the land and survive in dangerous environments: "Survival." Dexterity is all about a PC's ability to physically manipulate the world, and "Espionage" seemed to be a good equivalent to a unit's ability to break, enter, lie, and steal. Intelligence represents what a PC knows, similarly, "Research" is what a Unit can find out.</i></span></span><i style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Wisdom represents a PC's understanding of the world around him, whereas "Observation" represents a Unit's ability to see what is going on. Finally, "Intrigue" represent's a group's social skills the same way Charisma reflect's a PC's force of personality.</i></div>
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<i style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Since I wanted these six Competencies to represent what a unit can do, I didn't want a Unit to be very good at all of them, in order to make for differentiation. I also couldn't always decide where to place each skill. The combination of those two factors led me to include every skill in two different lists. </i></div>
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<i style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I am not very happy with the bonus levels as I have them now. I want to keep 3 levels of competency, and I want it to level up fairly linearly. Right now, units pretty much always fail Untrained checks and pretty much always succeed at Specialty checks. This makes finishing a complete mission involving a variety of checks next to impossible. I developed these numbers by looking at the standard Easy, Moderate, and Difficult DCs for each level and subtracting 10 from each DC. Then I tried to make a line-of-best fit equation that fit each progression. I had to use a per-tier boost to make the line fit well. I'd love to get suggestions on how to have 3 levels of skill that will be pretty effective in completing challenges of their level.</i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Level: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All units have a level. Hero units level up after a number of successful missions equal to their level. Military Units have a starting level related to their size and can only level up once they become veterans.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Starting Military Level</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Level 1: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">25-79 troops</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Level 2: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">80-299 troops</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Level 3: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">300-2,999 troops</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Level 4: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3,000-5,000 troops</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><i> I figured military units probably don't gain a lot of benefit from being very experienced, they get better the BIGGER they are. Heroes, on the other hand, keep getting better and more deadly.</i><br /><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Special Orders: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most units have special abilities or effects that they can be commanded to utilize.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stamina: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How many failures in missions a unit can sustain before it is broken.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Broken: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A unit that has failed a number of Competency checks on missions equal to their Stamina rating is Broken. The exact definition of “Broken” depends on the mission the unit is attempting when it reaches its final failure. Removing the Broken condition usually involves completing a Policy or Mission.</span><i><br /></i><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Training: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each unit has a certain level of training. Most units have Standard training. Some, primarily conscripts and peasants, have Minion training. The best units have Elite training. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Minion Unit: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stamina is reduced to 1. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Standard Unit: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No modifications to stats.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Elite Unit: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">+1 to Stamina (after multiplier, if any), +1 to any one Competency. Elite Military Units may level up as heroes.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Type: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are two types of units, Hero Units and Military Units.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hero Unit: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">small</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">groups of heroes (less than 25 members). These units have 1 Specialty Competency, 2 Trained Competencies, and 3 Untrained Competencies. They have Stamina equal to their level+2. They may be issued commands to work on both Policies and Missions. They level up after completing a number of missions equal to their level.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Military Units: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Large army units (25-5,000 troops). These units have 3 Trained Competencies and 3 Untrained Competencies. They have Stamina equal to twice their base level. You must have Military Credentials to send them on missions. They gain one level when they become “veterans,” completing a number of missions equal to their base level. This only increases their Stamina by 1. They may not work on Policies. </span></span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This </span>differentiation<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> show the difference between conscripts (military minions), regular soldiers (military standard), and the units that DO get better the more they accomplish (military elites). It also shows the difference between what diverse, small bands of adventurers can do vs. what homogeneous military forces can do.</span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unit Actions: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Issue Orders (Standard Action)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: You command one non-Broken unit you control and can communicate with to work towards a certain goal until they fail, are successful, or until a period of time you have specified has expired. Orders you can issue include:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Complete a Policy:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Only Hero units can be ordered to Complete a Policy. Each round, they will attempt either the “Support a Policy” or “Aid Another” action once. They may only work on policies that have already been started by a PC. They will always make their check using whichever of the policy’s key skills they have the highest modifier in. If another PC is attempting this policy with the skill they are using (either Pursue or Support) they will aid another. Otherwise, they will Support the policy.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Attempt a Mission:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The unit will make a number of Competency checks to complete their mission. They make all of their Competency checks at once, not one per round like Policy skill checks. Missions are developed in a joint effort of the PC and DM, designing mission parameters and objectives. If more than one unit has been assigned to a mission, they aid another every Competency check. The Unit with the highest modifier takes the lead, and all Units with a lower modifier aid them.</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Split a Unit (Minor): </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You may split a Military Unit into two Military Units of one level lower. The Unit’s Stamina is reduced by two. The unit’s Competency modifiers are adjusted accordingly. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Resting (Free): </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A unit commanded to not given any commands for a round reduces the number of failures they have suffered by 1 at the end of the round.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Attach to a Unit (Free Action): </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the very first action of a Kingdom Building phase, a PC may decide to attach to a Unit. This offers some significant benefits to the unit. Compare the number of the PC’s related skill modifiers that are greater than one of the Unit’s Competency modifier. The unit gains a bonus to that Competency modifier equal to the number of PC skill modifiers greater that the Unit’s Competency modifier. Do this for each competency. The final Competency modifier may not exceed the PC’s highest related skill modifier in that competency. An attached PC cannot do anything but Issue Orders or Split a Unit. They may detach as the first action of the following round.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>I am not happy with the attachment rules right now. They work, but they take too long to calculate.</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Example:</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Order of the Prince’s Shield (Standard Level 1 hero unit)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Combat:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>+2</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Survival:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>-3</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Espionage:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>-3</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Research:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>-3</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Observation:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>+2</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Intrigue:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>+10</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">STAMINA:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>0/3</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Special Orders: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Social Creatures: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You may spend a standard action to throw a banquet for the Order of the Prince’s Shield. If you do so, reduce the number of Failures they have suffered by two.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Replaceable: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If the Order of the Prince’s Shield is broken, you may reform them by completing the Manage Order of the Prince’s Shield Policy at the level of the broken unit. They return at the same level as they were before being broken. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Order of the Prince’s Shield (Prince Oargev attached) (Standard Level 1 hero unit)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Combat:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>+5</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Survival:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>+2</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Espionage:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>+1</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Research:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>+3</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Observation:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>+4</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Intrigue:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>+10</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">STAMINA:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>0/3</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Special Orders: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Social Creatures: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You may spend a standard action to throw a banquet for the Order of the Prince’s Shield. If you do so, reduce the number of Failures they have suffered by two.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Replaceable: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If the Order of the Prince’s Shield is broken, you may reform them by completing the Manage Order of the Prince’s Shield Policy at the level of the broken unit. They return at the same level as they were before being broken. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Next time, in Kingdom Building, we'll look at how missions are put together, and later, how I'd use Units and Missions to resolve mass-combat in 4ed.</i></span></span></div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-12960784683177413602011-12-01T10:00:00.000-05:002011-12-01T10:00:01.716-05:00The Order of the Prince's ShieldAs far as I can tell, for me, playing Dungeons and Dragons has the following rewards (in no particular order):<div>
<ol>
<li>Spending time with people you like.</li>
<li>Story rewards, allowing me, the player, to tell about the cool things my characters have done</li>
<li>Gaining XP, allowing your character to get new cool abilities</li>
<li>Getting magic items, allowing your character to have new cool stuff</li>
</ol>
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I have a hard time maintaining interest in a game if all four of these are not being met. I suck and maintaining commitment to Play-by-Post games because of a lack of #1. I have never had a game where I felt like #2 wasn't trying to be met by the DM, though I have had other players make telling the kind of story I wanted told difficult by going in a very different direction or bringing a very different tone to the table. Generally, I like #3 to move along quickly, but being able to build out my characters to future levels easily with the character builder satisfies much of that craving. That said, even in earlier editions, I had notebooks full of potential builds, feat selections, and skill allocations. That brings me to my love/hate experience with #4. </div>
