<![CDATA[Citadel of Chaos - All Forums]]> http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:38:09 +0000 MyBB <![CDATA[Brave Halfling S&W White Box soon available]]> http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=345 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:58:42 +0000 http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=345
A few pictures of the boxed set are attached to this post.

The four booklets included in the boxed set are also available for sale individually.

See Brave Halfling Publishing's website for the booklets, and futher updates on the boxed sets.]]>
A few pictures of the boxed set are attached to this post.

The four booklets included in the boxed set are also available for sale individually.

See Brave Halfling Publishing's website for the booklets, and futher updates on the boxed sets.]]> <![CDATA[Read an RPG Book in Public Week]]> http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=343 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:14:53 +0000 http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=343
You got your Facebook on? Check it out here:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/page...718?ref=nf

No Facebook? Check it out here instead:
http://www.theescapist.com/readrpgsinpublic/

Go out and read your RPGs in public!]]>
You got your Facebook on? Check it out here:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/page...718?ref=nf

No Facebook? Check it out here instead:
http://www.theescapist.com/readrpgsinpublic/

Go out and read your RPGs in public!]]> <![CDATA[So what's the status of creating things for old games?]]> http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=342 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:08:31 +0000 http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=342 can pretty much publish your own "AD&D" stuff (for profit), there's a world of difference between that and, say, T&T or Twlight:2000 or Warhammer FRP (1e or well, I guess 2e is now OOP as well).

If you published your own 'zine and wanted to ask for a couple of bucks an issue would you face the long arm of litigation if you put in your own Traveller adventure? I mean, I'm no attorney but under copyright, "cannot produce in whole or in part without express written permission" seems to govern that pretty much.

Anyone with experience or knowledge wanna weigh in?

Also: remember, the OGL is outside the scope of the question. I have a pretty good idea what I can and cannot do with that.]]> can pretty much publish your own "AD&D" stuff (for profit), there's a world of difference between that and, say, T&T or Twlight:2000 or Warhammer FRP (1e or well, I guess 2e is now OOP as well).

If you published your own 'zine and wanted to ask for a couple of bucks an issue would you face the long arm of litigation if you put in your own Traveller adventure? I mean, I'm no attorney but under copyright, "cannot produce in whole or in part without express written permission" seems to govern that pretty much.

Anyone with experience or knowledge wanna weigh in?

Also: remember, the OGL is outside the scope of the question. I have a pretty good idea what I can and cannot do with that.]]> <![CDATA[this This THIS IS WHAT'S WRONG WITH FOURTH EDITION, GODDAMNIT]]> http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=341 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 04:50:23 +0000 http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=341 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j6gn3JhAYU#t=3m52s

GO.

WATCH.

All you need is three seconds of video. Three seconds in, one player picks up a miniature and counts off the squares he moves. In THIS thread, people are talking about "action" versus "minor action" versus whatever the hell, the thread breaks down because emos cry about goths and oh god I need a drink.

If combat isn't going on (AND IT WASN'T!) why in the nine hells does THAT CRAP MATTER?!?!

"I walk over to the door and check it - is it trapped?"

This...this requires movement points now?! You have to have a "number of moves" to do things like that when you're not in combat?

Oh god jesus mary and joseph if this is what D&D has become (AND IT HAS!) then, no, no, no, no NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO you do not get to tell me that it's the same D&D, that I'm some old fuddy duddy or mean old grognard or whatever.

BECAUSE IT ISN'T. THAT, GRIDLEY, IS A BOARD-GAME. GET IT? B-O-A-R-D-G-A-M-E. LIKE MONOPOLY, LIKE DUNGEON, LIKE TALISMAN. That's no RPG. Period. I could laugh myself sick thinking about the ripe sucks who've frog-jumped from edition to edition crying THIS ONE IS BETTER BECAUSE IT'S NEWER! well sugar tits, that ain't the truth.

No self-respecting D&D player can or would or should point at that D&D minis session and say "that's an RPG". That's a board game. I might even be generous and call it a "wargame". But it's one laminated card from being Warhammer Fantasy Role-Play 3rd Edition (with very serious apologies to Fantasy Flight).

/rant]]> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j6gn3JhAYU#t=3m52s

GO.

WATCH.

All you need is three seconds of video. Three seconds in, one player picks up a miniature and counts off the squares he moves. In THIS thread, people are talking about "action" versus "minor action" versus whatever the hell, the thread breaks down because emos cry about goths and oh god I need a drink.

If combat isn't going on (AND IT WASN'T!) why in the nine hells does THAT CRAP MATTER?!?!

"I walk over to the door and check it - is it trapped?"

This...this requires movement points now?! You have to have a "number of moves" to do things like that when you're not in combat?

Oh god jesus mary and joseph if this is what D&D has become (AND IT HAS!) then, no, no, no, no NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO you do not get to tell me that it's the same D&D, that I'm some old fuddy duddy or mean old grognard or whatever.

BECAUSE IT ISN'T. THAT, GRIDLEY, IS A BOARD-GAME. GET IT? B-O-A-R-D-G-A-M-E. LIKE MONOPOLY, LIKE DUNGEON, LIKE TALISMAN. That's no RPG. Period. I could laugh myself sick thinking about the ripe sucks who've frog-jumped from edition to edition crying THIS ONE IS BETTER BECAUSE IT'S NEWER! well sugar tits, that ain't the truth.

No self-respecting D&D player can or would or should point at that D&D minis session and say "that's an RPG". That's a board game. I might even be generous and call it a "wargame". But it's one laminated card from being Warhammer Fantasy Role-Play 3rd Edition (with very serious apologies to Fantasy Flight).

