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dwarvenranger
Senior Scribe
USA
428 Posts |
 Posted - 14 Jun 2007 : 00:37:18
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| Well done. I would have liked to seen updated level on Jarlaxle though. Got any stats for him laying around? |
If I waited till I knew what I was doing, I'd never get anything done.
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EytanBernstein
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
704 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2007 : 11:44:00
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| It's really beyond the scope of these articles to do big NPC write-ups. Also, I don't want to step on the toes of a Bob Salvatore. |
http://eytanbernstein.com - the official website of Eytan Bernstein |
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Mumadar Ibn Huzal
Master of Realmslore
1338 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2007 : 18:51:57
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quote:
Originally posted by EytanBernstein
I agree with the idea that divine magic requires a patron. In this one specific instance, I had to go against the grain, simply due to the nature of the factotum class. Making them choose a patron really goes against the entire idea of the class. They are drawing on the power of the gods, but not on any one particular god. In this way, they are more like ur-priests (or even bards) than clerics.
Would this not depend on how black & white us as players/DMs take the patron deity requirement?
Just because there is a rule that a character needs to have a patron deity does not have to stand in the way of the factotum class. FR is after all a polytheistic culture and someone with a plethora of holy symbols and some limited power could still function with a patron deity who might or might not grant these spells - certainly, the character would not need to know. (And some deities actually enjoy masquerading as another)
I always see a patron deity as a divine being that a character (PC or NPC) might favor over other deities, but predominantly because that deity's ideals/dogmas match with the character's outlook on life and behavior (whether conscious or sub-conscious) and likely influenced by the character's background and upbringing (though this need not be the defining factor)
In other words, in my opinion, the requirement for a patron deity could still stand without endangering the factotum class… |
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EytanBernstein
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
704 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2007 : 20:08:34
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| Your idea isn't bad Mumadar, though I think most people interpret that you must select a specific deity. That doesn't have to limit your game, but for the most part, divine spellcasters must choose a patron deity. It's quite possible that factotums don't think they are getting their powers from a deity, but they are indeed. This is similar to a cleric who worships a dead god, not realizing that another god (like Cyric) is granting their powers. |
http://eytanbernstein.com - the official website of Eytan Bernstein |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2007 : 21:57:25
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quote:
Originally posted by EytanBernstein
Your idea isn't bad Mumadar, though I think most people interpret that you must select a specific deity. That doesn't have to limit your game, but for the most part, divine spellcasters must choose a patron deity. It's quite possible that factotums don't think they are getting their powers from a deity, but they are indeed. This is similar to a cleric who worships a dead god, not realizing that another god (like Cyric) is granting their powers.
Or a heretic that is getting their spells from a god diametrically opposed to the god they think they are following, or even Ur-Priests, which Ed said in his responses, do gain spells in the Realms, but from various evil deities whose power is not being stolen, but just loaned out to these heretics to cause chaos and havok for whatever reason, while allowing them to maintain the illusion that they are "stealing" the power of the gods. |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2007 : 22:16:23
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Good job gathering up the gods. I see you mixed some from MM and Dragonomicon. I also noticed a couple were missing, and was wondering if there was anything to support the below assumptions
Asgorath = Io? This is almost a shoe in given their descriptions, but...
Null = Falazure + Chronepsis ?? Is Null something like the three part elven deity. It would be kind of weird because Chronepsis is hinted at being Io's brother and Falazure is Io's son, but maybe something was mentioned somewhere of a takeover that I never noticed and Null uses those Alias'
Xymor (justicemaker) = is he dead, he's not on the list? He does seem a little redundant with Bahamut, but they are listed as separate entities in the same book. Did they combine them?
Kalzareinad (dead dragon god of secrets) = where'd this one come from |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2007 : 22:20:18
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Good job gathering up the gods. I see you mixed some from MM and Dragonomicon. I also noticed a couple were missing, and was wondering if there was anything to support the below assumptions
Asgorath = Io? This is almost a shoe in given their descriptions, but...
Null = Falazure + Chronepsis ?? Is Null something like the three part elven deity. It would be kind of weird because Chronepsis is hinted at being Io's brother and Falazure is Io's son, but maybe something was mentioned somewhere of a takeover that I never noticed and Null uses those Alias'
Xymor (justicemaker) = is he dead, he's not on the list? He does seem a little redundant with Bahamut, but they are listed as separate entities in the same book. Did they combine them?
Kalzareinad (dead dragon god of secrets) = where'd this one come from
Some of those were resolved by the dragon god appendix to the 2nd Edition Cult of the Dragon sourcebook. |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2007 : 22:24:17
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Eytan, as far as the latest article goes, I have to admit, I kind of like the classes that don't require a lot of work to fit into the Realms, because you can pretty easily say that the class works in the Realms, and now that that is established, now we can delve into some well written, interesting Realmslore. In other words, a great excuse to see you set loose to come up with some fun new characters, organizations, places, and plot hooks, which I have really enjoyed.
