Arcana Unearthed - Revision history

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2023-06-17T19:13:16Z

64 revisions imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 19:13, 17 June 2023
(No difference)

1d4chan>Zimriel: /* Classes */

2021-10-23T18:46:55Z

Classes

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:46, 23 October 2021
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	*'''Akashic''' taps into the Akashic Memory. Consider if "speak with dead" was a character-class instead of a spell. They're here to filter exposition on behalf of the DM for whatever setting you're playing in. Really should be restricted to NPCs unless the DM has a little sister or a spouse he's training to be the next DM.		*'''Akashic''' taps into the Akashic Memory. Consider if "speak with dead" was a character-class instead of a spell. They're here to filter exposition on behalf of the DM for whatever setting you're playing in. Really should be restricted to NPCs unless the DM has a little sister or a spouse he's training to be the next DM.
	*'''Champion''' abstracts out the cavalier, itself a secular abstraction of the [[paladin]]. The book presents the beta male for Light, Darkness, Life, Death, Magic, or Freedom. "Light" is good and "Darkness" is evil so, here's the ''AU'' paladin / antipaladin.		*'''Champion''' abstracts out the [[cavalier]], itself a secular abstraction of the [[paladin]]. The book presents the beta male for Light, Darkness, Life, Death, Magic, or Freedom. "Light" is good and "Darkness" is evil so, here's the ''AU'' paladin / antipaladin.
	*'''Greenbond''' is the nature-mage, one of this book's several routes to replace the 3.5 druid.		*'''Greenbond''' is the nature-mage, one of this book's several routes to replace the 3.5 druid.
	*'''Mage Blade''' is the fighter/mage [[gish]] but better integrated, like the Elf before / beside [[AD&D]]. He gets an "athame", semisentient weapon as mage's familiar.		*'''Mage Blade''' is the fighter/mage [[gish]] but better integrated, like the Elf before / beside [[AD&D]]. He gets an "athame", semisentient weapon as mage's familiar.
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	*'''Witch''' is the [[sorcerer]] by another name but with additional witchey ways. ''AU'' offers six types: iron, mind, sea, wind, winter, wood. They are manifested by: blade, fire, song, storm, word.		*'''Witch''' is the [[sorcerer]] by another name but with additional witchey ways. ''AU'' offers six types: iron, mind, sea, wind, winter, wood. They are manifested by: blade, fire, song, storm, word.

	Overall, you see where AU is going with this: Death To CoDZilla. The druids' abilities are spread out among various shaman classes, and [[heresy\|clerics go to the stake]]. Meanwhile the sorcerer is re-imagined (again) and the para-fighter is buffed so better balanced. Some of these classes borrow from ''Relics & Rituals'', particularly the Witch (two prestige-classes, there).		Overall, you see where AU is going with this: Death To CoDZilla. The druids' (and [[ranger]]s') abilities are spread out among various shaman classes, and [[heresy\|clerics go to the stake]]. Meanwhile the sorcerer is re-imagined (again) and the para-fighter is buffed so better balanced. Some of these classes borrow from ''Relics & Rituals'', particularly the Witch (two prestige-classes, there).

	Despite including a gish and annexing some prestige classes, ''AU'' does let you dual-class - just like the mainline.		Despite including a gish and annexing some prestige classes, ''AU'' does let you dual-class - just like the mainline.

1d4chan>Zimriel: /* The Diamond Throne */

2021-09-12T02:58:53Z

The Diamond Throne

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:58, 12 September 2021
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	=The Diamond Throne=		=The Diamond Throne=
	There was a setting, which had its own book in ''AU'' but got inlined with the main book in ''AE''. Kicking and screaming, we've composed for her [[Diamond Throne\|her own page]]. Prestige-classes and monsters go there.		There was a setting, which had its own book in ''AU'' but got inlined with the main book in ''AE''. Kicking and screaming, we've composed for her [[Diamond Throne\|her own page]]. Prestige-classes and monsters go there. And [[Mike Mearls]]' minority-report(s) on how it all should work.

	=Arcana Evolved=		=Arcana Evolved=

1d4chan>Zimriel: /* Good, Bad... */

2021-09-08T22:02:14Z

Good, Bad...

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:02, 8 September 2021
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	Errr... alignment is ''sort of'' not part of AU. Good and evil couldn't quite be glided over.		Errr... alignment is ''sort of'' not part of AU. Good and evil couldn't quite be glided over.

	At the very least it contrasts the Green, which is life (and death!); and the Dark fueling ''un''life. The moment you allow undead into a campaign-world, you've dragged all the living into a coalition against it, willing or not. We actually own a snapshot into how this happened to Monte in his "Between Life and Death", reviewed over in the [[Diamond Throne]] article.		At the very least it contrasts the Green, which is life (and death!); and the Dark fueling ''un''life. The moment you allow undead into a campaign-world, you've dragged all the living into a coalition against it, willing or not. We actually own a snapshot into how this happened to Monte in his "Between Life and Death", reviewed over in the [[Diamond Throne]] article. And then there are, rather were, the dramojh.

	==Excuse me, would you like to discuss our Lord and Savior?==		==Excuse me, would you like to discuss our Lord and Savior?==

1d4chan>Zimriel at 21:53, 8 September 2021

2021-09-08T21:53:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:53, 8 September 2021
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	AU features several new races, classes, feats, and theory-of-magic - all in accordance with the 3.0 / d20 rules. The first book was billed as an alternate Players Handbook but the revamp peed all over that, by incorporating setting-specific information (see ''further'' below).		AU features several new races, classes, feats, and theory-of-magic - all in accordance with the 3.0 / d20 rules. The first book was billed as an alternate Players Handbook but the revamp peed all over that, by incorporating setting-specific information (see ''further'' below).

	Several of the AU features parallel points of Stephen R Donaldson's ''Thomas Covenant'' series, especially the first one. The Giants who travelled here by ship from the east, and now cannot get back home? Oh yeah. The weaponless fighter who powers himself by the sheer force of his oaths? That's the Oathsworn. ''The Diamond Throne'' is on its way to pull the horses and the Forestal. Also the emphasis on ritual over one-shot melee spellcasting. By extension, these rules - and the setting, which we'll get to - has no [[cleric]].		Several of the AU features parallel points of Stephen R Donaldson's ''Thomas Covenant'' series, especially the first one. The Giants who travelled here by ship from the east, and now cannot get back home? Oh yeah. The weaponless fighter who powers himself by the sheer force of his oaths? That's the Oathsworn. ''The [[Diamond Throne]]'' (alias "Serran") is on its way to pull the horses and the Forestal. Also the emphasis on ritual over one-shot melee spellcasting. By extension, these rules - and the setting, which we'll get to - has no [[cleric]].

	Like [[Talislanta]], this setting prides itself on lacking [[elves]] also... and promptly dumps the next best thing here, namely the [[faen]]. Other races include dogmen and catmen, here the Sibeccai and the [[Catfolk#Litorians\|Litorians]]. The Verrik are emo humans. And finally there's the Runechildren, for all your [[Mary Sue]] needs; and the Mojh, ultimate dragon weeaboos. These "scions" were human once and have undergone a ritual to be lizardlike (faen have body dysmorphia too - they become sprytes).		Like [[Talislanta]], this setting prides itself on lacking [[elves]] also... and promptly dumps the next best thing here, namely the [[faen]]. Other races include dogmen and catmen, here the Sibeccai and the [[Catfolk#Litorians\|Litorians]]. The Verrik are emo humans. And finally there's the Runechildren, for all your [[Mary Sue]] needs; and the Mojh, ultimate dragon weeaboos. These "scions" were human once and have undergone a ritual to be lizardlike (faen have body dysmorphia too - they become sprytes).

1d4chan>Zimriel at 21:46, 8 September 2021

2021-09-08T21:46:30Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:46, 8 September 2021
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	This book was written about the same time as was the third [[Eldritch Might]] book, ''The Nexus''; and as ''The [[Banewarrens]]'' (and [[Ptolus]]). Some ideas are shared in common. With the former, once upon a time There Be Dragons but not now (although, wait for it...). With the latter, at least once Ptolus gets out, we'll be seeing litorians and rhodin.		This book was written about the same time as was the third [[Eldritch Might]] book, ''The Nexus''; and as ''The [[Banewarrens]]'' (and [[Ptolus]]). Some ideas are shared in common. With the former, once upon a time There Be Dragons but not now (although, wait for it...). With the latter, at least once Ptolus gets out, we'll be seeing litorians and rhodin.

