AMIA ARCHIVE • View topic

Very_Svensk wrote:

prone? I think they take extreme pleasure in it! Just think of a cat - They're enjoying playing with mice and rats... Just think of humans as mice, and the dragon as a HUGE FIREBREATHING FLYING MONSTER CAT!

great analagy there Svensk, I got the idea from this:

Draconomicon wrote:

They are prone to Carnal pleasures and often mate just for the fun of it

all of this is just building up my request, trying to get as much back up on what I'm writig as possible.

Can summons like an elemental have their own personality?

hm....elementals I am not so sure, but summons in general, deffinatly, I RP with any toons fey familiar I have, as do many others. and not two days ago I saw a great peice of RP involving a gate summoned um, being =D

as for how, best to read some source rather than making it up on the spot with guesswork, and again, elementals, idk.

ed: other summons like ravens and animals noo, they can't talk -but- you can emote with them. and if they -do- talk you better have some explaination >_> (sorry thats not entirely a lore answer but from an ic perspective the above is mostly accurate. I will try to find better source on elementals for ye')

*facepalm* ok I remember now, elementals can talk but not in common, they each would most likely use their archetypal language, all of which are listed in the lore & rules section. (keywords on 'most likely' also.)

Thank ya but I don't mean really talking, I mean behaviour and stuff.

Can they have individual oddities? ... for example I like to emote with my air elemental that its looking grim when someone calls it ugly and scary looking... it also sometimes imitates birds when it sees one or throws a windblow against someone's hair out of randomness..

Older elementals are capable of thought. Elder elementals and above are 10 INT, so are as intelligent as a common human.

yippie!

Yep. When you're not sure, Int or Wis is usually enough to determine whether or not a summon can have personality/noticable behavior.

And Charisma! Don't forget Charisma! That's partially force of personality after all.

Quote:

There are 6 dragons on Amia's server and none of them have offspring. Of those 6 only 3 would really be capable of it anyways.

I found the list I wrote it down xD

none of them are listed as white dragons, but I am missing colours on two of the aformentioned 6.

like I said originally don't count on said dragon your looking to be there being there cause I made that mistake too.

There was at least one white.

Asl/search IC.

If he gets approved of course I'm gunna look for it.

EDIT: I'm guessing the gestation period for a human half dragon is still 9 months right?

Dark Immolation wrote:

There was at least one white.

Asl/search IC.

He's dead and has no non dragon children and his one dragon child is dead.

I was talking about ask people IC about the dragon that is now dead.

There are still a few folk around that know about them first hand.

Question about RPing temp HP: Is "instant healing" an acceptable way to do it? I.E. *Gets stabbed, the wound promptly closing up, however*.

I know it's normally taken as "damage shrugged off", but I don't see the harm in representing it this way either.

Arcane magic
Vs Divine magic.

What's the major difference, beside that arcanists(read wizards and scholars) learn it. Sorcerer's have it innate, and Divine magic is granted by the deity

But 'How' is it granted by the deity? Can you experiment? Or are all the blueprints for the spells readily available in the clerics/druids head?
I'm trying to figure out how to write a Spell request - But about halfway it struck me that i do not know how Divine classes learn their spells. If they even learn that is ..

The major difference is the source. Think of it like this: Whether it is a wizard or a sorcerer, through learned or innate knowledge, Arcane magic is about manipulating the Weave yourself. There's no mediator.

Divine magic is you asking a deity or power to manipulate it for you. Divine magic still utilizes the Weave, it's just that the deity is doing most of the work. A divine caster does not learn spells.

Divine spells are granted through prayer. When a divine caster "rests" it is implied that they go through their prayers as well(just as it is implied that a Wizard re-reads their spellbook over the same time). In these prayers, the divine caster is pretty much giving the god a heads up of what they would like to be granted. A prayer such as "By your will, allow me to destroy your enemies" might be the IC explanation of slotting a Destruction spell. To cast the spell, a divine caster simply makes the hand motions and whatever verbal component(that likely sounds like a prayer itself) that they asked for earlier. Something like "Destroy thine goblins, Garagos" said while motioning a Garagosan holy symbol would cast the Destruction spell prayed for earlier.

Divine magic is relatively hard to experiment with, compared to Arcane magic, by virtue of the way it works. A divine caster asks for a specific spell or occurrence and is granted or denied it by the god. If anything, a cleric simply asks for a different occurrence or fulfillment of divine power. Though it is up to the god if they would receive such a thing. More than likely, being granted a "new" spell for a divine caster would mean studying up on the god's ethos, the religion's dogma, proving themselves worthy of such a boon, and ultimately if the god cares to give it to them or not.

