New OOTS products from CafePress
New OOTS t-shirts, ornaments, mugs, bags, and more
Page 5 of 7 FirstFirst 1234567 LastLast
Results 121 to 150 of 183
  1. - Top - End - #121
    Halfling in the Playground
     
    Planetar

    Join Date
    Dec 2014

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    Ever heard of someone getting multiple life sentences? There's a certain kingdom where that is not only possible but one of the most feared punishments in the realm. The victim gets subjected to a spell that not only simulates living the remainder of their lifespan in an inescapable prison, but also resets the prisoner's mind- causing them to live an entirely different life as a new person in a simulated world. All while their body lies comatose but well-attended in a facility made specifically for the holding of such individuals.

    Each casting can have custom-tailored results on a case-by case basis, with variations including the severity of the "prison" stage, the number of "lifespans", or even what sort of conditions each new iteration lives under- anything from additional prison stages for particularly heinous criminals to new, better lives for those needing a chance at redemption. There have even been rumors of scholars and arcanists using these simulated lifespans for strange psychological experiments, paying large sums of tribute to "rent" an inmate about to be subjected to this treatment.

    What makes this punishment so terrifying, however, is what happens once it's over. While the victim's mind may be experiencing several consecutive lifetimes, the body lies in its cell for only a matter of months to a couple years- once their sentence is up, the spell ends, and the subjects mind returns to their body.

    Or should I say "minds".

    As soon as the subject reawakens, their splintered identities fight for control of the self- their original mind versus the alternate self or selves formed from the multiple simulated lifespans. The process is sometimes fatal- the victim's mind simply breaks from the strain and the body either dies in turn or must be put down, but if the subject is able to reconcile itself and achieve some form of stability, they are free to go.

    Even then, the number of cases where the subject's original identity wins out unscathed are shockingly rare; many times either one of the alternate identities takes over, or the original survives but suffers partial or total memory loss, or even has memories from other selves mixed in with his own, though not all such cases are aware of the source of these memories. Sometimes the subject maintains stability for a limited time before other identities surface and attempt to reassert control, and in at least one case multiple identities have been able to reconcile with each other and share a body while maintaining awareness of each other.


    Either way, after seeing what the spell does to most of its victims, those bold enough to commit serious crimes in kingdoms where it is used as a punishment would rather die than be caught.

  2. - Top - End - #122
    Dwarf in the Playground
     
    Kobold

    Join Date
    Jul 2014

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    In one timeline the Second World War ended in 1945, with the German and Japanese surrenders.

    This is not that timeline.

    In one timeline the Kraftstahlkanone, die Glocke, and VRIL society are considered the delusions of crackpots and crazies. The Panzer VIII Maus had but two prototypes, and the P.1000 Ratte was little more then a blueprint fit only for a madman.

    This is not that timeline.

    Japan attacked Russia in December of 1941 at Vladivostok instead of Pearl Harbor. American nativism continues to keep the American government out of the war, despite Russian and British losses.

    Instead America's arsenal of democracy begins to provide more then tanks, planes, and ships, but soldiers and thrill seekers that join the Allied cause, not for national pride or civic duty but to pull themselves out of the soul crushing poverty the depression wrought upon their generation.

    They take up arms, fighting on every front as American Volunteer Groups, and there they face all the horrors of warfare known and many they couldn't even fathom on signing their name to the recruitment forms. Psychic mediums, death rays, tesla cannons, and occult wraiths are amongst their foes alongside the immense might of the Wehrmacht and SS, the bioweapons of Japan, and the mad inventions of countless scientists and researchers.

    World War II just got a lot harder to win.

  3. - Top - End - #123
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    jqavins's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Howard, NY
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    Quote Originally Posted by Mr.Cobalt View Post
    Ever heard of someone getting multiple life sentences? There's a certain kingdom where that is not only possible but one of the most feared punishments in the realm. The victim gets subjected to a spell that not only simulates living the remainder of their lifespan in an inescapable prison, but also resets the prisoner's mind- causing them to live an entirely different life as a new person in a simulated world. All while their body lies comatose but well-attended in a facility made specifically for the holding of such individuals.

