Thia Halmades

Re: AGoT Hero That's about the most fantastic thing I've heard all day.

Re: Setting Concept: The Power of Lineage It's a fantasy world, although I appreciate what you're saying, assault, I'm just spitballing ideas. I'm less worried about a reasonable realistic evolution and simply coughing up ideas for what may make for an interesting setting. Point yielded: in terms of how these things tend to evolve, history shows us that your method generally reveals the truth. However. - Don't forget that marriages for land and power were common; that the bloodline has a magical benefit or a package attached to it wouldn't change that. - Harems are real, I just took that idea to its logical conclusion, and - I put no stock in chastity belts whatsoever as having any historical significance, I'm just using them as an illustration of the sort of situations that may arise. Part of what your argument posits is a real world situation; I'm going with the more fantastic venue of breeding low-end super heroes with genetic heritages that are far more manifest in this setting than they would be in a "normal" world. However, your point is well taken, but I'm not saying that your model wouldn't work; I actively didn't read through all of the posts. I just suggested things I thought would make for an interesting setting and story telling possibilities.

Re: The First Hurdle: Creating a *gulp* Magic System I see what you're saying now, and that makes sense to me. And, since I don't "have to" charge the PC for spells in his VPP, that makes those abilities that much more accessible. Finally, using the delayed advantage model you've laid out as a NPA freebie could certainly work out as a 'feature' of the magic system, without trying to reinvent the wheel. It may also seriously muck with people's heads, but hey, that's the price of fame. So the model you're using still assumes the INT/5 slot system, with a cap in place that says the Delayed Effect shouldn't go beyond 3/4ths (which is totally reasonable to me) and that the effect is scaled to its three nearest tiers, with all tiers below being 3/4ths, and no tiers above being castable (per the VPP restriction). I don't understand how you did this math, though: Because when I do 60 * 1.25 I get 75... obviously I'm way off somewhere, but if you could explain exactly where, that'd be great. I have to be able to replicate the effect on command in order to keep everything clear to the PC, so they understand exactly how the mechanic works, and why it works that way. You're also changing from the Charges model I'd used prior: All spells have ONE charge; you may memorize multiple instances of that spell by slotting it into the active points of your VPP; the VPP is built on the model, All Spells Have One Charge which makes the VPP cheaper, and makes the spells in general more castable, although it doesn't have any bearing on the total spell selection. Breaking away from that is fine, well and good. I just want to make sure when I sit down with the player, I can explain it to him in real math and in mechanics terms, so he understands what I'm doing. He also needs to understand that he can't magically cough up a new spell, and all his magic needs prepped. Whee!

Re: AGoT Hero *Thia Halmades glares at threatingly, ready to attack!* *You have lost faction with Thia Halmades! (-5)* "You've ruined your own lands, you'll not ruin mine!" Don't ask. Had a fit of EQ in response to the utter confusion of now being unclear if GoO is part of AToG, or if it's a game company (my current impression). I'm going home to play more Valkyrie Profile, the best looking PSX game you've never heard of.

Re: The First Hurdle: Creating a *gulp* Magic System Wouldn't that mean that all spells would need reconfigured into their new +X/Y version? For example: I have a Lightning Bolt as a 6d6 EB, +1 AOE (Beam, I don't have my book, I'm guessing, but bear with me for a moment). 60 points Active. With the standard boat of setting adjustments: Gest., Incant., OAF., Charges (One, representing each memorization of the spell). Roughly -3.75 when it's all done. So my new Lightning Bolt is costed out at: 60 active (4th level)/3.75 disads = 16 real. (or 5 CP, to the PC). That's straight up, the basic model I'm currently using. Each instance of memorization is an individual charge. Can I stack that with Delayed Effect, there's question one. So. We now include Delayed Effect. All spells per circle (up to the most spells of a group that can be cast at a time) must take this limitation; would then the PC be recosted at the new limit? Obviously I can't build it into the VPP except as 1/4th, because I can't make the rest of them follow. Agreed, putting the cap at 3/4ths is the best solution, and I think by hybridizing all of these things together, I can definately get where I want to go; I'd also probably rule that you need a VPP of 2x the level of spells to advance the Delayed Effect. It would then be an... option? I can't reasonably make the player stack it all in, and in HERO I don't want them getting something for nothing. Other notes on the VPP structure: + The PC may build spells into his VPP (Limitation: Known Spells Only, -1) using his initial expenditure of points. To reflect his 'growing knowledge' (and I believe someone else posted this idea, but I can't give cred at the moment, as I can't look) but: I was thinking of allowing the PC to 'double dip' points; if they spend to improve their VPP, then those same points would give them "new" spells, to reflect the expanded knowledge. This will keep them from having to spend points twice (once to improve, once to gain spells) and I can "give them" spells that they can learn via scrolls, skill rolls, etc. The nature of the VPP says that they can add just about any power so long as it falls within their limits, yes?

