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Kno
Senior Scribe
452 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Aug 2010 : 20:34:34
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How would you make sort of a Martian invasion or War of the Worlds scenario on Toril. Are there any D&D creatures that would work and did any kind of alien appearance happen in the planet's history. I've seen the githyanki scenario from Dragon Magazine, they don't appear suitable.
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z455t |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4687 Posts |
Posted - 06 Aug 2010 : 20:54:54
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| Well using SpellJamer/Realmspace appears to be the the quickest way to plot out something like that. A source book indicates that the Neogi have or had interest in attacking elves in space. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Kno
Senior Scribe
452 Posts |
Posted - 06 Aug 2010 : 21:36:39
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| The neogi and the mind flayers are hard to camouflage. So far I've found the fraal from the Monstrous Compendium, they give a ''white martian'' vibe, only appear in small groups so far. |
z455t |
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Sian
Senior Scribe
Denmark
596 Posts |
Posted - 06 Aug 2010 : 21:36:52
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| combined Illithid attack via spaceships (as per Spelljammer/Realmspace) and from below ground from their lairs there |
what happened to the queen? she's much more hysterical than usual
She's a women, it happens once a month |
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Kajehase
Great Reader
Sweden
2104 Posts |
Posted - 06 Aug 2010 : 22:03:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Kno
The neogi and the mind flayers are hard to camouflage. So far I've found the fraal from the Monstrous Compendium, they give a ''white martian'' vibe, only appear in small groups so far.
Well, the Martians in War of the Worlds didn't exactly bother to camouflage themselves - death-ray shooting tripods not being that common in the late 19th century. |
There is a rumour going around that I have found god. I think is unlikely because I have enough difficulty finding my keys, and there is empirical evidence that they exist.
Terry Pratchett |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31743 Posts |
Posted - 07 Aug 2010 : 01:17:12
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If you read the write-up of Oryndoll in Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide to the Underdark, you'll note Eric Boyd suggests pretty strongly that the illithids arrived in the Realms circa -11,000 DR from the planet of Glyth via spelljammers.
You could certainly shape that into a kind of "War of the Worlds" scenario. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36800 Posts |
Posted - 07 Aug 2010 : 02:18:45
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| I love the scro, meself, so I would do something like a scro invasion of Myth Drannor or Evereska. |
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Gray Richardson
Master of Realmslore
USA
1291 Posts |
Posted - 07 Aug 2010 : 03:49:03
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Use real martians! There was a Gothic Earth setting set in 1890's earth. Perfect time period for War of the Worlds, which was published in 1898. We know there are connections between the Realms and Earth (D&D Earth), portals, planar rifts, spelljamming, etc. Assume that martians of the War of the Worlds from the Mars of Gothic Earth used martian science to either open a portal from Gothic Earth Space to Realmspace or discovered the principles of spelljamming. Consequently, these martians have established a base on say, Selūne, or one of the Tears, or maybe Anadia (which has a desert climate, perhaps amenable to the martian temperment). From there they can stage an invasion of Toril.
You will have to create your own stats for martians, or you can adapt an existing monster. Perhaps Athach might make a good base creature (3 arms). Or you could use Neogi slavers. Or Grell. Or Beholders. Or any subspecies of Illithid (such as neothelid).
Not to mention that the spelljammer setting has tons of ideas for D&D adventures involving space, spaceships and aliens suitable for a Realms campaign.
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 07 Aug 2010 : 04:09:42
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I always liked the Necromunger of Chronicles of Riddick myself, for a world-invasion; they don't need to be non-human to be inhumane.
Then again, I picture the Shades being very much like the Necromungers (the whole 'half-dead' thing), so maybe you could spin it in such a way that they were merely the advance-force, sent ahead to establish a beach-head.
Soon, dozens of city-ships will dropping out of the sky, launching magic-tech skyships by the thousands - it could be like War of the Worlds, Riddick, and Independance day all rolled into one. 
I would use the Jaks from Warmachine/Iron Kingdoms as well, in lieu of Martian tripods. If you wanted to keep the three-legged theme, there was a monster in 1e called a tirapheg (1e FF) - very alien looking - don't know if it was ever statted in latter editions. Xorn could work as well. |
"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 07 Aug 2010 04:10:06 |
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Saxmilian
Learned Scribe
USA
157 Posts |
Posted - 07 Aug 2010 : 04:49:39
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| Spellweavers come from differnet dimensions to steal magic items, i always liked them, but id say make your own creatures. adds to the mystery of the invasion. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36800 Posts |
Posted - 07 Aug 2010 : 05:09:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I would use the Jaks from Warmachine/Iron Kingdoms as well, in lieu of Martian tripods.