    [etc.]
    Sounds like Quantum Leap turned sideways and in hell. It's not multiple life-sentences; it's a multiple-life sentence.

    Anyway, how about a simpler form of multiple life-sentences? In other kingdoms, people convicted of multiple crimes carrying life sentences are simlpy resurrected and, if necessary, rejuvunated in order to spend multiple lifetimes rotting in prison. For some, it can mean hundereds of years behind bars, and dying over and over. The same can be done for multiple death sentences, but that is cinsidered a lesser punishment.
    -- Joe
    “Shared pain is diminished. Shared joy is increased.”
    -- Spider Roninson
    And shared laughter is magical

    Always remember that anything posted on the internet is, in a practical if not a legal sense, in the public domain.
    You are completely welcome to use anything I post here, or I wouldn't post it.

  4. - Top - End - #124
    Halfling in the Playground
     
    Planetar

    Join Date
    Dec 2014

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    Quote Originally Posted by jqavins View Post
    Sounds like Quantum Leap turned sideways and in hell. It's not multiple life-sentences; it's a multiple-life sentence.

    Anyway, how about a simpler form of multiple life-sentences? In other kingdoms, people convicted of multiple crimes carrying life sentences are simlpy resurrected and, if necessary, rejuvunated in order to spend multiple lifetimes rotting in prison. For some, it can mean hundereds of years behind bars, and dying over and over. The same can be done for multiple death sentences, but that is cinsidered a lesser punishment.
    They tried that, but then people complained that using valuable life extension spells on criminals was dangerous and wasteful, as it allowed the nation's worst of the worst to endure for generations past their time with the possibility of escape (to say nothing of the infamous "Blood Magus Incident").

    The newer method was chosen because it had the effectiveness of a full sentence (and then some) in a fraction of the time, with the added bonus of permanent psychological scarring to prevent "repeat offenders". They still do sometimes resurrect death row inmates for "multiple death" sentences though (the nation's emperor is a strange and very literal man).

  5. - Top - End - #125
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    Laserlight's Avatar

    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Virginia Beach VA
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    The Sun has gone out.

    Ordinarily in an emergency we'd send word to the Duke, and he might send word to the King, and an army would gather, and march to the problem...but we don't have time for that. The Sun has gone out, and it's getting cold. In the endless night, frost giants and werewolves prowl, undead rise from their crypts, and worse than that, things are coming out of the mountains.

    We need the greatest heroes of the kingdom to head into the dwarven ruins and find the secret of Burning Gold. (You thought the dwarves loved gold because it was shiny? No, it's because they knew how to set it ablaze, to provide light and warmth in the deep places of the earth). Then we need those selfsame heroes to take all the gold they can carry, to light their way through the Shieldwall Mountains to the edge of the World, and to find the place from which the Sun rises. Once there, those mighty warriors and subtle wizards could surely find a way to release Her, or heal Her, or persuade Her to take up her shining shield again.

    Unfortunately, the great heroes of the kingdom aren't here. So we're sending you.
    Last edited by Laserlight; 2015-02-04 at 12:49 AM.
    Junior, half orc paladin of the Order of St Dale the Intimidator: "Ah cain't abide no murderin' scoundrel."

    Tactical Precepts: 1) Cause chaos, then exploit it; 2) No plan survives contact with...(sigh)...my subordinates.

  6. - Top - End - #126
    Halfling in the Playground
     
    Planetar

    Join Date
    Dec 2014

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    Most people assume it's impossible to swear in Celestial, but that's not entirely true. While it is true that most most profanities in most languages don't translate well (if at all) to Celestial, that doesn't mean the language has its own take on swearing; swearing in Celestial is more like giving a very long, eloquent, and almost formal "Reason You Suck" speech to the recipient- detailing in no uncertain terms exactly what is wrong with them and/or condemning them (proportionately) for it without actually making any use of what would be considered profanity in other languages (though what it does refer to would still probably give pause to anyone who could understand it).