/rant]]> <![CDATA[They're lying....she's a Zombie!]]> http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=340 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:22:06 +0000 http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=340
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35462323/ns/...?gt1=43001]]>
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35462323/ns/...?gt1=43001]]> <![CDATA[Heroes is a documentary!!]]> http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=339 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:07:33 +0000 http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=339
[Image: RealLifeHeroes.png]]]>
[Image: RealLifeHeroes.png]]]> <![CDATA[Smuggling Ring]]> http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=338 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:21:11 +0000 http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=338 Bit of background info - the PCs live near the border of their kingdom (Tolar) and a rival to the south (Ethangar - inspired by the Mystaran Khanate). A set of hills/mountains - the Arrowdown Hills form a physical border between the kingdoms. The two kingdoms are not at war and cross border trade is allowed, but relations are frosty and they are not above the odd 'deniable' cross border skirmish.
The NPC Leahy is a merchant friend of the party, who trades between the two kingdoms.
Hellim is the predominant church of Tolar, but that is pretty much incidental to the adventure. One of the PCs is an ardent cleric, so I thought the mention of Hellim would encourage him to get involved!
The party is early expert level - 3rd - 5th.
The Iron Ring is a generic baddie slaving/smuggling org. from Karameikos and B10 Night's Dark Terror. The heirarchy is Master > Reaver > Hound.

Does it sound like it might be fun to play? It seems to work in my head...

Smuggling Ring
Leahy complains of cross-border smuggling and asks the party to eliminate the smuggling gang. He’s noticed cheap Tolarian brandy available in northern Ethangar which attracted his interest, plus a trader in the market is currently undercutting him on spice prices. He will ask the party to investigate, with two lures – the smuggling of the brandy is a offence to the church of Hellim, and he will buy any smuggled sacks of spice from the players for a good price.
The Iron Ring is behind the smuggling and won’t take kindly to interference. They are using a tribe of orcs as runners. Orc lair is in Arrowdown hills
Party will need to gain intelligence on the smugglers – base of operations, method of action, times of operation, members of gang.
Possible set-up
One base is set-up in the basement of a house on the edge of town in Ulcaster. This house is protected by Iron Ring hounds plus an ogre as extra muscle. The IR sells the smuggled goods to select spiv traders in the town market. The IR also employs the Orc tribe, who perform the cross-border smuggling runs. In Ethangar there is a similar base.
Smuggled goods out of Tolar:
Brandy made in Waterdeep by a holy order of Hellim – it attracts a heavy excise duty so it’s worth smuggling out.
Slaves – Iron Ring is a slaving org. as well as other things.
Smuggled in from Ethangar:
Spices – rare spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
Spiv Trader
Leahy can point out the spiv trader in the market. If approached directly, the trader will deny that his spices are smuggled and will refuse to answer any more questions.
If approached more subtly, the trader will offer to sell at much better prices ‘off market’. He will then arrange a meet in a secluded copse of trees, near the main store house.
If ‘Charmed’ the spiv will admit that he sells dodgy spices but will be reluctant to divulge the name of his Iron Ring contact or any other details but will say where the base of operations is located. Players should be careful in using ‘Charm Person’ openly in the market. Openly casting a spell on someone else is an offence!!
What the spiv knows
Spices are smuggled by Orcs under the instruction of the Iron Ring.
Iron Ring is not to be messed with.
Iron Ring house is on the south edge of town.
What the spiv doesn’t know
The timeline of a smuggling run
Where the Orc lair is
That the copse is linked to the Iron Ring house by a tunnel (he chose it by chance)
That brandy and slaves are smuggled out (but he has suspicions)
Base of Operations
This is a fairly standard house, but with an extended basement, including a tunnel that leads to a nearby copse of trees.
Entrance to the basement is hidden but can be found. The house is occupied by Iron Ring hounds and one Reaver. In the basement is the store of smuggled goods, guarded by an ogre, with his pet dire wolf. Also in the basement are cells used to keep slaves prior to transport out.
The tunnel leading to the copse is well used and has torches in brackets that can be lit. The entrance in the copse is well hidden, but can be found following a search.
If one of the Hounds or the Reaver is Charmed then they will confide that a smuggling run is due soon – an Orc will arrive tomorrow to discuss the final plans, then the smuggling party will arrive two days later.
Possible risk
Iron Ring become aware that one of their number is Charmed by the party and suspect something is up.
Options
The party order the charmed IR to behave as normal and say nothing of their meeting – risky
The IR continue as normal but set a trap for the party
Orc Tribe
The Orcs manage the cross-border runs on the nights of the month when there’s a full moon. Moonlight, combined with their infravision gives them near perfect vision.
The tribe is based in the Arrowdown hills and 4 days prior to a full moon, a messenger travels to the base of ops to arrange the next trip.
2 days later, a group of 10 orcs, accompanied by 10 boars will arrive at the copse to load up with gear. The following night, the smuggling run will cross the border to Ethangar.
At the same time, a reciprocal trip is running from Ethangar to Tolar.
The tribe lair is located in the Arrowdown hills and is quite an extensive network. The tribe consists of 40 orcs, 2 ogres and a herd of 30 wild boars. The tribe is amassing a fair horde of treasure through their work for the Iron Ring.
The lair includes a small underground lake, and is protected by simple traps at the entrance to slow down attackers.


Potential timeline

• PCs investigate/interrogate trader
• PCs investigate Iron Ring house, uncover evidence of upcoming smuggling run.
• Orc ambassador shows up to arrange details
• Orc smuggling party arrives to load up
• Smuggling party marches back to Orc lair
• Smuggling party leaves Orc lair for Ethangar
• Other Orc party (from Ethangar) arrives at lair
• Other Orc party marches to Iron Ring house to unload and receive payment

Need to consider Iron Ring reaction if they begin to suspect that their plans are under threat.
• Cancel smuggling run
• Set up some sort of trap for the party
• Ride out to Orc lair to ‘rescue’ the shipment
• Gather reinforcements]]> Bit of background info - the PCs live near the border of their kingdom (Tolar) and a rival to the south (Ethangar - inspired by the Mystaran Khanate). A set of hills/mountains - the Arrowdown Hills form a physical border between the kingdoms. The two kingdoms are not at war and cross border trade is allowed, but relations are frosty and they are not above the odd 'deniable' cross border skirmish.
The NPC Leahy is a merchant friend of the party, who trades between the two kingdoms.
Hellim is the predominant church of Tolar, but that is pretty much incidental to the adventure. One of the PCs is an ardent cleric, so I thought the mention of Hellim would encourage him to get involved!
The party is early expert level - 3rd - 5th.
The Iron Ring is a generic baddie slaving/smuggling org. from Karameikos and B10 Night's Dark Terror. The heirarchy is Master > Reaver > Hound.

