tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post4212212093058462014..comments2024-03-29T07:44:02.365-04:00Comments on Dreams in the Lich House: X is for KillingJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031181424520125213noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-52531775935126208602011-01-25T04:13:54.124-05:002011-01-25T04:13:54.124-05:00Kings can either be high-level or zero-level. I me...Kings can either be high-level or zero-level. I mean, badass fantasy heroes such as Conan or Aragorn were kings, but I don't think that the spoiled brat who've inherited a throne would be anything more than a 0-level NPC in most cases. And either way, you COULD kill them.<br /><br />One thing that annoys me is the "rank equals skill" trope that some fantasy games and adventures follow. I mean, most sergeants and many captains would be quite experienced soldiers, but many higher ranked officers might have inherited their rank or otherwise given it by virtue of their social standing, especially in a quasi-medieval world.<br /><br />And if you manage to slip past the elite guards and stick a dagger in the heart of the spoiled boy-emperor, all power to you! NO PLOT IMMUNITY!<br /><br />Regarding Elminster, I was under the impression that in later Forgotten Realms books he ended up stealing some of the spotlight from the PCs. Which is bad.Omer Golan-Joelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09242085820257230639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-47041178389294689732011-01-24T10:09:14.364-05:002011-01-24T10:09:14.364-05:00Kings and rulers are definitely for killing.
I do...Kings and rulers are definitely for killing.<br /><br />I do think it's an interesting thought exercise to decide in your setting whether rulers are bad-asses (like the 1E World of Greyhawk) listing, or normal (0-level) humans.<br /><br />Either way, if they get bumped off, it's fine with me.<br /><br />Druids are definitely for killing.<br /><br />A god riding a dinosaur, or a dinosaur riding a god, might be too cool to die, though.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18031181424520125213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-33960226974351265402011-01-24T05:25:33.731-05:002011-01-24T05:25:33.731-05:00Ah ha! But what do you do with a riding dinosaur g...<i>Ah ha! But what do you do with a riding dinosaur god?</i><br /><br />These are the kinds of moral and ethical questions I feel D&D handles best.Mirandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10745062840676790649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-6470085566452153492011-01-24T02:47:25.045-05:002011-01-24T02:47:25.045-05:00Everybody's got a target, as far as I'm co...Everybody's got a target, as far as I'm concerned. Though I would say you're using real gods(Odin All Father, Jesus of the Legions, Yog-Sothoth, Crom, Buddha, The Queen of Shadows, Your Campaign's GM Generated Deities Names Here, etc...) in the campaign they wouldn't be 'killed', but 'dispelled', returning for revenge later.(or not. YMMV) I personally just establish something or other as a god, like say a Giant Tick, and it gets more powerful as its worship grows, , i.e. a little god, if you will. It provides a lot of variety, and players seem to be able to rationalize slaying them more easily. 'It's just a big worm...(Or is IT? MWA-HA!)' <br /><br />See the tricks and traps section of Supplement I: Greyhawk for a REAL doozy, Mars(yes, that one!) RIDING Talos(also the one you're thinking of!)!!!!<br /><br />And of course, no matter what Supplement II: Eldricth Wizardry says, Druids are for killing!(They're a monster, see supplement 1!) ;-)<br /><br />@Omer Golan:<br />Elminster:<br />Sad thing is, in the original Grey Box(1987), he was too busy help(or even talk to) PCs in any way, they had to leave a message with his scribe Lhaeo.(The text insinuated he would ignore them unless there was a LOT at stake. He's not your errand boy, or bestest buddy, or your daddy, he's a very busy Archmage!) I didn't keep track of FR past that, so I don't know what happened to change the situation. There were a lot of high level NPCs(and whole adventuring companies!) in the setting, which didn't bother me, as they were fair game just like the players.<br /><br />Plot immunity:<br />As long as this includes PCS, I'm game!<br /><br />Heroes:<br />The PCS might not be 'heroes'. They might just be doing their own thing, regardless of codes of conduct. 'Conan' shouldn't have script armor, imo. Heroes die, too. Or should, ihink; They're on my 'list'. :-)<br /><br />old-school games: the King is not a 20th level Tiefling Fighter/Paladin/Wizard with 20d8 HP:<br />See Greyhawk Folio and later Box Set. Many are pretty badass.<br /><br />@Beedo:<br />Thanx for the link!<br /><br />'Various NPCs in the world still have their own goals and agendas, and if left alone, they'll do what they can to move their agendas forward':<br />Amazing how this generates adventures organically, isn't it?<br /><br />'Funny how 13,000 hungry undead swarming down the mountain can generate a change of plans.':<br />You're not joking. I love stuff like this, everybody has to be on their toes, status quo can change in the blink of an eye!<br /><br />These Undead... <br />They wouldn't happen to be a Skeleton Army, would they? (Our Bear Cavalry, They're useless!) :-D<br /><br />'Nothing is written, no outcome is foreordained. No one knows how it's going to end, least of all the DM. Whatever story is there, will emerge or change from the choice and intervention of the players.':<br />I want the T-shirt! This is how our group rolls. Very apt. Old School at its finest, imo.velaranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15689908090884198784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-41054371252508437312011-01-23T20:05:36.184-05:002011-01-23T20:05:36.184-05:00Ah ha! But what do you do with a riding dinosaur ...Ah ha! But what do you do with a riding dinosaur god?Treyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04647628467658839351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-79469323114745596782011-01-23T17:42:27.554-05:002011-01-23T17:42:27.554-05:00What a awesome post! I wish I ever destroyed my wo...What a awesome post! I wish I ever destroyed my world with a zombie apocalypse!!!Il Male™https://www.blogger.com/profile/02699384706214815033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-20457264377061066322011-01-23T16:48:43.513-05:002011-01-23T16:48:43.513-05:00Music to my ears!
One thing that I *HATE* with a ...Music to my ears!<br /><br />One thing that I *HATE* with a passion are Mary-Sue-type uber-DMPCs of the Elminster kind (or Immortal Elves in Shadowrun *shudders*). Plot immunity is annoying.<br /><br />And a zombie apocalypse just turned the world into a COOL place. Why avoid it? Time for some survival-horror play! :D<br /><br />Oh, and this is yet another reason why I love old-school games: the King is not a 20th level Tiefling Fighter/Paladin/Wizard with 20d8 HP, but rather a Normal man with 1d6 HP. And yes, Kings *can die*. It happens. It happened in history; it happened in myth; it can happen in the game.<br /><br />And heroes exist to make world-shattering changes to the setting. In myth, heroes defy gods, kill "unkillable" monsters and challenge fate itself. This is what heroes are *supposed* to do.Omer Golan-Joelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09242085820257230639noreply@blogger.com