    The "art" of cursing in Celestial is pretty much only restricted to native-speaking Outsiders, though; the fact that each word translates in nearly every other language to about a page's worth of very specific complaints against a particular kind of problem in detail, combined with a fact that Celestial has a nearly unquantified number of these very context-sensitive "curses", makes it nigh-impossible for non-native speakers to learn to properly use them. Some still attempt to do so anyway, but this tends to just draw weird looks from those who know the language better.

  7. - Top - End - #127
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Yora's Avatar

    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Germany

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    "Have you no decency?!"

    Both the harshest and most polite insult I've ever heard.
    We are not standing on the shoulders of giants, but on very tall tower of other dwarves.

    Spriggan's Den Heroic Fantasy Roleplaying

  8. - Top - End - #128
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    Kobold

    Join Date
    Feb 2015

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    The goddess of death does not like undead that are not free-willed.

    The lawful good gods are not fond of undead animated by negative energy.

    The elves are not divulging secrets of their undead animated by positive energy.

    But you're a gnome faced with the task of preserving somebody beyond death.

    What to do? Well, you've got a recently deceased corpse, a Magic Jar, some Unguent of Timelessness, the services of a taxidermist, and a lot of clockwork.

    Enter the Clockwork Undead. Not a true undead as one considers the traditional "raising" process - but more a way of making a vessel for a soul out of its own former body. Sharing attributes of free-willed undead and constructs, they also have, due to their clockwork nature, a vulnerability to chaos-infused insults. They may suffer a bit from a dip in the uncanny valley, but they never end up looking like apple people or smelling more off than maybe a whiff of naptha.

    They do get a little doddering after a while, maybe a thousand years or so, but that's more because not many people usually stick around that long in a Magic Jar. The rest can be touched up with glue, a few screws and a touch of paint.

  9. - Top - End - #129
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Yora's Avatar

    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Germany

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    Why do demons care about mortals? Why do they want to possess them and mess with the world?

    It doesn't really gain them anything. Nothing is accomplished and it doesn't benefit them in any way. But the big difference that makes the mortal world so much more interesting than the demon realm is that everything done in the physical world is permanent. When you kill something, it remains dead. When you create something, it remains until it is destroyed. In the demon realm, everything is possible, everything exist as potential. But it also means nothing is real. Nothing a demon does really makes a difference. The demons constantly fight with each other because it's their nature. But with nothing ever staying dead and an infinite amount of time, everything happens eventually.
    In the physical world, everything you do makes a difference. Everything has consequences that are permanent and when things happen one way, all the infinite numbers of other possibilities become impossible. Actions have meaning. They make a difference. To a demon who discovers this and finds a way to enter the physical world, this is endlessly fascinating. The meanings demons give to things are completely arbitrary and not at all based on the needs and feelings of mortal beings. And unfortunately for the creatures of the physical world, most demons don't care the least for how other creatures feel about the consequences of their actions. In fact, the entire concept about fighting with others about what possible future becomes the only reality is a great source of joy for many of them. What's the fun of shaping the future if you go along with the same things that other beings want? Fighting against other sentient beings who have opposing plans for the future makes things much more interesting. It's not that demons enjoy causing pain and suffering, they just enjoy being contrary.
    Which, somewhat ironically, sometimes results in demons taking the side of mortals and helping them fight the other demons. Not exactly for the benefit of the mortals, but to have an arbitrary reason to fight with their fellow demons. When demons are helpful and show mercy to mortals, it's because they arbitrarily decided to pick this form of ethics, simply for the challenge. Having spend an eternity in the demon realm, where they will go back to once this temporary excursion into the physical world comes to end end, demons have incredible patience. They are in no hurry and the only threat to them is that someone might destroy their current body and banish them. Though evne that's not too much of a problem as they will have an infinite amount of time to find another one and return for another round. But eventually a demon might get bored with what it's doing and completely arbitrarily decided to try out something else with the physical world. Then there is very little that could stop them from turning against their mortal allies. However, it also means that there is a very slim chance that one can convince a demon to abandon its destructive ways and instead try to accomplish something that many mortals would consider "good". Unlikely to happen, but with demons everything is a possibility.
    We are not standing on the shoulders of giants, but on very tall tower of other dwarves.