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Magic items are neat, and some of the neatest magic items are too neat to put in the hands of players at a low level. Ancestral weapons or other career-defining items are cool for heroes to have, but characters can very easily outgrow them, leaving them in the awkward position of saying, "Yes, this is my ancestral blade, but that is a +3 flaming greatsword...I'll put my blade away somewhere safe now so it can be handed down to my son when he's a level 1 adventurer." Beyond that, the math that new magic items give a PC is important, and having bigger numbers is just plain FUN. Story purists might argue, but for me, as much as I like story, I want to play a bad-ass as well. Gear is a part of that.</div>
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My friend and first DM, Harbinger of Doom, tried to solve this problem in the first long term D&D campaign I ever played in. One of the characters was a blacksmith-turned-cleric who had crafted his very own greatsword. As he leveled up, HoD gave him some opportunities to test himself and strengthen the ties he had with his sword, causing his sword to gain magical properties. Eventually, the Cleric took "Craft Magic Arms and Armor." That helped. Later down the road, my PC, a Fighter/Wizard focused in counter-magic, found an intelligent magic falchion and I had some say in giving it magic capabilities when I performed a ceremony of naming, giving it a name. </div>
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In 4th edition, the Transfer Enchantment ritual from Adventurer's Vault solves some of this problem, letting you transfer away old enchantments from your blade, and transferring in new enchantments from other items. And while I love the original DMG principal that all magic items should be cool items that your party will want to use and approach my DMing with both wish lists and the parcel system in its entirety, I find giving the PC who is going to want the flaming greataxe +1-+6 a new slightly stronger flaming weapon, much less flaming greataxe, a little strange. The following is my partial solution to the matter of D&D and Magic Items:</div>
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<br /></div>
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At the end of my PC's first adventure, I gifted each of them with a medal called the "Order of the Prince's Shield." It takes up no item slot and can't reasonably be sold. In-game, the PCs were told that this medal collected ambient residuum given off from the magical nature of the cosmos, strongest where spell effects take place, and uses it to spontaneously strengthen existing magic item enchantments. AKA: it lets me increase the +2 greataxe into a +3 greataxe instead of giving out the upgrade as treasure. This means a PC who really likes the magic sword they found at level 3 can keep that sword his entire adventuring career. It will keep growing stronger. I account for these increases in power as a treasure parcel, and it encourages me to describe each and every magic item I hand out with interesting details, making magic items magical again and a true part of the characters,</div>
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<br /></div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-70810600225047216332011-11-29T10:00:00.000-05:002011-11-29T10:00:07.788-05:00Encounters: Bar Fight!One of the goals I have in my Eberron campaign is to hit as many of the big pulp tropes as possible: train heist, airship adventure, ancient temple, cultists, secret science installation, you know, the important ones. And of course, the one trope that transcends all genres: the bar fight.<br />
<br />
With my PCs recently heading into Sharn, I decided that a big-city bar brawl would be a great opportunity to let them bar fight while they were still low enough level that a bar-fight could be a reasonable challenge. Once this was decided, I figured I should do what Harbinger of Doom did and make alternate powers for my PCs to use in the bar fight. My next thought was that I have three Essentials PCs that don't have the traditional At-Will, Encounter, Daily structure: Art the Changeling Thief and Tact the Warforged Slayer have no attack powers at all; Bosh the Valenar Elf Hunter has a single encounter attack power. That's not to say these characters don't have combat options--they have combat useful class abilities, triggered powers, and utilities that make them REALLY strong. Because of this, I decided to go a new direction to make bar-fighting fun.<br />
<br />
I handed each of the PCs this list:<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span id="internal-source-marker_0.4168068626895547" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bar Fight Weapons:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Melee Attack Bonus <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Damage<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Special Qualities</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Fist<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> +1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1d4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Unarmed</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Stool<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> +0<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1d12<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2-handed, Brutal 1</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pool Cue<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> +1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1d10<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2-handed, Reach</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Bottle (Unbroken) +0<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1d6<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1-handed, High Crit., off-hand</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Bottle (Broken) +0<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1d6<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sneak Attack, Off-hand</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pewter Tankard +0<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1d6<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Defensive, Off-hand</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Chair Leg<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> +1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1d8<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Versatile</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ranged<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Attack Bonus <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Damage<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Special Qualities<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Range</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dart<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> +1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1d4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sneak Attack<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>5/10</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Bottle<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> +0<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1d6<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>High Crit.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> 3/6</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Platter<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> +0<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1d10<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Brutal 1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> 5/10</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Plate<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> +0<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1d8<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Brutal 1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> 5/10</span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Billiard Ball +1 1d6 Brutal 1 5/10</span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I told them, for all attacks, to just use their standard math with their standard gear-but to use the item with which they were attacking's dice, special qualities, and a bonus to the attack roll, if applicable. This changed their combat effectiveness very minimally. My one caster is a bard, and I figured if there was any sort of magic that was acceptable in a bar fight, bardic magic would be it.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Other rule modifications: All damage was "nonlethal." For the PCs, what that meant was that if they dropped to 0 HP, they could still make "death saves," but they'd never accrue failures-they could, however, roll a 20 and get back into the fight.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And the main combatant:</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswcxN3Bd-g-BgiHFISBrNGf6pdcQ3yEBj5Cza1LNRvxjq6QXZ_AV2Z7Bf2dU4OjT_KcC3DJMo72x1HhFGH6QvVeh-7GHGUWm26PO275Ira_rEV-jM0TPhfW04d6nc-FDchvgY0OMlT9k/s1600/BarWarrior.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswcxN3Bd-g-BgiHFISBrNGf6pdcQ3yEBj5Cza1LNRvxjq6QXZ_AV2Z7Bf2dU4OjT_KcC3DJMo72x1HhFGH6QvVeh-7GHGUWm26PO275Ira_rEV-jM0TPhfW04d6nc-FDchvgY0OMlT9k/s1600/BarWarrior.PNG" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This guy managed to do what I wanted: instill fear into the PCs. It helped that I scored a crit on the poor, defenseless elf on the first punch of the fight, but his other abilities were impressive.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bear Hug+Hurl proved to be a powerful way to control the fight and deal with being outnumbered. I changed Bear Hug to target Reflex, because it made more sense. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I recharged it a lot early in the fight, which made Lurg particularly hated. One-Two punch made for some useful bread-and-butter attacks, once again, taking advantage of a little bit of control, keeping the fight, at least a little bit, on his terms.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The rest of the combatants were minions with a twist: each of them had a "defeated state." For some, their defeated state was simply dropped, for others, like the bouncer, the defeated state was to do something else, like barricade themselves in the back with the money.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because I never want fights that don't, in some way, move the plot forward, I introduced a temptation to this fight that the PCs embraced. They knew that the Order of the Emerald claw had men in the bar, meeting with the same guy they were about to meet with. They took advantage of the bar fight to take out the two guards (whom they would have had to fight later) left in the common room. This meant two of the PCs who would have made the rest of the fight fairly simple instead fought non-minion Emerald Claw warriors, ratcheting the fight's difficulty from "standard" to "hard." However, considering that this was a low-risk situation, with no bleeding to death possible, it was a good choice, as it lowered the eventual Emerald Claw fight from High-Moderate to pretty easy. </span></span></div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-22154401084928096822011-11-22T10:00:00.001-05:002011-11-22T10:00:11.204-05:00Kingdom Building Part 3: The Anatomy of a PolicyI am going to show you the steps it took to complete a policy in Kingdom Building. I started out by giving the PCs a bunch of Policy Options to pick from.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>What the PCs saw:</i></div>
<div>
<b>Establish Domestic Informants * Domestic, Informant<br />Moderate Complexity<br />Moderate Difficulty<br />Key Skills:</b> Diplomacy, Insight, Streetwise Success: You will receive regular, general information about events within Cyre. In addition, you will now be able to pursue policies establishing informants close to specific families, political figures, towns and cities, or organizations.<br />
<i>Retry:</i> Yes. But each failure makes future establishment of specific informant networks more difficult. <br />
<br />
<i> I didn't want the math behind Kingdom Building to be explicit. I decided, arbitrarily, that general policies that could be completed by any Joe in Cyre, would either be Complexity 1, 3, or 5, with Complexity being used as the "how-long should this take" factor. I used "Low Complexity, Moderate Complexity, and High Complexity" language to represent these levels. For character specific policies, only to be completed by my PCs, I decided to only assign High or Low complexity (Complexity 2 or 4) for these policies. For Difficulty, my PCs are level 4, so I decided that a solid moderate challenge would be level 5, and then a deviation of 3 either way (Level 2 for Easy, level 8 for Hard) would give me easy and hard difficulties. I included this list of write-ups in the same document containing the Kingdom Building rules.</i><br />
<br />
<i>What it looks like in my notes:</i></div>
<div>
<b>Establish Domestic Informants * Domestic, Informant<br />Level 5 Complexity 3 (6 moderate, 2 hard)<br />DC 10/15/22 Key Skills:</b> Diplomacy, Insight, Streetwise </div>
<div>
<b>Advantages:</b> <br />
1. Success against Streetwise 22 counts as Hard and Moderate success.<br />
2. May Successfully use Streetwise twice per round. <br />
<i><b> Success: </b></i>You will receive regular, general information about events within Cyre. In addition, you will now be able to pursue policies establishing informants close to specific families, political figures, towns and cities, or organizations.<br />
<b>Retry:</b> Yes. But each failure makes future establishment of specific informant networks more difficult.<br />
<br />
