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BLII - Out of Character Chat

Second Edition AD&D

A gritty "low-fantasy" game in which the line between right and wrong may occasionally blur, set in a non-canon Greyhawk-based world.

Moderator: Stik

Forum rules
Players should expect to post two to three times per week. 

Players should have a working knowledge of Second Edition AD&D

Experienced adult/mature players are preferred.

No munchkins allowed, and min-maxing will be frowned upon.

Core rulebooks and "Complete" series books will be used.
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Re: Out of Character Chat

Post by Frivolous »

Quernus takes the opposite approach to mercenary work. He likes equipment.

What about Greek fire, for when we want to commit some arson? :) Does Greek fire exist and can we have some?
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Jenara
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Re: Out of Character Chat

Post by Jenara »

Greek fire is a bit too flashy for my taste!

Work, earn money, treat men like crap. What else do you need?

I think this is going to be interesting to say the least
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Re: Out of Character Chat

Post by Stik »

Word to the wise: this board has been acting wonky the past three or four days.
If you are making a lengthy post, I recommend that once you are finished typing it, you copy the text. That way, if the board fails to load after you hit "Submit" you can try again rather than losing it (which has happened to me twice now :evil: ).

Now, on to the questions. My responses will be in blue:

1. Which other languages are available for learning besides the obvious racial ones (elven, dwarven)?
Lingua is the common language of the Aerdian Empire and is spoken throughout the empire and its (former) provinces, much like Latin was spoken throughout dark-ages Europe. Each province has subtle dialects, but for the most part anyone that speaks one can make themself understood anywhere in the empire and the surrounding area. Outside the empire, it gets a bit more diverse, but Lingua is quite widespread and it should be possible to make oneself understood (imagine speaking Italian in Spain - not the same, but similar enough to get by).

2. What are the common humanoids (goblin, orc, etc.) of the setting, if any, and what do they speak? I mean, this campaign may not have orcs (Krynn lacks them).
Orcs, goblins and hobgoblins are closely related and are common outside the empire. Within the empire the humanoid races were hunted pretty much to extinction centuries ago, although with the current troubles, it is possible that bands of them have managed to slip across the border from then north. The humanoids tend to speak a variety of polyglot languages barely understandable outside their own tribes. The basics can be called "Uruk" and speaking it can make you more or less understood when speaking to orc-types.

3. Are there any ancient civilizations before the Aerdian Empire, especially ones that spoke a strange language?
You can read about the ancient history of Greyhawk here. Don't go too far past that, though. This is a non-canon game.
In the area that is now the empire, the Flan people were conquered/displaced by the Oeridians, who established the empire many centuries ago. The Flan were tribesmen for the most part, and not kingdom builders, but shared a common language which is now all but dead. If you want a dead language on your sheet, call it "Early Flan"



Frivolous, what type of Cleric are you playing? I may end up changing to a different class if you're going to have the healing for the group covered....
I don't think he will. He's not that kind of priest.

Some more questions:

1. May I also ask if we are allowed to have hirelings or own slaves to take care of our baggage?
In the first adventure I have planned, the party will be traveling with/escorting a wagon, and can put small amounts of personal baggage on there, or they can use pack horses/mules.

I would recommend that the party have at least a couple of mules to carry food and equipment, and a hireling to manage the mules, feed them, etc. Maybe even a wagon.
Asking about slaves brings up an interesting point. Slavery is an accepted part of imperial society, although of late there has been a tendency, particularly in the provinces, to treat slaves like actual people. How an individual PC feels about slavery is up to the player. PCs will not start out owning slaves, however.

2. I know this is a low-magic setting, so I understand if it is not allowed, but can we have one or two objects with Continual Light on them, so we don't have to mess around with torches or lanterns for illumination?
Any priest over fifth level can cast Continual Light spells once per day or more, and could mass-produce continual light bulbs. But they do not. Spells are about doing their god's will in the world, not about making tools for adventurers.
The average village priest is too low-level to cast Continual Light. High-level priests are most often found in major cities or adventuring in war-torn areas.
So, if you want a Continual Light bulb, you can go to a city or war-torn area, find a priest who has one and buy, beg, borrow or steal it, or ask said priest to make one for you.


3. Can all of us start out as citizens? I'm presuming we want to start out as citizens, though some concepts may make that undesirable.
Whether a PC is dependent upon that PC's backstory.

4: Do spyglasses exist, and can we have one? They are not magical, but the PHB says they're very expensive, 1000 gold.
Yes, they do exist and they are expensive - too expensive to start out with, but you might buy one later if you have the cash.

What about Greek fire, for when we want to commit some arson? :) Does Greek fire exist and can we have some?
Yes, it exists. Yes, you can buy it.
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Re: Out of Character Chat

Post by Frivolous »

Thanks for all the answers to our questions, Stik.