As far as Dragonfire Adepts go, my first thought was "these guys are just like Warlocks but with dragonfire," so I kind of liked how you turned them into "pact makers" with "unearthly" dragons. Still don't think the class is that inspired, but its a good spin on why they are similar to Warlocks but tied to dragons. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jun 2007 : 00:03:03
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| I'm a bit surprised that the Marshals weren't connected to the Red Knight in any way... |
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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Ayunken-vanzan
Senior Scribe
Germany
657 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jun 2007 : 13:15:06
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Xymor (justicemaker) = is he dead, he's not on the list? He does seem a little redundant with Bahamut, but they are listed as separate entities in the same book. Did they combine them?
Xymor is just another name of Bahamuth, which can be easily seen in Dragons of Faerun in the chapter “Orders of Dragonkind”, “Talons of Justice”: “The Talons of Justice are an order of silver dragons dedicated to Xymor (Bahamut) …” This backs up the information from the mentioned appendix of Cult of the Dragon.
*****
The information on the “Light of Xymor” is very interesting. Are they dragonborn of Bahamut? Is there any more lore about them to be found elsewhere, in novels or sourcebooks? |
"What mattered our lives now? When our world had been torn from us? Folk wept, or drank, or stood staring out over the land, wondering what new horror each dawn would bring."
Elender Stormfall of Suzail
"Anyone can kill deities, cause plagues, or destroy organizations. It takes real skill to make them live on."
Varl
FR/D&D-Links • 2ed Downloads |
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EytanBernstein
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
704 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jun 2007 : 15:52:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I'm a bit surprised that the Marshals weren't connected to the Red Knight in any way...
It would have been a really good idea, but she completely slipped my mind at the time. Fortunately, I've worked in some Red Knight lore into another entry later on. |
http://eytanbernstein.com - the official website of Eytan Bernstein |
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EytanBernstein
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
704 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jun 2007 : 15:53:02
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quote:
Originally posted by Ayunken-vanzan
quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Xymor (justicemaker) = is he dead, he's not on the list? He does seem a little redundant with Bahamut, but they are listed as separate entities in the same book. Did they combine them?
Xymor is just another name of Bahamuth, which can be easily seen in Dragons of Faerun in the chapter “Orders of Dragonkind”, “Talons of Justice”: “The Talons of Justice are an order of silver dragons dedicated to Xymor (Bahamut) …” This backs up the information from the mentioned appendix of Cult of the Dragon.
*****
The information on the “Light of Xymor” is very interesting. Are they dragonborn of Bahamut? Is there any more lore about them to be found elsewhere, in novels or sourcebooks?
Light of Xymor is new, though it's based on some ideas we developed in Dragons of Faerun. I can't really go into much more detail on them due to NDAs. |
http://eytanbernstein.com - the official website of Eytan Bernstein |
Edited by - EytanBernstein on 16 Jun 2007 15:53:38 |
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EytanBernstein
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
704 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jun 2007 : 15:54:30
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Good job gathering up the gods. I see you mixed some from MM and Dragonomicon. I also noticed a couple were missing, and was wondering if there was anything to support the below assumptions
Asgorath = Io? This is almost a shoe in given their descriptions, but...
Null = Falazure + Chronepsis ?? Is Null something like the three part elven deity. It would be kind of weird because Chronepsis is hinted at being Io's brother and Falazure is Io's son, but maybe something was mentioned somewhere of a takeover that I never noticed and Null uses those Alias'
Xymor (justicemaker) = is he dead, he's not on the list? He does seem a little redundant with Bahamut, but they are listed as separate entities in the same book. Did they combine them?
Kalzareinad (dead dragon god of secrets) = where'd this one come from
Kalzareinad is nothing new. He's been around for quite some time. For a bit more (recent) info, see the Cliffs of Karthaut adventure. There is a priestess of Kalzareinad there. |
http://eytanbernstein.com - the official website of Eytan Bernstein |
Edited by - EytanBernstein on 16 Jun 2007 15:54:48 |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
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Ayunken-vanzan
Senior Scribe
Germany
657 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jun 2007 : 17:56:39
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quote:
Originally posted by EytanBernstein
Light of Xymor is new, though it's based on some ideas we developed in Dragons of Faerun. I can't really go into much more detail on them due to NDAs.
Yai, sometimes NDAs are good news.  I suppose we will hear of them soon enough.  |
"What mattered our lives now? When our world had been torn from us? Folk wept, or drank, or stood staring out over the land, wondering what new horror each dawn would bring."
