General RPG DiscussionDiscussion of all RPGs and non-system-specific topics. DM/GM/player issues, settings, etc. Rules discussion belongs in one the forums below.
Basically, orichalcum was a real-world mythological term, which is cool. But it was too difficult to pronounce given the relatively small number of people who've heard of it. At one point, the plan was to change it to cinnabar! (I tried my best to make that not happen. )
Bah!!
Why not call it electrum??!!?!!
If you wanna go old skool, go the whole way!! Don't be a wussy!!!
Basically, orichalcum was a real-world mythological term, which is cool. But it was too difficult to pronounce given the relatively small number of people who've heard of it. At one point, the plan was to change it to cinnabar! (I tried my best to make that not happen. )
Meh. I really would have preferred orichalcum. Is it really that obscure?
It features prominently in the Earthdawn rpg but I think the first time I read about it was in the 'Indiana Jones 4 - The Fate of Atlantis' computer game. And that's of course where it originates from: Plato's tale about Atlantis...
I even once had an idea for a new rpg system based on an atlantean style society using orichalcum as a basis for their magitech...
Meh. I really would have preferred orichalcum. Is it really that obscure?
It features prominently in the Earthdawn rpg but I think the first time I read about it was in the 'Indiana Jones 4 - The Fate of Atlantis' computer game. And that's of course where it originates from: Plato's tale about Atlantis...
I even once had an idea for a new rpg system based on an atlantean style society using orichalcum as a basis for their magitech...
Orichalcum is also big in Shadowrun and Exalted, amongst other places. I think it's in one (or more) of the Final Fantasy games, too, isn't it?
I'm amused that something was too hard to pronounce for D&D. Chimera? Drow? Daemon? Sahuagin? Ixitxachitl? Melee?
__________________ - Bob Huss
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Are the new dragons also unaligned and does the book at least acknowledge that metallic dragons are generally good or are they just presented as another monster to be fought?
__________________ Everything about RPGs is subjective, so everything I say about them is I my opinion and not hard facts
Having a backstory is good. Using this backstory in game is better. And for that you need background skills.
4E, the game where you play HSMFOS
Heroic
Only good, or at least unaligned adventurers are supported and no monster you can fight is good aligned.
Super-
The PCs become masters in any skill automatically and it is impossible for them to be bad at a mundane task
Mutants
Compared to NPCs of the same strength, PCs poses a ungodly amount of HP and can withstand huge mountains of punishment. That or they can spontaneously regenerate wounds.
From Outer Space
Yet despite no matter how powerful the PCs become, they can never do anything special what the "natives" (=NPCs) can do like animating a skeleton.
Are the new dragons also unaligned and does the book at least acknowledge that metallic dragons are generally good or are they just presented as another monster to be fought?
"Acknowledge"? There's no objective source for their statements to be compared against.
“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”
Meh. I really would have preferred orichalcum. Is it really that obscure?
Quote:
Originally Posted by coyote6
Orichalcum is also big in Shadowrun and Exalted, amongst other places. I think it's in one (or more) of the Final Fantasy games, too, isn't it?
I think coyote6 might have touched on one of the unstaed, supporting reasons why WotC might have gone with the made-up name. Orichalcum features prominently in the Final Fantasy series and related games, and someone unfamiliar with the real-world roots of the term might think that WotC is just ripping off Square Enix.
Orichalcum features prominently in the Final Fantasy series and related games, and someone unfamiliar with the real-world roots of the term might think that WotC is just ripping off Square Enix.
See I wasn't even aware of its presence in some of those games... only aware of its legendary source.
“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”
Because then we'd never hear the end of Carmen Electrum dragons.
__________________ Kosmon tonde, ton auton apantōn, oute tis theōn oute anthrōpōn epoiēsen, all’ ēn aei kai estin kai estai pur aeizōon, haptomenon metra kai aposbennumenon metra. . . . Panta gar to pur epelthon krinei kai katalēpsetai.
At one point, the plan was to change it to cinnabar! (I tried my best to make that not happen. )
A cinnabar dragon would have to use a fire breath weapon. It would also need to be able to shapechange into the form of a small red and white ball and only grow wings after reaching the adult stage.
It's hoard would include, among other things, Volcano Badges.
I would also like to hear more about Bahamut.
Last edited by lazerfish; 21st October 2009 at 06:11 AM..
Hmm, would you be able to share the breath weapons of the "new" metallics, por favor? I don't want actual stats, just a descriptions of the type of damage and maybe any rider effects.
I think with Draconomicon 2, I'll really be able to dive in to a faux Dragonlance setting I'd like to run. It would have a similar campaign history and the like, but there would also be significant differences to the official setting.
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