You know, a cabal of extraplanar necromancers would allow you to drop some Cryx stuff in... Just tweak some of them a bit, like giving bile thralls a true breath weapon, instead of the gun-looking thing... Let's watch the paladin soil his armor when he attempts to turn the Deathjack and nothing happens!  |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 07 Aug 2010 : 13:39:58
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| There's a Mars/Barsoom in Oerth's solar system -- Martians (Red, Black, Yellow and White) have been part of D&D since the original boxed set . . . |
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Quale
Master of Realmslore
1757 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2010 : 07:43:55
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There are many options, the Lankhmar thread reminded me of Ashkalites (camouflage). Barsoom could work well.
Alternatively, I like the spellweaver idea the most. Replace Mars with Anadia (similar environment), they'd be like the white martians, ''geomantic'' builders of the pyramid and the canals on Mars. The kreen would like the green martians, their locust-like hordes. The anadjin (Realmspace) could be the alien armor of elite, hunter units.
BTW In my hombrew I wanted to have the Suel people from Oerth in the Realms, I imagined them as white martians that settled in the past in the Quoya desert (equivalent of Gobi, it was like when the Chinese found aryan-looking mummies there). The Suel branched into the Shou and Thayans (explains the racism and the Scarlet Brotherhood). |
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Salius Kai
Learned Scribe
USA
217 Posts |
Posted - 11 Aug 2010 : 00:10:37
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| Well, they may not be War of the World themed, but there actualy are alien creatures in D&D. The pseudonatural creature (page 160 of Complete Arcane) is meant to be an otherworldly being. There's even an arcane prestige class to go with it. The "Alienist" (page 21 of Complete Arcane). |
"Welcome to these walls of infinite knowledge."
Salius Kai |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36800 Posts |
Posted - 11 Aug 2010 : 04:02:30
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| I've been kicking around a Cryx invasion since it was brought up the other day... It's becoming more and more of a fun idea to me! Just tweak the stuff enough to remove the steampunk angle, maybe replacing it with a mix of undead and fiendish stuff... And oh my, IK dragons are freaking scary! Modify Toruk a bit to make him fit more into a regular D&D world, and he'd be munching on red great wyrms for lunch! He could prolly take Krynn's Dragon Highlords without any problems! |
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Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 11 Aug 2010 04:03:18 |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31743 Posts |
Posted - 11 Aug 2010 : 04:27:59
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
He could prolly take Krynn's Dragon Highlords without any problems!
Actually, I disagree. I've worked on comparisons between the stats and abilities for IK dragon lords and the Dragon Highlords of Krynn [as presented in 3e]. It's not as clear cut as you'd think -- especially with some of the material presented in the Age of Mortals sourcebook. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36800 Posts |
Posted - 11 Aug 2010 : 04:35:58
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
He could prolly take Krynn's Dragon Highlords without any problems!
Actually, I disagree. I've worked on comparisons between the stats and abilities for IK dragon lords and the Dragon Highlords of Krynn [as presented in 3e]. It's not as clear cut as you'd think -- especially with some of the material presented in the Age of Mortals sourcebook.
Well, considering that Toruk is the daddy of the IK dragons, and they're pretty freaking scary, I think he'd be much, much nastier. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31743 Posts |
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Kno
Senior Scribe
452 Posts |
Posted - 11 Aug 2010 : 19:44:52
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| Thanks guys, I got a lot of ideas to think about. Who are the Crix? I want to continue in Halruaa, what do you think about the skyships, how do they compare in maneuverability and fighting power against the spelljammers? Also will involve the Shadow Rift in the Shaar. |
z455t |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36800 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2010 : 00:22:54
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quote:
Originally posted by Kno
Thanks guys, I got a lot of ideas to think about. Who are the Crix? I want to continue in Halruaa, what do you think about the skyships, how do they compare in maneuverability and fighting power against the spelljammers? Also will involve the Shadow Rift in the Shaar.
Cryx is one of the factions in the Warmachine game. It's officially billed as "Full Metal Fantasy," but it's basically a blend of steampunk and fantasy. Cryx uses undead and lots of necromancers. They're nowhere near as cool as my faction, Cygnar (the best faction of them all! ), but they have some scary stuff... And a lot of Warmachine stuff can be used in D&D, because there's an RPG version -- the Iron Kingdoms.
Skyships are not at all maneuverable, especially against spelljammers. And most skyships aren't armed, whereas most spelljammers are armed with anywhere from 1 to 4 ballistae, catapults, or other similar fun stuff. |
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Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 12 Aug 2010 00:23:33 |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31743 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2010 : 01:36:11
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quote:
Originally posted by Kno
I want to continue in Halruaa, what do you think about the skyships, how do they compare in maneuverability and fighting power against the spelljammers? Also will involve the Shadow Rift in the Shaar.
