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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Jul 2007 : 17:04:17
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Very good to see some realmsifying of existing vestiges (I was particularly not liking acerak as a vestige, though for me I'll probably still have Sammaster as a vestige, but Mellifleur will replace Acerak. The Sammaster vestige will do things that are more draconic and/or meta-magic oriented).
I was intrigued by Zceryll and wondering if there's more lore there to be found. I quickly scanned LEoF, DoF, CoV, CoR, Serpent kingdoms, LoD, and PoF looking for the well of dragons entry figuring I'd find something about the bone scepter of Zceryll. I really like the idea behind this vestige, and I can see it being a vestige that the Theurgist Adepts possibly contacted. However, if there's actual lore there, I'd like to be able to set dates to it to see if they're possibilities. Any pointers or was it created whole cloth? |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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EytanBernstein
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
704 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2007 : 17:17:02
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quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
Excellent work Eytan. I really liked the "Realmsified" vestiges in the article, and I love new vestiges as well. Really happy about the article.
Thanks! I'm really pleased with this one as well. |
http://eytanbernstein.com - the official website of Eytan Bernstein |
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EytanBernstein
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
704 Posts |
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EytanBernstein
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
704 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2007 : 17:24:18
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quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Very good to see some realmsifying of existing vestiges (I was particularly not liking acerak as a vestige, though for me I'll probably still have Sammaster as a vestige, but Mellifleur will replace Acerak. The Sammaster vestige will do things that are more draconic and/or meta-magic oriented).
I was intrigued by Zceryll and wondering if there's more lore there to be found. I quickly scanned LEoF, DoF, CoV, CoR, Serpent kingdoms, LoD, and PoF looking for the well of dragons entry figuring I'd find something about the bone scepter of Zceryll. I really like the idea behind this vestige, and I can see it being a vestige that the Theurgist Adepts possibly contacted. However, if there's actual lore there, I'd like to be able to set dates to it to see if they're possibilities. Any pointers or was it created whole cloth?
Indeed there is. In Dragons of Faerun, Zceryll is mentioned on page 15 and star spawn are mentioned on page 74. She is also mentioned in the 4th Magic Item Compendium preview article (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ps/20070306a) on adapting that book to the Realms. I like to try and reinforce new lore with additional references. |
http://eytanbernstein.com - the official website of Eytan Bernstein |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2007 : 19:48:51
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cool, so the star-spawn scepter is rumored to be Imaskari in origin (or at least used during their time), that leaves Zceryll as a possibility of being a vestige that the theurgist adepts may have used timeline-wise.
Hmm, another thing that comes to mind.. my natural inclination is that Zceryll was human to start off with. However, there's nothing that I know of that's indicating that she wasn't Sarrukh or something else. Have you guys laid any of this groundwork to cement her original race? |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2007 : 19:54:45
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Ah, the web article could imply something where it says "Most items related to the entity have one thing in common: wielders hear or see alien words, whispered or uttered by unseen beings--perhaps by Zceryll itself."
Perhaps Zceryll was Illumian?
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Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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EytanBernstein
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
704 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jul 2007 : 20:36:46
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| I thought about assigning her a race, but though it would be more interesting to leave her origins more mysterious. |
http://eytanbernstein.com - the official website of Eytan Bernstein |
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EytanBernstein
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
704 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jul 2007 : 23:32:24
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Here are errata I wrote for the Summon Alien and Bolts of Madness abilities.
The summoning ability functions all ways as if you are a sorcerer of your effective binder level casting a summon monster spell. Any creature you summon that is eligible (the significant majority) has the pseudonatural template (and yes, that means you can summon a pseudonatural celestial badger if you like). Just like a sorcerer, you must use a full round action to employ this ability. The duration is 1 round/level. You can only summon one creature at a time (so you can't summon 1d3 or 1d4+1 lower level creatures). The ability is a supernatural ability, not a spell or spell-like ability, so augment summoning and any other feat that affects summoning spells do not apply, though you might find uses for feats that affect supernatural abilities. It does not provoke attacks of opportunity. You can summon additional creatures by waiting 5 rounds (each separate use of this ability has its own duration).
Bolts of madness requires a standard action to use and is a supernatural ability. It does not provoke attacks of opportunity. |
http://eytanbernstein.com - the official website of Eytan Bernstein |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2007 : 16:49:52
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| I like the add on about feats not affecting it and that you only get one creature not multiple lower levels. Would be interesting that a 20th lvl binder could pretty much constantly be running around with 4 pseudonatural hezrous though (or given the space, 4 fiendish pseudonatural gargantuan monstrous scorpions), which he could use to set off traps, short term scout, etc... and replace within 30 seconds <g>. Of course, you'd be constantly summoning a new one every 30 seconds. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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EytanBernstein
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
704 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2007 : 18:26:20
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| At 20th level, pseudonatural hezrous aren't that big a deal. Fights can be incredibly nasty at that level. The monsters could certainly help, but they wouldn't dominate any fight. |
http://eytanbernstein.com - the official website of Eytan Bernstein |
Edited by - EytanBernstein on 20 Jul 2007 18:26:50 |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
11829 Posts |
Posted - 20 Jul 2007 : 19:14:02
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>>At 20th level, pseudonatural hezrous aren't that big a deal. Fights can be incredibly >>nasty at that level. The monsters could certainly help, but they wouldn't dominate any >>fight.