<i> I decided I would reveal 1 advantage every time a PC attempts the policy, until they've seen every advantage the policy offers. Each advantage can only be used once. I also decided that each PC could use a non-key skill for 1 successful check, and then it would no longer be available. I will probably start giving the PCs this amount of information so I don't have to format two different write-ups for each challenge. I kept this in my secret DM document that also contained my time-line of world events in Eberron.</i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i> Things got done in a shared google doc that the PCs used to update each month's actions. The first month looked like this before the PCs updated anything:</i><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Round 1: February 988 YK<br />News:</b> The fighting along the northern border is brief, and casualties are low. The leader of the northern Cyran army, Duke Corlan ir’Varak is captured. Having lost any element of surprise due to your discovery of their approach, however, the young Prince of Karrnath, Kaius, withdraws his troops, leaving a mighty picket force along the river border.<br />
<b>Personal Developments:</b> You receive invitations to the wedding of Lord Leonard ir’Hof to Lady Penelope ir’Stedner. It will take place in March. Much of Cyre’s nobility is invited.<br />
<b>Special Actions:</b> None this round.<br />
<b>Standing Bonuses:</b> +1 Diplomacy (Half-Elf racial from Istav)<br />
<b>PC Actions:</b><br />
<b><u> Istav ir’Somme</u> Standard:<br /> Standard:<br /> Minor:<br /><u> Prince Oargev</u> Standard: <br /> Standard: <br /> Minor: <br /><u>Art</u></b> (Res Sickness all d20 -1) </div>
<div>
<b>Standard: <br /> Standard: <br /> Minor: </b><br />
<br />
<i> My plan was to give each PC the information for the month that they need up front, remember their bonuses, and publish their actions. I decided against doing any initiative, preferring to have an "all actions take place simultaneously" approach, so I could just update everything at once. Finally, I decided, except in extreme cases where one PC would be out f the country, all PCs would get the benefit of being close to others from the party at all times.</i><br />
<br />
<i> Then the PCs added their actions and I rolled on InvisibleCastle, posting their final rolls and weather or not they were successful. Then various PCs used "Reaction powers (this round, Oargev used both his Master Diplomacy Utility power and his Archetype Action Point Power in order to do some damage control on bad rolls:</i><br />
<br />
<b>Round 1: February 988 YK<br />PC Actions:<br /><u> Istav ir’Somme</u></b><br />
<b> Minor:</b> Inspire Competence - Choose a skill (Diplomacy) Until the end of the encounter you and each ally get a +2 power bonus to their next check using that skill.<br />
<b> Standard:</b> Pursue Establish Diplomatic Credentials (Diplomacy +13) - Schmooze and booze with people at court/on the council in order to curry favor. (+2 bonus from Inspire Competence) <a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3189089/">Roll=23</a> Success!<br />
<b> Standard:</b> Pursue Establish Diplomatic Credentials (Insight +10) - While schmoozing and boozing, test the waters and gauge the reactions of the Cyran court and council when considering myself for diplomatic credentials. <a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3189091/">Roll=20</a> Success!<br />
<b><u> Prince Oargev</u></b><br />
<b> Standard:</b> Manage the Order of the Prince’s Shield (Diplomacy +8) - Network for list of potential members, gather/vet, and then induct into newly established order. (+2 power bonus from Inspire Competence) <a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3188730/">Roll=1</a>5 Success!<br />
<b> Standard:</b> Determine Eligible Bachelorettes (History +8) - Use available resources to research potential marriage partners, and background on their families. <a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3188757/">Roll=21</a> Success! <br />
<b> Minor:</b> Support “Determine Eligible Bachelorettes” (Diplomacy +8) - While researching, I’ll also be gathering various opinions from trusted sources as to whom to pursue. <a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3188761/">Roll=1</a>1, <a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3189766/">Reroll with Master's Diplomacy=16</a> Success!<br />
<b><u>Art</u></b> (Res Sickness all d20 -1 , Action Point; <i>Support of the Commons +2</i>) </div>
<div>
<b>Standard:</b> Pursue Establish Domestic Informants (Streetwise +11) - Locate and identify potential informants by hitting the seedier areas of Metrol. <a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3189723/">Roll=14</a> Royal Influence turns from Failure into No Result!<br />
<b> Standard:</b> Pursue Establish Domestic Commerce ( Streetwise +11) - Identify potential commercial ventures/services commoners would support. <a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3189724/">Roll=18</a> Moderate Success!<br />
<b> Standard:</b> Pursue Establish Domestic Informants (Streetwise +11) - Locate and identify potential informants by hitting the seedier areas of Metrol. Again. <a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3189754/">Roll=14</a> Failure!<br />
<b> Minor:</b> Support Establish Domestic Informants (Stealth +15) - Find information on any informants identified via following. Specifically information that will either allow me to persuade them into helping or to impersonate them in meetings. <a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3189736/">Roll=28</a> Hard Success!<br />
<br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i> Now, this is NOT the only feedback they got. That would be the worst kind of skill challenge: all roll-playing and no role-playing. Since we're focusing on Art's "Pursue Establish Domestic Informants" policy, I will show you the feedback he got on that policy. This feedback was in a google doc shared only between me and Art's player.</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>1. Establish Domestic Informants * Domestic, Informant<br />Began February 988 YK Owner:</b> Art<br />
<b>Level 5 Complexity 3 Key Skills:</b> Insight, Diplomacy, Streetwise<br />
<b>Advantages Discovered:</b><br />
<b>1. Success against Difficult Streetwise counts as Difficult and Moderate success. </b></div>
<div>
<b>2. May Successfully use Streetwise twice per round. <br />Successes (1 moderate, 1 difficult): </b><i>February 988 YK:</i> You have discovered and studied a pretty interesting information broker who operates out of Metrol, followed him around, and think that you might be able to impersonate him at a later date to intercept some of his informants.<br />
<b>Failures (1/3):</b> <i>February 988 YK:</i> After weeks of asking around Metrol, you relize that many information brokers aren’t interested in sharing territories. You have a few very close calls and have to burn a few throw-away identities, because they weren’t going to make it out of Metrol alive. <br />
<br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i> And so on for 26 rounds or so, allowing the PCs to accomplish lots of stuff. Eventually, after Art had finished, this moved from "In Progress" to "Completed" and he started getting news concerning secret goings-on around Cyre:</i><br />
<br />
<b>1. Domestic Informants * Domestic, Informant<br />Began: February 988 YK Owner:</b> Art<br />
<b>Completed: August 988 YK</b><br />
<b>Successes: </b><i>February 988 YK:</i> You have discovered and studied a pretty interesting information broker who operates out of Metrol, followed him around, and think that you might be able to impersonate him at a later date to intercept some of his informants.<br />
<i>April 988 YK: </i> Istav puts a few of your aliases in touch with Barkeeps and Bar wenches who work at key inns and bars in Metrol. Many of them know the sort of people you should be talking to. Also, as you impersonate the information broker, you manage to identify a number of informants throughout the city that you might be able to co-opt with future work.<br />
<i>May 988 YK:</i> Your wench network pays off, as they put you in touch with some information brokers that are willing to engage in some information sharing.<br />
<i>June 988 YK:</i> You continue to develop your wench network and start to set up some informants in Metrol. <br />
<i>July 988 YK:</i> You meet with all of the possible informants you think you can reliably use. They seem eager to get to work, trade favors, and whisper in your ears, however, many of them express concern about what they will do if other rumor mongers and information brokers start having a problem with them infringing on their territory. If you can solve that, your network is ready. <br />
<i>August 988 YK: </i>Istav’s conference with all of the information brokers, including the new-kid-on-the-block, Arturo, is successful, and everyone lays out boundaries, turf, price-sets, and mutual help agreements that seem to make everyone happy. Your network is up and running.<br />
<b>Failures (2/3): </b><i>February 988 YK:</i> After weeks of asking around Metrol, you relize that many information brokers aren’t interested in sharing territories. You have a few very close calls and have to burn a few throw-away identities, because they weren’t going to make it out of Metrol alive. <br />
<i>March 988 YK:</i> Information brokers in Metrol have started connecting the dots. They are now on the lookout for a Changeling who is trying to make their way in on their territory.<br />
<b>Success:</b> Starting in September 988 YK, you will receive news from around Cyre every month. If you would like information on a specific question, spend a minor action to ask it, and you will receive an answer next round.<br />
<ul>
<li><i>September 988 YK:</i> You hear rumors that the new Brelish ambassador has been sent here to negotiate an armistice or alliance with Cyre, against Thrane.</li>
<li><i>October 988 YK:</i> You hear rumors that the Atur Thieves Guild has been having lots of problems moving the weapons they stole and are getting desperate and sloppy. A group of Valenar elves have arrived in town looking for some weapons that were stolen.</li>
<li><i>November 988 YK:</i> Apparently, the local Sivis station has personally delivered messages to the Brelish Ambassador nearly every day. Something is going on in Breland, and the ambassador needs to be kept abreast of constant developments.</li>
<li><i>December 988 YK:</i> You hear about a small coalition of lords, mostly minor lords from Metrol, who are wondering what happened to their brothers and sons. They suspect that Prince Oargev lured them into some fool knightly order with stories of Chivalry and Patriotism, and then sent them off to Karrnath to die. No one will answer any of their questions. They are pretty upset.</li>
<li><i>January 989 YK:</i> Everyone is talking about this new, famous group of adventurers, the Champions of the Bell. You piece together the truth about them: they are agents who work directly for your father as Cyre’s unofficial espionage service. They are led by a Changeling Rogue named Beld, and the other 3 members are Elpeth Padalas, a thief, formally of the Metrol Thieve’s Guild, Duril Kelist, a human arcanist who is obsessed with prohpecies written in the stars, and Gesricar Eight-Fingers, a half-elf swordmage bravo.</li>
<li><i>February 989 YK:</i> General Brillick is quietly moving Darguun and Cyran troops along the Brelish border, just in case...</li>
<li><i>March 989 YK:</i> Many of the nation’s leading arcanists are being interviewed by the council in secret. They are being asked questions concerning their knowledge of rituals and unlocking power from ancient sources of eldritch energy.</li>
<li><i>April 989 YK:</i> Orders and procedures are quietly being put in place among the Brelish check-points and border stations in case the council should decide on a no-travel policy with Breland.</li>
<li><i>May 989 YK:</i> A number of different sources are being explored to fuel super-powerful eldritch weapons. One is various types of dragonshards imbued with arcane power. Some are researching ways to make residuum batteries with dragonshards. Another option being explored is finding shards of crystal from deep in khyber that have ambient energy from the Daelkyr bound deep beneath the planet. They have many groups trying to harvest ancient giant power-sources from Xen’drik, and some that have already been harvested that they are examining. Finally, they are looking at certain uses of psionically resonant crystals.</li>
<li><i>June 989 YK: </i>A team of Mror scholars are in Metrol, and they are negotiating for some rare and valuable artifacts. They plan on leaving next month with their purchases.</li>
<li><i>July 989 YK: </i>Considering the recent troop movements, the council is under pressure to treat travel to Breland the same way they treat travel to Thrane and Karrnath: strictly limited with only official or Dragonmark business allowed.</li>
<li><i>August 989 YK:</i> The influx of Goblins into Cyre is causing some upflaring of anti-goblin sentiments in the big cities. There have been minor hate-crimes already committed on both sides. It is a matter of time before something major happens.</li>
<li><i>September 989 YK:</i> Some southern Cyrans who have been most affected by Brelands past incursions into Cyre grumble about the Prince’s wedding to a Brelish woman. They want to know when dealings with Breland have ever really helped Cyre.</li>
<li><i>October 989 YK:</i> A significant bounty has been put out by Haztar on anyone who has information on his missing artifacts.</li>
<li><i>November 989 YK:</i> Lord Hof lets you know that he is uncertain how long the Eastern border can hold out. Analyzing the attacks, he’s afraid Karrnath will figure out how to spread them too thin.</li>
<li><i>December 989 YK:</i> The families of the original Order of the Prince’s shield are talking of refusing to attend the wedding, otherwise, you hear no grumblings.</li>
<li><i>January 990 YK:</i> The commander of Fort Zombie, called "the Captain of Corpses", has sworn a vow that Fort Bones would be rebuilt by the bones and souls of the Elves and their Cyran Paymasters.</li>
<li><i>February 990 YK:</i> Someone high in the government is mysteriously smoothing out shipments from Aundair of livestock and exotic building materials, getting them to the eastern border for some unknown reason.</li>
<li><i>March 990 YK: </i>Breland has started very closely guarding all roads into or out of Cyre. House Orien has, so far, kept them out of the Lightning Rails.</li>
</ul>
