Hercules in Deities and Demigods

[i8flesh]

Thanks

I'm glad that you all enjoyed the excerpt on Deities & Demigods that we ran in issue #25. For those of you that haven't seen it, I encourage you to pick up a copy of the issue at your local hobby store. Many stores actually offer subscriptions so that you can get a copy of the magazine every month!

Next Ish: 8 page excerpt from Dark Ages Vampire, a 4 page introductory adventure to d20 Call of Cthulhu written by Monte Cook, and a cover story about Guardians of Order's Silver Age Sentinels.

Make sure you reserve a copy of issue #27 now (supplies will be limited)! Issue #27 will have an excerpt from Steve Jackson's Hellboy RPG, plus we are going to be giving away a Neon Genesis Evangelion DVD box Set! The entire series on DVD retailing for $169.98.

Also remember to check out our website to enter in our monthly quiz, this month's prize is a Signed copy of Kingdoms of Kalamar!

 

[jasamcarl]

Which brings us to the point

You do not know what SALIENT ABILITIES ENTAIL EITHER! Like many feats that can only be taken once, Avatar might very well be a oneshot deal. And while avatars might very well be permenant(God knows this couldn't have actually changed between editions like so much else!) insofar as there is a 'fixed cost' that is attached to future uses, what the diety can and cannot do while this avatar is in action has yet to be detailed. Yes, i alluded to those facts and those i have never challenged, i'm referring to your assumptions about the qualitative facets of Salient Abilities. Must i pat you on the back for your ability to spend a lot of time and arithmetic on a 2 page preview? In summary, i give you credit for what you know, but please stay there.....

 

[Upper_Krust]

Re: Thanks

Hi Andrew thanks for stopping by!

I'm glad that you all enjoyed the excerpt on Deities & Demigods that we ran in issue #25. For those of you that haven't seen it, I encourage you to pick up a copy of the issue at your local hobby store. Many stores actually offer subscriptions so that you can get a copy of the magazine every month!

Next Ish: 8 page excerpt from Dark Ages Vampire, a 4 page introductory adventure to d20 Call of Cthulhu written by Monte Cook, and a cover story about Guardians of Order's Silver Age Sentinels.

Make sure you reserve a copy of issue #27 now (supplies will be limited)! Issue #27 will have an excerpt from Steve Jackson's Hellboy RPG, plus we are going to be giving away a Neon Genesis Evangelion DVD box Set! The entire series on DVD retailing for $169.98.

Also remember to check out our website to enter in our monthly quiz, this month's prize is a Signed copy of Kingdoms of Kalamar!

I'm anticipating Deities & Demigods, Call of Cthulhu and the Hellboy RPG so put me down for at least those three issues...that is if I could manage to get them from somewhere!?

I had already checked the website (for anyone reading this they have the Hercules illustration on the site) but it appears only retailers can order!? So I'll have to get my retailer to subscribe I imagine!?

Can the magazine be ordered via somewhere that doesn't involve the retailer as 'middle-man'? The situation here (in Northern Ireland) isn't that great. Though I guess going that route I'll get stroked on the P&P!?

Also your saying supplies will be limited.

I'll have a chat with my retailer Monday morning about getting me a years subscription hopefully I can get it sorted!?

 

[i8flesh]

Suscriptions

Unfortunately, Game Trade Magazine does not offer sunscriptions to its readers. The only way to get the magazine is through your local retailer.

The reason I say supplies are limited is not because we have set the print run yet. Everyone who orders one should be able to get one. It is so that you inform your retailer that YOU want a copy. If a retailer normally orders a dozen issues, and a dozen people come in and pick up the issue before you are able to get into the store, he will run out. He can order more, but by then generally WE run out. Your retailer will not know how many to order unless you tell him.

To all my friends across the water:
I am sorry if you are unable to find our fine publication (toot, toot). Your retailer can order the magazine through Diamond UK, the same place he gets his Marvel and DC comics.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Once more unto the breach...

Hello jasamcarl!

You do not know what SALIENT ABILITIES ENTAIL EITHER!

I think we can have a fair idea of most.

Automatic Metamagic; Extra Domain; Free Move; Gust of Wind (revealed); Supreme Initiative.

Any Salient Ability with the Divine prefix (almost certainly) uses the Divine Rank in some manner.

eg. Divine Weapon Focus - I'll bet my right nut gives a BAB bonus for that weapon equal to Divine Rank.

So therefore if we know at least some of the Salient Divine Abilities we can gauge the measure of the rest.

Like many feats that can only be taken once, Avatar might very well be a oneshot deal.

I totally agree, its possible.

Though not conclusive; since previous editions have shown multiple Avatars were allowed.

And while avatars might very well be permenant (God knows this couldn't have actually changed between editions like so much else!)

Of course its plausible. But given the evidence at hand and prior knowledge on the subject (in the shape of previous editions) thats not the conclusion I would draw at this point.

