Summer Campaign 3.5 Shemdelver

As mentioned previously, I find putting off long-lasting campaigns obsolete anymore due to numerous of reasons. I have also gauge great interest in the Classic Shemdelver Campaign setting. However, I still wish to start fresh. To meld these two desires into one, we will simply have a summer long campaign setting in Shemdelver, with new PC’s. So here is the gist of it all (In no particular order).

•  Base classes will be Pathfinder, in fact all of Pathfinder will be used in conjunction with the 3.5 system. If two versions of the same rule exist, Pathfinder trumps.
• Shemdelver always trumps Pathfinder.
• With that said, Shemdelver races only.
• Maximum Threshold Damage will be used, I’ll post that later, but keep this in mind.
• Mutation Threshold, for simplicity sake: If you have more mutation points then Character level, you become an abomination.
• Still No Divine Magic. If you wish to be able to heal, be an elf, or fine another cleaver way (enlighten fist, Complete Arcane), or the best method is to take Herbalism feat, which will allow you to replicate a number of 3rd and under healing/protection if you have the alchemy or healing skill. More details on the feat page.
• For this particular game, we will be using the 32 point buy system. Stats due to racial adjustments are added after purchasing stats.
• No Flaws
• You will have a chance of starting with mutations depending on numerous of factors, that is because you are level 10. Yes, 10.
• I will NOT accept a PC unless it comes with a general history/background/quirks/traits/etc. Give me something I can use in game. I’m a lazy DM.
• The intro to the Campaign is below, but again, except Shemdelver as you know it, unless otherwise stated. Please remember you do not need to be a full caster when reading the below intro, but you should have at least one caster level. Explaining why you haven’t progressed might be needed. There are many prestige classes that combine casters with rogues, monks, fighters, gunslingers, and what have you.

You are apart of an elite organization that acts as the Council of Magi’s hand. The Council of Magi is the political assembly of the City of Towers, headed by the Magus Zarndelius. The organization is known as the Templars. To be a citizen of the City of Towers, one must be born with the talent (arcane ability), and some of these individuals are recruited to the ranks of the Templars.

Although rank, respect, and the chain of command is determined by achievement and loyalty to the cause, those that are part of a higher house are capable of higher ranks and access to the inner-workings of the Magi Council. The Houses are divided into 9 sections. The house that you belong to is strictly determined by the spell level you are capable of casting. (Keep this in mind) when building your PC. Often Templars wear emblems on their clothing signifying which house they belong to, this is considered formal attire, and quickly distinguishes the higher ranking Templars.

Small Update.

Since we will be gaming in Shemdelver Sunday, I figured I would bring some topics into the light to speak:

• Alchemy, Poisons, & Herbalism in conjunction with the skill Heal, will allow you to brew non-magical potions. I suggest looking under the “Equipment” Section to familiarize yourself with these, especially if you choose to have your PC practice one or more of these skills. Also “Brew Potion” feat will allow you to apply metamagic feats to one such skill (alchemy, herbalism, poison) if you purchase the metamagic feats as well. The modified rules greatly increase the power of such skills, which fits the flavor of Shemdelver.
• Beserker. Yes it has went through many modifications, and during play might go through some more. Currently, under the current set up, if a Beserker had a Great Axe, he can potentially do 4d8 damage with one strike, and this is simply with no magical effects. This and his increased natural AC, and debuffing techniques, he may need some further adjustments. I wish to give the Beserker options as the other classes, as well as fill his own niche without stepping on anyone’s toes.
• The Base classes were built with one idea in mind, playing X class, will he have to prestige to feel important.  The answer I wish for is “No”. This makes possible prestige classes a lesser option. This I see as a good thing. I also wished for dual classed PC’s not to have the benefits of both worlds without a larger sacrifice.
• Spellweave, read it. For those familiar with the gas, I’ve giving you access to the rules and specifics I work with, for those that aren’t, read it, it’s a critical part in roaming around Shemdelver.
• The Musketeer will become a prestige class.
• Paragon Classes will eventually come to pass.
• Epic Level Rules will eventually be written.
• Massive Threshold damage will be written today, look for it under other.
• Reserve Points will be wiped clear or adjusted, so keep an eye out for it.
• Feats. A few feats will be added or adjusted as needed. Keep an eye out for this under the “Feats & Skills” the only one I see needing adjusting currently is Herbalism. This will be written today. Also such feats as “Heavy Weapon”
• Gas Masks and such will be written up today.
• DM Points, I might get to this today.

