postcard for Lord Marius
May. 4th, 2004 11:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Apr 8. Msg rec'd from S. Surprised. Have job to do first (find cure); want to talk w/you directly. Authority? Opposition? Want to do what's right for A. -- not seeking glory, but poss. for doing much good here can't be ignored. (End war?) Can't scry/TP yet (working on TP); P. could teleport me to a mtg. Where?
setting off a trap
Jan. 6th, 2004 08:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
"Ahem." (Pause.)
"You can't hide. I see what you're doing." (Pause.)
"How dare you! This is private! Have you no manners?"
(Five minutes of silence ensue. I'll go ahead and share the rest of the programmed message now, as Kyle's actions at this point can't affect it.)
"I'm still watching."
(One-minute pause.)
"Sneaky lout."
(One-minute pause.)
"[Raspberry]"
Garrett's Ranting
Jan. 5th, 2004 11:54 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
Dalia
The Crock Pot
Edwest Burrows
The Gastreyer
Dear Dalia,
We are leaving shortly to kill a vampire and take his dagger. Vampires are nastier than the freaks that we normally find so we might not survive. Turok, Liandra, and I have made a deal to be sure to kill any of us who fell rather than to let them be subjected to the vampire's evil will. Even though we don't have a deal, I would kill Larissa and Prolix too.
Larissa is writing letters to people she cares about in case she doesn't come back. (There is some scribble here.) I have your handkerchief.
Kyle
Turok, Prolix, and Garrett
Dec. 28th, 2003 01:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
( Read more... )
contingency letters
Dec. 16th, 2003 11:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
- - - - - - - -
( Tobin )
( Lord Marius )
( Seamus, Anarian )
( Brion )
( Colm )
( parents )
Rules rulings
Oct. 14th, 2003 10:51 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
(Some relevant links: the D&D 3.0 SRD and the D&D 3.5 SRD.
In general, we're sticking with D&D 3.0, with borrowings from 3.5. (When I don't specify changes, assume D&D 3.0.) Other general principles that I follow in making choices: I tend to favor things that make characters (especially PCs) more powerful rather than less, and I tend to disfavor all-or-nothing effects.
Races
- Dwarves and gnomes get appropriate martial weapons, as in 3.5.
- Dwarves are not slowed by heavy armor or heavy loads, as in 3.5.
- Half-elves get proficiency with bows and swords, as in 3.5's 'half-human' race in the DMG.
Classes
- Using the 3.5 versions of Druid, Ranger, and Monk.
- Using the 3.0 version of Paladin.
- Using 3.5's approach for animal companions.
- Using 3.5's ability for sorcerors to change the spells they know at even levels.
- Using 3.0's version of wizard specialization.
No XP penalty for unbalanced classes.
Paladins and monks do not have the multiclassing restriction that they can never get more levels in that class after getting a level in another class.
Skills
In general, I like what 3.5 has done with skills. (These are most likely to affect Liandra.)
- Animal Empathy is removed as in 3.5. (It's now a class feature for druids and rangers.)
- In 3.5, 3.0's Wilderness Lore is now called Survival, and 3.0's Intuit Direction is just a special use of Survival. I like that collapsing of skills. I'll use either Wilderness Lore or Survival as a name for the skill, with a preference for Wilderness Lore.
- Tumble to avoid attacks of opportunity is as 3.0, but instead of a DC of 15, it is opposed by an attack roll of the creature being dodged. (As described in Monte Cook's variant.)
Feats
In general, I like most of 3.5's changes to feats, and will lean towards using those changes. All the 3.5 feats are legal.
- 3.5 adds a lot of '+2 to X and Y' feats. I'll probably approve any feat of that form that you can rationalize a connection between.
- Using the better 3.5 version of Improved Disarm, Improved Grapple, Improved Sunder, Improved Trip, Natural Spell, Power Attack, Skill Focus, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Finesse, Whirlwind Attack.
- I consider 3.5's Manyshot feat dorky and underpowered. Any suggestions for a better feat for an archery-focused ranger to get at 6th level?
Equipment
- Using 3.0's simpler approach to weapon size.
- Using 3.5's treatment of shurikens.
- Using the 3.5 rules for special materials, such as silver weapons.
- Horses are not faster than humans for overland movement (though they can carry more).
Exploration
- Using 3.5's rules for bright and shadowy illumination.