For instance, no matter how much one studies or prays, it is implausible that Kossuth would every grant one of his divine casters a water-based spell.

Dark Immolation wrote:

More than likely, being granted a "new" spell for a divine caster would mean studying up on the god's ethos, the religion's dogma, proving themselves worthy of such a boon, and ultimately if the god cares to give it to them or not.

For instance, no matter how much one studies or prays, it is implausible that Kossuth would every grant one of his divine casters a water-based spell.

This sums it up as far as I'm concerned, with one addition: I like the idea of hunting down lost lore and old relics to discover ancient prayers and receive new spells. Even if clerics get access to all "normal" spells as per the game rules, I'm sure there's still plenty of old and rare spells out there to discover and revive some forgotten form of worship in the process. Prayers From The Faithful is an interesting book that deals with something similar, valued and/or legendary sacred texts of the different faiths and the powers they grant.

True. How is a divine servant suppose to ask for a spell they don't know about... ? Tracking down lost spells sounds kinda cool.

Something like old prayer books in abandoned temples, burial sites etc. probably.

I mean, Inventing a Divine spell ... It doesn't sound plausible for me.

-"Hi God. It's me... I need to ask you about something" Me
-"Oh right? What can i do for you, Little cleric"? God
-"Well, I want a spell that's ...X and Y High Area of impact, and a superb explosion of light. I don't think the spells i have currently are enough to do the job i'm about to do" Me
-"So, You're saying that i'm not looking after my clerics? That i'm not giving my servants the powers they need?" God
-"No, Sorry, I don't think you do. That's why i want a special spell, Just for myself!" Me

*Receives fall widget*

ugh you wait til i've been out drinking to ask the question I asked ingame -_-

the differance between divine and arcane is that divine does not, in theory...use the weave for its magic. divine power comes from the gods, either by asking them ie clerics, or taking their power bit by bit, ie ur-priests, or if you are a rank zero deity you can have your own divine powers.

note rank zero deitys do not include mortals.

I also agree with nearly all of immolations post, except for you all forgot one thing, druids, don't -have to- pray. (that said most do anyways out of respect for their gods and the forests and whatnot.)

ed: regarding new spells and favoured souls see source on deitys chosen. (faiths and pantheons 3.5 ed..)

Very_Svensk wrote:

I mean, Inventing a Divine spell ... It doesn't sound plausible for me.

-"Hi God. It's me... I need to ask you about something" Me
-"Oh right? What can i do for you, Little cleric"? God
-"Well, I want a spell that's ...X and Y High Area of impact, and a superb explosion of light. I don't think the spells i have currently are enough to do the job i'm about to do" Me
-"So, You're saying that i'm not looking after my clerics? That i'm not giving my servants the powers they need?" God
-"No, Sorry, I don't think you do. That's why i want a special spell, Just for myself!" Me

*Receives fall widget*

You're thinking about it too much, or at least in too much detail on the caster's side.

When someone prays, it's usually a general idea instead of details. No one says "Grant me a spell with a 60 foot radius that rains fire and has a chance of catching someone on fire for 3 to 6 minutes." It would be more along the lines of "Grant me the ability to rain down your fire." On the OoC level is where you pick up the details like that.

It's possible to ask in a very detailed manner, but it's a bit silly from an IC perspective. After all, if overly spelling out what you want as a gift is annoying to people, I can only imagine divine beings that have provided for their followers for centuries can't find it too endearing either.

"Inventing a new divine spell" would probably be something like having a dire and righteous need for it and the god deeming it a worthy cause, thus granting the spell. You certainly don't work out the details like an arcanist would, you probably pray for help in a difficult situation when you've exhausted other options and trust your god to do the right thing.

You're mistaken, Glyph. Divine magic is just as much Weave-based as arcane magic. There's no fundamental difference at all. Gods get their magic from the Weave too, and they give Weave-spells to their priests from the selection of existing spells (stored in the memory of the Weave) that's also available to other spellcasters. Divine and arcane magic are identically affected by Dead and Wild Magic areas and Antimagic Fields, for example. Only the details on the caster-side look different, the method of acquiring the magic etc.

Never heard that druids didn't need to pray, what book's that from? Then again, I'm not sure if I've read about them explicitly having to pray, either. Would probably say in the PHB. It's the standard spell preparation time, anyway. But be that as it may, page references please.

sources please, where does it say gods use the weave other than mystra?

and yea I am rusty on my druid lore, I was mistaken once again, as I recall only certain gods even support druids. my bad.

Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, unsurprisingly under the heading "Magic."

Mystra governs all magic in Realmspace. Soon after Midnight ascended to the role, she actually withheld magic from both deities and mortals for a time. But she got reprimanded for it and while she's still capable of doing it, she's not allowed. For this, check Faiths & Avatars and Faiths & Pantheons, under "Mystra."

IronAngel wrote:

Mystra governs all magic in Realmspace.

Except that governed by Shar, through her Shadow Weave, that is.

Hm. I've overlooked it until now, but might that imply that 10th+ level spells are achievable through the Shadow Weave, unless Shar has banned them as well?

Either way, you would need to have Shar -grant- them to your spellcaster, and she's not exactly a very giving deity. She most likely chooses to keep such powerful magic to herself, or only give it to a select few, and then only insofar as they use it to further her own goals and desires. When those conditions are met, well... it doesn't bode well for the fate of the one(s) she allowed to wield such power.

I could never really see how lv 10 and higher spells were inherently stronger, though. The only examples of 10th level spells are remember are like Earthfast, which allows digging to continue in areas that would normally collapse, and like another that makes a volcano over the course of a month. Compared to other high spells and Epic Spells, they're a bit lackluster. I always figured it was just a way of simplifying the spell system to say 1-9 is the progression of magic, anything else that is above that level is "Epic".

Though if anyone else has examples of lv 10 spells, I'd like to hear them. I think one was used by the Netherese to cut the top off of mountains(that would later serve for the base for their cities), but again, can't recall.

While we're on it, is it safe to say spells have "circles" and levels based off of some cosmological rubric that is just understood to exist, or is it the direct ordering out by Mystra that this spell as this level, and this one has that?

Safe to say, if I am reading right that anything in the Epic Spells category would fit in the 10th level and above. (IE: The Epic spells on the d20srd.org that don't appear in NWN)

Epic Spell is NOT tenth level.

>.<; Okay sorry

Just, I don't have much framework to go off of for what was 10th and beyond in Faerunian terms

Yep. It's quite clear that Mystra has banned 10th level and up, but not Epic spells. It's just not clear why, to me at least, when Epic Spells can do some of the same things, if not more. Or for that matter, what the rubric is that gives spells "circles" in the first place, but she is the Lady of Mysteries, after all.

My only guess, and it's simplifying it down to a level where I actually hope it's not correct, is that spell levels are determined by the "amount" of Weave used, or undulated in the process of casting or the aftermath. For example, a high level sorcerer can Empower their Fireball to do more damage than the Firebrand of a 10th level sorcerer. But the casting process or the effect itself of Firebrand innately moves more of the Weave than even an Empowered Fireball. Doesn't make the Firebrand more powerful(in terms of damage), but it's just a higher grade effect, magically speaking.

To use a computer analogy, just because something takes a lot of memory to run, it doesn't guarantee that it's a powerful program.

I am not sure if this is relevant, but there's also the fact that you need immense Spellcraft and therefore a profound understanding of the Weave, its limitations and its best interests in order to create Epic Spells. I suppose 10th level spells were available to anyone smart and experienced enough, regardless of their character and understanding. In any case, Mystra and Azuth seem to communicate frequently with mortals powerful enough to cast Epic Spells and share a good understanding of limits and responsibilities.

As for how spells are organized into levels, I'd say that's an academic distinction and how most casters experience magic. It is based on the reality of the Weave somehow, because the levels apply so commonly, but there are examples of accessing the same spells at different levels, especially with different classes, so it's nothing absolute. When it comes to the Weave, I imagine anything is bendable.

This is true too, I imagine. I think there may have been an old 10+ spell that controlled the weather, and I'm pretty sure there's one or two Epic ones that do the same thing pretty much.

It would then seem that Mystra banned 10+ spells not because their effects were too great/powerful/dangerous, but because they allowed pretty much any arcanist that kept at it long enough to access powers they really didn't comprehend. Case in point: Karsus. Even he apparently lacked whatever godly spellcraft that would be needed to understand exactly what he was doing. He understood that the spell would make him take Mystrl's place for a certain time, but not her specific connection to the Weave in that removing her ultimately would break the Weave and overload him with magical energy.

As long as the spell isn't going to interfere directly with the Weave(and herself by extension), it would seem that she doesn't mind mortals having the same magic abilities as before, so long as they fundamentally understand the powers they with which they are dealing.

A question of my own: Are arcanists able to cast spells when in Realms that are not their original?

