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Sylrae
Learned Scribe
Canada
313 Posts |
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sfdragon
Great Reader
2285 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Jul 2010 : 14:01:16
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| elves don't lie, humans do. all elves do is bend the truth so much you cant figure out which is waht until your head stops swimming |
why is being a wizard like being a drow? both are likely to find a dagger in the back from a rival or one looking to further his own goals, fame and power
My FR fan fiction
Magister's GAmbit
http://steelfiredragon.deviantart.com/gallery/33539234 |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3249 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2010 : 14:21:31
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Two rules to live by:
1) Never deal with a dragon.
2) Never trust an elf.
Live and learn, die and forget, unless you're an expert system. |
I actually DO know everything. I just have a very poor index of my knowledge.
Ashe's Character Sheet
Alphabetized Index of Realms NPCs |
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sfdragon
Great Reader
2285 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2010 : 19:29:11
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| you forgot 3: always check your coin-purse after dealing with halflings |
why is being a wizard like being a drow? both are likely to find a dagger in the back from a rival or one looking to further his own goals, fame and power
My FR fan fiction
Magister's GAmbit
http://steelfiredragon.deviantart.com/gallery/33539234 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2010 : 23:50:19
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Rule 4: bald guys are always evil (at least in fantasy-fiction)
If they also happen to wear red or black, they are doubly evil.  |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 03 Jul 2010 23:50:55 |
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sfdragon
Great Reader
2285 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2010 : 02:06:45
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Rule 4: bald guys are always evil (at least in fantasy-fiction)
If they also happen to wear red and or black, they are doubly evil.
bold is mine
fixed for you
anyway when do we email Matt for the compendium, before or after the loremaster goes back online?? |
why is being a wizard like being a drow? both are likely to find a dagger in the back from a rival or one looking to further his own goals, fame and power
My FR fan fiction
Magister's GAmbit
http://steelfiredragon.deviantart.com/gallery/33539234 |
Edited by - sfdragon on 04 Jul 2010 02:07:49 |
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Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4470 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2010 : 15:57:53
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| Just so I'm sure, are mechanics (feats, prestige classes, paragon paths, etc...) being permitted or not in this new compendium? |
Diffan's NPG Generator: FR NPC Generator |
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sfdragon
Great Reader
2285 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2010 : 19:02:18
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| rule 6: Fireball first questions later |
why is being a wizard like being a drow? both are likely to find a dagger in the back from a rival or one looking to further his own goals, fame and power
My FR fan fiction
Magister's GAmbit
http://steelfiredragon.deviantart.com/gallery/33539234 |
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Zireael
Master of Realmslore
Poland
1190 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2010 : 10:50:02
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| Rule #7: Drow are ALWAYS evil, unless their name is Drizzt Do'Urden. |
SiNafay Vrinn, the daughter of Lloth, from Ched Nasad!
http://zireael07.wordpress.com/ |
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Sylrae
Learned Scribe
Canada
313 Posts |
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sfdragon
Great Reader
2285 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2010 : 21:08:53
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| rule 8: the game ends if the player and dm start to physically trade blows over a character |
why is being a wizard like being a drow? both are likely to find a dagger in the back from a rival or one looking to further his own goals, fame and power
My FR fan fiction
Magister's GAmbit
http://steelfiredragon.deviantart.com/gallery/33539234 |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36910 Posts |
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The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jul 2010 : 03:24:34
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Wasn't there a topic around here, someplace? 
Wooly,
I would try casting Back to Topic, but that spell hasn't worked worth a damn sine the blue fire  |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
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Kyrene
Senior Scribe
South Africa
765 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2010 : 08:55:38
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The discussion (or ‘thread drift’) on page 3 of the Canon Fodder scroll has prompted me to ask:
1. How much lore vs. crunch is expected in the articles we write for the upcoming Compendium/s? It seems that extra effort towards crunch is being implied with at least the very next Compendium, or am I misinterpreting things?
2. Is there going to be one central “Current Clack” article, or should we try to each have a little bit in our own articles, since they might be set during different years? |
Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2010 : 09:31:02
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Call it 'crunch lite'
Not a book of tables and stat-blocks, but rather a way of presenting juicy, chewy lore filled with crunchy bits.
Just like the Volo's Guides - in my mind, they are the PERFECT example of what FR sourcebooks should be like. They tell a story (lots of stories, actually), while at the same time giving a GM gobs and gobs of useful things to throw at their players.
So if you want to tell us about the history of Lizard men in the realms, or an ogre kingdom from the past, 'visit' one in the present, or at least a ruin of one. Elminster's Ecologies are another excellent example of Realmslore blended with much crunchiness.
Don't just tell us how big an ancient Ogre was, tell us what it is capable of, and the types of weapons and skill a typical warrior had. what kind of magic did their Shamans wield? Why were they 'wiped out', and does the cause still exist?
