Eberron + Dark Sun = Stargate. Discuss.

[Herobizkit]

From the Stargate wikia:

In their view, Priors have been given the secrets of the universe by the Ori to spread the word of their godliness. Physiologically, the Ori have given them psionic abilities similar in degree to those of a hok'tar. They possess considerable telekinetic abilities, enabling them to choke and kill, manipulate the wind or pin someone to the ground. They are even capable of reviving the recently deceased. They can also inflict a highly infectious plague, and replicate the negative effects of the Ancient healing device. The staff they carry will light up while they exercise some of these powers, which may indicate that some of their abilities require technological assistance; however, they still possess great knowledge and power even without the staff.

Psionic, telekinetic, diseases, draining life, restoring life...

Sounds like some wacky Psion/Ardent blend... or Psion/Vampire? I don't know how 4e handles necromancy effects...

but Psion/Vampire...

I must experiment with this.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Yep- in terms of power source, Priors are clearly out of PHB3! However, in terms of the hows & whys of their powers, they are Warlocks- the source of their power is an agreement with a higher power.

So maybe you could design a Psionic Warlock class...or make them into Hybrids?

 

[Herobizkit]

Maybe. For making monsters/opponents, I can throw most player rules out the window. Priors are clearly an NPC class only.

Also, just thought of this while making KD:

In Stargate, the military would send over unmanned mobile cameras to broadcast what is happening on the other side before sending troops as a safety measure.

In an Eberron setting, I would think that task would fall to Warforged. Who often don't make it back. For whatever reason.

In the Dark Sun example, this would leave metal men walking around a world that has an extreme scarcity of metal... and where slavery is common...

 

[Herobizkit]

Yep- in terms of power source, Priors are clearly out of PHB3! However, in terms of the hows & whys of their powers, they are Warlocks- the source of their power is an agreement with a higher power.

So maybe you could design a Psionic Warlock class...or make them into Hybrids?

Ardents get their powers from a higher calling.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

In an Eberron setting, I would think that task would fall to Warforged. Who often don't make it back. For whatever reason.

Yep...and I think you found your reason right here:

In the Dark Sun example, this would leave metal men walking around a world that has an extreme scarcity of metal... and where slavery is common...

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Ardents get their powers from a higher calling.

So do Clerics, Paladins and almost any divine-themed class you could name.

What sets Warlocks apart from almost all others, though, is the structure of the Pact. This mechanically most strongly resembles what is going on between the Priors and the Ori. Only Paladins are analogous.

The thing is, though, 4Ed doesn't treat the Pact with the full strength it deserves: it is both a source of power, but it is also the chain which ensures obedience- break the pact, lose your power. We see this with one or two Priors, as I recall.

 

[Herobizkit]

Perhaps, then, an Ori Warlock might have the Sorcerer-King pact, which would then make the Sorcerer-Kings... oh my.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

MmmmmMMMMMMMmmmm!

I hadn't thought about that pact at all, but it's a good fit.

 

[Herobizkit]

My only thought is this...

When I make 'people' to fight PCs in 3.x, I have NPC classes that roughly do what the PC's can. In 4e, I have two word opponents of various levels that have a mix of all kinds of abilities.

And since D&D is more "kill with sword" than Stargate, and the Ori are supposed to be all-powerful... story fiat says they can't be killed.

I really don't want to focus on the Ori paradigm... but I like that Warlock King pact and will look for opponents that are Warlock-y.

 

[Herobizkit]

Thoughts continue.

Communication from one side of a portal to another. We know that matter can be teleported, but there is at least one ruling that says that certain magic cannot travel between planes. I could be remembering this from any ruleset or I could have also just made it up.

Would psionics work across the Great Divide?

If yes, psions suddenly become VASTLY more useful and desirable to certain parties, specifically House Jurasco. In fact, I see House Jurasco as the 'Russians' in the great teleporter race... and if they learn that outside parties have a WORKING and RELIABLE teleporter, there will surely be some espionage/cloak and dagger stuff afoot.

Of course, this will give rise to the Psiforged... who will then REALLY be MALPs.

I also have an 'episode' in mind of a handful of assorted 'Forged who go all Lord of the Flies.

I love dem 'Forged... but I need some other ideas for other races.

Percolater percolates.