[dungeoncrawl] Re: Tuesday morning review
- From: jimkaren@xxxxxxxxxxxx
- To: dungeoncrawl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2002 13:52:12 US/Eastern
I'd like to see some input from Shawn
Barrick as well. He's the historian
here! :)
Personally, I think starting out with a
handful of deities for each alignment
is a great way to start. Most world
systems began with one or only a few
deities - they didn't have a full
complement overnight.
Again, we all need to decide this
stuff, but if you look at the Norse or
Egyptian pantheons (outside the realm
of comics), they're really rather small.
For evil gods, the Norse really only
had Loki and Hel; the Greeks had Hades
(and he wasn't even really that evil).
The Egyptians had Set and Sebek - see
where I'm going with this?
>
> I agree. Anytime we have a
question like this, we need to put it
to the
> group. Damon and I both believe that
more deities can only lead to a more
> interesting campaign world. Jim
believes that more deities dilutes the
> original premise. Keith and Matt,
what do you think?
>
> Damon Kline wrote:
>
> > I'd say then that it is something
to be voted on. Anything where we
aren't
> > in complete agreement should be
voted on by the group. What do you
think?
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: jimkaren@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:jimkaren@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
> > Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2002
9:19 AM
> > To: dungeoncrawl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: [dungeoncrawl] Re: Tuesday
morning review
> >
> > He's a bit different, in that he
has a
> > very well-defined personality; it's
> > just an extremely narrowly focused
one -
> > anything pertaining to illusions
> > matters; anything that doesn't, does
> > not.
> >
> > My own opinion is that characters
who
> > had nothing to do with the recent
part
> > shouldn't be considered for
godhood. I
> > never got to explain it, but
> > the "quest" characters we used
recently
> > would qualify because they were in
> > close proximity to the Tooth of
Dendar
> > (and thus "known" to it). Other
> > characters never got near it, and
thus
> > couldn't be summoned to the new
world.
> >
> > Then again, I'm not DMing the world
> > creation process - we should just
> > choose an approach and stick with
it.
> >
> > >
> > > I have no problem with
Betelguise
> > as a deity, if you wish it. The
> > > only problem is, what would he be
a
> > deity of? We have so many
> > > illusionists already, that I would
> > move for more of a personality based
> > > portfolio. However, his
personality
> > is rather sketchy to me. Any
> > > ideas?
> > >
> > > jimkaren@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hey guys, glad everyone had a
good
> > > > time! I'm looking forward to
> > defining
> > > > the campaign world as well.
For the
> > > > most part, I think I'm going to
> > keep my
> > > > lower level characters mortal
and
> > make
> > > > the higher level ones into
powers -
> > the
> > > > only exception might be Marnie.
> > > >
> > > > I think she and Dove have
something
> > in
> > > > common with both of them
spending so
> > > > many years trying to atone for
evil
> > > > siblings - it could be neat to
see
> > what
> > > > they end up doing without those
> > burdens.
> > > >
> > > > The only other high level
character
> > > > that I still have is
Betelguize -
> > and I
> > > > never really played him enough
to
> > say
> > > > that he'd make a good god of
this or
> > > > that. Then again, I'd rather
retire
> > > > him than play him -
> > > > opinions/suggestions?
> > > >
> > > > > Oh, well that sucks. I didn't
> > > > realize that. Oh well.
> > > > >
> > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > From: Johnathan Detrick
> > > > [mailto:jdetrick@xxxxxxxxxxx]
> > > > > Sent: Tuesday, October 15,
2002
> > 10:51
> > > > AM
> > > > > To: dungeoncrawl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > Subject: [dungeoncrawl] Re:
> > Tuesday
> > > > morning review
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > No, I attached it. My
theory
> > is
> > > > that we can't send files over
the
> > > > > website.
> > > > > I'll send it individually.
> > > > >
> > > > > Damon Kline wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > I think you forgot to
attach the
> > > > file... :)
> > > > > >
> > > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > > From: Johnathan Detrick
> > > > [mailto:jdetrick@xxxxxxxxxxx]
> > > > > > Sent: Tuesday, October 15,
2002
> > > > 10:42 AM
> > > > > > To:
dungeoncrawl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > > Subject: [dungeoncrawl] Re:
> > Tuesday
> > > > morning review
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I was hoping that others
> > might
> > > > see the advantage in this.
> > > > > > Basically, I believe we
> > > > currently have about 15
deities. I
> > > > believe
> > > > > the
> > > > > > Forgotten Realms has closer
to
> > 30.
> > > > Obviously not every character is
> > deity
> > > > > > material, or interested in
it,
> > but
> > > > it would be a way to slash the
> > number
> > > > > of
> > > > > > playable characters we have,
> > while
> > > > giving our new world depth and
> > > > > interest.