All of that a GM can USE, either in finding a 'lost' remnant of said Ogre civilization, or even by using the tried-and-true method of having them 'released' (from ice, a demi-plane, stasis, whatever...)
Cake and ice cream all all well and good, but sometimes we want more then sweet flavor - we want a juicy steak we can sink our teeth into.  |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Zireael
Master of Realmslore
Poland
1190 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2010 : 11:24:12
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quote:
Originally posted by Kyrene
The discussion (or #65533;thread drift#65533;) on page 3 of the Canon Fodder scroll has prompted me to ask:
1. How much lore vs. crunch is expected in the articles we write for the upcoming Compendium/s? It seems that extra effort towards crunch is being implied with at least the very next Compendium, or am I misinterpreting things?
2. Is there going to be one central #65533;Current Clack#65533; article, or should we try to each have a little bit in our own articles, since they might be set during different years?
Good questions. I hope to see them answered. |
SiNafay Vrinn, the daughter of Lloth, from Ched Nasad!
http://zireael07.wordpress.com/ |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jul 2010 : 17:53:39
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***Bumpity-bump-bump*** (this was slipping to page 3!)
Well, I'm not doing 'pure' crunch - I've coined the phrase 'crunchy fluff' in another thread. Basically, not purely 'historic', but no real 'hard numbers' either (meaning no tables, stat blocks, etc..). The same approach that is used in the Old Gray box, or many other of the 1e/2e sources. Just lots of Plot-hooks for DMs to grab onto if they like, without adding too much detail so that they can take the hook in any direction they want. If you want to give a wee bit of detail to an NPC, the old (LN hm F5) works just fine for our purposes.
I actual bumped this for a reason:
Brace, are you going to be detailing Cormyr's military in any way? Some of the things we've been discussing lately lends itself to a nice 'how do they do it' type article, in that regard. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3249 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jul 2010 : 18:43:27
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I've run into some writer's block for my idea and was wondering if anyone could help.
See, I was going to write a journal of a Lantanese Gnome that survived the tsunami and started traveling the Realms, detailing the changes to his brethren during the Spellplague. But, the block's coming from taking that major jump from a racial heritage of tinkerers and Gondsmen to the faerie they became after the Spellplague. I'm picturing some charismatic gnomes taking about 'returning to nature' since technology did not save them, but that kinda goes against the whole 'survivor mentality' of a large scale natural disaster. Any thoughts? |
I actually DO know everything. I just have a very poor index of my knowledge.
Ashe's Character Sheet
Alphabetized Index of Realms NPCs |
Edited by - Ashe Ravenheart on 19 Jul 2010 18:44:03 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jul 2010 : 18:55:36
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The Realms had Wood Gnomes as well. Those would have been 'proven right' if they be the only survivors. If your gnome found a community of these - whom he would look-down upon at first as 'rustics' - you could show in-text how he slowly changed his attitude over time because of them.
Technically, they were Fey all along - the wood Gnomes knew that. the 'Tinkers' would have been pitied for 'losing their way'. For whatever reason, the Urban gnomes became 'dwarf-like' in their attitude about using devices to achieve ends. Wood Gnomes would have more of a 'let nature provide' attitude'
So what you have there is a rather interesting dichotomy of cultures - both would have 'pitied' the other. Your gnome would have a good learning experience in-store for him - to find out what it truly means to 'be Gnome'.
I'd consult some RW Folklore to give them a bit more of a fey flare - they were actually fairly close to goblins, and you may want to use that. Goblins could be considered 'Unseelie' Fey. Goblins in other settings have become the 'Tinkerers', so although that is not FR canon, it is still usable as type of cross-cultural connection. FR's goblins are more Tolkienesque - feral and stupid. That could be from their interaction with Orcs for so many centuries.
A friend of mine (GothicDan) from the WotC boards used to say something that I took to heart, and always try to use in my design - "History doesn't happen in a vacuum". Always try to find connections to other things whenever possible, but don't try to 'force it' - that makes the lore feel artificial (something I, myself, have been taken-to-task on a number of times). |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 19 Jul 2010 19:06:09 |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3249 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jul 2010 : 19:10:15
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| Thanks, MT. I was running into the "artificial" problem a lot when trying to write this. I remembered the Forest Gnomes, but didn't think of them 'pitying' their tech-savvy cousins... |
I actually DO know everything. I just have a very poor index of my knowledge.
Ashe's Character Sheet
Alphabetized Index of Realms NPCs |
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Mr_Miscellany
Senior Scribe
545 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jul 2010 : 20:05:02
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| What if that gnome escaped into the Feywild or otherwise fell into it as a result of the Spellplague. And what if he/she's not the only one to have done so? |
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Ashe Ravenheart
Great Reader
USA
3249 Posts |
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Mr_Miscellany
Senior Scribe
545 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jul 2010 : 20:40:05
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Was just thinking that Lantan and its denizens could have been washed away "into" the Feywild (imagine a planar curtain of roiling energy riding the front of the Tsunami)....but deep into the Feywild, such that no practical cross-over/connection exists into the Prime (does 4E even call it the "Prime" still?) like what exists for Evermeet and Evereska.