Heh. We know from previous Realmslore that some skyships carry spelljamming helms. You could always combine the two and provide the skyship with a somewhat increased advantage in terms of power.
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31743 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2010 : 01:37:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Cryx is one of the factions in the Warmachine game. It's officially billed as "Full Metal Fantasy," but it's basically a blend of steampunk and fantasy. Cryx uses undead and lots of necromancers. They're nowhere near as cool as my faction, Cygnar (the best faction of them all! ), but they have some scary stuff... And a lot of Warmachine stuff can be used in D&D, because there's an RPG version -- the Iron Kingdoms.
It's also one of the most detailed RPGs to come out of the 3e/OGL/third-party era of D&D. I own most all of the published materials for the setting, and they've been a great addition to many of my established other-world campaigns, as well as a stand-alone campaign setting itself. |
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Edited by - The Sage on 12 Aug 2010 01:38:47 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36800 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2010 : 02:43:56
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Cryx is one of the factions in the Warmachine game. It's officially billed as "Full Metal Fantasy," but it's basically a blend of steampunk and fantasy. Cryx uses undead and lots of necromancers. They're nowhere near as cool as my faction, Cygnar (the best faction of them all! ), but they have some scary stuff... And a lot of Warmachine stuff can be used in D&D, because there's an RPG version -- the Iron Kingdoms.
It's also one of the most detailed RPGs to come out of the 3e/OGL/third-party era of D&D. I own most all of the published materials for the setting, and they've been a great addition to many of my established other-world campaigns, as well as a stand-alone campaign setting itself.
Indeed. I'm still trying to get the last three books, myself (the Witchfire Trilogy), but I've been very impressed with the material -- particularly the Monsternomicon tomes, easily my fave monster books of any D&D era or setting. And I would so love to play a Gun Mage! They're among my favorite troops to field, and I love the concept of a pistol-packing spellslinger! |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31743 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2010 : 03:08:51
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
And I would so love to play a Gun Mage! They're among my favorite troops to field, and I love the concept of a pistol-packing spellslinger!
As do I. And I've spent long-hours trying to fit both concepts into my on-again/off-again SPELLJAMMER campaign. I even borrowed a few similarly-themed ideas from the old d20 Shadow of the Spider Moon module. |
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Kno
Senior Scribe
452 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2010 : 15:58:33
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| I've decided against a Lovecraftian theme, that is getting old, all in favor of a steampunkesque Gothic Earth springing from the Shaar. |
z455t |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36800 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2010 : 16:59:01
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quote:
Originally posted by Kno
I've decided against a Lovecraftian theme, that is getting old, all in favor of a steampunkesque Gothic Earth springing from the Shaar.
Iron Kingdoms can give you plenty of fantasy/steampunk stuff to work with.  |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31743 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2010 : 17:07:24
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quote:
Originally posted by Kno
I've decided against a Lovecraftian theme, that is getting old, all in favor of a steampunkesque Gothic Earth springing from the Shaar.
Along with the recommendation for Iron Kingdoms, I'd also recommend you seek out the few books released for the third-party 3e/OGL Etherscope campaign setting. It's one of the few steampunk-esque gems of the OGL-era. |
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Amraz one arm
Acolyte
Netherlands
42 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2010 : 17:06:18
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| How about Imaskari descendents - returned from space after spending 3 millenia there. Since they where artificers, it not a long jump too; incoperating once life essence into machines and the like. |
"You smell human to me." |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31743 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2010 : 01:42:17
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quote:
Originally posted by Amraz one arm
How about Imaskari descendents - returned from space after spending 3 millenia there. Since they where artificers, it not a long jump too; incoperating once life essence into machines and the like.
Ah, yes. I can see it now. These Imaskari descendants return to Toril, but are now symbiotic creatures, sharing their existence with strange parasitic organisms. Modelling themselves as the gods of the ancient Egyptian pantheon on Earth, they are worshipped by vast slaves armies set to conquer worlds throughout the multiverse in their gods' names. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36800 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2010 : 02:09:02
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| That'd be an angle to allow one to work in some of the nifty psionic grafts from Drak Sun material... Just make them magical, instead, and you've got something really freaky for the players to encounter. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36800 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2010 : 02:09:33
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Amraz one arm
How about Imaskari descendents - returned from space after spending 3 millenia there. Since they where artificers, it not a long jump too; incoperating once life essence into machines and the like.
Ah, yes. I can see it now. These Imaskari descendants return to Toril, but are now symbiotic creatures, sharing their existence with strange parasitic organisms. Modelling themselves as the gods of the ancient Egyptian pantheon on Earth, they are worshipped by vast slaves armies set to conquer worlds throughout the multiverse in their gods' names.
Haven't I seen this idea somewhere before? |
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Martians
