The Immortals Handbook

[Alzrius]

I am wondering if I can get a second opinion on certain words and whether they would be copyright protected or not.
2) Altrodaemons (as above)

I know I'm late to this, but last I checked, they were "altraloths" not "altroloths". That's what I recall from Dragon Annual #2. It's picky, I know, but greatness is found in the details.

 

[Impeesa]

Hey, Impessa... about the spells it offers, how do they work? Do they use the "Epic Spellcasting" rules? Are they level 1-9 spells? Are they level 10+ spells? Are they actually EPIC spells (like: Detonate Mountain, Wither Forest, Charm Nation)?

They're a bit odd, actually. There aren't too many of them. There are a couple new 8th/9th level spells, focused on the summoning of Infernals (demonic constructs, for those not familiar with newer Warcraft lore), and then a selection of 12th level spells. These are mostly intended for the Eredar warlocks, who gain such spells for free through advancement, but an epic PC with 12th level spells can potentially learn them as well. They aren't especially 'epic' in the sense that you're looking for (Rain of Chaos, for example, calls down 2d6 Infernals per round for up to 3 rounds, and they stick around permanently). They only take up about two pages in the book, so it's hardly a major focus.

--Impeesa--

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hey Impeesa mate!

So I picked up Warcraft: Shadows & Light today. I think some of you might like it - it's filled with NPCs and greater beings of rather impressive power. It also has the Eternal template, a CR +7/LA +13 alternative to the non-ogc (at the time of the writing) template from D&Dg, and 36 new epic feats. Just for fun, here's the CR spread:

Legendary heroes and villains: 22, 15, 27, 35, 22, 22, 21, 25, 43, 17, 17, 22, 38, 28, 23, 25, 21

Lords of the Burning Legion: 50, 59, 45, 44

Ancients: 54, 44, 52, 44, 92, 62, 52, 52, 42

Dragon Aspects: 30, 32, 34, 30, 30

Elemental Lords: 35, 50, 40, 45

Titans: 30 (non-unique), 28 (non-unique), 71, 77, 70, 73, 65, 74, 73

Other non-unique monsters from the Cosmology chapter: 11, 15, 19, 28, 8

There's also some other epic-related stuff like a few new spells, and some artifacts. Pretty cool all around.

Sounds like my kind of book. Thanks for the heads up dude.

The ancients sound very interesting, though I am wondering how similar the Titans are to their MM and ELH counterparts?

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hey Alzrius mate!

I know I'm late to this, but last I checked, they were "altraloths" not "altroloths".

You sure?

Altradaemons should do the job then.

That's what I recall from Dragon Annual #2. It's picky, I know, but greatness is found in the details.

I can't find my copy of Dragon Annual #2 anywhere. The Night Hags must have stole it.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Impeesa]

Sounds like my kind of book. Thanks for the heads up dude.

The ancients sound very interesting, though I am wondering how similar the Titans are to their MM and ELH counterparts?

The ancients are some sort of powerful spirits of nature. Think Princess Mononoke, although most of them can take other forms. Elune (moon goddess, at CR 92 there) is the only true godly being in the Warcraft world.

The Titans are a pantheon of powerful beings who give life to whole worlds, and the two non-unique varieties of titan (at CR 28 and 30) are presented for reference - each of the unique titans is built on one of those two races, with the Eternal template and lots of class levels. The base titan races (Aesir and Vanir) are fairly similar, one is air/water aligned and one is earth aligned. They have fairly 'epic'-feeling abilities (40 mile blindsense, can accelerate indefinitely while flying, for moving between worlds, etc). Unlike D&D titans, they don't cast spells (although most of the unique ones gain them from class levels), but they do get some nice at-will spell-like abilities related to their elements. They have a variety of nifty defensive abilities, dominate monster at will, etc.. I think the only real similarity to D&D titans is the fact that they're gargantuan humanlike creatures that beat things down with warhammers.

Also, while I've got your attention, I had a question about the IH that I've been meaning to ask. You mentioned before that portfolios are handled by templates, right? Are the abilities granted by a portfolio exclusively oriented towards gods, or could you apply them to other beings to create some unique outsiders? Could you have, say, a solar with the Fire portfolio template? I guess that's sort of a bad example, since a solar is quasi-divine already, but you know what I mean.

--Impeesa--

 

[Alzrius]

You sure?

99.99% sure. It would be 100%, but my copy of DA2 is in the attic, and I'm not going in there!

Seriously though, it's "altraloths". I'd bet anything on it.

Altradaemons should do the job then.

Looking forward to them!

Thanks for the info.

Always happy to help in my own little way.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hi Impeesa mate!

The ancients are some sort of powerful spirits of nature. Think Princess Mononoke, although most of them can take other forms. Elune (moon goddess, at CR 92 there) is the only true godly being in the Warcraft world.

CR 92 (official CR 92 that is) would make for an interesting Intermediate Deity.

The Titans are a pantheon of powerful beings who give life to whole worlds, and the two non-unique varieties of titan (at CR 28 and 30) are presented for reference - each of the unique titans is built on one of those two races, with the Eternal template and lots of class levels. The base titan races (Aesir and Vanir) are fairly similar, one is air/water aligned and one is earth aligned. They have fairly 'epic'-feeling abilities (40 mile blindsense, can accelerate indefinitely while flying, for moving between worlds, etc). Unlike D&D titans, they don't cast spells (although most of the unique ones gain them from class levels), but they do get some nice at-will spell-like abilities related to their elements. They have a variety of nifty defensive abilities, dominate monster at will, etc.. I think the only real similarity to D&D titans is the fact that they're gargantuan humanlike creatures that beat things down with warhammers.

Very nice, especially the Aesir/Vanir thing.

Also, while I've got your attention, I had a question about the IH that I've been meaning to ask. You mentioned before that portfolios are handled by templates, right?

Yes.

Are the abilities granted by a portfolio exclusively oriented towards gods,

Not really.

or could you apply them to other beings to create some unique outsiders?

Yes. In fact I comment on this in the book that within their realm the gods might have servants with the same benefits as the portfolio.

Could you have, say, a solar with the Fire portfolio template? I guess that's sort of a bad example, since a solar is quasi-divine already, but you know what I mean.

You could, although beings like Planetars and Solar will already have some portfolio traits integral to their being.

Also (as a purely design aspect) you might want to consider adding additional hit dice (along with the portfolio) so that there is no 'golden rule' problem.

 

[Anabstercorian]

Three more puppies! *foom*

 

[Impeesa]

Yes. In fact I comment on this in the book that within their realm the gods might have servants with the same benefits as the portfolio.

Nifty.

*throws puppy into furnace*

--Impeesa--

 

[Upper_Krust]

*Dives in to rescue puppies*

Just wanted to add that today I managed to pick up that Warcraft: Shadows & Light book today. I haven't had time to read much yet, though a quick flick through looked very interesting, lots of new epic material. Hopefully I'll get to read some more tonight with a review sometime in the future.