This would adhere to the FRCG's brute force statement that Lantan, etc...was obliterated, while also allowing for an interesting take on Lantan's inhabitants finding themselves and their toys in a new world.
Do they accept the changes that will come over them as they attune to the Feywild? Or do they hold close to their clockworks and constructs, believing these the best means of surviving?
Do they have a yearning to return home to the Realms? Or is it better to stay?
Perhaps Ashe's gnome was the first to find a way out/way back and has been cataloging the changes to the Realms for his kin back in the Feywild ever since.
Or maybe an enterprising eladrin aided the gnome out of the Feywild, but the gnome skipped out on payment once they arrived on Faerùn. Now said gnome is being chased all over the Realms, meaning he can't stay in one place for too long.
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Edited by - Mr_Miscellany on 19 Jul 2010 20:44:35 |
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Hawkins
Great Reader
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jul 2010 : 20:44:21
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| I like Ashe's original take on it better. |
Errant d20 Designer - My Blog (last updated January 06, 2016)
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back. --Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
"Mmm, not the darkness," Myrin murmured. "Don't cast it there." --Erik Scott de Bie, Shadowbane
* My character sheets (PFRPG, 3.5, and AE versions; not viewable in Internet Explorer)
* Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Reference Document (PFRPG OGL Rules)
* The Hypertext d20 SRD (3.5 OGL Rules)
* 3.5 D&D Archives
My game design work:
* Heroes of the Jade Oath (PFRPG, conversion; Rite Publishing)
* Compendium Arcanum Volume 1: Cantrips & Orisons (PFRPG, designer; d20pfsrd.com Publishing)
* Compendium Arcanum Volume 2: 1st-Level Spells (PFRPG, designer; d20pfsrd.com Publishing)
* Martial Arts Guidebook (forthcoming) (PFRPG, designer; Rite Publishing)
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Hawkins
Great Reader
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jul 2010 : 20:45:38
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quote:
Originally posted by Diffan
Just so I'm sure, are mechanics (feats, prestige classes, paragon paths, etc...) being permitted or not in this new compendium?
I just wanted to point out that I do not think that Diffan's question ever got answered. |
Errant d20 Designer - My Blog (last updated January 06, 2016)
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back. --Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
"Mmm, not the darkness," Myrin murmured. "Don't cast it there." --Erik Scott de Bie, Shadowbane
* My character sheets (PFRPG, 3.5, and AE versions; not viewable in Internet Explorer)
* Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Reference Document (PFRPG OGL Rules)
* The Hypertext d20 SRD (3.5 OGL Rules)
* 3.5 D&D Archives
My game design work:
* Heroes of the Jade Oath (PFRPG, conversion; Rite Publishing)
* Compendium Arcanum Volume 1: Cantrips & Orisons (PFRPG, designer; d20pfsrd.com Publishing)
* Compendium Arcanum Volume 2: 1st-Level Spells (PFRPG, designer; d20pfsrd.com Publishing)
* Martial Arts Guidebook (forthcoming) (PFRPG, designer; Rite Publishing)
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Kyrene
Senior Scribe
South Africa
765 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2010 : 06:33:16
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quote:
Originally posted by HawkinstheDM
quote:
Originally posted by Diffan
Just so I'm sure, are mechanics (feats, prestige classes, paragon paths, etc...) being permitted or not in this new compendium?
I just wanted to point out that I do not think that Diffan's question ever got answered.
I don't think we're even allowed to design 4E crunch, or am I wrong? I know I kept my crunch OGL so that any 4E player can convert it privately. |
Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms
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Edited by - Kyrene on 20 Jul 2010 06:36:04 |
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Kyrene
Senior Scribe
South Africa
765 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2010 : 11:51:22
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| I have another few questions though: How do we pre-format our articles? Should it be in forum-ML, HTML, plain text, MS Word, or some other format? Is Compendium X going to be in PDF format again? |
Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms
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Edited by - Kyrene on 20 Jul 2010 11:52:45 |
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Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4470 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2010 : 15:00:14
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quote:
Originally posted by Kyrene
I don't think we're even allowed to design 4E crunch, or am I wrong? I know I kept my crunch OGL so that any 4E player can convert it privately.
I really don't see why not because I'm not taking something of 4E and turning it into 3e or any previous edition. Its more or less taking previous stuff and converting/updating it to 4E's rules (and I'm not even giving information about the rules.) Some clarification is required here :).
And thanks for re-posting my question Hawkins, much appreciated. |
Diffan's NPG Generator: FR NPC Generator |
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Pre-Organization of the Candlekeep Compendium