There are accounts of mages traveling between realms, or at least, their magical methods and spells(Mordenkainen, Tenser, Bigby). That would imply that whatever method they used to cast in Greyhawk somehow works on Toril and such(that, or someone just recreated a spell and named it after another). Would it even be possible for an FR mage to have ever done such a thing, as other Realms do not have a discernible "Weave" that is mentioned?

Not sureif this counts towards a lore Q but could a half White have a widget/item of some kind to lose 2 int points at lvl 9 DD?, the whole +2 int makes no sense to a White.

Sure, it's possible to request a widget for that. Without letoing, even.

But wouldn't it be just easier to find an item that gives -2 Int? There are a few in the module.

And as well, White Dragons are still dragons. They're the "dumbest" of the dragons, but they're not "dumb" when it comes to human standards. You could argue that the stats should vary by the dragon type(Brass would get more CHA, Blue more INT)... just RP it, is my advice, saves you trouble.

Hey there amians,
quick question what kind of names are Durpari names, I've been searching all over but cant find examples of them. Like what style of ethnicity do they take over in terms of RL templates, ie. african, indian, far east oriental? etc. I know thier dark skinned and merchantlike people etc. but kind find refs for xample names.
thanks for any help.

Last edited by IronAngel on Mon, Apr 04 2011, 17:06 PM, edited 2 times in total.

Indian. FRCS gives examples like this: Charva, Duma, Hukir, Jama, Kilimut, Oskut, Pradil, Rajaput, Sikhil for males, and Apret, Bask, Erilet, Fanul, Hist, Mokat, Nismet, Ril, Tiket for females. Last names include Beszrizma, Datharathi, Melpurvatta, Nalambar etc.

Dark Immolation: it should be pretty similar. Therre's plenty of planewalking and spelljamming mages out there in the D&D multiverse, and I can't remember any reference to difficulties in handling magic on other worlds. Sure, I imagine it will feel different to mages before they adjust, but nothing like having to learn magic from scratch.

dayfer wrote:

Not sureif this counts towards a lore Q but could a half White have a widget/item of some kind to lose 2 int points at lvl 9 DD?, the whole +2 int makes no sense to a White.

Why wouldn't it? Whites are not stupid unless you compare them to other dragons. Look at their stats.

As I can see 10 int, and I'd try make my Half White be as close to a generic White's stats as possible, meaning 10 int, but I see what you meen and I'll go ahead and leave that be.

Anything older than adult has more than 10 INT.

*checks* oh fail, oh fail fail fail, thats what I get for only looking at the adult white's stats.

This question came to mid when reading:Free Rebuilds - Windiara Bluesoul - guano and this is me avoiding posting in it as it isn't mine.

I am curious what UMD ranks count as for a Rogue. Can they be used to say that your toon was learning about magic/magic items?

UMD is learning to fake it so good you can even fool magic. This might be a categorical knowledge of how magic items work, a perrsonality so intense that you even seem to fool magic items, a background in magic but no real training (a sorceror who doesn't manifest may have ranks in UMD) or one of many other things, IMO.

Good to know!

I always figured UMD was a lot of "how" and not a lot "why." You know how a wand or magic stave works, and can utilize it like you know what you're doing, but essentially you've little idea why it works. And thus, you're very limited in what you understand beyond XYZ while holding a wand makes a Fireball shoot out.

Though since it is a CHA based feat, Tormak could be onto something. Maybe it's along the same lines of how Sorcerous casting works. You're not innately arcane, so you can't charm the Weave into doing exactly what you want, but you can charm items that use the Weave.

I am still looking for some excelent source on the matter but I remembered bards can use umd aswell as their own style of magic so I checked that out. bards tend to use charms and illusions, and to an extent without arcane prowess so do rogues.

I am inclined to think this nudges umd skills into the category of exploiting enchantment magic, or magic locked into an item in more laymans terms, umd users find an innate ability to make use of such magic, without raining phenominal cosmic power down on everyone around them without said items.

I also think gnomes would make more sense of it, tinkering and luck and all.

I also believe any dm in pnp would make the backfire of failed spells from umd twice as bad as for wizards =D I recall the dnd movie (first one) where they broke into the mages tower and technically used umd xD that didn't go so well.

but yea other than what i've played not sure how else to put it, still looking for more source.

Agreed with Tormak: it might be a variety of things. Despite being Cha-based, it's restricted to classes known to be curious jacks-of-all-trades who rely on gadgets and obscure information, so I'd say it typically has to do with "tacit knowledge" and a lot of practice with different kinds of items, not so much charismatic exercises.

Q
Any spells you can apply to items or creatures or places that prevents scrying?

The Lore Question Thread

Who is online