> > > > > > Something to think on.
> > > > > > I was driving home last
> > night,
> > > > and like Damon, I was surprised
by
> > the
> > > > > > fact
> > > > > > that I wanted to get rid of
more
> > > > characters. As much as I had a
> > blast, I
> > > > > > suddenly realized that
massive
> > > > retirement might be our best
> > option. It
> > > > > > keeps
> > > > > > characters "in play", at
least
> > as
> > > > NPCs, and clears our slate to
do new
> > > > > > things.
> > > > > > It also should result in our
> > having
> > > > a kick-ass campaign world, one
we
> > are
> > > > > > interested in developing,
since
> > we
> > > > all have a stake in it. Just an
> > > > > idea...
> > > > > > I have tons of things
in my
> > > > head, and I will be sending out
e-
> > mails
> > > > > > soon.
> > > > > > In the meantime, I attached
the
> > > > current master list of
characters.
> > It's
> > > > > one
> > > > > > I
> > > > > > had for the Tiamat War, but
I
> > have
> > > > kept it as current as possible.
> > Check
> > > > > > your
> > > > > > characters and see who you
think
> > > > might be good for our purposes.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Damon Kline wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > I actually like that
idea! I
> > > > want a way to widdle down the
> > number of
> > > > > > > characters that I have out
> > there
> > > > on the planes and some of those
> > > > > > characters
> > > > > > > would make great
deities. Off
> > > > the top of my head, I could see
> > Marcus
> > > > > > taking
> > > > > > > some sort of deity role
under
> > > > Faceous and it would be cool
since
> > this
> > > > > was
> > > > > > > originally the world he
was
> > from
> > > > along with Sinjen, D'alleva,
> > Valeria,
> > > > > > Opal
> > > > > > > and Nelik. On that note,
I
> > could
> > > > see Sinjen taking some sort of
role
> > > > > > here.
> > > > > > > Once he regains his honor.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Rikus would make a
> > cool "Tempus-
> > > > like" demi-power, even though
he is
> > only
> > > > > > > like 3rd level. :)
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Characters I don't see
being
> > > > deities would be possibly Krodo,
> > Phelan,
> > > > > > > Erebus, Medean might make
a
> > cool
> > > > god of illusions, but he would
have
> > to
> > > > > > > share it with Delusia.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Anyway, there is much to
> > > > discuss...
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > > > From: Johnathan Detrick
> > > > [mailto:jdetrick@xxxxxxxxxxx]
> > > > > > > Sent: Tuesday, October 15,
> > 2002
> > > > 10:11 AM
> > > > > > > To:
dungeoncrawl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > > > > Subject: [dungeoncrawl]
Re:
> > > > Tuesday morning review
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I've been thinking of
> > what to
> > > > do with those characters as
well. I
> > > > > > > hadn't
> > > > > > > thought of what you
> > suggested; it
> > > > might be interesting. Perhaps
we
> > > > > could
> > > > > > > make
> > > > > > > some of them into
important
> > > > personages on that world; it
would
> > be a
> > > > > quick
> > > > > > > and
> > > > > > > easy way to gain NPCs.
> > > > > > > However, I was also
> > thinking
> > > > of making some extra people
deities.
> > > > > > > Basically, what I would
like
> > to
> > > > do is figure out how many
deities we
> > > > > want
> > > > > > in
> > > > > > > the
> > > > > > > pantheon. While I don't
want
> > to
> > > > go crazy, I want to have enough
so
> > that
> > > > > > the
> > > > > > > normal schmoe living on
Planet
> > > > Magnus (what, I'm sorry, was
that
> > name
> > > > > not
> > > > > > > approved by everyone?) has
> > > > someone that they can turn to.
The
> > more
> > > > > > deities
> > > > > > > we
> > > > > > > have, the richer
mythology we
> > can
> > > > create. I'm not talking about
> > > > > everyone
> > > > > > > (although Jim had said
> > Hiernymous
> > > > had an interest at one time),
but
> > > > > there
> > > > > > > might
> > > > > > > be some characters that
they
> > > > would "throw a bone" to, so to
> > speak.