			=Crunch=
	==Classes==		==Classes==
	''AU'' keeps the [[NPC]] [[Expert]] and [[Warrior]]. Your party, by contrast, must re-roll.		''AU'' keeps the [[NPC]] [[Expert]] and [[Warrior]]. Your party, by contrast, must re-roll.
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	The book compiling all of the spells, of these three classes, canon to these rules, will come out in ''Arcana Evolved'': the ''Spell Treasury'', co-written / -edited with one Jeffery Dopperpuhl.		The book compiling all of the spells, of these three classes, canon to these rules, will come out in ''Arcana Evolved'': the ''Spell Treasury'', co-written / -edited with one Jeffery Dopperpuhl.

	==Good, Bad...==		=Good, Bad...=
	[[Alignment]]s are NOT part of this text. Look at you, "with us or against us". What are you, some kind of George W Bush voter?! (These books were a Product Of Their Time, as the saying goes.)		[[Alignment]]s are NOT part of this text. Look at you, "with us or against us". What are you, some kind of George W Bush voter?! (These books were a Product Of Their Time, as the saying goes.)

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	At the very least it contrasts the Green, which is life (and death!); and the Dark fueling ''un''life. The moment you allow undead into a campaign-world, you've dragged all the living into a coalition against it, willing or not. We actually own a snapshot into how this happened to Monte in his "Between Life and Death", reviewed over in the [[Diamond Throne]] article.		At the very least it contrasts the Green, which is life (and death!); and the Dark fueling ''un''life. The moment you allow undead into a campaign-world, you've dragged all the living into a coalition against it, willing or not. We actually own a snapshot into how this happened to Monte in his "Between Life and Death", reviewed over in the [[Diamond Throne]] article.

	===Excuse me, would you like to discuss our Lord and Savior?===		==Excuse me, would you like to discuss our Lord and Savior?==
	We mentioned above, no clerics as such. This may be worth a Discussion.		We mentioned above, no clerics as such. This may be worth a Discussion.

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	Ergo: no real clerics. Unless and until [[Tracy Hickman]] runs a campaign here, which [[Book_of_Vile_Darkness\|he won't]]. Or until someone traipses across the Monteverse to find one or more of the (many) planes which ''do'' host clerics, and reports back...		Ergo: no real clerics. Unless and until [[Tracy Hickman]] runs a campaign here, which [[Book_of_Vile_Darkness\|he won't]]. Or until someone traipses across the Monteverse to find one or more of the (many) planes which ''do'' host clerics, and reports back...

	==The Diamond Throne==		=The Diamond Throne=
	There was a setting, which had its own book in ''AU'' but got inlined with the main book in ''AE''. Kicking and screaming, we've composed for her [[Diamond Throne\|her own page]]. Prestige-classes and monsters go there.		There was a setting, which had its own book in ''AU'' but got inlined with the main book in ''AE''. Kicking and screaming, we've composed for her [[Diamond Throne\|her own page]]. Prestige-classes and monsters go there.

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	What killed this setting was the dragons. Whatever the party does, in the back of their heads they have to know it won't matter here, because ''they'' don't matter here anymore.		What killed this setting was the dragons. Whatever the party does, in the back of their heads they have to know it won't matter here, because ''they'' don't matter here anymore.

	[[Category:Dungeons & Dragons]]		[[Category:Roleplaying]][[Category:Dungeons & Dragons]][[Category:Game Books]]

1d4chan>Zimriel: /* Good, Bad... */

2021-09-08T21:44:52Z

Good, Bad...

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:44, 8 September 2021
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	Errr... alignment is ''sort of'' not part of AU. Good and evil couldn't quite be glided over.		Errr... alignment is ''sort of'' not part of AU. Good and evil couldn't quite be glided over.

	At the very least it contrasts the Green, which is life (and death!); and the Dark fueling ''un''life. The moment you allow undead into a campaign-world, you've dragged all the living into a coalition against it, willing or not. We actually own a snapshot into how this happened to Monte in his "Between Life and Death", reviewed ~~below~~.		At the very least it contrasts the Green, which is life (and death!); and the Dark fueling ''un''life. The moment you allow undead into a campaign-world, you've dragged all the living into a coalition against it, willing or not. We actually own a snapshot into how this happened to Monte in his "Between Life and Death", reviewed over in the [[Diamond Throne]] article.