Re: AGoT Hero I had just figured out A Game of Thrones, but Guardians of Order I'd've never gotten in a million years, having never read the books. Thanks!

Re: Amazing Fatasy World Site Me and my notepad and pencils will be right here, thank you very much. Razza frazza website with its fancy schmany rizzy fizzy. NYAH. Nice site, tho.

Re: The First Hurdle: Creating a *gulp* Magic System AHA. I think I actually got that! In which case since all spells use Delayed Effect you purchase everything with the +3/4s advantage, maximize your total number of available slots, or you deal with it as necessary and spend a lot of time reading from your book, yes?

Re: Quickie CSL question. This is one of the inherent advantages of being a blasphemer. I don't give a whit over what EGG thought, and in fact, I'm fairly certain at this point that he and I would disagree on what gaming is and means to us (or our players) individually. d20 (and D&D) are games that happen to work best in the context of some sort of story, even if it were paper thin. That's how I broke d20, by trying to make it something it ain't. I think a phenomenal amount of material in d20 3.5 is grandfathered in; Magic Missile, dwarf giant fighters and Elves who start with weapon proficiencies are all great examples. But I have more respect for Steve Long in the brief time I've corresponded with him, read the books and been on the boards, than I have for EGG and I've been playing D&D in one form or another for 21 years. *shrug* Wow... I clearly harbor some bitterness here, and just now noticed it. Good heavens. Makes you wonder what the guy did, doesn't it? -- DEM

Re: Quickie CSL question. AHA! So it would be a sort of collective "Giant Fighting Ability" worth 5 pts/level, and could flow from OCV to DCV to DC. That actually makes more sense. And since it's Only While Fighting Giants (-3/4) it would only cost 6 pts. for two levels of it. Nice. Thanks for the advice, that's perfect. And saves me the hassle of building a Giant Fighting MA. Which I may still do, you never know. Mua ha ha.

Re: Shamans, or "restrictions on spell schools" I know what it is to throw yourself out there and squeeze your eyes shut, waiting for the inevitable kaboom. The group here, and a group I count myself among, are probably the single most intelligent group of players I've encountered, and certainly the best on any board community out there. Ever. I've seen some pretty ugly boards (try going to IGN sometime and reading through their board discussions; yeesh) but these guys are top notch. And, you know, there's this new guy who tries to be helpful as well.

Re: Quickie CSL question. I just posted it as an example for reflecting that sort of thing in general; I doubt a PC would take it under normal circumstances, but hey, that's me. So I could cost it out for a basic racial package as 4 pts., +2 OCV, - 0.500, Only Works Against Giants. Cost a whopping 3 points. Thanks for the input, nolgroth. You have a point with the 5 pointer, though, in terms of reflecting extensive training. Agreed: Why are they fighting Giants in the first freaking place? No clue! But I was curious how to represent it from d20 to HERO. Good morning!

Re: Chronicles of Gor And they were well amused, and liberated by their master amusing them. Give me a f***ing break. GAHD. I need a shower. Without my master telling me its my place to be watered. Heavens.

Re: Setting Concept: The Power of Lineage There's a whole stack of incredibly cool material in here already, and I'm never sure when my own wheels start spinning if I'm being repetitive, but I'll flip my coppers into the ring and take a seat at the table. Ante up. - Among your various possibilities is, as sinanju described the incredible liklihood of outright slavery, as well as open (and possibly black market) bidding war culture for who gets to breed with whom. "Yes, I did have my wife breed with Kulrain behind my back, as that provided me with a daughter with 5 lineage trains, and puts her in position to claim the throne of the barony, as Kulrain is the 14th illegitimate son of the Sultan of the Sands." That thought alone creeps me out, but it's a powerful possibility. - You do have an automatic, no effort, political system built in. Which Heroes/Nobles/Ancestors have more pull? In Judaism, we use both matriarchal descent and acknowledge two major lines; the Cohen (sons & daughters of Aaron) and the Levites (servants of the Cohen, still more important than your average Israelite). While not enforced nearly so much today, a Cohen son is a major deal, because so long as he marries a Jewess, their children are Cohens. - To reference Pokemon a moment (I'm so serious) the Type is determined by the mother; powers/egg moves are determined by the Father. If you slice things down a bit more, you could determine a "base" for certain families, and a base modifier based on the father. It would be a simple matter to replace "race packages" with "bloodline packages." See also d20's Unearthed Arcana (3.0 edition) for further bloodline options and suggestions. - I already have a bloodline issue as a back story in one of my campaigns; keeping your blood line alive at all costs is a powerful motivator. My PCs are still picking up the pieces of what happened when one of the three major Southern Familes were wiped out by the other two. It's a huge, major deal with ongoing ramifications. - Getting your family in power, and keeping them there, are of paramount importance. Also important is (pardon me, y'all) r*pe. I hate to be the one to bring it up, but I'm suggesting something more along the lines of what Morgana did to Arthur, although more violent forms would apply. Morgana disguised herself as Guenevyr and bedded Arthur, thus gaining his Noble bloodline, birthing Modred and bringing Camelot down. Jealous type, she was. There would be more cutthroat R rated bedroom material than I would care to think about. Chastity belts would be a big thing. They'd have to be. Depending on how advanced the culture is, entire harems devoted to providing children would also exist. "She's good, she breeds easily. This one's difficult, I'm trying to replace the Amali line, but there aren't many out there. We have to sedate her first. Ulia there will sleep with you regardless, but that's partially out of desperation, and she's a bit crazy. However, you aren't looking for a negotiator to succeed you, are you Mr. Senator? I understand completely..." - Women's rights would also be a major issue. However. The Fool had posted a while back in one of my other threads; an Amazonian culture which takes some of this and flips it. I'm going with a male-dominated society because that's somewhat canon for the setting. You could easily write it as a balance with a lot of dowry being flung around, or as a full blown Matriarchy with subversive male elements, where men are kept in stables and are nothing more than the bloodlines they can verify. Lots of options, these are just some off the top of my head. Helpful?

