Completed NPC writeups for comment

[Raesene Andu]

Attached are 4 NPC writeups that have been completed for the Atlas project. If you have any constructive comments or corrections, then please reply in this thread.

[asoe]

Class and level is missing for Aeric Boeruine. Based on his HD it looks as if he's Noble 2/Fighter 10/Scion 1.

[Midnight]

I would think that Rov more than any other 2nd edition wizard should be converted to a sorcerer. It would make sense that his magical powers come from force of will rather than arcan study. thats my thoughts any way.

[Thomas_Percy]

Avan, Boeruine and Tael are are helplessly underequiped.
I understand they are dukes and don't need to be killing machines himself, because of guards (1st level warriors anyway, Raesene Andu?)
But why they don't have any regent usable equipement, Cloak of Charisma, Bag of Holding, Feather Token: Bird, Circlet of Persuasion, Figurines of Wondrous Power Silver Raven, they even don't have any potion. They are so poor?
How can I respect a "powerful" ruler and celebrity NPC when he has an equipement like my 4th level fighter (shield+1, armor+1)?
I feel syndrome of 3e FRCS Drizzt'do'Urden - target of jokes, pity & houserule upgrades of 99% fans.

[asoe]

From what I understand, magic item creation in Birthright is far more expensive and time consuming than in other settings. I'm not too sure if a magician can create magic items, and there aren't that many wizards/sorcerers around. I think it seems quite reasonable that even high level (9+) only have what you deem a 4th level fighter's equipment. Regents in general should IMO only possess one or two minor magic items and compared to that, the listed regents are very powerful indeed, not only in terms of being a strong character but also in terms of having some powerful items at hand.
Then again, I'm fairly new to this setting, and might be wrong in my assumptions.

[Jamie]

Hey guys.

I am the one who wrote up the conversions for Aeric, Gavin and Darien. :)

They are all equipped with the gear that their NPC descriptions in the relevant source material had them equipped with. Magical items in Birthright are not as prevalent as they are in settings like the Forgotten Realms. There are just too few people with the power to create them.

Thanks,
Jamie

[Saragon]

From what I understand, magic item creation in Birthright is far more expensive and time consuming than in other settings. I'm not too sure if a magician can create magic items, and there aren't that many wizards/sorcerers around. I think it seems quite reasonable that even high level (9+) only have what you deem a 4th level fighter's equipment. Regents in general should IMO only possess one or two minor magic items and compared to that, the listed regents are very powerful indeed, not only in terms of being a strong character but also in terms of having some powerful items at hand.
Then again, I'm fairly new to this setting, and might be wrong in my assumptions.

You're not wrong at all, asoe. The time and resources required to manufacture magical items in Cerilia make even a +1 longsword unique and historied, at least to the family that keeps it as an heirloom. Birthright is explicitly a low-magic campaign world.

Thomas_Percy: many of the items you list, such as feather token: bird and cloak of charisma, are not only well beyond the meager magicks of Cerilia but not really suited to Birthright. The few powerful casters with Craft skills would make items to serve a specific purpose (e.g. countering the powers of a particular awnshegh), not baubles for sale to the wealthy.

[Thomas_Percy]

magic item creation in Birthright is far more expensive and time consuming than in other settings.
Where can I find this rules?

[Raesene Andu]

Where can I find this rules?

Pg. 152 onwards in the BRCS covers BR as a low magic campaign.

Also if you are unhappy with the current magical items (or stats) of any of the NPCs, then please post alternatives. The current listings only cover the known magical items listed in the original material and therefore to be included in this conversion.

[irdeggman]

Where can I find this rules?

BRCS poll on the subject:



http://www.birthright.net/showthread.php?t=2654 (http://www.birthright.net/showthread.php?t=2654)





BRCS chap 8 covers magic items in BR (pg 152+ in the BRCS-playtest) (see variant rule which will become the default rule in the revision based on the above poll)



2nd ed references:



Book of Magecraft pg 65 “Because true wizards are so rare in Cerilia, players and DMs should add 15-25% to XP and gp values of items listed in other products (such as the DMG and ENCYCLOPEDIA MAGICA volumes) when using them in a BIRTHRIGHT campaign.”





Book of Priestcraft pg 116+

Pg 126 gives a list of items that are suitable for use in Cerilia from the Tome of Magic (others are not recommended).



Book of Regency pg 99+



From pg 112:



"Not much magic exists in the BIRTHRIGHT world compared to some other game settings. However, what magic does exist can be powerful. A sword +1 or ring of protection +1 is a big deal in Cerilia, because they are so rare. However, every magic item needs a history and a story."