Combat
- 20's are auto-successes and 1's are auto-failures on saving throws, as in 3.5 and the D&D 3.0 FAQ.
- Large creatures are not necessarily occupying square areas. (In 3.5, they do.)
Special Abilities
- Using the 3.5 version of DR.
- Fire immunity does not imply vulnerability to cold, and vice versa. (In 3.5, it does.)
Spells
Generally using the 3.0 versions of spells, with some exceptions. 3.5 spells that don't exist in 3.0 are generally admissible.
- Using the cheaper 3.5 costs of wizard spellbooks.
- Using the 3.5 druid spell list, plus some additions I don't have handy.
- Teleportation spells are transmutations, as in 3.0.
- Arcane eye can be created at any point known to the caster. (It wasn't clear in 3.0, and I ruled that it was so; in 3.5, the 'Unlimited' range is qualified by 'You can create the arcane eye at any point you can see...")
- Awaken can be used on a druid's animal companion.
- Blade Barrier works as 3.5.
- Call Lightning is as in 3.5.
- Dimension Door and Teleport work as in 3.0 for carrying capacity.
- Evard's Black Tentacles works as in 3.0.
- Harm works as in 3.5.
- Haste works as 3.0. I see big potential for abuse (particularly by sorcerors), but I feel 3.5 has nerfed it too much. I'm generally trying to avoid it.
- Hold Person works as in 3.5.
- Polymorph works as in 3.0. Polymorphing into something that has a template adds an extra -4 to the penalty for a failed save.
Magic Items
Generally as in 3.0, including the 3.0 pricing which I prefer. Options that don't exist in 3.0 are generally admissible.
- As clarified in 3.5, activating boots of speed is a free action.
Monsters
Subject to the inscrutable whim of the DM. I probably won't change monsters that you've already fought, though.
- As with 3.5, there's no distinction between animals and beasts.
- Half-dragons: When Turok was reincarnated, I didn't understand the distinction between CR and ECL. Instead of trying to fix this mistake, I'm going to make it official and declare that in this campaign, half-dragons have a level adjustment of +2.
letter to Brion
Sep. 14th, 2003 11:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Dear Brion,
May the blessings of Pelor be upon you.
I trust that by now a letter from Boniface, a priest of Pelor in Kozel'sk, has reached you, and that you have heard of our visit to his temple and in particular the surprising shrine we found there. I don't know if he described it, but it was quite familiar to us: it was just like the statues I've told you we've found in the past, including beneath Shepford. We have learned more about this: it is, in fact, the ancient religion we suspected it might be. We do not know much about the worship yet, but I believe its practicioners are working on the side of light.
We have learned some things about the troubles of the land -- much too complicated to write here, but be assured that we are doing our best to set things right. I fear that we will not be able to do so before spring planting, though, so please remind the townsfolk: if pools appear they are to be healed as quickly as possible, but do not under any circumstances poison them. The land is all connected, and poison in Shepford weakens Covanion too. Fire also has some effect against the creatures that come from the pools, but fire alone cannot cleanse the pools. Prepare for a lean year, just in case.
When you last wrote you said that you thought a certain someone had something special in mind for me. I now believe that you were correct, though he also has an ancient partner, it appears. When you said I should seize it tightly, I had no idea that you meant this literally. I have also received knowledge, insight, and skills that I would never have imagined possible. I have an exciting path ahead of me. I will tell you more when we speak. For now, know that the power of Sunrise is ever with me.
Have you heard any word from Tobin since he left? I hope that he is doing well. It's a dangerous time to be travelling alone.
I have heard that Colm has opened a tavern in Covanion, the Rearing Dragon, which is having some success, particularly when he serves Nithelin's special brew. I believe that this tavern also attracts many bards and other travellers. Naturally you shouldn't believe everything you hear, about us or about other things, but you might hear news from there at times.
Please convey my best wishes to Jehan, and if you could pass the attached letter to my parents I would appreciate it.
I am unsure where we will be by the time you receive this letter. We are in contact with Lady Mairead and Seamus in Oakhame, and that might be the best place to send letters for me. They will be able to read them to me, at least, if not convey them physically. These two are completely trustworthy.
We hope to travel to Cardior, and when we do we will seek out the priests of Pelor there as well.
May Pelor's light continue to shine upon you.
Larissa