</div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-74779722487207068492011-11-17T10:00:00.000-05:002011-11-17T10:00:09.046-05:00Crossover! Archetypes vs. Kingdom BuildingThe Archetypes were my invention from before I even managed to have PCs for this game or have any clue who they'd be. Kingdom Building was my invention to make sure my PCs would maintain momentum during down times in the campaign and let them avoid going their own ways in sessions, getting the game off-track, but still achieving personal character-defining goals. When it came time to actually execute Kingdom Building, I realized that, for this part of the game to truly reflect the PCs I had beyond their trained skills, I needed to give them abilities that came into play during Kingdom Building. I decided to tie these abilities in with the Archetype the had chosen. Each Archetype represents a particular role at court, and each role at court should be able to influence the world in a different way.<br />
<br />
I feel like the levels ending in 4 and 8 are pretty dead throughout a character's life. Sure, you get ability boosts (boring math bonus) and and a feat (which you could have taken at a number of other levels). Inspired by Character Themes, I decided to give Archetype special abilities that would help in Kingdom Building at level 4 and 8. I thought about continuing to add abilities into higher tiers, but realized that it might be fun to introduce something like "Paragon Kingdom Building Paths" that PCs could take in addition to their normal Paragon Path to make them better Kingdom Builders in Paragon Tier. I might do something more in Epic tier.<br />
<br />
So, here I present each Archetype's Level 4 Kingdom Building power. They each key off of the expenditure of an Action Point during Kingdom building.<br />
<br />
<b>Prince Oargev: <br />Level 4:</b> <i>Royal Influence:</i> You are one of the most powerful men in the country, so when you put your full support behind something, it has a much greater chance of getting done. You may spend an action point to improve the results of one of your ally’s single Pursue a policy or Support a policy action from this round instead of taking an extra action. If the ally earned a failure on his skill check, then that failure is erased. If he earned a moderate success, then it becomes a major success. You may choose to spend this action point after results are known.<br />
<b>Cyran Patriot:</b><br />
<div>
<b>Level 4:</b> <i>Support of the Commons:</i> Because the commoners of Cyre know you are one of them, they trust that whatever you do is for their own good. When you really need to, you can find plenty of help in nearly any task. When you spend an action point during a kingdom building round, in addition to gaining an extra action, you gain a +2 bonus on all skill checks you make until the end of the round related to Domestic policies.</div>
<div>
<b>Cyran Noble: <br />Level 4:</b> <i>Courtly Eloquence:</i> You have grown up learning the skills you need to fit in with any court in the world. Your polish and charm grant you a certain gravity in all of your social interactions. You gain a +5 bonus to any Charisma skill check you make during the action granted by spending an action point.</div>
<div>
<b>Warforged Servant: </b></div>
<div>
<b>Level 4:</b> <i>Tireless Support:</i> You have minimal need for rest and can tirelessly pursue your master’s commands. When you spend an action point you may choose to gain two bonus minor actions instead of a bonus standard action. </div>
<div>
<b>Dragonmarked Scion: </b></div>
<div>
<b>Level 4:</b> <i>House Resources.</i> Your Dragonmarked House offers great resources in a specific field. Whenever you successfully pursue or support a policy during an action granted by an action point using the skill your dragonmark confers a bonus to, you earn double successes. If you fail, your failure does not count. </div>
<div>
<b>Foreign National: </b></div>
<div>
<b>Level 4:</b> <i>Worldly:</i> You have travelled extensively and have a broad view of how different nations interact with each other. When you spend an action point during a kingdom building round, you gain a +2 bonus on all skill checks you make until the end of the round related to Foreign policies. </div>
<div>
<b>Sovereign Priest: </b></div>
<div>
<b>Level 4: </b><i>Religious Resources: </i>There are churches of the Sovereign Host everywhere, and the amount of knowledge they have collected on religions of the world is staggering. Whenever you successfully pursue or support a policy during an action granted by an action point using Religion, you earn double successes. If you fail, your failure does not count. </div>
<div>
<b>Druidic Initiate: <br />Level 4:</b> <i>Ancient Secrets:</i> The druids have ancient knowledge on all matter of portals, creatures, and histories which they can access in times of need. During Kingdom Building, you gain a +5 bonus to any Knowledge skill check you make during the action granted by spending an action point.</div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-7370657212484162452011-11-15T10:00:00.000-05:002011-11-15T10:00:18.762-05:00The War Regalia of GalifarI mentioned last week that my favorite part of Chapter 3 of The Forge of War was the idea of the War Regalia of Galifar. This is my redesign of this item for my campaign:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f1c232;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Greaves of Aundair (heroic tier) Level 12</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>These armored plates
fit perfectly over your shins, fastening in the back with black leather
straps. Each one is ornamented with the
regal silhouette of a dragonhawk.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lvl 12 13,000
gp</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Item Set: </b>War
Regalia of Galifar</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Item Slot: </b>Feet</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Property: </b>You
gain a +1 item bonus to speed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b>Power (Encounter): </b>Free. You take a move action. After you complete this action, you are dazed
until the end of your next turn.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f1c232;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Breastplate of
Thrane +3 Level
13</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i>This breastplate is decorated with an
elaborate boar’s head hotif. The
workmanship is exceptionally fine, and there are inlaid tracings of silver around
the edges of the armor.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
Level 13</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b>Item Set: </b>War Regalia of Galifar</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b>Armor: </b>Chain, Scale, Plate</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b>Enhancement: </b>+3 AC</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b>Property:</b> +2 item bonus to Will defense
(+3 when combined with with +5 or +6 armor)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b>Power (Daily): </b>Immediate
Interrupt. Trigger: You are affected by
an effect with the charm, illusion, sleep, or fear keyword. Make a saving throw to negate this effect.<br />
<b>Special: </b>This breastplate does not constitute magical armor on its own. Instead, it must be combined with a suit of magic chain, scale, or plate with at least a +3 enhancement bonus and no other properties.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f1c232;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Mantle of
Breland +3 Level
14</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i>This heavy cloak is made of bulky brown fur,
thickest at the shoulders. When you wear
it, you look stronger, broader, and somehow fiercer.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Level 14 +3 Level 24 +5<br />
Level 19 +4 Level 29 +6</div>
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<b>Item Set: </b>War Regalia of Galifar</div>
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<b>Item Slot: </b>Neck</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b>Enhancement:</b> +3 Fortitude, Reflex, and
Will</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b>Power (Encounter): </b>Standard
Action. You gain 20 temporary hit
points. (You gain 30 temporary hit points at level 24 and 29).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f1c232;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Scepter of
Karrnath +3 Level 15</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i>This scepter is made of polished densewood
and inlaid with gleaming mithral. The
fearsome visage of a howling wolf is etched into the black wood.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Level 15 +3 Level 25 +5<br />
Level 20 +4 Level 30 +6 </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b>Item Set: </b>War Regalia of Galifar</div>
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<b>Weapon: </b>War Scepter</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b>Enhancement:</b> +1 attack rolls and damage
rolls</div>
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<b>Critical:</b> +1d6 damage per plus and
knock the target prone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b>Property:</b> This scepter can function as an of implement of any type for an heir of the Wynarn line.<br />
<b>Property: </b>An heir of the Wynarn line is proficient with this weapon.</div>
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<b>Power (At-Will • Fear): </b>Free
Action. Whenever an enemy is hit with any basic
attack made with the Scepter of Karrnath, that enemy
grants combat advantage to all of your allies until the beginning of its next turn.<b> </b>Another
free action ends this effect.<br />
<b>War Scepter</b><br />
<b> Damage: </b>1d8 <b>Proficient: </b>+3<br />
<b>Properties: </b><b>Group: </b>Mace<br />
<b> Versatile, </b><b>Brutal 2</b><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f1c232; color: #444444;">Crown of Cyre Level 16</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i>This fine war helmet incorporates a golden
crown formed of overlapping plates resembling the scales of a gold dragon. No gemstones are set into it, but its beauty
is striking nonetheless.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
Level 16 Level 26</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b>Item Set: </b>War Regalia of Galifar</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b>Item Slot: </b>Head</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b>Power (Daily):</b> Minor Action. You and all allies that can see you gain a +2
item bonus to melee damage rolls until the end of your next turn. Sustain: Minor. (This bonus is +4 at level 26)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b>Power (Daily): </b>Minor Action. You and all allies that can see you gain a +2
item bonus on Charisma Skill checks until the end of your next turn. Sustain: Minor. (This bonus is +4 at level 26)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b>Power (Daily): </b>Minor Action. If you or an ally that can see you is bloodied, you gain regeneration equal to the number of War Regalia of Galifar
you wield. This
regeneration lasts until the end of your next turn. Sustain: Minor.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b>War Regalia of Galifar Benefits<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
Pieces Benefit</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
2<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span> You
gain the Word of Galifar Encounter Power</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
5<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span> When
an opponent scores a critical hit against you, make a saving throw </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
with a bonus equal to the number of items from this set you wield. If you succeed, the critical hit is instead a
normal hit.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;">Word of Galifar</span><br />
<b>Encounter * Healing</b><br />
<b>Minor Action Close</b> burst 10 (15 if you have 5 of the War Regalia of Galifar)<br />
<b>Target:</b> One ally in burst<br />
<b>Effect</b>: The target can spend a healing surge and regain an additional 1d6 hit points per item from the War Regalia of Galifar that you wield.<br />
<br />
I originally tried to just port over the original items, but that didn't really work to my satisfaction. I wanted a set of items that pretty much anyone would be pleased with over most of their career, that, at the very least, would remain useful, and would represent the majesty and power of unified Galifar.<br />
The Breastplate of Thrane presented a challenge because I didn't want there to be lots of different pieces of Galifar Regalia running around: just one of each, which would grow more powerful by the heroic deeds of the wearer (aka, their items would level up when I decided the higher level item was appropriate). With the way 4ed handles higher-level armors, with changing materials and such, I either needed the Breastplae of Thrane to permanently be better than it should be by having the built-in higher base AC than a +3 armor should have, go the other route and make the base AC stay equal to +3 armor, or find another option. I decided to make the Breastplate an "add-on" to existing armor.<br />
The Scepter was another tricky weapon. I wanted it to be good for anyone to use, weapon or implement user, but all maces were pretty lame simple weapons. I decided to make a balanced "superior" weapon that anyone (short of a ranged weapon or reach weapon specialist) would be willing to use without losing lots of power.<br />
