[projectaon] Footnotes Redux--Revenge of the Deathlord
- From: Simon Osborne <outspaced@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: Project Aon <projectaon@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:34:59 +0000
Hi all
Just received the Mongoose edition of "The Deathlord of Ixia". So, let's
review our footnotes against this new version.
[1] (The Story So Far…) There is some confusion around the use of the
term ‘Old Kingdom’ in this book. Although the native Ixians are often
described as belonging to the ‘time of the Old Kingdoms’ (Section 152),
it is clear from the fact that the Deathlord destroyed them during the
Age of Eternal Night that they could not have existed during the Age of
the Old Kingdoms which began more than 1000 years after the Age of
Eternal Night ended. (See The Magnamund Companion, ‘Magnamund Then and
Now’.) The author may have used the term ‘Old Kingdom’ to refer to any
humanoid nation prior to the appearance of the Shianti.
SO: This can probably go away now. See below.
[2] (The Game Rules) The Discipline bonuses mentioned do not affect your
permanent scores. If you have completed previous adventures, the
Disciplines that you have mastered may still be beneficial. See the
Grand Master Rules section of the Readers’ Handbook for details.
SO: Deleted "obtained upon completion of Lone Wolf Kai (Books 1–5) or
Magnakai (Books 6–12) adventures". Prefer to leave this as-is.
[3] (The Game Rules) If you have completed any previous Lone Wolf Grand
Master adventures, remember to choose an additional Grand Master
Discipline and add +1 to your basic COMBAT SKILL and +2 to your basic
ENDURANCE for each adventure you successfully completed (cf. Grand
Master Disciplines).
SO: No change.
[4] (The Game Rules) Note that this list now includes the Silver Bracers
and Korlinium Scabbard. These items are restored to the list of
permissible items from the Kai and Magnakai series again in this book
after being omitted beginning in The Captives of Kaag. Presumably,
therefore, it should be permissible to leave the Silver Bracers and
Korlinium Scabbard in safekeeping at the monastery during the previous
books and retrieve them at the outset of this adventure.
Also note that both the Dagger of Vashna and Helshezag have been removed
from the list, as they are presumed to have been destroyed in The Legacy
of Vashna (cf. Section 273 and Section 94). The story won’t unravel if
you placed either or both of these items in safekeeping prior to
embarking upon The Legacy of Vashna, but be aware that both this
adventure and the ones that follow assume that these Special Items have
been destroyed.
SO: Helshezag and Dagger of Vashna are now both on this list, despite
being destroyed in the previous adventure "The Legacy of Vashna". :-\
[5] (Grand Master Disciplines) The rules of the books in the Magnakai
series (6–12) and the fact that the ‘rank of Kai Grand Defender…means
you are skilled in two…weapons’ imply that, for each book that you
complete of the Lone Wolf Grand Master series (13–20), you will gain
mastery of an additional Weapon. For example, if you complete The Plague
Lords of Ruel and have the Grand Master Discipline of Grand
Weaponmastery at the beginning of the next book, you can choose an
additional Weapon from the Weaponmastery Checklist to have mastery of.
SO: Section now reads "This Discipline enables a Grand Master to become
supremely efficient in the use of all weapons. When you enter combat
with one of your Grand Master weapons, you add 5 points to your COMBAT
SKILL. The rank of Kai Grand Defender, with which you begin the Grand
Master [sic--should be itals] series, means you are supremely efficient
in the use of two of the weapons listed below. For each book that you
complete in the Grand Master [sic--should be itals] series (13-20), you
will gain mastery of an additional weapon. For example, if you complete
'The Plague Lords of Ruel' [sic--shouldn't have quotes, should be itals]
and have the Grand Master Discipline of Grand Weaponmastery at the
beginning of the next Grand Master [sic--should be itals] book, you can
choose an additional Weapon and add it to your list of those with which
you are supremely efficient." [sic--lacks the list, which is erroneously
printed beneath "Weaponmastery" in "Kai and Magnakai Disciplines"]
[6] (Grand Master Disciplines) Weaponmastery bonuses are replaced by
Grand Weaponmastery bonuses, not added cumulatively (cf. Lone Wolf Club
Newsletter 28).
If you have completed previous adventures, already possess the Magnakai
Discipline of Weaponmastery with Bow, and have reached the rank of
Mentora, it seems that you should already be able to add 5 to numbers
picked from the Random Number Table (i.e. the basic Weaponmastery with
Bow bonus of 3 added to the Mentora bonus of 2 for all missile weapons).
Likely, the author intended the Weaponmastery bonus at the Mentora rank
to be a ‘hidden loyalty bonus’ (cf. Lone Wolf Club Newsletter 28). In
view of this, the +2 Mentora bonus is therefore not cumulative with
Grand Weaponmastery with Bow.
Certain sections direct the reader to use different bonuses when using a
Bow, ranging from 3 to 5, if you have Grand Weaponmastery with Bow. This
may be the author adjusting the Grand Weaponmastery bonus on a
case-by-case basis (and therefore this bonus should be used instead of
the standard bonus) or an error (and therefore all of these bonuses
should be 5). It is up to you to decide, but it seems most reasonable to
follow the first alternative, to replace the Grand Weaponmastery bonus
with whatever bonus is mentioned in that section.
