New Discussion Thread

[Dunamin]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that the Proximates Isles were decidedly defined as fairly small isles - enough that they wouldn't in themselves contain extensive Underdark like areas.

However, I was actually considering that our Underdark-equivalent could be something that ran deep below the ocean floor and reached up through long tunnels to some or all of the Proximate Isles. Only problem is that our isles are noted to drift within the Shifting Seas, which seems to imply that they're not connected to the ocean floor.

Perhaps, then, the Isles still drift around unconnected but access is reached to known underwater entrances through:

• Waterbreathing rituals
• Teleportation circles
• Portals
• Elevator-like diving bells
• Submarine-like devices and/or
• Giant trained/charmed fish that carry passengers in mounted cabins

How does that sound?

 

[Lord Sessadore]

Oh. I'm not familiar with Mrs. Rowling's works, I'm afraid. Actually I guess there are many many more "Order of the Phoenix"s in fiction, but it sounded like a pretty generic name (more like, another cliche). But eh, I guess we can think another. Is the "Brotherhood of the Phoenix" still to reminiscent? Suggestions?

And, yes, basically the appeal of that kind of environment in a shared world is that if you like it, you can place any kind of adventure there without any problem of coherence. If you don't like it, you can just ignore it, it's hidden and mostly unknown anyway.

Regarding the Underdark, I'm thinking over a couple ideas for a link between it and the Maze. I'll write more about it when I have more time...

I was going to suggest something about Griffons, possibly flaming, but the Phoenix aspect really fits well with the "rebirth" aspect of the organization. Maybe they could have a really long name that boils down to "Brotherhood of the Phoenix" or something, ie "Brotherhood of the Eternal Cycle of the Phoenix" ... or something. I know that's not great, but maybe with some brainstorming...

I think I've studied the 4e rules enough now and ran a RL session, I'm comfortable DMing a game.

Got some thoughts in mind, how do I go about becoming a DM for this?

Awesome, it'd be great to have another DM around. I'd offer my hand, but I really shouldn't for a while, I need to concentrate on school. Perhaps in the spring.

On the 2nd PC issue, I also definitely think we should have enough DMs and judges for the current amount of PCs, perhaps even an excess of DMs and judges, before 2nd PCs are allowed. Otherwise, as Vertexx said, it could frustrate new players, especially if there are people in the living world who are already in 2 adventures while new players can't even find 1 to join. I'm sure there will be more DMs cropping up soon, I think a lot of people who would DM might be hesitant to start something right before the holidays (understandably - on that note, thanks covaithe for going out on that limb ).

 

[Atanatotatos]

Yes, obviously such a large area would be place mostly under the Ocean floor. Also, I was thinking of starting with a short (probably 1st to 2nd lvl) adventure that involves the pcs' descent into the depths of one small island, bringing them on the mere border of a larger set of caverns. The intention is to have a nmber of different "doors" to the Maze, scattered through the world, and thus a number of ways and means to access it.
But I wouldn't worry to much about the movement itself of the islands: the nature of the Shifting Seas itself defies logic
Oh well, I'm just brainstorming here, it's not like I have a crystallized project yet. Joint-working has worked great for the rest of the setting so...

 

[garyh]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that the Proximates Isles were decidedly defined as fairly small isles - enough that they wouldn't in themselves contain extensive Underdark like areas.

However, I was actually considering that our Underdark-equivalent could be something that ran deep below the ocean floor and reached up through long tunnels to some or all of the Proximate Isles. Only problem is that our isles are noted to drift within the Shifting Seas, which seems to imply that they're not connected to the ocean floor.

Perhaps, then, the Isles still drift around unconnected but access is reached to known underwater entrances through:

• Waterbreathing rituals
• Teleportation circles
• Portals
• Elevator-like diving bells
• Submarine-like devices and/or
• Giant trained/charmed fish that carry passengers in mounted cabins

How does that sound?

Good point. I'm thinking the maze could be under the Allarian mainland, or there can be one of the various teleport-y things you suggest for a direct connection from the Transitive Isles.

 

[Lord Sessadore]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that the Proximates Isles were decidedly defined as fairly small isles - enough that they wouldn't in themselves contain extensive Underdark like areas.