I decided that a king should, ultimately, be a leader, so I felt that giving the king of Galifar an encounter power that copies the signature Leader ability would be appropriate. It is my experience that the leader won't see this as the king stepping on his toes, as the party always welcomes more healing. </div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-56793151816092180702011-11-11T10:00:00.000-05:002011-11-11T10:00:19.264-05:00Getting Crafty Part 3: It's Magic!<br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span id="internal-source-marker_0.9393221968784928" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What about magic items?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What about them? Just kidding, they are an integral part of what makes Dungeons and Dragons Dungeons and Dragons t many people. They'd work the same way, more or less. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Enchant Magic Item" would be a ritual that would require a skill challenge to complete. The DCs and Complexity would be set with how many enchantments and of which type you are trying to magically imbue into the item. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Special reagents, much like special materials in crafting, would work the same way, granting bonuses (or penalties) to checks in the challenge.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Failures would result in Cursed items. There would be lesser curses and greater curses.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This brings back the early edition ability to have multiple magic item enhancements on a single item. I have missed that a little bit.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">All complexities and levels would be added to determine the DCs and number of successes, rather than added to any item's base.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">I have started putting together a list of potential enchantments for weapons. I am generating this list by going through the magic weapon list and thinking to myself, "Self, could this be done non-magically in a weapon?" If the answer is no, I decide it should be magic-based, rather than craft-based. Yes, you've read almost that exact paragraph before, but with a couple of words swapped. Get over it. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Here are three I have created so far:<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></span><br />
<ul>
<li style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><u><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feature: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Flaming</span></u><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Type: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Weapon (Any Weapon)</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Complexity +1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Key Skills: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arcana</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Level +5</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Benefit: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This weapon gains the Flaming magic item power</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Flaming (Daily Power)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can will this weapon to burst into flame.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free Action</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Target: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The creature hit</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trigger:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You hit a creature with this weapon.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Effect:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You deal 1d6 fire damage, and the target takes ongoing 5 fire damage (save ends.) </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lesser Curse (1 failure): </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The DM gains access to the Glowing Brightly curse</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Glowing Brightly (Curse)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>When it is least </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>convenient</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>, the flames of your weapon draw attention to you.</i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free Action</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trigger:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You attempt a stealth check while carrying this weapon.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Effect:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You fail the stealth check.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Greater Curse (2 failures): </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The DM gains access to the Uncontrolled Flame curse</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Uncontrolled Flames (Curse)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The fires in your weapon do not distinguish between friend or foe.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free Action</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trigger:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> An enemy saves against the ongoing damage dealt by this weapon while adjacent to one of your allies.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Effect:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Your ally takes ongoing 5 fire damage (save ends.)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<ul>
<li style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><u><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feature: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Frost</span></u><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Type: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Weapon (Any)</span></li>
</ul>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Complexity +1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Key Skills: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arcana</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Level +3</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Benefit: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This weapon gains the Frost magic item power</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Frost (Daily Power)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>A thin layer of frost coats the business end of this weapon.</i></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free Action</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Target: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The creature hit</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trigger:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You hit a creature with this weapon.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Effect:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You deal 1d8 cold damage, and the target is slowed until the end of your turn. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lesser Curse (1 failure): </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The DM gains access to the Icy Grip curse</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Icy Grip (Curse)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The grip of your weapon sometimes frosts over too.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free Action</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trigger:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You roll a 1 on an attack roll with this weapon. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Effect:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You drop your weapon.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Greater Curse (2 failures): </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The DM gains access to the Cold Feet curse</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cold Feet (Curse)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wielding this weapon, you sometimes think you will never feel warm again.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free Action</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trigger:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You take cold damage </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Effect:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You are slowed and dazed (save ends).</span></div>
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<ul>
<li style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feature: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lifedrinker <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Type: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Weapon (Any Melee)</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Complexity +1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Key Skills: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Heal</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Level +3</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Benefit: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This weapon gains the Lifedrinker magic item power</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Life Drinker (Daily Power)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>This weapon transfers an enemy's vitality to you.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free Action</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trigger: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You drop an enemy to 0 hit points or fewer with a melee attack made with this weapon.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Effect:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Gain 5 temporary hit points.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lesser Curse (1 failure): </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The DM gains access to the Clinging to Life curse</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Clinging to Life (Curse)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You never want to let go of the life you've stolen.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free Action</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trigger:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You gain temporary hit points while you already have temporary hit points.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Effect:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 48px; vertical-align: baseline;"> When you take damage, you lose regular hit points before you lose any </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">temporary hit points.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Greater Curse (2 failures): </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The DM gains access to the Overloaded curse</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Overloaded (Curse)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>It is hard to concentrate with the life of others coursing through your veins.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free Action</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trigger:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You gain temporary hit points. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Effect:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You grant combat advantage to all enemies until you no longer have temporary hit points.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u>Sum-Up:</u></b> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, a magic item imbuer could make a Flaming Weapon and only have to hit level 5 DCs 4 times, A life-drinking cold weapon for level 6 DCs, but it'd be complexity 2 (5 successes), or an amazing level 11 magic item at complexity 3, requiring 6 moderate successes and 2 difficult successes. You can put a lot on a weapon, but it get much harder as you go.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u>Other Thoughts:</u></b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The more I think through this system, the more I am inclined to scratch all powers from Non-magical crafting (minus flaws). I think rewriting my crafting rules to let you incorporate all sorts of cool passive bonuses into more and more advanced weapons (or setting detailed tasks to crafting existing weapons) would make it feel less like magic, and then anything that needs a power to activate would be magical. That would make them seem like two distinct complimentary systems, rather than the same system with an arbitrary magic/non-magic divide thrown down the center. I'm done tinkering with this for now, but I might revisit this concept at a future point.</span></div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-20565973920730047112011-11-09T10:00:00.000-05:002011-11-09T10:00:09.549-05:00Kingdom Building Part 2: The Rules<div>
<b>General Rules:</b></div>
Every month is a round. Each round you get two standard actions and a minor action. For each Kingdom Building phase (the time between adventures), you start with 1 action point which can, as usual, be spent during a single round to get an extra action. In addition, your Archetype will grant you a special ability during Kingdom Building that is activated by an action point. You gain an additional action point whenever you hit a milestone. You may only spend one action point in any round. The end of any round you or an ally have completed any number of policies, is the end of an encounter. Every two encounters is, as usual, a milestone. <br />
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<b>Timing and Duration of Powers and Power Resets:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>All powers take effect in any round when they would be most useful. For instance, if a power grants a skill bonus to all allies for the entire round, it takes place before other actions are resolved.</li>
<li>Powers that last until the end of your turn or the beginning of your next turn last until the end of the round in which they are used.</li>
<li>Powers that last until the end of your next turn apply in the round in which they are used and in the following round.</li>
<li>Powers that last until the end of an encounter last until the end of a round in which any Policy has been successfully completed.</li>
<li>Powers that have a duration of (save ends) work as normal, but will likely never be seen in Kingdom Building.</li>
<li>Any powers with a sustained duration must be sustained as normal. If they have (which I don't THINK this exists, but just in case) a Sustain (Move) duration, you may use a minor action to sustain the power.</li>
<li>At the end of any round in which any player completes a policy, all players reset encounter powers for the next round.</li>
<li>After every 3 encounters, all players reset all daily powers.</li>
</ul>