Re: AGoT Hero *grins like a Chesire Cat* What in the name of the unholy blue darkness do those acronyms stand for? Thanks!

Good morning! In d20, Dwarves have a natural talent for fighting Giants; you could consider them professionals at it. Nowhere in FREd or Combat can I find a reference to a basic concept: OCVs vs. a Specific Opponent. Since it didn't seem to be a core rule, I thought I'd ask y'all what you thought. Quite simply, my reasoning was that since it's a limited function (rather backwards from "swords" or "greatsword," but still limited) that to represent "vs. Giants" I would use the same general rules; a 2 pt. CSL would apply as "+1 OCV vs. Giants." My question is this: Would it make more sense that way, or, would you purchase a separate CSL that only works against Giants (fairly limiting, -3/4). So if you were to purchase two full blown CSLs (8) would you cost it out at 16 Active (2 full CSLs) and 9 Real? Your thoughts?

Re: Animal Powered vehicles Well, don't forget, that barring the occassional major difference, all of the core rules exist in HERO. Without stepping on any Copyright toes: - Determine the mass of the vehicle itself. Determine the weight (on average) of passengers. If you want to get really specific, you can change movement rates based on total passengers. You can also cost it out at "max capacity" and use that as your base. - Determine the STR of your creature, and note its unencumbered movement speed. There's a rule in there somewhere for 'encumbrance' - how much you slow down based on what you're carrying. - Cost out each creature as a "follower." That's a guess, without my book in front of me, but if you want a cost, that seems like the fastest way to cost the creature itself. - Take the total amount of weight in HERO terms of STR required to pull it, making any adjustments for an underwater/on water environment. Since you are underwater, Gliding actually makes a lot of sense here. - Divide the net weight across the STR of each creature; then determine the final speed. Voila. - Any powers you want to build stack after that. Since you can never actually go faster than the fastest creature, adding more creatures reduces the total weight ratio in terms of encumbrance. That should simulate it nicely. My $0.02. Unless I answered the wrong question, in which case, discard this completely.

Re: The First Hurdle: Creating a *gulp* Magic System Good morning, Archon! Actually, your example is bang on, and rather helpful! I had drawn the correct conclusion; that something like The Force would be very easily represented as an EC, except with the fatal flaw that you must improve all force powers before you can again improve the EC, and in a way, that's totally groovy. I was considering mulching part of the cost of a Sorcery EC for purposes of making it accessible to any Sorcery players. The reasons I want to use an EC are: - It's an innate force; getting "better" at it in an EC is directly related to improving your ability to toss your own magic around. "I'm a better sorceror, therefore these effects will stack." - There is a natural and inherent limit to how much slinging of the EC one can do in a single day, even with Real Costs associated with the EC, although "charges" wouldn't apply. - I still seek advice on how to balance "levels" of spells, although with much help from colleagues I think I'm good (for now) on a functional Wizard build which is a heavily modified VPP. That model is a combination of everyone's patience and The Fool's separation of the Control Cost from the Active Pool. Using a variant Charge model, I can allow the PC to "memorize a single charge" of the spell in an active slot of the VPP in Real Points. I'm not sure how that'll work out at the end of the day in terms of casting power, but if the PC does the smart thing (not to be confused with the crazy thing) they'll spend their resources judiciously. - Agreed, and finally understood, because the nature of a VPP (this was lost on me for about two weeks) is that the VPP is a power - similar to Marvel Super Heroes, once you buy "Magic" you can do whatever you want within the boundaries of your ability, but can never do less than the most powerful thing you did (ouch!), I was going to let the PC start the game with a "full spell book" in his VPP, giving him a major cost break from the normal spell purchase cycle. Then as he improves, he learns new spells at 1/3rd the rate of the Real Cost (per Grimoire) and should make spells affordable. - I saw the structure for a Multipower, and was seriously tempted, except ultimately the two almost seemed like a wash, and I'd be back to an END Reserve build, which would work just fine, but I'm not sure how balanced it would be, despite making the spells crazy cheap. The multipower would simply define the cap. - I also looked at a charge model, but I couldn't rationalize all spells consuming one charge (see Shadowpup's model for an immediate reference). Flight, a 10d6 EB, a 5d6 RKA and an 8d6 AID SPD all take one charge? Uh-uh. That didn't work for me. The pre-assigned END Reserve (in the same mold as delayed effect) makes more sense and it's easier to control, especially since it assigns the Active Cost. It allows people to boom lots of low-level powers, or a stack of middle/high, or anywhere in between. There's also rules for slotting (INT/5 Active Slots) that both Steve and The Fool were trying to explain, but that is still way over my head. Good morning!