Does it sound like it might be fun to play? It seems to work in my head...

Smuggling Ring
Leahy complains of cross-border smuggling and asks the party to eliminate the smuggling gang. He’s noticed cheap Tolarian brandy available in northern Ethangar which attracted his interest, plus a trader in the market is currently undercutting him on spice prices. He will ask the party to investigate, with two lures – the smuggling of the brandy is a offence to the church of Hellim, and he will buy any smuggled sacks of spice from the players for a good price.
The Iron Ring is behind the smuggling and won’t take kindly to interference. They are using a tribe of orcs as runners. Orc lair is in Arrowdown hills
Party will need to gain intelligence on the smugglers – base of operations, method of action, times of operation, members of gang.
Possible set-up
One base is set-up in the basement of a house on the edge of town in Ulcaster. This house is protected by Iron Ring hounds plus an ogre as extra muscle. The IR sells the smuggled goods to select spiv traders in the town market. The IR also employs the Orc tribe, who perform the cross-border smuggling runs. In Ethangar there is a similar base.
Smuggled goods out of Tolar:
Brandy made in Waterdeep by a holy order of Hellim – it attracts a heavy excise duty so it’s worth smuggling out.
Slaves – Iron Ring is a slaving org. as well as other things.
Smuggled in from Ethangar:
Spices – rare spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
Spiv Trader
Leahy can point out the spiv trader in the market. If approached directly, the trader will deny that his spices are smuggled and will refuse to answer any more questions.
If approached more subtly, the trader will offer to sell at much better prices ‘off market’. He will then arrange a meet in a secluded copse of trees, near the main store house.
If ‘Charmed’ the spiv will admit that he sells dodgy spices but will be reluctant to divulge the name of his Iron Ring contact or any other details but will say where the base of operations is located. Players should be careful in using ‘Charm Person’ openly in the market. Openly casting a spell on someone else is an offence!!
What the spiv knows
Spices are smuggled by Orcs under the instruction of the Iron Ring.
Iron Ring is not to be messed with.
Iron Ring house is on the south edge of town.
What the spiv doesn’t know
The timeline of a smuggling run
Where the Orc lair is
That the copse is linked to the Iron Ring house by a tunnel (he chose it by chance)
That brandy and slaves are smuggled out (but he has suspicions)
Base of Operations
This is a fairly standard house, but with an extended basement, including a tunnel that leads to a nearby copse of trees.
Entrance to the basement is hidden but can be found. The house is occupied by Iron Ring hounds and one Reaver. In the basement is the store of smuggled goods, guarded by an ogre, with his pet dire wolf. Also in the basement are cells used to keep slaves prior to transport out.
The tunnel leading to the copse is well used and has torches in brackets that can be lit. The entrance in the copse is well hidden, but can be found following a search.
If one of the Hounds or the Reaver is Charmed then they will confide that a smuggling run is due soon – an Orc will arrive tomorrow to discuss the final plans, then the smuggling party will arrive two days later.
Possible risk
Iron Ring become aware that one of their number is Charmed by the party and suspect something is up.
Options
The party order the charmed IR to behave as normal and say nothing of their meeting – risky
The IR continue as normal but set a trap for the party
Orc Tribe
The Orcs manage the cross-border runs on the nights of the month when there’s a full moon. Moonlight, combined with their infravision gives them near perfect vision.
The tribe is based in the Arrowdown hills and 4 days prior to a full moon, a messenger travels to the base of ops to arrange the next trip.
2 days later, a group of 10 orcs, accompanied by 10 boars will arrive at the copse to load up with gear. The following night, the smuggling run will cross the border to Ethangar.
At the same time, a reciprocal trip is running from Ethangar to Tolar.
The tribe lair is located in the Arrowdown hills and is quite an extensive network. The tribe consists of 40 orcs, 2 ogres and a herd of 30 wild boars. The tribe is amassing a fair horde of treasure through their work for the Iron Ring.
The lair includes a small underground lake, and is protected by simple traps at the entrance to slow down attackers.


Potential timeline

• PCs investigate/interrogate trader
• PCs investigate Iron Ring house, uncover evidence of upcoming smuggling run.
• Orc ambassador shows up to arrange details
• Orc smuggling party arrives to load up
• Smuggling party marches back to Orc lair
• Smuggling party leaves Orc lair for Ethangar
• Other Orc party (from Ethangar) arrives at lair
• Other Orc party marches to Iron Ring house to unload and receive payment

Need to consider Iron Ring reaction if they begin to suspect that their plans are under threat.
• Cancel smuggling run
• Set up some sort of trap for the party
• Ride out to Orc lair to ‘rescue’ the shipment
• Gather reinforcements]]> <![CDATA[Ratcheting back the hit points]]> http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=337 Sat, 23 Jan 2010 07:11:35 +0000 http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=337
E6 is promoted as the game within D&D, which got me to thinking, what about pushing things back even one more step? Instead of waiting to max out hit points at 6th level, just pile them up right away at first level. Everything else stays the same, however. Two methods for that, max hit points plus Con, or roll six hit dice plus Con for variety. Perhaps some combination would also work, adding a random roll to a static amount based on their class. Either of fifth or sixth level seems like it would work pretty well. For the combo static/roll, sixth level would be easiest for dividing the two, but in either of the first two cases, fifth or sixth would work depending on the type of campaign.