SO: No change.
[7] (Equipment) The new Mongoose Publishing editions of the gamebooks
clarify that ‘You may only use one Weapon at a time in combat.’
SO: This has already been changed in all PA editions of 1-28.
[8] (Improved Grand Master Disciplines) The Strength spell is, in
practice, also used in armed combat contrary to what is indicated here.
SO: "whilst fighting an enemy in unarmed combat" -> "whilst fighting an
enemy in armed or unarmed combat". This also affects other GM books.
[9] (Section 10) This is the correct answer to the grid lock in Section 69.
SO: No change.
[10] (Section 20) This is the correct answer to the ancient, green
crystal lock in Section 213.
SO: No change.
[11] (Section 22) If you have not visited the city of Darke, only turn
to Section 305 if you met Captain Prarg at the Battle of Cetza.
SO: No change.
[12] (Section 23) In view of Banedon’s comments in Section 339, it would
seem that you should not use the Sommerswerd in this combat.
SO: No change.
[13] (Section 50) In view of Banedon’s comments in Section 339, it would
seem that you should not use the Sommerswerd in this combat.
SO: No change.
[14] (Section 64) The wording of this section ignores the fact that you
may arrive here without passing through the curtain of light.
SO: "the shimmering curtain of light by which you arrived here." -> "the
shimmering curtain of light you saw before you arrived here."
[15] (Section 67) Unless you have Grand Weaponmastery and are a Sun
Knight or higher, you may not use a two-handed weapon (i.e. Broadsword,
Quarterstaff, or Spear) for this combat.
SO: Added "Unless you have Grand Weaponmastery and are a Sun Knight or
higher, you may not use a two-handed weapon (i.e. Broadsword,
Quarterstaff, or Spear) for this combat." after "disadvantageous position."
[16] (Section 69) The section corresponding to the correct answer will
have a footnote confirming that it is indeed correct. You have only one
chance to guess at the correct answer. If you guess incorrectly, turn
immediately to 139.
SO: No change.
[17] (Section 77) According to Mongoose Publishing’s Lone Wolf, The
Roleplaying Game (© 2004): ‘As trapped by the wave of unlife as his
people, Ixiataaga has researched the lore of death and magic for ten
millennia.’ This indicates that Deathlord Ixiataaga is indeed undead, so
remember that you inflict double ENDURANCE point losses against him.
SO: No change.
[18] (Section 77) There is no mention of what type of Weapon the Power
Spike is. If you choose to consider it one of the close combat Weapons
used by the Kai (i.e. Spear, Dagger, Mace, Short Sword, Warhammer,
Quarterstaff, Broadsword, Axe, and Sword), you may add all appropriate
bonuses to your Combat Skill. If you decide that the Power Spike is not
any of those Weapons, you may still decide that your Grand Weaponmastery
bonuses, if any, apply since Grand Masters are proficient with ‘all
close combat and missile weapons’ due to their knowledge of Magnakai
Weaponmastery (cf. Grand Master Disciplines).
SO: Added "The Power Spike is a magical Dagger." after "This
supernatural being is immune to all forms of psychic attack, except
Kai-surge and Kai-blast."
[19] (Section 96) Kajarda are undead (cf. Sections 6, 8, 52, 103, 120,
and 265).
SO: Added "Kajarda are undead." before "These beings are immune to all
forms of psychic attack..."
[20] (Section 100) This is the correct answer to the intricate lockplate
in the centre of the green crystal door in Section 322.
SO: No change.
[21] (Section 123) It is unclear whether a 0 picked on the Random Number
Table should count as exactly 0. Since the procedure described here is
similar to the procedure for Kai-blast, and you are required to be a Sun
Lord who has mastered Kai-surge, it would be reasonable to count 0 as a
1 in the same way as for Kai-blast. Remember that a Kai-blast reduces
your ENDURANCE total by 4.
SO: "Pick a number from the Random Number Table." -> "Pick a number from
the Random Number Table (count 0 as a 1)."
[22] (Section 125) Kajarda are undead. (See Section 6, 8, 52, 103, 120,
or 265.)
SO: Added "Kajarda are undead." before "These beings are immune to all
forms of psychic attack..."
[23] (Section 137) Unless you have Grand Weaponmastery and are a Sun
Knight or higher, you may not use a two-handed weapon (i.e. Broadsword,
Quarterstaff, and Spear) for this combat.
SO: Added "Unless you have Grand Weaponmastery and are a Sun Knight or
higher, you may not use a two-handed weapon (i.e. Broadsword,
Quarterstaff, and Spear) for this combat." after "disadvantageous position."
[24] (Section 141) Assuming that this weaponry was created by native
Ixians prior to their destruction at the hands of the Deathlord since no
other nation has occupied Ixia since that time, it is impossible to
reconcile calling them ‘Old Kingdom armourers’ with the timeline
presented in The Magnamund Companion, ‘Magnamund Then and Now’.
According to that book, the Ixians must have been destroyed long before
the Age of the Old Kingdoms.
