4th Edition and the Immortals Handbook

[Upper_Krust]

Hey all!

Just a bit of 4E Tabling. As regards Demonic Hierarchy:

Demon Emperor = Standard 46-50, Elite 42-46, Solo 37-41
Demon Monarch = Standard 41-45, Elite 37-41, Solo 32-36
Demon Prince = Standard 36-40, Elite 32-36, Solo 27-31
Demon Lord = Standard 31-35, Elite 27-31, Solo 22-26

This gels quite nicely with what WotC have been showing, with Baphomet and Yeenoghu in the Demon Prince category (both Solo 28) and Orcus and Graz'zt in the Demon Monarch category (Solo 33 and 32 respectively).

Balors work out perfectly as well, being the de facto 'weakest' Demon Lords (Elite 27).

 

[Fieari]

Hello again matey!

It makes sense for her because she has five different consciousnesses, but I don't think it works for Alabaster, I would just give him the basic 2, but allow him twice the number of attacks with each sword.

Could always keep it as six, but remove the "only one sword per round can use an action point" qualifier. Remember, at bloodied, he refills his action points.

Well it might be a tad tricky because you would want it doing more damage to elites and solos.

Maybe +1d4/Level over 30th
+1d8/Level against Elites
+1d20/Level against Solo opponents

So against Odin (41st-level Solo) it would deal an extra 11d20.

For the monster write-up, I'd put it as simply +1d8 per level over 30, and then be more specific in the artifact description itself, which would be separate and give mechanics in more detail.

Maybe my mind is boggled.

Hehe, it happens to us all at times.

This is a tricky decision for PCs. I want them to be able to be able to jump onto the body's of massive monsters or leap up and attack low-flying monsters.

Maybe I should make it a Skill Check (or ability score check)...with perhaps a -2 penalty if you are bloodied?

Maybe handle it different from NPCs and PCs? For PCs, you could simply make it a daily utility, what with various means to recharge those abilities. For NPCs, make it a recharge ability, which mimics that.

Not sure what you mean by activate himself?

I sort of like the idea that Alabaster would throw the swords at opponents (as part of his juggling style) and as such Range 6 seems a bit weak.

Activate, as in, do things.

Here's my vision of Alabaster fighting. He starts with all six swords in a circle around him. Then, as his opponent(s) approach, he dashes in their direction, grabbing one of the swords to do so, smacking them with it. The other swords follow suit behind him, and as they get near enough, he zooms back to retrieve them, dashing towards another foe (or the same foe).

Wait, I have an idea... Alabaster gains a move action every time his swords gain initiative, and the swords have their OWN move action. Thus, as he grabs a blade and moves close to a foe, he lets go and the sword flies on its own for the kill.

Perhaps if the range of his blades was limited to his speed, so that as long as he could grab them within one move action, they can act independently? IE, increase the "Limited Range" ability to 12, instead of 6. Him grabbing the swords each time is still useful, as most of the blades are slower than he is, so by using himself he can bring the blades across the battlefield.

With all the movement, it would really give a "juggling" feel to his fight, far more than merely saying he's using three blades at a time. Try six, and you can mechanically see them remaining in mid air for the duration.

 

[Ltheb Silverfrond]

Just make Legendary Leap an encounter power. Seriously. If moving ~50-70 squares each encounter isn't enough, you just didn't have a chance to begin with. (As an example of how extreme that is, I have a Large Chessex battle mat, which is 34x46 squares; 160 squares of movement circles the entire thing!) Also, I feel jumping (or just running really fast) is one of those things that if you can do it really good once, you can do it really good 20 times in one day (assuming you rest in between/stay hydrated/don't injure yourself/etc, I used to run Track and had no problem running the 220 at top speed dozens of times in one day with very little degradation in speed)

... Although, In epic, I think a move speed of 10+ (with magic items and feats) isn't unlikely... 100+ squares. = That's alot of movement.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hiya mate!

Could always keep it as six, but remove the "only one sword per round can use an action point" qualifier. Remember, at bloodied, he refills his action points.

I just think that 6 action points is too much. Theres no reason behind it.

For the monster write-up, I'd put it as simply +1d8 per level over 30, and then be more specific in the artifact description itself, which would be separate and give mechanics in more detail.

I guess so. He only has to deal with PCs and they are sort of like Elite monsters.

Hehe, it happens to us all at times.

I think I am getting a bit of a flu. Although I have been thinking that for the past 5 days now and I am still teetering on the brink.

Maybe handle it different from NPCs and PCs? For PCs, you could simply make it a daily utility, what with various means to recharge those abilities. For NPCs, make it a recharge ability, which mimics that.

Activate, as in, do things.