> > > > > > > Something to
> > > > > > > think about, and
something we
> > may
> > > > want to consider as we talk this
> > out.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Damon Kline wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > I wholeheartedly agree
on
> > all
> > > > points!!!! You would think that
> > after
> > > > > > > having
> > > > > > > > played these characters
for
> > so
> > > > long of a time, that it would be
> > sad to
> > > > > > see
> > > > > > > > them go. But I have to
> > admit
> > > > that I am very excited about
where
> > they
> > > > > > are
> > > > > > > > and how they ended. I
am
> > very
> > > > much looking forward
to "starting
> > anew"
> > > > > > > when
> > > > > > > > we start another
campaign.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > I still have an
interest in
> > a
> > > > few of my characters that are
being
> > held
> > > > > > > > captive by the Gods,
but for
> > > > the most part, I am much more
> > interested
> > > > > in
> > > > > > > > starting new
characters. I
> > > > have some thoughts on what to do
> > with
> > > > > those
> > > > > > > > characters out in the
> > planes,
> > > > but I'll save those for when we
> > start
> > > > > > > talking
> > > > > > > > about it. Well, maybe
I'll
> > > > just throw something out there
now
> > so
> > > > that
> > > > > I
> > > > > > > > don't forget about it.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > No need to respond to
this
> > now,
> > > > it can be covered later, I just
> > wanted
> > > > > > to
> > > > > > > > say it before I forget
it.
> > Do
> > > > you think that the Riders might
> > invite
> > > > > > > some,
> > > > > > > > or all, of the people
who
> > > > participated in the Tiamat war
to
> > come
> > > > and
> > > > > > live
> > > > > > > on
> > > > > > > > their new world? I
don't
> > think
> > > > they would offer them any type
of
> > > > > power
> > > > > > or
> > > > > > > > anything, but since
they did
> > > > help the Riders in fighting
Tiamat,
> > > > > perhaps
> > > > > > > > they might offer to let
them
> > > > live a free life on the new
world
> > > > instead
> > > > > > of
> > > > > > > > being stuck in
servitude on
> > > > some plane somewhere. Just a
> > thought.
> > > > It
> > > > > > > might
> > > > > > > > help us to provide some
> > already
> > > > known people to populate the
world
> > > > > with.
> > > > > > > > They wouldn't get
anything,
> > it
> > > > would basically be a "Hey,
Sorrell,
> > > > > > instead
> > > > > > > > of lounging around out
> > there in
> > > > that plane, why don't you come
and
> > > > > live
> > > > > > on
> > > > > > > > our new world?" She
agrees
> > and
> > > > gets plane shifted to the new
world
> > > > > and
> > > > > > > that
> > > > > > > > is the end of the deal.
> > She is
> > > > on her own from there. Anyway,
> > like I
> > > > > > > said,
> > > > > > > > we can pick it up later.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > As for last night...Jim,
> > > > awesome, awesome job!! I echo
> > John's
> > > > > > sentiments.
> > > > > > > > I had a blast. I felt
> > > > challenged through the fight,
but
> > not
> > > > > > overwhelmed.
> > > > > > > > It was dangerous, but
not
> > > > overly one-sided. If I had to
pick
> > a
> > > > way
> > > > > for
> > > > > > > the
> > > > > > > > Riders to "go out" that
> > would
> > > > be it. I enjoyed the story the
> > whole
> > > > > way
> > > > > > > > through and while there
were
> > > > times when I was like "What the
> > hell is
> > > > > he
> > > > > > > > doing to us?", it was
never
> > in
> > > > a bad way, more of a "I didn't
see
> > THAT
> > > > > > > > coming." kind of way.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > So anyway, it was a lot
of
> > fun
> > > > and you ended it perfectly.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Thanks for a wonderful
> > time!!!
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > -----Original Message---
--
> > > > > > > > From: Johnathan Detrick
> > > > [mailto:jdetrick@xxxxxxxxxxx]
> > > > > > > > Sent: Tuesday, October
15,
> > 2002
> > > > 9:46 AM
> > > > > > > > To: Riders II
> > > > > > > > Subject: [dungeoncrawl]
> > Tuesday
> > > > morning review
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > As I mentioned
before, I
> > > > thought last night was awesome!
> > Jim did
> > > > > a
> > > > > > > > great job, and the night
> > was a
> > > > blast. Let's recap.
> > > > > > > > The adventure to
rescue
> > > > Karvas and Saurotte was nice
and not
> > > > > > > > contrived, yet it didn't
> > take
> > > > up too much of the night. I
was a
> > > > > little
> > > > > > > > disappointed that we
> > couldn't
> > > > play that smaller group more
> > because I
> > > > > > > > enjoyed them, but it
would
> > have
> > > > been sheer folly on Jim's part
to
> > drag
> > > > > > > > that out. Instead he
made
> > it
> > > > just the right length, and it
was
> > great.
> > > > > > > > As he has throughout
> > this
> > > > adventure, Jim kept me guessing
the
> > > > > entire
> > > > > > > > night. I was not aware
that
> > > > the battle with the Black Legion
> > was the
> > > > > > > > end of the adventure. I
> > > > assumed there would be more
beyond
> > them.