SO: "they were crafted by Old Kingdom armourers" -> "they were crafted
by armourers of the Age of Eternal Night". Suggest: "they were crafted
by armourers during the Age of Eternal Night"
[25] (Section 150) In other words, have you ever visited the domain of
the Demoness Shamath?
SO: No change.
[26] (Section 152) It is impossible to reconcile the statement that the
native Ixians reigned ‘in the time of the Old Kingdoms’ with the
timeline presented in The Magnamund Companion, ‘Magnamund Then and Now’.
According to that book, the Ixians must have been destroyed long before
the Age of the Old Kingdoms.
SO: "where once, in the time of the Old Kingdoms, a proud and mighty
race reigned supreme" -> "where once, at the beginning of the Age of
Eternal Night, a proud and mighty race reigned supreme"
[27] (Section 162) It is impossible to reconcile the statement that Old
Kingdom magic is ‘older…than the Deathlord’s vile necromancy’ with the
timeline presented in The Magnamund Companion, ‘Magnamund Then and Now’
and the statements about the origin of magical power in ‘The Realms of
Northern Magnamund: The Birth of Magnamund’ and ‘The Realms of Southern
Magnamund: Man, Magic, and the Moonstone’ in that same book. According
to The Magnamund Companion, magic entered Magnamund with the Elder Magi
long after Agarash and his minion, the Deathlord.
SO: "propelled by Old Kingdom magic, an arcane art" -> "propelled by
Ixian Witchcraft, an arcane art"
[28] (Section 165) It is impossible to reconcile the statement that the
native Ixians were a ‘race of the Old Kingdoms’ with the timeline
presented in The Magnamund Companion, ‘Magnamund Then and Now’.
According to that book, the Ixians must have been destroyed long before
the Age of the Old Kingdoms.
SO: "where once a proud and mighty race of the Old Kingdoms reigned
supreme" -> "where once a proud and mighty race reigned supreme"
[29] (Section 179) It is unclear whether Grand Huntmastery should help
you find food in this situation. Note that this appears to be the only
section within the Grand Master books where Huntmastery is not mentioned
in when you are required to eat a Meal. This either means that the
current omission is intentional because the author is otherwise so
consistent, or it means that Huntmastery was intended to be applied in
all situations and this is an unintentional omission.
SO: Deleted "While you wait out the storm in this makeshift shelter, you
must eat a Meal or lose 3 ENDURANCE points."
[30] (Section 213) The section corresponding to the correct answer will
have a footnote confirming that it is indeed correct. You have only one
chance to guess at the correct answer. If you guess incorrectly, turn
immediately to 199.
SO: No change.
[31] (Section 214) According to Mongoose Publishing’s Lone Wolf, The
Roleplaying Game (© 2004): ‘As trapped by the wave of unlife as his
people, Ixiataaga has researched the lore of death and magic for ten
millennia.’ This indicates that Deathlord Ixiataaga is indeed undead, so
remember that you inflict double ENDURANCE point losses against him.
SO: No change.
[32] (Section 220) This is a permanent enhancement to this Weapon.
SO: No change. Suggest revising text "Be sure to record this
modification on your Weapons List." -> "Be sure to record this permanent
modification to your Weapon on your Weapons List."
[33] (Section 234) It seems logical that you should deduct 1 ENDURANCE
point due to this use of Kai-surge.
SO: No change.
[34] (Section 239) There is no path which leads to this section of the
book. It is functionally identical to Section 23 and Section 242, and
therefore its isolation does not affect the gameplay of the book.
SO: No change? I don't think this has been brought back into the game-slow.
[35] (Section 239) In view of Banedon’s comments in Section 339, it
would seem that you should not use the Sommerswerd in this combat.
SO: No change.
[36] (Section 242) In view of Banedon’s comments in Section 339, it
would seem that you should not use the Sommerswerd in this combat.
SO: No change.
[37] (Section 287) Kajarda are undead (cf. Sections 6, 8, 52, 103, 120,
and 265).
SO: Added "Kajarda are undead." before "These beings are immune to all
forms of psychic attack..."
[38] (Section 303) If you possess the Sommerswerd, Section 98 of Dawn of
the Dragons suggests that you may be able to add 4 to your COMBAT SKILL
when using it in the Plane of Darkness (in addition to all other combat
bonuses for this Special Item).
SO: No change(s).
[39] (Section 322) The section corresponding to the correct answer will
have a footnote confirming that it is indeed correct. You have only one
chance to guess at the correct answer. If you guess incorrectly, turn
immediately to 84.
SO: No change.
[40] (Section 343) It is impossible to reconcile the statement that the
native Ixians reigned ‘in the time of the Old Kingdoms’ with the
timeline presented in The Magnamund Companion, ‘Magnamund Then and Now’.
According to that book, the Ixians must have been destroyed long before
the Age of the Old Kingdoms.
SO: "where once, in the time of the Old Kingdoms, a proud and mighty
race reigned supreme." -> "where once, at the beginning of the Age of
Eternal Night, a proud and mighty race reigned supreme."
--
Simon Osborne
Project Aon
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