For later editions, adding a NWP or feat to grab a few extra hit points shouldn't terribly unbalance things, but in AD&D, it would be a bit trickier. Perhaps give the static hit points awarded after name level or something similar for a an XP cost. I prefer the idea of using resources to get them over just providing them at a certain level, however. That leaves the decision of adding the points up to the players.

Without trying it yet, it seems like it would provide a feel of brash youth, convinced of their invulnerability (to quote Geddy Lee, "...we're only immortal, for a limited time."); as they progress in level/age, they would necessarily become more cautious as the opponents catch up with and eventually surpass their durability, requiring the players to plan attacks rather than barrel in, swords drawn, for every conflict. This effect could be even more pronounced by limiting hit points to third level, but that would almost certainly require the opportunity to get more at later levels.

Bare-bones idea so far, needs a good deal of fleshing out. Anyone try anything similar in a game? If so, how did it work?]]>
E6 is promoted as the game within D&D, which got me to thinking, what about pushing things back even one more step? Instead of waiting to max out hit points at 6th level, just pile them up right away at first level. Everything else stays the same, however. Two methods for that, max hit points plus Con, or roll six hit dice plus Con for variety. Perhaps some combination would also work, adding a random roll to a static amount based on their class. Either of fifth or sixth level seems like it would work pretty well. For the combo static/roll, sixth level would be easiest for dividing the two, but in either of the first two cases, fifth or sixth would work depending on the type of campaign.

For later editions, adding a NWP or feat to grab a few extra hit points shouldn't terribly unbalance things, but in AD&D, it would be a bit trickier. Perhaps give the static hit points awarded after name level or something similar for a an XP cost. I prefer the idea of using resources to get them over just providing them at a certain level, however. That leaves the decision of adding the points up to the players.

Without trying it yet, it seems like it would provide a feel of brash youth, convinced of their invulnerability (to quote Geddy Lee, "...we're only immortal, for a limited time."); as they progress in level/age, they would necessarily become more cautious as the opponents catch up with and eventually surpass their durability, requiring the players to plan attacks rather than barrel in, swords drawn, for every conflict. This effect could be even more pronounced by limiting hit points to third level, but that would almost certainly require the opportunity to get more at later levels.

Bare-bones idea so far, needs a good deal of fleshing out. Anyone try anything similar in a game? If so, how did it work?]]> <![CDATA[Latest Version!]]> http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=336 Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:35:53 +0000 http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=336 <![CDATA[What I learnt about Mythic Greece playing RQ III]]> http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=334 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:01:10 +0000 http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=334
These days we keep playing (a bit randomly due to RL conflicts) our Mythic Greece campaign of RQ III, The Gates of Karshit. I've heard many times that RQ has a Bronze Age feeling, but over the years most of my experience with the game has been playing Vikings or in my homebrew setting (not very Bronze Age, I think). So, this campaign was specially good to put that idea to the test.

To add a bit more background, I love mythology, specially Classic myths. For this campaign I reread the Illiad and Odissey, the Enneid (sp?) and of all things, the Illion saga by Dan Simmons (which is a really well documented work).

Finally: we played RQ III without any magic available to Christian PCs. The pagan PCs got 1/3 of the usually available magic, unless they were priests or shamans. Sorcerers worked as usual. Divine Intervention worked as usual, pending some sacrifice for Classic gods. Anyway, magic was not a problem, as all my players wanted warrior - type PCs.

Soon, a short recap on the AP and how it went.]]>
These days we keep playing (a bit randomly due to RL conflicts) our Mythic Greece campaign of RQ III, The Gates of Karshit. I've heard many times that RQ has a Bronze Age feeling, but over the years most of my experience with the game has been playing Vikings or in my homebrew setting (not very Bronze Age, I think). So, this campaign was specially good to put that idea to the test.

To add a bit more background, I love mythology, specially Classic myths. For this campaign I reread the Illiad and Odissey, the Enneid (sp?) and of all things, the Illion saga by Dan Simmons (which is a really well documented work).

Finally: we played RQ III without any magic available to Christian PCs. The pagan PCs got 1/3 of the usually available magic, unless they were priests or shamans. Sorcerers worked as usual. Divine Intervention worked as usual, pending some sacrifice for Classic gods. Anyway, magic was not a problem, as all my players wanted warrior - type PCs.

Soon, a short recap on the AP and how it went.]]> <![CDATA[Happy Holiday!]]> http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=335 Fri, 25 Dec 2009 06:10:13 +0000 http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=335

I hope they are happy and safe for you all.]]>

I hope they are happy and safe for you all.]]> <![CDATA[Now you've done it.]]> http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=333 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:08:17 +0000 http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=333
HA HA HA HA! AH HA HA HA HA!]]>
HA HA HA HA! AH HA HA HA HA!]]> <![CDATA[Guildschool]]> http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=332 Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:02:27 +0000 http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=332
I'm finishing a few other things, but I'll start with a tidbit from the game wiki. Don't know if it will be interesting amidst all the rest, but I'll try to put up some meatier stuff later.

In Amerer’s name, let us take the day in shade
And tell bloody tales of the ruler’s ends:
How some have been depos'd, destroy’d in war,
Haunted by those they did to first,

Some poison'd by their wives, or the words of lovers;
Yet dead all the same: There is no crown so blessed
Nor palace of the strong so fair, so mild
As to keep Orcus from his court.

Kopobianco, Skald of the Silver’d Note, Father of Amerer's Choice.
In the reign of Paly the Maligned.



The Celtrician Primer





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The three purposes for Celtricia...

Celtricia is a 25 year old RPG setting, created expressly for size and depth.
Celtricia is the working setting for the BIP/Guildschool RPG rules.
Celtricia is the home setting for 4 RPG groups: the Mistonians; the Igbarians; The Ocodigians; and the Tanians

--------------------------------------------------------------------

The Feel of Celtricia


Imagine living on a continent that was so big no one you had ever met knew the size of it, with huge open spaces between settements. Imagine struggling in an existence where civilized folks crowd together for safety, where tribes of humanoids range around the wildlands between cities, where ferocious predators stalk herds of giant herbivores, and where the night is often terrorized by walking dead searching out the unprotected living.

At the same time, this is no feudal world. Temples heal the sick as often as not, and magic replaces the need for some technology, and this magic, while not overly powerful, is present enough to allow time for philosophy and politcs.

The last impression that Celtricia should give is the weight of ancient civilizations over everyone. The most indifferent farmer has heard legends from the past referenced while at temple, and has passed ruins or seen ancient buildings in a town, while scholars pour over the incomplete and patchwork written works of over eight thousand years of recorded history.



The Setting Overview

Celtricia is a large world, created for size and depth. The world was has room to spare so that it can fit a multitude of cultures and clashing ideologies. The general feeling of most of the setting is one of open space and resources still abundantly available, but also one of danger in the wild areas. There is also a major theme of layered histories, with cultures going back over ten thousand years. Open areas that current inhabitants may look on as open space can hide the ruins of major ancient cities, and every child's tale has roots in the tragedies of elder days.



The world itself is almost two and a half times the square mileage of earth, and is a satellite orbiting the binary start system of Tribin and Gerin (so named by the Omwo~ people). Neither Tribin or Gerin is as hot as Sol (Earth's sun), but together they produce slightly more heat. Gerin is a smaller, cooler orange/red star, and orbits the larger Tribin in the same period in which the Celtrician planet rotates upon its axis. Because of these unique solar and planetary mechanics, the Celtrician day dawns red, when only Gerin's lesser and reddish light illumines the planet's surface. As the Celtrician planet rotates through its day, Gerin revolves around Tribin, producing a distinctly reddish light again as evening approaches. In the final 10 days of the Omwo~ month (see calendars), Gerin appears in front of Tribin throughout the day, during which time Gerin is referred to as "the red eye of Tribin." On the lithe day between the Omwo~ months, Gerin is eclipsed by Tribin and the day has a more yellow dawn and evening. The Celtrician planet also has two satellites of its own, and therefore two lunar cycles.



As mentioned, Celtricia is over two and a half times the size of our Earth, with 4 major continental groups. The history of this world (known to the Westic populace as the Tale of Years) is well over ten thousand years old, though the players have only found choice little bits of this. The History is divided into the Age of Legends, the Age of Heroes, and the Age of Statehood. Some will say that the Age of Statehood is coming to an end, and that Celtricia is transitioning into the "Age of Culture," but the people who use the Reckoning of Nebler (RON) to mark the date often just call the current period since the time of the founding of the Theocracy of Nebler "The Common Age."



Celtricia is a 'diverse setting', as opposed to a 'concept setting' or 'thematic setting,' in that the scope of the world and history has been created in such a way as to allow for multiple campaign themes. Even though there is one great history and creation mythos, there are multiple overarching 'adventure themes', such as: the search for the lost god Amerer; and also for the broken god of lost causes, Pablar; the rediscovery of the Magic of the Shade; the release of the Dreadwing; and Y'gorl's Curse.

With all of those deep and fantastic storylines, it is vital to grasp that the Celtrician setting is a world where the presence and necessity of magic has slowed the growth of technology to a crawl. The curious and intellectually superior explore the laws of magic, instead of science, and have dicovered ways to bend physics to their wills. Artificers are paid to create a town clock that can be seen on top of a temple, Earth and Animist mages create the Marcher cow breed that produces an average 8 gallons of milk a day, and Fire and Air mages dominate a battleground... of what use is science here? Ships are never becalmed and are pushed along the water by Air magic, and major cities can communicate instantly through guilds that specialize in mentalist magic. Through the ability to channel power and structure it from the eleven sources, daily jobs are made easier, and even miracles can happen.

The 'necessity of magic' comes from a major component of the Celtrician experience, that of the Migration of the Spirit. The ancient name for Celricia is the 'Waking Dream', and it is considered the space between life and death. In broad terms, The Celestial Planars let loose spirit energy into the Well of Life, and this is what inhabits every new birth. Continuing this journey after death, the souls migrate to the Well of Death, where their merits are judged before they are free to continue through the Well of Death and reabsorbed by a Planar. However, the key here is that the journey from death is long and difficult, taking decades or centuries, asuming the spirit is free to leave the 'Waking Dream' at all. Necromantic magics can greatly aid the spirit in freeing itself and travelling through the void, and can also protect it from other forces. These are called Shriving Necromancies, and while strange and difficult, such practitioners are seeen as beneficial. Necromacy is also, however, the vehicle for snaring and enslaving spirits, or for those who are not ready to leave Celtricia. Those who face death in Celtricia may fear it, but more, they fear dying alone, unshriven, their spirit tied to the 'Waking Dream' and an eventual puppet of some unscrupulous Necromancer.











To call Celtricia merely a 'medieval setting' would be inelegant. The Countries of Trabler and the Bright Lands might be best compared to the Dutch Republic as it moved towards its zenith, with the strong local governments and the plutocratic emphasis. Gunpowder has not been created due to the availability of magic. This availability eventually created a fairly modern approach to trade, fully backed by insurance, speculation, guilds and even corporations recently. The Grey March may feature the public wearing of togas, but their enlightened republic, complete with seperate powers of elected Consuls and the Courts of Reason and freedom of religion and emphasis on the rights and responsibilites of the individual, has nothing to do with medieval Europe. So while technology as we view it on Earth is little advanced in Celtricia, magic has advanced far enough that culture, philosophy, communication, monetary policy and political science would be more analogous to our later Age of Enlightenment.