    Spriggan's Den Heroic Fantasy Roleplaying

  10. - Top - End - #130
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    jqavins's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Howard, NY
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    Another branch off the same limb, the material world is more interesting becuse the inhabitants aren't all demons. Demaons, demons, and more demons; nothing but demons everywhere you look. Borrriiiing! It's ironic, but when everyone is CE, the environment is less chaotic than where things are mixed up becaues homogeneously chaotic is an oxymoron.
    -- Joe
    “Shared pain is diminished. Shared joy is increased.”
    -- Spider Roninson
    And shared laughter is magical

    Always remember that anything posted on the internet is, in a practical if not a legal sense, in the public domain.
    You are completely welcome to use anything I post here, or I wouldn't post it.

  11. - Top - End - #131
    Halfling in the Playground
     
    Planetar

    Join Date
    Dec 2014

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    Quote Originally Posted by Yora View Post
    Why do demons care about mortals? Why do they want to possess them and mess with the world?

    It doesn't really gain them anything. Nothing is accomplished and it doesn't benefit them in any way. But the big difference that makes the mortal world so much more interesting than the demon realm is that everything done in the physical world is permanent. When you kill something, it remains dead. When you create something, it remains until it is destroyed. In the demon realm, everything is possible, everything exist as potential. But it also means nothing is real. Nothing a demon does really makes a difference. The demons constantly fight with each other because it's their nature. But with nothing ever staying dead and an infinite amount of time, everything happens eventually.
    In the physical world, everything you do makes a difference. Everything has consequences that are permanent and when things happen one way, all the infinite numbers of other possibilities become impossible. Actions have meaning. They make a difference. To a demon who discovers this and finds a way to enter the physical world, this is endlessly fascinating. The meanings demons give to things are completely arbitrary and not at all based on the needs and feelings of mortal beings. And unfortunately for the creatures of the physical world, most demons don't care the least for how other creatures feel about the consequences of their actions. In fact, the entire concept about fighting with others about what possible future becomes the only reality is a great source of joy for many of them. What's the fun of shaping the future if you go along with the same things that other beings want? Fighting against other sentient beings who have opposing plans for the future makes things much more interesting. It's not that demons enjoy causing pain and suffering, they just enjoy being contrary.
    Which, somewhat ironically, sometimes results in demons taking the side of mortals and helping them fight the other demons. Not exactly for the benefit of the mortals, but to have an arbitrary reason to fight with their fellow demons. When demons are helpful and show mercy to mortals, it's because they arbitrarily decided to pick this form of ethics, simply for the challenge. Having spend an eternity in the demon realm, where they will go back to once this temporary excursion into the physical world comes to end end, demons have incredible patience. They are in no hurry and the only threat to them is that someone might destroy their current body and banish them. Though evne that's not too much of a problem as they will have an infinite amount of time to find another one and return for another round. But eventually a demon might get bored with what it's doing and completely arbitrarily decided to try out something else with the physical world. Then there is very little that could stop them from turning against their mortal allies. However, it also means that there is a very slim chance that one can convince a demon to abandon its destructive ways and instead try to accomplish something that many mortals would consider "good". Unlikely to happen, but with demons everything is a possibility.
    Reminds me of Mehrunes Dagon from The Elder Scrolls- this kind of mindset was pretty much what kicked off the plot of Oblivion.

  12. - Top - End - #132
    Barbarian in the Playground
    Join Date
    Jan 2014

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    Quote Originally Posted by Yora View Post
    Why do demons care about mortals? Why do they want to possess them and mess with the world?