[Thomas_Percy]

Also if you are unhappy with the current magical items (or stats) of any of the NPCs, then please post alternatives.
I will try.

I personally agree with most of you. I like customized, personalized, original, unique magic items with a history. Like Varscona or Spiders' Bane swords from Baldur's Gate. The only drawback of such items is the fact someone must create, describe and manage it for game sessions... and this "someone" is me - DM. It takes time.

As all of you know we are playing D&D - game balanced in such a way that mid & high level heroes are magic dependent, fighter is weaker than a wizard without magic items and so on. So I don't asked what you preffer. I asked about new rules that change Brt D&D from high/med to low magic and save the game balanced.

Thanks for help.

[Raesene Andu]

As all of you know we are playing D&D - game balanced in such a way that mid & high level heroes are magic dependent, fighter is weaker than a wizard without magic items and so on.

I would dispute that claim :) I just ran a gaming session yesterday where a paladin with no magical items and wearing only a breastplate for armour nearly defeated a PC rogue and sorcerer with plenty of magic support, and buff spells already cast. Of course, the sorcerer is evil, so that made things easier and my lucky dice were rolling particularly well, but even so it was only meant to be a minor encounter.

[Osprey]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas_Percy
As all of you know we are playing D&D - game balanced in such a way that mid & high level heroes are magic dependent, fighter is weaker than a wizard without magic items and so on.

Raesene:
I would dispute that claim I just ran a gaming session yesterday where a paladin with no magical items and wearing only a breastplate for armour nearly defeated a PC rogue and sorcerer with plenty of magic support, and buff spells already cast. Of course, the sorcerer is evil, so that made things easier and my lucky dice were rolling particularly well, but even so it was only meant to be a minor encounter.

In general, it's no problem to balance PC vs. NPC regardless of the magic level in the game, as equipment and spells can always be tailored. It's higher-CR monsters that must be tweaked to maintain balance in the upper levels.

[Thomas_Percy]

In general, it's no problem to balance PC vs. NPC regardless of the magic level in the game, as equipment and spells can always be tailored.
1. It's not a problem for you or me, because we played D&D long years.
2. It's not a problem for you or me, because we are Birthright fans only. It's a problem of Brt developers to create rules that change d20 system to low-magic (do sth. with DR for example).

Maybe magic items that can be used only by particular creature or items with drawbacks are the answer to the question "how to give power to NPCs but don't make your campaing Monty Haul?"

[irdeggman]

1. It's not a problem for you or me, because we played D&D long years.
2. It's not a problem for you or me, because we are Birthright fans only. It's a problem of Brt developers to create rules that change d20 system to low-magic (do sth. with DR for example).

Maybe magic items that can be used only by particular creature or items with drawbacks are the answer to the question "how to give power to NPCs but don't make your campaing Monty Haul?"

Well since the DR rules have changed substantially to make it simpler and function more by material type than the (+s) of weapons - i.e., DR x/magic means that any magic weapon bypasses the DR it is not as bad as it would on the surface appear.

Regardless as to what is placed into the rules (and atlas) it will remain with the DM to ensure that the encounter being developed is "appropriate". That has always been and will always be the toughest thing to do.

Note that Complete Warrior inserted an option for reducing magic in a campaign.

[fiftyone]

I don't know if I'd call BR a low-magic campaign.. Maybe a rare(ish) magic campaign. But not "I CAN DESTROY YOUR ARMIES WITH A LITTLE PREP AND A PILE OF GOLD - MASS DESTRUCTION BOOM" low magic.

Oh there I go again reading the first few posts and then having to chime in.

I apologize.

[fiftyone]

In regard to to the magic items for the NPC writeups, might I suggest doubling the bonus on some of the items. In 2nd edition a +4 sword was a +4 sword and the 'weapon property' option didn't really exist, as far as I know.

Take Boeruine for example. In 2nd edition he had a +4 Bastard Sword and a suit of +4 Field Plate. He also isn't listed with a shield so you might assume he uses the Bastard Sword in the two-handed fashion. To make up for a lack of shield, maybe the Sword has the 'Defending' property. Work with it a bit, think of something interesting and sensible. How about Thundering aswell? That would make quite an impact on the battlefield. I think his armor with the 'Invulnerability' or one of the 'Spell Resistance' properties would be suitable. Meanwhile keep both items at +4. That may seem too powerful, but given the value of the items it would take half or more of Boeruine's entire treasury to make, past, present or future.

For Rhoubhe, might I recommend making his armor a mithril Breastplate?

[fiftyone]

Also to solve the problem of other treasures he would have, you could just say

"Triple standard plus yadda (the equipment already listed) yadda"

Or some such.

[Raesene Andu]

One thing to mention is that it is possible that all the named magical items (especially those in the hands of NPCs) will get a more verbose explaination in the Atlas and it is possible that the items will be updated then.

On the matter of the NPC stats themselves though, everyone is happy with them? If so then I can move those descriptions into the completed part of the Atlas. I will post more NPCs to discuss as they are completed (I have 2 more that could be posted already).

[asoe]

(I have 2 more that could be posted already).

Bring 'em on :)

[Benjamin]

OK, I have to say I really like how these were written up. I think the level of magic is stupendous for BR. The weapons they have are VERY powerful and quite possibly heirlooms passed down from pre-Deismaar. I disagree with Thomas Percy that they need powering up.

One question/concern I have relates to Darien Avan. He has a whole lot of SQs. Everyone else has 2 or so, but Avan has 8 or 9. How is this possible? Also, why would have have favored region west coast? His history talks about heartlands and eastern marches, not the western coast. I doubt, in his youth, a Boeruine would have taken him in. I also doubt his father would have sent him to Boeruine or Talinie, into the agents of his greatest enemy.

[Osprey]

Also, why would have have favored region west coast? His history talks about heartlands and eastern marches, not the western coast. I doubt, in his youth, a Boeruine would have taken him in. I also doubt his father would have sent him to Boeruine or Talinie, into the agents of his greatest enemy.

At this point in time, Avan has a great deal of experience overseeing and running the law of Taeghas and Brosengae, as well as covert actions into Boeruine. While his early years may have been mainly in the Heartlands (and this should indeed be his 1st favored region), his later years as regent of Avanil have certainly given him a great deal of experience within the Western Coast.

Osprey

[RaspK_FOG]

I generally like most of them, but I prefer the "minus" version to Rhuobe; additionally, pay extra attention to how you format the information therein!

[Benjamin]

At this point in time, Avan has a great deal of experience overseeing and running the law of Taeghas and Brosengae, as well as covert actions into Boeruine. While his early years may have been mainly in the Heartlands (and this should indeed be his 1st favored region), his later years as regent of Avanil have certainly given him a great deal of experience within the Western Coast.
Osprey

OK, I can buy that, but I still disagree. :)

Just because he has been ruling these 2 realms does not give him expertise in their territory. After all, Avan was already ruling Avanil before he took over his neighbors. I doubt he has had much time to ride around the Western Coast to familiarize himself with those lands. Best bet is he went to the capital a time or two to get vassalage, then left. His court handles the day-to-day business.

In his youth, though, he squired in various areas, riding the roads, hiking the forests, etc., truly becoming familiar with them. His ties to the Western Coast would seem to me to be purely political.

Of course, maybe I misunderstand what the expertise means. :)

[Jamie]

OK, I have to say I really like how these were written up. I think the level of magic is stupendous for BR. The weapons they have are VERY powerful and quite possibly heirlooms passed down from pre-Deismaar. I disagree with Thomas Percy that they need powering up.

One question/concern I have relates to Darien Avan. He has a whole lot of SQs. Everyone else has 2 or so, but Avan has 8 or 9. How is this possible? Also, why would have have favored region west coast? His history talks about heartlands and eastern marches, not the western coast. I doubt, in his youth, a Boeruine would have taken him in. I also doubt his father would have sent him to Boeruine or Talinie, into the agents of his greatest enemy.

Thanks for the compliment. I am the one who has written up Boeruine, Avan, Tael, and Nichalier (he isn't up here yet).

Avan has 8-9 special qualities because he has 10 levels of noble where the others are mostly fighters with 1 or 2 levels of noble. The noble class gives a huge number of special abilities.

As for why he has favoured region (west coast) it is because the best way to defeat an enemy is to know that enemy as well or better than he knows himself. Avan is supposedly a very brilliant tactician I am sure he has studied his opponents extensively. At least that is the reasoning I had for giving it to him. If everyone disagrees it can be changed. :)

[Mantyluoto]

ok dumb ass question time.

in these write ups i see this

DARIEN AVAN CR 13
Male Anuirean Noble 10/Scion 2


Where is the Scion class/Prc?

[Jamie]

The scion prestige classes are in Chapter 2 Blood and Regency.

There is one for each bloodline.

[Mantyluoto]

ah ha!! its a 3.5 thingy thats why i don't know what it is.

thanks Jamie.

[irdeggman]

Actually it is not a prestige class (since that would require a minimum character level of 5 before meeting the prerequisites). It is another class that doesn't count towards multiclassing penalties.