Your’s Truly

‘Zarndelius’

Rule Implentation for Evil Campaign.

The current campaign we play where we tend to slaughter each other, make a zombie on the fly, and have a dark skinned friend, Shawn has this rule implementation he wished me to share:

Becoming Fatigued and Exhausted:

When a character enters combat he exhaust himself of his mental and physical energy. Because of this, not everyone can charge through combat and not eventually become fatigued.  At the start of each combat, for each round a character does an action (move, cast a spell, use a weapon, etc) he comes closer to potentially becoming fatigued. A PC has 10 rounds + (Con Modifier) rounds before he must make a save to avoid being fatigued.

At the start of the round right after the 10 + (Con Mod) rounds, a PC must make a save, using his best save. (If a character has a high Fort save, his body is naturally sturdy and resilient to becoming fatigued, if high will, through sheer determination he presses on, and if high reflexes, his dexterous aptitude allows him to make the most efficient moves requiring the smallest of energy). If he fails that save he then becomes fatigued, if he saves, he must keep making the save at the start of every round. Once a character becomes fatigued, he has (Con Mod) rounds until he must make a save to not become exhausted, each time he saves, he must make another save at the start of the following round until combat ends..

Fatigue:

A fatigued character can neither run nor charge and takes a -2 penalty to Strength and Dexterity. Doing anything that would normally cause fatigue causes the fatigued character to become exhausted. After 8 hours of complete rest, fatigued characters are no longer fatigued.

Exhausted:

An exhausted character moves at half speed and takes a -6 penalty to Strength and Dexterity. After 1 hour of complete rest, an exhausted character becomes fatigued. A fatigued character becomes exhausted by doing something else that would normally cause fatigue.

-Venchi

Sneak Preview?

Well, until this week is over, the updating to Shemdelver is completed. The Alchemical Transmogrifist is somewhat of a surprised class I made, but it will be playable when we start (taking into consideration it’s in beta-mode). If your class has not been finished yet, not to worry, those classes will be next. For a preview the following changes will likely be made:

• Berserker will be able to read, and his rage will be whirl wind attack. Trap Sense and DR will be taken away for something more useful, and the Beserker will get benefits every other level or two that functions while he is in Rage.
• Wizard. All wizards are focus specialist (banned from 3 schools), and the spell point system will dictate there spells known/cast. With the wizard class the full rule set of spell points will be posted. All wizards will loose the familiar for something more favorable (flavor wise). Lastly, particular abilities will be granted depending on what school you specialize in.
• Rogue will act as it does now, but perhaps with a bit more skill points and a few special abilities in replace of the current ones.

Slight Racial Modifications.

Made slight modifications to the following races:

• Nercovenants
• Elves

These are the last modifications i will be making to the races, however, I am considering running them past a Char Op forum to ensure they are equivalence in power towards each other. Necrovenants have lost the ability to not be fatigue, gained a minor spell like ability, and a had a special massive threshold/critical hit exception rule applied to them. Elves are now considered fey creatures for all intent and purposes.

On an additional note minor house rules have been added, which can be found in the menu under “other”.

- Zarn

Races Have Been Updated.

The Races of Shemdelver have been updated, by next Sunday, the classes will be completed, along with an updated version of the firearms and a few other pieces of unique equipment to Shemdelver.

Note to current players:

Before we start playing the campaign again, you will have the liberty to change races if it fits you flavor and doesn’t effect the storyline or background of your PC too much. The PC’s will need adjusting regardless (but it will be benefical to you, and act as a refreshment course since we haven’t played in awhile). Stay tuned for slightly modified or additional classes. The only heavily changed class will be the fighter. Classes in general will be taken from Pathfinder SRD and Midnight D20 setting. A few new classes to focus on the steam-punk feel will be introduced as well.

I plan to have the Shemdelver campaign running again within 30 Days.