Re: Chronicles of Gor Mutant For Hire: ... No, really, I don't think I can reasonably form any other reaction. I was happier when I was just imagining what this would be like, and I'm terrified that the places my imagination went were remarkably close to what you've posted here. "Only by being controlled am I truly free." Just. No. Thank you for the enlightening post, but. Wow. Just. Wow.

Good morning, Steve; While prepping all the material I'll need to run the FH campaign, I began attempting to replicate the Paladin's Cure Disease power. However, "disease" as a topic wasn't covered anywhere in the text. I flipped to the Bestiary and they had cited Lycanthropy, the disease, as a Transform (Major) which only had to deal straight body. That would make curing disease (which in many cases is some sort of Transform) a Transform to convert someone from a diseased state to a non-diseased version of themselves. What are your thoughts? Is this the simplest way to handle it in HERO terms, as a transform? Further, do I have to stipulate what kinds of disease the Paladin's cure encompasses? Could it cure any disease? And, lastly, it specifically states (and this is also reasonable, but I'm mentioning it for the record) that any cure only stops it from dealing additional damage (on poison), it doesn't replace the injury. In that event, would I purchase a "Healing, STR" or any variation on that theme? Good morning, and thanks!

Re: The First Hurdle: Creating a *gulp* Magic System Yeargh... sorry, Chris Goodwin, I know this is probably crystal to you but I'm still unclear. When I sit down with a PC, and make him construct his VPP: Magic, does he, at that time, get to stack a bunch of spells into his spell book? Does he start the game with pre-defined spells that fall under his creation cap, or does he have to buy each one individually and the pool is just that; a pool? What I think you're saying is: "At the time the VPP is created, powers are created within the VPP that represent what the VPP can do. These powers do not cost additional CP." Then I would have the player purchase "additional powers in the VPP" i.e. spells for the normal 1/3rd Real Cost. Yes? This would make the VPP model that The Fool worked so hard to get through my thick Paladinic skull valid and usable. My current impression was: "You create a X point VPP, with an X/2 Control Cost. This confers absolutely no benefit whatsoever, other to grant the ability to learn powers within the VPP. All spells then cost Points." - If that's wrong, that's a good thing. The Fool: Lovin' me some VPP, now that I appear to have corrected an inaccurate assumption, and you alluded to it in one of your earlier posts about not having to pay within it, but I had actually missed that. I'm going to use the Spell Craft/Skill function as a means of spell research, so that when a power is added to the VPP the player will have payed for it; it will also severely hamper any munchkinism. Would you start him off with the full 1/3rd boat in the pool, but do it as a matter of "character creation?" I may just cap the whole thing out; "At first level you may not have a VPP greater than 40 Active." And give him 120 Real Points of spells based on that. After doing the math I can say with some certainty that it isn't that much. But it's not going to scale well. Thoughts on how to scale?

Re: What Are You Listening To Right Now? Stabbing Westward - the complete, underrated but overly hyped collection.

Re: Paladin help Don't kill it. Just blind it, maim it, and feed it to my Wolfpack. Oh, wait. Okay, kill it, but only after specified conditions have been met. Is that killing it on a trigger? A delayed effect? Extra time? Hmm.

Re: Wondering about ideas on conscription. ... They put holes in cheese?

Re: Wondering about ideas on conscription. Any trained soldier with armor could take on a small squad of unorganized peasants. A MOB? That's a whole nother matter entirely, as are organized peasants, but generally speaking, it's throwing neighbors at each other. Although Markdoc is the reigning authority on this. If he sees the thread, he'll likely have some input.