    It doesn't really gain them anything. Nothing is accomplished and it doesn't benefit them in any way. But the big difference that makes the mortal world so much more interesting than the demon realm is that everything done in the physical world is permanent. When you kill something, it remains dead. When you create something, it remains until it is destroyed. In the demon realm, everything is possible, everything exist as potential. But it also means nothing is real. Nothing a demon does really makes a difference. The demons constantly fight with each other because it's their nature. But with nothing ever staying dead and an infinite amount of time, everything happens eventually.
    In the physical world, everything you do makes a difference. Everything has consequences that are permanent and when things happen one way, all the infinite numbers of other possibilities become impossible. Actions have meaning. They make a difference. To a demon who discovers this and finds a way to enter the physical world, this is endlessly fascinating. The meanings demons give to things are completely arbitrary and not at all based on the needs and feelings of mortal beings. And unfortunately for the creatures of the physical world, most demons don't care the least for how other creatures feel about the consequences of their actions. In fact, the entire concept about fighting with others about what possible future becomes the only reality is a great source of joy for many of them. What's the fun of shaping the future if you go along with the same things that other beings want? Fighting against other sentient beings who have opposing plans for the future makes things much more interesting. It's not that demons enjoy causing pain and suffering, they just enjoy being contrary.
    Which, somewhat ironically, sometimes results in demons taking the side of mortals and helping them fight the other demons. Not exactly for the benefit of the mortals, but to have an arbitrary reason to fight with their fellow demons. When demons are helpful and show mercy to mortals, it's because they arbitrarily decided to pick this form of ethics, simply for the challenge. Having spend an eternity in the demon realm, where they will go back to once this temporary excursion into the physical world comes to end end, demons have incredible patience. They are in no hurry and the only threat to them is that someone might destroy their current body and banish them. Though evne that's not too much of a problem as they will have an infinite amount of time to find another one and return for another round. But eventually a demon might get bored with what it's doing and completely arbitrarily decided to try out something else with the physical world. Then there is very little that could stop them from turning against their mortal allies. However, it also means that there is a very slim chance that one can convince a demon to abandon its destructive ways and instead try to accomplish something that many mortals would consider "good". Unlikely to happen, but with demons everything is a possibility.
    So the best way to change a demon's mind is to convince him that x or y would be more interesting then what he's currently doing? Like convince him that writing an auto-biography and then seeing how mortals react to it would be very amusing. Maybe not a writing of all his existence, mortals would take to long to read it, but say the latest 5 hundred years.

  13. - Top - End - #133
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Yora's Avatar

    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Germany

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    Hypothetically, yes. But demons are not just immortal, but eternal. They have incredible patience and are very unlikely to get bored with what they are doing. Once they finished their current activity,they might be persuaded to do something completely different next instead of doing the same thing again on a larger scale. But getting them to abandon their current activity would be really difficult.
    I would say the best shot would likely be to get the demon to turn on his own allies, because that's even harder than fighting on the winning side, and they get an opportunity to beat someone they already had a rivalry with. But getting someone who enjoys destruction to enjoy not destroying things even more seems close to impossible.

    I love this approach to demonic motivation because it lets you make demons like those from the Exorcist movies or the Joker from The Dark Knight, who both make sense but don't do arbitrary evil for the sake of being Evil. They do it because it lets them permanently change things and test their power against other people who oppose them. Being contrary and enforcing their will on others against opposition it what drives them. And the things that people object to the most are those things that get called Evil.
    They don't need a good in whose name they punish the sinful, or whose creations they destroy to spite him. They are completely amoral and do it only for themselves, which also allows for the option to have a demon who is civil and cooperative. Simply because it amuses it and it's a highly sophisticated way to change the world and get people to do what they want. And in the end,it's results that matter to them. Because results are the one things they can not get in their own realm.
    Last edited by Yora; 2015-02-21 at 05:35 PM.
    We are not standing on the shoulders of giants, but on very tall tower of other dwarves.

    Spriggan's Den Heroic Fantasy Roleplaying

  14. - Top - End - #134
    Barbarian in the Playground
    Join Date
    Jan 2014

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    Yora can I take your demons and use them in world. They are a kind of being that would fit in nicely into my world.
    The Spirits have no body, they are driven to remain existing. They struggle for power like men and beast due.
    The Fey have no needs, they are driven to entertain themselves. They play games and set plays.
    And having the Demons have no consequences, thus strive for them, would seem appropriate.

  15. - Top - End - #135
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Yora's Avatar

    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Germany

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    Sure, I was just searching for a way to explain typical demonic behavior in a way that does not require a creator god to make sense. There is much more setting specific to the demons that I am using in practice, this is just an idea thrown out to be adapted by anyone who wants to work with it.

    I asume everything posted here is up for grabs.
    We are not standing on the shoulders of giants, but on very tall tower of other dwarves.