true, but 4 unholy blight area effect spells going off each round would be pretty nasty (roughly 12d8 dmg per round assuming they fail one will save out of the four) . Plus, the power attack with the true strike from pseudonatural template could be fun. I've yet to use a binder in a campaign, but the more I'm reading the more I'm liking the idea. They lose a lot of versatility that a wizard would have, but they seem like they'd make great encounters for PC's. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jul 2007 : 00:49:19
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| Hey Eytan any plans to do god blooded templates (MM5) for FR deities 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 - 23 Jul 2007 : 01:42:56
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| Right now I'm only dealing with core classes. Who knows what might be in the future? |
http://eytanbernstein.com - the official website of Eytan Bernstein |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
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Sian
Senior Scribe
Denmark
596 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jul 2007 : 09:28:33
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| nice ... now i can't wait for Truenamer to show up ... and what you based that on ... i remember a debate turning into that it could be dwarven ancient magic that elves took over and refined again and again ending up with the 'easier' but limited Arcane magic |
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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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jul 2007 : 11:30:53
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Eytan . . . thank you, thank you, thank you for making that distinction between shadow magic and Shadow Weave magic. I'm really glad that you did that. Also, very interesting regarding the follow up to the Demarch Alliance war between Leira and Mask's followers.
Interesting inclusion of a few of the other "darkness" related gods that don't often get thrown in the category with Mask and Shar. |
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EytanBernstein
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
704 Posts |
Posted - 25 Jul 2007 : 21:50:09
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quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
Eytan . . . thank you, thank you, thank you for making that distinction between shadow magic and Shadow Weave magic. I'm really glad that you did that. Also, very interesting regarding the follow up to the Demarch Alliance war between Leira and Mask's followers.
Interesting inclusion of a few of the other "darkness" related gods that don't often get thrown in the category with Mask and Shar.
I struggled with that for a bit, but with Eric's help, I refined it so that there was a clear difference that was easy to follow. I wanted to follow up on Demarch to add some more detail.
These esoteric classes give us the opportunity to look at some of the less frequently discussed gods. |
http://eytanbernstein.com - the official website of Eytan Bernstein |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jul 2007 : 23:43:25
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quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
Eytan . . . thank you, thank you, thank you for making that distinction between shadow magic and Shadow Weave magic. I'm really glad that you did that.
Me too, speaking as someone who has long been confused about the topic.
Although, what are the...uh..."Stingers of Oaxaptupa"? Forgive my ignorance, but I've never heard of them before. Were they mentioned in another article? I have to admit, I'm not really interested in a lot of these exotic classes (I'm just not--though I DO think the articles are well written) so I'm a bit "lost" when it comes to the more clandestine details. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
Edited by - Rinonalyrna Fathomlin on 26 Jul 2007 23:44:05 |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2007 : 01:35:16
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
Eytan . . . thank you, thank you, thank you for making that distinction between shadow magic and Shadow Weave magic. I'm really glad that you did that.
Me too, speaking as someone who has long been confused about the topic.
Although, what are the...uh..."Stingers of Oaxaptupa"? Forgive my ignorance, but I've never heard of them before. Were they mentioned in another article? I have to admit, I'm not really interested in a lot of these exotic classes (I'm just not--though I DO think the articles are well written) so I'm a bit "lost" when it comes to the more clandestine details.
The man-scorpion dudes that have settled under Amn, I think.  |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2007 : 01:40:29
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
The man-scorpion dudes that have settled under Amn, I think.
Thanks Wooly. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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EytanBernstein
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
704 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2007 : 06:38:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
The man-scorpion dudes that have settled under Amn, I think.
Thanks Wooly.
That particular plotline is not of my creation. I think Eric writes about it in Power of Faerun. |
http://eytanbernstein.com - the official website of Eytan Bernstein |
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6666 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2007 : 13:37:01
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And he got it from "Monsters of Faerūn".
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2007 : 15:44:52
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Originally they were called the tlincalli -- the half-man, half-scorpion creatures detailed in the first [going from memory] FR Monstrous Compendium Appendix. They are originally from Maztica, but some have made it to Amn.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
Edited by - The Sage on 27 Jul 2007 15:46:05 |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jul 2007 : 03:05:08
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| Again, thank you all for the information. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Dhomal
Senior Scribe
USA
565 Posts |
Posted - 01 Aug 2007 : 05:09:15
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Hello-
And the next one is up! :)
Truenamers:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/frcc/20070801
Dhomal
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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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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 01 Aug 2007 : 06:03:19
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Well, it didn't delve deeply into ancient origins for them, but for the most part I liked the associated information about the various churches and the like, and it fit in pretty well with how I envisioned it (especially the church of Deneir, for example).
I also agree that most truenaming study would likely be to gain enough ranks to cast various truenaming spells or take truenaming PrCs (which is how I envision introducing the concept into a campaign if I get the chance to work it in). |
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EytanBernstein
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
704 Posts |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2007 : 06:02:56
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| While I'm not a fan of Incarnum at all, I do like the way you tied it to heavy magic and the interesting twist of throwing Karsites into the mix. Very good job of throwing some good Realmslore into the mix, even if the system still kind of rubs me the wrong way. |
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Chosen of Moradin
Master of Realmslore
Brazil
1120 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2007 : 12:59:21
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Yes, I agree with KnightErrantJR. With good will, and a good search in some tomes of Realmslore, good results can be achieved even with some game aspects that we don't like to much. I really love the way that you manage the Incarnum aspect, Eytan.
A great job, indeed. |
Dwarf, DM, husband, and proud of this! :P
twitter: @yuripeixoto
Facebook: yuri.peixoto |
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EytanBernstein
Forgotten Realms Designer
USA
704 Posts |
Posted - 08 Aug 2007 : 18:32:07
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| Thanks. That was the reaction I was hoping for. This was a really hard topic to figure out, but I'm glad I found some solid Realmslore to work with. |
http://eytanbernstein.com - the official website of Eytan Bernstein |
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New WotC column on FR site - "Class Chronicles"