	===Excuse me, would you like to discuss our Lord and Savior?===		===Excuse me, would you like to discuss our Lord and Savior?===

1d4chan>Zimriel at 21:40, 8 September 2021

2021-09-08T21:40:12Z

@@ Line 60: / Line 60: @@
 ==The Diamond Throne==
 There was a setting, which had its own book in ''AU'' but got inlined with the main book in ''AE''. Kicking and screaming, we've composed for her [[Diamond Throne|her own page]]. Prestige-classes and monsters go there.
 =Arcana Evolved=

1d4chan>Zimriel: /* The Diamond Throne */

2021-09-08T21:36:32Z

The Diamond Throne

@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 The book compiling all of the spells, of these three classes, canon to these rules, will come out in ''Arcana Evolved'': the ''Spell Treasury'', co-written / -edited with one Jeffery Dopperpuhl.
-==The Diamond Throne==
+==Good, Bad...==
 [[Alignment]]s are NOT part of this text. Look at you, "with us or against us". What are you, some kind of George W Bush voter?! (These books were a Product Of Their Time, as the saying goes.)
-Errr... alignment is ''sort of'' not part of AU. The AU tweaks were playtested in a special setting, ''Diamond Throne''. Good and evil couldn't quite be glided over.
+Errr... alignment is ''sort of'' not part of AU. Good and evil couldn't quite be glided over.
 At the very least it contrasts the Green, which is life (and death!); and the Dark fueling ''un''life. The moment you allow undead into a campaign-world, you've dragged all the living into a coalition against it, willing or not. We actually own a snapshot into how this happened to Monte in his "Between Life and Death", reviewed below.
 ===Excuse me, would you like to discuss our Lord and Savior?===
@@ Line 86: / Line 57: @@
 Ergo: no real clerics. Unless and until [[Tracy Hickman]] runs a campaign here, which [[Book_of_Vile_Darkness|he won't]]. Or until someone traipses across the Monteverse to find one or more of the (many) planes which ''do'' host clerics, and reports back...
 =Supporting Literature=

1d4chan>Zimriel: /* FREE SHIT!! */

2021-09-03T16:15:37Z

FREE SHIT!!

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:15, 3 September 2021
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	'''Between Life and Death''', by Monte Cook. This was how the AU rules and DT got introduced to his readers. That might explain why the plot revolves around two massive electrodes between Green and Dark, where the latter anode is considered the Pillar of Death. That is, of course, not how AU / DT in published form ''works''; death is a natural part of the Green, where the Dark is undeath. Also the Council of Magisters is active which they are, canonically, ''in''active in DT - although there's a fanclub trying to revive it in one of the magisters' old universities. But maybe we're judging from an early edition because we're just that damn old. We do get to see some undead in this world.		'''Between Life and Death''', by Monte Cook. This was how the AU rules and DT got introduced to his readers. That might explain why the plot revolves around two massive electrodes between Green and Dark, where the latter anode is considered the Pillar of Death. That is, of course, not how AU / DT in published form ''works''; death is a natural part of the Green, where the Dark is undeath. Also the Council of Magisters is active which they are, canonically, ''in''active in DT - although there's a fanclub trying to revive it in one of the magisters' old universities. But maybe we're judging from an early edition because we're just that damn old. We do get to see some undead in this world.

	'''The Depths of Hunger''', by Tom Lommel. Lommel, a playtester for this series, composed this as "Fate of the Iron Witch" which he ran at ~~GenCon~~ 2003. AHOY, MATEY as your party moves a macguffin from Ka-Rone to Shana, one of the Free Cities southward. There's a time limit because tournament.		'''The Depths of Hunger''', by Tom Lommel. Lommel, a playtester for this series, composed this as "Fate of the Iron Witch" which he ran at [[Gen Con]] 2003. AHOY, MATEY as your party moves a macguffin from Ka-Rone to Shana, one of the Free Cities southward. There's a time limit because tournament.

	'''The Thrice-Cursed Crown''', by Mike Mearls. The crown of "Varran" here is dramojh or maybe pre-dramojh, acting like Sauron's Ring in that it has its own opinions as to who gets to wear it. Luckily, the last owner realised what a bane she had and locked herself in a castle at the Harrowdeep up north. Unluckily, some nosy mojh has found her vault. If you've played [[WGR3: Rary the Traitor]] or GAZ13, you get the idea: no matter how bad your hairline is getting, this is not your hat.		'''The Thrice-Cursed Crown''', by Mike Mearls. The crown of "Varran" here is dramojh or maybe pre-dramojh, acting like Sauron's Ring in that it has its own opinions as to who gets to wear it. Luckily, the last owner realised what a bane she had and locked herself in a castle at the Harrowdeep up north. Unluckily, some nosy mojh has found her vault. If you've played [[WGR3: Rary the Traitor]] or GAZ13, you get the idea: no matter how bad your hairline is getting, this is not your hat.