An outsider may see the setting as the 'World of Factions.' Tybalt the Unquenchable from the Campaign Builder's Guild mentioned that the rules have begotten a setting rife with interwoven guilds, churches, secret organizations, and political entities. The short list of what can be considered 'Sacred' would be God, Guild, and Country in that order. Many of these guilds and organizations are older than countries and at least as powerful. Churches and religious groups are often very ancient, and the Collegium Arcana is older, more wealthy and better placed than any mere state.



It could be said that the 'factionalism,' and incredible diversity of the politcal, religious, martial, economic, and political entities is what makes Celtricia so vibrant. One should not, however, get the impression that Celtricia is affected by urban sprawl. Days and weeks of travel can be done without passing a hint of civilization in every country. The tribal humanoids and wild creatures generally have no shortage of empty, wide-open areas... places where strong creatures have no law but their own.



There are racial issues alive in Celtricia as well. Small Hobyts and the strong Orcash are the most numerous races in Celtricia, followed by the three original clans of the Humans, the ancient Omwo~ (Elven), the Klaxik (Dwarven), the Gnomic, and the Gartier. These races comprise the primary inhabitants of Celtricia that are within the civilized world. Understand, however, that it is considered an effect of culture to be able to integrate and work with other races, especially in the North-West Cradle areas where Orcash live side-by-side with Omwo~. Barabarians are tribal, integrated cultures are civilized. So in hyper-integrated cultures, race is considered much less of a divider than Guild or Country, however you will find many areas that hold to their own.



But this very disintegration of racial identity is another dynamic that needs attention. The Omwo~, the firstborn servants of the Planars, are a race in remmision. Many ancient writings point to the advent of humans as a replacement for the Omwo~. The Stunatu, the Klaxiks, Gnomics, and Hobyts, were created to be workers, servants of others, back in the Age of Legends. In the last five centuries, the humans, who were created to replace the Omwo~ as the stewards of the 'Waking Dream' in most older religious texts, have watched the Hobyts outpace and supplant them with a cheeful, hard-working smile. And overshadowing that, the even more recent inclusion of many of the the Ogrillite races, the servants and tools created to defend the Cairnhold in the Age of Legends, and the bloody-handed soldiers of Arbor and the Dreadwing throughout the Age of Heroes and the early Age of Statehood, into the sunlit streets, shops, and even governments of today's Celtricia.





Despite the social and intellectual progress, Celtricia is still a world of violence and gritty conflict. Life can be very cheap in the under-town of Stenron or the dockside of Igbar, especially for those unfamiliar with the local customs. The wilderness areas that stretch for unbroken miles between settled areas are even more dangerous, with tribal humanoids and wild beasts protecting their own territories. But even more dangerous are the areas left by ancient civilizations to protect their secrets. There is mud in the alley ways of Igbar, and under the bright, dappled domes on the street of the gods in fabled Stenron, there are huge sewers, which bespeaks an often unfortunate realism. Violence and death are daily realities in for the inhabitants of this world.



Celtricia is a world in motion. Some people seek to rediscover the artifacts and secrets of the Age of Legends, when the world was young. At the same time, others are forging forward with clumsy and powerful movements, as nations clash and ideologies contest.]]>
I'm finishing a few other things, but I'll start with a tidbit from the game wiki. Don't know if it will be interesting amidst all the rest, but I'll try to put up some meatier stuff later.

In Amerer’s name, let us take the day in shade
And tell bloody tales of the ruler’s ends:
How some have been depos'd, destroy’d in war,
Haunted by those they did to first,

Some poison'd by their wives, or the words of lovers;
Yet dead all the same: There is no crown so blessed
Nor palace of the strong so fair, so mild
As to keep Orcus from his court.

Kopobianco, Skald of the Silver’d Note, Father of Amerer's Choice.
In the reign of Paly the Maligned.



The Celtrician Primer





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The three purposes for Celtricia...

Celtricia is a 25 year old RPG setting, created expressly for size and depth.
Celtricia is the working setting for the BIP/Guildschool RPG rules.
Celtricia is the home setting for 4 RPG groups: the Mistonians; the Igbarians; The Ocodigians; and the Tanians

--------------------------------------------------------------------

The Feel of Celtricia


Imagine living on a continent that was so big no one you had ever met knew the size of it, with huge open spaces between settements. Imagine struggling in an existence where civilized folks crowd together for safety, where tribes of humanoids range around the wildlands between cities, where ferocious predators stalk herds of giant herbivores, and where the night is often terrorized by walking dead searching out the unprotected living.

At the same time, this is no feudal world. Temples heal the sick as often as not, and magic replaces the need for some technology, and this magic, while not overly powerful, is present enough to allow time for philosophy and politcs.

The last impression that Celtricia should give is the weight of ancient civilizations over everyone. The most indifferent farmer has heard legends from the past referenced while at temple, and has passed ruins or seen ancient buildings in a town, while scholars pour over the incomplete and patchwork written works of over eight thousand years of recorded history.



The Setting Overview

Celtricia is a large world, created for size and depth. The world was has room to spare so that it can fit a multitude of cultures and clashing ideologies. The general feeling of most of the setting is one of open space and resources still abundantly available, but also one of danger in the wild areas. There is also a major theme of layered histories, with cultures going back over ten thousand years. Open areas that current inhabitants may look on as open space can hide the ruins of major ancient cities, and every child's tale has roots in the tragedies of elder days.