<b>Actions:<br /> Pursue a Policy:</b> <i>Standard Action.</i> Select a policy to pursue. Select a skill that represents your overall approach to achieving this policy for the month. Make a skill check to see if you have successfully advanced the policy. Once you have successfully Pursued a policy with a specific skill, you may not to attempt to Pursue or Support that policy with the same skill this round, though other characters may. If you successfully pursue a policy with a non-related skill, you may not use this skill again.<br />
<b> Support a Policy:</b> <i>Minor Action.</i> Select a policy to support. Select a skill that represents your overall approach to supporting this policy for the month. Make a skill check with a -5 penalty to see if you have successfully advanced the policy. Once you have successfully Supported a policy with a specific skill, you may not to attempt to Support or Pursue that policy with the same skill this round, though other characters may. If you successfully support a policy with a non-related skill, you may not use this skill again.<br />
<b> Aid Another:</b> <i>Minor Action.</i> Select an ally who is supporting or pursuing a policy. Make a skill check with the same skill they are using to pursue or support the policy of DC 10+1/2 the level of the policy. If you succeed, you grant your ally a +2 on their skill check. <br />
<b> Transfer Policy:</b> <i>Minor Action.</i> You may give a policy you own over to the control of a willing ally. They are now the owner of the policy.<br />
<b> Use a power:</b> <i>Action varies.</i> If you have a power that might reasonably help a policy come to fruition, describe how/why. This will be most common for utility powers that grant a bonus to skill checks. The action used is whatever the power’s action is.<br />
<b>Use a Ritual:</b> <i>Action varies:</i> If you wish to use a ritual to support a policy, let me know which one, how, and why. I will determine if an action is appropriate. Many may simply be free actions.<br />
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<b>Policies</b> <br />
Each policy is a modified skill challenge. This list of policies is not exhaustive. If you would like to pursue something not covered here, let me know and I will write a policy that will let you complete what you wish. The Key skills are suggestions for ways to pursue the policy, representing the clear and expected avenues for success. If you use a non-key skill and get a success, you may never use that skill again on that policy. You are encouraged to come up with creative ways to use non-related skills to work towards successes. Completing a policy usually has both an immediate effect and unlocks the option of trying other, related policies. For instance, once you have completed Establish International Informants you can then pursue Establish Karrnathi Informants or Establish Aundarian Informants. </div>
<div>
A single PC cannot use the same skill twice in a single round to pursue or support the same policy. Multiple PCs may use the same skill in a single round, and a single PC may use the same skill on multiple policies.<br />
Each policy has an owner. The policy owner controls the benefits of the policy. Any ally may work on the policy. Multiple PCs may pursue identical policies on their own in most cases, but not always. For instance, both Istav and Art could Establish International Informants. Once they have done so, they will both receive news about goings on around the world. Their information may or may not be identical. However, only one PC can own Expand Eastern Border Defenses because there is only one eastern border to defend.</div>
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<i>Commentary: I originally planned for 3 months=1 Kingdom Building round. My players wanted to do a lot, and pursue many options, so I let them have 1 round=1 month. The original intent was that this would act as normal combat rounds on a larger scale, however, I couldn't figure out an appropriate "move" action that would be reasonable to use. I also wanted them to get plenty done, so that's why I landed on 2 Standard Actions. I also saw Kingdom Building as an opportunity to expand on my Archetype system. I figured Archetypes, in addition to giving small-scale bonuses, could also give larger benefits during Kingdom building. More on those later.</i><br />
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<i>Encounters were tricky for me. With my original plan of 3 months=round, I planned on each gap between adventures being a single encounter. 30 rounds, however, make for a LONG encounter. My next thought was to give each power a "recharge" based on its type and level. That was overly complex and didn't, at all, match any existing design. Following that train of thought, I considered calling a new encounter after so much "XP" worth of challenges had been completed or calling a new encounter after 5 complexity worth of challenges have been completed. Both of these seemed rather complex. The simplest answer was 1 encounter=a policy is finished. I am not totally happy with this answer, and am considering moving back to 1 encounter=5 complexity or a certain amount of XP completed.</i><br />
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<i>Resets for Dailies were even harder. I pulled up 3 completed encounters=1 day on the basis of using 1 daily attack power/encounter. The party has 3 members, and at level 4, they have 1 daily power each (okay, the Thief doesn't, but he would were he not Essential). </i></div>
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<i>Overall, I wanted to create a system that rewarded players for working together on policies by making aid another a minor action and limiting the number of times they can use the same skill in a single round on a single policy. I also like that, as it stands, if the entire group REALLY needed to act quickly, they could, using action points each, Complete a Complexity 5 Policy (12 successes) in a single round. Alternately, they can work on their own projects, giving them good stories to tell once we get back together again.</i></div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-12454570342871272452011-11-07T10:00:00.000-05:002011-11-07T10:00:02.604-05:00My Favorite Gaming Book<i>Note: The following was meant to be a review on how useful this 3.5 Dungeons and Dragons book could be to a 4th Edition gamer. It turned into a love letter. I apologize.</i><br />
<br />
Okay, so I've gotten hours, heck YEARS, of enjoyment from lots of different RPG book over the years. I made build after build with my first PHB just for fun. I poured over the 3rd Ed. Forgotten Realms source book learning about every detail of the setting, rejoicing at things I recognized from my trips through Balder's Gate 1 and 2. Both The Epic Level Handbook and Deities and Demigods inspired me to design and plan grand campaigns (that never happened. Boo.) There have been many gaming books I have loved, but none so much as:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Fantasy-Roleplaying-Eberron/dp/0786941537/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318874561&sr=8-1">The Forge of War.</a></div>
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/614sm2uGu9L._SS500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/614sm2uGu9L._SS500_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I can say, without any hesitation or irony, that the campaign I am currently running would not exist without this book. I have read most of this book from cover to cover multiple times, made detailed notes concerning its contents, and reworked entire plot-lines to better fit the events of this guide. It is, for all intents and purposes, my campaign bible. <br />
<br />
I like Eberron. I think there are lots of good stories that can be told in this setting, and have tried to do so more than once. I heavily adapted <i>The Red Hand of Doom</i> 3rd ed. module to Eberron and later ran a Noir-Crime drama set in Sharn. I played in a number of play-by-post Eberron games. But when I first read the Forge of War, I was instantly inspired by a very specific vision for a campaign. That's what every good campaign book should be able to do. Here's why I love it:<br />
<br />
<b>Chapter 1: The Course of the War</b><br />
This chapter is amazing. It's like a history book that takes you through the entire war, calling out key events, key people, and exploring the roots of the war. It is a straight-up fun read. I've used this to create a timeline of events that has been informing events in my campaign, especially in the Kingdom Building phase of it. The closest thing to statistics or ANYTHING "crunchy" given in this chapter are lists of the types of units and how many of them participated in the major fights of the campaign. The maps that show how borders changed every few years are also useful. Since most Eberron cartography includes the Mournland, having actual maps of Cyre is very useful. This chapter fills out all of the history, the grudges, and the motivations that make "modern" day Eberron tick, giving players a deep well to draw on for character histories. In addition, it gives an awesome backdrop upon which to run military and war-time campaigns.<br />
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<b>Chapter 2: A Guide to the Last War</b><br />
If the first chapter gives you the background, this chapter introduces you to the players. If ever I need to make a character or fill out a detailed PC who was around and active during the last war, I can just flip to the appropriate page in this chapter and learn nearly everything I need to know about what was important to that nation/faction/or group during the war. <br />
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<b>Chapter 3: Heroes of the Last War</b><br />
I admit, this chapter is full of rules stuff for 3.5 Dungeons and Dragons that I never got a chance to use back when I played 3.5, and will likely never use in the future. Chapters 1 and 2 are the reasons I love this book, except for one little thing: the Magic Item Sets section which contains the War Regalia of Galifar. This magic item set was one of the things that helped cement this campaign. The chance to have Prince Oargev, the King with no Country, searching for the Regalia that proves he's worthy to wear the crown of all Five Nations? Awesome. So I have remade this Regalia, using inspiration from this book, for my own campaign. I will share it soon!<br />
<br />
<b>Chapter 4: The Last War Campaign</b><br />
Could I run the game I'm running without this chapter? Sure. That said, this chapter has offered my some great advice on how to run this game. Things discussed in this chapter helped me form the idea that Heroic Tier will be historical, Paragon Tier in traditional "modern" Eberron, and Epic tier will change the face of Eberron forever. It also made me realize that years can pass between adventures, and that's okay. That said, I knew my high-powered characters would want something to do in those years, so I invented Kingdom Building.<br />
<br />
<b>Conclusion:</b><br />
I sold most of my 3.5 books a couple of years ago. <i>The Forge of War</i> was not sold, nor do I anticipate selling it any time soon. It is the foundation of my campaign, and explains the deep motivations that have run the world of Eberron. I highly recommend this book to ANY DM who is running a game in Eberron with any sort of depth. I also recommend it to ANY PLAYER who is playing a character whose back-story even touches on the last war a little bit. Chapter 3 is the only part of the book deeply rooted in 3.5, and in all honesty, it was never the reason to get this book. Chapters 1-2 alone would be worth the price on the cover, and Chapter 4 is a great bonus. If you play or plan to play Eberron, or just want an entertaining fantasy-war history to read, buy this book.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-91259664237977739222011-11-04T10:00:00.000-04:002011-11-04T10:00:12.766-04:00Getting Crafty Part 2: Extraordinary Items<br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span id="internal-source-marker_0.9393221968784928" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What if I want my Weapon to Be Awesome?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sure, we all do. That's why this system introduces Features that can be worked into the item. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Each feature you add to an item (in this case, weapon, but it should work on armors too) increases the complexity of an item by one or more and increases the weapon's level by one or more. You may add multiple features to an item, but never so many to reach a complexity higher than 5 for the crafting challenge.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once you get to Complexity 3-5, instead of requiring HARD DCs, it simply requires a certain number of DCs of one degree higher (Easy requires 2-4 Moderate, Moderate requires 2-4 Hard, Hard requires 2-4 checks of Hard DC +5) </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each feature may also add an additional related skill to the Crafting Challenge. You must succeed on each related skill of an item at least once to finish the item. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each Feature also has related Flaws. Whenever you fail, the DM gets to choose the flaws of the weapon (it will never have more than 1 greater flaw or 2 lesser flaws, but could have as few as one lesser flaw). These flaws come from the choices related to the weapon or to the Features that are being added. </span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">I have started putting together a list of potential features for weapons. I am generating this list by going through the magic weapon list and thinking to myself, "Self, could this be done non-magically in a weapon?" If the answer is yes, I decide it should be craft-based, rather than magic-based. Here are three I have created so far:<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></span><br />
<ul>