Elender Stormfall of Suzail
"Anyone can kill deities, cause plagues, or destroy organizations. It takes real skill to make them live on."
Varl
FR/D&D-Links • 2ed Downloads |
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Dhomal
Senior Scribe
USA
565 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2007 : 06:12:14
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Hello-
We have another! :)
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/frcc/20070620
Dhomal |
I am collecting the D&D Minis. I would be more than willing to trade with people. You can send me a PM here with your email listed - and I can send you my minis list. Thanks!
Successfully traded with Xysma! |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2007 : 06:33:07
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| Hey Eytan I love that youve started to include free crunchy stuff in your articles! |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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EytanBernstein
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
704 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jun 2007 : 10:35:34
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| There's a pretty good amount of crunch planned for the psionic entries. |
http://eytanbernstein.com - the official website of Eytan Bernstein |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jun 2007 : 23:49:47
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| Just reading ETU and it looks like theres more characters with non core classes mentioned in it (Beguiler and Sword Sage) |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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monch9
Seeker
Poland
67 Posts |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jun 2007 : 11:19:06
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| Wow, it reall does look like Eytan's work on psionics is going to be pretty extensive in this series. Not only do I like the tie in to Ghostwise halflings being psionic (it makes sense given the limited telepathy they have), but I liked the references to various "obscure" Realmsian monsters as well. It serves as a reminded that even though the rules have changed, psionics does have a precedence and a history in the Realms. |
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turox
Learned Scribe
USA
145 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2007 : 00:33:21
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New one is up.
Psionic Races Part 3.
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/frcc/20070703
EDIT: Isn't showing up in Active Topics or even saying it was updated by me. So I thought maybe an edit would help it get a little notice. |
Turox Antas Dragonslayer -
"People will believe anything they want to believe, or fear to believe."
Wizard's First Rule: Chapter 36, Page #397, US Hard Cover (revealed by Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander).
Explanation by Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander: "People are stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because people are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want to believe it's true, or because they are afraid it might be true. People’s heads are full of knowledge, facts, and beliefs, and most of it is false, yet they think it all true. People are stupid; they can only rarely tell the difference between a lie and the truth, and yet they are confident they can, and so are all the easier to fool."
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Edited by - turox on 04 Jul 2007 00:45:16 |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2007 : 06:23:25
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| Hooray for the reference to the Destroyers. Plus, I would love to see some "face time" in the novels for some tension between the War Wizards and the newly hired mind mages in Cormyr. |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2007 : 21:08:52
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| Yes, very well done piece. Thanks for the sidebar on the drow. I never have read those early Salvatore books (though my birthday present and Christmas present open up my opportunity, if I can ever get caught up). I knew that there was some issue with the psionic drow during the ToT from the message boards, and I knew from the sellsword trilogy that the new "head" of Bregan Daerthe was a psion... but I'd never put two and two together. Now, I just need to read the new Vhok book, read the DL book that just came out in paperback, read paladin of souls, and I can start reading all the older dark elf lore. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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monch9
Seeker
Poland
67 Posts |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jul 2007 : 15:56:46
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Glad to see the other gods for divine minds clarified. Also, I was wondering if there was anything like a mystic theurge for psionics. Good job finding it amongst the mind's eye articles. Of any religion, I definitely see deep duerra's being one that develops psychic theurges (primarily with psion/clerics, ardent/clerics and wilder/favored souls, and maybe a few psychic warrior's/clerics and divine minds/favored souls). I liked the part building on the elan's previously mentioned and the god Auppenser.
I was looking for one thing, because it seemed odd when I was looking at the monster deities in Faiths & Pantheons. There's a cloud giant deity named Memnor who gives the mentalism domain. I don't have giantcraft, so I don't know if he was mentioned in there. I did find his mentioning in monster mythology, but nothing in there really struck me as psychic/mental related (other than he sends visions that cause splitting headaches). Is there any other strong information about this deity? Am I reading too much into this domain choice?
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Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 11 Jul 2007 : 17:04:01
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| I liked the reference to Deneir's Chosen exhibiting psionic abilities . . . smooth. |
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EytanBernstein
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
704 Posts |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2007 : 11:16:37
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| Excellent work Eytan. I really liked the "Realmsified" vestiges in the article, and I love new vestiges as well. Really happy about the article. |
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Bladedancer
Learned Scribe
USA
149 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2007 : 14:54:59
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| Once again I must say you rock sir! |
Solarr Bladedancer
Mercenary For Hire
Master of the Ginsu Knives
They Slice They Dice They Will Cut through A Tin Can |
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New WotC column on FR site - "Class Chronicles"
