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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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Chosen of Asmodeus
Master of Realmslore
1221 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Apr 2011 : 08:07:28
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To me the attraction to The Princess Bride is in the amusing banter and characters, not the setting as a whole. Most settings already have giant rats(giant versions of most animals, in fact), and the shrieking eels are a fairly minor aspect of the setting. You could put up a fire swamp import but even that kind of thing is fairly common in fiction; a swamp deemed impassable due to hazards both enviromental and animal. The trollmoors/evermoors in the realms, for instance.
Point being, the world of PB isn't as interesting to me as the characters in that world. |
"Then I saw there was a way to Hell even from the gates of Heaven"
- John Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress
Fatum Iustum Stultorum. Righteous is the destiny of fools.
The Roleplayer's Gazebo;
http://theroleplayersgazebo.yuku.com/directory#.Ub4hvvlJOAY |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2011 : 09:15:05
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Iocane (also spelled iocaine) is listed on this list of fictional toxins, actually quite a few nifty ideas in there.
I've worked with the Iocaine Powder algorithm before (though I knew it by another name) ... very interesting game theory stuff ...
Shortly after ingesting the Iocane/Iocaine, Vizzini began to get quite agitated, his gestures became more pronounced and frantic, his voice seemed unusually high and tense, his face was flushed, and he babbled off in a rapidly manic almost half-nonsensical manner before erupting in hysteria and suddenly keeling over. Most of this behaviour is somewhat normal for the Vizzini's character, although he generally seemed slightly (barely) calmer and less exaggerated while he remained unpoisoned. So, questions — Were these the symptoms of Iocane/Iocaine poisoning? Are there any symptoms (aside from death)? |
[/Ayrik] |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2011 : 23:09:45
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| It didn't appear so in the book. Then again, it's been a while since I read it. There is also a more "mature" version of the story, and I actually ran across it ONCE. Sadly, I didn't have the cash to plunk down for that one. The one the movie was based on was very political, too, though it doesn't really show in the film. Hmm, I'd almost forgotten about the Fire Swamp, but now the Cliffs of Insanity are starting to look interesting, too. And maybe the Thieves' Quarter in the woods near Miracle Max's place. Low magic aside, there's enough fun stuff to base a campaign on, and the rest can be filled in with some imagination. The pirate ship Revenge makes for a nice sea-hazard..... |
The Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot.
"Where Science ends, Magic begins" -Spiral, Uncanny X-Men #491
"You idiots! You've captured their STUNT doubles!" -Spaceballs
Lothir's character background/stats: http://forum.candlekeep.com/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=5469
My stories:
http://z3.invisionfree.com/Mickeys_Comic_Tavern/index.php?showforum=188
Lothir, courtesy of Sylinde (Deviant Art)/Luaxena (Chosen of Eilistraee)
http://sylinde.deviantart.com/#/d2z6e4u |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2011 : 02:19:21
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The Spirit World in Yu Yu Hakushu [translated as Ghosfighter, or Ghost Files] has a unique appeal, most specially when it was ruled by the three rival demons: Raisen, Mokoro, and Yomi. It's just sad that its creator hadn't had ample time to write the novel counterpart of the manga/anime. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 10 Apr 2011 : 22:37:59
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| Oooh! I'd almost forgotten that one. Might we add Inuyasha too? This one might sound strange, but the fairy tale/storybook "world" from Princess Tutu might be fun to play with, too. Talking animals, writing being able to altar the world around you, stories coming to life.... And curses, demon-ravens, a prince with a lost heart- there's a lot of good stuff to work with there. |
The Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot.
"Where Science ends, Magic begins" -Spiral, Uncanny X-Men #491
"You idiots! You've captured their STUNT doubles!" -Spaceballs
Lothir's character background/stats: http://forum.candlekeep.com/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=5469
My stories:
http://z3.invisionfree.com/Mickeys_Comic_Tavern/index.php?showforum=188
Lothir, courtesy of Sylinde (Deviant Art)/Luaxena (Chosen of Eilistraee)
http://sylinde.deviantart.com/#/d2z6e4u |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2011 : 01:26:18
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quote:
Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis
Oooh! I'd almost forgotten that one. Might we add Inuyasha too? This one might sound strange, but the fairy tale/storybook "world" from Princess Tutu might be fun to play with, too. Talking animals, writing being able to altar the world around you, stories coming to life.... And curses, demon-ravens, a prince with a lost heart- there's a lot of good stuff to work with there.
I only watched a very few episodes of Inuyasha, and I haven't really seen that much of its setting that would make it my favorite. I don't particularly like the characters; though I might have liked the setting had I seen more episodes that shed light to it. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2011 : 01:41:04
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| Well, it goes back and forth in the "real" present-day Japan and a "medieval" sort of alternate magical version. There are plenty of onis, demons, and other elements which would be good for exploiting, especially combined with the portal aspect. In the "real" world that the girl comes from, Inuyasha is an ordinary human boy, where in his own world, he's half-demon, and it shows. I don't know if I'd call it a favorite setting, but I do like some of the ideas in it. |
The Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot.
"Where Science ends, Magic begins" -Spiral, Uncanny X-Men #491
"You idiots! You've captured their STUNT doubles!" -Spaceballs
Lothir's character background/stats: http://forum.candlekeep.com/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=5469
My stories:
http://z3.invisionfree.com/Mickeys_Comic_Tavern/index.php?showforum=188
Lothir, courtesy of Sylinde (Deviant Art)/Luaxena (Chosen of Eilistraee)
http://sylinde.deviantart.com/#/d2z6e4u |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2011 : 10:22:39
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Among a number of series that go back and forth in Japan's present day and feudal era, I'd choose Fushigi Yugi---and not because Nakago [for some bizarre reason] suddenly turns gay, but because it captures so many of Japan's folklore and has an incredible cast.
And among the settings that are pure feudal era in Japan, I'd go for Samurai X, for the same reasons above, and specially because I see how the setting evolves every season.
Even Feist is fond of Japan's feudal era that he "borrowed" some concepts from it to create the Tsurani Empire. |
Every beginning has an end. |
Edited by - Dennis on 11 Apr 2011 10:23:05 |
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Chosen of Asmodeus
Master of Realmslore
1221 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2011 : 15:53:04
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I feel I could have liked Inuyasha's setting more if they didn't make all the demons look almost exactly the same for budget reasons. And explored their society more. Instead of chasing one guy for ten years.
Anyway, the thread on the drow curse and the talk on driders brings me here to shed light on how I use these things in my HB. As mentioned, I don't have "drow" in my homebrew, but I do have warcraft-style naga; elves who were driven underwater in a cataclysm and mutated into sea-snake people with the help of their goddess. Lolth is a serpent goddess in my setting, accordingly. Driders, or rather tauric creatures with the lower body of a spider(or a tarantula), do appear, but are instead connected to the gods of the trolls, and as such most seen have the upper body of a troll, though theoretically any member of the clergy of the spider god could become one. Like in 4e d&d, it is a blessing and sign of favor as opposed to a curse. |
"Then I saw there was a way to Hell even from the gates of Heaven"
- John Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress
Fatum Iustum Stultorum. Righteous is the destiny of fools.
The Roleplayer's Gazebo;
http://theroleplayersgazebo.yuku.com/directory#.Ub4hvvlJOAY |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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Chosen of Asmodeus
Master of Realmslore
1221 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2011 : 17:58:55
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I like to tie in some pseudo-Biblical references in my setting for flavor; as such Lolth has some heavy ties to the Serpent from the Garden of Eden, leading the original elves down the path of temptation and leading to the utter destruction of their original home, which while heavily tied into the Atlantis myth, I call Antediluvia, the name of the pre-Deluge world in Christian lore.
I save most of that for Asmodeus, who remains a big player in my homebrew. Though there are cults that believe Asmodeus and Lolth are either the same being(false), or otherwise related, a popular one being that he was the one who originally tempted her to evil. That one being a bit more ambiguous. Which is code for "I haven't made up my mind yet." |
"Then I saw there was a way to Hell even from the gates of Heaven"
- John Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress
Fatum Iustum Stultorum. Righteous is the destiny of fools.
The Roleplayer's Gazebo;
http://theroleplayersgazebo.yuku.com/directory#.Ub4hvvlJOAY |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2011 : 18:35:51
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I have a bit of a Lolth vs Tiamet thing going on in my HB-FR (you'd think they'd be friends!)
Because of my Tlincalis vs Driders story-line, I wanted to develop a back-story for that, pertaining to why they are also similar outwardly. Basically, the Tlincallis were a group of Tiamet-worshiping Drow from Maztica that lolth cursed for having forsaken her. In my HB material on Maztica, I have it where all the Maztican gods are really aspects of the Draco-pantheon (we worked on that a bit in an old WotC thread). Strangely, that works out even better with the 4e lore (I say Maztica simply 'went home').
The reason why I used Tiamet is because Scorpionmen are associated with her in RW mythos, so it seemed fitting. I figure they also call her something different - Leviticus, or some-such (I played a VG a LONG time ago and the final boss was named something like that).
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Among a number of series that go back and forth in Japan's present day and feudal era, I'd choose Fushigi Yugi---and not because Nakago {for some bizarre reason} suddenly turns gay, but because it captures so many of Japan's folklore and has an incredible cast.
At the risk of getting myself in hot water here, I have to share my immediate thoughts on this...
My first thought was Fushigi Yugi-Oh! 
Then I pictured a spikey-haired kid pulling a card from his deck and yelling. "Big Gay Al - I choose YOU!!!" 
Okay... I'm ready for my banning now.  |
"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 11 Apr 2011 18:37:18 |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2011 : 19:40:25
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In the never-to-be-finished K-T project (which was going to be in three different LARGE pdf's!), I had a special summoner class called the Yôkai-Master, that used Nomé-kop Stones (specially grown crystals) that were 'keyed' to previously caught creatures, that were stored in an extra-dimensional limbo.
I also had the Onmyoji, which is a spell-scroll caster, some of which specialized in 'decks' of placards (stiff cards) that could summon both creatures and also add affects to those creatures.
The placard-Onmyoji and the Yôkai-Master were rivals, and many famous duels were held between them in the Imperial Arena. It was a friendly rivalry, usually, and the two types would even work together in a crisis (like whenever giant monsters attacked, which happens more often then you would think in the East, for some strange reason).
All HB, of course. 
I pretty-much borrow liberally from every source I can get my hands on. There is no such things as 'bad ideas', merely poor implementations. Everything has potential if you know how to look at it. |
"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 11 Apr 2011 20:30:53 |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 11 Apr 2011 : 22:35:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
Among a number of series that go back and forth in Japan's present day and feudal era, I'd choose Fushigi Yugi---and not because Nakago {for some bizarre reason} suddenly turns gay, but because it captures so many of Japan's folklore and has an incredible cast.
At the risk of getting myself in hot water here, I have to share my immediate thoughts on this...
My first thought was Fushigi Yugi-Oh!
Then I pictured a spikey-haired kid pulling a card from his deck and yelling. "Big Gay Al - I choose YOU!!!"
Okay... I'm ready for my banning now.
Yugi-Oh is silly. Even my anime-addict cousin never bothered to watch that.
Another feudal era Japan setting that I find quite interesting is the one of Shonen Onmyouji. Guren is one of the most loyal and coolest "friend" around. And Mokkun is the cutest pet/familiar that ever exists. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Lily M Green
Learned Scribe
Australia
115 Posts |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2011 : 03:03:40
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I find Chamo funny, not cute.
Double points, you said? Well, Chamo's just a wizard. Mokkun is the avatar of the God-Spirit of Fire. |
Every beginning has an end. |
Edited by - Dennis on 12 Apr 2011 03:06:14 |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2011 : 06:11:45
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The many worlds/dimensions in Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle that Syaoran travels to in order to retrieve the scattered feathers of Sakura's wings are some of the great, brilliantly conceived fantasy settings. I particularly like the magic-awash world of Fort City Bit, the beautiful and captivating Tsarastora, the futuristic Piffle, and the mysterious parallel worlds of Koryo and Kiishimu. |
Every beginning has an end. |
Edited by - Dennis on 12 Apr 2011 06:33:33 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2011 : 07:58:28
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I thought Koryo was in northern Kara-Tur.
All this talk of 'cuteness' makes me want to scrap some catgirl off my tires.  |
"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 12 Apr 2011 07:58:42 |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2011 : 09:06:27
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I'm an FR fan, but I must say that's a less interesting Koryo. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Chosen of Asmodeus
Master of Realmslore
1221 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2011 : 18:52:53
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| My little brother was a big fan of the Yu Gi Oh show and game. I'll give them this; some of those cards had absolutely great monster designs. More than a few of which I use for inspiration. |
"Then I saw there was a way to Hell even from the gates of Heaven"
- John Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress
Fatum Iustum Stultorum. Righteous is the destiny of fools.
The Roleplayer's Gazebo;
http://theroleplayersgazebo.yuku.com/directory#.Ub4hvvlJOAY |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2011 : 19:50:31
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QFT.
Look at This Guy.
The art isn't so great, but the concept is very cool - a minocentaur. Yugi's monsters put the silly Pokemon to shame (there are maybe 2-3 I like). In fact, the whole concept is better thought-out; why do the adults of the pokemon world send their very young children into the wilderness, ALONE, to find and fight monsters? 
Yeah... little girls wandering around the forest all by themselves.... GREAT idea... 
Although Pokemon proved to be more popular, I think the Yugioh premise is much more sound.
But Full Metal is off the shizzle.
I have SOOOOOO stolen the 'State Alchemists' concept for my Kara-Tur.
EDIT: I hadn't noticed the earlier posts about The Princess Bride - I don't know of how great a setting it would make (I would probably just steal the characters and 1 or 2 places), but there is A MAP. |
"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 13 Apr 2011 00:52:19 |
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Chosen of Asmodeus
Master of Realmslore
1221 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2011 : 19:58:37
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| Funny thing is I was actually having a debate about the pokemon franchise the other day with a friend of mine, after watching the Zero Punctuation review of the latest pokemon game. The setting makes no sense whatsoever. Is the educational system just considered a suggestion there? What do they eat? Are they all vegetarians? Do they eat the pokemon? Do the pokemon eat each other? Why have they been releasing the same game for the last sixteen years? |
"Then I saw there was a way to Hell even from the gates of Heaven"
- John Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress
Fatum Iustum Stultorum. Righteous is the destiny of fools.
The Roleplayer's Gazebo;
http://theroleplayersgazebo.yuku.com/directory#.Ub4hvvlJOAY |
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Alystra Illianniis
Great Reader
USA
3750 Posts |
Posted - 13 Apr 2011 : 04:07:32
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Apparently, they all eat rice balls and milk or tea. As for the pokemon- I think they eat pet food. Seems I recall Misty feeding her water pokemon fish food or something once, so I guess if you extend that to the other types..... Education?! You mean they don't just learn everything by traveling?! Come to think of it, I've never seen a school int hat "world". Just lot's of Pokecenters and arenas. And all those darn look-alike cops and nurses..... My theory is it's all the same city, and they're just going in circles in the woods and the people of the city are playing a practical joke on all these kids.
MT, I SOO agree about FMA. I've borrowed some ideas from it for my own alchemy HB use. |
The Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot.
"Where Science ends, Magic begins" -Spiral, Uncanny X-Men #491
"You idiots! You've captured their STUNT doubles!" -Spaceballs
Lothir's character background/stats: http://forum.candlekeep.com/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=5469
My stories:
http://z3.invisionfree.com/Mickeys_Comic_Tavern/index.php?showforum=188
Lothir, courtesy of Sylinde (Deviant Art)/Luaxena (Chosen of Eilistraee)
http://sylinde.deviantart.com/#/d2z6e4u |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
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Favorite Fantasy Settings