    Spriggan's Den Heroic Fantasy Roleplaying

  16. - Top - End - #136
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    jqavins's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Howard, NY
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    Quote Originally Posted by Yora View Post
    I asume everything posted here is up for grabs.
    Ditto. At least, anyhing I've posted in this thread or even on this board is up for grabs (if anyone's interested.) If I wanted to keep it for myself, I'd've kept it to myself.
    -- Joe
    “Shared pain is diminished. Shared joy is increased.”
    -- Spider Roninson
    And shared laughter is magical

    Always remember that anything posted on the internet is, in a practical if not a legal sense, in the public domain.
    You are completely welcome to use anything I post here, or I wouldn't post it.

  17. - Top - End - #137
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    Kymme's Avatar

    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    My Campaign Setting
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    In my games elves have a unique genetic trait: the two halves of their brains are not fully connected. This lets them rest one side of their brain at a time (which makes the whole 'meditation instead of sleep' thing make sense) and, more interestingly, makes them completely ambidextrous. All elves are this way, which helps them in fighting with two weapons as well as forming complex gestures to cast spells.

    Though some of it is lost when elven blood becomes muddled, the ambidexterity remains. One way to tell somebody is a half-elf (other than the slightly pointy ears) is to check if they are ambidextrous.

  18. - Top - End - #138
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    MindFlayer

    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    *Redacted*

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    Quote Originally Posted by Kymme View Post
    Though some of it is lost when elven blood becomes muddled, the ambidexterity remains. One way to tell somebody is a half-elf (other than the slightly pointy ears) is to check if they are ambidextrous.
    Or if they have beards.
    Quote Originally Posted by Kid Jake View Post
    Kill a PC's father? Well that's just the cost of doing business.
    Steal a PC's boots? Now it's personal.
    Please take everything I say with a grain of salt. Unless we're arguing about alignment. In which case, you're wrong.

    Former EMPIRE2! Player: Imperator of the Nihoni Dominion
    Former EMPIRE3! Player: Suzerain of the Phœnīx Estates
    Former EMPIRE4! Player: Margrave of the Margraviate of Rhune
    My Awesome Campaign Setting

  19. - Top - End - #139
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Yora's Avatar

    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Germany

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    This idea isn't even mine. It really comes straight out of the BECMI Companion Set, which was it's own line of D&D products that got pretty much completely ignored by WotC, who just contnued where the AD&D line had ended.

    In BECMI (and B/X and Rules Cyclopedia), elves, dwarves, and halflings have only a single character progression and not four classes like human characters. Since they can not have any clerics, the Companion Set introduced Relics, which are objects of great mystical power. A relic uses Turn Undead like a 15th level cleric every round with a 360 feet radius, creating a pretty substential area into which all but the most powerful undead simply cannot enter. Every elven, dwarven, or halfling clan that makes its home next to a relic has a special Keeper, who acts like a kind of priest or shaman. The keeper can cast cure blindness, cure disease, cure serious wounds, identify, and neutralize poison an almost unlimited time, but each use reduces the radius of the Turn Undead aura by 5 feet. The aura automatically grows by 5 feet every day until it's back at full strength. The keeper also has the special ability that every clan member will obey any of his orders, except for the clan leader, over which the keepers commands have no power.
    The standard elven relic is a Tree of Life, the dwarves have a Forge of Power, and the halflings a Crucible of Black Flame, which each have some additional abilities to craft special magic items. Elven keepers also can somehow move their tree of life to a different locations, just like in Warcraft III.

    I really love the idea of making these relics natural sites, like ancient trees, magic springs, an old hill with a stone circle on top, a bottomless crack in the ground, a small volcano, a magic island on a lake, and so on. These could be used by any clan of any race if they have someone among them who can become its keeper.
    With such a great source of divine power, why even have normal divine spellcasters at all? I really prefer the idea of druids and shamans simply being ordinary mages who made a pacts with the spirits of the Site of Power. For a more wild campaign, this seems just excelent, and even if you have civilized priests and temples, they could still be tied to Sites of Power that are sacred to their gods. Greek mystery cults often worked like that, with the oracles being the most famous of them.
    We are not standing on the shoulders of giants, but on very tall tower of other dwarves.