And while avatars might very well be permenant insofar as there is a 'fixed cost' that is attached to future uses, what the diety can and cannot do while this avatar is in action has yet to be detailed.

It seems reasonable to assume that having an Avatar in action would have negligable effect on a deity itself. The deity isn't going to manifest some ability that unduly hinders itself.

Yes, i alluded to those facts and those i have never challenged,

Does that constitute a pat on the back from you!?

i'm referring to your assumptions about the qualitative facets of Salient Abilities.

From what we know Deities can choose from a list of Salient Divine Abilities each of which fills a slot (its plausible some may fill more than one slot I suppose).

Therefore we can assume that WotC have determined the list to be 'roughly' balanced (as much as such things can).

Must i pat you on the back for your ability to spend a lot of time and arithmetic on a 2 page preview?

I only spent 10 minutes unravelling the simplistic mechanics.

But rather longer it seems, replying to your negativity.

In summary, i give you credit for what you know, but please stay there.....

A classic case of pessimist (you) vs. optimist (me).

You seem to be hung up on what we don't know waiting for someone to explain to you the 'big picture', whereas I am interested in what we do know and in learning more.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Re: Suscriptions

Hi Andrew!

Unfortunately, Game Trade Magazine does not offer sunscriptions to its readers. The only way to get the magazine is through your local retailer.

The reason I say supplies are limited is not because we have set the print run yet. Everyone who orders one should be able to get one. It is so that you inform your retailer that YOU want a copy. If a retailer normally orders a dozen issues, and a dozen people come in and pick up the issue before you are able to get into the store, he will run out. He can order more, but by then generally WE run out. Your retailer will not know how many to order unless you tell him.

Okay I'll get on it!

To all my friends across the water:
I am sorry if you are unable to find our fine publication (toot, toot).

I get it!

Your retailer can order the magazine through Diamond UK, the same place he gets his Marvel and DC comics.

That should make things easier - its a combined Comics/RPG store.

Hopefully it will be easier than trying to pick up an issue of Dragon magazine!?

Thanks again Andrew!

 

[S'mon]

my poll

Hi everyone - U_K & all, please vote in my 'what level of game do you like best' poll - Craig I'm wondering if you're happy with Thrin as a lesser god or if you'd prefer to play in a super-deity campaign...

 

[jasamcarl]

One last time......

Previous editions had very little balance if i recall. If you maintain your assumption that God-level play will be supported in this edition, then changes will have to be made to deal with a more rigorous game theory and thus maintain balance. To that creation of avatars might actually come at a 'cost' appropriate to its benefits. You yourself said that the Avatar ABILITY looks broken..then you turn on that position and say that any possible cost (some potential candidates of which i have layed out) would more or less 'shaft' this ability. Do you actually believe in a sound mechanical basis for dieties or do you not? You have committed both a slippery slope fallacy as well as a circular one (Is the Avatar ability broken? Yes, because Gods are meant to be balanced. I know Gods are meant to be balanced because they include an Avatar ability.)

I am infact the optomist because i am not willing to jump to wild conclusions conscerning Wotc's incompetence through a specious analysis of a STAT BLOCK which by its nature does not include explanations of QUALATATIVE ABILITIES, because it, as the term 'stat' indicates includes mostly quantitative data. Can you look at a new skill in a characters skill list and just surmise the dcs and situations with which they are paired? Of course not. The same applies to feats(note the special paragraph under many in the phb). You might have a reasonable chance of coming to plausible explanations to those Salient Abilities which relate directly back to feats(especially if their effects are shown in the stat block itself), but you make automatic assumptions about the word 'Avatar' and its balance(assuming that is even an issue) by alluding to prior editions of dieties books (atleast 2e) which never intended balance. Contradiction after Contradiction.

That said, i'm looking forward to analysing the balance of Dieties and Demigods myself. Who knows, you might be correct which would be dumb luck but....oh well. I would also like to take a gander at the Immortal's Handbook. Maybe in your rendition you take no risks in terminology so as everyone just assumes 'Balance'. I wonder what that magic word would be.

 

[Akunin]

/me hands jasamcarl a cup of decaf.

Let me see if I am understanding you. Are you stating that 3e is balanced?

Please excuse me while I fall off my chair.

The 3e is closer to balanced than previous editions, but to believe that there is some sort of harmonious unity between the power levels of various races, classes, Feat combinations, Deities, and what have you is a fairly silly notion.

Attaining balance in an RPG is similar to building a Carnot engine.

Why must the Gods follow this mythical "balance"? They're deities - and deities regularly break the rules and do things that no mortal is able to. Balance should never enter into the equation when dealing with the distinction between the mortal and the divine.

 

[Florin]

Just to throw a little more wood on the fire here...

I actually agree with jasamcarl's idea on the Avatar ability. It's what struck me as the most logical thing before I read his interpretation. It makes more sense for the Avatar ability to only produce one avatar. However, I also think it's very plausible to make the Avatar ability available for more than one purchase. So, if you want two avatars, buy Avatar twice!!!