<li style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><u><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feature: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wicked</span></u><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Type: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Weapon (Any Weapon)</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Complexity +1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Key Skills: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Intimidate</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Level +1</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Benefit: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This weapon gains the Wicked Item Feature</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wicked (Item Feature)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The designs and structure of your weapon make it look far worse than it is.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free Action</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Target: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The creature hit</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trigger:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You hit a creature who is at maximum hit points with this weapon.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Effect:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You deal 1d6 extra damage per tier. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lesser Flaw (1 failure): </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The DM gains access to the Silly Looking Item Flaw</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Silly Looking (Item Flaw)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Occasionally, an enemy will find the designs of your weapon utterly ridiculous.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free Action</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trigger:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You attempt an intimidate check while holding this weapon.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Effect:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Roll twice and take the lower of the two rolls.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Greater Flaw (2 failures): </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The DM gains access to the Wildly Impractical Item Flaw</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wildly Impractical (Item Flaw)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your weapon may look scary, but in actual combat, it is frequently impractical.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free Action</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trigger:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You roll a 1 on an attack while using this weapon.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Effect:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You grant combat advantage to all opponents until the end of your next </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">turn. </span></div>
<ul>
<li style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><u><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feature: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Distance</span></u><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Type: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Weapon (Any Ranged)</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Complexity +1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Key Skills: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thievery</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Level +1</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Benefit: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This weapon gains the Distance Item Feature</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Distance (Item Feature)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You have a special mechanism that can be activated to improve the range of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">your weapon.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free Action</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Effect:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The normal range of your weapon increases by 5 squares, and the long </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">range of your weapon increases by 10 squares until the end of the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">encounter. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lesser Flaw (1 failure): </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The DM gains access to the Erratic Mechanism Item </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Flaw</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Erratic Mechanism (Item Flaw)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The mechanism sometimes makes shots fly wild.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free Action</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trigger:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You activate the Distance feature on this weapon </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Effect:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Roll your attack roll twice and take the lower of the two rolls.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Greater Flaw (2 failures): </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The DM gains access to the Jammed Mechanism Flaw</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jammed Mechanism (Item Flaw)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The mechanism keeps locking up whenever you use this weapon.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free Action</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Special:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> To activate this power, the Distance Item Benefit must have been used </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">during this encounter.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Effect:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> This weapon gains the “load minor” property until the end of the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">encounter. If it already has the load minor property, it gains the load move </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">property. If it already has the load move property, it gains the load </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">standard property. (I know these properties don't exist. I'll reword it.) </span></div>
<ul>
<li style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feature: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Acidic <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Type: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Weapon (Heavy Blade, Light Blade, Spear)</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Complexity +1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Key Skills: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arcana or Thievery, Dungeoneering</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Level +2</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Benefit: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This weapon gains the Acidic Item Feature</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Acidic (Item Feature)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You have used your knowledge of alchemy to rig a well that shoots acid as you </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">strike with your weapon.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Standard Action</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Effect:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Make a melee basic attack against an enemy within range. If this attack </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">hits, it deals normal damage, in addition, the target of the attack, or another target within 5 squares takes 5 ongoing acid damage.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lesser Flaw (1 failure): </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The DM gains access to the Clogged Mechanism Item Flaw</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Clogged Mechanism (Item Flaw)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The acid doesn’t flow as smoothly as it should, and occasionally it clogs the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">mechanism.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free Action</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trigger:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You roll a 1 on an attack roll. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Effect:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Your Acidic Item Feature is expended.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Greater Flaw (2 failures): </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The DM gains access to the Pitted Metal Flaw</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pitted Metal (Item Flaw)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The metal used in your mechanism can’t stand up to the acid in your blade.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free Action</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trigger:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You use the Acidic Item Benefit</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Effect:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> All attacks you make with this weapon are weakened (save ends).</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u>Example Time:</u></b> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remember Hoborne from the last Crafty post? Well, now that he’s back in town, reunited with his party, he wants a very cool scimitar. He finds his group-mate, Fergus the Dwarf, and asks him what kind of scimitar he can make. Fergus mentions he might be able to make a scary-looking scimitar that can shoot alchemical acid from an acid well in the hilt. To do this, Fergus will need to succeed on a Complexity 3 (Base 1+1 Acidic+1 Wicked), Level 6 (Base 3+1 Wicked+2 Acidic) Crafting Challenge. Since Scimitars are Military weapons, he will need to succeed on moderate DCs 6 times (DC 15), and hard DCs twice (DC 23) to finish his weapon. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fergus will have to make at least 1 dungeoneering check, 1 Arcana or Thievery check, and 1 Intimidate check. He will be able to incorporate lots of special materials in this design to hopefully get some bonuses. If he fails once, the DM would have 3 different lesser flaws he could choose between, and on a second failure, 3 greater flaws to pick from-or he could assign a second lesser flaw from the two he didn’t pick the first time. Being a Thief and a Dwarf, he will likely be focusing on Thievery and Dungeoneering checks, throwing his Intimidate Check when he has a really good superior quality material he can use for a nice bonus.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next time, we’ll look at adding magic to items...</span></div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-9975518610850983952011-11-02T10:00:00.000-04:002011-11-02T11:30:31.222-04:00Kingdom Building Part 1: Introduction<div>
Part of my campaign has gone from a semi-necessary and tedious side-game to the fun thing that will be interrupted once we go back to playing our game week to week. But I get ahead of myself...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">
<b><u>What is Kingdom Building?</u></b></div>
<div style="font-weight: bold;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> Kingdom Building is the between-adventures phase of my campaign where the PCs can do things like raise armies, develop international spy networks, start businesses, find spouses, lead troops into battle, and throw awesome parties. This allows years to pass between active adventures, as the Prince of Cyre and his friends wouldn't be visiting dungeons every week, they'd be helping to run the country.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<b style="text-decoration: underline;">Why I Created Kingdom Building:</b><br />
<div>
<ol>
<li>In the last long-term campaign I played in, a couple of players were more interested in starting secret organizations, maintaining underworld empires, and engaging in political and economic maneuvering. Not all of the PCs were designed to engage in that sort of thing. Many of the players (myself included) were in the position of either sitting there, session after session, trying to convince the other PCs to move forward and go pursue the more adventuresome hooks we had been given (like saving the nation!) but mostly watching the PCs who were playing a completely social game engage in town, doing very little. When we finally forced the issue and went on an adventure, one of the PCs quit, because he didn't think his character would adventure any more, but would stay at home and maintain his underworld contacts. I didn't want that sort of thing, where PC goals were mutually exclusive, to happen in my game, so I built-in a specific time for adventuring, and a specific time for politicking. PCs can pursue their own thing or help each other, at their own discretion during Kingdom Building, but they all know, when the time comes for Adventuring, they are a team. The players also knew, going into this game, that both styles of play were expected and encouraged, so they should make characters accordingly. The Archetypes reinforced this idea.</li>
<li>One of my players travels for his job through most of the fall and again through most of the spring. With only 3 PCs, losing one makes playing normal D&D rather difficult. I decided that, using the magic of the internet (specifically) <a href="http://www.invisiblecastle.com/">Invisible Castle</a> and Google Docs, we could run Kingdom Building while our missing player is off travelling the southeast.</li>
<li>The scope of the game is epic, and requires my politically well-placed PCs to command troops, broker international deals, and eventually, by Paragon Tier, try and restart and/or run a nation. This isn't necessarily what 4ed is designed to do, but I figured Kingdom Building could be successful by taking some established 4ed systems (skill challenges) and stretching to meet this need.</li>
</ol>
<div>
<b><u>How Kingdom Building works:</u></b></div>
</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>The definition of a round changes in Kingdom Building. One round=one month.</li>