Shemdelver D20 “The Second Age”

After years of being untouched, the Shemdelver campaign will be undergoing a major update to be playable for a campaign I will be DM’ing. The Realm of Shemdelver, ‘The Second Age’ is a realm where the mighty Balor Empire has recently fallen. Despite the Empire’s evil domination over the realm, it brought many technological advancements to the realms, called steamcraft. Now, thanks to an ancient spell rumored to be cast by a cult of wizards, the realm is free. It came with a price though, as the ancient and forbidden spell created an Armageddon, and though certain city-states have collaborated together to make loosely governed empires, the land is in turmiol and the people have been cut off from any divine intervention or aid. Steamcraft technology may be found across the lands, and only the Goblins of Abbaklrenic have started the process of reverse enigneering some the devices. The undead roam freely through out the lands, arcane abominations haunt the realms as they seek destruction, great arcane and steamcraft artifacts from the past threaten the very existence of the realm all while the remaining life on Shemdelver fight for existence. The Realm of Shemdelver is a realm devoid of Divine Magic, with undead, steamcraft constructs and abominations lurking at every corner. A fantasy steam-punk hybrid scenario of the wild west and the fall of the Roman Empire. Welcome to Shemdelver.

WordPress is kicking my ass

Well, I’ve fixed the Clockwork race, made world map, timeline, and I would like to finish the fluff of every race.  HOWEVER, for some odd reason my pages won’t update, instead; everytime I try to save my work I get an alert prompt stating that if I go away from the page, all work will not be saved.  So I’m at a stalemate.  I checked the FAQs, and no answers to my problem exist.

Alas, here is the intel on the updates:

Clockworks:  Thier is now only one type of Clock work, the Coretapper.  I have also added to racial relations and religion.

World Map:  Its Huge!  It was made in Photoshop CS2, and has every island-state, and each capital and city of the respected Island-state.  I believe thier are about eight major land masses, one which is shared by the goblins and kobolds.  With as many cities thier are, I have created a major task for myself to tackle.  I plan on IMAP’ing the Worldmap where you can zoom into different sections to see a zoomed in detialed map of that paticular region.  Each state has at least 2 cities, and up to about 9 cities.  Though most hold about 5.

Timeline:  The timeline is probably the only project I have tackled that will make this project easier.  It will probably see a couple modifications through out the creation of Shemdelver, but its a step in the right direction.

I would also like to note I have added the main langauges of Shemdelver.  Let it be known these are not the only langauges, but the mainstream ones.  I will have to edit each races natural and bonus langauges accordingly.

Shemdelver Update.

Well, I had writers block for a couple days, and I think I’ve come to terms with my creative vibe.  Anyways, I figured I would make some more adjustments to the campaign, thats already implemented.  ( I know thier isn’t a lot by any means), but still.   The modifications I’d like to make are mainly on the clockworks, I’ll which will probably get an overhual on stats and appearance.  They will remained small size, and half constructs, however I’m getting rid of the different sub-types.  Making subtypes I believe, might deter players from picking other races.  So I’m going to fix it up a bit.  I’m also going to start a timeline right after this post.  The timeline will just be an outline for me to figure out the history and the order of what happen when.  I have many events that I want to take place in Shemdelver, but the when is a problem.  So I’ll figure that out soon as I can.  I figured starting a Timeline would help.  Besides that, I would like to apologize for my horrible grammer and all my typos I make on this blog.  I don’t pretend to be a english major, but my vocabulary tends to extend pass my grammer and spelling knowledge.

Well, we all know I have too much work for one guy to tackle, so I best get started.  Maybe I’ll get done before 4.0 comes out.

Goblins and Clockworks

The Goblins and Clockwork descriptions and racial traits are now fully complete. Right now I’m trying to flush out the detials on the Ebyys and Gnomes. I am also working on a Campaign map in Photoshop. It will probably be rather crude, so if thier are any self-proclaimed map-makers out thier, your assistance in making it look better would be great. Shemdelver is a very small earth, with a good handful of islands. I will probably make the world map first, then afterwards, make regional maps. Another thing I’ll be working on is modifying the Warforge feats found in Eberron to fit my Clockworks. I will be doing each task on and off, until I have a brillant idea to pin down the concept I have in mind for a paticular part of the campaign I’ll be working on (does that make any sense?).

O, one more thing.  The remaining of the Old Races: Humans and Halfings are not yet added to the database.  Humans will be remaining exactly the same as in the PHB with an ECL 0 rating.  Halfings however, I envisioned as a nomatic sea going people, and will be making the adjustments accordingly.  Halfings will however, be ECL 0 as well.

Anyways, I’ll see you guys later.