However, I was actually considering that our Underdark-equivalent could be something that ran deep below the ocean floor and reached up through long tunnels to some or all of the Proximate Isles. Only problem is that our isles are noted to drift within the Shifting Seas, which seems to imply that they're not connected to the ocean floor.

Perhaps, then, the Isles still drift around unconnected but access is reached to known underwater entrances through:

• Waterbreathing rituals
• Teleportation circles
• Portals
• Elevator-like diving bells
• Submarine-like devices and/or
• Giant trained/charmed fish that carry passengers in mounted cabins

How does that sound?

That thought occurred to me as well ... perhaps the Maze is a sort of dimensional pocket? Thinking "bag of holding" type thing - so entrances from the tiny island which are no more than a few hundred yards apart could be miles apart in the Maze?

As for an overarching Underdark, I like the idea of it being under the ocean floor. The giant charmed fish with cabins on them seems very Dinotopia to me. For another method of reaching this Underdark, perhaps the Isles aren't attached to the ocean floor, but do touch them, sort of sliding around. Then, if there are caverns in the isles which lead down through the "bottom" of the Isle, and entrances to the under-ocean Underdark which may end up beneath an Isle, perhaps these tunnels in the floor and in the isle could meet occassionally, allowing people to simply walk down there? That could cause problems on the way back, though, if isle has moved since you went down, disconnecting the entrance you used. Or even if a different isle is now positioned over your entrance, so you come to the surface (ie above-ocean surface, not ocean floor surface) in a different place than you went down. Does that make sense? Hopefully I explained what I mean well enough. Something to think about, anyway.

 

[garyh]

Yes, obviously such a large area would be place mostly under the Ocean floor. Also, I was thinking of starting with a short (probably 1st to 2nd lvl) adventure that involves the pcs' descent into the depths of one small island, bringing them on the mere border of a larger set of caverns. The intention is to have a nmber of different "doors" to the Maze, scattered through the world, and thus a number of ways and means to access it.
But I wouldn't worry to much about the movement itself of the islands: the nature of the Shifting Seas itself defies logic
Oh well, I'm just brainstorming here, it's not like I have a crystallized project yet. Joint-working has worked great for the rest of the setting so...

An idea that just popped into my head is that when that first group returns to Daunton, they can spread word of this fabulous adventuring area, and it can become sort of a "Hey, you over at the bar, want to join our trip to the Maze?" kind always-there option (DM availability willing ) Kinda like how the Church of Lauto will always conveniently have someone they need tracked down for "collection."

 

[covaithe]

I think you're all overthinking this Maze thing. We don't have to understand how it connects to reality; it just does. Maybe it's magical wormholes disguised as doorways, maybe it's charmed giant fish ("I cast Summon Bigger Fish!"), maybe it's tunnels beneath the ocean floor, maybe it's just ordinary ancient magical teleportation circles. Point is, it serves the DM's narrative needs.

Do the floating isles even have an ocean floor? I seem to recall the suggestion at some point that it was connected to the elemental plane of water at some undetermined depth, rather than an actual planet.

 

[Atanatotatos]

Yeah. My suggestion some time back (in the "creation myth" piece) was that the shifting sea is actually linked to, or even a piece, or a "branch" of the Astral Sea. Anyway yeah, it defies logic in any case.
And I'm with covaithe here. The point of my idea was to have a LAAAARGE place with LOOOOTS of possibilities with close to no problems of coherence and sublety.
And I had imagined the whole spread-the-word thing Garyh suggested to justify DMs starting to create adventures there.

On a side note, it's been the 2009 for a while here. A Great New Year to all!!

 

[Halford]

Well first off happy holidays to all, hope everybody had a good one and that those hangovers are not too severe .

Hopefully I should be able to kickstart both my adventures tomorrow. My apologies for the delay fellas, Christmas craziness I am afraid.

 

[Phoenix8008]

Hopefully I should be able to kickstart both my adventures tomorrow. My apologies for the delay fellas, Christmas craziness I am afraid.

Don't worry about it too much, Halford. It was a pretty universal slowdown. It was crazy busy for me as well.