<li>Each month, a PC gets two Standard actions and a Minor Action.</li>
<li>PCs can use Standard Action to pursue Policies. Policies can be anything from "Establish International Informants" to "Attain Military Rank" to "Establish Eastern Defenses" to "Improve Relations with House Vadalis." Policies are basically skill challenges.</li>
<li>PCs can use minor actions to "aid another" other PCs. They can also use Minor Actions to directly work on policies with a -5 penalty to the roll.</li>
<li>They can use powers and abilities that interact with skills and skill challenges.</li>
<li>There is other stuff that has built on this, but 1-5 is the core of the system.</li>
</ol>
<div>
<b><u>20 rounds in to Kingdom Building:</u></b></div>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>One PC (The Prince) has put together a partial list of eligible bachelorettes and has become engaged with one. He has also recruited members of a new Knightly Order, been confirmed as a military officer, taken his knights and warforged on a rescue mission (and failed), done some PR war relief, rebuilt his knightly order, tand helped oversee a massive upgrade to Cyre's eastern border defenses.</li>
<li>One PC (Istav) has obtained diplomatic credentials, put together an international information network, and has established a diplomatic relationship with members of the Aundarian and Brelish diplomatic core. He has used these credentials to travel to Aundair, hoping to negotiate reunification between the Aundarians and Eldeen Reaches. He also, nearly single-handedly, made the Eastern Border Defense upgrade happen, and has, in general, made the party run through this much more efficiently.</li>
<li>One PC (Art) has developed a domestic information network, has created a new fully-credentialed identity, has founded a business selling discount weapons to the lower-classes for home defense, and has joined the Metrol Thief's Guild. He now has his own team of thieves he commands in Metrol, is looking to plan a massive heist, and has branched out to importing and exporting rare wines and unusual liquors. He would not have been able to get as far as he has without lots of help from Istav.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Basically, we are having tons of fun so far, and by the time Oargev's player comes back into town next week, we may actually be a little disappointed to stop Kingdom Building for the winter, and begin actual week-to-week adventuring.</div>
</div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-40364072358688768812011-10-31T10:00:00.000-04:002011-10-31T10:00:05.603-04:00Encounters: The Spawning MassAfter escaping Shadix and slipping from the Faedark into Khyber, the PCs came across a city called Klaatu inhabited by aberrant, freakish Dolgaunts, Dolgrimm, Dolgarr, and their enslaved, mutant goblins. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNW2cvuCld3K1bo43NPt516-HwNJj5geXY1ZaAbAh1bpdFlw8Q-URzJvUnyTcOV_WFSdThG1jcwWGKzOdhgIDnq5EqimAvnlUnRd3HDYU7u1aK5oMfbfVU4J4GYgWj_y3usXCTuHIh8g/s1600/Dolgriim+Image.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNW2cvuCld3K1bo43NPt516-HwNJj5geXY1ZaAbAh1bpdFlw8Q-URzJvUnyTcOV_WFSdThG1jcwWGKzOdhgIDnq5EqimAvnlUnRd3HDYU7u1aK5oMfbfVU4J4GYgWj_y3usXCTuHIh8g/s1600/Dolgriim+Image.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These Guys</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<b>Here's what was cool:</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HZjSAa1qQZI3PVPXNwBViaCxrTjhf31kv6MnNfeZneNC1LJzsWVaMh7conzrJt661S25v7Z56OCZMxkZH3r0VFbHQYooP_ZNJ-SWbN9rDZ0sIOfY6Ly0GaSFeaE3bfKMfd3IzuEd8WU/s1600/Klaatunian+Spawning+Mass+image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HZjSAa1qQZI3PVPXNwBViaCxrTjhf31kv6MnNfeZneNC1LJzsWVaMh7conzrJt661S25v7Z56OCZMxkZH3r0VFbHQYooP_ZNJ-SWbN9rDZ0sIOfY6Ly0GaSFeaE3bfKMfd3IzuEd8WU/s1600/Klaatunian+Spawning+Mass+image.png" /></a></div>
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I got the basic idea from a monster that was already in the Monster Builder, but I tweaked it just a little bit, as usual. I described the monster as a giant sac of amniotic fluid filled with clearly moving <i>THINGS, </i>all trying to claw their way out, hands, feet, and faces clearly pushing hard against the lining. When it spawns, it convulses, and a full-grown goblin mutant claws its way out.</div>
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It freaked the PCs out when they discovered that it could move. It worked exactly as I'd hoped, using nearly every single one of its powers and getting to munch on a PC for a while.</div>
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<b>It had support and it's support was cool:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5AnsSVSKp9sU8h1ByLNDWv89eLqMfTm0bgBZljeGHVKmsUN6NVS8_tNHdzCLAm_eE216t1MNPTOaSlWLWZkLwBlpj7NooA2SKtIIL7rOGOeSmaoBRNfGMBbct5t1xaIf9N-wOnGBT8s/s1600/Klaatunian+Dolgaunt+Acolyte+Image.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5AnsSVSKp9sU8h1ByLNDWv89eLqMfTm0bgBZljeGHVKmsUN6NVS8_tNHdzCLAm_eE216t1MNPTOaSlWLWZkLwBlpj7NooA2SKtIIL7rOGOeSmaoBRNfGMBbct5t1xaIf9N-wOnGBT8s/s1600/Klaatunian+Dolgaunt+Acolyte+Image.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2 of these guys. Maddening Whispers was an awesome way to hurt the PCs and throw them into the Spawning Mass. That said, as an at-will targeting Will, it was really hurting my PCs. I decided that the two Circles of Power on the floor, next to the portal they were trying to open, actually activated these guy's ability to use maddening whispers, and that the PCs, if they were to stand in these circles, could use this power too. If any of the PCs actually tried to use this power, I would have also given them all sorts of nightmares and plot related to having their minds touched by Elder Evils they aught not have communed with. Istav nearly did, but it never seemed advantageous to do so.</div>
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In addition, I decided that the circles of power would be blood-activated healing circles, so that whenever a creature adjacent to the circle takes damage, any creature within the circle gains 5 temporary hit points. The PCs definitely took as much advantage of this feature as the monsters did.</div>
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There were also other monsters in this fight. They were mostly fodder. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9wg3gcdAxxJebug7s0bQBX1wvbBJTfr_WGNqgF44BrywK9uXsTNx0GwQNQ0TChkVzPzJN1dhMsoeP3S4DLW6Vbe8hP8DIr9skUvQvYbKE6A5lr1KIcbAPpuOCa0xHA_1kbJc6DgiHJg/s1600/Klaatunian+Goblin+Mutant+Image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9wg3gcdAxxJebug7s0bQBX1wvbBJTfr_WGNqgF44BrywK9uXsTNx0GwQNQ0TChkVzPzJN1dhMsoeP3S4DLW6Vbe8hP8DIr9skUvQvYbKE6A5lr1KIcbAPpuOCa0xHA_1kbJc6DgiHJg/s1600/Klaatunian+Goblin+Mutant+Image.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnqNOnJjnVkar5oFlLMzANA5RL9DBhA7jGhTdeeAfPC9pJNnRT7HN4Rb3BKt90vxtoiCWsQJhkQo0KKatBaiOVLsw4SKaFZ2amIaodH2mrGQml7nA9tJTO4d0GXgmT-57unF8PjCFADU/s1600/Klaatunian+Goblin+Slave+Image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnqNOnJjnVkar5oFlLMzANA5RL9DBhA7jGhTdeeAfPC9pJNnRT7HN4Rb3BKt90vxtoiCWsQJhkQo0KKatBaiOVLsw4SKaFZ2amIaodH2mrGQml7nA9tJTO4d0GXgmT-57unF8PjCFADU/s1600/Klaatunian+Goblin+Slave+Image.png" /></a></div>
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I described the Mutants as goblins with semi-transparent skin that was practically gelatinous that they could easily scrape piece off and throw it at their enemies. Also, to use reintegrate, they would scrape some of their flesh off, and then eat it. Finally, their bones had grown through the tips of their fingers, and then were sharpened into points. The PCs had encountered them before this. The Goblin Slaves were just normal goblins, enslaved and waiting to be fed to the Spawning Mass so they could come out as something...better.</div>
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Happy Halloween.</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553231823622862260.post-4798718623398198372011-10-28T10:00:00.000-04:002011-10-28T10:00:00.134-04:00Getting Crafty Part 1: Mundane Weapons<a href="http://harbinger-of-doom.blogspot.com/2011/10/crafting-systems-design-4e-hack.html">Over on my friend Harbinger of Doom's blog, </a> he's been fiddling with a satisfying 4ed crafting system. I like many of his ideas, and am currently trying to wed my love of the core skill challenge mechanic to crafting.<br />
<br />
My idea: making a plain old every day item is pretty easy. Making it cool in some way, even in a non-magical way, is harder. Screwing up while making a weapon doesn't instantly ruin it, but it can make the weapon a bit unreliable. These rules are rough and incomplete, but I think the idea behind them is pretty solid. I will certainly be using Harbinger of Doom's ideas for materials of extraordinary (and crappy) quality, and these rules would best be used in a game using the inherent bonus rules from DMG2 (and in a setting where magic items are pretty rare or at least not readily available in a shop).<br />
<br />
<b>Crafting Rules (Normal Items):</b> You can derive the base DC of making a weapon by first looking at its Group. If a weapon falls into more than one Group, use whichever DC set is highest.<br />
<ul>
<li>Maces, Slings, and Staffs are all level 1 items (DC 8/12/19)</li>
<li>Axes, Bows, Hammers, Spears, and Unarmed Weapons are all level 2 items (DC 9/13/20)</li>
<li>Crossbows, Heavy Blades, Light Blades, and Polearms are all level 3 items (DC 9/13/21)</li>
</ul>
<div>
Then you look at which Category the weapon falls into.</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Simple Weapons use Easy DCs.</li>
<li>Military Weapons use Moderate DCs.</li>
<li>Superior Weapons use Hard DCs.</li>
</ul>
<div>
I keep talking about checks and DCs. What skill am I rolling to make all of these items, you might ask. That also depends on weapon type.</div>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Axes, Hammers, Heavy Blades, Light Blades, Maces, Polearms, Spears, and Unarmed Weapons use Dungeoneering (knowledge of metals)</li>
<li>Bows, Slings, and Staffs use Nature (knowledge of woods and leather)</li>
<li>Crossbows use Thievery (knowledge of mechanisms)</li>
</ul>
<div>
In order to complete a basic weapon, you must complete a Complexity 1 "crafting challenge" that follows the basic rules of a skill challenge. The DC is set by the type of item you are making. Unlike a normal skill challenge, where you creatively figure out what you are doing and which skill best fits your actions, you simply keep rolling the associated skill check (by yourself or with a friend) until you succeed 4 times. On each check, you apply a modifier for the quality of item you are using (basic quality is usually a +/- 0). Each failure introduces a Flaw (more on these later) into your weapon. Fail 3 times and the weapon comes out so messed up it is unusable. You lose some portion of the materials and must start over.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Flaws and Features</b></div>
<div>
Flaws and Features are Item Daily powers. Features are activated by the player. Flaws are activated, when the appropriate trigger occurs, by the DM.</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Flaws</b></div>
<div>
I haven't worked these all out yet, but the idea, similar to Harbinger of Doom's post, is that each weapon group has a lesser and a greater flaw associated with it. If you fail once, your weapon gets a lesser flaw. If you fail twice, your weapon either gets a second lesser flaw (if your weapon is of multiple groups or has a feature) or your first lesser flaw becomes a greater flaw.</div>
<div>
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Example 1: A Quarterstaff.</b><br />
<b> </b>Hoborne, the level 1 Shifter Druid (Nature +11) has been beaten up by thieves, robbed, and left for dead. He wakes up after sleeping off his wounds and decides he needs a quarterstaff for protection. Luckily he is in the woods. He doesn't have very good materials on hand, but he can get an oak tree limb, a sharpened rock, some kind of appropriate sap and some basic wood charcoal to make his staff, but all are sub-par materials, resulting in a -2 for each check he'll be making. A simple staff is a DC 8 project, so even with a -2 penalty, he will never fail. Hoborne can make his quarterstaff with no problems, not even having to roll a single check.<br />
<b>Example 2: A Scimitar.</b><br />
However, if he decided to try and make himself a scimitar, it would be a different matter. Unfortunately, he is NOT trained in Dungeoneering, so he only has a +4 Dungeoneering check. Even more unfortunately, he will be working with objects wholly unsuited to scimitar making: Stone blade (-2 check), Stone hammer (-4 check), plain old stream water (+0 check), and a camp fire rather than a forge (-4 check). To make matters worse, the DC for a Scimitar (Military Heavy Blade) is DC 13. To make a functional Scimitar, Hobbes would have to roll an 8, a 10, and two 12s before failing 3 times. Let's say Hoborne fails twice before succeeding. He'd have a functional Scimitar, but it would have a major DM-controlled Flaw:<br />
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<br />
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<span style="background-color: #f1c232; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Notched Blade Item Flaw</span></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>The imperfections in your blade leave it open to being easily notched.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3;">Immediate Reaction</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3;"><b>Trigger:</b><b> </b>You roll a 1 on an attack while using this weapon</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3;"><b>Effect:</b> You deal -2 damage with all weapon attacks that use this weapon until you </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">take a short rest.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Part two will explore what the non-magical types can do to make their weapons awesome without having resort to magic.</span></span></div>
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</div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07646019487867059477noreply@blogger.com0