Here's my vision of Alabaster fighting. He starts with all six swords in a circle around him. Then, as his opponent(s) approach, he dashes in their direction, grabbing one of the swords to do so, smacking them with it. The other swords follow suit behind him, and as they get near enough, he zooms back to retrieve them, dashing towards another foe (or the same foe).

So hes a bit like a helicopter.

Wait, I have an idea... Alabaster gains a move action every time his swords gain initiative, and the swords have their OWN move action. Thus, as he grabs a blade and moves close to a foe, he lets go and the sword flies on its own for the kill.

You are sort of confusing me with this a tad. Does he get 6 attacks per round or not?

Perhaps if the range of his blades was limited to his speed, so that as long as he could grab them within one move action, they can act independently? IE, increase the "Limited Range" ability to 12, instead of 6. Him grabbing the swords each time is still useful, as most of the blades are slower than he is, so by using himself he can bring the blades across the battlefield.

I just wonder is the effective range not 18, his movement plus the distance the swords can be from him.

With all the movement, it would really give a "juggling" feel to his fight, far more than merely saying he's using three blades at a time. Try six, and you can mechanically see them remaining in mid air for the duration.

I sort of like the idea that he might have some sort of special attacks using the blades, like a Recharge 6 whereby he can attack everyone within 6 squares once. Or an ability to create a 'wall' of blades, like a Blade Barrier.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Just make Legendary Leap an encounter power. Seriously. If moving ~50-70 squares each encounter isn't enough, you just didn't have a chance to begin with. (As an example of how extreme that is, I have a Large Chessex battle mat, which is 34x46 squares; 160 squares of movement circles the entire thing!)

Its not really about traversing the battlemat as much as it is about getting to a new battlemat (the monster in most cases). I see it as a sort of Wuxia meets Shadow of the Colossus meets Final Fantasy Advent Children type caper. You jump onto the monster - which becomes the new battlemat.

Each time you get hit the monster has a chance to knock you off (and you simply lose a round falling). If you get dazed or stunned you also get knocked off but take falling damage (unless one of your companions jumps off to save you).

Also, I feel jumping (or just running really fast) is one of those things that if you can do it really good once, you can do it really good 20 times in one day (assuming you rest in between/stay hydrated/don't injure yourself/etc, I used to run Track and had no problem running the 220 at top speed dozens of times in one day with very little degradation in speed)

Exactly, even once per encounter doesn't seem somehow appropriate.

... Although, In epic, I think a move speed of 10+ (with magic items and feats) isn't unlikely... 100+ squares. = That's alot of movement.

Its basically on a par with the scaling difference to Mega Creatures, x10. Godzilla would be Mega Gargantuan, and, although would have different powers would be a bit like a Mega-Tarrasque (Solo 40th Level Brute).

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hey all!

Okay, just to confirm I have started my time off (started a few days ago). Have been working on some mythology stuff today, so I have not been idle.

I do still have a slight problem in that I don't have the InDesign program up and running just yet on my machine, but I hope to get that sorted within a few days and until then I can do a bit more writing and design - I just can't do the typing up bit as yet.

Still pondering over the new design/layout for the books. Has anyone seen any cool books out there recently that they liked. I'll certainly have a slight nod towards 4E with regards tables and so forth just to retain that familiarity, but I am thinking more in terms of overall layout; headers; fonts and so forth.

 

[Anabstercorian]

seriously this is ridiculous

Are you ever going to have a coherent product here?

 

[Upper_Krust]

Are you ever going to have a coherent product here?

I think if I can't get (at least) the writing done for one (or more) new pdfs over these next six weeks off work, then I'll probably have to consider forgetting about the whole endeavour and give up.

 

[Rhuarc]

I really hope you won't give up. Even if it takes some more month until we get a finished pdf here, I'd rather have something at sometime in the future than nothing at all just because I want it within the next 6 weeks.
After all this time I just go with "it's finished when it's finished".
In the end you still do that on your own with your free time, even though it may would go faster if you get some help from the guys around here.

Anyway, I'm glad you are still on it and really look forward to the 4th edition stuff!

Best of luck mate

 

[bigg2006]

Hey UK!

Hope you're enjoying your time off work. I've just started a two week holiday myself. It's a nice feeling.

I know I haven't exactly been the most prolific of posters on this forum (still in low single figures - a bit pathetic as I look in every couple of days to see who's saying what) but having read your last message I felt compelled to come out of hiding.

Don't get discouraged if things go more slowly than you anticipate. I'm sure there are a lot of people out there, myself included, who would be very disappointed if you gave up on the project. Personally, I've really enjoyed the products you've put out so far. I think you've managed to fill a niche that no-one else seemed brave enough to tackle.

Hang in there mate!