    Spriggan's Den Heroic Fantasy Roleplaying

  20. - Top - End - #140
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    MindFlayer

    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    *Redacted*

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    Last edited by BootStrapTommy; 2015-03-02 at 09:50 PM.

  21. - Top - End - #141
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    Kobold

    Join Date
    Feb 2015

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    Quote Originally Posted by Kymme View Post
    In my games elves have a unique genetic trait: the two halves of their brains are not fully connected. This lets them rest one side of their brain at a time (which makes the whole 'meditation instead of sleep' thing make sense) and, more interestingly, makes them completely ambidextrous. All elves are this way, which helps them in fighting with two weapons as well as forming complex gestures to cast spells.

    Though some of it is lost when elven blood becomes muddled, the ambidexterity remains. One way to tell somebody is a half-elf (other than the slightly pointy ears) is to check if they are ambidextrous.
    Yeah, but does the off hand always do what they intend?

    I have a picture in my head of an entire race with alien hand syndrome.

  22. - Top - End - #142
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Yora's Avatar

    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Germany

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    Quote Originally Posted by BootStrapTommy View Post
    Earth is a high gravity world (which compared to Mars and all the moons it is), which makes humans super strong.
    We are not standing on the shoulders of giants, but on very tall tower of other dwarves.

    Spriggan's Den Heroic Fantasy Roleplaying

  23. - Top - End - #143
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    Kymme's Avatar

    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    My Campaign Setting
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    Quote Originally Posted by BootStrapTommy View Post
    Or if they have beards.
    Beards/No Beards is a way to differentiate Half-Elves from Elves. The ambidexterity would be a way to differentiate Half-Elves from Humans.

    Quote Originally Posted by Gritmonger View Post
    Yeah, but does the off hand always do what they intend?

    I have a picture in my head of an entire race with alien hand syndrome.
    I actually think that'd be pretty cool. Could be an interesting quirk for an Elven character.

  24. - Top - End - #144
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    MindFlayer

    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    *Redacted*

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    Quote Originally Posted by Yora View Post
    Earth is a high gravity world (which compared to Mars and all the moons it is), which makes humans super strong.
    When I first read that I immediately thought up a universe where it turned out scientists were too optimist and humanity turned out to be the first interstellar species in the Milky Way. We became the violent, tyrannical rulers of the galaxy until a coalition of rebel races deposed us, nearly annihilating our species. We now live in sparse pockets throughout the galaxy. Every race is still afraid of us, and in many cultures we are the "boogeymen" that scare children into line. "You better behave yourself, or a human might get you!"

    We're space orcs. And most of us who remained would be genetically engineered cyborgs. And Mandolorianesque mercenaries, feared throughout the galaxy.
    Last edited by BootStrapTommy; 2015-03-04 at 12:49 PM.

  25. - Top - End - #145
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    jqavins's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Howard, NY
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    Quote Originally Posted by BootStrapTommy View Post
    When I first read that I immediately thought up a universe where it turned out scientists were too optimist and humanity turned out to be the first interstellar species in the Milky Way. We became the violent, tyrannical rulers of the galaxy until a coalition of rebel races deposed us, nearly annihilating ours species. We now live in sparse pockets throughout the galaxy. Every race is still afraid of us, and in many cultures we are the "boogeymen" that scare children into line. "You better behave yourself, or a human might get you!"

    We're space orcs. And most of us who remained would be genetically engineered cyborgs. And Mandolorianesque mercenaries, feared throughout the galaxy.
    OK, but why cyborgs? It seems to me that the point of the page you linked to is that we don't need enhancement to be the galaxy's badass boogymen.

    I'm reminded of a story I read many years ago in Analog - I think it was by Harry Turtledove, but I don't really remember - which postulated that there is a way to develop antigravity and FTL travel that most cultures find during their alchemy and astrology periods, just before the dawn of real science. The idea was that something which is rather natural to stumble onto with that half science half magic mindset makes these things possible. But humanity, by missing it, went on to develop a true scientific mindset which makes this particular thing harder to see until the science advances a great deal more. Societies that do find it come to rely on it so much that their other scientific advancement is stunted. (Trust me, I'm getting back to the point at hand.)

