Psionicist

[HSwiftfoot@aol.co]

In a message dated 97-10-17 00:55:13 EDT, you write:




I think this is one of those little inconsistencies that TSR occasionally
throws our way (no offense, Ed!). My response would be, if you want to a=
llow
psionicists in your BR campaign (which I don't recommend, except perhaps =
as
an exotic Adurian), then Astrid exists. If you don't, then ignore her. A=
s
with all source material, take what what works for your campaign and ditc=
h
the rest.

Another inconsistency I always wondered about was Caliedhe Dosiere.
Supposedly true mages can't be specialist Diviners ((Rulebook, P.12)), y=
et
here is a man who is a 12th/16th-level dual class fighter-diviner. With =
a
great (64) Anduiras bloodline no less. He should be a powerful true mage.
Why is he a mere seer? Go figure. =20

Kevin Moss
Canandaigua, NY, USA

[Ed Stark]

At 06:50 AM 10/17/97 -0400, you wrote:
>In a message dated 97-10-17 00:55:13 EDT, you write:
>
> since there isn't supose to be any in the Birthright world I was just
>woundering=20
> where she came from. If you are woundering who I'm speaking about it is
>Astrid=20
> of M=FCden, she WAS a famous wizard and psionicist, or so the book say.
> She can be found in BLOOD ENEMIES under the HYDRA, she is now one of the=
=20
> Hydras heads.....I just wanted to know if this was a freak misshap or if
>there=20
> are more psionicists in Birthright? >>
>
>
>I think this is one of those little inconsistencies that TSR occasionally
>throws our way (no offense, Ed!). My response would be, if you want to=
allow
>psionicists in your BR campaign (which I don't recommend, except perhaps as
>an exotic Adurian), then Astrid exists. If you don't, then ignore her. As
>with all source material, take what what works for your campaign and ditch
>the rest.
>
>Another inconsistency I always wondered about was Caliedhe Dosiere.
> Supposedly true mages can't be specialist Diviners ((Rulebook, P.12)), yet
>here is a man who is a 12th/16th-level dual class fighter-diviner. With a
>great (64) Anduiras bloodline no less. He should be a powerful true mage.
> Why is he a mere seer? Go figure. =20

How maddeningly interesting. ;-)

Actually, I can handle both those at once.

We do throw in occasional inconsistencies intentionally--and I know for a
fact we put enough in unintentionally. I think the Hydra/psionicist one was
unintentional, but I have an explanation.

Here goes ...

Remember in the description of the Giantdowns it is mentioned that
Ghuralli, the orog-awnshegh, got his "metal" form from a visiting creature
from another plane (a tanar'ri' he freed from a mound, I believe)? Well,
Cerilia (Aebrynnis, actually) isn't Athas--it's not cut off from other
worlds. There ARE occasional planewalkers and summoned creatures popping
in. The Shadow World provides something of a planar buffer, but ...

No, that's getting ahead of myself ;-)

Anyway, I think the psionicist eaten/absorbed by the Hydra wasn't actually
from Aebrynnis. I think she came from somewhere else, and stories about her
are legendary and inaccurate. She came, she did stuff, she got eaten ...
and now the Hydra has a psionic head. That's my explanation.

As for the diviner/fighter ... I believe the BoM states (if it doesn't, it
should) that blooded wizards do not HAVE to become true mages. More often
than not they do, but some just don't have the
discipline/interest/opportunity to learn more than divination or illusion
spells. It is possible for a blooded character to be a magician ... though
so unlikely it's hardly ever mentioned.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it (unless somebody has a better idea=
...)


Ed Stark
Game Designer, Wizards of the Coast/TSR Division
Asst. Brand Manager, BIRTHRIGHT/GREYHAWK/MARVEL Group
TSR Website: http://www.tsrinc.com