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3 years ago ::
Aug 26, 2010 - 6:22AM
#1
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Date Joined:
Apr 27, 2006
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neat ring. great background.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 26, 2010 - 12:30PM
#2
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Date Joined:
Apr 23, 2005
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Since I've complained about the recent lack of mechanical elements in this series, I was glad to see them return in this article (nice ring too). However, I thought it was kind of weird reading about a broadsheet reporting on the mysterious deaths of some government arcanists. Seems kind of Eberronesque to me, I wasn't aware that the Realms had a nascent mass media.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 26, 2010 - 12:43PM
#3
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Date Joined:
Aug 11, 2006
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That's nothing new. FR sources back to 2E (I don't remember 1E well enough) have referred to broadsheets being published in various places, although all of them were major cities.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 26, 2010 - 6:18PM
#4
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Date Joined:
May 22, 2009
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It's an cool concept, and I already have some ideas for fitting the story and the ring into my current campaign, but considering this statement: When the investigators passed the ring to more senior War Wizards, extensive experiments discovered that each time the ring is activated, it drains an almost imperceptible bit of energy from its wearer;
I am disappointed that there was no mention of a negative effect in the description of the item.
- Rico
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3 years ago ::
Aug 26, 2010 - 9:13PM
#5
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Date Joined:
Aug 11, 2006
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A negative effect would no longer be 'imperceptible'.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 26, 2010 - 10:19PM
#6
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Date Joined:
May 22, 2009
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It doesn't say "impercptible." It says "almost imperceptible." There's a difference. Why bother putting that into the story if the item isn't going to reflect that? It doesn't have to be anything major, maybe lose a healing surge until you have an extended rest. It would actually make it a more compelling story element.
- Rico
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3 years ago ::
Aug 27, 2010 - 1:52AM
#7
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Date Joined:
Aug 11, 2006
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The war wizards had to perform an extensive study of the things to realize that it was happening. If it was draining a surge each time then it would be blatantly obvious without the need for that.
"Draining an almost imperceptible amount" says "story element" rather than "mechanical effect" - you don't need to attach mechanics to everything.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 27, 2010 - 11:43AM
#8
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The war wizards had to perform an extensive study of the things to realize that it was happening. If it was draining a surge each time then it would be blatantly obvious without the need for that. "Draining an almost imperceptible amount" says "story element" rather than "mechanical effect" - you don't need to attach mechanics to everything.
Agreed. The player gets an excuse to ham it up by acting a little winded or something after using it.
Another day, another three or four entries to my Ignore List.
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3 years ago ::
Aug 27, 2010 - 9:37PM
#9
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Date Joined:
May 22, 2009
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The war wizards had to perform an extensive study of the things to realize that it was happening. If it was draining a surge each time then it would be blatantly obvious without the need for that. "Draining an almost imperceptible amount" says "story element" rather than "mechanical effect" - you don't need to attach mechanics to everything.
Agreed. The player gets an excuse to ham it up by acting a little winded or something after using it.
I like that (and I was thinking of something like that). Perhaps I should have worded my comment differently.
Let me backtrack, and start out with a bit of disclosure. I've been playing RPGs (D&D, GURPS, 2300 AD, Traveller, etc.) for about 20 years, but I'm fairly new as a DM. I've run a few of the RPGA modules for our home group, but I'm running my first full on campaign.
I like the idea of this ring, and the "story element" of it stealing a bit of the life force of its wielder each time it is used is compelling. I just think that a "story element" that has no real way of being expressed, is basically a dead end. The author certainly had something in mind other than just a throw away story element. (Let's face it, this is very much like the Ring in Tolkein.) I think it would have be helpful (especially for those of us who are just getting our feet wet as DMs) if these articles would offer a suggestion or two about how to play that out.
Any other suggestions you guys have would be appreciated.
- Rico
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