The world itself is almost two and a half times the square mileage of earth, and is a satellite orbiting the binary start system of Tribin and Gerin (so named by the Omwo~ people). Neither Tribin or Gerin is as hot as Sol (Earth's sun), but together they produce slightly more heat. Gerin is a smaller, cooler orange/red star, and orbits the larger Tribin in the same period in which the Celtrician planet rotates upon its axis. Because of these unique solar and planetary mechanics, the Celtrician day dawns red, when only Gerin's lesser and reddish light illumines the planet's surface. As the Celtrician planet rotates through its day, Gerin revolves around Tribin, producing a distinctly reddish light again as evening approaches. In the final 10 days of the Omwo~ month (see calendars), Gerin appears in front of Tribin throughout the day, during which time Gerin is referred to as "the red eye of Tribin." On the lithe day between the Omwo~ months, Gerin is eclipsed by Tribin and the day has a more yellow dawn and evening. The Celtrician planet also has two satellites of its own, and therefore two lunar cycles.



As mentioned, Celtricia is over two and a half times the size of our Earth, with 4 major continental groups. The history of this world (known to the Westic populace as the Tale of Years) is well over ten thousand years old, though the players have only found choice little bits of this. The History is divided into the Age of Legends, the Age of Heroes, and the Age of Statehood. Some will say that the Age of Statehood is coming to an end, and that Celtricia is transitioning into the "Age of Culture," but the people who use the Reckoning of Nebler (RON) to mark the date often just call the current period since the time of the founding of the Theocracy of Nebler "The Common Age."



Celtricia is a 'diverse setting', as opposed to a 'concept setting' or 'thematic setting,' in that the scope of the world and history has been created in such a way as to allow for multiple campaign themes. Even though there is one great history and creation mythos, there are multiple overarching 'adventure themes', such as: the search for the lost god Amerer; and also for the broken god of lost causes, Pablar; the rediscovery of the Magic of the Shade; the release of the Dreadwing; and Y'gorl's Curse.

With all of those deep and fantastic storylines, it is vital to grasp that the Celtrician setting is a world where the presence and necessity of magic has slowed the growth of technology to a crawl. The curious and intellectually superior explore the laws of magic, instead of science, and have dicovered ways to bend physics to their wills. Artificers are paid to create a town clock that can be seen on top of a temple, Earth and Animist mages create the Marcher cow breed that produces an average 8 gallons of milk a day, and Fire and Air mages dominate a battleground... of what use is science here? Ships are never becalmed and are pushed along the water by Air magic, and major cities can communicate instantly through guilds that specialize in mentalist magic. Through the ability to channel power and structure it from the eleven sources, daily jobs are made easier, and even miracles can happen.

The 'necessity of magic' comes from a major component of the Celtrician experience, that of the Migration of the Spirit. The ancient name for Celricia is the 'Waking Dream', and it is considered the space between life and death. In broad terms, The Celestial Planars let loose spirit energy into the Well of Life, and this is what inhabits every new birth. Continuing this journey after death, the souls migrate to the Well of Death, where their merits are judged before they are free to continue through the Well of Death and reabsorbed by a Planar. However, the key here is that the journey from death is long and difficult, taking decades or centuries, asuming the spirit is free to leave the 'Waking Dream' at all. Necromantic magics can greatly aid the spirit in freeing itself and travelling through the void, and can also protect it from other forces. These are called Shriving Necromancies, and while strange and difficult, such practitioners are seeen as beneficial. Necromacy is also, however, the vehicle for snaring and enslaving spirits, or for those who are not ready to leave Celtricia. Those who face death in Celtricia may fear it, but more, they fear dying alone, unshriven, their spirit tied to the 'Waking Dream' and an eventual puppet of some unscrupulous Necromancer.











To call Celtricia merely a 'medieval setting' would be inelegant. The Countries of Trabler and the Bright Lands might be best compared to the Dutch Republic as it moved towards its zenith, with the strong local governments and the plutocratic emphasis. Gunpowder has not been created due to the availability of magic. This availability eventually created a fairly modern approach to trade, fully backed by insurance, speculation, guilds and even corporations recently. The Grey March may feature the public wearing of togas, but their enlightened republic, complete with seperate powers of elected Consuls and the Courts of Reason and freedom of religion and emphasis on the rights and responsibilites of the individual, has nothing to do with medieval Europe. So while technology as we view it on Earth is little advanced in Celtricia, magic has advanced far enough that culture, philosophy, communication, monetary policy and political science would be more analogous to our later Age of Enlightenment.



An outsider may see the setting as the 'World of Factions.' Tybalt the Unquenchable from the Campaign Builder's Guild mentioned that the rules have begotten a setting rife with interwoven guilds, churches, secret organizations, and political entities. The short list of what can be considered 'Sacred' would be God, Guild, and Country in that order. Many of these guilds and organizations are older than countries and at least as powerful. Churches and religious groups are often very ancient, and the Collegium Arcana is older, more wealthy and better placed than any mere state.



It could be said that the 'factionalism,' and incredible diversity of the politcal, religious, martial, economic, and political entities is what makes Celtricia so vibrant. One should not, however, get the impression that Celtricia is affected by urban sprawl. Days and weeks of travel can be done without passing a hint of civilization in every country. The tribal humanoids and wild creatures generally have no shortage of empty, wide-open areas... places where strong creatures have no law but their own.



There are racial issues alive in Celtricia as well. Small Hobyts and the strong Orcash are the most numerous races in Celtricia, followed by the three original clans of the Humans, the ancient Omwo~ (Elven), the Klaxik (Dwarven), the Gnomic, and the Gartier. These races comprise the primary inhabitants of Celtricia that are within the civilized world. Understand, however, that it is considered an effect of culture to be able to integrate and work with other races, especially in the North-West Cradle areas where Orcash live side-by-side with Omwo~. Barabarians are tribal, integrated cultures are civilized. So in hyper-integrated cultures, race is considered much less of a divider than Guild or Country, however you will find many areas that hold to their own.



But this very disintegration of racial identity is another dynamic that needs attention. The Omwo~, the firstborn servants of the Planars, are a race in remmision. Many ancient writings point to the advent of humans as a replacement for the Omwo~. The Stunatu, the Klaxiks, Gnomics, and Hobyts, were created to be workers, servants of others, back in the Age of Legends. In the last five centuries, the humans, who were created to replace the Omwo~ as the stewards of the 'Waking Dream' in most older religious texts, have watched the Hobyts outpace and supplant them with a cheeful, hard-working smile. And overshadowing that, the even more recent inclusion of many of the the Ogrillite races, the servants and tools created to defend the Cairnhold in the Age of Legends, and the bloody-handed soldiers of Arbor and the Dreadwing throughout the Age of Heroes and the early Age of Statehood, into the sunlit streets, shops, and even governments of today's Celtricia.





Despite the social and intellectual progress, Celtricia is still a world of violence and gritty conflict. Life can be very cheap in the under-town of Stenron or the dockside of Igbar, especially for those unfamiliar with the local customs. The wilderness areas that stretch for unbroken miles between settled areas are even more dangerous, with tribal humanoids and wild beasts protecting their own territories. But even more dangerous are the areas left by ancient civilizations to protect their secrets. There is mud in the alley ways of Igbar, and under the bright, dappled domes on the street of the gods in fabled Stenron, there are huge sewers, which bespeaks an often unfortunate realism. Violence and death are daily realities in for the inhabitants of this world.



Celtricia is a world in motion. Some people seek to rediscover the artifacts and secrets of the Age of Legends, when the world was young. At the same time, others are forging forward with clumsy and powerful movements, as nations clash and ideologies contest.]]> <![CDATA[Advertising?]]> http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=331 Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:03:24 +0000 http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=331
I'd like more going on..Big Grin]]>
I'd like more going on..Big Grin]]> <![CDATA[Sorted out, hopefully]]> http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=330 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:43:09 +0000 http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=330
Keep up the good work, folks!]]>
Keep up the good work, folks!]]> <![CDATA[Smoking public place ban]]> http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=329 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:56:02 +0000 http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=329 Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has welcomed the Supreme Court order declining to stay the Centre’s notification prohibiting smoking. He described the ban as a major step towards providing a smoke-free atmosphere and protecting non-smokers from passive smoking.He said he had personally written to Governors, Chief Ministers, Health Ministers and Members of Parliament to ensure effective implementation of the ban.]]> Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has welcomed the Supreme Court order declining to stay the Centre’s notification prohibiting smoking. He described the ban as a major step towards providing a smoke-free atmosphere and protecting non-smokers from passive smoking.He said he had personally written to Governors, Chief Ministers, Health Ministers and Members of Parliament to ensure effective implementation of the ban.]]> <![CDATA[Master List of tools]]> http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=328 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 07:28:20 +0000 http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=328
aware of please let me know and I can add them to the list.

Online Testing

Free Services
WebPagetest - IE 7 and 8 from Dulles, VA
WebPagetest NZ - IE 7 from Wellington New Zealand
KITE (Keynote) - IE 7 from 5 cities across the globe
Pingdom full page test - Simulated Browser

Subscription Services
Keynote
Gomez
Webmetrics

Desktop Software
Pagetest - Free, IE Only, Windows
YSlow - Free, Firefox (IE Soon), All platforms
Google Page Speed - Free, Firefox, All Platforms
MySpace Performance Tracker - Free, IE Only, Windows
IBM Page Detailer - Free, Windows, All Browsers
KITE - Keynote's desktop testing utility. Free, Windows, IE only
HTTPWatch - Commercial, Free Trial. Windows, all browsers]]>
aware of please let me know and I can add them to the list.

Online Testing

Free Services
WebPagetest - IE 7 and 8 from Dulles, VA
WebPagetest NZ - IE 7 from Wellington New Zealand
KITE (Keynote) - IE 7 from 5 cities across the globe
Pingdom full page test - Simulated Browser

Subscription Services
Keynote
Gomez
Webmetrics

Desktop Software
Pagetest - Free, IE Only, Windows
YSlow - Free, Firefox (IE Soon), All platforms
Google Page Speed - Free, Firefox, All Platforms
MySpace Performance Tracker - Free, IE Only, Windows
IBM Page Detailer - Free, Windows, All Browsers
KITE - Keynote's desktop testing utility. Free, Windows, IE only
HTTPWatch - Commercial, Free Trial. Windows, all browsers]]> <![CDATA[Favorite Game]]> http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=327 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:50:18 +0000 http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=327
1. DOOM III
2. Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided
3. Unreal Tournament 2003
4. SimCity 4
5. Roller Coaster Tycoon 2
6. Unreal II
7. Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
8. World of Warcraft
9. Age of Mythology
10. Command & Conquer Generals]]>
1. DOOM III
2. Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided
3. Unreal Tournament 2003
4. SimCity 4
5. Roller Coaster Tycoon 2
6. Unreal II
7. Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
8. World of Warcraft
9. Age of Mythology
10. Command & Conquer Generals]]> <![CDATA[Hello Everyone need help]]> http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=326 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:55:55 +0000 http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=326 My name is William Parkar and I like creativity very much. I like to create
pictures from existing pictures , mix up of songs and like to create own game.
I am searching some suggestions and tips in creating game. Anybody know
about this or having experience please help me.]]> My name is William Parkar and I like creativity very much. I like to create
pictures from existing pictures , mix up of songs and like to create own game.
I am searching some suggestions and tips in creating game. Anybody know
about this or having experience please help me.]]> <![CDATA[It is amazing]]> http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=325 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:39:36 +0000 http://www.citadelofchaos.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=325 My name is William Parkar and I like to tell something about this site. As everybody
knows that nowadays forums are the best source of Knowledge, and through forums
we can learn a lot.I found this forum quiet informative as well interested, it is really
great to be a part of this forum.]]> My name is William Parkar and I like to tell something about this site. As everybody
knows that nowadays forums are the best source of Knowledge, and through forums
we can learn a lot.I found this forum quiet informative as well interested, it is really
great to be a part of this forum.]]>