    So one day in the late 20th century, Earth's governments detect inbound spacecraft which don't respond to radio messages. We suppose that means that they are likely to be hostile. We prepare for their landing, hopeful for a peaceful meeting but with troops in backup. A bronze vessel lands softly and opens to emit an invasion force armed with flintlock muskets, which is promptly mowed down.

    Now, at this point, our science has advanced sufficiently to let us understand the physics behind their vessel once we take it apart and to build antigrav FTL ships of our own, but ours also have navigation computers, advanced reaction drives, radios and radar, sophisticated weapons, etc. so we become the badasses of the galaxy (I told you I'd get back to the point) by virtue of being the only spacefaring race with high technology.
    Last edited by jqavins; 2015-03-04 at 08:31 AM.
    -- Joe
    “Shared pain is diminished. Shared joy is increased.”
    -- Spider Roninson
    And shared laughter is magical

    Always remember that anything posted on the internet is, in a practical if not a legal sense, in the public domain.
    You are completely welcome to use anything I post here, or I wouldn't post it.

  26. - Top - End - #146
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    MindFlayer

    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    *Redacted*

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    Quote Originally Posted by jqavins View Post
    OK, but why cyborgs? It seems to me that the point of the page you linked to is that we don't need enhancement to be the galaxy's badass boogymen.
    Prosthetics have already reached the point of cybernetic limbs. Ones people can control with their minds.

    Yet we're still far from FTL space travel. So that's why cyborgs. Because the cybernetic singularity is much closer than interstellar travel.

    Plus, ignoring cybernetics would be losing an interstellar arms race. But humans emerging as genetically perfect, augmented by machinery? They'd be even more deadly.
    Last edited by BootStrapTommy; 2015-03-04 at 12:59 PM.

  27. - Top - End - #147
    Halfling in the Playground
     
    Planetar

    Join Date
    Dec 2014

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    Quote Originally Posted by BootStrapTommy View Post
    Prosthetics have already reached the point of cybernetic limbs. Ones people can control with their minds.

    Yet we're still far from FTL space travel. So that's why cyborgs. Because the cybernetic singularity is much closer than interstellar travel.

    Plus, ignoring cybernetics would be losing an interstellar arms race. But humans emerging as genetically perfect, augmented by machinery? They'd be even more deadly.
    Wouldn't genetically perfect mean theoretically better than their best machines? Having awesome musculature and healing and stuff doesn't mean squat when you replace limbs with robotics that can't do all that.

    Using cybernetics for ADDITIONAL limbs, however...

  28. - Top - End - #148
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    MindFlayer

    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    *Redacted*

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    Quote Originally Posted by Mr.Cobalt View Post
    Using cybernetics for ADDITIONAL limbs, however...
    Now we're talking!

    Quote Originally Posted by Mr.Cobalt View Post
    Wouldn't genetically perfect mean theoretically better than their best machines? Having awesome musculature and healing and stuff doesn't mean squat when you replace limbs with robotics that can't do all that.
    Not replacement. Augmentation. Integrated endo- or exosuits. No matter how perfect you design the musculature and stuff, you can always increase efficiency with a machine.

    Biologists are also pretty sure there is a rough biological maxium to brain efficiency (the 'high performance sport car' analogy). I was in truth thinking mostly along the lines increased cognitive processing power, via human-computer singularity. Which I suspect will concur with genetic engineering, but pre-date FTL
    Last edited by BootStrapTommy; 2015-03-04 at 03:05 PM.

  29. - Top - End - #149
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Yora's Avatar

    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Germany

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    "Genetically perfect" is not a scientific term. It looks like a real term, but has no actual meaning.
    We are not standing on the shoulders of giants, but on very tall tower of other dwarves.

    Spriggan's Den Heroic Fantasy Roleplaying

  30. - Top - End - #150
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    MindFlayer

    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    *Redacted*

    Default Re: Snippets of Creativity

    There are plenty who would disagree. Mind you, they're mostly racists.
    Last edited by BootStrapTommy; 2015-03-04 at 03:54 PM.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •