SCIONS of the New World <Jeremy,Velenne,Ferretguy,Argent Silvermage,Sparky>

[Uriel]

None now could tell you how it came about, the Sundering. An Apocalypse that stripped the World of it's Mages,Priests and Druids...those names out of Legend, beings able to wield the Gifts without being a Scion. If tales be true,then these folk of the old world, the Old Ones as they are now called, died out, or left the World or...? No matter. Now steel and claw, scavanged ancient artifacts and tactics dictate the Wars of the World. A rudimentary Science has arisen to fill the void of the Magic of this old World.

Monsters and foul Fiends still walk the lands,They still have their Powers, and rumours of Dragons abound, the most awesome of Creatures. None that I have spoke to have ever seen one...Then, they started to appear.
At first people dismissed the tales of the Scions as superstition,wives tales and drunken hallucinations of madmen. Then, Felmiyar Wyvernstrike walked into the center of Fontus Bluff's townsquare and challenged the Marshall. Marshall Brond was a tough old Dwarf, a crack shot with his pistol as well as with his hammer, but he had no idea what awaited him in his precious few remaining moments of life. In the blink of an eye, Wyvernstrike breathed his Dragonflame upon Brond, reducing the Marshall to charred ash. The Scions had arrived.

Not all of the Gifted are Evil, though. Some are beneficial and kind of heart, Paragons of Virtue even. Nobody really knows just what their power comes from, though it is generally agreed that the Essence of the Old Races, as well that of Elementals,Dragons,Angels and Devils flows through the bodies of these new rulers of the World, the Scions.

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SCIONS of the New World is a rather different PbP setting.

Players are extremely powerful, while still 1st Level, more Super heroes than standard D&D Characters. Each has Templates added,reflecting whatever Old race aspects have settled in them. As well, while there are no more Wizards,Sorcerers,Druids or Clerics, each Scion has access to Gifts, having the Sorcerer's spell progression and the choice of any Wiz/Sorc/Druid/Cleric spells that they wish as their Gifts. Powerful,indeed...


RULES
CORE 3.5 Rulebooks Only. That means PH,MM,DMG,Miniatures Handbook,(as well as some Templates from Savage Species,Manual of the Planes)

39 Pt Buy
Max HP@1st Level, 3/4 thereafter.
Max Starting Money as per Class. No magic items may be purchased.
All Martial Weapons are 1.5X cost
All Players have the Sorc Progression at equal level,choosing from Wiz/Sorc/Druid/Cleric spells.
Available Classes are Barbarian,Fighter,Marshall (Minis HB)Monk,
Ranger,Rogue.
Races: Hill Dwarf,Mountain Dwarf,Grey Elf,High Elf,Wild Elf,Wood Elf,Goblin,Gnome,Lightfoot Halfling,Tallfellow Halfling,Human,Kobold,Orc.

Favored Classes

Barbarian: Wild Elf,Orc
Fighter:Mountain Dwarf,High Elf
Healer: Hill Dwarf
Marshall:Grey Elf
Monk:Tallfellow Halfling
Ranger:Wood Elf,Gnome
Rogue:Goblin,Lightfoot Halfling,Kobold

Later, higher ECL races may be found to have the Scion Gifts, but for now, it's ECL 0 ones alone.

Changes

Rangers do not gain spells; instead, their Animal Companion is considered as a Druid's Companion ( full Ranger Levels, not half strength.

Kobolds (being less than ECL 0, frankly) gain a Chameleon ability, gaining a +4 Hide bonus, as well as a +2 to Use Device, from their ancient Sorcerous bent, now long gone...



Templates

Feral +1
Half-Celestial(wingless) +3
Half-Elemental +2
Half-Fiend (wingless) +3
Half-Dragon +3
Insectile +2
Multi-Headed +2
Reptilian +2
Touched +1

Touched Template

You have a connection to the Old Races that others envy and are a little afraid of. You gain +2 to Con,+2 to Cha and may cast Guidance 3/day and you also gain the Luck ability of 1 reroll/day as per the Luck Domain.As well, your Detect Shard ability has twice the range as other Scions.

All Clases gain Knowledge-Rituals,Listen,Search,Spot and Use Magic Device as Class Skills.

Natural Armor bonus from Template sources stack.

No Item Creation Feats are allowed, as this is all Lost Lore in the World of the Scion.

All Characters gain the Sorcerer's Spells known and Progression.
Charisma is used for the DC of Gifts.
Spells are chosen from the Cleric,Druid,Sorc/Wizard Lists.
No Spell Componants are needed,unless a GP amount is specified.

All Scions have Defensive Scores as per D20 Modern.
Barbarian,Fighter Healer,Marshall.........Monks and Rangers and Rogues

Level...............................................................Level
1 +1...............................................................1 +3
2 +2...............................................................2 +4
3 +2...............................................................3 +4
4 +3...............................................................4 +5
5 +3...............................................................5 +5
6 +3...............................................................6 +6
7 +4...............................................................7 +6
8 +4...............................................................8 +7
9 +5...............................................................9 +7
10 +5..............................................................10 +8

The following Racial Weapons are added to the list from the Player Handbook

WEAPON Cost Dmg(s) Dmg(m) Crit Range Inc Weight Type
Dwarf Hammer 36GP 1D8 1D10 x3 n/a 7lbs Bludgeoning

Elven Blade 45GP 1D6 1D8 18+/x2 n/a 4lbs Slash/Pierce

Elven Longknife 10GP 1D3 1D4 18+/x2 10' 2lbs Pierce/Slash
Sizes are Tiny and Small.

Elven Bow 150GP 1D6 1D8 x3 130' 3lbs Piercing

Goblin Flail 40GP 1D6 1D8 19+/x2 n/a 4lb Bludgeoning

Goblin Spike-Ball 20GP 1D4 1D6 20/X3 10' 1lb Piercing/Bludgeoning

Gnomish Sword 30GP 1D4 1D6 19+/x3 n/a 2lbs Piercing/Slashing

Gnome Spring-Knife 50GP 1D4 1D6 19-20/X3 10' 2lbs Piercing

Halfling Throwing Knife 10GP 1D3 1D4 19+/x2 20' 1lb Piercing/Slashing

Halfling Double-Mace 40GP 1D4 1D6 20/X3 n/a 6lbs Bludgeoning
Considered a Monk Weapon

Humans may choose 1 Exotic Weapon that is not racially aligned as a Martial Weapon.

Orcish Vurka 50GP 1D10 2D6 18+/X2 n/a 10lbs Slashing
Large Flamberge like weapon(the spiky Orcsword of fantasy!)

Orcish Ironfist Mace 30GP 1D8 1D10 20/X2 n/a 10lbs Bludgeoning

 

[Uriel]

Guys, think Inayashu meets Highlander meets a very dark D&D World.

Most of the folk in the World are Mundanes,beings unable to utilize magic, though still deadly. Scions are the ruling elite in most places, though the PCs are still wet behind the ears, and need to be even more cautious thanin a normal D&D World. A quartet of fledling Scions is liable to spook the ruler of a particular Land, and they will be watched at the least...




I didn't mention how Scions gain Power...they gather Shards, lost bits of Magic.
Sometimes, the Shards are in other Scions (literally) and, well, folks die.
Less savory-minded Scions will kill you and rip a Shard right out of your arm/chest/wherever.

More goodly natured Scions will at least remove the Shards without killing you (maybe, depending on who/what you are).

Some prefer games of chance of other competitions to Duelling.

Shards

Shards appear as tiny crystals of various sorts. Some will move you towards reaching more power (XP), some will grant amazing knowledges (Feats) and some...

The True Shards
There are some SHards that are said to be direct bits of Old ones' Essence, while most Shards are thought to be some sort of residual Magic.
True Shards grant Permanent Abilities,Supernatural in origin (permanent until someone rips them from your body,that is...)

Some Powers known include Regeneration,Damage Resistance,Spell resistance and Permanent Spell Effects,Flight,Elementa Resistance etc...
If theories prove true, there may be true Shards out there that are even bits of the Gods, thought long Dead to the World...

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Anyways, you four (and I will not be taking any other players, sorry folks) need to discuss what Gifts,Templates etc, as well as a group dynamic. Are you Good, Evil, out to create an Empire, or possibly bring another down. WHatever you choose is great by me. I want a loose feel forthis one, with the Players directing the goals of the game. Most of my othergames are big storylines (ask ferretguy,I tend to do things like have the fate of the entire world hanging on the PCs...btw,Dave, Kozan Lotus-Eater and company STILL have not stopped the Darkbringer..ahem.

 

[Velenne]

AWESOME!

Quick question: I see we're 1st level, but how much LA can we buy with templates? I got confused on this when I got down to the Templates section.

I'd definately like a change of pace from trying to be a "superhero" team of do-gooders. That's essentially what most D&D parties are as it is.

"Building an empire." Now that's promising. Or how about power-hungry Scions who have banded together in an effort to get more shards- no matter who has them or what they're doing with them? Or both?

Uriel, my favorite comic book characters were always burly brawlers- wolvie, hulk, maul, bane, you get the idea. So I'll look at a Feral Orc Barbarian and see how well that stacks up. Might even work toward Dragon Disciple.

 

[Jeremy]

Here we go..

 

[Argent Silvermage]

The elf? stood there listening to the sway of the trees. His senses far superior He stood tall ahd broad for an elf but the glistening brass scales along his body marked him as far more. The sound of the wolf padding toward him didn't effect him in the least, he simply squated and the wolf walked up to him and licked his hand.

Allow me to introduce Brahnz.
Wildelf 1/2 dragon ranger and his partner Lupe'

 

[Jeremy]

Spell failure for armor? Maximum number of templates? Maximum Level Adjustment from templates?

I definately like shard seekers. Like bounty hunters but not as interested in collecting bounties on Scions but rather their shards. > Seekers of the Shards, neh?

 

[Velenne]

LMAO! (inside joke)

 

[Velenne]

What about the Celesial, Fiendish, and other templates from Manual of the Planes? (Wood, Elements, Shadow)

 

[Jeremy]

Depending on what ends up being allowed, I was thinking a multi-headed (2) insectile half-fiend kobold rogue.

I don't know where I'll get the stats for all the things I'll need especially building on a kobold. But the idea is a cunning character not opposed to abasing himself before the powers that be while plotting their downfall. A fly on the wall who can aquire information, get into places, and generally mess someone up if he gets the drop on them.

Effect will hopefully be something like the Fang of Lloth prestige class from Song & Silence minus two arms.

 

[Uriel]

I'm not actually awake...the horrid Madonna upstairs (that 'music ' song,with the hellishly repetitive beat) woke me up...and the burrito from last night...


Anyways,
Sorry foer the Brainfart,
It's 3 points of Template....
I could be persuaded to raise it to 4

I guess Wood is OK from the Manual of the Planes, Fiendish and Celestial wouldn't be appropriate, as they represent creatures from other Planes. Half Celestial/Fiend is present for PCs. You are born Mundane, and Scion powers develop (think mutant gene ).
Shadow would be ok, though I didn't see a LA for the template.

I can post any template info that folks don't have access to...

Alas multi-headed insectilce half fiend Kobold would be beyond a starting character...being +6 or more.

However, I was thinkng of certain True Shards spontaneously adding Templates. That would be fun(ny)

Wovergog stood atop the pile of rivals, all Scions, all dead...eight of the strongest he had slayed, stepping towards the pedastal in the temple, his hand grasping the glowing Shard. One clawed talon opening a gash along his forearm, he inserted the Shard, screaming'I have the Power, I am master!'.
Sudden spasms wracked Wovergog, his brain assailed by agony and ecstacy all bombarding him at once. From his neck ripped a wound and then a mass of flesh formed into a second head,an exact duplicate of his own...'Screw You, I have the Power!'. Then, the left hand shot up and poked the original head between the eyes....Dammit, Wovergog had had better days.

Nod to Army of darkness and the Three Stooges...