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Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
 Posted - 07 Jul 2005 : 09:21:53
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I would appreciate it if folks would post links to essays & fiction about loremasters. I want to get a good feel for how the class fits into a game beyond the bare bones (and utterly wimpy!) mechanics set forth in the DMG and Epic Level Handbook ("Hey! I'm an Epic Loremaster! Look at me! I can ... I can ... I can cast spells and make stuff! Just like a wizard or a sorcerer! Exactly like a wizard or sorcerer, in fact. ... But I know lots of stuff! Just like a bard ... who knows more than I do ... and can play a musical instrument, which I can't do because only Rogues get enough skill points to buy lots of abilities which I suppose I should have, but ... 'I'm an ... Epic' ... oh, never mind.")
I am familiar with Monte Cook's "The Rose Window" (Realms of Mystery), and I suspect that there is some loremastering in The Lost Library of Cormanthyr, but I'm interested in reading some more about Loremasters.
Any number of "psychic detectives" and necromancers would cover Mongoose's Spectral Loremaster prestige class quite well, and I am familiar with quite a few stories and novels along that line, but I'm inquiring about fantasy characters who get their lore from books, from wise (living) elders, from inscriptions in ruins (archaeologist/historians), and so on. (Indiana Arunsun? Hmmm....  )
I'm frankly surprised that Loremasters are so boring in the D&D milieu considering the vast amount of lore accumulated by iconic characters such as Elminster.
(This is also posted at Wizards.com. A reply to either thread will be noted by me, but the enthusiastic may want to post at both locations. I figure that here I will get the attention of those who may be well-versed in Realms lore, which is my particular interest.)
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I have a mouth, but I am in a library and must not scream.
Feed the poor and stroke your ego, too: http://www.freerice.com/index.php.
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jul 2005 : 20:27:55
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| You mean apart from the stories about Elminster? And Ed's Introduction to Candlekeep on this site? |
Edited by - Faraer on 07 Jul 2005 20:28:50 |
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Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
Posted - 07 Jul 2005 : 21:52:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Faraer
You mean apart from the stories about Elminster? And Ed's Introduction to Candlekeep on this site?
Yes. |
I have a mouth, but I am in a library and must not scream.
Feed the poor and stroke your ego, too: http://www.freerice.com/index.php.
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Thureen Buroch
Learned Scribe
169 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jul 2005 : 16:17:45
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quote:
But I know lots of stuff! Just like a bard ... who knows more than I do ...
Actually, a level two loremaster gains the Lore ability which functions exactly like bardic knowledge. The Loremaster adds his/her level plus intelligence modifier to the roll. Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but the DM's guide says level, so doesn't this mean total level, not just Loremaster level?
Also, loremasters progress with spells the way their previous class did.
Loremasters also get to use the Identify spell as an extraordinary ability once per item examined at sixth level. At tenth level, they gain the effects of a Legend Lore or Analyze Dweomer as an extraordinary ability. Also, they gain two bonus languages and five Loremaster Secrets, which are, for the most part, better than (or at least as good as) feats. So really, Loremasters are pretty dang good. |
Goblins? *Slash* *Scream* *Thunk* What goblins? |
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ode904
Learned Scribe
Finland
193 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jul 2005 : 22:24:23
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ahem ahem.. I don't know any famous loremasters . Check for example the town guides, those can tell about loremasters who live in the town. IN dragon Magazine's article of Silverymoon was mentioned one( I would remember), I think she was in th Library of Silverymoon.
quote:
(This is also posted at Wizards.com. A reply to either thread will be noted by me, but the enthusiastic may want to post at both locations. I figure that here I will get the attention of those who may be well-versed in Realms lore, which is my particular interest.)
You'll get better responses here!
And like Thureen said Loremaster is good class |
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Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2005 : 18:25:45
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quote:
Originally posted by ode904
ahem ahem.. I don't know any famous loremasters. Check for example the town guides, those can tell about loremasters who live in the town. IN dragon Magazine's article of Silverymoon was mentioned one( I would remember), I think she was in th Library of Silverymoon.
[quote]
(This is also posted at Wizards.com. A reply to either thread will be noted by me, but the enthusiastic may want to post at both locations. I figure that here I will get the attention of those who may be well-versed in Realms lore, which is my particular interest.)
[quote]
You'll get better responses here!
And like Thureen said Loremaster is good class
I think Loremaster could be a good class, but look at the bonus abilities and such they get as they progress: extra hit points, dodge bonus, plus to attack? And they got those from sitting in a reading carrel? ... How about a description of the housekeeper or librarian or teacher saying, "Blord, you look pasty. Go out and get some sun. A drow shouldn't be as pale as you are!" which leads to invigorating fencing practice with the only living person who is fluent in Aboleth Sign Language? How about an account of how trying to read books at the Library of Animated Desks and Tables Who Like to Bullrush People led to that dodge skill, hmmm?
Better by far than the DMG Loremaster are the Spectral Loremaster from the Encyclopaedia Arcane: Necromancy book and the Information Mage from Dynasties & Demagogues. I hope to actually write a story, or series of stories about a character who is a Spectral Loremaster; I think that there are an enormous number of possibilities inherent in that prestige class.
I had hoped that the Epic Loremaster would be more exciting, but it's just more of the same. Wizards seems to think that any character who isn't interested in killing people in melee combat isn't of interest. Why else introduce a Healer character who is depicted holding a spear? Why else introduce umpteen prestige class archers and half a dozen archery feats rather than just admit that the irrevocable decision to limit bows to one-tenth or less of their actual range and limit archers to a number of attacks so ridiculously low that they will be dragged into hand-to-hand fighting within three rounds was incredibly stupid? Why else provide the least amount of fluffy support (and no hope of ever getting a mini!) for the one character class which may provide more opportunities for cool role-playing than any other, the *L*o*r*e*m*a*s*t*e*r*? Grrr....  |
I have a mouth, but I am in a library and must not scream.
Feed the poor and stroke your ego, too: http://www.freerice.com/index.php.
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Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
Posted - 12 Jul 2005 : 23:35:09
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One book I keep forgetting to mention is the Ravenloft novel, Scholar of Decay. The protagonist is a 2E mage (a "wizard" in 3E parlance), but he seems to be a scholar of "Knowledge (Arcana)."
One article on Wizards.com has some interesting personality info on "Shanlena, Gnome Loremaster" (written by Skip Williams) -- http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/cc/20010112a. The few words Skip has to say about her make her much more vibrant than a set of stats which translate to nothing other than "weak wizard / sub-standard fighter." |
I have a mouth, but I am in a library and must not scream.
Feed the poor and stroke your ego, too: http://www.freerice.com/index.php.
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Edited by - Jamallo Kreen on 12 Jul 2005 23:42:34 |
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Xysma
Master of Realmslore
USA
1089 Posts |
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Jamallo Kreen
Master of Realmslore
USA
1537 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jul 2005 : 17:04:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Xysma
Realms of Infamy contains "The Meaning of Lore" which is an excellent story. Chane Troiban, a devotee of Oghma, believes that knowledge is power, and he wants it for himself. He devises a plan to steal the ancient texts from The Seat of Lore, and eliminate the Loremaster there to cover his tracks.
That's the ticket! Thanks, Xysma. I plan on getting Realms of Infamy sometime this year. Now I have a greater incentive. |
I have a mouth, but I am in a library and must not scream.
Feed the poor and stroke your ego, too: http://www.freerice.com/index.php.
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Xysma
Master of Realmslore
USA
1089 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jul 2005 : 19:07:07
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quote:
Originally posted by Jamallo Kreen
quote:
Originally posted by Xysma
Realms of Infamy contains "The Meaning of Lore" which is an excellent story. Chane Troiban, a devotee of Oghma, believes that knowledge is power, and he wants it for himself. He devises a plan to steal the ancient texts from The Seat of Lore, and eliminate the Loremaster there to cover his tracks.
That's the ticket! Thanks, Xysma. I plan on getting Realms of Infamy sometime this year. Now I have a greater incentive.
Realms of Infamy is worth reading, it's an excellent anthology. We get to see "origin" stories for Eliath Craulnober and Artemis Entreri, early tales of King Pinch, Manshoon, and Fzoul, there's even a story about Jander Sunstar. |
War to slay, not to fight long and glorious.
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Guide to the Tomes and Tales of the Realms download from Candlekeep
Anthologies and Tales Overviews
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Essays & fiction about Loremasters?