Quernus would have served in the legions. Thus he would be a citizen.

This feels so Starship Troopers, by the way.
Because of the current state of war in the empire, the vast majority of human male warriors in the campaign will have served in the legions, or in the militia of a local baron, prior to starting their adventuring career. Legion veterans must take shortsword as one of their starting proficiencies and will start the game having already served at least a three-year term of enlistment (thus starting three years older), but will be entitled to certain benefits customarily extended to veterans. Demi-human and female warriors may or may not have served in the legions.
Do clerical veterans have to take short sword as one of their weapon proficiencies? Are they allowed to?
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Re: Out of Character Chat

Post by Stik »

More like they both have a common source.
In ancient Rome, citizenship was a privilege that had to be earned through service to the Empire. Serving in the Legions was a good way to do so.

I am still working on the priesthood of Cronus, but seeing as he is an imperial god, I suppose a shortsword, the chief weapon of the empire, would probably not be inappropriate.
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Re: Out of Character Chat

Post by BryantTheSwordsman »

May Brusen start of with a War Hog for transportation? Since everyone wants to have mules and horses I might as well have a war hog.
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Re: Out of Character Chat

Post by Frivolous »

I like the short sword (I've read the Deed of Paksenarrion). A very good military weapon. It would be great if Quernus would be allowed to use one.

I only want to have a mule for Quernus to carry some of his gear. He's strong enough to carry it all himself, but the legions use mules or wagons for that purpose.
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Re: Out of Character Chat

Post by Jenara »

Warhog? Lol!

Slightly off this particular subject but is Angel the only female character?
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Re: Out of Character Chat

Post by BryantTheSwordsman »

Jenara wrote:Slightly off this particular subject but is Angel the only female character?
Does everyone think the sky is blue?

or

Is the Space pope reptilian?

Both are yes
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Re: Out of Character Chat

Post by Stik »

@ Bryant - What do you want a war-hog for? Isn't a hog is a domesticated pig that has been castrated? You probably want a war-boar.
Image
Five hundred pounds of muscle, tusk and attitude on four cloven hooves, willing to kill a man out of spite.

And no, you can't have one. :)
FYI: There are dwarven boar riders out there, but they don't live in the empire, but they live in the lowlands, not in the mountains where Brusen came from.
And I am not sure where the idea of dwarves not being able to ride horses came from, but here are all sorts and sizes of horses in the world, and somehting like an Icelandic Horse, with its short legs, stocky build, and hardy constitution, seems ideally suited for dwarves.
Image

Likewise, I never liked the 6" movement rate for dwarves, half a human's 12" movement rate. It's too slow. Granted, humans have longer legs, but dwarves are short, not crippled.

@Frivolous - I'm working on Cronus' priesthood. Gladius does not seem inappropriate as a weapon, but I will let you know soon. I'd have finished it earlier today, but I was up very late last night. :)
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Re: Out of Character Chat

Post by Stik »

Jenara sent me her PC on a very nice Second Edition AD&D character sheet.
I like the format, and as soon as I figure out how to do so, I will post a blank version here for you all to use. It'd make my life easier as the campaign progresses if I were to have similar sheets for everyone.
I won't be a jerk and demand everyone use the same sheet, but it'd be nice if you did.
Thanks. :)
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Jenara
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Re: Out of Character Chat

Post by Jenara »

I'll upload the sheets when I'm back on Sunday. Different sheets for classes using the same template.

Bryant i was asking because i was trying to figure the group dynamic. Angel and frivolous's characters both seem to be seasoned merc's. I think brusen is as well? Yes would have done the trick:wink:
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Re: Out of Character Chat

Post by Ismaels-Legacy »

My character wasn't a merc, but will have served in the army. (He was the baker! :) )
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Re: Out of Character Chat

Post by Jenara »

Ismaels-Legacy wrote:My character wasn't a merc, but will have served in the army. (He was the baker! :) )
My grandfather was a cook in the British army. Travelled the world. There is no shame in being a baker! Hell kasey rybeck was a cook.

oh frivolous you should read the forever war. Same idea to starship troopers, but the flip side of the coin
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Re: Out of Character Chat

Post by Stik »

Jenara wrote:I'll upload the sheets when I'm back on Sunday. Different sheets for classes using the same template.
Jen, I will be unable to check the boards or email or anything next week. Can you take care of getting the blank sheets to everyone while I am gone?

Then I'll review them as soon as possible when I get back online, make any last-minute adjustments, and we'll get rolling.



*** Preliminary versions of the priesthood of Liquitus and the priesthood of Cronus have been posted in the Imperial Pantheon thread. If anyone has any comments or suggestions, please post them here.
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