> > > > > > > > Personally, I'm thrilled
> > that
> > > > he made them the climax. If the
> > Riders
> > > > > > > > were going to end their
> > careers
> > > > as adventurers, what is more
> > > > > appropriate
> > > > > > > > than a final battle with
> > their
> > > > most hated foes? It was the
perfect
> > > > > > > > capper for them, and
bravo
> > to
> > > > Jim for using it as the
endpiece.
> > > > > > > > I sensed that Jim
felt
> > he
> > > > wasn't using the Black Legion to
> > their
> > > > > > > > full potential last
night,
> > or
> > > > that they were too easy.
> > Considering he
> > > > > > > > killed five characters
> > > > throughout the fight, I'm not
sure
> > why
> > > > he felt
> > > > > > > > that way. The Black
Legion
> > was
> > > > doing incredibly well. Damon
made
> > the
> > > > > > > > statement that they
never
> > > > attacked us en masse. Thank
God!
> > > > > Personally,
> > > > > > > > I think Jim used them
> > > > exceedingly well. By having
them
> > > > attack us in
> > > > > > > > waves it kept the group
off
> > > > balance. It also should be
noted
> > that
> > > > two
> > > > > > > > or three of them at a
time
> > was
> > > > more than sufficient to keep 11
> > members
> > > > > > > > of the Riders busy. It
> > made it
> > > > seem like Amrikol had a master
plan,
> > > > > and
> > > > > > > > made him seem much more
> > like a
> > > > brilliant strategist than if he
had
> > > > > used
> > > > > > > > his power and simply
tried
> > to
> > > > pummel the Riders into paste.
> > > > > > > > If Jim shot himself
in
> > the
> > > > foot anywhere, it was in
killing so
> > > > > many
> > > > > > > > people in the
adventures of
> > the
> > > > past few weeks. Because an
average
> > of
> > > > > > > > two characters per week
were
> > > > dying on adventures, Faceous had
> > taken
> > > > > all
> > > > > > > > Resurrections at 7th
level.
> > > > This enabled him to continually
> > > > replenish
> > > > > > > > the ranks of the Riders
from
> > > > the dead characters. If he had
not
> > done
> > > > > > > > that, the Riders would
have
> > > > been in a lot more trouble.
They
> > would
> > > > > have
> > > > > > > > survived, I think, but
it
> > would
> > > > have been by the skin of their
> > teeth.
> > > > > > > > Anyway, the fight
was
> > > > great. It moved quite quickly;
for
> > > > someone
> > > > > > > > that does not have as
firm a
> > > > grasp of the rules as he did in
> > second
> > > > > > > > edition, Jim kept things
> > moving
> > > > so smoothly. And considering
that
> > all
> > > > > > > > of the players had more
than
> > > > one character, we moved quickly
as
> > well.
> > > > > > > > There was a palpable
sense
> > of
> > > > danger the entire time, and
death
> > was
> > > > > > > > constantly present. I
just
> > > > can't say how much fun I
thought it
> > was.
> > > > > > > > The was the perfect mix
of
> > > > danger and excitement. I didn't
> > feel
> > > > > > > > completely overwhelmed
and I
> > > > didn't feel like it was easy.
It
> > was
> > > > > > > > great.
> > > > > > > > One side note.
Amrikol
> > > > broke his Staff of Power in a
> > > > retributive
> > > > > > > > strike. I was
surprised as
> > > > hell, and said as much. I
think Jim
> > > > > thought
> > > > > > > > I was fighting him on
it. I
> > > > was not. The villains are
allowed
> > to
> > > > > > > > surprise me, and I am
not
> > privy
> > > > to their thoughts. I was not
trying
> > > > > to
> > > > > > > > challenge Jim's ruling;
I
> > was
> > > > just surprised. No doubt that
was
> > > > > > > > Amrikol's plan, as he
> > probably
> > > > assumed the Riders wouldn't
think
> > him
> > > > > > > > capable of doing that.
In
> > that
> > > > respect, it worked brilliantly.
> > But I
> > > > > > > > just wanted to make it
> > clear I
> > > > was not disagreeing with what
Jim
> > was
> > > > > > > > doing; I was just
amazed he
> > did
> > > > it.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > I'll start sending
out
> > e-
> > > > mail on the new gods and their
world
> > > > > today
> > > > > > > > and through the week
(expect
> > > > them to start this afternoon).
Jim
> > did
> > > > a
> > > > > > > > bang-up job, and here's
a
> > thank
> > > > you from me!
> > > > > >
> > > > > > -- Binary/unsupported file
> > stripped
> > > > by Ecartis --
> > > > > > -- Type: application/msword
> > > > > > -- File: the list.doc
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
>
>
>
Other related posts:
