Surtur Preview

[Frobojoe]

Ta da!

[Upper_Krust]

Thanks very much Frobojoe mate!

Okay I just wanted to get some feedback on the preview before I screen capture the pages and put them directly on the website.

I have also noticed a few things when constructing the stat blocks.

Firstly I think I am wasting space (and inadvertantly distracting people) by outlining those divine (cosmic or whatever) powers that are merely prerequisites for other powers.

Secondly, I think the competence bonuses attributed to portfolios is much too ambiguous and probably far too powerful. So I am likely going to change it to a single bonus to a pertinent action/ability.

Lastly, I wonder if there is a quicker way of describing one of the Effect abilities (such as Surtur's Uncanny Cosmic Mastery) - they take up a dreadful amount of room.

Also chances are I made some mistakes somewhere - so let me know where. Thanks.

[Ltheb Silverfrond]

Originally Posted by Upper_Krust

Thanks very much Frobojoe mate!

Okay I just wanted to get some feedback on the preview before I screen capture the pages and put them directly on the website.

I have also noticed a few things when constructing the stat blocks.

Firstly I think I am wasting space (and inadvertantly distracting people) by outlining those divine (cosmic or whatever) powers that are merely prerequisites for other powers.

Secondly, I think the competence bonuses attributed to portfolios is much too ambiguous and probably far too powerful. So I am likely going to change it to a single bonus to a pertinent action/ability.

Lastly, I wonder if there is a quicker way of describing one of the Effect abilities (such as Surtur's Uncanny Cosmic Mastery) - they take up a dreadful amount of room.

Also chances are I made some mistakes somewhere - so let me know where. Thanks.

Well, I guess if you have Ultimate Power Attack, it could be assumed you had all the versions that are prerequisites, but it is also good to list these things incase there is a discrepency, or one of the powers offers a benifit not listed in the stat block. (Ex, if there was a power called uncanny disarm that let you disarm a foe and all foes are disarmed. )

The competence bonus could be the key factor in deciding who wins in a fight between two evenly matched foes. If one gets his bonus against the other (Such as surtur fighting a foe foolish enough to weild a molten sword) the one gaining the bonus is likely to win.
You could reduce the bonus, or restrict it to portfolio related actions - Ex: The fire portfolio might give Surtur +24, but only when he deals fire damage or such. (This is hard to word without taking up a paragraph)

Yea, the Effect Mastery abilities do take up space. When I threw Ltheb together, I found that a small table worked well. It's less verbose, but probably takes up less space if you use a slightly smaller font.
Oh! Here's an idea - List the base ammount of HD/Damage Die if applicable, and then say "See Page XXX (Begining of Divine Powers Section where you describe effects) for details" Or list the page the effect appears on if it has a Non-HD based effect. (Like for Gravitic, Thelemic, and Astro-type effects) This takes up less space, but a bit of referencing is needed to run said deity. "What is the damaga on Cosmic Storm? Grr page XXX, Shoulda written it down" Then again, if you didn't plan ahead of time that the PCs were going to fight a God, then perhaps the DM needs to take a bit of a break and make sure he or she knows exactly what that entails. (Ex - "Abraxas can nullify what!?! Permenent Hit Die Loss?!? Geez, the players are doomed!")

[Phantom Llama]

No major issues jumped out at me, though I haven't made much review of the statblocks themselves.

Surtur still has the proper attitude to gladiatorial arenas.

I see you are continuing your 'band of freaks' approach to creating adventuring parties.

High Epic: Surtur is freed by the chance shifting of dimensional tectonics caused by an exploding galaxy. Already the clarion call of Heimdall's horn has sounded and battle is iminent.

I'd be more scared of whatever blew up the galaxy, myself.

[Anabstercorian]

Curses! I can't download it for some reason - whenever I try, it says I don't have permission. I'll have to wait until it shows up on the website.

[Rikandur Azebol]

Wow, avesome ! Now I can see Surtur being able to burn the world ... and even recover from avatar form, if some crafty PC's defeat him.

[WarDragon]

Very nice, and very scary. What intrigued me most was the domains... I can't wait to see all of them in final form, with abilities like those (hint, hint)!

[Arg-ha Lardgoa]

attack and full attack have different plus to damage on the manifestation

[Upper_Krust]

Hiya mate!

Originally Posted by Ltheb Silverfrond

Well, I guess if you have Ultimate Power Attack, it could be assumed you had all the versions that are prerequisites, but it is also good to list these things incase there is a discrepency, or one of the powers offers a benifit not listed in the stat block. (Ex, if there was a power called uncanny disarm that let you disarm a foe and all foes are disarmed. )

Yes, but I could list those that are prereqs and outline those that are not.

So there is no point having Exoskeleton and Squamous explained, they just distract from Carapace.

Originally Posted by Ltheb Silverfrond

The competence bonus could be the key factor in deciding who wins in a fight between two evenly matched foes. If one gets his bonus against the other (Such as surtur fighting a foe foolish enough to weild a molten sword) the one gaining the bonus is likely to win.

You could reduce the bonus, or restrict it to portfolio related actions - Ex: The fire portfolio might give Surtur +24, but only when he deals fire damage or such. (This is hard to word without taking up a paragraph)

Its just too complicated and (potentially) too powerful.

A single relevant bonus would be a lot easier to implement I think.

Originally Posted by Ltheb Silverfrond

Yea, the Effect Mastery abilities do take up space. When I threw Ltheb together, I found that a small table worked well. It's less verbose, but probably takes up less space if you use a slightly smaller font.

I may try that, although it probably means explaining the ability after the Combat text.

Originally Posted by Ltheb Silverfrond

Oh! Here's an idea - List the base ammount of HD/Damage Die if applicable, and then say "See Page XXX (Begining of Divine Powers Section where you describe effects) for details" Or list the page the effect appears on if it has a Non-HD based effect. (Like for Gravitic, Thelemic, and Astro-type effects) This takes up less space, but a bit of referencing is needed to run said deity. "What is the damaga on Cosmic Storm? Grr page XXX, Shoulda written it down" Then again, if you didn't plan ahead of time that the PCs were going to fight a God, then perhaps the DM needs to take a bit of a break and make sure he or she knows exactly what that entails. (Ex - "Abraxas can nullify what!?! Permenent Hit Die Loss?!? Geez, the players are doomed!")

I like the previous 'table' idea.

[Upper_Krust]

Hi Phantom Llama mate!

Originally Posted by Phantom Llama

No major issues jumped out at me, though I haven't made much review of the statblocks themselves.

Surtur still has the proper attitude to gladiatorial arenas.

Once I start brainstorming I usually come up with more ideas than the space allows. I was a bit annoyed with Surtur's realm since I could have fleshed out things a bit more and added another 3 or 4 features.

Originally Posted by Phantom Llama

I see you are continuing your 'band of freaks' approach to creating adventuring parties.

Is it so terrible of me?

Does it detract or add to things when I wander of the path beaten by the mythology?

I try to look at things from the perspective of what would I do if I were roleplaying them, what kind of servants would I keep, how would I defend myself.

Originally Posted by Phantom Llama

I'd be more scared of whatever blew up the galaxy, myself.

...of course it may just have been a natural event.

[Upper_Krust]

Hi Anabster dude!

Originally Posted by Anabstercorian

Curses! I can't download it for some reason - whenever I try, it says I don't have permission. I'll have to wait until it shows up on the website.

If anyone can't download it, feel free to email me agooddesigner@hotmail.com and I will send it to you.

Although as you say, I'll have it up on the website proper this weekend.

[Upper_Krust]

Hi Rikandur matey!

Originally Posted by Rikandur Azebol

Wow, avesome ! Now I can see Surtur being able to burn the world ... and even recover from avatar form, if some crafty PC's defeat him.

Glad you like it.

Although remember Surtur is a small fry (no pun intended) in the grand scheme of things.

I was going to add an Aspect of Surtur's Avatar form, but I realised that it would have 15 Hit Dice which is the same as a Fire Giant. If you wanted a non-epic Surtur to battle, I would simply add the Hero-deity Template to a Fire Giant and give it equipment for a 30th-level PC (ECL 30/CR 20).

[Upper_Krust]

Hi WarDragon mate!

Originally Posted by WarDragon

Very nice, and very scary. What intrigued me most was the domains... I can't wait to see all of them in final form, with abilities like those (hint, hint)!

You and me both!

I'll try and see how much I can eat into the Portfolios tonight.

[Upper_Krust]

Hiya mate!

Originally Posted by Arg-ha Lardgoa

attack and full attack have different plus to damage on the manifestation

Thanks for that dude, there were a lot of last minute feat modifications and something must have got forgotten in the shuffle.

[Phantom Llama]

Originally Posted by Upper_Krust

Is it so terrible of me?

No, I like it. It adds a dash of colour to the proceedings.

Does it detract or add to things when I wander of the path beaten by the mythology?

It adds, definitely. If I wanted a simple rehash of mythology I'd go read a mythology book. Mythology is inspiration, not gospel.